RESPECT! The Mark Zona Way to Fish Tournaments

RESPECT! That is at the root of the values Mark Zona wants tournament anglers to follow. Z-man has seen a lot go down on the water. As host of the Bassmasters and a tournament angler for decades, Zona has seen the best and worst. Have a listen to Zona has he give some advise on how to be a great angler.

Shimano and Rapala Join Forces with BASS.

BASS Big Draw for Anglers

Originally posted in Angling International

Two of the world’s top fishing tackle manufacturers have announced major sponsorship agreements with B.A.S.S.

Under the deals, Shimano and Rapala will be supporting sponsors of the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, B.A.S.S. Nation events and other major tournaments run by the organisation.

“We welcome Rapala into the B.A.S.S. sponsor family,” said Bruce Akin, CEO of B.A.S.S. “The company is known worldwide as an innovator and marketer of premium fishing lures and tackle as well as a strong supporter of many Bassmaster Elite Series professionals. We look forward to helping Rapala grows its brands as it helps us grow the sport of bass fishing.”

“Rapala is extremely proud to be a sponsor of the Elite Series,” said Tom Mackin, President of Rapala USA. “We value our strong strategic marketing partnership with this world-class organisation. We also value our friendship with all the great people at B.A.S.S. Together we are building momentum – it’s really fun to be part of it all.”

The Future of Ranger, Triton and Stratos Boats. Part 2

Is this the Death of FLW?
By Luigi De Rose

Last Friday, Bass Pro Shop announced that it acquired Ranger, Triton and Stratos boats. This deal has transformed Bass Pro Shops into the largest bass boat company in the world and one of the largest boat companies in America. With this deal came many concerns on how the bass fishing world would be affected. Here is Part 2 of our look into this matter.

Corporate Alliances

The tournament organization FLW had two title sponsors; Ranger Boats and Walmart, both are the backbone of their entire operation. Here lies the potential problem.  Will Bass Pro Shop (BPS) continue to honour Ranger’s commitment to FLW or will BPS remain focused on their Bassmaster sponsorship? Currently, BPS is the main sponsor for the BASS Open events. Even a slight pullback of financial support could make a huge difference in FLW’s bottom line and future.

The second major conflict is retail between Bass Pro Shops and Walmart. Walmart is a huge player in FLW events, so much so that the last two weigh-ins of every Tour event take place at a Walmart. How willing is Johnny Morris, owner and CEO of Bass Pro Shops, of supporting a tournament organization that promotes a direct rival?  Will FLW events start taking place in Bass Pro Shop parking lots? It might not be that crazy of a notion.

One possible outcome is that BASS develops stronger alliances with Bass Pro Shop and Ranger Boats. Ranger could become the official bass boat of BASS and BPS could be the main Tour event sponsor. This scenario would strengthen BASS as it cripples FLW. Fans and anglers embrace two national tours but remember these are businesses that wish to generate as much money and power as possible. This could be a very big win for BASS if they play their cards correctly. Regardless of the combination of conflicts or outcomes, FLW outdoors will have to dance a very dangerous dance to remain one of the best tournament organizations.

Brent Chapman is 2012 Bassmaster Angler of the Year

By Deb Johnson

Aug 25, 2012

Bass press release

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Maybe Brent Chapman will let up now. The man many regard as the most focused, single-minded angler of the 2012 Bassmaster Elite Series has accomplished exactly what he set out to do at the beginning of the season.
Saturday, Chapman of Lake Quivira, Kan., was crowned 2012 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year, one of the sport’s prestigious achievements. The title comes with a $100,000 prize.

What a year! He wins an Open, then an Elite
and finishes with AOY!
(Photos: BASS)

“This is what we all strive for,” Chapman said as he accepted the trophy in front of a crowd at The Great New York State Fair in Syracuse, where the Bassmaster Elite Series is holding its final two weigh-ins of the regular season.
“I feel like a huge weight has been taken off my back,” Chapman said. “To achieve a lifetime goal — well, I’ve never done that before. It’s probably going to take several days before it sinks in. It’s truly unbelievable.”
The newly crowned Angler of the Year triumphed in the most hotly-contested race in many years. He took the lead in points after the third event. One of his closest friends and traveling buddy, Randy Howell, was one of his strongest threats. Howell even took the lead from Chapman at one point (but they remain friends to this day). Todd Faircloth, and after him, Ott DeFoe, stepped up and turned up the heat.
Coming into the final event on Oneida Lake, Chapman was 13 points ahead of DeFoe, and 20 points in front of Faircloth. Others, such as Terry Scroggins, could have made a run on Chapman by shining at Oneida and walking through a door Chapman opened if he had made mistakes.
It would have taken both that open door and a stellar performance at the New York event to catch Chapman. He remained focused, he worked on his tackle until the wee hours each day, and he slept when he could. He was always forthright about the state of his nerves — up, then settled, then keyed high, then easier again. Even under the extra pressure, he remained gracious — and all along was a contender for the Ramada Championship title.

