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.
The season premiere of Hook n' Look, the show in which veteran pro angler Kim Stricker and his son Danny explore the underwater world where fish live, will air Dec. 30 on Versus. Show times (Eastern) for the 2009 season are 5 a.m. Tuesdays, 8:30 a.m. Wednesdays and 3 p.m. Fridays.
Watts Bar toxic disaster 12/24/2008 A pond near Watts Bar that was used to store fly ash from a coal-fired power plant recently flooded outlying areas after a retaining wall collapsed. The results were serious flooding and the escape of 3.1 million cubic feet of toxic fly ash and water, some of which made its way into Watts Bar.
The burning of coal concentrates toxic compounds in the ash, including arsenic, lead and mercury. Coal ash is also radioactive.
Bassmaster Classic competitor Kim Bain has been getting a lot of press as the first woman to compete in the Bassmaster Classic. Her latest spotlight's in the Shreveport Times, which today published a lengthy article on her. click here to read it.
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Christmas for Javier 12/23/2008 Want to read a cool story by ESPNOutdoors.com's Don Barone about a hard-luck boy, his passion for fishing and the gift he wants more than any other? If so, just click here.
Suspended education 12/23/2008 Bassmaster Elite Series angler Casey Ashley spends a lot of time during the fall and winter months trying to figure out ways to catch suspended, blueback herring-oriented largemouths – and stripers – on the Savannah River lakes near his South Carolina home. He figures that anything he learns on these trips is something that might help him during the tournament season. To find out how he goes about trying to entice those finicky fish, click here to visit the Catch More Fish page.
BASS confirmed today that BASS Federation Nation director Don Corkran will, in short time, no longer head the Federation Nation and will not be replaced. His contract, which is up next month, will not be renewed by BASS. Oversight of the Federation Nation will still reside with the BASS Events department.
A BASS official furnished the following statement to BassFan about Corkran's departure: "Don Corkran will be leaving his post as director of the BASS Federation Nation, as his contract expires Jan. 16, 2009. Everyone at BASS/ESPN Outdoors greatly appreciates and respects all his contributions and we wish him the best of luck. Over the past 2 years, Don displayed great leadership in managing the resources of the Federation Nation program and restored clear lines of communications between our grassroots members and BASS."
Concerning oversight of the Federation Nation from this point forward, the same BASS official said: "We're all operating in a challenging economic environment which sometimes dictates difficult steps to be taken. There are no additional changes planned for the rest of the Federation Nation department, which will continue to be managed by the BASS Events Department. We anticipate a seamless transition for all Federation Nation members."
Corkran had served for 12 years as Federation director until BASS's relocation to Celebration, Fla. in 2005. He was hired back by BASS in May 2007 after former Federation Nation director Gary Jones left the company.
Former Bassmaster Elite Series angler Keith Phillips reported that a recent Outdoors Without Limits auction to raise funds for an upcoming hunt for 100 disabled children and veterans grossed $7,000. The net gain was $3,000, and that will go toward food and other necessities for the Jan. 15-18 deer hunt in Troy, Ala. Thirty-five landowners in the Troy area have donated their properties for use in the event.
Auction items included five guns, 20 paintings and four bronze sculptures. Phillips wished to give special thanks to Mark's Outdoors of Birmingham, along with Butch Phillips, Bobby Marrow and Kenny Cost.
Volunteers are being sought to help with the Troy hunt, and monetary donations are also being accepted. For more information, call Phillips at (205) 281-9576.
A trophy nonetheless 12/22/2008 An 11-year-old Mississippi boy failed to kill a deer on a recent hunting trip with his grandfather, but he did catch a huge largemouth bass.
To read the story in the Jackson Clarion-Ledger, click here.
The Bass Federation (TBF) and FLW Outdoors announced today they are expanding opportunities and support for anglers in the Western United States. TBF is splitting its Western Division in half to form new Northwest and Southwest divisions.
The new Northwest Division covers Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. while the new Southwest Division covers California, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada. These Western states will now enjoy all the benefits of TBF membership with half the potential travel time.
Before the split, the Western Division included everything west of Kansas to the Pacific Ocean and from Canada to Mexico. Standard drive time was more than 20 hours for anglers to compete.
“For many years, the Federation wanted to split the West in half to help support our members. It was never possible before, but with the support of our partners at FLW Outdoors, it is now a reality,” said TBF president Robert Cartlidge. “Historically the West was left out when it came to expansion. FLW Outdoors changed all that when they rolled out the Stren Series Western Division and the Walmart FLW Series National Guard Western Division.
"The next logical step was the grassroots anglers of TBF. FLW Outdoors is once again showing its support of TBF, and not only to the anglers in the West, but the entire TBF membership, by adding a 13th and 14th spot in the Walmart BFL All-American to accommodate the new TBF Western Divisions.”
TBF leadership in the West is thrilled with the decision.
“It's the greatest news to Western anglers since the introduction of the FLW Series National Guard Western Division,” said Gary Bradford, TBF Western Division representative. “With all the gloom and doom of the current economy that is being bantered about, it is very welcome news. With the new division, the addition of two more TBF slots in the All-American, Stren Series and FLW Series events, and FLW Fantasy Fishing, anglers have more opportunities to get involved with fishing in the West than ever before.
"I hope all TBF members, and particularly anglers in the Western United States, recognize the level of support that TBF and FLW Outdoors are putting into the West for their benefit and come out and help support it.”
You've probably heard of Abu Garcia's new Sorön with its special superline-ready spool, but how does the spinning reel perform? BassFan editor-in-chief Jon Storm put the reel to the test. For his full review of the product, click here.
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What about Arnie? 12/18/2008 Brothers Bobby Lane and Chris Lane fish the Bassmaster Elite Series, but what about the third brother, Arnie, who's surfaced from time to time in lower-tier events? According to the Lakeland Ledger, he quit his full-time job will make a run at the bigs this year. To read Del Milligan's story on Arnie, click here.
