THE LATEST NEWS
Magnum Caffeine Shad Rigging Tip
Keith Combs was a little secretive when it came to sharing this rigging tip for the Strike King Magnum Caffeine Shad. When conditions get tough try this tip, big bass can’t resist this technique.
Check out the entire Strike King line up here.
John Crews Introduces the New “48”
Elite Series Pro John Crews introduces the latest offering from Missile Baits. The new “48” is going to be a versatile stick bait that can be fished effectively in multiple situations. Here is what John had to say about this new bait.
James Watson Gains Sponsorship from POLICE SECURITY® Flashlights
James Watson Professional angler will be representing Police Security® Flashlights Extreme™ Collection
Police Security® Flashlights is one of the fastest growing flashlight manufacturers in North America. They began with a full line of tactical flashlights and have expanded the brand into multiple collections: POLICE SECURITY® eXtreme™, Elite ™, and SMART LED™. With a consumer driven approach to product development, Police Security® offers the very latest in lighting technology, featuring the highest quality Cree® LED chips. Most of the flashlights feature rugged, tactical designs and are made with heavy-duty, architectural grade aluminum.
James Watson will be promoting the eXtreme collection and it’s series of dependable flashlights targeted towards anglers, hunters and outdoor enthusiasts. Watson, an FLW Tour, FLW Costa, BASS Opens and Major League Fishing angler will be running the eXtreme wrap with pride. James Watson has many career wins with the PAA, BASS Central Opens and most recently the FLW Invitational this past October on Norris Lake. As a former US Army Drill Sergeant with a business background, he has the full understanding of growth, branding and promotions. He intends on using this knowledge to fuel his relationship with Police Security Flashlights.
Watson’s unique personality allows him to connect with fans on and off the water. Watson is ecstatic to be able to represent Police Security on the road and says, “I can’t wait to show my friends and fans how different Police Security Flashlights are compared to others! I love using the headlamp when I have to rig tackle in the dark.”
Police Security has quickly become one of the major flashlight brands on the walls of major US retailers and is headed to all boats near you!
Their flashlights are durable, bright and ready for your next adventure. Join Watson at any FLW Tour event for giveaways, ninja skills, purchasing options and maybe a game of flashlight tag!
For more information follow along with Extreme Flashlights on Facebook (Police Security Flashlights, Twitter (@psflashlights) and Instagram (policesecurityflashlights)
To keep up with James Watson follow along on Facebook (James Watson Professional Angler), Twitter (@jameswatsonfish) and Instagram (@therealjameswatson).
McClelland Wins On Table Rock Again
BRANSON, Mo. — There is just no place like home for Bassmaster Elite Series pro Mike McClelland.
Photo by James Overstreet/Bassmaster
Although he resides in Bella Vista, Ark., McClelland could consider Table Rock Lake his home waters since he spent so much time fishing there as a kid while staying at his grandparents’ property near the lake. He relied on his extensive experience on Table Rock to win the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Central Open today, with a three-day total weight of 44 pounds, 4 ounces.
The win was his second B.A.S.S. victory on Table Rock, which earned him the top prize of a Triton 19XP/Mercury 200 Pro XS rig valued at $45,000, along with $8,491 in cash and a berth in the 2018 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods if he fishes the remaining two Opens. The Arkansas pro also won the 2014 Bassmaster Elite event at Table Rock.
The first two days McClelland had success keeping his boat in 45 to 50 feet of water and throwing a Cabela’s 3.4 Finesse Swimmer swimbait with a 1/4-ounce underspin jighead to bass holding in standing timber 25- to 32-feet deep. McClelland credited his Garmin Panoptix electronics for helping him see the bass he was catching from the trees. He also caught some shallower fish on a Spro McStick stickbait and a Spro Rock Crawler crankbait.
“The wind killed me (today),” McClelland said. “It was gusting straight down the stretch I was fishing, and I never could get a good angle to fish the trees I was keying on. The Panoptix had allowed me to back off the trees and see exactly where the trees were. I could watch my bait come over the tops of the trees where the fish were coming up. But when I had all that wind and all that turbulence, I couldn’t stay steady enough to know where to throw.”
