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ODENVILLE’S DORSETT WINS T-H MARINE FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE BAMA DIVISION EVENT ON NEELY HENRY LAKE

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ODENVILLE’S DORSETT WINS T-H MARINE FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE BAMA DIVISION EVENT ON NEELY HENRY LAKE

ODENVILLE’S DORSETT WINS T-H MARINE FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE BAMA DIVISION EVENT ON NEELY HENRY LAKE

Powell Takes Co-angler Title

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GADSDEN, Ala. (July 10, 2017) – Kyle Dorsett of Odenville, Alabama, caught a five-bass limit weighing 14 pounds, 7 ounces, Saturday to earn top honors at the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Bama Division tournament on Neely Henry Lake. For his efforts, Dorsett pocketed $3,592.

Dorsett said he spent the tournament fishing a 20-mile stretch between Canoe Creek and the takeoff ramp.

“I targeted a couple of areas that I found in practice that had a lot of fish,” said Dorsett, who logged his second career-victory in BFL competition. “I put 30 or 40 fish in the boat throughout the event and culled four or five times.”

Dorsett’s bait of choice was a white Dirty Jigs Swim Jig with a White Pearl-colored Zoom Super Chunk trailer.

“A lot of the field was flipping a jig or throwing a crankbait,” said Dorsett. “The reaction bite was crucial for the bigger ones. I think the Super Chunk was also a big part of my success. The fish seemed lethargic and didn’t want something with a lot of action. The Super Chunk doesn’t kick much, so it was perfect.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:

1st:          Kyle Dorsett, Odenville, Ala., five bass, 14-7, $3,592

2nd:         John Jeter, Birmingham, Ala., five bass, 13-11, $2,256

3rd:          Terry Tucker, Gadsden, Ala., five bass, 12-14, $1,219

3rd:          Mark McCaig, Oxford, Ala., five bass, 12-14, $1,019

5th:          Jason Hester, Phil Campbell, Ala., five bass, 12-13, $818

6th:          Jason Nixon, Wetumpka, Ala., five bass, 12-9, $659

7th:          Geoff McKnight, Rainbow City, Ala., five bass, 12-6, $599

8th:          Kent Keys, Anniston, Ala., five bass, 12-1, $539

9th:          Jack White, Vance, Ala., five bass, 12-0, $479

10th:        Bradley Jones, Aragon, Ga., five bass, 11-15, $398

10th:        Jake Roberson, Tuscumbia, Ala., five bass, 11-15, $398

Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.

Jeter caught a bass weighing 5 pounds, 13 ounces – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division – and earned the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $460.

Mason Powell of Odenville, Alabama, won the Co-angler Division and $1,796 Saturday after catching a five-bass limit weighing 12 pounds, 8 ounces.

The top 10 co-anglers were:

1st:          Mason Powell, Odenville, Ala., five bass, 12-8, $1,796

2nd:         James Wooddell, Columbus, Ohio, five bass, 11-12, $898

3rd:          Chris Harcrow, Dawson, Ala., five bass, 11-11, $598

4th:          James Griffin, Pelham, Ga., five bass, 10-9, $419

5th:          Harold Gauer, Phenix City, Ala., five bass, 10-6, $559

6th:          Gary Marlowe, Montgomery, Ala., five bass, 10-4, $329

7th:          Chris Hawkins, Adger, Ala., five bass, 10-3, $349

8th:          Gregory Nunnelly, Ohatchee, Ala., five bass, 9-11, $269

9th:          David Ramey, Kingsport, Tenn., five bass, 9-5, $239

10th:        Wayne Kilgore, Attalla, Ala., five bass, 8-15, $199

10th:        Logan Henderson , Trussville, Ala., five bass, 8-15, $199

Daniel Sullivan of Guntown, Mississippi, caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division – a fish weighing 3 pounds, 15 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $230.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 12-14 BFL Regional Championship on Wheeler Lake in Decatur, Alabama. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard.

The 2017 BFL 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 co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. Top performers in the BFL can move up to the Costa FLW Series or even the FLW Tour.

For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the BFL on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing.

