Is Howell fishing in a prohibited area?  // Photograph by Seigo Salto, used under Fair Use guidelines, Section 107 of the Copyright Act, captions inserted by FishStrong.com

Randy Howell is a great fisherman and a fan favorite with a solid record of professionalism by most accounts, but did he overlook something very obvious at the 2013 Northern Open on the James River event? Or maybe I should ask, did BASS overlook something very obvious?

“Danger”.

“Prohibited”.

“Stay back 100 feet”.

It sounds pretty bad.  You wouldn’t want to fish there, would you?  Well, Randy Howell did fish there and won the event.  In fact, he pretty much blew it away.

So, did Randy Howell win inside a prohibited area?  It certainly looks that way.

Some questions are worth asking… lest we all start blowing through no wake zones too and ignoring other signs.  Let’s look at the rules and ask some questions:

So there it is in black and white.   He’s in clear violation.  Right?

Let’s break this down…

Does this sign have the same effect of any other “off-limits” area imposed by tournament officials?  No.

Must the sign use the exact phrase “no fishing” or “off-limits” in order to officially bar an angler from access?   No.

Does that sign allow “ALL public” to fish in the specified area, within 100 feet?   No.

Should the sign pictured in the image with Randy Howell have prevented him from fishing his spot?  No.

Can we all start blowing through “no wake zones” now and disregard posted signage?   No.

So, the question remains… How did this all go down?  How did Howell get away with this?  Is this a simple matter of exploiting some kind of terminology loophole?…  No.

Must the sign use the exact phrasing found in the BASS rulebook (“no fishing”…  ”off-limits”) for it to pose any restrictions on the angler?…  No.

So, Randy Howell must have cheated right?  There is photo proof!!

No.

Then what’s up?  How can I answer the questions this way?   Let’s break it down some more…

It is a fairly safe bet to say that Howell did not do anything on purpose that he thought would be a violation.  We’re talking about a guy who, according to BASS reports (admittedly, not always the Gospel truth), turned himself in to the tournament director for a culling mistake during the same tournament.  He did this knowing it would result in a weight penalty.  He’s not in the habit of openly breaking rules.

FishStrong contacted Howell about the picture.  Here is what he said:

“Chris Bowes, the tournament director, announced all the off-limits areas and specifically said that dam was totally fishable and you could even tie up to it if you chose to.  The Game and Fish people told him that.  I even asked after the pre-tournament meeting to confirm.  He said Game and Fish said the sign was for lock gate work, only around the gate area between the work barges.”

Furthermore, your eyes can deceive you and pictures can lie.

He’s not really holding up the Eiffel Tower.

While the sign appears to have an incriminating nature, it is actually located on the other side of the wall, in front of the lock gate where they were working on some construction.  It’s sort of an optical illusion.  The sign is really meant for that particular “lane”, for lack of a better word.  It is actually specifying an area of water not visible in the picture due to it being blocked by the rusty iron wall.

So, while it looks like Randy Howell was fishing in a prohibited area, he actually was not. His victory was legitimate.  I can understand some of the other competitors’ frustrations, but it sounds like they either missed some key details at the meeting or misinterpreted the signage.

This moment of was truth brought to you by FishStrong.com.

Fish Strong!

The post Did Randy Howell Win Inside “Prohibited” Area? appeared first on FishStrong.

Crack…. Crack…. Nah, these two fish won’t be needing their jaw joints any time soon, right?

What is wrong with you people? If you know enough to catch a couple bass like this then you should know how to hold them!… Unless you caught them with live shiners, then you probably know nothing.

“No boat needed!”

I want to know what he did with the first fish while he was trying to catch the other one. “No boat” means no livewell. We can only assume that he put the first fish in a cooler or laid it in the grass.

Oh, okay… so they supposedly “swam off alive”. Did they? Maybe so. But how long will they be alive with a dysfunctional jaw that you torqued into the “hinge-head” position? People who do this are just begging for negative reactions and a bad rap.

Yes, it’s the same guy. The fish’s head is pointed one direction, the tail points the other.

These recommendations were not meant to be taken seriously.

It’s not just the hinge-head pictures that get on people’s nerves, it’s all the other ridiculous photos that are staged for Facebook. Why can’t people just take normal bass pictures anymore? Why does it have to be something so stupid, so staged, and so elaborate?

And the crankbait was EXACTLY like that in the fish’s mouth when he reeled it in!!!

I’m confused… am I supposed to look at the rod or the inverted fish?

And the spook was EXACTLY like that when he reeled it in? Again, I’m confused… am I supposed to look at this as a fish picture or a LOOK AT MY ROD picture.

Again… why do the pictures have to be so unnecessarily ridiculous these days?

Because the fishing culture is feeding the egos of future and current “30-percenters” like never before. That’s why. Everyone is trying to win a contest for a free lure if they send in their picture and it’s chosen, so they assume moronic poses and stuff some product into the lens in hopes of earning the favor of some pro staff director. Perhaps they’re looking for an upgrade from field staff to “pro staff”… from a 15% discount to 30% discount.

