Mercury's Fond du Lac shutdown 'temporary' 2/29/2008
According to published reports and industry sources, Mercury Marine has temporarily shut down manufacturing operations at its main Fond du Lac, Wisc. plant in an effort to balance output with demand. Boat and motor sales projections for this year were weak overall, but the shutdown did come as a surprise to many, and is perhaps the sign of a difficult year for the industry.

The Fond du Lac Reporter quoted Mercury spokesperson Steve Fleming on a number of topics, and Fleming did describe the shutdown as temporary (to read that story, click here).

More will be published on this story as it becomes available.

Awards: best bait, line, reel, more 2/29/2008
Want to know which tackle products won the respected Field & Stream Best of the Best awards is specific categories? Highlights appear today on the Berkley Catch More Fish Page.

NCBFC bags Berkley 2/29/2008

The sponsorship comes in the form of contingency programs for scholarships and product bonuses. These include the Berkley Collegiate Team of the Year with over $6,000 in scholarships and products, Berkley Conservation Institute College Angler of the Year with a total of $1500 for the top 2 winners and $500 in product for 3rd place. There's also the Berkley Big Bag Awards with product prize packages throughout the season and scholarship money for the Big Bag of the Year.

“Berkley is proud to be a sponsor of the National Collegiate Bass Championship," said Andrew Marks, Marketing Manager for Berkley. "This young group of anglers is our future for the sport and we are committed to helping them achieve their personal and academic goals.”

Ehrler claims Cup 2/29/2008
FLW Tour pro Brent Ehrler is $50,000 richer after winning 2007 Ranger Cup honors. Ranger Cup bonuses are given to the Top 10 points earners in the FLW Tour and FLW Series. Ehrler stacked up 191 points in 2007 with two Top 10 finishes in the FLW Series Western Division and another Top 10 campaign at the FLW Series East-West Fishoff.

The west was strongly represented in the final Cup standings. Following up Ehrler in the top spot were 3rd-place Clayton Meyer, 4th-place finisher Michael Bennett and Gabe Bolivar in 6th. Two 'Texans', Shinichi Fukae and Clark Wendlandt, managed Top 10 showings as well.

Here's a list of the winners:

1st Place Brent Ehrler – Redlands, Calif. (FLW Series West)
191 Points Ranger Cup: $50,000

2nd Place Andre Moore – Alabaster, Ala. (FLW Series West)
182 Points Ranger Cup: $25,000 plus $12,500 Evinrude bonus

3rd Place Clayton Meyer – San Diego, Calif. (FLW Series West)
171 Points Ranger Cup: $20,000 plus $10,000 Yamaha bonus

4th Place Michael Bennett – Roseville, Calif. (FLW Series West)
159 Points Ranger Cup: $17,500 plus $8,750 Evinrude bonus

5th Place David Dudley – Lynchburg, Va. (FLW Tour)
151 Points Ranger Cup: $15,000 plus $7,500 Evinrude bonus

6th Place Gabe Bolivar – Ramona, Calif. (FLW Tour)
143 Points Ranger Cup: $12,500 plus $6,250 Evinrude bonus

7th Place Shinichi Fukae – Mineola, Tex. (FLW Tour)
141 Points Ranger Cup: $9,000 plus $4,500 Yamaha bonus

8th Place Neil Russell – Nampa, Idaho (FLW Series West)
138 Points Ranger Cup: $8,000

9th Place Darrel Robertson – Jay, Okla. (FLW Tour)
135 Points Ranger Cup: $7,000 plus $3,500 Yamaha bonus

10th Place Clark Wendlandt – Leander, Texas (FLW Series East)
131 Points Ranger Cup: $6,000 plus $3,000 Yamaha bonus

Post-Classic Rankings 2/29/2008
The BassFan World Rankings presented by Tru-Tungsten have been updated to reflect the recent Bassmaster Classic. Kevin VanDam is still ranked No. 1, but Skeet Reese is closing. To view the full Rankings, click here.

Reehm on Radio 2/28/2008
Today on BassFan Radio, Clark Reehm talks about his quest to make the Bassmaster Elite Series, his strong rookie showing in the Bassmaster Classic, and the challenging search for a major sponsor. To listen, click here to visit BassFan Radio, or if you're subscribed to the podcast series, you should receive your episode soon.

Recon: Mead 2/28/2008
The U.S. Anglers' Choice brings its game to Nevada's Lake Mead this weekend. According to Mead master and FLW Tour pro Tim Klinger, if you want a shot at winning this tournament you're going to have to cover a lot of water. How much is a lot? How does hitting 40 different main-lake points in the lower basin sound?

Today in the Bass Recon section of BassFanArmy.com, Klinger gives you the inside scoop on Mead and it's crawfish-craving bass. Tidbit: Mead is known for having ultra-clear water, but that shouldn't stop you from beefing up your line size a little.

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

Yelas: Toho report 2/27/2008
Jay Yelas filed his Toho FLW Tour practice report today. It's a tough bite, but that's what he likes. For his full report, click here to go On Tour With the BassFan Big Sticks.

Edge: Ponds at Choke 2/27/2008

Also on this week's show, Inside Edge breaks down the use of soft plastics, while First Cast discusses sun exposure, its dangers, and how to best protect yourself. Plus, Dr. Jay McNamara looks at how mental rehearsal can improve your on-the-water performance.

This week's episode of Bass Edge airs on Versus Country at 7:30 a.m. EST Sat., March 1, and again on Tues., March 4, at 10.30 a.m.

For more on the show and other topics, visit BassEdge.com, where you can also subscribe to The Edge podcast series.

Win Plano stuff! 2/27/2008

Toho: Fantasy scouting info 2/26/2008
If you've already submitted your fantasy team for the upcoming Toho FLW Tour in Florida, you might want to rethink things. Why? Because current conditions throw a giant wrench into the past-performance model.

The first major spawn is over at Toho and the connected Kissimmee Chain, and the fish have pulled off their beds. Pros BassFan spoke with noted that there isn't much fry hanging around the beds, and where there's fry, there are no guarders.

Sometimes that can be good news, if the spawned-our fish have recovered and are ready to go on the feed. But for this week's event it's bad news. The fish haven't gone on the feed yet, despite at least a week of warm, stable weather. And the front end of a major cold front landed today, with the low tomorrow night projected to be 38 degrees.

In Florida, a drop of even 5 degrees can put the fish off. This temperature drop will approach 20 degrees. Yikes.

That means the bite could be even tougher than the slow conditions already being reported. So how does that affect how you might pick favorites for the event? Here are a few tips to keep in mind.

> The flippers and power-fishermen might be headed home after the day-2 cut. A post-spawn funk, coupled with post-frontal conditions, lends itself more to finesse and worm-fishermen. Those who can fish slowly and methodically, like a Larry Nixon, Jay Yelas, Luke Clausen, or Dave Lefebre, would get the nod over flipping specialists.

> Luck could be a significant factor in the event, just because the big bite will go so far. That makes picking favorites very difficult, but there are anglers who have a knack for whacking a big bite. Put pros like David Dudley, J.T. Kenney, and Clark Wendlandt on that list.

> Remember, too, that new for this year is the FLW Tour's limited practice and no-information rule. So if you're picking based on past performance, or last year's Angler of the Year race, keep in mind that some of those pros, like Shinichi Fukae, achieved a lot of their success on marathon practices. Others might struggle without the aid of local help. But the new limited practice is more like the FLW Series and BASS format, so several veterans who struggled last year but generally thrive on a limited practice could have a breakout event. Consider George Cochran, Ron Shuffield, David Fritts, Tommy Martin, and Stacey King in that regard.

Those are just a few angles to the event, which begins Thursday. For more, keep an eye out for BassFan's Scouting Report and Top 10 to Watch, which will be published late tomorrow afternoon.

What about Ike? 2/26/2008
For BassFans wondering about coverage of Mike Iaconelli after the final day of the Bassmaster Classic, his full pattern details, plus his reaction to his finish, were published today on the Berkley Catch More Fish page. Tidbit: He fished a pattern similar to that of Alton Jones, but with key differences.

Get well Bob! 2/25/2008

"Bob Mabee, president of the Salt City Bassmasters, recently suffered a stroke," Cusano said. "Everybody's signing it to show him their support."

The sign appears in the photo to right, along with Cusano and competitor Kota Kiriyama. Add the BassFan staff to those wishing to extend support. Get well, Bob!

Classic extra – day 2 2/24/2008
For more from the Bassmaster Classic field about their day-2 experiences, click here for today's Classic Extra.

