Manry new OutdoorsFan GM 1/31/2008
OutdoorsFan Media (OFM), a division of InterMedia Outdoors, today announced that Jim Manry has joined the staff as general manager.

In his new role, Manry will be responsible for the day-to-day management of OFM operations, including sales, editorial, membership programs, and website development. His first priority will be to manage the late-February launch of WalleyeFan.com, which will provide the same exciting and credible coverage of the competitive walleye scene that readers have come to expect from the BassFan, BassFan Army, InshoreFan, and ShotgunFan websites.

"Jim's solid reputation as a creative and innovative outdoor media sales professional will be a valuable asset to the continued growth of the OFM franchise," said Intermedia Outdoors VP Steve Hoffman. "His 25 years of multiplatform media sales and management experience will serve as a catalyst for dramatic growth across the OFM portfolio."

Manry also will be responsible for planning and executing strategies that increase site traffic and advertiser response, and continue to build OFM's reputation as the leading source for outdoor news and information. This includes design and editorial improvements to current websites in the OFM portfolio and the development of new sites in the fishing, hunting, and shooting categories.

"I'm thrilled to have this opportunity to work at OutdoorsFan Media," Manry said. "The company's reputation and proven track record within the outdoor industry are without peer, and I'm committed to helping build the web's premier outdoor community."

An accomplished outdoor media leader with more than 25 years of sales experience, Manry has for the last 3 years served as senior account director at ESPN Outdoors. Prior to that he was eastern sporting goods manager for Field & Stream and Outdoor Life magazines.

TTBC Qualifier field 1/31/2008
The Professional Anglers Association (PAA) today announced the field of anglers competing in the Toyota Texas Bass Classic (TTBC) Qualifier scheduled for Feb. 8-9 on Texas' super-hot Choke Canyon Reservoir. The 64-angler field is made up of competitors from 20 different states, including five invitees from the National Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship.

About the field, PAA President Mark Davis said: "The PAA members who stepped up to the plate and entered this qualifier have shown us their spirit and support for their organization. We hope they are rewarded with some great fishing at Choke Canyon, which from what we've heard from the experts, rivals the quality of bass fishing at any lake in the state of Texas."

The Top 25 finishers will advance to the 2008 Toyota Texas Bass Classic, April 18-20 on Lake Fork.

Here's the list of anglers competing in the TTBC Qualifier:

Alabama
Brent Crow
Jimmy Mason
Craig Dowling
Doug Garrett
Simon Morrow
Travis Rulle

Arkansas
Stephen Browning
Jim Dillard
Clark Reehm

Florida
Patrick Pierce

Georgia
Michael Brown
Glenn Chappelear

Illinois
Luke Estel

Indiana
John Gray
Wes Thomas
Kelby Waldrip

Kentucky
Randy Alexander
Nathan Baum
Adam Hock

Louisiana
Roger Boler
Tony Chachere

Massachusetts
Danny Correia

Missouri
Chad Brauer
Scott Campbell
Scott Kehlenbrink

Nebraska
Aaron Jakub

New Jersey
Dave Mansue

North Carolina
Marty Stone

Ohio
Brad Wall

Oklahoma
Harmon Davis

South Carolina
Ray Sedgwick

South Dakota
Jami Fralick

Tennessee
Ray Brazier
Kenneth Chapman
Frank Lannom
Russ Moran

Texas
Harold Allen
Patrick Amick
Kip Bodkin
Robert Collett
David Curtis
Randy Dearman
Tommy Durham
Jerry Green
David Gregg
Johnny Grice
Ray Hanselman
Trent Huckaby
Trevor Knight
Thomas Law
Elton Luce, Jr.
Cody Malone
Ben Matsubu
Yusuke Miyazaki
James Niggemeyer
Mark Pack
Dave Parsons
Brian Penso
Justin Rackley
Tim Reneau
Jason Reyes
Byron Velvick
Lance Vick

Virginia
Kurt Dove

Jimmy Houston: "Booyah!" 1/31/2008
Jimmy Houston has joined fellow bass-fishing icons Bill Dance and Roland Martin in promoting Booyah Bait Company. Houston's the new kid on the block when it comes to Booyah, but he's been affiliated with Booyah's parent company, Pradco-Fishing, for over 30 years. It sounds like Booyah's spinnerbait offerings will be his primary focus.

"Booyah baits are loaded with features that truly separate them from ordinary spinnerbaits," Houston said. "The head shape makes them very difficult to hang, even in heavy cover, and the red eyes and gillplates are important for attracting strikes. I'm also really excited about the Leverage hook system that's part of many of the spinnerbaits and the Boogee Bait. With that single feature, most fishermen will land far more of the fish than they otherwise would."

He's currently working with Booyah to develop a signature line of spinnerbaits designed to his specifications. "From blade configurations, to skirt colors, to the Leverage hook system, these baits are going to be special," he said.

BASS Conservation Review 1/31/2008
BASS recently released a list of its conservation-related efforts and accomplishments for 2007, and it's a long one.

Here are a few highlights:

> BASS Conservation joined a coalition of conservation groups at the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies headquarters in Washington, D.C., to discuss the 2007 Farm Bill. The Farm Bill contains many conservation programs important to protecting and enhancing fisheries habitat. The purpose of the meeting was to determine which provisions and what funding levels the group would like to see included in the next Farm Bill.

> BASS Conservation worked with state and federal agencies to establish a National Reservoir Partnership. Without a reservoir partnership in place, reservoir fisheries habitat will receive little attention for federal funding and restoration.

> BASS Conservation worked jointly with the California B.A.S.S. Federation Nation, Elite angler Skeet Reese and local bass fishermen to stop a movement banning outboard engines on Clementine Lake, near Sacramento, Calif. If the ban were implemented, it would set a dangerous precedent that might lead to prohibiting recreational boating and fishing from a boat on other medium to large waters in California.

> BASS Conservation helped negotiate a compromise between anglers and marina operators on Corps of Engineers impoundments in Missouri and Arkansas. The agreement, finalized in June, protects angler access to important fishing spots on Corps lakes. BASS has been working with the Corps for more than a year to resolve the dispute over angler access.

> To assist the B.A.S.S. Federation Nations (BFN), state and federal governments and other conservation organizations with volunteer turnout, BASS developed the BASS Angler Conservation Team, or ACT. ACT is a database of willing volunteers who sign up for the free program through the Bassmaster.com Web site. The ACT program reached over 7,000 participants in 2007.

And that's not even half of it. Click here to see the complete list.

Tabu: Tiny Tim 1/31/2008

Along with the Open Water Series jig, Tabu will also display and sell its new Tiny Tim swimbait at the Classic. The Tiny Tim is manufactured in conjunction with Optimum Baits – a much-respected worm, swimbait and hardbait manufacturer based in California. Optimum's also the creator of the Furbit frog, and imports lures for Ima.

Tabu's Michael Murphy describes the 3-inch Tiny Tim, which will feature Fred Roumbanis on the packaging, as a finesse swimbait. "Swimbaits have been coined as a power-fishing technique," Murphy told BassFan. "Many have thrown them only to see the fish of a lifetime come up and nose the bait, or just merely nip the tail. Much like you'd downsize from a jig to a finesse worm, there are times you may want to downsize from a 5-inch swimbait to our 3-inch Tiny Tim. It's so unique, you can even dropshot it. Nobody's done something quite like this, and it's been killer so far in our fishing."

Also notable about the Tiny Tim is the body cavity directly behind the head. Murphy takes a rubber-core sinker, removes the rubber, threads a small hook through the sinker body, then inserts the package into the cavity, with the hook-point sticking out the back of the bait.

The Tiny Tim will debut in eight colors: golden shiner, pearl white, watermelon seed, hitch, glimmer shad, perch, ayu, and prism shad.

Murphy added that the company is well-stocked for the Classic. There'll be 7,000 jigs there, and 5,000 packs of swimbaits (five to a pack), so be sure to stop by the Tackle Warehouse booth to check 'em out.

Skeet Reese: Recon Basics 1/31/2008
Have you ever wondered how those bass pros can show up at a lake a week before a tournament and have every square inch of it figured out by tournament day? Today in the Bass Recon section of BassFanArmy.com, Bassmaster Elite Series Angler of the Year Skeet Reese gives you the rundown on recon. Tidbit: Simplicity is Skeet's secret.

Bass Recon is brought to you by the good folks at Fenwick, Abu Garcia and Berkley.

Crazy Erie effect 1/31/2008
The Great Lakes are known for some crazy weather patterns – glass-like conditions, then 8- to 10-foot rollers a few hours later. Or the "Three Sisters" – a set of three devastating waves in quick succession that were thought to have sunk the Edmund Fitzgerald.

But what happened yesterday was one of the rarest of all Great Lakes phenomena. A powerful cold front blew up the length of Lake Erie from the southwest, with sustained winds of 50 mph and gusts to 70. That created a "seiche" in the eastern end of the lake, which occurs when powerful winds push surface waters toward one end of a waterbody.

The result was a rapid 8-foot rise in water level within 3 hours at the eastern end of the lake near Buffalo, N.Y., and a resultant 5-foot drop on the western end near Toledo, Ohio. It was the second-highest seiche level ever recorded by the National Weather Service.

Radio: Murray & Storm on the mic 1/31/2008

> There are several ways to listen. To dial up the Windows Media or Real Media broadcasts, click here for the BassFan Radio Page.

> To listen to a QuickTime stream, or subscribe via podcast, click here for the BassFan Radio host site. Those already subscribed to the podcast series should have already received their episode.

Cali quagga regs heat up 1/30/2008
Hot on the heels of the news that California's Lake Casitas could face a closure to combat the spread of the invasive quagga mussel, several Northern California papers are reporting that some lakes are now off-limits to visiting boaters from certain locales.

The Lake County Record Bee reports: "The spread of the mussels are so important that starting Feb. 1 the East Bay Municipal Utility District is placing boating restrictions on many of the lakes in its jurisdiction. Boaters from Southern California, San Benito County and Santa Clara County are now banned from Lake Camanche, San Pablo, Briones, Lafayette and Chabot. All other boaters will be required to pass an inspection before they can launch their boats."

The story even raised the specter of what might happen in the case of Clear Lake. Could it face similar restrictions, which would severely impact the area's tourism- and fishing-dependent economy? Could we face a future where major tournaments like the FLW Series, Stren Series, or Bassmaster Elite Series no longer visit Clear Lake? Pretty scary.

To read the Record Bee's story, click here.

WBT Champ on Edge 1/30/2008

Also on this week's show, "Inside Edge" features in-depth information on crankbaits, the "First Cast" segment offers up tips for storing your baits, and Dr. Jay McNamara discusses gender issues in fishing on "In The Zone."

Head over to BassEdge.com this week to get more topwater secrets from bass-fishing legend Rick Clunn. And don't forget about "The Edge," the weekly podcast of Bass Edge on iTunes. This week, Pam Martin-Wells discusses shallow-water fishing.

Post-Shakespeare moves 1/30/2008
Last week BassFan reported on layoffs at Shakespeare Fishing Tackle in Columbia, S.C. and noted director of advertising and public relations Mark Davis was no longer with the company. He will join Pradco Outdoor Brands (parent company of Yum, Rebel, Bomber, Heddon and others) starting Feb. 1. Specifics of his new position were not revealed in a communication to the industry.

Also of note is that former Shakespeare advertising manager Gayle Crutchlow has joined Bluewater Marine Group as marketing director.

