What to Throw for the Summer Bass Bite – RAPALA

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July 20, 2019

What to Throw for the Summer Bass Bite

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The transition from spring to summer can be a difficult and sometimes frustrating time to fish but can also be the most rewarding and successful times to fish all year. This time of year the bass will typically start to school up to feed together after the spawn so it’s important to cover a lot of water because you might go a while without a bite, but once you find an active school it can be lights out.

By this time most of the bass have already spawned and are making their way to deeper water to recuperate after the spawn. With the majority of the bass getting into their post-spawn and summer patterns, they are moving out to weedlines, secondary points, and shifting their main focus to food.

However, nothing is guaranteed while fishing this time of year. With spring rain and flooding in a lot of the country leaving a lot of the lakes, rivers, and reservoirs with unseasonably high water, it can really change how the fish are behaving. This rain can change a lot with the bass moving into their summer patterns, it can change the water temperature as well as raise the water level which can keep the fish shallower longer than what is normal for this time of year.

Depending on where you are located in the country there are typically only a few different forage the bass will be looking to feed on this time of year such as bluegill, perch, shad, or crawfish. However, no matter where you’re located, bass will be looking to get back at the bluegill for harassing and pushing the bass off the beds while they were spawning.

One of the best places to find post-spawn bass are right around, and in, bluegill beds. Vast areas of bluegill beds are hard to miss while cruising down the shoreline with their unmistakable honeycomb look. But, if you aren’t having any luck on bluegill beds, odds are they have already moved out further offshore to wait out the heat of the summer.

Something to keep in mind with having such unstable weather such as constant cold fronts and heavy rains, especially this spring, is to focus on vertical cover. Some examples of this are dock pilings, seawalls, and steep drop-offs. The reason these types of cover are so important to bass this time of year is because they are able to move up and down in the water column without having to swim a far distance, and still have cover to relate to.

Now that we have covered some of the basics of what the bass are doing in early summer, we will go over what lures to throw and why they are so effective for this time of year.

Top 4 Summer Baits
Here are a few lures that are great for covering a lot of water and fishing the cover effectively during this time of year so you are able to quickly find that active school of bass.

VMC® Tokyo Rig®
One of the most versatile baits on the market, you can flip your favorite beaver / creature style bait near dock pilings and sea walls or crawl a swimbait through bluegill beds and down steep offshore breaks where the bass might be hanging out waiting for an easy meal to come by.

Topwater Baits from Storm® & Terminator®
Buzzbaits are great to cover a lot of water and you are able to throw it in and around docks and flooded timber. Other great baits to throw are ‘Walking’ baits such as the Arashi® Top Walker, and even the Terminator® Popping and Walking frog. These baits are great to throw around bluegill beds because you are able to keep the bait in the strike zone above the bluegill beds longer than a buzzbait or other topwaters. This gives the bass more time to see the bait and have more time to bite the lure.

Rapala® DT® Series Crankbaits
As the bass start to move out to deeper structure, one of the best ways to catch them is to fish points and breaks they will pass by on their way out to their summer haunts. The best way to fish these areas effectively and cover a lot of water is to throw a crankbait. However, there are hundreds of different crankbaits, but the DT Series is made of balsa wood which actually allows the bait to float when it is paused during the retrieve. This trait is very important in early spring and summer because it allows you to slow down the crankbait and catch a few more fish that might have been too lethargic and tired out from the spawn to bite a crankbait that had been burned by them already.

VMC® Shaky Head Jig
This bait is known for catching numbers of bass, which is perfect for this time of year since the fish start to group up to feed in schools. Another benefit is that anyone can throw this lure and have a lot of success. It’s as simple as adding your favorite straight tail worm to a VMC Shaky Head Jig, cast it to some sort of structure whether it is a weedline, dock piling, sea wall, or transition line, and slowly drag and shake it back to the boat while waiting on that tick from the fish for you to set the hook.

This summer, get out on the water to try a few of these tips and hopefully they will help you catch more bass between the spawn and summer stages. This time of year can be difficult to target bass but the biggest thing to remember is to cover as much water as you can, moving from shallow to deeper water and eventually you should run into a few schools that are chomping at the bit to gorge themselves on baitfish and other forage after their long spawning season, giving you a chance to slide your lure in the mix of things to catch a few quality fish.

