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.
BassFan won't be publishing as normal today – the staff is taking the day to be with loved ones, and observe the solemn Memorial Day holiday.
Some see the holiday as a chance to catch up on yardwork, or have a party with friends, or hit the beach. Here at BassFan, we take time to remember those who never came back, and the pain their families endured, and continue to endure, in the wake of sacrifice.
Thanks to all who've served, but on this day especially we remember and appreciate those who made the ultimate sacrifice. It was not in vain.
Troy Morrow of Toccoa, Ga. smoked the field at today's BFL All-American and won by an 8-pound margin. The event, at DeGray Lake in Arkansas, was held concurrently with the Ouachita FLW Tour.
Morrow pocketed $100,000 plus a $20,000 Ranger Cup bonus, and received a berth in this year's Forrest Wood Cup at Lake Lanier. He lives close to Lanier and knows the lake well enough to be considered a threat even this early.
"It's going to be probably a good, life-changing event," Morrow said shortly after being crowned winner. "The biggest thing I'm looking forward to when this settles a bit is that I live 35 minutes from Lanier."
He pre-practiced the lake for 5 days and noted it was easy to go down the bank and catch 20 pounds. But he spent those 5 days marking offshore structure - places the fish would be moving to. He then spent the entire tournament offshore and hit as many of his 92 waypoints as he could each day.
Longtime California tournament angler Russ Meyer used a Berkley Hollow Belly swimbait to catch a 13-15 largemouth last weekend during the 3rd annual Berkley Big Bass Challenge. The fish was the biggest caught during the 2-day event and made Meyer one of 11 hourly winners.
A field of nearly 200 anglers participated in the unique event (only Berkley baits could be used) and more than $40,000 in cash and prizes was awarded. One of the hourly winners, Zack Thompson, also won a new Toyota Tundra.
“The anglers are learning about the full spectrum of Berkley baits in a fun and rewarding way," said Berkley marketing manager Andrew Marks. "Many of the fish were caught on our family of PowerBait Chigger Craws and Hollow Belly swimbaits, but we had several fish brought in on Hand Poured Finesse Worms, jigs and the new Thump Worm that is just hitting the stores now.”
Another Berkley Big Bass Challenge event will be held Oct. 22-23 at Lake Fork in Texas.
“I couldn’t be happier about working alongside the people at Stratos," said Reese, who's fished out of a Champion since 1996.. "They’re an excellent team and their distinguished reputation for making excellent bass boats for competitive-level fishing is well deserved."
The press release noted that Reese, who joins Larry Nixon on the pro staff, will "continue a strong product development focus on the entire Stratos line." The company will roll out three Champion Elite Series models for 2011 – the 183, 202 and 210.
"I can’t imagine fishing out of anything other than a 210," he said. "It’s such a phenomenal platform for someone like me who fishes for a living and wants every advantage they can get when they’re competing. I’m excited that the 210 and the other great Stratos Champion Elite Series models will be part of an amazing lineup of products designed to help people catch a lot of fish.”
The Champion brand has been in somewhat of a nebulous state since last winter, when Platinum Equity purchased a big portion of the Genmar holdings in a bankruptcy auction. Stratos manufacturing has been moved to Flippin, Ark. to join flagship brand Ranger, and there was talk that former Genmar head Irwin Jacobs was attempting to repurchase Champion.
Said Stratos VP of marketing Bart Schad: “The addition of the Champion Elite Series helps solidify Stratos’ position within the ultra-competitive world of professional-level bass fishing. It doesn’t matter if you fish for a living, want to fish for a living or enjoy spending your weekends on the water trying to win some money and a few bragging rights, anglers want a boat that suits their personality."
Production of the Champion Elite Series boats is scheduled to begin in July and they're slated to begin arriving at dealerships this fall.
U.S. Reel links with PAA 5/27/2010 St. Louis-based U.S. Reel has joined the Professional Anglers Association (PAA) as an associate sponsor of the 2010 PAA Tournament Series, as well as the organization and its Affinity Partner Program.
“We believe the PAA is an up-and-coming organization and the opportunity is great for us,” said U.S. Reel's Jack Pieschl. “We’re eager to get out and see what we can do together. We’re a small, young company and believe there is a huge opportunity to grow with the organization.”
Said PAA program director Danny Blandord: “The PAA is proud to be associated with U.S. Reel, a company with roots in the heart of some of the nation’s best fishing. U.S. Reel has grown from day 1 and continues to do so, and the PAA looks forward to working with the company this season and beyond. “
The U.S. Reel pro staff includes Guido Hibdon, Dion Hibdon and Jimmy Houston.
“The Hibdons have stayed with their sponsors for years because once they find a brand they’re satisfied or happy with, they stay there,” Pieschl said. “Jimmy has decades with his companies and brings an audience that is second to none and huge for U.S. Reel. The brand recognition and name has gone through the roof.”
Sonar cashes in 5/26/2010 In his newest Sonar Sound-Off column, Miles Burghoff details his exploits at a BFL at Lake Okeechobee. Things didn't go quite as smoothly as he would've liked, but he ended up getting a check.
The Berkley Experience Trailer's next stop will be at the Cabela's store in Boise, Idaho this Friday through Sunday (May 28-30). 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 look forward to educating anglers as we head to the Cabela's store in Boise,” 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. This is a great opportunity to bring the family out to learn about new products and enjoy all that Berkley has to offer.”
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 8109 West Franklin Road.
The trailer's next stop will be at Hooked on Toys in Wenatchee, Wash. from June 4-6.
Facts of Fishing this week 5/26/2010 Pirates, walleye, bass and ESPN's goodbye are highlighted in this week's Facts of Fishing FYI with Dave Mercer. To see it, click below.
Mike Iaconelli, winner of the 2003 Bassmaster Classic, 2006 Bassmaster Angler of the Year, host of City Limits Fishing on Versus and author of "Fishing on the Edge." will be placing his entire collection of Daiwa rods and reels on eBay beginning June 1.
