Best New Softbaits

SuperUser Account — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 14:54:40 GMT

Gulp! Alive! Gulp! catches fish and that’s a statement that’s been proven ever since it hit the market. But Berkley has made Alive! even better, boosting the scent and flavor of original Gulp! by 20 percent and packaging the baits in durable, sealable plastic buckets filled with Gulp! juice. Now you can use a bait and then place it back in the bucket to recharge. Berkley kicked off its Gulp! Alive! line with Minnows, Minnow Grubs and 3-inch Leeches in a variety of colors and sizes that are perfect for bass, walleyes, panfish and many other gamefish species. Small buckets go for $19.99 and larges sell for $39.99. Contact Berkley at: (800) 237-5539. Tru-Tungsten Impregnated Plastics Here’s a great idea in softbaits: Incorporate weight inside the lure itself, creating a sink rate and posture fish haven’t seen before. That’s what Tru-Tungsten did with its Impregnated Plastics. All baits in the series (Dart, Reverse Dart, Stinger, Reverse Stinger, Depth Shad and Quiver) are loaded with powdered tungsten and all sell for $5.49 a bag. Plus, because the tungsten is in powder form rather than solid pellets, fish can’t feel anything unnatural when they hit. Contact Tru-Tungsten at: (724) 349-2260 Yum Big Show Craw The Yum Big Show Craw was designed largely for flippin’ dense grass mats—and bringing huge fish to the boat. The pinchers and legs fold in tight to the body at it drops, allowing the bait to penetrate even the thickest vegetation. Meanwhile the bait’s ribbed body has enough bulk to move water and attract trophy-class fish. Also, with its pinchers extended, the Big Show Craw looks like a serious meal for a hungry largemouth. Contact Pradco at: (479) 782-8971. Suggested retail: $4.49 per bag. FoodSource Tricky Worm FoodSource’s new 4-inch Tricky Worm might be one of the most diverse bass fishing lures available today. Fish it on drop-shot, Texas- or Carolina-rig, or fish it weightless. It even makes a good substitute for live bait on a ‘crawler harness. Made from 100 percent real food, the Tricky Worm leaves a scent trial in the water that fish crave. A bag of 15 sells for $4.95. Contact FoodSource Lure Corporation at: (866) 375-8737. Gulp! 5-Inch LeechBerkley’s new Gulp! 5-inch Leech does an amazing job of attracting nearly anything that swims. It looks, tastes, and feels real, and combines the Gulp! scent and flavor formula with a unique fluttering action that fish can’t seem to resist. It’s excellent for walleyes, or as a jig trailer when you’re flipping for bass. Suggested retail price is $5.49 per bag. Contact Berkley at: (800) 237-5539. Storm Swimmin’ EelThe back-and-forth wobble of Storm’s soft plastic Swimmin’ Eel creates a seductive, slithering swimming action that is irresistible to fish. It comes pre-rigged, and features two hooks and a through-wire construction so predators get a mouthfull of hook each and every time they strike. Available in two sizes, the 7-inch eel ($8.99) features a black 1½-ounce bib weight, while the 10-inc version ($11.99) features a heftier 2½ ounces. Both sizes are balanced to cast, swim and catch fish like the real thing. Visit Storm Lures at stormlures.com.

Best New Softbaits

SuperUser Account — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 14:54:40 GMT

Cabela's MWC Update 11-28-07

SuperUser Account — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 20:15:38 GMT

Driving a new Toyota Tundra is a treat in itself – but even more so for MWC anglers that qualify for contingency money. Each qualifying tournament sported a $1,000 bonus and the World Walleye Championship jumped to $2,500. No one cashed in for the previous year’s Championship, so the $2,500 became $5,000 this fall. It ended up bonus cash for David Kolb of Ada, Michigan and Dan Byers of Cedar Springs, Michigan. As it so happens – both Kolb and Byers purchased their own 2007 Toyota Tundras earlier in the year. The duo split the cash evenly due to their 10th place finish for the Championship. They weighed in 75.29 pounds for their 15 fish – a 5.02 pound average.Dan Byers towed his boat with a different truck brand for 20 years. He liked the incentives from Toyota in the fishing circuit so decided to purchase his first Tundra. “I have found this Tundra to be the very best vehicle I have ever owned,” shared Byers. “The performance coupled with the trim package is amazing and far exceeds any other vehicle I have ever owned. I am very thankful for the cash bonus awarded by Toyota and hope they stay on as a sponsor for many more years. I have been talking up all the features of the Toyota Tundra to all my friends.”For more information on the Toyota Tundra visit www.toyota.com or stop in and ask your local dealer.

