Stren Series name change 12/23/2009

Stren is a company owned by Pure Fishing, which this fall ended its sponsorship of FLW Outdoors.

“This circuit will continue to offer anglers some of the best competition in our sport with an opportunity to improve and better oneself, all while having the opportunity to move up and compete on the FLW Tour and ultimately in the Forrest Wood Cup, the world championship of bass fishing,” said FLW Outdoors president and CEO Charlie Evans.

The American Fishing Series will consist of four divisions in 2010 – Central, Northern, Southeast and Texas. The Southeast Division schedule was modified with the updated event being held on Lake Seminole in Bainbridge, Ga., April 29-May 1. Each division will consist of three tournaments and the full schedule is below.

Central

> March 18-20 -- Lake of the Ozarks -- Osage Beach, Mo.
> April 15-17 -- Lake Ouachita -- Mount Ida, Ark.
> May 13-15 -- Kentucky Lake -- Gilbertsville, Ky.

Northern

> June 3-5 -- Potomac River -- Marbury, Md.
> July 15-17 -- Lake Champlain -- Plattsburgh, N.Y.
> Sept. 9-11 -- Lake Erie -- Erie, Pa.

Southeast

> Feb. 25-27 -- Lake Okeechobee -- Clewiston, Fla.
> April 29-May 1 -- Lake Seminole -- Bainbridge, Ga.
> Sept. 30-Oct. 2 -- Pickwick Lake -- Florence, Ala.

Texas

> Jan. 7-9 -- Lake Falcon -- Zapata, Texas
> Feb. 4-6 -- Lake Sam Rayburn -- Jasper, Texas
> June 17-19 -- Toledo Bend -- Manning, La.

Invitational

Nov. 4-6 -- Wheeler Lake -- Decatur, Ala.

Fields will consist of 150 boats fishing Thursday and Friday and the Top 10 pros and Top 10 co-anglers advancing to Saturday. Winners will be determined by total weight from all 3 days. The points champion from each division will qualify for the Forrest Wood Cup and a fifth Forrest Wood Cup qualifier will advance from an Invitational event that is open to the top 50 anglers from each division.

Pro entry fees are $825 per tournament and co-angler entry fees are $325. Anglers will compete for top awards of $25,000 in the pro division and $10,000 in the co-angler division, with awards of $800 and $350 extending through 50th place, respectively. If the winner is Ranger Cup-qualified, the pro will win a 198VX Ranger Boat with a 200-horsepower outboard and the co-angler will win an additional $5,000. The entry fee for the Invitational is the same as a tournament entry fee.

Registration is being accepted at FLWOutdoors.com or by calling 270) 252-1000 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central time.

A Happy Holiday 12/23/2009

BassFan's Top News Story won't change until after the New Year, although we'll continue to update FeedBack and report on breaking news.

From the BassFan staff to BassFans everywhere – have a wonderful holiday season!

BU: Sac stop approaching (corrected) 12/23/2009
The Philadelphia session of The Bass University was a big hit, and the next stop in Sacramento, Calif. is right around the corner. It's slated for Jan. 9-10 at the Doubletree Hotel. To register or find more information, visit TheBassUniversity.com. Ish Monroe, Michael Iaconelli, Gary Dobyns, Pete Gluszek, Brent Ehrler and Michael Bennett will be leading the Sacramento seminars.

(Editor's note: The above list of speakers is correct. BassFan previously published the Nashville speaker list.)

Featherlight Pflueger 12/23/2009
Love Pflueger reels? Then you'll want to hear all about the brand new Patriarch XT – the most advanced Pflueger reel ever manufactured. This baby can rough and tumble with the best of them, but weighs an amazing 6.8 ounces. For all the details on this hot new baitcaster, head on over to the Catch More Fish page.

Santa goes fishing 12/23/2009
Scott McGehee, a Bassmaster Open angler from Mississippi who's sponsored by BassCat, Mercury, Motorguide, Citrus Stick Rods and Lowrance, submitted this Christmas poem to BassFan. Enjoy:

T’was the Week Before Christmas
By Scott McGehee

T’was the week before Christmas, when all through the South
The weather was warming, time to catch a largemouth.
I should be out shopping for gifts with care,
But instead I have hope that the bass will be there.

The water’s too cold for the bass to bed,
So I’ll just have to catch them, fishing slow instead.
While momma’s at the house, wrapping gifts with class,
I’m on the lake, a fishin’ for bass

When up on the shore arose such a clatter,
I ran to the bank to see what’s the matter.
Away from my weedline,
That’d been producing just fine.

When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a sleigh, pulled by eight whitetail deer,
I have to admit, I was a little confused
St. Nick was here early, which left me bemused.

I told him, “Please, be aware,
Gun season is open, so your deer should take care.”
There’s hunters about, even though there’s no chill,
Looking for fresh venison, all ready to grill.

He replied, “They’ll have to chance it, alone in the wood,
I’d love to go fishing, if I could join you, I would.”
Turns out old Santa’s a bassaholic at heart.
Catches bass to unwind, has done so from the start.

So back to the weedline we flew,
To see if I couldn’t help old St. Nick catch a few.
Thus we drove to my spot, in my nimble BassCat,
Where he sat at my side, all jolly and fat.

And he whistled and shouted and called out his wishes,
“Fish crankbaits and worms, to catch some fishes.
Spinnerbaits and jigs, we must all try,
We’ll catch us some bass, to grill or fry.”

