My big bass from Amistad and I ended up on the HomePage of Bass Fishing Experts! You can also see the picture in the gallery section. This is a pretty cool site, its kinda new, so its getting more content all the time. The best part is, you can be part of the content.
You can submit your own tips, photos, product reviews, etc. All this and more at BFX!
Enjoy,
Rich
www.richlindgren.com
basstournament.blogspot.com
Learn how to become a better bass fisherman by joining your local bass club.
In my mind, the best way to shorten the learning curve of bass fishing is to join your local bass club. It’s also probably the most cost effective way as well. Below you will find the 7 reasons why.
1. You can only learn so much by reading articles and going to seminars. You need an outlet to practice and try the things you learn. Reading about techniques in a magazine do not mean a heck of a lot until you can try them and build some confidence on the water using your new lures or techniques. A bass club is a good way to get onto some lakes, especially if you do not have a boat. You can learn fishing from shore, but some things you need to get out on a boat to practice.
2. So let’s say you have a boat and you can get on the water when ever you wish. There is only so much you can learn fishing by yourself. Fishing with partners or buddies can really accelerate the learning curve, especially if you are fishing with someone who has a lot of experience. Every club has a couple of guys that have been around for a decade or two. Often times in a bass club, you fish with a different guy every tournament; think how much you could learn in 6-8 tournaments over a summer, especially if you practice with your partner as well. Thinks of the olds adage, “Iron Sharpens Iron”
3. Why not money or pay tournaments? Its good way to learn, but it also can be a very expensive lesson. If you enter tournaments as a boater, you can really take some lumps and at a couple hundred dollars per entry, its not that effective. Pro-am or draw tournaments are a good option, but you are still better of getting the basics down in club competition which the dues may only cost $50-$100 for the whole season which could be 8-10 tournaments. Besides you may draw a boater that does not care to teach or help you learn and really just wants to catch his fish, hard to blame him, he has money invested as well.
4. Most of the members in a bass club have similar goals to yours. Learn more about bass fishing and have fun while doing it. Sounds simple, but its very true. They are very open to sharing their knowledge, because they were probably in your shoes when they joined a bass club. You will meet people you will fish with the rest of your life.
5. Thinking about buying a boat? Join a club as a non-boater for one summer first. Ride and fish out of 6-8 different boat brands and models during the year. You will quickly find out what you like and dislike about these boats and you will be better educated when you hit the spring boat shows the following year.
6. Don’t just take my word for it. Many well known pros started in bass clubs and worked their way up the ranks through federation tournaments. Mike Iaconelli & Denny Brauer are a few of the biggest.
7. There are clubs for everyone. There are clubs that fish for fun, clubs that fish for money, clubs for couples, and clubs that have JR. clubs for kids.
So go out and contact your local bass clubs, you will not regret it. Usually it is pretty easy to find bass clubs in your area if you search the internet or contact the State Bass federation in your state. You will find out a lot of information and links to good bass site with club listings at www.gopherbass.com
Rich
www.richlindgren.com
basstournament.blogspot.com
Associate membership adds additional voices to
Associate memberships will also bolster assistance to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MnDNR) to improve fishing opportunities, habitat, water quality and preservation of public access to
Beyond the conservation efforts, associate memberships help fund youth initiatives including education and on the water experiences to foster youth involvement and sustained interest in our sport. These youth activities provide alternatives to our youth above and beyond traditional sports and activities.
Summary Recent Activities Include:
· Supported Constitutional Amendment to preserve our rights to hunt and fish
· Participate in the discussion on the US Fish and Wildlife Services Upper Mississippi Management Plan with a special focus on maintaining access to backwaters
· Supported further research into the effects of lead tackle on our aquatic resources rather than banning it outright
· Interceded when a metro lake association passed an ordinance restricting fishing within 100 feet of shore
· Opposed a statewide “no cull”
· Attend the annual MnDNR fisheries roundtable
· Developed Internet creel survey collection tool to supply the
· Annually, organize and participate in lake and ramp cleanups statewide
· Sponsor Junior Bassmaster Clubs and Bassmaster CastingKids events
· Annual fundraising for local charities and non-profit lobbying
There are benefits beyond supporting the MNBF’s activities. Below are some benefits for associate members.
