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Tulsa Sets Great Expectations For 2016 GEICO Bassmaster Classic Presented By GoPro

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Tulsa Sets Great Expectations For 2016 GEICO Bassmaster Classic Presented By GoPro

Oklahomans prepare to top the first Classic in Tulsa with the 2016 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro, March 4-6. The 2013 event still stands as the second-largest draw in the Classic’s 45-year history with 106,850 fans.

Photo by Doug Cox/B.A.S.S.

Feb. 18, 2016

Tulsa Sets Great Expectations For 2016 GEICO Bassmaster Classic Presented By GoPro

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TULSA, Okla. — Oklahomans are thinking big as the 2016 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro draws near. They want the Classic hat trick — a record-setting catch, record-setting attendance and, of course, a local champion.

The nation’s grandest fishing event, along with the Bassmaster Classic Expo presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods, returns to Tulsa and Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees, March 4-6.

The first Tulsa event still stands as the second-largest draw in the Classic’s 45-year history with 106,850 fans generating an economic impact of $22.7 million. Only Shreveport, La., has drawn more — a record 137,000 in 2009.

Shreveport’s claim on the attendance record might easily have fallen in 2013 had it not been for a massive winter storm that prevented many Midwesterners from attending.

“A lot of people who would have been able to enjoy Tulsa otherwise didn’t get to, I mean a lot of people,” said Ray Hoyt, president of VisitTulsa and the Tulsa Sports Commission. “We will beat 106,000 certainly this time and we want to break that attendance record absolutely.”

The new economic impact prediction is $29 million, Hoyt said.

Three area Dick’s Sporting Goods stores will provide ample free parking and a free shuttle service to the Expo at the Cox Business Center, with daily weigh-ins right across the street at the BOK Center in downtown Tulsa. No traffic worries, no parking headaches, and shuttle riders can win prizes from Dick’s.

As always, both venues are free of charge. The Expo is open 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. The BOK Center opens at 3:15 daily.

Nearby entertainment and dining options have grown in downtown Tulsa as well. Twenty-six new restaurants — including fine-dining options — have opened since the last Classic.

“It’s an event that is about fishing, but it is as much about hospitality and entertainment,” Hoyt said. “Our hope is people will come to Tulsa and enjoy the Classic experience so much, they will want to return for other opportunities.”

Likewise, the Classic launch site at Wolf Creek Park and Boating Facility at Grove has doubled in size. The parking area near the ramps was raised in elevation to provide an ideal angle for launching boats and was expanded to cover more than 3 acres.

“If you build it, they will come — and they certainly did,” said Michael Mulone, director of event and tourism partnerships at B.A.S.S. “Wolf Creek was a gorgeous facility, and they’ve made it even better.”

Toyota will have free coffee and warm drinks for everyone at the 7 a.m. daily takeoffs. Mercury, Nitro, Skeeter, Triton & Yamaha will offer on-the-water demo rides off the Hard Rock Dock sponsored by local host Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.

Anglers couldn’t wait to get their boats back on Grand, consistently rated among the Top 20 bass lakes in the country, and 55 of the sport’s best will hit the lake in this Classic. Grand can easily produce 25-pound bags in the right conditions. In fact, the lake-record 12-pound, 4-ounce bass was caught just days after the last Classic, on March 3, 2013.

Michigan’s Kevin VanDam holds the 15-fish Classic record of 69 pounds, 11 ounces, set at New Orleans in 2011, but if the relatively warm, stable weather pattern forecast for late February continues into March, that record could be in danger. Fishing was relatively tough in 2013 when Mississippi pro Cliff Pace won with 54-12.

Four-time champ VanDam is a perennial favorite, but pundits and prognosticators are saying his name in tandem with three Oklahomans this time.

Edwin Evers of Talala is known as one of the most talented on tour yet to land a Classic title. Jason Christie of Park Hill swapped his FLW jersey for the Bassmaster Elite Series in 2013 and immediately was a force to be reckoned with. Then there is James Elam, the quiet young Tulsan who was on fire as he wrapped up the 2015 season.

Christie was a heavy favorite as a 2013 rookie, but he admits the Classic atmosphere was more than he bargained for. He is a rookie no more, starting his fourth Elite season with his fourth Classic. For Evers, this Classic is No. 15.

“You can never say who’s going to win,” Christie said. “But I know Edwin has worked hard, and I think he’s going to be up there. We’ve got three from Oklahoma in this thing and just fishing against those two guys you’ve got a one-in-three chance — and then you add 52 more, and any one of them could win, too.”

2016 Bassmaster Classic Title Sponsor: GEICO

2016 Bassmaster Classic Presenting Sponsors: GoPro

2016 Bassmaster Classic Platinum Sponsor: Toyota

2016 Bassmaster Classic Premier Sponsors: GoPro, Huk, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha, Berkley

2016 Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo Presenting Sponsor: DICK’S Sporting Goods

Introducing Simms’ Vapor Elite® Jacket

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Introducing Simms’ Vapor Elite® Jacket

Introducing Simms’ Vapor Elite® Jacket

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Simms’ Lightest, Most Breathable Jacket Featuring GORE® C-Knit™ Technology.

