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How Michael Neal Chooses Swimbaits for Bass Fishing By David A Brown

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How Michael Neal Chooses Swimbaits for Bass Fishing By David A Brown

Fishing with swimbaits is not a one-size-fits-all premise in bass fishing. It’s not a one-design premise either. In fact, much like crankbait anglers, most good swimbait anglers prefer a system of specific swimbaits to meet their bass fishing needs.

“Fishing pressure, water clarity and water temperature influence which swimbait I throw,” said Tennessee pro Michael Neal. “In heavy pressure, I want something that doesn’t have an over-exaggerated action. You also don’t want a lot of action in clear water.

“In the cleaner water, you want smaller swimbaits, but in dirty water, I tend to go bigger and one with a little more action to create a disturbance. As far as temperature, the baitfish tend to be smaller in the winter, so I usually throw smaller baits and more subtle in colder water and bigger baits in warmer water.”

The Bomb Shot by Missile Baits Drop Shot at its Finest by Bruce Callis

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The Bomb Shot by Missile Baits Drop Shot at its Finest by Bruce Callis

The Bomb Shot by Missile Baits
Drop Shot at its Finest

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The drop shot has been around for years. It is not one of those techniques that you think about fishing often, and some of us, including myself, just can’t see us using it. But it has proven to be a tried and true method to catch bass. And big bass at that. We have seen the pro anglers using it to catch smallmouth bass on the great lakes. But it can and should be used anywhere, especially when the fishing is tough.


The baits we use for a drop shot has come a long ways too. There are many options indeed. John Crews and Missile Baits has introduced their new Bomb Shot and it’s unique design creates it’s own action when sitting still. It is a 4” bait that is based on the super popular D Bomb shape. The solid head makes for rigging options of nose hooking or Texas rigging. Once in the water, the Bomb Shot will not stop shimmying or quivering.
It comes in an assortment of colors: Bombshell, Fisholicious, Goby Bite, Green Pumpkin, Green Pumpkin Flash, MM3, Pinkalicious, Straight Black, Super Craw, and Watermelon Red. Each package contains 15 of the impressive baits.


I am in no way a drop shot expert, alas, I am far from it. I struggle and struggle, but I am convinced that once the light goes off I will understand what I have been missing. Until I tested the Bomb Shot, I had never, and I do mean never, caught a bass or any other species on a drop shot. I have watched videos, including this awesome one by John Crews himself.

I talked to John and he understood my frustration and offered a couple tips. And wouldn’t you know it, I caught my first bass. As John stated, less is more. It is a do nothing technique at times, and yet, a slow hoping or drag can also be mixed into the technique. And while I may be learning, I can now say I understand how to do it, in general. I even let my grandson try it, and the Bomb Shot once again proven that it catches bass. I’m not sure he will stick with it yet, as he loves to wind it back fast.

While it is made for the drop shot, I have found that it also works well on a shakey head. Just hold it in position and hold on tight, as they can’t resist it. I also tried it on a Neko head and caught bass. It is meant to catch bass no matter how you fish it. The secret is to just do it!

The Bomb Shot can be viewed and ordered from the Missile Baits website, http://missilebaits.com or from many online tackle suppliers like Tackle Warehouse, FishUSA, Tackle Direct, and Bass Pro Shops. You can also find them in many fine brick and mortar tackle shops. They sell for from $3.89 to $3.99 per bag. I would suggest starting with 2 bags of each color, as bass love them.

POLARIS ACQUIRES MINORITY INTEREST IN FLW, FORMS NEW STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

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POLARIS ACQUIRES MINORITY INTEREST IN FLW, FORMS NEW STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

POLARIS ACQUIRES MINORITY INTEREST IN FLW, FORMS NEW STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

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MINNEAPOLIS (Nov. 1, 2018) – Fishing League Worldwide (FLW), the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, and Polaris Industries Inc., the leading global powersports manufacturer, announced today a strategic partnership that will extend and expand the outdoor brands’ complementary relationship. The terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

The partnership leverages both companies’ consumer base, market presence and industry expertise, and will include collaboration across the organizations as well as enhanced activation and cross-marketing opportunities at select FLW and Polaris events. In particular, Polaris will have an increased presence at all FLW events and within the competition’s television programming.

