Fishing industry alive and (mostly) well
At the Big Rock East Dealer Show last week, the mood was not so much upbeat as it was not somber, which could have been expected given the current state of the economy overall and news that consumers are still unwilling to make discretionary purchases.
Attracting sponsors
As the appeal for tournament fishing grows, so does the demand for sponsors to help defray the costs.
Niggemeyer: Profiling bedding bass
Anyone who has ever attempted to coax a bedding bass into biting knows well the frustrations the technique can often carry. Chief among them is the bass' disinterest in the angler's offering.
KVD: Fishing mudlines
The fastest path between two points is a straight line. So it's no surprise that Kevin VanDam, a noted power fisherman capable of covering vast quantities of water with lightning speed, is a big fan of straight lines. However, VanDam's favorite lines have nothing to do with speed; they have to do with mud.
Herren on Picking Large Dock
Matt Herren is a rookie on the Bassmaster Elite Series trail, but it's a fallacy to consider him anything other than a veteran tournament competitor. Over the years, he's won tens of thousands of dollars not only from his Alabama cohorts, but from anglers around the country as well. And a sizeable percentage of those funds has been earned with a flipping stick in hand.
Ike: Fishing in the Moment
Elite Series pro Michael Iaconelli has won almost everything a professional angler could desire. From tournaments, to a Bassmaster Classic victory, and ultimately a Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year title, Iaconelli has known success through all aspects of the sport.
Poche: Dip and dye
Take one look at the soft plastic aisle in a tackle store and it's no secret that plastics come in just about every color imaginable. Need a pink Fluke? They've got them. How about a Blue Sapphire lizard? No problem. Even with all of the color options available on the market, some bass anglers believe there are times when a plastic bait needs a little extra flash.
KVD: Crankin’ colors
There's no doubt that five-time Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year Kevin VanDam knows his crankbaits. Over the course of his career, the Michigan pro has raked in hundreds of thousands of dollars casting and cranking on lakes across the United States. When it comes to selecting the right crankbait color for the job, VanDam says that there's a rhyme and reason for every color in his boat.
KVD: Confidence is Key
With the advances in technology and available resources to rapidly increase a bass angler's knowledge, the learning curve commonly associated with success has been greatly reduced. So, what is it that consistently separates experienced anglers? The answer is confidence.
