Innholdsfortegnelse for July - August 2017 i Bassmaster

Jacob Wheeler Hometown: Chattanooga, Tenn. Age: 26 You’ve had a lot of success in this sport in a short amount of time. To what do you attribute your fast success? I think it comes down to two things, really. The first is experience. I’m only 26, but I’ve been fishing professionally for six years. You get to see a lot of things and you learn so much every year you’re out there. Don’t get me wrong; there’s still a lot for me to learn. The second part of it is hard work. Some folks might be surprised to see your new hometown listed. When did you move and what was the motivation behind it? I moved to Chattanooga, Tenn., right before Dardanelle. It’s more centrally located, right in the heart…

Branson, Mo., is known for its music and shows, and for bass anglers there’s also nearby Table Rock Lake. Another attraction for anglers is the History of Fishing Museum, which boats a collection of more than 40,000 pieces valued at $5 million. Unlike many fishing lure and tackle collections that feature the work of numerous collectors, the History of Fishing Museum’s collection was gathered entirely by Karl White and his wife, Beverly. Karl White, an antique lure consultant to this magazine who contributes the “What’s It Worth?” column, started collecting lures at 8 years old and is a founding member of the National Fishing Lure Collectors Club. In addition to its thousands of lures, the collection features rare items such as an early 18th-century Spike Reel; one of only four…

New York’s gateway to Lake Champlain, this upstate town will play host to the HUK Bassmaster Elite presented by Go RVing on July 20-23. Walk through American History The Battle of Plattsburgh in September 1814 helped seal victory for the U.S. and end the War of 1812. Sip a Plucky Rooster Ale Plattsburgh Brewing Co. crafts this brew based on beer made by U.S. founding fathers. The name comes from a rooster that was in a coop aboard the U.S. vessel Saratoga during the Battle of Plattsburgh. The cocky bird crowed and kicked when the craft was glanced by a British cannonball. Look for Monsters The Elite pros will be looking for monster bass on Lake Champlain, but sightseers always look for the legendary lake “monster” Champ, which is celebrated…

The Louisiana Office of Tourism unveiled a fishing-based, travel-incentive program this past spring, highlighting bass fishing opportunities at Louisiana state parks and lakes. The Louisiana Bass Trail rewards participating anglers with T-shirts and other swag for visiting seven lakes in eight Louisiana parks that feature “world-class bass fishing.” With the inclusion of Toledo Bend, that’s not hyperbole. Participants receive a “Bassport” upon enrollment and earn credits for visiting lakes and parks. Other prizes are available to anglers by posting bass photos on social media and tagging the #LABassTrail. To sign up, visit LouisianaTravel.com/bass-trail.…

It will be a fascinating race to watch, especially since so many outstanding Elite anglers are bunched near the top. IN BASEBALL, YOU never say out loud that a pitcher is on his way to a no-hitter. It’ll jinx him. I learned this many years ago while watching Nolan Ryan pitch seven hitless innings. When I revealed this obvious fact to the people sitting around me, you could have heard the “Shhhh!” from the pitcher’s mound. In the same way, Bassmaster Elite Series anglers don’t want you to talk about the fact that they’re leading the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year race, or even that they might have a good chance to grab the lead. In baseball, though, it should be okay to point out that it’s the ninth…

After that first installment of the rankings, I have maintained a bucket list of fisheries I want to experience. “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” — Saint Augustine GROWING UP ON the muddy western bank of Lake Arrowhead in north Texas, I’d often wonder about fishing on the east side of the lake. My brother and I spent the lion’s share of our preteen summers wade-fishing within a cast of my grandparents’ dock. The lake seemed immense, and there was little doubt in our minds that piscatorial treasure surely lurked in the nether reaches of the water body; areas we could not get to. We’d also hear tales of other nearby lakes at the local bait shop. Possum Kingdom, Lake Ray…

When you end up in the water, re-enter your yak by pulling your torso across the kayak in front of your seat, then roll to get your butt where it belongs. We’ll show the technique in an upcoming column. Meanwhile, it takes some strength to pull yourself across the kayak while kicking, and stirrups on a strap attached to the yak can help use leg power. They’re easy and inexpensive to make. 1 You’ll need 10 to 12 feet of 1 1/2-inch nylon strap, four 1 1/2-inch buckles and two 12-inch pieces of 1/2-inch tube. A needle and some 30-pound-test braided fishing line helps get the strap through the tube. Scissors and a lighter (to melt the cut ends of the strap) are the only tools needed. 2 Start by…

“Most of the world is covered by water. A fisherman’s job is simple: Pick out the best parts.” CharlesWaterman There’s a giant largemouth bass swimming around Toledo Bend Reservoir that generated thousands of dollars for Elite Series pro Jason Christie, and now the fish has indirectly spawned another $3,000 for bass conservation on the lake. Christie caught the Toledo Bend Elite Series’ biggest bass April 6. The 9-pound, 10-ounce fish earned Christie the Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors. But that wasn’t the big fish’s last financial contribution. Shortly after the Elite, the Toledo Bend Lake Association held its Bass Unlimited: Back a Great Fighter fundraising banquet. Gary Moore, president of the association, convinced Christie to donate the rod he used to catch the giant, and the 6-10 Falcon Cara rod…

