KVD joins Humminbird 9/30/2009

"Electronics are a key tool for me, and although I haven't had an electronics sponsor, I've seen the advantages that Side Imaging technology provides and felt it was important to have every edge I can get," said VanDam. "That's why I joined the Humminbird team.

"Fishing the BASS trail, I am well aware of Humminbird's reputation for providing reliable, high-quality products along with great service, and that is very important to me."

VanDam has won the last two Elite Series AOY titles and was also the FLW Tour AOY in 2001, as well as a two-time Bassmaster Classic champion. He's in the midst of a long run at the top of the BassFan World Rankings and he's amassed $4 million in career earnings.

"We are extremely happy to have the most recognized and respected professional on the bass tournament circuit today as part of our team," said Humminbird business director Jeff Davison. "Kevin VanDam's solid character, achievements and ability to promote the sport of bass fishing align perfectly with the core values of our company.

"We're confident that the addition of Side Imaging, Down Imaging and SwitchFire sonar to his boat will allow him to demonstrate the advantages of this technology in competitive bass fishing."

Side Imaging technology, which was introduced in 2004, provides picture-like images not produced by traditional down-looking sonar units. Several top bass professionals have credited Side Imaging as a key reason for success in highly competitive tournaments.

"We raised the bar in sonar technology when we introduced Side Imaging, and again with the addition of Down Imaging, and we'll continue to work hard to develop game-changing products and features that will help anglers catch more fish," said Davison. "And Kevin's unique ability to teach anglers new techniques in seminars and television appearances will bring the Side Imaging story to life in a whole new way."

For more about Humminbird, click here.

2010 Bassmaster Opens 9/30/2009
BASS just released details and schedules for its 2010 Bassmaster Opens. Again the series will be comprised of three divisions with three events each, and dates are spread across the year. The Top 2 in each division will again qualify for the Bassmaster Classic, and the Top 7 in each division will again be invited to fish the following Elite Series season.

Full fields fish the first 2 days and the Top 30 move on to fish the final day. Entry fess remain the same ($1,000 for pros and $300 for co-anglers).

The pro side again features an all-cash payout – a $45,000 top prize and $175,000 purse per event, based on a field of 175 boats. That represents a $14,500 purse reduction per event from this year's levels.

The winning co-anglers received a boat and motor package valued at $34,000 and the total co-angler purse is $72,450 based on 175 boats (a $2,000 increase over this year's per-event purse).

One significant change is that the co-angler limit will drop to three fish. BASS said the decision was in the interest of conservation.

Here's a look at the full schedule. Note that next year's Northern schedule is nearly identical to this year's, except the field will fish the Detroit River instead of Sandusky, and the Chesapeake comes last, rather than first. The Southern and Central schedules, on the other hand, include no repeated venues.

Southern Opens
> Jan. 14-16 -- Lake Okeechobee -- Okeechobee, Fla.
> May 13-15 -- Smith Lake -- Jasper, Ala.
> Oct. 7-9 -- Lake Seminole -- Bainbridge, Ga.

Central Opens
> April 8-10 -- Lake Amistad -- Del Rio, Texas
> June 3-5 -- Red River -- Shreveport, La.
> Oct. 21-23 -- Lake Texoma -- Denison, Texas

Northern Opens
> July 22-24 -- Lake Champlain -- Plattsburgh, N.Y.
> Aug. 19-21 -- Detroit River -- Detroit, Mich.
> Sept. 16-18 -- Chesapeake Bay -- Cecil County, Md.

Registration for BASS members begins at 9 a.m. ET Thursday, Nov. 5 (Northern), Nov. 12 (Southern) and Nov. 19 (Central), but early registration is available for Federation Nation, BASS Insider and Lifetime members as well as certain pre-qualified anglers.

Genmar gets extension 9/30/2009
A U.S. bankruptcy court granted Genmar an extension as the company requested, but did not grant the full extension. Previously, Genmar had until today to file its plan for reorganization. It petitioned to court for an extension until Dec. 31, with a period of exclusivity to run through Feb. 28. The court granted gave Genmar until Nov. 4 to file its reorganization plan, and extended the exclusivity period until Jan. 3.

During the exclusivity period, creditors may only consider Genmar's reorganization plan. Afterward, other interested parties may submit plans to purchase the company. Or, creditors could agree to auction part or all of Genmar's holdings. Genmar Chairman and CEO Irwin Jacobs largely built the company through bankruptcy purchases.

Court documents note that the only objection to the motion to extend the period came from the committee of unsecured creditors.

Berkley rigs on the move 9/30/2009

The tank will be at the Bismarck-Mandan Convention Center in Bismarck, N.D. on Friday and Saturday. Events will include seminars and appearances by Berkley pro anglers.

Berkley sends the 4,000-gallon bass tanks all over the country to aid the everyday angler. Kids and adults alike can learn about new Berkley products and pick up tips on how to use the innovative baits.

“The Berkley Bass Tanks are out on the road, giving all anglers the opportunity to hone their skills,” said Berkley marketing manager Tammy Cox, “Not only will attendees learn to 'Catch More Fish,' they will also learn about new products that will help them become a better angler.”

Upcoming tank stops are scheduled for the the Cabela's store in Fort Worth, Texas (Oct. 9-11), the Gander Mountain in Lake Mary, Fla. (Oct. 16-18) and the Stren Championship in Florence, Ala. (Nov. 6-7).

Meanwhile, the Berkley Experience Trailer is on its way to Tyler, Texas for a Friday through Sunday stint. It offers demonstrations and interactive games for kids and adults and gives the everyday angler the opportunity to view baits in the Berkley line, as well as chances to see the baits in action. Kids and adults alike can compete in fishing games and knot-tying contests.

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

Special sales and promotions will be offered. Upcoming trailer stops are set for the Bass Pro Shops in Garland, Texas (Oct. 9-11) and the Berkley Big Bass Tournament at Lake Fork (Oct. 16-18).

Thompson leads Western points 9/29/2009

The final tournament will take place at Clear Lake next month, and the Top 20 on the points list after that event will gain berths into next year's Forrest Wood Cup. As of right now, that group includes FLW Tour standout Brent Ehrler (3rd), 2009 Cup 3rd-place finisher Cody Meyer (8th), 2008 Western Series AOY Ken Wick (14th) and Delta winner and 2009 Cup 5th-place finisher Rusty Salewske (15th).

Jay Yelas, the two-time FLW Tour and one-time Bassmaster AOY, sits just outside the mark at 22nd.

Here's a look at the current Top 30:

1. Zack Thompson -- Orinda, Ca -- 573
2. Ronald Hobbs, Jr. -- Orting, Wa -- 568
3. Robert Lee -- Angels Camp, Ca -- 564
4. Brent Ehrler -- Redlands, Ca -- 557
5. Justin Kerr -- Simi Valley, Ca -- 545
6. Jon Strelic -- El Cajon, Ca -- 539
7. Mike Folkestad -- Orange, Ca -- 538
8. Cody Meyer -- Auburn, Ca -- 532
9. Joseph Caporuscio -- Coto De Caza, Ca -- 529
10. Jason Cordiale -- Orinda, Ca -- 524
11. Cameron Smith -- Dana Point, Ca -- 520
12. Chris Zaldain -- San Jose, Ca -- 515
13. Sean Minderman -- Spokane, Wa -- 511
14. Ken Wick -- Star, Id -- 510
15. Rusty Salewske -- Alpine, Ca -- 507
16. Bobby Barrack -- Oakley, Ca -- 507
17. Shinya Uesasa -- San Mateo, Ca -- 505
18. Leon Knight -- Discovery Bay, Ca -- 501
19. Rick Correa -- Sherwood, Or -- 501
20. Justin Lucas -- Folsom, Ca -- 497
21. Brett Hite -- Phoenix, Az -- 495
22. Jay Yelas -- Corvallis, Or -- 495
23. David Kromm -- Kennewick, Wa -- 494
24. Kevin Hawk -- Ramona, Ca -- 493
25. Sean Stafford -- Fairfield, Ca -- 492
26. Randy McAbee Jr -- Bakersfield, Ca -- 490
27. Clifford Pirch -- Payson, Az -- 482
28. John Billheimer Jr -- Discovery Bay, Ca -- 480
29. Kazuki Kodama -- Torrance, Ca -- 479
30. Mike Reynolds -- Modesto, Ca -- 478

JVD wins; Scalish, Kota make Classic 9/27/2009

He beat out day-1 leader Pete Gluszek by 2-14. “This has been my dream for a long time; I’m really pumped right now,” he said. “I’m speechless. I’ve been close a couple times, and this is awesome.”

