Triton separated from the Elites for two reasons. The first being to benefit BASS and the Elite anglers and the second to benefit ABA and the Weekend Series anglers.

     By cutting it’s ties with BASS’s Elite Series, Elite anglers can now run their own boats on the final day of competition. This is a big advantage for the anglers and theirs sponsors. Anglers who make the final day cut and receive air time, can now have their sponsors logos better televised by displaying them across their boat, shirts, and equipment. Anglers also will now have the luxury of being able to operate their own boat. The boat that they are familiar with and comfortable in. Remember the 2005 Classic? The whole field was given Triton boats to run which was great exposure for Triton. On day one Mike Iaconelli was DQ’d for his outburst when he looked in his live-well and found his catch floating dead. The problem was that he thought he had properly activated the aeration system on the boat. He thought wrong. If he was able to run his own boat than chances of him making that same mistake would have been less likely. 

     BASS is hoping that by allowing the anglers to run their own boats, it will draw in a more competitive sponsorship ring for the anglers to go after.

     The second benefit will be received by the ABA and the Bassmaster Weekend series. The money that Triton was using to sponsor the Elite Series will now be given to the Weekend Series anglers in the form of better payouts and bigger contingency prizes.

     For anglers choosing to fish the Weekend Series, they will now be able to fish the circuit knowing that they are guaranteed $5,000 to the winner. Regardless of field size. Triton will also be offering contingency prizes with the formation of their new Triton Black Gold program. The program will offer Triton boat owners the ability to almost double their prize money for being the highest placing Black Gold Member. Mercury and Motorguide have also boosted their participation as well.

     I see all of this as nothing but positive for everyboday. As far as the Weekend Series goes, I have heard argument in the past that said the BFL is a better circuit and draws more anglers. That may be the case right now, but if BASS, ABA, Triton etc. are not willing to try and improve their relationships with the “grassroots” anglers than progress would never be made and that statement would remain true, however I am impressed. Everybody asked for the anglers voice and they are now proving they are listening and willing to improve.

     As of right now, there is no speculation on BASS recieving interests from outside corporations for sponsorship possibilities. I would have to say that since CITGO left a couple of years ago, someone like SHELL would look pretty nice decaled right along side Advanced Auto Parts.

For more information you can visit: www.americanbassanglers.com or www.tritonboats.com     

Post from: EveryJoe

Who to replace Triton?

     What anglers used to keep a secret because of how much money it used to put in their livewell is being replaced because anglers are now realizing the amount of money a bait can put into their pocket through media and publicity opportunities. Anglers still do their best to keep a bait a secret for a period of time, but it’s virtually hard to do now days with gabbing co-anglers, media cameras, and such. I have had good luck obtaining inside scoop from touring pros in the past on the hottest thing going under the radar. Who is dealing and who isn’t. It almost sounds like a drug ring. Call it an underground bait ring. But is it really the bait?

     In some cases I would say yes. If I introduce a bait to angler for a specific situation, and he proceeds to hammer the snot out of them, he may have just been presenting his original bait wrong. None the less, I still don’t believe this to be the ingredient missing. With circulating knowledge so abundant in todays game and increasing angling pressure on the water, every angler can virtually equip themselves with a good idea or genral direction of where to start. The true diffrence is were they end up. So with that I say location, location, location more so than the bait. You and your lure will still be outfished at times by your buddy and his lure, but as long as you continue to present a new look to the fish you will continue to catch fish. That is were the true secret lies. It’s in the appeal of a new look never seen before. From the standpoint of an angler, if he can be the first to capitalize off of a new bait in a tournament and then be the first one to capitalize from it in a media perspective, he has “outdone” the competion twice.

Post from: EveryJoe

Not So Secret Anymore!

     Alot of the central eastern region waters are experiencing the same conditions due to a lack of rainfall. If anyone in the region is severley bored or going dancing anyway, make sure you do a raindance while you are at it.  

Post from: EveryJoe

North East Stren Series Change of Venue

 In 2008 the BASS Elite Series will allow the anglers to use their own wrapped boats throughout the entire event. What took so long? For the past couple of years it has been mandatory for an angler to oprerate a wrapped boat in order to compete on the Elite Series Tour in an attempt to bring in outside industry sponsors. So far the attempt has been modestly succesful.

