FLW Tour will now field 154 pros
FLW decided has added 2 more Tour pros to its roster. Lionel Botha and Nick Prvonozac were left on the outside, looking in after a 'processing delay' occured. The brings the Tour field to 154 for the 2015 season. The official word from FLW:
Morgenthaler Wins Bassmaster Southern Open On Lake Toho
"This was the worst day I've ever had on Lake Kissimmee, and I fish here every weekend," said Daniel Lanier, Jr. who placed 6th among the co-anglers in this event. Year-before-last Lanier fished as a boater, lost a fish-off to Rich Howes on the day following what would have been the final weigh in, and finished runner-up.
Lanier's assesment of the lake was echoed by others. "The lake is healthy," said Trevor Fitzgerald who finished 9th in the pro division. "They (B.A.S.S.) just always come here too early for it to show what it's capable of producing." Fitzgerald nearly always produces anyway and he did so again. Still, anglers and fans alike would like to see a stronger showing from the local bass population.
BUT somebody always wins. Today that was Elite Series Pro Chad Morgenthaler. He hoisted the hardware and took home the check. Following is the official press release from B.A.S.S. :
Standard opinion among the anglers fishing the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open #1 presented by Allstate was that the tournament couldn’t be won on Toho.
If you wanted big bass, Kissimmee was the place to fish.
Chad Morgenthaler proved them wrong, spending all three days on the host lake and rallying from ninth place to win the season opener.
In a tournament laced with some of Florida’s top anglers, the Coulterville, Ill., veteran Elite Series pro sneaked into the back door with a big sack on a day when the frontrunners struggled.
His last-day catch of 22 pounds, 3 ounces was more than enough to carry him to the top and give him a 52-7 total.
Kissimmee expert Bobby Lane, who had the second biggest bag of the day (14 pounds), finished second with 48-13, and Todd Auten of South Carolina was third with 48-1. Gerald Swindle of Alabama and second-day leader Brandon McMillan rounded out the Top 5 with 46-9 and 46-4, respectively.
“Being hard-headed and staying on Toho was really a key to my success,” said Morgenthaler, who punched his ticket to the 2016 Bassmaster Classic, providing he fishes the remaining two Southern Opens. “Everyone said you can’t win on Toho, but all of my big fish in practice came up here.”
Morgenthaler said he didn’t like dealing with the locks that provided entry into Kissimmee. Given the large field of anglers fishing the event, he feared locking down would cost him fishing time since most competitors would be fishing Kissimmee.
He stuck with one bait all three days — a Missile D Bomb soft plastic creature bait — that he pitched into isolated cover in 3 to 4 feet of water far offshore. The color was bruiser flash, a black/blue variety.
“It’s a good mid-sized bait, so I didn’t have to worry about whether it was too big or too small, and it would slither through the matted vegetation easily,” he explained.
He rigged it with a 3/0 straight shank Gamakatsu heavy flipping hook and a 1 1/2-ounce tungsten weight. Most anglers use 4/0 hooks with the D Bomb, he noted, but switching to the 3/0 improved his catch ratio considerably.
“I was targeting the main-lake areas that the fish were moving to from the wintering holes,” Morgenthaler described. “These were fish just starting to move up and the cold fronts we’d been having were holding them back. Some guys were catching fish that moved up but I suspected the majority of big fish were still in transition. The sunny, warm day today put them right where I was fishing.”
The victory earned him more than $48,533, including a Nitro Z9 bass boat and tandem Nitro trailer rigged with a Mercury 225 Pro XS, Minn Kota Maxxum Trolling Motor and Lowrance HDS-7C electronics.
Floridian Alan Agnoli blew out the co-angler division with 32 pounds, 3 ounces, while Robbie Anderson of Crystal River, Fla., was second with 22-11. Terry Law of Tavares, Fla., was third with 22-3. Agnoli, who caught 17 pounds, 11 ounces (three fish) to take the second-round lead on Friday, won a Nitro Z7 bass boat rigged with a Mercury 150 Pro XS, Nitro Single Axle Trailer, Minn Kota Maxxum Trolling Motor and Lowrance Mark 5X electronics.
Lane’s second-place finish earned him the $500 Power-Pole Captain’s Cash for being the highest finisher using Power-Poles and the $1,500 Toyota Bonus Bucks award for being the highest placing pro owning a Toyota.
McMillan’s lead on the second day earned him the $250 Livingston Lures Leader Award. Agnoli captured the same title among co-anglers, pocketing a $250 Livingston Lures gift pack.
Ohioan Charlie Hartley recovered from a bad first day to win the Allstate Good Hands, Great Day award ($250) for moving from 158th place to 17th, thanks to a 20-pound, 15-ounce limit, the largest in the pro division.
Among the co-anglers, Mike Spears of Jasper, Ala., moved from 115th to 30th to garner $150 from Allstate.
Also Saturday, B.A.S.S. issued the following statement:
"Based on an investigation of an incident Friday during the tournament on Lake Tohopekaliga, B.A.S.S. today disqualified two anglers from the event. Pursuant to B.A.S.S. rules, Ish Monroe of Hughson, Calif., and Keith Poche of Pike Road, Ala., were disqualified from the Open. Additional penalties for both anglers may be imposed pending the outcome of additional investigations that are ongoing at this time. Because of those investigations, B.A.S.S. will not comment further on the decisions."
2015 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open - Lake Toho Presented by Allstate 1/15-1/17
Lake Toho, Kissimmee, FL
(BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Chad Morgenthaler Coulterville, IL 15 52-07 200 $48,533.00
Day 1: 5 16-07 Day 2: 5 13-13 Day 3: 5 22-03
2. Bobby Lane Jr. Lakeland, FL 15 48-13 199 $20,267.00
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 5 20-06 Day 3: 5 14-00
3. Todd Auten Lake Wylie, SC 14 48-01 198 $15,200.00
Day 1: 4 16-02 Day 2: 5 20-06 Day 3: 5 11-09
4. Gerald Swindle Warrior, AL 15 46-09 197 $13,600.00
Day 1: 5 14-12 Day 2: 5 19-07 Day 3: 5 12-06
5. Brandon McMillan Clewiston, FL 15 46-04 196 $12,117.00
Day 1: 5 24-09 Day 2: 5 13-15 Day 3: 5 07-12
6. Kelley Jaye Dadeville, AL 15 42-08 195 $10,133.00
Day 1: 5 17-05 Day 2: 5 11-13 Day 3: 5 13-06
7. Andrew Slegona Jr Walker Valley, NY 9 41-03 194 $8,533.00
Day 1: 5 31-02 Day 2: 2 03-07 Day 3: 2 06-10
8. Ed Loughran Mechanicsville, VA 15 40-06 193 $6,800.00
Day 1: 5 15-15 Day 2: 5 15-12 Day 3: 5 08-11
9. Trevor Fitzgerald Belleview, FL 15 40-03 192 $5,067.00
Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 5 17-13 Day 3: 5 09-00
10. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 15 39-13 191 $4,667.00
Day 1: 5 19-09 Day 2: 5 11-11 Day 3: 5 08-09
11. Garrett Rocamora Lithia, FL 10 38-02 190 $4,767.00
Day 1: 5 24-04 Day 2: 1 04-15 Day 3: 4 08-15
12. Brad Knight Lancing, TN 15 35-15 189 $4,000.00
Day 1: 5 20-13 Day 2: 5 08-02 Day 3: 5 07-00
BIG BASS PRO OR CO-ANGLER
Garrett Rocamora Lithia, FL 11-09 $500.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 131 837 1726-07
2 102 733 1504-15
3 10 56 130-01
----------------------------------
243 1626 3361-07
2015 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open - Lake Toho Presented by Allstate 1/15-1/17
Lake Toho, Kissimmee, FL
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Alan Agnoli Chiefland, FL 8 32-03 200 $25,000.00
Day 1: 3 07-04 Day 2: 3 17-11 Day 3: 2 07-04
2. Robbie Anderson Crystal River, FL 9 22-11 199 $6,533.00
Day 1: 3 05-11 Day 2: 3 12-02 Day 3: 3 04-14
3. Terry Law Tavares, FL 8 22-03 198 $4,933.00
Day 1: 3 07-11 Day 2: 3 09-15 Day 3: 2 04-09
4. Steve Jarrett Valrico, FL 8 21-07 197 $3,333.00
Day 1: 3 11-02 Day 2: 3 07-00 Day 3: 2 03-05
5. Larry Mullikin Lauderhill, FL 9 21-05 196 $3,067.00
Day 1: 3 09-08 Day 2: 3 04-08 Day 3: 3 07-05
6. Daniel Lanier Jr. Winter Springs, FL 8 20-08 195 $2,933.00
Day 1: 3 11-09 Day 2: 3 06-00 Day 3: 2 02-15
7. Jeffrey Worth Longwood, FL 9 19-06 194 $2,800.00
Day 1: 3 06-09 Day 2: 3 06-08 Day 3: 3 06-05
8. Greg Crumpton Ocala, FL 9 19-03 193 $2,667.00
Day 1: 3 07-05 Day 2: 3 08-02 Day 3: 3 03-12
9. Amy Leitch Denver, CO 9 17-08 192 $2,533.00
Day 1: 3 04-12 Day 2: 3 07-14 Day 3: 3 04-14
10. Linda Higginbotham Palm Coast, FL 9 17-05 191 $2,267.00
Day 1: 3 03-15 Day 2: 3 09-02 Day 3: 3 04-04
11. Barry Hughes Plant City, FL 7 14-07 190 $2,000.00
Day 1: 3 08-13 Day 2: 3 04-02 Day 3: 1 01-08
12. Eulon Lee Jr. Montgomery, AL 6 13-09 189 $1,867.00
Day 1: 3 06-14 Day 2: 3 06-11 Day 3: 0 00-00
BIG BASS PRO OR CO-ANGLER
Alan Agnoli Chiefland, FL 09-06 $0.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 104 414 736-07
2 81 331 619-10
3 6 27 50-15
----------------------------------
191 772 1407-00
Mcmillan Leads As Bassmaster Southern Open On Toho Heads Into Final Day
Brandon McMillan of Clewiston, Fla., lead on Day 2 of the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open #1 presented by Allstate held on Lake Tohopekaliga out of Kissimmee, Fla. McMillan brought 13 pounds, 15 ounces to the scales at Friday's weigh-in for a two-day total of 38-8.
Florida’s fickle bass not only played with the heads of the first-round leaders in the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open presented by AllState, but they also scrambled the leaderboard.
On a day when the sun shined and the fish were supposed to bite, big bags were few and far between. That was just fine for Brandon McMillan of Clewiston, Fla., whose 13-pound, 15-ounce limit gave him a two-day total of 38-8, good enough to move him from third to first.
To illustrate how goofy fishing was Friday, New York’s Andrew Slegona – who caught 31 pounds to lead the event after the first day, only had two small bass Friday but fell no further than fourth (34-9).
“Man, hard to believe that I could stay in the Top 5 with a day like that on a lake like this,” Slegona marveled.
Meanwhile, Todd Auten of South Carolina jumped from 13th to second (36-8), Bobby Lane of Florida moved from 18th to third (34-13) and Gerald Swindle of Alabama climbed from 17th to fifth (34-3). Only 4 pounds, 5 ounces separate the Top 5 who will join seven other anglers in Saturday’s final.
In the co-angler division, Floridian Alan Agnoli stunned the crowd with three bass weighing 17-11 to take the lead with 24-15. Other Floridians in the Top 5 among co-anglers include Steve Jarrett (18-2), Robbie Anderson (17-13), Terry Law (17-10) and Daniel Lanier (17-9).
McMillan admits he was just “scrounging round” to catch the fish that put him in the lead Friday.
“I knew I couldn’t duplicate what I did yesterday because I beat on them pretty hard,” he noted. “So today I was doing a little bit of everything from flipping to swimming a jig to catch what I caught.”
Lane, who calls the Kissimmee Chain his home waters, said the water temperature dropped 5 degrees after Thursday night’s cool-off and rain, and that left the bass in a tizzy. His 20-pound, 6-ounce sack Friday was one of the biggest and was anchored by a 9-8.
“It really helps knowing the lake and how these fish react when you get fishing conditions like this,” said Lane. “The fish really want to spawn, but the water just hasn’t been right for them to get it going.”
McMillan’s second-day leadership earned him the $250 Livingston Lures Leader Award. Agnoli captured the same title among co-anglers, pocketing a Livingston Lures gift pack worth $250.
Ohioan Charlie Hartley recovered from a bad first day to win the Allstate Good Hands, Great Day award ($250) for moving from 158th place to 17th, thanks to a 20-pound, 15-ounce limit, the largest in the pro division.
Among co-anglers, Mike Spears of Jasper, Ala., moved from 115th to 30th to garner $150 from Allstate.
The tournament takeoff on Saturday is at 7 a.m. ET at Big Toho Marina. Saturday’s final weigh-in will be held at the Bass Pro Shops in Orlando at 4 p.m.
FLW TV Show to air on Pursuit Channel
Zoom Baits signs on as FLW sponsor
FLW, the world’s largest bass-fishing tournament organization, has announced a sponsorship agreement with Zoom Bait Company, a leading manufacturer of soft-plastic fishing baits. 2015 marks the first season that Zoom Bait Company will join the FLW sponsorship lineup. Terms of the agreement were not released.
Auten Looking For Change In Weather For Rayovac Series On Okeechobee
Todd Auten is looking for better conditions on Okeechobee
Todd Auten is hoping for warmer weather, warmer water and, hopefully, more fish when he gets to Lake Okeechobee next week for the 2015 FLW Rayovac Series Southeast Division opener.
Auten has been further north in Florida, practicing for and fishing in the first B.A.S.S. Southern Open of 2015 on Lake Tohopekaliga this week and fishing has been “kind of tough,” with rain, cold and hard to find fish. The Open runs through Saturday and Auten will leave Toho to go straight to Okeechobee and start practice for the Rayovac tournament.
He finished 51st in the first Southeast Division Rayovac tournament on Okeechobee last year, then followed that with 7th place on Santee Cooper in March and 42nd on Lake Guntersville in April to finish 8th in the Southeast Division points for the year. Auten then finished 4th in the Rayovac FLW Series Championship on Wheeler Lake held in late October and early November.
