Welcome to the BassBlaster, your daily email about all things bassin’. Take a sec to forward this Blaster to a bassin’ bud, willya?

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Today’s Top 3

1. Gerald Swindle hid my boat at the last tournament. I think I’ll get him back.

– Aaron Martens talking about the Toyota All-Star. Pretty funny. Yep, pranks are rampant on the Elites!

2. FL wants more bassin’.

Just in case you thought FL was going to let TX win, Flo-ri-da is on the more-bassin’ bandwagon. They want the next record, they want more bassin’ tourists, they want more bassin’ tourneys:

> Expect more bass stocking…. For years, biologists said stocking wasn’t necessary…but Florida’s widespread development, which has affected many freshwater lakes and rivers, has weakened that argument.

> One option being considered is developing a network of special-opportunity trophy bass fishing areas…. Access would be limited through a permitting system. This might encourage private landowners, water management districts and municipalities to open otherwise private waters.

> Along the same lines, the FWC wants to work with water management districts and the Corp of Engineers to produce trophy bass areas.

> Two such areas are the Three Forks Marsh Conservation Area west of Palm Bay and the 10,000-acre Fellsmere Water Management Area east of the Stick Marsh. The state’s has already has invested more than $470,000 for advanced structuring in the Fellsmere impoundment…

> Another goal is to improve on the state’s efforts to attract more national bass tournaments, which can have measurable economic impact on smaller towns and cities.

3. Are you fishin’ bugs?

Ever see a Lunker City Ozmo? Ran across it the other day – seem to be seeing more baits that look like bugs. Fishin’ any? Know of any that work?

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News

1. College: Win a Fenwick Internship

> Earn Your Wings, a Fenwick-exclusive program, rewards the top six anglers from five colleges, each receiving over $1,250 of product support, as well as travel stipends for the 2013 BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship Series events.

> The top-finishing member of the program in the 2013 BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship will also earn a paid summer internship with Fenwick….

2. Bassmaster Weekend Series deets

Good stuff at the link.

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Tip of the Day

How Chris Lane fished Smith Lake

Interesting:

> I’d found some largemouth in the backwater areas that were starting to feed. That bite was pretty good. The problem was that they just weren’t big enough to win a professional grade tournament. They would have been fine if you wanted to have a fun day out fishing but they didn’t interest me much. I needed weight.

> That’s why I went out and found some better spotted bass in deep water around points and in front of bluff walls. There were times when my boat was sitting in 180 feet of water and I was throwing into 50 feet.

> What wanted were big fish that would push me up in the standings and put me into a position to win if things started going my way. The price I paid was not catching very many.

> That can be discouraging but it’s something you have to learn to deal with as a professional bass angler. This is a competitive sport. You have to have a plan and go with it. That plan didn’t win the tournament for me. It did put me in the running, though.

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Quote of the Day

I developed a work ethic as a kid – learned how to fish against the elements and appreciate Mother Nature, to go out and stay persistent, and learn from your mistakes and develop respect for those guys who put in the time.

– Potential Elite Series rookie, and Okie, Chip Porche outlining a couple of the many reasons bassin’ rocks.

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Shot of the Day

Dave Mercer + BassGold + BassGold tee = fish!

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