WWC: Big bags needed 3/30/2007

"It should be very good," he said. "It's going to take somewhere in the mid-20s (per day) to win the tournament, and the best bite's probably on soft plastics."

He estimated that by the end of next week, 25 to 30 percent of the fish will either be on the beds or in the final stages of preparation to lock on. Some have already spawned, and others have yet to move up.

Sight-fishing will likely play a major role, but anglers should have something to fall back on if the sight-bite deteriorates.

"They'll probably have to back it up with something else because of all the variables. The wind could ripple the surface and make them invisible, or if it rains, the water will run off right where the beds are and kill that bite.

"They'd better be able to move back out and catch some of those fish that are staging."

He said lizards and other "creature baits" are highly effective in the shallows right now. His nephew caught a 10-04 last week on a Zoom Craw.

"Their natural instincts can't tolerate anything crawling on the bottom this time of year that might feed on their eggs. They're real protective.

"The other thing I've been doing on my guide trips is fishing around the edges of the emergent grass with frogs. That's been producing some big ones."

Jerkbaits have been effective for the pre-spawners. He had a couple of clients last week who wanted to throw them exclusively, and they put together a good stringer. Sometimes there's a decent topwater bite in the early mornings, but the red-hot surface action is still a few weeks away.

He rated the overall bite as a 4 1/2 on a scale of 5. "It's pretty consistent throughout the day."

To visit his website, click here.

WWC: Cecil amped 3/30/2007
Texan Russell Cecil's stoked about the upcoming BassFan Army's Skeeter Weekend Warrior Championship. He qualified through the Texas Tournament Trail (TTT), and thinks Lake Guntersville will be right up his alley.

"I'm excited about it," he said. "I live here in Texas, but I went to the Stren Championship last year at Wheeler. They wouldn't let us lock, so I didn't get to fish Guntersville, but from what I know about it, it sounds like a great lake.

"I usually do well at Sam Rayburn – I've had three FLW (Outdoors) Top 10s there – and (Guntersville's) supposed to be that kind of lake. It should make sense to me."

And if the Guntersville fish are bedding, which it looks like they are? "I'll be right in the middle of that," he noted. "I won a TTT sight-fishing – Richland Chambers in 2005 – and I'm prepared to think I'll need 25 to 30 pounds a day."

> The BassFan Army will post an update on current conditions at Guntersville later this afternoon.

Mann's Army Winner 3/30/2007

The Creature Feature contest is currently running, and Berkley officials are in the process of picking the winner. Weekly Army contests will resume after next week's Skeeter Weekend Warrior Championship.

Not a BassFan Army member yet? Click here to sign up for FREE lifetime membership.

King's surgery successful 3/30/2007

The operation was scheduled as a double bypass, but it became a triple bypass after surgeons discovered an additional blockage once the procedure was under way.

"He's resting well and taking his little walks around the house and staying real quiet, so things are good overall," Peggy King said. "He's fighting constant back pain and his stomach gets upset when he takes his pain medication. And of course, he can't stand the drugs because they make him spacy."

He's scheduled to start rehabilitation in a couple of weeks.

"I have no idea what that will be, but I imagine he'll wear a heart monitor and run a (stationary bike) or a treadmill. I doubt he'll be lifting weights – he can't lift anything heavier than a jug of milk right now."

She said he definitely plans to fish the Forrest Wood Cup in early August, but hopes to make it back for the Detroit River FLW Tour 3 weeks earlier.

Gutierrez leads Clear Lake 3/29/2007
Californians Greg Gutierrez and Ish Monroe both caught more than 32 pounds on day 1 of the Clear Lake Bassmaster Elite Sereis. To read the story, click here.

Cast your 'Fish' vote 3/29/2007

More on Mauldin 3/29/2007

He's been a BFL regular since 1996, and Stren Series regular since 1999. He won the Cherokee BFL Regional in 2005, and made the Stren Championship three times. His best Stren points finish was 5th in the 2000 Southeasterns. He fished one FLW Tour event in 1996 as a co-angler, and one last year, then hopped right up to the front of the boat.

On the BASS side, he fished the Weekend Series Championship in 2005 (finished 23rd), and fished four Invitationals in 1997-98.

In his first Tour outing, at Travis, he finished 101st.

"I'm really disappointed in my finish at Travis," he noted. "I was catching fish just like everybody else from Tennessee – on a float-n-fly. We were the only ones doing it in practice. It was so easy. I've thrown that thing for years, and I had by far the most bites in a week I've ever had on it.

"It was like crappie fishing. I'd pull up on a point and catch four in four casts. The second day, I just panicked. I got to fishing too fast, and I'm really disappointed."

About today's event at Loudoun-Tellico, he said: "This one's on my home lake, so I have a decent opportunity to do okay. This one will tell my tale for the whole year. I'm footing the bill myself. I've got some help with (tackle), but no money help.

"I've got two kids, and the rest of my year hinges on this tournament. Not that I don't have enough pressure on me already with all the people at the weigh-in."

He's been supporting himself through fishing for the past several years – he described himself as a half stay-at-home dad, half tournament-pro – but his goal is to make it all work at the tour level. It's been a battle so far though.

"In east Tennessee, we're pretty blessed with several trails here," he noted. "I've mainly knocked around here and done that, doing whatever I have to do to get some money to get to the next tournament."

> Mauldin's currently 18th in the BassFan Rookie of the Year race. To view the complete standings, click here.

Clear Lake preview 3/28/2007
The Clear Lake Bassmaster Elite Series, the second of back-to-back California events, gets under way today. For a preview, click here.

Aruku, anyone? 3/28/2007
The BassFan Store is running a special on the Spro Aruku Shad lipless crankbait for the entire month of April. We've knocked 25% off the price, and the bait can be had in any of seven color patterns for just $5.25.

To visit the store, click here. The Spotlight Item is located on the right-hand side of the page.

Another Spro bait will go on sale in May.

WWC: G-Ville scouting 3/28/2007

"The bite is phenomenal," he noted. "They're starting to move in to spawn. We haven't seen many on beds, but we did see a bunch getting ready. We're fishing the main lake, and catching a lot in the 5-pound range. Our biggest so far is 7, and there's just 4-pounder after 4-pounder. We're catching them on plastics and jigs."

The Guntersville area has experienced the same freak warming trend as the FLW Tour anglers in Tennessee. Today's temperatures are in the low 80s, with plenty of sun. That's cooked the water temperature up to 73 degrees in some spots. With the full moon coming this Monday, the first full wave of spawners should be all over the bank when the WWC begins next Thursday.

Brown also noted it's too early for grass, so he's been caching fish off any visible wood, as well as secondary points. Brush hasn't been very productive yet. Also, the water's clear, but down about a foot and a half.

"It's basically like blind-casting a bank," he added. "This morning we caught 10 fish for 22 pounds. Yesterday, we caught 17 keepers.

"It could take 25 pounds a day to win, but I'm guessing 22 to 23 pounds a day. If someone gets a real good kicker, it could take more than that, but I think the big fish will be around 7 pounds."

> Watch for continued updates on conditions as the WWC approaches.

Evan Williams WWC rewards 3/28/2007
The daily big-fish award at the upcoming Skeeter BassFan Army's Weekend Warrior Championship (WWC) will be title-sponsored by Army supporter Evan Williams Bourbon. The company will dole out $500 each day to the big-fish winner.

But that's not all. The highest-finishing angler who wears an Evan Williams cap onstage will also receive $500.

BassFan VP of membership programs Al Smith said: "It's great to have partners like Evan Williams Bourbon who understand our sport and are willing to help make the WWC a success."

Evan Williams Bourbon brand manager Kirstin Jackson said: "Evan Williams Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is pleased to sponsor the 'Big Bass of the Day' award at this year's WWC. Evan Williams supports weekend anglers and acknowledges the time they spend to qualify for this tournament. And, as an added twist on conventional awards, we'll also offer a $500 prize to the top 'Evan Williams Bourbon Angler' - the angler who finishes the highest after the final weigh-in and is wearing an Evan Williams Bourbon hat during his time onstage. We hope these additional incentives add to the excitement this tournament already offers, and Evan Williams Bourbon is honored to be a part of it."

The hats will be provided to the contestants by Evan Williams Bourbon at the Wednesday's registration.

