Texas A&M: national champs 9/30/2007
Texas A&M brought home the national title yesterday at the BoatU.S. National Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship. For the details, and final standings, click here to visit BassFanArmy.com.

More Fishoff schedule woes 9/30/2007
FLW Outdoors communicated what it said was an error concerning its East/West Fishoff. The previously published date of Jan. 17–19 was incorrect, said FLW Outdoors VP of communications Dave Washburn. The Fishoff, he noted, was rescheduled "some months ago" to Feb. 14–16, but the original date was "inadvertently" printed in recent news releases.

The Fishoff pits the Top 30 pros from the Eastern FLW Series against the Top 30 from the Western Series, with the 30 winners of each bracket advancing to the 2008 Forrest Wood Cup.

The good news for most pros is the new date moves the event away from the Okeechobee FLW Series. Originally, some Fishoff competitors might have missed a portion of the Okeechobee practice. The bad (actually horrible) news for a few pros is the new Fishoff date falls right on top of official practice for the 2008 Bassmaster Classic.

And even if Classic qualifiers wanted to miss Classic practice for the Fishoff, they perhaps couldn't. The Elite Series participation agreement mandates that Classic qualifiers participate in the Junior Bassmaster World Championship, which takes place during the Fishoff. There is a clause in the participation agreement that might allow anglers to miss the "Junior Classic," but pros in general don't like to disappoint kids.

Two pros this new date immediately affects are Steve Kennedy and Tommy Biffle, who are presently qualified for both the Classic and the Fishoff. When BassFan called them for comments, they both said they were surprised to learn of the new date, and the conflict.

Kennedy said: "I just heard about it (from BassFan). I don't know what I'm going to do."

Biffle said: "I'll wait and see what happens and what the dates are (when they're published). Surely they wouldn't put (the Fishoff) on top of the dates for Classic practice."

Wolak in, Hallman out 9/30/2007

Dave Wolak (pictured), who finished 7th at Amistad, clinched the overall Central points title and is in the Classic. "This year I was almost the first person out (of the Classic)," he said. "It was one of the most disappointing things of my career last year being at the Classic, but not being in it. Making it this year is awesome. It was a big sense of relief."

Bradley Hallman entered the event at 6th in the Central points (three spots away from a Classic berth). He caught 14-02 on day 1 at Amistad, which put him in 35th, but nosedived on day 2 with just 5-13 and fell to finish 87th at Amistad and 12th in the Central points.

Along with Wolak, Clark Reehm of Russellville, Ark. (2nd in the points) and Jay Fuller of Kingston, Okla. (3rd) also qualified for the Classic.

The 28-year-old Reehm, a longtime triple-A-level pro, said of his Classic berth: "It's a relief. There was a lot of stress going into this tournament."

For 24-year-old Fuller, this was his first season in the front of the boat. "I'm speechless," he said. "The Classic's a dream come true, and I'm looking forward to it."

The Top 5 in the final Central points qualify to fish the 2008 Elite Series. If any of those qualifiers decline their invitation, BASS will invite additional Central points leaders down to the 10th-place spot. Below is a look at the final Top 10 in the 2007 Central points.

1. Dave Wolak -- N.C. -- 819
2. Clark Reehm -- Ark. -- 767
3. Jay Fuller -- Okla. -- 736
4. Brian Clark -- Tex -- 692
5. Pat Golden -- N.C. -- 676
6. Bobby Myers -- Okla. -- 669
7. Danny Smith -- La. -- 659
8. Trevor Rogge -- Minn. -- 635
9. Larry Byrd -- La. -- 632
10. Robert Byrd -- Texas -- 630

A few additional notes:

> Texan Trent Huckaby won Amistad. The full details of his winning pattern will be posted soon.

> Wolak was previously requalified for the '08 Elite Series, but draws his tour card from the Centrals, which means BASS will invite an additional angler from the 2007 Elite Series points list. That pro would be Bill Smith, Jr., who previously said he likely wouldn't fish the Elite Series in 2008. That means Paul Hirosky (85th in the points) is likely guaranteed a spot in the '08 Elite Series.

> Both Clark and Fuller said they intend to fish the Elite Series. BassFans may recognize Clark as a former pro bull rider who turned to fishing after a career-ending injury. He fished the 2007 BassFan Army Weekend Warrior Championship (through Media Bass), and won the Texoma Central Open and finished 2nd at the Texoma TTT this past spring.

Short deal official 9/28/2007

Short said in the news announcement: "I've been using Jewel products for a number of years and have always been impressed with the quality. I'm excited about being a member of the Jewel family and look forward to a long relationship with such a first-rate organization."

Wolak, Hallman in hunt 9/28/2007

Wolak entered Amistad at 2nd in the points. Hallman stood at 6th.

Wolak caught 16-10 on day 1 and is currently 17th in the event. Hallman bagged 14-02 and begins day 2 in 35th.

About the new Ardent 9/28/2007
Ardent Outdoors has a new flagship reel – the XS1000. Like all Ardent reels, it's made in America with American parts, which is pretty darn cool. For more about the reel, click here for the latest BassFan Product Review.

Kramer on 'investors' 9/28/2007
West Coast bass writer George Kramer, who's been writing about the sport for over three decades, recently penned an interesting piece, in which he takes a look at what percentage of anglers have made their entry fees back in the Western FLW Series. The big question he poses is whether those who gambled and lost will be back again next year. To read his opinion piece, published on WesternBass.com, click here.

September Fish of a Lifetime 9/28/2007

Check it out on the Abu Garcia Fish of a Lifetime section of the Berkley Catch More Fish page here. Awesome.

Remember to make sure you have a digital camera (or cell phone) with you when you're fishing because Abu Garcia is giving out a free new reel a month for the Fish of a Lifetime story it likes best. Click here to learn how to send in your Abu Garcia story. And remember: Your fish of a lifetime doesn't have to be a bass, and can also be a tourney limit of a lifetime.

PAA qualifier set 9/27/2007
The Professional Anglers Association (PAA) announced details of a new qualifying event, through which anglers can secure a berth in the 2008 Toyota Texas Bass Classic (TTBC).

The PAA will first fill the TTBC field with tour-level members based on points standings (details of which will be announced at a future date), and the Qualifier will be used to fill the remaining 25 spots in the TTBC field. Here's the skinny.

Recon: Rayburn 9/27/2007
What do you do when there's not much grass on Rayburn? Fish the grass – with frogs and toads. So says local stick Phil Addison in this week's Bass Recon piece. Click here to read the details.

More on Okee double-up 9/27/2007
(Editor's note: After publication of this Dock Talk, FLW Outdoors contacted BassFan with news that the Fishoff had been rescheduled to Feb. 14–16. That creates another conflict. For the details, see the Dock Talk published Sept. 30 titled "More Fishoff schedule woes.")

Along with the controversy surrounding the double-up at Lake Okeechobee (for that story, click here), here's another scheduling tidbit.

FLW Outdoors previously wrote that its FLW Series East/West Fishoff – through which 30 pros qualify for the Forrest Wood Cup – will take place Jan. 17-19, 2008. That means that the final day of Fishoff competition is the first day of official practice for the Okeechobee Eastern FLW Series.

Location of the Fishoff has not been announced, but rumor says it'll be at Lake Amistad in Texas. If so, the pros would need to drive about 1,500 miles, and miss significant practice, to fish the Okeechobee Series.

Does water help? 9/27/2007
Mike Organ of the Tennessean recently wrote an article on a study by two Tennessee Tech University researchers on the benefits of water weigh-ins as opposed to traditional weigh-ins. The study was conducted on Percy Priest Lake over a 1-year period.

The researchers' conclusion was that water temperature (in the lake itself) was the only determining factor in the survival rate of tournament-caught fish. To read the article, click here.

Angling retains appeal 9/27/2007
Despite competition from video games and other similar activities and increased urbanization, fishing remains one of the largest outdoor recreational activities in the nation, as well as one of the most solid industries in the U.S., according to a recent press release from the American Sportfishing Association (ASA). Annually, nearly 40 million anglers generate over $45 billion in retail sales with a $125 billion impact on the nation’s economy, creating employment for more than 1 million people.

The latest National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation released by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), however, does show a decline in angling participation over the past 5 years, with the steepest falloff among Great Lakes anglers. Despite the downturn, tackle sales increased by $250 million over that same period.

The USFWS conducts its survey every 5 years, with the most recent in 2006.

“Although fishing remains one of the most popular outdoor sports in the country, the sportfishing industry is clearly concerned about the numbers being reported in the survey,” said ASA president and CEO Mike Nussman. “However, what these numbers say to us is that our industry is feeling the effects of our society’s rapidly growing disconnect with the outdoors and the lack of easy access to fishing. We, along with the boating industry, are taking steps to turn this situation around.”

The Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF), established through the efforts of the sportfishing and boating industry and state fish and wildlife agencies, is taking steps to halt the long-term decline through new and innovative marketing and education campaigns aimed at both novice and avid anglers. The Future Fisherman Foundation, the angler education arm of the sportfishing industry, is successfully working within school systems across the county through its Physh Ed program to provide grants to physical education teachers to instruct students in fishing and boating.

Ultimately, anglers and other sportsmen are the most significant funding source for conservation and recreation in this country. Through the purchase of fishing licenses and special excise taxes on gear and motorboat fuel, hundreds of millions of anglers’ dollars each year are collected or funneled to states for conservation and recreation. Angler participation and the equipment and fishing licenses they purchase are crucial to conservation management in the United States.

