BRANSON, Mo. — They call him “McStick.” As of Sunday, they can call him “McRock” too.
Mike McClelland of Bella Vista, Ark., added a seventh Bassmaster title by a nail-biting 13 ounces over Mark Davis in Sunday’s final round of the A.R.E. Truck Caps Bassmaster Elite at Table Rock Lake.
“This is where I cut my teeth fishing,” said McClelland, now with four victories in his Bassmaster Elite Series career. “I’ve never had the opportunity to win a big one here before.”
To do it, McClelland sacked 61 pounds, 15 ounces of bass. His prize was $100,000 and an instant-in for the 2015 Bassmaster Classic, his 10th qualification for the world championship.
McClelland broke a six-year winner’s drought. His most recent victory before Sunday was in March 2008 on Florida’s Harris Chain of Lakes, when he added a sixth Bassmaster event title to his record. That was the end of a streak he had going from 2005 to 2008, with a win in each of those seasons.
“I seem to go in these spurts where I win a few, then I go years without winning one, and it really can get under your skin,” he said. “To win at Table Rock in front of all my friends and family and people who have supported me through the years is a phenomenal feeling.”
“And I just realized I’ve got a berth for the Bassmaster Classic. That’s an awesome feeling,” said McClelland, who missed out on the 2014 event last February.
BRANSON, Mo. — They call him “McStick.” As of Sunday, they can call him “McRock” too.
Mike McClelland of Bella Vista, Ark., added a seventh Bassmaster title by a nail-biting 13 ounces over Mark Davis in Sunday’s final round of the A.R.E. Truck Caps Bassmaster Elite at Table Rock Lake.
“This is where I cut my teeth fishing,” said McClelland, now with four victories in his Bassmaster Elite Series career. “I’ve never had the opportunity to win a big one here before.”
To do it, McClelland sacked 61 pounds, 15 ounces of bass. His prize was $100,000 and an instant-in for the 2015 Bassmaster Classic, his 10th qualification for the world championship.
McClelland broke a six-year winner’s drought. His most recent victory before Sunday was in March 2008 on Florida’s Harris Chain of Lakes, when he added a sixth Bassmaster event title to his record. That was the end of a streak he had going from 2005 to 2008, with a win in each of those seasons.
“I seem to go in these spurts where I win a few, then I go years without winning one, and it really can get under your skin,” he said. “To win at Table Rock in front of all my friends and family and people who have supported me through the years is a phenomenal feeling.”
“And I just realized I’ve got a berth for the Bassmaster Classic. That’s an awesome feeling,” said McClelland, who missed out on the 2014 event last February.
That is a question with more answers than Jeopardy. With all the social media these days anyone can start a fishing page and claim there self a “Pro”, and who can say they are not. I know I’m going to make a bunch of people mad, but enough is enough! Please stop with the “I’m a pro”, here is my fishing page/ web site please like it and share. I’m sorry, but you’re not a pro! You may look like a pro, you may act like a pro, and you definitely dress like a pro, but you’re not. The definition of a professional means; following an occupation as a means of livelihood or for gain. I guess it’s more about the perception than the actual substance of the professional bass angler in today’s world. There are guys that I personally know that have a tremendous bunch of talent and I would love to see them try to compete at or near the top level, but most likely they will never get the opportunity. There are also guys that I know who claim to be a pro, yet rarely fish what I would even consider a Triple A level event. I don’t understand it at all, why would anyone do this? When I fished the Opens many years ago, we were all called pros at every event. That really embarrassed me because I had felt like I had done nothing to earn that title. I also felt like I was taking away from someone like Gerald Beck who had been tournament fishing forever and was respected. He was way more deserving to be called a pro than me, just look at his accomplishments. I just felt like you pay your money to fish and now you become a professional? That’s pretty much the truth today at some level, or is it? There is this total misconception of what a pro is and this glamorous, photogenic, model type person who jet sets around and catches all this fish for hundreds of thousands of dollars, that is totally false. I also know there are some guys that are busting their tale to make it and try become the real tournament pro, kudos to you. I will bet know one every talks to them about driving through the night, sleeping in the truck for a week, and living off of peanut butter. That is what some people trying to become a professional tournament angler will tell you about. Maybe not all the time but I bet there are more than a few stories about