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Kentucky’s Michael Boggs Takes First Round Lead In B.A.S.S. Nation Championship

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Kentucky’s Michael Boggs Takes First Round Lead In B.A.S.S. Nation Championship

Michael Boggs II of Kentucky caught 20 pounds, 10 ounces to take the lead on the first day of the Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation Championship presented by Magellan on Lake Conroe in Conroe, Texas.

Photo by Craig Lamb/Bassmaster

Nov. 17, 2016

Kentucky’s Michael Boggs Takes First Round Lead In B.A.S.S. Nation Championship

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CONROE, Texas — Michael Boggs II of Kentucky surprised everyone at the 2016 Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation Championship presented by Magellan with his 20-pound, 10-ounce limit of bass, heaviest of the day.

It was a surprise because it was near the end of the first-day weigh-in on Texas’ Lake Conroe, and no one else had even come close.

“I’m tickled to death,” said Boggs, who is representing Kentucky but lives in Portsmouth, Ohio.

“I’ve been feeling pretty good all week,” Boggs added. “I caught some 5- and 6-pounders in practice, so I knew they were there. But today was a tough day, and I really had to work for it. And I worked all day long!”

He means that sincerely. In the last hour-and-a-half, he and his nonboater partner, Bradley Rilling of Georgia, caught at least 20 fish. Boggs was still culling 20 minutes before he checked in at Lakeview Marina.

Boggs was one of only eight anglers out of 113 to bring in a limit of five bass. The minimum length limit on Lake Conroe is 16 inches, which proved difficult for many competitors, who measured multiple 15 1/2-inch fish. Forty-one anglers failed to weigh in a single bass, many of them citing the length — not the quantity caught — as the reason.

“If someone would come up with a fish stretcher of some sort, they’d make a million dollars,” said Scott Green of Vermont, one of the competitors who zeroed.

Boggs’ closest competitor was Greg Vance of Iowa, who weighed in 15 pounds, 11 ounces, nearly 5 pounds behind Boggs.

“I thought I could get 15 pounds, but I didn’t think it would put me near the top,” Vance said. “I thought it would just keep me in the Top 15.”

Several anglers said the wind kept them on the move; it was hard for them to hold still on one spot for long. Boggs had the same experience.

“The wind made it tough,” he said. “But I fished a lot of spots today, and I still have a lot left for tomorrow.”

Boggs credits baits from Power Team Lures for his Day 1 lead, although he’s keeping the type and color of lures a secret for now. Other anglers said jigs were key and that crankbaits were moderately successful. But most are staying tight-lipped, hoping to divulge their perfect bait after the final-day weigh-in on Saturday, while holding the trophy.

The trophy comes with a special prize — a berth in the 2017 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro, in March 2017 on this same body of water.

“I’ve dreamed of going to the Classic since I was 8 years old,” Boggs said through tears, with his son, Nicholas, tearing up next to him.
To do that, though, Boggs has to keep up the hard work for the next two days.

“I’ve got to do it again tomorrow,” he said. “Hopefully, it will hold up.”

On the nonboater side, Rick Hamer took the lead with 14 pounds, 7 ounces. He was the only nonboater to catch a limit of five bass.

“I was matching the hatch,” said Hamer, referring to matching the color of the forage with his soft plastics, which were made by a new lure company, FYAO.

Hamer and his boater partner, Andrew Sams of Maryland, spent lots of time on Thursday moving around, dodging the wind.

“We were getting crushed by the wind,” Hamer said. “We just kept going places to keep out of the wind.”

Despite the relatively low weights outside of the Top 10, Jon Harshbarger of Kaufman, Texas, said he knows the lake and the quality of bass it holds.

“Conroe produces one-day limits of 18, 21 and 24 pounds sometimes,” he said. “It’s got ’em; they’re not eating.”

Maybe the bass will eat on Friday, which will be the last day of competition for most anglers. The only remaining competitors for the final day will be the Top 10 boaters, the nonboater champion (the top nonboater at the end of Day 2) and the best two boaters from each of the three regions (Eastern, Central and Western) if they have not already qualified as part of the Top 10.

The Top 3 at the end of Saturday will earn berths in the 2017 Classic, as well as paid entry into the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens series of their choice, and the B.A.S.S. Nation’s Best prize package, which is the use of a Toyota Tundra truck and a fully rigged, tournament-ready Phoenix boat for one year. A 2017 Bassmaster Elite Series berth is on the line, too.

The nonboater champion will also win paid entry into the Opens division of choice, a boat and a spot as a marshal in the 2017 Bassmaster Classic.

Two bright spots in the first day of competition were a few big bass brought in that lit up the crowd.

Jason Vaughn of Delaware caught the biggest of the day, a 7-pound, 3-ounce bass. The biggest on the nonboater side was a 6-pound, 14-ounce bass by Justin Barnes of Alabama.

Competition resumes Friday from Lakeview Marina, 880 Beach Boulevard, in Conroe at 6:45 a.m. CT when the anglers take off for Day 2. The weigh-in will begin at 3 p.m. CT at the same place. All events are free and open to the public.

The tournament is hosted by the Conroe Convention and Visitors Bureau.

