MLF Bass Pro Tour Season Finale Set for Minn Kota Stage Seven Presented by Suzuki at Saginaw Bay
BAY CITY, Mich. (July 20, 2023) – Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s largest tournament fishing organization, is set to conclude the fifth season of the Bass Pro Tour, the top level of professional bass fishing, next week, August 1-6, on Saginaw Bay and the Saginaw River at the Minn Kota Stage Seven on Saginaw Bay Presented by Suzuki.
The six-day tournament, hosted by Bay City, Michigan, will feature a field of 80 professional anglers, including bass-fishing superstar Kevin VanDam (KVD) of Kalamazoo, Michigan, who will be fishing in the last regular-season professional tournament of his career. Other anglers in the competition include KVD’s nephew, Kalamazoo’s Jonathon VanDam, REDCREST 2023 Champion Bryan Thrift, Stage Six at Lake St. Clair winner Jordan Lee and reigning back-to-back Bally Bet Angler of the Year (AOY) Jacob Wheeler. They’ll be competing for a purse of more than $805,000, including a top payout of $100,000 and valuable Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters All-Star event and REDCREST 2024, the Bass Pro Tour championship.
“The city of Bay City is honored and excited to host Stage Seven of the MLF Bass Pro Tour,” said Edward Clements, Bay City Commissioner. “Bringing the best bass fisherman in the world, and the number one competitive fishing tournament in the world, to Bay City, Michigan is an opportunity we have been working toward for several years. Our fishing is spectacular, along with our restaurants, bars, shops, parks and the community as a whole. We are confident the professional anglers and families, fans, sponsors and tournament staff are going to have a great stay in Bay City.”
While Saginaw Bay has hosted numerous Phoenix Bass Fishing League tournaments over the years, this will be the first time the Bass Pro Tour or an MLF pro-level circuit has visited the Michigan fishery. However, Kalamazoo’s Jonathon VanDam said he doesn’t expect it to be the last.
“Saginaw Bay is kind of an unknown body of water to a lot of people, but it’s very different than what you would expect from your typical Great Lakes fisheries,” said VanDam. “The bay is relatively shallow compared to most of the Great Lakes and the areas that you see around them, so there are a lot of marshlands, reeds and shallow, matted vegetation.
“It almost looks like Lake Okeechobee in some ways, with a lot of cattails and emergent grass,” VanDam continued. “With that much vegetation, there’s been a substantial population of largemouth the last few years that have definitely become a player in the bay itself.”
Saginaw Bay is a part of Lake Huron, with 1,143 square miles of water – not including the 22-mile-long Saginaw River, which is also in play for competitors – and has been dominated by world-class walleye and perch fishing for the longest time. However, in recent years local bass tournaments have started putting Saginaw Bay on the map, and VanDam said it isn’t hard to see why.
“Some of the biggest smallmouth in the Great Lakes are in Lake Huron,” said VanDam. “They move into Saginaw Bay in the springtime and you’ll see tournament bags of 26 to 27 pounds, but you don’t see that a lot in the summer. They tend to migrate out to the deeper water towards the lake a little more during this time of year, which will be outside the tournament competition areas for this event.”
VanDam said despite the timing, there will definitely still be some quality smallmouth to be caught.
“They are super scattered this time of year and not grouped up, but if a guy can find them and figure them out, they can do really well,” said VanDam. “I expect the majority of the fish caught during the event will be largemouth. We had an abnormally mild winter, with no ice coverage, causing the Great Lakes to drop about 18 inches from last year – that’s a big deal, especially taking into consideration the shallow vegetation in Saginaw Bay.”
VanDam said he expects to see the guys targeting smallmouth to be throwing the typical drop-shot rigs and tubes, while those targeting largemouth will be pulling out frogs, swimjigs, topwater and buzzbaits.
“There have been some pretty solid weights coming out of there the past couple of weeks, so I think it will take about 14 to 15 pounds per day to make it into the Knockout Round and probably 17 to 18 pounds to make the Championship Round cut,” said VanDam. “I’m really excited to see the circuit go to a new fishery. I’ve been there a handful of times, but it’s a really big body of water, so I’m not super familiar with it myself and am looking forward to it.
“My wife’s family is from there, so we’ll have a really good support crew,” continued VanDam. “Obviously, the main focus during this event will be Uncle Kevin’s last Tour event of his career. It’s going to be an exciting time to celebrate with him.”
Anglers will launch at 7:30 a.m. ET each day from the Golson Boat Launch, located at 1598 N. Johnson St. in Bay City. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the launch location, beginning at 4 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
As part of the event, on Saturday, August 5 and Sunday, August 6, the MLF Fan Experience will be taking place at Wenonah Park in Bay City from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF will welcome fans of all ages to celebrate fishing and the outdoors with free giveaways, local vendors, photo opportunities with pro anglers and PAW Patrol characters and the opportunity for fans to hang out and watch the pros live on the MLFNOW! ® big screen during the MLF Watch Party. The first 100 kids onsite each day will get a free rod and reel combo, and fans can also check out the latest gear and offerings from MLF and MLF sponsors including Toyota, Suzuki, the U.S. Air Force, Humminbird, Minn Kota and Kubota.
On Sunday, the final 10 Championship Round Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand at the trophy celebration to meet and greet fans, sign autographs, and take selfies. Kalamazoo’s own Kevin VanDam will be onsite throughout the weekend to celebrate his final regular-season professional tournament with fans.
The Minn Kota Stage Seven at Saginaw Bay Presented by Suzuki will feature pros competing using the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, with each angler’s five (5) heaviest bass per day tallied as their day’s weight. Anglers strive to catch their heaviest five fish each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the live scoring SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. Minimum weights are determined individually for each competition waters that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.
The 2023 MLF Bass Pro Tour features a field of 80 of the top professional anglers in the world competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, fishing for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2024, the Bass Pro Tour championship, held March 13-17, 2024, on Lay Lake in Birmingham, Alabama.
The 40 Anglers in Group A compete in their two-day qualifying round on Tuesday and Thursday – the 40 anglers in Group B on Wednesday and Friday. After each two-day qualifying round is complete, the top 20 anglers from each group advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 40 anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to the Championship Round. In Sunday’s final day Championship Round, weight carries over from the Knockout Round and the angler with the heaviest two-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.
The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on all six days of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. MLFNOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
Television coverage of the Minn Kota Stage Seven at Saginaw Bay and Saginaw River Presented by Suzuki Championship Round will air with a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, November 11, on the Discovery Channel. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on the Outdoor Channel.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, Ark Fishing, ATG by Wrangler, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bally Bet, Bass Cat Boats, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, Daiwa, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Ferguson, Fox Rent A Car, General Tire, Grundéns, Humminbird, Lowrance, Minn Kota, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Power-Pole, Rapala, Star tron, T-H Marine, TORO, Toyota, U.S. Air Force, Yellowstone Bourbon, Yo-Zuri and Zoom Baits.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
Smallmouth bonanza awaits Bassmaster Elite Series field at Michigan’s Lake St. Clair
Michigan's Macomb County will host the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Lake St. Clair July 27-30.
Photo by Andy Crawford/B.A.S.S.
July 20, 2023
Smallmouth bonanza awaits Bassmaster Elite Series field at Michigan’s Lake St. Clair
MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. — The Northern swing of the 2023 Bassmaster Elite Series season will start with a bang as the 102-boat field heads to Michigan for the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Lake St. Clair at one of the best times of year to fish the powerhouse smallmouth destination.
“The end of July is almost similar to what would be early June on a TVA lake,” said Garrett Paquette, a St. Croix Bassmaster Opens pro and Canton, Mich., native. “Generally, that time of year the fish have all moved offshore to where they will be for summer and are usually in pretty big schools. They are pretty dumb and easy to catch.”
Competition days are scheduled for July 27-30 with daily takeoffs set for 7 a.m. ET at Brandenburg Park. Anglers will return for weigh-in starting at 3 p.m. After the Day 2 weigh-in, the field will be cut to the Top 50 anglers, with only the Top 10 advancing to Championship Sunday. Full coverage will be available on Bassmaster.com.
Heralded as one of the best smallie destinations in the country, Lake St. Clair has played host for the Elite Series several times in the past, with Bill Weidler winning the most recent event in 2020 and Seth Feider taking the trophy in the three-day Angler of the Year Championship in 2019.
Covering 430 square miles in the U.S. and Canada, St. Clair is a relatively small and shallow lake with an average depth of 11 feet. Anglers will be able to fish the lake, the Detroit and St. Clair rivers, the southern portion of Lake Huron and the western side of Lake Erie.
Paquette believes almost every section of the playing field could produce a Top 10, although making runs to Erie could be risky depending on the weather.
“The nice thing is, St. Clair is almost always fishable,” he said. “It would take a super-strong wind to not be able to navigate. To me, it is for the better. Wind allows you to cover water and triggers the fish to feed.
“If someone goes to Erie, that will be a huge factor. It will make the run, which is already 60 or 70 miles, a lot longer. Erie is notorious for getting really rough.”
However, for someone with the courage to make Erie part of his game plan, the fishery could be a major X factor.
“There have been some bigger bags of fish caught in Erie the last few years,” Paquette said. “For the last five years, it seemed like St. Clair was where you wanted to be. Nowadays, it is probably back to 50/50 as far as which lake it is won out of.”
In most years, Paquette said it usually takes about 25 pounds to consistently win tournaments. But so far this year, that number has dipped to around 23 pounds. There are a couple of reasons for that, he said.
For one, Michigan had several warm days early in the year followed by an elongated, cooler spring. Paquette also believes an increase in the alewife population has more smallmouth chasing these nomadic herring.
“There are a lot of alewives in the system and that can obviously change the way fish act,” he said. “You are used to fish sitting in one area feeding on perch and gobies and crawfish, but they might be becoming a little more nomadic by chasing these alewives. It isn’t making the fishing worse, I just think it is changing it.”
The invasive goby is prevalent in the system as well, and the increase in that population over the years has kept the smallmouth close to the bottom to feed. Perch also remain a staple of the smallmouth’s diet in the system.
“The gobies have made things more angler friendly. They keep the smallmouth locked down in one area, which makes them easier to target and makes them bigger,” Paquette said.
While the alewives may have some smallmouth roaming, Paquette believes the majority will be grouped up in large stretches of Lake St. Clair. With sand and grass patches being the most prevalent cover, smallies will flood football-field-long stretches on the main body of water.
“In a normal group, you are working in an area the size of a football field, but some of the schools are so big that you are working a square mile,” he said. “Those are what mega-schools are. There isn’t a fish every 10 feet, but maybe every 100 or so feet. It lets an angler work around and mill around for eight hours in that area.”
If anglers choose to run to Erie, rockpiles will be the key, while playing the current around rock, sand and grass will be important in the two rivers.
Drop shots, Ned rigs and tubes will be prevalent presentations, while deep crankbaits and spybaits could make appearances as well. Forward-facing sonar will also factor into the equation.
“I consider St. Clair to be the mecca of forward-facing sonar,” Paquette said. “It has a really clean bottom, not very many weeds and the fish seem to suspend 1 to 3 feet all the time. You will see a lot of guys hunting them down one at a time on forward sonar.”
Largemouth live in the shallows of Lake St. Clair, but Paquette doesn’t believe an angler can compete for the win with them, although they could be key to salvaging points and making the Top 50 cut.
Paquette predicted the winner will have a four-day total of around 90 pounds.
Alabama pro Kyle Welcher leads the Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings after six events with 511 points. South Carolina pro Brandon Cobb is second with 499 points, followed by Florida’s John Cox in third with 483, Louisiana’s Tyler Rivet in fourth with 467 and Georgia’s Drew Cook in fifth with 456.
Alabama’s Will Davis Jr. leads the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Rookie of the Year race with 449 points, followed by Arkansas’s Joey Cifuentes III in second with 412 and California’s Bryant Smith in third with 405.
Bassmaster LIVE kicks off tournament coverage Thursday and Friday mornings at 8 a.m. ET on Bassmaster.com, Tubi and the FOX Sports platforms while FS1 will broadcast live with the tournament leaders Saturday and Sunday.
Throughout the weekend, fans can enjoy the Bass, Brews and BBQ Festival, held in conjunction with the Elite Series event.
Ebare On Conservation & Costas
Courtesy of Luke Stoner - Dynamic Sponsorships
Pictures courtesy of Tyler Brinks / MLF and Blake McLane/Dynamic Sponsorships
The 2023 tournament season has been quite the coming out party for Major League Fishing pro Dakota Ebare. Though Ebare has consistently knocked on the door of bass fishing superstardom throughout his young career, a ’major’ win eluded him until this year.
After starting the season off with a Toyota Series victory close to home on Sam Rayburn, Ebare backed that up with an MLF Invitational win on Clarks Hill Lake and has since posted three runner-up finishes on the Bass Pro Tour. Fishing fans have gotten used to seeing his name at or near the top of the leaderboard.
The 31-year-old east Texas pro has accumulated an impressive amount of tournament winnings, hardware, and accolades during his 2023 campaign including a boatload of bonus money from contingency programs like Costa Compete + Conserve.
Ebare has earned over $10,000 this year alone for being the highest finishing angler wearing Costa Sunglasses in supported tournaments, donating $2,500 to freshwater conservation efforts in the process. Costa makes a corresponding cash donation to the conservation partner of the winning anglers’ choice for each of its 329 supported tournaments, something Ebare is a huge advocate of.
“I’ve worn Costas my whole career because they make great sunglasses, but more than that I enjoy being a part of a company who supports and protects our fisheries,” Ebare explained. “Conservation is something all of us as bass anglers need to keep top of mind. I want to keep catching healthy bass, and Lord willing one day I want my kids to have the same opportunities, so protecting and improving our lakes, reservoirs, and rivers is super important to me.”
Ebare was getting ready to hit the water with two high school anglers when I called for a couple quotes, doing his part to help inspire the next crop of bass obsessed teenagers. The Strike King pro is a proud product of college fishing, and his experience with the explosion of youth tournament fishing has aided in driving home his views on outdoor stewardship.
“It seems like tournament fishing is only growing every year,” Ebare said. “You look at high school and college tournaments – they are constantly maxing out their fields with 200 to 300 boats. It’s awesome. It’s amazing, and it means now more than ever we need to educate the next generation on our natural resources and raise awareness for conservation efforts. As fishing pressure increases it’s only going to get more important.”
Compete + Conserve sanctions bass tournaments of all degrees; including high school and college events, select team tournament trails, and up through the ranks to the professionallevel. All you have to do is own a pair of Costa Sunglasses, fish in a supported tournament, and it’s completely free to join. Ebare weighed in on what frames he has relied on this year.
“I’ve worn Jose PROs for the vast majority of this season, but I will say I can’t wait to get my hands on the new King Tide frames I just saw at ICAST,” Ebare said. “I switch between Sunrise Silver Mirror and Green Mirror lens colors depending on the conditions and the clarity I’m dealing with. I find myself wearing Sunrise Silver more and more. Everyone knows they are the deal for low-light, but I think they make bass beds pop like nothing else, even in bright sun.”
For more information on Costa’s Compete + Conserve program, a full list of events and payouts, or to get registered before your next tournament visit: https://www.costacompeteandconserve.com/
Opportunity awaits anglers at the Bassmaster High School Championship
The best young anglers from around the country will be part of the 2023 Strike King Bassmaster High School Championship presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors July 27-29 on the storied waters of Lake Hartwell.
Photo by Dalton Tumblin/B.A.S.S.
July 19, 2023
ANDERSON, S.C. — The best youth anglers in the country will head to Lake Hartwell for the 2023 Strike King Bassmaster High School Championship presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors July 27-29, and Justin Kimmel, who competes in the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens, says the tournament couldn’t be at a better time.
