Welcome to BassFan's Dock Talk section, where you will see brief, newsworthy items that for one reason or another can't be made into full-blown news articles. Despite the name, and in keeping with BassFan's editorial policy, every effort will be made to avoid publishing outright rumors.
New Bushnell GPS 7/31/2008 With its large 3 1/2-inch color LCD screen, the new Onix 350 GPS receiver from Bushnell provides a big view of the great outdoors. The ability to download high-resolution digital satellite photography and topo maps lets the unit bring navigation to life.
Features of the Onix 350 include a new almanac page that lets users view lunar and solar information to help determine the best fishing and hunting days based on sunrise/sunset times and moon phases. The Solunar Edge Technology utilizes internal sensors that monitor barometric pressure and temperature to provide significantly more accurate information on animal and fish activity than traditional sun and moon tables.
In addition, the internal sensors are also used to provide weather forecasts so that hikers and hunters can be alerted to impending storm fronts.
The unit also features a new elevation page that provides not only the current elevation, but the ability to track your changes in altitude over time or distance as you hike. Elevation changes are presented graphically, so it’s easy to see at a glance how much has been gained or lost.
An upgraded base map of the United States and Canada shows roads, cities and points of interest. The unit can be set up with customized user profiles that allow the user to set specific displays for land or water navigation. A built-in self calibrating digital compass makes navigation more precise, whether on land or on the water. For more personal navigation, users can download detailed topo maps and color satellite images
Designed for rugged outdoor use, the Onix 350 is waterproof (IPX-7 standard) and rubber-armored for protection. It will soon be available at Bushnell dealers nationwide, with a suggested retail price of $399.99.
KVD approaches $3 mil 7/31/2008 BASS reported this week that Kevin VanDam is fast approaching $3 million in career earnings with the organization. His current total of $2,960,958 is an all-time record, with Denny Brauer ($2,277,701) the only other angler to have surpassed the $2 million mark.
VanDam has also won $370,950 on the FLW Tour, bringing his career tour-level earnings total to 3,331,908.
Recon: Chautauqua 7/31/2008 Chautauqua: A body of water that can be almost as hard to fish as it is to spell. Before an angler can ever begin to put together a pattern, there are several questions that have to be answered. Largemouths or smallmouths? Clear water or off-colored water? Main body or river? Shallow or deep? Grass or rocks?
These are just a few of the many viable options and patterns Chautauqua holds within its depths. But fear not, today in the Bass Recon section of BassFanArmy.com, Chautauqua ace Dave Mercer breaks down this fishery pattern by pattern, structure by structure.
So you think you can cast? 7/31/2008 Like most Internet videos, we can't confirm that this is real, but if it is, this guy could give Craig Powers a run for his money in the accuracy department.
Wilks renews with R&S 7/31/2008 R&S Baits, manufacturer of the Original Chatter Buzz and the maker of the Assassinator spinnerbaits introduced this year, announced that it has renewed its sponsorship agreement with Bassmaster Elite Series pro Dustin Wilks through 2009.
"We are pleased to have Dustin on board with R&S for another year," said R&S owner Henry Caudle. "He was instrumental in the color design and blade combinations of (the Assassinator) spinnerbaits.
"He has come back from his elbow injury far better than anyone would have imagined and looks to be a lock for the Bassmaster Classic. Watch for Dustin to win with R&S.”
Added Wilks: “I enjoy working with Henry because he is always upbeat, positive and encouraging. He is focused on making his baits the best they can possibly be and I have tremendous confidence in them.”
CBA now a law 7/30/2008 President Bush today signed the Clean Boating Act of 2008 into law. The legislation will protect recreational boaters throughout the U.S. from unprecedented federal regulations.
To read a press release from the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), click here.
John Murray got off the water a little early today at the Erie/Niagara Bassmaster Elite Series and filed his practice report. He caught the biggest smallmouth of his life yesterday, but overall, feels weights will be a little lighter overall this year. For his full report, click here to go On Tour With the BassFan Big Sticks.
Comment on this item.
Zipper contest winners 7/29/2008 The BassFan Army would like to thank everyone who participated in our Zipper Bait contest.
The winners who correctly identified that the 4” Pudgy worm comes in 19 fish-catching colors were Rob Russo from Sherwood, Ark., and Jay Turner from Greenville, S.C. Congratulations to both. Your Pudgy prize package are on the way.
Also, we asked folks to tell us their favorite color Pudgy worm and by far, green pumpkin came out on top. Congratulations again to our winners and check back soon for another contest.
Todd Faircloth trails Kevin VanDam by a mere 12 points in the BASS Angler of the Year (AOY) race. They both fish Lake Erie this week, then move to Oneida the following week to end the season.
If the recent Detroit River FLW Tour's an indicator, the potential for AOY disaster at Buffalo is huge. At Detroit, both Andy Morgan and Glenn Browne bombed, and David Dudley moved all the way from 5th to clinch the title.
With all that in mind, and more, BassFan asked Faircloth whether the AOY race weighs on his mind this week.
"I'm definitely thinking about the AOY race," Faircloth said. "I feel like I have a legitimate shot at it. I'm not going to approach this tournament different than any I've approached this year, though. I'll go about it the same way I've been doing it all year.
"My goal (in Buffalo's) to make a Top 12," he added. "I feel like if I can do that, and come out of here with some good points, then it's going to come down to Oneida."
New Gulp! Alive! baits 7/29/2008 Click over to the Berkley Catch More Fish page to check out four new shapes in Berkley's Gulp! Alive! line. They've tweaked some of their existing shapes, added some old favorites and there's even a new saltwater bait that looks like it'll be deadly on smallmouths.
Erie: practice update 7/29/2008 Just a brief note: Lake Erie's slicked off today, and only a handful of Elite Series pros drove their rigs to launch and practice at Dunkirk. It's a good bet most of the field is running the Canadian shoreline for a good part of the day. Canada was lightly fished last year, due to the one-cull rule, but the culling is wide-open this year. And the slick conditions mean pros can run the lake to different ports faster than they can drive.
Another crazy Erie effect 7/29/2008 BassFans might remember a report last January about a seiche that occurred in Lake Erie. Severe winds pushed water toward the eastern end of the lake and the water level rose 8 feet in 3 hours.
Another crazy Erie effect occurred last week at the port of Dunkirk, N.Y. when a few waterspouts formed. What's a waterspout? It's basically like a tornado that's composed entirely of water. According to local reports, 20 recreational boats were in the vicinity when the spouts formed. Sheriff's boats helped corral the boaters back into the safety of Dunkirk harbor. It was also noted that none of the boats were issued citations for violating the 5 m.p.h. zone at the harbor mouth.
Many pros are practicing at Dunkirk today for this week's Erie/Niagara Bassmaster Elite Series.
Robert Hamilton's back today with another Hamilton's Lab, and this time around he dives into fiberglass rods. He recommends three rods at three different price points. What's surprising is he recommends an $89.99 rod over one that costs $179.95.
For the full column, plus Final Lab Report, click here.
Edwin Evers won last year's Erie/Niagara Bassmaster Elite Series. One thing's different this year, though - anglers can cull all they like in Canada. Last year, they were restricted to one cull only. Given that, what's the defending champ's plan of attack for this year's practice?
"I'm going to try to just cover as much water as I can," he said. "I'm definitely going to look at Canada – there's so much water over there, and I feel a lot of it's untested water. But I'll definitely look all over and try to find that one group of big fish (it takes to win).