“The tournament on Okeechobee is about the same time as last year,” he said. “I've already checked my good spots and it is going to be different. The water is high and everything is going to be changed, for sure. With the water down a foot it would help put them in certain places; now they can be anywhere. They are kind of scattered.”
If that is the case, he said, he expects reaction baits, like Speed Worms and flipping Brush Hogs to be the best tactics.
“But, I have never fished down there with the water being this high,” he said. “Every year it seems like it is different. You have to go out and find new fish every year. They will be in kind of the same areas, but not in the exact same places.”
When he gets to Okeechobee Auten said he will be looking for clean water and possibly some bedding fish.
“I heard they were spawning pretty good down there the last week or so. I hope the cold weather has pushed some of them off because that means more fish will go up shallow for sure next week when we are there.”
While he won't pass up bedding fish, Auten said he will also concentrate on those areas just off the bedding places where the fish will be staging to move up.
“If they are not on the bed they will be out at the next depth,” he said. “I'll get in stuff a little further out and work my way in.”
One thing he can count on. The weather is expected to be a lot nicer on Okeechobee next week than it was on Tohopekaliga this week, with temperatures ranging from the mid- to high 70s under partly cloudy to sunny skies.
FLW Rayovac Series – Southeast Division
Jan 22-24, 2015
Lake Okeechobee
Roland Martin Marina & Resort
Simoneaux Hoping For More Rayburn Magic In Flw College Fishing Southern Conference Tournament
The Lamar University team of Brandon Simoneaux and Josh Bowie
Lamar University teammates Brandon Simoneaux and Josh Bowie won the FLW College Fishing Southern Conference Invitational tournament on Sam Rayburn last October to advance to the 2015 College Fishing National Championship this spring on South Carolina's Lake Murray.
Now Simoneaux is hoping that same magic that propelled him and Bowie to the win then will carry over next week on Sam Rayburn again as he and new teammate Colby Ogden begin the journey towards a potential berth in the 2016 College Championship.
“Josh is graduating in May,” said Simoneaux, of Bridge City, Texas,a junior majoring in mechanical engineering. “But Colby and his partner, Quinton Evans, finished 6th in the regional on Sam Rayburn in October. We have fished together for sun a few times and we fished a tournament in December and had the opportunity to to do really well.”
Simoneaux explained that in that tournament he and Ogden, of Kountze, Texas, were fishing heavy cover and knew the chances of fish getting hung up and getting off were high , but they did manage to boat four solid keepers both days.
“We fish together extremely well,” he said. “We both really want to do good and we both pretty much approach everything differently, so it works out really well.”
He noted that recent rains have raised the water level by a couple of feet in Sam Rayburn and fishing has been tough in practice as a result.
“The fish we had been catching we could not get to bite anymore, so we have to practice again this week and see if we can relocate them. We hope the water clears up some,” Simoneaux said. “The water is still pretty cold, too. It was in the mid 40s when I was up there last weekend.”
He said he and Ogden are picking up a fish “here and there,” and they are catching “one fish on this and one on that.”
“We will probably do a lot of junk fishing,” he said, “not necessarily banking on any particular kind of lure, but using an assortment of lures.”
While he is concentrating on Sam Rayburn this month, Simoneaux is already looking forward to the 2015 FLW College Fishing National Championship, which will be held April 16-18 at Lake Murray in Columbia, S.C., in conjunction with the University of South Carolina baseball team’s three-game series against Vanderbilt.
“Our region is proud to host the 2015 FLW College Fishing National Championship,” said Miriam Atria, President and CEO of the tournament host Capital City/Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board. “We look forward to welcoming college teams from across the nation to Lake Murray. The last time we hosted the FLW College Fishing National Championship in 2012 it provided national exposure for Columbia, Lake Murray and the University of South Carolina baseball program.”
The championship will feature the top 10 teams from each of the five 2014 FLW College Fishing Conference Championships for a total field of 50 boats. The winning team will receive a Ranger Z117 and advance to the 2015 Forrest Wood Cup in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
FLW College Fishing Series – Southern Conference
Sat, Jan 24, 2015
Sam Rayburn Reservoir
Umphrey Family Pavilion
Xtreme Bass Series Opens On St. Johns With Big Entry And Big Bags Anticipated
The 2015 Xtreme Bass Series on the St. John's River opens Saturday with hefty bags expected at the weigh-in and expanded opportunities to fish for new Blazer Boats in two different championships.
“Right now it's looking like it will take 25 to 30 pounds for a five-fish limit to win Saturday,” said tournament director Mike Oglesbee. “We've got some bedding fish already and the bedding fish fishermen are already bringing in some nice bags of fish. We are expecting some huge fish to be brought in Saturday afternoon.”
Oglesbee said teams must fish seven of the nine tournaments to qualify for the Xtreme Bass Championship Nov. 5-7 on Lake Okeechobee. First place in the Xtreme Championship will be a new Blazer 595 Pro Elite Bass Boat with a 200 hp outboard and trailer.
“You can finish last in all seven of those tournaments and still qualify for the championship,” he said. “But the top four teams in points also qualify to fish the Florida State Team Championship.”
The Florida State Team Championship will be held in early 2016 and top prize will be another Blazer 595 Pro Elite bass boat.
The schedule for the 2015 Xtreme Bass Series on the St. Johns River includes: Jan. 17, Feb. 21, March 28, the Haven Hospice Tournament on April 25, the Wolfson Children's Hospital Tournament on May 16, June 29, July 25, Aug. 22 and Sept. 26. All tournament swill be held out of Crystal Cove Resort except for The Haven Hospice Tournament and the Wolfson Children's Hospital Tournament, both of which will be held out of Palatka City Dock.
Oglesbee said teams fishing any of the Xtreme Bass Series can count the Haven Hospice and Wolfson's Childrens Hospital tournaments towards their seven tournaments to qualify for the championship.
“The entry fee to the Hospice tournament is $120 and is open to anyone who wants to pay the entry fee and fish,” Oglesbee said. “For those members of the Xtreme trail who want credit and points for fishing the benefit tournament they will pay an additional $10 processing fee at the ramp to Xtreme Bass Series.”
Oglesbee said the Hospice tournament has a $3,000 guarantee for first place and $1,000 for big bass.
“The Wolfson tournament is the same deal. You don't have to be a member to fish, but if you are a member and want credit and points one can pay the $10 processing fee to have that done. Entry fee for the Wolfsons tournament must be sent to Wolfsons to get your boat number it cost $100 to enter the tournament,” he said.
“A lot of guys fish the Wolfson's tournament anyway. That tournament draws 500-600 boats every year and the payback is $50,000, with $10,000 for first place,” he said. “Anybody can fish the Wolfson for a $10 processing fee. They can mail it to me or (Xtreme Bass President) Mike Blocher or pay at the ramp. Hopefully, this will make things better for the fishermen and benefit these charities, too.”
The Xtreme Bass Series is a tournament series for grass roots tournament anglers throughout the state of Florida. Teams pay a $35-per-angler membership fee and $120 per tournament,which includes big fish. The payback is around 86 percent to one in every seven boats, said Ogelsbee who anticipates a strong turnout for the first St. John's tournament Saturday.
“We've been getting a lot of feedback from anglers. We are hoping for good weather and a great crowd.”
Xtreme Bass Series
Jan 17, 2015
St. Johns River
Crystal Cove Resort
Call Mike Oglesbee or Gene Crossway at (386) 546-3614
Bassmaster Open On Kissimmee Chain - Pros Predict Tough Tourney
The Bassmaster Southern Open season is set to start hours from now on Florida’s Kissimmee Chain of Lakes.
Mark Lassagne of Bass Angler Magazine fame is competing in the pro division this week. Being from California, he didn’t really know what to expect. “I heard the water was high and that a lot of the grass was dead. Being a guy from out-of-town, I don’t have a lot of preconceived notions so, to me, it looks like there’s a lot of vegetation out there.”
Lassagne found a spot he liked early in the week and then left it alone in hopes that it will pay off when it counts. “I caught a 7 and a couple of 4’s. I started shaking them off and they all felt like good fish. I could have done 25 pounds there.”
If his ‘A’ plan doesn’t come together, Lassagne knows this tournament could become a grind. “Overall, the fishing is pretty tough. I think a lot of guys will struggle. You can throw a Senko and catch numbers, but big fish are hard to come by.”
J.P. Prouty has seen the Kissimmee Chain before. A lot. Prouty has been based in Vero Beach, Fla. for years but now gets his mail Jacksonville, Fla. He has spent most of the winter down on Lake Toho and her sister lakes. Like Lassagne, Prouty predicts a low weight tourney.
“54 pounds, 18 per day, that’s what I think it will take to win this. Probably 30 to make the cut.”
Those are low numbers for a Florida fishery in winter. “I’ve done everything you can do on Toho and it’s ‘no bueno’. Somebody might find a wad of fish offshore and whack them good, but otherwise, I think 18 pounds per day is going to be tough to beat.”
As for tactics, Prouty expects a junk fest. “Guys will catch a couple flippin’ a couple off beds, a couple on swimbaits like the Gambler Big EZ. I can catch a bunch of fish casting (as opposed to flipping or sight fishing) but they may weigh 10 pounds or they might weigh 25. I just don’t know.”
He said the water temp reached that magical 68-degree mark today. That’s generally the temperature needed to kick off a reliable spawn for Florida strain bass. “But I don’t think we’ll have much sun the next couple of days.” Lack of sunlight and an ‘off’ moon phase will likely prevent the type of major spawn that gives birth to record-setting weights.
Patrick Pierce, of Saint John, Fla. is a veteran Opens pro. He said practice has “not been great. It’s kind of random. I found a few little wads of fish but being around them at the right time is everything.
“I don’t feel as good about it as I usually do.
“We’ll know more about it tomorrow.”
Noting the diminished amount of cover in the lakes, Pierce said crowds will form in key areas. “I looked for some out-of-the-way stuff. I think it’s out of the way, but there could be 20 boats on it when I get there tomorrow.”
His weight prediction made Prouty’s look optimistic. “Fifty pounds. I think 15 or 16 a day will be really strong. It’s Toho, so somebody will catch an 8-or-9-pounder and I believe a 20-pound bag will be caught, but I would be very happy with 15 pounds a day.”
Again, the offshore bite was mentioned as the wild card that could change things. “I looked around out there and didn’t find anything I liked,” said Pierce. I think that’s how the American Bass Anglers tournament was won this past weekend, but I’m going to do what I do. For Pierce, that means flippin’.
Much of the field will flip.
And it looks as if much of the field will make the long run down to Lake Kissimmee where flippin’ cover is still fairly plentiful. This makes boat numbers more of a factor.
Normally, an angler would want a lower number. But with the afternoon bite often being the best in winter, Lassagne is happy with his high number. “I don’t have to weigh-in until 4 o’clock tomorrow.”
Pierce will enjoy a similar advantage, “I’m boat #191 so I will just spend the first hour on Toho and let the crowds work their way through the locks. Then I’ll head down that way and fish the way I like to fish.”
Prouty is pleased with his draw. “Nobody will get to fish more than I will. I am boat #105 tomorrow, so the next day I will be something like ‘99’ or so.”
Extra minutes on the water, especially during the relative warmth of afternoon, could make a huge difference if the angling is as tough as most folks think it will be this week.
Buckeye Lures adds Shawn Murphy to pro staff
Buckeye Lures has added FLW Tour Pro Shawn Murphy to its stable of professional anglers.
“My go-to is the Mop Jig,” shared Murphy, noting that he used the lure extensively to win the 2011 FLW Rookie of the Year title – when he chose to buy and use Buckeye Lures because he believed in them.
The 35-year-old contractor from Nicholasville, Kentucky expects the unique jig to work well again on this year’s FLW Tour. “I’m looking at Chickamauga, Eufaula, and a couple of other places with a good ledge bite and I just can’t wait to get out there with the Mop Jig. That’s definitely my money-making lure!”
By ‘ledge bite’ Murphy doesn’t always mean ‘deep bite’. “I have caught bass on it in 3 feet of water. I’ve also caught them in 45 feet of water with it.”
What makes the Mop Jig so productive? “The skirt. It looks like it has a breeze blowing across it all the time. It just keeps waving.”
Though Murphy chuckles at the occasional 8-incher that will attack the lure, the Mop Jig is a big bait for big bass and he dresses it accordingly. “For a trailer, I like either a big brush hog or a Strike King Rage Craw.”
If the jig bite slows, Murphy can often get the fish fired up again by swimming a soft plastic lure on a J-Will Swimbait head.
Of course, there are times when Murphy has to check-down to his numbers bait. “When we go to Smith or Beaver Lake, that Spot Remover is the deal.”
When conditions call for an aggressive approach (Lake Toho and the Potomac River come to mind) "Buckeye makes a great buzzbait," said Murphy.
“Shawn is a great fisherman,” said Jeremy Altman of Buckeye Lures, “and he used Buckeye Lures anyway - even before we signed a deal with him - which says a lot about his commitment to the product line. When we decided to add to our pro staff, Shawn was a natural choice.”
Explore the classic, Tour-tested Buckeye lures, as well as the newest product offerings at BuckeyeLures.com.
And follow Shawn Murphy and his fellow Tour pros on AnglersChannel.com and the Progressive Bass Wrap Up TV Show.
Anthony Gagliardi signs with Sportsman's Warhouse
FLW Cup Champion Anthony Gagliardi joins us at Sportsman's Warehouse with the news that he is now a member of the Sportsman's Warehouse Team! We talk to Anthony about this and much, 2015, and much more right here!
FLW Announces Pro Field for 2015 Tour
Strike King picks up Meyer, Lee Brothers
Strike King Lure Company only signs the best anglers with the best reputations in the sport. If you get a chance to join their team, do it.
FLW Tour standout Cody Meyer got that chance and accepted. He will represent Strike King going forward into 2015 and, likely, beyond.
Jordan Lee and Matt Lee, brothers who will fish the Bassmaster Elite series in 2015 have also signed-on with the lure giant. What an incredible opportunity for two young anglers!
Good luck to Cody, Matt, Jordan and the entire Strike King pro staff in 2015!
Yamamoto signs Elite Series Pros Fletcher Shryock, Davy Hite
Gary Yamamoto has ventured into hard baits with his new line 'Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits'. And to help promote the product line, GYCB has signed Bassmaster Elite Series Pro Fletcher Shryock.
