2018 BASS Elite Sabine River Day 3: Greg Hackney Continues to Dominate with 41lbs.

Hack Attack in full force 

By Bryan Brasher

BASS PRESS RELEASE

Before the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River presented by Econo Lodge, Greg Hackney had a total weight in mind that he thought an angler would need to win the $100,000 first-place prize.

After the first three rounds, he’s well within striking distance of that number — and if someone is going to pass him, they’ve got a lot of work to do.

Greg's 9 pound lead almost unstoppable.
(Photo: BASS)

Hackney caught five bass that weighed 12 pounds, 14 ounces during today's semifinal round and maintained the lead for a third straight day with 41-0. Alabama angler Keith Poche is nearly 7 1/2 pounds back in second with 32-9.

“Coming into the tournament, I felt like it would take 48 pounds to win,” said Hackney, a Gonzales, La., angler with five B.A.S.S. victories and the 2014 Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year title on his resume. “I thought, if I could average 12 pounds a day, that would get it done.

“But you never know with this group. There are not a lot of big fish here, but there’s a few — and they can change things in a hurry.”

Hackney caught most of his fish from one area Thursday and Friday. But with the fishing fading in that spot, he went with a new game plan for most of the day today.

“I caught three of my fish from new water,” he said. “I went back to the place where I fished the first two days, but I ended up weighing only two of the bass that I caught from there.” 

Hackney had the biggest bass of Thursday’s opening round with a 5-14 largemouth, and he landed two more that weighed over 3 pounds Friday. He managed another larger-than-average Sabine River bass today.

“I got real fortunate and caught a really good one at the end,” he said. “I culled a little-bitty one with a 3-pounder. That helps anywhere, but it really helps down here.

2018 BASS Elite Sabine River Day 2: Greg Hackney Continues to Dominate

Hackney takes 5 pound lead 

By Bryan Brasher

BASS PRESS RELEASE

Hackney has big lead but running out of bass.
(Photo: BASS)

After catching a big limit of bass in his first spot during Thursday’s opening round of the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River presented by Econo Lodge, Greg Hackney promptly left the area in hopes of saving it for later in the tournament.

He had hoped to repeat that process today, but things took a little longer.
 
Instead, Hackney, a five-time B.A.S.S. tournament winner from Gonzales, La., took all day to land a five-bass limit that weighed 11 pounds, 15 ounces and pushed his two-day weight to 28-2.
 
He’s still in first place. But now, there’s some maneuvering to be done.
 
“I probably caught 20 keepers in there today, but I had to burn through them to catch what I weighed in,” said Hackney, whose last B.A.S.S. victory came in 2016 on Lake Texoma on the Texas-Oklahoma border. “I think I could go back in there and catch another limit, maybe 6 pounds. But that’s not what I’m looking for.
 
“So, I’m going to move around a little bit tomorrow.”
 
Hackney said his keeper bass today were smaller on average than they were on Thursday, when his catch was anchored by a 5-14 largemouth. He had two bass Friday in the 3-pound range and three more that were about 1 1/2 pounds apiece.
 
With his best spot now exhausted, he’ll have to move to one of the other areas he found during practice. Though he knows those areas have probably been hit hard by other anglers the last two days, he believes his method will still work.
 
“I know they’ve been fished, but I’ve watched the guys around me and they’re not fishing like I am,” he said. “I watched guys really catch the little ones around me again today. But I went right behind them this evening and caught a 3-pounder.”
 

2018 BASS Elite Sabine River Day 1: Greg Hackney Snags Lead with 16-03lbs!

Low weights on this tidal waterway
By Bryan Brasher
BASS PRESS RELEASE

Greg's big 5-14lbs bass key to lead.
(Photo: BASS)

Greg Hackney came into this week’s Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River presented by Econo Lodge fully expecting the fishing to be tough.
                     
He said he wouldn’t have been surprised if he had caught no more than 5 pounds, 14 ounces of bass during Thursday’s entire opening round.
 
So when he landed one fish that weighed 5-14 early Thursday morning, he knew he was on to something — and he built a five-bass limit around that fish that weighed 16-3 to give him the Day 1 lead in an event that pays $100,000 to the winner.
 
“When the fishing’s this tough, catching a fish like that is almost like catching a whole limit on one bite,” said Hackney, a Gonzales, La., angler who has won five events during his career with B.A.S.S. “If you can put four more with it — even four little ones — you’re probably going to be in pretty good shape.”
 
Despite suffocating heat and water temperatures that pushed into the low 90s in some places, Hackney said the conditions were actually good on the Sabine River during Thursday’s early-morning hours. That’s when he did the bulk of his good work.
 

