Be sure to catch Keith Nighswonger each week, as he does his "On The Water" radio show.  The show is recorded at the AdrenalineRadio.com studios and then archived so that you can listen when you have time.  We have had requests to leave archived shows up for longer periods of time, (one week is the standard show posting,)  We would love to leave our shows up longer but would need a sponsor to do so.  If you would like to sponsor a show archive section, (you would be a hero to a lot of people,) please contact us by clicking here.

February 28, 2005

More Of The Story-I had a conversation with Kelly Jordon this morning, as he pre fished for Clark's Hill, I wanted to tell him that he was the leader in the ProBassAnglers.com-AOY race and I wanted to get his perspective on the recent angler meetings surrounding the concerns many anglers have regarding a number of issues particularly surrounding the BASS Tour.  As Kelly so often does, he was able to make clear and concise comments on the controversy.  First of all, the issues being played up in the media these days are sensationalized, (guilty here,) and second, there does seem to be a willingness on the part of BASS to make things work with the anglers.  

That being said, however, some crucial points have been left out of recent stories published on BassFan, Tim Tuckeroutdoors and ProBassAnglers.com, namely, professional bass anglers have no health insurance, unless they carry it themselves, and even if they do carry their own, normal health insurance sometimes makes the assumption that you are not going to go 70 mph in a bass boat and fish in thunderstorms, in other words, pros need to make sure they read the fine print as some policies could become void if injuries result from being injured in a bass tournament.  Think about it, I am sure that race car driver's health insurance is different from yours or mine, oh wait a minute, if you drive a NASCAR, you would be covered by your team's insurance, just like a regular job.  What this means is that an angler like John Sappington would have ruined financially had he not had access to medical insurance.  A good guess would be that many of today's young pros, living on their credit cards, probably are not carrying health insurance that could cover them in a tournament mishap.  AND WHY SHOULD THEY HAVE TO?

Another issue, and one that has really flown below the radar in all of this, is the use of a pro's personal boat during the finals or TV coverage dates.  Some have painted the pros as "spoiled brats wanting more, more, more," or How can those BAAC members complain with a straight face?  There is a side to this boat issue that has conveniently not been reported and that is that a pro is covered by his own liability insurance when he uses his boat, and is apparently not covered by his liability insurance when he drives a BASS sponsor boat.  Edwin Evers, as you might remember was involved in an accident in which his co-angler was injured.  The case is now in court and "Edwin could end up losing everything, there is a question whether his liability insurance will cover him."

The anglers are trying to organize, they need to organize.  Issues amongst the anglers are varied and don't affect each one the same way.  BASS has taken a beating in this column and it needs to be said that they are making efforts to do right by the anglers.  "BASS wants to give us our boats back, it is just a matter of trying to figure out how to deliver on promises they made to sponsors."

It is safe to say that this story now has a new light to it.

February 25, 2005

Burkhardt's Dilemma-Oregon pro, and ProBassAnglers.com correspondent, Darryl Burkhardt has a big decision to make today.  As of 5:30 AM CST, he wasn't sure how to approach day two of the BASS tour stop at Guntersville.  His day one catch, 11-04 put him in 74th place. Darryl currently sits in 45th place in the race for Angler of the year and more importantly, the Bassmaster Classic race.  He could conceivably move way up if he can pick up a few more places in this Guntersville event.  That's the problem, how to move up in this Guntersville event:  If he duplicates yesterday's performance, he figures to move up a few spaces, he did catch a limit, and with any luck at all, if one of those keepers turns out to be a 4 or 5 pounder, instead of those "cookie cutter" 2 pounders that he caught yesterday,  Darryl could move up considerably.  Darryl calls this "fishing chicken."  On the other hand, if Darryl throws caution to the wind and makes the long run, (one hour,) up North where he had only three bites on Tuesday, (two three pounders and one over seven,) he could accomplish the big move he is looking for, he could move up on the Guntersville leader board, make a better check and put himself not only into contention for the cut at this tournament, and perhaps even move into a Bassmaster Classic spot.  Either way he is always going to wonder what he should have done.  If he does well with his decision today, he won't have to worry about it.  Read Darryl's Journal by clicking here.

February 23, 2005

Perhaps Tim Is Right-According to the infamous "anonymous sources," the angler meeting the other night demonstrated a clear split, perhaps even a fracture in the touring pro.  On one side there are established anglers, who have clearly learned the business side of fishing.   These are guys who know how, have connections to and actively pursue non endemic sponsors, companies willing and able to write 5 and 6 digit checks.  These are the anglers who are fighting to get their boats back for the TV rounds.  The other group are anglers, who have yet to learn, or land big time corporate sponsorship.  The concept of having a wrapped boat sponsor is foreign to them because they do not have the experience or business savvy to land the big one.  These are the guys who desperately need to make better checks when they make a top 50.  Their focus is right now, because there might not be a tomorrow.  It is this second group of anglers that might have no choice but to fish on final TV day when others are boycotting.  These are the anglers who need the check. 

Every industry in our Economy has had it's evolution.  Exploited workers at some point come together, collectively to force business to allow a bigger piece of the pie.  Is an angler union a possibility?  Could that many agendas become centralized?  Stay tuned.

February 22, 2005

The "S" Word-Hey Tim Tucker, don't look now, but those BASS athletes have met.  You remember, that group of athletes who have never been "cohesive enough to pull off a stunt like this?"  For the first time that I know of, the "S" word is being used.  The "S" word of course is "STRIKE" as in Job Action.

If it does get to this point, and nobody wants this, the action would be "in-season," and it seems to me that the anglers hold all of the cards.  Think about it, what could BASS do, if 25-40% of the field opted not to fish an event?  Kick them out?  Well, sure it could.  But also, don't forget, that other tour, you know, the one with the better payouts, AND TIM TUCKER, THE ONE THAT YOU SAY HAS NO "HARD AND FAST QUALIFYING METHODS," Would FLW welcome these anglers to their tour without them qualifying?  According to Tim Tucker, it sure could.

The issues at hand are three fold.  First, the BASS anglers would like to get their boats back during the television rounds.  Second, they would like to get paid for their appearances on ESPN, (understand that there may already be some of this-payment, but the anglers are asking for a better system of compensation, and Third, the anglers are seeking a better payout over the entire field.  To their credit, and yes, I do find myself siding with the anglers at this point, the anglers have set up meetings this week with BASS sponsors to see if there is anything that can be done.

I Suppose The Argument Could Be Made-that I am only presenting the anglers side of this matter.  True That. However, these are the people that I talk to day in and day out.  These are the people that my readers care the most about.  Efforts are being made to the BASS side of the issue.

February 21, 2005

Hey This Is Really Fishing!-Mark this date, I caught my first bed fish of the season this weekend! (Feb. 19 and 20)

This Isn't Fishing, More Scuttle But-It has to be said.  Word on the streets says that one of the reasons Fish Fishburne was let go, released, culled out, fired or what ever term you want to use as MC at the BASS weigh ins is that he was constantly reprimanded by BASS officials every time he left the stage because he refused to only high light the anglers who were sponsored by BASS sponsoring companies.  It has become quite noticeable this season that when an angler representing a "non-BASS sponsoring company" takes the stage at a weigh in, he is simply announced by name, and his time on stage is limited to the time it takes to weigh his fish.  Frank Ippoliti, a Bass Cat pro, with BASS CAT prominently displayed on his shirt, hat and so on, AND WITH A rather smallish Motorguide patch on his shirt, was recently introduced as "Motorguide Pro Frank Ippoliti," as Motorguide is one of the BASS sponsors.  Obviously Motorguide is not one of Frank's high level sponsors, but they are one of BASS's sponsors.

I must believe that the officials who run BASS events think that fans of pro fishing are fools.  That's the way I feel like I am being treated.  Why does FLW get away with displaying only their sponsoring logos?  Why are the anglers who fish FLW not up in arms about their treatment?  FLW doesn't claim to be one thing and then act differently.  FLW is what FLW is, they have be up front from day one.  FLW pays back better than BASS-($10,000.00 for 50th place FLW / $2,150.00 50th place BASS)  Maybe that is why FLW guys can at least live with giving up their boats on TV days.  BASS always allowed the anglers, their identity, and that WAS it's charm.  If this is why Fish Fishburne was let go, because he wouldn't, couldn't play this game, then good for you Fish.  As for BASS, don't look now, but you are getting beat.  The fans of professional bass fishing aren't stupid enough to buy what you are selling.

This Just In-BASS tour pros will hold a meeting tonight to discuss the move or moves they might be able to make is response to BASS's ever tightening grip it holds over their (BASS pro's) ability to market themselves.  We have our "flies on the wall," and will let you know what comes from this meeting.  Remember Tim Tucker, "the athletes in this sport have never been cohesive enough to pull off such a stunt."

February 20, 2005

Tim Tucker, How Could You?-Tim, you are one of the most renown outdoor writers in America, I have read your books, I respect what you do.  However, Tim, you are BASS Senior Writer, which means you work for BASS.  Your credibility ends when you go outside of BASS.  Tim you just cannot work for BASS and say the things you say about FLW.  The following quote comes from TimTuckerOutdoors.com (December National Tournament Scene column.  "BASS BOAT ISSUE. We’ve been hearing considerable grumbling recently from members of the BASS Athletes Advisory Council over the fact that they have to fish out of BASS sponsor wrapped boats in the final two rounds of Tour-level events. And Denny Brauer was quoted in BassFan.com as saying, “we should have never, ever given up those boats. Looking at the business side, if you give that up – the TV exposure – you give up the opportunity to get (major) sponsor.

There has even be talk of boycotting the first Tour event at Lake Toho.

Isn’t it just a little hypocritical considering that some (Brauer, Rick Clunn, Kevin VanDam and Tim Horton) of the BAAC also compete (or have competed) on the FLW Tour, yet they have never made any complaint, request or threat to Irwin Jacobs, who makes them ride in Rangers the final two (televised) rounds. And Big Irv won’t even let them wear their own tournament shirts or any conflicting logos.  Hey Tim, "Big Irv" never did it one way and then switched over.  Anglers competing on the FLW side have always known what they were getting into.