Legend X unifies St. Croix’s proprietary technologies into 2018’s most advanced fishing rod

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Legend X unifies St. Croix’s proprietary technologies into 2018’s most advanced fishing rod

The Legend Lives On

Legend X unifies St. Croix’s proprietary technologies into 2018’s most advanced fishing rod   

Park Falls, WI (July 10, 2017) – In the aviation world, super top-secret aircraft prototypes are often designated with an X. These experimental X-planes are designed and built at remote facilities that are clouded in mystery – maybe even a bit of legend. Some of them may become public knowledge while others are scrapped when engineers – never completely content with their creations – go back to the drawing board and start over. And just when the public assumes things have reached the pinnacle of technology, something new amazes us with logic-defying capabilities. What was once a doodle on a cocktail napkin, becomes a technological marvel.

The very same principles apply deep within St Croix’s state of the art basecamp (aka laboratory) in Park Falls, Wisconsin. The mad-scientists at St Croix design and redesign rods from the ground-up (…or, is it butt-up?), going from burning-the-midnight-oil concepts and sketches to the Eureka! moment when the smoke clears and the brainchild of a blank pops out of the oven.

The NEW for 2018 Legend X freshwater rod series from St Croix is not an experiment or a myth, it’s a reality. Simply put, the Legend X is an amalgamation of the finest materials, components and manufacturing techniques available…on this planet anyway. Much like those X-planes that zip across the sky at near space altitude, the Legend X is handcrafted by experts that make absolutely certain nothing is left to chance – the result, a perfect blend of performance, reliability and strikingly good looks.

 

Legend X spinning

Legend X casting

St Croix’s VP of Brand Management Jeff Schluter has this to say about the remarkable rod: “St Croix created Legend X to satisfy demand for a super-premium rod series that featured all of our proprietary technologies (IPC®, ART™, FRS and TET) in a split-grip handle configuration. Our goal was to create a series incorporating these technologies along with pushing the aesthetics a bit for a unique look.”

“Legend X combines our hyper-performance SCVI and SCV graphite blank with the finest components available such as Fuji® Torzite ® titanium frame guides to provide anglers with unparalleled sensitivity and overall casting performance. Legend X increases angler control and ultimately fishing success. Because we could throw all our engineering tools at Legend X and equip it with the best of the best regarding the blanks and components, it was as much fun to design as it is to fish.”

“Relentless Olive” blank

New St. Croix Legend X Freshwater

  • Integrated Poly Curve® (IPC®) tooling technology.
  • Advanced Reinforcing Technology™ (ART™).
  • Taper Enhancement Technology (TET) blank design provides curved patterns for improved action with increased sensitivity.
  • Super high-modulus SCVI graphite with FRS in lower section for maximum power and strength with reduced weight.
  • High-modulus/high-strain SCV graphite with FRS and carbon-matte scrim for unparalleled strength, durability and sensitivity.
  • Fuji® Torzite® tangle-free guides with titanium frames for unrivalled, 100% corrosion-proof performance.
  • Fuji® TVS blank-touch reel seat with built-in hood on spinning rods.
  • Fuji® PTS blank-touch reel seat with built-in hood on casting rods.
  • Anodized, machined-aluminum wind check and trim pieces.
  • Split-grip/super-grade cork handle.
  • Kigan titanium hook-keeper.
  • Two coats of Flex-Coat slow cure finish.
  • Includes protective rod sack.

15-year transferable warranty backed by St. Croix Superstar Service Designed and handcrafted in Park Falls, U.S.A. MSRP $390-$420.

St. Croix’s all-new Legend X freshwater series is packed with proprietary technologies and destined to reset the benchmark in performance split-grip rods. Legend X combines cutting edge design with impeccable craftsmanship providing anglers the on-the-water advantage.

 

FLIR Systems Announces Raymarine Axiom Pro Advanced Multifunction Displays

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FLIR Systems Announces Raymarine Axiom Pro Advanced Multifunction Displays

FLIR Systems Announces

Raymarine Axiom Pro Advanced Multifunction Displays

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New High-Performance Multifunction Displays Offer Superior 1kW CHIRP Sonar Technology, Intuitive HybridTouch Control, and RealVision 3D™

WILSONVILLE, Ore. (July 10, 2017) – FLIR Systems, Inc., (NASDAQ: FLIR) today announced the expansion of its Raymarine Axiom™ Multifunction Display (MFD) line with the introduction of the Axiom Pro. Designed for serious offshore enthusiasts and professional captains, Axiom Pro features Raymarine’s HybridTouch™ user experience, combining multi-touchscreen controls with an ergonomic keypad for additional confidence in rough seas. For the serious offshore angler, Axiom Pro is available with a 1 kW, high-powered CHIRP sonar and Raymarine’s built-in, advanced, RealVision 3D sonar.

