Maurice enters bankruptcy: creditors named

Big losses for many key companies

Originally posted in Angling International

One of North America’s largest distributors of fishing gear has filed for bankruptcy in a move designed to facilitate its takeover.

Troubled Maurice Sporting Goods, which is said to owe creditors up to $100million, has announced that it has reached an agreement to sell its assets to private investment firm, Middleton Partners, a company with a history of investing in distribution and consumer-based businesses.

A list of creditors, which is topped by Normark (owed $1.47m) and Shimano North America (over $900,000) has been released and is published below.

The company and its subsidiaries filed its voluntary petition for reorganisation under Chapter 11 in the US Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, Wilmington.

Middleton Partners, the Northbrook, Illinois company, has signed a letter of intent to purchase Maurice as a strategic buyer and is currently finalising an Asset Purchase Agreement. In accordance with the US Bankruptcy Code, other companies will have an opportunity to submit competing offers for the assets. The transaction is expected to be completed within 30 to 45 days.

“We are extemely pleased that Middleton Partners is going to purchase the assets of Maurice and continue our strategic vision and customer and vendor relationships,” said Jory Katlin, Maurice President and Chief Executive Officer.

“It has been a challenging couple of years, but I am excited that we have found the right partner to strengthen the company’s balance sheet and unleash new funding to fuel future growth.”

Humminbird® Introduces the New SOLIX™ 10

When Humminbird® introduced the SOLIX™ Series in January, it redefined sonar by integrating its most revolutionary technological features into a new line of powerful, easy-to-use fish finders. For 2018 Humminbird has expanded the series with the SOLIX 10. Its 10.1-inch screen makes it ideal for use at the bow or on more compact console settings. The SOLIX 10 helps anglers find and catch more fish with the most advanced sonar, image clarity and mapping capabilities in its class.

Crystal-clear images
The SOLIX 10 comes in two models: one featuring Humminbird’s exclusive MEGA Imaging™ with GPS and CHIRP Digital Sonar, and another with GPS and CHIRP Digital Sonar only. Humminbird’s ultra-clear MEGA Imaging™ is the first Down and Side Imaging technology to enter the megahertz range with performance that’s nearly three times greater than traditional 455 kHz frequencies. It results in the clearest, sharpest on-screen images ever seen.
 
B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year Brandon Palaniuk gives credit to MEGA Imaging for his 2017 victory at Sam Rayburn Reservoir, saying “I found brush piles that other guys drove right past with their sonar units. During practice I stacked up tons of waypoints on brush that held good fish, and during the tournament I was able to go back, see where the bass were on the piles, and smash them.”
 

FLW Canada in Jeopardy Next Year

By Luigi De Rose

According to FLW Canada's Facebook page the 2018 season will have some major changes. Shootout Fishing League (SFL) and Fishing League Worldwide (FLW) were unable to come to terms. FLW has yet to officially announce who will be running their tournaments in Canada. Considering the series has only run two seasons, they were well attended and well run.  

Here is their statement:

Shootout Fishing League (SFL) and Fishing League Worldwide (FLW) were unable to reach a contract renewal agreement. Even though SFL will no longer be operating FLW Canada, there is an organization that will be taking over these operations and continue with the FLW Canada tournaments. An official announcement will be made by FLW soon.

“It has been an honor to work with such incredible anglers over the past three seasons, and we are looking forward to building on our existing SFL brand and running events in the same ethical manner we always have with FLW and SFL. It is unfortunate that an agreement could not be reached, but we are excited for the future and growth of SFL while continuing to put our anglers first.” - Cory Banford

2017 US Won Bass Open Day 2: Justin Patti Leads on Lake Mead with 27.71lbs!

Bigger Weights on Day 2

WON BASS PRESS RELEASE

Justin Patti extends lead. (Photo WON BASS)

A little over a year ago, Justin Patti left Callville Bay Marina on the second day of the WON Bass U.S. Open in the lead. By the end of the day, he had succumbed to the wild swings that Lake Mead's fishing is known for.

2017 has proven to be a different year for the Arizona pro.

