1. David Dudley has the Covid and…
…says in the YT vid ^ his bloodwork showed he also has diabetes. Dang man — maybe a blessing that the Covid visit told another story too? Not sure but David is an inspirational (to me) Christian man. Please send up some prayers for him. Get better DD! You will beat Covid!
Personal note: Every time I see the word “diabetes” I hear it as “diabeetus” in my head cuz of that dude on TV years back.
2. Cliff Pirch is winning Fork practice.
Biggest one I’ve seen yet:
3. Bassmaster AOY standings going into Fork.
Tight at the top, Doomsday now is in the lead, and Austin Felix was caught on a hidden camera sneakin’ up there like:
Lol! Top 5:
1. David Mullins — 623
2. Austin Felix — 618
3. Clark Wendlandt — 607
4. Jake Whitaker — 594
5. Kyle Welcher — 592
This might explain why Doomsday Mullins is doing so well: OCD?
Or if I see that as OCD maybe I have the opposite…?
4. Chris and Cory Johnston would rather be hunting right now.
I would too…not really….
5. WON Bass Open champ Timmy Klinger on BassEdge Radio.
The BassEdgers guys ask good fishing questions….
6. Melinda Hays won the co side of the Table Rock BFL Regional.
Melinda’s in the biz, was at Costa, then Huk. First time a gal has won a Regional, I think on either side? Congrats!
> “I knew that if I could slow down and try to do something that a lot of people weren’t going to be doing, my odds would go up…did that by throwing a Carolina Rig. Hays’ go-to bait was a candy craw-colored
Strike King Game Hawg, and she dipped the tails in chartreuse die with garlic scent.
> She’s the daughter of 2 bass pros: Jimmy and Lucy Mize. Her father is a 4-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier, while her mother fished the Women’s Bassmaster Tour from 2006 through 2009 and is in the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame.
7. TX food drive named after Ethel the bass.
Ethel was the first ShareLunker. This is really great to hear coming from a state gov’t:
> “We wanted to do something for the anniversary of the day Ethel was caught. Her catch date was Nov 26 which falls on Thanksgiving this year, so we decided in the spirit of the season of giving and sharing great bass genetics, we would hold a food drive in Ethel’s name to continue the act of serving our community.”
Here she is, with the guy who caught her, Fork guide Mark Stevenson. She was 27.5″ long and 24.5″ around, supposedly caught on a jig/craw in a deep brushpile:
8. DC: President Trump signed new conservation law.
> …reauthorizes the North American Wetlands Conservation Act and codifies the National Fish Habitat Partnership, 2 of the most successful voluntary conservation efforts in the nation. The law also reauthorizes the Chesapeake Bay Program and creates funding authorizations for other crucial conservation programs.
9. PA: Small boaters, paddlers have to wear a PFD.
Nov 1-Apr 30 it’s a requirement. Boats 16′ or less and paddlin’ craft.
10. If you need boat access near you, weigh in.
Link ^ is an online survey:
> With the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act this summer, the outdoor recreation community has an unprecedented opportunity to help identify boating access projects in need of funding.
11. YETI sagebrush green drinkware now available.
They run outta cool colors pretty fast so get on it if you dig it. I’m still bummin’ about waitin’ on chartreuse, which they ran outta pdq:
12. WI Fishing Expo canceled already.
Because of the venue — not sure if the Expo will find somewhere else to have it?
> …Madison’s Alliant Energy Center…have extended the closure of their facility until at least 4/1/21, possibly 7/1/21….
Expo was supposed to be Feb 26-28.
13. Boat shows being canceled/postponed already.
> The National Marine Manufacturers Association, representing North American recreational boat, engine, and marine accessory manufacturers…is canceling 9 shows in the 1st quarter of 2021 and planning to move forward with three shows at this time, either as currently scheduled or postponed to a later date.
14. AFTCO has gear for big specimens.
Y’all know who you are…vegetarians…hahaha! Love ya fellas!
15. AL dudes launch Black Creek Outdoors.
Apparel brand by African-American young men for everyone — love it:
> “We’re just trying to grow our brand and show that there is diversity in the outdoors. There are black people in the outdoors. There are Indian people in the outdoors. There are Hispanic people in the outdoors.”
Website not up yet but you can sign up to get notified here.
16. Never seen these before: $20 tangle-free kids poles.
Line goes through the rod:
17. TX: Richland Chambers now “infested” with zebras.
Endangered Sawfish Found Dead On Roadside in Florida Everglades
Never a good idea to try to hitch a ride, especially when you’re that low to the ground….
Heard from the one and only Ned “Rig” Kehde that folks in his area of the country been buildin’ their own versions of DockStix for some time. Here’s an In-Fish post about it.