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John Cox wins Smith Lake!
Pro Angler John Cox took the title today at stop # 2 of the MLF BIG5 on Smith Lake! Here’s how it all went down with seven minutes left!
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Daiwa Technology: Monocoque Reel Bodies
Cypress, CA (March 15, 2021) – In the history of the reel, it was only natural that the housing was a combination of two parts: the body and the body cover. However, when Daiwa launched the MONOCOQUE BODY in 2016, it destroyed this conventional truth. In the monocoque structure, the body itself is a rigid frame, durable to twists and bends, and yet it is space-economizing and compact. Monocoque design technology is used in the likes of rockets and Formula One vehicles, where durability and space efficiency are required under extreme conditions. In the spinning reel, which contains over 150 parts in its small body, the monocoque structure’s impact was truly immense. By eliminating the need for screw space, the drive gear was expanded to its maximum size relative to the dimensions of the body. Now, the body could hold a large-diameter drive gear that covers around 85% of the body’s surface. In other words, bodies of the same size as before were able to house much larger gears, and if the gear size were instead kept the same, then extremely light bodies could be created.
In Daiwa’s monocoque models there is a screw-in side cap to the design which allows for 360 degrees of gear stability. This provides good gear alignment better than a sideplate with multiple screw ports. Reels that have multiple screw port sideplates are designed with material inside the reel for screws to go into so you lose overall space within the frame of the reel unless you make the reel bigger which adds more weight, increase frame movement and can result in loss of rigidity.
Monocoque design technology is used in the likes of rockets and Formula One vehicles, where durability and space efficiency are required under extreme conditions.
“Without adding multiple screw ports and having just one thread-in sidecap we can make the reel smaller but utilize bigger gears. And putting a bigger gear in the reel allows us the same gear ratios as other reels in the industry but with more power and torque and efficiency when turning the handle,” comments Daiwa Field Marketing Manager, Marc Mills.
The other benefit to monocoque technology is a much greater seal. Because the monocoque reel doesn’t have multiple screw ports and it has the thread-in sideplate you get a better seal around those areas. The seal is a lot more efficient for keeping water, contaminants and debris out of the reel. And the more contaminants you keep out of the reel obviously the longer the gears will last, the longer the grease stands up, and the less moisture gets in the reel and there are layers upon layers of that.
Mills adds: “But monocoque technology really allows us to transfer gear power to the reel at the same gear ratios but as a smoother, easier to turn reel than the competition in the marketplace that’s using a regular sideplate. If you think of a standard reel with multiple screw ports in the sideplate and if one is looser than the other stuff starts moving around. Whereas with monocoque you have something that screws in 360 degrees every angle and edge receives the exact same pressure.”
The new Daiwa Kage MQ LT with monocoque one-piece body.
For Daiwa’s latest color catalog and/or information on Daiwa dealers in your area, call Daiwa’s Customer Service Department at 562-375-6800 or e-mail inquiries to: info@daiwa.com. The URL for Daiwa’s web site is http://www.daiwa.com/us/
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Major League Fishing’s Bass Pro Tour Set for 2021 Season Opener – Toro Stage 1 at Sam Rayburn Reservoir presented by Power-Pole
A Field of 80 of the Best Anglers in the World to Kick Off Third Season of Bass Pro Tour
JASPER, Texas (March 15, 2021) – Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s largest tournament fishing organization, is set to open the 2021 Bass Pro Tour season – the third season of the revolutionary Tour – March 21-26 with the Toro Stage 1 at Sam Rayburn Reservoir presented by Power-Pole . Hosted by the Jasper County Development District, the event will feature 80 of the best professional anglers in the world competing for a top award of $100,000 and valuable points in hopes of qualifying for REDCREST 2022, the Bass Pro Tour championship.
Although Sam Rayburn Reservoir has played host to numerous MLF BIG5 (previously FLW) tournaments over the years, 2021 will mark the first time that the MLF Bass Pro Tour has visited Sam Rayburn. The event will be fished using MLF’s catch, weigh, immediate-release format, in which the anglers try to catch as much weight as they can, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. The total purse for the Bass Pro Tour Toro Stage 1 at Sam Rayburn Reservoir presented by Power-Pole is more than $805,000.
“I’m really excited about starting the season off at Sam Rayburn,” said pro Kelly Jordon, a 25-year veteran from Flint, Texas. “With all of the huge bass Texas is kicking out so far this year, I know we will be in the right place to catch some big ones. My goal is to win the season-opener at Sam Rayburn, although, I know that 79 other anglers will be there with a similar goal in mind. I can’t wait.”
“I really love Rayburn,” Florida pro Shaw Grigsby told MajorLeagueFishing.com reporter Dave Landahl. “What’s not to love? It holds big bass, and lots of them. It’s loaded with hydrilla and other vegetation, and really fits my fishing style from Florida. It’s one of those textbook lakes, something you’d read about in a magazine. You can figure fish out and you’re able to pattern them.
Grigsby expects to use an assortment of soft plastics like Rage Bugs, Rage Lizards, Caffeine Shads, small tubes, an Ocho, and even a drop-shot at Rayburn. Add a mixed bag of Strike King Thunder Crickets, Red Eye Shads, and a KVD jerkbait, and the Mercury pro believes that he has a well-rounded toolbox for east Texas in early March.