Cabela's MWC Update 11-28-07

SuperUser Account — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 20:15:38 GMT

Advertiser Web Connections December/January 2007-08

SuperUser Account — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 21:03:40 GMT

All Canada Show, allcanada.com Ardent Reels, ardentreels.com Cabela’s, cabelas.com Caravan Tours, caravantours.com Clam Corp., ClamCorp.com Copenhagen, freshcope.com Ford, fordvehicles.com Geico, geico.com Gold Eagle, goldeagle.com Gulp, berkley-fishing.com Honda Marine, hondamarine.com Ice Armor, icearmor.com Jiffy Ice Augers, jiffyonice.com Myoutdoortv.com, myoutdoortv.com O2 Marine, keepfishalive.com Ontario Tourism, ontariotravel.net/gofish Rapala, rapala.com Shappell, shappell.com Stratos Boats, stratosboats.com StrikeMaster, strikemaster.com Suzuki Marine, suzuki.com Tohatsu, tohatsu.com U.S. Navy, navy.com/seals Versus TV, versus.tv Wrangler, wrangler.com Yamaha ATV, yamaha-motor.com

NAFC’s 2007 Catch & Release Contest

SuperUser Account — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 19:15:25 GMT

The NAFC’s 2007 Catch & Release Contest officially kicks off with this issue, and the prizes will be bigger--and the competition fiercer--than during any season in the contest’s 11-year history! In response to the great success and large-scale member participation in the 2005 and 2006 Members’ Choice Best Catches Division, we’ve reformatted the event. In 2007, members will choose the winners of the largest single prize packages ever awarded through the contest!After the entry deadline, Jan. 31, 2008, the NAFC staff will nominate XX finalists over a range of species and geographic locations, based on the overall quality of the catches. These entry photos and information about each catch will then be posted on the NAFC and Catch & Release Contest websites, where members can vote for their favorites. The 10 entries that receive the most votes will earn each angler the prize package seen here, which is valued at over $1,000! As always, the contest will feature the coveted Angler of the Year competition. The angler who racks up the most total points will claim the title, a free Life Membership and a commemorative plaque. All other contest rules will remain the same.ENTRY FORM (PDF) || ENTER ONLINE FISHING RULES:All fish must be caught on hook and line and in accordance with state or provincial laws. Fish must be released within 2 hours of being caught. Fish must meet minimum length requirements listed below: (No minimum length requirements for youth 15 & under; only catches that meet or exceed the minimum length will be counted toward Angler of the Year points or any other category.)Species - Min. Length Arctic Char 30" Arctic Grayling 18" Bass, Largemouth 22" Bass, Peacock 24” Bass, Smallmouth 20" Bass, Spotted 19” Bass, Striped Hybrid 24" Bass, Striped 36" Bass, White 17" Bluefish 30” Bluegill 11" Bonefish none Carp 25” Catfish, Blue 34" Catfish, Channel 28" Catfish, Flathead 35" Crappie, (Black or White) 14" Dolly Varden 20" Dorado 40” King Mackerel 45” Kokanee 18” Marlin, all varieties t none Muskie 42" Muskie, Hybrid 37” Perch, Yellow 15" Permit 25" Pickerel, Chain 24" Pike, Northern 38" Redfish t 30" Sailfish none Salmon, Atlantic 34" Salmon, Chinook a 36" Salmon, Coho 31" Sauger 21" Seatrout 26" Shark, all varieties t none Snook 35" Splake 27" Steelhead 27" Sturgeon t none Sunfish, Redear 12” Swordfish t none Tarpon t none Trout, Brook 18" Trout, Brown 20" Trout, Cutthroat 18" Trout, Lake 32" Trout, Rainbow 20" Tuna, all varieties t none Wahoo t none Walleye 27" Whitefish 20” t Indicates species for which touching the leader is considered a landed fish. Although a minimum length is not required, entrants must provide an estimated length.A chinook salmon caught in Alaska must be photographed in the water.ENTRIES: Limit of 1 entry per fish (and a limit of one fish per entry form). Multiple entries per person (multiple fish) are allowed and encouraged with a maximum of 25 entries per species.Fish must be caught and released between 1/1/07 and 12/31/07.All 2007 entries must be received at the NAFC by 1/31/08.Entry information must be clearly printed on an official entry form. Form must be signed by angler and witness. (Form photocopies are allowed).Photographs are optional (strongly encouraged) for program entry but must be included to qualify for the “Angler of the Year” award. Quality photographs will be selected for publication in the North American Fisherman magazine and on www.fishingclub.com.Photographs: 1. Must be on or near the water. 2. Fish must be held in a manner that doesn’t harm the fish. 3. Must show the angler. 4. Print name, address, phone # and NAFC member # (if applicable) on the back of each photograph. 5. Do not staple or tape the photograph to the entry. 6. Polaroid and home-printed digital images are strongly discouraged. 7. Send each entry to:NAFC 2007 Catch & Release PO Box 3429 Minnetonka, MN 55343 CATEGORIESMEMBERS’ CHOICE – TOP TEN CATCHES After the Jan. 31, 2008 entry submission deadline, the NAFC staff will nominate 25 finalists over a range of species and geographic locations, based on the overall quality of the catches. The photos and information about each catch will then be posted on the NAFC and Catch & Release Contest websites, where members can vote for their favorites. The 10 entries that receive the most votes will earn each angler a prize package worth over $1,000. (See the Feb. 2007 issue of North American Fisherman, or visit the NAFC website for prize details.)YOUTH This category is for youths who are 15 years or under on the date of the catch. There are no minimum length requirements for the Youth category. (Only catches that meet or exceed the minimum length will be counted toward Angler of the Year points or any other category.)ANGLER OF THE YEAR: A free NAFC Life Membership and wall plaque will be awarded to the angler who accumulates the most points based on the following point allocation system: 1 point will be awarded for each qualified entry (must include a photograph). 