College Anglers Go Head-To-Head In Battle For Bassmaster Classic Berth
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AC Insider Podcast - August 14, 2018 - FLW Cup Recap
The boys are back and recovering from the weekends activities in Arkansas at the FLW Cup.
This week Cup Runner up James Niggemeyer joins the show and talks about his 2nd place finish.
They boys also talk about their Cup experience, a few gripes, a few praises and Jason gets a promotion! Check it out!
The Clent Davis Story - Your 2018 FLW Cup Champ!
Vance McCullough
In a tournament where many of the top performers buzzed the bank with topwaters, Clent Davis went straight to his strengths – deep brush; big worms.
The decision paid off to the tune of $300,000 and a huge, shiny Forrest Wood Cup trophy.
His total 3-day weight was 36 pounds, 13 ounces.
The 2018 Cup played out on a stingy Lake Ouachita during August’s dreaded dog days. Under such circumstances, patience and confidence come into play. As does decision-making.
“We all have our strengths. I have one strength. I’m a really good brush pile fisherman.
“I knew the only way I was going to beat these guys was to fish brush. That was the only thing I was going to do from Day 1.”
Davis had a great teacher early in his angling career. “My first-ever FLW Tour event as a co-angler was on Lake Ouachita. The first day, I drew the man himself, Scott Suggs”.
Suggs, off course won a Cup on Ouachita fishing deep timber during a slow summer bite.
“I got a pretty good lesson. I netted his fish all day and got a pretty good idea of how he did things. I have no clue where we fished. Never will because he ran me in a million circles around this lake, but I understood that Scott Suggs threw a big worm, a swimbait and a topwater and he caught the fire out of ‘em.”
Davis capitalized on his education this week, targeting brush in 22-to-30 feet of water. “Seemed like the deeper the better. I kind of figured that out today.”
“All my big fish were on Mister Twister Mag Worms, plum apple color.” Daivs fished the worm on a half-ounce Nichols Lures swing head weight and 16-lb Yo-Zuri Top Knot fluorocarbon line. He used a 7’7” heavy action rod and a Shimano Currado reel.
If the wind blew, which it seldom did this week, Davis caught fish on a swimbait.
“I had a terrible practice, terrible. First day of practice I caught 2 good ones. That area is where I won the tournament.”
The best decision Davis made occurred long before the first cast of the season. It was simply the decision to fish the 2018 Tour.
“I was done with bass fishing,” said Clent Davis. “I sold everything I had – my boat, all my fishing lures, all the rods I had – everything.”
Why?
“I had taken all the fun out of it. My whole life all I’d done was fish 24/7. That’s fine when you’re a kid but when you do it for a living you’re gone away from your wife year-round, non-stop. When I would get done with my season I would continue to fish in pot tournaments and everything else.
“You just lose the drive."
“You’ve got to have a certain fire to compete against these guys. It’s like anything, going through the motions is a bad deal. You’ve got to take a break every now and then and I never had, my whole life.
That happened in November. By the time he rang-in the new year, a fire had built inside of Davis. When FLW Tour tournament director Bill Taylor called to ask what his intentions were, Davis decided to go fishing.
“Honestly, all year I’ve been excited. No matter how tough, how bad, I’ve had fun.”
His new attitude carried him into a Cup tourney that, mentally, beat down many of his peers.
“I just went out and had fun. I think everybody did. This is the Cup.
“There’s no pressure unless you put the pressure on yourself.
“There is none. I fish to make a living to feed my family and I knew I was getting paid today. I was just going to have fun.”
ALABAMA’S CLENT DAVIS WINS PROFESSIONAL BASS FISHING’S 2018 FORREST WOOD CUP
2012 FLW Rookie of the Year Weighs Largest Limit in Forrest Wood Cup to Clinch First FLW Tour Victory
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. (Aug. 12, 2018) – FLW Tour pro Clent Davis of Montevallo, Alabama, brought a five-bass limit to the scale Sunday weighing 17 pounds, 13 ounces – the heaviest limit weighed in the three-day event – to earn the win at the 2018 Forrest Wood Cup on Lake Ouachita. Over three days, Davis amassed 15 fish totaling 36 pounds, 13 ounces to edge out second-place angler Cabela’s/Bass Pro Shops pro James Niggemeyer of Van, Texas, by 7 pounds, 4 ounces and win the $300,000 top cash prize. The tournament featured 56 of the top bass-fishing anglers in the world competing for professional bass-fishing’s world championship.
“I don’t believe that I just won this,” said Davis, a former FLW College Fishing standout for the University of Montevallo. “I almost walked away from professional bass fishing last year. I was burned out on fishing. I sold all of my gear – my boat, all of my rods, my reels, every piece of equipment that I had. It wasn’t from failure, it was because I was burned out.
“(FLW Tour Senior Tournament Director) Bill Taylor called me in November and asked me if I was interested in rejoining the Tour,” Davis continued. “I decided to pay my deposits, but I was still on the fence. I decided that if I wasn’t fired up to go fishing by the time the season started, I would forfeit my deposits and go to work at the power company. But, I started getting the itch back around Christmas time and I decided I was going to get back out and just have fun, again. That’s what fishing is all about, it’s supposed to be fun.”
Davis’ decision to rejoin the Tour was definitely the correct one, as the Montevallo-native went on to finish the season ranked No. 25 in the Angler of the Year race – his best finish on Tour since his rookie season. He cashed checks totaling more than $62,000 in seven events and qualified for his third Forrest Wood Cup appearance.
“I knew that the only way that I was going to win this week was fishing brush piles,” Davis said. “There are so many ways to catch fish on this lake, but if it was going to happen for me it was going to be offshore, fishing out of the brush.
“My key bait that I caught all of my big ones on was a 12-inch, plum-colored Mister Twister Mag Buzz Worm. I was fishing anywhere from 22 to 30 feet deep throughout the week. The best anglers in the world were in this tournament and I knew that my only shot was fishing my strengths.
“I fished awful all week, losing fish, but I caught enough to squeak into the top-10 by 1 ounce,” Davis said. “I’m not supposed to win coming out in 10th place, so I went out today and just had fun. I had an incredible day on the water today and finally got lucky, catching my 5-pound kicker. I guess it was just my time.”
The top 10 pros at the 2018 Forrest Wood Cup on Lake Ouachita finished:
1st: Clent Davis, Montevallo, Ala., 15 bass, 36-13, $300,000
2nd: Cabela’s/Bass Pro Shops pro James Niggemeyer, Van, Texas, 14 bass, 29-9, $60,000
3rd: Berkley pro Justin Atkins, Florence, Ala., 15 bass, 28-12, $50,000
4th: Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La., 12 bass, 28-6, $37,500
5th: Jason Lambert, Michie, Tenn., 15 bass, 27-15, $30,000
6th: Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., 15 bass, 26-13, $24,000
7th: Wes Logan, Springville, Ala., 11 bass, 25-9, $23,000
8th: John Cox, DeBary, Fla., 13 bass, 24-7, $22,000
9th: Brandon Cobb, Greenwood, S.C., 12 bass, 23-1, $21,000
10th: Bradford Beavers, Summerville, S.C., nine bass, 20-8, $20,000
Full results for the entire field can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Overall there were 36 bass weighing 67 pounds, 9 ounces caught by pros Sunday. Five of the final 10 anglers weighed in five-bass limits.
The 2018 Forrest Wood Cup at Lake Ouachita in Hot Springs, Arkansas, was hosted by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism and Visit Hot Springs. Total attendance for the three-day event was 66,293 fishing fans. The Bank OZK Arena was at 100-percent capacity, Sunday, and an overflow of fans watched the Justin Moore concert and final weigh-ins on a big screen at the Hot Springs Convention Center.
FLW, in conjunction with Visit Hot Springs and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, announced Saturday that for the first time in the 24-year history of the FLW Tour, Lake Ouachita and Hot Springs, Arkansas, will also be hosting the 2019 FLW Cup, the world championship of bass fishing – Aug. 11-13, 2019 – for the second consecutive year. This event will mark the fifth time that the FLW Cup, the sport’s richest prize, has visited Lake Ouachita.
Television coverage of the 2018 Forrest Wood Cup will premiere in high-definition (HD) on NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) Sept. 27 from Noon -1 p.m. EDT. The Emmy-nominated "FLW" television show airs on NBCSN and the World Fishing Network and is broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, making it the most widely distributed weekly outdoors-sports television show in the world.
For a full schedule of events, complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing.
FLW Cup Day 2 Report - "Always Listen to the Voices in your head"
Vance McCullough
Always listen to the voice in your head.
It’s there, just below the surface. And it is seldom wrong.
“Something just told me to get in the rod box, get my frog rod out, cut the frog off and tie on a Whopper Plopper,” said Nick LeBrun. “I’m like ‘why did I do that?’. I kept fishing for a minute or two and then that five-pounder came up chasing. I fired over there and she smoked it.
“That was just a sign from God.
“He wanted me to be ready when that fish came up and I was ready. It was one of the most amazing moments of my career.
“It’s all about decisions.”
That decision moved LeBrun into 2ndplace, a pound and two ounces behind the new leader, Wes Logan, heading into Championship Sunday. All this even though LeBrun only weighed 3 of a possible 5 fish today. He had only 4 bites.
That’s how tough the bite is on Lake Ouachita whose beauty is exceeded only by her stinginess this week.
With one life-changing day left to fish, Logan has figured out the bite better than anybody else. He has cobbled together a 2-day total weight of 23 pounds, 13 ounces.
“I had a pretty good day, caught about 10 or 12 fish and, like yesterday, the bite turned on about 1 o’clock,” noted Logan. “I just made my little milk run, got a few bites here and a few bites there. I’m fishing offshore, not necessarily brush – some of them are drops, some of them are hard spots, there’s a little brush involved, but it’s mainly just offshore.”
Spectator crowd management is always a concern at big tournaments. The young pro understand how to compensate. “I had a crowd follow me today and I realized I had to stop really short of where I wanted to go and idle in to fish.
“I’m going to go fishing tomorrow and see what happens.”
The first competition day brought fog and low clouds that hung in for hours. The shallow bite dominated. Day 2 gave way to clearing skies and bright sunshine early in the morning. Consequently, the guys who were dialed into the deep bite made up some valuable ground. The bank-beaters reported that their topwater fish were often less enthusiastic. And the topwater bite is a major component of most shallow game plans this week.
James Niggemeyer made the most of the shallow bite. With just 4 fish today he placed 3rdon the current leaderboard with a total weight of 20-14. “You make the championship, you’ve got to do something that you’re confident doing. There was a deep bite and a shallow bite. I went for the shallow bite because when you’re pushing through hours of not getting a bite you need to be doing something you can stay confident in, even though you’re not catching any fish, so shallow is where I needed to go. I’m power fishing real shallow.
“Tomorrow I will hit them as hard as I can with both barrels because there’s only tomorrow. I’ll hit them as hard as I can.”
Zack Birge caught half his first day weight. It was enough to secure a berth into Sunday’s championship round. He’s 4thwith 20-6. “It was a grind all day. My schooling fish didn’t school this morning.”
When his secondary pattern failed to produce, Birge made a move. “I ran all the way across the lake to another area where I knew there was a bunch of keepers. I stayed in there an hour-and-a-half and I never got a bite.
“As I was running back down the lake I thought ‘I need to go hit new water – new stuff that looks good to me’. I hit like, 15 new pockets and the first 4 I pulled into I caught a keeper.”
Birge says he will fish all new water again on Sunday.
Jason lambert is 5thwith back-to-back limits of bass that weigh a combined 20-3.
John Cox was another pro who made the cut without a pair of limits. His 4-fish, 8 pound, 11 ounce effort today pushed his total weight to 19-14, good for 6thplace.
Cox is a dangerous man because he is on bigger than average bass. He knows, because he sees them wolf-packing in the shallows. “The first day, a lot of the bigger fish would hit, even though they’d come off, but today the smaller fish would get it.
“I’m just taking the Crestliner down the bank at 100 miles per hour and I’m throwing all the new Berkley topwaters. I’ve been throwing the J-Walker and covering tons of water.
“You lose confidence in something because you go hours without a bite and then you run into some and then you catch them.”
Stay tuned because, as Cox summed up, “anybody in the Top 10 can win tomorrow!”
ROOKIE LOGAN TAKES LEAD ON DAY TWO OF PROFESSIONAL BASS FISHING’S FORREST WOOD CUP
Day One leader Nick LeBrun Just 1 Pound Back
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. (Aug. 11, 2018) – Fifty-six of the best professional bass anglers in the world continued their three-day competition for a top cash award of $300,000 at the 2018 Forrest Wood Cup, the world championship of bass fishing, at Lake Ouachita in Hot Springs, Arkansas on Saturday.
After the last fish had been brought to the scale, FLW Tour rookie Wes Logan of Springville, Alabama, grabbed the lead by weighing in a five-bass limit totaling 12 pounds, 4 ounces – the heaviest limit of the day. Logan’s two-day total of 10 bass weighing 23-13 give him a 1-pound, 2-ounce lead heading into the third and final day, with the 2018 BFL All-American Champion Nick LeBrun of Bossier City, Louisiana, right behind him in second place with eight bass weighing 22-11.
“I hit probably 50 spots today running around, and I burned a lot of gas,” said Logan, whose previous best finish on the FLW Tour was a 12th-place showing on Lake St. Clair this past June. “I’ve got two places that I caught multiple fish off of, but I’m just hitting a bunch of stuff and covering water. I got one good bite yesterday – a 4¼-pounder – that gave me most of my weight yesterday, but today I had one 3-pounder and the rest were just solid fish. I’ve caught around 10 keepers both days.”
Although he declined to divulge his baits of choice, Logan did mention that he was catching fish on four different baits. He joked that he is fishing very similarly to how he did at Lake St. Clair, saying that he is using the exact same rod and reel setup.
“I thought that the brush piles would be more in play due to the weather, but it’s not really playing out like I thought it would,” Logan said. “The fish are setting up more in like drops and hard ledges – the kind of off-the-wall places that get overlooked.
“I’m extremely excited to be leading this thing, but obviously you want to be leading after the third day and not Day Two. I’m going to just go fish tomorrow and pretend like I’m in 10th place and try really hard not to think about it. After takeoff tomorrow I’m going to run north and whatever I run by first that says stop, I’m going to fish it. Hopefully I’ll have a premonition or something. That’s how I’ve been fishing all week – listening to my gut.”
The top 10 pros that advanced to the final day of competition on Lake Ouachita are:
1st: Wes Logan, Springville, Ala., 10 bass, 23-13
2nd: Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La., eight bass, 22-11
3rd: Cabela’s/Bass Pro Shops pro James Niggemeyer, Van, Texas, nine bass, 20-14
4th: Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., 10 bass, 20-6
5th: Jason Lambert, Michie, Tenn., 10 bass, 20-3
6th: John Cox, DeBary, Fla., nine bass, 19-14
7th: Bradford Beavers, Summerville, S.C., eight bass, 19-5
8th: Brandon Cobb, Greenwood, S.C., 10 bass, 19-2
9th: Berkley pro Justin Atkins, Florence, Ala., 10 bass, 19-0
10th: Clent Davis, Montevallo, Ala., 10 bass, 19-0
Full results for the entire field can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Anglers will take off from Brady Mountain Resort & Marina, located at 4120 Brady Mountain Road in Royal, Arkansas, at 7 a.m. CDT each morning. Each day’s weigh-in will be held at the Bank OZK Arena located at 134 Convention Blvd., in Hot Springs, beginning at 5 p.m.
Fans will be treated to the FLW Expo at the Hot Springs Convention Center located at 134 Convention Blvd., in Hot Springs, Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. prior to the final weigh-in. The Expo includes games, activities and giveaways provided by more than 40 FLW sponsors, the opportunity to shop the latest tackle and outdoor gear from more than 100 exhibitors, Ranger boat simulators, a casting pond and a trout pond for children, as well as the opportunity to meet and interact with top professional anglers, including Hank Parker, Jimmy Houston, and Larry Nixon. FLW’s namesake Forrest L. Wood, the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, will also be greeting fans.
On Sunday the first 250 children 14 and under each day who are accompanied by an adult will receive a voucher to redeem for a free rod-and-reel combo after the evening’s weigh-in from Shakespeare rods. Also on Sunday, one lucky fishing fan will win a brand new Ranger Z521L bass boat with a 250-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard motor. The Ranger Boat giveaway is free to enter but the winner must be present at the conclusion of Sunday’s final weigh-in to win.
Also on Sunday, FLW fans will be treated to the Bass & BBQ Festival in conjunction with the FLW Expo. FLW has partnered with local BBQ vendors to feature award-winning BBQ teams offering delicious fare to visitors at the Forrest Wood Cup Expo. A portion of all proceeds will be donated to local Arkansas charities.
Country music superstar Justin Moore will perform a free concert on the weigh-in stage at the Bank OZK Arena on Sunday, Aug. 12, starting at 4 p.m., prior to the final weigh-in. The concert is presented by Realtree and KSSN 96. Moore will be performing songs from his latest album, Kinda Don’t Care, to fishing fans in Arkansas as well as live-streamed to fans around the globe at FLWFishing.com.
The Morning Takeoff, FLW Expo, Bass & BBQ event, live concert and weigh-ins are all free and open to the public.
Television coverage of the 2018 Forrest Wood Cup will premiere in high-definition (HD) on NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) Sept. 27 from Noon -1 p.m. EDT. The Emmy-nominated "FLW" television show airs on NBCSNvand the World Fishing Network and is broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, making it the most widely distributed weekly outdoors-sports television show in the world.
For a full schedule of events, complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing.
2019 FORREST WOOD CUP TO RETURN TO LAKE OUACHITA, HOT SPRINGS
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. (Aug. 11, 2018) – Fishing League Worldwide (FLW), in conjunction with Visit Hot Springs and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, announced Saturday that the 2019 Forrest Wood Cup, the world championship of professional bass fishing, will return to Hot Springs and Lake Ouachita Aug. 9-11, 2019. Hot Springs and Lake Ouachita, currently hosting the 2018 FLW Cup, will become the first venue to host back-to-back Cups in the 24-year history of the FLW Tour.
The 2019 FLW Cup will mark the sixth time the central Arkansas area has hosted the sport’s most prestigious championship – one on Lake Hamilton (2005) and four on Lake Ouachita (2007, 2011, 2015 and 2018). The 2019 FLW Cup will feature the most decorated anglers from across five tournament circuits – the FLW Tour, Costa FLW Series, T-H Marine Bass Fishing League, YETI FLW College Fishing and The Bass Federation.
“Hot Springs and FLW have established a great relationship in the 20 years that we have hosted their great events, and we are thrilled and grateful that the FLW Cup is returning to our city,” said Steve Arrison, CEO of Visit Hot Springs. “FLW not only does the best job in the world at putting on a family-friendly event that literally has something for everyone, but it also does a tremendous job of highlighting the great fishing, great attractions and great facilities we have here in Hot Springs. Our entire community always benefits when FLW comes to town — not only economically and publicity-wise, but also from a great, wholesome time for our residents and visitors alike. We can’t wait to welcome them back again.”
