THE LATEST NEWS
Not Just for Bass
Hydrowave pro Mark Courts, of Harris Minnesota, has spent the last 16 years fishing through the ranks of the FLW Walley Tour claiming 12 top 10 finishes along the way. He hit a major milestone in his career this year taking the title as 2015 Angler of the Year for the first time in those 16 years.
We got a chance to catch up with Mark to talk about how the Hyrdrowave unit played a role in his success this year. “It’s a tool that I believe gets me 1 or 2 more bites a day and more bites day to day than others when in a pack of boats” said Courts. The Hydrowave gives Mark the one-two punch in fishing, increased bites and confidence. Its superstition to have his unit powered on, the second his boat hits the water saying “I feel naked when I don’t”. Although his title came on the Walleye tour, Mark uses his units when fishing for every species of fish, including the giant Smallmouth Bass that Minnesota is home to.
When asked about the settings he uses on his unit, Mark went into great detail about the volume and the importance of constant monitoring. “When I’m searching for fish, the volume is on high. Once I find that school I will turn the volume down to almost nothing, this will keep the fish in search mode.” His go to sound is Feeding Frenzy but on calm mornings, he may turn to the sound of schooling baitfish or the clacking of crawfish when offshore.
Something that some anglers may not think about is the noise of walking around the boat or closing a lid, and how it effects finicky fish. The purpose of having the Hydrowave on at all times is to dampen those sounds which means spooking less fish and putting more in the boat.
Keep an eye out for Mark Courts when he goes on next attempting to defend his Angler of the Year title. Check him out here
Good fishing Doug Cameron
Follow Doug on his Facebook page.
Typhoon Optics Looking to Support High School Fishing
La Verne, Calif. – Typhoon Optics is reaching out to high school programs to help support the next generation of anglers. High school bass fishing programs looking to grow their program and provide premium polarized sunglasses to their anglers can join the Typhoon Optics team.
“High school fishing is the grass roots of our sport. Today’s high school fishermen are tomorrow’s pro anglers, bass club presidents, and weekend anglers. By supporting these avid anglers today we can begin to build supplier/consumer relationships for life,” said CEO of Typhoon, Roy Burchett. “This high school program is a stepping stone for young anglers to move into our Wear it to Win It program, a program that has paid out tens of thousand of dollars every year to anglers at all levels of competition.”
The Typhoon high school team program includes steepdiscounted products, tournament support, as well as both traditional and social media exposure for the team and its members. Teams interested in joining the Typhoon team can find out moreinformation at http://typhoonoptics.com/typhoon/hss.
Be A Better Fisherman, Now! By Casey Scanlon
I’ve narrowed down three things any fisherman can do to catch more fish. They are try a new technique, start a fishing log, and fish deeper. These three tips will help a tournament angler who is practicing for the next tournament or help weekend warriors catch more fish.
Since I make a living as a professional fisherman, I get to spend a lot of time on the water. I can spend days and often weeks finding better ways to catch fish. I spend endless hours testing new baits or new equipment that will help me find the right size fish to win a tournament.
But what if you don’t have that kind of time to become a better fisherman. Here is the answer; you just need to do a few simple things every time you hit the water. Do these three things just for a little bit while on the water and you will become a better fisherman faster.
Try a New Technique
Sometimes we get into a rut of doing the same thing over and over again, especially on a lake that we have fished many times. We know what colors work best and what banks to throw our favorite baits on. So we get into the habit of repeating it every time we are on the lake.
Even though you have it dialed in on your home lake, it is a good idea to experiment with new techniques and different baits. If you spend an hour or two on the water practicing a new technique you might be surprised what you catch. You might find a new technique that nobody else is doing. Or a different technique that gives the fish something new to see and you catch bigger fish.
Start a Fishing Log
Another good thing to do that will make you a better fisherman is to start a fishing log or journal. After you get home from a day of fishing write down some notes about your day. Take note of water temperature, air temperature, water clarity, what part of the lake you caught them and what lure you caught them on.
Then the next time you go out on the lake you can review your journal. If you do this for a couple years you will start to see patterns year after year that will help you locate fish faster. It will also help you keep track what new techniques produced and which ones did not.
Fish Deeper
This kind of goes hand in hand with the first thing I said would make you a better fisherman, try a new technique. Fishing deeper can be intimidating if you don’t practice it. We get stuck beating the bank because we can actually see what we are casting to and we know most times of year there will be some fish on the bank.
On each trip do a couple hours practicing fishing deeper and you will start to get good at it. You can actually make fishing deeper a gradual progression. If you usually fish the bank try moving out to five or seven feet. Then work your way to eight to twelve feet. Eventually getting to 15 and 20 feet.