10 bonus points will be awarded for each different qualified species entered (no points for the first species).ADDITIONAL AWARDS: All NAFC members submitting qualifying entries that meet the minimum length requirements for the species will receive a Catch & Release decal and one certificate of recognition for the largest fish in each of the species that they submit. Certificates and decals will be mailed in March of 2008.NAFC members who catch and release a state and/or world record fish, and submit supporting documentation, will receive a special NAFC recognition plaque. GENERAL RULES: No purchase necessary to enter or win. Void where prohibited by law. No responsibility is assumed for late, lost, damaged, postage due, or misdirected entries. NAFC decisions concerning all matters related to this contest are final. Winners will be notified by mail and prizes will be delivered by June 1, 2008. All taxes are the sole responsibility of the winner. All photos become property of the NAFC and will not be returned. Entrant grants the NAFC the right to publish his/her name, photograph, likeness, and biographical information in advertising and promotion without compensation or permission. Entrant releases the NAFC from any liability arising out of participation in this contest or the acceptance, use, or misuse of a prize. No cash substitutions, transfers, or assignments of prizes allowed, except by the NAFC who reserves the right to substitute prizes of equal or greater value. The NAFC reserves the right to disqualify any entry. Reminder: Entry information must be clearly printed on an official entry form (form photocopies are allowed).PRIZESUgly BraidOne 125-yard spool of 15-pound Ugly Braid line from Shakespeare. Ugly Braid has near-zero stretch, but is flexible and abrasion-resistant, thanks to its Ugly Armor coating. It’s a good choice for probing deep water and thick cover.Available in 10- to 100-pound test. Call (800) 334-9105, or visit www.shakespeare-fishing.com.Pflueger Trion LP Pflueger’s Trion low-profile baitcaster features five double-shielded stainless steel ball bearings, instant anti-reverse, a six-pin adjustable centrifugal brake system and more. Call (800) 334-9105, or visit www.pflueger-fishing.com.Cajun Red Lightnin’A 1,150-yard spool of 12-pound Cajun Red Lightnin’ line. The innovative mono offers excellent strength, abrasion resistance, castability and low visibility underwater. Call (800) 334-9105, or visit www.shakespeare-fishing.com.Berkley Line And Softbait A collection Berkley’s most innovative lines and lures, including two spools of new FireLine Crystal, a 250-yard spool of 12-pound Vanish Transition Red, 330-yard spool of 10-pound Trilene Maxx, and four packs of top Gulp! softbaits.FireLine Crystal is the first nearly clear superline on the market, offering the zero stretch, high abrasion resistance and the supreme strength of its counterparts, but with extremely low visibility underwater. Call (800) 237-5539 or visit www.berkley-fishing.com.Optimum Baits Eleven high performance softbaits, spinnerbaits, swimbaits and more from Optimum, deps and ima Japan. Lures include the A.C. Minnow, Banzai Hog, Crashing Thunder, Basirisky and more. Call (951) 676-6384 or visit www.optimumbaits.com.3M Scientific Anglers ComboOne System 5-weight fly outfit ideal for panfish, trout and bass. The combo includes Ultra 4 floating line, a Concept 2 reel, 9-foot high-modulus graphite fly rod, tapered leader, fly box, backing and more. Visit www.scientificanglers.com.Plano Hybrid Satchel The 3258 Hybrid Satchel features Plano’s FlipSider technology, plus three 2-3500 Pro-Latch utility boxes and one 3543 Waterproof Spinnerbait StowAway. Four rows of 4 compartments. The box measures 17 1/2x7 3/4x12 3/4 inches and sports four rows of four compartments and sealed waterproof zippers. Call (800) 226-9868 or visit www.planomolding.com.Water Gremlin Weights A wide array of Water Gremlin’s top-selling weights, including Bull Shot, Rubbercor, split shot, Snap Loc, bell sinkers and more. For complete details on Water Gremlin’s line of high-quality weights, visit www.watergremlin.com/index.htm.Daiichi Hooks A 21-pack assortment of the “World’s Sharpest Hooks,” including Bleeding Bait Circle Wide hooks and more. The hooks feature an industry-leading high carbon content, high strength and have fast-penetrating points. The prize also includes an attractive Daiichi cap and decal. Visit www.daiichihooks.com.Northland Slurpies This vast compilation includes 16 packs of Northland’s new Slurpies softbaits, which feature holographic FishFlakes and SowSauce scent additive to attract fish and trigger strikes. “Fish see ’em, scent ‘em & slurp ‘em up!”The prize includes Slurpies Panfish Tubes, 4-inch Ringworms, Jiggin’ Tubes, Jerk Shad, Swim’n Grubs, Swim Shiners, Swim Shad, Dip-Stick Worms and more. Plus, winners will receive decals and a cap. Call (800) SUN-FISH or visit www.northlandtackle.com.Salmo HardbaitsSalmo Performance Fishing Lures are made and hand-tuned in Poland to produce the perfect action for triggering strikes from bass, walleyes, muskies, pike and more. Each is tank tested and guaranteed—if the lure ever breaks, just send it back to Salmo for a replacement. The nine-lure assortment includes the Hornet, Maas Marauder Jr., Bullhead and Perch. It also comes with a Salmo hand towel. Call (952) 224-3649 or visit www.salmofishing.com.G. Loomis MossyBackThis BSR802 MossyBack features a high-quality blended graphite blank and alconite guides, providing superb sensitivity and performance. The 6-foot, 8-inch spinning stick has an extra-fast action and is rated for 6- to 12-pound line. Call (800) 456-6647 or visit www.gloomis.com.

