The Kumars are moving to...TEXAS. Could not be more surprised and excited. All 4 of us are super stoked. Bummed I won't be able to fish in FL with all the folks I know here, but stoked to do that with a bunch of TX peeps. Also stoked to show these guys a thing or 2: | |
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Bahahahaha not! That's the borderline illegal TX team of Todd Castledine and Russ Cecil. They make some real good $$ either tournament fishing, making moonshine or "in the import/export business." π€£ Maybe all of the above! π€£π€£
Thank you again to the many folks who reached out about all the states. Deeply appreciated.
A few things, including the product "reviews," have been held up by this unanticipated move and the extended "where do we end up" process. Once we're settled, it'll all roll out. Appreciate everyone's patience!
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If your email program cuts off the bottom of the email click "View this email in your browser" up top to see the whole thing. Sorry bout that β email programs keep changing stuff. | | |
5 Qs with former MLFer Cody Meyer | |
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Cody is a well-known pro basser who came outta the West, but did you know that he's never fished the tour level at B.A.S.S.? Fished the FLW Tour, then ended up on MLF. This year he decided to jump ship and fish the Opens.
With 1 Open to go, he's 2nd in the points β and is surrounded by a lotta younger guys who have WAY more time to pre-fish than he does...Cody being a family man who lives in ID. That alone is impressive, and if he makes the Elites (which he will) he'll be the first former MLFer who fished all 9 Opens to do it. #Stout for sure.
1. What's up with your amazing run through the Opens?
> "You know, Jordan Lee just asked me the same thing. He said, 'It's like vintage Cody Meyer.' To be honest, it's the first time in the last many years I've just been really motivated. And not just that...I don't know how to say it. Not an underdog, but man I just gotta re-prove myself.
> "In fishing, like in a lot of things, it got kind of stale. ...all of a sudden you gotta get back out there and re-prove yourself or it means nothing.
> "I prepare for every event β I've worked harder than I've worked than in I'd say the last 10 years of my career. And I've had some lucky breaks also."
2. Do you think the current finesse trend or need for getting bites plays to your strengths?
> "I don't. I just was laughing about this. When I first started fishing the FLW Tour, it was so easy to catch 'em on a dropshot, a Neko rig, a wacky rig. The reason why is nobody was really throwing them. I remember getting laughed at β 'Look at this California guy with a spinning rod.'
> "I could go behind then with a spinning rod and catch them. Now everyone...is throwing a spinning rod when back in the day they weren't. They're not fighting it anymore....
> "The minnow β the jighead-minnow β is not my strength for sure. I'm more Neko and dropshot, which still work but it's not as good as it was. Now the whole finesse fishing with FFS is more powerful than the old-school dropshot and stuff like that."
[He also mentioned that Aaron Martens would have dialed in FFS to an unprecedented degree. For sure.]
3. Seems like you're busting out the Senko in every tourney. If the Senko was never invented, what would you fish instead??
> "Oh my gosh, oh man β I probably I would have to say a dropshot.
> "My whole career I have caught bass on a Senko, from whenever that thing came out. I remember like in '99, I think it was, going to Clear Lake and at the tackle store they had 6 colors of Gary Yamamoto Senkos. The guy at the tackle store...he goes, 'Man all you do Cody is grab this thing, TX rig it, and throw it anywhere near the bank and you'll catch a fish.
> "I was in high school at the time, and I was like, Huh. I took this rootbeer-colored Senko, rigged it up, threw it near the bank, and as soon as it hit the water I caught a 6-lber.
> "So from '99 til now, I've caught more bass on that than any bait for sure. So I would say a dropshot but it would not replace what a Senko has done for me...."
[This plus John Cox's and Keith Carson's success are making me think I should fish a stick worm pretty much 100% of the time!]
4. You were one of a couple guys in the top 10 at Leech Lake who fished a bigger soft-plastic swimbait. How were you fishing it?
> "That's an Evergreen swimbait, the Last Ace 140. The size of the shad on the [upper Mississippi] river this year were really big. They were like 6 inches long, a lot of them.
> "In the afternoons, when the sun got up, those shad would get up right on the surface β you could see those big shad up under docks. I was skipping it under the shady side of docks and swimming it under the dock poles. I was catching some nice fish....