See VMC® Tokyo Rig®

See Terminator® Walking Frog

See Terminator® Popping

See Storm® Arashi® Top Walker

See Rapala® DT® Series

See VMC® Shaky Head Jig

If You Were Stuck On An Island With One Lure, What Would It Be?

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July 19, 2019

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If You Were Stuck On An Island With One Lure, What Would It Be?

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I have never been a castaway, but if I ever had the misfortune of being shipwrecked and stranded on a remote island I would want one lure that would catch both freshwater and saltwater fish.

That lure would have to be a marabou jig because I have caught a wide range of freshwater fish and even some bonefish in Belize on the feathered jig. The lure is a great fish catcher because I can use it to imitate a variety of forage including minnows, shad and shrimp.

The lure is extremely versatile and can be used for multiple presentations. I can reel it in steadily and twitch my rod tip to swim the jig and entice trout into biting. The jig also triggers plenty of strikes from trout when I let it sink to the bottom and rip it up and let it fall again. I have even caught trout by hopping it off the bottom to attract the fish’s attention and then letting it sit for several seconds on the bottom. When it settles on the bottom the jig’s feathers flare out, which draws the fish to the lure and entices the trout into biting.

Letting the jig fall and drift with current is another effective way to present the lure. I have caught numerous white bass, trout and smallmouth bass in rivers with this presentation.

The marabou jig is also ideal for vertical jigging in cover such as logs, stumps and weeds. I can drop it into holes of vegetation or along the sides of logs and either let the jig sit motionless next to the target or slightly twitch it to trigger a strike from fish lurking in the cover.

A marabou jig can also be skipped across the surface to imitate a baitfish fleeing from a predator fish feeding on top of the water. Burning the marabou jig by reeling at a fast pace and then stopping the retrieve and letting the jig fall is another effective way to trigger bites.

I also enhance my marabou jigs by tipping the lure with a small minnow, worm or even a sliver of skin from a larger baitfish. This addition to the jig provides some added flash to the lure and a natural taste. When a fish inhales the jig and live bait combo it retains the bait longer and gives me more time to set the hook.

Tides Will Again Play A Major Role As Bassmaster Opens Circuit Returns To James River

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July 18, 2019

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Tides Will Again Play A Major Role As Bassmaster Opens Circuit Returns To James River

Michigan pro Garrett Paquette finished in fourth place during the Basspro.com Bassmaster Open held in 2017 on the James River. The Opens circuit will visit the James River again July 25-27.

Photo by Andy Crawford/B.A.S.S.

July 18, 2019

Tides Will Again Play A Major Role As Bassmaster Opens Circuit Returns To James River

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RICHMOND, Va. — Garrett Paquette has had a good relationship with the James River.

In 2016, he and his partner Zak Fadden of Schoolcraft College finished eighth in a Carhartt Bassmaster College Series event on the James. Then in 2017, Paquette placed fourth in a Bassmaster Open there, earning a check for $10,812.

But as he prepares for next week’s Basspro.com Bassmaster Eastern Open on the James River, Paquette expects to see a completely different fishery than he’s experienced in the past.

“The last time I was there (in 2017), it was at the end of July,” said Paquette, who’s now a successful rookie on the Bassmaster Elite Series. “So, we’re going at the same time of year.

“But one thing you always have to prepare for when you fish the James River is the tides — and the tides this year are going to be completely different than they were last time I was there.”

Competition days will be Thursday through Saturday, with daily takeoffs at 6 a.m. ET from Osborne Park & Boat Landing. Weigh-ins on Days 1 and 2 will be held at the landing at 2 p.m., and the final-day weigh-in will be at 3 p.m. at the Bass Pro Shops in Ashland, Va.

The James River has served as the venue for 11 previous major events. The tide was a factor for all of those tournaments — and as Paquette said, it will be for this one as well.

“The things that worked for me last time, I just can’t see working for me until maybe Day 3,” Paquette said. “I’m kind of getting nervous about it already.”

To deal with the tidal fluctuation that comes from the James River’s proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, Paquette said anglers will basically have two choices.

“One way to approach it is to find an area with fish and sit in there all day — high tide, low tide or whatever — and just kind of change presentations throughout the day,” he said. “The other thing that works when fishing tides is just fishing really specific targets and running the tide, just moving around the river and hitting the specific stretches you want to fish at just the right time.”