Winter is here but will soon be gone. In the south, tarpon will begin their annual migration and in the rest of country, anglers will be able to enjoy wader free hike/wade fishing. After the ice and snow has thawed and warm temps become the norm, Simms new Vapor Elite® Jacket offers unmatched weather protection in an extremely lightweight, breathable and packable package. Here, Simms’ Materials Manager, Curtis Graves takes us on a tour of the new Vapor Elite® Jacket and tells us all the advantages that live under the hood.

Simms: Tell us about the progression of the Vapor Elite® Jacket. In other words, what’s the history behind it?
Graves: So it really all kind of all started back in 2013. We were seeing some early successes with the release of the Acklins Jacket and were also working with GORE-TEX® on producing a laminate specifically designed for warm weather. Basically we took the silhouette of the Acklins Jacket, built some prototypes with some of the new laminates and sent them out for testing in hot, high humidity environments. Those early protos didn’t work out quite the way we planned but what did come out of those tests is the membrane that we are using in C-Knit™ now. The face fabric we used in those protos wasn’t really built for what we ultimately wanted to achieve. So, we got together with GORE’s laminate team and in the end, GORE came back to us with an amazing fabric that was super lightweight and super rugged. When we put the whole package together, we new we had a really special jacket.

Simms: So what exactly do you mean when you say “…using with C-Knit™”?
Graves: Good question. C-Knit™ is kind of the generic name for the whole package found in the Vapor Elite® Jacket but what it actually refers to is the circular knit backer that’s in the jacket.

Simms: From a product perspective what is the importance of the C-Knit™ backer?
Graves: I’d say it’s definitely one of the biggest stories to tell about the Vapor Elite®. In short, the significance of the backer is that it is a knit and is not a weave. Yarns that are woven have their place for sure and they are super tough but they don’t a great next-to-skin feel.

Simms: Aside from a nice next-to-skin feel, what else is significant to comment on about the C-Knit™ backer?
Graves: So again, the real challenge was coming up with an end product that addressed weather protection in hot, high humidity climates. Even on hot days in the tropics, there’s a good chance anglers will be wearing a shirt like Solarflex® for sun protection. We wanted anglers to be able to throw this jacket on really fast. So I guess I’d say the C-Knit™ backer does two things. It has a mechanical wicking component to it because again, it’s a knit, not a weave. Essentially, the backer is built like a base layer which allows the fabric to pull sweat away from the body. Secondly, it glides really well over clothing that’s underneath the jacket. I guess really there’s a third significant advantage and that’s mobility. The easy glide not only allows the angler to put it on in a hurry but it also allows for a completely free range of motion.

Simms: Did the jacket go through many changes from the initial prototypes?
Graves: Well, the jacket was originally suppose to incorporate pit-zips. However, for our initial protos, we pulled the pit-zips out. Because we were working with a new laminate, we really wanted to get an accurate assessment of its breathability. We felt that if we gave our testers the option of unzipping the pit-zips, we wouldn’t know exactly how breathable the jacket was. When we asked our testers if they would like the jacket better if it had pit-zips, we received unanimous feedback that they weren’t needed because the jacket was the most breathable jacket they had ever worn.

Simms: What were some other major consideration taken into account for the Vapor® Elite?
Graves: We really wanted a jacket that would appeal to flats anglers fishing in the tropics. and were well aware of how damaging carbon fiber push poles can be when in continuous contact with certain fabrics. That’s why we put so much focus on making sure the face fabric could withstand that specific abuse.

Simms: So, would you say it’s a salt water specific jacket?
Graves: Absolutely not. I personally think it’s going to be a huge player this summer for hike/wade anglers. I have one myself and plan on using it a ton out here in Montana. It’ll be awesome when the summer comes, I’ll be able to load down my Waypoints Sling Pack with all my gear, a few tall boys and still have plenty of room to stuff the Vapor in case a storm comes.

Simms: Talk a little more about the packability?
Graves: Yeah, I’d say it’s one of if not the most packable jacket we have in the line. You not only have the ability to tuck away the hood but like I was saying, if you want to stash it in a pack or in a boat hatch, the whole jacket rolls up like a burrito inside its hood. Essentially, you fold jacket in half and roll from the bottom of the jacket and stuff it inside the hood. Then, just grab the back Cohaesive™ Cord Lock on the hood and stretch it around the whole package. We actually figured that out by accident. One of our field testers sent the jacket back to us for analysis and when we received it, it was packed that way. Now everybody around here who has one is packing theirs the same way.

Simms: Cohaesive™ Cord Management, that’s a relatively new feature we are starting to see in jackets and such, can you explain the advantages of this system?
Graves: Yeah, so we wanted to keep the jacket as clean as possible because a clean jacket means less snags. Originally, our cord locks were located on the hips but our field testers commented that they were getting in the way while poling. So, we went with the Cohaesive™ Cord Lock System which is the smoothest, cleanest cord locking system you can find and we moved them to the front of the jacket. The end result is a completely clean, snag free jacket that leaves nothing to get in the way while poling and nothing for fly line to get snagged around.

