iBass360 iCast edition by Alexis Chitwood

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The Captain's Log iCast2024

Featured Article Siemantel/Tuttle ABA AOY Win Propelled by FishLab

The Captain's Log: iCast 2024

Rob Zorn, CEO of iBass360

It's safe to say that if you’ve been around 67 years, you have some serious staying power. So it is for ICAST- the premier trade show event in the global fishing industry. Although not open to the general public, ICAST continues to be the place where the most valuable business relationships are born, strengthened and celebrated, and if you have the will, you’ll find the way in. When it comes to doing things on a grand scale and at the highest standard, Orlando as a convention venue is hard to beat with its world class dining and lodging, expansive Orange County Convention Center, and entertainment venues for all ages and interests. The ICAST/Orlando combined planning team makes it easy to do business at ICAST oering discounts at hotels and restaurants and providing a great atmosphere for manufacturers, distributors and dealers to greet, meet, and form mutually beneficial relationships that very well could shape profitability in the coming years.

Products: ICAST is the place to see the latest technologies and new products being introduced. Many companies reveal their latest innovations. Some companies make their worldwide debut. Once you have attended, you realize that "If you don't go to ICAST, it's going to be 3-4 months before you see some of the new products coming to market." The breadth of introductions is unlimited as you will be able to see the latest from domestic brands, and experience new product oerings from Australia, Japan and multiple European countries. Attendees get to participate in one of the most popular ICAST events, the New Product Showcase and maybe cast a vote for the best of show in many tackle, gear, apparel and accessories categories. Products are selected and winners named “Best of Show” and “Best of Category”. It’s a great place to walk around and see everything from freshwater and saltwater reels to the latest in marine equipment and fishing accessories. The New Product Showcase embodies the sportfishing industry’s ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit by recognizing the year’s most innovative products culminating in the “Best of Show” honors. Retailers and media can attend the preview reception to get their first look at the entries and begin the voting process for 41 “Best of Category” awards.

Attendees: ICAST is a who’s who of movers and shakers in the fishing industry. Media personalities, tournament anglers, industry spokespeople, retailers, wholesalers, independent tackle shop owners, buyers, Pro-Sta, independent manufacturers’, manufacturers eps, social media creators, tackle builders/designers and Industry Representatives are all gathered in one place. At ICAST, if you can think it, need it or want it, you’ll find somebody there who has it. It is certainly the best place to meet experts to learn about all dierent aspects of the fishing community from legislative policy initiatives, conservation eorts, better business practices, techniques for advertising and using social media, and ideas to increase your product reach to tournament anglers, weekend warriors, women anglers, families, kids, and a lot more.

Doing Business: In the end, ICAST is the hub of the fishing industry- the biggest congregation of businesses, business people and people doing fishing business. It’s a place to get connected, make connection, network, and move your fishing business ahead. As a premier showcase for the latest in gear, tackle, accessories, and apparel it should fill your brain with ideas and take your creativity to new heights. It is just a great place to walk around and see everything and everybodyold friends and new- from the freshwater, saltwater and flyfishing world. There’s even a fishing tournament open to all- all who organize themselves and pay the fee that is.

ICAST is the cornerstone of the sportﬁshing industry, helping to drive recreational ﬁshing product sales year round. Come, learn, enjoy, prosper, and #LiveThePassion

SIEMANTEL/TUTTLE ABA AOY WIN PROPELLED BY FISHLAB

iBass360 has been good friends with Bill Siemantel and the Big Bass Zone/FishLab organizations for several years. Bill and teammate Tim Tuttle were in the Big Bass Zone when they took top honors for the 2024 American Bass Southern California (SoCal) AOY. It was a six-event season where the best 5 of 6 finishes would be scored for AOY. The team fought it out with some of SoCal’s top bass fishing teams on the American Bass trail. They started o the season on Pyramid Lake with a 4th place which included big bass. The second event brought a 2nd place finish. The third event was the charm for the team as a late big cull took them to 1st place finish for the event and the season. Due to work schedules, they had to miss the 4th event of the year. That was their mulligan. After another 4th place finish, they were sitting with a 1st, a 2nd and 24th’s going into event #6.