The company likes Shryock's youth and energy, as well as his ability to connect with fishing fans.
Shryock likes the 'ground floor' opportunity with the new line of lures.
Yamamoto has an established reputation with soft baits. Davy Hite has an established resume with a Bassmaster Classic win, a Forrest Wood Cup championship, and a 2 Bassmaster Angler of the Year titles.
The two compliment one another well and so Hite will represent Yamamoto soft baits this year.
Good call on both signings - matching youth with opportunity and experience with a proven reputation.
Cotton Cordell Dies
Born Carl Richey Cordell, Jr. and known better as "Cotton" due to the color of his hair, Cordell invented some of the fish-catchingest lures ever designed.
The Red Fin, Hot Spot and Gay Blade have filled tackle boxes for decades. Cordell even helped Fred Young with the Big O which started the crankbait craze in 1973.
Cordell supported the industry in many ways, including sponsorship of Bill Dance's first TV fishing show.
Cordell was inducted into the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame in 1988, the Arkansas Outdoor Hall of Fame in 1997 and the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame in 2002.
He died in his home town of Hot Springs, Arkansas at age 86.
Arctic Blast Will Affect Fish And Fishermen In Berry's Trail Tournament On Sinclair
Sean Dunn and Jeremy Beatenbaugh won the first tournament Dec 13 on Sinclair
The blast of Arctic air that blanketed Georgia this week will definitely have an effect on the second Berry's Tournament of the 2014-2015 season Saturday, said tournament angler Pat Fisher of Dacula, Ga. The question, he said, is whether the frigid temperatures will affect the fish or the fishermen more.
“We are going to have four solid days of cold, but Sinclair has a warm water system so probably 80 percent of the field will concentrate there around mid-lake,” Fisher said. “We did have a pile of rain last week which did finally stain the lake up and that will help the shallow bite.”
Fisher said it took 17 pounds to win a tournament on Sinclair last Saturday and the lake is fishing tougher than expected already.
“But somebody will catch them,” he added. “It will probably take 17-18 pounds to win this Saturday.”
Fisher said the jigging spoon bite should be on down the lake, and with the lake as clear as it is that kind of fishing should be good, especially with the colder weather.
“But I don't plan on doing any of that,” he said. “I am going to stick with the docks at mid-lake with a ShadRap, a Shakey Head and probably a small finesse jig. However, I will target deeper docks this time, 3 to 5 feet deep.”
Fisher added that it helps when there are brushpiles in front of the docks.
“This tournament is usually won this time of year out in front of the docks,” he said. “Somebody usually gets them pretty good with a worm or a jig in front of the docks.”
The Berry’s Tournament Trail, founded in 2003 by Bobby Berry and his two sons, is somewhat unique in that all eight of the tournaments, plus the season-ending classic, are held on Lakes Oconee and Sinclair. Four regular season tournaments are held on Oconee and four are held on Sinclair, with anglers having to fish at least five tournaments to qualify for the classic, which means they have to fish both lakes at least once.
“It equalizes things,” noted Berry who started the series on Oconee and Sinclair when local anglers tired of driving all over Georgia to compete in bass tournaments. Most of the participants in his series are all local anglers.
The schedule for the 2014-2015 Berry's Tournament trail includes: December 13, 2014, Sinclair; Jan. 10, 2015, Sinclair; Feb. 7, Oconee; March 7, Oconee; March 21, Sinclair; April 11, Oconee; April 25, Sinclair; and May 9, Oconee; with the championship May 30 on Oconee and May 31 on Sinclair.
Berry’s Tournament Trail
Sat, Jan 10, 2015
Lake Sinclair
Dennis Station DNR Ramp
Rose, Dudley, Jacobs named to FLW Walmart Fishing Team
Walmart announced the members of its professional angling team that will hit the water in 2015. The Walmart team will be comprised of pros Mark Rose of West Memphis, Arkansas, David Dudley of Lynchburg, Virginia, and co-angler Nicole Jacobs of New Brighton, Minnesota.
Rose, a 16-year veteran of the Walmart FLW Tour, wrapped up his 2014 season with a fifth-place finish in the Angler of the Year standings. He qualified for the ninth Forrest Wood Cup appearance of his career and earned more than $100,000 throughout the season. The Arkansas native has 40 career top-10 finishes and six career victories.
Southern Open On Toho To Be Drastically Different From 2014 Open Last January
Fishing on Florida's Lake Tohopekaliga is going to be a lot different this January than it was a year ago when David Williams finished 3rd in the Bassmaster Southern Open season opener, a giant first step towards his 2014 Southern Open Angler of the Year title.
The situation next week is going to be one of those “that was then, this is now” deals, the Maiden, N.C., pro said.
When I went down there last year I did not have any experience at all with the lake and I only had two days of practice. But a cold front came in and made it tough on everybody else. I fished a little deeper than most everybody else and put together a pretty good pattern.”
Williams weighed in a three-day total of 44.2 pounds in that tournament, more than 6 pounds behind the first place weight of almost 51 pounds. But anglers in the 2015 Southern Open on Toho won't be fishing in frigid temperatures like they did in late January last year, he said.
“The long-range forecasts for this year's tournament is showing it's going to be pretty much in the mid-70s about all week. Coming off a full moon, too, you are liable to see a big bedding fish tournament next week.”
While bass bedding usually means big females up shallow, bed fishing is not Williams' forte, so he will be fishing differently, but more to his strengths.
“I am at a huge disadvantage with bedding fish. I don't have any power poles on my boat, but I can catch them. If I come across a bedding fish I will try to catch it, but I won't be looking for them. I'll be looking for feeding fish – pre-spawners.”
Williams followed his 3rd place at Toho with a 39th place finish in March on Smith Lake, then rebounded strongly with an 8th place finish on Lake Norman, near his home, in October to wrap up the AOY title.
However, while the cold front helped him on Toho back in January, a severe cold front that moved across Lake Norman probably cost him a slot in the field for the 2015 Bassmaster Classic on South Carolina's Lake Hartwell next month. After catching five-bass limits weighing 14 pounds, 1 ounce, and 13 pounds, 5 ounces, the first two days, Williams managed only three keepers weighing 4 pounds, 13 ounces, on Sunday after the Saturday night cold snap.
So, even though the situation on Toho will be drastically different from a year ago, Williams is looking forward to it.
“I always enjoy leaving 20-degree weather and going somewhere that I can enjoy 70-degree weather,” he said.
2015 Bassmaster Southern Open #1
Jan 15-17, 2015
Lake Tohopekaliga
Big Toho Marina
Points Title Down To The Wire In Final Denver Marine Monster Bass Winter Trail Tournament Saturday
The race for the points title in the Denver Marine Monster Bass Invitational Winter Trail could see a major change in the last regular tournament Saturday on Lake Norman.
“This is a double points tournament and we have Scott Beatty and Drew Montgomery tied for first place,” explained tournament director Scott Hyder.
Beatty and Montgomery have 1195 points each, Hyder said. He is also looking for a big tournament this weekend, with with this being the last event on the schedule before the Championship Jan. 24.
“We hope to see some of the guys from the other tournaments around the lake come and fish with us and have a good time,” Hyder said. “We're providing a free coupon for a gallon of oil for any new teams that fish with us and we are waiving the membership fee on the last two tournaments.”
Hyder said the series has averaged from 15 boats up to 22 and 24 boats during the winter trail season, but he hopes to increase that number to 25 to 30 boats per tournament for future Denver Marine tournaments.
“We are setting up our dates for the spring trial to make sure we don't fish on top of anybody else's tournament,” he said. “I guarantee we won't interfere with anybody.”
Hyder said he is also making plans for a really good championship on the 24th.
“We've been putting money back all season so there will be a great payoff for the championship,” he said. And, he added, he is working to make the Denver Marine tournaments even more attractive to the anglers.
“We are going to upgrade the tournaments. We just want fishermen to come fish with us,” he said.
Anglers pay a $20 membership fee to participate in the Denver Marine Monster Bass series and teams pay a $75 entry fee per tournament, which includes $10 for Big Fish. However, the membership fee is waived if the angler bought or buys his boat from Denver Marine.
The tournament series has other bonus money for anglers who qualify. An angler who wins while fishing out of a Denver Marine Ranger Boat, no matter what year, will earn bonus money. Also, anglers fishing out of another make of boat that was bought from Denver marine also can earn some bonus money.
The Ranger Cup is available for anyone in a Ranger Boat 10 years old or newer that was bought from Denver Marine as long as there are 20 or more boats entered in a tournament. Monster Bass Bucks are available for Rangers up to 10 years old purchased from Denver marine – with a 20-boat minimum. The boats must have a Team Denver Marine windshield sticker and bass displayed for both bonus programs.
There is even a special lure program. An angler who wins with a Shane's Finesse Rigg by local luremaker Shane Lehew will earn up to $100 in a regular season tournament and $250 in the year-end championship.
Even the less than lucky anglers have something to shoot for. The team with the lowest weight for a 5-fish limit will win $75 provided by Key Properties.
But, perhaps the biggest bonus is the chance to win an entry into the highly popular Jim Ledbetter Cancer Tournament on Lake Norman next March. The top 10 in points in the Monster Bass series will receive a free entry to the Ledbetter Tournament, plus all the boats will be entered in a drawing for an entry into the Ledbetter Tournament.
The winner of the Jim Ledbetter Cancer Tournament will take home a 2015 Ranger Boat, provided by Denver Marine, Ranger Boats and Evinrude.
Denver Marine Monster Bass Invitational Winter Trail
Sat, Jan 10, 2015
Lake Norman
Midway Marina
Scott Hyder, 704-861-3163
Andy Wicker kicks off 2015 with ABA win on Lake Murray-Full results here!
ABA D-96 Tournament Results
Lake Murray – January 4, 2015
Division 96 2014-15 Season
Group picture from left to right; 1st place & Big Fish winner Andy Wicker of Pomaria, SC / 2nd place Sean Anderson of Leesville, SC / 3rd place Dean Chapman of Leesville, SC / 4th place Rodney Chastain of Fountain Inn, SC / 5th place Kim Neal of Easley, SC / 6th place Jay Treon of Greenwood, SC. Also pictured is Andy Wicker holding two of his fish including the tournament big fish.
First place, Andy Wicker was fishing the middle part of the lake working jigs and crankbaits around rocks and boat docks. Andy had 5 fish weighing 21.09 pounds which included the 7.18 pound big fish of the tournament. That fish is now the D-96 season big fish which puts him in line for the ALX IKOS rod of his choice if it holds up. Andy ran off from the rest of the field today by more than an 8 pound margin and this win gave him a payback of $ 754.
Sean Anderson finished second with 5 fish weighing 12.84 pounds. Sean was fishing a jig around wood on the middle part of the lake. Sean earned $387 for his efforts.
21 anglers fished this Lake Murray qualifying tournament. It was a wet day and fishing was tough for most of us. Only three 5 fish limits were brought to the scales and seven out of the twenty one anglers did not bring fish to the scales. It started out at 66 degrees and ended with the 3pm weigh-in at 68 degrees. It was cloudy all day with a 15 to 25 mph wind out of the SW. Rain started around 10:30am on and off and some scattered thunderstorms started up around noon but passed in an hour’s time. Rain was almost gone by the 3pm weigh-in time. Water temperature was in the low 50’s. The main lake was clear but stained to muddy in the rivers and creeks due all this rain during the week.
Andy Wicker and part of his 21+ Lb winning stringer!
Top 6 at ABA on Murray!!
Here’s how we finished:
1 – Andy Wicker, Pomaria, SC - 5 fish 21.09 lbs. BF 7.18 lbs. 200 pts. (Cell # 803-940-0422)
2 – Sean Anderson, Leesville, SC – 5 fish 12.84 lbs. 199 pts. (Cell # 864-344-3197)
3 – Dean Chapman, Leesville, SC – 4 fish 12.35 lbs. 198 pts.
4 – Rodney Chastain, Fountain Inn, SC – 3 fish 11.69 lbs. 197 pts.
5 – Kim Neal, Easley, SC – 5 fish 9.58 lbs. 196 pts.
6 – Jay Treon, Greenwood, SC – 4 fish 8.66 lbs. 195 pts.
7 – Phil Morris, Saluda, SC – 4 fish 8.18 lbs. 194 pts.
8 – Steve Wicker, Pomaria, SC – 4 fish 7.65 lbs. 193 pts.
9 – Tommy Lindler, Lexington, SC – 3 fish 5.86 lbs. 192 pts.
10 – Curtis Temples, Saluda, SC – 2 fish 3.63 lbs. 191 pts.
11 – John Stevenson, Minnesota – 1 fish 2.68 lbs. 190 pts.
12 – Gene Parker, Asheville, NC - 1 fish 2.17 lbs. 189 pts.
13 – Mitchell Kneece, Saluda, SC – 1 fish 1.55 lbs. 188 pts.
7 anglers did not weigh in fish - 50 pts.
Money
Andy Wicker – 1st place plaque $539 / Big Fish plaque $105 / 1st place option $110 Total - $754
Sean Anderson – 2nd place plaque $317 / 2nd place option $70 Total - $387
Dean Chapman – 3rd place plaque $101
Rodney Chastain – 4th place & ALX hat
Kim Neal – 5th place Parker Spinnerbait
Jay Treon – 6th place ALX hat
D-96 2015 Angler of the Year
(Top 3 in points)
Sean Anderson – 799 pts.
Gene Parker - 782
(tie)Andy Lake & Curtis Temples – 779 pts.
ALX Rod Big Fish Leader for 2015
Andy Wicker – 7.18 lbs. Lake Murray, January 4, 2015
Larew signs Wheeler
TULSA, Okla. (Jan. 7, 2015) - Gene Larew Lures announces the addition of bass professional Jacob Wheeler to its pro staff, bringing together one of the oldest names in soft-plastic lures with one of the youngest million-dollar earners along the top tournament trails.
Wheeler, 24, has amassed more than one million dollars in tournament earnings in his first four years as a pro. His accomplishments include an Ultimate Match Fishing Championship, 2011 FLW BFL All-American championship, 2012 FLW Forrest Wood Cup championship, 2014 Bassmaster BASSfest title and seven other top-10 finishes.
