With all the social platforms focusing on shorts, occurred to me – why isn't Wesley Strader killin' it? I mean, he's got the most rad shorts:
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😆 Sorry can't help myself! Btw if you're wondering, new Sea Foam Top 5s of the Week are back tomorrow!
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If your email program cuts off the bottom of the 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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Sonar limits: Anyone heard of this Touring Anglers Assn deal?
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New (or not quite) deal. Sounds like a guy named Allen Brooks, from GA, is behind it, and explains it in this intro YT vid. Says he's a bass fisherman and serial entrepreneur, and looks like he has been fishing the Bassmaster Opens for a few years. Here's the stated mission on the website:
> Touring Anglers Assn is a non-profit Christian belief-based fishing tournament designed to dramatically reduce tournament costs and significantly increase winnings for anglers. Our mission is to offer anglers a fishing tournament that pays out the maximum cash prizes. The world’s largest performance-based cash earnings.
Here's some tidbits from the YT vid, but before I get into that Allen says there's NO FFS and NO 360 allowed:
> "Right now it's an idea – it's just an idea. We want to see if there's 200 anglers that's interested in a high-level competition that levels the playing field as much as humanly possible.
> "We're definitely nonprofit. ...give back 100% of the [entry money?] minus expenses. And how you do that is by reducing overhead.
> "I want to create...a tournament that I want to fish. This is similar to the format that I grew up fishing...."
> "We're not trying to create a professional tournament organization. This is meant to be a supplemental tournament for people who can't get enough...or who can't take that much time off work, or who just like this format."
Check the payout chart – and it says on the event format page that entry fee will be $5,000 for the tournament:
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Note that Allen says this IS NOT a definite thing yet – he is just trying to gauge interest. Think he said in the vid that he has 75-ish folks interested of the 200 he's looking for.
Here's their FB page. Anyone know anything, pls lmk!
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Is this the future of trolling motor pedals?
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Or should I say troller/FFS transducer pedals? It's a rotary foot = innerestin'. Some deets from the website:
> Compact – Every effort was made to make the rotary foot control as thin as possible to maximize usability and comfort. Made from billet aluminum and 1/2" thick polycarbonate (bulletproof glass), the top of the rotary control is less than 1" tall.
> Instant response – Spin the foot control wheel to desired heading as quickly as you want. It is no longer necessary to stand on the pedal while moving the sonar.
> Ultra-precision movement – Competitor products struggle with fine movements due to the on/off nature of the push button pedal. Some have a minimum movement of nearly 10 degrees and require a speed control to slow the motor to get better resolution. Our rotary foot control heading sensor has a resolution of less than 0.1 degree. You can quickly and easily make miniscule movements to find the edge of a structure or easily locate your bait.
> Feedback – Full color LED light ring provides feedback on sonar heading as well as advanced function controls.
What it can do:
> Manual mode – Transducer mirrors the movement of the foot control. The LED ring will show precise location of the foot control as well as closed loop location of the transducer.
> Compass track – Interfacing with the boat's network allows us to grab the boat’s heading and this mode uses that information to keep the transducer pointed at a precise heading regardless of boat angular movement.
> Sweep mode – Allows the user to set a clockwise and counterclockwise sweep limit and the transducer will pan back and forth between these markers. The sweep limits are compass-adjusted so movement of the boat will be compensated for automatically.
So new it's not for sale yet. Company also will have a "coaxial shaft" for trollers – not sure what that is exactly. The website also mentions competitors – anyone seen anything like this before? If so, pls lmk.
Watch the so-so YT video demo here. It's with a hand – guess they didn't want a bassin' man's gnarly foot on there? 😆
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Can't remember where I screen-shotted this from, but it might have been my FB:
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That's a head-slapper idea mang! When I saw it I smiled like:
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Cool Taku Ito at St Clair story from Elitist Ed Loughran
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Ed said it was cool to post (thanks man!) so here you go:
> So I think I’m a competent dropshotter and LiveScoper. I get it and I know what I’m doing (or at least I thought I did).
> At St Clair, Taku and I started every day about 100’ from each other and removed from the rest of the crowd by about 300-400 yards. Going into day 3 he was in 1st and I was a couple lbs behind in 11th.
> The first 2 days we had started close but separated within the first few minutes so I really didn’t see how he was doing. On day 3 he got to our spot first, I started just outside of him by about 100’. He couldn’t have been 90 seconds ahead of me from blast off and as I was coming off plane he already had one on.
> ...we fished around each other in tight circles, like talking distance, for about an hour and a half. I caught a 3.25 and a 3.75, but during that 90 minutes while we were bobbing and weaving, he stuck a jab in my face until it was a bloody mess. I had no answer. He must have caught 15-20 fish. I’m not sure I ever looked over at him and he wasn’t catching or culling.
> When he mercifully went to leave for greener pastures, he flashed his big smile and waved goodbye in his exaggerated way. I don’t think he realized how badly he just beat me head to head. He was too busy culling to know.