2016 Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation Championship presented by Magellan 11/17-11/19
Lake Conroe, Conroe  TX.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1

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

1.  Michael Boggs II       Portsmouth, OH           5  20-10    0
  Day 1: 5   20-10
2.  Greg Vance             Dubuque, IA              5  15-11    0
  Day 1: 5   15-11
3.  Mike Wolfenden         Warwick, RI              5  14-12    0
  Day 1: 5   14-12
4.  Brent Long             Iron Station, NC         5  14-07    0
  Day 1: 5   14-07
5.  Timothy Klinger        Boulder City, NV         5  13-07    0
  Day 1: 5   13-07
6.  Darrell Ocamica        Fruitland, ID            5  13-06    0
  Day 1: 5   13-06
7.  Ivan Morris            Virginia Beach, VA       5  12-07    0
  Day 1: 5   12-07
8.  Danny Grantham         Mobile, AL               4  11-12    0
  Day 1: 4   11-12
9.  Nicholas Papotto       Meriden , CT             4  11-06    0
  Day 1: 4   11-06
10. Dave McCoy             Plattsmouth, NE          3  10-15    0
  Day 1: 3   10-15
11. Josh Ray               Alexander, AR            3  10-12    0
  Day 1: 3   10-12
12. Jason Vaughn           Laurel, DE               2  10-03    0
  Day 1: 2   10-03
13. Matt Pangrac           Norman , OK              3  09-14    0
  Day 1: 3   09-14
14. Andrew Sams            Easton, MD               3  08-10    0
  Day 1: 3   08-10
15. JJ Dickens             Beaver, WV               3  08-03    0
  Day 1: 3   08-03
16. Rob Digh               Denver, NC               2  08-01    0
  Day 1: 2   08-01
17. Nate Caldwell          Ft Collins, CO           3  07-15    0
  Day 1: 3   07-15
18. Brian Brooks           Mt Epraim, NJ            3  07-14    0
  Day 1: 3   07-14
19. Arnie Lane             Lakeland, FL             2  07-10    0
  Day 1: 2   07-10
20. Ron Mace               Kennewick, WA            3  07-02    0
  Day 1: 3   07-02
20. Bubba O'Neill          Evanston, WY             3  07-02    0
  Day 1: 3   07-02
22. Jon Harshbarger        Kaufman, TX              2  06-03    0
  Day 1: 2   06-03
23. Brett Logue            Lincoln, NE              2  05-15    0
  Day 1: 2   05-15
24. Mark Lodge             Alfred, ME               2  05-14    0
  Day 1: 2   05-14
25. Kalib Lund             Glendale, AZ             2  05-04    0
  Day 1: 2   05-04
26. Ryan Buttermore        Leetsdale, PA            2  04-14    0
  Day 1: 2   04-14
26. David Mays             Portland, OR             2  04-14    0
  Day 1: 2   04-14
28. Mark Cavanaugh         Port Perry ONTARIO CANA  2  04-13    0
  Day 1: 2   04-13
28. Grayson Smith          Clarksville, TN          2  04-13    0
  Day 1: 2   04-13
30. Mark Nies              Cannelton, IN            2  04-09    0
  Day 1: 2   04-09
31. Edgar Romero           Leon MEXICO              2  04-05    0
  Day 1: 2   04-05
32. Joe Burchill           Brighton , MA            1  04-02    0
  Day 1: 1   04-02
33. Ted Heitschmidt        Tomahawk, WI             1  03-14    0
  Day 1: 1   03-14
34. John Plumlee           Branson, MO              1  03-10    0
  Day 1: 1   03-10
35. William Lortz II       Rochester, NY            1  03-08    0
  Day 1: 1   03-08
36. Danny Carter           Hernando, MS             1  03-07    0
  Day 1: 1   03-07
37. Mark Lassagne          San Ramon, CA            1  03-03    0
  Day 1: 1   03-03
38. Jay Evans              Corvallis, MT            1  03-02    0
  Day 1: 1   03-02
39. Tony Beck              Social Circle, GA        1  02-14    0
  Day 1: 1   02-14
40. Chris Brimager         Andover, KS              1  02-13    0
  Day 1: 1   02-13
41. David Cavell           Prairieville, LA         1  02-05    0
  Day 1: 1   02-05
42. Bill Brown             Grand Junction, CO       1  02-04    0
  Day 1: 1   02-04
43. Filipe Almeida         Coimbra PORTUGAL         0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0   00-00
43. Randy Campbell         Sandia Park, NM          0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0   00-00
43. Albert Collins         Nacogdoches, TX          0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0   00-00
43. Mitchell Cone          Willow Tree New South W  0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0   00-00
43. Mark Dimarzio          Franconia, NH            0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0   00-00
43. Neil Engelbrecht       Windhoek Khomas NAMIBIA  0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0   00-00
43. Kurt Glass             Grovetown, GA            0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0   00-00
43. Scott Green            Waterbury Center, VT     0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0   00-00
43. Naoaki Ishikawa        Akiruno Tokyo JAPAN      0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0   00-00
43. Michael Kazmierczak    Lemont, IL               0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0   00-00
43. Tom Kiefer             Fowlerville, MI          0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0   00-00
43. Adrian Luff            George Western Cape SOU  0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0   00-00
43. Brian Mailot           Columbus, OH             0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0   00-00
43. Josh Nelson            Saint Bonifacius, MN     0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0   00-00
43. Strati Orphanides      Marondera ZIMBABWE       0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0   00-00
43. Luca Salvato           Curtarolo ITALY          0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0   00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
 1         7       107       318-13
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           7       107       318-13

