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Sorry this’n is late, significant tech issues…gotta love it….
“Warmer” this week, so today I went outside and put my head under the boat cover to smell the new-ish boat smell. Instantly felt better – amazing. For real! Didn’t expect it.
And…reflection. Don’t have near enough time for it, wish I did. Talkin’ ’bout tourneys here. When big tournaments are on top of one another, or one after another, I feel like I miss some of what went on – like the real juice. Who did what and how, how many guys did X technique and why, who was completely off the map and why, etc. I feel like even the winner gets short-changed a little.
Lotta good stuff to learn from in each tourney. What are we missing? Will we ever find out? |
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Today’s Top 4
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The TX mega-melon insanity train keeps a-rollin’!
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Don’t really even know where to begin on this deal, so just gonna toss ’em at ya randomly.
First a couple more OH Ivie-leaguers, a 14.4 caught by Brett Cannon and a 14.2 caught by Casey Sobczak. Heard they were drownin’ worms…lol just messin’. But I do believe Casey has his own bait company – think it’s called 5 Cents? Maybe Fish Scents?? Yes I know him…congrats man! Rumor is one or more of his baits (Mixed Rents? Sticks Fence? ) have been doin’ some of the Ivie damage…. |
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‘Nother Ivie-leaguer, Josh Jones with his 2nd Ivie ShareLunker in a week! This time it was a 15.4, which beat his week-old PB of 13.2. One of his secrets: pompom hats. For real – KVD wears ’em too: |
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Moving on from Ivie, here’s the new Travis lake record – 15.32 – caught by Trace Jansen. Former record was set in ’93, which might have been before Trace was born?? |
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This’n looks like a tourney fish? Scott Stephens got this 14.25 bucket melon at Conroe: |
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Not a ShareLunker but gotta shot out HSer Pake South for this 12.8 caught in a TX HS Bass Assn tourney at Lake Bob Sandlin – in 49-degree water!!! Believe a red ‘Trap did it, thanks to Kelly “unofficial big bass ambassador of TX” Jordon for the heads up: |
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I’m still thinkin’ I left some out – crazy run! Laughin’ thinkin’ ’bout all the “what happened to huge TX bass” talk a few years back.
Also laughin’ ’bout the negative comments on big-fish posts – held wrong, the lake’s gonna get fished out, they’re gonna die when released, etc. C’mon man. They’re FISH, they’ve reproduced many times already (with a few more than 2 eggs!), the guys who caught ’em are doing their best while being blown-away happy, and they survive just fine – either back in the lake (look at the time of year and water T) or at ShareLunker HQ. If not, cornbread stuffing is the deal…KIDDING!
Here’s a few comments I loved – I guess LiveScope is magic??
> Anyone can catch big fish using live scan. Even easier after paying a guy 1,000 bucks to put you on that fish while using live scan. What’s the thrill of reeling in a big fish knowing all you did was put the bait in his mouth.
> Congratulations dude! I have been chasing that one since 1989!
> Bet he used LiveScope. |
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2nd-5th TN River Elite baits.
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2nd: Stevie “Raaaar” Kennedy
Steve is one of the best ever with a jig in my 2c:
> Chart/white Chatterbait (not in the pic cuz he lost it on his last cast) with a white/silver Yamamoto Zako, Dobyns 735CB glass rod, “old Curado greeny,” 20-lb fluoro.
> 5/8- and 3/4-oz D&L Advantage Jig (gp) with Zoom Super Chunk or Super Chunk Jr (gp), same reel, 65-lb braid to 25- or 30-lb leader.
> Wood in 1-4′. |
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3rd: John “Curly Q” Cox
> #5 and Jr Berkley Frittside (morning dawn and KY blue), 12- and 15-lb Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon, Abu REVO EXD 541 Reel, 7′ 6″ MH Abu Veritas Winch Rod.
> “Threw it on clay banks, rock, bridges, drains in the back of pockets. If I thought a fish lived there, I threw at it. I was really slow cranking it, feathering it through the cover.” |
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4th: Brand On Card
> Days 1-3 jerkbait: “Caught fish on 2 different jerkbaits, one of them was a Yo-Zuri 3DB Jerkbait 110 (ghost sexy shad).” 6′ 10″ M iRod Genesis III Rod, Abu REVO MGX Reel (8:1), 12-lb new Yo-Zuri T7 Fluorocarbon.
> Days 1-3 jig: 5/16-oz prototype Advantage Baits Wild Card Finesse Jig (brown/orange) with a Yamamoto Double Tail Grub (gp), 7′ 1″ MH iRod Genesis III Spinning Rod, Abu REVO MGX 30 Reel, 15-lb Yo-Zuri Superbraid to 12-lb Yo-Zuri T7 Fluorocarbon.
> Days 1-3 “fished 4-8′ deep on creek channels. Water clarity was pretty clean.”
> Day 4 “fished docks in muddy water with a 1/2-oz vibrating jig with a Yamamoto Zako trailer (shad colors).” 7′ 2″ MH iRod Genesis III Rod, Abu REVO STX Reel (7.3:1), 20-lb Yo-Zuri T7 Fluoro. |
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5th: J. Son Christie
> Norman Speed N (diamond craw, Lurenet Paint Shop custom color), 20-lb Sunline Shooter fluoro, Lew’s Hyper Mag Reel, 7′ Falcon Cara All Around Rod.