Why the All-American moved 1/30/2008
FLW Outdoors last week moved its 2008 BFL All-American to Hot Springs, Ark. after "unavoidable conflicts arose at the previously selected site in Hartford, Conn.," the company said.

There's been no word from FLW Outdoors as to what those conflicts were, but the Harford Courant seems to have answered the question. The newspaper didn't get a clarification from FLW Outdoors – it said calls to the company were not returned – but it talked to several local sources, and it appears the "conflict" involved a disagreement over which local entities were to pay the $75,000 site fee needed to land the tournament.

> For the Courant's reporting on the story, click here.

> To read a Courant opinion piece about the conflict, click here.

This is London calling... 1/30/2008
It's not often that a European newspaper covers the U.S. pro-fishing scene, but The Independent of London recently ran a story about the Bassmaster Classic. Reporter Keith Elliot traveled Stateside to attend last year, and he's going again this year. To read the story, click here.

Heavyweight winner 1/29/2008
Bass pros often talk about the mentality of fishing for "five bites a day," but what if you only had the option of bringing your single biggest fish to the scales? That was the idea behind the inaugural Western Bass Heavyweight Bass Classic held last Friday (Jan. 25) on California's Lake Casitas. Competitors put their big-bass skills to the test in a winner-take-all format that awarded $10,000 to the 1st-place finisher.

Castro Valley, Calif. angler Don Osborne tossed a 12-inch, trout-pattern Castaic Hard Head swimbait around boulders to catch the winning fish, a 10.52-pound brute. He opted for the 12-inch bait after making a call to state officials who told him they'd recently been stocking Casitas with 12-inch rainbow trout, instead of the more common 8-inch rainbows.

Hunting and Fishing Day 1/29/2008
National Hunting and Fishing day is set for Sept. 27, 2008. The purpose of the annual holiday is to recognize the vital role hunters and anglers play in conservation.

The Sportsman Channel is showing its support for the holiday through a sponsorship of the Wonders of Wildlife Museum, the official home and organizer of National Hunting and Fishing Day.

"We're grateful for The Sportsman Channel renewing a generous sponsorship package that it actually launched last year. Together, we're continuing to build public appreciation for traditional outdoor sports," said Denise Wagner, National Hunting and Fishing Day coordinator for Wonders of Wildlife.

Michelle Scheuermann, Director of Communications for The Sportsman Channel, said: "National Hunting and Fishing Day is exactly the principles The Sportsman Channel was founded upon five years ago. We exist to help retain and recruit sportsmen and keep the nation’s conservation efforts on the forefront."

The Sportsman Channel will promote the holiday through all of its media resources, including a public service announcement for television and a public celebration of the holiday at the company's headquarters in Wisconsin.

For more information about National Hunting and Fishing Day, click here.

> Wonders of Wildlife is the only hunting- and fishing-focused museum that’s both affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution and accredited by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association.

McClelland's 'mystery' bait 1/29/2008

That was the last anyone heard about plans for a bait McClelland "wanted to make for a long time." But BassFan today learned a little more. Check out of the photo to right of McClelland with his prototype, which he calls the McStick (click the photo to make it bigger).

That's it – just a photo. But BassFan will publish more about the bait when it becomes available. Word is it'll be shown at this summer's ICAST industry trade show.

> For more about Spro and its pro-developed products, click here.

> To check out McClelland's BassFan Angler Profile, click here.

Clausen's coldwater attack 1/29/2008
Few pros have been more successful with a finesse setup than Luke Clausen. By the age of 27, he'd already won both of the sport's major championships. But finesse-fishing during coldwater periods (meaning, right now) comes with its own set of challenges. Today on the Berkley: Catch More Fish page, he details his coldwater finesse system in detail. Tidbit: He dropshots with braided line, and has developed a system to encourage big, shallow fish to bite first, instead of the dinks.

Bondy's new deals 1/28/2008

Bondy's teamed up with Berkley to promote their soft-plastics and fishing line. About bringing on Bondy, Berkley's Scott Dubiel said: "We're very happy to have Jon aboard with Berkley, as his addition will definitely help bolster the Berkley Pro-Staff Team. Jon's an outstanding tour angler and more importantly, a first-class guy."

He also signed on with the lesser-known, Tennessee-based lure maker Rattle Head Baits. Rattle Head produces spinnerbaits, jigs and buzzbaits that feature a unique hook and head design that cause the baits to rattle when retrieved.

"Jon is incredibly knowledgeable of the sportfishing industry and a stand up kind of guy," said Dow Cox, owner of Rattle Head Baits. "We feel that his role in this partnership is going to be key in helping us grow our company."

Bondy adds Berkley and Rattle Head to his growing list of sponsors that includes Champion, Mercury, All Star, and Pflueger.

Big bronze in CA 1/28/2008

Last July, Pardee surrendered a state-record smallmouth to Stockton, Calif. angler Harold Hardin. On Sunday, two bronzebacks that threatened Hardin's 9.83-pound standard were caught.

Western FLW Series and Stren angler Dean McDaniel (right) caught one that weighed 9.3 pounds (on a hand-held scale) during the morning session. In the afternoon, NorCal fishing guru Alan Fong boated one that was just a couple of ounces lighter.

The event, sponsored by Jackson Rancheria Hotel and Casino, was organized by veteran California angler/media personality Kent Brown. Other pros who participated included Bassmaster Elite Series angler Greg Gutierrez and FLW competitors Randy McAbee, Bub Tosh and R.J. Bennett.

C.A.S.T at Super Bowl 1/28/2008

C.A.S.T. national spokesman Clay Dyer will be on hand, autographing copies of his new biography, The View from Down Here is Just Fine. which was written by BassFan's Scot Laney. Dyer, an avid football fan, is shown at right talking with the Seattle Seahawks' Marcus Pollard.

For more on the activities that'll be taking place at the Outdoor Recreation Village, click here.

Better Pittsburgh bass? 1/28/2008
With FLW Outdoors officials reportedly visiting Pittsburgh this week to evaluate the city as a potential site for the 2009 Forrest Wood Cup, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review recently ran a story that includes some good info on the state of the Three Rivers fishery. In short: Things look a lot better now than they did back when the city hosted the Bassmaster Classic. Part of the reason is a strong 2001 year-class.

To read the story, click here.

Riley's possible Potomac record 1/28/2008

"On the 26th of January I caught a largemouth bass that weighed 11.18 pounds on certified scales in a tournament," he said. "This fish is 2 pounds larger than the current state-record tidal fish that has been standing for over 20 years, and also weighs 1 ounce more than the existing freshwater state record. I transported the fish to Bass Pro Shops alive and it's currently in the quarantine tank awaiting the final approval from the Dept. of Natural Resources."

> The existing Maryland freshwater largemouth record is 11-02, caught by Rodney Cockrell from a farm pond in 1983.

> The existing "tidal" (or Chesapeake Bay) record largemouth is 9-01, caught by J.D. Noell from the Pocomoke River in 1975.

More crossover 1/28/2008
During the recent St. Johns Bassmaster Southern Open, BassFan noted that several big FLW Tour names were fishing the event. It only makes sense to do the same for the recent Okeechobee FLW Series. Sure, the Series was created, in part, as a haven for BASS pros who wanted to opt out of the Elite Series. But now that the FLW Series enters its third year, it's interesting to see that several Elite Series pros fished at least the first event. Some are Series regulars (like Tommy Biffle and Steve Kennedy), but what follows is a short list of notable Elite Series names who fished Okeechobee, along with their respective finishes.

> Tommy Biffle: 3rd
> Greg Hackney: 4th
> Russ Lane: 6th
> Takahiro Omori: 9th
> Bradley Hallman: 54th
> Steve Kennedy: 57th
> Darrin Schwenkbeck: 95th (not fishing '08 Elites)
> Mike Iaconelli: 103rd
> Ish Monroe: 104th
> Andy Montgomery: 106th
> Paul Elias: 107th
> Bill Smith, Jr.: 109th (not fishing '08 Elites)
> Frank Scalish: 144th (not fishing '08 Elites)
> Bobby Lane: 145th (recently qualified for '08 Elites)

Intriguing is the four-pro cluster in the Top 10, and the four-pro cluster from 103rd to 107th.

Kenney's achievements 1/28/2008
J.T. Kenney just plain whomps at Florida's Lake Okeechobee. He won last weekend's Eastern FLW Series there by a 4-05 margin – just one more highlight to his list of Big "O" achievements. The details of his winning pattern will be posted soon. In the interim, here's a look at his Top 10 FLW Outdoors and BASS finishes at the lake.

> 2008 FLW Series: 1st
> 2005 Stren: 2nd
> 2004 Stren: 4th
> 2003 Southern Open: 1st
> 2002 FLW Tour: 1st
> 2002 Stren: 5th

Remember that Kenney lives in Florida, but none of the lakes are necessarily his "home water." Instead, that distinction belongs to the Potomac River, where he was raised.

> BassFan recently published a Pro Fishing Tip with Kenney about how to fish low water in Florida. To read it, click here.

Ready for a challenge 1/25/2008
Minnesota's Nick Gross has never fished south of Indiana and has never fished for pre-spawn bass, but he's excited about competing in the upcoming BassFan Army Weekend Warrior Championship at Lake Pickwick. For more, click here to visit BassFanArmy.com.

BCI accomplishments 1/25/2008
The Berkley Conservation Institute (BCI) was busy making the world a better place to fish in 2007. The BCI is a division of Pure Fishing, the world's largest fishing tackle manufacturing company.

“The BCI was developed to support conservation and angler recruitment efforts,” said BCI Conservation Director Jim Martin. “We team with fishing groups, conservation organizations and industry partners to protect our fishable waters, enhance sport fish populations and to introduce the next generation to the excitement of angling and rewards of conservation efforts.”

> Representing BCI, Martin served in 2007 on various advisory boards and committees including the National Wildlife Federation, the Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association and the American Sportfishing Association.

> Martin appeared on television, authored articles and columns and gave presentations or keynote speeches at many regional and national media and conservation summits to promote fishery conservation issues. He also presented a briefing to Congress on climate change and the salmon fishery.

> BCI monetary grants were awarded to the Hot Creek Hatchery Foundation (California), Southern Florida Anglers for Everglades Restoration, The Snook Foundation (Florida), the California Fishing Passport Program and the Northwest Fishing Industry Association.

> BCI also lobbied state and national legislatures for reauthorization of the Magnuson Fisheries Conservation and Management Act, passage of the 2007 Farm Bill and clarifications of the Clean Water Act.

“The Berkley Fishing Line Recycling Program, the only conservation program to keep fishing line out of America’s waters, continued to grow in 2007,” added Martin. “In association with Boat US and NOAA Fisheries, Berkley line recycling stations were placed in over 250 major marinas. Recycled line is used to create Fish Habs to enhance fishery habitiat.”

To learn more about the BCI, click here.

Big "O" dynamic duo 1/25/2008
BassFans who read the feature with Chad Grigsby a few weeks ago probably aren't surprised to see he and his travel partner near and at the top of the Okeechobee Eastern FLW Series standings. Grigsby's currently 3rd after 2 days of fishing with a 10-fish, 32-15 total. His buddy and travel partner J.T. Kenney leads the darn thing with 40-05.

The two are all but unstoppable in Florida, and the good news for them is the FLW Tour kicks off in about a month, upstate at the Kissimmee Chain.

For more about the two, and their Florida dominance, click here to read a recent BassFan news story.

