First place Chris Lucas and Damien McMahan 19.75
Second Place Clay Ross and Jeff Ross 19.05
Third Place Bryant Copley 17.45
Fourth Place Robert Hudson and Ben Hudson 16.70
Fifth Place Greg Stallings and Ricky Grant 16.20
Big Fish went to the team of Robert Hudson and Ben Hudson 6.10
First place Chris Lucas and Damien McMahan 19.75
Second Place Clay Ross and Jeff Ross 19.05
Third Place Bryant Copley 17.45
Fourth Place Robert Hudson and Ben Hudson 16.70
Fifth Place Greg Stallings and Ricky Grant 16.20
Big Fish went to the team of Robert Hudson and Ben Hudson 6.10
18.Dec.2012
REDLANDS, Calif. – FLW Tour angler Brent Ehrler has agreed to terms with Gamakatsu. Ehrler won the 2006 Forrest Wood Cup on Logan Martin Lake near Birmingham, Alabama. Ehrler has amassed six total FLW Tour and FLW Series victories and he won the 2004 Everstart Championship on Lake Cumberland in Kentucky. Ehrler also won the inaugural Major League Fishing tournament on Lake Amistad in Texas.
Gamakatsu touts over 2300 different hook shapes and models and is the go to hook company for angler of all skill levels. Anglers from weekend fun fisherman to the top pros in the world rely on Gamakatsu to get fish in the boat.
Jeff Roberts of Gamakatsu looks forward to working with Ehrler, “Gamakatsu USA is very pleased to announce Brent Ehrler joining our pro staff for the upcoming tournament season. Brent is a consummate professional and a highly skilled angler who understands the rich tradition of quality that makes Gamakatsu the world’s leading premium hook manufacture. We are confident Brent will add greatly to the future of Gamakatsu both on and off the water. We are looking forward to working closely with Brent, continuing our growth as a company and helping Brent meet his career goals with our combined efforts”.
Ehrler looks forward to fishing with Gamakatsu hooks, “I am very excited about the opportunity to work with Gamakatsu. I have always put them on a pedestal in the fishing industry, and to be associated with their brand name and premier products is truly a privilege. I already use a lot of their hooks and can’t wait to fish with some of the new models. I am ready to revamp my hook boxes, both worm hooks and trebles. In fact, I have several Plano boxes that I have labeled that are ready to be filled. I’m anxious to start the 2013 season with a fresh box of premier Gamakatsu hooks.”
18.Dec.2012
REDLANDS, Calif. – FLW Tour angler Brent Ehrler has agreed to terms with Gamakatsu. Ehrler won the 2006 Forrest Wood Cup on Logan Martin Lake near Birmingham, Alabama. Ehrler has amassed six total FLW Tour and FLW Series victories and he won the 2004 Everstart Championship on Lake Cumberland in Kentucky. Ehrler also won the inaugural Major League Fishing tournament on Lake Amistad in Texas.
Gamakatsu touts over 2300 different hook shapes and models and is the go to hook company for angler of all skill levels. Anglers from weekend fun fisherman to the top pros in the world rely on Gamakatsu to get fish in the boat.
Jeff Roberts of Gamakatsu looks forward to working with Ehrler, “Gamakatsu USA is very pleased to announce Brent Ehrler joining our pro staff for the upcoming tournament season. Brent is a consummate professional and a highly skilled angler who understands the rich tradition of quality that makes Gamakatsu the world’s leading premium hook manufacture. We are confident Brent will add greatly to the future of Gamakatsu both on and off the water. We are looking forward to working closely with Brent, continuing our growth as a company and helping Brent meet his career goals with our combined efforts”.
Ehrler looks forward to fishing with Gamakatsu hooks, “I am very excited about the opportunity to work with Gamakatsu. I have always put them on a pedestal in the fishing industry, and to be associated with their brand name and premier products is truly a privilege. I already use a lot of their hooks and can’t wait to fish with some of the new models. I am ready to revamp my hook boxes, both worm hooks and trebles. In fact, I have several Plano boxes that I have labeled that are ready to be filled. I’m anxious to start the 2013 season with a fresh box of premier Gamakatsu hooks.”
