B.A.S.S. Federation Nation - Kissimmee River

Well I just got back from fishing the Federation Nation event on the Kissimme River and the Kissimmee Chain (Lakes: Toho, Cypress, Kissimmee, and Hatchineha). I ended up the day with a small limit weighing close to seven pounds but had an awesome day on the water. I can't remember an event this year where I caught as many fish as I did today. Even though they were mostly non-keepers and barely keepers, it was still fun!

I fished as a non-boater and drew a guy who said he wasn't really on anything great, which is always the worst thing you can hear as a co-angler. I still kept an open mind and tried to have fun. The day started off pretty slow for me, but for a three hour stretch it was basically a bite on every cast. The first fish I hooked was a big one, it was between three and four pounds and slammed my fluke, dragged me in the grass, and then jumped...leaving me with just my fluke and a pile of grass to reel in. I didn't let it get to me and proceeded to catch ten fish from one small lilly pad clump. That was awesome...it was amazing how many fish were in that small of an area. Early on, my boater and I were neck in neck in terms of how many fish we caught. But once the sun came up I was catching quite a few more. He asked me what we were doing different and I honestly didn't have an answer for him. Then he asked if I was using fluorocarbon, which I was. He said he was using mono and that was the only difference. Same bait, same color, but a different line. That made me think that fluorocarbon really can make a difference. Today I was using a line called Red Label from Seaguar. It is their most inexpensive line, but works great. It only costs around $12 per spool. Check it out...it's good stuff.

I had a great time and my thumbs are sore from all of the fish. I can't wait to get back there in three weeks for the final BFL Everglades Division tournament. That big fish I lost ended up costing me a check, I had one tiny keeper in the well and the difference in weight would have easily moved me up. Oh well....it was fun.

Seaguar InvizX

Last month I mentioned a great fluorocarbon line from Seaguar called AbrazX which is extremely abrasion resistant. Another one of my favorite lines is also from Seaguar and it's called InvizX, and as the name implies it is "invisible". Flurocarbon by nature is very hard to see underwater due to the light reflection properties...basically the light passes right through the line making it invisible.

It still has all of the properties I love about fluorocarbon; strength, density and of course it's invisible underwater. Try it out, it really is great.

Snag Proog Frog Modification

Usually the best way to fish a frog is right out the package. With the improvements companies like Snag Proof have made, they have already been tweaked enough that they are good to go. For example the Bobby's Perfect Frog was designed the way Bobby Barrack modified the original Tournament Series Frog. The new Ish Phat Frog was changed by Ish Monroe to make the improvements he was looking for.

Yesterday, fellow frog fanatic, Dan Barker emailed me some pics of a frog he had modified to make it even more appealing. What he did was to remove the rubber legs and replace them with feathers and mylar. This created a unique change to an already great bait. I am sure the action of the bait will be much different and I know it will work. It looks simple enough, and I am thinking of doing this to some of my retired frogs.

The New Stradic CI4

I have been a huge fan of the Stradic for years, even back when they had the wooden handle, white frame and gold spool. I have at least every generation reel they have came out with in the last ten years, and now I have another one on my wishlist. The Stradic CI4!

"CI4 stands for Carbon Interfusion with the 4 referring to the number of electrons in the Carbon atom. Ultimately, this means CI4 is reinforced Carbon Fiber.

It is over one and a half times stronger than our normal XT-7 graphite and is over 20% lighter. Because it does not contain metal, it is impervious to rust.

So, as a result of its strength and weight, we can create an extremely lightweight reel with very precise tolerances."

You can see more about it here. This award winning reel retails for $199.99 and can be found at Cabelas.com.