After opening the event with a stellar 14.71-pound limit, Patti took last years' experience and made all the right moves to post a 13.00-pound limit that pushed his two-day weight to 27.71 pounds. His second consecutive strong day increased the margin of his lead to nearly three and a half pounds over second place pro Kyle Grover of Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.

His performance helped him nearly match the goal weight he set for himself for the three day event - in two days. "I started this event hoping to catch 10 pounds a day to have a shot to win," he said. "I didn't expect to be catching this quality of fish, I've had two great AAA partners, and we've worked really well together to make it happen."

2017 WON Bass U.S. Open Day One Pro Standings

Place	Name	Hometown	Weight	Big Fish	Total
1	Justin Patti	Phoenix AZ	27.71	3.87	27.71
2	Kyle Grover	Trabuco Canyon CA	24.25	3.84	24.25
3	Brett Hite	Phoenix AZ	24.13	3.47	24.13
4	Travis Jewell	Sandy UT	22.99		22.99
5	Sean Coffey	Mesa AZ	22.73	3.57	22.73
6	Cody Murray	Nampa ID	22.65	3.18	22.65
7	Carl Jocumsen	Reseda CA	21.55		21.55
8	Steve Tosh, Jr.	Modesto CA	21.51	4.59	21.51
9	Marvin Barellano	Monterey Park CA	21.46	2.88	21.46
10	Clayton Meyer	Henderson NV	21.36	2.9	21.36

Mike Williams & Duane Jacobs Win 2017 CSFL Classic XXI

Stoney Lake's Winning Pattern

By Luigi De Rose

Duane and Mike are all smiles after the win!
(Photo: CSFL)

The 2018 CSFL Classic returned to the rugged shores of Stoney Lake in North Kawartha, Ontario on September 8 to 10^th. The dynamic duo from Curve Lake, Mike Williams and Duane Jacobs were crowned champions again one year after their first Classic win. Williams and Jacobs bested the 78 team field with a three day total of 40-85lbs. Father and son team Stuart and Jesse Evans missed the win by a razor’s edge with 40-4lbs. Third was captured by Cesare Ruscio and Mike Quesnelle who sacked 39-7lbs.

IBASSIN.com chatted with the newly crowned champs for a rundown on how they secured back-to-back Classic wins on Stoney Lake.

Pre-fishing

“We never practice on Stony Lake!” insists Duane Jacobs. “We have a ton of experience on that lake but most importantly we have experience during this time of year.” Early September is a tricky time of year for bass. Cool mornings and warm afternoons confuse bass and frustrate tournament anglers even more. “The conditions were fairly similar to last year when we won but this year we focused on largemouth and skipped trying for smallmouth until the last day were we landed two.”

Tournament

Friday, the first day of competition, was lack luster at best with a limit of only 12.3lbs.  Saturday’s 15.6lbs limit was a big improvement.  That propelled them into 4^th place and qualified them to fish on championship Sunday as part of  “Top 12”. “The trick to succeeding on Stoney Lake is to stay consistent. The guys who have a big bass will have a great day but if you don’t get that big one you’ll likely only have a 6 or 7 pound limit.” Assures Jacobs. “Over the first two days, we discovered that our largemouth spots were producing much better in the afternoon so we targeted our best spots during that prime time period.”  Sunday had Mike and Duane tried to

Garmin Ordered to Pay Navico $38 Million in Damages

Navico – the world’s largest manufacturer of marine electronics and parent company to the Lowrance®, Simrad® and B&G® brands – announced today that a Texas federal jury has found that Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ:GRMN) willfully infringed two of Navico’s DownScan Imaging™ sonar patents and awarded Navico $38,755,000 in damages. The district court judge has discretion to increase the damages to account for the jury’s finding that Garmin’s infringement was willful.

The unanimous jury verdict validates Navico’s long-standing claims against Garmin.  The infringement finding concerned two of Navico’s patents relating to marine sonar technology -- U.S. Patent Nos. 9,223,022 and 9,244,168 -- and the finding is consistent with separate rulings by an International Trade Commission (ITC) Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) and by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CPB) concerning Garmin’s infringement of additional Navico patents. 

