Well I got me some bait-buyin' ammo! Finally counted how many pillows are on the bed – NINE. Nine pillows?? I only use one so...looks like we have pillows we don't really need but my wife thinks "we" do need 'em and pillows are way more expensive than baits so...! Hahaha I win!
Actually not sure I win because my wife is cool with ignoring logic sometimes, but at least I've got a dang good comeback for baits "I don't need" but actually do need! 😎
On that note:
> Jay not only gets interviews with all the top tournament anglers the week after top events...but he also makes the whole thing totally wacky and fun to read.
Hahaha! That's the one 'n only Frank "E" Sargeant talkin', one of the best feeshn scribblers ever. Thank you Frank! Only includin' because there's only one "totally wacky" and here it is:
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Now THAT's totally wacky! 😁 But don't doubt Taku!
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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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"You catch a lot more fish, it seems like. You have less tougher days...."
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- Marty Robinson talkin' a huge point about forward-facing sonar (FFS). More from the quick vid we did in his boat:
> "A lotta times used to you would go out and you would fish the bank, fish points, fish pockets, fish everything that would come to your mind, and you would really struggle and have a bad day. Because you really didn't know what the fish were doing. You had an idea, but you weren't positive where the fish are.
> "But now you come out and...you can see the fish [with FFS]. So you know where they're at. So if you have a tough day now it isn't because you're not around the fish, it's because you're not throwing what they want."
Couple quick reactions:
1. Huge point: "Less tougher days." Sign me up for that every dang day mang!
2. You know where the fish are. Does it mean the ones you see are catchable? Not necessarily but it's a start.
3. "Not throwing what they want." Interesting. I wonder whether FFS will over time tell us things not just about bait type and bait action but also bait color. 🤔
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Is Lowrance winning the #sonarwars in a couple areas?
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From the airport in Charlotte, went straight to a ramp on Norman and jumped into Marty Robinson's boat with a guy named Jeremiah Clark, who come to find is Lowrance's VP/GM for Fishing Systems. I wanted to learn about Lowrance ActiveTarget and whatever other new stuff they had, we had about 45 minutes to get 'er done and we did.
Couple quick disclaimers:
- This stuff is complicated – but it's sorta more complicated to understand than to use, if that makes sense.
- I'm not 100% on what every electronics company's stuff can do at the present moment...even the stuff in my own boat lol. That's why I jump at every chance like this.
Anyhow, here's what I believe is new for Lowrance:
- New HDS Pro displays (more computing power in it than the HDS Live)
- New transducers – ActiveTarget 2 and ActiveImaging HD
- If you have at least 1 HDS Pro display, you can run 2 ActiveTarget transducers and combine them in various ways – here's Jeremiah breaking that down in a 2-min YT vid. Don't think other electronics brands can do this (yet)?
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- New feature = Anchor at a Distance = fix your distance and direction from a waypoint. Brand new, couldn't find any more info on it, but Jeremiah said it's here!
Couple misc sonar tidbits
- Marty visualizes his cast distance when using ActiveTarget as "pieces of PVC pipe – 20' sections." In other words, a measure of distance he knows well. Got me thinking about what mine would be....
- If you can't read your 2D when you're running wide open, you've got an air bubble under your transducer. You need to adjust it so its level when running. You probably knew that, I didn't....
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New all-electric bass boat?
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Just available for pre-order right now, and will cost...$185,000! 🤯🤯
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More deets about the Lurion iON21:
> "Our boat was designed not only to make it easier to catch fish, but we wanted to make it more fun on the water too. Unlike our competitors, our boats accommodate 4 passengers instead of just 2. We also put a lot of thought into the boat's practicality, engine capacity, technology and finer details. This is not your average fishing boat."
> ...the iON21 offers a 360-degree range for fishing with fish-finding controls in the front and the rear of the boat. Built for speed, this exhilarating ride can reach a top speed of up to 100 mph. Best of all, it is fully electric, powered by 100kw batteries when in tournament mode that performs like a 250-hp equivalent outboard.
> ...4-seat cockpit design...and 4 bow screens integrated into the boat.
> "My son Colby is a high school student and avid tournament bass angler," [said] co-founder Cameron Clayton. "Inspired by his frustration after being unable to fish off the back of his boat during a competition because the engine was in the way, he came up with the idea of redesigning and making a more fishing-friendly boat that would allow more accessibility."
Says it'll run 200 miles per charge. More specs:
- Length 23' 6"
- Beam 8' 11"
- Draft 16"
- Towing Length 27' 11"
The company is taking $500 reservation deposits like some smaller custom and electric car-builders do. Says the first boat should be ready next summer. Looks like just renderings on the site, no shots of an actual boat. Website is here.
I know zip about this deal, this is just fyi!
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Potentially one of the biggest GOOD things in bass fishing
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Ever get frustrated with your local lakes? Like:
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😂 Ever wonder what it was like to fish there [insert number] years ago, when it was off the chain good?