WWC Final Field 3/28/2007
Below is the final field for the BassFan Army's Skeeter Weekend Warrior Championship (WWC), to be held next Thursday and Friday at Lake Guntersville, Ala. Anglers qualified for the WWC by fishing Army-sanctioned trails. To learn more about how you can qualify for next year's WWC, click here.

Greg Alexander -- Fishers of Men -- Hebron, MD
Matthew Applebaum -- The Bass Federation -- Johnson, VT
Jamie Bialik -- The Bass Federation -- Surprise, AZ
Don Blackburn -- Jus' Bassin' -- Lawton, OK
Travis Boley -- Illini Team Trail -- Weldon, IL
Rob Burns -- TTT -- Plano, TX
Allen Butler -- Team Supreme -- Winnsboro, LA
Ross Cagle -- Team Supreme -- Downsville, LA
Charles Carroll -- The Bass Federation -- Rockford, OH
Ken Carter -- PVA -- Enterprise, FL
Russel Cecil -- TTT -- Willis, TX
Brian Clark -- Media Bass -- Ft. Worth, TX
Tom Coloutti -- The Bass Federation -- Castleton, VT
Greg Cooper -- The Bass Federation -- Monroe City, MO
Mark Davidson -- Bass Champs -- Austin, TX
Jimmy Davis -- Heartland -- Springfield, MO
Joe Durham -- BassMaxx -- Albany , GA
Wes Endicott -- Heartland -- Joplin, MO
Booby Gaston -- Southern Anglers CCFC -- Evans, GA
Matthhew Gaydos -- Angler's Choice -- Wales, ME
Craig Goff -- American Bass Anglers -- Deltona, FL
Carl Guffey -- The Bass Federation -- Friendsville, TN
Mike Hart -- Angler's Choice -- Winnetka, CA
Robert Ingle -- Angler's Choice -- Maryville, TN
Craig Johnson -- The Bass Federation -- Martinez, GA
Jon Jezierski -- The Bass Federation -- Troy, MI
Leroy Keisel -- The Bass Federation -- Virginia Beach, VA
Joshua Kolodzaike -- The Bass Federation -- Toledo, OH
Ryan Krost -- The Bass Federation -- Canyon Lake, CA.
Rick Lapoint -- Central Pro-Am -- Springfield, MO
Jack Leffingwell -- American Bass Anglers -- Munford, TN
Ray Leverly -- WON Bass -- Laguna Niguel, CA
Norman Ligon -- American Bass Anglers -- Moulton , AL
Greg Lovelace -- Southern Anglers CCFC -- Bostic, NC
Lawrence Mazur -- Angler's Choice -- Lancaster, NY
Clyde Middleton -- Jus' Bassin' -- Elgin, OK
Tim Ming -- The Bass Federation -- Louisville, MS
Bill Minor -- Hoosier Open -- Indianapolis, IN
Tadjen Peterson -- Wildcard -- Olathe, KS
Michael Potter -- Angler's Choice -- Maryville, TN
Terry Potts -- Illini Team Trail -- Clinton, IL
Chad Prough -- BassMaxx -- Chipley , FL
David Ryan -- Weekend Series -- Levasy, MO
Bill Siemantel -- Angler's Choice -- Castaic , CA
Aaron Sisk -- Hoosier Open -- Evansville, IN
Larry Sisk -- Wildcard -- Evansville, IN
Marty Sisk -- Defending WWC Champion -- Evansville, IN
Phil Strader -- The Bass Federation -- Glide, OR
Mark Thomas -- Media Bass -- Rayville , LA
Dean Wainscott -- The Bass Federation -- Muskego, WI
Jay Walls -- The Bass Federation -- Milford, DE
Rich Zeilenga -- Angler's Choice -- Oceano, CA

Delta patterns 2–5 3/28/2007
Did you miss BassFan's story about how the rest of the Top 5 caught their fish at the California Delta Bassmaster Elite Series? If so, click here to read it.

DiVincenti in 3/28/2007
The Toyota Texas Bass Classic will have a woman's presence. Mary DiVincenti, a Women's Bassmaster Tour and Eastern FLW Series angler from Louisiana, has been tabbed to replace Stacey King, who'll miss the event due to recent double-bypass heart surgery.

DiVincenti, who was next on the waiting list, will be a member of Team No. 1, captained by Dave Wolak. The other members are Gary Yamamoto and Les Phelps.

The Professional Anglers Association-sanctioned event will take place April 13-15 at Texas' Lake Fork.

Note to WWC anglers 3/27/2007
Registration for the BassFan Army's Skeeter Weekend Warrior Championship is next Wed., April 4 at 5:30 p.m. at the pavilion at Guntersville State Park. A banquet will follow at 6:30. Please bring proof of insurance for the registration.

Loudoun–Tellico scoop? 3/27/2007
The Knoxville News Sentinel recently ran a brief piece with local Ft. Loudoun–Tellico expert DeWayne Raines, who makes a few predictions about this week's FLW Tour event. To read it, click here.

Jones: $1 mil 3/27/2007

Of course, those figures don't include FLW Tour earnings: $547,450 for Martens, and $266,100 for Jones.

Turner's record-breaker 3/26/2007

"The trees at Amistad aren't big hardwoods – they're little old trees with small, limber limbs. If you pull a jig into them, it's hard to tell if you're on a limb, or if a fish has loaded up on it – especially if it's windy. You get that mushy feeling a lot, and I set the hook on a lot of trees and broke a lot of jigs off.

"I'd cast into a tree and felt that feeling, and in a tournament like that, you take no chances. I swung on it and it didn't move – nothing happened. I told my partner there was nothing there. I was still holding pressure on the line, and it started coming up."

Things got a little crazy then, because he'd made a long cast (key in the clear water), and still wasn't sure how big she was.

"It started coming toward us, and I said, 'Whoa, it's a fish.' When she came up the first time, it was way out, and I could tell it was big, but I had no idea it was a 14 1/2-pounder. Then it went back down a couple of times and was just dead weight. I couldn't move her.

"Then she came back up again, about halfway to the boat, and I realized it was really big. The third time it came up, it was 10 feet from the boat, and I like to have a heart attack. I looked at my partner, and his eyes were as big as saucers. We were both shaking all over. He got the net, we got it in the livewell, and just sat down – shaking and laughing. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience."

About the appearance of the fish, he said: "When they get that big, they almost don't look real, especially when they're that heavy with eggs. With that big old pot belly, they look like some other creature."

He donated the fish to the Texas ShareLunker program. After she spawns, he'll head back down to Amistad to release her. "I'm going to kiss her right on the mouth," he said.

KVD Unstoppable? 3/26/2007
BassFan just published its updated BassFan World Rankings presented by Tru-Tungsten, following the recent California Delta Bassmaster Elite Series. Kevin VanDam carried a 5-point lead over Mike Iaconelli into the event, and pulled out with a massive 13-point lead. To view the updated Rankings, click here.

Remitz still leads ROY 3/26/2007

Other notable movements after the Delta include Marty Robinson – who finished 15th and improved from 13th to 7th in the ROY race – and James Niggemeyer, whose 11th at the Delta helped offset his miserable last-place finish at Amistad. In Niggemeyer's case, he improved from 19th to 10th in the ROY race.

> To view the current ROY standings, click here.

> Later this week, two other tour-level events will affect the ROY Standings – the Ft. Loudoun-Tellico FLW Tour and the Clear Lake Elite Series.

Wilks: better, some fishing 3/26/2007

"Originally, I was going to fish it, but they're going to an alternate," he said. "At first I thought it was a team deal, with five fish total for the boat. But it's five per person – each guy has to catch his own. I don't want to put my team at a disadvantage.

"I'm still thinking about going, just to be there," he added. "I have an appointment at the Mayo Clinic, and I may have that moved up to get to the tournament."

About the progression of his reconstructed elbow, he said: "It's doing really well. I've been doing physical therapy for about 3 weeks now, and it seems like the more I work it, the better and better it feels. The doctor gave me the okay to start reeling. I can't cast, but I can start doing a little fishing, so I'm happy."

One other bit of Wilks news: He's added two more pros to his staff at Fish Like a Pro – his new company that lets amateurs book instructional day trips with pros.

