Thursday, March 28, 2013

Jackall's Aska crankbait

Shallow crankbaits have been phenomenal at winning tournaments. The last few years we have seen countless anglers bragging about the merits of shallow divers. Two versions have been particularly productive; Squarebills and Circuit Board lipped.  These cranks provide amazing result when worked through shallow cover. 

 
Jackall's new Aska provides the incredible wobble of a squarebill with the vibration of a Circuit Board lip. If you are looking for crankbait with great deflection abilities, high quality finished plus the added bonus of a custom Circuit Board lip, give a very close look at the Jackall Aska.

Features:
  • 3 sizes
  • 50 SR = 2"; 1/4oz; running depth 3-4 feet; floater
  • 60SR = 2.5"; 3/8oz; running depth 3-4 feet; floater
  • 70SR = 3"; 5/8oz; running depth 3-4 feet; floater
  •  all silent runner
  • high quality colours
  • premium grade treble hooks
  • excellent defecting qualities

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

The Safariland Group Acquires Mustang Survival



JACKSONVILLE, Florida – The Safariland Group (the “Company”), a leading manufacturer of protective products and equipment primarily for law enforcement and the military, has acquired Mustang Survival and its related entities, Mustang Survival Inc. and Mustang Survival Mfg., Inc. (collectively, “Mustang Survival”).

Mustang Survival is the North American market leader in lifesaving equipment for recreational, military, law enforcement and industrial users in the marine and aviation environments. For more than 45 years, Mustang Survival has been transforming innovative ideas and technologies into high-quality and practical lifesaving products such as inflatable personal flotation devices, flotation clothing, dry suits, anti-g suits and a wide range of products to protect serious users in extreme environments.

“We are excited to be bringing together two companies that are both committed to saving lives as a part of their core mission,” said Scott O’Brien, president of The Safariland Group. “Mustang Survival’s history of lifesaving marine and aviation equipment has presented unique growth opportunities for our company, especially as we aim to broaden our suite of products that help save lives.”

The Safariland Group, acquired by an affiliate of Kanders and Company, Inc. in July 2012, is globally expanding its current brands while pursuing acquisitions aligned with its mission of “Together, We Save Lives.” Mustang Survival represents the Company’s first acquisition in the marine and aviation industries.

Monday, March 25, 2013

2013 Bassmaster Elite Falcon Lake: Keith Combs Wins his First Elite!


Combs holds off Clunn

Texan busts 100-plus pounds in wire-to-wire win in home state

By Deb Johnson
Bass Press Release

ZAPATA, Texas — Third-year Elite pro Keith Combs of Huntington, Texas, locked out 11 other finalists Monday in the Rigid Industries Falcon Slam, including his biggest threat after three rounds, four-time Bassmaster Classic champ and Zen master of bass fishing, Rick Clunn.
Combs come out on top.
(Photo: James Overstreet BASS)
After weighing 28 pounds, 2 ounces on the final day, Combs hit and surpassed the 100-pound mark with 111 pounds, 5 ounces over four days of competition on Falcon Lake out of Zapata, Texas. In his home state on a lake he’s guided on for years, Combs took his first Bassmaster Elite Series title in wire-to-wire fashion and by a margin of 5-15 over Clunn.
Besides the Bassmaster Century Club entry, Combs walked away with $100,000, an automatic berth in the 2014 Bassmaster Classic, and 100 points in the 2013 Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year race, which awards $100,000 at the end of the eight-event regular season.

Sunday, March 24, 2013

2013 Bassmaster Elite Falcon Lake Final Day Postponed until Monday

Wild wind storm has made Falcon lake too dangerous to fish. Top 12 anglers will fish on Monday.
(Photo: BASS)