How can those BAAC members complain with a straight face?  Tim, how can you, a BASS Senior Writer, write about this issue with a straight face.  It's your company line Tim, your company line!

A couple of the pros told me the same story about working a promotion with NASCAR drive Tony Stewart, who overheard them discussing this matter. They said Stewart was incredulous and stated in no uncertain terms that it was like racing the final 10 laps in a NASCAR-provided car.

To me, there is no correlation between the two sports. Frankly, the pros — who have had nearly all of their requests granted since ESPN took over — are asking for too much this time.  That's just it Tim, you wouldn't see any correlation between the two sports.  Both pros, (NASCAR and Bass Fishing,) are free agents meaning they have to pay all of their bills.  If you take away their chance at a livelihood, you crush them.

In a rare situation where I agree with Harold Sharp, the original BASS tournament director who wrote in BassFan.com: “I believe the pros should be allowed to fish out of their own boats. They should also be allowed to pay for their own TV shows and they should be allowed to put up all the prize money they fish for. That way, if they don't like the way the tournaments are run, they can blame themselves. Look back at the tournament payouts before FLW arrived with its many corporate sponsors, and remember that corporate sponsors are not impressed with the crowds at daily weigh-ins. They only count eyeballs that watch TV tubes, so it should be clear why the pros fish from boats they don't own.” Tim, you might even be right about this one but you work for BASS.  FLW started with their tour events the way they are.  BASS has switched to the FLW method.  Those guys you are talking about fished BASS for years because BASS allowed them to market themselves, the rules didn't change in the middle.  Here's one Tim, the BassMaster Classic has always been fished out of a sponsor's boat, I haven't heard anyone complain about that.  The rules have changed on the BASS side, I can see the anglers point of view, and we can all sure read yours.

And don’t expect a boycott to materialize. The athletes in this sport have never been cohesive enough to pull off such a stunt. Hey Tim, good one, let's drill the anglers, after all, they are not towing the company line.  How dare a pro angler threaten a job action, we don't allow that kind of thing in America.  "Denial ain't just a river in Eygpt."  BASS used to stand as the organization that would allow an angler to promote himself.  It still is as long as his sponsors are the same as BASS sponsors.

FLW RULES. The FLW rulebook must be a short read. That’s all I can figure after watching them operate over the years.
Latest example: some competitors in the FLW Championship complained that Scott Martin used a jet boat to qualify for the finals (where he finished second). How can a world championship event where all of the contestants are supposed to be on a level playing field allow an angler to use the advantage of a jet boat? Martin, who reportedly got permission to use the non-Ranger/Evinrude package (they sponsor both him and FLW), broke no rules."

And then Tim, just to make sure there is no doubt about how you really feel, you leave us with this totally unsubstantiated, bogus non-quote:

"A Ranger/FLW pro, who asked to remain anonymous, recently told me, “The FLW rulebook is a three-ringed binder.” Tim, it's poor journalism, it is an agenda that is laden with propaganda, and quite frankly, your comments are an insult to the people that you think are your audience.  Tim if you think that your readers are foolish enough to buy what you are saying, you need to think again, sir.  These are not the same people you were writing for 20 years ago.  Today fan of professional bass fishing is far more sophisticated then you give them credit for.

Tim Tucker, I love reading your National Tournament Scene Column, but I can tell you from the people that visit my web site and listen to my radio show that the fan of today's pro tours isn't falling for the swamp gas that you have been printing lately.  I'm reading and I am watching.  "We don't get fooled again."

February 18, 2005

Shame On Me-I caught myself this morning.  While putting together the "Stock up/down" column, I found myself spending about 20 minutes looking for "stock down stories."    I suddenly blurted out to myself, "what I am doing?"  I was looking for bad news!  I wonder if this is what TV news does on those rare days when nothing bad happens, boy do I feel bad for doing that. 

February 17, 2005

For Better, For Worse, For Richer, For Poorer-Where do I remember those words from?  Anyway they sure seem to fit the nature of bass fishing these days.  It has never been more obvious to me then now.  We have tremendous coverage of events now, the fan in me is tickled to death, to get all of the inside good stuff.  I cannot say enough about what BassFan, BassFan Radio, ESPN and FLW Outdoors do for the sport.  Oh yeah, I am kind of partial to ProBassAnglers.com and On The Water.  But you have to take the good with the bad.  Last week's "hissy fit" at the BASS Harris Chain event is proof that the "Gentleman Image" that most of us have come to know and admire at the weigh ins and sport shows, does have another side.  These guys are competitors, and winning is important.  Every angler in America has had someone come in on them, whether in a buddy tournament or just fun fishing. We/they usually solve it in a diplomatic manner, ($%#&%^$# out of my #$%*$%$#@@)  The point is made and nothing more happens.  Well when it is captured on television, and then aired in the media, we find out that ProBassAnglers are just like everyone else.  In the heat of the moment, we can get as nasty as a trash talking linebacker.  Our sport is changing in many ways, yet in other ways it is the same now as it has always been.  It's just that now, everyone is miked, they have cameras on their caps, and we are all watching.  The sport is growing, for better, for worse.

February 15, 2005

Bass Fishing's Civil War-Alright, look, I hate cheap analogies, even if I am the king of them, but what else can you call it?  BASS and FLW try to co-exist on the same planet yet each will barely acknowledge the other's existence.  FLW did mention Peter T's win at the Harris Chain last week at their event, but come on you guys.  On one hand, you have BASS staff reporters taking monthly shots at FLW and on the other hand you have comments like "so and so has done well on another tour..."  Both sides claim that their Angler Of the Year is the true world champion, and stuck in the middle of course is the pro angler who wants only to compete on a big time stage, (which each organization provides,) and to promote the companies that support their fishing and of course, the fans.

Wrapped up here, are economic forces which drive the stakes up higher and higher, and as the money grows, so does the attention from non traditional medias.  Brand names have a major influence on the direction each organization goes, and many anglers are forced to make a decision as to which tour they compete on, which again, leads to fields that don't necessarily represent the best anglers out there.  In other industries, competing brands don't go running off into the sun set together, but they also know that to bash the competition is also to strengthen it's position because people are actually pretty smart and know jealousy when they see it.  I cringe whenever I hear a comment by one organization that refers to the other guys as "the other guys," and I really think it cheapens the argument when staff writers of one organization take shots at the other.  Thank goodness the tours at least work together to coordinate their schedules so that conflicts do not exist, (tell that to Paul Elias, who left in the middle of a Bassmaster event in California a couple of years ago, and drove something like 20 hours straight to get to an FLW event.)

Next there are the companies that sponsor pro anglers.  First, any company that provides only product to an angler on tour really shouldn't expect much in return.  When a pro speaks at a sport show, he will have time to walk the floor looking for new and innovative products.  Companies by the dozens love to hand out samples of their products to the pro, so these guys can get loaded down with stuff.  How many times have we heard comments like this-"he won that tournament on my stuff, but claimed he used another product."  Answer-many times, all the time.  In the sport of Professional Bass Fishing, the companies that make fishing products have lived off the sweat and blood of the professional angler for way too long.  Giving a guy who is fishing a pro tour some product is an insult, contrary to popular belief, a bass pro cannot eat plastic worms, he can't leave the manager of a hotel some plastic worms in exchange for lodging, he can't barter with a restaurant manager, trading spinner baits for dinner.  If he gets to the finals of an event or makes it to the magazine or a radio show and mentions the product, (which he is supposed to do,) he has created invaluable exposure for that company, what has that company done for him?

I'm not finished with the companies that sponsor professional anglers.  Some companies, do a good job with their pros.  High dollar endorsement contracts, which essentially help a pro pay his bills and then some, are fair.  Helping a guy promote himself, only helps a sponsoring company down the line.  But do not ever lose sight of the fact that the Professional Bass Fisherman is the best thing that ever happened to the fishing industry.  The price of television marketing is astronomical, however for a few sheckles, you can sponsor a tour pro, and if he does well, makes the final round, gets on television, then you have struck gold.

Finally there are the anglers themselves.  Never work for product only.  It cheapens the deal for everyone else, and teaches lure companies that they can play at the national level without paying at the national price. Also, if you want to be the best, you need to compete on both tours.  Granted, tours must be qualified for, so if a guy is fishing one national tour and trying to qualify for other, that pro has got to do what he has to do.  But how can you, as a pro angler, fish one tour, (because it is your boat's tour,) and attempt to lay claim to a national championship?  Knowing full well that there is a significant number of guys fishing both sides, sacrificing performance on one side because they are fishing both, (remember on the FLW side, some guys fish for two weeks ahead of a tour stop. Guys fishing both tours get 2 1/2 to 3 days of practice only.)  To compete for a legitimate world championship, it would seem that an angler would need to fish both sides and be the top performer.

Probably growing pains, the sport is racing ahead faster than most can keep up with it, but we should never lose sight of trying to make this as legitimate as possible.

February 10, 2005

Who Is #1?-Looking at the FLW tour standings and looking at the BASS tour standings I found myself wanting more.  I love BassFan's top 100 anglers, which includes the #1 in the world, but I wanted to know who of all the pros out there, of all the guys that fish one event, then ramble down the road to the next, who of all the gypsies out there is the top pro for the year?  The idea came to me the same way most of my ideas come to me, no not in the bathroom, but on the road.  Driving home from getting my bass kicked, I started thinking about the guys that do this every week.  Not the guys who fish an event and then are off for a few weeks.  There are 40, if I have counted correctly, two tour pros out there going from tour stop to tour stop.  Some, like David Walker are way up there in the BASS standings.  Some like Kelly Jordon, are way up there in the FLW tour standings.  But who is the pro, that is doing the best on both tours?  Who is the pro that if we had one unified tour would be leading the pack?  Well, now we have an answer.

After crunching a bunch of numbers and trying to decide how I could make each tour's events on equal footing, (one has a ten angler cut, and one has a 12 angler cut.  One keeps it's weight, one zeros it's weight and so on,) I devised a system that awards points based on position finished in a tournament, the amount of weight caught, and the number of fish caught.  Since finishing in the cut affords anglers some extra days fishing, the extra weight points and fish points rewards them for making a cut.  I like the formula.  Please click here if you don't understand, and let me know if you have any ideas that would help this study.