Lanier Cup: local coverage 12/18/2008 Georgia papers have run several stories on the announcement that the 2010 Forrest Wood Cup would be held at Lake Lanier. Many reports noted how much help the fishing economy in the area needs, given the current drought. Yet other pieces are critical of the Go Fish Georgia campaign. Here are a few links to local coverage.
> Noteworthy too is a column by Jimmy Jacobs in today's Atlanta Journal-Constitution that asks some probing questions about whether the current Georgia budget is fair to sportsmen – specifically, why the Go Fish Georgia campaign continues to be heavily funded while other "everyday" sportsman programs are seeing severe budget reductions. Click here to read it.
The Professional Anglers Association (PAA) distributed a press release today in which some top-name pros expressed enthusiasm for the three-event PAA Tournament Series that will determine qualifiers for the Toyota Texas Bass Classic next October at Texas' Lake Conroe.
Here's a sampling:
> Mike Iaconelli – “The PAA Series is a new dimension in professional bass fishing. It's the first angler-owned and angler-operated circuit that has the best anglers in the world from multiple circuits. It's a true 'test of the best.'
"Winning the Toyota Texas Bass Classic would mean the world. It's the first true multi-league championship that pits the world’s best anglers against each other. This event will rank right up there with the Bassmaster Classic and the FLW Championship. I’d love to add this trophy to my mantel."
> Denny Brauer – "I've always felt that to become one of the best, an angler needs to compete against the best. This should provide that opportunity. Winning would be a great thing."
> Tim Horton (PAA president) – “I think we're all really looking forward to getting the competition started for the year. We can’t wait to see the best anglers in the world competing to qualify for the Toyota Texas Bass Classic."
The PAA announced that the following anglers have signed up for the series, with more forthcoming:
Chris Baumgardner
Tommy Biffle
Dalton Bobo
Denny Brauer
Terry Butcher
Brent Chapman
Luke Clausen
Ken Cook
John Crews
Mark Davis
Boyd Duckett
Guy Eaker
Paul Elias
Chris Elliott
Todd Faircloth
Art Ferguson II
Shinichi Fukae
Shaw Grigsby
Mike Hawkes
Matt Herren
Sean Hoernke
Tim Horton
Randy Howell
Mike Iaconelli
Charlie Ingram
Kelly Jordon
Steve Kennedy
J.T. Kenney
Stacey King
Gary Klein
Jeff Kriet
Bobby Lane
Dave Lefebre
Curt Lytle
Aaron Martens
Tommy Martin
Mike McClelland
Dan Morehead
Andy Morgan
Chad Morgenthaler
Takahiro Omori
Pete Ponds
Matt Reed
Derek Remitz
Mark Rose
Zell Rowland
Terry Seagraves
Dave Smith
Brian Snowden
Scott Suggs
Joe Thomas
Byron Velvick
Lance Vick
David Walker
Kevin Wirth
Dave Wolak
Mike Wurm
Navionics, the market leader in electronic charting and digital-navigation data, today announced that Don Black has joined the company as senior VP of sales and marketing. Black will head the company's sales, marketing, product-management and business-development efforts across all divisions.
Black most recently served as president and CEO of Portsmouth, R.I.-based SeaWave, which specialized in ship-to-shore wireless communication. Prior to that, he held leadership positions with Drew Scientific and Instrumentation Labs.
There’s very little water in the Sooner State’s western half, but there’s plenty of generosity flowing from the city of Woodward, Okla.
Longtime pals Kevin Evans and Richard Allen pooled their money to win the Edwin Evers charity auction. Evers, a nine-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier, will give the entire $2,326 from the winning bid to the Owasso, Okla.-based Standing in the Gap Christian charity. In turn, organization will buy grocery items for needy families.
Evans, a 50-year old executive director of the Western Plains Youth and Family Services Center, has a heart for serving those in need and a passion for fishing. “My wife will attest that I’m a junkie for TV fishing shows," he said. "I’m a bass fishing fan and while we don’t have any big lakes around here, we spend a lot of time fishing in ponds."
Evans and Allen heard about the auction in an article that outdoor editor Ed Godfrey wrote in the Daily Oklahoman. “I’ve never bought anything on eBay in my life, but I researched Standing in the Gap and found out it was a great charity,” said Evans.
In addition to a day’s worth of private instruction from a top pro on a bass-infested private pond Evers has access to, they'll receive an autographed tournament jersey, two Bass Pro Shops rod and reel combos and $700 worth of lures and line that Evers hand-picked.
“As far as my buddy Richard and I are concerned, $2,326 is a bargain for the chance to spend the day fishing with Edwin and help families in need during Christmas at the same time,” concluded Evans.
Crews takes aim, fires 12/18/2008 John Crews recently uploaded a new video that's pretty hilarious. In it, he lists the Top 10 excuses that tournament anglers use, and rips each excuse to shreds. Check it out.
Hang 'em tight 12/17/2008 Why is California Bassmaster Elite Series pro Jared Lintner so fond of Berkley's new Jay's Flippin' jig? Because fish bite it, and they don't get off until they're in the boat. For the whole story, click here to visit the Catch More Fish page.
Skeeter will once again spread some Christmas cheer to children around east Texas, as the company distributes more than 550 toys donated by Skeeter owners as part of the company’s Boat Load of Toys program.
The toys were donated during the Skeeter Owner’s Tournament at Lake Fork. The company’s 2008 event was one its largest ever, with participation exceeding more than 800 boats and 1,500 anglers.
“Our Boat Load of Toys program was initiated by Skeeter, but our owners are responsible for its success,” said Skeeter marketing manager Darren Cole. “Each year, we ask those participating in our owner’s tournament to bring a new toy, and our owners always step up and show their support for a great cause."
The toys will be distributed through several non-profit organizations located in Gregg, Wood and Smith counties in east Texas. The charities include the Christmas Sharing program in Quitman; Mineola Caring & Sharing, Inc. in Mineola; the Presbyterian Children’s Home and Services in Kilgore, and Hope Haven Home for Women and Children in Longview.