2013 Bassmaster Elite Falcon Lake Day 3: Combs leads but Clunn Catching Up FAST!


By Deb Johnson
BASS Press Release
ZAPATA, Texas — Rick Clunn was exhausted. The man with arguably the all-time most famous name in pro bass fishing had just spent more than seven hours hauling in big bass after big bass from Falcon Lake in 100-degree-plus Texas Brush Country heat. In his weigh-in bags — he had to use two — swam five enormous largemouth bass.
Rick Clunn's Mega bag worth 36-14!
(Photo: James Overstreet BASS)
“I had 32-9 yesterday, and I think I have over that,” said the pro from Ava., Mo., back at the docks. He came off the water early and was in line to be the first to weigh in on the third day of the Rigid Industries Falcon Slam out of Zapata, Texas.
His trip to the scales proved his prediction. Clunn’s five fish weighed 36 pounds, 14 ounces, the largest single-day bag after three of the Slam’s four days. The only thing Clunn missed catching Saturday was the leader, Keith Combs of Huntington, Texas.
Combs remained the leader by one pound over Clunn after starting the day with a 7-7 margin.
Combs weighed in 20-5 Saturday, a disappointment to him after his huge Day One bag of 34-13 and Day Two sack of 28-1. He ran into trouble Saturday and brought in a lighter bag — even though 20-5 would be terrific on almost any lake but Falcon. His three-day total was 83 pounds, 3 ounces.

Saturday, March 23, 2013

2013 Bassmaster Elite Falcon Lake Day 2: Combs leads with 62-14 for 10 Bass!

By Deb Johnson
Bass Press Release
ZAPATA, Texas — Do the math: 33 pounds x 4 days = 132.
You can bet Texan Keith Combs is doing the multiplication. Combs weighed 28 pounds, 1 ounce Friday, and while not duplicating his 34-13 smash of Thursday, he still amassed 62-14 after two days in the Rigid Industries Falcon Slam out of Zapata, Texas. Such a weight after two days is enough to dream of the possibility of coming close to or busting the 132-8 Bassmaster Elite Series all-time, five-fish-limit, four-day weight record set five years ago on Falcon.
Combs with another amazing day!
(Photos: James Overstreet BASS)
And now with a 7-pound, 7-ounce lead, Combs can also set his sights for his first win on Lake Falcon, where he’s been a guide for years. It would also be his first win in the Elite Series.
He’s headed the right way. The Huntington, Texas, pro’s two heavyweight bags added up to the leader spot for the second day in a row in a four-day tournament.
Edwin Evers of Talala, Okla., put up 55-7 after Friday against the leader’s 62-14, coming up far short of knocking Combs off the catbird seat. But Evers felt good about his Friday weight of 28-15, which boosted him from ninth place into second. Jason Christie of Park Hill, Okla., pushed himself up one place into third with his 54-0 two-day weight.
One of the biggest moves of the day was by Cliff Crochet of Pierre Part, La., who shot from 50th place on the first day into fourth on the second. The rocket ship he rode was the day’s largest bag: 35-3. In fifth Friday with 53-9 was Cliff Prince of Palatka, Fla., the pro who had never seen Falcon Lake before this week, but has managed two impressive sacks of largemouth bass two days running.
Cliff with two of his monsters. 
Combs needs to boost his daily weights Saturday and Sunday to go for the win and the record, but as his fellow Elite pro Hank Cherry put it, “Any cast here can be a double-digit fish.”
Combs isn’t close to being cocky about his chances, though.
“I don’t even want to talk about winning, not on the second day,” he said after Friday’s weigh-in. “Maybe tomorrow.”
Combs had a limit by noon Friday, but the count was “two decent fish,” and “three real small fish,” he said. Probably not enough to keep his Day 1 lead. Then, to his relief, he managed a late rally, including a last cast that came back with a 6-pounder attached. The catch allowed him to cull a 2-pounder.

Friday, March 22, 2013

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Terminator Super Stainless Rig




Terminator has released their own Alabama rig. It is a more compact version compared to many rigs on the market.  Here are some of its features
  • 5 arms (centre arm is slightly longer)
  • crane barrel swivels and snap rated at 75lbs.
  • large, fish shaped head with superb paint job
  • compact, stainless steel design
  • 5" (13cm) length
75lb snaps will do the job.

This ring helps control the arms while in storage.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Elite Stars Remember Sandy Hook

By Luigi De Rose

Fishing is a family sport. That often doesn't shine through during major bass tournaments but it did during the first Bassmaster Elite tournament of 2013. In a true act of respect, humility and empathy many Elite anglers dawned green coloured tournament jerseys to reflect the school colour of Sandy Hook.  Sandy Hook elementary school was the site of a deadly mass murder that took the life of almost thirty people, many of them young, grade 1 students. Even though the focus was on catching bass along the Sabine River, Elite anglers knew they needed to honour the memory of the innocent.  Here are a few who did.