Frank Scalish (pictured) ended up 3rd with 41-00 to wrap up the Angler of the Year (AOY) title and claim one of the circuit's two 2010 Bassmaster Classic berths. Kota Kiriyama, who finished 15th in the tournament, claimed the other Classic slot with his runner-up finish in the points.

The Top 7 on the AOY list also gained spots for the 2010 Elite Series. Gluszek ended up 3rd, followed by J. Todd Tucker, Aaron Hastings, Brian Bylotas and Steve Oleksyn.

The final Top 10 in the tournament standings looked like this:

1. Jonathon VanDam: 44-14
2. Pete Gluszek: 42-00
3. Frank Scalish: 41-00
4. Dick Parker: 40-04
5. Garrett Green: 39-09
6. Jared Rhode: 38-13
7. Dave Rochette: 38-03
8. Jami Fralick: 38-03
9. Mark Peiser: 37-03
10. Brian Bylotas: 36-12

Salewske wins at Delta 9/27/2009

He edged out day-3 leader Charlie Weyer by 9 ounces. Full details of his winning pattern will be posted soon.

Here's a look at the final Top 10:

1. Rusty Salewske: 75-05
2. Charlie Weyer: 74-12
3. Chris Zaldain: 73-05
4. Ken Mah: 71-00
5. Brett Hite: 70-08
6. Brent Ehrler: 68-00
7. Zack Thompson: 64-09
8. Dee Thomas: 63-13
9. Robert Lee: 61-13
10. Ricky Shabazz: 54-09

Richardson tops Gaston Stren 9/26/2009

It was the first Stren triumph for Richardson, who won the Okeechobee FLW Tour in 1999. He outdistanced runner-up Dave Lefebre by 3-04.

Here's how the Top 10 finished up:

1. Joel Richardson: 36-09
2. Dave Lefebre: 33-05
3. Chris Baumgardner: 33-04
4. Ivan Morris: 29-15
5. Billy Bledsoe: 29-10
6. Andy Francis: 28-15
7. Chris Novack: 26-04
8. Jacob Powroznik: 26-01
9. Chad Hicks: 22-13
10. Joseph Sancho: 20-11

Full details of Richardson's winning pattern will be posted soon.

Lane raising funds for camp 9/26/2009

The goal of the camp, called Reeling in Future Pros, is to give children greater access to fishing by providing them with equipment and education. There will be a $20 fee to attend this year, but he hopes that through fund-raising efforts, there will be no fee next year or in subsequent years.

Prizes will be awarded in daily drawings at the 2010 Bassmaster Classic, which will take place Feb. 19-21 at Lay Lake, and winners need not be present. To purchase tickets or obtain more information, click here.

Weyer moves to top 9/25/2009
Charlie Weyer caught a 22-05 stringer today and moved into the lead on day 3 of the California Delta Western FLW Series. His 58-05 total has him 3-05 clear of 2nd-place Rusty Salewske, who led after day 2.

Delta ace Robert Lee moved into contention with a tournament-best 25-09 sack. He's in 3rd place – just under 4 pounds behind Weyer.

Dee Thomas, the 73-year-old "Father of Flipping," made the cut in 10th place and is 8 pounds out of the lead. Ish Monroe, the defending champion in the event, ended up 14th with 46-06.

Here's a peek at the final-day field:

1. Charlie Weyer: 58-05
2. Rusty Salewske: 55-00
3. Robert Lee: 54-07
4. Brett Hite: 53-05
5. Ricky Shabazz: 53-01
6. Ken Mah: 53-00
7. Chris Zaldain: 52-13
8. Zack Thompson: 52-00
9. Brent Ehrler: 50-10
10. Dee Thomas: 50-05

Two black beauties 9/25/2009
The newest published entries in the September edition of the Abu Garcia For Life! contest feature black 5000s that were purchased in the 1970s. Bill Ledley overcame a nightmarish experience the first time he tried to cast his as an 11-year-old, and Phillip W. Sexton got fortunate when he was able to pull his out of deep water with a long piece of metal conduit the day after he'd dropped it overboard.

To read the entries, click here. Also note that a few BassFans have had trouble uploading their photos to the contest. Most Internet browsers have a time-out safety feature, so if you're unable to upload photo or entry, and the photo is large (like 2 or 3 megabytes), try shrinking the photo or sending it to editorial@bassfan.com.

Does your Abu Garcia reel have some mileage? Then why not enter it in the Abu Garcia For Life! contest? Show us your "classic" or well-used Abu and you might win a new one. Click here to submit a picture of the reel, as well as a detailed story or two about its history.

Dallas Today: meet KVD, KJ & G 9/25/2009

The trio is there to help promote sunglass maker Oakley. The rolling O Lab is on-site with product and technology demonstrations, and there's an Oakley North Texas Classic team event this weekend. Anglers can register for the Classic today at the Grapevine Bass Pro until 9:00 p.m., or onsite tomorrow at The Lewisville Lake Park Ramp No. 2 and at Sneaky Pete's on Sunday. Free high-end Oakley sunglasses go to the first 100 entrants. Total purse is $100,000. For tournament info, call Mark Jones at (877) 958-8687 or visit NorthTexasClassic.com.

Weather cancels day 2 at Erie 9/25/2009
BASS announced today the cancellation of day 2’s competition at the Lake Erie Bassmaster Northern Open out of Sandusky, Ohio. Unsafe weather conditions including high winds resulted in rough waters at first light – a northeast wind at 15 to 20 knots – prompting tournament officials to keep competitors from launching in the best interest of all concerned.

Saturday’s forecast calls for southerly winds, which are not as troublesome for anglers on Erie, and tournament directors expect the event to resume. The full field of pro anglers and co-anglers will fish Saturday, which will be the final day of the competition.

The 104 pro anglers are competing for a top prize of $45,000, as well as potential berths in the 2010 Bassmaster Classic and the 2010 Bassmaster Elite Series season. The top two pros after this final Northern Open will be awarded berths in the Classic, set for Feb. 19-21 on Lay Lake out of Birmingham, Ala., while the top seven competitors will be invited to fish the Elite Series.

Pete Gluszek caught 23-13 on day 1 to take the early lead. He was followed by Garrett Green with 22-12 and Chris King with 22-08.

Saturday’s launch and weigh-in will take place at Shelby Street Boat Launch, 101 Shelby St. in Sandusky. Takeoff is set for 7 a.m. ET. The weigh-in will start at 3:05 p.m.

Browning's big adventure 9/24/2009

"I finally got to take a shower and it felt great," he said.

The purpose of the trip is the filming of a documentary for the National Geographic Channel that'll be aired sometime next summer. Browning and his party, which includes a filmmaker and an environmentalist (both from California), will cover the entire waterway over the next month.

The second leg of the 2,345-mile journey will be undertaken in a Triton aluminum boat with a 110-horsepower Mercury motor, and the final leg will be in a cabin-style pontoon boat. Browning doesn't expect to make a single cast with a fishing rod throughout the trip.

"If somebody's watching the program and wanting to make the trip, we'll show them what they're fixing to get into. We're also going to stop off and do some projects, like going to museums and things. It's really a neat deal."

The 3-hour documentary, which will be shown in a series, is being produced by Atlanta-based Career Sports Entertainment (CSE). Browning got involved through his ties with JM Associates, which produces outdoor programming for ESPN. CSE purchased JM in 2007.

Gluszek grabs Erie lead 9/24/2009

“I had to learn it because I was always getting beat up here by guys dropshotting,” he said. “So I’ve been working hard on it recently. It used to be one of my weaknesses."

He holds a 1-01 edge over Canadian Garrett Green. Points leader Frank Scalish is 6th and Kota Kiriyama, who's 3rd in the points, is 7th. This is the last of the three Northern Opens, and the Top 2 on the final points list will earn Bassmaster Classic berths.