If you pass over a brush pile in the 10 to 12 foot range stop and fish it. Throw a Luck-E-Strike Original Ringer. It comes in five and half, seven and half or my favorite nine and a half inches. Don’t be afraid to throw a deep diving crank bait in their like the Luck-E-Strike Deep Smoothy. They don’t hang up as much as you might think. You don’t want to dig it into the brush pile just bring it over the top.
Try a new technique, start a fishing log, and fish deeper are my three suggestions for things you can do on the water right away that will make you a better angler. You can actually do all three the next time you fish. So what are you waiting for? Go fishing!
Checkout Scanlon’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CaseyScanlonProfessionalAngler/?ref=hl
Or his website: http://caseyscanlonfishing.com
World’s Best Amateur Anglers To Descend On Ouachita
Photo by Shaye Baker/Bassmaster
MONROE, La. — This week, Nov. 5-7, anglers from all over the world will gather in Monroe to compete on the Ouachita River for the 2015 Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Championship.
“We are very excited to be back on the Ouachita again this year,” said Jon Stewart, director of the B.A.S.S. Nation, “and we expect it to be a nail-biter just like it was last fall.”
In November 2014, Paul Mueller came from behind to win with a five-bass limit that was bigger than any other bag for the whole tournament. His victory earned him a berth in the 2015 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro, as well as a spot in the 2015 Bassmaster Elite Series.
Mueller will be back on the Ouachita this week to defend his championship title and to compete for a spot in the upcoming Classic.
Mueller learned to be consistent on the Ouachita River last year despite heavy water level fluctuation that left other competitors struggling. This year, it could be more of the same. Many anglers will likely be headed for the bayous, according to Nick LaDart, a graduate of the University of Louisiana-Monroe who frequently fishes the river.
“There will still be a few fish left on the main river, but I don’t think you can win with them because usually they are a lot smaller,” LaDart said. “If the water rises a little bit before the tournament, it will definitely push a lot of shad back in those pockets.”
The bass will be shallow around laydowns and cypress trees in the early morning and then move out to deeper cover later in the day, LaDart added. “I have caught them in a couple of inches of water and then, when the sun comes up, they tend to spread out a little bit more,” LaDart said.
Mueller will compete against 58 other anglers, who are representing 47 states and one Canadian province, plus Japan, South Africa, Italy, Portugal, Mexico, Spain, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Australia. In addition, Jack Barber will represent the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA). The PVA sends its Angler of the Year to the BNC each year, and this is Barber’s first year to qualify.
The overall winner of the championship will earn a berth in the 2016 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro on Oklahoma’s Grand Lake. Joining the champ at the Classic will be the top contender from each of the other five divisions. Six divisions make up the B.A.S.S. Nation: Western, Central, Northern, Southern, Eastern and Mid-Atlantic. You can see who’s competing in this photo gallery.
Competition begins Thursday, Nov. 5, and concludes Saturday, Nov. 7. Launches will take place daily at 6:15 a.m. CT at Forsythe Park Boat Launch, 140 Forsythe Ave., Monroe, LA 71201. Weigh-ins will be held at Forsythe Park daily beginning at 2:30 p.m. CT, and they will be streamed live on Bassmaster.com.
2015 B.A.S.S. Nation Title Sponsor: Old Milwaukee
2015 B.A.S.S. Nation Premier Sponsors: Toyota, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Evan Williams Bourbon, GoPro, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha
2015 B.A.S.S. Nation Supporting Sponsors: A.R.E. Accessories, Carhartt, Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels, Huk, Livingston Lures, Lowrance, Nationwide, Power-Pole, Rigid Industries, Shimano
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.
Hanselman Wins Rayovac FLW Series Championship on Ohio River
PADUCAH, Ky. (Oct. 31, 2015) – Ray Hanselman of Del Rio, Texas, brought a five-bass limit to the scale Saturday weighing 15 pounds, 13 ounces to win the Rayovac FLW Series Championship on the Ohio River. Hanselman’s three-day total of 15 bass weighing 46 pounds, 11 ounces earned him $50,000 and a berth into the Forrest Wood Cup in the event that featured 171 of the best semi-professional bass-fishing anglers from across the country.
Ray Hanselman of Del Rio, Texas, won the Rayovac FLW Series Championship on the Ohio River. with a three-day total of 15 bass weighing 46 pounds, 11 ounces. For his win, Hanselman took home $50,000 and a berth into the Forrest Wood Cup.
“To win this championship is unbelievable. I’m in shock,” said Hanselman, who became the first angler to ever win four FLW Series events in one season, sweeping the Texas Division before winning the Championship. “My only goal coming into this tournament was to qualify for the Forrest Wood Cup. I guess it was meant to be.”