Kevin  Van Dam 

Alton Jones

Terry Scroggins

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Megabass' Pop Max topwater


Megabass makes magical lures. The Pop Max is an amazing. Listen to "The Chef" as he explains to you and IBASSIN.com what makes this topwater bait so great.

Monday, March 18, 2013

2013 BASSMASTER Elite Sabine River Champion is Todd Faircloth!


Sabine a dream for Todd Faircloth


By Deb Johnson
BASS Press Release
ORANGE, Texas — “Everything’s bigger and better in Texas.”
Faircloth's big limit was too much for Rojas to overcome.
(Photo: James Overstreet BASS)
That’s what Todd Faircloth of Jasper, Texas, said Sunday as he won the Sabine River Challenge presented by STARK Cultural Venues out of Orange, Texas, trumping Dean Rojas of Lake Havasu City, Ariz., by 6 pounds, 10 ounces.
“It means a lot to me to win here,” Faircloth said. “I won one in Texas in Amistad, but that’s not real close to my home. Winning here in front of my home crowd is special. I’ve got a lot of family and friends here, and a lot of people I grew up fishing with and against.”
Faircloth’s win — his fourth Bassmaster Elite Series title and second in Texas — was a victory in a four-day tug-of-war with Rojas. Rojas led the first day, then Faircloth took the lead away from him on Day Two.
The third day, Rojas got it back, and led Faircloth by 3-9, a considerable deficit on the stingy and tough Sabine River system. But Faircloth pulled away on Day Four by weighing a 14-9 limit, easily getting the best of Rojas, who had a single fish Sunday that weighed 4-6.

Sunday, March 17, 2013

2013 Sabine River Challenge Champ: Todd Faircloth


1.       Todd Faircloth 49-6

2.       Dean Rojas 42-12

3.       Terry Scroggins 41-1

4.       Ishama Monroe 40-0

5.       Bill Lowen 38-3

Saturday, March 16, 2013

2013 BASSMASTER ELITE Sabine River Day 2: Todd Faircloth Jumps into Lead.


Leader Todd Faircloth culls and calls it a day by noon


By Deb Johnson
BASS Press Release
Faircloth's big bag helps Texan lead on difficult fishery.
(Photo: James Overstreet BASS)
It was a short workday for Todd Faircloth on Friday. By noon, the Bassmaster Elite Series pro from Jasper, Texas, had a five-fish limit. He decided they weighed enough, and they were all he should take from his prime fishing area on the Sabine River system, so he called it a day.
He was right: At the scales, his fish weighed 16 pounds, 8 ounces, bringing his two-day total to 26-15. It was enough for the Friday lead in the Sabine River Challenge presented by STARK Cultural Venues in Orange, Texas, the season opener of the Elite Series.
Enough, yes, to jump over first-day leader Dean Rojas, but by only 7 ounces. Rojas, of Lake Havasu City, Ariz., had a two-day total of 26-8. He slipped to second place after his Day Two catch of 10-14 was almost five pounds lighter than his big Day One bag of 15-10. Cliff Crochet of Pierre Part, La., is third with a two-day total of 25-0.
Faircloth said he left his area after he caught his eighth keeper and had culled for his best five. His largest, a 4-6, was his first keeper of the day.

Thursday, March 14, 2013

2013 BASSMASTER ELITE Sabine River Day 1: Rojas Roots Out Lead!


Dean Rojas of Lake Havasu City, Ariz., with a history of wins on Toledo Bend Reservoir, shone equally bright Thursday on the Sabine, the big lake straddling the river to the north.
Rojas leads with 15-10 when
most didn't have a limit.
(Photo: James Overstreet BASS)
He took the first-day lead in the March 14-17 Sabine River Challenge presented by STARK Cultural Venues, the season opener of the Bassmaster Elite Series.
Rojas’ 15 pounds, 10 ounces kept him in front of Mark Davis of Mount Ida, Ark., who was second with 13-13, and Cliff Crochet of Pierre Part, La., who had 13-0 for third place.
“It must be the water,” Rojas laughed, a hint that his fast start in the 2013 season opener was almost a coincidence to his success on Toledo Bend, where he won an Elite event in 2011, one of several victories on that fishery over the course of his career.