In 2007, $350 million of these excise taxes were provided to state fish and wildlife agencies to restore fisheries and promote fishing. In addition, fishing license sales generated nearly $560 million more in revenues.

Other interesting statistics on sportfishing include:

> The three states with the most anglers are Florida (2.77 million), Texas (2.52 million) and California (1.73 million).

> The top three states in terms of jobs supported by sportfishing are Florida (75,100), Texas (59,000) and Minnesota (43,100).

> The number of anglers nationwide is greater than the population of California.

> One out of every three anglers fish for largemouth bass, America’s most popular game fish. Flounder is the most-targeted saltwater fish.

> One of every seven people fished in 2006, making it more popular than jogging or golf.

> Forty-five percent of anglers come from cities with populations of 1 million or more.

> Fifty-one percent of anglers have a household income greater than $50,000 per year and 17 percent have incomes in excess of $100,000 per year.

> Over half of all adult anglers have attended college.

> Twenty-five percent of anglers are women.

> Nearly half of all anglers are between 35 and 54 years of age.

The fishing statistics provided above were compiled by Southwick Associates.

Oxygenator winners 9/26/2007
We want to thank everyone who entered our O2 Marine Technologies Oxygenator BassFan Army contest for a chance to win one of the two Pro Livewell System flush-mount units. The lucky winners are Steve Clary from Woodbridge, Va. and Michael Maples from Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo . Congratulations to both!

We look forward to hearing from Michael and Steve as to what they think of the new Oxygenator units. Look for another giveaway in a few days.

Not a BassFan Army member yet? Click here to sign up for FREE lifetime membership, which makes you eligible for many free programs, including giveaways, contests and qualifying for the Weekend Warrior Championship.

Big Bass, big savings 9/26/2007
Bill Siemantel's Advanced Swimbait Techniques DVD is now available at the BassFan Store at a 10% discount to BassFan readers. To buy it, click here and look for the Spotlight Item on the right-hand side of the page.

Mustang turns 40 9/25/2007

"From the very beginning, innovation and our employees have been the keys to our success," said Mustang CEO Bob Askew. "Everyone at Mustang is committed to our guiding philosophy of saving lives for a living and producing top quality flotation and hypothermia protection products."

From its early roots, with a handful of employees in a small facility, Mustang Survival has grown to have more than 400 employees in the U.S. and Canada. It has manufacturing facilities in Elizabeth, W.V. and Richmond, British Columbia, as well as offices in Bellingham, Wash.

Fish of a Lifetime Winners 9/25/2007
What's it feel like to win a new Abu Garcia reel just for taking a photo and a few minutes to type up your story? Find out today on the Berkley Catch More Fish page, where we talk to some of the Abu Garcia Fish of a Lifetime reel winners (click here). Highlights: Anyone can cast one, Abu helps a winner replace his gear.

Win a Humminbird 9/25/2007

We're giving one away in our latest BassFan Army contest. If you're an Army member, all you have to do to enter is identify two members of the Humminbird pro staff not named Jimmy Houston or Hank Parker.

Send your entry to memberservices@bassfanarmy.com. We'll randomly draw the winner from all submissions that contain correct answers.

The contest will end at 5 p.m. Central time on Oct. 1.

Not a BassFan Army member yet? Click here to sign up for FREE lifetime membership, which makes you eligible for many free programs, including giveaways, contests and qualifying for the Weekend Warrior Championship.

Which BFL regional? 9/25/2007
The 2008 BFL Regional schedule as listed on the FLW Outdoors website is fairly confusing, so here's a clarification of which divisions qualify for respective Regionals.

Kentucky/Barkley Lakes -- Gilbertsville, KY -- 10/2–5, 2008
Arkie, Buckeye, Great Lakes, Illini

Wheeler Lake -- Decatur, AL -- 10/9-11, 2008
Dixie, Mississippi, Mountain, Music City

Albemarle Sound -- Elizabeth City, NC -- 10/9–11, 2008
Empire, Northeast, Shenandoah, South Carolina

Cherokee Lake -- Morristown, TN -- 10/16-18, 2008
Hoosier, LBL, Michigan, North Carolina

Lake Seminole -- Bainbridge, GA -- 10/16–18, 2008
Choo Choo, Everglades, Savannah River, Volunteer

Lake Murray -- Columbia, SC -- 10/23–25, 2008
Bama, Bulldog, Gator, Piedmont

Lake Ouachita -- Mount Ida, AR -- 10/23-25, 2008
Cowboy, Louisiana, Okie, Ozark

Jarden departure 9/25/2007
Several news outlets are reporting that Coleman Co. president and CEO Gary Kiedaisch has left the company for personal reasons.

Coleman is owned by parent company Jarden Corp., which also owns Pure Fishing (Berkley, Fenwick, Abu Garcia) and Shakespeare (Pflueger, Penn). Kiedaisch also served as president of the newly formed Jarden Outdoors Solutions division, and thus oversaw Jarden's fishing interests. Pure Fishing interim president Tom Bedell reported directly to Kiedaisch.

News outlets also report that Coleman CFO Sam Solomon has been named acting CEO, and Coleman VP of finance Dan Hogan has been named acting CFO.

Toho gets Fed Nation final 9/24/2007
BASS announced today that Lake Tohopekaliga (Toho) will be the site of the 2007 BASS Federation Nation Championship. The tournament will be held Nov. 8-10 out of Kissimmee, Fla.

Fifty-five anglers will compete for six spots in the 2008 Bassmaster Classic, set for Feb. 22-24 on South Carolina’s Lake Hartwell.

“BASS is delighted to return to the Kissimmee area,” said Don Corkran, director of the Federation Nation. “Kissimmee is a fantastic venue for championship tournaments, as evidenced by the success of the 2006 Bassmaster Classic.”

The tournament will feature 47 qualifiers who have advanced via their performance in the Federation Nation Divisionals. Each will represent one of the 47 states that have chapters in the Federation Nation.

The rest of the contenders include six international anglers from Canada, Italy, Japan, Mexico, South Africa and Zimbabwe; Royce Dennington of Barnsdall, Okla., who will defend his 2006 title; and the top angler from the Paralyzed Veterans of America circuit.

Practice days will be Nov. 6-7, and weigh-ins and launches will be held at Kissimmee Lakefront Park.

Fishing Daytona 9/24/2007

ABA Grand Slam expansion 9/24/2007
American Bass Anglers just announced the expansion of its Grand Slam Series. The Series is now comprised of two divisions – Southeastern and Southwestern – and a Triton/Mercury boat package is guaranteed for the winning pro at each event. Pro entry fee is $550. For the full story, click here to visit BassFanArmy.com.

Big "O" big enough? 9/24/2007
After Friday's announcement of the 2008 FLW Series schedule, several BassFans wrote in to correctly point out that the first Eastern FLW Series at Okeechobee is scheduled right on top of the first Bassmaster Southern Open, also at Okeechobee. Not only is that problematic for anglers who'd like to sample both circuits, but it also fields a probable 375 boats (750 anglers) on Okeechobee at the same time, along with regular local tournament traffic. Yikes.

Gober wins, Glasgow AOY 9/24/2007

"Last year at Dardanelle I was in the Top 6, but bombed there this year, so it's great to come here and finish off the year with a win," she said. "I live on Lake Lanier, which is deep and clear. When I got here Friday and saw the river, I said, 'No way,' not here. I thought I might as well turn around and go home because I'm not used to anything like what I saw on the Red River. Then I decided to search for clear water, and found some, but couldn't get a bite. But I knew bass were in the river, so I went looking for places nobody else was."

The details of her winning pattern will be published soon. And since this was the last event of the season, the Women's Angler of the Year title was decided, and it went to Oklahoma’s Sheri Glasgow (right).

"It's one of the highest honors a person can have," Glasgow said. "The emotions of winning this award are crazy. You can do well in individual tournaments and be consistent all year long, but to be the points leader at the end of the year is a hard thing to do. Any girl's capable of showing up and winning these tournaments and it's a struggle every day you compete. I wasn't looking at the whole season together – I was looking at each tournament specifically. I had to break it down per day and mentally that made it seem easier. Being versatile enough each day to make changes was key."

Weyer wins Columbia 9/24/2007
Charlie Weyer, a former BASS and FLW tour pro from West Hills, Calif., caught 9-04 on day 4 of the Columbia River Western FLW Series to win the event by a little less than 4 pounds.

He fished a crowded area, shared by runner-up Clayton Meyer of San Diego. "Jason Hickey was there in the same spot as well," Weyer said. "So was Gabe Bolivar and Mike Knight. Hickey's a much better smallmouth fisherman than I am. I really thought he was going to be a strong contender in this one. But I just got lucky and caught the right fish, I guess."

The full details of his winning pattern will be posted soon. Below is a look at the final Top 10, followed by the Top 30 in the Western points standings. One event remains (Clear Lake), after which the Top 30 in the final points standings will qualify for the East/West Fish-Off, where 30 pros will advance to the 2008 Forrest Wood Cup. An asterisk indicates active tour pros.