Get the ultimate weather kit for the tropics and beyond and check out the Vapor Elite™ Pant

Outlook for March Lake Anna by Chris Craft March 2016

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Outlook for March Lake Anna by Chris Craft March 2016

MARCH OUTLOOK
(POSTED FEB 16, 2016)

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As I sit here and write up this outlook for March, I can’t help but think about the warmer days in the very near future. The latest winter storm still has its grasp on us, but is slowly loosing the battle. With any luck, this will be the last one of the season!!

Mark your calendar for the weekend of March 12 & 13, we will be having an open house at Fish Tales!! Most of the tackle in the shop will be at a 25% discount off of our retail price, we will be have GREAT DEALS on Lew’s Reels, Lew’s Rods, TFO Rods, Luck Craft Pointers, Bullshad Swimbaits and much more! We hope to see you there!!!!!!!!!!

For the fist time in 10 years, our ramp fee, parking fee and yearly ramp pass will be going up on March 1. Currently the ramp fee is $8, it will be going up to $10. The single vehicle parking fee is $4, it will be going up to $5 and the yearly ramp pass is currently $125, it will be going up to $150. If you are currently a yearly ramp pass holder, you can come in and renew before March 1, and save $25. Even if your pass expires in August, you expiration date will remain the same.

The Big Fish Contest will resume again this month, we will pay $100 to the angler that weighs in the largest bass, crappie and striper for the month. You can also opt for a yearly ramp pass, a $150 value. The rules are very simple………..

1- MUST LAUNCH FROM ANNA POINT MARINA AND PAY THE $10 RAMP FEE OR BE A YEARLY RAMP PASS HOLDER.

2- IF FISHING WITH A GUIDE OR AN EMPLOYEE, THE RAMP FEE MUST BE PAID BEFORE THE OUTING.

3- ALL FISH MUST BE WEIGHED ON THE PORCH SCALES AT FISH TALES.

4- TOURNAMENT CAUGHT FISH ARE ELIGIBLE, HOWEVER THEY MUST BE WEIGHED ON PORCH SCALES TO COUNT TOWARDS THE CONTEST.

5- LIVE AND ARTIFICIAL BAIT ALLOWED.

6- ALL FISH MUST BE WEIGHED DURING REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS.

BASS- The largemouth will still be in full blown winter pattern at the beginning of the month. They will be schooled up in the mouths of major creeks waiting for the water temps to move up just a little, look for them on main lake points close to deep water.

As we get closer to the middle of the month, they will start making their move to early spring areas, secondary points, boat docks, willow grass beds and shallow rocks. Towards the end of the month, full early spring pattern will be in and the fish will be shallow most of the time, with the exception of a cold front.

My Bait Choices are as Follows……
Beginning of the Month……
Suspending Jerkbaits, Jig & Pig Combos, Plastic Jerkbaits rigged on Scrounger Heads and Tight Wiggle Crankbaits.

Middle of the Month…….
Weightless Soft Jerkbaits, Spinnerbaits, Squarebill Crankbaits, Suspending Jerkbaits & Jig & Pig Combos.

End of the Month……
Weightless Soft Jerkbaits, Spinnerbaits, Squarebill Crankbaits
Shakey Head Rigged Plastic, Carolina Rigged Lizards.

CRAPPIE- The Specks will remain in their winter patter just about all month long. They will start to pull away from the deep brush piles and bridge pilings about the third week of the month. Until then, you can catch them on small minnows around the many bridge pilings around the lake. Look for the to be anywhere from 6-25 feet of water.

On bright sunny days, you can find them up in the water column and possibly willing to chase artificial bait. 2″ Curly Tail Grubs rigged on 1/16oz jig heads are my favorite.

By the end of the month, the water temps are much warmer and the fish have really pulled up shallow. They will start to stage in front of willow grass beds, beaver huts and boat docks.

STRIPER- The Striper will start to get more active as the water temps start to warm into the middle 40’s, especially in the uplake region. The best time will be on sunny days, late in the afternoon into evening. Suspending jerkbaits work best for me at this time of year.

Early in the month, locate them on your electronics in the mid lake region and drop spoons and blade baits to them. Birds on the lake can and will still give locations away from feeding striper under the surface.

Downlake in the Dike 3 area, you can catch them a number of ways, vertically jigging spoons and blade baits, suspending jerkbaits and four inch swimbaits rigged on 1/4oz jig heads. There are numbers of small, sub keeper sized fish in this area, but there are some keepers to be caught.

Hold on to that rod tight while striper fishing, the “WIPER” (white bass/striper hybrid) that were stocked in here a couple of years ago are getting near that 20″ minimum size to keep, and they are very strong. You can tell the difference between them and a striper by the broken lines on their side.