Crews: check it out 1/25/2008

He'll also have a store on the site. It's not quite complete but should be soon. We'll let you know when it is.

For now, click here to visit JohnCrews.com.

Adkins to headline TTBC 1/25/2008
Officials at the PAA-sanctioned Toyota Texas Bass Classic (TTBC) announced that country music superstar Trace Adkins will headline what they label as a "world-class entertainment lineup." The tournament is scheduled for April 18-20. Adkins is slated to perfrom the night of Saturday, April 19.

“This is a tremendous announcement for our event,” said Tournament Director Lenny Francoeur. “Our Tournament has quickly become recognized not only as a premier bass fishing event, but also a world-class entertainment venue. We feel very privileged to give area residents the chance to see great entertainment in their own backyard.”

For more information on the tournament and the festivities surrounding the event, get your 'honky-tonk badonkadonk' (that's the title of an Adkins song, in case you didn't know) over to ToyotaTexasBassClassic.com.

Click here to visit the PAA website.

Stearns deal for Melvin 1/25/2008

"It's a deal I've worked on for quite awhile," he said. "I got in touch with them through my father, who's retired from the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and received the Distinguished Flying Cross as a search-and-rescue pilot. I've had my captain's license for a number of years now, so there's a lot of history in my family as far as safety.

"With Sospenders, we really want to get that safety message out there. They provide great freedom of movement, along with maximum buoyancy."

In addition to the FLW Tour, he'll also fish the Bassmaster Southern Opens this year.

"I've got one of the best sponsor lineups in the business, and now it's time to take my performance up to that top echelon. I've struggled the last couple of years on those deep, clear lakes, but I'll keep at it."

A reel worth dying for? 1/25/2008
Today in the Abu Garcia Fish of a Lifetime section on the Berkley Catch More Fish page, Jake Deeds shares a dramatic tale that involves fishing, a snake, a near-death experience and a shiny new Abu Garcia reel.

It's probably not what you think. Click here to check it out.

When you're fishing, remember to make sure you have a digital camera (or cell phone) with you because Abu Garcia is giving out a free new reel a month for the Fish of a Lifetime story it likes best. Click here to learn how to send in your Abu Garcia story.

And remember: Your fish of a lifetime doesn't have to be a bass, and can also be a tourney limit of a lifetime.

Pros donate time to Lifeline 1/25/2008

Fish with the Pros is a charitable fundraiser organized by Lifeline Youth & Family Services, an organization dedicated to "changing hearts and bringing hope to a generation at risk." The Indiana-based organization currently serves over 7,000 children and families a year.

To learn more about the Fish with the Pros program, or Lifeline Youth & Family services, visit the organization's website at: LifelineYouth.org.

Click here to see BassFan's coverage of the 2005 Fish with the Pros event.

Ittner to Yamaha 1/24/2008

He will oversee a staff of three and work to raise the profile of Yamaha’s tournament fishing activities. He was formerly part of the marketing team at Lowrance and has also worked for Texaco and Dow Chemical.

Yamaha announced earlier this week that it's become an official sponsor of BASS events, and it also sponsors a variety of FLW Outdoors-sanctioned freshwater and saltwater tournaments. It recently introduced the F225 Sport, which is targeted toward bass anglers.

For more on Yamaha, click here.

Mike & Mike at Classic 1/24/2008

"It’ll be new to a lot of the listeners out there," Golic said of the live broadcast from the Classic. "A lot of these anglers have really good personalities, so they’ll be able to explain their craft, and with a little bit of humor. They could certainly open the eyes of some of the listeners to what they do.

"I’ve seen the weigh-ins and what they do, watching the Bassmasters on TV," he added. "I’m very excited to see it in person. I like being around these guys, and I’m hoping to pick up a few tips for when I take my boys fishing, so I actually look like I know what I’m doing."

About the broadcast, BASS VP and GM Tom Ricks said: "What an incredible addition to our stellar lineup of events surrounding the 38th Bassmaster Classic. We look forward to having Mike & Mike in the Morning live at Lake Hartwell."

Golic will be joined at the Classic by ESPN's Erik Kuselias. Mike Greenberg, the other half of Mike & Mike, has the day off.

> Mike & Mike In The Morning is carried by over 355 affiliates nationwide.

Layoffs at Shakespeare, Pflueger, Penn 1/24/2008
Several sources have confirmed that deep personnel cuts occurred this week at Shakespeare headquarters in Columbia, S.C. The news was not confirmed by the company – BassFan is awaiting a call back from an official – but as many as 150 employees are believed to have been given notification of termination.

Shakespeare and brands Pflueger, Penn, All-Star, Stearns, and X-Tools are owned by K2, which was acquired early last year by Jarden Corp. A few weeks prior to that acquisition, Jarden also purchased Pure Fishing (parent company of Berkley, Fenwick, Abu Garcia, Stren and other brands).

Sources indicated that many of the layoffs were to eliminate redundancies between the K2 and Pure Fishing business segments.

Sources also confirmed that one of the employees who was let go was director of advertising and public relations Mark Davis.

It's not known whether the Pflueger or All-Star pro staffs will be affected. The team includes heavy hitters like Mark Davis (no relation to the above-mentioned Davis), Tim Horton, Davy Hite, Clark Wendlandt, Brent Chapman, and others.

Nature Vision buys Castaic 1/24/2008

Nature Vision noted that the addition of Castaic provides the company "with a proven fishing-tackle product platform, which will immediately generate revenues during the spring and summer periods – traditionally the firm's low season."

Nature Vision founder and CEO Jeff Zernov (to right in photo) noted: "Since our reverse merge in 2004, Nature Vision has been working to build a balanced portfolio of hunting/fishing product lines. In these markets, three distinct periods define the selling calendar. Spring and summer are traditional seasons for fishing tackle. Fall is when hunting products sell, and winter is of course dominant for ice-fishing product sales. The Castaic acquisition now gives us a fully balanced mix of products, completing our three-tiered product equation.

"In recent years we've looked at a number of tackle companies, but none of them offered the growth potential of Castaic," Zernov added. "We didn't want a low-end line of commodity items. Rather, we sought a strong brand with innovative products that we could build upon. Castaic is the perfect fit. Not only is Castaic a nationally recognized brand, even though they've never advertised, but their proprietary manufacturing methods and numerous patents offer us a unique place in the market."

Castaic Softbaits founder Jason Scott (to left in photo) will remain active within the organization, and has been hired as research and development director for Nature Vision's tackle division.

Physh-Ed 1/24/2008
The Physh-Ed National Fishing and Boating Grants Initiative is a program that offers qualified teachers grants up to $2,500 to assist them in initiating fishing, boating and conservation education in their physical education classes. Grant monies can be used for fishing and boating equipment, field trips, curriculum materials and other resources.

The application deadline for the Physh-Ed grants has been extended to Feb. 4, 2008. Applications must be received via e-mail no later than 5:00 p.m., E.T., Monday, February 4, 2008.

To get the application, or to learn more about the Phsyh-Ed Initiative, visit FutureFisherman.org or contact Executive Director Anne Danielski at 703-519-9691, x254.

Other notable info:

> The grants are open for teachers in grades K-12.

> Grant recipients will also receive a week of training in fishing and boating techniques. The training is scheduled for July 6-10, 2008, in Traverse City, Mich.

> The Future Fisherman Foundation is the fishing recruitment and education arm of the American Sportfishing Association.

Sega fishing on Wii 1/24/2008

Well, Sega's coming to the rescue with its Sega Bass Fishing for Wii, which should be available soon. It won't come with a cool peripheral like the fishing controller for Dreamcast, but based on the available screenshots and brief movies, it looks like a heck of a lot of fun – full of the arcade-style action Sega's known for.

> To check out more screenshots and a brief movie from the game, click here to visit Sega.com.

Recon: Sam Rayburn 1/23/2008
The 2008 Bassmaster Weekend Series visits Sam Rayburn this weekend, and few pros have the lake wired like George Jeane, Jr. He's got the scoop on what, and where, to fish this weekend, and he gives it all up in the the Bass Recon section of BassFanArmy.com. Tidbit: If he were fishing the event, he'd pick up a rattlebait, start at the I-147 bridge, and fish every good point from there south.

Bass Recon is brought to you by the good folks at Fenwick, Abu Garcia and Berkley.

Lefebre tossing Tabu 1/23/2008

That company would be Tabu Tackle, a new venture by tour pros that include Kelly Jordon, Anthony Gagliardi, Matt Herren, Fred Roumbanis, and Michael Murphy, in addition to Lefebre. Tabu stands for "tournament approved by us," and the mission is to deliver baits to market that brook no quarter – baits that are exactly as the pros want them. Two Tabu baits are ready for shipping – the Open Water Series jig, and 3-inch Tiny Tim swimbait. Lefebre's throwing the jig, which is shown to right.

"It's kind of crowded – you're fishing around a lot of people – so you just have to come up with different ways to catch them," he said. "I don't want to give away too much, but it's mainly a jig deal. I'm throwing a big, 3/4-ounce Tabu Open Water Series on really light Gamma line. That jig has a real fine needle-point hook – it's just awesome. We were able to give the hook a wide gap, but keep it a lightwire – the diameter doesn't increase as you go up in jig size. So it's like fishing a 2/0 wire in a 5/0 size. I can't even tell you how key the bait is here."

He noted his five fish today were "pretty much all clones" at about 4 1/2 pounds. He didn't lock out of Okeechobee into the rivers, but he might have a strong down-card. He had his best practice day two locks away from the lake. "It's something I have in my back pocket that I haven't gone to yet. I wanted to stay close today – just stay in the game. That's why I'm thinking it's such a bonus that I did well today, because I still have something else to go to."

Hoernke on Edge 1/23/2008

Also on the show, “Inside Edge” will examine Zebra Mussels and Gobies and their effects on Great Lakes fisheries. “First Cast” introduces three must-know knots for every angler, and Dr. Jay McNamara discusses on-the-water concentration.

More on fishing Lake Erie can be found at BassEdge.com and on “The Edge,” the weekly podcast of Bass Edge on iTunes.

Schad on his Ranger return 1/23/2008

According to Schad, his position at Ranger was never filled. Instead, some of his duties were absorbed by the Ranger staff. With Ranger now handling marketing for its sister Stratos brand, the time was right for a return.

"I'm just excited to be back," he told BassFan. "It's like coming back to family."

About why he returned to his former position, he said: "The timing was right. (Ranger president) Randy Hopper and (Ranger VP of sales) Keith Daffron came to me and said, 'We want to talk with you about coming back full-time.' Since I left, they took on Stratos full-time, and never replaced my position with a full-time person. I got to looking around and realized it would be a good step to get back in the fold and go after some things they weren't able to do being a person down."

Schad added: "One of the things I'm most excited about is, because the day-to-day activities were absorbed, I think that'll allow us to do more strategic initiatives, and be more creative in coming up with programs, then implementing those programs."

Schad also noted that his hiatus can be seen as a positive: Even though he maintained a consulting relationship with Ranger, he was "still able to view the company a little bit from an outside perspective." That vantage point, he thinks, "will help (him) and the company overall."

> As noted, Schad will also oversee marketing of the Stratos brand.

> He'll maintain a role with Palmer Conrad while employed with Ranger. Palmer Conrad works with the IFA Redfish Tour and Careco Multimedia, which are "tied in" with Ranger, he said, "so it's a nice fit."

FLW Cup: Pittsburgh? 1/23/2008
AFLW Cup: Pittsburgh?

