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Martens Leads Douglas Lake Challenge

iamski — Fri, 04 May 2012 07:51:32 -0400

Martens Leads Douglas Lake Challenge

DANDRIDGE, TN. - Aaron Martens began to pull himself out of his season slump Thursday by leading the Douglas Lake Challenge with 23 pounds, 14 ounces, an even 2 pounds ahead of Texan Matt Reed, his nearest challenger in the four-day Bassmaster Elite Series event.

"I'm out there catching nice fish for once," said Martens, a five-time Bassmaster champion who this year sits in 79th place in points after three 2012 Elite events. "It's been an awful four tournaments in a row for me (three Elite events plus an Open tournament). My wife said last night, 'Just go out and have fun.'"

His fun began about 7 a.m. Thursday, when he had 19 pounds of largemouth bass in the boat less than a half hour after the day's start. He began to cull to improve on 19 pounds. By the end of the day, the largest of his five biggest bass was a 5-pounder.

Reed held down second place with 21 pounds, 14 ounces. Third place was a tie at 21-1 between two South Carolinians: Andy Montgomery of Blacksburg, and Britt Myers of Lake Wylie. Fifth was Jeff Kriet of Ardmore, Okla., with 17-15.

Martens credited his first-day success with breaking his own rule to never pre-practice. He managed two sessions on Douglas Lake before the off-limits period. On his first trip to the lake, it was in winter pool of 30 or more feet below full pool. He noticed dozens of potential spots he felt would produce during the Bassmaster Elite Series event, even though it wouldn't happen until months later when the water level was higher.

"I can't believe how much pre-practice helped me," he said. "I knew if I was going to study any lake, this was the one, this was the one I could win on."

Martens, like many in the 99-angler Elite field, targeted schooling largemouth in deeper water. The trick was not only finding the massive schools, but triggering a first bite to set off a feeding spree. It was all in the timing, but the exact formula was elusive.

"The schools wander around. They relate to an area, they don't relate to any certain thing about the area - which I like. It's like Castaic, where I grew up," said Martens, a native Californian who moved several years ago to Leeds, Ala.

Reed of Madisonville, Texas, said he panicked early Thursday when the fish weren't biting in the same way they had for him in practice earlier in the week. He ditched his deep-water pattern and fled to the bank, but then thought better of the hasty adjustment.

"I was there (on the bank) for 30 minutes, then thought, 'No, this isn't going to get it done, and turned around and put all my eggs in one basket," he said.

Timing was everything for Reed, once he was back in deep water.

"I'm seeing a ton of fish, but rarely do you get them to bite," he said. "If you don't get bit in the first 10 or 15 minutes, you might as well pack up and go look for another school. But you may come back to the same school later, and it will bite."

The 10 to 12 bites he did get were quality, he added.

Reed noted that most of the Elite field were keying on the same offshore schools.

"It's hard to find a place to park," he said, a comment on the shared water. "You have to run and look for a place you can get on."

The Elite action continues Friday with the full field of 99 pros. Fans are invited to watch the 3:15 p.m. ET weigh-in at The Point Resort and Marina in Dandridge, or online at Bassmaster.com, which will feature live video of the weigh-ins and a real-time leaderboard beginning at 3:15 p.m. ET.Bassmaster.com also will continue to offer photo galleries, daily results and BASSCam videos.

Immediately following the weigh-in Saturday, fans will be treated to a free concert by Bush Hawg on the Bassmaster stage.

Sunday's finale will pit the Top 12 anglers after three days for the first place prize of $100,000 and a guaranteed berth in the 2013 Bassmaster Classic.
2012 Bassmaster Elite Series Official Sponsors: Toyota, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Evan Williams Bourbon, Humminbird, Mercury, MinnKota, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha

2012 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsor: BOOYAH, Carhartt, Lowrance, Luck "E" Strike, Power-Pole, Ramada

2012 Bassmaster Elite Series Proud Partner: Mustang Survival

About B.A.S.S.
For more than 40 years, B.A.S.S. has served as the authority on bass fishing. The organization advances the sport through advocacy, outreach and an expansive tournament structure while connecting directly with the passionate community of bass anglers through its Bassmaster media vehicles.

The Bassmaster brand and its multimedia platforms are guided by a mission to serve all fishing fans. Through its industry-leading publications - Bassmaster Magazine and B.A.S.S. Times - comprehensive website Bassmaster.com and ESPN2 and Outdoor Channel television programming,Bassmaster provides rich, leading-edge content true to the lifestyle.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series, Cabela's B.A.S.S. Federation Nation events and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bassmaster Classic.

B.A.S.S. offers an array of services to its more than 500,000 members and remains focused on issues related to conservation and water access. The organization is headquartered in Birmingham, Ala.
-30-

Media Contact: Cara Clark, 205-313-0955, cclark@bassmaster.com, or Dave Precht, 205-313-0931,dprecht@bassmaster.com