Have you ever been frustrated with your state DNR's efforts along those lines?
Well what if there was ONE thing that could help all of that – help your state DNR make and manage fisheries better, and make your lakes better, like what they were in the "old days"?
Incredibly, there might be such a thing – not sure what it's called overall, but it's a deal MLF and I think a few other groups are behind that's run by these guys:
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That's Gary Klein (duh!) and private (meaning not DNR) fish/bass biologist Steven Bardin.
I've highlighted this deal before – hinted at the MLF-fed data they have (and are sharing with the states) and posted about a couple habitat projects they've done. But it can be waaaaay bigger than that.
Think about this: If you KNEW all bass fisheries could be rehabbed to make them amazing or at least way better, would you keep it to yourself or would you try to do that? If you succeeded, how many generations of fishermen would that affect? How would that help fishing? Yep the answers are obvious.
But doing this ain't easy because public bass lakes are...public. As we all know that means gov't folks are involved, which means politics, which means all kinds of things. But it can be done, and that's why it's amazing.
Stay tuned for more on this deal. I hope it gets wings, I hope the industry and all tourney groups support it, let's see what happens.
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Little more Redcrest tourin's
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Lookin' on my phone seems like I did more talkin' than shootin' but here some more tidbits:
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Clockwise from top L:
1. Word is these 2 colors of Z-Man HellRaizer shine on herring lakes. At least one of the Ron Davises (ChatterBait inventor) lives on a herring lake, and apparently a Hartwell local tourney was won it last year.
2. Well uh...that zipper area in the new Grunden's Pisces Bib is for the ladies and I hear they're pretty stoked about it!
3. Since I've never seen Boyd Duckett without some version of that custom Nike shoe for like the last 20 years, I asked him how many pairs he has – he said: "A lot."
4. Will Ryan Salzman compete in that giant shaka lid? Something tells me...yes.
5. Grunden's has got the camo! Warm, waterproof, light – gotcha covered fellow camo fans....
6. Come to find out the media van driver does MLF's PR on the side...? 😁
Here's a little more about that new Berkley swimbait – the Powerbait CullShad – that 4 guys were fishing at Redcrest (Edwin Evers, Adrian Avena, Justin Lucas and Josh Bertrand):
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- Will be out this fall-ish (Sept or sooner). Comes in 6" and 8", 12 colors. 6" should be $11.99 and 8" $14.99.
- Hook clip for skipping with that Berkley Fusion19 Treble.
- Same honeycomb-style swimming tail (boot tail) as Berkley's bladed jig trailer, the
- Supposedly will not roll with a high-speed retrieve. 👀
To me all of the above says that the Berkley pros were big-time involved in making it. Check what Josh Bertrand posted:
> You can customize the depth and speed you’ll fish it by using the nail weight slots on the bottom of the bait.
> It runs true out of the box (even at high speed) and also after catching a bunch of fish.
> The hook clip on the bottom keeps the treble in place even when you’re skipping the bait.
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> As a western angler, I’ve fished a lot of line-through and harness-style swimbaits. This is the best I’ve ever seen.
Whoa there hoss whoa! 😁 Josh ain't crazy enough to say stuff like that unless he means it – here's a good quick Insta vid where he talks more about it. Can't wait to fish one (or 3) mang!
Wonder if Berkley will do a limited-ish run to sell outta 'em like the MaxScent Flat Worm and Frittside – hahaha no they didn't mean to do that but it got some buzz going!
Reminds me – Josh and Justin were the guys who outed the Flat Worm so I guess this swimbait is something to pay attention to...👀
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I want a Chungus T-shirt man! Al Jr is also upping his game on his YT channel.
4. Rick Clunn and KVD were on Dave Mercer's podcast.
Good ones! I've asked Dave to slow down doing these things so I can listen to 'em all but so far I'm thinkin' I Dave doesn't listen to me? 🤔 I did tell him that he asks good questions and maybe he should talk to folks for a living...🤣
5. MLF BPT rookie Dylan Hays on BassEdge Radio.
I'm on that episode too, talkin' 'bout the Top 10 Tournament Bass Baits of All Time...🎯
6. Why was Tucker Smith's day 2 Eufaula Open weight DQd?
BassFan did a good job giving some context to it. Sad to hear about it.
2c: B.A.S.S. and MLFLW still making DQ reasons opaque I think does more harm than good overall. No other sports I can think of at the moment make this stuff top secret.
7. BOOYAH Covert spinnerbaits now in finesse size. 👀
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At 3/8- and 1/2-oz it's more of a smaller profile bait than a lower-weight bait.
In this 3-min YT vid, Jason Christie says the biggest reason he throws a finesse size is fishing pressure:
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They're already on TW! Comes in 3 blade configs: OK/CO, CO/CO and double willow.
