Team Palaniuk meets Team Topwater at 2011 Bassmaster Classic
Watching coverage of 2011 Bassmaster Classic on ESPN2 this weekend? You'll notice that rookie Brandon Palaniuk gave the big guns a run for their money. Miles 'Sonar' Burghoff caught up with Brandon's little sister, Bri, to find out what the mood is like in the Palaniuk family.
Vicious Pro Patrick Pierce shows us a perfect knot to use with Fluorocarbon line!
From the floor of the Bassmaster Classic Expo, Patrick Pierce demonstrates a knot that will allow fluorocarbon line to retain its strength without cutting into itself. This is good news for those who try NEW Vicious Pro Elite.
Denny Brauer shows AnglersChannel.com the Strike King Tungsten Weights He Designed!
As you watch Bassmaster Classic footage on ESPN2 this weekend, check out AnglersChannel.com for a couple more clips from the Classic Expo in New Orleans. For example, in this video Denny Brauer speaks with AnglersChannel.com about the Strike King Tungsten Weights that Denny designed. No insert, superior paint job - first class alll the way!
Countdown to Blastoff 2011 Week 6 Part 2
AC Pro Staffer Rob Digh and Shooter Jigs Founder Louie Hull continue our preveiw of the BFL on Lake Norman as well as some baits that Rob and Louie both agree could be a factor this sat-and its not a JIG!!
Countdown to Blastoff 2011 Week 6 Part 1
AC Pro Staffer Rob Digh and Shooter Jigs Founder Louie Hull join us at Lake Norman to discuss the upcoming BFL on Norman this Sat as well as some other BIG tournaments coming to our region this weekend-Part 1
Check Out Rico's High End Hard Baits!!!
Take a look inside the Rico Lures booth at the 2011 Bassmaster Classic as we celebrate 20 years of expensive-but-worth-every-penny success! The Rico Suave is a top seller and the whole series gets a facelift - actually a new color pattern.
Airport Marine Team Trail Results - Lake Martin - February 19, 2011
There were 72 boats that contained teams consisting of 144 of Alabama's best bass anglers, most of which just came out of late winter's state of hibernation looking for a cure for their bad case of cabin fever...and most of these anglers found it real fast on Alabama's Lake Martin this past Saturday, February 19. Over 50 of those teams weighed in bass on this partly cloudy day, following a week-long warming trend, with air temps in the upper-60's to low-70's including slowly, rising water temperatures in the 50's.
Perfect conditions for catching a bunch of pre-spawn bass!
There were buddy teams (that paid 12 places - 1st place paid $2000), parent and child teams (paying 3 places - 1st place paid $500), and male and female teams (paying 3 places - 1st place paid $500), all that were paid a nice first place pay day in each class.
* First Place Buddy Team - Andy Chappell & Jamie Butler - 5 bass weighing 18.66 pounds.
* Second Place Buddy Team - Chris Dill & Vern Moody - 5 bass weighing 15.48 pounds - (including the biggest largemouth bass - weighing 7.30 pounds)
* Second Place Buddy Team - Marty Giddens & Kim Giddens - 15.16 pounds
* It took 11.69 pounds (for 12th place) to get in the money on the buddy team pay out.
* Although most anglers caught some bass, there were some anglers that did not. There were 17 boats that turned in a zero weight for the day.
* See www.airportmarinetrails.com for the entire Lake Martin Tournament results, pay outs, pictures and the entire 2011 tournament schedule for all of Airport Marine's Buddy Trails, Annual Events and Solo Trail Tournament Trails.
OUR DAY
So how did our day go?
I fished this tournament with Terry Davidson. In all, we had about 25 bass that day. We made about 2000 long casts each that day and utilized a slow, stop and go presentation. I think most bites we had were instinct / reaction strikes from smaller male bass that had just moved shallow this past week. All but one of those 25 bass (that one I caught on a jig and craw combo) came on shallow to mid-diving crankbaits. Almost every bass we caught that day was near the bank in 1-3 feet of water.
Our day started off with a nice 5 bass limit in the boat by 7 a.m. One of our 3 best bass that day was caught by Terry on his very first cast of the day, fooled on a shallow diving crankbait. Another nice bass I caught at mid morning came on a jig & craw combo fishing brush in 10 feet of water. Up in the day Terry had another good bass caught in 3 feet of water on a mid-diving crankbait. Also, there was one key bass Terry lost...the only bass either of us lost all day, one that probably kept us just out of the money.
We placed 13th with 11.69 pounds. Just one spot out of the money. Our day came to a rather reluctant end when Terry hooked a very strong fish at 2 p.m. It was laying in 2 feet of water, right next to a Christmas tree brush pile. It looked to weigh about 8 pounds and it was caught on a shallow diving crankbait. But in this BASS tournament you cannot weigh in a cat fish...so he threw it back. Had that cat fish been a bass it would have moved us into second place for the day with over 15 pounds. But, it wasn't.
LAKE MARTIN CONDITIONS
In the past few weeks Alabama anglers have seen 2-3 inches of snow that quickly melted in a couple of days. Lake Martin water temperatures then were in the low 40's and the lake down 8 feet in early February. Two weeks ago a warming trend of 60-70 degrees began. Saturday, Feb. 19 the morning water temperature was 51 degrees at blast off in Airport Marine's Tournament. Some anglers reported seeing water temps close to 60 degrees by 2 p.m. that day.
With no rain in weeks the mid-to-upper lake is rather clear. Normally, in late February it is cold in the mid 40's and heavily stained. With heavy rain and thundershowers predicted for tonight and Friday all this could change by this weekend. Also the lake is slowly rising now at 7 feet below normal full pool lake levels.
So what can anglers expect that are planning on fishing Saturday's March 5 FLW Outdoors Bass Fishing League Tournament? Lots of bass weighed in that's what! Although most major bass tournaments held on Lake Martin during the early spring period are won with an average weight of 15 -16 pounds there is always a pair of anglers that may find bigger bass.
Water temperatures on Lake Martin should exceed 60 degrees by this Saturday, March 5 with mid-60's air temps predicted for Lake Martin. Coupled with rising waters and Martin's bass will be moving shallow to prepare for their annual rituals of bedding and making beds.
Wood cover and rock cover will hold bass in the shallows. It may take multiple casts with a variety of lures featuring several different presentations, to even get these now highly pressured bass to bite. Or it could mean fishing slow. Or it could call for covering water and fishing fast hitting as many key spots as you possibly can in one days time. We will just have to wait and see!
FISHING NEWS AND WEBSITES
* GUIDED TRIPS TO ANY ALABAMA LAKE
Stumped? Tired of trying to figure out these early spring season bass with little or no help? Always call on Reeds Guide Service...first! (205) 663-1504 or E-mail [email protected] Website www.fishingalabama.com Not only for fishing Lake Martin but for targeting bass on any lake in Alabama. "Alabama's oldest, professional "bass fishing only" freshwater guide service, for over 40 years guiding on all of Alabama's lakes for largemouth bass, spotted bass, smallmouth bass, and huge, striped bass"
Call me or e-mail me today to book / reserve your fishing trip date. Booking fast for spring and summer on all Alabama lakes! Corporate guided trips, family outings with several professional guides and boats, tournament anglers welcome, parent and child learning trips, discounts on two day or more guided trips, year round on all Alabama lakes! See the Guide Service link on my website www.fishingalabama.com for more info.