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> "That Last Ace 140 is about a 6-inch line thru swimbait. I was fishing it 2-3' deep at the max...under rocks and by dock poles.
> "It's kind of like a finessey Magdraft β not real big, not real bulky, and kind of swims in a finessey way. A while ago we were buying them on eBay because they weren't available β we finally got Evergreen to bring them out. [The fish] crashed that thing too, big time.
> "I fish it on a 7' 4" H Daiwa Tatula Elite Ish Monroe Frog Rod...20-lb Daiwa J-Fluoro Samurai and a Daiwa Tatula Elite Reel (6.3).
[Not sure if the Last Ace owes anything to the First Ace but here he is:]
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3 Qs + enlightening answers from Drew "Redear Blue" Gill | |
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Talking to Drew reminds me β not the same, but reminds me β of talking with Aaron Martens and Jacob Wheeler. Not the ADD part π, the ultra-detailed cerebral part. So here we go, and btw I did ask him where he was with the FFS for 1 period thing, and no surprise he's already thought it out.
1. Why those hooks on that jerkbait you fished at the St Lawrence?
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> "Because landing smallmouth on treble hooks really sucks.
> "The braid split rings are...one, it makes it where I can set how far off my bait my treble hooks are. I try to find that point where they're long enough that they sit off the bait a little bit, but short enough that they don't tangle.
> "Plus it allows the hooks to rotate when a fish jumps and spins. ...and decreases weight. Because you take off the weight of every split ring, which generally means I can upsize 1 hook size with no consequences.
> "...it allows me to throw a bigger hook without affecting the balance of the bait. I try to keep a jerkbait as true to form as possible because the more modifications you do in terms of weight and float board, the stranger the action gets...from the way it's designed to be.
> "The quads are super sticky and have points everywhere. ...with a jerkbait a lot of times β or any treble-hook bait and smallmouth β how many times do you land a fish hooked behind the gill plate or hooked halfway down the fish. It's not because [the fish swiped at it] β your bait will walk down the fish. The fish jump so often you can see how they're hooked initially, and by the time they get to the boat they're hooked in the side, they're hooked underneath [etc].
> "It ends up looking like you snagged the fish, but in actuality [the bait] spins around because the leverage points change [as a fish jumps and twists].
> "My goal with [the quads] was to get as many points as possible to where it catches as much as possible...where you can reinitiate that hooksetting over and over again. The more points of contact, the more control you have over the fish."
[Those hooks are Decoy Quattros and that jerkbait is a Bill Lewis Scope-Stik. I forgot to ask him about that brown feathered treble....]
2. How many ways are there to rig a Neko rig?
> "I'd say there's probably 3 primary ways in my opinion. Because once you start deviating too far from it, it's not a Neko rig anymore.
> "When you rig it low to the weight...the weight centered low on the bait, the bait will be a little more responsive to rod movement across distance. ...pull it faster, so it's like a shakey head or a Texas rig.
> "...the mid-point of the bait is the traditional Neko rig.
> "...rig it closer to the tail...is what I use for making casts to [structure] to shake it one place, like if I'm fishing a rockpile, a bed, a dock. ...shake it one place the whole time, then you're manipulating the tail action more than moving the bait."
3. What was your biggest takeaway from your rookie year?
> "Understanding...the difference between every fish counts and the 5-fish format. With the 5-fish format you can have a 'trust the process' approach. ...if you keep repeating the process, you will have...opportunities to catch 1-2 [better fish here and there] that...will work out.
> "With every fish counts, you have to hunt for the best deal on the lake all day every day. And trust that when you find it, you will catch enough weight that you will come from oblivion to the top.
> "You're hunting for the juice all day every day, not settling for decent or adequate. You're not trying to keep pace, you're trying to find the fish that will outpace everything."
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So the Berkley Krej CAN be a wake bait after all? | |
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Remember when that Berkley Krej came out early this year, it was specifically NOT designed to be like the Jackall Riser Bait β a comparison everyone made at first because both baits have an up-tilting lip.