"We now have Pete Gluszek, who specializes in tidal waters, and Curtis Richardson from Canada," he said. "Curtis fishes the Canadian trails, and his brother's an NHL player. He's currently guiding in Canada. A lot of guys want to take their week vacation in Canada, and he can get them pointed in the right direction on how to fish northern waters."

Elite recruiter 3/24/2007
Today on BassFan Radio with Terry Brown, Cornerstone Recruiting partner Charlie Dougherty talks about the company's decision to sponsor Bassmaster Elite Series pro Darren Schwenkbeck, and the favorable results that followed. To listen, click here.

Jenkins on 'The Wing' 3/23/2007
BassFan Army member Robbie Jenkins of Deatsville, Ala. recently had the chance to test Berkley's new Gulp! Wicked Wing trailer. To read his BassFan Army Member Product Review, click here.

FlipSider bottom line 3/23/2007
The BassFan staff recently had the chance to review Plano's new 3258 FlipSider Hybrid Satchell. Is it the perfect day box? Is it something co-anglers should consider? To find out, click here.

Lure size restrictions? 3/22/2007
This apparently came up some time ago, but we missed it:

Fisheries scientists Gene Wilde, associate professor of fisheries ecology at Texas Tech University, and Kevin Pope found in a study that "fishermen reduce their chances of catching smaller fish (those between approximately 14 and 15 inches) by 47 percent if they are restricted from using the smallest lure sizes," Texas Tech stated.

The scientists did the experiment "in a well-shaded pond using crankbaits in a variety of sizes and colors."

Okay, so we know big baits mean big fish. But here's one interesting point that you probably didn't think of: "Lure size restrictions could be used in recreational fisheries to reinforce size limits. By restricting the use of small lures, for instance, fisheries could help ensure anglers are not catching fish below a certain length."

Baits of only certain sizes in tournaments? You never know.

Barrack talks Delta 3/22/2007
The day-1 weigh-in at the Delta Bassmaster Elite Series hasn't begun yet, so to get your fix on, why not tune in to BassFan Radio with Terry Brown? Right now, you can listen to Delta legend Bobby Barrack. He predicts who'll win the Elite Series event this week, and talks about throwing the Snag Proof frog (he's a guru). He also touches on his near miss at last week's Delta Western FLW Series. To listen, click here.

Bringger charity tourney 3/22/2007

Bringger, the late bass pro and co-owner of Gambler Lures (pictured to right), died in February 2004 from pancreatic cancer. Tournament proceeds benefit the V Foundation for Cancer Research.

For tournament information, contact Kim and Herb Bringger: (863) 634-4525 (days) or (863) 763-1035 (nights). To donate raffle items, contact Laura Bringger: (954) 675-4217, lorilslb@aol.com.

General on WWC 3/22/2007

BBZ and spring 3/22/2007
Big Bass Zone columnists Michael Jones and Bill Siemantel today offer up a heady – but at the same time nuts-and-bolts – analysis of spring big-bass fishing. It's cool. To read it, click here.

Martin on rattlebaits 3/22/2007
Now playing on BassFan Radio with Terry Brown, FLW Tour pro Scott Martin dissects the differences between various rattlebaits, and discusses their use in the springtime. He also talks about his recent finishes, and how he maintains his confidence. To listen, click here.

Cabela's joins Army 3/21/2007

Said Chuck Smock of Cabela's: "Cabela's is pleased to be a presenting sponsor of the BassFan Weekend Warrior Championship and a BassFan Army sponsor. We realize the importance of grassroots bass anglers to our business ,and see the BassFan Army as a way for us to get more of them excited about what we do here at Cabela's.

"We offer a large inventory of the best products, great service and support, and we are anglers ourselves. Cabela's is excited to partner with BassFan and sees this as an opportunity to help the sport grow. “

Said BassFan Army General Al Smith: "As a leader in catalog and fishing retail, Cabela's is in a class by itself. Taking advantage of their wherewithal allows BassFan Army members to get the products they want, when they want them. We are truly thrilled with their involvement and see some exceptional benefits to our membership in upcoming days as a result."

The Weekend Warrior Championship weigh-ins will be held at Guntersville State Park. The public is invited.

Not a BassFan Army member yet? Click here to sign up for FREE lifetime membership.

Fish mystery (cont.) 3/21/2007

We got the go-ahead, and here they are. We think we have an idea of what Fish's new project might be. How about you?

If you think you have the answer, or even if you don't, go ahead and vote in the newest BassFan poll, which asks: What type of "project" will Fish Fishburne unveil April 1? To find the poll, click here to visit the homepage, then scroll down the right-hand margin.

Delta look-back 3/21/2007
The Delta Bassmaster Elite Series begins tomorrow at the California Delta, and there's a bit of history to reference here. BASS held one other tour-level event at the Delta, back in 2003. And Michael Rooke won the Delta Western FLW Series, which concluded this past weekend, with a 93-05, 4-day total. (To view the final Delta FLW Series standings, click here.)

Below are the final Top 12 standings from the 2003 Delta Bassmaster Tour. Note that the event took place April 3–6, and that only five of the below Top 12 are fishing this year's event – Jimmy Mize, Skeet Reese, Kevin VanDam, Peter Thliveros, and Mike Wurm. The key there is that Lee, who won four consecutive BASS Delta events (including Invitationals/Opens) isn't playing. He fished the FLW Series last week and finished 92nd. Also note that only the Top 6 fished day 4.

1. Robert Lee -- Angels Camp, Calif. -- 20, 86-08 -- 175 -- $102,000
Day 1: 5, 18-12 -- Day 2: 5, 20-00 -- Day 3: 5, 21-12 -- Day 4: 5, 26-00

2. Jimmy D. Mize -- Ben Lomond, Ark. -- 20, 73-01 -- 174 -- $41,000
Day 1: 5, 18-04 -- Day 2: 5, 24-13 -- Day 3: 5, 13-11 -- Day 4: 5, 16-05

3. Roger Boler -- Slidell, La. -- 19, 68-00 -- 173 -- $24,000
Day 1: 5, 27-09 -- Day 2: 5, 20-01 -- Day 3: 5, 15-00 -- Day 4: 4, 5-06

4. Joe Thomas -- Milford, Ohio -- 20, 64-02 -- 172 -- $21,000
Day 1: 5, 22-09 -- Day 2: 5, 19-07 -- Day 3: 5, 7-07 -- Day 4: 5, 14-11

5. Skeet Reese -- Auburn, Calif. -- 20, 61-07 -- 171 -- $18,000
Day 1: 5, 21-08 -- Day 2: 5, 14-07 -- Day 3: 5, 13-08 -- Day 4: 5, 12-00

6. Jack L. Wade -- Knoxville, Tenn. -- 20, 60-05 -- 170 -- $17,000
Day 1: 5, 19-12 -- Day 2: 5, 18-06 -- Day 3: 5, 12-09 -- Day 4: 5, 9-10

7. Dustin Wilks -- Raleigh, N.C. -- 15, 49-03 -- $14,000
Day 1: 5, 13-10 -- Day 2: 5, 21-09 -- Day 3: 5, 14-00

8. Kevin VanDam -- Kalamazoo, Mich. -- 15, 48-03 -- $12,000
Day 1: 5, 17-15 -- Day 2: 5, 20-09 -- Day 3: 5, 9-11

9. Mark Kile -- Payson, Ariz. -- 15, 48-01 -- $11,000
Day 1: 5, 19-12 -- Day 2: 5, 16-01 -- Day 3: 5, 12-04

10. Peter E. Thliveros -- Jacksonville, Fla. -- 15, 47-15 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 20-15 -- Day 2: 5, 14-02 -- Day 3: 5, 12-14

11. Mike Wurm -- Hot Springs, Ark. -- 15, 47-10 -- $9,000
Day 1: 5, 22-04 -- Day 2: 5, 16-07 -- Day 3: 5, 8-15

12. Jim Bitter -- Fruitland Park, Fla. -- 15, 47-00 -- $8,000
Day 1: 5, 13-13 -- Day 2: 5, 22-05 -- Day 3: 5, 10-14

Army 'Creature Feature' contest 3/21/2007

For the Army Creature Feature contest, all you need to do is pretend you've created a new creature bait, then give it a name. Easy, right? To enter the contest, simply email us the name of the bait. The BassFan Army will pick the best name from among all entries, and the winner will receive the 12-pack.

