Reminder no Blasters next week because it's ICAST week! (But a lot on social.) Can't wait to see all the new stuff and the folks! A new Sea Foam/Sufix Top 5 of the Week video will be up tomorrow.

Quick deal that made me think of bass fishing again:

I was a college soccer player, but have not watched any of the World Cup – because it's a much different game than when I played. A lot less physical, literally foolish tactics, a lot slower, and I can't stand watching guys that look like dang hair stylists running around and faking being hurt. That ain't sports and is 100% unmanly.

But soccer doesn't care if I like it or not. It's not affected. It'll be worldwide huge no matter what, and a lot of current fans don't know the game any other way. Everybody also tends to think that current is "better" and older was "worse" (it's "progress").

You're getting what I'm laying down – it sounds a little like what's been happening in bass fishing. BUT in our case, the bass fishing biz 100% does care if folks tune out. Because that does affect them, which the folks "in power" know. So they can't just do whatever and think it'll all be good. Or maybe they can but that would be unwise.

Just another thing that makes bass fishing great, in my 2c. What I do is do my best to just love it for where it's at.

Hope you hammer 'em this weekend, and thank you for readin' and watchin'! Bless you.

Gitcha Blaster video fix here:

Man I missed talking to Greg and I bet you miss hearing from him – so I made up 5 Qs for an excuse to call him lol. Here we go.

1. How much fun are you having tearing it up on the NPFLs?

> "It kinda makes me feel like a kid again. It's like the old days – showing up, flying by the seat of my pants. ...just showing up and everybody is just going head to head, we all have the same equipment – old-school bass fishing,.

> "Last year when I started doing it, I was nervous about it [meaning the old tourney nerves] – I really like it."

Foller-up: What's the level of competition like since more and more tour pros are fishing them now?

> "I have been impressed by the weights that it takes. Last tournament at Logan Martin, I was staying with a couple other tour-level guys who also fish Bassmater, and we were figuring what the cut weight would be...11 lbs a day. Well it was almost 13 lbs after the 1st day, and after that 12 lbs day.

> "I'm typically a pretty good judge of that after practicing for 3 days.

> "...don't think you're fixing to come over here now and this gonna be a tater. If you don't come over here and give 100% they're gonna kick your teeth in. These guys catch 'em, they're great fishermen, even though you don't know who they are.

> "Anglers in general are better because of Bassmaster Live...every fish catch is out there on a digital footprint. I think that's what's made them better....

> "The group at the NPFL, they're no different – they're all junkies. Doesn't matter now where you fish at – they're all that good. Look at the weights...wherever the event is, that group of anglers catches what is there to be caught.

> "That's good for me. I am motivated by that. Now I know when I go out there and drop the trolling motor, it's man against man. I like that."

2. Do you like the Elites being 50-50 this year?

> "It's 60-40. I thought it should've been 50-50 or 60-40 the other way. I'm like, Why is it still more FF events than not?

> "I'd like it being 100% [non-FFS], but I'd prefer it was less [than 60%]. At least we took a step in the right direction.

> "Here's my deal with it – they catch giant bags of fish with it, I don't watch it. Each to his own. I know there's a whole group of people out there that love it...that's fine. It ain't my gig."

3. Do you see any trends bait- or technique-wise in the non-FFS world – not including urchins?

> "The minnow deal is working with or without FFS. We're fixing to go to Champlain, a non-FF event. The minnow will be a factor there on the smallmouth.

> "A lot of guys now are trying to do it with 360. It's only a 3-second delay. If a fish is sitting on a rock or brush or whatever, you know where he's at. It's probably more target-fishing.

> "Of course it's more effective with FFS, but [the minnow ] is still effective without it.

> "What FF has taught everybody is the whole deal is keeping that bait above the fish regardless of what it is, and making him come up and get it. If they're on targets, they're resting. The ones swimming out in the open are feeding."

4. Are we gonna see more Hack Attack jigs or baits anytime soon?

> "We should only hope, but we're living in a strange world right now [laughs].

> "Last year I caught fish flipping bushes with a jig at Tenkiller and...Dakota Ebare goes...'Man you just went straight old-school.' And I'm thinking when he said that...I was flipping bushes with a jig and that's old-school?

> "There's a lot of Scoping with a jig, there's a lot of deep jig-fishing – fishing one around cover, I don't know what's happened but for some reason that's not a deal anymore [laughs]."

5. The Kings of Bass deal is great. Do you enjoy doing that?

> "You know...now we do it so much it's just become second nature. Now it's almost weird if the crew is not there.

> "It's really enjoyable and they are a great group...the production group, so it's a lot of fun."

Bonus Q: Do you think bigfoots are actually giants?

> "I'm beginning to think with the whole UFO deal and all that, that's where bigfoot came from. They're not here all the time. They're coming and going.