The final event was a 2-day tournament on two dierent lakes, Castaic and Pyramid. For Team BBZ, however they finished the event, it would have to count. The added day meant more pressure on the team as did the two dierent lakes. What made it even worse was Tim had a conflict, so Bill would have to fish both days solo. Bottom line, it would not be a good time to have a bad day… or two bad days.

Day 1 Bill had a limit, but the scale topped out at 10.89 for only 16th place- 5 pounds behind the leaders. Overnight rains meant Day 2 at Castaic Lake would be post-frontal. What made that worse was winds with gusts to 30 mph+. Fortunately, it was not Bill’s ﬁrst rodeo, and with a few good moves, a fair bit of lake knowledge and a little luck, he came in with just over 14 pounds- 2nd place for the daywhich bumped the BBZ boys to 4th overall. Now they had Top-5 ﬁnishes of a 1st, 2nd, and three 4th places for a total of 540 points gave. When the smoke cleared on the AOY race their margin of victory for the AOY was 1 point! Congrats to the BBZ!

For the past few years Bill has been designing baits for Okuma’s FishLab. Two of the keys to the teams AOY success were Bill’s BBZ designs: the Bio-Blade Spinnerbait and the soft plastic Flutter Nymph. The Bio-Blade comes in either a Colorado style or a Willow style. The Colorado features a wider, rounded blade that generate maximum water displacement creating a strong vibration- an excellent choice for murky or stained water conditions. The Willow style showcases a sleeker, narrower blade that spins rapidly and creates intense flashes of light- perfect for clear water as the increased flash mimics the movements of baitfish, enticing predatory fish to strike. Both are available in 3/8 oz and ½ oz in seven lifelike colors. This spinnerbait is constructed with high-quality wire and blades. Their hand-tied skirts add a lifelike element to the lure’s movement.

The Nature Series

Flutter Nymph is a creature bait with a sleek shape and four paddle-kicking wings. Available in a micro- 2 1/2" size as well as in 3½" and 4 ¼" sizes, they are perfect for flipping and pitching. The Nymph is an impressively lifelike lure that features a slender with an anatomically authentic head that transitions to an aggressively ribbed body and terminating in a subtle forked tail. A series of legs protrude from the body and quiver as the Nymph navigates the water column. In addition to the limbs, a quartet of wings with molded paddle tails kick and wave excitedly with every lift of the rod tip. It comes 6 to a pack in eight proven colors for any type of fishing or water condition, and is designed to be fished on a multitude of 3/0 to 5/0 hook styles.

LIVING ON THE LEDGE

Fishing slows down in the post-spawn summer months. That doesn’t mean stop fishing, but it does mean you need to take a page out of the Book of Aerosmith and live on edge- the edge of the ledge that is. Finding the ledges is the ultimate challenge in locating bass on lakes and reservoirs. It's a tricky task for an angler learning to ledge fish.

Ledge Cont.

When I ﬁrst heard of ledge ﬁshing my mind turned to deep water drops like old creek channels. Little did I know that ledges can be nothing much more than a change in contour of a couple feet.

When it comes to offshore bass ﬁshing, a ledge is any spot where the depth goes from shallow to deep in a short distance. Ledges are commonly found around banks sloping into river channels, creek channels or any situation resulting in a sharp depth. These underwater “valleys” provide bass with a place to hide and get out of the current. A ledge can also be the depth change off a small point or an expansive ﬂat, and it doesn't necessarily drop from shallow water into much deeper water. The depth break might be simply several feet.

Flowing water has a big impact on the productivity of ledge fishing as reading the flow will help an angler understanding how bass position on these depth breaks. Knowing how to read where to place the cast on this structure can make or break your fishing. The bottom of the ledge is often hard, swept clean where the current is strongest. These spots often have gravel or shell beds which can make an area more likely to concentrate forage. Ledge fishing is all about finding these concentrations of fish.

Using your electronics, especially if you have side imaging, will be your most useful tool for this type of fishing. Take the time to study lake contours so you know the specific areas on your body of water. Preparation can really make for a day of exciting fishing when you find a pattern and can repeat. A good mapping system such as Navionics or similar software will allow you to study the Lake's contours prior to your outing. Points and river and creek mouths are good places to start your search. Look for schools inside the valleys, or off the “ledges” of slopes.

