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Ever heard of Aquarium Rescue Unit? How 'bout the guitar-slinger Jimmy HERRING? Do you think he'd school around a Berkley Krej or a chartreuse Fluke?? 🤣 If you like good music on the prog/jazzier side of rock/blues, there you go.
Kinda Dixie Dregs, Steely Dan-ish. Caution: flute alert! 🪈
Other than that, hope you're starting to get cooler weather. I think it missed the bus stop here in TX man, it's still HOT! Looking forward to it cooling down – getting to the time of year when I can actually fish so I'm getting even more ADD and restless...and my Tackle Warehouse orders have gone up. 😁
A lot in this'n. Hope you enjoy it and hope you have a feesh-filled weekend! Bless you.
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Gitcha Blaster video fix here:
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If your email program cuts off the bottom of the email click "View this email in your browser" up top to see the whole thing. Sorry bout that – email programs keep changing stuff.
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3 Qs with Cole "volcanic" Sands
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Cole was 5th in AOY points this year – after a 46th, 47th and 42nd his 3 years before. Big jump. Why? Gonna find out.
Before getting to it, if you didn't know, he was a stud in college: won the 2020 Bassmaster College Natty with pard Conner DiMauro and set a weight record doing it, fished that championship 4 times, and fished college and HS Classics.
So being on the Elites and now doing well there doesn't seem like much of a surprise.
1. What happened this year for you mentally or fishing-wise?
> "I mean I wish I could boil it down to one thing – I think it's probably a lot of things. God blessed me a ton this year, but I'm blessed the past few years too.
> "...this year I had a lot more things just go my way. That one extra bite I landed instead of losing it. Last year, 3 of the cuts I missed I had that [1 needed] fish hooked and to the boat and he come off.
> "You get that fish in the boat and you make the 3rd day, you gain 20 points here and 20 points there – my last year could've looked like 20th place in AOY instead of 46th. That's just how fickle bass fishing is.
> "Some places, like at the St Lawrence, I did go up there [to pre-practice] – I spent a few days learning the river. I think that helps.
> "Since I've been on the Elite Series man I am a thousand times better fisherman now than I was 4 years ago. I've worked really hard to learn a lot of new techniques and develop what I already knew.
> "I'm learning stuff every day. I guide a lot so I'm on the water a lot.
> "...these guys just get better and better. They push you to become better. I'm a better fisherman now than I was a month ago. My goal is to keep getting better because I know if I don't, I'll get left behind. These guys are just too good.
> "...I used to live on Chickamauga and 2 years ago I moved to Johnson City [TN] where we have these deep, clear smallmouth lakes – it forced me to get really good at LiveScope.
> "I did pretty good in the tournaments this year without it, but that was almost like riding a bike – that's kinda how I grew up. But I noticed my rookie and sophomore years I was getting left in the dust by the really good LiveScopers.
> "I was decent with it when it came to structure and grass, but the baitball deal I wasn't great at it. But when I moved up here to these lakes, I really learned a lot.
> "One thing I'd never done [on the Elites] til this year I used to [do] in college all the time – I would catch one at the last minute...and have a really good finish. ...this year, 4-5 times...I'd catch one in the last 5 minutes before I came in."
2. Your 3 best finishes this year – all top 10s – were on rivers. Why is that?
> "...those 3 rivers were pretty diverse. The AR River and Tombigbee tournaments, I grew up on Chickamauga but more specifically the Hiwassee River...and it looks so much like those places...wood, shallow cover.
> "When I first got into bass fishing, I was in a little aluminum Bass Tracker, and that's where I learned how to fish. Those rivers felt like it did growing up.
> "...those were kinda spawn events...I've gotten a lot better at practicing for spawning events. I fish a little bit slower, really pick stuff apart, shake off pretty much everything. The spawn events where I can't visually see 'em, I feel like I can really excel. I feel like a lot of people fish over 'em....
> "Then at the St Lawrence River, I stayed in the river...I didn't run to the lake. That was the biggest thing there. 2 years ago I figured out how the smallmouth set up.... I expanded that pattern to a lot of areas to see if it was a pattern or not, and it absolutely was.
