Welcome to BassFan's Dock Talk section, where you will see brief, newsworthy items that for one reason or another can't be made into full-blown news articles. Despite the name, and in keeping with BassFan's editorial policy, every effort will be made to avoid publishing outright rumors.
Fish with 4 pros in 4 days 9/1/2010 A quartet of tour-level pros have teamed up to offer 4-day, on-the-water bass fishing class at Oklahoma's Grand Lake in October.
Bassmaster Elite Series anglers Terry Butcher and Matt Reed and FLW Tour pros Jason Christie and Sean Hoernke will conduct the class Oct. 5-8. It's open to the first four one- or two-angler parties that register.
The parties will be paired with a different pro each day. The course is designed for all levels of anglers looking for one-on-one instruction to make them more successful. Students will learn how to locate and catch fish on a large body of water, along with techniques and tricks used on the tours. Per request, they'll be able to work on and develop particular techniques that they feel they need improvement on.
The cost is $2,000 per slot (which can be split between two students). To register or obtain more information, contact Reed through his website at MattReedBassPro.com.
It's a familiar refrain: "These bass tournaments are hurting the fishing on my lake." We hear it all too often, and the din usually sounds from the North, where seasons are shorter and tournaments are packed into the summer months when recreational use of lakes is at a peak.
David Figura of the Syracuse Post-Standard recently published a lengthy piece on the topic after a New York BASS Federation Nation Club Team Championship at Owasco Lake. New York Federation Nation president Mike Cusano (pictured), a Syracuse-area resident, argues on behalf of tournament anglers.
In this day and age, it's typical to hear about various fires between networks and cable providers. There was the Comcast-Versus battle that eventually ended, and right now Time Warner's locked in battle with Disney-ESPN over the ESPN3 Internet channel. So it's at least a little refreshing to hear that one channel and provider are cooperating to help outdoors folks.
Sportsman Channel and Dish Network recently announced a new deal whereby Sportsman will be available to Dish subscribers as an a la carte option in SD or HD (channel 395). Sportsman Channel will then funnel this year's proceeds from the a la carte pricing to a special Sportsman Fund created in cooperation with the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) to benefit Gulf Coast habitat restoration and research. CCA is one of the largest nonprofit marine-conservation groups in America.
To help support and bring awareness to the effort, Dish is offering a free preview of Sportsman Channel from Sept. 3–28. Additionally, Sportsman will run on-air crawls and promotional spots, with support online at SportsmanChannel.com and through social networks like Facebook and Twitter.
Outdoor enthusiasts can subscribe to Sportsman Channel a la carte by visiting DishNetwork.com.com.
In announcing the program, Sportsman CEO Gavin Harvey said: "Because we're donating our monthly fee to CCA, every new Sportsman Channel SD and HD a la carte subscriber on DISH Network is helping Gulf-region sportsmen, families and wildlife. We're proud to join Dish Network and CCA in this drive to raise money and also to raise awareness that Gulf communities still need our support."
CCA president Pat Murray noted: "We're thankful to have this unique partnership with Sportsman Channel and Dish Network that helps to raise awareness and vital funds to restore the Gulf of Mexico. There are some very positive programs and signs of progress occurring throughout the Gulf, but there's still much to do. This generous program will be an important part of restoring and enhancing the Gulf's fragile habitats."
The website for The Bass University – the seminar series conducted by pro anglers Mike Iaconelli and Pete Gluszek and featuring instruction by a host of tour pros – has been updated and registration can now be submitted for all five 2010-11 events. Here's the schedule:
Idiots at large 8/31/2010 Just in case you thought Peta had turned its eye away from fishing, the lunatic fringe is at it again. The organization yesterday sent a letter to the University of Alabama at Birmingham, asking the school to cancel its competitive fishing program because it's a violent bloodsport.
Wade Middleton, director of the BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship, obviously takes exception to the letter. He noted to BassFan: "Fishing is a something that's legal nationwide as well as being a passion for these young collegiate anglers and they have as much right to fish as anyone in the nation and to suggest that a school take away their passions and rights to fish while representing their college all over the nation is ridiculous."
Facts of Fishing this week 8/31/2010 The latest FLW winners, a giant goldfish, an angler catching a coyote and a scary French "crocodile" are all part of this week's Facts of Fishing FYI with Dave Mercer. To watch it, click below.
Pro, co DQd at Series event 8/30/2010 FLW Outdoors announced today that pro Jim Gildea, the 7th-place finisher at the recent Champlain Eastern FLW Series, and co-angler Peter DeMoya have been disqualified from the event. The anglers, both Massachusetts residents, violated the off-limits rule by practicing for and fishing a local tournament at Champlain the previous weekend.
“This was the easiest call I have ever made," said Gildea, who will forfeit a $7,896 paycheck. "Once I realized I broke a rule, I knew I needed FLW Outdoors to know about it right away and contacted the tournament director immediately. All parties acted with integrity to rectify this mistake."