“This is my favorite time of year to fish the lake,” the Athens, Ga., native said. “My biggest bags on Lake Hartwell have come in July. I’m talking, like, 25- to 28-pound days. A lot of these kids may come in thinking this is a blueback herring lake and that is what they have to do to win, and that is just not the case.”
The High School Championship — featuring more than 480 teams from 35 states and Canada — will take off from legendary Green Pond Landing each day at 6:20 a.m. ET and return at 2:20 p.m. for weigh-in. Full coverage will be available on Bassmaster.com.
Lake Hartwell continues to be one of the premier fisheries for prestigious tournaments. Last year was the first time the High School Championship was held on the upstate South Carolina reservoir, which has hosted four Bassmaster Classics.
Last year, Wisconsin anglers Reece Keeney and Bryce Moder won the three-day high school event by catching mostly largemouth on a buzz frog, finishing with 43 pounds, 1 ounce. While Moder was still in high school, Keeney moved on to the college fishing ranks, competing for Kentucky Christian University.
Kimmel, a multitime BFL champion on Hartwell as both a co-angler and boater, believes there will be plenty of opportunities for high school anglers to repeat and expand on those largemouth tactics Keeney and Moder used to win.
Those shallow-water largemouth could be around laydowns, docks or around shade lines, but most of those largemouth are going to be eating bream. Kimmel said these bass will get super-shallow. A good largemouth bite also opens up the entire lake.
“Buzzbaits and other topwaters will play,” Kimmel said. “Poppers and bream bed-type stuff like a prop bait. A swim jig is a really big deal for me that time of year. A frog bite will be good around bluegill eaters. The whole tacklebox gets opened up.
“Largemouth should win in July.”
With blueback herring roaming the bottom end of the lake, spotted bass have gotten much of the attention on Lake Hartwell in recent years, and rightly so. A one-day tournament this year was won with over 21 pounds of spotted bass.
“A lot of local stuff gets won with spotted bass because they are more consistent,” Kimmel said. “They will be in the same places, and there are more of them.”
Canepiles, brushpiles and points are classic areas for spotted bass to school up and chase herring. A topwater and fluke could be key to catching those bass that are actively feeding on herring.
“Hartwell is known for the blueback herring deal now and anglers figuring out one of three things — brushpiles, canepiles or standing timber — and finding bass on the lower section or the Andersonville Island area. It usually ends up being whoever has the best milk run. There is always a section that is firing better than others.
“If you stay longer than 10 minutes, you ruin a particular spot for the day. You really have to run and gun to be successful doing that.”
The Strike King Bassmaster High School Championship presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors is being hosted by Visit Anderson.
Rapala Increases Its Stake In 13 Fishing
Rapala VMC to become the majority owner of DQC International, consolidating the 13 Fishing rod and reel brand into its global product offering, and accelerating the growth of 13 Fishing in the U.S. market.
Helsinki, Finland – Rapala VMC Corporation and James Coble, current majority shareholder of DQC International, which manufactures and markets 13 Fishing rods and reels, have reached an agreement in which Rapala VMC will increase its ownership of DQC International to 60% of the Florida-based company while Coble will retain a 40% share of the company.
Rapala VMC introduced 13 Fishing (13fishing.com) freshwater, saltwater and hardwater (ice fishing) rods and reels to markets outside the United States following the 49% acquisition in DQC International in 2019. Rapala VMC will continue to invest in the marketing and product development of the 13 Fishing brand with the intent of building brand loyalty for 13 Fishing among retailers and consumers around the world, including the United States.
Under the agreement, Coble will continue as Chief Executive Officer of 13 Fishing with a key emphasis on building the 13 Fishing brand and driving new and innovative 13 Fishing products into the worldwide market.
The amalgamation of 13 Fishing’s and Rapala’s product ranges will maximize mutually beneficial distribution and operative synergies.
“Rapala is one of the largest players worldwide in our industry. Where 13 Fishing excels in branding, product development and innovation, Rapala excels in driving operations and sales,” said James Coble, President of DQC International Corporation.
“Joining forces in the U.S. and leveraging Rapala’s vast knowledge and customer base will allow 13 Fishing to rapidly accelerate growth in the U.S. market.”
"For almost four years we have been selling 13 Fishing products outside the United States,” said Lars Ollberg, President and CEO of Rapala VMC Corporation.
“Now is the time to join forces in the U.S., in which market Rapala’s operational excellence will truly accelerate the growth of the 13 Fishing brand.”
“13 Fishing already has a proven record of building a dynamic brand, and developing innovative products. It has managed to successfully wedge itself into the world’s most competitive fishing tackle market in a relatively short time,” added Ollberg.
“We are confident that combining our industry knowledge, industry-leading global distribution network, and understanding of the various fishing tackle markets with James Coble and his team’s agility, innovation, and other capabilities, we can grow 13 Fishing into a worldwide rod and reel player. I have full confidence in the partnership with James Coble and the 13 Fishing brand, which will grow as a core brand of Rapala family of high quality fishing brands.”
RELiON® Battery Debuts a New 36V Lithium Battery
This is the first 36V marine battery in the brand's product line
Menomonee Falls, Wis. (July 11, 2023) – RELiON® Battery, a global leader in the development of lithium batteries, today announced the launch of the new RB36V40, a durable, long-lasting 36V 40Ah marine lithium battery.
“With more than 20 years of experience in the industry and a comprehensive product portfolio, RELiON continues to provide the latest and greatest in lithium battery technology,” said Eric Lindquist, VP and General Manager, Power Systems at Navico Group. “Product development is a key priority, and our team of experts is dedicated to delivering innovation with unmatched power and performance. We are thrilled to round out our voltage offering with the new 36V battery and provide users with peace of mind and more time on the water.”
The new RB36V40 provides maximum capacity, 20% more than its series equivalent*, with minimum hassle thanks to its parallel design. The improved connectors and small Group 31 footprint make onboard installation simple, and weighing 70% less than the lead-acid equivalent, speed through the water doesn’t need to be sacrificed. Additionally, the parallel set-up allows for quicker, easier charging and more power in the tank when needed.
Built for the marine environment, the 36V battery includes an IP67-rated case, which completely repels dust and resists water ingress for up to 30 minutes submerged at 1 meter. It also features a new glue channel and screw-latched enclosure to protect against airborne contaminants, as well as an internal Battery Management System (BMS) to monitor battery health and protect against short circuits and over-charging.
Key features of the RB36V40 lithium battery
- Easy installation with a small footprint – Group 31 (13” x 6.8” x 8.4”)
- Parallel set-up allows for greater capacity with fewer batteries in standard applications
- Fast recharging
- IP67 waterproof rating
- 1536-Watt hours
For information about RELiON Battery and its lithium battery options, visit https://relionbattery.com/.
Meet Clint Brannon: Ace pitcher, avid bass angler, and amazing wildlife artist
If you see a guy on Beaver Lake or Bull Shoals casting a Bass X jig with a little added boost of athleticism from the spacious front deck of his Vexus® VX21, it’s probably former Razorbacks and Spokane Indians acepitcher, turned amazing wildlife artist, Clint Brannon.
Brannon grew up fishing with his dad around their tiny town of Bradford, Arkansas, and while art was always a part of his life, his other gift as a young left-handed pitcher led him on a scholarship nearly four hours west to Fayetteville. He had a stellar career that included throwing strikes for the Hogs in the 2004 College World Series.
Drafted by the Texas Rangers, he then proceeded to set records in the minor leagues with the Spokane Indians where he once managed a mega-stingy 0.59 ERA, before injuries ultimately ended his pro career. The faulty rotator cuff and labrum lead him back home to all the things he loves most in Northwest Arkansas, home to the nationally recognized Bikes, Blues, and BBQ charity-focused motorcycle rally each autumn.
“Becoming the official merchandise artist for Bikes, Blues, and BBQ was really the launchpad of my art career,” says a grateful Brannon, who has now completed more than 40 originals, which along with a very limited number of prints, are highly sought after by collectors.
Brannon’s work includes a wide range of wildlife featuring whitetails, trout, turkeys, mallards, and even a bobcat named “Flippin” displayed in profound fashion on the office wall of Keith Daffron, a proud Flippin, Arkansas native who now helps lead the premium quality Vexus Boat company based in the town of 1,300 people.
“Clint is just a special guy, with a talent that absolutely amazes me,” says Daffron. “He’s quickly become a friend who is easy to relate to. Whether that’s sharing a fly fishing trip on the White River, or spending time with his wonderful family. I really admire the way he throws his soul into the detailed and meaningful story behind each piece of art,” adds Daffron.
Brannon’s an All American guy indeed, with an incredible work ethic to support many amazing talents, and that’s what former St. Louis Cardinal and 3-time Gold Glove Award winner, Tom Pagnozzi recognized about Brannon when he helped coach him at the University of Arkansas following his iconic career as a catcher in the big leagues.
So much so, Pagnozzi partnered with Brannon in 2006 to create what’s now a wildly popular clothing company called Southern Trend that employees 35 people who interact like family. Still, the stress of running a business, coupled with a loving commitment to his young family takes a toll that many of us can relate to, and that’s where time in his art studio continues to serve such a therapeutic roll in Brannon’s life.
“My art is what helps me wind down at night. Creating the next meaningful piece serves as my therapy. It tires me out and helps me sleep better in a healthy way,” says Brannon.
A therapy not too unlike fishing for most of us, including Brannon, a highly likeable small-town guy who most swear must have gone through the line two or three times when they were handing out talent.
Travel Tuesday - Get Your Ducks In A Row Before A Fishing Trip
By: Hanna Robbins - Half Past First Cast
After a week of world-class fishing at Anglers Inn El Salto, you might expect that my first blog back would be all about the trip. but for now I’m going to head back to BEFORE the trip even started to help you plan for your next trip.
If you don’t plan properly, you’ll never be able to fully enjoy your time away. I’m a list-maker, even when we go away for just a short weekend, but on longer trips it’s even more important to cover everything. I use a list so nothing gets forgotten.
Number one, at the top of our list, is to make sure your dogsitter is available at the time you will be away. Don’t assume. You don’t want to be scrambling for a place at the last minute. You don’t want to worry about the quality of the care that your baby is getting. Pete and I don’t have kids, so our Australian Shepherd Rooster is our child, and I worry about him constantly.
Not just anyone will do, either. When my prior Aussie Riley was diagnosed with cancer, we still had to make some short trips. I wanted to know that she’d be comfortable, and that if a situation arose the sitter would know what to do.
It’s probably a high-stress moment for your dog, too. If Rooster sees us packing our suitcases he tends to get jittery and occasionally misbehaves.
Here’s one sign that things are good -- Make sure when you get to your sitter’s house or facility that your dog can’t wait to go inside. The minute there is any hesitation you should think twice and find another provider.
The only reason we feel safe and sound when we vacation is because of our “Aussie Whisperer,” Kristina Shaw Whetzel. The minute we get off the highway, still two miles way from her home, Rooster whines. He knows where he’s headed and can’t wait to see his friends and the “camp director.” He’s excited to play with his “pack.” We open the gate of the SUV and Rooster never looks back. It’s actually a bittersweet moment for me. I want him to be at least a little bit sad that we’re going away.
While a responsible dogsitter is the most important factor, it’s even better if you can get someone who is familiar with the specific health and behavioral quirks of your breed. I’m not sure how many Aussies Kristina has, but it’s probably at least eight, and she knows how they play, how they interact, and why they do certain things.
Kristina, you are our godsend and have become a true friend, THANK YOU. Without you our vacations would be a lot more stressful and less enjoyable, even though you may be thousands of miles away.
Other list items:
- Stop your mail from being delivered (usps.com/manage/hold-mail.htm)
- Call the number on the back of your credit card and make sure they know the dates and places you will be vacationing so no charges get declined or fraud alerts raised.
- Contact your home alarm system, if applicable. Let them know the timeframe of your trip and your emergency contacts
- Figure out which lights, inside and outside, you should keep on to make it look like you are home (change the light bulbs if you haven’t in a while to make sure they don’t go out)
- Position the cars in the driveway to make it look like you aren’t away
- Regulate the inside temperature for the time of year you are away. Make sure if you live in a cold environment and will be away not to set the temp too low or the pipes may freeze. Keep the cabinet doors open on all cabinets on outside walls. Perhaps make the faucet have a small drip so there is constant water flow.
Don’t wait for the last minute to set up a ride to the airport, bus depot or train station prior to the day you leave. Check on that ride to make sure it will show up. During our recent trip, I had a problem with my Uber app that required some quick thinking. And if you are a tightwad like me, look for coupons for that ride.
We will assume you are taking your kids with you on all your vacations, if not make sure Grandma and Grandpa spoil them silly.
Even with all these items crossed off you list you can still end up with some issues. We came home from Mexico one year to find out that our freezer had crapped out. We entered a stinky house and we lost the remainder of our sockeye and king salmon we caught, processed and brought home with us from Alaska – nearly 50 pounds.
That’s ok, it just means that we will had to go back to Alaska – and start the travel prep process all over again
Safe travels made easy, that’s why you travel with Half Past First Cast.
Mumford Overcomes Adversity to Win Phoenix Bass Fishing League at Indian Lake Presented by Rabid Baits
LAKEVIEW, Ohio (July 17, 2023) – Boater Zac Mumford of Covington, Ohio, caught a five-bass limit weighing 15 pounds, 2 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Indian Lake Presented by Rabid Baits . The tournament was the third event of the season for the BFL Buckeye Presented by Rabid Baits Division. Mumford earned $12,535, including the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus, for his victory.
Mumford, who focused his efforts on the main lake area of Indian Lake, said at 9 a.m. he lost the use of his trolling motor after hitting a log with it. Mumford said fellow angler Kyle Weisenburger, who tied for 10th place in Saturday’s event, stopped to help him, and after an hour, the trolling motor came back to life.
“He tried to help me the best he could and got tools out, and he was a major help to me,” Mumford said. “I don’t know what happened, but we got it working again, and it was like the light switch turned on and the fishing got great for me after that.”
Mumford said he had a limit in the livewell before his trolling motor woes, but after he resumed fishing, he started to cull his smaller fish with quality bass.
“The areas I was fishing were very heavily pressured, so I had to do something different to get them to bite,” Mumford said. “So, the retrieve style was very important for me. It was a fast retrieve.”
Mumford said he focused on shallow transitions between rocks and weeds with crankbaits and a vibrating jig to load his livewell.
“I caught between 30 and 40 fish during the tournament and culled a lot,” Mumford said. “I just caught good, quality fish.