The new Axiom Pro line is available in 9-, 12- and 16-inch display sizes, and each model is available with Raymarine exclusive RealVision™ 3D sonar. Axiom Pro’s fish-finding capability is upgraded with an optional, internal 1kW CHIRP sonar. This powerful offshore sonar employs a wide spectrum of CHIRP sonar frequencies and enables anglers to see through dense schools of baitfish, identify thermoclines and simultaneously target gamefish in deep water.

Engineered to perform in bright sunlight, Axiom Pro displays feature high-definition, In-Plane Switching (IPS) display technology, maximizing viewing angles and reducing blackouts when wearing polarized glasses. Powered by Raymarine’s new LightHouse 3 operating system and coupled with Axiom Pro’s fast, quad core processor, Axiom Pro delivers an intuitive and fluid navigation experience through an improved, easily-personalized interface. Axiom Pro’s flexible design and LightHouse 3 OS enables integration with multiple Axiom displays, CHIRP radar, Evolution autopilot and FLIR thermal night vision technology.

“Raymarine’s combination of Axiom Pro’s RealVision 3D sonar and built-in 1kW CHIRP sonar is a game-changer,” said Grégoire Outters, Vice President and General Manager of FLIR Maritime. “Axiom Pro provides serious offshore anglers and boaters with larger display sizes, deep water CHIRP sonar performance and the flexibility of HybridTouch control for an exceptional, all-in-one navigation experience.”

The Raymarine Axiom Pro will debut at the 2017 International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trade Show (ICAST) in Orlando, Florida, July 11-14. Cruising and sailing customers can also take advantage of new Axiom Pro-S models, which feature a high-performance multifunction display and chart plotter with a built-in, single-channel CHIRP sonar, starting at $2,299.99 USD. Axiom Pro models with RealVision 3D and 1kW CHIRP sonar start at $2,549.99, and will be available in the third quarter through FLIR’s network of Raymarine dealers.

For more information on the Axiom Pro MFD line, please visit www.raymarine.com/axiompro

 

Bassmaster Elite Series’ 2018 Slate Features Exciting Mix Of New And Familiar Fisheries

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Bassmaster Elite Series’ 2018 Slate Features Exciting Mix Of New And Familiar Fisheries
The 2018 Bassmaster Elite Series schedule features both old and new fisheries for the tournament trail. A first for the Elite Series is Bassmaster Magazine’s 100 Best Bass Lakes finalist Lake Oahe out of Pierre, S.D.
Photo courtesy of North Dakota Game and Fish Department

July 10, 2017

Bassmaster Elite Series’ 2018 Slate Features Exciting Mix Of New And Familiar Fisheries

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Bassmaster Elite Series has a rich history that always seems to lead it back to venues where special moments have taken place in the past.

It’s also blessed with a sense of discovery — and that leads the organization to sometimes visit lakes that are a little off the beaten path.

The 2018 Elite Series schedule, which was announced today, features elements of both.

The lineup includes stops at traditional venues like the Sabine River in Orange, Texas, and the St. Lawrence River in Waddington, N.Y., where crowds for past Elite Series events have always been huge. The schedule also features an eye-popping, first-time stop at scenic Lake Oahe on the Missouri River near Pierre, S.D.

B.A.S.S. CEO Bruce Akin said he loves the flow of a schedule that will allow the Elite Series to visit old friends — and make a lot of new ones — during an eight-month stretch of next year’s calendar.

“We are very serious about taking bass fishing into new regions of the country and exposing as many people to our sport as we can,” Akin said. “But in doing that, we’ll never forget the people who have shown us so much support every time we’ve visited their communities.

“This schedule has some history, as well as some new adventures for our Elite anglers and fans, and I think that’s fantastic.”

As it did in 2017, the schedule will begin in early February in the southeastern United States — where the prevailing weather patterns could range from 20 degrees with sleet and snow to 60 degrees with a need for SPF 50.

