- Bernie Schultz talkin'. Fwiw I agree and disagree. I agree that it takes away the use of some instincts, but I really do believe and have seen that it also creates new instincts.

- Jacob Powroznik talkin' on Dave Mercer's talkin' show. The # of hooks refers to the A-rig and to things like the double Fluke rig.

He also said in there that he fishes a clear, deep private pond. FFS was real effective but now:

> "We've been so much and have caught 'em with that FFS...now when I ping on 'em...they run like there's a pack of dogs on 'em."

This is innerestin' too:

> "...why is it so good and what are they [younger guys good with FFS] doing different. They not doing anything different than what we were doing back in the day. Instead of fishing all the good-looking stuff, they're fishing all the bad-looking stuff where nobody's fishing, like we did back in the day."

Very smart move:

> ...announced increased payouts and widely expanded coverage for 2024.

> Live coverage from all 9 Bassmaster Opens will be streamed on Bassmaster.com, with expanded coverage for the 2024 season on FS1, FS2, Tubi [Tubby? 😁] and the Fox Sports digital platforms.

> ...nearly 1 mil fans tuning in to live final-day broadcasts of 3 Opens tournaments on FS1 in 2023....

> Also beginning in 2024, Bassmaster Opens Elite Qualifiers Division anglers will be competing for a combined Angler of the Year purse of $110,000, which includes an increased 1st-place cash prize of $45,000. The prize payouts for every tournament will also increase, with the top 45 anglers – 1 in 5 competitors – in each event earning a check.

My 2c on why it's very smart:

1. A bunch of MLF pros are at a crossroads right now and this coverage should help them sponsor-wise if they decide to take the Opens road.

2. B.A.S.S.'s primary strength has always been media. So with this move they are going with their strength and staying in their lane = smart...BUT there's also a bunch of $$ that can be made outside of their lane, that then could be used to eventually zero entry fees on the Elites. This could be possible for MLF too....

3. The 9-event Elite qualifying route has been a good move for them and maybe – maybe – is smarter than even they realized it would be.

4. This could solidly solidify (solidly solidify??) the Opens as something much more than they had been. Being a little vague on purpose but pretty sure you see it....

This deal almost makes me think someone at B.A.S.S. is a cutthroat competitor! Now who would that be...🤔

The folks at GSM (Yamamoto, Big Bites, Buckeye, etc) had a bunch of pros and media types at Gville this week, and as always when that kinda bunch gets together it's a good time. A little bummed not to get to fish with everyone – including ol' buds like Gerald Swindle and John Murray – but it was great to get some time in the boat with David "not Doomsday no mo" Mullins and 3 guys I've never been in the boat with before: Matt Becker, Will "B2B" Davis Jr and Laker Howell (Randy's son).

Here's some tiddybits from the deal, more in future Blasters. Gotta say too – real impressed with the "rookies." Good guys, smart and intense, as I would expect because they're all thataway. But also real knowledgeable, real polished on camera. Couple comments on 'em:

Will Davis Jr – Humble and polite just like he seems, but also has a great sense of humor. Prediction: One reason he will win more tourneys is because most bass fishermen are in the dark about just how good a scrounger rig really is, let alone having it dialed like he does. Vid rundown on that coming soon.

Matt Becker – Intelligent, organized, girlfriend Bittany's last name is Bass, which according to the MLF rules is legal: Nothing says you can't get help from a bass. 😆

Laker Howell – Not surprised he can talk and does great on camera because his dad is the same way. HOWEVER he doesn't look anything like Randy (lol – same deal with my son man!). Love to see a fishing guide trying to make it, reminds me of guys like Nixon, Clunn, etc.

For all my bros 'n sisters in Christ, all the above guys are bros too. Feeshn tidbits, no particular order:

1. Soon I'll have a total rig rundown vid with Will about the scrounger (Davis Baits Shaky Fish) – that thing looked insanely good in the water. In the vid he talks about why guys might have been turned off by this rig and why we should not be! Swimbait is a 4" Big Bite Jerk Minnow:

2. Will loves him some crazy jig colors: 😁

Lol I think it was only 2 colors!

3. Here's Will's battery/charge setup fyi. Mentioned it before but didn't have pics:

4. Another shot of that "peacock" spotted bass skirt color from Davis Baits:

5. Even tho this looks staged, Matt and I legit doubled up on a couple decent schoolers with the new/not out yet Bill Lewis Hammer Trap – which we both threw for the first time and it was catchin' 'em!

6. Here's a closeup of the bait – hits hard and has a "tri-frequency" sound to attract fish, will be available in 5/8 and 3/8:

7. Seemed like this time of year on Gville, if you weren't getting bit it was time to move til you found 'em. Duh but the whole lake looks so good. Reminded me of FL – looks like fish should be everywhere but they weren't.

8. For a smaller bladed jig profile, he trims the skirt to the bend of the hook and adds the smaller 3" Yamamoto Zako. Says the smaller size lets that bait hunt:

9. The Matt-designed FishUSA exclusive Yamamoto color "Becker's grape juice" looks insanely good in person and in the water – this is the 3" Yammy Shad Shape Worm:

10. Tip from Laker: For more bites wacky-rigging, he sometimes puts a rattle in a 5" Senko – in the middle so when you jerk the bait, it rattles. Vid coming soon....

11. He swears the Livingston JerkMaster jerkbait – designed by Hank Cherry when he was with Livingston – sometimes outcatches other jerkbaits because it makes that baitfish sound (or whatever) on the pause.

12. Thanks to Laker I had another "blind squirrel" moment – and man, even though I was in boats with hammers, it was a big difference in his boat because he KNOWS that lake in all seasons:

13. GTO (Guntersville Tackle and Outdoors) has a GREAT bait selection, and the owners are good folks:

14. Ever hear of Thump Gel? New to me:

Wanna mention that I saw a new Yamamoto bait prototype that in my 2c is a winner. They asked me not to talk about it....

Big thank you to the GSMers, and AL and Gville. Don't think I've been to that lake since Randy won the Classic there. SO much grass, so many healthy fish, so many bass boats – any bass-head who goes there, it'll feel like home. No wonder so many guys move there. Loved it!