Consistency Will Be Key Again In Quest For Alabama Bass Trail Angler Of Year Title
The Alabama Bass Trail's Southern Division 2014 Anglers of the Year Team are ready to defend their title, but they admit fishing in the division opener Saturday on Jordan Lake is going to be a tough challenge.
“It's kind of hit or miss right now,” said Robbie Robinson. “ We came up to the lake a couple of weeks ago and fished one day – and caught one fish. Then we came back one weekend and caught eight and we had five good ones that would have weighed 15 to 17 pounds. Today (Wednesday) we caught one fish.”
The problem, he said, is that the water temperature is hovering around 47-48 degrees and the bass are ganged up in big schools offshore.
“We have a cold front pushing through and that is going to change things,” he said. “It's supposed to be 21 to 24 degrees Saturday morning at blastoff. That will throw a wrench in the works. You might make three or four casts and the guides will freeze up on your rods.”
Robinson and Jeston Anderson, both of Mobile, Ala., teamed up for the first time last year to win the Southern Division points. While he and Anderson so far have not developed a sure-fire strategy for the opener, Robinson said somebody will catch fish Saturday.
“We've got two more days to practice, so hopefully, we can figure something out,” he said.
The new collaboration between Robinson and Anderson last year resulted in a string of steady finishes, with a season high fourth place finish at the ABT Championship in October at Lewis Smith Lake, and a trip to the Bassmaster Team Championships at DeGray Lake in Arkansas.
“We tried to stay consistent and we did decent in a couple of tournaments,” Robinson said. “We did nothing fancy, everything just worked out.”
Anderson said they are ready to defend their title and this year they want to move up one spot higher in the overall standings and claim the overall Alabama Bass Trail Angler of the Year title.
It won't take a first place finish Saturday to start on that goal, just a consistent day on the water. Nothing fancy required.
Alabama Bass Trail - South Division
Sat, Feb 14, 2015
Jordan Lake - AL
Bonner's Landing
Call Kay Donaldson 855-934-7425
Terry 'Big Show' Scroggins, Bernie Schultz weigh-in after town hall meeting on future of Rodman Reservoir
"I've held more than a couple of town hall meetings before and rarely have I seen so many pick up trucks waiting in the parking lot for me to get done," joked Jacksonville's Daniel Davis. "I know I'm not the most popular person in the room." His good humor was enjoyed even by those opposed to him in an emotional meeting. Several members of Save Rodman Reservoir addressed Davis during this meeting in Palatka, Fla. regarding the proposed breaching of the Kirkpatrick Dam which forms Rodman Reservoir. Bassmaster Elite Series Pros Bernie Schultz and Terry Scroggins sumarize their impressions of the situation and what went on at the meeting. Peter Thliveros and Glenn Browne were among the cadre of professional anglers in attendance.
Long story short, a group of Jacksonville politicians made a deal with a 5-member extreme enviro-political group to appeal to the Army Corps of Engineers to bust the dam. The tradeoff is that the River Keepers will refrain from filing law suits that would delay the dredging needed to deepen JaxPort - 60 miles and 2 counties away from Rodman Reservoir.
Texas Team Trail Presented By Cabela's Heads To Toledo Bend
The Texas Team Trail (TXTT) presented by Cabela's will host its second regular-season event of the 2015 tournament season on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Toledo Bend Reservoir.The fishery straddles the Texas/Louisiana border and is one of the world's premier bass fishing destinations.
Registration for the event is already underway - anglers can secure an opportunity to pre-fish Friday, Feb. 20, by completing their registration online or via phone prior to midnight on Thursday, Feb. 19. Additionally, all anglers that pre-register online at www.texasteamtrail.com will be entered into a drawing for a $100 Cabela's gift card.
The Toledo Bend event is the second regular-season event of four 2015 qualifying events that guarantee a fully rigged, 18-foot boat, motor, trailer package as first-place prize. The winning anglers at Toledo Bend will walk away with a brand-new Triton 189 TRX powered by a Mercury 150 outboard, valued at $28,495.
In addition to the payout, the event offers anglers an unprecedented opportunity in terms of sponsor bonuses and television coverage. The budget-friendly $250 entry fee, plus multiple contingency programs and a guaranteed, over-100% payback at every event provides tremendous value to the weekend angler.
On-site registration is set for Friday, Feb. 20, from 4-6 p.m. at Cypress Bend Park (3462 Cypress Bend Dr., Many, LA 71449). At least one team member must attend, as boat numbers will be assigned during this time. The tournament will launch Saturday, Feb. 21, at safe light with the weigh-in set to start at 3 p.m.
Anglers with questions or anyone interested in more details on the event are encouraged to visit www.texasteamtrail.com or call 210-281-1752 or 210-788-4143.
Texas Team Trail events are made possible through the sponsorship and continued support of these well-respected brands: Cabela's, Ranger Boats, Lucas Oil, Evinrude, RAM, Mercury, Minn Kota, Triton Boats, Power-Pole, Amphibia, Arctic Ice, Stratos Boats, Lowrance, Navionics, Protect the Harvest, General Tire, SuperClean, Mustang Survival, iON Cameras, Garmin, Valley Fashions and Powertex Group.
2015 TXTT scheduled events:
February 21 - Toledo Bend
March 28 - Lake Ray Roberts
April 25 - Lake Texoma
Championship - June 13-14 - Lake Palestine
Justin Bach wins the Lake Norman Pro Tournament this past Sat-Full results here!
Here are the results of the (Lake Norman Pro Tournament)
Team B&S Outdoors Lake Norman Pro Results
1. Justin Bach-5 Fish-11.00lbs
2. Josh Cannon-5 Fish-10.80lbs
3, Simon Patterson & Curtis Lail-5 Fish- 9.05lbs
4. Mark Potter-4 Fish- 5.20lbs
5. Robbie Stamey & Jake Baker-1 Fish- 3.75lbs
6. Bill & Billy Willoughbly-1 Fish- 2.10lbs
7. Keith Wood-0 Fish-
Big Fish Winner= Robbie Stamey 3.75lbs
Justin Bach weighing in on Sat!
Greene Boat And Motor Open House This Sat 9A-3P
Anglers Choice Marine-Spindale (Formally Greene Boat and Motor) Open House will take place tomorrow (Sat) in Spindale 9A-3p and with some of the best anglers in the region coming by. Come out to see Marty Stone, John Crews, Ben Parker, and Guy Eaker!!Rick Pierce, President of Bass Cat Boats, will also be here for this event. Free Hot Dogs for all as well as some of the best Nitro, Bass Cat, and Tracker Boats around, all at great prices!! Now that Greene has partnered with Anglers Choice Marine, the selection and product choices have never been better. Come on out to Spindale and join in the fun! Here is a sample of some of the great boats that will be on display:
Bass Cat Pantera II
Triton 19XS
Tracker Pro Team 175TF
Nitro Z-8
The power of the A-Rig this coming weekend, with SW Pro Anthony Gagliardi
Sportsman's Warehouse Pro Anthony Gagliardi breaks down why the A-Rig could be such a huge weapon this weekend not only at Murray but accross the entire region!!
To Spot Or Not In The Bassmaster Classic On Lake Hartwell, That Is The Question
Bassmaster Elite Series Pro Stephen Browning
When Alton Jones won the 2008 Bassmaster Classic on Lake Hartwell, spotted or Alabama bass were mostly brought to the weigh-ins as limit fillers. Anglers tried to catch a couple of quality largemouths and then pad their limit with decent fish, so a lot of 2- to 3-pound spots and largemouths were weighed in.
That scenario is expected to change drastically in the 2015 Bassmaster Classic on Lake Hartwell Feb. 20-22. In the seven years since the last Classic on the upstate South Carolina/Georgia reservoir, the spotted bass – now called Alabama bass by biologists – have grown up.
“Three- and 4-pound-plus fish are not uncommon in Lake Hartwell now,” said Dan Rankin, S.C. Department of Natural Resources regional fisheries biologist who noted that netting surveys indicate so far that the Alabama bass have not begun to displace largemouth bass like they appear to have in Lakes Russell and Keowee.
Jones averaged just under 3 1/2 pounds per bass in his three-day catch in 2008, so landing spotted bass that size will be well worth going after, said veteran Bassmaster Elite pro Stephen Browning, who will be competing in his 10th Classic.
“I think you are going to see a mixture of bass. The spots on Lake Hartwell are big enough to definitely be the type of fish you need to fill a limit, even possibly catch a limit,” Browning said. “I don't think anybody will come in with a limit of spots over 20 pounds, but a limit at 17 or 18 pounds would not surprise me. I would certainly take a couple of those days.”
The Hot Springs, Ark., pro added that tournament reports from Lake Hartwell indicate spotted bass have played a prominent role recently.
“Guys in some FLW Outdoors tournaments over there have caught some really nice spotted bass, including some 4-pounders. You know, a 4-pound spot weighs the same as a 4-pound largemouth, so I will take either one of them.”
FLW Tour pro Brandon Cobb of Greenwood, S.C., who has won tournaments on Lake Hartwell, said there are plenty of both species in the offshore schools. There are plenty of largemouths out deep with the spotted bass and both species will be chasing bait, primarily blueback herring, he said.
“If you can find the herring that is the key,” Cobb said. “The bass are kind of mixed together. It is predominately spots, but there are a bunch of solid 3 1/2- to 4-pound largemouths mixed in with the spots.”
Browning is hoping to cash in on a combination of both species and have a better showing in the 2015 Classic than he has had in the others he fished in. He finished 37th in the 2008 Classic on Hartwell and last year he finished 54th in the Classic on Lake Guntersville. His best finish was 7th in the 1997 Classic on Alabama's Logan Martin Lake.
“For some reason my best Classic was my first Classic,” Browning said. “Now it's time to right the ship and get things going in a better direction.”
That will mean he has to fish smarter on Lake Hartwell than he has in other Classics, he said.
“”I'll have to fish like I like to fish, just get in certain areas and grind them out. I am not worried about getting a ton of bites each day. I think if I can muster seven or eight good bites a day that is the type to fish for,” he said.
“The Classic is winner-take-all. It's all about the guy who maximizes the weight and those 3-pound-plus fish are the type of fish you need to win.”
And it does not matter one bit whether they are largemouths or spotted bass, he added.
2015 Bassmaster Classic
Feb. 20-22, 2015
Lake Hartwell
Launch: Green Pond Landing, near Anderson, S.C.
Weigh-In: Bon Secours Wellness Arena, Greenville, S.C.
Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo: TD Convention Center in Greenville
Big Turnout Expected For Carolinas Bass Challenge Sc Division Opener On Lake Murray
Thomas Hardwick and Tommy William won the 2014 tournament on Murray with 23.67lbs
With more than 110 teams already signed by the first of the week, Brett Collins is looking for an outstanding first tournament of the year for the South Carolina Division of the Carolinas Bass Challenge Saturday on Lake Murray.
“We should have between 175 and 200 boats,” said Collins, founder and tournament director for the CBC, which operates a full tournament schedule in South Carolina and North Carolina, with outstanding payback and rewards.
First place in every CBC tournament is guaranteed a minimum of $8,000, more depending on the number of entries, Collins said. The big fish winner in each tournament earns a check for $1,000 and there is a $5,000 Skeeter Bonus for each tournament for registered owners of Skeeter Boats.
“The Skeeter Bonus is split three ways, $2,500 for the highest finishing Skeeter, $1,500 for the second highest finishing Skeeter and $1,000 for the third highest finishing Skeeter,” Collins said.
Skeeter Boats, Yamaha Outboards, Foothills Marine Center in Morganton, N.C., Marshall's Marine Center in Lake City, S.C., and Palmetto Marine Center in Greenville, S.C., teamed up to support the 2015 Carolinas Bass Challenge.
The top teams of the 2015 South Carolina and North Carolina State Championships will both win a Skeeter TZX190/150 with a Yamaha 150. A ZX200/200 Yamaha SHO will be awarded to the winning team in the 2014 CBC Classic.
The big payouts in both the state qualifying tournaments, the state championships and the CBC Classic are drawing a lot of attention from anglers all over, Collins said.
“We have a lot of teams signed up from Georgia and others from West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina and even Ohio,” he said.
The South Carolina schedule includes: Feb. 7, Lake Murray, Dreher Island State Park; March 7, Lake Wateree, Clearwater Cove Marina; April 11, Santee Cooper, John C Land Landing; May 30, Lake Hartwell, Portmans Marina; June 13, Clarks Hill Lake (Double Points), Wildwood Park; Sept. 19, 2015 SC Championship, Santee Cooper, John C Land Landing; Oct. 23-24, 2015 CBC Classic, Clarks Hill Lake, Wildwood Park.
As for the opening tournament on Lake Murray Saturday, Collins said the fishing should be very good.
“Fishing has been great for some,” he noted. “The last couple of weeks there have been tournaments won with 25 pounds, so I expect we will have several bags over 20 pounds this weekend.”
Collins said the water level is stable, which is a must for Lake Murray, and the weather is expected to be very good for the tournament.
“The fish seem to be in the 8- to 12-foot range and crankbaits and jigs have been working very well,” he said.
Carolinas Bass Challenge - South Carolina Division
Sat, Feb 7, 2015
Lake Murray
Dreher Island State Park
Call Brett Collins 803-413-7521
www.carolinasbasschallenge.com
Big Bass Hungry For Rat-L-Traps Just In Time For Guntersville Rat-L-Trap Open
There is good news and then there is more good news for the Rat-L-Trap Open on Lake Guntersville this Sunday.
The first good news is that the bigger fish have started to bite in Guntersville, and the top lure for the big bass is – you guessed it! – the Rat-L-Trap.
The second good news is that anglers can launch wherever they want to on the lake and they can trailer their fish to the weigh-in.
The third good news is that the weather is expected to be outstanding for the tournament.
“The last couple of weeks the bigger fish have started to bite,” said tournament director Jamie Shay at The Bait, Tackle and Grill at Goose Pond where the weigh-in will be held. “Nobody is really wearing them out yet as far as catching big numbers, but 7- and 8-pound bass are starting to show up regularly the last few weeks.”
Those bigger fish are being caught on Rat-L-Traps, Shay said.
“The Trap bite has been producing the bigger fish. The guys fishing the last couple of weeks, including myself, we are using the Rat-L-Trap to get those fish. We are not catching 20 to 30 fish, but you get 5 to 10 fish and they are in that 3- to 8- or 9-pound range. When you get bit it is a good fish and the Trap is producing that bite.”
Shay said bitter winter weather for the Guntersville Rat-L-Trap Open the last few years has brought a change in rules this year to allow anglers to launch anywhere they want to and trailer their boat and fish to the weigh-in.
“Last year it was 15 degrees when we started. Boats were frozen to their trailers. Trying to get everybody in the water in the same area made it a two-hour blast-off. This year we won't have all that,” he said.
But anglers won't even have to contend with that winter weather for the Open on Guntersville this year, he noted.
“It's supposed to be around 35 to 40 degrees for a low and it will be pushing 50 degrees both days this weekend, beautiful for what we have had to deal with normally this time of year,” he said.
“I just want to wish good luck to everyone. It should be a fun weekend and we can enjoy a 50-degree day in February.
Entry fee for the 4th annual Rat-L-Trap Open on Guntersville is $100 per boat with an optional $20 Big Bass pot. Payback is one in five. All current Bill Lewis Outdoors lures are eligible.
There will be a mandatory meeting at 6 p.m. Saturday at Guntersville Middle School Gym. On-site registration will be held 4-6 p.m. Saturday at the Gym or starting at 5 a.m. Sunday at Civitan Park.
Rat-L-Trap Open
Sun, Feb 8, 2015
Lake Guntersville
Civitan Park Ramp
Weekend Preview With Ac Pro Staffer Rob Digh
AC Pro Staffer Rob Digh joins us to preview one of the BIG WEEKENDS of this early season.............CBC on Murray, the Rat-L-Trap Open on Guntersville, plus much more right here!
Classic Competitor Brandon Lester Will Use Rods He Built Himself With Winn Grips
What will he use? Among other things, 3 rods that he built himself. With a world of materials to choose from, Lester picked Winn Grips for the handles.
“It seems that, ever since the beginning of time, fishermen have used grips made from cork or EVA foam,” said Lester. “Now it’s 2015 and it’s time for something new. Winn grips put control in the angler’s hands and relieve fatigue. Their tacky feel is unlike anything fishermen have had before and they get even tackier when the weather is cold and wet. It is exciting to be on the cutting edge.”
Winn Grips, known worldwide for its high-tech golf grips, introduced its first full line of fishing grips from the patented WinnDry polymer last year during its industry bow at China Fish.
Lester has joined the pro staff team of the Huntington Beach, California company and made his debut for his new sponsor at the Bassmaster Southern Open on Lake Tohopekaliga earlier this month.
“I am looking forward to this opportunity,” said Lester.
“We are very pleased to work with a talented professional angler like Brandon Lester,” said Dr. Ben Huang, Winn Grips Founder and CEO. “That he is a student of fishing and makes his own rods will help us all the more and make fishermen aware of the advantages our ‘space age’ grips bring to their sport.
T-H Marine renews with FLW
ABA signs LEER to Sponsor Big Bass and 'Leer Cover Cash'
(Athens, AL) -- ABA announced today the addition of the LEER “Cover Cash” contingency program, and LEER will sponsor a big bass award too of $500 at all 100% Plus Team Tour events. LEER manufactures the best in class truck caps and tonneau covers to provide anglers with dry and secure storage for all their gear.
The LEER “Cover Cash” program pays highest finishing qualified anglers who purchase a LEER truck cap and tonneau covers at qualifying bass tournament events. LEER has also made it easy for anglers to save money on their initial purchase of a new truck cap or tonneau cover by making exclusive angler coupons available. Simply carry the coupon into your local LEER dealer, save money up-front, and then get ready to win additional funds when you do well in supported tournaments – but you have to sign-up either on line at LeerCoverCash.com, or by calling (918) 742-6424
100% Plus Team Tour LEER Cover Cash Payout
• $150 – Highest placing eligible angler
• $150 – 2nd Highest placing eligible angler
Ray Scott Championship
• $250 – Highest placing eligible angler
• $150 – 2nd Highest placing eligible angler
The LEER “Cover Cash” program will sponsor a guaranteed $500 for big bass at all 10 team tour events for 2015.
“LEER is the leader in truck caps and tonneaus and they have been a great supporter of the weekend bass angler”, said David Hagood, American Bass Anglers, Inc. “Not only does LEER make the best-in-class, they offer special program coupons and the contingency money at bass tournaments that anglers are looking for. We are proud to have LEER as the official Truck Cap on the 100% Plus Team Tour and the sponsor of big bass award at each event”.
LEER will have a presence at each 2015 team tour event with LEER Pro Staff showing the latest LEER truck caps and talking to anglers about the LEER “Cover Cash” program.
About the Tour: The 100% Plus Team Tour is a new era in Team Bass Tournaments with a 100% plus payout at every event. With a full field of 200 teams, events will payout $60,000 in cash and prizes. First place at each event will be a new 2015 Triton Boat with a Mercury Outboard, MotorGuide Trolling Motor fully rigged with sponsor product valued at over 20,000 and is guaranteed.
The 100% Plus Team Tour will offer 2 divisions for 2015, one located in North Alabama and the other in Tennessee/Kentucky. The North Alabama division will hold 5 events to be held on Guntersville and Wheeler Lake. The Tennessee/Kentucky division will hold 5 events to be held on Kentucky Lake out of Paris Tennessee and Old Hickory Lake out of Hendersonville Tennessee.
About American Bass Anglers: The ABA’s commitment is to provide low cost, close to home tournaments for the weekend angler and at the same time offer each competitor an upward path for individual angler progression. American Bass Anglers, Inc. is supported by Triton Boats, Mercury Outboards, Royal Purple Lubricants, Carlisle Tires, Odyssey Batteries, Berkley, Abu Garcia, T-H Marine, Livingston Lures, Best Western Hotels, Dolphinite, Wicked Pissah Lures, Maui Jim, Power Pole, Dr. Dan's, Navionics, Garmin, and North American Fishing Club.
Leer Cover Cash Logo - https://anglerschannel.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/covercash-logo.jpg
ABA Logo - http://www.americanbassanglers.com/images/ABA_Logo.jpg
Big Weekend Coming Up For Tournaments In The Region!!
The Rat-L-Trap Open on Guntersville kicks off Sat as well and that should be more than a litte interesting. Low 20's winning down there lately and it should also take 25+ to win on the big G. Finally, we have the Lake Norman Pro #1 on Sat and that is intersting from the standpoint that the fishing on Norman has NEVER BEEN BETTER. It's been taking 20+ to win up there, and 16+ to cut a check. Really??? Holy cow things have changed on that lake the past 5 years!! We look fwd to covering some of these events and look fwd to a great 2015 season. Good luck to all and be safe on the water!! Here is a video link with CBC Director Brett Collins:
No Sheetz!
