Bassmaster High School 2021 Championship Heads To Chickamauga
High school teams from across the country will compete on Chickamauga Lake July 29-31 at the Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School National Championship presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors.
Photo by Kyle Jessie/B.A.S.S.
July 27, 2021
DAYTON, Tenn. — Over 300 of the country’s best bass fishing teams will converge on Chickamauga Lake for the 2021 Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School National Championship presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors July 29-31. In addition to a national title, anglers hope to reel in their share of a prize purse worth more than $20,700 and $600,000 in college scholarships.
Competition days will be July 29-31 with daily takeoffs from the Dayton Boat Dock at 6:45 a.m. ET. Weigh-ins will take place at Point Park at 2:45 p.m.
Student anglers qualified for the championship through four High School Opens held on Florida’s Harris Chain of Lakes, Kentucky’s Lake Cumberland, Michigan’s Saginaw Bay and Alabama’s Lay Lake.
Among those vying for the National Championship are eight members of the 2021 Bassmaster High School All-American Fishing Team presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors: 2020 Bassmaster High School National Champion Hayden Marbut of Vestavia, Ala., Alexis Grandstaff of Headland, Ala., Tyson Verkaik of Eustis, Fla., Mitchell Straffon of Fenton, Mich., Cole Moulton of Enfield, N.H., Carter Doren of Las Vegas, Nev., Hunter Keller of Morganton, N.C., and Turner Hart of Ashland, Va.
Each two-angler team is accompanied by a coach who runs the boat and can give advice on fishing techniques and patterns.
“They are the best of the best among 13,000 high school B.A.S.S. members representing more than 1,300 high school fishing clubs nationwide,” said Hank Weldon, High School & Youth Series senior manager. “We are thrilled to give these high school anglers an opportunity to tackle Chickamauga — a fishery with a reputation for producing giant bass — as they compete for a national title.”
2021 will mark the first time the Bassmaster High School National Championship has been decided on Chickamauga Lake, which has previously hosted four major B.A.S.S. tournaments.
The Bassmaster High School Series debuted in 2013 and has grown immensely since its inception. The program emphasizes sportsmanship, academics and conservation while giving young anglers a chance to improve and test their fishing skills in competition among their peers.
The Bassmaster High School Series National Championship tournament is being hosted by the Rhea Economic & Tourism Council, Bryan College and Fish Dayton.
Abu Garcia Jordan Lee Rods and Reels
Designed and tested by the Bassmaster Classic and MLF Champion.
COLUMBIA, S.C. — He’s one of only four anglers to ever win back-to-back Bassmaster Classic championships and has carried his reputation as a formidable competitor to the MLF Bass Pro Tour where he won Heavy Hitters and the Angler of the Year award in 2020. In the offseason, Lee helped design a new signature line of rods and reels for Abu Garcia, gear tailored to his exacting standards and suited for his technique-specific approach.
The line features four baitcasting reels (right- and lefthanded configurations in both standard and high speed), two spinning reels, and 14 different technique specific rods. Designed for serious bass anglers, the baitcast reels deliver 10+1 stainless-steel ball bearings for extreme smoothness, a one-piece graphite frame and sideplates. The Abu Garcia Jordan Lee spinning reels (Sizes 20 and 30) feature 6+1 stainless-steel HPCR bearings for smoothness and a Carbon Matrix drag system that remains smooth across all settings. A machined-aluminum, braid-ready spool and the Rocket Line Management System round out this well-appointed spinning reel.
Abu Garcia Jordan Lee rods are constructed of 30-ton graphite for a lightweight, balanced design as well as the Robotically Optimized Casting System guide train to maximize casting distance and a Winn split-grip design. With 12 technique-specific casting rods designed for everything from jerkbaits to large crankbaits along with a pair of technique-specific spinning rods, the Jordan Lee rod lineup helps anglers match their gear to their presentation and gives them everything they need to get the fish to the boat.
ABU GARCIA JORDAN LEE LOW-PROFILE REELS
Key Features:
• 10 stainless-steel ball bearings +1 roller bearing
• 90mm carbon handle arm
• Mag Trax brake system
• One-piece graphite frame
• Graphite sideplates
Models:
Standard and high-speed models in both right- and lefthanded configurations
MSRP: $104.95
Available: July 2021
ABU GARCIA JORDAN LEE SPINNING REELS
Key Features:
• 6 stainless-steel HPCR bearings + 1 roller bearing
• Rocket Line Management System
• Carbon Matrix hybrid drag system
• Slow oscillation for even line lay
• Machined-aluminum, braid-ready spool
Sizes: 20 • 30
MSRP: $84.95
Available July 2021
ABU GARCIA JORDAN LEE TECHNIQUE-SPECIFIC RODS
Key Features:
• 30-ton graphite for a lightweight, balanced design
• ROCS (Robotically Optimized Casting System) guide train for maximized casting distance with lighter lures
• Custom Abu Garcia-designed reel seat for increased comfort
• Stainless-steel guides with zirconium inserts
• Jordan Lee-designed, technique-specific actions
• Limited 3-year warranty
Casting Rods: 6-8 M (Jerkbait) • 6-10 MH (Topwater/Spinnerbait) • 6-10 H (Dock Skipping) • 7-0 MH (All-Purpose) • 7-2 MH (Jig/Swim Jig) • 7-3 H (Frog) • 7-4 MH (Bladed Jig) • 7-6 H (Flipping) • 7-9 H (Punching) • 7-05 M (Squarebill/Winch) 7-6 M (Crankbait/Winch) • 7-10 MH (Big Crankbait/Winch)
Spinning Rods: 6-10 ML (Super Finesse) • 7-0 M (Shaky Head)
MSRP: $89.95
Available: July 2021
Berkley PowerBait Gilly Wins Best of Show at 2021 ICAST
Legendary fishing tackle company combines science-fueled innovation with pro-inspired design to become first bait to ever win Best of Show.
ORLANDO, Fla. (July 22, 2021) — The new Berkley PowerBait Gilly, a soft, bluegill-shaped bait infused with the flavor of PowerBait, captured top honors in the ICAST 2021 New Product Showcase, winning the prestigious Best of Show award as voted on by international fishing media and retailers. With the win, the Gilly becomes the first bait to win the overall Best of Show award at ICAST, an award often dominated by electronics, rods and reels.
To win the award, the Gilly won the Best Freshwater Soft Bait on Day 1 of ICAST before competing against the 29 other best-in-category award winners on Day 2. In all, the PowerBait Gilly beat out hundreds of new products submitted into the awards showcase.
“Berkley’s commitment to innovation means every bait we make is the result of leading scientific research and constant testing in the labs and on the water truly making it a bait made by anglers. We’re proud of this award and for the recognition of this extremely important team win,” said Berkley CEO Harlan Kent. “And as science-fueled as the bait is, the Gilly is extremely accessible to anglers of all levels. Even new anglers will catch fish on this bait.”
The new Berkley PowerBait Gilly was inspired by the Japanese bass fishing techniques studied by Berkley pro Mike Iaconelli. Berkley’s bait scientists took Ike’s notes and put their own unique stamp on it, including the infusion of the bait with the famed PowerBait flavor that makes fish hold on longer for more hooksets.
“What stands out about this bait is the profile of what it’s imitating. A lot of lures have long, skinny profiles but for the first time in a long time we have a bait that so realistically mimics a fat-bodied forage base,” Iaconelli said, pointing out that the Gilly could represent a host of forage like crappie, tilapia and gizzard shad. “And I can’t remember a bait with this many rigging options. With most baits you’re restricted to just a couple, sometimes even just one, but with this there are probably 20 different ways I can think of to rig it and I’m sure we will come up with even more.”
Beyond flavor, Berkley designed the Gilly so the hollow head section is soft enough to collapse during strikes and keep the bait swimming upright regardless of how it’s rigged. The tabs built into the tail section give the bait a remarkably lifelike motion in the water, looking exactly like an easy meal. Texas rigged sideways, on a jig head or even a dropshot, the new Gilly is as realistic as it is versatile.
Available in six standard and six HD colors to match the hatch wherever it’s used, the PowerBait Gilly is available in three sizes (90mm, 110mm and 130mm) and will be available in retail stores beginning in September and has an MSRP of $6.49 for standard colors and $7.49 for HD colors.
To learn more about the Berkley PowerBait Gilly please visit www.berkley-fishing.com
Barkyoumb Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Lake Champlain
Torrington’s Pellegrino Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division
PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (JULY 26, 2021) – Boater Jared Barkyoumb of Winooski, Vermont, wins the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine at Lake Champlain in Plattsburgh, N.Y. Barkyoumb earned $4,695 for his victory at the event, hosted by the City of Plattsburgh and the Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau.
TOP 10 RESULTS
| RANK | BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN | BASS | WEIGHT | AWARD |
| 1st | Jared Barkyoumb of Winooski, Vt. | 5 | 20-8 | $4,695 |
| 2nd | Thomas Waltz of Saint Albans, Vt. | 5 | 20-2 | $2,348 |
| 3rd | Stephen Estes of Auburn, N.H. | 5 | 19-14 | $1,565 |
| 4th | Pete Gluszek of Mt. Laurel, N.J. | 5 | 19-10 | $1,796 |
| 5th | Cameron Chase of Conway, Mass. | 5 | 19-6 | $900 |
| 5th | Kyle Hall of Granbury, Texas | 5 | 19-6 | $1,400 |
| 7th | Henry Fristik of Blandford, Mass. | 5 | 19-5 | $783 |
| 8th | Gary Longley of So. Londonderry, Vt. | 5 | 19-4 | $704 |
| 9th | Dakota Ebare of Brookeland, Texas | 5 | 19-3 | $626 |
| 10th | Andrew Bechard of Plattsburgh, N.Y. | 5 | 19-1 | $520 |
| 10th | Robert Bordeaux of Essex Junction, Vt. | 5 | 19-1 | $520 |
| RANK | STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN | BASS | WEIGHT | AWARD |
| 1st | Dominic Pellegrino of Torrington, Conn. | 5 | 20-8 | $2,309 |
| 2nd | Scott Minch of Feasterville, Pa. | 5 | 19-2 | $1,155 |
| 3rd | Michael Burke of Breinigsville, Pa. | 5 | 18-3 | $770 |
| 4th | Charles Peart of King of Prussia, Pa. | 5 | 17-13 | $539 |
| 5th | Chris Hurley of Carlisle, Pa. | 5 | 16-10 | $802 |
| 6th | Craig Cleveland of Frankfort, N.Y. | 5 | 16-0 | $423 |
| 7th | Jim D’Ambra of Hanover, Mass. | 5 | 15-8 | $385 |
| 8th | Romano Duncan of Andover, Mass. | 5 | 15-5 | $346 |
| 9th | Ethan McMahon of Swanton, Vt. | 5 | 15-4 | $288 |
| 9th | Thomas Illar, Jr., Hyde Park, Pa. | 5 | 15-4 | $288 |
CONTINGENCY AWARDS
| AWARD | NAME | CONTINGENCY | PAYOUT |
| Boater Big Bass | Jared Barkyoumb of Winooski, Vt. | 5-pound, 7-ounce bass | $700 |
| Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass | Chris Hurley of Carlisle, Pa. | 5-pound, 6-ounce bass | $340 |
| Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus | Kyle Hall of Granbury, Texas | Eligible Phoenix Boat* | $500 |
* Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $7,000 per event in each Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.
WINNING BAITS
| ANGLER | BAIT | COLOR |
| Boater | Berkley Flat Worm/Drop Shot | N/A |
| Strike King Co-Angler | Roboworm/Drop Shot | N/A |
2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES
| EVENT | DATE | LOCATION | HOST |
| Northeast Division – Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship | Oct. 14-16 | Potomac River, Marbury, Md. | Charles County Board of Commissioners |
| 2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American | June 2-4 | Lake Hamilton, Hot Springs, Ark. | Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism & Visit Hot Springs |
The 2021 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championships. Boaters will compete for a $60,000 prize package, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while Strike King co-anglers will fish for a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The top six finishers in each regional will then qualify for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American.
The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the Toyota Series, the pathway to the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube .
Gum Spring’s Lachniet Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on James River
Annandale’s Titus Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division
HENRICO, Va. (July 26, 2021) – Boater Ryan Lachniet of Gum Spring, Virginia, wins the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine at James River in Henrico, Virginia. Lachniet earned $4,127 for his victory at the event.
TOP 10 RESULTS
| RANK | BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN | BASS | WEIGHT | AWARD |
| 1st | Ryan Lachniet of Gum Spring, Va. | 4 | 21-15 | $4,127 |
| 2nd | Marshall Johnson of Montpelier, Va. | 5 | 18-12 | $2,064 |
| 3rd | Jason Tibbetts of Centreville, Va. | 5 | 18-10 | $1,377 |
| 4th | Thomas Milton of Chester, Va. | 5 | 18-8 | $963 |
| 5th | Steve Colgin of Lanexa, Va. | 5 | 18-1 | $825 |
| 6th | Travis Lugar of McGaheysville, Va. | 5 | 17-7 | $757 |
| 7th | Drew Parks of Union Bridge, Md. | 5 | 17-4 | $1,188 |
| 8th | Tim Chaffin of Quinton, Va. | 5 | 16-5 | $619 |
| 8th | Mike Hicks of Goochland, Va. | 5 | 16-1 | $550 |
| 10th | Chris Daves of Spring Grove, Va. | 5 | 15-11 | $482 |
| RANK | STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN | BASS | WEIGHT | AWARD |
| 1st | Alex Titus of Annandale, Va. | 5 | 14-5 | $2,064 |
| 2nd | Lazarus Durham of Dumfries, Va. | 5 | 13-8 | $1,157 |
| 3rd | Rob Hilliard of Vinton, Va. | 5 | 12-12 | $688 |
| 4th | Dean Dalton of Keeling, Va. | 5 | 12-7 | $482 |
| 5th | Tracy Gravely of Petersburg, Va. | 5 | 12-3 | $413 |
| 6th | Doug Griles of Providence Ford, Va. | 5 | 12-2 | $378 |
| 7th | Matt Hummel of Lancaster, Pa. | 5 | 12-1 | $344 |
| 8th | Greg Chuhta of Germantown, Md. | 5 | 11-13 | $310 |
| 9th | Thomas Greenberg of Montpelier, Va. | 3 | 11-10 | $275 |
| 10th | David L. Deciucis of Chester, Va. | 5 | 11-7 | $241 |
CONTINGENCY AWARDS
| AWARD | NAME | CONTINGENCY | PAYOUT |
| Boater Big Bass | Richard Hodges of Knotts Island, N.C.287 | 7-pound, 4-ounce bass | $575 |
| Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass | Dick Allen of Sumerduck, Va. | 5-pound, 7-ounce bass | $287 |
| Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus | Drew Parks of Union Bridge, Md. | Eligible Phoenix Boat* | $500 |
* Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $7,000 per event in each Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.
WINNING BAITS
| ANGLER | BAIT | COLOR |
| Boater | Yamamoto Senko/Wacky Rig | Black/Blue |
| Strike King Co-Angler | Zoom Magnum Shakey Head Worm | N/A |
2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES
| EVENT | DATE | LOCATION | HOST |
| Shenandoah Division – Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship | Oct. 14-16 | Lake Murray, Columbia, S.C. | Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board |
| 2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American | June 2-4 | Lake Hamilton, Hot Springs, Ark. | Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism & Visit Hot Springs |
The 2021 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championships. Boaters will compete for a $60,000 prize package, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while Strike King co-anglers will fish for a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The top six finishers in each regional will then qualify for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American.
The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the Toyota Series, the pathway to the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube .
Berlin Center’s Knauf Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Mosquito Lake
Troy’s Blinn Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division
CORTLAND, Ohio (July 26, 2021) – Boater Kyle Knauf of Berlin Center, Ohio, wins the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine at Mosquito Lake Presented by TINCUP Whiskey in Cortland, Ohio. Knauf earned $5,428 for his victory at the event.