2016 Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation Championship presented by Magellan 11/17-11/19
Lake Conroe, Conroe  TX.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 1

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

1.  Rick Hamer             Charleston, WV           5  14-07    0
  Day 1: 5   14-07
2.  Ryan Lavigne           Gonzales, LA             4  11-14    0
  Day 1: 4   11-14
3.  Brock Enmeier          Enid, OK                 3  09-11    0
  Day 1: 3   09-11
4.  Justin Barnes          MONROEVILLE, AL          2  09-03    0
  Day 1: 2   09-03
5.  Mike Coleman           Pinoeer, CA              2  08-12    0
  Day 1: 2   08-12
6.  Tim Frohlich Jr        Independence, KY         2  08-09    0
  Day 1: 2   08-09
7.  Shane Stiehl           Winner, SD               3  08-05    0
  Day 1: 3   08-05
8.  Dan Carrigan           Citrus Springs, FL       2  06-15    0
  Day 1: 2   06-15
9.  Jonathan Robla         Norawood, NY             2  05-15    0
  Day 1: 2   05-15
10. Jarrod Sherwood        Vassar, MI               1  05-05    0
  Day 1: 1   05-05
11. Kevin Noel             Burlington, CT           2  05-03    0
  Day 1: 2   05-03
12. Bradley Rilling        Brooks, GA               2  04-11    0
  Day 1: 2   04-11
13. Michael Duarte         Middle River, MD         2  04-10    0
  Day 1: 2   04-10
14. Josh Cotier            Clinton, MA              2  04-05    0
  Day 1: 2   04-05
15. Dave Frost             Apopka, FL               1  03-14    0
  Day 1: 1   03-14
16. Stefan Adamchick       Monterrey MEXICO         1  03-13    0
  Day 1: 1   03-13
17. Michael Lebsack        Duluth, MN               1  03-12    0
  Day 1: 1   03-12
18. David Porter           Rockwall, TX             1  03-07    0
  Day 1: 1   03-07
19. Lee Wubbels            Lincoln, NE              1  03-04    0
  Day 1: 1   03-04
20. Jeremy Arnold          Concord, NH              1  03-02    0
  Day 1: 1   03-02
21. Riley Hansen           Sandy , UT               1  03-01    0
  Day 1: 1   03-01
22. Justin Harris          McPherson, KS            1  02-14    0
  Day 1: 1   02-14
23. Jody Adkins            Navarre, OH              1  02-12    0
  Day 1: 1   02-12
23. Amos Dixon             Camden, DE               1  02-12    0
  Day 1: 1   02-12
25. Steven Conde           Chepachet, RI            1  02-09    0
  Day 1: 1   02-09
25. Jon Hickey             Weiser, ID               1  02-09    0
  Day 1: 1   02-09
25. Curt Hughes            Greenwood, IN            1  02-09    0
  Day 1: 1   02-09
28. Bert Cooper            Huntsville, TN           1  02-04    0
  Day 1: 1   02-04
29. Chris Barrett          Vaughan ONTARIO CANADA   1  02-02    0
  Day 1: 1   02-02
30. Danny Fourr            Waterflow, NM            1  02-01    0
  Day 1: 1   02-01
31. John Bernard           McKees Rocks, PA         0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0   00-00
31. Chris Brewer           Jay, ME                  0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0   00-00
31. Loren Bryant           Phoenix, AZ              0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0   00-00
31. Kyle Coffman           Minbun, IA               0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0   00-00
31. Daniel Elsner          Green Bay, WI            0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0   00-00
31. Andre Fidalgo          Parreira PORTUGAL        0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0   00-00
31. Becca Golightly        Preston, ID              0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0   00-00
31. Addam Gross            Cove, OR                 0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0   00-00
31. Jeff Hager             Alexis, NC               0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0   00-00
31. Ron Hanhart            Harare Mashonaland ZIMB  0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0   00-00
31. Garry Harman           Adare Queensland AUSTRA  0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0   00-00
31. Scott Hausman          Las Vegas, NV            0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0   00-00
31. Edward Owens           Hemingway, SC            0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0   00-00
31. Mauro Salvato          Curtarolo ITALY          0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0   00-00
31. John Santos            Penrose, CO              0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0   00-00
31. Creighton Sawyer       Houston, AR              0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0   00-00
31. Christopher Selsor Jr  Sparta, MO               0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0   00-00
31. Zackery Shaff          Untion, KY               0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0   00-00
31. Michael Valentine      Laurel , MS              0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0   00-00
31. Kevin Voss             Bensenville, IL          0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0   00-00
31. Yuya Wakebe            Odawara Kanagawa JAPAN   0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0   00-00
31. Jake Weaver            Columbia Falls, MT       0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0   00-00
31. Bob Wetzler            Rutland, VT              0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0   00-00
31. Alec Williams          Windhoek NAMIBIA         0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0   00-00
31. Larry Witt             Forest, VA               0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0   00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
 1         1        50       154-10
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           1        50       154-10

Ocean Kayak Revamps Trident Series

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Ocean Kayak Revamps Trident Series

ocean-kayak

 

 

Ocean Kayak Revamps Trident Series

 

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Purveyors of the original sit-on-top fishing kayak bring anglers myriad new features

Old Town, ME (November 17, 2016) – Ocean Kayak, makers of the original sit-on-top fishing kayak, is proud to introduce an entirely revamped Trident Series, already the choice of serious saltwater anglers around the globe.