“Our organization is truly blessed to have such a caring and compassionate company like Skeeter located in our community,” said Hope Haven Home director Sonia Henson. “We are humbled by their gratefulness, and send a sincere thanks to all of the Skeeter owners who donated toys through this great program. I only wish each and every owner could see the smiles on our children’s faces on Christmas morning – it is a wonderful sight."
The Professional Anglers Association (PAA) has announced that its 2nd annual Corporate Cup will take place Sept. 10-12, 2009 at Alabama's Pickwick Lake. The inaugural event was staged at Pickwick in October.
The format matches up some of the country's top pro anglers with amateur co-anglers to compete as teams that fish together for a combined weight to establish their best 3-day total. The 1st-place payout in 2008 was $100,000.
The PAA will begin accepting entries for the 2009 tournament in February. All details will soon be available at www.FishPAA.com.
Idaho FLW pro Ken Wick was the top winner in the 2008 Ranger Cup Awards, pocketing $50,000 in Ranger Cup bonus money, along with $25,000 in Powered by Evinrude contingency money.
Awards were presented to the Top 10 finishers in the Ranger Cup points standings for anglers fishing the FLW Tour and the FLW Series Eastern and Western divisions. In all, $247,500 in Ranger Cup bonuses plus Powered by Evinrude and Powered by Yamaha contingency money was awarded.
With three Top-8 finishes on the Western Series, Wick compiled 209 Ranger Cup points. He outdistanced runner-up Takahiro Omori, who had two Top 10s on the Eastern Series, by 49 points.
“Loyalty has long been central to the success of Ranger Boats," said Ranger president Randy Hopper. Our customers – many of whom are among the finest bass anglers in the world – have been loyal to us for so many years, we look forward each year to presenting the Ranger Cup Awards as a way to say thanks.
"Being a part of the Ranger Cup program is easy for anglers at many levels – not just anglers fishing the top FLW tours. There are a host of circuits – from BFLs to Federation and Stren Series events – that can earn Ranger owners a lot of money. Being a Ranger owner means more than having the best-built boat on the water – it means fishing for serious money.”
The Ranger Cup program awards points to anglers who compete out of Ranger boats during qualifying tournaments. A maximum of 50 points is awarded for a 1st-place finish, with point totals decreased by 1 for each finishing position. To qualify for the Ranger Cup program, registered anglers must fish from a Ranger boat during all qualifying tournaments, meet clothing requirements and properly display the Ranger Cup decal on their boat.
Here's a look at the Top 10 for 2008, along with their final Ranger Cup point totals and combined Ranger Cup, Evinrude and Yamaha bonus winnings:
FLW Outdoors today announced the site of its 2010 Forrest Wood Cup. The host city will be Atlanta, Ga. and the host lake will be Lanier.
Competition is scheduled for Aug. 5–8.
The early announcement is somewhat a break from tradition for the league. Previously, FLW Outdoors announced only the following year's site. The 2009 Cup will be held in Pittsburgh, and many assumed the site of the 2010 Cup wouldn't be unveiled until competition begins at Pittsburgh.
There is, however, a general trend among both leagues (BASS and FLW) to announce their schedules earlier.
Also notable about the Atlanta site is that Georgia launched its Go Fish Georgia initiative several years ago, with the goal to attract big-ticket events like the Cup to the state.
Georgia governor Sonny Perdue said in announcing the site: "The Forrest Wood Cup is the largest fishing tournament in the country, and bringing this tournament to Georgia is exactly what I envisioned for the mega-ramps we're building as part of Go Fish. This tournament will provide nationally televised exposure for our fishing resources, generate excitement about fishing in Georgia and provide a positive economic impact on our local communities."
FLW Outdoors president and CEO Charlie Evans noted: "The Forrest Wood Cup is more than a championship tournament and an outdoor show. The Forrest Wood Cup is a weeklong festival that engages the entire community. Young anglers are able to showcase their talents in the National Guard Junior World Championship and up-and-coming professionals get to test their mettle against the sport's legends. The Forrest Wood Cup showcases everything that makes bass fishing the greatest sport in the world, including the richest payout in all of fantasy sports, and we're honored to have Atlanta serve as host."
> The press release announcing the Cup site included the new FLW Tour logo, which was changed significantly. The new logo appears to right. Note that it reflects the new spelling of Walmart (one word, no hyphen).
Here's a photo of a nice buck that Luke Clausen took this fall while bowhunting in his native Washington (click on the photo to see a larger image). A game camera he'd set up on a stand had photographed the deer twice, both times at about 2 p.m., and he sat on that stand for the next 5 days with no further sign of it.
"On the 6th day he came under me, chasing a doe about 10 minutes after daylight," he said. "I shot him at 37 yards going away at a trot."
The deer netted 157 1/4 Boone & Crockett points. Clausen used a Mathews DXT bow with a 100-grain muzzy arrow.
Former Bassmaster Elite Series angler Keith Phillips wanted to let BassFans know about an auction taking place tomorrow night (Tuesday, Dec. 16) that will benefit Outdoors Without Limits, an organization that provides outdoor recreational opportunities for disabled veterans and children.
The auction includes guns, knife sets, Terry Redlin paintings, sculptures and a host of other items. Proceeds will go toward a hunting trip for 100 youths and veterans scheduled for Jan. 15-18 in Troy, Ala.
Those who might be interested in one or more items are invited to call Phillips at (205) 281-9576. He'll supply information and do the bidding. The organization also accepts donations that are fully tax-deductible, and Phillips will supply a receipt.
While the boating market remains mired in bad news, a bright spot emerged today when upstart Phoenix Boats announced that production had begun on its flagship 721 Pro XP, which means the models are now available for purchase. Previously, only select Phoenix models had been available, and were largely based on former Bumble Bee molds. (Phoenix acquired Bumble Bee machinery and molds when the company formed.)
Remember that Phoenix Boats is a new company that emerged last year with a staff of heavy industry veterans. Former Stratos and Champion president Gary Clouse heads the company.
