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Today’s Top 5
1. Big Bass Mania guy jailed in TX.

> Michael McCloud Jr., founder and tournament director of Big Bass Mania, turned himself in to authorities, based on an active warrant, on Tuesday, Sept. 3.

> The investigation…began in June 2012 after authorities received numerous complaints related to fishing tournament prize payouts that allegedly did not occur. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Game Wardens and investigators with other law enforcement agencies spent more than a year looking into the practices and methods McCloud used to promote a bass tournament on Lake Sam Rayburn in June 2012.

> Ultimately, an arrest warrant was issued for McCloud on the theft charge, a state jail felony punishable by a $1,500 to $20,000 fine and from 180 days to two years in jail.

> McCloud’s arrest marks the first time a fishing tournament director has been arrested in Texas.

Before joining an interwebz hater mob, here’s the backstory – who knows what to believe, but the fact that TX had their #1 investigator on the case doesn’t sound good:

2. Gulp! coming in ‘cozy sweater’?

Jarden, the company that bought Pure Fishing (aka, Berkley, Stren, Fenwick, Abu, etc.) in 2007 for a few-hundred mil, this week announced it’s buying Yankee Candle for $1.75 BIL. Seriously.

Who the heck is buying all those candles – people who wear these kinda jammies?

If Gulp! doesn’t come out in “cozy sweater” scent this fall, I’ll be seriously bummed…but will take “soft blanket” instead. HAHAHA!

Or maybe Yankee will come out with a Gulp! candle – might work like a HydroWave?

3. Buy a Ford, get free Bass Champs entries…

…for TWO YEARS! Totally sets the bar for a vehicle sponsorship. Nice job Chad and Bassin’ Champs. Don’t think even Megatron could make a catch like that….

4. More on (moron?) brushpile baiting…

…from a reader who fishes the Kissimmee trails and says he’s seen this with his own eyes:

> They go 3 to 4 days before a tourney from brushpile to brushpile, locate either bait or fish, then throw out 3 to 4 coffee cans of sweet horse feed or tropical fish food.

> Most of that crew have at least 50 and up to 100 brushpiles, and they rotate them to take advantage of current, etc.

> Sad thing is these guys can fish. I have watched them at weigh-ins and it is sickening: They actually stand there and laugh at the guys who are working hard and doing it right.

Get that polygraph!

5. Hank Weldon’s ‘Trip’ commercial.

Seen this Toyota commercial featuring B.A.S.S.’s college chief Hank Weldon? Hank is the son of Trip “TDs don’t smile” Weldon (gotcha Trip!), so doubt it’s a koinkeedink Hank says “trip” (or Trip?) 3x in the last 15 seconds.

Fact I noticed that makes me seriously worried about myself….

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News

1. Tourneys hurting Potomac?

Below is from tourney anglers, who say largemouth bass virus (carried by snakeheads) and pollution also are to blame for this being one of the worst years ever on the Potomac:

> The number one factor I see right now are the number of tournaments held on the river this year. Every weekend there are multiple events happening.

> I have no doubt that tournaments are hurting the river. On any given weekend there are 10 to 20 tournaments on the river from Aquia to Bell Haven, and its not just the warm months, they are doing tournaments year round now.

> This has been by far the worst year on the river I have ever seen and I’m kind of scared what next year is going to be like. I would be a hypocrite to say we need to stop the tournaments because I would be the first in line…to pay my entry but I do believe maybe not starting them until after June 15th would help us a ton. The fish just don’t get a break from the stress we cause them.

BUT

> It is my opinion that weather and an abundant rainfall this year has played more of a significant impact…. It’s affected the size and quality of grass growth, and in turn has caused the bass to adjust their feeding habits, locations and rhythms. The old reliable community holes aren’t producing as in years past and anglers aren’t adjusting to it.

Seen that happen before. Hopefully all ’tis.

2. Shimano new guy.

Chris Russell, new mgr for fishing. Former Wright & McGill, TroKar, Eagle Claw – word is he knows bassin’ fishin’, which is good.

3. Phoenix official boat of AL Bass Trail.

4. First interwebz addiction program.

Sound like us bassers to you?

> Typical addicts of the Internet are male [ding!], young [half a ding] and very intelligent [swing and a miss – haha!]. Often they struggle socially [hmmm], while suffering from a low self-esteem [‘nother swing and miss – because we can all beat KVD on any given day…].

5. Ricky Green fundraiser.

You can now donate online too.

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THIS is why you should be using this shaky head:

Buy ’em here!

Tip of the Day

If you like it better put silicone on it….

From a guy at the TexasFishingForum.

> I’ve always wanted to make my cranks as lifelike as possible. I coat my cranks with aquarium silicone.

> I take a small brush and some clear-drying silicone – I usually try a dab on my workbench first just to make sure it dries to my liking and is soft.

> I run a thin bead down the back and both sides and run the brush from nose to tail creating a thin, even coat. I leave the hooks on (at least the rear treble) – makes it easier to hang the crank to dry. You do have to be careful when doing the nose and belly as to not get silicone on your split rings but it’s fairly easy to get off if you do get some on them.

> Sometimes I’ll apply a 2nd coat to some cranks that I know I will be throwing against riprap.

> I did an experiment where I took two cranks that I applied silicone to (I cut the trebles off at the bend. I threw those two cranks all day and was a little fascinated by the results: The bass were holding onto the crankbaits even though there was no barb to stick them. Several bass held on long enough for me to almost belly-grab them.I was blown away.

> Here’s what I can say about what the silicone does: It gives the body a soft/mushy feel, changes/alters the sound of the rattle, and greatly increases the scent I apply to my cranks.

> I haven’t done a crank yet that the silicone changed the action….

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Quote of the Day

I literally had the slime from the Bassmaster Classic on my hands.

– Boyd Duckett, not talkin’ ’bout the Classic but about a fish he lost on Erie that ended up costing him a Classic spot.

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Shot of the Day

Make that “knot” of the day:

Dude got that and a concussion from smacking his port side gunwale after hitting a wake going 55-60 around Caney Point on Lake Fork, TX this weekend. His adult daughter was ejected and fine except for a sore neck, he said. Both were wearing PFDs.

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