We had quite a day, with cast after cast,
It passed way too fast, I wished it would last.
I came to find out that St. Nick’s a good stick
When it comes to cold water, he knows every trick.

I wanted to beat him, but then I thought twice,
If I do that, it might not be nice.
If I’m naughty, I’ll get switches and coal,
Not what I wanted, a new Power Pole.

So catch them we did, all the way to dark,
Till he said he must go, it’s been quite a lark.
There’s still work to be done, before my big night,
Back to my eight deer, I must take flight.

Back to the elves, before they start to fight,
A delay in getting ready just wouldn’t be right.
So left me he did, they took to the sky;
He and his reindeer, north did they fly.
And he whistled and shouted, and called them by name;
But since he’s been fishing, their names aren’t the same.
“Now, Rayburn! Now, Martin! Now, Falcon and Fork!
On, Pickwick! On Sardis! On, Mead and Norfork!

To the end of the dam! To the top of the trees!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away, please!
But as they flew off, I did hear him call;
“Merry Christmas to you, and Bass Wishes to all.”

Zipper in new hands 12/22/2009

Zipper is still recognized as the originator of the ribbed bait, and possesses a patent on the design. Warehousing and manufacturing will be based in Enid.

Johnston said he's been a club-level bass angler for 42 years. The decision to purchase Zipper came after he called the company to order some baits.

"I started using the products when they were in all the major stores," he said. "With the original 4" Zipper, we really started catching fish when they were hard to catch. I've been familiar with their products for a long time, but we couldn't get them around here anymore, so on a whim I called to see if I could get some products."

Johnston added that Zipper will continue to handpour its baits (he has four pourers working right now), and will also continue to produce and sell its popular line of finesse jigs. He'll push for yearly new-product introductions, attend bass events to market the product, and might sponsor pros in the future.

The website (ZipperWormCompany.com) is currently in transition but will be up soon. In the meantime, BassFans looking to purchase Zipper products can call (580) 484-7929 or send an email to ZipperWorm@gmail.com.

ESPN's fishing shows 12/22/2009
ESPN Outdoors today released details of its fishing programming for the first portion of 2010. The lineup is again noticeably light on freshwater.

A press release announcing the lineup also noted that ESPN2 will dedicate 11 hours of programming to the upcoming Bassmaster Classic – same as this year.

The shows that will air on the ESPN2 outdoors block next year include:

FLW Series: Optional pot 12/22/2009
Earlier this fall, FLW Outdoors reworked its FLW Series format and effectively lowered the entry fee along with the payout. Great news for lower-level pros struggling to gather entry fees, bad news for tour-level pros who counting on high-stakes events.

To help the latter, FLW Outdoors today announced an optional buy-in pot for the Series. Cost is $1,000 for pros and $150 for co-anglers. Payment must be made the Friday prior to each respective tournament.

The payout table below shows the optional pot. It's based on everyone in the field (150 pros and 150 cos) participating. Payback is 100% for a full field.

In announcing the new pot, FLW Outdoors president and CEO Charlie Evans said: "FLW Outdoors continues to look for ways to offer tournament anglers the largest payouts in the sport even with the current economic conditions. The optional payout will provide competitors the opportunity to significantly increase their winnings and reward them for their efforts while competing at the highest level."

2010 FLW Series Optional Pot Payout

Place -- Pro -- Co
1st -- $21,000 -- $4,500
2nd -- $8,750 -- $1,500
3rd -- $8,500 -- $1,200
4th -- $4,500 -- $1,000
5th -- $3,750 -- $900
6th -- $3,500 -- $800
7th -- $3,300 -- $700
8th -- $3,100 -- $600
9th -- $2,900 -- $500
10th -- $2,700 -- $425
11th–15th --$2,600 -- $375
16th–20th -- $2,500 -- $325
21st–25th -- $2,350 -- $275
26th–30th -- $2,250 -- $250
31st–40th -- $2,150 -- $225
41st–50th -- $2,000 -- $200

TV ads: the new generation? 12/22/2009
Talk was going around about a new ad campaign from Rapala that was to be cutting-edge with lots of creative attitude. A little digging on YouTube pulled up some of ads – well ahead of broadcast launch. Check these out. The first is a Sufix ad which looks like an animation of some actual footage.

The second is an ad for Trigger X that's not only hilarious, but pretty effective.

According to YouTube, both were produced by Lindner Media. Check them out below.

New 'Rude sales promo 12/21/2009

Consumers who purchase an eligible Evinrude E-Tec outboard engine, 25-hp and above, will be offered a 5-year BRP factory-backed limited warranty (3-
year factory warranty plus an additional 2-year of B.E.S.T. coverage). Also, consumers who purchase and take delivery of an eligible engine to repower their existing boat during the promotion are qualified to receive a discount on select rigging packages (Analog, I-Command and ICON) with a retail value up to $1,100.

Goodwill reups with FLW 12/21/2009

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed, but Goodwill will again collect donations at each FLW Tour event and field its two-pro team of Chad Grigsby and Wesley Strader.

Goodwill became an FLW sponsor in January of this year. The news was particularly noteworthy because FLW Outdoors represented Goodwill's first foray into sports marketing.

In announcing the news, FLW Outdoors senior VP and chief marketing officer Trisha Blake said: "This partnership between FLW Outdoors and Goodwill has shown that organizations can find unique ways to help benefit our communities. Goodwill helps thousands of people every day, and we're proud to continue our relationship with them and help in their efforts to transform lives through work."