With the current tidal predictions, Paquette expects that latter strategy to be particularly tough. He believes 13 to 14 pounds per day will put an angler in good position to win — and he thinks employing all of the typical river-fishing methods will be the key to amassing that weight.

“The cool thing about the James is there are no secrets,” Paquette said. “It’s very rare when someone even gets a Top 10 and you look back and say ‘Wow, I didn’t think of that.’

“It’s very basic river fishing — flipping, frogs, ChatterBaits, spinnerbaits, maybe a Pop-R-style bait and then finesse fishing.”

The James River was the site of three Bassmaster Classics in 1988-90. More recently, the fishery has hosted six Opens since 2011, including the 2016 event won by former Elite Series pro Charlie Hartley and the 2017 tournament won by current Elite angler and Virginia resident Rick Morris.

“Because it’s going to be so hot and the tides aren’t going to be perfect, I think it’s going to be a little stingier than it has been at times in the past,” said Paquette, who has five career Top 10 finishes with B.A.S.S. “But it’s still going to be a great tournament.”

2019 Basspro.com Bassmaster Opens Series Title Sponsor: Basspro.com

2019 Basspro.com Bassmaster Opens Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota

2019 Basspro.com Bassmaster Opens Series Premier Sponsors: Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha, Abu Garcia, Berkley, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Talon

2019 Basspro.com Bassmaster Opens Series Supporting Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Lowrance, T-H Marine, Carhartt

2019 Basspro.com Bassmaster Eastern Open at James River Host: Richmond Region Tourism and Henrico County

New LIVETARGET Injected Core Technology™ Baits Earn a Trifecta of Awards at ICAST 2019

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July 18, 2019

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New LIVETARGET Injected Core Technology™ Baits

Earn a Trifecta of Awards at ICAST 2019

These three award-winning ICT baits are available for purchase right now!

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Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON (July 18, 2019) – LIVETARGET was eager to unveil an exciting, new bait-manufacturing technology at last week’s ICAST show in the form of numerous revolutionary baits that incorporate their exciting, all-new construction innovation – Injected Core Technology (ICT). This technology clearly resonated with show attendees – so much, in fact, that LIVETARGET took home top honors in three different award categories: Best Freshwater Hard Lure – LIVETARGET Erratic Shiner; Best Saltwater Hard Lure – LIVETARGET Flutter Sardine; and Best Saltwater Soft Lure – LIVETARGET Slow-Roll Shiner.

There were more than 650 entries in 4 categories at this year’s ICAST New Product Showcase. LIVERARGET swept 3 of the 4 categories, drawing world-wide attention to their new and advanced technology.

Always striving to Match-the-Hatch^®, LIVETARGET’s Injected Core Technology is an entirely new innovation in bait design that offers heightened realism on multiple levels. Recognizing that traditional manufacturing techniques lack both realism and detail, LIVETARGET ICT merges realism with function like never before.

For years, lure manufacturers have struggled to create baits that are realistic in profile while also maintaining the desired action. The challenge? In order to create an accurate action, a mechanical shape was necessary. Whether it was the wide shape of a spoon that generated a wobble action or a paddletail that gave a swimbait its signature rolling action, the mechanics used to create the strike-provoking movement always took away from the realism of the lure. The problem? A game fish that is attracted to the flash and movement can easily become wary once it gets close enough to see the off-putting and unnatural mechanical profile.

LIVETARGET’s solution is ICT. A lifelike Inner-Core is constructed with realistic forage profiles, detailed anatomy and vibrant colors. The core is then encapsulated in a clear, durable Exo-Skin, which generates the bait’s signature action, but is less noticeable underwater. Game fish focus on the natural profile of the Inner-Core and are not alarmed by the action-generating mechanics. The result is a line of baits that perfectly Match-the-Hatch^® in both anatomy and action.

Anglers Win!

ICT lures catch more fish because they look more realistic; not only from a distance, but more importantly, up close. One of the most significant advantages of ICT is the ratio of plastic between the Inner-Core and Exo-Skin. The Inner-Core is approximately 30% smaller than the overall cubic mass of the entire lure. That means anglers can present a smaller hatch size but still have the advantages of throwing a bigger bait. This presents additional benefits, such as increased water displacement, extra weight for longer casts and the ability to use larger hooks while presenting a smaller hatch.

