Hobie® Eyewear Celebrates Global Recycling Day with New Style Hull Float
By FTR Industry Wire
March 19, 2025
In honor of Global Recycling Day, Hobie® Eyewear is reinforcing its commitment to sustainability with its’ new style Hull Float, a groundbreaking fusion of eco conscious design and high performance technology.
OCEANSIDE, CA – To mark the occasion, Hobie® Eyewear has released a new video featuring professional anglers Carl Jocumsen and Kristine Fischer, who share their thoughts on sustainability, performance, and how Hull Float is shaping the future of responsible fishing.
Crafted from 100% upcycled Hobie® Kayak scrap plastic, Hull Float sunglasses minimize waste while maximizing durability and performance. Each frame is made from repurposed kayak hatch cutouts, transformed through an innovative grinding and injection molding process. This sustainable approach gives new life to excess materials while maintaining the premium quality and durability that Hobie® Eyewear is known.
“I can’t say enough about how much the Hobie® Eyewear Hull Float sunglasses mean to me. They’re everything I’ve ever wanted in eyewear, and collaborating with such an iconic brand like Hobie® has been an incredible experience,” said Bassmaster Elite Series pro Carl Jocumsen. “These shades are priced right but feel and fit like a high-end pair, with uncompromising lens quality—exactly what I need to compete against the best in the world. And to top it all off, they’re made from upcycled materials, and they float, so you can feel good about protecting the environment while you’re out on the water. Huge thanks to Hobie® Eyewear for making it happen!”Hull Float is equipped with bio based polarized nylon lenses made from castor oil, reducing carbon emissions by over 50% compared to traditional lenses. These lenses deliver superior clarity, glare reduction, and 100% UV protection, ensuring an optimal visual experience on the water. The ultralight floating frame allows for easy retrieval if dropped, while the HydroClean™ 360° coating repels water, oil, and dust for crystal clear vision in all conditions. Built to withstand the harshest elements, Hull Float is heat resistant, durable, and adventure ready.
Comedian and actor Lavell Crawford, left, and Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series rookie Emil Wagner, right, won the Progressive Bassmaster Classic Celebrity Pro-Am driven by Yokohama Tire.
Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.
March 19, 2025
Crawford, Wagner get last laugh with win at Bassmaster Classic Celebrity Pro-Am
“I called (the win) … I called it,” Crawford said. “You got to think things into existence if you want it. I had a great time. It was so fun. Emil’s a great kid and we had a good time out there on the water.
“They said I didn’t catch anything, but hey, man, I put in work. I would have caught them if they had bit my line, that’s all I can say,” Crawford laughed.
The team won a set of Yokohama tires and a $2,500 Bass Pro Shops gift card.
The Pro-Am boasted a wide variety of celebrity guests, ranging from NFL, NASCAR, WWE and Olympic athletes to musicians, actors, comedians and other celebrities. The star-studded field teamed with a host of pro anglers, including pros from the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series and the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN, in kicking off Classic week events.
The Pro-Am celebrates the meteoric rise of competitive fishing in pop culture and featured teams of celebrities matched with some of the world’s best anglers.
The celebrity guests featured included:
Social media influencer and reigning Bassmaster Classic Pro-Am champion Hood Fishing Entertainment
We had a great tournament yesterday with a great meeting Friday at Palestine Baptist Church. Thanks to Paul Menschner State Farm we had 100% payback!
The team of Todd Langford and Thomas Harden finished first with 18.21. They also won a $500 gift card from RockOutdoor!. In second was the team of Jared Sowers and Kevin Allison with 17.2. In 3rd was the team of Bobby Pauley and Steven Deisher with 15.79. In 4th was the team of Daniel Mcclure and Ray Scroggins with 15.6. Tied for 5th were the team of Matt Foster and Matt Atkins and the team of Taft William Durr and Jon Simmons both with 13.96. Winning a pair of new Varitas rods were Jody Thompson and Tony Allgeier.
Our next tournament is at Claytor on 4/12/2025 All information is at fomntt.com
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Things are getting crazy! The weather keeps changing, cold fronts keep messing with the fishing, and the government faces another shutdown. All of it affects how we do what we love. The state runs our local Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. They are in charge of our local DWR-run ponds and lakes. They benefit from our fishing licenses and other resources to do the work they do. They are responsible for the management of inland fisheries, wildlife, and recreational boating in Virginia. They also operate nine fish cultural stations around the state, four warm water and five cold water, that hatch and rear fish for annual fish stocking.