Columbia River Top 10
1. Charlie Weyer -- West Hills, CA -- 5, 13-15 -- 5, 15-02 -- 5, 14-08 -- 5, 9-08 -- 20, 53-01 -- $100,000

2. Clayton Meyer -- San Diego, CA -- 5, 16-13 -- 5, 9-15 -- 5, 11-13 -- 5, 10-11 -- 20, 49-04 -- $42,858

3. Neil Russell -- Nampa, ID -- 5, 14-04 -- 5, 8-10 -- 5, 12-03 -- 5, 13-09 -- 20, 48-10 -- $34,287

4. Andre Moore* -- Alabaster, AL -- 5, 11-00 -- 5, 12-05 -- 5, 11-12 -- 5, 13-08 -- 20, 48-09 -- $25,715

5. Jason Hickey -- Weiser, ID -- 5, 15-08 -- 5, 9-00 -- 5, 12-13 -- 5, 9-06 -- 20, 46-11 -- $17,142

6. Michael Bennett* -- Roseville, CA -- 5, 14-06 -- 5, 8-13 -- 5, 12-15 -- 5, 8-09 -- 20, 44-11 -- $16,286

7. Ken Wick* -- Star, ID -- 5, 15-00 -- 5, 11-05 -- 5, 8-12 -- 4, 8-11 -- 19, 43-12 -- $15,428

8. Mitch Ratchford -- Kennewick, WA -- 5, 11-00 -- 5, 14-04 -- 5, 9-07 -- 5, 8-11 -- 20, 43-06 -- $14,572

9. Kelly Vineyard -- Bend, OR -- 5, 12-00 -- 5, 12-08 -- 5, 10-12 -- 5, 7-09 -- 20, 42-13 -- $13,714

10. Leon Knight -- Tehachapi, CA -- 5, 9-13 -- 5, 14-08 -- 5, 9-06 -- 5, 9-00 -- 20, 42-11 -- $12,857

Western FLW Series Points (Top 30)
1. Clayton Meyer -- San Diego, CA -- 571
2. Randy McAbee, Jr -- Bakersfield, CA -- 567
3. Brent Ehrler* -- Redlands, CA -- 564
4. Gary Dobyns -- Yuba City, CA -- 548
5. Andre Moore* -- Alabaster, AL -- 543
6. Neil Russell -- Nampa, ID -- 534
7. Zack Thompson -- Orinda, CA -- 509
8. Paul Hodges -- Glendale, AZ -- 508
9. Jason Hickey -- Weiser, ID -- 501
10. Mike Folkestad -- Yorba Linda, CA -- 493
11. Shaun Bailey -- Lake Havasu City, AZ -- 490
12. Brett Hite* -- Phoenix, AZ -- 486
13. Roy Hawk -- Salt Lake City, UT -- 485
14. Jimmy Reese -- Witter Springs, CA -- 481
15. Ken Wick* -- Star, ID -- 478
16. Michael Tuck -- Antelope, CA -- 477
17. Michael Bennett* -- Roseville, CA -- 474
18. Chris Zaldain -- San Jose, CA -- 471
19. Sean Minderman -- Spokane, WA -- 463
20. Clint Johanson -- Benton City, WA -- 460
21. Michael Rooke -- Lake Havasu City, AZ -- 453
22. Bobby Barrack -- Oakley, CA -- 440
23. Art Roland -- Brentwood, CA -- 440
24. Jon Strelic -- Alpine, CA -- 437
25. Clifford Pirch* -- Payson, AZ -- 436
26. Steve Tosh -- Lake Havasu City, AZ -- 428
27. Gabe Bolivar* -- Ramona, CA -- 427
28. Greg Hines -- Lakeside, AZ -- 424
29. Charlie Weyer -- West Hills, CA -- 422
30. Dave Nollar -- Redlands, CA -- 418

Howell on being 'out' 9/24/2007

About missing the Classic, he said: "This is disappointing. It's kind of one of those deals – there's somebody in my position every year. One man has to miss it and be the first out. I worked hard all year to make it – it was my biggest goal of the year – and you don't ever want to be in that position where you're on the bubble going into the last event and fishing with that kind of pressure on you. But I really thought I wouldn't have any problem in Florida doing well enough to make it."

Where it gets frustrating, he added, is that an extra fish or so each day might have been enough. But all is not a loss. "I'm thankful I had a decent year," he said. "The guys who needed to catch them, caught them. It's a competitive sport. I'm going to regroup now and put it all in perspective."

FLW Series schedule out 9/21/2007
Hot on the heels of the BFL schedule, FLW Outdoors just released its 2008 FLW Series schedule. Again the Series will be comprised of two divisions – Eastern and Western – with four events each and an East/West fish-off to determine the 30 qualifiers for, in this case, the 2009 Forrest Wood Cup.

Entry fees remain unchanged – $3,500 for pros and $700 for co-anglers – and payout mirrors this year: $100,000 plus a potential $25,000 Ranger bonus for the winning pro, $10,000 paid down to 50th place, and $2,000 paid down to 75th.

As well, the Top 100 pros and co-anglers from each division will receive priority entry into the 2009 FLW Series, and the Top 30 pros co-anglers from each division will receive priority entry into the 2009 FLW Tour.

Here's a look at the schedule:

Eastern Division
> Jan. 23-26 -- Lake Okeechobee -- Clewiston, Fla.
> March 26-29 -- Wheeler Lake -- Decatur, Ala.
> Sept. 10-13 -- Lake Champlain -- Plattsburgh, N.Y.
> Oct. 22-25 -- Clarks Hill Lake -- Appling, Ga.

Western Division
> March 12-15 -- California Delta -- Oakley, Calif.
> May 7-10 -- Lake Mead -- Henderson, Nev.
> Sept. 17-20 -- Columbia River -- Tri-Cities, Wash.
> Oct. 8-11 -- Lake Shasta -- Redding, Calif.

Predictably, no dates conflict directly with FLW Tour dates. However, the Western Delta event is right on top of the Kissimmee Chain Bassmaster Elite Series. So a full Western Division season is out for West Coast Elite Series pros. Plus, the Mead event is sandwiched directly between the Clarks Hill and Murray Elite Series tournaments, so West Coast pros would face a plane ride and potentially limited practices – a gamble they might not want to take. That said, there are no conflicts with the Eastern division, so Elite Series pros could fish a full plate there.

Poppin' a big one 9/21/2007
BassFan's Terry Brown recently got a chance to try out the new Dean Rojas Signature Series Hydro-Pop from Spro. He used the bait to entice strikes from numerous good-sized fish and one true monster. To read his review, click here.

New PAA staff, office 9/21/2007

Hairgrove will not relocate, as the PAA has centralized operations with a new office in Benton, Ky. – the same city in which FLW Outdoors headquarters is located.

PAA general manager Craig Lamb noted: "Our day-to-day administrative functions will be streamlined as we position ourselves for growth in the near future by having a central office to better serve our members, sponsors and partners."

Notably, Hairgrove is one several key individuals to have recently parted ways with FLW Outdoors. Circulation manager Chuck Nelson, host Keith Lebowitz, and editor Chris Eubanks are no longer with the company as well.

BFL schedule out 9/21/2007
FLW Outdoors today released its 2008 BFL schedule with no notable changes. Entry fees remain the same. Pro entry is $200 for qualifying events and $300 for super tournaments, while co-angler entry fees are $100 and $150 respectively. The payout still includes a lucrative Ranger bonus for winners.

The 2008 Regional schedule is:

> Lake Murray -- Columbia, SC -- 10/23–25
> Albemarle Sound -- Elizabeth City, NC -- 10/9–11
> Barkley Lake -- Gilbertsville, KY -- 10/2–5
> Lake Ouachita -- Mount Ida, AR -- 10/23-25
> Wheeler Lake -- Decatur, AL -- 10/9-11
> Cherokee Lake -- Morristown, TN -- 10/18-20
> Lake Seminole -- Bainbridge, GA -- 10/16–18

The full 2008 BFL schedule is available at FLW Outdoors.com.

Short comes up...long 9/21/2007

He did that and more, and his 22nd-place Toho finish moved him up to end the year 34th in the points. So he'll be fishing his first Classic next February at South Carolina's Lake Hartwell.

"It's pretty satisfying – I think that pretty much sums it up right there," he said about making the Classic. "That made all the blood, sweat, and tears worth it right there."

He didn't do the points math prior to Toho, but figured he needed a Top 25 to have a shot. When he boxed a small limit the morning of day 3, he figured he was in the Classic – and after weigh-in that day, other pros told him he was in – but he wanted that slip of paper from BASS with the points standings to be sure. That came Sunday, after the scales closed.

When he got a hardcopy of the standings, the first thing that went through his mind was: "Damn, this is a long time coming."

He added that he approached the Potomac and Toho in different ways, and that's what led to the disparity in finishes. "At the Potomac I kind of lost sight of (the fact) that you have to catch them to qualify (for the Classic)," he said. "If you don't catch them, you don't make it. At the Potomac, I was so worried about qualifying that I didn't catch fish. At Toho, I knew I didn't have to catch big fish, because I knew it was going to be a tough bite. I just knew I had to go out and catch five a day."

> He noted that he plans to scout Hartwell before the off-limits, but will probably wait until late November or early December, when the water's a little cooler.

Columbia pro watch: day 2 9/21/2007
Following are the active tour pros currently within the Top 30 after day 2 at the Columbia River Western FLW Series. Western FLW Series points standing prior to the event appears in parentheses in blue.

Charlie Weyer, who began day 2 in 9th, caught 15-02 and now leads by 2-05. Active tour pros in the Top 30 are:

1. Charlie Weyer -- 29-01 (74th)
3. Ken Wick -- 26-05 (32nd)
11. Andre Moore -- 23-05 (9th)
12. Michael Bennett -- 23-03 (37th)
13. Cliff Pirch -- 22-08 (44th)
16. Brent Ehrler -- 20-05 (1st)
29. Sean Minderman -- 19-12 (30th)

After the event concludes, BassFan will publish a Winning Pattern story, along with an update on the points standings.