“After signing on with Abu Garcia this year, I decided that I would sell my entire collection of Team Daiwa equipment.” he said. "The collection includes both old and new items. Some of the old stuff dates back to the mid 1990s and some of the newer stuff includes never-used Steez equipment.
“There’s a lot of stuff in there. The exact rods that I used to win the Classic and Angler of the Year are in the mix.”
The items will be listed and sold on two of the premier bass fishing consignment stores on eBay owned by fellow Elite Series angler Brent Broderick of Ohio. Starting June 1, all of the items will be available at these two eBay stores:
Said Broderick: “We have sold for over 35 Elite Series anglers in the past. Iaconelli is the fifth Bassmaster Classic winner and the seventh Angler of the Year winner to use our services in the last 4 years.
"There will be plenty of one-of-a-kind items in this sale. You don’t want to miss this.”
As Birmingham is to BASS, so is Hot Springs to FLW Outdoors.
FLW Outdoors today announced that Hot Springs will host the 2011 Forrest Wood Cup. For those keeping score, that'll mark the third Hot Springs Cup in a 7-year period.
There had been some rumors that FLW Outdoors might adjust the date of its Cup in order to help boost angler catch – fishing there has been brutally tough in the dog days of summer – but there's been no real change and the 2010 Cup is slated for Aug. 11–14.
In announcing the news, FLW Outdoors president and CEO Charlie Evans said: "We couldn't be happier about returning to Hot Springs for the 2011 Forrest Wood Cup. The then-record attendance we had at the 2007 Forrest Wood Cup and FLW Outdoors Expo speaks volumes about the enthusiasm for bass fishing that fans have throughout the state and the entire region."
Steve Arrison, executive director for the Hot Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau, noted: "The 2007 Forrest Wood Cup was by far the largest and most successful event we've ever held in the Hot Springs Convention Center since the construction of Summit Arena in 2003. Hot Springs is a bass-fishing town situated along some fantastic lakes and full of fishing fans."
The FLW Tour is fishing in Hot Springs this week at Lake Ouachita, while the 2010 BFL All-American takes place concurrently at DeGray Lake.
Yelas checks in 5/25/2010 Want the early scoop on what's happening this week at Lake Ouachita? Jay Yelas reports flood-level water and scattered fish. For his full Ouachita FLW Tour practice report, click here to go On Tour With the BassFan Big Sticks.
Just a quick note to point out that Jimmy Houston is within reach of qualifying for his first championship since the 1998 Bassmaster Classic.
A 10th-place finish at Ft. Loudoun–Tellico pushed the veteran up 77 spots to 39th in the FLW Tour points. The Top 30 make it to this year's Forrest Wood Cup (although a few below that mark will likely get invited due to double-qualifications out of the FLW Series).
There are two events left in the FLW Tour season, and the Tour fishes Ouachita this week. What's especially interesting is Ouachita's above flood stage and up into the bushes. There could be a spinnerbait bite going, which of course would be right up Houston's alley.
Glen Browne announced a new minor deal, under which he'll fish Warrior buzzbaits.
The Ohio-based company manufactures an array of bass lures, and a mutual friend showed Browne the buzzbaits. Browne was impressed, and fresh off a win at the Ft. Loudoun–Tellico FLW Tour, was able to work out an endorsement deal with Warrior.
"The buzzbait has an interesting head configuration," Browne noted. "It's almost like a spoon, so it really planes off grass well – it deflects and doesn't hang up, and you can fish it really slowly.
"I think I've got a couple other things in the works, so I hope there's more to come along after this," he added. "I'm hoping the win will help me get my foot in the door with some other new companies – it did with Warrior."
Browne's faced with rebuilding his sponsor portfolio in the wake of Pure Fishing's pullout from FLW. For several years prior, Browne fished for the Berkley FLW team. He lists Gambler as his new softbait sponsor.
Back in the 1980s, Eric Ellis and his fishing buddy were the first ones in their area to get the Slug-Go. But his buddy had trouble casting it. According to Ellis, his buddy (for the first time ever) took his advice.
There's also the story of James Hanks, who refurbished his grandfather's Abu Garcia 5500D last winter and plans to make a special memory with it this spring, as well as the story of Keith Moss and his two mounted bass.
What do these three stories have in common? They're the newest entries in the Abu Garcia For Life! contest. Click here to check 'em all out.
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.
Rick Clunn was part of a three-way tie for the 12th-place cut position on Saturday at the Clarks Hill Bassmaster Elite Series in Georgia as he, Matt Reed and Jeff Kriet all compiled 3-day totals of 32-00. Kriet, who weighed a three-fish bag on day 3 when he encountered mechanical troubles, was eliminated on the first tiebreaker – most fish caught. Reed then got the nod over Clunn by virtue of the heaviest single-day bag.
That made the 63-year-old Clunn the 13th-place finisher – his first placement higher than 67th in the last five events. He said that other than losing one fish that likely would've helped him, he wouldn't have done anything differently.
"It was probably one of the most enjoyable tournaments I've had in years," he said. "It reminded me of the old days when you could go find a spot and have it to yourself the whole tournament. It was the complete opposite of Guntersville, where everything's a community hole and if you're not on one of those, you can't compete."
He opted to keep his focus away from the blueback herring and fished off-colored water with a spinnerbait and a buzzbait.
"It wasn't easy – it was the kind of tournament where you had to grind it out every day. That one fish was the only one I lost in 3 days and I could sit around and moan about it all day long, but there was nothing I could've done differently to keep from losing it."
The Big Bite Lookback is brought to you by the great folks at Big Bite Baits.
FLW announcement Tuesday 5/21/2010 FLW Outdoors and the Hot Spring (Ark.) CVB will hold a press conference 2 p.m. CT on Tuesday (May 25) to make "a major announcement concerning the FLW Tour and Hot Springs that will bring a significant economic and publicity opportunity to the city."
A good guess at subject matter would be the location of the 2011 Forrest Wood Cup. Hot Springs is a favorite championship venue for the league with its standing-room-only, raucous crowds.
The summer bite has traditionally been tough there (Hamilton, Ouachita), so it'll be interesting to see if FLW tweaks its Cup dates at all.
