Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2017 i Bassmaster

Alton Jones Hometown: Lorena, Texas Birthday: July 13, 1963 Tell us about your offseason. Any highlights to talk about? I just got back from a hunting trip to Mexico. The Miracle Ear is one of my sponsors, and we auctioned off a trip to benefit the Miracle Ear Foundation. It was great. I guess I was the celebrity guest, you could say. It was a hunting trip to a private ranch down there. It’s a whole different world. The food was great. We hunted deer, quail, turkey, javelina, and we varmint hunted at night. We didn’t get a whole lot of sleep, but it was great. For us, the offseason is about family time. Preparation is obviously an important component of many Elite Series anglers’ success. What’s most important to…

U.S. Boat Sales The National Marine Manufacturers Association, which represents U.S. recreational boat, engine and marine accessories manufacturers, announced in January that it anticipates unit boat sales rose between 6 and 7 percent in 2016, reaching an estimated 250,000 boats sold last year. In addition, dollar sales of new boats were expected to have risen more than 10 percent from the 2015 level of $8.4 billion. NMMA President Thom Dammrich attributed the rise to the nation’s improving housing market, low interest rates and strong consumer confidence. California Drought Although large portions of California remained under drought conditions in early January, strong winter storms with heavy rain and snow have dramatically improved water conditions in a state that has suffered through a years-long drought. Forecasters were optimistic that January and…

Carhartt Bassmaster College anglers from the Southern Conference will need to figure out the tidal estuary of Winyah Bay here March 2-4, but one thing that’s easy to figure out is this low country destination is a fishing town. Best of Both Worlds In addition to bass fishing in the rivers that feed Winyah Bay, the area harbors saltwater angling for species like redfish, trout, flounder and seasonal tarpon. Return Trip Georgetown played host to the Elite Series last year. Britt Myers won with 56 pounds, 3 ounces in the four-day tournament. Low Country Living Shrimp and grits — need we say more?…

There are many places that seem like a natural spot to see a Bass Pro Shops logo: pro angler jerseys, bass tournament weigh-in venues, even NASCAR races. One place you might not expect to see the logo is on a tennis court. But when the professional tennis player wearing the logo is John Isner, it makes perfect sense. Isner, the top-ranked U.S. player on the ATP Tour for the past five years, is considered one of the best servers in professional tennis, ranking in the all-time top 10 with more than 8,000 aces. What’s less well known is that Isner is a passionate bass fisherman. “I grew up reading Bassmaster Magazine,” Isner said. “I love bass fishing. I grew up with two older brothers, and my oldest brother wasn’t into…

FOR JOHN MURRAY, it’s a typical Lake Mead morning, even though the sprawling Arizona impoundment is at least 120 feet low. Visibility is still in the 15-foot range in the calm water and may even increase as the sun climbs higher. The Bassmaster Elite Series pro is on the trolling motor, quickly cruising the shoreline in the lower basin near Las Vegas Wash. There is not a single rod on the deck; Murray has one foot on the trolling pedal and both hands are shielding his eyes to give him a better view into the depths. He’ll spend the next four or five hours doing this, and possibly the entire day, depending on what he sees. He’s letting the bass tell him where they are. Although Murray has fished Mead…

Diminishing drag What are the advantages of adding a hole-shot plate? The name tells it all: It increases your ability to get on plane more quickly by reducing water drag during takeoff. “The plate pushes down against the water, forcing the boat to lift quicker, and keeps water from rushing up through the jackplate,” explains Luke Dunkin of T-H Marine. “It also can help reduce ‘porpoising’ [bouncing of the bow] while running on plane.” Blockage prevention When idling through skinny water, water pumps can clog on most outboards. I have a Yamaha, so what are the best ways for me to unclog the water intake while on the water?@Scottellis1, Instagram That depends on the type of clog or debris and your situation. Ultimately, removing the intake screens and clearing the…