Perhaps some of these guys are good fishermen and perhaps a scant few of them have a future, but why do they have to clown themselves out? Honestly most of them belong in the “Dreamers Class“.

Look at the “YUM pro” up top. A reader brought this “30-percenter” to my attention. I try to emulate the lameness for educational purposes. “30-percenters” and industry suck-ups love these kinds of pictures.

Reels are designed to REEL the fish to you, but that doesn’t stop some guys from going prone and dangling their bodies over the water to reach for fish like this one.

Please do the bass fishing community a favor… Just reel the fish in. Grab it by the lower jaw. Hold it up without torquing its jaw or bending the fish into awkward positions. Snap picture. Release.

And it’s not just pictures that gets maddening. It’s all the FB starlets looking for handouts and begging for donations, as if they are some kind of charity case! I wish this was the only example I’ve seen, but it’s not…

Ever heard of a summer job? Got a lawn mower?

Scroll down to the bottom of this “Turning Pro” article to see another give-me-money example.

Fishing is not charity. Let’s not marginalize it more than it already is. By asking for donations, not only do you express a sense of entitlement, but you look pathetic. Just because you have a jersey and a G. Loomis knockoff skele-fish logo does not mean people should give you money to fish! I’m telling y’all… this is getting out of control! At least when I grew up, kids sold candy bars when they wanted to collect money for a cause.

Is FishStrong the only bass fishing website advocating for sanity? Why is nobody else pointing this stuff out? I know why… they are paid to keep the sizzle going. We’re just supposed to wired2hug everything and remain super duper positive, not daring to point out the things that are wrong! Just write some articles about croaking laser lures and collect the checks. That’s pretty much the modus operandi these days.

I’m sick of it. If any reader out there is wising up, or has wised up to all of this, please share this article. Perhaps we can prevent future hinge-head pictures and fake fishing hero poses from the 30-percenters. Allowing those to continue unabated would end up encouraging more sizzle-suckers to follow suit.

Fish Strong!

The post Enough with the Madness… Jaw Cracking Hinge-Head Bass Pictures, Etc…!! appeared first on FishStrong.

Everywhere I look somebody is sharing a testimonial about how bad their customer service is or how their unit isn’t working properly.  Here’s one example I noticed recently…

Their owner, “Thibodaux Arqudevittes”, is lamenting on Facebook about how he’s “pi$$ed” people off.  I guess so.  Gotta keep those customers happy!

Their sales have fallen off the cliff.  How could they not?  I can’t think of the last time I’ve met anyone who has purchased a unit.  The market is small and not everybody sucks up sizzle to the tune of $400 for something that is supposed to accomplish the same thing Jason Christie’s trolling motor did during the Eh-LEET event on Bull Shoals… “ignite feeding frenzies”.  Yes, that’s right, a trolling motor “turns on” the school.

An approximation of what the Hydrowave sales probably look like these days.

Between servicing warranty claims with existing customers and the rest of the customers catching onto the sizzle, there’s not much left.  To whom are you going to sell units?  The product isn’t designed to be bought over and over again.

Enter “expansion chips”

What do you do if your unit sales tank?  Why, you just sizzle your customers into purchasing some add-ons and “upgrades”… that’ll prolong the sizzle for a couple extra months and might even get you an extra Youtube video!

This is where the “KVD chip” comes in.  It contains his “signature” sounds, taken from baitfish that actually swam under KVD’s boat!!!  These are special baitfish.  You see, a shad makes a different sort of sound when it’s swimming under KVD’s boat.  These are shad with a different kind of attitude.  Remember,” it’s all about the attitude.”

Well, not quite.  These shad probably came from under Thibodaux’s boat.

I catch me all dem shad wit my throwin’ net and put dem in my crawfish boiling pot and then stick me a microphone in there and play dem some good Cajun tunes from my boombox so dey can dance fo’ me!

What’s next in the “expansion” lineup?…

“Goldbeck’s Gold Mine”… the same sounds he used to notch his current 96th place AOY standings?

Jeff Kriet’s No-Confidence Mental Breakdown Minnow?… The same sound a minnow makes when it is freaking out because it knows it’s about to get eaten by a bass… a sound that causes the bass to become aggressive due to the vulnerability of the minnow?

Or perhaps they’ll have a Livingston Lures Croak Compilation… All the croaks your heart desires… complete with single croaks and double croak-croaks… because we all know baitfish croak like a frog!!

I guess it’s time to dig up some more pro staffers to keep the business afloat.  They’ll need more “Silver” anglers to promote all of these new expansion chips.  If you’re interested in the sizzle, check out this screenshot of the Hydrowave “Silver Angler Agreement”.  Notice  how it says you “must display a functional unit”… guess they don’t want guys trying to hype up all of those dysfunctional units.