> "I wasn't seeing the fish on LiveScope [because they were so] tight to the bottom. [Other guys] were wanting to see them on their electronics but not understanding why they were sitting there.
> "Honestly it was very similar to fishing the TN River. Current fish are gonna set up similar everywhere. Maybe it's just a good understanding of current."
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3. I know this is a thing with smallmouths but are there times when you intentionally crank through the water column to catch largemouths?
> "The only time I'd say I do it for largemouth...pre-spawn I do it a lot with a lipless if I'm fishing shallow. A lot of times I'll keep my rod straight up in the air...they're shallow, they don't want to feed on the bottom.
> "I can burn it or stop and go – or I'll yo-yo it a lot where you're ripping it as hard as you can and it's falling back down and they thump it.
> "I've done it with a super-shallow-diving squarebill too. Something about that time of year they want to feed up more than they want to feed down.
> "That's probably the only time of year, besides maybe fishing over a grass flat in the fall, burning a squarebill over it or something. I do that sometimes so they can see it better and track it down.
What baits are you using?
> "The [Yo-Zuri] Rattl'n Vibe – the 5/8 I throw the most, but I do throw the smaller one – it's a 3/8 – and the 3/4. That might be the only lipless I bring with me anymore – in my opinion it's the best lipless on the market.
> "...with one of my good friends, we went to a pool and we watched [a bunch of lipless baits] run through the water and how they fell. You can burn [the Rattl'n Vibe] and it won't blow out to the left or right like a lot of 'em do – there's a lot of brands that don't swim straight at every speed.
> "The biggest thing is when you're yo-yoing it, it shimmies on the fall better than any of the other [lipless baits] out there...looks just like dying baitfish. You look at it in a swimming pool and it's easy to tell which one they're gonna bite the best.
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> "My favorite shallow-running squarebill is actually a flat side – the [Yo-Zuri] 3DR-X Flat Crank. It doesn't go very deep at all, like max 4'. If I want it deeper I'll weight it with SuspenDots.
> "You can burn it and it thumps. A flatside you think it'd be real subtle [but this one] feels almost like reeling a ChatterBait. It gets some really big bites, and you can reel it pretty quick without it blowing out."
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[Fwiw I love the Flat Crank too.]
What do you fish 'em with?
> Rattl'n Vibe: "I like a 7.5:1 reel. I like it a little bit quicker – I've even gone to an 8. 90% of the time I'm fishing it on 16-lb Yo-Zuri T7 Fluoro...every now and then I might go to 20 if I'm trying to keep it really shallow.
> 7' 2" MH Witch Doctor Tackle Surman Series Rod – "It's half glass, half graphite. The glass allows you to fight them on treble-hook baits, and it has the backbone and strength to rip it out of the grass.
> 3DR-X Flat Crank: Same reel, same rod "if I'm fishing a lot of heavy grass. If it's wood, I like a little more limber tip – I use a 7' Witch Doctor [signature] Sandman Series Rod. It's got a really good soft tip on it, which allows it to load up pretty good, and you can roll [the bait] over wood and rocks little easier....
> "Line size depends on how deep I'm trying to get it. Guntersville this year I was throwing it on 12-lb [Yo-Zuri T7 Fluoro] to get it down deep in the grass, but I will go as heavy as 16...."
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Deets on the new Berkley Doom Stroller, a rolling hard bait
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That guy is Dan Spengler who you've seen in the BB before. He's Berkley's hard bait guru, a bait nerd and a good fisherman too – and if he spends any time not thinking about baits it's only because he's asleep (maybe!) or his wife makes him...😁
Alright – so Berkley's new(ish) thing is to release baits all year long, and the latest 2 are the Doom Stroller and the Slap Gill – which I heard Drew Gill's wife loves. 🤣
Alright enough of the wife jokes, sorry ladies! Here's Dan talkin' the nitty grittys about the Doom Stroller, Slap Gill deets coming next week.
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1. What does the Doom Stroller do that's different or better than a jighead minnow?
> "First off, it's a rolling hard bait so it's a jighead minnow meets a hard bait. We developed it with Logan Parks, and it honestly it was one of the hardest things I've ever had to work on.