July Independence Day. We had to declare independence; there were no bass in England. National Ice Cream Day. Proposed Ben and Jerry’s flavor: Bucketmouth Crunch 19 National Hot Dog Day. They’re as American as bass fishing. August 4 National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day. We’ve heard there will soon be a KVD Lucky Cookie Day. 6 International Forgiveness Day. Remember when we caught you fishing that spot we showed you? We’re finally over it. Correction In “What’s It Worth?” in the June issue, the photo of the Pflueger Crescent Spoon was incorrect. The correct photo is below.…

Deer Creek Lodge, Sebree, Ky. Thirty-acre Deer Creek Lake, created in 2003, has been stocked with gorilla bass, a hybrid cross between Florida bass and northern tiger bass that have been bred to be aggressive and easy to catch. These bass have had excellent growth rates, helped along by stockings of various forage fish, and the bass feel right at home in the lake’s flooded timber, brushpiles, boulders, gravel beds, humps and ledges. The lake record is 11 pounds, 9 ounces. Fishing packages require a minimum of two people and include overnight stays at Lakeside Lodge, a guide, a boat, meals and cocktails. Rates: $475 Trophy Bass Fishing Package (one night and one day, per person); $1,100 Trophy Bass Fishing Package (three nights and two days, per person); 270-835-2424, deercreeklodge.net…

Fred Stepp of Dana, N.C., caught a spotted bass at Lake Summit in early April that would’ve eclipsed the state record by 3 1/2 pounds, but rather than risk the fish’s death while he waited for state officials to certify it, he decided to let it go. According to Carolina Sportsman, Stepp was pre-fishing for a tournament when he caught the 10.3-pound spotted bass off a rockpile using a Yamamoto Senko. The current North Carolina record spot is 6.5 pounds. “It was a little bit of a tough decision, but what it came down to was that I’d rather have that fish’s genetics continue in the lake than set a new state record,” Stepp said. “It would have been nice if I could have had it certified and released the…

Pack your bags, because after reading about the best lakes in the nation this year, you’ll not want to waste a second getting on the road, boat in tow. This year’s rankings mark the sixth installment of our annual bass lake research project. And looking back on previous rankings, there has not been a more impressive year for production of quantity and quality of bass. Based on data received from the fisheries departments of every state in the nation, as well as tournament results scoured from dozens of organizations over the past 12 months, bass anglers should have a banner year. Many lakes benefitted from epic winter and spring rainfall, creating new-lake effects across the country. New lakes have breached the Top 100, some fell completely off the list and…

A milder-than-normal winter was responsible for the large die-off of Asian silver carp that occurred on Kentucky and Barkley lakes. | Both the ➾ largemouth and striped bass fisheries at Possum Kingdom Reservoir continue to improve, according to 2016 survey results from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. | The Florida Legislature took a step toward solving Okeechobee’s discharge dilemma as the Senate passed a bill 36-3 for construction of a reservoir south of the lake. The 100 to 120 billion gallons of water stored there would filter down to the Everglades and Florida Bay.…

A pair of recent outdoor industry reports reveals increases in overall fishing participation, as well as growth in multiple demographics and technique-specific categories. The Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation reported the growth in an April news release, citing fishing license sales data from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Outdoor Recreation Participation Topline Report from the Outdoor Foundation. USFWS license data showed a 1.79 percent increase in license sales, the third consecutive year of growth after a long period of stagnant sales. The most recent increase brought the 10-year change in fishing license sales to 4.26 percent. The Outdoor Foundation’s report revealed an increase in youth fishing (ages 6 to 24), with 15.6 million participating in 2016, up from 14.8 million in 2015, as well as growth in…

All right, bassmasters, it’s your turn to write a cutline for your favorite magazine. Follow B.A.S.S. on Instagram (@bass_nation), comment with a clever caption on this cartoon that will be posted on our feed on July 5th. If your caption is chosen, it will be printed in an upcoming issue. All right, bassmasters, it’s your turn to write a cutline for your favorite magazine. Follow B.A.S.S. on Instagram (@bass_nation), comment with a clever caption on this cartoon that will be posted on our feed on July 5th. If your caption is chosen, it will be printed in an upcoming issue. Last month’s winner: “Gotta dig a little deeper to catch this one” @barnette23…

One of B.A.S.S.’s first and longest-running sponsors is celebrating 60 years of helping anglers catch more fish. Lowrance, a leader in fishing electronics since 1957, marks its 60th year of doing business this year with numerous promotions. Lowrance revolutionized the fishing industry by designing and manufacturing the original FISH LO-K-TOR, the first transistorized sonar product to display individual fish and show their depths. The company sold over a million units from 1959 to 1984. Over the decades, Lowrance has been a pioneer in electronics technology, introducing and developing products such as the first sonar unit to include a microprocessor, the first handheld GPS unit under $500, the first LCD product with integrated mapping, GPS and sonar capabilities, and a sonar system with an interactive display. Today, the company continues to…

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THE HANGDOG FACE seemed a bit much. After all, we managed a 45-pound bag, brimming with 9-pounders, my best day ever. So, while my friend bemoaned the absence of a 10-pound bass, my smile could not have been wider. For an American in Africa, like me, this would take some getting used to. My fishing companion on that Botswana bass-stomping adventure was one of Africa’s most celebrated anglers. Gerry Jooste, owner of the Ruffnek Boats, has competed in five Bassmaster Classics and 10 B.A.S.S. Nation Championships in the U.S. and earned untold fame in his home country of Zimbabwe. “Letsibogo Dam is the best bass lake I have ever fished,” Jooste declares. The remote waterway, situated on the cusp of the Kalahari Desert has produced some incredible bass — including…