Cocks and Dean Start 2014 with Win at Top Bass Tri-Lakes Tournament

By Luigi De Rose
Under humid conditions, Top Bass Fishing Series started their 2014 bass season on Saturday, June 28 at Tri-lakes. This popular event allows anglers to fish Pigeon, Buckhorn and Chemong Lakes. The stellar team of Gerrard Cocks and Jarrod Dean claimed the first place prize of  $5000 with 20.28 lbs of bass. Big fish prize went to the team of John and John Jr. Macdonald with a 5.26 lb bass.
There were 480 bass caught for the tournament which weighed 1067.01lbs. Considering the field was over 100 boats, Top Bass tournaments still remain a popular choice for anglers in Ontario.

The results from Sunday's tournament coming shortly.

#	Weight	Big Bass	Captain, Surname	Captain, Given	Partner Surname	Partner, Given
1	20.28	5.165	DEAN	JARROD	COCKS	GERRARD
2	19.47	0	PILKEY	RON	MARTIN	JAY
3	19.34	5.06	JOHNSTON	CORRY	JOHNSTON	CHRIS
4	18.47	0	GUARD	BILL	COOK	CRAIG
5	17.94	4.865	BARTON	JEFF	SCOTT	GREG
6	17.8	5.065	HILBERG	RANDY	SECORD	GREG
7	17.49	5.05	WEILER	FOREST	FORLER	TIM
8	17.24	0	WILLIAMS	MIKE	JACOBS	DUANE
9	16.84	0	WESTALL	BARRY	SAMPSON	SCOTT

Full Standing Below

Skip Johnson wins 2014 Kentucky Lake Walmart FLW Tour Event!

by Curtis Niedermier
FLW Press Release

Sometimes simple strategies are the best strategies. And they don’t get much simpler than the game plan put together by Michigan pro Skip Johnson on Kentucky Lake for the sixth and final stop of the 2014 Walmart FLW Tour season.

His strategy: Don’t move.

Johnson spent all four days of competition on one hole on Kentucky Lake’s southern end. He landed more than 22 pounds each day Thursday and Friday. On Saturday, a string of lost fish cost Johnson, and he brought in just 19-12.

But Johnson rallied on Sunday. All day long he hammered away, catching more than 75 fish and culling up to the day’s best limit of 24 pounds.

The four-day, 88-pound, 10-ounce performance earned Johnson his first career Tour victory and a check for $100,000.

The triangle

“The key was to stay – don’t leave,” Johnson says about his performance on the final day of the event, which was presented by Evinrude and hosted by Henry County Alliance. “I parked right there and ran my little triangle again.”

The triangle describes the shape of a row of more than a dozen waypoints that Johnson dropped along a creek channel that snakes from a shallow flat out to the main shipping channel.

“It was a winding creek channel with old oxbows and humps in the oxbows,” he explains. “They were on the edge of the ledges dropping into the channel.”

The edges where he caught his fish were rocky and topped out in 10 to 12 feet of water. They dropped off into about 15.

Each day, Johnson worked in and out along the creek channel – once even following it all the way up onto the flat, just to see if any bass had moved in shallow.

2014 Walmart FLW Tour Kentucky Lake Day 3: Redington Remains Leader, Morgan Wins AOY

by Curtis Niedermier
FLW Press Release

Up and down. Up and down.

Kentucky Lake has been like a rollercoaster this week for the pros fishing the Walmart FLW Tour event presented by Evinrude and hosted by Henry County Alliance.

One day is a whackfest, but the next is a grind. One hour can produce a 20-pound stringer, while the next hour is a zero.

Tom Redington earned the second FLW top 10 of his career and is leading the Walmart FLW Tour event on Kentucky Lake with 65-12 over three days. (Photo by Garrick Dixon FLW)

The one pro who seems to have the most solid grasp on how to hang tight through fast, slow, up and down is Tom Redington. The Royse City, Texas, pro extended his lead on the third day of competition with an 18-pound, 13-ounce limit. It was a slower day, but enough to keep him at the top. His three-day total of 65-12 is 1 pound, 2 ounces ahead of pros Skip Johnson and Jason Lambert. And every one of the 10 pros who’ll fish the final day is within 4 pounds of the leader.