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Jacob Wheeler is off to a good start with Larew baits, catching his biggest bass ever this week, a 12 1/2 pounder, while punching a Biffle Bug Jr. around pads
in Florida. (Click to view/download hi-res image)
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"Jacob has a lot of reasons to be sporting that grin of his that's as big as the flat bill on his cap; he's had an amazing start to his career," said Larew owner Chris Lindenberg. "While we of course like what we see in his fishing skills, I can honestly say that we like even more the-Jacob-Wheeler person we've come to know better in recent months.
"He's a humble young man that is quick to credit his success to life-lessons learned from a hardworking family that struggled to make it through tough times, and who's been giving back ever since to his loving parents who taught him to fish. His first personal 'splurging' after the $100,000 All-American win, was his buying himself two pairs of Nike tennis shoes instead of just the one he needed."
The Indianapolis angler said he believes it's his strong family culture that led him to Larew. "As a bass fishing fanatic, I knew about Larew, and of course the brand's relationship with legendary angler Tommy Biffle, but I didn't know the folks behind the company name," Wheeler explained.
"When Upshaw (fellow FLW pro angler Andrew Upshaw) introduced me to Chris and his team at ICAST last summer, I felt right at home. Larew is a great fit for me and my fishing style."
As a result of the partnership agreement, Larew branding will have a prominent place on Wheeler's hat, jersey and boat wrap.
Wheeler visited the Larew manufacturing facility in Tulsa, Okla., last month to sign the deal. He took advantage of the trip to further supplement his Larew soft-plastic assortment that will be going with him to the 2015 Bassmaster Classic, to be held on South Carolina's Lake Hartwell in February.
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Larew's Chris Lindenberg (left) and pro angler Jacob Wheeler
check out Larew's flagship lures, the Salt Craw, fresh out of the
mold at the company's headquarters in Tulsa, Okla.
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"Larew has a history of great products, but what they have introduced through innovation in recent years is proof that these guys really 'get it.' As a result, I'm expecting great things to continue to come and a shared success throughout my 2015 season and beyond," Wheeler said.
Larew's original Salt Craw remains a staple in the company's product lineup. More recent introductions include the Biffle Bug, TattleTail Worm, Rattlin' CRAWler, Sweet Swimmers and Rally Grub.
Wheeler joins a Larew national pro staff that consists of Biffle, Upshaw, Gerald Brown, Fred Roumbanis and John Murray.
"We have a great pro staff and Jacob is a solid and proud addition to our team. Every one of these guys can catch 'em and is a threat to win any given event. What scares me most is that they all are also practical jokesters. Keep an eye on these guys in 2015," Lindenberg added.
For more information on Larew products and pros, visit www.GeneLarewLures.com.
Bob’s Machine Shop Is Pleased To Announce The Signing Of Bassmaster Elite Series Angler, Brandon Card
“Ever since Randy Howell showed me his blue Action Series hydraulic plate, I knew I had to get a custom painted plate to match my Suzuki 250SS. Customizing boats is the big thing now. I want everything on my boat to match, so I chose a matte black powder coated 10” Action Series plate to go with my matte black Suzuki, Power Poles, and boat wrap. Bob’s plates come in any color and also come in hydro-graphic color schemes like camo and carbon fiber.”
Bob’s Machine Shop sales and marketing manager, Steven Pelini, said, “We are very excited to partner with Brandon because of his track record on and off the water. He is a hard worker and great promoter.” Brandon’s 10” Action Series plate will take the look and performance of his Suzuki 250SS and Triton 21 TrX to the next level.”
“My 2015 boat is rigged and I have already been testing my Bob’s plate. I can honestly say that my hole-shot is much faster and the plate changes heights quicker than other hydraulic plates that I have used in the past,” added Brandon.
For more information on Bob’s Machine Shop and Brandon Card, follow them on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/Bobsmachine and https://www.facebook.com/BrandonCardFishing
Bob’s Machine Shop Is Pleased To Announce The Signing Of Bassmaster Elite Series Angler, Brandon Card
“Ever since Randy Howell showed me his blue Action Series hydraulic plate, I knew I had to get a custom painted plate to match my Suzuki 250SS. Customizing boats is the big thing now. I want everything on my boat to match, so I chose a matte black powder coated 10” Action Series plate to go with my matte black Suzuki, Power Poles, and boat wrap. Bob’s plates come in any color and also come in hydro-graphic color schemes like camo and carbon fiber.”
Bob’s Machine Shop sales and marketing manager, Steven Pelini, said, “We are very excited to partner with Brandon because of his track record on and off the water. He is a hard worker and great promoter.” Brandon’s 10” Action Series plate will take the look and performance of his Suzuki 250SS and Triton 21 TrX to the next level.”
“My 2015 boat is rigged and I have already been testing my Bob’s plate. I can honestly say that my hole-shot is much faster and the plate changes heights quicker than other hydraulic plates that I have used in the past,” added Brandon.
For more information on Bob’s Machine Shop and Brandon Card, follow them on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/Bobsmachine and https://www.facebook.com/BrandonCardFishing
Page, Murphy win IFA championship and a Ranger boat on Hildebrandt Drum Roller
In a dramatic, come from behind victory, the Florida team of Rick Murphy and Geoffrey Page won the 2014 IFA Redfish Championship in Houma, LA, October 25, 2014.
The duo traveled more than 100 miles by water each day through Louisiana’s brackish bayous to reach their destination in Venice. According to Murphy, of Homestead, Fla., the fish were concentrated on a particular shoreline that offered an abundance of forage.
“There were five different species of bait(fish) literally on one shoreline,” stated Murphy. “We knew there was so much protein there, that if we could catch a (regulation) fish, he was going to be really big!”
Page, from Sarasota, Fla., said, “The Hildebrandt Drum Roller ® spinnerbait paired with a BassAssassin soft-plastic trailer was the key to making them bite.”
Murphy and Page amassed a 4-fish, 2-day weight of 35.29 pounds. By winning the IFA Championship, the pair took home a new Ranger ® 220 Bahia/Yamaha® 150 package valued at $41,000, plus $3,990 in Anglers Advantage cash.
Hildebrandt’s Drum Roller ® was designed by professional angler, Bernie Schultz, also from Florida. Schultz claims the lure’s unique tin construction is the reason it’s so effective. “The Drum Roller is formed using pure tin, which weighs approximately 2/3rds as much as lead of the same volume.” That makes a huge difference when you’re fishing in super shallow water...places where red drum (redfish) frequently feed.
“By combining its unique head design with the right colored soft-plastic trailer and Premium Hildebrandt Blades ®, the Drum Roller’s flash and profile will match just about anything a redfish feeds on.”
Humminbird adds new regions to Lake Master coverage
EUFAULA, AL (January 6, 2015) – Humminbird is now ready to bring the LakeMaster experience to more anglers across the U.S. than ever before. Our survey team has expanded the High Definition map coverage into the MidAtlantic and NorthEast regions with new, Version 1 Editions for anglers.
In addition to these two regions, we've added a new PLUS version of these products as well. The PLUS series allows for aerial image overlay on High Definition waters in addition to all of the LakeMaster features. Now you have the ability to use quality aerial photography to view the entry and exits of creek channels, see how far a reef or weed line extends, and pick out shallow water rock piles, steep drop-offs or other features of the lake you've been missing from traditional maps.
- Contours for over 100 total lakes, rivers and reservoirs in DE, MD, NC, SC, VA, & WV
- 42 High Definition water bodies, including several sections of the Ohio River
- Updated coastline for the entire region
- i-Pilot® Link™ Compatible
Includes these highly requested water bodies in stunning High Definition: Strom Thurmond, GA/SC, Lake Murray, SC, Smith Mountain, VA, Kerr/Buggs, NC/VAGaston, NC, Wylie, NC, Norman, NC, and Shearon Harris, NC. Also, contours for Chesapeake Bay, MD and Delaware Bay, DE.
Visit MidAtlantic States Edition for more information on product features, images, complete lake list, lake elevations, GPS compatibility and more.
MidAtlantic States PLUS Edition
- Contours for over 100 total lakes, rivers and reservoirs in DE, MD, NC, SC, VA, & WV
- 42 High Definition water bodies, including several sections of the Ohio Rivers
- Updated coastline for the entire region
- i-Pilot® Link™ Compatible
- PLUS allows for 3 layers of aerial image overlay on High Definition waters: Satellite Only, Satellite + Land, Satellite + Contours
Includes these highly requested water bodies in stunning High Definition: Strom Thurmond, GA/SC, Lake Murray, SC, Smith Mountain, VA, Kerr/Buggs, NC/VA, Gaston, NC, Wylie, NC, Norman, NC and Shearon Harris, NC. Also, contours for Chesapeake Bay, MD and Delaware Bay, DE.
Visit MidAtlantic States PLUS Edition for information on product features, images, complete lake list, lake elevations, GPS compatibility and more.
- Contours for over 1,500 total lakes, rivers and reservoirs in CT, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, & VT
- 115 High Definition water bodies
- Updated coastline for the entire region
- i-Pilot® Link™ Compatible
Includes these highly requested water bodies in stunning High Definition: Zoar, CT, Lake, Lillinonah, CT, Winnepesaukee, NH, Winnesquam, NH, Webster, MA, Androscoggin, ME, China, ME, Cobboseecontee, ME, Hopatcong, NJ, Conesus, NY, Johnsons Pond, RI, Wallenpaupack, PA, Dunmore Lake, VT and contours for all of Lake Ontario.
Visit NorthEast States Edition for information on product features, images, complete lake list, GPS compatibility and more.
- Contours for over 1500 total lakes, rivers and reservoirs in CT, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, & VT
- 115 High Definition water bodies
- Updated coastline for the entire region
- i-Pilot® Link™ Compatible
- PLUS allows for 3 layers of aerial image overlay on High Definition waters: Satellite Only, Satellite + Land, Satellite + Contours
Includes these highly requested water bodies in stunning High Definition: Zoar, CTLake Lillinonah, CT, Winnepesaukee, NH, Winnesquam, NH, Webster, MA, Androscoggin, ME, China, ME, Cobboseecontee, ME, Hopatcong, NJ, Conesus, NY, Johnsons Pond, RIWallenpaupack, PA
Dunmore Lake, VT and contours for all of Lake Ontario.
Visit NorthEast States PLUS Edition for information on product features, images, complete lake list, GPS compatibility and more.
For more information visit humminbird.com, contact Humminbird, 678 Humminbird Lane, Eufaula, AL 36027, or call 800-633-1468.
Top This re-ups with FLW Tour Pro Kevin Stewart
Top This (Premier Accessory Outfitters) today announced a sponsorship agreement for 2015 with FLW Tour Pro Kevin Stewart of Elk Grove, California. This is the 4th consecutive year these two have combined forces. Top This (Premier Accessory Outfitters) will remain Kevin's title sponsor.
Kevin Stewart has been fishing competitively on the west coast for years in a quest to become one of the nation’s best anglers. In 2013 Kevin made the move towards his longtime dream to compete on a national level with the FLW Tour. Two years of planning to compete across the country was crucial to the success of such a venture. “I made every effort to develop a plan that would take me into my first 2 years of competition” says Kevin. As a small business owner he realized making a business plan for competitive fishing would prove to be as important as developing one for any business.
“I could not take on such an endeavor without the complete support of my family and my sponsors. I wish I could express into words how thankful I am of all the great people that surround and support me”, says Kevin. His heartfelt appreciation for all his supporters could not go unnoticed.
The company supporting Kevin, Top This (Premier Accessory Outfitters) is a retail store in Grass Valley, California. specializing in outfitting vehicles . With such a wide variety of products available, Top This equips everything from Trucks, SUV's, Jeeps, Cars, Boats and Recreational Vehicles. “We have something for everyone from the best manufacturers in the industry.” says Chuck Kavros, President of Danisti Inc., the parent company of Top This.
Over the past 4 years, Top This has developed a name for themselves in the bass tournament scene providing quality products to make the competitive angler more efficient and better organized. Chuck states, “We are proud to support and participate in the competitive fishing industry. We look forward to our ongoing partnership with Kevin as part of the Top This Team."
Abu Garcia Signs-On With Aba
Athens, Ala. (January 6, 2015) - American Bass Anglers (ABA) announced today that Abu Garcia has signed a multiyear sponsorship agreement with American Bass Anglers. Introduced in Sweden in 1941, Abu Garcia has emerged as a premium global fishing brand, producing some of today’s most advanced fishing gear. Abu Garcia is the official and exclusive Rod and Reel of American Bass Anglers and all of its tours.
“ABA takes great pride in working with premium brands and Abu Garcia is as iconic as it is a premium brand. Weekend anglers worldwide have been using Abu Garcia reels for many years. When the Ambassadeur® reel was introduced it changed the way everyone fished. The new Revo® and Revo® Beast reels have taken the industry by storm and the recent re-launch of the Swedish-made round reels Record, C4, C3, Pro Rocket and Morrum all embody the durability and engineering the weekend angler has come to rely on,” said Morris Sheehan, President of American Bass Anglers, Inc.
As part of this sponsorship Abu Garcia will be integrated into the sponsorship platforms and footprint at Weekend Bass Series events, American Fishing Tour Championship, 100% Plus Team Trail events, American Couples Series Championship and Military Team Event.
“The unique structure that ABA has fostered for the weekend angler is an exceptional platform and we are excited to be involved. Our partnership with ABA lets us get more engaged with local tournaments and allows us to directly connect with our local tournament anglers,” said Andrew Wheeler, Brand Business Manager for Abu Garcia.
For more information about ABU Garcia visit your local outdoor retailer or visit www.Abugarcia.com
Oltorik Brothers Of Daytona State College Win Carhartt Bassmaster College Southern Regional On St Johns River
Brothers Thomas (left) and James Oltorik of Daytona State College win the Carhartt Bassmaster College Southern Regional held Jan. 3-5 on the St. Johns River out of Flagler County, Fla., with a three-day total weight of 42 pounds, 6 ounces.
FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. — Thomas Oltorik III and James Oltorik of Daytona State College won the 2015 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Southern Regional on the St. Johns River Monday with a three-day total of 42 pounds, 6 ounces.
