Super Tournament Roster Set

FLW, the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, released the expanded 2020 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit roster, which now includes top Major League Fishing (MLF) pros like Jacob Wheeler and reigning REDCREST Champion Edwin Evers. When the season restarts June 23 on Lake Chickamauga, the final three regular-season Pro Circuit events will feature 209 boats and nearly $4 million in prize money. As previously announced, FLW extended invitations to all MLF anglers to compete in three “Super Tournaments” after MLF announced an abbreviated schedule due to the mid-season pause in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

All current Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit anglers have retained their spots on the roster, but the field size has now been expanded to include 56 additional MLF pros who have committed to compete in all three “Super Tournament” events by the May 15 deadline. A total of 209 anglers will compete in the following three events: June 23-26 on Lake Chickamauga, July 29-Aug. 1 on the upper Mississippi River (La Crosse, Wis.) and Aug. 11-14 on the Detroit River. MLF pros will not compete in the Tackle Warehouse FLW TITLE, Aug. 24-29 on the St. Lawrence River.

The expanded 2020 FLW Pro Circuit roster is headlined by some of the best pros in the world, including former FLW champions like Bryan Thrift, Justin Atkins, John Cox, Brad Knight, Anthony Gagliardi, Wheeler, Brent Ehrler, David Dudley and Darrel Robertson. They’ll be joined by bass-fishing superstars like Jordan Lee, Skeet Reese and the man many deem the FLW G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time), Andy Morgan.

“I truly believe that the anglers competing in the Super Tournaments make up arguably the most prestigious field of bass fishing pros of all time,” said Daniel Fennel, FLW Senior Director of Tournament Operations. “Not only are these tournaments a great opportunity for the anglers – it also will make for some very exciting events for the fans watching online at home. We look forward to getting back out on the water next month at Lake Chickamauga.”

Pro List Below

Boat Trailer Safety Checklist

Getting to the lake and back safety all depends on how well your trailer is maintained. Check out this list of safety tips to keep you on the road and running well season after season.

BREAKING NEWS: Ontario's private and public launches, rod and gun clubs can open

Here are a few of the highlights from the Premier's news conference early today. 

Outdoor, recreational and seasonal activities

• marinas, boat clubs and public boat launches are allowed to reopen for recreational use. Private parks and campgrounds may open to enable preparation for the season and to allow access for trailers and recreational vehicles whose owners have a full season contract.
• Seasonal businesses such as golf driving ranges, recreational services at marinas, rod and gun clubs and cycling tracks
• Allowing sport activity for individual/single competitors, including training and competitions conducted by a recognized Provincial Sport Organization, National Sport Organization, or recognized national provincial training centres. This includes indoor and outdoor non-team sport competitions that can be played while maintaining physical distancing and without spectators

For more information: https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/ontario-significantly-expands-list-of-businesses-that-can-soon-reopen-1.4938939

FLW & MLF Revamped Pro Circuit with Super Tournament

FLW PRESS RELEASE

Though the 2020 tournament season will surely be remembered for the weeks that anglers spent off the water while waiting out the COVID-19 pandemic, today FLW is rolling out major changes to the remainder of this season’s Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit that will result in some of the most memorable professional bass tournaments in history once everyone returns to competition. 

Among the changes, the organization has extended an invitation to Major League Fishing’s pro anglers to join the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit for three newly created “Super Tournaments” that include an expanded roster and higher payouts. The Super Tournaments are made possible by the abbreviated schedules announced recently by MLF and FLW.

Because both organizations’ seasons have been cut short due to the timing of television production schedules and COVID-19-related schedule interruptions, FLW’s invitation to join together provides additional opportunities for pros who choose to participate.

All Pro Circuit anglers will retain their spots on the roster, but the field size will be expanded to include any MLF pros that commit to competing in all three events. MLF Pros have been given until May 15 to indicate their intent to fish, which means the roster could be final as soon as May 16.

While the total number of anglers is yet to be determined, the boost in entry fees paid by the MLF pros, plus an extra investment from the League, could result in tournament payouts of approximately $3.8 million through three events (a $1.37 million increase), depending on field size. Assuming a 200-boat field, 50 percent of the anglers will earn at least $10,000 at every tournament. Along with increased payouts, FLW will deliver an expanded four-day FLW Live on-the-water broadcast. 

These changes aid anglers as they look to not only overcome the challenges caused by COVID-19, but to create even greater interest in the tournaments among fans. Without question, the 2020 Super Tournaments will feature the most accomplished roster of anglers currently competing in a five-bass-limit tournament format. 

Schedules below

Topwater Largemouth on Quebec Back Lake

This video we find IBASSIN.com back with Eastern Canadian Outfitters on their secret back lake. This place was loaded with largemouth. This clip has me working the shallow pads and weed clumps with a jig and swimbait. Great topwater action.
Eastern Canadian Outfitters: https://easterncanadianoutfitters.com/

B.A.S.S. announces revised 2020 tournament schedule

BASS PRESS RELEASE

After the coronavirus national health emergency forced the postponement of spring competition, B.A.S.S. officials have announced a new schedule for the remainder of 2020 designed to ensure all Bassmaster Elite Series and Basspro.com Bassmaster Opens tournaments can be completed.