Wong locks up WBT 2/23/2008
Judy Wong weighed in a five-fish, 6-pound limit today to secure the Women's Bassmaster Tour (WBT) title. Wong, a grandmother from Many, La., fished a warm-water discharge known as the "hot hole" all 3 days to catch her fish.

"To win the championship - to be in this position - it means everhything to me," she said. "The women competing in this tournament are all so good at what they do. It means a lot to win a championship among some of the best anglers in the world."

Wong's winning pattern details will be posted soon.

Fishburne in the house (updated) 2/23/2008

BassFan spotted former BASS emcee Fish Fishburne backstage at the Bassmaster Classic in the company of BASS officials. There's been a persistent rumor that Fishburne would return to BASS in some capacity. Could it be here, today? We'll keep you posted, but the fact that he's holding a Yamaha tournament jersey on the way to the dressing room would seem to indicate he's not an official emcee this weekend.

South Carolina = bass country 2/23/2008

Two major Evan Williams announcements 2/23/2008

Under the terms of the deal, Evan Williams will also be the exclusive presenting sponsor of the Clarks Hill Elite Series, and presenting sponsor of the Murray Elite Series.

The second news item is that Evan Williams has signed Elite Series pro Russ Lane to its team. He joins Jason Quinn in representing the company. Lane will run an Evan Williams wrapped boat this season as part of the 1-year deal.

Evan Williams brand manager Susan Wahl noted: "Russ and Jason are competitors, but will both work hard for Evan Williams and will really maximize our efforts as a non-endemic sponsor to support bass fishing, from the Bassmaster Elite Series on down to the Bass Federation Nation."

Lane, a former minor-league pitcher from Prattville, Ala., said: "I'm very happy to welcome Evan Williams Bourbon to my roster of sponsors. They've shown tremendous support for bass fishing through their sponsorship of Jason Quinn and their involvement in presenting tournaments. Evan Williams has been a very visible presence throughout the Elite Series tournaments and in the BASS Federation Nation. Hopefully, between Jason and myself, we'll have a strong Evan Williams presence on the winner's podium as well."

Classic extra – more from the field 2/23/2008
For more from the Bassmaster Classic field about their day-1 experiences, click here for today's Classic Extra.

DaveLefebre.com live 2/23/2008
After some technical difficulties, Dave Lefebre redesigned and relaunched his site. There's an introduction video that's pretty cool, and he's posting some additional video today. To check out the relaunched site, visit DaveLefebre.com.

Kriet, Faircloth to Sébile 2/23/2008

"Jeff and Todd are not just good fishermen, they are also good guys and that's important to us," said Sébile's U.S. sales and marketing director Keeton Eoff. "Both men have qualified for the Bassmaster Classic annually for the past few years and they are back in it again in '08. They are truly among the country's elite anglers and we're proud to have them on our team."

About the new deal, Kreit said: "Sébile baits caught my eye when they first hit the market here a couple of years ago and I've been throwing them ever since. I love to fish hardbaits. Their brand new square-billed Crankster is awesome and is going to win me a lot of money this year. I definitely see it having a role in my Classic appearance on South Carolina's Lake Hartwell."

Faircloth added: "You don't live where I do in south Texas without having a lot of confidence and expertise in fishing crankbaits. Sébile baits offer a truly unique approach in their designs. The Blood Red series in particular has become a fast favorite because it combines visual appeal with realistic motion, and I'm always looking for every advantage I can get."

> Both anglers are currently fishing the Bassmaster Classic. Kreit sits in 23rd place and Faircloth is in 9th.

Wilks' Culprit wrap 2/23/2008
Classic Fishing Products Inc., makers of Culprit soft-plastic lures, announced that Dustin Wilks will run a Culprit-wrapped Skeeter this year on the Bassmaster Elite Series. The four-time Bassmaster Classic Qualifier has endorsed Culprit since 2000.

“I've been with Culprit for 8 years now and I’m honored that they have enough confidence in me to step up to a title sponsorship role," he said. "This will be an excellent opportunity to promote the Culprit brand and really show off their variety of premier soft-plastic lures."

Said Culprit president Lou Gibbs: "We've been dedicated to helping support Dustin throughout the years – he's somebody we can be proud of on and off the water. Dustin continues to personify great sportsmanship and strong team leadership. He's a tireless promoter of the Culprit brand 24/7, and we wish him safe travels and good luck on the 2008 Elite Series."

For more on Culprit, click here.

WBT: Clark takes lead 2/22/2008

Clark weighed in five spotted bass for 11-06. Her 20-14 total vaulted her past Judy Wong of Many, La., who slipped to second with 20-05 after a 7-08 catch on day 2.

“It was one of the best days on the water I can ever remember – going out and catching fish that fast,” Clark said. “I was able to stop at my first hole and put five fish in the boat. That’s a load off your mind when you can do that. That brings a calm over you that makes the rest of the day just fall in place. It was just a picture-perfect morning.

“I found a good group of fish that is replenishing itself. I think the secret on this lake is to find an area that is consistent because the fish move so much with the bait. I’ve got a little milk run established."

Wong had no explanation for the difference in her catch, although she is not giving up on her favorite spot.

“They were just smaller,” she said of her fish. “They didn’t bite as quick and I didn’t get to cull like I did yesterday. I don’t know if it’s the frontal system or they’re just not feeding as actively as they were (on day 1). But I’m going back there again tomorrow.

"I just hope they just bite a little better. But if not, hopefully I can at least get a limit and go look for a largemouth. I just haven’t found that big one.”

WBT Championship: Day 2 Standings

1. Dianna Clark -- Bumpus Mills , Tenn. 10, 20-14 -- 0
Day 1: 5, 9-08 -- Day 2: 5, 11-06

2. Judy Wong -- Many, La. -- 10, 20-05 -- 0
Day 1: 5, 12-13 -- Day 2: 5, 7-08

3. Tammy Richardson -- -- Glenwood, Ark. -- 10, 19-00 -- 0
Day 1: 5, 9-06 -- Day 2: 5, 9-10

4. Pam Martin-Wells -- Bainbridge, Ga. -- 10, 18-11 -- 0
Day 1: 5, 7-01 -- Day 2: 5, 11-10

5. Audrey McQueen -- Eagar, Ariz. -- 9, 17-14 -- 0
Day 1: 4, 7-04 -- Day 2: 5, 10-10

6. Cindy Hill -- Smyrna, Tenn. -- 7, 14-10 -- 0
Day 1: 2, 5-02 -- Day 2: 5, 9-08

7. Lucy Mize -- Ben Lomond, Ark. -- 8, 14-06 -- 0
Day 1: 3, 4-14 -- Day 2: 5, 9-08

8. Marcia Rubin -- Chagrin Falls, Ohio -- 8, 11-06 -- 0
Day 1: 3, 4-00 -- Day 2: 5, 7-06

9. Juanita Robinson -- Highlands, Texas -- 5, 7-07 -- 0
Day 1: 2, 4-05 -- Day 2: 3, 3-02

10. Penny Berryman -- Hot Springs, Ark. 2, 6-07 -- 0
Day 1: 1, 4-08 -- Day 2: 1, 1-15

11. Sheri Glasgow -- Muskogee, Okla. -- 3, 6-01 -- 0
Day 1: 2, 3-15 -- Day 2: 1, 2-02

12. Secret York -- Benton, Ky. -- 1, 5-08 -- 0
Day 1: 1, 5-08 -- Day 2: 0, 0-00

Dobyns conservation rods 2/22/2008

For the sale of each conservation rod, $25 will go to supporting the Dobyns Conservation Partners. The two rods in the program, which will retail for $169.99, are the 703C Conservation Casting (7-foot, medium-heavy, extra-fast action) and the 703SXF Conservation Spinning (7-foot, medium, extra-fast action).

"Conservation and preserving our fisheries are something that we talk about all the time, and so often nothing gets done," Dobyns said. "That's why I wanted to align the Dobyns Rods with conservation organizations and support their efforts. Now a portion of rod sales will benefit conservation efforts nationwide."

The program was developed in cooperation with Dobyns pro staffer Tim Cook of Texas, the 2006 Bass Federation Nation Conservation Director of the Year.

"Gary Dobyns' commitment to supporting angling conservation efforts sets a remarkable example for the entire sport fishing industry," Cook said. "In many cases, this will provide state conservation directors with a budget to offset expenses where there may have been no budget before."

The program isn't limited to the Federation Nation – it's open to any angling conservation organization that would like to participate. Also, grant opportunities will be available from the sale of the rods through the Dobyns national dealer network.

The Dobyns Conservation Series rods will become available this summer and will be featured at ICAST in Las Vegas. For more on Dobyns Rods, click here or call (360) 225-9436.