“Our anglers, members, and loyal fans are always looking for more ways to enjoy the outdoors, and Polaris’ innovative products, along with their similar values and target audience make them a natural partner for FLW,” said FLW President of Marketing Trish Blake. “We’re excited to announce this partnership with Polaris and look forward to leveraging our respective customer bases, cross selling, and mutually growing our businesses.”

“Our portfolio of products offers an array of options for those looking to create lasting memories in the great outdoors,” said Bob Mack, senior vice president of Corporate Development & Strategy, and president of Adjacent Markets & Boats for Polaris. “With recreational fishing being a popular and growing sport in the U.S., this strategic partnership allows us to leverage insights and more deeply engage with FLW’s networks, fishing consumers, and outdoor enthusiasts across the globe to promote our products and brands.”

FLW will continue to be operated under the leadership of Blake and FLW President of Operations, Kathy Fennel, in their current Benton, Kentucky and Minneapolis, Minnesota locations.

Polaris will continue to be represented in FLW competitions by 23-year Tour veteran David Dudley of Lynchburg, Virginia, the 2003 Forrest Wood Cup champion and FLW’s all-time leading money winner with more than $3.6 million in career earnings. Dudley, who has represented Polaris on Tour for the past two seasons, is fresh off of a 12th place showing at the 2018 season-ending Forrest Wood Cup championship on Lake Ouachita in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is already making preparations to kick off the 2019 season Jan. 10-13, on Sam Rayburn Reservoir in Brookeland, Texas.

For more information on Polaris or to locate an authorized Polaris dealer, please visit http://www.polaris.com. For more information about FLW, their tournaments and sponsors, visit FLWFishing.com

About FLW

FLW is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, providing anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to compete for millions in prize money in 2018 across five tournament circuits. Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, with offices in Minneapolis, FLW and their partners conduct 286 bass-fishing tournaments annually around the world, including the United States, Canada, China, Italy, South Korea, Mexico, Portugal, South Africa, and Spain. FLW tournament fishing can be seen on the Emmy-nominated “FLW” television show, broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, while FLW Bass Fishing magazine delivers cutting-edge tips from top pros. For more information visit FLWFishing.com and follow FLW at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.

About Polaris

Polaris Industries Inc. (NYSE: PII) is a global powersports leader that has been fueling the passion of riders, workers and outdoor enthusiasts for more than 60 years. With annual 2017 sales of $5.4 billion, Polaris’ innovative, high-quality product line-up includes the RANGER®, RZR® and Polaris GENERAL™ side-by-side off-road vehicles; the Sportsman® and Polaris ACE® all-terrain off-road vehicles; Indian Motorcycle® mid-size and heavyweight motorcycles; Slingshot® moto-roadsters; snowmobiles; and pontoon, deck and cruiser boats. Polaris enhances the riding experience with parts, garments and accessories, along with a growing aftermarket portfolio, including Transamerican Auto Parts. Polaris’ presence in adjacent markets globally includes military and commercial off-road vehicles, quadricycles, and electric vehicles. Proudly headquartered in Minnesota, Polaris serves more than 100 countries across the globe. Visit www.polaris.com for more information.

David Ethridge & Butch Williams Win CATT Wateree October 27,2018

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David Ethridge & Butch Williams Win CATT Wateree October 27,2018

Tournament Results Wateree Oct 27, 2018 Williams & Ethridge Livin the Dream!

David Ethridge & Butch Williams are catching them all over the lake it seems! They are dominating the Fall season on Wateree with another with this past Saturday with 5 bass weighing 16.29 lbs! They collected the BONUS $ for a total of $1,055.00!

Next Wateree CATT Fall is November 10th at Clearwater and this is your last chance to make the Final!

