squid

Some of the big BASS names still hit the FLW opens. I remember when some fished BOTH, but BASS made a change in their format to fish 11 events, for AOY and make the Classic, so the pros had to choose sides.

Some people would pay top dollar to sit and learn from a pro, or even pay to hear them speak for 2 hours. $100 to learn from the best and see if what they have been telling us all these years...IT IS WORTH EVERY PENNY!! And yes, you will get bored.....I would be glad to be bored it I got HACK ATTACK, IKE, KVD, or some of the TOP pros. It's the rookies I would regret sitting with.....lol :o 8-) :

From Animal. I really like this print. I am wanting this one BAD!!!...lol

My shirt came from Animal Paintball. John G, are you talking about me????.....lol I wash mine all the time.

Well, if we can't sell bikes, why waste money in it. I feel we can make them for overseas....everyone else ships them to us...why not the other way around, eh? He did sound nervous, but he also just got back from the Indy show.

Thanks, our President of the company was just on Rush's show today. Did a good job too.

This new lead law may effect my job. Here is a news reel from my place of work (and no, none of the people you see are me). And it effects everyone who has kids under 13 who ride motorcycles. This is not advertisement for my company, this is real news about a real problem developing in the motocross community right now. And this is the everything else thread site. http://www.wwmt.com/video/index.php?bcpid=1111405973&bclid=1137706675&bctid=13135205001

Cass Lake, in Michigan is where that and more like it came in for wiegh in. 5 fish for just over 4lbs...oh it was bad. I am not a fan of that lake one bit. On a good note though..big bass was over 4lbs and the team had 13lbs....wonder where they found those fish...lol

This is a legal size smallmouth in Michigan, and it weighed only .87lbs. I was the bump master at this weigh in. The guy in the grey shirt caught it and thought he caught a pan fish until it got close to the boat. Then when it was measured...he just started laughing cause it was 14 1/4" long. The only fish he caught that was legal....lol :

Yep...just look for the short fat guy....lol...ok..not that fat...lol

Ok, which spring show? I will be at the D&R open house Good Friday and maybe Saturday, and I think I will be at the BPS spring thingy. Along with the Lansing boat show and the Grand Rapids show both of which are next month. My only problem with the NBAA day this weekend...well lets face it, Valentines Day. Gotta please the woman at least once a yr....lol...so I will not be there for this one. I already got my BUTT chewed for that one.....lol

NBAA Day at D&R Sports! Special Houghton Lake Seminars February 14th from 10:00 3:00 pm NBAA will be on hand at D&R Sports in Kalamazoo signing up new members and going over exciting details for the upcoming season. During this special event, D&R Sports will have some special discounts for NBAA members. Also, stop by the NBAA booth and register for other drawings that will be going on throughout the day. Plus, to get everyone ready for the upcoming National Championship at Houghton Lake there will be two special seminars. Going on at 11:00 am will be Dan Kimmel. Dan is a top regional angler from Michigan and will be sure to have some great hot tips for Houghton Lake. Then at 1:00 pm will be Randy Vandam. Again, Randy will be sharing some of his top secrets and experiences on Houghton Lake bass fishing. For those of you who don;t know Randy, he is the older brother to Kevin. He also holds the record Smallmouth in Ohio.

