Humminbird/Minn Kota just raised the bar on 'lectronics.
Reminder: If your email program cuts off the bottom of this 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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Humminbird/Minn Kota just raised the bar on 'lectronics.
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> ...Mega Live Imaging TargetLock locks onto structure at the push of a button [can be activated from the wireless foot pedal, Humminbird unit or optional remote], even while your boat is moving or anchored using Minn Kota Spot-Lock.
> That means you’ll never again have to choose between MEGA Live Imaging and Spot-Lock [because you're moving the troller with the foot pedal]....
In simpler terms I think that means you would have 3 options with this 'Bird/Kota setup:
- Lock your boat in place.
- Lock your boat's bow orientation toward a Mega Live'd target.
- Lock those 2 points at once: your boat with Spot-Lock, and the forward-facing sonar target with TargetLock.
Then if you have 360:
> Find your angle of attack using Mega 360 Imaging, then lock it in with Mega Live Imaging TargetLock. Both technologies can be run simultaneously with full functionality using the optional dual mount bracket on your Minn Kota Ultrex Trolling motor.
Some more wrinkles:
> MEGA Live Sweep is designed to provide automatic real-time feedback in a 120-degree [60-degrees left, 60-degrees right] view in front of the boat regardless of where the trolling motor is pointed.
> Minn Kota Steer allows for simultaneous control of both the Minn Kota Ultrex and the Humminbird MEGA Live using the Ultrex foot pedal.
Quick comments
1. Amazing. Didja get the hoops hint I dropped Tuesday? Guess what I heard was right, but anyhow: Basket = 2 points, meaning 2 anchor points.
2. What could be next? How are the other 2 companies gonna leapfrog this deal?
3. If it works as advertised, sounds like it will give pros who use some or all Humminbird/Kota an advantage, not sure how much yet.
4. The front of our boats is gonna start lookin' like a cell tower:
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6. Smaller tourney trails are gonna HAVE TO go to electronics "classes" (or something like it) or the cost of electronics will DISCOURAGE even more guys from fishing tourneys...and could prohibit kids from families that can't afford $10K worth of electronics from even starting to compete – which would be bad!
7. If you're not keepin' track, seems there's a few words being repeated among the folks in the 'lectronics wars:
- Garmin Livescope "Live" sonar, Force troller with anchor lock
- Humminbird Mega Live, Minn Kota Spot-Lock and now TargetLock
- Lowrance Active Target, Lowrance Ghost troller with GPS anchor mode
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5+ Qs with Hall of Fame TD Trip Weldon.
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You all know who Trip is so he needs no introduction, but I'll give you 2 tidbits:
- Did you know he was a camera boat driver for the TD before him, Dewey Kendrick?
- I've been on the media side of bassin' for 20+ years, and for a while was the only "reporter" in the pro tourney scene every single day. In all that time I've never heard one bad word about Trip. Think about that for a sec: Gossip-wise, pro bass fishing can be worse than a bunch of old ladies. So it's amazing that in the role Trip had he was squeaky clean...except for that Russia collusion deal...HAHAHA!
He has my respect, everyone I know feels the same. Anyhow, finally caught up the Hall of Famer, here's 5+ with him:
1. Did anyone ever tell you growing up that you'd be a legend of bass fishing?
> "[Laughs] That is funny. No. No way. And I don't consider myself a legend so...."
2. You had the toughest job on the competitive side of bassin'. Did it ever NOT feel that way?
> "You know I never really considered whether it was the toughest job or what. I knew it was a very responsible job – we had a great team at B.A.S.S., and I had good mentors with Harold Sharp and Dewey Kendrick, and I had an extensive background of tournament fishing. So when I worked at B.A.S.S. it was pretty easy for me...I knew all the structure and players.
> "In 2002, when I was named tournament director, I felt like I was ready, but there's always challenges – but I guess you have that with any job. It was fun and it was definitely challenging at times, but I was blessed to be able to do it for 19 years."
3. Since everyone felt that they were right and you were wrong, was anyone ever actually right??
> "[Laughs] Golly I've got to dig through my memory banks. I did learn early on that when you have to make a decision, let the emotion die down.
> "Obviously if you have a decision going against an angler, usually he thought he was right or he'd make a case why he was right. I have had some come back and say, 'You know what, you were absolutely right, I made a mistake.' But I'm sure some out there still think to this day they were right and I was wrong. That's okay, we had to make a decision and move on."
4. Did you ever take a polygraph and if so what were the circumstances and did you pass? 😁
> "I've passed all the polygraphs. I've taken a number of polygraphs for winning team tournaments. That's the only time being polygraphed...and yes I've always passed."