* CHECK OUT MY NEW WEBSITE! WWW.FISHINGALABAMA.COM SAME NAME - ALL NEW LOOK, NEW CONTENTS, FISHING REPORTS, FISHING TIPS, OLD AND NEW PICTURES, NEW FISHING LINKS, FISHING ARTICLES, ETC. FOR FISHING ALL OF ALABAMA'S LAKES YEAR ROUND IN ALL SEASONS!
* HUNTING AND FISHING ITEMS, NEW STORE and NEW LOOK! Check out www.marksoutdoors.com for all your outdoor needs! Coming to Marks Thursday, March 10 "Turkey Day Outdoor Cookout" with free food and hundreds of fishing and hunting bargains! All at Marks Outdoors Sports in Vestavia, Alabama! See you there!
* LOOKING FOR A NEW OR USED BOAT? Go to Airport Marine in Clanton, Alabama. or check out their website www.airportmarine.com for new and used boats, parts, expert mechanic work and a great sales staff. Also see their tournaments at www.airportmarinetrails.com Next tournament is on Guntersville Lake Saturday, March 12 out of Goosepond boat launch! Get there early to sign up, should be a huge crowd! See you there!
* WORLDS BEST BASS BOAT? See www.rangerboats.com newly designed website!
* NEW WEBSITES IN ALABAMA See www.bassnboat.com and www.bamabass.com and my new website www.fishingalabama.com !
* NEED NEW BOAT TROLLING OR CRANKING BATTERIES? Check out Exide Batteries! You can see a link to their website EXIDE BATTERIES on the home page of my website www.fishingalabama.com I have been using these 3 excellent batteries furnished by Airport Marine for my Ranger Bass Boat since the Fall of 2010. They hold a great charge all day, I have never ran down the trolling motor battery's and the 1000 amp cranking battery will last all day and keep a full charge. Even when not running the boat and running the live wells all day it never fails to crank that big outboard motor!
* WBRC FOX 6'S GOOD DAY ALABAMA MORNING SHOW - See Reed Montgomery Owner of Reeds Guide Service make his next appearance Tuesday, March 29 at 8 a.m. on Fox 6's Good Day Alabama morning show. Reed is on this very popular show seen state wide every, "Last Tuesday of each month" on Fox 6 Television now for over 6 years, answering all your fishing questions with his "Ask the Angler" Question and Answer session each month!
Thanks and Good Fishin' !
Reed Montgomery / Outdoor Writer
Owner / Reeds Guide Service
Alabaster, Alabama (205) 663-1504
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.fishingalabama.com
" Over 40 Years Guiding, Fishing and Exploring Every Lake in Alabama For Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass and Striped Bass "
Always Call on Reeds Guide Service...first!
Alabama's Oldest Professional, Freshwater Fishing Guide Service!
Fishers of Men NC Piedmont Division Results - Belews Lake - Feb 19, 2011
The Fishers of Men National Team Trail, NC Piedmont Division kicked off the 2011 season on the steam plant waters of Belews Lake outside of Winston-Salem, NC on Feb 19th.
The evening before the tournament had the teams meeting at Edgewood Baptist Church on Reidsville Road and all of the anglers had a great night of fellowship, food and fun. Division director Mike Sides challenged the anglers to avoid being lukewarm…like the trout…comfortable with the surroundings. He suggested Christians be like the bass…knowing what it wants, being particular about its surroundings. Six anglers rededicated their lives at the meeting…what a great start!
The morning of the 19th brought breezy conditions and clear skies for the 37 teams testing the waters of Belews. When all was done, a number of bass were weighed in, and everyone had a good time.
Finishing in first place was the team of Stephen Singleton and Bradley Singleton with a 5 bass limit of 11.85 pounds and taking home $1066.00. Second place was taken by the team of Bill Kohls and Joe Nieser bringing 10.82 pounds to the scales and earning $600 for their efforts.
Taking third place was the team of Robert Mixon and Steve Sink with 10.76 pounds and wining $578.50. The team of Joseph Ratcliff and Josh Akers took fourth with 10.50 pounds, including the big fish tipping the scales at 3.86 pounds and earning $622. Fifth place was won by James Allred and Clarence Brickey with 10.22 pounds giving them a check for $401.50.
Sixth place went to Dean Collins and Ray Furr with 10.20 pounds putting $266 in their pockets. The final paying spot of $200 went to the seventh place team of Joel Richardson and Neal Stockton with 9.66 pounds.
23 of the 37 teams weighed in 5 fish limits and all but two of the teams brought fish to the scales. What a great tournament! The next stop on the trail will be at Lake Norman on March 19th.
The Lake Norman Tournament will be held at McCrary Creek Ramp on Hwy 150 aproximately 10 miles out of Mooresville at the hwy 150 bridge. The Friday night meeting will be held at Peninsula Baptist Church. Registration begins at 5:30 pm. Directions to the church are as follows: traveling West from I-77 on hwy 150 just as you begin to get out of the business district, turn left on Williamson Dr. (turn right coming from the lake) go approximately 2 miles and turn right on Brawley School Rd. The church will be about one half mile on your left.
We cannot do this without the help of our sponsors…
Our Divisional sponsors are: Nester Hoisery, Snyders Packaging, Tamarac Marina, Ben Franklin; Atty at Law, Cagles General Store and Flow Motors.
Our tournament sponsors are: Sports Fisherman’s Center, Bass Pro Shops,Anglers Choice Marine, The Trophy House, Asheboro Alarm and Electric Co.,.Cashion Custom Rods,Pine Ridge Store Bens Salvage, Lead Chunkers and Carolina Marina.
Sponsoring our Adult/Jr. teams is Lyerly Dental and the door prize sponsors are: Advance Auto, Hwy 49 Sporting Goods, Fishing Fever, Get The Net Bait Co., Flemming Candy Co., Happy Farms, Tournament Lure Concepts. Fisherman's Friend , Capt Garys Instant Shine, Ron Moore Landscaping, Rudys Tackle, S&C Garage, Country Christian Book Store and Deep Creek Lures. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank all the fine companies that make Fishers of Men possible: Skeeter Boats, Yamaha,, Strike King Lure Company, Markel Marine Insurance, Abu Garcia, Power-Pole, Nester Hosiery, Marshall’s Marine Lake City SC, Keelshield, Solar Bat, Kistler,,Berkley, Spot Remover, Stanley Jigs,Gary 'Yamamoto, Jacobs Glass,and Dual Pro Charger.
For information on fishing our trail, contact Mike Sides at [email protected]!
Effects Of Winter Storm Make Fishing Tough For Bass Central Open On Lake Lewisville
Although temperatures have been warming, the residual effects of the winter blizzard that blanketed the Dallas area the week of the Super Bowl are still being felt in Lake Lewisville as anglers prepare for the opening tournament of the year on the Bassmaster Central Opens schedule.
“I was fortunate to get a few bites Monday, but today they have been hard to come by,” said David Mansue, a retired New Jersey law enforcement officer who now calls Hemphill, Texas, home. “I am hoping the water will warm up and some of the fish will move to the bank and be easier to get to.”
Two weeks ago Dallas was covered with a record snowfall of 12.5 inches, followed by an ice storm that sent water temperatures plummeting in area lakes. Lake Lewisville is a half hour's drive north of Dallas, so it has felt the brunt of the unusual winter weather.
Mansue, who practiced on Lake Lewisville last week, said the water temperature then was 41 degrees.