Here is the write up for it: Another Format Change BASS Drops Three, Adds Two New "12-Mans" Friday, January 09, 2009 Photo: BASS If there's been one theme of the Bassmaster Tour since ESPN's purchase of BASS in 2001, it's certainly "change." The Tour was expanded to 8 events with a western swing, then changed back to six events with four standalone Elite 50s. Then it became the 11-event Bassmaster Elite Series with three Majors, then the 11-event Elite Series with no Majors. Then it was molded into the 11-event Elite Series without co-anglers, and today, it became (for at last 1 year) the eight-event Elite Series with a two-event postseason. The 2009 Bassmaster Elite Series will be comprised of eight regular-season events, with two standalone postseason events that'll feature the Top 12 in the Angler of the Year (AOY) race who'll compete against each other for the AOY title. Fans of NASCAR will notice an immediate similarity to the Chase for the Cup format. Why The Change? Although BASS under ESPN ownership certainly hasn't shied from change, today's news is somewhat of a departure, as it comes just 6 weeks before the Bassmaster Classic and the official start of the 2009 season. The change, according to BASS, is a reaction to the current economic climate. In summary, BASS cut three of its already scheduled Elite Series events, and also trimmed entry fees and payouts for the remaining events. Many anglers experienced severe cuts in their sponsorship support over the off-season, and faced what some would term crippling entry fees for the Elite Series (previously set at $57,000-plus). Along with travel expenses, most pros figured to shell out about $100,000 in expenses in 2009. BASS's format change saves anglers considerable money in entry fees (about $25,000), and assuredly saves BASS and its sponsors considerable money too with less overhead for personnel, equipment and site management BASS already faced a reduced revenue stream due to the unconfirmed but expected departure of key sponsor Advance Auto Parts. There's also the rumored departure of BASS sponsor Purolator. Plus, BASS no longer will receive co-angler entry fees for the Elite Series, since the Series in now a pro-only format. A BASS official told another site that yes, the elimination of the three regular-season events was precipitated by the current economic climate, but a major factor too was feedback from its constituents. "This move was spurred on by the amount of feedback we had due to the challenging economic climate from all constituents the feedback was wanting to move in this direction," a BASS official told another site. "We gathered feedback as much as possible from very different areas, and this was the decision we made after we analyzed our feedback." Select anglers were asked by BASS for feedback about format and economic relief, and that fueled the rumors of the past several weeks that event cuts were coming. Not all anglers were consulted, though. "We received feedback from a cross-section of a number of different anglers across the Elite Series, and bounced things off of them," the BASS official told another site. "Many (pros) expressed an interest in doing something along these lines." BASS VP and GM Tom Ricks noted in a press release today: "We've had a number of productive discussions with Elite anglers and various stakeholders and determined that much like everyone else in this challenging economy, our sport and anglers have been impacted. We feel this decision's in the best interest of the industry, our anglers and sponsors." Why Those Three? BASS chose to cancel Pickwick in Alabama (May 1417), Bays de Noc in Michigan (July 2326), and Champlain in New York (August 69). Geographically speaking, the original schedule included three Alabama events and two New York events. In the case of Alabama, the three events were scheduled within a stone's throw of each other Pickwick, Wheeler and Guntersville are all Tennessee River impoundments in the same region of the state. It's therefore not surprising that one of the Alabama events was dropped. However, the loss of Champlain is a little curious, since Oneida in Syracuse, N.Y., which immediately preceded Champlain, will now be the season-ender. Champlain's a few hours down the highway from Oneida and is a perennial pro and fan-favorite venue. In years past, BASS pros who wanted to fish more than eight events might have registered for additional FLW Tour events. Pickwick was scheduled over the FLW Tour's Wal-Mart Open at Beaver Lake, but the FLW Tour this year has gone to a locked-field format and doesn't permit single-event entries. However, because the dates for Oneida were changed to July 30-Aug. 2, Elite Series pros could conceivably add the Dardanelle Eastern FLW Series to their schedule, which occurs in the immediate week following Oneida. That's a long drive, though. About the decision of which events to cancel, the BASS official said: "There were lots of criteria (used) to determine which events we took out. Some of those are travel and lodging, fan experience, sponsor activation, media exposure and tournament operations. A lot of things went into that decision on top of angler travel and lodging expenses." The Postseason Given that only 12 anglers will compete in the postseason events, it's reasonable to assume that BASS would institute its "hole-course" format which it used for the Majors and other past BASS specialty events. While the hole-course format is easier to televise, since pros are in predictable, limited locations, the format has never been a favorite of fans. The same BASS official said a decision on the competition format has not yet been made. The schedule will be announced at a future date, he added, at which time the format will likewise be announced. Also yet to be determined are locations and dates for the two postseason events. A likely timeframe would be early fall. September's when the bite generally improves, and the Elite Series has typically sought to fish strong bites. It's also a relative downtime in pro fishing, since the Elite Series season now ends Aug. 69 and the Forrest Wood Cup will have likewise concluded. However, late August remains a likely timeframe as well. Other Angles According to BASS, the addition of the postseason events is an additional effort to promote the AOY race. Remember that when BASS cancelled its Majors, it did pump more money into the AOY race. "The idea behind the new format is to put more focus on the AOY race," the BASS official told another site. "We think it's one of the most prestigious honors in the sport, so to continue to focus on that is a good thing from our perspective." Is there any discussions underway to trim the Bassmaster Opens or Women's Bassmaster Tour in any way? No, according to BASS. A critical component of the Elite Series is television coverage via The Bassmasters, which runs Saturday mornings on ESPN2. According to BASS, there will be no loss of original TV hours dedicated to the tour as a result of the cuts. Instead, each post-season event will receive a 1-hour show, and an additional 1-hour original show will focus on the AOY race. Is there any effort at BASS to bring format stability to the tour level, rather than continue to change each year? "Obviously, stability is something that we'd like to have, but right now we're operating in challenging times," the official said. "This move was spurred on mostly by those challenging times. "This is the fourth year of the Elite Series, and the initial thoughts and objectives behind the Elite Series are still in place. There'll still be the same amount of TV hours. There'll still be the brand-building opportunities for anglers to build viable careers." Will the cut to eight events be permanent? No, according to the official, who said that BASS is still "operating under the assumption (it'll) fulfill that 2010 schedule," which was released last summer. What about the fact that the elimination of Michigan and New York events again puts a heavy geographic emphasis on the southern portion of the U.S.? The BASS official pointed to next year's schedule, which (assuming it remains the same) includes two stops in California, two in New York, plus a visit to Oklahoma. What's the new payout look like? The AOY payout remains the same a purse of over $1 million, which includes $250,000 for the winner. And 1st place remains the same for each event ($100,000). However, payouts are now substantially reduced through the rest of the field. The top finishing positions behind 1st are each cut by about $5,000, and 26th through 50th pays $5,000 (vs. the previously announced $10,000). For the full payout table, see below. What about BASS Marshalls who've paid for any or all of the cancelled events? They're entitled to a full refund, according to BASS, or may elect to have their fees transferred to another event. Might some pros drop out of the Elite Series given the change? Not likely, since the FLW Tour is now full. However, BASS did delay the release of its final Elite Series field list. The list was initially planned for release today, but will now be unveiled Jan. 20. Notable > To view the BASS press release announcing the changes, click here. Revised 2009 Bassmaster Elite Series Schedule > March 12-15 Battle on the Border (Lake Amistad; Del Rio, Texas) > March 26-29 Diamond Drive (Lake Dardanelle; Russellville, Ark.) > April 2-5 Dixie Duel (Wheeler Lake; Decatur, Ala.) > April 23-26 Blue Ridge Brawl (Smith Mountain Lake; Moneta, Va.) > May 7-10 Southern Challenge (Lake Guntersville; Guntersville, Ala.) > June 3-6* Tennessee Triumph (Kentucky Lake; Paris, Tenn.) > June 11-14 River Rumble (Mississippi River; Fort Madison, Iowa) > July 30-Aug. 2 Champion's Choice (Oneida Lake; Syracuse, N.Y.)