Cook on shad science 9/21/2007
Why do shad, and fishermen, move into the creeks in fall? Ask former fish biologist Ken Cook, and you'll get a detailed answer – as we did for today's Fish Science installment on the Berkley: Catch More Fish page. Tidbit: It's all about the sunlight.

A 'Tru' day in class 9/20/2007

The idea was to get all the pros in one room to talk about new baits – how to fish them, and how to talk about them. Pro staff members Mike Wurm and Aaron Martens made the Top 12 cut at Toho and couldn't attend.

President Tim Gregory and pro-staff Manager Tom Branch, Jr. instructed attendees on the Fish Harder product line – going over each product in detail and then discussing the positives and negatives of the products with the pros' input. The final 30 minutes of the class was dedicated to new products for 2008, many of which hadn't been seen yet.

A few notable comments from the pros:

Make bacon with flick-shakin' 9/20/2007
BassFans have heard tell this year of a new technique just starting to emerge in the U.S. Once again it's a finesse technique imported from Japan, and once again, Kotaro Kiriyama's at the forefront. For his tips on the flick-shake wacky technique, click here.

How Gluszek stomped 'em 9/20/2007
Tour pro Pete Gluszek absolutely wasted the 107-boat field at the recent Hudson Northern Stren, where he won by an 18-pound margin. To read about how he did it, click here.

Matsubu on the mic 9/20/2007
Today on BassFan Radio with Terry Brown, Toho Bassmaster Elite Series winner Ben Matsubu talks about being a "good guy," sharing with his co-angler, and doing everything he can to stay competitive at the highest level.

> To listen, click here.

> You can also visit the BassFan Radio host site to subscribe to BassFan Radio podcasts, or listen over the Internet via a QuickTime stream. To visit the host site, click here.

Columbia Series: pro watch 9/20/2007
Four active tour pros are inside the Top 30 after day 1 of competition at the Columbia River Western FLW Series. Remember that the Top 30 pros from each Series division (Western and Eastern) qualify to fish the East/West Fish-off, which features a head-to-head bracket competition. The bracket winners each get a berth in the 2008 Forrest Wood Cup. So any tour pros who qualify through the Fish-Off can effectively fish next year's FLW Tour with a free Cup pass. One Western Series event remains after the Columbia, and that's at Clear Lake (Oct. 24).

California's Clayton Meyer leads the event with 16-13. Here are the four tour pros inside the Top 30. Day-1 position and weight is followed by FLW Series Western points standing in blue.

4. Ken Wick -- 15-00 (32nd)
6. Michael Bennett -- 14-06 (37th)
9. Charlie Weyer -- 13-15 (74th)
22. Sean Minderman -- 12-01 (30th)

Fisher, McKinnis, Murphy/Lefebre 9/19/2007
It's a big day on BassFan Radio, with three new episodes up and running. Here's an overview.

> Rapala's Mark Fisher speaks with host Terry Brown about listening to pros, keeping ahead of the game, and what lure-design obstacles an international lure company faces.

> Television icon and production guru Jerry McKinnis talks about covering the Bassmaster Elite Series and working on new creative ideas for the upcoming year.

> TABU stands for "Tackle Approved By Us," Dave Lefebre and company co-founder Michael Murphy talk about the enterprise, plus how they and other TABU pros are getting their custom products to market.

The episode with Mark Fisher can be listened to via BassFan.com (click here). The McKinnis and Murphy segments are BassFan Radio Today episodes and can only be found on the BassFan Radio host site (click here).

To have every BassFan Radio episode delivered directly to your computer, be sure to subscribe to the podcasts, which can be done via the Radio host site, or the iTunes Music Store.

VanDam ends at No. 1 9/19/2007

What follows is a summary of the final Top 10. For notes on other significant movement, as well as the complete list of World Rankings, click here.

1. Kevin VanDam finishes 2007 as the No. 1-ranked angler in the world, the sixth time in 7 years he's done so. VanDam's domination of the World Rankings since their inception is a testament to not only his professional skill, but his physical and mental endurance each week of competition. Like in any sport, it's difficult to perform at the top level year after year, but VanDam maintains that grueling pace. He's hands-down the most dominant angler of the modern era, and perhaps the most dominant angler ever to grace the sport.

2. Skeet Reese ends the season seven spots ahead of where he started, and about 10 points behind VanDam. Reese's performance this year was nothing short of outstanding. Highlights include a 2nd-place finish at the Bassmaster Classic, eight other Top 10s (including two other 2nds and a win at the Potomac), only two finishes of 40th or worse, and he won the coveted BASS Angler of the Year award.

3. Steve Kennedy's season wasn't spectacular by his measuring stick, but he ended the year where he started it – ranked 3rd in the world. The highlight of his season was a win at Clear Lake. Notable too was his runner-up finish at Oneida, and his 3rd-place finish at Champlain. Also critical in his Ranking is that he continues to benefit heavily from a monstrous 2006 season, which included one win and seven other Top 10s. Kennedy has fished three complete seasons in the past 2 years – two Elite Series and one FLW Tour season (2006). He also fished two FLW Series events in 2006, which factor into the Rankings (the 2007 FLW Series does not).

4. Aaron Martens began the season ranked 13th, and a 7th-place finish at Toho helps him climb an additional spot to end the year ranked 4th. Like Kennedy, Martens has fished three complete seasons in the past 2 years. This year, Martens won at the California Delta, closed the season with back-to-back Top 10s, and only twice finished out of the Top 50.

5. Shinichi Fukae began the year ranked 11th and ends it ranked 5th. He's the highest-ranked FLW-only pro this year. He continues to draw from a 2006 season in which he delivered two wins, plus a 3rd, 4th and 5th. This year wasn't as spectacular, but was nonetheless strong. His worst regular-season finish in the 200-boat FLW Tour field was 38th, and he finished 5th at Ft. Loudoun–Tellico. Fukae's famous for his marathon practices, so time will tell whether the FLW Tour's newly instituted off-limits will hurt him next season.

6. David Dudley's an FLW Tour pro, and hence didn't fish Toho. But based on movement around him, he climbs another two spots in this final edition to end the year ranked 6th. He started the year ranked 25th, but continued the consistency he demonstrated in 2006, which appears to be the key to his Top 10 ranking. After a slow start (99th at Travis), he went on to finish 11th, 24th, 16th, 2nd, 51st, then 8th at the Forrest Wood Cup. Also notable is that his strong run in the 2006 FLW Series still plays big. All told, Dudley's fishing near the top of his game, but also note that he hasn't won since 2003.

7. Jay Yelas, also an FLW Tour pro, climbs two additional places in this final edition and ends the year ranked 7th. Yelas had a remarkable season – a 6th, followed by back-to-back 2nds – and he won the FLW Tour Angler of the Year award (his third such title, and second on the FLW Tour). In 17 different 200-boat events over the past 2 years, he's finished worse than 100th only once, and has cracked the Top 25 a total of 17 times. One factor that may continue to hurt him, though, is his 76th-place finish at the Forrest Wood Cup in August (5th-last).

8. FLW Tour pro Andy Morgan slips one spot and finishes the year ranked 8th – up from a season-starting position of 15th. He won the Wal-Mart Open at Beaver Lake this year, and his worst showing was an 82nd at the Detroit River. A strong 2006, which included the FLW Series, continues to aid him. His 2006 record shows three 6th-place finishes (in 200-boat fields), and three other Top 20s.

9. Peter Thliveros (known better at Peter "T") began the year ranked 29th, but an 18th-place finish at Toho helps him move into the Top 10 and end the year ranked 9th. His 2007 resume includes a win at the Bassmaster Memorial (his second Memorial title in a row), and two Top 12s. But his key is consistency. He finished in the Top 30 in nine of 15 events this season. All told, it was his best season in a while.

10. Boyd Duckett is the only angler to start the year unranked but finish it inside the Top 10. He kicked things off with a win at the Bassmaster Classic, won again at Dardanelle for the Legends Major, and recorded four other Top 10s. Note that he's not considered a rookie since he fished three Bassmaster Tour events in 2003.

Chapman on Edge 9/18/2007
Brent Chapman finished 3rd at the recent Toho Bassmaster Elite Series. His pattern information will be posted tomorrow, but notable is he worked a two-prong attack, half of which involved fishing a dropshot.

About dropshotting around grass, he said: "I was using 8-pound Gamma Edge (fluorocarbon), but I switched to 10-pound. There's no doubt that line helped. Ever since I started fishing with Gamma line, my confidence has gone through the roof on what I can get away with on line weight. I only broke off one fish all week on the dropshot, and that one was right next to gator grass, so there was nothing I could do."

Ike's finesse fighting 9/18/2007
Mike Iaconelli has fighting fish on light-line spinning gear down to a science. Read about his technique, start to finish, here on the Berkley: Catch More Fish page. Tidbit: Pull off line with your hand.

Recon: Clear Lake 9/18/2007
Clear Lake in the spring? Swimbaits. Everyone knows that now. But how about fishing there this time of year? Local stick Jim Davis gives us the skinny in preparation for this weekend's Anglers Choice tourney there. Click here to read the details on BassFanArmy.com's Bass Recon.

Bigger 'Bird screen 9/18/2007

The screens are available on two sonar/GPS combo units – the 1197c SI Combo and 1157c Combo – plus that standalone GPS/chartplotter 1155c. Note that the 1197c Combo features Humminbird's Side Imaging technology.