The season opener is set for Lake Martin in Alexander City, Ala., on Feb. 8-11. Martin, which is known for its healthy population of spotted bass, was a regular stop for Bassmaster events during the late 1990s and early 2000s. But the last time B.A.S.S. visited the 44,000-acre lake on the Tallapoosa River for a high-level event was in November 2002.

After Lake Martin, the Elites will take a break from the regular-season schedule, while the 2018 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods is held on Lake Hartwell at Anderson, S.C., with weigh-ins and other events in Greenville, S.C. The annual Super Bowl of professional bass fishing is set for March 16-18 on the same lake where Casey Ashley claimed the 2015 title.

When the Classic buzz is barely three weeks old, the Elite Series schedule will resume with a trip to the Sabine River, where fans have proved their love for pro fishing time and again.

An Elite Series tournament held on the Sabine River in 2013 obliterated previous attendance records by drawing 33,650 people for the four-day event in Orange. The event also reset the one-day Elite Series attendance record by drawing 14,950 fans for the Saturday semifinal weigh-in.

The overall record was broken later in 2013, when 34,100 people turned out for an August Elite Series event in Waddington, N.Y. But judging by the big turnout at a Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Central Open held in Orange in mid-June, the city could be ready for another run at the record.

The third and fourth Elite Series tournaments of the year will also be held at familiar venues, with the trail stopping at Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees in Grove, Okla., April 26-29, and at Kentucky Lake in Paris, Tenn., May 4-7. Grand Lake hosted the Classic in 2013 and 2016, and Kentucky Lake has been the site of a dozen high-level B.A.S.S. events, including the 2015 BASSfest.

The Elites will fish one more tournament in May — the Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest benefiting the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The special $1 million tournament combines the best features of the Texas Toyota Bass Classic and BASSfest and will be held May 17-20 at a location to be announced later.

What is known for certain is that after Texas, the Elite pros will travel to La Crosse, Wis., for a return visit to that area’s bass-filled section of the Mississippi River. The trail visited La Crosse in September 2016 when Tennessee angler Ott DeFoe won with 63-10.

From there, the schedule takes one of its more intriguing turns in years with a trip to Lake Oahe, which straddles the border between South Dakota and North Dakota, and which recently ranked ninth in the Central Region of Bassmaster Magazine’s 100 Best Bass Lakes list.

It will mark not only the first time B.A.S.S. has visited the mammoth 370,000-acre lake, but also the first time the organization has held a high-level tournament in the state of South Dakota.

The fourth-largest reservoir in the United States may be the closest thing to an unknown commodity that the Elites have seen since the trail’s inception in 2006. That could make for a particularly interesting tournament, considering the new “no-information” rule that prohibits anglers from soliciting or intentionally receiving information about locating bass on tournament venues from the moment the schedule is announced.

Under current Elite Series rules, anglers are allowed to obtain information about a fishery until the official off-limit period goes into effect four weeks prior to an event.

“It means a lot of things will change, including no more sharing of waypoints of hot spots found by other fishermen,” said B.A.S.S. Tournament Director Trip Weldon. “The no-information rule has the support of the Elite anglers — and it will make it more important than ever for everyone to be able to go out and find their own fish.”

Another departure from traditional Elite Series schedules is the increase in the number of events ending on a Monday. Almost invariably (GoPro Bassmaster Elite at Dardanelle presented by Econo Lodge being an exception) competition days are Thursday through Sunday. Elite tournaments next year at the Sabine River, Kentucky Lake and Lake Oahe will take place Friday through Monday. The Sabine was scheduled differently to avoid practice fishing on Easter Sunday, and the other two start later because they are part of back-to-back events.

From South Dakota, with the race for the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year title heating up, the schedule will move to Havre de Grace, Md., for an event on the upper Chesapeake Bay. It was in 2015 on Chesapeake Bay when Aaron Martens all but sealed his third AOY title, scoring a dramatic victory with 70-2.

The final regular-season event will be held on the St. Lawrence River in Waddington, N.Y. — where more fans turned out for a B.A.S.S. tournament in 2013 than ever before or since. The river, which is known for producing gigantic smallmouth bass, ranked third in the Northeastern Region of Bassmaster Magazine’s 100 Best Bass Lakes list.

Two postseason Elite Series events — the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship and the Classic Bracket — will be held in late September. Locations will be revealed at a later time.

