THE BUSINESS NEWS OF FISHING.
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Helping you become a better angler and delivering interesting fishing news to you in a weekly email.
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How much have you fished during the pandemic?
Results from the poll last week.
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Your private jet lands amid a remote haven of natural beauty. You watch the sun set over the lake and mountains as you dine with the winningest pro angler in the history of the sport. You spend the next day fishing and skeet shooting before closing your trip out with a round on the links. It's not a dream. It's your once-in-a-lifetime outdoor adventure. Join Major League Fishing pros Kevin VanDam and Boyd Duckett along with their good friend, NASCAR Cup Series champion Martin Truex Jr., for a two-night, three-day glamping adventure at Big Cedar Lodge in the beautiful Ozark Mountains.Currently the bid for this once in a lifetime trip is at $17,000. 100% of the money raised through this Game/Auction will go directly to Feeding America, Meals On Wheels, World Central Kitchen and No Kid Hungry. Learn more
here.
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Do You Buy Line Based On The Lb Test Or The Diameter?
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Most people when shopping for line simply look at the lb test and give no thought to the diameter. There can be a large variance in what line companies label their line. In some cases, it can be almost double the diameter in a box compared to what the label on the outside says. This
article
explains why you should consider looking at the diameter as well as the lb test.
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Martin Urges You To Expand On Your Home Water Knowledge
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Photo Courtesy AFTCO
With professional anglers spending more time on their home bodies of water recently many are having to relearn how to fish them efficiently, and adapt to changes that have occurred. Bassmaster Open pro Scott Martin is one of those anglers who has been spending a lot of time on his home pond, but Scott's approach to the Big O hasn't changed. "Okeechobee is a dynamic ecosystem that is constantly changing based on fluctuating water levels and clarity, types of vegetation, and in 2017 a strong hurricane. With that being said nothing remains the same on the Big O from year to year," said Martin.
Combating the urge to fall back on previous successes on your home body of water is something that we all fight as anglers. To resist this urge Martin approaches his home lake in what he likes to call 'panic mode'.
"When I put my boat in the water to begin fishing, I will not start fishing in an area that I think the fish will be. I know that sounds like the total opposite of what you should be doing, but there is a method to my madness. In my mind, starting off without anything forces me to find things that I don't already have. Based on my experience, if I catch a fish early in the day I tend to lose the urgency that I have in 'panic mode', and become complacent," Martin continued.
Once Martin has explored other options that the lake may be offering at the moment, then, and only then will he revisit history. "Typically I save my historically productive areas on Okeechobee until I just can't make anything new work. I feel like this is the only way you are going to learn more about your home lake, and get better in the process." Martin concluded.
So whether you are heading out for a day of fun fishing on your home lake, or your next tournament, try to keep an open mind and 'stay current'. Hopefully this advice allows you to catch more fish, and opens your eyes to new possibilities that exist on your favorite fishery.
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5. Baits Not Being Talked About
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Lures like
Jackhammers
,
Neds
and swimbaits have garnered much of the attention this year, but the jig is still the choice of many top anglers. The Dirty Jigs
Tour Level Pitchin Jig
has premium features like a
Gamakatsu 60-degree hook
, custom skirt colors with as many as 10 color combinations in each one and air-brushed three-tone paint jobs with a clear epoxy coat.
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6. What We're Watching & Listening To
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Upshaw Dissects Finesse Flipping
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In this video Andrew Upshaw breaks down how he approaches finesse flipping and exactly what he does to make it successful. Some great tips on getting those extra flipping bites during high pressure situations in this one. Check it out
here.
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David Fritts
Photo courtesy of Bassmaster
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David Fritts has career earning of $999,139 and will likely surpass the $1 million mark as soon as the season resumes. Fritts won the 1993 Bassmaster Classic and recently reviewed that with Tommy Sanders and Ronnie Moore on
Casts from the Past.
He has a strong stable of sponsors with Ranger, Evinrude, Lews and a number of the Pure Fishing brands. He was originally known for using custom crankbaits and wood baits from companies like Poe's. He also was instrumental in the development of the
DT Series crankbaits
for Rapala. His most recent crankbait designs, the
Frittside
crankbait
has been a strong seller in 2020.
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8. Regional Recommendations
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We will continue to update our list with retailers across the country who are operating. Thank you to all who have supported these retailers. If you are a retailer or know a retailer that wants to be added you are welcome to send them to info@bestontour.net to be added to the list. Please support these businesses if you can.
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Extreme Outdoors Branson West MO 417-272-0305
Dunns Pevely MO 636-475-4240
Hook Line and Sinker Rogers and Bentonville AR Bentonville (479-271-8118) Rogers 479-631-8118 Fish n Stuff Sherwood AR 501-834-5733
Get Outdoors Bryant AR 501-794-3474
Trader Bills Hot Springs AR 501-623-8403
K&K True Value Bettendorf IA 563-359-4474
Fin and Feather Iowa City IA 319-354-2200
Hanks Live Bait and Tackle Waterloo IA fishhanks.com (319-234-0711)
Denny Dennis Fenton MO 636-343-9447
Fitzs Fishing Osage Beach MO 573-693-9299
Aspire Mountain Home AR 870-492-2005
Lucky Lure Oklahoma City Ok 405-749-1808
Thousand Island Bait Store Alexandria Bay NY 315.482.9903
Fishermans Central, www.fishermanscentral.com
Murray's Outdoor Store, 563-252-3138
JCT Tackle & Archery Shop
,
417-546-4522
River and Ridge Outdoors,
563-538-4188
Cain Pole Richmond KY
Curbside service
McKee Outdoors Maryville TN
Curbside service
Backwaters Outfitters Lexington KY
Curbside service
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Trends in the Fishing Industry During the Pandemic?
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Other industries have seen sales surge in toilet paper, hair clippers and now meat, but what trends have retailers seen in the fishing industry in the past few weeks. Some categories have really suffered while others have seen a surge. E commerce sales have lead the way for all products with specific categories like crappie products, jigheads, lead products, beginner combos, face masks and surf fishing equipment seeing big surges.
Read the full article
on what the fishing industry is seeing.
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What brand of fish finders do you use on your boat or kayak?
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