We had 13 boats competing today in a One Stop Leesville Lake bass tournament. 1st place Jesse Cofflin & Brian Hall – 15.12 lbs.
They also Had Big Bass of the day weighing 3.99 lbs
2nd place – Jacob East & Stephen Costa – 10.51 lbs.
3rd place – Bryant Copley & Steve Woodruff – 9.23 lbs.
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HOBIE B.O.S. LANDS AT LAKE DARDANELLE, ONE OF ARKANSAS’ TOP BASS WATERS |
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With an abundance of bigmouths and 34,000 acres to explore, Arkansas’s premiere bass tournament venue is sure to challenge an elite kayak field. |
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OCEANSIDE, Calif. (September 8, 2020) – The famed bass waters of Lake Dardanelle, an impoundment of the Arkansas River, is the next stop for the Hobie Bass Open Series (B.O.S.) and it promises to be an exciting one. Host to many top professional tournaments each year, this lake is a primary pool of the McClellan-Kerr Navigation System. Featuring an average depth of 15 feet, maximum depth of 61 feet, and over 300 miles of shoreline, the expansive waters here stretch for 50 miles, offering kayak bass fans tons of potential to focus on individual strengths. In addition to bigmouths, the diverse fishery also includes white bass, spotted bass, smallmouths, hybrid stripers and a mix of big catfish. “Lake Dardanelle is located in the central region of the ‘Natural Sate’ and, in addition to offering solid bass fishing, it’s pretty easy to get to,” says Tournament Director, A.J. Mcwhorter. “It’s a six-hour ride or less from Nashville, Dallas, St. Louis or Kansas City. In terms of the bass, there’s a solid population of fish measuring up to 20 inches, plus a decent number of lunkers on top of that. There’s also enough shoreline, weeds and structure here for anglers to use a variety of techniques. As usual, entrants will be competing for a cash payout of 10% of the field, and the top-three non-qualified anglers will earn a spot in our Tournament of Champions (T.O.C.) this November in Knoxville, Tennessee. We’ll have plenty of random giveaway prizes. too.” Being a river system, anglers can expect both current and vegetation to come into play here. They may also have to deal with the beginning of the fall transition as nighttime temperatures continue to fall and the bass switch back and forth between late-summer and fall patterns. Much of the action is likely to take place along the main lake shoreline, but there are ledges bordering the major channel, plus significant tributaries, including Big Piney Creek, Spadra Creek and Illinois Bayou, to consider. As a rule, the backwaters here tend to be relatively clear, but the main river channel is sometimes stained. “It’s always good to keep in mind that the bass fishing here is current-driven, and that water depths can fluctuate a bit,” says Garrett Morgan of Conway, Arkansas. A frequent Hobie B.O.S. competitor, and 2019 T.O.C. qualifier, he notes there are plenty of pockets, eddies, and depressions to work, in addition to all the shoreline brush. “With so much good water to probe here, it makes sense to keep moving,” he advises. “You might find a bunch of 12- to 15-inch bass in one spot but find another area a short distance away where most fish run 15 to 18 inches. Bass measuring over 20 inches in length have been tougher to come by in these waters the past few years, but there are some around and they can attack at any time so always be ready for a crushing strike.” |
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Morgan suggests anglers fish to their own strengths on Lake Dardanelle. If you like to work deep ledges, look to the channels, he advises. If you’d rather work in the brush, head toward the shore. If punching through weed mats is how you tend to score, you’ll find plenty of vegetation to work on the flats. “There are even areas with submerged timber here if you look around,” notes Morgan. “Come prepared to fish a variety of ways but lean heavily on what you do best because you’ll find the right water for every technique somewhere on this lake.” Another tip from Morgan: Don’t fear the murky water. It can hold plenty of fish – you just need to figure out what you need to use so they can see, feel, smell or sense your bait. With so much potential, and an elite kayak fishing field determined to push their skills to the limit, Morgan figures it will take a pretty big haul to grab the top spot in this Hobie B.O.S. event. “I think you’re looking anywhere from 176 to 181 total inches,” he predicts, “so you’re going to have to pull close to 90 inches a day to finish in the top three. This is my third B.O.S. this year, and I’m looking to maybe qualify for the T.O.C. again. It’s going to be hard, though, because the season is growing short and there are a lot of anglers that would love to get one of those spots.” Fellow competitor Jeff Malott, from Fayetteville, Arkansas, is one of them. He’s been fishing Hobie B.O.S. events since the series started. “I’m always looking for the best competition I can find,” says Malott, “and the B.O.S. provides that at every opportunity. Just to be able to compete with the guys and gals that sign up for these tournaments is unbelievable, and the events are so well run and so well organized – even considering all the complications of these strange times. Additionally, most B.O.S. contests are held on waters many kayak anglers would include in their ‘bucket list,’ so that’s another great reason to attend.” |
