1. Ott DeFoe ain’t a-fishin’ the Classic.
Apparently the state of AL doesn’t allow barefoot fishing in “commercial fishing tournaments.”
Hahaha! Okay he can’t cuz he didn’t fish the Elites last year, but I guess peeps were a-wonderin’ anyhow so here’s some of what he said:
> When we chose to fish the Bass Pro Tour instead of the Elite Series, we knew this would be the last Classic I would qualify for.
> Not fishing it this year makes me appreciate the win in Knoxville even more. I can always say I won it. My name will be on the trophy from here on out.
But you know what? Trophies fade. Titles lose importance. People forget. Money gets spent. Accolades become ancient history. I’m reminded of a passage from the book of Matthew, chapter 6 [Jesus talking]:
“But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”
> There will be a new Classic winner this year. I know for a fact that it’s a career-changer. My hope is we will grow the Bass Pro Tour’s championship to be a career-changer as well.
> I plan to be in Birmingham to hand off the trophy. I’ll be at the Expo on Sunday and welcome anyone to stop by and say hello.
2. Bobby Lane gets Star brite.
3. 3 guys get Ark stuff.
Not just rods — Gerald Swindle is for rods, and Brent Ehrler and Brett Hite for Ark tungsten sinkers.
4. 3 guys get Sunline.
Elitists Carl Jocumsen, Luke Palmer and Wes Logan. Also added Opens dudes Todd Castledine and Matt “not just in the Zone” Pangrac.
5. Elitist Drew Benton gets Big Bite.
Also Opens dudes Matty Pangrac and B-Rad-Lee Hallman.
6. Johnny Crews/Missile is giving out free stuff…
…to marshals on Missile pro team Elite boats. This is a small step for bass-head kind, but I sure hope it’s leads to bigger steps back to where anyone — pro, co, marshal, whatever — who showed up for a derby got a PILE of free stuff. Helped Zoom get built, for example….
Startin’ to think Crews is smarter than he lets on…but that whole squirrel fishin’ deal really makes me wonder:
7. Elitist Bernie Schultz on BassEdge Radio.
8. Elitist Caleb Sumrall’s been running 25-30 miles a week.
Good for him but that’s borderline crazy? Here’s a quick clip of him gettin’ goin’ at the house:
Heehee!
9. FLWer Chad Grigsby gets CanCooker.
10. FL: OnEm “Matt” Robertson won the Nation deal…
…at Okeechobee like this:
> …caught his fish on a Strike King 4.75″
Rage Swimmer in “ayu” rigged on a 5/0 swimbait hook and a 1/8-oz bullet weight. A burning retrieve produced best.
> …he stayed in a 600-yard area the entire time…had a mix of pencil reeds, flat reeds, Kissimmee grass and hyacinth…he was able to cover water at his leisure and hunt for aggressive pre-spawn bass.
Livin’ up to the lid:
11. Garmin signed a 3-year deal with B.A.S.S.
12. NY: Costs $60K to host a BPT tourney…
…at the at St Lawrence anyhow:
> Ogdensburg will spend $50,000…. Hosting the tournament comes with a $60,000 price tag, $10,000 of which St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce will pay.
13. How to install a new MotorGuide Tour (vid).
Check MotorGuide’s Sam n Nate unboxin’, preparin’ and installin’ the new Tour. Good vid and don’t take their lack of smiling (c’mon fellas!) to mean having a new troller ain’t fun cuz you know it is:
14. Rapala DTs are on big-time sale at Tackle Warehouse.
Not sure how long it’ll last but make sure you get at least a couple DT6s and 16s. The pros mostly use the Ike colors so….
15. New colors of SPRO McStick jerkbait and Little John crank.
> BPTer Mike Mc “Stick” Clelland: “The new colors will give fish something they aren’t used to seeing.” New
McStick 110 colors include: nanko reaction, ghost magic purple, Mc ayu shad, and pm twilight.
> Elitist
Little John Crews: “I saw a need for a realistic perch color. The new ‘homemade shad’ color has a silver scale/shad pattern that is incredibly realistic.”
16. Here’s the new Skeeter ZX150.
17. BPS Collegiate Bass Fishing gets Wiley X.
Seems like Wiley X is gradually expanding its footprint….
Can’t link it ^ — it’s at thefishingwire.com.
18. Repetitive casting injuries becoming more common?
One guy’s opinion, from experience:
> I began serious competitive fishing for largemouth bass in my early 20s and my first related fishing injury did not occur until I was in my early 40s. That injury was diagnosed as tennis elbow and was extremely painful.
> …would be the first of several injuries that eventually caused me to stop competitive angling for a slower-paced recreational angling.
> My injuries included elbow surgery, arm surgery, multiple hand surgeries, multiple back surgeries, knee surgery, planter fasciitis and foot surgery. All of those surgeries may not be directly the result of fishing but I know fishing was a major contributing factor.
All you young dudes — these things creep up on you man. Body’s all good til all of a sudden it’s not! Take care of yourself.
19. Brunswick predicts slightly better boat/motor sales in ’20.
Not sure if they’re sandbagging to look good later or what but:
> For 2020, we project U.S. marine industry retail unit demand for the year to be flat to slightly up versus 2019.
20. 200+ hp motor sales way up in ’19.
> …2019 led by engines 200hp+, accounting for 27% of sales….