Some IMPORTANT numbers from Kumar and Keep America Fishing:
NC: Worst ethanol ever coming.
> Convenience store chain Sheetz announced on January 21 that it would offer E15 fuel - gas containing up to 15% ethanol - at 60 of their North Carolina locations beginning in early 2015.
Just say no to Sheetz.
From cradle to grave, corn ethanol is more polluting than gasoline by 33%, according to recent research by the EPA.
- From a KeepAmericaFishing.org post. More:
> ...5 gallons of water are needed to refine 1 gallon of gasoline compared to 170 gallons needed for one gallon of E10. [This is nuts!]
#ethanolsux
Rayovac FLW Series on Amistad will test anglers
Rayovac FLW Series anglers planning to fish the lake in a couple of weeks have their shoulders set for a heavy task - and some light bags.
With much of the lake's productive structure high and dry, big schools of bass are suspended. Anglers who dial-in the suspended bite have a shot at catching some big female bass.
The wild card is hydrilla. Word is, the Rat-L-Trap bite is strong in the grass. If an angler can catch bigger-than-average fish from hydrilla, he may exceed 40 pounds in total weight over 3 days - an aggregate that expert say will likely win this grind fest.
Here's the official press release from FLW:
Scott Ashmore signs deal with Ferguson, hosts fishing trips to Bienville Plantation
Ferguson is partnering with Scott Ashmore, Bassmaster Elite Series Contender and 2014 Major League Fishing Selects Survival Round Winner, continuing their long-standing relationship with the professional angler.
As part of the partnership, Scott attends several Ferguson Rewards bass fishing events at Bienville Plantation in White Springs, Fla. Ferguson customers, associates and vendors have the opportunity to fish alongside Scott during the event, which takes place six times each year.
"Scott's tenacity as a professional angler resonates with both our associates and our customers," said Ferguson's National Counter Alignment Manager Jeff Puckette. "His humility, strong values and genuine personality parallel with our brand, making him ideal to represent our organization."
"My partnership with Ferguson has allowed me to do what I love each day and has given me a way to touch thousands of people through the events I'm able to attend with the company, such as their Bienville Plantation rewards trips," said Scott Ashmore. "I look forward to my partnership with Ferguson each year, and I consider myself lucky to work alongside such a great company."
Fishing fans can tune in to the Outdoor Channel now through March to watch Scott Ashmore, 2014 Major League Fishing Selects Survival Round Winner, and 23 other anglers compete for the 2015 title.
Ferguson chose to sponsor Scott Ashmore because he aligns with their trade customer base. This is the company's fourth year partnering with Scott Ashmore.
Cbc Kicks Off 2015 At Lake Murray This Sat-Full Preview With Director Brett Collins Right Here!
CBC Tournament director Brett Collins joins us to talk about kicking off their 4th season down on Lake Murray this coming Sat.....get ready for some sacks as its taken 25+ Lbs lately to win on this 50,000+ acre fishery!!
Massive Lake Hartwell Presents Challenges, Opportunities For Classic Anglers
Serving as a border between Georgia and South Carolina, the lake has 56,000 surface acres and 962 miles of shoreline. That makes it one of the Southeast’s largest and most popular fishing destinations.
“It’s a lot bigger than I remember it being when we were there for the Classic that Alton Jones won (in 2008),†said Aaron Martens, who will be making his 16th career Classic appearance. “I don’t think I even saw half of the lake back then. It’s got a lot of acreage, and the amount of fishable water in that acreage is pretty large.â€
The size of the lake combined with its diverse structure could make it hard for anglers to form a solid game plan that’s likely to withstand three days of the area’s often-erratic winter weather. The lake has everything from long, sloping points and underwater islands to standing timber, rocky banks, man-made brushpiles and deep underwater channels.
“There’s so much to look at – a little bit of everything, everywhere,†Martens said. “You can catch them shallow to deep. You have to be ready for it all, but that’s what we do. I think the fish will bite. But depending on the weather, it could be hard to present certain techniques to them.â€
Along with diverse structure, Hartwell has two species of black bass that could both be helpful to anglers. First, there are the largemouth that have been the staple of most tournaments on Hartwell for decades. Then there’s the spotted bass that have steadily increased in size the past four or five years since making their way downstream from Lake Keowee, where they were introduced more than a decade ago.
Classic competitor Casey Ashley, who lives just 35 minutes from Lake Hartwell in Donalds, S.C., believes spots could play a major role in the outcome of the tournament.
“It could possibly be won off spots,†said Ashley, who won an FLW Tour event on Hartwell in March 2014. “The 3- to 5-pound spots are there, and there are a lot of them. I’ve just now gotten to where I’ll actually target spots. I wouldn’t in the past because for years, you just couldn’t win with spots. That’s just not the case anymore.â€
Elite Series pro Stephen Browning of Arkansas, who will be appearing in his 10th Classic, isn’t sure the event can be won with spotted bass. But he believes they could make for an excellent “Plan B†if the largemouth prove too stubborn.
“Personally, with the exception of the Coosa River (in Alabama), I’ve never seen a lake where a guy can win a multiday tournament exclusively on spotted bass,†Browning said. “But mixing five or six of them in with largemouth may help you survive. I feel like if a guy gets to struggling, those will definitely be the fish to turn to.â€
Those anglers and the rest of the field will be aiming to do more than survive — they’re gunning for the $300,000 winner’s prize and the almost instant fame and fortune that go with winning.
Weigh-ins will be held daily at the Bon Secours Wellness Center Arena in downtown Greenville, with the winner to be crowned there Sunday afternoon, Feb. 22.
Plenty of activities are available to fishing fans prior to the weigh-ins. For those willing to brave the morning chill, the Green Pond Landing at Anderson, S.C., provides a fan-friendly setting for watching the pros take off each morning. And one of the country’s largest consumer fishing shows, the Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods, will be open all three competitions days. All three venues are free admission.
The local host for the 2015 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro are VisitGreenvileSC, Visit Anderson, Greenville County, Anderson County and the state of South Carolina.
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), television show (The Bassmasters on ESPN2), social media programs and events. For more than 45 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series presented by Allstate, Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation events, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series, Bassmaster High School Series, Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by Diet Mountain Dew and GoPro
Inside The 1St Ttt Win On Sam Rayburn
Approximately one month ago, Rambo and Clark found a mid-lake staging area that was loaded with prespawn bass. The spot was special because it had both numbers and big fish, and it would continually replenish.
"We've been sitting on this one spot," said the 38-year-old Rambo. "We knew it was good because the fish we've been catching are white and pale. That told us they were coming and it has just kept reloading."
As boat No. 103 this morning, the two were worried somebody else would arrive there first. To their surprise, nobody was on it and the early bite was as good as they anticipated.
"We had a limit first thing this morning," recalled Rambo. "Rusty caught a 5-pounder and a little bit later I picked up an A-rig and caught a 7-pounder. At 8:30 the bite slowed a little and then we'd catch a good one every half hour or so. At about 1:30 we had a 7, two 6's, a 5 and a 3 1/2-pounder. Right then Rusty caught another 5-pounder on a Carolina rig and we were done."
Rambo said he and Clark caught approximately 40 keepers total and it was almost an even split between the Carolina rig and the Alabama rig. More specifically, the Alabama rig was a Yumbrella Flash Mob Jr. and behind it ran Zoom Swimmin Flukes. The Carolina rig was used with standard Flukes. Both had 25-pound test Sunline Structure fluorocarbon tied on and were fished in water 14 to 16 feet deep.
"It was a classic staging deal. It wasn't the baits so much as the area. We were just on top of the fish," added Rambo.
This is Rambo and Clark's seventh season fishing together as a team. They've claimed several tournaments and Angler of the Year titles in the area, but they said winning on Rayburn is always special.
"Man, it's hard to win here. There are so many good anglers and teams. There are easily 20 teams that could have come in with 30 pounds today. We knew were around fish, but it's pretty exciting to put it all together and win."
In addition to thanking their sponsors, Rambo and Clark wanted to extend sincere gratitude to their wives.
"They are really our biggest supporters."
Penney and Fowler take second
Chad Penney and Skeeter Fowler sacked a 26.65-pound limit to finish the opener in second place. The two earned $7,500 without any bonuses.
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2nd place finishers Chad Penney and Skeeter Fowler hauled in over 26 lbs and earned $7,500
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"We had a limit by 9:45 this morning with four good ones," said Penney. "We just could not get rid of that fifth fish. We culled our little one twice, but just by a tiny bit."
Penney said he and his partner were not targeting grass. Instead, the two were jigging a 30-foot drain.
"We were trying to catch them as they move from deep water to shallow water. Skeeter did all the prefishing and he found them."
Penney said he used a 1-ounce jig with a soft plastic craw trailer.
"We figure we were a 5-pounder away (from winning)," added Penney. "That's what we were aiming for. We're certainly happy with second though; we're not greedy."
Harvey brothers finish third
Brothers Rusty and Chris Harvey finished third with a five-fish stringer weighing 25.06 pounds.
"We caught a limit early on Carolina rigs with Zoom Brush Hogs and Lizards (green pumpkin color)," said Rusty, the older brother. "Then we switched and went to slow rolling the deep grass edges."
Out deep the Harvey brothers employed a white, 1-ounce Oldham spinnerbait with a white Little Dipper as a trailer.
"We used the swimbait trailer so we could slow it down. We were always in contact with the grass or the bottom. Most of the strikes came off the grass. We were sitting in about 15 feet and throwing back to about 12 to 13."
The Harvey brothers caught roughly 15 keepers on the day, culling out all the Carolina rig bass with spinnerbait fish.
"We had one 7-pounder and the rest were just solid fish. We did have a 2-pounder that we couldn't get rid of and we lost a few fish too. I don't think we had a chance to win and you're going to lose some fish; that's part of it. We're happy with what we had."
Mire-Matsubu fourth, father-and-son team fifth
In fourth place with five fish for 24.82 pounds was Brannon Mire and Ben Matsubu. Narrowly behind them was the father-and-son team of Robert Case Jr. and Robert Case III with 24.81 pounds.
Rest of the best
Rounding out the top 10 teams at the 2015 Cabela's Texas Team Trail event on Sam Rayburn:
6th: Jerrel Pringle and Keith Keele, 23.54
7th: Clay West and Clint West, 22.86
8th: Billy Guinn and John Lemaire, 22.29
9th: Randy Patin and Scotty Reynolds, 22.04
10th: Larry Byrd and Dave Bushnell, 21.87
Up next...