Lake Level- Full Pool

Water Clarity-
Up Lake- Stained
Mid lake- Slight Stain to Clear
Down Lake- Clear

To those heading to lake Anna here is an update on water temps around the lake.
up lake 47-49 heavy stain
mid lake-46-48
down lake- 48-51
dike 3- 55
It is 45-46 at the splits, 43-44 at Stubbs Bridge, 45-47 at Fish Tales and 46-48 in Sturgeon Creek

 

SAM RAYBURN RESERVOIR SET TO HOST COSTA FLW SERIES SOUTHWESTERN DIVISION OPENER PRESENTED BY MERCURY

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SAM RAYBURN RESERVOIR SET TO HOST COSTA FLW SERIES SOUTHWESTERN DIVISION OPENER PRESENTED BY MERCURY

SAM RAYBURN RESERVOIR SET TO HOST COSTA FLW SERIES SOUTHWESTERN DIVISION OPENER PRESENTED BY MERCURY

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JASPER, Texas (Feb. 16, 2016) – The Costa FLW Series is headed to Sam Rayburn Reservoir Feb. 25-27 for a tournament presented by Mercury when as many as 400 pros and co-anglers will take to the water for the first stop of 2016 in the Southwestern Division.

“I think we can expect to see some big stringers brought to the scale at this tournament,” said Keystone Light pro Jeff Sprague of Point, Texas, who finished the season ranked No. 7 in the FLW Series Southwestern division in 2015. “With all of the different ways to catch fish, it’s going to be a derby.

“Right now, the majority of bass are in the prespawn phase with only a small amount actually spawning,” Sprague continued. “I think a lot of competitors will be flipping the haygrass and hydrilla, while others will opt for wood or coontails. Using football-head jigs, Carolina-rigged worms and crankbaits on the main lake where bass are staging to come in could be popular as well. I also wouldn’t count out the spinnerbait bite up shallow. That could end being a major player in this event.”

Sprague said that depending on water clarity, bait colors like black and blue, watermelon and green-pumpkin are all likely to play roles in this event.

“I’m going to reach for all of my central-Texas grass staples,” said Sprague. “But, that could change fairly quickly depending on if they’re congregating in cleaner or dirtier water.”

Sprague finished by saying that the winner will likely need a three-day total nearing 63 pounds to win the tournament.

“Big bass are definitely out there on Rayburn, it’s just a matter of catching them,” said Sprague.

Anglers will take off from Umphrey Family Pavilion located at 5438 Rural Route 255 in Brookeland at 7 a.m. CDT each day. Weigh-in on Thursday and Friday will be held at the marina beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday’s final weigh-in will be held at the marina beginning at 4 p.m. Takeoffs and weigh-ins are free and open to the public.

Pros will fish for a top award of $40,000 plus a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard if Ranger Cup guidelines are met. Co-anglers will cast for a top award consisting of a Ranger Z175 with a 90-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard and $5,000 if Ranger Cup guidelines are met.

The Costa FLW Series consists of five divisions – Central, Northern, Southeastern, Southwestern and Western. Each division consists of three tournaments with competitors vying for valuable points that could earn them the opportunity to fish in the Costa FLW Series Championship. The 2016 Costa FLW Series Championship is being held Nov. 3-5 on Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri.

For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Costa FLW Series on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing.

ANDERSON WINS FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE SOUTH CAROLINA DIVISION OPENER ON LAKE MURRAY

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ANDERSON WINS FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE SOUTH CAROLINA DIVISION OPENER ON LAKE MURRAY

ANDERSON WINS FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE SOUTH CAROLINA DIVISION OPENER ON LAKE MURRAY

Tapp wins co-angler title

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PROSPERITY, S.C. (Feb. 15, 2016) – Hampton Anderson of Anderson, South Carolina, weighed a five-bass limit totaling 25 pounds, 3 ounces, Saturday to win the first FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) South Carolina Division tournament of 2016 on Lake Murray. For his victory, Anderson took home $3,641.

“I worked my way up the (Saluda) river and was primarily hitting brush piles between 15 and 25 feet down,” said Anderson, who tallied the first win of his career in BFL competition. “The bass were setting up well for a jig bite so I knew that would be the deal for me.”

Anderson said he caught his fish on a custom-colored Greenfish Tackle Crawball Living Rubber Football Jig – the only bait he would need all day.

“I targeted around eight different brush piles and ran it really slow to get a bite,” said Anderson. “The water was too muddy to do it any other way.”

Anderson went on to say that he caught 11 keepers over the course of the tournament.