"My goal is to make the Top 5 in these (final) two tournaments – that's what I'm shooting for," he added. "I want to move as high up in the Angler of the Year (AOY) standings as I can. There's a lot of money to be won there. I definitely don't want to slack off and finish the year on a bad note. I want to get back in form and make up for Old Hickory."
He finished 82nd at Old Hickory and is 7th in the AOY race. He's ranked 9th in the world.
Dunkirk or bust? 7/28/2008 Official practice started this morning for this week's Erie/Niagara Bassmaster Elite Series out of Buffalo, N.Y. The biggest factor, as with any Erie event, will be weather. If it holds, as much as half the field (maybe more) will probably fish Dunkirk, which is 50 miles southwest of the launch. Four of the Top 5, including winner Edwin Evers, fished there last year.
About 25% of the field launched to practice at Dunkirk this morning, rather than make the run by boat.
The lake received a heavy blow yesterday – the biggest yet of the summer – but winds are comparatively light today. Moderate winds are predicted for the week. However, the threat of isolated thunderstorms remain for the week. These cells move across the lake unpredictably and add quite a bit of gamble to any Dunkirk run.
To help battle the potential weather, at least two pros – Tim Horton and Brian Snowden – will run deep-V walleye boats from Tracker Marine this week.
Same Erie feeling 7/25/2008 Arizona Bassmaster Elite Series pro John Murray's pumped to be fishing Lake Erie out of Buffalo, N.Y. next week. He finished 3rd there last year, and thinks he can follow up with another strong event this year.
Today on the Berkley Catch More Fish page, he talks about his Erie strategy for practice and competition next week. Tidbit: He says smallmouths often move overnight – both vertically and horizontally – so plan to adapt each day.
No-Co: BASS's best decision yet? 7/24/2008 In a new BassFan Opinion, writer Steve Chaconas tackles the recent no-co decision from BASS. "I feel this move by BASS will turn out to be the best move made in the history of the sport to date," he writes.
Recon: California Delta 7/24/2008 Unlocking the vast body of bass-infested water that is the California Delta is no simple task. But if there's a pro on tour that knows the in and outs of this awesome fishery, it's California pro Brent Ehrler. Today in the Bass Recon section of BassFanArmy.com, the Delta dynamo gives BassFans the rundown on how to maximize the potential of this tide-driven lunker hole. Tidbit: Don't force things to happen. Let the tide dictate your strategy.
Congress passes CBA 7/23/2008 Both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives yesterday passed the Clean Boating Act of 2008. The combined bills, which will exclude recreational boaters from a new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) permitting plan, will now go to President Bush.
To read a press release on the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) website, click here.
Sonic superline 7/23/2008 The positive qualities of braid are obvious: no stretch, remarkable strength, incredible sensitivity and the utmost in abrasion resistance. However, ask any angler to tell you the what they don't like about braided lines and you'll usually hear hear the same old gripes: it fades, it knots in the wind, it can damage rod eyes and it's annoyingly loud on the cast and retrieve.
So what if someone decided to build a new braid and address all those concerns? That's what the folks at Stren did with their new Sonic braid, equipped with GlideCoat technology.
Expanded Elites? 7/23/2008 When BASS announced next year's return of the Northern Bassmaster Opens, logic would conclude that the re-awakened division would feed both the Elite Series and the Classic. Currently, the Top 5 in the Southern and Central Opens get a berth in the Elite Series, while the Top 3 in each division get a berth in the Classic.
A BASS official today told BassFan that news of such berths/qualifications will be announced when the Open schedule is published. That announcement is expected late next month or in September.
A couple of possible scenarios do stand out, though. The first would be a direct parallel with the Southern and Central Opens, where the future Elite Series field expands by five slots, and the Classic by three.
On the other hand, the Classic field might seem a little large at 53. It's therefore feasible to think BASS might take only the Top 2 from each Open division, preserving the current draw of six spots (three from the Central, three from the Southerns.)
Powell = lower prices 7/23/2008 To help combat increasing costs for anglers, Powell Rods has instituted lower retail prices on its line of Powell Max Bass Rods.
According to a news release, the new price points will be $139.99 for all rods 7’ and shorter, while all rods longer than 7’ will retail for $169.99.
Keith Bryan, President of Powell Rods, said that the new pricing structure is the result of working with current suppliers to procure materials and components with the future in mind.
“Our Powell Max bass rods are made with the highest quality components, and that is not going to change,” Bryan said. “Our suppliers have worked with us to produce the best available pricing on long term partnerships, and we want to pass on the benefit to the consumer.”
According to Bryan, nothing about the products will be changed, other than the reduced price.
“All of our premium quality components will remain the same, from our blanks, guides, reel seats and handles,” he added. “We are doing this to thank our customers for the success of our brand, and make it easier for them to enjoy the sport they love with great equipment.”
To learn more about Powell Rods, click here or call (888) 635-9763.
After Brunswick Corp. made significant management cuts at both Lund and Crestliner, many assumed similar cuts were ahead at Triton Boats, which is also a Brunswick brand. However, recent layoffs at Triton appear to be of a somewhat different nature.
Brunswick spokesman Dan Kubera today told BassFan: "The layoffs that have taken place at Triton have mostly occurred in our hourly work force, with a handful of salaried positions in the Accounting/Finance department and the Sales department. The pro-staff manager's position was not eliminated."
The sales position was said to be clerical.
There was initial concern that cuts would come to Triton's pro-staff management. Its pro staff is monstrous, with names like Gary Klein, Aaron Martens, Terry Scroggins and others, plus a long list of affiliated pros throughout all ranks of competitive fishing. The concern was intensified when the pro-staff management position was eliminated at both Lund and Crestliner.
Kubera noted: "As we've discussed, the economy has taken a toll on the marine industry and has put pressure on all marine companies. For our planning purposes, Brunswick is not assuming that these pressures will abate any time soon. As a result, we're planning for an environment in which the U.S. marine market will be smaller in the near term, and we will resize our company accordingly. Our objective is to thrive and prosper while the U.S. marine market remains under pressure and to outperform when we see a rebound in demand.
"Unfortunately, as part of this overall effort, several positions were eliminated recently at Triton. As we move forward and continue to seek ways to remove costs and improve efficiencies, there will be similar actions such as these at Triton throughout the organization as we step up the pace and magnitude of these efforts."
The immediate question in the sport and industry now is what effect the downsizing will have on Mercury Marine staffing.
Pradco has big plans 7/21/2008 Pradco today announced its plans to spend $21 million on a new 300,000-square-foot manufacturing facility at Fort Chaffee, Ark.
Currently, Pradco operates three buildings in Fort Smith, Ark. where it’s been located since 1962. The new location will consolidate the older buildings and give the company the opportunity to expand in the future. Pradco currently employs 150 people in Fort Smith.
“Pradco and its fishing lures have found a great fit in Fort Smith and the Natural State for 46 years,” Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe said in a news release announcing the move. “We appreciate their continued investment in Arkansas, especially as we work with businesses to redevelop this area of Fort Chaffee.”
Pradco, a subsidiary of Esbco, manufactures popular lures such as Rebel, Heddon, Yum, Bomber and Booyah.
“We are a leader in the fishing industry worldwide, and we are pleased that the innovation and leadership will continue to be located in Fort Smith, Ark.,” Bruce Stanton, Pradco’s vice president and general manager, said in the release. “This is our home and we definitely have been made to feel extremely welcome by our local and state leaders.”