In addition to international media coverage, the FLW Cup will again bring the three-day FLW Expo to the Hot Springs Convention Center. Hundreds of exhibitors will be on-site to showcase the latest and greatest gear and products along with games and giveaways for the entire family. Following the Expo, fans are only steps away from Bank OZK Arena where the top anglers from around the world will show off Lake Ouachita largemouth bass.
“The FLW Cup is an incredibly special event where we celebrate our anglers’ achievements both on and off the water alongside the biggest names in the outdoor industry. It requires the right kind of facilities and a community dedicated to the outdoors, and Hot Springs offers up both and more,” said Kathy Fennel, FLW President of Operations. “The central Arkansas region has a storied bass-fishing history and has long been a destination for outdoor enthusiasts. We’re excited to continue showcasing it on the international stage.”
Television coverage of the 2018 Forrest Wood Cup will premiere in high-definition (HD) on NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) Sept. 27 from Noon -1 p.m. EDT. The Emmy-nominated "FLW" television show airs on NBCSN and the World Fishing Network and is broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, making it the most widely distributed weekly outdoors-sports television show in the world.
For the latest FLW Cup news, visit FLWFishing.com.
FLW Day 1 Report - Davis "In Shock"
Vance McCullough / Photos: Chris Brown-AnglersChannel
“It’s kind of a shock,” said Alex Davis as the Day 1 weigh wound down and he realized he held the lead at the 2018 Forrest Wood Cup.
“I thought I had 11 pounds. I had 13 and I’m in the lead so it was a shocker to me. I’m feeling pretty good right now.”
Given that the cup is a 3-day affair instead of the 4-day grind that it was last time the Cup was contested on Ouachita, Davis should feel good. An early lead could go a long way toward the $300,000 paycheck and huge trophy someone will claim, along with the title of world champion Sunday afternoon.
Then again, his lead is a slim one as he has13 pounds, 10 ounces to Nick Lebrun’s 13-5.
Zack Birge is close behind with 13-1. Cory Johnston holds down 4thplace with 12-8 and James Niggemeyer is 5thwith 12-2.
Davis says, “I winged it. At 11:45 I had one, so I just started running new stuff; running new areas and new techniques.” Davis is mixing shallow and deep spots into the rotation and will adjust as need be tomorrow, depending on weather and other factors.
Davis will do what it takes to win. “The way I’m fishing is the way I hate to fish. I’m comfortable enough doing it, I just don’t want to do what I’m going to have to do again tomorrow.”
Zack Birge “got lucky” today. “Initial plan went right, got 5 keepers out of the schooling fish and I got a bonus fish, two-and-half-pounds, off the bank adjacent to my schooling area this morning because it was so foggy.
“I finished my limit there by 9:30-ish. I spent the rest of the day in my better fish area. I saw 15 pounds of fish come up and attempt to eat it, but they didn’t.
“Tomorrow’s a new day. Maybe those fish will eat.”
Birge is hoping they’ll eat a small lure that he says matches the baitfish perfectly. Precision casting is important and Birge is dialed into the quality bite. “You have to hit them on the head or they won’t eat it.
“There are balls of bait coming up but the fish that are eating the balls of bait aren’t really the better fish. I’m looking for ones that are chasing the individual shad. If you pay attention, if you’re looking at them you’ll see them come out and they’ll jump two or three times. I like to call it leading them like I’m leading a bird if I’m trying to shoot it. If you cast out in front of them just a few feet and then work your bait real fast, chances are, you’ll get them to eat.
“If you throw to where you see that shad, that fish is already going to be gone by the time your bait hits the water.”
Admittedly, the technique yields few opportunities but Birge believes he can wring 5 bites per day out of a stingy Lake Ouachita in this fashion.
Niggemeyer made something out of practically nothing. “Very tough practice. I only got a couple of bites
around the lake. An area where I caught just 2 fish in practice ended up being the primary area for me.”
Not that the area turned out to be a fish factory, but Niggemeyer executed at a high level. “I got 6 bites. I boated them all.
“Obviously, the big fish today was a big part of my 12-2. I had a 4-plus-pounder. That was a gift from the Lord. I was actually not even looking, I was looking where I was going to make my next cast, and all of a sudden he just ate it and I managed to get him in the boat. That was a huge blessing.”
If anything became clear at the Day 1 weigh in it is that the deep bite is inconsistent at best and it has provided mostly anorexic fish. This tournament will require consistency along with a big bite or two along the way.
For that reason, the shallow guys fared well during the opening round.
Justin Atkins holds 10thplace with exactly 10 pounds. The weights drop by tiny increments as we move down the leaderboard. Most anybody can catch up fast on Day 2, especially if they find a couple of big fish.
Then again, that’s been much easier to say than actually do so far.
ALABAMA’S DAVIS GRABS LEAD ON DAY ONE OF PROFESSIONAL BASS FISHING’S FORREST WOOD CUP
BFL All-American Champion LeBrun just 5 Ounces Behind in Second Place
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. (Aug. 10, 2018) – The world’s best bass anglers launched on Lake Ouachita in Hot Springs, Arkansas, Friday to kick off the 2018 Forrest Wood Cup, the world championship of professional bass fishing. The three-day event, which awards a $300,000 top prize to the winner, featured a full field of 56 anglers competing today and Saturday before being cut to the final 10 on Championship Sunday.
Six-year FLW Tour veteran Alex Davis of Albertville, Alabama, who is fishing in his first career Forrest Wood Cup Championship, jumped out to the early lead after weighing in a five-bass limit totaling 13 pounds, 10 ounces. Davis’ limit was enough to narrowly edge the 2018 BFL All-American Champion Nick LeBrun of Bossier City, Louisiana (13-5), and pretournament pundit favorite Zack Birge of Blanchard, Oklahoma (13-1) for the early lead.
“Today was one of, if not the, most challenging day mentally that I’ve ever had in my career,” said Davis, who has four previous top-10 finishes in FLW Tour competition. “At noon today I had one fish in the livewell that weighed 1 pound. I had missed seven blowups on my topwater bait and I lost three bites fishing a worm. My best place that I thought I had I only caught one fish. Luckily, things turned around for me this afternoon.
“I moved out of my ‘best’ area and fished some new water and managed to catch three, which put me at four fish. On the way back to check in I decided to stop at the one brush pile that I knew of that was close to the ramp. I literally pulled up, made one cast, hooked my last keeper, got him in the boat and said ‘let’s go’. It was either my biggest or second-biggest fish of the day.”
Davis said he caught his fish Friday on three different baits, specifically mentioning a drop-shot rig and a Zara Spook, but declining to mention his third bait that he said was ‘different’.
“I thought I had 11 pounds, so when Chris Jones said I was the new leader I was blown away,” Davis said. “This lake is not a specific spot or specific cast kind of deal. It’s about being in the right place at the right time and hoping the stars line up.
“I was nervous this morning due to the Cup atmosphere, but I settled down once I got out fishing,” Davis went on to say. “I’m going to try my best to not think about being in the lead. I know it’s crazy to say, but if I think about it I’ll drive myself crazy. Tomorrow I’m going fishing, just like I did today. If I can catch one or two good ones, it will really go a long way.”
The top 20 pros after Day One on Lake Ouachita are:
1st: Alex Davis, Albertville, Ala., five bass, 13-10
2nd: Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La., five bass, 13-5
3rd: Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., five bass, 13-1
4th: Power-Pole pro Cory Johnston, Cavan, Ontario, Canada, five bass, 12-8
5th: Cabela’s/Bass Pro Shops pro James Niggemeyer, Van, Texas, five bass, 12-2
6th: Wes Logan, Springville, Ala., five bass, 11-9
7th: Bradford Beavers, Summerville, S.C., three bass, 11-6
8th: John Cox, DeBary, Fla., five bass, 11-3
9th: Jason Lambert, Michie, Tenn., five bass, 10-0
10th: Berkley pro Justin Atkins, Florence, Ala., five bass, 9-14
11th: Sheldon Collings, Grove, Okla., five bass, 9-10
12th: Austin Wilson, Citrus Heights, Calif., five bass, 9-8
12th: Clent Davis, Montevallo, Ala., five bass, 9-8
14th: Polaris pro David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., five bass, 9-3
15th: Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., five bass, 9-0
16th: Scott Martin, Clewiston, Fla., five bass, 8-12
17th: Matt Becker, Finleyville, Pa., five bass, 8-7
17th: Brandon Cobb, Greenwood, S.C., five bass, 8-7
19th: Cody Hahner, Wausau, Wis., two bass, 8-4
20th: Chad Foster, Pequot Lakes, Minn., five bass, 8-2
For a full list of results visit FLWFishing.com.
Anglers will take off from Brady Mountain Resort & Marina, located at 4120 Brady Mountain Road in Royal, Arkansas, at 7 a.m. CDT each morning. Each day’s weigh-in will be held at the Bank OZK Arena located at 134 Convention Blvd., in Hot Springs, beginning at 5 p.m.
Fans will be treated to the FLW Expo at the Hot Springs Convention Center located at 134 Convention Blvd., in Hot Springs, each day from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. prior to the weigh-ins. The Expo includes games, activities and giveaways provided by more than 40 FLW sponsors, the opportunity to shop the latest tackle and outdoor gear from more than 100 exhibitors, Ranger boat simulators, a casting pond and a trout pond for children, as well as the opportunity to meet and interact with top professional anglers, including Hank Parker, Jimmy Houston, and Larry Nixon. FLW’s namesake Forrest L. Wood, the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, will also be greeting fans.
On Saturday and Sunday the first 250 children 14 and under each day who are accompanied by an adult will receive a voucher to redeem for a free rod-and-reel combo after the evening’s weigh-in from Shakespeare rods. Also on Sunday, one lucky fishing fan will win a brand new Ranger Z521L bass boat with a 250-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard motor. The Ranger Boat giveaway is free to enter but the winner must be present at the conclusion of Sunday’s final weigh-in to win.
Also on Saturday and Sunday, FLW fans will be treated to the Bass & BBQ Festival in conjunction with the FLW Expo. FLW has partnered with local BBQ vendors to feature award-winning BBQ teams offering delicious fare to visitors at the Forrest Wood Cup Expo. A portion of all proceeds will be donated to local Arkansas charities.
Country music superstar Justin Moore will perform a free concert on the weigh-in stage at the Bank OZK Arena on Sunday, Aug. 12, starting at 4 p.m., prior to the final weigh-in. The concert is presented by Realtree and KSSN 96. Moore will be performing songs from his latest album, Kinda Don’t Care, to fishing fans in Arkansas as well as live-streamed to fans around the globe at FLWFishing.com.
The Morning Takeoff, FLW Expo, Bass & BBQ event, live concert and weigh-ins are all free and open to the public.
Television coverage of the 2018 Forrest Wood Cup will premiere in high-definition (HD) on NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) Sept. 27 from Noon -1 p.m. EDT. The Emmy-nominated "FLW" television show airs on NBCSN, the Pursuit Channel and the World Fishing Network and is broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, making it the most widely distributed weekly outdoors-sports television show in the world.
For a full schedule of events, complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing.
FLW Cup Day 1 - Morning Blog
Vance McCullough
Just got in off the water here on gorgeous Lake Ouachita near Hot Springs, AR, site of the 2018 Forrest Wood Cup.
Ouachita was also the site of the 2015 Cup which Brad Knight won. Unfortunately, Knight did not qualify for the Cup this year. The good news is, GREAT news for you and me, is he has agreed to be a special guest host for AnglersChannel.com and the Progressive Bass Wrap Up TV Show. It’s like having a Super Bowl Champion as a sideline commentator at the big game.
A wealth of knowledge and insight, Knight said, “There are three patterns that are going to dominate here this week. Deep brush piles are one option. Or, a guy can go down the bank with something like a topwater and catch a fish every now and then, hoping one of them will weigh 4 pounds.”
The third option looks like bass fishing’s version of Whack-a-Mole. “These guys are waiting for schoolers to blow up here where this creek narrows down and the current funnels bait through here,” said Knight, pointing out a few boats stacked along the shadow of a steep hill that ran up to greet the morning sun as it finally baked away a heavy fog that had hung over the lake the first couple of hours of the day.
“It’s hard to just stand there and not cast,” said Knight, “but you can’t afford to have your lure way over there when a fish breaks the surface on the other side of the boat. You have to put it on their head right now before they go back down. So you have to be patient and wait them out.”
The school-chasers soon dispersed as the sun climbed higher. As they left the creek, Knight idled further in to do a postmortem on the scene of his greatest heist. “That’s a $500,000 tree right there,” noted Knight.
The long pine lay in 4 feet of semi-clear water. The branches at its top formed a wooden labyrinth that could hide a week’s worth of 5-fish limits. But just beneath the surface 20 yards away was the key. “See that root ball? That’s what the fish were using when I won it here. I fished behind guys who didn’t know there were 4 or 5 bass in some of these root wads, using them like a little brush pile in shallow water.”
As we idled back out Knight nodded to a barren bank. “I flat put it on them there along that ugly stretch. Sixteen pounds worth.”
The return to Ouachita has brought back strong memories for Knight. “I just had no idea when I came down these roads, backed my boat in, how my life was about to change.”
Stay with us this week we watch another angler’s life change forever.
FLW Cup Preview - Who's Catching & Who's Sandbagging....
Vance McCullough
The 2018 Forrest Wood Cup may be remembered as a war of attrition.
“Whoever said ‘the grass is back’ told a lie,” says Bryan Thrift.
Despite rumors that ‘the grass is back’ on Lake Ouachita, anglers are mostly unimpressed with the vegetation and even less impressed with the fish, or lack thereof, in it.
Brandon Cobb notes, “Everybody talks about there being more grass than last time. I caught a lot of my fish out of grass last time, either schooling or running the bank around the grass, and I see less grass, or at least less quality grass. There might be more grass in more areas, but it just doesn’t look as good. To me. It’s irrelevant.”
Andy Morgan concurs, “I don’t think the grass is that big of a factor. Me and Thrift were talking and I think the grass is worse than it’s ever been. I heard it was back and I was looking forward to that – come out here and have a grass tournament, but that ain’t happening.”
Practice was slow enough to be practically worthless to some pros.
Thrift says, “It’s been a lot tougher than what I’m used to here. I was kind of surprised at that, a little frustrated, but we’ve had a weather change. I’m going to go out there and act like it’s the first day I’ve been on Ouachita this year, throw practice out the window and see what happens.”
The biggest problem says Thrift, is finding any type of consistency. “It’s very scattered. The bites are random. They’re few and far between. Seems to be no pattern. You catch one on the bank, one out in timber, one schooling, one out of a brush pile. It’s summertime fishing 101.”
Thrift continues, “I usually have an idea what to do to catch 5 keepers and I know what to do to catch a big one, but this time I don’t have that limit spot so I’m just going to be hoping, flailing for a bite.”
Mark Rose hasn’t spent much time in the greenery. “There’s some grass – some pretty grass. I just, personally, haven’t caught a lot of fish out of the grass. That is going to be the X-factor of a guy weighing in some big bags every day. It’s his for taking if he does because I don’t think there will be but one guy fishing it, if it happens at all. I look forward to it being a typical tough Ouachita tournament.”
Rose spent a day trying to find fish stacked up on the deep edge where grass quits growing, about 17 feet deep. “That’s what I concentrated on one day of practice – tried to fish the edges – and couldn’t get it going.”
Brandon McMillan is a noted grass specialist. He is not counting on the salad to feed the bulldog this week. “I found just a few patches of grass and they were no good. They looked nice on the graph, but when I dropped a jig on them it came back clean. The grass is sparse.”
Morgan says a guy may not even need a limit each day. “You’re going to see people make the cut the with 3 and 4 fish a day. They’re going to be good ones, but I think you’re going to see that. It’s kind of a crap shoot.”
Morgan says to look for worms and topwaters of all kinds to play heavy roles this week.
“You’re going to have to put it together hodge podge and hope it works out. You don’t have to have a limit to do well here,” reminds Morgan.
According to Brandon Cobb, the biggest problem is simply that the fish aren’t actively feeding. “There’s a severe lack of schooling fish. The fish are not schooling at all. And I think a lot of the weights we saw last time (the Cup was contested on Ouachita) were schooling fish. I know half the fish I caught were schooling fish.”
Cobb notes that schooling activity can turn on overnight. “We had a bunch of rain today which probably cooled the water down, so they could start schooling, but I think it’s tougher than last time.”
Of course, such conditions are to be expected at the Cup, a late summer test of the best. “At a tough tournament, the best anglers in the world will shine,” notes Rose. “Any time you’re fishing in August it’s going to be tough, especially in the central part of the United States. Maybe up north it would be all right. Ouachita is a great lake, like most lakes though, in the middle of the summer time it’s going to be a little bit tough. Weights will be down. A lot of these fish suspend out in the middle of this timber all throughout the summer and get down where the water is just a little bit cooler. In the fall it will turn back on again and it’s a good lake in the spring. We’re just catching it at a tough time.”
The consensus among top pros on the eve of the first competition round is that the deep bite might delver the win. Cobb says, “I think more fish will be caught deep this time. Unless they start schooling, which could happen off shore, but I’ll probably spend a lot of my time up shallow but that’s because I feel like if I, personally, have a chance to win it will be up shallow. But I feel like there are more fish deep.”
Weight predictions: Rose thinks it will take about 13 pounds per day. “There’ll be some 14, to maybe 17 or 18-pound bags weighed in, but it will be tough to duplicate. A guy that consistently brings in that 12-to-14 pounds every day, he’ll be right there at the end, I feel like.”
Cobb is looking for even less. “I would be happy with an 11-to-12-pound bag. I mean that would be, real good. That would keep you in contention to win, not make the cut – I think.”
McMillan is in the 12-pounds-per-day camp.
Bryan Thrift, “I’m thinking it’s going to be 13 or 14 pounds per day like it always is down here. It seems to be fishing a little tougher than the other 3 times I’ve fished the Cup on Ouachita.”
Andy Morgan agrees, “I think if you catch 13 pounds a day you’re going to scare it to death.”
Simms Introduces New River Camo!
Courtesy Simms / FTR
Bozeman, Mont. – Simms Fishing Products draws a line in the sand to reinforce their position as the leading authority in technical fishing gear and apparel.
Fishing Products draws a line in the sand to reinforce their position as the leading authority in technical fishing gear and apparel.
Partnering with expert camo developers at Veil Camo, Simms created a camo that fish can’t see, allowing anglers to get one step closer to that perfect casting moment.
Established in 2012, Veil Camo™ operates under a simple mission objective: To make meaningfully better camo for outdoor enthusiasts. At their core, Veil goes far beyond creating aesthetically pleasing patterns. By using a scientific, research driven approach, Veil strives to implement technological advances in the way camouflage is designed and functions.