The other big agency for land management in Virginia is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It is a bureau within the U.S. Department of the Interior. They oversee lands that are part of the Refuge System and help oversee lands that are put into conservation easements. They work with the state and counties to help in the management and protection of fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the American people.
The refuge system has seen its budget cut every year and staffing positions go unfilled for years. These positions are crucial to the mission of the refugees. These refugees run on a skeleton crew as is and rely on part time positions to help them every year. Some positions that are empty go unfilled because of the budget cuts. We aren’t talking about fluff positions either. One refuge I personally help with through a Friends Group has seen the maintenance position go unfilled when the employee retired.
That means that the upkeep of the equipment, the things we take for granted like mowing the grass, keeping the roads passable, and other jobs don’t get done. The maintenance position is not a single unit job, but oversees all the properties within a refuge system. While for us, the Friends group is helping do a lot of the jobs, not every refuge is so lucky. It takes a lot of volunteers and not all Refuges have them.
While some people think the refuge system is about taking away the land, it is actually working to save it for future generations. They use educational resources to help groups and schools. The local refuge system here works with the local schools to offer field days tailored to fit the needs of the students. They also offer a free kids fishing day every year to get kids into the outdoors. They offer them the tools to continue this beyond the one day. They are given baits and tackle that will help them grow and become stewards of nature while fishing.
A lot of the refuge units offer fishing opportunities, both fresh and saltwater free to the public. We can always enjoy them. But with budget cuts and possible government shutdowns, the future is uncertain. The last time we had a shutdown, the units remained open, but the employees were laid off until the budget was restored. And with everything happening, we are not sure if units will be closed in the near future. That means that land that “we the people” own may be shut off from our use. For some areas, that may be the only free public fishing water available. It is up to each of us to do our part and help protect our property. That means letting our state and congressional representatives know how important this department is and how we need to keep them fully staffed for us. We can even let our president know that we need to protect these areas.
And we all need to see about volunteering at the local refuge. You can call and see if they have a Friend’s Group locally. Volunteering doesn’t mean you have to do anything big, just give a little of your time. They can always use your money to help the refuge, but, it can’t fill positions. Like to garden, there are opportunities. Bird watching, there are opportunities. Fishing, there are opportunities? That’s how I got involved. A couple of hours or a lot, you decide. But let’s all get involved to help protect what is ours!
Z-Man®/Evergreen International alliance delivers new ChatterBait® JackHammer™ Baby Jack™.
Ladson, SC – Three years ago, the idea was conceived. Realizing most great anglers were throwing ChatterBait JackHammers at every derby and on every bass lake in America and beyond, Brett Hite and Japanese bass wizard Morizo Shimizu quietly returned to the lure lab.
From the jump, the goal was to create an even more refined bladed jig that chattered to bass on a slightly altered octave; to deliver a familiar sound and vibration, yet one with subtle revisions to its underwater frequency, action and profile.
Today, Z-Man and Evergreen celebrate their power-packed third bladed jig collaboration, codename Baby Jack™.
Cultivated to combat the toughest bass fisheries in America, Japan and beyond, the JackHammer Baby Jack wields numerous tournament-grade accoutrements, leading with a cultivated, downsized stainless steel ChatterBlade®. Sharing the JackHammer’s acclaimed instant-start vibration, the Baby Jack leans on its direct blade-to-jighead connection to deflect cover, produce relentless blade/jighead collisions and generate vibrant ChatterBait music—albeit on a slightly higher vibrational frequency.
“Japanese fisheries are notoriously tough, and the Baby Jack has been tested in Japan with impressive results,” states Evergreen’s Morizo, perhaps the preeminent bladed jig practitioner across the Pacific. “That was the driving force behind the Baby: tough conditions and heavily pressured playing fields where just a few more big bites can make all the difference.”
Downsized Blade Schematics For Hite and Morizo, tricking tough bass meant, foremost, building a bait with a wider range of retrieve speeds, from super slow roll to speed demon. To achieve perfection, both bladed jig artists vetted numerous blade sizes before punching out a thumbnail-sized hexagon, mere clicks smaller than original.
“On the ChatterBait performance spectrum, the Baby Jack moves with a tighter vibration and a more restrained flash than the original JackHammer, but still noticeably stronger than the StealthBlade™,” notes Morizo. “Similar to the original, the Baby Jack hunts freely, too, especially when you give the lure little pops with the rod.
Additionally, Morizo says the smaller blade and its reduced water resistance enable faster retrieves in the same water column. “When the water’s warmer or you just need to cover more territory or to trigger a quick reaction under tougher conditions, the Baby Jack is the ultimate adjustment that will entice extra bites.”