By Deb Johnson
TULSA, Okla. — A premier entertainment destination in northeastern Oklahoma has become the newest sponsor of the 2013 Bassmaster Classic.
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa has signed on to be the Presenting Sponsor for the Feb. 22-24 world championship of bass fishing in Tulsa. The resort’s brand will be prominent throughout the event and in the subsequent television broadcast of Classic competition scheduled to begin March 2 on ESPN2.
“We are proud to continue the Cherokee Nation’s legacy of being a good community partner by helping bring large events like the 2013 Bassmaster Classic to northeast Oklahoma,” said Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Baker. “This event will be an economic boost for the entire region, especially our Cherokee communities. We are pleased to partner with B.A.S.S. and the Tulsa Regional Chamber’s Tulsa Sports Commission to make this wonderful event possible.”
The deal was announced today in Tulsa by officials of B.A.S.S., LLC, the Cherokee Nation’s Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa, and Classic hosts the Tulsa Sports Commission, VisitTulsa and the Tulsa Regional Chamber. The Tulsa Sports Commission initiated the deal, coordinating its partner organizations to offer the most enhanced attendee experience for the world championship of bass fishing.
“The Tulsa Sports Commission worked with many people, local organizations and businesses to bring the Bassmaster Classic to northeast Oklahoma,” said Ray Hoyt, senior vice president of VisitTulsa and the Tulsa Sports Commission. “We’re excited to announce today that Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa, owned by the Cherokee Nation, has elected to join that group and will act as local Presenting Sponsor for the prestigious event. Their support is sure to amplify the Classic, and we’re excited to have them on board.”
The sponsorship will support both the B.A.S.S. organization and the Tulsa Sports Commission in execution of the three-day competition predicted to bring roughly 100,000 attendees and an economic impact of $26 million to the region.
Added Jeff Stava, chair of the Tulsa Sports Commission’s local organizing committee for the Bassmaster Classic and chief operating officer of Tulsa Community Foundation: “As the Presenting Sponsor of the Bassmaster Classic, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa will bring a new dimension to the world championship of bass fishing with exciting entertainment and world class gaming. We appreciate their support and are excited for Feb. 22-24 in Tulsa.”
The 2013 Bassmaster Classic Presented by Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa will pit 53 of the world’s best bass anglers against each other for a piece of a $1.2 million purse. Competition will be on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees, which is new competition water for the Classic. The anglers will weigh their daily catches at the BOK Center in downtown Tulsa, another new Classic venue, as is the Tulsa Convention Center, where the concurrent Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo Presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods will take place.
“This newest Classic partnership is very fitting because we’re planning to rock Tulsa with the Classic,” said Bruce Akin, CEO of B.A.S.S. “We couldn’t do that without the help of the many partners we have from the Tulsa area. The instantly recognizable Hard Rock name is a great addition to what is quickly coming together to be one of our best Classic events ever.”
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa is a gaming resort with a musical flair. Its largest music venue is The Joint, a 45,000-square-foot theater with 2,700 amphitheater seats and a state-of-the-art sound and light system. Concert offerings run from jazz to hard rock, Vegas shows to country stars. In early December, for example, superstar and Oklahoma native Reba McEntire performed at The Joint.
Visitors have several other choices of clubs with top music acts, as well as nine restaurants. One can’t-miss dining experience — McGill’s on 19 — is on the 19th floor of the hotel tower. Diners enjoy a panoramic view and an enticing menu of steaks and seafood.
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa also offers meeting and event hosting, a golf course, and accommodations complete with amenities such as a fitness center, pool and shopping — including, of course, a shop stocked with Hard Rock-branded goods.
B.A.S.S., headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., operates four tournament circuits, including the professional Bassmaster Elite Series from which most of the 53 qualifiers for the 2013 Classic emerged. Berths also were awarded through other Bassmaster circuits: the 2012 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series, the B.A.S.S. Nation circuit, and the growing collegiate level of competition, the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series. In addition, the 2012 champ of the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series operated by American Bass Anglers was awarded a Classic berth.