> "Because think of like all the jighead minnows...some of them move differently than others, and we had to build this consistent rolling hard bait.
> "...it's different in the sense that it's a body shape that looks more realistic and natural than a jighead minnow.... We tried to build a kind of high-end, natural looking, elongated shad or herring body profile.
> "[With a hard bait] you can really get hyper-focused on the gill plate anatomy, the body shape anatomy...that's one of the goals with it.
> "And then the next thing was the action of the bait...so it's easy to roll. We designed it to have less pain points – it actually works best with the rod tip down. That's a good thing because a lot of times you're sitting there working it with your rod tip up, and your arm maybe gets fatigued all day doing that...and [if] the wind catches your line, that drag throws your rolling action off.
> "We wanted to create something where you just put the rod tip down, almost like when you work a jerkbait. It's just easier, more comfortable, and...the flash and roll is very easy just by slowly reeling and imparting rod tip action.
> "But the real separation between the jighead minnow comes in these next 2 parts. The 3rd thing would be – it's got treble hooks...a brand new [Berkley] Fusion19 hook. It's a a light-wire yet super-strong new hook....
> "So when you're thinking about hookup ratios...[trebles] allow for maximizing hookups. So if the fish come up and they're a little bit more neutral, they just barely brush against this bait and then those hooks can get them.
> "And then the other thing is when this bait is descending in the water column. It does some really unique things you can't do with a jighead minnow....
> "It swims on the fall. So if you just hold it on a tight line, the bait rolls beautifully. It's like you're rolling the bait or retrieving it, but it just shimmies and rolls on the fall all the way down to your target.
> "If you want to drop it on a slack line to get it down there quicker, it swims down – it kind of drops head down and swims with a natural tail motion, like a baitfish trying to evade predation.
> "That's where the feathered treble hook comes into play...it looks like the tail of a fish swimming.... [And] that back tail [and] treble hook is...a point of drag. It's like a parachute. That is positioned a little bit upward on the tail...so that back treble hook is catching the water and it's allowing that body to roll so easily, even with the lightest twitches of the rod.
> "...just twitch your rod. You don't have to reel, and it rolls side to side beautifully. And a lot of times they'll they'll come up and eat it.
> "So I think it does a lot of things that the current jighead minnow market hasn't seen before."
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2. How does it not sink too fast or sink out of the zone you want it in?
> "It is a sinking bait. And if you look at the sink rates of the bait, we have 3 sizes: We have a 70 [mm] and that sinks at 2.2'/sec, and then we have a 90 and a 110, and they both sink at basically between 2.6-2.8'/sec. So it sinks pretty fast.
> "But that is intentional – so they get down to targets quick if you want to slack-line drop the bait. If the fish are moving, maybe they're pelagic, and they're not just locked into position, you want to get that bait down the water column to the fish as fast as possible.
> "...the 70...you can fish that 3-20'. The 90, I'll fish that 5-30'. You may be like, 3', 5' – what do you mean? This is a fast-sinking bait. But as soon as you start strolling the bait and impart that rolling action, it maintains its position in the water column absolutely perfectly.
> "So as soon as I start strolling it, it's not really going to drop much in terms of the position in the water column, even if I'm fishing super-shallow. That's what allows me to fish literally the entire water column with this bait.
> "...I can [also] stroll it either super-slow or I can pick up the speed and try to impart a little more rapid action. That's another thing Logan and I wanted with the bait...to be able to stroll it slow, middle speeds and pretty fast.
> "...I'm a fish biologist [by degree and training]. So I'm thinking this way when I'm building baits [and when fishing]...how that baitfish responds. Typically they'll speed up and start trying to evade predation – that's what you can do perfectly with this bait."
How about water temp? Does that matter at all?
> "...we have tested this in a lot of different regions, and so far it seems like pretty much anytime they're chasing bait is going to be the window for this this product...which is all the time.
> "...and it's honestly been a phenomenal crossover bait between species, like bass and walleyes...."
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3. You mentioned 3-5' – can you fish it shallow like a jerkbait?
> "Only if you continuously stroll the bait. As soon as you stop strolling the bait, it's gonna descend in the water column.
> "You might think that in shallow water you want to keep your rod tip up. But actually rod tip downward is the best way.