Web Links December/January 2007-08

SuperUser Account — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 15:23:22 GMT

Fishing AdventuresLake Pleasant, Arizona: www.azgfd.gov/h_f/fishing.shtml Kenai River, Alaska: www.mgfalaska.com/ Thomas Hill Reservoir, Missouri: www.mdc.mo.gov/fish/ Coeur d’Alene, Idaho: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/fish/ Lake Independence, Michigan: www.upicefishing.com Lawrence Bay Lodge, Saskatchewan: http://www.lawrencebay.com/Fishing Tools Cabela’s: www.cabelas.com Master Lock: www.masterlock.com DuraSafe: www.durasafe-usa.com McGuard: www.mcgard.comThe Sixth SenseMustad: www.mustad.no/index.html Pro-Troll: www.protroll.com/products/echip Persuader: www.persuaderamerican.comIce Age Clam Corp: www.clamcorp.com, Eskimo: www.ardisam.com Garmin: www.garmin.com Lindy www.lindylittlejoe.com Lowrance: www.lowrance.com Magellan: www.magellangps.com Marcum Technologies: www.marcumtech.com Nature Vision: www.naturevisioninc.com Rapala: www.rapala.com St. Croix Rods: www.stcroixrods.comNew Products Humminbird: www.humminbird.com Daiwa: www.daiwa.com Berkley: www.berkley-fishing.com Petzl Headlamp: http://en.petzl.com/petzl/LampesAccueil XTreme Lubricants: http://www.xtremelubricants.com/HOME.html

Cabela's MWC Update 11-21-07

SuperUser Account — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 18:47:18 GMT

Veteran Cabela's MWC anglers Terry Mayhall of Madison, Wisconsin, and Tony Dowiatt of Stevens Point, Wisconsin finally achieved the crown jewel of Team of the Year. Tony has fished the MWC for sixteen years!!! And Terry thirteen years!!! Achieving such a great title has been a goal for a long time."It is one of those things that you strive for – and dream about – and when it actually happens it feels a bit unreal," shared Mayhall. Mayhall and Dowiatt have been best friends since high school and have fished together – recreationally and professionally – for a lot of years. "We try to have fun fishing with the teammates that we have," added Dowiatt. "We take it seriously and work hard – but we don't forget to have fun while we're at it. Life's too short! That's one of the reasons that we enjoy the team format. We get to fish together with our teammates and compare notes after pre-fishing and strategize together. This was a fun year."We asked Tony and Terry if they had any advice for newcomers to the circuit? Terry: Don't be intimidated by the number of anglers or the "big stage" of the event. You were confident enough to enter so you should be confident in your abilities to win.Tony: To be successful on the MWC tournament trail one has to be a jack of all trades and master of none. The bodies of water we fish and the weather conditions we face demand versatility in the presentations. Competitors who feel comfortable rigging, jigging AND trolling will have the upper hand on those who are one dimensional in their presentations.So jump into the Masters Walleye Circuit. It will force you into new bodies of water which will make you a better fisherman. You'll learn new presentations and techniques by traveling further to fish in new waters. And you'll make a lot of great friends in the process.Check out www.masterswalleyecircuit.com or call 877-893-7947 toll free.