“We had a rather warm week in Dallas this week and the temperatures came up considerably. The high was in the low 50s, but then a cold front came in and chilled things down about 6 or 7 degrees.”
Although 2011 Bassmaster Classic Champion Kevin VanDam weighed in 58 pounds, 12 ounces, including a 12-pounder, in the June 2005 Elite Series event on Lake Lewisville, no one expects that kind of outcome in the three-day Open which begins Thursday.
Because it is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lake, there are very few docks and boathouses, and, Mansue said, there is no grass, so anglers will have to target rock and wood structure.
He said anglers likely will have to stay on the move to catch the winning weight because the bait and fish are moving a lot.
“A small crankbait around that wood and rock and maybe a spinnerbait will be the way to go,” he said. “Try to burn it down the bank. It's quite possible that could win the thing for somebody.”
While he considers the jig to be his forte, Mansue said he's not sure this tournament is one to rely on the jig – “but I sure will have one out on the deck.”
Mansue competed in the BASS Top 150 and the BASS Tour before it became the Elite Series while he was still working as second in command of a 55-man police department in New Jersey.
“I've been on the road now for 10 or 11 years and this is something I can concentrate on now that I am retired,” he said. Mansue, who won the 2009 Northern Open Tournament on the Chesapeake Bay, is fishing the Central Opens, Southern Opens and the PAA Tour events this year.
A full field will compete Thursday and Friday, with the top 12 anglers and top 12 co-anglers advancing to the final round on Saturday.
Many of the anglers, including Mansue, have already signed up to host wounded soldiers in a special tournament Saturday on Lake Grapevine, just to the west of Lake Lewisville, if they do not qualify for the championship round.
About 15 three-angler teams will participate in the no entry fee Wounded Warrior Benefit Tournament.. One of the team members will be a pro who provides the boat, and the other two team members will be soldiers. Each boat can bring in one five-fish limit.
“All of us who participate on the pro side hope we will be fishing Saturday, but if not we still win,” Mansue said. “We get the opportunity to take some real American heroes on the water and enjoy a day of fishing with them – and hopefully, catch some fish. It will be a great experience for them and for us as well to honor those men and women who have made such a sacrifice for our country.”
Bassmaster Opens Central Division
Feb. 24-26, 2011
Lake Lewisville
Lewisville Lake Park
2011 Feb Sportsmans Warehouse Report with AC and FLW Pro Dearal Rodgers
Anglerschannel.com Pro Staffer Dearal Rodgers joins us at Sportsmans Warehouse in Columbia, SC for a great preview of some BIG TOURNAMENTS coming to the region this weekend, including some outstanding tips for several of these monster fisheries!!
2011 State Of The Union With Randy Hopper Part 1
2011 State Of The Union With Randy Hopper Part 2
Georgia Lakes - Tournament Results - February 2011
American Bass Angler's Results for Lake Oconee 1/29/2011
1. Randall Woodham - 15.22 lbs.
2. Mike York - 10.75 lbs.
3. Albert Mcnair - 7.17 lbs.
4. Gerald Powe - 6.73 lbs.
5. David Fox - 5.86 lbs.
Oconee Marine Results for Lake Sinclair 1/30/2011
1. T. Adams/J. Whaley - 15.60 lbs.
2. A. Batson/M. Mincey - 15.34 lbs.
3. W. Sizer/T. Waters - 14.98 lbs.
Fishermen of Men Tournament Results for Lake Seminole 2/12/2011
1. Kyle Henderson/Matt Baty - 31.74 lbs
2. Randy Duncan/Adam Linkenhoker - 31.07 lbs.
3. Hubert Stafford/Steve Holt - 23.00 lbs.
4. Paul Tyre/Chris Bell - 21.10 lbs.
5. Steve Strickland/Stephen McCord - 20.62 lbs.
C & R Outdoors Tournament Results for Lake Seminole 2/13/2011
1. Steve Bushore/Jeff Wenhold - 21.20 lbs.
2. Ryan Weathersby/Brent East - 9.80 lbs.
3. Stanley Chandler/Kyle Brooks - 6.10 lbs.
Big Bass - Steve Bushmore/Jeff Wenhold - 5.60 lbs.
Fishermen Of Men Tournament Results for Lake Oconee 2/19/2011
1. Jack Morris/John Duvall - 15.62 lbs
2. Kevin Stowers/Rick Steckelberg - 14.31 lbs.
3. Alan Hampton/Steve Perdue - 12.47 lbs.
4. Eric White - 11.92 lbs.
5. Ty King/R L Wingo - 11.46 lbs.
R & R Outdoor Promotions Tournament Results for Lake Seminole 2/20/2011
1. Tommy King/Flint King - 28.20 lbs.
2. Robert Tindell/Rick Tendell - 25.14 lbs.
3. Darrel Jordan/Bradley Effinger - 24.91 lbs.
4. Terry Stevens/Clint Brown - 24.07 lbs.
5. Hubert Stafford/Steve Holt - 23.40 lbs.
**Look for March Tournament Results and Lake Reports Coming Soon!
"IF YOU BELIEVE IN YOURSELF, YOUR DREAMS WILL COME TRUE"
Until Next Time,
Brad Sears
NEW 2011 Evinrude E-TEC 250 HO from the Inside Out!
BRP/Evinrude tech, Pat shows us what makes the NEW E-TEC run like never before! Get an inside view of this beautiful machine!
The 2011 Lake Fork Trophy Lures Hyper Stick
Army Bass Anglers and Lake Fork Pro Staffer Chad Nelson goes over the new colors for the 2011 Hyper Stick and why this bait is going to win lots of anglers around our region some serious $$!!
What a Classic
Wow!!!! What a great Bassmaster Classic weekend. I spent Friday working the Strike King booth, Saturday in the boat with Shaw Grigsby, Sunday in the Strike King booth, and I had a blast. kevin claims his fourth classic championship and did he ever smoke em! It was a great experience and I will post a few more pics of Shaw this week and then it's off to my tournaments. Stay tuned to the Anglerschannel as all of us here bring you some up to the minute action on what's going on in the bass fishing world
2011 Bassmaster Classic post-victory press conference with Kevin VanDam
Kevin VanDam shatters records and wins the 2011 Bassmaster Classic! Here him speak about it directly after the weigh in!
Bassmaster Classic Records At Risk
Just over a year ago Kevin VanDam had twice won the biggest championship in competitive bass fishing. Now he stands poised to join only Rick Clunn as a 4-time Bassmaster Classic Champion.
And if he can do it big enough he could also shatter the record for heaviest Classic winning weight.
We're in for quite a show!
Weigh in show is happening now. They'll start actually putting fish on the scales shortly. Stay tuned for the latest here at AnglersChannel.com!
2011 Bassmaster Classic Day 2 Notes
UNBELIEVEABLE. The guy can not be human. In a sport that commands so many variables that are beyond control of the competitor Kevin VanDam asserts more control than any man alive. Then this: "I have learned not to worry about things I can't control." What he controls most is his attitude. And, apparently, that of the fish. At the news conference last night he went on to add that if you expect good things, good things will happen. And they have.
KVD brought a screaming crowd of thousands to their feet.
As of mid-morning on the final day, KVD has 3 fish, one of them big.
