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.
Opinion: suspension fair 5/31/2009 Kevin Langill's actions on day 3 of last month's Guntersville Bassmaster Elite Series got him suspended for the remainder of the season. The way BassFan Managing Editor John Johnson sees it, that penalty was just (and maybe even a bit on the light side) considering that the North Carolina angler's antics denigrated the integrity of the competition.
Brunswick Payment Protection expanded 5/29/2009 Responding to grassroots dealer and consumer sentiment, Brunswick Corporation is expanding its Payment Protection promotion (which will make the monthly boat payments for those buyers who lose their jobs due to current economic conditions) to an additional nine of the Company’s boat brands.
Twelve of Brunswick’s well-known boat brands are now participants in the promotion, which continues through the 4th of July weekend. Brands new to the promotion include Cypress Cay and Palmetto Pontoon, Harris FloteBote and Kayot, as well as select models in the Crestliner, Lowe, Lund, Princecraft and Triton aluminum lines (Triton fiberglass boats are excluded). These brands join Bayliner, Maxum and Trophy as eligible for the promotion.
The qualifying monthly payments can go up to $500 for the Bayliner, Maxum and Trophy brands and up to $250 per month for all other brands. Customers must take delivery of their new boats by July 6, 2009.
Under the promotion, participating Brunswick boat brands will pay up to 9 months of payments if the boat buyer loses his or her job within a year after the boat purchase. Brunswick is the first company in the marine industry to launch such a large-scale payment protection program, taking its cue from similar efforts that have been used successfully in the automotive industry by Hyundai, Ford and General Motors.
Brunswick Corporation
“We are pleased to respond to our dealers and consumers, and offer this assistance during a challenging marine market,” said Brunswick chairman and CEO Dustan E. McCoy. “In today’s economy, it is important to do what we can to alleviate consumer concerns over many issues, including the potential of job loss.
"We wish to restore confidence for the American boat buyer, so that they are able to fulfill their boating dream and spend quality time with family and friends on the water this summer. They can count on Brunswick for quality products, as well as resourceful financing and insurance options. We are committed to advancing the boating industry.”
For all those BassFans who wrote in wondering how to get a hold of Troy Lindner's Fit 4 Fishing booklet, here's great news. The booklet's now available as a free download at Lindner's site. Click here to get it.
In case you're not familiar with the booklet, here's a reprint of a previous Dock Talk item about it:
Linder, a personal trainer by trade and a Stren and FLW Series competitor, has seen his share of fishing-related injuries. As part of the famed Lindner clan, he's witnessed everything from back injuries to rotator-cuff tears to severe tendonitis. That's why this booklet is so important.
Within it, Linder illustrates mistakes that lead to such injuries, like poor fishing positions and posture, damaging casting motions and more. He then provides advice on how to correct your positions and movements, plus illustrates several easy exercises that can be done in hotel rooms, campgrounds or your home.
For example, he suggests some easy wrist stretches, some lunges and a prone bridge to activate the hips and relieve the back, and some ankle stretches to avoid trolling-motor fatigue and repetitive-stress injury, plus a whole lot more.
One example of his advice in regards to setting the hook with a big bait: "It's difficult and dangerous to pivot your feet in the boat, so the torque of turning with a hookset is done through the waist. Think of it like the backswing with a baseball bat. Keep your feet firmly planted and swing back!"
Lindner will be distributing the free booklet, which was sponsored by Rapala, at each event he fishes this year, including the Western Strens and FLW Series, plus select TBF events in the West.
Today's episode features California pro Brent Ehrler, who discusses his incredible hot streak, the Angler of the Year race and the upcoming Kentucky Lake FLW Tour. Despite his skyrocketing performance, he claims he's one of the least-confident guys out there.
To listen to a Windows Media version of the show, click here.
For a QuickTime version, or to sign up for the BassFan Radio Podcasts, click here.
Remember the pretty solid rumors that FLW Outdoors would soon announce at least two new major sponsors, one of which could be Cabela's? Well, official news landed today and yes, Cabela's is in.
Under a strategic marketing agreement, Cabela's will supply promotional offers to fans in attendance at many FLW Tour events and host appearances and seminars by top pro anglers. It will also be a major promoter of FLW Fantasy Fishing, as it will distribute thousands of free Fantasy Fishing scratch cards at its 28 retail locations across the U.S. The cards will also be inserted into the company's spring catalog.
“When two leaders come together, you can expect great things,” said Cabela's president and CEO Tommy Milner. “The partnership between Cabela’s and FLW Outdoors promises to deliver on those expectations by combining the excitement of tournament fishing with the legendary Cabela’s experience.”
Said FLW Outdoors chairman Irwin L. Jacobs: “FLW Outdoors and Cabela’s share the same passionate audience. Both organizations excel within the same industry, but our core businesses are very diverse. By joining forces, we are able to tap into each other’s strengths – it is truly a mutually beneficial relationship.”
Curl up in the cover 5/28/2009 Many anglers have discovered the effectiveness of the Berkley Hand Pour Finesse Worm for subtle presentations. A curly-tailed version of the Hand Pour will hit the market soon, and Jay Yelas says it's great for clear-water, shallow-cover presentations. To learn more, head on over to Catch More Fish page.
A few other risers 5/28/2009 Today's top story takes a look at the re-invigorated fishing of Greg Hackney and Mark Menendez. There are a few other noticeable names near the top of the BASS points race though. A few examples:
Gary Klein (5th in points, 16th in the world)
Klein's fishing has been strong overall, although he missed the boat a few times last year. He's made two cuts this season, with his weakest finish at 33rd. Kentucky Lake's next on the schedule, and it would be easy to assume that's right up Klein's alley (he's one of the best jig sticks ever). But his finishes there this decade have been pretty disappointing (38th, 85th and 120th). Remember, though, that he scored a 4th and 5th there in the '90s at Invitationals and his history on the lake stretches back to 1979. All factors point to a strong finish for him next week, which should put him in excellent position to make the post-season.
Kevin Short (10th in points, 49th in the world)
Ever since Short's three-cut streak in 2006 (which might have been four except for a 14th at Champlain), he's settled out to the pace of roughly one cut a year. After some severe up/down finishes throughout 2007 and most of 2008, he finally steadied the ship at Old Hickory last year and (with that event included) has cashed six of the last eight checks. Scouting him for Kentucky Lake, however, doesn't look promising. He finished 101st there last year and 87th the year before.