Mike Iaconelli's Secret Spinnerbait from Bass Master Elite Lake Murray Tournament

MOLIX: Ike's Secret Spinnerbait
By Luigi De Rose

Checked out BASSAMSTER.COM and it's on the water vids? This past weekend had Mark Zona in the boat with Mike Iaconelli on Day 4 of the Lake Murray Elite tournament in South Carolina. Zona was showing viewers Ike's cool spinnerbait. Never seen one like that before?  Well, here it is and it's a Molix. Molix is an Italian company with a distinct line of baits with a clear Japanese zibe. Molix is slowing organizing itself to make a huge splash in North America. Their line of baits include hard baits, spinnerbaits, jigs and soft plastics. IBASSIN.com met with Stefano and Paolo at last year's ICAST show. 
www.molixfishing.com

Paolo with two nice ones.

Here is a peak at two spinnerbaits. Hopefully, they'll be in a tackle store near you.

Bassmaster Elite Evan Williams Bourbon Carolina Clash Day 4

Casey croons at Clash

Ashley triumphs at home in South Carolina

By Deb Johnson

Official Bass Press Release

May 15, 2011

COLUMBIA, S.C. —  Casey Ashley of Donalds, S.C., won the Evan Williams Bourbon Carolina Clash on Sunday with a total weight of 61 pounds, 3 ounces.

Casey's limit bumps Ike and Hite for a win. Mike and Davy
were tied for second and a fish off was pending.
(Photo: James Overstreet BASS)

The leader on Day Three, Ashley closed the deal with a fourth-day catch of 15-5. He won with a 3-pound, 2-ounce margin over fellow South Carolinian Davy Hite and New Jersey’s Michael Iaconelli, who tied for second place at 58-1.
 Ashley’s prize was $100,000 and an instant entry into the 2012 Bassmaster Classic.
 It was Ashley’s second Bassmaster Elite Series win. His first was in 2007, his rookie year. The two wins feel very different, he said.
 "The win at Smith Mountain Lake was special because it was my first, and in my first year on tour. I really didn’t know then what it meant to win,” he said.  "Now I know they’re hard to come by. I’m glad I won, but I’m real glad I won in South Carolina with all my family and friends.”
 Two 3-pounders in the last 45 minutes of fishing put Ashley over the top. He took both on a shaky head rig after deciding that finesse techniques was what he had to do to correct a day that began slow and shut down quickly.
 He had started fishing Sunday in what he said turned out to be the wrong choice of spots.

Lake Muray Champ!
(Photo: James Overstreet BASS)

 “The fish were there, but they just wouldn’t bite,” he said.
 About two hours into his day, he made an adjustment by going to a new spot that got him going with a 3-pounder. He left it, came back, then lost a big one, and came back to catch another fish.
 “And then it was over,” he said. “I had to go totally to finesse fishing after that.”

Bassmaster Elite Evan Williams Bourbon Carolina Clash Day 4

Day 4 Morning Up-Date
By Luigi De Rose

Lake Murray is windy and the bass are biting. Ike, Snowden, Evers, Ashley and Hite have all be whacking them. Unofficially, the day's leader board looks like we will be in for a roller coaster ride at the weigh-in. Anglers fishing for schooling bass felt their whole day would unfold in the first few hours. By 10am the game might be over. Wind along with sunny skies might prolong the bite. So, if someone can nail a big bite after the schooling action dies, they really have a change to claim the win.


Check out the latest standings from BASSTrakk, all weights are unofficial. 

		Fish	Day 4	Total
1	Michael Iaconelli	5	16-00	59-05
2	Brian Snowden	5	17-04	58-05
3	Casey Ashley	5	10-08	56-06
4	Davy Hite	5	14-04	55-07
5	Edwin Evers	5	13-00	52-12
6	Tommy Biffle	5	10-04	52-04
7	Fred Roumbanis	5	9-14	48-05
8	Jami Fralik	3	9-04	48-05
9	Chris Lane	4	8-00	47-00
10	Jeff Conella	1	2-00	44-04
11	Rick Clunn	2	3-13	43-06
12	Kevin Wirth	0	0-00	42-01

Bassmaster Elite Evan Williams Bourbon Carolina Clash Day 3

Local Boy Ashley Lead Day 3


By Luigi De Rose

Casey's on top.
(Photos: James Overstreet BASS)

The Bassmaster Elite anglers had a rough ride today. The highs were high but the lows were very low. Many who did very well the last two days barely qualified for the Top 12. South Carolina's Casey Ashley took the lead after Day Three on Lake Murray. His charming grin said it all when he placed his limit on the scales and claimed first place. Being a local might be his saving grace as he understands the moods of schooling largemouth bass.

