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VanDam Leads First Round At Lake Dardanelle Bassmaster Elite

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VanDam Leads First Round At Lake Dardanelle Bassmaster Elite

Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich., takes the lead on the first day of the 2017 GoPro Bassmaster Elite at Lake Dardanelle presented by Econo Lodge, bringing 19 pounds, 3 ounces to the scales on Friday. 

Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.

June 2, 2017

VanDam Leads First Round At Lake Dardanelle Bassmaster Elite

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RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. — Bass-fishing superstar Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich., is in an early position to win a record-breaking 24th Bassmaster title. After weighing 19 pounds, 3 ounces, the four-time Classic champion is leading the GoPro Bassmaster Elite at Dardanelle presented by Econo Lodge.

With $100,000 and valuable Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year points on the line, VanDam fully understands what’s at stake. But even the seasoned veteran was surprised at today’s results.

“I’ve had mixed results on Dardanelle. I got second to Mark Menendez in 2009, and had a terrible tournament in 2014,” VanDam said. “But I know the bass in this lake move around a lot, which makes staying consistent difficult sometimes. I’m actually very pleasantly surprised with my weight today, and the rest of the field did better than I had expected.”

The seven-time Angler of the Year caught his limit early, but made a substantial upgrade later in the day that nicely augmented his five-bass limit.

“I caught two big fish that really helped,” he said. “I learned some things today, but on Dardanelle you can’t always bet on a pattern holding — you have to stay flexible. I don’t believe the forecasted storms will have much impact on how and where I’m fishing, but duplicating today’s weight would surprise me again.”

There has been plenty of discussion about the high, muddy water, but VanDam said the bass are still eager to bite, and replicating a pattern on similar structure across the lake is key to his approach.

“I feel like I know what I need to look for under these conditions,” he said. “After I had a limit, I spent a lot of time running around and practicing for the coming days.”

Ott DeFoe of Knoxville, Tenn., anchored his second-place, 18-12 limit of largemouth bass with a 6-pounder that was key to his first round success.

“This lake can be stingy, but catching that big one today really helped set me up for a strong start,” DeFoe said.

Like most anglers during the first day, the 31-year-old DeFoe was tight-lipped about how and where he was fishing, but he is known for fishing an area thoroughly instead of moving around a lot.

“Over the years I’ve learned that after several times through an area, the biggest fish will often come from a spot I’ve already fished,” he said. “Never leave biting fish.”

Tim Horton of Muscle Shoals, Ala., won the second Elite event of the 2017 season at Florida’s famed Lake Okeechobee, and he’ll be starting Saturday’s second day of competition in third place after weighing 18-7.

“I feel pretty good about what I’m doing,” Horton said. “The weather forecast is calling for rain over the next couple of days, and I think it could help me. My better bites happened this morning when it was cloudy, and I hope I can keep that pattern going.

David Mullins of Mt. Carmel, Tenn., caught a 6-pound, 8-ounce largemouth that is currently leading the Phoenix Boats Big Bass Award.

Saturday’s second round of competition will resume with takeoff at 6:15 a.m. CT at Lake Dardanelle State Park. Weigh-in will occur in the same location at 3:15 p.m.

The Bassmaster Elite Series Outdoors Expo will also take place at Lake Dardanelle State Park on Saturday and Sunday beginning at noon. The expo will feature boat and motor demo rides by Skeeter, Yamaha, Nitro, Triton and Mercury. Toyota will be onsite with interactive displays such as designing your own lure and a NASCAR video game vs. your friend. Other companies including GoPro, Econo Lodge, Huk, Berkley and Power-Pole will also be onsite featuring their latest products. All venues and activities are free and open to the public.

The event is hosted by the Russellville Advertising and Promotion Commission.

2017 GoPro Bassmaster Elite at Lake Dardanelle presented by Econo Lodge 6/2-6/5
Lake Dardanelle, Russellville  AR.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 1

