Welcome to BassFan's Dock Talk section, where you will see brief, newsworthy items that for one reason or another can't be made into full-blown news articles. Despite the name, and in keeping with BassFan's editorial policy, every effort will be made to avoid publishing outright rumors.
Bill Berry, a former Bassmaster Tour pro from Indiana, checked in today with some sad news: His 6-year-old stepson, Dalton Royal, has been battling a rare genetic disorder called Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) for more than a year and a lesion was recently discovered on his brain.
Dalton will need a bone marrow transplant (a suitable donor must be found) and will have to undergo chemotherapy. He'll be at the University of Minnesota Medical Center for at least the next 6 months.
"I hope to hit the trail again someday, but right now my family needs me," said Berry, whose own son is the same age as Dalton and is also his best friend. "Tell all the anglers I miss them and that me and my wife would love to hear some words of praise and encouragement."
To learn more about Dalton and his ailment, visit www.DaltonsJourney.com. There's a PayPal link at the bottom of the homepage for donations to help defray the family's expenses.
Buck Knives, one of Ohio Bassmaster Elite Series angler Bill Lowen's sponsors, has created a canoe model emblazoned with his signature, every diehard fisherman's favorite saying and a pewter bass shield designed by renowned wildlife artist Sid Bell (click the photo to see a larger version). Only 500 have been made and they're priced at a very reasonable $24.99.
As an added bonus, five purchasers will receive a certificate which will get them Lowen's All Pro signature-series 7 1/2-foot swim jig rod and an Abu Garcia Revo STX reel.
To buy the knife from Smoky Mountain Knife Works or get more info on it, click here. Remember, it's a limited edition and will likely sell out quickly.
Facts of Fishing FYI this week 3/31/2010 This week's FYI show digs deep into hard-hitting topics like love, winning and who really is fishing's next poster boy or girl. To watch, click below.
Spawn study: No major impact 3/31/2010 In his blog at OutdoorLife.com, J.R. Absher reports on a University of Florida study that concluded that fishing for largemouth bass during the spawning season has no significant negative impact on the population, and that the loss of some nests ensures a higher survival rate for others.
Rankings: check out Reese, Thrift 3/30/2010 A new edition of the BassFan World Rankings was just published, and Skeet Reese has pulled pretty far ahead of Brent Ehrler. Plus, Norman FLW Tour winner Bryan Thrift's now ranked 5th.
Collegiate anglers throughout the country can begin registering online on April 1 for the 2010 Collegiate Bass Fishing Open. The event, scheduled for June 21-25 at Kentucky Lake in Paris, Tenn., is part of the BoatU.S. Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship Series and is open to all eligible collegiate anglers nationwide.
A team can consist of up to six anglers and three boats and there's no limit to the number of teams that can participate. The full field will compete both days.
Winners will be determined by the combined weight of each team's two heaviest boat weights each day. For clubs that are only able to send one boat, the single boat weight will be doubled each day. Numerous prizes and awards will be made to the top finishers.
The Berkley Experience Trailer's next stop will be at the Gander Mountain store in Washington, Pa. this Thursday through Saturday (April 1-3). The 60-foot trailer of fun and activities brings fishing education to all skill levels of anglers.
The trailer has new videos and interactive demonstrations on line and bait. The Berkley Experience Team will present seminars scheduled throughout the day to cover the four main components of fishing: line selection, rigging techniques for bait, reel maintenance and rod selection.
Each stop has special retail promotions only available while the trailer is at the location. These include line, bait, rods, reels and combos.
“We have shared the Berkley Experience with thousands of anglers this year and look forward to interacting with many more at all of our stops during the remainder of the year.” said Berkley senior marketing manager Andrew Marks. "Our Experience Trailer staff is ready to help anglers of all ages and skill levels learn about fishing, our products and how best to use them to catch more fish.”
Other elements include a knot-tying contest and demonstration, where participants can learn new knots and even win a prize. Under the tent, there will be racks filled with the latest products and big screen videos that help you experience the adventure with Berkley. The Berkley Experience staff is always on hand to answer questions.
The store is located at 1500 W. Chestnut St.
The trailer's next stop will be at Scheels in Omaha, Neb. from April 9-11.
Florida Bassmaster Elite Series angler Terry Scroggins is the newest addition to the Hi-Seas pro staff, the line company announced recently.
Scroggins was introduced to Hi-Seas lines before the first Bassmaster Southern Open of 2010 at Lake Okeechobee by fellow Elite pros and staff members Jeff Kriet and Cliff Pace. Scroggins earned a 3rd-place finish fishing the Hi-Seas 100% fluorocarbon and the new Quattro 100% fluorocarbon lines, as well as the Grand Slam braid.
“Terry is a world-class angler with a great reputation and friendly personality," said Hi-Seas sales manager Steven Miller. "Terry’s enthusiasm and proven success with Hi-Seas is wonderful to see. We are extremely happy about Terry becoming member of the Hi-Seas team."
Said Scroggins: "Hi-Seas fluorocarbon lines are the most user-friendly lines and also have the most superior knot strength out of any fluorocarbon I have ever used. The entire team at Hi-Seas is a great staff and great company to be representing. I am happy to be a part of Hi-Seas and glad to be using their lines.”
Former FLW Tour angler Craig Powers has long been renowned for the quality of his homemade baits. He's not competing on the Tour this year and thus has more time on his hands, and he's now churning out more baits and making them available to the general public.
CP Series crankbaits, which come in three sizes and 10 colors, are available at CPBaits.com.
“Availability is limited as a matter of practicality," Powers said. “I want to take my time and make every one just right. At that pace, I can produce about a dozen a day. That’s around 3,000 pieces a year.
“I learned the craft from the legendary Sonny McFarland, who many consider to be the best homemade plug-maker in the business."
He uses custom-built forms so that each bait he produces is identical (it also ensures that if one is lost, it can be replaced). He then hand-paints each one to its own unique character.
"One irreplaceable bait is only good for a lot of heartache," he said.
Andy Morgan finished 6th and first out of the cut at the Norman FLW Tour. He should have made the cut easily, but ran into a problem on day 2. He borrowed his father's boat to fish – his new boat was just rolling out of production. He ran all the way up the river the morning of day 2, and as he arrived, his engine died – fishing line had wrapped around his prop and broke the seal.
He called his buddy Larry Nixon, who drove 25 minutes up the lake to help him. Nixon, who caught just one fish the previous day, let Morgan fish from his boat, while Nixon fished out of the crippled rig. Although Morgan began the day in 2nd, he weighed just four fish and fell all the way to 41st.
And although Morgan made a huge comeback on day 3 with a 13-pound sack, he ultimately fell 3 ounces short of the cut.
When asked to look back at his fishing, and if there was anything he could have done differently to make the cut, he said: "Right at the end of (day 2) I bounced a 2-pounder off the side of the boat and lost it – that would have got me into the cut right there. But I lost fish the day before too. The biggest thing was I just couldn't run around like I needed to. I was in Larry's boat and I couldn't go down the lake and leave Larry up the river without a ride back. So being confined to that one area is what really cost me.
"But also, if Larry hadn't brought me that boat, I wouldn't have caught that 7 pounds. It's just something that happens. You're not going to take your prop off every day and look for that. It was just misfortune and it happens to everybody. It was just a bad time for it to happen to me."
For the record, over the past 3 years at Norman, Morgan finished 11th and 12th with a Top-10 cut, 2nd, and now 6th with a Top-5 cut.
The Big Bite Lookback is brought to you by the great folks at Big Bite Baits.
Sweet win for Dill 3/25/2010 James Dill was in 5th place when the final day of the recent Lake of the Ozarks Central American Fishing Series got under way, but he was hoisting the trophy after the weigh-in courtesy of a 16-pound bag that gave him a 1-pound victory.
Chevy extends 3/25/2010 FLW Outdoors today announced that Chevrolet extended its sponsorship agreement. The carmaker has been involved with FLW Outdoors since the league's inception in 1996.
Terms of the agreement were not disclosed, nor was a level of sponsorship announced (i.e. associate, platinum).
FLW outdoors senior VP and CMO Trisha Blake said of the deal: "Chevrolet's commitment to this industry is second to none and we're excited about continuing our long-term relationship with them."
Chevy national promotions manager Phil Caruso added: "Chevy's proud to have taken a part in the continued growth of competitive fishing in cities and towns across the country. Whether it's supporting FLW Outdoors and their conservation efforts, or when hitching the family boat to one of our award-winning trucks, we look forward to being there for today's anglers and generations to come."
Under the deal, Chevy will title-sponsor the Ouachita FLW Tour, now named the Chevy Open. Chevy will also serve as the presenting sponsor of the BFL All-American and the BFL Chevy Wild Card.
As announced previously on BassFan, Dave Lefebre has joined Team Chevy. FLW Walleye Tour pro Jason Przekurat will also fish for the team.