Once you have your creature-bait name, click here to email it to us. To be considered, you must include your telephone number and mailing address. Your email must also include "Creature Feature Contest" as the subject, which is automatically generated when you use the link above.

The contest ends midnight, March 28.

Not a BassFan Army member yet? Click here to sign up for FREE lifetime membership.

Herren's bed tips 3/21/2007
Mike Bolton of the Birmingham News recently wrote a piece with tour pro Matt Herren. Interesting is that Herren dishes out a few sight-fishing tips, and also comments that this might be the earliest spawn he's ever seen in Alabama. To read the story, click here.

Ike Nation 3/21/2007
The Star-Ledger of New Jersey recently ran a piece about the New Jersey BASS Federation Nation, and how an appearance by Mike Iaconelli drew kids and helped grow the clubs. To read it, click here.

Return of Fish? 3/21/2007

To view Fish's promo, click here.

Schwenk's cowl coat, wrap 3/20/2007

The motor treatment, along with his boat and truck wrap, can be seen in the photo to right. Also notable is his non-endemic wrap deal with Cornerstone Recruiting – a leading national construction and skilled-trades recruiting company.

Cornerstone president Charlie Dougherty said: "Darrin's dedication, work ethic, and passion for the sport match the Cornerstone Recruiting culture to a tee, and we couldn't think of anyone better to represent our brand. As a rookie, 2006 was a breakout year for Darrin. He won a Bassmaster Northern Tour event and finished in the money in several of the Elite Series tournaments."

Remitz ink 3/20/2007
The San Antonio Express-News recently published a story with rookie Derek Remitz about his Amistad win. To read it, click here.

The 'reel' winner 3/20/2007

"This is great," Stuart said. "I was looking at purchasing one more reel for the season, and now I don't have to. Thanks for a great program."

BassFans who join the Army this week will be entered to win a lure pack from Mann's Bait Co. The lucky winner will receive seven of the new Baby 1-Minus Elite Series crankbaits, plus seven bags of assorted HardNose plastics.

Of course, each angler who joins the BassFan Army is the "real" winner, because lifetime membership is FREE, and the programs are designed to reward you for events you already fish. For more information, and to join, click here.

Yes-cull Canada? 3/19/2007
(Editor's note: The below text was corrected. Anglers at the Erie Bassmaster Northern Tour were allowed to cull once in Canadian waters, since the Canadian daily limit was six bass.)

Last year, anglers fishing the Erie Bassmaster Northern Tour were surprised to learn that BASS tournament officials had put restrictions on Canadian waters. The ruling had nothing to do with the current federal order regarding viral hemorrhagic septicemia. Instead, BASS officials had learned from Canadian officials that the act of culling was prohibited in the province of Ontario. While many viewed the law as a leftover from the days of meat-stringers – and Ontario bass leagues and clubs regularly held culling tournaments, as did FLW Outdoors on border waters – BASS erred to the side of caution and allowed its competitors to cull only once in Canadian waters.

The good news for anglers is it looks like the no-cull ruckus has resulted in a positive change. John Cooper, spokesman with the Lake Erie management units of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, told BassFan that a yes-cull law could make it into the 2007-08 Ontario fishing regulations.

"(There is such a change) being proposed, but at this point in time, we don't have any idea when the new regulations will be in place," Cooper said. "The draft of the publication does have something that allows people angling with a livewell for bass, walleye and northern pike to temporarily possess more than a daily limit."

Copper stressed that the new regulations are not in effect yet, but would be as soon as the new regulations are passed, and would cover the current angling year.

Flick Shake: photo 3/19/2007

The two Lukes 3/19/2007
BassFans may have noticed two BassFan Radio links labeled "Luke Clausen." That wasn't a mistake. The Tru-Tungsten pro was recently featured in two separate radio segments.

> To listen to the first, in which Clausen talks about designing baits and house-hunting in Alabama, click here.

> To listen to Clausen's Tipped Off segment, which covers his new weight from Tru-Tungsten, click here.

Delta undercard 3/19/2007

The inaugural CS Motorsports Fruit Jar Invitational took place yesterday at Lake Camanche, a highland reservoir east of the California Delta (site of this week's tour stop). Eight two-man teams ponied up $100 each for the loosely regulated, winner-take-all event.

The title sponsor was the North Carolina automotive aftermarket business owned by Britt Myers (pictured), one of the tournament participants, who reportedly agreed to provide T-shirts to the winning team if the event carried his store's name. Marty Stone said Myers also promised to throw in free valve stems for any competitor who purchased a set of wheels at full price.

And where did the fruit-jar part come in? That's what was used to hold the entry fees.

Gerald Swindle organized the tournament along with Stone. Other participants included Denny Brauer, Davy Hite, Tim Horton, Todd Faircloth, Scott Rook, Charlie Hartley, Bryan Hudgins, Jimmy Mason and a guy who came west with Hite. Hite's travel partner was referred to only as "Cole Trickle" (Tom Cruise's character in Days of Thunder).

Hite caught an 8-pound bed-fish to lead he and Swindle to victory with a limit that was in the neighborhood of 24 pounds. Stone and "Trickle" were 2nd with about 15 pounds.

Rook and Brauer weighed in a bag that topped 16 pounds and would have finished 2nd, but they were disqualified because it was discovered during the live-release that their sack contained a large rainbow trout.

According to Swindle, the day began with a race to the nearest McDonald's drive-through (a place Brauer insisted on visiting because he could get a senior-citizen discount on a cup of coffee). After that, it was off to Camanche (about an hour's drive), where anglers were free to launch as soon as they arrived at the designated ramp.

"That was a race too, but remember, the speed limit is 55 mph when you're towing," Swindle said. "With the problems I've had with speeding lately, I wasn't about to go over that."

As for tournament rules, there was only one – fish had to be hooked in the front half of the body. Trash-talking was encouraged and there was no penalty for fighting, although no actual brawls broke out.

"It was the most fun a lot of us have had in a long time," Swindle said. "To see Denny Brauer sitting in the back of Scott Rook's boat as a co-angler and throwing a swimbait all day was priceless."

Downsize for spawners 3/19/2007
California Bassmaster Elite Series pro Jared Lintner catches a lot of bed-fish by throwing smaller baits than those traditionally used to entice them. To learn more about his technique and find out which baits he likes best for that purpose, click here to read the latest BassFan Pro Fishing Tip.

If you try reds 3/19/2007
AC Lockyer, who along with partner Thresher Klier won November's Redfish Tour Championship, has a common affliction among tournament redfish anglers: he's a former bass fisherman.

If you decide to try your hand at sight-fishing, flipping, jigging, jerkbaiting, deadsticking or cranking for reds (yeah, it's just like bass fishing), here's a basic pointer from Lockyer.

"I used to fish bass tournaments real heavy, but there aren't a lot of tides in bass fishing," he said. "In redfish fishing, the tides really control the movement of the fish and bait. You get windows of opportunity, like when you have the outgoing tied in with a major feeding time."

And when the fish turn off, they're off. On the afternoon of day 2 of the 2-day championship, Lockyer bounced baits off the backs of acres of redfish (literally) once a cold front started to come in. Luckily he already had the fish he needed.

Flick Shake win 3/16/2007

The Amistad co-angler winner was none other than master Japanese lure designer Seiji Kato, who weighed 13 fish for 48-08. Kato's hands were all over some of the hottest, most innovative baits in history, including the original Team Daiwa TD Minnow and TD Vibration. He then worked with Lucky Craft to develop the Staysee, Moonsault, Bevy Shad, CB, LV and more, and was instrumental in the launch of Lucky Craft USA. He then left Lucky Craft to form his own tackle company, which we know today as Lake Police and Jackall.

At Amistad, Kato didn't throw a big bait, or a crank, or a big plastic. Instead, he primarily threw a new Jackall finesse bait called the Flick Shake. He also caught a few key fish on a Jackall Squad Minnow 95 jerkbait. Since Kato speaks limited English, BassFan turned to his business partner, Elite Series pro Kota Kiriyama, for some winning pattern details.