According to a story in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, six FLW Outdoors officials plan to visit the city next week to evaluate it as a potential site for the 2009 Forrest Wood Cup.

What's especially notable about the story is its reference to financials – specifically, that it could cost the city $500,000-plus to host the Cup, which includes a $200,000 tournament fee. That's considerably less, the story noted, than the $1.3 million it took to land the 2005 Bassmaster Classic (a figure that included a $750,000 tournament fee).

BassFans probably remember that the Pittsburgh Classic was noted for its standing-room-only, boisterous crowd and down-to-the-wire competition, as well as the worst (or toughest, if you prefer) fishing in Classic history. Kevin VanDam won that event with a 3-day total of 11 fish for 12-15, which was the lowest winning weight ever in a Classic.

Also curious in the story is reference to a conversation with FLW Outdoors VP of communications Dave Washburn, and this sentence: "FLW's championship tournament is carried on the FOX network and viewed by 80 million people in the United States and 350 million in Africa, Asia and Europe."

The sentence references total distribution, however, and not ratings (meaning, how many households actually tune in). As an example, the 2006 Bassmaster Classic, at the time, was the highest-rated Classic since ESPN2 began airing the event in 2001. It achieved a 0.4 rating for its three telecasts, which translated into an average of 331,000 homes watching. FLW Outdoors does not publish TV ratings for its shows.

If Pittsburgh does land the event, it'll mark the furthest point north for FLW Tour Championship (now Forrest Wood Cup) competition. The 2001 championship was to be held at Lake Champlain, a point further north, but that event was canceled due to the 9-11 attack. Former and currently scheduled championship sites are:

> Lake Sinclair, Ga. (1996)
> Lake Ferguson, Miss. (1997)
> Mississippi River, Ill. (1998)
> Ft. Gibson Lake, Okla. (1999)
> Red River, La. (2000)
> Lake Champlain, N.Y. (2001, canceled)
> Cross Lake, La. (2002)
> James River, Va. (2003)
> Lake Logan Martin, Ala. (2004)
> Lake Hamilton, Ark. (2005)
> Lake Logan Martin, Ala. (2006)
> Lake Ouachita, Ark. (2007)
> Lake Murray, S.C. (2008)

Duckett double-whammy 1/23/2008
Bassmaster Classic champion Boyd Duckett is the focus of today's top story, and he also provides BassFans a road map for deciphering deep, clear lakes like Hartwell – site of this year's Classic, in the newest BassFan Pro Fishing Tip. To read that piece, click here.

Casitas to close? 1/23/2008
Storied Lake Casitas in California might be facing a closure to combat the spread of the invasive quagga mussel. It's a major issue in a region of California already starved for quality fisheries. Casitas is a drinking-water reservoir for the Los Angeles area, and the fear among water managers is the quagga (closely related to the zebra mussel) could clog supply pipes and jeopardize the water supply.

To read a recent story about the issue, published in the Ventura County Star, click here.

The mussels were originally introduced into the Great Lakes in the late '80s via a "salter" from the Ukraine. They were discovered a year ago in Lake Mead.

Peter T. used 'The Force' 1/23/2008

"I caught a lot of my fish on a Carolina-rig," he said. "The key was my use of a black 5/8-ounce Peter "T" Finesse Carolina weight coupled with a black Peter "T" Force Bead. There are a lot of Carolina weights around, but they're either too light or too heavy. The Tru-Tungsten 5/8-ounce is perfect – just the right weight to keep the rig down and under control."

For BassFans who don't know, Force Beads are made of lead-free composite material in various colors. They're coated with Duraseal for added durability, and they produce a loud, unique sound in combination with a weight. Once restricted only to the Yavin 4 moon, they're available now at retailers galaxy-wide, as well as online at Tru-Tungsten.com.

Six win Costa scholarships 1/23/2008
BASS and its sponsor Costa Del Mar today announced that five students won a total of $42,000 in awards through the 2007-08 Costa Del Mar/BASS Conservation Scholarship program. The award is designed to support future natural-resources professionals.

Four undergraduates received $2,000 annual scholarships: Corey Carver of Wallace State in Alabama, David Henley of Austin Peay State in Tennessee, Miles Miller of Johnson County Community College in Kansas, and Justin Brewer of New York's Finger Lakes Community College/SUNY Cobleskill. If each student remains eligible for 4 years, he'll receive a total of $8,000.

Matthew VanLandeghem, 22, a first-year graduate student at the University of Illinois/Champaign-Urbana, won a $5,000 annual scholarship to complete his master's of science in natural resources and environmental science, fish and wildlife ecology. He'll receive $5,000 this year and another $5,000 next year if he remains eligible.

"I'd like to work as a fisheries biologist or perhaps in freshwater conservation management," VanLandeghem said. The Batavia, Ill. angler is an avid tournament competitor who belongs to two clubs: the BASS Federation Nation's Champaign-Urbana club and the Fighting Illini Club, a college team.

The next round of applications for the Costa Del Mar/BASS Conservation Scholarship program will be accepted beginning May 1. Students will be able to access applications at Bassmaster.com.

To be eligible for a scholarship, a student must be seeking a degree in the natural-resources field. An applicant also must be a BASS member and belong to the BASS Federation Nation or have an immediate family member who belongs to the BASS Federation Nation.

Cost Del Mar president Chas MacDonald said: "This is our second year to sponsor the Costa Del Mar/BASS Conservation Scholarship program, and it's part of our mission to help give more opportunities to future natural-resources professionals. These students are the next generation of fisheries biologists and ecologists, so we want to help them receive the best education possible."

Hack's deal: Advance 1/22/2008

Along with its sponsorship of the three pros, Advance Auto Parts is also a BASS sponsor.

Hackney said of the deal: "It's truly a blessing to be involved with Advance Auto Parts. I feel like I'm where I need to be and with a company I can really grow with. Advance Auto Parts is a totally new sponsorship for me, and I believe it suits me well – not to mention the new camouflage look they've given me suits me better than any I've had in the past. It fits my personality.

"It's a great partnership, and it works well because I was using Advance long before I was sponsored by them," he added. "Advance takes care of everything from my truck to my tractor."

Advance Auto Parts director of marketing Samuel Hampton said: "In keeping with our goal to become the preferred auto parts store of the bass-fishing community and outdoor industry, we feel the addition of Greg strengthens the team and brings credibility to our brand. There's no disputing his performance on the water during the past several years. We're pleased to have him as a part of our 2008 team and look forward to a successful year with what we know is a strong and competitive pro staff."

> Hackney was formerly the No. 1 ranked angler in the BassFan World Rankings presented by Tru-Tungsten. He's currently ranked 14th.

> Swindle is rumored to be near to announcing a new major sponsorship, presumably to replace Advance. If history is the judge, it'll likely be connected with a BASS sponsor. He was formerly sponsored by Citgo (when it was the title sponsor of BASS), then Advance. A short list of candidates would thus include Toyota, Purolator, or perhaps Evan Williams.

BASS: Yamaha, Skeeter are in 1/22/2008
BASS announced today that Skeeter and Yamaha have become official boat and motor sponsors of the organization and its tournament structure.

As part of the agreement, the companies become premier sponsors of the Bassmaster Classic, Bassmaster Elite Series, Bassmaster Opens and the Women’s Bassmaster Tour. They'll also sponsor the six BASS Federation Nation Divisionals and Federation Nation Championship, with additional commitment to BASS’ youth initiatives: the Bassmaster CastingKids Championship and the Junior Bassmaster World Championship.

Also, Yamaha will be the title sponsor and Skeeter the presenting sponsor of the BASS Federation Nation Club World Championship.

Because Yamaha owns Skeeter, it was logical (and anticipated for quite some time) that the companies would enter this venture in tandem. Triton and Mercury formerly held exclusive sponsorships with BASS before cutting back their levels of support this year, and the word "exclusive" did not appear in today's announcements.

“By becoming a sponsor of BASS, Yamaha promotes its brand and supports boating and fishing, which are activities we truly believe in,” said Ben Speciale, the company's VP of operations and planning. “Reliability and innovation are at the core of the Yamaha brand, and the demands of competition have taught us how to make our outboards even better.”

Said BASS VP and GM Tom Ricks: “We applaud Yamaha’s loyalty to its anglers and devotion to growing the sport."

Skeeter and BASS are both marking anniversaries in 2008 – Skeeter has been building boats for 60 years and BASS is celebrating 40 years of doing business.

“This is a great way for Skeeter to kick off its 60th anniversary as both Skeeter and BASS share a rich heritage in the bass fishing industry,” said Skeeter VP and GM Jeff Stone. “It is only fitting that we combine our passion for the sport to embrace and further enhance the success and growth of tournament fishing."

Added Ricks: “We are delighted to celebrate the 40th anniversary of BASS with Skeeter Boats as an official boat sponsor. We know their reputation in the industry and applaud their devotion to growing the sport of bass fishing.”

Lake Fork Army contest: winner 1/22/2008

As the winner, he'll receive three packages of Live Magic Shads, along with six bags of other Lake Fork plastics.

Thanks to everyone who entered, and keep on the lookout for another BassFan Army giveaway to be announced soon.

Merc's Mackey to retire 1/22/2008

Brunswick chairman and CEO Dustan McCoy stated: "Pat has been a visionary for our industry who's championed technology, while setting new standards for customer and dealer relations. I'm personally grateful for all that he's done at Mercury, which faced significant challenges when he arrived. As all of us at Brunswick have come to expect of Pat, he gave us far more than he promised, both in terms of time and accomplishments. Through Pat's leadership, both Mercury, in particular, and Brunswick as a whole have been strengthened, leaving us very well positioned for the future."

Mark Schwabero (president – Mercury Marine outboard engines) and Kevin S. Grodzki (president – Mercury MerCruiser) will continue to lead their respective businesses, reporting directly to McCoy.

Bedtime cranking 1/22/2008
What's the best way to attack shell beds in a Florida river? The typical answer, and a darn good one, is to Carolina-rig. But Florida expert Preston Clark cranked shell beds en route to his 4th-place finish last weekend at the St. Johns Bassmaster Southern Open. He reveals his methodology today on the Berkley: Catch More Fish page. Tidbit: Surprisingly, the St. Johns fish didn't want hard-running current.

All-American: Hot Springs 1/22/2008
Due to what FLW Outdoors termed "unavoidable conflicts" at the previously selected site in Hartford, Conn., the 2008 BFL All-American will instead be held May 29-31 in Hot Springs, Ark. That city was the site of the 2007 and 2005 Forrest Wood Cups, and 2004, 2001, and 2000 All-Americans.

Hot Springs Convention and Visitor's Bureau executive director Steve Arrison said: "The 2007 Forrest Wood Cup was, without question, the most successful event we've ever held in the Hot Springs Convention Center and Summit Arena. The people of Hot Springs have proven, time and again, that this is a bass-fishing town, and we're honored to once again play host to one of the sport's premier events. Based on the high-quality, family-friendly events that FLW Outdoors always provides, and the tremendous response we've seen in the past, the 2008 All-American should be another record breaker."

About the change in venue, a press release issued from FLW Outdoors stated: "The Hot Springs Convention and Visitor's Bureau seized the opportunity to host the 2008 All-American when unavoidable conflicts arose at the previously selected site in Hartford, Conn. Due to the conflict, Hartford opted to postpone hosting the All-American until a later date, leaving the door open for Hot Springs."

A competition lake was not named.

