THE LATEST NEWS
Boom Boom’s Bass Tricks: Vol 9
In this edition of Boom Boom’s Bass Tricks Fred shares a often overlooked part of fishing, it doesn’t matter if money is on the line or you just fish for fun… nobody likes loosing fish.
Strike King Extends Sponsorship of Jack Link’s Major League Fishing
TULSA, Okla. (April 22, 2014) – Jack Link’s Major League Fishing announced today that Strike King Lure Company has become a multi-year sponsor of the league’s televised events.
“We are absolutely delighted that Strike King, which has been an excellent Major League Fishing sponsor, is extending its partnership with us into the future. Strike King is one of the top names in the fishing industry, and we couldn’t be more pleased to know that this excellent company wants to continue promoting its products on our show,” said Major League Fishing General Manager Jim Wilburn.
Strike King, based in Collierville, Tennessee, is one of the top lure companies in the United States, offering a wide variety of freshwater baits and other products.
Major League Fishing event champions Kevin VanDam and Denny Brauer are individually sponsored by Strike King. Other Major League Fishing anglers sponsored by Strike King include: Keith Combs, Mark Davis, Todd Faircloth, Shaw Grigsby, Greg Hackney, Andy Montgomery and Mark Rose.
“Strike King has an outstanding group of anglers competing on Major League Fishing. These anglers are committed to being the best and competing against the best. They are also tremendously effective at promoting Strike King’s excellent line of products, and Major League Fishing is a great way platform to do that,” said Strike King President John Barns.
“We believe Major League Fishing is adding a huge, new dimension to professional fishing,” Barns said. “Strike King is pleased to be part of Major League Fishing’s amazing growth.”
Major League Fishing is a partnership between Outdoor Channel and 48 of the world’s best anglers. The league features made-for-television bass fishing events designed to bring high-level challenges to participants and entertainment, as well as insight, to audiences.
Major League Fishing’s Shell Rotella Challenge Cup, from Denton, Texas, is now being aired six times a week on Outdoor Channel, America’s Leader In Outdoor TV. Additionally, the Championship Round of the Challenge Cup will broadcast on Sunday, May 11, at 3 p.m. (EST), on CBS Sports. The Championship Round of the General Tire Summit Cup will air on CBS on Saturday, August 9, at 1 p.m. (EST).
Major League Fishing’s made-for-television events utilize a format that allows anglers to weigh all the scorable bass that they catch. The bass are immediately weighed after they are caught, then released back into the water. Anglers know where they rank in the standings at all times via real-time leader boards in their boats. The competitors are not allowed to practice before events.
About Strike King Lure Company
Strike King Lure Company has been gearing up fishermen for more than 40 years with a wide selection of fresh & saltwater fishing lures for both largemouth and smallmouth bass, catfish, panfish, redfish, speckled trout and many others. For more information on Strike King, visit www.strikeking.com.
About Jack Link’s Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing is a partnership of 24 of the world’s most talented, influential professional bass anglers and Outdoor Channel. Jack Link’s is the organization’s title sponsor. For more information about the new game, with new rules and no limits, visit www.majorleaguefishing.com.
About Outdoor Channel
Taking viewers across America and around the world on unparalleled adventures since 1993, Outdoor Channel is America’s Leader In Outdoor TV. Dedicated to the outdoor lifestyle and conservation, the independent cable network is a division of Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, LLC and provides a complete spectrum of riveting hunting, fishing, shooting and adventure entertainment. Outdoor Channel is received by nearly 40 million U.S. households – the largest outdoor TV footprint in the country – and is available in more than 50 countries internationally. Outdoor Channel can be viewed in HD and is accessible by broadband and mobile platforms. For program times and other information, visit www.outdoorchannel.com. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, and download our iPhone and iPad app. #WhatGetsYouOutdoors
RUGGED SHARK® Tidal Wave – Lightweight Drainage Moccasin
The Tidal Wave maintains the comfort of the traditional hand sewn moccasin construction, while enhancing performance through H2FLO-VENT™ technology, a new, lightweight outsole system which circulates air, and drains water for total foot comfort. Designed for boaters, anglers and water sports enthusiasts, this boat oxford style is made with waxy full grain leather, mesh inserts for optimum breathability, and non-corrosive metal hardware.
With its Hexagrip™ slip resistant, non-marking rubber outsole created for wet decks, the Rugged Shark Tidal Wave sustains traction performance you need on and off the water. The lightweight compression molded midsole in tandem with breathable cushioned EVA foot bed support, provides all-day comfort and prevents fatigue
The Tidal Wave has an MSRP of $69.99 and is available now at select Outdoor Retailers. This style is offered in Rust color, medium width, sizes 8-12 (full and half), and size 13. To see the Tidal Wave and the entire Rugged Shark line up of outdoor footwear for land and sea, or to find a retailer near you go to www.ruggedshark.com.
About Rugged Shark, LLC
S.Goldberg was established in 1896 as a domestic slipper manufacturer in Hackensack, NJ which changed its corporate name to SGFootwear in 2002. SGCompanies was recently formed as the parent company to SGFootwear, SG Messer Group, SGI Apparel Group and Rugged Shark, LLC. For more information visit our website at www.thesgcompanies.com or www.ruggedshark.com
RUGGED SHARK® SQUALL – Lightweight Twin Gore Slip-On Moc
The Rugged Shark SQUALL has incorporated durability, support, and comfort in this men’s slip on moccasin in a breathable canvas upper. This step-in, outdoor casual style has you prepared for the outdoors. The SQUALL’S twin elastic goring ensures a snug and secure fit. The drainage components in the SQUALL, enhance performance through a new, lightweight outsole system which features H2FLO-VENT™ technology allowing air to circulate in, and water to flow out.