Tanya Tyler Interviews Skeet Reese

With all the hype and attention Bassmaster is getting with the Top 12 race for the Angler Year, I thought it would be a good time to post an interview. Tanya Tyler interviewed Skeet right after his 2007 AOY Victory. Check it out:

New Colors for Bobby's Perfect Frog

Lately, the Phat Frog has been getting all of the attention for Snag Proof, but the tried and true Bobby's Perfect Frog came out with three new colors. My favorite of the colors is called Florida Bass. It looks great and will catch bass whether you live in Florida or not. The other two new colors are Tule Perch and KC Dragonfly.

How is Greg Gutierrez?

I was reading Wired2Fish this morning and saw a cool update on Greg Gutierrez. He is a former Bassmaster Elite Angler who stepped aside from the tour to be with his sick wife. You can see the entire article here.

I had the chance to fish with him twice on Lake Shasta in 2001 and learned so much about Spotted Bass fishing. You should read the article and hear a little more about his story. I hope he makes it back to the big show soon. Good Luck Greg!

Bassmaster Elite Top 12 "Postseason"

This year the Elite Series is trying something new, a post-season, to determine who will win the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year (TTBAOY). It will feature the Top 12 battling it out on four different lakes on four different days to see who wins the title. It is kind of like the NASCAR system. It will be interesting to see who wins, and even more interesting to see how long they keep the system in place. B.A.S.S. is notorious for changing the rules, points, and systems every few years. Here are the Top 12:

1. Kevin VanDam: 205
2. Skeet Reese: 204
3. Alton Jones: 198
4. Kelly Jordon: 182
5. Todd Faircloth: 180
6. Randy Howell: 180
7. Tommy Biffle: 180
8. Mark Menendez: 180
9. Gary Klein: 179
10. Cliff Pace: 177
11. Mike Iaconelli: 175
12. Gerald Swindle: 174

I am really hoping someone besides Skeet or KVD wins, I always root for the underdog in sports, so let's hope someone like Kelly Jordan climbs to the top.

The Cal Delta is in Trouble!

The California Delta is known to all bass fisherman in the country as one of America's best bass fisheries. I have fished there a few times and can attest to the quality of fishing. I mean this is where flippin' was invented, and where the Snag Proof frog is king. But there is sad news from California:

"The State of California, with its Bay Delta Conservation Plan, or BDCP, a series of projects for which planning began in 2008, is attempting to re-route much of the water supply of the Delta. Among the parts of the plan is a "New Conveyance," a new 500-foot wide canal that will remove fresh water from the Sacramento River above the Delta and shuttle it around the heart of the Delta to Tracy. This is a resurrected version of the Peripheral Canal rejected by voters in 1982."

You can read the whole story here. If you really care about bass fishing, step up and do something about this. Even if you don't live in California, you can still visit this site and see what you can do to Save the Delta!

Lake Okeechobee!

Just got back from my weekend at The Big O. It was a very interesting weekend. The days were full of thunder, lightning, rain, wind and sun. A little bit of every kind of weather. Yesterday was a practice day, and we spent alot of time running for shelter and hiding from the thunderstorms that were in full effect from 8 am until we got off the water at around 5 pm.

Saturday was much better for me fishing wise. I caught a nice bass that I would have loved to have today for the tournament. I hooked it and it rolled and I immediately regretted catching it.

I also caught two monster bluegill on Pepper Spinnerbaits. I thought one was a fluke, but then caught another later on. I haven't caught a bluegill in a long time and it was actually pretty fun.

The tournament was pretty uneventful for me. Four small keepers caught on a shaky head, which sounds like a few more tournaments I have had in the last few months. 12 pounds won the tournament. The people who did well seemed to have found good grasslines to fish and were throwing swimbaits and Skinny Dippers.

I have another tournament in two weeks. This time it is a Federation event on the Kissimmee Chain...should be fun!

Lake O Tommorow

I'm headed to Lake Okeechobee for the weekend. The fishing has been off and on, but I'm still really optimistic. I think it will definitely be a day where you have to catch them early or you won't catch them at all. That is typical summer fishing. I'll update my report when I get home. Good luck to everyone fishing this weekend!

