TULSA, Okla. – Five-time B.A.S.S. event champion Terry Scroggins joins the competition field for Jack Link’s Major League Fishing’s second televised event, The General Tire Summit Cup, League Commissioner Don Rucks announced today.
Scroggins, who finished third in this season’s Toyota Tundra Angler-of-the-Year standings, has 42 B.A.S.S. Top Ten finishes. Scroggins, of Palatka, Florida, replaces Kevin VanDam, who was unable to compete in the Summit Cup because of scheduling conflicts. VanDam will return for Major League Fishing’s next event.
The Summit Cup, filmed August 27 through September 1 on Chautauqua Lake in Western New York, will begin airing on Thursday, January 3, 2012, at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT on Outdoor Channel.
“We were absolutely delighted to welcome Terry Scroggins to Major League Fishing. As one of the top anglers on the B.A.S.S. Elite Series tour, we are fortunate that Terry Scroggins is joining us,” said Major League Fishing Commissioner Don Rucks.
“Terry’s a creative and popular angler, and he has the type of on-camera personality that works extremely well at Major League Fishing. We believe we have a field of anglers that is second to none, and Terry Scroggins fits right in.”
Major League Fishing angler Tim Horton, who missed the league’s first event, will also be competing at the Chautauqua Lake event. In the league’s first event, Todd Faircloth stepped in for Horton.
Altogether, the 24 Summit Cup competitors include: Tommy Biffle, Denny Brauer, Mark Davis, Boyd Duckett, Brent Ehrler, Edwin Evers, Shaw Grigsby, Greg Hackney, Mike Iaconelli, Alton Jones, Kelly Jordon, Jeff Kriet, Gary Klein, Bobby Lane, Aaron Martens, Mike McClelland, Ish Monroe, Takahiro Omori, Jason Quinn, Skeet Reese, Dean Rojas and Byron Velvick, as well as Scroggins and Horton.
Scroggins fills in for VanDam in Major League Fishing – 11/30/12
Bassmaster Opens series gives co-anglers and pros shot at top prizes – Bassmaster.com
Bassmaster Opens series gives co-anglers and pros shot at top prizes
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Some anglers are signing up in hopes of winning a coveted berth in the Bassmaster Classic. Others want to qualify for the Bassmaster Elite Series. And still others simply want to pocket prizes while making a name for themselves on the national tournament scene.
Whatever the motivation, pro angler rosters are filling up for the nine-event Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series for 2013, which kicks off Jan. 31 at Florida’s Kissimmee Chain of Lakes.
Co-anglers, who fish alongside the pros and compete for a separate prize purse, have their own reasons for signing up for the nonboater division. Most hope to win a tournament-ready bass boat rig, as well as cash prizes, while many are just happy for the chance to share a boat and learn tournament tactics from some of the nation’s best fishermen — Elite Series pros like Gerald Swindle, Ish Monroe and Michael Iaconelli.
“The pro competition is top notch and includes a diverse field of Elite Series Pros, full-time tour pros and extremely skilled local anglers looking to make their mark,” said Chris Bowes, senior tournament manager. “The Opens are the stepping stones to the Bassmaster Elite Series. These top-level pros compete not only for valuable boat/motor packages and a substantial cash payout, but the opportunity to advance to the next level.”
Anglers in the 2013 Opens Series will fish some of the nation’s best bass lakes, including fisheries that made Bassmaster Magazine’s “100 Best Bass Lakes” in 2012. They include Lake Erie, No. 3; Oneida Lake, No. 16; Kissimmee Chain, No. 21; and Red River, No. 47.
“In all three divisions — Central, Northern and Southern — these anglers will fish outstanding lakes,” Bowes said. “And of course the full attention of the industry is on each event as bass fishing fans tune in to see which pro angler can climb to the top of the leaderboard after the final fish is weighed and secure the coveted Bassmaster Classic berth.”
This year, six Bassmaster Opens Series champions qualified for the 2013 Bassmaster Classic: Tracy Adams of Wilkesboro, N.C.; Hank Cherry of Maiden, N.C.; Jason Christie of Park Hill, Okla.; Pete Gluszek of Mt. Laurel, N.J.; Josh Wagy of Dewitt, Va.; and Casey Scanlon of Lenexa, Kan.
The winning pro in each Opens Series competition receives a prize package valued at $40,000, and the co-angler takes home a boat and motor package valued at $25,000. With a field of 150 boats, more than $250,000 in cash and merchandise is awarded at each tournament. The entry fees for Opens tournaments are $1,500 for a pro angler and $425 for co-anglers.