As in past years, several activities are planned in conjunction with the All-American, such as Chevy Pro Night, the Family Fun Zone and outdoor show, and Ranger boat giveaway.

Sphar still 'Killer' 1/21/2008

"That's going to be my primary sponsor," he said. "I still have Berkley and Costa Del Mar, and I picked up Kistler Rods this year, so that'll be good. And I'm hoping to get with Mercury too – I'm working on that right now. Last year I didn't have any (boat or motor) deal. When I came into the Elites I already had my boat and motor – the same ones I used in the (Bassmaster) opens – so it's all kind of new to me.

"So far it's all going smooth," he added. "I've really enjoyed working with Bass Cat. I'm just comfortable with them – they're a family owned business."

Classic emcee? 1/21/2008

BassFan did ask Ray if he might possibly be this year's Classic emcee. He said he hadn't heard anything to that effect, but would be excited if such an opportunity did come up. "I'd love to help celebrate the 40th anniversary with all the BASS members," he added.

Peter T. wins St. Johns 1/19/2008

Thliveros banked a little more $50,000 for the win. "It was actually kind of frustrating to start off, because the fishing was a lot slower than it's been all week," Thliveros said. "I had one flurry of fish at about 8:30 this morning, and the rest were just one here and one there. Not nearly as good as it had been the first two days, but better quality fish as the day went on.

"You just had to keep moving until you hit one, is what it boiled down to," he added. "Not one specific tide, but different stages of the tide – you never know that you're going to pull up to one spot on a specific tide and catch them, that’s just luck if it happens that way."

The full details of his winning pattern will be published soon. Here's a look at the final Top 10.

1. Peter E Thliveros -- St. Augustine, Fla. -- 15, 55-03 -- 305 -- $50,657
Day 1: 5, 15-10 -- Day 2: 5, 13-09 -- Day 3: 5, 26-00

2. Jerry Stalvey, Jr. -- Green Cove Springs, Fl 15 -- 51-05 -- 295 -- $22,514
Day 1: 5, 13-06 -- Day 2: 5, 15-15 -- Day 3: 5, 22-00

3. Jonathan Vandam -- Kalamazoo, Mich. -- 15, 47-13 -- 295 -- $19,137
Day 1: 5, 16-02 -- Day 2: 5, 24-01 -- Day 3: 5, -- 7-10

4. Preston Clark -- Palatka, Fla. -- 15, 44-07 -- 285 -- $14,071
Day 1: 5, 16-01 -- Day 2: 5, 10-04 -- Day 3: 5, 18-02

5. Chris Daniels -- Panama City, Fla. -- 14, 43-13 -- 285 -- $13,257
Day 1: 5, 25-09 -- Day 2: 5, 11-08 -- Day 3: 4, -- 6-12

6. Bryan Hudgins -- Orange Park, Fla. -- 15, 38-00 -- 276 -- $10,131
Day 1: 5, -- 7-02 -- Day 2: 5, -- 8-14 -- Day 3: 5, 22-00

7. Terry Scroggins -- San Mateo, Fla. -- 15, 32-03 -- 272 -- $9,006
Day 1: 5, -- 9-15 -- Day 2: 5, 10-03 -- Day 3: 5, 12-01

8. Greg Pugh -- Cullman, Ala. -- 12, 31-04 -- 268 -- $7,880
Day 1: 5, 17-03 -- Day 2: 5, 12-00 -- Day 3: 2, -- 2-01

9. Luke Gritter -- Kalamazoo, Mich. -- 14, 30-10 -- 262 -- $6,191.50
Day 1: 5, 12-13 -- Day 2: 5, 12-01 -- Day 3: 4, -- 5-12

9. Bobby Lane -- Lakeland, Fla. -- 12, 30-10 -- 262 -- $7,191.50
Day 1: 4, -- 6-14 -- Day 2: 5, 11-01 -- Day 3: 3, 12-11

TBF Divisional dates 1/18/2008
The Bass Federation today released its 2008 Divisional schedule. Here's a look at the layout for the no-entry-fee events.

> Western: April 6-11, Lake Havasu, Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
> Central: June 1-6, Lewis and Clark Reservoir, Yankton, S.D.
> Southern: June 8-13, Lake Norman, Charlotte, N.C.
> Northern: Sept. 7-12, Lake St. Clair, Clinton Township, Mich.
> Eastern: Sept. 14-19, Lake Winnipesauke, N.H.
> Mid-Atlantic: Sept. 21-26, Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay, PA
> National Championship: April 2009, location TBA

Svebek's Gopher wrap 1/18/2008

Daniels leads St. Johns 1/17/2008

But there are some notable names inside the Top 5, like FLW Tour pro Greg Pugh in 2nd, Jonathan "JVD" VanDam (nephew of the world's most dangerous angler) in 3rd, Preston Clark in 4th, and Peter "T" Thliveros in 5th.

"Today it started out great – I got to my first spot, there was nobody there," Daniels said. He's fished the St. Johns twice before. "I had a limit before everybody stopped going by me. It happened pretty quick this morning."

Here's a look at the current Top 20:

1. Chris Daniels -- Panama City, Fla. -- 5, 25-09
2. Greg Pugh -- Cullman, Ala. -- 5, 17-03
3. Jonathan Vandam -- Kalamazoo, Mich. -- 5, 16-02
4. Preston Clark -- Palatka, Fla. -- 5, 16-01
5. Peter E Thliveros -- St Augustine, Fla. -- 5, 15-10
6. David Mansue -- Robbinsville, N.J. -- 5, 15-02
7. Brannon Jones -- Montgomery, Ala. -- 5, 14-09
8. George Alexander -- Jacksonville, Fla. -- 5, 14-00
9. Jerry Stalvey, Jr. -- Green Cove Springs, Fl -- 5, 13-06
10. Glenn Delong -- Bellville, Ohio -- 4, 13-02
11. Luke Gritter -- Kalamazoo, Mich. -- 5, 12-13
12. Phillip Cury -- Jacksonville, Fla. -- 5, 11-14
12. Eric Eric Lewis -- Fruit Cove, Fla. -- 5, 11-14
14. Steve Crotteau -- Cameron, Wisc. -- 5, 11-10
15. Jeff Fitts -- Keystone Heights, Fla. -- 5, 11-06
16. Greg Vinson -- Wetumpka, Ala. -- 5, 11-00
17. Josh Guess -- Deland, Fla. -- 5, 10-12
18. Jerry Savage -- Columbus, Miss. -- 4, 10-09
19. Ron Klys -- Gainesville, Fla. -- 5, 10-05
20. David Davis -- Hollister, Fla. -- 5, 10-00

WWC: rules & details 1/17/2008
Thanks to all the BassFan Army members who've waited patiently for details concerning the BassFan Army's upcoming Weekend Warrior Championship (WWC). The rules and details are now available on BassFanArmy.com.

> To view the rules, click here.

> To view the event details, click here.

Not a BassFan Army member yet? Click here to sign up for FREE lifetime membership, which makes you eligible for many free programs, including giveaways, contests and qualifying for the Weekend Warrior Championship.

Great Lakes brownies 1/17/2008
Great Lakes stick Joe Balog tells you how to catch those smallies – how to catch them now, not like everyone used to – today on the Berkley: Catch More Fish page. Tidbit: They bite better when 5- to 6-footers are rolling. No kidding.

Operation: Catch Fish deadline 1/17/2008
The deadline to send supplies for the Operation: Catch Fish effort is just a couple days away. If you were planning on sending something, please try to get it in the mail before Jan. 20.

If you missed the story about Operation: Catch Fish (it posted during the holidays), click here.

Recon: Louisiana Delta 1/17/2008
The 2008 Bassmaster Weekend Series is set to kick off this weekend on the Louisiana Delta. Bassmaster Elite Series pro and Delta expert Cliff Pace said the fishing's been hot, but it's about to cool off - literally.

A strong cold front has moved across the state and competitors will be battling high winds, low temperatures and finicky bass. Pace gives his insight on how to make the Delta bass bite today on the Bass Recon section of BassFanArmy.com. Tidbit: The last hour of the outgoing tide is key.

Bass Recon is brought to you by the good folks at Fenwick, Abu Garcia and Berkley.

Classic winner on Edge 1/17/2008

Duckett will also discuss soft-bodied topwaters this week at BassEdge.com. And don't forget to check out the weekly Bass Edge podcast on iTunes.

Myers 'Kruzin' in '08 1/17/2008
The Maryland-based sunglass manufacturer, JKruz Eyewear, has signed Bassmaster Elite Series newcomer Bobby Myers of Tulsa, Okla. to 'Team-JKruz Elite' for the 2008 season.

"We're extremely enthused to have Bobby on board with us," said JKruz VP Keith Rolfes. "Just as we're growing, Bobby is as well, and his energy, enthusiasm and talent makes him a perfect fit."

Myers adds JKruz to his current foundation of sponsors which includes Tru-Tungsten, BassCat Boats, Mercury Marine, Falcon Rods and Gamma Line.

> To read the recent BassFan story about Myers, click here.

Senko rules Shasta 1/17/2008
At California's Lake Shasta, tournaments are often decided by ounces, rather than pounds, but man did Chris Laskowski smoke the field last weekend at the Western Stren. His 18 pounds on day 1 gave him a 5 1/2-pound lead, and he never looked back. He went on to win it by a 5-pound margin.

He did it fishing slow. And he did it with a Senko. For the full details of his winning pattern, click here to visit BassFanArmy.com.

Ray's rationale 1/17/2008
Earlier this week, Ray Scott announced that he's endorsing former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee's bid for the Republican presidential nomination. To find out why the BASS founder is so high on Huckabee, click here to read the newest Scott On-Line.

Berkley's FLW pros 1/16/2008

Jeane and Goines will be fishing out of Abu Garcia-wrapped boats, Browne's boat will feature a Berkley wrap, Vida's promoting Gulp!, and Newby will be sporting the Trilene graphics.

Howell's 'X-factor' 1/16/2008
It's gone somewhat unnoticed, but Randy Howell is closing in on the $1 million mark in career earnings. He's earned about $600,000 with BASS, and another $300,000 on the FLW Tour.

What many have noticed, though, is Howell's stout sponsor portfolio. It's expansive, and it recently grew even more when he signed a deal with Vertical Lures – the company that makes the JigX system. Howell's built quite a bit of his career with jigs – including those of the swimming variety – and in the newest BassFan Pro Fishing Tip, he talks jigs, and the JigX. To read it, click here.

Yo, ask Ish! 1/15/2008

The full details can be found here. Yo, get askin'!

Bagley: no truth to rumor 1/15/2008

"It's untrue – absolutely untrue," Rogan said. "Bagley actually is doing better right now than we had been. I won't lie, this is a tough tackle market, but we're building, shipping, and doing the things we need to do to promote Bagley."

Rogan added that the rumor was started by someone on Internet message boats, a person "without credibility," and the rumor quickly spread out of control.

Rogan also said: "I just came out of the biggest distributor tradeshow in the world, in South Carolina for Big Rock Sports, and our sales were actually greater than a year ago in a very tough market. Our shaky-head jigs sold extremely well, and our Baitfish lipless crank, which we brought out a year ago, had a tremendous upsurge. And our plastic-injected Kill'r B suspending model sold very well, as did its sister product – a buoyant version in plastic at a very popular price point in the $5 range.