So, can upstart Federation Nation Champ Brandon Palaniuk charge past KVD? He's fishing the same area in Lake Catouatchie, as are veterans, Aaron Martens and Scott Rook. All began today in the top 5. All began today 8-to-10 pounds behind KVD's 41-11 pace.
Brent Chapman is the only top 5 guy making the long run down to Venice. In 2nd, he only needs 3 pounds, 10 ounces to catch VanDam.
Dean Rojas made a huge jump with 20-03. That moved him to 18th so he gets fish the final day. A 4-pound start on day 1 torpedoed his chances of winning. Once again we see that you can not win the Classic on the first day, but you sure can lose it.
David Watson of sullivan, Ind. was one of the Federation Nation representatives this week. He ended with 15-05 and is done. He has enjoyed the experience of competing at the highest level. "It's been great all the way," he said. "They have treated us like kings. And I love the competition. Intimidation was not factor. But I have a lot of respect for all of these men. The pros treat you like friends."
Less friendly are some of the local anglers. A couple of them tag-teamed his best spot and showed him a pair of 3-pounders they had just caught from it as he pulled up early Saturday morning.
Otherwise the pros have praised the courteous spectators that have followed on the water.
Greene Boat & Motor Tournament Trail Feb 19 Norman Top 7
Many thanks to Anthony Williams who lended his weigh in trailer and his help for Saturdays event. Anthony runs the Christian Anglers Fellowship Trail and has a series of charity tournaments coming up and each event carrys a $1000 1st place prize. www.christiananglers.org
Also Anthony will be running a 2011 Spring CATT Trail on Lake Norman. You can find the Norman schedule right here on Anglerchannel.com and www.catttrail.com
The top 7 teams Saturday at Lake Norman....
1 - Rodney Morrow 15.23 $1300.00
2 - Butch Holder - Cliff Kirby 14.65 2nd BF 4.66 $1083.00
3 - Ted Geddis - Bill Warren 13.27 $520.00
4 - Doug Punch - Tim Bumgarner 13.27 $350.00
5 - Jeff & KJ Queen 13.24 $225.00
6 - Rusty White - Ron Farrow 12.54 $170.00
7 - Chris Marshall - Scott Willis 12.52 $140.00
Matt Haywood - Michael Steele 1st BF 5.21 $602.00
Day 2 With Shaw Grigsby
Day two of the Bassmaster Classic was delayed until 9:45 am due to fog. It didn't take long for Strike King Pro Shaw Grigsby to go to work once the fog lifted.
Bassmaster Classic Day 2 Mid-Day Report - Big Changes?
MAJOR fog delaythis A.M. almost eliminated any chance of anybody running to Venice. Almost. BASSTrak coverage is spotty down there, so who knows if they're catching them in the short while they have. Most say they can get it done in hour. THose guys are about done fishing now and must gas up and run back with whatever they could catch.
KVD is trying to run-down Scott Rook and Aaron Martens in their shared honey hole on Lake Catouatchie. Fish are running smaller today and angling pressure is high.
Looks like we'll see a lighter weigh-in today. That really opens the door for somebody on a wild card pattern to gain ground.
We'll see in about 3 hours!
Crews, Montgomery, Palaniuk And Vandam Recap Day 1 Of 2011 Bassmaster Classic
John Crews ran across the Gulf of Mexico. Andy Montgomery has some catching up to do. Brandon Palaniuk is off to a good start. And Kevin VanDam was, well, he was Kevin VanDam. They all recap their Day 1 adventures in the 2011 Bassmaster Classic on the sprawling Louisiana Delta!
Scott Rook And Aaron Martens Talk About Sharing Water With Kvd
Martens leads, Rook is in 2nd, but KVD is in their rear-view mirrors AND in their fishing hole.
2011 Bassmaster Classic Day 1 Notes
I rode with Greg Vinson today. And rode. And rode. We covered over 220 round-trip miles. At the New Orleans Arena his best 5 fish weighed 14 pounds, 3 ounces. That's a great start. Hopefully he can capitalize on what we learned about his area today as the 2011 Bassmaster Classic rolls on.
One of the big stories this week is that long run Greg, and half the field, are making.
Another big factor that will shape the destiny of our 51 contestants is the rising, dirty water - thanks to a southerly blow that will hold the tides up, fill backwaters and scatter fish.
Some big flippers reported that their fish bit funny today. Randall Tharp and Terry Scroggins each lost 3 "good fish" that would have moved them way up the standings.
Bobby Lane laughed "what high, dirty water? Where I'm fishing it's low and clean." He sits in 5th with over 16 pounds.
Brent Chapman (4th) actually welcomes higher water, as do tourney leader Aaron Martens (20-07), Scott Rook (2nd with 19-06) and Kevin VanDam (3rd with 19-03). All 3 of them are sharing the same stretch of water with each other and several others.
Why?
"It is, without a doubt, the best spawning habitat in the entire Delta," said VanDam who caught one over 8 pounds in practice from the area. "I will be stunned if it is not won from that area."
Keep up with the stunning developments from the 2011 Bassmaster Classic this week at AnglersChannel.com!
2011 Bassmaster Classic Day 1 on the water with Greg Vinson - part 1
Ride along with Elite Series pro Greg Vinson as he runs 220 miles round trip and gets off to a good start in his first-ever day of Bassmaster Classic competition!
2011 Bassmaster Classic Day 1 on the water with Greg Vinson - part 2
Elite Series pro Greg Vinson takes us along for the ride - all 220 miles of it - on his first ever day of Bassmaster Classic competition. He makes a big move late in the day and enjoys a solid start to the 2011 Classic!
Points Leader Says Jig And Jerkbait Probably The Ticket In Greene Tournament On Lake Norman
James Dyer and partner David Fortenberry won the first Greene Boat and Motor tounament of 2011 on Lake Wylie
James Dyer has been “working around the clock and have not had a chance to even see the lake” so he plans to “do what I always do” on Lake Norman Saturday in the second tournament of the year on the Greene Boat & Motor Team Trail.
“This time of year I usually throw a jig and fish it really slow. Maybe throw a jerkbait every now and then,” said Dyer who is leading the points with his regular partner Jody Wright after winning the first tournament of the season Jan. 29 on Lake Wylie.
“Fishing on Wylie was tough. You had to throw out a jerkbait and just let it sit there and move it every now and then,” said Dyer who fished with a sub in that tournament. He and David Fortenberry weighed in 15.48 pounds, including the tournament big fish at 5.23 pounds, to win the first prize of $1,715 which made the team the points leader for now.
Dyer said the water in Lake Norman is still cold so fishing will probably be slow.
“Lake Norman always has shallow fish and deep fish. I'd say it probably is going to be a deep bite Saturday,” Dyer said. “This time of year the fish are running bait so where you find the bait you will find groups of fish. You just have to fish slow to catch them.”
Tournament director Brett Collins, who also runs the Carolina Anglers Team Trails on several different lakes in the Carolinas, said he has heard good fishing reports from Lake Norman this week as the weather has begun to warm up.
“I heard one report of a local fisherman who caught over 30 bass on jerkbaits and drop shots in the 8- to 12-foot range,” Collins said.
Collins said the first tournament on Lake Wylie drew 35 boats, which was right on the average per tournament in 2010, but he expects a much larger field Saturday on Lake Norman.
“We have already picked up some new teams for the tournament on Lake Norman. Last February the Lake Norman tournament drew almost 50 boats. And our two-day championship will be held Oct. 8-9 at Lake Norman so we look to have a really good crowd at all the tournaments on Lake Norman this year.”
