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WENDLANDT WINS WALMART FLW TOUR ON POTOMAC RIVER PRESENTED BY RANGER BOATS

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WENDLANDT WINS WALMART FLW TOUR ON POTOMAC RIVER PRESENTED BY RANGER BOATS

WENDLANDT WINS WALMART FLW TOUR ON POTOMAC RIVER PRESENTED BY RANGER BOATS

Legendary Texas Angler Beats 140 Pros, Wins $125,000 in Nationally Televised Event

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MARBURY, Md. (June 28, 2015) – When professional angler Clark Wendlandt of Leander, Texas, was forced to withdraw from the Walmart FLW Tour in 2014 after suffering a heart attack he wasn’t sure if he’d ever be able to fish competitively again. After a few months of recovery and undergoing cardiac rehabilitation, Wendlandt made the decision to return to the Tour in 2015.

His decision was validated Sunday when the three-time Angler of the Year brought a five-bass limit weighing 12 pounds, 14 ounces to the scale to win the Walmart FLW Tour at the Potomac River presented by Ranger Boats. Wendlandt’s four-day total of 20 bass weighing 60 pounds even earned him the win by a 4-pound, 4-ounce margin over Livingston Lures pro Andy Morgan of Dayton, Tennessee, and the top cash award of $125,000 in the internationally-televised event that featured 142 of the best bass-fishing anglers in the world competing in the final regular-season tournament of the season.
“For a long time now since the heart attack I’ve felt fine,” said Wendlandt, who had three top-20 finishes on the FLW Tour this season. “There is some damage, but I went through the rehab and got my heart back up to normal limits. I still love to fish and this season has been really, really good.”
Wendlandt spent the majority of his tournament picking apart key places in a large area in Potomac Creek. Wendlandt said his area had matted grass, docks and shallow wood, but the docks were key.
“I managed my area really well this week,” Wendlandt said. “I was only catching six to nine fish a day. Today, I only caught five. The majority of my fish came on two baits – a white Z-Man ChatterBait with a shad-colored Lake Fork Live Magic Shad and a ½-ounce green-pumpkin 4×4 Bass Jig. I caught a couple on a swimjig and a couple on a tube as well, but the ChatterBait and the jig were more effective.”
Wendlandt may have not even made the top-10 cut to fish Sunday had it not been for an incredible act of sportsmanship by fellow competitor Shinichi Fukae.  Wendlandt started day three in first place, but soon experienced mechanical problems that would effectively end his day and force him to get an early tow back to the marina. However Fukae, who was fishing at a nearby location, offered to let Wendlandt use his boat for the remainder of the day – a decision that would allow Wendlandt to finish his day on the water and remain in contention for the win, but guarantee Fukae a zero for the day and a 20th-place finish.
“Without Shin, this win wouldn’t have been possible,” Wendlandt said. “I can’t say enough about him. What he did yesterday, giving me his boat… I cannot thank him enough.”
After this week’s strong showing on the Potomac Wendlandt ended the season ranked 18th in the Angler of the Year Race and qualified for the 16th-Forrest Wood Cup appearance of his career – the first since 2012.
“I love Lake Ouachita and I can’t wait to get there for the Forrest Wood Cup,” Wendlandt went on to say. “I feel like I’ve got some momentum right now and I’m excited for the opportunity to fish for a half a million dollars.”
The top 10 pros finished the tournament:
               1st:          Clark Wendlandt, Leander, Texas, 20 bass, 60-0, $125,000
               2nd:         Livingston Lures pro Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., 20 bass, 55-12, $28,309
               3rd:          Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., 20 bass, 54-1, $23,575
               4th:          Darrel Robertson, Jay, Okla., 20 bass, 52-13, $18,842
               5th:          John Voyles, Petersburg, Ind., 20 bass, 52-10, $17,895
               6th:          Scott Martin, Clewiston, Fla., 20 bass, 52-9, $16,949
               7th:          Randy Haynes, Counce, Tenn., 20 bass, 51-14, $16,002
               8th:          Bryan Schmitt, Deale, Md., 20 bass, 51-12, $15,055
               9th:          Larry Nixon, Bee Branch, Ark., 20 bass, 51-5, $14,109
               10th:        Jim Moynagh, Carver, Minn., 20 bass, 49-2, $13,162
A complete list of results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Overall there were 50 bass weighing 118 pounds, 13 ounces caught by pros Sunday. All of the top-10 professionals weighed in five-bass limits.
For the first time in his storied career, pro Scott Martin of Clewiston, Florida, wrapped up the Angler of the Year title on Saturday. He narrowly edged out pro John Cox of DeBary, Florida, in a tightly contested race that thrilled fishing fans throughout the season. Martin, who clinched the first Angler of the Year title of his career as well as a check for $100,000, also will receive an automatic berth into the 2016 Forrest Wood Cup along with a new Ranger Z518C boat.
Pro Zack Birge of Blanchard, Oklahoma, clinched the 2015 Walmart FLW Tour Rookie of the Year award Friday, which is awarded to the rookie pro angler who finishes the season with the highest point total.
Jim Jones of Big Bend, Wisconsin, won the co-angler division and $25,000 Friday with a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 25 pounds, 2 ounces, followed by Kyle Prskalo of Hobart, Indiana, who finished in second place with eight bass weighing 23 pounds, 15 ounces worth $7,081.
John Hunter of Shelbyville, Kentucky, clinched the Walmart FLW Tour Co-Angler of the Year title Friday and won a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard.
The Walmart FLW Tour stop on the Potomac River presented by Ranger Boats was hosted by the Charles County Board of Commissioners. It was the sixth and final regular-season tournament in the FLW Tour’s 2015 season. The final FLW Tour event of 2015 will be the 2015 Forrest Wood Cup presented by Walmart held on Lake Ouachita, August 20-23 in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The event will be hosted by the Visit Hot Springs and Arkansas Parks and Tourism. For a complete schedule, visit FLWFishing.com.
In addition to casting for top awards of up to $125,000 cash in the pro division and up to $25,000 cash in the co-angler division, anglers are also competing for valuable points in hopes of qualifying for the 2015 Forrest Wood Cup, the world championship of bass fishing. The Forrest Wood Cup Champion could win as much as $500,000 – professional bass-fishing’s richest prize.
Coverage of the Potomac River tournament will be broadcast in high-definition (HD) on NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) November 2 from 7 p.m.-8 p.m. EDT when Season 20 of “FLW” returns this fall. The Emmy-nominated “FLW” television show airs on NBCSN, the Pursuit Channel and the World Fishing Network and is broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, making it the most widely distributed weekly outdoors-sports television show in the world.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing.