Sink sensation 2/22/2008
Jay Yelas thinks Berkley got things right with its new SinkWorms, and he and Boy Duckett talk about the baits today on the Berkley Catch More Fish Page. Tidbit: Salt isn't necessarily the secret to a good sinkbait.

Melvin and Newman 2/22/2008

The duo combined to catch three fish for 11.42 pounds from the lake that's located inside Daytona International Speedway. Proceeds benefited the Darryl Gwynn Foundation, which is dedicated to the prevention and care of spinal-cord injuries.

In the photo, Melvin is on the left in the back row and Newman is next to him.

Classic: Ashley vid 2/22/2008
Here's a brief video from Berkely with Casey Ashley about today's Bassmaster Classic. Check it out.

John Murray: Transition-Time Recon 2/22/2008
It's just about that time of year for many BassFans throughout the southern part of the country. Spring is in the air, and bass are shaking off the wintertime blues and making their way to shallow water to start the yearly spawn ritual. Today in theBass Recon section of BassFanArmy.com, Bassmaster Elite Series pro John Murray shares his tactics for catching transitioning fish. Tidbit: Warm days are good, but warm nights are better.

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

Kempthorne at Classic 2/22/2008

The types of projects slated to receive funding include fish-stocking, habitat upgrades and public boating access improvements (the construction of ramps, piers, etc.). All 50 states and several U.S. territories will share the funds.

Classic: Federation qualifiers 2/21/2008
Back home they're police officers, carpenters and managers at communications companies, but for the six anglers who qualified for the Bassmaster Classic through the BASS Federation Nation Championship, their day jobs are the last thing on their minds right now. This weekend they're living the dream and competing for what's arguably the most coveted prize in all of bass fishing: the Bassmaster Classic title.

Click over to BassFan Army to get the stories behind this year's Federation qualifiers, and how they feel the day before the biggest tournament of their lives.

Wong leads WBT Championship 2/21/2008

"I was lucky," Wong said. "I was fortunate to catch a limit early. Then I was able to look for better fish. I'm happy with what I got. I used a variety of baits – whatever the situation called for at the time. I picked what I thought would work and threw it at them. I was able to cull three times."

She caught all spotted bass, and added: "I may hunt some largemouths, but I'm going to wait until I have a limit of spots before I do that. I don't know what's going to happen with the weather. I know the wind made it a little tough when the weather changed."

A low-pressure front moved over the area around mid-morning and the weather worsened. A cold rain, possibly mixed with sleet, is forecast for day 2 tomorrow.

"I caught all spots and the bite was early," Clark noted. "With spotted bass, they're hard to pattern. They move a lot, so it's hard to stay consistent. When the weather came in it slowed the bite down. The wind direction changed and that pretty much shut my fish down on the spot I was on. But I have enough areas that I was able to make a big circle, and some of those spots weren't affected as much by the wind. I culled my last fish 5 minutes before we had to come in."

WBT Championship Day 1 Standings

1. Judy Wong -- Many, LA -- 5, 12-13

2. Dianna Clark -- Bumpus Mills, TN -- 5, 09-08

3. Tammy Richardson -- Glenwood, AR -- 5, 09-06

4. Audrey McQueen -- Eagar, CO -- 4, 07-04

5. Pam Martin-Wells -- Bainbridge, GA -- 5, 07-01

6. Secret York -- Benton, KY -- 1, 05-08

7. Cindy Hill -- Smyrna, TN -- 2, 05-02

8. Lucy Mize -- Ben Lomond, AR -- 3, 04-14

9. Penny Berryman -- Hot Springs, AR -- 1, 04-08

10. Juanita Robinson -- Highlands, TX -- 2, 04-05

11. Marcia Rubin -- Chagrin Falls, OH -- 3, 04-00

12. Sheri Glasgow -- Muskogee, OK -- 2, 03-15

Big Bass
> Day 1 Secret York -- Benton, KY -- 05-08

BASS announces next three Classics 2/21/2008
A short while ago, BASS revealed the locations of its 2009, 2010 and 2011 Bassmaster Classics. Here they are:

> Feb. 20–22, 2009: Red River, Shreveport-Bossier City, La. (CenturyTel Center weigh-ins, Red River South Marina launches)
> Feb. 19–21, 2010: Birmingham, Ala. (Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex weigh-ins)
> Feb. 18–20, 2011: New Orleans, La. (New Orleans Arena weigh-ins)

Prior reporting by Mike Bolton of the Birmingham News pegged B-Ham as the 2010 destination, and it turns out he was dead-on. Competition waters have not been named for either the Birmingham or New Orleans venues.

For Shreveport-Bossier City, 2009 will mark the community's first Classic. The event has been held in Birmingham six times and in New Orleans three times.

Realtree goes pink 2/20/2008

"I can't begin to tell you how excited I am about this partnership", Short said. "Diablo Outdoors has done an incredible job in a short period of time of positioning themselves and the Team Realtree brand as leaders in not only the hunting, but also the fishing outerwear market."

But don't think for a moment that Short's shedding his signature pink in favor of Realtree camo. His rig will feature a touch of Realtree's APG HD pattern, but the pink factor is still in full force. Click the picture on the right to see K-Pink's new look for '08.

Classic: Tabu debut 2/20/2008

BassFans can get their hands on the Open Water jig and the Tiny Tim for the first time in the Tackle Warehouse Booth at the Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo this Friday through Sunday (Feb. 22-24). Tackle Warehouse is carrying the Open Water jig in four sizes and ten colors, and the they have the Tiny Tim in eight fish-catching colors.

> Team Tabu members Kelly Jordon and Fred Roumbanis are competing in the Classic this week.

Grits Gresham passes 2/20/2008

Gresham, who was 85, was the first host of the American Sportsman TV show and was a prolific outdoor writer. He authored The Complete Book of Bass Fishing and is generally considered one of the greatest outdoor writers of all-time. He contributed to a diverse body of publications including Sports Afield, Field & Stream, Outdoor Life, Guns, Gun World, The American Rifleman, Gentleman's Quarterly, Rx Golf and Travel, Southern Outdoors, Western Outdoors, Guns and Ammo, Sports Illustrated, Bassmaster, True, Argosy, Boating, Outboard, Advertising Age and Camping Journal.

He was also instrumental in helping BASS founder Ray Scott remove the image that cheating took place in bass tournaments.

The Shreveport Times yesterday published a solid piece on Gresham, which includes quotes from Scott. To read it, click here.

The Secret's out! 2/20/2008

Note: Click the photo to right to enlarge it.

Parsons' shallow spoon tactics 2/19/2008
When most people think of jigging spoons, they think vertical applications in deep water. But professional walleye angler Gary Parsons has a shallow-water spoon technique that's sure to put more bass in your boat.

Learn Parsons' spoon specifics today on the Berkley: Catch More Fish page. Tidbit: He says this technique is deadly when bass are chasing schools of small baitfish in shallow water.

TTBC teams set 2/19/2008

Team No. 1 – Dean Rojas (captain), Luke Clausen, Randy Blaukat, Kenneth Chapman.

Team No. 2 – Matt Herren (captain), Clark Wendlandt, Ray Scheide, Trevor Knight.

Team No. 3 – Charlie Hartley (captain), John Crews, Mark Tyler, Jami Fralick.

Team No. 4 – Kevin VanDam (captain), Dave Lefebre, Paul Elias, Jimmy Mason.

Team No. 5 – Gary Klein (captain), Scott Suggs, Bernie Schultz, Dave Parsons.

Team No. 6 – Mike Wurm (captain), Lee Bailey, Pete Gluszek, Ray Hanselman.

Team No. 7 – Jason Quinn (captain), Ish Monroe, Curt Lytle, Yusuke Miyazaki.

Team No. 8 – Terry Scroggins (captain), Russ Lane, Shaw Grigsby, Craig Dowling.

Team No. 9 – Bobby Lane (captain), Cody Bird, John Sappington, Byron Velvick.

Team No. 10 – Dave Wolak (captain), Mike McClelland, Terry Segraves, Travis Rulle.

Team No. 11 – Jeff Kriet (captain), Mark Rose, Kevin Short, James Niggemeyer.

Team No. 12 – Brent Chapman (captain), Brian Snowden, Terry Butcher, Scott Campbell.

Team No. 13 – Anthony Gagliardi (captain), Art Ferguson III, Denny Brauer, John Gray.

Team No. 14 – Edwin Evers (captain), Jeff Reynolds, Mark Menendez, Kurt Dove.

Team No. 15 – Alton Jones (captain), Bud Pruitt, Mark Tucker, Stephen Browning.

Team No. 16 – Chad Morgenthaler (captain), Matt Reed, Stacey King, Brian Penso.

