Well ol' Boone turned 1 yesterday, here he is:
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He's 100% male – physical, crazy, knucklehead, fun. Huge drive, which is great for hunting but not so great in certain suburban situations. He might be a little too country for NJ...😆
Speaking of that, my dogs are trained (Boone thinks what he knows is optional sometimes) so I like to run and of course train 'em off leash. But now everywhere we go we see signs – sometimes big digital ones – forbidding that. My wife is like, "They should just put your picture up there" lol.
Just another reason to head south mang! 👊 Can you help me out with that? Love to live around palm trees, not too far from a beach, near or on real good bass fishing, at least a few acres: Where's a good spot?
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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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5+ Qs with Jacob Wheeler about his boat
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Been wanting to get with Jacob about the whole iKon deal, here we go:
1. Why does the bassin' world need another high-end bass boat?
> "So when we launched this company it wasn't necessarily about a high-end bass boat. It was more about how do we build a company long term. When you come from the center console yachting world [iKon's owners] and the quality in those boats, your next step down would be a high-end bass boat and then you work from there.
> "...you build your highest-quality bass boat first, and give everybody an opportunity as you go down. Stuff is coming down the pipe...but at first it came to building a quality high-end boat to show what you can do."
2. When will iKon come out with a lower-priced boat that's affordable for more folks?
> "It's coming down the pipe. I don't have an exact date but look for something at the beginning of next year, same timeframe...soon."
3. What's your favorite thing about the boat?
> "...stability more than anything..fit and finish is phenomenal.
> "...obviously the room is huge. The room I have and the storage system I have...that's what keeps me organized, going from tournament to tournament, swapping stuff out – that's important.
> "...how fast it gets on pad. You have 3 guys in the back and you get on pad in 2 seconds, that just doesn't happen.
> "I also love that it's such a big boat but has that sporty feeling when you're running around corners and turning...that to me is different than any other boat on the water."
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4. Did you ever own a Hydra-Sport?
> "I never did. I only owned 1 boat in my entire life before I started fishing professionally, a fish and ski boat.... I fished in several of [Hydra-Sports] growing up...."
5. Will other pros besides you be running an iKon?
> "That's in the works as well. We're not locked in or anything, but pro staff will grow eventually. Obviously it comes down to the right people, but long term there will be opportunity."
6. Anything else you want to mention?
> "Price point I know was a big thing with lot of people. I don't want people to think, Oh another high-end boat. The goal of this company long term is to bring quality craftsmanship – the forefront of this company – and bring good value to the consumer.
> "...roll out the first boat, bring out a premium product to show the consumer what we can do. It's a long-term deal...overall long term for everyone who wants to be in an iKon.
> "I grew up and couldn't afford a boat. I borrowed a boat to get to the BFL level to qualify to be a professional. So I don't want people to think that [iKon's all about high-$$$ boats]. The long-term plan of this company is to build quality products...what each level needs.
> "I've got a lot of confidence in this company and the team we put together. It's going to be good."
Bonus Q: Is it true you said to Johnny Morris that you'll take him down one day? 😁
> "That is not true [laughs]. Listen, Johnny's the man. He's always been the man. Obviously he does more this industry I feel like than anyone.
> "That's one thing I would never say, I promise you. I don't think anyone would ever think about saying that."
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5 Qs with Jared Lintner on Bubba/power shotting
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Jared is one of the OGs on this and knows it cold so:
1. When do you Bubba shot and what do you do it instead of?
> "Man...pretty much when it's typically a good flipping bite.
> "How it came about is back in the day fishing Clear Lake [in CA], a bunch of people are on the same stretches and everyone is flipping a Brush Hog then Beavers. You could catch a lot of fish on a dropshot [for a different presentation], but it was light finessy tackle...fish would break off in the reeds and you would lose them. I said, 'Why not use straight braid?' And that actually worked [then with a fluoro leader]....
> "I kind of do it all year long, wherever I would be flipping. I still love flipping a jig and plastics, but that power shot – I've seen it time and time again: If you're in the same creek as a Tommy Biffle or Denny Brauer or Jason Christie, the odds of you going behind them with a traditional flipping jig and catching them are not that good. But the power shot gives the fish a different look.
> "...especially during spawn time, you want that bait a little bit elevated because they're not really feeding off the bottom.