The next Cabela's Texas Team Trail event is slated for Feb. 21 on Toledo Bend in Many, La., the second of four qualifying tournaments.
Rambo and Clark win the TTT on Sam Rayburn with 29.77 Lbs-Full results here!
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Joe Holland talks Evinrude G2
Joe Holland smoked the competition with a long rod and short line. He also outran them with a NEW Evinrude G2! Hear him tell how the hottest outboard on the market gave him a game-changing advantage.
Dance, Houston, Martin Invite You To Lunch February 16Th
Brandon McMillan explains 'one-two punch' for Okeechobee bass in recent Rayovac FLW tourney
Local pro Brandon McMillan knows Lake Okeechobee, and its bass, well. He placed 6th in the recent Rayovac FLW Series event by using a 'one-two punch', combining a couple of effective techniques. Hear him tell about it in this video.
Trevor Fitzgerald talks about Rayovac FLW pattern on Okeechobee
Trevor Fitzgerald finished 5th in the recent Rayovac FLW Series tourney ao Lake Okeechobee. The owner of Fitzgerald Rods tells us about his productive pattern.
Scott Martin recaps Rayovac performance
Scott Martin breaks down his tournament game plan and results from the recent Rayovac FLW Series on Okeechobee. See why he says "I felt like I was 16 again."
Texas Team Trail Opens 2015 Season Saturday With Expanded Field, Outstanding Payouts
The Texas Team Trail, which already has the highest team tournament payouts in the State of Texas, kicks off the 2015 tournament season Saturday at Lake Sam Rayburn bigger and better than ever before, said Tournament Director Mike Hastings.
“We are building on great momentum and we are super excited about this year,” Hastings said. “We have revised our field size to accommodate more anglers. Now we consider a full field to be 250 teams and we fully expect to have 250 teams at our first event on Sam Rayburn.”
Hastings said more than 200 teams had already pre-registered by the first of the week for the series which has tremendous sponsorship and an outstanding payback.
“Like always, since year one, a fully-rigged boat is guaranteed for first place at every qualifying event and two boats will be awarded at the championship – one for first place and one for second place,” he said. “The optional Angler Advantage side pot is also 100 percent guaranteed.”
Hastings said all the bonus programs are still in place, including Ranger, Triton, Stratos, Mercury and Evinrude.
“There are a lot of ways to win. You can finish as far down as 50th place and if you are eligible for the Ranger Bonus, for instance, you can still get a check. Our payout is over 100 percent and we literally have the best payback out there.”
“We are excited, we are expecting a big tournament, a full field, and hopefully a whole bunch of fish caught Saturday,” Hastings said. “Rayburn offers the potential for some really huge sacks this time of year. Two weeks ago it took over 35 pounds for five fish to win a tournament, so we are expecting a lot of fish to be caught – a lot of quality fish to be caught.”
Typically this time of year, he said, most anglers will pattern the fish in the hydrilla, either on the edges or back inside the grass.
“The hydrilla is in good shaped this year on Rayburn,” he said. “There are a lot of different ways to catch them. Some of the staples include lipless crankbaits, Chatterbaits and swim jigs.”
Teams pay a one-time membership fee of $30 and then pay $250 entry fees for regular season tournaments. The 2015 schedule includes: Jan. 31, Sam Rayburn, Umphrey Family Pavilion (registration 3-6 p.m. Friday at Umphrey Pavilion); Feb. 21, Toledo Bend, Cypress Bend Park; March 28, Lake Ray Roberts, Elk's Lodge/ray Roberts Marina; and April 25, Lake Texoma, Highport Marina; with the championship June 13 on Lake Palestine, The Villages.
Texas Team Trail
Sat, Jan 31, 2015
Sam Rayburn Reservoir
Umphrey Family Pavilion
Call (210) 788-4143
Full Moon Just In Time For Rayovac Western Division Opener On Lake Havasu
Roy Hawk's knowledge of Havasu should be helpful in Rayovac Western Div tournament
The bass in Lake Havasu are in between the winter and spring mode right now, said veteran tournament angler Roy Hawk, but the full moon next week should speed up the process and send more fish shallow just in time for the Rayovac FLW Series Western Division opener on the lake next Thursday through Saturday.
“The full moon is coming on Feb. 3, right on tournament time. I don't think we will see any real good bedding then, but we should see some males getting up there in a false spawn. But I do think a lot of fish will come shallow around the full moon, especially with the warming trend.”
The bass are just staging to move up and several rare winter rains this week combined with a warming trend next week could push the fish up and scatter them out by tournament time, he said.
“If you went out fishing today it would be spotty,” said Hawk who lives a mile from the Havasu shoreline. “You might go hours without a bite, and then when you get on them you can catch them. When the water warms up those schools will break up and it will be better fishing for everybody.”
Hawk said Havasu is like a split fishery. Up the river fishing is current oriented with little backwater ponds with reeds, grass and some wood. Down in the main lake fishing is centered around man-made structure – brushpiles put out by anglers and big plastic habitat boxes stationed in the lake by the state fisheries agency.
“A lot of the same type lures are used in both places – jigs, Senkos, crankbaits, spinnerbaits. I liked cranking so in a tournament like this I will have an array of different crankbaits tied on, then I can adapt to whatever is going on – and that could change by the hour.”
Hawk, who fishes full-time, has won nearly $400,000 in FLW Outdoors tournaments. He finished second in the points standings in the Western Division last year. In recent tournaments on Lake Havasu he finished 13tgh in January 2014 and 18th in February 2012.
“The fish in Lake Havasu are really healthy,” he said. “In the last 10 years or so this lake has come from being a terrible fishery to being one of the best in the United States.”
Up to 300 pros and co-anglers will take to the water for the first stop of 2015 in the Western Division next week. Pros will fish for a top award of $40,000 plus a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard if Ranger Cup guidelines are met. Co-anglers will cast for a top award consisting of a Ranger Z117 with 90-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard and $5,000 if Ranger Cup guidelines are met.
The Rayovac FLW Series consists of five divisions – Central, Northern, Southeast, Texas and Western. Each division consists of three tournaments and competitors will be vying for valuable points in each division that could earn them the opportunity to fish in the Rayovac FLW Series Championship. The 2015 Rayovac FLW Series Championship will be held Oct. 29-31 on the Ohio River in Paducah, Ky.
The Western Division will move to the California Delta for the second tournament May 7 and then to Clear Lake Sept. 24 for the final division qualifier.
FLW Rayovac Series
Feb 5-7, 2015
Lake Havasu
Lake Havasu State Park - Windsor Beach Access
Townend Hoping To Duplicate First Gator Division Bfl Success In Second Tournament On Okeechobee
Benny Townend won the first Gator Div tournament with 27 lbs, 9 oz
While practicing for the Gator Division BFL season opener on Okeechobee in early January, a buddy asked Ben Townend if he would mount a 10-pounder if he caught one.
“Yeah,” he quuipped, “if you loan me the money.”
Ironically, Townend hauled in a 10-pound, 2-ounce behemoth largemouth to ice his first win in BFL competition and he'd love nothing better than to have to find the money to mount it's twin after the second Gator BFL on the Big O this Saturday.
“They've been catching some big ones,” said Townend. “Val Osinski caught a 9-pound, 10-ounce bass in the Rayovac FLW Series Southeastern Division tournament last weekend.” (Osinski, of Pompano Beach, Fla., weighed in a three-day total of 15 bass at a whopping 70 pounds, 8 ounces, to win $40,000 for first place.)
“I can't recall them catching big ones like that on the south end of the lake in the last few years, but it shows just how good the fishery is,” Townend said.
While he and Osinski both won on the south end, Townend said the wild card in Saturday's tournament could be the matted vegetation on the north end of the lake.
“The water is warming up a little bit, but the problem is the wind has been blowing north to northwest for about four days and I think it is going to blow like that all through the tournament. That is definitely going to have an effect on the south end of the lake, so people will have to adjust.”
Hedging his bets, Townend practiced on the north end of the lake last weekend and did well, he said.
“It will probably be a game time decision. I will probably run down south first thing in the morning, then I might be on the north end in the afternoon,” he said. “Most of the guys have been getting on the fish first thing in the morning. The fish have been real active early and then the bite slows down in the afternoon. The last few weeks the winning bags have been coming out before 11 o'clock.”
Townend, 23, has had a spotty career in BFL competition, mainly because his job keeps him from practicing and sometimes from being able to participate in a tournament, he said.
“I own an ice company in Boynton Beach. Last year I got a huge order for ice and had to work seven days a week, so I never had time to do any pre-fishing. I did fish the first one last year because I was already entered, but did not get to pre-fish, and I pretty much bombed in that one.”
This year is a little different, he said. He has had time to practice most every weekend and it showed in that first BFL when he won it.
“The lake is only 45 minutes from my home and with all of them begin on Okeechobee I can fish them all.”
He will be fishing for another huge lunker in every one of the tournament, he said. After all, he has already got a spot on the wall next to that first 10-pounder.
The top 50 boaters and 50 co-anglers based on point standings in BFL divisions will qualify for the Oct. 8-10 Regional Championship on Lake Sinclair in Milledgeville, Ga. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard.
Walmart BFL - Gator Division
Sat, Jan 31, 2015
Lake Okeechobee
Roland Martin Marina & Resort
FLW signs Livingston Lures
FLW, the world’s largest bass tournament-fishing organization, has renewed their partnership with Livingston Lures, an industry-leading manufacturer of innovative, technologically advanced lures that catch fish in fresh and saltwater. The two organizations have partnered since 2013. Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.
FLW Pro Billy McDonald signs with Team Lew's National Pro Staff
Lew's announces the addition of seasoned bass tournament angler Billy McDonald to its Team Lew's national pro staff, citing the amiable pro's passion for promoting the sport, more so than his many tournament successes, as being the distinguishing qualifier behind the new sponsorship agreement.
"Whether at a tournament weigh-in or sport show, Billy is easy to find because he's always the one in the middle of a crowd who's smiling big and talking excitedly about something to do with fishing ... he's what the sport is all about," said Lew's CEO Lynn Reeves in making the announcement. "We need guys like Billy McDonald in this industry and we're proud that he's now officially associated with Lew's rods and reels."
McDonald, from Greenwood, Ind., has been fishing professionally for more than 30 years, with most of his focus being on FLW Tour and FLW Rayovac Series tournaments. He has multiple top-10 finishes, a Rayovac win and an FLW Cup appearance to his credit.