> "I've found [with] a lot of baits where people think rod tip up is necessary to keep your bait higher in the water column – it may actually not be strolling. We've tested a lot of different minnows in our tanks in our lab and you wouldn't believe...how the baits don't necessarily do exactly everything you think they are doing [not rolling well].
> "This bait was meant to kind of anchor that thought. So when you cast it, you know what you're getting out of it the whole time. It's going to have that pure rolling action.
> "It's like working a jerkbait, you just don't pause it...keep it moving.
> "...I found another way to fish this that I was not expecting...like a finesse-style lipless bait. I was casting it out along vegetation and letting it sink to the bottom. I'd just sweep my rod tip up, and the bait would shoot up like a fleeing baitfish...like a lipless bait.
> "There's no vibration, but then it actually swims like a live baitfish on the fall with that built-in swim action. ...actually caught a lot of different species of fish doing that – bass and walleyes, and pretty much anything that eats minnows.
> "[This bait is] more versatile than we thought."
Dan's Doomin' gear
> 70mm (2/5-oz) – 7' M F Abu Garcia Fantasista X Spin Rod or a 6' 10" ML F Fenwick World Class Spin Rod, Abu Zenon MGL LTX Spin Reel (6.2), 8-lb Berkley FireLine or Berkley X5 Braid to 3-4' of 12-lb Berkley Trilene 100% Fluoro ("you don't need a super-long leader with this technique because they're chasing").
> "I don't like high-speed reels because it burns up all your slack line so you can't roll the bait. You want to use a more-traditional gear ratio."
> 90mm (3/4-oz) – Same everything but a 7' to 7' 2" M F Abu Fantasista X Spin Rod.
> 110mm (1-oz) – "It's a big bait, about 1-oz, so you need a little heavier rod, like a 7-7' 2" MH Fantasista X. It's not really about the length, it's more about the action."
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Dan added that he's caught fish with the Doom Stroller standing on the bank, so FFS is not required. He also said, "Always experiment with how you drop it."
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Logan "national" Parks talks the Doom Stroller
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Well after talking to Dan about the Doom Stroller, I had to talk to Logan, who's getting ready to put on his NSANE Experience for college and HS anglers – which in my 2c is one of THE most important things in bass fishing right now. More on that in a future BB.
Anyhow, Logan wanted a rolling hard bait and was big-time involved in the whole process so here's a few Qs with him.
1. Why did you want a rolling hard bait? What was the minnow not giving you that you wanted?
> "There's a couple downsides to the minnow. The most obvious is they tear super-easy and they're really expensive...depending on what brand you want to throw. At the time [they were working on the Doom Stroller], it was the minnow craze of 2024 – you couldn't even get your hands on these Japanese minnows.
> "So making a hard bait that didn't tear – even if it was the same price as a pack of minnows, you could catch 100 bass on it vs 1 minnow per bass. That wasn't the main thing, but I feel like that's a big attribute of it.
> "The main thing is I want to work my minnow really fast. Most people don't really understand – and I honestly didn't have a good idea of what my minnow was doing underwater until I got to look at it in the tank at Berkeley. I'm like, Dang this thing isn't doing near as much as what I thought it was.
> "And I also noticed – especially when I sped it up – that it would kind of lose its action. So I wanted something that would keep that tight rolling action...like that perfect back and forth roll...it doesn't roll on the same side more than once, and gets that perfect back and forth....
> "I wanted to be able to speed that thing up, especially around spotted bass, herring fish [largemouths], smallmouth that are chasing bait.... I wanted to be able to speed that bait up really fast without losing that rolling action.
> "...do this with a minnow [and the fish] would nip the tail of it a lot more [or] they tried to bite it but you just missed them.
> "I've seen that more and more with the pressure of the minnow...the fish come up and nip your bait and you set the hook and miss them, or they bite your minnow in half, or they pull it down and there's teeth marks just below the hook. That's really frustrating. especially when it's a big one.
> "So how do we put something together like this hard bait that if they do nip at it, they'll get hooked?
> "There's plenty of shapes out there...that look like a minnow that are hard baits – how do we make this thing roll back and forth? And then how do we keep that tail-kicking action that I think is another key attribute to the soft-plastic minnows....
