THE LATEST NEWS
BASS MAFIA Signs Elites for 2017
Bass Mafia has signed Bassmaster Elite Series Professionals Fred Roumbanis, Brett Hite, Jeff Kreit, Cliff Prince, and Jay Brainard to the 2017 Pro Team, who along with Elite Series rookies Gerald Spohrer and Stetson Blaylock, will utilize Bass Mafia products during the 2017 season.
They join Greg Hackney, Justin Lucas, Jacob Powroznik, Aaron Martens, Brandon Palaniuk and Shane Lineberger, who already represent Bass Mafia as they compete on the Bassmaster Elite Series, creating arguably the strongest and most accomplished Pro Team on the water.
Having this group of elite anglers providing input for the company’s future design projects is one of the ways Bass Mafia continues to set the industry standard in tackle storage options.
Bass Mafia’s product line includes specialized designs for terminal tackle, jerk baits, deep cranking baits, spinnerbaits, jigs – as well as general tackle storage. Look for these products on the 2017 Elite Series and view their catalog at www.mafiaoutdoors.com.
2017 Bassmaster Postseason Announced
The 2017 Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship will return to Mille Lacs Lake, Minnesota, Sept. 14-17. Following the AOY tournament will be the 2017 Bassmaster Classic Bracket which will take place on Pokegama Lake, Sept. 19-22, in Grand Rapids, Minn.
Photo by James Overstreet/Bassmaster
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — After a very exciting finish to the 2016 season on Minnesota’s famed Mille Lacs Lake, the 2017 Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship will return to the world-class smallmouth bass factory, Sept. 14-17.
Earning a spot in this season-ending derby is no easy accomplishment. Participation is based upon performance — specifically, the number of AOY points earned across the entire Bassmaster Elite Series season. With a $1 million purse on the line, the championship will not be won by the angler who weighs the largest limit of bass; rather, the top angler in AOY standings following the tournament will be awarded the $100,000 paycheck and title.
The decision to return to the state’s second largest inland lake of 10,000 was easy after the unprecedented output in 2016. Across the three competition days, the Top 50 anglers caught 729 bass, which produced 139 limits and amassed a total three-day weight of 2,878 pounds, 5 ounces.
New this year is a $25,000 payout for the heaviest three-day limit of bass. Also, 36 coveted berths in the 2018 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods will be awarded based on the final AOY rankings.
The full field will compete for three days, (Thursday, Friday and Sunday). Bassmaster University will take place on Saturday. The fan-appreciation day will be held in the parking lot at Grand Casino, where the pros will be giving seminars, signing autographs and engaging with fans on a personal level.
“Last year’s Bassmaster tournament showed the world what an incredible jewel Mille Lacs Lake is to the fishing community,” said Tracy Sam, general manager for Grand Casino Mille Lacs. “This championship has never been held at the same location two years in a row, so building upon last year’s success, we look forward to making the 2017 Bassmaster Angler of the Year tournament the best one yet.”
The Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship will be hosted by Grand Casino and Mille Lacs Tourism.
Marshal registration for this tournament will open May 2 at 9 a.m. CT for Life and B.A.S.S. Nation members. All B.A.S.S. members can register starting May 4 at 9 a.m. Registrations must be completed online at Bassmaster.com/elite.
Bassmaster Classic Bracket Returns
In 2016, the Bassmaster Elite Series introduced the Classic Bracket to spice up the regular-season schedule. This year, instead of having the event midseason, the live-streamed tournament will begin shortly after the conclusion of the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship on Mille Lacs Lake.
Another twist that will make the competition even more compelling is that the eight contestants vying for a Classic invitation will be the first eight just outside the Classic cut. The Bassmaster Classic Bracket tournament will provide one of the eight a last-chance invitation to the Super Bowl of bass fishing.
This year, it’s taking place at picturesque Grand Rapids, Minn., on Pokegama Lake, Sept. 19-22. Fans will be able to follow the action on Bassmaster.com via Bassmaster LIVE.