2012 Douglas Lake Challenge 5/3-5/6
Douglas Lake, Dandridge TN.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 1

Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts

1. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 5 23-14 99
Day 1: 5 23-14
2. Matt Reed Madisonville, TX 5 21-14 98
Day 1: 5 21-14
3. Andy Montgomery Blacksburg, SC 5 21-01 97
Day 1: 5 21-01
3. Britt Myers Lake Wylie, SC 5 21-01 97
Day 1: 5 21-01
5. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 5 17-15 95
Day 1: 5 17-15
6. Matt Greenblatt Port St Lucie, FL 5 17-09 94
Day 1: 5 17-09
7. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 5 16-09 93
Day 1: 5 16-09
8. Matt Herren Trussville, AL 5 16-07 92
Day 1: 5 16-07
8. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, AZ 5 16-07 92
Day 1: 5 16-07
10. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 5 16-04 90
Day 1: 5 16-04
11. Shaw E Grigsby Jr. Gainesville, FL 5 16-02 89
Day 1: 5 16-02
12. Randy Howell Springville, AL 5 16-01 88
Day 1: 5 16-01
12. Jeremy Starks Scott Depot, WV 5 16-01 88
Day 1: 5 16-01
14. Brandon Card Caryville, TN 5 16-01 86
Day 1: 5 16-01
15. Marty Robinson Lyman, SC 5 16-00 85
Day 1: 5 16-00
16. Jamie Horton Centerville, AL 5 15-14 84
Day 1: 5 15-14
17. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 5 15-12 83
Day 1: 5 15-12
17. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 5 15-12 83
Day 1: 5 15-12
19. Nate Wellman Newaygo, MI 5 15-01 81
Day 1: 5 15-01
20. Ott DeFoe Knoxville, TN 5 14-14 80
Day 1: 5 14-14
21. Travis Manson De Pere, WI 5 14-12 79
Day 1: 5 14-12
22. Cliff Pace Petal, MS 5 14-12 78
Day 1: 5 14-12
23. Bobby Lane Lakeland, FL 5 14-08 77
Day 1: 5 14-08
24. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 5 14-05 76
Day 1: 5 14-05
24. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 5 14-05 76
Day 1: 5 14-05
26. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 5 14-01 74
Day 1: 5 14-01
27. Mark Davis Mount Ida, AR 5 13-12 73
Day 1: 5 13-12
28. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 5 13-11 72
Day 1: 5 13-11
29. Billy McCaghren Mayflower, AR 5 13-04 71
Day 1: 5 13-04
29. Fletcher Shryock Newcomerstown, OH 5 13-04 71
Day 1: 5 13-04
31. Chris Lane Guntersville, AL 5 13-03 69
Day 1: 5 13-03
32. Terry Butcher Talala, OK 5 13-02 68
Day 1: 5 13-02
33. Gerald Swindle Warrior, AL 5 13-01 67
Day 1: 5 13-01
34. Kelly Jordon Palestine, TX 5 12-13 66
Day 1: 5 12-13
34. Pete Ponds Madison, MS 5 12-13 66
Day 1: 5 12-13
36. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 5 12-08 64
Day 1: 5 12-08
37. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 4 12-07 63
Day 1: 4 12-07
38. Boyd Duckett Demopolis, AL 5 12-06 62
Day 1: 5 12-06
39. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 5 12-04 61
Day 1: 5 12-04
40. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 5 12-03 60
Day 1: 5 12-03
41. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 5 12-01 59
Day 1: 5 12-01
42. Kyle A. Fox Lakeland, FL 5 12-00 58
Day 1: 5 12-00
43. Kenyon Hill Norman, OK 5 11-15 57
Day 1: 5 11-15
44. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 5 11-14 56
Day 1: 5 11-14
44. Bradley Roy Lancaster, KY 5 11-14 56
Day 1: 5 11-14
46. Jonathon VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 5 11-13 54
Day 1: 5 11-13
47. Michael Simonton Fremont, OH 5 11-10 53
Day 1: 5 11-10
48. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 5 11-09 52
Day 1: 5 11-09
48. Alton Jones Woodway, TX 5 11-09 52
Day 1: 5 11-09
48. Kevin Short Mayflower, AR 5 11-09 52
Day 1: 5 11-09
51. Keith Poche Pike Road, AL 3 11-08 49
Day 1: 3 11-08
52. John Crews Salem, VA 5 11-06 48
Day 1: 5 11-06
53. J Todd Tucker Moultrie, GA 5 11-05 47
Day 1: 5 11-05
54. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 5 11-04 46
Day 1: 5 11-04
55. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 5 11-02 45
Day 1: 5 11-02
55. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 5 11-02 45
Day 1: 5 11-02
57. Derek Remitz Grant, AL 5 11-01 43
Day 1: 5 11-01
58. Denny Brauer Camdenton, MO 5 11-00 42
Day 1: 5 11-00
59. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 5 10-15 41
Day 1: 5 10-15
60. Paul Elias Laurel, MS 5 10-14 40
Day 1: 5 10-14
61. Davy Hite Ninety Six, SC 5 10-13 39
Day 1: 5 10-13
62. Grant Goldbeck Boerne, TX 5 10-13 38
Day 1: 5 10-13
63. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 5 10-12 37
Day 1: 5 10-12
64. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 5 10-10 36
Day 1: 5 10-10
64. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 5 10-10 36
Day 1: 5 10-10
66. Chad Griffin Cresson, TX 5 10-09 34
Day 1: 5 10-09
67. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 5 10-08 33
Day 1: 5 10-08
67. Morizo Shimizu Matsugaoka JAPAN 5 10-08 33
Day 1: 5 10-08
69. Dustin Wilks Rocky Mount, NC 5 10-07 31
Day 1: 5 10-07
70. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, AL 5 10-04 30
Day 1: 5 10-04
71. Michael Iaconelli Pittsgrove, NJ 5 10-03 29
Day 1: 5 10-03
72. Ish Monroe Hughson, CA 5 10-02 28
Day 1: 5 10-02
73. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, LA 5 10-01 27
Day 1: 5 10-01
73. Jared Miller Norman, OK 5 10-01 27
Day 1: 5 10-01
73. David Walker Sevierville, TN 5 10-01 27
Day 1: 5 10-01
76. Casey D Ashley Donalds, SC 5 10-00 24
Day 1: 5 10-00
76. Chris Zaldain San Jose, CA 5 10-00 24
Day 1: 5 10-00
78. Scott Ashmore Broken Arrow, OK 5 09-10 22
Day 1: 5 09-10
79. Rick Morris Lake Gaston, VA 5 09-09 21
Day 1: 5 09-09
80. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 5 09-08 20
Day 1: 5 09-08
80. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 5 09-08 20
Day 1: 5 09-08
82. Russell Parrish Riesel, TX 5 09-06 18
Day 1: 5 09-06
83. Zell Rowland Montgomery, TX 5 09-05 17
Day 1: 5 09-05
84. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 5 09-03 16
Day 1: 5 09-03
85. Clark Reehm Shreveport, LA 5 08-07 15
Day 1: 5 08-07
86. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 5 08-03 14
Day 1: 5 08-03
87. Jami Fralick Martin, SD 4 08-01 13
Day 1: 4 08-01
88. Fred Roumbanis Bixby, OK 5 08-00 12
Day 1: 5 08-00
89. Gary Klein Weatherford, TX 5 07-15 11
Day 1: 5 07-15
90. Pat Golden Bethlehem, GA 5 07-14 10
Day 1: 5 07-14
91. Kevin Ledoux Choctaw, OK 5 07-13 9
Day 1: 5 07-13
92. Jason Quinn Lake Wylie, SC 5 07-06 8
Day 1: 5 07-06
93. John Murray Phoenix, AZ 5 07-02 7
Day 1: 5 07-02
94. David Smith Del City, OK 5 06-04 6
Day 1: 5 06-04
95. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, AL 4 05-00 5
Day 1: 4 05-00
96. Byron Velvick Boenre, TX 3 04-09 4
Day 1: 3 04-09
97. Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 3 04-04 3
Day 1: 3 04-04
98. Brent Broderick Oregonia, OH 2 03-02 2
Day 1: 2 03-02
99. Casey Scanlon Lenexa, KS 5 01-08 1
Day 1: 5 01-08
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 92 483 1181-07
----------------------------------
92 483 1181-07

Bass and Bluegrass: Country Rock Group to Perform at Douglas Lake Challenge

Jared867 — Wed, 02 May 2012 19:44:37 -0400

Bass and Bluegrass: Country Rock Group to Perform at Douglas Lake Challenge

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — As spring segues into summer, it’s an ideal time to enjoy the outdoors, particularly with the right blend of entertainment. The Evan Williams Bourbon Concert Series, in conjunction with the Bassmaster Elite Series Douglas Lake Challenge tournament, combines bass fishing allure with a high-energy concert on Saturday, May 5, at The Point Resort in Dandridge, Tenn.

After top B.A.S.S. pros weigh in their daily catches and sign autographs for fans, the band Bush Hawg will take the stage. The group’s music brings together elements of country and hard rock from the Nashville-based RCA recording artist.

Craig Hand, lead singer of Bush Hawg, said the band members have long been outdoorsmen.

“I grew up in St. Augustine, Fla., and I spent a lot of time bass fishing as a kid,” Hand said. “A lot of us hunt and fish, so it’s exciting for us to do this.”

The public is invited to the Douglas Lake Challenge, May 3-6, where all events, including the concert, are free. Daily launches and weigh-ins will be held at The Point Resort, 122 Boat Dock Drive, Dandridge, Tenn., 37725. The pros will launch at 6:30 a.m., and weigh-in begins at approximately 3:15 p.m. ET.

A family-friendly expo will include B.A.S.S. sponsor interactive displays on Saturday and Sunday and on-water demos featuring the Mercury Power of Champions Tour, Yamaha’s 2012 Discover VMAX SHO Demo tour and Nitro Boat demo rides. Local vendors will have food and beverages available for purchase. Free off-site shuttle parking will be available at West Main Street and Cherokee Drive.

The Evan Williams Bourbon Concert Series kicked off at the Bassmaster Classic in February. As it continues, Bush Hawg will play the Bassmaster Elite Series Toldedo Bend Battle in Many, La., June 7-10 and the Toyota Trucks All-Star Week on Lake Shelbyville in Decatur, Ill., Sept. 20-23.

2012 Bassmaster Elite Series Official Sponsors: Toyota, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Evan Williams Bourbon, Humminbird, Mercury, MinnKota, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha

2012 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsor: BOOYAH, Carhartt, Lowrance, Luck “E” Strike, Power-Pole, Ramada

2012 Bassmaster Elite Series Proud Partner: Mustang Survival

About B.A.S.S.

For more than 40 years, B.A.S.S. has served as the authority on bass fishing. The organization advances the sport through advocacy, outreach and an expansive tournament structure while connecting directly with the passionate community of bass anglers through its Bassmaster media vehicles.

The Bassmaster brand and its multimedia platforms are guided by a mission to serve all fishing fans. Through its industry-leading publications — Bassmaster Magazine and B.A.S.S. Times — comprehensive website Bassmaster.com and ESPN2 and Outdoor Channel television programming, Bassmaster provides rich, leading-edge content true to the lifestyle.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series, Cabela’s B.A.S.S. Federation Nation events and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bassmaster Classic.

B.A.S.S. offers an array of services to its more than 500,000 members and remains focused on issues related to conservation and water access. The organization is headquartered in Birmingham, Ala.

Dudley Wins Walmart FLW Tour Major On Beaver Lake

iamski — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 07:10:14 -0400

Dudley Wins Walmart FLW Tour Major On Beaver Lake

ROGERS, AR- Coming in to this event Castrol pro David Dudley of Lynchburg, Virginia had career winnings of $2.9 million dollars - the most of any professional angler on the FLW Tour. Dudley widened that gap today by winning the Walmart FLW Tour Major on Beaver Lake presented by Straight Talk. The $125,000 victory has pushed him over the $3 million mark. Dudley weighed in a five-bass limit worth 16 pounds, 9 ounces to win the tournament, besting the best bass-fishing pros from all across the United States, Canada, Spain and Japan.