James Niggemeyer (10th in points, 71st in the world)
James Niggemeyer is still too wildly up and down to gain significant ground in the World Rankings, but finishes of 7th, 13th and 27th in his previous four events helps put him in a very strong points position for a potential post-season appearance.
Denny Brauer (16th in points, 64th in the world)
Hard as it is to believe, Denny Brauer's fished just two Classics this decade, but barring a total fallout, he should be a lock for the 2010 show. To his credit, he's had several injury issues – first his back, then a double knee replacement – and he has won several events this decade. Needs a strong Kentucky showing to threaten for a post-season spot.
This week the Berkley Experience Trailer rolls into the Bass Pro Shops store in Manteca, Calif. The trailer will be there Friday through Sunday and will offer demonstrations and interactive games for kids and adults. Other upcoming trailer stops include:
> June 5–7 -- Berkley Big Bass Challenge Tournament, Russo's Marina, Bethel Island, Calif.
> June 12–14 -- Big Bear Sports, Billings, Mont.
> June 18–20 -- Gander Mountain, Lakeville, Minn.
> July 30–August 2 -- Forrest Wood Cup, Pittsburgh, Pa.
> October 2–4 -- Gander Mountain, Tyler, Texas
Additionally, the Berkley Bass Tank will be at the BFL All-American Family Fun Zone this weekend in Davenport, Iowa. The tank will feature seminars and appearances by Berkley Pro Anglers.
Heeding a small-craft warning in effect for the Arkansas River near Little Rock, BASS announced today that the site for the June 4-6 Women’s Bassmaster Tour event has been changed to Maumelle Lake.
“BASS’ first concern in these situations is always safety of the anglers,” said WBT tournament director Bruce Mathis. “We have been monitoring the Arkansas River, and we were prepared for the possibility of a move just a short distance west to Maumelle.”
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers routinely issues a small-craft warning when a river flow exceeds 70,000 cubic feet per second (cfs). According to the corps, the velocity of the Arkansas River at Little Rock was 180,000 cfs early this week. The WBT competitors were notified of the change Wednesday.
The launch site at Maumelle will be Jolly Roger's Marina, 11800 Maumelle Harbour Road, Roland, Ark. Take-off time is 5:45 a.m. CT. Daily weigh-ins are scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. at the Academy Sports + Outdoors retail location at 6100 Warden Road in Sherwood (across the river from Little Rock).
Reaction Strike announced today that it's reached a multi-year sponsorship agreement with Sean Hoernke. The Texas-based FLW pro will promote Reaction Strike's full line of baits and take part in the development of new offerings.
Reaction Strike has purchased Hoernke's own company, Hoern Toad Tackle, and will continue to market products such as the Porky's Revenge jighead, which he used during his FLW Tour win at Lake Norman last year and his Eastern FLW Series triumph at Lewis Smith Lake in 2006.
"They're just coming into the market and they wanted me to help them build some brands," he said. "I've always loved to build and design and I also airbrush, and they've got a whole shop set up for that. What's great about this partnership is I can design and build and I don't have to worry about the business side."
Reaction Strike is currently best known for its swimbaits, which include the Poseidon and the Bass Harasser.
"We'll continue with the swimbait stuff and we'll also be venturing into hardbaits that are more applicable to other parts of the country throughout the year. I'm really excited about a lot of the things that'll be coming in the next 12 months."
BASS and Team Marine USA have announced the availability of the BASS Pro-Fizz FZ-1 tool, which is used to remove air from the swim bladder of fish typically caught at depths greater than 18 feet.
The BASS Pro-Fizz FZ-1 tool is a revolutionary product that will enhance the process of fizzing – a technique that's recommended on fish that show signs of over-inflated swim bladders. The February 1997 study in the North American Journal of Fisheries Management supports that the practice is beneficial for improving the post-release survival of bass.
The BASS Pro-Fizz FZ-1 is the newest addition to the family of fizzing tools made by Tampa-based manufacturer Team Marine USA. A portion of the sales from the device will benefit BASS Conservation. BASS and Team Marine worked together to create the reusable freshwater device, which is made from aircraft-grade aluminum with stainless steel components.
“We are extremely honored to be associated with a great organization like BASS, which was founded on and is committed to conservation,” said Team Marine president and founder Jeff Strane. “The FZ-1 is a necessary tool for all anglers who care about fish conservation as well as angler safety.”
BASS Conservation implements programs with BASS Federation Nation chapters and leads initiatives in Washington, D.C. BASS conservation director Chris Horton serves on a variety of coalitions, task forces and committees with government agencies and industry partners for the improvement of natural resources for all anglers.
“This BASS Pro-Fizz product will serve as a useful tool in anglers’ tackle boxes to help protect our resources and conserve our fisheries,” Horton said. “Conservation issues are constantly evolving and BASS continues to remain at the forefront, spearheading improvements in fish habitat, angler access and education and resource management.”
The BASS Pro-Fizz FZ-1 is currently sold through Bass Pro Shops and will soon be in stock at more than 1,200 outdoor retailers. The tool is also available at www.TeamMarineUSA.us.
Ike helps ill girl 5/27/2009 The LA Times recently published a brief, but very cool piece about Mike Iaconelli, Kenny Chesney and a terminally ill little girl. To read it, click here.
Chris Jones made a lot of friends across the country during his 7-year tenure as an FLW Outdoors tournament director, which ended recently. He's written a letter to say goodbye to them and to let them know that he hopes his separation from the fishing industry isn't permanent.
Pure Fishing has launched its redesigned website at www.PureFishing.com. The new site contains extensive information on the company’s multiple brands under the Pure Fishing umbrella and provides an overview of the company’s storied history.
“The new site does a much better job of representing our position as the world’s leading fishing tackle company,” said PF director of web marketing John Fisher. “We are proud of what we’ve accomplished with some of the greatest brands in fishing, including Berkley, Shakespeare, Penn and Abu Garcia. As we continue to evolve, we need a place where we can tell our story. Our new corporate website provides that place.”