Angler                   Hometown              No./lbs-oz  Pts   Total $$$

1.  Kevin VanDam           Kalamazoo, MI            5  19-03  110
Day 1: 5   19-03
2.  Ott DeFoe              Knoxville, TN            5  18-12  109
Day 1: 5   18-12
3.  Tim Horton             Muscle Shoals, AL        5  18-07  108
Day 1: 5   18-07
4.  Shane Lineberger       Lincolnton, NC           5  17-07  107
Day 1: 5   17-07
5.  Jamie Hartman          Newport, NY              5  17-05  106
Day 1: 5   17-05
6.  David Mullins          Mt Carmel, TN            5  17-02  105
Day 1: 5   17-02
7.  Skeet Reese            Auburn, CA               5  16-12  104
Day 1: 5   16-12
7.  Dean Rojas             Lake Havasu City, AZ     5  16-12  104
Day 1: 5   16-12
9.  Steve Kennedy          Auburn, AL               5  16-10  102
Day 1: 5   16-10
10. Tommy Biffle           Wagoner, OK              5  16-09  101
Day 1: 5   16-09
11. Gerald Swindle         Guntersville, AL         5  16-07  100
Day 1: 5   16-07
12. Stetson Blaylock       Benton, AR               5  16-06   99
Day 1: 5   16-06
13. Justin Lucas           Guntersville, AL         5  16-04   98
Day 1: 5   16-04
14. Cliff Pace             Petal, MS                5  16-03   97
Day 1: 5   16-03
15. Randy Howell           Guntersville, AL         5  16-02   96
Day 1: 5   16-02
16. Bernie Schultz         Gainesville, FL          5  16-01   95
Day 1: 5   16-01
17. Kelly Jordon           Flint, TX                5  16-00   94
Day 1: 5   16-00
18. Casey Ashley           Donalds, SC              5  15-14   93
Day 1: 5   15-14
19. Rick Clunn             Ava, MO                  5  15-08   92
Day 1: 5   15-08
20. Fred Roumbanis         London, AR               5  15-07   91
Day 1: 5   15-07
21. Cliff Prince           Palatka, FL              5  15-02   90
Day 1: 5   15-02
22. Micah Frazier          Newnan, GA               5  14-14   89
Day 1: 5   14-14
23. Josh Bertrand          San Tan Valley, AZ       5  14-10   88
Day 1: 5   14-10
24. Ish Monroe             Hughson, CA              5  14-06   87
Day 1: 5   14-06
25. Mark Davis             Mount Ida, AR            5  14-05   86
Day 1: 5   14-05
25. Paul Elias             Laurel, MS               5  14-05   86
Day 1: 5   14-05
27. Brandon Palaniuk       Hayden, ID               5  13-14   84
Day 1: 5   13-14
28. Gary Klein             Mingus, TX               5  13-13   83
Day 1: 5   13-13
29. Jacob Wheeler          Indianapolis, IN         5  13-11   82
Day 1: 5   13-11
30. Jared Lintner          Arroyo Grande, CA        5  13-10   81
Day 1: 5   13-10
31. Matt Lee               Guntersville, AL         5  13-09   80
Day 1: 5   13-09
31. Greg Vinson            Wetumpka, AL             5  13-09   80
Day 1: 5   13-09
33. Morizo Shimizu         Suita, Osaka JAPAN       5  13-05   78
Day 1: 5   13-05
34. Russ Lane              Prattville, AL           5  13-02   77
Day 1: 5   13-02
35. Hank Cherry Jr         Lincolnton, NC           5  13-01   76
Day 1: 5   13-01
36. Greg Hackney           Gonzales, LA             5  12-15   75
Day 1: 5   12-15
37. Chad Pipkens           Lansing, MI              5  12-13   74
Day 1: 5   12-13
38. Terry Scroggins        San Mateo, FL            5  12-11   73
Day 1: 5   12-11
39. Scott Rook             Little Rock, AR          5  12-11   72
Day 1: 5   12-11
40. Clifford Pirch         Payson, AZ               5  12-10   71
Day 1: 5   12-10
41. Michael Iaconelli      Pitts Grove, NJ          5  12-05   70
Day 1: 5   12-05
41. Mark Menendez          Paducah, KY              5  12-05   70
Day 1: 5   12-05
43. Edwin Evers            Talala, OK               5  12-01   68
Day 1: 5   12-01
43. Fletcher Shryock       New Philadelphia, OH     5  12-01   68
Day 1: 5   12-01
45. Skylar Hamilton        Dandridge, TN            5  12-00   66
Day 1: 5   12-00
45. Alton Jones            Lorena, TX               5  12-00   66
Day 1: 5   12-00
47. Kelley Jaye            Dadeville, AL            5  11-15   64
Day 1: 5   11-15
48. Jordan Lee             Grant, AL                5  11-13   63
Day 1: 5   11-13
48. Dave Lefebre           Erie, PA                 5  11-13   63
Day 1: 5   11-13
50. Keith Combs            Huntington, TX           5  11-12   61
Day 1: 5   11-12
50. James Elam             Tulsa, OK                5  11-12   61
Day 1: 5   11-12
52. Koby Kreiger           Bokeelia, FL             5  11-10   59
Day 1: 5   11-10
52. David Williams         Newton, NC               5  11-10   59
Day 1: 5   11-10
54. Jeff Kriet             Ardmore, OK              5  11-09   57
Day 1: 5   11-09
55. John Murray            Spring City, TN          5  11-08   56
Day 1: 5   11-08
55. Jesse Wiggins          Cullman, AL              5  11-08   56
Day 1: 5   11-08
57. Keith Poche            Pike Road, AL            5  11-07   54
Day 1: 5   11-07
57. Gerald Spohrer         Gonzales, LA             5  11-07   54
Day 1: 5   11-07
59. Adrian Avena           Vineland, NJ             5  11-01   52
Day 1: 5   11-01
59. Brandon Coulter        Knoxville, TN            5  11-01   52
Day 1: 5   11-01
61. Bill Lowen             Brookville, IN           5  10-14   50
Day 1: 5   10-14
62. Mike McClelland        Bella Vista, AR          5  10-13   49
Day 1: 5   10-13
63. Matt Herren            Ashville, AL             5  10-11   48
Day 1: 5   10-11
64. Andy Montgomery        Blacksburg, SC           5  10-07   47
Day 1: 5   10-07
65. Jason Christie         Park Hill, OK            5  10-06   46
Day 1: 5   10-06
66. Aaron Martens          Leeds, AL                5  10-05   45
Day 1: 5   10-05
66. Randall Tharp          Port St. Joe, FL         5  10-05   45
Day 1: 5   10-05
68. Brent Chapman          Lake Quivira, KS         5  10-04   43
Day 1: 5   10-04
68. Jacob Powroznik        North Prince George, VA  5  10-04   43
Day 1: 5   10-04
70. Jonathon VanDam        Kalamazoo, MI            4  10-04   41
Day 1: 4   10-04
71. Bobby Lane Jr.         Lakeland, FL             5  10-01   40
Day 1: 5   10-01
72. Drew Benton            Panama City, FL          4  10-00   39
Day 1: 4   10-00
73. Clent Davis            Montevallo, AL           5  09-15   38
Day 1: 5   09-15
74. James Niggemeyer       Van, TX                  5  09-14   37
Day 1: 5   09-14
75. Robbie Latuso          Gonzales, LA             4  09-11   36
Day 1: 4   09-11
76. Brock Mosley           Collinsville, MS         5  09-10   35
Day 1: 5   09-10
77. Chad Grigsby           Maple Grove, MN          4  09-10   34
Day 1: 4   09-10
78. David Fritts           Lexington, NC            5  09-08   33
Day 1: 5   09-08
79. David Walker           Sevierville, TN          5  09-07   32
Day 1: 5   09-07
80. Mark Daniels Jr.       Tuskegee, AL             5  09-01   31
Day 1: 5   09-01
81. Chris Zaldain          Laughlin, NV             5  08-15   30
Day 1: 5   08-15
82. Alton Jones Jr.        Lorena, TX               5  08-11   29
Day 1: 5   08-11
83. John Crews Jr          Salem, VA                5  08-09   28
Day 1: 5   08-09
84. Jesse Tacoronte        Orlando, FL              4  08-08   27
Day 1: 4   08-08
85. Stephen Browning       Hot Springs, AR          4  08-05   26
Day 1: 4   08-05
86. Bradley Roy            Lancaster, KY            4  08-04   25
Day 1: 4   08-04
87. Darrell Ocamica        New Plymouth, ID         4  08-03   24
Day 1: 4   08-03
88. Shaw Grigsby Jr.       Gainesville, FL          4  08-02   23
Day 1: 4   08-02
89. Brett Hite             Phoenix, AZ              4  07-09   22
Day 1: 4   07-09
90. Chad Morgenthaler      Reeds Spring, MO         4  07-04   21
Day 1: 4   07-04
91. Britt Myers            Lake Wylie, SC           4  07-01   20
Day 1: 4   07-01
92. Brian Snowden          Reeds Spring, MO         4  06-14   19
Day 1: 4   06-14
93. Tyler Carriere         Youngsville, LA          3  06-14   18
Day 1: 3   06-14
94. Brandon Lester         Fayetteville, TN         5  06-09   17
Day 1: 5   06-09
95. Takahiro Omori         Emory, TX                4  06-02   16
Day 1: 4   06-02
96. Dustin Connell         Clanton, AL              3  06-02   15
Day 1: 3   06-02
97. Todd Faircloth         Jasper, TX               4  05-13   14
Day 1: 4   05-13
98. Brett Preuett          Monroe, LA               3  05-10   13
Day 1: 3   05-10
99. Marty Robinson         Lyman, SC                3  05-08   12
Day 1: 3   05-08
100. Chris Lane             Guntersville, AL         1  05-00   11
Day 1: 1   05-00
101. John Hunter Jr         Shelbyville, KY          3  04-13   10
Day 1: 3   04-13
102. Jason Williamson       Wagener, SC              2  04-07    9
Day 1: 2   04-07
103. Brent Ehrler           Newport Beach, CA        2  04-02    8
Day 1: 2   04-02
104. Luke Clausen           Otis Orchards, WA        2  04-00    7
Day 1: 2   04-00
105. Seth Feider            Isle, MN                 2  03-05    6
Day 1: 2   03-05
106. Paul Mueller           Naugatuck, CT            2  03-01    5
Day 1: 2   03-01
107. Brandon Card           Knoxville, TN            1  01-12    4
Day 1: 1   01-12
108. Cliff Crochet          Pierre Part, LA          0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
108. Boyd Duckett           Guntersville, AL         0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
———————————————————————–
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1        80       487      1213-10
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80       487      1213-10