Mike Iaconelli, who's 2nd in the AOY race, is not fishing this event. Here's the current Top 10 in the tournament standings:

1. Pete Gluszek: 23-13
2. Garrett Green: 22-12
3. Chris King: 22-08
4. Joe Balog: 22-07
5. Jared Rhode: 22-05
6. Frank Scalish: 21-08
7. Kotaro Kiriyama: 21-07
8. Jonathan VanDam: 20-06
9. Jami Fralick: 18-14
10. Dick Parker: 18-12

Salewske sacks 22-14 9/24/2009

Salewske, the 5th-place finisher at last month's Forrest Wood Cup in Pittsburgh, Pa., leads with a 2-day total of 40-11. Dee Thomas caught a 21-03 stringer today and moved into 2nd with 37-06.

Salewske's sack was topped by a pair of 7-pounders.

"I'm kind of hunkering around in one area and I'm punching (mats) like everybody else," he said. "I struggled until about 1:00, then I caught that first 7 and that cheered me up."

He has several specific areas within a 2-mile stretch and found a new spot today, where his co-angler caught a 7. "I'm hoping to get something big out of there tomorrow."

Day-1 leader Bryan Roland weighed just two fish for 7-05 today and fell to 12th place. The field will be cut to the Top 10 after tomorrow's weigh-in.

Here's a look at the anglers currently within the cut line:

1. Rusty Salewske: 40-11
2. Dee Thomas: 37-06
3. Brett Hite: 36-08
4. Charlie Weyer: 36-00
5. Ricky Shabazz: 34-15
6. Ken Mah: 34-03
7. Brian Carpenter: 33-11
8. Chris Zaldain: 33-08
9. Ronald Hobbs Jr.: 33-04
10. Ish Monroe: 32-15

Naig to Northland? 9/24/2009

Naig, a former walleye pro, spearheaded and grew many of Pure Fishing's aggressive tournament and pro-angler platforms, such as the Paid For Performance program, alongside contributions to product design and service as liason between the company and its pro staff.

When Pure Fishing relocated its headquarters to Columbia, S.C., Naig opted to stay near his home in Spirit Lake, Iowa to assume a different role within product management.

If Naig has indeed landed at Northland, he joins other Pure Fishing brass in the move. Earlier this year, Northland founder and president John Pederson partnered with former Pure Fishing CEO Pat McIntyre and Pure Fishing senior manager Gary Morgul to raise capital and expand Northland's business. Morgul now serves as Northland CEO.

It's not surprising, given the migration, that Northland is rumored to be in preparations for expansion into new markets, not the least of which would be bass fishing below the Mason-Dixon.

Mann's double-up 9/24/2009
Here's a video that popped up on YouTube with Tom Mann, Jr. and his two trophies – one for winning the Eastern FLW Series points title, the other for winning the Clarks Hill Series. Tom gives a shout-out to one his sponsors that helped him win the event.

Local leads at Delta 9/23/2009

Bassmaster Elite Series pros Ish Monroe and Mark Davis fished together today out of Monroe's boat (Davis is competing as a co-angler). Monroe landed in 11th with a 17-05 sack and Davis was 33rd among non-boaters with two fish for 5-09.

Here's a look at the Top 10 pros:

1. Bryan Roland: 25-00
2. Gene Gray: 24-11
3. Charlie Weyer: 24-07
4. Nicholas Kanemoto: 21-05
5. Lorenzo Rossetti: 19-12
6. Ricky Shabazz: 18-10
7. Leon Knight: 18-09
8. Rusty Salewske: 17-13
9. Brian Carpenter: 17-11
10. Jon Strelic: 17-07

Western Series fees cut 9/23/2009
Two Western FLW Series anglers confirmed that FLW Outdoors announced Tuesday evening that entry fees for the 2010 circuit will be cut in half – from $4,000 to $2,000. The announcement was made during the registration meeting for this week's event at the California Delta.

The Western Series has been hindered by low participation numbers this year as the region has been hit particularly hard by the sluggish economy. Just 89 boats are competing at the Delta this week. The June event at the Columbia River in Washington drew 85 and the March tournament at Arizona's Lake Havasu drew 111.

The anglers said no mention was made about whether the entry-fee reduction would affect prize purses. FLW also announced that the 2010 Western Series schedule had yet to be finalized.

Young and wise 9/23/2009
The Greensboro (N.C.) News and Record recently published a nice article in which a father details the fishing and life lessons he's learned from his 15-year-old, bass-crazed son since they began competing in club tournaments together last year.

To read it, click here.

BASS AOY: opinion, poll 9/23/2009
Now that the BASS Angler of the Year has been decided, what are your thoughts on the Championship Week format? A new BassFan Poll asks that question. To participate in the poll and view the results, visit the homepage, then scroll down the right-hand side to find the poll.

In the same vein, BassFan editor-in-chief Jon Storm returned from Championship Week and today published an opinion piece about the new format. To read it, click here.

FLW rumor update 9/23/2009

At the same time, participation in select FLW Series and Strens has been lagging. Last weekend's Eastern FLW Series was strong and drew 137 boats, but today's Delta Western Series will field just 85 boats. And while the Southeastern Strens began the year with a near-capacity 192 boats, by the third event at Wheeler in June, the field was down to 159 boats. Certainly understandable in difficult economic times.

The expectation was that FLW Outdoors would consolidate some of its trails to meet a perceived decline in demand, but chatter this week hints at the opposite. Instead, word is that FLW Outdoors will make an announcement about its plans for 2010 sometime in the next week, and the Tour, Series and Strens will move ahead, perhaps as is. Additionally, there's talk of some new and inventive measures to increase or guarantee participation.

More reporting as details emerge.

Thoughts, prayers for Atlanta 9/23/2009
The Flood of 2009 along the Chattahoochee in and around Atlanta, Ga. has been devastating. More than 11 inches of rain fell in a week. An estimated 1,000 homes have flooded, nine people have died and infrastructure like bridges and roads took a serious beating. The aerial views of the Six Flags park under water, and entire homes swept away, are gut-wrenching.

The cruel irony is that the watershed had been suffering from severe drought for several years, with Lake Lanier at times nearly unfishable. Lanier rose more than 3 feet in 3 days under the intense water dump.

We're sure BassFans join us in extending thoughts and prayers to all those affected by the floods, and our sincerest hopes for a speedy cleanup and recovery with no further loss of life.

If BassFans know of any relief efforts under way, or if the fishing community there is banding together to help, please send us a note and we'll post the information.

Ish draws Davis at Delta 9/23/2009

Monroe, who lives in nearby Hughson, likely knows the Delta as well as anybody on either major tour. He's the defending champion in this event and also won a Western Stren there in May.

The draw sets up an interesting dilemma for Monroe. Does he "sandbag" on day 1 and stay away from his best stuff to avoid showing Davis (pictured) something that could come back to haunt him next March? Or does he go all out for his second straight triumph in the event and pay no heed to whatever Davis might learn?

The tournament is the third of four on the Western Series. The finale will take place next month at Clear Lake, the other California venue on the 2010 Elite schedule. No word yet on whether Davis plans to be a back-seater for that one too.

Davis finished 29th when the Bassmaster circuit visited the Delta in 2003, and he was 35th at Clear Lake the following week. He was an FLW-only pro when the Elite Series returned to those bodies in 2007.

Fishing in the 'bigs' 9/22/2009

Mercer, through his appearance, helped raise funds for the Dave Mercer's Casting For a Cure charity to benefit the Canadian Cancer Society. Mercer created the charity organization in honor of his late mother, Ann Mercer, who lost her battle with cancer. He's since raised over $100,000 for cancer research.

About the experience, Mercer said: "The whole reason I did this in the first place was to try and get the word out about our great sport in a nontraditional market and raise some money for a great cause – Casting for a Cure. As far as raising money it went great. The Blue Jays are still putting together the totals but I wanted to thank all of our great partners, friends and fans that purchased tickets for the game, as the Jays will be giving $5 from each ticket sold in the Facts of Fishing seats to Casting for a Cure.

"As far as our sport getting noticed I think that happened as well. I talked to a ton of media while there and let's hope the image of me standing on the field with my rod and reel will spread."

