A Sexy New Frog

The Snag Proof Bobby's Perfect Frog is a summer bass fishing classic.  This bait has proven itself across the country.  This year, Snag Proof added the I.T.T. technology that has made the Phat Frog so popular.  If you are not familiar with I.T.T., it is the inner tube technology that makes these frogs unsinkable.  The biggest problem with hollow frogs is that they tend to take on water and will slowly sink.  In the past, fishermen always had to "burp" the frog to release the water.  It was a hassle and took time away from fishing. Now with the I.T.T., you can keep casting.  The Bobby's Perfect frog also comes in a sexy new color, the Sexy Shad pattern that looks awesome.  

Good Grass vs. Bad Grass

Bass and bass fishermen both love grass.  I talk about it all the time when I mention flippin' and punchin' down here in Florida.  Around here, bass are in the grass, and that's all you need to know.  With so many kinds of grass out there, it's hard to determine which grass is best.  I have always done well around hydrilla (see picture), eelgrass, pepper grass and Kissimmee grass.  We are really lucky here and have plenty of types to choose from.  But not all grass is good for the lake. I was just reading on spokanebassfishing.com about Milfoil's Destructive Pattern and how this type of grass actually does more harm than good.  I remember the Eurasian Milfoil when I lived up there and people were doing everything they could to control it and stop it's spread.  It is easy to transport and grows like...a weed.  It is not native to most areas and is bad news.  Like Daniel says, "please check your trailers, boats, and gear. One little piece of milfoil is all it takes to spread. Stop it’s reproduction and help keep our lakes and rivers clean of this non-native plant species. If crucial plants continue to disappear, our favorite fish will eventually be impacted as well."

The 2-in-1 Product That Really Works

Yesterday I finally tried J.J.'s Magic.  I have been hearing the hype about this stuff for months on the internet and finally bought some when I saw it at Big Toho Marina last weekend.  The product is a combination of both scent and dye.  As you can see in the picture, the dye is really bright.  It was actually pretty cool how quickly it worked and how well the dye held up after fishing with it for a while.  The Magic also has a very potent garlic scent that stays strong for a long time.  It comes in chartreuse, blue, pink, and clear.  I think this is a good buy and I will continue to use it. 

Lady Bass Anglers Association Announces Kick-Off Tournament

A new era in women's professional bass fishing is on the horizon in America!

The anglers of the newly formed Lady Bass Anglers Association (LBAA) take to the waters of Lake Dardanelle in Russellville, Arkansas for their Kickoff Tournament September 16-18, 2010.

Cheryl Bowden, Co-founder of the LBAA, spoke recently about the start-up of the LBAA. "It is an incredibly exciting time to see the enthusiasm and willingness of the ladies to take on an active role in the development of this new tour. Anglers from the past, present and future are all contributing to move this organization from a dream to reality. Lake Dardanelle is the next step of this quest, and it will not be the last."

As Bowden stated the LBAA is attracting both experienced anglers and newcomers to the sport. Emily Shaffer, a recent inductee into The Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame, nine-time Bass 'n Gals Classic Qualifier, and current member of Strike King's Pro Team made these comments.


"I feel very fortunate to be involved with a women's tournament trail run by women for women. We are all pioneers with the same goals for the sport of bass fishing of our future generation. I am excited about what the future holds for the Lady Bass Anglers Association," Shaffer said.

The field for the LBAA Kickoff Tournament at Dardanelle will have many anglers with years of experience on the waterways of America. The LBAA is also attracting many fresh faces to the sport that have a high-level of competitive desire, determination, and drive.


One of the many new angler faces entering the LBAA is Jaime Hall from St. Louis. "I am honored to be a part of the LBAA. I had no idea what I was "getting into" when I signed up for the first tournament. I came to fish... but quickly figured out that I was part of something bigger," Hall stated. "These amazing women welcomed me immediately and they make bass fishing as fun as it was when I was a kid sitting on the boat with my dad," she concluded.

The LBAA is also creating a buzz in the fishing industry too as companies from all over the world are looking to have their companies and/or products aligned with a prestigious organization such as the LBAA. Phoenix Boats is one such company and Phoenix representative Jeff Hartung spoke recently with the LBAA about Phoenix Boats getting on board with the LBAA.


"We at Phoenix Boats are proud to be associated with the Lady Bass Anglers Association through our "First Flight" program as we feel they represent the quality and level of commitment to the fishing industry that we at Phoenix Boats strive for," Hartung stated.


The excitement generated by the LBAA is being felt in cities and tourism organizations across America as they are feeling the passion to host an LBAA event. One such organization is the Russellville Tourism & Visitors Center. The Russellville Tourism & Visitors Center is hosting the LBAA Kickoff Event and Executive Director Christie Graham recently spoke about becoming involved with the LBAA.


"Russellville is excited to host the 2010 LBAA Kickoff Tournament, we look forward to having the lady anglers and their families here for the week, which will bring great economic impact into our community, as well as, allow them to see what a great lake area we have."