> 3/4-oz BOOYAH Covert Series Spinnerbait (chart/blue/white, downsized from #6 to #5 blade in clearer water) with YUM Swim’n Dinger (watermelon pearl), 20-lb Sunline Shooter fluoro, Lew’s Hyper Mag Reel, 6′ 11″ Falcon signature Eye Crosser Rod.
> “Fished shallow rock and wood in transition areas less than 5′ deep.” |
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Crankbait = 50% – Frittside = 30% and should not be a surprise it was used a ton because of how well it did at the Classic there. And…David Fritts finished 11th in this’n.
Bladed jig = 50% – JackHammer at least 20%, Thunder Cricket 10%
Jerkbait = 20% – 1 was a Berkley Cutter 110+
10% each = Lipless crank (‘Trap), Spinnerbait, Finesse jig, Jig |
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2nd-5th Eufaula Redcrest baits.
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2nd: Mike L Neal
> 1-oz homemade spinnerbait (white) with a Big Bite Kamikaze Swimon (pearl), 20-lb Sunline Sniper fluoro, Daiwa Tatula 100 Reel (6.3:1), 7′ 6″ H Denali Lithium swimbait rod.
> SPRO McStick 110 (dirty bone) and other jerkbaits, 10-lb Sunline Sniper, Daiwa Tatula 100 Reel (7.1:1), 6′ 8″ Denali Lithium jerkbait rod.
> “Fished in 6-12′ around brushpiles on the main lake.” |
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3rd: Jacob “Three” Wheeler
> “I caught almost all my fish on a 13 Fishing Loco Special deep or shallow version during the championship round. My best color was ‘natty light,’ which is the more solid shad-looking pattern.
> Fished mostly around brush. “I would throw the deeper version when I was fishing in 6-10′ and normally could call them up to get it. The shallow version was for fishing taller brushpiles, shallow hard spots or secondary points [where] I felt the fish were in 3-4′. If you were hitting the bottom with your jerkbait you wouldn’t ever get a bite.”
> 6′ 10″ M signature Duckett Rod or 6′ 8″ M Kelly Jordan signature Duckett Rod, Duckett Paradigm 100 Reel (8:3.1), 12- or 14-lb Sufix Advance Fluorocarbon. |
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4th: Zack “Ary” Birge
> Omega Genesis Ti Spinnerbait (white, no trailer), 20-lb new Yo-Zuri T7 Fluorocarbon, 7′ 3 Favorite Rush signature General Rod.
> 8-12′ brushpiles. |
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5th: David “It’s a Big Foot!” Dudley
> Wacky rig: Stick worm (gp or pink), 2/0 straight shank hook, 15-lb Gamma Toro Braid to 10-lb Gamma Edge fluoro, signature 7.2 Profishiency spinning rod. “Any target that got in my way – log, stick, dock, grass.”
> Crankbait: 6-10′ diving crank (shad color), 10-lb Gamma Edge fluoro, signature 7.2 Profishiency casting rod. Points with sharp dropoffs, targeting staging fish.
Did not get a pic of David’s baits so here’s him testing out a prototype short-range tow vehicle: |
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Spinnerbait = 40%
Bladed jig = 30% – Strike King Thunder Cricket 10%, ChatterBait 10%
Jerkbait = 30% – 13 Fishing Loco Special 20%
Crankbait = 30% – Ott DeFoe used his OG Slim
Jig = 20%
10% each = Flip plastics, Underspin, Wacky rig |
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When a fish misidentifies itself??
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Last thing Todd Auten expected to catch fishing this bait at the last Elite…
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News
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Tuner/chip that is supposed to deliver better mpg. If it does that AND gives the option of spinning the tires, that would be cool!
2. 3 great bed-fishing stories from Bernie Schultz.
Good read. A 10 female and a 6 male is good! Maybe can call ’em bed TIME stories?
3. Saw this pic again in a post about On Em…
…being the first-ever Ugly Stik pro: |
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Trip was laughin’!
4. AL: Meet some sketchy characters this weekend.
MLFLW Pro Circuiters will be at Worship Life Church in Jasper on Mar 7 at 5 pm. I don’t know ’em all, but the ones I do know are…sketchy.
5. MA raising fish/hunt license fees for 1st time in 25 yrs.
> …a fishing license for a MA resident would increase from $22.50 per year to $40….
6. SD: Non-residents under 18 can fish without a license.
Amazing. Also other “youth” changes – gov’nor talking:
> “The goal of this legislation is to get more young people involved in our outdoor way of life at an early age so they continue those experiences long into their adulthood.”
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All you Pop-R and popper fans are stoked out on this deal. Most important parts of what they’re calling the P-71:
6 colors right now, all on the TW. Does not come in bone…kidding hahaha!