About the pitch itself, Mercer added: "It went great, but the player dropped the first one. As soon as he dropped it, the first thing that went through my mind was, 'All my friends are going to say it was my fault and are never going to let me live it down.' So, even though it was against the rules, I had to take another cast. I guess that's just another advantage to having line connected to the ball! When I asked the player, Brett Cecil, why he dropped the first one he said, 'I'm a pitcher.' I think he just wasn't ready for my heat."

What does a poet know about fishing? 9/22/2009
Paul Ruffin, a columnist for the Huntsville (Texas) Item and a distinguished professor of English at Sam Houston State University, recently wrote a piece about bass fishing TV shows. He proclaims to be too smart to be fooled by the non-stop action on some of those programs, but that might be expected from someone who was chosen the 2009 Texas State Poet Laureate.

To read the column, click here.

Lefebre's lament 9/22/2009

Lefebre's 55th-place finish was by far his worst in the four series tournaments. The others were 12th, 5th and 4th.

"There was no stopping Tom," he said. "When you have to win and have the other guy bomb to do it, then it was meant to be."

A dead-fish penalty on day 3 ended up sealing his fate. He came in 40 minutes early because he knew the fish was struggling, but it expired before it went to the scale. If it had survived, it would've moved him up more than the two places he needed to hold off Mann.

He weighed a limit each of the first 3 days, but those sacks average only a little over 6 pounds apiece.

"Stuff happened all week and I lost ounces here and there. I got on some better-than-average fish in practice, but they were schoolers under the (blueback herring) and I couldn't catch them when they were down.

"I spent 3 hours on them the first morning and I could see them come up, but they were always too far away. It wasn't like it was in practice, when I could fire a (Lucky Craft) Sammy right on top of them and catch them. After that I just went up and fished real shallow."

Bennett the Floridian 9/22/2009

"I'll be staying (in Panama City, Fla.) throughout the year," he said. "It makes travel a lot easier – there's no sign that the (FLW) Tour will be going out West anytime soon, and Panama City's a cool town. It's where my fianceé grew up, so she has a lot of ties there.

"Life is a lot slower-paced (in his new hometown). In California, everything's quicker. There's a lot more traffic and it's always go, go, go."

Mann wins, claims AOY 9/19/2009

The Georgia veteran caught a 14-09 sack – best of the day by nearly 5 pounds – to close out the win at the Clarks Hill Eastern FLW Series in his home state. The triumph also moved him from 6th to 1st in the circuit's Angler of the Year (AOY) race as he nipped Dave Lefebre by a single point.

His big bag gave him a 4-day total of 51-02, which outdistanced runner-up Chris Martinkovic by more than 11 pounds. Details of his winning pattern will be posted soon.

The Top 20 on the final points list earned berths in the 2010 Forrest Wood Cup, which will be held at Lake Lanier in August. Here's a look at that list:

1. Tom Mann Jr. -- Buford, Ga -- 729
2. Dave Lefebre -- Union City, Pa -- 728
3. David Walker -- Sevierville, Tn -- 711
4. Greg Bohannan -- Rogers, Ar -- 699
5. Mark Rose -- Marion, Ar -- 693
6. Keith Combs -- Del Rio, Tx -- 680
7. Scott Martin -- Clewiston, Fl -- 673
8. Larry Nixon -- Bee Branch, Ar -- 673
9. Ray Scheide -- Dover, Ar -- 670
10. Brian Travis -- Conover, NC -- 670
11. Glenn Browne -- Ocala, Fl -- 667
12. Randall Tharp -- Gardendale, Al -- 667
13. Luke Clausen -- Gainesville, Ga -- 659
14. Vic Vatalaro -- Kent, Oh -- 657
15. Jason Christie -- Park Hill, Ok -- 650
16. Wesley Strader -- Spring City, Tn -- 638
17. Thanh Le -- Lake Havasu City, Az -- 636
18. Tom Monsoor -- La Crosse, Wi -- 635
19. Chad Grigsby -- Maple Grove, Mn -- 634
20. Terry Bolton -- Jonesboro, Ar -- 622

Zac Brown crowd (updated) 9/19/2009

As noted yesterday, BASS didn't estimate attendance numbers for its final-day weigh-in in Montgomery, Ala. However, as seen in the photo to right, the crowd was significant.

The crowd for the weigh-in itself was much lighter than the final concert crowd, perhaps because a lightning storm passed through the area and persisted through weigh-in. The rain only let up after the band began to play.

New PAA auction: fish with Ish 9/18/2009

For those who can't make the trip out west, Justin Rackley, an up and coming Professional Anglers Association (PAA) pro and National Collegiate Bass Fishing champion, has offered up a full day of his guide service on legendary Lake Fork. The winner will spend a spring day in 2010 fishing with Rackley for the lake’s trophy largemouth.

In addition to those getaways, the PAA will also have authentic memorabilia and autographed items up for bids, with a portion of the proceeds going to the C.A.S.T for Kids Foundation – a public charity that was formed in 1991 to join volunteers who love to fish with disabled and disadvantaged children for a day in the outdoors. The C.A.S.T. for Kids program and events are designed to create an environment whereby special needs children and their caretakers can benefit, leaving their problems on shore and sharing a day of fun on the water.

In addition to auction proceeds, PAA members will also be participating in a C.A.S.T. fishing day in conjunction with the 2009 Toyota Texas Bass Classic. That event will take place Oct. 18 at Lake Conroe.

“It is just a tremendous opportunity for these special-needs children," said C.A.S.T. Foundation executive director Jim Owens. “Not only do they get a chance to go fishing, which they would not be able to do otherwise, but they get to do it with some of the best fishermen in the world.”

To access the eBay auction, click here.

Mann now the man at Clarks 9/18/2009

He'd pretty much nailed down his spot prior to this week's Eastern Series finale at Clarks Hill, also in his home state. He came in at No. 6 in the points and would've had to completely tank to fall out of the Top 20. Just the opposite has occurred – he led the cut to the Top 10 and will fish for the victory tomorrow.

He weighed a day-best 13-03 today for a 3-day total of 36-09. That put him 2-05 in front of 2nd-place Chris Martinkovic of Ohio.

Day-2 leader Chad Brauer stumbled to a three-fish, 4-04 bag today, but still made the Top 10 in the No. 9 position. Here's a look at the final-day field:

1. Tom Mann Jr.: 36-09
2. Chris Martinkovic: 34-06
3. Matthew Wilbanks: 32-09
4. Craig Johnson: 31-00
5. Keith Hutto: 30-09
6. Vic Vatalaro: 30-03
7. Keith Williamson: 30-02
8. O.T. Fears III: 30-00
9. Chad Brauer: 29-15
10. Trad Whaley: 29-05

Four new flavors 9/18/2009
Berkley has expanded its line of Gulp! Alive! attractant sprays for 2010 to include some new flavors, including shad and minnow. Applied to any artificial lure, the Gulp! juice makes it smell and taste like the real deal – to fish, anyway.

For the complete rundown, click on over to the Catch More Fish page.

Ray's Lakes will open 9/18/2009

Ray's land in Pintlala, Ala. includes several lakes that are aggressively managed. Small groups can sign up and Ray said there won't be more than eight people on the lakes at a time.

"It's fair to say a person – an average fisherman – in an 8-hour fishing day, will catch 35 to 50 bass and they'll average close to 3 pounds," Ray said. "There are some 10-pounders, and the record is 13-15. We're going to let people come in. We've got the George Bush house, my house with two bedrooms available there, and then the guest house sleeps four. We'll have a chef."

Cost is going to be about $1,950 per person and reservations are being accepted. For more info, call Vicki in the booking department: (334) 281-3661.

Younger Brauer leads at Clarks 9/17/2009

Marty Robinson, the day-1 leader with 15-04, weighed just two fish for 2-14 today and tumbled to 24th. Only Brauer, Casey Ashley (6th) and Vic Vatalaro (10th) were holdovers from the opening-day Top 10.