ESPN Outdoor programming: gone 5/21/2010 BassFan received confirmation early today that ESPN and its broadcast networks, notably ESPN2, will no longer offer outdoor-related programming starting in calendar year 2011. One exception: The Bassmasters will continue to air on ESPN2, as will the Bassmaster Classic.
The ramifications are immense and the news is just beginning to percolate through the industry.
When asked about the decision, a BASS/ESPN official told BassFan: "It’s in line with ESPN’s decision to focus on event-based and live programming. The weekend block will be filled by some other properties, such as English Premier League soccer, NASCAR and SportsCenter, which are all either live or event-based programs. The outdoors, save BASS programming, doesn't fit that."
For BassFan's full reporting on the news, click here.
Falcon warning: pirates! 5/20/2010 The Texas Dept. of Public Safety has issued a warning for anglers fishing Falcon Lake along the Texas–Mexico border. Apparently three piracy incidents have been reported this month, with fishermen robbed at gunpoint. The perpetrators are believed to be linked to Mexican drug-trafficking operations. In one case, the pirates posed as Mexican federales.
Boaters are urged to stay in the U.S. portion of the lake and fishermen are advised to stay as far away as possible from any of the Argos-type fishing boats typically used as fishing vessels by Mexican fishermen. These boats have a large prow, a small outboard motor without a cowling and no identification numbers on the hull.
Several bass tournaments are scheduled for Falcon during the next few weeks, and Texas officials are concerned that competitors could be in danger if they cross into Mexican waters, although one of the incidents did occur in U.S. waters.
To download a PDF version of the warning, which also includes details of the piracy incidents, click here.
The Clarks Hill Elite Series starts today and the Ouachita FLW Tour kicks off next week. It's a critical juncture for both tours, and a do-or-die situation for a lot of pros on the championship and post-season bubbles.
But there's also the larger picture to look at – pros who've made huge gains in their fishing over the prior 2 calendar years. If those pros can keep it up, they stand a better chance of improving their sponsor portfolios during the off-season. Because while it's true that we're in one of the toughest sponsor markets the sport has ever seen, it's also true that performance matters. And the best measure of mutiyear performance is still the BassFan World Rankings.
With that in mind, here's a look at some of the pros who've improved the most since the start of this season. Because it's much more difficult to make gains near the top of the Rankings, this streak analysis is broken into three subheads. Again, the numbers show their improvement from the start of the season through today.
Biggest Movers Inside Top 10
Bryan Thrift -- 16th to 4th
Greg Hackney -- 19th to 5th
Cliff Pace -- 41st to 10th
Biggest Movers From 10th To 20th
Shaw Grigsby -- 28th to 12th
Jeff Kriet -- 29th to 19th
Biggest Movers From 30th To 50th
Stephen Browning -- 81st to 27th
John Crews -- 141st to 37th
Russ Lane -- 105th to 40th
Jason Christie -- 102nd to 44th
Billy McCaghren -- 192nd to 45th
Of the above pros, McCaghren showed the heftiest net improvement (147 places), but probably more significant are the movements of Thrift (pictured), Hackney and Pace – their hot streaks are hot enough to push them inside the Top 10.
The Berkley Experience Trailer will be at the Berkley Big Bass Challenge at the California Delta tomorrow (Friday) through Sunday. The 60-foot trailer brings fun and fishing education to all skill levels of anglers and offers seminars on topics like line selection, reel maintenance and more.
A week later, the trailer will stop at the Cabela's store in Boise, Idaho.
Ramada renews with BASS 5/20/2010 Ramada first became involved with BASS in March 2007, when the hotel chain signed a sponsorship deal that made it the official hotel of the Federation Nation. The deal also included varying levels of Elite Series sponsorship, including a presenting-sponsor arrangement for the 2007 Legends Major.
BASS announced today that Ramada will continue its sponsorship. The new agreement specifies Ramada as a supporting sponsor of the Elite Series and title sponsor of the Trophy Chase, which is the first leg of the BASS Elite Series post-season.
BASS members will continue to enjoy a 20% discount on Ramada hotel stays.
Commenting on the deal was Ramada director of regional marketing Kristin Rozewski: "We want BASS members to know that the Ramada brand is just as passionate about providing great service and amenities for a terrific price as they are about bass fishing. In this fourth year of sponsorship, we're offering a 20% discount to BASS members to reward them for choosing Ramada hotels whenever they travel."
BASS VP and GM Tom Ricks noted: "We appreciate Ramada's continued support of BASS and the angling community. With the brand's commitment to superior service and value, it's easy to understand why Ramada's a preferred accommodation for BASS members."
> BassFans can play the Ramada Winning Weight game at Bassmaster.com.
Good news for Guy Eaker and pro bass fishing as a whole – he was the subject of a story in today's New York Times. To check out the piece, click here.
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Clarks Hill Elite: info 5/20/2010 In case you missed BassFan's Scouting Report and watch list for today's Clarks Hill Bassmaster Elite Series, you can find it here.
PAA signs Fishouflage 5/19/2010 The PAA Tournament Series continues to sign endemic sponsorships. The latest announcement is that Outdoor Identities and its Fishouflage brand will be an associate sponsor for the 2010 season.
Paul Bernegger of Outdoor Identities said in announcing the deal: "We see a lot of potential where the PAA's going and are happy to be in on the ground floor. We're looking at a long-term partnership and growing together with the PAA."
PAA program director Danny Blandford noted: "The PAA's excited to be partners with Fishouflage. The unique patterns truly stand out and are sure to continue growing in popularity among anglers and fans in the bass, crappie, musky and walleye communities."
Fishouflage, a new apparel company, also runs a pro staff that currently includes Greg Hackney and PAA president Chad Morgenthaler.
Earlier this month, the PAA membership elected new boardmembers. This week, the board voted for officers with the result that Chad Morgenthaler is the new PAA president for a 1-year term. He ran unopposed, as recent president John Crews opted not to seek a second term.