In addition to a new look, visitors to the site will find it easy to navigate to their favorite Pure Fishing brands, including Berkley, Shakespeare, Penn, Abu Garcia, Fenwick, All-Star, Spiderwire, Stren, Pflueger, Johnson and Mitchell.
In nearly four decades as a professional angler, four-time Bassmaster Classic champion Rick Clunn has never missed a competition day due to illness. But that streak almost ended at the recent Guntersville Bassmaster Elite Series in Alabama.
He finished 19th despite some sort of virus that caused a severe bronchial cough and almost completely drained him of his energy. He took two half-hour naps on his boat just to get through day 1 and weighed in an hour and a half early so that he could visit a hospital emergency room.
"They did several flu cultures, but they couldn't come up with anything," he said. "They also thought I might've had walking pneumonia, but the tests showed no sign of that.
"The doctor I had was fairly young, and he admitted that half the time they don't know what to do in cases like that. It's sort of like fishing – try a crankbait, and if that doesn't work, go to a spinnerbait, and then to a worm, or whatever.
"They ended up giving me a shot in the butt and some antibiotics, and I got through it."
Blaylock's 'secret' sticks 5/22/2009 Heard of the new Vendettas from Abu Garcia? Probably not, unless you happened to scan Stetson Blaylock's winning gear from last month's Norman FLW Tour. He said he fished a new prototype rod from Abu Garcia called Vendetta. He finally gives up some details on the rods today. For the inside scoop, head on over to Catch More Fish page.
The Berkley Experience Trailer is headed to the Scheels store in Sparks, Nev. this week. The trailer will be onsite Friday, Saturday and Sunday and will offer demonstrations and interactive games for kids and adults.
Special sales and promotions will be offered wherever the Berkley trailer stops. If you're unable to make it to the Sparks appearance, keep these other upcoming trailer stops in mind:
> May 29–31 –- Bass Pro Shops, Manteca, Calif.
> June 5–7 – Berkley Big Bass Challenge Tournament, Bethel Island, Calif.
> June 19–20 – Gander Mountain, Lakeville, Minn.
> July 30–August 2 – Forrest Wood Cup, Pittsburgh, Pa.
> October 2–4 – Gander Mountain, Tyler, Texas
Comcast gets 360 5/20/2009 BassFans on Comcast cable should note that Comcast now subscribes to ESPN360.com, so they'll be able to watch the Bassmaster Elite Series weigh-ins. Time Warner customers, however, are still out in the cold.
There's an interesting situation coming up in a few weeks. The Bassmaster Elite Series fishes Kentucky Lake June 3–6. The FLW Tour fishes it the week after. Therefore, day 4 of the Elite Series (Saturday) marks the first day of practice for the FLW Tour. To help get a handle on what to expect, and what the lake's fishing like right now, the newest episode of BassFan Radio features FLW Tour pro and Kentucky Lake expert Dan Morehead.
To listen to a Windows Media version of the show, click here.
For a QuickTime version, or to sign up for the BassFan Radio Podcasts, click here.
The Professional Anglers Association (PAA) today released results of its recent election and named several new officers and boardmembers.
John Crews (pictured) was elected president and replaces Tim Horton. Crews is the fourth president to serve in the modern era of the PAA. Prior to Horton, the office was held by Mark Davis and Kevin VanDam.
Sean Hoernke was elected vice president.
Kurt Dove was elected secretary.
Dave Mansue remains as treasurer.
About his new post, Crews said: "I'm extremely honored to serve the PAA as president. This position is very important, which also means quite a lot of work and responsibility. I plan to continue what the previous presidents and boards have accomplished. They laid the foundation and started to build the organization. The PAA has tripled in members over the past year. I'll see to it that the PAA continues to grow and serve (its) members as best we can."
Additionally, three new board members were elected – Matt Reed, Zell Rowland and Brian Snowden – and Paul Elias (the original PAA president) returns as board member.
The new board members replace VanDam, Horton, Davis and Stacey King.
Horton noted: "The one thing that's important to the PAA with this election is continuity. There are new and returning members with a mix of veterans and younger pros. Our previous vice president, Chad Morgenthaler, is remaining on the board. Dave Mansue handled our FishPAA TV and Kurt Dove ran the website committee. John Crews, our new president, spearheaded the Payday program to give General members a huge benefit to join us. The PAA's in good hands."
For the record, here's a look at the current PAA officers and board:
Officers John Crews – president
Sean Hoernke – vice president
Kurt Dove – secretary
Dave Mansue – treasurer
Board Paul Elias
Kelly Jordon
Chad Morgenthaler
Matt Reed
Zell Rowland
Brian Snowden
So you fish finesse presentations. You probably use fluorocarbon, right? But have you ever tried braid? That's what Gabe Bolivar uses, and he says it's a wicked setup for skipping docks and other cover. But there are a few things to keep in mind – especially whether or not to fish with a fluorocarbon leader.
For his thoughts on the approach, click on over to the Catch More Fish page and give a listen to Bass Buzz Radio.
The BassFan World Rankings have been updated to reflect the recent Walmart Open. No surprise to see KVD still way out ahead, but check out 2nd-ranked Brent Ehrler. He finished 10th at the Walmart Open and has pulled way out ahead of 3rd-ranked Skeet Reese.
To view the newest edition of the World Rankings, click here.
Official word on Skeet Reese's new rod deal arrived today from his media representative: The reigning Bassmaster Classic Champion has inked a deal with Wright & McGill Co. (parent company of Eagle Claw) to produce a new line of Skeet Reese Signature Tessera rods.
According to the release, the line will be based on the competitive needs of one of the world’s best anglers, combined with the technological expertise of one of the industry’s most well-known manufacturers. It will feature nine technique-specific models designed by Reese to fit his own fishing style and the most popular fishing techniques being utilized today – from dropshotting to flipping and pitching, swimbaits, crankbaits and jerkbaits.
The new lineup will be constructed using Wright & McGill’s proprietary S-Curve blank technology – a new process of blank construction that blends a precise mixture of materials in a specific process for assembly. It results in a thin-diameter blank weighing less than conventional construction, but without sacrificing durability. The result of the S-Curve construction and premium components is a premium bass-fishing rod that would make a Bassmaster Classic champion proud, while making it affordable for the angling public.