Off to a great start 3/25/2010 Kentucky Bassmaster Elite Series rookie and Berkley pro staffer Bradley Roy might still be a teenager, but he proved on the recent California swing that he can hold his own against the best anglers in the business. To find out some details of his 8th-place finish at Clear Lake, head on over to the Catch More Fish page.
Facts of Fishing this week 3/24/2010 Byron Velvick, Skeet Reese, Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire and a freaky fish are all part of this week's Facts of Fishing FYI with host Dave Mercer. Click below to watch it.
Classic show nominated again 3/24/2010 For the second consecutive year, ESPN2’s Bassmaster Classic television coverage has earned a Sports Emmy Award nomination.
The 2009 Classic show was tapped as one of five candidates for the 2010 award in the Outstanding Live Event Turnaround category.
The nomination was one of 54 this year for ESPN Inc., and marks the second year in a row the company won more nominations than any other company. Winners will be announced April 26 in New York City at the 31st annual Sports Emmy Awards by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
The 2009 Classic took place out of Shreveport-Bossier City, La., and on the Red River. The ESPN2 production tracked the Feb. 20-22 action on land and on water, turning a fully produced TV show within hours of competition each day.
ESPN Outdoors personalities Tommy Sanders and Mark Zona hosted portions of the show from a lakeside stage built for the production. The action shifted to the packed CenturyTel Center in Bossier City for the weigh-ins.
Camera operators in competitors’ boats captured anglers’ catches, and the resulting video was ferried by boat to production facilities set up on shore.
The Bassmaster Elite Series' California swing took just 11 calendar days to complete, but it represents a quarter of the 2010 season. Some of the ramifications of the events at the California Delta and Clear Lake will reverberate throughout the season as anglers pursue spots in the postseason series that will determine the Angler of the Year (AOY) and berths in the 2011 Bassmaster Classic in New Orleans.
Here are some results from those tournaments that may or may not have long-lasting impacts:
> Skeet Reese (pictured), who badly wants to claim his second AOY this year, has a 37-point bulge over 2nd-place Greg Hackney. Of course, with the advent of the postseason last year, just finishing the regular season atop the points standings is no longer enough to secure that title. But even if the season had ended at Clear Lake, Reese would have a 4-point edge in BASS' adjusted points formula for the postseason, and that's big.
> With finishes of 29th and 59th, two-time defending AOY Kevin Van Dam is 201 points behind Reese and 80 out of the No. 12 position that represents the postseason cutoff. But as he's proven before, he can make such deficits disappear in a hurry.
> Seventy-year-old Guy Eaker is 3rd in the points chase after finishes of 24th and 3rd. He'd love to make his 11th Classic and first since 1992 in what could be his final season due to some health issues plaguing his wife.
> After his 8th-place showing at Clear Lake moved him up to 16th in the points, 19-year-old Bradley Roy has a solid lead in the Rookie of the Year (ROY) race. Matt Greenblatt is next on the list at No. 35.
> Mike Iaconelli fared much better in California this time than he did 3 years ago, when he logged a pair of finishes in the 50s. His 4th- and 25th-place showings have him at No. 5 in the points.
> Native Californian Aaron Martens and lifelong Golden State resident Ish Monroe were expected to make some hay in these events, but it didn't happen. Martens' finishes were 54th and 38th, leaving him 49th in the points. Monroe is 67th after placements of 49th and 75th.
> Tim Horton, who turned pro in 2000, missed the Classic for the first time this year and has an uphill climb to keep from sitting out two in a row after finishes of 65th and 67th. He's currently mired at No. 73 in the AOY race.
Sonar and Mr. Howell 3/24/2010 Miles Burghoff's latest Sonar Sound-Off column is in, and it chronicles his day on the water with Randy Howell at the 2010 Bassmaster Classic. To read it, click here.
An interesting streak is on the line at this week's Norman FLW Tour, and there are four anglers who can keep it going. The three tour-level events that have taken place during the 2010 season (which excludes the Bassmaster Classic) have all been won by anglers who served as instructors at The Bass University seminars this past fall and winter.
On the FLW side, Brent Ehrler (Sacramento B.U. session) won at Table Rock. John Crews (Nashville) and Byron Velvick (Dallas) notched Bassmaster Elite Series wins at the California Delta and Clear Lake, respectively.
At Norman, Ehrler will attempt to make it two in a row for himself and four in a row for the B.U. crowd. Other B.U. instructors in the field are co-founder Pete Gluszek, Jay Yelas and two-tour pro Ish Monroe.
Of that quartet, Gluszek is the lone angler who appeared at the Philadelphia session – which is the only one that hasn't been represented by a victory thus far – so maybe that gives him a leg up.
Yelas: thumbs up 3/23/2010 Jay Yelas checked in to file his practice report. He thinks he's in line for a strong finish. For his full Norman FLW Tour practice report, click here to go On Tour With the BassFan Big Sticks.
The FLW Tour makes its traditional stop this week at North Carolina's Lake Norman, but the stop comes a month earlier than the previous three Norman events. That means the bite's decidedly more pre-spawn than in past years, when bed-fishing largely dominated.
Last year, BassFan published a brief statistical note, called The Norman Kings, and named nine pros who finished inside the Top 30 at both the previous Norman events. Version 2 of The Norman Kings does the same thing, except incorporates the 2009 Norman event. Surprisingly (or not), there are six pros who made the Top 30 at each of the previous three Norman FLW Tour events. Here they are, with their '07, '08 and '09 finishes followed by average finish:
> Jim Moynagh* -- 6th, 2nd, 6th (4th-place average)
> Greg Pugh -- 8th, 4th, 4th (5th-place average)
> Andy Morgan -- 12th, 11th, 2nd (8th-place average)
> Brent Ehrler -- 13th, 6th, 15th (11th-place average)
> Michael Bennett -- 7th, 18th, 16th (13th-place average)
> Luke Clausen -- 22nd, 25th, 24th (23rd-place average)
*Pictured to right
All of them would be excellent picks for a Fantasy Fishing roster. Another angler to keep is mind is certainly Sean Hoernke, who finished 5th last year and won the year before.
Note: The names who dropped from the list – i.e. those who finished outside the Top 30 last year – were Craig Powers, David Dudley and Tony Couch.
Irwin Jacobs recently distributed a letter to boat dealers that outlines immediate and future plans for several boat brands.
As background, remember that Jacobs and partner John Paul DeJoria formed a new company, J&D Acquisitions, and purchased the Larson, FinCraft, Seaswirl and Triumph brands, as well as Carver and Marquis yachts, at the Genmar bankruptcy auction. J&D also acquired the Little Falls, Minn. VEC manufacturing plant and the Marquis and Carver Yacht facilities in Pulaski, Wisc.
In his letter, Jacobs reiterated how difficult the past year and a half has been for the brands and the industry as a whole, and outlined the new corporate structure for the company.
First, Triumph manufacturing will move from Durham, N.C. to Little Falls, and Al Kuebelbeck will serve as president of the Little Falls factory. He'll report directly to Jacobs, as will Bob VanGrunsven (Bob Van), president of the Marquis and Carver brands. Jacobs noted that there'll be no corporate structure between himself and the presidents – something he thinks hurt Genmar. He also stated: "I assure you I'll never allow our companies to ever become over-leveraged again as we did in the Genmar situation."
Another interesting, related note: Jacobs recently told industry news source Trade Only Today that much of the venom he'd directed toward Brunswick over the past half-decade was misplaced. "I complained openly many times about Brunswick, which I apologized directly to Dusty McCoy for when I saw him in Florida," Jacobs told Trade Only. "I should have looked in the mirror myself before I started talking about him. We were nowhere near the size of what his (company) was from a corporate structure, but on a relative basis, we were every bit as bad as anything I was saying to them. A pox on my own, so to speak. I was calling the kettle black."
This week, the Berkley Experience Trailer heads to the Cabela's store in Hamburg, Pa. The trailer will be there March 26–28.
The trailer will be showing new videos and hosting interactive line and bait demonstrations. Seminars are scheduled for throughout the day on topics like line selection, rigging techniques, reel maintenance and rod selection.
After Hamburg, the trailer will stop at the Washington, Pa. Ganger Mountain store April 1–3.
Pradco will break ground 3/23/2010 According to the Southwest Times Record, Pradco Fishing will break ground June 1 for its new plant at Chaffee Crossing in Arkansas. The plant was originally planned to be 250,000 square feet but has since been scaled back to 191,000 square feet.
Pradco (a subsidiary of Ebsco Industries) is the parent company of brands such as Bomber, Rebel, Heddon, Yum and Lindy, among others.
Osaka, Japan resident Morizo Shimizu was the first angler out of the Top-12 cut at the recent Clear Lake Bassmaster Elite Series. His bags got a little bigger each day – from 18-03 to 19-05 to 20-12 – but his 58-04 total left him 11 ounces short of a ticket to fish on Sunday.