Goodwill president and CEO Jim Gibbons noted: "Goodwill's partnership with FLW Outdoors is making an economic investment in local communities. The generous donations of FLW Outdoors fans enable local Goodwills to help their neighbors find jobs, earn paychecks and support themselves and their families during these tough economic times."

Sales of donations in Goodwill stores help fund job-training programs, employment-placement services and other community-based programs for people who need them most in local communities. To find a Goodwill donation center near you, or to learn more about Goodwill's generous services, visit Goodwill.org.

Some special reels 12/18/2009

Head on over to the Abu Garcia For Life! contest page to read all about these vintage reels.

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. Entries must include a photo of the reel and are judged each month based on content, detail and theme.

For technical questions or problems with entry submissions, send an email to editorial@bassfan.com.

BU: group discounts 12/17/2009

Sign up with four others and your rate will be just $175. A group of 10 pays only $160 per person. (Regular individual price is $225.)

Note that discounts are also offered for students, as well as TBF and Federation Nation members.

For details on the group rates as well as other discounts, visit TheBassUniversity.com.

For reference, here's the schedule for the remaining three stops:

Genmar sale proceeding 12/17/2009
All is cleared for the endgame in the Genmar bankruptcy auction. As previously noted, the bid process was approved at a Dec. 8 hearing. The court more recently approved and scheduled the sales approval hearing, set for Jan. 13. Here's a look at the official schedule and deadlines:

Lay Lake: Classic baits coming 12/16/2009

This time around, the rollout is somewhat more focused and includes only a few baits. One is a downsized 3" Crazy Legs Chigger craw (previously available only in 4"). Also set for debut are 3" and 4" versions of the Power Minnow.

Interesting note there is the Berkley Drop Shot Minnow has been a tremendously popular bait ever since it launched at the start of this decade when the dropshot craze first hit. It's gone through various incarnations through the years, including a Realistix version this year with sparkle-scales, but the main emphasis had been to move the Minnow into the Gulp! line.

Gulp! has been red-hot for cool-water species like walleye and smallmouth, and it's tearing up the inshore scene, but it never really took off with bighead anglers, so Berkley plans to relaunch the Minnow as a PowerBait product with 3" and 4" versions shipping as the Classic approaches, presumably in a largemouth-specific color palette.

Genmar news? 12/15/2009

There's a bit of news today, however, from the Green Bay Press Gazette, which is covering the Carver Yachts angle. Carver isn't part of the Platinum bid, but Genmar Yacht Group president Bob VanGrunsven told the Press Gazette, "It won't be a liquidation out here – it will be a sale." He also stated: "We will have a new owner."

The full text of the article can be found here.

Keep up with PAA pros 12/15/2009

Chad Morgenthaler already has content up on the site. "As an athlete I'm always looking for new ways to connect with fans," he said. "With LockerBlogger I'm able to connect with sports fans across the nation and provide a glimpse into the daily life of a professional angler, as well as the highs and lows of competitive bass fishing. LockerBlogger's definitely a great catch!"

Elite field: full? 12/14/2009
One of the most talked about subjects among pros this off-season is field size – specifically, with so many pros struggling for sponsor dollars, will the Elite Series and FLW Tour fill up?

FLW Outdoors hasn't released a roster for its 2010 season, even though the first deposit deadline has passed.

BASS still has a deadline coming up, since the Opens ended so late. Still, BassFan asked BASS if it anticipates running 100-plus boats in the Elite Series next year.

A BASS official said: "Honestly, we're not sure on the final number – it's hard to tell because we still have some qualifiers to go through for the Opens – but it's shaping up nicely. As for when we'll release the list, (it'll be) either right before the holidays or right after. The Central Opens ended in early November, so we need to give those competitors some time."

BassFan also asked BASS if the league would invite additional Open anglers below the 12th-place cutoff if the field is short of full. The same official said: "We're sticking tight. That's what's published in the rules, so I don't foresee us doing that (reaching below 12th)."

Lastly, it does seem that any Elite pro who didn't automatically requalify through the points will be invited back due to other pros dropping out.

Grigsby amped about schedule 12/14/2009

"The Series is a no-brainer," he said. "The schedule they came out with – Okeechobee, Eufaula, Champlain, Chickamauga – it's like a fisherman's dream right there. And the Tour has a great schedule too. I'm excited for both of them. This has been the best lineup for my style of fishing that we've had in a long time. I'm ready to go."

He could have a complication with the Okeechobee Series, which begins Jan. 27. His wife's due with a baby on Feb. 6, which is smack dab between Okeechobee and the Red River Tour kickoff on Feb. 10. So he's driving from his home in Minnesota to Florida today to take all his tackle and such, then he'll fly back to be with his wife right up until the official Okeechobee practice. He's already booked his flight out of Orlando for the day the Series ends, because if she doesn't go into labor, they plan to induce her that following day.

Notable too is that Grigsby, as things stand now, will still run his Goodwill boat at Okeechobee. He noted that his team deal for next year hasn't been confirmed yet, but he expects to hear final news in the next couple of weeks.

WON BASS: fall dates TBA 12/14/2009
WON Bass tournament director Harvey Naslund contacted BassFan with news that the September and October dates for the Pro Circuit have been moved to TBA status. BassFan will report the dates and locations when they're finalized.

