NOT SO NEW...

I made a mistake the other day. I tried to get Rick Clunn to give me the “short answer” on square-bill cranks. Having just bought a couple of RC 1.5′s, and then going out and catching a few, I wanted to know if I was on track with my use of them. At the same time I kidded him that I had once bought 30 DB 22′s with his picture on the label for 2 bucks a pop at the Bass-A-Thon. And now I was spending $15 for each.

But there was no short answer. He gave me a bit of a history lesson that stretched back to the late 1960′s (more…)

Because what I do has me around the launch ramp or in the back seat of a lot of nice boats (still), I’m not sure I would have the same view of purchasing a new boat as someone who isn’t in the thick of it.

But then I just found some information that was collected from interviews with prospective boat buyers. In effect, the respondents put a lot of stock in (more…)

Every time we hear about some kind of cheating incident in fishing, the Internet world goes ballistic. The players are stunned, the organizations are embarrassed and cries for capital punishment go off the charts. But how about we look a little closer around us and recognize what it is we are looking for?

My Dad used to say, “A Con Man doesn’t look dangerous or dishonest. If he did, he couldn’t fool anyone.” In other words he is likable, possibly respectable–and that’s how he gains our confidence, (the root of con in con man.) He’s not some scary guy that requires a sketch artist.

The con is the great manipulator and his methods are diverse. (more…)

Here in the West we are known for our finesse fishing. But as we look at what we do, is merely dropping down in size of baits (and the attendant tackle that fishes them better) so clever? I mean, when we go small, have we really “finessed” anything?

I ask that for a good reason after doing some reading this weekend. While I’ve heard reference to threadfin shad spawning more than just once (a year)–and that in early summer–I really hadn’t confirmed that in my head.

And I should have. (more…)

One of the great attributes of the exceptional fishermen is how quickly they assess what’s going on. Kind of like the old show “Name that Tune,” the sharpest guys only need a few notes (or make that bites) in order to get in tune with the fish.

It’s not as easy as you think. You can “bid” what you want, but even the most confident fisherman is probably just guessing with too few clues. On the other hand, if he takes too long to recognize the pattern, the time can slip by unproductively.

Here’s my take, remembering that the pace of the method (more…)

While not everyone fishes tournaments, most of us are not out there just to see the sunrise or watch the clouds blow by. As bass fishermen, we want results, whether we’re fishing for a few hours or campaigning for a week.

But to what extremes are we willing to go? I’d like to think that you can raise your game by working on just three things. Yes, it may mean some sacrifices in the short term, (more…)

JOHN KERR, 2010

As the 2003 U.S. Open champion, Ramona’s John Kerr has been to the top of the mountain in the West. Maybe that’s why he appreciates the desert venue as well as the effort it takes to compete during the brutal summers at Lake Mead.

Though he missed the money in this year’s Open, his 30th place finish was not a total bust. Indeed, there may have been more learned this year than when he finished on top.

Perhaps the biggest lessons to come out of the 2010 U.S. Open were the importance to stay focused and (more…)

(Click on to enlarge images)

I sorta get it. Many so-called collectibles were created from promotional gimmicks. Heck, the fact they put bubble gum in packs of trading cards was as much to sell the gum and it was to sell the cards.

Still, when we learned last week that the “post season” for the Bassmaster Elite Series would be marked by Bass Pro Shops (in Prattville, Ala.) giving out one of a set of 12 Elite qualifier cards with each purchase for a chance at 400 prizes in what’s called the “Bassmaster Collect & Win Contest,” (more…)