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No stranger to the tournament trail, Malott is the founder of the Natural State Kayak Anglers – the largest fishing club in Arkansas – as well as the Arkansas State Bass Championship, so you can bet he’s a serious threat to finish in the money over the weekend event. “I like to flip and pitch Texas rigs and jigs, and there’s plenty of room for that here,” he reveals. “Like Garrett points out, this is a river system, so you can find plenty of little back waters, eddies, lay downs and targets to throw at. That’s usually my first plan of attack, but there’s a good topwater bite in the early fall, too, and that could come into play as well. I’m hoping to catch 85- to 90-inches of bass each day because that’s what it’s going to take to win this tournament. There are enough four- to six-pound bass in this lake to make a big difference in the scores, and you’ll probably need one or two of those brutes to get over the top.” No matter how they fish, anglers here should be happy to learn that Lake Dardanelle is more of a “fishing lake” than a recreational water sports paradise. “We’ll see a few jet skis, water tubes and pontoon boats,” says Christie Graham, Executive Director, Russellville Tourism and Visitor Center, “but this spot is a little quiet compared to some of our more favored boating waters. With a little bit of effort, anglers should be able to find some elbow room, push back into the coves, and dig in to catch the big ones. We’re excited to have the Hobie B.O.S. come to town, and we can’t wait to see you all. We’re sure everyone will have a great time.” |
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Daiwa Introduces a New Member to Its Procyon AL Spinning Reel Family |
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Freshwater-inshore crossover reels are infused with technology and high performance |
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Cypress, CA (September 8, 2020) – Now redesigned for a higher level of performance, the Daiwa Procyon AL spinning reel family is back for the attack whether that means freshwater or inshore applications. From speckled trout, redfish, and snook to bass, walleye, and trout, the Procyon AL offers anglers the perfect reel for the pursuit. In terms of application, the Procyon AL is available in five sizes – from the PCNAL2000D model for freshwater fish to the PCNAL4000D-C, which fits the bill nicely for inshore applications and larger freshwater fish pursuits. The Procyon AL is rich in its feature set. First, the reel series features an aluminum body that allows more less body and frame flex providing better support on the gears and bearings allowing increased torque and power while also allowing longer life to the gears. Anglers will find that the aluminum body of the Procyon AL is incredibly lightweight when they pick it up and put it on their favorite rod. |
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The Procyon AL also features an air rotor engineered to be very rigid, especially at high drag pressures with little flex. The Procyon AL also has generous cut-outs in its engineering design, which reduces the weight of the rotor. The lighter the rotor, the less inertia it takes to spin around the reel. This makes it much easier to crank the handle. The new reels also showcase a tubular air bail that reduces weight and offers more rigidity than standard wire, so you get less flex and bending or breaking. The tubular air bail is also manufactured with thicker material that feels good on the fingers when flipping the bail by hand. Another element of the series is DIGIGEAR® technology, digitally cut to reduce weight, and considerably better gear meshing increase smoothness and gear wear. Anglers will also find Daiwa’s distinctive Advanced Tournament Drag (ATD™) a benefit for setting the hook and fighting fish. When you set the hook, the reel instantly adds drag resistance, and then as the fish starts pulling drag, the ATD drag curve automatically returns to your prescribed setting. The Procyon AL family features Long Cast ABS spool as well. The design of the spool’s lip allows the line to exit the reel at a much tighter cone-shaped angle, meeting the guide train with less resistance and force, alleviating wind knots and allowing for longer casts. Lastly, Daiwa’s Procyon AL features a machined screw-in handle that connects directly to the main drive gear and rubber handle knob for a solid grip. In terms of aesthetics, Daiwa Procyon AL comes in an attractive silver with red accents sure to match whatever rod you choose. |