Berkley, Abu sponsor B.U. 12/11/2009

“Bass University is perfect for the avid angler looking to gain a better understanding of the techniques that professional anglers use,” said Iaconelli. “This will allow myself and fellow pro anglers to teach avid anglers the tricks of the trade in a classroom-type setting. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to share with other anglers that want to learn more.”

Berkley and Abu Garcia will provide giveaways and prizes at each Bass University seminar. Students that attend the seminar will receive 2 days of intensive classroom education taught by today’s top anglers. Iaconelli and Gluszek will provide one-on-one instruction and offer an open forum for discussion.

“Berkley and Abu Garcia are thrilled to have this opportunity,” said Berkley marketing manager Tammy Cox. “It is a great opportunity to grow our sport and pass along a greater understanding for today’s top techniques among professional anglers. Students have a great opportunity to learn from the best and Pure Fishing is proud to have the chance to be part of The Bass University.”

The Bass University provides students with the most comprehensive bass fishing instruction available. Students will gain access to the most cutting-edge techniques, tackle and equipment. Students will also receive a 1-year subscription to Bassin' Magazine, course literature, Berkley items in an official tackle gift pack and Bass University T-shirt.

Here's a schedule of the three remaining seminars:

> Jan. 9-10 – Sacramento, Calif.
> Jan. 23-24 – Nashville, Tenn.
> Feb. 6-7 – Dallas, Texas

Arbor Combo is a winner 12/11/2009
The new Pflueger Arbor Combo greatly impressed the Best of Show judges at ICAST last summer – it took top honors in the combo category. It's now available at many retail locations around the country, and a lot more will receive it in the weeks to come.

For the full scoop on the Arbor Combo, with an MSRP of just $99.95, head on over to the Catch More Fish page.

Gluszek to stay with FLW 12/10/2009

"There's a lot that came into play," he said. "Certainly finances were key, with the economy and sponsorship situations, and FLW lowering some of the entry fees helped.

"The primary factor was The Bass University (the seminar series he co-founded with Mike Iaconelli). We already have Mike promoting it heavily on the Bassmaster side, and if both of us were there, that would create a void on the FLW side. It's a good opportunity to have that presence."

He'll be hyping the University in the Family Fun Zone, which FLW has opened up to allow anglers to promote their sponsors through booths and displays. He also likes FLW's new policy of allowing the five anglers who advance to the final day at Tour events this year to have photo opportunities in their own sponsor garb once shooting for the TV show is complete.

Another factor was FLW's ties with collegiate fishing and The Bass Federation (TBF) – two groups that comprise a big part of the target audience for the University.

"It all just makes the most sense for my business. I'll finally sleep well tonight now that the decision has been made and I can put my focus on figuring out how to win tournaments."

Clausen's Illinois buck 12/10/2009

The deer scored 158 4/8 Boone and Crockett points and field-dressed at about 250 pounds.

"It was somewhat of a bittersweet hunt as I had spent a total of 12 days hunting a couple of the best farms I had ever hunted and passed up a couple of bigger deer in hopes of a giant," he said. "A couple days before I shot this one there was a 12-point that I had into 70 yards that I could never get a shot at – he was shot (later) and scored 183.

"The sweet part was that I shot the deer the last morning I was there, about an hour before I had to leave for my flight, and it was an old deer that was essentially a large cull buck. He came through chasing a doe at 25 yards and went about 60 yards after the shot. The land manager and neighbor had shed horns to show that he was at least 5 1/2 years old and had poor genetics. The long and short is that I met some great friends, got to hunt the best place I have ever been on and killed a nice deer that I won't forget."

Court approves Genmar process 12/10/2009
According to the official committee of secured creditors in the Genmar bankruptcy, the Minnesota Bankruptcy Court approved the bid process at a Dec. 8 hearing and the sale will move forward as anticipated. Again, here are the dates:

Rojas sponsor rumors 12/9/2009

First is the rumor that he'll be signing with Gander Mountain. The retailer (which recently turned private after being public) has been involved in walleye sponsorship through the years, but has largely stayed away from major investment in the bass side of things.

Rojas offered no comment on a potential deal with Gander Mountain, but didn't deny it either. And he said "several" sponsor announcements could be forthcoming.

He could, however, provide details of his new sponsorship with The Hanson Group.

"They're a rep group out of Minnesota – Spro, Gamakatsu, Big Bite, Irish Setter, Sunline and Gill raingear are some of their big accounts," he said. "They're really big, and their territory covers 26 states. Basically, they want me to help make people aware of the Hanson Group's reputation as being the best rep group in the United States for total sales and being all-around aggressive – even in a difficult economy.

"They're also using me for advertising purposes to help promote their brand in the fishing arena," he added. "It's really different. I don't think I've ever heard of a rep group sponsoring an angler, but they understand the importance of having somebody like me and I think it's really groundbreaking. They're very excited about it."

Kellogg's pullout: local news 12/9/2009
Local news in Arkansas has picked up coverage of the FLW Tour sponsor fallout. A recent news segment covers Greg Bohannan and his loss of the Kellogg's deal. It also touches on the lack of a Walmart Open this year. To watch, click here.

Two more for Scheide 12/9/2009

Scheide's two newest sponsors are Phil Wright Autoplex (an auto dealership) and Blackkat Creations (a sign company). Both businesses are located in his hometowm of Russellville, Ark.