TOP 10 RESULTS
| RANK | BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN | BASS | WEIGHT | AWARD |
| 1st | Kyle Knauf of Berlin Center, Ohio | 5 | 16-5 | $5,428 |
| 2nd | Shaun Brown of Slippery Rock, Pa. | 5 | 15-13 | $2,214 |
| 3rd | Jeffrey Yost of Lima, Ohio | 5 | 14-10 | $1,478 |
| 4th | Josh Kelly of Cortland, Ohio | 5 | 14-1 | $1,033 |
| 5th | Chuck Willis of Dayton, Ohio | 5 | 13-15 | $886 |
| 6th | Jay Ellis of Celina, Ohio | 5 | 13-12 | $2,012 |
| 7th | Butch Dobransky of North Canton, Ohio | 5 | 13-9 | $738 |
| 8th | Luke Fulton of Ray, Ohio | 5 | 13-2 | $627 |
| 8th | Danny Reaves of Cleves, Ohio | 5 | 13-2 | $627 |
| 10th | Josh Smith of Hamilton, Ohio | 5 | 13-1 | $517 |
| RANK | STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN | BASS | WEIGHT | AWARD |
| 1st | Brian Blinn of Troy, Ohio | 5 | 12-3 | $2,214 |
| 2nd | Mark Miller of Baltic, Ohio | 5 | 11-14 | $1,107 |
| 3rd | Jarrod Simmons of Athens, Ohio | 5 | 11-13 | $738 |
| 4th | Brian Zelinskas of Beavercreek, Ohio | 5 | 11-12 | $517 |
| 5th | J.R. Selke of Waynesville, Ohio | 5 | 10-12 | $443 |
| 6th | Dan Goforth of Monroe, Ohio | 5 | 10-10 | $406 |
| 7th | Jordan Voigt of Celina, Ohio | 5 | 10-8 | $369 |
| 8th | Jeff Turner of Plainfiled, Ill. | 5 | 10-5 | $532 |
| 9th | Alfie Bricker of West Portsmouth, Ohio | 5 | 10-4 | $295 |
| 10th | Billy French of Hamilton, Ohio | 5 | 10-3 | $258 |
CONTINGENCY AWARDS
| AWARD | NAME | CONTINGENCY | PAYOUT |
| Boater Big Bass | Brody Campbell of Oxford, Ohio | 5-pound, 3-ounce bass | $635 |
| Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass | Preston Hake of Mineral Ridge, Ohio | 4-pound, 4-ounce bass | $317 |
| Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus | Jay Ellis of Celina, Ohio | Eligible Phoenix Boat* | $500 |
* Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $7,000 per event in each Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.
WINNING BAITS
| ANGLER | BAIT | COLOR |
| Boater | Unspecified Drop Shot | N/A |
| Strike King Co-Angler | Z-Man Evergreen Chatterbait Jack Hammer | N/A |
2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES
| EVENT | DATE | LOCATION | HOST |
| Buckeye Division – Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship | Oct. 14-16 | Potomac River, Marbury, Md. | Charles County Board of Commissioners |
| 2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American | June 2-4 | Lake Hamilton, Hot Springs, Ark. | Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism & Visit Hot Springs |
The 2021 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championships. Boaters will compete for a $60,000 prize package, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while Strike King co-anglers will fish for a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The top six finishers in each regional will then qualify for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American.
The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the Toyota Series, the pathway to the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube .
Strike King CONTRA a New Fishing Line with a New Performance Fluorocarbon, Monofilament and Braided Lines
Strike King Introduces New Rogue and Catawba Polarized Sunglasses
Strike King Introduces New Skip’N Buzz
Lexington, S.C. – June 8, 2021 – With a relentless drive to offer anglers new tools to catch more fish, Strike King Lure Company is pleased to announce the new Andy Montgomery Skip’NBuzz. This game-changing lure is specifically built to help anglers target out-of-reach fish in places where few baits will go. The legendary Strike King buzzbait, with a new design twist, is reshaping the way anglers find and catch fish.
To engineer this innovative design, Strike King turned to arguably the most proficient skipping and pitching angler on the water, Bass Pro Tour veteran Andy Montgomery. For two of his tour-level wins in his career — on Lake Norman and Smith Lake —the Blacksburg, SC native credits his ability to skip a lure into the dark recesses underneath a dock to target tournament-winning fish.
He said it took a company like Strike King to capture his extended vision for lure offerings. “My guys at Strike King and I designed thisbuzzbait to go where other buzzbaits just don’t go,and you can cast and pitch them too.” Montgomery said. “Overall, it is an amazing lure to run down the bank with and fish whatever comes your way without changing lures. But, there is simply nothing better than to skip it under a low hanging tree or put it beneath a dock and hear the explosion of the strike.”
To augment the skipping design of the buzzbait, Montgomery and Strike King also replaced the traditional buzzbait skirt with a soft plastic Strike King Toad. The bait is also sold with an interchangeable Rage Swimmer.
The Andy Montgomery Skip’N Buzz comes in four colors. Andy favors the white design when fish are targeting shad. In low light conditions, and when fish are feeding on bluegill, Andy will switch to a green pumpkinseed or black to get the job done, and pink when the fish want something different. The Skip’N Buzz will be available in a 3/8-ounce size with an MSRP of $8.99
-SKBZ-204(White)
-SKBZ-10(Black)
-SKBZ-46(Green Pumpkin)
-SKBZ-98(Pink)
Strike King Introduces 3.38-inch Mid-Size Rage Bug
Lexington, S.C. – July 16, 2021 – Strike King is pleased to announce that it has expanded the lineup of one of the most successful soft plastics on the market. Following up on the immense popularity of the Strike King Rage Bug, Baby Rage Bug and the Magnum Rage Bug, the company introduces the new 3.38” mid-size Rage Bug. What makes the Rage Bug so important to avid anglers is that it can put fish in the boat inso many different situations. The man who understands this bait’s versatility better than anyone is MLF pro Andy Montgomery. “The Rage Bug is the bait with the ultimate in versatility. I cast it, I pitch it, I skip it and I use it as a trailer on a Skipping Jig,” said Montgomery. “Its thin body allows easy penetration with a worm hook, so I use it Texas-rigged a lot. I will put it on the back of a Strike King Thunder Cricket. In shallow vegetation, I even fish it as a topwater, because its flat profile makes it such a deadly wake bait.”
“Over the years the Rage Bug has become one of the most important baits in my boat,” offered Bassmaster Elite Series angler, Greg Hackney. Hackney, an 18-year professional angler is a dangerous man with a pitching and flipping stick in his hand, has relied on the Rage Bug many times when good bites are tough to come by. “Strike King designed this 3.38” bait to deliver the same action as its bulkier cousin, but with a smaller presentation for when the fish are not as aggressive,” said Hackney. “It allows me to scale down, but still have plenty of presence in the water.” The 3.38” Rage Bug, like the original, Baby and Magnum sizes, is a remarkable soft plastic for pitching around cover and punching mats. This size is also an awesome trailer on a swim jig. The four appendages create an unmatched action. “There are occasions when it pays to downsize that Rage Bug a bit,” said Hackney. “A lot of times when you downsize a bait, you tend to lose a little of action, but this 3.38” deal really sizzles down there,”
Strike King Adds to Tour Grade Spinnerbait Lineup
Strike King Introduces the Weedless Squadron Head
Lexington, S.C. – June 1, 2021 – The legendary Squadron Swimbait Jig Head just got better.New for 2021, Strike King Lure Company is pleased to announce the weedless version of this best-seller. The Squadron Swimbait Jig Head has a solid reputation for delivering results in virtually every fishing condition. Mark Zona, world class angler and television host and commentatorrelies on the Squadron Head year-round across the country. “The thing I absolutely love about the Squadron Head is how versatile it is, and having a weedless version makes it so much better,” said Zona.“ I use it to rig swimbaits, like the Shadalicious, Rage Swimmers and the Glass Minnow.”
The head is not limited to baitfish imitators, however, Zona said that he has found other uses for it. “I use it to fish Rage Bugsand I can I slow roll it across the bottom, bouncing it over rocks or skip it under docks, said Zona. “I fish it literally everywhere; and now, the thing is weedless.”
Zona played a key role in the new weedless version of the Squadron Head. “As good as this jig head is, we needed a way to get it through cover, and swim it through grass,” Zona explained. “One of the greatest features of the Squadron Head is the muscled up, wide-gap, black nickel hook. It is really stout, and even on a small bait, the hook can handle big fish.So,to get that big hook through cover without getting hung up on debris, we designed the perfect weed guard on the new updated Squadron Head.”
Like the trusted original, the WeedlessSquadron Head features a bait keeper that excels at holding the plastic bait firmly in place.Mark Menendez, 20-year veteran of the Bassmaster Tournament Trail, depends on this feature tomanage the bait with all-day performance. “You rarely have to adjust your bait with this keeper on it,” Menendez offers. “It keeps you fishing with minimal interruption.”
Also like the original, the 60-degree line tie on the Weedguard Squadron Head allows ideal action on the bait. Strike King offers the Weedguard Squadron Jig Head in Blue Glimmer, Green Pumpkin, Pearl, Unpainted and in four sizes: 1/4 oz, 3/8 oz, 1/2 oz, and 3/4 oz.
Cranking Was Key For Diehl In B.A.S.S. Kayak Series Win On Pickwick Lake
2021 Pickwick Kayak Winner.jpg
Joshua Diehl, of Grovetown, Ga., has won the Bassmaster B.A.S.S. Nation Kayak Series powered by TourneyX at Pickwick Lake with a five-fish limit measuring 92.5 inches.
Photo by Kyle Jessie/B.A.S.S.
July 24, 2021
COUNCE, Tenn. — A moment of forethought equipped Joshua Diehl of Grovetown, Ga., with the tool he needed to tally 92.5 inches and win the Bassmaster B.A.S.S. Nation Kayak Series powered by TourneyX at Pickwick Lake.
Diehl topped second-place Coley McGowan of Gadsden, Ala., by a 4-inch margin. Diehl’s best five bass measured 19.25, 19, 18.25, 18 and 18 inches.
Fishing from a Hobie Pro Angler 14 with the MirageDrive 360, Diehl spent most of his time near an offshore island upriver from the Natchez Trace Bridge. He fished submerged grass in 5 to 8 feet, but ended up catching his fish in an unexpected manner.
“I picked up a bait that I’ve never had a reason to throw before — a Strike King Hybrid Hunter (crankbait),” Diehl said. “Where I live, we don’t have grass lakes; we don’t have any grass in our lakes whatsoever.
“When I found the fish in practice, I knew they were in grass and I knew they would eat a worm, but I was unsure that I wanted to throw the worm all day. I had bought Hybrid Hunters in the event that I found a grass scenario where I could power fish.”
Diehl actually started his day throwing a Texas-rigged Zoom Speed Worm in California 420 and boated a couple of fish. However, the vast majority of his 25 bass came on the crankbait.
“This morning when I got to my spot I caught my first two fish on a worm, and then I saw a gizzard shad break (the surface),” he said. “I picked up the Hybrid Hunter in the green gizzard color and chucked it out there and got bit immediately. The fish hit it so hard, it almost took the rod out of my hand.
“That’s when I realized I should stick to the Hybrid Hunter in the early morning. But the more I threw it, the more they kept eating it.”
Diehl said he had his limit in about 20 minutes. He continued upgrading for the next two hours.
“I just sat there and went to town on them,” he said. “I lost probably six or seven fish over the course of the day and most of my fish were over 16 inches.”
Diehl said he was confident he had found an area with a good population of fish, but he was surprised by their behavior.
“I didn’t expect them to stay shallow all day,” he said. “I expected that, as the heat of the day came up, they would get off the ledge and get into deeper water, but they never did. They stayed up the entire day.”
Diehl threw his crankbait on a 7-foot ALX Ikos Hustler fiberglass rod with a 6.3:1 Daiwa Tatula Elite reel holding 14-pound Sunline FC Sniper fluorocarbon. Diehl said he based his presentation on the advice of a Bassmaster Elite Series veteran.
“Gerald Swindle always says ‘In the summertime, speed kills.’ The faster I ran that bait, the harder they hit it. They were reacting big time.
“The faster you move the bait, they don’t get a good look at it. The bait’s (hitting) the grass, banging and moving in between. They’d just come up and rail it.”
Diehl said he remained on the same 300- to 400-yard stretch all day. Moving up and down the length and adjusting with the fish.
“There was a sweet spot, but as the day went on, I think the sweet spot was moving,” he said. “When I started the day, I was in the sweet spot that I knew about; but as that bite died in that location, I started to shade out.
“As I started to shade out toward the deeper water and a little farther down from the island, I started getting bit again. As the sun got hotter, they came out a little farther, but they stayed in the grass.
McGowan’s second-place effort included five bass measuring 20.25, 19, 18, 16.25 and 15 inches.
Brian Delahunty of Fyffe, Ala., finished third with 86.75 inches. His best five measured 19.5, 18.5, 16.75, 16.50 and15.50.
Fishing a Hobie Pro Angler 14 with the MirageDrive 360 and a Torqueedo 1103 electric motor, Delahunty fished the mid-lake area and targeted submerged grass in 6 to 8 feet.
After an unproductive start, Delahunty reached his main area and fished there the rest of his day. Working one area about 300 yards long by 100 yards wide, he caught approximately 20 bass.
“My Garmin LiveScope helped me pick out the larger strands of submerged grass,” Delahunty said. “You’d look out and see it was 8 feet deep and there’s 2 feet of grass and then there’d be a hump of grass that was 4 feet tall. Those almost always held fish.
“That was instrumental because I could cruise through the grass and every time I saw one of those clumps, I marked it. When I’d come back down through again, there would be another fish on it.”
Delahunty caught all of his bass on a Texas-rigged Zoom Speed Worm with a 1/8-ounce weight. He fished this bait on 15-pound Gamma braid main line with a 15-pound Seaguar AbrazX fluorocarbon leader.
Justin Patrick of Arlington, Tenn., caught the day’s biggest bass — a 23.25-incher.
Tour Hardin County is hosting the event.
Strike King introduces the 6XD Hard Knock
Lexington, S.C. – July 16, 2021 – Always known for breakthrough innovations, Strike King is adding a new sound for one of best-selling crank baits of all time. For 2022, Strike King announces the 6XD Hard Knock. Strike King has taken the time-tested 6XD and applied the popular Hard Knock technology to it. They maintained the exact same shape, weight & proven action, but added a single weight configuration that adds a deep thumping sound that makes it have a different appeal to offshore bass.
The Strike King 6XD was first released to the market in 2011 but was brought to the attention of the fishing public in June of 2010 when Strike King pro and bass fishing legend Kevin VanDam won the Bassmaster Elite Series Tennessee Triumph on Kentucky Lake with a four-day total of 92 pounds, 5 ounces. In winning that event, VanDam highlighted the lure that he and legendary Strike King lure designer, the late Phil Marks, teamed up to produce. The pair would also collaborate on several other projects, but the 6XD has been perhaps their most admired result.
To this day, the 6XD remains a lure that serious crankbait anglers rely on and knowing how many of the deep diving plugs get presented to bass across the country, Strike King took what Marks and VanDam built and added a new sound to help anglers trigger strikes in a new way.
One of those anglers that has relied on the lure is 2018 FLW Angler of the Year and 22-year veteran of professional fishing, Mark Rose. The Arkansas pro and ledge fishing specialisthas relied heavily on the plugthroughout his career. “The 6XD is the best deep diving crankbait on the planet,” announcedRose. “It is my go-to bait all over the country.”
Rose credits the unique design of the 6XD that sets it apart from other deep diving crankbaits. “ The 6XD simply has features that no other crankbait has,” Rose said noting the curvature of the 6XD’s bill and streamlined body shape. “It gets down quickly to maximum depth. And when it gets down there, the action is like no other.” Even with its effectiveness, Rose knows that it helps to have differences that set presentations apart. The addition of the Hard Knock sound gives him something to adjust in his presentations to generate strikes. “This thing doesn’t sound like any other crankbait, it hits hard under the water like its ringing the dinner bell,” jokes Rose. “All kidding aside though, there is no underestimating the impact of adding the Hard Knock sound to this legendary crankbait; it will make offshore bass respond.”