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For freshwater and inshore anglers looking for their next spinning reel, look no further than the Procyon AL, a reel engineered and manufactured with the needs of today’s angler in mind. MSRP $169.99 – $179.99 |
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For Daiwa’s latest color catalog and/or information on Daiwa dealers in your area, call Daiwa’s Customer Service Department at 562-375-6800 or e-mail inquiries to: CSR@daiwa.com. The URL for Daiwa’s web site is http://www.daiwa.com/us/ |
“Major League Fishing” Dominates the Competition and
Stands Alone Among Bass Fishing Television Fans
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DENVER (September 8, 2020) – Major League Fishing (MLF) has proved to be a dominating force with bass fishing fans, towering over competitive bass fishing programming on television by most ratings and viewership measurements. With fans seeking content on Outdoor Channel, Sportsman Channel, World Fishing Network and others, MLF eclipses competitive bass fishing programming on television and easily stands alone as cable’s most-watched fishing competition.
“It’s clear to us, despite competitors’ claims to the contrary, that Major League Fishing is by far the pre-eminent viewing choice of bass fishing fans wanting to watch top-caliber competition on television,” Major League Fishing President and CEO Jim Wilburn stated. “Numbers don’t lie, and the ratings and viewership numbers back up our claims.”
For more information about Major League Fishing and Outdoor Sportsman Group Networks visit: www.MajorLeagueFishing.com and www.outdoorsg.com
About Major League Fishing: Founded in 2011, Major League Fishing (MLF) brings the high-intensity sport of competitive bass fishing into America’s living rooms on Outdoor Channel, Sportsman Channel, World Fishing Network, Discovery, CBS, CBS Sports Network and on-demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). The Bass Pro Tour consists of eight events and a championship streamed live on www.MajorLeagueFishing.com and MOTV. MLF uses the entertaining and conservation-friendly catch, weigh and immediate-release format where every scorable bass counts and the winner is the angler with the highest cumulative weight. In late 2019 MLF acquired FLW, which expands their portfolio to include the world’s largest grassroots fishing organization, including the strongest five-fish format professional bass fishing tour, the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit, as well as the Toyota Series, Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine, and Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI, and High School Fishing presented by Favorite Fishing. For more in-depth coverage, see Game & Fish magazine, the official publication of MLF.
About Outdoor Channel: Outdoor Channel has been taking viewers across America and around the world on unparalleled adventures since 1993. Dedicated to the outdoor lifestyle and conservation, the independent cable network is a division of Outdoor Sportsman Group and provides a complete spectrum of riveting hunting, fishing, shooting and adventure entertainment. Outdoor Channel is the largest outdoor TV footprint in the country and is available in more than 50 countries internationally. Outdoor Channel can be viewed in HD and is accessible by broadband and mobile platforms. For program times and other information, visit www.outdoorchannel.com. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. #WhatGetsYouOutdoors. #MyOutdoorTV
About Sportsman Channel: Launched in 2003, Sportsman Channel/Sportsman HD/Sportsman Channel Canada (added in 2019) are television and digital media networks fully devoted to honoring a lifestyle that is celebrated by millions of North Americans. A division of Outdoor Sportsman Group, Sportsman Channel/Sportsman Canada delivers entertaining and informative programming that showcases outdoor adventure, hunting and fishing, and illustrates it through unique and authentic storytelling. Sportsman Channel/Sportsman Channel Canada embrace the attitude of celebrating the Great Outdoors in equal measure. Stay connected to Sportsman Channel online at thesportsmanchannel.com, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. #IAmSportsman. #MyOutdoorTV
Wagoner’s Foster Wins Toyota Series Event on Fort Gibson Lake
Oklahoma Angler Wins by 14 Pound, 6-Ounce Margin, Earns $27,149
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WAGONER, Okla. (Sept. 5, 2020) – Local angler Cameron Foster of Wagoner, Oklahoma, crossed the stage with five bass Friday weighing 15 pounds, 11 ounces to win the three-day Toyota Series at Fort Gibson Lake in Wagoner, Oklahoma. Foster’s three-day total of 15 bass weighing 56-11 earned him the win by a commanding 14-pound, 6-ounce over second-place angler Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour angler Zack Birge of Blanchard, Oklahoma, and earned Foster the top payout of $27,149 in the second tournament of the 2020 Toyota Series Southwestern Division.