Team No. 17 – Mike Iaconelli (captain), Randy Howell, Cliff Pace, Danny Correia.

Team No. 18 – Todd Faircloth (captain), Terry Baksay, Derek Remitz, Johnny Grice.

Team No. 19 – Andy Morgan (captain), Peter Thliveros, Mike Hawkes, Wes Thomas.

Team No. 20 – Kelly Jordon (captain), David Smith, David Walker, Lance Vick.

Team No. 21 – Takahiro Omori (captain), Mark Davis, David Dudley, Jerry Green.

Team No. 22 – Tim Horton (captain), Todd Auten, Tommy Martin, Jim Dillard.

Team No. 23 – Chris Baumgardner (captain), Kevin Wirth, Dan Morehead, Trent Huckaby.

Team No. 24 – Tommy Biffle (captain), Zell Rowland, Guy Eaker, Jason Reyes.

Team No. 25 – Aaron Martens (captain), Larry Nixon, Rick Morris, Patrick Pierce.

Team No. 26 – Sean Hoernke (captain), Chris Daves, Tom Mann Jr., Pete Ponds.

The tournament is sanctioned by the Professional Anglers Association (PAA) with technical assistance and support from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Inland Fisheries Division.

The TPWD will receive a $250,000 donation from the tournament that will go toward their youth fishing and outreach initiatives. Last year’s proceeds assisted the stocking of fish in Texas neighborhood lakes in an effort to introduce kids to fishing.

For additional tournament and ticket information, click here.

Jackall contest winner 2/19/2008
The BassFan Army would like to thank everyone who entered our Jackall Baits contest. Bill Moore Of Heber Spring, Ark. is the lucky winner.

His entry was randomly drawn from among the respondents who identified that the BassFan Army Store carries six colors of the Jackall jerkbait. As the winner, he'll receive four of the baits.

Look for another Army contest soon.

New looks for the BBZ-1 2/19/2008

The popular hitch pattern will come in all "rate of all" models and comes equipped with the standard 2X strong Gamakatsu trebles. The new colors will be available at ICAST 2008.

In the image, from left to right: natural perch, killer carp and hitch.

> Click here to visit the Big Bass Zone section of BassFan.

Pradco buys Lindy 2/19/2008
Pradco Outdoors Brands has acquired Lindy-Little Joe, Inc. and its tackle lines that include Lindy, Little Joe, Thill, Old Bayside, Munchies, M/G, Beckman and Drift Control. These brands join Pradco's significant portfolio which includes Rebel, Bomber, Heddon, Yum, and Knight Rifle among others.

Pradco VP and GM John Woller said of the acquisition: "Pradco's thrived in a competitive marketplace due to its focus on product innovation. We're tremendously pleased with the addition of Lindy-Little Joe because it shares an equal focus on product development. Products such as the Lindy rig are simply part of every fisherman's vernacular, so in that respect and many others there are synergistic qualities in terms of brand equity and product approach that we feel will strengthen our position in the marketplace."

Pradco-Fishing VP and GM Bruce Stanton noted: "The Lindy brand and product line is powerful in our industry, and we're thrilled to be associated with this company and its talented people. We look forward to serving Lindy's customers and will continue to expand the company's product-development efforts and promotions."

Ted Takasaki, a walleye tour pro who served as Lindy president, said of the deal: "Pradco Outdoor Brands immediately strengthens Lindy's presence in all markets around the world. We're extremely excited about the sales and new-product possibilities where anglers will greatly benefit from the combined resources of the two companies. I've always had great success with Pradco-Fishing lures and look forward to the future."

Lindy will continue to operate out of its Brainerd, Minn. headquarters.

The Wiley X team 2/18/2008
Wiley X Eyewear announced recently that it's inked eight professional anglers to its pro staff for 2008.

The Wiley X team consists of reigning Bassmaster Elite Series Angler of the Year Skeet Reese, 2007 Bassmaster Classic champion Boyd Duckett, 2006 BassFan Rookie of the Year Jared Lintner, Elite Series pros Edwin Evers, Stephen Browning and Jeremy Starks, Women's Bassmaster Tour pro Tanya Kreuzer and Western FLW Series angler Dewayne Bonham.

For more on Wiley X, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, click here to visit the company's website.

Classic TV schedule 2/18/2008
Here's a look at the ESPN2 television broadcast schedule for this week's Bassmaster Classic.

Saturday, Feb. 23
> 7 a.m.-8:30 a.m.: Day 1
> 8:30-10 a.m.: Day 1
> 10 p.m. to midnight: Day 2

Sunday, Feb. 24
> 6 a.m.-8 a.m.: Day 2
> 8-10 a.m.: Day 2
10 p.m.-midnight: Day 3

Thursday, Feb. 28
> 4 p.m.-6 p.m.: Day 3

Clark goes Hollywood 2/18/2008

To find out how it's really done, the producers of a movie about bass fishing hired Preston Clark of Palatka, Fla.

Clark was brought in to consult on location for Bait Shop, a movie shot on Florida's Lake Tohopekaliga in early February. The movie will star comedian Bill Engvall and country recording artist Billy Ray Cyrus. Bait Shop is about a struggling tackle store owner (Engvall) who enters a bass tournament to make enough money to save his business.

"Originally they talked to me about just being a consultant, to look at things to make sure they are realistic – don't hold the rod upside down, how to lip a fish correctly, that sort of thing — but once I got there, they decided to put me in as an extra," Clark said from the set, who noted that fake fish were used during filming.

"I don't have any speaking parts, but was filmed in my boat during takeoff, and in the crowd at the weigh-ins. They introduced me on stage. I was in third place the first day of the tournament. Hot Rod Johnson, the main character — the bad guy — was leading. That's Billy Ray Cyrus' character."

Clark said Bassmaster's Hooked Up host Mark Zona and tournament emcee Keith Alan were on the set for several days of shooting on the Bassmaster Elite Series weigh-in stage, which was used as one of the movie sets.

After 6 days as an extra and consultant, Clark was looking forward to the end of his movie career.

"It's something that now I can say I've done, but probably won't be doing again," said Clark, who received clearance from BASS tournament officials to be at Lake Toho during the off-limits period imposed before the March 13-16 Citrus Slam on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes.

"It's been interesting, but pretty boring when you're not doing anything," Clark added. "It's too slow for me. I've learned since I've been here how to hang tight, hang loose, hang out and just plain hang."

The movie by Background Productions is expected to be released on DVD.

2008 WWC field list (partial) 2/15/2008
The field for the upcoming BassFan Army Weekend Warrior Championship is by no means complete – anglers continue to accept their invitations daily – but the BassFan Army did release a preliminary field list of those currently committed to the competition. One thing's for sure: A lot of big sticks will be there. To check out the list, click here.

Tru-Tungsten Classic schedule 2/15/2008

Also of note, Tru-Tungsten pro Marty Stone will be commenting on the Classic for ESPN2 on Sunday, Feb. 24.

Angler -- Friday Schedule -- Saturday Schedule -- Sunday Schedule

Ken Cook -- All Day -- All Day -- All Day
Laura Gober -- All Day -- All Day -- All Day
Mary Henken -- not appearing -- not appearing -- 10-11:00 a.m.
Pam Martin-Wells -- not appearing -- not appearing -- 12-2:00 p.m.
Bobby Myers -- All Day -- All Day -- All Day
Jason Quinn -- 12-1:00 p.m. -- 11:00 a.m. - noon -- 12-1:00 p.m.
Marty Robinson -- not appearing -- 12-2:00 p.m. -- not appearing
Kim Stapp -- not appearing -- not appearing -- All Day
Marty Stone -- 1-2:00 p.m. -- 10-11:00 a.m. -- not appearing
Mark Tucker -- All Day -- All Day -- All Day
Bernie Schultz -- not appearing -- not appearing -- All Day
Judy Wong -- not appearing -- not appearing -- 12-2:00 p.m.

USA Today: Ike 2/15/2008
Mike Iaconelli got a big splash today in USA Today. The news story focuses on tonight's debut of his new show, City Limits Fishing, on the Versus network. To check out the story, click here.

HOF wraps Wurm 2/15/2008

"It's going to give us some good promotional value and help drive people to our website to get some information about the BFHOF," said Wurm, who is on the Hall's board of directors. "We need to get the word out about the Hall because we're on the road to a bright future.

"There'll be a lot of eyeballs looking at it and now we can use our boats throughout the entire tournament," he added in reference to the revamped BASS boat policy. "I think people knew about the Hall of Fame at first and maybe we lost a little interest, but I think this will spark their interest again."

"The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame is proud to have an angler with such high morals and professional accomplishments as Mike Wurm promoting us in his travels," said BFHOF president Sammy Lee. "It's an honor to know that Mike thinks so much of the BFHOF as to make us his flagship cause in 2008."