In announcing the news, Scheide told BassFan: "It makes great sense to keep promoting GM vehicles since they've been the longest-running automotive company to support the fishing industry. My tow vehicle a full-size GMC crew cab with a Duramax diesel engine, and my Ranger boat will sport Phil Wright's logos on the wrap. I've been driving GM vehicles all my life and absolutely think they're the best of the best.

"My next associate sponsor, Blackkat Creations, is Arkansas' premier sign company that provides all kinds of sign and graphics services and they have a lot of experience in the auto and boat-wrap business," he added. "Their partnership is a great fit – the owner's an outdoorsman himself who knows the hunting and fishing industry. Their prices and quality make it well worth a phone call. There'll be a sneak peek of my wrap next week on BlackkatCreations.com."

Scheide wouldn't reveal the theme of his wrap – he fished for team BP this year, but expectations are that BP won't return as an FLW Tour sponsor. All Scheide would say about his wrap is: "The tentative design is awesome and I can't wait to unveil it. Let's just say it's shocking."

'The General' it is 12/9/2009
A 16-15 largemouth bass discovered in October during a routine electro-fishing procedure at Brown's Creek Lake in rural Tennessee has been officially dubbed "The General" in a Name That Bass Contest posted on the Outdoors with Larry Rea website (www.lroutdoors.com).

Will Garey, 24, of Atoka, Tenn., came up with the winning name. The General was among three finalists in the contest, which was featured throughout November on Rea's radio show. More than 30 names were submitted by show listeners.

A panel of judges trimmed the original list to The General, Granny Brown (Ron Wong of Memphis) and Shockey (Regina Owen of Memphis), with the winning name selected in a vote of show listeners on Dec. 5.

Gareyl, an August 2009 graduate of Middle Tennessee State University with a degree in aerospace, won a prize pack from Strike King, a Shimano Sonora 2500FB reel with a propulsion line management system , a spool of Power Pro Spectra braided line and a Grabber Warmer prize pack. The Strike King pack included a tackle box autographed by Kevin VanDam.

Don't let the fish's manly sounding name fool you – it's a female.

Poche will play 12/8/2009

"It's like I figured something out," he said of his strong Southern showing. "I really can't explain it, but I just put it all together this past year. It might be a confidence thing. I feel more comfortable out on the water.

"I feel joining the Elites is right for me now," he added. "I'm not married, I don't have children. The opportunity is here now. It's the right time to do it. I'm so ready to get to the fishing, I can't wait. I worked so hard for this. I think I'm the luckiest man there is."

> His last name's pronounced "poe-shay."

Luce drops down 12/8/2009

"Having made a difficult decision not to fish the Elites, I'd like to thank BASS, my sponsors, BassFan, fans and especially the Elite fishermen for an exciting 12 years of competitive angling that they provided," Luce said. "I'll continue to fish and compete with the PAA (Series) and possibly the FLW Series. Again thanks for supporting me."

Lindners celebrate 40 12/8/2009

The two were truly pioneers who delivered "everyman's fishing" for species like bass, crappie, bream, landlocked stripers and all the rest, but with scientific and technological angles.

It started in 1970 – 4 years after Al returned from Vietnam. The show was filmed and directed by his brother Ron, and included Al's 10-year-old nephew James.

The duo recently announced that next season will mark their 40th year of continuous TV broadcasting.

In recognizing the 40-year anniversary, Rapala USA president Tom Mackin said: "Over the past 40 years, Al and Ron Lindner have contributed greatly to the growth of the Rapala brand and the Rapala business. The Lindners flat-out know how to catch fish, and when they catch them with our lures on television, their enthusiasm is so genuine, it's contagious. Anglers trust and believe in these guys. At Rapala, we share their passion for the sport of fishing and really appreciate our friendship and partnership. It's been a good run together, but it's far from over – we still have more great years ahead."

The 40th anniversary officially kicks off when Lindner's Angling Edge premiers Saturday, Jan. 2 at 10:00 AM EST on Versus.

Ray's Trophy Bass Retreat 12/8/2009

Although the Retreat doesn't open until 2010, the first group fished by special invitation last month and it included Federal Judge Bill Roberts and three friends.

Jim Kientz, executive director of Ray Scott Outdoors, was scorekeeper for the 2-day trip and noted Judge Roberts caught two bass over 10 pounds in the first 6 hours of fishing. Overall, according to Kientz, the fishing couldn't have been better. Each boat caught an estimated 40 to 45 bass each day with trophy catches measured at 10-08, 10-02 and 9-12. The group caught plenty of 5- to 7-pound bass along with a boatload of 3- to 4-pound "dinks."

Scott's ranch, as he likes to call his moss-draped 200-acre property south of Montgomery, Ala., offers three lakes including the world-famous 55-acre Presidents Lake in his backyard, so named by the press for the fishing visits made by both Bushes.

Rick Clunn caught his personal best there – a 13-15 he roped during a fundraising tournament to help build a new sanctuary for a nearby country church.

Fishing packages include breakfast, lunch and dinner in Ray's comfortable home and usually the opportunity to spend time with the Bass Boss himself, depending on his calendar.

"I'm marking my calendar for each trip," Ray said. "If humanly possible, I intend to meet every group."

He plans to offer only a limited number of trips to manage pressure on the lakes. His executive package is limited to one trip a week most months of the year. He's also planning less expensive day trips on Fridays for those who want to come early in the morning, fish all day and then go home.

For details, visit RayScottBassRetreat.com or call Jim Kientz at (800) 518-7222.

