Merry Christmas from IBASSIN

The Future of Ranger, Triton and Stratos Boats.

Making Sense of it All

By Luigi De Rose

The internet was a blur after Bass Pro Shop’s announcement that they acquired Ranger, Triton and Stratos boats last Friday. After the shock of the announcement, positive and negative reaction to this press release started to develop.  Speculation is never a strong leg to stand on. Clarity will only emerge over time.

Here is our attempt to bring some clarity to this historic acquisition.

The Future

When Ranger bought Stratos and Champion boats a few years back. Fears were realized when Champion become redundant and was sadly axed.  Stratos continued to prosper and soon adopted the Champion hull, which many felt was an improvement but scores of Champion owners were disappointed that their beloved boats were gone.

Time will be the most significant factor in the longevity of Stratos, Triton and Ranger. Ranger will rein supreme because it simply is Ranger. The other two boats might have rocky futures. If a decision to cull one of the two boats is made it will be made immediately or in two to three years. After sales projections and financial statements are securitized, a decision will be made if all three will continue. I feel that whoever lags in sales might be eventually be cut.

Tracker boats might not be in this equation because they’re an aluminum boat builder where the other three plus Nitro are all fiberglass. If Ranger broadens its aluminum boat production it might limit Tracker product line but only time can tell.

Another key question is which boat will be considered the ultimate Bass Pro Shop Boat? Will Ranger remain the crown jewel, followed by Nitro, Triton and then Stratos or will the Nitro boats be kept under a different category simply to run parallel to the other three? No one knows but it is a huge worry if I was an Elite or FLW angler waiting to make a down payment on a home.

Sponsorship

How will the sponsorship and media dollars be spent? Anglers, tournament organizations and media sources will now have fewer doors to knock on when looking for money. This has been a steady trend in the fishing industry for some time. Only look towards Pure Fishing, Pradco and Normark for greater clarity on the issue.  Mega corporations have many disadvantages especially for newcomers. Established anglers, TV shows and others in the media outlets might have the leverage to broker bigger

The New Jackall DOWZVIDO 90 Jerkbait with FLW Pro Cody Meyers and IBA...

Jackall is making an even better push into the North American market in 2015. Here is one of many new baits that will be announced in the next few months.

Happy Halloween from IBASSIN

Have a spooky day and hope you have a great Halloween
without a "scare" in the world. 

Cold Water Jerkbait Tips with Jackall Pro Cody Meyers and IBASSIN

Jackall pro Cody Meyers explains how to use jerkbaits for smallmouth and largemouth bass when the water turns cold in the fall and winter months. Learn how to adjust your jerkbait for when the bass are shy and the water is cool.

Five Fabulous Fall Baits for Bass: Crankbaiting

Crank your way to success.
By Luigi De Rose

Depending where you live, crankbaits can be the most or least popular choice for fall fishing.  Crankbaits are just as useful for finding pods of bass as they are at catching them. Schooling bait and cooling water temps will bunch up bass. Cranking a plug allows anglers to cover immense sections of water while remaining productive at catching bass regardless of their mood. Once a sense of feel is established while using this lure, it can also be used to telegraph the bottom.  Weed, rock, sand even mud can be detected simply by interpreting the reaction of the bait as it comes in contact with the bottom.

Bait selection has been a huge hurdle for anglers. Consider these factors when reaching into your tackle bag.

Key factors:

• ·      Water depth
• ·      Cover
• ·      Water temps
• ·      Baitfish
• ·      Water clarity

Each factor will determine size, style and colour scheme of the crankbait you knot on.

Rapala and Storm Pro-angler Jacob Wheeler knows
the importance of the square bill. This Storm Arashi
Wake Bait is a great fall crankbait when the bass are shallow.
(Photo: IBASSIN)

Darker water and heavy weed grown will force you to select shallow running or square bill baits. Square bills run through cover well and excel around wood or rocks.  If the water is warm or the sun pops out long enough to warm up a cool day, an afternoon crankbait bite might be the way to turn around an otherwise slow fishing day.

If the lake has a strong population of both smallmouth and largemouth select deeper diving cranks than can be cast very far and run along the bottom. Smallmouth can be boat shy particularly in crystal clear waters, so heavy baits than can be rocketed great distances is a huge plus.  Smallmouth love crayfish this time of year and scour the bottom looking for them. Scraping the bottom with a natural craw colour patterns can be a winner but don’t shy away from brilliant orange or chartreuse.  Neon bright colours can trigger smallies when all else fails.