Zipper Pudgy contest 7/21/2008 The fine folks at Zipper Worm Company want to provide two lucky contest winners with a great assortment of their hand-poured Pudgy worms. Zipper’s a well-known Oregon-based producer of quality plastic baits and the Pudgy is a fantastic worm that can be used for just about every finesse fishing method.
We’ll select two winners at random from the group of correct answers. Here’s what you have to do:
> Visit the Zipper website > Find your way to Pudgy page in the “hand pours” section
> Drop BassFan Army an e-mail telling us how many colors the Pudgy is available in and what your favorite color is.
The two winners will receive six bags of Pudgy worms – two each of Watermelon, Green Pumpkin and Green Weenie.
Send your answers and complete mailing address to memberservices@bassfanarmy.com. The contest will end at 5 p.m. CST on Monday, July 28.
Also, Army members can get a 25% discount on products ordered directly from the Zipper website. Just enter "army" as the coupon code.
Kenney checks in 7/21/2008 The Detroit River FLW Tour 3rd- through 5th-place patterns story has been updated to include J.T. Kenney's information. To read it, click here.
Foot-eating fish? 7/21/2008 Here's a new and unique way to utilize live fish: as instruments for a pedicure. CNN has the story. To check it out, click here.
Today, it was announced Yamaha has purchased the Indianapolis-based company with the intention of retaining its workforce while upgrading its facility and making improvements in the processes for producing marine propellers.
“Until today, we have been a customer of Precision Propeller,” said Phil Dyskow, Yamaha Marine Group President, in a news release announcing the purchase. “We liked the company so much, we decided to make it a part of Yamaha Marine Group.”
Precision Propeller’s name will change to Precision Propeller Industries, Inc. (PPI).
The Kennesaw, Ga.-based Yamaha Marine Group markets marine outboard motors ranging in size from 2.5 to 350 horsepower. The addition of PPI will allow Yamaha to better meet the needs of its customers, which include more than 120 independent boat builders in the United States.
“The marine outboard industry is complex,” said Dyskow. “We need to have the right outboard motors for our customers and all the right hardware to go along with them. PPI employees will help us supply them. We value their knowledge and skill.”
PPI opened in 1969 as a propeller repair company. In 1980, the company began producing custom-made propellers under owner and founder Jim Booe.
“I am convinced Yamaha will take this business to the next level,” said Booe, founder of PPI. “I could think of no better way to assure PPI’s continued growth in the marine industry
Thanks to BassFans who wrote in to note that the NorthStar group 31 battery is no longer available through DualPro.
Hamilton's Lab author Robert Hamilton verified that the same battery is available through a new national distributor:
Engines 1
3504 Shipwright St.
Portsmouth, VA 23703
(800) 548-6252
Energy1Batteries.com
"I'm sorry for the confusion and hope this will help you find the battery that I feel is the best on the market," Hamilton noted. "Thanks for taking the time to read my column. I hope it gives you the information you need to make the best decision on your next purchase. See you next time at Hamilton's Lab."
Reese back to 2nd 7/21/2008 In the latest edition of the BassFan World Rankings, Skeet Reese has moved back into the 2nd-place spot. Andy Morgan, after his Detroit disaster, has slipped from 3rd to 7th.
Dr. Hill passes 7/19/2008 Angling innovator Dr. Loren Hill, father of pro Kenyon Hill, has passed away after a long battle with cancer.
Dr. Hill's contributions to the sport of fishing remain immense. A renowned fisheries scientist and former director of the zoology department and Biological Research Center at the University of Oklahoma, he invented and marketed the Color-C-Lector and pH meter, and is remembered as one of the first to combine sound science with practical sportfishing knowledge.
More details on his career, and remembrances from peers, will be posted soon.
Skeeter gets CSI award 7/18/2008 For the seventh consecutive year, Skeeter Boats has received the National Marine Manufacturer's Association's CSI Award for Customer Satisfaction.
Skeeter senior VP and GM Jeff Stone noted: "This award shows the dedication that our company, and our dealers, has to providing the highest levels of service to our customers. After 7 years, outstanding customer service is expected from our customers, and this will always be a cornerstone for our company."
Skeeter customer-service manager Robert Young added: "The entire Skeeter family has a 'can do' attitude, with everyone doing their part to manufacture the best product available. From our factory employees to our dealer network, each person in this process is held accountable for our success."
Want the heads-up on what's new in tackle? Watch for a comprehensive ICAST report, which will be published soon. In the meantime, here's a summary of the products that won "Best of Show" awards in the respective categories this week at the industry's annual tradeshow in Las Vegas.
> Overall Best of Show -- Shimano -- Curado E Series (shown to right)
> Boating Accessory -- Bert's Custom Tackle -- Drop Down Rocket Launcher
Abu FOAL: Son outduels dad 7/18/2008 The latest entry in the Abu Garcia Fish of a Lifetime contest comes from Paul Finn of Olathe, Kan., who was outfished by his son Shaun on a recent early-morning excursion near their home. To read about it, click over to the Abu Garcia Fish of a Lifetime section of 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.
Recon: Ross Barnett 7/17/2008 Today in the Bass Recon section of BassFanArmy.com, Bassmaster Elite Series pro Cliff Pace gives competitors his advice on how he'd fish the Team Trails Central Mississippi event this weekend. Tidbit: Don't get locked into one depth range.
The 2008 Ranger Z520 Comanche has been named the top premium selection on Consumers Digest’s list of Best Buys in Powerboats.
The Z520, which measures 20’9”, has a 95-inch beam and can handle a 250-hp motor. The magazine’s editors lauded the Z520’s interior layout, seat design and smooth, rough-water ride in addition to the speed, acceleration and standard features.
“Consumers Digest is a name that consumers have trusted for many years, something that people rely on for the most accurate and reliable information on just about any product they wish to invest in,” Ranger Boats President Randy Hopper said in a news release. “To receive such a positive response from such a reputable publication is a testament not only to the attributes of the boat itself, but also the pride and skill of the men and women who give everything they can to produce the finest fishing boats on the water.”
Schedule conflicts in '09 7/17/2008 Bassmaster Elite Series pros wishing to take a crack at the FLW Tour next year will have just one chance to do it.
The way the schedules were layed out – ESPN/BASS announced their 2009 and 2010 lineups at ICAST on Wednesday – the only FLW Tour stop that could draw some Elite pros will be the season opener at Lake Guntersville in Huntsville, Ala. on Feb. 12-15.
The next four FLW Tour events conflict directly with Elite Series events.
The Lake Champlain FLW Tour on July 9-12 doesn’t conflict with an Elite Series tournament but since the Elite Series has a tournament scheduled for Aug. 6-9 on the same water, Elite Series pros will be prohibited from fishing because of the 30-day off-limit period that precedes Elite Series events.
New poll: co-anglers 7/17/2008 A new poll asks BassFans to weigh in on BASS's recent decision to remove co-anglers from Elite Series competition. To participate, and see the results, click here to visit the homepage, then scroll down the right-hand side of the page to find the poll.
The PAA announced that Optima Batteries will be the title sponsor for its upcoming PAA Corporate Cup. Optima, also a BASS sponsor, manufactures SpiralCell techology batteries for marine, automotive and RV applications.
About the deal, PAA president Tim Horton said: "We're excited to have Optima Batteries as the title sponsor for the Corporate Cup. Optima's a world-class organization with a product line that'll meet the needs of not only bass anglers, but anyone with a vehicle. We're proud to partner with them in bringing this tournament and our brands to the industry."