Many BassFans know that Shimizu speaks very little English. Thus, we enlisted the help of photographer Seigo Saito, a freelancer out of Los Angeles who shoots all Elite Series events for BASS and a close friend of Shimizu's, to get the angler's reflections on his performance. Saito was able to reach Shimizu by cell phone shortly before the latter boarded a plane for Japan.
Shimizu did lament that a few fish came unhooked before he got them to the boat – a regular occurrence when throwing lures such as swimbaits and jerkbaits – but he had no other grievances about the way he fished at the second of two California stops to open the new season.
"I did my best with what I could do," he said. "There's nothing I'd go back and try to do different. It's just that 12 people did a little better than me.
"I do regret that I lost some fish, but I did the best I could for all 3 days."
The Big Bite Lookback is brought to you by the great folks at Big Bite Baits.
The battle for the No. 1 spot in the BassFan World Rankings has turned into a week-to-week affair. In the latest edition of the Rankings, a strong western swing pushes Skeet Reese into the top spot. To view the full Rankings, click here.
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FLW Tour pro JT Kenney recently signed a new sponsor – Day's Auto & Boat Sales in Frankfort, Ky. Day's is a full-service Ranger and Stratos dealer with both new and pre-owned inventory.
"I'm just real happy to be associated with such a great boat and auto dealer," Kenney said. "It's got one of the biggest service areas for bass boats I've ever seen. And they have three qualified technicians who can work on any kind of motor. It's really an outstanding dealership."
Day's owner Bill Day told BassFan: "Day's has been blessed to not only survive, but prosper during the tough economic climate the country's enduring. We owe this in part to the relationships we've developed with outstanding anglers such as JT Kenney, as well as our valued local angler friends. We felt it was a great opportunity for us to align our business with one of the leading professionals in the sport. We also encourage other boat dealers to capitalize on the great opportunities they're missing by sponsoring anglers, tournament trails, collegiate teams and participating in other ways to help sustain and grow the sport."
BassFans take their equipment seriously. A lot of us have a few special items, often reels, that we simply won't part with. And when it comes to reels, there are always stories and memories attached. That's what the Abu Garcia For Life! contest's all about.
Three new entries in the contest were published today. To check 'em out, and wander back through history, head on over to the Catch More Fish page.
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.
BassFans might get a little confused when it comes to halls of fame, but there are actually three – the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame, the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame and the IGFA Hall of Fame.
Irwin Jacobs was inducted into the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame last month, and this week, FLW Outdoors was inducted into the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame under the category of Organization/Corporate or Government Entity.
Awards committee chairman Bill Gautsche Jr. noted of FLW's induction that the hall "recognizes the organization for its contribution, dedication and service to the freshwater sportfishing industry."
FLW Outdoors president and CEO Charlie Evans said: "FLW Outdoors is honored to have been inducted into the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame. To be associated with a membership that consists of the absolute legends and leaders in the sport is yet another feather in the cap of our great organization."
Someone finally unseated Kevin VanDam atop the BassFan World Rankings, and it's none other than recent Table Rock FLW Tour champion Brent Ehrler. To check out the newest edition of the Rankings, click here.
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With the Clear Lake Bassmaster Elite Series kicking off today, we thought it would be a good time to check in with Greg Gutierrez, the Californian who led that event for 3 days in 2007 before running out of quality fish on day 4 and being surpassed by eventual champion Steve Kennedy and runner-up Skeet Reese. BassFans might recall that the two-time Classic qualifier left the circuit the following year when wife Bobbie was forced to undergo several operations to resolve a lung issue.
He's been promoted to battalion chief with Cal Fire (formerly the California Department of Forestry) and is fishing the Western FLW Series and the U.S. Angler's Choice Pro-Ams. Bobbie is doing well health-wise and he hopes to someday return to tour-level competition.
"As far as Bobbie's health, we're as happy as we can be," he said. "There haven't been any major after-effects even though she had half a lung removed on one side, so we got lucky in that regard. We're working with medications now rather than surgeries."
He followed last week's event at the California Delta and will pay close attention to this one as well, but he said it's not easy.
"I log on to see what's going on and it's just killing me because I'd love to be out there right now. I loved fishing the Elite Series – the level of anglers was very professional and I enjoyed every minute of it."
The 48-year-old will be eligible to retire from Cal Fire in a couple of years and will consider making the move at that time if the financial implications look feasible. Fishing-wise, he'd basically have to start over in an attempt to get back where he was in 2008.
He may eventually try to return to the Elites via the Bassmaster Central Opens.
"I'm stuck where I'm at until I can figure out a way to qualify to get going again. It's a pain in the butt because I've lost any sponsors I had that were doing anything. I sure wish we had a Western (Open) division."
Meanwhile, he's started an online company called Fins and Fire that sells merchandise geared toward fellow firefighters who share his passion for fishing. To visit his site, click here.
Invisible anchor? 3/18/2010 There have been trolling-motor autopilot systems that have worked to some degree, but BassFan recently found out about a new product that might redefine all our thoughts about autopilot, because it works off satellie. Details on the product are found near the very end of a recent Al Lindner how-to video currently playing on YouTube. The full video's below, and Al covers Minn Kota's new iPilot control at the 6:44 mark.
Facts of Fishing FYI this week 3/17/2010 In this week's episode of Facts of Fishing FYI, host Dave Mercer covers topics like the Toyota Texas Bass Classic, John Crews, Big Bass and The Orr Fish. Check out the episode below.
Versus back with Direct 3/16/2010 For the past 6 months, BassFans with DirecTV have lamented the loss of fishing programs on the Versus network. Versus and DirecTV were embroiled in a pricing war, which meant programs like FLW Outdoors were unavailable to DirecTV subscribers. At the same time, sponsors of that show and other shows were denied reach into millions of households.
The two parties came to an agreement yesterday (as the NHL playoffs neared) and DirecTV is again airing the Versus network. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Official statements from both parties were distributed in a press release.
Derek Chang, DirecTV executive VP of content strategy and development said: "We're pleased that both sides were able to work out a satisfactory deal to bring this programming back to our customers."
Versus president Jamie Davis said: "We're excited that we were able to come to a fair agreement that puts Versus back in millions of homes with DirecTV in time for our busy spring programming schedule. We look forward to super-serving these fans with NHL regular-season and playoff coverage, our first live UFC event and much more."
Missouri-based RaZr Rods announced that it's signed former Forrest Wood Cup champion and two-time Bassmaster Classic winner George Cochran to a sponsorship deal.
“We feel really blessed to have George come onboard our pro staff,” said RaZr Rods president Rick LaPoint. “To have a three-time world champion choose to fish with RaZr Rods says a lot about our products.”
Cochran cited quality and technique-specific design among his reasons for choosing RaZr Rods.
“Fishing rods are like golf clubs – you need to have one for each job you’re going to do,” he said. “RaZr Rods come in a wide variety of actions, power and applications so I can have one that’s perfect for crankbaits, another that’s just right for worm fishing, another for topwaters and so on.”
Cochran, who's won more than $2 million on the water, recently launched a guide service on the Arkansas River and its backwaters in south Arkansas, where he developed his shallow-water skills and has continued to hone them throughout his career.
“Two things I have always loved to do is fish the Arkansas River and teach other people how to fish,” he said. “Guiding allows me to do both. I’m really enjoying it.”
The Toyota Texas Bass Classic (TTBC) has become a highly significant, standalone event in the sport. Organized and run by Gulf States Toyota and the Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept., the tournament has always worked in partnership with the PAA. Initially, the PAA sanctioned the event and supplied anglers to fill the field. Last year, the PAA used the TTBC as a de facto championship, which helped lend muscle to its fledgling PAA Tournament Series.
It all worked out great for the TTBC, the PAA and fans, but the TTBC contract expired last fall so there wasn't a guarantee there'd be a 2010 TTBC. Any concerns were alleviated today with the official announcement of the 2010 TTBC.
Although the venue remains the same (Lake Conroe, Oct. 1-3), much has changed and the TTBC will no longer function as a PAA championship. It'll more resemble a unifying championship for the sport by reducing the field and inviting top anglers from the Bassmaster Elite Series, FLW Tour and PAA Series.
It sounds a little confusing at first, but here's why this year's TTBC will be different: In 2009, the TTBC invited the Top 12 from the Elite Series, the Top 12 from the FLW Tour and about 40 from the PAA Series. Plus, the TTBC worked down the PAA Series points for double-qualifiers.
This year, the TTBC will draw the Top 15 from the Elite Series, the Top 15 from the FLW Tour and the Top 15 from the PAA Series. In the event of double-qualifiers, the TTBC will work down the PAA tour points standings (not the PAA Series points).
