http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/tournaments/news/story?page=b_BTL_3_05_08

Post from: EveryJoe

Russ Lane Ties The Knot

   Gas prices seem to effecting not only the anglers, but BASS as well. There are an awful lot of tournaments scheduled to take place in Alabama as well as very near Classics for the next three years.

   Many locations on the schedule are seemingly becoming too repetitive. There are a handful of guys who are becoming extremely familiar with some of the particular bodies of water. What will be interesting is to see how the catch rates or the dynamics of some of these bodies of water change over the next couple of years.

   Overall, the schedule looks as though it should continue to appeal to most of the fans and surely the anglers with continued big catches and exciting finishes. Most shocking to me though is the fact that the Elite series will not be visiting Florida for the next two years.

Post from: EveryJoe

My Initial Thoughts: ‘09 & ‘10 Elite Series Schedule

2009

Lake Amistad, TX                   Mar 12-15
Lake Dardanelle, AR               Mar 26-29
Wheeler Lake, AL                    Apr 2-5
Smith Mnt. Lake, VA               Apr 23-26
Lake Guntersville, AL             May 7-10
Pickwick Lake, AL                    May 14-17
Kentucky Lake, TN                  Jun 3-6
Mississippi River, IA                Jun 11-14
Big & Little Bay de Noc, MI     Jul 23-26
Lake Champlain, NY                Aug 6-9
Oneida Lake                              Aug 13-16

2010

California Delta, CA                  Mar 11-14
Clear lake, CA                           Mar 18-21
Lake Amistad, TX                    Apr 15-18
Pickwick Lake, AL                   Apr 29- May 2
Lake Guntersville, AL             May 6-9
Clark’s Hill, GA                         May 20-23
Kentucky Lake, TN                 Jun 9-12
Arkansas River, OK                Jun 17-20
Lake Champlain, NY               Jul 21-24
Lake Erie, NY                          Jul 29- Aug 1
Smith Mtn. Lake, VA              Aug 12-15

Post from: EveryJoe

2009 & 2010 BASS Elite Series Schedules

     Skeet Reese, 2007 Toyota Tundra Angler of the Year, has received one of five nominations for the Best Outdoor Athlete ESPY. He will be hanging out in Los Angeles with some of the world’s best athletes on July 20th.

     When Skeet was asked how he felt about the nomination he said, “Every time one of us anglers gets nominated or win, it says that we are finally getting recognition as professional athletes and we deserve that”. Skeet will be up against: dog musher Lance Mackey, marathon swimmer Skip Storch, mountain climber Scott Smiley, and mountain climber Dav Hahn. To vote for Skeet or one of the other nominees, click here.

Post from: EveryJoe

Skeet Reese Receives Outdoors ESPY Nomination

     “It’s been long and it’s been hard”, said Kevin Wirth after being asked about his 14 year dry spell by BASS emcee Keith Allen. Wirth, the former Kentucky Derby jockey, won the Tennessee Triumph on Old Hickory Lake with a 4 day total of 55-10 lbs after leading all 4 days of the event. The victory was good for a $100,000 payday.

     The emotional Wirth was soon all smiles after confirming that this win has made his struggles all worht it. His fish were caught this week with a buzz bait and shallow flipping baby brush hogs. After many pundits and pros considered Wirth the man to beat down on Kentucky Lake, he showed his versatility by making up for what he thought was a finish he could have improved on in Kentucky. I’m sure if you ask anyone of the Elite Series anglers if they mind that this event was rescheduled from the flooded Mississippi River to Old Hickory, Wirth would surely be the first one to give a thumbs up approval.

A couple of other notes from the event:

-Bill Lowen secured his best BASS finish with a 2nd place finish.
-Rick Clunn has now had back to back weeks where he has slipped after going into the final day sitting in 2nd. Still Clunn has gone from 69th in the AOY points standings to back in Bassmaster Classic qualifying contention.
-Mart Stone made his 1st top 12 cut since the forming of the new Elite Series in 2006.
-Michael Iaconelli made just his 2nd top 12 cut of the year.
-Kevin VanDam still holds his AOY points lead, but his 32nd place finish allowed Todd Faircloth to close the gap with a 10th place finish. 

To view the final results, click here 

Post from: EveryJoe

Kevin Wirth Dominates Old Hickory

     Few of us still throw spoons as a primary tool and even more of us had forgotten that they were in our tackle box. That was until Kelly Jordan re-opened our eyes last year on the TV show, Ultimate Match Fishing when he used his convented Joe Spaits Spoon to quickly fill the box within minutes. If that’s not proof enough, try the century mark (100 lbs.) with a 10 fish limit over two days on Lake Fork. That’s what KJ did with the same spoon. I think he has earned himself the title ‘Spoonman’!