"I love to compete and always want to win, but just having the opportunity to fish is rewarding regardless of where I finish. So in my mind there's no such thing as having a 'bad' tournament day," McDonald said. "Yes, I do like to help others learn about fishing, especially youth. It's important to me that I give back to this great sport. Lew's has the perfect range of equipment to take any angler fishing from beginner to expert. I'm proud to be part of such a legendary brand."
McDonald has selected the new Team Lew's Lite Speed Spool as his primary baitcast reel of choice. He will be using the just-introduced Lew's Custom Speed Stick series of rods that has a 7' 11" heavy action model among the lineup.
He said the various rod options in the Custom series match up well for his preferred techniques of pitching and flipping, and the upcoming springtime opportunities will put them to the test. The 2015 FLW Tour opener on Florida's Lake Toho in March can't get here fast enough for him.
"Anticipation is always high for the first event of the year, but going to a place like Toho where some giants live gets me really excited. Nobody will be working harder for a big bite there than me and my Lew's gear," he said.
McDonald joins a quality Team Lew's staff that consists of many top tournament anglers along both the FLW and BASS tours, including Glenn Browne, Stephen Browning, Jason Christie, Mark Davis, David Fritts, Guido Hibdon, Dion Hibdon, Payden Hibdon, Tim Horton, Mark Menendez, Michael Murphy, John Murray, Cliff Prince, Marty Robinson, Mark Rose, Terry Scroggins, Michael Simonton, Kevin Short, Peter Thliveros, Andrew Upshaw and Jay Yelas.
For more information on Lew's products and pros, visit www.Lews.com.
Joe Holland places 3rd, shares patterns for Okeechobee Rayovac FLW Series
One of the biggest personalities to emerge at the top pf the Rayovac FLW Series leaderboard this week was Joe Holland. The gregarious pro from Jefferson, Maine found the type of consistency that eluded most anglers. He spent the week near the top of the field where he finished - 3rd place. In this video Holland shows us how he got it done.
FLW Pro, Denali Rods pro-staffer Michael Murphy gives January jerkbait pointers!
January Chill
Unless you live in Florida or south Texas, the bass in your local lakes are likely swimming in some of the coldest water they see all year. Fishing for them can seem like an exercise in futility, not to mention a great way to expose yourself to some pretty unfriendly conditions.
As intimidating as the negatives of winter fishing can be, there are also some positives. The scenery can be amazing, there is little to no competition, and the fish you do catch are usually the right ones.
By focusing on those positives, FLW Tour veteran and Denali pro Michael Murphy has developed a healthy appreciation for winter bass fishing.
"We can talk all day about the cold, or how they don't always bite well in the winter." Murphy said. "But what I like to focus on is how refreshing it is to have the lake to yourself, see some beautiful scenery, and catch giant bass."
Murphy has always been a jerkbait fisherman, a trait bred into anglers that fish the clear, blueback lakes around his Lexington, S.C. home.
"I spend a lot of time on lakes like Murray, Hartwell, Clarks Hill, and Wateree. All of them have clear water and have dynamite winter jerkbait bites. The bass are suspended in that cold, clear water. A jerkbait just hanging in their faces triggers strikes on even the worst weather days."
Obviously, the first key to success with winter jerkbaits is to put on some cold weather gear and actually get out on the water. Once there, Murphy has the following tips to help you extend your bass catching season into the New Year.
1. Use the right rod
Murphy said that the number one thing anglers struggle with when fishing jerkbaits in cold water is getting the setup rod right. "Having a rod that is designed perfectly for your technique is more important in the winter than it is any other time of the year. It's already cold, your hands may not work as well, and you're likely wearing a bunch of gear. If you're frustrated from fighting with backlashes or missing and losing fish (which are all things that happen with jerkbaits when you don't have the right rod), you're not going to be successful or have fun."
Murphy uses the Denali Rosewood jerkbait rod (S802JBC) that he designed, and pairs it to a 6.4:1 Lews BB1 casting reel. As the primary designer of the rod, Murphy put a lot of time on the water testing to ensure that it has the absolute perfect flex and power for fishing jerkbaits in cold water.
"We built the Denali jerkbait rod as an alternative to the high dollar custom jerkbait rods lots of guys were using. We shortened the rod handle so it doesn't get in the way of heavy clothes, gave it the right parabolic bend to keep fish hooked up, and kept a good tip for getting the proper action."
Winter bass are lethargic and often just slash at jerkbaits, resulting in poorly hooked fish. If you've got a big bass hooked up with just a single hook or outside the mouth, having a parabolic action with some give is imperative to keep the hook buried.
In addition to the parabolic flex, Murphy also designed the rosewood jerkbait rod to have a fast tip to impart the perfect subtle flash required to draw strikes in cold water.
"A lot of crankbait rods have that good parabolic action we were after, but they are kind of dead in the tip which makes them less than ideal for jerkbaits. We kept the flex in the mid-section of our jerkbait rod but added a faster, more sensitive tip so that you don't lose the ability to precisely control your bait."
As far as baits go, Murphy has had experiences with a number of different baits over the years, and said that almost all of them can be successful if the conditions are right. The one he uses the most though is the Ima Flit, which he also had a hand in designing.
"I look at the Flit as one of the only jerkbaits out there that can be successful under any conditions." Murphy said. "It dives 6-8 feet deep like a Lucky Craft Staysee , has the subtle darting action of a Megabass Vision 110, the high pitched bb sound of a Rogue, and lacks the internal weighting system like a Husky Jerk. It does it all and I have a ton of confidence that it will catch fish no matter what conditions you're experiencing."
2. Work slow, fast
This might sound confusing at first, but winter bass often group up and suspend over different types of structures, making it important to fish a variety of different locations in a day to locate bass.
"I have seen winter bass suspend around almost any type of steep cover available." Murphy said. "Sometimes it's bluff walls, other times chunk rock points or dock pilings. Whatever it is though, it's important to hit a bunch of spots in a day to figure out where the bass are. That's where the fast comes in. I like to hit a spot for 15-20 minutes tops, and if I don't get a bite then I'm off to somewhere else."
The slow part refers to the actual fishing, and Murphy doesn't stray from convention. He recommended anglers move from a jerk to more of a slide as the water temperature drops, while increasing the length of pauses.
"In really cold water, I actually do more of a slide than a jerk. Baitfish don't really dart in cold water, so you need to mute it down some. The important thing is to start with slack and end with slack, then experiment with your pauses depending on how the fish react."
3. Listen to the fish
Remembering the circumstances surrounding a fish catch can be important at any time of the year, but Murphy said that it's exceptionally important when throwing a jerkbait in the winter.
"Sometimes the bass will get really dialed in to a specific cadence or pause length. If you pay attention to what you were doing when a fish eats, you can often replicate it and score the rest of the trip. I've seen it before where they only eat a bait after a 5 second pause and won't touch anything different."
The same can be said for the type of cover or structure a bass is caught near. Even though winter bass are more lethargic, they will position on different structures depending on the weather, wind, or light penetration.
"You hear pros talk all the time about pattern fishing, and winter jerkbaiting is awesome pattern fishing." Murphy said. "If I catch a couple off a 45 degree pea gravel point, there are likely to be bass on other 45 degree pea gravel points all around the lake. I can then focus on those the rest of the day."
The Final Word
In addition to the pointers above, Murphy has one last one that he said may be the most important, and that's to not let cold and winter stop you from getting on the water.
"I can't believe how many fishermen put their rods and reels away when the calendar flips to January. It may be cold, but if you pick up a jerkbait and put some time on the water, you're going to catch a lot more bass than you will from your couch."
Powell Rods signs 1980 Gold Glove Winner Doug Flynn to pro staff
Being a former college athlete himself, Keith Bryan, president of Powell Rods, knows the dedication and commitment it requires to excel at high levels of athletics. He also knows that when athletes work to build a career in fishing, Bryan enjoys being a partner to that journey.
The most recent example of that is the addition of former Major League Baseball player and Outdoor Radio host Doug Flynn and his tournament and co-host Keith Munson to the Powell Rods promotional team.
Flynn played 11 seasons for five different Major League ballclubs, including the Big Red Machine days of the Cincinnati Reds which won World Series titles in 1975 and 1976. Throughout his career, he played in total of 1308 games and had 3853 plate appearances where he logged 918 hits. He was known as a true glove man. Playing primarily as a middle infielder, Flynn had 5629 chances and was so efficient that his career fielding percentage is .982. His excellence in the field earned him a Gold Glove Award in 1980.
These days, Flynn and his radio partner Munson have become known for their Fishing radio program Big League Fishing which is heard on 12 affiliates throughout Kentucky. They have also become known for competing in tournaments throughout the region together.
Flynn discovered Powell Rods by accident. He said he was looking to replace the set of rods he had been using, and went into a local retailer who introduced him to the brand. He purchased two initially, then added more, and when he sent an email to Powell Rods to tell them how much he liked the rods, the rest became history.
"I have really enjoyed getting to know Keith (Bryan) over the phone and I've enjoyed the rods so much, that when he asked me to join the team, I jumped at the chance," said Flynn. "Powell Rods are extremely light and well balanced, and they have actions for everything I love to do. Couple that with the reputation of the company - and Keith himself - I am truly blessed to be a part of the Powell Rods team."
Bryan also spoke highly of Flynn. "Doug is truly a class act and a well spoken man who impressed me with his knowledge and love of fishing," said Bryan. "I have great respect for anyone who can have such longevity in high level athletics, and he brings that same commitment to all of his ventures today. He and Munson, and their Big League Radio show, are tremendous and will be strong assets to the Powell brand, but more importantly, they are quality people I'm proud to have them representing our company."
Tune in to hear Big League Fishing early Saturday mornings throughout Kentucky.
Runner-up Brandon Medlock shares Okeechobee game plan - and NEW Thunder Dome Jig
What do you do when your dad makes one of the most effective jigs for fishing reeds and other heavy cover? You use it! "I don't try to use a bunch of different techniques," says Brandon Medlock, "I try to keep moving and find fish that will bite what I'm using." This week at the Rayovac FLW Series on Okeechobee Medlock finished 2nd out of 250 boats on the strength of his laser-focused game plan - and a brand new version of the Double Guard Flippin' Jig that will be called the Thunder Dome. Check it out!
Val Osinski shows us how he won Rayovac FLW Series on Lake Okeechobee!
Val Osinski dominated the largest field to ever fish a Rayovac FLW Series tournament (250 boats). On the final day he closed with a 25-pound limit that included 3 monstrous Okeechobee bass. He led all 3 days of the event. Take a peek into Osinski's boat, fresh off the lake, as he picks up the rods he used, shows us his lure choices, and explains why he chose the techniques that paid off so well for him.
