Bryan Thrift Wins 2014 Walmart FLW Tour San Rayburn Event!

Flipping, Pitching and the Chatterbait solves the Rayburn puzzle!

by Curtis Niedermier

FLW PRESS RELEASE

Thrift comes from behind to take $125 000 and the trophy!
(Photos: FLW)

Fast, shallow and with moving baits – if you were to script the perfect scenario for a Bryan Thrift victory, those would be the key pieces. Today at the Sam Rayburn Walmart FLW Tour event presented by Chevy, however, Thrift proved that he can not only break his own stereotype, but he can win when he does it.

Relying on ultra-slow flipping tactics with a Texas-rigged Damiki Knock Out, Thrift brought in a 17-pound limit - the day’s heaviest - to come from 2 pounds, 14 ounces behind Walmart pro Mark Rose and lock up his third Tour victory. His four-day total was 73 pounds, 3 ounces, which earned the Chevy pro $125,000.

"I had to pitch that bait up there, let it sink and shake it," Thrift said. "Then I'd feel the 'thunk.'"

2014 Walmart FLW Tour San Rayburn Day 3: Mark Rose Hangs onto Lead

Warming trend has bass moving shallower

by Curtis Niedermier
FLW Press Release

Early morning action has occurred off the bank for
Mark Rose. (Photos:FLW)

LUFKIN, Texas - Falling weights and high pressure – both the atmospheric kind and the psychological kind – told the story of day three of the Walmart FLW Tour event at Sam Rayburn Reservoir presented by Chevy. In the wake of a severe Friday-night thunderstorm that knocked out power and uprooted dozens of east Texas pines, pros took to “Old Man Sam” amid a high-pressure system and high, bluebird skies.

Walmart pro Mark Rose maintains his lead going into the fourth and final day, but for the second consecutive day, he failed to match his previous day’s weight.

Rose opened the event with 23 pounds, 14 ounces on a blustery, overcast day that provided the perfect conditions to activate the bass on his primary offshore spot. On day two, bolstered by a 9-pound giant, Rose weighed 19 pounds, 2 ounces. Today, he fell off to 16 pounds, 1 ounce and leads by less than 3 pounds over Chevy pro Bryan Thrift.

The key all week for the West Memphis, Ark., pro has been the early morning period, which has produced all of his big bites.

“Every day I have caught one or two big ones,” Rose told the weigh-in crowd at the Lufkin, Texas, Walmart. “It’s hard to win a tournament based on a spot where I’m only getting one or two big bites. I’ve just been so blessed in the mornings to have enough wind and clouds to get those fish.”

Sunny, calm conditions tend to push the fish deeper into Rayburn’s grass, according to Rose, which makes them more difficult for him to catch. Today, Rose got the strong winds he wanted for most of the competition period, but the sunshine settled over Sam Rayburn by about 10 a.m., making it difficult for most of the top-20 pros.

A red crankbait and Carolina rig has been Rose's magic techniques at Rayburn.

Only one pro, Jayme Rampey of Liberty, S.C., caught a 20-pound limit, and surprisingly there was a lack of 5- to 7-pound kickers hauled in at a lake known for producing giant bass, at a time of year when fat female largemouths should be mobbing the bank.

Rose caught a 4- and 5-pounder on his best spot this morning then scrambled to fill his limit by running the same pattern on a few places closer to the Cassels-Boykin County Park launch site. He used the same bottom-dragging soft plastics, crankbait and Strike King Red Eye Shad he used on day two when he took over the lead, but today Rose also added a drop-shot to the mix.

2014 Walmart FLW Tour San Rayburn Day 2: Rose Leapfrog with Lunker

Heavy fog then warm weather flip flops leaderboard

by Curtis Niedermier
FLW Press Release

Weathermen lie, but Mother Nature never does.

Mark Rose always seems to have the magic.
(Photo: FLW)

Her power was on display on day two of the Walmart FLW Tour event on Sam Rayburn Reservoir presented by Chevy. Forecasts called for a gloomy, potentially stormy day. But other than a light mist at takeoff and a dense fog that hung around until mid-morning, the weatherman couldn’t have been more wrong.

By lunchtime, sunshine and slick conditions spread across Sam Rayburn. The bass responded quickly by repositioning deeper into shallow cover and, in some areas, heading for the bank to answer nature’s spawning call.

The pros atop the day-two standings experienced mixed results. For some, the bite was better and should continue to improve over the weekend with more warm weather expected. For others, it was a day of scrambling and grinding, trying to make the most of what their primary areas had left.

