Innholdsfortegnelse for November - December 2017 i Bassmaster

Jamie Hartman Hometown: Newport, N.Y. Age: 45 It was a heck of a rookie year for you. What went right? That’s a tough one. I’ve been thinking about it because every single tournament I went into, I haven’t left the dock with any confidence that I was going to catch fish. I had bad practices over and over. But you get into a mindset that you’ve got to make the most of your opportunities. It puts me in grind mode. It makes me fish harder. I hate it because I want to leave the dock with confidence, but it has worked out. Not that age is as big a factor in fishing as it is in other sports, but how’d you come to be a 44-year-old Elite Series rookie? I came from…

  An ambitious project to inventory fish in streams on a 10-year rotation was launched by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. | California and the International Game Fish Association are finally in agreement that the 11-pound, 4-ounce spotted bass caught by Nick Dulleck in February 2017 on Bullards Bar Reservoir is both a world and state record. | The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) has developed a plan to “facilitate the management of a fishery and provide background and guidelines for AGFC’s management of Arkansas reservoirs and lakes.”…

 It’s that time of year when we start to think of finding more temperate climates, and Southern California definitely fits the bill. Besides, when it comes to giant bass, the San Diego area produces more than its share. It never rains in Southern California Actually, it does, but not much. With an average of 1.5 inches in December, there are plenty of days to fish, and temperatures range from 48 to 65 degrees this month.  Land of giants. Eleven of the 25 largest bass ever recorded have come from lakes in the San Diego area.  Dixon donkeys Nearby Lake Dixon has produced three fish in the Top 25, and in 2006 it yielded “Dottie,” a fish that likely would’ve surpassed the world record by nearly 3 pounds if it had…

 Wade Bourne, who died last year, was a prolific and award-winning writer, including more than 40 years as a senior writer for Bassmaster, as well as a popular radio and television host. Shaw Grigsby is a 33-year Bassmaster veteran with scores of Top 10 finishes and more than $2 million in winnings. The sight fishing guru is also known as the longtime host of One More Cast with Shaw Grigsby. Bob Sealy is the founder of the world’s largest amateur bass tournament, the Big Bass Splash, which has paid out more than $30 million to anglers and raised over $2.3 million for charities. Morris Sheehan is the force behind the popular American Bass Anglers tournament series, which has given budding anglers a competitive platform to hone their skills…

A study published in April in The American Naturalist shows that bold or shy tendencies in largemouth bass have different effects on a fish’s fitness at different stages of life. Researchers looked specifically at the effect of boldness on juvenile survival and adult reproductive success over three years under “seminatural” conditions in an outdoor pond with natural prey and predators. They reported boldness had a negative effect on juvenile survival, but that boldness had a positive effect on reproductive success for male bass (and no effect on female reproductive success). What’s it mean? We’re not sure, but the authors also reported that boldness in bass was highly consistent across years and appeared significantly inheritable, suggesting a genetic component to boldness.…

Minnesota’s Mille Lacs played host to the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship for the second year in a row in September. But earlier in the year, authorities said the lake also was the scene for the crimes of a serial fishing tackle thief. According to the Kanabec County Times, two truckloads of fishing gear were seized from 28-year-old Matthias Munson of Monticello, Minn., during a multiagency theft investigation over the Fourth of July weekend. Numerous thefts of fishing gear had been reported at campgrounds and hotels in Mille Lacs and Kanabec counties. On July 4, police pulled over a vehicle driven by Munson that matched the description of one used in a theft earlier in the day. An officer saw numerous fishing rods and tackleboxes in the pickup’s…

Jacob Wheeler’s extensive pre-practice paid huge dividends as the bass were in a similar pattern during the tournament as they were when he practiced in December and January before the off-limits cutoff. Wheeler spent most of his pre-practice graphing the lake and marking some 1,600 waypoints. A handful of his deep spots paid off, especially those within 11 miles of the dam. Most of his tournament fish were smallmouth caught in 25 to 30 feet of water around rock structure where he dangled a small soft plastic bait and slow rolled a tiny swimbait.  Key baits: Most of his fish came on a VMC Neon Moon Eye Jig with a 3-inch soft plastic trailer (translucent pearl white). He also fished a Storm 360GT swimbait (herring) and heavy Rapala Jigging Rap…