> "[The feathered treble] kind of does the same thing as the tail of a soft-plastic minnow. It kicks around and swims, and looks really cool on the fall too."
2. Is there anything people need to know when they fish it? I mean, they might get surprised by how heavy it is but it doesn't fish that way?
> "Like you said, you might look at this bait and say, 'Well dang the smallest one's about 3/8-oz, then the midsize is like closer to 5/8 or 3/4.' You'd think that would sink like rock, but that's the cool thing about the bait – there's multiple different ways to use it.
> "...that's honestly probably the greatest attribute...it's so versatile.
> "When you cast it out there, if you tighten your line, the bait levels out and...shimmies side to side and sinks really slow. So if you're fishing for fish that are right under the surface...schooling, or they're floating really high, as soon as your line hits you can tighten that line and work that bait right under the surface.
> "You might have to work the 110 a little bit faster than the 70, but...what other 1-oz bait can you work right underneath the surface? ...it's really cool how this bait works.
> "If you did want to fish it deep and the fish are chasing bait down deep, then you just...let it fall on slack line and it gets down a lot faster. Then once you get to that right depth range that you want, you just tighten your line and it keels out and you can work it in place...and it stays at that depth.
> "So where you would normally have a 1/16, a 1/8, a 1/4 and 3/8 jigheads all rigged up for throwing a minnow, you can throw this one bait and hit all of those different depths....
> "The other thing worth noting is...you really get so much better of an action and a lot more even rolling if you twitch it with your rod tip down."
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3. Anything else you think is key for guys to know?
> "I would love to see guys be creative with this bait. It was designed to be worked a certain way, but we're seeing more and more things come out – like where people are doing sweeping action with their rods and the bait's gliding and they're getting bit doing that.
> "I was fishing it the other day and we had a big one chase it to the boat and not bite. We dropped it to the bottom and jigged it like a spoon, and ended up catching the bass...a 6-lber.
> "I mean, I wouldn't say that there's one right, designed way to use it. Kind of like how the [Berkley] Krej...was supposed to be like a reverse jerkbait, but we ended up just reeling it and that ended up being the deal on that bait.
> "I think there's all kinds of different ways you'll see guys start to catch fish [on the Doom Stroller]. I think we're only scratching the surface of what this thing can do.
> "I've already heard some stuff coming out of the herring world [about it]. I was really, really bummed that we aren't going to a herring fishery next year because I think this bait probably could have won a [herring] tournament."
Logan's Doomin' gear
It's a lot like Dan's so here's some Logan-specific deets:
> 70mm (above pic) – 6' 8" or 6' 10" ML "because you can overpower that 70 – like if you're throwing it on a 7' M...your twitches might be moving it too much." Abu Veritas Tournament Edition, Fantasista X or Zenon spin rods.
> 90mm – "I've actually been throwing that on a baitcaster and I've really been liking it a lot." 15-lb Berkley GinClear Fluoro, Abu Zenon X Reel, 7' M F Abu Veritas Tournament Edition Rod.
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Dan props
Logan wanted to shout him out, I think because Dan is in charge of year-end pro staff bonuses...🤣 Just messin':
> "...when he was designing it, he mentioned that this is one of the best baits he's ever made, which I think is pretty awesome for him to say. He's designed so many incredible baits....
> "I really can't say enough about Dan. He's the freaking man. I feel like he...doesn't get near enough credit for all the work he puts in on these baits. ...I was there working on it with him, but this bait would not exist if it were not for him.
> "I'm so grateful to work with such an incredible team at Berkley and especially him. He's awesome."
Well knowing Dan I would say he does fool a lot of people – LOL! 😆 Always good to see some props for behind the scenes folks.
Other than that, I have one of each size Doom and am stoked to fish 'em ASAP. Maybe they'll help this blind squirrel find a couple nuts! 🥜🤪
Looks like TW only has the 110s, but the Berkley site has 'em all.
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Well here we go – new hybrid "urchins"
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Surprised? I was for a sec, but then I wasn't! 🤣
Don't see 'em on TW but you can get 'em here.