Tips For Catching Post Spawn Bass – MTB

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Tips For Catching Post Spawn Bass – MTB

Tips For Catching Post Spawn Bass

Typically when I think of post spawn bass I think of big groups of bass looking for a summer hang out spot. Most bass only spawn for a couple of days before they head on back to the deeper creek channels and main river channels to group up and feed on shad for the summer. I try to target places that are fairly deep water and with a little cover. For deeper lakes I tend to look for longer points that might extend for a couple of hundred feet. Some fish will still be shallow and there are still some big fish left up shallow, but I want to find numbers of fish because they will likely be more active and feeding rather than trying to locate one or two fish up shallow.

There are two tactics I really love to do when the post spawn groups appear. There are a variety of different ways to catch these fish from dragging or hopping a jig to swimbaits and spinnerbaits, but this is when I pull out my bigger crankbaits and I will drag a carolina rig. Both require very little skill and are super easy to catch big quality sized fish. Both of these techniques are very versatile and can be used in any water during any conditions.

KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY WINS YETI FLW COLLEGE FISHING NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP ON WHEELER LAKE

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KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY WINS YETI FLW COLLEGE FISHING NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP ON WHEELER LAKE

KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY WINS YETI FLW COLLEGE FISHING NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP ON WHEELER LAKE

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FLORENCE, Ala. (June 2, 2017) – The Kansas State University team of Travis Blenn of Westmoreland, Kansas, and Kyle Alsop of Overland Park, Kansas, weighed a five-bass limit Friday totaling 11 pounds, 11 ounces, to win the 2017 YETI FLW College Fishing National Championship on Wheeler Lake presented by Lowrance C-Map Genesis. The Wildcat duo’s three-day total of 15 bass for 44-12 gave them the win by a 1-pound, 12-ounce margin over the 2015 National Championship winners, Patrick Walters and Gettys Brannon from the University of South Carolina, who finished second with 15 bass for 43-0.

“This is the last college fishing tournament of my career,” said Alsop, a recent engineering graduate. “To go out like this is just unbelievable.”

“We didn’t think that we had enough,” said Blenn, a junior at Kansas State University. “We were lucky enough to get the big bites the last two days, but we just didn’t get them today. I was sure that we needed one more. But sure enough, it was enough.”

The Wildcat duo said that their key bait throughout the week was a green-pumpkin-colored Zoom Brush Hog, rigged three different ways – Carolina-rigged, Texas-rigged and on a Big Bite Baits Swing Head. They said that they caught their fish out deep on ledges in Decatur, flipping docks and dragging the Brush Hog in and around brush piles in a creek.

“All week long we threw the Brush Hog,” Alsop said. “Today when it slowed down we picked up a shaky-head rig with a Big Bite (Baits) Super Stick on it, but the Brush Hog was the key. We dyed the tails chartreuse.”

Blenn and Alsop will now advance to compete Saturday in a one-day fish-off against each other on Wilson Lake. The two anglers will weigh in at 3:25 p.m. prior to the final weigh in of the BFL All-American championship at Pickwick Lake. The winner will advance to compete at the Forrest Wood Cup.

“No matter what happens tomorrow, me and Kyle are good enough friends that it will all be good,” Blenn said. “And if by chance I do beat him tomorrow, I think he’s a good enough stick to make it there on his own, eventually.”

“I hope to make a career in professional fishing,” Alsop went on to say. “I’m going to start working to qualify for the Tour next year and we’ll see how far I can make it. Tomorrow Travis and I are just going to go out and get after them and we’ll see what happens.”