Philly B.U. session a hit 12/7/2009

"We were real pleased," he said. "The students showed up and the enthusiasm was really strong."

In addition to the co-founders, other instructors were Gerald Swindle, Dave Wolak, Greg Hackney and Dave Mansue. He said the 110 students ran the gamut of ages and experience levels.

"We had everybody from pure beginners to a guy who'd won a BASS tournament. And everybody stayed until the very last seminar was given. The excitement was just great."

To read a summary of the entire weekend by blogger Adam Mihara at the CourierPostOnline.com, click here. Also, several video segments from the event are available at BassEast.com.

Space is still available for the remaining seminars in Sacramento, Calif. (Jan. 9-10), Nashville, Tenn. (Jan. 23-24) and Dallas, Texas (Feb. 6-7). To visit the B.U. website, click here.

Johnson to fish for FCA 12/7/2009

He's seeking funding for the outdoors branch of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). With collegiate fishing having taken off around the country, the organization is primed to take advantage of an opportunity to spread its message that didn't exist before.

"The FCA was founded in 1954 and it's the largest sports organization in the country," he said. "This new division, FCA Outdoors, was created over the last couple of years to reach out to the hunters and fishermen in the same way the FCA always has in the major sports.

"We'll go to the colleges and high schools and speak to the athletes about integrity and respect for themselves and respect for others. Our main goal is to reach these athletes for Jesus and help them gain some values that they might not get somewhere else."

The funding that he raises for the FCA will go toward offsetting his touring expenses, but he said he's committed to the program no matter the amount he generates. Perhaps the most attractive carrot for a corporation is that because the FCA is a non-profit organization, contributions are 100% tax-deductible.

"We're looking for an individual or corporation that has the same heart as the FCA – a goal to impact the next generation who are playing college sports, but someday are going to be the leaders of the country. It's a chance to help instill some of the values they'd want in their employees.

"We need a unique company that sees the vision of reaching people for Jesus. They're not spending money on Tim Johnson, but they're contributing to the FCA to promote the values that the FCA puts into these kids."

A company that takes him up on the deal will receive primary logo placement on his boat, truck and jersey. "It'll appear to the average person like I'm sponsored by that company. It's something that'll allow their name to be given out in a whole lot of different places."

To learn more about the FCA, click here. To contact Johnson directly, send him an email at timjohnson@mindspring.com.

New Perry book 12/7/2009
Bill Baab, former outdoors editor of the Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle, has written a recently published book about George Perry and the world-record largemouth bass (22-04) that he caught 77 years ago.

Baab is considered the world's foremost authority on Perry and the giant bass he caught from Montgomery Lake on June 2, 1932. The book, published by Whitefish Press, is currently on sale for $19.95.

For more info on the book and ordering information, click here.

Scalish: 1 more year 12/7/2009

"Why should I put my wife and kids behind the eight-ball?" he told BassFan. "I'll spend another year in the Opens and some of the deals I'm working on now might be even better next year. I have to play the cards the way they're dealt. I can't print money. I just have to do the best job I can with what I'm given.

"It's bittersweet – to have a season like the one I'm coming off of, and not fish the Elites," he added. "I'll just have to go out and fish next year's Opens and do the best job I can, have as much fun as I can and work on business arrangements now so that when everything's ready I can pull the trigger next year."

Regarding his Classic practice at Lay, he said the fish are just about to go into their winter pattern, but it's "going to be a lot different" when he returns in February. "So that's kind of frustrating, because I'm practicing on an if-come. If the weather does this, I'll go here. If it does that, I'll go there. What I'm doing is if I find something that I think will be a good winter thing, I'll put that in my GPS under a different icon. If I find brush, I'll put that under a different icon too."

Versatility triumphs this time 12/4/2009

For his prize, Hicks can choose between a brand new Abu Garcia Sorön SX spinning reel or Revo SX casting reel.

He was somewhat surprised that he won considering the relative youth of his reel.

"I knew it was an old-reel contest, but I don't own any old Abus," said Hicks, who does most of his fishing on the Potomac River. "When the Revos came, out, I just fell in love with them. I got to test one, and then I went out and bought one. And then I bought another one, and another one, and another one, and then I bought the Skeet Reese model.

"I never was much into baitcasters, but I was able to fish comfortably with them and do things that I couldn't do with other reels. They're the workhorses for me and they get quite a workout."

To read Hicks' winning entry, as well as other stories about and pictures of Abu Garcia reels, visit the Abu Garcia For Life! contest page.

And remember, you too could win a brand new reel. All it takes is a few minutes to enter.

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. Entries must include a photo of the reel and are judged each month based on content, detail and theme.

For technical questions or problems with entry submissions, send an email to editorial@bassfan.com.

Scheide signs one 12/4/2009

"I'll feature their logo on the truck and boat wrap as well as my jersey," he said. "Their sponsorship's a perfect fit for an outdoorsman. We don't have pro baseball or football venues here to attract tourism. We're known for Lake Dardanelle and we offer some world-class hunting, camping, off-roading and many other activities that people may not know about.

"I'll be working with a local website beginning later this month, LakeDardanelleTournaments.com, and also have weekly updates on fish catches of all species and hunting reports on my Facebook page."

Scheide also noted that he should have "a few more" announcements next week regarding sponsorships for 2010.
He currently plans to fish next year's FLW Tour and Eastern FLW Series.