Got to thinking – who's most likely to fish these baits? 🤔 Going with maybe: Pake South, Trey McKinney, Caleb Hudson, Spencer Shuffield, Michael "top 10" Neal, Jacob Walker (he probably already made some lol), and probably more of 'em!
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Shrimps + urchins up north
Trey is Godzilla
Ike is done?
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1. Greg Hackney will pre-practice next year
> Historically I show up at the Elite events for the 3-day practice period, and I’m out there from daylight to dark. That’s no longer a viable plan.
> Next year, I’m going to spend more time living in my truck, going from lake to lake to pre-practice, especially on the scoping lakes.... That doesn’t mean I’m going to run around Scoping, but I’m going to invest more time learning nuances within those lakes.
> I have to. Today’s Elite competitors seem to know more about the bodies of water we fish than most locals. I must put myself in the same position.
In other Hack news, he asked me to go get this deal he found on Dallas FB Marketplace and ship it to him:
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I asked why and he said, "It looks just like him." I was like, "Him who?" And he said, "Delete that." 👀😁
2. Matt Becker's most $$-making bait is...
...a Yamamoto Shad Shape Worm. I think this is because Matt has ADD and this way he doesn't have to keep changing between a shad or a worm...😁 Just messin' – we all have bassin' ADD man!
Here's the 3" and the 3.75" Shad Shape Worms on TW.
3. Hank Cherry says use a BIGGER size jerkbait in fall
Of course for him it's the BassMooch HC130.
4. Elite and Toyota on Okeechobee at the same time
Next year. Believe this was pointed out first by David "raccoon man" Mullins:
- Elite, Feb 11-14
- Toyota, Feb 11-13
As small as the Big O has been fishing, that should be pretty dang interesting. Wonder if the canals will be a cage match.
5. Here's your Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers field
FFS coin flip results:
- Norfork Lake, AR – Sep 23-25 – no FFS
- Toledo Bend, TX/LA – Oct 21-23 – FFS
- Guntersville, AL – Nov 11-13 – no FFS
I'm thinking of fishing the Gville deal with Randy Howell. We'd be a tough team to beat! 🤣
6. Bobby Bakewell self-DQd for Norfork (IG vid)
7. Big changes to MLF Toyotas
I gotta think most guys will be pumped about this, but I've been wrong before! 😁
> In a change to the schedule originally announced Jul 29 that included 5 divisions, each with 3 tournaments, the 2027 Toyota Series will now consist of 4 geographic divisions each featuring 4 3-day tournaments – 2 with unrestricted FF/360-degree sonar and 2 without.
> The change gives anglers an extra tournament and allows them to fish a full geographic division to qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series Championship – or qualify through the new Wild Card Division by competing in any combination of 4 or more tournaments across 2 or more geographic divisions.
> For Wild Card qualification, only an angler's 4 best tournament finishes will count, allowing competitors to build a schedule around their strengths rather than compromise their preferred style of fishing. Anglers now have the flexibility of fishing only FFS/360 tournaments, only non-FFS/360 tournaments or any combination in between in their quest to qualify for the Toyota Series Championship.
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8. WI: Did WISCO find a cheater?
Some people are alleging so. An email to I assume folks who fish the WISCO Bass Anglers Singles Series said this in part:
> [The owners or TDs] asked Adam if we could search his boat; he said yes. We found that there were 14 bass alive in the livewell. Adam did admit that he did not have a good plan for the fish. But he did intend to use them in the tournament. This broke the following rules.
3 (f) During the official practice, competitors are not allowed to live well or keep any bass unless they have permission from tournament officials.
7 (b) Anglers and family members of anglers shall, at all times, conduct themselves in a professional manner that demonstrates integrity, honor, and respect toward fellow competitors, tournament staff, and the general public and does not reflect unfavorably on WISCO BASS LLC, its members, officers, or representatives, tournaments, or sponsors.
> After reviewing what transpired and Adam's actions, we have decided to ban Adam Eisele from all Wisco Bass-sanctioned events.
> The WI DNR has been made aware of the situation and is conducting its own investigation.
Apparently Adam won 5 consecutive WISCO AOYs. He is also on video last year saying that he woke up one time at a tourney and found that someone had put a bunch of dead bass in his livewells (full interview here).