stuff like that. I slept in my truck with a camper shell in February on Alabama’s Lake Martin for seven days in 2002, which will make you rethink your dreams in a hurry. Trust me it’s much better waking up in my nice warm bed and turning the coffee pot on, verses seeing ice on the top of a camper shell from inside. As with most things we are all to blame for most of this. We fish tournaments for each other’s money while sponsorship dollars make FLW and BASS one of Fortune 500’s most lucrative businesses. Not really but that’s how I feel. I always hear people try to compare Pro Bass Fishing with NASCAR or PGA golf, really? I’m not sure how you get that from fishing. Let’s see I’m pretty sure that whoever doesn’t make the cut at Augusta this month will not struggle to make the next event or the guy who crashes out at Talladega will most likely race next week. You see only a few can really make a living in the sport we love, while the guy who finishes out of the top ten, you may never see again. That’s just reality of fishing tournaments. I mean let’s face it when you qualify for the top level of our sports you are quickly rewarded with $4,000- $5,000 entry fees and double the travel and cost! Congratulations you are now considered Elite! That will lead me to another thing that bothers me. The amount of money it takes to fish one season of the Elite Series, is more than most people make in a year. I’m not a math major but let’s see to fish one season of the Elite Series it’s $40,000 ($43,000 if you go on a payment plan) in entry fees for 8 events, double that cost for travel (gas, lodging, food, etc.) and yeah that’s about $80,000. Oh yeah then you need a boat and a tow vehicle to, of course if you’re a pro so you get all this for free right? Not! I’m not getting into the boat, motor, and vehicle deals, but trust me it’s not what you think. Some will say that if a guy is good enough, money will not be an issue. This is a joke in today’s world of pro tournament fishing because 99% of the guys that fish at the top level couldn’t even support their entry fees and travel off of tournament winnings. By the way it’s not because of their fishing abilities, these guys are really the best bass fisherman in the world. It’s because they continue to fish for entry fee money versus sponsorship dollars. If a guy gets a $10,000 check at each event, he’s an awesome angler, yet he has only won $80,000. How can this change? I guess it will only change if the market bares a change. Until then guys who fish at the top levels will continue to fork out small fortunes every year to be a Pro Tournament Bass Fisherman. Maybe I see why guys have their own web sites, ask you to like them, and claim to be a professional, it’s a whole lot cheaper than actually being one. Really, who’s to say they are not? There is no criteria or model to follow to make it happen, so until there is I guess it’s open to all. All I would ask is that if you claim to be a professional tournament bass fisherman, please back it up with something other than you won your club last year.
Pro winner Bill Tervin caught all of his fish on Reaction Innovations Little Dipper swimbait. (Photo by David A. Brown)
Fishing shallow key to Rayovac Central Division win
05.Apr.2014
GROVE, Ok. – Completing his impressive comeback story, Bill Tervin, of Pocola, Ok. made a big final-round move up from seventh place to win the Rayovac FLW Series Central Division tournament on Grand Lake. Tervin, who placed 39th on day one with 11 pounds, 9 ounces, hauled in the biggest bag of day two – a limit of 19-10 – and added 17-2 in the final round to finish with 48-5 and a 13-ounce margin of victory. Fishing shallow and targeting pea gravel banks with occasional chunk rock was his game plan. Tervin caught his fish on a Reaction Innovations Little Dipper swimbait in the sprayed grass color.
Topping the Co-angler Division, Charles Parker, of Broken Arrow, Ok. caught three fish for 10-7 to push his three-day total to 35-9.
BRANSON, Mo. — Mike McClelland, an Ozarks lakes angler since he was 8 years old, took his time this week before he stepped into the limelight in the April 3-6 A.R.E. Truck Caps Bassmaster Elite at Table Rock Lake.
After the first day of competition, the Bassmaster Elite Series pro from Bella Vista, Ark., was in 12th place. In Friday’s second round, McClelland found surer footing — and a better size of bass. He pushed up into fourth place.
And then he made his biggest move. McClelland grabbed Saturday’s lead by weighing 17 pounds, 9 ounces for a three-day total of 49-13 and an almost 4-pound lead.
“It was fine for me to start in 12th. As a ‘local,’ you’re going to get so much more attention if you are leading,” McClelland said. “I kind of like to stay behind the scenes as much as I can and just let it happen.”
Swim Jig fishing is quite possibly one of the most exciting ways to catch aggressive, early season bass and here are few things to consider before you get swimming.
