Warming Trend Should Put Bass On The Move Just In Time For Nc Bfl On Lake Norman
David Williams of Maiden, NC
What a difference a week makes!
A week ago the area around North Carolina's Lake Norman was covered in snow and ice with nighttime temperatures well below freezing. This week, the skies are sunny, the snow is gone and nighttime temps are a lot more comfortable.
“We are getting a little warming trend. The next couple of nights the temperatures will be in the upper 40s to low 50s and that is a huge deal because it gets the fish on the move,” said David Williams of nearby Maiden, N.C., who has a pretty solid record on Lake Norman this time of year.
Last year on Feb. 23 he finished 14th, but the year before he finished 5th in the BFL on Norman on the first Saturday in March, and in 2011 he won the N.C. Division points title after starting the year with a win on Lake Norman the last Saturday in February. Williams finished 3rd in the N.C. Division points last year, but he was 29th in 2012 because he only fished three of the scheduled tournaments – finishing 5th on Norman and 10th and 15th on High Rock in two tournaments.
He has not fished too shabbily in bigger tournaments, either, finishing 5th in the BFL All American last year in June on Tennessee's Lake Nickajack and 3rd in the All American the previous year on the Potomac River in mid-May. So far, Williams has earned almost $230,000 in FLW Outdoors tournaments, with 25 top 10 finishes including three first places.
“I have not been on Lake Norman all year, but I am going out for a little bit on Friday to see if I can put something together,” he said. “From what I've heard they have been catching some good bags, mostly on jerkbaits and Alabama rigs.”
When he gets on the lake Friday, Williams said he will probably just ride along and look for bait to help him key in on areas to fish.
“I'll concentrate on anything that warms up pretty quick – stumps, rocks an stuff like that,” he said. “Most of the time when you find bait it is out in the deeper water, but what I will look for is where they either run the bait up on a shallow point or into a shallow pocket.”
Williams said he will target largemouths to begin with, but if that does not work out he feels he can go out in the deeper water and bring in a limit of spotted bass.
“You can definitely see some water getting 5 to 10 degrees warmer by Saturday morning. We are almost into March so they are going to get on the move and start feeding up before the spawn,” he said.
“Saturday it's going to be whoever can find them the quickest. More than likely whatever you found last week is not going to do you any good this week.”
Walmart BFL North Carolina Division
Sat, Feb 22, 2014
Lake Norman
Midway Marina
Conditions Slowly Improving For Georgia Division Wbs Tournament On Lake Sinclair
Cold, muddy water is not the ideal situation for bass fishing, but that is the condition of Georgia's Lake Sinclair, just a couple of days before the American Bass Anglers Weekend Bass Series Georgia Division tournament.
“Fishing has been tough,” said Georgia Division tournament manager Billy Benedetti, who lives near the lake and fishes it every chance he gets. “The water is extremely stained, even down to the lower lake. It's stained pretty bad there, too.”
Water temperatures have been in the mid-40s, not conducive to tempting a bass to eat, but that is gradually getting better, Benedetti said.
“Last Sunday the surface temperature was 45 degrees and it got up to 48 by afternoon. With sunny skies and warm afternoons, the temperature will come up a little bit by Saturday. The weather this weekend should be pretty mice wit temperatures around 70 degrees.”
Although he has been catching his fish jigging in deep water, Benedetti said he figures most of the bites will come Saturday on small crankbaits and Chatterbaits cast around docks.
“Typically, that's a muddy water pattern,” he said.
Registration will be held at Little River Park from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Friday, Benedetti said, with the meeting at 7 p.m.
Anglers in the Boater Division pay a $200 entry fee, with co-anglers paying $100. ABA members no longer have to have dual membership to fish the Weekend Bass Series and liability insurance requirements have been reduced to an acceptable level for weekend anglers. The payback has been increased at divisional levels from 20 percent of the field to 25 percent of the field.
At the end of the season, the best WBS anglers from across the nation will fish the 2014 Ray Scott Championship, slated for Wheeler Lake in Decatur, Ala., from Nov. 15-18. The champion boater will receive $100,000 and possibly up to $50,000 in Triton Gold Bonus money. The co-angler champion will win $50,000 and possibly up to $25,000 in Triton Gold Bonus money.
As a special Ray Scott Championship bonus, the Boater Division and Co-Angler Division champions will each receive entry fees and sponsorship into the one of two professional bass fishing series of the angler’s choice. The sponsorship includes entry fees into three professional events and sponsorship support. This sponsorship will put the champion within striking distance of one of two professional bass fishing championships.
American Bass Anglers Weekend Bass Series Georgia Division
Sat, Feb 22, 2014
Lake Sinclair
Little River Park
Call 256-232-0406
2014 Classic Will Be Won Shallow
Thanks to Clay Connor of Xpress Boats I got out on Guntersville today to follow the contestants as they finished the practice round. Of the dozen we saw, nearly all were casting lipless crankbaits in shallows back in creeks and bays – typical prespawn spots.
Water temps ranged from 44 degrees in the main channel on the lower end of the lake to 55 in shallow backwaters.
Shallow water holds grass, warm water and bass. That’s where this Classic will be won.
As for lure choice, it looks like everyone is throwing a trap of some type.
I saw keeper bass caught from 3 foot depths where the grass dissolved into bare bottom. But keepers won’t do much good this week if Lake G lives up to its reputation. With a shallow trap bite going, I believe it will do just that.
FLW on Hartwell needs some Volunteers!
Volunteers Needed to Help with FLW tournament on Hartwell on below dates and times.
If you can help please contact Ken Sloan ASAP
Ken Sloan, TMP
President & CEO
Mountain Lakes CVB
105 West South Broad Street
Walhalla, SC 29691
864-380-3976
www.SCMountainLakes.com
Thu, 3/6, 5:00 AM - 7:30 AM - (5) volunteers for traffic control
Thu, 3/6, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM - (5) volunteers for traffic control
Fri, 3/7, 5:00 AM - 7:30 AM - (5) volunteers for traffic control
Fri, 3/7, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM - (5) volunteers for traffic control
(4) Volunteers on standby
GREG HACKNEY TO RUN XPRESS BAY BOAT
Who Will Win The Bassmaster Classic?
It's always hard to pick a winner from among the strongest field of the season - that which shows up for the Bassmaster Classic each February - but this year it's even harder. For starters, there are 10 Alabamians in the field. That said, Kevin VanDam has said that he is, for the first time ever, showing up to the Classic in a state of complete preparedness including tackle prep and the mental game. He’s already won 4 of these things in a lesser state of preparedness.
And what about Skeet Reese? He loves to wind a lure. This Classic is likely to be won on a lipless crankbait. He knows how to win and has a Classic title to prove it. He has solid history on TVA lakes.
Aaron Martens lives near the lake. He has finished near the top of the Classic leaderboard more times than he cares to remember. If anything puts Guntersville bass in a funk this week, Martens becomes a frontrunner to finesse his way to a win.
Aaron Martens is searching for that elusive title. photo courtesy B.A.S.S.
Chris Lane moved to Lake G and has become an ambassador for the fish factory. He has won a Classic before. He could very well win another this week.
Former Classic Champ Chris Lane can catch 'em. And he lives on the lake. photo by Vance McCullough
Bobby Lane is always a threat. He would love to join brother, Chris in the exclusive club of Classic champs.
Bobby Lane will compete on his brother's home turf. photo by Vance McCullough
Speaking of guys who are always a threat, Brandon Palaniuk will almost certainly scrap his way toward a spot in Sunday’s Super Six as the drama heightens at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Center.
Palaniuk is a high-energy guy and this could come down to a matter of which angler makes the most casts to quality bass.
Gary Klein is beyond due for a Classic win. This is his 30th appearance in the big derby. He is the sentimental favorite. And a very capable angler.
Randall Tharp now gets his mail in Florida but he is still an Alabama homer this week. With experience on Guntersville the current Forrest Wood Cup Champion is fishing well enough lately to ‘unify the crown’ and take the title on the B.A.S.S. side of things as well.
Then there’s tenacious Hank Cherry, witty, wily Gerald Swindle and Big Show Terry Scroggins.
And there’s always going to be a surprise from one or more of the B.A.S.S. Nation guys, an Open winner or our collegiate angler, Jordan Lee who will represent Auburn University, just down the road a piece.
Indeed, this one is hard to handicap. When the chips are down, always bet on KVD . . . or Randall Tharp. Or maybe Skeet Reese, possibly AMart. Can’t ignore Palaniuk. Oops, don’t forget Chris Lane.
Oh forget it. Just enjoy the show!
Ish Monroe To Run River2Sea Wrap In 2014 Bassmaster Classic And Elite Series
Monroe, who will once again compete on both tours in 2014, ran a River2Sea wrap on his FLW Tour boat in 2013, but the company took the opportunity to become his main partner for the Elite Series.
The graphics package will feature a custom River2Sea R2S logo designed to match Monroe's black and sky blue color patterns, as well as the Ish Monroe signature series that have been so successful on and off the water.
Monroe said that having the opportunity to create a stronger partnership with River2Sea was a true draw to the promotion. "River2Sea and I have really developed a great working relationship and friendship since I joined the team in 2011," said Monroe. "Being able to do a little more to represent the brand and the products we have worked together to build is something I am very proud of. I look forward to flying these colors on the Bassmaster Classic stage and into the Elite Series this year."
Simon Chan, president of River2Sea said that the partnership made sense for a lot of reasons. "Ish has totally invested himself into being a part of the team here," said Chan. "He works very hard on his fishing, on his products and on the business and having him feature the R2S logo this way is a great value because we know how much it means to us in a promotional sense. Ish is one of the hardest workers out there and we are glad he is a part of the team and the River2Sea family."
Monroe's River2Sea wrap can be seen beginning this week as the Bassmaster Classic kicks off on Lake Guntersville February 21 - 23, 2014 along with daily weigh-ins occurring at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Center. Also visit River2Sea at the Bassmaster Classic Expo in booth 5015, also at the BJCC all three days of the show.
LAMAR UNIVERSITY WINS FLW COLLEGE FISHING SOUTHERN CONFERENCE EVENT ON TOLEDO BEND
Winter Storm Will Affect Fishing For Sc Bfl Opener On Lake Murray Saturday
Having almost recovered from the mid-January winter storm that brought freezing temperatures and several inches of snow to the South Carolina Midlands, Lake Murray was on the cusp of breaking wide open with the bass moving up to spawn.
The winning team in the Carolina Bass Challenge Team Tournament last Saturday weighed in a limit at just under 24 pounds and the top seven teams had more than 20 pounds. The 8th place team of Lake Murray veterans Greg Rikard and Eddie Herlong just missed that mark with a limit that weighed 19.78 pounds.
“The fish have been biting and there was a lot of good quality fish weighed in,” said Rikard. “But I don't see that happening this weekend.”
The opening tournament of the 2014 season for the South Carolina Division of the Walmart Bass Fishing League is scheduled for Lake Murray this Saturday, but the winter weather is expected to put a chill on the bite Rikard said.
The Palmetto State is in the midst of three days of sub-freezing temperatures with up to 6 inches of snow, sleet and freezing rain falling across the region. The combination of winter precipitation is so bad that Gov. Nikki Haley has declared a state of emergency and law enforcement agencies are warning residents to stay home and off the icy roads.
The storm is expected to pass by Friday, with sunshine and warmer temperatures returning, but that probably won't be enough to restore the pre-spawn bite to last week's level by Saturday, Rikard said.
“The water temperature ranged from 48 to 51 degrees last weekend, but this weather system is bound to cool the water down,” he said. “The fish are wanting to come up and there are some fish that are up. There are a lot of fish in between and people are still catching some deep. They are in all aspects of the pre-spawn as far as staging.”
Rikard said that when the bass do decide to commit to the shallow water they usually stay shallow, but he doesn't think the ones that were moving shallow had reached that point.
“They are in the vicinity, but not committed. I think this weather will push those fish back,” he said
“As far as the weights go, this is still Lake Murray, so I believe it will take 21 pounds to win Saturday. But I don't think those weights will hold up very deep in the field. If the weather had remained stable like it was last weekend, I think the weights would be outstanding.”
In the 13 years he has fished the South Carolina Division, Rikard has nine Top 10 finishes in the points, including 1st in 2011. He finished second in the points in the South Carolina Division in 2013 and finished second in the Regional championship last year on Lake Guntersville. He also qualified for the All-American for the fifth time. His best finish in the All-American was 4th in 2008 on Lake Hamilton in Arkansas.
“I look forward to making another run at the division title,” he said, noting it all starts Saturday on Lake Murray.
“Lake Murray is my home lake, but this time of year how you do is all weather related,” he said. “You can't win the points on the first tournament, but you sure can lose it by not doing well. You have to have your A-Game all year long.”
Walmart BFL South Carolina Division
Sat, Feb 15, 2014
Lake Murray
Dreher Island State Park
Ac Pro Staffer Rob Digh Weighs In On This Winters Effects On Tournaments And Baits You Have To Throw!