WENDLANDT EXTENDS LEAD, MARTIN CLINCHES ANGLER OF THE YEAR TITLE AT WALMART FLW TOUR ON POTOMAC RIVER PRESENTED BY RANGER BOATS

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WENDLANDT EXTENDS LEAD, MARTIN CLINCHES ANGLER OF THE YEAR TITLE AT WALMART FLW TOUR ON POTOMAC RIVER PRESENTED BY RANGER BOATS

WENDLANDT EXTENDS LEAD, MARTIN CLINCHES ANGLER OF THE YEAR TITLE AT WALMART FLW TOUR ON POTOMAC RIVER PRESENTED BY RANGER BOATS

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MARBURY, Md. (June 27, 2015) – Pro angler Clark Wendlandt of Leander, Texas, brought a five-bass limit to the scale Saturday weighing 14 pounds, 8 ounces to extend his lead on day three of the Walmart FLW Tour at the Potomac River presented by Ranger Boats. The tournament now heads into the fourth and final day of competition and the field is cut to the final 10 in the four-day event, hosted by the Charles County Board of Commissioners, that featured 142 of the best bass-fishing anglers in the world casting for the top cash award of up to $125,000.

Wendlandt’s three-day cumulative weight of 47-2 extended his lead to 3 pounds, 12 ounces over second-place angler Adrian Avena of Vineland, New Jersey, who has a three-day weight of 15 bass totaling 43-6.
“Today I focused on two key areas that I’ve been hitting all week,” said Wendlandt, who is seeking his first win on the Walmart FLW Tour since 2001. “I’m keeping things fairly simple and just trying to grind it out as much as I can.
“I arrived at my first area and caught three keepers before 10 a.m.,” continued Wendlandt. “That’s when I began to experience engine trouble. It wasn’t long before I was stuck out there.”
Wendlandt planned to use his trolling motor to scrape together whatever he could for the day and get an early tow in back to the marina. However, fellow competitor Shinichi Fukae, who was fishing at a nearby location, in a tremendous showing of sportsmanship offered to let Wendlandt use his boat for the remainder of the day – a decision that would guarantee Fukae a zero for the day and a 20th-place finish.
“It’s probably one of the greatest acts of sportsmanship I’ve seen in my time bass fishing,” Wendlandt said. “We’re all out here competing for a lot of money so for him to do that really shows his true character.
“After switching boats I was able to move around in my areas more freely and ended up catching four more bass,” said Wendlandt.
Wendlandt said he caught eight keepers in less than two feet of water over the course of the day using two primary baits.
“I’m really not sure how I’m going to fish tomorrow,” said Wendlandt. “It’s going to be interesting because of the amount of rain we’re getting. All I know is that I’ll be returning to my main areas.”
The top 10 pros advancing to the final day of competition on the Potomac River are:
               1st:          Clark Wendlandt, Leander, Texas, 15 bass, 47-2
               2nd:         Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., 15 bass, 43-6
               3rd:          Bryan Schmitt, Deale, Md., 15 bass, 42-1
               4th:          Livingston Lures pro Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., 15 bass, 42-0
               5th:          Scott Martin, Clewiston, Fla., 15 bass, 40-14
               6th:          Darrel Robertson, Jay, Okla., 15 bass, 40-8
               7th:          John Voyles, Petersburg, Ind., 15 bass, 39-7
               8th:          Larry Nixon, Bee Branch, Ark., 15 bass, 39-6
               9th:          Randy Haynes, Counce, Tenn., 15 bass, 39-3
               10th:        Jim Moynagh, Carver, Minn., 15 bass, 39-2
Finishing in 11th through 20th are:
               11th:        Keystone Light pro Jeff Sprague, Point, Texas, 15 bass, 38-2, $11,269
               12th:        Scott Wiley, Bay Minette, Ala., 15 bass, 37-11, $11,269
               13th:        Rusty Trancygier, Hahira, Ga., 14 bass, 37-5, $11,269
               14th:        Ishama Monroe, Hughson, Calif., 15 bass, 36-12, $11,269
               15th:        Barry Wilson, Birmingham, Ala., 15 bass, 35-9, $11,269
               16th:        Quaker State pro Scott Canterbury, Springville, Ala., 14 bass, 34-9, $11,269
               17th:        Blake Nick, Adger, Ala., 13 bass, 34-2, $11,269
               18th:        Jason Lambert, Pickwick Dam, Tenn., 13 bass, 32-14, $11,269
               19th:        Michael Wooley, Collierville, Tenn., 13 bass, 31-1, $11,269
               20th:        Shinichi Fukae, Palestine, Texas, 10 bass, 26-1, $11,269
A complete list of results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Overall there were 87 bass weighing 212 pounds, 12 ounces caught by pros Saturday. Fourteen of the final 20 pros weighed in five-bass limits.
Anglers were also vying for the prestigious 2015 Walmart FLW Tour Angler of the Year title that is determined by the most points accumulated over the six Tour events in 2015.
For the first time in his storied career, pro Scott Martin of Clewiston, Florida, wrapped up the Angler of the Year title on Saturday. He narrowly edged out pro John Cox of DeBary, Florida, in a tightly contested race that thrilled fishing fans throughout the season. Martin, who clinched the first Angler of the Year title of his career as well as a check for $100,000, also will receive an automatic berth into the 2016 Forrest Wood Cup.
Pro Zack Birge of Blanchard, Oklahoma, clinched the 2015 Walmart FLW Tour Rookie of the Year award Friday, which is awarded to the rookie pro angler who finishes the season with the highest point total.
Jim Jones of Big Bend, Wisconsin, won the co-angler division and $25,000 Friday with a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 25 pounds, 2 ounces, followed by Kyle Prskalo of Hobart, Indiana, who finished in second place with eight bass weighing 23 pounds, 15 ounces worth $7,081.
John Hunter of Shelbyville, Kentucky, clinched the Walmart FLW Tour Co-Angler of the Year title Friday and won a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard.
Anglers will take off from Smallwood State Park located at 2750 Sweden Point Road in Marbury at 6:30 a.m. EST on Sunday for the final day of competition. Sunday’s final weigh-in will be held at Walmart, located at 40 Drury Drive in La Plata, Maryland, beginning at 4 p.m.
Fans will also be treated to the FLW Expo on Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. at Walmart in La Plata prior to the final weigh-ins. The Expo includes a Ranger boat simulator, the opportunity to interact with professional anglers, enjoy interactive games, activities and giveaways provided by sponsors, and learn more about the sport of fishing and other outdoor activities. All activities are free and open to the public.
Coverage of the Potomac River tournament will be broadcast in high-definition (HD) on NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) November 2 from 7 p.m.-8 p.m. EDT when Season 20 of “FLW” returns this fall. The Emmy-nominated “FLW” television show airs on NBCSN, the Pursuit Channel and the World Fishing Network and is broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, making it the most widely distributed weekly outdoors-sports television show in the world.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing.
ABOUT FLW

Smith Mountain Lake Fishing Report July 2015 By Captain Dale Wilson

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Smith Mountain Lake Fishing Report July 2015 By Captain Dale Wilson

SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE FISHING REPORT
July 2015
DALE WILSON’S
SML GUIDE SERVICE
PHONE NO: 540-297-5650 / 540-874-4950
www.captaindalewilson.com

IMG_20150611_193709Picture: Jess Henley from Florida with a nice largemouth bass caught and released a few days ago, while fishing with Captain Dale. 