 BASS ARE PROLIFIC and adaptable, thriving in most bodies of water they’re found in. It’s unlikely they’ll ever need the protections provided by the Endangered Species Act. They can, however, be impacted by the environmental law — and when they are, it’s typically not in a good way. The federal Endangered Species Act was strongly supported by both Democrats and Republicans, passed by Congress and signed into law by President Richard Nixon in 1973. Its primary goal both then and today is the protection and recovery of species at risk of going extinct now and in the future. The well-being of freshwater and terrestrial plants and wildlife is the responsibility of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, while oceanic and anadromous species rely on the National Marine Fisheries Service for…

THE FULL-SIZE SUV had prop scars on its roof, visible once the floodwaters had receded. The vehicle was abandoned in the middle of U.S. 90 near downtown Houston, as the water quickly rose from the catastrophic flooding delivered by Hurricane Harvey. U.S. 90 would eventually sit under 16 feet of water. I can only pray the driver made it out alive. The storm killed 77 people. The 52 inches of rain dumped on the region broke the all-time record for a single rainfall event for the nation and also damaged more than 134,500 homes. But the loss of life could have been a lot worse if not for bass anglers and concerned outdoorsmen. Elite Series pro Alton Jones Jr., a Texas native, was one of many to drop everything and…

 Lacking the stretching power of the Fantastic Four’s Reed Richards, we needed an access hatch to through-bolt a stern light on the back deck of our Old Town Predator PDL. The hatch will also facilitate wiring the light to our main battery with a switch (a future DIY).You might want a hatch with a waterproof bag to stow a wallet or phone. Installation is the same. 1 Mark the hole using the hatch lid. 2 Drill a hole to insert the saw blade and cut with a jigsaw or reciprocating saw. A Dremel tool finished the job for us. 3 Apply silicone liberally around the rim, and place the hatch lid in the hole. 4 Drill holes in the lid with a bit smaller than 1/2-inch self-drilling screws. Drill one…

Boats comes in all shapes and sizes, but a prototype vehicle being designed for the U.S. Marine Corps is unlike anything we’ve seen. The UHAC, short for Ultra Heavy-lift Amphibious Connector, is an armored vehicle that can travel on land and water and is designed to carry military vehicles across water. Its treads are made of foam, which helps it stay afloat in water, but it can cruise on land at speeds up to 25 mph. The vehicle is designed to carry other armored vehicles, including tanks, which might come in handy the next time somebody tries to move in on your best spot.…

 The Georgia Department of Natural Resources is encouraging anglers to bass fish by offering prizes and rewards for anybody who catches five of the state’s 10 black bass species within a calendar year. According to a department news release, the idea is “to recognize anglers with the knowledge and skill to catch five different species … and to stimulate interest in the conservation and management of black bass and their habitats.” Anglers who qualify will receive certificates, passes to Georgia’s Go Fish Education Center, bumper stickers and social media recognition. They’ll also be entered into an annual grand prize drawing. Georgia harbors 10 black bass species: largemouth, small-mouth, spotted, shoal, Suwannee, redeye, Chattahoochee, Tallapoosa, Altamaha and Bartram’s. Georgia DNR will not supply trained biologists to help you distinguish the difference…

According to a study based on 28 years of information on largemouth bass in Ross Barnett Reservoir, a combination of a slot limit and different minimum-length limits failed to restructure the population. The report was published online in May in the North American Journal of Fisheries Management. “Bass harvest regulations may no longer be relevant in many waters,” the report states. But there’s a caveat: The utility of bass regulations for restructuring populations depends on “harvesting attitudes that vary geographically, depending on cultural characteristics and demographics.”…

We haven’t run across too many beers we’d pour down the drain, but a small Texas brewery recently released a blonde ale that we can definitely support. Adelbert’s Brewery, a craft brewery in Austin, announced last summer the release of its newest beer, Buzzbait Blonde. Craft brewing website Brewbound.com calls it a “crisp, refreshing blonde ale, perfect for summer sipping.” The beer features hints of honey and peach, and the brewery recommends pairing it with caprese salad, grilled dishes, spicy Thai and french fries. “My brother was an avid fisherman who loved spending time on the water with a cold beer next to him,” said Scott Hovey, owner and founder of Adelbert’s. “This beer honors his favorite pastime and is aptly named after a fishing lure he used, which also…