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

2013 BASSMASTER CLASSIC Interview PART 2: Cliff Pace's Classic Winning Strategies

Cliff Pace working on a limit.
(Photo: James Overstreet, BASS)
By Luigi De Rose
Part two of the interview with Cliff Pace, recently crowned 2013 BASSMASTER CLASSIC Champion, we chatted more on tackle, fishing conditions and strategy.  Cliff had laser beam focus throughout the entire three day tournament. He adjusted exceptionally well considering the weather fluctuated from freezing air temps with snow to balmy.  Cliff led the entire tournament and landed two of the heaviest creels of the Classic. By the commencement of the final day, Pace held a six pound lead. Most considered the tournament his to lose.  
(click here for PART ONE of the interview)
IBASSIN

Take the readers through Day 1 and 2.

Cliff Pace
Both days the strategy was almost the same but the bass bit differently on each day. The mornings were cold so I started deep. The deeper areas were best in the morning. My shallower areas got progressively better in the afternoon. That’s when the jerk bait bite was better. I feel those areas improved because the shad moved up in the water column later in the day. That made a difference how I targeted the bass.

The Chronarch proved itself all week.
First thing, I used was a 1/2oz V& M football jig. The jig was dressed with a V& M Twin Tail trailer. I would dye the pumpkin trailer orange to make it more appealing.  It was best for the deeper spots. The bass were holding off the main lake, mostly secondary points in the 10 to 25 foot range. They just were not in one specific depth. I had to determine where they were throughout each day. Usually, I would stick to the jig until 10am.


For the jig, I used a Shimano 7’ 2” Crucial rod in heavy power teamed with a Shimano 200 E Chronarch reel spooled with 15lb test Hi-Seas Fluorocarbon line.
IBASSIN
What type of structure did you focus on?

Cliff Pace

Let me explain what I mean. On the secondary points, there were flatter sections with one deep sloping spot.  The deeper areas, steeper sections, were right on the end of the point. It would fall into much deeper water than the surrounding area. The sections off either side of the point had a gradual taper. These sections were shallower than right off the point. The bass would reposition around each of these areas throughout the tournament day.

Sunday, March 10, 2013

2013 Walmart FLW Lewis Smith Lake Champion: Brent Ehrler Wins with Deep Bite


Tennessee’s Tidwell Wins Co-Angler Title, $20,000
10.Mar.2013
FLW PRESS RELEASE
JASPER, Ala. – Keystone Light pro Brent Ehrler brought the largest stringer to the scales Sunday – for the third time in four days of competition – to win the Walmart FLW Tour on Lewis Smith Lake presented by Evinrude. Ehrler weighed in a five-bass limit worth 14 pounds, 11 ounces to win the $125,000 prize after leading wire-to-wire in the four-day tournament that showcased a full field of the best bass-fishing professionals in the world.
Brent controlled tournament from start to finish fishing
deep with a Yamamoto Senko.
(Photo: Brent Ehrler)
The Redlands, Calif., native weighed in 20 bass totaling 60 pounds, 9 ounces throughout the four days of competition. Second-place pro Jacob Powroznik of Prince George, Va., weighed in 20 bass totaling 53 pounds, 5 ounces, giving Ehrler the win with a decisive 7-pound, 4-ounce margin.
“This was one of the toughest tournaments that I have ever fished,” said Ehrler, who became only the third angler in FLW history to surpass $2 million in career earnings with his win on Sunday. “I was so stressed out; I was waking up at 2 or 3 a.m. every morning thinking about where I was going to fish that day. Fortunately, I was able to catch a couple of big ones off of a couple of areas where I knew they lived. They were very tough to catch, though.