> "I have one tied up in my rod locker in every tournament. Sometimes it works really well, sometimes it's not the deal. The last event at Lake Murray, more than 50% of the fish I weighed to get to the Knockout Round were on the power shot."
2. What's your setup?
> "The rod I found that works best is a 7' 3" MH Daiwa Tatula Elite called the Universal Brent Ehrler, and they have a regular Tatula that works just the same, also 7' 3" MH. Reel is a Daiwa Zillion...lighter in weight, super smooth....
> "Line really depends on the water clarity. If the water is kind of dark and I feel like I can get away with 16 or 18, that's what I do. If the water is somewhat clear, I go down to 10 or 12. But overall, the majority of the time I'm using 14-lb Sunline Shooter and let it rip. [From there] depending on how aggressive they are, what type of structure I'm fishing, I will let it dictate [line size].
> "I do straight fluorocarbon. I used to do a leader and throughout the day found myself retying quite a bit...line twist and things like that...retying my knot during the day and that sucks. Really when you're doing this technique, you're not dropshotting in 35' – you're fishing 10' or less, so the leader is the only thing you're fishing with anyway. So I do straight fluorocarbon....
> "I've played a lot with the hook. Back in the day I was using an EWG and was losing some fish. I figured out that a straight-shank flipping hook was the best, but lot of times it's too thick. So then I got into finesse flipping hooks and was talking to the people at Trokar – they came out with a Straight Shank Finesse Worm Hook and that's the deal. That's my go-to [3/0].
> "The 6-inch Fat Roboworm, that's the deal. I have on occasion used a Brush Hog or creature bait. But the Robo – if they're not biting that, they ain't biting.
> "I played around with the weight too. Eco Pro makes a cylinder dropshot weight, but the deal with that is, when you go to skip it around a dock or place it in a tree, a lot of times the length of weight [causes] not an accurate cast.
> "Eco Pro's Full Contact Dropshot Weight is a teardrop shape so it's more compact...you can get that thing into pretty much anywhere you want to put it. Also it's not a tie-on deal – it has the little clasp. If you use a tie-on weight and get one hung in a tree, the weight can get wedged around those limbs and it's a whole trainwreck and you end up losing the fish...."
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3. Why a Fat Robo and not regular? And why do you like the "Martens madness" color for it?
> "That worm is a little bit thicker [than a regular Roboworm] – it holds that 3/0 hook a lot better. And when you're dobbing that thing in trees or whatever, the regular [Robo] is more apt to get snagged...the hook point will come through.
> "[The regular Robo] also doesn't look as natural with bigger line and a bigger hook.
> "Early in the year, in the pre-spawn, 'Martens madness' is the deal. Red, orange, little bit of purple – it's just perfect for pre-spawn. A lot of times they're feeding on crawfish and the water's a little darker.
> "As the spawn progresses, I use 'Aaron's magic' or 'watermelon magic.' Once the spawn is over, I go back to a purple like 'margarita mutilator' or 'Folkestad special.'
> "It's kind of like a system I have. ...trial and error, a lot of time fishing in CA where the water's clear and you can see how fish react to different colors...."
4. What's up with this Fire Gel stuff?
> "It's a scent, and from my experience it stays on baits longer.
> "Other [scent] brands I've used in the past, if you put it on a hard bait – a crankbait, jerkbait – it will wash off after a few throws, even plastics. This is more like a gel than oil-based...and it stays.
> "I've played around with it on jerkbaits and stuff – you throw it half a day, grab the lure and you get that scent on your hand...depends on how many fish you catch.
> "...originally was a salmon/trout-based company from the Northwest. They did a lot of research on the main forages that bass eat, and they nailed it in my opinion.
> "Coming from CA, the anglers I grew up fishing against – Aaron, Folkestad, Skeet, John Murray: You had to have something because these guys are so good. It was always Smelly Jelly, Hot Sauce, some guys used WD-40.... In fishing you can't control all the variables, so the variables you can control you better do it and take advantage of it.
> "I can name several tournaments where putting scent on my bait put fish in the boat. One Bass Pro Tour event 5 anglers fished the same set of docks I did, I fished behind them and ended up advancing to the Championship Round...."
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5. Did you have to convince your bassin' 'stache to leave Cali or was he cool with it? 😂
> [Laughs] "Man, it's been one of those things been a long time coming [leaving CA]. But I wasn't gonna leave CA without my mustache, I'll tell you that."
