It is winter time all over the U.S. and that means one thing for bass fisherman and boaters - it's 'Show' season!

Yes, there are still quite a few of these around and many are very good to attend! They aren't the same as 10 years ago, but for the avid angler and boater it's something that shouldn't be missed or taken for granted. I remember learning some of my most valuable fishing 'lessons' as a beginning angler at these shows and still I learn at many of them that I attend today.

The lectures from professional anglers and just talking to other local fisherman will prove to be very valuable as the season gets underway in a few months. You certainly don't want to be the angler finding out about hot new baits after you got whooped with them a few times. If you don't attend the shows that your buddies get to and see all the new products, get all the new tips on hot techniques, then they will be the ones with all the big fish! Don't get left behind, get out there and check out all the shows that will be around your home town this winter! I guarantee it will help your fishing in 2012. You can even search for local fishing shows using the BoatUS ANGLER Events Calendar

My next show will be the Midessa Boat, RV, Sport & Gun Show in Odessa, TX at the Ector County Coliseum Complex. I will look forward to seeing many of you at shows this winter!

Remember to check that your BoatUS ANGLER membership is up to date before you hit the water this New Year!

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Seagrasses are grass-like, flowering plants that live completely submerged in marine and estuarine waters. Found throughout coastal areas in the Gulf of Mexico, seagrasses help maintain water clarity by trapping fine sediments with their leaves and stabilize the bottom with their roots and rhizomes.

Seagrasses also provide shelter for fishes, crustaceans, and shellfish. They protect juvenile drum, sea bass, snappers, and grunts from larger predators. In many areas, such as Redfish Bay in Texas, seagrasses are the reason that there are good fish populations.

Seagrasses, though, are in decline. In 1950, Florida had over 5 million acres of seagrasses. Today there are only 2.2. Coastal construction and dredge operations have dug up many seagrass beds. Shoreline stabilization projects have redirected and intensified currents. This often results in erosion or sediments being dumped on seagrasses.

Prop scars, trenches cut into the seagrass bed by boat propellers, are also responsible for the decline of seagrasses. Prop scars heal at various rates depending on the species of seagrass and they type of sediment on the bottom. Read More

Click to Read More Tips
from Recycled Fish

Add Your Own Rattles

While most lures come with existing rattles to attract fish, a lot do not.

Rattles can be added to lures in a number of ways. Zipping through tackle supplier Jann's Netcraft, they carry several types. Some come with a rubber sleeve, or a snap or small glass tubes to be inserted into soft plastics that attach to a hook. Some factory instead rattles will break off after a while, leaving your bait silent. Whether this has happened or you just want to rattle your lure, here's a way to do it.

Jann's carries a lot of rattles. I like the Glass Crankbait rattles. Pick one that fits the size you wish to add and the lure for which it is appropriate. At the hardware store, you can find heat shrink tubing in the electrical section. Take your rattles with you and find tubing that is just a hair larger than the rattle you are using. This will vary for the size of the rattle and for the jig you are attaching to. Read More

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Click Here to check out our "Boating Safety Tips" video. You can also view other fishing and boating videos at www.BoatUS.com/videos

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Great American Fisherman Gets Great American tow

B.A.S.S. legend Roland Martin has had better days on the water. The 19-time B.A.S.S. winner had just started his day on the Harris Chain of Lakes for the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open when his outboard motor "blew up" at about 7:30 a.m.

From that point until a BoatUS ANGLER, the official towing service of the Opens, tow boat came along and allowed them to make the weigh-in on time, Martin and his co-angler, David Few, were "on the trolling motor," stuck in one general area and fishing for whatever bass they could get to without greater mobility. Read More

BoatUS ANGLER member John Crews launches MISSLE BAITS

With more than 10 years as a professional angler on the nation's top circuits, BoatUS ANGLER Member John Crews brings his design and tournament experience into the market with the launch of MISSILE BAITS.

MISSILE BAITS provides serious anglers with new baits designed by a professional angler who has tested them on some of the nation's best waters. Having already proven his mettle as a designer of top crankbaits with SPRO, Crews enters the world of soft plastics with MISSILE BAITS. Read More

Five On-the-Water Boat Towboat Captains Honored for Heroism

With over 600 tow boats spread across North America, the law of averages dictates that, eventually, BoatUS towing captains will be thrust into the middle of life-threatening emergencies. BoatUS Towing Services recently honored five of its TowBoatUS captains for their heroic actions with its annual BoatUS "Woody Pollack Lifesaving Awards" at a ceremony that capped off the group's annual conference held in Tampa FL. Read More

Let us help save you money in 2012!

Don't forget that the BoatUS Member Services Locator is a great tool to help you save money in 2012! The Services Locator displays all the boating & fishing businesses that offer Members discounts on their services. Businesses are divided into 4 categories: Marinas, Marine Services, Bait & Tackle, and Guide/Charter Services to help narrow down your search.

The Services Locator can also show you the nearest TowBoatUS or VESSEL ASSIST port and their service areas, West Marine stores, and lifejacket loaner locations! To view the Services Locator, just visit BoatUS.com/MSL and type in the city and state or zip code of the area you are looking for - you can even zoom in and drag the map to get a closer look.

Want to see a business added to the program? Let us know by filling out the Suggest a Business form or by email us at Membership@boatus.com.

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