Big Total Total
15 Teams Fish Weight Winnings Points
David Ethridge-Butch Williams 0.00 16.29 $1,055.00 110
Tim-Craig Haven 0.00 14.29 $350.00 109
Shane Cantley- Michael Richardson 0.00 13.17 $120.00 108
Alan – Tanner Fletcher 0.00 12.34 107
Jerry Freezon-Kareem White 0.00 10.67 106
Timmy Squires-Jonathan Kelly 0.00 10.65 105
Mike Byrd- Jimmy McFarland 5.28 10.51 $105.00 104
Bunn Tyson-Thad Driggers 5.20 9.90 $45.00 103
Scott Williams- Robby English 0.00 8.83 102
David Canupp 0.00 2.07 101
Todd Butler 0.00 0.00 100
Jason Bateman-Steve Phillips 0.00 0.00 100
Scott Floyd-Greg Covin 0.00 0.00 100
Chris Sullivan 0.00 0.00 100
Steven Walker-Barry Brown 0.00 0.00 100
Total Entrys $1,800.00
BONUS $ $280.00
Total Paid At Ramp $1,675.00
Wateree 2018 Fall Final Fund $305.00
2019 CATT Championship Fund $75.00
2018 Wateree Fall Final Fund Total $1,210.00
2019 CATT Championship Fund Total $1,775.00

Mono Vs Fluoro: What’s The Best Fishing Line For Your Presentation?

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Mono Vs Fluoro: What’s The Best Fishing Line For Your Presentation?

Mono Vs Fluoro: What’s The Best Fishing Line For Your Presentation?

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What is the best fishing line? As fishermen, we have endless choices for our tackle. From rods and reels to lures, plastics, weights and beyond. However, possibly the most important tackle-based decision we need to make is our fishing line. If you think about it, fishing line is quite possibly the most important piece of our fishing setups. It is the connection between us, our lures and hooks, and the fish.

Most people know what braided fishing line is. It is, by far, the strongest type and to some, considered the best fishing line. It is constructed of strands that are interwoven together to create a highly durable, no-stretch, completely opaque line. Braided fishing line can be used for many things, but is most often preferred in situations that require extreme leverage and strength, such as pitching, flipping, and frogging and when line visibility is not a concern. Knowing when braid is the ideal line choice is crucial.

The uses for monofilament and fluorocarbon are not as clear as braided line, however. These two types of line are (now) equally as common on the market. They are oftentimes thought of as interchangeable and this notion is not completely incorrect. However, most anglers have preferences for when to use each to increase sensitivity, improve hookups, and give more action to lures. Both fluorocarbon and monofilament have their own unique characteristics which make them the best fishing line for certain situations.

Why Monofilament Is The Best Fishing Line

Monofilament was the original fishing line your grandfather talked about. For many years, monofilament dominated the fishing market because it was cheap, manageable, and worked well in most situations for the average fisherman. Monofilament is neutrally buoyant by nature and is effective in fishing topwater lures as well as lures which require a line to neither sink nor float, such as hard jerkbaits. Additionally, monofilament line has long been used for backing (A.K.A. “filler”) for fishing reels. This enables anglers to use fluorocarbon and braided lines and benefit from their sensitivity and strength while not having to use an entire spool and waste money on the line on the bottom of the spool that doesn’t get used. Being braided line is so thin, this bottom layer of monofilament also helps to ensure the braid will not dig into the spool and cause backlashes. Monofilment is the best line choice for beginner anglers due to it’s low cost and being easy to manage.

Why Fluorocarbon Is The Best Fishing Line

Best Fishing Line

If money and sensitivity are not an issue, many fishermen prefer fluorocarbon line in most cases. It was reportedly first used in the US in the 90s and it offers incredible abrasion resistance around cover likes rocks, wood, and docks. “Fluoro”, as many anglers refer to it, is much stiffer than monofilament and earlier versions of the line caused problems when spooling line onto reels or tying knots. Today, however, fluorocarbon is nearly as pliable and manageable as monofilament but still transmits lure feel much better.