The key depth of the of the 6XD is 18 to 20 feet, but according to Rose, the 6XD, “will run 20 feet on 12-pound line right out of the package.” While Rose said the lure will reach a depth of 20 feet on 12-pound line, Fellow Strike King Pro, and Kentucky Lake native Mark Menendez, from Paducah, Kent. Likes a little more depth. Menendez usually fishes the 6XD on 10-pound line to get even more depth from the lure, and at those depths, added attraction is helpful. “You want that 6XD covering as much real estate as you can down there banging off structure; creating reaction strikes,” Menendez said. “The 6XD is one of my all-time favorite plugs, and having this new sound profile will create more commotion and add strikes, which equates to more opportunity on the water. Professional fishing can be a hard knock life, but the Hard Knock series can help smooth some bumps out of a fishing day.”
Strike King Introduces the Chick Magnet Crankbait
Lexington, S.C. – July16, 2021 – Strike King Lure Company is pleased to work with MLF pro angler and back-to-back FLW AOY winner Andy Morgan to develop the Chick Magnet flat-sided crankbait. Partnering with Strike King's innovative design team, the Dayton, Tenn. pro harkened back to his upbringing on or around Lake Chickamauga to develop the Chick Magnet. "It is great to finally see the flat-sided crankbait getting the attention it deserves," said Morgan.
While the flat-sided crankbait has a rich history in Tennessee and the Carolinas - where Morgan cut his teeth - it has proven to be highly effective style of bait nationwide." Those early lures I remember so fondly were designed by garage craftsmen out of balsa and cedar, and they had action like no other,”said Morgan.“ That's what our team at Strike King had in mind when we envisioned the Chick Magnet, and I think we were true to those early designs." The thin body design of the Chick Magnet and the circuit board lip impart a tighter wiggle and an exceptionally lifelike action to the lure." The Chick Magnet has the perfect action, that wobble and thump, that makes it really get bit," Morgan added.
The Chick Magnet is ideal in the three-to-six-foot depth range and anglers will certainly see the design's benefit for targeting fish in tougher conditions; the Chick Magnet excels in cool water, when fishing pressure is high, or after a weather front has made finding a bite more challenging.
"We worked really hard to breathe new life and bring new technology to an old, tried-and-true design," Morgan offered. "One of the challenges of traditional balsa flat-sided crankbaits is their castability and durability. Historically flat-sides are hard to cast for distance or accuracy due to their lighter weight and could only handle so much abuse before it was destroyed. But we addressed these issues when designing the Chick Magnet. It will cast, hold up well, and more importantly, catch big ones!”
Strike King offers the Chick Magnet in 13 colors. For clear water, Morgan prefers the Green Gizzard Shad, Natural Shad, Natural Bream and Sexy Shad 2.0. When fishing stained water, Morgan often switches to a Chartreuse with Blue/Black Splatterback or a Chartreuse Copper. His personal favorite color in the line is “Tip’s Special” which pays homage to Marion Tipton, the original carver of the bait that was the inspiration of the all-new Chick Magnet.
Major League Fishing Announces 2022 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and Toyota Series Schedules
ORLANDO, Fla. (July 22, 2021) – Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, announced Thursday schedules for the 2022 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and the 2022 Toyota Series at a live press event held at the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades (ICAST).
The 27th season of the MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit (formerly FLW Tour), professional bass fishing’s premier five-fish limit circuit, will feature six regular-season stops showcasing the best anglers in the world competing for thousands of dollars across the best bass fisheries in the United States. The 2022 season will culminate with the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit TITLE, in which 50 anglers will qualify – the top 48 finishers in the Pro Circuit Angler of the Year standings along with the reigning 2021 TITLE Champion and the 2021 Angler of the Year.
2022 MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Schedule:
Hosted by Visit Lake County, Florida
Hosted by the Hardin County Convention & Visitors Bureau
Hosted by Marshall County Tourism and Sports
Hosted by Richmond Region Tourism
Hosted by the City of Plattsburgh & the Adirondack Coast Visitor’s Bureau
Hosted by the Town of Massena
“We’ve got some great momentum as we near the end of a very successful 2021 season and we look forward to carrying that momentum into 2022,” said Kathy Fennel, MLF Executive Vice President and General Manager. “Our team has put together a pair of great schedules that I know will have our fans and anglers excited – a nice mix of some of our historic venues along with a few fisheries that we haven’t visited in a while. Our MLF anglers are the best in the world, and we look forward to providing our world-class tournaments to them again in 2022.”
“The Town of Massena is excited and proud to be selected for the 2022 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit TITLE Championship,” said Don Meissner, Massena Tourism Promoter. “After years of working to promote our community, Massena is now being recognized as one of the most beautiful fishing destinations in the United States. On behalf of all of the communities in the North Country, we can’t wait to host the TITLE anglers that will visit us in upstate New York.”
Also announced Thursday was the 2022 MLF Toyota Series schedule, which kicks off its regular season in early-February at Lake Okeechobee in Clewiston, Florida, and runs through late-September when it wraps up at the St. Lawrence River in Massena, New York.
2022 MLF Toyota Series Schedule:
Central Division
Hosted by the Mountain Lakes Chamber of Commerce
Hosted by Byrdstown-Pickett County Chamber of Commerce
Hosted by Chattanooga Sports
Northern Division
Hosted by Charles County Board of Commissioners
Hosted by City of Plattsburgh & Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau
Hosted by the Town of Massena
Plains Division
Hosted by Tri-County Lodging Association
Hosted by City of Grove & Grove Convention & Tourism Bureau
Hosted by the Sedalia Convention and Visitors Bureau & Visit Benton
Southern Division
Hosted by Roland & Mary Ann Martin’s Marina and Resort and the Hendry County Tourism Development Council
Hosted by the Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce
Hosted by Visit Lake County, Florida
Southwestern Division
Hosted by the Jasper-Lake Sam Rayburn Chamber of Commerce
Hosted by TBD
Hosted by the Jasper-Lake Sam Rayburn Chamber of Commerce
Western Division
Hosted by Go Lake Havasu
Hosted by the City of Clearlake
Hosted by TBD
* Subject to California permit approval
After resounding positive feedback from anglers, the Toyota Series Wild Card Division will also return in 2022. Pros and co-anglers have a second chance at qualifying for the Toyota Series Championship by fishing four or more tournaments in any combination of divisions and keeping their three highest finishes. Twelve pros and 12 co-anglers will qualify for the 2022 Toyota Series Championship based on Wild Card division points.
Further details for both circuits will be announced later this year. The full schedule for the 2022 MLF Bass Pro Tour and the dates and location for the 2022 Toyota Series Championship will be announced in the coming weeks.
For more ICAST 2021 coverage, compete details and updated 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.
SPRO’s Fat Papa Walker Brings New Life to the Topwater Game
Kennesaw, GA (XXXX) Major League Fishing pro Russ “Big Daddy” Lane is a big man with a big appetite for big bass. So when he needed a do-everything topwater walker for lunker bass from Florida to California, he enlisted the SPRO engineers to build the Fat Papa Walker. This 130mm beast calls the meanest predators on your local lake to strike out of pure aggression.
Not only is the Fat Papa Walker slightly bigger than standard walk-the-dog topwaters, but unlike its cigar-shaped predecessors, it features a distinctly distended belly that pushes massive amounts of water. It enables anyone to create a wide “glide” without much effort. As a result, expert topwater anglers will be able to make it perform all sorts of fish-tempting tricks, while even rank beginners will get this baitfish imitator to work properly with minimal effort.
If the wide walking action was not enough to draw fish from a distance, the dual rattle chambers create an aggravating clacking noise that inspires vicious strikes. In addition to the unique body shape, the Fat Papa Walker also has a shallow cupped mouth, thus adding to the varied ways you can fish this big surface lure. You can chug it, twitch it or walk it violently, everything from the most aggressive action possible to the most subtle – the only thing that won’t be subtle is when a big bass inhales it. It’s equally effective on largemouths, smallmouths and spotted bass, and don’t be surprised if a giant striper or muskie comes up to take a bite out of it. Combined with SPRO’s other purpose-driven topwater tools, this will complete your tournament-winning topwater arsenal.
The Fat Papa Walker is available in 8 proven colors, perfectly matched to different forage bases and water conditions, so you’ll always have the right tool for the job.
SPRO Fat Papa Walker 130 Features
- Size: 130mm
- Weight:7/8 ounce
- Depth: Topwater
- Action: Walk the Dog
SPRO® Fishing Line Assortment Expands With New Essential Series Bronzeye Braid 8x
Kennesaw, GA (XXXX) - Bass anglers can all agree on one thing – there’s no more excitement on the water than flipping a frog and enticing a big bass to engulf it. Designed primarily for casting lures like the SPRO® Bronzeye frog, along with flipping baits into timber, SPRO introduces the new Essential Series Bronzeye Braid 8X. Available in moss green color, it comes in four different pound tests – 40, 50, 60, and 80, each in 150-meter spools.
Made in Japan to SPRO’s specifications, the new smooth 8-strand braid offers premium performance at an affordable price. The Bronzeye Braid 8X lines are ideal for the influx of new anglers who are just discovering fishing and the different techniques used for frog fishing or any heavy cover application.
“Our new Essential Bronzeye Braid 8x fits well into SPRO’s system approach to fishing, and in this case, we make it easy for anglers to select the right braided line to use when fishing frogs or flipping,” said Syd Rives with SPRO. “Whether a new angler to our sport or a seasoned pro competing in club events or on various tournament circuits, our ‘system approach’ is all about making all the tackle selection easy so you can concentrate on your time on the water.”
Features:
• Pound Test: 40#, 50#, 60#, 80#
• Spool Size: 150 meter (167 yards)
• Braid Color: Moss Green
• MSRP: 40, 50, 60 - $17.99; 80 - $19.99
Unique Sound And Head-shaking Action Offered in New Spro Cyclone Prop 80
Kennesaw, GA Along with his success as a professional bass angler, Shin Fukae is known for his devotion to the sport both on and off the water. Always thinking. Always looking for the advantage. And that includes ideas for bass lures. The crew at SPRO has teamed with Fukae for a new prop/plop bait, the Cyclone Prop 80, that already has Shin excited for his next tournament and maybe another Angler of the Year title.
The SPRO Cyclone Prop 80, at 80-millimeters (just over 3-inches,) does offer a number of Shin Fukae advantages. Along with being available in a variety colors for various conditions, the lure will entice bass with its unique head shake as it moves through the water, while the rear metal blade emits a unique sound – all in hopes of driving a bass so crazy it pounces on it.
“And there’s even more to it to make it easy to fish,” said SPRO’s Syd Rives. “We use a SPRO swivel in line tie to keep the bait from rolling while providing anglers with more leverage versus when hooked up. With Cyclone Prop 80, more of your hooksets will lead to more bass brought to the boat.”
Features:
- Body Size: 80mm (just over 3-inches)
- Connection: SPRO swivel in line tie
- Hooks: Gamakatsu #4 trebles
- MSRP: $15.99
Robotic Swimbaits, X Ray Glasses and an $11,000 Kayak:
Vance McCullough
Welcome to ICAST 2021
Growing up, I thought we’d have flying cars by now. But in a week that saw Jeff Bezos blast off to space in a private craft, nowhere is creativity displayed more brightly than at the ICAST show in Orlando, Fla.
One example is the Animated Lure, which according to the packaging, is “Bringing Fishing to Life”. The multi-segmented hard-bodied swimbaits begin swimming in random circular and figure eight patterns when dropped in water. They are USB rechargeable and run for about 45 minutes-to-an-hour, so smart anglers are buying them in pairs to use one while the other recharges. Hate to run out of battery when the bite suddenly turns hot.
Available in three sizes, the Animated Lure prices range from twenty-some-odd bucks to over seventy, with the most practical size, The Classic, retailing for about $32.
X ray glasses were all the rage in the 1950’s. Popularity waned as women started wearing clothes that left nothing to the imagination in the first place. Fish, however, are shyer and if you want to see the drop-offs and underwater where they hide, look no further than the ClearWater.AR system, an electronics bundle featuring a pair of glasses through which you view your smartphone as it scans the water to reveal, right on the phone screen, all the hidden topography.
The ClearWater.AR (AR stands for augmented reality) will even populate the screen with golf hole style flags to hint at the places where you might want to cast. It is said to show navigational channels, marker buoys at twilight and in heavy fog and could be a useful tool if it lives up to its promised potential.
ClearWater.AR uses imagery provided by Strikelines, a company worth checking out as their charts can be purchased independently from the ClearWater.AR system which itself will set you back $1,199 plus the requisite annual subscription to the associated smartphone app at $99 per year.
We’ve previewed Apex Watercraft before on AnglersChannel.com but company owner, Eric Jackson notes that the nascent venture suffered all the common setbacks during 2020 and is just now hitting its stride. “We will have inventory to dealers this fall,” said Jackson who added that prospective customers can place an order direct with the company.
The Apex may be the must futuristic thing at ICAST. The craft weighs about 40 pounds, Jackson lifted off its display stand with one finger under the nose. The graphics reveal sections of the carbon fiber construction that lends both, exceptional strength and tremendous weight savings along with a clean, technical look similar to that of a high-end fishing rod. The kayak shares another trait with high-end rods – a high-end price tag.
$11,000.
Features are too numerous for the scope of this story, but you need to take a look at the Apex online. Jackson has posted a handful of videos on YouTube, for example. After checking it out you may not buy one, but you will want one. Jackson flatly states, “They’re not for everybody, just those who want the very best.”
Sometimes the best doesn’t cost more. I hung out with Bassmaster Elite Series Pro Matt ‘On ‘Em’ Robertson today. Having finished his first season on Tour, Robertson said one the biggest lessons he learned is that “you don’t need a $400 rod to compete, not even on the Elite Series. I caught fish all over the country on my Ugly Stick Carbon rods which retail for $80 and come in all the lengths and actions you need.”
The Carbon models have been around just long enough to prove that, like Robertson who qualified for another Bassmaster Classic, they belong on Tour – and in your hands.
Affordable quality, now that’s a technological marvel that’s out of this world.
Colder Water Situations Call for New SPRO® Carbon Blade Baits
Kennesaw, GA (XXXX) – Because most bass anglers would fish 365/24/7 if they could, SPRO® expands their fishing season for when the water gets colder and the bass get harder to entice. Spro’s new Carbon Blade baits offer an assortment of lure designs so anglers can easily modify them to enhance the baits for any fishing situation. Available in two sizes ½ and ⅜ ounce, and in 15 different colors, savvy anglers will have extreme versatility and nearly limitless combinations at their disposal.
“Blade baits have proven to be effective for colder water use, and the carbon fiber blank we use for the lure’s body along with tungsten head and Gamakatsu hooks combine for a great lure,” said SPRO’s Syd Rives. “But at SPRO, we take it all a step more by offering three connections points on the body, allowing anglers to go from a deep, tight action on the front, to shallower use with the middle connection point, and even to an aggressive light retrieve for a fall fishing vertical yo-yo retrieve. The Carbon Blade will cover it all.”
The 15 colors offered on all three sizes feature colors for bass fishing water from east to west, north to south, including Ayu, Crawfish Gold, Chrome Pink/Blue, Chrome, Delta Chrome, Gold Black, Icy Barbie, Magic Tiger, Nanko Reaction, Nasty Shad, Old Fire Tiger, Perch, Purple Rain, and Purple Tiger Chartreuse.
Features:
- Size: (in ounces)1/2, ⅜ oz.