One quick read through this Silver agreement will tell you all you need to know about the credibility of all those plugs you hear coming from the weigh-in stage.  You could probably switch out a few words and this “agreement” would reflect a few dozen other companies. Lame-o.  

“This is the best bat that helps me hit the ball better, you should buy one too, because I’m on their pro staff and they sponsor me!”

Why do we not see this kind of lameness in other sports?  Why do we not see professional baseball players signing “pro staff” deals with Louisville Slugger for a discount on bats?  Why do we not see NBA players signing pro staff deals with Spalding for a “deal” on basketballs?  

Oh yeah, because that kind of thing is pathetic and these guys can make money without it.  They have asserted their value in their sports and to their respective organizations, and are not interested in any give-me-a-decal “pro staff” deal to pimp product on Facebook like a “30-percenter”.

In all other sports, the players actually make as much or more money than many of the guys running the organization.  In fishing, the players are lucky to break even while the head honcho sizzlers are raking it in.

Fish Strong!

The post Hydrowave: Endangered Product List appeared first on FishStrong.

Lake Guntersville is certainly one of the top 10 lakes in the country, being among the ranks of other bass fishing powerhouses like Falcon, Okeechobee, Clear Lake, Champlain, etc…

Summer is here. Lots of people are arriving in towns like Guntersville to try their hand at catching a big sack of bass. Most people don’t have unlimited vacation days, so when you get a chance to make the trip, you better do it right! When you’re not familiar with a destination, you can easily get it wrong and partially waste those hard-earned vacation days.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve run into boats from out of state who clearly have not done their homework. Everything about what they are doing screams………

“I’M NOT FROM AROUND HERE!!”

You’ll idle by these guys and they’ll crack some joke like, “Are there any fish left in this lake?”… as if it’s the lake’s fault.

Meanwhile, as they gripe on about how bad the bite is and how they think “a front must’ve came through last night”, you’re floating by them with a 25-30 pound limit of ba-donkey-donk pigs wondering why they towed their boat 500 miles to one of the best grass fishing and ledge lakes in the country only to tangle on the same stretch of rip rap relentlessly pounded by the minnow-dangling cane poles of local “bridge people”.

As they reel in a sunken can of Colt 45 with their H20 Express plug, you are tempted to pull out that 7-pounder you caught last hour, but you refrain because you don’t want to rub it in or stress the fish. So you just laugh their joke off and say something ultra-lame back to them like, “Yep, it’s tough… I figured y’all must’ve caught ‘em all already! Hee-hee!”

Don’t Be That Guy… Hire a Guide!

DON’T be this kind of out-of-towner… the out-of-towner who is so confident in his fish catching abilities that he believed he could just show up and figure them out with his farm pond tactics and trusty plug, without doing any real research. Don’t be the kind of guy who, rather than blaming his own lack of knowledge and preparation, blames instead the lake when he doesn’t catch them.

Do yourself a favor and hire a guide — even if it’s only for a half-day. Just do something to get you going.

Guide Do’s and Don’ts

Don’t hire just any ol’ guide, though. You want one with a good reputation.

Sure, a guide might look good on the internet… lots of “fishing report” boasting and fancy logos or whatever, but you can probably do better than that. Some of the best guides in the business don’t have a big internet/forum presence.

1)  “A licensed guide”

Being “licensed” doesn’t mean jack.  Guides love to act like being “licensed” is some kind of big time credential that makes them superior to others.  It’s just another government scam, though.  It makes them “legal” or whatever, but it’s not really a feather in anyone’s cap.  It means you had the money to get get the license, which is very costly.  It has no bearing on whether a guide can put you on the best fish or not.   Don’t let “licensed” be a factor in your guide choice, trust me.  The worst guides I know are “licensed”.

2) Ask around for guide recommendations.

Call multiple tackle stores in the area and ask for the most respected guide on the lake. I repeat… call multiple. Often a guide will have a relationship with a certain tackle store that is designed to feed him business. You should call several bait shops because it’s unlikely that this guide has a relationship with all of them. If the same name keeps popping up over and over again, call that guy. If you want my personal recommendation, write me.

3) Don’t fund your guide’s tournament aspirations

Beware of guides who are trying to “make it” on the FLW Tour or become a future Eh-LEET Series angler. If they are actively fishing tournaments, pass on them. Look up the guide’s name here and here. If their name doesn’t show up here, that doesn’t mean they aren’t fishing a slew of local tournaments to inflate their ego.

Tournament fishing guides are most often the worst guides because they guide you selfishly. One of two things always happen… They will not take you to the best locations on purpose because they are saving them for a tournament or trying to keep them secret. They’ll put you on schools of 2-3 pounders and save the 5-6 pounders for themselves.

These guys often have their eyes on a trophy, not the ultimate satisfaction of their clients. You want a guide who is on the lake all the time strictly for the purpose of guiding, not one who is trying to fund his tournament “career” on your dime by picking up random trips between Tour stops.  This eliminates almost half the guides on the lake. Your selection process is getting easier now!