The Shad Rap from Rapala is an
amazing cold water bait. 

Cold water won’t kill a crankbait bite but you’ll have to adjust accordingly. Start cranking much slower and it might be wise to switch from a large, plastic plugs to slimmer, balsa wooden baits. Wooded baits, such as Rapala Shad Raps, provide great action without being too erratic for docile bass.

There is a lot to consider when looking for autumn bass. Crankbait fishing is complex but it can also be as simple as chunkin’ and windin’.  Always consider the local conditions and rotate between lure size and diving depth before giving up on these amazing baits. 

Five Fabulous Fall Baits for Bass

IBASSIN's guide to autumn bass fishing

By Luigi De Rose

This week IBASSIN will be highlighting five fabulous fall baits. Each day, one lure will be promoted on its merits of being an essential bass lure for this time of year. IBASSIN has readers from all over the world. These guidelines work best when integrated with local fishing conditions. Remember to  adjust accordingly but don’t neglect subtle daily changes. A few degrees up or down can kill or resurrect a day on the water.

Autumn can be some of the best or worst fishing of the year but it can also be one of the best times to catch a lot of giant bass. Weather is usually unpredictable making boating and fishing a challenge. Try keeping your spirits high during lulls in the action because your luck can change in a heartbeat.  Use this guide to help transform your fall bass fishing. 

Doug Brownridge Wins the 2014 Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Eastern Divisional!

Big win with big smallmouth!

By Tyler Wade

bass press release

WADDINGTON, N.Y. — Doug Brownridge has finished two tournaments with 71 pounds and ended up second. He had no plans to finish second in the 2014 Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Eastern Divisional, so he resolved to catch 72 pounds — and win.

Largest bass of the day was insurance to a
win on the St. Lawrence for Ontario angler
Doug Brownridge.
(Photo: BASS)

He did, indeed. Brownridge ended the divisional with 72 pounds, 9 ounces over three days. What’s exceptional about that is all of his bass were smallmouth, averaging nearly 5 pounds each. Well, almost all of them were smallmouth.

“I’ve got one largemouth in my bag today,” he said on the final day. “I had a chance to cull up with a smallmouth that was 1/4 pound heavier, but it didn’t look that healthy.” So Brownridge put the smallie right back into the St. Lawrence River and held onto the largemouth.

Brownridge has led the tournament since its opener on Wednesday and has never even been threatened with losing his lead. He caught 24 pounds, 5 ounces on the first day, and then followed it up with 24-2 sacks on Days 2 and 3. He had the three biggest bags of the tournament.

2014 Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Eastern Divisional Day 2: Doug Brownridge Leads After Another 24 Pound Bag!

bass press release

WADDINGTON, N.Y. — Doug Brownridge followed up his massive 24-pound, 5-ounce bag on Day 1 of the 2014 Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Eastern Divisional with one that weighed 24-2, extending his lead in the tournament on the St. Lawrence River to nearly 6 pounds.

“I’m still not comfortable yet,” said Brownridge, a member of the Mississauga Bassmasters in the Ontario B.A.S.S. Nation. “I’m going to have to fish hard all day tomorrow.”

Brownridge on his way to a victory with

six pound lead.

(Photo: BASS)

The Canadian angler shows no signs of slowing down, though. He caught most of his fish in the same place on Day 2 as he did on Day 1, leaving him plenty of areas to pick apart on the final day.

“I dropped a horse today, though,” said Brownridge, referring to a big fish he lost. It’s not the only one, either: He lost a couple on the first day, as well. “That one was a monster. If I had gotten that one, I’d be much better off.”

Still, Brownridge said he figured out something that he thinks will help him on the final day. And he’ll have to work hard early on Day 3. “My smallmouth bite just shuts down around 10 o’clock,” he said. “I’ve got to really get them in the morning.”

Brownridge has 48 pounds, 7 ounces for two days. His closest competitor is Rob Messenger of New Hampshire with 42-14. Messenger was also the runner-up on Day 1.

Brownridge and Messenger are currently among the team leaders slated to qualify for the 2014 Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Championship, Nov. 6-8, on the Ouachita River in Monroe, La. The top angler on each team advances there, and one competitor from each of six divisions will earn a coveted berth in the 2015 Bassmaster Classic.

2014 Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Eastern Divisional Day 1: Doug Brownridge Leads with over 24lbs of Smallmouth.

By Tyler Wade

bass press release

WADDINGTON, N.Y. — When Doug Brownridge took off on Day 1 on the St. Lawrence River, he knew exactly where he was heading.

