THE LATEST NEWS
Smith Lake Open Pre Game Report
Sam George and Alton Jones jr, check in with a pre game report from stop number two of the Bassmaster Central Opens. find out how they expect it to play out.
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Live Coverage Of Bass Fishing Reaches Record Audience
A “Bassmaster Live” camera followed legendary angler Rick Clunn on the final day of the Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River presented by Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels. Clunn took home the trophy with a four-day total weight of 81-15. Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — When live, on-the-water coverage of the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro debuted in 2015, producer Mike McKinnis predicted fans would be “blown away” by the video that would be streamed through their computers and mobile devices.
They were. Video plays of “Classic LIVE” programming during the Greenville Classic grew each day, totaling 312,622 after three days, for a total of 9.9 million minutes viewed.
But even McKinnis, the longtime producer of the award-winning The Bassmasters TV show on ESPN2, could not have predicted the boom in popularity of live-streamed fishing action a year later.
The 2016 version of “Classic LIVE,” streamed from Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees, Oklahoma, on Bassmaster.com, earned 416,381 video plays, an increase of 33 percent. Minutes viewed during the three-day event reached nearly 12 million, a 19 percent increase over 2015.
The “LIVE” momentum has carried over into the start of the 2016 Bassmaster Elite Series, with video plays and minutes viewed more than doubling during the Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River presented by Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels March 17-20, compared to the season-opening Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River presented by STARK Cultural Venues in Orange, Texas, a year ago.
“This is nothing short of amazing,” said B.A.S.S. CEO Bruce Akin. “Not only were the total minutes viewed in Florida this year for Saturday and Sunday up 100 percent over the first Elite last year, but the minutes viewed are up 145 percent over the average minutes from the six regular-season Elites in 2015 during which we ran ‘Bassmaster LIVE’ for three days.”
“Bassmaster LIVE” is made possible by an investment in new technology built into the same high definition cameras used for The Bassmasters on ESPN2 that enables them to stream on-the-water video through cell service to Bassmaster.com. As many as eight videographers are deployed with the leaders after the first round of fishing in each Elite event. Live streams typically run for six hours, beginning at about 7:30 a.m. each day.
“Having a year of ‘Bassmaster LIVE’ under our belts, we expected more fans to be watching in 2016,” McKinnis said, “but wow! Our fans really do want to consume the Bassmasters live, and we’re just getting started.”
The St. Johns event drew 119,096 video plays on Saturday (Day 3) and 166,319 on Sunday, increases of 116 percent and 122 percent, respectively, over the Sabine River streams from those days in 2015.
Part of the increase can be attributed to the incredible come-from-behind victory of legendary angler Rick Clunn, who bagged a five-bass limit weighing 31 pounds, 7 ounces on the third day to take the lead at the St. Johns, Akin noted.
“But that would have had an effect only on the final day, when a ‘Bassmaster LIVE’ camera was assigned to Clunn,” he said. “He wasn’t on anybody’s radar — or video — until the end of the weigh-in on the third day.”
Clunn, who chalked up his 15th victory March 20 at age 69, has won an incredible four Bassmaster Classic championships in his 42-year career as a professional bass fisherman. Fans can watch his historic feat when The Bassmasters TV program on the St. Johns Elite premieres Sunday, April 24, on ESPN2. (Check Bassmaster.com for program times.)
The 2016 GEICO Bassmaster Classic “Winner’s Circle” program premieres this Sunday, April 3, on ESPN2, while an additional five hours of original programming on the 2016 Classic will air on the ESPN Classic channel on Sunday, April 10, and Sunday, April 17.
In addition to the video and television coverage of Bassmaster Elite Series events, fans can follow the action on Bassmaster.com through the BASSTrakk live leaderboard, timely updates and photos from marshals and roving reporters on the water and live streamed weigh-ins each afternoon.
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, B.A.S.S. Nation, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Costa Bassmaster High School Series, Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro.
Zoom Releases New 3.5″ Z Craw Jr.
130-308 California 420
Central Conference Opener Set For Table Rock Lake
KIMBERLING CITY, Mo. (March 29, 2016) – FLW College Fishing is headed to Table Rock Lake April 9 for the first of three regular-season stops in the Central Conference. A full field of college teams will be competing for a top award of $2,000 and a berth into the 2017 College Fishing National Championship.