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"Not all bushes are equal – it's gotta be the right type of bush. Look for bushes with a fork a couple of feet off the bottom, maybe 5-6' deep. They've got to have sunlight on their eggs."
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- That's LA college angler Kade Hillestad who hooked the same 13-lber 3 times in the same day at Bussey Brake: broke her off, jumped her off, then landed her. From that deeper bush:
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This is amazing too – same lake:
> The previous Thursday, Apr 13, he broke through the double-digit mark not once, but twice, on the way to a 5-fish limit that weighed 44.46 lbs. He had a 12.16-lber, a 10.6, 9.1 and 8.4....
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Couple cool new sonar deals on the salty side
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That's 8.4" of what looks to be old school but is not:
> RezBoost is a revolutionary new signal processing technology developed by Furuno that improves resolution and target separation when using conventional narrowband transducers. Spot individual game fish surrounding bait balls, as well as fish close to the seabed.
> Compared to conventional signal processing techniques (FDF), a RezBoost sounder produces an image that is up to 8 times clearer.
What does that mean exactly? Here you go. Apologies for the lame pics – the Furuno website ain't the best:
Accu-Fish – A unique fish size analyzer based on the latest digital technology
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> ...can detect fish size from about 4" to 6.5' [long] in depths of about 6' to over 325'....
Bottom Discrimination – Analyze bottom structure
> Provides an at-a-glance recognition of bottom composition with four types of graphical displays (Rocks/Sand/Gravel/Mud) when connected to a supported thru-hull or transom mount transducer.
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If it's accurate that's way cool, but now check this:
White Line feature – Discriminate fish lying near the bottom
> The top edge of the bottom echo is displayed in white to clearly show bottom structures. This feature helps to discriminate between weeds and bottom fish....
> The white line makes it easy for you to see the separation between the sea floor and a fish laying on the bottom. This is also useful for judging fish school density as well.
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> TZtouchXL units are powered by a quad-core processor, feature in-plane-switching LCD screens for clear viewing from angles, have wireless LAN, are waterproof to IP56 standards, and can stow 30,000 waypoints and 200 routes. Ports include USB, NMEA 2000, LAN, video, aux and a microSD card.
> In addition to touchscreen functionality, TZT22X and TZT24X users can enjoy tactile control with the Furuno MCU006 remote control in vertical or horizontal configurations.
Word is Jacob Wheeler ordered 2 and asked if they could make a 27...lol kidding (maybe?).
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> ...on a 3/8- and a 1/2-oz vibrating jig [looks like a JackHammer] as well as punching a Beaver-style bait, and throwing a frog [looks like SPRO Poppin Frog]. He was primarily in the mid- to southern part of the Delta...warmer water and better grass.
> "I just ran around a lot. If you want to win these events, you (usually) have to go punching but I couldn't get much going punching."
Top 10's baits:
Flip plastics/bed fish = 50%
Bladed jig = 40% – all Z-Man JackHammers
Spinnerbait = 40% – 3/8-oz War Eagle (CO/IN, white/chart) was the only brand named
Wacky rig = 40% – all Senkos
Punch rig = 30%
Crankbait = 20%
10% each = Frog, TX rig (Senko), Neko rig (Zoom Trick Worm), Big swimbait
Kentucky/Barkley Toyota
Local Jake Lawrence won by 1.5 lbs targeting smallmouths:
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> "I was catching spawning fish or fish that were staging before or after they spawned...could tell on LiveScope if the bass were spawning based on how they acted because they'd hang around if they were on a bed.
> "It seemed like most of the fish were in that 4-7' range and on flatter banks, but they had to have a secondary creek channel running close to them. Those fish want to do their deal and then pull back out.
> ...3.25" Jenko Booty Shaker Swimbait in blueback on a 1/4-oz ball-head jig...mainly a search tool and smallmouth agitator. His tube was a Strike King Coffee Tube in green pumpkin...utilized a 1/8-oz Jenko Trick Tube Jig Head to fish the tube on a "Stupid Rig" [basically TX-rigged].
> "The head was really important because rigging it that way doesn't hang up as much and that jig head has a great hook, so you land more of those fish."