To inform the River Camo design process, Veil dug into research and data surrounding various species of fish as well as their ability to see and interpret the spectrum of color, contrast, shape recognition, movement, and the effect that water and weather conditions have on all of these variables.
Simms® River Camo pattern uses Mother Nature’s own mathematical signature in every step, layer, nook and cranny of the design process. Using theories like fractal math, chaos math, and The Golden Mean, Simms River Camo succeeds in the original goal – to distort the fish’s ability to detect shape and movement.
“With the influx of fishing patterns in to the market, our partnership with Simms gave us the opportunity to really push the standard for dedicated anglers way out ahead of what has been available with one of the most respected brands in the industry.” Says Veil Camo™ Founder/Designer, Joseph Skinner. “River Camo truly represents two leaders in their respective fields working hard together to bring something far better to market for those who rely only on the best.”
Anglers who believe that sneaking up on fish gives them advantage will be excited to learn that Simms’ new River Camo pattern has found its way into multiple categories.
The multi-award winning G3 Guide™ Stockingfoot wader became even more decorated after this year’s IFTD New Product Showcase awards ceremony. Taking top honors in the Men’s wader category, the G3 Guide™ Stockingfoot Wader – River Camo features super breathable, durable and water-proof 4-layer GORE-TEX® in the legs and 3-layer GORE-TEX® in the upper. Equipped with Simms patented front and back leg seam, a reach through micro-fleece lined handwarmer pocket, an oversized chest pocket and a removable tippet tender, this wader also features ergonomically engineered stockingfeet with integrated gravel guards. In addition, the G3 Guide Wader – River Camo is now offered in a bootfoot model available with either a 12mm felt or Virbram® Idrogrip rubber outsole.
Built with a 2-layer GORE-TEX® outer shell and lined with PrimaLoft® Silver High-Loft insulation, anglers can fish through the elements and remain undetected in the new Bulkley Jacket in River Camo. Also featuring River Camo are other Simms’ fan favorites including the Kinetic Jacket and the Rogue Fleece Hoody.
Frogs, Toads, Ribbits, Kermits & More! The Frogs of ICAST 2018
Vance McCullough
Every year the big ICAST show gives us a look at what we can expect to see on store shelves and, consequently, in tackle boxes and on the water.
If this year’s show is a dependable indicator, we may be in for a plague of frogs.
From anatomically correct to borderline bizarre the spectrum of lures marketed as ‘frogs’ is wider than it has ever been.
Westin introduced Freddy the Frog, a hard bodied, multi-jointed lure that greatly resembles a full-grown bull frog. The big bait is, literally, a handful. Given its steeply-angled bill and pair of treble hooks, Freddy is a wake bait intended for open water use, not the typical hollow, weedless lures we’ve come to know as ‘frogs’. Never the less, it’s one frog you may want to pick up.
And before you write it off as simply a pike lure, remember what the Whopper Plopper was designed for - until bass fishermen started throwing it on the California Delta.
One of the cleverest new lures at ICAST was the Stanford Baits Boom Boom Frog, designed in conjunction with Bassmaster Elite Series Pro Fred ‘Boom Boom’ Roumbanis. Media members puzzled over the patch of Velcro on top of the frog’s head. According to the maker, “Frogfur ™ vastly improves hook up ratio. This double loop nylon catches the bass’s crushers making throwing the frog nearly impossible.”
Also, if you put tiny gold chains on the Boom Boom Frog, it looks like Mr. T and Kermit had a baby together.
Or, if you drag it upside down over an algae mat, it will accumulate a really cool Joe Dirt style mullet hairdo.
You can have hours of fun with your Boom Boom Frog even if you never catch a bass.
Alright Fred – you know I’m just kidding!
It is a fun design though, complete with snarling faces on the frogs.
On a serious note, the Boom Boom Frog is all about fixing a major shortcoming associated with froggin’ – missed strikes. Frogfur ™ is just the beginning. Stanford Baits tells us, “The newly designed weight allows for a complete collapse of the ultra-soft body for great hook penetration.”
Strike King’s Hack Attack Pad Perch is a new all-terrain lure that will haul the biggest bass from the thickest cover with its 4/0 VMC Frog Hook. If it says ‘Hack Attack’ you know it was made for fishing heavy vegetation, but Hackney is proud of the way it acts even in open water. “It easier to walk on the surface than any other bait I’ve ever thrown. It’s really, truly – I’m just telling you – it’s incredible, the action on it.”
Frog aficionados often alter their lures. One of the most common ‘fixes’ is to trim the legs shorter. Hackney says you don’t want to do that with his Pad Perch. “They are made this way specifically to keep the nose of the bait level with the surface so it glides side-to-side a lot better,” he said, holding up a Pad Perch to show the long, flat tail.
Last year Teckle made waves with their Sprinker Frog. So much so that there are a few manufacturers introducing their own frogs designed to be cast out and wound steadily back in while creating a bubble trail on the surface and, hopefully, provoking high speed, full bore attacks from big fish.
It’s safe to say the ‘chunk-and-wind’ frog is now its own category.
For instance, Molix rolled out its Supernato Frog. A current FLW Tour Pro with Bassmaster Elite Series experience Carl Jocumsen helped design it. The Supernato incorporates a soft, durable twin tail affixed to the body by a screw which can be backed out to allow for the use of any soft plastic trailer. Molix says of the stock trailer, “The inward-facing appendages can move water during the retrieval phases like a true propeller.”
Given the flat keel beneath the bait, the Supernato looks as if it will sit well on thick mats without rolling and getting hooked on the cover excessively. Overall, it looks like a well-built lure that will be just as effective over the slop as out in open water which is helpful, as most frog fishing involves a combination of both.
While the Sprinker spawned its own lure category, Teckle hopes to start a new trend with what they believe is the noisiest hollow bodied lure on the market – the new Maracker. It totes a polished nickel teardrop and super loud rattle that bass can hear through heavy cover and at a great distance.
Not sure when or where the Maracker will first be available in the US. We may be in for another eBay bidding war to get the latest hottest frog bait this year.
As frogs keep adding new dance moves to the list of available actions, a couple of companies are trying to tap into the magic of a classic topwater, the Jitterbug.
DUO Realis offers one with a hard lip and paddle tail feet.
Lunker Hunt offers an entire line of hollow bodies built to resemble various critters, including frogs. The Yappa series features a soft scooper on the front end. This allows their lures, such as the Yappa Bug, to come through dense, hard, vertical cover better than a lure with a scooped or winged face that won’t collapse. 
While testing the Yappa Frog during ICAST on the Water, this writer found there is a rhythm at which it runs best without blowing out of the water or tumbling over itself. At this speed it produced a loud gurgling sound and erratic action.
Sometimes smaller is bigger. Steel Shad is known for their metal blade baits but they now offer traditional topwater plugs. And a frog. Their frog is a tad smaller than most on the market. It also has a subtle wedge shape to the nose.
The size and shape help the lure settle to the water’s surface in thick stands of emergent grasses such as Kissimmee grass and bulrush (or ‘tules’ to our friends out West). Those same attributes help the frog slide through the cover and back to the boat, maybe with a giant bass attached.
LIVETARGET has a track record of innovation. They didn’t disappoint this year. Their new Commotion Shad will be a big hit with frog fishing fanatics. Bassmaster Elite Series veteran Stephen Browning shares, “I built a bait like this years ago. I’m excited to share it with the public now. It’s great in open water as well as in pads and heavy cover.”
The hollow Commotion Shad body sits between the two prongs of a traditional frog hook. A Colorado blade is attached, via a swivel, to its back end.
Intended for use with a steady retrieve, the Commotion Shad can be paused in place indefinitely to tempt moody fish and trigger a violent strike with the next nod of the rod tip.
As the array of frog-themed and hollow body lures continues to widen, we’re all going to need bigger tackle boxes. A good problem to have?
Ranger Boats RT Aluminum Series Boasts New Look and Features in 2019
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Flagship RT198P receives significant feature upgrades
FLIPPIN, Ark. (August 8, 2018) - Since the initial venture into the aluminum boat market in 2013, Ranger Boats quickly became the industry's fastest growing aluminum boat brand. Value-packed and feature-laden, the lineup of the 2019 RT Aluminum Series brings a fresh, new look along with additional features built specifically for bass and multi species anglers. "We have received an overwhelmingly positive response to our RT Aluminum series boats since they hit the market," said Ranger Boats Sales Manager Mark Zwicker. "Staying consistent with our tradition of maintaining the leading-edge in design and features, we're excited to unveil the new changes to the 2019 RT Series lineup. Our aluminum designs continue to deliver an affordable, durable product paired with the Ranger name and the long list of Five Star advantages that come with it."
Featuring an all-new, fully enclosed console that can house up to a 12-inch graph, the RT Series sports a fresh look with redesigned hullside graphics, chrome badging, and chrome foil model designators. Each RT Series model is also available in three new color packages - Carbon Metallic, Midnight Blue Metallic and Fusion, which features lime green accents. Along with the new look, Ranger also brings added comfort in the form of new premium color-matched, side-bolstering seating with enhanced knee room under the console.
The flagship of the series - the RT198P - not only carries the new look and styling, but has been upgraded with added features such as enlarged rear storage boxes and an Aqualon custom boat cover. Also new for 2019, the RT198P includes the option to mount twin Power Pole anchors for even greater versatility in shallow water.
The acclaimed Ranger RT Series is built with performance, function and utility in mind. The wood-free, all-welded construction along with foam-filled hull provides upright, level floatation that exceeds standards set by the United States Coast Guard and reduces hull slap for a smoother, quieter ride.
The complete 2019 RT Series lineup features a total of five models built with the same Ranger DNA that's crafted a 50-year legacy for making the industry's best fiberglass fishing boats. The RT178 sports a 17-foot, 8-inch bass configuration, while the RT178C features a similar platform (17' 8") focused more on crappie and multispecies angling - complete with multiple seat locations and livewells. Likewise, the RT188 features an 18-foot, 8-inch bass design rated for 115 horsepower and is available as a RT188C crappie configuration as well. Finally, the flagship RT198P delivers a 19-foot, 4-inch platform rated for 150 horsepower and completes a lineup built to exceed the needs of boat buyers in search of a durable, feature-laden, mod-V aluminum boat.
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HUDSON’S CULLER WINS T-H MARINE FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE HOOSIER DIVISION TOURNAMENT ON MICHIGAN’S MUSKEGON LAKE
Metamora’s Joyner Grabs Co-angler Title
MUSKEGON, Mich. (Aug. 6, 2018) – Boater Eric Culler of Hudson, Indiana, brought a five-bass limit to the scale Saturday weighing 17 pounds, 1 ounce, to win the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Michigan Division tournament on Muskegon Lake. For his efforts, Culler pocketed $3,641.
Culler said he headed north to White Lake to catch his fish Saturday. He said his primary lure was a Texas-rigged 7-inch Watermelon Red-colored Zoom Trick Worm on a split-shot rig. He also used a wacky-rigged Watermelon Red Yamamoto Senko.
“I caught most of my fish in 13 to 15 feet of water,” said Culler, who earned his first win in FLW competition. “The area had a slight inside turn and then it came back out to a small little point. There was wood and grass on the point and it seemed like the bigger ones were keying in on the wood more than anything. You could catch smaller fish around it, but that’s where the bigger ones were.”
Culler said he used a 7-foot, 1-inch medium-heavy G. Loomis rod with a Daiwa reel and 10-pound-test Seaguar InvizX fluorocarbon line. He credited the side scanning feature on his Humminbird Helix electronics unit with helping him get dialed in to his area as well.
“I caught around 10 keepers. It was a slow presentation – they didn’t want the bait moving that much,” said Culler. “I’d just let it lay there and then they’d pick it up and swim off. It was a late bite, too. They started biting around 10 or 10:30 (a.m.) and then I caught them regularly until 1 p.m.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Eric Culler, Hudson, Ind., five bass, 17-1, $3,641
2nd: Clayton Reitz, Morton, Ill., five bass, 15-15, $1,820
3rd: Jeff Napier, Martinsville, Ind., five bass, 15-8, $1,414
4th: Joshua Barr, Stow, Ohio, five bass, 15-3, $950
5th: Brett Haake, Shorewood, Ill., five bass, 15-1, $728
6th: Trevor Bethke, Spring Lake, Mich., five bass, 15-0, $668
7th: Ronald Nutter, Saint Louisville, Ohio, five bass, 14-12, $607
8th: Jeremy Antrup, Fremont, Ind., five bass, 14-0, $546
9th: Kenny Dials, Creston, Ohio, five bass, 13-15, $960
10th: Jerry Smith, Sparta, Mich., five bass, 13-14, $425
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Dials brought a 5-pound, 4-ounce bass to the scale – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division – and earned the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $475.
Clint Joyner of Metamora, Michigan, won the Co-angler Division and $2,057 Saturday after catching five bass weighing 18 pounds, 13 ounces.
The top 10 co-anglers were:
1st: Clint Joyner, Metamora, Mich., five bass, 18-13, $2,057
2nd: Brian Somrek, Calvert City, Ky., five bass, 14-2, $1,110
3rd: Darwin Griva, Hamilton, Ind., five bass, 12-9, $607
4th: Ross Parsons, Haslett, Mich., five bass, 12-1, $475
5th: Tony Mitchell, Plainwell, Mich., five bass, 11-5, $364
6th: Eric Polenz, Maybee, Mich., five bass, 11-4, $334
7th: Stefan Marginean, Glenview, Ill., four bass, 11-2, $303
8th: Jack Cahn, Davisburg, Mich., five bass, 10-10, $273
9th: Tony Grubb, Ann Arbor, Mich., five bass, 10-4, $227
9th: Jeremy Pinkowski, Oak Forest, Ill., four bass, 10-4, $227
Joyner also caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division weighing in at 4 pounds, 13 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $237.
The T-H Marine BFL Michigan Division event on Muskegon Lake was hosted by Visit Muskegon.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 18-20 BFL Regional Championship on Kentucky Lake in Gilbertsville, Kentucky. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard.
The 2018 BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. Top performers in the BFL can move up to the Costa FLW Series or even the FLW Tour.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
LECLERE WINS T-H MARINE FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE HOOSIER DIVISION TOURNAMENT ON OHIO RIVER AT ROCKY POINT
Co-angler Title Goes to Fort Wayne’s Bennett
CANNELTON, Ind. (Aug. 6, 2018) – Local angler Chris LeClere of Cannelton caught five bass Saturday weighing 10 pounds, 3 ounces, to win the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Hoosier Division tournament on the Ohio River at Rocky Point. LeClere took home $5,632 for his win.
“The day started off slow. After practicing on both the main river and in creeks, my strategy was to make a couple of stops on the river as I made my way to my main creek,” said LeClere, who logged his first win in FLW competition. “The water level was up on the river Saturday and it was dirtier and had more current. I made one stop but couldn’t get anything going.
“I moved on to my main creek, which was north of takeoff, and had four places I’d caught fish in practice,” continued LeClere. “I stopped at my first spot and fished for about 45 minutes and never got a bite. I went to my second, which I felt would be my best, and fished for 45 minutes, but couldn’t get anything there, either. Finally, I went to my third and caught my first keeper about 10 (a.m.).”
LeClere’s third spot ended up producing every fish he weighed, specifically between 10 and 11:30 a.m. He described it as a 100-yard stretch of shallow wood cover that included stumps and laydowns.
“I had caught five fish at this spot in practice Thursday, but they were just keepers. I had six bites there Saturday, including one that I lost,” said LeClere. “I flipped soft-plastics – they didn’t want any moving baits. Two came from a green-pumpkin-colored bait, and three came from another bait.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Chris LeClere, Cannelton, Ind., five bass, 10-3, $3,632 + $2,000 Ranger Cup Bonus
2nd: Jeremy Knepp, Montgomery, Ind., four bass, 7-7, $1,513
2nd: Larry Sisk, Evansville, Ind., five bass, 7-7, $1,713
4th: Jimmy Shepherd, Indianapolis, Ind., three bass, 6-9, $1,312
5th: Scott Bateman, Jasper, Ind., three bass, 6-3, $726
6th: Todd Hensley, New Albany, Ind., five bass, 5-14, $766
7th: Danny Abrams, Greensfork, Ind., five bass, 5-10, $605
8th: George Brown, Camby, Ind., five bass, 5-8, $545
9th: Brody Campbell, Oxford, Ohio, two bass, 5-2, $484
10th: Chris Myers, Madison, Ind., four bass, 4-14, $424
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Shepherd brought a 4-pound, 8-ounce, bass to the scale – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division – and earned the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $465.
Brandon Bennett of Fort Wayne, Indiana, won the Co-angler Division and $1,816 Saturday after catching four bass weighing 6 pounds, 11 ounces.
The top 10 co-anglers were:
1st: Brandon Bennett, Fort Wayne, Ind., four bass, 6-11, $1,816
2nd: Michael Pruitt, Martinsville, Ind., five bass, 5-4, $908
3rd: Gary Owens, Columbus, Ind., three bass, 4-14, $606
4th: Ronnie Gill, Indianapolis, Ind., two bass, 4-6, $424
5th: Brian Liming, Dilsboro, Ind., two bass, 4-1, $363
6th: Mark Wedan, Freetown, Ind., two bass, 3-12, $333
7th: Dakota Ball, Connersville, Ind., one bass, 3-7, $519
7th: Trenton Wilson, Martinsville, Ind., three bass, 3-7, $287
9th: Holly Blandford, Cannelton, Ind., two bass, 3-0, $242
10th: Derek Buchanan, Madison, Ind., two bass, 2-15, $301
10th: Nick Horton, Trafalgar, Ind., three bass, 2-15, $201
Tom Lindsay of Glenview, Illinois, caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division weighing in at 4 pounds even. The catch earned him the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $365.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 18-20 BFL Regional Championship on Kentucky Lake in Gilbertsville, Kentucky. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard.
The 2018 BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. Top performers in the BFL can move up to the Costa FLW Series or even the FLW Tour.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
AC Insider Podcast Featuring Elite Series AOY Leader Bradley Roy
This week Chris & Jason talk to current BASS AOY Points Leader Bradley Roy on the cancellation of the Chesapeake, the upcoming St. Lawrence River Event and How he sleeps as AOY Leader. The boys also talk FLW CUP Week along with News & Notes, Back to School and more on this weeks AnglersChannel Insider Podcast. Hosted by AnglersChannel President Chris Brown and AC Content Creator Jason Duran.