Dudley weighed in 20 bass totaling 54 pounds, 7 ounces during four days of competition fishing. He edged out a man who had previously won this event in 2007, Andy Morgan of Dayton, Tenn., who weighed in five bass today totaling 17 pounds, 8 ounces. Morgan's four-day total of 53-15 was good enough for second place - and a $35,000 check.

"Winning a tournament like this really drives me," said Dudley, who now has 32 top-10 finishes and six victories in FLW competition. "Me and Glenn (Browne) are good friends, but when he said on stage yesterday that there were only three anglers in contention to win and he didn't mention my name, well, it really fueled my fire. So thank you, Glenn Browne. What I did today was like hitting two grand slams in the last inning of a baseball game. I just kept plucking away at it. It's a passion for me.

"You really just have to go out there and catch as much as you can," Dudley continued. "You can't worry about what the other guy is doing. Fishing is so much of a mental game; you have to be mentally tough. It's not about the skill, it's about the decisions. It's not like I'm a better angler than anybody out there. It's the decisions that we make that separate us."

Dudley used his decision-making skills today to leap from fourth place after Saturday's weigh-in into the top spot. He caught most of his fish this week on an umbrella rig, but changed his strategy this afternoon after having a slow morning.

"I was catching them all week on the umbrella rig, but around 1 p.m. I realized that if I wanted to win I was going to need to switch it up," he said. "I went to a steep bank that I had caught a couple off of this week using a wacky worm, and the wind was blowing pretty good against it. I made the decision to switch back to the wacky worm and I just worked my way down that bank. I caught four or five keepers and culled a couple of times, and it just seemed to turn on for me. Everywhere I stopped I caught a big one. I ended up only weighing in one on the umbrella rig today."

Despite the umbrella rig being a key part of Dudley's success throughout the week, he knows that it was not the only factor in his victory.

"That rig is something that we are all still learning about," said Dudley. "It's gotten a bad name because some people say that it mistreats the fish, but it doesn't do any of that. It's a lure that is going to catch some fish, but it does not dominate. Of my 20 bass that I weighed in, only 13 of them came on the umbrella rig. Seven of my fish came on different lures. The umbrella rig is a tool, not a cure-all tool. I believe the key decision to my tournament was not going after the spotted bass. I had a legit 10 to 12 schools located, and it was very tempting. I knew I couldn't rely on them, though, because they would not have had the weight that helped me get to this spot today."

Moments after his emotional victory, Dudley was already looking ahead to the next FLW Tour event on the Potomac River.

"I'm really looking forward to the Potomac, that's for sure. I really love tidal rivers and I love the current. The Potomac is a very healthy fishery right now, so all of you Fantasy Fishing players out there better pick some good power fishermen."

The remaining top 10 pros finished the tournament in:

3rd: Chevy pro Luke Clausen, Spokane, Wash., 20 bass, 53-9, $30,000
4th: Straight Talk pro Scott Canterbury, Springville, Ala., 20 bass, 52-13, $25,000
5rd: Dr. Pepper TEN pro Glenn Browne, Ocala, Fla., 20 bass, 51-14, $20,000
6th: Chevy pro Jay Yelas, Corvallis, Ore., 20 bass, 50-5, $17,000
7th: Charlie Evans, Gilbertsville, Ky., 20 bass, 46-10, $16,000
8th: Snapple pro Jacob Powroznik, Prince George, Va., 20 bass, 45-14, $15,000
9th: Kelley Jaye, Dadeville, Ala., 19 bass, 40-2, $14,000
10th: Brad Rightnour, Mingoville, Pa., 17 bass, 38-12, $13,000

A complete list of results can be found at FLWOutdoors.com.

Overall there were 46 bass weighing 115 pounds even caught by pros Sunday. The catch included eight five-bass limits.

Chad Pipkens of Holt, Mich., won the co-angler division and $25,000 Saturday with a three-day total of nine bass weighing 22-15 followed by Todd Lee of Jasper, Ala., in second place with 10 bass weighing 18-14 worth $7,500.

In FLW Tour Major tournaments, pros and co-anglers are competing for valuable points that could help them qualify for the 2012 Forrest Wood Cup presented by Walmart, the world championship of bass fishing. The top 35 pro and co-anglers in the point standings from the six FLW Tour Major tournaments will qualify.

The Tour stop on Beaver Lake presented by Straight Talk was hosted by the Rogers Convention & Visitors Bureau, and was the fourth of 10 Walmart FLW Tour tournaments of the 2012 season. The Walmart FLW Tour on the Potomac River presented by the National Guard will be the next tournament and will be held May 17-20 in National Harbor, Md. The event will be hosted by the National Harbor and boats will launch from the National Harbor Marina in National Harbor. For a complete schedule, visit FLWOutdoors.com.

Coverage of the Beaver Lake tournament will be broadcast in high-definition (HD) on NBC Sports Network when "FLW" airs June 3 from 1 - 2 p.m. ET. "FLW" is hosted by Jason Harper and is broadcast to more than 559 million households worldwide, making it the most widely distributed weekly outdoors-sports television show in the world.

For complete details and updated information visit FLWOutdoors.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing.

ABOUT FLW
FLW is the industry's premier tournament-fishing organization, providing unparalleled fishing resources and entertainment to our sponsors, fans and host communities. FLW is offering anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to compete for millions in prize money nationwide in 2012 over the course of 191 tournaments across five tournament circuits, each providing an avenue to the sport's richest payday and most coveted championship trophy - the Forrest Wood Cup. FLW is committed to providing a lifestyle experience that is the "Best in Fishing, On and Off the Water," through a variety of platforms including tournaments, outdoor expos and the world's richest fantasy sports game - FLW Fantasy Fishing. For more information about FLW and FLW Fantasy Fishing, visit FLWOutdoors.com or FantasyFishing.com and look for FLW on Twitter and Facebook.

www.FLWOutdoors.com

Media Contact
Joe Opager, Communications Specialist, (612) 337-1989 (w), (218) 434-0748 (m) or joe.opager@jacobs-mgmt.com

Bassmaster Magazine Crowns 100 Best Bass Fishing Lakes in U.S.

iamski — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 07:02:36 -0400

Bassmaster Magazine Crowns 100 Best Bass Fishing Lakes in U.S.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Bassmaster magazine, the official publication for members of B.A.S.S., announced Tuesday the 100 best bass fishing lakes in the U.S. The list was compiled in a months-long process that included research from state fisheries agencies, nominations from B.A.S.S. Federation Nation tournament organizers and a panel of widely traveled professional anglers, fishing writers and others.

Despite its reputation as a dangerous place to fish, Texas' Falcon Lake ranked in first place. The 58-year-old impoundment straddles the Rio Grande and is shared by Texas and Mexico. The 83,000-acre reservoir has been in the news as much for drug cartel-related crime as for its enormous catches of largemouth bass.

Falcon produced the record winning catch for the Bassmaster Elite Series circuit when Paul Elias caught 132.5 pounds of bass during four days in 2008. Although the Bassmaster Elite Series tournaments have not returned to the lake since, it regularly gives up tournament-winning catches averaging more than 8 pounds per bass.

Texas tops the list of states with eight lakes or rivers in the Top 100, followed by Florida, which has seven fisheries on the list, including No. 2-ranked Lake Okeechobee. Rounding out the Top 10 are Lake Guntersville in Alabama, Lake Erie in Michigan/Ohio/New York/Pennsylvania, Lake Champlain in New York/Vermont, Lake Amistad in Texas, Lake Minnetonka in Minnesota, San Joaquin Delta in California, Lake Coeur d'Alene in Idaho and Clear Lake in California.

According to Bassmaster editor James Hall, the idea for ranking the best lakes emerged at a B.A.S.S. tournament during a lively discussion among outdoor writers with definite ideas about the nation's top performing lakes. Hall decided the debate warranted a more in-depth investigation.

"Instead of just having opinions, we wanted to put science behind the opinion to rate the '100 Best Bass Lakes,'" Hall said. "The method was as scientific as we could make it. The result is a list of outstanding fisheries. I think it will be fun for people to consider where their favorite lake stands compared to the best in another state."
The 100 Best Bass Lakes list was ranked using a variety of qualifiers. Department of Natural Resource representatives provided the five most productive lakes in each state based on electroshock surveys and angler catch rates. B.A.S.S. Federation Nation presidents offered top lake recommendations based on tournament catches, while conservation directors supplied details on lake accessibility and best fish stocking practices.

A blue ribbon panel of outdoor writers, editors, Bassmaster Elite Series professional anglers and fishing industry veterans ranked the final list based on current fishability of each lake, considering its history, big fish and overall quantity potential and aesthetic surroundings of the area.