"We're actually looking for a very strong season for Bagley with new products and also our balsa products," Rogan added. "We even had excellent sales in our anniversary bait – Jim Bagley's Big B. It hadn't been made in 35 years, but we brought it out last year to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of ICAST. It's a $20 handmade bait, and sales of that product were extremely strong too in traditional bass markets."

Schad back with Ranger 1/15/2008
Former Ranger senior VP of marketing Bart Schad has reportedly rejoined the company, again as a marketing executive. Specifics aren't known at this time. BassFan does have a request into Ranger for confirmation, and will report further as details become available.

Schad had resigned from Ranger in February 2005 after 7 years with the company. Prior to Ranger, he was involved with NASCAR.

Ray chooses: Huckabee 1/15/2008

Scott said: "I'm really pumped about Huckabee's candidacy. I've never been a one-issue voter and I won't start now, but it's sure exciting to have an authentic angler and hunter as a candidate. I was thrilled to find out he's been a life member of BASS since 1996. Even more important, I'm inspired by his message of hope and prosperity and strength. Like a friend of mine said, he's the 'real deal' and I think more and more people are seeing that. I look forward to doing my part to see to it that Mike Huckabee becomes the next president of the United States."

In a press release about the endorsement, Huckabee was quoted as saying: "I'm pleased to have received the endorsement of Ray Scott - a legendary outdoorsman and conservationist. We share a passion for the outdoors and I was proud to be honored along with him recently in Outdoor Life as one of 25 individuals who've had the greatest positive impact on hunting and fishing.

"Ray has worked hard to ensure that Americans continue to enjoy their outdoor pastimes," Huckabee added. "Even more, he's helped them understand their responsibility to protect and preserve their outdoor resources and to recognize their power to improve them. Not just for themselves but for future generations."

Herren's reason? 1/15/2008
FLW Tour stalwart Matt Herren, as noted yesterday, is fishing this week's St. Johns Bassmaster Southern Open. It's not the Alabama pro's first dabble in the Opens by any means – he fished two of three last year, and full runs back in 2003-04, as well as several Invitationals back in the '90s. But he will fish a full season this year, which means he could qualify for the Bassmaster Classic and/or the Bassmaster Elite Series.

BassFan asked him his objective in the Opens. In other words, is he merely filling out his schedule, or would he like the option to fish tour-level BASS events next year? Remember, he runs a Skeeter, which puts him outside the fold for any of the lucrative FLW sponsor-team deals.

He said: "I'm just keeping my options open, and trying to get my sponsors more exposure. I'm not sure if I qualified for the Elites that I'd go. But I'd like to have that option. What I'd really like is to qualify for the Classic."

He scooted out of Florida for a meeting at Skeeter headquarters yesterday, but will be back at practice tomorrow. He noted the St. Johns field is "pretty loaded - as deep a field as you'll see in any event this year, with several key locals in it." That's compounded by the fact that the St. Johns is a tidal river, where he thinks the local advantage will play big-time.

"It's just a fickle tidal river. When you grow up fishing it, you understand how the tide affects those fish, so it's one of the few waters where local water's huge.

"My goal is just to kind of be steady through these events," he added. "We're going to Guntersville again this year (for the Opens), which I have a little knowledge of – I'm familiar with it – and Santee Copper should fit my style a little bit. So I'm just trying to stay in the game (at the St. Johns). My goal is to stay in the Top 25. You never know what your chances are. We'll just go see what happens."

> Herren ended last season ranked 36th in the BassFan World Rankings presented by Tru-Tungsten, down from 8th at the start of the season. He did notch the first significant win of his career, though, at the Dardanelle Eastern FLW Series.

St. Johns Open: field notes 1/14/2008
BASS today released its field list for this week's St. Johns Bassmaster Southern Open, and it's heavy with tour pros. The Opens traditionally attract a number of tour pros who seek a backdoor entry into the Bassmaster Classic, a potential buffer against requalification for the Bassmaster Elite Series, or both. What's especially notable this year, though, is the number of high-profile FLW Tour pros fishing the Southern Opens.

Terry Baksay, Matt Herren, Sean Hoernke, Sandy Melvin, Chad Morgenthaler, Greg Pugh, and Wesley Strader are all recognized FLW Tour names who'll share water with BASS tour pros like Mike Iaconelli, Ish Monroe, and John Crews at the Open this week.

BASS will field 200 boats for the event, which is 25 more than the advertised size of 175 boats. Anglers raised a stink last year when BASS overfilled the Open fields, but didn't significantly boost payout to match. A BASS official told BassFan that'll be different this year, and BASS will pay back 110% down to 50th place. And if the 1st-place payout was listed as $45,000 for 175 boats, it would increase to a little more than $51,000 for the 200-boat field.

A few other notes on entrants:

> Brothers Chris, Bobby and Arnie Lane will fish.

> Terry Segraves, who left the Elite Series to fish the 2007 FLW Tour, is fishing.

> Bass Cat founder Ron Pierce and his son, current Bass Cat head cheese Rick Pierce, are fishing the pro side.

> FLW Series pros Mark Burgess and Dave Mansue are fishing.

> Former Elite Series pros Frank Scalish, Darrin Schwenkbeck and Charlie Youngers, who missed tour requalification, are fishing – presumably to qualify for the '09 Elite Series. Also, Randy Yarnall, who fell out after the 2006 season, is fishing.

> Jonathan VanDam, nephew of KVD, is fishing the pro side. He's fished three Elite Series events as a co-angler (one last year, and two in 2006).

> The Open was formerly scheduled for Okeechobee, but after FLW Outdoors announced its Eastern FLW Series schedule, with an identical Okeechobee date, BASS switched its venue.

> The Central Opens don't begin until April, so it'll be a while until that field list is released.

Ray will enter fray 1/14/2008
For the first time in recent history (recent meaning the past 15 years or so), Ray Scott is going to come out and publicly endorse a presidential candidate. No news yet on who it'll be, but Ray did say the candidate's a life member of BASS, and a friend to fishermen.

He plans to release the news, along with an official statement, late this afternoon – in time for tomorrow's Michigan primary. Stay tuned.

A Tru opportunity 1/14/2008

Bass Pro Shops -- Atlanta, Ga.
> Boyd Duckett: 1:00-5:00 p.m.
> Mike Iaconelli: 1:00-5:00 p.m.
> Ish Monroe: 1:00-5:00 p.m.

Timber Ghost -- Calhoun, Ga.
> Jared Lintner: 1:00-5:00 pm.

Shulers Great Outdoors -- Commerce, Ga.
> Mike Iaconelli: 11:00 a.m.- 12 noon
> Ish Monroe: 11:00 a.m. - 12 noon

Bass Pro Shops -- Concord, N.C.
> Peter Thliveros: 1:00-5:00 p.m.
> Mary Hencken: 1:00-5:00 p.m.

Gander Mountain -- Mooresville, N.C.
> Tommy Biffle: 1:00-5:00 p.m.
> Mike Wurm: 1:00-5:00 p.m.
> Jason Quinn: 1:00-5:00 p.m.

How Guidry won Falcon 1/14/2008
The weights are in, and they're huge. Jeremy Guidry set a new FLW Outdoors 4-day weight record with his 110-02 catch at Falcon to win the Texas Stren. For the full details of his winning pattern, click here to visit BassFanArmy.com.

Triton Western contingency 1/11/2008

If the winner of one of those events is a registered Triton owner and member of the Triton Gold Program, he or she will receive a new TR-200 boat-and-trailer package. There's no engine component in the program, so the boat will come equipped with everything except an outboard motor and batteries.

There are no model-year restrictions for the boat in which the angler wins a Western Series or Stren event.

"When we were out there for the owner's tournament (at Clear Lake), we promised these people that we'd put together some kind of contingency program for them since they don't have the (BASS) Opens or Weekend Series," said Bernie House, Triton's director of tournaments and events. "We gave (a boat) away at that time, and since then we've probably sold a dozen or so out there."

The Triton Gold Program sanctions about 2,500 tournaments a year, but the eight combined Series and Stren events will be the first in the region to fall under that umbrella. In addition to being the registered owner of a Triton, the only membership requirement for anglers is a $20 annual fee.

Triton reduced its level of sponsorship of the Bassmaster Elite Series this year, so some money became available to create the Western contingency. Veteran California angler and media personality Kent Brown took part in the initial discussions in October that laid the foundation for the program.

"It all kind of came down one night when we were driving back from dinner," he said. "FLW is, of course, a Ranger-sponsored organization, and they do a great job of putting on the biggest events we have to fish out here.

"We wanted the guys who drive Triton boats and wear Triton shirts to have a chance at some great paybacks, too," he added, noting that Charlie Weyer won last year's Western Series event on the Columbia River in a Triton. "It's a great opportunity for the guys who either own a Triton, or guys who are looking to buy a boat. It's a chance to step up and get taken care of."

If the winner of a Western Series or Stren tournament is not a Triton Gold Program member, then the highest-finishing member will receive $1,000. Triton Gold members who win one of the eight Western events will qualify for the annual Triton Gold Elite Tournament, which features a top prize of $40,000.

Also, if any of them go on to win the Stren Championship or Forrest Wood Cup, they'll receive a fully-rigged boat package that includes a Mercury motor.

For more on Triton, click here.

A wife's big fish 1/11/2008
Guess if you can't catch a big one yourself, having the wife do it right in front of you is almost as good. At least that's the opinion of Colvin Laney, who tells the story today on the Abu Garcia Fish of a Lifetime section on the Berkley Catch More Fish page.

When you're fishing, remember to make sure you have a digital camera (or cell phone) with you because Abu Garcia is giving out a free new reel a month for the Fish of a Lifetime story it likes best. Click here to learn how to send in your Abu Garcia story.

And remember: Your fish of a lifetime doesn't have to be a bass, and can also be a tourney limit of a lifetime.

Lake Fork contest 1/11/2008

Lake Fork has a new bait out called the Live Magic Shad. It's a swimbait with incredible action and some unique swimming features. It can be rigged seven different ways, including weightless, Texas-style or on a jighead or Carolina rig.

We're giving some away in a new BassFan Army contest. The winner will receive three packages of Live Magic Shads, along with six bags of other Lake Fork plastic baits.

How do you win? Just go to www.LFTLures.com, find the Live Magic Shad, and then send us a note at memberservices@bassfanarmy.com and tell us how many sizes and colors are available. Make sure to give us your name and mailing address, and we'll draw the winner from among the correct responses.

The contest ends at 5 p.m. on Jan. 18.

Not a BassFan Army member yet? Click here to sign up for FREE lifetime membership, which makes you eligible for many free programs, including giveaways, contests and qualifying for the Weekend Warrior Championship.

The new Elites? 1/11/2008

> A little backstory: Tour-level inshore fishing somewhat parallels tour-level bass fishing, in that at least two leagues offer top-level competition. In fact, there are three primary redfish leagues. The Redfish Cup is owned and operated by JM Associates (now Career Sports Entertainment). The FLW Redfish Tour is owned and operated by FLW Outdoors and closely parallels the FLW Tour in terms of open fields and sponsor restrictions. The IFA Redfish Tour is owned and operated by the Inshore Fishing Association.

Recon: Amistad 1/10/2008
The 2008 Bass Champs season is kicking off at Amistad, and the big 'uns are biting – if you can find them (deep). Berkley pro Byron Velvick, who now lives on the lake, gives us the down-low on the lake today on the Bass Recon section of BassFanArmy.com. Tidbit: Look for the BassFan discount at Velvick's resort.

Bass Recon is brought to you by the good folks at Fenwick, Abu Garcia and Berkley.