That’s one big Kentucky Lake keeper separating nine other pros from the title that Redington worked so hard for today.

“It was a tough day,” Redington says. “I went to my limit hole in the morning, and there were no fish there. I left after five minutes. I spent the first hour running around trying to find a school."

Redington relied heavily on his Lowrance depth finders to scan each spot and quickly judge the size and feeding potential of the bass hanging out there – a much more efficient way to compete than testing schools by fishing them.

He found schools, but they were the opposite of the mega-schools that Kentucky Lake is famous for. Redington wasn’t sure if it was boat pressure, sun, wind or some other factor that caused the change from yesterday, when he went on a two-hour flurry that produced his 24-pound, 9-ounce limit and helped him take the lead. Whatever it was, his schools busted up into smaller clusters, and he never was able to find a window of heavy activity where the right class of bass was feeding. Almost all day it was small schools and small bass – he caught nearly 25 keepers, just not the right ones.

2014 Walmart FLW Tour Kentucky Lake Day 2: Redington Rocks 24-09

Huge weights mix leader board.  

FLW Press Release

When the bass go into attack mode, so does Tom Redington. The Royse City, Texas, pro hammered a 24-pound, 9-ounce limit today at the Walmart FLW Tour event on Kentucky Lake presented by Evinrude and hosted by Henry County Alliance.

                                                          Texas pro Tom Redington sacked up 24-9 on day two and 

rose from fourth place into the lead. (Photo: Colin Moore FLW)

According to Redington, a midday front that swept across the area with high winds, rain and rumblings of thunder motivated bass to line up just how he likes them on the Tennessee River’s famous ledges. The result is Redington taking the tournament lead into the weekend with a two-day total of 46 pounds, 15 ounces.

“This ledge fishing is awesome,” Redington says. “There are fish all over the place. I ran a lot of new water today. Yesterday I had to work for them. I went to my best schools and caught one or two. When the storms rolled in, it was hammer-down time. The schools were in attack position, and they bit like they were supposed to.”

So what does “attack position” look like? For starters, it’s something that pros see on their depth finders. And it’s difficult for most of them to explain, but the best in the business – like Redington, Randy Haynes and Scott Martin – can recognize it when they see it. If they don’t see it, they don’t take time to fish.

2014 Walmart FLW Tour Kentucky Lake Day 1: Brett Hite Leads

Countless Limits are Caught on Day 1 

by Curtis Niedermier
FLW Press Release

What goes around comes around. And for Brett Hite, an all-star Walmart FLW Tour season that began with a statement win in the season-opener on Lake Okeechobee has wound its way throughout the country to Kentucky Lake for the season-finale, where he once again jumped out in front today.

Hite holds up one of his bass as the crowd
is awash in big bass. Kentucky Lake looks
like a slug fest. (Photo: FLW)

Hite’s 24-pound, 14-ounce limit leads a star-studded top 20 that includes ledge-fishing experts, three former Forrest Wood Cup champions, three past AOY winners and a pack of FLW millionaires, all of them hoping to end Hite’s chances of bookend 2014 Tour victories.

This tournament, which is presented by Evinrude and hosted Henry County Alliance, is a ledge-fishing shootout. Everyone knows it. But for Hite, the keys to besting everyone else today were timing and precision.

“Luckily I had an early boat draw,” he says. “I ran to a spot I found late in the day on the third day of practice. One other guy came in there right after me, but I got lined up in the right position. It was literally cast after cast, and it was all big ones. First thing this morning, it was obvious the fish were active. As the day progressed, it was one or two here and there.

“It [the school] is spread out a little,” adds Hite, whose limit today included the Bridgford Big Bass, a 7-pound, 5-ouncer. “It’s a pretty good stretch, but there are a couple of key spots where the shells are, and there are some stumps and gizzard shad.”

The front deck of Hite’s Ranger is littered with rods, and he rolled through his options each time he needed to re-trigger the school.