AC Pro Staffer Rob Digh gives us some great winter weather baits plus his take on the Classic and the CXL of the CBC on Lake Wylie this weekend!!
Weather Getting Right Just In Time For Texas Team Trail Opener On Rayburn Saturday
Winter weather that brought snow and ice to Southeast Texas has played havoc with recent bass tournaments on Sam Rayburn Lake, but that could change for the better for the Texas Team Tournament series opener there this Saturday.
In late January the second day of competition in the Rayovac FLW Series Texas Division was canceled due to unsafe weather conditions. For the Walmart Bass Fishing League Cowboy Division tournament last Saturday the water temperature was down to 45 degrees – the coldest it has been in years. Anglers in both tournaments had one word for the fishing – “tough.”
“The weights in the Rayovac tournament were way down from what you would typically expect this time of year,” said Mike Hastings, Texas Team Trail Tournament Director, who noted that more sleet and snow were being dumped on the lake this week.
But that might not be the tournament killer it could be this time of year, Hastings said.
“What has us encouraged going into our event is that we are going to have a two-day warming trend,” he said. “Thursday and Friday are going to be warm and the weather stable, and that is going to continue through our tournament on Saturday.”
That means, Hastings said, some big catches are expected in the Texas Team opener Saturday.
“It's pre-spawn and historically on Rayburn that is usually a lipless crankbait, Chatterbait and Slim Jig type bite. A lot of the anglers will be targeting submerged vegetation.”
Hastings said he expects a lot of anglers to spend a good part of their fishing time casting lipless crankbaits and in the tournament last year about this time Slim Jigs and vibrating lures like the Chatterbait play a big role.
“This is our third season and we are expecting a full field of 225 teams,” he said.
A major attraction for the anglers is the fact that all the tournaments are nationally televised, with the programs also airing on a lot of local networks, so there is a tremendous amount of exposure.
“It's all made possible by the sponsors and you can go to the website to see the complete list,” he said. “They are all important to us. Cabers is our title sponsor and we also have tremendous support from Ranger, Triton and Stratos. Evinrude is also a major sponsor.”
To fish the series each angler must pay a $30 membership fee, then each team pays a $250 entry fee to fish each tournament. The Texas Team Trail Anglers Advantage Program also allows each team, for an additional $100 entry, to compete in an additional payout bracket, with a $100 percent payback.
“A fully-rigged boat is guaranteed for first place at every tournament,” Hastings said. “That is a boat, motor, trailer and electronics, ready to fish. At the championship, two fully-rigged boats are guaranteed, one for first place and one for second place.”
Anglers who pre-register online get an additional bonus – practice time. If they are registered online before midnight Thursday they are allowed to pre-fish on Friday.
The complete schedule for the 2014 season includes: February 15, Sam Rayburn Lake, Registration 3-7 p.m. on Friday, Umphrey Pavilion, Hwy 255, Brookeland, TX (http://www.visitlakesamrayburn.com/umphreypavilion.html); March 15, Ray Roberts Lake, Registration 4-7 p.m. on Friday, March 14, Elks Lodge, 1601 Marina Circle, Sanger, TX
(http://www.elks.org/lodges/contactus.cfm?LodgeNumber=2862); April 12, Lake Texoma, Registration 4-7 p.m. Friday, April 11, Highpoint Marina, 120 Texoma Harbor Dr, Pottsboro, TX, (http://www.highport.com); May 3, Lake Livingston, Registration 4-7 p.m. on Friday, May 2, Waterfront Lodge, 371 Navaho Trail, Onalaska, TX (http://www.thewaterfrontlodge.com); and the Championship, June 7-8, Toledo Bend Reservoir, Registration 4-7 p.m. on Friday, June 6, Big Bass Marina, 363 Big Bass Lane, Many, LA, (http://www.bigbassmarina.com).
Texas Team Trail
Sat, Feb 15, 2014
Sam Rayburn Reservoir
Umphrey Family Pavilion
Call 210-788-4143
Cody Meyer Places 5th in FLW Tour on Okeechobee; Reveals HOT Flippin' Technique!
FLW Tour pro Cody Meyer placed 5th in the recent FLW Tour season-opener on Lake Okeechobee and he did so on the strength of the sasuteki rig. Meyer used a Zappu Sasuteki Weight on the bottom - that's right, the bottom - of a Jackall Sasuteki Craw to get into thick mats with a lighter lure package. Hear him tell how he did it. While not exactly brand new, this technique hasn't quite caught on. But it will. Be the first among your bassin' buddies to pick up the sasuteki rig.
Chilled Water From Winter Storm Could Help Lucky Team In Cbc-Nc Opener On Wylie
Hunter Hicks and Mike Stephens won the SC Division tourney last year on Wylie
The second winter storm in two weeks is expected to dump a half-foot of snow and ice on the Lake Wylie, S.C, area Tuesday and Wednesday, which is likely to make water temperatures plunge by the launch of the Carolina Bass Challenge North Carolina Division opener Saturday – but that might be a good thing for a few lucky anglers.
“Fishing is expected to be tough Saturday, with all the snow we've had,” said CBC Coordinator Brett Collins. “Water temperatures more than likely will fall, but that also tends to group the bass up and if one of our teams finds the right group it will pay off in a huge way.”
Collins noted that there have been two bass over 8 pounds weighed in at local tournaments in the past couple of weeks.
“We can expect to see some fish at least in the 5-pound range. Most would say 18 pounds would win the tournament and that's about right for early February,” he said.
“The Alabama Rig is still catching fish and small crankbaits such as a ShadRap are productive. 'Bumping,' or hopping a spoon will find the groups of bass in deeper water,” Collins said.
“This is our first NC CBC Division qualifier. We will launch out of Ebenezer Park,” Collins said. “We expect over 175 teams as Wylie usually has a high turnout”
He added that the famous Skeeter Beans will be served to the anglers at weigh-in.
“We have five North Carolina Qualifiers scheduled and to make the NC Championship a team has to enter three of the NC Qualifiers. As in the past, we take all the teams from the South Carolina and North Carolina Championships to the two-day Classic. The dates and locations for the Championships and Classic will be announced very soon.”
There have been some changes in requirements for the anglers, he noted.
“We now have a single-file blast-off to reduce the tricky situations that can arise at a blast-off with a large number of boats. And we no longer take entry fees at the ramp. All teams must be paid by the Wednesday before each event.”
Collins suggested anglers check out the CBC website (www.carolinasbasschallenge.com) where the requirements and payouts are posted. Each angler must pay an annual $50 membership and teams pay a $200 entry for each tournament. The guaranteed purse for each tournament is $8,000 with an additional $5,000 to the top finishing Skeeter/Yamaha owner who participates in all 2014 CBC events.
Top prize at both the North Carolina and South Carolina championships is a Skeeter TZX190/150 with a Yamaha 150. First prize in the 2014 CBC Classic will be a Skeeter ZX200/200 Yamaha SHO.
The 2014 CBC schedule includes: North Carolina Division: Lake Wylie, Feb. 15; Lake Norman, March 22; High Rock, April 12; Lake Hickory, May 17; Falls Lake, June 7. South Carolina Division: Lake Murray, Feb. 8; Lake Wylie, March 1; Lake Wateree, March 29; Santee Cooper, April 19; and Lake Hartwell, May 10.
For more information, contact Al Odom of Chapin, S.C., Administrator, 803-429-1784, [email protected], or Brett Collins of Ridgeway, S.C., Coordinator, 803-413-7521, [email protected].
Carolinas Bass Challenge - North Carolina Division
Sat, Feb 15, 2014
Lake Wylie
Buster Boyd Access Area
Call Brett Collins 803-413-7521
www.carolinasbasschallenge.com
Whoever Wins 2014 Bassmaster Classic Will Find Lake Guntersville At Its Toughest
Who will win the 44th annual Bassmaster Classic Feb. 21-23 on Alabama's famed Lake Guntersville?
Will it be 2012 Classic Champion Chris Lane, who lives at Guntersville where the Classic boats will launch, one of eight Alabama anglers in the field? Or four-time Classic runner-up Aaron Martens, who lives in Birmingham, little more than an hour's drive away, where the weigh-ins will be held?
Perhaps Auburn, Calif., Bassmaster Elite Series pro Skeet Reese who reigns as the most recent champ of a Bassmaster pro-level tournament on the big Tennessee River impoundment in northeastern Alabama. That win was in May 2010, when he busted the 100-pound mark — always a milestone in a four-day Elite Series event.
How about venerable pro Rick Clunn of Ada, Mo., who won the first of his record four Classic titles in the only other Classic held on Guntersville – in November of 2976. Could he find that Classic magic one more time on the lake where he began that record run of titles?
Whoever wins it will likely have to fish Guntersville at its toughest, said North Alabama fishing guide and tournament angler Brent Crowe of Hartselle, Ala.
“It's tough, super tough. There were 200 boats in the Alabama Bass Trail Team Tournament Saturday and 80 had zeros.”
But, he added, Guntersville isn't famous for no reason. The winner had 32 pounds.
“That tells you that no matter how tough it is on Guntersville somebody is going to catch them. Second place had 29 pounds and third had 26 pounds. The fish are there – somebody is always going to catch a big bag.”
The problem on Guntersville right now is the frigid winter weather, Crowe said, and the big question for the Classic anglers is whether the weather will stay wintry or let a little early springtime warming trend ease things up a little.
“The problem was the water temperature was 36-37-38 degrees. We had that freeze and I've never seen so much ice on Guntersville. There were creeks where the back quarter was solid ice, inch-thick ice. I'd never seen ice like that, never that much. It finally melted this week.”
But that was not the end of winter weather woes for Guntersville, Crowe said.
“We had a major rain Sunday night and then Tuesday we had another bunch of rain, so now we've got muddy water. It's flowing and it's still cold. The last two weeks fishing has been as tough on Guntersville as it's going to get.”
Weather prospects for the Classic are not very promising, Crowe said.
“The 10-day forecast shows highs in the 40s and lows in the 20s for the most part. If the water temperature gets up to the mid-40s everybody will catch them, but if it stays 41-42 degrees there will be some fish caught, but it just won't be wide open.”
Based on his more than 25 years of experience and from talking to other anglers, Crowe said the usual baits and patterns for winter fishing on Guntersville will probably prevail in the Classic.
“Rattle baits, little square-billed crankbaits, jerkbaits and a jig, that's what it always is. If you can find some green grass that will really help,” he said.
The key will be to find a productive spot and stick with it, Crowe said.
“The fish in Guntersville live in the same place all the time. You just have to make them bite. The people who did well in the Alabama Bass Trail Team Tournament that I talked to had one spot, one little stretch to fish and that was it.”
Even with Guntersville primed to fish as tough as it ever has, Crowe said it will probably take 20 pounds a day to win.
“No matter what the conditions are, it's going to take that much weight,” he said.
Brent Crowe, a FLW Tour and Series veteran and the 2012 Top Rod Solo Trail Angler of the Year, is a United States Coast Guard Licensed guide on Guntersville, Wheeler, Wilson, Pickwick and Smith Lakes. He can be reached at 256-466-9965 orwww.northalabamabass.com.
2014 Bassmaster Classic Preview
Feb 21-23, 2014
Lake Guntersville
City Harbor, Guntersville, AL
Brett Hite Wins FLW Tour season-opener on Lake Okeechobee!
Watch Greg Bohannan capture a short-lived lead before Brett Hite weigh-ins his winning fish. Hite tell us how he managed to dominate a field of 178 pros for 4 consecutive days on the 'Big O'.
Texas Bass Couples Battle Tough Conditions On Opening Weekend At Lake Dunlap
Texas Bass Couples
South Central Division
01-25-14
First let me welcome all of the returning couples and also welcome the new couples to this fishing season with the Texas Bass Couples.
It was cold to start the first tournament but once the sun came out it wasn’t so bad. We had 7 couples fish on opening day and this was the way it turned out. The total weights were with the bonus points added.
1. Brett Smith/ Sarah Barry 2 fish total 9.34lbs. big bass 4.15lbs. 100pts.
2. Leonard/Jan Philipp 3 fish total 7.37lbs. 99pts.
3. David Jara/Amy 2 fish total 5.23lbs. 98pts.
4. Mike/Noel Buck 2 fish total 2.34lbs. 97pts.
5. Steve/Joann Lopez 1fish total 1.19lbs. 96pts.
6. Eddie/Maggie McKinnis 1 fish total 1.17lbs. 95pts.
7. Kenneth Staats/Dawn Frederiksen 1 fish total 1.07lbs. 94pts.
New Ranger Pro Skeet Reese Joins Us For His Bassmaster Classic Preview
New Ranger Pro SKeet Resse joins us at the Anglers Choice Marine Open House to catch up on being a part of the Ranger Family as well as getting ready for this years Classic on Guntersville!! His preview includes exactly what he thinks you will have to weigh-in each day to win this years premier bass fishing event!