6 Fish?

Today the Elite guys hit Lake Oneida for the season finale....and two of the superstars got disqualified for fishing with six fish in the livewell. The limit for this tournament is five, and once you catch your fifth one, you must start culling.

The anglers were Bobby Lane and Bill Lowen, two guys I interviewed for this site in the last month. I feel bad for them, but at least they still get to fish tommorow.

Here is the complete story from Bassfan.com

"Bobby Lane and Bill Lowen both had their day's catch disqualified under Elite Series Rule C16 (Scoring). They committed the same violation – having six fish (one more than the tournament limit) in their livewell.

Both self-reported the violations. Lowen called his into tournament director Trip Weldon midway through the day (for that story, click here. Lane was unaware he'd violated a rule until he learned of Lowen's DQ during the weigh-in, and he immediately notified BASS official Chuck Harbin that he'd done the same thing at one point during the day.

He caught 13-10 and would've been in 35th place without the mishap.

"I don't know how it happened and I've been doing this long enough that it shouldn't have happened," said Lane, who came in at No. 22 in the points but will in all likelihood end up somewhere around the 37th-place Classic cutoff. "I don't know what fish it was on or why I did it or anything else.

"It's very frustrating when you work your butt off all year and then some stupid mistake could cost you (making) the Classic. I just feel fortunate that I get to fish tomorrow."

Go get them tomorrow guys!

Lake Okeechobee Club Tournament

This weekend the Fort Myers Bass Club is fishing Lake Okeechobee out of Clewiston, FL. I am really looking forward to this event as the lake is finally at a normal level. The famed bass lake has been through quite a few ups and downs recently. I have only lived in Florida since last March and I have seen plenty of highs and lows for this great lake.

I am heading there Saturday to pre-fish and then fishing the tournament on Sunday. My head is spinning with what to use, but I think I have narrowed it down to some key baits:

Super Spook in Okie Shad - This big bait catches some huge fish and I hear they are catching some good fish on topwater.

Snag Proof Ish's Phat Frog in Papa Midnight (black) - I love frogs, and never leave home without this bait.

A 3/16 oz Buckeye Spot Remover with a black worm - Shaky heads work great in Florida

Accent Lures Koza Shad in Ozark Chrome - A rattletrap is a must have in any lake in Florida.

I know I'll have a few more baits to bring, but these are my favorites and have never let me down. I can't wait until Saturday!

Oneida Picks

The Bassmaster Elite Series wraps up its "regular season" this week on New York's Lake Oneida. After that only the Top 12 Anglers will compete for four tournament days on four lakes for the chance to be the 2009 Bassmaster Elite Angler of the Year.

This event has some intrigue, because Classic births and automatic re-qualifications for next year are on the line. Here are my Top 5 picks for the tournament in no particular order:

Dean Rojas: He won last year, and he is right below the Classic cutoff. He's going to be fishing hard this week.

Aaron Martens: He said he is going to focus on largemouth, and he's now in 5th place. I'm sure he would like to move up a little closer to the top.

Timmy Horton: Now sitting just below the Classic cutoff. He has alot to lose, and should make a great effort this week.

Ish Monroe: Having a pretty horrible year. He's now in 80th in points. He doesn't have much to lose, so he'll be going for the win. Last year Rojas won with the frog, and Ish has the new Phat Frog, which these bass have never seen.

KVD: He's KVD, no explanation needed.

The Damiki Stinger

The other day I had the chance to try a new bait from Damiki called the Stinger. Damiki is fairly new to America. They are based out of Korea and first caught my attention last year when they released their Dark Angel rods. The rods are awesome looking and are surprisingly affordable.
Damiki actually makes a huge selection of baits, everything from spinnerbaits, crankbaits, jigs to soft plastics. My first chance to try one of their baits was a few nights ago when I used the 4" Stinger in junebug. I caught a nice fish with it in a short period of time.