Also fished a dropshot with a minnow bait. Coolest thing he said, about trying to make it to the bigs:
> "This week I purposely limited my practice to help me prepare for that. Instead of practicing for a week, I only spent 2.5 days. I want to push myself to get into that [tour-level] frame of mind."
Top 10 broken down:
Tube = 40%
Swim jig = 20%
Flip plastics = 20%
Dropshot = 20%
10% each = Swimbait, Ned rig (Z-Man Finesse TRD), Sight fishing (5" Senko, Berkley MaxScent Hit Worm Magnum), Frog, Big swimbait, Carolina rig (Senko), Jenko Big T Whirly Bird (jighead with a metal prop)
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1. New Jacob Wheeler signature clothing at Academy.
> ...the Magellan Outdoors Pro Jacob Wheeler Signature Series is now available in stores and online at academy.com. Ranging from performance footwear and pullover fishing hoodies to rain jackets and accessories, with an exclusive RealTree Storm pattern, the new collection offers anglers tournament-quality gear at an incredible value.
2. Luke Clausen looked at those fuzzy dice baits and...
...here's what he came up with – a "hairy TRD":
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Smart!
3. Are there crabs in Lake Murray??
Pretty sure no, but that didn't stop Kyoya Fujita (3rd) from fishing this – a Jackall Drift Crab Mini:
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Bed fishing....
4. NC: Meet sketchy Opens anglers THIS SATURDAY. 😁
Clearview Church in Henderson and...free meal!
5. SC: Bassmaster yak tourney won on a Speed Trap.
SC's Lowell Brannan won it on Hartwell fishing a Luhr Jensen Speed Trap and an unnamed 3" swimbait:
> ...he slowly and methodically worked his way around a specific set of points, including some that were just bare clay. ...on the final day Brannan noticed that points with bigger boulders were the most productive.
Don't sleep on that Speed Trap!
6. Cops for Kids tourney on Table Rock May 2.
All the info at copsforkidstournament.com.
7. New Catch Co Tight Rope Bite Getter spinnerbait. 👀
Compact spinnerbait, turtleback/CO blades, 17-7 spring steel wire, double wire bait keeper, hand-tied skirt "specially cut to flare out:"
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Looks like at least 1/4 and 1/2. Available next month.
8. New big Yo-Zuri kit at Bass Pro Shops.
The Ultimate Yo-Zuri Bass Kit = 8 baits picked by Yo-Zuri pros (they're all good ones!), a spool of 30-lb SuperBraid and 12-lb T7 Fluoro = $79.99 which is 25% less than if you bought it all separately.
9. New Champion Jigs swimbait head.
7 months in the making, Gamakatsu 604 hook in 2/0-5/0, 6 sizes, oversized eyes, can be simple retrieved, vertically fished like a Damiki rig, used on an A-rig, etc. Looks good:
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10. NC: 2 new species of crayfish found.
Yep they're gp/brown.
11. ND DNR investing in aquatic nuisance species.
> Over the next 2 years, the dept plans to hire another Aquatic Nuisance Species biologist as well as spend $850,000 on an ANS lab.
That's $$ that could be being spent on gamefish!
12. TN opened up commercial fishing for Asian carp.
> The Commission approved the Fisheries Division to open a 30-mile stretch on the Mississippi River for silver carp and paddlefish commercial fishing, and the type of gear allowed for invasive carp on Pickwick Reservoir.
13. OK: New record shellcracker.
2 lbs 15.6-oz, beat a 50-yr-old record.
14. So now the gov't admits it IS modifying the weather!
Or technically it's the US gov't dripping that to the US media to drip to us:
> ABC News explains how 'cloud seeding' is being used to modify weather across the US. "There are currently 42 cloud seeding projects across the American West...They fly right into the storm and send microscopic [silver iodide] particles into the clouds...The federal government has committed $2.6 mil to seeding."
As we all know, weather is the #1 deal affecting fish and fishing so that's very interestin'!
From being a journalist in DC – but you don't need to have been that to know this: When the gov't decides to drip something out, they have been doing it way longer than just now. And they're doing (and spending) way more than they say.
Some Qs that pop into my head:
- How does this change the weather in other places? Could it cause drought in some places? Tornadoes? I mean, if weather is a chaotic system and you mess with it, you can't control all the effects right?
- Is this just creating "more" rain and snow (it's really just stealing it from somewhere else) or is it doing other things too?
- Does this explain all that snow in TX?
