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IN THIS ISSUE - MAY 2013:
Enjoy all the how-to tips, fishing news and information in your monthly
BoatUS ANGLER Tacklebox Newsletter? Share it with your fishing buddies!
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The BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship Is Here!
 The 2013 BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Cabela's kicks off in Florence, AL May 20-24 for the nation's largest collegiate fishing event. Official practice begins Monday, May 20 and continues through Wednesday, May 22.
Collegiate anglers will launch daily at McFarland Park on the shores of Lake Pickwick, with weigh-ins to start daily at 2 pm. The collegiate team with the heaviest weight over the course of two competition days will be crowned National Champions at an awards ceremony immediately following the weigh-in on Friday. In addition to prizes, students are also competing for points in the coveted Cabela's School of the Year race, which is the first college rankings program to recognize the top collegiate fishing teams in the country, taking into account their participation across all leagues.
In its eighth consecutive year, the BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship is the marquee event of three nationally televised tournaments hosted as part of the Cabela's Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship Series. These no entry fee events are open to all full-time students of university-recognized fishing programs.
According to Wade Middleton, co-founder of the ACA and President of CarecoTV, "Last year was a record setting year in every way we could measure the event. We had more students catching more bass than ever before, and they were supported by more sponsors than we've ever had at the BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship. 2012 was certainly a banner year, but we're working to make sure 2013 continues our tradition of growth and event development."
"The anglers are in for an incredible week as our guests, thanks to all our supporters. As competitors, they're in for a real treat on Pickwick."
For complete details about the BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship visit http://collegiatebassfishingchampionship.com |
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See you on the water,
Steve Levi
SLevi@boatus.com
www.BoatUSAngler.com |
BoatUS ANGLER
Pro Staff Blogs |
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Steve Chaconas: Ship Shape
Read More |
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Kurt Dove:
Douglas Lake - B.A.S.S. Southern Open #2
Read More |
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 Scott McGehee - Extending the Early Morning Bite
Our latest video features pro angler Scott McGehee talking about how to extend the early morning bite.
Click Here for more fishing videos from Scott McGehee including "Catching Missed Topwater Bass, "Zara Spook Modifications", "Pitching", "Using Buzzbaits", plus trailering and safety tips, Weigh-to-Win Tournament Incentive Program, BoatUS Insurance, On Road and On Water Towing and more.
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| From BoatUS ANGLER Magazine... |
Spring Snook Sensation
Warming weather ignites seasonal feeding flurry
Many reasons justify Florida's reputation as "Sport Fishing Capital of the World" and one of them has a long, black stripe down each of its muscular flanks.
Centropomus undecimalis, better known as snook but often called "linesiders," is a pedal-to-the-metal predator that brings its a game on every down. Sleek and streamlined, the snook is built for feeding efficiency and fighting fury, and spring unleashes both traits.
"The snook are charged back up after a couple cold months of winter," said Capt. Jason Stock, who guides in the Bradenton area from a flats skiff or kayak. "They'll be fattening up on finger mullet and whitebaits (scaled sardines) to get ready for the summer spawn." Read More
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 Lip Service
Sometimes when I am fishing with clients, they either hit the motor with their lure or cast the lure into a rock or other hard surface. In either case my crank baits usually don't survive. Crankbait lips are fairly durable, but will break when hitting solid objects. The result is a perfectly good fish catcher ready for the trash can, or becoming a Christmas tree ornament.
I have a pile of broken-lipped lures in a box and unfortunately this collection is getting bigger. Crankbaits cost $5-15 and even more! I make frequent visits to jannsnetcraft.com for other lure and rod building supplies when I noticed crankbait lips. While these are primarily used for building a crankbait from scratch, I eyed them for possibly being able to use them to replace the broken lips on my crankbaits. Jann's has a wide variety of lips in shapes and sizes for just about any lure. They also have the thin computer circuit board lips that have become the rage on high end custom crankbaits as they are very thin and strong... much more durable than other materials. They also create unique actions!
The broken lure was a Mann's Baby-X. These are a favorite of mine as the shape and rattles fool fish! I measured across the old lip and chose the Netcraft 1" x 15/16 lip. Modifying the dimensions to get a perfect fit and length for the desired fit was easy. Using a pair of cutters, I removed the rest of the broken lip. Next a Dremmel circular saw was perfect for creating a groove for the new lip. Here's where some planning is required. Read More
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 A Topwater Tutorial
For much of the country the month of May indicates bass in the post-spawn behavior. From this phase of bass behavior right through the early part of summer is often a premier time to target bass on topwater lures. As with any lure there are many types to choose from and it can get confusing. I will breakdown for you several types of topwaters and some productive brands, and where they can be used to have success!