The Oltorik brothers started the event Saturday with a weight of 15-9, which landed them in second place at the end of the opening round. Things only went up from there for Daytona State as they took the lead on Sunday and kept the lead Monday on the final day, winning the event by 1 pound even.
“I’m absolutely speechless,” Thomas said. “Today was an amazing day. We had a lot of little fish biting all day long. I was just sitting there praying to God, just one big one. And then right there at the end ‘kaboom,’ she ate it. I set the hook and put it in the boat.”
That big one weighed about 7 pounds and definitely made the difference for Daytona State, who bested the runner-ups from Clemson University, Baylor Ronemus and Cole Tinsley, by 1 pound.
Today started much like yesterday for Daytona State. After about 15 minutes on their starting spot in Crescent Lake, Thomas and James knew it was time to make the decision to run down. The wind was blowing a sustained 15 mph, and their offshore spot was almost impossible to fish thoroughly. They chose to strap everything down and make the three-hour run south past Lake George where they caught their entire final round weight of 13-4.
Ronemus and Tinsley were the second-best team to compete on the St. Johns River this week with 41-6. Clemson bested Auburn University’s CJ Knight and Tim Ward by 1 ounce to clinch second and bump Auburn to third. Cody Spears and Justin Mahon of Florida State University finished fourth with 40-0, and Austin Littrell and Ben Wall of Auburn University brought in the biggest bag of the final day, weighing 18-8, to round out the Top 5 with a total of 39-8.
The largest fish weighed in across all three days of competition belonged to Nathan Felker and Joe Bates of Georgia Southern with their 10-7 monster from Day 2.
The Bass Pro Shops Nitro Big Bag award went to Spears and Mahon of Florida State University, who on Day 2 brought in the largest single-day stringer of the tournament weighing 19-15.
The winning team also earned the Livingston Lures Leader award worth $500 in Livingston Lures product.
In all, 18 teams qualified for the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship, which will be held later this summer.
For a complete list of the results as well as photos, videos and other stories from the event, visit Bassmaster.com.
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Carhartt Bassmaster College Series - Southern
1/3/2015 - 1/5/2015 St. Johns River - Bull Creek Fish Camp - Flagler County, FL STANDINGS BOATER DAY 3 Today's Activity Accumulative
Name # Fish # Live Lbs - Oz # Fish # Live Lbs - Oz 1 Thomas Oltorik III - James Oltorik Daytona State College 5 5 13- 4 15 14 42- 6 2 Baylor Ronemus - Cole Tinsley Clemson University 5 5 13- 6 15 15 41- 6 3 CJ Knight - Tim Ward Auburn University 5 5 16-13 15 15 41- 5 4 Cody Spears - Justin Mahon Florida State University 5 4 15- 1 13 11 40- 0 5 Austin Littrell - Ben Wall Auburn University 5 5 18- 8 15 14 39- 8 6 Frankie Appaluccio - Logan Shaddix University of Alabama 5 5 17- 7 14 14 39- 3 7 Patrick Walters - Josh Rennebaum University of South Carolina 5 5 13-10 15 15 37- 6 8 Murphy Klumpp - Lucas Brown Auburn University 5 5 16-13 13 13 37- 3 9 Taylor Minick - Micheal Harbach Valdosta State University 5 5 11-15 13 13 34- 6 10 John Duarte - Jonathan Kelley Coastal Carolina University 5 5 10- 3 15 15 34- 1 11 Hunter Gibson - Caiden Sinclair University of Alabama 5 5 9- 4 15 15 31-14 12 Jacob Reome - Matthew Garvin Clemson University 4 4 5- 9 14 14 31- 4 13 Anderson Aldag - Lee Mattox University of Alabama 5 5 10-11 15 15 30- 9 14 Josh Oliver - Nathan George Gadsden State Community College 5 5 9- 2 15 15 30- 4 15 Ross Burns - Richard Nesbitt Clemson University 4 4 7- 0 14 13 29-12 16 Ross Dove - Richie Young Emmanuel College 2 2 4-14 11 11 27-10 17 Kevin Lucas - Kyle Stafford U. of Central Florida 2 2 4- 9 12 12 25- 0 18 Grant Galloway - Joe Marty Mississippi State University 1 1 1-10 8 7 22- 9 19 Justin Rivers - CJ Waters Wallace State CC Hanceville 1 1 0-14 9 9 21-12 20 Lealand Johnson - Drew Grow University of Alabama 0 0 0- 0 8 8 21- 1 21 Andrew Warbington - Taylor Teague University of West Alabama 6 6 19- 6 22 Ben Stone - Collin Smith Lander University 10 10 19- 1 23 John Davis - Payton McGinnis University of Alabama 10 10 18-10 24 John Maner - Colt Kelso U. of North Alabama 10 10 18- 7 25 Tom Brewbaker - Gettys Brannon University of South Carolina 10 10 18- 6 26 Justin Lynch - Tom Catania U. of North Alabama 8 8 17-15 27 Kirk Savage - William Blount U. of South Alabama 6 6 17-10 28 Thompson Fuller - Trey Fyock University of Montevallo 9 9 17-10 29 Michael Martindill - Evan French U. of North Florida 10 10 17- 7 30 Adam Acker - Christi Rolin Georgia State University 10 10 17- 6 31 Cody Harrison - Clint Frederick U. of North Alabama 6 6 17- 0 32 Colby Smith - Adam Hall Gadsden State Community College 9 9 16-15 33 Justin Singleton - Zac Bennett Georgia College & State University 7 7 16-14 34 Trent Palmer - Dean Mullett Georgia Southern 6 6 16-13 35 Nathan Felker - Joe Bates Georgia Southern 5 5 16-12 36 Jordan Heath - Chapman Curtis Auburn University 9 9 16- 8 37 Dakota Garner - Sawyer Haney Northeast Alabama Community College 7 7 16- 0 38 Austin Bell - Jerod Gadd Polk State College 9 9 15-14 39 Travis King - Madison Webb University of Montevallo 10 9 15-12 40 Austin Archer - Chase Chastain Jacksonville State University 8 8 15- 8 41 Myles Bowen - Nick Gresens Georgia College & State University 9 9 15- 6 42 Shelby Concon - Grant Bergeron University of Florida 9 9 15- 2 43 Mitchell Jennings - Kendall Andrews Auburn University 9 8 14- 9 44 Brad Davis - Bo Jones Columbus State University 8 8 14- 8 45 Wade Griffith - Bryan Spellman Gadsden State Community College 10 10 14- 8 46 Justin Brown - Scott Swatscheno U. of Central Florida 10 10 14- 3 47 Mitch Brumbeloe - Ashley Robinson University of West Alabama 8 8 14- 1 48 Austin Herring - Tanner Ellis University of Montevallo 7 7 13-15 49 Landon Tucker - Grant Colson Valdosta State University 5 5 13-14 50 Sandy Teaf - Steven Barker U. of Central Florida 9 9 13- 5 51 Shawn Callahan - Brian Sweeney U. of South Carolina 10 10 13- 5 52 Tyler Moody - Austin Maynard UAB 5 5 13- 4 53 Eric Fisher - Jake Akin Georgia Highlands College 9 5 13- 4 54 Hunter Bozeman - Dylan DeForrest Florida Gulf Coast University 9 9 13- 1 55 Travis Johns - MJ Vihnanek U. of South Alabama 9 9 12-11 56 Isaac Payne - Connor Mannina Savannah College of Art & Design 6 6 12- 4 57 Hampton Anderson - Chris Blanchette University of South Carolina 9 9 12- 4 58 Phillip Heyde - Kevin Hires Seminole State College 6 6 11-15 59 Hunter McKamey - Kyle Oliver U. of Central Florida 8 8 11-12 60 Joshua Butts - Colin Morrow Wallace State CC Hanceville 8 7 11-12 61 Alan Simmons - Bradley DeLeon Auburn University 5 5 11- 7 62 Nathan Lain - Grayson Lambert University of Florida 7 7 11- 4 63 Lucas Johnson - Anthony McCullough Georgia Regents University 6 6 11- 1 64 Joe Nakai - Blake Burtram U. of North Alabama 5 5 11- 1 65 Adam Neill - Mitch Naler University of Alabama 6 6 10-14 66 Shane Haas - Matthew Cantrell University of Florida 7 7 10-14 67 John Bryant - Trey Coile University of Alabama 7 7 10-11 68 Ethan Wages - U. of South Alabama 8 8 10-10 69 Jesse James - Nolan Vinson Troy University 7 7 10- 7 70 Clark Lawrence - Ethan Weeks Mississippi State University 4 4 9-10 71 Brad Vice - Austin Mize U. of North Alabama 5 5 9- 9 72 Jeff Clayton IV - Cody Peak Mississippi State University 5 5 9- 5 73 James Altmann - Mark Blanar University of Florida 5 5 9- 1 74 Konner Kennedy - Ethan Flack University of Alabama 5 5 9- 0 75 Zachary Edmunds - Nelson Madruga U. of Central Florida 7 7 8-14 76 Ryan Darracott - Zachary Darracott U. of North Alabama 5 5 8- 6 77 Dawson Lenz - Evan Horne University of North Alabama 5 5 7-13 78 Garrett Roberts - Ethan Hayes Auburn University 5 5 7- 7 79 Scott Cain - Tyler Teal UAB 3 3 7- 5 80 Seth Hanchey - Gunnar McCollough Troy University 3 3 7- 3 81 Alex Parker - Hunter Franklin U. of South Alabama 6 6 6-13 82 Brett Webster - Ryan Williams U. of North Alabama 3 3 6- 6 83 Cody Kennedy - Glenn Kennedy Calhoun Comm College 3 3 6- 3 84 Wesley Griner - Dalton Dedge Darton State College 5 5 5-15 85 Alex Schieman - Ryan Stewart Georgia College & State University 5 5 5-13 86 Charles Conger - Hunter Branham Southern Polytechnic College 6 6 5- 5 87 Brett Nelson - Chase Turner Wallace State CC Hanceville 3 3 5- 4 88 Hayden Tilley - Cole Gifford Northeast Alabama Community College 2 2 5- 3 89 Andrew Cannon - Drew Herold U. of North Alabama 4 4 5- 1 90 Andrew Suggs - Chase Coker Darton State College 3 3 5- 0 91 Zane Xanders - A.J. Hoath Florida Gulf Coast University 3 3 4- 7 92 Matt Oliver - Justin Woodruff UAB 3 3 4- 4 93 Jon Feazell - Alex Bell UAB 1 1 4- 4 94 Adam Clark - Matt Cagle Wallace State CC Hanceville 2 2 4- 2 95 Cale Mathis - Jonathan McLendon Abraham Baldwin Ag College 3 3 4- 2 96 Denver McLain - Benjamin Chandler Abraham Baldwin Ag College 1 1 4- 1 97 Brady Bowden - Landon Olson Faulkner University 4 4 3-15 98 Makenzie Henson - Ryan Hayse U. of North Alabama 1 1 3-10 99 Jacob Burns - Wesley Minor UAB 4 4 3- 6 100 Nathan Martin - Andrew Tate U. of North Alabama 3 3 3- 5 101 Philippe Brown - Kent Green AUM 1 1 3- 4 102 Hunter Bechtel - Hunter Waller Abraham Baldwin Ag College 2 2 3- 2 103 Toby Roach - Caleb Whitehead Mississippi State University 2 2 2-15 104 Kenneth Ryan - Adam Kemp University of Florida 2 2 2-13 105 Kenny Johnson - Brandon Black University of West Georgia 2 2 2-12 106 Andrew Himmelreich - Ethan Barrett Young Harris College 2 2 2- 7 107 Timothy Parker - Hunter Bland University of Florida 2 2 2- 3 108 Kolby Bowers - Alex Oliver Abraham Baldwin Ag College 1 1 1- 8 109 Kyle Alford - Nathan Woodruff Mississippi State University 1 1 1- 3 110 Luke Ferguson - Polk State College 1 1 1- 2 111 Michael Skat - Kaitlyn Nardi Seminole State College 1 1 1- 1 112 Austin Handley - Alex Wolfe UAB 1 1 1- 0 113 Samuel Bass - Logan Elton Florida State University 1 1 0-15 114 Colby Harville - Hunter Haney U. of North Alabama 1 1 0-14 115 Drew Wilson - Kendall Pierce UAB 1 1 0-13 116 Tanner Malone - Logan Smith Mississippi State University 1 1 0-12 117 Caleb Barksdale - Ean Miles Northeast Alabama Community College 0 0 0- 0 117 Brandon Easterling - Daniel Perry University of Montevallo 0 0 0- 0 117 Layton Jones - Tyler Schmidt Georgia Southern 0 0 0- 0 117 Skylar Lansdell - Matthew Hand AUM 0 0 0- 0 117 Blake McDaniel - Chet Reaves Auburn University 0 0 0- 0 117 Hunter Reeves - Tucker Hill Georgia Southern 0 0 0- 0 117 Taylor Thompson - Hunter Coppolino Abraham Baldwin Ag College 0 0 0- 0 117 Stephen Young - Zach Hitt Reinhardt University 0 0 0- 0 BIG BASS TOTALS Day Name City,State Lbs-Oz Day # Fish # Live Lbs-Oz # Limits 1 Lealand Johnson - Drew Grow Huntsville, AL 7-15 2 Nathan Felker - Joe Bates Suwanne, GA 10- 7 1 367 365 691-12 42 3 Austin Littrell - Ben Wall Moulton, AL 6- 9 2 343 333 698- 0 46 3 79 78 200- 9 13 |
Celebrate 2015 with a New Ranger Z521 C with the new Evinrude G2-check it out with us!!
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Okeechobee Primed For Good Fishing As Gator Division Bfl Kicks Off Season Saturday
Lake Okeechobee is in prime shape for the season opener of the Walmart BFL Gator Division season Saturday, said Juan Ruiz, points champion for the division in 2014.
“I expect a lot of limits, probably a half dozen, maybe a dozen bags from 19 pounds to the high 20s. I figure it will take high 20-pound bag to win it,” said Ruiz who took the points title over Mike Keyso Jr., by 3 points in 2014. I think in the later tournaments, in February and April, we will see some mid to high 30-pound bags,” he added
“The lake is as healthy as I have seen it in the last 15 years,” Ruiz said. “There is a lot of grass, the water is up and there are a lot of fish.”