Entry deadline for the LBAA Lake Dardanelle Kickoff Tournament is August 17.


Official practice will begin for the LBAA Lake Dardanelle Kickoff Tournament on Sunday, September 12, 2010. Tournament waters will be off limits starting at 12:01 AM on Tuesday, September 7 through Saturday, September 11, 2010 at 11:59 PM.


Days one and two (09/16 & 17) of the LBAA Lake Dardanelle Kickoff Tournament will be the LBAA Russellville ProAm Event. All ladies competing in the ProAm Event must be members of the LBAA.

Day three of the LBAA Lake Dardanelle Kickoff Tournament will be the LBAA Russellville Team Charity Fishing Tournament with the event proceeds going to support The Main Street Mission in Russellville. The Main Street Mission has been feeding the hungry in Pope, Yell, and Johnson Counties in Arkansas for over 15 years. The Main Street Mission is located at 1110 E. Second Street, in Russellville and for more information call 1-479-968-8303.


The LBAA Lake Dardanelle Team Charity Fishing Tournament is open to all interested parties. Entry fee is $100 per team with a guaranteed payout of $1,000. Each participating team is required to have at least one female competitor per team.


All three "official" tournament days will launch at "Safelight" from the Lake Dardanelle State Park with all daily weigh-ins getting underway at 3PM at the Lake Dardanelle State Park Pavilion.


Host lodging for the Lady Bass Anglers Lake Dardanelle Kickoff Tournament will be The Best Western Inn located at 2326 N Arkansas Avenue, Russellville, Arkansas 72802-2218. Phone: 479/967-1000 | Fax: 479/967-3586.

Partners with the Lady Bass Anglers Association for the Lake Dardanelle Kickoff Tournament are: Russellville Tourism and Visitor's Center, Moors Resort and Marina, Castaway Graphite Rods, Ray Barga and Associates, Inc., Sportsmen's Edge Triton Boat dealership, West Kentucky LED, SHE Outdoor Apparel, Todali Lures, Necessity Jigs, Nite Owl Media Productions, Triton Boats, Dave Stewart's Big Bass Guide Service, Sure Life, North Texas Marine Triton dealership, Legend Boats, BassCat Boats, Phoenix Boats, Skeeter Real Money, and Fleck's Hand Poured Baits.


Partnering with the Lady Bass Anglers Association for the 2011 season are: CASTAWAY Rods, Fleck's Hand Poured Baits, Necessity Jigs, West Kentucky LED, Nite Owl Media Productions, Phoenix Boats First Flight Program, Skeeter Real Money, and River Runner Baits.


For more information on the Lady Bass Anglers Association contact: Co-founders Cheryl Bowden at 1-214-738-7517 or Secret York at 1-270-748-9041.

Punchin with the Miller Punchin Weight

Punchin' has become one of my favorite ways to fish.  It's an exciting way to get to those hard to reach bass.  I have been following the Miller Punchin Weight for a few months on westernbass.com, as the western guys always seem to have the latest and greatest stuff coming out (I'm a little biased as I learned how to bass fish on the West Coast).  I just saw this article and had to post it. Danny Miller talks about how he likes to approach punchin'.  If you live anywhere where bass live in grass, this weight would be good for you. 

 

Punchin' The Grass

 

By Danny Miller

 

You’re going fishing in the morning! The boats fueled up, your rods are stowed, your lunch is made and ready to grab on the way out the door. You’ve checked the Delta tide for the day and its 2.5 low @ 10:00 am. So what are you going to fish? Grass!

I love punchin the grass for bass. When that water starts falling bass head for deeper water, and one of their favorite areas is a grass bed. Sometimes it’s in around 4’ but more often I find they like it better in the 10’ to 15’deeper grass. You can see the top of it below the water around 2’down. Most of us just T motor right on over it and keep tossing something shallow. You see it down there you just don’t fish it, but the bass are there repositioned. 

I like the smaller .75 punchin weight combined with a 5/0 Gamakatsu offset shank worm hook. My bait of choice is a sweet beaver in June bug, or a black and red color, but as the weather changes so will my bait choices. I always use 65lb. braid to help cut any grass the fish may go under. Use any stout punchin rod your comfortable with to get a good hook set. Add your favorite scent and your ready. 

I start by dropping right straight down through the thick of it. If my punchin weight hits bottom I will count to 10 and lift it up about 6”. A lot of fish run off with your bait before you lift it up so watch for your line to start moving off. It’s like a small forest under there and fish can see quite well so I give them a little time to check out my bait. Fish that move off with the bait are hooked pretty easy with this setup so an easy hook set is recommended. If my weight stops half way into the grass or any where else other than the bottom I let it sit there and give it some small shakes. The bites while it is in the grass are more like the bites we are used to getting; a real slam sometimes really can get your attention. This is where I set with a vengeance. My good friend Dean Sault says I stop the rotation of the earth for a split second when I set, I will admit some of my rods have become 2 piece at that point. 