"The Flick Shake is a new plastic worm made by Jackall that's 4.8 inches long and has a bent shape," Kiriyama said. "He used a tiny 1/64-ounce jighead and threw it with 7-pound line and let it sink all the way to bottom. He would get the bite before the bait got to bottom.

"He said fish were tired of seeing the same jigs and worms every day, so he tried a super-finesse technique," Kiriyama added. "I believe this technique will be popular in the U.S. very soon. I've been using the Flick Shake in the smallmouth lakes and it works wonderful."

Rankings and rookies 3/15/2007
The BassFan World Rankings presented by Tru-Tungsten were recently updated to reflect results from the Amistad Bassmaster Elite Series. To view the current Rankings, along with some notes on important up/down movements, click here.

The conclusion of Amistad also means the BassFan Rookie of the Year race has officially begun. In 1st is Amistad winner Derek Remitz. But chasing him from 2nd is Bryan Thrift, who finished 2nd at the Travis FLW Tour, followed by Craig Dowling, who finished 3rd at Travis.

How about those rookies – a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in the first two tour-level events of 2007? Nice. To view the rookie race, click here.

Tipped Off: Action 3/15/2007
New baits can help you catch more bass, and today on Tipped Off Radio with Terry Brown, Richard Rike of Action Lures talks about the Squeel-R crank and how to fish it. To listen, click here.

Amistad, Clear Lake or Delta? 3/15/2007

And note that Jim Opalecky (pictured to right) leads right now at the California Delta Western FLW Series with a 32-13 day-1 limit. In 2nd is Bobby Barrack with 31-03.

The Elite Series visits the Delta next week, then moves to Clear Lake the week after.

> BassFans will also get to see how Lake Fork stacks up against these three mega-fisheries when the PAA-sanctioned Texas Bass Classic kicks off April 13.

New Florida facility 3/15/2007
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWCC) recently unveiled its Florida Bass Conservation Center, which is dedicated to the propagation and conservation of the Florida-strain of largemouth bass.

The center is located on 186 acres in the heart of the Withlacoochee State Forest in Sumter County. It will produce a variety of freshwater fish, including Florida-strain largemouths (revered by anglers because it grows to a larger size than its northern cousins), striped bass, sunshine bass, bream and channel catfish.

The hatchery-reared fish will help biologists meet freshwater fisheries management needs in waters that may benefit from fish-stocking.

The new facility replaces a hatchery that was built in the 1960s and served the state for more than 40 years. With updated technology, it will produce up to three times as many fish as the old hatchery.

Unlike the old hatchery, the Florida Bass Conservation Center is a climate-controlled rearing and research facility. The fish are spawned and raised indoors in long, concrete raceways instead of outdoor earthen ponds. These technological advances allow scientists to produce more fish per gallon, at a much lower cost per fish.

Using raceways also reduces predation by birds, saves water and energy, and allows better control of parasites and diseases. New fish-feeding technology is also being developed at the center and, along with state-of-the art filtration systems, will help fish grow faster and decrease mortality.

Historically, stocking fish was unnecessary because natural conditions in Florida waters supported thriving populations of bass. Reproduction was more than adequate to replace natural mortality and what anglers harvested.

But development, agricultural runoff, drained wetlands and stabilized water levels have changed environmental conditions. In some instances, these changes have created circumstances that jeopardize bass survival in the early months of life. Stocking advanced fingerlings (5- to 6-inch baby bass) increases the likelihood that more bass will reach the size anglers desire.

Flashabou football 3/15/2007

> In case you missed the story on his winning pattern, click here to read it.

Custom WWC rods 3/14/2007

"Mac" has done custom rod handles for high-powered folks and just plain ol' fishermen, and has graciously donated three 7-foot Bass Pro Shops medium-heavy Rick Clunn Signature Series rods as prizes for April's WWC at Lake Guntersville. The cork rod handles have his signature drawings, and can be proudly displayed by the rods' winners – assuming the BassFan staff doesn't "mislay" them somewhere between now and April (ha, ha).

"I've been doing custom rod handle artwork for Bass Pro Shops customers for over 6 years now, and it's becoming extremely popular with anglers and collectors," McElroy said. "I was doing rod handles at the Bassmaster Classic this year when I was asked if I'd do something for the Weekend Warrior Championship. Of course, I jumped at the opportunity.

"Bass Pro donated the rods and sleeves, and I added a custom WWC design on each rod handle and foregrip. These anglers worked very hard to get to that championship, and I wanted them to have something that they would be proud of and to remind them of their accomplishment. After all, I consider myself another one of them too – a hardcore weekend warrior."

Who gets the rods? We'll find out at the WWC. All fishermen are invited to attend the festivities, and maybe go home with free stuff. For more info on the event, click here.

To join the BassFan Army – in order to get a shot at qualifying for the WWC and access to numerous "free stuff" programs – click here.

More Army trails 3/14/2007
The BassFan Army is pleased to announce two new trails to its sanctioned trails list, which brings the list of nationwide sanctioned trails to 23.

Airport Marine (Ala.)

“We feel that like our trails, the BassFan Army is a win-win for everyone," said Airport Marine owner Ken Hollis. "We are happy to be a part of it and we're looking forward to promoting the Army to our members."

BassFan's Al Smith said: "If you have an interest in what Airport is offering to the tournament fisherman, contact Randy McBride at Airport Marine. It's an established company in Alabama and their trail is well-attended by local fishermen."

> You can read more about Airport Marine by clicking here. If you're interested in fishing their events, call Randy McBride at (205) 664-0407.

Apalachicola River Bass Trail (Fla.)

“The Apalachicola River Bass Trail and all the anglers associated with it are very excited to be an officially sanctioned trail of the BassFan Army," said owner Allen Courtney. "When Al Smith contacted me about this, all I could think of was that having the BassFan Army behind you is a good thing, and it showed at my first tournament in February as 44 teams came to start the season, knowing that one of them will be heading to the BassFan Army Weekend Warrior Championship.

"I really appreciate all BassFan does to help the weekend tournament fisherman at the grassroots level."

BassFan's Al Smith said: "Allen has been running trails in the Panhandle for years and will be a good addition to the Army family."

> You can learn about the trail by clicking here.

Not a BassFan Army member yet? Click here to sign up for FREE lifetime membership.

Duckett update 3/13/2007
So far, BassFans don't have much to go on with Bassmaster Classic champ Boyd Duckett, in terms of who he is as a person. They'll learn more in the coming weeks and year, but Robert DeWitt of the Tuscaloosa News recently did a good piece with Duckett that fills in a few blanks. To read it, click here.

FLW lure ban 3/13/2007

FLW Rule 10 states, "Only artificial lures may be used, with the exception of pork trailers." FoodSource president Ed Rogers said in the release that he and BFL competitor Danny Everett of Kentucky were told by an FLW Outdoors official that under Rule 10, FoodSource baits could not be used.

Rogers added: "It's easy to speculate from the ruling that because FoodSource lures are 100% food, they might give an unfair advantage over anglers using plastic baits. FoodSource lures create a scent trail that plastics can't emulate and because they're food, fish tend to hold on to them. We can't argue with the FLW ruling. To be legal in FLW bass tournaments, a lure has to be artificial, and FoodSource lures are 100% natural, not artificial."

A call to FLW Outdoors for clarification was not returned.

BASS confirmed it does allow FoodSource baits, because BASS Rule 7 states: "Only artificial lures and biodegradable artificial lures may be used."

Additionally, the FLW prohibition of FoodSource raises the question of whether Berkley Gulp! baits could potentially be banned. Gulp! is used with regularity in FLW Outdoors events. For example, the Culpepper brothers won last weekend's Lafitte FLW Western Redfish Series on Gulp!.

FoodSource and Gulp! products are different, however, since Gulp! utilizes a water-based polymer and is thus not 100% "natural" – although it includes natural products and scents.

Rogers noted: "We're hopeful that FLW Outdoors will change the rules in the future. They haven't said they will, but they've indicated it's something they'll consider."

> Berkley sponsors both FLW Outdoors and BASS. FoodSource does not sponsor FLW Outdoors, although its products are sold in Wal-Mart, which is the title sponsor of FLW Outdoors.

Reel solid info 3/13/2007
Today on BassFan Radio with Terry Brown, David Gray of Ardent Reels talks about his company's products and gives a lucky listener a chance to win an Ardent XS by signing up as a BassFan Army member. To listen, click here.

