Great Classic Recap from Chad Morgenthaler

Chad qualified for the 2014 Classic with a wild win in Florida claiming the last spot. He was wise enough to make it to day 3 of the Bassmaster Classic.
Check out his blog as he explains how he fished Lake Guntersville.

Click here for link.

Rapala Army Time

For more info contact rapala.ca

Rapala's Scatter Rap Crank with Davis Viehbeck and IBASSIN

Rapala has a great new crankbait line called the Scatter Rap. Unlike other baits, this one has an unique running action. Listen to Davis Viehbeck as he explains this line of crankbaits.

2014 Bassmaster Classic: Randy Howell Wins with Dramatic Final Weigh-in!

Howell comes from back in the pack to win by a pound!

By Cara D. Clark

Bass Press Release

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Every angler dreams of catching bass after giant bass like Randy Howell did on Sunday.

Howell began hauling in Lake Guntersville lunkers minutes into the final round of the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by Diet Mountain Dew and GoPro. He lost track of how many culls he was able to make, but at one point he was trading 4- and 5-pounders for even larger bass.

When Howell brought his bag to the scales, his five bass weighed 29 pounds, 2 ounces, with the largest going 7-3. The banner day beefed up his total to 67 pounds, 8 ounces.

“I don’t even know if I’m going to win, but it doesn’t matter,” Howell said before all the 25 finalists came to the scales. “It was the best day I’ve ever had in 21 years of professional bass fishing, a day of a lifetime.”

But his day did get better: He became the world champion, the 2014 Bassmaster Classic champ.

“I’ve had this dream so many times, and it’s happening now. I can’t believe I won the Bassmaster Classic. I don’t win tournaments very often,” said Howell as he was announced the winner.

Howell is a two-time Bassmaster event winner, including a 2013 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Northern Open presented by Allstate event that earned him his 2014 Classic qualification.

Sunday’s victory — Howell’s first after 11 other tries as a Classic competitor — was worth $300,000 and the most coveted trophy in the sport. From Springville, Ala., Howell became only the second angler to win the Classic in his home state.

Randy had a "feeling" to switch locations and win on
final day of the 2014 Bassmaster Classic.
(Photos: BASS)

Howell edged out B.A.S.S. Nation qualifier Paul Mueller of Naugatuck, Conn., by 1 pound. Mueller, who on Day 2 set a new one-day Classic weight record at 32-3, totaled 66-8 for second place.

Third place was claimed by second-day leader Edwin Evers of Talala, Okla., with 65-11. Fourth was Ott DeFoe of Knoxville, Tenn., with 63-6, including the day’s largest bass, an 8-4. First-day leader Randall Tharp of Port St. Joe, Fla., finished in fifth place at 62-12.

Howell repeatedly used the words “perfect” and “effortless” to describe his day on Lake Guntersville.

“I caught my first one on my second or third cast,” he said. “I caught one almost every cast or two and had a limit in the first 10 or 15 minutes. It was quick. It would have been quicker if I hadn’t had to stop and retie every time because of the rocks.”

The rocks were the riprap up against a causeway bridge on Spring Creek. That early flurry included releasing eight 4-pounders.

Howell spent most of his time on the riprap. He moved only once, going farther back into the creek to a grassy area. The move yielded a 6-pounder and allowed him to cull a 4-pounder. He then motored back to the riprap. His largest was a 7-3. It was his fourth bass of the day and the one that told him he’d made the right decision to go to Spring Creek.

Emotions took over as Randy had to wait as
every Super Six anglers tried to knock him out of first.

His Classic lure arsenal included a Livingston Lures model being developed within the Pro Series. Not yet available to the public, it’s a medium diver in a crawfish color. He also used a Rapala DT6 crankbait in the “demon” crawfish color and a Yamamoto bladed jig.

“I went out this morning believing I could win,” the champ said. “That’s the weirdest thing. Typically, I would never be in 11th place and 9 pounds back and think I had a chance to win. But for some reason I had the feeling I could win on Spring Creek — that something big would happen there.”