Now, for a great rear deck presentation. We all get back seated at one time or another, weather on purpose or by accident it happens. Up against a tree, tulles or whatever. Just turn to the other side of the boat or behind it. Believe me it’s a whole new fishing hole right behind you. Every foot of that grass can hold a fish so start by lowering my weight through the grass to any where it will touch bottom. Then raise and lower your rod about 3 to 4 feet at a time doing what I call Yo Yoing the bait. Strikes come at random doing this so really pay attention and a quick hook set is a must. 

Hope you catch 'em, Danny.

Season 3 to begin for Jarrett Edwards on WFN

I met Jarrett last year and was really impressed with him.  He is a great guy and has an awesome show.  Season three premiers tomorrow and I can't wait!


Season 3 of Jarrett Edwards Outdoors will launch this Thursday on The World Fishing Network. This season has a large multi species approach covering Bass, Striper, Pike, Shark, Crappie and Trout. Since leaving the Bassmaster Elite series in 2006 Jarrett has focused on producing HD fishing shows for multiple species across the Western US. Surprisingly as a national show many viewers east of the Mississippi have picked up on many fresh techniques that the west coast angler brings to the table. WFN is also airing a free preview on Dish Network till August 18^th. It’s available on channel 390 and features 24/7 fishing in HD.
 

Jarrett Edwards Outdoors also has a new interactive website where you can see show trailers as well as other media. Check it out here: www.jarrettedwardsoutdoors.com

How to Fish The Flick Shake

The flick shake is something I have started using  quite a bit over the last two years.  It's a simple technique that catches lots of fish.  I use it whenever I see the chance and it always helps me get a fish or two in tough conditions.  The question I get all the time is: "How do I fish it?"  The internet forums seem to always have someone asking about it, and I think people just make it too complicated.

I had the chance to talk with Kota Kiriyama last year and he said the best thing to do with the flick shake is to just cast it out and let it fall.  He said people tend to put too much action into the rod, the best thing to do is to do nothing, the bait is designed with all of the action you need.  Cast, let it fall, and if nothing hits it on the fall, reel it back in.  It's a finesse technique that can be still cover water quickly.  

I like to focus on the ends of docks, rocks, grass lines and points in both land and in reeds.  I have had my best success on the Junebug color, but Kota says his favorite all around color is Sunburn Melon. The worms come in 4.8, 5.8, and 6.8 sizes.  My favorite is the 5.8, it seems to be the perfect size.  Not too big and not too small.

My setup is a 7 foot Lamiglas Excel Drop Shot rod, with a 2500 Stradic and 8lb fluorocarbon.  The weights I use depending on the depth and wind conditions, but I find myself using the lightest weight I can get away with.  A 1/6 or 3/32 ounce jighead is perfect.

Try it out.  Now is the perfect time to get out there and catch some Flick Shake Bass.

Some Punchin' Ideas

I thought this was pretty cool. I think it would be good when punchin' the thick stuff. 

Check this one out as well! 

Bassmaster Elite Series Postseason Standings

When BASS first came out with the postseason idea, I was against it.  I felt like the winner of the regular season should be AOY.  Then, I started thinking about it a little more and realized we need the postseason.  Any other sport has a postseason that is for the championship, why should bass fishing be any different.  In the NFL playoffs, once in, anyone can win the Super Bowl.  If bass fishing wants to be thought of like a sport, we should play the game like the other sports.  The first leg of the postseason ended today and Skeet Reese is still leading the race but the standings are definitely different.  Russ Lane won the event and moved up quite a bit.  

Here are the unofficial standings after Lake Jordan:

1st (1st)        Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif.           232

2nd (9th)        Russ Lane, Prattville, Ala.           227

3rd (4th)        Kevin VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich.        225

4th (9th)        Aaron Martens, Leeds, Ala.            222

5th (2nd)        Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla.            220

6th (9th)        Greg Hackney, Gonzales, La.           213

7th (3rd)        Cliff Pace, Petal, Miss.              212

8th (6th)        Terry Butcher, Talala, Okla.          212

9th (9th)        Gary Klein, Weatherford, Texas        209

10th (8th)       John Crews, Salem, Va.                203

11th (4th)       Derek Remitz, Grant, Ala.             198

12th (7th)       Tommy Biffle, Wagoner, Okla.          192

 Read more about it here:Lane leads Day One of the Trophy Chase - ESPN:

My Interview with Clifford Pirch, Two Time U.S. Open Winner

"If I had one tournament to fish for the rest of my life, it would be the U.S. Open."  these are the words Rick Clunn just stated recently on Bassfan.com.  The tournament is a unique test of both skills and endurance as it is held in the middle of the desert outside of Las Vegas, NV.  Clifford Pirch just won his second title (he also won in 2007).  The win put him among other multiple winners like Aaron Martens, Byron Velvick, Mike Folkestad, John Murray, Rick Clunn.  That is pretty good company.