Collins said teams must fish four of the six regular season tournaments to qualify for the championship in October. The season points champions will earn $1,000 and the runners-up will get a new Minn Kota Trolling Motor.
Membership in the Greene Trail is $15 and teams pay a $120 entry fee per tournament – $130 if they enter the morning of the tournament. The trail pays back one in every six places. There is also an optional Big Fish pot with a $20 entry fee paying back 100 percent for Big Fish and second Big Fish.
“We also have contingency opportunities, including the Stratos 2X program, Bass Cat Quest program and Nitro Tournament Rewards,” Collins said.
The regular season schedule following Saturday's tournament includes: March 5, Lake Wylie, Buster Boyd Bridge Access; April 23, Lake Norman, Pinnacle Landing; May 21 Lake Wateree, Dutchman Creek Marina; and June 4, Lake Hickory, Whittenburg Access.
Dyer said he is pleased that the trail replaced Lake Murray with Lake Hickory this year.
“I think Hickory is my best lake personally and I think everybody will have a good time there,” he said.
Greene Boat & Motor Team Trail
Sat. Feb 19, 2011
Lake Norman
Pinnacle Access
Water Warming Quickly Just In Time For Sc Division Bfl On Lake Murray
Jeremiah Jensen finished 2nd in the BFL on Murray last year. Photo courtesy FLW Outdoors.
A warming trend with near spring-like temperatures this week could not have come at a better time for the S.C. Division Bass Fishing League Tournament Saturday on Lake Murray.
“The water is real cold, but it should be warming up quick this week,” said Jeremiah Jensen of Columbia, S.C., who finished second in the SC BFL tournament on Lake Murray a year ago this Saturday. “I think there will be a lot of fish starting to move up and in the pre-spawn phase so they will be hungry. I think fishing will be pretty good this weekend.”
In fact, he said, it was already starting to get better a week ago though the bitter cold weather still prevailed at that time.
“I went last weekend and caught a pretty fair number of fish in the mid-depth areas, 6 to 12 feet deep. And the fish were fairly active. I caught several fish in pretty quick succession last weekend,” he said.
“There will be a lot of fish caught shallow Saturday, but there will possibly be some deep brushpile and jigging spoon fish for guys who want to do that. But I am going to try to get to where they are going, not where they have been.”
In the BFL tournament last February, Jensen caught a limit of bass that weighed 15 pounds, 7 ounces, on medium running crankbaits and jigs.
“I anticipate the fishing will be about the same scenario Saturday – mid depth,” he said. “But it all depends on what part of the lake you are fishing. Upriver you could catch them in three feet of water. Down near the dam you would be fishing in 18 to 20 feet of water.”
The disparity, he said, is because of the water clarity. The further down the lake the clearer the water and the deeper the fish. The further up the rivers feeding into the lake there is more stain in the water and the fish will be shallower.
“There are better quality fish down the lake, but they are harder to catch, so you just have to pick your poison,” he said. “A lot will depend on the weather the day of the tournament, as far as wind and cloud cover. It's been warming up all week and Friday and Saturday it is supposed to be in the mid-70s, with overnight temperatures up in the mid to high 40s, almost 50 degrees. If we get a little wind I think it will turn them on.”
If the wind is blowing, he said, the crankbait will work. If it's not blowing he will probably rely on the jig.
“My only concern right now is the weather is gong to get so good everybody will be catching them. As cold as it has been all winter long, it has kind of held things back and now it seems like they are ready to go all at once, not just feeding fish, but fish starting to work their way in,” he said.
“I know some guys are catching them out deep on spoons, I've been catching them at the mid-depth range and I know there will be some up the river catching them shallow. So whatever you like to do will be working this weekend.”
Jensen said he had a good year on the SC BFL trail last year with top five finishes on Lakes Murray and Wateree and he finished 15th in the BFL Regional Championship on Lake Guntersville. With a brand new baby in the Jensen household, the Columbia angler has decided to cut back on his tournament schedule this year and plans to just fish the SC Division BFL tournaments along with some local benefit tournaments.
But he is really excited about the 2011 BFL circuit in the Palmetto State.
“They did a really good job of picking the lakes at the right time of year,” he said. “The Lake Murray tournament is first followed by the tournament at Lake Wylie when the fish will be in late pre-spawn. When we get to Santee the fish will be in full spawn, some even in post-spawn. Then at Lake Wateree they will be in post-spawn which should mean some good topwater fishing. The tournament at Lake Hartwell will be in the fall and that tends to be a pretty good lake in the fall, at least from my experience. I think the whole season is shaping up really good for the BFLs in South Carolina.”
FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) SC Division
Sat. Feb 19, 2011
Lake Murray
Dreher Island State Park
Airport Marine Team Trail Providing More Ways To Win This Year
The Airport Marine Team Trail is spreading the money around this year – at least $300,000 based on 150 boats per tournament.
“Last year we gave an awful lot of money to first place and that kind of eliminated a lot of people who came in down the line,” said tournament director Flynn Gerald. “This year we have guaranteed first place with 60 boats minimum at $2,000 and we are expecting more than that. We'll pay second place $1,000, third place $900, all the way down to 10th place.”
But the money does not end there. Qualifying boats will double their payback from 1st through 4th place. Qualifying boats are originally owned boats bought from Airport Marine, two years old or newer from the date of the tournament.
And there is more.
There is a $5,000 team bonus to be split three ways in each tournament between the top 10 boats by a random draw – $2,500 for first, $1,500 for second and $1,000 for third. Qualifying boats will be paid in cash; non-qualifying boats will get certificates equal to the cash value towards the purchase of a new boat.
There is also a $10,000 solo bonus to be split four ways in each tournament between the top 10 boats by a random draw – $4,000 for first, $3,000 for second, $2,000 for third and $1,000 for fourth.
Then there are the $1,000 Adult/Child and $1,000 Couples bonuses, each to be split between the top three teams in each category each tournament, in any boat, $500 for first, $300 second and $200 third
There will also be a $10,000 purse for the Team of the Year – $5,000 for the top team and $5,000 to the team chosen in a random draw among the top 10 teams.
On top of all that there are the manufacturer's bonus programs for Stratos, Ranger, Triton and Skeeter.
“There is a new Triton bonus of $7,000 for each tournament. Stratos will double your pay up to a certain amount and we have the Ranger Cup and Skeeter Bonus programs, too,” Gerald said.
The purse for the year-end Classic Oct. 15 on a lake to be announced will include $7,000 for first place, $4,000 for second, $3,000 for third and on down, Gerald said.
“Nobody pays back what we are paying back. Most tournaments pay back 60-70 percent and we are paying back about 125 percent.”
There is a one-time initiation fee of $20 per angler to enter the trail and the entry fee per tournament is $150, with an optional big fish competition at $10.
Teams can register by Tuesday of the week before each tournament to get an early flight number, but entries will be taken at the ramp the day of the tournament starting at 4 a.m., Gerald said. Teams must fish or pay for four of the tournaments to qualify for the Classic.
Gerald said there has been some confusion about the need to pre-pay for the Classic.
“Teams have to pre-pay and register before the lake for the classic is chosen, but not for every tournament on the schedule,” he said.
