THE LATEST NEWS
V&M Signs FLW Tour Pro Jeff Sprague
Natchitoches, LA December 14, 2015 – V&M is proud to announce the latest addition to the family, FLW Tour Pro Jeff Sprague!
In just two seasons as a professional, Jeff has earned four top-30 finishes and accumulated over $122,000 in FLW competition alone. Additionally when not touring, he operates a guide service on Lake Fork as well as other fisheries in East Texas.
“We are excited about the latest addition to our family! Jeff is a very talented young angler with a bright future ahead. We’re confident our products will suit his style well and he’ll be a great Ambassador for the brand.”
Jeff, equally excited, stated “I am excited to be a part of Team V&M! With this years schedule from Florida to Kentucky V&M has the variety I need to catch fish shallow and deep. I’m really looking forward to this season and many to come!”
For more information about Jeff please refer to the media links below:
http://www.jeffspraguefishing.net/#top
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Chapman Takes on Heckler in Pro vs. Joe Presented by Realtree Episode 7
Everyone does it, whether it’s football or the latest Bassmaster television show, we sit back and think of something we would do different or better. It looks easy from the comfort of our couch, or in this case from a camera boat. Episode 7 of Brent Chapman’s Pro vs. Joe is different than the other 12 episodes because in this episode it was Brent Chapman who issued the challenge.
Mid-Depth Cranking with Randy Howell
2014 Bassmaster Classic Champion Randy Howell discusses mid-depth cranking techniques. Randy Howell won the Classic on Guntersville primarily on crankbaits running between 6 and 10 ft., including the Livingston Lures Howeller Dream Master Classic, with EBS (Electronic Baitfish Sound) technology which is an advanced internal acoustic system that emulates the natural sound of a panicked baitfish, along with the Rapala Ike’s Custom Ink DT 6.
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Randy says that the mid-depths of the water column are the most overlooked and he will show you his best crankbaits. Randy will also share his knowledge of the latest innovations in sound technology with crankbaits.
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Watch Randy’s full-length in-depth crankbait fishing class video, gain access to our full bass fishing video library, and begin gaining confidence in new tactics by subscribing or signing-in below:
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Martens Earns Classic Bid With Final-Day Catch Of 28-14
Thomas Martens of Lago Vista, Texas, caught a total of 28 pounds, 14 ounces Saturday to win the Team Championship Classic fish-off on Lake Guntersville. Martens earns a spot in the 2016 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees out of Tulsa, Okla., March 4-6.
Photo by Ronnie Moore/B.A.S.S.
GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. — Things didn’t go exactly as Thomas Martens had hoped during Saturday’s six-man Bassmaster Classic fish-off on Lake Guntersville.
The current he had relied on all week disappeared, and that may have caused him to lose a couple of good fish Saturday morning. He also had to share his best spot with the crowd of recreational fishermen who always flock to Guntersville on the weekends.
But none of it was enough to keep Martens from his biggest accomplishment as a tournament angler.
Martens caught just two fish that weighed 6 pounds, 2 ounces during the morning session of the fish-off. But he rebounded with four giants that weighed 22-12 during the afternoon session and claimed the individual title with a combined weight of 28-14.
The victory earned Martens a berth in the 2016 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro, which is scheduled for March 4-6 on Oklahoma’s Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees.
“We found a bridge in practice that was really good, along with about 20 other boats,” said Martens, who qualified for the fish-off by teaming with fellow Texan Dean Alexander to finish second in the Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship earlier this week. “We had to wait in line to get to it during the week, but it was worth it. Then today, there were a lot of crappie anglers there, and I had to go inside of them. But they were great about it.”
Martens used a 7-inch Basstrixx Swimbait in the ayu color pattern to catch the fish he needed to slip past Nickolas LeBrun who finished second with 23-13. That swimbait was the same one used by California pro Skeet Reese to win the Bassmaster Elite Series event held on Guntersville back in April.
“There was no current today, and I had a couple of pull-offs that could have helped,” Martens said. “You could see the fish down there (on an electronic fish finder), and it was just a matter of dropping the bait down to them and waiting for a bite. I was literally getting about one bite an hour.
“I lost another fish this afternoon, and I was afraid that fish was going to be the one that really hurt me.”
The original plan for this week’s Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship was for 197 teams to compete Wednesday and Thursday for the national team title, with anglers from the Top 3 teams advancing to fish solo in the Bassmaster Classic fish-off Friday and Saturday.
But after a solid day of fishing in Wednesday’s opening round, the weather threw a kink into everyone’s plans.
Thursday’s second round of the team portion was wiped out by heavy fog in the Guntersville area. That forced the anglers to complete the team competition on Friday. Michigan anglers Chris Risner and Timothy Eaton claimed that team title with a two-day weight of 48-7, ahead of Alexander and Martens (46-10) and LeBrun and Randy Deaver (45-4).
Then instead of fishing the originally scheduled two days for the Classic fish-off, the six remaining anglers fished one day with two four-hour sessions. All anglers were attempting to catch five bass during the morning session and five more during the afternoon.
Saturday’s morning session saw LeBrun jump into the lead with four bass that weighed 12 pounds, 14 ounces. His closest competition was from Risner, who brought three bass to the scales that weighed 10-4.
