Got the rest of my ICAST travelin's in this'n – reminds me I want to give a few shout-outs to stuff:
Wore these the entire time, got a bunch o' "what shoes are those?" and most important: My feet and back felt WAAAAAAAY better than they ever have walking around on concrete floors for 2+ days. Grundens folks told me they actually have the opposite tech in their soles vs running shoes: Running shoes give you ounce, but the Grundens use the same tech to deaden. Works!
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So far tough as nails which is what I was hoping....
Works! Gotta be hot to be 100% smokeless but works, real good for breezy times.
My wife wears 'em all the time, tortoise/green mirror. I think she's hard to please so...😅
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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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"Every time me and my dad would go out for fun, it would always be for bass."
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> "The only time we'd fish for walleye is when we had little tournaments on the river where it was three bass and three walleyes. I went out fishing for walleye with him a handful of times. Never any serious tournaments.
> "As far as the mental side of fishing and learning electronics and things like that, he's the one that's taught me 100% of all that stuff. And without that, I wouldn't have had the head start that I've had being so young."
Here's Jay getting some help from dad on the final day. Jason's probly like, "Don't hold 'em so close to the edge son!" 😆
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A Washington club tourney had a siesta! 👀 🤔
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> "We're doing a slightly different format, something we have done in the past...we're having a siesta in the middle of the day."
> Koshi said that the decision to include a break in the middle of the day was done for many factors, with the main being travel [tiredness].
> Fishing was divided into sections from dawn on Saturday morning to 11:30 am., then back out at 4:30 pm until 8 pm.... Fishing continued on Sunday from dawn until 1 pm. Each session had a fish limit, with 5 in the 1st session, 3 in the 2nd session and 5 again in the 3rd....
> The break allowed anglers to get in the shade and rest up before heading back out. "...why not take the middle of the day and kind of get in the shade? Go back, get some food, stay hydrated during the heat of the day, and then go back out and fish more in the evening – when the fishing typically is pretty good and it's starting to cool off instead of getting hotter."
How hot does it get there? This hot:
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Some company wants to make baits outta...sand??
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> Ockert, the Germany-based OEM and owner of brands that include Sportex rods and Climax fishing lines, is marketing SUNA (Smart Unlimited Natural Angling)....
> ...managing director, Jan Willenbruch...: "The industry can expect a lead ban very soon in the EU, and other countries across the globe are also considering similar restrictions. For many applications in fishing SUNA is not only the way out of lead before it gets banned – it can significantly increase your catch rate when boosted by flavors and other attractants.
> "The patented composite we are using is basically protein...and can be enriched by flavors, colors and other components that start to bleed out when used in water.
> "It is a non-toxic composite, practically edible and totally safe for humans, fish and water. It is also 100% environmentally friendly. If it is lost in the water, it completely dissolves after 48 to 72 hours. ...it completely dries once it is out of the water."
Looks like no actual baits yet, just computer models:
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To do the world a real service, how 'bout makin' baits outta broccoli, brussel sprouts, vegan hot dogs (or vegan anything) and Tofurkey HAHAHA! Here's you some carrot dogs:
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What I don't get: Why do they try to make vegan stuff taste like meat? Doesn't that in itself mean we all need/crave meat? 🤔
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Everything I saw that I haven't mentioned already plus some tiddybits – quick-like, no particular order:
1. Berkley
Important deal with the new Slobbernocker bladed jig is that the frequency of the knock is designed to match what the bass lateral line can feel.
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2. Storm
New Largo Shad size is 3.5" – already have 3" and 4". Reminder this is one of Jacob Wheeler's fave swimbaits. I THINK (not sure) the deal with these baits is they have real good action (duh) and also last longer than some swimbaits.
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3. Terminator
Bunch of new natural-type frog colors (eg, gp) are coming – not on TW yet.
4. Yo-Zuri
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The Yo-Zuri colors are incredible in person. You MIGHT be able to tell from this shot, which is through glass indoors – imagine 'em outside!
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5. Hardcore
Bullet 5+ crank – Ryan Salzman told me these Bullet baits have a tighter wobble than most deeper cranks so he sweeps it like a lipless when he's in the fish.
6. Catch Co
Several brands underneath these guys including Googan. The new/not out yet Googan Gold Series spin reel impressed me and it's only $129 for the 2500 size. The new/not out yet Googan Black Series rods likewise seemed good – believe they're $299.
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7. SIMMS
The new/out this fall Challenger jacket and bibs have a new/better Toray fabric (waterproof, breathable) and will be available in Jan. Several color choices including 3 new camos 😍 and 1 new women's camo.
The new SIMMS sun-protection stuff is made from a new fabric that dries quicker. There's also a new CX hoodie coming out this fall, and personally I can't have enough hoodies....
8. Seaguar
9. Z-Man
Word is the new Hellraizer bladed topwater is good for herring lakes and when shad are schooling but not only. "Fish don't blow it out of the water as much" as a regular topwater.
10. Lunkerhunt
Couple random juicy bits from the Lunkerhunt guys:
- Can also use a screw-in blade on the back of a beat-up swimbait like a Keitech.
