Innholdsfortegnelse for November - December 2014 i Bassmaster

That ain’t no inkjet cartridge. Iaconelli’s favorite hobby is collecting antique glass ink bottles, a pursuit he traces to childhood “treasure hunting” with his uncle. Married, again. Mike and Becky renew their wedding vows every year on their anniversary. Must-see TV. Antiques Roadshow Spinnin’. Ike worked as a disc jockey before diving into tournament bass fishing. Inked. “Every square inch” of Iaconelli’s back is tattooed. “It’s a work in progress. It tells a story, and there’s a lot of that story left to be told.” How does your garden grow? Becky has gotten him into gardening. “Ten years ago, I would’ve laughed at you if you said I’d be into gardening. But it’s about creating this amazing place in nature that you’re a part of. It’s nice to come home…

A Florida live bait dealer is facing felony criminal mischief charges after police say he killed $20,000 worth of a competitor’s bait stock in an act of sabotage this past summer. According to Fort Lauderdale’s Sun-Sentinel, police accused Alexander Ramer, 25, of Lake Worth, of pouring several gallons of chlorine bleach into a bait pen owned by Gary Case, 58, of Boynton Beach. Case owns Dynamite Live Bait, and police suspect Ramer, who runs his own bait supply business, took extreme measures to undercut the competition at a time when several saltwater fishing tournaments had increased demand for live bait. Ramer allegedly arrived at the back of Case’s home, which sits on the Intracoastal Waterway, by boat at 2 a.m.on May 31, according to a police report. After discovering more…

A mobile device application now under development would allow users to photograph their catch and upload the image with a short message and location of the catch. Creator Atlas Greyfox, an Australian retiree and avid fisherman, envisions the app as a niche social media platform to unite amateur anglers around the globe. Greyfox has launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise $50,000 to fund continued development and to deliver the product to consumers. It’s doubtful the app will see much use from avid bass anglers. Who wants to give a stranger the exact GPS coordinates for his honey hole?…

If you can pull yourself away from holiday food and football, there are going to be some beautiful fall days to enjoy your real favorite sport. And if you live near tidal waters (population studies show that most of us do), we’ve got a scenario just for you. You’ve decided to fish a small to medium-size tidal river, launching about 30 miles inland from where it meets the coast. The river has a 2-foot tidal swing that occurs over the course of six hours or so. Of critical importance, the outgoing tide begins at 9 a.m. Highs are in the 60s and lows in the upper 40s or low 50s. The water is between 55 and 65 degrees and has some color to it. Visibility is about 2 feet. The…

For two boys who fought often growing up, the Lee brothers today have an inspiring level of respect and affection for each other. CALL IT FATE, luck, predestination, whatever ... to the Lee brothers of Alabama, it’s the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. Their lives haven’t been very long, but they’ve been blessed, said Matt Lee, 25, after he and his brother, Jordan, 23, qualified for the Bassmaster Elite Series on their first try. Think about it: Two brothers, right out of college, earning a bid to fish in the most competitive bass fishing tour in the world. It can’t be much more unusual than two brothers going straight from college ball to the majors. Maybe we should have seen it coming. After all, Matt qualified through the Carhartt Bassmaster…

I was entranced. Both Holt and I cast the huge trout-imitating swimbait throughout the day and almost without fail did it bring followers halfway to the boat. “IF YOU COULD choose any lake, anywhere, to spend four days fishing, which would it be?” asked Bruce Holt, longtime friend and communications guru for G.Loomis rods. The question was a good one, as I was right in the middle of putting together the 2014 Bassmaster’s 100 Best Bass Lakes list when he called. I was inclined to say Sturgeon Bay, but it was early April and that particular body of water was still frozen. Idaho’s Coeur d’Alene was also high on my list, but same problem. Too freakin’ cold. “Well, one lake that has me a bit mesmerized is Lake Berryessa up…

If you keep your boat on the water for any length of time, it’s important to keep it covered, especially during inclement weather. Problem is, most boat covers require latching to a trailer. B.A.S.S. member Evan Roth developed easy-to-make weights to solve this problem. Simply attach these weights to the cover grommets, toss overboard and bam — you have a tight fit. Also, these can be used when dry-storing your boat to keep sags out of aftermarket covers or tarps. 1 Cut a section of PVC pipe to the desired length based on weight needed to secure the cover. Using PVC cement, secure the end cap to one end. 2 Fill the PVC pipe with sand, rocks or cement. 3 Drill a pilot hole in the second end cap making…

Control Your Power-Poles With the official Power-Pole C-Monster app from JL Marine Systems Inc., anglers can set up on a sweet spot straight from their mobile device. (free) Stay Found Navionics Boating includes standard features such as charts, tracks and markers, but this app also provides access to tide and wind forecasts, as well as a huge database of points of interest like marinas, marine repair services and waterfront restaurants. Purchase the Navionics+ upgrade to get map updates for a year and SonarCharts, an HD bathymetry map showing detailed bottom contours. In The Know Ever wish you could read your favorite magazine on the go, or look up an article for reference while on the water? Well, now you can with the Bassmaster Magazine app with an interactive…

November 2 Daylight saving time. Ending today, this is not an angler’s favorite day of the year. 4 Election Day. Anyone else tired of campaign ads? 27 Thanksgiving. 28 Black Friday. Sale on spinner-baits on Aisle 7! December 21 Winter solstice. Sorry—yet another unpopular day with anglers. 23 Festivus. Is that an old navigation light or a Festivus pole? 25 Christmas. Is that a bag of jig trailers in your stocking? 31 New Year’s Eve. Adios, 2014!…