Remembering September 11th.

Remembering all those who work tirelessly to preserve peace for all. 

Jason Christie Wins BASS Elite Lake St. Clair with Tournament with 88-08lbs!

Windy last day scatters leaderboard
BASS PRESS RELEASE

Second win on St. Clair for Christine who adjusted expertly on final day.
(Photo: BASS)

Catching a drum isn't usually much of a reason for a bass fisherman to get excited. They don't count in a bass tournament, and they can waste valuable fishing time while the angler fights and lands them.

But it certainly excited Jason Christie this week — mostly because every time he'd catch one, the smallmouth bass in the area would get excited, too.

Christie caught five smallmouth that weighed 22 pounds on Championship Sunday to push his four-day weight to 88 pounds, 8 ounces. It was enough to win the Advance Auto Parts Bassmaster Elite at Lake St. Clair and keep the Oklahoma angler in contention for the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year title.

The drum were one of the keys to his week.

"Everything is lying on the bottom, and they were all eating crawdads," said Christie, who is now a five-time B.A.S.S. winner. "I can't tell you how many times I've caught a drum here this week — and as the drum was coming up, it would be spitting out crawdads. There would be smallmouth out there below them, just eating everything they could get their mouths on."

3 Scorching Hot Bass Tactics for Right Now!

Here's the video that explains in detail my article in July's issue of Ontario OUT OF DOORS magazine. If you love smallmouth and largemouth but hate the heat, if we ever get some, then this is for you. Learn how to target the shadows and use the blinding sun to heat up your trophy bass fishing.

Rick Morris Wins the 2017 BASS Northern Open James River with 43-15lbs!

Veteran wins first BASS event!
BASS PRESS RELEASE

A worm and experience helps Morris win.
(Photo: BASS)

Thirty years of fishing the James River paid off for Virginia pro Rick Morris, who won the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Northern Open No. 2 on Saturday.

The Lake Gaston, Va., angler weighed in a 16-pound, 11-ounce five-bass limit and finished with a three-day total of 43-15 to clinch the pro division title. Morris received the top prize of a $45,000 Skeeter bass boat/Yamaha outboard rig and $6,784 in cash. He also qualified for the 2018 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods, contingent upon him fishing the Northern Open finale at Douglas Lake in September.

2017 ICAST Minn Kota Reveals New 15 Foot Talon!

Introducing the all-new Talon shallow water anchor. Up to 15' deep, with multiple anchoring modes, and control from the bow, transom, console, remote or mobile app. Unlock more water, and never miss another fish. Only with Talon.

2017 CSFL Canadian Open Lake Simcoe Day 2: Cory Johnston Grabs Lead with 51.9lbs!

Wind and cool temps rattle leaderboard
By Luigi De Rose

Cory Johnston taking a sizeable lead.
(Photo: CSFL)

One of the best smallmouth fishery on the planet is also one of the worse to fish if the wind kicks up and that is exactly what occurred Day 2 of the Canadian Open on Lake Simcoe and Lake Couchiching. When the weather does a 180, the true experienced anglers rise to the top. Cory Johnston stunned the crowd with his 26.75lb sack, the tournament's heaviest 5-bass limit and a two day total of 51.9lbs. . His feat distanced himself from Day 1 leader Cal Climpson who slipped to second with 47.85lbs.  Matt Pezzetta climbed to third with 44.5lbs. Legendary angler Bob Izumi 4th with 44.15lbs.

Pos.	Angler	Day 1	Day 2	Total Weight
P01	Cory Johnston	25.15	26.75	51.9
P02	Cal Climpson	26.35	21.5	47.85
P03	Matt Pezzetta	23.8	20.7	44.5
P04	Bob Izumi	22.95	21.2	44.15
P05	Stephen Hagerty	24.7	18.7	43.4
P06	Chris Johnston	25.75	17	42.75
P07	Erik Luzak	18.4	21.3	39.7
P08	Nick Cousvis	17.5	22	39.5
P09	John Whyte	17.05	22.35	39.4
P10	Franklin Janzen	22	16.6	38.6