 

Rick Clunn went on to say how even the Bassmaster Classic "isn't what it used to be because guys are getting so much help in that tournament and on the Elite Series. You can't get that kind of help on Lake Mead - you've got to do it yourself. 'It's the toughest tournament there's ever been and the toughest there ever will be. In my mind, you cannot say you're the best until you've won a U.S. Open in July, August or September.'" 

I had the chance to talk with Cliff after his recent win and learned a little more about how he did it.

TB:  First off, congrats on the win!  I'm sorry that it was overshadowed by some other things that happened during the event. 

CP: Thank you.

TB: What was your strategy going into the event? 

CP: The Open is such a fun event.  There are no points to worry about or anything, so I felt really relaxed.  A limit just doesn't cut it on Mead.  I spent the entire time just looking for quality bites.

TB: As tournament fishermen, we learn something every time we enter a tournament.  What did you learn from this event?

CP: I found a couple of new spots during the tournament that produced some fish and decided to stick with them.  I rolled with the changes.  Sometimes it is best to just throw what you think you know out the window.

TB: What were your go-to baits during the event?

CP: I threw a bunch of different things during the tournament.  Lake Mead is a great drop-shot lake, so I threw a bunch of Robo's.  I also caught them on topwater, a crankbait and a spinnerbait.

TB: How did you like the tournament in July instead of September like it is traditionally held?

CP: I liked it better in September just because it is a little coloer, but the fishing was really good in July.  Most of the lakes I go to, July is a bad time because the water is so stagnant, but the fishing was  actually pretty good  on Mead.

TB:  I grew up fishing Lake Mead and am glad to see it is on the rebound.  Some things have changed with the lake since I have been there, like the increase in the Smallmouth population and the Quagga (zebra) mussels.  How did these affect you?

CP:  I didn't weigh in any smallmouths.  All of the ones I caught in the tournament were small and I culled them.  I did catch a big one in practice.  The zebra mussels weren't that big of a deal.  They didn't cut my line on fish or anything, but sometimes your line would get nicked.  

TB: The Forrest Wood Cup is coming up at Lake Lanier in Georgia.  Have you ever been there?

CP:   I spent a little time there earlier this year, but didn't do much fishing.  I basically just spent the time driving around and getting to know the place. I am really looking forward to the event.

I decided not to talk too much about the cheating scandal with Cliff because I didn't want to take away from his accomplishments.  Winning one U.S. Open is a huge deal, but winning it again has made Clifford a true Western Bass Legend.  Congrats again Cliff!

Washington Carp Die-off May Be Natural Occurrence

I thought this was pretty interesting, because it happened on my favorite Washington lake.  I used to fish this place all the time.  Glad the bass didn't die!

SPOKANE -- The cause of a recent die-off of hundreds of carp in Long Lake (also known as Lake Spokane) remains unknown, but it may be a natural occurrence.

State health authorities say the situation is not a human health emergency, although residents should take basic hygiene precautions if they recreate in the area or handle fish carcasses.

Most of the fish carcasses are expected to decompose completely within a couple of weeks. Lakeshore homeowners who want to be rid of the smell and sight of the fish carcasses more quickly are encouraged to bury them, taking standard personal-hygiene precautions, such as using gloves and thoroughly washing equipment.

State agencies do not have sufficient staff or equipment to pick up the dead fish.

Washington Department of Ecology (DOE) water-quality experts ruled out toxic substances as a cause of the die-off. They also ruled out low dissolved-oxygen levels in the lake water as a cause, because almost all the dead fish are carp, which can live in water with very low oxygen levels.

"All the species of fish in Lake Spokane would have been affected if there were toxic pollutants," said Mike Hepp of Ecology. "In addition, we would see small fish dying as well as larger fish, and that's not the case here."

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) district fish biologist Chris Donley said the die-off may have occurred because of spawning stress on the carp and temperature fluctuations.

"Since all the dead carp appear to be adult fish, it's highly possible they came near shore to spawn when it was cool a few weeks ago, waited around for the warmer water temperatures they prefer, then were stressed with very elevated water temperatures very quickly, and became susceptible to natural pathogens like bacteria or viruses," Donley explained. "Things like this happen more often than most people realize, usually with fish carcasses either sinking to lake bottoms or decomposing in remote areas where no one sees them."

A dead carp was examined July 14 by a WDFW fish pathologist but a specific cause of death could not be determined. Organ and tissue samples have been submitted to other laboratories for further testing, but results will not be available for several weeks.

Interview with U.S. Open Winner Clifford Pirch

The U.S. Open just wrapped up and people are still talking about it, mostly due to the cheating scandal that happened, but someone did win this tournament.  FLW Tour Pro Clifford Pirch beat the field and the desert heat and won it all.  I will have an interview with him tomorrow night. 

How Can We Prevent Cheating in Bass Tournaments?

It's a sad thing that I have to even think of this, but how can we prevent cheating in bass tournaments?  This is a topic that has popped up a few times over the years, but it has never been in as big of a spotlight as it is now.  Mike Hart and his cheating antics have created a firestorm among bass anglers and everyone seems to have an idea on how to prevent this.