“Many B.A.S.S. members are not in the position to own a bass boat or feel they are ready to fish at the professional level but still dream of fishing competitively at the highest level,” Bowes said. “The Bassmaster Opens pro/am format allows for an angler to do just that. In addition to the financial rewards, there’s the opportunity to fish with some of the greatest pro anglers in the world.”
The 2012 Southern Opens Pro Points champion, Kevin Hawk, who fished several of the Bassmaster Opens in 2010 as a co-angler, demonstrates the potential for co-anglers to climb to the top-tier tournament pro level. The Guntersville, Ala., angler signed up for the Opens in 2012 and reached the pinnacle of the sport — the Bassmaster Elite Series — on his first try.
To register as a pro or co-angler, click here.
Panic Plastics – PowerTeam Lures – Story
“Man today was a tough day on the water. The bass just wanted nothing to do with anything I threw at them!” Well what did you throw and how did you throw it? Did you throw what you needed to throw or did you throw what you wanted to throw? More times than not, the answer to that question is the latter of the two. Fishing for negative bass can definitely take people out of their comfort zones. If an anglers strength is power fishing or chucking and winding cranks and blade baits, switching over to a finesse rod and just barely crawling small plastics along the bottom can be as boring to them as watching grass grow. But if the bass aren’t chasing baits, making this important switch is the best way to avoid having to say the first 2 sentences of this article. When the realization sets in that what you’re doing isn’t working and that your day is going to have a grim outcome unless you make a change, this is when you need to break out your box of “panic plastics” along with your bag of patience. For me, I keep my box of panic plastics simple. It consists of 3.5” Craw D’oeuvres, 3.5” Food Chain Tubes, 3.6” Hammer Shads, and 5” Finicky Ticklers in a small variety of basic color hues along with the terminal tackle needed to rig them (jig heads, small tungsten weights, small hooks and stuff for drop shotting). I choose these 4 baits for a couple reasons. First, they’re all down sized baits with very subtle actions which plays the key role in sparking a negative bass’s interest . Second, I can rig them all on the same terminal tackle to make things even easier on my patience. For example, if I’m fishing in or around cover and need a weedless presentation, I can tie a 2/0 ewg hook and an 1/8 oz tungsten weight on a single rod and be able to Texas rig any of these baits on it. This goes for drop shotting, Shaky heading and split shot rigging all of these baits as well. This way I can easily alternate between baits and colors until I figure out what color and profile the bass are responding best to without having to constantly re-tie.
How you work your bait is just as important as the bait choice itself when the bass are negative. Forcing yourself to “soak” your bait during a cast can make all the difference in the underwater world. Getting into the habit of letting your bait sit in one place for 30 seconds after the initial fall is where it starts. If an angler starts working the bait directly after the initial fall, 99% of the time the angler will pull it out of the negative bass’s “interest zone” before the bass even makes the decision to come inspect what just fell through the water column. After the initial soaking, the rest of the retrieve should follow suit. Little shakes, tiny hops and a lot of long pauses in between those movements. If you make the bait appear as an effortless snack, you’ll raise your odds of getting that bass to expend the slight amount of energy needed to acquire that simple snack. Think of a negative bass as really lazy people sitting on a couch watching TV. They won’t get off their butts to get themselves something to eat, but put a bowl of their favorite candy within arm’s reach of them and see what happens.
Just like anything else, practice makes perfect. Once you gain confidence in soaking finesse baits, your box of panic plastics will soon become your security blanket every time the bite gets tough. It will also help you through the winter months when the water temps drop below 45 degrees. Contrary to what many anglers think, bass can definitely be caught on plastics in the frigid temps…as long as you know what to throw and how to throw it.
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Virginia Tech's Blevins, Rejzer win Ranger Cup University Challenge – FLW OUTDOORS.COM
20.Nov.2012
Carson Rejzer, Blevins partner, reiterated those feelings. “We left Virginia and it was forty degrees, cold and windy. To wake up the next day and be standing on the shores of Lake Amistad, I felt like I had already won.”
The duo from Virginia Tech located some active fish early and steadily increased their weight as the day wore on. Their limit was anchored by a 6 lb brute landed in the final hours of competition. “That big fish was key for us – we knew the guys from Georgia Southern were great anglers and we were going to need a good bag to compete,” said Rejzer. “When it was all said and done, we fished the whole day without any mistakes and with a lake like Amistad, that’s really what it takes to win.”
The made-for-TV event is scheduled to appear on Americana Outdoors, broadcast on NBC Sports, in January 2013. The competition will also be featured in 2013 during an episode of the BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Series, as well as other programs throughout the year.