“Any time we are forced to postpone a tournament it is disappointing to our anglers, fans, hosts, sponsors and staff,” said Bruce Akin, B.A.S.S. CEO. “After this break of nearly three months, our anglers are looking forward to fishing on these incredible waters, and we know fans are ready to see big bass being weighed in again.

“Our team has worked diligently alongside our local hosts to ensure that we are ready to get back to the competition and fun of tournament fishing.”

B.A.S.S. has emphasized that it will heed each state’s mandates on crowd sizes and public spaces as well as monitor federal guidelines to ensure both competition and fan activities can resume safely.

Three Elite Series events and two Bassmaster Opens tournaments originally scheduled between March and May were initially postponed. An alternate date for the tournament originally planned on the Sabine River in Orange, Texas could not be identified, prompting an official reschedule of that event for Spring 2021. Instead, the Elite Series will compete on Cayuga Lake in Union Springs, N.Y., where last year Jamie Hartman won with a four-day total of 80 pounds, 13 ounces.

Competition resumes in June, when the Elite field heads to historic Lake Eufaula in Alabama June 10-13. B.A.S.S. hasn’t visited the fishery since 2006.

“We are so excited to welcome B.A.S.S. back to the ‘Big Bass Capital of the World,’” said Ann Sparks, Tourism and Main Street Executive Director for the City of Eufaula. “We are thankful (for) their dedication to rescheduling the tournament. Now we just have to wait and see what they catch!”

Competition for Opens Series anglers resumes in June as well, when the Central Open launches on the Arkansas River in Muskogee, Okla., for their first event of the season June 18-20.

“When originally setting up the schedule, B.A.S.S. took into account the times of year when each fishery would be at its best,” said B.A.S.S. Tournament Director Trip Weldon. “The revisions, while challenging, should present excellent catch opportunities for our field.”

Bassmaster Elite Series

June 10-13, Lake Eufaula, Eufaula, Ala.

July 14-17, Cayuga Lake, Union Springs, N.Y.

July 23-26, SiteOne Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River, Waddington, N.Y.

July 30-Aug. 2, Lake Champlain, Plattsburgh, N.Y.

Aug. 20-23, Lake St. Clair, Macomb County, Mich.

Oct. 8-11, Santee Cooper Lakes, Clarendon County, S.C.

Oct. 16-19, Chickamauga Lake, Dayton, Tenn.

Nov. 5-8, Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest benefiting Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Lake Fork, Quitman, Texas
 

Basspro.com Bassmaster Opens Series

Eastern Division:

Aug. 6-8, Oneida Lake, Syracuse, N.Y.

Sept. 23-25, Lake Hartwell, Anderson, S.C.

Oct. 29-31, Cherokee Lake, Jefferson County, Tenn.

Central Division:

June 18-20, Arkansas River, Muskogee, Okla.

Sept. 10-12, Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Jasper, Texas

Oct. 22-24, Neely Henry Lake, Gadsden, Ala.

Nov. 19-21, Lewisville Lake, Lewisville, Texas

Z-Man's ElaZtech Celebrates its 15-Year Anniversary

When a new class of softbaits first showed up in tackle stores fifteen years ago, no one particularly knew what to make of them, or the rather supernatural properties the baits exhibited. No one, that is, except an angler named Kevin VanDam, who would soon win a Bassmaster Elite Series tournament wielding a lively, ultra-durable stickbait called the Zero.
Link here to see their full story

MNRF connection to new fish database

Originally posted on OODMAG.com

A Peterborough-based research scientist contributed to a new fish database. The database tracks the toll of climate change on freshwater fish, according to a story from University at Buffalo’s staff and student publication, UBNow.

Cindy Chu of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry’s Aquatic Research and Monitoring Section, co-authored a scientific data paper for the Fish and Climate Change Database, Charlotte Hsu reported on Tuesday, April 28.

The searchable directory of peer-reviewed journal publications describes projected or documented effects of climate change on inland fishes. Scientific Data launched the open-access journal on April 21.

State university leads project

The project was led by University at Buffalo Fish Biologist Trevor Krabbenhoft. United States Geological Survey Fish Biologist Bonnie Myers, a PhD candidate at North Carolina State University, also piloted the project.

Researchers, fisheries managers, conservationists, journalists, and others can use the database to find scientific articles. These articles are searchable by fish species, habitat type, location, and type of climate change impact. Impacts include changes in temperature or precipitation, UBNow reported.

Peanut Bunker Jigging Spoon: NEW LURE RELEASE!

Thundermist Lures isn't well know for great bass lures but they sure have some. This YouTube sensation offers some great baits that are ideal for deep water fishing like Great Lakes smallmouth or spotted bass.
See the new Thundermist Peanut Bunker Jigging Spoon. Check them out at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmz-...