With $50,000 and a Classic spot on the line, this unique tournament style will not feature a daily weigh-in; rather each bass will be weighed by a B.A.S.S. official on the competitor’s boat and immediately released.
The contestants will be fishing for a five-bass limit from their own boats, and brackets will be set based on AOY points leading into the event.
After two days of competition, four anglers will be eliminated. The semifinal round will take place on Day 3, with the remaining anglers going head to head.
The final day will pit the remaining two anglers in a head-to-head battle. The angler with the heaviest limit will receive the majority of the $50,000 and a 2018 Bassmaster Classic berth.
“This is the first time B.A.S.S. will host a tournament on Pokegama Lake, and we are excited to show the national audience what a great fishery it is,” said Megan Christianson, executive director of Visit Grand Rapids. “Grand Rapids is a community where you will find a balance between small town charm and rich Minnesota outdoor resources. From over 1,000 lakes to fish, over 1 million public accessible forests and over 3,000 miles of groomed trails to explore. Grand Rapids is a true destination for bass anglers.
“We are pleased to welcome the Elite Series anglers vying for a berth into the most prestigious tournament, the 2018 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods.”
The Bassmaster Classic Bracket will be hosted by the City of Grand Rapids, Minn.
2017 Bassmaster Elite Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2017 Bassmaster Elite Series Premier Sponsors: Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Power-Pole, Yamaha, Berkley, Huk, Shell Rotella
2017 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: T-H Marine, Lowrance, Phoenix Boats, Shimano, Academy Sports + Outdoors, Carhartt, Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels, 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, 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.
Gerald Swindle’s Positive Mental Attitude
What is “positive mental attitude” and what does it have to do with bass fishing? 2-time Bassmaster angler-of-the-year Gerald Swindle believes staying positive in any situation can not only help you win fishing tournaments and titles, but it can make you a better person and ultimately change your life. The sport of bass fishing is humbling, compared to any other sports. Gerald Swindle shares how understanding this key aspect will help shape his 4-point wheel of balance, which is key to helping you stay positive, be a better fisherman and be a better person.
Ever ask yourself “why do bad things happen to me? I didn’t do anything to anybody”. Does intensity make a great athlete and angler? How do you respond to negative situations? Gerald shares some perspective thoughts and considerations to keeping a positive attitude when you start to feeling like the world is against you, and you can’t succeed no matter how hard you try.
Gerald Swindle also shares how perhaps our measure of success is part of the problem. Are we striving to win titles when everyone’s looking, because that’s everyone’s measure of success? How can keeping a positive attitude and being respectful, even when there’s no way you can can win a tournament, make you a better person all-around? Gerald Swindle was the first angler to win $1 million dollars, but not win an Elite Series tournament, what’s the measure of success?
Rose Wins FLW Tour in Lake Guntersville
GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. (Feb. 5, 2017) – General Tire pro Mark Rose of West Memphis, Arkansas, caught five bass Sunday weighing 18 pounds, 3 ounces to win $125,000 at the FLW Tour at Lake Guntersville presented by Lowrance. Rose’s four-day total of 20 bass weighing 79-11 gave him a 15-ounce margin of victory of second-place angler Bryan Thrift of Shelby, North Carolina.
“I knew I had found one little special area, back in Browns Creek,” said Rose, who earned his seventh career win on the Tennessee River in FLW competition. “I just had that gut feeling that it would be special. Nobody else was back there and when I went there on the first day nobody came within a mile of it. I fished other areas, some grass, but all 20 of the bass that I weighed in came out of Browns Creek.
“I figured out a bait that they were just swallowing – an old Strike King Flat Side crankbait, part of their custom shop,” Rose said. “I was using the chartreuse and brown and a shad color. I just switched to the shad today – I made one cast with it and caught my last fish, a 5-pounder. That was at 3:15 and I had to check in by 3:30.
“I fished slow, and just keyed in on rock. I didn’t even make a cast under the bridges. I knew that there were a lot of scattered big fish up and down the rip rap and I’d let everybody else fight on the pilings.”