The list is slated to appear annually. For full details about each of the lakes ranked, as well as more details about each one, visit http://www.bassmaster.com/news/100-best-bass-lakes.

Bassmaster Magazine 2012 100 Best Bass Lakes in the U.S.

1. Falcon Lake, Texas
2. Lake Okeechobee, Florida
3. Lake Guntersville, Alabama
4. Lake Erie, Michigan/Ohio/New York/Pennsylvania
5. Lake Champlain, New York/Vermont
6. Lake Amistad, Texas
7. Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota
8. San Joaquin Delta, California
9. Lake Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
10. Clear Lake, California
11. Rainy Lake, Minnesota
12. Pickwick Lake, Alabama/Mississippi/Tennessee
13. Lake St. Clair, Michigan
14. Oneida Lake, New York
15. Toledo Bend, Texas/Louisiana
16. Kentucky Lake/Barkley Lake, Kentucky/Tennessee
17. Grand Lake, Oklahoma
18. Kezar Lake, Maine
19. Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Texas
20. Columbia River, Washington/Oregon
21. Kissimmee Chain Of Lakes, Florida
22. Candlewood Lake, Connecticut
23. Santee Cooper lakes, South Carolina
24. Roosevelt Lake, Arizona
25. Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin
26. Lake Fork, Texas
27. Louisiana Delta, Louisiana
28. Lake Ouachita, Arkansas
29. Lake Konawa, Oklahoma
30. Lake Of The Ozarks, Missouri
31. Potomac River, Maryland/Virginia
32. Shasta Lake, California
33. Lake Havasu, Arizona
34. Lake Michigan, Wisconsin/Illinois/Indiana/Michigan
35. Mille Lacs Lake, Minnesota
36. Florida Everglades, Florida
37. Lake Charlevoix, Michigan
38. Lake Mead, Nevada
39. Choke Canyon Lake, Texas
40. Lake Seminole, Georgia/Florida
41. Congamond Lakes, Massachusetts
42. Table Rock Lake, Missouri
43. Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire
44. Falls Lake, North Carolina
45. Umpqua River, Oregon
46. Okoboji Lake, Iowa
47. Red River, Louisiana
48. Pueblo Reservoir, Colorado
49. DeGray Lake, Arkansas
50. Trap Pond, Delaware
51. Bull Shoals Lake, Arkansas/Missouri
52. Spirit Lake, Iowa
53. St. Lawrence River, New York
54. Squam Lake, New Hampshire
55. High Rock Lake, North Carolina
56. Arbuckle Lake, Oklahoma
57. Lake Tarpon, Florida
58. Apache Lake, Arizona
59. Lake Powell, Utah/Arizona
60. Perry Reservoir, Kansas
61. Chickamauga Lake, Tennessee
62. Lake Wawasee, Indiana
63. Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia
64. Lake Conroe, Texas
65. Noxon Rapids, Montana
66. Diamond Valley Lake, California
67. Summit Reservoir, Nebraska
68. Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey
69. Rend Lake, Illinois
70. Lake Pleasant, Arizona
71. Lake Audubon, North Dakota
72. Flaming Gorge Reservoir, Wyoming
73. Harris Chain Of Lakes, Florida
74. Cobbosseecontee Lake, Maine
75. Ute Lake, New Mexico
76. Susquehanna River, Pennsylvania
77. Wilson Reservoir, Kansas
78. Elephant Butte Lake, New Mexico
79. Lake Oahe, South Dakota
80. Gull Lake, Minnesota
81. Kerr Reservoir/Buggs Island, N.C./Virginia
82. Dale Hollow Lake, Tennessee/Kentucky
83. Lake Gaston, North Carolina
84. Bullards Bar Reservoir, California
85. Dworshak Reservoir, Idaho
86. Tygart Lake, West Virginia
87. Keith Sebelius Reservoir, Kansas
88. O.H. Ivie, Texas
89. Lake Wallenpaupack, Pennsylvania
90. Lake Murray, South Carolina
91. Lake Sammamish, Washington
92. Lake Eufaula, Alabama/Georgia
93. Enid Reservoir, Mississippi
94. Old Hickory Lake, Tennessee
95. Fort Peck Reservoir, Montana
96. Manasquan Reservoir, New Jersey
97. Lake Mohave, Nevada
98. Lake Lanier, Georgia
99. Sebago Lake, Maine
100. McPhee Lake, Colorado

Falcon Lake, Texas

Lake Okeechobee, Florida

Lake Guntersville, Alabama
About B.A.S.S.
For more than 40 years, B.A.S.S. has served as the authority on bass fishing. The organization advances the sport through advocacy, outreach and an expansive tournament structure while connecting directly with the passionate community of bass anglers through its Bassmaster media vehicles.

The Bassmaster brand and its multimedia platforms are guided by a mission to serve all fishing fans. Through its industry-leading publications - Bassmaster Magazine and B.A.S.S. Times - comprehensive website Bassmaster.com and ESPN2 and Outdoor Channel television programming, Bassmaster provides rich, leading-edge content true to the lifestyle.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series, Cabela's B.A.S.S. Federation Nation events and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bassmaster Classic.

B.A.S.S. offers an array of services to its more than 500,000 members and remains focused on issues related to conservation and water access. The organization is headquartered in Birmingham, Ala.

Media Contact
Cara Clark, 205-313-0955, cclark@bassmaster.com, or Dave Precht, 205-313-0931, dprecht@bassmaster.com

B.A.S.S. News: Early Lead Brings Victory for Palaniuk at TroKar Quest

Jared867 — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 11:10:21 -0400

BULL SHOALS, Ark. — Brandon Palaniuk may have $100,000 in the bank after his win today at the Bassmaster Elite Series TroKar Quest at Bull Shoals Lake, but that’s not going to change his lifestyle. He planned to spend Sunday night sleeping in his pickup truck, just as he has every night this week and during most other tournaments.

“It’s just easy,” said Palaniuk, who beds down in his covered pick-up bed near launch sites. “I’ve got power and a shower, and it’s close to the water. That’s all I need. And it’s free. A hundred thousand dollars doesn’t go as far as it used to.”

The 24-year-old angler from Rathdrum, Idaho, began the final round with a forbidding lead of 12-pounds, 13 ounces, after weighing in the heaviest five-bass limits each of the first three days.

Although his final string was much lighter than usual, his four-day total of 78 pounds, 6 ounces gave him a double-digit margin over Britt Myers of Lake Wylie, S.C., who had 66 pounds, 8 ounces. The rest of the field was much closer. Myers outranked Trussville, Ala., pro Matt Herren’s four-day total of 66-7 by just 1 ounce.

Edwin Evers of Talala, Okla., took fourth place with the day’s biggest bag of 17-11 for a tournament total of 66 pounds, and Brent Chapman of Quivira, Kan., was fifth with 64-7. Chapman took over the lead for Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year with his performance at Bull Shoals.

Palaniuk found his winning area in the west Sugar Loaf part of Bull Shoals Lake. The area held ideal spawning habitat — flat gravel banks and brush, as well as offshore structure with a roadbed across the back of the spawning pocket.

“The fish were only a couple of hundred yards away from where they wanted to spawn,” Palaniuk said. “It was a quick two- to three-minute swim from where they wanted to hang and where they wanted to spawn. I honestly had the best area in the lake.”

It’s a textbook structure spot, and one that other competitors in the Trokar Quest tried during practice. None had the confidence in it that Palaniuk did. The young angler found it on a lake map, and on his first cast to the spot in practice, he caught a 3 ½-pound bass on it. That validated his game plan and gave him confidence he could win, even before competition began.

Palaniuk fished deep-diving crankbaits – a Rapala DT16 in a blueback herring color and a Strike King 6XD in brown ghost craw. He fished them on an Abu Garcia Veritas rod with a Revo Winch reel in a 5.4:1 gear ratio. “The DT 16 series is my confidence bait,” he said. “I caught my entire 24-4 bag on Day 2 on that.”

A key to getting bites, he explained, was to hit the submerged rockpiles around the roadbed from precisely the right angle. The rockpiles were about the size of a boat deck, and a miss of 1 or 2 feet wouldn’t get a bite.

Palaniuk also praised his Hydrowave unit, an electronic device that mimicks the sound of baitfish, for triggering bites from bigger bass. “After I would turn it on, I would catch a 3- or 4-pounder,” he said.

Myers, whose previous top spot in a Bassmaster Elite was seventh, felt as if second place was a win for him after a slow start to the 2012 season. The weather affected his fishing today, making all the difference to his tournament.

