Frog Fishing Gear with Dean "The Machine" Rojas

Who doesn't love to frog fish? Everyone has their own preferences when it come to gear. BASS Elite angler and frog fishing expert Dean "The Machine" Rojas has some tips for you. He'll help you become an expert.

SFL AND FLW CANADA GOES ORANGE!

SFL AND FLW CANADA GOES ORANGE!

FLW Canada, Canada's largest professional bass tournament trail, and Shootout Fishing League (SFL), Eastern Ontario's leading open event organization and Carrot Stix, Fishing's fastest growing rod and reel brand, announced a major partnership today, with Carrot Stix being named as each events main presenting sponsor.

All 2017 events by SFL(6), and FLW Canada(4) we be presented by Carrot Stix! C.E.O. Cory Banford says "we could not be more excited with this partnership with such an exciting group, and growing company. They already sponsor FLW in the USA, so the fit is natural for both SFL/FLW Canada and Carrot Stix. We look forward to helping Carrot Stix grow north of the border with both our organizations, and all our amazing supportive anglers"

Carrot Stix in the past few years have been turning anglers heads to their product because of the quality, and range of high end rods! Carrot stix also offers a lifetime warranty, which makes it a no gamble purchase for the angler!

Tournament Anglers will get a first look at the partnership in action on June 18, from White Lake with SFL, and FLW Canadian anglers on June 24/25 from Rideau Lake.

New Freedom Tackle Turnback Shad

New Freedom Tackle Turnback Shad is the perfect vertical jig for open water or through the ice. The lure features a full metal body that swings freely on the metal line tie shaft. With a jerk of the rod the lure will dart off in random directions, turn around and swim back the other way. The Glass beads on the metal shaft offer visual and audio attraction to compliment the beautifully sculpted metal body. Available in 4 sizes and 8 colors including natural, glow and UV colors for any situation. MSRP $6.99- $8.49 USD

Trolling Motor Performance: Installing a Ram Mount & TH Marine Troll Tamer

Here's a great video I did for Ontario OUT OF DOORS magazine. Having one of these on your desk is a must. Installing is not a difficult as one might seem plus it will extend the life of your trolling motor.

Steve Kennedy Wins 2017 BASS Elite Lake Dardanelle Tournament Win 63-12lbs!

Secret quarry provides winning bass for Kennedy
BASS PRESS RELEASE

Steve Kennedy of Auburn, Ala., wasn't dominating the event until he weighed 16 pounds, 9 ounces of bass during the final weigh-in to take home $100,000 and the third championship of his career at the GoPro Bassmaster Elite at Lake Dardanelle presented by Econo Lodge.

Steve is all smiles as last minute 5 pounder seals win! (Photo: BASS)

A big bass late in the day on Monday that weighed 5-10 anchored his five-bass limit and pushed his four-day winning weight to 63-12. The last time Kennedy topped a Bassmaster Elite Series field was in 2011 at Georgia's West Point Lake.

"I've been so close so many times before, and I've usually lost tournaments because of a missed bite, or losing a fish before I could get it inside the boat," Kennedy said. "It sure feels good to win one, especially after nearly winning this year's Classic on Conroe."

2017 BASS Elite Lake Dardanelle Day 3: Mark Davis Leads by Ounces with 48-08lbs!

Davis found a honey hole way, way up the river.  
By Thomas Allen

BASS PRESS RELEASE

Mark has tiny side channel to himself up the river.
(Photo: BASS)

Mark Davis of Mount Ida, Ark., caught a five-bass limit that weighed 14 pounds, 15 ounces during today’s semi-final round to maintain his lead at the GoPro Bassmaster Elite at Lake Dardanelle presented by Econo Lodge.
 
With $100,000 on the line for Monday's champion, Davis still thinks 16 to 17 pounds will be required to win. He’s averaging just over 16 pounds with a three-day total of 48-8.
 
“I’ve really beat up on the fish I’ve been depending on this week,” Davis said. “I believe the right fish are still there, and that I can catch a decent limit tomorrow. But I didn’t get as many big bites today as I had hoped.”
 
Davis’ spot did receive some additional local pressure before he could get there, and that certainly could be contributing to the reduced action during Sunday’s competition.
 