Also, because the TTBC will take place a few weeks before the PAA Series finale, the Top 15 in points after three PAA Series events will qualify.
BassFan asked PAA program director Danny Blandford about the new format, and whether it's a disappointment that the TTBC will no longer serve as a championship for the new league. Blandford said it wasn't a disappointment – the goal of the TTBC is to create a world championship of fishing, and the PAA benefits tremendously from that. "We're excited for the opportunity to continue to participate and make PAA membership as rewarding as possible," he added, noting the importance of the PAA Series and PAA tour points in regard to TTBC qualification.
One quirk in the qualifying: There will be 45 anglers invited from the tours (15 each), the defending champion will be invited (in this case Dave Lefebre), and there will be four "exemption" slots left to the discretion of TTBC officials. There was a feeling among some of the corporate sponsors last year that the field was missing several stars, so these four exemption slots were likely instituted as a fix.
The press release announcing the event stated that the "format will create a true world championship of bass fishing." Although the new format certainly approaches an ideal for a unifying championship, many will likely argue that the inclusion of hand-picked competitors could tarnish that claim if not done with discretion.
Further Details
Television coverage will be announced at a later date.
The field will cut to the Top 10 for day 3.
There's no entry fee and each competitor will be paid. The 2010 champion will earn $210,000.
Slot limits will be observed.
Fan activities, which require a ticket, take place on days 2 and 3 and again include concerts, the weigh-ins and an outdoor expo.
Proceeds from the event benefit the TPWD and its outdoor-recreation programs. In 2010, TPWD will reach $1 million in donations through the TTBC. Over the past 3 years, the TTBC has given $750,000 to benefit TPWD's youth-fishing and outreach programs. The 2010 donation will be a minimum of $250,000.
Japanese line giant Sunline added another heavy-hitting American pro to its staff recently when it locked up Mike McClelland.
McClelland joins other Sunline pros like Tommy Biffle, Aaron Martens, Brent Ehrler and Takahiro Omori, among others.
In announcing the news, Sunline national sales manager Mike Valster said: "Mike's a good hook and will be a great addition to the great pros that we already have on the Sunline staff. Anytime you can add a top Elite pro like Mike to your pro staff, you can't pass up that opportunity."
McClelland noted: "It's an honor to join the Sunline pro staff. Sunline makes one of the best lines on the market, and in the time I've been fishing with Sunline, I can see and feel the difference in my fishing line."
Lintner in accident 3/15/2010 BASS is reporting that Jared Lintner was in a serious accident on his way from the California Delta to Clear Lake. Linter and his son are fine, BASS reports, but it was all pretty scary. And he's scrambling around to find a boat for Clear Lake. To read the league's news piece, click here.
Greg Vinson, a second-year Bassmaster Elite Series pro from Alabama, was tied for 12th place with Denny Brauer after the day 3 weigh-in at the California Delta. Brauer, however, claimed the final spot in the Sunday field by virtue of having weighed 15 fish to Vinson's 14.
Vinson thus became the first angler out of the cut, but he wasn't complaining much.
"I really feel fortunate to finish where I did because I had a really difficult practice," he said. "I had one okay day, but then the next 2 days were just miserable.
"I had one area (a dead-end slough with clumps of grass and deeper water nearby) with some pretty good fish and I made the decision to spend the tournament in there and play it by ear. The more time I spent in there, the more I learned about how to put myself on the right spot during the various tide cycles. But I knew there was a possibility that I'd run out of fish because I was really focused on a 100-yard stretch."
The area failed to surrender a limit today, and he was sent packing for next week's event at Clear Lake. He had only one in the livewell with an hour and a half left when he switched rattlebaits – from a Yo-Zuri Rattlin' Vibe to an "old-school Rat-L-Trap."
He just wishes he'd made the change a little sooner.
"The Yo-Zuri is always a good stand-by for me, but that Rat-L-Trap had a little slower fall and a little more deliberate action. And it made a different sound after those fish had spent so much time listening to the same bait.
"Over the course if 3 days I'd tried so many different things that hadn't paid off that it was really hard to switch to something else."
The Big Bite Lookback is brought to you by the great folks at Big Bite Baits.
Silk, not rope 3/12/2010 The recent Table Rock FLW Tour was a study in contrast. On the one hand were the guys throwing heavy line, like 4th-place Bryan Thrift and 5th-place Greg Pugh. But above them, the Top 3 all threw light line. And 2nd-place Ron Shuffield even went to 8-pound line when the sun got up. Was he scared about breaking fish off in the trees? Nope. To find out why, head on over to the Catch More Fish page.
Earlier this week, FLW Outdoors chairman Irwin Jacobs hinted that changes in the FLW Outdoors tournament format might be coming. The changes, he said, would make it easier for anglers to market themselves.
Those changes were announced today, and here's a look.
Anglers will now be allowed to display some of their own logos on the final "TV days" of competition. However, the loosening of the rules comes with a huge caveat – an angler's logo(s) cannot conflict with FLW Outdoors sponsors that are exclusive to a category. Plus, an angler's logo is limited to 3"x3", it must be placed on a shirt supplied by FLW Outdoors, and it can "in no way interfere with any of the existing logos or design on the shirt provided by FLW Outdoors."
Here are the exclusive categories and the corresponding FLW Outdoors sponsors:
> Automotive: Only logo allowed is Chevy
> Automotive oil: Only logo allowed is Castrol
> Boats: Only logo allowed is Ranger
> Marine electronics: Only logo allowed is Lowrance
> Outboard engines: Only logos allowed are Evinrude and Yamaha
> Trolling motors: Only logo allowed is Minn Kota
> Outdoor retailer: Only logo allowed is Cabela's
> Armed services/military: Only logo allowed is National Guard
> Coffee: Only logo allowed is Folgers
> Donation centers: Only logo allowed is Goodwill
The updated policy will take effect March 15, 2010 for the FLW Tour, Series and Forrest Wood Cup.
FLW's previous logo policy, which was highly restrictive, functioned during a relative time of prosperity. But now that the league has lost the bulk of its major sponsors, including Walmart, BP, Kellogg's, Playtex, Pure Fishing, PTSI, Land O' Lakes and more, a loosening of the rules was anticipated. Still, there's little wiggle room for anglers to bolster their sponsor contracts based on a 3"x3" logo or patch. Conflicting boat and motor companies wouldn't get the shirt space they're accustomed to, and an angler's title sponsor would be sorely represented on TV days.
A few other notable items announced today:
> On Day 4 for the FLW Tour and Series and on days 3 and 4 for the Cup, anglers who make the cut must use boats, wear shirts, rain suits and PFDs, and use camera equipment and dip nets if supplied by FLW Outdoors. All shirts will include the following logos in addition to the FLW Tour sponsor logo: FLW Outdoors, Fantasy Fishing, The Winning Team and any other that FLW Outdoors deems appropriate to promote the anglers, its sponsors, FLW Outdoors and its events.
> The display of BASS and now PAA logos is prohibited.
> An angler's additional logos must by okayed by FLW Outdoors the night before competition. Any angler displaying a non-approved logo may be disqualified.
> FLW Outdoors reserves the right to add sponsors and categories/companies to the exclusive list. However, if an angler has made FLW Outdoors aware of additional logos prior to that category/company being added, the angler may be allowed to display the competing logo for the remainder of the year.
More than a few times now, FLW Tour pro Joe Thomas has come out swinging with a big day 1, then failed to back it up. Last year at the Norman FLW Tour he bagged 12-07 on day 1, good for 8th, then couldn't back it up and finished 32nd. In the very next event at Beaver (the Walmart Open), he caught nearly 12 pounds on day 1 and sat in 6th. He weighed half that the following day and finished 39th. Then at Kentucky Lake a month later, he opened with 18 1/2 pounds (22nd), but followed it up with 6-06 to finish 94th.
There was a little déjà-vu last week at the Table Rock FLW Tour when he opened with 15-07 (5th place), but followed it up with 9-08 then a zero and to finish 20th. He wasn't alone with the day-3 blues, though – 45 other pros blanked.
"Beaver and Table Rock have been my nemesis," he told BassFan. "I've had it happen a couple of different times, at Table Rock in particular, where I can put 1 or 2 days together and be really competitive, then one day it's just a totally different lake for me."
Last week's Table Rock event was especially frustrating, he said, because he caught them on what should have been the toughest fishing day, then blanked on what should have been the best day.
"At Table Rock, I figured out that I had to let the bait sit a long time over 12 to 14 feet of water," he noted. "I was fishing a Lucky Craft Pointer 110 DD, and I thought I had that dialed in. The third day it got partly cloudy, with a little wind, and I truly thought it would be my day and I could pull back into the Top 5. I was only 11 ounces out of 5th. I caught five fish and not one was over 15 inches (the minimum length). I'd like to have some real definitive answer for what happened, but I don't."