Fluorocarbon is the premium line of choice for jig and worm fishermen as the sensitivity is unrivaled and the line is nearly completely invisible in the water. Fluorocarbon allows a greater amount of natural light to pass through it whereas monofilament tends to refract light, alerting fish of its presence. This property also makes fluoro the optimal line for fishing all sorts of crankbaits.

An anglers’ favorite or  best fishing line is subjective. Choosing between fluorocarbon versus monofilament comes down to personal preference in terms of desired feel and budget. Each line has its pros and cons and the only sure way to know which line you prefer is to spend time on the water with each and experiment.

New Junior Division Unveiled As B.A.S.S. Announces College And High School Slates For 2019

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New Junior Division Unveiled As B.A.S.S. Announces College And High School Slates For 2019

B.A.S.S. announced the schedule for the 2019 Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School and Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops events, along with the addition of a new Junior Bassmaster Division.

Photo by B.A.S.S.

October 31, 2018

New Junior Division Unveiled As B.A.S.S. Announces College And High School Slates For 2019

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Just when it seemed B.A.S.S. couldn’t possibly provide more competitive opportunities for anglers, the organization announced today that it will be adding a Junior Bassmaster Division to its annual slate of events in the Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series.

High school tournaments are scheduled for Lake Hartwell in Anderson, S.C., on March 2; Lake Guntersville in Guntersville, Ala., on March 30; Norfork Lake in Mountain Home, Ark., on April 28; and Lake Shasta in Redding, Calif., on May 11. A field of up to 50 junior division teams will compete in each event with accompanying coaches or team captains.

“This is another aggressive step toward giving more young people a chance to fish competitively,” said Hank Weldon, B.A.S.S. senior manager for college and high school. “More parents are realizing that children who fish often avoid a lot of the more harmful aspects of our culture — and by creating a division for second- to eighth-graders, we’re helping parents start them out even earlier.”

Another new feature for the high school circuit will be maximum field size of 250 boats.

The schedule itself should be exciting to anglers of both age groups, with stops on lakes like Hartwell, the site of three previous Bassmaster Classics, and Guntersville, which is nationally known for producing big largemouth bass throughout the year.

“We are very excited to once again host the great folks from B.A.S.S. in Anderson County and Lake Hartwell,” said Neil Paul, executive director of Visit Anderson. “The future in bass fishing is our high school anglers, and we look forward to the opportunity to host them all in our community.”

In addition to the announcement of the high school schedule today, B.A.S.S. officials unveiled the schedule for the 2019 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops. That lineup includes stops at North Carolina’s Lake Norman on Feb. 21-23; Smith Lake in Cullman, Ala., March 21-23; Bull Shoals Lake in Mountain Home, Ark., April 25-27; and the St. Lawrence River in Waddington, N.Y., June 20-22.

As past Bassmaster Elite Series events there have shown, a tournament on the St. Lawrence River during summer could create a dynamic atmosphere for college anglers. In August, a new Elite record was set for the heaviest daily limit of smallmouth bass — 27 pounds, 12 ounces.

“We could not be more excited about this opportunity,” said Benjamin Seaman, president and founder of the bass fishing club at Clarkson University, which will host the St. Lawrence River event. “With the Adirondack Mountains and St. Lawrence River Valley in our backyard, Clarkson University is well known among outdoor enthusiasts for its access to great hiking, mountain biking, hunting and fishing — especially world-class bass fishing.”

Unlike past years, when college tournaments were only open to anglers from corresponding regions, all events will be open to competitors from across the country. Teams will still accumulate points during the season toward an overall Team of the Year title.

“Our hope is that every college angler who wants to compete will now have a chance,” Weldon said. “You’re not limited to fishing a certain conference or region. If you want to travel to any one of these events — or all of them — you’re free to do that.”

The Bull Shoals college tournament will take place just prior to the high school event on Norfork Lake, giving Mountain Home four bass fishing-filled days in a row.

