THE LATEST NEWS
Amphibia Launches Kickstarter
Amphibia Eyegear launched its Kickstarter Campaign giving individuals an opportunity to be the first in line for its new frame at a significantly discounted price. The new frame was a major collaborative design by all the partners of Amphibia Jeff Kriet, Fred Roumbanis, Tim Horton, Jared Lintner and Mike McClelland. This frame was designed for complete coverage and will not let any light in while being large enough to eliminate any visual distortion by the frame. Amphibia has already taken the fishing world by storm creating innovative features not found in any other fishing sunglasses. “We fish almost every day of our lives and we know what is needed in a pair of sunglasses. We all got together and created the perfect pair. They are a little bit wider than some of the others so it fits a larger head well also.” Jeff Kriet
You can visit the campaign at:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1619417632/amphibia-performance-floating-eyegear
2016 Bassmaster Opens Schedule Announced
The 2016 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series tournament season kicks off on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes in Kissimmee, Fla., Jan. 28-30. At this same fishery in January of 2015, Bassmaster Elite Series pro Chad Morgenthaler earned his second B.A.S.S. win by bringing 52 pounds, 7 ounces to the scales.
Photo by Shaye Baker/Bassmaster
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Some of America’s best bass fishing waters will play host to competitors in the 2016 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series. The series will span 10 months, visit seven states and offer nine invitations to the Super Bowl of Bass Fishing — the Bassmaster Classic
B.A.S.S. announced the three-division, nine-tournament Opens schedule today, noting that it kicks off with the Jan. 28-30 Southern Open No. 1 on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes in Kissimmee, Fla., and concludes Sept. 29-Oct. 1 with the final Central Open on the Red River out of Shreveport/Bossier City, La.
“The 2016 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens schedule offers a diverse group of fisheries,” said Bruce Akin, B.A.S.S. CEO. “Natural lakes, reservoirs, rivers and tidal waters all have a place on this schedule. It should challenge anglers and reward those who are the most skilled and proficient at adapting to the various fisheries and conditions.”
Anglers will compete for a portion of more than $250,000 awarded at each Open event, including a boat-and-motor package to the winners. And the winning pro, if he or she competes in all three events within a division, will earn a berth in the 2017 GEICO Bassmaster Classic.
“I look forward to seeing all the competitors and watching the season unfold,” said Chris Bowes, B.A.S.S. senior tournament manager. “I have the unique opportunity to watch firsthand as dreams come true and B.A.S.S. history is made.”
Competitors earn performance points at each tournament, and the Top 5 in each division are invited to join the Elite Series — the most prestigious bass fishing circuit in the sport — the following year. In recent years, nearly all who received Elite bids have joined the tour.
“More than half of the current Elite Series field has qualified through the Bassmaster Opens,” Bowes said. “I’m excited to see who the additions from the 2016 Opens will be.”
Weigh-ins will be held lakeside during the first two rounds on Thursday and Friday of each tournament week. The 12 finalists who earn the right to fish on Saturday will weigh their catches in at nearby Bass Pro Shops stores, except for the Lake Champlain event which will remain at the original location.
Registration for B.A.S.S. Nation and Life members begins online on Nov. 17. Other details and complete registration information will be posted on Bassmaster.com.
Southern Opens
No. 1 — Kissimmee Chain of Lakes, Kissimmee, Fla., Jan. 28-30
The Kissimmee Chain of Lakes including Lake Tohopekaliga has been a popular venue for Bassmaster tournaments for more than 40 years. The fishery has hosted 22 Bassmaster events including the 1977 and 2006 Bassmaster Classics. Chad Morgenthaler was the lastest to win there, claiming a 2015 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open title with 52 pounds, 7 ounces. The local host for the event is Visit Kissimmee and the Central Florida Sports Commission.
No. 2 — Smith Lake, Jasper Ala., March 31-April 2
A clear, deep lake near Birmingham, Smith Lake is noted for its huge spotted bass and outstanding topwater action. One of the Alabama Bass Trail Lakes, Smith has hosted seven Bassmaster events, including three Southern Opens. The local host for the event is the Walker County Chamber of Commerce.
No. 3 — Douglas Lake, Dandridge, Tenn., May 19-21
Douglas Lake will host its fourth Bassmaster Open and ninth Bassmaster event when the Opens Series returns here in May. Bassmaster Elite Series pro Ott DeFoe of nearby Knoxville qualified for the 2015 Bassmaster Classic by winning the 2014 Open on Douglas Lake. The local host for the event is the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce.