The full field will compete the first two days. On the final day, the Top 25 anglers will return to Grand Lake to vie for a $500,000 first prize and the most coveted trophy in the sport. Click here for more information about the Classic.
Click here for more on Hard Rock Hotel & Casino or here to get information about attending the Classic in Tulsa.
By Deb Johnson
TULSA, Okla. — A premier entertainment destination in northeastern Oklahoma has become the newest sponsor of the 2013 Bassmaster Classic.
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa has signed on to be the Presenting Sponsor for the Feb. 22-24 world championship of bass fishing in Tulsa. The resort’s brand will be prominent throughout the event and in the subsequent television broadcast of Classic competition scheduled to begin March 2 on ESPN2.
“We are proud to continue the Cherokee Nation’s legacy of being a good community partner by helping bring large events like the 2013 Bassmaster Classic to northeast Oklahoma,” said Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Baker. “This event will be an economic boost for the entire region, especially our Cherokee communities. We are pleased to partner with B.A.S.S. and the Tulsa Regional Chamber’s Tulsa Sports Commission to make this wonderful event possible.”
The deal was announced today in Tulsa by officials of B.A.S.S., LLC, the Cherokee Nation’s Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa, and Classic hosts the Tulsa Sports Commission, VisitTulsa and the Tulsa Regional Chamber. The Tulsa Sports Commission initiated the deal, coordinating its partner organizations to offer the most enhanced attendee experience for the world championship of bass fishing.
“The Tulsa Sports Commission worked with many people, local organizations and businesses to bring the Bassmaster Classic to northeast Oklahoma,” said Ray Hoyt, senior vice president of VisitTulsa and the Tulsa Sports Commission. “We’re excited to announce today that Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa, owned by the Cherokee Nation, has elected to join that group and will act as local Presenting Sponsor for the prestigious event. Their support is sure to amplify the Classic, and we’re excited to have them on board.”
The sponsorship will support both the B.A.S.S. organization and the Tulsa Sports Commission in execution of the three-day competition predicted to bring roughly 100,000 attendees and an economic impact of $26 million to the region.
Added Jeff Stava, chair of the Tulsa Sports Commission’s local organizing committee for the Bassmaster Classic and chief operating officer of Tulsa Community Foundation: “As the Presenting Sponsor of the Bassmaster Classic, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa will bring a new dimension to the world championship of bass fishing with exciting entertainment and world class gaming. We appreciate their support and are excited for Feb. 22-24 in Tulsa.”
The 2013 Bassmaster Classic Presented by Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa will pit 53 of the world’s best bass anglers against each other for a piece of a $1.2 million purse. Competition will be on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees, which is new competition water for the Classic. The anglers will weigh their daily catches at the BOK Center in downtown Tulsa, another new Classic venue, as is the Tulsa Convention Center, where the concurrent Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo Presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods will take place.
“This newest Classic partnership is very fitting because we’re planning to rock Tulsa with the Classic,” said Bruce Akin, CEO of B.A.S.S. “We couldn’t do that without the help of the many partners we have from the Tulsa area. The instantly recognizable Hard Rock name is a great addition to what is quickly coming together to be one of our best Classic events ever.”
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa is a gaming resort with a musical flair. Its largest music venue is The Joint, a 45,000-square-foot theater with 2,700 amphitheater seats and a state-of-the-art sound and light system. Concert offerings run from jazz to hard rock, Vegas shows to country stars. In early December, for example, superstar and Oklahoma native Reba McEntire performed at The Joint.
Visitors have several other choices of clubs with top music acts, as well as nine restaurants. One can’t-miss dining experience — McGill’s on 19 — is on the 19th floor of the hotel tower. Diners enjoy a panoramic view and an enticing menu of steaks and seafood.
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa also offers meeting and event hosting, a golf course, and accommodations complete with amenities such as a fitness center, pool and shopping — including, of course, a shop stocked with Hard Rock-branded goods.
B.A.S.S., headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., operates four tournament circuits, including the professional Bassmaster Elite Series from which most of the 53 qualifiers for the 2013 Classic emerged. Berths also were awarded through other Bassmaster circuits: the 2012 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series, the B.A.S.S. Nation circuit, and the growing collegiate level of competition, the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series. In addition, the 2012 champ of the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series operated by American Bass Anglers was awarded a Classic berth.