Though Foster says he’s probably walked most, if not all, of the shoreline of Fort Gibson over the years, he chose to run up the Grand River to a single bend with brush piles, pea gravel and mud. Nearly all of his keeper fish came from that spot—one he had never fished before.
“I had been catching them on the lake [in practice],” Foster said. “But I knew 80 percent of the field was going to be fishing the lake, so I needed to find some different ways to get a big bite. I hadn’t seen a 4-pounder out here in weeks, but I had seen a lot of 3s. So, I knew if I could get 13 or 14 pounds in the boat and get a kicker fish that I would be alright, and that was my goal.”
Foster found the fateful honey hole the weekend before the tournament. He rolled up, shook about 20 fish off—including two big bites—then left.
“I didn’t know what was there,” he recounts. “Or if anything else was there.”
Now, he figures that hole is just about fished out after three days of pounding through tough conditions that left many experienced anglers in the field scratching their heads. While most of the field chased shallow fish with topwater baits, Foster enticed bass hugging the bottom with a 1/2-ounce Okeechobee craw Bass X football jig with a wire weed guard and a green pumpkin Strike King Rage Craw trailer.
Foster guessed that fish in the area see a lot of jigs with weed guards, but very few with the two-pronged wire version he utilized this week. That primary bait, along with a white, 1/2-ounce Z-Man ChatterBait with a white 3.8-inch Keitech Swing Impact FAT trailer did the majority of Foster’s damage throughout the event.
The spot was so productive that only four of Foster’s 15 keepers came outside of the bend.
For Foster, today’s FLW win is the culmination of years of work on the water and countless hours of studying off of it. And, it’s a double victory of sorts. In less than a month, he’ll finally start work at a dream job: a full-time position as a firefighter in the city of Muskogee, one that required a year of intense preparation, as well as EMT and firefighting classes. However, the job means Foster’s podium finish comes with a bittersweet price.
“I will be on probation for the next year, so I won’t be fishing a lot of multi-day tournaments,” said Foster. “After a year passes, I will be able to take off days and get back to fishing again.
“It’s a dream come true,” Foster said of the win, the job and getting it done this week on the lake that meant so much to him as a son of Wagoner.
The top 10 pros on Fort Gibson Lake finished:
1st: Cameron Foster of Wagoner, Okla., 15 bass, 56-11, $27,149
2nd: Zack Birge of Blanchard, Okla., 15 bass, 42-5, $10,490
3rd: Terry Hawkins of Corsicana, Texas, 15 bass, 42-1, $9,321
4th: Dakota Ebare of Denham Springs, La., 15 bass, 39-9, $6,767
5th: David Curtis of Trinity, Texas, 15 bass, 38-15, $6,091
6th: Brett Brumnett of Wagoner, Okla., 15 bass, 38-12, $5,414
7th: Kyle Cortiana of Coweta, Okla., 15 bass, 38-5, $4,737
8th: Jacopo Gallelli of Florence, Italy, 13 bass, 35-6, $4,060
9th: Darrel Robertson of Jay, Okla., 13 bass, 31-14, $3,384
10th: Blake Capps of Muskogee, Okla., 12 bass, 29-15, $2,707
A complete list of results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Hawkins took home an extra $1,000 as the highest finishing FLW PHOENIX BONUS member. Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $35,000 per event in each Toyota Series tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the FLW PHOENIX BONUS contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.