Hanselman said he won the tournament by targeting bass in slack water between rip currents and eddys created by specific structure on the Tennessee River, about a quarter mile from the Kentucky Dam.
“I followed the same pattern all three days of competition,” said Hanselman. “I had three areas that I rotated through and they kept replenishing so it worked.
“Within the first 15 minutes on the water today I had a keeper in the boat,” continued Hanselman. “I was really dialed-in on that slack current. I could feel the change in the current’s speed with every cast. It set up perfect. After catching two more decent-sized fish I made a move into the main current and caught a 4-pounder. From there, I drifted to other isolated areas of structure and put together a quality limit of bass.”
Hanselman said he caught his winning stringer of four smallmouth and one largemouth on an umbrella rig using 3-, 4- and 5-inch swimbaits on Strike King Squadron Swimbait Jig Heads.
“I tried my best to imitate the small Asian carp – a popular baitfish,” said Hanselman. “I saw a lot of them in the grass and even caught a couple during practice so I knew they’d be a factor. I don’t think many other anglers realized their potential so they became a crucial part of my pattern.”
The top finishing boater from each of the five Rayovac FLW Series that qualified for the 2016 Forrest Wood Cup were:
Texas Division: Ray Hanselman, Del Rio, Texas, 15 bass, 46-11, $50,000
Central Division: Brandon Perkins, Counce, Tenn., 13 bass, 38-9, $20,000
Southeastern Division: Trevor Fitzgerald, Belleview, Fla., 11 bass, 38-2, $15,000
Northern Division: David Barnes Sr., China, Maine, 10 bass, 35-4, $7,000
Western Division: Charlie Weyer, West Hills, Calif., six bass, 20-5, $4,000
Additionally, the overall top five finishers that were not already selected as the highest finisher in their division qualify for the 2016 Forrest Wood Cup. Those five anglers were:
4th: Brian Holder, Belmont, N.C., 13 bass, 37-4, $12,000 + $2,000 Ranger Cup Bonus
5th: Nick Prvonozac, Warren, Ohio, 13 bass, 36-10, $10,000 + $1,000 Ranger Cup Bonus
6th: Tyler Suddarth, Valdosta, Ga., 13 bass, 35-14, $8,000
8th: Jeff Hippert, Hamburg, N.Y., 14 bass, 35-3, $6,000
9th: Bill Chapman, Salt Rock, W. Va., 14 bass, 34-8, $5,000
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Todd Kline of San Clemente, California, won the co-angler division and a Ranger Z117 with 12 bass weighing 25 pounds, 3 ounces, followed by Scott Stallings of Glencoe, Oklahoma, who finished in second place with eight bass weighing 20-7 worth $9,000.
The top 10 co-anglers finished the tournament:
1st: Todd Kline, San Clemente, Calif., 12 bass, 25-3, Ranger Z117 w/ 90-horsepower outboard
2nd: Scott Stallings, Glencoe, Okla., eight bass, 20-7, $9,000
3rd: Dave Crawford, Springfield, W. Va., 11 bass, 20-0, $7,500
4th: Bill Fussell, Thibodaux, La., 11 bass, 18-15, $6,000
5th: Jimmy Ballard, Paris, Texas, 13 bass, 18-15, $5,000
6th: Lorne Dornak, Cedar Park, Texas, eight bass, 18-0, $4,000
7th: Buddy Hicks, Port Neches, Texas, five bass, 16-15, $3,500
8th: Kirk Sims, Lowell, Ark., six bass, 16-15, $3,000
9th: Michel Purvis, Canton, Ga., eight bass, 15-2, $2,500
10th: Tom Rubbo, Lexington, S.C., seven bass, 12-10, $2,000
Co-anglers casted this week for a top award of a Ranger Z117 with 90-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard and $5,000 if Ranger Cup guidelines were met.
The 2015 Rayovac FLW Series Championship at the Ohio River was hosted by the Paducah Convention & Visitors Bureau and the City of Paducah.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Rayovac FLW Series on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing.
ABOUT FLW
FLW is the industry’s premier tournament-fishing organization, providing anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to compete for millions in prize money nationwide in 2015 over the course of 240 tournaments across five tournament circuits, four of which provide an avenue to the sport’s richest payday and most coveted championship trophy – the Forrest Wood Cup. FLW tournament fishing can be seen on the Emmy-nominated “FLW” television show and is broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, making it the most widely distributed weekly outdoors-sports television show in the world. For more information about FLW visit FLWFishing.com and look for FLW on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.