> "You and I have had this discussion [lol yep!] – if they were rampant in the woods or something, one would get hit by a car... But now with UFOs and creatures from other planets...maybe they're intelligent, not some random animal roaming around in the woods....

> "That would make sense – all these sightings, and they vanish. Maybe they're getting back on their ship and flying home."

😁 The AI made Hack a little chunkier than he is in real life lol – sorry Hack!

The short answer is no one – unless it's someone who maybe drinks half a case of Monsters a day, used to ride bulls, and now runs a bait company...aka someone who ain't right lol!

If such person existed, he may or may not run GSM Fishing, which under their Bill Lewis brand just announced the new Brush Crank. That's right, someone designed a crankbait specifically for brush! (Similar deal was the old Worden's Timber Tiger.)

Sounds real interesting, although I did hear that the guy who had to test all the prototypes – you know, the ones that kept getting hung – says he "ain't fishing a crankbait again for at least a year." 🤣 Alright just messin'.

Here's a few Qs with BPTer Nick LeBrun, who's fished the bait a little (it's that brand new) – and in that little time caught a 9-lber with it, which he talks about below.

1. So this bait actually works?

> "Yes. I don't know how much of it is in my mind...but at the end of the day it really doesn't matter – I've seen the results of it deflecting. I caught a 9-lber on it [on video] with my 3rd cast of the bait ever, on LA public water where the fish are just beat on. And that was a community hole.

> "I've never caught a 9-lber cranking on that lake, so it has had an impact on me.

> "I guess the real answer is time will tell. My initial 1 day on the water with it...my first reaction is I am really looking forward to getting dialed in with it and spending some time with it.

> "It really shocked me and got my attention for sure."

2. How does it work?

> "You've got to think of a crankbait in slow motion, diving and wobbling side to side. Normally...it wobbles side to side and the hooks flare out – that's when it'll snag that limb or stump or whatever.... But where the ["side fins"] are...think of it like a fender on your truck tire. It gives you a little more protection than normal.

> "Those little fins that are built into the bait [are] like a side deflection device that's gonna not let those hooks get as close to the brush as they normally would when that bait's going side to side.

> "I'm not saying you're not gonna get hung up. It still will. But it's gonna eliminate it to a big degree. So it's gonna set you up for success more often than not."

3. How do you fish it?

> "...I use my Lowrance ActiveTarget 2 to locate the brush. I don't want to throw dead over the top of the pile. I want it to come right beside the pile, maybe right on the edge of a stump row.... I like to come from the outside in.

> "l use FFS to locate the target and throw it right to the edge of it. ...it's gonna be about getting close to the brush and barely grazing it. I don't ever like to throw into the heart of the brushpile right off the bait, with any bait.

> "...come beside the pile, quarter it.... The bait will work without FFS, but if you have FF and are allowed to use it, put that in your toolbox to get more dialed in with that bait."

What's the wobble like?

> "In my opinion it's a pretty wide wobble for a bait that dives 16', and that wider wobble will mean more deflection. ...squarebills up shallow, you want a wide-wobbling bait to deflect. It seems like a bait with a tight wobble will get hung more."

4. When do you fish it? Meaning do you hit the brush with this first, second or...?

> "I don't know because every day and every season on brushpile lakes kinda changes.

> "Sam Rayburn for example – a jig or big worm will be the deal 9 times out of 10. But I've seen days in that mid-range brush – in like 15-20' – where they'll come 100 mph out of that pile to get that plug when you run it by there.

> "Cranking piles can be any time of the year. You just gotta let the fish determine what they want that day. And whether you love it or hate it, that's what FF does – it allows you to see the reaction they have to different baits."

5. Changing cranking topics – do you thinking cranking for suspended fish with FFS will be a deal?

> "...a fuse has been lit...there's gonna come a day when they're not gonna bite a minnow or an urchin anymore. And I think we're gonna see old-school techniques start to come back with FF.

> "Just because it's a different approach [when] the fish have been minnowed and urchined to death.

> "When you start taking these traditional old-school tactics and incorporating them with FFS, I think that's gonna start winning some events.

> "A prime example is I Scope a ton with a b/b jig, a 1/2-oz [Buckeye] Mini Mop. I've caught a lot of big ones doing that. That's not your traditional Scoping bait, but that's an example of an old-school tried and true tactic [and] when you pair it with new technology, it's gonna set you a little ahead of the game.

> "I think we'll see more and more stuff like that.

> "There's been a couple times when fish hang out at the top of a brushpile and I've thrown a shallower or midrange crankbait...where I didn't go under the fish. But personally I have not caught suspended fish with traditional crankbaits. Not yet."

