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Here's my problem – one of many 😆: I get way too much stuff to fish. Rods, reels, line, baits – I can't fish 'em all, but I want to and need to know about 'em all. So I'm gonna do a little poll soon to see what you like to fish, whether you'd like to fish/review stuff and a few more Qs.
Don't count yourself out: If you've fished football jigs (or whatever) for 20 years, that's more important than putting words together.
Please be on the lookout for it. Hoping to get it done before Redcrest but....
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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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How Joey Cifuentes got the win at Seminole
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Who is Joey Cifuentes and what business does he have winning just his 2nd Bassmaster Elite tournament...after finishing 19th at the first one? Shoot he doesn't even live in FL! 😁 Amazing start, congrats to him, here's how he did it – more deets at the BB site:
> "I found those fish out in the timber. I thought there'd be a lot of pre-spawn fish so I didn't know if it would hold up...warming trend...a lot of fish were going to the bank. One of the days I caught some post-spawn fish so I had fish coming and going.
> "...I had a day in practice where I had 3-4 really big fish doing what I was doing. I decided that's what I'm gonna do. A had a little shallow thing punching some mats...in case the weather got bad.
> "As the tournament progressed I found by looking at my LiveScope that the bigger bass were hanging around bigger stumps. Really big cypress trees that were cut off at about 6-7' up from the bottom. Those big fish were hanging around those...in little spots.
> "I fished between them from stump to stump because you can't idle around [with all that wood].
> "I did the exact same thing every day. ...day 2 I left and went to the little shallow spot – I just wanted to hit it one time. I only had 1 bite in there, a 3-lber and lost it. Then I went back to one of my stumps and caught a 6-lber that gave me 26 lbs. I said, 'I'm not leaving the whole tournament.'
> "I really had no pressure and the locals were great."
How he fished
> "LiveScope – everyone says I make it look easy but it's not that hard to me. Just look for a bass and you throw it at 'em.
> "The fish I was catching, you couldn't make long casts. There'd be 20 trees between me and each cast I made. So it was really important to make short little pitches. You couldn't make a cast in there – you would never get a bass in.
> "It's always best throwing at fish with LiveScope to put it as close or right on 'em as you can. Most of the time when I caught my biggest fish...as soon as it was going by them and they saw it, they would nose down on it and eat it. Some would nose down and wouldn't eat it. I'd maybe make 3-4 pitches on 'em til they would bite, but a lot of them wouldn't bite."
Baits
> "The dropshot felt right. I tried throwing a jig or a big straight-tail worm at 'em, and it just seemed like I needed to be more finesse. I'm not sure if it was because of pressure or what, but they were biting a dropshot real well."
> Dropshot: Straight-tail worm (morning dawn – "I've been fortunate to fish in a lot of places, and I'm telling you it doesn't matter where you go in the country, I'll always go to that color. It's so good. Something about that thing down there in the water...they love it.")
> Dropshot rig: 1/0 weedless dropshot hook, 12" leader, 1/4-oz dropshot weight, 7' 6" MH Abu Fantasista X Spin Rod ("instead of a regular 7' M I wanted a big long rod because I had to power the fish up – I didn't want them running away and pulling too far"), Abu REVO X Spinning Reel, 15-lb Berkley X5 Braid (crystal/white – "you can see the line better and watch it drop") to 12-lb Berkley Trilene 100% Fluoro."
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Electronics
> "I don't have an electronics sponsor...I run [Humminbird] 360 and Garmin LiveScope, and Humminbird Mega Side Imaging and Lowrance Side Imaging. You can't idle around in those trees, so the only thing I utilized this past week was the Garmin LiveScope – and that new LVS-34 [transducer], to me it's the deal."
Shout outs
> TRC Covers – "It's a veteran-owned company that makes my rod and reel covers. They're really great folks."
> MillerTech batteries – "It's owned by an Amish guy and they make some really good batteries. As much trolling around as I was doing, I had zero issues all day long...barely ran my big motor all day."
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Dang it I shoulda asked him about aliens on the ranch! Next time....
1. Does your hat ever fly off?
> "It has several times. Thankfully it floats so I go back and get it.