New winner! New contest! 3/13/2007

"I love the BassFan sites and go to them every day," Able said. "I was actually showing a friend of mine the site when I got the call that I'd won. It's a great program and the timing's right. I have an older Triton bass boat and need a new motor."

It costs nothing to join the BassFan Army – lifetime membership is FREE! And members who sign up this week will be entered in a random drawing for a brand new American-made Ardent XS casting reel valued at $249.

> To join the Army (remember, it's FREE!), click here.

More Texas toads 3/13/2007

The list was headed by 9-year-old Jesse Roberson of Goldthwaite (pictured at right), who caught a 15.54-pounder on Friday while fishing a private lake with his father Jim. He used a plastic crayfish imitation to entice the brute, which measured a little over 27 inches in length and 21 1/2 inches in girth.

The next day, Michael Gray of Murphy used a white tube jig to catch a 15.32-pounder from Lake Fork. That fish was 26 3/4 inches long and 22 1/2 inches around.

David Reavis of Sand Springs, Okla. also caught a bruiser at Fork that day. His 13.24-pounder measured 24 1/4 inches in length and 21 inches in girth.

Dennis Weaver of Seguin rounded out the quartet with a 14.478-pounder from Choke Canyon Reservoir. It was 26 inches long and slightly more than 21 inches around.

The ShareLunker Program encourages anglers who catch largemouths that weigh 13 pounds or more to lend or donate the fish to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) for spawning purposes. Entries are accepted from Oct. 1 through April 30.

The four new entries bring the total for this season to 10, with half of them coming from Fork.

Martin talks rattlers 3/12/2007
The latest edition of Tipped Off Radio features Scott Martin, who talks about fishing rattling crankbaits in the springtime and listening to what the fish tell you about the bait. To listen, click here.

Remitz's new world 3/12/2007
Derek Remitz reflects on his Bassmaster Elite Series win at Amistad and talks about living his dream in a new BassFan Radio interview with Terry Brown. To listen, click here.

BASS beds with Ramada 3/12/2007
BASS announced today that hotel chain Ramada Worldwide has become its newest sponsor. Under the agreement, Ramada will serve as the official hotel of the BASS Federation Nation and will sponsor all Nation events. Along with representation in select Bassmaster Elite Series events, Ramada will also be the exclusive presenting sponsor of the 2007 Bassmaster Legends Major. In addition, Ramada Worldwide will sponsor a BASS Conservation program in 2007 and offer discounts to BASS members.

Ramada regional marketing director Kristin Rozewski said: "Ramada Worldwide knows BASS members are passionate about bass fishing, and we want to be associated with them. We hope BASS members will choose Ramada hotels for all their lodging needs in the future."

ESPN senior VP of specialized sales and marketing Jeff Siegel said: "We're excited to start an association with a strong brand such as Ramada Worldwide. We applaud the vision of Ramada Worldwide in recognizing the loyalty of BASS members and the strength of the BASS Federation Nation."

Caption Contest winner 3/12/2007

Winner Chad Keogh of Black Creek, British Columbia submitted the caption seen to right (click on photo for larger version) and will receive some Berkley line from the BassFan Army. Way to go Chad. Here's hoping you hook Godzilla!

Luce wraps for troops 3/12/2007

Luce has pledged to donate $1 for every pound of bass he weighs this season to the AFF. Two of his sponsors – Mizmo and Bass Cat – will match his pledge. He also challenged each tour pro to "come on board" and pledge, and hopes every angler in the U.S. will join the cause.

AFF President Patricia Driscoll said: "We're very proud to be working with Elton in raising money for, and awareness of, the Foundation and its mission. We want to have the ability to help as many active-duty, reserve, retired, patients, National Guardsmen, and their families as possible. It's because of folks like Elton that we're able to raise the funds necessary to help our military community in need."

A press release noted that Luce chose the AFF over other groups because of its "proven quick assistance to all military branches, including veterans and military families."

Anyone who wishes to donate to the Foundation can do so at www.ArmedForcesFoundation.org. Donations may be tagged as "Anglers Do Care" in the donation comment box, and when the Luce's season concludes, a total donation on behalf of angling will be noted on the site.

Morgan's mammoth spot 3/12/2007

"I caught it Feb. 28 on a War Eagle finesse jig in about 25 feet of water," he said. "I went and weighed it on a certified scale with a couple of witnesses, but to get it in the record books, I'd have to send a DNA sample to the TWRA (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency). That meant I'd have to kill the fish, so I turned it loose. I did ask if I could send a fin sample or something, but a friend of mine who works for the TWRA said no, I'd have to kill the fish."

He wasn't actively targeting spotted bass over other species, but was fishing channel edges where both largemouths and spots gather this time of year. And surprisingly, it's not his biggest spot ever. He caught one slightly bigger last year at Alabama's Lake Logan Martin while practicing for the FLW championship.

"One that big is really uncommon for here, but you get lucky every now and then and catch one of them," he added.

> The standing Tennessee state-record spot was caught at Center Hill Reservoir by Gary Martin on Feb. 4, 1989.

Get the weather 3/12/2007
Get all (or most) of your weather needs taken care of at OutdoorsFanWeather.com:

> Get outdoors-related weather fast (on the homepage), without waiting for tons of ads to load (weather.com) or lots of time spent wading through NOAA data.
> Check out radar and satellite images, also without lots of clicking or waiting for ads to load.
> Let us know if you need anything else!

Also:

1) Have a web site? Want a weather box on it? Just click here to go to OutdoorsFanWeather.com and grab the code you need. Remember to type in your hometown or zip code at the top of that page or on the OutdoorsFanWeather homepage first.

2) To see your weather pop up on the homepages of all OutdoorsFan Media sites (BassFan.com, BassFanArmy.com, InshoreFan.com and ShotgunFan.com), just go to OutdoorsFanWeather.com and enter your zip code or hometown. You're done!

Amistad: Day 2 shortened 3/11/2007
Because of severe weather conditions today at Lake Amistad, BASS officials shortened the final day of competition by 1 hour. Weigh-in will now begin at 4:20 EST, rather than 5:20.

Hite on Amistad position 3/9/2007
Davy Hite caught 22-01 today at the Amistad Bassmaster Elite Series, which was 4 pounds less than he caught the day before. Still, that relative consistency moved him up seven spots to 11th, and he trails leader Steve Kennedy by only 5 pounds (a small margin at Amistad). For his take on the day, and his position – plus Mike Wurm's thoughts on missing the Top 50 cut – click here to visit the Team Evinrude page.

New Classic memories 3/9/2007
The 37th edition of the Bassmaster Classic has been committed to the history books. And like the previous 36, it contained some moments that made it unique. To find out what BASS founder Ray Scott will remember most about the '07 event, click here to read his latest Scott On-Line column.

BASS's Open payout 3/9/2007

In its announcement about the Opens, and in further literature published on its site, BASS stated the Open field would be limited to 150 boats. In the past, BASS has commonly overbooked events (this year's Elite Series is one example, with 108 boats vs. the 100 boats originally announced). But at Kissimmee, BASS allowed an additional 47 boats to compete.

To adjust for the increased boats, BASS extended its payout further into the field. But that's where things get sticky. Here's why. In the published Open payout on BASS's site, it pays back 1 in 5 anglers (to 30th place in a 150-boat field). BASS stuck with that formula and paid down to 39th place at Kissimmee (still 1 in 5 anglers paid).

However, BassFans who wrote in were disturbed that the overall payout was only increased by $9,000. In the original published Open payout, BASS was to pay out more than it accepted in entry fees ($150,000 in entries, $166,250 paid out). When everything shook out, BASS took in more in entry fees ($197,000) than it actually paid out ($175,250). Note that these figures are for the pro side only, and that BASS did stick to its 1-in-5 ratio, despite the seemingly skewed economics.

Also at issue is Bassmaster Classic and Elite Series qualification, which is made more difficult with an additional 50-odd boats in the mix.

A BASS official told BassFan that BASS has always reserved the right to overbook its fields (although that language cannot be found in published Open literature), that it will continue to overbook its Opens, and that its Opens will continue to pay back 1 in 5 anglers.