Optima global marine brand manager Josie Cline noted: "Optima's very excited about our partnership with the PAA, simply because this isn't a sport that allows for mediocrity. Only Optima Batteries can provide the power and durability that the top anglers in the world need to win. From a partnership perspective, the harmony between bass anglers and a superior battery, such as Optima, translates into win-win situations. Sportfishing, and bass fishing in particular, is gaining popularity from a passionate fan base, and the PAA is an association of the best anglers in the world that'll help us reach our collective fans and consumers."
The PAA Corporate Cup will be held Oct. 9–11 at Alabama's Pickwick Lake out of McFarland Park, and will feature four-angler teams consisting of two tour-level PAA members and two corporate-sponsor partners.
Major BASS news 7/17/2008 Did you miss the news from BASS today about the 2009 and 2010 Elite Series, including schedules and no co-anglers? If so, click here.
BASS = saltwater??? updated 7/17/2008 BASS is scheduled to make another major announcement tomorrow at the industry's annual ICAST tradeshow. The persistent rumor on the floor is that the announcement will concern new saltwater trails. Stay tuned.
(Update: The rumor was right on. You can see the press release announcing the new ESPN Outdoors Saltwater Series of tournaments at InshoreFan.com.)
The Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) today announced that the Anglers' Legacy Innovations Awards were unveiled at the ICAST show in Las Vegas. RBFF and the American Sportfishing Association (ASA) partnered to survey thousands of Anglers' Legacy Ambassadors who voted for the products they feel have been most instrumental in shaping the sport over the past seven and a half decades. Ten influential fishing products created over the past 75 years were chosen – from rods to reels to electronics – items that have helped make fishing the great sport it is today.
"We are excited to pay tribute to the landmark innovations that have helped shape the sport of fishing, voted on by our Anglers' Legacy Ambassadors," said RBFF president and CEO Frank Peterson. "As ASA celebrates 75 years of serving the sportfishing industry, this is a perfect opportunity to highlight the items that have changed the way people fish today."
The final Top 10 list spans six categories – accessories, electronics, lines, lures, reels and rods:
> Original Floater Minnow (1936) – Remains one of the most successful and widely copied hard lures in sport-fishing history.
Original and current manufacturer: Rapala
> Spring-loaded bobber (1947) – Made suspending a baited hook at a desired depth simpler and easier. Even today, this item is in many anglers' tackle boxes.
Original manufacturer: Nibble Nabber
Current manufacturer: Various companies
> Mitchell 300 (1949) – Was the first commercially successful spinning reel, and is still one of the most common reels used today.
Original manufacturer: Mitchell
Current manufacturer: Pure Fishing
> Creme plastic worm (1949) – Changed the sport forever as the first long-lasting artificial worm that both looked and felt real.
Original and current manufacturer: Creme Lure Company
> Closed-face spincast reel (1949) – Made fishing easy and affordable to everyone regardless of age, size, gender and expertise.
Original manufacturer: Zero Hour Bomb Company
Current manufacturer: Zebco Brands
> Lowrance Fish Lo-K-Tor (1957) – The "little green box" introduced anglers to the use of sonar in locating individual fish.
Original manufacturer: Lowrance Electronics
Current manufacturer: Lowrance/Navico
> Monofilament line (1958) – Improved the durability, affordability and casting ability of fishing line while reducing its visibility to fish.
Original manufacturer: DuPont Stren
Current manufacturer: Pure Fishing
> Minn Kota trolling motor (1958) – The first electric gear-driven trolling motor gave anglers the ability to quietly maneuver and position their boats.
Original manufacturer: Minn Kota
Current manufacturer: Johnson Outdoors
> Fenwick high-modulus graphite rod (1972) – With its super-sensitive carbon (graphite) fibers, revolutionized the method of making fishing rods and how anglers fished.
Original manufacturer: Fenwick
Current manufacturer: Pure Fishing
> Shakespeare Ugly Stick (1976) – With its special construction, created an affordable, unbreakable and dynamic fishing rod still in use today.
Original and current manufacturer: Shakespeare
"We're thrilled to be commemorating the way that fishing has endured as one of America's favorite pastimes," said ASA president and CEO Mike Nussman. "The sport has touched the lives of so many people, thanks to the number of great inventions that have revolutionized angling over the past seven and a half decades."
Entering the Stonze age 7/16/2008 Tired of lead sinkers? Anglers will soon have a new alternative when Pallatrax USA launches its Stonze System at this week’s ICAST show in Las Vegas.
The Stonze weights, which have been granted a patent in Europe, are made of naturally-occurring stones and are available in different sizes and colors.
Both swivel and in-line versions will be offered for various fishing applications, including walleye, bass, catfish, carp and steelhead. A heavier Boulderz line will be geared toward the saltwater fishing market.
Pallatrax will be at booth 2049 at ICAST this week. To learn more about Pallatrax, click here.
Marilyn Monroe: Rapala HOFer? 7/16/2008 Flashback to August 1962. Marilyn Monroe’s death was in the headlines and it was the subject of the cover of that month’s Life magazine, which featured a pictorial look at the actress and model’s life. That issue broke all circulations records and became Life’s best-selling issue of all-time.
So where’s the connection to fishing? In the same issue, Rapala’s original floating lure was featured in an article entitled A Lure Fish Can’t Pass Up. At the time, Rapala was a two-person company in the U.S. but following the issue’s release, Rapala was swamped with orders, receiving three or more bags of mail per day with some orders containing cash begging for as many lures as it could buy.
"Rapala wobblers were starting to catch on," Rapala USA co-founder Ron Weber said in a news release. "It was like pouring gasoline on a campfire, we were overwhelmed with requests for Rapala lures. In no time at all we had orders for about three million pieces."
Because of the link between the coverage of Monroe’s death and the surge in popularity of Rapala’s lure, Rapala will induct Monroe into its Hall of Fame for the impact she had on its business.
"The article about Rapala lures in the 1962 issue of Life magazine created an unforeseeable chain of events for our company," said Tom Mackin, president of Rapala USA. "Marilyn Monroe's presence in that issue should definitely be credited for dramatically launching the Rapala brand.”
Hands-free boat at ICAST 7/16/2008 Carolina Electric Boats will be showing off its new Twin Troller Boat this week at the ICAST show in Las Vegas.
The boat features hands-free maneuverability and twin electric motors that operate independently which allow for a zero-degree turning radius. Using foot pedals, anglers can go from forward to reverse or change direction. The 10-foot boat can operate in as little as 6 to 8 inches of water and weighs 175 pounds.
“Fishing is much more productive when the sportsman’s hands are free to cast and not struggling to maintain position on the water or worry about underwater obstacles,” said Frank Jones, President of Carolina Electric Boats.
Berkley Experience Trailer: Bowling Green, Ky. 7/16/2008 The Berkley Experience Trailer is headed to the Gander Mountain store in Bowling Green, Ky., from July 18-20 to offer demonstrations and interactive games for kids and adults.
Everyday anglers will have a chance to view Berkley baits in action and take part in games and knot-tying contests.
Special sales and promotions will be offered wherever the Berkley trailer stops. The Bowling Green Gander Mountain is located at 725 Bluegrass Farms Blvd., Suite 1. You can call the store at (270) 538-0444.
The Berkley Experience Trailer has two more stops on its schedule this summer:
Gander Mountain course geared toward women 7/16/2008 Outdoor retailer Gander Mountain is offering a boating education and hands-on training program exclusively for women in partnership with the Marine Marketers of America (MMA).