The advantage of a larger screen is most evident in split-screen mode, but it's a big plus for Side Imaging as well. The manufacturer's suggested retail prices for the 1100 Series models are:

> 1197c SI Combo: $2799.99 (shown to right)
> 1197c SI Combo NVB: $2999.99
> 1157c Combo: $2099.99
> 1157c Combo NVB: $2299.99
> 1155c Chartplotter: $1999.99
> 1155c Charplotter NVB: $2199.99

> For more info Humminbird products, visit Humminbird.com.

> To learn more about Side Imaging, click here.

Remitz Wins By Landslide 9/18/2007

BassFan's Rookie of the Year award was the first of its kind in the sport, and remains the only such award that measures strictly true rookies who fish either the Elite Series or FLW Tour.

The Rookie of the Year Award confirms what many fans of the sport already know - Remitz had a sensational season that delivered him from obscurity into the national spotlight. His peers began to call him "Wolverine" after he recorded three Top 5s in his first four events. They said he was relentless. Fans dubbed him "Lamb Chop" - in reference to his mutton-chop-style sideburns.

Remitz led every edition of this year's Rookie of the Year race, and won by a final 35-plus-point margin.

"I really couldn't imagine doing this well," Remitz said. "There were lots of ups and downs, but overall it was a good season."

He added: "Winning the BassFan Rookie award is cool. It helps quite a bit. It shows the most consistent rookie. It's not as big of a deal as Angler of the Year, but it's cool to know you're the Rookie of the Year."

Asked to name the most important factor in his success this year, he said: "Just trying to learn whatever I could in the little bit of time we're out there (for practice), then fishing as hard as I possibly could."

Remitz was the only rookie to fish this year's three Bassmaster Majors (which didn't factor into the Rookie Race).

FLW Tour rookie Bryan Thrift, of North Carolina, didn't fish Toho, but based on movement around him, climbs one spot to finish the Rookie Race in 2nd. Thrift finished 2nd at the Travis FLW Tour to start the year.

South Carolina BASS rookie Casey Ashley finished 83rd at Toho and slips one spot to finish the Rookie Race in 3rd. Highlights of his season include a win at Smith Mt., plus a Top 12 cut at Clarks Hill.

New York BASS rookie Matt Sphar improved significantly as the season wore on. He finished 29th at Toho, but in the end, drops one spot to finish 4th in the Rookie Race.

An 8th-place finish at Toho helps Texas rookie James Niggemeyer climb three spots to finish the Rookie Race in 5th. He relocated to Texas several years ago from California.

Remitz joins these previous BassFan ROY winners: California's Jared Lintner (2006), Pennsylvania's Dave Wolak (2005), Japan's Shinichi "Shin" Fukae (2004), California's Mike Reynolds (2003) and Ohio's Frank Scalish (2002).

To view the final Rookie Race standings, click here.

Pirch mixed it up 9/18/2007
Arizona FLW Tour pro Cliff Pirch couldn't nail down a specific pattern last week at Lake Mead, so he junk-fished his way to victory in the always-brutal U.S. Open. To find out the specifics of his win, click here to read the Winning Pattern story on BassFanArmy.com.

Support troops' kids 9/17/2007
The Christian Bass Anglers Fellowship of Northern California will conduct the Toys for the Troops' Kids Team Bass Tournament Nov. 10 at the California Delta. Launch will take place from Russo's Marina on Bethel Island.

The goal is to generate 500 Christmas toys for the children of soldiers who've been killed in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The toys will be shipped to military bases in California, Nevada and Hawaii.

Jay Yelas, the 2007 FLW Tour Angler of the Year (AOY), will be the guest speaker.

To register or obtain more information, visit www.TheCBAF.com, www.ToysForTheTroopsKids.org or www.JerryFournier.com.

Classic, requal lowdown 9/16/2007
With today's conclusion of the Toho Bassmaster Elite Series, the 2007 Elite Series season is officially over. To view the year-end BASS Angler of the Year points standings, click here.

A few notable items about Bassmaster Classic qualification:

What the shakey really looks like 9/16/2007
All right, this is pretty darn cool. Yes, it's a promo short for Berkley, but it's produced by the Lindners, and the underwater footage is killer. For all those BassFans who wonder what a shaky-worm really looks like on bottom – or how bass actually suck it in – check out the video below.

Day 3 points analysis 9/15/2007
BassFan again published an appendix with its daily coverage of the Toho Bassmaster Elite Series. It shows how the BASS Angler of the Year points would look if the event ended today.

To find the appendix, click here for today's Toho coverage, then scroll past the day-3 standings to the very bottom of the page.

A few notable items:

> Mike Wurm, Gerald Swindle, Kevin Short, Kota Kiriyama, and Mark Menendez made huge moves this week and it looks like they're in the Classic.

> Randy Howell, Mark Tyler, Jason Quinn, Matt Reed, and Davy Hite dropped out of the Classic.

> Marty Stone is the biggest-name pro who'll have to requalify for next year's Elite Series through the Wildcard Qualifier, or the Bassmaster Southern Opens, where he's currently 29th in the points with one event to go.

Reese on AOY title 9/15/2007

BASS points: field analysis 9/14/2007
Curious as to how the BASS Angler of the Year points would look if the Toho Elite Series ended today? Want to see who's currently in the Bassmaster Classic, and who's fallen out? If so, you'll find a color-coded update at the very bottom of today's Toho coverage (immediately below the day-2 standings).

To check it out, click here for the Toho coverage, then scroll all the way to the bottom of the page.

Jordon's deep thoughts 9/14/2007
It's summer/late summer and the fish are deep in a no- or low-grass lake. What will you do? Today you can get some tips from Kelly Jordon on the Berkley: Catch More Fish page. Tidbits: Spoons and deep swimbaits.

Win an Oxygenator 9/14/2007
All of us who fish enjoy our natural resources, whether we compete in tournaments or just like to drown a worm below a bobber. Fishing is fun – primarily because of the potential to catch fish.

Without the fish, the fun would decrease dramatically. Conservation and proper management of our resources are important for everyone, not just fisheries biologists. We all have to do our part to ensure there are fish left for the next generation of worm-dunkers.

Here at BassFan Army headquarters, we believe this so strongly that we're going to give two anglers one of the greatest products for fish survival to hit the market since the invention of the livewell – the Oxygenator Pro Livewell System. Unlike regular livewells that circulate water and infuse ordinary air with 20% oxygen content, the Oxygenator creates pure oxygen and helps maintain a healthy level of it in the well, regardless of the water temperature. It ensures that fish are kept under the best possible conditions.

We'll also include a sample bottle of U2 Livewell Conditioner, which is used by tropical fish distributors in the transport of their valuable property.

The Oxygenator, which retails for $144.95, is flush-mounted and works only when it's fully submersed. It uses very little battery power. You'll need to drill a 2-inch hole in the wall of the livewell to secure the unit, but it's easy to install and takes only a few minutes.

If you'd like to have one of these units to put on your boat and get your name in lights by providing BassFan with a review, send us an email describing your boat and why you think you should be one of the winners. We'll randomly draw two names from the qualified entries and ship the units off for evaluation.

Entries should be submitted to memberservices@bassfanarmy.com. The deadline is Sept. 21 at 5 p.m.

Not a BassFan Army member yet? Click here to sign up for FREE lifetime membership, which makes you eligible for many free programs, including giveaways, contests and qualifying for the Weekend Warrior Championship.

A perfect match 9/13/2007
High-quality equipment will not only help you put more fish in the boat, but will also make your time on the water more enjoyable. And when two pieces of equipment perfectly compliment each other, that's all the better.

The BassFan Staff recently had the chance to review the Minn Kota 101 Maxxum Pro trolling motor and Humminbird 797 c2 SI depthfinder from Johnson Outdoors. As a combination, they rank right up there with cheeseburgers and french fries.

To read the review, click here.

The Hudgins DQ 9/13/2007
Bryan Hudgins was DQd tonight from the Toho Bassmaster Elite Series. For more about the DQ, click here.

FLW Cup TV 9/13/2007
BassFans who want to see televised coverage of the Forrest Wood Cup (held Aug. 2–5) will finally have their first opportunity next Sunday (Sept. 23) when part 1 of the coverage airs on the FLW Outdoors TV show. The show runs from 11:00 a.m. to noon ET on FSN, but BassFans should check their local listings to confirm.

U.S. Open: Pirch wins 9/13/2007

"We left the door a little bit open," he said of his sub-10-pound catch.

Fellow Arizonan Shaun Bailey boxed 9.07 pounds on Wednesday and improved four spots to finish 2nd with 25.95.

Jamie Cyphers of Utah began the day in 2nd. His day-3 catch of 7.13 dropped him one spot and he finished 3rd.

California's Ken Cobb won the AAA division with a 3-day total of 26.10 pounds. The win earned him $29,500 in prizes.

The details of Pirch's winning pattern will be posted soon. Below is a look at the final Top 10.

1. Clifford Pirch -- Payson, AZ -- 29.81 -- $151,000
2. Shaun Bailey -- Agoura Hills, CA -- 25.95 -- $18,000
3. Jamie Cyphers -- Cedar City, UT -- 25.64 -- $14,500
4. Mitch Southern -- San Bernardino, CA -- 25.59 -- $12,500
5. Justin Kerr -- Simi Valley, CA -- 25.45 -- $8,500
6. Roy Hawk -- Salt Lake City, UT -- 24.59 -- $6,250
7. Bryan Grier -- Salinas, CA -- 24.31 -- $5,750
8. Matt Shura -- Mesa, AZ -- 23.17 -- $5,000
9. Andrew Jackson -- Boulder City, NV -- 22.75 -- $4,500
10. Dennis Kolender -- Henderson, NV -- 22.38 -- $4,000

Murray's report 9/12/2007
John Murray has one goal at this week's Toho Bassmaster Elite Series – catch a single keeper. If he does that, he's in the Bassmaster Classic. It might be a challenge though, because he's had a rough practice. For his full report, click here to go On Tour With the BassFan Big Sticks.