Genmar: Textron Wants Changes 12/4/2009
Earlier this week, Genmar filed an asset purchase agreement (APA) with the bankruptcy court of Minnesota. In short, the agreement set forth a stalking-horse bid from Project Boat Holdings – a subsidiary of Platinum Equity – in the amount of $55 million for Genmar brands Ranger, Stratos, Champion, Wellcraft, Four Winns, Glastron and Larson.

In the APA, Genmar also asked the court to approve a sales and auction timeline as follows:

Greenblatt accepts invite 12/4/2009

"My first (entry-fee deposit) payment is already in and I'm ready to go," he said. "I'm pretty excited about it."

He's a little disappointed that there are no smallmouth fisheries on the 2010 Elite schedule, but he'll scratch that itch by fishing the Opens again. His finishes this year were 4th at the Chesapeake Bay, 53rd at Champlain and 49th at Erie.

The 39-year-old competed as a co-angler on the FLW Tour last year and won the Champlain stop. In 2008, he finished 7th in the Northern Stren points on the pro side.

Gary Yamamoto Baits is his primary sponsor, but he's working on a wrap deal for 2010. He also hopes to pick up rod and line sponsors.

He moved to Florida a couple of years ago to escape the winter weather in the Northeast. "My family was down there, and I got tired of shoveling snow. Plus, I could fish all year long."

Value with Vengeance 12/4/2009
Abu Garcia introduces its Vengeance line of rods for 2010. The 12 spinning and 10 baitcasting models are designed to deliver top-notch performance at a price that most any angler can afford. They're light and sensitive, yet powerful enough to handle the biggest bucketmouths.

For the full scoop on the new sticks, head on over to the Catch More Fish page.

PAA details released 12/4/2009

The release, which stemmed from 3 days of meetings in Kentucky, noted that the tournaments "will take place in a centralized area of the country to reduce travel expenses for the angers as much as possible. Exact locations, registration dates and other details will be announced in the near future."

Said PAA president John Crews: "We are ecstatic to have many of these details ready to release. The PAA wanted to announce these details so everyone can plan their 2010 calendars. We will have more details to release about the events once they are finalized. We know our events are going to create fantastic opportunities for our members to fish more televised, pro-level events.”

Here's a look at some of the specifics:

Dates

> July 8-10
> Aug. 19-21
> Sept. 9-11
> Oct. 21-23

Entry Fee

> $2,500 per event with a $750 deposit

Format

> 30-day off limits before first practice day (no info and not on water)
> 3-day official practice (Sunday thru Tuesday)
> 1 off day (Wednesday) for registration and other activities
> 3-day tournament (Thursday thru Saturday)
> Full field on first 2 days
> Top 30 fish the final day, with weigh-in at Bass Pro Shops store
> Pro only – must be a tour-level member of PAA to fish any tournament in 2010
> Member observers will ride with pros all 3 days
> Full field = 150 boats; 160-boat maximum field

Payout

1. $50,000 ($10,000 cash plus prize boat)
2. $20,000
3. $15,000
4. $13,000
5. $12,500
6. $12,000
7. $11,500
8. $11,000
9. $10,500
10. $10,000
11 thru 14. $6,750
15 thru 30. $6,000
31 thru 50. $5,500

Big Bass award – $1,500 ($500 per day)

Total payout – $400,000

No Elites for McCall 12/4/2009

"I tried several avenues and could not come up with the money," he said. "I'll continue to see if I can get the help to get (back on the FLW Tour), but it looks like another year of Opens, local stuff and either the Strens or PAA (Tournament Series)."

He fished the FLW Tour full-time for 6 seasons (2003-08). His Central Open finishes this year were 10th at Toledo Bend, 17th at Sam Rayburn and 16th at the Red River.

Haseotes in, ready to roll 12/2/2009

Only the Top 7 on the three Open points lists were guaranteed Elite slots, but BASS works its way down to 12th place if higher finishers decline the invitation.

He's secured his primary sponsorship deal with Gulf Oil and the designs for his boat and truck wraps have been approved by the company's marketing department. He'll soon head south on a scouting trip to familiarize himself with a few of the venues on the Elite schedule.

"After that I'll fish the Southern Open at Okeechobee, then head out west (the first two Elite events are in California) at the end of February," he said. "I'm pretty excited."

2010 Ranger Cup details 12/2/2009

Next year's Ranger Cup program will include bonuses for the FLW Tour, Stren Series, BFLs and Walleye Tour. There is no mention of bonuses for either division of the FLW Series. Here's the summary:

FLW Tour
> Pros: If winner is Ranger Cup qualified, receives $25,000
> Co-anglers: If winner is Ranger Cup qualified, receives $5,000

Forrest Wood Cup
> Pros: If winner is Ranger Cup qualified, receives $100,000
> Co-anglers: If winner is Ranger Cup qualified, receives $10,000

Stren Series
> Pros: If winner is Ranger Cup qualified, awarded a boat certificate for a 198 VX Ranger with a 200-hp engine
> Co-anglers: If winner is Ranger Cup qualified, receives $5,000

Bass Fishing League (BFL)
> If winner is Ranger Cup qualified, receives $2,000

BFL All-American
> Pros: Up to $130,000 paid down the pro field for Ranger Cup qualifiers
> Co-anglers: Up to $50,000 paid down the co-angler field for Ranger Cup qualifiers

Walleye Tour
> Pros: If winner is Ranger Cup qualified, receives $10,000
> Co-anglers: If winner is Ranger Cup qualified, receives $2,500

Walleye Tour Championship
> Pros: If winner is Ranger Cup qualified, receives $5,000
> Co-anglers: If winner is Ranger Cup qualified, receives $2,000

Several changes to the program are noteworthy, starting with the drop in the Cup bonus from $500,000 to $100,000.

