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• Jim Campbell of Maryville, TN writes:

  Wednesday, April 30, 2014

  RE: Dalbey not the rise – It's really great to finally see one of the better sides of the fishing industry. It is a true blessing to have guys like this to be a great ambassador to the sport. This just proves that there are guys still out there who give the younger generation someone to look up to that have their priorities right. It's not only about themselves, but about helping and giving to others. These are the true professionals – win or loose .

  Awesome story. Congrats Rich Dalbey, for your success this year.

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• Bradley Stringer of Huntington, TX writes:

  Tuesday, April 29, 2014

  It's been 7 years since I've been on the Tour, but I wanted to let everyone know who loved my mom, Alice Stringer, that she never quit fighting her battle with cancer. Your heart goes out to everyone who has lost a loved one and it especially hurts when it's your loved one. When Mark (Menendez) lost Donna, we all cried for them knowing the pain him and the kids were going through, knowing that it could be any of us at any time.

  My mom had a wonderful and full life of competitive fishing and loved traveling with me when she could. She loved seeing and talking with everyone at the tournaments and never met a stranger. While at a tournament, she loved hanging around all the service crews and dearly loved everyone. She will be missed dearly every second of every day from now on.

  She was around tournaments for 40 years and loved every breath she took traveling and fishing. She was 67 and I can't believe she is gone. She will live in our hearts forever and I know she still has a hand in my accomplishments. Please pray for my dad, Donald Stringer, as he and mom had been together for 53 years and knowing everything he looks at in their beautiful house that sits on the bank overlooking Stanley Creek on the upper end of Sam Rayburn will always remind him of all the wonderful times we all spent there and on the water everywhere!

  If she were here or could tell everyone anything, as her son, I know she would tell them that she loved them and she enjoyed every second of every day. Take-off mornings were her favorite and she was always the first one at the dock waiting on me to come in, excited to see what I had. On the days I didn't have what I wanted, she would always put her arms around me and remind me that people didn't want to see a " long face" – to smile and be happy and that mom loved me bunches and she was always proud and I would get 'em tomorrow.

  Thanks for everything and much, much more, Mom. Thanks for every cast and for all the casts to come when you will be with us. We love you!

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• Steve Quinn of Brainerd, MN writes:

  Tuesday, April 29, 2014

  Rich Dalbey has a new fan. I wasn't aware of him as a pro until the recent BassFan article, but I was most impressed by his initiative in using the FLW Tour platform to assist local food shelves in gaining donations for the less fortunate in our communities. Way to go, Rich!

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• Shane Burns of Durham, NC writes:

  Tuesday, April 29, 2014

  If the A-Rig is winning tournaments in unskilled anglers' hands, how do you feel about battery-powered lures that attract fish (Livingston Lures)? When the A-Rig was legal on the Tour, the same top pros were winning even if they used the A-Rig.

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• John Freeman of Mt. Holly, NC writes:

  Monday, April 28, 2014

  RE: Cherry on docks – I just want to say thank for the article – it was very helpful. I fish Lake Norman at least three to four times a week. I love to throw that big jig, but trying to figure out which docks to hit for that big bite can be tough here. Lately I've caught some big largemouth and some good spots, but they have been in some kind of funk. Most of them have been on a spinnerbait, but now I think I know what to look for.

  Again, thanks, Hank. You're No. 1 in my book.

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• Chritsopher Brummitt of College Park, GA writes:

  Monday, April 28, 2014

  I have the utmost respect for the old guard of bass fishing, but this is refreshing. The new generation of tournament anglers are breathing new life into our sport, especially with the college and high school fishing programs. I see it in many aspects of our sport, from the shoes, hats, trucks, rims on trailers, GoPros, the list goes on.

  I believe the "big" trails are taking notice and attempting to capitalize on the potential expanded sponsor dollars. Lets go!

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• Mark Howard of Mesquite, TX writes:

  Monday, April 28, 2014

  RE: Dalbey on the rise – Congrats to you, Rich Dalbey, your hard work ethic and commitment to achieve success at the highest level of bass angling is being rewarded. I want to thank you personally for your friendship and help as a mentor to me in this great sport. I hope to be able to compete alongside you as a tour pro someday, but until then I will enjoy my time off the back deck.

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• Phil van den Dool of Tulsa, OK writes:

  Friday, April 25, 2014

  RE: Balog's long overdue trip – Great article and nostalgic look at how bass fishing has changed over the years. I can remember meeting my childhood hero, Bill Dance, at a fishing tackle seminar in Tulsa back in the '70s. I asked him what his favorite worm color was. He answered, "Son, any color is okay as long as it's 6-inch and blue with a fire tail." Wow!