Spring, Texas’ Robert Kessler won the Co-angler Division Friday with a three-day total of 14 bass weighing 37 pounds, 5 ounces. Kessler took home the top prize package of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard motor.
The top 10 co-anglers on Fort Gibson Lake finished:
1st: Robert Kessler of Spring, Texas, 14 bass, 37-5, Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat w/115-hp outboard
2nd: Monty Phillips of Eufaula, Okla., 13 bass, 35-5, $3,492
3rd: Joe Landers of Okemah, Okla., 11 bass, 30-10, $2,794
4th: Eli Brumnett of Wagoner, Okla., 13 bass, 29-14, $2,445
5th: David Lansford of Muskogee, Okla., 12 bass, 25-9, $2,095
6th: Brennon Sharp of Folsom, Calif., 11 bass, 25-4, $1,746
7th: Mitch Hawkins of Corsicana, Texas, nine bass, 24-10, $1,397
8th: Tate Brumnett of Wagoner, Okla., nine bass, 23-3, $1,222
9th: Donny Davis of Livingston, La., 10 bass, 20-8, $1,048
10th: Billy Eubanks of Bunch, Okla., eight bass, 19-12, $873
The Toyota Series at Fort Gibson Lake was hosted by the Wagoner Area Chamber of Commerce. It was the second of three regular-season tournaments in 2020 for Southwestern Division anglers. The next event for Toyota Series anglers will take place next weekend, Sept. 10-12 – the Toyota Series at the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland. For a complete schedule, visit FLWFishing.com.
The 2020 Toyota Series consists of eight divisions – Central, Eastern, Northern, Plains, Southeastern, Southern, Southwestern and Western – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International division. Anglers who fish all three qualifiers in any of the eight divisions and finish in the top 25 will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series Championship for a shot at winning $235,000 cash, including a $35,000 FLW PHOENIX Bonus for qualified anglers. The winning co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard. The 2020 Toyota Series Championship will be held Dec. 3-5 on Lake Cumberland in Burnside, Kentucky, and is hosted by the Somerset Tourist & Convention Commission and the Burnside Tourism Commission.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Toyota Series on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Oxford’s McCaig Wins Toyota Series Southeastern Division Finale on Neely Henry Lake
Alabama Boater Wins By 14-Ounce Margin, Takes Home $57K including FLW PHOENIX BONUS
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GADSDEN, Ala. (Sept. 5, 2020) – Boater Mark McCaig of Oxford, Alabama, brought a five-bass limit to the scale Friday weighing 10 pounds, 3 ounces, to win the three-day Toyota Series at Neely Henry Lake in Gadsden, Alabama. McCaig’s three-day total of 15 bass weighing 33-12 earned him the win by a 14-ounce margin over second-place angler Kyle Glasgow of Guin, Alabama, and earned McCaig the top payout of $57,690, including the lucrative $35,000 FLW PHOENIX BONUS contingency award, in the third and final tournament of the 2020 Toyota Series Southeastern Division.
McCaig said that he knew, from generation schedules, that current would not be present in Neely Henry until noon each day. With a check-in time of 2:30 during the tournament, that gave him just 2 hours of prime fishing time to work current related areas. The question became what to do with the other five hours.
“The thing I tried to be better about in this event was not going down the lake to those current spots too early,” McCaig said. “If I jumped the gun and ran them too early and they didn’t work, I might get frustrated too soon.”
Instead, McCaig decided to play a game of run and gun with his intuition early in the day, even fishing places where he’s ever cast a lure before.
“I caught several fish this week in places I didn’t even know existed,” he said. “Anything I caught before noon was all a bonus.”
Several of those “bonus fish” came from skipping a SPRO Bronzeye Poppin’ Frog up under overhanging bushes that were casting shade. Another bonus fish pattern was running and gunning docks, pitching a Big Bite Baits Fighting Frog. McCaig has several pet docks that he knows work when the current is running, but wanted to run docks he had never fished before in hopes of finding a pleasant surprise.