But wait there's more 😁 – the Lurenet custom shop has a limited run of a couple Coverts in a new "arsonist" color:
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That limited-run color also comes in the BOOYAH Mobster Swim Jig and some matching YUM trailers.
8. 2 of the top 5 at Redcrest fished the new VMC RedLine hooks.
One was Jacob Wheeler, who is a Rapala VMC pro so was involved in 'em, and one was Alton Jones Jr who is NOT sponsored by Rapala. Not bad for a brand new hook...check 'em on TW.
9. Yamamoto is launching a new bait next week.
Any guesses?
From what I hear several companies will be rolling out new baits at the Classic...woo-hoo! 👊
10. New Virtus/Jewel Accura rods support autism.
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> The Virtus/Jewel Accura Series is dedicated to the courage and perseverance of the families that have been impacted by autism. Every Accura Series rod has been approved to include the Autism Society log, and a portion of the proceeds of every Virtus/Jewel Accura Series rod will be donated to the Autism Society....
> The series was designated "Accura" by longtime friends of our families whose lives have been impacted by autism....
#stout fo sho. The rods are high quality, $189.99 on the Jewel site so a little cheaper than their other rods.
11. KastKing has a new $36 baitcaster.
Yep you read that right:
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That's the J3 Fishing J3 Cross modular spinnerbait system – the jig part is on a sorta hinge. It's modular because you can replace the "jig" part (for a different color or weight) and also the blade setup to make it a bladed jig (called the Depth Charge). Shoutin' it out because:
1. It's new and different far as I know. That spinnerbait basically "self-tunes" too, so less messing with the wire.
2. The owner, Jason Embry, is a former very dangerous man and learned to tinker while fixing rifles under fire out in a desert...😳
3. J3 = Jesus, Jackie (Jason's wife) and and Jason. Check the back of every package:
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And 1/3 of their profits go to missionaries. Folks are walkin' the walk! They'll be at the Classic, both 4522 – here's their website.
13. X2Power Batteries intros 6 new lithium batteries.
12V and 36V. Also bluetooth so you can check battery life with their app.
14. Singapore company intro'ing lower-stretch mono...
...in Europe as alternative to braid. Post is a little strange because a guy from the company says braids don't hold up to abrasion as well as mono?
15. VA: 100K stripers and 100K hybrids stocked each year in Anna.
Sounds like a lot? How's the bass fishing there?
16. NY: 1 mil gallons of radioactive water will be dumped in Hudson?
How is that still legal?
17. Toilet paper a "significant source" PFAS chemicals in water.
Those are the toxic "forever chemicals." Guess we need organic TP now, aka "leaves"? 😅
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Couple JackHammer tips from Bryan Thrift
Reminder that Bryan was I believe the first dude to win a major tournament on a then brand new Chatterbait. Here he's talkin' 'bout fishing a JackHammer on his upriver stump spot at the Norman Redcrest:
> "The water up there was pretty cold, down in the low to mid 50s. So, I was really crawling the [JackHammer] slow, creeping and grinding it along bottom just fast enough to keep that hex-blade thumping and churning, creating that powerful, proven ChatterBait vibration.
> "To really bring out that natural erratic action I'll go with a soft jerkbait-style trailer. No extra drag from a broad tail helps activate the blade movement, triggering its natural hunting tendencies.
> "...you can initiate this action simply by using a constant fast retrieve. Or as I did at Redcrest, begin with a slow roll and then quickly add 2 or 3 fast turns of the reel handle...provides a burst of speed that triggers those cool little left- or right-hand turns.... Then immediately slow back down to really emphasize the lure's random evasive maneuvers."
Yep a Fluke-style trailer makes that bait hunt, and fwiw that trailer and the hunting action it causes has gotten me a few bites when the standard JackHammer setup didn't. Bryan also said:
> "...the king-size Big Blade ChatterBait is the real stand-out in terms of juking action. The oversized hex blade deflects more water and results in some crazy, random lure action. It's the bladed jig I usually throw early in the season – especially in dirtier water or if I need to really dial up the thump-factor."
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"...it eliminates the garish spectacle of holding up a gasping fish for photos in 100-degree weather for extended times at a weigh-in stage."
- AR outdoor writer Bryan Hendricks talkin' 'bout the MLF format – while also putting down the format that has successfully been used without one bit of damage to bass fisheries for 50+ years.
I like Bryan, I think he does a good job, he's entitled to his 2c, not mad just disagree. Plus as I understand it, focusing on just the FISH won't do much. Focusing on the FISHERY – water quality, habitat, forage, etc. – will do a lot.
Related: Dude in a new iKon Boats vid says tourneys have an 80% delayed mortality rate. Uh...no – that's been studied a lot over the years. It's cool promoting a new livewell system, but no need to chuck good folks under the bus man come on.
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Here's yer proof that there's actually TWO Loch Ness monsters...🤣
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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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