Healthy bait populations usually mean healthy fish populations and Ruiz said both the shad and shiner populations are healthy as are the bluegills and specs. That could translate into even heavier limits when the spawning fish move in. Although bass in the Florida lakes typically spawn much earlier than those in lakes just a little north of the state, the big push to the banks has not yet occurred in Okeechobee, Ruiz said.
“We are still waiting for a big wave of spawners to push up. They are kind of trickling in,” he said. “That could happen by the time of the Rayovac tournament in a couple of weeks. If we get some cold fronts that really sets them up. Winter down here has been pretty mild and there are still a lot of fish offshore.”
Ruiz said Saturday's tournament will be typical pre-spawn fishing.
“You will be able to catch them on a swim bait, a Senko, pitching and flipping, pretty much a smorgasbord of ways. You can pretty much catch them how you want to fish,” said Ruiz, who lives just 35 minutes from the lake in West Palm Beach. “I'll be either casting a swimbait like an Easy Swimmer or a Fat A or I'll go flip hydrilla mats.
Ruiz said consistency was the key to winning his first BFL points title in the Gator Division last year.
“I had a pretty good start in the first tournament with a top 10,” he said, “then I did not have too bad of a bomb or too high of a finish the rest of the year, just consistent.”
His approach, he said, is to just go catch that one good fish to anchor his limit.
“For me Okeechobee fishing is to get that one good bite, then get a limit of 2- to 3-pounders. If you weigh in 15 to 16 pounds you will probably have a top 3 or top 4 finish,” he said.
“I am not a limit fisherman. I just go and flip and try to get a good one. Sometimes I hit one, but a lot of times I strike out, but I am okay with that. That's just how I do it.”
Walmart Bass Fishing League - Gator Division
Sat, 2015-01-03
Lake Okeechobee
Roland Martin Marina & Resort
Fishing On Rayburn Should Improve For Aba Weekend Series Se Texas Tournament
Fishing has been tough on Sam Rayburn recently, said a local veteran guide, but it could start to get a little better by the time of the American Bass Anglers Weekend Series Southeast Texas Division season opener Saturday, Jan. 10.
“Fishing has been kind of slow,” said veteran guide Lynn Atkinson of Zavalla, Texas, hardly a stone's throw from the lake. “The shallow bite has been really tough and the deep bite has been really tough.”
Atkinson, who operates the Reel um N Guide Service on the lake, said the water temperature has been down in the low 50s for the past week.
“Once the fish adjust to the temperature the bite should pick up a little bit,” he said, “but we got about two inches of rain and we are expecting some more, so that is going to cool the water down again from any warm-up.”
But, he added another natural event could provide some relief for the WBS anglers next weekend.
“They fish usually move in around mid-January and when we get the full moon they should start moving up a little more,” he said. “The fish will be on the major points, working their way back in. Some of the big males will come up and they will be looking for a place.”
When they do, he said, the Rat-L-Trap fished along the grass line where the depth drops down from 3 to about 9 feet will be the key weapon for anglers.
“The Rat-L-Trap bite should be starting pretty good and that is the dominant bite on Rayburn. Red-colored Traps are the top lures, but sometimes you can get a good bite on a different-colored Trap. I fished with a blueback Trap one time and out-caught everybody 10 to one.
For information on fishing Sam Rayburn with Atkinson check out his website: http://www.reelumn.com/. To contact Atkinson, call him at (979) 220-0251(cell) or (936) 897-3400 (home), or email him at: [email protected].
The SE Texas Division schedule includes Jan. 10, Feb. 14 and March 14, all on Sam Rayburn out of Umphrey Pavilion, April 11 on Toledo Bend out of Fin & Feather Resort, with the championship Sept. 26-27 back on Sam Rayburn out of Umphrey Pavilion.
American Bass Anglers has announced updates to the Weekend Bass Series schedules and a rules clarification for the 2015 season.
Highlights for the 2015 Season:
Increased Payout: For 2015 the Weekend Bass Series will offer guaranteed first place boater money of:
- $3,000.00 for 50 boats or more
- $4,000.00 for 75 boats or more
- $5,000.00 for 100 boats or more
Co-anglers will also get the same guarantee first place money of:
- $1,500.00 for 50 boats or more
- $2,000.00 for 75 boats or more
- $2,500.00 for 100 boats or more
In addition, 20% of the field will receive a check in each event.
The rules change involves the controversial Alabama Rig. Starting this year ABA will prohibit the use of the Alabama Rig/Umbrella on all Weekend Bass Series events.
American Bass Anglers Weekend Series – Southeast Texas Division
Sat, Jan 10, 2015
Sam Rayburn
Umphrey Family Pavilion
The 'early Fish' Could Be Key To Lake Murray Aft Tournament Sunday
Andy Wicker of Prosperity, SC
The early bird may get the worm but the angler who catches the early fish will probably win the American Fishing Tour South Carolina Division tournament on Lake Murray Sunday.
That's the opinion of local angler Andy Wicker of Prosperity who will fish the AFT-SC series this year, and that, said Wicker, is how he plans to fish Sunday's tournament.
“If Murray is like it has been the last two or three years, the big fish on Murray don't abide by the same rules as bass on other lakes,” said Wicker who was a primary angler on the Clemson University Fishing Team while he was earning his engineering degree. “A lot of times water temperature is a big factor on when the big females move up shallow. They move up when you get a little warming trend in February or March.”
But that does not necessarily apply to the big females in Lake Murray, Wicker said.
“The big fish on Murray are not on the same calendar as in other lakes. By the end of January and into February they start biting. It does not matter what the weather is, when those big ones decide to move up they move.”
But that is later in the month. How about this first weekend of January 2015?
“I don't know about this weekend, but usually this time of year is when they are starting to transition a little more into pre-spawn,” he said. “I expect a big crankbait bite and docks will come into play. They could still be on a spoon, and I am sure a lot of people will catch some doing that. It might be won that way. But I am going to go look for fish in the creeks and will be throwing crankbaits and jigs on docks and rocks.”
Wicker said he will be counting on those early fish in the shallower water.
“To win that tournament it seems like you have to be a step ahead of them. You've got to be fishing for them before they even get there,” he said. “You've got to catch the early fish to win the tournament.”
Usually Wicker fishes the ABA Weekend Bass Series and he won consecutive Angler of the year titles in 2013 and 2014 in the WBS South Carolina Division, but this year he is also fishing the ABA American Fishing Tour S.C. Division 96 series because the National Championship will be held on Lake Hartwell.
“Normally my dad (Steve Wicker) fishes the S.C. AFT Division,” Wicker said, “but I want to qualify for the national companionship so I am fishing it, too. We each have our own boat so we will be fishing against each other this year.”
Wicker will also fish the ABA Weekend Bass Series, the Carolinas Bass Challenge, some of the FLW Outdoor BFLs, and some Carolina Anglers Team Trail tournaments this year. Having the national championship slated for Lake Hartwell has boosted interest and increase entries in the Division 96 tournaments this year, said tournament director Phil Morris.
“The most I ever had was 34 entries on Lake Greenwood, but I had 35 entries on Clarks Hill this year. I am managing a lot more people because the national championship is bringing in more and more,” Morris said.
American Fishing Tour - South Carolina Division
Sun, Jan 4, 2015
Lake Murray
Dreher Island State Park
B.a.s.s. Introduces New Online Resource - Bassmaster Academy
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In an effort to create a place for avid anglers to elevate their skill levels, B.A.S.S. created a home for eager-to-learn bass anglers in Bassmaster Academy.
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Fans are encouraged to let B.A.S.S. know what they’d like to see by joining the conversation in the discussion section under each video or on the Bassmaster Academy Facebook page.
With more than 200 instructional videos, articles and more, Bassmaster Academy offers bass fishing enthusiasts knowledge when they need it. Access to all of the information is available on a PC, Mac or mobile device.
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Consistency Will Be Key For Carhartt Bassmaster College Series On St. John's River And Beyond
University of South Carolina bass team member Gettys Brannon
Consistency is going to be a key element for teams fishing the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series this year, said University of South Carolina bass team member Gettys Brannon as he prepared for the 2015 season which kicks off Jan. 3 with the Carhartt Southern Conference Regional on Florida's St. John's River.
Consistency is an attribute that the college teams will have to develop as B.A.S.S. has gone from two-day tournaments to three competition days starting in 2015, Brannon said. Hank Weldon, director of the college fishing program for B.A.S.S., agreed.
“College teams competing in our series are so strong now, they can easily step up to the challenge of a three-day tournament,” Weldon said “It’s exciting to see the level of competition increase every year.”
“We are seeing a lot more college anglers transition from the college level to the pro level, so I think this will help guys figure out what is needed between a one- or two-day tournament and a three-day tournament,” said Brannon, president of the Anglers @ USC, the university's bass tournament organization. “Consistency will play a much bigger role this year than in past years.”
Consistency is a trait Brannon is looking forward to developing with his new teammate for the 2015 season, Tom Brewbaker of Montgomery, Ala. The duo will be fishing the Bassmaster Carhartt College Series and the FLW College Fishing Series, plus the Alabama Bass Trail which premiered in 2014 and has expanded both the number of lakes and the total prize money to be awarded for 2015.
While the change ends the successful partnership Brannon had with former teammate Patrick Walters of Summerville, S.C., the pair have one more major event to fish together – the FLW College Fishing National Championship on South Carolina's Lake Murray April 17-19.
“We are the only two college anglers from South Carolina that qualified for the championship on Lake Murray,” Brannon said. “Lake Murray is a hard lake to figure out with the herring bite and the way the fish interact out there. They act like saltwater fish a lot of times.”
Brannon, a junior advertising and marketing major, and Walters finished 5th in the Southeastern Division tournament on Lake Guntersville in May and capped that with a 9th place finish in the Lake Chickamauga Invitational Oct. 18-19 to qualify for the FLW National College Championship.
In 2014 the duo finished 28th in the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Southern Division tournament on Lake Okeechobee in January, 18th in the Carhartt College B.A.S.S. Wild Card on Pickwick Lake in June, and then fished into 8th place in the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship Chatuge Reservoir in Georgia in early August.
Brannon said the change in partners was made to expand the number of teams Anglers @ USC will field in tournaments in 2015, opening the door for many of the two dozen or more freshmen anglers eager to get on the water.
“Some of them are from other areas and don't have the ability to bring a boat here and pay storage,” he said. “We will have more teams fishing this year than we have ever had before. Hopefully, that will help us build our individual rankings even more, but build our team rankings as well.”
Brannon, who is leaving the day after Christmas for the St. John's River, will team with Brewbaker to find out as much about the fishing as possible before the tournament begins Jan. 3. They and three other University of South Carolina teams are among the more than 100 preregistered teams competing for a position for the national championship next summer. There are a minimum of 10 qualifying spots for the 2015 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship, which leads to a berth in the 2016 GEICO Bassmaster Classic.
“St. John's is a beast,” he said. “Reading currents and understanding tidal changes is going to be a big factor in the tournament.”
The tidal influence on Crescent Lake of nearly a foot will be in full swing because the tournament falls on a full moon, for instance. If the weather sets up right prior to the event, there is also the possibility of a full-blown spawn.
“It will be interesting to see how it all plays out. I think that because the tide changes the bite completely, it will be necessary to find as many fish in practice as we can. Then during the tournament we will be running and gunning,” Brannon said.
The goal, he said, will be to make the top 20 and qualify for the national championship, adding: “It's going to be fun.”
B.A.S.S. Carhartt College Series – Southern Conference Regional
Jan 3-5, 2015
St Johns River
Bull Creek Fish Camp
Lake Greenwood Perfect Place To Hone Tournament Skills For Pro Brandon Cobb
Professional Angler Brandon Cobb of Greenwood, SC
Brandon Cobb fishes the FLW Tour and in 2015 he will also fish the B.A.S.S. Southern Opens, but when he just wants to go catch fish and have a blast at it you will find him on South Carolina's Lake Greenwood.
And the Christmas season and beyond is a prime time to be on the lake near his home, he said.
“This time of year through January Greenwood is a pretty stable lake,” said Cobb who was a member of the Clemson University Fishing Team while he earned his undergraduate degree. “The only thing different right now is that there are a good many fish shallow – but there are just as many deep as always.”
And they are biting he said. Cobb has been fishing the lake pretty regularly during the tournament off-season, honing his skills for the rigors of fishing two major series in 2015.
“I've been out there and gone a half a day without a bite, then catch seven or eight in a row in the 2- to 6-pound range. The jigging spoon bite is good, but you never know what you are going to catch. You might be catching 100 fish a day and 10 of them will be bass while 70 or 80 will be perch.”
But the perch, which could be a nuisance to the die-hard bass fisherman, are a prime indicator you are fishing in the right spot, Cobb said.
“The perch are a good sign. If there are no perch around there probably isn't any bait around.”
While many anglers watch for bird activity to locate feeding fish in winter, Cobb pointed out that when the birds congregate so do fishermen.
“There are crowds around almost every group of birds. If you are bass fishing you are better off using your electronics in areas away from the birds to find bass.”
Cobb said a jigging spoon, a drop-shot and the Alabama Rig are top choices on Greenwood this time of year as most of the fish are congregated 25 to 40 feet deep.
“This usually goes on until around the end of January and sometimes into February until the fish go into pre-spawn. When they do there will still be fish out there deep, but in a tournament situation you will stat seeing more fish being caught shallow on a jerkbait or a crankbait.”
While Greenwood is one of the smaller lakes in South Carolina, it is home to some of the healthiest bass, Cobb said.
“You are not going to catch 40 to 50 fish a day on Greenwood, and there are not many tournaments held on the lake, but it takes over 20 pounds to win nearly every tournament that is held on the lake,” he said.
Flw Releases 2015 High School Fishing State Championship Schedule
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Tournament eligibility
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A digital subscription to FLW Bass Fishing magazine
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Access to free online fishing education courses
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Insurance coverage for students, coaches, schools and volunteers
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Access to the largest volunteer angler network in the nation
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A proven fundraising program to make participation virtually cost free for students and schools
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For students 16 and older, eligibility to win great prizes in monthly FLW giveaways
FLW signs Lew's
Gray Looking To Cash In On His Deep-Fish Talents In Bassmaster Classic On Lake Hartwell
Brandon Gray on the last day of the Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship
Brandon Gray knows deep fish – it's the shallow ones that give hm problems. But he should be right in his element as the final angler in for the 2015 Bassmaster Classic on South Carolina's Lake Hartwell Feb. 20-22.