- Body Material: carbon fiber blank, tungsten head
- Hooks: Gamakatsu 3/8 or ½ depending on size
- Colors: Ayu, Crawfish Gold, Chrome Pink/Blue, Chrome, Delta Chrome, Gold Black, Icy Barbie, Magic Tiger, Nanko Reaction, Nasty Shad, Old Fire Tiger, Perch, Purple Rain,Purple Tiger Chartreuse
- MSRP: $11.99
SPRO Introduces Larger Bronzeye Pop 70 for Topwater Trophies
Kennesaw, GA Bass Pro Tour champion Dean Rojas taught the world that while a hollow-bellied frog excels atop thick grass beds, it also tempts big bass in open water and is effective throughout much of the year. When he designed the Bronzeye Pop to add to SPRO’s existing lineup of walking frogs, he had a clear winner. Now he’s done it again, with the addition of the Bronzeye Pop 70. It’s a larger version of the original, with the same great features but in a bigger profile and a heftier pop.
“There was a huge consumer demand for a bigger popping frog,” said SPRO® Marketing Director Syd Rives. “We didn’t see any need to change any of the industry-leading features or components that made the Bronzeye Pop 50 and Bronzeye Pop 60 so universally effective, but we had to beef it up to corral the biggest, meanest bass on any fishery.”
That started by building the lure around a stout and super-sharp Gamakatsu 5/0 EWG Double Hook, perfectly angled and designed to hook even tentative strikers. Fortunately, this lure’s booming action, created by its cupped mouth, tends to attract primarily violent explosions. When popped aggressively, it can call even neutral bass from a distance, but it’s at its best when popped in a small space, aggravating wary giants until they can’t stand it.
Like its little brothers, the biggest Bronzeye Pop is ready to catch fish right out of the package, with none of the modifications typically required of other hollow-bodied frogs. It weighs ¾ ounce and is 70 mm long. The super-soft plastic is highly buoyant, and the color-matched skirted legs provide excellent action and appeal at rest.
SPRO Bronzeye Pop 70 Features
- Weight: ¾ oz.
- Size: 70 mm
- Hook: Gamakatsu 5/0 EWG Double Hook Round Bend treble hooks
- Depth: Topwater
- MSRP:???
SPRO’s New Bronzeye Pop 40 Offers a Snack-Sized Meal to Giant Bass
Kennesaw, GA SPRO’s Bronzeye Pop lineup has proven so incredibly effective for big bass anglers. Earlier this year, SPRO introduced the larger Pop 70 for bass with a bigger appetite. New for 2021, SPRO introduces a diminutive size 40 model so anglers can continue to throw frogs to pressured fish.
While the Bronzeye Pop 40 is more compact than its brethren, it still has the same big-fish attracting qualities. The new Pop 40 features a Gamakatsu Nano Smooth Coated Superline Double Frog Hook, which gives a weedless presentation, increases hookup percentage, and doesn’t risk bending out.
The beauty of the Bronzeye Pop 40 is that it can be fished with a variety of techniques. It can be subtly twitched, stop and go retrieve, or can be popped aggressively. When worked properly, it will make just as much noise as any frog on the market. That means it will call fish from a distance or surprise them into striking reflexively. The only limitation is the angler’s imagination. The aerodynamic profile allows the lure to be fished on heavy tackle needed to winch giants out of thick greenery. This also allows the lure to be skipped easily under overhanging cover.
This new smallest version of the Bronzeye Pop lineup will initially be offered in 13 of SPRO’s proven frogging colors, so that anglers can imitate any forage. When fish are still looking up but don’t want a full-sized entrée, this should be the go-to topwater solution.
SPRO Bronzeye Pop 40 Features
- Weight: ⅕ oz.
- Size: 40mm
- Hook: Gamakatsu Nano-Coated Superline Double Frog Hook
- Depth: Topwater
- MSPR: $10.99
SPRO® Introduces New Colors of Aruku Shad
Kennesaw, GA (XXXX) The SPRO® Aruku Shad has proven itself from coast to coast as the lipless crankbait anglers rely upon whether they’re chasing the limit of a lifetime or trying to figure out a tough bite. While the lure has been offered in a wide variety of productive patterns since its introduction, the company is widely expanding its offerings with 23 new distinctive colors for 2021-2022.
These 23 colors range from the hyper-realistic to the outrageously gaudy, allowing anglers to target a wide range of predator fish throughout the year, regardless of water clarity or forage base.
The Aruku Shad distinguishes itself from the competition, both in the package and – more importantly – in the water, with its exceptionally loud rattles and nose-down attitude. The latter enables it to come through cover cleanly and efficiently while also allowing it to stand on its nose at rest. So whether you’re burning it, yo-yoing it or using a stop-and-go retrieve, the Aruku Shad maintains its posture and tempts fish to bite.
Like all SPRO crankbaits, the Aruku Shad comes with properly sized, razor-sharp
Gamakatsu trebles. Find a color that fits your needs and prepare to be amazed.
The new colors are:
- Bumble Bee
- Blue Gill
- Bonsai
- Blue Perch
- Barbie
- Crawfish Gold
- Clear
- Chrome Purple
- Craw Chartreuse
- Frozen Perch
- Golden Dragon
- G Nugget
- Golden Perch
- Icy Barbie
- Killer Gill
- Marble Brown
- Purple Perch
- Pink Perch
- Purple Neon
- Pearl Shad
- Real Perch
- Rosey Perch
- Red Tiger
SPRO® Introduces New Flappin’ Frog to Continue Amphibious Domination
Kennesaw, GA (XXXX) Part of the Essential series, the SPRO® engineers worked diligently to create the new Flappin Frog, extending the company’s footprint in the world of topwaters with a frog meant to be buzzed. The skirted legs have been replaced by paddle tailed appendages that can be buzzed across the surface or retrieved in a stop and go pattern. They’re deadly over thick cover and in open water alike. The frog is made of elastomer material, which makes it float and stretch. They’re deadly over thick cover and in open water alike.
As with the other SPRO frogs, a key part of the Flappin’ Frog’s effectiveness is that it’s built around a Gamakatsu Nano-Coated Superline Double Frog Hook gives a weedless presentation as well as increases hookup percentage without risk of bending out. The frog’s body is built of a floating elastomer material, so when a fish strikes half-heartedly or misses the lure, you can stop it in its tracks and tempt it to come back.
The Flappin’ Frog makes a ruckus, whether retrieved at rocket speed, or slowly walked back. The legs kick and buzz with only the slightest forward movement, and savvy anglers can mix up their retrieves until they find out what bass want on a particular day.
The Flappin’ Frog will initially be offered in 11 of SPRO’s proven frogging colors so any angler can imitate any forage.
SPRO Flappin’ Frog Features:
- Weight: ⅝ oz.
- Size: 65 mm
- Hook: 4/0 Gamakatsu Nano-Coated Superline Double Frog Hook
- Depth: Topwater
- Price: $10.99
St. Lawrence River and Massena Set for Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Savage Arms Stop 6
163 Professional Anglers Head to Massena to Compete for up to $135,000 and Valuable Points in Angler of the Year Race
MASSENA, N.Y. (July 21, 2021) – Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, is set to return to Massena, New York, next week, July 29 – Aug. 1, for the MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by Bad Boy Mowers, Savage Arms Stop 6 Presented by Abu Garcia at the St. Lawrence River. In its 26thseason, the circuit (formerly known as the FLW Tour) features a roster of the world’s best bass-fishing professionals competing across six regular-season events, each with a top award of up to $135,000. The field also competes for valuable points to qualify for the 2021 Tackle Warehouse TITLE Presented by Mercury – the Pro Circuit Championship – and the coveted Angler of the Year title.
Hosted by the Town of Massena, this is the sixth and final Pro Circuit event of the 2021 season and offers competitors a total purse of more than $900,000.
Pros will have the run of the river but will not be allowed to lock downstream into Lake St. Francis or run out into Lake Ontario proper. While this may be a hindrance to some anglers, those who thrive fishing river systems will have everything you could ask for in a northern fishery – deep and shallow grass, docks, rock piles, current seams, sand flats, boulders and more.
Pro Scott Dobson of Clarkston, Michigan, who will be competing in this event, finished in second place in a 2019 Toyota Series event on the St. Lawrence River, picking apart shallow-water smallmouths to win nearly $20,000. With a top prize of $135,000 on the line, Dobson is excited to return to Massena for another shot.
“I won a Toyota Series event on 1000 Islands in 2016 during this time of year and came in second on the St. Lawrence River in 2019, so I’m excited for another chance on this fishery,” said Dobson. “I love fishing current and Great Lake-systems and have had a lot of success in that realm, so I’m excited to get there and get started.
Dobson said everything will be in play at this event – from fishing shallow on 6- to 8-foot flats to deep dragging drop-shot and Carolina rigs in the heavy current of the main river.
“Baits that will dominate in this tournament are moving baits like jerkbaits and spybaits, along with Ned rigs and drop-shots on the bottom,” said Dobson. “I also expect to see a lot of fish caught on the Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flatnose Minnow, and if guys are lucky enough to have it, on the new MaxScent Little General. That bait is a Ned rig type bait, with MaxScent, and is being released at ICAST this week. But I know a lot of guys already have those in their arsenal.”
Dobson said he believes it will take 20 pounds per day to get into the Top 10, but to win the event will take a solid 23 pounds per day. While it is a big commitment to make long runs on the river, he anticipates a lot of guys are going to be running 50 to 70 miles to their fishing locations, which creates a risk factor due to the time it takes to make those long runs.
“It really depends on whether guys are looking to just go for the win or planning to play it conservative and stay closer to the ramp where they don’t have as much of a risk of not getting back in time,” said Dobson. “This being the final event, that affects the points race to get into the TITLE championship and Angler of the Year standings. Some anglers may not be swinging for the fence.
“I don’t have a shot at the TITLE after a couple bad events, so I’m not worried about the points,” continued Dobson. “I’m all in and I’ve got to go for the win. I plan to make big runs and try to go places where I can catch bigger fish. I may not catch as many fish, but I expect them to be bigger and better-quality fish where I’m going.”
Anglers will take off at 6:30 a.m. ET, Thursday through Sunday, from the Massena Intake Boat Launch located at 1415 State Highway 131 in Massena. Weigh-ins will also be held at the boat launch daily at 3 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the action online through the MLF NOW! live stream and coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
In addition to the launch and weigh-in, fans and community members are invited to community events being held on Saturday, July 31. The Town of Louisville will host a Kids’ Fishing Derby on the Wilson Hill Causeway from noon to 2 p.m. ET, open to children 6 to 12 years of age. The derby is free to the public and prizes will be awarded for tagged fish caught by derby participants during the event. Only 250 spots are available upon registration. To register for this event, visit https://www.exploremassena.
The Town of Massena will also host a Party at the Beach on Saturday, July 31 from 6-9 p.m. ET. Anglers and the general public will enjoy live music, fireworks and a variety of food and beverages. There is no admission charge to enjoy the band and fireworks. Food trucks and beverage vendors will be onsite selling refreshments to park visitors. For more information regarding the event, visit https://www.exploremassena.
In Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit competition, the full field of 163 anglers compete in the two-day opening round on Thursday and Friday. The top 50 pros based on their two-day cumulative weight advance to Saturday. Only the top 10 pros continue competition on Sunday, with the winner determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from the four days of competition.
The MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by Bad Boy Mowers, Savage Arms Stop 6 Presented by Abu Garcia at the St. Lawrence River will feature live on-the-water coverage and a two-hour action-packed television show that will premiere on the Outdoor Channel on Sunday, Sept. 1 from 7 to 9 a.m. ET and re-air on the Sportsman Channel this fall. Weigh-ins will be streamed daily and fans can catch live on-the-water action all day Saturday and Sunday, July 31 – Aug. 1 on MLF NOW! beginning at 7 a.m. ET at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The 2021 season culminates with the Tackle Warehouse TITLE Presented by Mercury, the Pro Circuit Championship, where the top 48 pros in the points standings plus 2020 TITLE Champion Rusty Salewske of Alpine, California, and 2020 AOY Ron Nelson of Berrien Springs, Michigan, will compete for at top prize of $235,000. The 2021 TITLE will be on the Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wisconsin on Aug. 17-22, and is hosted by Explore La Crosse.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit presented by Bad Boy Mowers on the MLF BIG5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
2021-22 Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia Pre Season Poll: Rankings 16th – 20th
Teams Ranked 16TH – 20TH are revealed as the Association of Collegiate Anglers provides the results from its first-ever pre-season poll
Published by: Kyle Curry
8:00 AM July 20, 2021
Association of Collegiate Anglers
San Antonio, TX (7/20/2021) – The Association of Collegiate Anglers, which operates the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year program presented by Abu Garcia, is excited to showcase the pre-season rankings for college bass fishing according to a voting poll of top coaches, schools, media personnel, and fishing industry personalities with experience in college fishing.
This poll is a one-of-a-kind poll, similar to rankings in other college sports, that will help kick off the season-long race for the prestigious School of the Year title. Every day this week the ACA will count down and showcase teams that made it into the Top 25, and then in the near future, the first rankings for the 2021-22 season will be announced based on finishes during events this summer. Today’s article will show teams that were selected 16th to 20th in the pre-season rankings.
- Wabash Valley College
Mt. Carmel, IL
2021 Final Ranking: 20th
One of the newest teams on the collegiate fishing tournament trail last year was Wabash Valley College. The team from Mt. Carmel, IL made its debut with the Association of Collegiate Anglers at the 2020 Bass Pro Shops Big
Bass Bash presented by Berkley, and was without question one of the biggest surprises of the college fishing season. Wabash Valley College competed in all five ACA events last season and finished the year ranked the 20th best team in the nation thanks to several top finishes.
Following that phenomenal first season last year, Wabash Valley College has established itself as a team to be reckoned with on the college circuits, and will have to deal with the pressure now of being recognized as a Top 20 team in the nation.
“First we are honored to have obtained the respect of our peers so quickly,” noted Todd Gill, Head Coach at Wabash Valley College. “I think it says we have done well in recruiting anglers who are willing to work hard in preparation, who are willing to grind the entire 8 hours knowing that each catch and each cull over the course of a season will pay big dividends. We are going to have to stay humble and keep at it though as the competition is stiff and the learning curve is steep.”
Wabash Valley College was recently featured on the Rapala #WeAreCollegiateBass Podcast to talk about its first season as a collegiate bass fishing team. The school is continuing to recruit at a high level as it builds towards the future, and what they hope will be a Top 10 season very soon.
Listen to the podcast episode.
“Our goal for this season is to finish Top 10 in the nation. This is going to require greater cooperation between our anglers to help with breaking down new water more quickly. Having our first sophomore class with some experience and knowledge of bodies of water and what it takes to compete at a high level should help as well. We are excited about the coming season,” added Gill.
- Brewton-Parker College
Mt. Vernon, GA
2021 Final Ranking: 12th
Brewton-Parker College lands in 17th following the ACA Top 25 Pre-Season Poll according to the voters in the poll. This 17th place pre-season ranking is five spots lower than where Brewton-Parker finished the 2020-21 season. The team finished last year as the 12th ranked team in the nation based on their finishes on the water in numerous collegiate events.
Brewton-Parker has a strong core of anglers that can catch fish on any body of water nationwide. The team earned points at all five ACA events during the 2020-21 season. In three of those five events, Brewton-Parker had at least one angler finish in the Top 25 of the overall standings. Cory Yaden and Blake Stephenson put together the team’s highest finish at an ACA event by claiming 5th place at the 2021 BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops.
As a team, Brewton-Parker has continued to get better year after year. Here is where the team has finished in the rankings each of the past four seasons:
2021: 12th Place
2020: 26th Place
2019: 73rd Place
2018: 201st Place
It is pretty easy to observe the growth that has occurred within the Brewton-Parker College Fishing Team. If history is any indication, it should not come as a surprise if Brewton-Parker finishes the 2021-22 season in the Top 10 at the end of this race.
- Catawba Valley Community College
Hickory, NC
2021 Final Ranking: 17th
To this point in the reveal process, Catawba Valley Community College is the first team whose 2021-22 Top 25 Pre-Season Poll ranking is almost identical to its 2021 final ranking. Just last season, Catawba Valley Community College finished the season ranked 17th. As we prepare to reveal the first national rankings of the 2021-22 season, Catawba Valley Community College is ranked 18th in the pre-season poll.