The full field will compete the first two days. On the final day, the Top 25 anglers will return to Grand Lake to vie for a $500,000 first prize and the most coveted trophy in the sport. Click here for more information about the Classic.
Click here for more on Hard Rock Hotel & Casino or here to get information about attending the Classic in Tulsa.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Fishing a Smithwick Suspending Rogue
By Josiah Gaza
My favorite time of year to fish is early-to-mid spring, when the water temperature is still less than 60 degrees. One reason is that there is less competition on the water, since many people mistakenly think that it is still too cold to fish. However, I learned by ice fishing up north and catching several largemouth in the process that is never too cold for the fish. The other reason I love early-to-mid spring fishing is that there is no better time, save the actual spawn, to catch the fish of a lifetime. During this time, my favorite lure by far is a Smithwick Suspending Rogue.
The Rogue has been around forever, but it continues to be one of the best cold-water baits in existence. I have caught countless bass on this lure, including several 6 pound class fish back in my home state of New York where a 6 pounder is a trophy. There are several reasons why I feel that the Rogue is the best cold-water jerkbait around. First of all, its movements are slower and more subtle than other suspending jerkbaits like the Rapala X-Rap. While sharper, flashy movements are more appealing to fish when the water warms, bass get lazy and lethargic in cold water. In these conditions, less is more when it comes to lure action, and this applies especially to suspending baits. Also, the Rogue has a peculiar rolling action when you twitch it that seems to trigger more bites than other suspending baits.
When fishing a Rogue, I usually work it pretty slowly through the water. My retrieve is generally something like: jerk-pause-pause-pause-jerk-jerk-pause-pause-pause. I’ll speed up my retrieve slightly as the water nears 60 degrees, or if I’m fishing dirtier water. My retrieve slows significantly if I’m fishing very clear or very cold water. If the water is both clear and less than 40 degrees, I’ll sometimes pause the Rogue for as long as 1 minute. In my experience, it can take that long for a bass to make up its mind that it wants to eat the lure. However you retrieve the Rogue, it is very important that you keep your rod tip pointed at the water at all times when you jerk it. It is also important that you jerk it with a slack line. Both of these tips will help the lure achieve the correct action and get it to the maximum depth it can reach.
I almost never fish a Rogue right out of the box. When fishing any suspending jerkbait in cold water, it is crucial for the lure to just sit there in the water and not move up or down at all. Rogues almost never suspend perfectly right out of the package, tending to rise slightly when paused. Some people upsize the hooks and/or split rings to get their Rogues to suspend, but I’ve found that using that method is too imprecise. Some people use SuspenDots, but I’ve found that it is too easy to throw off the action of the lure with imprecise placement of the dots. In order to get my Rogues to suspend, I wrap wire around the shafts of my hooks, trimming the amount of wire around the hooks until the lure sits perfectly still in the water. In addition to helping the lure suspend, I can also alter the action and look of the lure in the water using this method. For instance, wrapping the wire around the front hook only causes the lure to rest nose down in the water, which allows it to run deeper. Also, it causes the lure’s overall action to decrease, something that in very cold water is actually desirable. In addition to wrapping wire around the hooks, I always swap out the hooks for ones that are higher quality, since the factory hooks on a Rogue are not particularly sharp and rust almost instantly.
My rod, reel, and line setup when fishing a Rogue looks something like this: 6’6 medium or medium heavy power rod, 6.3:1 gear ratio baitcasting reel, and 10-12 lb fluorocarbon line. I like a little bit of a softer rod when fishing a Rogue because it helps prevent a bass from throwing the lure if it jumps, but the rod also has to have a stiff butt section so that I have the power to fight the big fish that are often caught on this lure. Reel speed isn’t particularly important, since I do all the moving of the lure with my rod, but I like a high-speed reel to help catch up to any fish that grab the lure and then run straight toward me. I like fluorocarbon line because its low stretch properties allow me to work the lure with a lot less effort than when using monofilament. Fluorocarbon also sinks, which helps the bait run a little bit deeper. I’ve found that this overall setup allows me to fish a Rogue very efficiently, and also helps me land many fish that I might otherwise miss if I were using different tackle.
