Monday, February 29, 2016

Pre-2016 Bassmaster Classic Predictions with Casey Ashley

Ashley offers his wisdom.
By Luigi De Rose

Casey Ashley will be trying his best to capture
Classic 2016. 
The 2016 Bassmaster Classic is a week away and everyone who loves bass fishing will be focused on Grand Lake O’ The Cherokees. This year’s event is a few weeks later than in the past. The push to have the tournament in March was to avoid extreme weather like the deep freeze that gripped last year’s event. For the anglers and on-the-water spectators, warmer weather will make for more enjoyable days. March is prime time for pre-spawn fishing and if the temps spikes, a mass migration to the shallows could be possible.

IBASSIN.com contacted Casey Ashley, the 2015 Classic champ, for his perspective on how this year’s Classic will unfold.

IBASSIN
Thanks for chat with us. What’s your early prediction on the Classic?

Casey
Hi, pleasure to talk fishing with you.  So much has happened this year with the flood and a mild winter, Grand Lake might not be fishing like it has in the past. I expect it will be much different than the last Classic we had here. The Classic that Cliff Pace won, the lake was cold and clear which made it perfect for a jerkbait and jig. 

IBASSIN
Which baits should be most prominent during this Classic?

Casey
That is hard to narrow down. A jerkbait and even a Road Runner should be good especially if the bass are around schools of bait. A jig will be very strong. Grand Lake is a very good jig lake. But, if we see a few warm days a shallow crankbait bite might be on.

IBASSIN
What problems are you worried about or needing to plan around?

Friday, February 26, 2016

Shimano's New Aldebaran Baitcasting Reel with Jonathon Van Dam and IBASSIN



The brand new Shimano Aldebaran is finally available. Bassmaster Elite Angler, Jonathan Van Dam explains why this is the lightest, most enjoyable to fish reel on the market. IBASSIN.com found out that the Shimano Aldebaran has X-Ship for extreme strength. The Aldebaran only weights 4.7 ounces making it one of the lightest casting reels ever made. Available in right and left handed retrieves, the Aldebaran reels come in 6.5:1 or 7.4:1 gear ratios for easy fishing. When you consider the Aldebaran comes with SVS infinity, Silent Tune and Shimano Stable Spool design, this light-weight wonder is one awesome reel.

Thursday, February 25, 2016

Minn Kota and Humminbird Hitting Super Sales

Great first quarter reflects amazing products
Originally posted in Angling International
Strong new products from the Minn Kota and Humminbird brands, alongside another improved performance from its kayak and canoe operation, helped Johnson Outdoors deliver increased revenue and reduced operating losses in the first quarter of the year.
Total company operating loss during the seasonally slow Q1 was $0.9 million compared to $7.3 million in 2015. Prime drivers for the improvement, said the company, was higher volume and lower legal expenses. Johnson was involved in a successful patent dispute with Garmin International Inc last year.
Net sales for the quarter increased 20% to $85.3 million compared to $70.8 million in the corresponding period last year. Pre-season demand in key fishing channels powered a 35% surge in Marine Electronics revenue. Watercraft also continued its revival with a 17% increase as gains in Old Town and accessory brands kept pace with the improved paddle market.
“We are very pleased with our strong start to the fiscal year. Our fishing, camping and water recreation businesses are heading into the key selling periods for our products during the next six months with strong, positive momentum,” said Helen Johnson–Leipold, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Spinhead fishing for smallmouth bass



At the 2015 Bassmaster Classic, Casey Ashley put a spinhead into action and won the Classic when most couldn't get a bite. The spinhead is an amazing bait for smallmouth bass that are suspended or schooling on bait. Here's a recent video I did for Ontario OUT OF DOORS magazine that highlights several key factors of why the spinhead is an amazing bait for smallmouth bass.

Monday, February 22, 2016

Vibrating Jig Makers Beware!

If you love Chatterbaits your choices might becoming much narrower. Z-Man Fishing Products have just announced the issuance of United States Patent No. 9,253,967 (the ‘967 patent) entitled “Snag-Resistant Fishing Lure and Method for Making and Using” covering the unique, bladed swim jig design of its revolutionary ChatterBait® brand lures. 

So that cool hex shaped blade is now the property of Z-Man fishing making it even more difficult for companies to legally produce vibrating jigs. How much with Z-Man enforce their patents is yet to be seen but they are getting one step closer to dominating this growing market. 


Friday, February 19, 2016

Yamaha VMAX SHO Engines from 115hp to 250hp with IBASSIN



The Yamaha VMAX SHO is a hot motor! If your boat cannot handle the ultra fast 250HP don't be sad. The VMAX SHO is now available in lower horsepower and even in long shaft options. Check out what Yamaha is offering in 2016.