Andre Moore is leading our Angler Of The Year race.  His comment when I spoke with him on the phone today, informing him that he was in fact leading the race, but oh yeah, there wasn't any big dollar payout, "that's cool, who are you?"  At the very least, it will be a lot of fun.

February 6, 2005

We Have A Suspect -It was reported on Bass Center that the suspect in the "catch all you can" caper at the Harris Chain this week was former FLW Jacob's Cup Champion, David Dudley.  If you remember, at the pairing meeting on Wednesday night, the buzz was that an unnamed pro, who was going to be one of the last anglers out on day one, intentionally went to a canal that was full of spawners during pre fish and caught as many as 40 fish, effectively putting a major hurt on that canal for the competitors who planed to fish there, on day one.  Dudley was candid when interviewed and stated that he had no remorse about catching all of those fish in the canal.  Plain and simple, Dudley stated that he intentionally caught those fish so that others could not, as a means of his game plan for this tournament.  A number of BASS Tour pros have come out and been critical of Dudley for this maneuver but you know what?  While unconventional, it doesn't violate any rules.  I have taken a couple of days to think about this and while, it is not something that would occur to me to do, all Dudley is guilty of doing, is thinking about this before somebody else did.

How is what Dudley did, any different than a pro bringing a flat bottom, jet boat to a tournament so he can run up a treacherous river to get to fish that other pros cannot get to with their fiberglass bass boats?  How is what Dudley did different from the pro, who purposely floods his boat, (pulling the boat's plug) so it will sink low, removes the wind shields and graphs so he can get under a bridge that doesn't have enough clearance to allow a bass boat at normal height to pass under so that he can fish a cove that nobody else can fish?  How is what Dudley did different than the pro who takes a shovel out during pre fish and digs his own canal so that he can reach a back water area that nobody else can fish?  By the way, the jet boat, flooding the boat and the digging thing are tactics pros have used recently to win tournaments.  Dudley himself, you might remember took a chain saw out one day at a pro event a few years ago, and sawed his way into a back water area.  I am sorry, I am having a hard time condemning Dudley's actions.  If enough people are upset by this, then, BASS should change it's rules. 

What we are witnessing, and what some pros may be slow to grasp, is the evolving world of professional bass fishing tournaments.  It is going to become bigger and better.  However in getting to bigger and better, there will be things that come along that some are not going to like.  The charm of our sport has always been the hospitality of the pros who fish it.  I still find that charm to be one of the most enduring aspects of the sport.  Anyone can walk up to any pro and be on the same footing.  These are not arrogant professional athletes. This same charm however, will fade, just as it has done in other professional sports as the stakes get bigger and bigger.  Before you criticize Dudley, make sure you have an argument that is better than "we've never done that before."

Another point that should be made is that when you find a bed fish that has "locked on," have you really figured out a pattern?  One of the biggest controversies our sport has is should we conduct tournaments during the spawning months?  I will catch fish on beds in tournaments, but I will be the first to admit that it doesn't take a rocket scientist to discover that a major spawn in "on."  I would challenge those who had "their bed fish spoiled by Dudley," to go figure out a real pattern.  I admire what Darryl Burkhardt and Art Ferguson did this week.  Burkhardt got on to a fat free shad pattern on some deeper grass staging areas, and although he had to share it with his co-angler, (don't get me started on that one again,) the area produced 33 pounds in two days.   That's finding fish!  Art Ferguson Carolina Rigged a Yamamoto Senko to catch the 11-01 he caught on day two.  Bed fish are fun, but it's not like you "figured them out!"

Note-BASS said that it will do away with the rotation grid that they use, so that anglers will not know the flight they are in.  It is possible that if Dudley thought he had a chance to fish that canal during the tournament, he might have left it alone.

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February 3, 2005

Toto, I Don't Think We're In Kansas Anymore -It occurs to me that something very interesting is happening to the sport that you and I love so much.  After going back through and reading some of the blogs that I have written in the last month, I have noticed that controversy has dominated this column.  I also notice that maybe it is because the tour seasons have now started and some of these things have begun to rise to the surface.  I believe that part of this is our arrival as a sport and the amount dollars that are now involved.  We have had some really wild things surface recently that have an emotional tug on people, whether it be co-anglers interfering, format changes that are confusing, tour anglers from one tour spying on other tour anglers or this latest piece of dock talk, (our word for gossip.)

It seems that an angler, whose name has not been revealed, knowing he would be one of the last out today at the Harris Chain, went through one of the prime spawning areas and just stuck a ton of bedding fish.  The word is that angler might have caught as many as 40 fish from this single area.  In what might only be considered an act of "defense" to try and level the playing field, catching these fish would then likely make them uncatchable for a day or so.  Illegal?  No.  Unethical?  No.  Then why are so many pros upset?  Answer-Because this kind of thing usually isn't done.  Typically, when an event begins to play out that it will be a spawning event, pros will simply look for fish, because catching during pre fish, just means you won't get them during the tournament.  Everyone takes that attitude, it is kind of an unspoken rule.  It actually doesn't make sense to waste fish during pre fish, unless you know that the area you are "wrecking," is the area of a competitor or competitors.  

These kinds of things may have happened in the past, however it has never been a major issue before, simply because the stakes have never been so high.  What we are witnessing may be the passing of Bass Fishing's Golden Age.  Sportsmanship, unwritten rules, protocol and good old fashion hospitality may be giving way to showboating, spying and "a what's in it for me" attitude.  Does this mean, at some point, a pro will catch a bass, pull out a sharpie and autograph a non keeper before throwing it back?  Yes Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore.

January 31st, 2005

I Know What I Call It-A number of BASS pros reported being spied on by non competing pros from the FLW Tour while their event was taking place this past week. No names were mentioned, but talk of guys using binoculars to "spy" on what the BASS guys were doing was part of the chatter going around the parking lot.  Now, everyone checks tournament results of events prior to when their tour will be there.  Most guys have a few friends who know what is going on and more than a few of the tour pros spend diligent hours on the internet trying to find out what has been going on at the next lake on the schedule.  However, going out and spying while another event is going on?  That seems to be reaching.  Granted we rarely have both tours visiting the same lake in such close proximity to the other organization's event, so this may be a one time deal, however I know what I call it.  I just hope guys like Takahiro Omori, and David Walker get to call their squatter's rights when it comes to the FLW event in a couple weeks.  Imagine if Omori cannot get on his water because someone else, who watched him win the BASS event, calls him for "encroachment."  I love irony, it is so ironic.

January 28th, 2005

Am's In The Boat Part III-Perhaps I am really sensitive to the issue of the co-angler or non boater but we have another example of how the non boater is going to affect a big tournament for the pro.  As reported by FLW Outdoors, David Kromm, fishing the EverStart Event at Lake Havasu was the fortunate recipient of a hefty 3 pound smallmouth that his partner saw and alerted him to.  Havasu has a tremendous number of habitat barrels, which has made a big difference in the resurgence of that fishery.  When the big smallmouth flashed on his partner's spinnerbait, the non boater told Kromm about the fish, (Kromm only had four fish,) and refused to fish for it allowing Kromm to catch the fish.  Kromm broke no rules, he simply was the recipient of a good break courtesy of his co-angler.  That three pounder put Kromm only 4 oz behind Clayton Meyer going into today's final round.  Question:  Is it right for an angler to be affected by his co-angler?  Many other co-anglers would have fished for and perhaps caught that fish.  If I am Clayton Meyer how do I feel about this "assist."

BASS New Format-As predicted in many places, the new BASS format has produced some oddities at the day 2 weigh in.  Because the Am's share the weight of their pros, the leader on the Am side has been credited with 33-02 (he caught 4 fish-sounds like a swim bait bite at Lake Casitas,) while first round pro leader, Takahiro Omori has 31-05, having caught 9 fish.  Also, as many people have pointed out, an Amateur has made the AM cut (top 12) without catching a single fish.  My next question:  To someone new to this sport, is this a good idea?

Skeet Goes For A Swim-Skeet Reece told the weigh in crowd on Friday that he fell out of his boat.  Something that he hadn't done in twenty years.  These kinds of things can and do happen, many of us, (myself included,) think that we are so balanced.  It only takes one slippery gel-coat, or icy dock. Water is not just wet, it is also cold this time of year.  All anglers should be warned that when you go into water that is in the 60's or 50's you have precious few seconds to function as a normal person.  After about 30 seconds of being in water that cold, you will notice your body's inability to do the things it usually can do, like pull itself out of the water.  Most drowning victims can swim, but cannot tolerate the cold water long enough to save themselves.  Be careful!  

January 28th, 2005

I Hurt Your Feelings, (sorry.)-That's what I get.  I deserve the criticism. This entire web site was created in 1995 to help people catch more bass.  That is our mission statement, that is what we stand for.  It has evolved to what it is today, like it or not, (I mostly like it-that's bass talk mom.)  Well, I did it.  You know the style in the media today is to be critical so that you can sound like some kind of an expert.  "Loudmouth Bass, Sound Off Columns, Tim Tucker's monthly blasting of the FLW Tour, (opps, that might hurt someone's feelings also.) The better you can shoot something down, the bigger the man you are. Well, color me into that same finger painting, I recently blasted the pro tours for including Ams in the same boats with pros, given several issues that have risen from the swamps in recent months and I have hurt some feelings.  I am even more sensitive to the fact that my blasting of co-anglers, (really I didn't think I blasted them so much as to just say that they shouldn't.....OK, I blasted them-BUT NOT PERSONALLY!)  What I feel bad about is that of all the things I do, these comments have resulted in a couple of dozen e-mails blasting me back.  I don't mind being blasted, (remember guys, the pen is mightier than the sword,) but I feel bad that something I said that was controversial, led to so much attention.  Don't you get it.  That's why all of these personalities, (I guess this now includes me,) say these outrageous things, they want the attention!  Anyway, to those who I have offended, maybe we could just go fishing together, talk it over and come to an understanding of why we feel the way we do.......Let's take your boat!