> "I've kinda got all that figured out now. I put it behind my legs while I take off – I hold it with my left leg while I have my foot on the gas."
2. How did you get onto the Floatzilla?
> "I met Doug [Floatzilla owner] at the last B.A.S.S. Open at Lake Hartwell. We stayed at the same hotel. I told him I was trying to qualify for the Elite Sires...I qualified and he found out and contacted me.
> "Me and Bryan New...think he's got something going there. I think it can be utilized to get more bites. ...need some smaller-profile stuff."
3. How does one become an Arkansas cowboy?
> "[Laughs] Well the first thing is you need to live in AR. The second thing is you need to own livestock, and it doesn't have to be cows. It can be goats, chickens, pigs, horses – and ...whenever you take care of livestock, you're gonna have to do a little cowboying.
> "I don't do it off a horse. If I have a calf that gets sick, I jump on the 4-wheeler [and rope it that way]. I call my self an Arkabilly – an Arkansas hillbilly."
[Chickens are livestock? Maybe just in AR??]
4. What's the most important thing you've heard from Larry Nixon?
> "He called me before that last day and he told me...'I know what's going on – all the people, the cameras, the interviews. Just block all that stuff out. Don't worry about anything going on around you and just stay focused on what your'e doing and what your goal is.
> "'If it's slow in the morning, if you don't get bites and things don't go your way, just keep going. Stay positive, keep your head down and keep fishing hard.'
> "That's no different than what my dad or anyone would have told me, but coming form Larry – he wanted me to win that thing so bad."
[How cool is that man!]
5. Did you have a God moment before or in the middle of this tourney?
> "Yeah. I have a relationship with God, always have.... For the first time, this tournament I got to do the invocation – day 3 and day 4 I got to pray in front of all the guys I was fishing against, and I think that was really cool.
> "That morning going out the last day, just praying with everybody and that calmness and trusting Him...no matter what happens, at the end of the day I get to see my family.
> "When I get up and before I go fishing, my wife sends me Bible verses. It's just all around me. I surround myself with all God-loving people."
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"You can really read the demeanor of the fish, how they're acting."
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- Joey answering my Q about whether 'Scoping is developing light sight-fishing did. What I mean: At first guys just sight-fished, but then folks like Shaw Grigsby, Jay Yelas and others started figuring out the finer points of it – bass "body language." Which fish were likely to fire, which ones you could make fire by changing baits or approaches, etc.
So is forward-facing sonar expertise developing in a similar way? Joey:
> "The more I do it, I think so."
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2nd-5th Seminole Elite baits
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Did not get with Kyoya Fujita (2nd) but hope to:
3rd: Tyler "I can't finish outta the top 3" Rivet
> Xcite Xtreme Stix (gp) rigged wacky with a #1 Owner Wacky Hook, 10-lb P-Line braid to 10-lb P-Line Tactical Fluoro, Shimano Nexave Spin Reel, 6' 10" M F5 Rods Ghost Code Rod.
> Same bait/color TX-rigged weightless with a 4/0 Owner Wide Gap J Hook, 65-lb P-Line Braid, Shimano SLX Reel (7.2), 6' 9" M F5 Rods Ghost Code Rod.
> Xcite Sucka Punch (junebug) TX-rigged with a 4/0 Owner Jungle Flipping Hook, 3/4-oz Rougarou Tungsten Weight and bobber stoppers, 65-lb P-Line Braid, Shimano SLX Reel (8.2), 7' 6" H F5 Rods Ghost Code Rod.
> Fished open pockets in 1-3' around hay grass and gator grass, mainly up the Flint River.
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4th: Pat "I got a walrus in my yard!" Schlapper
> "...ditch [13-15'] in the grass where there was hydrilla and I think some type of coontail – got clumpy instead of being choked out so there were holes in there. I caught the majority on a dropshot with a Big Bite Cliff Hanger Worm (double purple) but ran out of them, then I used morning dawn from another company. That's what I caught the majority of fish on.
> Dropshot rig: 2/0 Owner Rig-N-Hook, 1/4-oz weight, 10-lb Sunline SX1 Braid to 8-lb Sunline FC Sniper, 6' 10" ML XF St Croix Legend Tournament Dropshot Rod.