Falcon: monster bite 1/10/2008
The sport got its first real taste of Falcon Lake as a competition venue yesterday, when the Texas Stren division opened its season at this impoundment located along the Texas/Mexico border. And the predictions for a wide-open bite were right on. Check it out.

Bob Ramsdell of Sour Lake, Texas, led the 152-boat field after day 1 with a 34-13 limit. Four pros and one co-angler caught better than 30 pounds, and 30th place sits at 23 1/2 pounds.

"It was one heck of a day for fishing," Ramsdell said. "It's the first time that I've been on this lake, and I found two key areas during practice that I went to. I stayed in one area all day. With the fish changing, the bite was better than it was last week during practice. I left my key spot an hour early just to save the fish for tomorrow. In that area I have a lot of water to cover, and I think I can catch a good limit tomorrow. I wouldn't be surprised if I could do it 3 days in a row. It's holding a lot of fish."

His catch bested the previous opening-day Stren weight record of 34-12, set last year by Dan Schooveld at Amistad. The big bass of the day was 12-01, caught by Michael Herron. It was the 9th-heaviest bass ever caught in a Stren.

And you can bet every pro in the Bassmaster Elite Series field is checking out the weights too. That's because the Elite Series visits Falcon Lake March 3–6.

> The 152-boat field represented a significant participation drop from last year's 200-boat Sam Rayburn opener.

Dove on Edge 1/10/2008
Fans of Elite Series pro Kurt Dove should note that he'll appear on the Bass Edge TV show this Saturday (Jan. 12) with host Aaron Martin on the Versus network at 7:30 a.m. EST. The subject will be tidal water. Fans can also check out a Dove podcast at BassEdge.com.

> The show will also air Tuesday the 15th at 10:30 a.m. EST.

Jones snakebit ... almost 1/9/2008
A few weeks ago, we relayed Alton Jones' account of an encounter he and son Alton Jr. had with a large rattlesnake while fishing about a mile and a half offshore at Texas' Falcon Lake. To see video of the event, click here.

College champ. air dates 1/9/2008
The 26-week television series featuring the BoatU.S. National Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship (NCBFC) kicks off tonight (Jan. 8) at 8 p.m. ET on the Fox College Sports (FCS) network. New shows will air every Wednesday at 8 p.m. and repeats will run Sundays at 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.

For FSN Southwest viewers, the NCBFC debuts tomorrow (Jan. 9) at 3:30 p.m. ET and will air the same day and time each week through July. FSN will also broadcast a special one-hour championship show on Tuesday, Jan. 29 at 3 p.m. That show will air again on Wednesday, Jan. 30 at 11 a.m. ET.

BASS turns 40 1/9/2008

BASS plans to celebrate its 40th anniversary throughout the year. What follows are a few highlights.

Skeeter: Buy. Save. Fish. 1/9/2008
Skeeter is gearing up for the 2008 boat show season by launching its 'Buy. Save. Fish.' rebate promotion. Skeeter's offering cash rebates up to $2,500 on select models including i-Class, ZX and SX series bass boats, WX Series Walleye boats, SL Family Sport Series boats and ZX Saltwater Series boats. The promotion runs from Jan. 1, 2008 through March 31, 2008.

Skeeter has also introduced some new models this year including the redesigned SL series, the WX2100 Deep V Series and 2250ZX Saltwater Series.

KC Star on Chapman 1/9/2008
Brent Chapman got some mainstream press coverage yesterday as the subject of a feature in the Kansas City Star. To read it, click here.

TBF taking apps. 1/9/2008

A statement that addresses the following questions should also be included:

> What would be your goals to accomplish during the 1st and 3rd years as TBF national conservation director?

> What are your expectations regarding a salary and benefits package?

Once a short list of candidates has been compiled, individual interviews will be scheduled.

For more on TBF, click here or call 580-765-9031.

Finesse Flipping 1/8/2008
Never heard of it? Never done it? Today defending Bassmaster Classic champ Boyd Duckett tells you what it is, and when and how to do it – just like he did to win the Lake Dardanelle Bassmaster Legends Major last year – on the Berkley: Catch More Fish page. Tidbit: Dark-colored Fat Dover Crawlers.

Two join Guard team 1/8/2008
The National Guard recently announced that it's signed two new anglers to its team that will compete in FLW Outdoors tournaments in 2008. The additions are 2006 Forrest Wood Cup champion Brent Ehrler and Melinda Mize Hooper, who recently finished a tour of duty in Kuwait.

This year's team will consist of bass pros Ehrler, Mize Hooper, Tim Klinger, Scott Martin, Clifford Pirch, Jonathan Newton and Ramie Colson, along with co-anglers Justin Lucas, Pam Wood, Diane DeLaGarza, Pat Lay, Adam Lock and Rachel Uribe.

Ehrler won the '06 Cup at Logan Marin Lake and also captured the '04 Stren Series Championship at Lake Cumberland. In addition to the FLW Tour, he'll also compete in the FLW Series Western Division this year (he was runner-up in the points on that circuit in '07).

“Being on the National Guard, a real up-and-coming team, is exciting,” he said. “(This) year, I really want to demonstrate consistency.

"I feel like I have a good chance at making one or two Top 10s on the Western FLW Series. However, I’ve never Top10'ed on the (FLW) Tour before, and I’d like to be one of those guys that make one or two cuts every year.”

Mize Hooper is returning to competitive fishing after 13 months of serving overseas as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2008, she will be one of only three women to compete full-time on the FLW Tour as a professional. She also plans to fish the Women’s Bassmaster Tour with her mother, Lucy (her father is Bassmaster Elite Series pro Jimmy Mize).

“I know it will be difficult, but I have high goals for myself,” she said. “I’d really like to make the Forrest Wood Cup. But either way, it’s a dream come true to get to represent the honorable men and women I served with.”

Burgess's wrap 1/8/2008

Look closely at the photo (click on it to make it larger). Behind the sponsor logos, you'll see a background made up of jigsaw puzzle pieces. That's the symbol for autism awareness – his son, Dakota, is afflicted with that disease.

Also, his Professional Anglers Association (PAA) number, 78, sits below the driver-side mirror and is comprised of the traditional red, yellow and blue puzzle pieces.

He'll compete in both the Central and Southern Bassmaster Opens this year in an attempt to qualify for next year's Classic and Elite Series.

Gemini's new shirts 1/8/2008

“Our embroidered marquee shirts have long been the gold standard in apparel for tournament pros,” said Gemini VP Brad Raymond. “But now we have a line of tournament shirts designed with angler comfort in mind that aren’t only affordable, but are unparalleled in performance, good looks, and can be completely customized.”

The G2 XDS Series combines cutting-edge performance apparel, sublimation printing and Gemini’s expertise in made-to-order tournament wear.

It all starts with Intera's patented moisture-transport technology, which creates a fabric that wicks moisture for climate control and comfort. It's versatile enough to wear as a base layer in winter, or to keep you dry and cool in the summer, and is resistant to soil, odor and bacteria. The fabric requires no special care, dries fast and won’t wrinkle.

Sublimation printing involves the transformation of a solid substance directly to a vapor without first passing through the liquid state. The result is spectacular photographic images that don’t fade or wear off. Gemini has a library of logos from nearly every sponsor, so anglers can now simply choose the design of their shirt and indicate their sponsors, and the company will deliver a high-performance, custom shirt with the appropriate logos.

The XDS Series shirts start at $95. Set-up fees are less than other sources and include background graphics and logos. Minimum quantity is just one, and delivery time is typically 3 weeks.

To see a sampling or place an order, click here.

Not so Great Lakes? 1/8/2008
Southwick Associates, the company that operates AnglerSurvey.com and HunterSurvey.com, released the results of a survey conducted last month about why people are fishing less in the Great Lakes.

A total of 1,724 anglers were surveyed, 355 of which were identified as Great Lakes anglers. The number-one reason those anglers gave for no longer fishing in the Great Lakes was a "preference for fishing in other locations." But anglers weren't asked to report why they prefer fishing elsewhere.

Forty-two percent of the respondents said they prefer to fish other locations while only 4 percent said having less time to fish kept them off the water. Less than 1 percent said the health warnings on consuming fish was their reason for not fishing the Great Lakes.

"This poll starts to give us insights into why Great Lakes fishing is declining. We're sure there are many complex trends all combining to impact fishing. We now have a starting point towards learning why," said Rob Southwick, President of "Southwick Associates.

"By learning why fishing is declining, efforts can be made to help reverse the trend," he added. "Anglers contribute $1.2 billion each year via fishing licenses and excise taxes on fishing tackle. These funds are legally dedicated to conservation. Maintaining fishing is critical to protecting the environment."

Visit AnglerSurvey.com to see results of past surveys and participate in the most recent one. For completing the survey, you'll be entered in a monthly drawing for one of five $100 gift certificates to the sporting-goods retailer of your choice.

Member Mop review 1/8/2008

ESPN's lineup 1/7/2008
ESPN today announced details of its ESPN2 outdoor programming for the new year. Of note for BassFans is the return of three shows on Saturdays, all in hi-def: Bassmaster Tournament Trail, A Day on the Lake, and World's Greatest Fishing Show (with Mark Zona). Beat Charlie Moore will run again as well.

ESPN also announced that it'll dedicate 11 hours of programming to the Bassmaster Classic, in the same tape-to-air format as last year. This year's Classic coverage will be produced by Career Sports Entertainment, which recently purchased JM Associates.

Notable too is that President Bush will appear this Sunday (Jan. 13) on Offshore Adventures at 9:00 ET. He chases stripers.

The full Saturday schedule follows. Shows and dates are subject to change.

Until March 31, 2008
Realtree Outdoors: 7:00-7:25 a.m. ET
Beat Charlie Moore: 7:30-7:55 a.m.
A Day on the Lake: 8:00-8:25 a.m.
World's Greatest Fishing Show: 8:30-8:55 a.m.
Bassmaster Tournament Trail: 9:00-10:00 a.m.

April 1-June 30
Ocean Hunter: 7:00-7:25 a.m. ET
Beat Charlie Moore: 7:30-7:55 a.m.
A Day on the Lake: 8-8:25 a.m.
World's Greatest Fishing Show: 8:30-8:55 a.m.
Bassmaster Tournament Trail: 9:00-10:00 a.m.

'Ultimate fantasy': will you? 1/7/2008
There's a lot of buzz surrounding the new FLW Outdoors fantasy fishing game and its mega-payouts. Are you playing? A new BassFan Poll asks that same question. To cast your vote, and see the results, click here to visit the homepage, then scroll down the right-hand margin to find the Poll.

Lanier = hot? 1/7/2008

"The fishing's been great," she said. "The biggest headache is the ramp situation. With only a few ramps open, it's a challenge to find parking, and the extra time it takes to launch and trailer the boat can be a bit frustrating. But catching monster spots makes it all worth it."

She caught these two bruisers Dec. 29. They both bit a 3/8-ounce Tru-Tungsten jig in about 30 foot of water. Nice.

Stren Champ: Jan. 13 1/7/2008
BassFans who weighed in on the Stren Championship gas-up controversy take note: Coverage of the Championship will air Jan. 13 on FLW Outdoors on FSN. Interesting will be whether the long runs and gas strategy receive any airtime. Should be a good show.

Brown leaves BassFan 1/4/2008

"BassFan has been an integral part of my life for 6-plus years," Brown said. "BassFan is a group of bright and talented individuals who've cut new ground with OutdoorsFan Media's properties. I've been very fortunate to have worked with the best and brightest not only here at BassFan, but from an angler, league and manufacturing standpoint as well.