Randy Howell Wins the 2014 Bassmaster Classic!!

Randy just won the Bassmaster Classic!

More details to follow.

2014 Bassmaster Classic Update (minutes to go)

Randy Howell  leads with giant 29-02lbs sack on day 3. He leads with 67-08lbs. Only a 2 more left. Paul Mueller in second. One pound behind.

Good Morning! Bass and Gold Medals.

Well, the final day of the Bassmaster Classic is underway.

But, the rest of the world is focused on the Canada vs Sweden Gold Medal game in men's hockey.
End of the second period: Canada 2 Sweden 0.

GO CANADA GO!!

2014 Bassmaster Classic Lake Guntersville Day 2: Evers by an Ounce!

By Deb Johnson
Bass Press Release

E2 pushes ahead by an single ounce.
(Photo: Darren Jacboson BASS)

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Just 1 ounce separated the two frontrunners Saturday in the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by Diet Mountain Dew and GoPro, but it’s far from being a duel in Sunday’s finale, said the leader.

“It’s not just me and him,” said Edwin Evers, who replaced Randall Tharp in the catbird seat in the Lake Guntersville competition. “There’s a lot of anglers in this yet who can catch them. Thirty-pound bags are possible.”

After adding 20-9 Saturday, Evers of Talala, Okla., racked up a two-day total of 47 pounds, 6 ounces, enough to budge him out of second place. Tharp of Port St. Joe, Fla., weighed 19-13 Saturday for a running total of 47-5, 1 ounce shy of keeping his lead.

The Evers-Tharp place switch was just the beginning of Saturday’s leaderboard shuffle. Moving up into the Top 5 was Ott DeFoe of Knoxville, Tenn., up from 11th place into third with 43-5, about 4 pounds out of first place. Jason Christie of Park Hill, Okla., moved from seventh into fourth with 42-14.

The angler in fifth place leapt from 47th place to get there. Toting 32-3 to the scales — a one-day record for a five-bass-limit Classic — Paul Mueller of Naugatuck, Conn., amassed 41-13.

The field was cut to the Top 25 for the final push Sunday toward a first prize of $300,000 and the crown of the sport. The cutline fell at 34-2, the two-day weight posted by Keith Combs of Huntington, Texas.

Evers said he had just six bites Saturday.

“It was just a really hard day. I didn’t get the bites that I’d been getting, and the fish were not getting the bait. I lost a couple fish at the boat, about 4-pounders,” he said.

Evers, who like Tharp is seeking his first Classic crown, said conditions changed on Lake Guntersville from Friday to Saturday.

“The water definitely cleared up, and the water was quite a bit cooler this morning,” he said. “They just didn’t bite. I don’t know why.”

Still, 20-9 is good, he said.

“I’ll take it,” he said.

Sitting neck and neck is eerily similar to his FLW CUP
victory only months ago.
(Photo: James Overstreet BASS)

Tharp was disappointed in his Saturday bag.

“Any time I go out there and catch 19 pounds on this lake, it’s a failure for me,” said Tharp, a veteran of Guntersville tournaments during his many years living in northern Alabama before moving to Florida last July. “I had a couple ‘good’ fish today; yesterday I had four. I was in a good rhythm this morning, things were clicking — then I had some issues with my boat.

“I never found it (rhythm) after that. I culled one time this afternoon after three hours of fishing. I’m not disappointed in the time that I lost, I’m just disappointed I couldn’t get back into my rhythm.”

2014 Bassmaster Classic Lake Guntersville Day 1: Tharp Thumps Them!

Tharp Proving He Might be Best Angler in the World

By Luigi De Rose

Wicked winds, heavy rains and front alters Guntersville for the first day of the Bassmaster Classic. Many anglers discovered muddy waters in prime areas. Several fan favourites flopped yet current FLW CUP Champ Randall Tharp, a former resident of northern Alabama, claims top spot with 27-08 pound bag. Fred Roumbanis claims the day's largest bass with 9.03lb beast.