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• Brian Feutz of Rockford, MI writes:

  Thursday, April 24, 2014

  RE: Balog's overdue trip – The Balog column is the best. Me and Balog must be the same age because he hits on all the right stuff. VHS in the garage ... had that for a long time myself just to watch Bassmaster. Keep it up, Balog. You rock.

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• Steve Magnelia of Austin, TX writes:

  Thursday, April 24, 2014

  Joe Balog's "A Long Overdue Trip" is a nice look at the past and where we are now. The complexities of the sport and life in general have certainly changed, but the game remains essentially the same.

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• Rob Wadley of Bixby, OK writes:

  Thursday, April 24, 2014

  RE: Balog's overdue trip - I enjoyed this piece and couldn't agree more with the last statement – does it really matter? Like most other bass fishermen, I got caught up in all the "latest and greatest" lure crazes. However, several years ago on a cold winter weekend when I had nothing to do, I went out to the garage, went through all my tackle and took a good, hard look at what I used. I realized that I used the same lures, plastics, etc. to catch my fish. I had no telling how many lures that were still in the box/package. So I boxed all that stuff up and sold it at a tackle show.

  I don't think a person needs a ton of lures to catch bass. I think the answer to Joe's question is no, it doesn't matter. Just throw what you have confidence in.

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• Harold Sharp of Hixson, TN writes:

  Thursday, April 24, 2014

  RE: Balog's overdue trip – Joe talks about how much tackle bass anglers use today and how they select the color, shape and method to present it. This reminded me of when I went to B.A.S.S. in 1970 to conduct the seminar tour with John Powell, Roland Martin, Bill Dance, Tom Mann and many other top pros.

  I fished many days with John Powell and Roland Martin and always remember that John would pour a large number of plastic worms on the front deck of his boat, within easy reach, then turn on the trolling motor and fish everything along the shallow bank ahead of his boat. He changed baits after every catch or every five or six casts and never looked at the size or color of the plastic worm.

  Roland fished more deep water than John, but he used the same style by changing his plastic lures after a few casts and he never looked at the size or color. Both John and Roland always told the seminar crowd that the most important thing about a bass lure was where you put it – not the size, shape or color.

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• John Lorenzo of Kane, PA writes:

  Wednesday, April 23, 2014

  RE: MLF format – Ridiculous to pay $5 per angler. The sport already costs enough.

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• Bink Desaro of Boise, ID writes:

  Wednesday, April 23, 2014

  RE: Zaldain's tough start – No matter where you are in the rankings, I will always be a Zaldain fan ... and not just because that is my mom's maden name! Go put the smack-down on 'em, cuz!

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• Jim Liner of Pintlala, AL writes:

  Wednesday, April 23, 2014

  RE: Murphy's Cabin Creek deal – I have used Cabin Creek tubes for years and have done very well here in the deep South and in Canada also.

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• Harold Sharp of Hixson, TN writes:

  Monday, April 21, 2014

  A bass tournament on Bull Shoals in 1960 or '61 would likely have been won by Hy Peskin. Jerry McKinnis at B.A.S.S. may remember it, most others who would know are no longer with us.

  Lead Hill Boat Dock, located on Bull Shoals, should know how to locate Glen Andrews, who fished and guided on Bull Shoals during that time. Glen would know about this tournament.

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• Chuck Daymude of Mooresville, N.C. writes:

  Monday, April 21, 2014

  RE: Balog on umbrella rigs – Absolutely silly. The rig has proven on cold, clear water impoundments to outproduce and outperform every other bait that has historically been used on those same fisheries time after time. It's winning tournaments in the hands of unskilled anglers who have simply learned the art of cast and retrieve. It has no place in competitive fishing whatsoever.

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• Tim Brown of Ridge Top, TN writes:

  Saturday, April 19, 2014

  RE: Ultimate Match Fishing – I finally got to watch a show last Sunday – that's really about the only time I have a chance to watch one. Sundays I may be out fishing. On Thursdays/Fridays I'm working in the morning when the show comes on. Is the network trying to kill off the show?

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• John Guzo of Leola, PA writes:

  Friday, April 18, 2014

  RE: Simonton's new sponsorship – I have been buying lure parts from Jann's Netcraft for years. I love making molds and customizing them. Just got a call from a friend fishing a tournament who told me he won big bass using my terminal tackle. It made me feel just as good as if I caught it myself.

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• Jim Liner of Pintlala, AL writes:

  Thursday, April 17, 2014

  RE: Sonar's engagement – Congrats, brother. You know we have a honeymoon suite down here at Ray Scott's Trophy Bass Retreat. Come see us.

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• Daniel Washburn of Lawrence, KS writes:

  Wednesday, April 16, 2014

  Does anyone remember a bass tournament held at Bull Shoals Landing about 1960 or '61? First prize was a boat and trailer and I believe a local guide, Bill Rose, won.