Gambler Lures own Okeechobee; Gambler Owner, Osinski, owns lead at Rayovac FLW Series on Okeechobee
Val Osinski got into a 26-pound pile Okeechobee bass. photo by Curtis Niedermier
Val Osinski, owner of Gambler Lures, leads Day 1 of the Rayovac FLW Series season-opener on Lake Okeechobee.
Fishing has been described as ‘tough’ today, but Osinski made the most of a late morning bite and piled-up 26 pounds by pitching a Gambler Why Not to isolated reeds.
The best action came on his third stop of the morning and he culled everything in his livewell in about 45 minutes on “one good stretch with fish coming in.”
There are 250 pros in this derby, a Rayovac record, and Osinski said a bunch of them saw where he caught his best fish. He’s concerned about a crowd forming in his area and noted that he only one competitor near him today – Joe Holland, currently in 3rd place.
Trevor Fitzgerald, fresh off a Top 12 in last week’s Bassmaster Open up the turnpike on Lake Toho, got this tourney started off right. With 24-1, the owner of Fitzgerald Rods in in 2nd place.
Fitzgerald is on an afternoon bite. “I’m flipping mats and stuff like that. When the sun gets up in the middle of the day it positions them where I need them. They’re just too scattered in the morning.”
The aforementioned Holland of Jefferson, Maine is 3rd with 22-3. He is looking for less-pressured stuff to fish. “A lot of the weeds look like they have been in a barbershop because of how many trolling motors have been over them, and I’m just looking for places that don’t have that effect.”
Holland is not only fishing near Osinski, he’s using one of the same lures – the Why Not, along with a Gambler Lures Burner Craw.
Mike Surman used to be an owner of Gambler Lures. He won the first FLW tournament on Okeechobee 20 years ago. Today he put himself in 4th place with 20 pounds, 12 ounces.
Surman was surprised at just how tough the fishing was. He feels good about tomorrow but wouldn’t say much about how he fished today. He did mention that he caught his four biggest fish around 10 o’clock this morning.
Okeechobee is a famous lake, so it figures that an angler as famous Roland Martin, himself, would do well fishing out of his namesake marina, the launch site each morning of this 3-day event.
Martin is currently 5th with 20-10. He is less than a pound ahead of his son, Scott Martin, who is one spot behind in 6th.
The elder Martin is on schooling fish but flipped to upgrade his weight. He has some lonesome water which is unusual any time on Okeechobee, especially during a 250-boat tournament.
Daniel Beebe leads all co-anglers with 22-5, good enough for a 5-pound lead.
Flw Aligns With Quaker State
FLW, the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, and Quaker State® motor oil announced today a multi-year agreement that will showcase the motor oil brand to millions of outdoor and fishing enthusiasts. The tremendous marketing benefits offered by FLW in digital advertising, social media, promotions on-site at the events and connections with top anglers in the world makes the organization a perfect fit for Quaker State.
Big Fish Bite Expected To Be On For Tomahawk Winier Trail Championship On Lake Murray
After four or five days of nearly spring-like weather, the temperature is going to drop back to normal winter conditions Friday and Saturday, with some rain and wind in the forecast for Lake Murray – just in time for the Tomahawk Team Trail Championship.
And that's just fine, said tournament director Gettys Brannon, who is a manager at the Tomahawk Fishing Shop in Columbia, because that means some good fish should be caught in the championship.
“There's just something about Lake Murray in the winter. When conditions are nasty you are not going to catch a lot of fish, but the big ones will come out to bite if you give them the right thing. It's more of a quality game than a quantity game,” Brannon said. “We had some big bags brought in last week. It took 20 pounds to win and 17 pounds to get a check.”
Another indication that the big fish have come out to play on Lake Murray this time of year he said, is that, “We had guys come in last week with just four fish, but they weighed 18 pounds. Once you key in on what the fish want, you just have to keep your head down and keep fishing.”
Brannon said the Tomahawk Trail on Lake Murray has averaged about 25 boats per tournament in its first winter season, but with a guaranteed $5,000 purse he expects there will be 40 to 50 boats in the championship which will be fished Friday and Saturday, not the usual two-day weekend tournament days.
“Lew's is giving providing a rod and reel for the championship, as well,” Brannon said.
“The crankbait bite should be on and the Alabama Rig, or Shane's Baits, bite should be a big factor. I think fishing in the wind is going to be key, fishing the riprap and just following the wind. There will still be some guys catching fish on a jig, too.”
The Tomahawk Fishing Shop at 613 Harden Street, Columbia, is a locally-owned fishing-themed store as well as a tackle shop. The store in Five Points launched the Tomahawk Team Trail 2014-2015 Winter Series on Lake Murray.
Participants pay a one-time membership fee each of $30, then $60 per boat for each qualifying tournament, plus an optional $10 Big Fish entry. Teams can enter at the ramp or they can register early at the Tomahawk Fishing Shop and get 15 percent off on their next purchase.
“Being in downtown Columbia it is a little different environment from a regular tackle shop,” Brannon said. “We have a little something for just about everybody, from local art and wood carvings by local artists to all types of locally-produced apparel. We even have ice cream sandwiches and later we will also have boiled peanuts.”
Brannon said the shop also targets everyday anglers as well as serious tournament anglers.
“We carry local and regional brands such as ALX Rods in Aiken, Greenfish Tackle in Augusta and Local Boy Outfitters, an apparel brand in Columbia.”
Brannon said the store is considering holding a summer nighttime fishing trial this summer because of the proliferation of other tournaments on the lake in the springtime.
“We are definitely looking at doing the same deal next winter, tweaking it some and possibly having a bigger purse,” he said.
Tomahawk Team Trail Championship
Jan 30-31, 20154
Lake Murray
Larry Koon Landing
Call 803.609.7673
Rapala Signs Randall Tharp
“Previously some of my favorite Rapala products were not even baits,” says Tharp, an Alabama native now living in Florida. “Down where I live, I clean fish with a Rapala fillet knife on a Rapala cleaning table almost every day. That’s how I prepare my dinner!”
Still, Tharp adds, he’s used Rapala baits “long before the last couple of years to put fish in my boat.” His favorites are “the whole DT® Series” of crankbaits and the Original Floating Rapala. The floater is one of his “all-time favorite” lures. “I’ve caught more bass on that little original Rapala balsa floating minnow lure than probably any other lure in my tackle box,” he says.
Tharp is the second Forrest Wood Cup champion on Rapala’s pro-staff. 2012 Cup Champion (and 2013 runner-up to Tharp) Jacob Wheeler signed with Rapala in 2012. Wheeler fishes on the FLW Tour. In 2014, Tharp fished both the FLW Tour and the Bassmaster Elite Series. As a B.A.S.S. rookie, he finished 13th in the Angler of the Year race and qualified to fish in the 2015 Bassmaster Classic Feb. 22-24 on South Carolina’s Lake Hartwell.
“Randall is one of the most talented anglers in the game right now, both on and off the water,” says Rapala Field Promotions Manager Dan Quinn. “He understands the promotional side of fishing as much as he knows how to catch ‘em, which makes him an excellent member of the Pro Staff.”
Tharp says “it’s an honor,” to represent such a well-respected company as Rapala, with such a huge catalog of baits and terminal tackle, which includes VMC, which he signed on last year to represent.
“It was really cool over the last season to learn more about an already great company in the fishing industry and I’m honored to part of the team,” he says. “It’s a big deal for me.”
The Rapala team is equally complimentary of Tharp.
“Randall showed what he could do this past year for VMC,” Quinn says. “and with Rapala lures being his confidence baits throughout his career, it was a natural progression to make him a part of the Rapala family. I look forward to a bright future with Randall and couldn’t be happier to be working with him!”
All the Rapala baits Tharp has long treasured — Original Floating Rapalas and DT-series crankbaits — are made from Rapala’s signature material, balsa. It’s what makes them so much better at catching fish than copycat baits made to look similar, he says.
“That’s one thing that separates Rapala baits from all other competitors on the market,” Tharp says. “Even as the company’s evolved, they’ve kept that balsa body as a key part of the arsenal. It definitely sets the baits apart. The buoyancy that balsa has, the things you can make a bait do when it deflects off of cover and stuff, it’s second to none.”
20-Pound-Plus Bags Anticipated For Rat-L-Trap Open On Sam Rayburn
In the Rat-L-Trap Open on Sam Rayburn last year this time it took 22 pounds for five fish to win, with several more bags in the 20-pound range – and weighmaster David Haas expects more of the same in the 2015 Open next Sunday on Rayburn.
“I haven't had the opportunity to go down there and fish myself, so I don't know what stage the fish are in, but they are catching some good fish down there right now,” said Haas, who is with Media Bass. “”I am kind of anticipating the same kind of weights as last year.”
Haas said the weather is the only thing that could throw a curve into the prospects of very good fishing.
“This time of year it's always a guess on the weather, but the long range forecast is for cold weather and moisture coming in next weekend.”
Entry fee for the tournament is $100 per team with an optional Big Bass Pot entry for $20.
“You can't beat it,” Haas said. “That's cheap for a team tournament with a 100 percent payback and we pay one in five places.”
The Rat-L-Trap Open on Rayburn drew 170 boats in 2014, he said, and he expects at least that many for Sunday's tournament.
Haas said only lures made by Bill Lewis Outdoors Rat-L-Trap may be used in the tournament, but custom painting is allowed and anglers can change the hooks. But adding or attaching soft-plastic baits to the lure is not allowed and neither is modifying internal shot loads. No umbrella rigs are allowed in the tournament.
Rat-L-Trap Opens
Sun, Jan 25, 2015
Sam Rayburn Reservoir
Umphrey Family Pavilion
Unique Rule Levels Playing Field For New Kissimmee Bass Series Out Of Camp Mack
With a select few anglers dominating tournaments on Kissimmee entries began to fall in recent years as other anglers felt they had little or no chance of winning, said Charlie Wynperle, who has started a new tournament trail – the Kissimmee Bass Series – out of Camp Mack's River Resort.
Wynperle launched the series, which kicks off Sunday, after Ted and Maxine Meyer decided to end the Camp Mack Tournament Series last year. He and his partner decided they needed to come up with a new wrinkle to get more anglers involved in their new series.
“The weights had got out of hand,” Wynperle said. “I saw a guy weigh in 33 pounds in a tournament last year and he did not get a check. All of a sudden the tournaments were going down.”
The premise they came up with was a five-fish limit – but only one can be over 22 inches long – which he believes will level the playing field considerably. No longer will a few anglers dominate the tournaments because they are the best in the area at locating and catching huge bass.