Head south now to extend the fishing season in balmy south Florida. Canal casting Fish the area’s extensive canal system for butterfly peacock bass and largemouth. For more details, including maps and access points, look for Metropolitan Miami Canals at www.myfwc.com. 200-plus Miles of canals in Everglades Water Conservation Areas 2 and 3. The ’Glades The Everglades Water Conservation Areas provide “some of the best bass fishing in the country,” according to Florida Fish and Wildlife officials. With catch rates as high as 4.1 bass per hour in the L-67A Canal, we tend to agree. 25 Public boat ramps for access to the Everglades Water Conservation Areas. Go team! The Dolphins play five of their last nine games at Sun Life Stadium.…

Vultures are vandalizing anglers’ property in several states, and there’s no clear reason why. Black vultures have been pecking and tearing out rubber and vinyl parts of vehicles parked at boat ramps in several states, including Alabama, Florida, Indiana and North Carolina. Windshield wipers, sunroof seals, rubber seals on doors and truck bed liners are often targets. They can also cause damage by scratching the paint with their claws. Some anglers have reported thousands of dollars in damage. According to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, the vultures roost on the vehicles in groups, and they often do not cause any damage. However, when they do decide to munch on vehicles, they usually rip the material out and discard it without actually eating it. Several theories have emerged about the…

The Fish Gate is more than a scale. It can be wired into your electronics to gather information on conditions and coordinates. NO ONE CAN argue that catch and release, introduced and promoted by B.A.S.S. over the years, has paid off huge dividends. Credit is due to anglers who have embraced it as well as boat manufacturers who have improved livewell and aeration systems that ensure better care of the bass we catch during tournaments. But catch-and-release programs and functioning livewells are only part of the equation in keeping fish healthy. Excessive handling of fish, whether during the culling process or while weighing and photographing trophies, can stress bass and lead to delayed complications. Especially during hot summer months. “Each time you handle a fish, you’re not only removing the…

Mike Iaconelli Birthday: June 17, 1972 Hometown: Pittsgrove, N.J. Let’s start with your win on the Delaware River. How did you feel after winning close to home? It’s hard to describe. I’m still carrying it with me. It was real emotional — more than any other tournament, more than a Classic. Winning is always special, but to have all my family there — my mom, my uncle, my wife’s parents, all four kids — that hasn’t happened in a long time. And the fans. That was the most unreal thing I’ve ever felt at a tournament. And to win on some of the very first places I fished as a kid, places my uncle and grandfather took me — it was a very special thing. What’s the source of your…

Practical Stuff There are products we want and products we need. We think these three items fall into the latter category. Stay Sharp Edgecraft Corp.’s new Chef’s Choice Marine Sharpening Station will help you keep your cutting tools and hook points in top shape. The three-in-one system features diamond-abrasive sharpeners for knives, scissors and hooks. The knife-sharpening base unit operates on both 120-volt AC and 12-volt DC, while the hook sharpener uses two AA batteries. The scissors sharpener is manual. ($189.99) Stay Odor-Free Tired of smelly shoes or boat storage compartments? Odor Check inserts solve the problem of damp conditions that lead to smelly odors using activated-carbon technology. The synthetic amorphous silica will keep tackle-boxes and storage areas dry and help prevent rusting. ($19.99) Stay Fresh When nature…

Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) officials said an August fish kill near Mill Creek, which is still under investigation, may have been caused by a Summit Dairy manure discharge entering an unnamed tributary of the creek. This occurred after heavy rainfall caused runoff to enter a ditch that had been dug for a construction site. The fish kill, which was caused by elevated ammonia levels that decreased levels of dissolved oxygen, extended 12 miles from the source of the manure-laden runoff. The dead fish included suckers, minnows, catfish and largemouth bass. Summit Dairy responded by redirecting the runoff to a basin and building a berm to prevent further discharges. An Iowa DNR press release said damages for fish restitution and enforcement action were likely.…

Sure, it’s cold and the deer are rutting, but Elite Series pro Chad Pipkens prefers a boat deck rather than a deer stand this time of year. Why? “Well, there’s no one on the water right now, and you can have a banner day in terms of numbers,” the Michigander says. “No matter where you are, the fish are bunched up and you can crush ’em if you get on a school.” Although the water is cold, Pipkens advises you to cover lots and lots of it. “This isn’t a time of year to sit and soak a bait. If they’re there, you’ll catch a pile. If they’re not, move on.” Keep a keen eye on your electronics and start your search on main-lake points, then move to secondary points,…

FISHING EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS may have played it closer to the vest with product introductions for 2015, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of new toys to pique bass anglers’ interests. Indeed, it was a year for companies to add to or update existing lineups with more models, sizes and colors. However, several improvements and a few new items are noteworthy for 2015. For example, you’re going to see a bigger variety of square bill crankbaits, swimbaits and soft plastics within each lure company’s lineup. You’ll see more technique-specific rods with improved actions, more sensitivity and less weight. Reels continue to be built with faster gear ratios, and some, such as the Abu Garcia Beast, are boasting bigger handles and deeper spools for big line/big bait applications. In addition, several…

Wiffle ball culling system I made a cool tournament culling system using some Wiffle golf balls, an old fish stringer and some clear plastic aquarium tubing. I cut the individual clips off the stringer, leaving about a foot of wire attached to each clip. Then I ran the stringer wire through the aquarium tubing and stuck the tubing through holes in the Wiffle ball. A knot on each end of the tubing keeps everything together. I made five of these for under $10. Works as well as a store-bought $40 culling system! Richard Hough, Ontario Eyes on the prize If you check out the websites of some of the so-called “boutique” lure-makers, you’ll notice that many of these craftsmen put oversize eyes on their custom swimbaits, crank-baits and other handmade…