The Riser is a wake bait, the Krej is a (genius) backward-swimming jerkbait (Krej = Jerk spelled backwards) β designed with FFS in mind but not needed to fish it.
But now Justin Lucas says that in fact the Krej is a killer wake bait! Shows how he fishes it in an IG vid:
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Cool deal is that Krej is made to cast a mile so that obviously helps for waking. Gitcha fall bites on man!
Justin drips some cool, different stuff like that semi-regularly on his social so might wanna foller.
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LESS shallow fish now?
FFS what's next?
Crazy lipless!
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1. Meet Mark Rose and get fish tips + vittles
Sept 26, 6:30 pm at Calvary Baptist Church, 263 Airport Road, Huntsville, AR.
2. Keith Combs CAST for Kids benefit event next week
8th Annual Keith Combs Lufkin Fundraiser and banquet benefiting the CAST For Kids Foundation.
> The banquet will be held at the Pitser Garrison Convention Center in Lufkin, TX on Friday, Sept 27, and will feature a catered dinner, live auction, raffles and special guest speaker Hank Parker. Auction and raffle items include guns, hunting trips, freshwater and saltwater fishing trips, and many one-of-a-kind items. There will also be an online auction beginning Sept 23.
> On Saturday, Sept 28, Keith and Jennifer Combs will host a day of fishing for special needs children at Lake Nacogdoches, TX. Participants will be supplied with a fishing rod and reel, tacklebox, hat, t-shirt, award plaque, and a BBQ lunch will be provided for all participants, their families, and volunteers. Registration is open to children over the age of 6 and all disabilities are welcome.
100% of the proceeds from the auction and raffle items will benefit the CAST For Kids Foundation. For more info or to volunteer, click here.
3. Greg Hackney says he will power-fish next year
Because the Elite schedule will allow that. But Greg power-fishes every year so...π Lol you know what I mean! Hope he's right and gits to fish that bigfoot flipping pattern again:
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π
4. John Garrett's Harris Chain win was a rare gamble
> I have always been someone who can find a way to catch a few bass throughout the day. They may not be the winning fish, but let's go do it. The Harris Chain was the first tournament I put all my eggs in a risky basket, and it paid off with a big win and a blue trophy.
5. Easton Fothergill says he has the instincts
From BM.com ^:
> Being versatile was huge [in his Eufaula, OK win]. Everyone says all the kids only know how to Scope and that sort of thing, but it is not the case for me. I spent 12 years fishing without it so I have the instincts.
He is not alone btw. Yes he's good with FFS, but yep him and his better peers "can fish" too.
6. How much influence did On Em Robertson have...
...with the Ugly Stik G2 winning the ICAST Anglers Choice Award? I mean, he's gotta have more fans than anyone who fishes an Ugly Stik??
7. Word is NPFL entry fees will stay the same in '25
$5,200 this year and I was told they will be the same next year. Field will be 130, last event they had 118.
8. AL: That big-money tourney has an advisory board now
> Unified Pros announced today the creation of its Athlete Advisory Board. The advisory board will consist of a representative from the NFL, MLB, NBA, PGA and the professional fishing world.
> Bill Maas, the first member...is a retired defensive tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Green Bay Packers. He was named Rookie of the Year in 1984.... "Unified Pros' vision of combining competition with conservation is something I think every professional athlete can get behind."
9. Bassin' Hall of Fame induction is a week from today
Trying to get there, need to figure out if I can get in with shorts and flip-flops because all my nice stuff is in storage!
10. TN evaluating whether to change their largemouth record...
...because of the recent IGFA genetics stuff. If they do that, the current FL hybrid record bass from Chickamauga will be relaced by a 1954 "pure largemouth." My 2c: THEY ARE ALL LARGEMOUTHS! Evidence: Look at 'em!!
11. Ever seen the Great Lakes Finesse Drop WORM?
Don't think I had, and it comes in a "morning dawn"-ish color too:
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13. Bob's Machine bought Transducer Shield & Saver
> "We are thrilled to welcome Transducer Shield & Saver to the Bob's Machine family. This addition allows us to expand our expertise into the realm of transducer protection, a key product for today's anglers."