Shown for the first time in July 2016 at the sportfishing industry’s largest tradeshow, ICAST 2016, and the Outdoor Retailer Show in early August, media and buyer enthusiasm was electric. All new Trident models began shipping November 1, 2016.

ocean-kayak-video“Our goal with the Ocean Kayak Trident revamp was to make the best even better,” said David Hadden, Brand Director – Watercraft, Johnson Outdoors. “Ocean Kayak has been a leader since the beginning and it’s our mission to keep providing anglers and boaters the features they request…and then some. The hull is still the same legendary Trident hull, but we’ve added numerous deck features that provide a better on-water experience from bow to stern.”

ACS2 Seating

Changes to the fast, smooth and efficiently-paddled Trident 11, 13 and 15 include the addition of the Active Comfort System 2.0 (ACS2) for all-day comfort, redesigned “Mod Pod” for gear management, gunnel accessory tracks, generous hatch storage, and a handy, quick-stow paddle holder.

The ACS2 backrest height adjusts up and down for the ultimate in lumbar support and to accommodate various PFD styles—and improved thigh support without changing kayaker center of gravity. Seat height adjustments off the deck surface are made quickly and efficiently via easy-to-use, grooved tracks.

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New Mod Pod Design

The new Mod Pod design is slightly narrower for increased thigh room and to allow easier stand-up fishing. The folding Mod Pod hatch comes standard with two trays that accommodate the footprint of Plano 3600 tackle boxes and also slides fore and aft for access to the inside boat hull. Also includes a cup holder and locking dry storage to protect smartphone, wallet, charger, tools, etc. – and is magnetized to hold clippers, pliers, knives, fishing lures, and other metal fishing utility tools.

Endless Rigging Potential

A total of seven flush aluminum track mounts allow quick rigging of accessories like rod holders, electronics, and POV camera mounts. There is one track mount toward the bow, two mid-ship, two toward the stern, and two built-in the Mod Pod. Mounting plates on both the Mod Pod and boat allow easy rigging of fishfinders and tidy transducer/power cable routing.

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Maximum Storage & “Cool” Stuff

The bow hatch still provides access to a massive storage area and the included 12-volt battery bag for fishfinder and accessory power. The bow also features a redesigned paddle-keeper for quick paddle-stashing when fighting a fish; also includes rod tip protectors. New Trident models also feature the addition of a rear hatch for increased gear storage.

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Additionally, the behind-seat tankwell has been redesigned to allow flush mounting of Ocean Kayak’s new Ice Box, a specially-designed cooler that fits both Ocean Kayak Trident and Old Town Predator Series kayaks, allowing convenient behind-seat storage of fish on ice or simple conversion to livewell with the addition of an aerator. The Ice Box retails for $249.99.

 

All new Trident models also feature adjustable foot braces and are rudder-ready with

purchase of a separate rudder kit. New Trident models also feature hard, rubber-molded carry handles that resist snagging.

trident-15

 

Trident 15

The Trident 15 is built for big adventure, stability and confident paddling in high seas.

 

  • DIMENSIONS:  15’ 6” x 28 1/2”
  • WEIGHT:  91 lbs.
  • CAPACITY:  455 lbs.
  • COLORS:  Brown Camo, Urban Camo, Orange Camo, Lemongrass
  • MSRP:  $1,499.99 MAP

trident-13

Trident 13

The ideal size for inshore and inland angling, with Trident’s legendary paddling ease.  

 

  • DIMENSIONS:  13’ 6” x 29”
  • WEIGHT:  79 lbs.
  • CAPACITY:  355 lbs.
  • COLORS:  Brown Camo, Urban Camo, Orange Camo, Lemongrass
  • MSRP:  $1,299.99 MAP

trident-11

Trident 11

The most compact kayak in the Trident fleet, for convenience and paddling agility.

 

  • DIMENSIONS:  11’ 6” x 30 1/2”
  • WEIGHT:  71 lbs.
  • CAPACITY:  305 lbs.
  • COLORS:  Brown Camo, Urban Camo, Orange Camo, Lemongrass
  • MSRP:  $1,199.99

Tackle Talk: Lazer Trokar Wacky Worm Wide Gap Hook by Walker Smith November 15,2016

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Tackle Talk: Lazer Trokar Wacky Worm Wide Gap Hook by Walker Smith November 15,2016

Tackle Talk: Lazer Trokar Wacky Worm Wide Gap Hook

Walker Smith

November 15,2016

This hook’s extra-wide gap addresses a common problem associated with wacky rigging soft plastics.