Hite adds: “Even with the smaller blade, the Baby Jack still has a good thump to it. You can really feel it and read what’s happening. You know right away if it’s fouled a blade of grass, and you can rip free. Or when a bass quietly inhales the lure and swims toward you . . . the blade goes dead and signals a rapid-fire hookset. Those are key details that made the JackHammer into an all-time great—and the Baby Jack is all that and a little more.
As Morizo also suggests, “The Baby’s reduced size means its more aerodynamic and casts like a bullet, even in wind. And for fishing across shallow grass or super skinny water, you can really burn this lure, while the blade stays down and doesn’t blow out.”
For these specific scenarios, Morizo wanted a new 1/4-ounce variant (in addition to 3/8- and 1/2-ounce sizes) for rocketing cleanly across the skinniest water and the gnarliest cover.
Weight-Balanced Jighead To further ensure the Baby Jack stays down in the water column and swims with a balanced, natural horizontal posture, Hite and Morizo devised an astute alteration to the jighead. “We shrunk the size of the head itself, while shifting more weight—including an enlarged, restructured collar—further back down the spine,” says Hite.
“Besides moving more fluidly through the water, this reconfigured jighead also lets the lure skip super far and easy, and with minimal commotion.”
The Ultimate Hook & Trailer Keeper Combo Shifting focus toward the business end, a custom fitted 3/0 medium wire Decoy hook offers the perfect compromise, fitting standard soft plastic trailers like the 4.5-inch Z-Man ChatterSpike™ or more compact options like the 3.5-inch ChatterShad™.
To click ElaZtech® and other ChatterBait trailers tightly into place, the Baby Jack shares the same reliable split-grip wire trailer keeper as the OG.
“Another primary consideration in choosing this hook was giving anglers the choice to use a range of lines, from 12-pound fluorocarbon for fishing deeper in clear, open water to traditional 25-pound test for slashing through grass and other cover,” Hite explains.
“I’ve always preferred a wider gap O’Shaughnessy bend hook for the best bladed jig performance, including maxed hookset ratios. The 3/0 custom Japanese Decoy hook is a rockstar, lighter in gauge, wicked sharp and strong as an oak.”
Final Refinements Providing a solid, trustworthy line-tie, the Baby Jack is equipped with a Japanese Decoy Egg Snap, slightly scaled down from the original. To combat skirt wear and increase longevity, each JackHammer Baby Jack employs wire-wrapped pro-grade silicone skirts.
Sharing the same spirit of mega tournament wins and personal best big bass, Z-Man is set to launch the new JackHammer Baby Jack at the 2025 Classic Expo (March 21 to 23), headquartered in downtown Fort Worth, Texas. The Baby Jack is available now in three sizes (1/4-, 3/8- and ½-ounce) and ten pro-selected color patterns, MSRP $15.99.
About Z-Man Fishing Products
A dynamic Charleston, South Carolina based company, Z-Man Fishing Products has melded leading edge fishing tackle with technology for nearly three decades. Z-Man has long been among the industry’s largest suppliers of silicone skirt material used in jigs, spinnerbaits and other lures. Creator of the Original ChatterBait®, Z-Man is also the renowned innovators of 10X Tough ElaZtech softbaits, fast becoming the most coveted baits in fresh- and saltwater. Z-Man is one of the fastest-growing lure brands worldwide.