Full standings

New Shimano Curado I Series OFFICIAL RELEASE!

ANGLERS ‘GET MORE’ IN NEW SHIMANO CURADO I SERIES REELS –

LONG-TIME ‘GO-TO’ REELS FEATURE LATEST TECHOLOGY

Among avid anglers going back more than 20 years, the Shimano Curado has become the standard baitcasting reel to use for nearly any bass fishing technique – along with other freshwater and inshore saltwater action. As new Shimano technology immerged, the Curado reels evolved with those new features. Anglers now get the most from Shimano with the next Curado reels, the new Curado I series, now available in five models – the Curado CU200PG, CU200, CU200HG, and left-hand retrieve CU201 and 201HG.

By offering multiple gear ratios in the reels – the 200PG has a slower 5.5:1 gear ratio, the 200 and 201 have a 6.3:1 ratio, and the 200HG and 201HG have a fast 7.2:1 gear ratio, “anglers have the right reel for the baits they are using,” said Robby Gant with Shimano’s product development staff, “plus the benefits from our latest baitcasting reel technology including SVS Infinity Braking System, S3D Stabile Spool Design and X-Ship.”

Relying on ‘inner friction’ to provide consistent brake force, Shimano’s innovative SVS Infinity braking system provides easy-to-manage, consistent spool control and brake force on the new Curado I series baitcasting reels. With brake weights using ‘inner friction’ against the raceway during the cast, SVS Infinity controls spool speed especially when using lighter lures, plus the external adjustment knob provides for quick, precise adjustments for either the conditions or when you switch baits.

For “an incredibly smooth feel when casting and retrieving lures, anglers will notice how our Stabile Spool Design (S3D) has a tremendous effect reducing spool vibration,” Gant said. He explains that S3D technology enables Shimano to construct a thin wall aluminum spool to provide better balance.

G.LOOMIS BRINGS NEW TECHOLOGY TO EXTENSIVE NEW LINE-UP OF IMX BASS RODS

G.LOOMIS BRINGS NEW TECHOLOGY TO

EXTENSIVE NEW LINE-UP OF IMX BASS RODS

WOODLAND, Washington USA   --By being one of the first rod manufacturers to use higher modulus graphite and higher tensile strength in blank design, the IMX bass rods put G.Loomis on the map among bass anglers back in 1985. What this meant to anglers were rods noticeably lighter, more sensitive and much stronger than early graphite rods. Now with new IMX graphite technology and new concepts in rod design available, G.Loomis introduces a complete new line-up of IMX bass rods – 34 models each in the right action and power for every bass fishing technique.

Offered in ‘Jig & Worm’ casting and spinning rods, ‘Mag Bass’ casting rods, Carolina rig, Flip/Punch technique, swimbait, umbrella rig, spinnerbait, topwater and jerkbait casting rods, plus spinning models for DropShot and ShakyHead use, the IMX bass rods “provide a new level in weight reduction, sensitivity and strength so more bass anglers can enjoy the G.Loomis experience,” said Bruce Holt with G.Loomis’ product development team.

“We use precision tapered mandrels to finely tune the actions for specific bass fishing techniques. We’re able to make the blanks as much as 15-percent lighter than our previous IMX,” Holt said. “Plus bass anglers – and that includes many of us here at G.Loomis – will really enjoy the added comfort and control, along with the skinny grip rear cork that note only gives these rods a unique look, but also helps reduce weight.

2014 Bassmaster Classic Coverage: How to Fish Lake Guntersville Now! PART 2

An in-depth analysis of Lake Guntersville and fishing the Classic
By Luigi De Rose

Kevin has been guiding on Guntersville for the
past 3 years. (Photos: BASS/Kevin Hunt)

With the Bassmaster Classic a day away, we wanted to know more about fishing Lake Guntersville in late February. Elite Angler and 2010 FLW CUP CHAMP Kevin Hawk shares his knowledge of his home lake.  