College fishing is one of the most unique college sports as college teams and clubs from all levels and divisions compete against each other at events. Major state schools, private institutions, and smaller schools like community colleges are all able to fish the same events and compete for national titles.
Catawba Valley Community College, along with the aforementioned Wabash Valley College, has proven that it can compete with the bigger schools and programs out there. It is very likely that a community college or junior college will finish the 2021-22 season ranked inside of the Top 15. It remains to be seen if they can crack the Top 10 this season.
- Missouri State University
Springfield, MO
2021 Final Ranking: 19th
Having just pointed out the parody between Catawba Valley Community College’s 2021 end-of-season ranking and its standings in the pre-season poll, we now have Missouri State University. The team from Springfield, MO finds itself ranked 19th in the ACA Top 25 Pre-Season Poll. That ranking matches the team’s final ranking in the 2021 race that landed them just inside the Top 20 teams in the nation.
That is pretty good consistency, and consistency is a word that well defines the Missouri State University Fishing Team. Since 2016, the team has an average ranking of 24th. The highest finish during that stretch came in 2018 when the team finished the year ranked 12th in the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia.
With their school located in Springfield, MO, Missouri State University anglers are exposed to a wide variety of fisheries. From shallow, muddy rivers to deep, clear highland reservoirs, these anglers face an array of conditions that benefit them out on the national trails. The additional impact this has on the success of the program is evident in their results from the past five seasons, and expectations are high that Missouri State could be a team that might climb higher in the rankings, should they have a few Top 10 finishes on the national scene this year.
- University of North Alabama
Florence, AL
2021 Final Ranking: 16th
School of the Year Titles: 2 (2014, 2015)
ACA National Championship Titles: 1 (2017 – Sloan Pennington & Hunter McCarty)
The final team in this installment of the Top 25 Pre-Season Poll reveal is the University of North Alabama. Located in Florence, AL, UNA is one of the most decorated teams in the history of collegiate bass fishing.
UNA won the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia in 2014 and 2015, at the time becoming the first school to ever win this title in back-to-back seasons. Along with two School of the Year titles in the trophy case, UNA also has an ACA National Championship title to its name. Sloan Pennington and Hunter McCarty won the 2017 BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship on Pickwick Lake.
Pickwick is the home body of water for UNA. One of the premier ledge fishing lakes
In the country, the Tennessee River impoundment will be the playing field for the 2022 ACA Championship once again. UNA has its sights set on climbing up the School of the Year rankings, as well as claiming another Championship title at Pickwick Lake.
“We plan on moving into the top five and also keeping the National Championship trophy right here in Florence, AL,” said Benson Dowler, UNA Team President. UNA could easily be a Top 10 team this year, and it’s surprising to many that they are starting the season ranked 20th in the pre-season poll. Should UNA get back to form at events outside their local area by capturing a few Top 20 finishes, they may once again be in position to win the School of the Year title, thanks to a talented roster of returning anglers.
Ugly Stik Combos and Catfish Rods
Ugly that won’t quit, no matter what’s biting.
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Ugly Stik adds to its legacy of producing tough-as-nails fishing gear specifically for anglers who just want to have a good time with the addition of an Ugly Tuff combo series, new Catfish Special rods and Catch Ugly Fish spinning combos.
The new Ugly Tuff combos pair both the Ugly Tuff spinning and casting reels with an Ugly Stik rod with a Clear Tip design. Representing the apex of durability, the reels feature aluminum construction and stainless-steel ball bearings to stand up to the toughest fights. The rods and reels featured in the Ugly Tuff combos also come with a 7-year warranty.
Specially designed for casting to catfish from boats or banks, the new Ugly Stik Catfish Special rods feature legendary Ugly Tech construction for guaranteed strength and sensitivity. The one-piece Ugly Tuff guides and Clear Tip design ensure maximum durability and performance, while the full EVA shrink-tube handles provide the surest grip when fighting big cats.
Ugly Stik anglers are no strangers to camo, whether it’s worn for fashion or concealment. The new Ugly Stik Camo combos combine the legendary strength and durability of Ugly Stik and features Mossy Oak’s top-selling camo pattern, Bottomland. Available in spinning, conventional and spincast combos, all models feature Ugly Tech construction, Ugly Tuff guides and the Ugly Stik Clear Tip design making them ideal for most freshwater species.
Ugly Stik’s new Catch Ugly Fish spinning combos deliver anglers everything they need to start fishing right away. Three different models are designed to match an angler’s desired fishing location or species (lake/pond, catfish or surf/pier) and include the rod, reel, tackle storage and a selection of Berkley soft and hard baits as well as terminal tackle to suit the area or species for which it will be used.
Ugly Tuff Combos
Key Rod Features:
• Ugly Stik Clear Tip design for strength and sensitivity
• Ugly Tech construction
• Ugly Tuff one-piece stainless steel guides
• Rubber shrink-tube handles for better gripping
• 7-year warranty
Key Spinning Reel Features:
• Ugly Tuff aluminum body
• Machined-aluminum spool
• 5 shielded, stainless-steel bearings
Key Spincast Reel Features:
• Ugly Tuff aluminum frame and front cone
• 3 stainless-steel ball bearings
• Pre-spooled with monofilament line
Spincast Combo Models: 5-6 M (2-piece) / Size 6 reel • 6-6 M (2-piece) / Size 10 reel • 7-0 MH (2-piece) / Size 20 reel
MSRP: $64.95-69.95
Spinning Combo Models: 6-0 M (2-piece) / Size 30 reel • 6-6 M (2-piece) / Size 35 reel • 7-0 M (2-piece) / Size 30 reel • 6-6 MH / Size 40 reel • 7-0 MH / Size 60 reel
MSRP: $84.95-94.95
UGLY STIK CATFISH SPECIAL RODS
Key Features:
• Ugly Tech construction with a combination of graphite and fiberglass to create a strong-yet-sensitive rod
• Ugly Tuff one-piece stainless-steel guides provide maximum durability and eliminate insert pop outs
• Ugly Stik Clear Tip delivers extra strength right where you need it and is sensitive to the lightest strike
• Full EVA shrink-tube handles
• 7-year warranty
Casting Models: 7-0 MH • 8-0 MH (2-piece) • 9-0 MH (2-piece) • 10-0 MH (2-piece) • 12-0 (2-piece)
Spinning Models: 7-0 MH • 8-0 MH (2-piece) • 9-0 MH (2-piece) • 10-0 MH (2-piece) • 12-0 MH (2-piece)
MSRPs: $59.95-74.95
UGLY STIK CAMO COMBOS
Key Features:
• Features Mossy Oak Bottomland camo pattern
• Ugly Tech construction with a combination of graphite and fiberglass to create a strong-yet-sensitive rod
• Ugly Tuff one-piece, stainless-steel guides provide excellent durability and eliminate insert pop outs.
• Ugly Stik Clear Tip design for strength and sensitivity
• Durable and lightweight EVA grip
• 7-year rod warranty
Spinning Models (reel/rod): Size 25/5-0 L (2-piece) • Size 30/6-6 M (2-piece) • Size 30/6-0 M (2-piece)
Conventional Model: 7-0 MH
Spincast Model (reel/rod): Size 10/6-0 M (2-piece)
MSRPs: $74.95-84.95
Available: July 2021
UGLY STIK CATCH UGLY FISH SPINNING COMBOS
Key Features:
• Ugly Tech construction with a combination of graphite and fiberglass to create a strong-yet-sensitive rod
• Ugly Tuff one-piece stainless-steel guides provide excellent durability and eliminate insert pop outs
• Ugly Stik Clear Tip design for strength and sensitivity
• Durable and lightweight EVA grips
• Includes an assortment of proven and popular Berkley tackle based on species/location
Models: Lake/Pond • Catfish • Surf/Pier
MSRPs: $64.95 (Lake/Pond)/ $74.95 (Catfish & Surf/Pier)
Abu Garcia Fantasista X and Veritas PLX Tournament Rods
Lightweight and loaded with features allow anglers to fish to win.
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Abu Garcia continues to innovate in the rod category, expanding two acclaimed rod families to make them even better suited for ultra-competitive anglers who look for an advantage whether they are fishing for fun or for a trophy. The Fantasista X and the new Veritas PLX Tournament rods deliver performance, strength and sensitivity with configurations to match the most common bass-fishing techniques.
Featuring a sleek design and high-performance features, the new Fantasista X rods are constructed with 36-ton graphite and Abu Garcia’s proprietary Powerlux 500 resin system. The Abu Garcia custom Fuji soft-touch reel seats coupled with a split-grip design help further reduce weight and increase sensitivity in the nine casting and four spinning rods included in the Fantasista X family.
The new Abu Garcia Veritas PLX Tournament rods offer serious anglers increased strength and sensitivity with reduced weight. Featuring an all-black rod blank constructed of 36-ton graphite with Powerlux 200 resin, the Veritas PLX Tournament rods stand out from other all-white rods bearing the Veritas name. The distinction in aesthetics underscores the additional performance-based features of these new rods, which includes titanium-alloy guides with zirconium inserts, Carbon handle split-grip design and the Robotically Optimized Casting System guide train that maximizes casting distance. Combined, these enhancements result in a rod that’s 6 percent lighter and 7 percent more sensitive than other Veritas PLX rods.
ABU GARCIA FANTASISTA X RODS
Key Features:
• 36-ton graphite with Powerlux 500
• Ergonomic Fuji soft-touch reel seats
• ROCS (Robotically Optimized Casting System) Guide train for maximized casting distance with lighter lures
• Titanium-alloy guides with ultra-light zirconium inserts allow for a lightweight, balanced rod
• EVA and Carbon split-grip handle design for reduced weight and increased sensitivity
• Limited 5-year warranty
Casting Models: 6-10 ML • 6-10 MH • 7-0 M • 7-0 MH • 7-3 MH • 7-3 H • 7-6 MH • 7-6 H • 7-11 XH
MSRPs: $299.95-319.95
Spinning Models: 6-10 ML • 7-0 M • 7-0 MH • 7-6 M
MSRP: $299.95
ABU GARCIA VERITAS PLX TOURNAMENT RODS
Key Features:
• 36-ton graphite with Powerlux 200
• Ergonomic Abu Garcia-designed reel seat
• ROCS (Robotically Optimized Casting System) Guide train for maximized casting distance with lighter lures
• Titanium-allow guides with ultra-light zirconium inserts allow for a lightweight, balanced rod
• Carbon split-grip design for reduced weight and increased sensitivity
• Limited 3-year warranty
Casting Models: 6-10 ML • 6-10 MH • 7-0 M • 7-0 MH • 7-2 M • 7-3 MH • 7-3 H • 7-6 MH • 7-6 H • 7-11 XH
MSRPs: $169.95-184.95
Spinning Models: 6-10 ML • 7-0 M • 7-0 MH • 7-6 M
MSRP: $169.95
SEAGUAR ADDS TWO NEW SIZES FOR TATSU FLUOROCARBON
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Since its introduction in 2010, Seaguar® TATSU® Fluorocarbon has become a favorite among anglers who want the best fluorocarbon line on the market. Tatsu is the world’s only double-structure fluorocarbon mainline. The double-structure process fuses two custom, 100% fluorocarbon resins, creating the best combination of strength and castability. |
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New for Size Offerings for 2022 New for 2022 are two additional sizes of TATSU fluorocarbon — 17 and 22 lb test are being added to round out the offerings. Seaguar pro Luke Clausen is one of the select few anglers with both a Bassmaster Classic and Forrest Wood Cup win to his credit. Through his years of fishing professionally, he has learned that details matter. “There is always a big separation between what anglers have and what we want,” begins Clausen. “That’s why I’m so excited about the two new sizes of Tatsu as they are perfect ‘in-between’ sizes to give me more options as an angler.” While one slight size difference may not appear to matter, Clausen begs to differ. “The diameter difference between 20 and 22 lb test may not seem like much, but it makes a big difference when you have a big fish wrapped in heavy cover,” he says. “There are also countless times when I need to make those slight adjustments to match the cover and to adjust how my lure falls. Going up or down one size can make my lures perform better.” |
New for 2021! - Costa Sunglasses casts the next generation of its Untangled Collection
Costa and Bureo partner on material innovation and strive toward product circularity with new Untangled Collection--frames built from recycled fishing nets.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (EMBARGO: JULY 21, 2021) – For more than 38 years, Costa Sunglasses has been driven to protect the watery world it calls home. Continuing to put its mission into action by building products with purpose, Costa is announcing the next generation of The Untangled Collection, sunglasses built from recycled fishing nets. The four new performance frames are built with a more functional and durable NetPlus™ material that is 97% recycled fishing nets and 3% performance additive - allowing Costa to now build sunglasses with maximum coverage and protection for long days on the water.
Discarded fishing nets and gear are the most harmful form of plastic pollution in our oceans. Working hand in hand with its partner Bureo, Costa is taking discarded fishing nets and giving them a new life. Ever since the original Untangled Collection of lifestyle frames debuted in 2018, Costa has been working to further advance the recycling and molding techniques to sustainably build frames that are better-suited for its core community of watermen and women. In addition to the upgraded NetPlus material, which has a 100% traceable supply chain, the new frames [Santiago, Antille, Pargo and Caleta] feature recycled aluminum logos and recyclable, polarized and color-enhancing 580® mineral glass lenses.
“This collection represents a multi-year collaboration with Costa," says Kevin Ahearn, Bureo Co-Founder. "We've been working since the original Untangled launch in 2018 to enhance the physical and mechanical properties of our material by making improvements throughout our supply chain, allowing Costa to expand the collection across new performance applications. The new NetPlus material represents a huge step forward in material technology while continuing to support our mission to expand net collection efforts."
Santiago [named after Chile’s capital], offers a protective, maximum coverage frame specifically designed for anglers. Hooding and side shields prevent light from leaking in so you can stay focused on the fish. Keeper-ready temples and Hydrolite rubber grips keep your frames locked in place and the vented nose pads help reduce fogging.
A little brother to Santiago, Pargo has a more modern style, but with all of the same technical features as its brother. Like the fish bearing its namesake - often referred to as a Dog Snapper - Pargo shows it’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the angler.
Named after the 1,500 mile chain of Caribbean islands, Antille is a hybrid frame combining a youthful style and performance features. Mirco top shields and hooding help minimize light leak so you can spot the next island, reef or siesta spot. Temple grips and a vented rubber nose pad keep your frames locked in place and help to reduce fogging.
Caleta is named after the small coastal coves of Chile. Its fluid lines and feminine shape make it the perfect frame for the waterwoman in all of us. The Caleta performs as well as you.
“Costa has always been deeply rooted in conservation. We strive to source traceable, sustainable materials and incorporate water-friendly principles into our products, our brand—and our daily lives,” says Jessica Bryant, Sr. Product Marketing Manager, Costa Sunglasses. “We first launched the Untangled Collection with beach lifestyle frames made from 100% recycled nets. These frames grew our tribe — but our core team pushed for even more. With this new collection, sustainability truly meets performance. When you look through a pair of Untangled sunglasses, you share our vision for healthier oceans.”
Starting at $199, everyone can be an agent for change. The Untangled Collection is now available at Costa Sunglasses, where you can also find additional information on Costa and its full collection of best-selling sunglasses.
Lucky Go Fishing/Fish Bites Win Seventh-Annual ICAST Cup Presented by Major League Fishing on Lake Toho
A Total of $11,000 Raised for Keep America Fishing™ Foundation
KISSIMMEE, Fla. (July 20, 2021) – Representing Lucky Go Fishing and Fish Bites, the team of Terrie Huffmaster, Tonya Michelle and Jackson Williams weighed in a five-bass limit totaling 25 pounds, 10 ounces, to win the 2021 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 2021 and raised a total of $11,000 to benefit the industry’s angler advocacy program, Keep America Fishing™.
The field totaled 55 boats, including about a handful of MLF Bass Pro Tour, Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and Toyota Series anglers, as well as outdoor media and industry representatives from popular tackle brand and non-profits. In its five-year history, the charity tournament has raised more than $61,000 for Keep America Fishing.