4) Check for the “right kind” of pictures.

Pictures are good to look at, but if the guide is holding most of the bass, avoid him like the plague. There’s nothing wrong with a guide who fishes a little to help determine whether fish are biting in the area, but if the clients are constantly taking pictures of the guide holding fish they are paying him to catch, you’ve got a problem. It shows the guide is not focused on the clients, but instead his own fishing.

5) Testimonials are almost meaningless.

Guides will hand pick their testimonials. A guide may completely fail half of his customers and satisfy the other half. He’s only going to post the testimonials he approves. Often these testimonials are of their friends… just fellow fishing buddies.

6) Avoid the one-trick-pony guide

Certain guides are known for certain things. Make sure your guide can switch gears if necessary. Make sure he knows what he’s doing with multiple techniques. Maybe “Snake Mavis”, the guide you found online, posted up a few big fish pictures, but don’t read too much into them. Those fish could be coming from different times of year when the fish were mostly shallow and easy to find. This time of year, the “peak season”, you’ll need a guide who can take you out to 20-30′ of water and catch fish. You don’t want to get stuck with a bank-beater guide who’s uncomfortable below 10′ depths.

Don’t take all the logos and stickers too seriously.

These mean nothing! There are guides go around begging companies to add them on their “pro staff” so they can sport a dozen decals and banners on their website and have a more colorful logo-ridden boat. In their minds, they think this makes them look like big shots… heavy hitters of the lake.  They think they are playing the game. Sometimes the pro staff directors finally give in to them to stop their badgering and provide them meager discounts on product.

In no way do these arrangements equate to the guide being sponsored or endorsed by the company of which their decals are derived. They can be just as much of a patch collector as any other “30-Percenter”, except these guys have figured out how to fish their spare time away on your dime.

7) Check his smoking status.

If you are a non-smoker or you have kids, you don’t want a guide who chain smokes all day from the front deck while the wind blows it in your face all day.

8) Avoid Alabama Rig Heroes

If the guide seemed to pop up suddenly and his business began to take off circa Fall of 2011, after the rise of the Alabama Rig, avoid him. There are times of year when just about anybody can “whack” them on that thing. Just go to the nearest bridge and squeeze in with the rest of the Alabama rig heroes. You don’t need a guide for that. Anybody can draw up a “skele-fish” logo and get paid to toss around umbrella rigs all day during the tournament off-season.  There are several out there.

Miscellaneous

Best Restaurant in Guntersville, AL

Toke (pronounced “tokee”), is a great Thai food restaurant located on the lower end off the main drag on the lake. It pretty much beats everything around. Order the Panang Chicken Curry or Chicken Massaman.

Phone: (256) 582-3626 Address: 1906 Gunter Ave, Guntersville, AL 35976

Best Days to Visit

Not on the weekends. Weekends are bad enough already with locals, so more out-of-towners only make it worse. If you don’t have a choice and must come on a weekend, make sure you find your own water and don’t crowd anglers who are already on spots. Don’t fish the “bent pole pattern”. Don’t make a detour turn towards every angler you see catching a fish. Just remember to give guys their space and be considerate. The locals could do the same!

“Community holes”

If all else fails, learn where the “community holes” are. There are plenty of them on Guntersville, so you’ll have no problem finding one. Heck, anywhere you see 15 boats in close proximity is probably a community hole. Nobody expects to be alone on a community hole, so the tolerance of other fisherman showing up and casting around the same general area is better tolerated. However, you’ll still need to maintain a little distance from other boats if you want to be respectful.

Best Tackle Store

Your best bet is Guntersville Tackle and Outdoor.

Address: 3760 Alabama 69 Guntersville, AL 35976 Phone: (256) 582-9870

They have a good selection of what you need and fair prices. Don’t get ripped off at Waterfront Grocery. Those prices are insanely high.

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That’s about it. If you plan on coming down to Guntersville, I hope this helps. Try not to come too often or stay too long. The lake is already too busy and I hate fishing a crowded lake!

Fish Strong!

The post So You Wanna Come Fish Lake Guntersville – A Guide to Guides and Misc. appeared first on FishStrong.

So, FishStrong, in all its benevolence, has decided to provide anglers with a little tutorial. Follow these 16 steps and you’ll be a Facebook pro before you know it!

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Step 1 — Deck out your upper body in your fishing jersey, the more colors and logos the better (bonus points for “cult” logos.)

Step 2 – Catch a bass.  Size doesn’t matter.  You can make it look big later.  If you can’t catch one, borrow one.

Step 3 — Remove hook(s) from bass.

Step 4 — Admire the bass for a minute or two while it tries desperately to flare its gills for oxygen.