2018 Bassmaster Elite Series Schedule 

Date              Event                          Fishery                                     City, State

Feb. 8-11        Elite 1                         Lake Martin                              Alexander City, Ala.

March 16-18   Bassmaster Classic    Lake Hartwell                           Greenville/Anderson, S.C.

April 6-9         Elite 2                         Sabine River                             Orange, Texas

April 26-29     Elite 3                         Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees  Grove, Okla.

May 4-7          Elite 4                         Kentucky Lake                          Paris, Tenn.

May 17-20      Toyota Texas Fest      TBA                                           TBA

June 21-24      Elite 6                         Mississippi River                       La Crosse, Wis.

June 29-July 2  Elite 7                       Lake Oahe                                  Pierre, S.D.

July 26-29       Elite 8                         Upper Chesapeake Bay             Havre de Grace, Md.

Aug. 23-26      Elite 9                         St. Lawrence River                    Waddington, N.Y.

Sept. 20-23     AOY Championship    TBA                                           TBA

Sept. 25-28     Classic Bracket           TBA                                            TBA

2017 Bassmaster Elite Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota

2017 Bassmaster Elite Series Premier Sponsors: Nitro Boats, Mercury, Minn Kota, Power-Pole, Shell Rotella, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha, Berkley, Huk, Humminbird

2017 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: T-H Marine, Shimano, Advance Auto Parts, Livingston Lures, Academy Sports + Outdoors, Carhartt, Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels, Lowrance, Phoenix Boats

Lake Anna July 2017 Outlook by Chris Craft

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Lake Anna July 2017 Outlook by Chris Craft

OUTLOOK for JULY

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For starters, I would like to apologize for being tardy on this report. Things have been busy here around Fish Tales. We are now into FULL SUMMER PATTERN on the fishing. The bass are moving deep and the stripers are starting to school up on shad fry in the early morning. The best time to fish will be during the week, Tuesday through Thursday will be best.

Tournaments….
Sunday Morning Bass Series
Every Sunday through September.
$100 Entry Fee (includes Big Fish)
80% Payback 1 in 3 payback
6am-11am

Angler Appreciation Tournament
SUNDAY OCT 29
7:30am-4:00pm
Flights will consist of 50 boats per flight.
Boats 1-50 7:30-3:30
Boats 51-100 7:45-3:45
Boats 101-150 8:00-4:00

Participant Raffle will start as soon as the weigh in has concluded and results being tallied. If anyone would like to come on board as a sponsor and donate prizes to the participant raffle, please get in touch with Chris Craft.

We will start accepting entries on Saturday July 29. Boat numbers will be assigned in the order that entries are excepted.
$120 Entry Fee (up $10 to help offset food costs)1 in 7 payback.

BASS- Largemouth are now in their summer time pattern and are deep. They are holding on brush piles, bridge pilings, rock piles and deep boat docks in 12-30 feet of water. At first light, you can find them schooling and chasing pods of baitfish fry.
Walking baits like the Spook Jr will produce violent and exciting strikes from these schooling fish.

After the feed is over and the sun is well above the tree line, it is time to start probing deeper water. Shakey head rigged plastics like the Zoom Trick Worms and Deep Creek Lures six inch floating MT Worm are all great choices. Try to keep your colors natural…….Green Pumpkin, Watermelon Seed, Watermelon Candy and Watermelon Red are my go to colors. I rig these on a 3/16oz SG’s Shakey Head.

Deep Diving crank baits are also catching their fair share of fish. Bill Norman DD22’s and 6XD’s are two of my favorite choices. You want to bump into the cover of a brush pile or make that bait dig into the lake bottom in order to get reaction strikes. My color choices are Chart/Blue, Gizzard Shad, Blue Back Herring and Sexy Shad.

Jig & Pig combinations, Yamamoto Hula Grubs and creature baits like the Double D Bay Bass Bug or Kracken also work very well during the summer months, especially if you venture to the up lake region. Pitch your baits in the willow grass and under boat docks, make sure you put it right up against every pole on the dock, willow grass will also hold fish, in the hot water temps, the grass will hold the coolest water and have the highest concentration of oxygen. Put you baits into open pockets of grass and hop it a few time after it settles to the bottom. Be very careful to watch your line, sometimes these fish will inhale the jig and not move and inch.