“To be honest with you, I never thought I had a chance to win until the fish hit the scale and I saw how heavy they were,” Mumford added. “I’m super excited. My grandpa is going through some health problems right now, and he was the one who introduced me to fishing at Indian Lake, so I’m really excited to share this with him.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
2nd: Chris Martinovic, Hamilton, Ohio, five bass, 13-10, $2,907
3rd: Tony Collins, Dayton, Ohio, five bass, 13-7, $1,439
4th: Ray McGraw, Chillicothe, Ohio, five bass, 13-0, $1,007
5th: Josh Smith, Hamilton, Ohio, five bass, 12-13, $863
6th: Dick Shaffer, Rockford, Ohio, five bass, 12-10, $791
7th: Mike Reeves, Brecksville, Ohio, five bass, 12-5, $719
8th: Chuck Willis, Dayton, Ohio, five bass, 12-2, $1,257
9th: Aaron Lewis, Russells Point, Ohio, five bass, 11-15, $575
10th: Brody Campbell, Oxford, Ohio, five bass, 11-13, $478
10th: Kyle Weisenburger, Columbus Grove, Ohio, five bass, 11-13, $478
Chuck Willis of Dayton, Ohio, caught a bass that weighed 4 pounds, 15 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $610.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
2nd: Ryan Sykes, Fairfield, Ohio, five bass, 11-2, $1,479
3rd: Rece Kimmel, Lewistown, Ohio, five bass, 9-15, $717
4th: Alex Richardson, Cincinnati, Ohio, five bass, 9-14, $503
5th: Todd Taylor, Bargersville, Ind., five bass, 9-4, $431
6th: Ron Weisenburger, Continental, Ohio, five bass, 9-2, $396
7th: James Wilcox, Barboursville, W.V., five bass, 9-1, $474
7th: Richard Rike, Lewisburg, Ohio, five bass, 9-1, $324
7th: Jeremy Middleton, Marengo, Ohio, five bass, 9-1, $324
10th: Andrew Simon, Risingsun, Ohio, five bass, 8-15, $252
After three events, Chris Martinovic of Hamilton, Ohio, leads the BFL Buckeye Presented by Rabid Baits Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 738 points, while Steve Sorrell of Beavercreek, Ohio, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 712 points.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 5-7 BFL Regional tournament on the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Kircher Claims Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Lake Shelbyville
SHELBYVILLE, Ill. (July 17, 2023) – Boater Matthias Kircher of Sorento, Illinois, caught four bass weighing 16 pounds, 9 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Shelbyville . The tournament was the third event of the season for the BFL Illini Division. Kircher earned $6,641, including a $2,500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus, for his victory.
Kircher said he had fished Lake Shelbyville only 10 times before the BFL event, and this tournament was his second effort as a boater in competition.
“I had all my fish by 9:15,” said Kircher, who focused his efforts on the 9th Street area of Lake Shelbyville. “I only had five bites all day. The other fish was a 13-incher.”
Kircher said he caught his first fish in the treetop of a laydown in about 20 feet of water on a shaky-head rig. His other three keepers came on a watermelon candy red-colored Zoom Ol’ Monster Worm. Kircher said he caught all four of his fish on two laydowns 100 yards apart from each other.
“I pre-fished last Wednesday and caught a 15-inch fish in that treetop,” said Kircher. “I had another bite, and I left it alone. So, during the tournament, I went with my gut instinct and went where I caught that keeper because I wasn’t on anything during practice this week.
“The Lord blessed me with four good bites,” Kircher added. “I told my co-angler I needed one more fish. I thought I needed that fifth fish. But my co-angler said, ‘I think you’ve got this.’ And he was right. This feels great.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
2nd: Levi Kohl, Edinburg, Ill., three bass, 16-3, $1,835
3rd: Garrett McDowell, Windsor, Ill., five bass, 15-4, $1,444
4th: Joshua Tyner, Spencer, Ind., five bass, 14-1, $856
5th: Joe Bardill, Highland, Ill., five bass, 13-8, $734
6th: Jeffrey Lee, Olney, Ill., five bass, 13-2, $673
7th: Ethan Fields, Breese, Ill., five bass, 12-15, $612
8th: Jeremy Dhom, Teutopolis, Ill., five bass, 12-6, $551
9th: Jeremy Mull, Pawnee, Ill., five bass, 11-4, $489
10th: Mike McGill, Findlay, Ill., five bass, 10-15, $428
Kircher also caught a bass that weighed 6 pounds, 2 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $470.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
2nd: Mike Swetland, Tamaroa, Ill., five bass, 8-7, $1,268
3rd: Aaron Arning, Walnut Hill, Ill., five bass, 8-0, $612
4th: Nathan Riley, La Place, Ill., four bass, 7-10, $428
5th: William Hadraba, Willow Springs, Ill., four bass, 7-4, $367
6th: Dale Renth, Mascoutah, Ill., four bass, 6-15, $336
7th: Jim Budde, Waterloo, Ill., four bass, 6-13, $306
8th: Andrew Boring, El Paso, Ill., three bass, 6-6, $275
9th: Amanda Black, Toledo, Ill., three bass, 6-3, $245
10th: Rowdy King, Shelbyville, Ill., two bass, 5-15, $214
After three events, Garrett McDowell of Windsor, Illinois, leads the BFL Illini Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 737 points, while Aaron Arning of Walnut Hill, Illinois, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 729 points.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 12-14 BFL Regional tournament on Dale Hollow Lake in Byrdstown, Tennessee. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
La Crosse Set to Host Final MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational of Season Next Week – Mercury Stop 6 on the Mississippi River
Field of 150 Professional Anglers to Compete in Final Event of Season for Top Prize of up to $115,000 and Qualification into REDCREST 2024
LA CROSSE, Wis. (July 17, 2023) – Just a few short weeks after hosting the 2023 MLF High School Fishing National Championship, La Crosse, Wisconsin, and the Mississippi River are gearing up for another major bass fishing event.
Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, is set to return to La Crosse, next week, July 25-27, for the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational Mercury Stop 6 at the Mississippi River in La Crosse. The three-day Invitational tournament will feature a roster of 150 professional anglers competing for a top prize of up to $115,000, and an invitation to compete at REDCREST 2024 – the Bass Pro Tour championship – for the chance to win up to $300,000.
Hosted by Explore La Crosse, the tournament marks the sixth and final MLF Invitational event of 2023, offering competitors a total season purse of more than $3.9 million. In addition to the tournament’s top payout of $115,000, the field is also competing for valuable points to win the coveted Invitational Angler of the Year (AOY) title. The top eight pros in the Tackle Warehouse Invitational AOY standings after this event will receive an invitation to compete at the sport’s top level on the Bass Pro Tour in 2024.
“The Explore La Crosse team and the entire La Crosse region are thrilled to be hosting the Tackle Warehouse Invitational on pools 7, 8, and 9 of the Mississippi River,” said A.J. Frels, Executive Director of Explore La Crosse. “With its wing dams, backwaters, and heavy vegetation, the scenic Upper Mississippi offers some of the best habitat in the country for largemouth and smallmouth bass. It is the ideal setting for incredible fishing and non-stop action. I cannot think of a more outstanding stage for the last stop of the season.”
The Mississippi River is a very familiar destination for MLF as the fishery has played host to countless major bass-fishing tournaments over the years, including six prior MLF professional-level events. The last MLF professional-level event on the river was the Tackle Warehouse TITLE championship in 2021, when pro Jimmy Washam targeted bass set up in shallow water on a rock ridge on the final day with a topwater bait and a Neko rig to earn the victory.
Junction City, Wisconsin pro Matt Stefan will be among the 150 competitors in the event next week. Stefan is an expert at mining the flowages of the upper Midwest and is always a favorite in La Crosse.
“We had extremely low water last year, the whole second half of the year,” Stefan said. “That’s allowed a lot of the grass and rice to grow in new areas. So, I think you’re going to see some differences in vegetation growth. Areas have definitely grown thicker, which could prevent some of us from getting to fish in some areas. And it could help some anglers find things that are overlooked.”
Still, outside of new vegetation, Stefan predicts things won’t be far from the norm.
“This time of year you’re going to have a frog bite,” he said. “You’re gonna have a main-channel wing dam and sand drop bite, cut banks, a topwater bite. Some guys fishing in the Black River more offshore, it’s going to be typical Mississippi River, you’re going to need to find that better pod of fish.”
Stefan said the fish will have moved to their summer haunts pretty solidly and won’t be thinking about a fall migration.
“They’re set up pretty good in their summer patterns,” the Wisconsin pro said. “It’s going to be primarily current-related stuff, the backwaters will not have many fish. The largemouth will move out to the big grass flats and sand flats in the lower ends of the pools, and they’ll start setting up on eddies and wing dams in front of the spawning areas.”
With Stefan figuring on largemouth or a mixed bag to win, he expects some of the locals to have more than a puncher’s chance.
“Mike Brueggen will have 50 pounds,” Stefan said. “Or Tom Monsoor, the last couple years he’s really been on them on the river. I think right around 50 pounds will win for sure, but it wouldn’t surprise me if it’s 45.”
In MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational competition, the full field of 150 anglers compete in the two-day opening round on Tuesday and Wednesday in a five-fish, weigh-in format. Only the top 50 pros, based on their two-day cumulative weight, will advance to the final round on Championship Thursday, where they will compete for the grand prize of up to $115,000, including the lucrative $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus for qualified anglers.
The winner of the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational Mercury Stop 6 at the Mississippi River in La Crosse will be determined by the heaviest three-day cumulative weight and will receive an invitation to compete at REDCREST 2024. In addition, the season-long Invitational AOY will also earn a berth into REDCREST 2024.
Anglers will launch each day at 6:30 a.m. CT, Tuesday through Thursday, from Veterans Freedom Park, located at 1 Clinton St. in La Crosse. Weigh-ins will also be held at the park daily beginning at 2:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the live on-the-water action all three days of competition online on MLF NOW! beginning at 7 a.m. CT at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational Mercury Stop 6 at the Mississippi River in La Crosse will feature live on-the-water coverage and a two-hour action-packed television show that will premiere on the CBS Sports Network on Saturday, November 14.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Fox Rent a Car, General Tire, Grundéns, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals on the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
2024 BASS PRO SHOPS CABELA'S BIG BASS TOUR SCHEDULE
- Feb 9-11 | Harris Chain of Lakes, Florida
- Feb 29 - March 3 | Lake Conroe, Texas (4 Day Event)
- March 15-17 | Clarks Hill, Georgia
- March 22-24 | Lake Eufaula, Alabama
- April 5-7 | Table Rock Lake, Missouri
- April 12-14 | Lake Norman, North Carolina
- April 26-28 | Lake Murray, South Carolina
- May 2-5 | Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia (4 Day Event)
- May 16-19 | Lake Chickamauga, Tennessee (4 Day Event)
- Jul 26-28 | St Lawrence River, New York
- Aug 2-4 | Upper Mississippi, Wisconsin (La Crosse)
- Oct 4-6 | Douglas Lake, Tennessee
- Oct 10-13 | Guntersville Lake, Alabama (4 Day Event)
American Tackle Company Wins “Best of Show” at ICAST 2023
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Multiple variables at play for Bassmaster Open at St. Lawrence River
Waddington, N.Y., will host the 2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at St. Lawrence River July 20-22.
Photo by Kyle Jessie/B.A.S.S.
July 13, 2023
WADDINGTON, N.Y. — On one hand, Chris Johnston expects the usual routine during the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at St. Lawrence River. However, forces at play could shuffle the deck and alter outcomes.
Competition days will be July 20-22 with daily takeoffs from Whitaker Park at 6 a.m. ET and weigh-ins each day back at the park at 2 p.m.
“It’s the same old St. Lawrence River,” Johnston said. “It’s going to be heavy current, clear water. The only thing that usually varies is the water temperature. We haven’t had a ton of hot weather, so it might not get all the fish out deep like they should be by the end of July.
“That’s going to scatter the fish, but it could change in the next two weeks. If we get a bunch of hot weather, it will group the fish up a little better. But if the water temperature stays cool, you’re going to have a bunch of scattered fish in anywhere from 3 to 40 feet of water.”
Noting that early summer has seen atypically cooler weather overtaking early spring heat, Johnston said he expects clarity — above and below the surface — to play a role in this event.
“Part of the (water temperature scenario) has been sunlight penetration,” he said. “We’ve had smoke (from wildfires in Quebec and northern Ontario) for the last month up here. I feel like the sun isn’t penetrating the water like it normally does and that might be slowing the progress of the (spawning season) and the water temperature a little bit.
“The water’s still crystal clear, but you can’t see that well because of the haze. You’re not getting that visibility you’d normally get. It’s kind of like fishing an overcast day.”
Tournament boundaries include the St. Lawrence and all publicly accessible tributaries from the Moses-Saunders Power Dam at Massena, N.Y., westward to Cape Vincent on the U.S. side and Kingston, Ontario, on the Canadian side. Lake Ontario is off-limits, but Johnston said anglers will have no trouble finding quality and quantity in the river.
Anglers running upriver from Waddington (the St. Lawrence flows northeast from the mouth of Lake Ontario to the Gulf of St. Lawrence/Atlantic Ocean) will encounter a speed zone with a 35 mph limit in the Alexandria Bay area. Johnston does not expect this to greatly impede anyone’s day. However, long runs to the west must be carefully calculated, with options prudently weighed.
“If you gamble and make a run toward the lake, you’re losing about 2 1/2 hours of fishing a day, and that can be tough,” Johnston said. “You’re going to have to be on ’em pretty good to (justify that run) and catch them for three days in a row.
“To be honest, the last couple (of) years, the Wolfe Island-Clayton, N.Y., end has played a lot more, but a lot of fish have been taken and released out of Massena, Waddington and that end. I think you could see someone win it out of that end of the river. I’ve talked to some local friends, and they said they’ve never seen so much boat pressure. Not that there’s going to be less fish (in the Clayton area), but they’re going to be more pressured and a lot harder to catch.”
Taking all of this into consideration, Johnston believes anglers who remain closer to takeoff could fare well. Wherever competitors fish, the large, oceangoing cargo ships traversing the St. Lawrence Seaway commonly factor into a day’s dynamics.
On the navigational side, recreational boats must yield to these commercial vessels, as their turning ability is far less. From a fishing perspective, Johnston said the large ship wakes will often stir up the bottom and stimulate a bite.
“The big thing (on the St. Lawrence) is the wind direction,” Johnston said. “If you get an east wind, it blows against the current and it backs it up. That can make for some of the worst fishing because you can’t drift right and the current gets all messed up. The fish don’t relate to bottom, they’ll get up and suspend, and they don’t bite good.
“If you get a west wind, which is the predominant wind, it makes a little more current, and that makes them bite better. But that east wind can really hurt the fishing — and make it hard to run. It stacks the waves up (and) makes it choppy and hard to navigate.”
Overall, Johnston’s looking for a postspawn tournament. In shallow areas, the fish favor anything different, like a sand flat with isolated rock or a grass patch. In deeper areas of 15-plus feet, humps with rock, sandy areas with pea gravel and chunky boulders attract the big smallmouth.
“I think you’re going to need multiple spots,” Johnston said. “It might be a mix of shallow and deep. I think the fish are too spread out this time of year for you to find the mother lode to win.
“I think you’ll need 10 to 15 spots where you can pull up and catch 4- to 6-pound bass. You’re going to need a rotation. I don’t think you’re going to just run to one spot and load the boat for three days.”
Predicting a three-day winning total of about 69 pounds, Johnston stressed the need for a diverse tactical array. It’s hard to beat a drop shot on the St. Lawrence River, and Johnston has found great success with the Spro CJ Smasher he helped design. Tubes and hair jigs work well in the shallows, while a Carolina-rigged craw bait will deliver deep-water results.
Anglers fishing all nine Opens this season are part of the Elite Qualifiers Division and are eligible to earn one of nine invitations to the Bassmaster Elite Series when the Opens season is done. After five tournaments, the top nine anglers in the EQ standings are Tennessee pro John Garrett (926), Illinois pro Trey McKinney (921), Kenta Kimura of Japan (910), South Carolina’s JT Thompkins (893), Minnesota pro Keith Tuma (878), Georgia’s Matt Henry(869), Tennessee’s Robert Gee (860), Texas pro Ben Milliken (851) and Alabama pro Joey Nania (847).
At the conclusion of the season, the top nine anglers from the EQ field will receive invitations to fish the 2024 Bassmaster Elite Series. Full standings for the EQ division can be found at Bassmaster.com.
You can follow all the action from the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at St. Lawrence River on Bassmaster.com. Live music, farmers markets, craft shows and paddling races are happening in communities across St. Lawrence County throughout the weekend, so check out VisitSTLC.com to plan a weekend of fishing and fun.