Wacky rigging a stick worm is one of those techniques we should all turn to when the bite gets tough. This technique is an excellent way to catch finicky bass whether you’re skipping underneath boat docks or targeting isolated vertical cover. Something about its slow, tantalizing fall is hard for bass to ignore.

I’ve tested a lot of wacky rig hooks over the years—I’ve found a few I like, but have also wasted a lot of money on others. For the past several months I’ve been using the Lazer Trokar Wacky Worm Wide Gap Hook and have become a big fan of it for many reasons.

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Luther Cifers Announces New Kayak Brand Bonafide November 10,2016

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Luther Cifers Announces New Kayak Brand Bonafide November 10,2016

Luther Cifers Announces New Kayak Brand Bonafide

November 10, 2016 Chris Payne A

Bonafide Kayaks to Debut in 2017 as Fishing Kayak Manufacturer

Burkeville, VA – November 10, 2016 – Luther Cifers announced today the formation of a new company, Bonafide Kayaks, a US manufacturer of premium fishing kayaks.

With an official brand launch in January 2017, the company’s first fishing kayak is scheduled to debut at the iCAST (International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades) tradeshow in Orlando, FL in July of 2017.

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Shannon Spradlin & Keith Butler Win Bass Cast Fall Trail Stop 4 November 13,2016

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Shannon Spradlin & Keith Butler Win Bass Cast Fall Trail Stop 4 November 13,2016

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1st Place Shannon Spradlin & Keith Butler with five fish weighing 9.95lbs

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2nd Place Nelson Troyer with 9.03lbs & this 6.05lb Lunker.

CLICK HERE TO SEE CURRENT STANDINGS

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Special Thanks for Dick’s Sporting goods for Sponsoring this years event

Rigging Soft Jerkbaits for Better Hookups by David A. Brown – November 11,2016

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Rigging Soft Jerkbaits for Better Hookups by David A. Brown – November 11,2016

Rigging Soft Jerkbaits for Better Hookups

David A. Brown

November 11,2016

The rigging of Zoom Super Flukes and other soft jerkbaits can be improved with this method.

FLW Tour pro Terry Bolton turns to a Zoom Fluke for a range of seasonal needs from the post spawn, to the fall shad bite, to any clear-water scenario when smallmouth have a good line of sight. However, the angler from Paducah, Ky. sometimes struggles with missed bites from indecisive fish that swipe at a bait without committing. But he’s found a better way to rig soft jerkbaits for bass fishing to alleviate this problem.

It can be tough to snare these fish with single J-style hooks, but Bolton modifies his presentation for greater grabbing power. Forgoing the usual extra-wide-gap hook, Bolton fits his bait with a No. 4 VMC round-bend treble.

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The hottest new lure on the market, but does it deserve all the hype? The River2Sea Whopper Plopper By Ben Hudson November 14,2016

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The hottest new lure on the market, but does it deserve all the hype? The River2Sea Whopper Plopper By Ben Hudson November 14,2016

The hottest new lure on the market, but does it deserve all the hype?
The River2Sea Whopper Plopper

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By far one of the hottest and most popular lures of the 2016 fishing season has been the River2Sea “Whopper Plopper”. Designed by legendary angler and TV personality, Larry Dahlberg, this bait has taken the fishing world by storm as the answer to top water fishermen’s prayers as it has already proven itself to catch big bags of bass with a handful of tournament wins already credited to this bait on the FLW tour. The question still remains, what makes this bait so appealing and is it as amazing as the bass fishing world makes it out to be? Let’s dissect the pros of and cons of this hot bass catching prodigy bait.
The Whopper Plopper is a hybrid between a buzz bait and a Heddon Spook. It has the body of a Spook but a propeller on the back that “whoops” water abundantly when reeled in, the faster it is reeled, the more water it disrupts. However, unlike a skirted buzz bait, the Whooper Plopper is a hard body bait that contains two treble hooks that vary in size depending on which size of the bait you select. Much like a classic “Devils Horse” top water bait, it has the advantage of being able to disrupt water at great speed to trigger a reaction strike, but also the ability to stop and be worked like a Spook for suspended bass, if the situation calls for it. This may seem like the best of both worlds, and in fact it is, but it does come with the disadvantages of both worlds as well. The biggest advantage of the Whopper Plopper is being able to fish it like a buzz bait or like a walking top water bait without having to change lures. This makes it very versatile and allows anglers to make adjustments very quickly. It is also an excellent lure for covering large areas of water quickly and working specific pieces of structure more thoroughly because of its versatility and the ability to change its retrieve speed on command without the lure sinking. One of the most appealing aspects to anglers about the Whopper Plopper is its ability to be successful in both wind and completely calm water. As an angler, we usually view wind and top water fishing in two ways as a generic rule; if there’s light wind causing a ripple on the water surface, we fish buzz baits, and if the water is completely calm, we fish walking or popper baits. The Whopper Plopper eliminates the need for both of those lures with this pattern altogether because it has the ability to do both! Since it is a buzz bait and a floating hard bait, it can be reeled in quickly with wind and light ripple on the water to create a wake for the fish to see, or reeled slowly and worked like a Spook in the calmer water to make a more subtle approach.