> "I've caught a lot of really big fish on that setup – I just have a lot of confidence in it. I bought and sold tackle for 20 years and used about every rod out there – this particular rod is very dialed in. 2-3 rods are absolutely critical – jerkbait and dropshot are the 2 biggest ones.
> "I landed 4-lbers – I just held them and the braid would cut through [the veggies].
> "The first day I caught a couple key fish, my 2 biggest, on a Big Bite Tour Swim Worm (junebug candy)." 4/0 Gamakatsu Hybrid Worm Hook, 1/4-oz tungsten weight, 20-lb Sunline Shooter Fluoro, 7' 4" HF St Croix Legend Xtreme Rod.
> "The last day I smashed 'em on a jerkbait – a Vision 110+1" (GP stain reaction OB, he changed the hooks). 12-lb Sunline FC Sniper, 6' 8" M XF St Croix Legend Tournament Rod.
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Sea Foam Top 5 of the Week, Episode 39
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Former B.A.S.S. Federation director and in my experience a good man with a huge voice. I loved asking Don questions that to him had an obvious answer or getting him to voice opinions – his eyes would get big and he'd start his response, "Jay...."
Here's former B.A.S.S. owner and CEO Helen Sevier talkin' 'bout Don from a good post by Hank Weldon:
> When Don took the job, the Federation system...was suffering under poor leadership. I must admit I was somewhat concerned about his military background and how he would handle these independent, strong-minded and strong-willed people in the clubs. Well, Don showed us he could herd cats. He quickly got the situation under control and the Federation system thrived.
> From the military, and his inner core, Don brought a sense of right and wrong, a loyalty that reaches up and down, and duty bound to B.A.S.S. and his mission. Don was direct. Bluntly honest. Smart. Caring. A great listener and speaker. Skillful salesman. Fair. Hard working. Planner. And yes, a leader. The list could go on.
Didn't know Don nearly as well as Helen but I totally agree. Hank says Don's fingerprints are all over B.A.S.S.'s college, HS and youth series – I'd say the entire Nation program still has Don's fingerprints or DNA in it.
Bless you and thank you Don. Please lift up the Corkran family in prayer. 🙏✝️
2. Tyler Rivet lost his title sponsor right before the season.
Someone might want to chase him down – he's doing pretty good!
3. Mike Iaconelli is re-learning lessons he's taught.
Fish the moment and never give up. I think Mike needs to go back to Bass U...😁
4. FL: Montevallo U team won the Abu College Championship.
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Peyton Harris and Dalton Head at the Kissimmee Chain:
> "The primary area was a big grass flat about a half-mile long and 100 yards wide. It had a lot of pad clusters, haygrass and little clumps of reeds mixed in...perfect habitat for all 3 stages of spawning fish."
> ...either a Yamamoto Senko or a Strike King Ocho (Okeechobee craw), Texas-rigged with a 3/0-flipping hook and topped with a 3/16-oz weight.
> "I think the biggest thing for us was staying way back off the clusters of pads and casting to them instead of flipping to them up close."
> "The other key was to fish super slow. We would make repeated casts to specific clusters and just work them slow until we would eventually get a bite."
5. MN: Bill intro'd again to ban lead tackle.
> Lead sinkers or jigs that weigh 1 oz or less or is 2.5" or less would be prohibited from manufacture, sale or use.
> The ban on its sale or manufacture would begin July 1, 2025, and the ban on its use July 1, 2026.
6. OK: 2024 Classic will be on Grand Lake.
Paging Jason Christie....
7. TX: ShareLunker program tidbits.
Reminder that a ShareLunker is a 13+ lber that goes into the TX breeding program:
> ...Fork has been without a ShareLunker entry since 2019, an unprecedented time off the charts.
> "[OH Ivie] is so much more like trophy hunting. They are hunting one fish. They come back every day and relocate that same fish and are waiting for it to bite."
> [Sleeper big-fish lakes:]...Wood County lakes, and a possible sleeper in Richland-Chambers....
8. MO: Bassin' Hall of Fame giving out fish management schollies...
> ...for students seeking a degree in a natural resource field with a career goal of becoming a practicing fishery manager with a state, federal or provincial agency.