“For most of the mornings, I just junk fished, running shade with the floating frog and the Fighting Frog,” he says. “That helped get a few solid keepers in the boat before the current came on.”
Once the current started running, McCaig moved to more of his tried and true docks, rock points and shallow offshore sweet spots that collect current-driven debris like logs. He also switched to a square-bill crankbait to work the eddies formed by the debris.
“I caught most of my fish after noon in current,” he says. “But I would not have won the tournament without catching a few key fish early just running around junk fishing shade on places I have never been and that’s what feels good about this event.”
The top 10 pros on Neely Henry Lake finished:
1st: Mark McCaig of Oxford, Ala., 15 bass, 33-12, $57,690
2nd: Kyle Glasgow of Guin, Ala., 15 bass, 32-14, $8,265
3rd: Hunter Hayes of Gadsden, Ala., 15 bass, 28-13, $6,357
4th: Andrew Johnson of Glencoe, Ala., 14 bass, 28-4, $5,298
5th: Josh Butler of Hayden, Ala., 15 bass, 28-0, $4,768
6th: Derek Hicks of Rocky Face, Ga., 13 bass, 26-14, $4,238
7th: Clabion Johns of Social Circle, Ga., 13 bass, 26-12, $3,708
8th: Cal Lane of Guntersville, Ala., 14 bass, 22-5, $3,179
9th: Terry Tucker of Gadsden, Ala., 10 bass, 18-12, $2,649
10th: Scott Towry of Lawrenceburg, Tenn., 10 bass, 18-8, $2,119
A complete list of results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
McCaig took home an extra $35,000 as the highest finishing FLW PHOENIX BONUS member. Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $35,000 per event in each Toyota Series tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the FLW PHOENIX BONUS contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.
Kyle Owen of Bradenton, Florida, won the Co-angler Division Friday with a three-day total of 13 bass weighing 23 pounds, 4 ounces. Owen took home the top prize package of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard motor.
The top 10 co-anglers on Neely Henry Lake finished:
1st: Kyle Owen of Bradenton, Fla., 13 bass, 23-4, Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat w/115-hp outboard
2nd: Cal Culpepper of Hamilton, Ga., 12 bass, 19-14, $2,796
3rd: Joseph Chilcott of Crestview, Fla., 11 bass, 19-7, $2,236
4th: Doug Back of Monticello, Fla., 12 bass, 17-5, $1,957
5th: Blake Lewis of Pace, Fla., 13 bass, 17-3, $1,677
6th: Randy Hill of Athens, Fla., nine bass, 15-0, $1,398
7th: Marcus Corbett of Anniston, Ala., nine bass, 14-10, $1,118
8th: Brian Jones of Clanton, Ala., 10 bass, 14-3, $978
9th: Raymond Vargas of Hattiesburg, Miss., seven bass, 12-1, $839
10th: Michael Corbett of Oxford, Ala., seven bass, 11-5, $699
The Toyota Series at Neely Henry Lake was hosted by the City of Gadsden and Greater Gadsden Area Tourism. It was the third and final regular-season tournaments in 2020 for Southeastern Division anglers. The next event for Toyota Series anglers will take place next week, Sept. 10-12 – the Toyota Series at the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland. For a complete schedule, visit FLWFishing.com.
The 2020 Toyota Series consists of eight divisions – Central, Eastern, Northern, Plains, Southeastern, Southern, Southwestern and Western – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International division. Anglers who fish all three qualifiers in any of the eight divisions and finish in the top 25 will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series Championship for a shot at winning $235,000 cash, including a $35,000 FLW PHOENIX Bonus for qualified anglers. The winning co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard. The 2020 Toyota Series Championship will be held Dec. 3-5 on Lake Cumberland in Burnside, Kentucky, and is hosted by the Somerset Tourist & Convention Commission and the Burnside Tourism Commission.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Toyota Series on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
About FLW
Bass Edge Radio interviews BASS Elite Series professional angler Buddy Gross as the featured angler in the latest podcast presented by Megaware KeelGuard. Show hosts Aaron Martin and Kurt Dove visit with Buddy about his unique approach to deep bass as well as how he dissects an area once he locates productive bass fishing.