The line will make its industry debut at ICAST in Orlando, Fla. in July. MSRPs are expected to be $89-$99.
“I am very excited about this new partnership with Wright & McGill,” said Reese. “I have always wanted to be able to produce a premium fishing rod that would be at a price point that every angler would be able to afford; Wright & McGill Co. has given me that opportunity.
“It was not easy to make the decision to leave Lamiglas, as they have always been very good to me. But this new project will allow me to build the rods I’ve always wanted to build at a price point that everyone can afford. And with Wright & McGill’s distribution network, we will be able to provide many anglers a chance to experience their quality construction and affordability.”
Wright & McGill marketing director Chris Russell said the company is excited to join forces with Reese. “The thought of working with a Bassmaster Classic Champion and (2007) Angler of the Year is certainly thrilling. Skeet has a real understanding of the business of the fishing industry and a real sense of what the fishing public needs and wants. When coupled with his skill as an angler and his work ethic, he represents a tremendous asset – one we are proud to enter into this project with."
Reese said the rods fit his style, both as an angler and a marketing icon. “The components are the best available and the blanks are some of the most technologically advanced I’ve ever seen,” he said. “The look of the rods will certainly be aggressive, reflecting my personal trademarks. I think everyone will see them for the revolutionary product they are.”
BassFan reported last month that Bassmaster Elite Series pro Jeff Kriet would soon announce a new promotional deal with Hi-Seas line. It took a little longer than expected, but official word pf the deal was released today.
In announcing the news, Hi-Seas sales manager Steve Miller said: "Jeff came to us after being introduced to Hi-Seas 100% fluorocarbon. He's a highly regarded pro and we're delighted he was so interested in one of our signature products, which we've been refining specifically for the bass market."
Kriet noted: "I'd almost lost confidence in fluorocarbon over the past couple of years because the brands I'd been using didn't perform well and were unreliable. Since I started throwing Hi-Seas fluorocarbon, my confidence came back and with good reason. Hi-Seas fluorocarbon has a thinner diameter than the other brands. (The) 20-pound is as thin as the competition's 15, which let's me use a stronger line without sacrificing performance and handling characteristics.
"This adds a real comfort factor to my fishing – especially in tournament competition where I'm frequently tossing baits into cover," Kriet added. "All these attributes are extremely important to me since fluorocarbon's the perfect type of line for the finesse techniques I rely on so much. I've been impressed with all the line products from Hi-Seas and look forward to working with them while representing the brand on the professional bass tour."
> Kriet formerly fished Gamma line.
> Andre Moore was also recently signed by Hi-Seas to a promotional deal.
> Hi-Seas has been fairly aggressive in its pursuit of the bass market in recent years, most notably through its heavy sponsorship of American Bass Anglers.
Kramer says: Reese flies with Eagle Claw 5/19/2009 George Kramer seems to have some news about Skeet Reese's new rod sponsor. Although unsourced, he says it's Eagle Claw. For Kramer's latest blog entry about it, visit KramerGoneFishing.com.
Anglers consider access to water the biggest problem facing fishing today, according to a recent poll taken by AnglerSurvey.com. In the April survey, 22% of respondents said that access is the primary difficulty facing anglers. In a similar survey from April 2008, that percentage was slightly higher (24%), but access was still cited as the No. 1 problem.
Concern among anglers about invasive species has increased over the past year, the survey results show. In the 2008 survey, just 13% of respondents said that invasive species were the biggest problem facing fishing. In 2009, that figure has risen to 19%.
Water quality remains a concern among anglers, though the percentage of respondents citing water quality as the biggest problem facing fishing changed little from 2008 (about 18%) to 2009 (about 17%).
Participants in AnglerSurvey.com are automatically entered to win a monthly drawing for a $100 gift certificate from your favorite fishing tackle retailer. They're also automatically entered in the annual drawing for a $1,000 fishing tackle shopping spree.
Wish come true 5/18/2009 Brent Frazee of the Kansas City Star recently wrote a heartwarming story about an autistic boy who got to spend his 13th birthday on the water with his favorite celebrity – local fishing-show host Jerry Adams. To read it, click here.
Reese's rods 5/18/2009 Several BassFans noted that Skeet Reese opted not to name the manufacturer of the rods he used en route to his runner-up finish at the recent Guntersville Bassmaster Elite Series for BassFan's 2nd- through 5th-place patterns story. The reigning Bassmaster Classic champion confirmed that his longstanding sponsorship deal with Lamiglas – one of the most high-profile in the industry in regard to rods – has come to an end.
He hinted that an announcement of an agreement with a different company is forthcoming, but had no further comment at this time.
Former Bassmaster Elite Series pro Steve Daniel's been keeping busy. He withdrew from the Elite Series this season due to financial factors, but announced recently that he and his wife Deb are hosting a new 2-hour radio show called Hooked Up on Okeechobee-area WOKC (100.9 FM, 1570 AM).
"Deb will be helping the ladies with the things they're interested in, such as clothing and sunscreens and tackle," he said. "Deb will be interviewing the lady pros and I'll be interviewing the BASS Elite and FLW Tour pros."
The show begins June 6. It airs from 5 to 7 a.m. will include area fishing updates, as well as contests and more.
Kip Carter, a drywall contractor from Loganville, Ga., is no stranger to cashing tournament checks on the weekends. The 27-year-old has won more money in weekend-level bass tournaments than most men twice his age. At last count, Carter had won around $90,000 from FLW Outdoors events.
What he’s not used to is collecting bonus money based on his choice of tow vehicles – at least not until this year. His uncle told him about the Toyota Bonus Bucks program and urged him to sign-up (he's eligible because he tows with a 2007 Toyota Tundra).
The five-time BFL Regional qualifier has already won $1,000 in Bonus Bucks contingency money this spring.
“Man, my uncle was right," he said. "If you tow with a Toyota and you fish tournaments, you’d be foolish not to sign up. It’s free, and while I knew I’d have a chance to cash a few checks, I didn’t know the program would be this easy or this good. I’ve already won four $250 Bonus Bucks checks so far this season."
Carter says his favorite fishery is actually western Lake Erie near Pelee Island, 700 miles from his Georgia home.
