BassBlaster

Tharp’s winning jig, new Cali trail, OR Ducks of bassin’?

Welcome to Jay Kumar’s BassBlaster, your daily-ish email about all things bassin’. Take a sec to forward this Blaster to a bassin’ bud, willya?

Today’s Top 4

1. Nice shot!

Gotta start this’n off with a great shot by Brandon Palaniuk. Dude can GoPro with the best of ’em! Click the pic to see it bigger.

2. I told them that I was going to catch a fish right underneath them so I pitched under there and caught a 3-pounder.

Ross Barnett Open wire-to-wire winner Randall Tharp, talkin’ ’bout coming up to a dock with 2 boys  fishing on it.

He caught that fish on day 3 the same way he caught most of his fish:

> “90% of my fish this week came on a 1/2-oz Randall Tharp Signature Series 4×4 Jig, and almost all of my big fish came from around isolated docks.”

Here’s what Tackle Warehouse says about it, which for some reason has a way better description than the 4×4 jigs website (doh!):

> …is built with a unique shape that makes it great for both flipping and skipping.

> The forward-weighted design allows the weedguard to be positioned at a steeper angle so it lies right along the top of the hook point. This modification along with a semi-recessed line tie greatly reduces snagging, and also increases hook up ratios by causing less interference.

> The bottom is shaped to resemble the hull of a boat, which gives it the ability to skip effortlessly across the surface.

3. New trail launching in Cali.

> The goal of the California Tournament Trail is to provide California anglers an alternative to higher cost Pro-Am tournament series.

> During 2014, CTT will offer 5 tournaments on some of California’s finest fisheries. These events will be staffed by California’s most experienced tournament staff: tournament director Bill Cook, weighmaster Bret Smith and Terry Greenwaldt.

> CTT will feature a shared weight format where the pro and amateur fishermen work as a team. The entry fees will be $300 for the boater and $150 for the non-boater.

> Payout is the same for boaters and non-boaters…85% of all entry fees to both.

> Monday-Wednesday off-limits, Thursday-Friday prefish.


SCHEDULE:

  • Oroville – Jan 18-19, 2014
  • New Melones – Feb 22-23, 2014
  • 
Delta (Russo’s) – March 22-23, 2014
  • Shasta – April 19-20, 2014
  • Clear Lake – May 10-11, 2014

4. Who’s the OR Ducks of bassin’?

Have you seen the unis the Oregon Ducks are sportin’? Awesome stuff – because Nike’s in Oregon and they want to make a statement.

So who should be doin’ that in bassin’? Should the AR guys sponsored by Ranger or Bass Cat get the coolest stuff or…?

If Nike can make ducks look cool, surely we can do something better with bass….

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News

1. Jimmy Johnson benefits.

Please help the Johnsons if you can.

> Benefit tourney this weekend, Oct. 27, at Lake Palestine, TX. $50 per team, 5 fish limit, 80% payback, side pot for big fish at $10, all proceeds will go to Mrs. Johnson and family. Contact woody at 903-922-9551 with any questions.

> How to donate to Mrs. Johnson:

Make check out to: Mona Johnson

Mail to:

Jimmy Johnson Family Fund

c/o Tim Cook

319 Pecan Dr NE

McQueeney, TX 78123

2. Classic win less to fund Elites.

> $200K gone from 1st to fund 41st-50th back to $10K on Elites.

3. Good piece on bassin’ boat contingencies.

4. New Shimano baitcasters shipping now.

Antares and Metanium (top to bottom below) reels – click to see PDFs on the reels:

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From a BassBlaster reader: I like the fact that MegaStrike is a sponsor. I won a tube on the Texas Fishing Forum one time and now I swear by it! It’s great stuff.

Buy ’em here!

Tip of the Day

KVD swimbait tips.

> Bass often are attracted to swimbaits but sometimes only follow or bump them. That’s when you have to make an adjustment in style, action color or speed to get them to bite.

> The bulkier, hollow-body swimbaits are best suited when fish want a slower presentation. Those baits rock from side to side and have a thumping tail action which is excellent through the prespawn period. They also can be good in summer and fall in stained water because of the extra vibration.

> But sometimes the fish need to be finessed, which is where the Strike King Swimming Shiner comes into play. It is ideal for clear water and on those high, bright-sky days when there is a tough bite and you need a more subtle presentation.

> You can fish it on a jighead, on a weedless belly hook for winding through grass or on umbrella rigs.

> The Strike King Caffeine Shad falls somewhere in between and is my all-round favorite. It’s really well balanced and great for a weedless presentation around grassbeds and brush. I use it on a Mustad Screw-lock Swimbait Hook and work it through cover.

> If I want the bait close to the surface I’ll put it on a 1/8-oz, but if I’m fishing deeper or need a faster retrieve, I’ll use 1/4- or 3/8-oz. I’ve also had success rigging it on heavy jigheads and fishing deep along ledges.

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Quote of the Day

Put me on a Water Top.

– 7-yr-old bass angler in LA, @maryjo9682

He meant “topwater,” but give that kid whatever he wants! Cool.

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Shot of the Day

Lake Fork, TX guide Brian Duplachain gets ready to sic his trained snappin’ turtle on the basses.

Not (duh). Giant dinosaur turtle caught with a buzzbait.

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