Based on angler demand, DAIWA adds new smaller sizes to the D-BOX series
FOOTHILL RANCH, CA (March 18, 2025) – Slap a logo on something and call it day. Perhaps fine for some, but that’s not the DAIWA way…Last season, DAIWA introduced the D-BOX series, and it was an instant hit. Now, the innovative fishing company is introducing the 2025 D-BOX series, consisting of four smaller models.Not your average fishing utility box, DAIWA’s D-BOX features a clear lid for quick identification of its contents. That same durable lid is sealed shut with four robust latch closures. Speaking of sealing, all sizes also include rubber gasket rimming on the inside of the lid to keep the contents weathertight, free from moisture intrusion.As a result of its sealed status, when locked shut, DAIWA’s D-VEC utility boxes float! Accidentally drop it in the drink and it’ll bob on the surface for retrieval.A unique addition to the array of smaller D-BOX collection is the new Small Shallow Universal model that features a slotted silicon panel that’s perfect for the organization of jigheads, small pre-rigged swimbaits, hair jigs, among dozens of other applications. The slotted silicone is resistant to tearing and helps make sure hook points aren’t compromised.D-BOX FEATURES:Durable plastic lid and bodyFour secure latch closuresClear lid for quick identification of contentsWater resistant gasket closureFloats
2025 D-BOX Small Shallow Universal (SSU)Silicon slotted base for securing jigs and smaller lures.Perfect for storing items like jigheads, pre-rigged lures, hair jigs, etc.8.5” (L) x 6.5” (W) x 1.3” (H)MSRP $21.99
2025 D-BOX Small Shallow (SS)8.5” (L) x 6.5” (W) x 1.3” (H)Slim design helps anglers fill that last bit of storage spaceGreat for hooks, weights, beads, and small jigheadsMSRP $13.99
2025 D-BOX Small Regular (SR)Standard utility tackle box with fixed and clean-cut adjustable dividers for customization.8.5” (L) x 6.5” (W) x 1.9” (H)MSRP $13.99
2025 D-BOX Small Deep (SD)Added depth for more tackle and larger lures with fixed and clean-cut adjustable dividers for customization.8.5” (L) x 6.5” (W) x 3.6” (H)MSRP $15.99
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: [email protected]. The URL for DAIWA’s web site is daiwa.us
The three-day tournament, hosted by Discover Lake County, Florida, will showcase the region’s top bass-fishing boaters and co-anglers competing for a grand prize of up to $100,000 in the pro division and a new Phoenix 518 Pro boat with a 115-horsepower outboard motor plus $5,000 in the co-angler division.
Pro Tyler Sheppard of Yulee, Florida, knows the Harris Chain well, with seven top-10 finishes – including a BFL win in 2023 and a 6th-place finish in the 2024 Toyota Series event. But this time, Sheppard brings a little extra inspiration – he just became a father, welcoming his newborn son home from the hospital on Monday.
“It’s been a whirlwind,” Sheppard said. “He was born on Friday, and it’s been incredible. I’m running on about no sleep, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Hopefully, I can carry some of that ‘dad energy’ into the tournament.”
Sheppard expects this event to showcase a variety of patterns across the Harris Chain, with anglers able to fish to their strengths.
“There are going to be prespawn, spawning, and postspawn fish, so it’s wide open,” he said. “The grass is always a player, and if you find the right group of fish, it can carry you for three days. But there are also plenty of opportunities for big fish on crankbaits or swimbaits, especially in the lower lakes like Apopka.”
The decision to run to Lake Apopka will be critical for some, as it’s known for producing big limits but comes with the risk of limited fishing time.
“It’s a gamble with the locks, but it’s a place where you don’t need long to get right if you can make it work,” Sheppard added.
On his deck, Sheppard plans to keep Florida staples tied on, including a 6th Sense Divine Swim Jig for grass fishing and a bladed jig for targeting bigger bites.
“If there’s a flipping bite for spawners, a 6th Sense Creature bait will also come into play,” he said.
As for what it will take to win, Sheppard believes consistency will be key.
“I’d say 67 to 70 pounds over three days will probably get it done,” he predicted. “It’s Florida, so you’ll need at least one big day, but you also have to back it up with solid limits.”
Anglers will begin each day at 7:30 a.m. ET, launching from the Ski Beach at the Venetian Gardens, located at 201 E. Lake Harris Drive in Leesburg. Weigh-ins will take place at the same location, starting at 3:30 p.m. daily. Fans are invited to attend in person and can also stay connected by following the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts and daily updates on MajorLeagueFishing.com.
In Toyota Series regular-season competition, payouts are based on the number of participants competing in the event, scaling up for every 20 boats over 160 and scaling down for every boat below 160. With a 160-boat field, pros fish for a top prize of up to $75,000, if Phoenix MLF Bonus qualified. Strike King co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard (valued at $33,500). With a 260-boat field, pros fish for a top award of up to $100,000, if Phoenix MLF Bonus qualified. Strike King co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard plus $5,000 cash.
The 2025 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats consists of five divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern and the Southwestern – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International and Wild Card divisions. Anglers who fish in any of the five divisions or the Wild Card division and finish in the top 25 will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series Championship for a shot at winning up to $235,000 and a qualification to REDCREST 2026. The winning Strike King co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard. The 2025 Toyota Series Championship will be held Nov. 6-8 on Grand Lake in Grove, Oklahoma, and is hosted by the City of Grove Convention & Tourism Bureau.
Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Toyota Series include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Deep Dive App, E3 Sports Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Toyota Series updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
5 Alive Guaranteed $7000.0 Team Trail. QUALIFIER #1- Hyco Lake 3/8/2025
Full Results and updated points standings in pics below
The 1st Qualifier of the 2025 Guaranteed $7000.00 Trail is in the books. We started of the season again this year at Hyco Lake. Weather was actually nice other than the Big Wind Gust towards the end of the day. The lake was still trying to be stingy for alot of teams but did give a few teams a sample of what is to come.
