HAPPY NEW YEAR

Happy New Year from IBASSIN.com
Wish you health, happiness and great fishing in 2014!
Please don't drink and drive. 

CITRIX Rebates

Check out the all-new matte black cosmetics on the feature-packed Citrix baitcast reels. Make your best deal on a Citrix baitcast reel at retail, and then receive $20 cash back by mail.

Purchase a Citrix baitcast reel and a Citrix Tournament rod and receive $20 cash back by mail AND an Okuma factory tournament jersey valued ad $69.99. 

Legendary HMG Gets A New Look

In 1973, Fenwick came out with the first-ever graphite rod, named the HMG (for High Modulus Graphite). Now 40 years later, Fenwick is giving a fresh new look to the rod that transformed the fishing industry and has caught countless fish through the years.

The new HMG combines the time-tested technology of a high-modulus blank with more modern innovations such as its comfortable, durable Fuji 5K reel seat, its strong yet smooth titanium guides, and Fenwick’s easy-grip, soft TAC material. The HMG also sports a newly designed Carbon Bound blank that incorporates carbon thread wrapped around the rod to strengthen the high modulus material while keeping weight to a minimum.

The HMG’s most striking new feature is its completely redesigned handle. While the handle still maintains its iconic TAC grip, the TAC is highlighted with EVA foam accents that add a more modern look and comfortable feel.

The entire handle is also much slimmer than past models, not only making the all-new HMG easier and more comfortable to hold, but also contributing to the rod’s overall 10-percent reduction in weight from the previous HMG.

Fenwick’s legendary HMG is once again reborn for the 2014 season, and is available in 6 baitcast and 17 spinning models to suit the needs of any angler. The MSRP is $99.95.

Merry Christmas from IBASSIN

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!  I will be taking a small break from the web to enjoy my family and help others who have had problems with the resent ice storm. If you are living under the shadow of the recent ice storm, please be careful.

HELIOS Rebates

Tournament-ready Helios baitcast reels, spinning reels and rods become even sweeter with the addition of cash back. 

Purchase a Helios baitcast or spinning reel and receive $30 cash back by mail.  

Purchase a Helios baitcast or spinning reel along with a Helios Tournament rod and receive $30 cash back PLUS an Okuma factory tournament jersey valued at $69.99.

Top Bass Tournament Owner Fined and Banned from Tournaments

Ministry of Natural Resources $5,000 Fine and Two-Year Ban for Walleye Tournament Offences 

NEWS December 16, 2013 

An Aurora man has been fined and banned from the organization, financing, promotion and administration of walleye tournaments for a period of two years. Teodore Gallone of Aurora pleaded guilty and was fined $5,000 for failing to comply with the conditions set out in a licence to transport live fish. The court heard that the Town of Bobcaygeon retained Gallone to manage a live release walleye tournament on Sturgeon Lake on June 9 and 10, 2012. 

Ministry of Natural Resources conservation officers conducted an inspection of Gallone’s live release vessel. It revealed that Gallone neither checked nor monitored the water temperature and oxygen levels in the holding tanks during the tournament. Of the 497 walleye caught over the two-day event, 72 died before release, and an unknown number died shortly after. Justice of the Peace Jason Mariasine heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, Lindsay, on December 6, 2013. 

Anglers are reminded that live release boats used in competitive fishing events must be licensed to transport the catches of multiple anglers. The licence sets conditions for holding, handling and release that promote the successful live return of fish to the water. To report a natural resources violation, call 1-877-TIPS-MNR (847-7667) toll-free any time or contact your local ministry office during regular business hours. You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Snake Skins for Rods

Ran across something cool on the web. Grant Rods custom creates a series of fishing rods with funky exotic snake skins and feather weaves on the blanks. These are high end rods but if you love custom styles have a look.

Click here for their website. 

Skeet Reese's Lucky Craft SKT Crankbait goes to Don H!

The winner of the IBASSIN.com facebook contest for an autographed Skeet Reese Lucky Craft SKT Crankbait is Don H. from Branson, Missouri.

Don H. please send our FACEBOOK page a private message with your full address and we'll get it to you for Christmas.

Like us on Facebook to make sure you don't miss our next contest for some great JACKALL lures.

Win with IBASSIN on Facebook

Only  hours left until we draw one lucky winner of the new Lucky Craft SKT Magnum Crankbait autographed from Bassmaster Elite Start Skeet Reese.

Like IBASSIN on FACEBOOK to be part of the draw. Dead line Friday, December 13, 2013 at 6 pm Eastern time.

Click here to WIN!

Time to Renew

Hey Ontario, is your Outdoor Card going to expire? Mine is and it is now time to renew. 

Starting Dec. 3 you will be able to renew your card online by phone (1-800-288-1155), or at participating Service Ontario centres and licence issuers.

The Ministry of Natural Resources will not be mailing out reminders or forms this year and is encouraging all anglers and hunters to make sure their card is up to date.

Chad Morgenthaler Wins Last Bassmaster Classic Spot!

Chad Comes from Behind to Win on Okeechobee

Okeechobee, Fla. — Chad Morgenthaler of Coulterville, Ill., is the 56th and last angler to qualify for the 2014 Bassmaster Classic on Alabama's Lake Guntersville, Feb. 21-23. He entered the final round of the Bassmaster Classic Wild Card presented by Star Tron trailing Alabama's Shaye Baker by almost six pounds. Baker led the tournament for each of the first two days, but faltered in the finals.

Chad off to the 2014 Classic!
(Photo: James OVerstreet BASS)

That's when Morgenthaler stepped up. His five bass limit weighing 20 pounds, 12 ounces gave him 63-13 for the tournament. It was enough to surpass Baker, who slipped to third with 59-8. Jesse Tacoronte was second with 59-11 and Russ Lane was fourth with 59-2.