Central Opens
No. 1 — Atchafalaya Basin, Morgan City, La., Feb. 18-20
A picturesque, swampy fishery in southern Louisiana, the Atchafalaya Basin’s maze of bayous and natural lakes is included in Bassmaster Magazine’s 2015 Best Bass Lakes list. The basin has hosted five previous Bassmaster events, including the 2009 Central Open in which Oklahoma pro Edwin Evers earned his second Opens victory in a fourth-day fish-off tiebreaker. The local host for the event is the Cajun Coast Visitors Bureau.
No. 2 — Arkansas River, Muskogee, Okla., June 2-4
The second Central Open of the year will mark the third time the Bassmaster Opens Series has visited the Arkansas River out of Muskogee, Okla. In 2014, local angler Mark Tyler earned an Open win on the Arkansas River after weighing in 42 pounds, 14 ounces. The local host is the Muskogee Chamber of Commerce.
No. 3 — Red River, Shreveport/Bossier City, La., Sept. 29-Oct. 1
The Red River, recently rated among the Top 100 lakes in America by Bassmaster Magazine, has hosted 17 Bassmaster events, including two enormously popular Classics in 2009 and 2012. Skeet Reese of Auburn, Calif., won in 2009, and Chris Lane of Guntersville, Ala., earned the 2012 Classic victory here. The local host for the event is the Shreveport Sports Commission.
Northern Opens
No. 1 — Oneida Lake, Syracuse, N.Y., June 30–July 2
Oneida Lake has hosted 12 Bassmaster events. Boyd Duckett won the 2012 Elite Series finale on Oneida with 62-6, edging Randy Howell by just 6 ounces. Howell got his revenge this year, when he won the Northern Open over Duckett and nearly 200 other anglers in early August. Bassmaster ranked Oneida 40th among the nation’s top bass fisheries in 2015. It spans more than 50,000 acres. The local host for the event is the Syracuse Convention and Visitors Bureau.
No. 2 — James River, Richmond, Va., Aug. 18-20
The historic James River has hosted 11 Bassmaster tournaments, including Classics in 1988, 1989 and 1990. Rick Clunn won his fourth Classic on the James in 1990. In 2013, Alabama’s Randy Howell won an Open on the James to qualify for the 2014 Classic on Lake Guntersville — which he won. The local host for the event is Visit Richmond.
No. 3 — Lake Champlain, Plattsburgh, N.Y., Sept. 22-24
One of the pros’ favorite bass fisheries, Lake Champlain will be the site of its fifth Open event in 2016. The giant lake on the New York-Vermont border was recently ranked No. 14 on Bassmaster Magazine’s 100 Best Bass Lakes list of 2015. The final Northern Open will mark the 15th B.A.S.S. event held on Champlain. The local host is the Adirondacks Convention and Visitors Bureau.
2015 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series Title Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops2015 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series Presenting Sponsor: Allstate
2015 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2015 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series Premier Sponsors: A.R.E. Accessories, Berkley, Evan Williams Bourbon, GoPro, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha
2015 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series Supporting Sponsors: Carhartt, Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels, Huk Performance Fishing, Livingston Lures, Lowrance, 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.
Tackle Tuesday: Part 3
One of the common ideas in fishing is that when conditions are tough you have to slow down and finesse fish. That’s not always the case. In this weeks tackle Tuesday, i talk about using a crankbait even when the bite is tough. Don’t be afraid to crank and crank it fast!
Good fishing. KC
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Keep up with Keith on his Facebook page.
Find all of the tackle Keith uses here.
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Francoeur and Gleghorn Dig Deep to Win 4th Annual Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners Tournament
The morning started off like a tournament anglers worst nightmare for Bonus Buck anglers Lenny Francoeur and Taylor Gleghorn. The pair realized they had broken their trolling motor prop upon arriving to their starting area 25 miles away from Cypress Bend State Park on a surprisingly chilly Louisiana morning.
“We had been fishing deep, so with a broken trolling motor, we wondered if we would even be able to fish at all,” said Francoeur.
After a quick phone call to B.A.S.S. tournament director Chuck Harbin, their prayers were answered in the form of Toledo Bend fishing guide Darold Gleason. Gleason graciously offered to drive his own spare trolling motor prop to Francoeur and Gleghorn.
The duo went on to make the effort worthwhile, smashing a 23.5lb limit of Toledo Bend bass and winning the $5,000 grand prize for the no entry-fee 4th Annual Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners tournament.