Here’s a closer look at the specific ICT baits that media and retailers voted as the best in each of their respective categories!

ICAST 2019 BEST FRESHWATER HARD LURE – LIVETARGET’s ICT Erratic Shiner behaves like a traditional casting spoon but has the narrow profile of a common shiner or minnow. With Injected Core Technology, the lure has a lifelike Inner-Core that mimics a small fleeing baitfish. The Exo-Skin gives the lure an erratic wide-wobble action, bringing the Inner-Core to life. The metallic core produces a pulsating flash, drawing in nearby game fish. Weight distribution of the bait makes for effortlessly long casts. Comes in 4 weights and 10 colors. Ideal for both fresh and saltwater. MSRP: $9.99 USD.

ICAST 2019 BEST SALTWATER HARD LURE – LIVETARGET’s ICT Flutter Sardine is a jigging spoon with an erratic twitch and a dynamic falling action that’s anatomically accurate and features an exceptionally realistic profile compared to traditional jigging spoons. Injected Core Technology enables the Inner-Core to host a lifelike sardine profile, while the Exo-Skin gives the lure its signature flutter action. Perfect for a host of saltwater fishing applications with a saltwater-grade hook, it’s available in 5 weights and 6 colors. MSRP: $9.99 USD.

ICAST 2019 BEST SALTWATER SOFT LURE – LIVETARGET’s ICT Slow-Roll Shiner is an unrigged paddletail swimbait that mimics a fleeing thin-profiled baitfish. It features Injected Core Technology, offering improved baitfish profile and detail over traditional paddletail swimbaits. Hard-thumping and a rolling body action creates a subtle and enticing action, while LIVETARGET’s unique, proprietary metallic core produces a radiant flash far more reflective and better balanced compared to traditional paddletail baits and old school foil inserts. Comes in 3 sizes and 6 colors. Ideal for both freshwater and saltwater. MSRP: $9.99 USD.

Get Them Right Now!

LIVETARGET is proud to offer both dealers and anglers the full arsenal of ICT baits just introduced last week at ICAST for a multitude of diverse angling applications. These include the surface/sub-surface ICT Freestyle Frog commotion frog, ICT Flutter Shad and ICT Flutter Sardine jigging spoons, ICT Erratic Shiner casting spoon; ICT Slow-Roll Shiner swimbait; ICT Ghost Tail Minnow drop shot, and ICT Twitch Minnow and ICT Skip Shad soft jerkbaits.

(Due to strong demand, some sizes and colors are temporarily unavailable.)

St. Croix Rod Sweeps All ICAST New Product Showcase Rod Category Awards… Again

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July 18, 2019

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Anglers Win

St. Croix Rod Sweeps All ICAST New Product Showcase Rod Category Awards… Again

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PARK FALLS, Wisc. (July 18, 2019) – Everyone loves to win awards. They provide welcomed recognition and represent excellence in achievement, often on behalf of a team that’s greater than the actual name on the award itself.

The International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades’ (ICAST) New Product Showcase Awards recognize the best new fishing products in multiple categories each year. Voted on by attending product buyers and members of the sportfishing media, these “Best of Category” awards represent the pinnacle of achievement in the fishing tackle industry and are intensely competitive.

When a fishing company wins one of these special awards, it’s the result of well-conceived ideation, careful planning and focused execution that culminates in a product that will help anglers find more success and enjoyment on the water. And when a fishing company wins three of these awards? Well, it’s clearly emblematic of a company that’s built – top-to-bottom – to understand and serve the needs of its customers –the legions of passionate anglers they serve across the country and around the world.

St. Croix Rod swept all three fishing rod categories in last week’s 2019 ICAST New Product Showcase Awards in Orlando, winning the Freshwater Rod award with the new Mojo Bass Glass, the Saltwater category with the new Avid® Surf, and the Fly category with the new Imperial® Salt Fly. It’s a feat no other rod company has ever achieved. Remarkably, it’s the second consecutive year that the Park Falls rod manufacturer accomplished this trifecta.