“It got really rough, and I made a NASCAR move,” said Myers who hails from Lake Wylie South Carolina. “I came back about 35 minutes early, because it was rougher than I anticipated. I might have won the tournament that way if Brandon didn’t make it back.”

Myers’ move paid off. He caught a 3-plus pound smallmouth right next to the dock, improving his bag by that critical ounce.

Myers’ key bait was a Rapala DT10 on 10-pound-test Berkley fluorocarbon line. He used a Pinnacle 6.3:1 reel with a 7-11 cranking stick.

“That was key, because I could launch that DT10, which was designed to run 8 or 9 feet, and I could get it down to 10 or 12. The fish were on the ledge. They were close to the bank but it wasn’t a bank deal.

Herren said a combination of the water clearing and the level falling caused him to lose track of the fish. Yesterday, with two hours left of fishing, the Trussville, Ala., angler located them again in the main channel. He followed up with that strategy today, pulling in 75 using the M Series green pumpkin jig.

Evers boated his 17-11 bag today by fishing any windblown point with a mudline, using a square-billed crankbait Xcs Excalibur 200 and 300 size.

“You could catch a 3-1/2-pounder on the points,” he said. “I caught a bunch, but just ran out of time.”

One of the youngest anglers in the Series, Palaniuk launched his career in the Elites with a win in the B.A.S.S. Federation National Championship, in 2012. He finished in the Top 5 in his first Classic and was the first Federation Nation champion to join the Elite Series.

First prize in the TroKar Quest is $100,000 and a qualification for the 2013 Bassmaster Classic. Pros are also fishing to rack up points that count toward postseason entry, Classic qualification and the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year award.

Carhartt Big Bass of the tournament, which paid $750, plus another $750 if the angler was wearing Carhartt clothing: Zell Rowland’s 6-13 on Day 2.

Berkley Heavyweight Award of $500 for the best five-fish limit: Brandon Palaniuk’s 24-4 on Day 2.

Power-Pole Captain’s Cash of $1,000 if the winner has Power-Poles installed on his boat: Brandon Palaniuk

Toyota $1,000 bonus to the leader in the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year points race: Brent Chapman with 286 points.

Luck “E” Strike Comeback Award of $500 to the most-improved pro in the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year points race: Brandon Palaniuk

Elite Series competition continues next month in Tennessee with the May 3-6 Douglas Lake Challenge in Dandridge, Tenn.

2012 Bassmaster Elite Series Official Sponsors: Toyota, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Evan Williams Bourbon, Humminbird, Mercury, MinnKota, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha

2012 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsor: BOOYAH, Carhartt, Lowrance, Luck “E” Strike, Power-Pole, Ramada

2012 Bassmaster Elite Series Proud Partner: Mustang Survival

About B.A.S.S.

For more than 40 years, B.A.S.S. has served as the authority on bass fishing. The organization advances the sport through advocacy, outreach and an expansive tournament structure while connecting directly with the passionate community of bass anglers through its Bassmaster media vehicles.

The Bassmaster brand and its multimedia platforms are guided by a mission to serve all fishing fans. Through its industry-leading publications — Bassmaster Magazine and B.A.S.S. Times — comprehensive website Bassmaster.com and ESPN2 and Outdoor Channel television programming, Bassmaster provides rich, leading-edge content true to the lifestyle.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series, Cabela’s B.A.S.S. Federation Nation events and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bassmaster Classic.

B.A.S.S. offers an array of services to its more than 500,000 members and remains focused on issues related to conservation and water access. The organization is headquartered in Birmingham, Ala.

“Pitchin', Skippin' & Flipping”, Chat, Tuesday, April 24th, at 8:30pm EST

Jared867 — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 11:02:25 -0400

There are many techniques that can be utilized to catch many species of fish but the three techniques, “Pitchin', Skippin' & Flipping”, are signature presentations that are definitive of bass fishing.

Every bass angler is drawn to docks, stumps, laydowns and other forms of heavy cover that scream "BASS LIVE HERE". There are many baits that can be used to extract fish from these forms of cover but when it comes to getting the baits to their target, these three techniques, when executed properly, simply cannot be beat.

Tuesday, we will be discussing these three lethal techniques. If you excel at these techniques, come share your knowledge and experience. If you are new to these techniques, join us and we will be sure that the next time you hit the water, you be able to make good use of them. We will not only be discussing the how's and why's but, as usual, we will also be discussing what baits, lines, rods and reels are recommended and which we all prefer.

Please come chat with us tomorrow, Tuesday, April 24th, as we discuss “Pitchin', Skippin' & Flipping” - ask questions, share your opinions and advice and join in the fun times with everyone. You are also more than welcome to just kick back, relax and read everyone's chat. Feel free to take notes if you wish. There will be a lot of useful information shared for sure. Members will start arriving after 8PM Eastern and chat will start officially at 8:35PM Eastern Time and 7:35PM Central Time.

To join us, just be sure to be logged into the forums and click the "BASS CHAT" button in the top navigation bar.

I look forward to seeing everyone in chat TONIGHT.

Tattered Thumbs, Jared

To join us in our chat room follow this link: http://www.thebassholes.com/bassin-forums/index.php?action=123flashchat&width=100%25&height=700

Registration on our site is FREE. To register as a member on our site follow this link: http://www.thebassholes.com/bassin-forums/index.php?action=register

Can they spin to win?

Jared867 — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 14:02:47 -0400

Can they spin to win?

By Alan McGuckin

It's been awhile since B.A.S.S. held a top-level tournament on Bull Shoals. Seems the history-rich fishery has simply been forgotten in time along our travels to newfound tournament fisheries from Falcon Lake to Oneida.

Ron Shuffield won the last big B.A.S.S. derby here 21 years ago in 1991. And two years before, in October of 1989, career-long Quantum pro Gary Klein won with just 30-pounds over three days.

Klein outsmarted the stingy fishery 23 years ago with West Coast techniques in Bull Shoals' clear waters —exclusively with spinning tackle. In fact, he joked recently about the fact that even though he showed living legend Rick Clunn the pattern in practice that week, Clunn, like most southern pros, rejected the light line and "egg beater" reel regimen.

So history begs to know whether we might see a very rare spinning tackle-driven Elite Series win this week.

"Spinning tackle could be a factor today, especially if it slicks off under calm winds and sunny skies," said Marty Robinson, sporting his favorite Carhartt knit cap on a chilly morning at the Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock and Marina.

Terry "Big Show" Scroggins says there's no doubt spinning reels will play a role for successful anglers this week. "You're either gonna fish rock or you're gonna fish rock," joked the Toyota pro just prior to standing for the Star Spangled Banner.

"Weather will determine if the bass are on shallow rock, suspended or on deep rock," said Scroggins. "You might be catching them shallow one day on crankbaits and spinnerbaits, and then the weather changes and they'll shoot down the hill in a hurry to deeper rock. That's when shaky heads and drop-shots on spinning reels will be a factor," predicts Scroggins.

Robinson and Scroggins both agree spinning reels will be a factor, but neither was willing to say this event would be won with a spinning reel in hand.

However, the never bashful Gerald Swindle says no way will they spin to win. "Nope. The guy that wins this has to catch at least one 4-pounder each day, and I don't see that happening with spinning tackle over a four day event," said Swindle.

"There's a 15-inch minimum length limit on largemouth in this lake, and I don't see anybody catching a pile of bass bigger than 15-inches with spinning tackle," added Swindle, as he pulled a Quantum size 30 Energy Spinning reel from his rod locker, just in case.

"When Gary Klein won here with spinning tackle, the water was probably a lot cleaner. The only dude in this tournament that has even a remote chance to win with spinning tackle is Aaron Martens," said Swindle.

"And I say that because he's the only one willing to deadstick a drop shot over a branch in 70 feet of water for 64 seconds until one decides to bite."

Palaniuk Takes Day 1 Lead at TroKar Quest

iamski — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 08:01:36 -0400

Palaniuk Takes Day 1 Lead at TroKar Quest

BULL SHOALS, AK -- Brandon Palaniuk was the last angler to launch his boat for the Bassmaster Elite Series TroKar Quest on Bull Shoals Lake in Mountain Home, Arkansas, today, and he was the last to weigh-in, but his Day 1 finish was first with a catch of 21 pounds, 9 ounces. That included the Carhartt Big Bass of the day, a 5-pound, 11-ounce largemouth.

Palaniuk will take the lead at launch tomorrow, but he started Day 1 with some trepidation.