Largemouth bass made up the bulk of his catch the first two days, but he caught only spotted bass today. He finally abandoned his deep fish in the afternoon and switched to the McStick stickbait to complete his limit weighing 13-5.
After a tough first day, Bassmaster Elite Series pro Josh Bertrand put together two solid days to finish second in the pro division with 43-1. The Gilbert, Ariz., angler weighed in only four bass the first day, but he bounced back with 18- and 17-pound limits respectively the next two days. Yesterday, he found all of his bass relating to two pods of shad.
“Today we went out looking for shad,” he said. “They were in different areas, but we found two more groups and had two really good flurries.”
Bertrand said he caught bass in deep water (down to 30 feet) vertical fishing with a Berkley Gulp Minnow on a drop shot rig. He also caught bass about 10 feet deep on a Berkley 4-inch Beat Shad swimbait with a 1/4-ounce jighead and another thicker bodied swimbait on a 3/8-ounce jighead.
Other anglers finishing in the Top 5 of the pro division were Drew Sloan, Scurry, Texas, third place, 42-14; Roy Hawk, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., fourth, 42-5; and Pete Wenners, Galena, Mo., fifth, 41-15.
Throwing a 2.8-inch Keitech, Swing Impact Fat swimbait on a 3/16-ounce Owner jighead helped 26-year-old Brian Murphy of Sulphur, La., win the co-angler division with 19-7. The Lake Charles Tackle Shop employee received the first-place prize of a $30,000 Nitro Z18/Mercury 150 Pro XS package.
The Phoenix Boats Big Bass Award of $750 on the pro side went to Ernie Stumpf III of Frisco, Texas, with a 6-1 largemouth. Brian Murphy weighed in a 5-3 largemouth to earn the Phoenix Boats Big Bass Award of $250 on the co-angler side.
Randy Sullivan of Breckenridge, Texas, received the Livingston Lures Leader Award of $250 for finishing as the top pro on Day 2. Finishing as the Day 2 leader on the co-angler side, Mike Jones of Fayetteville, Ark., received a Livingston Lures gift pack worth $250.
McClelland also earned the Power-Pole Captain’s Cash Award of $500.
2017 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series Title Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops
2017 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2017 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series Premier Sponsors: Mercury, Power-Pole, Shell Rotella, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha, Berkley, Huk, Humminbird
2017 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series Supporting Sponsors: Lowrance, Carhartt, Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels, T-H Marine, Phoenix Boats, Shimano, Livingston Lures
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), television show (The Bassmasters on ESPN2), social media programs and events. For more than 45 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation presented by Magellan, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Costa Bassmaster High School Series presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods, Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods.
Prince Still Hauling Home Cash from Okeechobee
Florida pro Cliff Prince had a great tournament at Lake Okeechobee. He finished 3rd and won $20,000 from B.A.S.S., but his 28-year allegiance to Toyota has lead to even more cash dividends.
As a result of being the highest finishing registered participant in the Toyota Bonus Bucks Program, Prince got paid $3,000 from Toyota.
“I’ve had Toyota Trucks since 1989 for hunting, fishing and work,” says Prince.
“There’s no doubt when I heard about the Bonus Bucks program, back when I was fishing as a co-angler in the Elites, I knew I’d buy a new model Tundra, I already loved Toyota, and Bonus Bucks is a really cool program for tournament fishermen,” says Prince.
Prince’s loyalty to Toyota doesn’t stop in freshwater. “I also love my Tundra because I can pull my 30-foot Contender saltwater boat with it, without having to buy a big diesel.”
“I think you could make the world turn on its axis if you had a rope, a post, and a gopher hole, to pull the globe around in circles with a Toyota Tundra,” grinned the Palatka, Florida pro, whose primary sponsor is tractor sales and service dealer called Futch’s Depot.
“We’re just a Toyota family,” says Prince. “My daughter is about to start driving, and we’ve already got a Camry to use as her first car.”
Like Cliff, you don’t have to win a tournament to win the “Bonus Bucks” – you just have to be a registered participant in any of the dozens of tournaments sanctioned by Bonus Bucks, and be the highest-placing participant. To learn more and get signed-up, please visit http://www.toyotatrucksbonusbucks.com/ or phone (918) 742-6424, and ask for Jessica or Kendell and they can also help you get signed-up.