It seems like every company under the sun makes a "senko" type bait. Some work, and most don't. But this bait is unique because it has a shape, almost more pointed. It seems to dart from side to side and slide through grass very well. It can also be very effective when just fished wacky or texas rigged, allowing it to fall slowly. I really think this bait has some great applications and I will definitely be buying more of them.

Big Baits = Big Fish

It makes sense that using bigger fish would attract bigger fish. After all, they probably need more to satisfy their hunger. We all know that this isn't always the case, but sometimes it does make a big difference.

FLWoutdoors.com just did a great article featuring Ish Monroe and some of the tricks he uses to upsize his baits for big bass. You can read it here.

One new bait that I just got my hands on is a plastic worm made by Net Bait. It's 15 inches long! You can see the size of the new bait compared to my other favorite big worm, the 10 inch Gambler ribbontail. If you look closely, you can see that the "body" part of the worm is actually longer on the 10 inch worm. The Net Bait worm just has a much longer ribbon tail. I know this bait will still catch those 2 pounders, but my chances of catching a monster should be better. I can't wait to try it out next weekend on Okeechobee!

Slowing Down Your Fishing

How come bass always seem to bite when your not paying attention? I went fishing tonight and saw a gator cruising along the bank. He was really close, so I was trying to get a video of him with my phone. Meanwhile, my bait is out in the water. I'm taking a video with one hand and the rod is being yanked out of my other hand. This has happened to me a bunch of times over the years...I guess the lesson is that we need to slow down sometimes. I was using a new bait from Damiki called the Stinger in junebug. It was a very strong scent and I think this was part of why the fish hit so hard. I'll post more about the bait later.

The Bassmaster Elite Marshalls Program

This season was the first year the Bassmaster Elite Series eliminated co-anglers and instead replaced them with "Marshalls". This is great, you still get to ride along with a pro and learn all of his tricks for only $100....but, there is one catch...no fishing. The Marshalls are there just to ride and observe, whereas a co-angler does all of this but is also fishing. Co-Anglers have the chance to compete against other co-anglers and win money in the process. I was immediately against this decision, but some people really enjoy it. I know I could not fish all day without making a cast, no matter what I was learning.

Again, it's not for everybody. This week Bassmaster sent me an email about registering for the tournaments as a marshall. For just $100, you get to ride along and see the Pro's in their element. If you are interested you can check out the link here.

What's a Skippy Fish?

I love using a soft plastic bait like a Mizmo Diamond Darter Fluke or the original Zoom Super Fluke. It always seems to come up in the clutch for me when I need another fish or two to fill out my limits. One new company has put a spin on the fluke and made it much easier to skip under trees, docks and anything else that hangs over the water. The new company is called Skippy Fish. They created a sensation at recent fishing trade shows and are now making their way into dealers around the country.

I got my first chance to use the bait a few weeks ago and it is definitely as advertised. Not only can you fish it like a traditional soft plastic jerkbait, but you can also skip under overhangs with ease. It has to do with how the bait is built, with a longer tail section and wider tail allows the bait to skip and create quite a commotion on the surface.

It comes in two sizes and ten great colors. For me, I always go with the watermelon with red flake or the shad patterns. They work everywhere! You can check out Skippy Fish by clicking below:

Casey Ashley Interview

Casey Ashley burst onto the B.A.S.S. scene a few years ago and has proved he has staying power. The young pro from South Carolina has shown he was not just a rookie sensation. Tanya Tyler interviewed him a few years ago and got some great tips from him. Check out the interview.

The Rod Guard

When new products come out, it usually takes something amazing for me to impressed. One product that passed my test is The Rod Guard. I have only lost one rod and reel combo, but it is always one of my biggest fears. When we spend the kind of money these combos cost, losing one can hurt. Why not just buy a product that only costs less than your favorite crankbait and can be used for up to four rods? That is pretty cheap insurance if you ask me.