2014 Walmart FLW Tour San Rayburn Day 1: Rick Cotton Top with 25 lbs!

Big Sam was wicked and many veteran suffered. 
by Curt Niedermier
FLW Press Release

Big wind, big lakes, big bass – it’s a perfect storyline for the “everything’s-bigger-in-Texas” shootout that’s playing out at the Sam Rayburn Walmart FLW Tour event presented by Chevy.

Cotton's approach was good enough for first
even with a lack luster practice.
(Photo: FLW)

Pro Rick Cotten of Guntersville, Ala., slammed 25 pounds, 15 ounce to jump into the early lead over Blacksburg, S.C., pro Andy Montgomery, who weighed 24 pounds, 11 ounces.

Four of the top-10 anglers surpassed 20 pounds, and the 20th-place cut currently sits at 16 pounds, 13 ounces.

“This was a total surprise based on my practice,” Cotten said. “I had about 16 pounds in practice, and they just kind of moved in.”

Like many in the field, Cotten lamented the effects of south winds that began gusting across Sam Rayburn at 15 to 20 mph right from the start of competition. Rather than tear across the lake and hit the few spots he located in practice, Cotten camped out in one spot on what he called an “all-day deal.”

“I didn’t catch my last fish until 30 minutes before weigh-in,” he said. “I just kept fishing hard. They’re not really holding on anything, other than a little grass line. Who knows if they’ll be there tomorrow.”

Most of the top anglers fell into one of two camps today: cover water with reaction baits or thoroughly scour a few key spots with bottom baits. Cotten is among the slow-fishing group. He landed seven quality fish from a roughly 2-acre area with just two lures – the same two lures he’s been using since the start of practice.

“Honestly, I think these were mostly prespawn fish,” Cotten said. “Fishing slow was necessary to coax a bite. They haven’t really moved up in numbers yet, but I think they’ll move in more as the weekend goes on.”

Check back this evening for the patterns of the rest of the top five from stop No. 3 of the 2014 Walmart FLW Tour on Sam Rayburn.

To see the full results, visit FLWOutdoors.com

North GTA Bass Anglers Tackle Swap

Date: Sunday April 6, 2014

Time: Set-up 7:30 AM Doors Open from 8:30 AM -1:00 PM

Location:       St. Basil the Great College School

                        20 Starview Ln, North York, ON M9M 3B2

Admission Costs: Inaugural Year – FREE Admission with a Food Bank donation

Vendor Table Costs: 6 ft. - Individuals - $20 each     Companies - $50 each

                                    8 ft. - Individuals - $30 each    Companies - $60 each

                 Tables are limited, First Come First Serve

Info Contact: Tackle Swap Hotline – 416-993-3477

                         e-mail – tackleswap@ngtaba.com

50 Straight Limits

Jackall and PowerPro angler Meyer Streak Ends

by Cody Meyer
(Take from FLW Outdoors)

Editor’s Note: On day four of the Walmart FLW Tour event at Lake Hartwell, Repel pro Cody Meyer brought in only four bass, ending his record-setting streak of 50 straight limits caught in Walmart FLW Tour Major and Forrest Wood Cup competition days.

Wow, 50 straight days with a limit – it’s so incredible to me to have that record. Obviously, when I started fishing the Walmart FLW Tour in 2010, I never thought of breaking the record for most consecutive limits weighed in. My focus was just on trying to get a limit every single day I fished so I could do well.

I have always said that the “power of five” goes a long way. What I mean by that is when you have a limit in the boat you can relax more and focus more on fishing to win. After I get a limit I feel like maybe I can take a chance to get a big one or swing for the fence.

I have always given credit to catching keepers when the bite is tough to light-line finesse fishing, which is something that I’ve worked hard to learn and that has helped me a lot in my career. However, getting to this point of 50 straight limits wasn’t easy by any means. There were many days where, by the afternoon, I never thought I’d get to five bass by 3 p.m. I can remember one day last year at Lake Eufaula where it was 2:50 and I only had three keepers. With 10 minutes to spare I pulled in within 100 yards of the check-in boat and planned on finishing out my day. I pulled out a drop-shot rig and went behind a fellow angler and caught two keepers back-to-back to keep the record alive. That’s kind of how fishing goes sometimes, and you have to capitalize when the opportunity is there.

I am sad that the record ended at Lake Hartwell, but I know that everything good has to end sometime. Now, I’m starting from zero and hope that when the Tour arrives at Sam Rayburn, I’ll land four consecutive limits on the way to someday breaking my own record.

Sports Illustrated Magazine's Classic Article & Great Video

A great article in a recent Sports Illustrated. 