Anglers Choice Marine TT 2014 Preview with Director Chris Lucas
Anglers Choice Marine Team Trail Director Chris Lucas gets us ready for what promises to be one heck of a season in 2014 when they kick off at Smith Mtn Lake on March 8th! Bigger paybacks and with divisions in North Carolina and Virginia, there are plenty of Lakes for anglers to choose from plus the chance to fish for a brand new Ranger boat pkg at the Championship this fall!
Hardwick and William Win the CBC SC Div Event on Murray with 23.67 worth $10,000
The 2014 CBC kicked off year 3 with 166 teams showing up for what turned out to be a great opening day tournament on Lake Murray. Thomas Hardwick and Tommy William held on by not quite a 1/2 Lb to take home the $10,000 1st place prize. Murray is fishing well for early Feb with 32 bags of 15 Lbs or greater. Here is a picture of the Champs with full results below. Congrats to all the anglers who came out and caught some of these great Lake Murray bass
| Place | Team Name | Team # | Fish Weighed | Net Weight | Big Fish | Points | Winnings |
| 1 | Thomas Hardwick - Tommy William | 127 | 5 | 23.670 | 0.000 | 310 | $10,000 |
| 2 | Cole Winn - Lee Sawyer | 92 | 5 | 23.250 | 7.280 | 309 | $5,000 |
| 3 | Tony Jackson - Clint Jackson | 99 | 5 | 20.650 | 0.000 | 308 | $3,500 |
| 4 | Charlie Sansbury - Kevin Banks | 100 | 5 | 20.540 | 8.040 | 307 | $2,200 |
| 5 | Eddie Smith - Michael Carson | 95 | 5 | 20.240 | 0.000 | 306 | $1,700 |
| 6 | Bobby Stanfill - Chip Grice | 40 | 5 | 20.150 | 7.520 | 305 | $1,200 |
| 7 | Kevin Ashley - Keith Ashley | 37 | 5 | 20.090 | 5.680 | 304 | $1,000 |
| 8 | Greg Rikard - Eddie Herlong | 121 | 5 | 19.780 | 0.000 | 303 | $900 |
| 9 | Chris Sample - Charles Wilkie | 65 | 5 | 19.390 | 0.000 | 302 | $800 |
| 10 | Jeff Horton - Eddie Belcher | 52 | 5 | 19.300 | 6.220 | 301 | $750 |
| 11 | Chris Hawkins - Davey Thomas | 135 | 5 | 19.100 | 7.260 | 300 | $625 |
| 12 | Joseph Toth - Daniel Grassi | 118 | 5 | 18.630 | 0.000 | 299 | $550 |
| 13 | Mike Brehm - Craig Rozema | 89 | 4 | 18.250 | 7.900 | 298 | $525 |
| 14 | Bradford Beavers - Dwight Beavers | 1 | 5 | 18.060 | 0.000 | 297 | $500 |
| 15 | Toby Keisler - Joel Watts | 43 | 5 | 18.000 | 5.710 | 296 | $475 |
| 16 | Paul Selle - Parker Miller | 41 | 5 | 17.800 | 0.000 | 295 | $450 |
| 17 | Kevin Fulmer - Mark Richardson | 34 | 5 | 17.760 | 0.000 | 294 | $380 |
| 18 | Reggie O'Brian - Pat O'Brian | 139 | 5 | 17.550 | 7.170 | 293 | $330 |
| 19 | Clay Riddle - Dave Franklin | 76 | 5 | 17.260 | 0.000 | 292 | $320 |
| 20 | Roger Medlock - Todd Lawrence | 142 | 5 | 17.210 | 0.000 | 291 | $300 |
| 21 | Gary Michaud - Doc McDaniel | 114 | 5 | 17.200 | 0.000 | 290 | $280 |
| 22 | Buddy Walden - Troy Lytle | 141 | 5 | 17.140 | 0.000 | 289 | $265 |
| 23 | Mack Cook - Patrick Cook | 55 | 5 | 17.130 | 0.000 | 288 | $250 |
| 24 | Ronnie Mueller - Wayne Frierson | 66 | 5 | 17.020 | 0.000 | 287 | $240 |
| 25 | Howard Stephens - Mark McCormic | 4 | 5 | 16.720 | 0.000 | 286 | $230 |
| 26 | Roger Pope - Bryan LeFever | 47 | 5 | 16.140 | 0.000 | 285 | $220 |
| 27 | Mike Stephens - Zack Davis | 70 | 5 | 16.130 | 0.000 | 284 | $210 |
| 28 | Travis Parrish - Sean Hall | 150 | 4 | 16.010 | 0.000 | 283 | |
| 29 | Keith Porter - Jason Threat | 72 | 5 | 15.960 | 0.000 | 282 | |
| 30 | David Kneece - Terry Thomas | 53 | 5 | 15.470 | 0.000 | 281 | |
| 31 | Johnny Houser - Deron Donohoo | 15 | 5 | 15.150 | 0.000 | 280 | |
| 32 | Craig Chambers - Scott Hamrick | 60 | 5 | 15.010 | 0.000 | 279 | |
| 33 | Josh McGregor - Randall Drigger | 42 | 5 | 14.580 | 0.000 | 278 | |
| 34 | Neil Huffstetler - Ben Lee | 106 | 5 | 14.400 | 0.000 | 277 | |
| 35 | Michael Richardson - John Pelin | 163 | 4 | 14.370 | 0.000 | 276 | |
| 36 | Eric Grigg - Marc Grigg | 104 | 5 | 14.330 | 0.000 | 275 | |
| 37 | James Bond - Daniel Hill | 91 | 5 | 14.280 | 0.000 | 274 | |
| 38 | David Wiggins - Alex Zipperian | 134 | 5 | 14.020 | 0.000 | 273 | |
| 39 | Dennis Reedy - Jeffrey Thomas | 85 | 4 | 13.990 | 0.000 | 272 | |
| 40 | Patrick Walters - Todd Walters | 14 | 4 | 13.830 | 4.760 | 271 | |
| 41 | David Williams - Gerald William | 67 | 5 | 13.390 | 0.000 | 270 | |
| 42 | Chris Morris - Brian Upton | 108 | 3 | 12.560 | 6.710 | 269 | |
| 43 | Donald Poteat - Johnny Allen | 75 | 3 | 12.250 | 0.000 | 268 | |
| 44 | Ross Burns - Odom Dane | 159 | 5 | 11.980 | 0.000 | 267 | |
| 45 | Terry Morris - Kevin Rake | 133 | 5 | 11.860 | 0.000 | 266 | |
| 46 | Bill Grier - Robbie Byrum | 152 | 4 | 11.690 | 0.000 | 265 | |
| 47 | Will Dickens - Audi Epps | 71 | 4 | 11.620 | 0.000 | 264 | |
| 48 | Wyatt Gwyn - Ryan Bear | 123 | 3 | 11.610 | 0.000 | 263 | |
| 49 | Shannon Jordan - Shawn Jordan | 58 | 4 | 11.570 | 0.000 | 262 | |
| 50 | Nathan Burgess - Brent Riley | 68 | 4 | 11.310 | 0.000 | 261 | |
| 51 | Sean Skey - Sandy Sanders | 12 | 5 | 11.200 | 0.000 | 260 | |
| 52 | Wesley Cashwell - Shane Doughti | 146 | 4 | 11.130 | 0.000 | 259 | |
| 53 | David Wright - Jeff Coble | 46 | 5 | 11.100 | 0.000 | 258 | |
| 54 | Conrad Bolt - George Parker | 10 | 4 | 11.070 | 0.000 | 257 | |
| 55 | Michael Murphy - Kevin Sanders | 131 | 4 | 11.010 | 0.000 | 256 | |
| 56 | Chris Langley - Greg Sigmon | 116 | 3 | 11.000 | 0.000 | 255 | |
| 57 | Grady Melton - Billy Rochester | 69 | 3 | 10.650 | 0.000 | 254 | |
| 58 | Ronald Moss - Justin Harvey | 83 | 3 | 10.500 | 0.000 | 253 | |
| 59 | Johnny Player - Robert Hall | 97 | 3 | 10.390 | 0.000 | 252 | |
| 60 | Grayson Mathis - Derek Schlotte | 86 | 4 | 10.330 | 0.000 | 251 | |
| 61 | Tracy Hewitt - Pete Brantley | 124 | 3 | 10.300 | 0.000 | 250 | |
| 62 | Larry Christopher - Chuck Hensl | 88 | 3 | 10.050 | 0.000 | 249 | |
| 63 | Chuck Howard - Ken Ellis | 130 | 3 | 9.970 | 0.000 | 248 | |
| 64 | Ed Mathews - Earl Purcell | 5 | 3 | 9.530 | 3.430 | 247 | |
| 65 | Jason Hadden - Norm Attaway | 156 | 2 | 9.400 | 0.000 | 246 | |
| 66 | Coy Watts - David Hutcherson | 20 | 4 | 9.320 | 0.000 | 245 | |
| 67 | Michael Fuller - Billy Collins | 87 | 3 | 9.160 | 0.000 | 244 | |
| 68 | Samuel Freeman - Jase Knight | 9 | 3 | 9.060 | 0.000 | 243 | |
| 69 | David Slaughter - Eddie Ballard | 16 | 3 | 8.970 | 0.000 | 242 | |
| 70 | Randy Mathis - Jody Jones | 122 | 3 | 8.820 | 0.000 | 241 | |
| 71 | Sean Anderson - George Berry | 125 | 4 | 8.810 | 0.000 | 240 | |
| 72 | O'Neal Johnston - Richard Brads | 30 | 4 | 8.800 | 0.000 | 239 | |
| 73 | Ronnie McCoy - Jason McCoy | 11 | 3 | 8.690 | 0.000 | 238 | |
| 74 | Rick McLean - Robert Ross | 3 | 4 | 8.090 | 0.000 | 237 | |
| 75 | Stanley Harkins - Gene Parker | 107 | 3 | 8.090 | 0.000 | 236 | |
| 76 | Wayne King - Max Terry | 165 | 2 | 7.780 | 0.000 | 235 | |
| 77 | Ray Dowey - Joey Outlaw | 7 | 3 | 7.750 | 0.000 | 234 | |
| 78 | Kenneth McFarland - Darryl Wats | 101 | 2 | 7.490 | 6.110 | 233 | |
| 79 | Robert Brown - Ron Brown | 117 | 3 | 7.070 | 0.000 | 232 | |
| 80 | Mickey Barnes - Hal Cercopely | 162 | 2 | 6.910 | 0.000 | 231 | |
| 81 | Jay Keith - Donald Hinson | 23 | 3 | 6.710 | 0.000 | 230 | |
| 82 | Miles Hair - Terry Tolar | 94 | 4 | 6.440 | 0.000 | 229 | |
| 83 | Jason Smith - Steve Blankinship | 109 | 2 | 6.160 | 0.000 | 228 | |
| 84 | Stan Gunter - Will Smith | 158 | 2 | 6.090 | 0.000 | 227 | |
| 85 | Eric Bozeman - Clint Proudfoot | 154 | 1 | 5.630 | 5.630 | 226 | |
| 86 | Jason Carleton - Jerry Uhrich | 48 | 2 | 5.470 | 0.000 | 225 | |
| 87 | Thomas Vickers - Brian Huskins | 32 | 2 | 5.460 | 0.000 | 224 | |
| 88 | Paul Gettys - Brandon Temples | 26 | 2 | 5.420 | 0.000 | 223 | |
| 89 | Tommy Floyd - Randy Welch | 18 | 1 | 5.310 | 5.310 | 222 | |
| 90 | Mark Swez - Lamar Williamson | 120 | 2 | 5.180 | 0.000 | 221 | |
| 91 | Randy Hall - David Wray | 2 | 2 | 5.010 | 0.000 | 220 | |
| 92 | John McKenzie - John Christian | 77 | 2 | 4.440 | 0.000 | 219 | |
| 93 | Todd Gambrell - Eddy Morgan | 19 | 2 | 4.410 | 0.000 | 218 | |
| 94 | Alan Fletcher - Danny Johnson | 103 | 2 | 4.060 | 0.000 | 217 | |
| 95 | Bernie Dreher - Les Westberry | 8 | 1 | 3.930 | 0.000 | 216 | |
| 96 | Ferris Jennings - Larry Michalec | 24 | 2 | 3.900 | 0.000 | 215 | |
| 97 | Jim Sims - Casey Logan | 105 | 1 | 3.570 | 3.570 | 214 | |
| 98 | Glenn Altman - Larry Parker | 147 | 1 | 3.180 | 0.000 | 213 | |
| 99 | Kiel Kelly - Chuck Whittaker | 29 | 1 | 3.050 | 0.000 | 212 | |
| 100 | John Sturkie - Calvin Hewitt | 143 | 1 | 2.960 | 0.000 | 211 | |
| 101 | Jeremy Johnson - Harry Johnson | 164 | 1 | 2.700 | 0.000 | 210 | |
| 102 | Kevin Driggers - Freddie Gamble | 157 | 1 | 2.390 | 0.000 | 209 | |
| 103 | John Branstetter - Troy Buffing | 59 | 1 | 2.320 | 2.320 | 208 | |
| 104 | Chris Spencer - Danny Spencer | 82 | 1 | 2.320 | 0.000 | 207 | |
| 105 | Shane Lineberger - Anthony John | 84 | 1 | 2.290 | 2.290 | 206 | |
| 106 | Shane Suddeth - Fred Moore | 119 | 1 | 1.830 | 0.000 | 205 | |
| 107 | Spencer McCrary - Steve Borton | 56 | 1 | 1.510 | 0.000 | 204 | |
| 108 | Daniel Jordan - Lyn Langston | 6 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 203 | |
| 109 | Philip Burns - Todd Burns | 13 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 202 | |
| 110 | Anthony Marks - Joe Marks | 17 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 201 | |
| 111 | Billy Morris - Gary Angel | 21 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 200 | |
| 112 | Brad Nappier - Nathan Luke | 22 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 199 | |
| 113 | Jerry Freezon - Jason Miles | 25 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 198 | |
| 114 | Tracy Schiff - David Few | 27 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 197 | |
| 115 | Jimmy Stroud - Kirk Crump | 28 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 196 | |
| 116 | Daniel O'Brian - Rob Thames | 31 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 195 | |
| 117 | Ryan Sprayberry - Wendell Cause | 33 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 194 | |
| 118 | David Teel - Chris Ramsey | 35 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 193 | |
| 119 | Dell Burns - Mel Staggs | 36 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 192 | |
| 120 | Randy Morrison - Johnny Bihlear | 38 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 191 | |
| 121 | Beau Dixon - Andy Sease | 39 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 190 | |
| 122 | Phillip Mays - Jonathan Crossland | 44 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 189 | |
| 123 | John Johnston - Steve Lowder | 45 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 188 | |
| 124 | Tim Harmon | 49 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 187 | |
| 125 | Johnny Johnson - Ron Carson | 50 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 186 | |
| 126 | Todd Garner - Shane Hartman | 51 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 185 | |
| 127 | Tom hucks - Chris Boehme | 54 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 184 | |