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River2Sea currently offers the Whopper Plopper in 17 colors, which cover a variety of different forages. Although the color selection is not as overly broad as anglers (including myself) would like it, it does cover most of the basic bass forages and some other unique colors as well. Since it is top water bait that is imitating baitfish, the natural shad colors such as River2Sea’s “Munky Butt” color would have to top my list for a favorite color with a fairly impressive finish and would excel in clear water. Although the “Phantom Shad” color is a close second for imitating a shad and the “Loon” color is an excellent choice for a super bright sunny day.
Sounds like the perfect top water bait right? Well, it very well might be! However, there is no such thing as truly perfect. As a cross between a buzz bait and walking bait, it does share the minor disadvantages of both those two styles of baits as well. Perhaps the biggest disadvantage is for the bait is the simple fact that it has treble hooks like the Heddon Spook instead of a single hook like buzz baits. Treble hooks are infamous for losing fishing and definitely make landing fish more difficult, although it does make the bait more likely to snag a swiping fish. Having to use treble hooks on the bait also makes it slightly more difficult to fish it in heavy grass and lily pads, as the treble hooks will naturally grab grass onto the bait much more than an up facing singular hook on a skirted buzz bait would. This would make a regular skirted buzz bait more favorable than the Whopper Plopper in thick vegetation for that reason alone, although it will still excel in lighter vegetation that it can make its way through without grabbing big piles of grass with its hanging treble hooks. My advice is to change the treble hooks on the bait right out of the package and upset them one size from the stock hooks to increase the chances of landing and holding bass more efficiently.
The advantages far outweigh the disadvantages with this very versatile and popular new bait, and it’s no wonder it has become such a hot lure on the pro tour and in local tournaments around the nation in the top water seasons.

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Before you go out and buy one to try for yourself though, as with any lure, it is important to have the right rod, reel, and line setup for the bait! Because the Whopper Plopper has treble hooks, my suggestion would be a 7+ foot rod with medium action and a moderate fast tip to allow some give to keep from ripping those treble hooks out of the bass’s mouth (much like a with a Zara Spook or a crankbait rod). A fast gear ratio reel is suggested so you can take up the line quickly and “burn” the Whopper Plopper easily across those large areas of water if desired, and because it’s a floating bait, you will want to use 15-20lb monofilament for the smaller size Whopper Plopper, and I suggest braided line for the largest size Whopper Plopper.

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Only time will tell how successful the Whopper Plopper will be in the coming years. New lures come and go quickly in the sport of bass fishing because bass get condition to these new baits if they are overfished in a few seasons and these new baits become old fast. Few lures stand the test of time season after season and go down in history as those classic fish catchers that even the most avid of anglers have confidence in. The River2sea Whopper Plopper comes at a high price, selling currently for $16.99 on TackleWarehouse.com and even more for the larger version, so you will need that confidence to pay the big dollars for this lure!
Does the Whopper Plopper deserve all the recent hype it has received? Absolutely, it has shown to be the hottest and most versatile top water bait in 2016 and should definitely be a bait to try if you’re a tournament angler or an avid angler wanting to catch more and bigger top water fish in the warm weather.
Will the Whopper Plopper be as successful as it has been in 2016 in years to come?
Only time with tell, but right now it is definitely the go to bait in tournaments where bass are hitting top water lures, and who knows, one day the Whopper Plopper just might be one of the lures of legends all anglers around the world know and kids around the nation catch their first fish on.

By Ben Hudson
TheBassCast.com Pro Staff angler
Lynchburg Va.

TENNESSEE’S KNIGHT WINS FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE WILD CARD TOURNAMENT ON LAKE OF THE OZARKS

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TENNESSEE’S KNIGHT WINS FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE WILD CARD TOURNAMENT ON LAKE OF THE OZARKS

TENNESSEE’S KNIGHT WINS FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE WILD CARD TOURNAMENT ON LAKE OF THE OZARKS

Rose wins co-angler title

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OSAGE BEACH, Mo. (Nov. 14, 2016) – Jeff Knight of Cleveland, Tennessee, weighed a five-bass limit totaling 17 pounds, 12 ounces, Saturday to win the FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Wild Card event on Lake of the Ozarks, with a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 38 pounds, 12 ounces. For his win, Knight earned $4,475 and a berth into the 2017 BFL All-American Championship.

Knight said he spent the event targeting boat docks, specifically in areas between Galena Point and Lynch Hollow.

“All of my fish came from the back of the boat slips,” said Knight, who earned his fourth win in FLW competition. “I focused on docks with big boulder rocks behind them. That was the key. I flipped over cables and under the walkways – the big ones were just lying there.”

Knight said he used one lure throughout the event – a ½-ounce green-pumpkin-colored custom jig with a green-pumpkin Strike King Rage Craw trailer.

“I flipped it into 8 to 12 feet of water while I sat in about 10 to 12 feet,” said Knight. “I hit around 30 docks per day. Once I discovered the pattern, I didn’t need anything else.”

While his pattern did not produce many fish, Knight said it was the size of the fish that helped him get the win.