About the 721 Pro XP, Clouse noted: "This is a serious boat for serious bass anglers. It's 20'11" long with a 96" beam rated for a 250hp outboard motor. We offer all brands of outboards, letting the customer decide. Mercury, Evinrude, Yamaha, Honda and Suzuki are all great business partners of ours."
About the long period of R&D involved in designing the 721 hull, design team director Greg Strahm said: "We spent as much time testing the hull at slow speeds as we did high speeds (and) many of the fishing features are the result of anglers' input."
Select features of the 721 include:
> A "Diamond Vee" hull design
> Large-screen Lowrance X 37 flush-mounted in a modular, completely-enclosed console, Lowrance X 27 flush-mounted in the bow, and net storage built in the floor.
> The hulls are hand-laid with AME 500 resins and superior knit-type fiberglass cloth.
Ross Barnett change? 12/15/2008 According to a story in the Clarion Ledger, the minimum bass length at Ross Barnett could likely be reduced from 15 inches to 12 inches. For the story, click here.
Skeet Reese fans might want to head over to his brand new website, SkeetReeseInc.com, and check it out.
"I'm pleased to share my new website with the rest of the fishing industry," Reese said. "This is the first time I've launched a personal website, and in thinking about building one, I wanted to make sure that it mirrored how I've always tried to present myself – in a professional and fun manner."
Features of the site will include exclusive educational and entertainment video, along with articles, a storefront and voice blog. Items in the storefront will include his exclusive signature line of clothing, featuring officially licensed Skeet Reese hats, T-shirts, performance undergarments and more.
Trailer tech 12/15/2008 Want a more diverse selection of trailers? Then check out the new Powerbait trailers from Berkley – the Chigger Chunk, 3" Chigger Craw and Double Tail. For the full scoop, click here to visit the Catch More Fish page.
The Professional Anglers Association (PAA) announced that it's changing its 2009 tournament series from a pro-am to a pro-observer format. The organization stated in a release that the response and sign-ups on the pro side have been overwhelming, but time constraints for the inaugural season in setting up and filling the co-angler side have forced the change in format.
There will be no entry or riding fees for observers – they can sign up to ride with the pros at no cost by calling the PAA office at (270) 527-2030. Observers do not have to be PAA members.
Co-anglers who had previously signed up for the events are being contacted by the PAA board of directors about the change for 2009.
For schedule and sign-up information for the 2009 series, click here.
New FLW network? 12/12/2008 There's a persistent rumor out there among pros and a few manufacturers that the FLW Outdoors TV show will switch networks in 2009. The show's current home is Fox Sports Net. The rumored destination? The Versus network. It's only a rumor at this point, but stay tuned...
Bain/CBS update 12/12/2008 Kim Bain and Mike Iaconelli did make a fairly long appearance last night on CBS Evening News. For BassFans who missed it, CBS posted a written synopsis on its site. Click here to check it out.
Rapala is kicking off a holiday-inspired Anglers' Legacy Pledge drive, the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) announced this week. The company is asking anglers to take the Anglers' Legacy Pledge and give the gift of fishing this holiday season by introducing someone new to the sport.
Those who take the Pledge at www.Rapala.com/Pledge are eligible to win one of several fishing tackle items donated by Rapala and other partners, including Sufix, Shimano, Plano, Minn Kota/Humminbird and Costa Del Mar. The contest will be promoted through e-mails and online through Dec. 22, with a goal of recruiting 5,000 new Anglers' Legacy Ambassadors.
"We are happy to be working with Rapala to encourage boaters and anglers to introduce newcomers to the sport," said RBFF president and CEO Frank Peterson. "I hope people are inspired this holiday to take the Anglers' Legacy Pledge and get new people out on the water. Boating and fishing enhance our natural resources and if we can mobilize avids to teach newcomers, we can make a big impact on future participation and conservation efforts."
Said Rapala marketing manager Kelly Brockpahler: "The holiday season is a perfect time of year to encourage people to share the sport of fishing with others. Rapala is excited to be partnering with RBFF and other industry leaders on this holiday promotion."
Anglers' Legacy, a program aimed at increasing first-time boating and fishing experiences, has signed on more than 75,000 Ambassadors nationwide since its inception in May 2006.
Scott Dean of Terrell, Texas won the Hi-Seas Grand Slam Championship at Columbus Pool in Mississippi last weekend with a 3-day total of 27.64 pounds.
The tournament, sanctioned by American Bass Anglers, featured the Top 10 anglers from the Southeast and Southwest divisions.
“I’m just relieved that I pulled it off," said Dean. “I thought I had really messed up only bringing in three fish (on day 3). I went to the same area I had been fishing all week, and they just weren’t biting.
"All week I’ve had the creek all to myself. Finally I caught the three fish between 1 and 2 p.m. On the first day of the tournament, I used a swimbait, (on day 2) I used a square-bill crankbait, and (on day 3) I caught them on a 6-inch worm. It was one of those weeks where you had to try just about everything."
Jamin Meaux of Gueydan, La. won the co-angler division.
Couric interviews Bain 12/10/2008 BassFans take note: CBS Evening News tomorrow night (Thursday) will air an interview with 2008 WBT Angler of the Year and Bassmaster Classic qualifier Kim Bain. The Evening News broadcast begins at 6:30 p.m. ET/PT. Reportedly, Mike Iaconelli will also be featured.
WWC suspended 12/10/2008 Due to an increasingly challenging marketplace, the BassFan Army has been forced to suspend its Weekend Warrior Championship (WWC) indefinitely.
OutdoorsFan Media general manager Jim Manry said in announcing the news: "We want to thank all past WWC sponsors, competitors, champions and sanctioned trails. We believed in the mission of the WWC – to crown the best weekend angler in the country – and regret the decision, but want BassFan Army members to know that we tried our hardest to keep the event going. It just wasn't a possibility."
Manry added: "In these difficult economic times, we're going to use this opportunity to focus on our core business – covering events and competitors, rather than hosting them."