Cabela's MWC Update 11-21-07

SuperUser Account — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 18:47:18 GMT

Wisconsin Tip-Up Rule Stands

SuperUser Account — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 15:17:12 GMT

WAUSAU, WI — The Wisconsin Court of Appeals recently reinstated a ticket issued to an ice fisherman in 2005 for fishing with an unattended line, ruling that failure to check the tip-up rig for more than an hour on a frozen lake constituted a violation.A Forest County Judge had initially thrown out the ticket, ruling that checking tip-ups every hour did not violate a state law that requires a fisherman to immediately respond when a fish bites the hook.According to court records, walleye angler Troy Westphal was ice fishing at night on Lake Metonga when the violation occurred.A Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources warden noticed early the next morning that two of the six tip-ups had flags up, indicating that fish had bitten the hooks. Westphal was ticketed for fishing with an unattended line when he arrived to check them about 15 minutes later, court records says.Westphal told the warden he had last checked the fishing holes about an hour earlier.The three-judge appeals court says state regulations make it clear that anglers must be able to “immediately respond to a line upon indication of a bite. ... Whatever short period of delay may be allowed, Westphal exceeded it.”

When Nature Calls

SuperUser Account — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 15:16:02 GMT

SULPHER SPRINGS, TX—Matt and Kirk Smith, father and son fishermen from North Texas, think they’ve come up with a product that may prove popular among anglers who find themselves aboard their bass boat and out in nature when, uh, nature calls.The Smiths have created a portable privy—called The Bassroom—they say that can be assembled atop a bass boat in two minutes or less.Father Matt Smith says the Bassroom is “environmentally better” than the alternatives and addresses a growing concern among anglers--especially pros--over liability issues.“With a growing number of houses around lakes, and with more folks having cameras on their cell phones, exposing oneself to take care of personal business can land one in trouble,” he says.The Bassroom system includes a domed cover, stool with full toilet seat, and black, zip-up plastic bags for waste.The Smiths say their product has received an enthusiastic response—especially from female anglers.“I’ve had some of the lady pros tell me something like this has been needed for a long time,” says Matt.

Ugly Stik Foils Robber

SuperUser Account — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 15:14:21 GMT

GASTON, NC—A North Carolina angler gave a whole new meaning to the term “fighting rod” when he used his fishing gear to subdue a would-be robber who threatened him with a knife.The Gaston Police Department says an unnamed man and his young son were fishing at a city pond when the perpetrator brandished a knife and demanded the twosome’s money.The father equally grasped the basic geometric disparity between a 4-inch blade and a 6-foot fishing rod and simply proceeded to beat the heck out of the bad guy using the business end of his fishing rod, including the lure, which hooked deeply into the unfortunate thug’s hide.Gaston police says a man fitting the description of the alleged assailant was seen fleeing the scene, with a bright orange jig embedded in his arm.

The Upside Of Droughts

SuperUser Account — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 15:13:32 GMT

Orlando, FL--Florida faced drought; Texas faced floods. How did fish fare?While fish kills occurred in Florida last summer, short-term droughts are probably helpful to Florida’s freshwater fish, Florida officials say, by exposing lake bottoms and promoting vegetation that provides fish habitat. Anglers were largely cheering the long-term benefits, for example, of the drought on Lake Okeechobee.For Texas anglers, the higher-than-normal rainfall was good news, officials say, because fish can move to new habitats and re-colonize areas, such as upstream of small dams. Floods also add stream nutrients, clean them out and restore habitat.

Skywalking Sturgeon!

SuperUser Account — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 15:11:58 GMT

GANIESVILLE, FL—Leaping gulf sturgeon continue to raise a ruckus on Florida’s Suwannee River this year, after a record 10 people were injured by the airborne fish last year.Already in 2007 a jumping fish broke a 6-year-old girl’s leg and left her aunt with cuts and bruises.Taylor Lane Owen was a passenger on a 20-foot vessel when a three-foot sturgeon leapt out of the river about nine miles west of Chiefland. It was the third confirmed sturgeon strike and fourth injury for 2007.Earlier this year a woman was knocked unconscious by one of the protected fish when the boat in which she was riding passed a bridge near Rock Bluff. In April a sturgeon severely injured a 50-year-old woman riding a personal watercraft on the river. She suffered a ruptured spleen and had three fingers reattached by surgeons, but she lost one finger and a tooth.After a record ten people were injured by jumping sturgeon in 2006, signs were placed at boat ramps and other points along the Suwannee, warning boaters of the river’s famous flying fish, which can top 8 feet and weigh up to 200 pounds.A protected species, gulf sturgeon enter the Suwannee River from the Gulf of Mexico and spawn there during the summer months.