January 27th, 2005

From The Murphy's Law Files-While many of us would love to be doing what the pros are doing, there are still going to be those days that "momma said would be like that." Consider that Auburn, California pro and ProTourJournal correspondent, Fred Roumbanis blew his engine on Monday, running down to Kissimmee.  Needless to say his pre fish has been shot.  Fred will be the first to compliment the Yamaha crew for getting his boat fixed, but he his fishing this event, essentially blind.  Who knows, we have seen countless stories where guys have a bad pre fish experience, yet come on strong.

Murphy's Law File # 2- Before leaving on his "world tour" of both the BASS and FLW schedule, Art Ferguson III had some lower unit work down on his engine, typical maintenance, that we should all have done periodically.  Art lost his lower unit yesterday while pre fishing for the Bassmaster event at Toho.  The mechanics took the lower unit apart to reveal that whoever put the lower unit back together did not include the simple "o ring" washer and after the running that Art did at Okeechobee last week, and his pre fishing this week, the unit just let go.  These things happen, but are crucial to an angler trying to make a living on tour.

Western Pro, Brett Hite was in Florida early, doing some work for ESPN two weeks ago.  When he left his hotel room one morning he discovered that his motor was on the ground, behind his boat.  Somebody, apparently tried to steal the motor off the back of his boat.  All of the mounting bolts were gone an the motor was just lying there.  Speculation is that the motor was too heavy, and the thieves just left it there on the ground.  

January 23rd, 2005

I Love To Say "I Told You So!"-If Kelly Jordon were a fish, he would be shark.  His ability to sense and dial into what bass are doing is very much the same as the way a shark tracks prey by following even the faintest blood line in the water, until it eventually finds dinner.  Kelly Jordon is one of those anglers, that if he is "on" is very scary to the rest of his competitors, there is nobody more dangerous on your tail, particularly in a tough tournament.  This week, if you paid attention, you could see him moving up the leader board, day one saw him catch a good, (by this tournament's standards,) and day two say him land enough to make the top 10 cut.  Day three might have been the most telling day for him, weighing in five fish that weighed 7 pounds and change, knowing Kelly, he would either do something spectacular or he would flame out, but you knew he wouldn't catch 7 pounds again.  In a somewhat predictable manner, Jordon traded bites for quality, and while he only caught four fish, they weighed 23-00.

Jordon is a Superstar in every way, shape and form.  The fact that he is not higher in world rankings, (BassFan.com) is a testament to the fact that he fishes so many events, (both tours, and E-50's) that he either doesn't get enough practice, or is just plain tired.  In the world rankings, your low finishes hurt you as much as your high finishes help you, you are going to lose more than you win, so the answer probably lies in there somewhere.

In response to my own statement, made here earlier in the week, I TOLD YOU TO WATCH OUT FOR KELLY JORDON!

January 22nd, 2005

Another Reason To Eliminate Ams-In an interview this week on ESPN's "Loudmouth Bass," BASS AOY Gerald Swindle, told of an encounter he had with a non boater at the last tour event on Santee-Cooper last year.  Frustration, (the angler had blanked, or been blanked on day one-it was a sight fishing event,) sabotage or a "fix," the non boater repeatedly cast across Swindle, fished for the same bed fish Swindle was set up on, and "laughed when I lost a five pounder."  You may remember that Swindle and Scott Scuggs and Greg Hackney were in the middle of a last day shootout to claim the coveted title.  According to Swindle, Hackney's non boater refused to fish, for fear of interfering with Hackney's chances, while Swindle's did everything to affect Swindle's chances of winning.

Once again.  We don't put co-drivers in NASCARs (maybe this is a tired analogy,) who can turn the stirring wheel right when one of those left turns comes along.

January 21st, 2005

We've Seen This Before-When Steve Kennedy brought 25-15 to the scales yesterday, it was "deja vu all over again."  During the FLW EverStart, earlier this month, Kennedy had a poor day one, weighing in a small limit that pushed the scales to 7-15.  On day two, the Auburn, Alabama resident went 20 pounds better, weighing a monster bag that went 27-15.  This week, after a sub-par 9-15, Kennedy jumped 38 spots on the leader board by bringing in five that weighed 25-15.

Steve Kennedy-Good for Steve Kennedy!  The Auburn Alabama pro had a great day yesterday and leads the FLW-Okeechobee event after the first round.  I had a chance to spend some time with Kennedy this Summer at the FLW Tour Championship in Birmingham.  He was working the Pedigree booth, and you could tell he was chompin to be fishing.  He was kind enough to sign a couple of cards for my boys.  You meet the most down home, good natured folks in this business.  Steve is about the nicest guy you could ever know.  It's also good to see Terry Bolton in the top 10.  Bolton, known by a lot of folks in Kentucky as Dan Morehead's team tournament partner, because the two pros fish a Tuesday Night team tournament each week at Kentucky Lake.  Dean Rojas, is in the cut, finishing the first round in the 4th position.  Dean has been one of the hardest working pros that I have ever known.  I fished in the Angler's Choice Lake Havasu tournament in 1997 in which Dean got his first pro win, he has come a long way.  Dean used to throw peanuts at San Diego Padres baseball games.

I'll say it again.  Watch out for Kelly Jordon.

January 20th, 2005

Watch Out For Jordon!-Kelly Jordon is smug this week.  He is humble in the way he is talking, but we have seen this before.  He is in the cut position, (5th) with 17-09 and figures he needs about 11 pounds to make the cut.  Any time Jordon is in this kind of a spot with Bass poised to spawn, he is a big time threat to win.  Anybody remember Santee-Cooper last year?

January 19th, 2005

More Signs Of The Times-Apparently BASS, Tour Pro Edwin Evers and just about anybody else who can be blamed have been named in a personal injury lawsuit brought forward by the lawyers of a former co-angler who suffered an injury while riding in a tour sponsored boat in the finals of one the BASS Tour events.  It is a sure sign that as a sport, we have arrived.  It is also a sure sign, that as a sport it is past time to dump the "Co-angler" or "Amateur" who shares the boat with the pro.  I will restate what I said earlier in this column and that was, "the co-angler, while perhaps, meant to be a developmental position for future pros really does not do that at all."  The true path to growth in this sport, is not "learning the secret spots of other pros, or seeing what they do in certain situations, it is going out and learning the old fashion way:  Getting your "bass" handed to you until you figure it out yourself.  Here is my point, Joe-non boater does not develop his own thought process or philosophy if he gets chauffeured around all day by a pro.  He isn't learning to find fish, he isn't developing his style, he is essentially copying that of another individual, who knows why he is doing what he is doing.  Joe-non boater may go out and catch a good bag of fish, but he caught the fish from somebody else's water, and I believe that just about anyone who reads this column can do that.

The lawsuit tells me that bass fishing has arrived and has the deep pockets to shell out money to some guy who really risked nothing, (except perhaps injury,) in this bass fishing game.  The guy driving the boat risks everything, from financial success to family stress.  Our pros don't need to worry about whether or not some lawyer ends up on their front porch with a lawsuit because some guy got injured.  Not to wear out an old analogy, but, WE DON'T PUT AMATEUR CO-DRIVERS IN NASCARs DO WE?   

For this I do have a solution.  Put pro on pro for the early rounds, like we used to do it, and then have observers for the championship round, but for crying out load, let's get the free-loaders out of the boats.  If I have hurt any non-boaters feelings, that is not my intent, but all it takes, is one of you, getting hurt, or getting your feelings hurt, bringing down the law suits and let the trouble begin.

Couldn't You Have Guessed It?-If the pro tour is in Florida, then say hello to the harsh weather patterns.  By now you know that FLW Tour pros on Lake Okeechobee are experiencing some very harsh weather.  With increased coverage of Pro Events, by web sites like BassFan and ProBassAnglers.com, the recent Tour events have exposed some Okeechobee secrets that not many Floridians wanted you to know about.  The "dead vegetation pattern" could be very big this week.  For some time, many Okeechobee locals have quietly known that in harsh cold front conditions, spawning bass will pull off the beds and relocate under the dead matts of grass and debris.  The dead stuff, seems to hold heat better, provides the bass with at least some comfort and really breaks a rule of thumb that many bass anglers have perscribed to for a long time:  Living vegetation provides better conditions for bass.  While living vegetation might be the rule for the Summer and Fall, it has been proven again and again in recent years that the dead stuff holds better fish populations during severe cold fronts, at least in Florida.

I Am Just So Happy That The Tours Are Here-I love getting up at 3:00 AM to talk to these guys before they launch.  Seriously, I am happy to bring it.

January 13th, 2005

Sign Of The Times-BASS is going to a format where a non boater can weigh only 3 bass and will have the pro's weight added to his/her 3 bass limit's weight.  This means, as I understand it, that if non-boater Joe brings in 3 bass weighing 4-08, and his/her partner brings in a five bass limit weighing 9-12, then Joe's official weight will be 14-04.  My first thought is that it will be a little strange to see AM weights being higher than pros in the earlier rounds, but the real purpose for this "spout off" is that fishing just isn't that easy anymore.

This new format, I believe comes from the fact that it is getting harder and harder for pros to catch limits of bass in lakes all around the country.  Now, if you are going to hold a golf tournament, your course shouldn't be too difficult, after all, we want our pros playing "under par" don't we?  If we are going to hold a NASCAR event, we want enough drivers being able to complete the race, for it to be a race don't we? (I mean, we want some to crash, but if the course were too difficult, a lot of the pros might crash, and not be able to finish.  Maybe that's why NASCAR only requires it's drivers to make left turns.)

No, the cold hard fact of life that we must deal with is that it is getting harder to catch fish.  Pro's don't want to have to compete with AMs in the back of their boats, catching fish that the pros could be catching.  Personally, at the pro tour level, I don't think there should be any AMs, you sign up for, maybe even pay for, the right to be in the boat with pro, and then you sit and watch.  This is an act of desperation.  The thinking here is that if we limit an AM to three fish, they will catch less fish, leaving more for the pro.  Won't the AM want to cull out bigger fish for the smaller, just as a pro would?  I don't know how this new format will work.  I am sure the powers that be, have thought this through.  I have never felt that the non-boater, shared weight format was a good way to develop future pro anglers, that's what EverStarts, BFL's, BASS Opens and the new Bassmaster Series are for.