Look carefully to see the double white flukes.

He seems to be doing most of his damage on a double fluke rig. This employs tandem Texas rigged soft jerkbaits. Jerked on the surface or just below it, bass envision fleeing bait fish and attack. Many are using this technique but Casey has the timing down. He is also been using topwaters and hard swimbaits but he has been tight lipped about confirming or denying specifics.

TOP 20
Place/name/day 3 weight/total
1 Casey Ashley 15-13  45-14
2 Michael Iaconelli 16- 6  43- 5
3 Jeff Connella 14-11  42- 4
4 Kevin Wirth 15- 3  42- 1
5 Tommy Biffle 16- 7 42- 0
6 Jami Fralick 14-15 41- 4
7 Davy Hite  11-12 41- 3
8 Brian Snowden 12-12 41- 1
9 Edwin Evers  18- 8 39-12
10 Rick Clunn 11-13 39- 9
11 Chris Lane 14- 9 39- 0
12 Fred Roumbanis 7-14 38- 7
13 Morizo Shimizu 12-12 38- 3
14 Marty Robinson 11- 8 37-13
15 Clark Reehm 13-11 37-10
16 John Crews 15-10 37- 7
17 Bradley Roy 14-13 37- 5
18 Dustin Wilks  11-13 37- 5
19 Matt Reed  14-15 36-14
20 David Smith 11-11 36- 8

Bassmaster Elite West Point Summary



Evers fishing everything to get a bite.
(Photo: James Overstreet BASS)



Late Spring

By Luigi De Rose

The recent Bassmaster Elite tournament on West Point Lake in Georgia is a prime example of late spring fishing. The previous tournaments on the Elite circuit have all typified fishing around the spawn. The two stops in Florida were classic bed fishing battles and many anglers who did well know the nuances of bedding bass. This past weekend was a whole different style and mind frame of fishing.

Scan down the list of top finishers and ask what they used and prepare to be surprised. The range of lures is mind blowing. Steve Kennedy used swimbaits and a Kinami Flash stick bait. Second place Edwin Evers flipped a Yum Wooly Bug. Ish Monroe, the leader on Day 3 used a topwater, flipped a Warmouth to bedding bass and a Brush Hog to trees. On day 4 he cranked a Team Diawa crankbait. Kevin Van Dam who fell to 7^th but was second for a while during the tournament used a popper, along with a Strike King Shadalicious Swimbait, Strike King Caffeine Shad, Strike King Spinnerbait. Another top angler who ran out of fish on Sunday was Andy Montgomery who machine gunned docks with a Shooter jig and Z-man’s Chatterbait.

The point being made is that top anglers during the late spring have to adapt and use their confidence baits to excel. West Point is a difficult fishery that requires anglers to hunt for fish. Many ran out of fish by Sunday like Van Dam and Montgomery but others like Gerald Swindle and a few others couldn’t ride the wave of consistency and fell from the top.

What can be learned from West Point? Late spring is a time to hunt. Find active fish and stick with them. Don’t fall in love with any one technique or spot. Steve Kennedy the eventual winner knows this lake well and seems to have had fished almost all of it to win. Watching videos on Bassmaster.com or viewing photography of the event, we witnesses angler after angler driving with the big motor with the trolling motor still in the water. It’s was an attempt to save time while covering water. (We at ibassin.com don’t recommend doing it because I’ve seen what a trolling motor shaft looks like when it hits something hard.)  

Fish quick but thorough this time of year is the name of the game. Good Luck you'll need it.