Step 5 — If you think the bite is really on fire and you don’t want to risk the chance of catching another 15-incher, put the fish in the livewell and ride around with it all day long. You will be able to stage a really good picture later!!   A livewell water depth of 3″ should be ample.  You want to beat the fish up a little.  It makes it look like you “PWNED” him during the long battle!

Step 6 – Place the bait of your “30-Percenter” sponsor into the fish’s mouth by impaling its hooks into the bass’s mouth, making a new hole.  Bonus points will be awarded for showing any lure that “croaks” or shoots “lasers” or uses “Hydrowave technology”.

Be sure to strategically choose your new hole so that the lure achieves optimal hang for upcoming photo.  This process was perfected by Wired2Hug and is now used by many fishermen.  This step is crucial because we wouldn’t want any fish to get in the way of pimping out your “sponsor’s” product.

Step 7 – Hold fish out with fully extended arm towards the lens.  Make sure you ratchet fish’s body up by the head with one hand so as to make it more horizontal.  This is achieved by twisting your wrist outward so the fish’s head points a different direction from the rest of the body dangling and sagging behind.

The shape of the fish at this point should resemble a boomerang.

Imagine the head of your bass being on the top and the tail being on the bottom. This is the “hinge head” or “boomerang” hang.

A head to body angle of at least 45 degrees will be minimally sufficient.   Even though the fish’s body is not meant to hinge from the head like this, it’s cool because you look like a BOSS on Facebook!  *Wearing a flat brim hat for the “hinged head” fish picture makes it even cooler!  Can you double fist the head-hinge like the big boys do at Eh-LEET weigh-ins?  Even better!!  Be advised that you’ll need two fish for that.

* Disclaimer:  FishStrong is aware that not all flat brimmers are alike.  Some display exemplary fish care and FishStrong commends their efforts.

Step 8 – Snap picture!

Step 9 – Inspect photo to make sure that no part of the fish covers your jersey logos.  If a flat brim is worn (and it should be), make sure this clown hat is fully visible, yo.

Step 10 – Re-take photo… because part of the tail was blocking your “Kustom Kommando Whacker Jigs” logo.  This must be visible since you purchase these at a 15% discount from your “sponcer” [sic].

Step 11 — Re-take photo again!!  Your flat brim hat was incorrectly cocked.  It needs to be slightly diagonal and/or to the side for that “true playa” look.

They’re actually just practicing their “hinge head” style bass hold.  These future stars have blank jerseys.  Plenty of real estate space for a dozen “30-Percenter” deals.

Step 12 – Retake photo again if necessary.  Don’t worry… the fish will probably swim off, albeit barely.

OPTION — You may experiment with the backwards pose.  Those back of the jersey logos don’t usually get as much love, so this shows that you are considerate… increasing your chances of making it on the “Pro Team” later in life.

Step 13 – Upload picture to Facebook IMMEDIATELY!  This is mandatory to prove to the world that you can catch something.  If the fish does not appear on Facebook, it was never caught and you lose social media fishing legend points.

Step 14 – #Hashtag, #hashtag, #hashtag!!  You simply must #hashtag all of your “30-Percenter” sponsors.  You should even hashtag the ones you have not “signed a deal” with. Do this in hopes that when they see your legendary Facebook success and “exposure” you’ve brought them, they will be so overcome with gratitude for the free advertisement that they offer you a genuine 30% deal… one that still represents a markup from the wholesale prices paid by dealers.  However, be prepared to settle for 15% off MSRP and a free decal, though. Sure… it’s the employee paying the employer, but ya gotta start somewhere in the land of patch collecting!

Don’t forget to hashtag the gas station you filled up at on the way to the lake.  It’s the only thing missing from the fine example above.

“And finally, none of this would be possible if it wasn’t for #Shell gas station making sure my #Mercury had some fuel to burn to take me to the spot where I used my #denalirods!  Now I can’t wait to use my #EthanolBustingElixir, since all that genetically modified corn juice is in my gas. #BendingOverBackwardsForFreeAdvertisementLunacy #JustBrokeMyHashtagButtonFromUsingItTooMuch”

Step 15 – VERY IMPORTANT! Be sure to include the traditional “lost the big one” sentence.  No proper Facebook fishing picture is completely without the sad tale of losing a fish “even bigger” than the one pictured.  If you do that, boy oh boy, that means you were really on them!!

Step 16 – Oh yeah, you can release the fish now.  If it turns upside down or floats up, just use your rod tip to push it back down and give it a nudge.

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That’s it!!  You’re done.  Follow these steps and you’ll have 3,000 FB fishing friends you’ve never met.  Hundreds of people will “like” your picture in no time flat and your ego will be bigger than the bass that “came off right by the boat”.

NOTE:  To those who are a bit on the dense side, this entire tutorial is a little something called “satire”.  FishStrong does not condone any of the above practices.

Fish Strong!

The post How to Post Fishing Pictures on Facebook – a Tutorial appeared first on FishStrong.