Seatrout Number One In Saltwater

SuperUser Account — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 18:11:58 GMT

WASHINGTON, DC—Saltwater anglers caught more than 37 million spotted seatrout in 2006, making it the top catch for the third consecutive year.Data included in “Fisheries of the United States–2006”, report issued the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Service showed the seatrout was the most popular catch among marine recreational anglers in the Gulf of Mexico. The top catches in other regions were striped bass (North Atlantic), summer flounder (Mid-Atlantic), spot (South Atlantic), chub mackerel (Pacific), black rockfish (Pacific Northwest), and yellowstripe goatfish (Western Pacific).The report showed the 2006 catch of 475 million fish was up 11 percent over the previous year and marked the highest recreational catch total in the last ten years. Overall harvest levels also increased, nosing up 18 percent to nearly 214 million fish.Interestingly, while anglers are keeping about 20 percent more fish than a decade ago, they are also releasing their catch more often. Of the 475 million fish caught by anglers in 2006, 262 million (55 percent) were released alive.In 2006, more than 13 million Americans fished along the Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific coasts, roughly the same number as 2005. These anglers took 89 million saltwater trips in 2006, a 5 percent increase over the previous year.

Online Boat Ramp Locator

SuperUser Account — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 18:11:12 GMT

Anglers have better access to more water thanks to the free, online Boat Launch Ramp Locator now being offered by BoatU.S. The locator provides over 25,000 locations to launch a boat, including municipal or state boat ramps, marinas, boat clubs, private sites and other locations that offer fishing boat access. Now, you can easily plan a fishing adventure on new water from the comfort of your own home.Access this valuable resource by visiting www.BoatUSAngler.com/trailering.asp. Be sure to take advantage of the detailed launch site descriptions, including parking information, hours of operation, boat size or motor restrictions, water depths, docking facilities, camping information, local services available, and contact information including website links and phone numbers.Also included are fishing tips and species information as well as information on water depths and stocking programs.If you know of a boat ramp location not listed, you can easily submit the information and get a free trailer ball hitch cover.BoatU.S. Angler is an organization from the nation’s largest association of recreational boaters whose mission is to protect the interests of boat-owning freshwater anglers, increase boating safety, provide consumer assistance and ensure fishing remains worry-free. For more information, go to www.BoatUSAngler.com or call (866) 906-0013.

Kayaks And Hammerheads

SuperUser Account — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 18:10:05 GMT

TAMPA, FL—Following a close encounter with a hammerhead shark while fishing, a Florida kayak angler says the next time he goes out, it will be in a significantly larger watercraft.Frank Sargeant, fishing writer for the Tampa Tribune, reported that Michael Rementer hooked a big tarpon off Sanibel Island earlier this year. As he was fighting it, the kayaker spotted the mass of a huge 14-foot hammerhead shark protruding from beneath his craft. Hammerheads are a common sight in the tarpon-heavy waters off Florida’s west coast.The angler says the huge shark bumped his kayak two or three times while the tarpon found refuge under his partner’s kayak.The tarpon subsequently broke off and no one was hurt in the incident.“It was the scariest day of my life,” Rementer says. “I won’t be near a hooked tarpon in the Gulf of Mexico in a kayak ever again.”Sounds like good advice.

Ice Fishing

SuperUser Account — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 18:09:00 GMT

New Shelters Eskimo also introduced the Quickfish 2, 3 and 6, all of which are lightweight, easy-to-transport, quick to set up, and incredibly roomy. They use a unique hub system you pull and pop into place, letting you set up in minutes. The 2 is a two-person that measures 60x60 inches with a 70 inch height; the 3 is a three- person that’s 70x70 inches with an 80-inch height; and the 6 is a gigantic six-person that’s 140x70 inches with an 80-inch height. All come with carrying bags, ice anchors and tie-off ropes for high wind conditions. Eskimo also gave the Quickfish a new C style door which makes it much to easier to enter and exit, and have also gone to a more durable coil-type zipper. Suggested retails $159.99, $179.99 and $349.99.Otter has also taken the Cabin and Lodge from its regular lineup and made them available as a special limited edition. Those models sport two new high-back padded seats that swivel and fold down, plus an Ice Camo 900 Denier poly cover. Both have redesigned frame tubes that are larger and have thicker sidewalls for increased strength. Available options for the Wild and Ice Camo shelters include hyfax wear runners and a heavy-duty hitch. Ice Camo setup sizes are 66x84x70 1/2 inches and 74x98x77 inches, respectively.Underwater CamerasMarcum Technologies (maker of the VS460 and VS560 under water viewing systems) has added three new units to their lineup with two LCD displays including one that does it in living color. First up is the VS380 which has a seven inch high resolution black and white CRT monitor with front controls and collapsible viewing shroud. It utilizes the new Manta camera that has “Darkwater Technology” which provides for much improved viewing under lowlight conditions. It comes with 60 feet of cable, soft pack, video out, battery, and two-stage charger. Suggested retail $249.The VS820 has an eight inch black and white LCD flat panel screen with a resolution of 800 by 600 and has a swivel ratchet and gimble mount. It comes with the Manta camera, 75’ of cable, video out, soft pack, battery, and a two stage charger. Suggested retail $499. The VS825C comes with the Manta camera, 75’ of cable, video out, soft pack, battery, the charger, but has an eight inch flat panel color LCD screen with a resolution of 800 by 600. The camera is matched with super high intensity bright white LED’s with a dimmer control that are designed to enhance the screen’s color capabilities. Suggested retail $599.Also available from Marcum is the new Camera Compass which is designed to work in conjunction with an underwater camera. It’s a molded plastic cover with a slit for the cable and a cleat to secure it. You can turn the cover with the finger grips to position it and will hold the camera in that direction. The cover also helps to keep an ice hole from freezing up. Suggested retail $12.99.The Aqua-Vu Dt-7 with Explorer Lighting has a 7” black and white widescreen LCD that is daylight viewable and has greatly improved nighttime capabilities. It also includes an on-screen digital temp, camera direction, and camera depth. The Dt-7 comes with 100 feet of cable, battery and charger. Suggested retail $899.99