Bassmaster Elite Pride of Georgia West Point Lake: Final Day

Kennedy is King at West Point

By Deb Johnson 

Kennedy Become King at West Point
(photo: James Overstreet BASS)

BASS Press Release

LAGRANGE, Ga.  Steve Kennedy had been counting down the months ever since the 2011 Pride of Georgia location was announced as West Point Lake more than a year ago.
“I was very confident I had a chance to win this tournament. I knew exactly what I was going to do, and it worked,” he said after coming from behind Sunday to win the fifth stop of the 2011 Bassmaster Elite Series.
He collected $100,000 and an instant entry into the 2012 Bassmaster Classic for the win, his second Bassmaster title.
Kennedy squashed Edwin Evers’ hopes for a second Elite win this season. Leading after two days, Evers ended up in second place ? 2 pounds, 1 ounce behind the winner. Kennedy had 64-14 to Evers’ 62-13 over four days.
Day Three leader Ish Monroe dropped to third, finishing up with 61-3. A late surge by Jared Lintner didn’t carry him home: 22nd on the first day, then up to 10th, to 7th, and stopping at 4th. His total was 60-5.
Nate Wellman, in his second Top 12 showing of his rookie season, claimed fifth place with 56-9.
Kennedy started the tournament in a strong position, coming in second to Evers on the first day. Then Kennedy took a backward step for two days. He went into the final round Sunday in fourth place, but only 1 pound, 8 ounces behind leader Monroe.
Kennedy, 42, tapped into a long West Point history. Raised in Georgia and now living in Auburn, Ala., he fished West Point Lake since the age of 2 or 3 with his brother and father, traveling to the lake to fish about twice a year.
More recently, he narrowly missed winning on the Alabama-Georgia border impoundment in 2005 in a non-Bassmaster event. Back then, he said, he blew a 4-pound lead on the final day.
“That’s what’s been going through my mind all morning: ‘Don’t blow it!’” Kennedy said Sunday.
He said he fished the same patterns and locations as he did in that 2005 tournament.
“I didn’t own a swimbait back then, so a swimbait was a new addition,” he explained. “And the weights were up significantly because of it.”

He said he threw two swimbait models ? one a “no-name” model out of production, the other a Basstrix.
“I’d get them to swim out and show themselves. On a clear lake like this, I can see what’s there, what size of fish is on the structure,” he said.
If he liked whate he saw, he skipped a watermelon-seed Kinami Flash to get the strike.
“It almost looked like a little baitfish skipping on top of the water,” he said of his technique. “Then I just let it settle and let the line lay there  I call it flylining. I used mono so it lays on top of the water, and I watched for it to start swimming (moving).”
He allowed a bass to pick up the Flash and swim out of heavy cover before setting the hook.
Other lures of the week included a white D&L jig with a white chunk trailer.
Kennedy debunked the dock talk during Pride of Georgia practice days that pegged the bass as scarce, finicky and tough to catch. Kennedy said he found plenty of big bass during practice.
“I was just chompin’ at the bit to get at them,” he said. “I tried to show out, I knew where some big ones were.”
After leading two days in a row, Evers was disappointed he could not close on the win.
“I feel dejected, horrible,” he said. “You can’t win one of these things by weighing in only four fish.”
Evers was one bass shy of a limit Saturday. He lost by just over 2 pounds, and he could not help but replay every lost fish of the event, including four on Saturday that would have been solid additions to his weight.
“I had my hand on one, then it ran under a log and I never could get it. It just came off,” he said. “But hey, it’s part of the game.”
Monroe was not displeased with his third-place finish. It was his second top-12 in ?a row for the season, and a big boost to his bid for a 2012 Bassmaster Classic seat. He credited his recently acquired ability to relax and remember to have fun.
“I was putting too much emphasis on how serious it is and forgot what it was all about,” Monroe said. “I took some kids out fishing during the offseason and got back to enjoying it.”
The Berkley Big Bass of the Tournament bonus of $500 was won by Dustin Wilks of Rocky Mount, N.C., for his 7-pound, 8-ounce largemouth on Day One.
The next stop for the Elite Series will be this week on Lake Murray out of Columbia, S.C. The dates of the competition, the Evan Williams Bourbon Carolina Clash, are May 12-15.

Bassmaster Elite Pride of Georgia West Point Lake: Day 3

Ish Jumps in Front. KVD Still Second & Evers Falls to Third

By Deb Johnson May 7, 2011
(Bass Press Release)

Ish Jumps into First on Day 3
(Photo: David Hunter Jones BASS)

LAGRANGE, Ga.
Securing his second Bassmaster Elite Series top-12 cut in a row, and this time with the lead, Ish Monroe was a happy man Saturday. He has, in fact, been feeling great about his fishing in general
“I’m going out there fishing, and having fun, there’s nothing special about what I’m doing,” Monroe said. “I don’t get mad. I don’t get frustrated. I’m chattin’ it up with the crowd back there near me, and enjoying the day. That’s what it’s all about.”
The Hughson, Calif., pro said his buoyant mood was a case of success breeds success: A great second day  a single sack of 21 pounds  acted as a confidence boost, in turn a springboard to a Day Three catch of 14-0.
Not a 21-pound bag, but still better than almost all other anglers could show after a slow day, and enough to push Monroe up and over Edwin Evers and Kevin VanDam in the Pride of Georgia.
Monroe’s three-day total was 47 pounds, 11 ounces, besting VanDam by 1 pound, 3 ounces. VanDam managed just 9-5 on Saturday to hold at second place. It’s his launching pad for a run at his 21st Bassmaster tournament title, not to mention more points toward a fifth Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year title.