The top 10 teams on Wheeler Lake finished:

1st:  Kansas State University – Travis Blenn, Westmoreland, Kan., and Kyle Alsop, Overland Park, Kan., 15 bass, 44-12, Ranger Z175 w/90-horsepower Evinrude Outboard, Entry into 2017 Forrest Wood Cup

2nd:  University of South Carolina – Patrick Walters, Summerville, S.C., and Gettys Brannon, Gaffney, S.C., 15 bass, 43-0, $5,000

3rd:  Bethel University – Evan Owrey, Jackson, Tenn., and Kristopher Queen, Catawba, N.C., 15 bass, 42-11, $4,000

4th:  University of Louisiana-Monroe – Tyler Stewart and Nicholas Joiner, both of West Monroe, La., 15 bass, 38-5, $3,000

5th:  East Texas Baptist University – Brett Clark, Center, Texas, and Jacob Keith, Jefferson, Texas, 15 bass, 38-3, $2,000

6th:  University of Missouri – Gabriel Dubois, Mason, Ohio, and Brandon Heizer, Saint Louis, Mo., 15 bass, 37-6

7th:  Slippery Rock University – Logan Pollman, Slippery Rock, Pa., and Tyler Sheppard, Hermitage, Pa., 15 bass, 34-3

8th:  Murray State University – Chandler Christian, Owensboro, Ky., and Lance Freeman, Eddyville, Ky., 15 bass, 31-13

9th:  Lamar University – Brandon Simoneaux, Bridge City, Texas, and Colby Ogden, Sour Lake, Texas, 12 bass, 31-2

10th:  University of Oregon – Ryan Habenicht, Auburn, Calif., and Daniel Marshall, Eugene, Ore., 10 bass, 24-6

Full results and standings for the remaining field can be found at FLWFishing.com.

Overall there were 43 bass weighing 96 pounds, 12 ounces caught by nine college teams Friday. The catch included eight five-bass limits.

The 2017 YETI FLW College Fishing National Championship, hosted by the Florence/Lauderdale Tourism Bureau, featured 139 of the top college bass fishing clubs from across the nation competing for a $30,000 prize package, including a new Ranger Z175 boat with a 90-horsepower Evinrude outboard and entry into the 2017 Forrest Wood Cup. The Forrest Wood Cup, the world championship of bass fishing, will be held August 11-13 on Lake Murray in Columbia, South Carolina, and will offer a collegiate angler the opportunity to compete for a top award of $300,000.

Television coverage of the YETI FLW College Fishing National Championship will premiere in high-definition (HD) on NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) Oct. 4 from Noon -1 p.m. EDT. The Emmy-nominated “FLW” television show airs on NBCSN, the Pursuit Channel and the World Fishing Network and is broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, making it the most widely distributed weekly outdoors-sports television show in the world.

College Fishing is free to enter. All participants must be registered, full-time students at a college, university or community college and members of a fishing club recognized by their college or university.

For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow College Fishing on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing. Visit CollegeFishing.com to sign up or to start a club at your school.

Make Pops an Angling Ace with the Latest Gear from Rapala June 2,2017

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Make Pops an Angling Ace with the Latest Gear from Rapala June 2,2017

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The Great Outdoors is a place where dear ol’ Dad can let loose, wet a line and create memories that will last a lifetime. This Father’s Day, help the old man fall in love with his favorite pastime all over again by hooking him up with best-in-class gear from Rapala® and Respected Rapala® Brands.

From the world’s favorite lures and strongest fishing lines to must-have accessories and outstanding apparel, the following Father’s Day gift ideas are sure to take Dad’s fishing fervor to a whole new level, whether he’s an accomplished everyday angler or weekend warrior.

Storm® 360GT Searchbait™
The latest and possibly most versatile bait from Storm® — the new 360GT Searchbait™ — offers Dad the perfect confidence lure to help him catch his limit anywhere, anytime.

A dynamic searchbait, this lure allows anglers to efficiently cover water and uncover more fish. Once Pops locates his target species, he won’t even need to switch up his presentation. The 360GT Searchbait boasts a natural swimming action fish can’t refuse. And, fishing it couldn’t be easier. Simply cast it out and reel it in with a steady retrieve.

Creating the ultimate illusion of natural movement, the 360GT Searchbait pairs a lifelike, single-ball rattling jig head, a realistic, phthalate-free soft body and 3D holographic eyes, with a toe-in boot tail that elicits incredible action at any retrieve speed. Each 360GT Searchbait is easy to rig, and comes equipped with an exclusive VMC® Coastal Black™ hook with an extended “leg” on the line-tie added to further enhance its action, and is available in a wide variety of color patterns to perfectly match regional forage species anywhere.

Simply put: This one fishes circles around every other bait. When he ties it on, Dad better hold on tight and be ready for action.

Rapala® Shadow Rap® & Shadow Rap Shad®
Two instant classics, the introduction of the Rapala® Shadow Rap® and Shadow Rap Shad® shook the angling world. After a day on the water tossing these killer baits, dear ol’ Dad will understand exactly why.

With unique movements that mimic the last moments of a dying minnow and shad respectively — two of the most common forage species in U.S. waters — the original Shadow Rap and Shadow Rap Shad were painstakingly designed to feature lifelike profiles to create innovative presentations that have proven to fool Bass and other game species time and time again.

Unlike most jerkbaits, the Shadow Rap kicks almost 180 degrees right, then left, with each flick of the rod, allowing it to be fished nearly in place with little forward travel, keeping its slow flickering fade right in the strike zone longer than ever before.

The latest addition to this acclaimed family of baits, the Shadow Rap Shad triggers bites in three ways: 1) on the kick, 2) with a slow, seductive rise, and 3) with a snap back to life. Both Bass-bustin’ models come in standard and deep varieties, and in several attention-grabbing finishes, allowing Pops to find fish no matter where they lurk in the water column.

Sufix® 832 Advanced Superline®
You don’t have to spend a fortune to help Dad land lunkers all year long. Unlike other braided lines, Sufix® 832 Advanced Superline® — the strongest, most durable line on the market — is a great gift that will help your favorite angler avoid devastating breakoffs without breaking the bank.

Now available online and at sporting goods retailers nationwide at a lower, more affordable price point, Sufix 832 is formulated with eight fibers — seven Dyneema and one GORE® — at 32 pics (weaves) per inch and is the only fishing line to combine both fiber types.

R8 Precision Braiding and fiber technology provide the line with superior strength, roundness and line consistency. GORE® Performance Fibers improve abrasion resistance, increase casting distance and accuracy, and reduce line vibration. HMPE fibers provide high strength and sensitivity, hydrophobic water-repellent protection and a small diameter.

This tried-and-true line comes in five color options, is available in tests running from 2-to-80 pounds, and can be purchased in five different spool sizes, ranging from 150 yards to 3,500 yards.

Terminator® Popping Frog
If your father is a topwater diehard, he won’t be able to get enough of the new Terminator® Popping Frog.