> Regarding his sponsors, Thomas made a few moves in the off-season. Lake Fork Parallelium line is now his personal line sponsor, as well as the line sponsor for his long-running Stihl Reel in the Outdoors TV show. (Lake Fork also recently signed Scott Martin and his Scott Martin Challenge show to a sponsorship contract). Thomas also recently added the American Modern Insurance Group to his portfolio.
BassFans may be wondering who's the most popular bass pro in Japan. The honor, hands-down, goes to Bassmaster Elite Series pro Morizo Shimizu. He's got the most popular TV show among the bass pros, his seminars are the most jam-packed at tackle shows, and he's got stickers and key chains in tackle stores that feature his cartoon caricature.
> Shimizu is currently 84th after 1 day of competition at the Delta Elite Series.
(Editor's note: The story is now running on Parade.com.)
This weekend's Parade magazine, which is distributed inside local newspapers, features Skeet Reese on the cover. It's definitely significant, mainstream media for the sport – Parade reaches more than 33 million homes.
New York Times bestselling author Harlan Coben penned the story. He attended last year's BASS post-season in Montgomery, Ala. and rode with Reese for a day of competition.
Fed. Champ venue change 3/11/2010 The 2010 BASS Federation Nation National Championship will take place at the Red River out of Shreveport, La. Dates are set for Oct. 27-29.
BASS stated: "The event, previously announced for Tavares, Fla. and the Harris Chain of Lakes, was moved to Shreveport and will pair with the 2012 Bassmaster Classic in the area. The Shreveport location will provide a more centralized venue for the 55 competitors, who travel from across the country and internationally."
The Red River has hosted three previous BASS Federation National Championships, most recently in 1999 (won by Mike Iaconelli).
Lake Fork Trophy Lures (LFT) this week announced that it signed FLW Tour pro Scott Martin to its pro staff. Lake Fork will be the exclusive line, soft-bait and tungsten-weight sponsor for Martin himself, as well as his Scott Martin Challenge TV show.
Lake Fork owner and CEO Ronnie Parker noted: "We're excited and honored to have Scott Martin and his production team become part of our LFT family. We're proud of the lineup of high-quality products we offer, ranging from our popular soft-plastic lineup to our new assortment of high-end fishing line which is redefining the line category."
Martin said: "I'm super excited to represent the Parallelium line brought to you by LFT and all the other items LFT brings to the table. LFT's lineup of lures and line is unmatched in quality, and they're constantly pushing the envelope of innovation in the fishing industry. The technology employed with the Powersilk co-polymer line and the FluoroHybrid Pro line is truly remarkable. My recent win on Lake Okeechobee and 6th-place finish on Table Rock highlighted my use of LFT's products which allowed me to catch more fish."
> Last year, BassFan reviewed the Parallelium line. To read that product review, click here.
Information about the Walmart sponsorship of FLW Outdoors seems to be guarded more closely than Fort Knox. We know that Walmart no longer sponsors the league – its logo can't be found anywhere in FLW Outdoors media. But when exactly did the company decide to move away from its sponsorship of the league?
Exact details will likely never be known, but notable is a comment from George Cochran that he didn't know until "the last minute" whether he'd have his Walmart team deal again this year, which would seem to indicate that a Walmart/FLW Outdoors partnership was still being worked on late into the fall.
During day-1 coverage of the recent Table Rock FLW Tour, BassFan asked Cochran about his sponsor situation, and whether he was able to add any sponsors during the off-season.
"No, I didn't," he said. "The only reason was I wasn't able to do anything was I didn't find out until the last minute that Walmart pulled out. Ranger and Evinrude are my team now. Ranger's always been my big sponsor. It hurt losing Walmart – that was a lot of extra money I was making. But I'll be 60 years old in May. I've had 30 years of everything going up, up, up every year. I've had a lot of good sponsors and I've made a lot of money when I won some big tournaments. So if I'm down a little the last few years, it doesn't bother me.
"But I feel sorry for the young fishermen," he added. "A lot of guys lost their (team deals) that really needed them. Guys like me and Larry (Nixon) already have everything paid for and we're getting ready to retire in a few years."
And as usual, Cochran couldn't help but jab at his best friend Nixon a little bit.
"I call him Uncle Jed Clampett," Cochran said. "They've got new gas wells all over his property. He's making more money than Carters got pills. I'm going to retire and be his hay boy. He's still got (Team) Chevy, but I like to say that his No. 1 sponsor is gas."
Clackin' Rap gets TV time 3/11/2010 BassFan Tom Harkman of Maple Grove, Minn. passed along a link to a segment of Ron Schara's Minnesota Bound TV show that highlights the development of the Rapala Clackin' Rap. To view it, click here, and then click on the video player.
Bass Pro Shops announced today that it signed Bassmaster Elite Series pro Jason Williamson to its pro staff. Williamson, who previously ran a Triton, will now run a Nitro and will endorse the Johnny Morris line of reels.
Rick Emmitt of Bass Pro Shops noted: "We're very excited to form this partnership with Jason. Jason's an up-and-coming angler who's had great success in a relatively short professional career. This South Carolina native is a proven winner and a great fit for the Bass Pro Shops and Nitro family."
"I'm thrilled to enter into this great partnership with Bass Pro Shops and Nitro boats," Williamson said. "It's a privilege to be associated with these two solid companies that are run by fishermen who have a passion for the sport like I do and understand what it takes to make tournament fishermen successful."
FLW Outdoors today announced its newest sponsor – apparel company Wolverine.
In announcing the news, Todd Yates, Wolverine VP of marketing and GM of apparel, said: "Wolverine's extensive range of premium products including boots, shoes, apparel and gear aligns perfectly with FLW Outdoors and the outdoorsmen and women who participate in outdoors-related activities."
FLW Outdoors VP of marketing Trisha Blake commented: "We're proud to announce our new partnership with Wolverine and look forward to supporting and promoting their portfolio of products through the FLW platform."
BassFan's Jon Storm saw a lot of interesting products at this year's Osaka Tackle Show in Japan, and one of particular interest is the Neko Rig Master from Nogales. The idea is simple in nature, but opens a new world of possibilities.
The "Neko" name is in reference to the use of a nail weight in the head of a finesse bait – a rig Brent Ehrler used to win the Shasta Western FLW Series this year.
But the Neko Rig Master makes it much easier to wacky rig finesse plastics, or any other type of plastic bait. The product is a copper screw – much like the screw-locks on hooks – but on top is a rubber section that securely holds a hook. Anglers can therefore screw in the product anywhere on a soft-plastic bait for all sorts of wacky-rig configurations. Plus, there's much less plastic in the hook gap.
Wacky-rig a tube so it falls backward and into cover. Wacky rig a soft-jerkbait so it swims perpendicular to the boat and under docks. Wacky rig a Senko and save serious money without having to mess with rubber O-rings.
The Neko Rig Master comes in various sizes and colors.
Facts of Fishing this week 3/10/2010 Check out the newest episode of Facts of Fishing FYI: Host Dave Mercer tackles topics like Brent Ehrler, Bradley Roy, pond smelt and Godzilla?!
If you were there in person, or you saw Russ Lane in the Bassmaster Classic day 3 episode on ESPN 2, you surely felt the emotional dejection he felt on the final day’s weigh-in stage. Well, life just got a little brighter for the Lane family.
Toyota Trucks Bonus Bucks officials just took a little of the sting away for Lane by informing him that he won a $7,500 bonus for being the highest-finishing eligible Toyota Truck owner among the Classic participants.
Lane, a three-time Classic qualifier, was seen as one of the home-field favorites at this year’s event as well as at the 2007 Classic on Lay Lake, based on the hundreds of amateur events he competed in at Lay when honing his skills for the Bassmaster Elite Series. Lane’s beefy day-3 catch was impressive, but left him in a heart-wrenching 4th-place finishing position. He earned $30,000 in prize money versus Kevin VanDam’s winning $500,000 pot.
Still Lane, who became eligible for the Toyota Trucks Bonus Bucks program last year when he purchased a Tundra as his tow vehicle, can use the $7,500 in Bonus Bucks to buy roughly 2,630 gallons of boat and truck gas, a hundred or so nights worth of hotel room rental fees, or a portion of his 2010 Elite Series entry fees.
Cliff Pace, who purchased and tows with a Tundra along the Bassmaster Elite Series trail, also cashed-in at the 2010 Bassmaster Classic as an eligible member of the Toyota Trucks Bonus Bucks program. He earned $2,500 for his 14th-place finish in Birmingham as the second-highest eligible Bonus Bucks participant. Ironically, Pace was the second-highest Bonus Bucks participant behind Toyota Sequoia owner Alton Jones at the 2008 Bassmaster Classic.