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11. Bill Lewis
New ATV Squarebill comes in 1.0 1.5 and 2.5, which gets down to 6':
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12. FishLab
Bill Siemantel says the new BBZ Bio-Rat is a combo Spook, buzzbait/Plopper and Devil's Horse in one bait, and "the faster you go, the louder it gets." He fishes it on 20+ mono.
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13. Yamamoto
The new 5.5" Slinko stands up on a Ned rig or I guess a Neko too.
14. Bull Shad
Mike Bucca's amazing painter Jen Kravassi gave me this custom-painted Bull Gill! Can't get it anywhere so #stoked!
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15. Kistler
The new Grasshopper baitcaster rod is...4' 6"! 🤯 Trey Kistler said it's for folks who want to buy their kids a more serious rod AND a few guys are using it in tight situations like canals. Says it's a blast to catch 'em on and "fits in cars and golf bags."
16. Strike King
17. Lew's
Lew's is coming out with a $500 reel! 👀 Called the Elite-Ti SLP:
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The new Arma Joint Swimbait is interesting. It's an S Waver style bait with the "Armalure" technology that somehow folds the bait over when you cast it so it casts farther:
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The new World Cranks have the Flash Boost stuff in 'em which quiver on the stop.
19. Garmin
The resolution of the new LiveScope XR is like the LVS32 transducer, not the new LVS34. Also the XR transducer is a pretty decent size:
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Garmin has a new Bluetooth-enabled VERBAL feature where you can say "Okay Garmin" to do ultra-basic/top level stuff like change screens. Josh Bertrand had some real practical ideas for it in the future like telling it to "Anchor lock."
20. Smith Optics
Learned their ChromaPop lenses "stop color confusion and [thus] decrease brain fatigue." Don't know about you but my brain needs all the help it can get lol.
Really been liking Smith's stuff, hope they decide to support bassin'.
21. Fin-Nor
Sounds like they're taking these new sunglasses pretty dang seriously. Seems like a new sunglass brand every 6 months, but still have yet to see one go after bass fishing like Costa did some years back. Will Fin-Nor do it?
Couple deals they told me:
- They have glass and poly lenses.
- Anti-reflective coating on the back is better than most.
- Temple tips are flexible which should mean they are more comfortable to wear all day, which is good for folks with big melons like me.
- 12 of 20 models have a spring hinge (more flexibility/comfort) and 7 of 20 have adjustable nose pads
- $179-$279 MSRP
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Beat Justin Lucas by 18 spots, Spencer Shuffield was 3rd. Hoping to get a quick deal with Michael before the next Blaster.
John talks about how his electronics catch the fish for him...😁
Public meetings start Aug 8, schedule at the link. Can also email this addy for more info: blackbassprogram@agfc.ar.gov
TX's youngest lake:
> Fisheries biologist Todd Driscoll: "We're just now entering the early stage of the window in time where we should start seeing the maximum trophy production that lake is ever going to see. It's got the new lake effect working for it, the fish are getting some age on them and its got restrictive regulations in place to protect them.
> "We essentially used every tool in the toolbox to maximize the lake's trophy bass abundance and potential. It's no different than Lake Fork back in 1980s and early 90s. It's the same dynamic, just a smaller lake."
Dang that's a biiiiig statement!
Meaning it has bigger fish now.
USA team = Scott Martin, Scott Canterbury, James Watson, Jacob Wheeler, David Dudley, Fred Roumbanis, Mark Rose, David Fritts.
Because of Atlantic salmon fears – here's an Atlantic salmon peep:
> "The danger remains the same whether you have 6 or 6,000 [smallmouths]. The population estimate is unimportant."
Because that makes sense...🤪 And check this line under a photo in the post:
> Crews remove barrels of rotenone from boats after last year's failed attempt to spray Lake Miramichi.
Obi Wan was like:
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To celebrate its 75th anniversary, in a black/gold color scheme only:
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> "In addition to being lighter, faster and quieter, the new engines in this lineup deliver what boaters have asked for with exciting new options like digital technologies and an ergonomically positioned tiller handle."
This dam is literally a quarter mile from my front porch, and the road by it has been closed for at least a year while they take forever to shore up the 1 dam there and another one on the other side of the little lake:
> The authority, in a statement provided to the township, said though specific details cannot be shared, "a very serious threat to earthen dams by bad actors would be facilitated by vehicular access to the structure."
Honestly that sounds ridiculous.
Headline of the Day
In other words, a guy caught 2 muskies in a lake known to have 'em. But let's make it spoooooky.
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On BassBlaster.rocks right now...
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Father of flippin' didn't stop inventin' there! Here's his knot – I haven't tried tying it yet, but it looks like a combo improved clinch/Palomar that Dee said is way better than a Palomar:
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"As soon as I picked up a bass rod, I never touched a fly rod since then. The competition aspect sucked me right in."
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> ...the child had “made a move, and after that we need to give time for the robot to answer, but the boy hurried and the robot grabbed him."
Who programmed that robot and why would there be anything like that in there??
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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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