> I don’t know if it was his bait powder, if he can see the fish better on the Scope, I don’t know if it’s his crazy baits, his 1.625754-lb line – who knows, but he beat me like a drum.
> He’s the nicest guy and great guy to fish around (no drama) – except in a dropshot/scoping tournament, it will mess with your head.
> However, I will point out that at the end of day 3, Taku and I had the exact same weight for that day: 20-06.
> I ground it out and caught a 5.5 and 4 at the end of the day with a Mini Magic Worm, but I bet he caught more in that first hour than I caught all day. Taku is a bad dude.
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Turns out it's the new Rapala Rippin Blade – 2.75", 9/16-oz, #6 trebles. Asked Seth what he digs about it and he said "sweet colors" and a larger profile.
He fishes it on a 7' ML Daiwa Tatula Elite Cody Meyer Dropshot Rod, a Daiwa Tatula Spin Reel (3000), and 8-lb Sufix Braid to 12-lb Sufix Advance Fluoro.
2. #1 thing Jason Christie has learned with FFS.
> "When you come up on some fish and get within 30 or 40-foot in 8' of water or less, [the bass] know that you are there."
So long casts! Said in a different vid that the further away the fish are on FFS, the easier they are to fool.
3. Kyle Welcher runs down Sunline's new tapered leader.
YT short, interesting idea – check the line on TW. Tapered lines are a fly feeshn thing. Looks like we are entering a new era of fluoro leaders.
4. Rick Clunn is looking for a crankbait sponsor?
One of the greatest crankers of all time said it in that Nov 16 Bomber Lures post ^.
5. Vexus fellers are at the Bassmaster Team Championship.
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2nd year in a row I believe. Left is Vexus head man Keith Daffron, Forrest Wood's grandson. Right is Ryan Patterson who I believe goes door to door selling Vexus boats to little ol' ladies...😁 Congrats fellas!
Btw, here's a good, quick IG video of the upgraded version of my boat, the Vexus AVX1980 glass/tin hybrid. Takes a 150 and moves just fine!
6. Hey I was on Jim Crowley's podcast this week!
Check it at that FB link, thanks for having me on Jim!
7. MA HSer commits to Campbellsville U bassin' (KY).
Outstandin'! 💪
8. CA: Sketchy new tech billionaire city will be near bassin'.
Supposed to be right by Rio Vista, one of the best bass fishing locations/launches on the Delta. If you haven't heard of this deal, a bunch of "tech billionaires" quietly bought up 62,000 acres of ranch land allegedly to create some kind of idealistic city. Of course the locals want no part of it.
9. CA: Bummer fishing license sales info.
> In 1982, CA sold 2,480,158 fishing licenses, however in 2016 that number dropped to 1,632,823. This is remarkable in that the state’s human population increased from 25 mil in 1983 to 39.5 mil in 2016.
But in 2020 and 2021 it was 1.9 and 1.8 mil fyi. Either way, I feel that state DNRs have a lot to do with whether people want to fish. In other words, if the fishing is good – if the lakes are good (managed well, which most are not) – people want to fish more. Reverse is true as well.
10. TX PWD warning peeps not to dump aquarium crayfish.
Concerned about "self-cloning" marbled crayfish getting in TX waters – however TX bass are all for it hahaha! Okay not really.
Looked up if/how these deals clone themselves, and it sounds like no one knows but they have 3 DNA strands instead of the normal 2. Sounds...man-made.
Anyhow, here's what one looks like – not gp!
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That's the 10,000 Fish Cyclebait Underspin with a BioSpawn ExoSwim. Figuring different action fo sho.
12. Is the KastKing Speed Demon Elite Reel the fastest flip reel?
A 10.5:1 gear ratio means every turn of the handle takes up 42" of line – meaning your bait moves the length of a golf club with every turn. $120 on TW:
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Those are just-born YUM Dingers before they get in the package in the sexy "Carolina pumpkin-chart" color.
14. Or maybe I wish my Christmas lights looked like this!
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That's the Yolotek NavLight Show, and it is Coast Guard-approved. 12 colors, almost 400 patterns. Gitcha disco on!
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15. Ever hear of the Defiant Bird?
1 Benjamin of heavy-duty bird-lookin' crawlin' topwater that Tackle Tour reviewed. Personally I would 100% trust anything Tackle Tour says about big topwaters because main man Alex Mei is a big topwater black belt.
TT also has a thorough review of the Abu REVO Rocket baitcaster too – here 'tis on TW.
16. SD: Flooding is moving Asian carp to new waters.
That's how they got out in the first place, from aquaculture ponds – flooding.
17. WA: Biden Administration thinking about breaching dams...
...on the Snake River to save "imperiled" salmon species. The dams are there for a couple reasons that help peeps, but are the #1 issue for all salmon recovery. Let's see how far that deal gets.
Makes me think maybe states should control their own dams?