"I'm very excited about the future, and even though the times are tough for many now, there's a bright future in our sport if it's managed well and we all pull in the same direction. I hope to help influence that movement."

About his new position, Brown said: "As the president of Get Outside Media, and a new website called Wired2Fish.com, I'll get to take a new and exciting Internet business model and develop that model to educate and entertain angling fanatics. Wired2Fish.com will launch around the Bassmaster Classic.

"The stars aligned perfectly for my move when (COO) Scot Laney and (CEO) Jay Kumar sold the company to InterMedia Outdoors, and I'm excited about developing and nurturing the new company," he added. InterMedia Outdoors agreed to purchase OutdoorsFan Media, parent company of BassFan, in July 2007.

A press release announcement's Brown as president of Get Outside Media can be found at Wired2Fish.com.

Square-lips not to forget 1/4/2008

Can LaPoint repeat? 1/4/2008
Missouri's Rick LaPoint won last year's BassFan Army Weekend Warrior Championship at Lake Guntersville, and he'll defend his title this year downriver at Picwick. He's never fished the place, but already has at least a little bead on it. For more from the reigning WWC champ, click here to visit BassFanArmy.com.

Morgan, Sphar to Bass Cat 1/4/2008
Significant sponsor news today – Andy Morgan has moved from Ranger to Bass Cat, and Matt Sphar moved from Triton to Bass Cat. For the full story, click here.

Ice-fishing swimbait? 1/4/2008

Recon: Big O 1/3/2008
The BFL is kicking off the Recon season at the Big O, aka Florida's Lake Okeechobee – and the conditions are miserable: low water, massive cold front, high winds. Some might call it unfishable. But not Preston Clark, who gives his read on the lake on the Bass Recon section of BassFanArmy.com. Tidbit: Pay attention to seagulls.

Bass Recon is brought to you by the good folks at Fenwick, Abu Garcia and Berkley.

Howell's Vertical deal 1/3/2008
South Carolina-based Vertical Lures announced recently that it's signed Bassmaster Elite Series angler Randy Howell to a sponsorship deal.

"We have been patiently waiting for the ideal partner to surface who would allow us to promote the Vertical Lures brand nationally," said Vertical owner Eric Harrell. "To join forces with Randy and be included on his list of respected sponsors is a huge honor. We look forward to working with and supporting him in '08, and for years to come."

Said Howell: “I'm thrilled for the opportunity to represent Vertical Lures in the upcoming Elite season. Vertical Lures' innovative products have made a quick impact in the tournament fishing world. I'm excited to have a new arsenal of lures and I truly believe that the JigX and TubeX will increase my success in 2008."

For more on Vertical Lures, click here to visit the company's website.

Houston Boat Show 1/3/2008
The Houston International Boat, Sport & Travel Show kicks off this Friday, Jan. 4 at the Reliant Center in Houston, Texas. The show lasts 10 days and boasts over 450 exhibits and an average attendance of over 150,000 each year.

Topping the list of attractions this year are a live stingray exhibit, the 'Fish-O-Rama' fishing contest for kids and a 50-foot, 5,000-gallon tank full of bass where spectators can observe how fish react to and strike at different types of lures and techniques.

Admission is $8.00 for adults, $4.00 for students (with ID) and free for children under the age of 5. For more information, visit the Houston Boat Show website.

Here's the current list of scheduled seminars:

Friday, Jan. 4th
6:30 p.m. Topic: Cooking Fish
Speaker: Bryan Slaven from the Texas Gourmet
Sponsored by: Academy Sports & Outdoors

7:30 p.m. Topic: Cooking Fish
Speaker: Bryan Slaven from the Texas Gourmet
Sponsored by: Academy Sports & Outdoors

Saturday, Jan. 5th
1:30 p.m. Topic: Getting Your Captain's License
Speaker: Capt. Rick Fisher
Sponsored by: Capt. Roys, Inc.

2:30 p.m. Topic: Inshore Fishing with Super Dave®
Speaker: Dave Valtierra
Sponsored by: Academy Sports & Outdoors

3:30 p.m. Topic: Fishing Matagorda Bay
Speaker: Capt. Tommy Countz
Sponsored by: Castaway Fishing Products

4:30 p.m. Topic: Inshore Fishing with Super Dave®
Speaker: Dave Valtierra
Sponsored by: Academy Sports & Outdoors

5:30 p.m. Topic: Boating Smarter with a GPS
Speaker: Capt John Brummerhop - Angler Products
Sponsored by: Breakwater Marine

6:30 p.m. Topic: Trout Fishing Galveston Bay - Live Bait Techniques
Speaker: Capt. Steve Coffee
Sponsored by: American Rodsmiths

7:30 p.m. Topic: Wintertime Bass
Speaker: Will Kirkpatrick
Sponsored by: Sam Rayburn Reservoir Assoc/Lowrance Electronics

Wednesday, Jan. 9th
6:30 p.m. Topic: Trout Fishing Galveston Bay - Live Bait Techniques
Speaker: Capt. Steve Coffee
Sponsored by: American Rodsmiths

7:30 p.m. Topic: Boating Smarter with your GPS
Speaker: Capt John Brummerhop - Angler Products
Sponsored by: Breakwater Marine

Thursday, Jan. 10th
6:30 p.m. Topic: Early Spring Tactics for Sabine Lake
Speaker: Dickie Colburn
Sponsored by: Castaway Fishing Products

7:30 p.m. Topic: PreSpawn Bass
Speaker: Will Kirkpatrick
Sponsored by: Witt Marine/Yamaha

Friday, Jan 12th
3:30 p.m. Topic: Trout Fishing Galveston Bay
Speaker: Capt. Tom Brown
Sponsored by: Castaway Fishing Products

4:30 p.m. Topic: Fishing for Redfish
Speaker: Jimmie Dooms & Jason Rieger
Sponsored by: Castaway Fishing Products

6:30 p.m. Topic: Boat, Motor, Trailer Selection and Maintenance
Speaker: Will Kirkpatrick
Sponsored by: Triton Boats/Lowrance Electronics

Ohio River regs. 1/2/2008
Recreational anglers fishing the Ohio River between Kentucky and Illinois must now follow an amended agreement. Anglers may continue to fish the main stem of the Ohio River, except for embayments and tributaries, with a valid sport fishing license from Kentucky or Illinois.

Kentucky anglers may fish the Illinois bank of the Ohio River with a Kentucky fishing license, but must abide by Illinois fishing regulations. Anglers from either state may not snag any fish from the Illinois bank of the Ohio River. Kentucky bow anglers may not harvest any paddlefish or catfish from Illinois waters. Other sport fishing requirements are similar for both states.

For more information on each states' regulations, log on to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife website or the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

FLW's P&G teams 1/2/2008
The long-awaited announcement from FLW Outdoors regarding its Proctor and Gamble (P&G) teams landed today. BassFans likely remember a number of uncertainties as to who would have a team deal, and who wouldn't. Some of the P&G news was reported by BassFan prior to the holidays in a 2-part story (click here for part 1, and here for part 2). Here's a look at how all the P&G teams look.

A total of 17 anglers will fish for five different P&G brands. For those pros who changed teams, their prior team appears in parentheses.

Pringles
Vic Vatalaro (was Gain)
Jimmy Millsaps (was Gain)
Gabe Bolivar (was Tylenol)
Jeanne Millsaps (co-angler)

Folgers/Dunkin Donuts Coffee
Scott Suggs
Anthony Gagliardi
Richard Lowitzki (was Folgers, will now wear Dunkin Donuts)
Doug Weiser (co-angler)

Prilosec
Koby Kreiger (was Gain)
Craig Powers (was Bounty)
Chad Grigsby (was BFGoodrich)
Jess Caraballo (co-angler)

Duracell
Michael Bennett
Keith Pace
Brennan Bosley (was Wet Ones)
Fred Martin (co-angler)

Garrity Flashlights
Chip Harrison (was Pringles)

Those who are no longer fishing for P&G include Jacob Powroznik and Ken Wick, who both fished for Bounty (a P&G brand), and Andy Morgan, who fished for Duracell and was presumably replaced by Brennan Bosley.

Notable too is that P&G brand Gain sponsored the FLW Tour's 2007 Rookie of the Year (ROY) award. No mention of an ROY sponsor was made in the announcement.

Army signal-caller 1/2/2008

Scott Secules, one of the winners in the recent Berkley Chigger Craw contest, spent 6 seasons (1988-93) as a backup QB for the Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots. He was the Cowboys' 6th-round pick in '88 out of the University of Virginia.

He's now an associate athletic director at Virginia Commonwealth University. He's been back in his native state for just over a year – he'd worked in the athletic department at Southern Methodist University in Dallas since his playing career ended.

"I've been an Army member since just about the time it started," he said. "BassFan is my daily link to the sport – it's nice to not have to wait a month for a periodical to come out."

He hasn't done much fishing since he's been back in Virginia, but that will change this year. He left his boat, a 1994 Skeeter, behind in Texas, and his mother-in-law recently had it refurbished for him. She redid the upholstery and had a new trolling motor installed.

"That was one of my big Christmas presents. It'll be making its way to Richmond soon, and I can't wait to get out on the James River and the Potomac and start fishing. I'm excited about going to the Potomac this year and flipping all of those great grass beds."

He became acquainted with a lot of people in the fishing industry during his playing days. While with the Dolphins, he struck up a friendship with Tim Tucker, the legendary Bassmaster writer who was killed in an auto accident last year.

He caught the lunkers in the accompanying photo – which weighed 10-03 and 9-03 – on a trip to Mexico's Lake El Salto with Tucker in the late 1990s.

"He always said he was forever in my debt because I was able to get him a football autographed by Dan Marino for his mother-in-law."

Where was Youngers? 1/2/2008

After he returned from the Eurobass Cup in Spain, he underwent back surgery in late October. A few weeks after surgery he began to experience flu-like symptoms. "The symptoms quickly escalated into a dangerously high fever and severe pain that was totally immobilizing," he said. "As it turns out, I was diagnosed with a bacterial infection that had found its way to my spine. After spending Thanksgiving week in the hospital and then being bedridden for the next 3 weeks, I'm finally able to be up and walking, with a back brace and cane for support. Daily megadoses of IV antibiotics have brought my system back to almost normal and I'm looking forward to long days on the water and long walks around our property again."

He noted he's "extremely disappointed" about missing the Wildcard, but he does plan to fish both the Southern and Central Bassmaster Opens in a quest to return to the tour level and the Bassmaster Classic. He qualified for the 2000 Classic through the Opens.

"This life-threatening experience has also been a life-changing experience for me, and has made me more aware and appreciative of the love and support shown by friends and family who've been here for my wife, Deborah, and for me," he added. "The downtime has also been a chance for me to think about the direction I'd like to take with my professional-fishing career, as well as the time to work on generating new business partners and sponsors. In fact, I'll be announcing and unveiling a brand new and exciting sponsor at the upcoming Bassmaster Classic in February. Come look for me at Booth 52, Hall D."

Big-name crashers 1/2/2008
Would you like to have fishing legends Al Lindner or Hank Parker crash your bass club meeting? You can, and you can also win some cool prizes in a new Minn Kota/Humminbird promotion.

Click on any of their ads here at BassFan.com or BassFanArmy.com to register, or go to www.ClubCrashers.com for more information.