A recent trip with Tackle Warehouse pro Jimmy Washam added a few other tricks to my ledge game. Once you locate a school, Jimmy said you can “excite them by catching a few quickly.” He also demonstrated that ripping spoons in a jigging manner can fire-up the bite. “When you see a group of 15-20 fish, you can catch more of them when the fish get fired up and start competing for the bait,” Jimmy said. “Once you catch one or two, it turns on the competition, but you need to act fast because if the catch causes the school to noticeably dwindle, the fish will get smarter and move on.

HOOKED ON HISTORY

WITH ERIC EVANS

CLASSIC CORNER: 2009 WAS A SKEET SHOOT

It was 15 years ago when the Bassmaster Classic turned into a Gold Rush for California angler Skeet Reese. Reese was born in Mississippi but grew up in Auburn, California where he started fishing for big bass Clear Lake- to this day still his favorite place to fish. Skeet says he caught his first bass there at eight years old, igniting his life’s passion. At 14, he began competing in local tournaments, learning how to fin fish and select the right presentation to entice st He owned a boat by 17 and began solidifying his pla to become a professional tournament angler. He turned pro in 1997 and started competing in tournaments all over the country. It was not long before he became known in the B.A.S.S. circuits for bringing big bags to the scale.

Like many anglers, Skeet’s fishing development was heavily influenced by his father, who took Skeet fi during his childhood and encouraged his development as a pro. Once he turned pro, it was anglers like R Clunn who really helped him develop the focus neede to become a winner and leading to a career that has date, produced over $4M in career earnings to make Top-5 all time.

Skeet’s career includes 83 Top-10 finishes includin wins- the most recent being on Lake Okeechobee in February 2021. Among those 11 wins is the most significant, the 2009 Bassmaster Classic. He also hoisted the Elite Angler of the Year trophy in 2007 These accomplishments make him one of the most accomplished bass anglers in the country. What’s le Skeet? He would really like to win the Bassmaster Classic at least one more time- an event for which has qualified 19 times. He also would like to win a Angler of the Year trophy.

Skeet is quick to note that being a pro does have its drawbacks. He says the longer he fishes, the harder it is being away from family. The bass fishing season is year-round if you add shows and work with sponsors, and it takes him across the country. Being based in California, that kind of travel wears on Skeet, but he can’t imagine doing anything other than professional bass fishing.

Skeet uses many fishing techniques, and his favorites remain relevant to today’s bass fisherman He works hard at versatility and considers it to be a strong point. Two of his favorite techniques are flipping and pitching. These are challenging for presenting lures to bass hiding in structures and hard-to-reach areas. He also views them as two distinct ways to fish. In Pitching, you hold the lure with one hand and use an upper-hand motion with the rod to pitch the lure. This is handy for getting the lure under docks and around stumps. In flipping you actually grab the line, pull out a given amount, and use an under-hand motion to toss the lure.

Winning the Classic for Skeet was even sweeter due to how close he had come in prior years. In 2007, Skeet lost the Classic at Lay Lake to Boyd Duckett by 6 ounces, but it finally was his year in 2009 on the Red River in Shreveport, LA. With that win,

he became only the 11th BASS angler up to that time

Traveling Angler

JAY ANGEL'S DESTINATION:

BIG GREEN LAKE,

It's not the Land of 10,000 Lakes, but it is right next door, and the fishing is just as good. So when professional guide and good friend Mike Norris invited me to come up for some fishing in June, I jumped at the chance. June through September is prime time on Wisconsin lakes and the camping is great too.

I stopped my old stomping grounds of central Illinois to do the obligatory friends and family visits, then pushed the rest of the way to Wisconsin. The lake was crystal clear, quite the change from the mysteriously murky waters of Louisiana.

At 6 AM it was time to fish. After a short trip across the lake, we stopped in a bay that had a sand bottom with scattered rocks. Mike pointed out that in lakes like Big Green crayfish can be found in 2 -12 feet of water along rocky bays and shorelines. These were the delicacies the fish would be chasing. It was time to get to work, and he handed me a 7’ ML Grandt Cuda spinning rod.

