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Todd retains lead at Okeechobee – EverStart Series – Southeast – FLW

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January 12, 2013

Ben Todd of Pierson, Fla., still leads the EverStart Series Southeast event on Lake Okeechobee with a two-day total of 43 pounds. (Photo by Rob Newell)

‘Big Mac’ closing in

11.Jan.2013 by Rob Newell

OKEECHOBEE, Fla. – After seven 20-pound plus limits crossed the EverStart weigh-in stage on day one, day two’s number of 20-plusers fell to just two.

While the overall number of bass weighed in was still about the same for both days, the bigger bass just didn’t show up as often today. The replenishment of new-moon females does not seem to be happening as fast as many had hoped.

Some blamed today’s weather – a gray, overcast day that even drizzled out a little rain shower from time to time – for holding the big girls back. Many of Okeechobee’s top sticks believe the calm, sunny days are the ones that seem to be an aphrodisiac for nesting females and today the sun did not really shine until weigh-in began.

Others think the fishing pressure kept the shy gals at bay. Increased boat numbers inherently seem to follow the leaders on day two of a tournament, and today was no exception.

After sacking a dream bag of 31 pounds, 7 ounces on day one, leader Ben Todd of Pierson, Fla., was able to hold his top spot with an 11-pound, 9 ounce catch for a two-day total of 43 pounds. He now has a 5-pound lead over Okeechobee’s own Brandon McMillan who climbed from 7th to second today.

And while no one wants to enter the final day of an Okeechobee event with Big Mac lurking behind them, Todd remains optimistic.

“I fished the same area today and caught 12 or 13 bass, but just no big ones,” Todd said. “The weather was completely opposite of yesterday. Yesterday was sunny and bright all day. Those big females were set up on the beds perfectly and you could almost call your shot. But today, it was dark, cloudy and rainy and I just don’t think those big females feel comfortable getting up there and laying eggs on dark days. I don’t know, that’s just my guess.”

Todd also felt the increased pressure was a factor.

“Yesterday, I could move around the area freely and fish where I wanted when I wanted,” he said “But today, I was kind of boxed in. When I went back to rotate through my area I had to get in line. So much of this fishing here is a timing thing. You have in your mind the little places you want to hit a certain times and when you get out of that timing it throws you off.”

“I still feel good about the area though,” Todd added. “There are still plenty of bucks around. And I think the females are sitting out there wanting to come in. Hopefully with some sun and a few less boats tomorrow that wave of big ones will come on in and set up.”

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Florida pro breaks 30-pound mark to take EverStart lead – FLW Outdoors 1-10-12

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January 11, 2013

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Ben Todd of Pierson, Fla., leads the EverStart Southeast Division opener on Lake Okeechobee with 31 pounds, 7 ounces. Here is look at his bookends: a 9-1 and 8-1. (Photo by Rob Newell)

Florida pro breaks 30-pound mark to take EverStart lead

10.Jan.2013 by Rob Newell

OKEECHOBEE, Fla. – Before the EverStart Southeast Division event on Lake Okeechobee began, many pros agreed on one thing: someone, somewhere would land on a big wave of Big O brutes moving in to spawn and have a magical day that could push the 30-pound mark.

Today, that magical day happened to pro Ben Todd of Pierson, Fla. Todd took off this morning with an empty livewell and returned with a box brimming over with big bass – 31 pounds, 7 ounces worth of bass to be exact.

“I’m still in shock,” said an elated Todd after weighing in. “That’s the biggest bunch of bass I’ve ever caught in my life – not just in a tournament – but ever.”

Todd’s magical day started with a 9-1, his first fish of the day, and the big bass in the Pro Division. He finished a limit and just when he thought he was perfectly happy with his catch, he finished up the day with an 8-1 and then another one around 6.

“When I caught the 8-pounder this afternoon, I was like, this is crazy!” he said. “Then when I caught the 6-pounder, I was like, this is stupid! When it happens, it just happens. I can’t explain it.”

While Todd understandably is hesitant to give up his lure of choice, he did reveal he is catching his bass on an outside reed edge.

“It’s area specific,” Todd said. “I ran to my area, set down and never put the boat on plane again until it was time to go. I think these fish are spawning – I can’t see them, but the way they are biting, I think they’re on beds.”

As for his area, Todd is confident he can catch a decent bag again.

“I’m not saying I can catch that weight again,” he said with laugh. “But I caught about 15 bass today and culled some decent ones, so I feel like there are still plenty of fish in the area.