Bonus Bucks is simple: Drive a 2007 or newer Tundra, Sequoia, 4Runner or Tacoma, send in your registration form, become the highest-finishing eligible participant in your BASS or FLW affiliated tournament – and you win the Bonus Bucks. To find out more, and to make sure you’re signed-up visit www.ToyotaTrucksBonusBucks.com or call Kendell at (918) 742-6424.
The Berkley Experience Trailer will be at the Bass Pro Shops store in Hanover, Md. this Friday through Sunday (March 12-14). The 60-foot trailer of fun and activities brings fishing education to all skill levels of anglers.
The trailer has new videos and interactive demonstrations on line and bait. The Berkley Experience Team will present seminars scheduled throughout the day to cover the four main components of fishing: line selection, rigging techniques for bait, reel maintenance and rod selection.
Each stop has special retail promotions on line, bait, rods, reels and combos only available while the trailer is at the location.
“We are excited about having the Experience Trailer on the road in 2010 and stopping at many new locations across the country,” said senior marketing manager Andrew Marks. "Our Experience Trailer staff is ready to help anglers of all ages and skill levels learn about fishing, our products and how best to use them to catch more fish.”
Other elements include a knot-tying contest and demonstration, where participants can learn new knots and even win a prize. Under the tent, there will be racks filled with the latest products and big screen videos that help you experience the adventure with Berkley. The Berkley Experience staff is always on hand to answer questions.
The store is located at 7000 Arundel Mills Circle.
The trailer's next stop will be at Effinger's Sporting Goods in Bound Brook, N.J. from March 19-21.
Dobyns Rods has introduced its new Savvy Series line of rods to appeal to both beginning and cost-conscious bass anglers. The 13 models join the company's Champion and Champion Extreme lines.
Included are four spinning rods, seven casting rods and two flipping/pitching models that retail for $149.99.
Company founder Gary Dobyns, the West's all-time leading money winner and reigning U.S. Open champion, said backbone is the trademark of the Savvy Series, and that begins with the rod blank.
“A high-quality, top-end blank is essential to a great rod," he said. "I really centered the design of the Savvy Series around the blank. I will not sell a rod that I cannot personally fish with, and it was a very lengthy process of refinement just to get the feel of the rod just right.
"As a result, I can now say with absolute confidence that the Savvy Series blank blows others at the same or even more expensive prices completely out of the water.”
Quality cork encompasses the rod blank on all Savvy models. A split rear grip is incorporated in all but the 766 flipping model, in addition to a no-foregrip design. The grip arrangement reduces overall weight, assures balance, and helps to facilitate direct hand contact with the blank.
Savvy spinning models range in length from 6-foot-9 to 7-foot and include medium-light and medium power ratings. The 6-foot-6 to 7-foot-3 casting portfolio includes most popular medium-heavy to extra-heavy power and length combinations. Two flipping and pitching models round out the Savvy line.
Utilizing the same family of components as other Dobyns Rods, the Savvy Series boasts Kigan Alconite guides, a custom-painted reel seat with Fuji hood, and low profile hook keeper. Those features, highlighted with decorative wrapping and rod end cap, are included in each model to introduce new anglers to the Dobyns line.
“I wanted to make the Savvy Series good enough that fishermen considering a less-expensive rod will look at the Savvy Series and say, ‘For an extra couple of bucks, I can get a Dobyns Rod with so many more features.’”
For more on Dobyns rods, visit the company's website at www.DobynsRods.com or send an email to dobyns@dobynsrods.com.
Many BassFans know the Japanese government isn't too fond of black bass. Several years ago, anglers were barred from releasing bass on famed Lake Biwa – they were supposed to kill each one they caught. Some pros and guides on Lake Biwa got special permission to catch and release bass, but for the most part, anglers ignored the rule.
However, the government's campaign against black bass appears to have reached a new height. Hideyuki Nomura, editor of Japan's Lure Magazine, spoke with BassFan this week and said that starting next month, officials will destroy bass spawning beds in southern Lake Biwa located in 4 feet of water or less. The budget for the project is approximately $10 million.
Biwa, of course, recently produced the largemouth bass that tied for the world record. It's a sprawling (165,000 surface acres), fantastic bass fishery, and the birthplace of many Japanese angling techniques and advancements.
The government has taken the side of commercial fishermen in the black-bass debate. Biwa is home to a pond smelt and comparatively large freshwater shrimp that are both prized Japanese delicacies. At the same time, bass angling at Biwa has a tremendous economic impact on the surrounding Shiga prefecture. Influential bass anglers don't necessarily disagree that bass have some influence on the prevalence of native species, but they seek a balance between the commercial and recreational interests, as well as a focus on the habitat-degradation issues that stem from shoreline development.
Today was cut day at the Table Rock FLW Tour, and it marked the first time the FLW Tour cut to the Top 5 under its new cumulative-weight format. Scott Martin posted a strong finish, but ended in the unenviable position of 6th – first out of the cut.
"The bright side is, these highland reservoirs in the past have really given me fits," he said. "Obviously I'd like to be in the Top 5, but I'm happy to be getting the confidence of knowing I can catch fish in highland reservoirs in cold water. I'm excited about that."
He noted he was around good-quality fish – his 10 fish weighed 35-14 (a 3 1/2-pound average). But the only day he caught a limit was day 1. And he lost a big fish today on a jig, which was a departure in technique. His primary bait had been a Lake Fork Live Magic Shad swimbait, but he threw a jig in the trees a little today. He caught a 6-pounder on the jig, then threw back in, got bit and lost a 5-pounder.
He fished the main lake near Kimberling City.
When asked to look back and see if there was anything he might have done differently to make the cut, he referenced mechanics.
"I missed a couple of fish yesterday. The swimbait bite's such a subtle bite, and you have to really focus when you're fishing that deep. When the fish bite it, you barely feel them. And a lot of times you think it's a tree, but it's a fish. Yesterday I had a thick coat on, gloves, and I wasn't paying attention 100%. A couple of fish came and mouthed the bait, but I didn't have the rod away from my body and I waited too long to set the hook. I barely hooked them and they got off.
"That's a mistake. Looking back, this is the type of deal where you have to be 100% 3 days in a row. It's not that I was goofing off, it's just one of those things where you have to get yourself in the right position to feel every detail."
The Big Bite Lookback is brought to you by the great folks at Big Bite Baits.
Power Minnow returns 3/5/2010 Berkley listened to anglers who wanted the company to bring back the Power Minnow, and the versatile bait has returned with some new size options. To read about it and get a couple of tips on fishing it from Mike Iaconelli, head on over to the Catch More Fish page.
Skeet Reese, Mike Iaconelli, Aaron Martens and Steve Kennedy each have three of them. Kelly Jordon, Dean Rojas and Paul Elias have two each and more than a dozen other anglers – including a few who don't fish the Bassmaster Elite Series anymore – have one apiece. But Kevin VanDam has none.
What are we talking about here? Century Club belts, given out for topping the 100-pound mark for total weight in a tournament. Scott Rook, one of KVD's road roommates, has done it, but the world's top-ranked angler, five-time and reigning Angler of the Year (AOY) and three-time and reigning Bassmaster Classic champion has not.
"A hundred pounds is a great goal, but I don't know where that whole thing came about – why it is what it is," VanDam said. "I guess it's because it's a nice, round number.
"My main goal is to win, and some of the places we go, that takes 100 pounds. I want to be in contention to win, and sure, I'll take a belt, too."
He's about to get two more chances at one as the Elite Series pulls into California next week for back-to-back stops at the Delta and Clear Lake. Steve Kennedy caught 122-14 to win at Clear Lake in 2007 and the Delta is also capable of surrendering triple digits if conditions are right – and they just might be this time around.
Of the 35 times the 100-pound feat has been accomplished in the five-fish limit era, 34 occurred at one of six tournaments – Santee Cooper in 2006, Amistad in '06 and '07, Clear Lake in '07, Falcon in '08 or Guntersville last year. The lone anomaly was Rojas' 108-12 total from Toho in 2001, a record that stood for 5 years.
It's virtually a requirement that an angler fish all 4 days (i.e. be among the Top 12 after day 3) to surpass the mark, and VanDam did that only twice in the aforementioned events – he was 6th at Amistad in '06 with 97-00 and 5th the next year with 90-13. At Santee in '06, he was one of several anglers disqualified for having someone else drive the boat while he looked for bedding fish.
He finished 19th at Clear Lake the following year, 45th at Falcon in '08 and 20th at Guntersville last season.
"The greatest opportunity to do it was at Falcon," he said. "There's no telling how many people would have broken 100 if everybody fished all 4 days."
Maybe he'll join the club on this trip.
"It's definitely something I'm interested in. The thing I'm most looking forward to at these two stops is that any cast you make could result in a fish in the teens, and 10-pounders are fairly common."