“Mountain Home and the Twin Lakes Area is thrilled to host another B.A.S.S. event,” said Jeff Pipkin, president of the Mountain Home Area Chamber of Commerce. “We are grateful B.A.S.S. has chosen to bring the college and high school circuits to lakes Norfork and Bull Shoals in 2019.

“We fully support the educational benefits young men and women have to gain through the sport of fishing. Our entire community is equally excited to share why we call this beautiful place our home.”

Dates for the high school and college championships, as well as the annual College Series Classic Bracket, which qualifies one outstanding college angler for the Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods, will be announced at a later time.

2019 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops Schedule

Event                      Lake                                   State                       Date
Tour #1                 Lake Norman                     North Carolina        Feb. 21-23
Tour #2                 Smith Lake                         Alabama                  March 21-23
Tour #3                 Bull Shoals Lake                Arkansas                 April 25-27
Tour #4                 St. Lawrence River            New York                June 20-22

2019 Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Schedule

Event Title           Lake                            State                           Date
Eastern Open         Lake Hartwell             South Carolina          March 2
Southern Open     Lake Guntersville        Alabama                   March 30
Central Open        Norfork Lake               Arkansas                   April 28
Western Open      Lake Shasta                 California                  May 11

2018 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Title Sponsor: Carhartt

2018 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Presenting Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops

2018 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota

2018 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Premier Sponsors: Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha, ABU Garcia, Berkley, Huk, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota

2018 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Supporting Sponsors: Livingston Lures, Lowrance, Mossy Oak Fishing, Phoenix Boats

2018 Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series Title Sponsor: Mossy Oak Fishing

2018 Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series Presenting Sponsor: DICK’S Sporting Goods

2018 Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota

2018 Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series Premier Sponsors: Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha, ABU Garcia, Berkley, Huk, Humminbird, Mercury

2018 Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series Supporting Sponsors: Carhartt, Lowrance, Phoenix Boats, Academy Sports + Outdoors

Eric Schell & Todd Smith Win CATT Gaston Final Oct 6, 2018

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Eric Schell & Todd Smith Win CATT Gaston Final Oct 6, 2018
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Guys we will be posting the 2019 schedules soon! keep checking!

Eric Schell & Todd Smith took the win with a 2 day total of 29.54 lbs! They collected $2,780.00!

Janet & Ivan Morris finished 2nd with 10 bass weighing 28.05 lbs! They took home $1,200.00! They also provided us with some great trophies fro each Gaston event! Thanks Ivan & Janice!

JT Palmore weighed in the BF at 5.84 lbs!

 

Total Total
Names Day-1 BF Day 2 Weight Winnings
1 Eric Schell- Todd Smith 14.68 3.77 14.86 29.54 $2,780.00
2 Ivan & Janet Morris 16.25 3.98 11.8 28.05 $1,200.00
3 Shane Doughtie- Evan White 13.82 3.52 14.2 2802 $970.00
4 Adam Richardson- Gene Richardson 13.94 3.87 13.72 27.66
5 Scott Griffin- Kyle Griffin 12.79 3.98 14.14 26.93 $80.00
6 Chuck Murray- Randy Groves 15.72 0 9.63 25.35 $120.00
7 Mark Robertson – Keith Joyce 12.6 0 11.26 23.86
8 Mikey Anderson- Rock Gross 14.49 0 9.2 23.69
9 Jt Palmore& Bobby Crisman 9 5.84 13.04 22.04 $100.00
10 Wesley Bennett- Chris Bishop 9.73 0 10.03 19.76
11 Scott Golden – Jesse Medlin 8.75 0 8.97 17.72
12 Michael Garner – Richard Bracey 10.83 0 5.82 16.65
13 Tom Peele – Brian Bartholomew 10.5 0 4.21 14.71
14 John Jackon – Lee Gay 3.65 0 8.07 11.72
15 ricky todd 9.33 0 0 9.33
16 Bubba Haywood- David Fry 8.85 0 0 8.85
17 Gregory Kropp-Kevin Scholar 0 0 0
18 Michael Chlomoudis- Marty Warren 0 0
19 Justin Miles 0 0
20 Ryan Harrell- Danny Moss 0 0
21 Randy Broughman- Chase Clark 0 0
22 Rich Hartman – Mark Brown 0 0
23 Patrick Wooten- Phillip Sykes 0 0
24 David Enos- Carl Enos 0 0
25 Jay Wright- Nick Bell 0 0
26 Ray Horrocks 0 0
27 Ryan Braughman- Cason Price 0 0
28 Richard Kramer – Shawn Evans 0 0
29 George Smiley – Butch Coons 0 0
30 Kevin Williams- Pat Williams 0 0
31 Mike Pendleton- Richard Chattin 0 0
32 Joey Scott- Derek Ogburn 0 0
33 Michael Whitehurst – Donna Wilson 0 0
34 Allen White- Mike Vaughan 0 0
35 Gene Woodard – Ray Cooke 0 0
36 Steven Brinkley – 0 0
37 James Joyner- Lucas Puckett 0 0