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Mustad Snags Mark Rose

Mustad, global leader in fish hooks since 1877, continues to strengthen their commitment to Bass Fishing with the signing of Professional Angler Mark Rose. 
A veteran on the FLW circuit, Mark Rose has honed his expertise in fishing river systems and offshore structure into an impressive career as one of the sport’s most consistently successful anglers.  Along the road to 7 professional titles, he has earned 48 Top Ten Finishes (nearly 5 per year average since 2008), qualified for the Forest Wood Cup 9 times, was chosen a Cabela’s First Team All-American (2011) and won a Rayovac Midwest Angler of the Year title (2005).  Notably, Mark is the only angler to qualify for all 9 Texas Bass Classics.

Says Rose, “Most of the fish that I have brought to the scales in all six of my major event wins were caught on Mustad Hooks, so I'm very excited to be a part of this great company and join their Elite Prostaff!"

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Molix Signs Australian BASS Elite Angler Carl Jocumsen.

Molix a leading manufacture of innovative fishing tackles, is happy to announce the agreement with Carl Jocumsen a 31 y.o. rising professional angler and first Australian native to fish the B.A.S.S. Elite Tournament Trail in the U.S.
Carl is really appreciated for his technical skill, empathy and determination all features that are part of the Molix lifestyle.
This new agreement concerns the soft and hard baits (spinnerbait excluded) which will be used in all competitions and events. Carl will be an exclusive testimonial and he will will also actively work in the development of new products.
2016 is going to be my best year yet, signing with Molix has given myself a great boost going into my second year on the Bassmaster Elites. There innovative style and thinking suits my style perfectly “Jocumsen Said”

Monday, February 15, 2016

Friday, February 12, 2016

It Starts Today!



The Spring Fishing and Boat Show starts today. Free parking, great speakers and plenty of tackle to drool over. Start the weekend off right with a trip to the show.

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

The Amazing G. Loomis E6X Series of Rods with Jonathon Van Dam!



Many of you will be visiting sport shows looking for some new rods. Last year G Loomis launched their E6X Series of spinning and bait casting rods. You need to check out these rods. Quality, price and extensive selection of actions make the E6X rods a must.
More details on the E6X below

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Save with Navionics

Navionics+ offers an incredible value with 1 ft HD contour detail for marine areas and more than 18,000 lakes throughout US & Canada all-in-one.
 
From shoreline to deep water, charts include marinas, boat ramps and docks, navigation aids, spot soundings, and underwater structure such as road beds, bridges, stumps, culverts and creek channels.
 
Navionics+ is fully compatible with most popular GPS chartplotters from B&G, Humminbird, Lowrance, Raymarine, Simrad and more.

Check our compatibility guide for a complete list.
Save on Navionics+ now and have updated charts all season long! Contact your dealer before February 29th to save $30 on Navionics+.

Monday, February 8, 2016

Bradley Hallman Wins 2016 Walmart FLW Tour Lake Okeechobee with 71-02 Pounds!

Wire to wire win while weather worsens. 
FLW PRESS RELEASE
Bradley Hallman is fishing his first season on the Walmart FLW Tour, but he is by no means a rookie in the world of tournament bass fishing. Hallman spent six years as a pro on the Bassmaster Elite Series from 2006 to 2011, so he knows his way around the business of bass tournaments pretty well.
Two 25 pound limits allow Bradley to ride out rough weather for win.
(Photo: FLW)
During his six years on the Elite Series, Hallman encountered some pretty stiff headwinds that forced him to retreat from the national level of the sport.
“I had a lot going on back then,” Hallman remembers. “My wonderful children were born. My dad passed away. I had a lot going on financially and emotionally, and I just needed a break from it all to sort of regroup and get my head right before getting back in the game at a national level.”
From his pro experience, Hallman learned a very valuable lesson.
“Transitioning from regional-level competition to national-level competition changes the way you fish,” Hallman reflects. “At home I had success fishing my way – fishing my strengths as a pitcher and flipper. But when I got on the Elites, the financial pressure was immense, and I started fishing just to get checks – just to survive – and it changed the way I fished. I was trying to fish the way other people fish just to stay out there. When I quit the Elites I vowed I would not return to national-level tournaments until I could fish my way all of the time.”

Sunday, February 7, 2016

2016 Walmart FLW Tour Lake Okeechobee Day 3: Hallman Punching Up a Huge Lead!

by Rob Newell
FLW PRESS RELEASE
The third day of Walmart FLW Tour events always seem to be the stingiest days. Whether it’s due to condition changes or fishing pressure or both, day three is the seam where anglers’ primary locations and patterns from the first two days begin to fray. As a result, anglers fishing in the top-20 round on day three are faced with some difficult decisions that boil down to staying committed to their primary gig or switching up their game to try something else for a new window that might be opening.
This week at the Walmart FLW Tour event presented by Ranger Boats on Lake Okeechobee, tournament leader Bradley Hallman, who has sacked up about 25 pounds per day the last two days, says his day-three decision was pretty easy: stay committed to flipping and punching matted reed heads.
This 8 pounder helps keep the pack 13 1/2 pounds behind.  (Photo: FLW)
That decision resulted in being one fish shy of a limit on day three. But one of his four bass weighed 8 pounds, 10 ounces, pushing Hallman’s catch to 14 pounds, 3 ounces to give him a three-day total of 64-10. His lead over second-place angler Alex Davis is now 13 1/2 pounds going into the fourth and final day in this event that is hosted by Roland and Mary Ann Martin's Marina and Resort and the Hendry County Tourism and Development Council.

