Will Jacob Wheeler win another one?? As I finish this, looks like he could. Crazy!
Buddy of mine got an insane deal (somehow) on a new Dodge Ram 1500 Limited Longhorn 10th Anniversary Edition. That thing has more bells and whistles on it than probably a dang Tesla! Craziest truck I've ever seen. He's in construction – don't know how that thing ain't gonna get beat!
Don't know if I ever said: I did sell my Tundra, only because I was +$15K and I figured: This will never happen again in my lifetime...on a 5-yr-old truck at 77K miles! Got the Sequoia TRD Pro for basically the same payment. Miss the truck but my Lab likes that Sequoia 3rd row way better – she got used to it because I used to have a Sequoia, dropped it at 240K miles. My kids also say I have dog love issues so...😂
Took 'em sharkin' on Adrian Avena's boat outta south Jersey on Sunday:
|
|
Highlight for me was watchin' my 6' 3" 200-lb son get bested by a stingray about the same size as him – just trying to crank that thing off the bottom was WORK! Anyhow, Adrian has the nicest second boat of any bass-head I've ever seen – those are 300s on the back mang!
|
|
Thanks to him and los dos Kyles for a time (Adrian wasn't there). Anyone know of any other can't-miss shark trips pls lmk. Might be my son's 2nd-favorite fish to catch, smallmouths being first!
|
|
Couple new 'lectronics moves.
|
|
1. Is Shin Fukae the first pro to use TWO Live ( Lowrance Active Target) transducers? Says he's using one for Forward view and one for Scout view:
|
|
2. NPFL pro Luke Shrader might have found the most important 'lectronic for summer:
|
|
18v Ryobi cordless fan, might be even better with a good lithium battery. Genius! Luke said, "Not sponsored, just sweaty." 😂
Honorable mention: Check out how much info Takahiro Omori has on his one dash screen:
|
|
Tak's got a fast processor...upstairs!
|
|
Does the MLF give insight into solunar feeding windows?
|
|
Little bit of innerestin' info during the MLF Live deal today, from Marty "Droid" Stone. He said this:
> "If you're in a major feed or minor feed window and not getting bit, move."
He was referrin' to the solunar deal...
|
|
...which it sounds like JT Kenney ain't buyin'. But what's innerestin' is Marty said his insights about it happened FROM the initial catch all you can MLF Cup events. Why that's innerestin': Since they (top pros) are constantly catching, weighing and tracking in that way (all day, consecutive days for most of a week), it's at least theoretically possible to see catch patterns you wouldn't otherwise in 5-fish tourneys or random recreational feeshn.
So...could Marty be onto something? Or should I say: Is he a believer?
Tiddybit: Whole lunar effect on game/fish deal started with a RUFFED GROUSE hunter, and it went from there...because it worked. I've even seen it work in grouse hunting.
Only know that from deep-divin' into grouse huntin' cuz I used to be way into it, even co-wrote a book on it years back. Peeps on amazon said it was either the best grouse book they ever read or the worst! 🤣 Just the way we wanted it!
|
|
Did David Dudley have anything to do with this??
|
|
Possibly after foraging the wrong mushroom??? 😁
|
|
Believe David's involved with anything crazy the ProFISHiency brand but maybe not? Deets from here:
> ...the new KRAZY baitcast reel...2 right-hand retrieve reels and 2 left-hand retrieve reels are offered, both in 2 versions...6.6:1 gear ratio model and a 7.3:1 gear ratio.... Each reel features 9+1 stainless steel bearings and a carbon-fiber drag system with an aluminum star drag and spool tension knob....
> ...weight of each of the KRAZY baitcast reels is 7.0 oz and has an MSRP of $99.99.
|
|
Should we be fishing rats for smallmouths??
|
|
Eeeeeeeeeeeew. Looks like that was a river smallie but hey: bet rats catch 'em anywhere! If you don't believe me hit TackleTour....
|
|
West Point, Aug 28 out of Sunny Point ramp. Hoping the young man gets better! 🙏
2. Sounds like several of the MLFers with covid have/had it bad.
Please keep prayin' for 'em:
Luke Clausen
Dustin Connell
Mark Daniels Jr.
Anthony Gagliardi
Randy Howell
Fletcher Shryock
> I think some anglers and fans think that the competition has been watered down. Nothing could be farther from the truth. The names have changed, but nothing else. In fact, it's maybe a little tougher than it was back in the day.
> If you doubt that, look at the weights. They're as heavy as ever. There are no easy days, no deadwood, no gimmes.
> The Opens are different from the Bassmaster Elite Series. For one thing there are twice as many boats in an Open. That creates issues beyond more competition. The water starts to fish smaller. It’s hard to put a pattern together and run it for 3 days. There’s always somebody on "your" spot.
> ...maybe as many as 30 or 40 local anglers fishing. Some of them have big sticks and a lot of tournament experience. Beyond that you have to deal with top professionals who know how to fish competitively.
> Something else is that it only takes 1 bad day and you’re out. I’m not talking about a bad tournament. I’m talking about one day.
|
|
What's Mike been doing? No one really knows, but he's showing up at some places TOWING a kayak so maybe his truck has a bad back?? 😂 Okay, he's been fishing some kayak derbies and won the last one, on the Chesapeake – a body of water he knows well but still that's pretty dang impressive:
> "I'm proud of this one. I've been trying for 3 years to win a professional kayak event and I finally won one. It feels really, really good. It is a big moment for me. Kayak fishing has been great for me personally and a lot of the companies I work with are supporting me fishing on the kayak side as well."
Looks like his yak is rigged to the max:
|
|
Just a little reminder that Ike's a hammer and for proof I believe is one of only a few pros (ex pro?) that's qualified for the Classic every way there is.