The 2023 event is being hosted by the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Village of Waddington. It is part of a series of tournaments and is supported by a Market New York grant from I LOVE NY/New York State’s Division of Tourism through the Regional Economic Development Council initiative.
Bassmaster Junior National Championship heads to Hartwell
The best young anglers from around the country will be part of the 2023 Bassmaster Junior National Championship July 21-22 on the storied waters of Lake Hartwell.
Photo by Laura Agee/B.A.S.S.
July 13, 2023
Bassmaster Junior National Championship heads to Hartwell
ANDERSON, S.C. — Talented young anglers from 32 states will converge on Lake Hartwell July 21-22 for the 2023 Bassmaster Junior National Championship for second- through eighth-grade anglers. This will mark the first time the championship has been decided outside of the state of Tennessee.
After qualifying for the tournament through state events and four Opens held on Florida’s Harris Chain of Lakes, Alabama’s Lay Lake, Chickamauga Lake in Tennessee and Louisiana’s Red River, 127 teams will compete for the junior championship crown.
“I think people will be amazed, not only by the knowledge these young anglers have of the sport, but by the size of the fish they bring to the scales,” said Glenn Cale, B.A.S.S. Nation tournament manager — College, High School and Junior. “What they know and how they perform at such a young age really shows how the sport of competitive bass fishing is evolving — and gives us a good idea of the kind of competition we’ll see at the higher ranks in the future.”
In 2022, Mark Cerja Jr. and Gus Richardson of the Lone Star Junior Bassmasters took home the title with a two-day total of 18 pounds, 5 ounces and were honored during the Night of Champions at the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota.
Each two-angler team is accompanied by a coach who runs the boat and can give advice on fishing techniques and patterns.
The full field of competitors will depart each day at 6:20 a.m. ET from Green Pond Landing and return at 1:20 p.m. for weigh-in. Full coverage will be available on Bassmaster.com.
ICAST Announces 37 New Product Showcase “Best of Category” Winners for 2023
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Berkley Nessie Earns ICAST 2023 New Product Showcase Award for Best Freshwater Soft Bait
ORLANDO, Fla (July 12, 2023) – Entering a challenging market with stiff competition, the Berkley PowerBait Nessie shines brightest to win the Best of Category award for Freshwater Soft Bait at ICAST 2023.
Going where no glide bait has ever gone, the all new scientifically built Berkley PowerBait Nessie allows anglers to fish a big profile glide bait where no big profile bait has ever been able to reach. Allowing anglers to skip, slide, and cast this bait into uncharted water – the PowerBait Nessie is the bait needed to trick the fish of a lifetime that’s lurking in the most challenging of hiding spots.
Available in three different sizes: 5-inch, 7-inch, and up to 9-inches, the PowerBait Nessie presents a big profile bait, with PowerBait infused taste, which is able to be retrieved at various speeds and cadences due to the stabilizing fins that keep the bait running consistent at all times. With a mesh reinforced joint and hook retention clip, the bait’s durability and efficiency are never in question when anglers are looking to catch a fish of a lifetime.
Allowing anglers of all skills to fish it with ease, the Powerbait Nessie unlocks an entirely new and unique use of a glide bait for avid and experienced anglers. In addition, the PowerBait Nessie comes in several custom painted finishes to match any forage profile, showing fish a carbon copy of the real thing. Paired with a sticky sharp Fusion19 treble hook, anglers now have the ultimate bait to catch the fish of a lifetime.
KEY FEATURES
• Soft-bodied glide bait design featuring Berkley’s famous PowerBait flavor
• Mesh reinforced joint provides durability while allowing for free range of motion
• Stabilizing fins for consistent action
• Hook retention clip keeps treble hook secured to the body – suited for keeping the hook in place when skipping under cover
• Premium features and components for ultimate performance and durability
• Sticky sharp Fusion19 treble hook
• Custom painted forage matching finishes
• Slow sinking
• Designed in the Berkley Lab with Berkley pro Mike Iaconelli
"This bait has taken an entire team effort for the past three years, making the action and componentry perfect to bring the Nessie to life.” said Berkley’s Associate Category Manager of Bass Bait, Nathan Ragsdale. “We’ve entered a challenging but thriving big bait market with a bait that provides avid anglers and big bait fishermen with yet another tool to present to fish that never have seen such a presence under docks, overhanging trees, and more. We’ve released an improved fish-catching, PowerBait taste infused design to anglers who desire a big profile bait that is easy to fish and has a friendly price tag. We are extremely proud of this bait and its introduction to the lineup of Berkley’s fish-catching toolbox.”
Sizes: 5-inch • 7-inch • 9-inch
Colors: Golden Shiner • Hitch • Perch • Hickory Shad • Rainbow Trout • Shad • Voltage • Burnt Bone • Raw • Green Pumpkin
MSRP: $7.99 – 5-inch • $9.99 – 7-inch • $12.99 – 9-inch
Available: September 2023
Abu Garcia Zata Casting Combo Claims ICAST 2023 Best in Category for Rod and Reel Combo
ORLANDO, Fla (July 12, 2023) – Taking the crown for 2023 ICAST’s Best of Category for Rod and Reel Combo, the Abu Garcia Zata Casting Combo provides beginner and avid anglers alike a rod-and-reel setup that will perform and that they will thoroughly enjoy. Featuring a 24-ton graphite blank for optimal sensitivity and strength, this new rod-and-reel combo ensures a top-notch performance that enables anglers to detect even the slightest of bites.
With stainless steel guides offering smooth line movement that minimizes friction and maximizes casting distance, the 7-foot medium heavy Zata baitcast combos are available in right-hand and left-hand configurations, and provide versatility for various different fishing styles.
KEY FEATURES:
• 24 ton Graphite Blank
• Stainless steel guides
• 7-foot Medium Heavy Combos available in both right and left-handed retrieves
MSRP: $219.95
Available: October 2023
PDS Equipment Wins Ninth-Annual ICAST Cup Presented by Major League Fishing on Lake Toho
A Total of $9,200 Raised for Keep America Fishing™ Foundation
KISSIMMEE, Fla. (July 11, 2023) – The PDS Equipment team, represented by Steve Weist, Christian Bellomo and Trevor Bates, brought a three-bass limit totaling 17 pounds, 3 ounces to the stage to win the 2023 ICAST Cup at Lake Toho Presented by Major League Fishing (MLF) Tuesday. The four-hour bass-fishing tournament, hosted by Kissimmee Sports, was the kick-off event to ICAST 2023 and raised a total of $9,200 to benefit the industry’s angler advocacy program, Keep America Fishing™.
The field totaled 46 boats, including a handful of MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals and Toyota Series anglers, as well as outdoor media and industry representatives from popular tackle brands and non-profits. In its nine-year history, the charity tournament has raised more than $81,000 for Keep America Fishing™.
“We said a quick prayer, then went out there and just put the hammer down,” said Bellomo. “It was so much fun. Thank you guys for putting this event together.”
Weist said this was the fifth time the team had fished this event, but the first time they’d really gotten on fish during the tournament.
“We came down to pre-fish yesterday and didn’t do very well, but we started out today offshore on some submerged grass and were able to start putting fish in the boat as soon as we rolled up,” said Bates. “We threw a lot of different baits and were able to catch them on pretty much anything we were throwing at them – they were just ready to eat.
“We had certain bite windows throughout the morning, where we would catch three or four fish at a time, then go 20 minutes or so without a bite, then catch three or four more. All in all, we ended the tournament with 30 to 35 fish and our best five would have been around 25 pounds, so it was an amazing day on the water,” Bates continued.
Although many teams ran across the lake and even locked down to Cypress Lake throughout the morning, the PDS Equipment team stayed in the same general area on the south side of Lake Toho for the entirety of the event.
“This win is just a great feeling,” said Bates. “We come to this event every year and you always hear about guys catching these ‘Florida big bags’ and you just wonder when you’re going to have one of those days – and today it was our turn.
“We come to this trade show every year, selling equipment that prints on some of the top favorite baits within the industry,” said Bates. “We started coming to the show because we love fishing and wanted to work with the companies in this industry, so being able to compete against those guys and represent PDS Equipment, and do it well, is an amazing feeling.”
The top 10 teams finished the tournament in:
1st: PDS Equipment – Steve Weist, Christian Bellomo and Trevor Bates, three bass, 17-3
2nd: Bull Bay Rods – Jake Stines, Corey Ash and Peter Gluszek, three bass, 15-0
3rd: Stinky Balls – Aidan Olf and Scott McDonald, three bass, 13-8
4th: Rusty Hooks Tackle – Jimmy Wilson, Shane Linberger and David Winters, three bass, 12-7
5th: Boat Outfitters – Donnie Ewers, Christian Greico and Anastasia Patterson, three bass, 12-6
6th: Fishing Tournament Report/Catch Commander – Brian Stahl, Terry Segraves and Deb Ferns, three bass, 11-12
7th: Okuma Inspired Fishing and Fishlab Lures – Daniel Ramos, Mark Mitchell and David Sartwell, three bass, 11-10
8th: Buzbe – Trent Manuel and Alex Murray, three bass, 10-14
9th: Rather Outdoors – John Carmen, Shaw Grigsby and Matthew Mattingly, three bass, 10-8
10th: CPF Lures – Scott McIver, Erik Tilson and Jason George, three bass, 10-3
Complete results and photos from the tournament will be posted at ICASTCup.com.
USA Bass partnered with MLF and Keep America Fishing™ to award the top-finishing women’s pair at the ICAST Cup a spot on the 2024 USA Pan American Bass fishing team. The highest-finishing team of female anglers was Rhonda Pitts and Emily Freeman, who brought three bass to the stage totaling 9 pounds, 2 ounces to earn their spot on Team USA Bass at the 2024 Pan American Bass Fishing Championship, alongside Jacob Wheeler, Mark Daniels Jr., Fred Roumbanis and other top pros.
Keep America Fishing™ is leading the fight to preserve our right to sustainably fish on our nation’s waterways. As the voice of the American angler, Keep America Fishing works to keep our public resources – our oceans, lakes, rivers and streams – open, clean and abundant with fish. For more information, please visit KeepAmericaFishing.org.
For more ICAST 2023 coverage, details and tournament information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
MDJ the lumberjack
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships
Like a lot of full-time pro anglers, Team Toyota’s Mark Daniel’s Jr. is in a hurry to get to Orlando this week to lend treasured sponsors a helping hand in revealing new products at the ICAST show, but first he’s taking on the role of lumberjack at his home near Montgomery.
“We moved to this seven-acre property last year in the little town of Shorter, Alabama, and we love it, but it’s got a ton of big mature trees, and we’ve lost four big oaks in the bad storms this area gets. So, I’m headed to the equipment rental place to hitch up a wood splitter, and spend all day cutting up fallen trees before I drive to ICAST,” says the Tuskegee University alum.
A workin’ man can only be as productive as his equipment and energy will allow, so “MDJ” isn’t bashful about bragging on his chainsaw and tow vehicles. He recently posted on social media about turning 100,000 trouble-free miles on his 2020 Toyota Tundra, and he’s currently mind-blown by the tree cutting power of his first ever battery powered chainsaw.
“Toro is a great supporter of Major League Fishing, and they gave us a chainsaw that’s powered by a rechargeable 60-volt battery. I’m gonna be honest, I thought there was no way it could cut wood like a gas saw, but I’m telling you it’s bad to the bone. I can cut down an entire tree and cut up the big branches for firewood without dealing with pull cords or mixing gas and oil. It’s the baddest piece of equipment I own!” exclaims Daniels.
Daniels is also experiencing new power sources in the brand-newTundra he just took delivery on. It features Toyota’s new i-FORCE MAX hybrid powertrain that relies on a twin-turbo V6 engine that couples with a unique motor generator and 10-speed automatic transmission to provide a monstrous 437 horsepower and 583 lb.-ft of torque.
“My brand new Tundra is a towing beast with better fuel economy. It’ll be the Tundra I use on tour, but I’m not getting rid of my 2020 Tundra. Nope, I’m turning that one into my round-town grocery getter and wood splitter towing truck,” grins Daniels.
The California native describes himself as a city kid who now loves his family’s country lifestyle near Montgomery, AL. In fact, he often drives home from a tournament with giddy anticipation of simply mowing his lawn. He finds it to be therapeutic. A great way to unwind from the mental stress of competing against the best anglers in the world.
Or as is the case this week, chainsawing fallen trees for some good solid physical labor, not unlike a lumberjack, before slipping into the white collar business mindset he’ll lend his energies to at ICAST.
Bateman Turns Rainy Day into Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on the Ohio River at Rocky Point
Campbell Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division
CANNELTON, Ind. (July 10, 2023) – Boater Scott Bateman of Jasper, Indiana, caught a five-bass limit weighing 10 pounds, 2 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on the Ohio River-Rocky Point. The tournament was the fourth event of the season for the BFL Hoosier Division. Bateman earned $3,966 for his victory.
“I thought about staying close to takeoff, but I didn’t want to play bumper boats all day, so I made a long run and caught some short fish right off the bat,” said Bateman. “Then it got really slow.”
Bateman said he decided to roam around and check out new fishing spots and finally came to the conclusion that the bass weren’t in the mood for the fast-moving baits he was throwing in the backs of creeks. He moved closer to the mouths of creeks and slowed down his approach. He said he believes fish from the main river had moved into the mouths of the creeks, and he found three 100-foot stretches that held quality fish.
“I made the switch around 11:30 when it started raining,” Bateman said. “I think the rain really helped. During the rain and after the rain – about an hour and a half window – is when I caught all my fish.”
Bateman said he caught 15 fish during the rainy period, including eight keepers. He targeted wood, including wood that usually wasn’t covered by the higher water level. A black/blue/green-pumpkin jig was his bait of choice for the wood structure.
The Rocky Point win is Bateman’s third career BFL win – second win on the Ohio River. His first win on the river came out of Tanner’s Creek in 2019.
“Winning a BFL is always good,” Bateman said. “It’s freaking awesome. They are extremely hard to win.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Scott Bateman, Jasper, Ind., five bass, 10-2, $3,966
2nd: Chris Wilkinson, Farmersburg, Ind., five bass, 7-15, $1,883
3rd: Todd Hensley, New Albany, Ind., four bass, 7-8, $1,556
4th: Tony Eckler, Lebanon, Tenn., five bass, 7-1, $879
5th: Braxton Munson, Anderson, Ind., five bass, 6-11, $753
6th: Dave Wood, Charlestown, Ind, three bass, 6-10, $1,690 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
7th: Aaron Sisk, Evansville, Ind., five bass, 5-12, $628
8th: Thomas Foster, Terre Haute, Ind., five bass, 5-9, $785
9th: Chris Myers, Madison, Ind., five bass, 5-4, $470
9th: Mark Dove, North Vernon, Ind., four bass, 5-4, $470
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Dave Wood of Charlestown, Indiana, caught a bass that weighed 3 pounds, 11 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $500.