STRIPER- With the water warming into the mid to upper 80’s, the striper are actively chasing baitfish at first light and aggressively taking trolling baits after sun up. If you see schooling fish, nothing beats a top water strike! Pop R’s, Zara Spooks and Torpedos all are great choices, but if they are playing volley ball with your bait, it is hard to pass up a Cotton Cordell Broken Back Redfin. Just wake the bait under the surface to create a disturbance they cannot resist!!!!

After the top water feed evaporates, stay on the school with your electronics and drop spoons or blade baits down to them. If trolling is more your speed, Deep Diving Red Fins trailed with a 1/4 or 3/8 bucktail will provide all day action for you. DD22’s and 6XD’s are also great choices, Colors should be Chart/Blue or a Natural Shad for best results.

CRAPPIE- The Specks are a little more challenging at this time of year. They go to deep water and can get finicky. Bridge pilings, deep boat docks and brush piles will all hold fish. Small minnows rigged either on a slip bobber or a jig head will produce the best results.

LAKE LEVEL- 5 inches low

WATER TEMPS
UP LAKE- 85-88
MID LAKE- 82-87
DOWN LAKE- 85-90

Chris Craft
Anna Point Marina/Fish Tales Tackle Manager
540-895-5900 ext 5

We would like to thank Scott and Teresa Cain for all that they do with Wet Line Productions. Without them taking awesome pictures and video of our events, we would be just another marina on the lake!!!!!!

Tyler Farmer / Lee White Win One Stop Leesville Lake Tournament Trail July 9th 2017

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Tyler Farmer / Lee White Win One Stop Leesville Lake Tournament Trail July 9th 2017

18 boats competed in today’s Leesville Lake One Stop Tournament with  Tyler & Lee winning it all. They have won three of this years events, Weighing 15 fish with a total weight of 54.42lbs. with each fish weighing an average of 3.63lbs. The boys are on a tare.

1st place Tyler Farmer / Lee White with 5 fish weighing 17.18lbs

2nd Place Steven Costa / Dillon Coast with 5 fish weighing 14.47lbs

3rd Place Austin Crisp / Brian Costa with Five fish weighing 14.38lbs

Big Fish of the Day Larry Witt ? Kendal Witt a 6.16lb Large Mouth

See you at the next event….

The “Match the Hatch” theory explained By Ben Hudson July 8,2017

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The “Match the Hatch” theory explained By Ben Hudson July 8,2017

Ben Hudson – “Blue Collar Bassin’” 7/8/17
TheBassCast.com

      The “Match the Hatch” theory explained
    Is matching the hatch the best way to select baits?

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“Match the hatch”, it’s a slang phrase many experienced anglers know and use, and even if you’re new to the world of bass fishing you have probably heard the phrase before, but what exactly does it mean? Matching the hatch?
The match the hatch theory was originally used by trout fishermen, but later adapted by bass anglers. Matching the hatch simply means observing the type of forage in the body of water you are fishing and choosing a lure that mimics that forage in size, species, and perhaps most importantly, color. So the forage in the water, whether it be shad, minnows, night crawlers, herring, crawfish, frogs, etc. is what would be considered the “hatch”, and based on word of mouth about the body of water as well as your own observations, you would want to match lures as close as possible to the “hatch” according to this theory.

The theory is very popular in competitive bass fishing and a common phrase used on the FLW and Bassmaster pro tours. For pros that travel to new bodies of water constantly, it is a must to be able to determine what forage and colors will work where they are at in a timely matter. This is where matching the hatch becomes an extremely useful tool. When fishing an unfamiliar body of water it is one of the first things to consider, along with time of the year and water conditions.
Here’s where it gets dicey though. Should the match the hatch theory be the absolute determining factor when selecting a lure, and most importantly the color of the bait?
While matching the hatch is an excellent tool for getting started and developing a pattern, and something I use myself all the time, I say no. I should NOT be your absolute determining factor when selecting a lure.
Let’s flashback to a tournament my dad and I were fishing earlier this summer on the James River in Virginia. We were fishing laydowns and brush piles with skirted jigs. I was using a black & blue jig and he was using green pumpkin & chartreuse jig, we were flipping the structure. We quickly caught 2 good sized bass that morning, and after we landed them, they both spit up fairly large full sized crawfish (as pictured below). Using the match the hatch theory, I quickly sorted through my tackle box and found a skirted jig perfectly matching the size and color of the crawfish those bass had just spit up. I was hoping to get some extra bites by using the exact color of the crayfish the bass were eating at that moment.