Sam Rayburn Reservoir will host the Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Open Sept. 10-12.
Photo by B.A.S.S.
September 3, 2020
Summer Dog Days Await Anglers In Bassmaster Central Open On Sam Rayburn
JASPER, Texas — It won’t be an easy time on historic Sam Rayburn Reservoir, but anglers competing in the Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Open on this East Texas powerhouse will not lack for opportunity.
Seasonally speaking, this Angelina River impoundment has long been considered one of the Lone Star State’s most-renowned fisheries; it’s just moody this time of year.
“The water’s low and dropping; it’s like everywhere in the South,” said Bassmaster Elite Series pro Keith Combs, who makes his home in Huntington, Texas, on Rayburn’s northwest side. “September is just a tough month to catch fish, and Rayburn will be no different. It’ll be a grinder.”
A week before the event, this 114,500-acre lake stood about 2.84 feet below normal pool of 164.4. Despite a fairly wet summer, the water volume moving through this system declines this time of year.
“That’s not extremely low and, on Rayburn, that still gives you a lot of shallow cover to fish,” Combs said. “There are plenty of options here.”
Combs said he’s noticed that Hurricane Laura ripped up some grass on the south end. But otherwise, the lake’s not showing any significant impacts from the recent tropical weather event.
After several weeks of daytime highs in the mid-90s, local temperatures will slip into the mid-80s. But with overnight lows only reaching into the low to mid-60s, Combs isn’t expecting a significant effect on the water temperatures.
“I don’t think we’re going to see a big uptick (in fish activity),” he said of the early season front. “The big cold fronts of fall are better, but we’re not going to see that in time for (the) event.”
Combs believes Rayburn’s abundant hydrilla, which currently grows out to about 9 feet, will be a big player. Flipping/punching jigs and Texas-rigged plastics will produce a lot of fish, but look for the early morning topwater bite to factor into the grass game.
“There’s also way more pads than we’ve had in the last six to eight years,” Combs said. “We had a resurgence last year; I’m glad to see them back. Frogging is definitely a good way to catch them in the pads. We also have a ton of peppergrass and you can catch them on frogs there, as well.”
Predicting a three-day winning total of 56 pounds, Combs said Rayburn’s famous offshore structure is sure to receive a lot of attention. From dropoffs to brushpiles, anglers fishing big Texas-rigged worms, Carolina rigs and deep-diving crankbaits will fare well.
“There’s also a lot of fish schooling in open water right now,” Combs said. “That’s what makes it so tough — you can’t really chase those fish around because they suspend.
“I think the entire lake will be in play. There will be guys catching them in creeks and rivers, there will be guys catching them out in the middle of the main lake from one end to the other. Who knows where it will be won.”
The tournament is the second of four events scheduled in the Central Division. At the end of the season, the Top 4 anglers from the Central and Eastern Divisions will receive automatic bids into the 2021 Bassmaster Elite Series. The Top 4 from the overall Opens standings will also receive bids, and the overall points winner will receive $10,000 as the Falcon Rods Opens Angler of the Year.
With fan interest at an all-time high and a stacked field of anglers that includes some of the sport’s biggest names, B.A.S.S. officials have expanded live coverage options on Bassmaster.com. Both boaters and co-anglers will be logging their catches using BASSTrakk for real-time updates. Fans can also follow the final-day drama by streaming Nationwide Bassmaster Opens LIVE presented by Grizzly as camera boats provide coverage of the leaders.
The tournament is being hosted by the Jasper-Lake Sam Rayburn Chamber of Commerce.