Said new FLW Outdoors Operations Division president Kathy Fennel: “We appreciate Jim and Peter for approaching and informing us of this situation once it was realized. We encourage all our anglers to know and understand the rules for each circuit and tournament they participate in and to adhere by those rules to ensure a quality tournament.”
The tournament was the first Series event for Gildea, who does not fish the FLW Tour. He's competed in four American Fishing Series (formerly Stren) events over the past 3 seasons.
DeMoya finished 70th (out of the money) on the co-angler side.
The press release noted that the standings at FLWOutdoors.com will soon be updated to reflect the DQs.
Shinichi Fukae caught an 18-07 bag today to win the Champlain Eastern FLW Series with a 4-day total of 73-12. He beat out runner-up Anthony Gagliardi by just 5 ounces.
Fukae spent the week fishing a Yamamoto Shad Shape worm on a dropshot rig in water that was 30 to 40 feet deep. Details of his winning pattern will be posted soon.
Gagliardi finished with a 73-07 total. Day-3 leader Jason Ober was 3rd with 70-10, followed by Andy Montgomery with 70-01 and Dave Wolak with 66-09.
Ober up by 3 1/2 8/28/2010 Pennsylvania's Jason Ober, who recently completed his rookie season on the FLW Tour, caught a 20-04 bag today at the Champlain Eastern FLW Series to compile a 3 1/2-pound lead with one day remaining. He has a 3-day total of 58-13.
“There's a good chance I'll zero tomorrow,” he said. “I've been using a drop-shot in the same area all week long, on one rod. I hope the fish last, but there's a chance they won’t be there tomorrow.
"The bite has been tough for me all week, I've really had to work hard to get my fish, but in this game quality and quantity are two very different things and I have definitely been on some quality fish.
“I think I understand this lake," he continued. "I don’t get discouraged and I try to grind it out. Yesterday I left my area prematurely, which might hurt me tomorrow. I probably could have gotten a 20-pound bag if I would have stuck it out.”
Here's a look at the anglers who advanced to the final day:
1. Jason Ober -- 58-13
2. Shinichi Fukae -- 55-05
3. Anthony Gagliardi -- 55-04
4. Dave Wolak -- 53-12
5. Andy Montgomery -- 53-06
Keeping memories alive 8/27/2010 Several new entries were published today in the ongoing Abu Garcia For Life! contest. Want to check out some cool pics of a vintage Ultra Mag 1, 5600C and 5000? Then head on over to the Abu Garcia For Life! section of the Catch More Fish page.
Does your Abu Garcia reel have some mileage? Then why not enter it in the Abu Garcia For Life! contest? Show us your "classic" or well-used Abu and you might win a new one. Click here to submit a picture of the reel, as well as a detailed story or two about its history. Entries must include a photo of the reel and are judged each month based on content, detail and theme.
For technical questions or problems with entry submissions, send an email to editorial@bassfan.com.
Anthony Gagliardi caught a 19-15 bag today to move into the lead at the midway point of the Champlain Eastern FLW Series with a 2-day total of 39-11. He holds a 1-02 advantage over day-1 co-leader Jason Ober.
“I had a limit early,” Gagliardi said. “I fished the same area I did yesterday and I'm really fending off a lot of anglers just to hold my ground; I had my limit by 9:30 but was afraid to leave because I didn’t want anyone else catching the quality fish that are in this area.
“It’s a grassy flat about 10 to 13 feet deep and the bass seem to gravitate there because it's loaded with baitfish – not just one species, but several. I'm seeing shiners, shad, perch, crawfish, and I think that's what's making it so attractive. Like yesterday, I'm dragging tubes and soft plastics on the bottom and I don’t plan to change much for tomorrow.”
The full field will be on the water again tomorrow, but only the Top 5 will advance to Saturday.
Here's the current Top 10:
1. Anthony Gagliardi: 39-11
2. Jason Ober: 38-09
3. Shinichi Fukae: 37-08
4. Dave Wolak: 37-04
5. Dion Hibdon: 36-13
6. Michael Wolfenden: 36-03
7. Steve Lucarelli: 35-05
8. Lancen Halbert: 35-04
9. Michael Murphy: 35-04
10. Scott Parker: 35-03
Jerry McKinnis admittedly doesn't spent much time in digital space, but wants to change that. And he doesn't want to hide in a closet as the BASS purchase nears. So he launched a blog to communicate with bass fishermen as the BASS purchase moves forward. But it's not a one-way street. He wants to hear back from readers too.
To check out his blog, and perhaps send him a note, click here.
FLW Outdoors recently padded the purse of its upcoming Walleye Tour Championship by more than $35,000. Other announcements for both the 2011 walleye and bass seasons are expected soon.
FLW Outdoors operations division president Kathy Fennel noted: "The Walleye Tour has seen several changes and challenges over the recent seasons, and we're excited to improve the 2010 Championship. Increasing the paybacks for the Championship is a way we can show our appreciation to those anglers who've continued to participate on the Tour and show a glimpse of the positive changes and attention that we plan to devote to the Tour in 2011."
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