IBASSIN:

There is a saying, “You cannot win the Classic on the first day but you can lose it.”  Can the Classic be lost on the first day?

Hawk: It is really hard to catch up here. If you have a 10 to 15lb limit, you’re not going to go out and catch a 40lb limit the next day to catch up to the leaders. You need to be consistent all three days and have a really good bag one of those days. A really good day on Guntersville would be a 30lb day backed up with mid-twenty catches. 

I think 70 to 75lbs of bass will win the Classic this year.

IBASSIN:

Guntersville being so large, will anglers have a lot of crowding from other contestants?

Hawk:

There might be multiple guys fishing the same areas but it would be much different if the bass were way in the backs of creeks or dead–end coves. The bass should be in the middle or the outside areas of the creeks.  These areas are much larger so fisherman will have more room to fish. The top leaders will do their damage in a short time. They will hit the right cover at the correct time and catch several of them in a hurry. The trick is to hit the right window of opportunity. 

IBASSIN:

Who are your Top 3 picks for this Classic?

Hawk:

My Top 3 picks are:

1^st Jordan Lee. He is young guy and a friend who knows Guntersville very well. He is a tremendous angler.

2^nd Aaron Martens. He is such a strong angler.

3^rd. Dean Rojas. Dean is another very strong angler. 

IBASSIN:

Thanks for giving IBASSIN your perspective on fishing Guntersville. 

Hawk:

You’re welcome.

2014 Bassmaster Classic Coverage: How to Fish Lake Guntersville Now!

An in-depth interview with Elite angler and FLW CUP Champ Kevin Hawk on fishing the Classic Waters.

By Luigi De Rose

IBASSIN wanted to give greater understanding on how the pros will fish Lake Guntersville, the host of the 2014 Bassmaster Classic. This famed reservoir on the Tennessee River has a long history with BASS. Numerous events have been held on Guntersville, even Rick Clunn’s first Classic win in 1976. Almost all past tournaments occurred in late spring or autumn not the frigid late winter period greeting the Classic contestants this year.  With 69 000 acres of fishable waters and 71 miles long it is clearly Alabama’s largest water body.  There are no shortage of choices for the Classic anglers.

Photo: Jim Leary/ Kevin Hawk.

We contacted BASS Elite angler and 2010 FLW Cup Champ Kevin Hawk for his knowledge and insight on this week’s Classic. A resident of Guntersville, Kevin has guided on the lake for 3 years and provides great perspective.

IBASSIN:

What are the traditional patterns for Guntersville at this time of year?

Hawk:

Moving baits are the key. Lipless crankbaits and slowly worked jerkbaits are best. It is all weather dependent. Many are familiar with all the grass that canopies in the summer on this lake. This time of year, it is still a factor but the weeds have died off.  Anglers will be looking for grass, even brown grass, in the 4 to 7 foot depth range.  Single swimbaits might produce very well but the water needs to warm up. Jigs will also account for fish but moving baits will be the way to go.

Classic Week: Catch all the Action Right Here!

Coverage all week plus hourly reports on Saturday and Sunday!

We Got A Winner!

Darlene S. you are the winner of the JACKALL Swimbait.

Win this Lure!

Draw Date: Monday, February 17, 2014!

Facebook fans like the homepage of IBASSIN to win this Bassmaster Elite touring pro, Jared Lintner autographed KAWASHI Mikey swimbait.

 Like our fan page here to win.

Sign Up NOW! Limited Seating for This Weekend

Weekend Itinerary 

Brett Hite Wins 2014 Walmart FLW on Lake Okeechobee

Arizona pro goes wire-to-wire to claim $125,000 prize

09.Feb.2014 by Kyle Wood

CLEWISTON, Fla. – Brett Hite sealed up his second win on the Walmart FLW Tour this week in dominating fashion. Though his weights slipped every day, Hite still pulled away with 6-pound, 6-ounce margin of victory. The best part for Hite was that he did it his way. He is known to be one of the best with fishing a vibrating jig and he proved it this week after hauling in 88-14 from the Big O.