Popper - The popper style baits are awesome for keeping a lure in the strike zone for a long period of time. A Rebel Pop-R is the mainstay in popping baits. BASS Elite Angler Zell Rowland made them wildly popular back in the late 80's and early 90's. Other great poppers are the Yellow Magic and the Rico. I like to use poppers around wood cover, rip rap and on the edges of vegetation. They are not weedless so be sure not to throw it into or on top of vegetation.
Walkers - For me walking topwater lures that sashay side-to-side are primarily used in open water situations. Over top of points or along big stretches of rock or bank that may have a specific depth change. I typically use the ima lures Skimmer or Big Stick. For many years the main stay in topwater baits was the Zara Spook made famous by BASS Pro Charlie Campbell back in the 80's. This style of topwater baits can be awesome on big fish! Read More
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| Great Lakes Fishing Tip by Capt. Lou Borelli |
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 Spring Browns: Stickbaits Or Spoons?
Every spring, Lake Ontario nearshore fishing can bring good numbers of brown trout. As the ice melts in the lake and the water starts to warm, schools of browns hug the shoreline looking for warmth and food. And as the fishing season starts, the main question that seems to come up year after year is: Do I fish with stickbaits or spoons?
For me, the answer's easy. Spoons, spoons, spoons!
Both lure types come in many shapes, sizes and colors. Stickbaits are very versatile and can be used to catch many species of fish. From trout and salmon to bass, pike and walleye, the stickbait lure can be very effective.
One can even argue that the stickbait is more appealing to the brown trout than a spoon. With the overabundance of the round goby, (invasive species that have taken over the lake bottom), brown trout have been feeding heavily on these fish. A stickbait with the right color (brown/gold) can easily imitate the goby, making it an easy target for the trout. Read More
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 BoatUS ANGLER "Catch of the Month" Photo Contest
is Here!
Don't forget the camera to take shots of your catch
this fishing season and submit them to the BoatUS ANGLER "Catch of the Month"
photo contest at www.BoatUS.com/Angler/contest,
which kicked off April 1 and runs monthly through October
31, 2013.
Monthly
winners, one freshwater and one saltwater, will receive a
one-year BoatUS ANGLER membership with basic On Water
Towing and TRAILER ASSIST®, a $50 Visa gift card and a
"prize pack" filled with fishing and BoatUS ANGLER gear. In addition, winning photos will appear in BoatUS
ANGLER Magazine and "Tacklebox" monthly fishing
e-newsletter.
Monthly
winners will be automatically entered to win the grand prize
in November 2013: an upgrade to Unlimited On Water and TRAILER ASSIST®, a high-quality fish replica from FishReplicas.com, and a $50 gift certificate from BoatNameGear. Winning photos will be selected by the most "Likes" on the BoatUS ANGLER Facebook page during the month of November.
April Freshwater Winner |
April Saltwater Winner |
Thomas Maxey - Stockton, CA
11.1 lb. Largemouth Bass |
Richard DeMarte -
White Plains, NY
13.5 lb. Striped Bass |
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 You Go Fishing, We'll Fix Your Flat
SHREVEPORT, LA - There's a BoatUS ANGLER "Weigh-to-Win" decal on the gunnel of Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Champion Matt Lee's bass boat. He believes in the goodness of the association that makes it their mission everyday to take care of anglers and boaters in need. And a couple of months ago, Matt Lee became an angler in need.
Read More
Bassmaster Magazine's 100 Best Bass Lakes Announced
BIRMINGHAM, AL - The second annual list ranking the country's best bass lakes has been released by Bassmaster Magazine. The list appears in the May issue, which hits newsstands today. Michigan's Lake St. Clair took the No. 1 spot, while Falcon Lake, which was last year's No.1, fell to seventh. Read More
 Angler Reels in Arizona's Heaviest Recorded Fish
PHOENIX, AZ - Eddie "Flathead Ed" Wilcoxson was asleep on the fold-out cot of his 24-foot pontoon boat on Friday, April 12, when what would become a state record flathead catfish began taking drag at Bartlett Lake. About 35 minutes later, at 2:37 a.m., Wilcoxson, 56, boated what Arizona Game & Fish Department officials verified is a 76.52 lb. flathead catfish. It measured 53.5 inches in total length with a 34.75 inch girth.
Read More
Click Here For More Fishing News on BoatUS ANGLER
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| Stewardship Tip |
 Stout Knots
A well-tied, stout knot will provide the solid connection to your terminal tackle. A sturdy knot can help you land the fish of a lifetime. It can also keep tackle from breaking off and ending up in the bottom of the lake or around a bird's neck.
