Month: August 2008

Belittling BassMaster Magazine Article – Co-Anglers are just “Fans” who Get in the Way of Pros

So, I got my new copy of BassMaster Magazine the other day and flipped through it. One of the first articles I came across was titled "From Co-Angler to Caddie"

It was an article written by James Hall, an editor for the magazine, and I feel it comes across in poor taste.

It was written in a very disrespectful way and I have to say I was surprised it made it to print.The premise of the article was that the BassMaster organization is planning on eliminating the Co-Angler positions in all Elite Series tourneys in 2009; kind of a surprise to me.
Here is how the article starts

"Imagine this: Tiger woods on the 18th green, lining up for a 20-foot putt that would give him a tour victory by one stroke. His backswing is steady, contact is solid,follow –through true. As the ball slowly breaks left, and then right (just as he had expected), the shot appears to be the stuff perfection is made of. Then just before clattering into the cup, the ball is accidently kicked into a sand trap by a fan happening by."

According to James almost all the elite series pros he has talked with say this scenario happens pretty often.

This got me roped into the article (good job there, James)
He went on to give reasons why elite series anglers were irritated by the ($750 paying) co-anglers. (I just figured I would throw that out there; Not chump change for most. In fact it cost more to fish as a co-angler in the elite series than it cost me to fish as a pro out west).
Beside the point – or is it?

Some of the reasons the anglers were unhappy

1.      Sometimes co-anglers want to prove themselves to the pros and try and out fish them.

2.      When fishing off shore the co-angler might have a chance to catch a fish that could have been caught by the pro.

3.       Some pros learned from their co- anglers.

4.      Oh the money they’ve spent (as if the co-anglers had nothing to lose).
 
This is where I felt it got ugly. It went on to describe these co-anglers as “fans”, "sporting tattoos of leaping bass, naming their children after past BassMaster Anglers of the year and asking the BASS brass if they can propose to their girlfriend on stage of the Bass Master Classic"
 
Wow. Way to publicly belittle your fans/readers/clientele/whole-basis-for-the-sport-making-money.
 
The tattoo one really cracks me up. The first thing to pop into my head is mike "Ike" –
Last time I checked he was "sporting" a tattoo of a jumping bass during his Classic win!
And as for the other comments – Dude, I know some people out west in particular that fish as Co-anglers who could out fish some of the Pros on the Elite series. Plain and simple, some of these (I don't know whether to call them fans or co-angler now) are not just a bunch of yahoos off the street.
 
How many of the Pros on the Elite series started in the back seat? I would have to say a lot.
 
I just expected a little better writing form a magazine such as this.
 
As far as the decision to eliminate co-anglers on this particular tournament goes, I can see both sides. However, I do not think it is good form to poke fun at the expense of your readers, or co-anglers, or both.

Here are a couple links for more info. Greg Hackney

B.A.S.S Forum

Looks like B.A.S.S will have to change the name of there Tournaments from the Elte Series to the Elitist Series.

Help Don Moorman Get to the HBC 3 at Lake Amistad Texas

Don moorman

Don Moorman, a great guy who has contributed quite a bit to the swimbait community over the years out here in the west needs your help.

Most of you know him as Bassindon69 on all of the bass fishing forums.

Here is the storey told by Cal from Tackle tour

"Our very own Bassindon69 would like very much to fish the HBC Tourney coming up this fall at Amistad. You've read his story on our forum regarding the first two events:

viewtopic.php?f=35&t=31753

The HBC organizers have really upped the ante – literally – for the third event including some changes in the format which we will not get into here. Bottom line is, Don can't make this event without a little help. He's certainly too proud to ask for it himself, but unfortunately, he knows me and one or two other individuals who have been PM'ing me about trying to do something.

TackleTour is full of big money spending individuals. The Enthusiast forum takes the prize for this certainly, but the Swimbait forum guys are probably not far behind. Of course, many of us are party to both these forums and many of the others.

Don on the other hand hangs out to share his knowledge and techniques with all of us when he really stands nothing to gain from it. He's not a guide, he's not baitmaker, he just likes to chase big fish and teach everyone else what works and doesn't work for him. Witness our day on the water together where he shared with us his double hudd rigging technique.

http://www.tackletour.com/reviewmoormandoublehudd.html

How about we pool some money together and help pay Don back with at least a partial sponsorship so he can represent? Our goal is to raise at least $1000 (partial sponsor) and as much as $3000 (full ride) to help Don on his way.

Contribute anyway you feel you can by making a statement in cash donation here, or putting up an item in the for sale forum with proceeds clearly stated to go straight to Don's TackleTour HBC3 Fund. State the final sale amount here so we can keep a tally.

So who's in?"

Bait photos me in shop crappie 033

Here is what I am going to do:

I have an unreleased slow rate of fall Trout Pattern Snack Size Trout Swimbait that would retail for $80.00, if it were for sale in stores. I will sell it to the first person who e-mails me or leaves a comment this post, and I will donate the $80 to help Don.

This bait is Bad Ass and has a rate of fall of about 1 foot every 3 seconds. It is the ultimate clear water reservoir hard bait.

So go ahead – email me

 

                              

                             

 

8 Things You Can Do to Save Gas While Boating

With the cost of fuel rising all of us are aware of how much a day on the water can add up. Here are a few suggestions to keep cash in your wallet longer - or at least until you walk in the tackle shop anyway.

1) Plan ahead: Choose a launch spot close to where you want to fish.

2) Get a fishing buddy – the same thing that works in the commuter lane on the freeway works on the water. One boat costs half as much as two. Here is an educational video.