LINK

Chris Lane Wins the Bassmaster Elite St. John's River

No Passing Lane!

By Deb Johnson

bass press release

PALATKA, Fla. — Tick-tock, pow!

When everything is in sync and his timing feels perfect, Chris Lane says he experiences a sensation like a clock ticking inside of him. He yells “Pow!” when he boats a big bass.

This is Chris Lane's sixth BASS title setting
him aside from most anglers.
(Photo: BASS)

Over the four-day Bassmaster Elite Series event on the St. Johns River system, Lane heard the tick-tock, and his word of triumph exploded repeatedly from his lips.

Starting Sunday’s final round with a 12 1/2-pound lead, the tournament was Lane’s to win or lose.

Lane not only stayed in stride the final day by catching 15-0, he walked off with the victory in high style: His winning margin was 14 pounds, 4 ounces over the second-place finisher, Dean Rojas.

Lane amassed 90-13 over the four days of competition. He added a sixth Bassmaster victory to his resume that includes being the 2012 Bassmaster Classic champion and a 2013 Bassmaster Elite Series winner.

Chris Lane Wins Elite Tournament on St. John's River!

2014 Bassmaster Elite St. John's River Day 3: Lane Leads by 12 Pounds!

No Safe Lead for Lane

By Deb Johnson

bass press release

PALATKA, Fla. — You’d think with a 12 1/2-pound lead, you could relax.

Not in a Bassmaster Elite Series competition. Not when it’s on a big-fish factory like the St. Johns River. And not if you’re Chris Lane.

Chris knows this win is not in the bag. Anything
can happen on the St. John's River.
(Photo:BASS)

“I have to go out there and do the very best that I can,” said Lane, the 2012 Bassmaster Classic champ from Guntersville, Ala. “Anything can happen on the St. Johns River. There’s no safe lead here.”

Lane, who jumped from 15th into first on Friday after producing a monster bag of five bass weighing 37-9, brought in 19 pounds, 9 ounces Saturday for a three-day leading total of 75-13.

Lane’s 12-8 lead was over runner-up Davy Hite of Ninety Six, S.C., who weighed 24-13, Saturday’s largest catch. It beefed up his total to 63-5, moving him into second place from 10th.

Mark Davis of Mount Ida, Ark., anchored in third place with 61-7 over three days. Keith Combs of Huntington, Texas, was fourth with 60-9. Alton Jones of Lorena, Texas, who won the 2012 Elite event on the St. Johns, rose from eighth place into fifth with 59-4. First-day leader Randy Howell of Springville, Ala., was sixth with 58-14.

2014 Bassmaster Elite St. John's River Day 2: Chris Lane Smashes Monster Limit

Sight Fishing rules in Florida but Lane might have key technique to win. 

By Deb Johnson

bass press release

Chris Lane bags over 37 pounds of bass and takes lead.
(Photo: BASS)

PALATKA, Fla. — Focus, slow down, try a different lure. Above all, follow your instincts.

That’s what Chris Lane said he did Friday. The result was a five-bass limit that weighed 37 pounds, 9 ounces. It was the largest one-day weight he’s ever achieved, said Lane, a five-time Bassmaster event winner, including the 2012 Bassmaster Classic.

And it was more than enough for the pro from Guntersville, Ala., to take the lead in the Bassmaster Elite Series event on the St. Johns River after two of the four rounds of fishing. Lane climbed from 15th place into first with a two-day total of 56-4.

Lane’s lead was an ounce shy of 9 pounds over first-day leader Randy Howell of Springville, Ala., who dropped to second place with a 47-5 two-day total.

2014 Bassmaster Elite St. John's River Day 1: Randy Howell Leads Sight Fishing Battle

Lake George a mob of Elite anglers and big bass

By Deb Johnson

bass press release

PALATKA, Fla. — Randy Howell, the 2014 Bassmaster Classic winner, often says that professional bass fishing is a humbling sport.

He ate a piece of that bitter pie last week at the Bassmaster Elite Series season opener in Georgia on Lake Seminole, where he finished close to the bottom of the field. But this week, after a hop to Florida for the next event, Howell The Champ shined through.

Classic Champ find biggest bass in Lake George
sight fishing fest.
(Photos: James Overstreet BASS)

With 27 pounds, 3 ounces, Howell led the field Thursday in the first of four days of Elite competition on the St. Johns River. He was 3-2 ahead of Davy Hite and Marty Robinson, who tied for second place at 24-1.