Here’s the info, taken from the Pinnacle Facebook Page…….

Pinnacle friends,

It’s contest time!  We are looking to see you make a “Perfect Cast Moment” video, which shows the casting, hooking, and landing of a fish with your Pinnacle fishing rod, reel, or both……Here are the rules!!!!!

1)  Record a brief, uninterrupted, Perfect Cast Moment video using your Pinnacle fishing equipment.

2)  Title your video “Pinnacle Fishing Perfect Cast Moment June 2013“.

3)  Post a link to your Perfect Cast Moment video on Pinnacle’s Facebook page during the Month of June, 2013.

Impress our panel of judges with your Pinnacle Fishing Rod and Reel expertise to win.

Perfect Cast Moment awards announced for June 2013 entries only.

1st Place – Pinnacle Perfecta Rod and Optimus OP10X reel
2nd Place – Property of Pinnacle Fishing T-shirt
3rd place- Pinnacle fishing hat and sticker

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Here is an example for you to keep in mind as you make your video entry.  You don’t have to copy it, but if this was a real entry, it would be a good one!

Fish Strong!

The post Pinnacle Fishing Kicks Off New Contest — “Perfect Cast Moment” appeared first on FishStrong.

Fish Strong!

The post A Great All-Around Rod and Reel Combo for Bass Fishing appeared first on FishStrong.

Apparently, it’s now public knowledge around Michigan.  I read this a few weeks ago in a local newspaper out of KVD-Land.  Here is the screenshot straight from their website:

Excerpt from Michigan newspaper from the beginning of May 2013

According to the article, KVD is “well aware” of the lake, no doubt giving him the decisive advantage.  Why would BASS intentionally seek out a lake that would give its poster boy that kind of advantage over the rest of the field?   Remember, according to the newspaper, BASS officials sought out and contacted the West Michigan officials, not the other way around.

BASS got it right during the 2012 All-Star event by holding it in Decatur, Illinois.  Decatur is in nobody’s backyard.  The two chosen lakes are relatively unknown bodies of water that did not present a clear advantage to anyone.  Located about a 6-hr drive southwest of where the 2013 event will be held, Decatur offered a somewhat central location while being a solid 5-8 hour drive from most qualifiers.

How long will KVD’s drive be?  Much, much less.  Put it this way, it’s close enough for him to be “well aware” of a lake the Elite Series has never previously visited.

Is this sizzleosity at its finest?  Is BASS stacking the deck for a KVD AOY victory followed up by a bonus victory at the All-Star event in KVD’s backyard?…  Sort of a 1-2 sizzle punch?  He is currently 3rd in AOY points, so it could happen.

One can’t help but notice that the stage is set for sizzle.  KVD, although he’s fishing very well, has been pretty quiet this year and has yet to capture a victory.  It may happen yet, but is this Michigan All Star plan some kind of a sizzlesurance policy?

Enter JVD

This brings us to JVD.  Since four of the All Star participants are derived by means of “voting” — which is a joke according to conversations with five current Elite pros — this gives them the opportunity to sizzle up JVD into one of the four “fan favorite” spots.

Think about it…  in their own backyard… KVD vs JVD.  Blood vs. blood.  Uncle vs nephew.  It’s good for ratings and ripe for the sizzling.

But is the “voting” even legit or is it just a way for Captain Sizzle to mask the orchestration behind the scenes.  The All Star Championship’s sizzled design was built with the flexibility of options.  Is the voting a ruse to cover up the exercising of those options by less democratic means?

Perhaps the postseason gimmick is legit, regardless of the votes being independently certified or not.  That’s possible too, but has BASS ever published the voting results?  Where is the transparency?

I’m not declaring past voting results to be inaccurate, but if they weren’t, why not show it as so?  Not showing it creates the potential for dissension and animosity among the Eh-LEET anglers.  It creates the skepticism.  So, BASS is actually hurting themselves in the end.  Some anglers might be reluctant to help market the gimmicky postseason because they feel it is a joke in the first place and possibly rigged.  After all, there’s nothing published showing otherwise unless you just take their word for it without even the most scant evidence in support of the results.

Unless otherwise proved, I can’t help but lean towards thinking the whole “voting” process is a hyped up scam designed to increase internet traffic to the BASS website while allowing rigged results that ultimately serve special sizzled interests.  Let’s see some verification!  Let’s see some daily vote totals.  Why not have the PAA or some other independent 3rd party verify the votes?  Let’s see some kind of accountability and oversight!

Would this not strengthen the whole process and bring it added respect?  As it stands now, I call sizzle.  I could be wrong, but I’m asking to be proved wrong.  There are plenty of vote verification companies that will certify results.  Look what happened on the ABC talent show The Voice.  This is precisely why independent certification is necessary, not only to prevent corruption and sizzle, but to guard against mistakes.  Certification is necessary.