The schedule includes the opening tournament Saturday on Lake Martin out of Wind Creek; March 12 on Lake Guntersville out of Goose Pond; April 9 on Lake Logan Martin out of Lakeside; June 25, a SOLO tournament on Lay Lake out of Paradise Point; July 9, Lay Lake out of Paradise Point; Aug. 20, Lake Guntersville out of Goose Pond; and Sept. 10, a SOLO tournament on Lay Lake out of Paradise Point. The Classic on Oct. 15 will be held on one of the lakes in the regular season schedule.
Fishing on Lake Martin has been a little slow, Gerald said, because of the cold winter weather, but the water temperature should come up 2-3 degrees by Saturday with the weather warming.
“They have been catching a lot of fish, but not big fish,” he said. “The water could be up around 50 degrees when we get there and turn those fish on.”
Gerald said the fish have already begun moving shallow and can be caught in the shallow pockets protected from the north wind where the fish can warm up in the sun.
“They are catching them on shallow-running crankbaits, Rat-L-Traps, swim baits, Chatterbaits, anything you can move fairly slow.”
Airport Marine Team Trail
Sat. Feb 19, 2011
Lake Martin
Wind Creek State Park
Kevin VanDam offers a little advice; talks about 2011 Bassmaster Classic
KVD talks about defending his 2010 Classic title before directly answering questions from a couple of fans by way of AnglersChannel.com!
The Bass Are Eating (And So Am I) At The 2011 Bassmaster Classic In New Orleans!
Speaking of ingredients, you gotta eat. And eat you can in New Orleans. When three different locals tell you to try a certain restaruant, you do it. So I ate blackened redfish at GW Fin's, just off Bourbon two blocks from Canal St. They were filming a real, full-blown Hollywood movie across the street when I walked out. Some guy who looked like Lou Diamond Phillips was talking with a brunette on a balcony as passers-by stopped and starred. Beignets are tasty, but be careful if eating them in a black shirt. I looked like I had been belly-sliding through a powdered sugar mill. I turned a corner and some dude with an electric guitar was hitting it, absolutely hitting it. Sounded like VanHalen and ZZ Top had a baby together. This place is awesome. Oh, and then a doorman at a restaraunt reccomended I come enjoy their brunch, but to be sure and make reservations because "70,000 people are coming to town for a big bass tournament." No kidding?
After having lunch with the anglers today I look forward to real heavy weight event. Power fishing and big bags will dominate.
Another developing story is the 200-mile-plus round trip some guys are making each day. They will only fish for about 3 hours, but they will spend those hours in one of the most fertile estuaries on earth down in the vicinity of Venice, LA.
Randall Tharp will run the other way. He likely will do so alone. "I saw a few locals in there," he said, "but the only other competitor I saw in there this week was VanDam." Not the guy you want to see. Actually, Tharp is excited at the prospect of sharing water with the man who owns tournament fishing. "I have watched him for years. He has inspired me and I think it would be kind of neat to fish head-to-head with him." Tharp thinks there would be enough bass to go around. "There's a pile of fish in there."
There are piles of fish all over the Louisiana Delta. Tune in to AnglersChannel.com to see how many of them our fisherman can bring to the Classic scales!
2011 Bassmaster Classic Preview From New Orleans With Ac Insider Vance Mccullough
AC Insider Vance McCullough previews what he thinks could be a very special 2011 Classic........we're coming to you from New Orleans tonight and every night through the Tournament!!
Randall Tharp Ready To Roll With The Big Boys At 2011 Bassmaster Classic
Randall Tharp has proven to be quite a stick in Bassmaster Open competition. Now he will test his skills against the best in the game at the 2011 Classic. He believes he has found the right fish to carry him deep into the hunt. Keep an on him.
Ike Reflects on the 2003 Classic; Looks Forward to the 2011 Version
Mike Iaconelli shares a special concern with us and tells us why he will NOT fish the spot that produced his Bassmaster Classic victory in 2003.
Ranger Sends Strong Field Into 2011 Bassmaster Classic!
Being contested February 18-20 in the bass-rich waters of the Louisiana Delta, Ranger Boats will be represented by some of the top names in professional fishing from the B.A.S.S. Elite Series, as well as some up-and-coming anglers who qualified through Open and Weekend Series events.
Ranger Pros in the 2011 Bassmaster Classic:
Tracy Adams – B.A.S.S. Opens qualifier
Tommy Biffle – B.A.S.S. Elite Series qualifier
Keith Combs – B.A.S.S. Opens qualifier
Ryan McMurtury – B.A.S.S. Weekend Series qualifier
Andy Montgomery – B.A.S.S. Opens qualifier
Scott Rook – B.A.S.S. Elite Series qualifier
Randall Tharp – B.A.S.S. Opens qualifier
Dave Wolak – B.A.S.S. Elite Series qualifier
In addition to its field of qualifiers, Ranger Boats enters the 2011 Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo with one of the industry’s most sought-after displays. Joining legendary Ranger founder and Hall of Famer Forrest L Wood will be some of the greatest anglers to ever take to the weigh-in stand. Visitors to the Ranger booth can meet with and gain professional insight from a collection of Ranger loyalists, who, between them, have amassed seven Bassmaster Classic titles, five B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year Awards, a pair of Forrest Wood Cup championships and more than $11.4 million in combined career earnings.
Appearing in the Ranger Boats booth:
Forrest L Wood
Denny Brauer
Luke Clausen
George Cochran
Jimmy Houston
Hank Parker
Peter Thliveros
Jay Yelas
Along with famed Ranger Pros, visitors to the booth can also see the all-new 2011 Ranger boats and learn more about the latest “Gotcha Covered” sales promotion.
For Bassmaster Classic attendees – and those who wish they were – who want behind-the-scenes access to the tournament, inside looks at Ranger products and personalities or a chance to win prizes, follow Ranger Boats on Twitter (@RangerBoats) or become a fan on Facebook.
About Ranger Boats
Headquartered in Flippin, Ark., Ranger Boats is the nation’s largest manufacturer of premium fiberglass fishing boats, which include series of bass, multi-species, fish 'n play and saltwater boats. Founded in 1968 by Forrest L. Wood, Ranger Boats continues its commitment to building the highest-quality, strongest-performing boats on the water. For more information, go to RangerBoats.com.
Bassmaster Classic Rewind: say what? Pre-tourney interviews from 2010
Here's a look back at what some pros were saying prior to last year's Bassmaster Classic when we sat down and interviewed them at Media Day in Birmingham. How right was Boyd Duckett when he spoke about who might win the Classic? Kevin Short even aluded to what would become the winning pattern. We will converse with this year's contenders two days from now - so stay with us here at AnglersChannel.com!
Bassmaster Classic 2011: Calm Before The Storm
Not a meteorological event. Actually, forecasts call for a gentle warming trend, fair skies and steady barometer; even a south wind and a swelling moon to help the rising tide deepen Delta's waters and, perhaps, grant access to areas that haven't seen a boat in days. And when they flush back to the Gulf, waters will run strong on the spring tide. Anglers could hardly ask for better fishing conditions.
Yet, Monday-to-Thursday comprise the eye of Huricane Classic. Three intense practice days are over. Ahead lie three days that will change someone's life.
Most spent Monday working on tackle, repairing boats and visiting kids at Tulane Hospital for Children.
Tuesday is moving day, when all must come from wherever they camped during practice rounds and check-in as official Bassmaster Classic contenders at the official host hotel. Then the official rules meeting this afternoon.
Wednesday provides one more practice peek.