3) Keep the weight down - how many friggin' colors of robo worms do you need anyway? A lighter bass boat is a more efficient bass boat. Close your live well before you get in the water. Water weight in the live well can really add up at over 8 lbs. per gallon, so don’t fill it up unless you need it. If you can, keep less gas in the boat tank. If my boat holds 50 gallons, and I only need 25 – that’s over 200 pounds of dead weight.

4) Consider your prop – a prop that’s been damaged and not running in a completely smooth action through the water can take more energy to move. 

5) Stay on the trolling motor while you can.

6) Control your speed. According to some sources, you’ll use half as much gas at 45 MPH as at 65 MPH with a 225 HP outboard. Slow down – you're not a Nascar driver, whats the hurry anyway?

7)Don’t idle at the dock or launch ramp. That's just wasting gas.

8) Get a motor tune –up; if you are running an older 2 stroke motor a few small things like changing the plugs and or corroded leads can conserve gas by burning more efficiently.

If none of this helps buy a float tube and stop bitching.

Out of Control Swimbait Boxes- Under Control

Over the last couple years my swim bait collection has become a problem in my boat.

All of these baits are huge and take up a lot of room, sometimes only getting a few in one box; this can be a huge waist of space. Being compulsive and not wanting to mix lure types in any of my boxes I ended up with a lack of space in my lure locker.

I just recently went on a cleaning rampage and found a couple inexpensive boxes that really helped me control the mess.

There are a lot of expensive boxes and bags out there these days but I needed something that fit my existing system of Plano type boxes, Besides I use my swimbaits I am not looking to display them.

I have two types of boxes I use for all my different types of swimbaits. One is the Plano "2-3731" this box is about 3 inches deep and has no compartments it is all open. As you can guess you can fit a hell of a lot of shit in this one.

DSC_0020  There are two layers of 5" and 6" baits in this box

The other is a sturdy Box I found at Osh or "Orchard Supply Hardware". It is made by a company called "A Myers Industries" this is a 3 compartment box that will hold up to nine 8” Hudds no problem. These boxes are only around ten bucks.

DSC_0022 

I am sure over the next couple years we will be seeing a lot more boxes specifically designed for the storage of swimbaits, however I am quite happy with what I have going here. I would much rather spend my money on Baits than boxes to keep them in.

New Delta Rats By Jerry Rago

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So if you have not figured this out yet, I am a swimbait junkie.

I was delivering a batch of my baits today at Outdoor Pro Shop in Rhonert Park, when I noticed a box on the ground full of Rago Rats.

This of course sparked my interest, and then I realized that they were the new Delta Rats I had heard about.

Well needless to say a couple hundred bucks later I was on my way with a hand full of new swimbaits.
These things just came out are going to go faster than I think they can even get them up on their website

They also have a few of the original Big Sewer Rats, I picked up the one Baby Bass one they had (sorry).

I took a photo of the Big Delta Rat next to a Big Lunker Punker to give an Idea of the size. The big one is 6 ½” and the smaller is 5”.

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Give them a call at (707)588-8033
They should have them up on their website in the next day or so - however they will go quick.

MonsterTackle

Possible- New Snack Size Trout Color

JSJ Glow trout 004
I want to get some feedback on this color scheme.
I think it obviously would be a great night color; charge it up and cast it out, Fish would have an easy time seeing it

JSJ Glow trout 002

It just looks freaking cool as well.

More Snack Size Swimbait posts on The Wired Angler:

New on the Horizon, The Snack Size Bluegill

Snack Size Hitch Takes 2nd Place at the HBC Clear Lake

TackleTour Lure Preview of the Snack Size Swimbaits – Updated

Snack Size Trout Takes 3rd at Won Bass Clear Lake Swimbait Tourney

NewsFlash: Snack Size Shad Wins on Clear Lake

New Snack Size Trout swimbait color

Fishing the Snack Size Trout Swimbait

A Closer Look at the Snack Size Trout

TyLures Kicker Trout 8” Swimbait

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Being a bait maker I am always interested in trying other people’s baits. I find it fascinating to see other people’s ideas and innovations all come together.

It is also very fun to take a new bait you have never used before and see what makes it tick, by learning how to fish it best.

I went out with a friend the other day to do some taping of one of my prototype bluegill baits in action. This will be up online very shortly here just as soon as it gets edited together.

Anyway he brought along a couple of The TyLure Kicker Trout baits in the 8” floater and sinking versions.

The first thing I noticed about Tyler’s baits are the paint jobs – or more like 'glitter jobs'. Coming from the world of custom bikes, I can appreciate the Bling, as I have spent many hours spraying glitter onto motorcycle tanks such as this memorial bike for Johnny Chop at Custom Design Studios in Novato (before I left to follow other dreams).

IMG_2814

Back to the swimbait: the next thing I noticed was that it was very strongly built, which is a plus in my book. It also has a unique hook-keep for the former treble hook, now a double hook, nestled on the front portion of the bait – interesting, I thought. The rear and bottom fins are made of really strong durable plastic and there is a second eyelet for a second treble on the mid-section of the bait.

To be honest, when I saw the bait I was not immediately sold. I have a habit of picking out everything I see wrong with something before I see the positive aspects (sort of my character I guess).

The floater really came to life when it hit the water. It has amazing action. Not too many baits do this, but even at rest the bait moves just ever so slightly. A good trait I would say. I was also able to make the bait do a number of cool things. I think a lot of people really don't play around with retrieves enough; I like to spice it up.

The slow sinker has a pretty good cadence to it, it can be twitched and paused for some good results or burned down slightly which gives it sort of a subtle action which I would describe as close to an original AC Plug.

I highly recommend getting a hold of one of Tyler’s baits. He not only has the 8” Trout, but a 6” Trout and a 5” Pan Fish series. Check them out: TyLures