Let's get the AM out of Pro-AM, make them observers, and let the pros struggle for the fish that will bite.  I still think the BassMaster Classic at Lake Perris in California on the Fourth of July would be the ultimate test of pro angler skills.  Oh, by the way, it's "launch and go."

January 10th, 2005

There Are Always Fish In Shallow Water-One of the "buzz phrases," you will hear on today's pro tours is the comment made by pros that there are always some fish in shallow water.  In fact, you can probably take that to the "proverb level."  There will always be fish in shallow water.  Except that now I would like to add an amendment to that proverb.  There will always be fish in shallow water, providing there is enough cover and enough water.  I learned to fish shallow water years ago in my bass club days, one angler who made an impression on me used to say "it only has to be over the fish's head."  That has always stuck with me.

Actually today I would like to comment on two rules of bass fishing:

• There are always fish in shallow water.
• Rising water means fish will move up, following the rising water. 

Charlie and I, (my team partner,) found both of these concepts to be true this past weekend.  While struggling to catch fish deep in a team tournament, we turned our attentions to the shallows, thinking that maybe with the rainfall we have been having, (six inches in 4 days,) some bass might have moved shallow.  We didn't kill them, (3 bites,) but what we caught was certainly better than what other competitors were able to do in deep water, allowing us to finish 19th.

My thoughts on the two bass fishing rules that I have mentioned.

• 1st-There will always be fish in shallow water if that shallow water provides the kinds of comfort, that a bass needs.  Cover, food, and a decent depth.  I find that bass need at least 18", and I feel a lot better about water that has 3 to 4 feet of depth.
• 2nd-When rising water means the shallows begin to have he comforts that I have mentioned, then I believe this rule holds true.  When rising water means the lake over flows it's banks and floods a forest, making it impossible to locate fish, then, while the fish may have moved in, it can be very difficult to locate those fish.  This might lead to a third rule, when the water is rising, get to the bank.  The fish may not move all of the way to the bank, but and least you can start to work your way back out until you find them.

January 8th, 2005

Some Leads Are Just Not Safe-There are some lakes, like Lake Okeechobee, Clear Lake, Shasta Lake, Guntersville and Santee-Cooper where a lead, and I mean any lead is just not safe.  You might recall a while back that Aaron Martens won the the US Open at Lake Mead, where he had a five and half pound lead going into the final day.  A lead like that is just about insurmountable at Lake Mead, because the lake's Northern Strain Largemouth, simply don't weigh enough for someone to make up five pounds in a day, (of course it can happen, but it doesn't, and didn't.)  Even when Martens had a poor final day, and Brent Erhler came on strong, in the end, five pounds on Mead is a big lead.

Yesterday, when Edward Guice lead the final round at the Southeastern EverStart on Lake Okeechobee, by five pounds, many people realized that someone in the final ten could very easily catch Guice on their first bite of the next morning.  It figured that Bobby Lane who was five pounds out or possibly David Williams, Sandy Melvin or J.T.Kenny had the best shot, after all they were 5, 6 or 7 pounds out.  Daryl Deka was a distant sixth place, 9 pounds 13 ounces out.  Go figure, like they say, no lead is safe at the big O.  Deka's 21-12 allowed him to jump over all five anglers in front of him to win the event.  Never say never!

January 6th, 2005

Brent Erhler Of Redlands, California has accepted the challenge.  He will leave Thursday morning early, on the first leg of his journey onto the FLW Pro Tour.  Erhler, who won the FLW EverStart Championship this year admits to not knowing very much about what to expect, but is eager to see how he measures up.  With water that is diverse, such as the shallow water of Lake Okeechobee, to the deep,clear, waters found on such lakes as Kentucky Lake and Beaver Lakes.  River systems, like the Ouachita and Smallmouth factories like Lake Champlain, Ehrler knows he will be tested. 

Brent has agreed to be a "correspondent from the road," this year and is a late addition to our ProTourJournal section.  Readers will be able to follow Brent all the way from California, to Florida, to Japan, (a big industry show there,) to Louisiana to the Canadian boarder.  I bet he wishes he could get frequent driver mileage.

January 4th, 2005

Reader/Listener, Paul Owens of Red Bluff, CA, responding to yesterday's blog, asks, "OK, do you have a better idea?-These organizations need to make a profit."  Paul, I suppose if I ask for responses, then I should be prepared to offer solutions, personally, I don't like when folks, take to task, without offering solutions, so here I go:  A number of years ago, I watched literally every hour of World Cup Soccer Coverage.  Yeah, almost every second of every game, AND, I watched it on Telemundo, the Spanish station in Southern California, (now global, I think-hence TeleMUNDO.)  Watching that much Soccer is one thing, but in Spanish?  Telemundo offered commercial free coverage of the sport, (you know it never stops until the whistle, THERE ARE NO COMMERCIAL TIMEOUTS.)  Instead of breaking away to commercials and missing big plays, Telemundo ran advertising on the screen throughout the game.  I am sure that it affected me at several levels, first and foremost, I appreciated sponsors who understood how important it was to me, the viewer,  that the integrity of the game was preserved!  That scored major points with me, and I consider myself to be only a casual fan of Soccer.

How would this affect bass fishing?  Put sponsor logos, messages, advertisements on the screen, to the side of the screen, anywhere on the screen as long as it doesn't' affect the integrity of the anglers.  Really now, how excited can I get about Kelly Jordon fishing out of a wrapped Triton, that is not his game, he fishes out of a Skeeter and uses Lucky Craft Baits-you want reality don't you?

Now consider this.  Dave Lefebre has recently switched trolling motor companies in his personal boat.  He was with Motorguide, however, the FLW Finals boats are equipped with Minkotas.  Guess what, in a big tournament, last year, Dave hooked a big fish, that got wrapped, or tangled.  Point being, he needed to go to that fish to get it in the boat.  You guessed it, not being familiar with the equipment, namely the trolling motor, he made a mistake that cost him the time he needed to get to that fish, and by the time he did, the fish was gone.  Now, in this case, the organization made money on the wrapped boat, and the unfamiliar equipment that the pro had to use, cost him a fish that certainly would have helped him earn more money.

I'll say it again, give the pros a chance to market themselves with the only billboard space they have to offer.  As fans, we want the real deal.  This entire industry needs to survive, not just a few choice players.  I can't imagine seeing Jason Quinn (ProCraft,) in a Triton or Ranger, as a fan, it just doesn't seem credible.  Ray Scott was understood, and made it happen, I believe it still can.

January 3rd, 2005

It's A Subject That We Have Talked About -By the way, Happy New Year to all ProBassAnglers, we hope that 2005 is the best year yet for you.  A hot topic these days surrounding the pro tours is the unhappiness shared by many tour pros regarding their use of their own personal boats during the final, (more importantly the TV) rounds of both pro tours.  Many of these pros have negotiated wrapped boat deals with their sponsors with the idea that  the television exposure, should an angler make the final rounds is worth millions of dollars.  If you are a company and the pro is credible enough, it really is no risk at all.

Many of the establish pros on today's tours have balked at the FLW format, where going in, there has never been a question, you will fish the final round out of an FLW Sponsor Wrapped Boat.  This is a big reason why some of the names on the FLW side remain somewhat anonymous, while many of the pros on the BASS Tour are house hold words, so to speak.  More and more however, pros are watching their opportunities dry up as now BASS has adopted a policy of having it's televised rounds filmed using only BASS Sponsor Wrapped Boats.

According to BassFan.com, the number of wrapped boat deals available for even top pros is quickly drying up because the coveted television time has gone away.

Here's what I think.  I don't like it.  When I watch Bassmasters or FLW, I watch to see what the pros do.  If you are trying to reach me at a subliminal level, you might be able to do that, I don't know, I haven't analyzed it, I suppose I know who the main teams are on the FLW tour, but still, I watch these shows to see what the pros are doing.  I am a big fan of Kelly Jordan, but I bet few fans of pro bass fishing actually know that he fishes out of a fully wrapped, Lucky Craft Skeeter.  Darryl Burkhardt's Bow Flex deal, included a boat and vehicle wrap, these kinds of things are going to go away and with them, many pros simply will not have the resources to keep up.  The mentality seems to be, let's keep these young guys living on their credit cards, regardless of what happens to them.  That is brutal, I don't think you treat the true resource of our sport that way.

I am not against the tournament organizations, BASS and FLW making an honest living.  I don't like however, and voiced this before, the major organizations taking boat companies as sponsors.  This crushes the angler, whose main identity should be, the boat he fishes out of.  Respond here.

December 28th, 2004

We Have Had A Lot Of Noise Here Lately-regarding the Ultimate Lure Saver, and yes they are a sponsor of what we do.  That being said, I had a conversation the other day with Michael Brault of Ultimate NiTi. Technologies.  Michael's company specializes in inventions involving Nickel-Titanium, hence the name NiTi.  Nickel-Titanium is an alloy best known for it's SMP or Shape Memory Properties. Nickel-Titanium will flex when an extreme amount of force is applied, such as when you point your rod straight at a lure in a snag.  When the force is relaxed, the Nickel-Titanium wire returns to it's original form.  This is high tech stuff.  Ultimate NiTi makes it's living inventing new things out of Nickel-Titanium.  Go to this web site to read more, it is wild.  Ultimate NiTi

Now for the fishing side of this Nickel-Titanium connection.  Nickel-Titanium is also an ultra sensitive material and conduct vibration extremely well.  Perhaps some of your new Loomis rods have Nickel-Titanium guides.  Ultimate NiTi Technologies most likely made those guides.  The Ultimate Lure Saver really is a poor name for the Nickel-Titanium split rings currently being offered by Ultimate NiTi.  These rings represent the newest innovation in lure technology and are currently being used by several "high end" lure companies on their products.  To see a list of which lure companies are using these new Nickel-Titanium split rings, click here.