The Boating Education and Safety Training (B.E.S.T.) course is scheduled for July 19 & 20 at the Gander Mountain store in Huber Heights, Ohio (8001 Troy Pike). Certified instructors will be on hand to lead the course, which will include on-the-water, hands-on boat-handling instruction and a boating education class.
The program is designed to give women from all experience levels with boating more skills and confidence to operate a boat safely on the water.
There area only 12 spots available and the cost is $40 per person. Pre-registration is required by calling the Huber Heights Gander Mountain at (937) 236-9786 or by visiting the store’s website.
Gander Mountain is the first recreational retail marine dealer among a total of five marine retailers around the country participating in the pilot program to test and validate the concept of a dealer-based women’s boating education course that will be launched nationally in 2009.
Yamaha recognized for customer satisfaction 7/16/2008
The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) has awarded the Yamaha Marine Group its 2008 Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) Recognition Award for Excellence in Customer Satisfaction.
The announcement was made Monday. Also, Yamaha’s three boat companies, Century, Skeeter and G3 Boats, all received awards.
Yamaha was lauded in the Outboard Engine category for the 7th straight year while Century and Skeeter were recognized in the Fiberglass Outboard Boat class and G3 Boats earned recognition in the Aluminum Outboard Boat category.
Skeeter was recognized for the 7th straight year as well.
“This award shows the dedication that our company, and our dealers, has to providing the highest levels of service to our customers,” Skeeter Products, Inc. Senior Vice President/General Manager Jeff Stone said in a news release. “After seven years, outstanding customer service is expected from our customers, and this will always be a cornerstone our our company.”
Skeeter’s Customer Service Manager, Robert Young, added that the company uses CSI data to identify trends and learn what the customer says, allowing the company too make improvements in the way it does business.
“The entire Skeeter family has a ‘can do’ attitude, with everyone doing their part to manufacture the best product available,” he said. “From our factory employees to our dealer network, each person in this process is held accountable for our success.”
“Customer satisfaction is what drives all of us here at Yamaha,” Yamaha Marine Group President Phil Dyskow said in a news release announcing the awards. “We share the award with our dealers, our boat-builder partners and our Yamaha team members, all of whom work to keep Yamaha Outboard customers satisfied.“
Scott salutes Sloan 7/16/2008 In his latest Scott On-Line column, BASS founder Ray Scott pays tribute to the late Stan Sloan, winner of the 1967 All-American Invitational at Beaver Lake – the event regarded as the birth of professional bass fishing. To read it, click here.
Tru-Tungsten has revamped its website with a new look and tons of new content including videos and pro testimonials. We could tell you about all the cool stuff on the new site, but it'd be easier if you just went and checked it out for yourself at Tru-Tungsten.com.
Comment on this item.
The General: Remember when 7/14/2008 The layoffs that have plagued the fishing industry recently and the sky-high prices for just about everything imaginable got BassFan Army General Al Smith thinking back to the days when fishing was a much simpler pursuit for him – and a lot of other people, too. To read his reminiscences and his thoughts on the future, click here.
Elite points reshuffle 7/14/2008 BASS officials today released today updated Bassmaster Elite Series Angler of the Year standings. An error in the computing process led to an incorrect allocation of points to some Elite anglers.
As a result, Kansas’ Brent Chapman moves from 23rd to 22nd place in the standings; Alabama’s Tim Horton moves from 24th to 23rd; Alabama’s Kotaro Kiriyama from 22nd to 24th; New York’s Matt Sphar from 70th to 68th; Texas' James Niggemeyer from 68th to 69th; Missouri’s Mark Tucker from 69th to 70th; Florida’s Preston Clark from 85th to 84th; and Texas' Corey Waldrop from 84th to 85th.
The Top 36 in the final AOY standings will automatically qualify for the 2009 Bassmaster Classic, set for Feb. 20-22 on the Red River out of Shreveport-Bossier City, La.
FLW Outdoors hasn't made it official yet, but it appears as if Terry Bolton (pictured) will be the last angler to get into next month's Forrest Wood Cup at South Carolina's Lake Murray.
Bolton finished 50th in the FLW Tour points race, and only the Top 40 are guaranteed Cup berths. But eight of those 40 (David Dudley, Brent Ehrler, Clark Wendlandt, Michael Bennett, J.T. Kenney, Mark Rose, Koby Kreiger and George Cochran) had already qualified through the FLW Series, as had No. 45 Larry Nixon and No. 49 Kyle Mabrey.
That should push the cutoff line down to Bolton's slot. Scott Martin, who's 51st, is also pre-qualified from the Series.
"I'm hoping that's the case, and if it is, I'll be pretty tickled," Bolton said. "Some of the people I've talked to have told me it is, but it's still unofficial. I've been on the phone this morning trying to get official word.
"I figured I had to have a Top 100 (at the Detroit River) and I finished 102nd. I knew I'd either be the last one in or the first one out – it'd be really close."
With Martin pre-qualified, it appears as if Rob Digh, at No. 52, is first out. Other notables who narrowly missed include David Walker (56th), Matt Herren (60th) and defending champion Scott Suggs (63rd).
The Cup, which will feature anglers from the Tour, both Series divisions, five Stren divisions and the champions from the BFL All-American and TBF National Championship, will take place Aug. 14-17.
Here's the preliminary skinny on some new baits from Tru-Tungsten that'll be hitting the market soon:
> The Depth Shad (pictured) has been designed to be the ultimate soft-plastic jerkbait.
It's available in two sizes – 4-inch and 5-inch – and unweighted (four to a pack) or weighted (three to a pack) versions. Available colors are white pearl, silver flash, shad, chartreuse shad, blueback herring and rainbow trout.
> There are larger and smaller versions of the Tru-Life swimbaits – 8-inch and 4-inch.
The 8-inchers, developed by pro anglers Ish Monroe and Matt Newman, feature the same high-quality construction and attention to detail as all Tru-Life swimbaits. They're equipped with removable tungsten weights and armed with the best hooks available.
The 4-inch baits feature the same high-quality hooks and attention to detail as their full-size cousins. They're offered in wake/slow sink and slow sink/fast sink models. Each bait comes with two tungsten weights that are easily inserted or removed, which allow the rate of sink and running depth to be instantly fine-tuned to meet changing conditions. Colors are baby bass, bluegill, blueback herring, shad, chartreuse shad and yellow perch.
> The Pill Jig is designed for skipping docks. It comes in two colors (black and unpainted) and three sizes (1/8-, 3/16- and 1/4-ounce). They're sold three to a pack.
Dudley wins AOY 7/11/2008 David Dudley clinched his first ever Angler of the Year title less than 2 hours ago at the FLW Tour event at the Detroit River. To read a Q&A with Dudley about the unexpected win, click here.
> David McCrone led the Top 10 cut with a 2-day total of 42-05. Full coverage will be posted shortly.
More Brunswick cuts: Lund 7/11/2008 Brunswick continued to cut positions today in its effort to downsize, and eliminated several pro-staff and marketing related positions at Lund Boats.
The news again raises the specter of what lies ahead for bass-related Brunswick brands such as Mercury and Triton – in particular, pro-staff and tournament-sponsorship activities. Both Mercury and Triton maintain large, hard-hitting pro staffs and sponsor a significant portion of the nation's bass tournament trails (as Lund does on the walleye side).
To read WalleyeFan's reporting on the Lund story, visit WalleyeFan.com.
Elite schedules coming 7/11/2008 BASS announced today that it will reveal the 2009-10 Bassmaster Elite Series schedules next Wednesday (July 16) at ICAST in Las Vegas. A new tournament structure will be unveiled the following day.