5. Besides me, Bowman, Mike Iaconelli and Denny Brauer, who are the people you advised Hank to stay away from? 😆
> "[Laughs] I never advised him. That is funny. Hank's gotta be his own person and I think he's doing a good job.
> "He's been around it all his life.... I'm excited about what he's doing, where he's headed, and I hope the future is good for him."
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Bonus Qs
6. Forward-facing sonar – any opinion whether at some point it'll have to be addressed by the tournament trails?
> "I'm not saying it may not need to be addressed one day, but technology has evolved. You look at [the arrival of] side scan, we had a lot of questions about Aqua Vu cams that were never banned. I retired at the front end of forward-facing sonar.
> "I don't know...we're gonna see a whole lot more of what it will be, and no one really has any idea except the ones trying to develop it.
> "I've read that Rick Clunn and some others are loving it because it's getting more people off the bank. So things balance out, but it is a big-time player, there's no doubt. I've got one, I just haven't learned how to use it real well."
7. Now that you're retired, do you get to spend more time with the Lord?
> "Well, there's circumstances in my life – having cancer, being retired...so absolutely. Especially in prayer. I've felt the power of prayer from so many people with my cancer diagnosis, and I now have a long prayer list that I have. [He listed some needs for folks]...praying fervently for them.
> "We're headed to church tonight. It's something we believe in, something we enjoy if you want to use that term. To answer your question in short, Yes. My wife is a very faithful woman. I owe my faith to her."
8. You're in the Hall of Fame – do you always get a #1 boat draw in tourneys now?
> [Laughs] "No way. I'm sure that would be frowned upon and people would say, 'He's getting an advantage.' To be honest with you, I like to be the last boat out sometimes. It depends on the time of year."
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Maybe the worst natural resource bill ever by DC politicians.
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You're reading about it because it would crush fish and wildlife funding at the state level. Here's the deal, taken from this week's DeerBlaster email. Starts off talking about wildlife, but these DC geniuses worked in fishing too...which kinda outs it for what it is – bad! Here you go:
This is a really big deal.
Ever heard of the Pittman-Robertson Act, aka the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act? It's a program which started in 1937 under which "federal excise taxes" – meaning taxes that are passed on to us in ways we don't see – on firearms, ammo and archery equipment are earmarked for wildlife use only. Using a formula, the tax money is sent to the states for wildlife management and is one of the biggest sources of funding for state DNRs.
[Same deal exists in fishing and fish management, called Dingell-Johnson and also Wallop-Breaux after a more recent amendment.]
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In other words, this program has worked, is successful and is needed.
So lots of folks are shocked that Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA, 9th) recently introduced legislation that would or could gut this program. Some details from Outdoor News:
> Clyde calls his bill, HF8167, the Repealing Excise Tax on Unalienable Rights Now (RETURN) our Constitutional Rights Act, and he's got 53 co-sponsors, all fellow Republicans. The legislation would eliminate most federal excise taxes on hunting and fishing equipment.
> ...Clyde said the 85-year-old tax "infringes on Americans' ability to exercise their Second Amendment rights and creates a dangerous opportunity for the government to weaponize taxation to price this unalienable right out of reach for most Americans – a threat that is materializing by the day."
[The tax is 10-11%, which is just incorporated into the prices we see.]
> Clyde's release notes that since the current firearms tax revenue funds beneficial programs such as hunter education and environmental care, his legislation would redirect unallocated lease revenue generated by onshore and offshore energy development on federal lands, which currently flows into the general fund, to continue funding those important programs.
> Clyde owns a gun store in Georgia called the "Clyde Armory," so he stands to benefit from the bill, according to the hunting website Meateater.
> ...the bill doesn't limit itself just to gun-related taxes. It also affects the Dingell-Johnson Act [the fishing equivalent of Pittman-Robertson] because it reduces the taxes on outboard motors and fishing tackle boxes to 3% from 10% and limits the total tax on fishing rods to $10.
Reactions from Jay [that's me lol]:
1. I have not studied the actual legislation, but I have covered P-R and D-J for decades. It is without a doubt one of the most successful programs in the history of the federal government.
2. Clyde is talking about replacing a program where funds are EARMARKED – meaning they can't be used for anything else – with partial funding from the general fund, which can be reallocated anytime. That is crazy...and suspicious.
3. This is a "solution" looking for a problem...which does not exist. I bet you the number of Clyde's constituents who called his office saying to get rid of Pittman-Robertson is zero.
4. In my 2c...wasting time on gutting what is literally the most successful wildlife [and fisheries] program in the country is legit bananas.