That made or an interesting read. I would like to see who is on their Pro Staff though.....just to curb my curiosity. Looks like a lot of research went into puting that program on.

Sat I will be wearing a green NBAA shirt and Sun it will be blue. Other than that, you can find me at the NBAA booth or the Ultimate Casting Competition. Just ask for Squid or Steve...both work...lol

There should be lots of new products on display there.

Thanks Glenn, I knew you would put it in the right place....I was just guessing. I will be there Sat & Sun working about 2 - 3 booths. I will be working the NBAA booth, the Casting Competition, and maybe a seminar...not to sure what they have me doing until I get there....lol If you do get the chance to go...The one in Grand Rapids is the BEST one of the 3. 8-) 8-) Check out their webiste to get the dates.

Ultimate Fishing Show Detroit! The outdoor shows get an early start with the Ultimate Fishing Show at the Rock Financial Showplace in Novi, MI, January 8,9,10 and 11. This year's show is packed with all kinds of fishing related booths, including boat dealers, fishing tackle manufacturers, and retailers. Located near Lake Ultimate, their is a booth that will have many new items to show off to you this season. Some of the NEW items that will be on hand in the booth will be a working Power Pole. Power Pole is a fantastic system. You'll also notice another new section in the booth.. "Rig It Boards" This interactive display will not only show the beginner how to rig some of the hottest rigs, even the seasoned angler will want to take note and stop by and see this hands on display. Plus, don't forget when you stop by the booth to vote on the Bass Pro Shops Big Ugly contest. You'll have 12 choices to choose from and you'll want to pick your favorite. You'll also want to fill out the Bass Pro Shops rewards entry forms for a chance to win a prize. Winners will be randomly drawn from these entries for gift cards to Bass Pro Shops. NEW Ultimate Casting Competition Here is a competition that will test not only your abilities but this will test your abilities under pressure. This competition is designed to be both fun and intensely competitive for hard core anglers of all ages. Contestants will compete in a side-by-side timed "cast-off." A special course has been designed with target rings at various distances. Each timed event will be 3 minutes, with the winner of each preliminary event being awarded a prize. High scores will be tracked with the top finishers being invited back for the "regional" championship on Sunday. Scoring will be based on the total score of clean ringers as calculated by the judges. Winners will be determined by total score. Ties will be settled by a "cast off." Check in at the NBAA both to sign up at the show, no pre-registration required, first come first served based on available time. An official judge will be on hand officiating the competition and will determine the grand champion. Also, don't forget the seminars! There will be top regional pros on hand giving seminars daily, check for all the details. Before you head out, be sure to log onto the show website - they have some special offers on tickets and a complete roster of events. See you at the shows!

Top water baits are fun for all kinds of fish, but when it comes to smallies, I start out with a good colored tube, then drop shot a goby. If on St Clair or Lake Erie that is....lol. On inland lakes, tube, top, then wacky a gulp worm, in that order...lol

I would love to go. I have never been to one...not even when it was up here on Lake Michigan. I had to work and could not get the time off. I have seen a Super Bowl, Rose Bowl, Baseball playoffs, and NBA playoffs, but never a Classic...... :'( :-/

I don't care, I would rather net my own fish. But have you ever had to net your own smallies? Catch about 20-40 of them between 3 & 5 lbs and you will want someone else to use the net after a while....lol They will wear you down :o

Only cause she's cute 8-) KVD HACK ATTACK SKEET???....you never know....lol

I am with you. I would fish FLW anyday....and I can do it as a CO-angler. I just wish they had better coverage, but a TV station does not own them.....give it time though....lol 8-)

I learned that one a long time ago. Just do your best to bring it over then fix it up when you do.

This is what is going on since I have been gone? WELL SMOOTH UP ya all....lol. Best Resume I have read so far......NOT