I mentioned that Ultimate Lure Saver is probably a poor name for the product.  Understand that this product has been in the testing stages for over four years and when it was designed, it was intended to be a release mechinism so that lost lures could be retrieved.  In that four year period, Ultimate NiTi, working with pros like Terry Baksay, Paul Elias and Mark Kile, has discovered that this seemingly simple split ring, actually enhances the performance of lures that incorporate it.

Consider this-

• The shape of the lure savers is kind of tear drop shaped, thus allowing hooks to hang lower than typical split rings.  This past Summer, every fish that I caught on a Zara spook, using the lure savers was absolutely impaled.  We caught striped bass at Lake Mead with all three sets of hooks in the fish.  There is no getting away.
• The shape of the lure saver also results in an enhanced wobble for crank baits.  You'll have to try that one yourself, but you can feel the difference when you retrieve the bait.
• Changing hooks takes seconds.
• Rather than buying expensive drop shot weights, which you know and I know, have the wire clips that are often not watched for quality control, you know, the little clip has a gap that is too wide, so you have to use pliers to crimp it, where is the time saving in that?  Instead, tie a six pound test lure saver to the end of your line, and use inexpensive barrel weights, which attach easily to the lure saver in less than five seconds.

What the lure saver is really doing here is saving time and adding to lure performance.  Think about it, everything has been touched by technology.  Our rods are stronger and lighter, our fishing weights are smaller and heavier, our lures are more life-like and more, and more,....expensive.  How about the split ring?  It has not changed in 100 hundred years, (give or take a decade.)  They have now.  If you are skeptical, contact UltimateLureSaver, let them know all of your concerns. You will come away convinced-I promise.

What If The Lure Saver Opens When I Am Fighting A Fish?  You must know that this is a question I asked when I first learned about this product.  Wouldn't the very same SMP (shape memory properties,) that allow the Lure Saver to release a snagged lure, (wow, I didn't even talk about the Lure Saver as being a....LURE SAVER.) also cause the Lure Savers to release a hooked fish?  No.  The only way for that to happen is to (1) point your rod directly at the fish you are reeling in, (directing all of the fish fighting force to the fish.)  This is why you have a fishing rod.  The rod absorbs all but the slightest amount of force when fighting a fish.  This is the reason, 8 pound bass can be caught on six pound line.  (2) You place the wrong line test lure savers on a bait.  If you are fishing a rip bait using 12 pound test and you have eight or ten pound lure savers on your lure.  Now compound this by using the wrong rod, for example, you are ripping with a heavy action, fast tipped jig rod.  In this case you may be able to exert more force then the under sized lure saver can withstand, but you know what?  In That scenario, chances are better that you will break off on the hook set, because your line has snapped.

Here is what I suggest.  Don't use the lure saver in an important tournament.  Give them your own test.  If you are afraid of losing a fish, up size the lure saver.  Use a 12 pound lure saver on ten pound line.  You are still going to get better performance out of your lures.

Have I Sounded Like A Commercial? This is the risk I run.  The purpose of ProBassAnglers.com is to improve the overall fishing experience, whether it be by learning new techniques, or about new products.  The Ultimate Lure Saver was our very first Catch Of The Year at the 2003 ICAST Show in Las Vegas.  It is a product that will make your experience better.  Enter our contest, you can win some cool stuff  and then see for yourself.

December 23rd, 2004

Saves The Day Contest-Ok, here it is.  Your chance to win a prize package valued at over $50.00.  Come to our contest page, and good luck. The winners are picked at random from a drawing, so if you don't win, send us another picture.   

December 17th, 2004

Ultimate Lure Saver Contest-Keep watching closely, in the next couple of days, ProBassAnglers.com will announce a contest that will knock your socks off, (ok, at least it will untie your shoe laces.)  The Ultimate Lure Saver Challenge will award some very cool lure packages each month to winners who send in photographs of bass they have caught.  Contest rules will be announced shortly. 

December 16th, 2004

Keith Nighswonger's Legends Of Bass Fishing-In case you haven't had the chance to listen to in depth interviews.  The Legends Of Bass Fishing, Volume I is available for you to listen to now.  In the first set of interviews, I sat down with Mark Davis, Jay Yelas, Guido Hibdon, Larry Nixon and Paul Elias.  Each pro, a former BassMaster Classic Champion, each with an intriguing story to tell.  These are life stories that you haven't heard these guys tell before.  You owe it to yourself to listen in.  Legends Of Bass Fishing 

December 14th, 2004

New Year's Resolutions-Ok, maybe it is too early to be thinking about the new year, (I think it's ok,) but this year, I challenge you, (perhaps I am actually talking to myself,) to take some of the innovative techniques that you have been reading about on ProBassAnglers.com and put them to work for yourself this year.  Here is what I am planning and I resolve to do it, (or at least to say I am going to do it.)  No really, I am going to do these things this year.

• I am going to break out my structure spoons, reacquaint myself with my electronics and go catch some spoon fish-yes, I am
• I am going to take only a big bait rod out, and finally catch a swim bait fish.
• I am going to put George Cochran's "soakin" technique to work, I know that works.

I will chronicle my adventures.  If you have any other ideas from me to try this new year-Holler.

December 10th, 2004

I Get To Meet The Best People-doing this radio show.  Today I interviewed Bradley Stringer of Huntington Texas, one the five Classic qualifiers from this past week's Open Championship.  And, oh, by the way, he won the tournament.  You won't find a more down to Earth gentleman, who is all thankful for his great fortune.  On making the Classic, "It is something you dream about when you are a little kid,"  On fishing the tour this season, "I am in a different position now.  I think it is something I have to try, because the chance to do this again might not come around."  This week's On The Water, we invite you to come on in and been introduced to Bradley Stringer.  He will be fishing the BASS Tour for the first time, and of course will fish next Summer's Classic.  listen here

December 4th, 2004

I Am Sick-I really think I am.  I am coming to grips with why I am addicted to following the pro bass tours.  Way deep down inside me, and I suspect you as well, don't deny it,  there is a burning desire.  I believe it is kind of like the same sickness that millions tune into NASCAR to see.  You know what I'm talking about, but still you are in denial.  Must I explain to you how you secretly long to see if the most skilled race car drivers in the world will run each other off the road like the knuckleheads you compete with on the freeway each morning.  Ok, maybe you like a good race.  Still, there is a segment that watches NASCAR to see the crashes, a segment that watches Hockey to see the fights, (thank goodness we still have the Pistons and the Pacers,) and a segment, (I'm guilty,) that watches Professional Bass Fishing because I want to see these guys suffer through the kind of conditions that I have to deal with whenever I go fishing.  

I feel a kind of sick pleasure when I see the Ouachita River 10 feet above normal so that the system looks like one big flooded forest.  Nobody feels sorry for me when I have to deal with 10 million drunk jet skiers at Lake Perris, (except me of course, I' really good at feeling sorry for myself.)  It makes me feel better about myself when I see pros trying to find a needle in the haystack, when that haystack keeps getting bigger and bigger.  

Of course the best part of difficult tournaments is learning how the anglers who did get them were able to figure out the fish.  The old saying that "someone will catch them," is always true.  Finding out how "someone" did it is something that also thrills me.  I have George Cochran on my radio show this week.  He took that jerk bait of his, a lure that virtually every other pro fished at Guntersville last February, and he figured out the retrieve that would make them bite.  That was awesome.

I have a lot of friends that fish the pro tours and I certainly don't wish them any ill will.  But it feels good to see the top anglers in the world humbled by difficult conditions.  I know, let's put the BassMaster Classic on Lake Perris this year on the Fourth Of July-Now that is sick. 

Art Ferguson III sent this picture from the BASS Open Championship this week.  Click on the thumbnail to see what these guys had to deal with.  Is that coffee with cream and sugar or is it water?

November 28th, 2004

Road Warriors-I took the family to the new Bass Pro Shops in Las Vegas, this past weekend, on our way out, we ran into a group of Northern California bass pros, caravanning to the Red River in Louisiana for the BASS Open Championship.  RJ Bennett, Zack Thompson and Fred Roumbanis were hoping to make New Mexico before taking time to rest.  They figured the trip would take them the better part of three days.

Speaking Of Bass Pro Shops...Amazing.  It's all that can be said.  The detail of the store from how it is decorated to the fish tanks, to the model Grand Canyon.....It's typical Vegas.  There isn't much in the way of outdoor equipment that you can't get there.   They seem a little out of touch as far as the local scene is concerned, you know, the hand poured worms, finesse jigs, fluorocarbon line etc.   But as far as classic bass tackle, Walmart might have met it's match, especially since Bass Pro Shops sells fishing licenses.  Very cool store and neat over night trip to make with family.

November 16th, 2004

Could It Be That The BASS Opens And The FLW EverStarts- are evolving into something nobody thought they would become?  With tour events these days being held in the Spring, most tour pros have really nothing to do in the Fall except do an occasional sports show or speaking engagement.  The BASS Opens and some of the FLW EverStarts go through the Summer and into the Fall, however and more and more we are seeing tour pros, dropping by to fish these events.  Take this week's Southern Open on Florida's Lake Okeechobee.  The list of pros reads like a "Who's who" of bass fishing.  Check these names:  Gerald Swindle, (BASS Angler Of The Year,) Scott Martin, (Runner up to Luke Clausen in this year's FLW Tour Championship,  Paul Elias, Tim Horton, Randy Howell, Koby Kreiger, Greg Hackney, Rick Clunn, Davy Hite, and John Crews.  Come to think of it, where else could you go and see the top stars from both tours competing head to head?  It has to be an Open.

November 11th, 2004

If You Are A Listener From St. Helens Oregon,- or Portland or anywhere the signal from station KOHI 1600 AM can be picked up, you need to beware of your obligations to our show.   The Radio Show, "On The Water" with Keith Nighswonger and this accompanying web site is about getting better.  While we do interview pros, and get them to divulge their secrets,  it's the everyday, weekend warrior who contributes just as much important information as the pros.  Listen for a couple of weeks, figure out where we're going, read the web site every day, religiously and then take the plunge, get involved, call the show, e-mail the host, submit how to articles.  Welcome!