“The interior cab room is one of the things I like most about my Tundra. When I’m traveling to a tournament, I can pack as much stuff as I need inside the cab.”
“I love my truck. When my buddies ask me if I like it, I take them for a ride, show them the in-dash GPS, the backup camera, and of course I stomp on the gas from time-to-time to show them its power."
The Bonus Bucks program is simple. It’s free, and you don’t have to win your tournament to win the Bonus Bucks. To find out more, and to make sure you're signed up, visit www.ToyotaFishing.com or call Kendell at (918) 742-6424.
Beaver shooting incident update 5/16/2009 To follow up on the alleged shooting incident at Beaver Lake this week that involved David "Scotty" Young, BassFan spoke with Washington County Sheriff public-information officer Kelly Cantrell about the Sheriff's Office response.
Remember that Young said he called 911 and was routed to the Sheriff's office. He provided information about what happened, as well as directions to the cove.
Cantrell said that a police report wasn't filed. An officer did go to the scene the day of the alleged shooting, Cantrell said, but was unable to determine the exact area the incident took place.
Later in the week, Young faxed the department GPS coordinates of the area and an officer went to the scene again, and did make contact with a person in the vicinity.
"We sent an officer out there," Cantrell said. "A person denied shooting at anyone, and there's no way for us to say one way or another. But we did check the area (Thursday) and spoke to someone. If that was him, we have no way of knowing. But at least the person knows the police are in the area and are checking things and are aware of the situation.
"We were unable to locate anyone who'd admit to anything," Cantrell added. "And the fisherman (Young) was too far away – he couldn't tell if it was a black male, a white male. It's very difficult to tell who it might have been. Hopefully our police presence will deter anything else form happening."
According to Cantrell, there won't be any further investigation unless further information emerges.
Ward's versatility 5/15/2009 Mike Ward is a Kentucky Lake ace, but he's known primarily around those parts as an offshore ledge fisherman. He knew early on, however, that he had no chance of notching his second straight Kentucky Lake Central Stren victory in the deep water.
Therefore, he went shallow and flipped up 57 1/2 pounds over 3 days, and won a tie-breaker over David "Scotty" Young. For details of his pattern, click here.
Deep-water wacky 5/15/2009 It's the pre-spawn, spawn and post-spawn all over the country now, which means it's worm time. But don't ditch the wacky rig when bass head deep. As shown in the video below, newer baits make the deep-water wacky a deadly presentation throughout the year. Check it out.
Boyd Duckett distributes a monthly column titled The Duckett Exchange. His newest column covers the Guntersville incident as he sees it. Most of what he covers in the column has already been published on BassFan, but of special interest is that in the newest column, he spells out what he feels is the code of ethics anglers should follow in regards to encroachment. That portion is excerpted below.
So, specifically, what are the rules? Well, in fact there are no written rules. But here's what I believe are the guidelines:
You never encroach on a competitor to a level that you inhibit him from fishing.
You stay farther than a cast away from your competitor's fish. Generally, you just make sure you don't bother another angler's fish.
You never cast over another angler's line.
Although there's no "ownership" of a hole, you have to respect the person who's there first. And you respect a person's hole even more on Day 2 of a tournament than Day 1.
Communication is the key. Politely explain to the other angler what your intentions are, come to an agreement and then do what you said you were going to do.
> Duckett also uploaded an audio file detailing the events on his site – BoydDuckett.com.
BASS has picked up another single-event sponsor in Genuity, which is Monsanto's new trait innovation brand for corn, soybean, cotton and specialty crops. Genuity will title sponsor the upcoming Mississippi "River Rumble" Bassmaster Elite Series.
Dion McBay of Monsanto noted: "We're excited to debut our BASS sponsorship this year with our Genuity brand at the Genuity River Rumble in Fort Madison. Bass fishing has long been a beloved pastime of many American farmers. We want to help farmers enjoy time with their families off the farm too, so we think this is a great sponsorship for our Genuity brand."
Cook: fluoro expansion 5/14/2009 Ken Cook certainly wouldn't have lasted three decades in pro fishing if he weren't willing to change with the times. One change he's made recently is a switch to fluorocarbon line for almost all of his applications.
To learn his thoughts on fluorocarbon and find out how it helped him put together a big bag last week at Guntersville, click here.
G'ville 2-5 finishers 5/14/2009 Like winner Aaron Martens, the anglers who finished 2nd through 5th at the recent Guntersville Bassmaster Elite Series all relied primarily on crankbaits. To find out which specific baits they used and the depths and cover they targeted, click here.
Alleged Beaver shooting incident 5/13/2009 There appears to have been another shooting incident involving a tournament fisherman. This time, the location was Beaver Lake for this week's FLW Tour Walmart Open.
Pro David "Scotty" Young from Mayfield, Ky. told BassFan that during practice on Sunday, a resident shot at him three times with a "high-powered rifle." One shot, Young said, landed 6 feet from his boat and sprayed the boat with water.
Young said that he feared for his life and once he was clear of the area, called 911 and spoke with the Benton County Sheriff's dispatch.
BassFan currently has a call in to the Benton County Sheriff to see if action was taken on the alleged shooting. Young said he has yet to be contacted by the sheriff's office.
This is the third known time in 6 years that a tournament angler has claimed to be shot at. At the 2003 Bassmaster Classic in New Orleans, Gary Klein accused Dale Silbernagel of firing over his boat during competition. Silbernagel was never prosecuted.
At the 2004 Alabama River Bassmaster Elite 50 in Prattville, Ala., pro Stacey King, his non-boater Bill Bonner and BASS photographer Gerald Crawford claimed they had been shot at by a local resident. King also said he found a bullet hole in the hull of his boat after the event. The alleged shooter, Paul Gray of Lowndesboro, Ala., was charged in the Lowndes County District Court with three counts of reckless endangerment and one count of criminal mischief in the third degree. He was found not guilty.
In May 2007, 86-year-old John Burke Yearwood of Madison, Ga. was charged with aggravated assault in Greene County, Ga. after allegedly firing three shots at tournament anglers fishing the Oconee River. Angler Craig Barnett of Sycamore was wounded under the left arm, and produced a small-caliber bullet for authorities. The outcome of that case is not currently known.