The problem I see, is that there are so many ways a bass fisherman could cheat if he wanted to.  We are our own police, that is part of what makes this sport great, we are all on the honor system.  That is also one of the worst things about bass fishing, nobody is out there watching what we do.  The Co-Anglers and Marshalls in the Elite Series are a big step towards keeping everyone honest, but what about team events.  What about co-anglers in this event?  It seems like they had no idea what was going on.  His team partner for the last few years issued this today to try to clear his name. "I do not like having to make such a statement, as it means having to distance myself from a friend of many years, but I did not, nor would I ever consider violating the competition rules of any tournament to gain an edge on my competition."   If his team partner didn't know about it, it seems like it would be pretty easy to hide.

Here are some of the ideas that are thrown around as possible solutions:

• Metal detectors: This seems like a good idea to see if fish have any metal inside of them.  What about when you deep hook a bass and the hook remains inside, wouldn't this lead to a positive read?  What if a fisherman catches a fish with some type of metal already inside?
• Lie detector tests:  Again, seems like a great idea.  The problem is how they can be inaccurate and often don't hold up in court.  What if you fail a polygraph because you are just nervous?  Then your labeled a cheater even if you are innocent.
• A Marshall or Observer in every boat:  This seems like too much work and how would you find that many people to just volunteer to sit in a boat all day?  A Marshall is one thing because it is being in the boat with a Elite Series Pro, who would want to watch a regular fisherman all day?

If it sounds like I am skeptical, it's because I am.  All of these ideas seem great at first but all are not practical. What else could be done to prevent this in the future?  Or should we just keep doing things like we always have? 

WON Bass Director of Operations Bill Egan Speaks Out on Cheater

 I found this updated press release on http://www.gethookd.net  Pretty interesting how it all went down.

As most of you have heard and read in our blog, and many other forums, as I would have to assume.

Mike Hart was suspected of placing unnatural items in the bellies of fish presented to our scales at the third day of fishing of the US Open, at Lake Mead, Nevada.

Here is what happened and how it played out!

As I was leaving the Callville Bay Marina Bar and Restaurant and weigh in location. I wanted to run by and check on our anglers whom were having motor or boat issues. As I drove to where Mark Niccoletti and Jordan from Anglers Marine, were working on some angler boats, I was flagged down by the Nevada Fish and game. They were filleting the fish that were collected after the weigh ins, which came to the scales “DEAD”. I told them that I would return in a minute or two, as I wanted to check on a few of our anglers. When I was able to return to the area where the staff was cleaning the fish that are to be given to local area homeless families, I was pulled aside and told of two different issues. One was regarding a AAA, that dumped a whole bottle of Rejuv in a livewell, and ended up killing all of his fish due to over Rejuv. Then the Nevada fish and game agent seemed to have a lump in her throat and a plastic bag in her other hand. It was mentioned, that they happened to be talking about the fish that were being filleted, and what the fish happened to be eating. One of the staff, decided by random to open up the belly of a fish and instead of finding a crawdad, a lead weight, with a fixed drop shot hook was found in stead. There were a total of four 2 oz ( not confirmed ) weights in the bellies of three separate fish at day two weigh ins.

I was sick to my stomach when I saw what was in the bags, it was like someone hit me in the stomach with a hammer. I decided to make sure that nobody, other than the people that were at the fillet station, found out that we had discovered the weights. Headed to the hotel to check in with tour stat girls, so they could look up the number of anglers, who happened to weigh in 3 dead fish on day two. There were only three anglers that day that brought three dead fish to the scales that day. It was decided between Harvey and myself, that the best way to handle it, was to pretend that we never found out, so that whom ever was responsible, would feel as if they had gotten away with it. We placed some paper clips to the said anglers weigh cards, as we were confidant that the AAA’s in no way had anything to do with what had happened, based on our findings.

Day three started at the scales and things were under way for the final day of the 2010 US Open. As the anglers approached the stage, I would look at the weigh cards waiting for those that had been clipped. As I look over, I see the first weigh card come up with a paper clip attached and nothing was found in his fish. The second clipped card came up, and same deal. As the third weigh card that was clipped came up, I saw Mike Hart at the bottom of the stage. I got on the mic, and announced his name, and made comments regarding the Castaicanator. Signals were given, and Mike’s fish were placed in the holding tank. As the fish are tested to make sure they are dead, I was called over by my TD, John Cassidy. As I approached the area, to feel the belly of the first fish I grabbed, it was obvious that there was something hard, and unnatural in the belly of that fish. I asked Mike to step to the side, as there was something we needed to talk about. The five fish were immediately set aside in a separate bag. Mike was escorted to the side where we had officials waiting. All five fish that had been presented to our scales by Mr. Hart where then gutted, and as most of you have seen, the lead weights where in all five fish. As I continued to keep the scales going, it was said that Mike had run. I was not made aware of the fact the Mike Hart was still around, until an angler came to me and said, that Mike was still here, but was hiding in a friends truck. I was taken to the truck, as Mike had requested to talk with me. I opened the driver side door, as Mike Hart was in the passenger side with the air on. As I got in the car, all the signs were there…… He was slumped in the chair with his hands on his face. He confessed to adding weights to the fish and was completely demoralized regarding his pour and completely unacceptable decision he had made by cheating. I mentioned that he had made it to easy for us to figure out, and it was only due to the fact that the Nevada Fish and Game happened to fillet and donate the meat to the local homeless families. I asked him, if he wanted to take the stage and face his friends family and fellow anglers, and he said he could not face it. I explained that we as a tournament organization will go after him with everything we have, and that I was troubled that we would have to make an example of him.

