MURRAY has a new wrap...

John Murray, one of the most successful tourney pros in the West and a 2-time U.S. Open champ, has a new sponsor–Lucas Oil–according to a company press release.

But while the action seems to reflect how serious the lube-maker wants to be in bass fishing, will the deal still be enough to grease the skids so Murray can fish the Lucas Oil Summer Classic?

After all, Murray still fishes the (more…)

BASS: on camera...

As promised, the stocking of largemouth bass at Lake Elsinore took place Wednesday morning, drawing almost as many photographers as a beauty pageant.

Of course, for local bass fishermen, it was a beautiful sight, although an odd one. A hatchery truck doesn’t usually bring you “green” fish.

The approximately 7000 largemouths made the six-hour trip from Merced and were released (more…)

YUMPHIBIAN unveiled...

Since the arrival of the Brush Hog (though I won’t argue that Bobby Garland had a creature years earlier) lure companies have tripped all over themselves trying to give us something ever more “appendage rich” than their competitors.

So that was kind of what I was thinking when I got the latest press release from YUM. That is, until I saw the attached photo. Here was a bit different approach than many others. (more…)

TIMING could be good as new bass arriving at Lake Elsinore could hit the beginning of the shad spawn.

Tomorrow’s plant of largemouth bass into Lake Elsinore suggests the city is taking a longer view of improving the lake. While it would have been possible to put all “catchables” in at one time, ala the hatchery truck at many put-and-take trout lakes, that’s not the plan on the 3400-acre natural lake.

Specifically, the City has announced it ”will stock 700 pounds of adults to complement the existing population of catchable largemouth bass. In addition, the City is stocking 1,667 juveniles running 10 to 12 inches in length, as well as 5,000 fingerlings in the 4- to 6-inch size.” (more…)

COMEBACK LAKE is...?

We know some under-performers already in 2012 (notably Diamond Valley Lake). And a few that have not got the same boat traffic due to the popularity of other local waters (Perris, or Silverwood). There’s even a lake that might get future consideration after its bass stocking next week (Elsinore).

But this year is there a clear “Comeback Lake” that is kicking out fish and suddenly drawing angler attention? (more…)

A younger generation of bass fishermen might not know the name, but for decades, Shag Shahid was the promotional face of Lew’s Speed Spools, especially following the death of Lew Childre in 1977. Making public appearances mostly in the South, the clever trick caster was also pictured regularly in advertising in the pages of Bassmaster Magazine and other publications.

I learned today that Shahid, 86, passed this weekend after a series of health issues.

While bass fishermen from Cajun bayou country (more…)

Kudos to Ish Monroe for cracking the 100-pound barrier enroute to his second Bassmaster Elite win this weekend on Florida’s Lake Ocheechobee. But also kudos to the fishing industry for providing the specialty tools it sometimes takes to win.

Several years back, on the Louisiana Delta, I was a press observer with Mark Rizk in the Bassmasters Classic, an event that provided some conditions similar to Florida (more…)

Apartment dwellers, home renters or homeowners may not see the entire economy moving in their favor, but there is a glimpse of hope in the world of 15-foot and over boats (and outboards), according to story in BoatingIndustry.com. Or maybe it’s just that hope associated with fishermen–they still want to go. (more…)

CODY MEYER

Cody Meyer’s fast track success to tour fishing is well-documented, leading to an expanded business relationship with Jackall Lures. But while he has established himself on the FLW Tour, Meyer has continued to look for ever more opportunities to showcase his talents and market his sponsors.

As he mentioned to me this afternoon, that effort seems to have no boundaries. “Besides the Tour,” he said, “I’ve signed up for the Northern [B.A.S.S.] Opens, though I don’t know if I’ll get in. And this year, I’m going to fish the U.S. Open.” (more…)

GABE BOLIVAR working his way back...

On the heels of his former FLW running mate, Brent Ehrler’s most recent win, the name Gabe Bolivar (last known address Oceanside) bobbed to the surface. Didn’t I fish with him a year ago at this time at Lake Sutherland and then later in the summer at Diamond Valley? Wasn’t he guiding and working construction enroute to a return to pro fishing?

Thought so. And then–deathly silence–enough that you could have mistaken his absense as one deceased.

But that’s not the case. (more…)