Grandson Fingers Poacher Grandpa

SuperUser Account — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 18:07:52 GMT

ST. PAUL, MN—Here’s a gem from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Game Officer Report.During a routine license check, Conservation Officer Nikki Shoutz of Pine River busted an angler when his accompanying grandson happily indicated that his grandpa kept some illegal bass and hid them nearby in the weeds.“Grandpa says that he could get in trouble if he put them in his bucket since they were largemouth bass,” the boy gleefully told the officer, who promptly issued a citation for taking bass in closed season. Shame on Grandpa.

Cheater Slapped With $23K Restitution

SuperUser Account — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 18:06:55 GMT

LAKE BARKLEY, KY—One of two men who admitted to planting fish during Kentucky fishing tournaments received a probated 5-year sentence providing he pays $23,000 in restitution.Brian Thomas of Dawson Springs was sentenced to one year each for theft by deception over $300 and theft by deception under $300. As part of his sentence, Thomas was also banned from holding a fishing license or participating in fishing events during his probation.Kentucky State Police began investigating Thomas and his fishing partner, Dwayne Nesmith, in April 2006, after witnesses says they saw the pair take five bass from a submerged fish basket and subsequently weigh them at the Relay for Life Buddy Bass Tournament on Kentucky’s Lake Barkley.A month earlier, in March 2006, the fraudulent fishermen won a $30,000 bass boat in the Lake Barkley Superbass Championship, allegedly using the same deceptive practice.Nesmith pleaded guilty to identical charges and his sentence is pending.

Best Gear for 2008

SuperUser Account — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 17:56:57 GMT

Shear GeniusTake a length of superline, hold it a few inches back from the end, then try to snip off the last 1/8-inch of it with your run-of-the-mill line clipper. I’ll save you the suspense—it’s not going to happen. But it will if you use Berkley’s new TEC Superline Shears. The things are obscenely sharp, letting you make crisp, precise cuts that are all but impossible with superlines. Even better, Berkley designers had the sense to make them spring-loaded and eliminate the thumb loop on the handle, making them faster and easier to handle. Call Berkley at (800) 237-5539, or visit berkley-fishing.com. Cool SpoolPowerPro braid is strong, tough, casts well and delivers plenty of hooksetting power—but that’s not news. The news is that the company’s new Ez Spool packaging makes it easier than ever to fill your reels and store when you’re done. The spools spin within the hard plastic housing, letting you spool reels directly from the box, which includes a built-in line cutter. Call PowerPro at (970) 242-3002, or visit www.powerpro.com American Beauty Ardent’s new s400 spinning reel is smooth and well put-together, but it’s also 100 percent American-made. And what other company can say that? It features a one-piece A360 aluminum frame, four stainless bearings and Ardent’s Strike Saver Drag. Email: company@ardentoutdoors.com, or visit ardentreels.com.

Bad Day For Tarpon Angler

SuperUser Account — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 17:54:40 GMT

BOCA GRANDE, FL—An avid Florida saltwater fly angler experienced a near miss with tragedy when he tumbled overboard while fighting a 90-pound tarpon, accidentally slicing an arm vein on his boat’s spinning trolling motor propeller. Before the injured fisherman gave up the fight with the silver king and motored to shore for help, doctors says he lost nearly a pint of blood.The Lakeland Ledger detailed the amazing story of 54-year-old Rick Cannon, who went tarpon fishing alone on what he thought might be his lucky day—Saturday, July 7 (7-7-07). In fact, it was around 7:07 in the morning when a tarpon nailed Cannon’s offering as he fished in upper Pine Island Sound.When he turned on the trolling motor, the backward momentum pushed the upright angler overboard, in to about 8 feet of water. Cannon says he felt the trolling motor bump his right arm as he treaded water, but didn’t realize he was injured until he climbed back into boat and saw his arm covered with blood.“I put my finger on it, and thought, ‘How am I going to fight this fish and not bleed to death?’ I pumped on the fish twice, but I couldn’t let go to reel,” he says.Cannon remained calm, broke off the line, and headed to shore as quickly as his 175-HP outboard would take him. In less than 10 minutes--before 7:30--he was at a Boca Grande marina, where EMTs applied tourniquets to his wound and sped him to a nearby hospital. So what thought made him head to shore instead of landing the tarpon?“My wife’s (would) be really mad if I died out here fighting this fish,” he says.