OVERVIEW: Fishing will be fair this month! Water temperature will be in the 80’s. Best times will be early morning, late afternoon and after dark. The unusually hot weather has made for tough fishing the past couple of weeks. Night fishing for largemouth bass has been fair. Stripers should start to school and move into their summer habitat soon.

Largemouth Bass- Fishing for largemouth bass will be fair this month. Best lures will be jigs, drop shot rigs, top water lures, Carolina rigs, large Texas rigged plastic worms and shaky heads. Most largemouth bass will be caught near creek channels, rock piles, brush piles, humps, ledges, and deep docks. Best depths will be from the surface to 25 feet deep. Most largemouth bass will have moved to their summer patterns . Rocks, creek channel bends and brush piles are key factors to finding bass this month. Please practice catch and release.

Smallmouth Bass- Fishing should be fair. Best areas will be rocks, humps, ledges, and main channel points. Best lures will be jig & pig, tubes, hair jigs and top water lures. Best areas will be in the mid to the lower sections of the lake. Most smallmouth bass will be suspended this month near schools of baitfish. Cloudy days with light winds are good times to try your luck! Light line and smaller lures will increase your chances to catch smallmouth bass.

Striped Bass- Fishing will be fair. Stripers will be caught in the mid to lower sections of the lake and the
larger creeks. Best lures will be top water poppers, and Zoom flukes fished on 1/2 to 3/4 oz. lead heads. The best depths will be from the 25 to 45 feet deep. Live bait will work this month. Night fishing will be poor this month. Some schools of stripers may surface briefly this month!

Crappie- Fishing for crappie will be poor this month. They will be found 10 to 25 feet deep. Best areas will be in the main creeks around docks, fallen trees, and brush piles in the mid to upper sections of the lake. Small live minnows and 1½ to 2 inch tubes or shad shaped plastic lures fished on 1/16 to 1/8 oz. lead heads will work best to catch crappie this month.

TIP OF THE Month: Make sure you wear plenty of sunscreen and stay hydrated while fishing in the heat of the day! Best times to fish will be early morning and at night. Make sure your running lights are on after dark! The use of a black light at night will help you to see better after dark! Make sure you wear your life jacket. You can never be too careful when boating after dark! Remember to be courteous and obey all the boating laws. Please practice catch and release. Take a kid fishing!

WENDLANDT TAKES LEAD AT WALMART FLW TOUR ON POTOMAC RIVER PRESENTED BY RANGER BOATS

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WENDLANDT TAKES LEAD AT WALMART FLW TOUR ON POTOMAC RIVER PRESENTED BY RANGER BOATS
WENDLANDT TAKES LEAD AT WALMART FLW TOUR ON POTOMAC RIVER PRESENTED BY RANGER BOATS
Wisconsin’s Jones Wins Co-Angler Title, $25,000
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 MARBURY, Md. (June 26, 2015) – Pro angler Clark Wendlandt of Leander, Texas, brought five bass to the scale Friday weighing 17 pounds, 13 ounces to grab the lead on day two of the Walmart FLW Tour at the Potomac River presented by Ranger Boats. Wendlandt now has a two-day catch of 10 bass totaling 32-10 and holds a 1-pound, 12-ounce lead over second place pro Bryan Schmitt of Deale, Maryland, in the four-day tournament, hosted by the Charles County Board of Commissioners, that features 142 of the top bass-fishing anglers in the world competing for a top cash award of up to $125,000.