Built with a cupped face that creates a loud, strong pop, this frog drives fish crazy by causing a major commotion in otherwise calm waters. And, unlike lesser frog baits, the Popping Frog’s extra soft-body boasts a custom-designed weight shaped and positioned to help the bait compress easily when fish bite, delivering increased hook exposure and ensuring Dad will convert more strikes into adrenaline-filled fights.

Featuring a razor sharp VMC® frog-gap hook, round-rubber legs, a heavy-duty welded line tie and lifelike detail from nose to rear, the Popping Frog is also tail-weighted to increase casting distance and stability on the retrieve. The lure is 2 ½ inches long, weighs 9/16 ounces and comes in 16 lifelike color patterns.

A favorite bait type for Bass anglers everywhere, this fresh take on frog fishing is sure to become a fast favorite.

Rapala® Shad Dancer®
Provide dear ol’ Dad with an edge on the water by gifting him the new Rapala® Shad Dancer®.

Swimming with a silent but aggressive, hard-thumping and sweeping tail action, the lure offers all the excitement of a Rapala Tail Dancer® in a shad-profile bait. An especially effective lure when targeting Walleye, the Shad Dancer also boasts true multi-species appeal, making it a great option for a host of coveted gamefish.

It features a tough balsa body that can stand up to the toughest of battles with gamefish and two VMC® Black Nickle Round Bend Hooks. Perfect for both casting and trolling, the lure dives between 7-to-10 feet and is available in 16 color patterns.

Rapala® Floating Aerator
Rapala® is best known for its ultra-effective, lifelike   balsa lures. However, the most trusted name in fishing doesn’t stop there when it comes to gear to make anglers lives’ easier. Ensuring Dad’s dollars will go further than ever at his favorite local bait shop, the brand has introduced the Rapala Floating Aerator, a compact accessory that makes it easier to keep live bait kickin’ longer.

The product may be small in size but it offers big-time results! The new Floating Aerator keeps bait alive by gently mixing air into water, aerating 1.5 liters (0.4 gallons) per minute.

Ideal for most bait-storage containers or enclosures, this portable device features a floating, water-activated switch, air-release stone and offers 18 hours of continuous run time. When it’s set to run at 15-minute intervals, it will provide 36 hours of run time.

Rapala® Lithium Ion Cordless Fillet Knife Combo
The Old Man won’t mind taking the time to carve up the day’s catch with Rapala’s new Lithium Ion Cordless Fillet Knife Combo. The fillet’s cordless design means fish can be filleted in minutes, making it especially helpful when the sun is setting on a long day on the water.

The Lithium Ion Cordless Fillet Combo includes one cordless knife body, two lithium ion batteries, a 6-inch and 7 ½-inch reciprocating blade and a wall charger. It is all packed into a convenient EVA-padded storage case. Lithium ion batteries provide consistent speed and torque from fillet to fillet, without reduced power or slowdown as battery power wanes, producing 80 continuous minutes of run time per battery. The knife’s comfortable, relaxed grip provides fatigue-free filleting.  An advanced airflow design keeps the knife motor running cool and smooth.

Rapala® & Respected Rapala Brands Apparel
This Father’s Day, show Pops you care by helping him look his best — on and off the water — with the fit that keeps on giving: stylish and functional apparel from Rapala® and Respected Rapala Brands.

As comfortable as they are durable, these T-shirts, long-sleeve shirts, sweatshirts, hats and jackets will ensure Pops is dressed for success, whether he’s tangoing with a toothy Pike, jigging for Walleye or hauling in hawgs. Rapala and Respected Rapala Brands apparel offers the right fit for any season. And, with overnight shipping available (if ordered before 1 p.m. CDT), you’ll have these great gifts in-hand in no time, even when you order at the last minute. Visis Rapala.com for pricing.

See Storm® 360GT Searchbait™
See Rapala® Shadow Rap®
See Shadow Rap Shad®
Sufix® 832 Advanced Superline®
See Terminator® Popping Frog
See Rapala® Shad Dancer®
See Rapala® Floating Aerator
See Rapala® Lithium Ion Cordless Fillet Knife Combo
See Rapala Clothing

Lazer Trokar Tournament Tube Hook Review By Jason Sealock June 1st 2017

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Lazer Trokar Tournament Tube Hook Review By Jason Sealock June 1st 2017
Lazer Trokar Tournament Tube Hook caught a lot of bass this spring flipping flooded cover / Jason Sealock

Lazer Trokar Tournament Tube Hook Review

Jason Sealock

June 1st 2017

A great hook from Lazer Trokar designed specifically for fishing with with today’s thicker flipping tubes.

I grew up flipping a black and blue tube on the Arkansas River. There weren’t many good hook choices at the time. They weren’t the best because this was before the days of Super Line hooks or good flipping hooks. A straight shank worm hook would work but it was a bear. Tubes were pretty thin too. Eventually flipping a tube lost favor for me.

This spring, I got back to flipping a tube this Spring thanks in large part to the Lazer Trokar Tournament Tube hook. This hook works perfectly for the modern flipping tubes on the market. I have been using a Lunker City Lunker Tube a lot this spring. It’s a thick-walled tube. So that makes penetrating the plastic difficult for most hooks. That means you’re in a Tex-posed situation, where you lay the hook point on the back of the tube, and the just prick the point into the plastic. So as the fish clamps down the point exposes and hooks the fish.

TENNESSEE’S DEAKINS LEADS DAY ONE OF T-H MARINE BFL ALL-AMERICAN TOURNAMENT ON PICKWICK LAKE

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TENNESSEE’S DEAKINS LEADS DAY ONE OF T-H MARINE BFL ALL-AMERICAN TOURNAMENT ON PICKWICK LAKE

TENNESSEE’S DEAKINS LEADS DAY ONE OF T-H MARINE BFL ALL-AMERICAN TOURNAMENT ON PICKWICK LAKE

Kentucky’s Taylor Leads Co-anglers

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FLORENCE, Ala. (June 1, 2017) – Boater Marshall Deakins of Dunlap, Tennessee, took the early lead at the 34th annual T-H Marine Bass Fishing League (BFL) All-American on Pickwick Lake Thursday with a five-bass limit weighing 24 pounds, 6 ounces. Deakins will begin Day Two of the three-day competition with a 2-pound, 14-ounce lead over second-place angler Mike Brueggen of La Crosse, Wisconsin, who weighed in five bass totaling 21 pounds, 8 ounces.