T-H Marine Acquires Troll Perfect

T-H Marine Supplies, Inc., of Huntsville, Alabama, announces the acquisition of the assets of Troll Perfect, Ltd. of Chester, Virginia. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Troll Perfect, Ltd. manufactured and sold the patented Troll Perfect trolling motor tension adjustment device that has been used for years by bass, walleye, and crappie fishermen to improve control and steering stability of their trolling motors. 

“We are really happy to acquire the Troll Perfect assets,” T-H Marine’s president, Jeff Huntley, stated. “This simple but very effective device is a perfect fit for our G-Force® line of trolling motor improvement accessories. We love great brands and simple solutions that enable boaters to enjoy their time on the water more, and Troll Perfect is both.”

“Troll Perfect has been a great experience for us,” said Robbie Patterson, president of Troll Perfect, Ltd. “We built a super product that really makes trolling motors work better. We decided it was time for this product to be readily available through worldwide distribution like T-H Marine can offer. We know T-H Marine will grow the product and stand behind it as we have.”

The original slogan for the Troll Perfect product was “Fight the fish, not your trolling motor”. The Troll Perfect installs with simple hand tools in minutes, with no modification to the trolling motor. The device instantly adds adjustable tension control to your remote cable steer trolling motor. This tension helps control the effects of steering torque, high waves, heavy currents, and excessive foot pedal play. Models available for both Minn Kota and MotorGuide cable steer trolling motors.

IBASSIN.com's Video Library

Want the edge to catch more bass? Learn how to use Japan's newest craze, the Jika Rig.
This how-to video will explain why the jika rig is ideal for fishing soft plastics. Regardless if you're punching grass or finesse fishing for smallmouth, this rig is for you.

Nick Le Brun wins 2018 T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League All-American

Another pro in the making

FLW PRESS RELEASE

Ever since the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League All-American awarded $100,000 to Shaw Grigsby in 1984, $100,000 paydays have become commonplace in the ranks of professional fishing. Yet, through it all, the BFL All-American has retained its essence: a place where a workingman can still springboard his hopes and dreams of professional fishing into a reality from divisional and regional competition.

Paving the way for a Pro career.
(Photo: FLW)

The history of the All-American has propelled the careers of some of the top pro fishing names we know today. Along with Grigsby, other pros such as Rick Clunn, Joe Thomas, Stephen Browning, Clark Wendlandt and Jacob Wheeler have used an All-American $100,000 win to fuel their careers.

Today, that All-American tradition was carried on by Nick LeBrun of Bossier City, La., whose All-American win at Cross Lake reads like a story book. 

As a 33-year-old tackle manufacturer’s rep, LeBrun has been preparing himself for a professional fishing career over the last few years. Today, he made great strides in achieving that dream by hauling in 62 pounds, 8 ounces of Cross Lake bass over three days to emerge victorious.

From the beginning, LeBrun’s story had a “meant to be” feel.

LeBrun qualified for the BFL Regional on the Red River in October via the Cowboy Division, and he qualified for the Cross Lake All-American by a tiebreaker at the Regional, earning the final qualification spot. The tie was broken by the bigger one-day limit, which was earned by LeBrun.

TOP 10 BELOW

Avoid 3 Common Ledge Fishing Mistakes with Michael Neal

As largemouth bass complete the spawn, they'll slip into deeper water and school in large groups. With large clusters of bass living in the deep water, anglers and fish will focus on structure. At times, fishing can a fast and furious. Time it incorrectly and expect a lot of frustration.

2018 CSFL Tournament Schedule

Thinking about fishing a few tournaments this season then give CSFL a call and join in on the fun.
Link over to their site for fees and tournament payouts. https://www.csfl.ca/

Inspect Your PFD!

Newest PFD and Maintenance Checklist underscore the brand’s mission to save lives

In time for National Safe Boating Week, Mustang Survival has created a comprehensive Guide for PFD Inspection and Maintenance (available for download HERE). According to the National Safe Boating Council, 80 percent of boating deaths reported in 2016 in the U.S. were due to drowning, and 83 percent of victims were not wearing a life jacket. As the adage goes, “The best PFD is the one you wear.”

While “the best PFD is the one you wear,” it can only save your life if it works. So the importance of regular inspection and maintenance cannot be overstated. Mustang Survival recommends a visual inspection before every use to check that:

1. There are no rips, tears, excessive abrasion or holes; all seams are securely sewn; and the cover, straps and hardware are still strong
2. Oral-inflation dust cap is in the stowed position
3. The PFD is not twisted
4. All zippers, closures and waist buckle are secure
5. Inflator status indicator is green. Some PFDs have more than one status indicator. Refer to product manual if you’re not sure
6. The inflator pull-tab is hanging on the outside