"Being the last boat out, I was a little bit nervous about where I was going to start," Palaniuk said. "I ran to the first place, and I didn't really have anything going. I started jumping around. The next spot I went to, I caught one about 3 pounds. I was still thinking and deciding if I was doing the right thing and then at the next spot, I pulled up and caught that 5-11 and then a 5 ½-pounder. Then I knew I was doing the right deal, and just ground it out all day."

Using a technique he found in practice fishing, Palaniuk boated the five bass that put him in the lead, including mostly fat prespawners.

"I'm running around, covering a lot of water, fishing a lot of different stuff. Just kind of junk fishing so far, which is kind of a scary deal but I'm hoping it will hold up," Palaniuk said.

In taking the first day lead, Palaniuk hopes that momentum will carry through the tournament.

"It's huge, it's everything," Palaniuk said. "In this sport it's so mental. Once you catch that first big one, it lets you know you're kind of doing the right thing. Then you catch another big one, and it kind of compounds. It gives you that much more confidence to keep doing the same thing throughout the day."

Palaniuk said the second round Friday may require a different approach. Conditions were sunny and calm today, and he saw improved water clarity from practice days. But with rain coming in and temperatures dropping overnight, he plans to make adjustments as he goes.

"When I caught that big one today, I wasn't real calm, I was jacked up," Palaniuk said. "But it's important to stay calm so you can make those adjustments. You can't be really bull headed and stubborn and try to make something work when it's not."

Matt Herren of Trussville, Ala., took the second spot on Day 1 with 20 pounds, 13 ounces. Cliff Pace of Petal, Miss., is in third with a catch of 19 pounds, 10 ounces.

"I had a heck of a day," Herren said. "I probably caught about 25 keepers. I've been on a pretty good bite all week, but everything started coming together this morning. I settled down in one area and found another area that seemed to hold up just as well. I wish it would stay hot and sunny like it was today. We might have rain tomorrow, and it might be all right or it might not."

Pace, who reeled in about 30 fish throughout the day, said he exceeded his expectations today in a tournament that's all about "getting good quality bites." He got a couple of bonus bites that helped him inch closer to the 20-pound mark and has plenty of water he tried out in practice that he didn't have time to get to today.

"If you catch two 5-pounders here, that gets you well quick," Pace said. "It's a pattern deal. One thing about fishing a pattern you've got to keep hustling and keep going and hope you come across those bigger fish. There's guys who did what I did today and weren't catching quality bites. But I got fortunate and got some of them."

First prize in the TroKar Quest is $100,000 and a qualification for the 2013 Bassmaster Classic. Pros are also fishing to rack up points that count toward postseason entry, Classic qualification and the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year award.

The public is invited to the official TroKar Quest weigh-ins, which take place throughout the tournament at approximately 3 p.m. CT at Bull Shoals White River State Park at Pavilion #2 & Picnic Area on the east side of Bull Shoals Dam,153 Dam Overlook Lane, Bull Shoals, AR 72619.

Coverage at Bassmaster.com will continue each day. Fans have free, full access to live streaming video, real-time leaderboards, results, reports and photo galleries. On Saturday and Sunday, the War Room feature will provide updates from the water along with analysis and commentary.

Fans can also track the tournament on Facebook (www.facebook.com/bass) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/BASS_nation).

2012 Bassmaster Elite Series Official Sponsors: Toyota, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Evan Williams Bourbon, Humminbird, Mercury, MinnKota, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha
2012 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsor: BOOYAH, Carhartt, Lowrance, Luck "E" Strike, Power-Pole, Ramada

2012 Bassmaster Elite Series Proud Partner: Mustang Survival

About B.A.S.S.
For more than 40 years, B.A.S.S. has served as the authority on bass fishing. The organization advances the sport through advocacy, outreach and an expansive tournament structure while connecting directly with the passionate community of bass anglers through its Bassmaster media vehicles.

The Bassmaster brand and its multimedia platforms are guided by a mission to serve all fishing fans. Through its industry-leading publications - Bassmaster Magazine and B.A.S.S. Times - comprehensive website Bassmaster.com and ESPN2 and Outdoor Channel television programming, Bassmaster provides rich, leading-edge content true to the lifestyle.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series, Cabela's B.A.S.S. Federation Nation events and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bassmaster Classic.

B.A.S.S. offers an array of services to its more than 500,000 members and remains focused on issues related to conservation and water access. The organization is headquartered in Birmingham, Ala.

-30-

Media Contact: Cara Clark, 205-313-0955, cclark@bassmaster.com, or Dave Precht, 205-313-0931,dprecht@bassmaster.com

