If you’re getting the BassBlaster for the first time it’s cuz a bud signed you up!
Today’s Top 4
Kevin Short takes the handoff from Ike, who called out spot pirates in that widely read and hotly debated Bassmaster.com post. Won’t spoil K-Pink’s feelin’s for ya, but will give you a couple hints:
> Unlike Ike, I contend that spectators ARE becoming an issue at some Elite events. I’m still shocked that there hasn’t been a boating accident involving spectator boats, and I feel it’s only a matter of time before one occurs.
> I contend that as long as bassin’ allows the public at large on the field of play to potentially affect the outcome of events, it’s nothing more than a bubba-in-a-boat-fruitjar-derby.
> MLF has it correct with the limited number of competitors on the water every day over multiple days and the catch-weigh-release system. B.A.S.S. is on the right track with Live coverage of anglers. True Pro Bass Fishin’ involves all three of these aspects.
Full K-Pink opinion here. Btw here’s an artist rendition of next year’s Classic flotilla:
Check this 10+ from Falcon, guided by Jimmy Steed. Lake was up so fishing shallow. This one came outta 2′ on a TX-rigged Big Bite Jerk Minnow (watermelon red ghost):
News
1. Texoma Bassin’ Festivus stuff.
Couple shots caught my eye:
Fletch Shryock noodling. No rules against this Trip?
3. FLWer Michael Murphy webinar June 15.
Ch-ch-chain, chain of fooooood. The Murph knows his stuff, should be good.
4. FLWer Scotty Suggs gets Popticals.
Sunglasses you put in your toaster! Or freezer??
Okay not really. Nylon lenses made by Zeiss = could be cool?
> Anyone notice that Richard Dobyns won $25.5k and Nick Nourot won $7,500 for 2nd, last-place pro check was $1,500 all this for a $700 entry fee. Co-angler champ Josh Kaneko won $5,500, last co-angler check was $700, all for $350 entry fee.
Not mentioned was only 5 boats were in the derby…lol kidding. Pretty #stout
6. MO: Big Smithville bag.
7. KY/TN: Yak champ is Ron Champion.
Well of course it is! But…he only won by 0.5″. Sounds like the pattern was shakey-heading. Champ(ion) used a GrandeBass RattleSnake Worm (kinda like a ribbed Senko) in blue fleck. Diggin’ the blue checks:
> When you’re cheating at a kayak-based bass fishing competition, it might be time to take a good, hard look at your life.
When you’re cheating at anything would be. Sheesh. Probly all motivated by this kayak cheater getting caught.
9. LA: Guy caught with too many largies.
Worth noting:
> Possessing over the limit of black bass brings a $100 to $350 fine and up to 60 days in jail.
Dang straight!
Custom-painted, I think by this dude:
Called the Kanata: 160mm = 6.3″, 30g = 1-oz. Underwater footage in the vid:
> “I’m not sponsored by them, but they have a fantastic hook. My son and Andre [Moore of Reaction Innovations] use them for saltwater fishing. Tackle Warehouse picked them up — I’ve been impressed.”
15. New electronics training DVDs.
Don’t know much about ’em, but Jim Hammond who makes ’em said to me: “I made these videos because when I started using them there was little or no documentation, especially the more complicated functions. I have been making side-image recordings since 2009 and have a library of over 500 recordings spanning many lakes. Using these applications I had to learn the hard way how to make accurate and good-looking maps.”
16. AR: 100sK largie fingerlings released from jail.
Raised by folks in the penitentiary.
17. AL: Black Belt bass photo contest.
Black Belt = 23 counties.
18. AZ: Powell PFD swap on Saturday.
19. What the Coast Guard says about all those lights…
…of an LED nature. It’s kinda dense language, but the way I read it is: A bunch of these LED lights for boats don’t meet USCG specs, and if they interfere with the nav lights they are no good.
Tip of the Day
Talks about depths and colors for 10′ and deeper. Mostly Rapala DTs, but interesting he mentions the 3/4-oz Hot Lips for real deep fish:
Quote of the Day
It diminishes the primal instinct we have to follow fish movement and behavior through our natural senses.
– Guess who? If you guessed Clunn you were close. But: Randy Blaukat. Full quote:
> Least favorite fishing technique: Ledge-fishing with electronics. To me, this takes the fun and intuition out of fishing. It diminishes the primal instinct we have to follow fish movement and behavior through our natural senses.
So: Are electronics making us dumber…like Google is??
Random
So…catch and release is a bad idea? Can Trip catch a fish anymore?? Is this why Mercer only shoots his show in Canada?? Is this why everyone’s wearing Buffs?? So many questions now….
Mark
June 13, 2016 at 9:45 am
I hate to admit this but….the last two made me want to throw up. I might have just cut the lines and let them go! I know, Big Girl!