With its Hexagrip™ slip-resistant, non-marking rubber outsole, the Rugged Shark SQUALL sustains the traction performance you need on and off the water. A lightweight compression molded midsole in tandem with breathable cushioned EVA foot bed support, provides all-day comfort and prevents fatigue.
The SQUALL is available at select Outdoor Retailers, at an MSRP of $59.99. Currently this style is available in Tan and Denim, in medium width, sizes 8-12 (full and half), and size 13. To see the Squall and the entire Rugged Shark line up of outdoor footwear for land and sea, or to find a retailer near you go to www.ruggedshark.com.
About Rugged Shark, LLC
S.Goldberg was established in 1896 as a domestic slipper manufacturer in Hackensack, NJ which changed its corporate name to SGFootwear in 2002. SGCompanies was recently formed as the parent company to SGFootwear, SG Messer Group, SGI Apparel Group and Rugged Shark, LLC. For more information visit our website at www.thesgcompanies.com or www.ruggedshark.com
Red River Return: Bassmaster Opens Anglers Look Again To Red-Hot Competition In Louisiana
SHREVEPORT, La. — Roily, muddy, full of prop-eating backwater stumps and always challenging: That’s what Bassmaster Elite Series pro Stephen Browning loves about the Red River.
“I grew up fishing the lower Arkansas River, which is very similar to the Red. So when the fishing’s tough and half the field is intimidated by the nasty water, I feel like I know how to get in there like a bulldozer and power over anything and get to the bass,” Browning said.
Browning of Hot Springs, Ark., is among the pros on deck at the Red River out of Shreveport, La., for the Thursday-Saturday Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Central Open presented by Allstate.
At stake for the pros is a first prize of more than $46,000 in cash and merchandise, including a fully rigged Nitro Z-9 powered by a Mercury 225 Pro XS. The winner also will qualify for the 2014 Bassmaster Classic provided he or she competes in all three Central Opens of the season.
The event’s co-anglers, who compete against each other from the backs of pros’ boats, are after the winner’s prize of a Triton 17 Pro with a Yamaha F115LA engine, a rig valued at $25,000.
Victor in the 2013 Open on the Red River, Browning has a mental advantage going into this Open. After a few hours of practice on the river Monday morning, he was encouraged that the river conditions were favorably comparable.
“The river reminds me of how it was last year,” he said. “The water might be a little higher, and the vegetation hasn’t grown fully — probably because of the extended winter — but it’s much the same.”
Browning knows his competition will be stiff. More than 180 anglers are registered for the pro division. Besides the many talented Opens regulars and Browning, a dozen other Bassmaster Elite Series pros are in the field.
One is the 2012 Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year, Brent Chapman of Lake Quivira, Kan. Like Browning, Chapman owns a Red River title, the 2000 Bassmaster Louisiana Central Invitational.
Another is Mike McClelland of Bella Vista, Ark., fresh off an Elite Series win April 6 at Table Rock Lake in Missouri. He said the last time he competed on the Red was in the 2009 Bassmaster Classic in which he finished fourth — a good reason to feel confident this time around.
“Those are fond memories, although it was a different time of year (February), so I can’t expect we’ll catch the same quality,” he said.
“The river’s a little bit dirtier than I’d hoped it would be,” McClelland added. “I think there will be a lot of stuff that plays here this week.”
He said postspawn patterns will likely be prevalent over the three days of Open competition.
“With the water temperature in the 70s, and the fact that the shad are spawning, I have to believe that the majority of the bass are going to be postspawn,” he said.
Browning also predicted postspawn patterns for the competition.
“I’m pretty confident that the majority of the bass are in a postspawn situation. I know these fish like to spawn in February and March, and there was enough good weather for most of them to have spawned already,” Browning said.
McClelland is eyeballing 11 to 12 pounds a day to get into the Top 12 for Saturday’s final round. Browning also said low teens would be the weight to shoot for each day.
“It’s one of the fisheries where 13 to 15 pounds a day is really good. I like the Red because if you fall a little bit behind, you can catch 17 or 18 pounds to get caught back up. I don’t ever feel like I’m out of it on the Red,” said Browning, who leapt from 12th place to score his Red River win last year.
The Red River water level is high enough to provide good access to the bass in the river’s many backwaters.
“The fish like to be in the river, but they don’t like mud in the river,” Browning said. “That’s why I feel the backwaters are going to be the places to fish. The water’s possibly higher than last year, so I feel we’ll have access to backwaters we didn’t have last year. That can throw a little curve into the game.”
Central Open anglers will take off Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 6:30 a.m. CT from Red River South Marina (200 Red River South Marina Drive, Bossier City, La.). Weigh-ins the first two days will be at the marina beginning at 2:30 p.m. CT. Saturday’s weigh-in of the Top 12 will begin at 3:30 p.m. CT at the Bass Pro Shops location in Bossier City (100 Bass Pro Drive).
The local host of the event is the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission.
All Bassmaster events are free and open to the public.
2014 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series Title Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops
2014 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series Presenting Sponsor: Allstate
2014 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series Official Sponsors: Toyota, Berkley, Evan Williams Bourbon, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha
2014 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series Supporting Sponsors: Boat U.S., Booyah, Carhartt, Diet Mountain Dew, Livingston Lures, Lowrance, Plano, 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, B.A.S.S. Nation events, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series, Bassmaster High School Series, Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by Diet Mountain Dew and GoPro.