MORE BASS should be approved today to add to the existing Elsinore population.

UPDATED, 8:45 p.m.–Just returned from the City Council meeting. The staff report from Mr. Pat Kilroy was accepted and the Council voted 5-0 in favor of the bass stocking. Those fish are anticipated to arrive in late March or early April.

It may not cause ripples across the land, but maybe across three local counties when the Lake Elsinore City Council votes tonight on a measure that would bring some 7000 largemouth bass to the lake sometime in the next four weeks.

They won’t all be adults, but the plan (at this point) is to have about 500 catchables go in along with thousands of 10-11 inchers and another group of fish roughly half that size. (more…)

On a weekend that was supposed to feature the NBA All-star game, the Daytona 500, Bassmasters Classic, an EverStart tour event, plus Hollywood’s premier awards ceremony–the Oscar Presentations–let’s kick out a few awards–no statuettes, but at least a semblance. Call them ‘Scars for short. (more…)

Today you get an offer in the mail every week. But when I graduated from college, the thing I got the most of were offers from credit card companies–hopefully banking that my degree would somehow morph into a healthy income where I would be charging up a storm.

The parallel now is the way college bass anglers are being given priority over the guys (more…)

TONY LAIN shows a couple of umbrella versions...

I thought we’d put that umbrella rig thing behind us.  It’s not going to soil sportsmanship, innovation or professionalism–and shouldn’t that be enough? Obviously, the bass fishing world doesn’t think so and continues to spin in assorted directions–like so many dangling wires and snap swivels.

Yet, the one area that surprised me the most has been within the fishing industry–read, manufacturers. While the original Mann’s Slick Lures Alabama Rig, continues to sell at roughly 30 bucks, there are all kinds of “alternatives” for as little as $11 and by my count, as high as $35.

But hey, nothing new there. (more…)

It came as a huge surprise to me, but I just saw the video farewell of California Top 40 bass angler Bradley Yang who is leaving us (make that, U.S.) to return to his native South Korea. In less than two weeks, this genuine young man, who has made a steady climb through the ranks of competitive angling over the last six years or so, will be gone. (more…)

THE THIRD towel today...

Went fishing yesterday. Believed the forecast for maybe a tenth of an inch. Got sprinkled on, a few fish were biting. And then on the way home the skies opened, I got pounded on the 30-minute drive and I ended up with deeper water in my boat than I fished all day. This is a first for me, even though I have a cover I might have put on…. (more…)

Having covered the outdoor scene since the early 1970′s, there are some things you just can’t deny. The spring (big) bass movement and the largest fishing/outdoor shows in Southern California always seem to coincide.

Although the Fred Hall shows have a new name “The Ultimate Outdoor Experience” and include many other facets of the outdoors than merely fishing and boating, there is no denying the timing. (more…)

ALL THE POWER, without the pole...

I know you’ve got some “anchoring” options. For example, you can go Power Pole for the $1600 flag raiser, or double-up on those for the giant grasshopper look. Or, for maybe 250 bucks or so you can try a fiberglass pole like they use fishing the flats or other soft bottoms. Each has proven its worth, depending on one’s fishing styles or the nature of the waters you ply.

So now I ask, would you buy one in order to use it? Or would you be forced to use it, because you bought one? In other words, how many situations would you actually use such a tool? (more…)

Is it just me or did the 10-day forecast call for some rain this past Tuesday/Wednesday? Maybe I just read it wrong, but my raingear got such workout going from the closet to the truck and back to the closet that I think the warranty ran out. But maybe it shows the true long-rang forecasters have the La Nina conditions down this year (more…)