Crews will serve as VP, while Dave Mansue returns as treasurer and Kurt Dove continues as secretary.
In the election announcement, Morgenthaler noted: "I want to see our direction and momentum continue with our services to the membership, our tournaments, outreach and revenue. A lot of people have put blood, sweat and tears into the PAA. I have the opportunity to put the time in and want to see where we can take it. I believe the sky's the limit for the PAA because we still have a lot of potential to grow."
"I have a lot of respect for Chad and his vision," Crews said. "I believe we'll continue to grow. I've been honored to serve as president and look forward to continuing working with the board and membership to help make the PAA stronger."
Other boardmembers include Mike McClelland, Paul Elias, Matt Reed, Zell Rowland, Kelly Jordon and Brian Snowden.
Pinnacle Fishing announced that it has signed Bassmaster Elite Series anglers Paul Elias, Dave Wolak, Britt Myers and Grant Goldbeck to its pro staff. Under the multi-year deals, the anglers will use Pinnacle reels and rods exclusively and will play significant roles in the design of the company's new Tournament Class tackle lineup, which will be unveiled at the industry’s ICAST trade show in July.
“We’re thrilled to have such knowledgeable, talented anglers using Pinnacle gear and contributing their expertise toward the development of our state-of-the-art Tournament Class products,” said Pinnacle president Charles Park. “Paul, Dave, Britt and Grant have helped us create what we consider to be the ultimate selection of reels and rods for specific bass-fishing applications. Consumers will appreciate not only the professional-grade quality and performance, but also the surprisingly affordable pricing."
To learn more about the Team Pinnacle pro staff, new Tournament Class tackle or the complete Pinnacle Fishing product lineup, click here.
FLIR gets Raymarine 5/18/2010 Despite an aggressive charge from chief competitor Garmin, troubled marine electronics giant Raymarine was ultimately acquired by FLIR Systems – a UK-based company that specializes in thermal imaging.
The transaction was valued at approximately $180 million.
Raymarine's primary recreational business centered on saltwater and runabouts. Raymarine was thus heavily compromised by the current economic slowdown in which those two categories were hit the hardest.
Facts of Fishing this week 5/18/2010 This week on Facts of Fishing FYI, Dave Mercer highlights the latest tournament results, a giant squid and a fishing granny. To watch, click below.
A record-setting field of 330 anglers has registered to compete in the 2010 BoatU.S. Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship. The event will take place May 27-28 at Lake Lewisville in Texas.
"Most of these anglers will be coming right out of final exams week and hitting the road, traveling from far away as Oregon and Virginia," said BoatU.S. Foundation director of boating safety Chris Edmonston. "We'll be there if they have any breakdowns on the road or water and help them stay on top of the action during the tournament."
Added tournament director Wade Middleton: "This is widely regarded as the premier event in college bass fishing and this year's field is packed with talent. Many of the teams competing have earned their way to represent their college at this year's championship by fishing against other members from their school the past year, so just being able to fish this event is a major accomplishment, no matter who finishes first or last. This event is a one-of-a-kind experience."
Competitors will practice on May 25-26, and then will head to the Cabela's store in Fort Worth, where they'll meet Bassmaster Elite Series pros Denny Brauer, Jeff Kriet, Mike McClelland and Kelly Jordon. Every two-person team attending the event will get a $100 Cabela's gift card.
This year's event will provide over $90,000.00 in scholarships, prizes and product giveaways.
for the collegiate anglers competing at this year's championship along with numerous other promotional benefits and discounts from the wide array of sponsors supporting the event. Careco Multimedia will have camera teams on hand to capture the action for the BoatU.S. Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship television series, which will air on the Versus network this fall.
The 3rd Annual Berkley Big Bass Challenge on the California Delta is set for this weekend (May 22-23). The event will be held out of Russo’s Marina.
Bass fishing’s version of Texas Hold 'Em matches angling skill with a weigh-in strategy. Each day of competition consists of six 1-hour periods, where anglers can weigh-in their single largest fish. Each hour an angler can bring one fish to the scales to try to stay in the running for a chance to receive one of seven hourly cash awards.
Over $40,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded during the two-day event. However, there is one catch to the tournament: Berkley baits are the only baits allowed.
The big bass winner of each hour will be presented a key that might start a new Toyota Tundra that will be awarded on the final day of competition. The Tundra and the hourly checks are guaranteed to be given away, regardless of field size.
“The tournament is a fun format to expose anglers to the full spectrum of Berkley baits," said Berkley marketing director Andrew Marks. “It is challenging to not only adjust to some of the new baits that are being used, but also the added strategy of when to weigh in your fish that lends a unique twist."
Anglers who arrive at Russo's the day before the event will have the opportunity to attend seminars hosted by Berkley pro staff members. The Berkley Experience trailer, a 60foot -event center, will be on site from Friday until the final weigh-in and awards on Sunday.
The first 150 anglers to register will have an opportunity to win a day on the water with Skeet Reese. The special drawing for that prize will be held after the final hourly weigh-in on Sunday.
A new Junior division has been added to encourage younger anglers to participate. The first 25 youths who sign up get a free Shakespeare combo worth $29.99.
For more information, visit AnglersPress.net or call Vince Harris at (916) 768-0938.
Corporate Cup off 5/17/2010 The PAA Corporate Cup and Jamboree have been canceled, the Professional Anglers Association announced in a press release. The tournaments were scheduled for June 3-5 on Pickwick Lake in Florence, Ala. A story in the Alabama Times Daily noted that lack of both corporate and angler participation forced the cancellation.
“After extensive discussions with the PAA Board of Directors and our host, we have had to make the unfortunate decision to cancel the event,” said PAA program director Danny Blandford in the release. “Florence is a fantastic city and Pickwick Lake is known for its superb fishing. It is our goal to continue working at bringing a PAA event to Florence in the future.”
The release noted that teams registered for the Corporate Cup or Jamboree will be contacted by PAA officials.
The big worms started coming out last week at Guntersville, which means we'll be hearing a lot about Berkley Power Worms and Zoom Ol' Monsters over the coming weeks. But 5th-place Guntersville finisher Russ Lane was fishing a fairly new big worm.