Match That Tackle
Pairing the correct rod, reel and line with your Swim Jig is really a no-brainer. Sure everyone talks about it, but it is just so important. For example; if you are swimming a jig and an aggressive pre spawn bass quickly grabs it and runs the other way, you need to be prepared. Using a high speed gear ratio reel to pick up any slack line and a medium heavy action rod will give you the confidence to set the hook and get that fish in the boat. Without that higher speed gear ratio reel, it’ll take you longer to pick up any slack line and without the right rod, you won’t get a good hook in and stand a chance of losing the fish.
Line selection is also key to an effective Swim Jig presentation with the main focus being on the right line for the right conditions. What does that mean? Well, if you are fishing clear water, you will want to use 10 – 12 lb fluorocarbon line. If the water is dirty, don’t be shy and step up to 14 lb fluorocarbon for added strength and confidence.
Variety Counts
We all have our favorite Swim Jigs to fish, but trying new jigs is a good thing! There are many different jigs on the market today and trying new products only benefits us anyways.
There is a new category in the jig market that offers a removable hook and in my opinion the leader in this category is Freedom Tackle. Being a non bias, non sponsored angler myself, I get to try different products as they hit the market with no strings attached. Seeing as Freedom offers something totally unique, I often find myself fishing their jigs in different situations.
The Freedom Stealth Jig head has a removable hook system that allows us to use our favorite hooks. The free range hook movement in the jig head itself reduces any leverage a fish might have when it jumps and tries to throw the hook. I like the Stealth because it also features a high quality skirt and a bait keeper for a jig trailer, which in my opinion is key to finishing off the Swim Jig presentation.
Freedom Stealth Swim Jig
Although a fan of the Stealth, the standard old Swim Jig is no slouch either! So I always make sure that I have a variety of jigs, colors and sizes on hand to throw the fishes way.
Trailers Are a Nice Touch
I can’t remember the last time I fished a jig without a trailer. To me it’s like putting pants on in the morning! Without a trailer your jig is naked and 9 times out of 10, the trailer is what triggers the bass to attack.
The profile of a Swim Jig trailer is going to depend on the time of year you are fishing. In the early months I prefer a trailer with a lot of kicking motion because the fish have just come from their winter slumber and are feeding, so lots of action is needed! Although some anglers will use a small Swimbait as a trailer, I prefer a Berkley PowerBait Chigger Craw or NetBait Paca Craw. The claws on these trailers are larger, fairly thin and flap like crazy.
Berkley PowerBait Chigger Craw
As we move into the warmer months I’ll switch my jig trailers to more of a chunk style, something with a bulkier profile that moves quite a bit slower in the water column. During these warmer months is also when my jig retrieval speed changes to more of a “yo-yo” retrieve.
Areas to Target
It’s obvious that in the spring most of the Swim Jig bite will come in 1 – 8 feet of water, as we will be targeting pre-spawn, spawn and post spawn fish. With that said, keying in on the right areas at the right time is important.
Once the ice is out (if you even get ice in your area) and the water warms, look for staging fish to wait for that first full moon, which in some areas could have already happened. If you’re living further north, key in on the breaks close to deeper water. There is a good chance that the fish are waiting patiently for Mother Nature to tell them to move to the shallows. This is a good time for you to throw a Swim Jig in their face when they least expect it!
During the spawn and while the fish are on beds, a lot of anglers will flip different craw style baits to trigger the fish to bite. If the water you are fishing is highly pressured, a Swim Jig might just be the ticket! Speeding up and slowing down your retrieve as you swim that jig by the fishes nose will only annoy it to no end. You may have to make the same cast 3 or 4 times, but eventually you will trigger a bite.
As the spawn concludes and the big females move off the flats, they will make haste and get to shelter outside of the spawning areas quickly. Target flooded timber, docks, outside weed lines, rock piles or any other obvious cover a big bass looking to ambush an easy meal could hide.
The spring brings a new fishing year, hungry bass and reaction strikes! Before you hit the water for your next fishing trip, don’t forget the Swim Jig! You’ll be pleasantly surprised with the results this versatile presentation produces.
Authored by Tim Hine Owner/Founder – Rahfish.com
Rahfish.com… A Northern Original
Educating the Bass angler through reviews, interviews with top level pros, video and more.
I have guys ask me all the time how many rods and reels do I have. The short answer is too many. There is probably an “anglers anonymous” group somewhere for guys like me. I want to try the newest bass fishing toys. Even before I had to try these toys and report on them so you guys know which toys to play with, I had this nervous tick when I went into the tackle shop and there was a new bass fishing stick for which I developed an insatiable appetite.