Also notable is that BASS Angler of the Year leader Skeet Reese has been keeping a low profile. But he and Murray room together on the road. About Reese's mindset and practice, Murray said: "He hasn't been lighting the world on fire, but he's been picking up a little each day. I think he feels he can scrape together five. But like me, he hasn't had any big fish."

Alabama: another drop 9/12/2007
The extreme drought conditions in Alabama are expected to continue, and Alabama Power – which maintains many of the state's most popular reservoirs – has issued a statement warning of another drawdown.

Despite extraordinarily low inflows, Alabama Power must, under government mandate, make certain water releases from its dams. Three lower lakes on the Coosa chain – Jordan, Lay, and Mitchell – will begin to fall on or around Mon., Sept. 17. Alabama Power stated the levels in each lake can be expected to fall another 2 feet. Earlier this year, the three lakes were temporarily drawn down to about 3 feet below their normal elevations. After this latest drawdown, Jordan, Lay and Mitchell are expected to remain about 3 feet below their typical elevations through October.

This year's drought is the worst on record in Alabama. Streams that feed Alabama Power lakes are at the lowest levels ever recorded for this time of year. At Alabama Power's six storage reservoirs, levels are already below winter-pool elevations.

The low water has significantly impacted fishing. Several launches have become unusable, and various tournaments have been cancelled.

For the latest on lake levels, visit AlabamaPower.com and click on the "Drought" icon, or call (800) LAKES-11.

Lock it up 9/12/2007

You can purchase the Loc-R-Bar at the BassFan Store by clicking here.

Not a BassFan Army member yet? Click here to sign up for FREE lifetime membership, which makes you eligible for many free programs, including giveaways, contests and qualifying for the Weekend Warrior Championship.

Mann's gets patent 9/12/2007

HardNose products are one-piece soft-plastics with a harder plastic head that resists tearing and helps keep the lure from sliding down the hook.

Mann's president Frank Oelerich noted: "The issuance of this patent is further recognition of the important technological advance represented by Mann's HardNose products to our customers and of the proprietary nature of these products.

U.S. Open: Pirch Leads 9/12/2007

The U.S. Open features a shared-weight format between pros and cos, but Pirch was a late signup and fished solo for the second straight day. "I'm around a lot of fish," he said. "It was better wind direction. It started out of the west and switched to the south. I fished the west-facing and then south-facing banks today."

Day-1 leader Ben Koller, from Arizona, weighed a single day-2 fish (1.69 pounds) and tumbled to 34th.

Utah competitor Jamie Cyphers weighed 7.89 and moved up a spot to 2nd, while Nevada's Andrew Jackson improved one spot to 3rd.

The U.S. Open winner receives $150,000 in merchandise and cash. Here's how the Top 20 looks with 1 day left to fish.

1. Clifford Pirch -- Payson, AZ -- 21.67
2. Jamie Cyphers -- Cedar City, UT -- 18.51
3. Andrew Jackson -- Boulder City, NV -- 18.42
4. Mitch Southern -- San Bernardino, CA -- 17.43
5. Jim Wells -- Fruitland, ID -- 17.30
6. Shaun Bailey -- Agoura Hills, CA -- 16.88
7. Mike Folkestad -- Yorba Linda, CA -- 16.84
8. Bryan Grier -- Salinas, CA -- 16.55
9. Mark Dotterer -- Scottsdale, AZ -- 15.97
10. Leon Knight -- Tehachapi, CA -- 15.95
11. Justin Kerr -- Simi Valley, CA -- 15.70
12. Bob Brown -- Logandale, NV -- 15.63
13. Matt Shura -- Mesa, AZ -- 15.46
14. Dennis Kolender -- Henderson, NV -- 15.36
15. Aaron Leon -- Henderson, NV -- 15.36
16. Neil Campbell -- Fallbrook, CA -- 15.27
17. Roy Hawk -- Salt Lake City, UT -- 14.98
18. Eric Brewer -- Nuevo, CA -- 14.82
19. Tom Phillips -- Corona, CA -- 14.79
20. Duane Dunstone -- Reno, NV -- 14.74

General's update 9/12/2007
Today Al Smith updates BassFan Army members about past and future giveaways, and his views on the sale of BassFan to InterMedia Outdoors. Click here to read it.

Not a BassFan Army member yet? Click here to sign up for FREE lifetime membership, which makes you eligible for many free programs, including giveaways, contests and qualifying for the Weekend Warrior Championship.

Catch More Fish! 9/12/2007
You might have noticed that The Bass Buzz section on BassFan.com has been retooled, renamed, rejiggered (you get the picture) and is now called Catch More Fish. That's because Catch More Fish is Berkley's renewed "catch phrase" (pun intended) simply because that's what the folks there try to do: help us all catch more fish.

In keeping with that, the articles and other content on Catch More Fish will be even more targeted to help you catch more fish, through Pro Lessons, Fish Science, New Stuff and more.

Berkley senior marketing manager Eric Naig said: "Helping people catch more fish is the mission and bottom line for what Berkley and our sister brands are all about. We're all fishermen here (Naig is a former walleye pro –Ed.), and everything with the Berkley name has to help us catch more fish before it can get out there and help BassFans. We like to say that our products are 'fish-tested and angler-approved.'"

Get help catching more fish here. Berkley's sister brands include Abu Garcia, Fenwick, SpiderWire and others. You can take advantage of the Abu Garcia "Fish of a Lifetime" contest on the Catch More Fish site by submitting notable Abu catches to have a chance at winning a brand new Abu Garcia reel. Click here for more info.

Classic and FWC? 9/12/2007

Steve Kennedy (pictured) is 6th and Tommy Biffle is 28th in the FLW Series Eastern Division points standings. If they're still among the Top 30 after the final event at Alabama's Lake Pickwick next month, they'll qualify for the Series fish-off that will pit the 30 leading point-getters from the Eastern Division against their counterparts from the Western Division.

The fish-off will be held Jan. 17-19, 2008. FLW Outdoors has not yet announced a location for the event.

The 30 winners from those bracketed, head-to-head matchups gain berths in the Cup, which will take place Aug. 14-17 at South Carolina's Lake Murray. The '08 Elite Series season concludes the week prior to that at New York's Lake Oneida.

Both Kennedy and Biffle are Ranger pros, so they'd be eligible for the $500,000 bonus that goes to the Cup winner if he's a registered Ranger owner. Both are virtually assured of making the '08 Classic – they're 4th and 13th, respectively, in the points heading into this week's finale at Florida's Lake Toho.

Rookie Derek Remitz also has a shot at double-championship qualification. He's 22nd in the Elite Series points and 38th on the FLW Eastern Series list.

It's highly unlikely that any Elite Series pros will make the fish-off out of the Western Division – they couldn't fish the first event at the California Delta last spring because it fell during the off-limits period for the Elite tournament at that venue.

Dean Rojas finished 16th at Arizona's Lake Havasu, but having missed the Delta event, he's just 108th in the points. John Murray was 61st at Havasu and is 149th on the points list.

The Western Division has two events remaining – it'll visit the Columbia River in Washington next week, then conclude at California's Clear Lake Oct. 24-27.

Upgrade your Minn Kota 9/12/2007

"AutoPilot is one of our most popular features, and we know that consumers sometimes want to upgrade their motors as new technology is developed," Minn Kota senior product manager Dave Maryanov said. "Our engineers designed the AutoPilot plug-in module so it is an extremely easy do-it-yourself install."

AutoPilot utilizes a state-of-the-art compass system that locks onto a particular heading, and automatically and continuously makes adjustments to keep the boat moving in that specific direction. The system corrects for wind, waves and current.

To repeat a productive troll, at the end of a run simply rotate the motor head 180 degrees. AutoPilot will swing the boat around and take it back along the same course.

AutoPilot is ideal for trolling a shoreline, or along a current line or shelf ledge. It can also be used to "hover" over a designated position.

The AutoPilot retails for $249.99. For more, click here.

2008 Bassmaster Opens 9/11/2007
BASS just released details for its 2008 Bassmaster Opens. Notable is the new all-cash pro payout. For the details, click here.

Recon: Harris Chain 9/11/2007
This week on Bass Recon, Florida pro Bobby Lane breaks down the Harris Chain in preparation for this weekend's BFL Gator Division Super Tournament. Sixteen pounds a day? How? Click here to find out.

Sharp on points 9/11/2007
Scot Laney recently offered up his opinion of the points races and qualifications. Today, Harold Sharp takes a stab at the topic. For Sharp's opinion, click here.

More on Phoenix Boats 9/11/2007
Additional details have emerged concerning Phoenix Boats. In short, the company will be headquartered in the former Bumble Bee plant in Tullahoma, Tenn. Phoenix acquired Bumble Bee's equipment and molds and leased its 50,000-square-foot factory after the company closed its doors earlier this year.

Former Stratos and Champion president Gary Clouse heads up the new company. "Phoenix will produce top-of-the-line bass boats with special attention to customer service," he said. "Our plan is simple: We'll build a company people trust because we design and manufacture high-quality boats that are offered at competitive prices without compromising customer service."