     All of the tournament coverage that gets aired on tv takes place on the final day of the tournament. As of current, the anglers are required to use BASS issued boats to compete on that day. These boats are wrapped in BASS sponsor logos. Not the individual angler’s sponsors. If I am Lowes for example and an angler approaches me and pitches his case about the advertisement he can give me, I would turn him off as soon as he told me that there is no tv air time because BASS takes their boats away after the third day.

     I really believe that the ability for a sponsor to be seen on tv will better draw in non-endimic sponsors to the sport. The biggest advocates to this decision has been the anglers themselves. They are the ones who feel the pressure of trying to secure the sponsor in the first place. Not to mention the fact that they have had to turn around and try and figure out how to use a boat that doesn’t belong to them. I give a thumbs up to ESPN/BASS and VP/GM Don Rucks. Just ensure that you give this time to evolve into a success.

Post from: EveryJoe

That’s a WRAP

We are proud to announce that the b5media Sports Channel has expanded to now have 24 total blogs.

All Poker Addicts by Blake Butler
BCS Frenzy by Allison Boyer
BIGPLAY Radio NFL Podcast by David Kindervater
College Fast Break by Rich Carlson
Do You Nascar by Tim Zaegel
Dejuiced by Albert Bianchi
Every Morning Quarterback by David Kindervater
Getting Reel by Don Zaegel
Gossip on Sports by Jodie Lynn Boduch
Green Posse by Michael Stramba
Hockey Beat by Jeanne Dupuis
Hoops Fantasy by Stephen Kersey
Jab & Grapple by Kris Karkoski
Knuckle Curve by Geoff Young
Ladies Court by Joe Ruiz
Light the Torch by Sasha Manuel
NBA Obsessed by James Edwards
Rackets and Balls by Erica Beck
Real Muscle Online by Ramsay Taplin
Six and Out by Dinsa Sachan
Squib Kick by James Edwards
The Fantasy Kickoff by Kori Ellis
The Footie by Jyle Dupuis
Ultra Sports Bet by T.O. Whenham

To celebrate the launch of the new blogs and the continued excellence of the existing blogs, we are holding the Sports Channel Launch Contest.

What’s up for grabs?

Prize Package #1:

• $50 Amazon Gift Certificate
• Five Lebron James basketball cards, including a 2004 Upper Deck Rookie Card graded a Gem Mint
• Ohio State Buckeyes Rug from Milliken Rugs

Prize Package #2:

• $50 Amazon Gift Certificate
• David Beckham Bobblehead
• Soccer Bear from The Vermont Teddy Bear Company

Prize Package #3:

• World Poker Tour Chip Set
• Other World Poker Tour Merchandise
• UFC Classic DVD Set

Prize Package #4:

• Fox Sports Tailgating Handbook: The Gear, The Food, The Stadiums
• “Haunted Baseball” by Mickey Bradley and Dan Gordon
• “Greatest Team Ever” (Dallas Cowboys) photographs by Ron St. Angelo, essays from Norm Hitzges
• Florida Gators Rug from Milliken Rugs

Prize Package #5:

• Six Brett Favre Football Cards, all mint condition or better
• Fox Sports Tailgating Handbook: The Gear, The Food, The Stadiums
• Autographed copy of “Romo – My Life on the Edge: Living Dreams and Slaying Dragons” by Bill Romanowski
• Family Guy Stewie football

Prize Package #6:

• Mio Fitness Watch
• Hockey Bear from The Vermont Teddy Bear Company
• World Poker Tour Merchandise

Prize Package #7:

• 2007 Topps Series 2 MLB Cards – Sealed Box
• Life Fitness Watch
• USC Trojans Rug from Milliken Rugs
• Family Guy Stewie football

Each package will also include a copy of “Ricky Barry’s Super Sports Trivia” from Square One Publishers and Dr. Adrianne Ahern’s “Snap Out of It Now!”.

There are two fun ways to win. You can enter our sports trivia contest, or you can write on your own blog about one (or more) of the b5 sports blogs.

You must enter the contest before Friday, October 12, 2007 at 12:00 noon ET.

CLICK HERE to get all the details on how to enter and win!

We want to thank all the sponsors who provided the contest prizes.

Good luck !!!