Nick's Brush Crank gear

Because it's a new bait he hasn't spent enough time with it to dial in his rig, but here's what he was fishing when he smacked that 9-lber:

> 16-lb Sunline Crank FC Fluoro – "That seemed to get the bait down and had the right power for fighting fish [around that brush].

> "I was throwing a 7 10 cranking rod by TFO just for the distance...bomb it out there. You can fish it like a normal bait if you want – you don't need to be around brush...."

That 9-lber was in 12':

> "...on the biggest community hole of community holes on that public lake. That's what got my attention. It's not like I went to some juice where some big fish hadn't seen a bait in a while. I did not expect to catch a 9, especially on a crankbait in the middle of July."

Man the sound of that 9-lber wallowing – it just sounds huge in the water!

As usual just a few things that caught my eye, in no particular order. Also once again a bunch of the shots are from the Bassmaster.com rundown.

YUM Mother Bug

Made for flipping/pitching, collapses cleanly for solid hooksets:

> A reinforced head stands up to repeated casts through heavy cover, while deep back voids displace water and V-channel belly grooves fold the bait out of the way at the moment of the strike....

> Dual main claws...swimming action. Secondary side appendages kick with a rapid, high-frequency movement....

FishLab Neko Flex Craw

> ...a slim body profile and compact claws that closely mimic young crayfish, as well as freshwater shrimp and prawns, giving it a natural appearance...can be rigged directly through the body or with O-rings....

> ...reinforced spring "spine" integrated into the tail section...significantly increases durability when repeatedly rigged with nail weights, while also adding a subtle vibration on twitches....

3.25" and 4" so definitely a finesse deal.

Z-Man Octane MinnowZ

I really like how this one looks:

> Z‑Man's exclusive SWAG tail, a hybrid wedge + paddle design, ribbed body increases water displacement and vibration, dorsal and belly hook slots.

Rapala CrushCity Governor

> ...3/16-oz lead weight that installs into the bait's belly, allowing anglers to fine-tune presentations based on water depth, retrieve speed and fish positioning.

> Additional Screw Diver weights can be added to further expand the bait's range.

> ...subtle body roll and medium tail thump...magnetic hook hanger....

Sufix Calibr8 Braid

Interesting idea:

> Rather than applying a one size fits all approach, Sufix engineers refined the lighter lb-tests for finesse spinning applications, while heavier lb-tests were tailored to excel on baitcasting equipment.

Yo-Zuri Pro Carbon EX Fluorocarbon

JDM line Yo-Zuri is making available here – looks like Yo-Zuri is doubling down on the trend of bass fishermen getting real particular about their fluoro leaders for various techniques.

> ...offers enhanced shock resistance, superior durability and exceptional abrasion resistance....

Starts at 8-lb, which is interesting.

Strike King Spotlight Hybrid Tungsten Ballhead

That faceted head is supposed to give better returns on FFS – crappie folks have had similar heads for a few years now. 1/8, 1/4, 3/8 with a 2/0 or 4/0 hook.

Daiwa 60th Anniversary Tatula SV TW 100H/HL

It's so high-tech pretty you can spend the $350 to either stare at it or give it to the Terminator as a peace offering when he visits your home 5 years from now...😬

Here you go, the rundown for Episode 139 of the Sea Foam/Sufix Lines Top 5 of the Week in Bass Fishing! Thanks for watching!

1. Greg Vinson bags one 🏆

2. Dropshots winning 🏆🏆

3. A Flat Tube?? 🤔

4. Some urchin juice 🧃

5. Gill baits underrated? 🤔

Sea Foam Marine PRO

Sufix line

#1

BaitFuel Gel

Seaguar Gold Label Fluoro Leader

Seaguar JDM PEX8 Braid

#2

BaitFuel Gel

Yamamoto Shad Shape Worm

Roboworm Straight

#3

Big Bite Baits Flat Tube

#4

HideUp Coikes

#5

Geecrack Bellows Shad

Berkley Flux Gill

D Style Geelacanth

Mustad Infiltrator Hook

1. Randy Howell is dealing with an odd health deal

It's causing his hair to be flat on top...kidding! It's always been that way! 😁 Deets are at that link, please pray for our brother. ✝️🙏

2. Gerald Swindle had hand surgery

I think G is going for the most surgeries ever in the shortest period of time for a pro angler. Dang man, please pray for him too. ✝️🙏

3. Jacob Wheeler: Most underrated color is 'gp magic'

When it's sunny. Says the flake gives the bait a ton of flash that triggers bites from bass that other colors don't. Plus that it imitates bluegills and crawfish.

One more prayer request – please keep praying for Jacob's wife. ✝️🙏

4. When Dustin Connell jighead-minnows vs a scrounger

Says in that IG vid that If the fish are schooling and aggressive and want a faster-moving bait, he uses a Scrounger. If the fish are less aggressive and he wants to pick them off with his electronics, he likes a jighead minnow.