Saturday, March 9, 2013

2013 Walmart FLW Lewis Smith Lake Day 3: Ehrler Retains Lead for Third Day.


Keystone Light pro increase lead to 6-4 going into final day
09.Mar.2013 by Kyle Wood
FLW PRESS RELEASE
JASPER, Ala. – Today brought the weather that many anglers – especially largemouth guys – had hoped for with warmer temperatures to start the day and wind. Those factors still couldn’t seem to help the bite on Lewis Smith Lake which is beginning to show signs of fishing pressure getting the best of it. One man, however, still remains perched atop the leaderboard for the third straight day in a row.
Ehrler fishing deep for spots and the win.
(Photo: FLW)
Keystone Light pro Brent Ehrler has caught the largest bags from each day of competition during days one and two – 17 pounds, 8 ounces and 16-7, respectively. On day three his weight slipped some, but Ehrler still managed 11-15 to bring his overall weight to 45-14 and carries a 6-4 lead to the final day.
“I have caught heavier weights than I thought I could this week,” said Ehrler. “It hasn’t been easy at all this week – each day is truly a grind.”
Throughout the event Ehrler has been relying on a few key places that he found during practice. One of them has produced quality bites for him despite having never received a bite in practice from it. After yesterday though, Ehrler felt that he couldn’t rely as heavily on that area and knew he would have to make it happen from the other few places he had left. Most of the water he is focusing on is in around 30 to 40 feet, with his fish coming off the bottom or close to it - where he has been utilizing his electronics to see the fish that he often times will later catch.

Friday, March 8, 2013

2013 Walmart FLW Lewis Smith Lake Day 1: Ehrler Grabs Lead

FLW PRESS RELEASE

JASPER, Ala. – A full field of the world’s best bass-fishing professionals began competition in the Walmart FLW Tour on Lewis Smith Lake presented by Evinrude on Thursday. After the final fish was weighed at the Lewis Smith Lake Dam Access, Keystone Light pro Brent Ehrler of Redlands, Calif., sat atop the leaderboard and now has his sights set on the top cash award of up to $125,000.
Ehrler using both finesse and power to capture the day's best bag.
(Photo: FLW)
“My weight doesn’t really show the whole story of exactly what went on out there,” said Ehrler, the second-place finisher at the FLW Tour season opener at Lake Okeechobee. “It was pretty interesting how my day went. I mixed it up and did a bunch of different things. I was fortunate enough to get a couple of big bites.”
Ehrler brought a five-fish limit of spotted bass to the scales that weighed 17 pounds, 8 ounces. He holds a slim 8-ounce lead over Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes pro Dave Lefebre of Erie, Pa., who weighed in 17 pounds even.
“I pulled up to a spot today that I didn’t get a bite on in practice, but it just looked right,” Ehrler said. “There were some good laydowns, and the bank just looked right. I saw some fish on my Humminbird, but I didn’t catch any. I fished quite a few areas and covered a lot of water. I was fishing near the area again later in the afternoon and decided to take another shot at it. That time, it worked.
“It just takes time, though,” Ehrler continued. “I had a long day today and didn’t have to weigh in until 5 p.m. Tomorrow, I weigh in at 3 p.m. That could change the outcome of how I will catch them. Having a long day let me fish relaxed, while having a short day tends to push you and make you fish a little faster.”

Thursday, March 7, 2013

2013 BASSMASTER CLASSIC Interview: Cliff Pace the Man & Angler


By Luigi De Rose

A week after Cliff Pace was crowned the BASSMASTER CLASSIC champion, IBASSIN.com had an opportunity to chat with him. In an attempt to learn more about the mild mannered pro from Mississippi, this portion of the interview focuses on Cliff Pace the person and angler and the effects of winning the Classic.

Cliff Pace Wins.
(Photos: BASS)
At 32 years of age, Pace has three BASS wins to his credit. Both of his prior victories occurred at Central BASS Opens. The Classic win on Grand Lake was his first Tour victory on the Elite circuit.  He has 4 second place finishes, two during the 2012 season, and has earned just over $1.2 million with BASS. Many people close to Cliff feel that the Classic was a breakout tournament and expect many great achievements from him in the near future.



IBASSIN

First of all, congratulations on the Classic win.  Many past winners have stated that, “the Classic will change your life.” It’s been a week, how much has changed?

Cliff Pace

Thanks! Winning has not really changed much of anything. It’s added to my life. My schedule is very busy.  Winning has given opportunities. Opportunities for my friends, family and sponsors to enjoy the Classic win. It has given me a great chance to appreciate all of them (sponsors, friends and family) and let them celebrate the win and given them a chance to shine.


IBASSIN
How has the response been of you winning?

Cliff Pace
I have had hundreds of emails, calls and people congratulating me. So many people have mentioned how proud they were of me for being me. I am not the kind of guy to go crazy and throw my shoes into the crowd during the Classic. I am not that kind of person.


IBASSIN

At the Classic, during the press conference you said that deep, rocky lakes were foreign to you when you first started out. Being from Mississippi, where 5 feet is deep, is this win, outside the fact that it is the Classic, more special?