The field will be cut to the Top 10 after tomorrow's weigh-in and only those anglers will fish the final day. Here's a look at those who are currently within the cutline:

1. Chad Brauer: 25-11
2. Matthew Wilbanks: 24-00
3. Tom Mann Jr.: 23-06
4. Keith Hutto: 22-09
5. Chris Martinkovic: 22-08
6. Casey Ashley: 22-04
7. Craig Johnson: 21-13
8. Keith Williamson: 21-05
9. O.T. Fears III: 21-02
10. Vic Vatalaro: 21-00

'Thousands' and 'Championship Fish' 9/17/2009

To read the entries, click here. Also note that a few BassFans have had trouble uploading their photos to the contest. Most Internet browsers have a time-out safety feature, so if you're unable to upload photo or entry, and the photo is large (like 2 or 3 megabytes), try shrinking the photo or sending it to editorial@bassfan.com.

Does your Abu Garcia reel have some mileage? Then why not enter it in the Abu Garcia For Life! contest? Show us your "classic" or well-used Abu and you might win a new one. Click here to submit a picture of the reel, as well as a detailed story or two about its history.

Ray's lakes: opening soon? 9/17/2009

BassFan will try to track Ray down at tonight's weigh-in and ask him.

Navionics on iPhone 9/17/2009
Navionics is considered the gold standard in aftermarket navigation software. Heck, Kevin VanDam in a recent interview on BassFan said the chips have changed the sport, and he now has to look for off-the-path bites simply because the Navionics chips are so accurate and detailed, folks can figure out a lake much more quickly.

Navionics recently debuted a cool new product – its Mobile app for the iPhone, now available in an enhanced 3.0 version. Mobile allows anglers to access detailed navigation charts right on their iPhone. Packages can be purchased and downloaded based on region. Runtime is about an hour off battery, but there are plenty of power options for the iPhone. Check out the video below or visit the Navionics Mobile page for more info.

Lowdown from Lowen 9/17/2009
The inaugural Bassmaster Elite Series postseason will conclude on the Alabama River this week, and we figured it was a good time to present a BassFan Pro Fishing Tip on fishing rivers in the early fall. We turned to Bill Lowen, known as one of the biggest "river rats" on the Elite circuit

According to the Ohioan, finding baitfish on the main channel and then finding pieces of cover that disrupt the water flow are the primary keys to catching bass on rivers at this time of year. For full details, click here.

Intersex bass common 9/16/2009
According to recently published research by the United States Geological Survey, intersex is a fairly common characteristic among smallmouth and largemouth bass in several of the country's river systems. A USGS press release states that the condition "is primarily revealed in male fish that have immature female egg cells in their testes, but occasionally female fish will have male characteristics as well."

Said USGS associate director for biology Sue Haseltine: "Although the USGS has already documented the severity of intersex in individual basins such as the Potomac, this study reveals the prevalence of intersex is more widespread than anyone anticipated. This research sends the clear message that we need to learn more about the hormonal and environmental factors that cause this condition in fish, as well as the number of fish afflicted with this condition.

"This study adds a lot to our knowledge of this phenomena, but we still don't know why certain species seem more prone to this condition or exactly what is causing it. In fact, the causes for intersex may vary by location, and we suspect it will be unlikely that a single human activity or kind of contaminant will explain intersex in all species or regions."

To read the full release, click here.

Stingier Clarks Hill 9/16/2009

Marty Robinson (pictured), a Bassmaster Elite Series pro from South Carolina, caught a 15-04 bag today to take the early lead. He has a 1-05 advantage over Ohio's Vic Vatalaro, who won the Series event at Arkansas' Lake Dardanelle last month.

Last year, David Fritts caught a whopping 23-09 on day 1 to jumpstart his wire-to-wire victory.

Just 47% of the field (64 of 137 anglers) brought a limit to the scale today. Last year, 100 of 157 competitors (64%) caught a full bag on day 1.

Here's a look at the current Top 10:

1. Marty Robinson: 15-04
2. Vic Vatalaro: 13-15
3. Chad Brauer: 13-02
4. Michael Murphy: 13-01
5. Terry Butcher: 12-12
6. George Cochran: 12-03
7. (tie) Casey Ashley: 11-09
7. (tie) Tom Mann Jr.: 11-09
7. (tie) Bud Pruitt: 11-09
10. Jimmy McMillan: 11-02

Barone: hits keep coming 9/16/2009
Don Barone published another great piece on Bassmaster.com – this one about Gerald Swindle and the loss of his brother Tony. To check it out, click here.

Genmar seeks extension 9/16/2009

Under bankruptcy law, Genmar must present a plan for reorganization that is accepted by the creditors. There's a period of exclusivity during which only Genmar's plan is considered. Afterward, other interested parties may submit plans to purchase the company. Or, creditors could agree to auction part or all of Genmar's holdings. Genmar Chairman and CEO Irwin Jacobs (pictured) largely built the company through bankruptcy purchases.

The plan deadline was previously set for the end of this month. In court documents filed by Genmar, the company noted that although it's currently well positioned in regard to the bankruptcy timeline, the size and complexity of the case warrant an extension. Genmar proposed Dec. 31 as the deadline to file a plan and disclosure statement, with Feb. 28 the end of the exclusivity period and the deadline to obtain confirmation of the plan.

Cup slots on line 9/15/2009

Dave Lefebre, the 2006 Series Angler of the Year, tops the points list going into the finale. The Pennsylvanian finished 38th at last year's Clarks Hill event, which took place in October and was won by David Fritts.

Scott Martin (pictured), the 3rd-place finisher a year ago, is 3rd in this year's AOY race. He said the fishing will be considerably different this time.

"Most of the fish are still suspended in the main river chasing bait, and they haven't moved to the banks in any great numbers," he said. "Weights will probably be down from last year, but the big-bag factor is still there. There are fish schooling and if you get on the right spot when they come up, you can catch a lot of weight quickly.

"I've got some upriver stuff that's producing and I feel pretty good. I don't think I can catch 20 pounds a day, but if I can get five bites, I think I can catch what I'll need to take a shot at winning this thing."

The 2010 Cup will be held Aug. 5-8 at Georgia's Lake Lanier. Here's a look at the Top 30 in the Eastern points:

1. Dave Lefebre -- Union City, Pa -- 582
2. Keith Combs -- Del Rio, Tx -- 550
3. Scott Martin -- Clewiston, Fl -- 547
4. Ray Scheide -- Dover, Ar -- 535
5. Mark Rose -- Marion, Ar -- 532
6. Tom Mann Jr. -- Buford, Ga -- 529
7. Brian Travis -- Conover, NC -- 529
8. Luke Clausen -- Gainesville, Ga -- 527
9. David Walker -- Sevierville, Tn -- 521
10. Randall Tharp -- Gardendale, Al -- 520
11. Chad Prough -- Chipley, Fl -- 518
12. Chad Grigsby -- Maple Grove, Mn -- 518
13. Greg Bohannan -- Rogers, Ar -- 510
14. Dion Hibdon -- Stover, Mo -- 507
15. Glenn Browne -- Ocala, Fl -- 505
16. Larry Nixon -- Bee Branch, Ar -- 499
17. Anthony Gagliardi -- Prosperity, SC -- 498
17. Thanh Le -- Lake Havasu City, Az -- 498
19. Jimmy Millsaps -- Canton, Ga -- 497
20. Andy Montgomery -- Blacksburg, SC -- 491
21. Shonn Goodwin -- Moore, Ok -- 489
22. Russell Parrish -- Riesel, Tx -- 485
23. Art Ferguson III -- St. Clair Shores, Mi -- 484
24. Terry Bolton -- Jonesboro, Ar -- 483
25. Gary Yamamoto -- Mineola, Tx -- 480
26. Clark Wendlandt -- Leander, Tx -- 478
27. Darrel Robertson -- Jay, Ok -- 472
28. Mark Shepard -- Clewiston, Fl -- 468
29. Tom Monsoor -- La Crosse, Wi -- 467
30. Koby Kreiger -- Okeechobee, Fl -- 466

IGFA gets Kurita's paperwork 9/15/2009

Late Monday, the IGFA (the 70-year old non-profit fisheries conservation, education and record-keeping body) received the application for the largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) caught July 2 by Manabu Kurita, 32, of Aichi, Japan. IGFA rules for fish caught outside the U.S. allows anglers 90 days to submit their applications from the date of their catch.