I thought The Rod Guard would affect how I fish, but after talking to Bill Lowen and using it myself, I see that it doesn't change a thing. The Rod Guard is really easy to use and weighs next to nothing. It won't make the rod too heavy or get in your way at all. You really forget it is there after using it for a minute. You can see three of the ways it can be used below. I have all different types of rods, so I cut one piece in half and used it on my split grip Shimano Cumara. With the other half, I attached it to the front of my frog rod. With the other one that comes in the package, I used the whole thing on my flippin' stick since it weighs more.

You can buy them from Doug's Tournament Tackle of buy direct from Rod Guard. Check it out, you will be impressed.

Bill Lowen on River Fishing in the Summer

The FLW Cup just ended this weekend, and the three rivers proved how tough river fishing can be in the summertime. It takes time to learn the nuances of river fishing and where fish position themselves when the current is flowing.

Elite Series Pro Bill Lowen is know for his skills at river fishing, he is definitely a "river rat". He grew up fishing the Ohio River and learned to excel at fishing the river systems in his area. Recently I had the chance to talk to him and see if he could offer any tips on fishing river systems.

I asked him what advice he would have for someone who is fishing a river in the Summer. He said "No matter where you live, in the North or the South, river bass are always going to pull out to the river ledges in the Summer." He added that "you need to look for banks that are going to have cooler temps and more baitfish." River fish are naturally current oriented so he said "to look for hard structure in shallow water". This can be everything from rocks, wood, or any manmade structure that helps to break the current and provide ambush points for bass.

This is great advice from someone who has proved their skills on bass in river systems. Try his tips out the next time you head to a river to catch some bass.

Tomorrow I will review an innovative product by one of Bill's sponsors, the Rod Guard.

Greg Hackney is The 1 Million.....I Mean $500k Winner

Photo: FLWoutdoors.com

The FLW Tour's Championship event, the Forrest Wood Cup ended today and it was just as expected...tough. The anglers struggled for four days to find bass in the three rivers that flow through Pittsburg. The fishing was difficult, but as always there has to be a winner. The champion of the dink-fest was Greg Hackney, a Bassmaster Elite Series pro who qualified for the Cup by fishing the FLW Series Eastern Division. His total weight for the final two days was 9lbs-90z (9 fish) and he edged fellow Bassmaster Elite Angler Mike Iaconelli who had 9lbs-6oz (9 fish). Ike qualified by fishing the Stren Northern Division last year and then by finishing as the highest in his division at the Stren Championship last fall.

I think FLW would have much rather had one of their own Ranger owners win this event. I know they would also love to give out $1 Million instead of $500k, it just sounds better when they are promoting the tour. I assume that Hackney won't get as much publicity and coverage on the sites as Michael Bennet and Scott Suggs did the last two years. These guys were all over Fantasyfishing.com the last two years, and again I'm sure you won't see "The Hack Attack" anywhere. Both Hackney and Ike are former Ranger owners who switched to other boats while on the Elite Series.

Out of the 77 angler field, I counted 4 Elite Series Pros: Hackney (1st), Iaconelli (2nd), Tommy Biffle (20th) and Takahiro Omori (21st). It was a good showing for the B.A.S.S. Elite Anglers and made me wonder if there is a difference in the quality of the anglers that are fishing Elite Series vs. FLW Tour. I know the FLW Tour has some amazing fisherman, even quite a few that used to be with B.A.S.S, but this was pretty convincing to have 1st and 2nd come from the Elite guys.

What do you think?

Making Adjustments

I woke up this morning to beat the heat and try to catch some bass on a lake I have never seen before. My guide was a new friend who lived on the water. The day was very slow, but I did manage to catch one bass on a Mizmo Quiver Stick in watermelon. I fished all morning trying the three baits I posted about yesterday that could catch fish anywhere in the country, a shaky head, frog and a lipless crankbait. As soon as I switched to the Quiver Stick I started getting bites and eventually caught this bass with it. Maybe I should make it the "four baits I can't live without" next time. It sometimes pays to make adjustments until you find the bait that works.