| 128 | John Gutierrez - Rodney Tapp | 57 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 183 | |
| 129 | Frederick Clements - Dusty Rhoa | 61 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 182 | |
| 130 | Jerry Montjoy - Brett Mitchell | 62 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 181 | |
| 131 | Glenn Gentry - Tommy Purvis | 63 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 180 | |
| 132 | Thad Driggers - Robert Carter | 64 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 179 | |
| 133 | Jason Frye - Kyle Yandle | 73 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 178 | |
| 134 | Perry Wycuff - Dan Lowe | 74 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 177 | |
| 135 | TIm DePriest - Chris Blanchette | 78 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 176 | |
| 136 | Marc Deschenes - Ray Walsh | 79 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 175 | |
| 137 | Rodney Cromer | 80 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 174 | |
| 138 | Alton Rockett - Brandon Earls | 81 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 173 | |
| 139 | Patrick Tierney - Todd Auten | 90 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 172 | |
| 140 | Danny Mitchell - Jody Cline | 93 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 171 | |
| 141 | Larry Avins - Joe Avin | 96 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 170 | |
| 142 | Thomas Richmond - Artie Phillip | 98 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 169 | |
| 143 | Chris Dover - Chad Lail | 102 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 168 | |
| 144 | Phil Morris - Don Kneece | 110 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 167 | |
| 145 | Kenny Brice - Horace Morris | 111 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 166 | |
| 146 | Eddie Williams - Carl Williams | 112 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 165 | |
| 147 | Thomas King - Clayton King | 113 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 164 | |
| 148 | Andrew Boykin - Chris Anderson | 115 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 163 | |
| 149 | Chris Marshall - Ronnie Wilson | 126 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 162 | |
| 150 | Chad Sinclair - Caleb Conner | 128 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 161 | |
| 151 | Russ Padgett - Meredith Havird | 129 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 160 | |
| 152 | Robby Hipps - Rodney Chastain | 132 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 159 | |
| 153 | John Ellender - Tina Ellender | 136 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 158 | |
| 154 | Robert Braxton - Joe Braxton | 137 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 157 | |
| 155 | Chad Hastings - Dan Whitehouse | 138 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 156 | |
| 156 | Larry Moss - JB Wicker | 140 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 155 | |
| 157 | John Paul George - Eric Weir | 144 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 154 | |
| 158 | Andy Wicker - Steve Wicker | 145 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 153 | |
| 159 | Chris Epting - Johnny Mayer | 148 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 152 | |
| 160 | Josh Rennebaum - Hampton Anders | 149 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 151 | |
| 161 | Robert Guest - David Heatherly | 151 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 150 | |
| 162 | Robert Fowler - John Parker | 153 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 149 | |
| 163 | Bryan Frazer - William Frazer | 155 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 148 | |
| 164 | Charlie Smith | 160 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 147 | |
| 165 | Tim Jones - Chris Bennett | 161 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 146 | |
| 166 | Chad Hamm - Hans Cansler | 166 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 145 |
Young Edges Browning By An Ounce At Amistad Open
The best he could do ended up being a 13-pound, 10-ounce limit that gave Young the winning total of 39-6. While Allen caught only one keeper and dropped to third place with 37-12, Browning caught the heaviest limit of the day (14-6) and climbed into second with 39-5.
“This is a lifelong dream,” said Young of his victory and qualifying for the 2015 Bassmaster Classic if he fishes the two remaining Central Opens. “I have been telling all my friends back home that I am living a dream, and I am afraid someone is going to pinch me and wake me up.” Young also won the top prize of a Triton/Mercury rig worth $40,000 and $7,083 in cash.
The Minnetonka Lake guide made his dream come true on Saturday by catching three of his biggest fish on a Hog Farmer Bait Company Alabama Rig adorned with Big Bite Baits Cane Thumpers. He caught his other two keepers on a drop shot rig with a Biovex Kolt Fish Tail. He fished the Alabama rig 12 to 15 feet deep and the drop shot 21 to 25 feet deep along rocky humps and points.
Browning followed up a tough first day with a 20-14 limit the second day to jump back into contention. “I had two stinking bites after Day 1, and I didn’t tuck my tail and run,” the Bassmaster Elite Series pro said.
The Arkansas competitor caught all of his keepers on an Alabama rig with Z-Man ElaZtech DieZel Minnowz on main lake flats 35 to 45 feet deep. “I was throwing it out and waiting for it to hit bottom and then just really slow reeling it,” he said. “I think the key for me was using 20-pound Gamma Fluorocarbon rather than braided line like I usually do.”
Rounding out the Top 5 in the pro division were Cody Ryan Greaney of Texas in fourth place with 34-3 and Jordan Lee of Alabama in fifth with 31-9,
Texas angler Joe Lee caught a three-fish 6-13 limit to win the co-angler division with 26-1. He took home a Skeeter/Yamaha rig valued at $25,000. All of Lee’s keepers bit either a Texas-rigged Zoom Trick Worm or a finesse worm on a drop shot rig.
Another highlight of this tournament featured Jordan Lee and Matt Lee competing in the pro division Top 12 on the final day. The two brothers both fished for the Auburn University team and gained valuable tournament experience in the Carhartt College Series.
Allen earned the Carhartt Big Bass award of $500 for catching the largest bass (10 pounds, 1 ounce) of the event.
Winning the Livingston Lures Leader Award of $250 for finishing as the top pro on Day 2 was Allen. The Day 2 leader on the co-angler side, Joe Lee, earned a Livingston Lures gift pack worth $250.
The angler who advances the most places up the leaderboard from Day 1 to Day 2 receives the “Allstate Good Hands, Great Day” award. Pro division angler Jason Lieblong of Conway, Ark., picked up $250 by jumping 94 places from 121 to 27. Co-angler Jonathan McDougald of New England, Ark., took home $150 by climbing 63 places from 83 to 20.
Toyota Bonus Bucks paid $1,500 to Young, who was the highest placing eligible pro angler entrant and $1,000 to the second highest placing pro, Browning. On the co-angler side, the top eligible entrant received $300, and the second highest placing eligible co-angler gets $150.
2014 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Central Open 2/6-2/8
Lake Amistad, Del Rio, Texas
(BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Andy Young Mound, MN 14 39-06 200 $47,083.00
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 4 13-11 Day 3: 5 13-10
2. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 12 39-05 199 $16,821.00
Day 1: 2 04-01 Day 2: 5 20-14 Day 3: 5 14-06
3. Randy Allen Shreveport, LA 11 37-12 198 $13,366.00
Day 1: 5 18-00 Day 2: 5 18-03 Day 3: 1 01-09
4. Cody Ryan Greaney Manchaca, TX 14 34-03 197 $11,288.00
Day 1: 5 15-03 Day 2: 4 07-11 Day 3: 5 11-05
5. Jordan Lee Vinemont, AL 15 31-09 196 $9,849.00
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 5 11-11 Day 3: 5 08-04
6. Carl Jocumsen Queensland AUSTRALIA 10 30-06 195 $8,411.00
Day 1: 2 03-09 Day 2: 5 15-02 Day 3: 3 11-11
7. Matt Lee Auburn , AL 15 30-04 194 $7,083.00
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 5 10-14 Day 3: 5 09-02
8. Ray Hanselman Jr Del Rio, TX 15 29-12 193 $5,644.00
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 11-11 Day 3: 5 07-11
9. Dave Mansue Hemphill, TX 15 28-05 192 $4,205.00
Day 1: 5 09-06 Day 2: 5 09-05 Day 3: 5 09-10
10. Troy J Broussard Beaumont, TX 12 26-02 191 $3,873.00
Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 3 06-06 Day 3: 4 06-15
11. Kurt Dove Del Rio, TX 12 26-00 190 $3,541.00
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 5 11-06 Day 3: 2 03-13
12. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 11 21-11 189 $3,320.00
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 5 08-05 Day 3: 1 01-10
CARHARTT BIG BASS
Randy Allen Shreveport, LA 10-01 $500.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 22 318 669-02
2 25 328 692-12
3 7 46 99-10
----------------------------------
54 692 1461-08
2014 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Central Open 2/6-2/8
Lake Amistad, Del Rio, Texas
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Joe Lee Grand Prairie, TX 8 26-01 200 $25,000.00
Day 1: 2 03-05 Day 2: 3 15-15 Day 3: 3 06-13
2. Bo Rhodes Flower Mound, TX 6 19-08 199 $5,423.00
Day 1: 1 01-11 Day 2: 3 14-03 Day 3: 2 03-10
3. William Oshinn Granite Bay, CA 6 19-08 198 $4,095.00
Day 1: 2 04-15 Day 2: 3 12-05 Day 3: 1 02-04
4. Drake W Wehrs Truth Consq, NM 7 18-03 197 $2,767.00
Day 1: 3 10-10 Day 2: 1 01-13 Day 3: 3 05-12
5. Brendan Kennell Del Rio, TX 5 18-03 196 $2,545.00
Day 1: 3 06-05 Day 2: 1 08-09 Day 3: 1 03-05
6. Steven W Hupp Tucson, AZ 5 16-13 195 $2,435.00
Day 1: 2 05-00 Day 2: 1 07-00 Day 3: 2 04-13
7. Jimmy Patterson Amarillo, TX 8 16-12 194 $2,324.00
Day 1: 3 07-15 Day 2: 2 02-13 Day 3: 3 06-00
8. Derrek Stewart Venice, CA 8 15-12 193 $2,213.00
Day 1: 3 05-03 Day 2: 2 03-14 Day 3: 3 06-11
9. Shawn Carnahan Gilbert, AZ 5 13-13 192 $2,103.00
Day 1: 2 04-11 Day 2: 1 06-02 Day 3: 2 03-00
10. Mike Briseno Elgin, TX 5 12-12 191 $1,881.00
Day 1: 3 08-02 Day 2: 1 02-05 Day 3: 1 02-05
11. Pig Savario Prairieville, LA 5 11-06 190 $1,660.00
Day 1: 2 05-03 Day 2: 3 06-03 Day 3: 0 00-00
12. Justin Hallmark Bertram, TX 4 09-01 189 $1,549.00
Day 1: 1 04-01 Day 2: 3 05-00 Day 3: 0 00-00
CARHARTT BIG BASS
Brendan Kennell Del Rio, TX 08-09 $0.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 18 144 283-02
2 13 123 264-01
3 4 21 44-09
----------------------------------
35 288 591-12
Hite still leads by a dozen pounds, Tharp still 2nd at FLW Tour kickoff on Okeechobee
A variety of techniques have come into play at this week's FLW Tour event on Lake Okeechobee. Anglers can fish most any style they like.