Alabama Anglers Play It Cool To Win Bassmaster High School National Championship On Kentucky Lake
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Labelle Edges Cippoletti By Ounces To Claim Bassmaster Open Victory On Champlain
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Labelle Leapfrogs Lane With Back-To-Back 21-Plus Limits
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Natchitoches High Tandem Takes Lead At Bassmaster High School National Championship
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FORREST WOOD CUP SET FOR RETURN TO LAKE OUACHITA IN HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS
World’s Best Anglers Eye $300,000 Title in Historic 23rd-Annual Championship
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. (July 26, 2018) – The Forrest Wood Cup, the world championship of professional bass fishing, will return to Lake Ouachita, Aug. 10-12, to crown bass fishing’s top angler of 2018. Hosted by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism and Visit Hot Springs, the tournament will feature 56 of the world’s best bass-fishing professionals casting for the sport’s biggest award – $300,000 cash.
The Forrest Wood Cup has been held at Lake Ouachita three times in the 23-year history of the FLW Tour – 2007, 2011 and 2014. In the three Forrest Wood Cups that have been held on Lake Ouachita, both shallow and deep patterns were applied by top-10 competitors. Tennessee pro Brad Knight, who won the 2015 Cup, surprised many people by camping in one area in the back of a creek for four days and catching the winning fish shallow. The prior two Cups at Lake Ouachita – won by Scott Martin in 2011 and Scott Suggs in 2007 – were won out deep around standing timber, brush piles and other areas where balls of shad had congregated.
Lake Ouachita will still offer up its usual mix of deep and shallow patterns, but no matter what patterns emerge, the weights are always close at Lake Ouachita in August. Expect several anglers to average 12 to 14 pounds a day and to be in the hunt for the win on Championship Sunday.
“Ouachita is a really good fishery and is a perfect venue to host the Forrest Wood Cup,” said Justin Atkins, the reigning Forrest Wood Cup champion who won last year on Lake Murray in Columbia, South Carolina. “I’ve been there twice and caught quite a few big fish. This event should be a little tougher, but it’s during the dog-days of summer. Fishing is tough right now all over the country. I love a good slugfest, but I really enjoy the tough tournaments for our championship event.”
Atkins won the FLW Cup in his rookie season on Tour and is now looking to become the first angler in history to ever win the Cup twice.
“The most exciting thing for me about the 2018 Cup is the unknown – I know what happens when you win and it truly is a life-changing tournament. The possibility that it could happen to me again is just so exciting,” Atkins said. “I’m still learning my way through this sport, but winning the Cup last year gave me the financial support, the sponsor support, and the self-confidence that I do belong here and I can make my way in this sport.”
Atkins went on to predict that the winner this year would need to average about 14 pounds a day to be in contention for the win, and the winner would have right around 42 pounds after the three-day competition.
“The key is going to be your ability to think on the fly and ability to change patterns each day as the fish and conditions change.”
Anglers will take off from Brady Mountain Resort & Marina, located at 4120 Brady Mountain Road in Royal, Arkansas, at 7 a.m. CDT each morning. Each day’s weigh-in will be held at the Bank OZK Arena located at 134 Convention Blvd., in Hot Springs, beginning at 5 p.m.
Fans will be treated to the FLW Expo at the Hot Springs Convention Center located at 134 Convention Blvd., in Hot Springs, each day from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. prior to the weigh-ins. The Expo includes games, activities and giveaways provided by more than 40 FLW sponsors, the opportunity to shop the latest tackle and outdoor gear from more than 100 exhibitors, Ranger boat simulators, a casting pond and a trout pond for children, as well as the opportunity to meet and interact with top professional anglers, including Hank Parker, Jimmy Houston, and Larry Nixon. FLW’s namesake Forrest L. Wood, the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, will also be greeting fans.
On Saturday and Sunday the first 250 children 14 and under each day who are accompanied by an adult will receive a voucher to redeem for a free rod-and-reel combo after the evening’s weigh-in from Shakespeare rods. Also on Sunday, one lucky fishing fan will win a brand new Ranger Z521L bass boat with a 250-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard motor. The Ranger Boat giveaway is free to enter but the winner must be present at the conclusion of Sunday’s final weigh-in to win.
Also on Saturday and Sunday, FLW fans will be treated to the Bass & BBQ Festival in conjunction with the FLW Expo. FLW has partnered with local BBQ vendors to feature award-winning BBQ teams offering delicious fare to visitors at the Forrest Wood Cup Expo. A portion of all proceeds will be donated to local Arkansas charities.
Country music superstar Justin Moore will perform a free concert on the weigh-in stage at the Bank OZK Arena on Sunday, Aug. 12, starting at 4 p.m., prior to the final weigh-in. The concert is presented by Realtree and KSSN 96. Moore will be performing songs from his latest album, Kinda Don’t Care, to fishing fans in Arkansas as well as live-streamed to fans around the globe at FLWFishing.com.
The Morning Takeoff, FLW Expo, Bass & BBQ event, live concert and weigh-ins are all free and open to the public.
Television coverage of the 2018 Forrest Wood Cup will premiere in high-definition (HD) on NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) Sept. 27 from Noon -1 p.m. EDT. The Emmy-nominated "FLW" television show airs on NBCSN, the Pursuit Channel and the World Fishing Network and is broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, making it the most widely distributed weekly outdoors-sports television show in the world.
For a full schedule of events, complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing.
About FLW
FLW is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, providing anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to compete for millions in prize money in 2018 across five tournament circuits. Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, with offices in Minneapolis, FLW and their partners conduct 286 bass-fishing tournaments annually around the world, including the United States, Canada, China, Italy, South Korea, Mexico, Portugal, South Africa and Spain. FLW tournament fishing can be seen on the Emmy-nominated “FLW" television show, broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, while FLW Bass Fishing magazine delivers cutting-edge tips from top pros. For more information visit FLWFishing.com and follow FLW at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
Bobby Lane Grabs Lead At Bassmaster Eastern Open On Lake Champlain
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Bluegrass Junior Anglers Take Bassmaster Junior National Championship
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B.A.S.S. Will Not Reschedule 2018 Bassmaster Elite At Upper Chesapeake Bay
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Florida Team Leads Bassmaster Junior Bass Fishing Championship
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Cal Coast Fishing Adds Ish Monroe and Caleb Sumrall National Team Elite Series Pros Join Growing Cal Coast Fishing Family
Courtesy of Cal Coast Fishing
Carpentaria, Calif. – July 27, 2018 – Cal Coast Fishing, a fishing accessories manufacturer from Carpentaria, Calif., has signed Elite Series pros Ish Monroe and Caleb Sumrall to their national pro staff. The addition adds to a staff that includes FLW pros James Watson, Jimmy Reese, Jeff Dobson and Kyle Cortiana, as well as kayak fishing stalwarts Ron Champion and Jay Wallen.
Cal Coast Fishing specializes in producing products designed to make it easier and more efficient for anglers to pursue their passions. Founder Dave Romanus said that having more perspectives helps in a variety of ways. “We are constantly looking for ways to expand our product line in a way that allows anglers to enjoy their days on the water,” said Romanus. “Adding Ish (Monroe) and Caleb (Sumrall) bring more experience to the table, and they help expand our visibility in the marketplace; adding them is a great addition to our company.”
Romanus said it was his personal interaction with them that made them the choice to add from the Elite Series field. “Ish is obviously a great angler, but what has always impressed me most about him is his genuine nature and work ethic,” said Romanus. “Caleb is younger in his career, but he has seen some success, and he invested the time to get to know us, so it was an easy choice to bring him aboard as well; I couldn’t be happier to have these two flying our flag and helping us move ahead.”
Monroe, who claimed his fifth Bassmaster victory earlier this year at the Mississippi River Elite Series event in LaCrosse, Wisc., said that he loves the way Cal Coast Fishing does things. “Dave is an innovator who still listens to others and takes ideas from those around him,” he said. “Cal Coast Fishing makes products that help me stay organized, be more efficient on the water, and that helps me catch more fish, which is the name of this game. I am excited to join the team, and to being a part of helping develop more products to help myself and other anglers in the future.”
Sumrall also is proud to partner with Cal Coast Fishing. “I had enjoyed talking to Dave for quite some time, and met him face to face at the Classic this year, and really hit it off with him,” said Sumrall. “The product line has helped me on the water this year, and being able to be a part of this team is really something I’m proud of.”
About Cal Coast Fishing – Established in 2015 and based out of Carpentaria, Calif., Cal Coast Fishing began by offering their original Bait Sack Premium Lure protectors and has since grown to include rod storage and transportation, Conservation minded fish culling system, and other problem solving and fishing efficiency products. The company prides itself on producing products that help anglers be more efficient and enjoy their time on the water more thoroughly. View their products online at https://calcoastfishing.com/, on social media or one of their hundreds of dealers nationwide.
AC Insider Podcast Featuring Sportsmans Warehouse Pro Bryan Thrift & College Champs Garrett Enders & Cody Huff
Jason returns from his 8-day Caribbean cruise as the boys talk tournaments, tournaments canceled,
FLW CUP with Bryan Thrift and Carhartt College Championship with Bethel University's Garrett Enders & Cody Huff.
All of this and more on this weeks AC Insider Podcast!
Anatomy of a Win(ner) - Hobie Kayak PRO-File
Vance McCullough / Photos Courtesy of Jay Wallen Facebook Page
With 3 big wins under his belt in recent years, Jay Wallen is no stranger to success in major kayak bass tournaments but with a runner-up finish at the KBF Open on South Carolina’s Santee Cooper Reservoir in May and an outright victory at the KBF Open on the Upper Mississippi River July 22nd, Wallen is on a heck of a roll, even by his standards.
And it could have been better.
“I fished two Opens this year,” says the veteran kayak tournament angler. “The first was at Santee. I got 2ndthere. Just missed – had a bite at the end there that I think would have done it, but I just didn’t make it happen.”
Wallen won the Hobie Bass Open last year. “The payout wasn’t quite that high, but that was a very big tournament, like 120 anglers, I think. I won the first Open 3 years ago on Kentucky Lake. So I’ve won some but as far as payday goes, this is by far the biggest.”
For his performance in Wisconsin Wallen won $10,000. Did he imagine, just a few short years ago, after his first big win, that he would ever cash a check for ten-grand at a kayaktournament? “No way, man. No way.
“I started fishing with a local club here in Lexington. Thirty-five-dollar entry fees and somebody would win a few hundred bucks. We thought that was great. And it was! But then KBF comes along and offers us an opportunity to win, not just ten-thousand dollars but $100,000 at the National Championship.
“But I never would have imagined fishing out of a plastic boat for this kind of money, at this kind of level. It’s a crazy deal.”
Among Wallen’s favorite aspects of kayak fishing are the low barriers to entry which allow for massive participation in the game of kayak fishing, as well as the sport of fishing in general. “It’s the easiest way to get into it. You don’t need anybody to take you. It’s cheap when compared to the cost of owning a bass boat. There are so many great things about it that make it very accessible for a beginner. It’s a great venue to get people started.”
What’s the process that has worked so well for Wallen? Frankly, it boils down to common sense, sustained effort, and a good decision or two at the right time.
The drive from Kentucky to Wisconsin took over 10 hours. Wallen was left with one day to practice on water he had never seen. Pre-scouting was critical. “I had been doing my homework, been looking at maps and, of course I always go through all the old Bassmaster and FLW results, read all the articles through the years and look at all the historical data I possibly can. The Internet has been such a big help. There’s no replacement for pre-fishing but I can’t get up there and pre-fish ahead of time so I do a lot of pre-fishing at home, so to speak, watching the U.S. flood gauge, watching the river come up and down, just trying to keep up with it.
“I scouted out a handful of spots that I would want to fish,” said Wallen who runs a Hobie Pro Angler 14 and used the Mirage Drive to pedal over 15 miles throughout the course of practice and two tournament days. “I knew I only had a day to do it so I went up there and kind of made my run. I went spot-to-spot and just started systematically checking them. I happened to find a weed bed that was about 75 yards long and they were just laid up thick in it. They weren’t everywhere. Within that weed bed there were two or three little sweet spots. On my practice day I wasn’t trying to hook them. I was using a frog and they were blowing up on it so I could tell they were bass because they were coming all the way out of the water.”
Wallen drilled down on his loaded weed bed on day 1 of the tournament to catch a quick limit on a Spro Dean Rojas Bronzeye Frog in the 65 size and Rainforest Black color. 65-lb Power Pro was his braided line of choice.
He then rested his best area for Day 2. “I had a couple other areas that were similar. They weren’t producing as well. I pretty much had one primary spot.”
An overnight weather change and a drop in the river level dictated a corresponding change in tactics during the 2ndcompetition round. “A little cold front moved through toward the end of Day 1 and we had bluebird skies for Day 2. I thought that might actually help the frog bite; might push them further up under the mat and once I got them going, they’d eat once the sun came out. That just didn’t happen. I had a couple of blow ups on the frog but they were not committed to it. It just wasn’t happening.
“I backed out of the thick matted stuff. Right out in front of it was some scattered clumps of lily pads and hydrilla and duck weed. It was all just kind of scattered. It wasn’t clumped up so I started throwing a Chatterbait. Typically, I throw the Picasso Shock Blade but I didn’t have the right color. That water was pretty dark and they wanted that black and blue color. I couldn’t get them on anything else so I threw the black and blue Jack Hammer in there and, man, they loaded up on it. That happened pretty quick once I figured that out.
“The river came down about 6 inches overnight and I think that pulled some of those bass out of that cover I had been fishing the first day.
“It was a reaction bite. Rip that thing by a little isolated clump of pads and see them shake. I was just calling the bass right out of the weeds.”
Wallen used a 3/8 oz Jack Hammer on 16-lb Sun Line Shooter fluorocarbon to put him in striking distance of another win.
Still, he felt he needed another cull. He found one.
“It’s probably the coolest fish catch I’ve ever had in my life.
“I went to my other area. I gave myself an hour – that’s about all I had left. I go in there and there’s a little commotion on top of the water around some grass. I start looking and there’s a bass tailing, his fins sticking up out of the water. He looks like a redfish. Craziest thing I’ve ever seen. So I flipped a (Strike King) Caffeine Shad right in front of that bass and he rolled and just choked it. Dude, that one was 16-and-a-half inches and it culled out a 14-incher. That pretty much did it for me.”
“Frog, Chatterbait and a Caffeine Shad. That was the one, two, three,” said Wallen who keeps his Hobie organized, in part, by using a Bait Sack, made by Cal Coast Fishing. “It’s just a little sleeve that keeps your hooks protected and keeps you from hooking and tangling things up. In a kayak, I’ve got so many rods with me, that Bait Sack makes a huge difference, saves time and keeps me organized.”
Wallen tossed the trio on Shimano reels and G. Loomis rods. “Those things saved my butt several times, getting good hooksets on those frogs. For my frogs I’m using the IMX Pro Frog Rod, 7’3”. It’s a pretty stout rod.”
An eternal student of the game, Wallen is still refining his techniques, evaluating his performance even in the afterglow of victory. “Just a mistake that I noticed on my part that I kind of got away with – and I put some time in with a frog, but I don’t throw it a whole lot – so the reel I was throwing my frog on is a bulldog. It’s an old Chronarch. It’s like a 12-year-old reel, one of my favorite reels, but it’s a really slow reel. There were a couple of instances where I set the hook on a fish and I couldn’t get it out of that grass because my reel was too slow and the fish would burry down in that grass and before you know it, it was just heavy weight and all I got back was a big wad of grass and no bass. Something I learned was that, with my frog setup I need to be throwing a high-speed reel. At least a 7.1-1 ratio, maybe an 8.
“Just something I learned that I can pass along. A learning experience that, luckily, didn’t cost me but definitely something I learned from.”
Wallen is a proven winner. He knows how to close the deal. You can learn a lot from him and engage with him personally at:
Youtube.com/jaywallenfishing
Facebook.com/jaywallenfishing
Instagram.com/jaywallenfishing
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY WINS YETI FLW COLLEGE FISHING CENTRAL CONFERENCE EVENT ON MISSISSIPPI RIVER AT WABASHA PRESENTED BY COSTA
WABASHA, Minn. (July 30, 2018) – The Southeast Missouri State University duo of Jacob Harris of Bonne Terre, Missouri, and Nick Moore of De Soto, Missouri, won the YETI FLW College Fishing event on the Mississippi River presented by Costa Saturday with five bass weighing 18 pounds, 2 ounces. The victory earned the Redhawks’ bass club $2,400 and a slot in the 2019 FLW College Fishing National Championship.
Moore said that he and Harris, a junior majoring in business, spent their day fishing a 100-yard stretch on the lower end of Pool No. 4 between the main-river channel and Peterson Lake.
“We found the spot within the last hour of practice,” said Moore, a junior majoring in agribusiness and plant and soil science. “I had made a cast on the stretch and missed a fish, but when Jake fired out there, he hooked one. As he brought it to the boat, there were nine or 10 bass with it and they were all quality-sized largemouth.
“Saturday morning started off slow. We probably caught around a half-dozen short fish and a few pike before getting our first keeper bass around 8 (a.m.),” Moore continued. “From there, we figured out our cadence and everything kind of came together. Our first five fish had us up to 16 or 17 pounds, and we culled twice. We had everything we weighed by 10 (a.m.) – it was a crazy two hours.”
Moore said that a couple of 4-pound bites were likely what sealed the deal for the team.
“The area had duckweed mixed with some hydrilla and there were lilypads spread throughout it,” said Moore. “It wasn’t a lilypad field, but there were little groups here and there. The matted duckweed rerouted the current, which was definitely the reason there was more bait there. We could see bait around the edges of the duckweed and the groups of pads seemed to hold the better quality fish.”
The duo used Spro Dean Rojas Bronzeye 65 frogs in green-pumpkin and Rainforest Black colors on PowerPro 65-pound-test braided line. Moore used a high-speed Abu Garcia REVO ALX reel and a 7-foot, 4-inch heavy Duckett Triad Series rod, while Harris used a Lew’s Tournament Speed Spool LFS Series reel and a 7-foot heavy Denali Lithium Series rod. Moore noted that their Minn Kota Fortrex was also crucial in helping them handle the vegetation.
“It was our first win as a college club in a major event. We were quick to be congratulated by our teammates, alumni and even anglers from other schools. It was an awesome experience,” Moore went on to say.
The top 10 teams that advanced to the 2019 College Fishing National Championship are:
1st: Southeast Missouri State University – Jacob Harris, Bonne Terre, Mo., and Nick Moore, De Soto, Mo., five bass, 18-2, $2,400
2nd: McKendree University – Shane Campbell, Highland, Ill., and Ethan Jones, Worden, Ill., five bass, 16-10, $1,000
3rd: Missouri State University – Reece Crabtree, Holden, Mo., and Crosley Welch, Branson, Mo., five bass, 15-2, $500
4th: Iowa State University – Pat Morrison, Omaha, Neb., and Matt Blair, Ames, Iowa, five bass, 15-1, $500
5th: University of Wisconsin-Whitewater – Mitch Van Ert and Steven Sellnow, both of Watertown, Wis., five bass, 15-1, $500
6th: Bemidji State University – Lincoln Horsman, Wabasha, Minn., and Travis Rotzien, Bemidji, Minn., five bass, 14-15
7th: Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne – Reiley Pugh, Auburn, Ind., and Blake Spurgeon, Fort Wayne, Ind., five bass, 14-15
8th: Bemidji State University – Benjamin Saba, Ramsey, Minn., and Robert Troje, Hastings, Minn., five bass, 14-14
9th: University of Minnesota-Duluth – Dylan Sande, Long Lake, Minn., and Justin Sande, Orono, Minn., five bass, 14-11
10th: University of Wisconsin – Andrew Wolfe, Wausau, Wis., and Colin Steck, Waunakee, Wis., five bass, 14-7, $200
Complete results for the entire field can be found at FLWFishing.com.