Post from: EveryJoe

Sports Channel Launch Contest- Enter To Win

     Over the past weekend, the National Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship (NCBFC) was help on Texas’s Lake Lewisville. The event played host to 83 teams represented by 48 different schools. The format was similar to Pro level tournaments alike. Two man teams would compete over 2 days in an attempt to make the top 5 cut for the final and third day were their weights would be zeroed.

     After the three days of competition, it would be the Texas A&M team of Trevor Knight and Justin Rackley who would cinch the title with a day three total weight of 7.60 pounds to represent their school and the home state of Texas. They also took home a $14,000 scholarship check for their fishing club.

     Rounding out the top 5 were:

     Western Kentucky (Adam Hock, Nathan Baum) 6.72 lbs & $8,000

     University of Alabama (Rusty Jones, Daniel Statum) 4.68 lbs & $5,000

     University of Wisconsin (Derek Frederixon, Drew Frederixon) 5.90 lbs & $3,000

     Louisiana Tech University (Chase Cates, Blake Snow) 3.24 lbs & $2,000

* Defending Title Champs North Carolina State University finished 9th.

     In it’s second full year, participation in the NCBFC more than doubled from last years event. With the support of so many great sponsors and young anglers, the event will only continue to grow. Congratulations Texas A&M on National Collegiate Bass Fishing Title. 

Post from: EveryJoe

Texas A&M Bring It Home

      The first thing that attracted me to this bait was it’s natural apperance. With so many baits on the market resemblimg a craw fish, many bait and tackle companies have taken the idea of a craw fish and put radical designs on them in an attempt to show the fish something different. In some cases they have become so radical that the bait has lost it’s natural apperance completely. This is not the case with Berkley’s Chigger Craw.

     This bait has a slender profile, oversized pinchers, and short appendages, making it ideal bait for pitching and flipping all types of heavy cover. The profile allows it to easily slide through the matted grass or wood laydowns while the oversized pinchers give the bait plenty of profile for the fish to find and get ahold of. I have noticed throughout my years of fishing that regardless of the species of fish, they prefer to grab craw fish by the pinchers, so the fact that this bait has big pinchers was a big rating factor for me.

     Another thing that I like about this bait is it’s durability. I was able to catch numerous fish on one bait. Sometimes I was able to simply flip the bait over and bury the hook in the other side for another fish or two. Added with Berkley’s famous PowerBait Scent formula, durability is a good thing because this bait will get action.  I prefer to fish this bait pegged or on a carolina rig. After the baits would become torn, I could also cut the bait in half and use it as a jig trailer.

     My only dislike is that the pinchers don’t have alot of action in them compared to other baits alike. That wasn’t so much a factor when flipping in heavy cover as it was for swimming or carolina rigging were action in the claws are important as an attractant and to help move water. All in all, I reccomend that you pick some up because they are definately worth your time. 

     Have you tried this bait before? Post your opinion and any results you have had.  

Post from: EveryJoe

October Product Review: Berkley Chigger Craw

     Before you jump up and throw something, there’s hope in the form of a legislative fix called the Recreational Boating Act of 2007 and has been presented to the House (HR 2550) and Senate (S. 2067).  The problem is that this legislation is being resisted by uneducated opposition who believe that this disturbs the clean water act.

    Another hope come in the form of Democratic Florida Senator Bill Nelson who is also fighting to ammend the Ballast Water Ammendment S.1578 which would basically exclude smaller recreational boaters and uphold the regulation against larger commercial vehicles. Go Bill. BASS has asked us to contact our states senator if they are in fact on the committee of Commerce, Science, and Transportation and show your support for the ammendment. To see if your senator sits on the board, go to http://commerce.senate.gov/public and review the committee.

     I can only hope that the opposition sits at the ammendment hearing with open ears. If they do that then I see no way reason they cannot support Senator Bill Harris’s ammendment. I mean who are they really after here? As long as you keep the commercial inport and export vessels coming from overseas regulated, than that should substantially decrease the worries of many. I think it’s fair to say that most of us who fish on inland reservoir waters will never have our boats docked at the local marina next to a 300ft cargo liner. These are the ships bringing foreign invasive species and pollutants to our waters. 

Post from: EveryJoe

Boaters Beware the EPA