> For more information, visit BassFishingHOF.com.

Ditka, Dyer and the kids 2/15/2008

Dyer, the national spokesman for C.A.S.T., gave fishing instruction to the kids and also autographed copies of his new book, The View from Down Here is Just Fine.

For more about C.A.S.T, click here.

Yamaha wins again 2/14/2008

"We are honored, and we accept this recognition on behalf of our
dealers and boat builder partners," said Phil Dyskow, president of
Yamaha Marine Group. "Our goal has long been to strive for the highest
level of customer satisfaction for outboard motors in the industry.
That goal is an upwardly moving target. Thankfully, we have been
moving with the target by investing in our people, our procedures and
our products. Many of these investments have paid off for our
customers."

You can check out Yamaha's award-winning line of outboard motors at YamahaOutboards.com.

Need a tow? 2/14/2008
If you've ever been stranded on the water you know it's not the greatest feeling in the world. Sometimes you can flag down a fellow angler, but that's never a certainty. You might be able to place a call to a buddy, but then there's the consequence of having to endure 6 months of constant ribbing about how he had to play hero for the guy who didn't get a full charge on his cranking battery.

That's where the BoatU.S. Angler membership program comes in. The program offers on-the-water and roadside assistance for an annual rate of $34, plus a $19 annual BoatU.S. Angler membership fee. This service is available to any angler on inland, freshwater waterways, lakes and rivers in the U.S., and that now includes service to anglers on the Great Lakes through TowBoatU.S.

For an additional $10, you can purchase roadside towing assistance through the BoatU.S. network of over 20,000 roadside towers across the country.

Snowden on the Edge 2/14/2008

The show will air Saturday, Feb. 16 at 7:30 a.m. EST on Versus Country, and again Tuesday, March. 5, at 10:30.a.m.

This week’s “Inside Edge” looks at choosing the right jig for the right situation, and “First Cast” helps out with a few tips on fishing with the kids. Sports psychologist Dr. Jay McNamara takes on luck in fishing.

For more, go online to BassEdge.com, or check out “The Edge” podcast on iTunes.

Horton: Classic practice radio 2/14/2008
The newest episode of BassFan Radio features Tim Horton, who reports directly from Bassmaster Classic practice at Lake Hartwell and lays out a lot of what's happening. To tune in, click here to listen to BassFan Radio.

The show is also available as a QuickTime stream, or via podcast. Click here to listen via that format.

Bass Cat: 4th straight J.D. Power award 2/14/2008

Bass Cat entered the J.D. Power and Associates study in 2005. It won the award that year and every year since.

Attending from Bass Cat headquarters in Mountain Home, Ark. were Rick Pierce and Dee Ezell. About the award, Pierce noted: "While this is a prestigious award, what's important are the owners and the staff of the Bass Cat Family, who made this possible. They enjoy our product and we work hard to give them the best product we can, with service second to none. (We) prefer a silent, humble approach to our business – one in line with the image of Bass Cat and principles of the family. Awards are for today, they're not a heritage."

Ezell expressed appreciation for "the support that those many members of the Bass Cat Family have shown. It remains Bass Cat's goal to provide the best in service for many years to come." She also thanked the Bass Cat dealers who "make this award possible."

Bass Cat was founded 37 years ago by Ron and Jan Pierce (Rick's parents). For more information on the company, visit BassCat.com.

Recon: Murray BFL 2/14/2008
Think deep for a limit, then look for kickers up shallow when the sun gets up. That's what Murray stud Anthony Gagliardi would do if he were fishing this weekend's Murray BFL in South Carolina. He lays out his lake assessment and recommendations today in the Bass Recon section of BassFanArmy.com. Tidbit: For those willing to gamble, there's a chance the event could be won shallow.

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

Classic practice: What's up? 2/14/2008

The fish should still be grouped up in their wintering packs, and the overall feeling in the field is that a winning school of fish exists somewhere. Finding it in 3 days is the difficult part. Those who found a school or two in December have spent considerable time trying to relocate their fish. The problem is there's been a lot of hunting and pecking. Pros might be on top of a good school, but the cold water temps create a lethargic attitude in the fish, so it's been difficult to determine whether there's actually a school down there.

The cold water also, at least for now, puts the emphasis on the deep bite. There's just not much happening shallow, except in the mornings. Some warm weather could change that, but it doesn't look promising. Yes, daytime highs are predicted to improve next week, but nighttime lows (the more critical mark) should still range from the low-30s to mid-40s, which will likely keep water temperatures from reaching the all-important mid-50s mark.

As for the big picture, it looks like it'll be a tight Classic with a lot of strategy where the 20-pound bag will rule. Two of 'em might be enough to clinch.

Today marks the final day of the official 3-day practice period. The pros will have 1 more day of practice next Wednesday. Watch for a full Classic practice report tomorrow on BassFan.

Ike goes urban 2/14/2008

BassFan: What was the genesis of the show? Did you take the idea to the producers, or were you approached?
Iaconelli: It was a combo – a little of both. I've always gone out to the places where people never imagined catching any fish, and exposing the fishery. I always had it in the back of my mind that it would be a great show. When the opportunity did come around, it was a big thing for me.

You must have had other offers through the years for TV shows, right?
Yes, I had opportunities in the past to do normal TV shows, where you go shoot for 3 or 4 days, take the best five fish, put it on TV, and it looks like you smoked them. That's how you do a normal fishing show.

To me, this show's unique for a couple of reasons. One is we get to go to cities across the U.S. and do urban fishing downtown. I love that. The other challenge is that, when we get to a place, we have a limited amount of time – just 6 hours to catch a limit of fish within the city limits. That really juiced me up too. It's almost like a mini-tournament.

And you'll be fishing a lot of the waters cold, right? Meaning, you'll just launch and start fishing?
I'd never been to some of the places before. When I launch the boat I go on the clock and start competing.

But there's a further element beside the fishing and the excitement of the fishing, and this is what makes it more than a traditional fishing show. We highlight the city too. Each show is a 2- to 3-day shoot. One day is the 6 hours of fishing. Then the next day we actually go and explore the city a little bit and highlight what makes Chicago Chicago, for instance.

We interview some people – we literally interview people on the street about what they think of fishing in Chicago. Undoubtedly, every time we got some pretty cool answers. We have all that on this show, so it's a chance to hopefully get to a different kind of person. Hardcore bass-heads will love the show, but maybe someone who doesn't fish will watch it and say, "Oh my gosh, I had no idea that was right in my backyard." So it's the kind of show where we reach outside the boundaries, and it's a pretty awesome opportunity."

Peter T-ips 2/14/2008
The first event of the Bassmaster Elite Series season at Florida's Harris Chain of Lakes is less than a month away, and Florida pro Peter Thliveros is already plotting how he's going to catch them there. He thinks the combination of low water levels and crowded conditions could give the Harris bass a case of lockjaw, and that doesn't bother him a bit.

He gives you the scoop on how he coaxes spawning bass on pressured lakes in today's BassFan Pro Fishing Tip.

Chapman's buck 2/14/2008

He shot the deer at about 4:30 p.m. on some land his family owns about an hour's drive from Kansas City. He'd stopped for a cheeseburger on the way out and was suffering from food poisoning when he got to his stand at about 2:30.

"If I'd had the energy to get out of the stand, I would've left (before the deer showed up)," he said. "It's funny, we go through all these measures to be so scent-conscious, and I'd thrown up three or four times right off the stand. These deer walked right by it and didn't even care."

No official measurements were taken, but he said the buck's Boone & Crockett score would have been in the 140 range.

"It was a big deer, but it was even bigger the year before – one of my buddies almost shot it then. It was an older animal and it was on its way down.

"I was sick and miserable, and the season was just about over. It just goes to show that things happen when you least expect them."

Any more 'secrets'? 2/13/2008

Check out SecretLures.com. The company, based in Indiana, signed on as a new BassFan Army sponsor with nothing more than the word that "something big is coming, and it's a secret."

Reportedly, the company will unveil its new product next week, prior to the Bassmaster Classic. We'll keep readers updated when more intel emerges.

How Reyes won 2/12/2008
Jason Reyes knows that in South Texas, things can change quickly. He kept that knowledge in his back pocket and early on day 1 at Choke Canyon, he ditched his deep bite and found a mess of fish up shallow. He went on to win the PAA's Toyota Texas Bass Classic Qualifier with those shallow fish. For the full details of his winning pattern, click here to visit BassFanArmy.com.