Rob Campbell of Martinsville, Indiana, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $2,133 Saturday, after bringing two bass to the scale that totaled 4 pounds, 11 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Rob Campbell, Martinsville, Ind., two bass, 4-11, $2,133
2nd: Jacob Parks, Noblesville, Ind., four bass, 4-9, $942
3rd: Brian Liming, Dillsboro, Ind., two bass, 4-4, $627
4th: Greg Roberts, Columbus, Ind., three bass, 3-13, $439
5th: Derrik Cornett, Austin, Ind., two bass, 3-7, $377
6th: Greg Marshall, Paris, Ky., three bass, 3-5, $345
7th: Allen Dozier, Aurora, Ill., two bass, 3-3, $314
8th: Aaron Thomas, Plainfield, Ind., two bass, 3-0, $282
9th: Tanner McCartney, Fishers, Ind., two bass, 2-15, $251
10th: Nickolas Myers, Zionsville, Ind., two bass, 2-13, $220
Campbell also earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $250, catching a bass that weighed in at 3 pounds, 6 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After four events, Travis Spivey of Union, Kentucky, leads the BFL Hoosier Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 959 points, while Jacob Parks of Noblesville, Indiana, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 959 points.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 19-21 BFL Regional tournament on Lake of the Ozarks in Osage Beach, Missouri. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Hellebuyck Targets Topwater Smallmouth, Claims Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at the Detroit River
Beach Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division
TRENTON, Mich. (July 10, 2023) – Boater Chris Hellebuyck of White Lake, Michigan, caught a five-bass limit weighing 23 pounds, 3 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on the Detroit River . The tournament was the first event of the season for the BFL Michigan Division. Hellebuyck earned $13,795, including the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus, for his victory.
“I made a good, long run across Lake St. Clair today, and ran up into the St. Clair River,” said Hellebuyck, who earned his second career victory. “I got to my first spot where I had caught a couple of fish in practice, and when I got there, they were biting but it wasn’t that great. We caught a fair number of smaller fish, and then I started throwing a popper and caught a real big one right off the bat. I thought, ‘There’s got to be something to that.’ I kept throwing the popper, and it turned into one of those special days.”
Hellebuyck said he decided on a perch-imitating Booyah Boss Pop Popper after he saw alewife busting the surface on shallow river flats in eight feet of water.
“You’d see the alewife come flying out of the water, then you’d see a big brown bass fly after it,” Hellebuyck said. “We knew they were feeding, and you’d throw the popper over there and almost always catch those fish. But a lot of times just a slow retrieve with the popper worked. The bass would just blow up on it on the pause.
“I had a couple of other places in that area, and I ran over and hit those and caught a couple of big ones here and there,” Hellebuyck added. “It was a short fishing day after such a long run – I only had probably 3½ hours total of fishing time. Then I had to make my way back.”
Hellebuyck, who won his first BFL event on the Detroit River in 2021, said managing his weigh fish and managing his time were critical to his tournament win and special day.
“This win feels really good,” Hellebuyck said. “I don’t know why it feels so good to win the second one. The first one was almost just a blur. It was unexpected. It was so cool to win the second one. It was something to really enjoy - just a special day.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Chris Hellebuyck, White Lake, Mich., five bass, 23-3, $13,795 (includes $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
2nd: Aaron Jagdfeld, Rochester, Mich., five bass, 21-15, $2,288
3rd: Brayden Federer, Adrian, Mich., five bass, 21-8, $1,525
4th: Mike Trombly, Belleville, Mich., five bass, 21-7, $1,068
5th: Elijah Meyers, Fort Wayne, Ind., five bass, 21-6, $1,247
6th: Scott Dobson, Clarkston, Mich., five bass, 20-12, $1,171
7th: Noah Stauffer, Gowen, Mich., five bass, 20-10, $763
8th: Matt Vermilyea, Perrysburg, Ohio, five bass, 20-6, $648
8th: Patrick Goodman, Sturgis, Mich., five bass, 20-6, $648
10th: Scott Cooke, Marengo, Ohio, five bass, 20-3, $534
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Scott Dobson of Clarkston, Michigan, and Elijah Meyers of Fort Wayne, Indiana, both caught bass that weighed 5 pounds, 7 ounces to split the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $664.
Dan Beach of Clarkston, Michigan, won the Strike King co-angler division and $2,288 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 21 pounds, 3 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Dan Beach, Clarkston, Mich., five bass, 21-3, $2,288
2nd: Emmanuel Schwartz, Colon, Mich., five bass, 19-5, $1,476
3rd: Chris Kistler, Logansport, Ind., five bass, 18-12, $648
3rd: Cory Yoder, Goshen, Ind., five bass, 18-12, $648
5th: Billy Crider, Jr., Kettering, Ohio, five bass, 18-6, $458
6th: William Gross, Columbia Station, Ohio, five bass, 18-4, $419
7th: Kaleb Parsell, Caro, Mich., five bass, 17-2, $381
8th: Steve Doak, Sylvania, Ohio, five bass, 16-13, $343
9th: Jay Shaffer, Bath, Mich., five bass, 16-11, $305
10th: Garry Collins, Russell Springs, Ky., five bass, 16-9, $267
Emmanuel Schwartz of Colon, Michigan, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $332, catching a bass that weighed in at 5 pounds, 14 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 12-14 BFL Regional tournament on Dale Hollow Lake in Byrdstown, Tennessee. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
LaBelle Claims Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Lake Champlain
Kapp Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division
PLATTBURGH, N.Y. (July 10, 2023) – Boater Bryan LaBelle of Hinesburg, Vermont, caught a five-bass limit weighing 22 pounds, 15 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Champlain. The tournament, hosted by the City of Plattsburgh, was the second event of the season for the BFL Northeast Division. Labelle earned $5,925 for his victory.
“I started out fishing for smallmouth, and it wasn’t working out so good, so I decided to go after largemouth,” said LaBelle, who said he has been fishing Lake Champlain since he was five years old. “It came together pretty good.”
LaBelle focused on fishing the northern end of Champlain and said he managed to catch a few smallmouth – including one he included in his final weight – but most were smaller fish. He said his best fish came on bruised- and elite-craw colored Beast Coast Tungsten Lil’ Magnum Jigs thrown at grass and rock. His efforts during the day produced 30 fish – 18 of which were keepers.
LaBelle won a Toyota Series event in August of 2022 on Lake Champlain and has posted numerous wins in other tournament circuits on the fishery, but this was his first BFL victory.
“I told all my buddies, ‘I’ve never won a BFL. I’d like to win one of these,’” LaBelle said. “Leading up to it, I didn’t think it would turn out this way, but I’m glad it did.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Bryan LaBelle, Hinesburg, Vt., five bass, 22-15, $5,925
2nd: Alec Morrison, Peru, N.Y., five bass, 21-2, $2,657 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
3rd: Kyle Cortiana, Broken Arrow, Okla., five bass, 19-12, $1,439
4th: Rob Cruvellier, Alburgh, Vt., five bass, 19-7, $1,007
5th: Michael Duarte, Baltimore, Md., five bass, 19-2, $827
5th: Brett Carnright, Plattsburgh, N.Y., five bass, 19-2, $827
7th: Jaden Parrish, Liberty, Texas, five bass, 19-0, $719
8th: Jim Sweeney, West Dover, Vt., five bass, 18-15, $611
8th: Brendan Vinton, Braintree, Vt., five bass, 18-15, $611
10th: Spencer Cookson, Sheffield, Mass., five bass, 18-12, $503
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
LaBelle also caught a bass that weighed 6 pounds, 12 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $610.
Connor Kapp of Benton, Pennsylvania, won the Strike King co-angler division and $2,122 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 18 pounds, 7 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Connor Kapp, Benton, Pa., five bass, 18-7, $2,122
2nd: Dan Housel, Carlisle, Pa., five bass, 18-1, $1,061
3rd: Trent Carey, York Springs, Pa., five bass, 15-10, $707
4th: David Hoolahan, West Deptford, N.J., five bass, 15-7, $795
5th: Brent Navari, Colchester, Vt., five bass, 14-12, $406
5th: David Cooper, Rushville, N.Y., five bass, 14-12, $606
7th: Peter Frumkin, Lincoln, Mass., five bass, 14-9, $354
8th: Bradley Sargent, Concord, N.H., five bass, 14-5, $318
9th: Austin Doser, Chazy, N.Y., five bass, 14-2, $283
10th: David Archibald, Somerset, Mass., five bass, 14-0, $398
David Hoolahan of West Deptford, New Jersey, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $300 with a bass that weighed in at 4 pounds, 10 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After two events, Alex Korol of Fairport, New York, leads the BFL Northeast Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 485 points, while David Cooper of Rushville, New York, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 484 points.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 5-7 BFL Regional tournament on the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Redesigned TATULA 100 at a Great Price
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Angler-appealing TATULA 100 entered into ICAST 2023 New Product Showcase and will be available to test at ICAST On the Water, Tuesday, July 11th |
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FOOTHILL RANCH, CA (July 10, 2023) – Just when you thought the in-demand TATULA reel family couldn’t get any better, DAIWA unleashes a redesigned, and incredibly affordable TATULA 100 that’s extremely palmable and ultra-ergonomic. Daiwa’s progressive product development team redesigned the new TATULA 100 to bring anglers an option perfect for a variety of bass fishing applications. “We’ve added two significant new features,” says DAIWA marketing manager, Marc Mills. “The first is a new, thinner and lighter 7075 aircraft-grade aluminum spool for greater casting distance and more control. We thinned down the walls of the spool while retaining its rigidity. Ultimately, we created a farther-casting reel with better braking system.” |
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Mills adds: “We also went to HYPERDRIVE gearing. You find that in our higher end models like STEEZ and ZILLION, but now it’s in the TATULA 100, too, allowing better rotation, durability, while keeping a super-fluid feel to allow the angler to focus more on what’s happening in the water than feeling the rotation when you turn the handle. When you do hang a fish or work a lure it’s noticeably smoother. You can’t feel the gears touch. It’s super smooth.” |
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What makes the new DAIWA TATULA 100 HYPERDRIVE DESIGN so special, a feature previously reserved for higher-end DAIWA baitcasting reels? |
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HYPERDRIVE DESIGN provides an ultra-smooth retrieve and powerful winding performance and is comprised of four key technologies: HYPERDRIVE DIGIGEAR, HYPER DOUBLE SUPPORT, HYPER ARMED HOUSING, and HYPER TOUGH CLUTCH. HYPER DRIVE DIGIGEAR makes the teeth of the gears more efficient at transferring power, therefore making the gear set feel smoother, more powerful, and reduces gear noise. |
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HYPER TOUGH CLUTCH |
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HYPER DOUBLE SUPPORT is a two-bearing support system for the reel's pinion gear, which means no flex and an ultra-smooth retrieve/ gear rotation. HYPER ARMED HOUSING comprises an aluminum frame and side plate for maximum rigidity and precision performance of the internal components. And lastly, HYPER TOUGH CLUTCH is a redesigned and reinforced clutch mechanism that further increases durability and performance. |
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HYPERDRIVE DIGIGEAR |
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DAIWA TATULA 100 FEATURES
MSRP $179.99 If you’re considering a pro-grade baitcasting reel that won’t break the bank, look no further than DAIWA’s new TATULA 100… a reel intended to bring a whole new level of cutting-edge design, high-end performance, longevity, and stunning good looks to discerning anglers. |
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Elite Input, Technology, and Performance
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New technique-specific DAIWA TATULA Elite AGS Bass Rod Series engineered with significant pro angler input and rigorous testing. |
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FOOTHILL RANCH, CA (July 10, 2023) – DAIWA continues the 10th year anniversary recognition of its TATULA brand with the introduction of the new premium-level TATULA Elite AGSbass rod series, a new 16 model lineup showcasing the latest advancements in DAIWA rod technology. Lightweight and sensitivity are the key focus points bass anglers will experience with the TATULA Elite AGS rods, where DAIWA relied on noted professional anglers including Brent Ehrler, Seth Feider, Randy Howell, Chris Johnston, Cory Johnston, Cody Meyer, Ish Monroe, Takahiro Omori, and Patrick Walters in developing the actions and powers. |
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TTEL741HFB shown |
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TTEL761MLFS shown |
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At the core of the TATULA Elite AGS rods are lightweight SVF Nano Plus blanks to provide each rod with its crisp action, along with X45 Bias construction to prevent blank twisting for greater strength, excellent sensitivity, and hook-setting power. DAIWA also includes its exclusive Air Guide System (AGS), considered the lightest and most sensitive guides on the market, which dampen vibrations during the cast to provide anglers with a quicker response and feel for increased lure action sensitivity. The carbon frame AGS guides are up to 40% lighter and more rigid than those made from titanium and have proven their effectiveness in reducing overall rod weight and added sensitivity. |
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The Air Sensor reel seats, built with carbon fiber, provide anglers with a further increase in sensitivity throughout the entire rod. Both the AGS guides and Air Sensor reel seats are also found on DAIWA’s flagship Steez AGS bass rod series. All 16 rods in the series – 10 casting and six spinning – are designed for specific bass fishing techniques. Within the series, for those who prefer more power fishing situations will uncover frog, ‘long cast’ frog and punchin’/flippin’ rods that have Ish Monroe fingerprints all over them, and Tak Omori’s expertise in a cranking rod that has added fiberglass incorporated into the blank along with an extra-heavy power 7’3” pitching rod. Patrick Walters is the brain trust behind the 6’10” TATULA Elite AGS jerkbait rod, while Cory Johnston brings his Canadian roots background to the medium-heavy power, 7’5” soft stickbait/football jig rod. |
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For those bass fishing situations where finesse techniques are needed, DAIWA relied on the ‘from above the Mason-Dixon Line’ expertise to design the 7’6” Seth Feider hair jig/Neko rig and Chris Johnston split cork grip hair jig spinning rods, with Chris also contributing to his 7’11” Ned rig spinning rod also featuring a split cork grip. Bass anglers can rely on Cody Meyer’s talents on the TATULA Elite AGS 7’4” Neko/wacky rig/tube spinning rod, and when the situation calls for shakey head/drop shot and even small swimbait techniques, Randy Howell provides his knowledge on a TATULA Elite AGS 7’3” spinning rod. For ‘power finesse’ techniques, Brent Ehrler comes through with a 7’ rod that handles 1/8- to 1-ounce lures, plus Brent completes the TATULA Elite AGS lineup with a versatile 7’3” casting rod. |
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TTEL801 Ish Monroe Swimbait Rod |
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Randy Howell notes that anglers will really notice the extreme lightness and sensitivity from the AGS guides, especially when you’re working baits on the bottom and need to feel the most subtle bites. The AGS guides tell you when to set the hook, instead of allowing the bass to shallow your bait, plus the lessened guide weight in the tip provides improved balance. “With its ‘TATULA – We’ve Got Your Bass Covered’ tagline for all TATULA-branded rods and reels, we’re able to highlight DAIWA’s manufacturing capabilities and technology developed over the years in our TATULA casting and spinning reels, and now our best in brand TATULA Elite AGS bass rods,” said DAIWA’s senior marketing director Marc Mills. “Bass anglers know the dedication DAIWA has for the sport, and the success we’ve have with the TATULA brand over the past 10 years shows it.” |
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TTEL751MHFB Cody Meyer Soft Stickbait/Football Jig Rod |
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TATULA Elite AGS FEATURES and SPECIFICATIONS
MSRP $299.99 to $319.99 |
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TTEL711MHFS Randy Howell Power Spin Rod |
Cole scores come-from-behind win at Bassmaster Kayak Series event on Upper Mississippi River
Tyler Cole of Delaware, Iowa, has won the Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series on the Mississippi River powered by TourneyX with a two-day total of 178.5 inches.
Photo by Mark Cisneros /B.A.S.S.
July 9, 2023
LA CROSSE, Wis. — Tyler Cole got married last weekend.
This weekend, after winning the Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX on the Upper Mississippi River, he joked he had money to pay for the wedding.
Cole, who lives in Delaware, Iowa, about 2 1/2 hours downriver from La Crosse, caught a five-bass limit Sunday that measured 90.25 inches, the highest total of the two-day derby. When added to the 88.25 limit he caught on Day 1, Cole jumped from fourth place to the top of the leaderboard, his overall catch measuring 178.5 inches.
That was 1 1/2 inches more than anyone else in the field of 129 anglers gathered from throughout the U.S.