"It's called the Kriet Tail worm from Big Bite," Lane said. "It's a big worm – about 10 inches – and it's got a real fat, big-profile body and a big, long ribbontail. I was using plum. I guarantee as we keep fishing these ledge lakes, you'll see a lot more talk about that worm. A lot of pros are using it and not really talking about it."
Two Nebraska anglers won the 2010 Bass Cat Owners Invitational yesterday at Norfork and walked away with a brand new Bass Cat Pantera II rigged with a Mercury 200 OptiMax. Doug Osmera and Pat Hayes, both of Omaha, beat 480 other teams with their 2-day weight of 29.13 pounds.
Some other highlights:
> Second place and a 2010 Bass Cat Skiff Cat went to Dan Brown and Darren McFarland of Mountain Home, Ark. with their total weight of 27.37.
> Overall big bass (5.70) was caught by Osmera and Hayes, which awarded them cash in addition to the boat.
> Bass Cat Owner Darrell Stuart of Salem, Ark. won the draw at Thursday's banquet and brought home a 2010 Bass Cat Sabre.
> A total of 1,381 fish were caught for a total of 3,058.86 pounds.
> As a side "fun" pot, the largest striper (22.22 pounds) went to Sam and Fred Gicinto of Camdenton, Mo. and the biggest walleye (5.27) went to James Southard and Lewis Moody of Jordan, Ark.
Osmera and Hayes are pictured to right with Bass Cat founders Ron and Jan Pierce.
Here's some news that'll bring a smile to the faces of many bass and walleye anglers: Berkley has brought back the Flicker Shad. Available in 2- and 2 3/4-inch versions, the bait now comes in 12 colors – all featuring Mustad Ultra Point treble hooks.
To read more, click here to go to the Catch More Fish page.
BassFans near Lake Norman should note there's a key event there this weekend – the Oakley Big Bass Classic. It's not too late to enter. All the info can be found at OakleyBigBass.com.
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The post-spawn might be the best time to fish Guntersville, but close second would be the August frog bite. This year, the Guntersville Snag Proof Open is scheduled for August 14 and registration's now open. First place is a Bass Cat boat.
The field's capped at 150 boats, so if you want to fish it, don't wait to register. All the info can be found here.
A win at the California Delta in March certainly jump-started John Crews. The "Crews Missile" was in a pretty big slump and missed the past two Bassmaster Classics. But after five events this year, he's all the way up to 8th in the Toyota Tundra BASS Angler of the Year race. So he's in good position to make the BASS post-season if he can keep it up.
"All I'm thinking about right now is Clarks Hill," he said. "That's all. I take things just one event at a time and I'm not thinking about (the post-season) at all. There's still a lot of fishing left."
Big Bite Lookback – G-Ville 5/13/2010 Brian Snowden finished 13th at the Guntersville Bassmaster Elite Series last weekend – first out of the Top-12 cut. Another 9 ounces would have put him in.
He threw a 3/4-ounce Bass Pro Shops football jig (PBJ/Zoom Super Speed craw) out deep from morning until about noon, then went shallow and flipped docks with a Zoom Super Hog (Okeechobee craw).
When asked if there was anything he should have done differently to make the cut, he said: "I broke one off the final day that was about 5 1/2 or 6 pounds. I could have culled at 2:49 and that would have given me plenty to make the cut. I really wouldn't have done anything differently – I fished clean except that one breakoff. It got me around a dock pole and the line just broke. So the only thing I would have changed was breaking that fish off. Other than that, I felt pretty good about everything I did."
The Big Bite Lookback is brought to you by the great folks at Big Bite Baits.
FLW Outdoors today announced Damiki USA as a new associate sponsor. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The Korean tackle manufacturer recently turned its eye to the U.S. market and opened a Damiki USA office in Minneapolis, Minn. BassFans might recognize the company's name through Bryan Thrift (pictured) – an FLW Tour star who's on the Damiki pro staff.
Because Damiki is now an FLW Outdoors sponsor, Thrift will be permitted to display the Damiki logo as he wishes on restricted days.
FLW Outdoors chief marketing officer Trisha Blake said: "We're proud Damiki has joined FLW Outdoors as a sponsor and look forward to a relationship that will benefit both parties."
Damiki USA marketing manager Rodney Scott noted: "With Damiki Fishing Tackle recently entering the United States market, we're honored to be a sponsor of FLW Outdoors. We know this partnership will generate more exposure and awareness about Damiki and our multiple products, which will offer anglers of all ages the opportunity to be more productive and enjoy their time on the water."
Want to get some clothing with that cool Big Bite Baits logo on it? Several different styles of T-shirts (priced as low as $9.99), hooded sweatshirts and other items are now available from ProStaffGear.com.
There's also stuff from Spro (including items featuring the McStick jerkbait and Little John crankbait), Sunline and Jewel Baits. To browse the selection, click here.
Back in the day, two names were pretty much synonymous with Stren line – Bill Dance and Shaw Grigsby, Jr.
Grigsby hasn't been with Stren in a while, but Dance was – up until last fall. Stren announced today, however, that it lured Grigsby back into the fold and Grigsby will throw with Stren for the remainder of the 2010 Bassmaster Elite Series season.
In announcing the news, Stren brand manager Chris Derrick said: "It's great to add Shaw back into the fold here at Stren. Shaw's a great role model for young anglers and is a great spokesman for the fishing industry. Stren looks forward to partnering with Shaw to develop more innovative lines from Stren."
Grigsby noted: "It's good to be back home again with Stren. Stren has been the choice line among amateur and professional anglers all over the nation. Ever since I can remember, I was tying on Stren line to catch fish. I look forward to working with Stren on different projects and continuing this relationship in the future."
Sea Ray plant for sale 5/12/2010 Brunswick is selling its Sea Ray plant near Knoxville, Tenn. The plant was idled when Brunswick cut staff and production to better meet the demands of a smaller, slower boat market. Brunswick continues to build boats in the area at its Knoxville plant. Reported asking price for the plant: $6.6 million.