“I focused on a lot of the same areas that I did yesterday,” said Wendlandt, who is chasing his fourth tournament win as a professional on the FLW Tour. “I didn’t catch a whole lot of fish today but the ones I did bring in were good-sized.”
Of the handful of bass Wendlandt did catch, he said it was the 5-pounder he reeled in around 11 a.m. that gave him a much-needed confidence boost.
“On this river that’s a big fish right now,” said Wendlandt “I’d say catching that fish is what really set today’s performance apart from yesterday.
“If this wasn’t a tidal fishery there’s no way my pattern would hold up,” continued Wendlandt. “But the fact that the water is constantly moving in and coming up and changing the location of the fish, there’s definitely an opportunity for it to work.”
Looking ahead to tomorrow’s top-20 showdown, Wendlandt said he has a few spots left to try and pull together a solid limit.
“I may hit some of the new stuff,” said Wendlandt. “It just really depends on how the day is going. I could see myself going in there and catching them quick or I could see it being a struggle. It’s just really hard to tell right now.”
The top 20 pros that made the Buck Knives Cut and will fish Saturday on the Potomac River are:
               1st:          Clark Wendlandt, Leander, Texas, 10 bass, 32-10
               2nd:         Bryan Schmitt, Deale, Md., 10 bass, 30-14
               3rd:          Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., 10 bass, 30-12
               4th:          Darrel Robertson, Jay, Okla., 10 bass, 28-3
               5th:          Jason Lambert, Pickwick Dam, Tenn., 10 bass, 27-2
               6th:          Quaker State pro Scott Canterbury, Springville, Ala., 10 bass, 26-15
               7th:          Jim Moynagh, Carver, Minn., 10 bass, 26-14
               8th:          Keystone Light pro Jeff Sprague, Point, Texas, 10 bass, 26-11
               9th:          Randy Haynes, Counce, Tenn., 10 bass, 26-11
               10th:        John Voyles, Petersburg, Ind., 10 bass, 26-10
               11th:        Scott Martin, Clewiston, Fla., 10 bass, 26-9
               12th:        Larry Nixon, Bee Branch, Ark., 10 bass, 26-8
               13th:        Blake Nick, Adger, Ala., 10 bass, 26-7
               14th:        Livingston Lures pro Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., 10 bass, 26-5
               15th:        Scott Wiley, Bay Minette, Ala., 10 bass, 26-3
               16th:        Shinichi Fukae, Palestine, Texas, 10 bass, 26-1
               17th:        Rusty Trancygier, Hahira, Ga., 10 bass, 26-0
               18th:        Ishama Monroe, Hughson, Calif., 10 bass, 25-12
               19th:        Michael Wooley, Collierville, Tenn., 10 bass, 25-10
               20th:        Barry Wilson, Birmingham, Ala., 10 bass, 25-10
For a full list of results visit FLWFishing.com.
Mike Boyles of Kimberling City, Missouri, won the Bridgford Big Bass Award on the pro side Friday with a bass weighing 6 pounds, 2 ounces, to win the $500 prize.
Overall there were 643 bass weighing 1,468 pounds, 14 ounces caught by 139 pros Friday. The catch included 112 five-bass limits.
Pro Zack Birge of Blanchard, Oklahoma, clinched the 2015 Walmart FLW Tour Rookie of the Year award Friday, which is awarded to the rookie pro angler who finishes the season with the highest point total.
Jim Jones of Big Bend, Wisconsin, won the co-angler division and $25,000 Friday with a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 25 pounds, 2 ounces, followed by Kyle Prskalo of Hobart, Indiana, who finished in second place with eight bass weighing 23 pounds, 15 ounces worth $7,081.
The top 10 co-anglers finished:
               1st:          Jim Jones, Big Bend, Wis., 10 bass, 25-2, $25,000
               2nd:         Kyle Prskalo, Hobart, Ind., 10 bass, 23-15, $7,081
               3rd:          Shane Melton, Kokomo, Ind., 10 bass, 23-9, $4,715
               4th:          Timmy Thompkins, Myrtle Beach, S.C., 10 bass, 22-3, $3,851
               5th:          Joey Cifuentes, Clinton, Ark., 10 bass, 21-13, $2,821
               6th:          Tee Watkins, East Point, Ky., 10 bass, 21-6, $2,348
               7th:          Eric Self, Lawndale, N.C., seven bass, 21-3, $1,875
               8th:          Simon Borja, Johnson City, Tenn., 10 bass, 21-1, $1,685
               9th:          Jordan Osborne, Longview, Texas, 10 bass, 21-0, $1,591
               10th:        Todd Lee, Jasper, Ala., eight bass, 20-12, $1,496
Complete results for the remaining field can be found at FLWFishing.com.
J.P. Sims of Cookeville, Tennessee, caught Friday’s Bridgford Big Bass in the co-angler division, a bass weighing 4 pounds, 2 ounces to win the $250 prize.
Overall there were 411 bass weighing 833 pounds even caught by co-anglers Friday. The catch included 41 five-bass limits.
In addition to casting for top awards of up to $125,000 cash in the pro division and up to $25,000 cash in the co-angler division, anglers are also competing for valuable points in hopes of qualifying for the 2015 Forrest Wood Cup, the world championship of bass fishing. The 2015 Forrest Wood Cup will be in Hot Springs, Arkansas, Aug. 20-23 on Lake Ouachita and is hosted by Visit Hot Springs. The Forrest Wood Cup Champion could win as much as $500,000 – professional bass-fishing’s richest prize.
John Hunter of Shelbyville, Kentucky, clinched the Walmart FLW Tour Co-Angler of the Year title Friday and won a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard.
Anglers will take off from Smallwood State Park located at 2750 Sweden Point Road in Marbury at 6:30 a.m. EST each day of competition. Saturday and Sunday’s final weigh-ins will be held at Walmart, located at 40 Drury Drive in La Plata, Maryland, beginning at 4 p.m.
Fans will also be treated to the FLW Expo on Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. at Walmart in La Plata prior to the final weigh-ins. The Expo includes a Ranger boat simulator, the opportunity to interact with professional anglers, enjoy interactive games, activities and giveaways provided by sponsors, and learn more about the sport of fishing and other outdoor activities. All activities are free and open to the public. Pros Rich Dalbey and Todd Hollowell’s “Hooked on Helping” foundation will be hosting a food drive to benefit the Southern Maryland Food Bank. FLW fans who donate five or more cans of food will be entered to win a $50 Walmart gift card.
Coverage of the Potomac River tournament will be broadcast in high-definition (HD) on NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) November 2 from 7 p.m.-8 p.m. EDT when Season 20 of “FLW” returns this fall. The Emmy-nominated “FLW” television show airs on NBCSN, the Pursuit Channel and the World Fishing Network and is broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, making it the most widely distributed weekly outdoors-sports television show in the world.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing.

MIROONAMOO MEDIA GROUP SIGNS EXCLUSIVE FLW LICENSING AGREEMENT TO RUN FLW TOURNAMENTS IN SOUTH KOREA

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MIROONAMOO MEDIA GROUP SIGNS EXCLUSIVE FLW LICENSING AGREEMENT TO RUN FLW TOURNAMENTS IN SOUTH KOREA
MIROONAMOO MEDIA GROUP SIGNS EXCLUSIVE FLW LICENSING AGREEMENT TO RUN FLW TOURNAMENTS IN SOUTH KOREA
MARBURY, Md. (June 26, 2015) – FLW announced today an exclusive licensing agreement with MirooNamoo Media Group from South Korea to begin sanctioning FLW bass-fishing tournaments in the Eastern-Asian country at a contract signing preceding the weigh-in at the Walmart FLW Tour at the Potomac River presented by Ranger Boats.
South Korea will run a series of FLW tournaments that advance anglers, who are citizens of the host country, to a new international division at the Rayovac FLW Series Championship beginning in 2016. Two anglers will compete as pros with FLW providing Ranger boats and two will compete as co-anglers. The top pro award at the Rayovac FLW Series Championship is $95,000, including a Ranger Z518C if the pro is Ranger Cup qualified, and the top co-angler award is a Ranger Z117.
The highest finishing pro from the newly introduced International Division at the Rayovac FLW Series Championship will advance to the following year’s Forrest Wood Cup for the chance to compete on the sport’s biggest stage for $500,000 – the biggest payday in bass fishing. FLW will also provide a Ranger boat for use in the Forrest Wood Cup.
“There are many fisherman in South Korea, but not many opportunities to compete in tournaments,” said Jin-Soo Kang, CEO of MiruNamu, Inc., and Director of OBS broadcasting. “Bringing FLW tournaments to Korea will bring a great boost in popularity and awareness to the sport of tournament bass-fishing.”
Named after the founder of Ranger Boats, Forrest L. Wood, FLW introduced its Fishing League Worldwide tagline last year to better reflect its status as the world’s largest tournament fishing organization. Earlier this year FLW expanded its presence on the world stage with the introduction of a sanctioning program allowing international partners to license the iconic brand and run FLW tournaments abroad.
“We are very excited to announce our partnership with the MirooNamoo Media Group to bring FLW tournaments to South Korea,” said Kathy Fennel, FLW President of Operations. “Our television show has aired in South Korea for many years and there are many anglers there that are very excited at the prospect of advancing to the Rayovac FLW Series Championship and ultimately the Forrest Wood Cup.”
South Korea is the second country to sign on for international sanctioning. Canada has already signed on as FLW’s partner under the new program and is set to host an FLW tournament in 2015 with at least three events slated in Canada for 2016. Additional FLW qualifying tournaments in other countries are forthcoming. Watch FLWFishing.com for details.