We had 62 teams try their hand at getting the first Win of the year in the $7000.00 Trail. When it was all said and done it was the team of James Wall and Jimmy Wall that topped the 62 boat field to take home the WIN
. They had a 5 fish limit weighing 18.70 pounds anchored by a 7.90 pound bass that also won them Big Fish for the tournament. That bag earned them a total of
$2420.00 for the day. Thats not all for them!! They also get the Ranger Cup Contingency money which is an additional
$8000.00
. All that totaling
$10.420.00
for the day.
That there is the reason we try so hard to get atleast a 60 boat field in these tournaments. All of you guys pay alot of money for your boats and if we can get the 60 boat fields all of the Contingency programs come into play for all of these boat manufacturers. This is the 2nd Win in 3 years for the father son duo at Hyco Lake with the 5 Alive Team Trail. Ain’t no getting out of it. THEM BOYS ARE GOOD!!!
Big Congratulations to them!!
They were followed by a solo team for the day. Dylan Gee fished alone and whopped up on the rest of the feild by himself. He had a 5 fish limit weighing 17.56 pounds. That earned him a total of
$1000.00
for the day. Thats pretty impressive there Mr. GEE!!!
Big Congratulations to everyone who placed in the money!!
We want to say THANK YOU to all of our 2025 Sponsors. Please take a look in the pictures below to see each and every sponsor we have.If there is any services that you need that any of our Sponsors can help you with you let me know and I will get yall hooked up and taken care of.
Qualifier #2 is Saturday 3/29/2025 at Jordan Lake – Farrington Ramp. It’s going to take a MONSTER BAG to win that one I bet!!
If you want to pre register for any tournament contact me Kevin Sheppard at 336-264-8416.
The effectiveness of the Ned rig has made it immensely popular over the past decade or so, enough so that bass have gotten used to seeing tiny stand-up worms.
Great Lakes Finesse (GLF) is upping the ante on this technique with a different profile of bait that is ideal for the Ned rig technique.
The GLF team quickly figured out the proper profile, which is craw-like and ribbed and has slender appendages that provide just the right amount of movement. However, they spent nearly two years refining every detail and getting critical confirmation from the fish that the Ned Bug was perfect.
A vital feature that grew out of the testing stage is a slit in the head, which allows the bait to bend back, exposing much more of the hook for solid hooksets and a high fish landing percentage, even with a small No. 1 or 1/O hook.
Classic Missile Madness- Shredders, Mustache Contest, Crazy Chrome, and More
Salem, Va. – March 17, 2025 –Missile Baits is debuting the all-new Shredder and Shredder Jr. soft plastic baits and selling a custom run Crazy Chrome color of the Spunk Shad 3.5 and 4.5 at the 2025 Bassmaster Classic in Ft. Worth, Texas plus plenty of Missile madness in booth 2326. The Shredders are a cross between a hair jig and fuzzy dice, which is a design collaboration with Fish or Die Bait Company. There is nothing like the Shredders. Missile Baits is also conducting a $1,000 Mustache Contest in their booth at the Classic. Entrants will get a gift from Missile, the top 10 will each get $50 gift cards, and the winner, chosen later through social media, will receive $1,000. Hog Farmer Bait company will have their new and proven baits in the Missile booth as well. New exclusive apparel will be debuted at the Bassmaster Classic alongside a full array of Taddo Designs custom baits with a totally new 4.5” glide bait.
“The Shredders are functional fuzzy dice. The 4” is going to be flipped a lot and the 2.5” is nasty on a drop shot but both can be used in so many ways. We will show the world the Shredders at the Classic, which will be a wild time with exclusive Crazy Chrome Spunk Shads, the mustache contest, Taddo baits, and the new merch,” says John Crews, Missile Baits owner and professional bass angler.
The Shredder and Shredder Jr. are a completely new type of soft plastic bait. (see underwater video: https://youtu.be/rSFD9NeXA0s?si=KapdHBC93lukflc5 ) The design and concept are a collaboration effort between Missile Baits and Fish or Die Bait Company. The Shredders look like a hair jig but have an extension in the body for easy and versatile rigging options including Texas rig, drop shot, jig head, swing head, Carolina rig, and more. Both sizes will come in 8 colors and sell for a $6.99 retail price. The Shredders will ship to dealers all over by mid-April.