Brett Hite (74 pounds, 3 ounces total weight) has found a style he likes and says he is very comfortable. We'll find out all about his pattern tomorrow as the tournament concludes but for now Hite isn't saying much.
Randall Tharp(62 pounds, total) says he is also comfortable. He is 12 pounds, 3 ounces behind Hite heading into the final day, but Tharp actually caught more weigh than Hite today (16-02 to 15-12). That's the first time it has happened this week. Yesterday the two pretty well established the same pace so the difference has been Hite's heavy day 1 effort of 34-15 that put him over 11 pounds ahead of Tharp.
"I haven't caught a 30-pound bag since pratcice began," said Tharp with a nod to the long odds ahead of him tomorrow. But the lake has produced a sack of nearly 35 pounds, the very reason Hite has had this thing on cruise control for 3 straight days, and Tharp is a big bass specialist so Sunday's final round will be interesting.
Hate to paint this as a two-man race, but unless Hite - the only angler with a realistic chance to touch the century mark in this event - stumbles tomorrow, it may be a one-man race. Don't tell that to James Watson, in 3rd with 60-02.
Leon Williams (59-02) and Greg Bohannan (59-01) round out the top 5.
As usual in Florida, it's all about finding the right area more so than the right pattern. But once in the best neighborhood this week, anglers must also pick the right presentation. While they can catch bass on a variety of techniques, those who use the best approach have separated themselves. Hite would be the extreme example of this. Observers said they weren't sure what he was doing but that he was doing something different.
Billy DeHart of Burlingame, California won the co-angler title today. With a total weight of 48-11 he surpassed Tulsa, Oklahoma's Ken Coates by one skinny ounce.
DeHart caught many of his key fish on a white War Eagle spinnerbait with a dash of orange and chartreuse when the wind was blowing.
Hite Widens Gap, But Tharp Threatens at FLW Tour on Lake Okeechobee
VICIOUS VISION RIDES WITH KILGORE INTO THE CLASSIC
Vicious Vision adds a fourth 2014 Bassmaster Classic contender to their roster with the signing of David Kilgore. Kilgore qualified for the event by winning the B.A.S.S. Southern Open on Logan Martin last May. David is a perennial contender in the Southern Opens and has been invited to join the B.A.S.S. Elite Series Tour three times. Living about an hour from the lake, he brings a wealth of knowledge for the Guntersville-based Classic to be held February 21-23, 2014. Kilgore will be running a Vicious Vision wrapped boat in that event.
"When I talked to the guys at Vicious about their new line of sunglasses, I was immediately intrigued. After trying them, I knew I wanted to be a part of the team. In a game of ounces, these glasses could make the difference between seeing that one extra piece of cover or a slightly deeper weed line than some of the guys not using the Xperio UV technology. Everyone in this field can fish and is capable of winning this event, so you have to grab every advantage you can. I think these glasses are a true advantage and I can’t wait to get out there and prove it!” stated Kilgore.
“David has been fishing for the guys at Vicious Fishing for years, so when they brought David to me I was already confident in his ability. He is a known threat in that area -- especially on Guntersville. Every year he proves himself in the Southern Opens and we don’t expect him to do any less in 2014. Plus, we are very excited to have a boat wrapped in our brand going to the biggest stage in fishing, the Bassmaster Classic ,” boasted Dr. Doug Jordan, owner.
Allen Leads Frigid Bassmaster Open On Amistad
Randy Allen of Shreveport, La., takes the Day 1 lead in the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Central Open presented by Allstate on Lake Amistad in Del Rio, Texas.
DEL RIO, Texas — Former Bassmaster Elite Series pro Randy Allen went into scramble mode to overcome a slow start and take the lead at the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Central Open presented by Allstate at Lake Amistad.
The Shreveport, La., angler has a comfortable lead in the pro division after catching an 18-pound limit that included a 10-pound, 1-ounce largemouth.
“I knew that we could catch a big fish, but it is just luck of the draw on those big ones,” he said. “I knew that I was around some fish. I just had to keep throwing and hope for the best.”
Morning temperatures were so cold, ice developed in Allen’s rod guides, and he worried that his line might break.
“It kind of scared me this morning with the ice on my guides, especially when that big one got on,” he said. “My biggest fear was that the ice on the guides would cut the line. My hook was bent out, and my drag was frozen.”
He was finally able to steer the fish to his landing net. “The good Lord was with us so it worked out,” he said.
Everything worked out well for Allen, despite two days of practice in which he never got a bite. Through previous scouting trips, Allen had planned out a series of stops where he believed he would find bass.
“Today was just going on a milk run where I knew these fish were and trying to catch them,” said Allen, who didn’t catch a fish until after 10 a.m. “It was a nightmare trying to figure them out. It was just one here and one there. I would catch a couple and then not catch anything for an hour and half. Then I would catch two or three. I just had to hit 10 or 12 spots to get my limit.”
Fellow Louisiana angler Brent Bonadona also got off to a slow start but recovered to catch four keepers weighing 15-6 to move into second place. After fishing shallow until about noon and not catching a bass, Bonadona decided to work a jig 35 feet deep, and that paid off.
“I was actually hoping to go out and just catch a couple of keepers because it has been a rough practice,” he said. “The day went really well, and I exceeded everything I went out to do this morning.”
Rounding out the Top 5 in the pro division were Oklahoma angler Chris Jones in third place with 15-4; Cody Ryan Greaney of Texas, fourth, 15-3; and Troy Broussard of Texas, fifth, 12-13.
Union Pacific Railroad worker Drake Wehrs moved into first in the co-angler division with a three-fish limit weighing 10-10. The 23-year-old New Mexico angler said he would reveal what he caught his fish on at the Friday weigh-in.
“This is the first time I have ever done this (technique),” he said. “It wasn’t anything my partner showed me out there. I just picked it up and started doing it and caught the three keepers I had.”
Hosting the season-opening Central Open is the Del Rio Chamber of Commerce. Anglers will take off Friday and Saturday at 7:30 a.m. local time from Diablo East Marina, U.S. 90 West, Del Rio, Texas 78840. Weigh-ins will be held each day at the same location beginning at 3:30 p.m.
McMillan Latest Pro DQ'd by Revised FLW Rule #5
Brandon McMillan will miss the FLW Tour season-opener on his home water, Lake Okeechobee. Anthony Galiardi and Frank Clark were disqualified under the same revised rule (#5) that stung an unsuspecting McMillan. That brings the total to 3 DQ's under the rule - before the season has even begun.
FLW Tour pro Brandon McMillan and FLW Tour co-angler, Rayovac Series pro Cal Clark have practiced together for a couple of years
So neither man had any reservations about doing so for this week's seaon-opener on Okeechobee. After all, they were on the official roster, right? Both thought so.
It turns out that Clark was not officially entered, according to FLW officials. Hence, the disqualification of McMillan who, unwittingly, fished with an inelligible partner.
McMillan is trhe 3rd pro to be DQ'd from this week's tourney due to revisions FLW made to Rule #5. The pertinent text reads: "Thirty days prior to the first practice day pros are only permitted on tournament waters alone or accompanied by a contestant in the tournament, a member of their immediate family (mother, father, brother, sister, son, daughter, grandparent, grandchild or spouse), approved sponsor representatives, approved youth age 18 or younger or approved media representatives. With prior approval from the tournament director, pros may participate in FLW, B.A.S.S. Elite Series, B.A.S.S. Opens, PAA and other pro/am tournaments featuring random partner draws within the 30-day window."
Apparently, Clark had not paid his entire entry fee. But McMillan is paying a huge price. Which leads to the obvious question, 'is there something the FLW organization can do, or should do, to prevent such unfortunate situations from arizing in the future?'
These recent developments will certainly lead some pros to stop practicing with anybody. That causes access problems for co-anglers who want to get out and see how the lake is fishing. Also, having a practice partner can help a pro cut dowm on expenses if expenses are shared between the two anglers.
Any solution will come too late to help McMillan and other anglers affected by the rule change.
Our friends at BassFan.com wrote an in-depth article on this situation - read it here: http://bassfan.com/news_article.asp?ID=4776#.UvO9LrQl9vQ
Lowrance wraps-up Ish Monroe
Along with his promotional responsibilities, Monroe will once again be fishing two tours in 2014.
The work starts today, and as he slides his Ranger Z520c / Yamaha 250 SHO into the waters of Lake Okeechobee today for the first day of competition for the 2014 FLW Tour opener, it will be emblazoned in the colors of Lowrance.
Monroe will be running two boats again this season, and Lowrance and their Insight Genesis mapping products have partnered with Monroe as his title sponsor for the 2014 FLW Tour.
Lowrance has been a large part of Monroe's career successes, and he has always been known as one of the first anglers to utilize every technological advantage when it comes to research of the water; so it was a perfect fit to combine Lowrance and Insight Genesis as his FLW Tour branding.
"I wouldn't have been as effective as an angler without Lowrance Electronics on my boats all these years," said Monroe. "Being able to see the smallest changes in bottom depth or composition has been very improtant to me as a shallow water specialist, and my Lowrance HDS and HDS Touch Fishing Systems have always given me that ability.
He said it has helped him win on tour. "When I won the Bassmaster event on Lake Okeechobee in 2012, I found deeper water in the areas I was fishing," he said. "My Lowrance Fishing Systems picked up the depth and I was able to see that they were abandoned tilapia beds that the bass were using; that was a huge part of my win.
"I am truly honored to be representing Lowrance with my jersey, boat and truck this year on the FLW Tour," he said. "They (Lowrance) have been a major part of my career, they are true partners and I'm proud to be representing them in this way."
Frigid Conditions On Lake Guntersville Could Pose Problems For Bfl Choo Choo Division Anglers
Johnny Patterson won the first 2013 Walmart Bass Fishing League Choo Choo Division Tournament on Lake Guntersville last February, launching his drive to claiming the points championship for the division by season's end.
In notching the first win of the season Patterson weighed in five bass at 31 pounds, 12 ounces, his top personal weight in BFL competition.
However, Patterson, who lives five minutes from the lake, said things are a lot different on Guntersville one year later. And, he acknowledged, the season is not set up nearly as friendly for him this year as it was last year.
In 2013 all the tournaments were on Guntersville, where he was able to stay on top of the fish through the entire season, finishing the year with two 1st places, two more top 10s and one 11th-place finish. This year, two of the five tournaments are on Pickwick Lake, more than 100 miles and nearly a two-hour drive west of Grant, Ala., where Patterson lives, so he will have little opportunity for scouting and practicing before those tournaments.
Then, there is this first tournament on Guntersville which is a lot different lake than it was a year ago this weekend.
“The weather has been a lot colder, so things are completely different, for me anyway,” Patterson said. “The lake has some of the coldest temperatures I have seen in a long, long time. The water is stained, with a lot more color in the water than it was last year.”
On Feb. 9 last year, Patterson caught most of the fish in that monster string of bass fishing deep ledges with an Alabama Rig and a swim bait. He bolstered that pattern, throwing a Rat-L-Trap in the shallow water, which he said is traditionally a strong early spring pattern on Guntersville.
The dominant pattern this Saturday most likely will be in shallow water, Patterson said.
“I think they will probably be in the 4- to 6-foot range. There is a lot of grass left over from last year and I think they will be holding in that grass,” he said. “When the water gets that cold, it gets a little warmer up shallow during the day and those fish head to the shallow water to take advantage of the warmer temperature.”
Patterson said he will probably rely mostly on a Rat-L-Trap and swim bait around the shallow grass Saturday. But he won't use the kind of tactics most anglers rely on when the weather is this cold.
“Guntersville has always been a little backwards from everything you read about fishing,” he said. “On Guntersville, the colder the water is the faster you need to retrieve your bait, which is exactly the opposite of everything you ever read about fishing in colder temperatures.”
Following the Choo Choo Division opener Saturday, the series moves to Pickwick lake out of McFarland Park at Florence, Ala., March 8, then back to Guntersville, out of The Bait, Tackle & Grill at Goose Pond, April 12, back to Pickwick out of McFarland Park at Florence, Ala., June 21, and then wraps up with the two-day final Sept. 20-21 on Lake Guntersille, out of The Bait, Tackle & Grill at Goose Pond, Ala.
Walmart BFL Choo Choo Division
Sat, Feb 8, 2014
Lake Guntersville
The Bait & Tackle Grill at Goose Pond
No Practice, No Problem For Dill In Alabama South Division Opener On Lake Martin
Chris Dill of Hueytown, Ala., says a colder, wetter winter means fishing on Lake Martin is going be a little different this Saturday from a year ago when he weighed in a five-bass limit at 18.21 pounds to win the 2013 Weekend Bass Series Alabama South Division 2 season opener.
“I think it's going to be a little tougher than last year, but the largemouth bite should be good. They should be moving up. If we get a couple of days of warm weather, it would be even better,” said Dill.
“It should be good for spots, too, depending on the water temperature and water color. The largemouths bite better when the water is stained. When the water gets muddy it tends to turn the spots off, but turn the largemouths on.”