As you have read in our Blog…. Mike hart has been banned for life from all WON Bass tournaments, and is facing criminal charges. It is a sad day in angling history once again. I am sorry that this had to happen and take any of the deserved emotion of winning the US Open away from Clifford Pirch. He deserves everything, for winning this years event, and he does not deserve to have his moment taken away.

Mike Harts action does not, and should not reflect what so ever on any of the AAA’s he happened to fish with on any of the three days of this years 2010 US Open. As there was no fish found to have weights added to them on Monday, and that we could not confirm that Mike had actually put the weights in the Tuesday fish, both the AAA’s weights for Monday and Tuesday were left as is. The AAA that was paired with him today, was given his entry fee back.

Please…. lets all remember this is a human being that we are talking about. He made a horrific and unforgivable mistake and will have to live with his decisions for the rest of his life. This will no doubt show that we tournament organizations are serious about cheaters and are determined to create what ever we have to to keep the integrity of our sporty alive. It is now 1:30 AM on the day after… and I need to call it quits for today. I am sure this is not the last of this, and we will keep you posted as more information is available.

see more details at www.wonbass.com

Update: WON Bass U.S. Open Cheater

It's official, the name I had been hearing has come out.  Mike Hart of of Winnetka, Calif. "has been banned for life from all WON Bass tournaments."  They say WON Bass is pressing charges and I am glad they are.  I have been reading about this incident on westernbass.com in the forums, and it seems like this guy has been a dominating force in SoCal at the team tournament level.  He has been winning events for years, kind of makes you wonder about all of those "wins". Check out the forum discussion of the incident here.  I still can't believe something like this has happened and I feel bad for all of the AAA's (co-anglers) that fished with this guy in the event as their weight also won't count.  Really a sad day for all of bass fishing.

A Cheater Caught in the U.S. Open!?!

Word from WON Bass is that a well known Southern California Pro fishing the U.S. Open on Lake Mead was caught cheating today.  Here is the news from the blog "We just busted a cheater. A Southern California angler was caught with lead weights in the bellies of his fish. They were found the second day during cleaning of the dead fish (they are all donated to charity) and he had the gall to try it again today."  The blog can be seen here. 

I have done some research on the forums and they have said who it was, but until it is official, I am not going to call anyone out.  This just makes me sick and I can't believe it happened. in an event like this.  This gives the entire sport of bass fishing a bad name.  I hope they take full legal action here.  

On a positive note, it looks like Clifford Pirch of Arizona has claimed his second Open title.  Good job Cliff!  The results are still unofficial, but it looks like Rick Clunn ended up in 3rd and fellow Elite Series Pro John Murray was 9th. 

The Elite Series Push to the Postseason

The BASS Elite Postseason is starting this weekend and it looks like things might get interesting.  Skeet Reese dominated the field early in the year but now only leads by 15 points.  With the point structure (see below), he could lose that lead in a hurry.  I still think he is going to pull it off, but who knows. They all have a chance.  Bassmaster even has an article about the odds of each angler winning.  Time to make some bets in Vegas?  Check out some more here: AOY Update: Push to the postseason - ESPN.

No. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.

Angler Skeet Reese Edwin Evers Cliff Pace Derek Remitz Kevin VanDam Terry Butcher Tommy Biffle John Crews Gary Klein Greg Hackney Aaron Martens Russ Lane

Points 216 201 187 185 185 184 182 181 177 177 177 177

Points for each event will be awarded as follows:

Place 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th

Points 50 45 40 36 32 28 25 22 19 16 13 10

Rick Clunn in the Hunt for The U.S. Open

The U.S. Open on Lake Mead is underway this week.  After two days, the top of the leader board is tight.  The official results are not up as I write this, but unofficial results have Bink Desaro, Kevin Johnson and Mr. Rick Clunn all with 22lbs and change.  Only five ounces separate them according to George Kramer's blog.  I think the win would be great for any of these guys, but I really want to see Rick Clunn win it again.  I think it will add some prestige to this already great tournament.  Look for the official results once they post them, at wonbass.com