Missing our old fishing pals For several years now, Bassmaster Magazine has been missing one of my old favorite regulars, “Harry and Charlie.” These days, the cost of lures and equipment is getting so high, we could use some comic relief and a few laughs. I know I’m not the only longtime reader who misses their misadventures. The tips and tournament coverage are great, but come on, guys; you could spare a few pages to give us a little fun.Jeff Johnson, Tennessee Editor’s note: We are sad to report that Cliff Shelby, the illustrator of “Harry and Charlie,” recently died while battling cancer. The writer of the series, Don Wirth, continues to produce humorous features for Bassmaster, though. Check out his most recent light-hearted piece on page 44. There is…

“They’re not just talking about eliminating creel and bag limits like they’ve done on the Columbia River. They’re talking of going way beyond that now.” IF YOU’RE A fan of Don Wirth’s humor, as I am, you’ll get a kick out of his yarn on page 44, “Bass Fishing’s Baddest (As In Worst) Ideas.” Most of his examples are tongue-in-cheek, as you’ll see, but the five really bad ideas I’m about to address will have you biting your tongue and chewing your cheek: A parting shot — As President Obama’s political appointees were clearing out their desks to make room for their counterparts in the new administration, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Director Dan Ash unilaterally banned the use of lead fishing tackle and ammunition on 300 million acres…

If VanDam wins the Houston Classic, it may be the record that will never be eclipsed, ever. I’LL ADMIT IT. I rooted for the Patriots to beat the Falcons in Super Bowl LI held in Houston, Texas. I’m pretty sure I was the only person in the state of Alabama not cheering for the Falcons. After all, Atlanta’s Julio Jones (who I suspect to be a mutant with superpowers) was a former University of Alabama standout receiver, and is an avid bass angler. Still, I wanted to see history made. The fact that Tom Brady had the opportunity to win a record five championship rings as a starting quarterback was something I wanted to witness. It would be like watching Wilt Chamberlain score 100 points against the New York Knicks…

When flash floods devastated West Virginia last year, B.A.S.S. Nation members were eager to help. June 2016 flooding severely damaged or destroyed more than 1,000 homes and left nearly two dozen dead. Several months later, a West Virginia B.A.S.S. Nation member started an effort that resulted in more than $10,000 in donations that bought holiday hams, clothing and children’s toys for flood victims. Although he refuses to accept any credit and was reluctant to discuss his role, B.A.S.S. Nation member Keith Sensenig played a big part in organizing the relief effort. Sensenig’s general contracting company helped with cleanup efforts immediately after the floodwaters subsided. That experience motivated Sensenig and his wife, Pat, to try to help their less-fortunate neighbors. “West Virginia is such a small state, and these people are…

You re never young or get hooked on fishing, and an Alabama woman provided proof of that while fishing at B.A.S.S. founder Ray Scott’s Trophy Retreat in Pintlala, Ala., this past winter. Just seven days shy of her 90th birthday, Vera Brown of Montgomery, Ala., visited Scott’s retreat with her son and discovered that she’d been missing out on fishing for most of her life. According to the Montgomery Advertiser, Ray Scott’s Trophy Retreat general manager Jim Kientz coaxed Brown into trying her luck in the famed President’s Lake. Although Brown had never fished, she caught countless bass, including a nearly 5-pounder that has been replicated and now hangs on the wall of her home. “I just threw the pole out in the water and they couldn’t stop biting,” Brown…

Carhartt Bassmaster College Southern Regional presented by Bass Pro Shops Winyah Bay, Georgetown, S.C., March 2-4 Bass Pro Shops Central Open No. 1 Table Rock Lake, Branson, Mo., March 2-4 Bassmaster High School Central Open presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods Lake of the Ozarks, Osage Beach, Mo., March 11 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods Lake Conroe, Houston, Texas, March 24-26 Carhartt Bassmaster College Midwest Regional presented by Bass Pro Shops Lake of the Ozarks, Osage, Mo., March 29-31…

FUNNY HOW SOME things related to bass fishing seem like such a great idea when you first read about 'em in a magazine or see 'em on a TV fishing show … then they turn out to be a major disappointment (or worse) when you experience it for yourself! Case in point: that “Bass Catcher Tournament Lure Pak” you saw advertised on TV for only $69.95 plus shipping & handling! The fact that the commercial featured a New York actor in a rowboat wearing a pork pie hat with trout flies stuck in it should have raised a red flag, but noooooo … you fell for the pitch anyway! Eight months and $199.99 in credit card charges later (plus shipping and handling, remember?), the goods finally arrive via a tramp…