Cole earned a $7,846 cash prize for the win, his second on the Bassmaster Kayak Series. He also won a kayak tournament on Tennessee’s Chickamauga Lake in 2020.
“This one is probably more gratifying of a win just because I consider it my home water,” he said. “I come up here a lot to fish. It’s nice to win one in a place I love.”
Cole said it’s a good thing he didn’t need much time to scout the area, what with his wedding only eight days before he collected the winner’s check and trophy.
“I came up on Friday to check a spot,” he said. “It was a community hole then and it was a community hole all weekend. It’s the second tournament I’ve won with a Booyah Pad Crasher. It was the big bullfrog, the 2 1/2-incher. I worked it slow over pads next to eelgrass, right off current on the secondary channel.
“I locked the Pad Crasher in my hand and went to work. I found just the right bites. I figured I had fish to catch, but not win the tournament. But here we are.”
Cole said spring floods have made this area of the Mississippi River watershed especially productive.
“It’s as good as I’ve seen it in at least three or four years,” he said. “We had floods for a couple of weeks. I think the fish grouped up when the water went back down.”
Tennessee’s Rus Snyders finished second overall with 177 total inches and collected $3,542. He focused on largemouth bass in grassy spots, relying on a series of swim jigs and a 10-inch worm for his best catches.
The Top 13 anglers cashed checks at La Crosse, splitting a total cash purse of $25,800.
Behind Cole and Snyders are third, Missouri’s Lance Burris, 175.75; fourth, Illinois’ Todd Martens, 174.25; fifth, Minnesota’s Zach Gibbons, 174.25; sixth, New Jersey’s Greg DiPalma, 174.25; seventh, Ohio’s Drew Gregory, 173; eighth, Kentucky’s Anthony Winkleman, 171.25; ninth, Wisconsin’s Nick Berndt, 168; 10th, Iowa’s Jordan Westerman, 165.75; 11th, Tennessee’s Jim Davis, 164.5; 12th, Texas’ Weslie Gray, 164.5; and 13th, Illinois’ Kyle Brenner, 163.5.
Gregory won the $500 Big Bass Award for the 19.75-inch bass he caught Sunday. Snyders also caught a 19.75 on Sunday, but Gregory won the tiebreaker because his next-best bass was longer than Snyders’ biggest fish.
The derby on the Upper Mississippi River was the fourth of five regular-season kayak tournaments on the tour in 2023. The final event is scheduled for the Susquehanna River in Lewisburg, Penn., in October, with previous tournaments taking place on Alabama’s Lake Guntersville, South Carolina’s Lake Hartwell and Texas’ Possum Kingdom Lake.
Competing anglers vied for points in the 2023 Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year race, as well as spots in the 2024 Championship, which will be held at a yet-to-be-disclosed location.
Cartoon Characters Come to Life
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Infused with Flagship Quality and Features
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DAIWA introduces new SOL AGS Inshore Saltwater Spinning Rod Series |
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FOOTHILL RANCH, CA (July 7, 2023) – Providing its best in sensitivity and durability blank construction and featuring flagship series components, DAIWA offers the right spinning rod for avid inshore saltwater anglers with its new SOL AGSspinning rods. A six-rod lineup to target everything from redfish, sea trout, snook, permit and ever tarpon, the one-piece, fast action rods are offered in three 7’ models in medium-light and medium-heavy powers, and three 7’6” rods in medium-light, medium-heavy and heavy action powers. |
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“Our main goal with the SOL AGS rods is to bring all the advancements Daiwa has made in rod development over the five years to the inshore saltwater market,” said Daiwa’s Marc Mills. “Anglers will quickly notice the advantages of our own AGS guides and micro pitch blank construction for inshore action that provides both sensitivity and the needed durability.” |
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Daiwa uses its HVF NANOPLUS carbon technology to reinforce the blank through a micro-level arrangement of material in the plastic resin, creating a smaller, lighter, and rigid yet powerful blank with impressive fish-stopping power. The Braiding X and X-45 Bias construction processes add better hoop strength for pulling on fish, plus prevents rod twisting and ovalization to contribute to longer, accurate casts. |
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DAIWA also includes its exclusive carbon framed Air Guide System (AGS) guides, considered some of the lightest and most sensitive on the market, on the SOL AGS rods. These lightweight carbon framed guides provide both more rigidity and sensitivity by dampening vibrations during the cast to provide anglers with a quicker response and feel for increased lure action sensitivity. Mills notes the new SOL AGS spinning rods match up well with its 2500, 3000 and 4000 size Saltist MG and BG MQ spinning reels, where the Monocoque (MQ) solid one-piece frame which reduces flex and gear binding is a welcomed bonus when hooked up with big redfish or tarpon. |
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MSRP $349.99 |
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Gamakatsu New Hook Products For 2024
Gamakatsu is the World’s Leading Hook manufacturer is known for being on the cutting edge when it comes to hook development for both the freshwater and saltwater markets. Gamakatsu is proud to introduce several new offerings for its 2024 lineup at ICAST.
Gamakatsu Bead Hook
Bead fishing is one of the most popular techniques for salmon and steelhead. Threading soft beads onto lines to imitate salmon eggs is an extremely effective method to target both species. The Gamakatsu Staff set out to build a better hook that would improve hook up ratios for this specific technique. Salmon and steelhead are strong and acrobatic fish with hard jaw plates and properly hooking these fish can be a challenge for even the most skilled angler.
The Bead Hook is constructed out of Gamakatsu’s TGW (Tournament Grade Wire). The TGW wire is thinner, strong and sharper than the standard wire. The smaller wire penetrates the hard jaw plate more easily, helping keep bigger salmon and steelhead pinned and on the line. The surface of each hook is coated with the Gamakatsu’s Nano Alpha Coating that additionally improves hook penetration. The Nano Alpha Coating offers higher corrosion protection resistance giving anglers longer and better hook longevity. The Bead hook has a longer shank with a wide hook gap. The longer shank results in a higher percentage of landed fish and is better at holding stronger fish that jump a lot. The Bead Hook is equipped with a needlepoint that generates better hook penetration compared to a beak point common on other styles. Now anglers have a hook that can tackle and land the biggest salmon & steelhead that swim in your waters. Available in sizes #6-3/0.
Gamakatsu Grouper Hook
The Gamakatsu Grouper hook was designed to hold large baits or bait chunks when fishing for groupers or other large predators. This hook is built with an oversize eye to accommodate large lb test line choices including heavy mono, tuna cord or wire. The Grouper hook is also excellent for large bait chunks used for tuna fishing. It has the strength to hold and handle the largest saltwater fish.
Available in sizes 10/0, 12/0 and 14/0.
Gamakatsu Catfish Circle Weedless
Bill Dance is a name that is synonymous with bass fishing, but one of his greatest passions is chasing down giant catfish. Bill teamed up with Gamakatsu to develop a weedless catfish hookthat could be fished in the heaviest wood cover without getting snagged. Bill frequently targets trophy catfish in rivers, and he often wants his baits in and around snags, laydowns and trashpiles where big catfish live. This hook allows anglers to deliver their baits into hard-to-reach places, while preventing snags. This hook is designed around Gamakatsu’s 221 SeriesOctopus Circle (Inline Point) Hook and is equipped with a custom weedguard. Gamakatsu tested many different wire weedguards that would allow the angler to be able to fish in the thickest, nastiest cover that big catfish live in, but still being able to hook them effectively. Once hooked the circle design of this hook gives anglers the chance to safely release trophy catfish back into the water unharmed.
“I love fishing for monster catfish in big current in big rivers. I have used Gamakatsu hooks for years to catch these big cats, but I wanted a hook that could get down in those river trash piles without getting snagged. Those monsters love to live in heavy current often around logs and laydowns. We took a great hook and made it better by now being weedless without sacrificing any of the great fish catching features, Bill Dance.” Available in sizes 6/0-8/0.
Gamakatsu 620 HD
The Gamakatsu 620 HD is designed for the DIY (Do It Yourself) anglers that want to make and use their own assist hooks. These hooks offer anglers the ability to customize the length of the dropper lines and their hook configuration. The 620 HD hook is designed to target tuna, giving anglers a heavy-duty hook optionwith a greater capacity to easily handle larger fish. The surface of each 620 HD hook has a Hypershield coating that dramatically increases corrosion resistance allowing anglers to spend more time fishing and less time changing out rusty hooks.
Available in sizes 5/0-7/0.
Gamakatsu J60 Crab Pattern
The Gamakatsu J60 Crab pattern hook was designed with a 60-degree eye, wide gap for better hookups, and straight hook point for quick penetration. Those features makes this the ideal hook for fly patterns that require the hook point to ride in the up position. Essentially making it the best choice for crab or shrimp patterns and perfect for redfish fly patterns.
Available in sizes 6 – 1/0.
From the desk of Ken Duke
Davenport, Fla. – Fish Insider LLC believes fishing makes our world a better place. To that end, Fish Insider offers a print and digital magazine, a website (fishinsider.com), an e-newsletter, consulting services, and more.
Fishing industry veteran Ken Duke will serve as editor in chief of Fish Insider. Duke began writing for national outdoor magazines as a teenager. For the past nine years, he served as managing editor of Fishing Tackle Retailer. For a decade before that, he was senior editor of B.A.S.S. Publications. In addition to hundreds of articles published in virtually every fishing magazine and on dozens of websites, Duke is a featured expert in the upcoming documentary film series “The History of Sportfishing.”
“Fish Insider is focused on helping our industry do better business,” Duke says. “If we do that, we grow the sport and the market. It’s been a privilege to work in this industry for the past several decades and to consult with many of the wonderful people in it. Fish Insider is the platform and the tool set I’ve always wanted to help the companies that make our sport great — large and small. Today’s kitchen table operation can be tomorrow’s multinational manufacturer with the right advice and strategy.”
To that end, Fish Insider will offer a print magazine — Fish Insider — that’s free to dealers, wholesalers, distributors, and industry professionals, as well as an e-newsletter — “Fish Insider News” (FIN) — and a variety of consulting services that run the gamut from design to manufacturing to media and much more, to fit any situation.
Travis Loyd is the founder of Fish Insider. He shares Duke’s passion for fishing and believes that a strong fishing industry makes for a better America.
“To anyone interested in improving their industry position and strengthening our sport,” Loyd says, “Fish Insider is ready to help. Whether you’re a manufacturer, a dealer, a wholesaler, a professional angler, or you’re simply looking to find your own path in the industry, we have answers, solutions, and connections.”
Duke, Loyd, and other representatives of Fish Insider will be attending ICAST, July 11-14, in Orlando. If you’d like to meet, please email Duke at ken@fishinsider.com
Fenwick Embarks on a New Journey with World Class Rod Series
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Science, Natural Selection and a Bladed Jig for the Ages
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Costa Sunglasses celebrates 40 years on the water with its most advanced frame to date
Built to achieve ultimate potential on the water, King Tide is a 40 year legacy brought to life
JUPITER, Fla. (July 6, 2023) – Costa Sunglasses, manufacturer of the first color-enhancing all-polarized glass sunglass lens, celebrates its 40th anniversary with the introduction of its most advanced frame to date, King Tide. In nature, a king tide requires the perfect alignment of the Earth and moon to create an exceptionally high tide and once-in-a-lifetime views and opportunities on the water. Like its namesake, Costa’s King Tide is designed to give you the ultimate advantage on the water.
Utilizing the research and innovation from every frame that came before it, King Tide is built for those who demand performance on and off the water. Available in two styles, King Tide 6 is a medium wrap six-base frame for those who require performance in all of their watery pursuits. King Tide 8, the full wrap eight-base version, is built for elite anglers that demand the most from every cast. Technical chops on both frames include removable side shields for optimal use on and off the water, shark inspired venting to achieve a near impossible zero-fog effect, top of the line sweat management and the introduction of non-skid hooding to keep your frames exactly where you want them when the water gets rough.
“King Tide is a historical launch moment for Costa, it’s the culmination of every innovation and lesson we’ve learned in our 40 year history,” says John Sanchez, VP of Global Product Strategy. “King Tide started with a mission to deliver a sunglass packed with technology unrivaled on the water. We started five years ago with an internal challenge to study form, fit, aesthetics and so much more. Using our research lab, user insights and our pro community - who challenged us to push our limits - we delivered King Tide, opening the doors for a true appreciation of functional superiority. Our goal is to build the highest quality product, which is why King Tide is hand assembled and crafted in the U.S., just like we've done for the past four decades."
King Tide is equipped with Costa's cutting-edge polarized 580® glass lens technology, providing exceptional clarity and color enhancement. These scratch-resistant lenses effectively reduce haze and blur, while boosting essential colors for superior definition. Built with Costa's proprietary Bio-Resin, King Tide is also lightweight and maintains the durability necessary for any watery adventure.
“King Tide 6 is hands down the BEST pair of shades I’ve ever worn on the water,” says Costa Pro, Duane (Diego) Mellor. “As an offshore guide and angler, I depend on my eyes all day, every day. These (sunglasses) do everything I need them to and at the highest level. Epic work on the design and construction, Costa. They’re gonna be a huge hit!"
“Costa was born on the water in 1983, and today, we’re still doing what we do best - protecting the waters we love, inspiring our community and making the best damn sunglasses out there,” says John Acosta, Costa Sunglasses Vice President of Marketing NA. “We’re celebrating 40 years of bearing witness to life’s best moments on the water, while looking forward to what is coming next. King Tide is the biggest energy point around our anniversary year. It’s the result of 40 years of product innovation and the first time we’ve launched a frame in a six and eight base option. Cheers to another 40 years and to doing what we love most.”
Building launch hype, King Tide hits the market in three waves. In appreciation to the brick and mortar stores where Costa got its start, King Tide 6 and 8 will be available at select VIP specialty retailers beginning July 7, 2023. Following the first wave, Costa is dropping a 40th Anniversary Limited Edition collectors frame in black gold and a never before seen 580G gold lens. With just 40 frames available each, Limited Edition King Tide 6 and Limited Edition King Tide 8, the frames will be available online at CostaSunglasses.com on July 11, 2023. Finally, September 15, 2023, marks the global release when King Tide will be available online and at retail partners worldwide.
MSRP for King Tide 6 and King Tide 8 starts at $329. For more information about Costa’s complete collection of award-winning performance, optical and lifestyle frames, visit Costasunglasses.com.