“Now you are really going to have to bring your A-game to bring in a 25-pound sack of fish,” Wynperle said. “And it's going to help conservation. Now you won't have to keep a lot of big fish alive. Now you will have just one big fish to keep alive.”
After posting the tournament rules on Facebook, Wynperle said the response has been “phenomenal.”
“I suggested we have a minimum of 50 boats,” he said, “but I won't be surprised if we have closer to 80 boats.”
There was, however, the expected griping from the consistent winners of past tournaments.
“I've already heard from some top-notch fishermen. They say, 'You can't let us bring in just one big fish.' But we wanted to make it fair for everybody,” he said.
“Now, if you come to the scales with 20 pounds I am going to send you home with a check. The same guys who won tournament after tournament – you are not going to see that anymore.”
Anglers will pay a one-time registration fee, then $50 per boat for each tournament with an optional $20 Big Bass Pot for a 100 percent payback. The schedule includes: Jan 25; Feb 22; Mar 22, the Kissimmee Bass Series SPRING FLING Apr 25-26; May 31; Jun 28; Jul 26; Aug 23; and Sept 27; with the Kissimmee Bass Series CLASSIC Oct 24-25; all out of Camp Mack's River Resort on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes.
“I told everybody we are going to put the fun back into fishing,” Wynperle said
Kissimmee Bass Series
Sun, Jan 25, 2015
Kissimmee Chain of Lakes
Camp Mack's River Resort
Charlie Wynperle, 813-382-2187
2015 Oakley Big Bass Tour Schedule Is Out
Each event will feature thousands in guaranteed hourly cash payouts and a $30,000 Nitro Z7 powered by Mercury to the overall big bass winner. The tournament series will be open to amateur anglers only. One-day entry fees are $110 per angler and two-day entry fees are $160 per angler. Anglers may visit www.oakleybigbass.com for all registration, rules and payout information.
"We are excited to kick off our sixth season," says Scott Gordon with Oakley Big Bass Tour. "This promises to be a big year for the Tour and I’m sure we will see some big fish cross the stage throughout the 2015 series." added Gordon.
The Oakley Big Bass Tour is the nation’s premier amateur big bass tournament series. We provide anglers of all skill levels with an exciting tournament format and event experience on some of the nation’s best bass fisheries. Established in 2010 our tour is focused on the promotion of bass fishing and bass conservation at the grass roots level through our tournament events. For more information regarding tour events please visit www.oakleybigbass.com or call (877) 958-TOUR (8687).
FLW signs Minn Kota
FLW, the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, has announced a sponsorship agreement with Johnson Outdoors, owner of Minnesota-based trolling motor manufacturer Minn Kota. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.
FLW Tour will now field 154 pros
FLW decided has added 2 more Tour pros to its roster. Lionel Botha and Nick Prvonozac were left on the outside, looking in after a 'processing delay' occured. The brings the Tour field to 154 for the 2015 season. The official word from FLW:
Morgenthaler Wins Bassmaster Southern Open On Lake Toho
"This was the worst day I've ever had on Lake Kissimmee, and I fish here every weekend," said Daniel Lanier, Jr. who placed 6th among the co-anglers in this event. Year-before-last Lanier fished as a boater, lost a fish-off to Rich Howes on the day following what would have been the final weigh in, and finished runner-up.
Lanier's assesment of the lake was echoed by others. "The lake is healthy," said Trevor Fitzgerald who finished 9th in the pro division. "They (B.A.S.S.) just always come here too early for it to show what it's capable of producing." Fitzgerald nearly always produces anyway and he did so again. Still, anglers and fans alike would like to see a stronger showing from the local bass population.
BUT somebody always wins. Today that was Elite Series Pro Chad Morgenthaler. He hoisted the hardware and took home the check. Following is the official press release from B.A.S.S. :
Standard opinion among the anglers fishing the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open #1 presented by Allstate was that the tournament couldn’t be won on Toho.
If you wanted big bass, Kissimmee was the place to fish.
Chad Morgenthaler proved them wrong, spending all three days on the host lake and rallying from ninth place to win the season opener.
In a tournament laced with some of Florida’s top anglers, the Coulterville, Ill., veteran Elite Series pro sneaked into the back door with a big sack on a day when the frontrunners struggled.
His last-day catch of 22 pounds, 3 ounces was more than enough to carry him to the top and give him a 52-7 total.
Kissimmee expert Bobby Lane, who had the second biggest bag of the day (14 pounds), finished second with 48-13, and Todd Auten of South Carolina was third with 48-1. Gerald Swindle of Alabama and second-day leader Brandon McMillan rounded out the Top 5 with 46-9 and 46-4, respectively.
“Being hard-headed and staying on Toho was really a key to my success,” said Morgenthaler, who punched his ticket to the 2016 Bassmaster Classic, providing he fishes the remaining two Southern Opens. “Everyone said you can’t win on Toho, but all of my big fish in practice came up here.”
Morgenthaler said he didn’t like dealing with the locks that provided entry into Kissimmee. Given the large field of anglers fishing the event, he feared locking down would cost him fishing time since most competitors would be fishing Kissimmee.
He stuck with one bait all three days — a Missile D Bomb soft plastic creature bait — that he pitched into isolated cover in 3 to 4 feet of water far offshore. The color was bruiser flash, a black/blue variety.
“It’s a good mid-sized bait, so I didn’t have to worry about whether it was too big or too small, and it would slither through the matted vegetation easily,” he explained.
He rigged it with a 3/0 straight shank Gamakatsu heavy flipping hook and a 1 1/2-ounce tungsten weight. Most anglers use 4/0 hooks with the D Bomb, he noted, but switching to the 3/0 improved his catch ratio considerably.
“I was targeting the main-lake areas that the fish were moving to from the wintering holes,” Morgenthaler described. “These were fish just starting to move up and the cold fronts we’d been having were holding them back. Some guys were catching fish that moved up but I suspected the majority of big fish were still in transition. The sunny, warm day today put them right where I was fishing.”
The victory earned him more than $48,533, including a Nitro Z9 bass boat and tandem Nitro trailer rigged with a Mercury 225 Pro XS, Minn Kota Maxxum Trolling Motor and Lowrance HDS-7C electronics.
Floridian Alan Agnoli blew out the co-angler division with 32 pounds, 3 ounces, while Robbie Anderson of Crystal River, Fla., was second with 22-11. Terry Law of Tavares, Fla., was third with 22-3. Agnoli, who caught 17 pounds, 11 ounces (three fish) to take the second-round lead on Friday, won a Nitro Z7 bass boat rigged with a Mercury 150 Pro XS, Nitro Single Axle Trailer, Minn Kota Maxxum Trolling Motor and Lowrance Mark 5X electronics.
Lane’s second-place finish earned him the $500 Power-Pole Captain’s Cash for being the highest finisher using Power-Poles and the $1,500 Toyota Bonus Bucks award for being the highest placing pro owning a Toyota.
McMillan’s lead on the second day earned him the $250 Livingston Lures Leader Award. Agnoli captured the same title among co-anglers, pocketing a $250 Livingston Lures gift pack.
Ohioan Charlie Hartley recovered from a bad first day to win the Allstate Good Hands, Great Day award ($250) for moving from 158th place to 17th, thanks to a 20-pound, 15-ounce limit, the largest in the pro division.
Among the co-anglers, Mike Spears of Jasper, Ala., moved from 115th to 30th to garner $150 from Allstate.
Also Saturday, B.A.S.S. issued the following statement:
"Based on an investigation of an incident Friday during the tournament on Lake Tohopekaliga, B.A.S.S. today disqualified two anglers from the event. Pursuant to B.A.S.S. rules, Ish Monroe of Hughson, Calif., and Keith Poche of Pike Road, Ala., were disqualified from the Open. Additional penalties for both anglers may be imposed pending the outcome of additional investigations that are ongoing at this time. Because of those investigations, B.A.S.S. will not comment further on the decisions."
2015 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open - Lake Toho Presented by Allstate 1/15-1/17
Lake Toho, Kissimmee, FL
(BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Chad Morgenthaler Coulterville, IL 15 52-07 200 $48,533.00
Day 1: 5 16-07 Day 2: 5 13-13 Day 3: 5 22-03
2. Bobby Lane Jr. Lakeland, FL 15 48-13 199 $20,267.00
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 5 20-06 Day 3: 5 14-00
3. Todd Auten Lake Wylie, SC 14 48-01 198 $15,200.00
Day 1: 4 16-02 Day 2: 5 20-06 Day 3: 5 11-09
4. Gerald Swindle Warrior, AL 15 46-09 197 $13,600.00
Day 1: 5 14-12 Day 2: 5 19-07 Day 3: 5 12-06
5. Brandon McMillan Clewiston, FL 15 46-04 196 $12,117.00
Day 1: 5 24-09 Day 2: 5 13-15 Day 3: 5 07-12
6. Kelley Jaye Dadeville, AL 15 42-08 195 $10,133.00
Day 1: 5 17-05 Day 2: 5 11-13 Day 3: 5 13-06
7. Andrew Slegona Jr Walker Valley, NY 9 41-03 194 $8,533.00
Day 1: 5 31-02 Day 2: 2 03-07 Day 3: 2 06-10
8. Ed Loughran Mechanicsville, VA 15 40-06 193 $6,800.00
Day 1: 5 15-15 Day 2: 5 15-12 Day 3: 5 08-11
9. Trevor Fitzgerald Belleview, FL 15 40-03 192 $5,067.00
Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 5 17-13 Day 3: 5 09-00
10. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 15 39-13 191 $4,667.00
Day 1: 5 19-09 Day 2: 5 11-11 Day 3: 5 08-09
11. Garrett Rocamora Lithia, FL 10 38-02 190 $4,767.00
Day 1: 5 24-04 Day 2: 1 04-15 Day 3: 4 08-15
12. Brad Knight Lancing, TN 15 35-15 189 $4,000.00
Day 1: 5 20-13 Day 2: 5 08-02 Day 3: 5 07-00
BIG BASS PRO OR CO-ANGLER
Garrett Rocamora Lithia, FL 11-09 $500.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 131 837 1726-07
2 102 733 1504-15
3 10 56 130-01
----------------------------------
243 1626 3361-07
2015 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open - Lake Toho Presented by Allstate 1/15-1/17
Lake Toho, Kissimmee, FL
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Alan Agnoli Chiefland, FL 8 32-03 200 $25,000.00
Day 1: 3 07-04 Day 2: 3 17-11 Day 3: 2 07-04
2. Robbie Anderson Crystal River, FL 9 22-11 199 $6,533.00
Day 1: 3 05-11 Day 2: 3 12-02 Day 3: 3 04-14
3. Terry Law Tavares, FL 8 22-03 198 $4,933.00
Day 1: 3 07-11 Day 2: 3 09-15 Day 3: 2 04-09
4. Steve Jarrett Valrico, FL 8 21-07 197 $3,333.00
Day 1: 3 11-02 Day 2: 3 07-00 Day 3: 2 03-05
5. Larry Mullikin Lauderhill, FL 9 21-05 196 $3,067.00
Day 1: 3 09-08 Day 2: 3 04-08 Day 3: 3 07-05
6. Daniel Lanier Jr. Winter Springs, FL 8 20-08 195 $2,933.00
Day 1: 3 11-09 Day 2: 3 06-00 Day 3: 2 02-15
7. Jeffrey Worth Longwood, FL 9 19-06 194 $2,800.00
Day 1: 3 06-09 Day 2: 3 06-08 Day 3: 3 06-05
8. Greg Crumpton Ocala, FL 9 19-03 193 $2,667.00
Day 1: 3 07-05 Day 2: 3 08-02 Day 3: 3 03-12
9. Amy Leitch Denver, CO 9 17-08 192 $2,533.00
Day 1: 3 04-12 Day 2: 3 07-14 Day 3: 3 04-14
10. Linda Higginbotham Palm Coast, FL 9 17-05 191 $2,267.00
Day 1: 3 03-15 Day 2: 3 09-02 Day 3: 3 04-04
11. Barry Hughes Plant City, FL 7 14-07 190 $2,000.00
Day 1: 3 08-13 Day 2: 3 04-02 Day 3: 1 01-08
12. Eulon Lee Jr. Montgomery, AL 6 13-09 189 $1,867.00
Day 1: 3 06-14 Day 2: 3 06-11 Day 3: 0 00-00
BIG BASS PRO OR CO-ANGLER
Alan Agnoli Chiefland, FL 09-06 $0.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 104 414 736-07
2 81 331 619-10
3 6 27 50-15
----------------------------------
191 772 1407-00
Mcmillan Leads As Bassmaster Southern Open On Toho Heads Into Final Day
Brandon McMillan of Clewiston, Fla., lead on Day 2 of the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open #1 presented by Allstate held on Lake Tohopekaliga out of Kissimmee, Fla. McMillan brought 13 pounds, 15 ounces to the scales at Friday's weigh-in for a two-day total of 38-8.