Learn to fish topwaters better with Zell Rowland and IBASSIN

Tournament pro Zell Rowland is called Mr. Topwater. Learn from the master as he explains to IBASSIN.com how to become better at fishing a top water plug. Zell Rowland explains how to modify your baits for spring, summer or fall and how to adjust to changing water temperatures. He'll advises on how to get the best action from poppers, devil horse prop baits and spooks. Zell also explains how line size will change lure action.

ICAST VIDEOS

The odd thing about ICAST is that it happens so long ago but only now do we get a chance to try them out.  This weekend I got to play with the 2013 ICAST Winning Frog from Lunkerhunt.  I got one of the very first baits ever but never had a catch to get it wet. It works great and 4 bass munched on it this Sunday.  Have a look at last year's video playlist just in case you forgot what is out there right now.

ICAST Interests?

ICAST 2014 is coming up and I am sorting out business appointments to ensure you the viewer get to see the latest and greatest gear for fishing.

To help me focus my search while I march down every aisle I need your help. Please spend a few seconds and vote for what you wish to see. The poll is to the right of this post. Voting ends July 1st.

Jeff "Gussy" Gustafson's Lives Out Every Angler's Dream

FLW Pro angler relives his monster bass and new found secrets from Pickwick Tournament

By Luigi De Rose

Shimano pro Gussy is all smiles
with this monster.
(Photo: FLW)

It’s been just over a week but Jeff “Gussy” Gustafson’s knees are still knocking. The second year FLW pro took the lead at the Walmart FLW Tour Pickwick Lake tournament at Florence, Alabama in grand fashion.   Not only was this his first opportunity to lead a national tournament, he anchored his limit with his personal best largemouth bass, a 10-12 monster. By the end of the tournament, Gussy slipped to 17^th by netting 52-08 for the tournament. The drama of that first day will be vividly replayed in his mind and heart forever.

IBASSIN got a change to chat with the Shimano and G. Loomis pro as he re-lives that magical day.

DAY 1

“Day 1 was amazing but I didn’t start off exactly like I wanted.” Recalls Jeff. “ I was boat number 165 which was almost next to last to leave.” Knowing the post-spawn bass would be schooled in community holes, Jeff knew he wouldn’t have any privacy.  Gustafson was mentally prepared to fish in a crowd but knew it wasn’t what he wished to do.

Racing down the lake, he just passed spot after spot because they were already crowded. He finally stopped to fish at one of his spots that wasn’t crowded. This first spot yielded four keepers with ease but then the fishing slowed. After some dead time, he relocated to another shell bed. 

Evinrude Revamps Look with New Dynamic Designs for their E-TEC G2

Evinrude has reshaped their 4 stroke motors. The E-TEC G2 is a totally new design which offers new advancements to reduce oil and gas consumption and reducing hard to the environment.

For a look at their promo video click here  VIDEO

Jacob Wheeler Wins the 2014 BASSFest!

Wheeler Wins his First Elite

By Deb Johnson

bass PRess release

DAYTON, Tenn. — Jacob Wheeler chose the road less traveled. It led straight to victory Sunday in the inaugural Bassmaster BASSfest event.

Jacob is now a two tour winner and
making a huge name for himself.
(Photos: BASS)

The 23-year-old from Indianapolis, Ind., amassed 90 pounds, 6 ounces over four days of competition on Chickamauga Lake. His margin of victory was 5 pounds and 10 ounces over arguably the best angler on the planet, Bassmaster Elite Series pro Kevin VanDam, who stepped up from third place to finish as the runner-up.

After leading for two days, Wheeler added a pad of 22-1 Sunday to clinch the win. He took home $125,000 and a qualification for the 2015 world championship, the Bassmaster Classic.

“I feel unbelievable,” said Wheeler, who at age 21 made a name for himself on the FLW tour by winning the 2013 Forrest Wood Cup. “To be the first BASSfest champion, and to do it in my first Elite Series event…I mean, these (Elite) guys are the best in the world. I couldn’t feel more humbled. The stars lined up for me this week.”

The Classic qualification means as much to him as the event win, he said.