Thursday they entertain us at Media Day - verbally answering questions while mentally lost in the delta's maze and the deep recesses of their own minds.
Come Friday morning, it's on.
For real.
3 whirlwind days.
51 of the world's best.
1 trophy.
The title.
The eternal street cred.
Half-a-million dollars - now.
Full-figured speaking/appearance/endorsement fees - forever.
To win it they'll scour endless miles of bayou and backwater to bring the biggest bag of bass before crowds of thousands gathered daily at New Orleans Arena and millions more around the world, incuding many right here, at AnglersChannel.com.
Stay with us. We'll bring you fresh video and blog coverage with a perspective you won't find anywhere else.
From pracitce reports to the atmosphere of Rue Bourbon to the final weigh in, we will take you to the Big Easy for the big tourney - the 2011 Bassmaster Classic.
Bassmaster Classic Rewind: Shaw Shares A Secret
We filmed this right before the 2010 Bassmaster Classic. It is indicative of the know-how we will bring you from the anglers in this year's Classic later this week. Strike King Pro Shaw Grigsby shares a knot-tying secret that will put more fish in your boat! Watch for more pro tips from the 2011 Bassmaster Classic - only on AnglersChannel.com!
TBF Tournament brings in Big Bass on Lake Murray
The Bass Federation of South Carolina held it’s 2011 season opener this past Saturday on Lake Murray. The unsettled weather we have been having had bass moving between deep and shallow water. But on this day the big ones showed up! Several 5, 6, and 7 pounder’s were brought to the scales. Crankbaits seemed to be the main lure of choice however jigs and shakey heads also produced some limits that finished in the money.
1st place honors in the boater division went to Darrell Shull of West Columbia with a five bass limit of 16.02 lbs. 2nd place was Johnathan Crossland from Irmo with another limit of bass at 12.58 lbs. Chuck Kinard also from West Columbia came in third with 12.47 lbs. Rounding out the top five were Robert Rikard with 10.39 lbs. and Pat Whaley at 8.84 lbs. Big Bass honor was won by Rich Gerken of Prosperity with a 6.77 lb. lunker.
In the Co/Angler division it would be Tommy Lindler of Lexington taking the win with 4 bass weighing in at 10.53 lbs. Second place finisher, DJ McEachern from Spring Hill had just moved up to fish the TBF trail from JR’s. program and showed that he knows how to catch them. His weight of 8.29 lbs was anchored by a 7.33 lb largemouth that was also the biggest bass of the tournament. Way to go DJ.
Third place would be Kenny Grimes who drove all the way from Akron Ohio to fish. Says he doesn’t like fishing through little holes in the ice. Ken’s weight was 7.64lbs. Also earning honorable mention for big fish are Dan Cook 6.49 lbs. and boater Bill Payne at 5.01 lbs.
Lake Murray gave up some nice bass this weekend and is sure to only get better in the weeks to come. The next TBF tournament of the season will be at Lake Wylie on March 12th. It’s not too late to enter. For more information please visit www.tbfofsc.com.
CATT Wylie Feb 12 Recap Top 5
Tom and Doug brought in a limit weighing 15.85 lbs and collected $550.00. They are almost to the $10,000.00 mark in total CATT winnings and it's a good bet they will break that mark this Spring. In 2010 we paid back over $23,000.00 to the guys fishing the CATT Lake Wylie Trail and this year we will see a substancial increase. The 2011 CATT Classic will be held on Lake Wylie May 14-15. To qualify a team must finish in the top 70 teams in the points race of any Summer 2010, Fall 2010 and Spring 2011 CATT Trail. www.catttrail.com
We had 24 teams enter Saturday and we launched out of South Point Accces. The temperature was cold in the morning and the wind kept the temps down but you can feel the change coming. Next Lake Wylie CATT Trail is this coming Saturday February 19 and we will once again will leave out of South Point. The work on Buster Boyd Landing will hopefully be done by the March 5th CATT Lake Wylie CATT and we will move the tournaments back to Buster Boyd. The forecast for the upcoming week is to expect temperatures close to 70 degrees so look for the fishing to improve over the next few days. A lot of the teams reported a very tough day. Seems like the teams fishing in water deeper than 8ft did the best.
1 - Tom Russell - Doug Gilmer 15.85 $550.00
2 - Hunter Hicks - Bobby Rice 1st BF 5.29 15.80 $468.00
3 - John Schon - Todd Moss BONUS $ 13.42 $320.00
4 - Mike Stephens - Sam Fascella 2nd BF 4.97 11.28 $192.00
5 - Chad Atchely - Jeff Benfield 9.90
Classic Rewind: Boyd Duckett Holds Off Hard-Charging Vandam On Lay Lake, 2007
What a classic Classic it was! Boyd Duckett outlasted Skeet Reese and KVD to become the first angler ever to win the Bassmaster Classic in his home state. Watch the magic moment again, right here, right now! And keep an eye on AnglersChannel.com next week as we bring you all of the magic from the Big Easy, site of the 2011 Classic!
2011 Anglers Choice Marine Open House Weekend With Tourney Director Chris Lucas
Anglers Choice Marine Team Trail Tounament Director Chris Lucas talks to us about what has become one of the top TEAM TRAILS in the Country, and how 2011 is sure to reach record levels!!
2011 Anglers Choice Marine Open House With Bass Elite Pro Casey Ashley
Bass Elite Series Pro Casey Ashley joins us at the Anglers Choice Marine Open House and talks about some BIG BAGS we all may be seeing next week at the 2011 Bassmasters Classic!!
Mcmurtury Feels No Pressure In His First Bassmaster Classic
Ryan McMurtry will be fishing the Bassmaster Classic on the Louisiana Delta Feb. 18-20!
Bassmaster Classic qualifier Ryan McMurtury has a unique theory about fishing a tournament in strange water: the less he knows about the fishery, the better off he is.
As a result he has not asked anyone who has fished the three previous Classics on the Louisiana Delta anything about how to fish there.
“I just feel like if somebody holds your hand and tells you where to go anybody can do that. It's not about the money – it's about being able to know you can find fish and compete,” said the 43-year-old Abbeville, S.C., angler who qualified through the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series, operated by American Bass Anglers.
In his first year on the Weekend Series trail, McMurtury won the 2010 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series National Championship on Lake Guntersville last November to advance to the 2011 Bassmaster Classic.
“Everywhere I go I don't seek out any information. When it gets tough you can adjust quicker – like at Guntersville. I had never been on that lake before.”
McMurtury had to adjust at Guntersville because his boat broke down in practice, so he had to go home and get a smaller backup boat.
“I feel that had I been able to use my big boat in pre-fishing, I would have fished more areas and not stayed where I did. In the tournament, I stayed in one spot for four days and never left it. I used a double rig fluke with exposed hooks. When one fish hit, I just held it down until another one hit. I caught fewer fish each day, but more weight.”
McMurtury caught 165 bass off that spot over the four days, weighing in 20 at 69.53 pounds to win the championship and the $100,000 first prize, plus a $10,000 bonus from Federated Auto Parts.
Ironically, a boat problem cost him a shot at also winning Angler of the Year in the BWS Division series in his first year on the tour last year.
“Last year at Santee Cooper I zeroed because of boat trouble. I would have come in third in that tournament, but my oil pump went out. I came back strong and finished 8th in points, but if I had not had that zero I would have been the divisional leader.”