Grant Goldbeck (right, holding fish) was one of the anglers who was in closest proximity to Kevin Langill and Boyd Duckett when tensions arose between those two on days 1 and 2 of last week's Guntersville Bassmaster Elite Series in Alabama. The way he saw it, Duckett was fully justified in filing a protest against Langill on sportsmanship grounds after day 1, and the manner in which Langill approached Duckett when Langill arrived in the area on day 2 was definitely aggressive.
That initial confrontation on day 2 was the biggest factor in Langill's weight for that day being disqualified, which cost him a spot in the Top 50 and wiped out a paycheck worth at least $9,506. Further harassment of Duckett on day 3 caused BASS to suspend Langill for the remainder of the 2009 season.
"Kevin came off plane about 10 feet from Boyd's boat, totally waked him and just started yelling," Goldbeck said. "He was basically calling Boyd a wimp for going to (tournament director Trip Weldon at the conclusion of day 1). It was one of those deals like, 'What's your problem?'
"Then within 5 minutes, he was bumping Boyd's boat with his trolling motor. He sat between Boyd and the fish and started catching fish himself." (Editor's note: Langill told BassFan on Friday night that any contact between his boat and Duckett's was caused by the wind blowing Duckett's rig into his, and his day-2 marshal backed up that statement).
Goldbeck, who was interviewed by tournament officials prior to the launch on day 2 and again after the weigh-in, said that he and Duckett had been working back and forth across a shell bed and a small, grassy area on day 1, waiting for the bite to turn on. When it did, Duckett was on the sweet spot and began boating one fish after another, so Goldbeck backed off to another spot in the immediate vicinity.
"When Kevin came in at about 11:00, he sat down right next to Boyd's boat and eventually pushed him out. He just kept working his way in until Boyd couldn't make a cast anymore – he couldn't cast to the fish he was catching.
"Boyd had 26 pounds that first day, and if Kevin hadn't encroached, who knows what he would've had – probably 30 pounds. He would've been a contender (for the victory) if he'd been able to sit there and whack on that place."
Goldbeck, a former amateur boxer, said he was surprised that the matter didn't escalate to fisticuffs after what occurred the following day.
"I can't believe there was nothing physical. I know if it'd happened to me, we'd have gone to the bank, no doubt about it. Probably 70% of the guys on tour would've jumped on (Langill's) boat.
"I have to give credit to Boyd for the way he handled it, but maybe stuff like this wouldn't happen if guys actually took it to the bank for once. There's nothing wrong with a good fight where both guys shake hands afterward."
Goldbeck said he had a friendly relationship with both Langill and Duckett prior to the event, but was not particularly tight with either.
"I have a lot of respect for what Boyd's accomplished and we've been out to dinner a couple of times after missed cuts as part of a big group, but that was about it. I'd never actually sat down and had a conversation with Kevin, but he seemed like a friendly, relaxed guy who was quiet and kept to himself.
"I think what probably happened is he's a good guy who made a bad decision and handled it the wrong way. He realized there was a school of fish there and somehow in his mind, that was all he cared about. Right or wrong, he was going to whack some fish there."
Langill's reaction 5/12/2009 North Carolina pro Kevin Langill took today's news of his suspension from the remainder of the 2009 Bassmaster Elite Series in stride (see related Top Story).
"I didn't plan on giving (BASS) any more of my money anyway," he said. "I just can't be a part of it and I'll leave it at that.
"This is closing a window, but it's opening a door on Langill Lures. It'll allow me to spend all my time on my lure company. I'm not going to do any tournaments right now. We're going to be set up at ICAST, and we've got some new concept baits coming out that should go all the way to the top.
"This actually comes at a good time," he added. "It's a decision I've wanted to make for awhile, and this happening made it that much easier. It'll be huge for me – I'll save up my money and come back even stronger."
He said he definitely plans to fish at the tour level again.
"(The Elite Series) would be great if you could take out a lot of the Hollywood stuff involved in it. The man with the highest ratings and the most viewers gets his end of the deal listened to a lot more than the other guy."
The suspension was handed down exclusively for the events that transpired on Saturday (day 3 of the tournament). He said he still plans to appeal his day-2 disqualification, which cost him a spot in the Top 50 and a paycheck worth at least $9,506.
World Rankings update 5/11/2009 The BassFan World Rankings have been updated to reflect Guntersville, and there's some interesting movement. KVD's still No. 1 by a country mile, but Brent Ehrler and Skeet Reese are now locked in a battle for 2nd. G-Ville winner Aaron Martens is now ranked 4th, and there's a notable grouping of FLW Tour pros in the 10th- through 15-place spots.
To check out the updated World Rankings, click here.
There've been a lot of different tubes and tube styles over the past several years. Are they a factor in smallmouth fishing? Today, an article on the Catch More Fish page looks at trends in Great Lakes smallmouth fishing and offers some sage advice. Click here to check it out.
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Langill DQ'd 5/9/2009 North Carolina pro Kevin Langill had his day-2 weight disqualified at the Guntersville Bassmaster Elite Series today for a violation of BASS' sportsmanship policy, costing him a spot in the Top-50 field for day 3 and what would've been his first paycheck of the year.
More on the ethanol issue 5/7/2009 Yamaha recently released an update on the ethanol issue. Remember that Growth Energy and 54 ethanol manufacturers recently requested a waiver from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to raise the ethanol-blend ceiling in gasolines from 10% to 15%. That's important for boaters because even 10% ethanol blends can seriously damage engines through water buildup. But 15% could spell outboard disaster.
In April, the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) outlined its opposition to increased ethanol at a hearing on Capitol Hill.
More recently, Yamaha VP of operations and planning Ben Speciale said in a letter to outboard owners: "Building outboards compatible with fuel containing 15% or more ethanol is technically possible. The real problem is that there are a lot of older outboards currently in service that cannot run on fuel that contains more than 10% ethanol. If the EPA rules in favor of this wavier application, hundreds of thousands of boaters will suffer the consequences."
Fishing participation is already in great decline. Should the ethanol cap increase and thus outdate older outboards, it could push hundreds of thousands more away from the sport.
The EPA is currently collecting public comment on the proposed waiver. To comment, visit www.Regulations.gov and enter docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2009-0211.
Additionally, the NMMA offers a useful site to look up your local and state representatives in order to comment. For that site, click here.