There's been no word on what the format change might entail, but persistent rumors about the elimination of co-anglers have circulated for the last couple of years. It's been speculated that the non-boaters might be replaced by paid observers, or that Elite anglers might fish alone.
BassFan will be on-site at ICAST and will publish the new schedule and format details as soon as they become available.
We're not really sure what's going on here, but yesterday at the Detroit River FLW Tour, Shinichi Fukae donned this shirt post weigh-in. A Japanese translator could not be found in time for comment.
Comment on this item.
Recon: Upper Chesapeake 7/10/2008 Today in the Bass Recon section of BassFanArmy.com, Bassmaster Elite Series pro and Chesapeake Bay guide Rick Ash gives competitors his advice on how he'd go after the Chesapeake bass during the Fishers of Men derby scheduled for this weekend. Tidbit: Follow the tides and you'll be alright.
Vicki Bender at Ray Scott Outdoors passed along the sad news that Stan Sloan, winner of the inaugural BASS tournament in 1967, died early this morning.
Sloan beat out fellow Tennessean Bill Dance to win the All-American Invitational at Arkansas' Beaver Lake. He competed in 28 other BASS events over the next 12 years and compiled nine Top-10 finishes, but never won again. He fished five Bassmaster Classics, with a top finish of 7th in 1972.
His final BASS tournament was the 25th anniversary celebration of the inaugural event, which was held at Beaver in 1992.
Services are scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday at Marshall-Donnelly and Combs Funeral Home (201 25th Ave., Nashville, TN 37203). The phone number at the funeral home is (615) 327-1111.
Crestliner cuts (update) 7/10/2008 In light of this week’s news of layoffs at Crestliner Boats and their possible impact on Crestliner’s pro staff, Brunswick Corporation spokesman Dan Kubera on Tuesday issued the following statement to WalleyeFan via email:
“As you know, the economy has taken a toll on the marine industry and has put pressure on all companies in this industry.
”For our planning purposes, Brunswick is not assuming that these pressures will abate any time soon. As a result, we are planning for an environment in which the U.S. marine market will be smaller in the near term, and we will resize our company accordingly. Our objective is to thrive and prosper while the U.S. marine market remains under pressure and to outperform when we see a rebound in demand.
”Most recently, Brunswick announced it will be reducing fixed-costs by $300 million and resizing the company to match the current market conditions. It will also be implementing a new matrix operating model that will more efficiently provide common support functions and administrative services across all Brunswick business units, lowering spending in all functional and operations activities, and reducing its work force by as much as an additional 1,000 hourly and 700 salaried employees.
”Unfortunately, as part of this overall effort, several positions were eliminated at Crestliner this week. As we move forward and continue to seek ways to remove costs and improve efficiencies, there will be similar actions such as these at Crestliner throughout the organization as we step up the pace and magnitude of these efforts.
”There has been no change, at this time, in the pro staff status at Crestliner.”
Pure Fishing expands distribution deal 7/10/2008 Pure Fishing announced on Tuesday its plans to expand its current distribution with Big Rock Sports, a leading wholesale distributor.
The expanded offerings will include Abu Garcia, Berkley, Fenwick, Gulp!, Mitchell, SevenStrand, Spiderwire, Stren and Trilene products. Currently, Big Rock Sports distributes Penn, Pflueger, Shakespeare and Ugly Stik products, all Pure Fishing brands.
"The expanded presence with Big Rock Sports will build upon our strong brand distribution and greatly enhance service to our customers and consumers,” Terry Carlson, CEO of Pure Fishing, said in a news release. “We have a long history of developing strong, mutually beneficial partnerships with distributors and retailers.
“This past February, we were honored to be recognized as the 2007 Big Rock Vendor of the Year on behalf of our Shakespeare Fishing Tackle. This expanded partnership with Big Rock Sports underscores our commitment to providing exceptional service to our customers and providing consumers improved access to our brands."
News continues to filter out about products that'll debut at next week's ICAST industry tradeshow in Las Vegas, and braid fans should take note of this one. New from Spiderwire is its Stealth Camo braid, shown to right. Notice the varying color that should help disguise it underneath foliage overhangs, within grass, or on top of mats. The line is pressure-treated with Teflon to shoot through guides with ease. Cool.
Comment on this item.
By now you should have a good idea about Secret Lures' new Chubby Frog and the other great products that the company offers. BassFan Army member Jeff Staggers did a product review a few weeks back and Secret's Danny Blandford was a recent guest on a BassFan Radio segment.
So how can you get your hands on your own Secret Lures Chubby Frog review kit? Just go to the company's website and find out how many sizes and colors the new Tail Shaker jighead comes in. Send your answer to memberservices@bassfanarmy.com, and make sure you include your full name and mailing address.
We'll draw two winners from among the correct respondents, and each will receive a Chubby Frog review pack (complete with Meat Hooks) to test. We will draw two names out of the correct answers and each will receive a Secret lures Chubby frog review pack with an assortment of Chubby frogs and Meat hooks for testing!
Good luck. The contest ends July 16 at 5 p.m. Central time.
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.
Crazy Gulp! 7/9/2008 The Berkley Gulp! Jerk Shad and grub are two of Berkley's most popular and traditional offerings. Both bass and inshore anglers alike have come to love these two baits for their ease of use and fish-catching prowess.
But the folks at Berkley are always changing their baits trying to achieve the next step that will allow anglers to "Catch More Fish". That's why they engineered the new Gulp! Alive! Crazy Legs Jerk Shad and grub. They took two of their deadliest baits and souped them up with even more action and scent.
National Championship begins today 7/9/2008 The Under Armour College Bass National Championship kicks off today at Lake Maumelle in Arkansas. Over 50 teams from colleges and universities across the nation will compete in the event.
Weigh-ins will be held daily at 3 p.m. at the Academy Sports + Outdoors on West Markham in Little Rock. Several Bassmaster Elite Series pros are scheduled to be present as well.
BassFans who can't make it to the live weigh-ins can catch the action online at CollegeBass.com beginning each day at 3:20 p.m. CST.
Luke Clausen goes into the Detroit River FLW Tour in 3rd place in the Angler of the Year (AOY) standings – he's 46 points behind leader Andy Morgan, with Glenn Browne sandwiched about halfway between them.
Like any tour pro, Clausen would love to win the AOY. But for him to win it this year, it would have to come at the expense of one of his best friends. He spent much of the past two offseasons living with Morgan in Nashville, Tenn. before buying a house of his own in that area, and they hunt together frequently every fall.
He won't be too consumed with the points race when the regular-season finale gets under way tomorrow. One of the main reasons is that he figures he has only a remote chance of finishing at least 47 places higher than Morgan.
"I don't see it happening," he said. "We're both fishing St. Clair, where the fishing's more consistent than it is on Erie, and we know what each other is doing. So the odds are stacked against it."
He'll be thrilled if Morgan can maintain his advantage and claim his first AOY, but he hopes to make a strong run at 2nd place.
"I'd like to see him win it – at the start of the year we said it'd be great to finish 1 and 2. I've got some work to do to catch Glenn, and he just has to hold on."
In today's episode of BassFan Radio, host Jon Storm talks with Danny Blandford of Secret Lures about his company's newest developments. Storm also talks fishing with Secret Lures pro-staffer Zach King, who recently won his division at the TBF Central Divisional and is headed to the TBF National Championship.
To listen to a WMV version of the show, click here.
For a QuickTime version, or to sign up for the BassFan Radio Podcasts, click here.