> Just because you don't live up north, or don't fish for smallmouth, don't assume that you shouldn't have quality spinning gear in your arsenal. At home on Santee Cooper I've caught more largemouth over 7 pounds on spinning tackle than on anything else.
I was like:
|
|
Dropping worst finishes, Opens anglers, parts still moving, more updates coming.
Recruitment has been off, sounds like because of high water...and also emigration of smallmouths to neighboring red states...🤣 Easy sensitive peeps! 😁
Whoa:
|
|
That's the BOOYAH Mobster Swimjig in the "Tommy gun" color = perch color, called "Tommy gun" because of those quick pow-pow-pow perch-like bites lol.
Just a description, no pics yet, lookin' forward to it!
12. MO: Bassin' Hall of Fame gives 4 bassin' grants.
Projects in IA, IN, TN and CO. Can't link it, at bassfishinghof com
Congrats! 👊
Looks better, kinda familiar?
|
|
> ...sales remained favorable in the Japanese market, while in North America sales of mid-range and "popular" price products like rod and reel combos for beginners and families, as well as...fishing lines, were positive.
Fishing lines??
> ...Designer Tool & Products Inc. Prior to the acquisition, Designer Tool served as a leading supplier for T-H Marine, providing high-quality hatches, deck plates and seals. For over a decade, T-H Marine brought those products to market under its "Designer" brand.
Looks like little lilypads:
> ...growing in an unnamed stream and throughout the adjacent drainage ditches just north of the city of Oconto.
Curly pondweed and New Zealand mudsnails. Sounds like they could have come in through boat trailers and/or birds and fish.
Somewhere anyhow. Only puttin' it in here cuz I do watch seasonal gas prices. Sounds like 2 deals:
> The infrastructure bill sets aside $75 mil for grants to state, local and regional transportation departments to be used on VMT [vehicle mileage tax] pilot programs. $50 mil will go toward a national VMT pilot program.
> Section 13001 of the bill authorizes $15 mil in grants to be disbursed by the Secretary of Transportation every fiscal year from 2022 through 2026 for the purpose of establishing pilot projects at the state, local, and regional levels that "test the feasibility of a road usage fee."
> ...VMT proponents still haven't decided whether the VMT should replace or be assessed in addition to existing federal and state gas taxes.
Yikes.
|
|
On BassBlaster.rocks right now...
|
|
Micah Frazier's top 3 rod/reel combos 'n baits.
For tourneys or weekend bassin':
[That combo might not be available anymore so the same thing is the new 7' 3" M Abu Veritas Tournament Rod and an Abu REVO AL-F Reel.]
> "This rod has the perfect balance of sensitive tip and solid backbone, which allows you to use it for moving baits and bottom baits equally. I like it for spinnerbaits like a 1/2-oz War Eagle, big topwaters, vibrating jigs, worms and big squarebill cranks.
> "I keep several in the boat set up with different things, or a guy could buy one and use it with a variety of lures and techniques."
> "I use this setup anytime I need to make tight, targeted casts. The reel is great for lighter lures and it's a well-built, lightweight rod with the perfect action for small cranks, jerkbaits and topwaters. I use it with the Smithwick Suspending Rattlin Rogue jerkbait, small Spooks, poppers and squarebill cranks."
> "I can run all my finesse baits on this versatile setup, anything from a small swimbait to a dropshot or a Ned rig – I really like a YUM Ned Dinger. I always keep 4 or 5 of these rods in the boat, and all my spinning needs are covered."
|
|
"...there's only 2 people I never caught lying to me in my whole career and I'm talking about some good friends."
- Rick Clunn talkin' 'bout info sharing among Elite competitors. He's talkin' 'bout way back Bassmaster competitor Randy Fite (Rick's stepbrother) and Takahiro Omori. Notice Rick said he "never caught" 'em, possibly meaning:
1. They're reeeeeal good liars 🤔
2. Rick caught many other folks ✅
Lol not sure why Rick's name has been poppin' up so much but it's cool. Back in the day, it was kinda tough to get much info outta him! Anyhow, check this statement about Takahiro that Rick made:
> "When Takahiro won the Classic, that was the first time his family, his father, started to approve of what he'd been doing. Takahiro came (to the US), he didn't really have sponsors, his parents didn't approve, he was alone in a foreign country, could hardly speak the language and yet he followed his dream."
Tak is the MAN. #Pioneer for sure. Love 'n hugs bro!
|
|
Bigfoot seen by yakker on the Cass River, MI? Click the first pic to see the video:
|
|
Few of the best comments:
> Imagine being that guy out minding his business then people posting videos calling you Sasquatch...dang that's rough.
> Easy to conclude that it's a heavyset bigfoot wearing fishing waders and a mosquito net and carrying his dog across the river so it can stay dry.
> The Simpsons predicted this when Homer fell in mud and was mistaken for Bigfoot.
Bahahahahaha so great!
|
|
Jay Kumar's BassBlaster is a daily-ish roundup of the best and funniest (sometimes worst) stuff in bassin', picked by me – Jay Kumar. I started BassFan.com, co-hosted Loudmouth Bass with Zona, was a B.A.S.S. senior writer and a bunch more in bassin'. The Blaster is the #2 daily read on any given day in the wide world o' bass so thanks for readin'!
|
Sign up another bass-head!
|
If you're forwarding every Blaster to other bass crackheads, tx much – or you can email me the addys and we'll take care of it! We'll never send spam or sell the list or anything else crazy....
|
|
Gitcha hands on the best stuff!
|
|
Gitcha BassBlaster social at these links:
|
|
|
|
|