- Why isn't the public being told EXACTLY where the seeding is and what the anticipated effects are? (Floods??)
- If the gov't has been doing this, then why the big drought for years out West?
- Does it always go according to plan or are there mistakes?
One more: What else is the gov't doing to change the weather – which it's been able to do since at least the 1950s? Here's a clue from a 2013 CBS This Morning interview.
The whole weather deal is a YUGE rabbit hole. If you want to be amazed and maybe bummed (I was) at what COULD be going on, check the GeoEngineering Watch website. As always, use your discernment – and don't get mad at me if you don't like it, get mad at the folks who say it!
Headlines of the Day
Dams Complicate Fish Migration
No way! 🤣 Carl Jocumsen's dog heard that and was like:
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😁
Does Fish Stocking Work?
Says not as much as habitat improvement. My only Q: Everyone knows that already so why do we keep sawing that sawdust?
Line of the Day
Key on pockets with a puke-colored teaser tube or a Ned rig.
PUKE?? About Table Rock – is that a local color TRock peeps?
PSA – Surfing Tackle Warehouse finds
1. G-Ratt Baits Proper Buzz – Think you might fish this deal?
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2. Longas Baits Funnel Gladiator – Bladed jig with a scrounger "hood" on it.
3. Great Lakes Finesse Mini Pro Tube Head – "'Sit Up Fat Head' design keeps your hook point up for less snags and much better hookups while giving your tube a goby-like head profile. Built on a 1/0 short shank 60-degree Mustad Ultra Point...."
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6. G-nius Project Tungsten Screw Nail Sinkers – Tungsten with a big ol' head on it for more feel/bottom contact.
7. SPRO 3-Way Combo Power Swivel – Right angle helps keep your bait horizontal.
8. Fish Arrow Heavy Poop Stick Bait – When your "poop/TRD ain't heavy enough??
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Interesting old-school jig tips from Cooch
Andy "Cooch" Cuccia got focused on learning jig fishing in the '80s, here's some juice from a real good older post on WesternBass.com:
> I use 2 colors of jigs to simplify my fishing. ...I stick to brown and black. The two base colors.
> I use one basic rule to determine if I use pork or plastic as my trailer. If the water temp is 69 and below I use pork. I use only 2 basic colors of pork, "black/blue" or "olive green/ watermelon."
> I use these on the brown jig depending on water clarity. If it's clear I go with the more subtle "olive green"...will use the "black/blue" if the water is stained. For muddy water I will use the black jig with the "olive green" pork. ...the combinations I use will definitely contrast the pork and jig.
> ...when using pork I use a 3/4" piece of plastic inserted onto the hook shank ahead of the pork chunk. This keeps the pork chunk up off the hook and barb. The pork chunk is always floating up on the hook bend, preventing it from getting in the way of a hookset.
> ...Yamamoto Grubs and just tear off the tail and split the grub body in half. I use a grub that has both red and green flake in it. This adds an additional contrast to the jig...and some flash in the flake. It also adds some additional body and buoyancy to the jig.
> When the water temp is above 69 degrees, it is time for plastic. I get a little faster fall with plastic trailers. Generally as the temp climbs, the bass will become more aggressive and chase prey. I then begin to swim a jig more, when using plastic.
> When using plastic, I stick to the darker colors, mostly purple with either blue, black, red or green flake. When using the lizard [as a trailer] I only use a black one with red flake. When using craws I like to stick with a pumpkin/watermelon seed or something small and more of a natural coloration.
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"When Mike Iaconelli screamed 'Never give up!' at the 2003 Bassmaster Classic on the Mississippi River Delta, I knew I no longer wanted to follow the sport as a fan or practice it as a hobby."
- From a very good Ben Milliken post on Bassmaster.com. Ike's shouting – which cost him significantly at the time – inspired so many folks and ended up changing the pro angler side of the biz...which is why I was saying Ikey is fo sho Hall of Famousness material.
Another good line from that post:
> ...how is an angler with a home state littered with man-made 100-acre mudholes going to even put himself in position to be adept enough to have a chance to qualify for the Bassmaster Classic?
Sounds like NE and NJ guys need to have some bassin' group therapy...😁
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Another very cool one from Daiwa shooter Casey Yoern. I checked with him and yep that's a bass – that fin there on the back/top looks weird!
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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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