Bassmaster Elite Pride of Georgia West Point Lake: Day 2

Edwin Evers Still Leading as Standings Flip Flop
West Point Lake - LaGrange, GA,
May 5 - 8, 2011
By Luigi De Rose

Working on the lead early on Friday.
(Photo: James Overstreet BASS)

Edwin Evers still in command of the Elite tournament on West Point Lake in Georgia. Landing a very respectable 15-03 limit, Edwin has kept on top of the leader board for the second day. Most of the Bassmaster Elite field didn't fair as well as Edwin. Many who did very well on Day 1 struggled. The name of the game is always consistency but here on stingy West Point it really is a deal breaker.

Notable slips were Stephen Kennedy who was expected to win and looked like he would with a first day limit of 22 pounds. But on Friday, he was only able to net 10-14 which was good enough for fifth. David Walker who entered Day 2 in second fell to ninth with a small catch of 9-13. Considering Walker had engine trouble it is amazing he didn't fall completely out of the top 20. He might be the secret threat at this tournament. Dustin Wilks had a 7 pound difference in his catch today compare to yesterday but that was because he nail the tournament's largest bass of 7-08 on Day 1. Without that giant bass he wouldn't be sitting in sixith place.  

Others who has a disappointing second day were: Bobby Lane 18th, Dave Wolack 26th, Ben Parker 35th, and Boyd Duckett who dropped from 6th to 49th. He only managed 1-13.

Not everyone stunk on West Point today. KVD roared into second with the tournament's best catch so far with 23-10. Kevin is only ounces off the lead. This is a post spawn tournament and a tough one at that, both factors play into Van Dam's style of fishing. Another strong showing was from Ish Monroe who is sitting in third on the back of a 21 pound limit.  He is another who does well during the post spawn, his most recent success was last year with a top 5 finish at the FLW Lake Ouachita tournament. Again, he is another angler who does well at covering tremendous amounts of water hunting for active fish.  Others who did well today were Alton Jones17-11, Andy Montgomery 17-11, Nate Wellman 16-11 and Ott DeFoe with 17-02.

Bassmaster Elite Pride of Georgia West Point Lake: Day 1

Edwin Evers Edges out First Place
West Point Lake - LaGrange, GA, May 5 - 8, 2011
By Luigi De Rose

1 Edwin Evers 5 22- 4
2 Stephen Kennedy 5 22- 3
3 David Walker 5 21- 3
4 Dustin Wilks 5 20- 3
5 Bobby Lane 5 18-14
6 Boyd Duckett 5 18-10
7 Bill Lowen 5 18- 9
8 Greg Vinson 5 18- 3
9 Keith Poche 5 16-10
10 Ben Parker 5 16- 4
11 Andy Montgomery 5 15-11
12 Bernard Schultz 5 15- 8
13 Terry Scroggins 5 15- 7
14 Nate Wellman 5 15- 6
15 James Stricklin 5 15- 5
16 Dennis Brauer 5 15- 2
17 Bradley Hallman 5 15- 2
18 Fred Roumbanis 5 15- 2
19 Dave Wolak 5 15- 1
20 Brandon Palaniuk 5 14-13

More to come!

Bassmaster Elite TroKar Battle on the Bayou Day 4: Rojas Rips Toledo Bend

Dean Rojas Leads All Four Days
Gerald Swindle misses by one ounce

A Win Really is That Difficult!
(Photo: James Overstreet BASS)

By Deb Johnson
B.A.S.S. Communications
BASS Press Release

MANY, La. -- As they met backstage, Dean Rojas and Gerald Swindle shook hands, then gave each other a man hug. Both smiled graciously, both teared up a little.April 17, 2011

It was hard to tell who had just beat who, but it was Rojas who had bested Swindle by 1 ounce in the TroKar Battle on the Bayou. Rojas secured a wire-to-wire win, his second Bassmaster Elite Series victory. It was his fourth Bassmaster career win, one of which, like Sunday's win, was on Toledo Bend Reservoir.
Rojas collected a $100,000 check and an automatic entry into the 2012 Bassmaster Classic. He also jumped 23 spots in the all-important Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year points race, also the road to the post-season.
"I'm going to the Classic, this is so huge," he said. "Everything about the win I love -- the trophy, the check, the points, the Classic, and winning a tournament in 2011."
At the same time, Rojas said, he felt for Swindle, who was philosophical and gracious. "I wasn't out to beat Dean, I was out to compete against Toledo Bend and fish to the best of my ability," said Swindle, who already secured a 2012 Classic seat by winning a Bassmaster Open earlier in the season. "The competition is the fish ... and most of the time yourself is the enemy if you beat yourself up, get too bent out of shape.