14. DuraSafe has a new bracket lock for the Move troller
15. New Garmin inReach Messenger Plus
In case you fish big water or chase bigfoots:
> ...first satellite communicator with photo and voice messaging in addition to global 2-way texting, location sharing and SOS capabilities.
16. More about those Sharrow props...
...from Frank "Staff" Sargeant in case you're interested. Interesting you can supposedly have less motor and get the same performance....
17. CA: Loafer Point Stage II Ramp open again at Oroville
18. CA: Elsinore shad dying, maybe from fire ash
19. AR: Lake GA-Pacific ramp closed due to hyacinth
Because the invasive plant was found in the canal going from the ramp to the main lake. Fishing is still allowed.
20. Keep an eye on...
New Media Group has Formed to Push the Anti-Gun Narrative
> The organization is called the Association of Gun Violence Reporters (AGVR). ...aims to cover guns as a "systemic problem" and shift public perception about firearms.
Crazy to me how "guns" are the problems vs pointing a finger at, for example, "cars" or "alcohol," which both dwarf firearms-related deaths. Plus more than half of firearms fatalities apparently are suicides, which of course is terrible, but the antis don't say that and don't care I guess.
Just an FYI about one way things happen in the mass media. Back in the day no real reporters would be allowed to join any advocacy group.
Line of the Day
Nearly 50 years ago, catfish farmers in the AR delta imported Asian carp to clean vegetation from ponds, making better habitats for the lucrative fish crop.
After the carp got out and caused many millions of $$$ in damage and tax money to address (and counting), how much have those operations or the aquaculture industry contributed to remediate the problem?
PSA
Tackling Wearin' Hose is having a "Buy Mo/Save Mo" sale, click the pic for the deets but it's basically buy X$ get Y% off:
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Aaron Martens talkin' feathered trebles
Somehow this popped up and glad it did! Aaron always dished gold so here we go, from here β by one of the hardest working dudes in bassin', David A "BCDE" Brown!
> ...has tried multiple dressing materials, but he's found that chicken feathers best suit his preference for density and action on [trebles].
> Martens ties his feathers on medium-heavy Gamakatsu G Finesse Trebles, which feature tournament grade wire and a Nano...finish for better penetration. To keep the profile minimal, he secures the feathers with a couple of wraps with 10-lb braid.
β> "If I want a bigger, bulkier splash for aggressive fish on a topwater, I'll use a full-size thick feather because it moves more water. ...if the water is dirty, or if the fish are eating shad, a big white feather can get their attention."
> ...Martens uses feathers to hide his hooks in clear water. The added drag...sweeps a hook backward and tucks it against the bait's belly...or raises it parallel with the tail....
> ...when fish are short-striking his baits...trimming the feather to just below the hook bend often pulls the fish close enough for a hookset.
β
> With poppers, the right amount of feather can stabilize a popper for an effective forward pull.
β
> Martens' most common feather [color] is chart/white with a little Flashabou accent. ...this color also tempts fish in clear conditions.
> Martens' other feather favorites:
- Green β A good all-around color that performs well in lightly stained to clear water.
- White with silver Flashabou β A good bet for late fall and winter, when flashy, chrome baits excel. If the fish are targeting bait schools, that shiny accent fits the scene.
- White with black Flashabou β Martens mostly uses this specialized look for reaction bites in low-light periods. For example, if the fish are eating bugs or critters in shallow water, Martens feels those dark streaks can often help....
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"I don't care if we put enough transducers on there to burn the moon down...."
- π€£ Yep that's the one 'n only never had a mold to break Gerald Swindle talkin' β on YT about being over all the FFS talk. Love how he has a never-ending 100% original supply of hilarious sayings, analogies, whatever. Amazing.
In that deal he says he might fish the NPFLs β he is one of at least a few Elites who have said that.
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I wanna have the day this guy had: | | |
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Jay Kumar's BassBlaster is a daily-ish roundup of the best (sometimes worst) and funniest stuff in bassin', hand-picked by me β Jay Kumar. I started BassFan.com, co-hosted Loudmouth Bass with Zona, was a B.A.S.S. senior writer and a bunch more in bassin'. The Blaster is the #2 daily read on any given day in the wide world o' bass so thanks for readin'! | | |
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