BassFan editor-in-chief Jon Storm said: "This decision is a disappointment for all of us, but we want all BassFans to recognize how challenging the tournament market is right now. At the most recent WWC in April, qualifiers had difficulty finding the resources to travel to the no-entry-fee event. We anticipated even more difficulty this coming spring. And coupled with the challenges that boat, motor and tackle companies face in this current market, we were really left with no decision."
As the WWC was the primary benefit of BassFan Army membership, the Army membership program will likewise be suspended. Soon, content formerly found on BassFanArmy.com (such as "Other Trails" coverage) will return to its former home on BassFan.com.
Sweet 16 in Shreveport 12/10/2008 Jimmy Watson of the Shreveport (La.) Times recently wrote about a 16-year-old fishing fanatic who got to spend time on the water with some Bassmaster Classic qualifiers as they practiced for the 2009 event. The trip was a birthday present from his mother.
Arkansas legend Larry Nixon confirmed today that he's signed a sponsorship deal with Jewel Bait Company and will fish Jewel jigs on the FLW Tour and Eastern FLW Series in 2009.
"I've always been fond of the Jewel football head – I think it's the most fishable head on the market," he said. "There are a lot of heads that catch fish, but that one comes through rocks and brush the best because of its design."
The Jewel deal replaces the one he had with Tru-Tungsten.
"(Tru-Tungsten) had to make some cutbacks across the board. They said they hated to see it happen, but I told them I understood. I've been through this kind of thing before."
Most fishermen just can't enough time on the water. When they're not out there wetting a line, they're thinking about wetting a line. If that sounds like you, and you happen to own an iPhone or iPod Touch, there's a cool new game in the App Store that just might tide you over until you can launch the boat again.
The game is called Flick Fishing, because you actually have to 'flick' your iPhone or iPod Touch to make a cast. You can fish for bass in a lake, pike in a river and there's even some offshore action.
For you tournament guys, there's a couple competitive modes. You can play with a buddy on a single iPhone or iPod touch, or sync up via wi-fi with another unit and duel it out for bragging rights.
For a full review of the game and details on how to get it, check it out at MacWorld, here.
BRP cuts 12/10/2008 Bombardier Recreational announced Tuesday that it’s cutting nearly 1,000 jobs from its workforce and reducing production by 20%.
The maker of Evinrude and Johnson outboards already let go 370 workers in October. The latest wave of cuts will be made up of 550 administrative, white-collar workers and 430 shop-floor workers, who will be laid off temporarily. The company employs about 6,500 people worldwide.
It has facilities in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Mexico and China. It wasn’t clear where the cut would be made. Engine manufacturing will continue at plants in Austria, Mexico, Wisconsin and China. Vehicles will be manufactured in Valcourt, Quebec, Benton, Illinois, and Mexico.
In announcing the decision, President and Chief Executive Officer Jose Boisjoli said, "These are very difficult decisions to make but we must take appropriate preventive measures considering the seriousness of the situation. We believe these measures will reduce our costs and make BRP less vulnerable to drastic declines in revenues caused by events outside our control, such as the current crisis."
Klein on the Classic 12/9/2008 BassFan snagged Gary Klein for a quick interview this morning as he was out at Louisiana's Red River doing some scouting for the upcoming Bassmaster Classic.
Today on the Catch More Fish page, the two-time BASS Angler of the Year (AOY) shares his tips for unlocking rivers and talks about his expectations for February's big event.
FLW outdoors today released details about its 2009 Fantasy Fishing contest. Here's an overview.
The total potential prize pool has increased from $7.3 million to $10 million.
A $1 million winner is guaranteed, as are six $100,000 winners.
One exacta bonus is worth $5 million – paid to any player who picks the Top 7 in order at any qualifying event. There's also a new $3 million exacta bonus for players who pick the Top 5 (in order) at the Forrest Wood Cup.
A new referral program pays money to players who enroll other players in Player's Advantage. FLW Outdoors will pay $2 to the referrer for each $10 spent on Player's Advantage. Get five players to enroll and a Player's Advantage membership will thus be free.
Additionally, more than 2,500 other prizes are available – from boats to trucks to gift cards.
FLW Outdoors chairman Irwin Jacobs said in announcing the details: "FLW Fantasy Fishing is something we've worked tirelessly on and have sincerely enjoyed sharing the excitement of the players and the extraordinary growth that we've experienced in our inaugural year. Our inaugural season in 2008 was such an incredible success that frankly, it ran participation off the charts."
Jacobs also noted that right now, players can enroll in Player's Advantage for $10 (the regular cost is $39.99).
Reigning Bassmaster Classic champion Alton Jones is done with his prefishing for the Red River Classic in February after he completed a second trip to Shreveport/Bossier City this past weekend.
"I spent a week there in October, too, and I just spent time riding around and looking," he said. "The one difference is the green lily pads are now all brown and dead. I'm glad I got to see them when they were still green."
He's very much looking forward to defending his title in a couple months.
"It's going to be a lot of fun," he said. "The Red River has a lot of similar features as the central Texas lakes I cut my teeth on – stained water, timber and scattered grass. Between now and then, I'm going to go skiing and attempt to not break my leg."
He's planning to spend Christmas in Colorado with his family this year.
DIRECTV adds TSC 12/8/2008 The Sportsman Channel (TSC) will be available to DIRECTV subscribers by the end of January 2009 after the network reached a distribution agreement with the satellite TV provider. The channel, which is owned by InterMedia Outdoors (IMO), will be available in the Choice Xtra package.
“We are excited to be launching on DIRECTV given its position as the premier provider of sports content in the U.S.,” said IMO CEO Jeff Paro in a statement announcing the move. "This deal highlights a year of aggressive expansion for The Sportsman Channel. We are leveraging our strengths as the largest magazine publisher, the largest online network, and the largest TV producer in the outdoor category, to make TSC the pre-eminent channel in the space."