Jerk the Shadow Rap Deep® off shelves for early winter bass – RAPALA

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Jerk the Shadow Rap Deep® off shelves for early winter bass – RAPALA

Jerk the Shadow Rap Deep® off shelves for early winter bass

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Once water temps drop below 52 degrees in south-eastern reservoirs like Tennessee’s Douglas Lake, you can load your boat with bass by jerking the Rapala® Shadow Rap® Deep across and over shallow shelfs near steep breaks into deeper water.

“Those fish were back in really flat stuff feeding throughout the fall, but in early winter they’ll head to stuff that’s going to be real steep,” says Ott DeFoe, a five-time Bassmaster tournament champion. “When they’re in transition, a great bait to connect with them is that Shadow Rap Deep. It’s got good side-to-side darting action, its flat sides give it a rolling flash, and as its name indicates, it’s a fairly deep-running bait – it will run 8 or 9 foot deep on ten-pound line.”

While most look-alike jerkbaits follow a forward trajectory with each twitch of the rod tip, the Shadow Rap’s action stands out. Not only does it dart side to side, it’ll spin around almost 180 degrees with the right action applied. As a result, it can trigger bites in three phases of your retrieve – initial kick, snap back to action, and on the pause, while slowly sinking, nose down.

Transition areas in the East Tenessee reservoirs DeFoe targets with Shadow Rap Deeps appear on a contour map as relatively flat “shelves” extending from near the bank out to a break-line where the bottom begins sloping sharply into deeper water. Depths on the shelf can might vary from 3 to 10 feet, but water on the other side of the break will be significantly deeper.

“You’ve got some taper where those fish can pull up and feed, but then it comes off from that and breaks off deep pretty quick,” explains DeFoe, a Rapala pro. “A half a cast off of the bank or so, you may only be in five feet of water. But the next half a cast, it goes from five to 20 feet pretty quick. Or even deeper than that.”

In these areas, DeFoe casts his Shadow Rap Deep as far as possible, and at an angle perpendicular to – rather than parallel with – the bank and break-line.

“You’re never exactly sure what depth they’re going to be at when you pull up to a spot,” DeFoe explains. “So I make as long a cast as I can and cover every depth range back to the boat – versus making a parallel cast, where my bait would be in mostly the same depth throughout my retrieve. Most times, I’m sitting deep and throwing as shallow as I can reach.”

Be sure to actively fish your Shadow Rap Deep all the way back to the boat – not allowing your mind to wander towards the end of your retrieve – because bites this time of year can come both far and near.

“You’re going to catch some right at the beginning of the cast, like two jerks in; some half-way back to the boat; and some practically under the boat,” DeFoe says.

As water temps cool throughout the early winter, Defoe will apply less and less action to his Shadow Rap Deep. “In 54 to 52 degrees, I’m still going to snap the bait pretty hard,” he says. “But you start getting down to 48, 46, I’m going to ease the bait along a little easier – the less I’m going to put in the jerks.”