Fourth place was marked at 22-6 by Andy Montgomery of Blacksburg, S.C., following up in style on his Top 12 finish in Georgia. Fifth place at the St. Johns event was taken with the 22-1 bag brought in by Takahiro Omori of Emory, Texas — another Top 12 finisher on Seminole.

The Elite pros are competing on the St. Johns for a first-place prize of $100,000 and an instant entry into the 2015 Bassmaster Classic.

Howell credited his 27-3 to good decision making while sight fishing on Lake George, one of the river system’s most prolific and well-known bedding areas for largemouth bass.

Almost all of the Top 20 leaders fished within sight of each other.
Competitors who tried to out fox the crowds fared poorly. 

“Late in the day in Florida, they always move up, and I’m usually the guy who leaves at the wrong time and somebody catches them after I leave. Today I made the decision to stay,” said Howell, who is from Springville, Ala.

バオバブホッグ New Baobah Hog from Geecrack with IBASSIN

This is a new trend to hit the North American fishing scene. Giant creature baits like the Baobah Hog from Geecrack are slowly making waves here. It is in Japanese but you'll get the idea.

琵琶湖にて単日ロクマル5本を引き寄せた8インチビッグホッグワーム。ナチュラルに大きくアピールする大きなテールとプリプリと小刻みに動く4本の足を持つ。また確実なフッキングをサポートする、針先のオフセットスペースも装備。

The Rapala Winners!

The winners to our FACEBOOK Rapala DT 6 crankbait give away are: Danielle Griffiths, Devon Howes, Jeff Burton and John Marcil.

Please contact us via FACEBOOK.

Congratulations and thanks for the LIKES!

Last Chance to Win a Rapala!

Win One of Four Canadian Only Rapala Live Baby Bass DT 6 Crankbaits

                                                  Like IBASSIN's Facebook Page and win!
                                            Draw was scheduled to be done St. Patrick's Day.

                    New draw time is 6pm today!

Brett Hite Wins the 2014 Bassmaster Elite Lake Seminole Event

Hite wins his first Elite event!

By Deb Johnson

bass press release

Sunday, Hite won the first Bassmaster Elite Series event in which he’s competed, the Dick Cepek Tires Bassmaster Elite at Lake Seminole presented by Hardee’s.

Hite uses his trademark vibrating jig to win at Lake
Seminole. This is Hite's second Tour win in one month.
(Photo: BASS)

The Phoenix, Ariz., pro’s name is now alongside Derek Remitz’s in the history books as the only Elite Series rookie who walked away with the trophy in his debut event.

Hite’s prize was $100,000 and an automatic berth in the 2015 Bassmaster Classic on Lake Hartwell, South Carolina.

“I’m pretty excited because Lake Hartwell is one of my favorite lakes,” Hite said. “Going into this season, getting to Lake Hartwell was a goal. But I’m still going into the rest of the season by putting my head down and practicing hard and fishing hard.”

With a four-day total of 97 pounds, 10 ounces, Hite’s margin of victory was a whopping 13 pounds heavier than the runner-up, Todd Faircloth of Jasper, Texas, who posted an 84-10 total.

2014 Bassmaster Elite Lake Seminole Day 3: Brett Hite Leads by 10lbs!

Hite waiting for day 4. He left a pod of big bass.

By Deb Johnson

bass Press Release

BAINBRIDGE, Ga. — Lake Seminole bass fishing could not be setting up any better for Brett Hite: big prespawn bass traveling on “highways” to beds.

Hite casting a vibrating jig to pre-spawn bass.
(Photo: BASS)

Knowing how to target prespawners is one of his main strengths, said the Phoenix, Ariz., pro who is a Bassmaster Elite Series rookie, but prefers to call himself “young veteran” as a tip of the hat to his almost 13 years competing in big-name tournaments.

Saturday, Hite proved his experience by repeating his Friday lead in the Dick Cepek Tires Bassmaster Elite at Lake Seminole presented by Hardee’s.

And what a lead. Heading into Sunday’s championship round, Hite had 9 pounds, 12 ounces over his closest threat, Mark Davis of Mount Ida, Ark.

Hite’s total over the event’s first three competition days was 71-11. A consistent Davis, with a tally of 61-15 — 20 pounds and change each of three days — reached second place, up from seventh.

Massive Storm Shortens Day 4 of the 2014 Bassmaster Elite Lake Seminole Event

BASS Report

B.A.S.S. personnel are preparing for the worst, and it looks like the worst will be hitting here in Bainbridge at weigh-in time - 1 p.m. ET. According to the timeline on weather radar, we'll be in the thick of the storm as the weigh-in begins.