The YETI FLW College Fishing event on the Mississippi River at Wabasha was presented by Costa and was hosted by the Wabasha-Kellogg Chamber of Commerce & Convention and Visitors Bureau. It was the second of three regular-season qualifying tournaments for Central Conference anglers in 2018. The next YETI FLW College Fishing event takes place Sept. 8, when Northern Conference anglers compete at the YETI FLW College Fishing event on Lake Erie presented by Berkley, in Sandusky, Ohio.
YETI FLW College Fishing teams compete in three regular-season qualifying tournaments in one of five conferences – Central, Northern, Southern, Southeastern and Western. The top ten teams from each division’s three regular-season tournaments and the top 20 teams from the annual FLW College Fishing Open will advance to the 2019 FLW College Fishing National Championship. Additional teams will qualify for the National Championship if the field size in regular-season events exceeds 100 boats.
YETI FLW College Fishing is free to enter. All participants must be registered, full-time students at a college, university or community college and members of a college fishing club that is recognized by their school.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow YETI FLW College Fishing on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
TRIM WINS T-H MARINE FLW BFL GREAT LAKES DIVISION TOURNAMENT ON MISSISSIPPI RIVER AT LA CROSSE
Whitehall’s Pollard Grabs Co-angler Title
LA CROSSE, Wis. (July 30, 2018) – Boater Nick Trim of Galesville, Wisconsin, brought a three-bass limit to the scale Saturday weighing 12 pounds, 3 ounces, to win the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Great Lakes Division tournament on the Mississippi River at La Crosse. For his efforts, Trim pocketed $6,105.
Trim worked through backwaters in Pool No. 7 to catch his fish Saturday. He said he weighed his three largemouth off of one bait – a Spro Dean Rojas Bronzeye 65 frog, in Barney and Red Ear colors.
“My areas had really thick weed mats with sandy bottoms, which provided some nice cover for the fish,” said Trim, who tallied his first career win in FLW competition. “I didn’t get a bite at my first spot, but I have some history with those fish, so I decided to move 500 yards away and caught a 3-14 as well as a couple of smaller ones.”
At a third area, Trim wasn’t able to get one in the boat. Around 9:30 a.m., he decided to return to where he caught the 3-14 and reeled in another 4-pounder with his frog – his biggest of the day.
“I also lost a big one that rolled on my frog twice,” said Trim. “I switched to a (Missile Baits) D Bomb with a 1½-ounce tungsten weight with a Trokar flipping hook and got it halfway back to the boat, but it came unbuttoned. It was close to 5 pounds, which is a giant for the Mississippi River.”
From there, Trim returned to his first area and caught a 2-15, also on the D Bomb.
“I figured I needed one more big one, so I kept working that weed mat,” said Trim. “I got 60 yards north of where I caught the 2-15 and set the hook on a 4-pounder with the frog. I had just finished telling my co-angler that I could really use a 4-pound bite, and then it happened.”
Trim noted that his 7-foot, 3-inch Fitzgerald Stunner HD heavy rod was crucial to his success.
“The power that rod has to get bass out of heavy cover is phenomenal – it really helped me out.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Nick Trim, Galesville, Wis., three bass, 12-3, $6,105
2nd: Kevin Ruh, Onalaska, Wis., three bass, 10-10, $2,144
2nd: Jeff Krisher, Madison, Wis., three bass, 10-10, $2,044
4th: Nathan Huss, Elkhart Lake, Wis., three bass, 10-6, $1,515
5th: Yamamoto Baits pro Tom Monsoor, La Crosse, Wis., three bass, 10-3, $981
6th: Josh Ystenes, La Crosse, Wis., three bass, 9-15, $899
7th: Jeff Ritter, Prairie du Chien, Wis., three bass, 9-14, $818
8th: Nick O’Keefe, La Crosse, Wis., three bass, 9-13, $736
9th: Rick Bosshard, Hartland, Wis., three bass, 9-12, $654
10th: Brandon Gann, Sparta, Wis., three bass, 9-11, $572
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Jerry Robackouski of Joliet, Illinois, brought a 4-pound, 4-ounce, bass to the scale – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division – and earned the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $370.
Jessie Pollard of Whitehall, Wisconsin, won the Co-angler Division and $2,419 Saturday after catching three bass weighing 9 pounds, 5 ounces.
The top 10 co-anglers were:
1st: Jessie Pollard, Whitehall, Wis., three bass, 9-5, $2,419
2nd: Kristian Dus, Chicago, Ill., three bass, 9-4, $1,210
3rd: Chad Schultz, Rockton, Ill., three bass, 9-0, $686
3rd: Kevin Waeyaert, Coal Valley, Ill., three bass, 9-0, $686
5th: Jordan Hirt, Glenwood, Iowa, three bass, 8-15, $484
6th: Kevin Andera, Calmar, Iowa, three bass, 8-12, $444
7th: Ronald Syverson, Holmen, Wis., three bass, 8-9, $403
8th: Greg Oppegard, W. St. Paul, Minn., three bass, 8-7, $363
9th: Ed Remian, Schiller Park, Ill., three bass, 8-1, $323
10th: Spencer Clark, Maryland Heights, Mo., three bass, 8-0, $282
Tom Lindsay of Glenview, Illinois, caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division weighing in at 4 pounds even. The catch earned him the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $365.
The T-H Marine BFL event on the Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wisconsin was hosted by the La Crosse County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 25-27 BFL Regional Championship on Lake of the Ozarks in Osage Beach, Missouri. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard.
The 2018 BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. Top performers in the BFL can move up to the Costa FLW Series or even the FLW Tour.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
Spellicy Wins ABA OPEN on 1,000 Islands with over 23 pound limit!
Jesse Spellicy of Gouverneur, NY won the American Bass Anglers Open Series NE NY division tournament, held July 21, 2018. Running out of French Creek Marina, in the town of Clayton, NY Jesse caught five-bass weighing 23.33-pounds. He anchored his bag with a 5.66-pound kicker For the Boater Division victory, Spellicy took home a check for $5000.
“I was drop shotting with a GaJo spirit shad, any of the natural colors were working, in the river in 25-35 feet of water. “ Spellicy said.
In second for the boaters, Christophe Ullrich of Picture Rocks, PA landed a five-bass tournament limit going 22.78-pounds with a 5.29-pound kicker. He collected $1250. for the effort.
“I fished the river in the Canadian narrows between two islands. I was fishing current in 10-25 ft of water, I used a green pumpkin ned bait all day,” Ullrich said.
Brian Bylotas of Scott Township, PA took third for the boaters with five bass going 21.43-pounds. He anchored his catch with a 5.27-pound kicker to earn $900.
“I went to the lake in the morning and ended up coming up the river. I was drop shotting in 20-30 ft of water using a Berkley Power fry in green pumpkin,” Bylotas said.
Finishing fourth, Jonathan Robla of Norwood, NY landed a five-bass limit for 21.67-pounds including a 4.44-pound kicker. Henry Fristik of Chester, MA rounded out the top five boaters with five bass at 19.92-pounds topped by a 4.07-pound kicker.
The biggest bass for the boaters was caught by Dennis Carnahan of Cazenovia, NY that weighed 6.86-pounds and Dennis pocketed $660.
In the Co-Angler Division, John Brzozowski of Dallas, PA won with three-bass going 13.49 pounds. He sealed his victory with a 5.73-pound kicker to pocket a check for $1200..
Brzozowski was not available for comment.
Taking second for the co-anglers, Michael Orris of Harrisburg, PA brought in a three-bass division limit weighing 12.93-pounds including a 4.73-pound kicker. He collected $500 for the effort.
“I was drop shotting in 10-30 ft of water in the river using a blackish brown 4 inch worm,” Orris said.
Chris Sullivan Voorheesville, NY placed third among the co-anglers with three-bass going 12.59-pounds. He anchored his catch with a 4.99-pound kicker to earn $350.
“I was drop shotting out on the lake in 10-30 ft of water using an Area 51 bait,” Sullivan said.
In fourth place among the co-anglers, James Perez Jr of Rensselear, NY brought in three-bass for 12.25-pounds including a 4.51-pound kicker. John M. Ciavaglia of Pittsford, NY finished in fifth place with three-bass at 10.87-pounds topped by a 4.08-pound kicker.
The biggest bass for the co-anglers was caught by John J. Brzozowski of Dallas, PA that weighed 5.73 and John pocketed $200.
Slated for August 17, 2018 the next divisional tournament will be held on Lake Champlain out of Dock Street Landing, in Plattsburgh, NY.
At the end of the season, the best anglers from across the nation advance the 2018 Ray Scott Championship, slated for the first week of April 2019 on Lake Eufaula, AL.
For more information on this tournament, call Jeff Randall, tournament manager, at 256-777-6152 or ABA at 256-232-0406. On line, see www.abaopenseries.com .
CANADA’S FARLOW DECLARED WINNER AT WEATHER-SHORTENED COSTA FLW SERIES NORTHERN DIVISION TOURNAMENT ON LAKE ERIE PRESENTED BY POLARIS
Neil Farlow Wins $87k including New Ranger Boat
BUFFALO, N.Y. (July 28, 2018) – Pro Neil Farlow of St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, won the Costa FLW Series Northern Division event on Lake Erie presented by Polaris with a single-day catch of five bass weighing 24 pounds, 4 ounces, after high winds forced tournament officials to shorten the three-day event to one day of competition. Farlow’s weight was caught on Thursday and was enough to earn him the top prize of $87,500 including a new Ranger Z518 with a 200-horsepower outboard engine.
“It feels awesome to win one of these tournaments,” said Farlow, who earned his first career win in FLW competition. “I’ve been thinking about this tournament since the schedule was released and I put in a lot of time preparing for it. I was ready for three days out there but the wind had a different plan.”
Farlow said he fished his way from Point Abino on the Canadian side of Lake Erie, to Myers Reef on the U.S. side, and then back in toward Buffalo. He said of the six areas he worked through, four of them produced his biggest fish.
“I fished old spots and anywhere I could get to where there weren’t any boats around,” said Farlow. “I was boat No.156, so I had to keep running until I found something that didn’t have anyone around. I think that’s what made the difference.”
Farlow said bottoms that were a mix of rock and gravel or gravel and sand produced best for him.
“I fished in 20 to 40 feet of water, but most of the fish were 20 to 30 feet down,” said Farlow. “I fished basically anywhere there was something different – a depth change, hump or a boulder.”
Farlow said he caught around eight bass throughout the day, including the largest of the event – a 6-pound, 6-ouncer – around 9 a.m. He weighed his fish all from one lure – a green-pumpkin-colored Reaction Innovations Flirt Worm on a drop-shot rig.
“I did what pretty much everyone else was doing, which was using drop shots and tubes,” said Farlow. “I didn’t catch many fish because some of the crowded spots were the ones that had more fish in them, so I ended up going after more individual fish that were bigger. I had less bites and it was stressful, but I knew that if I did get a bite it would be the right size.”
The top 10 pros on Lake Erie finished:
1st: Neil Farlow, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, five bass, 24-4, $87,500
2nd: Ben Wright, Peru, N.Y., five bass, 24-3, $16,600
3rd: Charles Sim, Nepean, Ontario, Canada, five bass, 23-3, $12,500
4th: J.T. Kenney, Palm Bay, Fla., five bass, 23-2, $10,500
5th: J. Todd Tucker, Moultrie, Ga., five bass, 22-15, $9,500
6th: Lowrance pro Austin Felix, Eden Prairie, Minn., five bass, 22-12, $8,250
7th: Moo Bae, West Friendship, Md., five bass, 22-8, $7,200
8th: Travis Manson, Conshohocken, Pa., five bass, 22-6, $6,200
9th: Philip Jarabeck, Spout Spring, Va., five bass, 22-5, $5,200
10th: T.J. Lacey, Selwyn, Ontario, Canada, five bass, 22-3, $4,100
A complete list of results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Farlow’s 6-pound, 6-ounce bass – the biggest bass of the tournament in the Pro Division – also earned him Thursday’s Boater Big Bass award of $300.
Sakae Ushio of Tonawanda, New York, won the Co-angler Division and a Ranger Z175 with a 90-horsepower outboard motor. Ushio earned his win with a one-day catch of five bass weighing 23 pounds, 7 ounces.
The top 10 co-anglers on Lake Erie finished:
1st: Sakae Ushio, Tonawanda, N.Y., five bass, 23-7, $27,250
2nd: Chris Benninger, Grand Island, N.Y., five bass, 23-6, $5,350
3rd: Colton Sowers, Venetia, Pa., five bass, 23-4, $4,400
4th: Will Rogers, Grand Island, N.Y., five bass, 22-2, $3,650
5th: John Stoughtenger, Waterloo, N.Y., five bass, 21-7, $3,100
6th: Joseph Stois Sr., Fairview Park, Ohio, five bass, 21-3, $2,600
7th: Will Litchfield, London, Ontario, Canada, five bass, 20-6, $2,100
8th: Justin Lonchar, Industry, Pa., five bass, 20-5, $1,800
9th: David Williams, Fredericksburg, Va., five bass, 20-3, $1,520
10th: Wataru Iwahori, Palestine, Texas, five bass, 19-15, $1,270
Sowers caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the Co-angler Division Thursday, a fish weighing 6 pounds, 6 ounces and earned the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $200.
The Costa FLW Series on Lake Erie presented by Polaris was hosted by the Buffalo Niagara Sports Commission. It was the second of three Costa FLW Series Northern Division tournaments of the 2018 regular season. The next Costa FLW Series tournament will be the final Northern Division event of the year, held Sept. 6-8 on 1000 Islands in Clayton, New York, and is presented by Navionics. For a complete schedule, visit FLWFishing.com.
The Costa FLW Series consists of five U.S. divisions – Central, Northern, Southeastern, Southwestern and Western – along with the International division. Each U.S. division consists of three regular-season tournaments with competitors vying for valuable points that could earn them the opportunity to compete in the season-ending Costa FLW Series Championship. The 2018 Costa FLW Series Championship is being held Nov. 1-3 on Lake Guntersville in Guntersville, Alabama, and is hosted by the Marshall County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Costa FLW Series on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
Multifaceted Fishery Awaits Anglers For Bassmaster Eastern Open On Lake Champlain
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One and Done - Lake Erie Costa Day 3 Canceled - Day 1 Leader Farrow Winner
July 28, 2018
Courtesy of Colin Moore/FLW Fishing
A stubborn weather front packing westerly winds lingered overnight in the eastern basin of Lake Erie near Buffalo and forced the cancellation of the final day of the Costa FLW Series Northern Division tournament presented by Polaris. Ron Lappin, Costa FLW Series tournament director, made the call at about 4 a.m. after boating out to the mouth of the protected harbor where the tournament was headquartered.
In effect, it was a one-day tournament, as Lappin called off the second day of the event Friday because of dangerous boating conditions on Erie’s open waters.
“As soon as I got out to the opening, I saw 5-footers washing up,” said Lappin. “The front that was supposed to go through yesterday evening [Friday] apparently didn’t. The weather report showed gusts to about 22 mph coming in until about 10 a.m., then letting up some, then picking up again in the afternoon. So even if we had waited an hour or two, it wouldn’t have made much difference.
“There’s no sense in taking chances. This is the type of waterway that can get really dangerous in a hurry,” Lappin said. “Going out in even marginal conditions is asking for trouble, so for the best interests of everyone involved we ended the tournament with the standings as they are.”
Ontario pro Neil Farrow was declared the winner on the strength of his 24-pound, 4-ounce limit of smallmouths in the event’s opening round Thursday. Ben Wright of Peru, N.Y., was runner-up with 24-3, Charles Sim of Nepean, Ont., was third with 23-3, JT Kenney of Palm Bay, Fla., was fourth with 23-2 and J. Todd Tucker of Moultrie, Ga., was fifth with 22-15.
In Thursday’s opening round, 44 pros had limits that each weighed 20 pounds or more, while nine co-anglers accounted for 20-pounds-plus sacks. Sakae Ushio of nearby Tonawanda, N.Y., won the co-angler division with 23-7.
Lappin said that the top 43 places each on the boater and co-angler sides would receive checks. The payout begins at 9 at the weigh-in trailer at Safe Harbor. The next Costa FLW Series Northern Division matchup is set for Sept. 6-8 out of Clayton, N.Y. That event will decide the final divisional standings.
Johnson & Johnson Lead Fishers of Men Legacy Championship after Day 1!
2018 Legacy Series Championship - Courtesy of Fishers Of Men
The 2018 Shakespeare Legacy Series Championship hosted by Decatur Morgan County
Tourism is under way.
The event started with our Thursday night meeting held at First Baptist Church of Decatur who again
shared their facility with us for the evening. We were served a great meal catered by Alfonso’s Italian
restaurant in Decatur which was topped off with ice cream and all the toppings.
After the meal the current FLW Angler of the Year, Mark Rose spent time with us talking about
fishing and life. Mark spoke about his rise in the fishing world and the importance of preparing and
being open to the things around you. Even though a lot of things can impact our fishing and our life
Mark said the most important thing is to follow Jesus and his will for us. Thanks Mark for your great
testimony.
After the message we held a short meeting to talk about the first day’s tournament rules and
launch procedure. We then handed out prizes including baits, fishing tackle, boating accessories,
and fishing rods. We then released the fisherman and women for the evening so they could get a
good night rest for the next day to rise early and head for the ramp on Friday.
Friday morning came early as we started to launch boats around 5:00 a.m. The weather for this
time of year was cooler than in the past with temperatures in the 60’s along with slightly overcast
skies. At 6:00 a.m. we began our launch. Seventy seven boats left the Ingalls Harbor boat ramp on
Lake Wheeler. Check in time for the first flight was 1:00 p.m. and after a quick breakfast the
Fishers of Men staff returned to the Tournament site to set up for the weigh-in.
For fish preservation and to help protect the resource we set a three fish limit for this event.
At 1:00 the first flight returned and the teams started bringing the fish to the scales.
There were a total of thirty eight, three fish limits brought in with most of the teams catching fish.
Our day one leaders were the team of Lake and Allen Johnson with three fish weighing 11.23 lbs.
Lake was very tight lipped about how the fish were caught. In second place, were Greg and
Wyatt Tomlin who also caught the first day’s one big bass caught by the junior angler.