IGFA conservation director Jason Schratwieser said the World All-Tackle application is currently under review after it was received through the Japan Game Fish Association (JGFA). Schratwieser said the application stated the bass weighed 10.12 kilograms (22 pounds, 4 ounces) and was pulled from Lake Biwa, an ancient reservoir northeast of Kyoto. Photos and video were also submitted with the written documentation.

Kurita’s fish would tie the current record held for over 77 years by George Perry. That fish was caught on Georgia’s Montgomery Lake on June 2, 1932.

In North America. the largemouth bass, and especially the All-Tackle record, is considered by millions of anglers as the “holy grail” of freshwater fishing because of its popularity and the longevity of Perry’s record. Largemouth bass have also been introduced in many countries and in Japan, fisheries officials consider it an invasive species.

In addition, because bass are not native and are stocked in Japan, many speculated that the big bass was a sterile triploid. However, when biologists in Japan examined the ova of the big female, they concluded that the fish was not triploid.

IGFA world records coordinator Becky Wright reported Kurita’s fish measured 27.20 inches in length and an almost equal girth of 26.77 inches. She said Kurita was using a bluegill as live bait while trolling through a canal.

A decision by the IGFA on whether Kurita’s fish will tie Perry’s record may take up to a month.

“We have a formal relationship with our sister organization, the Japan Game Fish Association, where they first collect and review record applications for fish caught in Japan,” said Schratwieser. “It works out well because they not only translate applications, but can also contact the angler if more documentation is needed.

“We still have a number of questions to ask them and Kurita regarding local laws and the area he caught it in while he was trolling through a canal on the lake. "We hope to make an announcement in 3 to 4 weeks.”

Duckett launching events? 9/15/2009

Duckett today told BassFan that yes, there is something in the works, but it's most definitely different than what's out there now, and won't compete with current tournament offerings. That's about all he could say at this point, but he did note that there'll be a teleconference with the media in a few weeks to announce what's coming. Stay tuned.

ShareLunker starts soon 9/14/2009

Anyone legally catching a 13-pound or heavier largemouth bass from Texas waters, public or private, between Oct. 1 and April 30 may submit the fish to the Toyota ShareLunker program by calling program manager David Campbell at (903) 681-0550 or paging him at (888) 784-0600 and leaving a phone number, including area code. Fish will be picked up by TPWD personnel within 12 hours.

In the accompanying photo, Ricky Bearden holds the largest fish entered into the program last year – a 15.93-pounder from Lake Conroe.

Toyota became the new program sponsor effective Sept. 1. The current season marks the 24th year of the program. To date, 471 fish have been entered into the program. Those fish have come from 57 different public reservoirs and more than a dozen private lakes.

ShareLunker entries are used in a selective breeding program at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center (TFFC) in Athens. Some of the offspring from these fish are stocked back into the water body from which they were caught. Other ShareLunker offspring are stocked in public waters around the state in an attempt to increase the overall size and growth rate of largemouth bass in Texas.

Anglers entering fish into the Toyota ShareLunker program will receive a free replica of their fish, a certificate and ShareLunker clothing and will be recognized at a banquet at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens on June 5, 2010. In addition, if a Texas angler catches the largest entry of the year, that person will receive a lifetime fishing license.

For complete information and rules of the ShareLunker program, tips on caring for big bass and a recap of last year’s season, click here. The site also includes a searchable database of all fish entered into the program, along with pictures where available.

The Toyota ShareLunker Program is made possible by a grant to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation from Gulf States Toyota. Toyota is a long-time supporter of the Foundation and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, providing major funding for a wide variety of education, fish, parks and wildlife projects.

Conference in Boston 9/14/2009

The conference consists of 2 days of classroom style instruction (14 total hours). Each entails lectures, question-and-answer sessions and a lunch break, with a meal included. Also included are tackle gift packs and a Bass University Conference T-shirt.

“It’s learning at its finest,” Horton said. “Our vision for the conference is to attract anglers from all over the country to learn everything from the basic elements of bass fishing, to the tricks of the trade from the pros.”

The cost is $140. Reservations can be made online at www.BassUnvConf.com or by calling (877) 674-1170.

Other Bass University Conferences at scheduled for Nov. 7-8 in Florence, Ala. (Horton, Gerald Swindle, David Walker, Jimmy Mason) and Dec. 5-6 in Hurst, Texas (Horton, Kelly Jordon, Zell Rowland, John Crews).

Howell pockets $23,000 9/14/2009

Howell also loves his Toyota – make that plural – Toyotas. And he’ll talk awhile about Sequoias and Tundras too if you’re willing to heed his wisdom.

“I’ve been pulling bass boats around the country for 20 years and there’s not a gas-powered truck out there that tows or brakes better than a Tundra," said Howell, who finished the 2009 Bassmaster Elite Series season among the Top 12 in the Angler of the Year (AOY) race. "It’s not even close in my opinion. People ask me about the gas mileage. I have no complaints there. either. My Tundra rivals the gas mileage of anything else I’ve towed with."

He puts his money where his mouth is – Toyota ownership is a multi-vehicle affair for Randy and wife Robin. They currently own a Tundra and a Sequoia. The Sequoia is the second one they’ve owned in recent years.

“As a pro angler, Randy thinks about towing power and braking with the Tundra, but as a mom, the Sequoia provides a luxury ride and a ton of versatility with its fold-down seats for two kids and tons of cargo,” said Robin.

So where did this love of Toyota Trucks originate with the Howells? Randy explains. “A buddy of mine here in Birmingham works for Serra Toyota, and when I’d see him at the gym working out, he would always tell me I needed to be towing with a Toyota. Well, that was during the same period of time that Toyota started supporting our sport in a big way with the BASS Angler of the Year and Bonus Bucks programs.

"I talked to some of the other pros who were towing with a Toyota and found out they loved their trucks. So I went and test drove one at the dealership, and three Toyota trucks later, here we are."

Through the Toyota Trucks Bonus Bucks program, Toyota ownership has actually served more like an investment for the Howells. Randy was one of the first pro anglers to sign up for Bonus Bucks, and because of his fishing success the past 2 years, the Bonus Bucks program has netted him $23,000 – just for towing with a brand of trucks he’s already passionate about.

To make sure you’re eligible, and to get signed-up for Toyota’s Bonus Bucks program like Howell did, visit www.ToyotaTrucksBonusBucks.com or call Kendell at (918) 742-6424.

Wong wins at Old Hickory 9/14/2009

Wong said she worked three areas for most of her fish. One, a ledge, she hit all 3 days. She worked it with an Academy H2O crankbait in a shad finish, then with Carolina-rigged Gary Yamamoto lizards. One of the lizards waswas watermelon-red, but she switched to black with blue flake when the sky was overcast.

“The big ones (Friday) all came on the Carolina rig,” she said. “(Saturday) I went back to the ledge, but I went early because it was overcast this morning and I thought it would produce.”

“The bite was so slow and I keyed on fish following the shad all week, but there are only a limited number of keepers in any one area.”

The victory also moved her up to 4th place in the AOY race. The Top 20 advance to the WBT Championship Oct. 16-18 at Louisiana's Red River, and the points leader after that event will capture the AOY crown and gain a berth in the 2010 Bassmaster Classic.

Here's a look at the WBT Championship qualifiers and their point totals:

1. Pam Martin-Wells -- Bainbridge, Ga. -- 862
2. Juanita Robinson -- Highlands, Texas -- 841
3. Laura Gober -- Pendergrass, Ga. -- 807
4. Judy Wong -- Many, La. -- 807
5. Dianna Clark -- Bumpus Mills, Tenn. -- 800
6. Tammy Richardson -- Amity, Ark. -- 785
7. Janet Parker -- Little Elm, Texas -- 784
8. Sheri Glasgow -- Muskogee, Okla. -- 782
9. Debra Petrowski -- Arlington, Texas -- 776
10. Kim Bain-Moore -- Alabaster, Ala. -- 759
11.Melinda Mize -- Ben Lomond, Ark. -- 754
12. Meta Burrell -- Fort Worth, Texas -- 748
13. Lisa Sternard -- Clarksville, Tenn. -- 745
14. Paula Alexander -- Lincolnton, Ga. -- 739
15. Lisa Johnson -- Centre, Ala. -- 732
16. Lucy Mize -- Ben Lomond, Ark. -- 732
17. Cindy Hill -- Smyrna, Tenn. -- 732
18. Robin Babb -- Livingston, Texas -- 727
19. Emily Shaffer -- Mount Juliet, Tenn. -- 721
20. Patti Campbell -- Waxahachie, Texas -- 714

Barone strikes again 9/11/2009
Want to read probably the best article ever written about Mark Menendez? Click here for Don Barone's latest at Bassmaster.com.