The Lucky Go Fishing/Fish Bites team won by a margin of 10 ounces over Team USA Bassin’, which was comprised of Richard Patterson, Dave Smith and Glen Cabezas. Their limit weighing 25-10 was a new ICAST Cup record for the heaviest limit ever weighed in the event.
“What a day. This has been so awesome. This is a day that I will remember for the rest of my life,” an emotional Huffmaster said on stage. “To everyone that put this event on and made it happen – MLF, ICAST, everybody here – thank you for putting this on and making this happen. I cannot tell you how humbled I am and how blessed I feel right now. I’m way past Cloud 9 – I’m on Cloud 14 or 15 right now.”
The duo estimated they caught around 35 to 40 bass throughout the morning, but said that they caught the majority of their weight in the first 30 minutes. They credited just one bait as being the key.
“We tried a few different baits early, but they weren’t biting. Then we picked up a Zoom Magnum Ultra Vibe Speed Worm (black and blue) and caught five of our big fish within the first 30 minutes,” Michelle said. “We ended up sticking with it for the rest of the day.”
“We also did not have a net in the boat,” Huffmaster added. “When we’d set the hook and see the big ones flopping on the water, it was chaos. We were just telling each other to stay calm, keep it down, and get it to the boat.
“We really had no thoughts at all about winning or losing today coming into this,” Huffmaster went on to say. “We literally just prayed about it this morning and wanted to get out there and have fun.”
Mission accomplished!
The top 10 teams finished the tournament in:
1st: Lucky Go Fishing/Fish Bites – Terrie Huffmaster, Tonya Michelle and Jackson Williams, five bass, 25-10
2nd: USA Bassin’ – Richard Patterson, Dave Smith and Glen Cabezas, five bass, 25-0
3rd: American Baitworks – Robert Greenburg and J.T. Kenney, five bass, 21-5
4th: Chasin’ Fin – Nathan Bloom and Joey Bloom, five bass, 19-14
5th: JL Marine/Power-Pole – Greg Wats, Ray Trudeau and James Everhart, five bass, 18-14
6th: BNB Jigs – Bob Bakewell and Bobby Bakewell, five bass, 17-9
7th: American Tackle Co. – Jeff Mathews, Jimmy Drury and Joe Opager, five bass, 17-1
8th: Green Outdoors – Ronnie Green, Christian Greico and Samantha Gay, five bass, 16-7
9th: Lithium Pros – Steve Bishop, Ken Lucas and Charity Muehlenweg, five bass, 15-4
10th: Lew’s – John Carman, Peter Thliveros and Matthew Mattingly, five bass, 15-0
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 2022 USA Pan American Bass fishing team. The highest-finishing team of female anglers was Michelle Jalaba and Melissa Young, who weighed in five bass totaling 12 pounds, 7 ounces, to earn their spot on Team USA Bass at the 2022 Pan American Bass Fishing Championship, alongside Jacob Wheeler, John Cox, Mark Daniels Jr., Dustin Connell, Brian Latimer, Scott Martin 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 2021 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.
Big Bass Tour Announces 2022 Tour Schedule
Woodlands, Texas – Tour officials announced the 2022 Big Bass Tour schedule today, ahead of ICAST in Orlando, Florida.
“Our 2022 schedule is packed with world class fisheries and should provide an incredible experience for all of our anglers.” said Tournament Director Scott Gordon. “We would like to thank all of our host partners, communities and sponsors for their efforts in putting this schedule together and we are looking forward to another great season.” added Gordon.
- Feb 4-6 | Harris Chain of Lakes, Florida
- Feb 25-27 | Lake Conroe, Texas
- March 11-13 | Clarks Hill, Georgia
- March 18-20 | Lake Norman, North Carolina
- April 1-3 | Lake Eufaula, Alabama
- April 8-10 | Table Rock Lake, Missouri
- April 22-24 | Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia (Spring)
- April 29-May 1 | Lake Murray, South Carolina
- May 13-15 | Lake Chickamauga, Tennessee
- Oct 7-9 | Douglas Lake, Tennessee
- Oct 14-16 | Guntersville Lake, Alabama
- Oct 21-23 | Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia (Fall)
Registration for the 2022 Bass Pro Shops/Cabela’s Big Bass Tour will open on Wednesday, December 1st. Visit www.bigbasstour.com for all details.
B.A.S.S. Officials Announce 2022 Schedule For Bassmaster Elite Series
The 2022 Bassmaster Elite Series schedule features nine events across seven states.
Photo by James Overstreet/B.A.S.S.
July 20, 2021
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — With this year’s Bassmaster Elite Series schedule barely written into the history books, B.A.S.S. officials are already looking toward a bright future with Tuesday’s announcement of the Elite Series slate for 2022.
The top professional bass fishing circuit in the world will once again kick off its season in warm, sunny Florida, with events on the St. Johns River in Palatka, Feb. 10-13, and the Harris Chain of Lakes in Leesburg, Feb. 17-20.
From there, the trail will visit six more states in seven months while working its way to a season-ending event on the Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wis., Aug. 26-29.
“We’re proud to have the kind of schedule that allows fans from so many areas to enjoy and celebrate the great sport of professional bass fishing,” said B.A.S.S. CEO Bruce Akin. “With events in seven states from Florida, north to New York, and west to South Dakota, it will be a true test of our anglers’ ability to compete on all types of fisheries.
“It’ll also provide an incredible variety of entertaining scenarios for our fans, both in attendance and watching live on the multiple platforms that are now available to them.”
This will mark the fourth-straight year the Elite Series has held its season-opener on the St. Johns River — a quintessential Florida fishery that features vast shoreline cover, big Florida-strain largemouth and breathtaking scenery with Spanish moss-covered trees, alligators and manatees. The 2021 event on the St. Johns was won by North Carolina rookie pro Bryan Newwith a four-day total of 79 pounds, 7 ounces.
The trip to the Harris Chain — a collection of eight lakes connected by rivers and canals — will be the first for the Elite Series since 2011. The fishery, which ranked 10th in the Southeastern Division of Bassmaster Magazine’s list of 100 Best Bass Lakes released earlier this summer, has been a common destination for other B.A.S.S. events in the past, however, with the most recent being a Basspro.com Bassmaster Southern Open won by Keith Tuma this past spring.
“We’re thrilled to host the Bassmaster Elite Series on the Harris Chain of Lakes right here in Lake County,” said Steven Clenney, interim director of Visit Lake. “Our lakes have some of the best bass fishing in the country, and as Bassmaster tournaments return year after year to our area, it reminds us how thankful we are to have this resource in our backyards.”
After a pause for the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk on South Carolina’s Lake Hartwell, March 4-6, the Elite Series schedule will resume right there inside the Palmetto State with the third regular-season event on the Santee Cooper Lakes in Clarendon County, S.C., March 17-20.
B.A.S.S. held 13 major events on the gigantic Santee system, which is comprised of Lakes Marion and Moultrie, from 1975-2009. Then after an 11-year hiatus from the fishery, the Elite Series held a tournament there in October of 2020 that was won by Idaho pro Brandon Palaniuk with 72-2.
“We are so excited to be able to bring the Bassmaster Elites back in 2022,” said Tiffany B. Myers, director of tourism, Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce. “It had been over 10 years since they came to Clarendon County prior to the 2020 tournament. It was a great event, but the pandemic drastically changed plans and logistics. So, we are thrilled to have another opportunity to bring them back during the ideal time of year and with a lot more spectators.”
After Santee, the trail will shift to Chickamauga Lake in Dayton, Tenn., April 7-10. “The Chick,” as it’s known by avid bass anglers from around the country, is a 36,240-acre Tennessee River fishery known for producing giant largemouth.
The next lake on the schedule — Lake Fork in Quitman, Texas — is perhaps known as the country’s largemouth mecca. The Elite Series will drop in on Fork May 19-22 for only the fourth major event B.A.S.S. has ever held on the giant-bass paradise. The lake was ranked No. 1 overall in the country for 2021 in Bassmaster’s list of Top 100 Best Bass Lakes.
That stretch of the schedule should be especially attractive to Lee Livesay — the Texas pro who won the Elite Series’ most recent trip to Chickamauga in October 2020 and the trail’s most recent trip to Fork in April 2021. He won the latter event with a whopping total of 112 pounds, 5 ounces that was capped by a final-day catch of five bass that weighed 42-3.
Details on an event June 2-5 will be announced in the coming weeks.
Another destination that has become a staple for the Elite Series, the St. Lawrence River (fourth overall, 100 Best Bass Lakes), will be the next stop. The event, which is likely to be dominated by big smallmouth, is scheduled for July 14-17 out of Clayton, N.Y. This will be the sixth-straight year the Elite Series has visited the St. Lawrence and the 21st time B.A.S.S. has called on the fishery to host a major event.
Unlike the 2021 season that ended in mid-July, the 2022 slate will push into August with events at two fisheries where fans have been clamoring for the trail’s return.
On Aug. 18-21, massive 370,000-acre Lake Oahe will host the next-to-last event of the season out of Mobridge, S.D. B.A.S.S. has visited Oahe only once, for an Elite Series event in 2018 won by Alabama pro Mark Daniels Jr. B.A.S.S. Nation angler and 2015 Classic qualifier Troy Diede recently caught a 7-4 smallmouth from Oahe that was certified as the South Dakota state record.
The season will conclude on Aug. 26-29 on the Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wis. (16th Central Division, 100 Best Bass Lakes). The Elite Series last visited La Crosse in 2018 during a Midwestern stretch that was paired similarly with Oahe.
“We are thrilled to welcome back the Bassmaster Elite Series to the La Crosse region on the famed Upper Mississippi River,” said A.J. Frels, executive director of Explore La Crosse. “We expect phenomenal fishing for both largemouth and smallmouth bass, and the anglers will showcase the region at unprecedented levels thanks to the partnership between B.A.S.S. and FOX Sports. The Bassmaster LIVE coverage will promote and attract new audiences to our incredible fishery while on-site engagement, launches and weigh-ins are sure to draw big crowds. The greater La Crosse region looks forward to hosting the anglers, their families, fans and spectators in the area!”
After an exciting debut season in 2021, once more, all nine Bassmaster Elite Series events as well as the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk will feature live television coverage on the FOX Sports platforms. Visit Bassmaster.com for more details.
2022 Bassmaster Elite Series schedule
Feb. 10-13, St. Johns River, Palatka, Fla.
Feb. 17-20, Harris Chain of Lakes, Leesburg, Fla.
March 4-6, Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk, Lake Hartwell, Greenville, S.C.
March 17-20, Santee Cooper Lakes, Clarendon County, S.C.
April 7-10, Chickamauga Lake, Dayton, Tenn.
May 19-22, Lake Fork, Quitman, Texas
June 2-5, TBA
July 14-17, St. Lawrence River/1000 Islands, Clayton, N.Y.
Aug. 4-7, Make-up date
Aug. 18-21, Lake Oahe, Mobridge, S.D.
Aug. 26-29, Mississippi River, La Crosse, Wis.
Humminbird® Introduces New HELIX® 5 and 7 Series with new Technology and Performance Upgrades
RACINE, Wis. (July 20, 2021) –– Humminbird® is equipping anglers with new generations of the acclaimed HELIX® 5 and HELIX 7 Series with the introductions of HELIX 5 G3, HELIX 7 G4 and HELIX 7 G4N models. The upgrades to the new HELIX models will provide anglers access to the latest sonar and navigation technologies at the heart of Humminbird’s intuitive, easy-to-use fish finders.
HELIX 7 G4 Models (Non-Networking)
The new Humminbird HELIX 7 G4 models are designed to find fish faster with a crystal-clear view of unmatched sonar and chart technologies. Starting with an upgraded 7” HD display (1024H x 600V), new and experienced anglers alike will appreciate the increased resolution that provides easy to read sonar views of fish and structure.
The soft-key operation of the HELIX 7 G4 Series makes it simple to use and easy to access desired chart and sonar views. The HELIX 7 G4 line offer best-in-class sonar, with options featuring MEGA Side Imaging® and MEGA Down Imaging®models, both of which also include Dual Spectrum CHIRP 2D sonar. A new addition to the lineup is the HELIX 7 CHIRP SI GPS G4 model (non-MEGA) that provides standard definition Side Imaging, Down Imaging and Dual Spectrum CHIRP sonar views. This new model provides a ton of features and provides anglers the chance to trade up and experience the benefit of Side Imaging sonar.
Included on the HELIX 7 G4 units are built-in GPS and Humminbird Basemap which provides basic depth contours and navigational aids for all continental U.S. coastal waters and over 10,000+ U.S. lakes and rivers. Additionally, all models include AutoChart Live®, a real-time mapping technology that gives anglers the ability to make their own 1-foot contour maps in real time. For even more detailed mapping coverage, all models include a single microSD card slot, allowing compatibility with premium chart options from Humminbird LakeMaster® and CoastMaster®, as well as Navionics®.
HELIX 7 G4N Models (Networking)
Anglers looking for more fishing features, the new HELIX 7 G4N Series is ready to meet their needs. Similar to the G4 models, these models boast a new, higher resolution 7” HD display, with all of the sonar and navigation features found on G4 model, with the addition of upgraded dual microSD card slots that support all Humminbird compatible chart options.
Looking at the new G4N models, anglers will notice a redesigned front housing that features three preset view keys to allow quick access to favorite sonar and chart screens, a familiar experience to that found on the larger HELIX G4N models. An additional upgrade to the new HELIX 7 G4N models is compatibility with MEGA Live Imaging™ for models with MEGA Side Imaging or MEGA Down Imaging. When paired with the advanced sonar accessory, users will see fish with the detail and clarity of MEGA Imaging in real time.
The move up to the HELIX 7 G4N Series also delivers several networking and compatibility features that are sure to catch attention. All of these models are networking compatible, providing Ethernet networking and Bluetooth® support, which allow connection to the One-Boat Network™ family of products from Humminbird and Minn Kota.
New networking features also include built-in NMEA 2000® and Wi-Fi® connectivity to enable optional display of outboard engine data and information from many NMEA 2000-compatible accessories.
The HELIX 7 G4 and G4N Series will begin shipping to dealers beginning September 1, 2021. HELIX 7 G4 Series models will be available from $499.99 to $699.99 MSRP and the HELIX 7 G4N Series will offer models from $649.99 to $899.99 MSRP.
New HELIX 7 G4 models:
- HELIX 7 CHIRP SI GPS G4
- HELIX 7 CHIRP MDI GPS G4
- HELIX 7 CHIRP MSI GPS G4
New HELIX G4N models:
- HELIX 7 CHIRP GPS G4N
- HELIX 7 CHIRP MDI GPS G4N CHO (Control Head Only)
- HELIX 7 CHIRP MDI GPS G4N
- HELIX 7 CHIRP MSI GPS G4N
HELIX 5 G3 Models
The new HELIX 5 G3 offers upgraded features for anglers who are looking for a feature-packed fish finder for their boat or watercraft that requires a smaller package, without sacrificing performance or ease of use. The HELIX 5 lineup offers a 5-inch display with soft-key operation and an intuitive menu system for quick and simple operation.
Upgraded features on the HELIX 5 G3 models include Dual Spectrum CHIRP 2D sonar, which provides clear sonar returns of fish, bait and structure. Additionally, these models include built-in GPS and Humminbird Basemap, providing navigational aids and depth contours to help you confidently find fish. A standard single microSD card slot also offers compatibility with premium chart options from Humminbird LakeMaster and CoastMaster, as well as Navionics charts.
Offering models with either CHIRP Down Imaging or Dual Spectrum CHIRP 2D sonar, as well as a portable Dual Spectrum CHIRP GPS model, the HELIX 5 G3 Series delivers what is needed to head out onto the water with confidence.
The HELIX 5 G3 Series will begin shipping to dealers beginning September 1, 2021 and will sell from $299.99 to $449.99 MSRP.