Uses the Rapala CrushCity Mooch Minnow for both, and it's 17-lb Seaguar InvizX Fluoro with the scrounger.

5. 2027 MLF Pro Circuit schedule is out

• Feb18-20 -- Murray, SC
• Mar 5-7 -- Chickamauga, TN
• Apr 8-10 -- Rayburn, TX
• May 7-9 -- Clarks Hill, GA
• Jun 11-13 -- Arkansas River, OK
• Jul 23-25 -- St Lawrence River, NY
• Sep 10-12 -- Championship -- James River, VA

6. CA: Annual Snag Proof Open is Aug 1-2 on the Delta

Only Snag Proof baits currently offered on the American Baitworks site are allowed – I assume that means no using ones that are no longer made.

7. 4 New Yo-Zuri Rattl'n Vibe Colors

Clockwise from top L: matte ghost sexy shad, matte ghost smelt, matte pro blue, matte pearl glitter shad. Don't see 'em on TW yet.

8. New 13 Fishing Shyft Reels are under $100

Few deets:

• "Cast Iron" Carbon frame, rotor & handle
• Ceramic line guide (roller for spinning)
• 90mm aluminum handle
• 9+1 bearing (8+1 spinning)

9. TW's Bargain Bin Sale is back on

10. Dang what's this now – latest bait from Japan?

That's the Neko Ghidorah from a company called Quiet Wander, comes in 3" and 3.5". I see it on Waypoint Angler Supply but not on TW.

11. AL: Big Guntersville ramp will be closed for a few months

Waterfront Public Boat Ramp "for major facility upgrades" as of Jul 13.

12. FL: Apopka West Shore Ramp closed Jul 13-17

13. ID: Bass doing well in Moose Creek Rez after drawdown

14. OH: Owner of fishing pond banned those sonar balls

For bank fishing. Believe they don't do live sonar, just regular.

15. Garmin's stock price rose 1% after LS2 announcement

Doesn't sound like much but apparently = about $470 mil. And don't forget Garmin is way bigger than just marine electronics.

$470 mil / $1K profit on each unit (I am making that up) = 470K units. That math right?

16. CT: Now there'a a drop-in 115hp electric outboard?

Sounds like you can just put it on the transom like any other motor.

17. Furuno now has 9" and 13" units

Salty sonar company, but maybe making a push inland?

Headlines of the Day

Boat Ramp Rage Is Becoming A Real Problem In North Dakota

This makes complete sense if you've ever see the movie Fargo. 😁

WY Game and Fish Installed and Maintained 130 Beaver Dam Analogs to Boost Habitat and Protect the North Platte River

Wonder if they don't list the cost because it would've been cheaper to let beavers do it??

Royal Navy achieves world's first airborne launch of an uncrewed boat for sea missions

Sounds like Skynet is building its arsenal.

Doh!

1. MATT Arey was the quote in the last BB, not Todd!

2. That no ghost trees deal in the last BB is a polymer TRANSDUCER MOUNT. So it is not a screen mount. I finally got to talk to the inventor, Jason Clements, about it. He also said fish on the bottom DO NOT DISAPPEAR with it. You can still see them when they're belly on the bottom. 🤯

He confirmed that you need to hit him up on his FB if you want to get on the list. Right now he's making 'em one at a time.

2c

I would love to see the enthusiasm some DNRs have for "mussel prevention" get channeled into improving fishing. Dang man. Remember DNRs, those are sportsmen's dollars you are spending.

Couple good Jake Lawrence urchin tips

From a longer MLF urchining post:

> "You're playing that typical cat and mouse, like you keep it away from them. But once I have done that for several feet and I can tell that that fish is not going to bite – if he was going to he would have already done it – I will at that point start almost kind of a minnow shake. Just kind of quivering that bait in place."

> "The sink rate is very, very important. I generally want to go as light as I can possibly be and still be able to get the bait to them. Obviously, you've got to get it down there to them, but the slower that I can get it to him, the better.

> "When I'm twitching that, when he comes at it and I've got to let it rest, I want that bait to suspend or come as close to suspending as possible. I don't want that bait to really sink super fast."

"I have 7 or 8 2nd-place finishes so I've had my share of close calls."

- TN's Dale Pelfrey talkin' after winning the Cherokee BFL – by 1 oz!

Said he was experimenting with a new bait – one guess what it was! 🦠 (I have no idea.)

This is hilarious and I can't wait to catch a bass on it lol! By a new company named Wurm – no relation to the ex FLW Tour pro Mike Wurm. Check it out underwater (IG vid)!

Fishers of Men Tournament Trail

Bass Chaplain podcasts

Contact Chris Wells the Bass Chaplain

All Bass No Bull podcast

Advanced Angler

StrayCasts crazy web show!

Champion Jigs

Trophy Bass Co.