“I have no problem sharing water with local anglers, heck they’ve got just as much right to fish there as I do — if not more so,” he said. “When I arrived he moved off and let me have it, which was appreciated.
 

2017 BASS Elite Lake Dardanelle Day 2: Mark Davis Grabs Leads with 33-09lbs!

Davis a local but success here has been a challenge

BASS PRESS RELEASE

Mark Davis of Mount Ida, Ark., is no stranger to tough tournaments, and during Saturday's second round of competition, he caught 19 pounds, 4 ounces of bass to take the lead at the GoPro Bassmaster Elite at Lake Dardanelle presented by Econo Lodge. His two-day total is 33-9.

Davis adjusting to changing river.
(Photo: BASS)

Davis has accomplished nearly everything during his distinguished career on the Bassmaster tour, including three Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year titles and one Bassmaster Classic world championship in 1995.

One thing has escaped him, however — a good finish on Lake Dardanelle.

"Dardanelle has been my career nemesis," Davis said. "I live only an hour and a half from here, and I've always struggled. I'd have a good practice and be excited about getting the tournament started, then have a hard time even catching a limit."

For someone who has done so much in this sport, a win here would mean a lot to the 54-year-old angler.

"It would be huge to win this tournament," he said. "This place has whipped me down so many times, it feels good to just do well. I would love to finally conquer these bass, and I think I am on the right fish to make it happen."

2017 BASS Elite Lake Dardanelle Day 1: Kevin Van Dam Leads with 19-03lbs!

Past success a mixed blessing for KVD
BASS PRESS RELEASE

Bass-fishing superstar Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich., is in an early position to win a record-breaking 24th Bassmaster title. After weighing 19 pounds, 3 ounces, the four-time Classic champion is leading the GoPro Bassmaster Elite at Dardanelle presented by Econo Lodge.
With $100,000 and valuable Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year points on the line, VanDam fully understands what's at stake. But even the seasoned veteran was surprised at today's results.
"I've had mixed results on Dardanelle. I got second to Mark Menendez in 2009, and had a terrible tournament in 2014," VanDam said. "But I know the bass in this lake move around a lot, which makes staying consistent difficult sometimes. I'm actually very pleasantly surprised with my weight today, and the rest of the field did better than I had expected."

Van Dam at home on Dardanelle. (Photo: BASS)

The seven-time Angler of the Year caught his limit early, but made a substantial upgrade later in the day that nicely augmented his five-bass limit.
"I caught two big fish that really helped," he said. "I learned some things today, but on Dardanelle you can't always bet on a pattern holding — you have to stay flexible. I don't believe the forecasted storms will have much impact on how and where I'm fishing, but duplicating today's weight would surprise me again."

ITC JUDGE DETERMINES GARMIN VIOLATED CEASE-AND-DESIST ORDERS AND RECOMMENDS HISTORIC $37 MILLION FINE

Third Finding in Favor of Navico in Its Legal Disputes with Garmin

Navico – the world’s largest manufacturer of marine electronics and parent company to the Lowrance®, Simrad® and B&G® brands – announced today that an Enforcement Initial Determination (EID) filed by an International Trade Commission (ITC) Administrative Law Judge on May 25, 2017 finds that Garmin (NASDAQ:GRMN) violated the cease-and-desist orders issued in 2015 regarding the importation and sale of products featuring DownVü™ scanning sonar technology. The Judge recommends a $37 million fine for violating the ITC orders. Additional details of the EID are expected to be made public in June.

“For the third time, we have prevailed in our patent disputes with Garmin,” said Leif Ottosson, CEO, Navico. “This time, an Administrative Law Judge determined not only that Garmin has infringed Navico’s patents but also that there was evidence of bad faith. As far as we know, the recommended fine is the largest ever, so it is clear that the Administrative Law Judge found Garmin’s disregard for the cease-and-desist orders particularly troublesome. As we have stated throughout this process, the ruling confirms that Garmin must cease all importations and sales of the offending products in the distribution channels, and failure to do so means that the company continues to violate the ITC orders. Garmin says that they will appeal the ruling, but as with previous appeals we feel confident that we once again will prevail. In any event, Garmin must immediately conform to the ITC’s orders, and another appeal doesn’t change this fact.”