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• Dennis E. Harbour of Terre Haute, IN writes:

  Tuesday, April 15, 2014

  RE: Ultimate Match Fishing – I won't miss the line, but will probably miss the program! Certainly there is a hunting show that could be moved so UMF could be broadcast in the evening. I have quit watching as much becauseI could only watch so much deer or turkey hunting.

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• Kenneth Matthews of Willard, MO writes:

  Monday, April 14, 2014

  About your video on Zaldain's rig – in Missouri, you can run only three hooks on a rig. Still a neat video.

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• mark melega of rices landing, pa writes:

  Friday, April 11, 2014

  If nets are legal in your tournament, then your answer to a jumping fish with the lure flying out of its mouth and the fish being scooped up in the net is, "The purpose of a net is to scoop the fish." The sole reason that companies such as Frabill are in business is to make nets to scoop jumping, fighting, lure-throwing fish.

  If you don't want a net in the boat, then fine, but don't beg me to grab that 3-pound smallmouth with the three-treble Lucky Craft slashing around. While you're at it, don't scream at me to grab that snapped 8-pound line floating on the surface after that same bass rights itself and begins to swim away.

  Grab it with your hands or use a net (if legal in your tournament). What's the difference?

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• Tom Fisher of Boulder City, NV writes:

  Thursday, April 10, 2014

  Of course the netted fish should count, but for who? The angler didn't get the fish in the boat. the net man did. Who caught it?

  Better question: At what point do we over-regulate ourselves right out of business?

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• Martin D. Lamb of Albia, IA writes:

  Thursday, April 10, 2014

  I find it interesting that six of the Top 10 in the World Rankings are FLW anglers. Since most of them are fishing both tours, that pretty much eliminates the argument of weaker competition.

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• Gary Cossaboom of Hershey, PA writes:

  Wednesday, April 9, 2014

  There's no problem with co-anglers in the boat. If a pro doesn't want to risk a bad net job losing a fish, he can simply net the fish himself. When I fish tournaments I tell my partner that I'll net my own fish. That way there's only me to blame if I mess it up ... ot that I'd be overly upset if my partner did so – stuff happens.

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• Robert Rovenski of Mt. Holly, NJ writes:

  Wednesday, April 9, 2014

  RE: MLF format for clubs I voted none and the reason why is that every local club event must have two people in the boat so no cheating happens. The club I was in, no one wanted to pair up, so I don't think it would work.

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• Harold Sharp of Hixson, TN writes:

  Friday, April 4, 2014

  Many are concerned with the handling of bass at tournaments, and also dip nets. Here's a little history on these subjects.

  The first B.A.S.S. tournaments from 1967 to 1972 were" kill all" events. All bass were kept on stringers, and after weigh-in they were iced down and donated to a local charity for food. Dip nets were also allowed.

  After the 1971 season, B.A.S.S. invented "Don't Kill Your Catch.” We saw the need to protect our sport and came up with a system that is still working. We were still allowing dip nets until the B.A.S.S. Champs event at Cincinnati in July 1982. At that tournament, good-size bass were hard to come by. A contestant hooked a good one, his partner grabbed the net and it tangled in the depthfinder located on the console. The angler kept waiting for his partner to untangle the net and lost the bass. He also filed a complaint against his partner, claiming he caused him to lose the bass. So B.A.S.S. outlawed dip nets after that happened. Years later, nets were allowed again.

  Here's a question to think about: If a contestant is landing a bass and his co-angler or observer or marshal or whoever is handling the dip net and the bass jumps and throws the hook but falls in the net, should that bass be counted?

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• Bruce Sears of Fort Smith, AR writes:

  Thursday, April 3, 2014

  RE: Table Rock Elite Series – Can't believe you don't have Jason Christie in your 10 to watch. This is in his wheelhouse.

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• Ed Riley of Woodbine, MD writes:

  Thursday, April 3, 2014

  RE: Major League Fishing – Like the format and love the show.

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• Alex Posey of Roswell, GA writes:

  Thursday, April 3, 2014

  RE: Kilby's lost giant – If Rob Kilby had landed that fish, I would have won Fantasy Fishing this week! Oh well, we both lost out. Still ended up in 2nd place.

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• Larry Hipps of Cary, NC writes:

  Thursday, April 3, 2014

  RE: Wiley's comeback at Rayburn – Way to go, Scott, and never give up! Bet you miss all of the good meals I used to cook you on the EverStart trail!

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• Richard Bates of Belle Chasse, LA writes:

  Thursday, April 3, 2014

  RE: Balog on two-tour pros – I enjoyed your article about two-tour professionals and couldn't help but think of Steve Kennedy. He seems to be the closest pro to what you describe. Of course winning over $1.9 million helps, but you don't see him heavily invested in anything other than fishing tournaments.

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