Modeled after the most lucrative contingency rewards in the industry, Ranger Cup, Ranger Cup University is the first program of its kind exclusively for collegiate anglers and is open to those fishing in either FLW- or ACA-affiliated competitions. Signup is free, regardless of which brand of boat they own. To remain qualified in the program, anglers need only adhere to clothing and logo requirements. And as part of the Ranger Cup University program, participants will be able to receive specially discounted tournament gear through Angler Skins and Gemini Custom Apparel, with no artwork or set-up fees. Through these vendors, Ranger Cup University anglers can purchase fully customized tournament jerseys for as low as $48.
Collegiate anglers must register each year to remain eligible in the program. 2013 registration will be online and available soon. For more information on Ranger Cup University, including details on program guidelines and benefits, go online to RangerBoats.com.
Virginia Tech’s Blevins, Rejzer win Ranger Cup University Challenge – FLW OUTDOORS.COM
20.Nov.2012
Carson Rejzer, Blevins partner, reiterated those feelings. “We left Virginia and it was forty degrees, cold and windy. To wake up the next day and be standing on the shores of Lake Amistad, I felt like I had already won.”
The duo from Virginia Tech located some active fish early and steadily increased their weight as the day wore on. Their limit was anchored by a 6 lb brute landed in the final hours of competition. “That big fish was key for us – we knew the guys from Georgia Southern were great anglers and we were going to need a good bag to compete,” said Rejzer. “When it was all said and done, we fished the whole day without any mistakes and with a lake like Amistad, that’s really what it takes to win.”
The made-for-TV event is scheduled to appear on Americana Outdoors, broadcast on NBC Sports, in January 2013. The competition will also be featured in 2013 during an episode of the BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Series, as well as other programs throughout the year.
Modeled after the most lucrative contingency rewards in the industry, Ranger Cup, Ranger Cup University is the first program of its kind exclusively for collegiate anglers and is open to those fishing in either FLW- or ACA-affiliated competitions. Signup is free, regardless of which brand of boat they own. To remain qualified in the program, anglers need only adhere to clothing and logo requirements. And as part of the Ranger Cup University program, participants will be able to receive specially discounted tournament gear through Angler Skins and Gemini Custom Apparel, with no artwork or set-up fees. Through these vendors, Ranger Cup University anglers can purchase fully customized tournament jerseys for as low as $48.
Collegiate anglers must register each year to remain eligible in the program. 2013 registration will be online and available soon. For more information on Ranger Cup University, including details on program guidelines and benefits, go online to RangerBoats.com.
BIG BITES NEWS LETTER NOVEMBER 2012
BIG BITES NEWS LETTER NOVEMBER 2012
BIG BITE BAITS BLACK FRIDAY SPECIALS
Starting Nov 21, 2012 at 12am Thanksgiving through
November 27,2012 11:59pm
Squirrel Tail Action
By: Scott M. Petersen
Whenever I have to face fishing in tough conditions I have one set of baits that I always turn towards and the confidence to fish. That line of baits is Big Bite Baits Jeff Kriet’s signature baits the Squirrel Tail family. I have three different options to choose from, but I can tell you when you break it down between all three of these different bait options you have some basic tactics that work across the line but each bait have a few things that stand out in certain situations.
Squirrel Tail: Let’s start at the beginning; Jeff came to Big Bite with an idea of a worm that the tail would float up off of the bottom. This was a way in Jeff’s mind for bass to find his offering and to be able to key in on his bait when he was faced with fishing in tough conditions. To tell you the truth the rest is the start to the Jeff Kriet Signature line of Squirrel Tail baits. Jeff was able to take the Squirrel Tail worm and match it with a Jewel Shaky Head Jig and the rest is kind of history. This Squirrel Tail and Shaky Head Jig combination with Kriet calling the shots had a lot to do with the Shaky Head pattern that we all fish today.
In the last few years I have come to depend on the Squirrel Tail worm for more than just fishing it on a Shaky Head, let’s cover some of these tactics to expand your Squirrel Tail options.
Shaky Head /Jig Head: For those of you that are new I am going to cover a quick how to Shaky Head presentation. Pick your favorite Shaky Head Jig one of the best is the Kriet signature Shaky Head that is made by Jewel. Pick either a 4.5″ or 6″ Squirrel Tail and thread it on to the hook with the hook exposed. If I am fishing this presentation on the weed edge I may rig this presentation weedless by threading the hook point back into the plastic.