Set the Hook! with Pat Rose – Jun 20, 2015 Featuring Bassmaster Elite Series Pro Chris Lane, 2014 Rookie of the Year Bassmaster Elite Series Pro Jacob Powroznik

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Set the Hook! with Pat Rose – Jun 20, 2015 Featuring Bassmaster Elite Series Pro Chris Lane, 2014 Rookie of the Year Bassmaster Elite Series Pro Jacob Powroznik

Set the Hook! with Pat Rose – Jun 20, 2015

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chris_lanejacob_powroznikboaters_insurance_agencyOur guests this week were Bassmaster Elite Series Pro Chris Lane, 2014 Rookie of the Year Bassmaster Elite Series Pro Jacob Powroznik, and from Boater’s Insurance Agency Gabe Berkowitz.

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).

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AVENA LEADS DAY ONE OF WALMART FLW TOUR ON POTOMAC RIVER PRESENTED BY RANGER BOATS

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AVENA LEADS DAY ONE OF WALMART FLW TOUR ON POTOMAC RIVER PRESENTED BY RANGER BOATS

AVENA LEADS DAY ONE OF WALMART FLW TOUR ON POTOMAC RIVER PRESENTED BY RANGER BOATS

North Carolina’s Self Leads Co-Anglers

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MARBURY, Md. (June 25, 2015) – Pro angler Adrian Avena of Vineland, New Jersey, brought a five-bass limit to the scale Thursday weighing 16 pounds, 12 ounces to take the lead after day one of the Walmart FLW Tour at the Potomac River presented by Ranger Boats. Avena will start the second day of competition with a 1-pound, 6-ounce lead in the nationally televised four-day tournament, hosted by the Charles County Board of Commissioners, that features 142 of the top bass-fishing anglers in the world competing for a top cash award of up to $125,000.

Right behind Avena in second place is pro Troy Morrow of Eastanollee, Georgia, who weighed in five bass totaling 15 pounds, 6 ounces.
Prior to the start of the tournament many anglers were lamenting the tough conditions and wondering if they were going to be able to catch a fish, let alone a five-bass limit. However when the final fish was weighed Thursday, 114 of the 142 pros competing were able to fill their limits and the entire field caught at least one fish.
 “I’ve been looking forward to this event all season long,” said Avena, who has two prior top-10 finishes in FLW Tour competition, including a ninth-place finish earlier this season at Lake Eufaula. “This is the closest tournament to home, and I grew up saltwater fishing and I love tidal waters. That’s what I did today – run the tide. I probably hit 25 different places today and caught 15 keepers.
“Some of the places are one-fish spots and others are multiple-fish places,” Avena continued. “I’m fishing a combination of grass, current and rock – textbook tidal-river junk fishing. I have like 20 rods on my deck, and I caught my keepers today on seven different baits. Basic stuff – a ChatterBait, swimjig, frog, small crankbait and a weightless worm. “
Avena said that he culled out a solid 12-pound limit throughout the day and left a few areas where fish were still biting.
“I was catching 2- and 2½-pounders, but they weren’t helping me and those fish could potentially help to get me to the weekend,” Avena said.
“If we get a bunch of rain tonight, that could really mess up the conditions and I’ll likely have to scrap my plans and just go fishing tomorrow,” Avena went on to say. “But, every day in practice it seemed like I was catching around 12 to 14 pounds so hopefully I can continue to catch that. I’m looking forward to getting back out there.”
The top 10 pros after day one on the Potomac River are:
               1st:          Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., five bass, 16-12
               2nd:         Troy Morrow, Eastanollee, Ga., five bass, 15-6
               3rd:          Bryan Schmitt, Deale, Md., five bass, 15-5
               4th:          Travis Fox, Rogers, Ark., five bass, 15-2
               5th:          Shinichi Fukae, Palestine, Texas, five bass, 15-1
               6th:          Clark Wendlandt, Leander, Texas, five bass, 14-13
               7th:          Andrew Upshaw, Sapulpa, Okla., five bass, 14-8
               8th:          John Voyles, Petersburg, Ind., five bass, 14-7
               9th:          Randy Haynes, Counce, Tenn., five bass, 14-6
               10th:        Jay Yelas, Corvallis, Ore., five bass, 14-3
For a full list of results visit FLWFishing.com.
Fukae and Michael Wooley of Collierville, Tennessee, tied for the Bridgford Big Bass Award on the pro side Thursday, each weighing bass totaling 5 pounds, 2 ounces to split the $500 prize.
Overall there were 646 bass weighing 1,479 pounds, 14 ounces caught by 142 pros Thursday. The catch included 114 five-bass limits.
Eric Self of Lawndale, North Carolina, leads the co-angler division with five bass weighing 15 pounds, 14 ounces followed by Shane Melton of Kokomo, Indiana, in second place with five bass weighing 12-13.
The top 10 co-anglers are:
               1st:          Eric Self, Lawndale, N.C., five bass, 15-14
               2nd:         Shane Melton, Kokomo, Ind., five bass, 12-13
               3rd:          Kyle Prskalo, Hobart, Ind., five bass, 12-3
               4th:          Warren Shores, Bulls Gap, Tenn., five bass, 12-0
               5th:          Simon Borja, Johnson City, Tenn., five bass, 11-15
               5th:          Jim Jones, Big Bend, Wis., five bass, 11-15
               7th:          Tee Watkins, East Point, Ky., five bass, 11-11
               8th:          Jim Short, Ocean Pines, Md., five bass, 11-10
               9th:          Mark Holman, Cornelius, N.C., five bass, 11-2
               10th:        Joey Cifuentes, Clinton, Ark., five bass, 11-1
               10th:        Jim Hippensteel, Rochester, Ind., five bass, 11-1
There was a three-way tie for Thursday’s Bridgford Big Bass Award in the co-angler division. Josh Smith of Hamilton, Ohio, Timmy Thompkins of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and Nathan Ragsdale of Fayetteville, Georgia, each caught a bass weighing 4 pounds, 7 ounces to split the $250 prize.
Overall there were 444 bass weighing 913 pounds, 3 ounces caught by co-anglers Thursday. The catch included 39 five-bass limits.
In addition to casting for top awards of up to $125,000 cash in the pro division and up to $25,000 cash in the co-angler division, anglers are also competing for valuable points in hopes of qualifying for the 2015 Forrest Wood Cup, the world championship of bass fishing. The 2015 Forrest Wood Cup will be in Hot Springs, Arkansas, Aug. 20-23 on Lake Ouachita and is hosted by Visit Hot Springs. The Forrest Wood Cup Champion could win as much as $500,000 – professional bass-fishing’s richest prize.
Anglers will take off from Smallwood State Park located at 2750 Sweden Point Road in Marbury at 6:30 a.m. EST each day of competition. Friday’s weigh-in will be held at the State Park beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday’s final weigh-ins will be held at Walmart, located at 40 Drury Drive in La Plata, Maryland, beginning at 4 p.m.
Fans will also be treated to the FLW Expo on Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. at Walmart in La Plata prior to the final weigh-ins. The Expo includes a Ranger boat simulator, the opportunity to interact with professional anglers, enjoy interactive games, activities and giveaways provided by sponsors, and learn more about the sport of fishing and other outdoor activities. All activities are free and open to the public. Pros Rich Dalbey and Todd Hollowell’s “Hooked on Helping” foundation will be hosting a food drive to benefit the Southern Maryland Food Bank. FLW fans who donate five or more cans of food will be entered to win a $50 Walmart gift card.
Coverage of the Potomac River tournament will be broadcast in high-definition (HD) on NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) November 2 from 7 p.m.-8 p.m. EDT when Season 20 of “FLW” returns this fall. The Emmy-nominated “FLW” television show airs on NBCSN, the Pursuit Channel and the World Fishing Network and is broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, making it the most widely distributed weekly outdoors-sports television show in the world.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing.