"I could sit here and write a book about all the big ones that jumped off during this tournament. You have to say, 'It was meant for Dean Rojas to win' because I put 110 percent heart and soul into this and I didn't make any stupid mistakes."

Bassmaster Elite TroKar Battle on the Bayou Day 4: Rojas Wins by an Ounce!

Dean Rojas Hangs onto TroKar Battle by a Sniff. 

Possibly the bass the won it.
(Photo: James Overstreet BASS)

By Luigi De Rose

MANY, La. -- Dean Rojas outsmarted the wind and the fish to hang onto a wild week of fishing. His reward is the blue Elite trophy for winning the Battle on the Bayou tournament Toledo Bend. G-Man Swindle, who consistently climbed the leader board every day finished an ultra close second. Swindle's 18-14 catch was the largest of Day 4 but not enough to dethrone Dean who lead this tournament wire to wire.


Top 5
1 Dean Rojas 70-15
2 Gerald Swindle 70-14
3 David Walker  70- 2
4 Chris Lane  67- 3
5 Fred Roumbanis 67- 1
More detailed coverage coming up.

Bassmaster Elite TroKar Battle on the Bayou Day 3: Rojas Still Reins

Dean Rojas Still Standing Strong on Wind Whipped Day 3
By Deb Johnson
B.A.S.S. Communications
MANY, La. -- He has led for three days running, amassing 57 pounds, 7 ounces of Toledo Bend bass, so there's no reason Dean Rojas shouldn't believe he can close the deal Sunday in the TroKar Battle on the Bayou.
And believe he does.

"I need one more big bite to finish this thing off tomorrow, and I know I can do it," he said Saturday after weighing 14 pounds and 9 ounces for a lead of more than 4 pounds over runner-up David Walker, who had 53-6.
Rojas won a Bassmaster tournament on Toledo Bend in 2001, but it wasn't a Bassmaster Elite Series victory, and that's what Rojas wants now. It would be his fourth win, and second since 2008. He claims not to be thinking about the instant qualification for the 2012 Bassmaster Classic, and not even about the $100,000 he'd get for a win.

"Right now, I'm just fishing for the win," he said.
"I'm in position, I'm just going to go for it. I've been fishing relaxed the last three days -- it's been really weird," he said. "Whatever happens, happens. I know I'm doing the best I can do, and I know I'm fishing for the right fish to win with."
Rojas said his third day of competition didn't go quite as planned -- he wanted one more bass to widen the margin -- but it was close. Like Friday, Saturday started slowly for him, with the bite picking up about 11 a.m. He continued to target spawning fish, moving to new areas each day. He has plenty more fish to go to and wrap it up, he said.
"I saw 20 pounds of bass today, just swimming around," he said.

Walker working the wood.
(Photo: James Overstreet BASS)

Four pounds back, Walker is still in range to catch Rojas. On Toledo Bend, 4 pounds is one decent fish. Besides, Walker has already discovered where one break can get you: On Day Two, thanks to a 24-pound bag, he moved from a dismal 53rd place into fourth.
"It was a grind today," he said. "I tried to not let the demons tell me, 'You need to go do this, you need to go do that.' I knew I was doing the right thing to catch the bigger fish, and I stuck with it."
The "right thing" was flipping, his strength.
"With the wind laid down, I could do it, make better casts. All it takes is one cast -- Ish Monroe proved that yesterday (with his 10-15)."
Gerald Swindle improved two places Saturday, from fifth to third with 52-0. He said he stuck with what he did the first two days -- throwing a square-lipped crankbait, jerkbait, chatterbait, and covering a lot of water.
Wind is his friend. He's been picking out windblown points. More specifically, he's hitting the section of the point that has the most wind on it.
"A couple of my primary spots, guys are finally figuring out where they are, but there's nothing I can do about that so I'm having to dig for nhim into the cut as No. 7.ew water."