He chose correctly, and he currently leads the 2014 Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Eastern Divisional with 24 pounds, 5 ounces.

“This year, I was second in a Canadian Open and sixth and first in two other tournaments here,” said Brownridge. “I’ve spent 10 to 15 tournament days on this river this year. So I knew right where I wanted to go.”

Doug has the tournament experience and knowledge
of the river to win.
(Photo: BASS)

Brownridge, a member of the Ontario B.A.S.S. Nation, doesn’t even know what’s special about the spot he’s got. He only knows that it produces big fish, and that’s enough to keep him coming back for more.

Just in case it doesn’t bear similar fruit on Day 2, Brownridge has plenty of backup areas.

“I’ll run out of time before I run out of spots,” he said.

“Smallmouth are notorious for moving. They never give up that easily.”

Brownridge had his Day 1 limit by 10 a.m., and he culled up once with a 5-pound, 12-ounce smallmouth.

2014 Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship Day 1: Brett Hite the Hero with 24lbs, Hackey Holding On!

Big bags of smallmouth dominate but all eyes on AOY leader board.

By Steve Wright

bass press release

ESCANABA, Mich. — Greg Hackney had numbers in mind while thinking about what it would take for him to win the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year title this week at Lake Michigan.

Those numbers were 20 and 18, in that order.

Greg is holding onto the AOY but fishing was
better for Davis and Faircloth.
(Photo: BASS)

"I thought if I caught 20 pounds the first day and backed it up with 18 or 19, I'd be alright," said Hackney about his game plan for clinching the coveted AOY title.

After Day 1, the number 18 made him breathe a sigh of relief. That was his five-bass total weight Thursday, exactly.

"They actually weighed about two pounds heavier than what I thought I had," Hackney said. "That helped my feelings a little bit when I weighed in. (Friday) I've got to catch 20."

Todd Faircloth's number Thursday was 20 pounds, 15 ounces. That allowed him to cut into Hackney's lead in the AOY race.

Faircloth was in third place, 17 points behind. Now he's in second place, 10 points back.

Aaron Martens was discouraged by his numbers. A Day 1 total of 17-6 dropped him from 15 points behind Hackney to 19 points back.

Chad Pikens Wins 2014 BASS Northern Open on Lake St. Clair

Canadian brothers Chris and Cory finish strong!

By Louie Stout

bass press release

DETROIT – Chad Pipkens picked the right day to have the best day of his life.

The 31-year-old Holt, Mich., angler, who has fished Lakes St. Clair and Erie since his college days, bagged 23 pounds, 6 ounces to win the Bass Pro Shops Northern Open #3 presented by Allstate on Lake St. Clair. 

Chad's first win and a trip to the 2015 Classic. Cannot beat
a day on the water like that!
(Photo: James Overstreet BASS)

His three-day total of 67 pounds, 4 ounces edged out Fletcher Shryock of Ohio. Shryock came in second with 63-10, while Chris Johnston of Canada placed third with 63-6. 

Joe Balog, the Harrison Township., Mich., pro and heavy favorite who led the first two days, lost valuable fishing time due to mechanical problems. Balog caught only three fish on Day 3, and fell to seventh. 

2014 TOP BASS CLASSIC Day 1: Stinson and Willick lead with 21.45lbs!

Top Bass Classic Day 1 

Top 10

1. 21.45   Steve Stinson & Jessey Willick
2. 20.98   Ed Baker & Brandon Baker
3. 19.92   TJ Lacey & Travis Vivian
4. 19.78   Joe Figueria and Duane Gonsalves
5. 18.67   Michael Macneil & Paul Anerson
6. 17.18   Jarrod Dean & Gerard Cocks
7. 16.62   Frank Rotundo & Dan Zammit
8. 16.20   Ron Pilkey & Jay Martin
9. 16.07   Fabio Testa & Guy Amoruso
10. 15.59   Jason Gough & Barry Graves

Big Fish

5.415lbs  By Michael Macneil & Paul Anerson

                        

2014 BASS Northern Open Lake St. Clair Day 2: Balog Still Leads Over Smallmouth fest.!

Canadian brothers sit 3rd and 6th.

By Louie Stout

SEP 5, 2014

DETROIT – Joe Balog’s hopes of running the table in the Bass Pro Shops Northern Open #3 presented by Allstate could be blowin’ in the Lake St. Clair wind on Saturday.