The BFL All-American features 98 of the best boaters and co-anglers from across the 24-division T-H Marine BFL circuit casting for cash prizes of up to $120,000 in the Boater Division and $60,000 in the Co-angler Division. In addition to the six-figure payout, the top boater will receive an invitation to compete for bass fishing’s most coveted prize – the Forrest Wood Cup – held Aug. 11-13 on Lake Murray in Columbia, South Carolina.

“I’m catching them two or three different ways,” said Deakins, who qualified for the event through the BFL Choo Choo division. “I’ve caught some fish from grass, rocks and shell beds. I’ve got two or three areas that are really good, and I just kept rotating through them. The fish are in the same places that I found them in during pre-practice.”

Deakins said he used a jig to catch his fish. He said he didn’t encounter much boat traffic, and was able to put together a limit fairly quickly.

“I made a lot of stops, but my primary areas are 4 to 5 miles apart,” said Deakins. “I caught a couple of big fish at the first location, and another decent one at the second. I probably put at least 10 keepers in the boat throughout the day and culled a few times later on.”

Deakins said he believes the color of his jig is one of the most important factors in his strategy, and that he plans on following the same pattern on Day Two.

“I’ve got some more places like the areas from today that I haven’t hit yet,” said Deakins. “I can’t wait to get back out there.”

The top 10 boaters after Day One on Pickwick Lake are:

1st:          Marshall Deakins, Dunlap, Tenn., five bass, 24-6

2nd:         Mike Brueggen, La Crosse, Wis., five bass, 21-8

3rd:          Ronald Nutter, Saint Louisville, Ohio, five bass, 20-7

4th:          Jeff Knight, Cleveland, Tenn., five bass, 18-4

5th:          Brent Anderson, Kingston Springs, Tenn., five bass, 17-6

6th:          Brandon Gray, Bullock, N.C., five bass, 17-2

7th:          Justin Atkins, Florence, Ala., five bass, 16-13

8th:          Conrad Bolt, Seneca, S.C., five bass, 16-8

9th:          Tyler Morgan, Columbus, Ga., five bass, 16-6

10th:        Adam Ohms, Edwardsville, Ill., five bass, 16-3

For a full list of results, visit FLWFishing.com.

Overall there were 205 bass weighing 594 pounds, 11 ounces caught by 47 boaters Thursday. The catch included 31 five-bass limits.

Dennis Taylor of Murray, Kentucky, leads the Co-angler Division with five bass weighing 17 pounds, 3 ounces, followed by David Winters of Rock Hill, South Carolina, in second place with five bass weighing 16-5.

The top 10 co-anglers are:

1st:          Dennis Taylor, Murray, Ky., five bass, 17-3

2nd:         David Winters, Rock Hill, S.C., five bass, 16-5

3rd:          Pat Kendrick, Bumpass, Va., five bass, 14-6

4th:          Peter Balishin, Sharps Chapel, Tenn., five bass, 14-5

5th:          Greg Ravitsky, Ashburn, Va., five bass, 13-11

6th:          Jeremy New, Yorktown, Ind., five bass, 13-2

7th:          Alex Hester, Crossville, Tenn., five bass, 12-15

8th:          Mike Youngblood, Saint Louis, Mo., five bass, 12-13

9th:          Jim Budde, Waterloo, Ill., five bass, 12-9

10th:        Billy Watson, Murfreesboro, Tenn., five bass, 11-11

Overall there were 148 bass weighing 361 pounds, 7 ounces caught by 44 Co-anglers Thursday. The catch included 14 five-bass limits.

Competitors will take off from McFarland Park located at 200 Jim Spain Drive in Florence at 7 a.m. CDT each day. Weigh-ins each day will be held at McFarland Park, and will begin at 3:30 p.m. Takeoffs and weigh-ins are free and open to the public.

The 2017 BFL All-American on Pickwick Lake is being hosted by the Florence/Lauderdale Tourism Bureau.

Television coverage of the T-H Marine BFL All-American at Pickwick Lake will premiere in high-definition (HD) on NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) Oct. 11 from Noon-1 p.m. EDT. The Emmy-nominated “FLW” television show airs on NBCSN, the Pursuit Channel and the World Fishing Network and is broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, making it the most widely distributed weekly outdoors-sports television show in the world.

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 a full schedule of events, complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow FLW on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing.

KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY TAKES LEAD AFTER DAY TWO OF YETI FLW COLLEGE FISHING NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP ON WHEELER LAKE

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KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY TAKES LEAD AFTER DAY TWO OF YETI FLW COLLEGE FISHING NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP ON WHEELER LAKE

KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY TAKES LEAD AFTER DAY TWO OF YETI FLW COLLEGE FISHING NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP ON WHEELER LAKE

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FLORENCE, Ala. (June 1, 2017) – The Kansas State University team of Travis Blenn of Westmoreland, Kansas, and Kyle Alsop of Overland Park, Kansas, brought a five-bass limit to the scale weighing 16 pounds, 9 ounces to grab the lead Thursday at Day Two of the 2017 YETI FLW College Fishing National Championship on Wheeler Lake presented by Lowrance C-Map Genesis. The Wildcat duo’s two-day total of 10 bass for 33-1 will give them a slim 4-ounce advantage over the second place team from Tennessee’s Bethel University heading into the third and final day of competition.

The three-day National Championship event featured 139 of the top college bass fishing clubs – now cut to 10 – from across the nation competing for a $30,000 prize package, including a new Ranger Z175 boat with a 90-horsepower Evinrude outboard and entry into the 2017 Forrest Wood Cup. The Forrest Wood Cup, the world championship of bass fishing, will be held August 11-13 on Lake Murray in Columbia, South Carolina, and will offer a collegiate angler the opportunity to compete for a top award of $300,000.

“We’ve got three pretty solid patterns that are working for us,” said Alsop, a senior majoring in engineering. “We know that we can go and catch a limit of fish on the second pattern, but we’re not here to catch just a limit of fish. We’re here to win. So tomorrow we’re going to dig deep and see what happens.”

The Kansas State duo said that they did the majority of their damage Thursday fishing offshore, but not on the main river. Although they were not yet ready to divulge any specifics, they did say that they were fishing just one bait, but rigging it three different ways. Their five-bass limit that they brought to the scale Thursday consisted of four largemouth and one smallmouth.

