UPDATED–Hey, they have part two of this series up now–here.
ORIGINAL POST–Starting today you’ll find the first installment as Bassfan.com unveils a series chronicling the enigmatic history of ESPN as the operator of B.A.S.S. (click here). Some things you will remember, and some you won’t, but what stands out for me is the lack of vision by the owners, as they bought one bill of ill-advised goods after another for 10 years. (more…)
There was a lot going on last week in Las Vegas during the ICAST show and one of the highlights was Berkley Fishing introducing a new website. The redesigned site gives visitors an easy tool to use for exploring multiple angling needs.
With the announcement brand manager Mike Phillips was quoted as saying, “One of the most exciting features of the site is educational videos that will cover topics from knot tying to weather conditions helping teach anglers and increasing their ability to catch more fish.” (more…)
There are reasons for hope in the fishing business after all, as we learned at the national fishing tackle trade show–ICAST–this past week.
Specifically, the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) unveiled new boating and fishing research in its 2010 Special Report on Fishing and Boating. Conducted by RBFF and The Outdoor Foundation, the report provides “detailed information on participation by gender, age, ethnicity, income, education and geographic region.” What’s more, (more…)
What we have known as Bass Angler Guide or BAG has a new monicker these days, but still carries the same high potency dose of bass fishing information. In fact, Bass Angler Magazine says it even better as BAM!
Publisher Mark Lassagne announced, “We are very excited to make this change; dropping the word “Guide” at the end of our name will give readers a clear focus of our direction. Moreover, we want bass anglers to know we are a magazine committed to them, not a once a year calendar or lake guide.”
But there is more to it than just content as you can see, (more…)
Okay, this is more like Skeet Reese territory than that of his Michigan opposite, Kevin VanDam. And yet, KVD’s lustrous career plants him as one of the most important tournament angling figures anywhere. Yet, this 20-year pro didn’t begin as a 5-time BASS Angler of the Year and 3-time Classic champion–he progressed.
Therefore, it makes complete sense that his popular book Bass Strategies: A Handbook for All Anglers, written roughly 15 years earlier in VanDam’s impressive career, is back. But his revised edition now reflects the thoughts, theories and practices of this marvelous angler in the present.
As it was in the beginning, KVD again teams up with Bassmaster (more…)
Hey, what do I know? I fish with guys who are on the phone or iPad all morning long—off and on—and they don’t seem too distracted. And I confess, I’ll get the occasional shout, if I carry my cell out on the water. On the other hand, I don’t usually worry if it’s supposed to be a good day (for action) or not. I’m out there so I’ll deal with whatever happens.
Still, this is a highly technological era we live in. Our plastic worms may still be made out of plastic, but our information access (more…)
ALWAYS UPDATING: Give me enough time and I will have a list of bass links like everyone else. These are especially significant to KramerGoneFishing.com. You may find them great fishing stops as well:
www.bassresource.com (Hard to reciprocate on all the career help from Glenn Mays)
www.sdfish.com (You can’t look south in SoCal without touching base with Kellen Ellis)
www.bassonline.com (Florida’s number 1 fishing website; it’s all here)
www.mikefolkestad.net (If he hadn’t won the US Open three times he wouldn’t be here)
www.westernbass.com (A leader on the “hit parade”)
www.ultimatebassradio.com (Kent Brown the voice of NorCal and other foreign soil)
www.ultimatebass.com (A busy place outside of Cali; nice folks)
www.thefishingmachine.net (A fun site with multi-media interviews with PAA pros)
www.bassfan.com (Makes it look like I know the Editor-in-Chief) (more…)
AnglerSurvey, a monthly consumer monitoring service, reports the species most sought by anglers in 2008. The tables below report the freshwater and saltwater species targeted most often by anglers between January and December.
Please note the rankings report the species targeted more often, which is not the same as anglers’ preferred species or the species most commonly caught. For example, a Texas angler’s favorite fish may be freshwater trout, but does not pursue trout based on the distance to the nearest trout fishery. He may instead target bass on most trips – which is reported in the tables below – but catches more panfish over the course of the year based on that species high numbers.
The tables show largemouth bass continues to be the most targeted freshwater species across the U.S., followed by panfish, smallmouth bass and trout, respectively. Rankings are available each month to AnglerSurvey subscribers, as well as information on where anglers shop, preferred brands, average prices paid, and more. For more information, please contact Southwick Associates.
Freshwater :
Largemouth or spotted bass 59.30%
Panfish (Crappie, Perch, Sunfish, Bluegill/Bream) 36.80%
Smallmouth bass 25.30%
Trout 20.10%
Catfish 17.40%
Walleye 14.30%
Any freshwater fish that bites 13.50%
Perch 9.40%
Striped bass (freshwater) or hybrid bass 8.70%
Pickerel, pike or muskie 8.30%
Carp 4.60%
White bass and Sunshine bass 4.50%
Steelhead 3.20%
Salmon 3.10%
Saugeye 2.10%
Other fish not on this list 2.00%
Southwick Associates, Inc. specializes in natural resource & environmental economic, business and statistical research. Our staff is comprised of economic, business and statistics professionals throughout the U.S. who have in-depth experience measuring the values, benefits and revenues possible from fish, wildlife, and water-related natural resources plus their associated industries. We can help clients better address many business, legal, legislative and public communication issues through the practical application of reliable and accurate economic information and statistics.
For information and other reports, visit our web site at www.southwickassociates.com
A bit overdue, the Hawaii Mars, fire-fighting seaplane touched down after 4 p.m. today, as sheriff’s patrol boats chased off surprised recreationalists. The big plane’s support crew has been on hand at the Lake Elsinore City Campround for a couple of weeks, where they built a heli-pad for the seaplane’s tactical spotter craft. (more…)
MARS UPDATE–Air safety certification from Washington DC, it turns out, is causing the delay in the arrival of the fire-fighting seaplane, and more will be known about the process on Friday. No need to bring your camera and kids just yet.
Lake Elsinore, Southern California’s largest natural lake, will be the focus of plenty of media attention over the next seven days as it sees the arrival of Hawaii Mars, the fire-fighting seaplane, endures a temporary lake closure for repairs on the the aeration system all day Thursday, while also being featured on FOX Sports West television.
The huge, red water tanker should arrive any time, it’s service crew and spotter helicopter having already arrived, stationed just off the Lake Elsinore City Campground. (more…)