Wyatt’s big bass weighed 3.85 lbs and their total weight was 8.51 lbs. In third, were
Donny and Colby Beck wit three fish with a weight of 8.29 lbs. Not trailing far behind in third,
were Nathan and James Lively with a limit weighing 8.24 lbs followed by Greg and Ethan
Franklin with 8.10 lbs.
Stay tuned tomorrow is a new day.
Fishers of Men would like to thank all of our fine sponsors; BassCat Boats, Mercury, Berkley, Abu Garcia,
Spiderwire, Shakespeare, Strike King Lure Company, Kings Home, Power-Pole, Raymarine, Duckett Fishing,
BassBoat Technologies, ORCA Coolers, Buckeye Lures, T&H Maine, Gator Guards, ,Kistler Rods, HydroWave,
Costa, Jacobs Glass, Rayjus Sportswear,
Shakespeare Legacy Series Championship-Day 1 - 07/27/18
| Place | Team | Members | # Fish | Big Fish | Gross | Penalty | Net Wt | Points | |
| 1 | 22770 | Allen Johnson Lake Johnson |
3 | 0 | 11.23 | 0 | 11.23 | 0 | |
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| 2 | 15503 | Greg Tomlin Wyatt Tomlin |
3 | 3.85 | 8.51 | 0 | 8.51 | 0 | |
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| 3 | 15319 | Donny Beck Colby Beck |
3 | 0 | 8.29 | 0 | 8.29 | 0 | |
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| 4 | 23327 | Nathan Lively James Lively |
3 | 0 | 8.24 | 0 | 8.24 | 0 | |
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| 5 | 21543 | Greg Franklin Ethan Franklin |
3 | 3.15 | 8.1 | 0 | 8.1 | 0 | |
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| 6 | 21638 | Mitch Willoughby James Willoughby |
3 | 0 | 7.84 | 0 | 7.84 | 0 | |
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| 7 | 21326 | Jimmy Mitchell Brody Mitchell |
3 | 0 | 7.44 | 0 | 7.44 | 0 | |
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| 8 | 23221 | William Davis Sawyer Davis |
3 | 0 | 7.13 | 0 | 7.13 | 0 | |
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| 9 | 19639 | Brad Gambrell Sawyer Redmond |
3 | 3.2 | 7.11 | 0 | 7.11 | 0 | |
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| 10 | 21902 | Jake Roberson Miller Hunt |
3 | 0 | 6.59 | 0 | 6.59 | 0 | |
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| 11 | 15470 | Fred Lynn Gabrial Lynn |
3 | 0 | 6.17 | 0 | 6.17 | 0 | |
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| 12 | 18093 | Eric Weeks Tyler Weeks |
2 | 0 | 6.16 | 0 | 6.16 | 0 | |
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| 13 | 23236 | Roger Motes Joe Hardy |
3 | 2.23 | 6.13 | 0 | 6.13 | 0 | |
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| 14 | 22047 | Joe Garrie Chesney Garrie |
3 | 0 | 5.92 | 0 | 5.92 | 0 | |
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| 15 | 22045 | Jim Barnette Peyton Steele |
3 | 0 | 5.9 | 0 | 5.9 | 0 | |
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| 16 | 21651 | Randy Thrash Tucker Thrash |
3 | 2.99 | 5.84 | 0 | 5.84 | 0 | |
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| 17 | 22041 | Anthony McBay Carson Heard |
3 | 0 | 5.93 | 0.25 | 5.68 | 0 | |
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| 18 | 22743 | Cameron McEarchern Richard McEarchern |
3 | 0 | 5.68 | 0 | 5.68 | 0 | |
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| 19 | 19536 | Russell Nixon Wyatt Bigham |
3 | 0 | 5.46 | 0 | 5.46 | 0 | |
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| 20 | 23085 | Kevin Beasley Jacob Neff |
3 | 0 | 5.44 | 0 | 5.44 | 0 | |
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| 21 | 23195 | Hayden Smith Jason Smith |
3 | 3.52 | 5.36 | 0 | 5.36 | 0 | |
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| 22 | 19601 | James Williams Andrew Williams |
3 | 2.22 | 5.35 | 0 | 5.35 | 0 | |
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| 23 | 22769 | Bill Benford Rhett Benford |
3 | 0 | 5.31 | 0 | 5.31 | 0 | |
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| 24 | 23363 | Darin Witherup Michael Witherup |
2 | 0 | 5.22 | 0 | 5.22 | 0 | |
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| 25 | 16804 | Tim Van Polen Jaron Brooks |
3 | 0 | 5.04 | 0.25 | 4.79 | 0 | |
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| 26 | 23455 | Billy Brooks NOAH BROOKS |
3 | 0 | 4.79 | 0 | 4.79 | 0 | |
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| 27 | 21324 | Chris Cooper Logan Cooper |
3 | 0 | 4.7 | 0 | 4.7 | 0 | |
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| 28 | 21539 | Shane Bryson Britlyn Bryson |
3 | 0 | 4.69 | 0 | 4.69 | 0 | |
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| 29 | 23470 | Victor Holt Sara Holt |
3 | 0 | 4.48 | 0 | 4.48 | 0 | |
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| 30 | 15341 | Hunter Haymond Todd Haymond |
2 | 0 | 4.47 | 0 | 4.47 | 0 | |
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| 31 | 17998 | Kent Ware Emily Ware |
3 | 0 | 4.47 | 0 | 4.47 | 0 | |
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| 32 | 23425 | Frank Morton Zac Williams |
2 | 0 | 4.3 | 0 | 4.3 | 0 | |
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| 33 | 22771 | Jimmy Garrie Kate McMillian |
3 | 0 | 4.22 | 0 | 4.22 | 0 | |
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| 34 | 23396 | Tim Rivest Brayden Rivest |
3 | 0 | 4.2 | 0 | 4.2 | 0 | |
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| 35 | 23454 | JAMES CALLAHAN CHRISTIAN CALLAHAN |
2 | 0 | 4.15 | 0 | 4.15 | 0 | |
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| 36 | 21234 | Brad Osborn Kaden Osborn |
3 | 0 | 4.13 | 0 | 4.13 | 0 | |
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| 37 | 23481 | David Godwin Jacob Godwin |
3 | 0 | 4.02 | 0 | 4.02 | 0 | |
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| 38 | 23508 | Julious Lively Natalie Lively |
2 | 2.49 | 3.95 | 0 | 3.95 | 0 | |
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| 39 | 23472 | Brandt Sjuts Ty Coon |
3 | 0 | 3.92 | 0 | 3.92 | 0 | |
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| 40 | 23463 | Tony Tidwell Konner Tidwell |
3 | 0 | 3.91 | 0 | 3.91 | 0 | |
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| 41 | 23510 | Dennis Defoor Tanner Hayes |
3 | 0 | 3.91 | 0 | 3.91 | 0 | |
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| 42 | 9721 | Jack Jr. Napier Ross Napier |
3 | 0 | 3.81 | 0 | 3.81 | 0 | |
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| 43 | 23216 | Luke Linley Andrew Hamilton |
3 | 0 | 3.8 | 0 | 3.8 | 0 | |
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| 44 | 18693 | Tripp Fryar Reagan Fryar |
2 | 2.35 | 3.59 | 0 | 3.59 | 0 | |
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| 45 | 21897 | Walter Gurgacz Jonathan Gurgacz |
2 | 0 | 3.55 | 0 | 3.55 | 0 | |
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| 46 | 16132 | Chris Hunt Mason Hunt |
2 | 0 | 3.52 | 0 | 3.52 | 0 | |
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| 47 | 23495 | Robbie Austin Noah Austin |
2 | 0 | 3.44 | 0 | 3.44 | 0 | |
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| 48 | 22391 | Brian Nelson Alison Nelson |
2 | 0 | 3.32 | 0 | 3.32 | 0 | |
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| 49 | 18120 | Steve Wilson Jessie Franklin |
2 | 0 | 3.29 | 0 | 3.29 | 0 | |
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| 50 | 21901 | Stan Riley Harrison Riley |
1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
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| 51 | 23309 | Wayne Dorman Joey Dorman |
3 | 0 | 2.95 | 0 | 2.95 | 0 | |
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| 52 | 23509 | Bradley Cross Alexandra Tate |
2 | 1.84 | 2.9 | 0 | 2.9 | 0 | |
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| 53 | 23437 | Larry Melvin Leslie Terrell |
3 | 0 | 2.85 | 0 | 2.85 | 0 | |
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| 54 | 22839 | Steve Pierce Lain McCollough |
1 | 2.75 | 2.75 | 0 | 2.75 | 0 | |
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| 55 | 18036 | David Hanson Samuel Hanson |
1 | 2.61 | 2.61 | 0 | 2.61 | 0 | |
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| 56 | 23418 | Jerry Sandretto RYAN OLSEN |
1 | 2.52 | 2.52 | 0 | 2.52 | 0 | |
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| 57 | 23295 | Travis Clemen Kevick Clemen |
2 | 0 | 2.37 | 0 | 2.37 | 0 | |
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| 58 | 22775 | Walt Denny Jimbo Deaton |
2 | 0 | 2.19 | 0 | 2.19 | 0 | |
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| 59 | 22947 | Richard Nearhoof James Walters |
1 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 0 | 1.8 | 0 | |
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| 60 | 23217 | Chris Newell Seth Hall |
2 | 0 | 1.76 | 0 | 1.76 | 0 | |
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| 61 | 19308 | David Martin Conner Martin |
1 | 1.67 | 1.67 | 0 | 1.67 | 0 | |
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| 62 | 23465 | Tim DeFoor Kannen DeFoor |
1 | 1.57 | 1.57 | 0 | 1.57 | 0 | |
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| 63 | 23317 | Maurice Parent Tyler Seaman |
2 | 0 | 1.62 | 0.25 | 1.37 | 0 | |
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| 64 | 23023 | Darren Keith Joshua Keith |
1 | 1.35 | 1.35 | 0 | 1.35 | 0 | |
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| 65 | 21649 | Bryan Ryals Braden Ryals |
1 | 1.25 | 1.25 | 0 | 1.25 | 0 | |
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| 66 | 22952 | Chris Tinsley Ryan Tinsley |
1 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 0 | 1.2 | 0 | |
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| 67 | 23462 | Joel Franks Jonathan Franks |
1 | 1.18 | 1.18 | 0 | 1.18 | 0 | |
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| 68 | 18496 | Bob Austin Jonathan Connor |
1 | 1.15 | 1.15 | 0 | 1.15 | 0 | |
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| 69 | 16578 | Ken Harris Hunter Harris |
1 | 1.08 | 1.08 | 0 | 1.08 | 0 | |
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| 70 | 23333 | Lucas Trotter Colton Trotter |
1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
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| 71 | 22969 | Bryan Stewart Sam Meeks |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
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| 72 | 21554 | Edward Looper Jr Lauren Kate Looper |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
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| 73 | 18003 | Edmond Brown Garrett Brown |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
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| 74 | 11488 | Steve Neal Dawson Busenbark |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
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| 75 | 17817 | Mike Sutherland Zachary Sutherland |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
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| 76 | 22517 | Keith Walley austin gunn |
3 | 0 | 3.25 | 3.25 | 0 | 0 | |
Costa Northern - Day 2 on Lake Erie Cancelled
July 27, 2018 by Colin Moore
Dangerous winds force tournament officials to call off second round for safety’s sake.
High winds that churned up the eastern basin of Lake Erie overnight and prompted a small craft advisory also forced cancellation of day two of the Costa FLW Series Northern Division tournament presented by Polaris. Sustained southwesterly winds of 14 mph and gusts up to 26 mph were forecast for Friday, making boating conditions untenable.
Tournament director Ron Lappin said current plans call for the tournament to continue Saturday morning with all of the 169 boatloads of pros and co-anglers fishing. That presumes the weather forecast will be better, and the heavy waters now topping five feet will subside.
“The forecast for Saturday isn’t much better,” says Lappin, “so we’ll have to wait and see. We can’t take chances. If we can fish – and we’re planning to fish now – the pairings will remain the same.”
On day one, Canadian angler Neil Farlow topped the field with five smallmouths that totaled 24 pounds, 4 ounces. Ben Wright of Peru, N.Y., was close behind with 24-3 and Charles Sim of Nepean, Ont., was third with 23-3. JT Kenney, 23-2 and J. Todd Tucker, 22-15, rounded out the top five. Forty-four limits weighing 20 pounds or more were caught in the opening round.
As it now stands, Saturday’s round will determine the final standings. Lappin said competitors would be notified later Friday regarding Saturday’s plans.
Farlow Leads Costa Northern Day 1 on Erie with over 24 pounds!
Courtesy of FLW Fishing
July 26, 2018
Lake Erie’s exceptional fishing was on full display in the opening round of the Costa FLW Series Northern Division tournament presented by Polaris and hosted by Buffalo Niagara Sports Commission. Forty-four limits weighing at least 20 pounds each were caught. Even co-anglers got in on the smallmouth bonanza, as nine of them brought back limits that totaled 20 pounds or better.
Though Neil Farlow of St. Catherines, Ontario, leads the 169 pros fishing the event with 24-4, there’s not much daylight between him and the rest of the top 50. Farlow is an ounce ahead of Ben Wright of Peru, N.Y., and a difference of 4 pounds, 4 ounces separates the Canadian from Bill Chapman of Salt Rock, W.Va., who’s in 44th place with 20 pounds.
Farlow didn’t provide many details about his day, except to say that he fished spots in Canada and the U.S. and culled a couple of times.
“I used drop-shot rigs and tubes, and tubes seemed to work better when the wind got up in the afternoon,” says Farlow, whose 6-6 smallmouth was the big fish of the day. “I’m running a Ranger 522D deep-V, so the wind wasn’t that big a problem for me. Tomorrow [Friday] I’m going to do what the wind let’s me do. Either I’m going to run my spots or stay longer on some and really fish them out.”
Farlow says mixed bottoms of rock and gravel or gravel and sand produced best for him. Perhaps even more critical is the timing of the bite. Many of the anglers with the 20-pound-plus sacks were in the first few flights and reported that the smallmouths started eating as soon as the anglers reached their first destinations. As the day progressed, however, the bite got slower.
Though the wind was manageable Thursday morning, it built during the day, and by late afternoon 6-foot waves could be seen crashing over the seawall that shelters the harbor from the wind’s main force. Stronger winds ranging to about 15 mph are predicted for Friday morning, which means some contestants with lengthy milk runs might have to shorten their daily itineraries.
Friday’s weigh-in at Safe Harbor Marina starts at 2 p.m. and involves all competitors. Saturday, the top 10 pros and co-anglers advance to the championship weigh-in at Cabela’s in Cheektowaga beginning at 3 p.m.
TOP 10 PROS
1. Neil Farlow – St. Catherines, Ontario – 24-4 (5)
2. Ben Wright – Peru, N.Y. – 24-3 (5)
3. Charles Sim – Nepean, Ontario – 23-3 (5)
4. JT Kenney – Palm Bay, Fla. – 23-2 (5)
5. J Todd Tucker – Moultrie, Ga. – 22-15 (5)
6. Austin Felix – Eden Prairie, Minn. – 22-12 (5)
7. Moo Bae – West Friendship, Md. – 22-8 (5)
8. Travis Manson – Conshohocken, Pa. – 22-6 (5)
9. Philip Jarabeck – Spout Spring, Va. – 22-5 (5)
10. Jason Kervin – Auburn, Maine – 22-3 (5)
10. TJ Lacey – Selwyn, Ontario – 22-3 (5)
Sportsman’s Warehouse Returns to Coon Rapids, Minnesota
Giveaways, Kid’s Fish Pond, Expert Demos, Doorbusters, and More Await at 3420 124th Ave. NW
Midvale, Utah – July 27, 2018 – To the delight of local outdoor enthusiasts, Sportsman’s Warehouse (NASDAQ:SPWH), www.sportsmanswarehouse.com, returns to Coon Rapids, Minnesota with a grand opening celebration August 2-4, 2018 at its new location in the Riverdale Commons Shopping Center located at 3420 124th Ave. NW in Coon Rapids. With product giveaways, prizes, demonstrations, samples, big discounts, kids’ activities, and more, it’s a fun event for the entire family.
“It has been nine years since we were in Coon Rapids,” states Joe Barbiero, Sportsman’s Warehouse (SW) Coon Rapids, Minnesota Store Manager. “We look forward to being part of this community again and are ready to provide our exceptional, down-home service, expertise and top-quality hunting, fishing, and camping merchandise to the local region and Minnesota.”
Opening in the Riverdale Commons Shopping Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, 8/2/18, customers can:
- Save big with doorbuster sales while supplies last, starting on Thursday August 2, 2018;
- Receive a free $20 SW gift card and hat if they are one of the first 200 families on Thursday August 2, 2018;
- Enjoy a free $20 gift card and hat if they are one of the first 50 families on Friday August 3, 2018 and Saturday August 4, 2018;
- Enter to win a Remington 870 pump shotgun ($349.99 value);
- Be part of the giveaway to win one of four, $500 SW gift cards;
- Have fun at the catch-and-release fish pond;
- Watch the Traeger Grills’ demo with samples from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. August 2, 2018; and
- Learn from the experts at Federal Ammo, Rapala, Leupold, St. Croix, JB’s Fish Sauce, Vortex Optics, and more!
Conveniently located on the way to all the major local lakes, store visitors will find an extensive selection of gear and over 60,000 items in enough room to fill over 933 school buses (42,000 square feet)! And with experienced, passionate and knowledgeable associates, customers will receive the best service possible to create a memorable outdoor experience.
“Our Coon Rapids store will introduce our brand to over two million hunters and anglers in Minnesota, offer new job opportunities and provide various instructional classes, expert presentations, special events, and more to the local community,” states Jon Barker, Sportsman’s Warehouse President and CEO.
For more details, call the Coon Rapids, Minnesota store directly at 651-502-7700.
About Sportsman’s Warehouse
Founded in 1986, Sportsman’s Warehouse now operates 91 stores in 23 states as the largest, outdoor specialty store based in the Western United States and Alaska. If you are an outdoor enthusiast, we ensure you will always find quality, brand-name hunting, fishing, camping, shooting, apparel, and footwear merchandise within a local and convenient shopping environment. And with everyday low prices, passionate, friendly and knowledgeable associates, and educational in-store seminars and events, you’ll enjoy a memorable outdoor experience. For more information, visit www.sportsmanswarehouse.com.
New Tackle Storage from ICAST - Perfect for the Boat or Kayak
Vance McCullough
Having the latest lures and hardware to make your day on the water a success is one thing. Keeping them close at hand and, yet, protected from harsh environmental effects is quite another.
Nowhere is the struggle more real than on a kayak where “dry” is a fantasy and space is at a premium. Sometimes it’s hard to even reach the things you need, which brings about a crisis when you really “need” them. Like, NOW.