Props to the BFHOF for helping actual anglers get into fish management.
9. New KastKing Hammer Braid.
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> ...fiber in a unique diamond braid pattern that maximizes the lines' overall strength while decreasing the diameter over standard 4-carrier braids. On average Hammer Braid is 10% stronger than standard 4-carrier braids....
> ...virtually no fading and loss of color. The pre-treatment process also provides for greater knot strength than standard 4-carrier braids...amazing abrasion resistance and longer life.
> Hammer Braid is manufactured in a tighter braid configuration which provides a smoother surface than standard 4-carrier braids. The smoother surface allows for longer casts and quieter retrieves....
10. AZ: 158-page fed report proposes flow changes to stop smallies...
...from spawning in the Colorado River downstream of Glen Canyon Dam.
11. FL: Big habitat planting at Crescent Lake started.
> Plantings will occur in Crescent Lake's shallow water areas in water depths of 1-3'. Native aquatic plants provide excellent habitat for both adult and juvenile largemouth bass....
12. OH: Train derailment killed more than 40,000 aquatic critters...
...mostly minnows – so far. Hope anyone living near there is okay and it's somehow not as bad as it sounds....
Line of the Day
...depending on one's accent, "bass" can sound a lot like "bus."
I've never heard that...?
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How not to lose crankbait fish.
Cool perspective from MLF Invitationals pro – and a fellow OCD bass-head – Phillip Dutra:
> "I was watching KVD on TV all the time during his mega run in those days and it occurred to me that this guy rarely lost anything he hooked. It triggered me.
> "In most tournaments there are multiple people who had the right fish hooked to win the event, but in the end there's only one winner. The difference is who executes and lands those fish.
> "Just a few years ago people just accepted that they'd lose 30% of what they hooked on a crankbait. And there's plenty of anglers who still believe that. But I studied KVD's reaction-bait fishing. I learned that the rod, the line, the hooks, the fighting style...everything mattered. My crankbait hookup-to-landing ratios soared. Now I meticulously research every technique I fish.
> "I don't care what I catch. I care what I lose. Catching one fish means nothing. You can catch one fish on any rod, reel, line and lure. Percentages are what matters. Execution means studying every detail and making adjustments that bring more fish into the boat."
> ...Dutra logs all his gear and catches on his phone...what lure he's using, what hooks are on the lure, the rod, the line, the drag setting on the reel, and how aggressively he fought the fish. "The smallest details change everything. Any one variable can take you from 10th place to 1st, or from 3rd to 21st.
> "There is no such thing as 100% execution in bass fishing – it's actually a game of increments and margins. I know the difference it can make if I can improve my execution from 80% to 85% in any particular technique or presentation. But there is no accurate data until you hook a hundred bass and log how many you catch and how many you lose."
For crankin' here are his fave rods:
> "I generally prefer a full glass rod like those in St. Croix's Legend Glass Series for Chatterbaits and smaller crankbaits. They're really soft and give me the best landing percentages overall.
> "If I'm fishing through grass or throwing a larger rip bait...like a Lucky Craft 128...really any reaction bait with larger than #6 treble hooks – I'll switch to the Legend Tournament Bass 7' 2" MH power moderate-action Carbon Cranker. I love this rod around grass because it rips better and also has better sensitivity so I can feel if my lure is running right or fouled with a tiny piece of grass. It's also my go-to for most squarebills and medium-diving crankbaits."
He didn't mention hooks but KVD of course uses his signature Mustad trebles. There's a different treble hook lots of the pros are buzzin' about. More on that soon....
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"You can go out and be there and make a little money, but until you win a tournament and consistently do well, that is what makes you a professional."
- Joe "E" Cifuentes talkin' in a real good post (honest, encourating) on Bassmaster.com.
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Had this in a Top 5 of the Week vid but forgot to put it in the BB – big congrats to bass-head Billy "the kid" Cook who caught the Toledo Bend lake record of 15.32 in a Bass Champs tourney!
Bill is 78 years young and a fo sho competitor – when he got spanked outta the back of the boat on an A-rig, he went home and watched some vids, then tied on an A-rig it the next weekend...and this happened:
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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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