“I had most of my stringer fish by 10 a.m.,” Anderson said. “I culled once more at 2:30 p.m. just before check-in and figured I had enough to win.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:

1st:          Hampton Anderson, Anderson, S.C., five bass, 25-3, $3,641

2nd:         Shane Lineberger, Lincolnton, N.C., five bass, 24-2, $1,820

3rd:          Scott Hamrick, Denver, N.C., five bass, 23-0, $1,214

4th:          Scott Farmer, Columbia, S.C., four bass, 22-11, $1,325

5th:          Andy Wicker, Pomaria, S.C., five bass, 21-1, $728

6th:          Wesley Story, Clarks Hill, S.C., five bass, 20-10, $637

6th:          Jerry Pelfrey, Laurens, S.C., five bass, 20-10, $637

8th:          Willie McMullen, Oxford, Ga., five bass, 20-4, $546

9th:          Greg Rikard, Leesville, S.C., five bass, 18-15, $485

10th:        Chris Marshall, Forest City, N.C., five bass, 18-3, $425

Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.

Farmer caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the pro division, a fish weighing 8 pounds, 1 ounce and earned the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $475.

Rodney Tapp of North Augusta, South Carolina, weighed in five bass totaling 18 pounds, 2 ounces Saturday to earn $1,777 and win the co-angler division.

The top 10 co-anglers were:

1st:          Rodney Tapp, North Augusta, S.C., five bass, 18-2, $1,777

2nd:         Travis Ruff, Connelly Springs, N.C., four bass, 12-8, $888

3rd:          Ronald Harrell, Mitchell, Ga., five bass, 12-6, $592

4th:          Charles Dickens, Appling, Ga., five bass, 11-7, $415

5th:          Jack Hoy, Hollywood, S.C., two bass, 10-12, $355

6th:          Jeffrey Borne, Leesville, S.C., three bass, 9-13, $326

7th:          Donall Stoudemire, Chapin, S.C., four bass, 9-12, $296

8th:          William Hearn, Mount Holly, N.C., three bass, 9-5, $267

9th:          Woody Parks, Lincolnton, Ga., three bass, 9-4, $222

9th:          Michael Maxfield, Hanahan, S.C., two bass, 9-4, $449

Maxfield caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the co-angler division, a fish weighing 7 pounds, 7 ounces and earned the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $227.

The top 50 boaters and 50 co-anglers based on point standings will qualify for the Oct. 13-15 Regional Championship on Lake Seminole in Bainbridge, Georgia. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard.

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. 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.

CELESTI WINS FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE GATOR DIVISION EVENT ON LAKE OKEECHOBEE PRESENTED BY POWER-POLE

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CELESTI WINS FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE GATOR DIVISION EVENT ON LAKE OKEECHOBEE PRESENTED BY POWER-POLE

CELESTI WINS FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE GATOR DIVISION EVENT ON LAKE OKEECHOBEE PRESENTED BY POWER-POLE

Bozeman wins co-angler title

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CLEWISTON, Fla. (Feb. 15, 2016) – Tim Celesti of Margate, Florida, weighed a five-bass limit totaling 22 pounds even Saturday to win the FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Gator Division tournament on Lake Okeechobee presented by Power-Pole. For his victory, Celesti took home $6,300.

Celesti said he punched mats within a five-acre stretch on the north end of the lake. He said that he preferred water that was stained, but still clear of debris.

“After the sun came out the mats warmed up and the fish congregated around them perfectly,” said Celesti, who notched the first win of his career in BFL competition. “I stayed there the entire day and waited for them to eat.”

Celesti said that he used one bait – a June Bug-colored Gambler BB Cricket – to catch his stringer of bass.

“I did my best to really get the Cricket up under the mats,” Celesti said. “I would hold it up high and let it drop after about 10 seconds. The bass would eat it and then just sit there. You could hardly feel the bite. It was like you had to give them time to come and look at it, and then drop it on their nose.

“You had to be patient,” continued Celesti. “And you needed a punch skirt. If the bait didn’t have a punch skirt they wouldn’t eat it.”

The Florida angler said he targeted a single mat around 12:30 p.m. and caught a 4- and 7-pounder within ten minutes of each other to cap off his winning stringer.

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:

1st:          Tim Celesti, Margate, Fla., five bass, 22-0, $6,300

2nd:         Allen Walls, Boca Raton, Fla., five bass, 18-11, $3,000

3rd:          Austin Murray, Deland, Fla., five bass, 17-7, $2,000

4th:          Donald Ciacchi, Middleburg Heights, Ohio, five bass, 16-11, $1,400

5th:          Greg Hughes, Inverness, Fla., five bass, 16-6, $1,200

6th:          Steve Poland, Port Saint Lucie, Fla., five bass, 16-4, $1,100

7th:          Roger Crafton, Boca Grande, Fla., five bass, 15-12, $1,000

8th:          Nicholas Hoinig, Delray Beach, Fla., five bass, 15-8, $900

9th:          Sandy Melvin, Boca Grande, Fla., five bass, 15-7, $750

9th:          Jason Jastrzemski, Wellington, Fla., five bass, 15-7, $750

Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.

Kenneth Harris of Zolfo Springs, Florida, caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the pro division, a fish weighing 8 pounds, 15 ounces and earned the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $1000.

David Bozeman of Ocala, Florida, weighed in four bass totaling 13 pounds, 7 ounces Saturday to earn $3,000 and win the co-angler division.