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This is the fluoro the Yo-Zuri pros were using a bunch of last season but it couldn’t be outed yet. Brandon Cobb has actually fished it for 2 years, and word is Yo-Zuri would not release T7 in the US market (was already in Japan) til the pros gave it the high sign. Deets:
> Key qualities: “Fatigue resistance” for repetitive casting, shock strength for hooking/fighting fish, and abrasion strength for fishing around cover/structure. To achieve the ideal balance of these 3 types of strength, T7 Premium is made from…carefully selected materials and produced using an exclusive manufacturing process which creates a perfect molecular balance….
> ….designed to be extremely a well-balanced line that can be used for a wide range of techniques. T7 is put through a heating process that gives it natural translucency, as well as the suppleness for better casting distance and control.
> Clent Davis: “T-7 became my all-time favorite line the first time I spooled it up. Low memory, low stretch, great knot strength and abrasion resistance.”
6-25 lb, MSRP for a 200-yard spool is $17.99-$29.99, only at Bass Pro/Cabela’s til June. YT vid here.
9. McKendree U’s Bailey Bleser on the Rapala college podcast.
10. Berkley and Abu again supporting ACA college fishing.
11. GA: New Chattahoochee largemouth record.
6-12…spinnerbait and an ol’ Zebco Cardinal spin reel.
12. Abu released its 90 of the top 100 fisheries in the U.S.
Believe it’s all species, 100th-11th, top 10 announced Mar 15. Here’s the highest-ranked ones so far – they’re lookin’ pretty bassy.
Not a single NJ lake even tho Ike Miaconelli was on the judge panel….
13. Lowrance C-Map update has 1′ contours.
Andy Montgomery showed the C-Map Reveal map – looks sick: |
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If they get Bassmaster’s Steve “Aint” Wright to host, it will be the best tourism program in the history of the United States.
15. NY: Waddington thinking ’bout new $3 mil marina.
Where the tourneys go out of on the St. Lawrence.
16. LA: Monroe might get a new marina.
17. Rapala CEO says 13 Fishing is after 15-35 yr olds.
18. Youngew anglers behind Rather’s buy of Zebco.
19. South Africa SOLD OUT of fishing licenses??
Time to go digital peeps!
20. YETI is now making luggage.
Gitcha travel cool on. Also has some sweet new spring colors like “aquifer blue” – here ’tis in my current fave YETI hard cooler, the Roadie 24: |
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Through runoff. Believe this has been know for a while.
Line of the Day
So…not sure if there’s NON-electronic fishfinders, and should we call it a rockfinder or structurefinder if you need the rocks first? |
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On BassBlaster.rocks right now…
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Note: The TackleWarehouse links in this email are affiliate links, meaning if you go through them to make a purchase I might earn a commission…at no cost to you. Click here if you want to learn a little more about links in the BB.
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Tip of the Day
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His Bassin’masters post brought up a lotta stuff in my head so I’ll hit these excerpts with a few comments. Post is worth a full read for sure – it’s RICK CLUNN talkin’!
> I’ve really devoted the past few years to focusing on big fish.
[I would’ve sworn under oath that Rick has always done this. A few of his Classic wins come to mind.]
> To compete on the Bassmaster Elite Series tour, the practice of fishing for a limit won’t work. Our lakes are getting better all the time and producing bigger fish.
[So much for Nedding on tour? And I wonder if “our lakes” includes NJ??]
> I’ve known for years that big baits equal big bass. But for the longest period, that meant fishing 10″ or 12″ worms. I would spend 10 minutes doing that, but fall back on the smaller baits to get bites.
[This implies Rick is as impatient as me, which blows my mind.]
> I have conditioned myself to use bigger baits in practice as well. In my younger days, I would practice for 40 bites a day. With today’s Elite Series, I have to be selective with my lure size and fish for 1/3 as many bites.
[That sounds like Rick! Not “as many bites” but 40. Not “fewer bites” but 1/3. Precise.]
> Catching 3-lbers is a lot of fun, but to do well on the circuit you have to at least target 4-lbers.
[Huge statement. Think about how hard that is to do.]
> My advice to anglers is to spend time with big baits on those lakes with big fish and build your confidence. Accept the fact you won’t get as many bites, but your chances of catching that giant you dream about will improve.
[Makes sense but…no confidence of that type to be had in NJ…] |
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Quote of the Day
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“Some viewers of live tournament coverage have actually grown weary of watching a screen of a pro who’s watching a screen in his boat.”
– MLF media man Robby Newell talkin’ in an innerestin’ post – and he’s fo sho right about that. He wonders in there whether regular bass-heads “should” be able to see what the pros are looking at on their secret screens…or not. If I was a pro, I’d say NO. Rob said:
> To just lay it all out there for the world to see is somewhat akin to trying to take Yellowstone from the Duttons.
Been telling Rob for years that this stuff was bad for him: |
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Shot of the Day
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Gotta give this slot to Hunter Shryock, who might give Brandon Palaniuk competition in the “videographer posing a pro fisherman” category . Check this sweet unusual shot of Hunter with a Frittside – and peep that built-in weight on the bottom:
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Random
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Good luck with that! Hit this YT channel before you decide to get too far off the farm…. |
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Ya got me!
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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’!
Check out BassGold.com! (It’s FREE!)
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Use the best stuff mang!
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