Surprisingly enough, that turned out to be a mistake.

For the next hour or so, my dad continued to catch bass with his pumpkin & chartreuse jig, while I couldn’t get a bite on the new jig I just tied on matching the hatch perfectly. After frustration set in due to lack of getting bit, I switched back to my original black & blue jig and began getting bites again.
Why??
According to the match the hatch theory, this makes no sense whatsoever. However, in hindsight, I understand my mistake and why I didn’t get those bites that day by matching the color of the crayfish. This is where the match the hatch theory is flawed in my opinion and goes from a theory to get started on a body of water, to more advanced observations to select a lure and color.


The reason I wasn’t getting those bites on the jig I switched to that matched the hatch, was most likely because it was a very natural looking jig with colors that did not show up well at all in the James River water we were fishing that had been slightly dirtied up by rain earlier that week. Whereas the black & blue and pumpkin & chartreuse jigs were showing up in the dirty water better and easier for the bass to find, even though it wasn’t the exact color of the natural crayfish hatch in the river.
Another example was later that same day. The bass in that river that day were obviously feeding on crawdads. However, we had some light breeze that morning. This definitely helped our jig fishing pattern by masking those bulky baits slightly. The breeze died later that day around noon though, and the sun came out high in the sky. Knowing these bass were feeding on crayfish made it tempting to keep with the jig, but with the flat calm water and bright sun, I switched to a popper top water bait to make noise on top of the calm water and landed 3 nice bass in a row through a short stretch of bank. While those bass were clearly feeding on crayfish, the conditions called for a different style of bait that worked better, even though it wasn’t the exact “hatch” the bass may have been searching for to feed on in that area.


As I said, matching the hatch is an excellent way to get started on a new body of water and many times is the way to get a competitive advantage by using the right size lure if you notice the baitfish are rather large, or a certain color if the forage has an obvious color to it. However, as I pointed out, I don’t believe it should be used as an absolute definitive way of selecting a lure or lure color for the water you’re fishing.
It’s always smart to keep the match the hatch theory in mind as forage changes with the time of year on all bodies of water, but my best advice when it comes to selecting color and bait sizes is; if it’s not broke, don’t fix it. If you’re getting the bites you need on the lure you’re using, then you’re doing something right and you’re already passed the need for the match the hatch theory. Simply put, use it as a starting point, but trust your gut and go with what works!

Tight lines friends!
Ben Hudson, Pro Staff Angler
“ Blue Collar Bassin’ ”
TheBassCast.com

Missile Baits Launches the 48, Ike’s Flip Out, and new colors

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Missile Baits Launches the 48, Ike’s Flip Out, and new colors

Missile Baits Launches the 48, Ike’s Flip Out, and new colors

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Salem, Va. – July 11, 2017 – Missile Baits is fully launching their new stick worm, the 48. The versatile bait is 4.8” long with a denser material than normal Missile plastics. The 48 produces a fantastic shimmy on horizontal fall and is more durable than other similar products. The 48 will come in 10 colors including Super Bug, Fisholicious, Junebug, and Bubble Gum. The 48 is available now.


John Crews, company owner, and pro angler, said, “The 48 is another Missile plastic born out of necessity. I wanted a dense stick worm that I could rig in more ways and was more durable. For example, the 48 can be rigged on a regular hook on the smaller end and put a 1/32 ounce weight in the big end to make the bait glide backward and shimmy at the same time. No other bait does that.”


Missile is releasing the Ike’s Flip Out jig to the Missile Jigs line up. The Flip Out is a full sized, flip jig that is based on the frame of the Mini Flip but utilizes a custom 5/0 heavy duty VMC hook. The Flip Out will come in 3/8, 1/2, and 3/4 ounce sizes. All sizes will be available in 8 colors with some of Missile Jigs most popular colors plus Brewgill, Super Bug, and Dill Pickle. The Flip Out should be in stores in mid-August.