Because of his job Dill will not get to practice for the opener on Lake Martin, but that's fine with him. He did not get to practice prior to winning last February either.
“I didn't practice last year and I think that helped me,” he said. “I know where I'm going and I know what I am going to do.”
That means he is going to head for the upper part of the lake Saturday and look for some stained water between Elkahatchie Creek and the upper end of the lake.
“I am going after them with a crankbait and a spinnerbait, and flipping in the trees. If the water is clear enough I will throw a jerkbait some and if it's warm enough, say close to 50 degrees, I'll throw a Rat-L-Trap,” he said. “They really like a Rat-L-trap up there this time of year if the water temperature gets in the 50-degree range. If not, I'll throw a ShadRap, and if it gets above 50s degrees and not real stained, I'll throw a jerkbait a lot and a flat-sided crankbait.”
If the water is really muddy, he said, he will throw a spinnerbait and flip around trees and logjams, and throw the crankbait around rocky points close to spawning areas.
Dill said he will fish the pockets for the largemouths and if the water is running because of all the rain, he will fish along the main points for spotted bass.
“I'll throw a crankbait around the timber and then ease up and flip the timber, he said. Sometimes they don't want to chase a crankbait but if you drop something in front of them they will bite, so I'll be flipping a jig in any treetop I come to.”
The flat-sided crankbait was his go-to bait last year and he repaints the lures with a special color pattern for Lake Martin.
“They don't make that color anymore, but I am in the paint business and I used to be an automobile painter, so I buy the baits in white color and paint them the color I've been using. They like red up there this time of year, so I paint them kind of reddish-orange, with some black and a little chartreuse on the bottom.”
Dill is sponsored by Triton Boats, Mercury Outboards and Airport Marine.
Registration for the tournament begins at 4 p.m. Friday at the Betty Carol Graham Technology Center, on the Central Alabama Community College campus, 1675 Cherokee Road (Highway 63) in Alexander City. Ala.
Alabama South Division schedule: Feb. 8, Lake Martin, Wind Creek State Park; March 15, Lay Lake, Beeswax Creek; May 17, Lake Eufaula, Lakepoint Resort State Park; June 14, Logan Martin Lake, Lakeside Park; with the two-day final Sept. 27-28, Lake Euafaula, Lakepoint Resort State Park.
Anglers in the Boater Division pay a $200 entry fee, with co-anglers paying $100. ABA members no longer have to have dual membership to fish the Weekend Bass Series and liability insurance requirements have been reduced to an acceptable level for weekend anglers. The payback has been increased at divisional levels from 20 percent of the field to 25 percent of the field.
At the end of the season, the best WBS anglers from across the nation will fish the 2014 Ray Scott Championship, slated for Wheeler Lake in Decatur, Ala., from Nov. 15-18. The champion boater will receive $100,000 and possibly up to $50,000 in Triton Gold Bonus money. The co-angler champion will win $50,000 and possibly up to $25,000 in Triton Gold Bonus money.
As a special Ray Scott Championship bonus, the Boater Division and Co-Angler Division champions will each receive entry fees and sponsorship into the one of two professional bass fishing series of the angler’s choice. The sponsorship includes entry fees into three professional events and sponsorship support. This sponsorship will put the champion within striking distance of one of two professional bass fishing championships.
Weekend Bass Series – Alabama South Division
Sat, Feb 8, 2014
Lake Martin
Wind Creek State Park
Call 256-232-0406
TEXAS TEAM TRAIL PRESENTED BY CABELA’S KICKS OFF SEASON AT SAM RAYBURN LAKE
TEXAS TEAM TRAIL PRESENTED BY CABELA’S KICKS OFF SEASON AT SAM RAYBURN LAKE
Record payouts, exceptional fishing expected for first TXTT event of 2014
NORMAN, Okla. (February 4, 2014) – The Texas Team Trail presented by Cabela’s will host its first event of the 2014 tournament season on Feb. 15 at Sam Rayburn Lake. The iconic Texas fishery is situated between Beaumont and Longview and remains one of the most popular destinations in the world for competitive bass fishermen.
Registration for the event is already underway – anglers can secure an opportunity to pre-fish Friday, Feb. 14, by completing their registration online or via phone prior to midnight on Thursday, February 13. All anglers that pre-register will also be entered into a drawing for a Power-Pole Shallow Water Anchor. In addition, anglers that opt to register online at www.texasteamtrail.com will be entered into a drawing for a bonus $100 Cabela’s gift card.
The Sam Rayburn event is the first of four 2014 qualifying events that guarantee a fully rigged, 18-foot boat, motor, trailer package as first-place prize. The winning anglers at Rayburn will walk away with a brand-new Triton 18XS powered by an Evinrude 150 HO.
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. 14, from 3:00-7:00 p.m. at Umphrey Pavilion (5438 RR 255 West, Sam Rayburn, TX 75951). At least one team member must attend, as boat numbers will be assigned during this time. The tournament will launch Saturday, Feb.15, at safe light from Umphrey Pavilion and weigh-in will begin at the same location 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.
Along with title-sponsor Cabela’s, Texas Team Trail has also welcomed Lucas Oil®, Ranger Boats, Stratos Boats, Triton Boats, Evinrude®, Minn Kota®, Talon, RAM Trucks, Lowrance, Power-Pole, Amphibia, iON, Garmin, General Tire, Super Clean, Valley Fashion, Mustang Survival, Artic Ice and Protect the Harvest as official partners.
2014 TXTT scheduled events:
Feb. 15 – Sam Rayburn Lake
March 15 – Lake Ray Roberts
April 12 – Lake Texoma
May 3 – Lake Livingston
Championship – June 7-8 – Toledo Bend Lake
Evinrude Pro Denny Brauer Expects Tough Fishing For Bassmaster Open On Amistad
This week 200 anglers will take to the border lake with as many co-anglers on their back decks. Elite Series Pro Kurt Dove made an shockingly low winning weight prediction based on the water level and recent cold weather.
What follows is the press release from Bassmaster regarding the upcoming Open on Amistad:
DEL RIO, Texas — Competitors preparing for the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Central Open presented by Allstate are finding out a quick rise in the water level and unusually cold weather are putting a double whammy on the bass fishing at Lake Amistad. The tournament is scheduled for Feb. 6-8.
The 67,000-acre reservoir got down to a low of 61 feet at the end of May and early June of last year due to dry weather and rose about 26 feet throughout the fall and winter.
“We had some decent rains through October, and the lake came up 15 feet in a fairly short time frame. That appears to have had a crazy effect on the fishing,” said Kurt Dove, a Bassmaster Elite Series pro who also guides on the lake. “It has been very tough over the last three or four months since we had that influx of water.”
Retired Elite Series pro Denny Brauer describes the fishing on his home waters as “absolutely horrible” and predicts the majority of the Central Open field will struggle.
“The bite has been off for more than six months,” Brauer said. “It has really gotten extremely tough over the last few weeks. I have never seen anything even comparable to this.”
The cold weather has caused the water temperature to dip into the upper 40s some mornings, but Dove noted the temperature most days has remained steady at 50 to 52 degrees.
“Just like most of the country, it has been a little bit chillier down here,” Dove said. “Generally this time of year we really start to see some prespawn movement, but I feel like the fish are still fairly deep and in their winter patterns.”
Brauer said Amistad still has the potential to produce some heavyweight bags despite the wintry conditions the anglers are encountering this week.
“Normally this lake has excellent fishing in the wintertime even in the nasty weather, but for some reason it is not happening very well right now,” he said.
The former Bassmaster Classic champ noted it usually takes 50 to 55 pounds to win a three-day tournament at Amistad this time of the year.
“This lake has a lot of big fish in it and if you pull up on the right spot and hit a school that halfway turns on for a little bit, you can get real healed in a hurry,” he said. “However, you can just as easily not get a bite all day long.”
With Amistad bass still holding in deep water, Dove foresees more slow fishing during the Open. He predicts the winning weight for this event will be around 36 to 38 pounds.
“I think it will be a very tough week, and catching keepers is going to be at a premium,” he said. “We will see a couple of fairly high teen sacks. Someone is going to catch a 16- , 17-, or 18-pound sack, but I think it is going to be hard to duplicate just because it is very hard to find groupings of fish. However, when you put 200 of the best regional anglers with several national pros on the lake, someone is going to find them, and they are going to be holding them up on stage.”
Anglers will take off each day at 7:30 a.m. local time from Diablo East Marina, U.S. 90 West, Del Rio, Texas 78840. Weigh-ins will be held each day at the same location beginning at 3:30 p.m. The host organization for the tournament is Bass pro Shops.
Rhinehart Wins Walmart Bass Fishing League Savannah River Division Event On Lake Keowee
2014 BFCS Seasonal Points Competition Enhanced
$5000 Added To Overall Seasonal Points Competition Payout
Collins Inc. and Ranger Boats have partnered to fund an additional $5000 purse among anglers that choose to compete in the optional Seasonal Points Competition. New for 2014, the creation of this optional Seasonal Points Competition was established to reward the anglers and teams that regularly support the Collins Inc. – Bass For Cash Series by attending most, if not all, of the season’s events. Anglers can choose to enter into this optional points competition by paying an additional $20 per team / per event. During each event, teams will be rewarded points based on their end of the day standings. After the six (6) qualifying events (March through August events) have completed, the team with the most accumulated points will be crowned as champions among their division and will receive a cash payout for their seasonal efforts. Additional payouts (2nd, 3rd, etc.) will be rewarded based on the number of teams that enter the Seasonal Points Competition.
For complete details & rules regarding the Collins Inc. – Bass For Cash Series optional Seasonal Points Competition click here.
Alabama Bass Trail Lake Guntersville 4Th Place Team Of Keith Vann And Lee Pitts
We grab the 4th place team Keith Vann and Lee Pitts just after weighing in their 26+ Lbs Sat on Lake Guntersville.........these guys had a heck of a day and don't mind telling us what they had to do on this fantastic fishery-
Alabama Bass Trail Lake Guntersville Champions Jerry Wright And Brandon Staggs At Weigh-In!
Brandon Staggs and Jerry Wright win the 1st Ever Alabama Bass Trail Event on Lake Guntersville and take home $10,000 for their massive 32.02 Lb Sack! Listen to how they did it right here-
Alabama Bass Trail kicks off on Guntersville Sat-Wright and Staggs take home $10,000
Wright and Staggs win inaugural Alabama Bass Trail tournament
LAKE GUNTERSVILLE — Jerry Wright and Brandon Staggs overcame a trolling motor breakdown to win the inaugural Alabama Bass Trail tournament Saturday.
The five largemouth bass weighing 32.02 pounds Wright and Staggs caught earned them $10,000.
Wright and Staggs hold up their 32.02 Lb Winning Stringer!: And take home $10,000!
Jamie Smith and Michael Rains finished second with 29.92 pounds, Michael Stevens Jr.and Paul Arnold were third with 27.13 pounds. Keith Vann and Lee Pitts with 26.59 pounds and Rahn Hogland and Allen Guyse with 25.65 pounds rounded out the Top 5.
4th Place team of Keith Vann and Lee Pitts with their 26.59 Lbs!!
When their trolling motor quit working around 8 a.m., Wright and Staggs thought any chance of winning was gone.
“My heart broke,” said Wright, of Waterloo, AL. “I had a high speed come-apart when that happened. We had a limit, including two big fish when it broke, but knew we would need some bigger fish to have any hope to win.”
Wright began checking all the electrical connections and worked on the motor for about 2 hours before a swift kick to the trolling motor switch caused it to begin working again.
“It was a huge relief when when it started working again,” said Staggs of Summertown, TN.
He and Wright caught their fish, using a variety of baits. They declined to reveal where they were fishing, other than to say it was downriver from Lake Guntersville State Park.
“They bit rattle baits, swim baits and spinner baits, but they would not bite a jig, which is normally our bread-and-butter,” Staggs said,
Smith and Rains caught most of their fish on rattle baits is 6 to 8 feet of water. They were surprised to catch almost 30 pounds of bass from the 40-degree water.
“We had a terrible practice,” Rains said. “We knew there were some good fish in the areas where we were fishing, but were expecting only around 23 or 24 pounds,”
Stevens and Arnold worked 1/2-ounce Rat-L-Traps very slowly to catch their fish.
“We were moving it about like you would work a jig,” Stevens said. “That’s the only way we could get them to bite.”
Arnold said most of their bites came late in the day after the sun came out and warmed the water temperature 3 degrees,
Vann and Pitts caught most of their bass with Gene Larew jigs and craws. Pitts said a key to their bite was working the jig over milfoil and hyrdrilla beds where some live grass remained.
“If we were pulling up a little green grass, we could catch them. If we were pulling up only dead grass, they wouldn’t bite there,” Pitts said.
Hogeland said most the bass he and Guyse weighed-in, were caught 2-to-4-feet deep on a Rat-L-Trap.