Launched in 2003, TSC is the only network fully devoted to the more than 50 million sportsmen in the United States, delivering 100 percent hunting, fishing and shooting programming. Acquired by InterMedia Outdoors Holdings in 2006, TSC is now a part of the nation's largest multimedia company targeted exclusively to serving the information and entertainment needs of Outdoors enthusiasts.
“The Sportsman Channel and its terrific line-up of branded outdoor programming is a welcome addition to our robust programming lineup,” said Derek Chang, executive vice president, Content Strategy and Development, DIRECTV, Inc. “This channel is a must-have for outdoor-enthusiasts and reinforces DIRECTV’s position as the leading provider of outdoor programming to consumers.”
To learn more about The Sportsman Channel, click here.
What makes a good frog rod? Here's a hint – it's not necessarily a $200-plus price tag. In a new BassFan Product Review, editor-in-chief Jon Storm talks about his experience this year with the Powell frog rod, including its excellent performance alongside a relatively modest price and solid warranty backed by a "personable company that prides itself on customer service."
Lucky seven 12/5/2008 Berkley's new PowerBait 7-inch Hand Pour finesse worm takes center stage today on the Catch More Fish page. If you think Berkley's Hand Pour finesse worms are just like all those other straight-tail baits on the market, think again. Click on the link to find out why their triple layer hand-poured worm will flat out Catch More Fish than other finesse offerings.
Boyd Duckett, the 2007 Bassmaster Classic champion, just returned to his home in Alabama after the first of two pre-practice trips he'll make to Louisiana's Red River in preparation for the 2009 event. He predicted that the Classic total weight record for the five-fish limit era (the 56-02 caught by Luke Clausen in 2006 at Florida's Lake Toho) will fall in February.
"That place has got big ones," he said. "I caught two over 8 pounds this week and lost another one that big.
"I'm willing to go out on that limb and say it's going to take 20 (pounds) a day. There's too many big ones, and in the third week of February all those big females are going to be pre-spawn. I'm saying that I'll take that 56-02 down myself. I don't know if that'll be enough to win or not."
Duckett is back in Alabama for business meetings (he owns a tank-trailer leasing company), but will return to the Red for another session next week.
In what could become a tradition, Mike Golic will again broadcast live from the Bassmaster Classic. Alongside him for the Mike & Mike in the Morning broadcast will be occasional co-host Erik Kuselias.
The show will broadcast live at the Classic, 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. ET Friday, Feb. 20, from Red River South Marina in Bossier City, La.
BASS VP and GM Tom Ricks said in announcing the news: "We're excited to have Mike & Mike in the Morning come back for some more great fishing at the Bassmaster Classic. We had a lot of fun with Mike and Erik last year, and this year promises to be just as entertaining. Mike & Mike in the Morning listeners and sports fans everywhere are in for another treat."
"I've been to Louisiana many, many times," Kuselias said. "But I haven't been to Shreveport. So I'm excited to see a different part of the state, which I understand is absolutely beautiful. I'm so excited to be coming down."
And BassFans should note that Golic's a fisherman. According to ESPN, during his NFL career as a defensive tackle, Golic and his father regularly fished Lake Toho after the NFL season was done.
From a sponsorship perspective, things are getting so difficult for Brent Chapman that he's started to consider opening a deer-hunting guide business on a 160-acre property he owns in his native Kansas. He took this nice whitetail buck there just last week and said the picture could be considered "my first advertisement."
The spiraling economic conditions have caused the seven-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier to lose his primary sponsor, GE Silicone II, along with several smaller deals this offseason.
"The last month has just been horrible," he said. "We've lost probably 85 percent of our (sponsorship) income. The one thing I felt was that I wouldn't get any raises this year, but going to my eighth Classic, I thought I'd at least be safe from cuts. It's pretty scary."
He'd run the GE Silicone wrap since April 2006.
"Evidently the higher-ups came in and took their whole marketing budget away. It stinks to have that happen after working as hard as I did. I mean, I haven't won the Angler of the Year or the Classic, but next to that, I feel like I've done quite a bit to help them. I really feel for somebody who's just getting into this game."
That money will be difficult to make up before the 2009 campaign gets under way.
"I'm just going to have to play every card I've got locally. That's where my best connections are, and my best chances. I've been in this situation before – where I had to fish for checks to survive. If I have to go back to that again, then that's what I have to do."
In the meantime, he'll use his rods, guns and bows to keep his freezer stocked with meat. He went out with a neighbor this morning and caught a couple dozen crappie in 20-degree weather.
"At least I can still catch fish and shoot things. Those are about the only positives going on around the Chapman household right now."
Oklahoma Bassmaster Elite Series pro Edwin Evers is auctioning off a special fishing package on eBay, with proceeds to benefit Standing in the Gap – a Christian charity that provides grocery items to the needy. The package includes a day of fishing for two on a bass-infested private lake near Ardmore, Okla., with Evers as the guide, along with approximately $700 worth of tackle, two premium rod-and-reel combos and an autographed tournament jersey.
Evers became involved with Standing in the Gap when a friend asked him to go to the distribution center and lend a hand unloading trucks, carrying boxes, and handing out groceries. "I went and helped, and it dang near brought tears to my eyes," he said. "I actually helped twice, and we helped about 150 people each time.
“I had no idea how many people in my own community were in need. These aren’t necessarily homeless people. In one case, there was a guy who came through the distribution line that looked like somebody you’d call your fishing buddy, but the reality was his daughter was battling cancer, and medical bills were sinking their financial ship. He had run out of money to buy basic groceries for his family."
The auction ends Dec. 13, and the date for the fishing trip is negotiable. To place a bid, click here.
Yamaha Deferral Program 12/4/2008 In an effort to help its outboard dealers improve cash flow during the winter months, Yamaha has started the Marine Interest Deferral Program, under which dealers can defer bill the interest due on eligible Yamaha outboards in inventory already under interest as Nov. 25, 2008.
Additionally, Yamaha will apply an interest credit to dealers’ account for eligible outboards sold and paid off in full during applicable deadlines. Skeeter Boats, G3 Boats and Century Boats, all Yamaha brands, will also offer an interest-deferral program to their dealers for eligible inventory.