While I usually use different lures and techniques if I’m fishing very dirty water, at all other times when the water is cold I’ve found it hard to beat the subtle but deadly action of a Smithwick Suspending Rogue. When the ice melts off the lakes and rivers this spring, I’d suggest you dust off your fishing tackle and give the Rogue a try. You might be surprised at the results!
Missile Adds Morgenthaler and Announces Bomb Squad
Salem, VA – December 17, 2012 – Missile Baits is proud to announce the addition of Chad Morgenthaler to the Missile Baits pro staff. He joins Ish Monroe and John Crews. Chad has been fishing professionally for more than 10 years and has quite a list of accomplishments including qualifying for the Bassmaster Classic 3 times, qualifying for the TTBC 5 times, and being a 2 time Lake Toho Challenge winner. Morgenthaler will have a full schedule in 2013 since he is fishing the FLW Tour, the PAA Tour, and all 3 divisions of the B.A.S.S. Opens. In addition to the tournaments, Chad is very active with the PAA, a high school fishing club, and recently hosted his 7th annual benefit tournament.
Chad expressed his enthusiasm by saying, “I’m really excited about the opportunity to work with such an accomplished pro staff and a new aggressive company. I’ve known John for years and he is definitely an out of the box thinker, which is reflective in the research, development and marketing of Missile Baits. Simply put – Missile Baits catch fish and will definitely provide bass anglers with an added competitive edge.”
John Crews, company owner and fellow pro staffer, says, “I have known Chad for a long time. He certainly understands the business and promotional end of this business very well. Chad is also a very talented angler. We look forward to working with him and having him help grow Missile Baits.”
Missile Baits has finalized its line up of Bomb Squad members. Many, many anglers sent in resumes, which made it an arduous task for the Missile Baits’ staff to choose the proper anglers. The Bomb Squad has members from California to Virginia and New York to Texas. The list of Bomb Squad anglers is very accomplished.
Bomb Squad Coordinator, Shannon Wheeler, says, “There was just a ton of interest from anglers all over the country so it was amazing. We felt honored that there were so many anglers that believe in our products. We know that we have a very talented and well spoken group of anglers representing Missile Baits.”
Bomb Squad Members:
Heath Anderson Bessemer, AL
Hunter Baughman Cabot, AR
Kyle Bordelon Groves, TX
Mike Burchett Pulaski, VA
Tony Campbell Sharpsburg, GA
Coby Carden Shelby, AL
Dave Cavell Prairieville, LA
Clayton Coppin Wagoner, OK
Jake Davis Winchester, TN
Tim Domaille Rochester, MN
Tim Foster Louisville, KY
Andre Fraser Mount Vernon, NY
Allan Glasgow Ashville, AL
Tim Grein Winston Salem, NC
Eddie Griggs Richmond, VA
Chris King Jasper, TX
Jamie Laiche Gonzales, LA
Ed Loughran Mechanicsville, VA
Robert Matsuura Sacramento, CA
Adam Petty Garner, NC
Kelly Pratt Williamsburg, VA
Jeff Salmon Chester, VA
Ricky Shabazz Rialto, CA
Gerald Spohrer Gonzales, LA
Rick Sweadner Woodsboro, MD
Tee Watkins East Point, KY
Corey Wheat Gonzales, LA
Kyle Woodland Richmond, VA
# # #
MISSILE BAITS is a small company dedicated to creating SERIOUS soft plastic baits to help anglers catch more fish. The designs are straight off the top-level professional bass tour. Based in Salem, Virginia, MISSILE BAITS works relentlessly to make the best baits, show their customers how to use them, and stay on the cutting edge of bass fishing. New products and videos will continue to blast offinto 2012 and beyond. Log onto www.MISSILEBAITS.com for videos, tips, forums, and more.
For information: www.MISSILEBAITS.com, or
Contact: John Crews at
MISSILE BAITS
PO Box 1045
Salem, VA 24153
Phone: (855) HOOKSET (855-466-5738)
www.MISSILEBAITS.com