CHASING THE THAW I live in the North where lakes freeze. What’s the best way to catch fish as soon as the ice melts enough to get my boat launched?@Baitfish2bass, Instagram Elite Series pro Fletcher Shryock The first thing you want to do is look for the clearest water available. When the water is supercold, water clarity is a big deal. Also, don’t worry about getting up early, and wait until you get a bright, sunny day. The bite will be better in the afternoon once the water warms up a bit. Start on steep banks — anywhere the contour lines on your map are really tight. The bass will want to be in an area where they can easily move up and down the water column to stay comfortable.…

If giant bedded bass will be on your springtime hit list, here are a few items that will put more fish in your boat. Minn Kota Talon, $1,799.99 Boat position is paramount and stealth is key when working a bedded bass. The wind, current or other conditions will impact how your boat drifts, and jumpy spawning bass won’t tolerate intrusion very well. Locking down in shallow water has never been easier with Minn Kota’s Talons. If keeping a low profile is also important, the new 8-foot Talons are smaller than ever before thanks to the innovative three-stage deployment design. Each unit — available in seven different colors — measures only 41 inches, making the shallow-water anchors similar in height to the top of the outboard cowling, if not slightly beneath.…

Nearly 22 million pounds of plastic debris enter the Great Lakes annually from the United States and Canada, according to a recent study by the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). | In a 3-0 decision, the Indiana Court of Appeals recently affirmed the public’s right to fish and walk along the shoreline of Lake Michigan, holding that it is owned by the state as a public trust. | Fritchie Marsh in Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge will be closed at least until Sept. 30 to allow for Zydeco Ridge restoration work, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.…

Cliff Shelby, who brought the characters of Bassmaster Magazine’s Harry ‘N’ Charlie humor feature to life through his artwork, has died. Shelby lived with his wife, Karen, in Maumelle, Ark. Karen was by his side when he died Saturday, Jan. 21. He was 75 years old. His career encompassed advertising, media relations and catalog production for leading fishing companies. Shelby was best known as the illustrator of the popular cartoon feature, Harry ‘N’ Charlie, which ran in every issue of Bassmaster for four decades, from 1971 through 2010. His partnership with Don Wirth, who wrote the feature, led to a series of books and even phonograph records of the best adventures of the fictional B.A.S.S. club characters. He leaves behind his wife, a daughter, Shea Shelby Smalling, son Blake Shelby…

Many fish have real economic value, and bass are no exception. But you’d be hard pressed to find a bass that equals the value of the bluefin tuna purchased in January at a Japanese fish market. According to the Associated Press, a Japanese restaurateur paid about $636,000 for a single fish at the first auction of 2017 at Tokyo’s Tsukiji Fish Market. “I feel it was a bit expensive, but I am happy that I was able to successfully win at auction a tuna of good shape and size,” Kimura said.…

RUMMAGE THROUGH THE tackleboxes of just about any Bassmaster Elite Series pro and you’ll find a selection of hollow frogs and soft plastic toads. Although both lures excel for fishing matted grass and other snaggy cover, there are times when bass prefer one of these baits to the other. Elite Series standout Jason Christie agrees. However, if you turned this Oklahoman’s bass boat upside down and shook every lure out of it, you would find nary a toad. Nor would you find one in his truck. Christie refuses to fish toads. NO TOAD FOR ME After fishing a toad for many years, Christie grew tired of “fighting the bait.” “If I cast a toad 10 times without getting a bite, it seems like the bait messes up on the hook,”…

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. 10-4 Lake Oroville, California ◆ Blade Runner Duh spoon (morning dawn) ◆ Water clarity: stained ◆ Depth: 20 feet ◆ Weather: overcast, windy, rainy 6-5 Mille Lacs Lake, Minnesota 1-ounce NMBA football jig (brown craw) 11-0 Clear Lake, California Strike King 2 Tap Tungsten Red Eyed Shad 11-8 Lake Perris, California Yamamoto Thin Senko (green pumpkin) 10-7 Spring…