“The people who cast the votes don’t decide an election, the people who count the votes do.” – Josef Stalin

We’re talking about people’s lives and livelihoods here.  Why doesn’t BASS, in being the “WORLD’S FOREMOST AUTHORITY ON BASS FISHING”, step up to the big leagues and do it right?  Having unchecked, unverified, unaccountable, unpublished voting results that influence the outcome of a sizzled up post-season will only retard the development of this sport, preserving its small, niche, status.  It undermines the sport.

Let’s be honest, the “voting” gimmick alone undermines the sport.  Are we voting “fan favorites” into the NFL playoffs?  Lame-o.  It’s just another example of sizzle.

Furthermore, keeping the All Star voting in-house only insults the post-season gimmick because it shows that those in charge don’t even have enough respect for the process to safeguard it from corruption and innaccuracy.  It has the effect of saying, “Hey it’s just a silly, contrived, bass fishing tournament, so who cares… it’s not like it’s important or anything.”

People with money to invest can smell the difference between an outfit that is serious and legit and one that is just sizzling things up for its own gain.  The postseason is the latter.  Stuff like this turns away people who would otherwise invest into something like bass fishing. All they see is a tightly controlled little club, that micromanages every little aspect of its affairs, sizzles up everything to fit the agenda, runs its own media, runs its own TV production, and showers those favored by the sizzlers with deals from their “partners” and cans of Diet Mountain Dew.

Now BASS cans five of its employees?  A little corporate downsizing?  Something isn’t right.  Doesn’t all of this send the wrong messages in a sport that on the surface seems obsessed with bragging about growth, littering the internet with “For Immediate Release” partnership announcements, and informing everyone of how they are the “WORLD’S FOREMOST AUTHORITY ON BASS FISHING”?

Meanwhile Captain Sizzle rakes it in.  Let us not forget that the All-Star Championship tournament stole money away from the former AOY purse.  The AOY used to pay $250,000, but it now pays $100,000, a difference of $150,000.  Last year’s All-Star championship paid out $84,000 between the top four finishers.  The other eight were stiffed.  Do the math… $150,000 (former AOY money) – $84,000 (All Star payout) = $66,000 missing.

So along the way, while reallocating the $150,000 worth of AOY payout to the All-Star gimmick, somebody reached in and pulled $66,000 out of it.  Guess who got that money……. It wasn’t Captain Crunch.  He doesn’t own JM Productions.  It wasn’t Captain Kangaroo.

“It wasn’t me.”

It wasn’t Shaggy.

When will bass fishing really put on its big boy pants and do things right?

Fish Strong!

The post BASS 2013 All-Star Event Is Ripe for the Sizzling appeared first on FishStrong.

Arrive at the lake without a spinning rod?……..  Ehhh, big deal.  I’ll get by.

Blazing hot sun ascends into a sparsely clouded summer sky.  Eye-squinting, retina-burning reflections beam off the water’s surface, causing me to reach for my polarized Kaenon Hard Kore sunglasses, only to discover that I left them in my truck 10 miles down the lake?……….. Ehhh, I’ll live.

Forget to bring water bottles?………. Whatever.  I’ll use my Lifestraw and drink out of the lake.

Get hungry while idling through a no-wake zone only to realize that I left my pistachios at home?……… #FAIL.  Day RUINED!!

Yes, my friends.  That is how important pistachios are.  I can forget a lot of things and not be bothered too much, but God forbid I leave my pistachios at home.

A Boat Food must-have.

Pistachio facts

Pistachios are just the pick-me-up you need to keep fishing strong.  A one ounce portion (about 50 kernels) contain around 180 calories to keep you on your feet and casting with utmost efficiency.   Pistachios are not only nutritious, being a great energy source, but they are full of vital minerals, B-vitamins, vitamin E, vitamin A, and oleic acid (a type of monounsaturated fat that fights cancer and reduces LDL cholesterol), but they taste great and are borderline addictive!

Unlike some other foods that require “TLC” while in the boat, pistachios can tolerate a full spectrum of temperatures throughout the day.  They are also durable and can easily be tossed around in the boat or packed in a bag your with your fishing gear, making them a perfect “boat food”.

Pistachio trading

Pistachios can be used as a great bartering tool between fishing buddies.  Did you run out of jig trailers?  I’m sure your buddy will give you a few in exchange for a handful of green-nutted salty goodness.  The current exchange rate with the Senkos hovers around .08 or about 12 pistachio nuts per Senko.

The exchange rate with Senkos is holding steady since 2012 and poised to remain so for the foreseeable future.

Offering a handful of pistachios to your fishing buddy is a welcomed gesture of good will and generosity that shows him you appreciate the time spent together catching your favorite piscatorial species.

My buddies LOVE my pistachios.  In fact, sometimes I think they want to fish with me just because they know I’ll have a nice stash of them on me.  Even my most hardcore gas station snack-eating buddies beg for pistachios.

