This is the only BassBlaster of the week bass-heads! Hope you and yours decimate a turkey, get some relaxin’ done and maybe even some fishin’. I am thankful for YOU. Imagine that (lol). THANK YOU for readin’!
Today’s Top 5
Caught by John Miles, a vet, on Veteran’s Day, which was also his birthday. How awesome is that?
Said it weighed 6+, caught on the Tennessee River near Moccasin Bend. Current TN record is 6-01 caught in Chickamauga.
> …using one of his own custom rods [and] a Charlie Brewer’s Slider 1.5″ Slider Grub Swimbait. [1.5″??]
> “I looked at it and thought about [trying to certify it]. But I just decided I didn’t want to risk killing it for a state record. I don’t have an ego about that kind of stuff. We have such a great resource…I just decided to put it back and maybe let someone else catch it.”
#stout
– Uh, well, I uh…not sure what to say about this…lol. Funny, right Kev?
Okay maybe not?…. It’s a Southern Plastics dude talkin‘ ’bout making different types of soft-plastic baits. More gems from that article:
> Since flavors like garlic and/or coffee are added to certain baits as taste test is required. Yes, inspectors actually taste the lure to ensure the proper flavor. [So these baits needed to taste right to people??]
> …their top selling lure is the 5-inch Stiko for Bass Pro. The lure comprises about 34% of the sales from Bass Pro. [Dang!]
Southern Plastics makes plastic baits for many folks.
Lots of talk on the intertainmentwebz but far as I can tell 67.5 cm and 6575 g = 26.57″ and 14.5 lbs. Still a hoss!
On the other end of the spectrum:
Dude! Mick how ’bout eating some MEAT mang!
Here they are…lol:
Word is this will be the winning bait at the Classic.
Yeah…no.
News
1. Christie staying in garage for Classic.
> “I’ve got a buddy who has a 10-by-10 apartment in his garage and that’s where I’m going to stay. I just want to limit the distractions and focus on what’s in front of me.”
Says he’s ready this time. Jason is one of those guys who actually may not enjoy the hype. He’s all about the fishing. Bet on him being ready. Here’s the place he’s staying:
2. Scroggins giving away One Knocker setup.
- 5 Booyah One Knocker lipless crankbaits
- one of my 6:3:1 Lew’s Speed Spools
- a couple spools of 15-lb Hi-Seas fluorocarbon
- and a 7 ft medium action Duckett Fishing White Ice rod
Here’s Scroggins’ rod box — don’t think he’ll miss one:
3. ‘Nother Chapman Pro vs Joe.
Chapmaniac is fishin’ against a younger dude wearin’ a set of bell bottoms like my homie Zakk Wylde!
Here’s Zakk tearing it up on an acoustic: Machine Gun Man! Dude’s got some pipes too.
4. What Dennis TJ does in a duck blind…
…when the ducks ain’t a-flyin:
Here’s a vid of him catchin’ one from the blind.
6. FLWer Rose gets Buck Knives.
7. Southern Open champ declines Elites.
Timing and $$$.
8. don barone spent time in body cast…
…in his youth. No wonder the guy writes so well about pain. You would know this stuff if you had the db app, available on:
9. Jimmy Houston TV starts on Thanksgiving.
10. No more MLF Extended Cast.
> Because of our airtime restrictions, we created Extended Cast where we could broadcast our 2-hr shows. Fortunately, this year (for the first time) we were able to air 2-hr episodes on TV! Since we are now able to air our 2-hr shows, we no longer have a need to offer them on Extended Cast.
11. Giant Salvinia found on Lake Fork.
It’s official.
12. Pradco buys Norman Lures.
Pradco owns Booyah, Yum, Heddon and many other brands, most recently bought Bandit too. #powerhouse
Norman has been a bit dormant media-wise for a while so this should be a good thing for the brand and baits. Also Bill Norman started at Pradco peeps so it’s full circle.
