BRETT MILLS of the RCRCD holds a 6 1/4-pounder transplanted in Lake Elsinore...

UPDATED, Jan. 27, (new photo)–Well, here’s the very latest bass report from Lake Elsinore–and it ain’t bad.

According to our outgoing, Region 6 biologist Ben Ewing, the 3400-acre natural lake just got a population boost. His email reads: “Today, the Department with the help of Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation District (RCRCD) was able to plant 65 largemouth bass into Lake Elsinore.The average size was 1.22 pounds with the kicker being 6.25 pounds.” (more…)

LOTS OF TARGETS may require shorter rod and more casts to cover...

I guess nobody on the Left Coast would argue the point. When you’re lofting 12-inch swimbaits with your 8-foot specialty rod (or a cluster of baits with an A-Rig for that matter) you don’t make a lot of casts in an hour. Certainly you can’t make as many as you would throwing any typical crankbait or spinnerbait with a typical 7-foot rod.

But I don’t know that we always think of the relationship of rod length and casting pace.  And not just because everyone is drop-shotting and doesn’t care (more…)

LAKE MEAD--will petitioners stay home?

UPDATED, [FLW responds]–Of course, the U.S. Open rules have not been altered at this writing, but will recent petitioners–those calling for the elimination of the Alabama rig, AKA umbrella rig in several circuits–now have a new excuse for missing the annual summer challenge on Lake Mead?

The Arizona regulations (which are typically shared with Nevada) say this: “Angling” means the taking of fish by one line and not to exceed (more…)

Never ask a celebrity for their opinion because 99 out of a 100 times they don’t know what they’re talking about. But now, we’ve come to learn, in the realm of bass fishing the same applies to the celebrities of the Bassmaster Elite Series. They’re definitely not as smart as they think they are.

In case you hadn’t heard, the Rules Committee (more…)

MORE COVER still being collected...

Sure, there were a few impressive bass catches in 2011, but if you take the 12 months combined, nobody was going to be booking trips here instead of Lake Amistad. However, you’ve got to hand it to the DFG and the City of Lake Elsinore–they are still working to improve things.

As reported previously, we know there is $25,000 earmarked for bass and wiper stocking in 2012 (the latter for better keeping carp fry and shad numbers in check), however, other efforts continue. A little habitat here, a little habitat there–and of course, the work on the new ramp and marina at the City Campground keeps moving toward a May completion. (more…)

Some days are like that.

As I pulled the rig down the street this morning, I had to wait as “Blackie” our American shorthair dallied in front of me. When I got to the stop sign at the end of the block, I decided I better look things over.

On the gunnel, my new Canon teetered on the gelcoat–right where I left it–by my cell phone, which had slid on the carpet to the edge of the splashwell. (more…)

While lawsuits, claims and penalties are more and more a part of the fishing/boating industry, I guess you can throw the sidescan technology patent conflict between Humminbird and Navico into the trash.

While the plaintiffs (Johnson Outdoors, Inc.) made the most noise in their suit against the “other guys,” the fact is, the settlement announced today, tells us nothing and explains even less of the dispute. The only presumption, (more…)

UPDATED, 3:15 p.m.–Just got back from Phenix’s new digs and the assortment is bigger than I could have imagined. Not only stuff for the make-your-own crowd, but soft plastics by the ton. You will find some baits and colors you can use immediately!

Some might call it a divine occurrence; others might say the “stars are aligned” and still others might just say, “It’s your lucky day (or days).” However you deem the situation, there’s a one-of-a-kind event happening this Friday and Saturday in Temecula that is almost perfect for you tackle tinkerers looking for new toys at bargain prices. (more…)

Although I could have gone through the weekend without bringing up the topic, you can be upset that the 2012 Bassmaster Elite Series includes Nate Wellman this year (the guy who last year asked if he could have his co-angler’s 4-pounder taken during the day) but that case is not the same as recently convicted Mike Hart. (more…)