“Table Rock offers a lot of opportunities to catch big bass,” said Walmart FLW Tour pro James Watson, of Nixa, Missouri. “There’s a lot of color in the water so it’s going to be a great tournament for moving baits.
“The spawning flats will likely play a big role in this event,” Watson continued. “If the water clears up and the temperature continues to rise, there could be some strong sight-fishing areas in coves, especially in the James River. Also, if the water clarity is there, I see a fast-moving jerkbait doing well near bluff-ends.”
In addition to jerkbaits, Watson said that crankbaits and spinnerbaits will likely dominate the field.
“Red or brown-colored crankbaits will be a good bet,” said Watson. “Spinnerbaits in chartreuse and white varieties should catch them as well.”
Watson finished by saying that he expects the winning team to weigh in a five-bass limit nearing 18 pounds.
Anglers will take off from Port of Kimberling Marina, located at 72 Marina Way in Kimberling City, at 6:30 a.m. CST Saturday. Weigh-in will be held at the marina beginning at 2:30 p.m. Takeoff and weigh-in are free and open to the public.
Schools are allowed to register up until the morning of the tournament. Entries may be made either by phone or at CollegeFishing.com. Schools currently registered to compete in the Table Rock Lake tournament, which is hosted by the Table Rock Lake Chamber of Commerce, include:
Bellarmine University – James Kuhns, Louisville, Ky., and Joseph Allgeier, Bardstown, Ky.
Bellarmine University – Matthew Smith, Bardstown, Ky., and Kathleen Guice, Chattanooga, Tenn.
Bellarmine University – Patrick Clark and Trevor Hulsey, both of Louisville, Ky.
Bemidji State University – Thor Swanson and Mitchell Swanson, both of Blaine, Minn.
Bemidji State University – Tyler Robinson, Ham Lake, Minn., and Samuel Moore, Crystal, Minn.
Eastern Illinois University – Ian Snowden and Jacob Daily, both of Mattoon, Ill.
Eastern Kentucky University – Logan Gabbard, Richmond, Ky., and Steven Petz, Strongsville, Ohio
Eastern Kentucky University – Shaw Owens and Corey Owens, both of Barbourville, Ky.
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College – Natalie Reichmuth and Ryan Dowell, both of Brandenburg, Ky.
Iowa State University – Dylan Rague, Carroll, Iowa, and Pat Morrison, Omaha, Neb.
Iowa State University – Zac Beek, Bloomington, Minn., and Zachary Hartley, Minneapolis, Minn.
McKendree University – Austin Niggli, Highland, Ill., and Brock Wilke, Saint Rose, Ill.
McKendree University – Brad Wyss, Gardener, Ill., and Taylor Schmitt, Belknap, Ill.
McKendree University – Curtis Lilly, Saint Rose, Ill., and Brian McClanahan, Elkville, Ill.
McKendree University – Reece Ellerbusch, Belknap, Ill., and Austin Chapman, Blue Mound, Ill.
McKendree University – Shane Campbell, Summerfield, Ill., and Phillip Germagliotti, Highland, Ill.
Milwaukee School of Engineering – Nicolas Matschinegg, Chicago, Ill., and Kevin Gross, Wheeling, Ill.
Milwaukee School of Engineering – Shaylan Reardon, Oconomowoc, Wis., and Brooke Scott, Wan Dyne, Wis.
Missouri State University – Alex Macomber, Springfield, Mo., and Cody Hightower, Hartville, Mo.
Missouri State University – Brian Bueker, Higginsville, Mo., and Cody Hamacher, Jefferson, Mo.
Missouri State University – Crosley Welch, Branson, Mo., and Hayden Lee, Jefferson City, Mo.
Missouri State University – Grant Gaskill, Sullivan, Mo., and Brandon Duemmel, Jefferson City, Mo.
Missouri State University – Kyle Doherty, Chesterfield, Mo., and Nick King, Oakville, Mo.
Missouri State University – Quinton Booth and Andrew Guilliams, both of Springfield, Mo.