The ever-popular Sang Proof Open will return to Guntersville this year. Scheduled date is Aug. 15 and it'll run out of Goose Pond Colony Resort. The tournament guarantees over $20,000 in cash and prizes regardless of entries, and 1st place is a Bass Cat boat powered by Mercury.
For more information or to register, send an email to tournament director Randy McBride at RandyMcBride@Bellsouth.net.
Catch the Berkley tank 5/6/2009 The two Berkley bass tanks make separate stops this week. One tank will be at the Guntersville Bassmaster Elite Series this Saturday and Sunday. The other tank will be at the Ambucs Outdoor Show in Enid, Okla. this Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Kids and adults alike will enjoy learning about new Berkley products at the tanks and will receive plenty of tips on how to use these innovative baits.
BASS post-season: more details 5/6/2009 No official word from BASS yet, but the Montgomery Advertiser ran a story this morning with tons of details about the Bassmaster Elite Series post-season.
According to the Advertiser story, which corroborates reporting yesterday by Mike Bolton, BASS will host a "championship week" Sept. 10–18 at Alabama's Lake Jordon and Alabama River. In the case of the Alabama River, location is being reported as Montgomery – the birthplace of BASS.
The schedule, according to the Advertiser, looks like this:
Two practice days will be held Sept. 10-11, followed by competition Sept. 12-13 on Lake Jordan. Anglers will then rest for a day then head to Montgomery for another 2-day practice followed by 2-day competition.
Pure Fishing's Hoskins departs 5/6/2009 Several sources confirmed that Pure Fishing chief marketing officer Todd Hoskins is no longer with the company. Pure Fishing representatives could not yet confirm or comment on the personnel change, but the news wasn't unexpected. Hoskins was brought to the company by former CEO Terry Carlson. Carlson left the company last month. It's believed Carlson was relieved of his duties.
Official confirmation, and perhaps news of Hoskins' successor, are expected soon. Pure Fishing is currently conducting a search for a new CEO.
BASS post-season: details? 5/5/2009 Mike Bolton of the Birmingham News seems to have a pretty solid scoop. On his blog, he writes that BASS will announce the details of its Angler of the Year post-season tomorrow, but he dishes up the dates and locations ahead of time. To check out his blog, click here.
FLW Tour pros Ott DeFoe (pictured) and Brandon Coulter have signed sponsorship deals with Kool Well, a 12-volt system with an adjustable thermostat that cools livewell water and maintains the lower temperature throughout the day to keep fish healthier.
The system draws 2 amps of power per hour when operated, and should be run for 1 hour out of every 4 under normal conditions. The in-boat kit includes the pump, thermostat, hoses, connections, spray head, cooling unit, thermometer and on/off switch.
"Kool Well definitely gives me a competitive advantage because it takes one big variable out of the equation," DeFoe said. "Keeping fish alive is not something I have to worry about."
To visit the Kool Well website, which contains a link to a YouTube video of Coulter describing and demonstrating the product, click here.
St. Louis, Mo. residents James and David Schnable won the recent Bass Cat Owners Invitational at Arkansas' Lake Norfork with a 2-day total of 36.66 pounds. Their biggest fish was a 6.62-pounder, which was tops for the event, and their victory earned them a new Bass Cat Pantera II rigged with a Mercury 200 OptiMax motor.
The Arkansas team of Mike Rhodes and Wes Rogers won a Bass Cat Skiff Cat for their 2nd-place total of 30.16. Dave and Gene Crisenberry, also of Arkansas, were 3rd with 28.48.
Despite unstable weather conditions, the event drew 547 two-angler teams. Pictured at right are the Schnables, along with Bass Cat founders Ron and Jan Pierce.
To read an article on the event from the Baxter Bulletin of Mountain Home, Ark., click here. For more about Bass Cat, click here to visit the company's website.
Sta-Bil and BASS 5/4/2009 There seems to be a trend at BASS where the league's had success signing sponsors to individual events, or a geographic series of events. The newest example was announced today.
Marine Formula Sta-Bil will serve as title sponsor for this week's Guntersville Bassmaster Elite Series (the "Southern Challenge").
Although the Sta-Bil name's well-known to BassFans, the company seems eager to get the word out on its Marine Formula Ethanol Treatment, which is said to help guard against corrosion from ethanol-caused water buildup in marine gas tanks and fuel lines.
In announcing the sponsorship, Sta-Bil brand manager Jennifer Robertson said: "We're very pleased to sponsor the Bassmaster Elite Series Southern Challenge this year. Marine Formula Sta-Bil was specifically developed to keep avid fisherman and boaters like these guys out on the water day in and day out without any fuel-related issues. This tournament is a perfect fit for the Sta-Bil brand."
Opinion: Rookies? 5/4/2009 In a new opinion column, BassFan managing editor John Johnson addresses one of the more confounding subjects in the sport – the definition of a rookie. To take BASS for instance, only one true rookie has ever won its Rookie of the Year award. And the probable winner this year is veteran Matt Herren. For Johnson's take on the whole conundrum, and a possible solution, click here to read his BassFan Opinion.
Hoover replaces Jones 5/4/2009 FLW Outdoors president and CEO Charlie Evans recently distributed a letter to FLW Outdoors members to announce that former tournament director Chris Jones is no longer with the company.
Chris Hoover, who serves as tournament director of the FLW Tour and Eastern FLW Series, will assume Jones' prior responsibilities as tournament director for the West.
"Many of you know Chris (Hoover) as a longtime employee of FLW Outdoors and know his knowledge and experience will serve him well in his new role," Evans wrote. "We're constantly evaluating our business model to continue growing the sport of fishing, building strong partnerships and offering anglers the opportunity to compete on the highest level for the largest purses."
Due to the slumping economy, Randy Blaukat decided to make a concerted effort to fish for paychecks on the FLW Tour this year. That strategy has resulted in a level of consistency that the Missouri veteran hasn't displayed in quite awhile, and his finishes are getting better as he goes.
He started the year with a 67th at Guntersville, and followed it up with a 44th at Table Rock and a 23rd at Norman. He's 19th in the Angler of the Year (AOY) race.