Florida’s fickle bass not only played with the heads of the first-round leaders in the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open presented by AllState, but they also scrambled the leaderboard.
On a day when the sun shined and the fish were supposed to bite, big bags were few and far between. That was just fine for Brandon McMillan of Clewiston, Fla., whose 13-pound, 15-ounce limit gave him a two-day total of 38-8, good enough to move him from third to first.
To illustrate how goofy fishing was Friday, New York’s Andrew Slegona – who caught 31 pounds to lead the event after the first day, only had two small bass Friday but fell no further than fourth (34-9).
“Man, hard to believe that I could stay in the Top 5 with a day like that on a lake like this,” Slegona marveled.
Meanwhile, Todd Auten of South Carolina jumped from 13th to second (36-8), Bobby Lane of Florida moved from 18th to third (34-13) and Gerald Swindle of Alabama climbed from 17th to fifth (34-3). Only 4 pounds, 5 ounces separate the Top 5 who will join seven other anglers in Saturday’s final.
In the co-angler division, Floridian Alan Agnoli stunned the crowd with three bass weighing 17-11 to take the lead with 24-15. Other Floridians in the Top 5 among co-anglers include Steve Jarrett (18-2), Robbie Anderson (17-13), Terry Law (17-10) and Daniel Lanier (17-9).
McMillan admits he was just “scrounging round” to catch the fish that put him in the lead Friday.
“I knew I couldn’t duplicate what I did yesterday because I beat on them pretty hard,” he noted. “So today I was doing a little bit of everything from flipping to swimming a jig to catch what I caught.”
Lane, who calls the Kissimmee Chain his home waters, said the water temperature dropped 5 degrees after Thursday night’s cool-off and rain, and that left the bass in a tizzy. His 20-pound, 6-ounce sack Friday was one of the biggest and was anchored by a 9-8.
“It really helps knowing the lake and how these fish react when you get fishing conditions like this,” said Lane. “The fish really want to spawn, but the water just hasn’t been right for them to get it going.”
McMillan’s second-day leadership earned him the $250 Livingston Lures Leader Award. Agnoli captured the same title among co-anglers, pocketing a Livingston Lures gift pack worth $250.
Ohioan Charlie Hartley recovered from a bad first day to win the Allstate Good Hands, Great Day award ($250) for moving from 158th place to 17th, thanks to a 20-pound, 15-ounce limit, the largest in the pro division.
Among co-anglers, Mike Spears of Jasper, Ala., moved from 115th to 30th to garner $150 from Allstate.
The tournament takeoff on Saturday is at 7 a.m. ET at Big Toho Marina. Saturday’s final weigh-in will be held at the Bass Pro Shops in Orlando at 4 p.m.
FLW TV Show to air on Pursuit Channel
Zoom Baits signs on as FLW sponsor
FLW, the world’s largest bass-fishing tournament organization, has announced a sponsorship agreement with Zoom Bait Company, a leading manufacturer of soft-plastic fishing baits. 2015 marks the first season that Zoom Bait Company will join the FLW sponsorship lineup. Terms of the agreement were not released.
Auten Looking For Change In Weather For Rayovac Series On Okeechobee
Todd Auten is looking for better conditions on Okeechobee
Todd Auten is hoping for warmer weather, warmer water and, hopefully, more fish when he gets to Lake Okeechobee next week for the 2015 FLW Rayovac Series Southeast Division opener.
Auten has been further north in Florida, practicing for and fishing in the first B.A.S.S. Southern Open of 2015 on Lake Tohopekaliga this week and fishing has been “kind of tough,” with rain, cold and hard to find fish. The Open runs through Saturday and Auten will leave Toho to go straight to Okeechobee and start practice for the Rayovac tournament.
He finished 51st in the first Southeast Division Rayovac tournament on Okeechobee last year, then followed that with 7th place on Santee Cooper in March and 42nd on Lake Guntersville in April to finish 8th in the Southeast Division points for the year. Auten then finished 4th in the Rayovac FLW Series Championship on Wheeler Lake held in late October and early November.
“The tournament on Okeechobee is about the same time as last year,” he said. “I've already checked my good spots and it is going to be different. The water is high and everything is going to be changed, for sure. With the water down a foot it would help put them in certain places; now they can be anywhere. They are kind of scattered.”
If that is the case, he said, he expects reaction baits, like Speed Worms and flipping Brush Hogs to be the best tactics.
“But, I have never fished down there with the water being this high,” he said. “Every year it seems like it is different. You have to go out and find new fish every year. They will be in kind of the same areas, but not in the exact same places.”
When he gets to Okeechobee Auten said he will be looking for clean water and possibly some bedding fish.
“I heard they were spawning pretty good down there the last week or so. I hope the cold weather has pushed some of them off because that means more fish will go up shallow for sure next week when we are there.”
While he won't pass up bedding fish, Auten said he will also concentrate on those areas just off the bedding places where the fish will be staging to move up.
“If they are not on the bed they will be out at the next depth,” he said. “I'll get in stuff a little further out and work my way in.”
One thing he can count on. The weather is expected to be a lot nicer on Okeechobee next week than it was on Tohopekaliga this week, with temperatures ranging from the mid- to high 70s under partly cloudy to sunny skies.
FLW Rayovac Series – Southeast Division
Jan 22-24, 2015
Lake Okeechobee
Roland Martin Marina & Resort
Simoneaux Hoping For More Rayburn Magic In Flw College Fishing Southern Conference Tournament
The Lamar University team of Brandon Simoneaux and Josh Bowie
Lamar University teammates Brandon Simoneaux and Josh Bowie won the FLW College Fishing Southern Conference Invitational tournament on Sam Rayburn last October to advance to the 2015 College Fishing National Championship this spring on South Carolina's Lake Murray.
Now Simoneaux is hoping that same magic that propelled him and Bowie to the win then will carry over next week on Sam Rayburn again as he and new teammate Colby Ogden begin the journey towards a potential berth in the 2016 College Championship.
“Josh is graduating in May,” said Simoneaux, of Bridge City, Texas,a junior majoring in mechanical engineering. “But Colby and his partner, Quinton Evans, finished 6th in the regional on Sam Rayburn in October. We have fished together for sun a few times and we fished a tournament in December and had the opportunity to to do really well.”
Simoneaux explained that in that tournament he and Ogden, of Kountze, Texas, were fishing heavy cover and knew the chances of fish getting hung up and getting off were high , but they did manage to boat four solid keepers both days.
“We fish together extremely well,” he said. “We both really want to do good and we both pretty much approach everything differently, so it works out really well.”
He noted that recent rains have raised the water level by a couple of feet in Sam Rayburn and fishing has been tough in practice as a result.
“The fish we had been catching we could not get to bite anymore, so we have to practice again this week and see if we can relocate them. We hope the water clears up some,” Simoneaux said. “The water is still pretty cold, too. It was in the mid 40s when I was up there last weekend.”
He said he and Ogden are picking up a fish “here and there,” and they are catching “one fish on this and one on that.”
“We will probably do a lot of junk fishing,” he said, “not necessarily banking on any particular kind of lure, but using an assortment of lures.”
While he is concentrating on Sam Rayburn this month, Simoneaux is already looking forward to the 2015 FLW College Fishing National Championship, which will be held April 16-18 at Lake Murray in Columbia, S.C., in conjunction with the University of South Carolina baseball team’s three-game series against Vanderbilt.
“Our region is proud to host the 2015 FLW College Fishing National Championship,” said Miriam Atria, President and CEO of the tournament host Capital City/Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board. “We look forward to welcoming college teams from across the nation to Lake Murray. The last time we hosted the FLW College Fishing National Championship in 2012 it provided national exposure for Columbia, Lake Murray and the University of South Carolina baseball program.”
The championship will feature the top 10 teams from each of the five 2014 FLW College Fishing Conference Championships for a total field of 50 boats. The winning team will receive a Ranger Z117 and advance to the 2015 Forrest Wood Cup in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
FLW College Fishing Series – Southern Conference
Sat, Jan 24, 2015
Sam Rayburn Reservoir
Umphrey Family Pavilion