St. Croix’s team graciously accepted the awards as they did the previous year. There was no screaming or shouting… just warm smiles, handshakes and hugs, and a great sense of accomplishment and pride. Less obvious was the collective and humble recognition of whom these awards really honor and belong to. St. Croix Rod, you see, encompasses every person who has a hand in designing, building and using the Best Rods on Earth®. There’s a name those inside St. Croix’s world headquarters in the tiny Northwoods town of Park Falls, Wisconsin use to describe their team. It’s Machinery, a term used to describe the people who deliver the precision, care, dedication, craftsmanship and technology – often through their own two hands – that goes into every St. Croix rod. It also includes the company’s sales representatives, account managers and customer service representatives, as well as the partner agencies and media members who promote the brand, the products and the simple joys of fishing. And, of course, it includes every passionate angler who takes pride in using a St. Croix fishing rod.

These recent awards represent the culmination of all we do at St. Croix Rod to give anglers the upper hand on the water and the opportunity to more fully enjoy every precious minute spent fishing. These awards are for you, and for our skilled and dedicated Machinery. To you, we offer our heartfelt thanks for the confidence you place in us, as well as the ongoing commitment to continue building the Best Rods on Earth® for every fishing pursuit and technique.

If you are coming to northern Wisconsin, we’d love to meet you and thank you in person, and we’d love for you to have the chance to Meet Our Machinery. Call us at 800.826.7042 or email us at [email protected] to schedule a factory tour.

Learn more at https://stcroixrods.com/pages/factory-tours.

Learn more about the new, award-winning St. Croix Mojo Bass Glass Series

Learn more about the new, award-winning St. Croix Avid Surf Series

Learn more about the new, award-winning St. Croix Imperial Salt Fly Series

Gin Clear Vs Chocolate Milk: How To Fish Both Water Types All Summer Long – MTB

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July 18, 2019

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Gin Clear Vs Chocolate Milk: How To Fish Both Water Types All Summer Long

My game plan for summertime bass fishing in clear or murky water is pretty simple. If the lake is clear I mainly concentrate on deep fish, but if the water is murky I head for the shallows.

The thermocline of a lake generally dictates how deep bass will be during the summertime. As water gets warmer in late spring a lake starts to stratify with warmer water on the top layer of the water column and cooler water below. The thermocline is the middle layer where the water temperature changes rapidly and fish tend to gather because the cooler bottom layer lacks dissolved oxygen. On clear lakes the thermocline tends to be deeper ranging from 20 to 40 feet deep. I have found thermoclines on murky lakes ranging from 8 to 15 feet deep.

When fishing for summertime bass on clear lakes, I target the main lake where I can fish deeper structure such as points, ledges, bluffs and channel swings. If I see bass suspended on my depth finder I will cast swimbaits to tempt them with a horizontal presentation or employ a vertical jigging presentation with slab spoons or a finesse worm on a drop-shot rig. When I see bass hugging the bottom on my graph, I try dragging a football jig or a Carolina-rigged soft plastic lure along the bottom. Some bass suspend under main lake boat docks where I catch them on finesse jigs and shaky head worms.

Clear lakes are also great for night fishing. On calm nights I favor working Texas-rigged 10-inch plastic worms or bulky creature baits through brush piles 20 to 30 feet deep. I switch to slow-rolling a black 3/4-ounce spinnerbait along bluffs on windy nights.

Summertime bass in murky lakes will stay in thin water if there is plenty of cover and forage in the shallows. The fish will also suspend higher in the water column under boat docks or in branches of standing timber. I use power fishing tactics such as flipping a jig or Texas-rigged creature bait or burning squarebill crankbaits into logs to catch shallow summertime bass.

I throw topwater baits around the docks and the standing timber in the mornings to catch bass suspended in the murky water. Swimming a Texas-rigged 10-inch plastic worm with a 3/16-ounce sinker through the branches of standing timber is an effective way to catch suspended bass later in the day.

Stephen & Bobby Campbell Win Wet Line Productions T.T. July 13,2019

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July 17, 2019

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Stephen & Bobby Campbell Win Wet Line Productions T.T. July 13,2019

On a warm summer day 15 anglers come together to fish the Wet Line Tourney on Lake Anna. Congratulations to the Team of Stephen & Bobby Campbell on their five fish 15.52lb win. Check out the interview & Photo of the winners & more Below.