Stratos Boats Champion Elite

Stratos Boats just announced their new Champion Elite Boats.  A few months ago, they merged the Champion and Stratos Brands to create one.  They were always the same company, Genmar, but now my favorite boat brand has a Stratos emblem all over it.  They say the boat design and layout will be the same, which is great for anyone who has ever witnessed the Champion in rough water.  It will be interesting to see the price point on these boats, especially the one pictured with the Yamaha SHO engine.  Skeet Reese and Mike McClelland have already switched over to the Stratos logo on their jerseys. You can read more about the specs and press release here: Stratos Boats Champion Elite - Whats Up - Wired 2 Fish

My Kissimmee Chain Tournament

I spent this weekend fishing the Kissimmee Chain of lakes in Central Florida.  Those big fish you see in the picture next to this....I didn't catch them.  I caught nothing close to that big.  I did weigh in a limit both days under some pretty tough conditions, but still didn't have much to brag about.  The fishing was awesome first thing each morning as the fish were busting shad and dragonflies all over the place.  I caught several fish each day on Stanley Ribbit Frogs, Snag Proof Phat Frogs and a Zell Pop.  The problem with me was I couldn't catch much after the sun came up.  I flipped and pitched so much my wrist and forearm are a little sore today.  I only caught two small ones on the new Sasquatch Skunk Ape.  It wasn't the baits fault as I didn't catch anything on a Sweet Beaver or Paca Craw.  I really liked flipping the Skunk Ape because of the great action of the appendages and they held up pretty well after getting dunked over and over into the grass.

The Florida Bass Network

When I'm not fishing or working, I'm usually doing something related to bass fishing.  Besides this blog, I spend my time reading about bass fishing trying to learn as much as I can.  This year, I have started being more active in some of the fishing forums.  My favorite is the Florida Bass Network.  It has several different forums and fishing reports and more.  If you live in Florida, you need to check it out.  Even if you don't live down here it is worth a look as I'm sure you can learn a few things from the members.  They also have an E-Mag about techniques, current reports and product reviews.  I just started helping them out and my report of the South Florida hotspots can be found in this issue.  Check it out here.

New Trokar Hook Styles

It looks like the Trokar hook is coming out with some great new styles.  I tried a pack when they first came out and wasn't really impressed.  I have heard they have been working on the design of them so the hookpoints won't roll over so easily.  I am cautious about spending $10 a pack again, but the new spring lock  type design would be perfect for Skinny Dippers.  I'll have to think about it a little before I make the plunge. 

Kissimee Chain this Weekend!

I am really excited about this weekend where I will get the chance to fish the Kissimmee Chain again.  I fished this place quite a bit last season and it quickly became my favorite place to fish.  This year, I have only fished there once.  The BFL schedule went from being there three times to just once this year and I miss it.  I was happy they moved more events to Okeechobee since I have been doing pretty well there this year, but I'm ready to do some flippin' on The Chain.  I will be testing the new Sasquatch Soft Plastics Skunk Ape in the custom "penetration" color.  That's one of the best things about Sasquatch Soft Plastics, they will make the bait in any color you want.  You can get your dream colors in anything they make.  This will be the perfect setting to get these baits in the water.  I hope to have some great pictures to share after this weekend.

Some Competition for Power Pole

The Power Pole has become a must have for many bass anglers.  Down here in Florida, it seems like everyone has one.  I was a little skeptical of them at first, but now see the many uses for them.  I would love to have them on a boat, but they are fairly expensive.  Until now they have had no real competition.  I heard Minn Kota was coming out with their own version and now it's official.  The price is about the same $1,200+, but maybe with the competition, the consumer will see the benefits of a price war.  Who knows.  You can read the press release from Minn Kota here.  Thanks to Anglergear.net for the pics!

Sunline's New FX2 Frogging and Flipping Braid

Since I'm not at ICAST this year I have been scouring the websites covering the show to see what I'm missing.  So far it seemed like every other year that I have been there; a few new lines from Berkely, a few new reels from Shimano, some new rods.  These are the same things that always get the attention and praise, but I just saw something from Sunline that caught my attention.  The Japanese line company is well know for producing great flurocarbon, but they have a new braided line that fits my style, its called FX2 Froggin and Flipping.  Two of my favorite ways to fish.   Bassmaster.com is 100% correct when they say "nothing's tougher on line than frogging and flipping."  These two techniques really shred the braid. FX2 is "a combination of polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate. It's an 8-strand braid that's circular."  Sounds really technical to me, I want to try it to see if it works.  Dean Rojas, the frog master, was recently added to the Sunline Pro-Staff and they say he was a big part of the development and will now be a big part of the promotion of the new line.  I don't know any of the details about the cost or when it will be available but I'm interested in getting a spool.

A Tribute to the Legends Dinner Event

The annual ICAST show started today in Vegas and as always there are some great new things coming out.  One cool thing about this year's ICAST is that the annual U.S. Open tournament will be held on Lake Mead just days after the show.  This timing is perfect as several Elite Series pros will be in town and will be able to fish the event.  Las Vegas is the perfect town to hold these events as there is plenty for everyone to do.  One event I would like to attend is the Western Outdoor News (WON) Tribute to the Legends dinner that is happening Friday. Their website says it is "a sit down dinner on Friday evening....The honorees will be Cotton Cordell, Darrell Lowrance, Ray Scott, Johnny Morris and Forrest L. Wood. All have committed to be there and seem quite enthusiastic about it." Can you imagine being in the same room with all of these guys.  They are bass fishing legends.  Sounds like a fun event!