Chad Morgenthaler will host his 5th annual bass tournament to benefit Special Olympics Illinois Aug. 28 at Rend Lake. The event also includes a "beat the pro" fishing contest and opportunities to win prizes.
“I urge all my friends in the PAA – the anglers, sponsors and members – to support the athletes of Special Olympics Illinois by fishing the tournament, supporting the tournament or donating products as prizes,” he said.
The entry fee is $175 per team if registered by Aug. 20 ($200 thereafter) and the field is limited to the first 150 boats to register. Each angler will receive a T-shirt and tackle bag.
Registration will take place from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 27, at Rend Lake Resort, the official housing site for the tournament. A pre-tournament meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at the resort. The meeting includes dinner, an auction of fishing items and a meet-and-greet with the pro anglers. Rend Lake Sailboat Harbor is the launch site for the tournament.
For an entry form or more information, call Jeff Henson at Special Olympics Illinois at (800) 394-0562 or email him at jhenson@soill.org, or visit the organization's website by clicking here.
PAA anglers, sponsors and auction items are still being sought. Donations and auction items can be sent to Henson at Special Olympics Illinois, 605 E. Willow St., Normal, IL 61761.
Last year, BASS and Bass Pro Shops entered into what was described as a "marketing alliance." The relationship advanced considerably today with the announcement that Bass Pro Shops will title-sponsor the Bassmaster Opens. The title sponsorship covers the remainder of this season, as well as the complete 2011 season.
Under the agreement, some final-day Open weigh-ins will take place at a Bass Pro Shops store, and Bass Pro Shops will have a presence at Elite Series events and the Bassmaster Classic.
Additionally, Nitro Boats – a Bass Pro Shops brand – will be a supporting sponsor of the Bassmaster Elite Series. Nitro marketing and pricing turned notably more aggressive over the past 6 months.
Bass Pro Shops and BASS have a long history together. Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris fished BASS throughout the 1970s and qualified for five Bassmaster Classics. The retailer and the league grew side-by-side throughout the '70s, '80s and '90s as bass fishing exploded – BASS created the notion of a bass pro, and Bass Pro Shops used that image to sell products.
There was a split for a while over the past decade, but the two are now joined again.
In announcing the news, Morris said: "We look forward to continuing our relationship with the premier bass-fishing organization in America and the benefits it brings to our loyal customers."
BASS VP and GM Tom Ricks noted: "We recognize and appreciate the significant brand power that Bass Pro Shops has in the industry. Fishing fans will continue to benefit from this growing relationship."
The agreement also calls for:
> Joint marketing programs
> Bass Pro Shops to be the official apparel provider for the BASS marshal program
> Bassmaster University seminars to be held at various retail events
Note that Bass Pro Shops' main competitor, Cabela's, began a sponsorship of FLW Outdoors last fall, although not at a title level.
It's always nice to see tackle-company executives who can truly fish. One fine example is Val Osinski – owner of Gambler Lures. He won his second Okeechobee BFL this past weekend. Good job Val. And good baits!
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Professional bass fisherman and guide Kurt Dove has joined the El Grande Lures pro staff to assist with promotion and lure development.
Dove, of Del Rio, Texas, is a full-time guide on Amistad, Choke Canyon and Falcon lakes in southwest Texas and a tournament angler. He competed for 3 seasons on the Bassmaster Elite Series and currently fishes on the PAA Tournament Series. He's a former resident of Virginia.
"I have had my eye on Kurt for several months," said El Grande president Jay Schurz. "He has built a stellar career around his abilities as a professional bass fisherman and full-time guide. I look forward to personally working with Kurt in the design of our plastics."
Said Dove: "I am thrilled to get the opportunity to promote and extend the awareness of the El Grande Lures brand. I know the baits work very well here in south Texas and I look forward to using them with my guide clients as well as on the tournament trails.
"The unique triple laminate color patterns are on the leading edge in the soft plastics industry and gives any fisherman an extra edge over the competition and the fish," he added. "I look forward to the opportunities of adding my ideas into the design of new El Grande products as the company continues to grow."
The Berkley Experience Trailer's next stop will be at the Scheels store in Sparks, Nev. this Friday through Sunday (May 14-16). 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 look forward to educating anglers as we head to Sparks,” 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. This is a great opportunity to bring the family out to learn about new products and enjoy all that Berkley has to offer.”
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 1200 Scheels Dr.
The trailer's next stop will be at Russo's Hook, Line & Sinker at Bethel Island, Calif. from May 21-23.
Veteran FLW Tour angler David Walker has launched a new website. It includes a Fan Page where fishing photos can be submitted, and the fan who submits the one that's selected as the best will receive a Live Target lure set.
Sorry: technical difficulties 5/10/2010 Apologies to BassFans who hunted for final-day coverage of yesterday's Guntersville Bassmaster Elite Series. A database publishing error turned the story dark at some point last night. The coverage is now back up.
Anybody fishing Erie? 5/8/2010 A loaded question, because even freighters are probably seeking safe harbor right now. Here's NOAA's text forecast for the eastern end of the lake tonight. And note there might be some snow in the mix.
Lake Erie open waters from Ripley to Buffalo, NY: West gales to 40 knots becoming northwest and diminishing to 20 to 25 knots after midnight. A chance of rain or snow showers. Waves 12 to 15 feet subsiding to 7 to 10 feet.
The bad news is this particular gale blew up right during the peak of the smallmouth spawn. The shallows will be wrecked for several days, which means a lot of folks who made the pilgrimage this year will be stuck in the hotel watching TV, if they haven't headed home already.
The Professional Anglers Association (PAA) announced this week that it's launched its redesigned website, and also that it's conducting a membership contest this month.
The new site – at www.FishPAA.com – is easier to navigate, has a "Member’s Only" area and offers a storefront with apparel and DVDs. The site has been in the design phase for months with PAA staff, anglers on the board of directors and The Cox Group of Charlotte, N.C. working together to create it.