After a short break, the anglers went back onto the lake at 11 a.m. for the afternoon session. While Martens was working his magic at the bridge, LeBrun was flipping and pitching grass for a modest five-bass limit that weighed 10-15.
“With a lack of current on our main spot, I kind of just went into survival mode,” LeBrun said. “I figured my best chance was to get five fish of some sort and just let the cards fall. So I went and did something that I had confidence in, something I know how to do. That’s how I caught what I caught.
“When it’s your day, it’s your day, and it was (Martens’) day today.”
Risner finished third with six fish in the two sessions that weighed 18-2. He was followed by Alexander with 5-7, Deaver with 4-9 and Eaton with 0-0.
Martens said he’s never seen Grand Lake, but he’s looking forward to doing some research on the fishery before he takes on the challenge of fishing the Classic.
“I’ve never even fished in Oklahoma before,” Martens said. “But how much different from Texas can it be? It’ll be a great experienced for sure.”
2015 Bassmaster Team Championship Title Sponsor: Toyota Bonus Bucks
2015 Bassmaster Team Championship Premier Sponsors: GoPro, Mercury, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2015 Bassmaster Team Championship Supporting Sponsors: Huk, 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. 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 presented by Allstate, Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation events, 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.
Michigan Anglers Claim Team Title
Tim Eaton (left) and Chris Risner of Michigan weighed 24 pounds, 13 ounces on Day 2 of the Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship on Lake Guntersville to claim the victory with a two-day total of 48 pounds, 7 ounces.
Photo by Ronnie Moore/B.A.S.S.
GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. — Everything went right for Chris Risner and Timothy Eaton during Friday’s second round of the Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship on Lake Guntersville.
Even some things they never could have imagined.
The Michigan anglers, who qualified for the event through their home state’s D&R Sports Center Tournament Trail, caught five bass that weighed 24 pounds, 13 ounces and claimed the national team championship with a two-day weight of 48-7. Two of their best fish came around mid-morning on one magical cast.
“Chris had just finished telling me that he needed me to catch an 8-pounder,” Eaton said. “Then on the very next cast, I got a bite and set the hook. I couldn’t believe it. It was 8 pounds of fish, but it was two of them on the same bait — a 5-pounder and a 3-pounder.
“That’s when we started to feel like maybe it was just meant to be. This is our biggest dream come true.”
Risner and Eaton finished just ahead of the Texas team of Dean Alexander and Thomas Martens (46-10) and the Louisiana pairing of Nickolas LeBrun and Randy Deaver (45-4).
Now the six anglers from the Top 3 teams will compete individually against one another on Saturday in a fish-off. The winner will earn a bid to the 2016 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro on Oklahoma’s Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees, March 4-6.
Risner and Eaton said they might have been aided by the heavy fog that forced the postponement of the second round Thursday. During the fog delay, they sat at the dock worrying they might not be able to put together a good limit if the anglers were sent out to fish a shortened day.
“I truly think that it helped us, because I don’t think the conditions were right for how we wanted to fish,” Risner said. “We sat there and talked about it, and we felt like if we only had four hours to fish, we didn’t know if we could get it done.
“It was taking us the full day to get a big bag. That’s what it took us today, and we were fortunate to have it.”
Excitement and nervousness was obvious for both anglers during Friday’s award ceremony. Risner even complained of his hands cramping because he had gripped his winner’s trophy so tight.
During Saturday’s Classic fish-off, they said they’ll share the spots they’ve fished as a team all week and fish without pressure.
“This is what we came here for,” said Eaton, gesturing to the trophy he was awarded for the team title. “Anything else that happens from this point on is just extra. If one of us is going to win, I’d honestly rather it be Chris.”
The format will change radically now as the tournament shifts to an individual competition. Three anglers will fish in their own boats, while their team members move to Nitro Boats provided by B.A.S.S.
The Classic fish-off was originally slated for Friday and Saturday. But since Thursday’s round of team competition was wiped out by fog, the fish-off has been shortened to one day with two separate sessions.
The six anglers will leave Lake Guntersville State Park at 6:30 a.m. Saturday and return to the park for the day’s first weigh-in at 10:30 a.m. Then as soon as the morning weigh-in is completed, they will go back onto the lake for a second four-hour session.
They’ll be allowed five fish for each session, and the angler with the highest total weight at the end of the day will earn a Classic berth.
“Several things played into the decision to do it this way, including the threat of severe weather Sunday,” said Jon Stewart, tournament director of the Team Championship. “Instead of stretching it to Sunday and fishing two more days, we’re basically going to have two tournaments on one day.”
Unlike the Team Championship where landing nets were allowed, anglers will be forced to hand-land their bass in the fish-off — just as anglers on the Bassmaster Elite Series do all season.
Team members will be forced to decide among themselves Friday night who will start where and how all of their best spots from the week will be divided.
“We’ll discuss it tonight, and however it works out is however it works out,” said LeBrun on the subject of fishing against Deaver, his Louisiana teammate and friend. “At the end of the day, we’re still going to be best friends — and that’s all that matters.”
2015 Bassmaster Team Championship Title Sponsor: Toyota Bonus Bucks
2015 Bassmaster Team Championship Premier Sponsors: GoPro, Mercury, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2015 Bassmaster Team Championship Supporting Sponsors: Huk, 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. 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 presented by Allstate, Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation events, 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.