Benefits to joining as an Associate Member:
· Annual subscription to BASS Times magazine
· Discounts to Federation sponsor products
· Paid AD&D Insurance
· Free Internet classifieds
· Open invitation to attend Federation meetings and to network with other anglers
· E-mail notification of special events and legislative alerts
“I joined the MNBF as an associate member to support tournament bass fishing in
To find out more about membership opportunities, check out www.mnbf.org You can also get more
For additional information on the news that is the subject of this release (or for a sample, copy or demo), visit www.mnbf.org.
About
The Minnesota BASS Federation is committed to promoting fishing for all ages & skill levels. We offer our assistance to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to improve fishing opportunities, habitat, water quality & preservation of public access to
I think this is a great program – check it out!
Rich
www.richlindgren.com
basstournament.blogspot.com
This a great event, check it out! 2006 St. Jude Tournament, a fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Reserach Hospital.
Click here for more info
Check it out!
http://www.stjude.org/
Fish for a cause,
Rich
www.richlindgren.com
basstournament.blogspot.com
Overnight sensation: the Chatterbait
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“The Chatterbait works best when either a spinnerbait or swimming jig would be a choice, says Ron Davis. The Chatterbait has a tremendous vibration and frantic action like a startled critter hightailing it.” |
The Chatterbait begins as a jig with a silicone skirt and soft plastic trailer, and then appends a blade to the jig eye, which some say makes it akin to a spinnerbait. Except the blade doesn’t spin like on a spinnerbait. The blade makes a Chatterbait wobble vigorously like a crankbait.
In mid-January 2006, FLW co-angler Bryan Thrift of Shelbyville, NC, blew the lid off the Chatterbait, crediting it for his first place win in the Stren Series event on Lake Okeechobee, Fla. In the two months since, Thrift spilled the beans, Ron Davis’ business problems have gotten much bigger and much better. First quarter sales forecasts for Rad Lures have skyrocketed from 50,000 to 75,000 pieces & there are currently over two million Chatterbaits on order now — with no end in sight.
“I had no idea that Bryan’s win would do what it has done. Bryan was even apologetic about it. First, Bryan felt sorry that we got flooded beyond our wildest dreams with orders,” says Davis. “We are now working round the clock to get Chatterbaits to the people who want them.”
He continues, “Second, Bryan apologized because he had won two Stren Southeast series events as a co-angler in 2005 but did not publicize the Chatterbait at that time. Bryan didn’t realize the impact that publicity by him would have on sales. In one event, Bryan was so far ahead that all he needed to do was catch one fish on the last day to clinch the co-angler win. When Bryan got that fish early in the morning, he sat out the rest of the day so his pro partner could get some rod time with the Chatterbait to win the pro side of the event.”
“Top national pros, if they hadn’t been using it, surely were aware of the Chatterbait and now that it’s out in the open, they either have to use it — or possibly risk the consequences of not using it,” says Bassmaster Tournament Trail pro Ben Matsubu, who used the Chatterbait to help him take third and $33,000 on Sam Rayburn Reservoir at the Southern Tour stop in March 2006.
“Every lure has its place,” adds Davis. “When Bryan Thrift won Okeechobee, he was smack in the middle of 15 to 20 boats. The only other guys getting any bites at all were some of the best flippers in Florida. They were flipping into thick mats for fish hunkered down in dense cover.”
“Meanwhile, Bryan was getting hammered on the Chatterbait on a day when fast-moving reaction baits weren’t working,” continues Davis. “Watching Bryan, many of the other boaters started slinging spinnerbaits, trying to do what they could to copy his success, but not catching any fish. While people say the Chatterbait blade makes it like a spinnerbait, fish may see it differently. What I mean is people who throw spinnerbaits, you can come down the bank behind them with the Chatterbait and catch fish they didn’t catch.”
“The Chatterbait is somewhat snag-free but not entirely snagless. It works best where there are no thick weeds or wood,” claims pro Tom Monsoor from La Crosse, Wis. (Note: Monsoor is rightly famous for making his own style of swimming jig.) “Another situation where I feel the Chatterbait will do best is earlier in the season while the water is still too cold for my own swimming jig to produce,” he adds. You can find Monsoor’s Swimming Jig at Basspro.com
“The Chatterbait is like a lipless rattling crankbait in that it gives off heavy vibrations and therefore works in dirtier water than my own style of swimming jig,” continues Monsoor. “An example is the last FLW Tour event on Pickwick. I caught all my fish on my own swimming jig in clear water the first day. The water dirtied up so much the second day that I had to switch to the Chatterbait in order to continue to do well in the dirty water.” Another high quality swim jig is the Outkast Pro Swim Jig.