A lifelong fisherman McMurtury began tournament fishing with a buddy in 1989 and has fished tournaments full time for the past five years, but last year was the first year he began fishing major sanctioned tournaments.
Three weeks before his Bassmaster Classic debut, he prepared for the championship by winning the Weekend Series South Carolina Division 9 opener Jan. 29, on Lake Murray.
He estimates he is on the water between 310 and 320 days a year, sometimes for just an hour or two.
“I counted one year and fished over 330 days that year. I am the type of person if I get a chance to get to the lake I will go. If I don't get to fish but an hour and a half to two hours I will still go. I'm not the type who will sit there and say I wish I had gone,” he said.
And, he added, those short trips really help hone his fishing skills.
“I think if you fish in little short spurts of time it helps because you have to find the fish quick,” he said.
The Louisiana Delta is a vast waterway, with numerous canals and streams connecting a myriad of “lakes” and ponds in a maze of fishable waters. The key is locating a group of fish like winner Davy Hite did in 1999 when he fished a junction of two canals for the winning weight.
The only experience McMurtury has on the Delta came during pre-practice in December when he had “a great practice.”
“I just hope those fish are still in the same areas,” he said.
He said the first thing he will do in practice before the Classic begins will be to check the water temperature.
“As soon as I get the water temperatures, I will know if the fish are in pre-spawn, spawn or post-spawn. But I know its going to be early pre-spawn. I doubt many fish are moving yet so I am going to fish it like I fish the lakes where I live, pre-spawn style.”
As for being one of a handful of anglers experiencing their first trip to the biggest championship in bass fishing, McMurtury said he is feeling no pressure despite the fact that most of the Elite Series anglers in the field have been to multiple Classics.
“Nobody is picking me to win. I kind of like that,” he said. “All I have to do is go fish. It's me against the fish, not me against them.”
Bassmaster Classic
Feb 18-20, 2011
Louisiana Delta
Bayou Segnette State Park
Rat-L-Trap May Be The Ticket For Bfl Choo Choo Division Anglers On Guntersville
Anglers in the Bass Fishing League Choo Choo Division tournament on Lake Guntersville Saturday will need to fish with something that will cause a reaction bite, according to Guntersville guide and BFL angler Capt. Pat Kelly.
“I was just out on the lake and the bite is a little tough right now,” Kelly said. “The water temperature is running 42-43 degrees and it's hard to find them.”
The fish he did find, he said, were in about 8 feet of water and they were associated with grass.
“The jerkbait bite was not working, but the Rat-L-Trap was so I think the best tactic for the tournament will be the Rat-L-Trap.”
With the water temperature so low, Kelly said the fish are just not interested in a worm or a jig.
“It's just too cold. But they will take that Rat-L-Trap. You just have to get it right above them, but you have got to find grass to get that bite.”
And finding 8 feet of water is also critical, he said.
“They are not on those flats in 3 to 4 feet of water with deep water nearby like they were last year this time, and the year before that, and the year before that.”
Kelly said the forecast for Saturday is 28 degrees in the morning, rising to 50 degrees during the day – and sunny, which will make fishing a little more difficult.
“There are some big fish to be caught. I caught one the other day over 7 pounds on a Rat-L-Trap up north and I think the north bite will be better than down here,” said Kelly who predicted a winning weight of possibly 20 pounds in spite of the cold weather and tough bite.
With the temperature so cold early in the morning, Kelly said he does not plan to make the run up north of Goose Pond until later in the day.
“I've been fishing all week, searching five to six miles from the marina. I am hoping to catch a few there in the morning and then go north,” he said.
Kelly, a former guide on Florida's Lake Okeechobee. guides out of Val Monte Lakeside Resort with pro angler Chris Lane. He can be reached at (256) 738-5264. Lane can be reached at (863) 221-5041 or email: [email protected]. For information on Chris Lane's Guide Service visit: www.chrislanefishing.com.
The BFL Choo Choo Division tournament on Lake Guntersville will be the first of five tournaments in the division schedule for 2011. Up to 400 boaters and co-anglers are expected to compete for top prizes of $8,000 and $3,000 respectively.
Takeoff and weigh-in will be at Val-Monte Lakeside Resort and Marina located at 7000 Val-Monte Drive in Guntersville, Ala. Takeoff is scheduled for 7 a.m. while weigh-in will begin at 3 p.m.
FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Choo Choo Division
Sat. Feb 12, 2011
Lake Guntersville
Val-Monte Lakeside Resort
Just Bring A Jigging Spoon To Phil Shope Tournament On Lake Hartwell Saturday
The story is pretty much the same across the South. It's been a cold, cold winter and the fish need some warming days just as much as the fishermen
“The water temperature in Lake Hartwell is running in the mid to high 40s on the lower end and up the river it's about 50 degrees,” said Phil Shope who will launch the inaugural Phil Shope Team Trail tournament of 2011 Saturday. “All the big fish are in 24 to 40 feet of water.”
So, said Shope, anglers in the tournament on Lake Hartwell Saturday can pretty much leave everything at home except a jigging spoon.
“Unless some guys go up in the Keowee River and catch them up there in that current,” he said. “They can go up there and get a limit pretty easy, but that is an awful long run.”
The majority of fish will be caught, he said, halfway back in the creek channels off the points.
“They have been catching fish on jigging spoons in the deeper water, but you have to be very proficient with a depth finder and know where to catch the fish,” he said.
The Phil Shope Trail, which will celebrate 21 years of tournaments, opens this year on Lake Hartwell, followed by the Phil Shope Busch Lite Challenge March 12-13 on Lake Julian; April 2 on Lake Hartwell out of Portman Shoals; May 7 on Lake Keowee out of South Cove Park; with the final tournament Oct 15 on Lake Hartwell out of Portman Shoals.
Teams pay a $40 annual registration with a $125 entry per tournament, which includes Big Fish. Payback is 100 percent with two Big Fish awards at each tournament.
“Nobody else is doing the kind of bonuses like we are,” Shope said. “The guy who wins gets a $500 bonus, plus there is a $500 bonus for the top finishing Ranger Boat.”
In addition, he noted, with Stratos now under the same roof with Ranger, Stratos will write a check equal to what he wins to the top angler in each tournament if he is fishing in a Stratos Boat. Platinum Equity acquired both Ranger and Stratos a year ago through the Genmar bankruptcy and formed Fishing Holdings LLC to oversee those boat brands, which also includes Triton.
“When we hold that tournament on Lake Hartwell in April it will be a night and day difference in conditions,” Shope said.
Phil Shope Team Trail
Sat. Feb 12, 2011
Lake Hartwell
Portman Shoals
Classic Rewind: Big Show's 'Shakey' start to the 2007 Bassmaster classic
Terry 'Big Show' Scroggins used a shakey head to start the 2007 Classic right - with a limit. What he didn't count on was the size of those Lay Lake spotted bass. Check out the action! Scroggins talks us through the technique and explains that YOU can use it to good advantage on any water in the country.
Countdown to Blastoff 2011 Week 3 Part Two
AC Insider Robby Byrum continues his analysis of some big Tournaments this coming weekend, including the Rod Jimmy Series and CATT both coming to Lake Wylie on Sat!! Part Two
Countdown to Blastoff 2011 Week 3 Part One
AC Insider Robby Byrum is on a roll this week in Countdown to Blastoff as he helps us take a look at almost 10 Tournaments on the docket for this upcoming weekend........Part One