“We caught around 15 keepers today, the same as yesterday,” said Blenn. “We spent a little bit more time up shallow yesterday, but there was a lot of little fish.”

“Consistency is everything out here,” said Alsop. “Tomorrow, we might run shallow to finish out limit, but we’re not going to spend a bunch of time on it. I really think the key to our areas are a timing deal. The fish come up and feed real quickly, then move on.

“We have two spots we’ve been kind of saving – one of them we haven’t even touched yet,” Alsop continued. “But who knows, we might pull up tomorrow and never get a bite. We’re just excited to be in the position we are and are ready to go out tomorrow and have some fun.”

The top 10 teams on Wheeler Lake that will advance to the final day of competition are:

1st:  Kansas State University – Travis Blenn, Westmoreland, Kan., and Kyle Alsop, Overland Park, Kan., 10 bass, 33-1

2nd:  Bethel University – Evan Owrey, Jackson, Tenn., and Kristopher Queen, Catawba, N.C., 10 bass, 32-13

3rd:  University of South Carolina – Patrick Walters, Summerville, S.C., and Gettys Brannon, Gaffney, S.C., 10 bass, 29-14

4th:  University of Louisiana-Monroe – Tyler Stewart and Nicholas Joiner, both of West Monroe, La., 10 bass, 25-12

5th:  Lamar University – Brandon Simoneaux, Bridge City, Texas, and Colby Ogden, Sour Lake, Texas, nine bass, 25-9

6th:  East Texas Baptist University – Brett Clark, Center, Texas, and Jacob Keith, Jefferson, Texas, 10 bass, 25-2

7th:  Slippery Rock University – Logan Pollman, Slippery Rock, Pa., and Tyler Sheppard, Hermitage, Pa., 10 bass, 24-15

8th:  University of Oregon – Ryan Habenicht, Auburn, Calif., and Daniel Marshall, Eugene, Ore., 10 bass, 24-6

9th:  University of Missouri – Gabriel Dubois, Mason, Ohio, and Brandon Heizer, Saint Louis, Mo., 10 bass, 23-13

10th:  Murray State University – Chandler Christian, Owensboro, Ky., and Lance Freeman, Eddyville, Ky., 10 bass, 23-12

Full results and standings for the remaining field can be found at FLWFishing.com.

Overall there were 478 bass weighing 869 pounds, 4 ounces caught by 114 college teams Thursday. The catch included 70 five-bass limits.

The final 10 teams will take off Friday from Joe Wheeler State Park, located at 4401 McLean Drive, in Rogersville, Alabama, at 6:30 a.m. CDT. Friday’s championship weigh-in will be held at McFarland Park, located at 200 Jim Spain Drive in Florence, at 3 p.m., prior to the Day Two weigh-in of the BFL All-American championship at Pickwick Lake.

The winning college team will advance to compete Saturday in a one-day fish-off against each other on Wilson Lake. The two anglers will weigh in at 3:25 p.m. prior to the final weigh in of the BFL All-American championship at Pickwick Lake. The winner will advance to compete at the Forrest Wood Cup. All takeoffs and weigh-ins are free and open to the public.

Television coverage of the YETI FLW College Fishing National Championship will premiere in high-definition (HD) on NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) Oct. 4 from Noon -1 p.m. EDT. The Emmy-nominated “FLW” television show airs on NBCSN, the Pursuit Channel and the World Fishing Network and is broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, making it the most widely distributed weekly outdoors-sports television show in the world.

College Fishing is free to enter. All participants must be registered, full-time students at a college, university or community college and members of a fishing club recognized by their college or university.

For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow College Fishing on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing. Visit CollegeFishing.com to sign up or to start a club at your school.

Tackle Talk: Z-Man Palmetto BugZ By Walker Smith May 30,2017

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Tackle Talk: Z-Man Palmetto BugZ By Walker Smith May 30,2017
Photo by Walker Smith/Wired2Fish

Tackle Talk: Z-Man Palmetto BugZ

Walker Smith

May 30,2017

This pitching and flipping bait gets a lot of bites and has outstanding durability that turns out to be a big money saver.

I don’t think I’ve gone a single week of my adult life without pitching and flipping some sort of shallow cover. Because I do it so much, I’ve had an opportunity to experiment with just about every mass-produced soft plastic in existence. It’s a funny thing, actually—the more baits I test, the smaller my “starting lineup” becomes.

I’ve been fishing with the Z-Man Palmetto BugZ for about two months, ever since some friends of mine starting hyping it up. After a lot of tinkering, it has become one of the more impressive pitching and flipping baits I’ve run across lately.

Here’s a rundown of what you need to know.

High School Anglers Set to Upgrade Gear at Simmons Big Bass Bonanza

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High School Anglers Set to Upgrade Gear at Simmons Big Bass Bonanza

High School Anglers Set to Upgrade Gear

at Simmons Big Bass Bonanza

Simmons Big Bass Bonanza bolsters $50,000 prize with incentives for high school anglers.

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 LITTLE ROCK, AR (June 1, 2017) — In late June, anglers from across the Natural State will spend three days gathered along 300 miles of the Arkansas River from the Oklahoma border to the Mississippi River. Thousands will fish for a single coveted prize — $50,000 cold hard cash, awarded for the heaviest bass weighed in during the event. The Simmons Bank Big Bass Bonanza is the state’s largest amateur fishing tournament, and this year’s guaranteed cash prizes include: $50,000 for the largest fish overall; $10,000 for the largest fish overall in each of the remaining four pools; and place money for overall winners per pool, with $900 for second place, $700 for third and $400 for fourth.

Image by Bill Lindner, courtesy of St. Croix Rod

But for a special group of young anglers, the prize pool is even larger, thanks to Simmons Bank and a bevy of event sponsors who have come together to up the ante for high school anglers.

“All high school age anglers will be eligible to win some serious fishing gear,” says tournament director Jill Thiel. “Our sponsors really stepped up to give high school anglers a chance to not only fish for the $50,000 grand prize and the multiple hourly prizes for big fish, but also the chance to upgrade their gear while they’re at it.”

Thiel says anglers grades 6th – 8th and 9th – 12th will have the chance to win one of multiple Raymarine Dragonfly 7-Pro Sonar/GPS fish finder units, Aqua Vu Micro II underwater cameras, Bass X fishing rods from St. Croix Rod, Plano tackle bags, lure prize packs from LIVETARGET lures, BaitCloud fish attractant canisters, and a free Thickburger every week for a year from Hardees.