Ray recalls '73 2/12/2008
Ray Scott recalls the first Bassmaster Classic held in South Carolina 35 years ago and a messy extracurricular event held in conjunction with it in his latest Scott On-Line column. To find out who won that long-ago greased pig-catching contest, click here.

Dudley: Zoom to Berkley 2/12/2008

About his change to Berkley baits and line, he said: "The one thing that I noticed with Berkley is that they're truly striving to be the best. They're constantly working, studying, and trying to always advance what they already have. And I like that in a company. Zoom's a great company too, and I enjoyed working with them for 13 years. My slogan is: Never become satisfied. Once you do, you become stagnant. So I like a company that's always willing to grow."

He also noted he's "very, very impressed" with Abu's Revo, and since he does quite a bit of saltwater and tidal fishing, he's actually been throwing the saltwater Revo a lot – even in freshwater. "It's the smoke," he said, and added: "I've put it all to the test. I don't sandbag when it comes to testing stuff out. I figured if it all met with my standards, hopefully I'd get with (Pure Fishing) all four ways with baits, line, rods and reels."

> He never had a reel sponsor. For a while prior to last season, he'd been sponsored by Kistler rods.

> He recently won his bracket at the FLW Series East/West Fishoff. His reaction to that, along with reactions from other Cup-qualifying pros, will be published soon.

Random VanDam 2/12/2008

The show is also available as a QuickTime stream, or via podcast. Click here to listen via that format.

Yelas on Hollow Belly 2/12/2008
It's no secret that Jay Yelas threw a Basstrix Paddle Tail swimbait last year, and it played a huge role in his 2007 FLW Tour Angler of the Year title. Now there's a similar bait from Berkley that he can throw, and talk about. That's what he does today on the Berkley: Catch More Fish page. Tidbit: If water clarity allows, skip a swimbait up under docks, instead paralleling them with a spinnerbait or swim-jig.

Reyes wins, 25 qualify 2/12/2008
Jason Reyes held on to his first-day lead to win the overall title at the inaugural Toyota Texas Bass Classic Qualifier, held at Choke Canyon Lake in Texas. Reyes, of Humble, Texas, finished the 2-day contest with 10 bass weighing 48-03.

The Top 25 finishers from the tournament are now invited to compete in the $750,000 Toyota Texas Bass Classic, an event sanctioned by the PAA. Each of the anglers from this event completes the four-angler teams fishing in the TTBC at Lake Fork, April 18-20.

Teams will be announced and posted this Friday.

Following are the 25 anglers advancing to the TTBC from the qualifier, in order of finish, with total weight noted in parentheses.

1. Jason Reyes (48-03)
2. Johnny Grice (44-12)
3. Patrick Pierce (44-06)
4. Wes Thomas (44-05)
5. Trent Huckaby (44-03)
6. Jerry Green (43-13)
7. Jim Dillard (43-05)
8. Lance Vick (43-03)
9. Danny Correia (43-02)
10. Scott Campbell (42-12)
11. Brian Penso (42-11)
12. James Niggeymeyer (42-09)
13. Yusuke Miyazaki (42-01)
14. Kenneth Chapman (41-10)
15. Byron Velvick (41-10)
16. Trevor Knight (40-07)
17. Stephen Browning (40-03
18. Jami Fralick (39-10)
19. Tavis Rulle (39-02)
20. Jimmy Mason (38-10)
21. Ray Hanselman, Jr. (38-08)
22. Dave Parsons (37-09)
23. Craig Dowling (36-11)
24. Kurt Dove (36-09)
25. John Gray (36-00)

Fishoff winners 2/11/2008
The FLW Series East/West Fishoff is officially in the books. Lake Amistad proved once again that it's capable of coughing up gargantuan sacks when the conditions are right.

The overall winner was Clayton Meyer, an FLW Series pro out of San Diego, Calif. Two 30-pound limits crossed the scales during the tournament and both belonged to Meyer. His 3-day total was a stout 76-11. Keep an eye on BassFan Army for the details on Meyer's winning pattern. That story is in the works.

After Western anglers took control of the bracket battle on day 1, the Eastern pros fired back on days 2 and 3 and secured bragging rights with a 16-14 advantage.

Here's the list of anglers who won their brackets and qualified for the 2008 Forrest Wood Cup.

Western Division
Seed No. - Angler
2. Brent Ehrler
3. Andre Moore
7. Brett Hite
8. Jason Hickey
9. Chris Zaldain
10. Neil Russell
12. Michael Bennett
13. Clayton Meyer
14. Ken Wick
15. Jimmy Reese
16. Micahel Tuck
18. Micahel Rooke
28. Rob Riehl
30. Bobby Barrack

Eastern Division
Seed No. - Angler
2. David Fritts
4. Koby Kreiger
5. J T Kenney
6. Clark Wendlandt
7. David Dudley
8. Dave Lefebre
9. Steve Kennedy
10. Joel Richardson
11. George Cochran
12. Greg Bohannan
14. Scott Martin
20. Kyle Mabrey
25. Derek Remitz
26. Larry Nixon
27. Kevin Bishop
30. Dion Hibdon

> Both top-seeded anglers, David Walker in the East and Randy McAbee Jr. in the West, failed to win their brackets.

> Derek Remitz and Steve Kennedy are also competing in the upcoming Bassmaster Classic.

Berkley to Atlanta 2/11/2008
Berkley Fishing’s trailer is headed to the Bass Pro Shops in Atlanta, Ga. The trailer will be there Feb. 16-17 and will offer demonstrations and interactive games for kids and adults.

The trailer gives the everyday angler the opportunity to view new baits in the Berkley line and chances to see the baits in action. Kids and adults alike will enjoy fishing games on the Nintendo Wii and competing in knot-tying contests.

“We want everyone young and old alike to enjoy the Berkley experience,” said marketing manager Andrew Marks. “In addition to our bait and line interactive displays, we will have Abu Garcia reel demonstrations, interactive touch screens to learn how to catch more fish and a showcase for our latest and most innovative fishing products.”

Special sales and promotions will be offered wherever the Berkley trailer stops. If you are unable to make it by the trailer and test the interactive components in Atlanta (5900 Sugarloaf Parkway, Lawrenceville), here are the upcoming stops:

> Feb. 21-24 – Bassmaster Classic Expo, Greenvile, SC
> Feb. 29-March 2 – Bass Pro Spring Classic, Nashville, Tenn.
> March 4-5 – Bass Pro Spring Classic, Pearl, Miss.
> March 7-9 – Bass Pro Spring Classic, Bossier City, La.
> March 11-12 – Bass Pro Spring Classic, Garland, Texas

For more about Berkley, click here.

Brauer back fishing 2/11/2008

"It's going wonderful," he said. "I'm still going to rehab three times a week, and next week will be the last week (of rehab) before I go out on the road. It's getting close. The pain level is really under control. In fact, I went out on Lake of the Ozarks and fished for about 6 hours – strictly standing, no butt seat. I got by pretty well and I'm real excited about how it's come along."

He'd put off the surgery for years and is now glad "it's in the past." But he also admitted it's been a struggle.

"A knee just seems like one of those deals where you have a lot of pain to get a little gain. I worked it as hard as I could. I think the results are starting to show. I can stand and walk around well, so everything's headed in the right direction. Obviously it'll take a couple of months to get the stamina back and get my leg into fishing shape. That's what I plan on doing the last couple weeks of the month."

For the BassFans who've asked whether they'll be able to see Brauer at the Bassmaster Classic next week, the answer's no. He said his knee's not up to an all-day stand on concrete, and he has some additional tests to be done in Texas prior to the start of tour season. "I'd like to be there to see the fans and help my sponsors, but I think everybody's better served if I spend my time getting back on the water, to get the knee back into the shape I need it to be. It's very hard to compete unless you feel good physically. Hopefully I can translate feeling better into some better finishes this year."

PAA: Vids from Choke 2/8/2008
The PAA's Toyota Texas Bass Classic Qualifier began this morning at Choke Canyon in Texas, and what's pretty cool is some of the PAA members who aren't fishing are providing video from the event. A few vids are already up, like this one with Gary Klein.

To check out the PAA's video page, click here.

Fishoff – what went down? 2/8/2008
There are several subplots developing at the FLW Series East/West Fishoff, not the least of which is the showdown between Larry Nixon and Mike Folkestad (the two oldest pros in the field). For a day-1 overview and some analysis, click here to visit BassFanArmy.com.

Evinrude MFEs 2/8/2008
Evinrude has announced that its line of multi-fuel engines (MFEs), once reserved for the defense industry, are now available to consumers through dealerships nationwide.