2012 Trokar Quest 4/19-4/22
Bull Shoals Lake, Bull Shoals, Ark.
Standings Day 1

Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts

1. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 5 21-09 99
Day 1: 5 21-09
2. Matt Herren Trussville, AL 5 20-13 98
Day 1: 5 20-13
3. Cliff Pace Petal, MS 5 19-10 97
Day 1: 5 19-10
4. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 5 18-02 96
Day 1: 5 18-02
4. Bradley Roy Lancaster, KY 5 18-02 96
Day 1: 5 18-02
6. Alton Jones Woodway, TX 5 17-13 94
Day 1: 5 17-13
7. Bobby Lane Lakeland, FL 5 17-11 93
Day 1: 5 17-11
8. Scott Ashmore Broken Arrow, OK 5 17-06 92
Day 1: 5 17-06
8. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 5 17-06 92
Day 1: 5 17-06
10. Jason Quinn Lake Wylie, SC 5 17-05 90
Day 1: 5 17-05
10. Clark Reehm Lufkin, TX 5 17-05 90
Day 1: 5 17-05
12. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 5 17-03 88
Day 1: 5 17-03
13. Travis Manson De Pere, WI 5 17-01 87
Day 1: 5 17-01
14. Keith Poche Pike Road, AL 5 16-09 86
Day 1: 5 16-09
15. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 5 16-08 85
Day 1: 5 16-08
16. Randy Howell Springville, AL 5 16-07 84
Day 1: 5 16-07
16. Michael Iaconelli Pittsgrove, NJ 5 16-07 84
Day 1: 5 16-07
18. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 5 16-01 82
Day 1: 5 16-01
18. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 5 16-01 82
Day 1: 5 16-01
20. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, AL 5 15-15 80
Day 1: 5 15-15
21. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 5 15-12 79
Day 1: 5 15-12
22. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 5 15-09 78
Day 1: 5 15-09
23. Billy McCaghren Mayflower, AR 5 15-07 77
Day 1: 5 15-07
24. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 5 15-06 76
Day 1: 5 15-06
25. Derek Remitz Grant, AL 5 15-05 75
Day 1: 5 15-05
26. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 5 15-01 74
Day 1: 5 15-01
26. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, LA 5 15-01 74
Day 1: 5 15-01
28. Ish Monroe Hughson, CA 5 14-15 72
Day 1: 5 14-15
28. Britt Myers Lake Wylie, SC 5 14-15 72
Day 1: 5 14-15
30. Ott DeFoe Knoxville, TN 5 14-10 70
Day 1: 5 14-10
31. Kelly Jordon Palestine, TX 5 14-08 69
Day 1: 5 14-08
32. Gerald Swindle Warrior, AL 5 14-05 68
Day 1: 5 14-05
33. Gary Klein Weatherford, TX 5 14-03 67
Day 1: 5 14-03
34. Rick Morris Lake Gaston, VA 5 14-02 66
Day 1: 5 14-02
34. Matt Reed Madisonville, TX 5 14-02 66
Day 1: 5 14-02
34. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 5 14-02 66
Day 1: 5 14-02
34. Nate Wellman Newaygo, MI 5 14-02 66
Day 1: 5 14-02
38. J Todd Tucker Moultrie, GA 5 13-15 62
Day 1: 5 13-15
39. Russell Parrish Riesel, TX 5 13-13 61
Day 1: 5 13-13
39. David Smith Del City, OK 5 13-13 61
Day 1: 5 13-13
41. Terry Butcher Talala, OK 5 13-10 59
Day 1: 5 13-10
41. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 5 13-10 59
Day 1: 5 13-10
43. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 5 13-09 57
Day 1: 5 13-09
44. Kyle A. Fox Lakeland, FL 5 13-08 56
Day 1: 5 13-08
45. Casey D Ashley Donalds, SC 5 13-07 55
Day 1: 5 13-07
45. David Walker Sevierville, TN 5 13-07 55
Day 1: 5 13-07
47. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, AL 5 13-05 53
Day 1: 5 13-05
48. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 5 13-04 52
Day 1: 5 13-04
49. Kevin Ledoux Choctaw, OK 5 13-02 51
Day 1: 5 13-02
49. Dustin Wilks Rocky Mount, NC 5 13-02 51
Day 1: 5 13-02
51. Jami Fralick Martin, SD 5 13-01 49
Day 1: 5 13-01
52. Andy Montgomery Blacksburg, SC 5 13-00 48
Day 1: 5 13-00
52. Zell Rowland Montgomery, TX 5 13-00 48
Day 1: 5 13-00
54. Brandon Card Caryville, TN 5 12-15 46
Day 1: 5 12-15
54. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 5 12-15 46
Day 1: 5 12-15
54. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 5 12-15 46
Day 1: 5 12-15
57. Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 5 12-15 43
Day 1: 5 12-15
58. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 5 12-14 42
Day 1: 5 12-14
59. John Crews Salem, VA 5 12-13 41
Day 1: 5 12-13
59. Kevin Short Mayflower, AR 5 12-13 41
Day 1: 5 12-13
59. Jonathon VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 5 12-13 41
Day 1: 5 12-13
62. Jeremy Starks Scott Depot, WV 5 12-12 38
Day 1: 5 12-12
63. Paul Elias Laurel, MS 5 12-10 37
Day 1: 5 12-10
64. Boyd Duckett Demopolis, AL 5 12-08 36
Day 1: 5 12-08
65. Marty Robinson Lyman, SC 5 12-07 35
Day 1: 5 12-07
66. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 5 12-06 34
Day 1: 5 12-06
67. Denny Brauer Camdenton, MO 5 12-05 33
Day 1: 5 12-05
67. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, AZ 5 12-05 33
Day 1: 5 12-05
69. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 5 12-04 31
Day 1: 5 12-04
70. Mark Davis Mount Ida, AR 5 12-03 30
Day 1: 5 12-03
70. John Murray Phoenix, AZ 5 12-03 30
Day 1: 5 12-03
72. Matt Greenblatt Port St Lucie, FL 5 12-02 28
Day 1: 5 12-02
72. Chris Lane Guntersville, AL 5 12-02 28
Day 1: 5 12-02
74. Jamie Horton Centerville, AL 5 12-01 26
Day 1: 5 12-01
74. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 5 12-01 26
Day 1: 5 12-01
74. Byron Velvick Boenre, TX 5 12-01 26
Day 1: 5 12-01
74. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 5 12-01 26
Day 1: 5 12-01
78. Pat Golden Bethlehem, GA 5 11-15 22
Day 1: 5 11-15
78. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 5 11-15 22
Day 1: 5 11-15
80. Fred Roumbanis Bixby, OK 5 11-14 20
Day 1: 5 11-14
80. Morizo Shimizu Matsugaoka JAPAN 5 11-14 20
Day 1: 5 11-14
80. Chris Zaldain San Jose, CA 5 11-14 20
Day 1: 5 11-14
83. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 5 11-12 17
Day 1: 5 11-12
84. Shaw E Grigsby Jr. Gainesville, FL 5 11-11 16
Day 1: 5 11-11
84. Kenyon Hill Norman, OK 5 11-11 16
Day 1: 5 11-11
86. Pete Ponds Madison, MS 5 11-10 14
Day 1: 5 11-10
87. Casey Scanlon Lenexa, KS 5 11-09 13
Day 1: 5 11-09
88. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 5 11-07 12
Day 1: 5 11-07
89. Michael Simonton Fremont, OH 5 11-02 11
Day 1: 5 11-02
90. Davy Hite Ninety Six, SC 5 10-13 10
Day 1: 5 10-13
91. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 5 10-11 9
Day 1: 5 10-11
92. Grant Goldbeck Boerne, TX 4 10-11 8
Day 1: 4 10-11
93. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 5 10-08 7
Day 1: 5 10-08
94. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 5 10-01 6
Day 1: 5 10-01
95. Chad Griffin Cresson, TX 5 09-09 5
Day 1: 5 09-09
96. Brent Broderick Oregonia, OH 5 09-07 4
Day 1: 5 09-07
97. Fletcher Shryock Newcomerstown, OH 4 08-02 3
Day 1: 4 08-02
98. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 3 06-03 2
Day 1: 3 06-03
99. Jared Miller Norman, OK 3 05-10 1
Day 1: 3 05-10
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 95 489 1349-02
----------------------------------
95 489 1349-02

“Spinnerbaits, Buzzbaits & Chatterbaits”, 'TONIGHT's Chat, Tuesday, April 17th, at 8:30pm EST

Jared867 — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 12:09:21 -0400

When bass are active and on the move, few baits can catch as many and be as exciting to fish as spinnerbaits, buzzbaits and chatter style baits.

At the most basic, taking them straight from the package, casting them out and reeling them straight back to the boat will produce fish quickly. Although, an angler can do various other things to enhance the baits productivity and give them an edge.

Tonight, we will be discussing these three great baits “Spinnerbaits, Buzzbaits & Chatterbaits”! We will be covering everything starting with which brands, sizes and colors anglers prefer for different conditions, as well as which trailers we prefer. Our discussion will also move towards tackle selection and discussing which rods, reels and line work best for which baits and conditions and why. There are countless choices and opinions and we are hoping everyone who joins will share what works best for them and why.

Please come chat with us tonight, Tuesday, April 17th, as we discuss “Spinnerbaits, Buzzbaits & Chatterbaits” - ask questions, share your opinions and advice and join in the fun times with everyone. You are also more than welcome to just kick back, relax and read everyone's chat. Feel free to take notes if you wish. There will be a lot of useful information shared for sure. Members will start arriving after 8PM Eastern and chat will start officially at 8:35PM Eastern Time and 7:35PM Central Time.

To join us, just be sure to be logged into the forums and click the "BASS CHAT" button in the top navigation bar.

I look forward to seeing everyone in chat TONIGHT

To join us in our chat room follow this link: http://www.thebassholes.com/bassin-forums/index.php?action=123flashchat&width=100%25&height=700

Registration on our site is FREE. To register as a member on our site follow this link: http://www.thebassholes.com/bassin-forums/index.php?action=register

Bassmaster Elite Series To Uncover Bull Shoals' Potential

iamski — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 07:55:45 -0400

Bassmaster Elite Series To Uncover Bull Shoals' Potential

Bull Shoals, something of a sleeper lake for several years, will be getting a wake-up call April 19-22 in the Bassmaster Elite Series Trokar Quest Tournament, the first time the Bassmaster Elite Series has stopped at the Arkansas-Missouri border fishery.

"The last lake in the White River chain, Bull Shoals is, in my opinion, the best lake in the chain, and it's received the least amount of pressure," said Kevin Short, one of the 99 Bassmaster Elite Series pros in the event.

One reason for such an unpressured bass fishery, Short said, can be traced to consecutive years of high water. Bass were able to wiggle deep into flooded shoreline trees, some submerged in an extra 30 feet of water. Fishing that "flooded forest" was so frustrating, many an angler quickly gave up wrestling with the lure-eating tree limbs.

The spawns proceeded, and year classes of bass - largemouth, smallmouth and spotted - flourished.

The 2012 Elite field should see levels as close to normal as they've been for some time, Short said. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which regulates the lake, has been steadily drawing water through the system in anticipation of heavy spring rainfall toward the end of the month.

"People pull up to the shoreline, see the old waterline, and think the lake's low. It's not. It's actually going to be at normal pool level, or maybe a little bit above, when we get there," he said.

From Mayflower, Ark., Short knows White River impoundments. The most recent proof of that is his 2011 win in a Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Central Open on Table Rock Lake. But success on a Bull Shoals' sister lake doesn't make him a shoo-in for the TroKar Quest, Short said. While the lakes are similar - rock-clay-gravel bottom unshaded by vegetation - subtle differences change the game. And his victory was in October.

This time out, Short expects spawning bass to play a role. But unlike in past Aprils, the spawn cycle is on the downhill side because of the warm winter, he noted.

The sheer size of Bull Shoals will tend to spread the field out. The lake is about 45,500 surface acres, has close to 1,000 miles of shoreline (at higher water levels), and scores of seemingly untouched coves. The lake is uncharted competition water for many in the field: it's been almost 21 years since B.A.S.S. last brought an Elite-caliber tournament to Bull Shoals.

That was in 1991. Now-Elite pro Mark Davis of Mount Ida, Ark., was there, and finished fifth. Although he hasn't competed on Bull Shoals since, he has visited the lake often "just for fun," he said.

"The lake went through a period of time when the fishing wasn't very good, but in recent years has come back," Davis said. "Now there's a good population of all three species - largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass. We'll have mixed bags."