Here's a list of modern-era Century Club members:
1. Paul Elias, 132-08 (Falcon, 2008)
2. Terry Scroggins, 132-04 (Falcon, 2008)
3. Byron Velvick, 131-15 (Falcon, 2008)
4. Aaron Martens, 129-07 (Falcon, 2008)
5. Mark Davis, 128-15 (Falcon, 2008)
6. Scott Rook, 125-10 (Falcon, 2008)
7. Steve Kennedy, 122-14 (Clear Lake, 2007)
8. Scott Campbell, 120-01 (Falcon, 2008)
9. Jason Williamson, 118-02 (Falcon, 2008)
10. Skeet Reese, 117-06 (Clear Lake, 2007)
11. Preston Clark, 115-15 (Santee Cooper, 2006)
12. Ben Matsubu, 114-13 (Falcon, 2008)
13. Casey Ashley, 113-03 (Falcon, 2008)
14. Mike Iaconelli, 112-06 (Falcon, 2008)
15. Derek Remitz, 111-07 (Amistad, 2007)
16. Dean Rojas, 108-12 (Toho, 2001)
17. Rick Morris, 108-07 (Falcon, 2008)
18. Aaron Martens, 108-04 (Santee Copper, 2006)
19. Greg Gutierrez, 108-01 (Clear Lake, 2007)
20. Skeet Reese, 108-00 (Santee Copper, 2006)
21. Aaron Martens, 107-08 (Guntersville, 2009)
22. Gerald Swindle, 105-08 (Clear Lake, 2007)
23. Ish Monroe, 104-08 (Amistad, 2006)
24. Skeet Reese, 104-04 (Guntersville, 2009)
25. Steve Kennedy, 104-02 (Santee Cooper, 2006)
26. Mike Iaconelli, 103-11 (Amistad, 2007)
27. Kelly Jordon, 103-03 (Santee Cooper, 2006)
28. John Murray, 103-01 (Clear Lake, 2007)
29. Dean Rojas, 102-10 (Santee Cooper, 2006)
30. Kelly Jordon, 102-10 (Clear Lake, 2007)
31. Paul Elias, 101-15 (Clear Lake, 2007)
32. Fred Roumbanis, 101-13 (Amistad, 2006)
33. Steve Kennedy, 101-10 (Amistad, 2007)
34. Mike Iaconelli, 101-01 (Guntersville, 2009)
35. Todd Faircloth, 100-05 (Amistad, 2007)
BassFan friend Joe Balog wants to spread the word that he's looking to fill a position for his company Millennium Promotions. A bit of bright news in an outdoor job market defined largely by cutbacks and layoffs.
Here's the description of the position, as well as info on how to apply:
Millennium Promotions, Inc., headed by promoter Joe Balog, is a full-time marketing agency in the fishing and hunting industry. Clients include industry giants like Ranger, Mercury, Daiwa and others. In addition to his well-known Great Lakes work, Balog is expanding the business this year to include work in the ice-fishing and waterfowl-hunting sectors. Most of Millennium's activity centers on media work and outdoor writing. Millennium is looking to hire an individual to work on a number of Internet and graphic-design projects. Requirements include a strong background in website design, experience with graphic work, as well as Internet sales knowledge. If you've ever wanted to work in the outdoor industry, and would like the chance to grow with Millennium's increasing business, contact Balog by email at JoesOutFishing@aol.com.
The Berkley Conservation Institute (BCI) awarded the New York BASS Federation Nation Club Salt City Bassmasters the annual Berkley Angler Conservation Award. The $2,000 award was presented at the BASS Federation Nation Appreciation Banquet Feb. 21 in Birmingham, Ala. BASS Conservation Director Chris Horton made the announcement.
The Salt City Bassmasters, located in Syracuse, recognized the invasion of water chestnut plants to be a critical detriment to the local waterways. “The goal was to develop a multi-year project to prevent the spread of the non-native species in the Three Rivers Region of Central New York,” said New York BASS Chapter Federation conservation director Burnie Haney. “Since 2007, the Salt City Bassmasters have committed time and resources to this cause and have removed by hand 10,000 pounds of water chestnuts from the area.”
Assisting the Salt City club were anglers from other central New York clubs, including the Salt City Bassmasters Juniors, Good Ole Boys Bassmasters and Juniors and the Northern NY Bassmasters II along with Cornell Cooperative Extension, Onondaga County Water Quality Management Program and Gander Mountain.
“Protecting and enhancing our waterways for the future of fishing is invaluable to our sport and our heritage,” said Jim Martin, BCI conservation director. “The work of these dedicated anglers in New York exemplifies the character and commitment of anglers across our nation and it is my privilege along with the Berkley Conservation Institute to honor the New York BASS Federation Nation and the Salt City Bassmasters with our Berkley Angler Conservation Award.”
Hook-maker Gamakatsu USA announced today that it's signed Bassmaster Elite Series angler Fred Roumbanis to its pro staff.
"Fred has been a life-long user of Gamakatsu hooks and we're looking forward to a bright future with him on board," said Gamakatsu assistant sales manager Jeff Roberts. "Fred is a highly skilled and versatile angler who will be a force on tour for years to come. Most important, Fred is a high-character guy and a consummate professional who embodies what Gamakatsu is all about."
Said Roumbanis: “I'm honored to be part of the Gamakatsu team. I've been a life-long believer in this product and can say without a doubt that Gamakatsu is the premier fish hook in the world. The durability and sharpness of a Gama hook is unprecedented. No other manufacturer can compare to the craftsmanship of a Gamakatsu hook."
Yelas from the freezer 3/2/2010 Jay Yelas checked in today to report on his practice for this week's Table Rock FLW tour. Overnight lows in the low-20s, snow today – sounds more like Minnesota than Missouri.
Registration opened Monday for the Priority Entry II anglers on last season’s Professional Anglers Association (PAA) Tour Points list for the 2010 PAA Tournament Series that begins in July.
Priority Entry II registration will be conducted through Friday (March 5) for all anglers on the 2009 PAA Tournament Series Point Standings who plan to sign up for all four events this season. This is the second of four registration periods.
Tournament entry fees are $2,500 per event with a $750 deposit per event. Tournaments this season will include PAA member observers who will have chances to win prizes based on their pro’s performance, as well as a chance to compete in an all new pro-am format on Saturday. Details of both programs will be announced soon.
Here's the 2010 schedule:
Here's the schedule for the season:
> July 8-10 – Lake Cherokee – Morristown, Tenn.
> Aug. 12-14 – Lake Norman – Charlotte, N.C.
> Sept. 9-11 – Lake Tawakoni – Garland, Texas
> Oct. 14-16 – Table Rock Lake – Branson, Mo.
To register, contact the PAA office at (270) 527-2030.
Facts of Fishing this week 3/2/2010 Kevin VanDam, a new world-record bass, Des Moines, Iowa and the Winter Olympics all play a role in this week's Facts of Fishing FYI. To see it, click below.
Jim Owens, executive director of the C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation, announced recently that new officers have been elected to the organization's board of directors. Professional angler Jay Yelas of Corvallis, Ore., will take the helm as president; Fort Worth, Texas businessman Troy Moncrief will assume the role of vice president and Seattle, Wash. architect Patrick McBride will retain the position of secretary/treasurer.
“It is an honor to be president and I look forward to continuing our great heritage of serving the underprivileged youth of America through fishing events around the country,” said Yelas
More than 40 C.A.S.T. events have been scheduled across the country for 2010 and as many as 25 more could be added to the schedule.
“I’ve been organizing an event for 10 years now," said Moncrief, “and each year it brings tears to my eyes to see kids put their challenges aside to have the time of their lives."
Established in 1991, the C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation is dedicated to providing inclusion in quality outdoor recreational activities to disabled, disadvantaged and at‐risk youth populations through the sports of fishing and boating. To date, over 50,000 families have taken part in C.A.S.T. events held in communities across the county. For more information, visit www.CastForKids.org.
American Bass Anglers (ABA) announced that Busch and Busch Light have signed on as the official beer sponsors of the ABA, continuing the Busch brand’s support of the outdoor lifestyle with an on-site presence at the Bassmaster Weekend Series.
The sponsorship will cover five events: The Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series operated by American Bass Anglers, the American Fishing Tour National Championship, the American Couples Series Championship, the annual Military Team Tournament and the American Bass Anglers BBQ Tour.
“Our bass tournament venues have the same footprint and provide the exposure that sponsors like Busch are looking for,” said ABA VP David Hagood. “We appreciate Busch beers’ history of support for anglers and are excited to forge a new partnership.”
As part of the agreement, Busch – formerly a prominent BASS sponsor – and the ABA will also introduce new consumer programs throughout the season to strengthen the partnership.
“The ABA sponsorship is an ideal fit for the Busch brand,” said Busch brand manager Charlie Hodges. “Having a presence at Bassmaster Weekend Series events provides us with a great opportunity to connect with ABA members, and through several upcoming initiatives we will be able to broaden our reach to bass anglers nationwide.”