Seems like WISCO anglers are pretty ticked.
9. FL: Lake Monroe tourney Nov 22 will benefit St Johns
Mud Hole Custom Tackle is running it:
> Entry is $150 per boat with a 100% payback, and sponsor money and raffle sales go to Mighty River Recovery's restoration work on the St Johns River.
10. New Storm pre-rigged baits
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New Surge Bluegill, Surge Crappie (👀) and Surge Goby, and also a new smaller 2.5" size Surge Minnow:
> ...anglers are placing a greater emphasis on presentations that closely mimic the forage fish predators see every day.
> Every bait in the Surge family is designed to imitate important forage species with realistic body profiles, detailed finishes and lifelike swimming actions.
> ...internally weighted for long casts and features realistic 3D eyes, a premium VMC Black Nickel hook and a unique dorsal fin design that doubles as a natural weed guard....
11. Our brother caught 1,981 fish and raised $30K
Our bassin' bro and brother in Christ Jeff "marathon man" Kolodzinski did it in that 24 straight hours deal. And it got to a 108-degree heat index!
$30,000+ raised for Camp Dallas, 700+ kids served by Camp Dallas this summer. ✝️💪💪
Kolo also got lessons from Puka Nacua on how to catch 'em:
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😁 Good job man!
12. Alumacraft corrects sizing and renames boats
For the Competitor and Trophy series:
- 175X becomes 180X
- 185X becomes 190X
- 195X becomes 200X
- 205X becomes 210X
13. MN: 2 rep groups merged
Ferguson-Keller Associates Inc and Rogers Sports Marketing:
> The merger extends and formalizes the joint venture the 2 companies launched in 2024 under the Gen 3 Outdoors banner, which brought their combined sales and marketing strength into the Northeast for the first time.
Sean Kunzer is prez and CEO, Trent Rogers is exec VP.
14. onX Fish expands to NE
It's coming for your state! 😁
15. MD: Chesapeake grasses way up
Betting Bass U's Petey Gluszek knew this and wasn't telling anyone lol:
> In MD's portion of the bay, underwater grass coverage expanded from 36,799 acres in 2024 to 41,419 acres in 2025, an increase of nearly 13%.... Bay-wide, [veggie] acreage reached an estimated 89,385 acres – up 7% from 83,252 acres in 2024.
16. Fishing’s Future buys Future Fisherman Foundation
Non-profit with a "mission of connecting families and communities to the joys and stewardship of fishing and fisheries conservation."
17. Not fishing but interesting
Garmin acquires Applied Ballistics, tech for long-range shooting
NJ: FPC going after yet more unconstitutional 2A stuff
Good! So much bad "gov't" in NJ. Wondering: If a gov't (or entire state) operates unconstitutionally – with the permission of courts – then what? I really don't know.
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"All of them were between 6 and 10 lbs."
- St Johns River, FL BFL Super Tourney Cody Morgan winner talkin' 'bout a spot he'd been saving for the tourney. How his insane 2 days went:
> "My first cast was a 6-lber, and on my second cast I caught a 9-07 and I picked up the trolling motor and left. I wanted to save them for Sunday." ...came on a Heddon Zara Spook and a wakebait.
> ...he made a long run south to a shell flat that had groups of 3-4 fish roaming on it, where he added 2 5-lbers and a 4-lber using a Z-Man Original ChatterBait, a Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap and a Carolina rig in 4' of water.
> Sunday morning, Morgan returned to the spot he had saved the previous day only to find the fish were not there. “I went to my other spot and caught a 3-11 on my first cast. Then I went an hour without any bites.
> "I had 9 minutes left in my [FFS] period and I saw a giant one. She was sitting on the bottom. I threw my ChatterBait at her because that’s what I had in my hand, and she chased it. I threw at her again and caught her literally hovering it over her. It weighed 12-11 on my scale."
Insane! Dude had 61-09 and won by 10 lbs! #stout
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Jay Kumar's BassBlaster is a daily-ish roundup of the best (sometimes worst) and funniest stuff in bassin', hand-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'!
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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 whatever....
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Gitcha BB social at these links
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