Make your cast and let the Squirrel Tail settle down to the bottom, you will know you are on the bottom when you see your line go slack. Left your rod tip from the 9 o-clock position to the 11 o-clock position; slowly to keep your Shaky Head on the bottom. If you feel your Shaky Head go up against a rock stop and let the bait sit for a few seconds. Try to shake the bait in place a couple of times before you move the bait again, pay close attention as this is when many of your bites will come. Now you may not feel the bite you might just see the line start to move off, if this is the case set the hook.
Depending on the weight of the Shaky Head I am fishing that will dictate if I use a baitcaster or a spinning system. If I am using 1/16oz to 3/16oz Shaky Heads, I fish these weights on a spinning system. 7ft medium action rods matched with spinning reels that are spooled with either Sunline Sniper 7lb or SX-1 20lb braided line with a fluorocarbon leader. If I am fishing in a clear water situation I will use a 7lb test Sniper leader but if I am fishing in dirtier water conditions I will tie my SX braid directly to the Shaky Head Jig.
To switch my Shaky Head presentation up a little in the last year I have started to use a Shaking Squirrel or a Flying Squirrel option in place of the Squirrel Tail. These two different baits have a different look and action giving me a different profile and in some cases catch more fish in tough conditions.
Texas Rigged Squirrel: One of the biggest things that I have done is to start to use the Squirrel Tail and the Flying Squirrel fished texas rigged. Most of everything that you have read now and in the past talks about the Squirrel Tail being rigged on a Shaky Head Jig. So in looking at options of how to use this bait in different types of presentation I have been fishing the Squirrel Tail and Flying Squirrel texas rigged for about the past two seasons. This has been one of my best kept secrets that is until now.
I will generally use either 4.5″ or 6″ Squirrel Tail to match the conditions I am fishing in. If the bite is extra tough I will down size and texas rig a 4.5″ Squirrel Tail. I will use 1/16oz to 1/8oz tungsten weight and a 2/0 EWG Gamakatsu worm hook. Most of the time I will fish this presentation on a 7ft medium action spinning setup, teamed with a matching reel that is spooled with 7lb Sunline Sniper Line. This is key; if I am fishing in open rocks I will not peg the weight but if I am fishing in the weeds I will peg the weight to keep the presentation together.
On the other hand, if the fish are active I will tend to fish a 6″ Squirrel Tail or Flying Squirrel presentation. This is a bigger profile bait that will attract active bass. Another time that I will reach for the bigger profile Squirrel is when I am fishing in weeds or in dirtier water conditions. The bigger squirrels will throw off more vibration making it easier for the bass to find your bait.
For this presentation I generally will use a baitcaster system for this offering, a 7ft medium heavy to heavy action baitcaster rod teamed with a reel that is spooled to match the conditions I am fishing. Line sizes will range from 12lb to 20lb. My line of choice is Sunline Shooter or SX-1 30lb braided line with a fluorocarbon leader.
Split Shot Squirrels: This is a presentation that really does not get a lot of press but should always be in a fisherman’s arsenal. Generally fished on a spinning setup this presentation can also be fished on medium action baitcaster system as well.
A true split shot system is a 7ft medium action spinning system spooled with 6lb to 8lb test line. About 1ft to 1 1/2ft up the line take a few small split shots and crimp them onto the line and at the end of the line tie on a 1/0 EWG Gamakatsu worm hook. Texas rig your Squirrel Tail onto the worm hook and you are all set. Now this system will work with all the signature Squirrels but the best two to use would be the 4.5″ to 6″ Squirrel Tail or in real tough conditions rig on a Shaking Squirrel in either 4″ or 6″.
To branch this tactic out a little more I have been using this same presentation as a finesse Carolina rig. I will fish this either on medium action spinning or baitcasting system. I will use weight sizes that range from 1/8 to 3/8oz.
Tie the finesse Carolina rig the same way you would a regular rig. If you want to cut corners I have many times just taken a tungsten worm weight, slide it up your line 2ft and crimp a slit shot behind the sinker and tie an EWG Worm hook at the end of your line. You now have a quick finesse Carolina rig setup.
If I am faced with an extra tough bite I will rig a Shaking Squirrel in either a 4″ or 6″ model. My second bait choice would be a Squirrel Tail. I generally use this if I am fishing in weeds. The tail of the Squirrel Tail floats keeping this worm presentation up out of the weeds; offering the bass a move visible target to bite.