Stunning New Bass Worm
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EVER GREEN introduces a one-of-a-kind, Japanese-borne worm perfect for pressured bass. |
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Cypress, CA (July 6, 2023) – The word is out. DAIWA EVER GREEN will be showing off a revolutionary, one-of-a-kind bait for tapping pressured bass at ICAST in Orlando, Florida. Called the “Bow Worm Noodle,” it’s the result of DAIWA Marketing Manager, Marc Mills’ consultation with in-the-know EVER GREEN bait designers and Japanese bass pros faced with extremely tough bass bites on pressured and clear waters. Yes, the Bow Worm Noodle is truly unique amidst countless “me too” bass worms… Although a full 8-inches long, it’s not another Floridian “speed worm” design. Quite the opposite. The EVER GREEN Bow Worm Noodle is intended for fishing weightless, wacky, Neko, or via dropshot. For example, when rigged wacky-style or on a dropshot hook, the Bow Worm Noodle undulates and coils with the slightest movement of the rod, the ultra-thin diameter soft plastic pulsing and writhing like a real nightcrawler. Add any amount of current and it’s even more lifelike. |
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SPECIAL MIMIZU |
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NATURAL EEL |
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DARK PLUM |
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GREEN PUMPKIN BLACK FLAKE |
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Besides its slinking movement, the Bow Worm Noodle features an EVER GREEN-formulated “Special Formula” scent comprised of real shrimp, squid, and baitfish impregnated into the salt-heavy plastic, thus encouraging more bites and bass to hang onto the artificial offering longer. “This bait has been huge for us,” says DAIWA Marketing Manager, Marc Mills. “We’ve sold a ton of them already. We expected to sell an initial 2,000 packs and have moved over 6,000 so far. And the interest is gaining serious momentum through word-of-mouth and social media. Bass anglers are catching lots of fish—and some big ones—on these worms.” Mills continues: “Unlike most worm designs that are thick, the Bow Worm is thin, like spaghetti. You can fish them a lot of different ways, but it really comes to life nose-hooked with #4 Mustad light-wire Mosquito hook on a dropshot. Most worms just kind of sit there and maybe move a little bit. The Bow Worm Noodle rolls and flips on top of itself. Bounce your dropshot off a rock and the Bow Worm Noodle will roll up on itself, then extend again,” offers Mills. |
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“All I can say is it’s money. You can catch everything from average-size fish to Southern California 10- to 12-pounders. When a bass eats it, the worm rolls up in its mouth just like a real worm. They’re awesome—and nobody’s making these. I’m super pumped.” Looking for the next hot bait for extremely tough conditions like clear waters and highly-pressured lakes? Look no further than the new EVER GREEN Bow Worm Noodle. Currently available in four colors: #01 Green Pumpkin BK; #11 Dark Plum; #90 Natural Eel; and #135 Special Mimizu. MSRP $10.99 per pack |
Stracner stepping away from Bassmaster Elite Series
July 6, 2023
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Former Bassmaster Elite Series Rookie of the Year Josh Stracner of Vandiver, Ala., is leaving Elite Series competition to pursue other career opportunities.
“My number one goal was always to qualify for the Elite Series,” Stracner said. “I got to travel around the country and fish professionally, which I will always cherish. Some of the guys that I got to fish with and travel with will be friends of mine forever.
“It’s weird to consider myself a ‘former’ Elite Series pro, but at the end of the day, that’s still a title that I’ll be able to carry with me for the rest of my life. I never wanted to fish with any other organization because I just wanted to be a Bassmaster, and I got to do that ... getting an opportunity to pursue a really good job opportunity has made this an easier decision.”
Stracner qualified for the Elite Series through the 2020 St. Croix Bassmaster Eastern Opens, where he averaged a 13th-place finish across four events. Stracner’s momentum didn’t stop there, as he went on to win the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Elite Series Rookie of the Year title in 2021. Over the course of his 36-event B.A.S.S. career, Stracner registered 13 Top 30 finishes, 10 Top 20 finishes and qualified for the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota.
Fin-Nor Lateral-Line Eyewear Helps Anglers Clearly Spot the Bite
Columbia S.C. (July 6, 2023) - Fin-Nor eyewear enhances fishing capabilities by providing optimal performance and eye protection under the harshest conditions, boasting advanced visibility features for sight fishing and superior lens technology. Purpose-built for anglers, Sportfisher, the newest Fin-Nor sunglasses model, will enter into the New Product Showcase eyewear category at ICAST 2023. Sportfisher redefines comfort and functionality, offering an exceptional visual experience on the water.
Fin-Nor is made for the fishing lifestyle empowering anglers to catch more fish with gear they can rely on. The Sportfisher sunglasses exemplify this commitment to helping people see beneath and beyond with all-day comfort in style.
The Fin-Nor Sportfisher features Lateral Line lens technology engineered to enhance sight without distortion. This technology gives anglers a clear advantage by making it easier to identify what's happening on and beneath the water's surface while reducing eye fatigue. The lenses are designed to decrease blue light transmission and glare, enabling anglers to have exceptional vision in foggy, hazy, or sunny conditions. With the right pair of sunglasses, anglers can improve their chances of a successful fishing experience even under challenging circumstances.
"The Fin-Nor Lateral Line Polarized Polycarbonate lens is built to perform on the water and proven to be 2X more scratch-resistant than our closest competitors*," said Steve Woolf, Category Manager for Fin-Nor. "Inspired by the barriers watermen and women face while pursuing their passion, Fin-Nor delivers superior lens technology designed to perform and provide all-day comfort while lending stylish function."
*Based on the Bayer (Alundum 10-SQ) scratch resistance test by Colts Laboratories.
- An oleophobic/hydrophobic coating on both sides of the lens reduces the negative impacts of smudging, dust, and spray to prevent permanent scratching.
- A 7-layer anti-reflective coating on glass lenses and a 5-layer coating on polycarbonate lenses, which blocks 99.7% of reflections and 100% of UVA and UVB rays
- The most accurate, distortion-free view of your surroundings that cuts through mist and haze.
Fin-Nor has designed the Sportfisher frames with adjustable nose pads, rubber temple tips, and integrated spring hinges to ensure all-day comfort. These features provide a snug but comfortable fit, allowing anglers to wear the sunglasses throughout the day without discomfort. The frames are constructed with lightweight, bio-based grilamid and megol materials, ensuring durability and a barely-there feel, so anglers can focus more on the tasks at hand and spend less time worrying about their sunglasses.
For more information about Fin-Nor Eyewear, please click here.
Sportfisher Models and Styles:
- Lens options: gray or copper (glass or polycarbonate)
- Mirror options: blue, green, or silver
- Frames colors: matte black and matte sienna tortoise
Available: Now
MSRP: $189-$259
HARDY REINVENTS A CLASSIC WITH RELEASE OF THE SOVEREIGN FLY REEL
Rediscover timeless excellence with the remake of the bestselling Hardy fly reel of all times
COLUMBIA, S.C. (July 6, 2023) – The return of a legend – a reimagined version of the most popular Hardy freshwater fly reel series ever. This highly-anticipated reintroduction marks the first time this Hardy reel, true to its original design and unchanged since the 1970s, is made available to anglers after decades.
The remastered Hardy reel features all the hallmarks that made it a favorite amongst the fly angling community, including its famed captivated half-cage design. But the remastered reel doesn’t just rest on its laurels. It comes packed with a host of modern innovations, meticulously engineered in England, to elevate the fishing experience to a new level.
One of these cutting-edge advancements is the powerful self-lubricating, sealed disc drag system, exerting over 5lbs of force while remaining super smooth and reliable. This gives the reel an impressive edge, ensuring every catch is managed with confidence, control, and precision. Adding to this is the newly incorporated on/off clicker, allowing for not only ease of adjustment and enhanced precision during casts and retrieves, but the ability to silence the outgoing clicker if preferred. The reel also boasts a fast and tool-free left or right hand selector lever change, as well as dual stainless-steel bearings for an ultra-smooth, ultra-fast retrieve, putting an end to challenging reeling experiences.
The Hardy Sovereign Reel will be available in two classic colors – Spitfire and Black, and in four sizes. This offering nods to the original design, reaffirming Hardy's commitment to preserving the timeless aesthetics that our anglers have come to love.
"With the reintroduction of this best-selling Hardy reel, we're merging the trusted design of the past with the advanced technology of today," said Jim Murphy, Director of Fly Fishing for Hardy. "We believe in celebrating our history, while constantly innovating for the future, and this reel stands testament to that philosophy."
FEATURES:
● Made by Hardy Bros Master Craftsmen in Alnwick, England
● Self-lubricating, sealed disc drag system which is smooth and reliable
● Fast, tool free left or right hand selector lever change
● Outgoing click can be silenced via a “poachers” switch
● Engineered from bar stock aluminum
● Deep anodized finish
● Supplied in a Hardy neoprene reel pouch
MSRP: Starting at $750.00
Available: September 2023
The Virtues of Laziness
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DAIWA’s new LAZY FA SHAD twitchbait reels them in with its signature slow-slalom-swim. |
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Cypress, CA (July 5, 2023) – Full-bodied swimbaits have proven that a carefree, practically lazy motion can trigger massive strikes. Works on freshwater bass. Dittos for inshore. The trouble with saltwater is that a pack of soft plastic swimbaits mightn’t get you through the morning. Let’s just say there are lot of paddletails left out there. So, what if you could replicate the same relaxed motion in a hardbait? Maybe factor in some subtle snaking around, too? Well, DAIWA did just that. The new LAZY FA SHAD puts the personality of a swimbait in a saltwater-grade twitchbait and included a sluggish slalom. |
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On a straight retrieve, DAIWA’s LAZY FA SHAD winds through the water like a relaxed baitfish – one destined to become a meal. The floating lure dives up to three-feet when engaged, precise depth dictated by the speed of retrieve and weight of the line, narrower pulling deeper. And, unlike a swimbait motoring with limited wobble, the LAZY FA SHAD rolls and shows its sides while in motion, broadcasting a subdued flash that says come and get me. The LAZY FA SHAD’s curious slalom action is produced by a conspicuous fin centered on the head of the bait. Sort of looks like a miniature aquatic rhinoceros. Despite the diminutive nature of the fin, though, it really moves the bait around. |
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The LAZY FA SHAD can be fished more aggressively, too. Technically categorized as a twitchbait, snapping the LAZY FA SHAD affects a sudden dive followed by a slow rise on the rest. And, because of the fin, each pull sends it in another direction. Essentially, it’s two lures in one: a slow swimmer and a ripper. Internally, the LAZY FA SHAD features a dual-purpose metal ball chamber. On the cast, it’s a weight-transfer system to impart exceptional launch distances, even bucking the wind. While retrieved, it emits subtle ticks that produce auditory responses – strikes – from inshore predators like redfish, trout, jacks, snook, calico bass, and others. Externally, the durable LAZY FA SHAD sports refined cosmetics, to include realistic eyeballs, gills and mouthparts, and scale patterns that capture light and throw color. Choose from a palette of proven saltwater patterns, including 3D KONOSIRO, SKELETON CHART BACK, SKELETON RED HEAD, SKELETON MULLET, HOLO SARDINE, and PINK CLEAR HOLO. For the first time, laziness is a virtue. |
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SKELETON MULLET |
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PINK CLEAR HOLO |
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SKELETON CHART BACK |
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SKELETON RED HEAD |
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KONOSHIRO |
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HOLO SARDINE |
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FEATURES:
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Minn Kota Unveils Next-Level Trolling Motor Technology with Terrova and Ulterra Innovations
Minn Kota revolutionizes freshwater fishing experiences with streamlined Terrova and Ulterra GPS-enabled motors, featuring advanced sonar capabilities and upgraded wireless control.
RACINE, Wis. (JULY 6, 2023) – Minn Kota, the leading innovator in trolling motor technology, proudly introduces two groundbreaking updates to its esteemed product lineup: the Minn Kota Ulterra® and Terrova®. These state-of-the-art trolling motors represent a new era in fishing excellence, combining cutting-edge features, enhanced performance, and seamless integration. With a host of advanced capabilities, both the Ulterra and Terrova redefine the fishing experience, providing anglers with unrivaled precision, convenience, and power.
The restaging of the existing Terrova and Ulterra motors with the addition of QUEST technology gives anglers even more choices for a magnitude of fishing situations. Simplifying its product line and enhancing compatibility, Minn Kota has emphasized seamless connection with Humminbird head units. All Terrova and Ulterra motors are now equipped with GPS technology, fully compatible with Humminbird fish finders out of the box, giving anglers precise navigation and control.
Minn Kota Terrova and Ulterra Trolling Motors
To enhance the consumer experience, all GPS-enabled Terrova and Ulterra models now include adapter cables in the package, streamlining the buying and rigging process for faster setup and more time spent on the water. Additionally, the new models feature built-in 2D Sonar with Dual Spectrum CHIRP, offering exceptional target separation and detailed imaging. This advanced sonar technology provides unparalleled insights into underwater structures and fish behavior, revolutionizing fish-finding capabilities. The upgraded wireless remote, now standard with Terrova and Ulterra motors, ensures ultimate control and convenience, enhancing the user experience and maximizing productivity during fishing expeditions.
New Features for All Terrova and Ulterra Models:
- NEW Enhanced GPS Suite Including Drift Mode to allow anglers to spend more time fishing and less time on boat control
- Drift Mode: combats current and wind by automatically adjusting speed and direction to keep the boat on a true drift. Drift Mode acts as a gps drift sock eliminating the need for cumbersome ropes or shallow water anchor paddles
- Improved Follow-the-Contour functionality: allows for better LakeMaster and CoastMaster integration to stay on the desired course
- Dodge Mode: allows anglers to quickly leave auto navigation mode to manually steer through waves and around structures and then resume navigating without resetting their route.
- Out of the Box connection to Humminbird via the One-Boat Network by including all necessary adapters required for networking without additional need for setup
- One App for Everything – the One-Boat Network App can control everything on the boat from the trolling motor and shallow water anchors to the Humminbird head units
- Enhanced Built-in 2D Sonar with Dual Spectrum CHIRP adds Humminbird’s unrivaled sonar clarity to every Minn Kota motor
- NEW Wireless Remote with a simplified keypad, ergonomic design, and four programmable One-Boat Network Buttons
Terrova QUEST and Ulterra QUEST
The Minn Kota Terrova and Ulterra QUEST feature brushless motor technology for increased power, quieter operation, and extended run-time ideal for long fishing trips. Its dual 24V/36V capability ensures versatility and optimal performance simplifying the rigging process and saving valuable setup time. QUEST models feature Carbon Fiber-infused motor shafts providing added strength without compromising flexibility. Additionally, exclusive Humminbird built-in MEGA Side Imaging offers exceptional clarity and precision, empowering anglers with a comprehensive view of underwater structures and fish for enhanced navigation and successful catches.
Terrova and Ulterra QUEST Key Features:
- Dual 24 or 36 volt Brushless Motor with up to 30% longer runtime and 50% greater torque*
- Up to 30% longer runtime on a single charge provides anglers more time on the water
- Up to 50% greater torque means more precise control in wind and waves and the ability
- Hands-Free Operation: Anglers can wave goodbye to manual control and enjoy a completely immersive fishing experience.
- Auto Stow/Deploy: Effortlessly enter and exit the water with a single button press, eliminating the hassle of manually manipulating the motor.
- Power Trim: Adapt to changing conditions effortlessly with the ability to adjust the motor's angle for optimal performance.
- Redesigned and Upgraded Mount to accommodate the additional thrust and torque of the lower unit
- Carbon Fiber Infused Shaft for enhanced durability while maintaining flexibility to protect the bow of an angler’s boat
- Peak Performance and Efficiency from Updated Propellers which maximize torque throughout the speed range
- Real-Time Battery Monitoring System lets anglers know time until empty at a given speed setting and prompts users to enter a power saving eco mode when batteries reach 20% charge
- No Loss of Power: constant power throughout the day with no drop in motor performance as battery voltage decreases of the length of a fishing day
- One-Boat Network Programmable Button: customized presets to include stow and deploy Minn Kota shallow water anchors, mark a waypoint, or engage autopilot
- NEW Wireless Remote with a simplified keypad, ergonomic design, and four programmable One-Boat Network Buttons
- Available Shaft Lengths: 45”, 60”, and 72”
Terrova QUEST MSRP: $3,199.99 - $3,899.99
Terrova QUEST Available: August 2023
Ulterra QUEST MSRP: $3,799.99 - $4,499.99
Ulterra QUEST Available: November 2023
Unleash the Gremlin
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PLANO ICE HUNTER 3600 TACKLE BAG
The newest addition to Plano’s Ice Hunter line is purpose-built for ice anglers with both new and proven features.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (Jul 5, 2023) — Ice anglers rejoice! The Plano Ice Hunter 3600 Tackle Bag delivers a unique, water-resistant storage solution for all of the gear you need on hard water. It’s equipped with a water-resistant, rechargeable lithium-ion LED light, quick-access jig compartment, customizable storage, and more.