“These engines are made tough for harsh use by the military,” said Roch Lambert, VP and GM the Outboard Marine Engines division of BRP. “They carry the same great benefits as all Evinrude outboards – strong performance, lasting reliability, low maintenance and lots of power. For consumers who want to do more, there's really no other engine like it. ”

The MFEs can run on standard gasoline, aviation fuels and even kerosene. Changing the fuel source is as simple as flipping a switch. You can check out the MFEs at the upcoming Miami International Boat Show, Feb. 14-18.

Diller's catch of a lifetime 2/8/2008
How would you like to hook up with a 53-inch muskie on bass tackle? Justin Diller did, and he tells his story today in 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.

Optima joins BASS 2/7/2008

In announcing the deal, Optima marine brand manager Josie Cline said: "Optima Batteries is proud to align with such a prestigious partner. As a proud sponsor of BASS and an avid supporter of the sport of bass fishing, Optima Batteries encourages enthusiasts everywhere to stay out on the water longer."

BASS VP and GM Tom Ricks added: ""We recognize Optima's reputation in the industry and applaud their support of the sport of bass fishing."

> Optima isn't new to fishing sponsorship – it's been a major sponsor of pro Edwin Evers.

> Optima brand batteries are manufactured by Johnson Controls, Inc.

Recon: Guntersville 2/7/2008
Find the grass, find the fish. That's the mindset Guntersville guru Jimmy Mason pounds home today in the Bass Recon section of BassFanArmy.com. As far as he's concerned, this weekend's BFL Bama Division opener on Big G should be all about the lipless-crank bite near main-lake grassbeds. Tidbit: Finding grass isn't enough. It's gotta' be fresh.

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

New poll: North, South, East or West? 2/7/2008
With the news that the Bassmaster Classic might return to Birmingham in 2010, alongside news that the Forrest Wood Cup might launch out of Pittsburgh in 2009, a new BassFan poll asks readers where they think championship events should be held.

To participate in the poll, click here to visit the homepage, then scroll down the right-hand side of the page.

Classic back to B-Ham? 2/7/2008
The Birmingham News is reporting what appears to be some inside info that the Bassmaster Classic is returning to Birmingham, Ala. in 2010. Click here to check out the story.

Weekend Warrior Championship payout 2/7/2008
The BassFan Army's Weekend Warrior Championship will continue with its winner-take-all format this year. At the upcoming event, which launches out of Florence, Ala. April 3–5, the winner will receive a check for $25,000, while those contestants finishing 2nd-75th will receive an $800 appearance fee. This is the same payout structure featured at last year's event.

To qualify for the Weekend Warrior Championship, you must be a BassFan Army member. Not a 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.

Flipping father joins Powell 2/7/2008
Powell Rods recently announced that California's Dee Thomas has joined its pro staff. Thomas, who at the age of 71 still successfully competes on Western professional and team tournament trails, is responsible for inventing the flipping technique. He won the 1975 Arkansas Invitational at Bull Shoals with it, after which the technique took off nationally.

Thomas indicated there were several factors that made joining Powell the right choice. "Two very good friends of mine, Kenny Schmitt and Chuck McCartney, are a part of the Powell Rods team," he said. "Knowing that Kenny and Chuck have faith in the Powell brand made it easier for me to make the decision."

Thomas also noted his confidence in the company management: "After meeting (Powell president) Keith Bryan, and hearing from Dave Myers what an honorable man he is, I decided to join the team."

Myers was Bryan's first "boss" at Powell. Myers also worked with Thomas while at Fenwick.

Edge: Jones at Choke 2/6/2008

Also on the show, “Inside Edge” will offer insight to the thermocline and how it affects fishing. “First cast” takes up the subject of caring for fish and Dr. Jay McNamara hammers home the value of book smarts in bass fishing.

The show will air on Versus Country on Saturday (Feb. 9) at 7:30 a.m. EST, and can be seen again Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. Bass Edge can also be seen three times weekly on Wild TV in Canada.

For more information on fishing vegetation, visit www.BassEdge.com.

Jackall Army contest 2/6/2008

The Squad Minnow's slender profile, erratic action and highly detailed finish make it a real fish-catcher, and it's a beauty to look at too. These baits retail for $14.99 each.

How do you win? Just click over to The BassFan Store and tell us how many colors they have available.

Send your answer, along with your name and mailing address, to memberservices@bassfanamry.com. We'll draw one winner from the correct responses.

The contest wraps up at 5 p.m. on Feb. 15.

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.

Swindle = Team Toyota 2/6/2008

The choice of Swindle to replace Hackney on Team Toyota isn't a surprise given recent history. The deal was brokered by Dynamic Sponsorships of Tulsa, Okla., and Dynamic VP Lance Peck was formerly manager of outdoor sponsorships at Citgo. Swindle was a vital part of Team Citgo in those days.

He joins Toyota teammates Terry Scroggins, Dave Wolak, Mike Iaconelli and Kevin VanDam. Notable is that the team now includes three of the last six BASS Anglers of the Year.

Swindle's Toyota deal was reported to be "multiyear." About the deal, Swindle said: "With 381 horsepower and the 2008 Motor Trend Truck of the Year Award to its credit, I knew the truck had the ability to do what I need it to do. But also, Toyota as a corporation has become so active in our sport. That was really important to me and made it an easy decision to join their team."

Toyota's Kim Kyaw said, "Gerald has a couple of very evident qualities that made him attractive to joining our team. First, he relates really well to our consumer audience and the bass-fishing fan base, but secondly, he has a profound work ethic both on and off the water."

> For Swindle, the good news of his new deal comes alongside some sad news in his personal life. He recently asked BassFans for prayer help for his brother Tony, who's terminally ill. To read Swindle's request, click here.

Lane locks in Legend 2/6/2008

"I'm very, very excited about this move," he said. "This boat has everything a fisherman needs, and it's all laid out to be simple and efficient. I really think I'm going to fish better out of my Legend."

Along with Legend and Mercury, he also added MotorGuide and Berkley Trilene to his list of sponsors. Power-Pole has stepped up as his title sponsor, and his new Legend is actually equipped with dual Power-Poles. "It takes away all the bow swing," he said. "You can flip a mat in 30 mph winds and never move an inch with those double Power-Poles."

He said he's managed to secure several multi-year deals and expects that to allow him to focus more on his fishing than he's been able to in years past.

"This is the first time I've gone into a season and I don't have to worry about how I'm going to secure a bunch of sponsors and make my money for next year," he noted. "This year all I have to worry about is catching fish, and I should be able to stay focused better than ever. Hopefully I don't overthink everything. I'm really looking forward to getting the season started."

BPS Tournament Rewards 2/6/2008
Tournament anglers running Nitro, Tracker and ProCraft boats have a new incentive program to look forward to in 2008. The Bass Pro Shops Tournament Rewards program, formerly known as the Tracker Trophy, is offering cash bonuses through over 40 qualifying tournament trails.

Bonuses can total up to $9,000 for Nitro owners, $3,000 for anglers running Trackers, and $5,000 for those competing in ProCrafts. Total bonuses are dependent on the model of boat and size of field.

For complete details on the program, click here.

Lane talks boat move, Classic 2/5/2008

> 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 be receiving their episode now.

January FOAL winner: Laney 2/5/2008
Colvin Laney of Florence, S.C. was recently selected as the winner of the January Abu Garcia Fish of a Lifetime contest. His story was actually about his wife Barbara and the monster Lake Okeechobee bucketmouth she caught.

Upon being notified that he was the winner, and will soon receive a new Abu Garcia STX reel, he said, "Please accept my deepest thanks just for printing the article, but to win a new STX reel is icing on the cake. I printed the article on photo paper and when Marshall's Marine had our expo in January, I proudly displayed it to many of our pros. I got several persons I know to sign it for her. Among those were Earl Bentz, Forrest Wood, Shaw Grigsby, Guy Eaker, Hank Parker, Boyd Duckett and Bill Dance. When we have an expo, we have an expo!

"They were as tickled to sign it and put their personal notes on the page as she was to get it," he added. She's my life's partner and best friend. And yes, she wanted to know what type reel she might win. Thanks again for everything."

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.

Depth-tuning lipless cranks 2/5/2008
To get more out of your lipless cranks, you've got to dial in the right running depth. But there's only so much you can do with your rod. The real key, according to Scott Martin, is to adjust your line size. And he's got a complete system for that, which he reveals today on the Berkley: Catch More Fish page. Tidbit: Don't be afraid to use 20- to 25-pound mono to ride high.

Martin joins CBAA board 2/5/2008
The Collegiate Bass Anglers Association (CBAA) has named Bass Edge television host Aaron Martin as a member to the group's advisory board.