Top College Anglers To Compete In National Championship

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Top College Anglers To Compete In National Championship

The Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops heads to Lake DuBay out of Stevens Point, Wis., July 9-11. Here, the 2014 champions Andrew Helms (left) and Jake Whitaker of the University of North Carolina-Charlotte will get the chance to defend their title.

Photo by Shaye Baker/Bassmaster

June 25, 2015

Top College Anglers To Compete In National Championship

STEVENS POINT, Wis. — Eighty-five collegiate bass fishing teams will converge on Lake DuBay July 9-11 for the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops, marking the first time for Wisconsin to host the finals.

The field of qualifiers is the largest in the history of the program, according to Hank Weldon, B.A.S.S. College tournament manager. The anglers represent 60 colleges and universities. The teams qualified for the championship through five regional tournaments and a wild card event.

Weldon said Stevens Point boasts a passionate fishing community and will prove to be great hosts for the college students, many of whom will be fishing in Wisconsin for the first time.

“The fishing in DuBay is reported to be tough, yet we’ve seen some of the anglers practicing showing off some really big bass on their social media feeds,” Weldon said. “It’s definitely going to be a challenging event, but the world’s best collegiate anglers need to be challenged for a championship.”

Leading the championship qualifiers is the team of Jake Whitaker and Andrew Helms of the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, who were the 2014 champions and also qualified through the Carhartt Eastern Regional. They’re the first full team to try to defend their title; other championship teams in the past have been broken up through graduation or other changes.

“This is the point that every college angler wants to get to,” Whitaker said. “For us to be automatically qualified was good, but we wanted to prove that we deserved to be there again. To qualify again and have the chance to defend our title is exciting, but at the same time it’s a hard task to accomplish.”

The full field of teams will compete on the 6,830-acre Lake DuBay on Days 1 and 2 (July 9-10). The Top 5 teams will compete for the national championship crown on July 11. Following the team finals, the Top 4 teams will move on to the bracket format in which they will compete individually for a spot in the 2016 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro on Grand Lake in Oklahoma.

Takeoffs will be at 6 a.m. from the Tiki Beach Bar and Grill (1126 County Road DB, Mosinee, WI 54455), and weigh-ins will take place at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Sun Dial (2040 Portage St., Stevens Point, WI 54481).

Bassmaster.com will cover the event with live reports from the lake, live-streamed weigh-ins, photos and stories. Follow all of the national championship coverage on social media as well at www.facebook.com/collegebass and by using the hashtag #collegebass.

Local hosts for the events are the Stevens Point Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, Stevens Point Area Central Wisconsin Sports Commission, Tike Beach Bar and Grill, Travel Wisconsin and the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

To see all of the national championship contenders, click here.

Below is a complete list of Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops qualifiers.

Southern Regional Qualifiers
Thomas Oltorik and James Oltorik of Daytona State College
Baylor Ronemus and Cole Tinsley of Clemson University
CJ Knight and Tim Ward of Auburn University
Cody Spears and Justin Mahon of Florida State University
Austin Littrell and Ben Wall of Auburn University
Patrick Walters and Josh Rennebaum of the University of South Carolina
Murphy Klumpp and Lucas Brown of Auburn University
John Duarte and Jonathan Kelley of Coastal Carolina University
Hunter Gibson and Caiden Sinclair of the University of Alabama
Anderson Aldag and Lee Mattox of the University of Alabama
Josh Oliver and Nathan George of Gadsden State Community College
Ross Burns and Richard Nesbitt of Clemson University
Ross Dove and Richie Young of Emmanuel College
Kevin Lucas and Kyle Stafford of University of Central Florida
Grant Galloway and Joe Marty of Mississippi State University
Jacob Reome and Matthew Garvin of Clemson University
Taylor Minick and Micheal Harbach of Valdosta State University
Frankie Appaluccio and Logan Shaddix of the University of Alabama

Midwestern Regional Qualifiers
Justin Brown and Brandon Bissell of Northern Michigan University
Cade Laufenberg and Wyatt Stout of Winona State University
Austin Brimeyer and Anthony Riesberg of the University of Dubuque
Sheldon Rogge and Lance Maldonado of Kansas State University
Grant Ehlenfeldt and Brett Stanek of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville
Cole Atkinson of St. Ambrose University
Tyler Rocke and Justin Schick of Illinois Central College
Jared Mataczynski and Steve Nebel of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Samuel Moore and Ross Kellermeier of Bemidji State University
Taylor Bivins and Kyle Alsop of Kansas State University
Justin Bruno and Brody Anderson of Grand Valley State University
Trevor Lo and Chris Burgan of the University of Minnesota
Kit Benson and Wes Lashmett of Western Illinois University