November 9th, 2004

Brent Erhler's ProTourJournal- We caught up with Brent Erhler on his way home, just outside of Gallop, New Mexico.  He filled us in on all of the final day drama from his EverStart Championship victory.  Click Here 

What Do The Pros Do On Their Day Off?-If you are Kentucky pros, Terry Bolton and Dan Morehead, you team up and fish the Tuesday night Buddy Tournaments on Kentucky Lake.  First established by FLW Tournament Directors so that they could fish tournaments, the Tuesday night team events are very popular local events. Bolton and Morehead have fished as a team for some time now and as you might expect, they have dominated the circuit.  Are they serious.  "About as series as you take your softball league, or your Wednesday night bowling league!"

November 6th, 2004

Sometimes You Just Get Lucky- We have been doing ProTourJournals for over two years now.  Mike Iaconelli put us on the map when he kept a journal for us during his 2003 BassMaster Classic victory.  Well, lightening has struck twice.  Redlands, California pro, Brent Erhler has won the FLW EverStart Championship, and he has been keeping a journal for us this week.  Must be good karma!  Awesome job Brent!

Never Give Up!-I believe you have heard this from me before.  In case you allow yourself you start feeling bad about your tournament day on the water, you know, tough day, no bites nothing you do seems to work, blah, blah, blah.  Consider Art Ferguson III.  On day two of this week's EverStart Championship, he had no fish, zero, zip, nada!  Not being one to quit, Ferguson pulled up on a spot just four minutes from the weigh in to give it one last shot, and caught 3 quick keepers, lost one at the boat and missed a strike.  Those three fish allowed him to cash a check, and feel much better about himself after a long, brutal week.  "I felt like I won the BassMaster Classic."  You have got to believe that the next cast will be the beginning of something good, it is difficult to ignore the negative thoughts, but if you quit early, you'll never know.  Besides, the chances of blanking all day are actually pretty low, so the longer you go without a fish, the more you anticipation should grow.

November 5th, 2004

You've Got To Be Kidding-I think one of things that I enjoy most about following the pro tours each week is that I get to learn about innovations, new techniques, and what goes through the head of tour level anglers. Michigan Pro, Art Ferguson III, fishing the FLW EverStart this week at Kentucky's Lake Cumberland, grew frustrated in practice with the number of spotted bass he found schooling the surface, chowing on shad.  "They wouldn't look at anything I threw," he noted.  So, Ferguson, not being one to give up, broke out the little artiliary.  How small did he go?  "I got out my Kistler Drop Shot Rod, loaded six pound line on the reel and went to Wall Mart and picked up so 1/16 ounce Crappie jigs.  The trick was to cast the baits.  It took all of my strength to make a cast of about 30 feet or so, but it was the only thing that I could get the schooling fish to strike. All eight of my tournament keepers came on the crappie jig, and yeah, it was a strange thing."

Now, before you shrug that off, consider this.  How many times have you encountered schooling fish, largemouth or spotted bass and been frustrated because you couldn't get them to bite?  Some of my best days on schooling fish have come when I split shotted right in the middle of the boils with a tiny little two inch paddle tail grub, on six pound test line with the smallest split shot I could find.  When bass are feeding heavily, you have to make it easy for them, they can be very picky.

November 3rd, 2004

From Predator To Forage-California bass pro, and BASS Western Open champion at Lake Shasta, Greg Gutierrez told this rather humbling story recently.  "During pre fish I was in an arm and noticed a commotion near the bank.  I saw about a pound and half trout busting shad.  That trout was so aggressive that it actually beached itself, flopped right up on the bank.  I watched as it flip-flopped it's way back into the water.  As soon as it hit the water, there was a giant explosion as a huge bass engulfed the trout.  One minute that trout was king of the food chain, the next it was dinner.  That episode actually keyed me in the area's potential for big fish, and I caught several of my tournament winning fish right along that bank." 

October 30th, 2004

Unbiased Reporting?-Tim Tucker, say it isn't so!  Why do you feel it is necessary to bash FLWOutdoors?  Tucker, on his TimTuckerOutdoors.com web site has this following post on it this month.

"FLW SHENANIGANS. How can we take the FLW Tour seriously and consider it a big-league venue when it doesn’t have a hard-and-fast qualifying system? Even today, in its ninth year, you can still get a slot on the FLW Tour if you know the right people.

Case in point: Newly crowned FLW Angler of the Year Shinichi Fukae. FLW officials admit he never qualified for their Tour (having never fished an FLW Outdoors tournament of any kind). Instead, he was admitted through the efforts of a Ranger dealer in his native Japan.

How bogus is that? Unfortunately, it’s nothing new with this organization."

Tucker is a Senior Writer for BassMaster Magazine and publishes a popular Tour Insider E-Newsletter each month.  It has been one of my favorite sites to get inside tour information, at least where BASS is concerned.  It just doesn't seem to do anything constructive for him to bash FLW, the main competition for BASS.  For a BASS writer to bash FLW, it kind of back fires on Tucker because of his perceived bias towards FLW.   I'm disappointed.

October 26th, 2004

Bill Wicker-I met Bill Wicker in the lobby of the Birmingham Sheraton at this year's FLW Tour Championship.  Wicker will tell you that he was there to work one of the many retail booths at the trade show, held in conjunction with the tournament.  But I know better.  You see, Bill Wicker is a pioneer of sorts.  He was at the FLW Tour Championship making sure that his legacy was in tact.  Legacy?  Bill Wicker was fishing bass tournaments, before there were bass tournaments.  There have been bass tournaments long before Ray Scott created BASS.  Mainly club orientations where fellas got together, dropped a few bucks into a pot and then fished against each other for the thrill of kickin their bass.  Bill Wicker cut his bass fishing teeth during those years and he has lived to see a lot of innovation and growth in the sport.  "Those guys are fishing for $500,000 this week," he told me in Birmingham.

An impressed, proud, observant, caretaker of our sport, Bill Wicker remembers the old days, (not necessarily the "good old" days.)  This week, The Wicker Report kicks off on ProBassAnglers.com.  It represents an unofficial history of bass fishing that includes 1st hand accounts of things that would later become the standard for what we do in our sport.  "If you look hard enough, you can find pictures of the big guys in the "olden days" weighing in stringers of bass, (as in dead fish on a stringer.)  Ray Scott got a lot of heat from locals who didn't want the tournament organizations killing their fish."  You wondered where catch and release came from?  

So when Luke Clausen claimed the first place prize of $500,000 this Summer in Birmingham, Bill Wicker saw what he had help create, he smiled and said, "this is good."  Stay Tuned.

October 18th, 2004

Its Kind Of Hard To Be In Grudge Mode-John and Tammy Morrow are about the two nicest people I know in bass fishing.  I have never heard either say a bad thing about anyone, and I know that they have both served as a mentor to Aaron Martens when Aaron's fame and fortune were coming much too fast.  It's hard to be bitter about getting beat so bad by them at last weekend's Tri-States Championship because they are just so nice.  They are very good at any of the River Lakes, in fact, I told my partner that we would all be fishing for second place if they were there.  They were, we were.  Congratulations John and Tammy.  Oh yeah, we are going to get them on the show this week and make them tell us details!

That Charlie Strong-my team partner this season is an excellent boat driver.  Thanks again Charlie for getting back (round trip 120 miles) safely and soundly and dry.

How Tough Was The Tri-States Team Championship?  (I Know, I Know, I Am Almost Over It!)-When Charlie caught our second keeper of the day on day one (at about 4:08-weigh in for us was 4:15,) that single fish moved us from 89th place to 64th place!  On day two we caught only one fish, (2-44 pounds.)  That one fish moved us up to 61st place!  When you can catch one fish on a day and still move up a couple of places in the standings, that means things were tough.

October 17th, 2004

WON BASS Tri-States-I am reminded once again about why I do radio.  My team partner, Charlie Strong and I had them figured out.  We spent the previous weekend learning the ins and outs of Southern Nevada's Lake Mojave and discovered a solid morning top water bite in the back of coves that had grass in them, (hundreds of coves like this,) and a decent worm bite on main lake cuts.  We did what we were supposed to do, we took the pattern and applied it around the lake, so going into the event we felt confident.  By the way, I believe that is what you are supposed to do, convince yourself that you have a chance.  There is no better feeling then going to bed the night before a tournament, feeling like you a have a good chance to do well, (well, experts tell me there is a better feeling, BUT YOU HAVE TO WIN THE TOURNAMENT TO KNOW WHAT THAT FEELS LIKE!)

So, without further delay, here is my top ten list as to why my partner and I finished 61st with only 5-06.  

• 10-The lake level fell over two feet the night before the tournament (it really did!)
• 9-The lake level fell another foot before day two (true-true)
• 8-We drew out 112th on day one, that really hurt our rhythm
• 7-The lake fished small
• 6-We needed the wind to blow a little to help our bite
• 5-The wind blew too much and destroyed our area 
• 4-Zebra muscles over took our area, seemingly overnight
• 3-I forgot my big fish cookies on both days
• 2-Don Laughlin kept flying over us in his sea plane and all that buzzin ruined our concentration
• 1-The flotilla of spectator boats that kept following us put the fish down, (I think they were following us!)

The bottom line is that I am a goober and didn't adjust.  We fished hard, did all of the right things, fished cranks and rip baits over grass when the wind blew, backed out to the main river channel with the falling lake level, ran sixty miles to get away from the local traffic and never quit fishing hard, in fact, on day one, Charlie caught our 2nd (we had a two fish limit,) fish on a bank just outside the marina with five minutes left.  John and Tammy Morrow fished the same lake we did and the had an incredible sack that weighed just under 17 pounds on day one and held on to win with a little over 26 pounds.  Those two are awesome.

I Have A Great Partner-I know he reads this, so I want it in the public record, I have an awesome team partner, Charlie, you did a great job, thanks for putting up with me this season.

What Has Gotten Into Paul Elias?-Paul is on an amazing roll the last couple of years.  He just won at the Tenn-Tom water way.  He did it his way bringing in a twenty pound sack the final day for only four fish. He is amazing.