“That’s so big, qualifying for the Classic,” Wheeler said. “That’s the event you want to be in for your career to advance. I’ve wanted to qualify for a Classic since I was 10 years old.”

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

2014 BASSFest Day 3: Lead is Jacob Wheeler's Again!

Wheeler's lead reduced to ounces. 

By Deb Johnson

bass press release

DAYTON, Tenn. — Last June in a major tournament on Chickamauga, Jacob Wheeler finished in 92nd place.

He’s a fast learner. Thursday he led the June 11-15 Bassmaster BASSfest competition on the same fishery. Saturday, he did it again.

Jacob explains that the heat, fishing pressure
 and party boats are making fishing difficult.
(Photo: BASS)

“When it’s your time, it’s your time. I put that out there on the line here. If you’re meant to win, it’s going to happen,” he said near the start of the event.

So far, so good. Wheeler, who’s won one Forrest Wood Cup and placed second in another, started BASSfest strong in seventh place. By the second day, he had a 6-pound, 12-ounce lead after weighing an eye-popping 29-13.

In Saturday’s third go at Chickamauga Lake’s bass, apparently it was still the 23-year-old’s time. With a catch of 16-2 and total of 68-5, he was able to hold the lead— but not by much.

Enter Matt Herren. The Ashville, Ala., Bassmaster Elite Series pro helped whittle Wheeler’s lead to 1 pound, 1 ounce by posting 23-6. Herren bumped up from fourth into second place at 67-4.

Elite pro Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich., was in third place with 61-4, more than 7 pounds behind the leader. Two other Elite anglers rounded out the Top 5: Greg Hackney of Gonzales, La., fourth place at 58-7; and Terry Scroggins of San Mateo, Fla., in fifth place at 56-4.

Those five led the 12 finalists who made it to Championship Sunday.

2014 BASSFest Lake Chickamauga Day 2: Wheeler Whack 30lb Limit and Lead!

By Deb Johnson

bass press release

DAYTON, Tenn. — At age 23 and from Indianapolis, Ind., Jacob Wheeler would not be most people’s odds-on favorite to take over in the June 11-15 Bassmaster BASSfest competition on Tennessee’s Chickamauga Lake.

Two impressive bass from Wheeler's massive limit. While many Day 1 leaders fall
Jacob and Van Dam move up dramatically.
(Photo: BASS)

Until you know that he’s been fishing Chickamauga for years because one of his often-visited friends lives near the lake. And that he competed on the lake just last year in a major event. And that at age 21, he was the 2012 Forrest Wood Cup champion.

Wheeler put all his experience to work Thursday, BASSfest’s second day. He weighed in 29 pounds, 13 ounces for a two-day total of 52-3, banking a lead of 6 pounds, 12 ounces against Bassmaster Elite Series pro Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich.

2014 BASSFEST Day 1: Ike is King for a Day.

PLACE	NAME	DAY 1		TOTAL FISH	TOTAL WEIGHT
		FISH	WEIGHT
1	Michael Iaconelli	5	25-12	5	25-12
2	Edwin Evers	5	24- 3	5	24- 3
3	Tommy Biffle	5	24- 1	5	24- 1
4	Takahiro Omori	5	22-15	5	22-15
5	Kevin VanDam	5	22- 9	5	22- 9
6	Matthew Herren	5	22- 7	5	22- 7
7	Jacob Wheeler	5	22- 6	5	22- 6
8	Jason Christie	5	22- 5	5	22- 5
9	Davy Hite	5	21- 8	5	21- 8
10	Jason Williamson	5	21- 3	5	21- 3
11	Scott Rook	5	20-10	5	20-10
12	David Smith	5	20- 6	5	20- 6
13	Greg Hackney	5	20- 5	5	20- 5
14	Fred Roumbanis	5	20- 0	5	20- 0
15	Terry Scroggins	5	19- 7	5	19- 7
16	Brett Hite	5	19- 2	5	19- 2
16	Skeet Reese	5	19- 2	5	19- 2
18	Britt Myers	5	19- 1	5	19- 1
19	John Crews	5	18-14	5	18-14
20	Brandon Palaniuk	5	17-15	5	17-15