Toyota awarded $1,000 to the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year points leader at the end of each tournament, including the Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest. Bassmaster Elite at Cherokee Lake – Jacob Wheeler A.R.E. Truck Caps Bassmaster Elite at Lake Okeechobee – Ott DeFoe Bassmaster Elite at Toledo Bend presented by Econo Lodge – Ott DeFoe Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Elite at Ross Barnett - Jason Christie Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest benefiting the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department – Jason Christie GoPro Bassmaster Elite at Dardanelle presented by Econo Lodge – Ott DeFoe HUK Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence presented by Go RVing – Brandon Palaniuk Bassmaster Elite at Champlain presented by Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels – Brandon Palaniuk Advance Auto Parts Bassmaster Elite at St. Clair –…

Date: Dec. 1, 2016 Venue: Lake R, a flatland reservoir Water: 48 to 52 degrees, clear to murky Weather: showers, 61 degrees, approaching cold front Pro: Drew Benton, 29, Panama City, Fla. He fished DON WIRTH FLW for three years or Writer and qualified for the 2016 Elite Series via the Southern Opens. The 2016 Toyota Bassmaster Rookie of the Year, Benton fished his first Bassmaster Classic in March 2017. Boat: Phoenix 721, 250-horsepower Mercury outboard, Minn Kota trolling motor, Lowrance electronics, twin Power-Pole shallow-water anchors  WHETHER YOU ARE fishing late November or early December, the opportunity to load the boat is high. If water temps are in the 50s on your home lake, get off the couch and hit the water. Elite Series pro Drew Benton knows this…

 We’ve gotten a lot of boating questions lately about shallow-water stealth bassin’. Here are two. Spooky sounds Is it OK to run your electronics in shallow water, or does the clicking sound from the transducer spook the fish?@Mad fowl, Instagram Can the sound of a trolling motor spook fish?@Garrethoak, Instagram  There’s no one better to answer these than Bassmaster Elite Series pro Edwin Evers, an avid shallow-water angler. He believes any kind of noise coming from your boat can be a deterrent when fishing shallow. “There are times when [I’m] sight fishing and the bite is super tough when I will turn off my electronics,” he says. Evers also believes the constant on/off of a churning trolling motor prop can put fish on alert. “It’s best to keep the trolling…

IF YOU’RE A bass angler who wants a fast track to greatness, I can’t think of a better head-start than the bass club circuit of the B.A.S.S. Nation. “That one day literally changed my life. If he hadn’t taken me out [fishing] that day, who knows what I would be doing now?” I’m living proof. If I had taken my own advice, I wouldn’t be developmentally delayed in my fish-finding/fish-catching capabilities. Brandon Palaniuk is even better living proof. After winning the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship in 2010, he seemingly burst onto the pro scene by finishing fourth in the 2011 Bassmaster Classic in New Orleans, which is a world away, geographically as well as geologically, from his home in the Idaho panhandle. Just 23 years old, Palaniuk boated more than 55…

  “This sport is a marathon... but you have to run it really quickly.” — 2017 Angler of the Year Brandon Palaniuk    APPLICATION OF TRIANGLE THEORY?  How consistently did you work the triangle theory at each event? Do you stick to the application no matter what, or do you sometimes go off this tactic if things don’t go as planned? @fish_face007 Instagram   It is always the base for my starting point. When I look at a body of water, it’s second nature to apply the theory. I automatically triangulate the movements of bass from where they spawn to where they migrate from winter patterns. So, it always applies. Of course, each body of water requires a different application. But, no, I never went off the track.  HIGHLIGHT REEL  Aside from winning…

St. Croix, Legend X, $390-$420  Bass anglers lead the way with the sheer number of different methods to catch a bass; therefore, they need rods and reels to meet the demands of each presentation. Why not select a St. Croix as a killer Christmas present? The company has recognized the need for quality and has introduced 16 bass-centric Legend X rods — 11 casting and five spinning — that feature proprietary St. Croix technologies. The supergrade cork and hypersensitive split-grip handle take backbone and sensitivity to a new level. Plus, the olive green offers a very satisfying look to this line of rods. stcroixrods.com Rapala, High Contrast Digital Scale, $39.99 Ever struggle with effectively seeing a digital scale readout in bright sunlight? Or perhaps water droplets covering the screen? We’ve…