The Wiggins caught the big bass on a Rat-L-Trap.
“It barely bit, I was working it along a grass line when the line started moving sideways a little,” Jesse Wiggins said.
Rounding out the top-10 were Jimmy Mason and Lance Walker, Scot Giddens and Paul Watson, Steven Wisdom and John Bryant, Mike Raney and Michael Pharr, Marty Lykos and Michael Carter.
The next tournament for the Alabama Bass Trail tournament series is March 1 when its South Division visits the Mobile-Tensaw Delta.
The next tournament for the North Division is March 22 on Pickwick Lake in Florence.
Cobb Anxious To Get Flw Tour Rookie Season Underway On Lake Okeechobee
The scenario on Florida's famed Lake Okeechobee could not be better Feb. 6-9 for the opening FLW Tour Major of 2014 as Brandon Cobb of Greenwood, S.C., begins his rookie season on the tour.
Cobb qualified to move up to the FLW Tour Majors this year after finishing third in the BFL Regional on Lake Lanier having qualified through the Savannah River Division, and second in the BFL Regional on Lake Hartwell having qualified through the Bulldog Division last October .
“There will definitely be a good many fish on the beds,” the former Clemson University Fishing Team member said. “Normally, bedding would be in full swing by now, but bedding is running late because of the cold weather down there. But it looks like the weather is going to be more stable than since back in December so it shakes out to be a pretty good tournament next week.”
So good, in fact, that veteran anglers are predicting weights approaching the records set in 2011 when weather conditions created a perfect storm of big females migrating to the banks to spawn. Estimates have ranged from a low of 70 pounds for a four-day total – if the warmer weather is slow in coming – to 100 pounds or more if the warming trend continues and the water temperature warms up to more than 60 degrees.
“There have been a bunch of cold nights, but it looks like this is going to be the first week with very few, if any, cold nights,” Cobb said.
While there practicing recently, Cobb looked at areas that he believes will be the most productive if the fish are up shallow as expected.
When he practices just before the tournament this coming week, he said he will concentrate on small areas that hold big concentrations of female bass.
“It's a massive lake, much larger than any I have fished before, so I will have to break it down to have a chance,” said Cobb who leaves Saturday to launch his pro career on the Big-O.
“I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to compete in the FLW tour this year. I feel like the BFL tournaments I have fished through the years have prepared me to compete on the big stage. They have given me the opportunity to fish lakes outside my local lakes. Especially through the regionals,” said Cobb.
“I had never fished any of the Bulldog division lakes in the past before last year and was able to be successful with limited practice. Double qualifying for the 2014 All American has also given me the confidence to compete.”
The Okeechobee tournament, which kicks off the 19th season of the Tour, will feature 180 pros and 180 co-anglers casting for top awards of up to $125,000 cash in the pro division and up to $25,000 cash in the co-angler division.
Anglers also will be vying for points in hopes of qualifying for the 2014 Forrest Wood Cup, the world championship of bass fishing, which will be held on Lake Murray near Columbia, S.C., Aug. 14-17. Anglers competing in the Cub could win as much as $500,000 – the sport’s biggest award.
As part of the FLW Tour’s community outreach initiative, FLW will be working with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County to host a Youth Bass Fishing Experience presented by Guy Harvey on Saturday, Feb. 1, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Many FLW Tour pros will offer a fun tutorial for more than 60 youngsters at C.B. Smith Park. The youths will learn the importance of teamwork, discipline and sportsmanship as they get to bass fish alongside the pros.
Walmart FLW Tour Major
Feb 6-9, 2014
Lake Okeechobee
Roland Martin Marina
Following Successful Off-Season, Chapman Ready To Go In Bass Central Open On Amistad
After a very satisfying and productive off-season, Brent Chapman is toned up and tuned in for his 20th full season on the Bassmaster Tour, and eager to get started with the first Bass Pro Shops Central open tournament Feb. 5-8 on Lake Amistad.
Amistad is Spanish for “friendly,” but Chapman said he is hearing the fish may not be in a very friendly mode in the lake that is noted for heavy stringers.
“All I've heard is bad reports,” the Lake Quivira, KS, pro said. “Fishing has been really tough and that is hard to comprehend because Amistad used to be such a super fishery. Taking just 12 to 14 pounds to win a tournament there is hard to believe.”
But that does not deter Chapman from having a positive attitude about Amistad and the season.
“I've got my rod box full of rods. There are a lot of different options there, so I've just got to get a day on the water,” he said. “If there are any shallow fish that would be my preference, but if I can't find fish shallow I know they catch a lot of fish out deep there, so we will just have to wait and see.”
Other than a victory in the Bassmaster Classic next month, nothing would suit him better than a win on Amistad, he said.
“In 2012 I won that first Open tournament. Hopefully, I can do that again this year.”
Now, about that off-season. It was satisfying because Chapman got to do a lot of deer hunting and because he was able to renegotiate sponsorships. It was productive because he spent a lot of time honoring those sponsorship commitments.
“On Nov. 1, I shot a really nice buck. My two buddies, whom I own the land with, also shot nice bucks. Then my son, Mason, shot his first buck ever at 10 years old. I took my niece and she shot a really nice buck and then one of my other buddies closed the season with a nice buck. It normally doesn't happen like this, but we had a really good hunting season,” Chapman said.
“II know I make it sound like I just took off and did a lot of deer hunting, but there was a lot of business involved since my last tournament in August. It was a busy fall, for sure.”
And, when he was not stalking big bucks in the field and in business offices, Chapman was working to be prepared for this fishing season.
“I've been working out hard, really getting in shape,” he said. “This is when it all comes together.”
Following the Central Open opener on Lake Amistad, Chapman will move on to Lake Guntersville for the 2014 Bassmaster Classic Feb. 21-23.
“I am ready to win one of these Classics. That is what I am ready for,” Chapman said.
Following the Lake Amistad tournament, the Central Open series moves to the Red River at Shreveport, La., April 24-26, then finishes up on the Arkansas River at Muskogee, Okla.. Sept. 11-13.
Bass Pro Shops Central Open #1
Feb 6-8, 2014
Lake Amistad
Del Rio, TX
Cox is in for 2014 FLW Tour, Including Season Opener on Okeechobee
John Cox, a fixture on the FLW Tour and a two-time participant in the Forrest Wood Cup, had (apparently) missed his chance to fish the 2014 FLW Tour. He had not paid his entry fees and the field was set. In stone (apparently).
And then came word this week about the disqualification of two anglers from the upcoming FLW Tour opener on Okeechonbee. One was 2006 FLW Tour Angler of the Year Anthony Gagliardi of South Carolina who now has a steep hill to climb if he hopes to qualify for the Cup which will be held on Lake Murray, near his home.
The other angler was FLW Tour sophomore-to-be, Frank Clark. Clark decided not to fish the Tour at all in the wake of the disqualification. And that opened the door for Cox who was the first guy on the waiting list.
"I'm in! Thank you God, Billy Taylor, Bill Day, Adam Osteen, John Kremer, FLW staff and all my Facebook friends for getting me in." said Cox via his Facebook page.
To read the story on FLWOutdoors.com click: http://www.flwoutdoors.com/fishing-articles/155569/cox-added-to-walmart-flw-tour-field/#.UusHq_ldXxQ
Flw Announces Disqualifications Of Two Flw Tour Anglers
Here, in its entirety, is Rule #5 as referenced in the FLW press release:
5. Restricted access, off-limits, practice and competition
Thirty days prior to the first practice day pros are only permitted on tournament waters alone or accompanied by a contestant in the tournament, a member of their immediate family (mother, father, brother, sister, son, daughter, grandparent, grandchild or spouse), approved sponsor representatives, approved youth age 18 or younger or approved media representatives. With prior approval from the tournament director, pros may participate in FLW, B.A.S.S. Elite Series, B.A.S.S. Opens, PAA and other pro/am tournaments featuring random partner draws within the 30-day window.
Tournament waters will go off-limits to all contestants 13 days prior to the first practice day in all tournaments. Contestants, including pros and co-anglers on the waiting list, may not enter tournament waters to fish, test equipment, sightsee, or for any reason without FLW permission, during the off-limits period.
During the off-limits period, practice and competition days, pros may not solicit and/or receive information about locating or catching fish on tournament waters from anyone except pros confirmed in the tournament and through publicly available sources (quasi-public websites, blogs and/or social media pages set up for the specific purpose of sharing information with individuals or a small group of individuals are NOT publicly available sources). Beginning with practice and extending through competition, pros may not obtain information about locating or catching fish on tournament waters from co-anglers or information about locating or catching fish on tournament waters from noncontestants or follow a noncontestant’s boat or participate in the placing of markers by noncontestants or the practice of “hole sitting†by anyone. Anglers eliminated after each round of competition are considered noncontestants. Pros in the top-20 cut after the close of weigh-in on day 2 may not solicit or receive information about locating or catching fish on tournament waters from anyone except other top-20 pros. Pros in the top-10 cut after the close of weigh-in on day 3 may not solicit or receive information about locating or catching fish on tournament waters from anyone except other top-10 pros. Co-angler contestants who share information about locating or catching fish on tournament waters with pro or co-angler contestants will be disqualified from the entire tournament along with the pro or co-angler requesting and/or using the information.
Tournament waters will reopen for practice three days (Sunday, Monday and Tuesday) prior to registration day (Wednesday). Pros and co-anglers may practice alone, with another contestant or with a member of their immediate family (mother, father, brother, sister, son, daughter, grandparent, grandchild or spouse), approved sponsor representatives or an approved youth age 18 or younger, provided the practice companion has also observed the off-limits period and procedures. Pros and co-anglers may also practice with an approved media representative. Flights over tournament waters are not permitted beginning with the start of the off-limits period, extending through practice and competition days. Tournament waters will be closed to all contestants on registration day (Wednesday).
Flw, Fishidy Ink Sponsorship Deal
Fishidy allows members to connect with other anglers and log catches and spot information at various levels of privacy. Fishidy features free access to detailed fishing maps on thousands of lakes and coastal saltwater areas nationwide. Users can view information from Fishidy’s pro anglers, their own information, and friends, as well as follow specific bodies of water. Fishidy also boasts apps for Android and iOS that let anglers access waterway maps and add catches on the go or on the water. A Premium Membership is also available that unlocks even more data, from proven Fishing Hot Spots® to customizable printable maps and an hour-by-hour fishing forecaster.
Tom Jackson Public Boat Ramp Closed For 2014 Bassmaster Classic
GUNTERSVILLLE, Ala. — The Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries has granted permission to B.A.S.S. to close the Tom Jackson Public Boat Ramp on Lake Guntersville during the week of the 2014 GEICO Bassmaster Classic competition.
The ramp and associated parking areas will be closed from Monday, Feb. 17, at 12:01 a.m. through Monday, Feb. 24, at 11:59 p.m. for the Classic. The Tom Jackson ramp is located at Civitan Park, Guntersville, AL 35976.
Alternate ramps are available for the public to launch boats on Lake Guntersville. They include the following:
Browns Creek Public Access (2 miles)
Guntersville, AL 36976
Guntersville State Park (10 miles)
Guntersville, AL 36976
Claysville Public Access (4 miles)
Guntersville, AL 35976
Seibold Creek Public Access (9 miles)
Guntersville, AL 35976
Steel Ford Access (2 miles)
Guntersville, AL 36976
Val Monte Road Public Access (4 miles)
Guntersville, AL 36976
Beech Creek Public Access (6 miles)
Guntersville, AL 36976
Honeycomb Creek Public Access (10 miles)
Grant, AL 35747
Ranger Cup University Challenge On Americana Outdoors January 27Th
SAN ANTONIO, Texas (January 27, 2014) -
Americana Outdoors® Presented by Garmin is proud to present the Ranger Cup University Challenge premiering on NBC Sports Network and Pursuit Channel.
The tournament, which occurred September 22, 2013 on a private Oklahoma lake owned by Ranger Pro and professional bass fishing legend Jimmy Houston, pitted the two highest-qualifying teams from the FLW College Fishing Championship and the BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing National Championship in a winner-take-all, made-for-TV event.
The schools represented in this year's challenge are University of Louisiana- Monroe and Tennessee Tech. Paul Clark and Brett Preuett will be representing the University of Louisiana- Monroe, while Joe Slagle and Cliff Dye are the anglers competing from Tennessee Tech.
Modeled after the most lucrative contingency program in the industry, the Ranger Cup, Ranger Cup University is open to collegiate anglers fishing in either FLW- or BoatUS- affiliated competitions.