The first boats from Phoenix will be the Bee Line series, with eight models ranging from 15 to 21 feet. They're expected to reach market by Oct. 1. A company statement noted that the rigs will be built by many former Bumble Bee employees, and "will be priced for the entry-level angler." The largest, 21-foot model (equipped with a 225) is expected to retail for about $35,000. Also notable is that Phoenix will not assume Bumble Bee warrantees, but said it'll do what it can to help those owners and will welcome their calls.

In addition, the first all-original 18- to 21-foot Phoenix designs are expected to reach market by spring 2008, with two new models to be marketed every 9 months for the next 4 years. The primary goal is 18 individual models.

Clouse, who fished at the pro level in the 1980s, said of the company's goals: "We're going to design these boats for serious bass anglers. My experience goes back to using the product, and I'm constantly looking for new ideas to make our day on the water better. We'll be introducing innovations not seen before in the bass-boat industry.

"These won't be cookie-cutter, mass-produced boats," he added. "We'll be looking at all-around handling performance – how the boat runs in rough water, how easy it is to fish out of, how tackle systems are integrated, and many other things. The whole package is my definition of performance."

The Phoenix Boats website (PhoenixBassBoats.com) is currently under construction. For information, BassFans may call: (931) 455-2014.

Phoenix Boats Management Team

U.S. Open: Koller leads 9/11/2007

Immediately behind him is tour pro Cliff Pirch with 11.45. The U.S. Open features a shared-weight format, but Pirch, a late signup, was forced to fish solo.

Jamie Cyphers of Cedar City, Utah, overcame a bad start – he said he and his co-angler dumped a few early fish – and weighed 10.62. His sack included a 4.40-pound largemouth, the day's big bass.

Here's a look at the current Top 20. Note that defending champ Scott Nielsen is 20th. Aaron Martens, who won back-to-back titles in 2004–05, is not entered. He's fishing the Toho Bassmaster Elite Series this week. Mike Folkestad, the only three-time U.S. Open winner, is 28th with 7.23 pounds.

1. Ben Koller -- Peoria, AZ -- 5, 11.96
2. Clifford Pirch -- Payson, AZ -- 5, 11.45
3. Jamie Cyphers -- Cedar City, UT -- 5, 10.62
4. Andrew Jackson -- Boulder City, NV -- 5, 9.80
5. Eric Brewer -- Nuevo, CA -- 5, 9.39
6. Sean Hinton -- Mollison, CO -- 5, 8.58
7. Kurt Palmer -- Kirtland, NM -- 5, 8.43
8. Justin Kerr -- Simi Valley, CA -- 5, 8.22
9. John Morrow -- Brea, CA -- 5, 8.20
10. Fred Krumsiek -- Glendale, AZ -- 5, 8.14
11. Leon Knight -- Tehachapi, CA -- 5, 8.12
12. Thanh Le -- Lake Havasu, AZ -- 5, 8.02
13. Mark DiBrito -- Phoenix, AZ -- 5, 7.97
14. Roy Hawk -- Salt Lake City, UT -- 5, 7.93
15. Dale Devlin -- Las Vegas, NV -- 5, 7.91
16. Aaron Leon -- Henderson, NV -- 5, 7.83
17. Tim Blanchard -- Lake Havasu City, AZ -- 5, 7.79
18. Sean Stafford -- Fairfield, CA -- 5, 7.71
19. Neil Campbell -- Fallbrook, CA -- 5, 7.70
20. Scott Nielsen -- Salt Lake City, UT -- 5, 7.62

Double-duty big stick 9/10/2007

JM & CSE: confirmed 9/10/2007
Career Sports & Entertainment director of public relations LeAnn Boucher confirmed this morning that the company had "acquired" JM Associates. Boucher also confirmed that JM founder Jerry McKinnis, and the current JM team, will "still be playing an integral role," and that the JM studios and offices will remain in Little Rock, Ark.

More on the deal will be published shortly.

Hibdon: sweet 16 9/10/2007

It was his first FLW Outdoors win in 10 years of competition there. In terms of BASS, you have to search all the way back to the 1991 Florida (St. Johns) Bassmaster Invitational for his most recent victory.

The 1991 win delivered $34,000, while he pocketed $125,000 for his Champlain triumph.

Hibdon, one of the sport's true legends, is a 10-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier with one Classic win (1988). He also won back-to-back BASS Angler of the Year awards (1990-91).

The full details of his Champlain winning pattern will be published soon.

Windham injured: says he's 'okay' 9/7/2007
Pro Yancy Windham of Gordo, Ala. was injured yesterday during competition at the Champlain Eastern FLW Series. Initially, he feared a more severe spinal injury, but he told BassFan today that the "X-rays came back clean, so they're thinking it's probably a disk issue.

"I'll be all right," he added. "I appreciate everybody's concern, and I'm looking forward to getting this straightened out and getting back where I can do what I do. I love all of them, and thanks for their support."

He said he'd suffered a previous injury that led to problems, which he never had corrected, and a rough-water incident at Champlain exacerbated the problem.

About what happened yesterday, he said: "I hit some really, really bad waves and the licks I took – I felt it immediately. I really felt some serious pain. Judy Israel, my co-angler, had to drive in because I was in so much pain. I'm real thankful for her.

"I wasn't ejected," he added. "The waves had gotten really big and rough. I took three or four real hard licks and knew I hurt myself. I tried to take it a little easier, but after about five more, I couldn't sit in my seat and run the hot foot anymore. It's one of those deals. I've been out here for a long time, and you try to be careful, but sometimes you just take one of those waves wrong and it causes you some problems. I'm going to be all right."

He also wished to thank tournament director Chris Jones and the FLW Outdoors staff, as well as the surrounding community. "I've never been in a town with nicer people than this," he said.

> Windham was allowed to weigh his day-2 catch (4-03) and he finished 163rd.

> In an unrelated incident, Sam Bass was reportedly injured near the dock in a fall. Sources say the injuries are not critical.

Lamb talks PAA 9/7/2007
To follow up on today's announcement about the 2008 Toyota Texas Bass Classic, Professional Anglers Association GM Craig Lamb talks on BassFan Radio about the event, and its conservation goals. To listen, click here.

TTBC: return engagement 9/7/2007
Officials for the Toyota Texas Bass Classic (TTBC) have announced that the event will again be held in 2008 at Lake Fork in Texas. The tournament, to benefit the Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept. (TPWD), is again sanctioned by the Professional Anglers Association (PAA) and will take place April 18–20.

In a written statement, TTBC co-founders Dan Friedkin and Donato Ramos said: "It's a great honor to announce the TTBC will be returning to Lake Fork in 2008. Not only will this allow us to continue to showcase the outstanding bass fishing in Texas, but it also sets the standard for conservation practices in angling and it benefits TPWD programs."

PAA president Mark Davis said: "Through the support and hard work of multiple organizations, this tournament has reinvented the bass-fishing tournament format and reinvigorated the sport for many."

The event will again field 100 PAA pros grouped in teams of four. After 2 days of competition, the Top 5 teams will advance to fish the final day.

Gulf States Toyota president Toby Hynes noted: "Toyota's thrilled to be onboard again with this tremendous event and to be able to support TPWD and its efforts. It's great to put the spotlight on Lake Fork, but even better to see the positive impact that this event has on the programs sponsored by TPWD."

Through the event, the TPWD will receive a $250,000 donation that will be used to benefit youth fishing and outreach programs, the purpose of which is to expose kids and non-traditional users fishing.

Champlain Series: day 3 cancelled 9/7/2007
FLW Outdoors cancelled day 3 of the Champlain Eastern FLW Series today due to weather. According to FLW Outdoors, forecasts called for winds out of the south at 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.

Under the cancellation, the Top 10 after days 1 and 2 advance to fish the final day. However, there was a tie for the 10th-place cut spot between Brian Bylotas and Jim Tutt. Bylotas advanced on the first tiebreaker – heaviest single-day weight (20-08 on day 1).

Here's a look at who made the cut, followed by total weight. Note that total 4-day (or in this case, 3-day) weight determines the winner.

1. Danny Correia -- 10, 37-07
2. Koby Kreiger -- 10, 37-04
3. David Wolak -- 10, 37-01
4. Clark Wendlandt -- 10, 36-05
5. Guido Hibdon -- 10, 35-12
6. Pat Fisher -- 10, 34-13
7. Joe Lucarelli -- 10, 34-13
8. Steve Kennedy -- 10, 34-01
9. Bill Spence -- 10, 33-10
10. Brian Bylotas -- 10, 33-03

Additionally, the co-angler competition, which was scheduled to end after day 3, has been decided. The winner is Charles Dubroc of Hessmer, La.

Clausen: more patterns? 9/7/2007

He said: "The off-limits is something I've wanted for a long time, just to open the fisheries more so we're able to run patterns a little better. When the fish get extremely pressured (like in past years), there are a lot more fish caught on really obscure stuff that you wouldn't normally find in 3 or 4 days of practice."

In other words, it's his belief that with a limited practice next year, anglers who enter the tournament with a lakewide pattern should be able to at least match, or overcome, the spot-fishermen and local entrants. With less pressure on the fish, more bass will be caught off "obvious" stuff, and it won't often take an obscure, hidden honeyhole to win.

Hawkes on 'Challenge' 9/7/2007
A new episode of BassFan Radio Today features FLW Tour pro Mike Hawkes, who gives BassFans a recap of the Field & Stream Ultimate Outdoors Challenge and talks about his 2nd-place finish at the event.

If you're not currently a podcast subscriber, click here to visit BassFan Radio's podcast host site. Once there, you can subscribe, or listen to the broadcast over the Internet.