CLICK HERE TO SEE FULL RESULTS

The Spinning Rod: A Fairy Wand or A Money Maker? MTB

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July 17, 2019

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The Spinning Rod: A Fairy Wand or A Money Maker?

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I must confess that I dislike using a spinning rod when bass fishing. I lose casting accuracy and the rods are generally too light for the power fishing tactics I enjoy using to catch bass. I prefer using baitcasting gear for topwater fishing, pitching and flipping jigs or soft plastics, cranking crankbaits or spinnerbaits and working suspending stickbaits in the wintertime. So I can somewhat empathize with southern anglers who call spinning rods fairy wands.

Even though I am not a fan of spinning rods for bass fishing, there are times when I will rely on a spinning rod to catch bass, especially in the spring for prespawn bass or when bass are on nests. If the water is clear, it is essential to scale down to lighter line and finesse lures and that is when a spinning rod shines. I use a spinning rod then for casting soft plastic jerkbaits, plastic tubes, wacky-rigged Senkos or floating worms, Mojo-rigged plastic lizards and finesse worms on lightweight shaky jigheads. A spinning rod and reel also works better for me when I need to skip soft plastic lures in hard-to-reach areas such as under dock cables or dock catwalks.

Any time I am fishing clear water I have a couple of spinning rods in my boat for drop-shot rigs or casting small suspending stickbaits. On windy winter days, I also switch to a spinning rod for throwing my suspending stickbaits because casting these lightweight lures in the wind tend to cause too many backlashes with baitcasting gear.

I will also toss finesse lures on a lighter rod in murky water when fishing heavily pressured waters. A Mojo-rigged plastic lizard dragged along the bottom with a spinning rod is one of my favorite finesse tactics for catching prespawn and spawning bass in murky waters.

Pelfrey Makes it Two ABA Wins In A Row With A Win On Watts Bar.

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July 17, 2019

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Pelfrey Makes it Two ABA Wins In A Row With A Win On Watts Bar.

Pelfrey Makes it Two In A Row With A Win On Watts Bar

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ATHENS, Ala. –Coming off a win on Lake Douglas, Jonathan Dale Pelfrey of Rockwood, TN won the Bass Pro Shops Open Series event held on Watts Bar Lake on 7/13/19. Running out of Tom Fuller Park in Rockwood TN, Pelfrey weighed in a five bass limit weighing 15.19 pounds. He took home $1500.00 for the win.

“I caught all of my better fish today deep,” said Pelfrey. “I caught fish on a crankbait, worm, and a jig. I caught probably six limits today.”

Taking second for the boaters James Nuckols of Rockwood, TN weighed in a five bass limit weighing 14.63 pounds. His limit was anchored by a bass weighing 3.56 pounds.

“I pulled up on a spot about 10:00 and I saw them on my electronics. I was fishing a chartreuse and blue 10XD, siting in about 30 feet cranking up to about 18ft. Once the bite stopped there I was pretty much done,” said Nuckols.

Taking third for the boaters Keith Iddins of Knoxville, TN weighed in a five bass limit weighing 13.72 pounds.

“I had seven keepers today all on topwater,” said Iddins. “I had everything I weighed in by 8:30.”

In fourth place for the boaters Michael Vanosdale of Knoxville, TN weighed in five bass weighing 13.64 pounds including the biggest bass weighed in by a boater at 3.86 pounds. Vanosdale took home a total of $780.00. Rounding out the top five, Joe Zalewski of Ten Mile, TN weighed in five bass for 11.96 pounds.

In the co-angler division David Perron of Dayton TN, weighed in three bass for 5.81 pounds. He took home $700.00 for the win.

“The three I weighed in today all came on a different bait,” said Perron. “I had one on a Berkley General, one on a black and blue jig and one on a Mag II worm.”

In second place for the co-anglers Joseph Yocum of Strawberry Plains, TN weighed in three bass for 5.80 pounds.

“I was able to catch fish everywhere we went today,” said Yocum. “Everything I caught was in 4-8 feet on a jig.”

Taking third for the co-anglers Darren Kelly of Wartburg, TN weighed in a three bass limit weighing 5.26 pounds.

“The three bass I weighed in today all came on different baits. I had one on a spook, one on a drop shot and one on a squarebill crankbait,” said Kelly.