HELIX 5 G3 Models:
- HELIX 5 CHIRP GPS G3
- HELIX 5 CHIRP GPS G3 Portable
- HELIX 5 CHIRP DI GPS G3
For more information on the Humminbird HELIX lineup, go to https://www.humminbird.com.
SEAGUAR UNVEILS NEW TACTX™ CAMO BRAIDED LINE
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Introducing Seaguar® TactX™, a new four-strand braided line with a natural camouflage color that reduces line visibility. Seaguar, the inventor of fluorocarbon fishing lines, will include a 5-yard Seaguar fluorocarbon leader inside each box of TactX™, a fishing industry first. |
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“TactX Braid is complement to our new BasiX fluorocarbon mainline, where we’re supporting the millions of anglers who are either fishing for the first time, getting reacquainted with the sport or managing a tight budget,” said Gerry Benedicto, Seaguar General Manager. TactX™ is a precision casting braided line with features that make it a perfect choice for everyday anglers. It is engineered to maintain its perfectly round shape and stay firm to minimize rod tip wrapping and wind knots. When spooled onto a reel, it packs tightly without cutting into itself, which also helps reduce dreaded backlashes. It’s woven from multi-color earth-tone strands that are heat-set for better color retention and creates a natural camouflage color that reduces line visibility. The round nature of the braid gives it excellent castability, abrasion resistance and overall strength with a “pebble” texture to add durability and help it cut through vegetation. Inside each box of TactX™ is a 5-yard Seaguar fluorocarbon leader material to allow anglers to experience a braid to fluorocarbon connection with a quality leader material. The pound test of each fluorocarbon leader will be matched to the corresponding size of TactX™. The spool box includes a QR code, which when scanned, sends anglers to a website featuring braid-to-leader knot video tutorials from Seaguar pros. Seaguar’s Benedicto noted, “We tried to make it easier for anglers by engineering this braid to minimize wind knots and backlashes and include a fluorocarbon leader in the box to make it a very user and budget friendly option”. Available in retail stores in mid-January, 2022, new Seaguar TactX™ camo braided line will be available in 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 65, and 80 lb tests in both 150 and 300-yard spools with a MSRP of $16.99-$31.99. |
Classic Equations with Ronnie Moore
This week Chris & the boys went right to the source to make sure they fully understand all the math behind the Bassmaster Classic Qualifications for 2022 on Lake Hartwell as well as quiz BASS Guru Ronnie Moore on the 2022 Elite field. Very informative show you need to check out!
Gamakatsu® G-Finesse Trebles Now Offered with Feathers
Tacoma, Washington (XXXX) – Gamakatsu®, the world’s leading manufacturer and innovator of fishing hooks and terminal tackle, is introducing the G-Finesse Feathered Treble MH. Based largely on the input of Major League Fishing pro Aaron Martens, a two-time Bassmaster Angler of the Year, the existing medium-heavy G-Finesse Trebles took the bass world by storm six years ago, and the addition of lifelike and vibrant feathers fills out the lineup.
Like their predecessors, the G-Finesse feathered trebles utilize Tournament-Grade Wire construction which allows the points to remain sharper longer. That means anglers will use fewer of them while ensuring better hook up percentages as the fishing day goes. Furthermore, they are stronger than hooks of the same diameter wire. To complete the job, they come with a Nano-Coat finish that makes penetration even easier. Any fish that strikes gets stuck, and those that get stuck stay pinned until anglers unhook them.
These new trebles come two to a pack, adorned with either white or chartreuse premium feathers and complementary tinsel, hand-selected by Martens to tempt even the most finicky fish. Add them to any fast-moving lure to create a fluid appearance, or to lures that demand pauses so the motion will continue in place. They’ll excel with topwaters, crankbaits, jerkbaits and spoons.
G-Finesse Feathered Treble MH Features:
- Sizes: 6, 4, 2, 1, 1/0
- Colors: White/Tinsel, Chartreuse/Tinsel
- Qty/Pkg: 2
Minnesota’s Krienke Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Mississippi River at La Crosse
| RANK | BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN | BASS | WEIGHT | AWARD |
| 1st | Kory Krienke of Annandale, Minn. | 3 | 10-14 | $4,575 |
| 2nd | Kyle von Ruden of Stoddard, Wis. | 3 | 10-6 | $2,538 |
| 3rd | Randy Ramsey Jr. of Chicago, Ill. | 3 | 10-2 | $2,190 |
| 4th | Tyler Fitch of Windsor, Wis. | 3 | 9-12 | $1,068 |
| 5th | Jeff Ritter of Prairie du Chien, Wis. | 3 | 9-11 | $915 |
| 6th | Bob Matthies of Cicero, Ill. | 3 | 9-4 | $801 |
| 6th | Kevin Ruh of Onalaska, Wis. | 3 | 9-4 | $1,301 |
| 8th | Brent Schroeder of Caledonia, Minn. | 3 | 9-2 | $686 |
| 9th | Kevin Twardowski of Columbus, Wis. | 3 | 8-15 | $610 |
| 10th | Troy Sippl of Sussex, Wis. | 3 | 8-13 | $534 |
| RANK | STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN | BASS | WEIGHT | AWARD |
| 1st | Jason Swanson of Waterloo, Iowa | 3 | 9-6 | $2,620 |
| 2nd | Richard Conrad of Arcadia, Wis. | 3 | 8-4 | $1,144 |
| 3rd | Troy Rebeck of Sparta, Wis. | 3 | 7-8 | $762 |
| 4th | Kalvin Korotka of Manawa, Wis. | 3 | 7-4 | $534 |
| 5th | Dan Goeke of West Point, Iowa | 3 | 7-1 | $458 |
| 6th | Justin Oppegard of Eagan, Minn. | 3 | 6-15 | $419 |
| 7th | Chad Schultz of Rockton, Ill. | 3 | 6-14 | $362 |
| 7th | Joe Rockey of Schaumburg, Ill. | 3 | 6-14 | $362 |
| 9th | Max Ford of Westby, Ill. | 3 | 6-12 | $305 |
| 10th | Brett Anderson of Grantsburg, Wis. | 3 | 6-11 | $392 |
| AWARD | NAME | CONTINGENCY | PAYOUT |
| Boater Big Bass | Randy Ramsey Jr. of Chicago, Ill. | 4-pound bass | $665 |
| Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass | Jason Swanson Waterloo, Iowa | 3-pound, 4-ounce bass | $332 |
| Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus | Kevin Ruh of Onalaska, Wis. | Eligible Phoenix Boat* | $500 |
| ANGLER | BAIT | COLOR |
| Boater | Frog | N/A |
| Strike King Co-Angler | Frog and Topwater Baits | N/A |
| EVENT | DATE | LOCATION | HOST |
| Great Lakes Division – Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship | Oct. 21-23 | Lake Ouachita, Mount Ida, Ark. | Visit Hot Springs |
| 2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American | June 2-4, 2022 | Lake Hamilton, Hot Springs, Ark. | Arkansas Dept. of Parks and Tourism & Visit Hot Springs |
The top six finishers in each regional will then qualify for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American.
The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the Toyota Series, the pathway to the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine on MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube .
Thompsonville’s McCord Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Rend Lake
WHITTINGTON, Ill. (July 19, 2021) – Boater Brennon McCord of Thompsonville, Illinois, won the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine at Rend Lake Presented by TINCUP Whiskey in Whittington, Illinois. McCord earned $11,119 for his victory at the event, including the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF BIG5 contingency bonus.
| RANK | BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN | BASS | WEIGHT | AWARD |
| 1st | Brennon McCord of Thompsonville, Ill. | 5 | 12-5 | $11,119 |
| 2nd | Donald Marshall of Smithton, Ill. | 5 | 12-0 | $2,059 |
| 3rd | Toby Corn of Paducah, Ky. | 5 | 10-5 | $1,574 |
| 4th | Luke Budde of St. Louis, Mo. | 5 | 9-9 | $961 |
| 5th | Trey McKinney of Carbondale, Ill. | 5 | 9-7 | $824 |
| 6th | Scott Rice of Cobden, Ill. | 4 | 8-11 | $755 |
| 7th | Robert Atchison of Sesser, Ill. | 4 | 8-8 | $652 |
| 7th | Brad Schoenrock of Opdyke, Ill. | 4 | 8-8 | $652 |
| 9th | Lon Aylsworth of Wildwood, Mo. | 4 | 8-7 | $549 |
| 10th | Tom Silber of Labadie, Mo. | 3 | 8-3 | $480 |
| RANK | STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN | BASS | WEIGHT | AWARD |
| 1st | Jarred Sample of West Frankfort, Ill. | 3 | 8-1 | $1,544 |
| 1st | Bill Cearlock of Springfield, Ill. | 3 | 8-1 | $1,544 |
| 3rd | Dane Bondurant of Witt, Ill. | 3 | 6-8 | $687 |
| 4th | Tyson Elko of West Frankfort, Ill. | 3 | 6-7 | $480 |
| 5th | Ryan Taylor of West Frankfort, Ill. | 1 | 6-5 | $694 |
| 6th | Amanda Black of Toledo, Ill. | 2 | 6-4 | $360 |
| 6th | Levi Kohl of Edinburg, Ill. | 3 | 6-4 | $309 |
| 8th | Cordell Beckmann of Breese, Ill. | 3 | 5-15 | $275 |
| 9th | Tad Cain of La Place, Ill. | 4 | 5-14 | $240 |
| 10th | Brian Huber of Saint Peters, Mo. | 3 | 5-9 | $216 |
| AWARD | NAME | CONTINGENCY | PAYOUT |
| Boater Big Bass | Jeremy Mull of Pawnee, Ill. | 5-pound, 10-ounce bass | $565 |
| Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass | Ryan Taylor of West Frankfort, Ill. | 6-pound, 5-ounce bass | $282 |
| Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus | Brennon McCord of Thompsonville, Ill. | Eligible Phoenix Boat* | $7,000 |
| ANGLER | BAIT | COLOR |
| Boater | 3/8-ounce Jig | Black & Blue |
| Strike King Co-Angler | Cearlock: Double willow-blade spinnerbait Sample: Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver |
N/A Black & Blue |
| EVENT | DATE | LOCATION | HOST |
| Illini Division – Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship | Oct. 7-9 | Lake Norfork, Mountain Home, Ark. | Mountain Home Area Chamber of Commerce |
| 2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American | June 2-4, 2022 | Lake Hamilton, Hot Springs, Ark. | Arkansas Dept. of Parks and Tourism & Visit Hot Springs |
The top six finishers in each regional will then qualify for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American.
The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the Toyota Series, the pathway to the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine on MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube .
Gamakatsu® Adds a Weedless Option With the Round 26 Weedless Jig Hooks
Tacoma, Washington (XXXX) - Round head jigs are among the most popular styles, largely because of their versatility. Gamakatsu® adds a weedless option to their versatile jig head selection with the Round 26 Weedless Jig Hooks.
Like the original Round 26, this version features a standard lead collar, but adds dual offset rebarb wire keepers to securely and firmly hold a wide range of soft plastic baits. It also features a dual-titanium, wire weed guard that will not break, offering the added versatility to fish in and around heavy cover, where the bigger, more elusive lunkers lie.
The symmetrical round head sinks quickly with minimal action on the drop, then a 90-degree bend allows the hook shank to sit flat with the eye pointing upward for a vertical or lateral retrieve. It also features Gamakatsu’s 604 series jig hook with a deep gap for more reliable hook-ups and the sharpest points in the industry for penetrating and holding more fish. Go ahead and toss the Round 26 Weedless at heavy cover this season.
Round 26R Weedless Features:
- Allows for weedless fishing in and around cover or bottom
- Dual titanium wire holds its shape and will not break.
- Strong round bend hook
- New version dual wire keeper and collar securely holds plastic.
- Sizes: 2/0 (1/16, 1/8, 3/8 ounce)
- 3/0 (3/16, ¼ ounce)
- 4/0 (3/8, ½ ounce)
- Qty/Pkg: 3
Gamakatsu’s Spring Lock Spinner Adds Attraction to Soft Plastics
Tacoma, WA (XXXX XX, 2020) – Gamakatsu built a better mousetrap when they designed the all-new bait lock spring and made it fish even better by adding to the system with lockjaw-defying features. The new Spring Lock Spinner from Gamakatsu makes your favorite swimbaits and other soft plastics even more effective by adding flash and vibration to attract fish from even greater distances.
Getting the most action out of your soft plastics has never been easier, thanks to Gamakatsu’s all-new Double Down Spring Lock. The revolutionary design features two retaining wires wound in parallel, making rigging simple and providing even more grabbing power, so baits won’t slip no matter how hard you fish. So go ahead, rip your bait through dense cover and spin the hardest boat side figure eights; your bait will stay put.
The new rigging system has innovative features that draw strikes from pressured fish, and is built on a premium 2x strong hook to handle the biggest predators. Combining the 28-degree hook eye and premium spring lock allows you to keep your bait in place, so it runs true every cast. Available in sizes 3/0 up to 12/0, you can rig a variety of baits to take advantage of the Spring Lock Spinner’s added attraction. They’ll stay put, thanks to the groundbreaking Double Down Spring Lock design.
The weight is positioned in the middle of the hook, which imparts a tantalizing fall that imitates a dying baitfish. To force the most reluctant fish to bite, the Spring Lock Spinner’s nickel willow blade flashes, flutters, and vibrates its way to more hookups.
Use Gamakatsu’s new Spring Lock Spinners added attraction to compel even the most unwilling predator to bite. The Spring Lock Spinner is available in sizes from 3/0 to 12/0 to fit nearly every bait on the market to target bass, pike or muskellunge. Weights from 1/16 to 3/4 ounces let you control the depth allowing you to cover the water column from top to bottom in any conditions.
Spring Lock Spinner Features:
- Nickel willow blade delivers flash and sound to lure predators from a distance
- Double Down Spring Lock bait screw is an easier, more efficient way to keep soft plastics perfectly positioned
- Extra-wide gap permits rigging the biggest baits with plenty of room to set the hook
- Neutral weighting provides a tantalizing fall and erratic action that triggers bites
- 2x strong forged carbon steel hook stands up the hardest hook sets and biggest predators
- Size 3/0 (3/16)
- Size 5/0 (1/4)
- Size 6/0, 7/0, 9/0 (3/8)
- Size 10/0 (1/2)
- Size 12/0 (3/4)
Gamakatsu® Launches the Under Spin Head Mini
Tacoma, Washington (XXXX) - Proving that bigger isn’t always better, Gamakatsu® has launched a mini version of their popular Under Spin Head when a little finesse is in order.
The Under Spin Head Mini features Gamakatsu’s premium size 1 Finesse Heavy Cover 60-degree hook, the wide gap design means you can still rig bulkier plastics and have plenty of bite. Ideal for smaller finesse presentations, the head profile is streamlined to glide through cover. Gamakatsu’s Spring Lock holds swim baits and other plastics gently but firmly, keeping the presentation straight on the hook.
Attention-getting, recessed lifelike eyes provide a focal point for predators. The small chrome willow blade is attached to a quality ball-bearing swivel so it spins freely, even with slow retrieves to simulate baitfish and create a subtle trigger.
Under Spin Head Mini Features:
- Premium Gamakatsu ball bearing swivel allows blade to rotate at slow retrieve speeds
- Lifelike head design and eyes
- Premium nickel size 3 willow leaf blade
- Spring lock holds plastics secure
- Sizes: 1 (1/8, 3/16, 1/4, 3/8 ounce)
- Color: Plain Lead
- Qty/Pkg: 1
Gamakatsu® Tungsten Wobble Head: Hybrid Design for Ultimate Performance
Tacoma, Washington (XXXX) – Wobble Head jigs give anglers another way to target bass on an offshore structure. Gamakatsu’s new feature-packed Tungsten Wobble Head proves that not all wobble heads are created equal. With thoughtful design and quality manufacturing, Gamakatsu’s hybrid head design combines the snag resistance of a football head and the action of the cobra style head.