Brett went wire to wire to win.
(Photos: FLW)

Getting off on the right foot is key in any tournament and Hite had hopes of catching a decent limit to put him in the pack on day one.

“I had no idea I would catch nearly 35 pounds on the first day,” said Hite, who has been tournament fishing since he got out of high school. “I thought I could do maybe 18 or 20 when I was driving to my first spot. As I got closer I saw there were two shiner boats on where I wanted to be. I made a loop around them to start on the other side and when I pulled up it was on.”

It was on to the tune of 34-15 to take a commanding lead and grab the record for the second-largest single catch in FLW Tour history. From there he would add 23-8 to his total after day two to take over a 12-pound lead. He kept that lead coming into the final day with his catch of 15-12 and with his smallest limit yet – 14-11 – Hite would place his hands on the title and the $125,000 check.

“To win you have to have a flawless tournament. You don’t get the opportunity to win too often so when it happens you need to take advantage. I fished with a ton of confidence all week and got to fish a style that I love.”

It started for Hite when he checked the same area he usually inhabits when the FLW Tour comes to Okeechobee located around the Monkey Box and Fisheating Bay area. Most of the field rushes towards the bank , while Hite prefers the wide open water away from there.

“I checked that area on the first day of practice which is normally where I fish down here. Usually in the past there has been less grass and I’ll catch them there good one day but not the next. This year there was more hydrilla than I have seen and it got my wheels turning and I knew this tournament would play to how I like it.

Vibrating jigs and flipping on the last two days
kept Hite ahead of the pack. 

“I started out fishing in Arizona around structure. I have always considered myself good on structure and over the years consider grass a strength as well. Fishing an outside grass edge like I did is just like fishing structure. I knew that with more grass those areas would hold a ton of fish, and they did.”

Hite stayed focused on what he called “salad bowls” or places that held multiple types of vegetation. Where you found those, you would find big numbers of bass. The large flat outside the Monkey Box and Fisheating Bay area contained this sweet spots and Hite had them dialed in. He focused on the clumps of grass, hard bottom within the grass, grass points or any other change in the grass line that would concentrate bass. Most of these areas he knew from years of fishing the area.

When he fished the grass Hite used two different vibrating jigs depending on the conditions. He had a black and blue one tied on with a Yamamoto Swimming Senko for a trailer (same color) for early in the morning. When the sun would get higher in the sky he switched over to a green pumpkin vibrating jig with matching Swimming Senko. As the wind would get calm he mixed in a ¼-ounce swim jig with a Swimming Senko – also in green pumpkin. He had those tied on with 20-pound Sunline Sniper and Shooter fluorocarbon.

Brett Hite Wins FLW on Okeechobee

Evergreen Pro Brett Hite goes wire to wire to win the 2014 FLW Opener.
Details and full report tomorrow. 

2014 FLW Lake Okeechobee Day 3: Hite Still On Top

Tougher day still has Arizona pro on top by 12-3

08.Feb.2014 by Kyle Wood

CLEWISTON, Fla. – The first two days of competition on Lake Okeechobee saw numerous bags of 20-plus pounds brought in to the scales. Today, however, seemed to reflect more of traditional Saturday on the Big O where the fish go into hiding from the amount of pressure the receive each weekend. Despite lower catches, Brett Hite still clings to what is now a 12-pound, 3-ounce lead heading into the final day.

“The fishing is really day to day out here,” said the Phoenix, Ariz., resident. “It’s hard to say when the fish will bite or won’t. We had about the same conditions as the first day, so I thought they would bite a lot better.”

Hite still casting on the Big O. Overall fishing was
slower but Hite still managed to catch enough
for a 12 pound lead.
(Photo: FLW) 

Hite has been mentioning all week that he has two patterns he could rely on depending on the conditions. His primary pattern has carried him so far, but today he had to fall back to plan B.