Warm-friendly oil 3/9/2007

The new Yamalube 4-M 20W-40 FC-W is said to provide premium lubrication, along with all the same anti-wear and anti-corrosion additives found in other Yamalube formulas. Its heavier weight reportedly delivers improved startup protection and oil stability in high-load, high-heat conditions.

Win a trolling motor! 3/9/2007
The BassFan Army is giving away a free Minn Kota Edge trolling motor this week. Read more about it in Al Smith's latest column here. But note that you have to be a BassFan Army member to be eligible to win. If you haven't signed up yet, sign up now! Why miss out on all this free stuff? Lifetime membership is FREE too.

2 new Army trails 3/9/2007
The BassFan Army is pleased to announce two new trails to its sanctioned trails list, which brings the list of nationwide sanctioned trails to 21.

Future Pro Tour (CA)

"The Future Pro Tour is extremely pleased to be part of the BassFan Army, and is proud to be part of the Army's mission, which we feel is wholly congruent with ours: growing the grassroots angler base," said tournament director Vince Harris. "We look forward to our partnership with the BassFan Army and our participation in its many outstanding programs."

BassFan's Al Smith said: "Vince and the folks at Future Pro Tour have a great history of running quality events and are respected by their customers. We're excited about the trail adding even more opportunities for West Coast anglers to participate in the BassFan Army program."

> Read about the Future Pro Tour at www.futureprotour.net

Anglers Challenge of Maine (ME)

This is a new trail in Maine, started by John Heutz who said: "I'm proud that Angler's Challenge of Maine is the state's first tournament trail to be sanctioned by the BassFan Army. I'm excited about this partnership and the unique opportunities the BassFan Army will bring to the tournament bass anglers of Maine. The BassFan Army is truly an added bonus to the trail and its anglers."

BassFan's Al Smith said: "John is an accomplished tournament director who has raised the bar in tournament quality and fish care. His trail will be a great addition to our sanctioned trail list."

> You can learn about the trail by going to www.anglerschallengeofmaine.com

Dove's JDC deal 3/9/2007

Depicted on the wrap is a soft-plastic topwater bait called the Skip-N-Pop. It's shaped like a popper, but has a collapsible air pocket that closes when the fish inhales, thus exposing the hook.

Said Dove: “I am looking forward to working with (owner Darby Camas) and the rest of the JDC Baits team to extend the awareness of JDC Baits for many years to come.”

Velvick injured 3/8/2007
ESPN Outdoors has reported that Bassmaster Elite Series pro Byron Velvick was injured yesterday. According to ESPNOutdoors.com, Velvick became pinned between his truck and boat, and suffered severe contusions to his leg. He's fishing the Amistad Elite Series today, the article said, but with pain medication and anti-inflammatories, and will have to fish from a seat.

Evan Williams supports Army 3/8/2007

Evan Williams brand manager Kirstin Jackson said of the agreement: "Evan Williams bourbon is very excited to formalize our sponsorship with the BassFan Army. We know that bass angling is the No. 1 activity among Evan Williams consumers, and we know that the BassFan Army is truly the grassroots of fishing. The rapid growth of the BassFan Army is very important to fishing, and Evan Williams is proud to be a part of that growth."

BassFan VP of membership programs Al Smith said: "The goal of the BassFan Army is to provide real benefits to our members, and the support of Evan Williams will help tremendously with that goal. We couldn't be more pleased with the support they've shown us, and our members, and we welcome them."

> If you're 21 years of age or older and would like more information on Evan Williams and its products, visit www.EvanWilliams.com.

> Evan Williams is currently running a bass-fishing contest with pro Jason Quinn called The Reel Adventure Team Quinn Fishing Sweepstakes. The winner will spend a full day fishing with Quinn, at the lake of Quinn's choice. Along with the grand prize, over 1,000 other prizes will be awarded, including Costa Del Mar sunglasses, Shakespeare rod/reel combos, Tru-Tungsten Jason Quinn jigs, autographed Nitro hats, and Storm crankbaits. Total value of the guaranteed prizes is over $30,000. If you're 21 years of age or older and would like to enter, visit the Evan Williams site at the link above.

> To sign up for the BassFan Army, click here.

Fork on fire 3/8/2007

The fish, which measured 25.5 inches in length and 21 inches in girth, was donated to the Texas ShareLunker Program.

Rook, Alltel renew 3/8/2007

“Scott is a tremendous ambassador for Alltel,” said senior VP of corporate communications Randy Wilbourn. “He has not only enjoyed great success and consistency in an increasingly popular sport, he is among the most respected and well-liked individuals on the sport-fishing scene.”

Said Rook: "It's an honor to represent Alltel again, and I’m looking forward to meeting its customers on the circuit and in other special events during the year. With the Legends (major) win and other success, last year was a lot of fun, and we hope to have even more fun this year.”

Dudley does right 3/7/2007
FLW pro David Dudley talks about how to be successful in fishing and how to eliminate the excuses and just going through the motions in the latest edition of Tipped Off Radio. To listen, click here.

Rojas' new wraps 3/7/2007

Gemini is featured on the truck and Yamaha occupies the prime spot on the boat, but both wraps also contain other signage. Included are Lowrance, Cocoons eyewear and his newest sponsor, Northland Tackle.

Weakley plans to submit 3/7/2007
Ed Zieralski of the San Diego Union-Tribune has reported that Mac Weakley plans to submit his Lake Dixon bass for the IGFA all-tackle world record. The fish weighed 25-01 on a handheld scale. Remember that Weakley decided against submitting the fish last year, based largely on the fact that is was foul-hooked. For Zieralski's full story, click here.

More on PAA Fork event 3/7/2007

But what about payout? Additional sponsors? To learn more about the event, BassFan sat down with PAA executive director Gene Ellison for a brief Q&A about how things are progressing.

BassFan: We've seen the teams, but no payout schedule. Is it a winner-take-all contest, or are the prize levels more graduated?

Ellison: Winnings go to a team, and the team divides it among themselves. The payout for 1st place is $250,000, then $88,000 for 2nd, $70,000 for 3rd and on down. The 10th-place team receives $20,000, 11th through 20th receives $14,000, and 21st through 40th receives $8,000. So everybody gets at least $2,000 for competing.

Plus, whoever catches the biggest fish in the tournament will receive a brand new, fully loaded 2007 Toyota Tundra. And if the biggest bass caught is also a new Texas state record, the angler will receive $100,000 cash plus a fully rigged, brand-new bass boat in addition to the new Tundra. If multiple state records are caught, we'll award only one state record.

Limit-fish will be weighed on the water, but the big fish will be weighed onstage, right?

Each angler is responsible for a five-fish limit. Any fish under 24 inches that is caught will be measured, weighed, recorded, and released. Any fish over 24 inches will be placed in the livewell, brought in and weighed on the scales on the weigh-in stage. Each angler can only have one 24-plus-inch fish in the livewell at any time.

Of course, Toyota's the title sponsor, but have other sponsors stepped up to support the event?

We currently have over 100 sponsors involved, many of which are listed on the Toyota Texas Bass Classic website. We have a lot of sponsors from around the area who will be part of the pro-am on Thursday, April 12 and who will be taking booth space.

We have in the neighborhood of 15 major sponsors, including of course Toyota, plus Bass Pro Shops, Tracker Marine, Mossy Oak, Holt-Caterpillar, XM Radio, and Enterprise Rent-A-Car.

How about local officials? Are they getting behind this event?

The city of Lindale has come on as the host city and is pouring hundreds of thousands of dollars into this event. These people are just terrific. The whole area has come alive. They're expecting between 8,000 and 12,000 fans per day during the event.

> The 3-day competition runs from Fri., April 13 through Sun., April 15. The event is preceded by a pro-am on Thursday.

> A sponsor expo runs Friday through Sunday, with live entertainment all day Saturday and Sunday. Artists include Danielle Peck, Zona Jones, Clay Walker, Kacey Musgraves, Todd Fritsch, and Tracy Lawrence.

Sorry: technical problems 3/7/2007
BassFan and its sister sites were off-line for about an hour this morning due to some technical difficulties. We're back up, with apologies to all who couldn't connect. Some additional bumps may occur this morning, but everything should be smoothed out.