In East Tennesse, DeFoe says, anglers generally start testing early-winter patterns when water temps fall to 54 to 52 degrees. “From there, I consider it to be more winter than late-fall around here,” he says. “And when you fall below 50, I consider that fully into the winter time-frame.” Water temps in DeFoe’s region reach winter conditions around Dec. 1, he says, but notes that timelines will vary throughout the country.

Another variable, region to region, is water clarity, which affects both the depth at which early-winter bass will hold, and the amount of action required to get bit.

“The water clarity in our lakes is not so that we’re catching them ten feet down in 20 or 30 feet of water,” DeFoe explains. “Fish that are catchable here this time of year are within no more than five feet off the bottom. We’re not a Table Rock, or a place like that, where’s there’s timber and things that the fish will relate to and be high in the water column.”

DeFoe keeps a close eye on his sonar unit, noting if the bass he marks are belly to bottom, or suspended just above the bottom. He adjusts his boat position and retrieve accordingly, to put his Shadow Rap Deep in the strike-zone.

“If they’re relating real close to the bottom, then you need to make some bottom contact with that jerkbait throughout your retrieve,” he instructs. “The Shadow Rap Deep, you can fish it five to seven feet down and get some bottom contact. But you can also get it out there in 8 to 10 feet and have it be not too far from the bottom, if that’s where the fish are holding.”

In clear to lightly stained water this time of year, DeFoe will pause his Shadow Rap Deep longer between jerks. When the water is stained to muddy, he waits less.

“The clearer it is, the longer you can let it sit,” he says. “Those fish can see it from a greater distance even when it sits still, so they’re likely to move further to come get it. On the other end of the spectrum, I’ve caught them on that jerkbait in muddy, 42-degree water by only letting the bait pause a couple seconds.”

Shadow Rap Deeps – and the shallower-running Shadow Rap® – come armed with three No. 6 VMC black-nickel, round-bend hooks. They measure 4 3/8 inches, weigh 7/16ths of an ounce and are available in 24 color patterns. DeFoe’s favorite color patterns this time of year are: Elite Blue for clear water; Bud for stained to muddy water; and Olive Green for slightly stained water.

 

DeFoe fishes Shadow Rap Deeps for early-winter bass on 10-pound-test line with a medium-action 6-foot, 6-inch to 6-foot, 9-inch baitcasting rod. “This is one of the techniques I use the shortest rod for, because you’re working the bait down towards the water with the rod tip,” says DeFoe, who is about six-foot tall. “So having a shorter rod – where you’re not constantly digging in the water – is a plus.”

See Rapala® Shadow Rap® Deep

 

Z-Man® Earns Esteemed President’s Award

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Z-Man® Earns Esteemed President’s Award

Z-Man® Earns Esteemed President’s Award

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Ladson, SC (October 30, 2018) – Pitman Creek Wholesale, LLC recently presented Z-Man Fishing Products, Inc. with its prestigious 2018 President’s Award. Announced during Pitman Creek’s annual fall dealer show, the President’s Award is bestowed up the fishing tackle manufacturer who achieves the highest levels of excellence in operations and customer experience. Each year, more than 300 fishing tackle manufacturers are considered for the coveted award.

“President’s Award recipients exemplify the very best in all aspects of operations, sales performance and partnership.” states James S. Coffey, President and CEO of Pitman Creek. “This is an opportunity for us to honor those suppliers who are truly the best of the best”.

Headlining an impressive list of accomplishments in 2018, Pitman Creek experienced a staggering 425-percent increase in sales of Z-Man Fishing Products. Further cementing their recognition among Pitman Creek partners, Z-Man was acknowledged for consistent participation in Pitman Creek programs which add value to the dealers, as well as continuous, exceptional product innovation

Asked to reflect on the award, Z-Man National Sales Manager Glenn Young highlighted the companies’ collective histories of hard work and dedication to growth. “Time has flown by since those first years of working with the folks at Pitman Creek, developing the right assortment and the right sales plan to help grow their Z-Man business,” said Young. “To be honest, I was initially surprised we won this award. But when you look at the work and support Pitman Creek has put in, and couple that with our efforts at Z-Man, I probably shouldn’t be that surprised. The award truly reflects the great partnership between our companies.”