Rose and Thrift had found themselves in a similar situation at the 2014 FLW Tour at Sam Rayburn Reservoir. In that event Rose held a 2-pound, 14-ounce lead over Thrift heading into the final day of competition, but lost when the North Carolina pro caught 17 pounds to overtake Rose and win the $125,000. Sunday at Lake Guntersville, Rose caught enough to hold off the hard-charging Thrift.
“Any time Bryan Thrift is in the top 10, it’s going to be close,” Rose said. “I felt like I slipped up the last day and lost that Rayburn event. This one, I made Thrift have to beat me. If you want to win you’re going to have to beat the best, and he’s one of them.”
The top 10 pros finished the tournament:
1st: General Tire pro Mark Rose, West Memphis, Ark., 20 bass, 79-11, $125,000
2nd: Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., 20 bass, 78-12, $30,200
3rd: Alex Davis, Albertville, Ala., 20 bass, 72-10, $25,100
4th: Scott Suggs, Alexander, Ark., 20 bass, 68-9, $20,000
5th: Yamamoto Baits pro Shinichi Fukae, Palestine, Texas, 20 bass, 68-4, $19,000
6th: Brandon Cobb, Greenwood, S.C., 20 bass, 64-10, $18,000
7th: Livingston Lures pro Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., 20 bass, 62-14, $17,000
8th: Christopher Brasher, Longview, Texas, 19 bass, 62-9, $16,000
9th: Justin Atkins, Florence, Alabama, 19 bass, 61-15, $15,000
10th: Chris McCall, Palmer, Texas, 18 bass, 55-12, $14,000
For a full list of results visit FLWFishing.com.
Overall there were 47 bass weighing 155 pounds, 1 ounce caught by pros Sunday. Eight of the final 10 pros weighed in five-bass limits.
Jeff Ragsdale of Gardendale, Alabama, won the co-angler division and $20,000 Friday with a two-day total of nine bass weighing 30 pounds, 6 ounces, followed by Benjie Seaborn of Guin, Alabama, who finished in second place with eight bass weighing 24 pounds, 9 ounces worth $7,500.
In FLW Tour competition, pros and co-anglers are randomly paired each day, with pros supplying the boat, controlling boat movement and competing against other pros. Co-anglers fish from the back deck against other co-anglers. The full field of 330 anglers competes Thursday and Friday. Co-angler competition concludes following Friday’s weigh-in, while the top 20 pros based on their two-day accumulated weight advance to Saturday. Only the top 10 pros continue competition Sunday, with the winner determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from the four days of competition.
Throughout the season, anglers are also vying for valuable points in hopes of qualifying for the 2017 Forrest Wood Cup, the world championship of professional bass fishing. The 2017 Forrest Wood Cup will be on Lake Murray in Columbia, South Carolina, Aug. 11-13.
The FLW Tour at Lake Guntersville presented by Lowrance was hosted by the Marshall County Convention and Visitors Bureau. The next event for FLW Tour anglers will be the FLW Tour at Lake Travis presented by Quaker State, Feb. 16-19 in Jonestown, Texas.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing.
About FLW
FLW is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, providing anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to compete for millions in prize money in 2017 across five tournament circuits. Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, with offices in Minneapolis, FLW conducts more than 274 bass-fishing tournaments annually across the United States and sanctions tournaments in Canada, China, Mexico, South Africa and South Korea. FLW tournament fishing can be seen on the Emmy-nominated “FLW” television show, broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, while FLW Bass Fishing magazine delivers cutting-edge tips from top pros. For more information visit FLWFishing.com and follow FLW at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat: @FLWFishing.
Andy Montgomery talks Jig Skipping
Andy Montgomery is one of the top jig skippers in the country. There is no substitute for practice and time on the water but having the right equipment is critical as well. Dock skipping is a game of inches, the correct presentation can be the difference in a livewell full of big green fish and coming home empty handed. Here is a look at the tools Montgomery relies on.