“After catching 10 keepers on Friday, I only put five in the boat on Saturday,” said Knight. “Luckily, those five fell into place for me.”

The top six boaters that qualified for the 2017 BFL All-American were:

1st:          Jeff Knight, Cleveland, Tenn., 10 bass, 38-12, $4,475

2nd:         Dylan Duncan, Kansas, Okla., 10 bass, 36-15, $2,683

3rd:          Bennie Mutter, Glasgow, Ky., 10 bass, 34-0, $1,510

4th:          Jeremy Lawyer, Sarcoxie, Mo., 10 bass, 33-1, $1,316

5th:          Brent Anderson, Kingston Springs, Tenn., nine bass, 31-5, $953

6th:          Adam Ohms, Edwardsville, Ill., 10 bass, 29-7

Rounding out the top-10 boaters were:

7th:          Jeremy Medina, Camdenton, Mo., 10 bass, 29-2, $827

8th:          Nalon Jones, Marshfield, Mo., 10 bass, 29-1

9th:          Josh Busby, Rogersville, Mo., 10 bass, 29-1, $730

10th:        David McCormick, Lees Summit, Mo., 10 bass, 28-1, $681

Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.

James Dill of Laurie, Missouri, caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the Boater Division Friday, a fish weighing 7 pounds, 1 ounce, which earned him the day’s Big Bass Award of $245.

Craig Rose of Olathe, Kansas, won the co-angler division and $2,016 with a two-day cumulative catch of eight bass weighing 22 pounds, 6 ounces.

The top six co-anglers that qualified for the 2017 BFL All-American were:

1st:          Craig Rose, Olathe, Kan., eight bass, 22-6, $2,016

2nd:         Richard Hooter, Natchitoches, La., 10 bass, 21-1, $1,008

3rd:          Mike Youngblood, St. Louis, Mo., nine bass, 20-15, $679

4th:          Dale Renth, Mascoutah, Ill., nine bass, 17-8, $548

5th:          Stefan Marginean, Glenview, Ill., nine bass, 16-7

6th:          Rob Melendez, Frankfort, Ill., six bass, 16-4, $200

Rounding out the top-10 co-anglers were:

7th:          Morgan McLain, Lenexa, Kan., five bass, 16-2, $535

8th:          Scott McCleery, Winchester, Ill., four bass, 13-3, $372

9th:          Brian Liming, Dilsboro, Ind., four bass, 11-6, $329

10th:        Scott Stallings, Glencoe, Okla., four bass, 11-2, $357

Morgan McLain of Lenexa, Kansas, caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the Co-angler Division Friday, a fish weighing 6 pounds, 9 ounces, which earned him the day’s Big Bass Award of $106.

The 2016 BFL Wild Card on Lake of the Ozarks was hosted by the Tri-County Lodging Association and Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 120 tournaments throughout the season, five in each division. The top 50 boaters and co-anglers from each division qualify for a regional tournament and 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. The 2017 BFL All-American will be held May 31-June 3 on Pickwick Lake in Florence, Alabama. Top winners in the BFL can move up to the Costa FLW Series or even the Walmart 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.

Set the Hook! with Pat Rose – Nov 12, 2016 Featuring Jimmy Houston, and Bassmaster Elite Series Pro Mark Menendez.

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Set the Hook! with Pat Rose – Nov 12, 2016 Featuring Jimmy Houston, and Bassmaster Elite Series Pro Mark Menendez.

Set the Hook! with Pat Rose – Nov 12, 2016

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jimmy_houstonmark_menendezGuests on this week’s show were FLW Touring Pro and one of Webdude Kaminski’s favorites Jimmy Houston, and Bassmaster Elite Series Pro Mark Menendez.

podcastIf you missed the show, you can listen to the podcast here.

On The AirYou can listen to the show on any of the following Set the Hook! with Pat Rose radio network affiliates: Saturday 7-8 am EST on ESPN 105 1 The Zone espnchattanooga.com, 1-2 pm EST on Fox Sports Radio 1670 foxsports1670.com (IHeart Radio app), 7-8 am CST on KEWI 690 am 103.4 FM saline247.com (Tunein Radio app), Sunday 9-10 am EST on Copperhead 1240 Soddy Daisy, TN 1240wsdt.com (Tunein Radio app), 4-5 pm CST on 1480 The Fan! 5-6 pm EST on WKWN 1420 AM 106.1 FM Trenton, GA discoverdade.com/1061FM.htm (Freestream Radio app).

Please visit our sponsors page and tell them Pat sent you! If you would like to advertise on Set the Hook! with Pat Rose, give us a call at (423) 314-4541. Put Set the Hook! with Pat Rose to work for you.

Follow Pat Rose on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SetTheHookWithPatRose, he would love to add you as a friend.

Please send any comments or suggestions about this website to [email protected].

Every Bass fisherman is looking for the perfect Rod and Reel. Get them the perfect gift. By Amran November 14,2016

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Every Bass fisherman is looking for the perfect Rod and Reel. Get them the perfect gift. By Amran November 14,2016

Every Bass fisherman is looking for the perfect Rod and Reel.

Get them the perfect gift.