Let’s look at some gear from the recent ICAST show that will travel well on the most spacious bass boat but is especially useful on small craft.
One thing that will keep those much-needed items within reach is well-placed TackleWebs mesh bag. Tackle Webs aren’t spanking new. In fact, they are time tested and proven on the most competitive tournament trails. But many paddle anglers are discovering the utility of these brilliantly simple add-ons.
You can wear your heart on your sleeve – or your TackleWebs. They can be printed with any full color logo of choice. Heroes on the Water, Bote and Kaku all proudly display their brand on the mesh tool and tackle holders that can be mounted practically anywhere your imagination wants to put one.
One of the best places to mount one is on your cooler – hence, CoolerWebs. These are perfect for paddle boards where the cooler often pulls duty as a seat, a poling platform, and a storage unit for food, drinks and gear.
TackleWebs help a small boat fish much bigger.
You’ll want to stuff those TackleWebs with TuffTainer boxes from Flambeau featuring Zerust technology. The secret is in the blue tabs that serve as dividers between compartments. They stop rust by emitting, “a harmless, invisible vapor in a contained area,” according to the folks at Flambeau.
If you believe an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, you’ll want to check out the waterproof boxes available from Flambeau. They’ll keep your tackle dry in the first place. Secure them in your TackleWebs so they can’t get away and you can rest assured your stuff is coming home with you, safe and dry, no matter how rough or wet it gets out there.
What about your bigger personal items? Change of clothes, dry towel, cameras, basic camping and first aid stuff – you’ll need a quality dry bag for that. Look at the EGO Kryptek Tactical 55L TPU Dry Duffle Bag. No, really, LOOK at it. Kryptek makes the coolest camo pattern on the planet. It’s the popular look that has been licensed to a lot of the big name clothing manufacturers we’ve become familiar with in recent years, but it was developed by Kryptek in the first place.
Founded by veterans who served our country in the Middle East, Kryptek not only keeps you looking good, but as with all of their hunting and fish clothes and bags, the EGO Dry Duffel is made of the most advanced materials and thoughtfully designed to perform beyond expectations.
According to the guys at Kryptek, “Bag seams are RF welded ensuring that no water can penetrate the body of the bag, so all of your gear will stay dry in the harshest elements. The TPU fabric is 5X more durable than previous dry bag fabric technology.”
On a side note, this writer’s favorite pair of pants – not just tactical pants but any long pants – are made by Kryptek. They offer room in all the right places and are reinforced at typical stress points. They’re super comfortable during cold days afield or on the water. In addition to the great fit, they just look cool.
IMPROVE YOUR FLIPPING AND PITCHING GAME
By David A. Brown
It’s as grassroots, heartland, traditional as bass fishing gets; flipping and pitching baits into cover with hopes of feeling something heavy clamped to the end of our line. No doubt, these techniques annually account for high percentage of the bass caught in non-offshore scenarios, but are you making the most of your opportunities?
For an insightful analysis, let’s look at these pointers from top-tier pros who make their living with a rod and reel.
Ambidextrous Approach: Toledo Bend guide Darold Gleason suggest learning to flip/pitch with right handed reels. Many anglers will present a bait with their right hand and then quickly pass the reel to their left hand to begin working/retrieving the bait. The problem here is that the potential for immediate bites can create awkward moments and lost opportunities.
Gleason foregoes the crossover movement by flipping/pitching with a righthand reel held in his left hand. It’s a cheaper option than buying righthand and lefthand reels, but more than that he points out that the ability to hit targets from any angle and quickly respond to his bites made this a skill worth developing.
“I know some people do that because it takes pressure off their arm and that’s fine; but for me, it helps me be more efficient,” Gleason said. “When I flip in, I’m immediately ready.”
Skirting the Issue:FLW Tour pro Joe Holland uses punch skirts for more than escorting baits through cover. He’ll often stack two or three skirts over a creature bait, trim the lower skirt(s) shorter for more bristly action. When the bait’s falling, the fish see the outer skirt color, which is typically a natural color like green pumpkin or brown. But when the bait hits bottom and that top skirt falls forward, the sudden flash of a brighter (orange, red, etc.) skirt flaring outward often triggers aggressive bites.
That Sinking Feeling:Two-time Bassmaster Classic champion Jordan Lee has a couple of rules for Texas rig weights: First peg the sinker with a bobber stop for a clean, accurate cast. Second, you won’t always need a big punch weight, but Lee warns against leaning too far in the opposite direction.
“I like a 5/16- to 3/8-ounce weight for most of my flipping,” he said. “That helps me be really efficient. If you go too light on your weight, it’s too hard to make an accurate cast.”
A Little to the Left:Bassmaster Elite Series pro Mike Iaconelli helped VMC design the Ike Approved hook series, which features a 3-degree offset for the flipping models. The benefit, he says, is a better hook-up percentage and better penetration, particularly with heavy-duty techniques 
like punching mats or flipping wood.
“You’re talking about heavy weights and heavy line, so when you set the hook, if that point is directly in-line with the eye, a lot of times, that big tungsten weight will blow your bait straight out of the fish’s mouth and you’ll never have a connection point,” Iaconelli said.
Prior to his VMC line, Iaconelli would grip the entire top edge of his hook and apply brief intervals of pressure to ease the hook into an offset form. You don’t want to bend the point or the barb, so use the entire surface of the hook when creating the offset.
Total Coverage:Do bass have their chase-it-down aggressive moments? Sure they do, but a lot more of their life follows the bring-it-to-me mode. Apply that to shallow bushes and flipping legend Denny Brauer’s keen on hitting all sides of the cover whenever possible. Basically, if he can get his boat around it, or at least angled for a backside presentation, he’ll paint the base of that cover until he either catches a fish or determines no one’s home.
Mind the balance between covering water to find fish and the amount of time you invest in each laydown or bush. However, when you encounter a really sweet spot — something with lots of structure, good depth, maybe some additional cover like vines or blow-in grass — give it more than a few flips before moving onward.
Consider how light and shadows create little hidey holes for fish. That bass may literally be two feet from where your bait falls, but if it’s outside the safe zone, no dice. Take time to hit all the angles and watch your catch rates increase.
TACKLE TALK
Let’s conclude with a few tips on tackle considerations.
Rod:Stout flipping sticks that feel more like broom handles have their place, but Elite pro Kevin VanDam says that’s not always the case.
“A lot of people like to flip with braided line and when you do, you need to use a rod that has more parabolic bend and has a softer tip,” he said. “Once you set the hook on a fish, because there’s no tension, you won’t tear a big hole in the fish’s mouth when it’s coming in.”
Reel:Noting the importance of proper wrist rotation for effective pitching presentations, Elite pro Gerald Swindle favors the smaller, lighter profile of Quantum’s Smoke baitcaster. The diminutive form, he says, fits better in his hand; a truth that means less fatigue and better control.
Line:Brauer helped Seaguar develop its Flippin Fluorocarbon and Flippin Braid because he knows there’s a time and place for both. Cover is Brauer’s main consideration, so he’ll in muddy water or matted vegetation, he knows he can get away with braid. In clear water and lighter cover, fluoro’s the way to go.
Also, when fish are pressured, the stealth element of fluorocarbon line can earn you a few more bites. Furthermore, VanDam believes the fish can feel the braid because it displaces water differently than fluorocarbon.
Consider also that fluorocarbon is less likely to pinch down into a tight spot in woody cover than the thin-diameter braid. You might have to sacrifice a little of the strength and sensitivity your braid provides, but most are okay with as tradeoff that yields more bites.
If braid’s your comfort zone, lessen the intrusion by darkening the last 6 feet or so with a black permanent marker. Gary Klein splits the tip of his marker with a razor blade and run his line between the sections for even marking.
Clearly, there’s more to this game than slinging baits back and forth. But when everyone’s using the same general techniques, the ones who excel are the ones who master the specifics.
B.A.S.S. Postpones Chesapeake Bay Elite Due To Unsafe Boating Conditions
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 26, 2018
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Due to recent heavy rainfall and increasingly dangerous water conditions, B.A.S.S. officials decided to postpone the Huk Bassmaster Elite at Upper Chesapeake Bay presented by Mossy Oak Fishing that was originally scheduled for July 26-29 out of Harford County, Md.
“Our number one priority is the safety of our anglers and anyone else who might be on the waters of the Upper Chesapeake Bay,” said B.A.S.S. Tournament Director Trip Weldon. “After consulting with authorities regarding increased water releases, debris and current hazardous conditions on tournament waters, B.A.S.S. is postponing this week's event.”
The tournament will likely be scheduled for later in the 2018 Bassmaster Elite Series season, which concludes with the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship in September.
Officials from B.A.S.S., event sponsors and local host organizations will be meeting in coming days to discuss options pertaining to rescheduled dates.
For more information, visit Bassmaster.com.
Matt Lee and Swindle talk bass, blue crabs, and shopping carts - Preview Upper Chesapeake Elite Event
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin / Dynamic Sponsorships
Alabama anglers Matt Lee and Gerald Swindle are facing the same flooded and muddy Upper Chesapeake Bay as 106 other Bassmaster Elite Series pros, but on the eve of competition, both offered an admirable attitude of perseverance, and a bit of humor too.
Q: What’s the strangest thing you’ve seen floating in the floodwaters this week?
Matt Lee:I made a few pitches at a PetSmart shopping cart.
Swindle:I saw a matching set of tires and rims, and you can bet I checked to see if they’d fit on my Toyota Tundra.
Q: What is one tip you can give fans at home for fishing high, muddy water?
Matt Lee:Look for places where strong current forms an eddy in shallow water to cast your lure.
Swindle:Make your mind like an Etch A Sketch, start with a clear screen in your head every day. Don’t get mentally rattled about how bad the conditions are. Just keep moving.
Q: Name three lures we can expect to see the Elite Series pros use a bunch this week?
Matt Lee:Spinnerbait, ChatterBait, and a Strike King Rage Cut-R worm.
Swindle:Green pumpkin Chatterbait, spinnerbait, and a black/blue Chatterbait.
Q: How much weight will an angler have to average each day to make the Top 12 cut on the final day here on the Upper Chesapeake?
Matt Lee:12.8 pounds per day
Swindle:11 pounds per day
Q: Have you eaten any of the Chesapeake Bay’s famous blue crabs this week?
Matt Lee:I have not, because my wife Abby is highly allergic to shellfish. But I love seafood, so maybe I can talk her into leaving a day earlier than me, and I’ll stay here and hammer down on some blue crabs.
Swindle:I have not, but Lulu made us some shrimp tacos the other night that were awesome!
T-H MARINE SECURES GLOBAL RIGHTS TO GRASS GOAT™
| Huntsville, AL – July 25, 2018 – T-H Marine Supplies, Inc., of Huntsville, Alabama, and R2 Marine Innovations, of Chester, Virginia, announce that they have entered into an agreement that grants T-H Marine exclusive global rights to manufacture and distribute the Grass Goat™ trolling motor weed guard. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
"We're excited to add the Grass Goat™ as yet another way we can help anglers get better performance from their trolling motor," T-H Marine’s president, Jeff Huntley, stated. "Weekend anglers and tournament anglers alike will love how the Grass Goat™ allows for easy and stealthy fishing through grass mats and other heavily-vegetated areas." The Grass Goat™ is equipped with a marine-grade starboard mounting plate and a 316 stainless steel cutting blade, which runs perpendicular to the trolling motor prop, allowing it to instantly shred away vegetation. The Grass Goat™ not only keeps a trolling motor clear of debris, it eats through vegetation like no other aftermarket trolling motor product and it is built for years of use under the toughest conditions. With the Grass Goat™ installed, anglers can quietly enter and navigate fishing spots with thick cover. "The Grass Goat™ is the perfect addition to our G-Force® product line," Huntley added. "We love how it complements the Troll Perfect™ Tension Adjustment System, the Eliminator™ Prop Nut, the Silencer™ Vibration Control Pad, the G-Force™ Trolling Motor Lift Cable, the Equalizer™ Lift Assist, the Troll-Tamer™ Stabilizer Lock, and the Bounce Buster Coaster™.” Like other G-Force® products, the Grass Goat™ installs in minutes with simple hand tools and it requires no modification to the trolling motor. Models will be available for both Minn Kota and MotorGuide trolling motors. To prepare for orders, T-H Marine has brought tooling and manufacturing of the Grass Goat™ to its facility in Huntsville, Alabama. With fabrication and assembly of the product already underway, Huntley added that T-H Marine is ready to take orders and products will be available at thmarine.com/GrassGoat. “We are thrilled to be adding even more great products to our catalog and continuing more organic product development, too," Huntley said. "Be sure to look for more product news and updates on availability in the coming weeks."
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ICAST - A Look Back with Vance McCullough
Vance McCullough
As usual, the big ICAST fishing industry trade show was interesting. From the ridiculous to the ‘why didn’t I think of that’ practical idea or improvement, there was a lot to take in.
Much of it is on its way to retailers now. Some of it so new you can’t get it yet.
If there were two main themes this year they would be: small. And BIG.
Small boats – kayaks bring a personal scale to fishing, getting many anglers off the bank at an accessible price point and putting them right down on the water, perhaps even more in touch with the environment that the fish live in.
As for lures, big fish enthusiasts have plenty to be enthused about this year. Read on.
For the most part, big fiberglass boat and outboard motor companies skip ICAST, preferring to show up at boat shows or the Forrest Wood Cup or Bassmaster Classic Outdoor Expo. So small craft ruled the ICAST show floor again this year - so much so that we will bring you an article dedicated to just the kayak and SUP buzz soon.
What we can say for now is that Jackson Kayak won Best Boat and/or Watercraft of the Show with their new 360 Angler, a catamaran style craft that gives “the convenience and stability of a big boat and the exploration possibilities of a kayak or canoe,” according to the folks at Jackson who further note that, “The hull system was designed specifically for tackle storage, including 4 hatches with access to the hulls for storage.”
The 360 Angler is big enough to walk around on, but everything is designed to be within easy reach of the ergonomic chair, perched rather high above a pedal drive system.
Frog lures were also a big story at ICAST. With so many mutations each year, what used to be an easily definable category now includes great variety. The current lineup of frog-like offerings resembles the bar scene in Star Wars with alien creatures alongside nearly correct facsimiles of Mother Nature’s own designs.
Again, with such a wide variety, we’ll have to bring you a separate report dedicated just to the frogs of ICAST in order to do justice to this lure segment.
One thing is clear – Teckle’s Sprinker Frog casts a big wake and many lure makers are swimming in it, trying latch on to the insanity that surrounded a lure that wasn’t ready to meet production demands when its popularity skyrocketed. Remember people buying them for $50 on eBay last year?
For this reason, more than any other, there are a lot of new frogs and similar weedless topwaters designed to be reeled straight in, relying on tail action to trigger strikes.
Teckle is staying a step ahead. They just introduced the Maracker, which they describe as a “super loud weedless wake bait”. It sports what looks like a polished nickel teardrop for a tail. No word on when or where you can buy it but there are a few cool videos of it on-line.
The quirkiest trend to show up at ICAST was the emergence of mechanized lures.
The eMinnow is a “unique motorized robotic fishing lure. The harmonics generated within the core attract the curiosity of predator fish. The tail moves in a pre-programmed irregular manner in order to reproduce swimming behavior of a real baitfish,” according to the eMinnow company literature.
The Animated Lure has a segmented body and is described by its creators as “a 5.25” robotic swimbait that is electronically programmed to mimic the life-like swim patterns of a real fish.” The company, also called Animated Lure, further explains, “Once fully submerged under water, 12 seconds will go by before it starts to swim on its own.”
Compared to robotic baits Jenko Fishing’s latest lure hack sounds tame, but the OffSpring Buzzbait is sure to drive bass wild. It features a spring protruding forward from the head so that the blade strikes it and produces “a sound unlike any other buzzbait on the market!”
Magnum walking plugs are coming into vogue.
Strike King leads the way with their new KVD Mega Dawg, a 6.5-inch version of the popular 4.5-inch KVD Sexy Dawg. I can’t be sure, but I think I saw a fisherman actually drooling over the big topwater.
Another big new walking stick is the 6thSense MagDog 150. The graphics are gorgeous, as we’ve come to expect from 6thSense. They break it down for us: “The MagDog 150 was designed for one simple thing – catching larger fish.”
6thSense must seriously want you to catch bigger bass. They have upgraded one of the best big fish baits of all time – the jig. Their Scrape Grass Jig proudly sports a stout 5/0 siwash braid-compatible hook and a screwlock trailer keeper. Leave the light tackle at home. These jigs come in 1 oz. and 1-3/8 oz. sizes because, as noted by the folks at 6thSense, they’re “Built for flipping the heaviest of grass cover or structure.”
For more open water duties, 6thSense offers the braid appropriate Divine Braid Swim Jig in 5/16 and 7/16 oz. weights with that siwash hook and screwlock keeper for keeping trailers pegged in the nasty stuff. You can start boat flipping bass with this swim jig when it hits the market in October.
Continuing with the theme of big bass-busting jigs, Fitzgerald Fishing brings us their Tungsten Swim Jig, which is smaller in size than lead jigs of the same weight, which, in turn, helps you catch bigger bass because, not only will it slip into tighter cover, but the smaller head won’t blow a fish’s mouth open on the hookset the way a larger lead head may. Other reasons Fitzgerald says you should fish this jig: “high quality hook, quality skirt, great colors, eco-friendly tungsten.”
If you’re truly committed to chasing the biggest bass wherever they live, then you need some ledge-busting gear. Big cranks, big worms and big spoons have been all the rage in recent years. Ready to meet the next big thing in offshore, school-exciting lures? SteelShad now offers the XXL Series. Weighing in at 2 ounces, the XXL’s look like large gizzard shad that swim in TVA impoundments or live wild shiners that produce trophy bass in Florida’s natural lakes.
Building on a decade of solid results with their 3/8 oz. model, SteelShad rolled out, not only the XXL Series but also a ¾ oz. option – the XL Series as well as the tiny new ¼ oz. Mini Series.
An improved version of the long-trusted blade bait style of lures, SteelShad thumps out some serious vibes without the rattle of lipless vibrating plugs. This makes for a great change up in areas where fish have seen all the conventional stuff. That’s often what it takes to fool bigger fish.
VanDam Catches a 15-pounder.............
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin / Dynamic Sponsorships
Kevin VanDam was the very last angler back to the boat ramp at the end of a brutally tough, rainy, high water, practice day on Tuesday at the Huk Bassmaster Elite at Upper Chesapeake Bay presented by Mossy Oak Fishing.
Fact is, with hints of a beard and wind blown hair, he even looked a bit like an old man of the sea here where the famed smallmouth waters of the Susquehanna River meet the Chesapeake Bay in America’s Mid Atlantic region.
But in typical VanDam fashion, his passion for fishing was still high, and the news he brought back to the dock was positive. Even on one of the more challenging days of his highly decorated career – VanDam still caught ‘em.
