We just concluded our first segment with professional angler Mike McClelland recapping his Elite Series tournaments at Lake Seminole and the St.Johns River. Each tournament we will talk to Mike about his decisions, what he would have done differently and how he finished.
Brainerd, Minn. – April 1, 2014 – Babe Winkelman Productions is excited to announce a continued partnership with Fishidy for 2014. As a trusted fishing and outdoors personality for 35+ years, Babe Winkelman has helped generations of anglers hone their fishing skills through educational television shows, “Good Fishing” tips, and by building a strong appreciation for the outdoors. Fishidy, a website and mobile app connecting anglers to thousands of online waterway pages across the U.S. containing maps with proven Fishing Hot Spots®, local fishing reports, and advanced tools is the perfect complement in both partners’ goal of moving the fishing industry forward through education, stewardship and good old fashioned fun in the outdoors.
To celebrate the start of the spring fishing season, the partners are launching a 3-month long “Fishing Tales” contest hosted on the Fishidy website at http://www.fishidy.com/babe. Entrants are invited to share their favorite fishing memories to earn recognition as has having the best fishing story voted on by the Fishidy community. Weekly winners receive prize packs including free Fishidy premium memberships, tshirts, and hats. All participants in the contest are automatically eligible to win the grand prize – an all expenses paid trip fishing trip with Babe Winkelman including transportation, dinner and lodging for two at Cragun’s Resort and Hotel in Brainerd, MN.
“Babe Winkelman has played an integral role helping us grow Fishidy’s membership throughout the Midwest and many of the northern states,” said Brian Jensen, CEO of Fishidy. “We’re excited to kick-off an exciting interactive campaign that will bring out the best in what we all love about fishing – great stories!”
“Anglers new and old recognize Babe as an ambassador of fishing, always taking time to enjoy special outdoor adventures with friends and family,” says Greg Kaiser, General Manager of Babe Winkelman Productions. “The chance to put together a fun, story-based contest with Fishidy while giving away a dream fishing trip with Babe was an ideal opportunity for both parties.”
About Fishidy
Located in Madison, WI, Fishidy is a premier mobile and online fishing guide built on social networking, mapping, and location-based technology – bringing anglers together to catch more fish. For details visit http://www.fishidy.com or contact Brian Jensen at 855.347.4439, info@fishidy.com.
About Babe Winkelman Productions
Babe Winkelman is a nationally-recognized outdoorsman who loves nothing more than passing fishing and hunting traditions along to others. Over the past 35 years, his charismatic style, coupled with a strong desire to educate, have resulted in some of the most informative and entertaining shows ever produced. Whether it’s Babe Winkelman’s “Good Fishing” or “Outdoor Secrets,” viewers can expect the finest in heart-stopping action and classic outdoor programming suitable for the entire family. For details visit http://www.winkelman.com/.
I try my best not to buy into the hype when new, exciting products come out. It’s my job to look at them from an objective and practical viewpoint, test them thoroughly and beat the heck out of ‘em. But I’ll be honest on this one, folks—I was pretty excited to get my hands on the Abu Garcia REVO Rocket.
After using this reel in both guide trips and tournaments for the last several months, I’ve been very pleased with its performance. It’s durable, lightweight, easy to cast and of course, ridiculously fast.
Martens brings ’em to the Table
By Deb Johnson
BRANSON, Mo. — Aaron Martens called it a “picture-perfect day.” Mark Davis said he was “singing hymns all day.” Chris Lane landed inside his “comfort zone.”
And that’s how it was for three of the hottest pros in bass fishing on Thursday, the first day of the April 3-6 A.R.E. Truck Caps Bassmaster Elite on Table Rock Lake.
Martens, the 2013 Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year, took the Day 1 lead at Table Rock with 18 pounds, 11 ounces of largemouth bass. Davis, currently in the lead for the 2014 AOY prize, was second with 18 pounds, 8 ounces. Right behind them with 18-5 was Lane, who won the most recent Elite Series event less than two weeks ago.
The three leaders have lots of company. Weighing 17-4 to tie at fourth place were Edwin Evers of Talala, Okla., and Jamie Horton of Centreville, Ala. They were 1 pound, 7 ounces, behind Martens.
Even the pro in 12th place trailed Martens by 3-5. That mark was set at 15-6 by Mike McClelland of Bella Vista, Ark.