"I'm really doing things that put me around more fish instead of just focusing on quality," he said. "Like at Norman, on the first day I was about a pound out of the Top 10, and the second day at 9:30 I had two fish. I had to decide whether to stay in the area that had a little better quality or go down lake where I could get more bites and ensure a check.
"I went down to get the bites, whereas in the past I would've stayed up and gambled on the bigger fish."
It's not like he won't take a chance to catch a big bag under any circumstances, though.
"If I do have the opportunity for a high finish and I think the fish are fairly reliable, then I'll judge that opportunity when it comes. But I'm really in survival mode – almost all of us lost a big portion of our (sponsorship) deals and we don't know what next year is going to bring. I want to make sure that I'm still out here fishing."
BASS and Bass Pro Shops unveiled details today of a new BASS member bonus points program to be paired with the existing Bass Pro Shops Outdoor Rewards program.
The Bass Pro Shops Outdoor Rewards program, an already existing benefit for outdoor enthusiasts, is a free, points-based program in which customers earn points each time a purchase is made at Bass Pro Shops or online at Basspro.com. Points can be redeemed for products at any Bass Pro Shops store nationwide, or by ordering online at Basspro.com or placing catalog orders at 1-800-BASSPRO.
All BASS members who sign up for the program will have the opportunity to earn double points for purchasing select Bassmaster Elite Series-related products at Bass Pro Shops. After joining, BASS members will receive an electronic coupon and can take advantage of a one-time offer to achieve triple points on their first purchase.
The select products for which BASS members receive double points will include rods, reels, lures and other items used by the winning angler at each of the remaining 2009 Bassmaster Elite Series events. The first set of bonus-point products will be announced after the May 7-10 tournament at Alabama's Lake Guntersville.
Beginning today, BASS members can register at Bassmaster.com/rewards for a Bass Pro Shops Outdoor Rewards Card. Any BASS member already in the Outdoor Rewards program can link their existing Outdoor Rewards number to this exclusive program for BASS members. Members of the Bass Pro Shops Outdoor Rewards program not affiliated with BASS can join BASS by visiting Bassmaster.com.
“We are excited to leverage our marketing alliance with Bass Pro Shops to deliver quality benefits to BASS members,” said BASS VP and GM Tom Ricks.
The select products that members can purchase for double points will be announced on Bassmaster.com after each remaining 2009 Bassmaster Elite Series event, and those enrolled will receive an e-mail regarding the eligible products.
“BASS members are an important part of our customer base and we are happy to provide this benefit to them,” said BPS VP of marketing Stan Lippelman.
Velvick: bed-rigging options 5/1/2009 Bassmaster Elite Series pro Byron Velvick is a superb sight-fisherman and there's almost no limit to the types of baits he'll throw at spawning bass. He has a couple of set-ups that he relies on most often, though. To find out what they are, click on over to the Catch More Fish page.
Ohio Bassmaster Elite Series pro Charlie Hartley isn't among the winningest anglers in the game, but his ever-ready smile and gregarious personality have made him one of the most popular among BassFans he's encountered. They take notice when his name fails to show up somewhere that they expected to see it.
Such was the case at this week's Bassmaster Southern Open at Alabama's Lake Wheeler. His Bassmaster.com blog included a practice report for that event, but it was a typographical error – that account was actually from the recent Elite Series event at Virginia's Smith Mountain Lake.
He competes in the Opens because they provide a back-door opportunity for Bassmaster Classic qualification (he got into the '08 Classic via that route). But he finished 104th in the first Southern tournament of 2009 at Florida's Harris Chain of Lakes and opted to forego Wheeler.
"I had such a poor performance in Florida that I skipped this second one," he said. "I'm focusing on the Northerns now and I'm fishing the Northern Strens too."
He finished 31st in the recent Northern Open kick-off event at the Chesapeake Bay. He caught a solid 13 pounds on day 1, but blanked on day 2.
"That was the weirdest tournament I've ever fished," he said. "It was more unpredictable than just the tide. I fished the same place on the second day with the same tide and the same weather conditions and I don't think I ever had a bite.
"I thought I was going to pound on them again, but it was like it was totally different water. Sometimes this sport just doesn't make sense and it can make you wonder why you were out there wasting your effort."
Wheeler then and now 5/1/2009 Twenty Bassmaster Elite Series pros are competing in the Bassmaster Southern Open this week at Alabama's Lake Wheeler. Those anglers were at Wheeler for an Elite Series event just a month ago. There were fish in all stages of the spawn at that tournament, whereas the Open is primarily a post-spawn affair.
What follows is a comparison of those 20 anglers' day-1 placement in the Open standings, followed by their finish in the Elite Series event in parentheses:
3. Matt Herren (30th)
7. Mark Menendez (8th)
9. Terry Scroggins (88th)
11. Jason Williamson (17th)
12. Bobby Lane (75th)
16. Greg Vinson (58th)
26. Jason Quinn (29th)
27. Peter Thliveros (63rd)
38. J. Todd Tucker (49th)
39. (tie) Kevin Langill (100th)
39. (tie) Aaron Martens (18th)
46. Casey Ashley (2nd)
52. Gerald Swindle (83rd)
54. Dave Wolak (77th)
66. Marty Robinson (21st)
78. Tim Horton (39th)
91. Todd Auten (15th)
94. John Crews (97th)
103. Luke Gritter (94th)
Chris Payne caught an 18-08 bag on day 1 to take a lead of more than 4 pounds over the field. Jimmy Mason was 2nd with 14-02, followed by Herren with 14-00.
All right, we know you can identify this. You drop 5 or 6 bucks for a pack of hollow-body swimbaits, and you screw up the first one trying to get the hook in right. You do better on the second one, but it takes 5 minutes to tune it so it tracks straight.
Hooking hollow bodies can truly be a pain.
Northland Tackle now offers the Lip-Stick swimbait hook, which seems to be a step toward a solution. It's designed to work with all 4-, 5-, 6- and 7-inch hollow-body baits.
A few details include a 45-degree wide-gap 6/0 hook available in two weights (1/8- and 3/16-ounce) and a self-centering CorkScrew fastener, which the company said makes rigging easier and helps hold the bait during aggressive casts.
Sure, there are other hooks somewhat like it, but the Lip-Sticks cost $3.79 for a three-card. Not bad and might be worth a try.
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