For the victory, Morgenthaler earns a coveted berth in the 2014 Classic, the world championship of bass fishing. It also completes a season in which he achieved every professional goal he set for himself.

"I wanted to qualify for the Bassmaster Elite Series, so I signed up for all the Bassmaster Opens," Morgenthaler said. "I got an invitation through my seventh place finish in the Southern Opens, and I'm really looking forward to competing in 2014."

His other goal was to qualify for the Bassmaster Classic, a tournament he's fished before. Morgenthaler also fished the championship in 2003, 2005 and 2006. While he didn't make it by winning an Open this year, the Wild Card gave him one last chance.

For his winning catch, Morgenthaler relied on flippin', pitching and punching pennywort and hyacinth mats using a 2-ounce tungsten weight and a Missile Baits D Bomb or Baby D Bomb (Bruiser Flash and Love Bug) rigged on a 5/0 Gamakatsu Heavy Cover Flippin' Hook and 66-pound-test Toray Bawo Finesse Braid. His combo was an 8-foot Carrot Stix Wild Black XXH model with a Lew's Super Duty reel.

"The key for me was that most guys were abandoning the vegetation that had been sprayed and was dying," Morgenthaler said. "I stuck with it a little longer and found out that the fish I found in practice were still there. Catching them wasn't easy, but they were there."

With the win — his first on the Bassmaster Tournament Trail — Morgenthaler bested a field of 48 other anglers including 18 Elite Series pros, a former Classic champ (Boyd Duckett) and nine-time Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Roland Martin.

Tacoronte was working a similar pattern and method. Known as one of Florida's best at fishing heavy vegetation, he focused on any pennywort he found on matted hydrilla.

"Even if there were just five little pennywort plants on top, I'd pitch in there and often catch a good bass," Tacoronte said. The Florida pro used a Bitter's BMG (black and blue) behind a 2-ounce tungsten weight and rigged on a 4/0 or 5/0 Strike King Hack Attack Heavy Cover Flipping Hook. He fished it on a 7-foot, 11-inch Halo Twilight Series Casting Rod and a Lew's Super Duty reel spooled with 65-pound-test PowerPro braid.

After leading for the first two days, Baker was naturally disappointed with the loss. Like the other leaders, he was pitching and punching heavy vegetation. He believes increasing fishing pressure ultimately hurt his primary area and caused his declining catches. On the first day he posted the biggest catch of the tournament at 29-8. On Day 2 he slipped to 19-6 and in the finals he had 12-10, but a culling penalty cost him two pounds, so that his official tally was 10-10.

While the penalty did not cost Baker the tournament, it did drop him into third place.

He was contemplative in defeat, noting that the biggest issue in his life this week was doing well in the tournament, "and if that's your biggest worry, then things aren't so bad." On stage, he thanked his parents and girlfriend for traveling from Alabama to watch the final weigh-in.

2013 BASS Wild Card Lake Okeechobee Day 2: Shaye Baker Keeps Lead.

Baker Closer to Classic

By Ken Duke

DEC 6, 2013

Okeechobee, Fla. — Alabama's Shaye Baker is not just holding on at the Bassmaster Classic Wild Card presented by Star Tron, he increased his lead over the other 48 competitors. After tallying a limit weighing 29 pounds, 8 ounces on the first day, Baker was back with 19-6 on Day Two for a total of 48-14.

Baker still in the lead as day 2 weights sink.
(Photo: James Overstreet BASS)

That's nearly six pounds better than Illinois' Chad Morgenthaler who moved up from- third place on Day Two with a cumulative weight of 43-1. Jesse Tacoronte of Florida is third with 39-15. Thursday's second place angler, Russ Lane of Alabama, fell to fourth with 39-6. They are the only anglers within 10 pounds of Baker.

For the third and final round, only the top 12 anglers will compete. Weights carry forward, and only the winner will earn a berth in the 2014 Bassmaster Classic on Lake Guntersville in Alabama, Feb. 21-23.

2013 BASS Wild Card Lake Okeechobee Day 1: Shaye Baker Smashed Monster Bag!

Final Chance to Land Bassmaster Classic Spot Getting Narrower

By Ken Duke

DEC 5, 2013

Alabama's Shaye Baker picked a good day to catch the biggest bass and biggest five-bass limit of his life. The young pro's catch totaled 29 pounds, 8 ounces and his best largemouth weighed 9-1 to give him a 4 1/2-pound lead over fellow Alabaman and Elite pro Russ Lane at the Bassmaster Classic Wild Card presented by Star Tron.

This is what 29 pounds of Big O Bass looks like.
(Photo: James Overstreet BASS)

The winner of the event will earn a trophy, cash and — most importantly — the 56th and final berth in the 2014 Bassmaster Classic on Lake Guntersville, Ala., Feb. 21-23.

In an informal poll of competitors at tournament registration on Wednesday, Baker guessed that the eventual winner would have more than 72 pounds over three days. It was one of the heaviest predictions, and today it became obvious why he was so optimistic.

"I knew I was around some good fish," Baker said, "and I tried hard not to catch them during practice." His 9-1 lunker stands as the Carhartt Big Bass of the tournament so far.

Win a New Lucky Craft SKT Magnums Autographed by Skeet Reese

Like IBASSIN.com on FACEBOOK to have a chance to win the new SKT bait from Lucky Craft.
Contest ends later this month.

CLICK HERE TO LINK TO FACEBOOK

On Tour with Spiro: SMITH LAKE EPISODE 2

If you ever wanted to see the co-angler perspective on the FLW Bass Fishing tour then you need to check out Spiro on On Tour with Spiro Agouros. He offers the rare glimpse of what it takes to fish as a co-angler.