The main weigh-in stage has already been disassembled and stowed away. The smaller sound  stage will be used for the weigh-in, just as it was at Falcon Lake on Day 4 last year, when a wind storm hit.

Every bassmaster.com feature, like First Look and Hooked Up, will probably occur in abbreviated form this afternoon.

2014 Bassmaster Elite Lake Seminole Day 2: Brett Hite Takes Lead on Fog Delayed Day

Rookie takes lead in Elite season opener

By Deb Johnson

BASS Press Release

BAINBRIDGE, Ga. — Brett Hite’s first catch Friday was a 4-pounder. On his next cast, a largemouth just as big came back to the boat.

Brett Hite is on a roll. On the back of his
resent FLW win, Hite bags another 20lb plus day.
(Photos: Darren Jacobson BASS)

“That got things rolling, and gave me a lot of confidence in what I’m doing,” said Hite, the Bassmaster Elite Series rookie who moved up from fourth place into Friday’s catbird seat in the Dick Cepek Tires Bassmaster Elite at Lake Seminole presented by Hardee’s.

The Phoenix, Ariz., pro ended his day with 20 pounds, 11 ounces. Added to his 24-11 already on the board, Hite had the lead in his first Elite appearance. His 45-6 total gave him a 14-ounce jump on Bernie Schultz of Gainesville, Fla.

Schultz held fast to his second-place standing achieved the first day, when a 10-pound, 10-ounce behemoth made his weigh-in bag sag. His 17-10 of Friday brought his weight to 44-8.

2014 Bassmaster Elite Lake Seminole Day 1: Grigsby Bounds into Lead with 30lb Bag!

Shaw Grigsby Lets Everyone Know Who is King of the Spring. 

by Deb Johnson

BASS Press release

BAINBRIDGE, Ga. — If bed fishing’s the game, Shaw Grigsby’s the name.

And that’s just how it went Thursday, the first day of the Dick Cepek Tires Bassmaster Elite at Lake Seminole presented by Hardee’s. Out of Bainbridge, Ga., the event is the 2014 Elite Series season opener.

Shaw has won here twice before and is looking
to make it a hat trick.
(Photos:BASS)

Well-known for his talent of enticing big bass on or near beds to take his bait, Grigsby led the 108-pro field by 3 pounds, 7 ounces, with a 30-pound, 5-ounce day’s total.

“It was a perfect day,” said Grigsby, who caught the entire 30-plus pounds by 10 a.m., and then sat back and ate cold chicken. “One of those great days — amazing.”

Grigsby took the first step toward duplicating his 2011 season-opener victory in Florida, the ninth and most recent win of his storied Bassmaster career. Two of those titles were taken at Lake Seminole.

Grigsby’s 3-7 lead was over Bernie Schultz, who weighed 26-14. A largemouth of 10-10 was the jewel of Schultz’s bag — and the largest single bass brought to the scales Thursday.

Power Pole Drift Paddle with Dave Chong and IBASSIN

Bass pro Dave Chong explains the new Paddle from Power Pole. This attachment will convert your shallow water anchor into an amazing drifting devise. Learn why the Paddle is a must for you.

Casey Ashley Wins the 2014 FLW Tour Lake Hartwell Event.

Texan Redington wins co-angler title, $25,000

FLW Press Release

SENECA, S.C. – Pro angler Casey Ashley of Donalds, S.C., brought the largest stringer to the scale on Sunday – for the third time in four days of competition – to win the Walmart FLW Tour at Lake Hartwell presented by Ranger Boats. Ashley weighed in a five-bass limit worth 15 pounds, 10 ounces to win the $100,000 prize after leading wire-to-wire in the four-day event that showcased 176 of the best bass-fishing professionals in the world.

Casey went wire to wire to win this event by 15 pounds!
(Photos: FLW)

Ashley’s four-day total of 20 bass weighing 68 pounds, 5 ounces gave him an impressive 14-pound, 8-ounce margin of victory over second-place finisher Livingston Lures pro Andy Morgan of Dayton, Tenn., whose four-day total of 20 bass weighed 53 pounds, 13 ounces and earned him $30,000.

“This week has been magical,” said Ashley, who earned the first Walmart FLW Tour victory of his career. “I’m not taking away from any major tournament that I’ve won, but it really means a lot to win at home. When you win at home, everybody you know is here. A lot of times my family gets to travel to my closer tournaments, but at home everybody gets to be there. A lot of them were out on the water watching me. I think the whole town of Donalds is here. It’s just an awesome feeling.”

Ashley said that he concentrated his efforts this week fishing the lower end of Lake Hartwell in the clear water. He targeted deep brush piles from 25 to 40 feet deep.