Balog slapped an impressive 25 pounds, 2 ounces of smallmouth bass onto the scales Friday, expanding his first-day lead to nearly four pounds.

But a forecast calling for a turnaround in the wind – from the southwest to the northwest – is fret-worthy fodder.

Balog steals the day with 25 pound bag.
(Photo: James Overstreet BASS)

“I’m really fishing something ‘off the wall’ and I’m concerned what the wind change might do to my fish,” the Harrison Twp, Mich. angler said.

Fellow Michigan angler Chad Pipkens, anchored in second place with 43 pounds, 10 ounces, expects the wind change to benefit him greatly and give him more time to fish his most productive area.

“I’ve had to leave it early every day this week because the wind made it difficult to fish,” he said. “If I could get a couple more hours there, I’ve got a shot.”

The field will be cut to 12 on Saturday. Canadian Chris Johnston is third with 43-12, Michigander Ben Nielsen is fourth with 42-13 and Elite Series Pro Fletcher Shryock of Ohio is fifth with 41-14.

Johnston’s brother, Cory, is sixth with 41-14.

2014 BASS Northern Open Lake St. Clair Day 1: Balog Sacks Lead with 22-8!

Balog leads over a strong local showing.

By Louis Stout

bass press release

DETROIT — The home-field advantage played a big role in the first round of the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Northern Open presented by Allstate on Lake St. Clair Thursday.

Joe was one of 11 who cracked 20 pounds.
(Photo: James Overstreet BASS)

Two local anglers jumped to the head of the pack, with formidable pro Joe Balog of Harrison Township, Mich., sacking 22 pounds, 8 ounces, good for a 4-ounce lead over fellow Harrison Township angler Andrew Smith.

Canadian Chris Johnston is third with 21-12, while Bassmaster Elite Series pros Fletcher Shryock of Ohio and Michigander Chad Pipkens are tied for fifth with 21-6.

In addition to valuable prizes going to the winner of this final leg of the Northern Open is a berth in next February’s Bassmaster Classic to be held on Lake Hartwell of out Greenville, S.C., providing the winner has competed in two previous 2014 Northern Opens.

Classic Weekend!

By Luigi De Rose

The second weekend in September is Classic weekend for TOP BASS. IBASSIN will be tracking down tournament front runners for our exclusive pre-tournament interviews. Don't miss the action as we report on it as it happens. Rotary Park, on the shores of Chemong Lake, will be the site of the TOP BASS Classic weigh-ins. Anglers can venture onto Pigeon, Buckhorn and Chemong lakes for this event. Theses three lakes are full of bass but can present difficult fishing due to the changing of the seasons. This recent heat wave should keep the action red hot.

Kim Kwan and Mike Correa Win the 2014 Top Bass Seymour Event with 16.57 lbs.

Last Tournament of the Season a Nail Biter. 

By Luigi De Rose

The team of Kim Kwan and Mike Correa bested them all with a narrow 0.05 ounce victory over the team of Steve Matyi and Reg Cook. Overall, the fishing was spotty and difficult. Only 289 bass were caught weighing 605.2lbs.

The end of August is always a crap shoot when it comes to bass fishing. Suffering an already cool summer, the week before the Top Bass Seymour event, anglers encountered another cooling trend that dropped water temps almost 10 degrees.  Seymour is more of a river system than a lake. A section of the Trent-Severn system, Seymour is known for weedy shorelines, thick grass beds and some surprisingly big bass.

Seymour was the last of the 2014 regular season. The top 75 teams will battle on September 6 & 7 on the Tri-Lakes for the championship.

POS	Weight	Captain, Surname	Captain, Given	Partner Surname	Partner, Given
1	16.57	KWAN	KIM	CORREA	MIKE
2	16.52	MATYI	STEVE	COOK	REG
3	14.97	VERKRUISEN	RICHARD	VERKRUISEN	JESSICA
4	14.93	CULBERT	CALEB	FIGUEIRA	JOE
5	14.78	BOLDUC	AL	THOMPSON	BRIAN
6	13.96	FERNANDES	TIM	BONELLO	ANDREW
7	13.18	NEILSON	CRAIG	NEILSON	CHARLIE
8	12.83	BALIAN	BERNARD	O'CONNOR	PAT
9	12.54	SLOCKI	MIKE	HAWLEY	JOHN
10	12.5	WILLIAMS	MIKE	JACOBS	NELSON

Full Standings

Greg Hackney Wins 2014 Bassmaster Elite Cayuga Lake!