     Pete Robbins wrote an article about KJ and the history of how the spoon came about to be a KJ staple. To read the story, click here.

Post from: EveryJoe

Kelly Jordan Dubbed ‘Spoonman’

     There are many people doing incredible things in the fishing industry. Many of which deserve recognition, but are done through contributions by anglers who expect no return for their efforts. One of those people is BASS Elite Series pro, Elton Luce Jr. who is a 40+ yr. veteran in the fishing industry. Elton currently has a son serving in the armed forces and a veteran of the Iraq war. With that being said, he and his family know a thing or two about sacrifice and the costs it comes with.

     Elton has teamed with the Armed Forces Foundation in Washington D.C. to help aid soldiers and their families with critical situations that may arise as a result from their duty to our country.  The AFF also helps form special outdoor outings and activities such as fishing events which Elton has also personally given his support to. “Seeing the joy on the faces of the soldiers as they compete against each other and catch fish, (some for the very first time!), is a blessing I will never forget”, Elton says about his participation. Elton also donates portions of his winnings to help the AFF with their efforts.

     While Elton isn’t the only angler who helps support the AFF and their special events, he has helped bring national attention to the AFF and their goals. Even though there is usually a certain level of respect given to anglers at Elton’s level by other anglers because of their skill and ability to catch fish, things like this make it easy and demand respect from fellow anglers alike. Elton has surely brought about a favorable image for the fishing industry and himself as well. For that, Elton Luce Jr. has earned the Getting Reel Award! There are no plaques or awards, but it’s Getting Reel’s way of saying Thanks.

     To learn more about the Elton Luce visit: http://www.eltonlucejr.com 
     To learn more about the Armed Forces Foundation visit:
      http://www.armedforcesfoundation.org/index1.html

Post from: EveryJoe

Getting Reel Award – Elton Luce Jr. Supports The Armed Forces Foundation

     Every year, the 110 Elite Series Angler field competes for various positions in the standings. Angler of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Bassmaster Classic cut, and even the top 87 cut to re-qualify for next years Elite series. So every year there are a number of anglers who drop-out or loose their seat and have to regain their qualification the following year. On that same note, new Rookies are then introduced to the Elite series level who have qualified to compete through other various forums such as the BASS Opens.    

     With so many anglers coming and going, only a few will have staying power and show success at the Elite Series  level. Pete Robbins at Bass Zone has compiled some data and put together an interesting story that compares last year’s 2007 Rookie Class to this year’s 2008 Rookie class. While the comparisons seem one sided, remember that it’s apples and oranges as Robbins put it.

     To read the article click here.

Post from: EveryJoe

Elite Series 2007 Rookies Vs. 2008 Rookies

     Kevin VanDam came back with a vengeance this past weekend winning his 4th Elite Series event and 2nd of the season with just under a 1 lb. margin beating out a surging Timmy Horton. KVD led all four days of the event. His 4th win came only one week after being called out by Elite Series pro Jeremy Starks at the Southern Challenge on Wheeler Lake in Alabama.

     In a tournament where many of the pros where expressing difficulties and frustrations in dealing with the disrespect of local anglers, KVD managed to save an area for the final day that he had found in practice. All though the area only gave up 16 lbs and KVD’s smallest bag of the tournament , it was enough to walk away with the title. When asked what KVD was throwing he replied, “There’s a whole lot of sexy going on”. KVD used Strike King’s Sexy Shad Series 5 & 6 crankbaits in conjunction with the Sexy Shad spoon. He also resorted to a Strike King Football head jig at times.

     The sexy shad arsenal has been KVD’s go to all year long whether it was a red eye shad, crankbait, or spoon. I actually can’t remember seeing him throw a spinnerbait all year long. That tells me one thing and that is that these things are really that good and as versatile as they come.

     KVD has retaken the AOY Points lead over Todd Faircloth and has been fishing like a machine in ‘08. He has seemed to be a threat to win in almost every event this year and with the tour ready to direct itself into smallmouth territory, it will be KVD’s to loose.

To view the complete tournaments results click here 

To view the AOY points standings click here 

Post from: EveryJoe

KVD Wins Kentucky

     Tournament waters will be off limits for the event until the official practice period with the launch taking place out of Sanders Ferry Park in Hendersonville, Tenn.

     To read the official release, click here

Post from: EveryJoe

BASS Re-locates the ‘River Rumble’