Lake Fork's new, hot hybrid 9/10/2009

For the scoop on the hot new line that a lot of the pros are talking about, click here to read the newest BassFan product review.

Two Abu reel winners 9/10/2009

Honorable mention Nathan Smith of North Carolina wins a Sorön SX40 spinning reel for his story about how he had to beg his mother for the last $15 he needed to buy a USA 500 as a 13-year-old in 1991.

Meanwhile, the first entries for the September edition of the contest have been published. They're from Tim Hancock of Georgia, who's used his 5000c for 30 years now, and Ryan Heise of Texas, who fishes with an original Revo and even lets his kids use it sometimes.

To read the full accounts, click here.

Does your Abu Garcia reel have some mileage? Then why not enter it in the Abu Garcia For Life! contest? Show us your "classic" or well-used Abu and you might win a new one. Click here to submit a picture of the reel, as well as a detailed story or two about its history.

Morgenthaler event raises $24,000 9/10/2009

Morgenthaler, an FLW Tour pro, became involved with Special Olympics Illinois in 2005 when he donated a day-long fishing trip as part of an online auction sponsored by the organization. Special Olympics athletes were on hand at Crab Orchard Lake to see Morgenthaler and the auction winner begin their excursion, and that experience led to his interest in hosting a charity tournament for the organization.

Teams this year had the option of competing in a "beat the pros" contest against Morgenthaler and Stacey King. The 1st-place team, Stephen Sizemore and Brennon McCord, weighed 17.24 pounds. Runners-up Frank Clark and Bob McPeak caught 14.57 pounds, including a 6.17-pound brute that took big-bass honors.

For more tournament results, click here.

Kennedy undecided 9/9/2009

With a daughter born last fall, his circumstances have changed. He has a spare boat and could fly back and forth, but the logistics of that type of schedule would make things tougher on wife Julia and the baby – Julia's the one who'd be stuck doing all the driving.

"I've looked at it and I don't have a definite yes or no answer," he said. "That stretch (in March) looks pretty hard. Last time we went to the West Coast (when he won the Clear Lake Elite Series in 2007) we spent some time out there afterward, and we'd like to be able to do that again."

Another big consideration for him is the FLW Tour opener at Louisiana's Red River in February, which conflicts with the official practice period for the Bassmaster Classic at Lay Lake in Alabama.

He'll speak with FLW Outdoors officials at the upcoming Eastern FLW Series stop at Clarks Hill to discern his chances of securing a spot on the Tour.

"I really want to do it, and if I can get in there, I'll probably get out and fish. But if not, it won't be the worst thing in the world."

Tucker's tough trip 9/9/2009

He had a miserable time at last week's Rayburn Central Open in Texas as he caught just one keeper over 2 days and finished 189th in the 193-angler field. Then he hit a deer on his way home to Moultrie, Ga., causing $4,500 worth of damage to his truck, and also had two wheel bearings go out on his boat trailer.

He hopes to have all of the repairs completed by the weekend so he can leave for Sandusky on Sunday. He's in 5th place in the Northern Open points, and that's effectively 4th because 2nd-place Mike Iaconelli is skipping the event. If he can move up to 2nd or 1st, he'll gain his initial Bassmaster Classic berth.

He's had some great days at Erie in the past, but he's also made some decisions – particularly having to do with weather conditions – that have cost him. He plans to practice for more than a week solid for this event, which begins Sept. 24, so he can experience multiple wind directions.

"A lot of places you can go and practice for 2 1/2 or 3 days, and that's fine," said Tucker, who finished tied for 56th place in the Bassmaster Elite Series points this season, his first on the circuit. "But up there you need to find fish on three sides – the north, the south and the west. You can get a certain wind that muddies up some areas, but other areas it doesn't.

"One time I made the mistake of running east to a hole on a northeast wind. It was a place where I was on them real good and there were 5- and 6-pounders in there. I knew it'd be muddy, but out of hard-headedness, I went anyway and wasted a day. What you want to do there and what you should do a lot of times are two different things."

The last time he fished an Open out of Sandusky (2006), he zeroed the first day when he didn't make it back to the launch in time due to rough water. Day 2 was canceled, and then he caught 19 pounds on day 3 to rally for a 27th-place finish.

He won't take any unnecessary risks this time.

"I'm going to have to catch them, but I need to keep the points race in mind. If I have to stay in close and catch 10 or 12 pounds of largemouth a day, then that's what I need to do.

"A million things can go wrong out on that lake, especially with the wind. I can't afford to lose a day and screw up my chances for the Classic."

'Bama River changes 9/9/2009
Fishing might be on the upswing next week at the Toyota Trucks BASS Championship Week. Word on the street is Alabama Power will begin dropping Lake Jordan soon after the field is done there. Expectations are for a 4-foot drawdown, and that water dumps right into the Alabama River. The field switches to the Alabama River after Jordan, so the current could improve the river bite considerably.

The wrench is that, with the 2-day practice format, the field will probably have one practice day at the Alabama with low flow, then one win decent flow. Oh the decisions...

Florida drowning mystery 9/9/2009
Family members and friends are still awaiting answers as to how a father and son – both experienced anglers and strong swimmers – drowned in shallow water over the weekend at a Christian Team Trails tournament at Florida's Lake Okeechobee.

To read a story from the Palm Beach Sun-Sentinel, click here.

FLW moves Chickamauga Tour 9/8/2009
In a surprise move, FLW Outdoors today announced it moved its 2010 Chickamauga FLW Tour event away from the Smith Mt. Bassmaster Elite Series.

As background, BASS announced dates for its 2010 Elite Series in summer 2008. Although BASS shrunk its season from 11 to eight events, dates remained unchanged. FLW Outdoors later announced its Tour schedule, with Chickamauga scheduled over Smith Mt.

In place of Chickamauga (April 15–18), the FLW Tour field will instead fish Ft. Loudoun–Tellico April 22–25.

In announcing the change, FLW Outdoors president and CEO Charlie Evans said: "We strive to continue to provide the best anglers in the world the opportunity to fish some of the best fisheries in the country for the top prizes in the sport and evaluate all our schedules and events to provide the maximum opportunity for the sport to continue to grow. By moving this date, we're creating some separation between our tournament and a Bassmaster Elite Series tournament held in the same month."

With BASS shrinking its Elite Series schedule to just eight events across 4 months, it can be expected that several BASS pros – particularly those who are Ranger-sponsored – will seek to fish next year's FLW Tour. However, there is still a conflict for the first FLW Tour event of the season (Red River), which overlaps the official Bassmaster Classic practice.

The TBF National Championship will take place in Knoxville – alongside Ft. Loudoun–Tellico. Venue is to be determined.

Pro reactions forthcoming. For reference, here's the revised 2010 FLW Tour schedule:

Clemons joins Wire 9/8/2009
Alan Clemons has been named editor of The Fishing Wire, a publication of the Outdoors Wire Digital Network.

An industry veteran, Clemons most recently served as outdoor columnist at the Huntsville Times. He accepted a buyout offer from the Times in April of this year, then spent the interim blogging at Clembone.Wordpress.com/.

Johnston romps at Rayburn 9/6/2009

Johnston, a guide who lives in nearby Hemphill, also moved into the No. 3 position in the Central points behind new leader Todd Castledine (5th at Rayburn) and James Niggemeyer (9th). The Top 2 in the final points earn berths in the 2010 Bassmaster Classic.

Niggemeyer and Faircloth (5th in the points) have already secured Classic spots through the 2009 Elite Series points. If either or both end up in the Top 2 after the finale at Louisiana's Atchafalaya Basin in November, the berths would go to the next anglers on the Elite Series points list, with Texan Matt Reed first in line.

Johnston used Texas-rigged worms and football jigs to catch shad-gorging bass off ridges. Full details of his winning pattern will be posted soon.