The top 10 co-anglers were:

1st:          David Bozeman, Ocala, Fla., four bass, 13-7, $3,000

2nd:         Garrett Farmer, Estero, Fla., five bass, 13-0, $1,500

3rd:          James Topmiller, Orlando, Fla., five bass, 12-14, $850

3rd:          Doug Caldwell, Kane, Pa., five bass, 12-14, $1,350

5th:          Kenneth Bivins, Orlando, Fla., five bass, 12-12, $600

6th:          Gary Schild, Mundelein, Ill., five bass, 12-8, $550

7th:          Scott Kirsch, Edgewater, Fla., five bass, 10-13, $500

8th:          William Carpenella, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., five bass, 10-4, $450

9th:          Michael Lendl, Pembroke Pines, Fla., five bass, 10-3, $400

10th:        Bill Grotjahn, Homosassa, Fla., five bass, 9-11, $350

Caldwell caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the co-angler division, a fish weighing 6 pounds, 3 ounces and earned the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $500.

The top 50 boaters and 50 co-anglers based on point standings will qualify for the Oct. 13-15 Regional Championship on Lake Seminole in Bainbridge, Georgia. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard.

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. 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.

DICK’S Sporting Goods Presents Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo For Eighth Year

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DICK’S Sporting Goods Presents Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo For Eighth Year

Feb. 15, 2016

DICK’S Sporting Goods Presents Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo For Eighth Year

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — For the eighth-straight year, DICK’S Sporting Goods will be the presenting sponsor for the Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo, set for March 4-6 in conjunction with the 2016 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro in Tulsa, Okla.

Arguably the largest event of its kind in the country, this exhibit of the latest in bass fishing equipment and outdoor gear will be housed in the Cox Business Center, just as it was during the 2013 Classic.

“It’s great to be going back to Tulsa with DICK’S Sporting Goods once again as the presenting sponsor for the Outdoors Expo,” said B.A.S.S. CEO Bruce Akin. “DICK’S has been such a terrific sponsor for us with this premier event, and we are excited that they are sharing the spotlight with B.A.S.S. at our consumer show.”

“Partnering with B.A.S.S. on the Bassmaster Classic Outdoor Expo over the last eight years has really been a great experience for us,” said Mark Rooks, VP of Community Marketing, DICK’S Sporting Goods. “The expo always gives us a unique opportunity to interact with the angler community that comes together for this world-class event. We’re happy to be back as the presenting sponsor of the Outdoors Expo.”

Based on the results from 2013, this year’s event should be one of the most popular ever for B.A.S.S. and DICK’S Sporting Goods. Three years ago, the Classic, Outdoors Expo and related venues attracted more than 106,850 fans, for the second-highest attendance in history. Only the 2009 Classic in Shreveport-Bossier City, La., drew more, with 137,700.

Additionally, the economic impact of the first Tulsa Classic was $22.7 million.

“We’re so excited to finally say the Bassmaster Classic is coming back to Tulsa,” said Ray Hoyt, president of VisitTulsa. “We worked our tails off in 2013 to ensure this event was a huge success because we wanted to show our partners at B.A.S.S., and other major league events, what a great place the Tulsa region is. We wanted another Classic the minute the 2013 event was over.”

Featuring free admission to the public, the Outdoors Expo presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods will be open 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, March 4, as well as 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. On Friday only, media, B.A.S.S. Life members, B.A.S.S. Nation members and DICK’S Scorecard members have been invited to a special preview event at the show from 10:30 a.m. to noon.

DICK’S Sporting Goods will bring a totally new look to the Expo from years past. A reinvented onsite store is anchored by the 4,000 gallon bass tank with live fishing shows from the biggest names in fishing. The launch of many new products for 2016, free foam “bass hands” to wave at the weigh-ins, social media contests and even the possibility of a Sasquatch sighting are in store for guests.

Dozens of big-name makers of fishing tackle, boats, motors and other outdoor products for fresh and saltwater anglers will exhibit their products in the 102,600 square feet of column-free space. In addition, the Expo will feature guest appearances by the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, as well as live updates from the water in the B.A.S.S. booth, giveaways by B.A.S.S. sponsors, fishing seminars and B.A.S.S. official Classic merchandise.

Daily takeoff for the 55 competitors in the 46th Bassmaster Classic will be at 7 a.m. from Wolf Creek Park, with weigh-in beginning at 3:15 p.m. at BOK Center. As with the Expo, admission is free for both.

Since 2006 the Classic has been held during the third or fourth weekend in February, but it was moved to early March this year to better accommodate preseason schedules of anglers and sponsors and to avoid conflict with other industry events.

“If moving the event improves odds of good fishing weather, that’s a bonus,” said Akin. “But we proved in 2013, as well as at Lake Hartwell (2015 Classic in South Carolina) that freezing temperatures don’t hamper the anglers’ fishing success, nor do they hurt attendance.”