Bassmaster Elite TroKar Battle on the Bayou: Toledo Bend getting Wild

Toldeo Bend: A Wild Finish
By Luigi De Rose

Wind was whipping before Day 3 started.
(Photo: James Overstreet BASS)

Toledo Ben Lake is a famed east Texas fishery. Part of the Sabine river that straddles Texas and Louisiana, it is an immense impoundment. Its encompasses an area of 185,000 acres and is the largest man-made body of water in Texas and the fifth largest (surface acre) in the United States. Anglers have always flocked to the great fishing here but it can be difficult to fish. This place is a maze of flooded stump fields and timber. Much of the old timber has decayed  but remnants of the trees make driving this lake a bit of a nail biter. Making matter worse, this spring the lake is very low.

What's Happening
The lake is low but there is plenty of cover to keep the fish positioned around targets. Elite pro are in two schools of though: spawning or post spawn fishing. Many anglers felt that the shallow bass would be too spooky and unreliable due to the low water levels. They might be right.
Targeting the many off shore ditches, creek channels and  lanes in the stumps fields with cranks, Carolina rigs and jigs is a strong pattern. Success should be good but post spawn bass can be fickle. One problem is navigation. Anglers simply cannot jump from spot to spot  which is so common to off shore fishing. Countless minutes are eaten up idling around dangerous stumps. Many complain that they cannot fish enough spots to make their milk runs truly successful.

Tournament WeekToledo Bend is wide and long. Wind can whip up from any direction making fishing and running difficult. Ish Monroe on day 2 speared a wave racing back to the weigh-in  and wash away all his rods off the deck. Heart broken of his $10 000 loss, he make it back with not time to spare to capture big bass honours with a 10-15.
Wind will hurt almost everyone fishing. Luckily, this lake has thousands of nooks to hide a bass boat. With strong winds predicted for all of Saturday and maybe Sunday, anglers will have to account for the wind.  Takahiro Omori, in 7th, stated that the wind will only make him change his fishing style. The stronger the wind will mean more of a reaction bait and the calmer means more flipping. As long as the angler can adjust, fishing should be good.
Mid April is still spawning time. Dean Rojas, the tournament leader both days stated in an interview with Bassmaster.com that, “we are in a full moon so they (bass) know its time to get it done.” Dean also alluded to the quality of the fish that are being caught on beds. “there’s not a whole bunch up there (spawning bass) but there are a few big ones.” If Rojas is correct and he can find the beds  he might be able to lead this event  wire to wire.
The weather will play a huge role this weekend and whom ever can adjust will win. Toledo Bend bass can be caught almost anyway you wish as long as the wind doesn’t get to wild.

Bassmaster Elite TroKar Battle on the Bayou Day 2: Rojas Repeats to Keep Lead

Dean Rojas maintains lead with almost 20. Ish lands a true Texas Lunker
By Deb Johnson
B.A.S.S. Communications
(BASS Press Release)

MANY, La. -- Dean Rojas outsmarted the wind Friday to hold the lead for the second day in the TroKar Battle on the Bayou.

Another for Dean's box.
(Photo: Rob Russow BASS)

"Where I was fishing was pretty well protected," said Rojas, who had 19-13 Friday for 42-14 over two days on Toledo Bend Reservoir. "In some of the areas I was fishing the prevailing west wind was OK, and my area wasn't getting beat up. I was even able to sight-fish a few and catch that big one."

That "big one" went 7 pounds, 15 ounces. He caught it about 1 p.m., when he already had a limit, allowing him to cull up and keep his lead in the fourth event of the Bassmaster Elite Series season.
Rojas put away Day One's hottest challengers and staved off Aaron Martens by 2 pounds, 10 ounces. Martens charged from 13th to second place on the strength of a 21-13 sack, one of the day's best weights. Randy Howell moved into third place with a bag that almost duplicated what he did on Day One, for 37-11 over two days. Fourth was the day's biggest mover, David Walker. He shot from 53rd place with 24-0, the day's biggest bag. Rounding out the top-five was Gerald Swindle with 36-5.
They lead the top-50 field for Saturday's third round. On Sunday, only the best 12 will compete for the top prize of $100,000 and an automatic entry in the 2012 Bassmaster Classic.
Rojas kept his lead even though he had to abandon his water from the first day. He moved to an area that got him away from the brunt of Friday's sustained afternoon winds of up to 25 mph punctuated by gusts of 40 mph.
He said he was casting and sight-fishing in the new area.

"Once I get around them, I set up and caught them," he said.
After that, he said he went scouting.