Drop Shot Squirrels: If you look back at the Elite Tour in 2012 you will see that drop shot fishing had an impact on not only helping some of the pro’s place but also helped win a few events. Drop shot fishing is a viable way to take both active bass as well as inactive bass. In the last few years I have come to rely on the Squirrel Tail family of worms to be one of my drop shot offerings. One of the reasons that I like the Squirrel Tail is each bait gives me a different look and offering. Let start with the Squirrel Tail, I will many times use this bait in a nose hooked position the floating tail makes this bait ride hide and has a lot of action in the water.
When looking for a different presentation or look I will turn towards a Shaking Squirrel. This bait was originally designed to be a drop shot bait so we are back to square one with this bait, but how you rig this bait will give you a few different looks. For one I will use this bait in a nose hook position. When I need a different look I will take the Shaking Squirrel and rig it wacky style.
If you are faced with fishing around weeds I will many times make a switch and beef up my drop shot offering. I will put away the spinning setup and opt to use a medium action baitcaster setup. Line size for this will be 10lb fluorocarbon line. I will generally use a regular 1/0 to 2/0 Gamakatsu EWG worm hook this way I can texas rig my offering. My first choice of baits for this presentation is a Flying Squirrel. Do not be afraid to put this offering into the weeds, I will many times use this on the weedline edge to try to trigger inactive bass to bite.
Jig Trailer: One last option I would like to talk to you about is to use the Squirrel Tail as a jig trailer. The Squirrel Tail is a fantastic choice when it comes to a finesse jig. The tail sticking up above the bait makes it easy for the bass to notice your jig offering sitting on the bottom.
One of my best combinations for the last few years has been to team a Flying Squirrel with a football jig. This combination is a win, win. The Flying Squirrel is a great craw imitator on the back of your football jig; it has a lot of action when you get the jig up against the rock. With the two tails up in the air it does not take much action to get the bait or the legs to move.
So if you are looking to make a difference in your fishing this coming year make sure you have some of the Big Bite Squirrel Tail Worms in your box. As you can see you will have a lot of different ways to fish these baits so do not leave the dock without a few packs of each in your tackle box. To see all of the baits that Big Bite has to offer please go to www.bigbitebaits.com
December 2012 / Smith Mtn. Lake Fishing Report
SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE FISHING REPORT
December 2012
DALE WILSON’S
SML GUIDE SERVICE
PHONE NO: 540-297-5650 / 540-874-4950
www.captaindalewilson.com
Picture: (Lt.) Paul Bille from Westminster,SC. & (Rt.) Ron Ayers from Moneta,Va. holding one of 20 plus Stripers caught and released Nov. 6,2012 while fishing with Captain Dale Wilson.
OVERVIEW: Fishing should improve as water temperature drops. November was basically a slow month for fishing due mainly to the unusual weather and the low water levels..Water temperature will be in the upper 50s. Early morning, late afternoon and cloudy days will be the best times to try your luck. *Please be extremely careful when operating your boat due to the low water levels.
Largemouth Bass-Fishing will be fair. Best lures will be spinner baits, Carolina rigs, shaky heads, football head jigs, Alabama rigs and crank baits. Most largemouth bass will be caught around rocky shorelines, points, brush piles and docks. Best depths will be from the 5 to 35 feet deep. Cloudy days with wind will be the best time to fish this month.
Smallmouth Bass- Fishing should be fair. Best areas will be rocky banks, humps and flats. Best lures will be crawfish colored crank baits, tube lures, drop shot rigs and shaky heads. Best areas will be in the mid to the lower sections of the lake. Cloudy days will be the best time to try your luck. Most smallmouth bass will relate to areas that hold crawfish.
Striped Bass- Fishing will be improve. Stripers will be caught mostly in the mid to upper sections of the lake and the major creeks. Best lures will be Alabama rigs, swim baits, buck tails, rattle traps, thunder sticks and Zoom flukes fished with 3/8 to 3/4 oz. jig heads. Casting will be a good method to catch stripers this month. Live bait and trolling will also be productive. The best depths will be from the surface to 40 feet deep. Best time to try your luck will be early mornings & late afternoons. Night fishing will be fair. Seagulls will return this month.
Crappie-Fishing for crappie will be good. They will be found 5 to 18 feet deep this month. Best areas will be in the main creeks around deep docks, fallen trees, and brush piles in the mid to upper sections of the lake. Small live minnows and 1 ½ inch tubes fished on 1/16 to 1/8 oz. lead heads will work best to catch crappie this month. Small Gulp minnows also work well when fished on small lead heads or drop shot rigs.
Tip of the month: The Seagulls are starting to return for the winter. When you see a group diving, it usually means there is a school of feeding fish. Keep your running lights on when fishing after dark. Take a kid fishing.