Central Regional Qualifiers
John Ledet and Justin Cooper of Northwestern State University
Evan Smith and Aaron Sarna of Arkansas Tech University
Dwight Camp and Jonathan Furlong of Southeastern Oklahoma University
Brock Enmeier and Colten Hutson of the University of Central Oklahoma
Aaron Belgard and Logan Laprarie of Northwestern State University
Tyler Craig and Blake Alford of the University of Louisiana-Monroe
Tyler Stewart and Nick Joiner of the University of Louisiana-Monroe
Josh Bensema and Matthew Mcardle of Texas A&M University
Colby Ogden and Brandon Simoneaux of Lamar University
Garret Lindsey and Clayton Godfrey of Stephen F. Austin State University
Easton Ramsey and Chris Zins of the University Central Oklahoma
Justin Gaskin and James Avant of the University of Louisiana-Shreveport
Brandon Koon and Kyle Winstead of the University of Tennessee-Martin

Western Regional Qualifiers
Laj Tripp and Kyle Sittman of Eastern Washington University
John Zeolla and Clayton Lauchland of California Polytechnic State University
Jarid Gabbert and Taylor Throop of Eastern Washington University
Jacob Wall and Ryan Habenitch of the University of Oregon
Alex Klein of Chico State
Zach MacDonald and Zachary Martinez of Oregon State University
Tanner Austin and Ethan Clark of Sacramento State University
Cy Floyd and Travis Opel of Eastern Washington University

Eastern Regional Qualifiers
Austin Neary and Alex Frazier of Western Carolina University
Chelsey Queen and Kristopher Queen of Bethel University
Kelly Johnson and Jeremy Gilley of Appalachian State University
Edward Rude and Matthew Combs of West Virginia University
Zachary Blalock and Mike Corbishley of East Carolina University
Carson Orellana of Strayer University
Jay Emmert and Christian Peake of the University of Tennessee
Grayson Barber and Hiroto Kinoshita of North Carolina State University
Zander Monk and Taylor Thomas of the University of North Carolina-Charlotte
Hunter Hill and Ethan Howell of Appalachian State University
Cole Blythe and John Auten of the University of North Carolina-Charlotte
Jonathan Peck and Devin Wallis of Bryan College
Jake Whitaker and Andrew Helms of the University of North Carolina-Charlotte
John Garrett and Brian Pahl of Bethel University
Zack Bodford and Matthew Hinkle of North Carolina State University
Matt Allen and Zach Youngblood of Tennessee Tech University
Benjamin Freeman and Dillon McGee of Bethel University

Wild Card Qualifiers
Joshua Butts and Justin Rivers of Wallace State Community College-Hanceville
Phillip Germagliotti and Shane Campbell of McKendree University
Jordan Ledbetter and Trent Robinson of McKendree University
Lance Freeman and Seth Brock of Murray State University
Justin Singleton and Zac Bennett of Georgia College & State University
Alec Castonguay and Garret Whitley of Stephen F. Austin State University
JP Kimbrough and Jared Rascoe of the University of Louisiana-Shreveport
Shelby Hutchens and Brian Blades of Stephen F. Austin State University
Darrell Henson and Brent Rome of the University of Louisiana
Dawson Lenz and Evan Horne of the University of North Alabama
Ethan Snyder and Shaw Owens of Eastern Kentucky University
Brian Eaton and Slade Daniel of the University of Louisiana-Monroe
Tyler Rivet and Allyson Marcel of Nicholls State University

Jason Dew & Tom Elliot Win NC Big Bass Showdown

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Jason Dew & Tom Elliot Win NC Big Bass Showdown

NC Big Bass Showdown Results

A HUGE thank you to everyone that came out today to fish the first NC Big Bass Showdown on Shearon Harris Reservoir as well as our sponsors Torque Power Rods, North Anna Bait Company and C-Squared Lures, llc.

We had 21 boats entered for the tournament and gave cash and prizes out to the top 12 teams as well as hourly cash and prizes to 1st and 2nd for each

First place

Overall Big Bass

1st – $930 + 2 Torque Power Rods- Jason Dew/Tom Elliot – 7.92 lbs
2nd – $500 – TJ Smith/Steven Matthews – 7.38 lbs
3rd – $250 – Jim Freeland/Rodney Bowen – 7.30 lbs
4th – $150 – Seth Ellis/Alan Parker – 5.71 lbs
5th – $100 – Scott Woodson – 5.59 lbs
6th – 1 Torque Power Rod – Travis Parker/Erby Parker – 5.17 lbs
7th – 1 Torque Power Rod – Ernest Wentworth/Anthony Randall – 4.92 lbs
8th – 4 pack ShredFyn Lures C-Squared Lures – Mark McCowan/Craig Scalf – 4.83 lbs
9th – $25 gift card North Anna Bait Company – Durant Blanton/Chad Farino – 4.22 lbs
10th – 4 pack ShredFyn Lures C-Squared Lures – Mike Lamb/Ron Mattingly – 4.12 lbs
11th – North Anna Bait Company Prize Pack – Shawn Hicken/Jody Sykes – 4.11lbs
12th – North Anna Bait Company Prize Pack – Mike Eggars/Mark Willis – 3.94 lbs

Hourly Big Bass Cash Prize was $100 per hour.
1 – Rory Saliger/Rob Ross – 1.71 lbs
2 – Durant Blanton/Chad Farino – 4.22 lbs
3 – Jim Freeland/Rodney Bowen – 7.30 lbs
4 – Jason Dew/Tom Elliot – 7.92 lbs
5 – Durant Blanton/Chad Farino – 1.93 lbs
6 – Ernest Wentworth/Anthony Randall – 4.92 lbs
7 – 5th – $100 – Scott Woodson – 5.59 lbs
8 – 4th – $150 – Seth Ellis/Alan Parker – 5.71 lbs

Thanks again for everyone that came out.

The next NC Big Bass ShowDown has been scheduled for August 29th on Falls. Launching out of Ledge Rock. Hope to see you all there!

Fish with the Confidence of a “Local” Humminbird® SmartStrike™ Helps Anglers Find & Pattern Fish Faster

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Fish with the Confidence of a “Local” Humminbird® SmartStrike™ Helps Anglers Find & Pattern Fish Faster

Fish with the Confidence of a “Local”

Humminbird® SmartStrike™ Helps Anglers Find & Pattern Fish Faster

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Long before web-based fishing forums and social media – finding the best fishing intel was still about networking. Used to be that one of the best ways to learn a new lake was to do a little digging around bait shops, greasy spoons and bars. Armed with nothing more than a little humility and a firm handshake, the end result was often a lake map scribbled on a bar napkin and a new fishing buddy. Shut off the power to Facebook and this is still a great way to learn to waters.