Rich
www.richlindgren.com
basstournament.blogspot.com 
On a lighter note, outside the spotlight of tournaments & world-records…. Here are my least favorite fishing shows off all time. Hey I posted my favorites, its only right to point out the duds.
10. In-fisherman – Overall its really a decent show and well produced. I had to stretch to get 10 shows. I still like to watch In-Fisherman, but its pretty low on my priority list. Main reason is too much multi-species and not enough bass. Its easier to handle now that I have DVR technology, I just fast forward through the non-bass segments
9. Fishing with Bob Dillow – The Buckeye Basser! The show had overall low production quality in early years. Not that informational, I guess I can take it or leave it.
8. One More Cast with Shaw Grigsby – Wasn’t Shaw a bass pro once? I would never be able to tell with all the bonefish and redfish shows. Watching Saltwater fishing does nothing for me. Get back to your roots Mr. Grigsby.
7. <st1
Fishing </st1<st1
University</st1 – Charlie Ingram reminds me of my high school English teachers, he always puts me to sleep. At least Charlie puts me to sleep on my sofa, rather than those old wooden desks that would leave a kink in your neck.
6. North American Fisherman – The <st1show is over simplified, I rarely learn anything. The waters they fish are boring and again way too much multi-species.</st1
5. Jimmy Houston Outdoors – Outdoors is the problem, I do not care to watch Jimmy hunt pigs, turkeys and elk. Not too mention he rarely leaves his private pond when he fishes. Also there is a little too much crappie fishing with the wife. I do like that he kisses his fish. One more thing, do you think Jimmy will ever let his hair go natural?
4. Fishing with Roland Martin – The great American fisherman… What a lame theme song. Roland is guilty of too much saltwater fishing and does a fair amount of live shiner fishing, which does little for the imagination. Have you ever caught anything on the Helicopter lure?
3. Bill Dance Outdoors – Has he ever done a show not in his private pond? It is kinds of fun to watch the giant bass he catches, but my grandma could catch 8lb bass all day in that pond. It does very little for his credibility. Let also think back to the Dancin’ Craw, Dancin’ Eel, The Pork-O, do I need to continue will all the lousy products he has endorsed?
2. Beat Charlie Moore – Has there ever been a more annoying host in Bass Fishing Television history? I like the concept of the show, but it really seems like they pick some chumps for him to fish against, click reference here. What is with the challenges at the end of the show? Why don’t they just keep showing the fishing part? It gets great ratings for some reason and now we have lost quality shows like Schooled by Denny Brauer and Loudmouth Bass because people for some reason cannot take their eyes of the train wreck that is Beat Charlie Moore!
1. Fishing with Orlando Wilson – I am not sure why, but from my early years of watching fishing shows on TNN, I have always hast this show. I believe there was a annoying intro the show and he rarely had any good <st1info</st1 to share about bass fishing. He also put me to sleep, but I would usually change the channel first.
Review the my Top 10 Favorite Shows
Agree to disagree? Let me know your thoughts. Did I dis one of your favorites or did a leave a dud off my list?
25.1lbs smashes the previous record of 22.25 held for so many years by Bob Crupi. This is an exciting turn of events, but because of the World Record or the myriad of odd circumstances that may jeopardize the catch’s chance of being accepted by the IGFA (International Game Fish Association, the most-recognized keeper of angling records). See the full article on ESPN.
Why does it seem that every time a potential world record is caught, that is must be muddled in controversy? This one was foul hooked, weighed on a hand held scale, and released live. I am sure this will get plenty of attention in the coming days & weeks. One way or the other, that is one monster of a bass being held in that picture. Could you even imagine?
Additional Article
I do not think the question should be whether or not the world record will fall someday, the question is will it fall in a clear, no doubt, manner that will satisfy everyone?
What are your thoughts on this latest catch?
Rich
RichLindgren.com
Rich’s Bassin’ Forum
Bass Fishing Tackle Blog
Hack Attack conquers at Sam Rayburn, 20 bass for 79lb 10oz. Dean Rojas was the only one that really challenged him after 4 days of competition (75-13). From what I read & saw on BassCenter, he was fishing in heavy wood cover for most of the tournament. I guess his former profession has a logger, may have paid dividends in this tournament 
Also here you will find pictures from the final day weigh-in at Lake Amistad, you will not see these anywhere else.