5. I am skeptical of their motives. If Pittman-Robertson was gutted, what would be the effects on DNRs, wildlife and hunting? All super bad. Why would all these so-called Republicans (or anyone, but so far it's all Republicans) be in favor of it then? 🤔
6. Including FISHING in it, which has nothing to do with the 2A, makes it even more suspicious.
Right now it's only in bill form so hopefully it won't get farther.
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> We are saddened to announce Tom's sudden passing on Tuesday, June 28th, 2022, doing what he loved – flying his airplane. This loss is a tough one for everyone that knows him.
> Lamiglas thrived by way of Tom’s father, Dick Posey, when he acquired the company back in 1965. Dick was instrumental in the development of graphite and other innovative advancements in the industry today.
> In 2015 Tom stepped into the company after the passing of his father, and he worked tirelessly to keep the name and quality of Lamiglas alive.... During his tenure, Tom grew sales to the largest in company history (since 1949)....
Bless you fishing brother. Please pray for his wife and daughters. 🙏✝️
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Well-known TV fishing guy, not really a bass guy but good at what he did. Someone once told me a story of him practicing for hours with a fly rod on his lawn. Always stuck with me because hard work wins. Bless you fishing brother.
Here's a hint from the IG vid:
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HAHAHA how great is that! Man I will always love that dude. Crazy thing is he does a great job with that homemade deal, kinda a sonar 101 thing. Click the pic to see the vid.
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Are pro bass fishermen the only famous peeps who get away with showing their feet on national TV? If so this is a huge deal...🤣
He's also using a wheel chock to help it along. Not real sure why I love this idea but I do!
YT vid ^, here's the bait:
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Gonna be released at ICAST. Ron designed the original ChatterBait. I've seen it, looks like kinda a cross between a Chatterbait and a prop bait. Sorta odd-lookin' but ain't gonna doubt Ron at all so lookin' forward to feeshn it.
...and his dad is already in that biz.
Will test a herbicide on 200-250 acres on the south end.
11. MN aquatic invasive updatin's.
> While ingesting them is not harmful to humans, faucet snails can be fatal to waterfowl. The snail is an intermediate host for 3 intestinal trematodes, or flukes, that can cause mortality in ducks and coots.
> The faucet snail is a European native that arrived in the Great Lakes in the 1870s. It was probably introduced via vegetation in packing crates or in ballast water.
Headline of the Day
WY Game and Fish intercepting more boats carrying invasive species
"Intercepting" – like with high-speed chases, SWAT teams and James Bond music? Sheesh, how 'bout they're "finding" – or do regular folks who own boats need to be "intercepted" now.
Can't link it, it's at: mybighornbasin.com
Lines of the Day
- "Worst fear" 🙄. That's a mass media story making the rounds, demonizing smallmouths as the reason why native chubs are declining. So much more goes into that than smallmouths man, come on....
- Never heard a lake called a "fishing hold"??
Updatin's
About that old Ranger barn-find, heard from bass-head John P who said:
> My father in law has a 1984 Ranger 373V 1984 BASS Masters Classic boat that he bought new and picked up from factor. One of very few sold that weren’t fished in the Classic. Always garaged and covered with all original equipment including Humminbird paper graph. Still looks brand new.
Asked him if it has the "BASS Masters Classic" on the side and he said yep.
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On BassBlaster.rocks right now...
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He outs the fact that SPRO is coming out with 3 signature Dean Rojas frog rods – SPRO Professional Series rods, not out yet: 7' MH, 7' 2" MH (I think?) and 7' 4" H. Sounds like that 7' MH is just like the old Quantum frog rod Dean designed.
He talks about all of 'em and what scenarios they're for in this BB vid:
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Other gear he talks about:
7:1-ish reel – not too fast, not too slow.
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"Sometimes it's not just about pulling fish out of the river. Sometimes it's just about being there and taking in what the land is offering, whether it's just that peace you find in your soul...or the sun setting in the distance. Honestly that sounds cheesy but it's what nourishes my soul."
- Alaskan native Jody Potts-Joseph talkin' in the TV show "Life Below Zero: First Alaskans." Gotta say it doesn't sound cheesy at all, as I know you know. Even fishin' in my local Dead Sea gives me peace. Thank you Lord!
I mean, can you imagine NOT loving to fish? What do peeps do instead??
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Not sure where this is from, I think Mexico? Anyhow, just dug the scene, especially that super chunky melon (think it'll go 8?) with that blue boat. Posted by @juananglers on Insta:
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Jay Kumar's BassBlaster is a daily-ish roundup of the best (sometimes worst) and funniest 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'!
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