“I’ll be looking for big ones to sight fish with my trolling motor on high, and I’ll use the moving baits to pick off bass as I’m looking for the giants,” he says. “I’ll probably be throwing that Thunder Cricket the most for my moving bait.
“We could see the record big fish for the Bass Pro Tour caught here,” Grigsby went on to say. “It’s rare to be there this time of year and not see a 10- to 13-pound bass on a bed. I’m excited to be at one of the best lakes in the country at the best time of the year for really big bass.”
The 2021 Bass Pro Tour features a field of 76 of the top professional anglers in the world – joined at each event by 4 pros that qualify from the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit – competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, competing for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual Heavy Hitters all-star event and the REDCREST 2022 championship.
The four pros from the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit that will join the Bass Pro Tour to compete at the Toro Stage 1 at Sam Rayburn Reservoir presented by Power-Pole are Ron Nelson, Spencer Shuffield, Grae Buck and Matt Becker. Those anglers qualified via their No. 1 through No. 4 finishes in the 2020 Pro Circuit Angler of the Year standings.
In accordance with COVID-19 protocols, attendance is limited to competing anglers, essential staff and media covering the event only. Fans are encouraged to follow the event online through the MLF NOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Television coverage of the Bass Pro Tour Toro Stage 1 at Sam Rayburn Reservoir presented by Power-Pole will be showcased across two two-hour episodes, premiering at 7 a.m. ET, Aug. 28 on the Discovery Channel. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on the Discovery Channel, with additional re-airings on the Outdoor Channel and the Sportsman Channel. Each two-hour long reality-based episode goes in-depth to break down each day of competition.
The MLF NOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action on all six days of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. MLF NOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com. and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Founded in 2011, Major League Fishing (MLF) brings the high-intensity sport of competitive bass fishing into America’s living rooms on Outdoor Channel, Discovery, CBS, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network, Sportsman Channel, and on-demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). According to Nielsen ratings, Major League Fishing remains the number one series on Outdoor Channel for five years and MLF premiered as the number one outdoor show in their time slot on Discovery in 2019.
In 2019 MLF acquired FLW, which expands their portfolio to include the world’s largest grassroots-fishing organization, including the strongest five-biggest-fish format professional bass fishing tour, the MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit presented by Bad Boy Mowers, as well as the MLF Toyota Series, MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine, MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI, and MLF U.S. Army High School Fishing presented by Favorite Fishing.
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Pure Fishing to Buy Plano
COLUMBIA, S.C. (March 15, 2021) — Pure Fishing Inc., the world’s largest fishing tackle company, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase Plano Synergy Holdings Inc. The purchase will include Plano Synergy’s 15 preeminent brands, which specialize in tackle storage, catch management, hunting accessories and archery. This acquisition is the third for Pure Fishing in two years under the ownership of private equity firm Sycamore Partners.
“We are excited to welcome the iconic Plano and other brands into our industry-leading portfolio of Outdoor brands. These are storied brands within the fishing and hunting space that are beloved by outdoor enthusiasts worldwide and will perfectly complement our existing business,” said Pure Fishing CEO Harlan Kent.
The acquisition of these brands demonstrates Pure Fishing’s continued commitment to growing its presence within the outdoor sports industry while remaining a positive and compelling partner to its retail customers. To maximize global expansion opportunities and additional growth prospects within its Outdoor categories, Pure Fishing will continue to focus on ensuring supply chain excellence, delivering innovation, driving digital marketing and strengthening vendor partnerships.
“Plano Synergy did not become the undisputed leader in storage solutions for anglers and hunters, nor did its hunting brands become the leader in performance solutions, without the hard work of an extremely talented team,” Kent said. “The team has a proven record of success, and we look forward to welcoming them to the Pure Fishing family and building an even stronger company together.”
Terms of the purchase, which is expected to close in April, are not disclosed.
About Pure Fishing
Pure Fishing, Inc. is the leading global provider of fishing tackle, lures, rods and reels with a portfolio of brands that includes Abu Garcia®, All Star®, Berkley®, Fenwick®, Fin-Nor®, Greys®, Hardy®, Hodgman®, Hooker, Johnson®, JRC®, Mitchell®, PENN®, Pflueger®, Sebile®, Shakespeare®, SpiderWire®, Stren®, Ugly Stik®, and Van Staal®.
About Sycamore Partners
Sycamore Partners is a private equity firm based in New York. The firm specializes in consumer, distribution and retail-related investments and partners with management teams to improve the operating profitability and strategic value of their business. With approximately $10 billion in aggregate committed capital raised since its inception in 2011, Sycamore Partners’ investors include leading endowments, financial institutions, family offices, pension plans and sovereign wealth funds. For more information on Sycamore Partners, visit www.sycamorepartners.com
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John Cox Claims Victory at Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit on Lewis Smith Lake
CULLMAN, Ala. (March 14, 2021) – After leading the MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit presented by Bad Boy Mowers, Covercraft Stop 2 – Lewis Smith Lake for most of the event, it’s no surprise that Berkley pro John Cox of DeBary, Florida, pulled out the win on Championship Sunday. What is surprising – and long overdue – is a win for the angler on Lewis Smith Lake in Cullman, Alabama – a fishery that has been antagonizing Cox for nearly a decade.