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It is never too early or too late for someone to enjoy the wonders of fishing. However, to make the experience the best possible, the angler needs the correct equipment. All of these people need the right fishing rod and reel, which takes research to find. There are a wide variety of of fishing rods and reel for use in different types of fishing.Perfect rod and reel can be the main weapons for a bass fisherman. So it is hardly essential to know the perfect rod and reel.
Fishing rods
Having the proper equipment is as important in fishing as it is in any sport. With a wide range of bait options and techniques, rod manufacturers have developed rods to cast specific baits farther and more accurately. They’ve also balanced these capabilities with other factors to give the angler an advantage over a hooked bass. A truly effective fisherman or woman can now pick the perfect tool.The correct rod for a given situation allows anglers to cast baits accurately, work baits properly, detect more strikes, and set the hook to land a fish.A fishing rod is a long, flexible rod used to catch fish. At its simplest, a fishing rod is a simple stick or pole attached to a line ending in a hook (formerly known as an angle, hence the term angling). The length of the rod can vary between 2 and 20 feet (0.61 and 6.10m). To entice fish, bait or lures are impaled on one or more hooks attached to the line. The line is generally stored on a reel which reduces tangles and assists in landing a fish. People fish bass more than any other fish. I’ve mentioned multiple times to adjust your fishing rod purchase to suit the fish that you are going to be catching. If you do not know what kind of fish you will be trying to catch, bass is a great fish to use to base your purchase. There are many options for fishing bass because they are prominent in many fishing scenarios. Most bass rods currently on the market are constructed from graphite. Graphite fishing rods are extremely lightweight, which creates a definite advantage for long days on the water. With this lightness comes extreme sensitivity, allowing an angler to feel every strike, bump or weed. This really comes into play for finicky fish, or when adverse weather conditions make “feel” that much more important. Graphite rods are sometimes marked with a modulus rating. Contrary to popular belief, modulus ratings are not used to describe the number of graphite fibers incorporated into the rod blank, but rather a term used to describe the relative stiffness of the graphite. The higher the modulus rating, the stiffer the rod. Unless you are serious about crank baiting, stick with graphite rods for all of your bass needs. A composite rod is built with both graphite and fiberglass materials. Composite rods, often referred to as cranking rods, exhibit the lightness and sensitivity that is characteristic of graphite, while also providing the durability and “soft-tip feel” of fiberglass. Many bass anglers go with a composite rod for working crank baits because it exhibits the necessary give when a fish strikes and isn’t so stiff that you pull the hooks out on the initial hook set.
Many manufacturers are building composite rods specifically aimed at crank bait enthusiasts. If cranking is one of your favorite techniques, and composite rod is worth a look.
What are the most important things to consider when buying a new rod?
The type of rod revolves around what you intend to do with it: for example, whether you’ll be using bottom contact baits like grubs, jigs, or soft plastics or horizontal running lures like crank baits, spinner baits, or buzz baits. Next you’ll need to know what power rod to purchase. The rule of thumb is the bigger the fish you plan to catch, or the heavier the cover or line, you’ll need a heavier
rod. Use the line and lure ratings on the rod to help with your decision. Next is the rod action. Bottom contact baits require a fast or extra-fast rod action which gives you better hook sets and sensitivity when holding the rod in the 9-11 position. Conversely, horizontal running baits require a medium or moderate action to allow the fish to get a better hold of the constantly moving bait.
Fishing Reel
A fishing reel is the mechanical device mounted to the handle end of the fishing rod. It is pulley-like arrangement to store large amount of fishing line which is attached to a rod. Fishing line is threaded along the fishing rod;one ends terminates in a hook for catching the fish, while the rest of the line is wound around a reel at the base of the pole. Fishing reels allow you to cast your bait or lure at great distances and for fish to be “reeled in” once caught. They also allow you retrieve lures correctly, fish is dipper water and battle larger fish easily. When looking for your ideal fishing reel, it’s important to understand your fishing preference and level of experience. It’s also essential to keep in mind the size fish you are looking to catch. A fishing reel is a cylindrical device attached to a fishing rod used in winding and stowing line. Modern fishing reels usually have fittings aiding in casting for distance and accuracy, as well as retrieving line. Fishing reels are traditionally used in the recreational sport of angling and competitive casting. They are typically attached to a fishing rod, though some specialized reels are mounted directly to boat gunwales or transoms.The earliest known illustration of a fishing reel is from Chinese paintings and records beginning about 1195 AD. Fishing reels first appeared in England around 1650 AD, and by the 1760s, London tackle shops were advertising multiplying or gear-retrieved reels. The first popular American fishing reel appeared in the US around 1820.
What are the most important things to consider when buying a new reel?
One of the most important decisions you’ll make when you’re buying fishing equipment is choosing the right fishing reel. You should choose which reel is best for you depending on what type of water you’ll be fishing and the type of fish you’re trying to catch. A reel isn’t just a place to store your line,
it also plays a big role in how far you’ll be able to cast and how well you’ll be able to play fish. Depending on how your reel is designed, it will be made up of several components. These include:
• line spool
• reel foot
• crank
• reel handle
• drag adjustment
• level wind
• line
• reel handle
This buying guide will give you helpful tips to differentiate between various types of reels and how
they’re used.

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