Mississippi pro Cliff Pace won the first Tulsa Classic with 54 pounds, 12 ounces for three days of fishing.

HICKS WINS FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE CHOO CHOO DIVISION OPENER ON LAKE GUNTERSVILLE

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HICKS WINS FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE CHOO CHOO DIVISION OPENER ON LAKE GUNTERSVILLE

HICKS WINS FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE CHOO CHOO DIVISION OPENER ON LAKE GUNTERSVILLE

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Corbett wins co-angler title

GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. (Feb. 15, 2016) – Derek Hicks of Rocky Face, Georgia, weighed a five-bass limit totaling 25 pounds, 3 ounces, Saturday to win the first FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Choo Choo Division tournament of 2016 on Lake Guntersville. For his victory, Hicks took home $6,133.

Hicks said he primarily focused on an area on the north end of the lake – a shallow shell bed with a ditch running through the middle of it.

“On my third cast I caught a 7-pound fish, which was a great way to start the day,” said Hicks who earned his first win in BFL competition. “I used a white XCalibur Xr50 Rattle Bait and fished it really slow. I’d let it fall, pull up a little, wind it and stop it. The main thing is that I wanted to feel the bottom.

“I hit a flurry between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. and caught 13 keepers,” said Hicks. “That was the stretch that ended up producing the remainder of my winning stringer.”

The Georgia angler said his fishing rod was crucial to his success.

“The rod I used really made the difference,” said Hicks. “It was a medium-heavy Halo Fishing Cranking II Series Rod and it worked great. I could get the bait in there with the rod and it wouldn’t jerk it away from the fish.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:

1st:          Derek Hicks, Rocky Face, Ga., five bass, 25-3, $6,133

2nd:         Mark McCaig, Oxford, Ala., five bass, 23-7, $2,566

3rd:          Jeff Knight, Cleveland, Tenn., five bass, 21-1, $1,710

4th:          Casey Martin, New Hope, Ala., five bass, 20-3, $1,498

5th:          Cameron Gautney, Muscle Shoals, Ala., five bass, 19- 6, $1,027

6th:          Eric Foister, Clarksville, Tenn., five bass, 17-14, $941

7th:          Ryan McIntosh, Patriot, Ind., five bass, 17-13, $727

7th:          Terry Tucker, Gadsden, Ala., five bass, 17-13, $727

7th:          Kent Keys, Anniston, Ala., five bass, 17-13, $727

7th:          Brad Harmon, Ringgold, Ga., three bass, 17-13, $727

Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.

Brent Barnes of Chattanooga, Tennessee, caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the pro division, a mammoth largemouth weighing 11 pounds, 3 ounces and earned the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $800.

Marcus Corbett of Anniston, Alabama, weighed in five bass totaling 19 pounds, 3 ounces Saturday to earn $2,566 and win the co-angler division.

The top 10 co-anglers were:

1st:          Marcus Corbett, Anniston, Ala., five bass, 19-3, $2,566

2nd:         Jacob Feltman, Birmingham, Ala., five bass, 16-12, $1,283

3rd:          Daniel Crockett, Old Hickory, Tenn., five bass, 16-4, $855

4th:          Brennon Binkley, Franklin, Tenn., four bass, 14-8, $599

5th:          Scott Miller, Burlington, Wis., five bass, 14-1, $513

6th:          Richard Roberson, Hanceville, Ala., four bass, 13-11, $471

7th:          Chase Dorsett, Odenville, Ala., five bass, 13-7, $428

8th:          Derek Holly, Johnson City, Tenn., four bass, 12- 6, $385

9th:          Brandon Johnson, Odenville, Ala., four bass, 11-5, $342

10th:        Ryan Sweeney, Springville, Ala., three bass, 9-4, $299

Donald Groves of Rocky Face, Georgia, caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the co-angler division, a fish weighing 7 pounds, 1 ounce and earned the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $400.

The top 50 boaters and 50 co-anglers based on point standings will qualify for the Oct. 13-15 Regional Championship on Lake Seminole in Bainbridge, Georgia. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard.

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. 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.

Play Bassmaster Fantasy Fishing For A Chance To Win Big

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Play Bassmaster Fantasy Fishing For A Chance To Win Big

Feb. 15, 2016

Play Bassmaster Fantasy Fishing For A Chance To Win Big

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Bass fishing fans get a taste of competing on the Bassmaster Elite Series trail, without having to qualify or pay entry fees, by playing Bassmaster Fantasy Fishing.
The free fantasy game opens today at www.bassmasterfantasy.com.

Fantasy Fishing opens in time for the 2016 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro. The Fantasy Fishing player who performs best overall during the Classic wins a $2,500 gift card to Bass Pro Shops. New this year, the player who gets second place wins a GoPro Hero 4 Black Camera valued at $499.

“Anglers can compete against their friends for a chance at prizes,” said Jim Sexton, B.A.S.S.’s vice president of digital. “We’re really excited to increase the opportunity to win this year, by adding a GoPro for second place and by increasing the number of regular-season tournaments to 10.”