The 2016 FLW Cup Champion made the Top 10 on Lewis Smith Lake several times in the past with the Pro Circuit, including two previous runner-up finishes, but has never been able to seal the deal – until now. The win put a $100,000 check in his pocket and added another piece of hardware to his already extensive trophy collection.
Pro Spencer Shuffield of Hot Springs, Arkansas , stalked the top spot throughout Sunday, making another big leap from seventh place into second with the biggest five-bass limit of the day – 17 pounds, 8 ounces – bringing his four-day total to 56 pounds, 11 ounces. Although bites were stingy for the entire field, Cox’s five-bass limit of 16 pounds, 10 ounces gave him a four-day total of 62 pounds, 4 ounces – and a solid 5-pound, 9-ounce lead to firmly secure the win.
Cox maintained the familiar strategy seen all week throughout the final day, refusing to allow himself to do what he does best – sight-fish. Ultimately that proved to be the right call for the event, but Cox said a gut check late in the day is what sealed his victory on the northern Alabama fishery.
“I was idling to check-in when I realized I still had 7 minutes left to fish and called an audible – I was feeling sick because it felt like it just wasn’t enough [weight],” said Cox. “I knew someone was catching them. So, I pulled over to this pocket and fired my jig right down the drain. A 4-pounder came out and hit it but didn’t take it – so, I killed it for a second and she ate it.
“I knew if I had a chance to win [a tournament on Smith] something magical had to happen. That was it.”
Cox said he spent the week throwing a black-and-blue Dirty Jigs Swim Jig teamed with a Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Meaty Chunk .
“I put the trolling motor on high and swam that jig in and around every piece of shallow cover I could find in the pockets and creeks far up Ryan Creek,” said Cox. “I threw the jig on a 7-foot, 6-inch heavy Abu Garcia Fantasista Premier rod and an Abu Garcia Revo EXD 8:1 reel.”
Cox said that rod and reel was a difference-maker, especially when the fish surprised him and he needed to pick up the slack.
“This has been a really special week in so many ways,” said Cox. “I love this place and love fishing on Smith Lake, even despite my history – so this win is incredible.”
The top 10 pros on Lewis Smith Lake finished:
1st: John Cox, DeBary, Fla., 20 bass, 62-4, $100,500
2nd: Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., 20 bass, 56-11, $30,000
3rd: Cody Meyer, Star, Idaho, 19 bass, 55-8, $25,200
4th: Kyle Cortiana, Coweta, Okla., 20 bass, 53-11, $20,000
5th: Kyle Hall, Grandbury, Texas, 20 bass, 53-9, $19,000
6th: Tai Au, Glendale, Ariz., 20 bass, 52-2, $18,500
7th: Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., 20 bass, 50-14, $17,500
8th: Justin Cooper, Zwolle, La., 20 bass, 50-3, $16,000
9th: Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio, 20 bass, 47-15, $15,000
10th: Troy Morrow, Eastanollee, Ga., 17 bass, 42-15, $14,000
For a full list of results visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 47 bass weighing 127 pounds, 12 ounces, caught by 50 pros on Friday, which included nine five-bass limits.
The MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit presented by Bad Boy Mowers, Covercraft Stop 2 – Lewis Smith Lake was hosted by the Cullman Area Local Organizing Committee.
The MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit presented by Bad Boy Mowers, Covercraft Stop 2 – Lewis Smith Lake will feature live on-the-water coverage and a two-hour action-packed television show that will premiere on the Outdoor Channel on Sunday, July 18 from 7 to 9 a.m. ET and re-air on the Sportsman Channel this fall.
In Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit competition, the full field of 163 anglers competed in the two-day opening round on Thursday and Friday. The field was cut to 50 anglers on Saturday. The top 10 pros based on their three-day cumulative weight advanced to Sunday where the winner was determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from all four days of competition.
Throughout the season, anglers are also vying for valuable points in hopes of qualifying for the 2021 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit TITLE presented by Mercury, the Pro Circuit Championship, where they will compete for up to $235,000. The 2021 TITLE will be on the Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wisconsin on Aug. 17-22, and is hosted by Explore La Crosse.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit presented by Bad Boy Mowers on the MLF BIG5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
About MLF BIG5
MLF BIG5 is part of MLF, the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization. It provides anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to compete for millions in prize money across five tournament circuits featuring a five-biggest-fish format. Headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with offices in Benton, Kentucky, MLF and its partners conduct more than 290 bass-fishing tournaments annually around the world, including the United States, Canada, China, Italy, South Korea, Mexico, Namibia, Portugal, South Africa, Spain and Zimbabwe.
MLF tournaments are broadcast on Outdoor Channel, Sportsman Channel, World Fishing Network, MyOutdoorTV, Discovery and CBS Sports while MLF Bass Fishing magazine delivers cutting-edge tips from top pros to the world’s most avid bass anglers.
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