> “I guess there comes a day in everyone’s life when you look forward to retiring,” Norman’s Dick Nethers said. “We truly believe PRADCO will take Norman to the next level of technological advances, product innovation and personal customer service.”
13. Bass Pro buying Cabela’s talk increasing.
> Bass Pro has been working with an investment bank on a potential offer of its Nebraska-based publicly traded competitor, according to these reports.
That means absolutely nothing because Cabela’s owners can just say no, so we’ll see. Heard another rumor, won’t repeat it here, that Bass Pro is talking to someone else too….
14. TN: Chick hype benefiting whole county.
15. TX: 2016 Bass Champs schedule.
16. MI: Adrian College counting on bassin’.
Yo Adrian! [Name that movie.]
17. LA HS senior organizes bass derby for friend…
…with cancer. Wow, that’s awesome.
18. KY: Girls bassin’ at Boyle County HS.
#girlpower
19. Best coldwater crank ever: Rapala Shad Rap.
Wired2Scout just figured this out, but it’s been true for like 170 years! lol
20. Strike King Sexy Dawg, oyster color.
Git one on TackleWarehouse here.
21. New Kistler Magnesium 2 rods.
Among other things: Made in USA, Winn Grip handles, Microwave guides, Fuji reel seats. Believe they’re only available on the Kistler website right now.
_____
Tip of the Day
This part of bassin’ fascinates me. It’s WAY more important than most realize. The combination of rod, line and hookset motion is hugely key, and should be refined. Obviously it’s the part when you either hook the fish or not, so…when’s the last time you adjusted your hookset, like a batter or golfer or QB or whatever adjusts his form? You probably should. I know I should.
> “Early on, the biggest mistake that I’ve made is rushing the hook set. Now every time I get a bit, I make sure that everything is right. I do a better job when I actually take the slack out of the line and feel the fish get tight before I set the hook, regardless of the technique.”
> He shudders to think of the dollars lost due to exaggerated hook sets that resulted in straightened hooks and broken line.
> Hackney suggest anglers be more deliberate when they feel the bite – the fish is not going to let go of the bait. [This is wild thinking.]
> He points to numerous times during practice that he’s tried to shake fish off that refuse to let go. Yet during the tournament, the fish would rob him of the bait or get off on the hook set.
> “When I put a little pressure on those fish [in practice], if they didn’t have it that well, it would cause them to crush the bait. They can’t reason that there’s a fisherman on the end of their line. What they’re thinking is whatever they’ve caught is trying to get away so rather than blow it out, they’ll crush it.”
> Hackney’s process involves retrieving the slack and taking the stretch out of the line during the early part of the hook set. He’ll let the fish load up the rod and the instant everything gets tight and the fish starts to pull, he’s swinging the rod across his body and following through while turning with his waist and upper body.
> He prefers a cross-body hook set because swinging overhead doesn’t facilitate a proper follow through and the resulting leverage.
> “If I swing on one and miss him, I’ll spook him to the point that he won’t bite again. So I wait a little longer. If he spits out before I get the hook set, chances are, he’ll get the chance to bite again.”
Quote of the Day
It’s a small career field — and very difficult to break into — but if he can do it, he will stand to make a very good living.
– Guy writing about a 13-yo aspiring bassin’ pro. But, uh…not really. First part (small), check. Second part (difficult), check. But…very good living?
> “He’s got college recruiters calling him already, that want him to fish on college fishing teams, and he’s only in 9th grade.” [Srsly??]
Shot of the Day
I don’t usually want to be someone else, but when I do:
Dang son!
Random
Algae engineered to kill cancer cells.
Guess those one-celled suckers ain’t so bad…sometimes?
New smaller ad sizes
For smaller companies
Lemme know…
Jay Kumar is the guy who created BassFan, co-hosted Loudmouth Bass with Zona, was a B.A.S.S. senior writer and a whole lot more in bassin’. His BassBlaster is a daily-ish roundup of the best in bassin’, and is the #2 or #3 daily read on any given day in the wide world o’ bass. Also available as an app:
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