“During these tough times, we know interest expenses on unsold inventory are a challenge for our dealers,” Yamaha Marine Group president Phil Dyskow said in a statement. “At the recent MRAA conference, many dealers challenged manufacturers to do something to help; well, this is Yamaha’s answer.”
To learn more about Yamaha Marine Group, click here.
Recon: Ike does his homework 12/4/2008 Mike Iaconelli will be the first to tell you that you don't earn a Bassmaster Classic trophy and a Bassmaster Elite Series Angler of the Year (AOY) title by just showing up and flinging a spinnerbait at some stumps. Ike's developed a reputation as being one of the hardest working and most diligently prepared pros on tour, and a lot of that preparation starts in the off-season.
Today in the Bass Recon section of BassFanArmy.com, he talks about his off-season regimen and his methodical approach for tackling the daunting task of preparing for every lake on his schedule in the upcoming season. Tidbit: Don't discount your old paper maps.
The ring has been found 12/4/2008 News outlets are reporting on a neat find at Sam Rayburn. Nope, Paul Elias didn't hook and land Jimmy Hoffa's wallet. Instead, the story involves a ring.
Apparently, Joe Richardson went fishing at Rayburn the day after he graduated in 1987, and lost his class ring while on the water.
On Thanksgiving day, Richardson received a call from someone who'd caught an 8-pound bass at Rayburn, and found a ring inside etched with his name. An Internet search led to the phone call.
Obviously, the 8-pound bass is less than 21 years old, and Richardson, according to the AP report, wishes he knew "how many fish it's been in."
Brings to mind those words Gandalf once spoke: "The ring has heard its master's call – it wants to be found..."
Dean Rojas has signed an endorsement deal with plastics company Big Bite Baits. Never heard of 'em? You've probably thrown their stuff, but perhaps under a different brand name. Big Bite's parent company manufactures plastics for several major bait brands – in fact, some of the biggest plastics brands in the biz. Big Bite is the company's retail arm.
Rojas joins Jeff Kriet on the Big Bite staff.
What's especially notable about the deal is it means Rojas is no longer with Northland Tackle. Remember that he signed with Northland in spring 2007 and helped spearhead the company's efforts toward a national line of Slurpies bass plastics. His photo's still on much of the company's marketing material.
"We were progressing really well on everything, but it came to a point where we were going in two different directions," Rojas said of the Northland relationship. "I think there was a breakdown in communication and it just deteriorated to what it was and we decided to go our separate ways."
BassFan has not yet been able to reach Northland for a comment.
About signing with Big Bite, Rojas said: "Big bite came along and I'd known those guys for a while. They're owned by a big plastics manufacturer, who make a lot of plastics for folks across the whole country. They signed Jeff Kriet, I believe at the beginning of last year, and they've been wanting to grow the line to what it is today. We have all the resources to build what we want – (Kriet) and I. It's almost like the Spro program in a way because it lets us design what we want and what we know is going to work out there."
Rojas noted that his Big Bite deal is "right in the middle" of associate- and title-level sponsorship. Big Bite will be a part of his truck and boat wrap, and will "probably have a floor graphic on the boat. They'll have very good representation and get predominant exposure."
His overall wrap will thus be Spro and Yamaha, with Big Bite worked in.
Notable too is that Rojas, in what seems to be the most dismal sponsor market in recent memory, has had "a very good" off-season. "I've got some other stuff coming that I'm not ready to announce yet," he said.
The boat market was dealt a double-whammy this year when high gas prices met the credit crunch. One whammy disappeared – gas prices are now relatively low – but the credit crunch remains. In some instances, banks (like Key Bank) pulled out of marine lending altogether. In other cases, credit is available, but the minimum credit score and downpayment needed to finance a boat have escalated.
The Outdoor Wire reported today that Genmar Holdings, Inc. chairman and CEO Irwin Jacobs will soon launch an in-house financing system to help boat buyers. Think of it like GMAC or Ford Motor Credit for car buyers. Here's an abridged version of the story published by the Outdoor Wire this morning:
Jacobs Aims To Re-Popularize Boating By Making It Affordable
by Jim Shepherd
Genmar Holdings is, by its own description, the world's premiere builder of recreational boats.
From a $12,995 Stratos to a $1,000,000 Carver Yacht, the lines are as diverse as those of General Motors. In reality, the Genmar lines are actually more diverse. Where much of General Motors' diversity is often little more than cosmetic changes and badges on the same vehicle platforms, Genmar ranges from family runabouts to live-aboard luxury seafaring vessels.
Despite that formidable size, Genmar is not immune to the lagging economy that has other boat companies struggling to stay afloat. But the company's size and diversity of product categories and price ranges does provide an economic footing that differentiates Genmar companies from their struggling competition.
In 2009, for instance, Genmar will offer more new models in a single line (Ranger) than most of the rest of that industry category - combined.
That diversity in itself, however, doesn't answer the growing problem of financing in an economy that's mired in a recession, a banking collapse and very tight credit markets.
But it's those very real challenges that do provide what Jacobs believes is the key to Genmar "creating their own destiny" ala General Motors.
"I've felt for many years the boat industry was too reliant on the times," Jacobs told me in a phone conversation last evening. "Although the car companies aren't the role models they once were, GM created their own destiny with GMAC financing."
To Jacobs, the current economic situation demands that kind of forward thinking in the boat industry.
"I feel we no longer have the option but to create Genmar Retail Financing," he said. "Granted, it's a challenging economic time, but having the ability to offer our detailers the opportunity to offer 0%, or 1%, 2% or 3% financing gives us the ability to do promotions our competitors simply can't do."
Jacobs looks to use affordable financing from Genmar Retail Financing to bring boaters back onto the water - in Genmar brands. So, says Jacobs, it's full speed ahead for Genmar Retail Financing. Although he declined to put dates on when the service would be operative, he did say imminent developments would quickly move the whole project forward. "It'll happen. I'm just not going to create an artificial deadline by choosing an arbitrary date."