The Stren Series bonuses are similar to last year, except there is no note to indicate a bonus for the highest-finishing Ranger Cup angler, if he or she is not the winner. Also, there was roughly $100,000 in Ranger Cup money available at this year's Stren Championship, but that won't be the case next year, as the Championship's been shuttered.

The same is largely true for the BFLs, where there's no mention of a Ranger Cup award for highest finisher but non-winner.

The Walleye Tour bonuses dropped considerably to reflect the Tour's downgraded status as a mix between the previous Walleye Tour and Walleye League. A winning Ranger Cup pro now receives $10,000 (vs. $25,000 this year) while a co-angler nets $2,500 (vs. $2,000 this year). And the bonuses only stretch through 5th place, whereas they reached down to 50th this year.

The Walleye Championship bonuses are also downgraded – $5,000 to a winning pro (vs. $25,000 this year) and $2,000 to the winning co-angler (vs. $5,000 this year). And Championship bonuses are likewise available down to 5th place (vs. 30th this year).

Again, to realize any of the above bonuses, an angler must be Ranger Cup qualified.

Roy commits 12/2/2009

"I know I'm young, but this has been my lifelong dream," Roy said. "This is what I want to do as a career, so this is a great opportunity – a jump start on my career. Obviously, I'm going to make a lot of mistakes, but I try to learn from my mistakes. Hopefully I can learn, then adapt quickly."

Interestingly, Roy was still 18 years old when he got his tour card. He turned 19 a month ago.

Also notable is, at age 13, he was the 2004 Bassmaster Junior World champion in the 11-14 age group and at age 17, represented Kentucky at the 2008 BASS Federation National Championship.

And while he fishes next season, he'll continue online coursework in business and marketing en route to a degree.

Home shopping with Ike 12/2/2009

"I'm excited about the opportunity to bring fishing and LaserLure to a whole new demographic of people who might not normally think about fishing," Ike said.

LaserLure national sales manager Mike Lopez noted: "I'm thrilled at the opportunity to bring the incomparable patented LaserLure to the QVC audience. QVC only chooses a limited number of products to showcase each year and we're honored to be selected."

The kit, which will sell for $34.99, includes two special-color Iaconelli's Signature Series LaserLure hardbaits, a Plano tacklebox and a letter from Ike. The special Ike's Beatdown color was the color Ike threw at this year's Bassmaster Classic, where he finished 2nd. The kit will contain both a floating jerkbait and a deep-diving crankbait.

According to QVC, it broadcasts to over 141 million consumers daily. QVC is available on most cable systems and satellite channels and can be found live at QVC.com.

Ranger/FLW announcement 12/1/2009

Although it was expected that Ranger would renew, there were significant questions about when the sponsorship could be announced, and whether the lucrative Ranger contingencies could continue. Ranger is currently part of the Genmar bankruptcy, and will be sold at auction on Jan. 7.

Full details of the agreement were not disclosed, but Ranger will continue its Ranger Cup program for the FLW Tour. The Ranger bonus for winning an FLW Tour event in 2010 will again be $25,000, but the Forrest Wood Cup bonus will be $100,000 (as opposed to $500,000 this year). Co-angler awards were not announced and there was no specific mention of Ranger Cup money for lesser FLW Outdoors circuits.

Ranger will also be a major supporter of FLW Fantasy Fishing.

In announcing the news, FLW Outdoors VP and chief marketing officer Trisha Blake said: "We're proud to have such a strong partnership with Ranger Boats. Ranger is the ultimate standard on the water. Their leadership within the world of competitive fishing goes back more than four decades and our relationship has become a cornerstone in the competitive fishing industry. We look forward to another successful season of fishing with the cutting-edge industry leader."

Ranger president Randy Hopper noted: "We're equally excited to share in so many upcoming events and opportunities for anglers. From walleye and bass tournaments to championship celebrations like the Forrest Wood Cup, we're looking forward to reinforcing our strong legacy of angler support with FLW Outdoors. Coupled with our record-setting Ranger Cup contingencies, 2010 will mark more than a decade that Ranger owner/anglers have been rewarded with these all-time richest owner bonuses."

Yamaha shutters Century 12/1/2009

The news shows the extent to which saltwater boat brands continue to struggle – offshore brands in particular.

Skeeter and G3, which are largely freshwater brands and also owned by Yamaha, were not impacted by the news.

In announcing the shuttering, Yamaha Marine Group and Century president Phil Dyskow said: "The Century brand has a long history in the marine industry, and the decision to discontinue production was difficult to make, but market conditions have made it difficult to sustain an acceptable level of performance at the Panama City-based facility."

Yamaha will continue to provide Century dealers and customers with parts and service and will honor warranties through its existing network of dealers. The company has 45 dealers in 18 states.

Yamaha purchased the Panama City-based Century in 1995 as part of a strategic plan to grow market share for its outboard motors in the offshore category. Yamaha invested in the company's production facility and manufacturing processes. Annual sales for Century peaked in 2007 at over 1,000 boats annually.

Century currently has 63 full-time employees. Those affected by the shutdown were notified earlier today.