But, there are also a host of other tools available to today’s angler that can minimize the amount of time needed to find and pattern fish.

Bass pro Doug Vahrenberg demonstrates the big payoff of running Humminbird SmartStrike on his ONIX unit

One of the newest and most powerful is Humminbird’s SmartStrike, an SD card-based software program designed for use on Humminbird ONIX and ION fish finders.

In a nutshell, SmartStrike allows you to harness LakeMaster map data and an extensive onboard database to pattern fish. Based on search parameters like fish species, season, time of day, and weather conditions, SmartStrike highlights areas of the lake map where your target species may be located, minimizing wasted casts. It’s like having your own personal local fishing guide with decades of experience.

Build detailed searches by selecting your desired search criteria. Or searches can be fast and easy: Simply click on any location on the water, select Find Similar Areas, and millions of data points are searched to return other areas like the one you selected. The SmartStrike engine searches depth ranges, aspect, type of structure, proximity to major types of lake structure, and more to quickly reveal your results.

Since we all wish we had more time on the water, a product like SmartStrike that promises to put anglers on fish faster should be looked at very seriously. For pros, the ability to fish a like local can mean big payouts. The rest of us? More fun on the water with family and friends – priceless.

Missouri-based bass pro Doug Vahrenberg is one angler who’s currently put SmartStrike into his fish-finding routine.

“Multi-day tournaments come down to finding the right pattern,” says Vahrenberg.

Vahrenberg illustrates his point with a conversation he had with bass legend Rick Clunn about the difference between one-day vs multi-day bass tournaments. Clunn broke down the role of luck from 80% in a one-day tournament, 60% in a two-day tournament and down to 30% by day three. Basically, that multi-day tournaments take more skill than luck – or one big fish. The winner is typically the angler who can uncover the most consistent pattern. Of course, that starts with location. And one hopes that what emerges is a big fish pattern.

“For me, SmartStrike becomes that tool to hedge the bets in my favor. It’s a great search tool to use before I even get to the tournament. I turn on the unit at home, go in and select the conditions I think we’ll be facing and it quickly highlights areas where those seasonal bass patterns may come into play,” says Vahrenberg.

He says there’s “not much of a learning curve” with SmartStrike. “I was really surprised by how simple it is to use, whether you use the touch screen or buttons on your ONIX. It’s intuitive and fast.”

Case Study #1: Lake of the Ozarks

One of Vahrenberg’s first experiences with the power of SmartStrike happened last summer on Lake of the Ozarks.

“One of the things I look for during summer are ledges along river banks or near creek mouths – typical channel swings close to the bank. But sometimes bass want the steeper banks, because they offer more comfort than a sloping bank. A bass can move up to feed and then slide back deeper to rest and metabolize that food without losing a ton of energy. With SmartStrike you can actually dial in gradual vs steep breaks. Again, saves me a ton of time.”

Although Vahrenberg had a good idea there would be fish located on this specific type of structure and depth contour, SmartStrike quickly reinforced his plan.

“But SmartStrike is a lot faster than I am at finding specific locations. I would have spent hours studying the map and dropping waypoints. Its search algorithms label spots in no time flat. Then, if I catch a fish on a specific spot, I can enter in the criteria for that spot, and it will find me every other spot on the lake just like it. You can build and test a pattern pretty fast!”

Case Study #2: Table Rock Lake

“I was getting ready for a tournament this spring on Table Rock. I knew going in that we were looking at pre-spawn/spawn conditions. I ran SmartStrike and it highlighted ledges, points, and coves in the back of bays. And it was right on. That time of year bass will transition from the points and spawn in the back of those pockets. It showed that clearly.”

But Vahrenberg doesn’t just run to the recommended spots and start casting. He’ll first investigate the SmartStrike-recommended locations with Side Imaging.

“Not every one of the spots held fish, but some of them did. What it does is give you a fast and efficient way to start building a pattern. No wasted casting. It’ll tell me some places to go look at, then I’ll use my Side Imaging to validate if those are places where the fish are.”

Case Study #3: Truman Lake

“It was the June 1 on Truman Lake, fish had spawned and I hadn’t fished there for a long time. I saw the bream moving in and started throwing a square bill. Using SmartStrike, I could find where the flat met the channel swing. I found similar areas and every spot where there was a flat and a channel swing off the bank I caught fish. And good fish in the 4 – 7 pound range.”

The proof’s in the pudding. Vahrenberg’s experience with SmartStrike that day on Truman put him on more and better fish than a local expert.

See the arrow? One of many fish-holding spots SmartStrike predicted on Truman Lake — also exactly the spot where Vahrenberg caught the bass in the photo at the top of this story.

“That same day a buddy who lives on the lake only caught a couple. I caught 15 to 20, even though I was basically fishing the lake fresh. The deal was the females were post-spawn, but were up on the flats eating bream before moving out on the main lake. And SmartStrike showed all those spots. This bite only lasts a couple days, but I got on it. It’s a cool deal on Truman but will happen across the country.”

One Step Ahead of the Weather

Another key benefit of SmartStrike is the ability to model various weather scenarios, giving you a flexible game plan when it comes time for your fishing trip or tournament.

“You might be thinking pre-spawn going into a tournament and find that they’re post-spawn. With a few button clicks you can have a new game plan in no time flat. Or I can model for changing weather conditions at home or in real time. That’s powerful.”

 

 

Similarly, SmartStrike allows you to search specific depth ranges, too, like shallow, mid-depth or deep areas.

 

“If I’m struggling I’ll punch in different criteria and see what SmartStrike recommends. That, plus my knowledge, plus Side Imaging, 360 Imaging … It’s just another tool in the toolbox to help you find the best locations.”

 

Vahrenberg says another powerful feature is SmartStrike’s ability to Find Similar Areas.

“Structure is a major deal in the Bass Opens. We think more about structure on deeper impoundments or river systems but even on shallow-water reservoirs, there’s still structure bass relate to. Might be only a foot drop or a specific aspect of a creek channel. Like channel swings early in the year. From pre- through post spawn they’re super critical. With SmartStrike you can run these scenarios and pre-fish the spots fast.”

 

Lastly, Vahrenberg says it’s amazing what SmartStrike reveals even when you’re the local and fishing waters you’ve fished for decades.

 

“It’s mind-opening what happens when you run SmartStrike on lakes you know. I guarantee you’ll discover new spots that you’ve overlooked.”

 

 

 

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