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Kriet’s Mad at Them Again
Since the beginning of the Bassmaster Elite Series, Jeff Kriet has hovered around the top of the field and was considered one of the veterans to watch out for. He was often the odds on favorite to win and has logged an impressive list of top 12 finishes.
His accomplishments on the Elite Series put him among some of the best to have ever fished. However, three missed Bassmaster Classic appearances and finishing 47th in this year’s AOY points race could have you wondering, “Where did the Jeff Kriet of old go.”
I caught up with Jeff this week and asked him about the last three years and if there are any adjustments for 2015. Candidly and quickly his response was “You bet there are and I’m going out there this year mad at them. When I say them, I mean the fish. Don’t get me wrong, I have a great attitude this year and honestly I am having fun fishing again. I think loving what you do and having fun is half the battle.”
Jeff said he has spent a lot of time soul searching for where things started to go wrong. “Finishing second to Kevin VanDam in the Bassmaster Classic, in hindsight, stung a little worse than I thought. At the time I did not think it did but it put some negative thoughts in my mind that affected my fishing. It seemed like my “Nothing can get in my way” attitude got effected and it showed in my fishing. Some people, including me, said I had to work on a few issues in my head but honestly I don’t believe it. I just needed to make a few adjustments.”
Most importantly, Jeff said, that this year he is going back to being a grinder. “The past few years it seems that I have neglected my biggest strength. I believe that I can grind out a good limit of bass better than anyone out there. For some reason I got away from it but you can bet that this year there will be some grinding going on. You could see that with Jared Lintner last year. He quit focusing on how everyone else was fishing and went back to fishing the way that got him here and he started catching them again. There is a lot to be said about fishing your strengths and that is what I’m going to do”.
Another thing he said is that each of the last three years he had a tournament that he flat out bombed and it ruined the year. “You can’t make one mistake against these guys. They are that good”.
Jeff also explained something that he felt had an affect was his attention to the advances in equipment and not taking advantage of them. “Sometimes I can be a little old school and ignore change. I love my sonar and honestly feel I can read it better than I can on my side and down image but things have gotten a little better and I am really focused on using every resource available. I’ll be running multiple graphs this year, which is something I have never done. It makes sense though to have all the information possible 100% of the time. I also figured out a few tricky things on my HydroWave late in the year that I think will also help.”
Lastly, Jeff explained, there will be a whole new attention to detail when it comes to tackle and the baits he throws. “A necessary evil in this industry is that sometimes you find yourself trying to make your sponsors baits work when you know in your mind that its not the right bait or the right time to throw it. I’m now working with sponsors that are providing exactly what I need for success and if they don’t have it they are committed to making it for me.”
There is no doubt that the Jeff Kriet we have become accustom to seeing at the top of the leaderboard will be back this year and changes he has made will give him a shot at that ever so elusive win.
Keep up with Jeff on his Facebook page.
Special thanks to Gene Eisenmann Bass East contributor.
V&M Signs FLW Tour Pro Jason Lambert
Natchitoches, LA January 12, 2015 – V&M is proud to announce that effective immediately, FLW Pro Jason Lambert is joining the V&M family!
Jason comes to the team fresh off of a successful 2014 season in which he earned 2 top 10′s and Rookie of the Year honors! Prior to 2014 he won 2 BFL events and 2 events with The Bass Federation. Since going Pro in 2011 he has earned $150,095 in career earnings with FLW.
“We are very excited to add an angler such as Jason to our Team!” said Mike Pharr. “He has proven that he can compete with the best FLW has to offer. We are proud to have him representing us on the tour in 2015.”
Jason added, “I’m excited to join the V&M family and represent them on the FLW Tour in 2015! They offer a wide variety of premium quality products for almost any condition.”
For more information about Jason, please visit www.jasonlambertfishing.com or view his angler profiles at:
Mike Iaconelli and wife launch “The Ike Foundation” to get kids fishing
Pittsgrove, NJ, January 12, 2015. Pro Angler Mike “Ike” Iaconelli and his wife Rebecca announced today the launch of The Ike Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)3 foundation dedicated to connecting more kids with fishing opportunities, especially kids in areas where fishing opportunities are not easily found.
The foundation’s first major initiative is donation of new or gently-used fishing equipment to organizations with existing or start-up youth fishing programs. In addition, the foundation will assist youth fishing organizations, as well as community and charitable organizations, with events and functions that teach young people the sport of fishing, the joys of the outdoors and the responsibility of each person to protect the Earth’s natural resources.
“The sport of fishing is near and dear to my heart, and I want as many kids as possible to experience the same fun and excitement from fishing that I do.” said Mike Iaconelli, foundation president. “Fishing is a great way for kids to enjoy the great outdoors, make friends, build confidence and learn important life lessons.