Affordable financing, Jacobs said, is the key to revitalizing the boat industry - and getting people back on the water. Once people become boaters, they generally stay boaters, he explained. They might move into larger boats, or downsize into smaller ones, but they want to stay on the water. Making boats more affordable, he added, is one key to bringing former boaters back onto the water and, more importantly, getting new people into boating.
With Genmar's diversity, he added, "We're the ones to get this going."
And what about those dealers struggling to stay afloat today? "For 20 years I've told floorplanners to know who you're doing business with," Jacobs said. Not knowing their customers, he noted, has led to the serious problems others companies are facing, including failed dealerships. "We'll never allow one of our boats to be liquidated right across the street from one of our dealers. We're going to protect our brand equity and reputation."
In the near future, Jacobs said, there'll be more innovation forthcoming, designed to help new boaters get into fishing and boating affordably. Key to that effort, he said, will be "the most reasonably priced fiberglass boat ever" with a price $2,000 to $3,000 lower than an aluminum boat as a complete, ready-to-fish package including motor, trailer, depthfinder and trolling motor.
Earlier this year at the ICAST industry tradeshow, Rapala showed off its TriggerX product. It was significant for a few reasons. One, the Rapala company (which also includes brands like Storm, Blue Fox, Terminator and others) does very little in the way of plastics. But TriggerX seemed to fit the Rapala mold nicely, because it was new, innovative and different. Also, the TriggerX product marked the resurgence of the Ultrabite formula, once marketed by Mustad as a stimulant and used by pros like Denny Brauer.
What's Ultrabite? It's a fish-activation formula that was developed by CEFAS (an environmental research agency in the UK) over a 7-year period at the cost of $20 million. The goal of the project was to assist the commercial aquaculture industry, and the end result was a species-specific pheromone formula that's said to trigger fish into eating.
What Rapala did was take the Ultrabite formula and incorporate it into a new line of plastics (called TriggerX). Rapala also notes that TriggerX is "the only non-PVC soft bait available" and is biodegradeable.
BassFan received TriggerX samples this week. They haven't been tested yet, but the baits look slick. They come in a clamshell package so each bait retains its shape while it marinates in the Ultrabite, and each bait style is ribbed to help increase the surface area and release more attractant.
Initial styles to be available include: Big Bug (creature), Frog, Lizard, Flapdad (trailer), Swimming Grub, Flutter worm, Swimming worm, Spadetail worm, Minnow, Tube, Flipping Tube, Swimming Grub, Jumbo Leech and Nightcrawler. Extra bottles of attractant, plus saltwater baits (shrimp, crab and stripbait) will also be sold.
Keep an eye out for word on availability. To learn more about the product right now, visit TriggerX.com.
Caraballo's co-angler tips 12/2/2008 Today on the Catch More Fish page, 2007 FLW Tour Co-Angler of the Year (CAOY) Jess Caraballo shares his tips for scoring big stringers from the back of the boat. Tidbit: Put down the finesse rig and pick up something a little bigger.
In the first part of this 2-part article, Carballo talked about co-angler etiquette. If you missed part 1, click here to check it out.
Strike King makes the 'Grade' 12/2/2008 Looking for a football-head with the extras, but at a mid-level price? In a new BassFan Product Review, Editor-In-Chief Jon Storm explains why BassFans should consider Strike's King's Tour Grade football-head. For the full review, click here.
San Diego slide 12/2/2008 San Diego Union-Tribune outdoor writer Ed Zieralski recently penned a piece about the decline of the San Diego city lakes as big-bass fisheries. The number of anglers visiting the lakes has dropped precipitously in recent years, and so has the number of 10-pound-plus bass that've been caught. According to local fishermen, problems caused by other recreational users of the lakes are the primary cause.
Bass Edge is moving to the Outdoor Channel. The third season of the program will air three times weekly, including 2:30 p.m. ET on Saturdays, beginning in January 2009.
"We are all very excited about our new home on Outdoor Channel," said Bass Edge president and executive producer Don Hertz. “Our sponsors unanimously applaud the move. Outdoor Channel is as committed to seeing this partnership with Bass Edge succeed as we are, and both of us will work to ensure that goal.”
Bass Edge host Aaron Martin said the move will help the show reach the largest possible audience. “We believe Outdoor Channel has become the ‘go-to’ source for outdoor fans all over the country,” Martin said. “There is no doubt our audience is about to get a lot bigger.”
Bass Edge is filmed in high-definition on lakes throughout the U.S. On each episode, Martin and a top bass fishing professional teach viewers of all skill levels the fundamentals and finer points of bass fishing.
Co-hosts for 2009 include former Bassmaster Classic champions Denny Brauer and Boyd Duckett, 2007 Forrest Wood Cup winner Scott Suggs, former Women’s Bassmaster Tour champ Pam Martin-Wells, Bassmaster Elite Series competitors Dave Wolak, Randy Howell, Jared Lintner, James Niggemeyer, Kurt Dove and others.
Scott to retire 12/1/2008 It's not Ray Scott who's retiring, but Lee Scott, the other "Scott" who's a crucial cornerstone in pro fishing. Lee Scott, as longtime president and CEO of Walmart, forged the partnership with Irwin Jacobs and FLW Outdoors in 1996 that began the explosive growth in pro fishing over the following 10-plus-years. Scott confirmed his long-rumored retirement when he announced he'll retire Jan. 31, 2009 (2 months from now). Mike Duke, who currently oversees Walmart's international operations, has been named as successor.
Scott's agreement with Jacobs and FLW Outdoors was Wal-Mart's first national sponsorship, Wal-Mart remains the title sponsor of the league, and Jacobs and Scott are reportedly good friends.
Why not Ray? 12/1/2008 The current issue of Outdoor Life magazine contains a list of "the Top 25 most influential people in hunting and fishing," as selected by the publication's staffers. Birmingham News outdoors columnist Mike Bolton takes exception to the exclusion of BASS founder Ray Scott.
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