“I'd have to say my strong points are offshore, anywhere from 10 to 40 or 50 feet deep,” said the Bullock, N.C., angler who made it into the Classic by winning the individual title in the first ever Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship on Arkansas' DeGray Lake last Saturday.
“I understand the deep fish more. I feel like I know which way they go when they leave their migration areas.”
Gray said he has been trying to learn about the fish that stay up close to the bank.
“I have spent the last two years trying to dissect that and I have got better at it. When a fish leaves the bank I don't know where it goes, but when a fish leaves that 10-foot range I understand where it is going.”
That knowledge should come in handy on Lake Hartwell, which holds schools of deep fish well offshore. Alton Jones won the 2008 Bassmaster Classic on Hartwell by working a jig and a spoon in 25 to 35 feet of water at the edge of the submerged standing timber.
Hartwell was down drastically in 2008, more than 20 feet below normal pool, so there was little to no shoreline cover for bass to hide in. That is not expected to be the case this time around as the lake, while down some, is not nearly as low as it was in 2008. And, if anticipated heavy rains come this winter the level could rise and put more fish on the banks.
Just getting to the Classic has been a tremendous success for Gray who has seen the chance to fish the championship slip through his fingers in the past.
“It’s been a long hard road for me,” said Gray who has come close to making the Classic three times through the Bassmaster Weekend Series National Championship.
“The last three years I have fished it, I finished second at Dardanelle and lost by 2 pounds, then lost by 2 pounds at Guntersville the year before and lost by about 3 pounds at Old Hickory last year,” Gray said.
Gray said he has been on Lake Hartwell twice before, both in the spring when the fish are bedding, so that experience won't be much help in mid-February. Ideally, he would get five, six or seven days of practice on the lake before it goes off limits to the anglers on Jan. 1, but that is proving to be difficult, he said.
Gray, 42, is an occupational hearing conservationist, conducting OSHA standard hearing tests for companies, and his job requires regular testing.
“I tried to line up some time for practice, but nobody wants to give up their commitments, so it looks like I might only get three days at most down there before cut-off,” he said.
He will basically be in the same boat he was when he went to DeGray Lake in Arkansas. He had never been on the lake before, so he studied what he could find on the Internet, then tried working a spoon in one day of practice, then switched areas and tactics on the second day. He wound up working a Norman DD22 to catch the winning fish the last two days of the tournament, along with a 1/8-ounce Shakey Head jig tipped with a black Zoom Trick Worm.
“It’s all about making the right decisions, and I felt like I made the right decisions at DeGray Lake,” he said.
Gray said he would spend his limited practice time riding the lake and looking for potential good places to fish.
Then at tournament time, “I'd just go and do what I do.”
It worked at DeGray so it could work just as well on Hartwell.
Weather Could Hold Key To Success In Lake Wylie Catt Final Saturday
Brian Huskins and David Winters
Brian Huskins and David Winters won the last Lake Wylie Fall Qualifier Dec. 13 to tie with Gene and Payton Webster for the Carolina Anglers Team Trail Fall Points title and both teams will fish free in the Wylie Fall Final Saturday.
“I've won the points the last two or three years in the Fall series,” said Winters, who also won the points in the CATT Spring Trail this year. “This fall we were a little bit slow in starting, but we cleaned it up towards the end of the series.”
In fact, Winters and Huskins had finished no higher than 4th in the previous three tournaments in the Fall Series, but they turned it around when it mattered to claim the points title again, weighing 20.92 pounds in the last qualifier last Saturday.
“Fishing has been a little different this year,” Winters said. “It took us a little time to figure it out, but I think we are on top of it now. We've been catching fish a number of different ways.”
One of those ways, he said, involves a new bait that will not be on the market until after the Bassmaster Classic on Lake Hartwell in February.
“Brian owns Brian's Bee's Crankbaits and a couple of nice fish came off his new Glide Shad,” Winters said. “Of course we also caught them on the Alabama Rig, a jerkbait and a swimming minnow.”
Winters said the front moving across the region this week could have an effect on the bite in Lake Wylie Saturday.
“Fishing is going to be questionable because of the weather pattern. I won't know until Friday exactly what we will do on Saturday. We'll probably stick with the same game plan, but we've just had a couple of warmer days and fish tend to pull up shallow when that happens so we may have to make some small adjustments.”
Brett Collins, CATT owner/director, said he plans to start the Wylie fall schedule a little earlier in 2015, possibly running a series from July through November.
Carolina Anglers Team Trail Fall Final
Saturday, Dec. 20
Lake Wylie
Buster Boyd Bridge
http://www.catttrail.com/2014-CATT-Schedule-Fall.html
Call: (803) 413-7521
Brandon Gray Of Bullock, N.c Claims Final Entry To 2015 Bassmaster Classic!
“It’s been a long hard road for me,” said the 42-year-old Gray. The occupational hearing conservationist (he conducts OSHA standard hearing tests for companies) disclosed he has come close to making the Classic three times through the Bassmaster Weekend Series National Championship.
“The last three years I have fished it, I finished second at Dardanelle and lost by 2 pounds, then lost by 2 pounds at Guntersville the year before and lost by about 3 pounds at Old Hickory last year,” Gray said.
Gray had doubts about even coming to this team championship. “It was a long drive, and we had a successful year back home (fishing with Todd Massey in the Anglers Choice team trail),” Gray said.
However, he thought there might be something special about the site of the championship so they made the long trip. “We both have the same last names — DeGray Lake and Brandon Gray,” he said.
After finding scant information about DeGray on the Internet, Gray decided to try some techniques on lakes close to home that he hoped to duplicate at the championship. “So I was doing as much homework at home so when I got here, I would be prepared,” he said.
Gray thought spooning would be the best way to catch DeGray bass, but he changed his mind when the tactic produced only a couple of keepers in practice. “It’s all about making the right decisions, and I felt like I made the right decisions here,” said Gray, who decided to throw Norman DD22 crankbaits to catch his fish the last two days.
The deep-diving crankbaits produced three keepers for him today, but the calm weather prompted him to make a switch. He completed his limit by catching two keepers on a 1/8-ounce shaky head jig tipped with a black Zoom Trick Worm.
Arizona guide Jon “Scooter” Griffith retained second place today by catching three keepers to give him a two-day total of 12-12. The 41-year-old Griffith said he knew today was going to be tough since he had trouble catching any fish early. "I have had some pretty good days out here but this day I just couldn’t find the hybrids I was catching before and the baitfish just weren’t around,” Griffith said. “I ended up catching all of my fish out of one tree.” He caught most of his fish both days on a 1/2-ounce jigging spoon and drop shotted a Senko for a few of his keepers.
Arkansas angler Royce Davis landed in third place with 9-4. “It has been tough all week long for me,” he said. “I just went fishing the last two days just dragging (a 1/4-ounce wobble-head jig with a Speed Craw) and throwing a jerkbait,” he said. “I had four bites today, and I caught three of them.”
Rounding out the six final spots in the event were Arizona angler John Stewart Jr., who finished fourth with 5-13; Flannagan Fife of Arkansas, fifth, 3-0; and Todd Massey of North Carolina, sixth, 2-6.
Iconic boat brands to come under same ownership
SPRINGFIELD, MO – Bass Pro Group announced today an agreement to acquire Fishing Holdings, LLC, a manufacturer of fishing boats that include Ranger Boats and the Stratos and Triton boat brands from Platinum Equity.
The agreement combines popular fishing boat brands that are recognized internationally. It also creates another connection between two industry leaders, Bass Pro Shops founder/CEO Johnny Morris and Ranger Boats founder Forrest Wood, who are dedicated fishermen, conservationists and entrepreneurs. Years ago the iconic outdoorsmen both began fishing on the White River and White River Chain of Lakes in the Ozarks and even fished together in the first National BASS Tournaments.
“This partnership brings added long-term stability for both companies and for the dealer networks that provide customers with quality boats at exceptional values,” said Morris, who also is founder/CEO of Tracker Marine Group. “I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Forrest Wood many years, and I deeply respect him and his family that founded and built a solid performing business with excellent products.”
Morris added that: “It’s also important that our companies share comparable cultures and values and are dedicated to manufacturing quality products in the USA.”
Following the closing of the transaction, Fishing Holdings will continue operating independently under its existing management at its headquarters in Flippin, Ark., located a two-hour drive from Bass Pro Shops headquarters in Springfield.
“We are impressed with the company’s leadership team and performance and look forward to welcoming them to the Bass Pro Shops family,” said Morris.
“We are fortunate to partner with Bass Pro Group, which understands the industry and our brands,” said Fishing Holdings President Randy Hopper. “This new alliance will provide synergies that will strengthen our independent dealer base and ensure our continued focus on fishing.”
Having grown the business since its origins, Wood also praised the transaction. “I’m excited for Ranger and the team at Fishing Holdings,” he said. “Johnny’s organization is deeply rooted in fishing and dedicated to conservation. He’s made a huge contribution to our sport, and I believe this is a real opportunity to better serve so many dealers and loyal customers around the country.”
Both Morris and Wood have for many years generously donated their time and financial resources to support conservation efforts that help ensure a future for fishing by future generations.
The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. Financial terms of the transaction were not publicly disclosed.
About Bass Pro Shops®
Bass Pro Shops®, which specializes in outdoor fun, operates 90 retail stores and Tracker Marine Centers across America and Canada that are visited by more than 120 million people every year. Bass Pro Shops stores, many of which feature restaurants, offer hunting, fishing, camping and other outdoor gear while their catalogs and website serve shoppers throughout the world. The company’s Tracker Marine Group® (http://www.trackermarine.com/), a leading brand of fishing boats for more than 36 years, manufactures and sells a variety of boats for fishing and cruising. Family fun is on tap at Bass Pro Shops resort Big Cedar Lodge® (http://www.bigcedar.com/) voted number six by Travel + Leisure Magazine as World's Best Hotels for Families. For more information, visit http://www.basspro.com/. To request a free catalog, call 1-800-BASS PRO. Follow us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/bassproshops.
About Fishing Holdings, LLC
Fishing Holdings LLC, headquartered in Flippin, Ark., is a leading manufacturer of fiberglass and aluminum fishing boats, including the legendary Ranger Boats brand, as well as the Stratos and Triton boat brands. More details, product information and specific offerings can be found by visiting www.rangerboats.com, www.stratosboats.com and www.tritonboats.com.
Platinum Equity To Sell Fishing Boat Business To Bass Pro Group
LOS ANGELES, CA (December 11, 2014) – Platinum Equity today announced the signing of a definitive agreement to sell Fishing Holdings, LLC, the Flippin, Arkansas-based manufacturer of the Ranger Boats, Stratos and Triton fishing boat brands, to Bass Pro Group, LLC.
The pending transaction is subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Platinum Equity acquired Ranger Boats and Stratos as part of a larger portfolio of boat brands in February 2010 from Genmar Holdings, Inc., through a transaction conducted under Section 363 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. Triton was acquired from Brunswick in July 2010.
“Nearly five years ago we pledged to provide the resources and support necessary to help the company grow and evolve, while respecting the heritage and deep roots in fishing that make it so special,” said Platinum Equity Partner Louis Samson, who led the acquisitions in 2010. “We achieved our goals and I am very proud of all that has been accomplished during our stewardship.”
In addition to the add-on acquisition of Triton, Platinum Equity worked with the Fishing Holdings management team to execute a series of other growth and operational improvement programs, including: the development and launch of a line of aluminum boats that involved developing a completely new manufacturing site from the ground up; continued introduction of innovative new products across all brands and segments; strengthening of dealer relationships; and numerous improvements in manufacturing capabilities and overall operational efficiency.
Mr. Samson credited Fishing Holdings President Randy Hopper and the hard work of Fishing Holdings employees as the key driver of the company’s success.
“Randy is an exceptional leader, with a very talented executive team supported by a tremendous group of dedicated employees throughout the entire organization,” said Mr. Samson. “The business will be in very good hands going forward.”
Mr. Hopper expressed excitement about the future as part of the Bass Pro Shops family.
“We’re very fortunate to be partnering with an organization with so much understanding of the industry and our brands,” said Mr. Hopper. “This new alliance will provide synergies that will strengthen our independent dealer base and ensure our continued focus on fishing.”
In addition to generating operational benefits, the transaction will provide further enhanced services and products to better support Fishing Holdings’ existing dealer network and large base of customers worldwide.
Bass Pro Shops founder and CEO Johnny Morris said, “We’re excited about the association with these iconic brands. Ranger Boats founder Forrest Wood has been a longtime friend and someone who has made a tremendous impact on our industry. We look forward to building on such a rich history.”
According to Mr. Morris, after the transaction closes Fishing Holdings’ portfolio will continue to operate from its Flippin, Arkansas headquarters under the leadership of existing local management which boasts more than four decades of experience. He said the new partnership not only joins some of the industry’s most respected brands, but also provides greater stability and growth opportunities for Fishing Holdings’ independent dealer base.
“The business will continue to be operated independently by the same management team that has led it for many years,” added Mr. Morris. “Our goal is to provide the products and services necessary to fuel our collective growth.”
Fishing Holdings was advised by Harris Williams & Co. in connection with the transaction. Latham & Watkins acted as deal counsel.
About Platinum Equity
Founded by Tom Gores in 1995, Platinum Equity is a global investment firm with more than $7 billion in assets under management and a portfolio of operating companies that generated approximately $15 billion in revenue in 2013. Platinum Equity specializes in mergers, acquisitions and operations – a trademarked strategy the firm calls M&A&O® – acquiring and operating companies in a broad range of business markets, including manufacturing, information technology, telecommunications, transportation and logistics, media, equipment rental, metals and other industries. Over the past 19 years Platinum Equity has completed more than 150 acquisitions.
About Fishing Holdings, LLC
Fishing Holdings LLC, headquartered in Flippin, Ark., is the nation’s premier manufacturer of fiberglass and aluminum fishing boats, including the legendary Ranger Boats brand, as well as the Stratos and Triton boat brands. More details, product information and specific offerings can be found by visiting www.rangerboats.com, www.stratosboats.com and www.tritonboats.com.