There really is no secret to a well-tied knot. Understanding why a knot breaks is a good place to start when understanding how to tie a strong knot. Mark Sosin and Lefty Kreh point out in Practical Fishing Knots, "any knot begins to slip just before it breaks." To build a knot that doesn't slip, they advise, close the knot as firmly as possible. To accomplish this, they recommend lubricating the knot with saliva or water prior to drawing it tight. This will help to seat the knot smoothly with a minimum of friction. For heavier lines, they add, use a pair of pliers for the final draw down.
Read More
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 Trailer Tires
Almost half - 43% - of all calls for assistance to BoatUS TRAILER ASSIST® are for flat tires. Over the course of many years, sunlight degrades and weakens the sidewall. The tread may look "healthy", but if you see spider web cracking on the sidewalls, then the tire has rotted and must be replaced. Trailer tires that sit for long periods suffer from another problem: under-inflation. Tires lose about a pound of pressure per month and another pound for every 10 degrees the temperature drops. An under-inflated tire is more likely to fail and could also cause the trailer to fishtail - sway from side to side - and cause an accident. If your trailer has been sitting all winter, check the tires and their inflation before hitting the road this spring.
Sign up to receive FREE Boating Safety tips to your email, courtesy of the BoatUS Insurance
Program INSIDER. From our experts to your inbox!
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 Featured fishing guides and charters are selected from our online Fishing Guide & Charter Locator - each one offering a discount to BoatUS and BoatUS ANGLER Members.
Search for a guide or charter for hire in your state or region at Boatus.com/angler/locator.
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Featured Charter - Freshwater |
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Guide: Capt. Lou Borelli
Location: Hilton, NY
Waters Fished: Lake Eire, Lake Ontario, Genesee River, Oak Orchard Creek
Species: Smallmouth Bass, Salmon, Trout
BoatUS ANGLER Member Discount: 20% Discount On Charter Services |
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On Lake Ontario, we are a unique fishing charter service that offers a fun, safe, and affordable way of catching fish! With over 20 years of Lake Ontario fishing, USCG Licensed Captain Lou Borrelli will do his best to make your trip a memorable one.
Whether it is drift fishing for smallmouth bass or chasing down monster salmon and trout, Get The Net Fishing Charters has something to offer. As a family orientated service our goal is to share our knowledge of fishing to both the young and old.
As members of the IGFA, (International Game Fish Association), we are strong advocates of catching the fish, snapping a few nice pictures and releasing them to be caught another day. However, if you choose to keep some fish for "dinner", we have a fillet table on board. We will be happy to filet and bag your fish so they are ready when your trip is done.
Click Here to Find This Charter on BoatUSAngler.com |
Featured Charter - Saltwater |
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Charter Name: Fin Freak Sportfishing
Captains: Tim Altman, Charles Z. Smith
Location: Cape Canaveral, FL
Waters Fished: Cape Canaveral, Cocoa Beach, Titusville, Port Canaveral
Species: Amberjack, Cobia, Grouper, King Mackerel, Mahi-Mahi, Sailfish, Snapper, Wahoo
BoatUS ANGLER Member Discount: 10% Discount on Charter Services
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Come join us for a true Florida Sport fishing charter of a lifetime. We welcome seasoned fishermen, as well as beginners - we love to share our knowledge! It will be smooth cruising out of Port Canaveral with our U.S. Coast Guard licensed Captains, Tim Altman and Charles Smith.
Our boat "The Fin Freak", is a custom built, 2007 27ft Blackfin with twin Evinrude E-Tec 200 HO engines. This vessel is designed for a fast, dry and comfortable ride to the deep blue. The Fin Freak boasts Lowrance electronics, Taco Outriggers, Cannon Downrigger, Icom VHF, Kenwood and Alpine sound systems, a 7ft fish coffin, (for The Big One), and much more. U.S. Coast Guard safety approved - safety is our #1 concern on the water, followed by filling the fish box.
Click Here to Find This Charter on BoatUSAngler.com
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 Do you trailer your boat? If you do, then you are one of more than 7 million Americans who do.
BoatUS is known for offering on water towing, but did you know that we also have on road towing? For only $14 a year, we will come to your aid while you're en-route with your boat. Our 18,000 specialized towing companies can provide TRAILER ASSIST® - helping with flat tires, fuel delivery, battery jump starts, and lockouts. They are also prepared to tow a boat and trailer within 100 miles of your break down point and will never leave your boat abandoned on the side of the road.
Not only do you get great service with the TRAILER ASSIST®, you also get trailering news and information, as well as a $15 coupon for shopping at West Marine. Add this service to your Membership today! Visit www.BoatUS.com/trailerassist or call 866-906-0013.
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