“Darold was an absolute savior, we really can’t thank him enough,” Francoeur gratefully explained. After receiving the spare prop, the two dug deep – both in depth, and in perseverance – to catch their winning fish. They relied on Strike King 6XDs in Tennessee Shad to dredge up enough fish to out-weigh the other anglers.
A short, twenty minute feeding window provided a flurry of four giant bass for the two fishermen. Their fifth fish was a small, 15-inch keeper the pair estimated at just a pound and a half.
“We knew if we could replace that fish with even a three-pounder, we’d have a shot,” Francoeur went on to explain. “When we were unable to do so, we really didn’t think we had a chance.”
After all the bass crossed the stage it turned out that Francoeur and Gleghorn didn’t need to cull their smallest fish. The blue bird skies and post frontal conditions proved tough for many anglers in the field, even on one of the best bass fishing destinations in the country.
“It was an emotional day in all honesty; with the ups and downs of the mechanical issues, and after not being able to get rid of our little guy, it feels great to win,” grinned Gleghorn, who made the drive over to beautiful Toledo Bend from Houston, Texas in his 2014 Toyota Tacoma.
Gleghorn added a few miles to his odometer this weekend, which already reads over 50,000 miles after only a little over a year. Obviously, Gleghorn spends a lot of time spinning his truck tires but boasts it still “runs like a dream.”
Francoeur drove eight hours from Rogers, Arkansas in his 3rd Toyota truck, a 2014 Tundra, to make it to Toledo Bend. On top of being passionate bass anglers, Francoeur and Gleghorn are leading organizers of the Toyota Texas Bass Classic, another giant tournament in the fishing world.
These two weren’t the only anglers who traveled somewhat lengthy distances to fish this tournament and partake in the festivities. Countless hours and thousands of miles were logged behind the wheel this past week by Bonus Buck anglers so they could celebrate the fellowship of the Toyota family.
Although Francoeur and Gleghorn won the grand prize, there wasn’t just one winner this weekend. On top of more Toyota and Carhartt goodies than the competitors could carry and a couple ‘on the house’ meals, the Toyota Bonus Bucks tournament had cash payouts to the top 31 teams ranging from $5,000- $150.
There were also three $500 random prize drawings for anglers who finished outside of the top 31, along with a highly generous $1,000 gift card from Bass Pro Shops to the team landing in 15th place , which was Joseph Roy Johnson and John Arnold. The LEER Lucky Dog Prize went to the 31st place team of Israel Mills and Joe Hicks, and Carhartt Big Bass winner Shannon Ordner shared a $1,000 clothing package with teammate Terry Gilcrease for their giant 9 pound 6 ounce bass.
The great fishery, fantastic company, finger lickin’ food and handsome prizes are a just a few small examples of why it pays to drive a Toyota.
Lineberger’s Elite Bound
The Northern B.A.S.S Opens are over and after the smoke had cleared I had finished the season in third place in points which means one thing……………..I qualified for Bassmaster Elite Series for 2016. Making the Elites is something all anglers dream of doing but it is no easy task because you have to qualify for them. This is no easy task for anyone because of so much talent that fishes the Opens nowadays and ever harder for a guy who loves to keep a flipping sick in his hand and forced to use spinning equipment to secure my position.
After arriving back in North Carolina the gratification of my hard work was finally setting in after feeing surreal after accomplishing something I have wanted for so long. So many questions run through my head; now what? Who do I need to contact? How do I secure sponsors? Where do I begin? All these questions will soon be answered but make no mistake, if you think fishing is hard, the business side gets even harder. I have talked to many people the past week and have had some very enlightening information handed to me. This is just not something you can sit down and Google but you have to put a lot of leg work in to get where you need to be.
Out of all the obstacles I face, my family has got my back. The support of my family means everything and this is an asset on the journey we face. In away all the fishing I have done over the years has helped prepare us for the angler lifestyle and there will be no shock of me being away. Also I will not have to worry about things being taken care of while on the road which helps relieve a lot pressure. My family understands every aspect of “angler” life and there is no doubt they will help me every way possible.
No doubt this will be an uphill climb but one I am prepared to try and conquer. I have to close with some great advice form a very wise man “Don’t get disappointed by the bad showings but learn from them. People a lot of times get knocked out of the game before every really understanding the speed and experience of the anglers around them. Go in knowing you are going to get schooled and learn from it. You have made the Elites, now you are about to learn how to be one!” Good Fishing Shane Lineberger
Follow Shane on his Facebook page.