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Bites May Be Few, But Fish Are Big For Smith Mountain Lake Catt Final
The bass are not jumping into the boat at Smith Mountain Lake, but when you get a bite, it's a good one, said Brandon Reynolds who teamed with his brother-in-law Ben Reynolds to win the points title in the Carolina Anglers Team Trail Fall series.
“The Fall Final Saturday should be a good one,” Reynolds said. “We are getting six or seven bites a day, but we average weighing in 15 to 16 pounds for five fish.”
Reynolds said the fish are not really into a winter pattern yet.
“They are still relatively shallow, 5 to 10 feet, and the water temperature is about 52-53 degrees.”
Top baits are a crankbait and a jig this time of year, depending on conditions, he said.
“If it's a little rough we throw a crankbait; it it's calm and smooth we are pretty much working a jig.”
The Reynolds brothers-in-law – “Ben is from a different set of Reynolds,” Brandon said – sandwiched a 6th place and a 3rd place between two first places Sept. 27 and Nov. 29 to claim the points championship. With that title they get free entry into the Smith Mountain Lake Fall Qualifying Tournaments in 2015, said CATT owner/director Brett Collins.
Collins also announced CATT will hold a Smith Mountain Spring Trail and an early Fall Trail that will run August through November.
“The Smith Mountain Lake teams entering the Fall 2014 and Spring 2015 Trails will be eligible for the North Carolina CATT Championship next May on Kerr Reservoir,” Collins said. “First place in the championship, with at least 150 teams, will be from $8,000 to $11,000.”
Collins said he expects the Smith Mountain Lake CATT to grow considerably in 2015.
“We will have some Lew's Reels to give away and possibly some Academy Sports Gift Cards, plus we will offer money to Skeeter owners,” he said.
CATT Final on Smith Mountain Lake
Saturday, Dec. 13
Penhook Ramp
Call: Brett Collins, (803) 413-7521
Morry Banes weighs-in on multi tools for fishing
Best fishing multi tool - get your money's worth and enjoy your new fishing buddy
Let me just put it out there, I am hooked on multi tools and they’ve become an irreplaceable part of my fishing gear over the years.
There’s nothing like packing a ton of utility in a small, lightweight, pocket-sized thingamabob. Today I’m here to show you what these little guys can do for us and to give you a small reference list containing my personal picks. Once you get used to carrying one of these, you won’t be able to imagine a fishing trip without it, I’m telling you from my own personal experience.
What are we looking for in a multi tool?
We basically always want what we paid for, right? Well, with multi tools you usually get even more provided you know what and where to look. We want versatility, practicality, simplicity, and good performance overall.
Here are some general tips:
ü First of all, make sure that you get a multi tool from a well-known manufacturer. I know you might be tempted to go cheaper and save a few bucks, but trust me it will come to bite you in the, well… later on. Companies like Leatherman, SOG, Gerber, and Victorinox are always a safe bet. They stand firmly behind their products and more often than not offer a lifetime guarantee for them
ü Keep it simple. Sticking to the basics is what I’m all about. You don’t want to fall victim to flashy marketing strategies that try to sell you a product featuring a gazillion of cool, yet profoundly unnecessary tools. It will look awesome and weigh a ton, not good when we’re trying to travel as light as possible
ü Define your own needs first. This will help you make up your mind between general multi tools and those specially made for fishing purposes. What I’m trying to say is you don’t necessarily have to go for the specialized and more expensive options if you can go by perfectly with your regular high-quality multi tool
ü Do your homework. This is where I fall in. Articles such as this are meant to educate you point you in the right direction without being too cumbersome or delving into unnecessary theory. A short internet search would probably be everything you’ll ever need
What can a multi tool do for us?
A great many deal of things if you ask me. Every single one of these bad boys features numerous functions and will leave you stupefied at how versatile it can actually be.
Let’s see some of the things multi tools are good for:
ü Firstly, almost every multi tool features a good pair of pliers that can be used for removing the hooks. If you never tried removing a hook from an underweight catfish, you don’t know what the true pain is my good man. Most of these pliers can be opened using just one hand, which leaves you with a free hand for some other important tasks
ü Razor sharp blades have become the staple of modern multi tools. They’ll come in handy in more way than one, especially for quick fish fileting. Just start and observe as they do the job for you
ü Split ring tool will change those lures in no time
ü Time for some pesky scale removing? Your new multi tool will take care of that
ü If you need to sharpen your hooks, you can always use a file that’s a part of standard tool set or a special sharpening groove if your multi tool has it
ü I don’t have to tell you about the importance of a good pair of scissors now do I? They’ll snap any line you have in store for them
This is what I meant when I mentioned versatility, and this is just the tip of the iceberg.
Ok, I promised I won’t theorize much, so it’s time to get specific.
Reference list of my personal picks
I’ve whipped out a couple of amazing tools for guiding purposes. I’m not advertising anything, just trying to implant in your head a model and a set of qualities your new multi tool should have.
Let's see which one of these babies might be the best multi tool for you:
Leatherman Skeletool
This tool "schools" most of the others when it comes to simplicity and minimalistic yet effective design. It’s called Skeletool because it represents bare bones and bare necessities. And Leatherman is one of the best known and respected companies in the multi tool industry.
A relatively new addition to the Leatherman portfolio, and it has a more aggressive and into your face look than traditional Leatherman multi tools. It’s a perfect look for an aggressive and very relentless piece of equipment if you ask me.
Beautifully styled, minimalistic in design, compact, lightweight, and just powerful. Stainless steel is the material of choice, of course. It’s very ergonomic and sits more than comfortably in your hand.
It contains needlenose and regular pliers, hard-wire and regular wire cutters, combo knife, carabiner clip that can be used as a bottle opener, and a good screwdriver with bits. It also comes with a pocket clip that can be removed and with a storage case. The blade has a locking mechanism so safety of your fingers is not a concern.
Gerber Flick Fish Multi-Plier
This would be your specialized multi tool that’s every fisherman’s dream at the same time. Once again, we see a trusty manufacturer that’s a well-known name in the industry of knives and multi tools.
Its pliers are very high-quality, solid and designed for one-handed opening. It features a great pair of scissors and a sharpening file. Regular/serrated blade, crimpers, bottle/can opener, and a saw are what awaits you under the hood of this bad boy. All tools are understandably top tier.
It comes with a lifetime guarantee. That’s what we like to see, a manufacturer that’s not afraid to stand behind its multi tool.
There we have it. I’ve given you some quick tips, some info about the multi tool’s functionality, and a couple of great examples of what a good multi tool should look like. But, each of us has their own set of needs.
My hope with this article is to point you in the right direction and point to some benefits. But by all means, do a bit more research for yourself, read some more reviews before you decide which is the best multi tool for you.
As a collector and an enthusiast I promise you, it's time well spent.
when or if you make the decision, enjoy your new toy and have a great many of successful fishing trips together.
Check Out the 2015 Star Tron Tundra and Triton piloted by Patrick Pierce!
http://www.sportsmanswarehouse.com/sportsmans/Starbrite-Star-Tron-Gasoline-Additive/productDetail/Gas-Motor-Accessories/prod99999027004/cat126461
Participation Increasing, Fishing Getting Better For Monster Bass On Lake Norman
Fishing should be great and entries should be up for the 4th Carolina Monster Bass Winter Trail Tournament on Lake Norman Saturday, said tournament director Scott Hyder.
“The tournaments have been going good and entries are picking up,” Hyder said. “We should have 25 to 30 boats this Saturday.”
Fishing success has been picking up, too, he said.
“Fishing should be great this weekend. Two weeks ago it took 18 pounds to win and Shane Lehew had big fish at 7.06 pounds.”
Hyder said anglers have been catching bass both shallow and deep on Lake Norman.
“They are doing a lot of flipping under the docks,” he noted.
With participation and fishing success on the rise, Hyder said he is looking forward to next year on the Denver Marine Monster Bass Trail.
“We are going to upgrade the tournaments. We just want fishermen to come fish with us,” he said.
Anglers pay a $20 membership fee to participate in the Denver Marine Monster Bass series and teams pay a $75 entry fee per tournament, which includes $10 for Big Fish. However, the membership fee is waived if the angler bought or buys his boat from Denver Marine.
The tournament series has other bonus money for anglers who qualify. An angler who wins while fishing out of a Denver Marine Ranger Boat, no matter what year, will earn bonus money. Also, anglers fishing out of another make of boat that was bought from Denver marine also can earn some bonus money.
The Ranger Cup is available for anyone in a Ranger Boat 10 years old or newer that was bought from Denver Marine as long as there are 20 or more boats entered in a tournament. Monster Bass Bucks are available for Rangers up to 10 years old purchased from Denver marine – with a 20-boat minimum. The boats must have a Team Denver Marine windshield sticker and bass displayed for both bonus programs.
There is even a special lure program. An angler who wins with a Shane's Finesse Rigg by local luremaker Shane Lehew will earn up to $100 in a regular season tournament and $250 in the year-end championship.
Even the less than lucky anglers have something to shoot for. The team with the lowest weight for a 5-fish limit will win $75 provided by Key Properties.
But, perhaps the biggest bonus is the chance to win an entry into the highly popular Jim Ledbetter Cancer Tournament on Lake Norman next March. The top 10 in points in the Monster Bass series will receive a free entry to the Ledbetter Tournament, plus all the boats will be entered in a drawing for an entry into the Ledbetter Tournament.
The winner of the Jim Ledbetter Cancer Tournament will take home a 2015 Ranger Boat, provided by Denver Marine, Ranger Boats and Evinrude.
The remaining schedule for the Carolina Monster Bass Winter Trail is Dec. 13, Jan. 3 and Jan. 10, with the Championship Jan. 24, all out of Midway Marina on Lake Norman.
Carolina Monster Bass Winter Trail
Sat, Nov 15, 2014
Lake Norman
Midway Marina
Call Scott Hyder, 704-483-9471 or 704-861-3163
http://denverrecreationalmarine.com/tournaments,schedule
Gunter Looking For 'sweet Spot' In Bassmaster Team Championship On Degray Lake
When Stanley Gunter and his partner set out on DeGray Lake for the second and final day of practice for the Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship they were looking for a “little sweet spot” on the side of a ledge or hump in deep water that might produce some quality bass in the tournament this week.
The inaugural Bassmaster Team Championship will be won deep on DeGray Lake, Gunter said, for one simple reason. There is just not enough shoreline to accommodate all the anglers fishing the tournament.
DeGray, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 13,800-acre lake set in the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains, is the competition arena for more than 150 teams from 38 independent tournament trails across the country so everybody will be vying for an area to fish..
“It is a small lake with a lot of people on it,” said Gunter who hails from Saluda, S.C., and qualified for the Team Championship through the Carolinas Bass Challenge, which sent 22 teams to the championship.”It's really crowded. You go into a creek a half a mile long and there will be 20 boats in it. If you are fishing the banks you have to get in line to fish.”
Gunter said he found fish from 2 feet out to 40 feet in practice. There is still a lot of bait shallow, but it's hard to catch the fish on that bait because the shorelines are so crowded with boats. DeGray yields mainly catches of largemouth and spotted bass with a few smallmouths in the mix.
Adding to the problem, Gunter said, is the fact that anglers are not allowed to keep some really quality largemouth bass.
“I caught a 2 1/4-pound largemouth and had to throw it back. They have a 13-inch to 16-inch slot limit where you can keep anything over 16 inches. It's kind of tough to throw a fish like that back as tough as the fishing is.”
Gunter and teammate Will Smith of Moncks Corner, S.C., qualified as a team, but Smith had to withdraw because of illness, so Gunter is paired with Gene Parker from North Carolina who had the same issue with his regular teammate.
In the first segment of the unique, four-day tournament, two-angler teams from various B.A.S.S.-sanctioned team trails across the country will vie to become the Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Champions, a title that includes the first-place prize of a Nitro Z7 bass boat/Mercury Optimax 150 Pro XS outboard rig valued at $26,995 as well as the Livingston Leader Award of $500. The team champions will also receive a traveling trophy to take back to the team trail they represented.
Members of the Top 3 finishers in the team competition advance to the final two rounds of the tournament and will fish individually for the final qualifying spot in the 2015 Bassmaster Classic to be held Feb. 20-22 on Lake Hartwell out of Greenville, S.C.
Competitors in the Classic rounds will fish from six identically rigged Skeeter FX20 bass boats powered by Yamaha. In addition to the Classic berth, the winner will receive a Skeeter FX20/Yamaha250 outboard rig valued at $85,360, which he or she will run in the Classic.
Nothing would suit Gunter more than to qualify for the 2015 Bassmaster Classic on South Carolina's Lake Hartwell.
“I fish Hartwell pretty regular,” he said. “I know it pretty well and I”d sure love to make the Classic for that one.”
Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship
Dec 10-13, 2014
DeGray Lake
DeGray Lake Resort State Park
Get to Sportsman's Warehouse and get an X Rap Deep to keep catching in the cold!
Rapala makes some of the best jerkbaits on the market. Their X Rap Deep is just the ticket when fish bunch up offshore.
If you're still catching them shallow, great. If your fish have moved out then it's time to get to Sportsman's Warehouse or SportsmansWarehouse.com and check out the Rapala X Rap Deep jerkbait!
Remember, jerkbaiting success depends on figuring out how long to pause between jerks, so experiment and pay attention.
Good luck!
http://www.sportsmanswarehouse.com/sportsmans/Rapala-X-Rap-Deep/productDetail/Jerkbaits/prod9999006842/cat101087
Ranger walk around with President Randy Hopper and the Aluminum RT 178!!
Ranger Boats President Randy Hopper takes us on a quick walk around of the popular Ranger Aluminum RT 178 with a cut thru version that is fantastic to see...................click on the video for the full story!!
Ranger teams with Rigid
Whether you're backing the boat down a dark ramp, running down the lake under the moon, or fishing off shore after the sun is long gone, Rigid Industries LED Lighting has all the lighting options needed to be successful fishing and safe at night. Torture Tested, Angler Approved.
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Ranger Boats Selects Rigid Industries LED Lighting as Upgrade Package Offering
Ranger Boats partners with Rigid Industries LED Lighting, to offer the total lighting package for the flagship Z500 Comanche Series
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