With up to $2,000 in prizes on the line, this fishing competition is more intense than ever. Make sure to watch the University of Louisiana- Monroe and Tennessee Tech battle it out for the right to be dubbed Ranger Cup Challenge winners. You can watch all of the action on:
NBC Sports Network
January 28th @ 3:30pm
January 31st @ 3:00pm
Pursuit Channel
January 27th @ 6:30pm
January 29th @ 4:00pm
February 2nd @ 2:30pm
To sign-up for Ranger Cup University, which is free and exclusively for collegiate anglers, regardless of which brand of boat they own, visit www.RangerBoats.com. To remain qualified in the program, anglers need only adhere to clothing and decal requirements. The program also allows anglers to reap the rewards of a professionally run contingency program regardless of tournament results. As part of the Ranger Cup University program, participants will be able to receive discounts on already-discounted tournament apparel through Gemini Custom Apparel, with no artwork or set-up fees. Through Gemini, anglers can purchase fully customized jerseys for as low as $48.
Good Turnout at FOM Event on Keowee
Well we are off to an awesome start to 2014 with Fishers of Men SC Upstate. I am amazed that we were able to get 39 teams out to fish Keowee with a 19 degree day and a breezy 20 to 30 mph wind. We did finally get to about somewhere around 40 but the wind blew.
We started the weekend at Marathon Pickens Church. Fishers of men’s dear friend Bryan Holder pastor of Marathon allowed us to actually come back a second year in a row. The people of Marathon Pickens were such great hosts feeding around 90 men and women. Chris Wells chaplain for the BASS Elite 50 came and brought a message about going deep in your relationship with Christ. In fact the most important thing of the weekend was when Chris had the privilege of helping 5 men make a decision to follow Christ. Many more decided to go deeper as well.
Well now for the fishing facts. Brian and Mike Tidwell really had the magic going today bringing a 7.76 lb kicker to the scales that anchored a 17.18 lb bag mix of largemouth and spotted bass. The fish allowed the Tidwell’s to take home a total of $2432.50. That is a killer check for a 39 boat tournament. Second place went to the team of Jimmy Turner and Mark Weaver. These two also had a big largemouth kicker of 6.65 lbs. and a total bag weight 16.22 lbs. They took home $651.00 for their effort. Full event standings will be up as soon as possible.
Fishers of Men wants to thank everyone who attended as well as welcome assoc. director Jeff Newsome to the FOM SC upstate staff. You guys are the best. We are off to Lake Greenwood next. I assure you that someone is going to bring a big bag to the scales there. They always do. Please remember to tell your friends to join us on Greenwood Saturday the 22nd of Feb.. I pray we have a little more cooperative weather as well. Remember to have your entries postmarked 8 days prior to the tournament.
LASTLY REMEMBER THAT IF YOUR IN A BOAT PURCHASED FROM PALMETTO BOAT CENTER YOU NEED TO LET ME KNOW AS NO ONE CLAIMED THE $150.OO BONUS FOR THE TOP FINISHER IN A PALMETTO BOAT CENTER BOAT. TO WIN IN ONE CLAIMS A BONUS OF $500.00.
We'd like to take this opportunity to Thank all of our fine sponsors including our local sponsors PALMETTO BOAT CENTER, DR. BRENT MCLAURIN / Sonya Mclaurin AND ANDERSON HEART,DR. BARTON AIKEN AND DEDICATED DENTISTRY, LEWALLAN AUTOMATION, DESTROYER BAIT COMPANY, BIGLEWERS. Let us not forget the national sponsors: Skeeter Boats, Yamaha, Stren, Pflueger, Strike King Lure Company, Nester Hosiery, Marshall’s Marine, Kings Home, New Tech Global, Power-Pole, Lowrance, Duckett Fishing, Buckeye Lures, Keelshield, Solar Bat, Kistler Rods, Jacobs Glass, HydroWave, Rejuvenade, Berkley, and Rayjus Sportswear.
Randy Morrison- PreCise Health
Specialty Pharmacy Services / Genetic Testing
864 630 6724 <°)/////><
Montgomery Signs with Farm to Feet
Farm to Feet gets 100% behind Bass Fisherman Andy Montgomery
Farm to Feet makers of 100% made in America socks sponsors Andy Montgomery for the 2014 season. Montgomery will be showcasing his new wrap at the first Bassmaster Elite Series event on lake Seminole, March 13, 2014.
“As an outdoorsman, Andy understands the importance of good footwear, which start with the perfect pair of socks," Marty Nester CEO of Nester Hosiery and avid fisherman. "Andy is a talented fisherman and we're proud to have him on our team."
“Bass fishing is as American as apple pie and we're excited to share our 100% American story with the bass fishing community," said David Petri, Farm to Feet VP of Marketing.
Montgomery had this to say. "I'm honored to be apart of a company that believes in America and the American worker. After visiting the plant I was blown away by the detail that goes into making a Farm to Feet sock. From the Midwest to the East coast they continue to support two of the core industries that made our country great, farming and manufacturing."
"I always thought a sock was a sock until my wife and I were given the Farm toFeet product to try. They kept our feet warm and dry as well as providing the support in ways I didn't know was possible. Whether it was her 12hour hospital shifts or my 12 hours on the water we both were confortable and less fatigued at the end of the day. I look forward to many more confortable days on the water helping spread the word about this great company."
New Approach For A New Season
I proved something to myself last year. While practicing for the BFL Regional at Lake Guntersville, I was able to locate the correct quality and quantity of fish to really have a shot at performing well in the event. Some poor execution on my side prevented me from doing better then what my finish displayed what I found.
What that event did for me was give me a huge boost of confidence. I proved to myself that I could find the right fish against a very competitive crowd. I was able to spend three days practicing for the event, the most time I have ever spent practicing for any one event.
In the years past, my approach to preparing for events was to fish as many events in a year in hopes to stay on the fish. I would spend only one day practicing for a particular event. With that thought process, I have only cashed one check in the past two years. Some would say that I have been on a great donation program for the winners. I plan to change that this year.
This year I will be fishing fewer events while spending more time in preparing for those events. I plan to fish the entire weekend before each one of my events as well as the Friday before the start of the event. I also plan to fish the Rayovac series at Santee Cooper as a co-angler as it is the weekend before the BFL. I pray that I draw out with a few guys that are on some fish and may be able to show me some new ways to get around the infamous Santee Cooper.
I also plan to be a little more consistent with my blogs and post-tournament reports. I will also try to put together a quick GoPro video recap from each event on things I figured out.
Check back on my blog here as well as my website to see how the new approach works for me this year. I hope that I will be a little more on the positive side of the tournament winnings this year.
Cliff Pace Injured In Hunting Accident, Will Not Fish The 2014 Bassmaster Classic
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Cliff Pace, the 2013 Classic champion, won’t be fishing in the 2014 GEICO Bassmaster Classic because of a deer stand accident that happened Friday afternoon.
Pace broke his left leg in two places while bow hunting for deer near his home in Petal, Miss. “I was actually done with my hunt and climbing down from the stand when the accident happened,” said Pace. “It was a cold day, even here in southern Mississippi, and I had cotton gloves on. Part-way down my hand slipped out of the glove, and that’s when I fell.”
Pace tried to push away from the tree so he wouldn’t land on his back or head. He was successful on that front, landing on his feet. But his left foot landed in a hole and jarred his leg enough to break it in two places, once above the knee and once below it. And in the process, he also tore the ACL in his left knee.
Pace, who was hunting by himself, tried to walk out but quickly realized he was dealing with a serious injury. “I called a friend to come get me, and the whole 45 minutes I was waiting for him to come I was thinking about Guntersville,” said Pace.
Of course he’s referring to the 2014 Classic. It’s particularly meaningful to Pace because he is the defending champion, having won the 2013 Classic in Tulsa. “Guntersville is one of those Classics where records will likely be set. It’s disheartening not to be able to compete,” he said.
Pace had surgery on Saturday at Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg, Miss. There’s no timetable yet for when he’ll get out of the hospital. His doctor did say it will be at least 10 to 12 weeks before he can put weight on the leg. The doctor told him it will be longer before he can get back in a boat, which means Pace may not be fishing the 2014 Elite Series season. He’ll know more about that in the coming weeks.
B.A.S.S. officials quickly decided to defer Pace’s Classic qualification until the 2015 Classic. “Because of Cliff’s injuries, he is clearly not able to defend his Classic title this year,” said B.A.S.S. CEO Bruce Akin. “Based on these unprecedented, special circumstances, we are deferring that opportunity to the 2015 Bassmaster Classic in Greenville, S.C. We wish Cliff a speedy and complete recovery.”
Akin said the 2015 Classic field will be increased by one. This will ensure that no one who qualifies for the Classic during the 2014 season will be denied a berth in the championship.
Pace was very appreciative of those decisions. “I can’t tell you how good it feels to know I’ll be fishing in the 2015 Classic. I’m very thankful to B.A.S.S. for that.”
He and other Classic contenders will fish Lake Hartwell, S.C., in the 45th Bassmaster Classic to be held Feb. 20-22, 2015. When the Classic previously visited Hartwell in February 2008, Pace finished second behind Alton Jones.
The Elite Series veteran is also thankful the accident wasn’t any worse. “There was a stump right next to where I landed. If I’d hit that, things could have been a lot worse,” he said. “These are the cards I was dealt. We’ll just work with it.”
Pace acknowledged there is one silver lining to the forced time off. He and his wife, Brana, had their first child just seven weeks ago, a girl named Jordan Baylee Pace. Now he’ll be able to spend a little more time with her.
Mccall Wins Rayovac Flw Series Texas Division Event On Sam Rayburn
Chaconas: Silver Buddy Expands Lure Line Up
Followers of this report acknowledge my go-to winter bait is the Silver Buddy. The lure has been around for decades and there aren't really any reliable knock offs. In the past few years, only the half-ounce silver bait has been on the market. That's fine with me as this version is the most versatile. Well, reports on my single bait preference reached lure maker, Buddy Banks. Buddy called to inform me of other versions he has reintroduced into the lure marketplace. The popular ¼-ounce is perfect for very tough conditions or expanding species targets, including Crappie. The ¾-ounce provides a bigger target and does well in warmer conditions. Buddy also revealed a 1-ounce version for bigger fish! Musky and some saltwater species will fall prey to this heavy metal vibrating lure. Just as significant are the color options. The stainless steel version has been a mainstay, but nickel and gold plated baits are back. Availability is still limited but the website is the best place to start, silverbuddy.com.
Captain Steve Chaconas gives the most in-depth reports you will find on the World-Wide Web. To follow him or to catch his latest Potomac fishing report, click: http://www.nationalbass.com/
Soles Wins Bassmaster Open On Toho
Van Soles brought in the 2nd-heaviest sack of the tournament (and the only the 2nd one to exceed 20 pounds) to close out the win with over 50 pounds on three tough fishing days at the Bassmaster Southern Open on Florida's Kissimmee Chain of Lakes.
Cloud Moves Into Lead At Bassmaster Southern Open On Kissimmee Chain
We knew the lake held 10-pound bass, and then some, but most wondered wheather any of the pros fishing the Bassmaster Southern Open would catch any of the big bass for which the Kissimmee Chain is known.
On a day when many anglers didn't weigh-in 10 pounds total, Van Soles of Haines City, Fla. laid one on the scale that went 10 pounds, 7 ounces. The big fish anchored his 17-4 limit that put him in the top 12 cut. Without it he might not have gotten a paycheck at all out of this event. That's the difference a big fish makes.
Then again, there's a lot to be said for consistency. And Jeff Cloud of Lubbock, Tex. was consistent with an 18-6 limit that, combined with his day 1 weight of 16-6, ran his total to 34-12, good enough for the lead as we head into Saturday's final round.
For those planning to attend, the final weigh in will take place 3 P.M. at Bass Pro Shop in Orlando.
Jacksonville's Phil Curry sits in 2nd with a total weight of 32-4.
Veteran Florida angler John Brazzell is 3rd with 31-6, while professional rookie Garrett Rocamora hung in the top 12, currently 4th, with a total weight of 30-3.
David Williams is 5th with 29-13.
The afforementioned Soles is 6th. He caught the big bass by flipping a beaver into heavy vegetation.
Joe Ventrello holds the 12th spot with 27-10 and will fish tomorrow along with the 11 guys ahead of him.
Several among the Top 12 were back in the pack on the first day but strong, if unspectacular, follow up efforts catapulted them into the cut on a day that saw no bags weighed that exceeded 20 pounds.
Day 1 leader Todd Auten was among the 42 pros (21% of the field) who did not weigh a fish today. He slid to 28th place where he will, at least, collect a paycheck on the strength of his 22 pound, 10 ounce first day sack that was 1 fish shy of the 5-fish limit but still stands as the heaviest of the tournament after 200 pros pounded the lakes for 2 days.
Auten caught his fish yesterday on an Xcalibur Xr 75 lipless crankbait. According to the words of some contestants, the rattlebait bite, and the offshore bite in general, died off today. Flippin' continued to produce but bass also continued to simply peck at the lures and not give anglers much opportunity for a solid hook set.
Hank Cherry was last in line to cut a check with 20-3. That's what it took to place 40th over two dissapointing days on an outstanding bass fishery. Cold fronts. Florida bass. Need we say more?