October 11th, 2004

Color Is Freaking Me Out-I have long been a skeptic of placing too much importance on color in bass fishing. I believe that you go with dark colors in low light and natural colors when it is bright and the water is clear.  I have laughed in the face of those who need every variation of oxblood in their tackle box, or refused to buy a worm because the vein isn't "blue enough."  No, I believe that color just is not that important.  As long as I have plenty of  Fat Free Shad crank baits in the Citrus color, green water melon with red flake senkos and bass candy colored worms, with just the right amount of clear separating the red from the black, I will be just fine.

Ben Matsubu sheds some light on the color issue this week in our ProBassAnglers Corner articles. click here

October 6th, 2004

I'm "Reel Sorry" To Do This To You-This week's "Fishing In The Moment" I can only blame on a Full Moon.  What's that, the Full Moon was last week?  OK, then it surely must be sun spots, or volcanic rumblings.  Whatever, please accept my full apology.......Or, you can just have some fun with it.  click here

Confessions Of A Bass Fisherman-My oldest son, is completely obsessed with fishing, (I wonder where that comes from?  Must be his mother.)  For as long as I can remember, he has had this fascination with carp, probably because when we sight fish in the Spring, big carp come out of the shadows and give us both a little bit of a "jump."  Anyway, he has wanted me to take him carp fishing, and I have resisted because, a) I don't like carp, b) I know very little about carp and c) I wouldn't have the first idea about how to catch one.  We did go through this a couple of years ago with catfish, and we, (I) learned how to do that pretty well.

Recently we met up with a true carp master, (never did get his name,) who taught us that the trick is in the bread.  Bread?-its good carp bait.  The key is to toast your bread so that it stays on the hook, and then be very patient.  The bite, (at least the ones we have had,) comes on the surface and the fight?.....fagetaboudit.  The fight like supercharged locomotives.  Needless to say, the three of us, (two boys and dad,) are having a great time, because carp are in every little pond we fish.

My name is Keith Nighswonger and I am a carp fisherman.

October 3rd, 2004

Bill Wicker-is a friend of mine.  We met at the FLW Tour Championship this year.  He took interest in me as I made a side lobby of the Birmingham Sheraton into a personal office space.  When he learned who I was, he said, I'M NOT MAKING THIS UP!  "I read your web site all of the time."  I replied, "oh, so you're the one!"  Bill preceded to give me a history lesson in bass fishing.  Now, I have always been vaguely aware that the pioneers of bass fishing have made our sport into what it is today, but when you think of pioneers, you think, Bill Dance, Jimmy Houston, Hank Parker etc.  Bill Wicker has keyed me into a group of anglers that had their day in the sunlight and now watch as the seeds they sowed, bloom into this wonderful harvest.  Here is a letter that Bill sent me recently:

Home Run, Mr. Wicker!

September 30, 2004

Fishing In The Moment-In this week's "Fishing In The Moment," I discuss the dilemma that Art Ferguson faces trying to fish both tours in 2005.  At the heart of the issue is a familiar controversy, Art is a Triton guy and FLW promotes Rangers.  This all means that Art would not be able to display the names of his sponsors because they are not FLW sponsors.  The same is true the other way, BASS, although more lenient of sponsor names, is sponsored by Triton.  I wonder: Could a guy be a Triton owner on one tour, and a Ranger owner on another?  This would allow him to bring both shirts, with identical logos of other sponsors up to the weigh in stand.  It kind of sounds like a conflict of interest, but here again, it seems that the tours are making the pros have to do this.  I am waiting for the first big name pro to arrange a deal to promote a boat dealership that sells both Triton and Ranger.  A guy might have to give up the idea of being a "National Pro Team Guy," but it could be worth it from a freedom to promote yourself perspective.

September 28, 2004

Seminars-We have a couple of excellent seminars posted in our ProBassAngler's Corner section of the web site.  Art Ferguson talks about targeting big smallmouth.  His systematic approach will make a lot of sense and will help your fishing, as will Craig Workman's segment on catching largemouth in a smallmouth lake.

Victory At Sea?  Check out this picture of life on the tour.  Is this an Atlantic crossing in the dead of Winter?  No, its just business as usual, another day at the office for tour pros.  Looks like fun doesn't it.  Its stand to reason that particularly during the Fall Open events and FLW EverStarts, participants are going to have to deal with some weather at least a couple of the days that they are at the event.  Batten down the hatches!

Are You In A Bass Club?  Check out this link and get involved.  We are trying to tap into this nation's bass clubs as a source for fish catching information.  Submit us a piece and you may win some cool prizes for your bass club.  You'll be the hero!

September 27, 2004

Stock Up!-In the world of Economics, if your company was poised to double its productivity for the upcoming year, investors would be lined up to buy stock in your company.  Having just qualified for next year's FLW Pro Tour, Touring BASS Pro Art Ferguson III is now in position to double his exposure, (and the exposure he creates for his sponsors.)  This is a tremendous opportunity for a company, looking to improve its market share.  Sponsoring a two tour pro creates the ultimate opportunity for exposure as both tours have national television shows.  Forward thinking companies should not bat an eyelash when it comes to paying for exposure, they could never afford if they had to buy it directly from the tournament organization or television itself.

Be sure to read this week's "Fishing In The Moment" to get Keith Nighswonger's thoughts on the "Economics of Bass Fishing."

September 25, 2004

Ferguson Leads At Champlain-Art Ferguson III, led after the first round at Lake Champlain and yesterday stayed on them, weighing a five fish limit that went 17-11.  He takes almost a two pound lead into today's final day of the FLW Eastern EverStart Event at Lake Champlain.  Art is a good friend of our show, "On The Water," and has had a tremendous year.  Its also good to see that Terry Baksay's $80.00 investment is paying off. Baksay, of Connecticut is in fourth place with 15-11 going into today's final round.

September 24, 2004

How Good Is Lake Champlain?-Most tour pros that have fished it will tell you that New York's, Lake Champlain is the best bass lake in this country.  Plus, its full of  those hard fighting, brown bass, that most call small mouth.  When ever there is any kind of pro tour event on Champlain, regional or national, pros from around the country make the drive, plunk down the entry fee and get after it.  Here are a few names and locations of the guys fishing this week at the FLW EverStart event:   Craig Workman, Forthworth, Texas, Clark Wendlandt - Cedar Park, Tx, Nick Gainey - Charleston, SC, Warren Wyman - Calera, Al, Dion Hibdon - Stover, Mo, Joe Bennett - Independence, Mo,  That's a lot of driving.

It Paid For Itself. Terry Baksay, of Monroe, Connecticut, made the cut, finishing the first round with 16-15 and 15-13 for 32-12.  Looks like that expensive over night air lift of lures is paying for themselves.  Stay tuned.  

September 23, 2004

Keep An Eye On Terry-Tournament pro, Terry Baksay is fishing the Eastern EverStart at Lake Champlain, New York.  He has his crank baits that he had to order from California in order to get them shipped on time.  We'll see if it was a good investment.

September 22, 2004

Cool Trick-Tournament pro, Terry Bolton shared a cool night fishing tip with me the other day.  "Every one fishes the bank at night, so you have that to compete with.  I like to go out in the day, and GPS good, off shore spots.  Then, at night I return to those spots.  I like to buy those glo-sticks, (camping stores have disposalable camping lights or party stores have the glo-sticks,) and rubber-band them to my marker buoys.  From that point on, I just locate the offshore structure, drop the buoy, and go fishing."  Innovative idea.

BASS Central Open-Edwin Evers gave a text book description of how to win a tournament.  Able to catch relatively easy limits each day, Evers left biting fish to go to an area that he knew if he got bit, would produce big fish.  The result, on day one he weighed in one big fish, on day two, the area yielded two big ones, and on day three, he got his limit early and was able to spend more time on the spot, which yielded three big fish.  All totaled, he got six bites in three days on his big fish water.  The fish ranged from 3 1/2 to 7 pounds.

September 21, 2004

A Pro's Dilemma-Tournament pro, Terry Baksay had a problem, "Keith, I'm at Lake Champlain, New York getting ready for an Eastern EverStart event and I have got to find a tackle dealer in California that has some baits that I will need when the tournament starts on Thursday."

My obvious response to Terry was, why California.  On the East coast, my 4:00 pm pst was 7:00 pm est, which meant all of the tackle dealerships were closed and in order to get the baits, he would need them shipped like right now, tomorrow would be too late.

I got Terry the number to Angler's Marine, they had the baits and overnighted them to Terry.  "It cost me $80.00, but it will be worth it."  It seems the Pike in Lake Champlain have been stealing Terry's baits at an alarming rate, he is evening considering going to a wire leader. Stay Tuned.

A Pro's Dilemma Part II. Oregon Pro, Darrell Burkhardt is fishing in Spain this week as part of the US team in the Euro Cup.  He arrived the day before yesterday....His rods arrived at 2:00 PM, giving him about 4 hours on the water.  Read Darrell's journal, click here.

September 20, 2004- Here we go again, I promise to keep this going this time....until I get bogged down.

US Open-What a fantastic duel between Brent Erhler and Aaron Martens....Actually it wasn't a duel until the last day and nobody knew it was a duel until someone told Martens in the parking lot that Brent Erhler, (who trailed by just over five pounds after the 2nd of three days,) Erhler had over 11 pounds.  "With maybe seven pounds in my limit, I heard that Brent had over eleven pounds, I just went, oh no!" quoted Martens who fished conservatively the last day and had his partner lose a fish over three pounds in the combined weight event.

Martens was vaccum on his way to over 34 pounds, but Ehrler was impressive, committing to an aggressive reaction lure attack.  Erhler came up a pound short.

Top Water-After speaking with Mark Rogers on our show two weeks ago, I have committed to fishing banks at night at several lakes in So Cal.  I don't have anything over double digits yet, but I have caught several in the 4 to 6 pound range, ALL ON  TOP WATER! -Thanks Mark

Summer Is Falling-Have you noticed that the days are getting shorter?  You bass have.  Much of this country, including SoCal is settling into fall bass fishing which means, the days have shorter photo periods and the water starts to cool.  Its a great time to get out those rip baits, find the schools of shad and cover lots of water.

HELLO!-I just installed our DSL at the old homestead, WOW, does "On The Water with Keith Nighswonger sound better!

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