Try them out next time you go fishing.  Pistachios will become a kind of non-guilty pleasure you will look forward to enjoying periodically throughout the day.  The thought of these pistachios will linger in the back of your mind and you’ll find comfort in their presence as accumulative positive experiences bring a sense of passive awareness and assuredness to your overall fishing game.  When the bite slows down a little, you will pleasantly and spontaneously recall the fact that your boat is stocked with these little green gems and think to yourself, “Ahh, time for some pistachios”.

Fish Strong!

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I’m continually pleased at the proficiency and command of the various terms by FishStrong readers.  Most of you have really adopted the vocabulary quite well and use it with mastery.

However, new readers and fishing newcomers sometimes need a little help to fully understand some fishing terms, especially those thrown around here on FishStrong.  A fishing glossary seems like a good idea.  So, how about a FishStrong glossary?  Here it is…

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30-Percenter  |ˈTHərtē pərˈsentər|

An über enthusiastic and delusional member of at least one (often several) illegitimate “pro staff” scams perpetuated by countless fishing-related companies. Often members of the Dreamer’s Class, they actually pay fishing tackle companies for the chance to wear a jersey and work at boat shows to “play pro”.  They demonstrate a servile mentality that is willing to do anything to preserve their “discount deal” status, which is indiscriminately awarded to anyone, regardless of fishing ability, a “deal” which no doubt leaves ample overhead room for a healthy profit margin on the seller’s behalf.  Their need to feel “pro” is further exhibited by the fact that they buy their own jerseys and pay to put the company’s logo on it.  Even after losing their 30-Percenter “pro staff” status — a rare occurrence — they will often continue wearing the same jersey for years thereafter.

Bridge People  |brij ˈpēpəl|

Fishermen who are seen skulking around and under bridges and adjacent riprap banks, most assuredly characterized by the trash they leave behind in the aftermath of their presence (malt liquor cans, bottles, chicken liver tubs, wrappers, empty bags of stink bait, and tangled balls of used 25lb+ test monofilament).

Captain Sizzle: |ˈkaptən ˈsizəl|

Jerry McKinnis

Flat Brimmer  |flat brimər|

A semi-pejorative term describing an angler who clowns himself out by wearing a ghetto-looking flat billed hat with the hopes of it furthering his “image” and increasing his sizzle factor.

Made for TV League Fishing  |mād fôr tē vē lēg ˈfiSHiNG|

Major League Fishing (MLF)

Ponzi  |ˈpänzē|

The tournament industry practice of dangling the promise of grandeur, celebrity status, money, sponsorships, media exposure, overall Eh-LEET-ness and/or any other element of lucrative advancement to lure in an angler’s entry fee money for upcoming tournaments.  Examples of sizzled up success are relentlessly shown to prospective tournament fishermen in order to herd them and their money into the system.

Sizzle  |ˈsizəl|

noun:  Anything possessing the quality of excessive hype, disingenuousness, and “snake oil” like characteristics.  Most often used for the purpose of marketing, promoting, selling, and self-glorification with the goal of impressing an audience with a sense of awe and/or delusional notions about the true nature of something or someone.

verb:  To spin or present something very ordinary and unoriginal into something it’s not for the purpose of fooling sizzle-suckers into believing the hype, adopting the sizzled narrative as their own, and/or coughing up their money to support the sizzle.

Sizzlenomics  |ˈsizəl nämiks |

The practice of attempting to justify an unsustainable fishing “career”, unprofitable business decisions, and undesirable odds worse than Las Vegas, regarding tournament bass fishing, in order to feel better about one’s participation in the sport and the wisdom of entering into the Ponzi system.

Example of sizzlenomics in action:

“I lost $15,000 last tournament season and I need to put next year’s entry fees on a credit card.  However, I did receive exposure, which is worth something, and now that I got this bad season behind me, next year will be MY YEAR.  Sign me up for the Ponzi!!”

Sizzleosity  |ˈsizəl äsitē|

The quality of having the tendency to sizzle something up.  Examples include companies that produce “shad sound” units with “KVD expansion chips”, companies that produce sunglasses that sink slowly,  companies that produce lures with laser eyes and “croaking” sounds, and half the content published in Bassmaster magazine.

Sizzle-suckers   |ˈsizəl ˈsəkərs|

Suckers of the sizzle.  Those who absorb every ounce of sizzle presented to them.  Anyone who requires sizzle for marketing efforts to be effective on them.

Sizzlesurance  ˈsizəlSHo͝orəns|

The policy of pre-orchestrated and pre-designed sizzle to guarantee a certain level of sizzle for a future event, stacking the deck towards a sizzled outcome.

Team Deal Czar  |tēm dēl zär|

Aaron Hall, the employee of FLW who is primarily responsible for selecting anglers to be on FLW team deals.

UFP |yo͞o ef pē|

Ultimate Fishing Pose

More examples found here…  The Definitive UFP Collection

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The FishStrong glossary may be amended and updated as necessary.

Fish Strong!

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