The Berkley Experience Trailer will be at the Bass Pro Shops store in Concord, N.C. this Friday through Sunday (March 5-7). The 60-foot trailer of fun and activities brings fishing education to all skill levels of anglers.
The trailer has new videos and interactive demonstrations on line and bait. The Berkley Experience Team will present seminars scheduled throughout the day to cover the four main components of fishing: line selection, rigging techniques for bait, reel maintenance and rod selection.
Each stop has special retail promotions on line, bait, rods, reels and combos only available while the trailer is at the location.
“We are excited about having the Experience Trailer on the road in 2010 and stopping at many new locations across the country,” said senior marketing manager Andrew Marks. "Our Experience Trailer staff is ready to help anglers of all ages and skill levels learn about fishing, our products and how best to use them to catch more fish.”
Other elements include a knot-tying contest and demonstration, where participants can learn new knots and even win a prize. Under the tent, there will be racks filled with the latest products and big screen videos that help you experience the adventure with Berkley. The Berkley Experience staff is always on hand to answer questions.
The store is located at 8181 Concord Mills Blvd.
The trailer's next stop will be at the Bass Pro Shops store in Hanover, Md. from March 12-14.
Idaho-based Baitsmith announced today that it has signed Bassmaster Elite Series angler Chris Lane of Guntersville, Ala. to a long-term endorsement contract to promote its full line of swimbaits.
“Swimbaits will play a role in every Elite Series event in 2010 – every single one," he said. "Now that I’m with Baitsmith I feel prepared to win when the swimbait bite is on. Since moving to Lake Guntersville, swimbaits have become a passion of mine. I will tell you right now these baits are going to be on fire this spring.
“The boys in Idaho had better be prepared to work some long hours because I have not shown these lures to anyone who did not get absolutely fired up."
Said Baitsmith's Eric Smith: “Our baits are 100% handmade in the U.S.A. and have a loyal following out here in the West because they catch quality fish. We wanted anglers in the rest of the world to know about us, so we sat down and performed in-depth market research. We were drawn to Chris Lane because he fishes to win, has a reputation of working hard and he absolutely fell in love with the baits."
Baitsmith hand-makes swim baits ranging from 5-inch shad and bluegill to a 6-inch hitch and 9 1/2-inch magnum trout in lifelike colors.
The Professional Anglers Association (PAA) has filled two key positions with the hiring of Alan Clemons of Alabama as communications director and Randy Knight of Texas as tournament director.
PAA president John Crews said the additions will more easily enable the PAA to continue moving forward toward the 2010 PAA Tournament Series that begins in July.
“We are very happy to bring on two individuals with such great experience,” Crews said. “Alan is the perfect person to help the PAA in an area where we need to improve. Randy brings experience and a proven reputation to the rules and enforcement side of our events. I know Alan and Randy are going to mesh well in our organization and help the PAA be more effective in promoting our anglers, tournaments and the fishing industry."
Clemons is a lifelong resident of Alabama with 25 years in the newspaper and freelance writing industry. His experience includes serving as the outdoors editor with The Huntsville Times for almost 15 years and a sports writer with the Huntsville News. His work has been honored numerous times and published in Outdoor Life, Bassmaster, Bass Times, Cabela’s Outfitter Journal, ESPN Outdoors, Wired2Fish.com, Lone Star Outdoor News, Thicket and Birmingham Magazine.
He'll continue in his role as editor of The Fishing Wire through March 12.
“I’m excited to be joining the PAA as it builds on last year’s success,” Clemons said. “Professional anglers have many compelling stories on and off the water, and communication is vital to let our members, sponsor partners, industry representatives and fans know about them and the PAA."
Knight is a native Texan and has directed or co-produced more than 300 bass tournaments, primarily in Texas, in the last two decades. Among those were the Skeeter Boats Owner’s Tournaments, Skeeter Pro-Bass Challenge, Country Bass Association, Angler’s Choice couples and team divisions and the Somerville Lions Club event, now in its 33rd year.
Knight has worked with major sponsors for tournaments including Skeeter Boats, Mercury Outboards, Stanley Jigs, Pure Fishing-Berkley and All-Star Rods. He has fished numerous individual and team tournaments since the mid-1980s, and qualified for the Red Man Regional and Angler’s Choice Pro-Am championships.
“It’s been a great experience over the years,” Knight said of directing tournaments. “What I like most about it is you get to meet so many people from different walks of life and they’re all coming together for a common passion. Some guys have taken off their white shirts and ties or put down their hammers for the day to get together for a few hours.
“This is such a great opportunity with the PAA and I’m looking forward to it. My passion for bass fishing is as great as these pros. I just can’t sometimes find the fish or catch them as well as they can, but that’s why we all keep trying.”
North Carolina Bassmaster Elite Series pro Marty Stone announced that he's signed a sponsorship deal with reel-maker Ardent.
“We are happy to have Marty using our products on tour,” said Arden marketing coordinator Ryan Hohl. “Marty is a great fit for our brand and is one of the hardest-working promoters in the business.”
Stone will use Ardent’s flagship baitcaster, the XS1000, on the Elite Series this year.
“I’m privileged to be with a reel company that does all of its manufacturing right here in America,” he said. “Ardent is a young company with a bright future in the fishing business and I’m glad I’m getting in on the ground floor to be a part of its growth.
“What’s so impressive about Ardent’s baitcasters is the magnesium frame is machined in such a way that friction and heat are eliminated from the spool, allowing it to cast farther and last longer than other reels on the market. Plus, they back their products up with a 3-year warranty on their reels, and you can’t beat that.”
Stone also announced that he's inked a local sponsorship agreement with CTC Supply Inc., a wholesale distributor of heating and air conditioning systems based in Fayetteville, N.C.
“Hunting and fishing are a way of life here in North Carolina,” said CTC GM Jimmy Cass. “A majority of our customers are outdoors people, so it’s a perfect fit to have Fayetteville’s own Marty Stone, a well-known name on the national fishing tours, to represent us.
"Having him promote CTC Supply will provide some great regional recognition and we look forward to some of the activities we have planned with Marty this year.”
World Rankings updated 3/1/2010 The BassFan World Rankings have been updated to reflect last week's Bassmaster Classic results. Click here to check 'em out.
Evinrude introduced a team of four anglers at the recent Bassmaster Classic who will serves as official ambassadors to Evinrude outboard engines. Dubbed the E-Team, the group will tour the U.S. over the next 4 months, sharing real experiences and interacting with fans via the new blog, EvinrudeEteam.com, and E-TEAM Facebook, YouTube and Flickr pages.
The E-Team consists of bass pros Guido Hibdon, Chad Brauer and David Walker and walleye pro Paul Meleen.
"The E-TEAM will compliment our efforts to communicate the Evinrude E-TEC benefits of low maintenance and spending more time on the water," said Yves Leduc, VP and GM for the North America division of BRP (Evinrude's parent company. "Through our new E-Team program, we're giving everyone the chance to witness the advantages of Evinrude E-Tec engines first-hand."
The core responsibility of the E-Team will be to blog and post videos and pictures. They will also interact with fans relating to their on-the-water experiences as pro anglers, while pushing Evinrude's products to the limits. The group will debut new technology from the engine manufacturer, provide tips and tricks of the trade and share stories from the water.
"As professionals, we get to spend a lot of time on the water because it's our job," Hibdon said. "But for others, finding time to get out on the lake or river can be tough. Thanks to BRP, we get to give everyone a chance to spend more time on the water, even if they're on dry land."
Got an iPhone? Then no doubt your app radar is always at the ready.
One of the handier apps we've seen is called FishMate, and comes from industry icon Sammy Lee. A former pro angler himself, and now radio personality and Bass Fishing Hall of Fame boardmember, Lee wanted to create an iPhone app that could help fishermen, but was smooth and easy to use.
"When I was a kid growing up on Smith Lake in Alabama, I had to read the paper, listen to the radio and study an almanac to figure out the best time to go fishing," Lee said. "I never had one source of information that would provide everything I needed until now."
Here's a look at some of the app's features:
Fire up FishMate and immediately you get the best fishing times for the day at your location (worldwide capability) with times for moonrise and moonset, sunrise and sunset, current moon phase, plus the major and minor feeding periods.
A touch of the screen also takes you to current weather conditions, including temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, wind speed and direction. There's also an extended forecast prepared for your current location or anywhere else you plan to wet a hook.
Another touch of the screen loads you up with tournament news from the two major leagues.
The app dials up podcasts of Tight Lines with Sammy Lee – America's longest-running syndicated radio fishing program.
The Big'uns feature lets users upload fish photos via social media.
The FishMate is available for a one-time charge of $3.99, and is available in the iTunes store (Apps section).
A version for other smart phones will be ready for download next month.
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