Skeet's New Reel - Sneak Peak

I just saw this on Wired2Fish.com.  Skeet Reese and Wright and McGill have teamed up to create a new reel with his name on it.  I knew he was switching sponsors from Abu to an unknown brand and now we know who.  The reel was created in his signature black and yellow colors and will look great on his signature rods (which are now coming out with Micro Guides), if your into the colors.  They are coming out with a 6.2:1 and 7.0:1 reel in both right and left handed retrieve to fit all applications.  The reel has all of the features bass anglers want and will be priced at $119.99, a big change from his $280 Revo.  Here are some more of the features of the new reel:

Aluminum frame for durability and weight reduction.

10 stainless steel ball bearings – 9 + 1 design.

Unlimited anti-reverse.

One touch removable aluminum spool.

Quick access side plate.

Centrifugal anti-backlash braking system.

Powerful and smooth Teflon® drag system.

Audible click star drag.

Precision cut brass gears.

Extra large power handle and oversized rubber paddles.

Gear ratio 6.2:1 - high speed or 7.0:1 – ultra high speed.

Line capacity 120 yds. of 12 lb.

Available in right & left hand retrieve.

Weight 7.76 ounces.

Includes neoprene reel case.

One year warranty.

  

The InvisaSwivel: The Evolution of Fishing Swivels

The swivel is a part of fishing tackle that is often overlooked in fishing.  It's a piece of equipment that has many uses and has been around for years.  Terminal tackle in general is pretty boring, but the InvisaSwivel by Aquateko is anything but boring.  The concept is simple: it is invisible to fish, which leads to more bites.  I had a chance to use the swivel a few weeks ago in the ultra clear waters of the Pacific Northwest.  I was fishing with 6lb fluorocarbon with a drop-shot for smallmouths.  When I was living there I fished like this all of the time and always had the same problem of line twist.  The InvisaSwivel gets rid of the line twist and still remains invisible to finicky fish.  I fished all day without the coils and twists I use to get with my spinning reels and the light line. 

This is just one of many uses for the swivel.  I have recently started fishing more in the saltwater here in Gulf region and use a braided main line with a flurocarbon leader.  Since the InvisaSwivel is made from Fluro-Clear it is virtually invisible underwater, just like fluorocarbon line.  Another cool thing about it is that it won't reflect light or shine like metal will.  I'm all for anything that will reduce distractions and help you unnoticed to fish.  I believe everything we do to make our presentations more natural will help your fishing.  I also like how you don't have to rely on the strength of your uni to uni or blood knots.  The notches on the top and bottom of the swivel is easier to tie and you can still tie a standard clinch knot or even a palomar knot.  

The swivel comes in sizes from 12lb test all the way up to 200lb for offshore fishing.  They definitely have a swivel for any application you want and these things are indestructible no matter what you do to them.  Check out the InvisaSwivel from Aquateko.

A Wicked New Hook

Wacky-rigging a Senko has got to be the best way to catch fish ever invented.  I just love it and have won alot of money and finished my limit with it a bunch of time.  I started doing it quite a bit around 2003 and was using the Reaction Innovations W.W. Hook for years until they just disappeared.  I heard they were discontinued, then heard of them being found here and there.  They were elusive.  I even tried making my own before I switched to the Owner Weedless Wacky hook after not being impressed with the other brands wire guards and the Gamakatsu version, the Weedless Wide Gap Finesse Hook.  I have been pretty happy with the Owner version for a few years now.  But now...just before ICAST, Gamakatsu is releasing the "Wicked Wacky Hook".  It's basically the same thing as the W.W. Hook, with the Shiner style hook with the mono guard.  The hook always seems to hook them right in the corner of the mouth. They got my attention like a slow falling wacky rig...I'm hooked and will be swictching back.

Colt Rods are Coming After the Fishing World

It seems like everywhere I look I hear about Colt Rods.  They are a brand new rod company out of my old hometown of Las Vegas.  They are planning to make a big splash in the fishing rod industry with their new concept rods.  The rods themselves are quite unique and actually a hexagon shape compared to the traditional cylinder rods on the market.  I was a little skeptical (and maybe still am) about the design and what it will do.  They definitely have a reason for the design and have the technology and process documented on their website.  It makes sense.  They claim the hexagon shape will increase sensitivity, accuracy, durability and power.  These are some big claims but after reading about their technology I think it might just work.  

They are planning to do big things at ICAST this year and have their rods in store by this fall.  They have a great looking website, social media presence and even added a unique pro-staffer this week.  Browns Quarterback Colt McCoy has signed on with them, an interesting but fitting person to promote.  They also have a blog.  Check out the video below to see more about the company.