“I fished my main area all morning until about 11 o’clock and had one decent fish and three little ones,” Hite explained. “I got a feeling today that something wasn’t right and when that happens it helps to have something to fall back on, luckily I did. I had a voice in my head that told me to change. I wasn’t seeing the size or numbers from the primary patter so I made the change.”

When an angler experiences being in the “groove” everything falls into place for them. It is almost as if they can do no wrong. Hite has been to that level before back in 2008 when he won his first Walmart FLW Tour event on Lake Toho by over 20 pounds. He then headed west to fish another tour-level event on the California Delta where he caught over 100 pounds of bass to claim back-to-back titles. The way Hite is fishing this week eerily resembles his performance from then.

2014 FLW Lake Okeechobee Day 2: Hite Remains on Top with 12 Pound Lead!

Brett Halfway Home on Season Opener

07.Feb.2014 by Kyle Wood

CLEWISTON, Fla. – Brett Hite has found success on Okeechobee in the past but never to the extent he is experiencing this week. The Phoenix, Ariz., pro is keeping the momentum rolling as he busted 23 pounds, 8 ounces today to take a commanding lead to the tune of 12-9 that he will carry into day three.

Hite adds 23 pound Day 2 bag to distance himself
from the field. He and many leaders are focused
on grass flats.
(Photo: FLW)

While his day-two limit was substantially less than yesterday – over 10 pounds less – Hite is comfortable and confident with his pattern.

“Things have been going right for me this week,” said Hite. “I’m feeling relaxed and fishing the way I like. Nothing has really bothered me. I have a lot of boats fishing near me but I just tune them out.”

For years Hite has spent his time on the water watching media boats fly by in search of the Randall Tharps and JT Kenneys paying little respect to him. He knew that one day his pattern would produce when the time is right, and that time is now.

“There are a lot of people not fishing the same style or pattern that I am,” continued Hite. “I’m really keying in on a specific thing that I think is helping me get those bigger bites.

“I still have some spots saved that I haven’t fished. I’m not saying they are my best spots, but I have caught some of my bigger fish from areas I didn’t think were that good. But I’m looking for places I call a salad bowl which is just a big clump of all different kinds of grass. When you find one there are big numbers of fish in it.”

Hite says these “salad bowls” consist of anything from eel grass to hydrilla and anything else you can find on Okeechobee. He has waypoints in these certain areas that he focuses on but hasn’t quite figured out what is holding the bass on the particular spot.

2014 FLW Lake Okeechobee Day 1: Hite Smashed Monster Bag on First Tournament of the Year

Arizona pro catches second-largest bag in Walmart FLW Tour history to take lead

06.Feb.2014 by Kyle Wood

CLEWISTON, Fla. – The question that lingered around the stage before weigh-in for day one of the Walmart FLW Tour on Lake Okeechobee was which Big O would we see? Would it be the monster-bag beast it can be or would the stingy side be shown. It didn’t take long to find out the answer as 17 pros threw bags of over 20 pounds on the scales today – including Brett Hite’s personal-best limit of 34 pounds, 15 ounces to take a comfortable lead.

Foggy morning and hazy day provides a winning day for
Evergreen Pro Brett Hite.
(Photo:FLW) 

“Everything went right for me today,” smiled the Phoenix, Ariz., pro. “I didn’t lose any fish and I caught a 6 ½-pounder first thing in the morning – what more could you ask for?”

Hite and Florida just seem to get along. In fact, one of his three victories in his career came from an FLW Tour event on Lake Toho. Recently, Hite has been on good terms with Okeechobee as he has cashed checks in the past few Tour stops here.

“Florida and myself just seem to get along,” said Hite. “I like to try and mix it up down here and I’ve got burned before trying them. I have also cashed some checks trying some different things and through the years I have learned some things that I kept in mind which has helped me out this week.”