"I burned up a couple of hours just looking, and I figured out that I need to move even more tomorrow. I left a couple on beds today for tomorrow. I figured it wouldn't help me much today, only give me couple pounds, and they be worth a lot more to me tomorrow."
Like most others, Martens bucked the wind. He also fought off the flu, feeling feverish through most of the day.
"It was a lot of work, I'll be cramping up tonight," he said of his day perched on his boat deck, keeping his balance as he cast into the high winds. "I fought the wind all day long and this cold has me feeling weak."
Martens said his best spot was crossed by a trotline, and he kept tangling his jig in it. He had five or six spots, main lake and in a creek, from which he pulled about 20 keepers.
Randy Howell produced 19-0 Friday on an offshore pattern, almost repeating his 18-11 on Day One.
"Yesterday I had one 7-pounder, and that gave me a lot of my weight," he said. "I had two 5-pounders today and a good, solid bag."

Ish' Whopper!
(Photo: James Overstreet BASS)

He had 16 to 17 pounds on one spot, but the wind blew too hard and he had to abandon it. He returned to a place he'd hit the first day, where he got one of the 5-pounders.
"I think the sunlight helped, kind of scrapped it out," he said. "I'm hoping for less wind, tomorrow, though."
The day's big bass was a 10-15 by Ish Monroe. The fish put him not only in contention for the Berkley Big Bass of the Tournament bonus of $500, but into the cut at place No. 21 for Saturday's fishing.

Bassmaster Elite TroKar Battle on the Bayou Day 1: Dean Rojas Takes Top Spot

Rojas Sacks 23-01 For First on Toledo Bend
TroKar Battle on the Bayou
Toledo Bend — Many, La.
April 14-17

By Luigi De Rose

One of Toledo Bend's famous stump fields.
(Photo: James Overstreet BASS)

Foggy weather greeted anglers on Day 1 on Toledo Bend. This famed east Texas, stumped filled lake is below normal pool and anglers are met with daunting fishing. Elite pros admit that the lake is full of bass but catching quality fish is the true problem. Scanning through the top 25 places today, its clear that one or two larger bass can really make a difference. The focus on Toledo Bend is not to hope for a giant but to try and find concentrations of 3 to 4 pound bass. Big bass exist in Texas, like Chris Lane of Guntersville, AL netted today's big bass honours with a 7-14 brute.

Day 1 is not the place to find answers. Keen anglers will try to focus on patterns. Will Toledo Bend hold true to the Elite trend of the top anglers being bow to bow? We'll have to wait and see.



Top 25
1 Dean Rojas 5 23- 1 5
2 Fred Roumbanis 5 21- 3
3 Brandon Palaniuk 5 20- 6 
4 Todd Faircloth 5 20- 4 
5 Steve Kennedy 5 20- 0 
6 Ott DeFoe 5 19-11 
7 Gerald Swindle 5 19- 9 
8 Takahiro Omori 5 19- 3 
9 Randy Howell 5 18-11
10 Michael Iaconelli 5 18- 8 
10 Davy Hite 5 18- 8 
10 Rick Morris 5 18- 8  13 Aaron Martens 5 18- 7 
14 Casey Ashley 5 18- 5
15 Jason Williamson 5 17-10
16 Chris Lane 5 17- 2 
16 Paul Elias 5 17- 2
18 Andy Montgomery 5 16-10 
19 Terry Scroggins 5 16- 8 
20 Scott Rook 5 16- 7
21 James Stricklin 5 16- 6
22 Cliff Pace 5 16- 4 
23 Gary Klein 5 15-15
24 Grant Goldbeck 5 15-10 
24 Britt Myers 5 15-10

Bassmaster Elite Alabama Charge: The Sawgrass Connection



The sawgrass connection.

 Rick Clun stated years ago that finding a pattern within a pattern is how to win a Bassmaster tournament. This week on Pickwick Lake the water was high. This time of year with the water high means bass in the bushes. That seemed to be the obvious pattern for a spring tournament. When Denny Brauer took the Day 1 lead everyone one knew the bushes were on. Denny is the flipping man and he won his first tournaments in the 1980s in Texas by flipping and pitching jigs into the buck brush and shoreline cover.

Yet, the astute anglers found something more, a pattern within a pattern. The In-Fisherman crew, a multi-species magazine and TV crew started by Ron and Al Linder, would consider this a spot on a spot if we were talking about deep water structure fishing. There is always something distinct that makes one place better than another and this week it was Sawgrass. This yellow bullrush looking grass typically grows on hard, rocky bottom. Bass were seeking hard bottom to spawn. Find the sawgrass meant finding hard bottom. Which in turn meant finding suitable bottom for making a bed. The tournament started as a pre-spawn tournament but slowly turned into a spawning tournament as the week progressed. Again, always focusing on the changes is what keeps the top on top.
Alton Jones, Denny Brauer, Bobby Lane, Jared Lintner, Greg Hackney, along with many others focused on the sawgrass and it seemed to make a world of difference.

All photos from  Rob Russow and James Overstreet (BASS)