Martens, a California native who relocated to Leeds, Ala., several years ago, anchored his 18-11 with an 8-0.
“I had a picture-perfect day,” Martens said. “I caught almost everything that bit, and I didn’t lose very many. I pulled that 8-pounder from between three or four trees on non-heavy line.”
Martens, who has fished Table Rock Lake many times, tried to find new areas during the three-day practice. In the end, he returned to spots on which he had success in the past — “fishing old stuff,” he called it.
A solid pattern helped, he said, but the only two lures he used Thursday were key.
“One bait I’m using is pretty phenomenal, but I bet half the guys are using it too,” he said, declining to name the lures.
Even if the weights were not tight, Martens expects Day 2 of the tournament to see changes in the leaderboard.
“This lake is notorious for having a leader one day, and then that guy blanks,” Martens said.
Davis, who is from Mount Ida, Ark., won a Bassmaster Tour on Table Rock in 2004. His history helped him get to work Thursday. And that work involved a lot of “hunting and pecking,” he said.
“That’s how you have to fish this lake,” he said.
Davis came into the Table Rock event leading the points race after finishing third in both of the first two tournaments of the season.
Lane, a Florida transplant to Guntersville, Ala., skipped over Table Rock’s clear, clear water. Instead, he went back to a favorite comfort zone of his: casting in shallow, stained water up into the backs of creeks.
He targeted big bass, selecting three baits to go after the larger bass. The strategy worked. One of his five largemouth bass was a 5-9 and another weighed 5-4.
Lane was trading size for numbers; he caught just seven fish all day.
That, on a day when many of the pros weeded through scores of bass less than 15 inches — the legal keeper size — to put together a five-bass limit in any combination of largemouth, spotted bass and smallmouth.
The event’s first prize is $100,000 and an instant qualification for the 2015 Bassmaster Classic. The Elite pros also are out to earn points that count toward a Classic qualification and the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year title.
Martens’ 8-0 was the largest bass of the day. He became the frontrunner for the event’s Carhartt Big Bass award of up to $1,500.
Martens brings ’em to the Table
By Deb Johnson
BRANSON, Mo. — Aaron Martens called it a “picture-perfect day.” Mark Davis said he was “singing hymns all day.” Chris Lane landed inside his “comfort zone.”
And that’s how it was for three of the hottest pros in bass fishing on Thursday, the first day of the April 3-6 A.R.E. Truck Caps Bassmaster Elite on Table Rock Lake.
Martens, the 2013 Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year, took the Day 1 lead at Table Rock with 18 pounds, 11 ounces of largemouth bass. Davis, currently in the lead for the 2014 AOY prize, was second with 18 pounds, 8 ounces. Right behind them with 18-5 was Lane, who won the most recent Elite Series event less than two weeks ago.
The three leaders have lots of company. Weighing 17-4 to tie at fourth place were Edwin Evers of Talala, Okla., and Jamie Horton of Centreville, Ala. They were 1 pound, 7 ounces, behind Martens.
Even the pro in 12th place trailed Martens by 3-5. That mark was set at 15-6 by Mike McClelland of Bella Vista, Ark.
Martens, a California native who relocated to Leeds, Ala., several years ago, anchored his 18-11 with an 8-0.
“I had a picture-perfect day,” Martens said. “I caught almost everything that bit, and I didn’t lose very many. I pulled that 8-pounder from between three or four trees on non-heavy line.”
Martens, who has fished Table Rock Lake many times, tried to find new areas during the three-day practice. In the end, he returned to spots on which he had success in the past — “fishing old stuff,” he called it.
A solid pattern helped, he said, but the only two lures he used Thursday were key.
“One bait I’m using is pretty phenomenal, but I bet half the guys are using it too,” he said, declining to name the lures.
Even if the weights were not tight, Martens expects Day 2 of the tournament to see changes in the leaderboard.
“This lake is notorious for having a leader one day, and then that guy blanks,” Martens said.
Davis, who is from Mount Ida, Ark., won a Bassmaster Tour on Table Rock in 2004. His history helped him get to work Thursday. And that work involved a lot of “hunting and pecking,” he said.
“That’s how you have to fish this lake,” he said.
Davis came into the Table Rock event leading the points race after finishing third in both of the first two tournaments of the season.