Rapala Day at the Sportsmen Show TODAY!

Shimano's New Curado I Series of Casting Reels Sneak Peak

IRVINE, Calif. – For Immediate Release – February 5, 2014 – As interest and anticipation spreads on fishing web site forums and bulletin boards, not only coast-to-coast but also worldwide, Shimano confirms the impending introduction of an entire new series of Curado baitcasting reels, announces Bob Mahoney with Team Shimano. “We’ll unveil the new Curado I series reels officially on Friday, February 21 at the Classic Outdoor Expo in Birmingham, Alabama,” Mahoney said, “and on that same Friday, select tackle shops in both the U.S. and Canada will also have a limited supply of reels available.”

  

Shimano product development and sales staffers have been on a clandestine tour of key tackle dealers throughout the country since early January – with a special emphasis on shops focusing on bass fishing tackle. “Their interest in the new reels has been off-the-chart strong – and as much as we’ve tried to keep info on Curado under wraps until our official launch at the Bassmaster Classic,” Mahoney notes, “certain details about the new reels have filtered out – and of course, that has many anglers buzzing with interest.”

As anglers expect from Shimano, the new Curado reels will feature cutting-edge technology and features, “and we’ll look forward to showing it and telling you more for those attending the Classic Outdoor Expo – and on our web site, Facebook page and through select tackle dealers in a few weeks,” said Mahoney. “With our commitment to this somewhat legendary baitcasing reel series at Shimano, we can assure anglers that will definitely get more with the new Curado I series.”

Rapala Day at Toronto Sportsmen Show

Friday February 7^th for the first inaugural Rapala Day at the Toronto Sportsmen’s Show!

Come get your FREE Rapala depth chart to make sure you’re runnin’ your Rapala’s at the right level to clinch those biggies you’ve been dreaming about.  We will also be hosting a Sufix Photo Contest at the giant orange Rapala booth all weekend.  Visit our Booth, take your picture with our funny/serious props and drop us a line for your chance to win a Rapala Prize Pack.  Over $1500 in prizes to be won, not to mention the FREE water bottle giveaway just for entering our contest!  Don’t miss your chance to see the newest in the Rapala collection, including Live Demos of the most erratic lure we’ve ever made, let’s just say it’s a game changer…

See below details on what the consumer can expect for Rapala Day at the Toronto Sportsmen’s show:

1.       Free Rapala Depth Chart when you walk in the door (Look for the Rapala girls)

2.       Free Water Bottle at our booth for taking your picture in our photo booth. We will have props and the funniest/best pictures will be awarded prizes at the end of the show; 1^st=$500 | 2^nd=$300 | 3^rd=$200

3.       Sufix Giveaways at the Photo Booth as well

4.       iPad Kiosk – Enter to win $500 Rapala Prize Pack

5.       Live lure demos in the Rapala Action Pond located in our booth

6.       Talk to our Pros and get all your questions answered

7.       New separate Rapala ice booth located right beside the main booth

More info here: http://www.torontosportshow.ca/rapala_day_friday_february_7th/

Classic Champ Cliff Pace Lucky to be Alive from Tree Stand Accident

Cliff Pace's Hunting Accident Prevents Defending Classic Title 

Gary Tramontina/B.A.S.S.

Cliff Pace, the 2013 Classic champion, won’t be fishing in the 2014 Bassmaster Classic because of a deer stand accident that happened Friday Jan. 27.

Pace broke his left leg in two places while bow hunting for deer near his home in Petal, Miss.

“I was actually done with my hunt and climbing down from the stand when the accident happened,” said Pace. “It was a cold day, even here in southern Mississippi, and I had cotton gloves on. Part-way down my hand slipped out of the glove, and that’s when I fell.”

Pace tried to push away from the tree so he wouldn’t land on his back or head. He was successful on that front, landing on his feet. But his left foot landed in a hole and jarred his leg enough to break it in two places, once above the knee and once below it. And in the process, he also tore the ACL in his left knee.