"Aaron's the real deal – an industry veteran, successful entrepreneur and educator," said CBAA commissioner Troy Heckaman. "We're delighted to have him onboard, and couldn't ask for a better fit for the advisory aboard. We look forward to Aaron's energy and insight in what's sure to be a long and successful relationship."

Shoal me the money 2/4/2008
Clint Brownlee smoked the field 2 days ago at the Seminole Southeastern Stren, and he did it by tanking a bulky bunch of Flint River shoal bass.

The Georgia angler boated more weight in 3 days than the rest of his competitors could manage in 4. Unfortunately for him, he needed to run a shallow-draft boat to reach his fish, instead of his new Ranger, so he missed out on winning the contingency boat. But he did pocket $25-large.

For the full details of his winning pattern, click here to visit BassFanArmy.com.

Norman: From Spro to Tru-Tungsten 2/4/2008

About the addition of Norman, Fish Harder president Dan Vesuvio said: "Hiring Tim brings our company to a new level. His track record of success is unmatched in the industry. We expect Tim to have an immediate impact with our major customers and on new projects we have planned for the future."

Notable is that Spro and Fish Harder are more heavily involved in the manufacturing and marketing of pro-designed baits and tackle than other companies. Each has developed several new signature-series products in recent years tied directly to their respective pro staffs. Many even credit both companies with reinvigorating that business model – one in which the pros have the final say on bait design, from initial concept through final production.

FLW Fantasy pins Hulk Hogan 2/4/2008
Ready for this? Hulk Hogan apparently has been signed as the celebrity spokesperson for the new FLW Outdoors fantasy fishing game. According to a press release, Hogan will "take center stage" at a variety of events this year, including a 2-day personal appearance at the upcoming Toho FLW Tour. He'll also host podcasts covering the Tour events, plus write a blog and articles for FantasyFishing.com.

About the news, FLW Outdoors chairman Irwin Jacobs said: "With Hulk Hogan onboard, professional and recreational fishing is ready to experience unprecedented growth. Just as we've built the largest professional angling tournament organization in the world over the past 13 years, and now with the introduction of the largest and richest fantasy sports game in the world, FLW Outdoors' new Fantasy Fishing will be making millions of sports fans worldwide aware of FLW Fantasy Fishing similar to what Hogan did in the world of professional wresting from a cult following into mainstream entertainment. He's the perfect person to represent FLW Outdoors' new $7.3 million fantasy fishing game."

Hogan's popularity has undergone a sort of renaissance of late. The former grappling superstar landed his own reality show titled Hogan Knows, and is currently co-host of the relaunched American Gladiators.

Clark, Lane, Reehm to Skeeter 2/4/2008
Skeeter today announced the addition of three new pros to its Team Skeeter pro staff. Brian Clark, Bobby Lane and Clark Reehm will fish out of Skeeter boats in the Bassmaster Elite Series this year.

“Team Skeeter consists of professional anglers who represent the Skeeter brand both on and off the water," said Daren Cole, Marketing Manager for Skeeter. “We have high expectations from our professional anglers, and we value these individuals for their strong tournament skills, competitiveness, fan base and their ability to support our dealer network. Each is well-respected within the tournament community, and we look forward to sharing their success."

> Look for Lane and Reehm in the Bassmaster Classic.

Lane: big news coming 2/4/2008

But he's amped and ready for the new season, for couple of key reasons, he said. First is a faster boat. He's running a Bass Cat Cougar FTD with a 250 Yammy HPDI. "I guarantee I won't get passed by anyone on tour this year," he said. "The combination of Yamaha's new engine and the new Bass Cat hull design has made for a true upper-70s (mph) boat."

And although he did lose his Gamma line contract, he replaced it with an expanded Vicious contract. He'd already been involved with Vicious through his deal with Vicious-licensee Ultimate Bait, and the Gamma loss "couldn't have worked out more perfectly," he said. "The guys at Vicious have been after me for a while to promote their line along with our signature-series baits. I hadn't ever tried the line so I used it exclusively at the FLW Series last week at Okeechobee, where I finished 6th, to make sure it was good stuff. I was impressed and immediately agreed to promote the line. It's a no-brainer to buy a fluorocarbon line as good as anyone else's at around $10 a spool."

The best news though, Lane added, is that he's getting ready to announce a new major sponsor.

In summary, he told BassFan: "I've also been getting ready physically for this year ever since we left Toho. I've lost quite a bit of weight and went from a 38 waist to a 34. Since I have a degree in human performance and kinesiology, I don't need a trainer like some of the other guys. I'm using some of the same diet and training techniques that I used when I was playing minor-league ball, and I'm in as good a shape mentally and physically as I've ever been. After a cover on Bassmaster, an FLW Top 10 and a brand new primary sponsor in the works, I'm looking forward to getting this year kicked off."

Ardent reels in Ponds 2/1/2008

“Ardent is excited to have Pete Ponds, a Bassmaster Elite Series angler, join our pro staff,” said Michael J. Brooks, President and CEO of Ardent Outdoors. “Pete is one of the world’s premier anglers, and we’re pleased to know he’ll be fishing the tournament trail while outfitted by Ardent, maker of the world’s premier baitcasting and spinning reels. This is one match up we feel confident will lead to even greater success for everyone involved."

About his new deal, Ponds said: "As an American angler, I’m proud to be using the only reel Made in the U.S.A. The Ardent reel impressed me from the very first cast. I could tell by the way the reel performed that I was using a quality product, one made by a company that believed wholeheartedly in producing quality. I know, from my own experience, that quality doesn’t just happen. It’s the result of hard work. As a tournament pro, hard work is something I know a lot about."

You can check out Ardent's full line of American-made fishing reels at ArdentOutdoors.com.

Former Maine BASS pres. passes 2/1/2008

During his tenure with the Federation, Bradford also served as conservation director and was instrumental in the fight against invasive plants. He helped the L/A Jr. Bassmasters by acquiring several sponsors, and enjoyed working with the kids. In the time since, he'd been working diligently in growing his Scott Bradford Construction business.

Many in the sport counted him as a friend.

A wake will be held at the Pinette Funeral Home at 305 Alfred Plourde Pkwy. in Lewiston, Me. on Monday, Feb. 4 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., with a service to follow.

The Bradford family is is need of financial assistance. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Bradford can be sent to Shirley Bradford, 29 Park St., Mechanic Falls, ME 04256.

TBF, college announce new partnership 2/1/2008

A two-angler team will qualify for the National Championship, where potential rewards include the Living The Dream Package, plus potential advancement to the BFL All-American (and from there to the Forrest Wood Cup). The two-angler team will qualify for the National Championship via the Collegiate Bass Championship. (Editor's Note: The Collegiate Bass Championship is not affiliated with the College Bass National Championship, which is a separate entity.)

To federate various college clubs already in existence, TBF is forming the Association of Collegiate Anglers (ACA) to allow participating school-sanctioned clubs and anglers the opportunity to benefit from TBF membership. The ACA will also operate as an independent federation under the TBF umbrella, responsible for creating its own board and by-laws.

TBF president Robert Cartlidge said: "What we're doing here aligns perfectly with what has been TBF's three core principles from the beginning – fishing, youth and conservation. The formation of ACA and the partnership with collegiate bass fishing brings organization and benefits to the college program right now that might not happen otherwise for a few years on down the road."

Wade Middleton, who serves as tournament director for the Collegiate Bass Championship, noted: "From day one of planning our first championship in 2005, our goal has been to do what's best for the student anglers. What better group to take this program to heart and the next level than TBF, that's made up of anglers who care about this sport as much as we do. We couldn't be happier about this relationship and the prospects it holds for the future of collegiate bass fishing."

There is a $40 annual membership fee to join the ACA, but an anonymous donor has pledged to pay entry for the first 1,000 "active" college anglers to sign up. For a club to be eligible for ACA association, it must be a school-sanctioned organization and have at least six members.

> Further details are available at BassFederation.com.

Berkley trailer: Denham Springs (Updated) 2/1/2008
Note: Berkley announced today that the trailer will be unable to stop at Denham Springs due to parking complications at the Bass Pro Shops grand opening. The other dates in the story on the Catch More Fish page remain on the schedule.

Those in and around Denham Springs, La., take note: The Berkley Fishing Trailer will be onsite next week at the grand opening of the new Bass Pro Shops retail store. A bunch of other stops are scheduled as well. For all the details, visit the Berkley: Catch More Fish page.

Canada's new tour 2/1/2008
There's a new game in town for Canada's tourney bass anglers. The new WFN Tour: Bass Championships (WFN) season gets started July 4, 2008 on Ontario's Lake Simcoe. WFN Event Manager Dave Millard promises the new tour is "bigger than anything Canadian bass anglers have ever seen."

Read more about the WFN today on BassFanArmy.com.