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LockerZ and Loaded |
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Invaluable Z-Man Bait LockerZ™ safeguards and systematizes a mountain of ElaZtech® and other softbaits |
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Ladson, SC (September 3, 2020) – You already do your best “work” there. Might as well make it official . . . your boat is your real office. You’ve got your desk and your executive chair (a.k.a. casting platform and swivel seat). You’ve got your business computer (fish finder), plus all your pens, laser pointers and pencils (fishing rods). Heck, you’ve even got your red Swingline stapler and a big roll of tape (fishing line) that holds everything together. All that’s left is a well-organized filing cabinet stocked with every essential file—make that, bait— you’ll ever need. On the best-bait front, Z-Man’s got your back. Their radical ElaZtech baits have powered-up your soft plastics game to pro-level heights. Why not also give anglers the ultimate bait-file—a.k.a. the most valuable softbait tackle bag you’ve ever owned? The Z-Man Bait LockerZ is just that: the perfect softbait storage case and the one bag smart enough to house and systematize an extravagant pile of soft plastics. |
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“As most anglers have learned, binder-style totes and other tacklebags offer a very limited—and often, disorganized— storage space for soft plastics,” says Z-Man president and expert angler, Daniel Nussbaum. “We crafted the Bait LockerZ first and foremost to make it super easy to finger-walk through dozens of bait packs with ease, allowing you to quickly access that hot shape and color in a seconds. Slide the package back in the LockerZ and your baits stay organized and in in tiptop shape for the longterm.” Tailored to precisely encase the width of standard-size 7-inch zip-lock bags of ElaZtech® or other baits, the Bait LockerZ includes four removable Velcro dividers, yielding five separate, personalized bait compartments. Bait bags stand upright, flat and organized, easily identifiable and accessible. The Bait LockerZ supports ElaZtech baits stored in their original packages, effectively preserving their natural, original shapes without compressing or deforming them. Comfortably housing up to 50 packs of ElaZtech or other softbaits, the LockerZ effortlessly transports more than enough baits for any tournament, weeklong vacation or daytrip. To lock water out and prevent the lid from blowing open, a tough, robust top enclosure stays shut, thanks to powerful magnetic flaps. This intelligent arrangement also provides easy-to-open, zipper-free access to your bait collection. During transport, dual snap enclosures further safeguard the LockerZ’ valuable contents. A rugged, rubberized bottom panel prevents moisture entry and grips all types of boat decks. A convenient lid handle and nylon shoulder strap ease bag transport. |
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For additional interior storage, five clear storage compartments isolate hooks, jigheads and lures, while two larger interior enclosures fit bigger items. A spacious exterior mesh pocket safeguards more essentials such as tools, leader/line spools or jumbo bait bags. Acknowledging the needs of kayak anglers, Z-Man built the Bait LockerZ to fit perfectly in place behind a kayak seat or other designated storage footprints. “My Bait LockerZ fits like it was made to sit between the backrest of my Hobie seat and the storage crate,” notes Ryan Harder, Z-Man sales manager and another resident Z-Man angler. “It’s so easy to flip the bag onto my lap while I run down the lake, finger-walking through bait packs until I find the right creature bait, swimbait or jig trailer. “Right now, I store most of my ElaZtech collection in three of these bad boy bags—one for saltwater, one for clear freshwater lakes and a third loaded with super bright colors for muddy water. I’ve also found the Bait LockerZ to be ideal for hopping in your buddy’s boat, loading up on baits for every situation you might face on unfamiliar water.” |
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Z-Man’s new Bait LockerZ organizes and safeguards over 50 bags of ElaZtech and other soft plastics. |
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“I’ve kept a prototype of this bag in my boat since March, and it’s holding up to the sun and salt like a champ,” adds Nussbaum. “I think anglers who use one will immediately agree: The Bait LockerZ is hands-down the best way to carry and keep organized a big stash of soft plastics. We all own a ton of baits. But give me a bag that grants instant access to that one bag of hot baits and I’m a happy camper.” Constructed from durable 600 denier waterproof canvas, the Z-Man Bait LockerZ is built to withstand the aquatic elements and organize up to 50-packages of ElaZtech baits. Sized and shaped like an oversized lunchbox, the Bait LockerZ measures 18” (L) x 9” (W) x 7” (H). Available now at retailers everywhere or at www.zmanfishing.com, MSRP $59.99. |
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