“Everyone was eager to help out young anglers,” she adds. “They’re the future of the sport.”

Image by Bill Lindner, courtesy of St. Croix Rod

Bassmaster Magazine Editor James Hall says that high school and college fishing has grown exponentially recently, as young superstars rise from their ranks to the pinnacle of professional bass fishing.

“Participation in high school bass fishing has exploded over the past several years,” says Hall. “I don’t know if there is a singular reason for it, but I think there is a perfect storm of support and interest right now. Many organizations, including B.A.S.S. have developed tournament platforms that inspire participation, offering scholarships and exposure to college fishing programs, which in turn offer even more scholarships to high school anglers. Plus, high profile former high school anglers, like Jordan Lee, who just won the Bassmaster Classic, are an inspiration to young fishermen who join a team and want to give it a shot.”

On June 23, 24, and 25, Arkansas anglers will take their own shot at inspiring their young brothers and sisters on the water. “Can one of them win the grand prize? Absolutely,” adds Thiel. “Anyone who registers at ArkansasBigBass.com is eligible to take home that check.”

Last year’s winner, Herbert Holman of Delaware, Arkansas was able to capture the prize with a 7.25-pound largemouth bass landed on the last hour of competition on Day One.

On top of the $50,000 overall prize, all Simmons Big Bass Bonanza anglers are eligible to win an hourly payout for first, second and third place. “Hourly prize money for first, second and third place will be the top priority after the guaranteed prizes are awarded,” says Montine McNulty, Executive Director of Arkansas Hospitality Association. “Overall winners at each pool take home $10,000.” and place money for overall winners per pool, with $900 for second place, $700 for third and $400 for fourth.

As an added bonus, Legend Boats has added the Simmons Bank Big Bass Bonanza sanctioned Advantage program tournament. Legend Boats Anglers that are registered in the Legend Advantage program (http://legendmarine.com/advantage/) can add up to $10,000 to their Big Bass winnings!

What: Simmons Bank Big Bass Bonanza

Where:

Pool 1: Fort Smith — Downriver from the Garrison Ave. bridge near Fort Smith to the upriver side of Ozark Lock and Dam (mile marker 257).

Pool 2: Russellville — Downriver from Ozark Lock and Dam #12 to the upriver side of Ormond Lock and Dam #9..

Pool 3: North Little Rock — Downriver from Ormond Lock and Dam to the upriver side of Terry Lock and Dam No. 6.

Pool 4: Pine Bluff — Downriver from Terry Lock and Dam to the upriver side of Hardin Lock & Dam No. 3.

Pool 5: Dumas— Downriver from Hardin Lock and Dam to the upriver side of Lock No. 2 and Dam No. 2.

When: June 23, 24, 25, 2017.

Sponsors include Simmons Bank, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Academy Sports + Outdoors, Heart of Arkansas, Hardees/Saddle Peak, the Russellville Tourism and Visitor’s Center, the North Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Pine Bluff Convention and Visitors Bureau, St. Croix Rod, Raymarine, Baitcloud, LIVETARGET, Plano and Aqua-Vu.

Image by Bill Lindner, courtesy of St. Croix Rod

#BigBassBonanza

SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE FISHING REPORT June 2017 DALE WILSON’S

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SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE FISHING REPORT June 2017 DALE WILSON’S

SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE FISHING REPORT
June 2017
DALE WILSON’S

SML GUIDE SERVICE
PHONE NO: 540-297-5650 / 540-874-4950
www.captaindalewilson.com

Picture: 15 yr. old Conner Schweirkart from Mineral, Va. with a hugh smallmouth bass, caught while fishing with Captain Dale Wilson 5/30/17.

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OVERVIEW- There has been lots of activity on the lake the past several weekends! The water conditions have improved from the past heavy rains. Fishing has been good at night this past month! Water temperature will be in the 70’s to low 80’s. Best times will be early morning, late afternoon and at night. June is usually a good month to fish top water lures.

Largemouth Bass- Fishing for largemouth bass will be good this month. Best lures will be large plastic worms, jigs, drop shots, crank baits, top water lures, Carolina rigs and shaky heads. Some largemouth bass will still be spawning this month. Points, brush piles, rocks, stumps and docks will be the best areas to try your luck. Best depths will be from surface to 15 feet deep. Remember to take care of the bass and release them! Fishing will be good at night when the shad are up spawning. Best lures at night are wake baits and shallow running crank baits.

Smallmouth Bass- Fishing will be fair. Best areas will be humps, stumps, rocky areas and secondary flats. Best lures will be tubes, jigs, top water lures, hair jigs and medium diving crank baits. Best areas will be in the mid to the lower sections of the lake. Cloudy days with wind and at night are good times to try your luck! Look for areas with rocks, stumps and flat points next to deep water. Look for humps and isolated rocks near deep water. They feed heavily on crawfish around the full moon. Some smallmouth will continue to spawn this month.

Striped Bass- Fishing will be fair this month. Stripers will be caught in the mid sections of the lake and the lower sections towards the dam and in the large creeks. Best lures will be swim baits, buck tails, wake baits and Zoom flukes fished on 3/8 to 3/4 oz. lead heads. Best time to fish is cloudy days, early morning, night time (when the shad are spawning) and late afternoon. The best depths will be from the surface to 40 feet deep. Live bait fished on down lines and planner boards work good this month. They will constantly be on the move. Find the largest concentration of shad. Night fishing will be good this month. Lures like Red Fins, Thunder Sticks and large Rapalas work when the shad come to the shoreline at night.

Crappie- Fishing for crappie will be fair this month. The best depths will be 6 to 15 ft. deep. Crappie will be found around deep docks, brush piles, and fallen trees. Docks with brush piles are usually good areas to hold crappie. Small live minnows and 1½ to 2 inch tubes or shad shaped plastic lures fished on 1/32 to 1/16 oz. lead heads will work best to catch crappie this month. Best areas are the main creeks and the upper section of the lake. Most crappie have spawned.

TIP OF THE Month- Always wear your life jacket. Most fish will be caught at night when the shad are spawning. Try to find the areas with the largest concentration of bait fish. You can also hear reports about local fishing on the website: THE BASS CAST RADIO SHOW each month. Make sure your running lights are on after dark! Remember to TAKE A KID FISHING!

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