“I hope to bring more kids into the sport of fishing by providing youth groups with the equipment they need. Lots of people have used or unused fishing equipment gathering dust in the garage or the basement, and I want to re-distribute that equipment to kids who will put it to good use,” he explained.
Iaconelli, an eight time Bassmaster champion who often receives equipment from sponsors and vendors, is donating his own equipment to start the foundation program. “I think pro anglers, amateurs and recreational fishermen alike will want to do the same,” he said.
“The mission for us, as The Ike Foundation, is to make it happen–arrange the logistics to collect the equipment, check it, organize it and ready it for shipping to a group of kids. On the flip side, the foundation needs to identify the organizations that have fishing programs (or will start one), determine the equipment they need, match it against our inventory, and get it to them.”
“I’m hopeful fishermen around the county will pitch in and either take a kid fishing or help a local group take kids fishing,” he added. To that end, Iaconelli has placed a Fishing Pledge certificate on his website.
Interested fisherman can use the certificate as a promise to take a kid fishing, giving it to the child or to an organization. The certificate is free and available at MikeIaconelli.com/IkeFoundation.
Currently, the foundation is establishing the process for accepting gifts of used or new equipment. Tax deductible monetary donations are being accepted now via credit card at MikeIaconelli.com/IkeFoundation and via checks to The Ike Foundation, P.O. Box 818,
625 N. Main Street, Elmer, NJ, 08318. Contributions go toward the costs of purchasing and shipping equipment to youth fishing organizations.
Organizations that want to be considered for a gift of fishing equipment or support can apply online, using the form at MikeIaconelli.com/IkeFoundation.
“As the foundation grows, we want to reach out to organizations to help them expand their fishing programs and youth participation through events, fund-raisers and tournaments, Iaconelli said.
“The foundation has been a dream of mine for a long time, and it is a good feeling to see it finally come into existence. We have big plans for getting new kids fishing,” he concluded.
The Ike Foundation
Established in July 2014, The Ike Foundation is an IRS registered 501(c)3, non-profit foundation focused on promoting the sport of fishing to America’s youth and developing their appreciation of the outdoors and our country’s natural resources. Trustees include Michael J. Iaconelli, foundation president, Rebecca Iaconelli, secretary and Carol Muracco, treasurer. Gifts to the Ike Foundation are fully tax deductible to the maximum extent allowed by law.
Walker Readies for Lake Hartwell’s 2015 Bassmaster Classic
GREENVILLE, S.C. (Jan. 12) — Using the past few months to prepare for the premier fishing event of the year, pro angler David Walker already is honing his winning techniques for his trip to Lake Hartwell for the GEICO Bassmaster Classic Feb. 20-22.
“Specifically for the Classic I have been mostly working on smaller things, like trying to dial in on what I’m going to be fishing with,” Walker said. “I don’t know exactly what lures I’m going to be using but I do have at least an idea. The reality is you need to choose lures by looking back at what has won there previously. That’s going to give you a good idea of what to use.
“That’s the good thing about being in a tournament like this. You’re fishing to win. You have to get in that mindset where you’re not worried about points, checks, and getting into the Classic. You’re now here and you fish to win.”
Looking to put a decade of Bassmaster Classic tournaments under his belt, the Cabela’s/GEICO For Your Boat Ranger Elite angler continues to feel the same pride to be competing as he did when he began his career.
“This is going to be my 10th Bassmaster Classic,” Walker said. “To me, it is by far my favorite tournament to fish. I don’t care where it’s held at because it is unlike all the other events. There’s so much going on there and so many eyes on it. It’s really an adrenaline rush to be there and how much of the focus of the fishing world is there.”
Despite almost bringing the coveted trophy home at a previous Classic, Walker is driven more than ever to change his fate this year.
“You don’t get lucky and qualify for the Classic,” Walker said. “For me personally, I’m looking forward to my 10th Classic as much if not more than my first one. It hasn’t gotten old to me.
“I’ve been leading the Classic before until the final guy at weigh-in takes the win. I’ve come that close to winning the Classic before. I’ve almost had ahold of that trophy, and that makes me want to win it even more. It was devastating at the time, but to be that close makes you want to work even harder to get it done.”
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Cabela’s/GEICO For Your Boat Ranger Elite angler David Walker is honing his winning techniques for his trip to Lake Hartwell for the GEICO Bassmaster Classic Feb. 20-22.
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How to land a Big Fish – Drag and Thumb Bar Pro Techniques with Scott Martin and Jacob Wheeler
Landing a Big Fish close to the boat has the highest change of getting off. Watch this exclusive pro tip on how to fight the big bass properly by using the “thumb bar” on the reel and not the drag to increase your chance of landing the fish. Forrest Wood Cup Champions Jacob Wheeler and Scott Martin show you how.
See more great tips at The Scott Martin Challenge