Startin’ with a representation of what the virus is doing to the carefully constructed Elite and BPT schedules:
Brunswick (including Merc) is shutting down. Yamaha too. Prolly everyone sooner or later.
Lot of derbies rescheduled in TX, I’m sure everywhere else too.
Tackle Warehouse is/not shutting down.
At first me ‘n the Rangers were like:
But then we read:
> Our customer service and fulfillment departments will remain open, and we will continue to do our best to get all orders out promptly.
Yeeeeeaaaaahoooo! Be safe TW peeps! (BassBlaster HQ will remain open…unless I get it, then we’ll still be open just not sure how much will be goin’ on….)
NJ tackle shops doing curbside pickup. Saltwater but I’m sure it’s comin’ to bassin’ if it hasn’t already….
AR says no licenses needed for spring break. ME and maybe some other states are suspending license requirements too.
Other than that, a little amazed how many pro bass-heads are fishin’ for crappie. I know they taste good, but it’s like pulling waterlogged Pop-Tarts outta a kiddie pool man…. Hahaha! I said it!
2. Our new normal’s just normal for Elitist Cliff Pirch.
> “I’m a germaphobe to begin with because I get sick so severely when I catch things. So getting gas using hand sanitizer, Clorox-wiping motel rooms or rental houses, and keeping a safe distance is pretty normal for me. It’s the folks that don’t normally pay attention to that stuff that are having to do things a little differently.”
Normally that’d be great stuff for messin’ with him a little, but not right now….
3. How J Lee figured out Fork (Insta vid).
First time he was there.
4. What Luke Clausen found at Fork.
NEED some! But a different color:
5. Did Mike McClelland make it?
Weird photo angle makes it look a little tougher than it maybe was? Either way a little risky man:
6. UT: Couple dudes charged with cheating…
…I think in 2018? From the article:
> …charged in Kane County’s 6th District Court with bribery or threat to influence a contest, a third-degree felony; unlawful release of wildlife, a class A misdemeanor; and unlawful captivity of protected wildlife, a class B misdemeanor.
> UT [DNR] conservation officers received a report of the illegal activity on Oct 21, 2018…. Organizers of a 2-day Lake Powell largemouth bass fishing tournament noticed that some fish turned in…looked much different from the other bass being turned in during the tournament.
> “Some of the largemouth bass they’d turned in had little heads and fatter bodies, indicating a different diet than the fish at Lake Powell, which were more lean,” DWR Lt. Paul Washburn said. “The fish also had red fins, which indicated they had undergone some stress.”
Here’s a pic of one of those red-finned bass:
> These fish put the men in 2nd place after the 1st day of the tournament, and also gave them the prize of the overall biggest fish.
> During the investigation, conservation officers also learned that the men had taken 1st, 2nd or 3rd place at 8 other bass fishing tournaments earlier that year.
7. Sports Illustrated covered the MLF tourney.
Sorta a virus take on it — si.com, not the magazine.
8. TX: 15+ lb floater found on Nacogdoches.
9. MO: Guy’s boat sinks on Ozarks, he survives.
Great to hear, good job on that PFD:
> The Lake water temperature is about 48 degrees currently. But Barton was wearing a life jacket and was able to escape unharmed.
10. Ike Foundation scholly app deadline is Apr 1.
11. AL: Live-baitin’ tip might help us too?
Guide talkin’ ’bout fishing below Wilson Dam on Pickwick:
> When fishing with live shad…sometimes attaches a small splitshot sinker to the line to hold the bait near the bottom in swift current. Ideally, the bait should hover just off the bottom and move downstream at the same speed as the water flow.
> “I match the weight to the current flow. I want the bait to flow along with the current just off the bottom. If I use too much weight, it will stay hung up. If I don’t use enough weight, the bait will float above the strike zone.”
12. KY: Chinese carp-related businesses coming.
Delayed right now because of the Wuhan but:
> The International Fisheries Industrial Park is being built near Wickliffe, KY next to carp-processor Two Rivers Fisheries. Lots have already been sold to several Chinese-based businesses, including those that will use fish waste products for fertilizer and purveyors of smoked and dried food products.
Chapman, Coulter Scored With Non-Visible Fish
Not sure if “non-visible” and “invisible” are the same thing? Can you weigh a non-visible fish??