Moraine Valley Community College – Andrew Jensen and John Neubauer, both of Oak Lawn, Ill.
Murray State University – Chandler Christian, Owensboro, Ky., and Lance Freeman, Eddyville, Ky.
Saint Ambrose University – Cole Atkinson and Tanner Atkinson, both of Camanche, Iowa
Saint Cloud State University – Erik Quanrud, Cambridge, Minn., and Daniel Carlson, Milaca, Minn.
Saint Cloud State University – Joachim Speldrich, Paynesville, Minn., and Tyler Gromberg, Saint Cloud, Minn.
Saint Cloud State University – Seth Cupersmith, Minneapolis, Minn., and Alex Almich, Buffalo Lake, Minn.
South Dakota State University – Kaiden Karst, Pierre, S.D., and Chase Porter, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Southeast Missouri State University – Luke Brozovich, Minooka, Ill., and Reid Millburg, Glenarm, Ill.
Southern Illinois University – Blake Henry and Kyle Wagner, both of Waterloo, Ill.
Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville – Alex Mosella, Fort Myers, Fla., and Sean Clarkson, Edwardsville, Ill.
Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville – Parker Nesbit, Saint Jacob, Ill., and Colten Hunter, Brownstown, Ill.
University of Dubuque – Matt Smith, Harvard, Ill., and Alex Steffen, Cascade, Iowa
University of Kansas – Jake Smith, Benton, Kan., and Kevin Harden, Olathe, Kan.
University of Louisville – Jeffry Endly and Jacob Meadows, both of Carrollton, Ky.
University of Louisville – Joseph Faulconer, Sadieville, Ky., and Corey Skaggs, Louisville, Ky.
University of Minnesota-Duluth – Mark Shirley, Saint Cloud, Minn., and James Chapman, South Haven, Minn.
University of Nebraska-Omaha – Zach Kroeger and Ben Kroeger, both of Omaha, Neb.
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point – Cody Bergerson, Black River Falls, Wis., and Reed Fredrick, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater – Jared Mataczynski, Wausau, Wis., and Steve Nebel, Whitewater, Wis.
Winona State University – Wyatt Stout, Sauk City, Wis., and Riley Diske, Winona, Minn.
FLW College Fishing teams compete in regular-season qualifying tournaments in one of five conferences – Central, Northern, Southern, Southeastern and Western. The top ten teams from each division’s three regular-season tournaments and the top 15 teams from the annual FLW College Fishing Open will advance to the 2017 FLW College Fishing National Championship.
College Fishing is free to enter. All participants must be registered, full-time students at a college, university or community college and members of a college fishing club.
For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow College Fishing on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing. Visit FLWFishing.com to sign up or to start a club at your school.
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 2016 across five tournament circuits. Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, with offices in Minneapolis, FLW conducts more than 235 bass-fishing tournaments annually across the United States and sanctions tournaments in Canada, China, Mexico 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 Periscope: @FLWFishing.
The “Perfect” Flip Flop
You’re going to want these….
The Staff here at Bass East are flat out flip flop junkies. We all know there is nothing worse than having your feet hurt after hours on the trolling motor or slipping on a slick dock after a long day on the water because your flip-flops weren’t up to the task.
Like you – we have tried out just about every flip flop on the market for fishing… and the new Fat Tire from Under Armour might just be the perfect flip flop.
The Fat Tire features a wide synthetic strap that incorporates Under Armour’s Heat Gear Technology, helping you remain comfortable and cool even on the hottest days of summer. Additionally, Under Armour’s “Charged Cushioning” is built into the foot bed, essentially molding to your foot to provide unmatched comfort and add some spring to your step.
As if supreme comfort weren’t enough – the kicker here (no pun intended) is Under Armour’s unmatched traction. Featuring Michelin Wild Gripper tire tread – the bottoms assure traction and stability no matter the conditions you’re faced with. In other words – gone are the days of slicked out flip flop tread that lead to disaster and injury in slippery conditions.
As the temperature climbs and you start to look at summer footwear do yourself a favor and check out the Fat Tire from Under Armour. Trust us – you won’t regret it.