Phillips wraps for charity 3/7/2007

About the decision, he said: "I've dedicated the 2007 season to the disabled people of this country and the work of Pursuing a Dream. There are nearly 55 million disabled people in the U.S. Too many of them have the desire to get outdoors, but are not connected with organizations like Pursuing a Dream that can facilitate a trip. I hope to raise awareness of this cause and I ask for the support of my fellow competitors and weekend anglers and hunters throughout the country. My desire is for all of us to 'Share the Feeling' and help these folks pursue their dreams."

He'll also function as national spokesman for the organization, and will attend numerous events across the country. Ware, the young man who inspired him, appears on his boat's windshield.

> For more information about the chariry, visit www.PursuingADream.com.

Kota's camper 3/7/2007

World record bass: update 3/6/2007
It's that time of year again – those few short weeks when we expect to hear something big out of Southern California. Last year, the news was about Mac Weakley, and the potential 25-pound world record that he hooked, then released. Ed Zieralski of the San Diego Union Tribune recently caught up with Weakley, and his buddies Mike Winn and Jed Dickerson, who are going to give the "Dixon Vixen" one last try. To read the story, click here.

Menendez: new look 3/6/2007

Fan-Tastic crank? 3/6/2007
Here at BassFan, we see a lot of products come across the desk, but none quite like the Squeel-R crank from Action Lures Company. It's got an internal fan that moves water through the body of the bait, and it sounds like a cross between a rattling crank and a buzzbait. For more, click here to read the full product review.

Captain Morehead 3/6/2007

"We had a meeting recently, and I instantly hit it off with them," Morehead said of Lawry's. "It's going to work perfectly. I'm excited, I feel like I have a new lease on life.

"In addition to fishing, we're going to be doing a lot of cross-promoting with the hunting segment as well," he added. "As most people probably know, I live for bowhunting whitetail deer, so I'm real excited about that. I really think the sky is the limit."

Army: 3 days left 3/6/2007
Thinking about signing up for the BassFan Army? It costs zip, nothing, zero – except for a few minutes of your time. It' a lifetime deal, and the best part is, the benefits are killer. Plus, if you sign up within the next 3 days, you could win a Minn Kota Edge foot-control trolling motor (valued at $540).

> To sign up for the BassFan Army, click here.

Roth on Sphar 3/5/2007
Leo Roth of the Rochester, N.Y. Democrat & Chronicle is a long-respected sportswriter, whose beat is typically the NFL, NHL and other big-time sports. But he recently tackled the pro-fishing topic with a piece on local angler Matt Sphar (of Pavilion), who begins his rookie season with the Bassmaster Elite Series this week at Amistad.

Especially notable is who gave Sphar a shot (in terms of sponsor support). To read Roth's story, click here.

Ike #9: Champlain 3/5/2007
Mike Iaconelli's Angler of the Year series continues today on BassFan TV, as Ike talks about the Lake Champlain event. To watch, click here.

Moore talks protection 3/5/2007
Now playing on BassFan Radio with Terry Brown is an interview with FLW pro and Reaction Innovations owner Andre Moore, who talks about designing and protecting his baits, his "world tour," and some exciting new products. To listen, click here.

Scroggins on line 3/5/2007

"I used both 6- and 12-pound at the Classic and caught limits each day," he said. "I used Gamma Edge fluorocarbon. I have total confidence in it. It's so strong I never worry about my line being a problem. The 6-pound got me more bites, and was a key to my finish."

> Scroggins recently won the recent Kissimmee Bassmaster Southern Open. Details of his winning pattern will be posted soon on BassFanArmy.com.

> Gamma Edge is currently available at the BassFan Store. To buy it, click here.

More Rojas/Northland 3/5/2007

"Northland's wanting to come south, and design some baits, and they asked me to come aboard," he said. "We'd been talking about it for 2 1/2 months now, and it's been a wonderful relationship. They want me to design a whole soft-plastics line for them."

He added that plans include a sight-fishing kit (one of his specialties), plus tournament-quality bass tackle. "And they have a new Sling-Shot worm weight, which is a neat and innovative weight system that's going to work out really well. They've committed to a multiyear deal (with me) to make this thing successful. The (Bassmaster) Elite Series will be a big factor in that. You'll see a lot of prototype stuff coming out shortly, and we have a lot of neat ideas. This is a company that's aggressive and driven, and we'll be opening it up for some new pro-staff guys to come aboard as well."

> An interesting side note to the story is that in the North and Upper Midwest, Northland and Rapala do compete, but the two have sort of carved out their territory – Rapala with hardbaits, Northland with jigs and spinners. There is crossover with Rapala-owned Blue Fox, namely in jigs, spinners, spoons, spinnerbaits and spinner blades. But Rapala recently acquired Terminator, which gives the company a full suite of established bass spinnerbaits and jigs. That may have been the impetus for Northland's new push toward the South and bass.

> Another note: Rojas was wearing a Northland logo at the recent Bassmaster Classic.

Bentz awards Edwards 3/5/2007

Remember that Edwards isn't fishing at the tour level this year. He opted out of the 2006 Bassmaster Elite Series Wildcard Qualifier to participate in cancer research (he's a cancer survivor). Currently, he's working on promotions with his traveling fish tanks, and is developing a new TV show.

The award reads: "Presented to Jarrett Edwards - Given with our sincere appreciation for all you do to promote Triton Boats. Your enthusiasm for our product is surpassed only by your exemplary moral and ethical standards. It is truly an honor and our privilege to have you associated with the Triton Boats company."

Edwards noted: "I've been with Triton nearly 10 years and couldn't be happier with the people and the pride they have in their product. Triton Boats has been such a great asset to me over the years. They've supported me from my days with BASS to the present day with national TV. I'm excited about this award. It's never been given before."

Brauer's jig system 3/2/2007
Looking for a good, solid overview on how to select jigs? Team Evinrude pro Chad Brauer's got one, and he spills the beans today on the Team Evinrude Page. To read all about how he selects the right jig, click here.

Northland signs Rojas 3/2/2007

According to Northland, Rojas has been added to its Team Northland staff, and will promote the brand through tournaments and seminars, plus in-store and sportshow promotions.

About the deal, Rojas said: "In an effort to remain at the top of my sport going into the 2007 Bassmaster Elite Series, I've partnered with Northland Fishing Tackle to use and promote their premium line of soft plastics, specialty jigs, spoons, and worm weights. Northland's line of Slurpies soft plastics are the most realistic and productive plastics I've ever used. They feature holographic FishFlakes and are salted and spiced with SowSauce."

Northland president John Peterson said: "Dean is a true professional angler and we have the highest regard for his past accomplishments and future potential. Dean and I have teamed up with our engineers to design some very innovative and exciting new products for 2008. We're going to combine my 37 years of manufacturing expertise with his knowledge and uncanny ability to modify lures to catch more and bigger bass. Look for the Dean Rojas Signature Series baits coming soon. You won't be disappointed."

Laney, Kumar: Classic wrap-ups 3/2/2007
Scot Laney and Jay Kumar offer up two new opinion columns today. Laney's is an overall look at the Classic, and some residual issues. Kumar takes on the conundrum of what he calls "video DQs."

> To read the Laney Opinion, click here.

> To read Kumar's BassFan Opinion, click here.

Cook's vinyl 3/2/2007

"It's part of my ongoing commitment to help more anglers catch more fish," he added.

Lane post-letdown 3/1/2007
Now on BassFan Radio with Terry Brown, Russ Lane reflects on his disappointing Bassmaster Classic, and the difference between fishing for a check, and fishing to win. To listen, click here.

Mass. needs anglers 3/1/2007
MassWildlife's Angler Education program is looking for volunteer fishing instructors. On Sat., March 10th, a full-day Angler Education instructor workshop, which certifies instructors, will be held at the MassWildlife field headquarters in Westborough. The workshop is free. Women and men of all ages who enjoy fishing, and sharing their knowledge and passion for fishing, are encouraged to attend.

Instructors work as a team to offer fishing clinics, classes and family fishing festivals throughout the state. The program is especially in need of instructor teams from the following areas: Southern Berkshires, Upper Connecticut Valley, North Shore, Southeastern Massachusetts, and Cape Cod.

Pre-registration is required. For more details and to register, contact Angler Education program coordinator Jim Lagacy at (508) 389-6309.