Lane, a Florida transplant to Guntersville, Ala., skipped over Table Rock’s clear, clear water. Instead, he went back to a favorite comfort zone of his: casting in shallow, stained water up into the backs of creeks.
He targeted big bass, selecting three baits to go after the larger bass. The strategy worked. One of his five largemouth bass was a 5-9 and another weighed 5-4.
Lane was trading size for numbers; he caught just seven fish all day.
That, on a day when many of the pros weeded through scores of bass less than 15 inches — the legal keeper size — to put together a five-bass limit in any combination of largemouth, spotted bass and smallmouth.
The event’s first prize is $100,000 and an instant qualification for the 2015 Bassmaster Classic. The Elite pros also are out to earn points that count toward a Classic qualification and the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year title.
Martens’ 8-0 was the largest bass of the day. He became the frontrunner for the event’s Carhartt Big Bass award of up to $1,500.
In this episode, Bassmasters Elite Series pro, Jared Lintner, puts the featured products from the Shimano & G. Loomis videos to the test at Clear Lake, Ca. As he works his way around Clear Lake, Jared utilizes the new G. Loomis IMX Umbrella Rod 916C UBR rod paired with a Shimano Curado 200-I casting reel in the 5.5:1 Gear ratio to throw an umbrella rig outfitted with Jackall Ammonite Shads. He also throws one of his favorite cranks, the Jackall Muscle Deep Crankait on the G. Loomis GLX Cranking Rod 957 CBR. Keep it tuned in next week to get even more footage of the new G. Loomis IMX series of rods, the Shimano Curado 200 I Reels, and the latest Jackall Lures.
Regardless of the body of water or season, fishing points for bass is a likely way to enjoy quick success. These structures provide bass with a multitude of benefits that prove essential to their survival including feeding and ambush opportunities, easy access to both shallow and deep water and practical staging areas during their various seasonal migrations.
Because each point—and bass, for that matter—is different, it’s important to understand the different approaches for dissecting them. Georgia fishing guide and BASS Opens pro Matt Henry relies on points regularly and has continuously demonstrated his thorough understanding of their intricacies.
With Spring right around the corner it’s time to grab one of Gary Dobyns’ finest creations!
The Champion Series 705CBGLASS by Dobyns is arguably the best reaction-bait rod ever made. This rod really is so amazing that I’m not sure if even Gary Dobyns himself has had enough time to realize just how special it is. You can use it to throw crankbaits, jerkbaits, spinnerbaits, topwater, lipless cranks, scrounger heads, squarebills, the list goes on and on. And with the weather warming (I realize that’s happening faster in some places than in others) and the time of year when we bass anglers predominantly throw those kind of baits fast approaching, I can’t stress to you enough just how much this rod will improve your catch rate.
Technically speaking it’s a one piece rod, good for 8-20 pound line, ¼ – 1 ounce baits, Medium-Heavy Fast Action. That in itself just screams out versatility! Add to that the Kegan Guides with SIC inserts, Fuji reel seats, Kevlar wrapping, AA cork grips; slapped on a blank that’s completely unique in that it’s the only rod that’s a blend of graphite and glass. Why is that important? Most people will swear by glass rods for cranking because it improves your hookups at an alarming rate by allowing more give when the fish eat the bait. However what a lot of people don’t know is that Gary has delivered a rod that is glass at the top and becomes graphite towards the bottom, allowing you to have the increased strength to fight the fish once they’re hooked that a full glass rod can’t provide at this weight and action.
So let’s recap: it’s lighter and stronger, perfectly balanced, will bring more fish all the way to the boat, won’t wear you out all day, is designed to throw countless baits in various sizes, is backed by a lifetime guarantee, and is under $250. I guess to me the only real question is how many do you want?
Authored by Jim Root, check out his website www.jimrootfishing.com, or his blog at Weather Underground Reel Weather.
Connect with Jim on Fishidy
Locals proudly call this cedar-lined 43,100-acre reservoir in The Ozarks – “The Rock” – and for Mike Iaconelli it sets the stage for an unavoidable pun.
After a 75th-place finish at Seminole, and a 64th on the St. Johns, he finds himself between “The Rock” and a hard place in the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings as he and the other Elite Series pros practice on Table Rock today.
Will this be the tournament where Ike turns around his 2014 season?