Anglers Don’t Buy License…Plate

SuperUser Account — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 17:33:09 GMT

ST. PAUL, MN—Last year, when the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources announced the winning design for a state vehicle license plate featuring the image of a fish, some anglers accused the state agency of genetic engineering.The painting depicted a fish leaping—quite bass-like--from blue water into a beautiful Minnesota sunset. At first glance it appears to be the favorite species of Northern filet knives, the walleye. Then, upon close scrutiny, pectoral fins and other irregularities point to more unusual genetics.“Was it a bass-eye?” bewildered Minnesotans queried. Apparently walleye and bass aficionados made sufficient noise to send the DNR back to the drawing board—well, at least back to the artist’s drawing board.“We talked to the artist, Sam Melquist, and he was willing to revise it,” says DNR spokesman C.B. Bylander. “He provided us with a largemouth bass, and we think that’s great.”

Angler Cuts Off Fingers To Free Himself

SuperUser Account — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 17:31:41 GMT

SEATTLE, WA—Surgeons successfully reattached the fingertips of a Washington drift boat angler after he used a pocketknife to free himself as his craft was rapidly sinking in a swift current. William Messenger, 51, was steelhead fishing on the Wynoochee River in a 16-foot drift boat with his daughter’s boyfriend when the side of the boat slammed into a logjam, wedging his left index and middle fingers between the boat and an alder tree. The current held the boat in place.When his companion swam to shore and went for help, Messenger worried he could drown before rescuers arrived. That’s when he took drastic measures.Help arrived minutes later.“Hindsight is 20-20,” says Grays Harbor County Undersheriff Rick Scott. “If he’d have known help was not that far away, he might have held off taking the steps that he did.”Emergency medical personnel recovered Messenger’s severed fingers from the logjam and took them to Harborview Medical Center, where reattachment surgery proved successful.

Angler Catches 200th World Record

SuperUser Account — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 17:30:35 GMT

CORAL GABLES, FL—Well-known fly angler Dr. Martin Arostegui has surpassed an incredible fishing milestone by becoming the first person to list 200 world record fish with the International Game Fish Association (IGFA).In a press release, the IGFA noted that the retired physician’s first world record fish was caught in the summer of 1994, a 10-pound triple tail on 4-pound tippet near Flamingo in Florida’s Everglades National Park. His 200th, also on a fly rod, came nearly 14 years later with a mullet snapper caught in Costa Rica.“Dr. Arostegui’s accomplishment of achieving 200 world records is truly a remarkable feat,” says IGFA President Rob Kramer. “Through careful planning, detailed preparation and steadfast perseverance, he has taken world record game fishing to an all time high.”Last spring, Arostegui made waves in the fishing community when he caught the heaviest fish ever recorded on a fly rod, a 385-pound lemon shark off Key West, Fla.“When it opened its huge mouth, I say to myself this shark could eat half of me in one bite,” joked the 5-foot, 125-pound former emergency room doctor.

A Time To Kill

SuperUser Account — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 17:29:27 GMT

HAYWARD, WI--After years of promoting catch-and-release fishing, some largemouth bass anglers and biologists are actually encouraging anglers to put a fillet knife to the nation’s favorite freshwater fish.The result can be some tasty fish nuggets--and bitter debate. In northern Wisconsin, the second annual “You Hook ‘Em, We Cook ‘Em” fishing event brought out 400 anglers to Nelson Lake, where Wisconsin officials encouraged anglers to catch and cook bass between 10 and 14 inches. Nelson Lake suffers the same problem as many northern Wisconsin lakes--a statewide 14-inch minimum size limit has caused an overabundance of small bass, which often die of old age before reaching 20 inches.The overabundant bass are also consuming Nelson Lake’s walleyes, and biologists say it’s time to start killing some bass. About 400 bass were harvested during the event, but fisheries team leader Dave Neuswanger and others got an earful on the Internet. Writing in a local newspaper, Neuswanger said anglers and sponsors were called “killers,” “uneducated morons” and other nasty words in Internet chat rooms.“Wow. Take a breath, folks,” Neuswanger wrote. “This is not Baghdad.”He explained that strict catch-and-release fishing is not appropriate all the time. Other biologists agree-a movement is afoot to lift the bass size limit on dozens of northern Wisconsin lakes, giving anglers the green light to eat a bass.

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Grandson Fingers Poacher Grandpa

Cheater Slapped With $23K Restitution

Best Gear for 2008

Bad Day For Tarpon Angler

Anglers Don’t Buy License…Plate

Angler Cuts Off Fingers To Free Himself

Angler Catches 200th World Record

A Time To Kill