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Fuse 4.4 and Warlock Head Enhance Missile Baits Line Up – Missile Baits.com

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January 10, 2013

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Fuse 4.4 and Warlock Head Enhance Missile Baits Line Up

Salem, Va. – January 9, 2013 – Missile Baits enhances its line of soft plastic baits with the Fuse 4.4 and introduces its complement shaky head called the Warlock Head. The Fuse 4.4 is a slender, finesse type worm that is designed for shaky head and drop shot applications. The 4.4” worm has slender craw appendages on the end of the worm unlike anything out there. The Warlock Head is a totally custom, screw lock style shaky head built around a 3/0 Gamakatsu bigger bite hook. The Fuse and Warlock work together perfectly.
“The Fuse and Warlock combo is my new go-to shaky head rig,” states John Crews, company owner and professional angler. “Like our other products, they are totally unique and designed to perform better. The Fuse will also be my drop shot bait when I need that size worm. I know that this worm and shaky head will help anglers catch a lot more fish just like it will for me.”
The Fuse 4.4 is somewhat of a larger version of the Missile Baits Drop Craw. The Fuse is 4.4” versus 3” for the Drop Craw but the proportions are different by design. The head of the Fuse is thicker so it can be used directly on any type of shaky head without modification. That thicker portion also allows for proper rigging when on a drop shot or regular hook as well. The portion of the worm that holds the hook point is slightly thinner so that the hook ups are easier than on other finesse type worms but the bait still stays snag less. The Fuse comes in 9 colors and has a suggested retail price of $3.99 for a bag of 12.
Ready to lock onto your worm and go to war, the Warlock Head is a unique, premium quality shaky head style jig head. The functional head design is rounded but aerodynamic to be able to skip, fall straight, and come through cover very well. The shorter spring lock coupled with the bigger bite Gamakatsu hook allows for a bigger gap, which translates into better hook sets. The Warlock Head will come in 2 colors (Green Pumpkin and Black) and 3 sizes (1/8, 3/16, and 1/4). These top quality heads will come in a 3 pack and have a suggested retail price of $4.99.
The popular D Bomb is getting a new option. We all know there are days when the bass are just eating the D Bomb up and it does not seem like you have enough baits. There are now 25 count bags of three of the colors in the D Bomb. The bigger count bags are available in Bruiser Flash, Candy Grass, and California Love. These 25 count bags will retail for $12.99 and only be available to independent dealers and on the Missile Baits web site.
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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. Founded in January 2012, new products and videos will continue to be launched. 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

News New year, new deal: Lowrance extends Bassmaster sponsorship – Bassmaster.com

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January 10, 2013

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Jan 9, 2013

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Lowrance, a world-leading brand in marine electronics since 1957 and GPS navigational systems since 1992, and B.A.S.S. LLC have struck a deal to continue their time-proven working relationship.

Under the multiyear agreement, Lowrance will continue as an official Supporting Sponsor of the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series and Cabela’s B.A.S.S. Nation events, which draw participants from the United States and several other countries. For the first time, Lowrance will be an official Supporting Sponsor of the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series, the growing circuit that offers collegiate fishing teams an opportunity to compete in professionally designed and operated tournaments.

“Bassmaster events provide an excellent worldwide stage to showcase Lowrance’s premier range of marine electronics,” said Louis Chemi, COO of Navico Americas, owner of the Lowrance brand. “As one of the charter B.A.S.S. sponsors, we are excited to renew our long-term commitment and ensure that tournament anglers can make the most of our industry-leading products and support.”

Lowrance also has become the title sponsor of the War Room on Bassmaster.com, a play-by-play presentation of Bassmaster tournaments. The live-streamed Lowrance War Room will present breaking news, from-the-water reports, competition analysis and interviews with pros and other experts. The Lowrance War Room will kick off in a big way — at the 2013 Bassmaster Classic presented by Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa, Feb. 22-24, in Lowrance’s hometown of Tulsa., Okla. The Lowrance War Room will continue with the 2013 Elite Series season, set to begin March 14 in Orange, Texas, with the Sabine River Challenge presented by STARK Cultural Venues.

“We are proud to count Lowrance as one of our long-standing partners, and we look forward to discovering additional new ways of working together and of making the future even more productive than the past,” said Bruce Akin, CEO of B.A.S.S.

Lowrance will have a large booth at the 2013 Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods, Feb. 22-24, at the Tulsa Convention Center. There, B.A.S.S. members and fans can check out the latest technology in marine electronics and GPS systems, and see how that technology is integrated into the newest Lowrance products.

Those include the HDS Gen2 Touch, a high-definition touch-screen fishfinder/chartplotter with built-in StructureScan sonar imaging and Broadband Sounder. Also in the spotlight at the Lowrance booth will be the Elite-7 HDI, the new Hybrid Dual Imaging (HDI) fishfinder/chartplotter, featuring two award-winning technologies, Broadband Sounder and DownScan Imaging. Anglers also can learn how they can use Insight Genesis to create a custom map using their own sonar data.

Lowrance will keep that angler connection hot throughout the year with print advertising in Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times magazines, and with digital messaging on Bassmaster.com.

The Lowrance brand (www.lowrance.com) is wholly owned by Navico Inc. (www.navico.com). A privately held, international corporation, Navico is currently the world’s largest marine electronics company and is the parent company of leading marine electronics brands: Lowrance, Simrad Yachting and B&G. Navico has approximately 1,500 employees globally and distribution in more than 100 countries worldwide.