18. CA/AZ: Turner’s Outdoorsman opening 2 new stores.
Headlines of the Day
Conditions and conscience, fishing less because of climate change
To anyone who thinks I'm nuts about what "they" are trying to do – there you go. If we let this happen, it's on us. Industry peeps, I hope you fight lunatics like that guy.
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Vultures took over on man’s truck at Douglas Lake leaving behind extensive damage
Eeeeeeew.
Are fishing worms the new way of doping at the Tour de France?
Lol what??
> Hemoglobin from arenicola marina lugworms, otherwise known as sandworms, is used for medical use because of the worms' incredible oxygen transporting abilities, and...the creator of the technique was approached in 2020 by a "well-known cyclist" who wanted to use the product.
Dang too bad it's not nightcrawlers – love to see those guys chowin' down on some bait shop worms on TV! 🤣
Line of the Day
They're all about the sparkly boat demographic now.
Comment from a SIMMS Insta post. First of all, not true because us sparkly-boaters don't wear waders, which SIMMS makes. Second, if it was true, that's not a bad thing lol. Third, why do people moan 'n complain on social so much? I guess there's some sorta satisfaction in it?
Electric Pickup Truck Stuff
I'm not an electric car/truck guy, but maybe you are so here you go. BUT first this headline:
Nearly 4,000 Auto Dealers Sign Letter to Urge President Biden to Tap Brakes on EV Mandate
Sounds like there's 12 months excess inventory due to lack of demand.
Tesla's Cybertruck is for sale now
Some specs:
> ...3 trims that range from tri-motor to single-motor setups—Cyberbeast ($99,990), All-Wheel Drive ($79,990) and Rear-Wheel Drive ($60,990). Tesla reports that its halo all-wheel Cyberbeast weighs 6,843 lbs (can tow 11,000 lbs??) and that the All-Wheel Drive comes in at 6,603 lbs.
It's 95" wide, 1" less than a Ford Raptor. Range is 267 miles, betting way less if you're towing.
Terms and conditions of the sale – for the Cybertruck only – state that Tesla might sue you if you sell the truck within the first year. Kinda a red flag?
Real bad buying experience for the Rivian R1T electric pickup
And it's started leasing in some states.
Check the Canoo American Bulldog 'lectric pickup
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For anyone driving a gas-powered veehickle, here's a #SeaFoamWorks story about an older pickup – from Fred M in PA:
> "A few years ago my 2002 Toyota Tundra SR5 started having issues with power decline and not running right due to years of carbon buildup. A friend suggested Sea Foam High Mileage as a way to really clean out the carbon. It worked great with an almost immediate improvement! I have been using Sea Foam ever since with the same great results – 242K miles and continues running great!"
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You can get Sea Foam High Mileage at auto parts stores, and maybe places like Wally-Mart too.
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David Fritts says 21 inches per turn, period
From a real good deal by Kenny Duke on AdvancedAngler.com:
> “Everyone has a cranking speed that feels comfortable when they’re fishing a lipped crankbait, and there’s a certain speed that will cause a lure to dive to its maximum depth and have the greatest action. The key is to get those 2 things to work in combination. For me, it requires a reel that takes in 21 inches per turn of the handle.
> “The 2 big mistakes anglers make when they’re fishing a crankbait is that they under-wind or over-wind...and most of them over-wind. Either way you’re not getting the crankbait to its maximum depth and you’re not catching as many bass as you should be catching.”
> ...his favorite reel for fishing diving crankbaits is the Lew’s BB1 Pro Series Speed Spool Casting Reel with a 5.1:1 gear ratio. That might seem slow...but the BB1 is smooth and long-casting because of its multi-stop anti reverse system, and the combination of gear ratio, geometry and spool size means that it brings in 21" of 10-lb line for every crank of the handle.
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"...I’ve decided to treat this one differently because I have never won a Classic and need to change the process."
- Greg Hackney talkin' 'bout prefishing Grand Lake with ZERO rods and tackle in the boat – intentionally:
> ...the only things in my boat will be safety equipment, maybe a few snacks, tools and a pair of binoculars.
> ...I intend to get a detailed look at areas where I’m less familiar. This is unusual for me. I’ve had a lot of success just showing up for a tournament and going fishing. I’m good at that, and it seems I do better under pressure by fishing tournaments that way.
> I’ve made the conscious decision to start practicing for tournaments with more diligence, the same way I stalk and hunt a giant deer.
> Why only 2 days of pre-practice? If I spent more time, I’d probably buckle, head to the nearest Academy store and wind up buying tackle to go fishing.
Asked him if the binos are for bigfoot and he said: "Jay, I don't need binos to see them anymore." Wonder what that means...?
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Justin Hamner was hamnerin' 'em with the Allybama rig in AL – some healthy schoolers right yonder!
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"Someone" is building a $91 mil castle in Poland
Sounds like anyone who knows who it is ain't sayin'. Wonder what they know...?
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Jay Kumar's BassBlaster is a daily-ish roundup of the best (sometimes worst) and funniest stuff in bassin', hand-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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