Merc union approves concessions 9/5/2009
Union workers at Mercury Marine Inc. in Fond du Lac, Wis. approved a package of contract concessions in a last-ditch vote Friday, a move that will prevent as many as 850 factory jobs from moving to Stillwater, Okla.

To read the report from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, click here.

Long haul for co-angler 9/4/2009

Carl Jocumsen hails from a town called Toowoomba in the Queensland Province of Australia. At age 24, he's far and away his country's top bass angler, having won both the BASS Grand Final (the Australian equivalent of the Bassmaster Classic) and the Angler of the Year (AOY) on the Australian BASS Pro Series in 2008. The latter title earned him an expense-paid trip to the U.S. from Skeeter that included participation in the Open.

He was in 7th place going into day 3 at Mead, during which he was paired with Bassmaster Elite Series pro Fred Roumbanis. He made a big move with an 8.78-pound sack that included a 3 1/2-pounder caught at the end of the day.

"He's good, real good," Roumbanis said. "I told him he should come over here and fish some tournaments. He's really into finesse stuff – he was throwing a little grub on like 3-pound braided line – and he's a master at it.

"I learned some stuff from him that gives me some ideas for some of the lakes we go to. He's a great guy and it was just an awesome experience fishing with him."

Steve Morgan, director of the Australian Bass Tour (ABT) and the Australian Fishing Championships (AFC), detailed for BassFan some of Jocumsen's accomplishments in his native land:

> He has 32 Top 10 finishes (next best is 22) and four major tournament wins.

> He's earned a career total of $45,665 (next best is $24,325). Most Australian events have a $165 entry fee and 1st place is usually worth about $3,000. The Grand Final championship was worth $5,000.

> When he first began fishing on the pro side, he had a boat license but did not yet have a license to operate a car. His mother had to drive him to the lakes and to the top of the boat ramp, and then he took over from there.

> He pulled off a clean sweep during season 3 of the Australian Fishing Championships TV show, winning all four bass events.

For more about the ABT, click here.

New Mercury promotion 9/4/2009

“The benefits are two-fold: first, this promotion is designed to drive traffic into Mercury dealerships that will result in new engine sales and service department business,” said Mercury VP of sales Randy Caruana. “Second – on a much larger scale – it has the capacity to improve the overall customer boating experience with more reliable technology and the confidence afforded by a factory warranty.”

Caruana said the timing of the promotion coincides with the period during which many boats will be winterized, so repowering can occur while the boats are already out of service.

More information is available at Mercury Marine dealers or by visiting www.MerucryMarine.com.

Duckett's BASS showdown details 9/4/2009

To listen to the show, head on over to the Catch More Fish page.

DirectTV vs. Versus 9/3/2009
DirectTV yesterday pulled the plug on the Versus Network over a contract dispute. Versus aggressively grew its fishing programming in recent years, most notably with the addition this year of the FLW Outdoors TV show. The blackout came after the critical airing for the Forrest Wood Cup. Current FLW Outdoors programs will be offered on FLWOutdoors.com.

Other key shows that air on Versus this quarter include Hank Parker 3D, Babe Winkleman Outdoor Secrets, Lindner's Angling Edge, Bill Dance Outdoors, City Limits Fishing, BoatUS Collegiate Bass Championship, One More Cast with Shaw Grigsby and more.

The dispute removes about 14 million households from Versus distribution. In the toughest sponsor market the sport has ever seen, that's a significant blow – especially as it comes during the tail end of the selling season. Hopes within the industry are that DirecTV and Versus straighten things out quickly.

Dobyns wins U.S. Open 9/3/2009

"It wasn't easy," said the 50-year-old Dobyns, who claimed the victory on his 31st wedding anniversary. "The fish changed every day and I had to do something different in a different place to catch them. They just don't do the same thing here for 2 days in a row.

"I wanted this sucker so bad. I've had so much success in fishing and this is the most prestigious tournament in the West, and I'd never gotten it done. Well, I finally got it done."

The 1st-place prize package included $50,000 in cash, and he won another $11,000 in big fish/big stringer money. He also claimed a fully rigged Nitro Z9 with a Mercury Pro XS 225 – the 40th boat he's won in competition during his long career.

His primary baits were a Yamamoto Hula Grub (green-pumpkin), a Lucky Craft BDS 4 crankbait and a Lucky Craft Gunfish 95 topwater bait. Full details of his winning pattern will be posted soon.

Here's a look at the final Top 10:

1. Gary Dobyns: 32.91
2. Clifford Pirch: 29.56
3. Aaron Martens: 25.73
4. Randy Estrada: 25.40
5. John Kerr: 24.50
6. Shad Berweger: 24.49
7. Richard Dutzi: 24.19
8. John Murray: 23.77
9. Art Berry: 23.24
10. Fred Roumbanis: 23.01

Merc: a third vote 9/2/2009

The union previously voted against the contract, after which Mercury promptly stated it would relocate more than 800 manufacturing jobs to Stillwater, Okla. Employees were under the impression that union bylaws prohibited a second vote on an identical contract. After it came to light that no such bylaw existed, concerned Mercury laborers began a petition drive for a revote. The revote began 2 hours before the deadline set by Mercury, continued past the deadline, then was aborted after Mercury withdrew the contract offer.

After yesterday's meeting, however, Mercury announced there will be a third vote that begins tomorrow and runs through Friday. Union laborers will vote on the identical contract originally proposed by Mercury that includes concessions such as a 2-year raise-freeze and reduced wages for temporary workers and those called back from layoff.

In addition, Wisconsin offered an increased incentive package to Mercury if the company keeps jobs in Fond du Lac, funded by a 0.5% tax levy. There's speculation that, if the union votes to accept the contract, Mercury could move jobs from Stillwater to Fond du Lac.

PAA auctions set 9/2/2009

Fans of fishing will have an opportunity to bid on once-in-a-lifetime fishing trips and unique fan experiences, along with authentic professional fishing memorabilia.

Each 2-week auction cycle will include one or two fishing trips or fan-experience prizes, which will be scheduled for specific time periods and locations. In addition, the auctions will also feature one-of-a-kind fishing memorabilia and autographed items, each coming with a certificate of authenticity.

“This is an extremely unique opportunity for fans of bass fishing," said PAA president John Crews. "They will be able to get fishing trips, memorabilia and prizes that they can’t get anywhere else. The PAA is proud to provide this service, and benefit charities at the same time.”

The first round of auctions kicks off with a dream day of fishing on famed Lake Amistad with PAA pro Byron Velvick. The winning bidder also receives 2 nights lodging at the Lake Amistad Resort. For an ultimate fan experience, bidders will also have a chance to win a Bass University seminar series of their choice, along with a private dinner for he or she and a guest with PAA pro Mike Iaconelli. In addition to these unique experiences, other pieces of professional fishing memorabilia, including autographed jerseys and baits, will be available for bids as well.

A portion of the proceeds from the first round of auctions will go to Recycled Fish, a new conservation partner of the PAA. Recycled Fish promotes a lifestyle of stewardship among anglers and those concerned about the nation’s water resources. Future auctions will benefit other organizations that support the goals and missions of the PAA.

Complete details of the Professional Angler Auctions will be posted on the PAA website at www.FishPAA.com.

Merc, union to meet 9/1/2009
Another update on the situation in Fond du Lac: Mercury has agreed to meet with the IAM Local 1947 union. Mercury issued this brief statement:

"In light of the uncertainty surrounding the voting by Mercury employees on the company's "best and final" offer made earlier to the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Mercury and the IAM Midwest Territory have agreed to meet to bring clarity to the communications regarding the unchanged "best and final" proposal."

No date for the meeting has been set, but the statement seems to have brought at least some hope to employees who sought a second vote on the previously rejected contract. That vote began Saturday night a few hours before a deadline established by Mercury, but was ended by the union Sunday – long after the deadline had passed. The union currently possesses the ballot box with an estimated 500 (of approximately 800 potential) votes. Indications of voter preference in the revote have not been made public.

Free hooks!! 9/1/2009

Radio: Jordon hunts AOY 9/1/2009

For a Windows Media version of the show, click here.

For a QuickTime version, or to sign up for the BassFan Radio Podcasts, click here.