By his estimation, he set the hook 60 or 80 times, a bunch of them weighed 6 to 12 pounds. They bit swimbaits, Sexy Dawgs, and even topwater frogs.
His biggest fish of the day was a 15 pounder.
There’s only one problem … VanDam was talking about striped bass, not largemouth or smallmouth.
“When I saw them (striped bass) schooling, as tough as the bass fishing had been all day, I couldn’t stand not to take advantage of an opportunity to set the hook,” says the career long Quantum pro.
“Shaw Grigsby and I sat on that massive school of stripers and absolutely wore ‘em out, to the point they pretty much wrecked all three hooks on my Sexy Dawg (topwater lure),” he grinned.
Striped bass (Morone saxatilis) serve as the State Fish of Maryland, and travel between coastal saltwater to spawn in freshwater rivers like those that decorate the shorelines of this week’s Elite Series event at Havre de Grace, MD, barely northeast of Baltimore.
As for the bass fishing, it’s tougher than Cal “The Iron Man” Ripken Jr.’s record of 2,632 consecutive major league games played, despite nagging injuries that are an apparent part of 21 seasons as a major leaguer.
Nearly 12-inches of rain have fallen since the Elite Series pros started practice in the region where Oriole and Raven fans call home. South winds off the Atlantic are pushing against the muddy waters flowing hard from the north to debacle most all major creeks where largemouth bass reside.
“Bites are far and few between here. It’s super tough,” says VanDam, who waded through floodwaters to back his Tundra down the ramp Tuesday.
Bites are ‘far and few between’ unless you’re talking about striped bass, or as local anglers call them “rocks” or “rockfish” – both nicknames that seem highly fitting for a fishery as tough as the high and muddy Upper Chesapeake this week.
RICHMOND’S JACOBI WINS T-H MARINE FLW BFL SHENANDOAH DIVISION TOURNAMENT ON JAMES RIVER
Maryland’s Reid Takes Co-angler Title
HENRICO, Va. (July 23, 2018) – Boater Ben Jacobi of Richmond, Virginia, brought five bass to the scale Saturday weighing 19 pounds even to win the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Shenandoah Division tournament on the James River. For his win, Jacobi earned $4,009.
“It was basically the same thing I did last year,” said Jacobi, who also won the Shenandoah Division BFL tournament on the James River in 2017. “I stayed on the main river flipping hard cover and fishing creek mouths.I didn’t count out anything. Every spot I hit the fish were scattered around the cover, which was odd. They weren’t as shallow as I was anticipating. I had to fish my stuff from top to bottom to make sure I didn’t miss anything.
“I used an Arkie-head-style Hog Snatcher jig and creature baits,” continued Jacobi. “I always have some different stuff rigged up because the river seems to be in junk-fishing mode almost all year round. If they do bite a bait, it seems like I can go to other spots and they’ll bite it. They just have to tell you what they want that day.”
Jacobi, who also fished last weekend’s Piedmont Division tournament on the James River, went on to say that the fish were a bit lazier this time around.
“Last weekend I had several fish grab the bait at the boat,” said Jacobi. “I guess, with the lower pressure and the little bit of a cold front we had, they held tight to cover. I was kind of shocked at how much things changed from last week to this week.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Ben Jacobi, Richmond, Va., five bass, 19-0, $4,009
2nd: Keith Estes, Spring Grove, Va., five bass, 18-14, $2,205
3rd: Nick Disabatino, Oakton, Va., five bass, 17-5, $1,986
4th: John Duarte, Middle River, Md., five bass, 16-11, $935
5th: Bryan Elrod, Mechanicsvlle, Va., five bass, 15-5, $1,102
6th: Ryan Powroznik, Hopewell, Va., five bass, 14-12, $735
7th: Rick McFaul, Phoenix, Md., five bass, 14-9, $668
8th: Moo Bae, West Friendship, Md., five bass, 14-3, $601
9th: Robert Hinds Jr., South Prince George, Va., five bass, 13-13, $535
10th: Jason Holder, Powhatan, Va., five bass, 13-0, $468
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Disabatino brought an 8-pound, 1-ounce, bass to the scale – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division – and earned the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $550.
Damon Reid of Bowie, Maryland, won the Co-angler Division and $2,280 Saturday after catching a five-bass limit weighing 14 pounds, 1 ounce.
The top 10 co-anglers were:
1st: Damon Reid, Bowie, Md., five bass, 14-1, $2,280
2nd: David Deciucis, Chester, Va., five bass, 12-9, $1,002
3rd: Lenny Baird, Stafford, Va., five bass, 12-3, $868
4th: Christopher Atkins II, Goode, Va., five bass, 11-8, $468
5th: Cort Gardner, Jessup, Md., five bass, 11-7, $401
6th: Tevinn Rollins, Newport News, Va., five bass, 10-1, $418
7th: Micheal Sharp, Rixeyville, Va., five bass, 9-7, $334
8th: Lawrence Whitt, Newport News, Va., five bass, 8-11, $284
8th: Jamie Newton, Falls Church, Va., five bass, 8-11, $284
10th: Tony Toombs, Drakes Branch, Va., five bass, 8-7, $222
10th: Bill Naron, Beaverdam, Va., four bass, 8-7, $222
Reid also caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division weighing in at 7 pounds, 13 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $275.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 11-13 BFL Regional Championship on Chesapeake Bay in North East, Maryland. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard.
The 2018 BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. Top performers in the BFL can move up to the Costa FLW Series or even the FLW Tour.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
ADRIAN COLLEGE WINS YETI FLW COLLEGE FISHING NORTHERN CONFERENCE EVENT ON LAKE CAYUGA PRESENTED BY BASS PRO SHOPS
SENECA FALLS, N.Y. (July 23, 2018) – The Adrian College team of Myles Jackman of White Lake, Michigan, and Zachary Graham of Gallipolis, Ohio, won the YETI FLW College Fishing event on Lake Cayuga presented by Bass Pro Shops Saturday with five bass weighing 20 pounds, 2 ounces. The victory earned the Bulldogs’ bass club $2,400 and a slot in the 2019 FLW College Fishing National Championship.
The two anglers focused on a 75-yard stretch of docks on the eastern shoreline above the Interstate 90 bridge, specifically between the bridge and the lock system. Graham said there were bluegill beds in the area, near both the front and backs of the docks and between the docks along the seawalls.
“We started on the north end of the stretch and worked our way down,” said Graham, a junior majoring in Environmental Studies and Geology. “Myles primarily threw a frog on the grass mats and we ended up weighing two on it.
“I used the jig under the docks and the Zell Pop on the seawalls,” Graham continued. “I caught fish with the jig, but the topwaters got the big keeper bites. They were definitely the key to our success.”
Jackman’s frog was a white Strike King KVD Sexy Frog. Graham used a Booyah Boo jig with a green-pumpkin-colored Berkley Powerbait Chigger Craw and a hitch-colored XCalibur Zell Pop.
Jackman, a junior majoring in Environmental Science and Geology, said the duo had a limit by 7:15 a.m. before Graham culled out three fish in a row with the Zell Pop to put the Bulldogs up around 17 pounds by 8:30 a.m.
“After the culls we ran down the lake to a point on the east side that had big chunk rock going out into the lake,” said Graham. “There was a 20- to 30-yard trough between the rock and the grassline that we thought the fish would be holding in. I threw the jig in there and on my third cast I caught a 4½ -pounder. I culled out a small fish and that put us at 20 pounds.”
The top 10 teams that advanced to the 2019 College Fishing National Championship are:
1st: Adrian College – Myles Jackman, White Lake, Mich., and Zachary Graham, Gallipolis, Ohio, five bass, 20-2, $2,400
2nd: Virginia Tech University – Perry Marvin, Peru, N.Y., and Jeffery Cullop, Marion, Va., five bass, 18-0, $1,000
3rd: State University of New York-Cobleskill – Tristen Bauer, Port Leyden, N.Y., and Drew Tiano, Hudson, N.Y. five bass, 16-5, $500
4th: Adrian College – Ryan Sharnas, Davison, Mich., and Brandon Herzberg, Clark Lake, Mich., five bass, 16-4, $700
5th: University of Massachusetts-Amherst – Julian Burgoff, Amherst, N.Y., and Jon Hastings, Leominster, Mass., five bass, 15-10, $500
6th: Western Michigan University – Jared Havenaar, Kalamazoo, Mich., and Bo Thomas, Edwardsburg, Mich., five bass, 14-8
7th: Penn State University – Jason Zubris, Plains, Pa., and Josh Bowser, Slippery Rock, Pa., five bass, 14-2
8th: Penn State University – Derek Horner and Matthew Huggler, both of State College, Pa., five bass, 13-11
9th: Slippery Rock University – Nathan Quince, Imperial, Pa., and Samuel Jenesky, Pittsburgh, Pa., five bass, 13-8
10th: State University of New York-Buffalo – Anthony DeGregorio, Queensbury, N.Y., and Noah Weinstein, Jamestown, N.Y., five bass, 13-4
Complete results for the entire field can be found at FLWFishing.com.
The YETI FLW College Fishing event at Lake Cayuga presented by Bass Pro Shops was hosted by the Seneca County Chamber of Commerce, and was the second of three regular-season qualifying tournaments for Northern Conference anglers in 2018. The next YETI FLW College Fishing event takes place July 28, when Central Conference anglers compete at the YETI FLW College Fishing event at the Mississippi River presented by Costa Sunglasses in Wabasha, Minnesota.
YETI FLW College Fishing teams compete in three regular-season qualifying tournaments in one of five conferences – Central, Northern, Southern, Southeastern and Western. The top ten teams from each division’s three regular-season tournaments and the top 20 teams from the annual FLW College Fishing Open will advance to the 2019 FLW College Fishing National Championship. Additional teams will qualify for the National Championship if the field size in regular-season events exceeds 100 boats.
YETI FLW College Fishing is free to enter. All participants must be registered, full-time students at a college, university or community college and members of a college fishing club that is recognized by their school.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow YETI FLW College Fishing on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
Ranger Boats at White House for Made in America Product Showcase
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Iconic boat brand representing state of Arkansas as part of weeklong "Made in America Week"
FLIPPIN, Ark. (July 23, 2018) - Flippin, Arkansas-based Ranger Boats had the honor of representing the state of Arkansas at The White House this week. The event was part of President Trump's "Made in America Product Showcase" on Monday, July 23, highlighting each state's effort and commitment to American-made goods and products. The showcase featured a limited-edition Ranger Z521L ICON prominently displayed on the White House South Lawn.
"For the past 50 years, Ranger Boats has called Arkansas home," said Ranger Marketing Director Matt Raynor. "The people of Arkansas are a vital part of our company DNA. Ranger is committed to producing the highest quality American-made products and we do it right here in Flippin with dedicated, hardworking employees. We are honored to represent our great state and the people we call family, friends and neighbors."
 Along with the Z521L ICON, Ranger Boats ambassador and pro-angler Jimmy Houston was on site to help represent the iconic boat brand. Houston was joined by White River Marine Group officials and longtime Ranger dealer Brian and Chris Lancaster, of MARE Inc. - the Mid-Atlantic's Bass Boat Headquarters.
The event caps a weeklong "Made in America Week" to pay special tribute to those who work to produce American-made products such as Ranger Boats. President Trump will meet with each company's representatives to show his administration's "commitment to ensuring more products are made in America."
"It's a tremendous honor to have our 50th Anniversary Z521L ICON on display at the White House," added Raynor. "The boat reflects both our past 50-plus years of innovation in boat design and performance as well as the promising future of continued success and growth as the country's premier fiberglass and aluminum boat manufacturer."
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About Ranger Boats
Headquartered in Flippin, Ark., Ranger Boats is the nation's premier manufacturer of legendary fiberglass and aluminum fishing boats, with acclaimed models and series in the bass, multi-species, fish 'n play, saltwater, waterfowl utility and pontoon boat segments. Founded in 1968 by Forrest L. Wood, Ranger Boats continues its commitment to building the highest-quality, strongest-performing boats on the water. For more information, go to RangerBoats.com.
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Hard work and ice keep summer bass alive
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin / Dynamic Sponsorships
Not only did fishing teams from 78 universities take their “A game” to Lake Tenkiller for the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship last week – the brutal mid-summer Oklahoma heat showcased its most intense game face too.
Air temps sweltered around 104, water temps were well over 90, oak trees were dropping leaves in heat distress, and the Carhartt t-shirts worn by B.A.S.S. Director of Conservation, Gene Gilliland and the tournament staff were working overtime to wick away sweat behind the weigh-in stage.
Hot lake water is Gilliland’s worst nightmare. Because as we all learned in junior high school, hot water holds less oxygen than cold, and without hard work and a lot of ice, that can lead to dead tournament bass – a gut wrenching thought to not only all of us who love the sport, but likewise for Gilliland, who is an avid angler, and takes the successful preservation of tournament caught bass very seriously.
“Our goal is to keep the water in each 150 gallon dip tank backstage five to seven degrees cooler than the lake water. So at Tenkiller, that meant we had to keep adding ice until the water was about 80 degrees, and we constantly monitored water temperature and add ice to maintain that range,” says Gilliland.
Gilliland started each tournament day in Tahlequah with 1,000 pounds of ice stored backstage in a towable commercial icehouse. At a summer high school tournament on Kentucky Lake two years ago, he used 7,000 pounds of ice throughout the event.
Not only do water temps need to be cooled in the dip tanks teams hold their bagged fish in as they make their way to the stage, but water must also be cooled in the B.A.S.S. Live Release pontoon boat tanks used to transport tournament caught bass back to the lake for release after they’ve been weighed in. And each pontoon boat can haul 600 pounds of bass at a time.
Certainly Gilliland’s success rate in the preservation of bass during and after weigh-in increases if anglers work hard to take care of their catch throughout the tournament day, and that begins with proper livewell maintenance. He offers these six steps all of us can follow to be better caretakers of our summertime catch.
- Spend five or ten bucks for a swimming pool thermometer you can keep in your livewell in order to know if you’re maintaining a temp of five to seven degrees less than the lake temp. (Note: Keeping your water too cold is nearly as dangerous as letting it get too hot.)
- Fill up your livewells really early in the morning on “fill” or “fresh” mode.
- Switch quickly to “recirculate” mode, and begin adding ice until the temp is five to seven degrees less than the lake temp. Expect to add ice throughout the day to maintain the cooler temp.
- Be sure to run aerators on "manual" or full time rather than on a timer to help maximize oxygen replacement.
- Then, twice a day, flush out half the water in your livewells that’s sure to be contaminated by ammonia excreted from the bass swimming in your livewell water – and refill with fresh lake water.
- Finally, have plenty of extra ice onboard. Frozen plastic bottles full of ice floating inside your livewells can be a much more efficient than adding cubed ice.
Follow these steps, and you can proudly count on more than 95% of your bass being released alive after weigh-in, just like Gilliland and all the hard working folks on the B.A.S.S. tournament staff.
“We always donate the very few bass that don’t survive to local charity,” says Gilliland. “But lots of ice, the constant monitoring of holding tank temps, and hard work are the biggest keys to our success rate.”
INDIANA’S QUINLIN WINS T-H MARINE FLW BFL ILLINI DIVISION TOURNAMENT ON OHIO RIVER AT GOLCONDA
Arning and Brown Tie for Co-angler Title
GOLCONDA, Ill. (July 23, 2018) – Boater Mike Quinlin of Mooresville, Indiana, caught a five-bass limit weighing 11 pounds, 13 ounces, Saturday to win the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Illini Division tournament on the Ohio River at Golconda. Quinlin pocketed $6,255 for his win.
Quinlin said he fished close to takeoff in Lusk Creek, catching eight keepers throughout the day. He said he weighed his fish off of one lure – a Texas-rigged green-pumpkin-magic-colored Zoom Ultra Vibe Speed Craw with a ¼-ounce tungsten weight.
“I fished a half-mile stretch of shallow wood cover with laydowns and stumps,” said Quinlin, who notched his fourth win in BFL competition. “I pitched into 2 to 3 feet of water. The bite picked up in the late afternoon when the sun was high.”
Quinlin’s bait was rigged on 20-pound-test K9 fluorocarbon line and a 7-foot, 5-inch G. Loomis IMX heavy rod.
“I thought the winning limit would come from up near the Barkley Dam,” said Quinlin. “I had some good bites up there in practice, but I had some in Lusk as well. I decided to maximize my fishing time instead of spending three hours heading up through the lock and back. My decision to stay definitely paid off.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Mike Quinlin, Mooresville, Ind., five bass, 11-13, $4,255 + $2,000 Ranger Cup Bonus
2nd: Ryan Dunn, Harrisburg, Ill., five bass, 11-5, $2,028
3rd: William Walker, Mulkeytown, Ill., four bass, 11-3, $1,384
4th: Chad Diedrich, Nashville, Ill., four bass, 10-13, $760
5th: Cliff Pass, Lenzburg, Ill., five bass, 10-0, $651
6th: Darren Frazier, Anna, Ill., four bass, 9-5, $597
7th: Dan Shoraga, West Frankfort, Ill., five bass, 9-4, $743
8th: Greg Hirsch, Saint Jacob, Ill., five bass, 9-1, $488
9th: John Wright, Windsor, Ill., five bass, 8-12, $534
10th: Melvin Jeffords, Grantsburg, Ill., three bass, 8-8, $380
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Dunn brought a 6-pound, 8-ounce, bass to the scale – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division – and earned the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $400.
Aaron Arning of Walnut Hill, Illinois, and Jim Brown of Coulterville, Illinois, each caught 7 pounds, 11 ounces, of bass Saturday to tie for the win in the Co-angler Division. Brown earned $1,221 for his efforts, while Arning took home $1,321 after contingency bonuses.
The top 10 co-anglers were:
1st: Aaron Arning, Walnut Hill, Ill., three bass, 7-11, $1,321
1st: Jim Brown, Coulterville, Ill., four bass, 7-11, $1,221
3rd: Michael McKinley, Woodlawn, Ill., two bass, 7-9, $542
4th: Mario Rossi Jr., Granite City, Ill., three bass, 7-4, $430
5th: Amanda Black, Greenup, Ill., five bass, 6-11, $326
6th: William Richno, Raymond, Ill., two bass, 6-9, $298
7th: George Osha, Steger, Ill., two bass, 6-3, $271
8th: Doug Miller, Peoria, Ill., three bass, 5-8, $244
9th: Ross Genaro, Saint Louis, Mo., one bass, 5-5, $417
10th: Todd Blakeman, Chatham, Ill., three bass, 4-12, $190
Genaro caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division weighing in at 5 pounds, 5 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $200.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 25-27 BFL Regional Championship on Lake Chickamauga in Dayton, Tennessee. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard.
The 2018 BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. Top performers in the BFL can move up to the Costa FLW Series or even the FLW Tour.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