Hackney leaves best for last to dominate in New York. 

By Deb Johnson

bass press release

UNION SPRINGS, N.Y. — Greg Hackney was floating higher than a reel-peeling, skyward cast that seems to be held aloft by the sun itself.

Unlike a lure, he may not come down anytime soon.

In one fell swoop, the Bassmaster Elite Series pro from Gonzales, La., won the A.R.E. Truck Caps Bassmaster Elite at Cayuga Lake — and held tight to his lead in the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year points race.

Hackney is on a role with 2 wins
this year and leading AOY in
the Elites!
(Photo: Seigo Saito BASS)

“I’ll ride this as long as I can,” Hackney said Sunday just after he took the trophy and was sure no other angler had busted into his AOY lead. “There are not too many times you get to do this. It’s pretty awesome.”

Hackney slapped the 12-man field in Sunday’s final round with a catch of 23 pounds, 15 ounces. That pumped his four-day total to 85-0. His margin of victory was 9 pounds, 3 ounces over Todd Faircloth, who weighed 15-6 Sunday to finish in second place at 75-13.

The Cayuga trophy was the fourth for Hackney in his B.A.S.S. career. Coming more than eight years after his only other Elite win in March 2006, the Cayuga victory broke his Bassmaster winner’s drought. He won an FLW Tour in June, and also owns the 2009 Forrest Wood Cup trophy.

Hackney collected $100,000 and an instant qualification for the 2015 Bassmaster Classic. He virtually has a Classic entry in hand through his standing in points, so the Cayuga title will double-qualify him.

Taking third place at Cayuga was Chris Zaldain of San Jose, Calif., with 74-12. Fourth place was claimed by Edwin Evers of Talala, Okla., with 72-9.

Anchoring the Top 5 was Jared Lintner of Arroyo Grande, Calif., with 71-6. Lintner weighed a 6-2, tying him with Hackney for the largest bass of Sunday.

2014 Bassmaster Elite Cayuga Lake Day 3: Greg Hackney Continues to Lead But Fail to Limit Out.

Hackney controls tournament and AOY points 

By Deb Johnson

bass press release

UNION SPRINGS, N.Y. — Who could be happy after not catching a limit in what is likely the most important bass tournament of your career?

Greg Hackney.

He was grinning ear-to-ear Saturday after weighing only four bass instead of the allowed five in the third round of the A.R.E. Truck Caps Bassmaster Elite at Cayuga Lake.

Greg Hackney on monsters but not many of them.
He only had four today but still kept his lead.
(Photo: James Overstreet BASS)

But those four were solid largemouth bass that tipped the scales at 17-11. It was enough to keep a 10-ounce lead over his biggest threat, Todd Faircloth of Jasper, Texas.

2014 Bassmaster Elite Cayuga Lake Day 1: Palaniuk Edges into Lead in Tight Field.

"Community Holes" are holding them big time. 

By Deb Johnson

bass press release

UNION SPRINGS, N.Y. — August is Brandon Palaniuk’s charmed time of year. New York is his state of magic.

Last August, the pro angler from Rathdrum, Idaho, won a Bassmaster Elite Series event on the St. Lawrence River in upstate New York. At age 25, he pocketed the $100,000 prize and achieved his goal of qualifying for the 2014 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by Diet Mountain Dew and GoPro.

Brandon was one of seven to weigh
20lbs today.
(Photo: Seigo Saito BASS)

Thursday, just as focused on ensuring he’ll get into the 2015 Classic, Palaniuk led the 106-angler Elite field in the A.R.E. Truck Caps Bassmaster Elite at Cayuga Lake out of Union Springs, N.Y., where, once again, the first prize is $100,000 and an automatic qualification for the Super Bowl of Bass Fishing.

Palaniuk brought in 20 pounds, 10 ounces, enough to stay 3 ounces ahead of the pack in the first of four rounds.

“It was a magical day,” Palaniuk said. “I caught fish pretty early. I think I had a limit within the first 45 minutes, and slowly culled up from there. Every move I made, I seemed to catch a good one.”

The 26-year-old does not have one challenger behind him in second place, but two. In a tournament peppered with ties throughout the leaderboard, Mark Davis of Mount Ida, Ark., and Mike Kernan of Wylie, Texas, were neck-and-neck at 20-7 for second place.

Greg Hackney of Gonzales, La., claimed fourth place by himself at 20-5. It was more than good enough to help him in the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year points race, and an important move in keeping the lead he took over from Davis about two weeks ago.