The Ice Hunter comes with three Plano 3600 StowAway Utility Boxes and features a customizable interior with a removable divider for maximum control over storing your gear. The waterproof molded base with non-slip rubber feet will keep your bag dry while the quick-access EVA foam ice jig compartment provides safe and easy access for bait changes when the bite is hot. In addition, the external tool holder makes accessing your gear quick and convenient.
Key Features
• Removable LED light rotates 180 degrees (charger included)
• IPX4 water-resistant, rechargeable lithium-ion LED light
• LED light features 4 modes – 2 working modes, a solid red light and an SOS blinking red light
• Quick-access EVA foam jig compartment
• Waterproof molded base with non-slip rubber feet
• External tool hanger to store commonly used tools
• Adjustable internal divider to customize storage
• Includes (3) Plano 3600 StowAway Utility Boxes
MSRP: $99.99
Available: September 2023
INTRODUCING THE ALL-NEW HARDY MARKSMAN Z FLY ROD
Redefining Performance in Saltwater Fishing
COLUMBIA, S.C. (July 5, 2023) – Just in time for those saltwater flats trips, the Hardy Marksman Z Fly Rod is a groundbreaking addition to our premier saltwater rod range. This innovative rod leverages the latest in performance materials to deliver a level of strength, reduced weight, and durability unmatched in the market.
The Hardy Marksman Z Fly Rod is designed to be an angler's ally in the unpredictable and varied challenges of the saltwater environment. From calm, early morning runs to windy afternoons, the Hardy Marksman Z ensures an optimal cast, even from an unstable platform.
This rod is designed with a unique blend of feel, power, and recovery, resulting in a product that promises an unrivaled fishing experience. As a hundred pounds of chrome goes airborne, or as six pounds of silver leaves the flat as if fired from a gun, you can be confident that the Marksman Z in your hand can do the job and, of course, the adrenaline rush is guaranteed.
This exceptional blend of characteristics was brought to life through a collaborative design process. In partnership with some of the world's finest saltwater guides, seasoned anglers, and industry legends, we've crafted the Hardy Marksman Z to be the perfect tool for your perfect moment in salt. Built with Sintrix FLT that is applied to an updated mandrel design, the Marksman Z was created with a strong butt section that gives you increased lifting power in the lower section of the rod making it strong enough to pull big fish from cover yet extremely light in the hand.
The Hardy Marksman Z Fly Rod stands up to the most demanding saltwater conditions, offering the reliability needed for everything from Gold Cups to Grand Slams and a thousand different challenges in between. Regardless of the changing tides or shifting winds, the Hardy Marksman Z is your steadfast companion in the saltwater world.
"We're delighted to introduce the Hardy Marksman Z, the newest addition to our superior range of fishing rods," said Jim Murphy, Director of Fly Fishing for Hardy. "Our goal is to provide anglers with the best possible equipment that can stand up to any condition, and we believe the Hardy Marksman Z Fly Rod exemplifies this commitment."
- Sintrix FLT on an updated mandrel design
- Increased lifting power in the lower section
- Reduced overall in-hand weight
- Easy to load yet fast tip recovery for more accurate casts under pressured situations
- Hybrid ring specification that blends durability and practicality using both Cerecoil and recoil stripper guides
- Aluminum uplocking reel seat with easy to grip locking nuts to ensure a solid reel fit
MSRP: Starting at $995
Available: September 2023
Small Baits, Bite Detection and the Short Rod Crusade
New Z-Man® Drew’s Ultimate Ned Rig Rods blend primo rod-crafting with whispers of retro finesse
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American Hero Camo Family Receives New Look, Features
Columbia, S.C. – June 28, 2023 – Donning a new Hero Cam camo pattern, the new American Hero Camo family of reels and combos have been updated and upgraded with a new look and new features. Crafted with the American warrior in mind, Lew’s American Hero Camo tackle delivers on all fronts – from looks to performance.
“The American Hero program from Lew's not only offers great gear at great prices, but funds also generated from these products have created opportunities to get our veterans on the water as a means to cope and find peace of mind,” shares Jamey Caldwell, Sergeant Major (Retired) and Professional Angler.
The American Hero Camo baitcast combos feature a new, lower profile reel and one-piece graphite frame and sideplate design. Built to last, the reel features high strength solid brass Speed Gears®, a premium 6-bearing system containing stainless steel double shielded ball bearings, and an externally adjustable Magnetic Control System (MCS). The powerful American Hero Camo baitcast combo has an IM7, 1-piece graphite blank to provide the structural strength and lightweight flexibility that anglers demand and a split-grip EVA rod handle with embossed American Hero logo.
Delivering trusted Lew’s performance, the American Hero Camo spinning combos have spinning reels constructed with a solid, one-piece graphite frame, housing a 6-bearing system with stainless steel double shielded ball bearings for seamless casting day in and day out. With overall refreshed rods and actions, the new American Hero spinning combo features an IM7, 2-piece graphite blank with split-grip EVA handles with embossed American Hero logo. “As a retired combat veteran myself, I couldn't be more honored to be a part of a program that has stood behind veterans for so many years now,” says Caldwell.
MSRP:
Baitcast reels: $79.99
Spinning reels: $49.99
Baitcast combos: $119.99
Spinning combos: $84.99
Team Lew’s Releases Redesigned, Lightweight Custom Lite Rods
Columbia, S.C. – June 28, 2023 – The team at Lew’s has worked to fine tune actions, grips, and blank materials to create the new line of Custom Lite Rods, with a specific focus on extremely lightweight components. The lineup includes 20 casting models and eight spinning models, including two BFS style casting actions designed for fishing light line and lightweight baits, such as small swimbaits, jerkbaits, ned rigs, and shakey heads on casting tackle.
“I had a blast testing and tweaking these new rods with the guys at Lew's. We've got a ton of great actions that are perfect for the way I fish,” shares Mark Zona, host of Zona's Awesome Fishing Show and co-host of Bassmaster Live.
All Custom Lite Rods have HM85 graphite blanks for sensitivity and stainless-steel guides with titanium oxide inserts for durability, with spinning rods featuring a new Comfort Plus ergonomic reel seat designed in partnership with Zona and casting rods featuring a Full Contact reel seat for direct blank contact while fishing. The new Custom Lites have split grip handles with Lew's exclusive Winn® Dri-Tac Ultra ProWeave™ Grips for all day comfort and control.
“The new Comfort Plus reel seat on these spinning rods is perfect, it's just the way I want it. It might be the most comfortable handle I've used through the years!" says Zona.
The new Custom Lite Rods pair perfectly with Custom Lite Baitcast Reel, Custom Lite SS Baitcast Reel (best with BFS action rods), and the Custom Lite Spinning Reel.
MSRP: $149.99-$179.99
Team Lew’s Releases Lighter HyperMag Baitcast Reel
Columbia, S.C. – June 28, 2023 – Continuing to push the limits of innovation and performance, Team Lew’s has redesigned the HyperMag baitcast reel to enhance not only function, but experience. The HyperMag has been upgraded to include the P2 Super Pinion® double bearing supported pinion gear, offering a better gear mesh for smoothness and extended gear life. The ergonomic one-piece magnesium frame and C40 carbon sideplates are strong and extremely lightweight, with the reel weighing in at only 5.2 oz. The “barely-there” feel of this reel is ever-present, giving anglers the comfort and control they desire.
The new features don’t stop there – the recessed brake adjustment dial contributes to the low-profile design, the Speed Knot™ quick line attachment spool enables easy and quick line attachment, and the JDM-style Winn® handle knobs provide outstanding grip and comfort. In line with the original, the new HyperMag has a 4-pin SpeedCast® externally Adjustable Centrifugal Brake (ACB) system, 11 bearing system, Speed Keeper® hook keeper, and Speed Dial® line indicator, bringing all of the best features together in one of Lew’s lightest, most efficient baitcast reel to date.
The HyperMag reel is very heavily utilized by tournament pros and avid bass anglers, making this one of the most highly sought after Lew’s reels. “What I love about the HyperMag is you feel like it's not even there – it becomes part of you, if you know what I mean. It's just right,” shares Greg Hackney, Professional Angler in the Bassmaster Elite Series.
MSRP: $349.99
Strike King Releases New Sexy Shad 2.0, Adds More Color Options to Hybrid Hunter Family
Columbia, SC – Strike King launches the new Sexy Shad 2.0 and adds 10 new colors to the Hybrid Hunter family. Sexy Shad, a staple color in many anglers’ arsenal, has been redesigned to enhance the eye-catching, fish-attracting effect of the original Sexy Shad. A new twist on an old favorite, Sexy Shad 2.0 is available in hard baits, spinnerbaits, jigs, and soft plastics.
“I remember working with the team in 2008 to design the original Sexy Shad color. We set the standard for the Sexy Shad color you see across the industry. And now we have set the standard again!” says Kevin VanDam, MLF Bass Pro Tour Angler.
The best grass crankbait in the industry, Hybrid Hunter, now has 10 new color options for anglers to “match the hatch” in any environment. The Hybrid Hunter is known for having a loud internal rattle system and is incredibly buoyant, allowing you to rip through grass and other cover to stay in the strike zone longer. The team at Strike King worked meticulously to hand pick legendary Strike King colors for this expansion as well as design some totally new colors, like Ghost Herring or Ghost Gill, that would excel in the Hybrid Hunter. The 10 new colors are available in all Hybrid Hunter models – junior and standard sizes in both shallow and diving models.
MSRP:
Sexy Shad 2.0: $4.99-$17.99
Hybrid Hunter: $9.99
Strike King Releases New Crankbait Designed by KVD and Todd Castledine
Columbia, S.C. – June 28, 2023 – Delivering a wide wobble action in a bite-sized, 1.5 profile, Strike King's new Gravel
Dawg grinds through rock, wood, and grass better than any medium-diving crank bait in its class. Strike King pros Todd
Castledine and Kevin VanDam worked diligently to design the ideal, “go to” crankbait for anglers across the country.
“I can't wait for the world to get to know this crankbait. I have been fishing prototype versions of the Gravel Dawg for
over a year and I knew right away that it was going to be special!" says Kevin VanDam, MLF Bass ProTour Angler. “It runs
true through all types of cover – rock, brush, grass. Nothing stops the Gravel Dawg!”
The Gravel Dawg comes in two different versions – the Gravel Dawg 8 and Gravel Dawg 10. Both sizes keep the same
body profile and size, but the bill changes between the two to achieve different diving depths. These baits will have you
covered in the 5-10 ft. range throughout all parts of the country. We recommend grabbing your favorite Lew’s medium
diving crankbait rod and going to work with the all-new Gravel Dawg.
“Those new craw patterns are going to excel in the Gravel Dawg. We work with one of the most talented custom lure
painters in the world when we develop new colors, and these are a work of art. We added in a few new shad patterns as
well, to really round out the color assortment for year-round success in every situation!” says VanDam.
MSRP: $9.99
Strike King Expands Legendary Jerkbait Selection with New KVD Elite, Sinking Series
Columbia, S.C. – June 28, 2023 – Adding depth to an already robust jerkbait collection, Strike King introduces the new
KVD J300 Deep Sinking Jerkbait and an even wider color selection to the KVD Elite Jerkbait line up.
The KVD Elite Jerkbait is tournament ready right out of the package with upgraded Mustad Triple Grip hooks and
premium paint finishes. It maintains the action of the legendary Strike King jerkbaits.
“I am really excited to bring my KVD Elite Jerkbait series into the 200 and 300 Deep bodies. We spent a lot of time
tweaking these colors to make them the best they could be. With my signature Mustad Triple Grip Hooks already on the
baits, these are tournament winners right out of the package!” says Kevin VanDam, MLF Bass Pro Tour Angler.
The new KVD J300 Deep Sinking Jerkbait allows you to fish a jerkbait in depths that no other jerkbait can get to. Watch it
sink down on your forward-facing sonar until it gets to the depth you desire, then start ripping it back to the boat and
watch the fish go crazy. The jerkbait is weighted perfectly to sink nearly 0.5-feet per second and maintains the amazing
erratic action of the standard KVD 300 Deep Jerkbait.
“I’ve spent a lot of time playing with the KVD J300 Deep Sinking Jerkbait and utilizing weights to allow me to fish deeper.
We've added some weight to the new KVD J300 Deep Sinking Jerkbait without compromising the action of the lure. I can
watch it sink right down to fish on my Humminbird LIVE that I could never reach with a jerkbait... until now!” says Mark
Zona, host of Zona's Awesome Fishing Show and co-host of Bassmaster Live.
MSRP:
KVD Elite J200 & J300: $14.99
KVD J300 Deep Sinking Jerkbait: $11.99
Lew’s Releases New Tournament Grade MACH Jacked Combos
Columbia, S.C. – June 28, 2023 – Take your passion for the chase one step further with the new MACH Jacked combos. MACH Jacked combos are the most premium, tournament-quality combos ever offered from MACH – available in spinning and baitcast models.
“These combos are truly the best combos the market has ever seen. Extremely lightweight, extremely sensitive. Take them to fish a derby this Saturday from a bass boat or kayak or be locked and loaded to tackle a local pond,” shares Tony
Mehrl, Brand Manager for Lew's.
Delivering heightened precision and control, the baitcast combos feature a premium 10-bearing system with stainless steel double shielded ball bearings, a Multi-Setting Brake system (MSB) with internally adjustable centrifugal braking pins and externally adjustable magnetic braking, and come available in five bass-focused, tournament level lengths and actions for avid anglers.
The spinning combos provide unquestionable performance with a premium 10-bearing system, lightweight C40 carbon rotor with one piece bail, an extremely smooth drag system, and a new Comfort Plus ergonomic spinning reel seat, available in three bass-focused, tournament level lengths and actions for weekend warriors and fierce competitors alike.
Both spinning and baitcast combos are built with extremely lightweight Tanso Tech reel frames and HM50 rod blanks with Winn® Dri-Tac Ultra ProWeave™ split grip rod handles and reel handle knobs, providing the texture and appearance of carbon weave matched with the extreme comfort and feel of Winn Ultra material.
“I promise you, the reels used in these combos will stand up against the best out there on the market. They are extremely lightweight, extremely smooth, and are up to the task in really any scenario. They're ready to roll,” Mehrl says.
MSRP:
Spinning: $249.99
Baitcast: $259.99
New Bitsy Family Adds Additional Size Options to Popular Strike King Baits
Columbia, S.C. – June 28, 2023 – Strike King releases the new Bitsy family, a line up of four popular Strike King baits now
available in a “bitsy” size. Anglers can find some of their favorite Strike King baits – like the Sexy Dawg, KVD Splash, Red
Eyed Shad – in a super small finesse profile that will catch fish from coast-to-coast, anywhere there is water.
“We built these baits with one goal in mind – to offer a lineup of baits that anglers at every level can use to catch a ton
of fish,” says Lucas Murphy, Strike King Brand Manager. The Bitsy family provides a finesse profile that can be more
efficient at triggering finicky bites. The team at Strike King ensured that all Bitsy lures were built to provide all the same
benefits as the originals, just in a smaller package. “Everyone gets excited when they get their hands on the new Bitsy
products. We made sure that they match the quality and action of their full-sized siblings,” Murphy shares.
The full Bitsy family includes the Bitsy Dawg, Bitsy Splash, Bitsy Red Eyed Shad, Bitsy Jerkbait and Bitsy Spinner which is
available in 1/16 oz., 1/8 oz., 1/4 oz., and 3/8 oz. Not only will these help anglers catch a boatload of bass, but countless
other species have been falling victim to these new Bitsy products. Bass, trout, panfish – no fish is safe when Bitsy rolls
into town!
MSRP:
Bitsy Spinner: $3.99
All other Bitsy products: $5.99