To play, go to www.bassmasterfantasy.com, register, and then set your team by choosing the angler you think will perform best in each of five “buckets,” and guess the tournament winner’s weight as a tiebreaker. Then, you can choose to play in a league or on your own.

Play continues with the commencement of the Bassmaster Elite Series season, March 17. From then on through the rest of the season, the top player for each event wins a $2,500 gift card to Bass Pro Shops, and the runner-up gets a GoPro. The player who accumulates the most points over the course of the Elite Series season wins the grand prize, valued at $37,793 — a Triton 189TrX boat with a Yamaha VF150LA motor, MotorGuide trolling motor and a Lowrance Mark 5 unit.

Every day of a tournament, each player will receive a custom email that shows how his or her team performed. In addition, Bassmaster Fantasy Fishing helps players who occasionally score zero by forgetting to set their team.

“Now, if a player accidentally neglects to set a team for a tournament, we’ll pick up the player’s selections from the previous tournament,” said Sexton. “If an angler is no longer available in that bucket, we’ll add the most popular angler in that bucket to their roster. That way, the player isn’t out of contention for the grand prize just from one oversight.”

B.A.S.S. members get an extra opportunity to win. If the Fantasy Fishing winner of a tournament is also a member of B.A.S.S., he or she will earn an additional $500 gift card to Bass Pro Shops. To sign up for a B.A.S.S. membership, click here.

The number of points a Fantasy Fishing player earns is based on a scoring system similar to the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year points, in which an angler is awarded points based on his finish in each tournament. In addition, points are awarded for the angler who caught the biggest bass and the biggest bag in each event.

B.A.S.S. also provides several articles on Bassmaster.com prior to each tournament offering pundit picks to help guide Bassmaster Fantasy Fishing players on their choices.

Playing Bassmaster Fantasy Fishing is free.

Be sure to choose your team before 6 a.m. ET, March 4, the first day of 2016 GEICO Bassmaster Classic. Then, update your team before the beginning of each Bassmaster Elite Series event throughout the season.

“We are looking forward to another strong competition this year in the Classic and on the Elite Series trail — and in the Fantasy Fishing leagues,” said Sexton.

Toyota Texas Bass Classic Now Part of Toyota Texas Fest Present by JBL

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Toyota Texas Bass Classic Now Part of Toyota Texas Fest Present by JBL

Toyota Texas Bass Classic, benefiting the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, expands to include a three-day festival of events at Toyota Stadium

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FRISCO, TX – The Toyota Texas Bass Classic (TTBC) is proud to announce that it is now part of Toyota Texas Fest presented by JBL, a three-day festival of events to be held May 20-22 at Toyota Stadium.  In addition to celebrating the 10 year anniversary of TTBC, Toyota Texas Fest will enable the event to further its mission to help broaden the audience reach and ultimately increase the awareness and funding for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD).  Toyota Texas Fest presented by JBL will include concerts, an outdoor festival, and fun activities for all ages.

“We are very excited to introduce the Toyota Texas Fest presented by JBL. For 10 years, TTBC has been proud to support the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. We look forward to continuing this tradition through Toyota Texas Fest.” said Katie Scallan, executive director of the Texas Bass Classic Foundation.

“We are excited to extend our 20-year JBL-Toyota partnership to include the Toyota Texas Fest,” said Bill Wyman, vice president, Global Car Audio Marketing for HARMAN. “We are thrilled to connect with this avid group of outdoor lifestyle enthusiasts, to help support the community outreach initiatives of the TPWD, and to amp up the Toyota Texas Fest with the dynamic, legendary sound that is JBL.”

Fans can expect a fun and exciting event that will offer live concerts from top country music artists, an outdoor consumer expo, the TPWD Outdoor Adventure Area, a Kids Zone and the 10th anniversary celebration of the Toyota Texas Bass Classic—the championship of professional bass fishing.  Toyota Texas Fest presented by JBL activities will be held at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, while the championship fishing will take place on Lake Ray Roberts near Denton.

“For nearly a decade the Toyota Texas Bass Classic has provided top notch entertainment for the entire family.  With the relocation to Frisco and the introduction to the Toyota Texas Fest presented by JBL, we are poised to see unprecedented growth in 2016,” said Lenny Francoeur, TTBC’s tournament director.

Since TTBC’s inception over nine years ago, the partnership between TTBC and TPWD has helped raise awareness for both TPWD’s conservation efforts and helped raise funding for youth and urban outreach programs.  To date, TTBC has donated $2.25 million to the TPWD and will continue its support in 2016.

Concert talent and ticket sales will be announced in the coming weeks.   For additional information, visit ToyotaTexasFest.com or call 1-866-907-0143.  Make sure to “Like” us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for tournament news, updates, and more!

– See more at: http://www.toyotatexasfest.com/2016/02/15/toyota-texas-bass-classic-now-part-of-toyota-texas-fest-presented-by-jbl/#sthash.2OklCegU.dpuf

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