What's more amazing, Jacob Wheeler winning the Bass Pro Tour AOY or Ott DeFoe hangin' with him?? Ott actually made it a race! Amazing considering how crazy Jacob's been fishing..and Ott! The points were pretty darn tight after those two. Good end to that season fo sho.
Will get with them and St Clair winner Michael Neal hopefully by the next BB....
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Taku Ito soaks his soft-plastics for a YEAR. 👀
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> The baits inside the container will remain in the solution for 1 year, when they will be placed inside smaller containers stored inside the boat. Taku said the aging process works magic for his soft-plastic baits.
"Aging process"...🤔 Looks like he squeezes it outta a pack of baits (says Ecogear Aqua on it), looks viscous/not watery but that might just be the photos, and seems like he puts it into a glass container for soakin':
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> "The baits I was using had Japanese taste, Japanese smell/scent – different than US bait so they were very easy to catch."
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Will yaks bring back trolling for bass??
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Never woulda thought it but maybe? Not for us but maybe other folks? From here:
> Once you've committed to kayak fishing, the next stage is embracing the concept that trolling is a thing.
> If bait activity isn't visible on the surface, simply pedal from inside depths off points out to the basin and make zig-zag patterns over and around deep humps. ...have lines deployed during the search process.
> Get the kayak on a straight troll at or just above 2 mph.... Quality electronics, like Raymarine's Element or Axiom yield precision-tracked GPS boat speeds.
> Release the starboard line, the shallower stickbait, back a minimum of 100'. Typically, I go back 150' to 200' to mitigate upsetting fish, especially in clearer water and on bright days. Lock it down in your rod holder and grab #2, the mid-depth bait. Portside, release about the same amount of line, maybe a bit less....
> Let the games begin, eyes fixed to your electronics. Work progressively deeper half circles off the points, continuously monitoring for shad balls or suspended arcs.
I mean trolling's fine if you want to do it and IF boat traffic allows for it, but I'm still like:
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'Lectric Yammys should be here in 18 months?
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Looks like they'll be sorta integrated into the hull, like 'Rude and others are supposedly doing:
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> Yamaha Marine's new HARMO is a complete electric boat control system that combines advanced propulsion technology, environmental awareness, future vision and proven joystick control to provide high thrust and maneuverability.
> "HARMO is the perfect system for horsepower or internal-combustion restricted waterways," said Ben Speciale, president, Yamaha Marine US.... "Ultimately, it is up to our boat builder customers to decide how to integrate it into their boats, and we are eager to see the result."
> ...innovative rim-drive electric motor that turns a large impeller, HARMO features Helm Master EX system controls (including the joystick).... While rim drive motors have been deployed for thrusters and other marine applications, this is the first application in an outboard motor.
> Coupling a 48v power supply with a high-yield, low-drag 3.7-kw motor, HARMO's rim-drive and specially encased impeller provide...225 lbs of static thrust – the equivalent of a conventional 9.9-hp gas-powered motor. Run times depend on battery type, size, configuration and operational parameters.
Wait: All that just for 2 little 9.9s?? Anyhow, it's supposedly in Europe already. Couple deals:
- "Harmo" doesn't sound like the best name? I mostly hear "harm." Few suggestions: Stealth Yammy Whammy, Futatsu no ken no bakufuu (I think that means "Two blade blast" in Japanese??) or maybe: El feesh creeper.
- This could kill on 'lectric-only lakes around here...so I could get around 'em faster to find no fish faster...😆
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What tourney checks look like in other countries.
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1. I like calling the winner THE 1st! I mean, there can be only one...even in a team dal I guess....
2. What kinda weird boat is that in Canada man. Looks like it's a Coast Guard skiff rigged for a hail storm! 😁
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...and we can too – amazon shopping list ^ for donations:
> On Thurs, Sept 23, our Bill Lewis crew is teaming up with redfish angler Paul Dufrene IV...to provide relief for those affected most by this horrible storm. We've created an amazon wishlist with all of the items needed most. If you'd like to help us fill our truck with supplies, please visit the link...and choose "Ship to Bill Lewis" at checkout.
Not gonna say he'd be the scariest school bus driver ever but:
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Kid: "Uh, Mr. Christie, my dad wanted to know about the spinnerbait you won the tournament at Tenkiller on?"
Jason: [Long pause] "Well you tell your dad to mind his own business and take you to school the rest of the week."
🤣
Real good piece by Bassin'master's Jim Sexton on how Brock got here. Raw, honest, transparent. For sure worth a read.
Only thing is Jim says B-Rock "has had a few hellbenders roll through his life." I was like, these deals??
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If so that's pretty incredible – never even seen 1 in person let alone a few! 🤣
He likes a SPRO frog which is weird cuz no one else does especially Dean Rojas: 😂
> ...I fish my frogs fast. The warm water gives bass quick reflexes, and I don't want to give them time to look my bait over. Besides, they probably aren't feeding that much so you want to trigger their instincts as much as possible.