The lake has successfully fought off a bout of largemouth bass virus that affected the fish about 10 years ago, he noted, and the bass are now healthy and numerous.

"We'll see a lot of 2-, 2 1/2-pound fish," he said. "To win, you'll need 3 1/2-pound bass on average, and a 2 1/2-pound average to get a check. Anything less isn't going to win you any money. That's about normal for a mountain lake."

In an Elite event, each pro can bring in five fish a day, so Davis' winning-weight estimate shakes out to about 60 to 70 pounds over the event's four days.

Davis said he's looking forward to competing on such a huge fishery.

"There's not a creek, not a pocket, that does not contain fish. It will be a real pleasure to fish," he said.

First prize in the TroKar Quest is $100,000 and a berth in the 2013 Bassmaster Classic. The third of eight regular-season Elite events, the tournament gives pros another opportunity to earn points that count toward post-season and Classic qualifications. Pros also amass points that count in the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year race.

Daily weigh-ins at 3:15 p.m. CT will be at Bull Shoals White River State Park (on the east side of the dam), 153 Dam Overlook Lane, Bull Shoals, AR 72619. Fans are invited to arrive early and enjoy the TroKar Quest Family Fest at the park. All Bassmaster activities are free and open to the public.

For fans watching online, Bassmaster.com will provide extensive coverage. When the anglers are on the water, fans can follow along via BASSCam video and BASSTrakk reports from the water, blogs, and the new War Room feature. During the weigh-ins, live video and real-time leaderboards will relay the action. Photo galleries, stories and standings will be posted daily.

The Bassmasters on ESPN2 will feature the TroKar Quest on April 29 at 8 a.m. ET.

Hosting the event are Mountain Home, Ark., and the State of Arkansas.

2012 Bassmaster Elite Series Official Sponsors: Toyota, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Evan Williams Bourbon, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha
2012 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsor: BOOYAH, Carhartt, Lowrance, Luck "E" Strike, Power-Pole, Ramada

2012 Bassmaster Elite Series Proud Partner: Mustang Survival

About B.A.S.S.
For more than 40 years, B.A.S.S. has served as the authority on bass fishing. The organization advances the sport through advocacy, outreach and an expansive tournament structure while connecting directly with the passionate community of bass anglers through its Bassmaster media vehicles.

The Bassmaster brand and its multimedia platforms are guided by a mission to serve all fishing fans. Through its industry-leading publications - Bassmaster Magazine and B.A.S.S. Times - comprehensive website Bassmaster.com and ESPN2 and Outdoor Channel television programming, Bassmaster provides rich, leading-edge content true to the lifestyle.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series, Cabela's B.A.S.S. Federation Nation events and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bassmaster Classic.

B.A.S.S. offers an array of services to its more than 500,000 members and remains focused on issues related to conservation and water access. The organization is headquartered in Birmingham, Ala.

Media Contact
Cara Clark, 205-313-0955, cclark@bassmaster.com, or Dave Precht, 205-313-0931, dprecht@bassmaster.com

BASS Elite Pro Brandon Card Endorses REALIS Baits by DUO North America

Jared867 — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 14:53:54 -0400

Card Endorses REALIS Baits by DUO North America

Guelph, Ont, Canada – Today DUO North America officially announced a sponsorship of first-year Bassmaster Elite Series angler Brandon Card. DUO North America recently announced the introduction of Realis, a new quality line of Japanese hard baits from the company that is one of the top-selling brands in Japan.

“I could not resist learning all about the products at the Bassmaster Classic and spent many hours learning about how the baits are made. These baits are the real deal. I hope to represent them well on the Elite Series and introduce more people to the brand here in North America,” said Card. “This is such an exciting time for me and I am so thankful to be working with DUO during their introduction of Realis to the North American bass market.”

DUO North America CEO Sheila Murphy said, “We love Brandon’s story of college fishing and his move up to the Elite Series. We firmly believe in supporting today’s young anglers, as they are and will continue to be the future of fishing, and hence the future of our business here. We wish Brandon well and will do all we can to help him succeed, starting with great quality hard baits that he has already put to good use on the water.”

DUO Japan is one of Japan’s top brands of premium hard baits with sales over 15 million units. DUO is now making their entry into the US, Canadian and Mexican markets and DUO North America will be the sole distribution outlet. “DUO Japan is very supportive of our efforts here in North America and supports us in so many ways”, says Murphy.

DUO International (Japan) manufacturers a large array of saltwater hard baits, accommodating very specific applications, as well as a freshwater line, and new for all markets, is the bass-focused REALIS line of lures. The REALIS line will be expanding to better suit the needs of North American anglers. “We look forward to working with Brandon and other top anglers to bring new products to market.”

Martin Bakos, of DUO Japan says, “For us to have an Elite Series Pro come on board with us, at the same time we made our North American debut at the Classic, is outstanding! We are very excited to be in this market now.”

Please visit www.duo-inc.co.jp for more information and Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/realis2012. Sales inquiries may be made to sales@duonorthamerica.com.

ABOUT BRANDON CARD

Brandon Card, 25, of Caryville, TN is distinguished as the first Bassmaster Elite Series qualifier to have fished his way through the collegiate bass fishing ranks. Card captained the University of Kentucky bass fishing team for 4 years, graduating in 2009. While at UK he fished the Boat US series, College BASS and the FLW College Fishing series. He won the Ultimate Match Fishing College edition in 2007. Finishing 2nd in the 2011 Bassmaster Southern Opens earned Card his berth in the Elite Series.

Brandon is active on his Facebook fan page www.facebook.com/BrandonCardFishing. A blog following his journey from college angler to the Elite Series is posted weekly on www.bassmaster.com.

‘Turnaround’ Reese leads Angler of the Year race

iamski — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 07:06:16 -0400

‘Turnaround’ Reese leads Angler of the Year race

By Deb Johnson

Gary Tramontina

Bassmaster Elite Series pros have already made the first turn in the 2012 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year race, and Skeet Reese of Auburn, Calif., is in the lead. See the full listing of Angler of the Year standings

Reese has 192 points after the first two events of the eight-tournament season. He did very well in the back-to-backs that kicked off the 2012 season in Florida: fifth in the March 15-18 St. Johns River event, and third at Lake Okeechobee in the March 22-25 Power-Pole Slam.

“If I do my job and go out there and catch them, everything else takes care of itself,” said Reese, on track to make 2012 end better than his 2011 season, when he finished 54th in points.

Brent Chapman of Lake Quivira, Kan., with 191 points, is in second place in the annual race for the title. He posted a fourth-place finish on the St. Johns and a fifth on Okeechobee.

With 187 points, Todd Faircloth of Jasper, Texas, trails Reese by five. Faircloth was the runner-up on the St. Johns and finished 11th on Okeechobee.

“I’ve had a good two weeks here in Florida, got off to a good start and a good year, and I’m proud of that,” said Faircloth, who has ranked above 25 in the Angler of the Year standings for six consecutive years.

“It’s way, way too early to start talking about winning Angler of the Year,” he said at the conclusion of the Okeechobee event.

Faircloth’s five-point margin may seem small, but it could prove to be significant later in the season. The points system was changed for the 2012 season. A pro earns one point for every place achieved. Thus the winner in the Elite field of 99 is awarded 99 points. Second place earns 98 points, third 97 points, and so on. There are no bonus points for leading.

After two events, No. 10 in points — 2012 Classic champ Chris Lane — is 27 points out of first place. No. 20 in points — rookie Brandon Card of Caryville, Tenn. — is 54 behind Reese in first.

Card, the highest-ranking rookie in points, is in the lead for Rookie of the Year honors.

Consistency will keep an angler near the top. Alton Jones of Woodway, Texas, winner of the St. Johns event, ended in 69th place at Okeechobee, and fell from first place in points to 23rd.

In fourth place in points is Terry Scroggins of San Mateo, Fla., who was in early contention for the 2011 title won by Kevin VanDam, now a seven-time AOY winner with four consecutive titles. VanDam is now in ninth place in points, 24 ticks behind Reese.

Reese, the 2007 Angler of the Year winner, who is also the 2009 Bassmaster Classic champion, came close in 2009 and 2010 for a second AOY title. Both times it didn’t happen for him, but for VanDam. Then in 2011, Reese wasn’t in contention. He also did not qualify for the 2012 Bassmaster Classic, the first he had missed since a skip in 2002.

That off year is behind him now, he said last week during the Okeechobee event.

“I feel like I’m fishing ‘normal’ again,” Reese said. “I’m fishing the way I’m supposed to fish, and I probably didn’t fish that way last year.”