“Our President’s Award program seeks to recognize those elite suppliers that help us succeed in accomplishing our vision of superior customer service and being first to market,” adds John D. Johnson, GM and Chief Operating Officer of Pitman Creek. “Distribution in the tackle industry is transforming at an incredible rate. The relationships we have with our supply base means everything when it comes to providing a strong assortment offering, the cutting-edge products needed today, and mobility services of tomorrow. Z-Man delivers on these each and every day”

Z-Man National Sales Manager Glenn Young (middle) accepts the President’s Award.

Z-Man President Daniel Nussbaum encapsulates the mutually beneficial relationship that’s thrived between the companies. “I feel like Z-Man and Pitman Creek have a lot in common,” Nussbaum asserts. “Both companies have seen explosive growth over the last few years. We believe it’s largely due to being extremely customer-focused and investing in marketing, personnel, and infrastructure in equal measure.”

Nussbaum continues: “Our relationship with Pitman Creek feels more like a partnership than a true vendor-customer relationship. Z-Man’s business with both independent retailers and national chain accounts has benefited greatly as a result of our collaboration, and it’s truly rewarding to know they feel the same way.”

MLF Bass Pro Tour anglers vote no entry fees for 2019

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MLF Bass Pro Tour anglers vote no entry fees for 2019
The top anglers in the world who make up the 80-man field in the new Bass Pro Tour have exercised their voting rights to say “no entry fees” for the 2019 competitions. The decision has eliminated the single largest expense per event that each angler has historically had to incur throughout their careers until now.
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TULSA, Okla. (Oct. 30, 2018) – The professional bass anglers who comprise the 80-man field in Major League Fishing’s (MLF) new Bass Pro Tour have voted no to required entry fees for their participation in the 2019 tournament competitions.
The no-fee decision is the first of its kind for a high stakes professional bass fishing series and reveals the kind of autonomous authority the Bass Pro Tour participants have as a group for guiding the future of their events and the sport.
No entry fees means the cash payouts per event will be less than initially announced, although still higher than what the anglers have become accustomed to on other trails. Another advantage to this decision is that the anglers effectively eliminated one of the greatest expenses and upfront cash hurdles professional anglers had to incur annually.
“What brought this great group of anglers together in the first place was the allure of being able to ultimately control our own destiny because collectively we now make the rules,” said Gary Klein, who was instrumental in the formation of MLF and the Bass Pro Tour. “It’s all about the big picture of what we want this sport to be and getting it there. We call this ‘Major League’ Fishing for a reason and no entry fees is a monumental move in our achieving that distinction.”
The MLF expansion with the new Bass Pro Tour has advanced rapidly since being announced in mid-September. It was made possible when Bass Pro Shops and Outdoor Sportsman Group (OSG) pledged additional support to an already long list of MLF sponsors.

In addition to the pro tour, MLF will continue its popular Cup events and General Tire World Championship, airing on Outdoor Channel and CBS, respectively. All events will use the same entertaining MLF format of catch, weigh and immediate release of bass during competitions.
MLF Pro Angler Bobby Lane lands a dandy largemouth to help his total score. MLF’s exciting catch, weigh and immediate-release format for all scorable bass landed in competition has made for exciting television and kept Major League Fishing atop Outdoor Channel’s first and second quarter ratings for three years in a row. (Click to enlarge/download)

“Things are moving fast and each new step this group takes seems to be another giant leap in bringing attention to fishing,” MLF President and CEO, Jim Wilburn said. “It’s a pleasure to watch the enthusiasm and sincerity of the greatest bass anglers in the world as they take the reins in advancing the sport to the benefit of everyone who loves to fish.”

MLF airs on Outdoor Channel, World Fishing Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network and Discovery Channel, and is available on-demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV).
For current MLF schedules, rules and sponsors, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.
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