Wonder if D Hud would fish "15th Anniversary midnight walker":
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Makes me wonder – what if boats could cast more shade...UNDER the water? Would we be creating our own bass shadin' areas, which along with a HydroWave and some Smelly Jelly could bring the bass to us? Could we leave 'em trail of MaxScent they'd follow right up onto the deck??
Really cool. Sept is national Suicide Prevention Month, a big deal for many vets unfortunately. Love 'n hugs to all our veterans – they are amazing folks. Please reach out if you need help. There's no shame in a man asking for help and don't feel like there is! Here's Brent's Insta.
Congrats to Trey McKinney on a mind-blowing achievement. Props to St Croix for callin' it out, here's Trey's Insta.
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Props to Trevor Stevens and Andrew Ready for a sick limit at a tourney that honors the memory of their bud who passed too soon: 🙏
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Chris Little and Jim Dodd led the Lake of Bays National Classic with 'em. From the pics, looks like a lake loaded with average-size smalls so it was a double mind-blower. Here's a couple:
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Word is they call 'em "mustard pickles" up there...😁
Just in time for some fall top o' the water action:
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First of all, looks like modeling was used – and:
> Survival also decreased...with 15 bass in the livewell [vs 1]. However, the effect number of bass in a livewell has on overall tournament survival is likely minimal due to the infrequency 10 or more bass were confined per livewell.
Sounds about right!
Oh great man....
16. Western drought updates.
> The 2022 proposed budget...includes $15 mil toward building Del Puerto Reservoir in the hills west of Patterson. West Side irrigation districts would pay most of the roughly $500 mil total cost.
> The budget also would put $50 mil toward expanding Los Vaqueros Reservoir in the Brentwood area. It holds water pumped from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta for use in Contra Costa County.
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18. Is this the best a Shimano Calcutta ever looked?
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This Shimano Antares looks pretty dang cool too:
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Line of the Day
Yep, always need a shoulder rod holder..?? Post's about LL Bean doing collabs with fashionistas. Y'all wanna dress like this, have at it:
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Wonder if those model dudes crack up when they're chillin' later? I'm sure their buds do....
PSAs
1. Read Shaye's post!
Here's the deal: If you don't know God (yes it's possible and amazing) OR if you don't think you can know God OR if you think that's all a bunch of nonsense (I was there too), please read Shaye's post. Won't take long. Hope to see more of that from him.
2. Looking for info.
Been seeing posts on social about how we basically vote with our dollars and I agree. Yes politically, but beyond that too. For example, there's a ton of well-known companies and CEOs who are anti-2A and other things that are now called "conservative," whatever that means.
Anyhow, I'm trying to put together a list of NON-OUTDOORS (like jeans, computers, food, whatever) companies that are "anti" – that's pretty easy to find – and "pro" the stuff outdoors men, women and families value. Doing it for my own education, but also for everyone to take a look at if they want. So if you know any companies that are either, please just reply to this email with the deets. Thanks!
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On BassBlaster.rocks right now...
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> "Early fall (65-75 water temperatures) can be a really difficult time to catch fish on the Ohio River due to the transition of baitfish from the main river to the creeks. The presence of bait is obviously the key....
> "With the water still being relatively warm, I fish fast and try and cover a lot of water using a jerkbait. I target current breaks along the bank (stumps, laydowns and big rocks) and use a very hard, erratic cadence to get a reaction bite....
> "The fish tend to be spread out this time of year so covering water and hitting as many current breaks is the key."
I thought every single day year-round is "a really difficult time to catch fish on the Ohio River" – but maybe not for Bill? 🤔
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"...if you don't hear the Rice Crispies you should move on."
> ...stop and listen for a couple minutes before ever making a cast. ...if the bluegill, bugs and baitfish are active it will sound like Rice Crispies cereal crackling in a bowl of milk.
> "If you'll be patient and listen for 2 or 3 minutes, you'll be able to hear if things are popping and crackling, and if they are, you're chances of getting bit are good."
No hablo patienceo amigo...😆
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How 'bout Carson K with 12.3 big lbs of FL bigmouth lardmelon! No word on the bait but he had a bunch of boxes in the boat – like we all do. Congrats mang!
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> When contacted, geologist James Starnes of the MS Dept of Environmental Quality explained that it was a lump of mineral made of hematite, a "teardrop-shaped mineral body of unknown use," dating from 1000 to 2000 B.C., and a "tip of an arrow...Atlatl"...used for hunting.
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Jay Kumar's BassBlaster is a daily-ish roundup of the best and funniest (sometimes worst) stuff in bassin', 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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If you're forwarding every Blaster to other bass crackheads, tx much – or you can email me the addys and we'll take care of it! We'll never send spam or sell the list or anything else crazy....
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