"After many months of planning and work, we're thrilled to unveil the new site,” said PAA program director Danny Blandford. "The team at the Cox Group did a fantastic job of suggesting creative ways to build the new site and incorporated our suggestions as well.
“Doing something like this is not an easy or overnight task,” Blandford added. “It took numerous hours, many meetings and hundreds of emails to get things finalized. The PAA's staff and board of directors and the membership appreciates the hard work the Cox Group did on this job."
FishPAA.com features a rotating carousel of news, features, sponsor and industry news, tournament reports and other items. Visitors will find ways to learn about the PAA’s tournaments and Affinity Program, join the organization and access sites for PAA sponsor partners.
Tournament pages exist for each event on the 2010 PAA Tournament Series. The pages include information about rules and entry, and links for the host cities, ramp, lake, lodging, amenities, weather and more. Also included are pages for the PAA Corporate Cup and Jamboree, and the Toyota Texas Bass Classic scheduled in October.
The PAA's membership promotion, which runs throughout May, allows anyone who joines or renews their membership during the month to enter a drawing for two Carrot Stix casting rods. The drawing will be held June 1 and the two winners will be notified by email.
General, Advantage and Tour membership levels are available. Another bonus is the ability to join for up to 3 years, and payments via PayPal are accepted.
To renew a membership or for more information, contact Lisa Bell at lisa@fishpas.com.
New winner, more stories 5/6/2010 A new winner was selected and three new stories published today in the Abu Garcia For Life! contest.
Richard Ziert of Peoria, Ariz. was picked as the winner for April. His story about his Ambassadeur 7000, purchased in 1975, earned him his choice of either an Abu Garcia Revo SX or Soron SX40.
The newest entries come from Tom Beale, Tommy Waltz and Gary T. Hancock. To read them, head on over to the Abu Garcia For Life! contest 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.
Big news out of the Rapala-Normark Group today. Seems there's going to be some heavy innovation coming soon, meant to revolutionize the superline category.
Apparently W.L. Gore & Associates, inventor of Gore Tex and other space-age fibers, has invented a new fiber called Omni-Braid. Sufix recently partnered with Gore and plans to release a new superline using Omni-Braid.
What's so revolutionary about that? For one, Omni-Braid is said to be chemically stable, which means it won't break down. That means you'll have to change lines less often. Perhaps more important, it's said to have a lower coefficient of friction than any superline currently on the market. That means smoother casts, but also little to no noise as it works through the line guides. It's also said to have better abrasion-resistance than current products.
It all sounds real cool, but we won't know much more until official word comes out. Expect additional details as the ICAST industry tradeshow approaches.
Also noteworthy is Rapala's strategy with Sufix. Often in this industry, brands are acquired but little is done to grow or expand them. The move toward Omni-Braid, as well as other recent Sufix innovations, seems to show that Rapala-Normark is quite serious about the line market and will aggressively seek to increase its marketshare.
Facts of Fishing this week 5/6/2010 The world record skunk, K-Pink, Skeet, KVD and Pamela Anderson are all part of this week's Facts of Fishing FYI with Dave Mercer. To see it, click below.
Soldiers on Oneida 5/6/2010 The New York BASS Chapter Federation (NYBCF) held its 2nd annual Take A Soldier Fishing event on Oneida Lake for 80 soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum. Many of the soldiers had recently returned from combat duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.
For a report on the event from Syracuse.com, click here.
BRP and Evinrude have announced a renewed partnership with The Bass Federation. TBF members are eligible for product rebates as well as contingency tournament funds through the expanded program.
The 2010 program offers an expanded voucher program, giving potential engine purchasers incentive to buy an Evinrude E-TEC outboard engine. The voucher program is available to current federation members in each state chapter and is in addition to any current Evinrude retail incentive programs. A cash contingency has also been added to state federation winners running Evinrude E-TEC products at each state championship event.
“The TBF is the perfect match for our grass roots marketing efforts,” stated BRP North America Division VP and GM Yves Leduc. “The 30,000-plus membership and their participation in more than 20,000 fishing, youth and conservation events each year is a direct line to our core consumer target. It’s a win-win relationship for Evinrude and TBF.
The TBF voucher program will be available through March 31, 2011. State federation members who purchase an Evinrude E-TEC outboard engine or a Ranger/Evinrude package during the promotional period will accrue $1 per horsepower,which will be added to each state's voucher program total. State groups can redeem the voucher money for an assortment of Evinrude products. For official voucher rules, visit www.BassFederation.com.
Tenn. River closed (updated) 5/5/2010 FLW Outdoors postponed this weekend's Kentucky Lake BFL to June 19. Takeoff and weigh-in locations are TBA. The league has not yet made a decision concerning next week's Kentucky Lake AFS.
The U.S. Coast Guard has closed a major portion of the Tennessee River to recreational traffic. The closed portion stretches from mile-marker 0 At Paducah, Ky. to mile-marker 206 at Pickwick Landing. Barkley, a Cumberland River lake, is also closed.
The closure does not affect this week's Guntersville Bassmaster Elite Series, which is upriver from the closure, but the news does highlight how serious and tragic the flooding conditions are in Tennessee.
The TVA reports on its site that Guntersville will be "spilling until further notice" in order to keep water moving through the system.
The final day of last week's Pickwick Elite Series was cut short due to severe weather.
There is a Kentucky Lake BFL scheduled for this Saturday that could likely be canceled. A Kentucky Lake AFS is scheduled for the following week.
BASS monitoring Gulf 5/4/2010 With the 2011 Bassmaster Classic scheduled to be held on the Louisiana Delta, BASS is keeping a close eye on events surrounding the recent Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
"We're definitely monitoring the situation," said a BASS communications official. "In fact, (BASS conservation director) Chris Horton is in Washington, D.C. today, where this will be the topic of discussion.
"As of right now, it doesn’t look like the majority of the bass waters for the Classic will be impacted, but we can’t rule out anything and we will continue to monitor."
North Dakota BassFans take note: The Berkley Experience Trailer will be at the Scheels store in Fargo, Thursday through Saturday of this week. The 60-foot trailer brings fun and fishing education to all skill levels of anglers and offers seminars on topics like line selection, reel maintenance and more.