I hope you enjoyed these pictures off our group’s digital cameras.,
Rich
www.richlindgren.com
basstournament.blogspot.com
The final 50 are out on Sam Rayburn Reservoir today battling to get into the Elite 12 and fish on Sunday, led by KVD. Kevin VanDam is fishing better than anyone else right now, he has been in the Top 10 in his last 8 tournaments, which have been against the top competition the sport has to offer (Elite 50s, Classics, Elite Series) This is not Lake Amistad, but there are some good solid bags crossing the scales. I think the bags are good considering all the tournament pressure Rayburn is receiving due to the dangerously low waters at nearby Toledo Bend Reservoir. 2004 Classic Champ Takahiro Omori made the largest push with his 20-12 limit, that is the biggest of the tournament.
KVD made a big mistake yesterday as he flipped a 5lb fish into the boat and came unhooked and went right out the other side of his boat. They aired it on BassCenter this morning. I think this will shape up to a very exciting tournament, just look at the names that are currently in the Top 12.
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 10 39-06 305
Day 1: 5 22-01 Day 2: 5 17-05
2. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu, Ariz. 10 39-03 295
Day 1: 5 21-00 Day 2: 5 18-03
3. Greg Hackney Gonzales, La. 10 38-15 295 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 22-02 Day 2: 5 16-13
4. John Crews Salem, Va. 10 37-09 282
Day 1: 5 20-06 Day 2: 5 17-03
4. Tim Horton Muscle Shoals, Ala. 10 37-09 282
Day 1: 5 18-03 Day 2: 5 19-06
6. Edwin Evers Talala, Okla. 10 37-03 276
Day 1: 5 20-12 Day 2: 5 16-07
7. Takahiro Omori Emory, Texas 10 36-06 272 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 5 20-06
8. Matt Reed Madisonville, Texas 10 35-15 268
Day 1: 5 17-04 Day 2: 5 18-11
9. John Murray Phoenix, Ariz. 10 34-14 264
Day 1: 5 20-11 Day 2: 5 14-03
10. Skeet Reese Auburn, Calif. 10 34-09 260
Day 1: 5 19-03 Day 2: 5 15-06
11. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, Ark. 10 34-03 257
Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 5 19-15
12. Michael Iaconelli Runnemede, N.J. 10 34-00 252
Day 1: 5 21-08 Day 2: 5 12-08
On another not, did you call catch the airing of the Bassmasters today on ESPN2? It was amazing to see the big fish lost by some of the anglers. What a giant that Hackney lost and Ish made some big mistakes and still crushed the lb mark and took home the victory. I think there is a pretty good chance the Elite Series will be on Amistad in 2007
Still another month of ice in MN,
Rich
www.richlindgren.com
basstournament.blogspot.com
Immediately after the crowning of Ish Monroe as the champion of the inaugural Elite Series event, Ryan & I headed back out onto the lake for the last few hours of daylight. These are two of the better fish I caught, one was on a Lucky Craft Pointer and the other was on a White 8″ Lake Fork Top Dog Lizard off a bed in about 4ft of water around a large flooded bush.
My fishing partner Ryan got one nearly 6lbs off a bed on a Red Bug Lake Fork Tackle Zig Zag, rigged on a light Texas rig. The next morning we got into some jerkbait fish, I did not catch anything worthy of breaking out the camera, although Ryan got a 4.5lb largemouth on a large Rapala Husky Jerk fished over some grass in about 10-12ft of water. We caught several quality fish using his technique. I also managed a few fish on a bleeding baby bass Secret Weapon Spinnerbait that was fished around flooded bushes.
Unfortunately the morning ended too soon, we had to pack up and head for San Antonio to catch our flight. We were welcomed back home in Minneapolis with a 12″ of white fluffy snow 
Quick note: Greg Hackney leads the first day of the Bassmasters Elite Series at Sam Rayburn Reservoir, but he only holds a slim lead over Kevin VanDam & Mike Iaconelli. The Day 1 leaderboard looks like a who’s who list of today’s top stars.
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Greg Hackney Gonzales, La. 5 22-02 305 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 22-02
2. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 5 22-01 295
Day 1: 5 22-01
3. Michael Iaconelli Runnemede, N.J. 5 21-08 290
Day 1: 5 21-08
4. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu, Ariz. 5 21-00 285
Day 1: 5 21-00
5. Edwin Evers Talala, Okla. 5 20-12 280
Day 1: 5 20-12
Wish I was still in TX,
Rich
www.richlindgren.com
basstournament.blogspot.com