A South Carolina man won’t be allowed to hunt or fish in Alabama for two years after pleading guilty to using a bow and arrow to kill a Lake Guntersville largemouth bass. Under Alabama law, anglers are only allowed to take catfish and rough fish such as gar and carp with bowfishing equipment. And in the Yellowhammer State, the home of B.A.S.S. and a place where residents almost worship the largemouth bass, killing a bass with a bow and arrow was a costly mistake. According to the Advertiser-Gleam in Guntersville, the man also was fined $726, given two years of unsupervised probation and required to perform 160 hours of community service.…

Austin, Texas-area lakes Lady Bird and Austin have been the site of problems associated with grass carp that were released into Lake Austin to control excessive aquatic vegetation. The fish have since migrated downstream into Lady Bird Lake, where they’re again causing concern among anglers and fisheries managers. But a story published last summer at KXAN.com shows just how bad the carp problem has become in Lake Austin. According to Kevin Olivier, founder of Austin Carp Angler, Lake Austin’s aquatic vegetation wasn’t enough to satisfy the carp. “When it was really bad in Lake Austin, [grass carp] were coming up out of the water and picking leaves off of trees.”…

 Anglers often go to great lengths to find the best fishing spots, but a story out of Canada this past summer reveals one of the most far-reaching and bizarre methods of finding a fishing hole.  “It is impossible to grow weary of a sport that is never the same on any two days of the year.” – Theodore Gordon  According to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, someone used the country’s Freedom of Information law to request the camping spot of Mike Borger, who runs a website to promote fishing guides and outfitters. After a successful fishing trip with his son to Ontario’s Algonquin Park last spring, Borger posted a 40-minute video that showed the pair catching large brook trout on a small lake. Someone used Canada’s FOI law to request information…

A Florida fisherman had his line broken while fishing from a Jacksonville pier, but the culprit wasn’t a toothy fish. According to police reports, it was a drunken 22-year-old woman. ActionNewsJax.com reported the August incident, citing police reports that said the woman swam up to the angler’s line and bit it in two before swimming off with his lure. The angler told St. Johns County Sheriff’s deputies that the woman appeared to be intoxicated and began cursing at him. When deputies asked the woman to come to the pier office where the angler had rented the fishing pole, she became belligerent and refused to walk inside. Deputies said the woman began making a scene when they tried to take her into protective custody. They arrested her on suspicion of disorderly…

 BASSMASTER EMCEE DAVE Mercer, known for hanging nicknames on bass pros, tagged Brandon Palaniuk “The Prodigy” shortly after he joined the Bassmaster Elite Series.  It proved to be prophetic and not an albatross.  Seven years into the tour, the always-tranquil Idaho pro captured the 2017 Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year title on Mille Lacs Lake, Minnesota, in September.  His success isn’t all that surprising for those who know him well; like Mercer, they knew he was destined to become one of the Elite Series’ most talented anglers long before he joined bass fishing’s most daunting tournament trail.  “He’s one of the most mentally strong people I’ve ever met in my life,” says Mercer. “That’s pretty amazing for someone that young.”  That mental attitude, coupled with unparalleled level-headed confidence and…

IN OVER 30 years of working as a fishing guide on the upper Mississippi River, I have yet to see a bass get tight jaws because the flow is so great that hip boots are required at the only place it is possible to launch a boat. The Immortal River has been running pretty much belly full for three years now. The “new normal” is just a couple of feet below the “action” stage when the Corps of Engineers opens all the gates at the 33 massive dams that span the Mississippi and separate it into pools between St. Paul and St. Louis. “Minor flood” stage is just 2 feet higher than the “action” stage on my home water, Pool 9, where massive bluffs along the river in Minnesota, Iowa…

 Congratulations to the newest members of the Bassmaster Lunker Club™. Membership in the club is free and open to any B.A.S.S. member who catches a largemouth bass weighing 10 pounds or more, a spotted bass weighing 5 pounds or more, or a smallmouth bass weighing 6 pounds or more, from Jan. 1, 2016, to the present. New Lunker Club members will receive an official certificate with holder and a Minn Kota hat.  To request an application, write to editorial@bassmaster.com or B.A.S.S., The Lunker Club, 3500 Blue Lake Drive, Suite 330, Birmingham, AL 35243. A photo documenting the catch must be provided, along with the length and girth of the bass. Only suitable photos will be published in Bassmaster Magazine. We will only accept entries for bass that are released alive.…