Saturday, February 6, 2016

2016 Walmart FLW Tour Lake Okeechobee Day 2: Bradley Hallman Take Huge Lead!

FLW PRESS RELEASE
Take an extremely full Lake Okeechobee, put a 15 mph south wind on it one day, then flip the wind 180 degrees and propel it to 25 mph out of the north the next day, and what you have is something akin to a 467,000-acre washtub, spilling over at the sides and sloshing bass and bass fishermen back and forth.
Hallman winning over wind and weeds. (Photo: FLW)
This time around, the Walmart FLW Tour opener on Lake Okeechobee presented by Ranger Boats has not been about staking out a square-mile area in the Monkey Box and waiting for waves of big bass to funnel in hourly. This time around, the anglers have been tested by the biggest washing machine in the southern U.S., and the cold-water rinse cycle started today.
The angler who seems to be thriving in the sloshing is Bradley Hallman of Norman, Okla. Hallman is a former Bassmaster Elite Series pro who is off to a solid start in rekindling his pro fishing career on the Walmart FLW Tour in this event, which is presented by Roland and Mary Ann Martin's Marina and Resort and Hendry County Tourism and Development Council. After sacking up 25 pounds on day one, Hallman bettered that on a horribly gusty day two with 25 pounds, 7 ounces and now leads second-place pro Alex Davis by 8 1/2 pounds.

Friday, February 5, 2016

2016 Walmart FLW Tour Lake Okeechobee Day 1: Bradley Hallman Leads!

The old saying is that the third time is the charm, but for Bradley Hallman of Norman, Okla., it’s more like the first time is the charm. Hallman is fishing his first Walmart FLW Tour event on Lake Okeechobee. It’s the first day of the first Tour event of 2016, and Hallman sits in first place with 25 pounds even.
Hallman's 25 pound limit grabs lead as flooded Big O remains difficult.
(Photo: FLW)
Hallman even contends that this is the first time he has ever fished Lake Okeechobee – the key word being “lake.”
“I fished an FLW Series event here in ’07 or ’08, but the lake was so low we all fished in the rim ditch – we called it the ‘rim ditch tournament,’” he recalls. “I never even got to go out on the main lake for that event.”

Thursday, February 4, 2016

Fishing & Hunting Retailers Epic Battle?

Super Store Superiority 
By Luigi De Rose

Earlier this year, it was speculated that Bass Pro Shop was eyeing the takeover of retail giant Cabela's. With a successful capture of Ranger, Triton and Stratos boats in 2014, Bass Pro Shop looks like it’s still hungry for domination.  According to an article in Angling-International and another in Fishing Tackle Retailer the outdoor retail business has not been all roses in 2015. According to Fishing Tackle Retailer, Sports Authority a major competitor of Cabela's missed an interest payment on a $343 million dollar (US) loan that resulted in 100 headquarters staff becoming redundant. 

Cabela’s is also making major moves to become more profitable and alluring to future buyers. Fishing Tackle Retailer states that, "according to LowCards.com, a credit card news outlet, Cabela’s is trying to sell the business before selling off the company altogether. It adds that Bass Pro Shops is not interested in Cabela’s credit card portfolio despite the fact that its sales represent about 30% of the Nebraska-based retailer’s transactions."


Regardless, less competition will limit selection and competitive pricing for consumers. The silver lining in all of this is that smaller retailers or niche stores, who are willing to specialize and offer diversity, should profit greatly. 

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Randall Tharp Teaches You How To Punch Heavy Matted Grass with IBASSIN



With the 2016 FLW Tour starting this week on Florida's Lake Okeechobee and there will be a lot of heavy punching. No one is better than catching big Florida bass than FLW Cup Champ Randall Tharp. Listen how he approaches punching the matted grass.

Monday, February 1, 2016

Wesley Strader Wins 2016 Bassmaster Bass Pro Shop Southern Open #1

Strader first angler to qualify for 2017 BASSMASTER CLASSIC.
By John Neporadny Jr.
BASS PRESS RELEASE
A slim 2 ounces separated winner Wesley Strader and his closest challenger, Cody Detweiler, in the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open #1 at the Kissimmee Chain.
Strader finished with a winning weight of 50 pounds, 5 ounces to punch his ticket to the 2017 Bassmaster Classic if he competes in the next two Southern Opens. Detweiler weighed in a three-day total of 50-3 to finish as the Open runner-up in the pro division. 
Spawner save Shrader.  (Photo: BASS)
Despite a tough practice, Strader bounced back with solid limits each day, including a 13-1 bag in the final round.  “I hadn’t caught a fish over 2 1/2 pounds in all of practice,” said Strader, who won the pro division grand prize of  a $45,000 Nitro Z20 bass boat with a Mercury Pro XS  225-horsepower outboard engine.