Youvella tabs 4 for staff 7/8/2008 Ike, Ish, the Hack Attack and Peter. T, come on down! You're the first four members of the new Youvella pro staff.
Youvella-USA, the hook company purchased recently by Fish Harder Companies, announced that its initial pro staff will consist of Mike Iaconelli, Ish Monroe, Greg Hackney and Peter Thliveros. The quartet has combined for nearly $5 million in career earnings, 32 Bassmaster Classic appearances and two tour-level Angler of the Year titles.
"These are some of the best bass anglers fishing today," said Youvella president Tim Norman. "They will be an integral part of our design and testing program here at Youvella-USA, LLC. Our motto is 'Pro-designed, pro-tested and pro-approved,' and we mean it."
In case you're wondering, Peter T's signing is not in conflict with his longtime sponsorship of Rapala, which owns VMC Hooks. He was never affiliated with VMC – he was with Eagle Claw until his contract expired last month.
Anglers feeling fuel pinch 7/7/2008 A recent survey has illustrated the connection between higher gas prices and reduction in fishing trips.
According to a June survey by AnglerSurvey.com, 22% of anglers said higher fuel prices wouldn’t affect their fishing activities this summer. That’s compared to 35% who answered “no effect” to the same question a year ago.
Also, 32% of anglers this year indicated that gas prices would affect their fishing plans, up from the 22% who felt the same way in 2007.
As of July 2, the average price of a gallon of gasoline in the U.S. was $4.10, a 39% increase over last year, according to the American Automobile Association.
For more information on the survey, e-mail Rob Southwick at Rob@southwickassociates.com.
OFM continues growth 7/7/2008 (Editor's note: The following press release was issued tonight by OutdoorsFan Media.)
Brainerd, MN – OutdoorsFan Media (OFM), a division of InterMedia Outdoors, Inc., today released its web-traffic numbers for the first half of 2008, highlighting extraordinary growth across the portfolio of outdoors-focused websites. All six websites are racking up explosive growth in page views, with the overall portfolio breaking through the 3-million page-view mark in June.
OFM's portfolio now captures nearly 150,000 unique visitors monthly – visitors that are truly passionate about their outdoors interests, logging more than 17 pages per visitor. Collectively, the websites grew average monthly unique visitors by 65% over the first half of 2007, while page views increased an astounding 137% over the prior year period.
Major highlights include:
> 2.5 million page views in June, an all-time record for BassFan.com, up 169% versus 2007.
> Record number of unique visitors in June (100,527) on BassFan.com; an increase of 51% versus June 2007; average page views per unique visitors reached more than 24 pages.
> A 506% increase in average monthly page views on InshoreFan.com versus 2007; all-time record monthly unique visitors and monthly page views in May 2008.
> Powerful launch of TacticalGunFan despite a mid-month launch. TacticalGunFan has instantly established a significant fanbase of almost 12,000 unique visitors and more than 76,000 page views over just a few weeks.
OFM general manager Jim Manry said, "The first half of 2008 has been a period of tremendous growth for OFM's websites. Our content and user experience are clearly resonating with our audience and our growth in both page views and unique visitors has been outstanding."
InterMedia Outdoors, Inc. vice president Steve Hoffman added, "We've made a significant investment in improving the depth and breadth of content on BassFan and it's rewarding to see the positive response from our audience. Plus, we're ecstatic with the early traffic performance of TacticalGunFan, which we're convinced will become a major contributor to the growth of the OFM franchise."
Moving into the second half of the year, OFM plans to continue to build out content and features across the portfolio of sites while refining its sales strategy to create more effective and cost-efficient opportunities for sponsors to tap into the passion of OFM's growing audience base.
"Our sites continue to provide sponsors with direct and highly targeted connections to the world's most dedicated fishing and shooting enthusiasts," said Hoffman. "Our accurate and timely news content and unique analysis strongly resonates with hardcore shooters and anglers, and those are the potential customers that our advertisers most want to reach."
A controversial Medley 7/7/2008 In a new BassFan Opinion column, FLW Tour pro Chuck Medley reacts to some of the FeedBack he's seen BassFans publish the last few years. To weather the resultant storm, he'll beef up his home security and hire a guard dog.
Skeet Reese is one of five nominees for an ESPY in the outdoors division. The ESPYs are awarded annually based on fan voting, with the awards ceremony broadcast on ESPN (9 p.m. ET, Sun., July 20).
"I feel extremely honored to be nominated in the outdoor category," Reese said. "It's gratifying to be among such a world-class group of athletes. Would I like to add an ESPY trophy to my mantel? Yes. It's such a unique award. As an angler, it's not something you'd ever expect to get. It would be pretty darn cool to win that."
Past ESPY winners include Kevin VanDam and Jay Yelas.
Fans can cast online votes here, or via mobile here.
(After publication of the Dock Talk piece below, Joe Balog was confirmed as a pro competitor for this week's Detroit River FLW Tour.)
FLW fantasy fishing players might want to wait until the last minute before they pick their team for next week's Detroit River FLW Tour. That's because Joe Balog is apparently first on the waiting list to get into the event. He's a stud on those waters, and would be an easy favorite to win if he does get in. His team partner Steve Clapper won the event last year.
If Balog does get in, he said it would be the biggest tournament of his life. "I've won some big tournaments on Lake Erie, and won a Bassmaster (Open) here last year," he noted. "And I watched my team partner win $200,000 last year while I lost enough fish to be right up there. I've thought about that every day for the last year. We're not having another (FLW Tour) event here next year, and the fishing industry's pretty volatile right now, so this would be the greatest opportunity of my life."
Also notable is he figured he wouldn't have a problem getting in. But he said several of the locals there signed up for all six Tour events with the intent of only fishing the last one at Detroit. Since fields were full this year, they received their five deposits back. "They were smarter than I was," Balog added.
The final event of the FLW Tour season starts next week at the Detroit River, and Angler of the Year Andy Morgan controls his own destiny. He needs to finish 22nd or better to clinch the title, although any number of difference scenarios could unfold. In the newest episode of BassFan Radio, he talks about whether the title-chase will influence his Detroit practice, and how he feels the week before it all goes down.
To listen to a WMV version of the show, click here.
For a QuickTime version, or to sign up for the BassFan Radio Podcasts, click here.
After a long hiatus, Robert Hamilton is back with his Hamilton's Lab and its no-nonsense, hard-hitting look at bass-fishing products. In his new column, published today, he digs into batteries – what makes them tick, and how to choose the best one. Do you know the difference between a lead-acid, gel and AGM battery? You should. To learn all about that and more, click here to read the latest Hamilton's Lab column.
Comment on this item.
Fish Harder hooks Youvella 7/2/2008 Fish Harder Companies, parent company for brands Tru-Tungsten and Picasso, announced today it has acquired the rights to be the sole distributor of Youvella-USA products in the U.S. and Canada.
Fish Harder sales and marketing chief Tim Norman has been named head of the newly formed Youvella-USA, LLC.
Norman said: "We're excited about this opportunity. Youvella is by far the most modern and progressive sportfishing hook company in the world. They make a wide variety of hooks for the freshwater, saltwater and commercial markets. We intend to use their expertise - along with that of our pro staff - to develop a line of professional-grade fish hooks for the American and Canadian markets."
The first of the new pro-designed Youvella-USA hooks are expected to be shown in a few weeks at the ICAST industry tradeshow.
Notable about the deal, too, is that parallel models exist in the industry. Norman came to Fish Harder from Spro, and Spro is a sister company of Gamakatsu. Spro regularly engages with Gamakatsu to produce proprietary hooks for products like the Dean Rojas BronzEye Frog and Gary Klein signature-series jig.