A week later, the trailer will stop at the Scheels store in Sparks, Nev.
AOY: VanDam outside cutoff 5/4/2010 Kevin VanDam's 57th place finish at the recent Pickwick Bassmaster Elite Series dropped him eight places to 38th in the Toyota Tundra Angler of the Year (AOY) race. Few expect him to stay there, but the significance is that he's currently outside the Bassmaster Classic cutoff, and if this were the end of the season instead of the midway point, KVD's only entry into the 2011 Classic would be via the defending champion's exemption.
That means only the Top 36 in the AOY race would gain Classic berths, and that 36th spot is currently held by rookie Bradley Roy. You likely could've gotten some long odds on a preseason wager that a teenager would've compiled more points than the five-time AOY with half the campaign in the books.
If the season had ended Sunday, the first angler out of the Classic would be Californian Ish Monroe, who's made a solid comeback over the last two events after opening up with two highly disappointing finishes in his home state. Monroe has fared extremely well in his return to the FLW Tour – he's 8th on that points list with three of five events complete.
Winner Kevin Short made the biggest climb on the points list at Pickwick, jumping 40 places to 34th. Fifth-place Pickwick finisher Skeet Reese nearly doubled his already-massive lead and he's now 153 points ahead of No. 2 Greg Hackney.
Latest Rankings: Ike 3rd 5/3/2010 The latest edition of the BassFan World Rankings are now live. Skeet Reese is still way out in front, but check out Mike Iaconelli in 3rd. A tough finish at Pickwick helps move Kevin VanDam down to 5th.
PAA election results 5/3/2010 PAA-member voting has ended, with results that Mike McClelland will join the board. He replaces Sean Hoernke, who did not seek reelection.
Dave Mansue and Chad Morgenthaler were reelected to the board and rejoin current boardmembers John Crews, Kurt Dove, Paul Elias, Kelly Jordon, Zell Rowland, Matt Reed and Brian Snowden.
Boardmembers will later elect new officers to fill the positions of president, vice president, secretary and treasurer.
The Forrest Wood Cup will undergo its second major format change in 4 years when it begins this August at Lake Lanier in Georgia.
The Cup used to feature bracket-style competition, after which the final 12 bracket winners started with zero weight on day 4.
But in 2007, FLW Outdoors ditched the brackets and went to a straight cut/zero-weight format, where the Top 10 after day 2 advanced, weights were zeroed, and they fished for best 2-day combined weight over the final 2 days.
This year, the field will cut to the Top 30 after day 2, then the Top 6 after day 3. Winner will be determined by 4-day cumulative weight.
FLW Outdoors announced the changes just a few days ago, which is uncharacteristic for the tournament organization. The league typically announces formats prior to the season kickoff.
Note that under the new format, 20 additional pros will get to fish another day, although four fewer pros will fish the final day. FLW Outdoors should thus realize a cost savings in TV coverage of the Cup with four fewer boats to follow on day 4.
Another change, announced prior to the season kickoff, was the Ranger Bonus reduction for the winner. The winner's bonus, if Ranger Cup qualified, used to be $500,000. This year it's $100,000.
Here's a look at launch and weigh-in times:
Anglers launch from Laurel Park in Gainesville, Ga. daily at 7 a.m. with the takeoff festivities beginning each day at 6:30 a.m.
The FLW Outdoors Expo will be held Friday, August 6 through Sunday, August 8 at the Gwinnett Convention Center. The Expo will be open from noon to 5 p.m. on Friday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Daily weigh-ins begin at 5 p.m. each day at Gwinnett Arena.
Interestingly, there's a significant rumor circulating right now that FLW Outdoors will make major changes to its 2011 Cup and Tour format that'll be of great benefit to the anglers. Again, though, this is simply a rumor at this point.
Thinking of buying a new Quantum reel? Right now's a great time to buy, because the company's offering a bunch of deals with a new-reel purchase. Here's a summary:
Purchase any Tour KVD, Tour Edition PT, Reax PT, Energy PT or Catalyst PT baitcast reel and get a free Strike King/Kevin VanDam Sexy Shad crankbait kit (includes six baits).
Purchase any Accurist PT or Kinetic PT baitcast reel and get a free spool of 15-pound CajunLine fluorocarbon.
Purchase any Tour Edition PTi, Energy PTi, Catalyst PTi or Kinetic PTi spinning reel and get a free spool of 8-pound CajunLine fluorocarbon.
Purchase any Accurist PT or Kinetic PT baitcast reel and get a free BASS membership (new or renewal) and a Best of KVD tips book (exclusive opportunity).
Jeff Kriet naturally wasn't thrilled to be the first angler out of the 12-cut at the Pickwick Bassmaster Elite Series in Alabama, but it was nonetheless another strong finish for the Big Bite-sponsored Oklahoman who was the runner-up in this year's Bassmaster Classic. It's better yet when you consider that the deep-water guru looked upon the event as the last on the schedule in which he'd have to fish shallow to be competitive.
In hindsight, he wishes he'd moved to the banks sooner than he did.
"I stayed out the first day until almost 1:00," he said. "I was fishing the way I wanted to fish and I was catching the heck out of them, but I think I had one 3-pounder and about 10 pounds total.
"I finally said, 'Man, I've got to pull the plug on this deal,' and I went shallow and caught 13 pounds. I went in there and culled all but one in the last hour and a half. I never found the right school (offshore) and I was catching just enough decent ones to keep me out there."
He was in 52nd place after day 1 and moved up 24 slots with a 16-05 bag on day 2. He followed that up with 17 1/2 pounds on day 3 and said his last bag would've been considerably heftier had he not broken off three big ones underneath a log in the final hour.
"I'm not saying I could've won, but I was dialed in at that point and I think I could've gone out and caught another pretty good sack (on day 4). I just wish I'd never stopped on that log because I was feeling pretty good about my day before that."
The Big Bite Lookback is brought to you by the great folks at Big Bite Baits.
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