In fourth place for the co-anglers, Jerry Neuner of Rutherfordton, NC weighed in two bass for 4.82 pounds including the co-angler big bass that weighed in at 2.66 pounds. Rounding out the top five William Wilson of Morgantown, KY weighed in two bass for 4.59 pounds.

Being in the Berkley Cast for Cash program the following anglers will receive extra monies from Berkley:
Jonathan Dale Pelfrey boater $250.00
William Steele boater $150.00
David Perron co-angler $150.00
Darren Kelly co-angler $100.00

The next event for the East Tennessee Division will be the area championship on Guntersville Lake slated for 9/7-9/8 running out of Goose Pond.

About American Bass Anglers – American Bass Anglers is committed to providing low cost, close to home tournaments for the weekend angler while offering an upward path for individual angler progression. For more information about American Bass Anglers and all their bass tournament trails visit www.americanbassanglers.com.

American Bass Anglers is sponsored by: Bass Pro Shops, Triton Boats, Mercury Marine, Nitro Boats, Tracker Boats, MotorGuide, Garmin, T-H Marine, Abu Garcia, Berkley, Engel Coolers, Four Roses Bourbon, Lucas Oil, Maui Jim, Optima Batteries and Power-Pole. Mailing address: American Bass Anglers, Inc, PO Box 475, Athens, AL 35612 PH (256) 232-0406.

VMC® Bladed Hybrid Treble Wins Best of Category Terminal Tackle at ICAST® 2019

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July 17, 2019

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VMC® Bladed Hybrid Treble Wins Best of Category Terminal Tackle at ICAST® 2019

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We’ve all seen a fish make Mike Iaconelli freak, but soon the tables will be turned. Ike is outfitting his favorite baits with the new VMC® Bladed Hybrid Treble, the tweak that makes fish freak.

“We’re in a day and age where making your bait stand out from the norm is so important,” says Iaconelli, a VMC® and Rapala® Pro.

The Bladed Hybrid Treble does just that, making your favorite baits extra-fishy by being extra-flashy. It comprises a small silver willow blade attached by a resin-sealed split ring to the back of a 1X-strong, wide-gap, short-shank, high-carbon steel VMC Hybrid Treble. On the split-ring, the willow-leaf trailer can rotate 360 degrees, so a bait’s built-in action can make it kick out in any direction. Each time it does so, it will catch any light penetrating the water column and flash.

“That little extra flash in that bait is a triggering mechanism,” Iaconelli says. “Every type of baitfish I know of, if it’s a forager swimming in the water, guess what? It flashes.”

A small modification like adding a Bladed Hybrid Treble to your favorite bait can be “such a big thing to catch fish and get extra bites,” Iaconelli says. Adding one to crankbaits like Rapala DT’s and BX Brats “combines the appeal of a spinnerbait or a bladed jig with that flash,” he explains. “As that thing’s rooting along, that blade is flashing and rotating. It’ll stop, and that blade will kick, taking a bait that’s already good and making it better.”

Jerkbaits like Rapala Shadow Raps and Shadow Rap Shads will also get the Bladed Hybrid Treble treatment from Iaconelli. “Those fish will trigger when they see that bait doing the regular side-to-side, they see it stop and suspend, and then that blade kicks,” he says. “The ability to add more flash – without changing the action – becomes so key.”

Topwater baits – from walkers to poppers to prop baits – are also good candidates for modification with Bladed Hybrid Trebles. They work well with hard and soft swimbaits, lipless crankbaits, blade baits and spoons, too.

“There are no rules – you can modify or change any bait that uses a treble,” Iaconelli says.

And Bladed Hybrid Trebles are “not just for bass,” Iaconelli says. You’ll enjoy success with them targeting multiple species in both freshwater and saltwater.

“The bottom line is that extra flash, that little bit extra vibration, is going to get you more bites and put more fish in the boat,” Iaconelli says.

Pro tip: On large hard-baits with three treble hooks, switch out the middle hook rather than the tail hook with a Bladed Hybrid Treble. This will improve your hook-up ratio by minimizing short strikes. Fish will instinctively attack the flash in the center of the bait.

VMC Hybrid Treble hooks are available in four sizes: 2, 4, 6 and 8.

See VMC® Bladed Hybrid Treble Short

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