Additionally, VMC is owned by Rapala, and Rapala hangs VMC hooks on its baits, including the proprietary Sure Set designed by David Fritts.
AOY: your thoughts? 7/2/2008 A BassFan poll currently asks the question, Who do you think will win the FLW Tour Angler of the Year title next week at the Detroit River? To participate in the poll, and view the results, click here to visit the homepage, then scroll down the right-hand side of the page.
Will Strens switch to 3 days? 7/2/2008 Based on a recent survey FLW Outdoors sent to anglers, it looks like there's a solid chance the Stren Series might switch to a 3-day format.
The survey asked anglers whether they'd prefer to keep the current 4-day format, with a cut to the Top 10 after day 3, or if they'd rather see the format change to a 3-day event (Thursday-Saturday) with a Top 10 cut after day 2.
Of course, if the series did change to a 3-day format, both the league and the anglers would save costs.
Fishing Friend Needs Help 7/2/2008 Former Kentucky Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Resources head Tom Bennett has been hospitalized in Louisville, Ky. and is facing a very serious medical situation that requires dialysis and plasma. Unfortunately, Bennett has a very rare blood type – AB Negative. Only one in 167 people have this blood type, but men with either AB+ or AB- can donate plasma to be used in his treatment.
As of last evening, the hospital where Bennett's being treated had only a 4-day supply of that plasma.
BassFans are asked to please consider a plasma donation. A donation can be made from any blood center, as long as Bennett's family faxes the facility an authorization form. Roy Grimes, of the National Archery in the Schools program, is the contact point for those who may be able to donate. Grimes can be reached at (502) 600-2053.
More on Boat-business slowdown 7/2/2008 Daily news publications have followed the downturn in the boat market fairly closely. Alongside Brunswick's announcement last week that it will lay off 1,000 (and possibly 1,700 more) workers, other bad-news items from around the industry include:
> Soundings Trade Only and the St. Cloud Times reported that Genmar Holdings laid off 35 of 700 workers at its Larson/Glastron plant in Little Falls, Minn. last week.
> The Baxter Bulletin reported that Ranger Boats had changed production schedule to two shifts, 3 days a week, and that Bass Cat had released 17 workers – both as adjustments to the market.
Abu Garcia today announced the winner of its June Fish of a Lifetime contest to be Gary Ginter (pictured) from Maplewood, Ohio. Congratulations, Gary! Your new Abu Garcia Revo reel and hat will arrive soon in the mail.
Meanwhile, the Fish of a Lifetime contest is still taking entries and awarding reels to the best big-fish story you can muster. Here's some comments from April winner Mark Linman:
"Thanks for entering my story in the Abu Garcia Fish of a Lifetime contest. My friends and family got a real kick out of reading my story and seeing my picture on BassFan.com. I also have to say that at first I thought I didn’t win.
"I was at a client's setting up new PCs, and when it comes time to test the Internet I always go to BassFan.com. It was then that I saw the FOAL winner announcement in the Dock Talk column, and it also had the name of the newest entry.
"I misread it and assumed the newest entry was the winner, so I clicked on the link and saw my picture. At first I thought, 'Oh man, they put my picture in by mistake.' Then I read and realized that I was the April winner. I shouted “YES!” and startled the girl in the cube next to me. Abu Garcia contacted me shortly afterwards and in 2 weeks I had an Abu Garcia Revo STX reel and fishing hat. The reel is simply incredible. I love my Revo S, but the STX is so smooth. It's simply the finest baitcaster I've ever used.
"Thanks again for letting me tell my Fish of a Lifetime story and hopefully I will have another one after using the Revo STX."
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 (c'mon inshore guys, let's hear your stories), and can also be a tourney limit of a lifetime.
Tru-Tungsten has joined in as an official partner of the National Scholastic Sportsman Program (NSSP).
They'll be featured throughout all of the NSSP's media outlets and marketing materials including NSSP Outdoors TV, NSSP Outdoors magazine, the NSSP Outdoors website and select monthly DVD lessons being sent out to schools. In addition to this, Tru-Tungsten was also a sponsor of the annual fishing event and the annual National Awards Banquet.
"Fish Harder Companies is proud to be a part of the NSSP program. It's something that we think will help to insure the future of our sport," said Larry Thornhill, Director of Public Relations for Fish Harder Companies, LLC. "Through our joint efforts we believe that introducing young men and women to the outdoors is the most important thing we can do as a company in the industry. We consider it a privilege to be involved in something this important."
Lowen: Fierce finesse 7/2/2008 We've all heard it about a million times: When the bite gets tough on pressured lakes, it's time to downsize your offering. But when 99.9 percent of the anglers on a body of water are all throwing the same shakey-head and dropshot rigs tipped with dinky little bits of plastic, the fish have a tendency to get conditioned to that look, and might shy away from those types of offerings.
That's why Bassmaster Elite Series pro Bill Lowen defies convention on pressured lakes. Instead of going light and trying to weed through a bunch of dink bites, he drops a big 10-inch Berkley PowerWorm on their heads. That's exactly what he did to notch his 2nd-place showing at Old Hickory last week.
2nd PAA fundraiser 7/1/2008 Another wave of items has been put on the auction block as part of a fundraiser for the Professional Anglers Association (PAA) and Catch-A-Dream, the official charity of the PAA.
In May, the PAA offered a number of items on eBay that were donated by PAA members and raised more than $1,500. Another batch of memorabilia, including several tournament-worn jerseys, has been posted on eBay.
The new items are:
> Autographed Mark Davis 2001 Bassmaster Angler of the Year Jersey
> Autographed Ish Monroe jersey, worn during his 2006 victory on Lake Amistad, the inaugural Bassmaster Elite Series event
> Jay Yelas’ 2007 FLW Angler of the Year Skeeter Jersey, worn during his Land O’ Lakes FLW Angler of the Year season. Includes a signed letter from Yelas
> Long-sleeve 2007 Kelly Jordon Skeeter Jersey, worn during the 2007 Bassmaster Elite Series
> Autographed Tim Horton 2000 Pro Craft jersey, worn during Horton’s win on Lake Toho in the Top 150
> Autographed Shaw Grigsby dye sublimated jersey worn during the 2007 Bassmaster Elite Series
> Long sleeved embroidered Gary Klein jersey, worn during competition on the 2007 Bassmaster Elite Series
> Autographed Denny Brauer 2007 Bassmaster Elite Series embroidered jersey
> Autographed Denny Brauer Wheaties box, commemorates Brauer’s 1998 FLW Angler of the Year title
> Strike King Cap, autographed by all members of Strike King’s National Pro Staff; includes, Kevin VanDam, Denny Brauer, Mark Davis, Greg Hackney, Mark Menendez, Mike Wurm, James Niggemeyer, Mark Rose, Kim Stricker and Debra Hengst.
> Two autographed Classic Patterns DVDs by Tim Horton.
For more information on the auction or the PAA, e-mail Jamie Hairgrove at jamie@fishpaa.com.
Army contest: Hard Luck winners 7/1/2008 Two BassFan Army members will soon each receive a $250 tackle pack from Plano Tackle Systems and many of the Army's other fine sponsors. Their entries that detailed their "hard luck" need for a new tackle collection were judged as best from among all the entries. To find out who won, and to read their hard luck stories, click here.
Previous Month 
Top of Page
© OutdoorsFan Media and InterMedia Outdoors, Inc. All rights reserved