With a head design that unites the benefits of both a cobra head, for passing through grass, and a football head, for snag resistance on a hard bottom, the Tungsten Wobble Head creates a natural looking, slithering action that draws major attention from nearby bass. Ideal for slow-swimming retrieves, the head increases the action of any plastic bait along the bottom. The Tungsten Wobble Head features a chip-proof black matte finish paint job which blends in with plastics and your lure’s surroundings to generate more strikes. The weight size is stamped into the side of each weight making it easy to identify when it's time to make a change.
The precision wire harness is tuned to exacting tolerances and a recessed line tie helps it stay weedless. The use of tungsten keeps it compact and offers increased sensitivity. The wire harness offers easy rigging with a variety of Gamakatsu hooks. Increased action, versatility of design, toughness, and maximum usefulness are all to be found in the new Tungsten Wobble Head from Gamakatsu.
Tungsten Wobble Head Features
- Hybrid head design combines snag resistance of football head for hard bottom with cobra style head to pass through grass more effectively.
- Special shape increases the action of any plastic bait along the bottom
- More erratic when slowly swimming
- Tungsten material for increased sensitivity and compact profile
- Promotes easy rigging for any number of Gamakatsu hooks
- Recessed line tie further increases its weedless ability
- Weights (ounces): 3/8, 1/2, 3/4, 1
- Color: Matte Black
- Qty/Pack: 1
Gamakatsu® Introduces The New G-Power Flip & Punch Hook
Tacoma, Washington (XXXX) - Bass fishing innovation is nothing new to professional angler and Gamakatsu pro Aaron Martens. With Aaron’s brilliant insight, Gamakatsu has developed the new G-Power Flip & Punch Hook. A step up from the G-Finesse Heavy Cover Hook, the newly designed heavy style is the ultimate in-between hook for heavy to super heavy cover.
The TGW (Tournament Grade Wire) hook, paired with its welded eye, make this hook the strongest in Gamakatsu’s G-Series lineup. When using larger baits and weights for punching through grass mats and flipping into heavy timber, anglers need a hook that’s versatile in all types of cover and able to withstand extreme conditions. “Gamakatsu nailed it with the G-Power Hook,” said Jeff Roberts, Gamakatsu sales manager.
Aaron thought of everything when it came to the new G-Power Flip & Punch Hook. This hook has a shortened point length providing less hook exposure in heavy cover; however, it leaves ample amount of the hook exposed to penetrate through the biggest of bass mouths. Reeling in a five-pound bass is a task of its own, but when adding two pounds of weeds to it, the odds of losing that fish increase. Just like Aaron, all anglers want to land the fish of a lifetime and leave the salad for the dinner table.
Gamakatsu’s new G-Power Flip & Punch Hook comes in a variety of sizes 2/0, 3/0, 4/0 and 5/0 and is complemented by the Nano Smooth Coating finish ensuring this hook maintains Gamakastu’s reputation as the sharpest hook in the boat.
G-Power Worm Flip & Punch Hook Features:
● TGW and Nano Smooth Coat
● Aaron’s custom tin keeper
● Shortened point length for faster hook penetration
● Heavy wire for serious flipping and punching
● Size: 2/0, 3/0, 4/0, 5/0
● Color: Nano Smooth Coat
● Qty/Pack: 4
Gamakatsu® G-Shield Tungsten Weights Add Japanese Quality to Casting, Pitching and Flipping
Tacoma, Washington (XXXX) – Gamakatsu®, the longtime leader in hooks, has revolutionized the fishing world with ultra-sharp tools for every specialized technique. Now Gamakatsu brings its legendary attention to detail and innovative thinking to the tungsten weight market. The new G-Shield Tungsten Weights are available in standard worm weights, flipping weights and punch weights.
All three versions of the G-Shield weights feature a specially designed composite insert that not only protects an angler’s line, but also provides 360 degree protection for the knot. No more breaking off on the hook set or in heavy cover – these are made to eliminate the issues caused by uneven and rough tungsten. Furthermore, the insert is wider at the base than at the insertion hole so the hook eye can recess itself into the weight, thereby creating a more compact, lifelike and snag-resistant offering. All of the weights also come in a chip-proof black matte finish paint job which blends in with plastics and your lure’s surroundings to generate more strikes. The weight size is stamped into the side of each weight making it easy to identify when it's time to make a change.
Each shape provides distinct best-in-class advantages. The worm weight is the all- purpose champ, best for casting into light cover or dragging plastics across bare lake and river bottoms when subtlety is essential. It’s available in six sizes from 1/8 ounce through 3/4 ounce. The flipping weight is slightly wider, and excels when flipped or pitched into heavy cover – it goes in and comes out easily. The flipping weight comes in six sizes from 3/8 ounce to 1 1/4 ounce. Finally, the punch weight will penetrate thick overhead canopies that resist other shapes. It’s bulbous at the front, creating a weight-forward design that builds inertia when it first contacts likely bass-holding cover. That means the lure will enter cleanly and relatively quietly, inviting even the wariest bass to strike in reaction. These start at 3/4 ounce, and are also available in 1, 1 1/4 and 1 1/2 ounce sizes. These are the true beasts of the mat-punching world. They are also durable, so they’ll save money in the long run – all while putting more bass in the boat.
G-Shield Tungsten Flipping Weight Features:
Weight size is stamped into the side of each weight Sizes: 3⁄8, 1⁄2, 5⁄8, 3⁄4, 1, 1 1/4
Color: Matte Black
G-Shield Tungsten Worm Weight Features:
Weight size is stamped into the side of each weight 1⁄8, 3/16, 1⁄4, 3⁄8, 1⁄2, 3⁄4
Color: Matte Black
G-Shield Tungsten Punch Weight Features:
Weight size is stamped into the side of each weight 3⁄4, 1, 1 1⁄4, 1 1⁄2, 2
Color: Matte Black 
Gamakatsu® Introduces Cover Neko Hook for Finessing Around Targets
Tacoma, Washington (XXXX) – Gamakatsu®, the world’s leading manufacturer and innovator of fishing hooks and terminal tackle, is introducing the Cover Neko hook to perfect the newly-popular technique of Neko Rigging. Their design is based largely on the input of Major League Fishing pro Shin Fukae, the only angler to win an Angler of the Year award at the tour level in both Japan and America. He’s won nearly $2,000,000 since moving to the U.S. full-time, and credits much of those earnings to his mastery of finesse techniques. He has been instrumental in bringing the Neko technique to the United States and explaining it to appreciative anglers.
Current Neko Rig hooks are easy for amateurs to learn and can be used with a variety of soft plastics, but prove difficult for use around brush, laydowns and grass. Now, with Fukae’s tweaks and Gamakatsu’s legendary quality, the perfect Neko hook exists. The Cover Neko Hook consists of a shiner-style straight eye hook with an attached swivel to prevent line twist. There’s also a strong, 90-degree wire keeper to lock plastics in place. Taken together, it’s a tool that will let anglers fish through cover easily while maximizing hook-up percentages. These new hooks come three to a pack, in the three most popular sizes.
Cover Neko Features:
- Shiner straight eye hook for weedless Neko fishing
- Swivel prevents line twist
- Strong 90-degree wire keeper locks plastic in place
- Sizes: 1, 1/0, 2/0
- Color: NS Black
- Qty/Pkg: 3
Snag Proof Returns with Reengineered Bobby’s Perfect and Phat Frogs
American Baitworks Brings New Life to two of the best selling topwater frogs ever made!
OCEAN SPRINGS, Mississippi (July 14, 2021) When American Baitworks acquired Snag Proof in 2018 we
knew that major improvements were needed in the product line. After almost 24 months of developing a new
manufacturing process, product design, proprietary hook development, all new color patterns and upgraded
packaging, the new Bobby’s Perfect and Phat Frogs have arrived.
Snag Proof Bobby’s Perfect Frog
Just like Bobby’s Original Perfect Frog, the Bobby’s Perfect 2.0 has been made even more effective. Working
with the original designer Bobby Barrack, the all-new Bobby’s Perfect has undergone a complete
reengineering.
All new features in the Bobby’s Perfect Frog make it unbeatable:
1. Water Evac System - designed to naturally expel any water infiltration while the frog is being fished for unbeatable buoyancy and consistent performance
2. Rear-weighted balance - Snag Proof’s design is engineered to keep the frog heads-up when stationary and deliver maximum action when worked through sparse or the thickest of cover
3. Braid-secure Line Tie - Snag Proof’s machine-welded line tie eliminates even the slickest braided lines from slipping through the eye of the two-piece through-wire hook system
4. Super Hollow Body - The hollow cavity design of Snag Proof frogs works together with our super-soft injection molded body and Water Evac System maximizing body compression and delivering higher percentage hook ups
5. 15 New 360-degree Hand Designed Graphics - Each Snag Proof design is created right here in the USA by our internationally renowned and award-winning lure designer Andrew Gardner. Snag Proof designs cover 360 degrees of the frog body so EVERY angle a fish sees is covered in 15 new designs
Another key feature developed by the master himself, Bobby Barrack, is how easily the frog will walk-the-dog. Bobby’s Perfect Frogs will walk-the-dog much more efficiently because we trimmed the portion of the bait that the rubber legs run through. This reduces the amount of plastic on the end of the bait for less resistance and less material to get in the way of setting the hook. The Bobby’s Perfect frog will be available at tackle retailers across the country in Fall 2021
Snag Proof Phat Frog
Completely redesigned from front to back, the new Snag Proof Phat Frog features a flatter profile to help it track smoothly through the weeds with legs that are set farther back for improved hook-up ratios and terrific walkability. Built with a new injection process, each Phat frog is made with a consistent shape and super soft hollow body, so they collapse easily to expose the razor-sharp hooks. Snag Proof’s new machine welded line tie eliminates the gap that previously existed, so there is no chance of losing fish from slick braided lines slipping.
Engineered with a rear button weight to keep the frog in a head-up position, the Phat frog always has the optimal posture to produce maximum action and the weight will never fall out. An innovative water evacuation system naturally expels any water infiltration during a cast for unbeatable buoyancy and consistent performance. Designed and created in the USA by internationally renowned and award-winning lure designer Andrew Gardner, the Snag Proof Phat Frog is available in new paint designs that cover 360-degrees of the frog body so every angle the fish can see is covered. The Phat Frog is now available at tackle retailers across the country.
American Baitworks’ Scum Frog Painted Trophy Series is Poppin!
All new PTS Poppin Frog delivers proven designs and performance
OCEAN SPRINGS, Mississippi, USA (July 14, 2021) – Topwater anglers know that a popping frog can deliver open water bites like nothing else and the new Trophy Series Poppin Frog delivers performance and so much more! Scum Frog has been in the frog game for decades and the company continues to innovate and design new topwater’s built around the highest quality components at a reasonable price. Like the ALL NEW Trophy Series launched in 2019, the Painted Trophy Series Poppin Frog features 10 new hand-designed colors.
The Scum Frog Trophy Series Popper (TSP) gives you that killer “ka-bloop” sound proven to drive fish crazy and produce serious topwater blow-ups. The TSP also does double duty delivering amazing “walk-the-dog” action - helping you switch on the fly and adapt to the fish and changing conditions. The Painted Trophy Series’ realistic color schemes mimic several different types of bass forage. Each color has been meticulously designed by award-winning, internationally renowned lure artist Andrew Gardner.
All Scum Frog models are manufactured at American Baitworks in Ocean Springs Mississippi, USA.
Unlike most frogs that are produced with automated manufacturing overseas, Scum Frog
production is done by hand, by American employees ensuring the time and care it takes to meet
the company’s high-quality control standards. Plus, anglers don’t have to worry about the paint
design wearing off because Scum Frog uses a proprietary system that digitally prints onto the frog
making them extremely durable.
Like all Scum Frogs, the Trophy Series Poppin Frog has a patented keel hole in the bottom to make it self-draining. Each time you lift the bait to make another cast, water automatically drains. That means there’s no need to “squeeze” the body to remove water which is required of many other brands. The Trophy Series Poppin Frog weighs in at a 1/2 ounce and its legs are made with 40-strand silicone skirt material that is color matched to the lure body perfectly.
Scum Frog, a subsidiary of American Baitworks, makes a frog for every action, size and price point in the market.
Halo Fishing Rods Unleashes the Halo HFX Series
OCEAN SPRINGS, Mississippi - March 10, 2021. American Baitworks has set a new standard in performance and affordability with the all-new Halo HFX Series Fishing Rods. The HFX Series has an impressive 13 rod models – 4 Spinning and 9 Casting, to cover virtually every length and action any angler could ask for.
“Anglers demand a lot from their fishing rods – performance and value are always at the top of that list.” says Halo Fishing Rods President, Walt Roberts. “We are seeing a shift in fishing where anglers are expanding their rod arsenal as they adapt and learn new techniques. We developed the HFX series to cover multiple techniques from Finesse to Power fishing.”
Halo Fishing starts each rod with unbeatable blanks, constructed of the highest-quality Japanese graphite. When Halo designed the all-new HFX Series, we did exactly that – with Toray graphite blanks that deliver ultimate sensitivity, in casting and spinning models from 6’10” to 7’11” in medium light to extra heavy actions.
Halo’s exclusive 4Finger™ reel seat offers an exposed blank design to allow fingers to feel the slightest bait touch. Sensitivity is further enhanced with integrated Sensi-touch cork composite rings that deliver more feel through the grip than conventional foam grips.
The HFX’s stainless steel guides are built to handle even the toughest braided lines but still super sensitive for the lightest fluorocarbon, and our Align™ guide system ensures perfect alignment of guides from handle to tip.
“We know a lot of our customers work hard all week so they can fish harder every weekend.” says Roberts. “The American Baitworks team is passionate about providing customers the highest quality products and equally committed to a vastly improved customer service program for anglers and our dealer network.”
Every feature of the HFX has been meticulously thought through by our team of designers and pro anglers to create a rod series with unbeatable features and value. Backed by a 5-year limited warranty and 100s of hours of product design and testing in the best office in the world – on the water!
For more information about and to check out the new Halo Fishing Rods, please visit www.americanbaitworks.com.
Berkley PowerBait Gilly
Versatile bait delivers the most realistic swimming action in addition to PowerBait flavor.
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Bass fishing in Japan continues to influence American anglers, especially when it comes to new finesse presentations and swim baits. Always in search of an on-the-water advantage, Berkley pro Mike Iaconelli regularly looks abroad to find the next big technique, which led to the inspiration for the new Berkley PowerBait Gilly.
Berkley’s bait scientists took Ike’s notes and put their own unique stamp on it, including the infusion of the bait with the famed PowerBait flavor that makes fish hold on longer for more hooksets. Beyond flavor, Berkley designed the bait so the hollow head section is soft enough to collapse during strikes and keep the bait swimming upright regardless of how it’s rigged. The tabs built into the tail section give the bait a remarkably lifelike motion in the water, looking exactly like an easy meal. Texas rigged sideways, on a jig head or even a dropshot, the new Gilly is as realistic as it is versatile.
KEY FEATURES
• Pro-inspired design from Berkley pro Mike Iaconelli with heavy influence from Japanese designs and techniques
• Remarkably lifelike shape, color and action
• Hollow head section collapses easier with strikes and helps keep the bait oriented in an upright posture when swimming
• Packed with Berkley’s famed PowerBait flavor so anglers have the chance to set the hook on every bite
• Can be rigged weedless sideways as a Texas rig; or on a jig head, with a weighted swimbait hook, line-through stinger hook rig or on a drop shot
• Available in HD Tru Colors and standard injected colors
Berkley PowerBait Gilly
Sizes: 90mm and 90mm HD • 110mm and 110mm HD • 130mm and 130mm HD
Package Count: 90mm – 4 • 110mm – 3 • 130mm – 2
Colors: HD Warmouth • HD Yellow Perch • HD Sunfish • HD Pumpkinseed • HD Bluegill • HD Crappie • Black Blue Fleck • Blue Shiner Gold • Ike’s Green Pumpkin Blue Flash • Green Pumpkin • Pumpkinseed • Watermelon Candy
MSRP: $6.49 Standard Colors/$7.49 HD Tru Colors
Available: September 2021