Elite bass pro, Mike Iaconelli, expressed, “The Flip Out is the full sized version of the super popular Mini Flip but with a hammer 5/0 VMC hook. You can flip this thing in the thickest cover and rip them out! The jig goes in and out of cover great, skips well, and jacks them on the hook set. The Flip Out is my new all around flip jig!”
New colors in the D Bomb, Baby D Bomb, Craw Father, and Baby D Stroyer are also being released. The D Bomb is coming out in Straight Black and Pink Belly, which is a triple laminate with green pumpkin purple flake on top, clear pink on the bottom, and a blue pearl vein in the middle. The Baby D Bomb will have the popular El Diablo color added. The Craw Father will also add El Diablo and the new Wicked Craw. The Baby D Stroyer will now come in Junebug.

Your Definitive Guide To Choosing Crankbait Colors – LTB – July 8,2017

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Your Definitive Guide To Choosing Crankbait Colors – LTB – July 8,2017

Your Definitive Guide To Choosing Crankbait Colors

Walk into any tackle shop in the country, and you’re instantly confronted with hard and soft bass fishing baits in more colors than you can imagine. Modern molding and painting techniques have allowed lure manufacturers to quickly design and produce colors that in years past wouldn’t have been possible.

As good as this is for anglers with unlimited bait budgets, it can make crankbait color selection a nerve wracking proposition, as it can be downright difficult to decide which colors to buy.

To help out, we thought it would be a good idea to put together a basic guide to which colors are necessities, and under what conditions each shines brightest. Here is our guide to clear water and stained water crankbait color selection.

CHRIS RUSSELL JOINS PLANO SYNERGY MARKETING TEAM

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CHRIS RUSSELL JOINS PLANO SYNERGY MARKETING TEAM
CHRIS RUSSELL JOINS PLANO SYNERGY MARKETING TEAM

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INDUSTRY VETERAN TO LEAD MARKETING FUNCTIONS FOR ICONIC FRABILL AND PLANO FISHING BRANDS
Grand Prairie, TX (July, 7, 2017) – Plano Synergy, a leading outdoor company providing thousands of individual hunting and fishing products across 14 major brands, has announced the hiring of Chris Russell in the position of Marketing Manager – Fish.

Working under Plano Synergy VP of Marketing, Pete Angle, Russell will lead critical marketing activities in support of the company’s established Frabill and Plano brands, including oversight of product promotions, catalog and asset creation, trade show representation, advertising, social media, editorial outreach and more. Plano is the industry leader in the very tackle storage and management category they helped create in 1952, while Frabill has engineered premium, trusted gear for open water and ice fishing for nearly 80 years.

Like many other key Plano Synergy team members, Russell lives for the outdoors. A well-traveled lifelong angler, Russell has an outstanding history of success in working with influential, market-leading companies – most recently with Shimano America and Wright & McGill/Eagle Claw Fishing. Additionally, he has served the greater recreational fishing community as a member of the American Sport Fishing Association’s (ASA) Communications and ICAST committees.

“I’m genuinely excited to be continuing my work in the industry I’m so passionate about,” says Russell. “Especially with the Plano and Frabill brands that have contributed so much fishing joy to so many generations. These category leaders have endured and thrived because of their unrelenting commitment of innovation to anglers. My challenge will be to communicate that commitment and passion in ways that appeal to an increasingly diverse pool of customers.”

“Chris is a well-respected and experienced marketing pro with a 16-year history of success in the fishing industry,” says Angle, who points to Russell’s resume as not only proof of his significant accomplishments, but also as evidence of his creative abilities and sense of humor. “It says he’s capable of making Minute Rice in just 58 seconds,” Angle continues. “And while that’s really funny, the truth is that sometimes the small victories stack up and become big ones. We’re exceptionally pleased to be able to put Chris’s expertise, positive outlook and proven abilities to work here on the Plano Synergy team.”

Russell assumes his new duties in Plano Synergy’s Grand Prairie, Texas headquarters just in time for next week’s ICAST show – the sport fishing industry’s largest and most important trade show of the year.

“The Plano team has some really exciting new tackle storage products coming out at ICAST, and we’re anxious to share them with the industry,” says Russell. “Plano has a 65-year history of making the gear that helps anglers protect their passion and maximize the enjoyment they receive from their precious time on the water, and this year’s ICAST New Product Showcase is going to provide indisputable proof of that fact… especially if you happen to be a kayak angler.”

Industry and media representatives attending ICAST are invited to stop by booths 3357 and 3457 to see everything that’s new, or simply say hello.

 

 
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