Runnin' to get all the bait stuff done! Look out for a special "Spring Reds" BassBlaster, either tomorrow or this weekend. All for now bassin' peeps, enjoy!
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Reminder: If your email program cuts off 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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How Gary Klein rigs his football jigs.
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In FL Gary showed me this cool little deal:
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Btw here's the shape of that jig vs a typical football head – couple noticeable differences. Notice the difference in how much material is below the hook eye:
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2nd-5th LA Bass Pro Tour baits.
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2nd: Alton Jones
> "I like the shorter rod in heavy brush to help me avoid hitting overhead branches on casts and hook sets. Also increases accuracy with small baits."
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3rd: Jordan Lee
> Caney Creek: "Best 5 went 32 lbs and all but 1 fish came on the Ned Rig. I found a creek channel in 15' that had a group of fish. Seemed like they were hanging around 1 stump.
> "I caught the first 8-lber on the Berkley Football Jig with a MaxScent Chigger Craw, then the fish shut down. So I picked up Ned Rig and cut the 7" Hit Worm in half – caught the 7 and 6 off that spot.
> "Moved around late in day and caught the last 3 fish out of brush in 15'. Caught the rest of fish on the Ned Rig."
> Bussey Brake: "All fish came out of trees/bushes in 3.5' of water. Water had a heavy stain.
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4th: Bryan Thrift
> "The first 2 lakes I fished a jerkbait and shakey head."
> "The big key to that setup was that BaitFuel scent.... I like it because it doesn't stink and it works...water-based."
> Bussey Brake: "I caught everything flipping bushes in 5-6' of water. I couldn't find any reason why they were in that area...seemed to be the best area on the lake. It was kind of like a pond surrounded by willows. I was on one side and [winner] Bradley Roy was on the other side."
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2nd-5th St Johns Elite baits.
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2nd: Bob Downey
> Rapala X-Rap Prop, 30-lb Sufix 832 Braid to a 2' mono leader, 7' MH Mod Fast St Croix Legend Tournament Bass Rod. "0-2' up against cattails, spawning or cruising fish."
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3rd: Masayuki Matsushita
> 1/4-oz Deps Matsuraba Swim Jig (brown craw), Deps Deathadder Twin Tail Grub (gp), 22-lb Sunline Shooter Fluoro, Shimano Metanium XG Reel, 7' 1" MH Deps Gainelement Rod.
> Free rig: Zoom Magnum Trick Worm (red bug), 4/0 Owner Hook, 3/16-oz weight, 22-lb Sunline Shooter, Shimano Metanium XG Reel, 7' 1" MH Deps Gainelement Rod.
> "I aimed at cypress trees and other trees at depths of 1-5'. I fished deeper for 3 days from the 1st day, but on the last day I fished 1' with the Matsuraba."
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4th: John Cox
> "I was fishing beds and small mats in 3'."
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5th: David Mullins
> 1-3' grass and wood.
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Stick worm = 50% – Wacky 30%
Prop bait = 20%
Swim Jig = 20%
Flip plastics = 20%
10% each = Dropshot, TX rigged worm, Speed worm, Worm ( YUM Finesse Worm rigged Neko/wacky), Lipless crank, Free rig.
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Would you fish a bait with a lip on TOP? 🤔
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He said he'll use every bait but the Senko...lol just messin'.
Beg to differ after watching his ultra-intense focus in the last 2 Classics but he said it...talkin' 'bout practice though:
> I've learned that I have a 6- to 7-hour attention span on the water. Once I hit that and I find myself not paying attention as closely, I know it's time to get off the water.
He says it's top 5 in the beginning but ends up being 10:
- YUM Scottsboro swimbait on a swimbait head
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Because he's a pyromaniac mang! 😁
> "Tie on a 3/8- or 1/2-oz MiniMax, burn it across shallow water – like 1-2' – and watch how bass react.
> "More streamlined trailers...allow for that high-frequency wobble and faster, burner retrieves."
Z-Man says they're "hanging from tackle shop pegs like ripened cherries" (lol love that line) or of course at the TW.
Bassmaster.com had a little deal about 'em, with a little juice at the end from Craig "Lion and" Lamb:
> I produced a video about this new bait for our website, allowing me to get to know Tim Evans, owner of Scottsboro Tackle. Evans chose YUM because its parent company, PRADCO, historically aligns itself with brands that begin in a garage.
> Evans was hands-on in every step of the process involved in maintaining his high expectations for matching the design and action of his hand-poured models in an injection bait. Jason Christie was also involved, too, which meant there would be no shortcuts in the process. By all accounts this bait meets those expectations, and in a budget-friendly price.
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Saturday, Mar 5 and Sunday, Mar 6 8am - noon, at Portman Marina, Lake Hartwell, 1629 Marina Rd, Anderson, SC 29625. That link ^ is a sign-up – jump on it because they get filled up! I might go too cuz it's fun!
Bought Turkey Island for just shy of $1 mil on it last year.
Called "Avator," which is like "Avatar" but with an O: 😁
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Electronically "connected" boat stuff:
> The all-new Marine Innovation Center, a 75,280 sq-ft facility near Yamaha Marine's headquarters in Kennesaw, GA, will house the Yamaha Marine Connected Division as well as the US Marine Development and Planning Division.
> Revenue from the marine segment grew 14%.... Gross margin and operating margins were 54% and 20%, respectively, resulting in $39 mil of operating income.
> ...weather overlay on the charts, which includes...pressure, precipitation, air temperature, wind and gust.
Kelley Woolsey, new VP of global sales, service and marketing. Looks like he has prior yak experience, includin' ridin' 'em:
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🤣
Study of bamboo rods – equations 'n such.
Big topic is Asian carp. Post says they've seen a couple in Wilson BUT commercial fishermen in Guntersville say they haven't seen any yet – good!
Also mentioned the Cuban bulrush on the Tombigbee River. Never heard of it before, but says they can get so thick that deer can walk across the water on 'em.
Updatin's
1. Virtus/Jewel rods: Virtus is an AR rod company, known for making high-end sticks. The rods are designed by Virtus and Jewel both, and are called Virtus/Jewel Rods.
2. Berkley bait designer Dan Spengler talkin' Snap Jig riggin':
> "The key with rigging the Lil General is to rig so the bait has a slight arc to it's back, which maximizes darting action!"
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On BassBlaster.rocks right now...
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Good, to the point little shop FB vid:
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Gear he fishes:
> 1-1.25 oz weight, as light as he can get away with (some guys go heavier on purpose). Bobber stop above the weight.
> Snell-knotted Owner Jungle Hook – so when you set the hook, the hook point will kick out...important because that big weight will pop the fish's mouth open.
> 7' 6" Halo HFX Rod, uses LH reel for pitching/flipping for efficiency.
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"You can't win a tournament and then suck the rest of the year."
> "I want to be consistent and fish really hard for the whole rest of the year."
We'll be a-watchin'....
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Track list from Styx's greatest hits. NOT a Styx fan but had to look something up real quick texting with John Cox (long story). Was shocked to see Mr Roboto had way more plays than Blue Collar Man?? Whatever happened to rock 'n roll man....
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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'!
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