Through Murray's eyes 9/7/2007

About Reese's demeanor through it all, Murray said: "He's cool, calm and collected. He really has a single focus. He doesn't get distracted. He just has that quiet confidence where he knows he's going to catch them, even if he's not on them in practice."

Murray also noted the two have shared notes throughout the year – both during practice and competition – but he's actively tried to keep his distance from Reese while on the water. "We share info as far as techniques, but I don't want to be near any of his areas," Murray said. "It's his lifelong goal, he's one of my best friends, and I want him to win it."

About whether he's learned anything from Reese this year, Murray said: "Oh yeah. I'll sit there at night and stress that I have to make the (Bassmaster) Classic, then I'll look at him, in a one-on-one battle with (Kevin) VanDam, and he's handling it a lot better than I am. That helps me put things in focus."

Without a net 9/7/2007
Maybe all the tournaments you fish allow nets. Even so, here's betting you've forgotten your net on at least one fishing outing. Did you hand-land those treble-hooked bass?

In the newest BassFan Pro Fishing Tip, Elite Series pro Brent Chapman offers his advice for hand-landing fish –swinging, lip-grabbing, and even belly-landing. For more, click here.

Invisible Ultracast 9/6/2007
A translucent superline? You bet. First there was Berkley FireLine Crystal. And today on The Bass Buzz we give you the specs on Spiderwire's new Ultracast Invisi-Braid line. Might be a tool you want to have.

Short, Johnson speak 9/6/2007
Two BassFan Radio updates to be aware of. The first concerns Kevin Short, who's a guest on BassFan Radio Today. He talks with host Terry Brown about keeping himself in the game, Toho and his quest for the Classic, plus his brand new sponsor deal with Jewel Bait Co. This episode is only available via BassFan's podcast host site. To subscribe to the podcasts, or to listen via your Internet Browser, click here.

The second guest featured today is full-time tournament angler and guide Craig Johnson, who talks about what it takes to make it in fishing. It's his only job, and he fishes about 50 events a year. He also talks about working for his sponsors, and qualifying for another BassFan Army Weekend Warrior Championship. This show is likewise available via podcast, as well as in BassFan.com's Radio section.

Recon: Columbia River 9/6/2007
In this week's Bass Recon piece, local stick David Swendseid gives us the skinny on the big Columbia River. The FLW Series National Guard Western event hits the Columbia next week, and he's fishing the co-angler side. Click here to read it.

X-Rap Shad action 9/6/2007
A boatload of new explanatory Rapala videos have been uploaded to YouTube. These are high-quality shorts with killer underwater footage. Here's one such example that showcases the X-Rap Shad.

Laney on 'the oust' 9/6/2007
Columnist Scot Laney has turned quiet these recent months, but today he offers up an opinion on the BASS points and Elite Series requalification. To read it, click here.

Winner from Pa. 9/6/2007
The BassFan Army has a new contingency winner – Steve Hughes of Rimersburg, Pa. He won a BASS Weekend Series event at New York's Lake Chautauqua in July.

As a contingency winner, he'll get a great supply of tackle and prizes, courtesy of our sponsors. Our program can give away up to one prize package per week, so check out the rules here and enter if you win a tournament.

Good luck!

What's your story? 9/5/2007
Anglers love a good fish story, some embellished, some not, and we're giving you an opportunity to tell us yours. You could even get a little ink on BassFan.com if your story is chosen as the best.

If you win, the prize package consists of an Abu Garcia reel and a good-looking Abu Garcia hat. Your story doesn't HAVE to have an Abu Garcia reel in it – we're just looking for good, funny stories (you know what we mean) – but it sure won't hurt (if you know what we mean).

All you have to do is send us your story in 500 words or less to memberservices@bassfanarmy.com, and our crack panel of judges will pick a winner. It pays to read BassFan!

All entries have to be in our hands by Sept. 21, 2007, so start typing now!

Jordon reaches BASS mark 9/5/2007

About reaching the $1 million mark, Jordon said: "It can come in a flash, as it did for Scott Suggs, (another) Yamaha pro, or it can take years as it did for me. I've fished more than 150 tournaments since turning pro.

"Reaching $1 million in BASS earnings is a really big deal," he added. "And I'm really happy to be on this list. But I still have career goals I'm working on. One of those is earning Angler of the Year honors and another is to win the Bassmaster Classic."

Morgenthaler's 'Special' event 9/5/2007

The weekend includes a 2-day team-format tournament, beat-the-pro fishing contest with Morgenthaler and other pros, plus chances to win great prizes.

Morgenthaler became involved with Special Olympics Illinois during 2005, when he donated a day-long fishing trip as part of an online auction sponsored by the organization. That experience led to Morgenthaler's interest in hosting a charity tournament for the organization.

"I was inspired by the courage and enthusiasm shown by the Special Olympics athletes," he said. "After talking more with Special Olympics Illinois, we agreed a fishing tournament would be an exciting way to introduce the organization and its athletes to a previously untapped audience of fishermen. Immediately after last year's tournament, fishermen were asking us when the next one would be. We hope to make it the largest charity fishing event in the state in the future."

The field is capped at 150 boats. Entry costs $200 until Sept. 14, after which entry costs $210. Registration is Fri., Sept. 21 from 3:00 to 5:30 p.m., with a pre-tournament meeting at 6:00 p.m. Rend Lake Sailboat Harbor is the launch site for the tournament.

For entry forms or more information, contact Jeff Henson at Special Olympics Illinois – (800) 394-0562, jhenson@soill.org – or visit Soill.org.

Alabama ink 9/5/2007
The Birmingham News recently published an opinion column by Mike Bolton. He takes a look at Boyd Duckett and brings up a few interesting points about the emerging pro. To read the piece, click here.

And Alan Clemons of the Huntsville Times recently ran a piece on "lure artist" Tony Simpson, whose list of clients includes Duckett, Luke Clausen, Ron Shuffield and others. To read Clemons' story, click here.

JM bought? 9/4/2007
Numerous sources say JM Associates has been sold to Atlanta-based Career Sports & Entertainment (CSE).

JM, based in Little Rock, Ark., is the production company founded by Jerry McKinnis that currently films several TV shows including The Bassmaster Tournament Trail, Madfin Shark Series, and Oh Boy! Oberto Redfish Cup. It produced the first fishing program televised on ESPN – The Fishin' Hole with Jerry McKinnis – which is also the second-longest-running show on ESPN, after SportsCenter. The company is regarded as the best producer of tournament fishing shows on TV, and before ESPN purchased BASS in April 2001, JM produced FLW Tour coverage.

The news that JM has (or will potentially) be sold isn't a surprise. Last summer, JM had been in talks with Winnercomm about a potential merger, but no action materialized.

CSE, in a statement on its website, describes itself as: "A global, full-service marketing and representation agency. We deliver creative and innovative solutions for our clients that generate results and positively impact their success. With clients including individuals, corporations, and properties, our business philosophy ensures each of our unique solutions leverages our collective expertise to maximize our clients' investment and opportunity in the world of sports and entertainment."

CSE clients include corporations like AT&T and The Home Depot, as well as several professional golf and baseball athletes.

A CSE communications official declined to comment on the deal. Calls to JM officials went unreturned.

Peter T.'s favorite tool 9/4/2007
It ain't a hammer, even though Pete sure is! Seriously, you might have guessed it: a Carolina rig. But it's not just a tool for fish-catching. Get some insight from the two-time Bassmaster Memorial winner and expert 'rigger' today on The Bass Buzz. One interesting tidbit: Just say no to – lizards.

Eurobass Cup set 9/4/2007
O.T. Fears will captain the 12-member U.S. team in the 4th annual Eurobass Cup, set for Sept. 25-26 at Ricobayo Reservoir in Spain. The Americans defeated the Europeans in the three previous editions of the event.

Other anglers who'll represent the U.S. are Greg Gutierrez, Kevin Wirth, Rob Kilby, Darrel Robertson, John Sappington, Terry Segraves, Charlie Youngers, Charles Hammack, Aaron Hastings, Keith Phillips and Ray Scheide. Only Fears, Gutierrez and Wirth have previous Eurobass experience.

Official practice days are Sept. 23-24, with the two-round competition to follow. After the tournament, the American anglers will give seminars at the Trade Fair Center of Valladolid, where the Iberian Hunting and Fishing Week Trade Fair will be celebrated.

The anglers will also compete in the Latin Bass Tournament Sept. 29, also at Ricobayo. Fears caught the largest fish (3-13) in that event last year.

Angel anglers 9/4/2007
BASS recently reported on a cool deal that happened prior to the Bassmaster Legends Major at Dardanelle.

On their way to the event, Aaron Martens, Skeet Reese, Kevin Short, Alton Jones, Peter Thliveros, and Chris Lane swung by the Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock.

The six pros visited with kids that were staying at the hospital, which often happens in connection with various Elite Series events. In fact, any Elite Series pro who wants to give his time can join the group, called Angel Anglers, which has been entertaining hospitalized kids for about 3 years.

The Aug. 19 visit was the group's third to the Arkansas Children's Hospital.

Alton Jones said of his first Angel Angler visit: "The experience brought out a lot of emotions — it was touching, humbling and at the same time, really fun. We got to let down our guard and be kids ourselves and just have fun."

Red Man's back 9/1/2007

If you're 21 years of age or older, and would like to receive three free cans of the new Red Man moist snuff, simply click on one of the Red Man ads that appear on BassFan.com or BassFanArmy.com. You can also visit RedMan.com to take advantage. Note that this is a limited-time offer.

Welcome back, Red Man.