The Cuda rod had a 1/10-ounce Z-Man Shroomz Ned jig tied on with a 2.75-inch Z-Man TRD- one of the best, most often imitated Ned stick baits and still handsdown a favorite among tournament pros and weekend warriors. Z-man uses a floating, ElaZtech® material with 10X the durability of commonly used formulas. Mike commented that in the region we were fishing, the Ned Rig had almost magical fish-catching prowess and was one of his favorite techniques for catching smallmouth feeding on crayfish in 8 or less feet of water. For deeper water it is best to switch to a 1/5ounce Shoomz jig to maintain contact with the bottom.

WISCONSIN

The Ned Rig is a versatile lure used to imitate crayfish darting around rocks. The unique design and buoyancy of the Z-Man TRD allow the worm to stand up and mimic a crayfish in a defensive posture when paused. The Ned Rig can be slowly dragged, hopped, or held in place. To prove his point on its effectiveness Mike caught a fish on his first cast. “You will want to make long casts because these fish are spooky in this clear water,” he said while unhooking and releasing the smallmouth.

I made another cast, causing this one to fly a lot further. I left the bale open so the Ned rig would fall straight down in a more natural manner. I began shaking the rod after my lure hit the bottom. I felt a hit almost immediately and attempted to set the hook missing the first hit of the day. “Leave your bait there and work it some more because they usually come back.” I took Norris’s advice and was hooked up a few seconds later.

We thoroughly worked the area using the Ned rigs, catching several other smallmouths as Mike maneuvered the boat around the bay. “Would you like to go looking for largemouth bass now?” he asked. “Of course!” I replied.

By this time, the sun was high, and we were in the heat of the day. Mike commented that the largemouth would be hiding under docks and in the shadows near shore. He handed me a rod rigged with a wacky-rigged Yamamoto Senko. Mike and I have been fishing together for over 20 years, so when he handed me a rod with the wacky rig we both just grinned knowing that Mike was the man who introduced me to wacky rigged Senkos over two decades ago.

We cast under the docks a bit and then he moved in closer to shore. I made a mighty cast with the Senko toward a shadow close to the shore. As soon as that wacky worm hit the water, I felt the line twitch. Furiously, I reeled up the slack to set the hook. As I felt the line tighten, I set the hook and felt the weight of the fish. “This is a biggun, Mike!” I exclaimed.

“Well then, get that fish in here so we can take pictures!” he replied.

I had a lot of line out due to the length of the cast, so when I hooked it, it took me a while to fight it back to the boat. It was all worth it when I saw the big largemouth in the clear water. I pulled the bass out of the water, and we took a few photos and then we released it back into the water.

We caught a lot of bass that day. We rounded it out by casting docks and catching several more bass and a few northern pike. A perfect day in the upper Midwest.

Body of water: Big Green Lake, Wisconsin- a 7,346-acre lake located in Green Lake County. It is the deepest natural inland lake in Wisconsin- max 236 feet- and it is known for its crystal-clear waters and excellent fishing opportunities incl. lake trout, brown trout, walleye, northern pike, smallmouth and largemouth bass. It has several public boat launches and fishing piers, as well as several marinas and boat rental facilities. It is popular for boating, water skiing, and other water sports, and has several camp grounds, resorts, and restaurants on or near its shores. Other recreational opportunities include hiking, biking, and golfing, and it is within easy driving distance of Wisconsin Dells and the Horicon Marsh State Wildlife Area.

Kayak Corner

ZACH'S TOURNEY CHECKLIST

So, you have a kayak, and some skills catching fish. Now you’re thinking you want to see how you stack up against other anglers. Time for a tournament! Kayak tournaments are not like the standard “weigh 5- alive” and see where it shakes out after 6-8 hours derbies boaters are used to. It takes a lot more discipline and planning. Remember, you are not going to layout 8-9 set-ups on the deck and think you are ready to go. It requires a lot more thought on how you are going to fish, how the wind plays into that, what supporting products you will have to have onboard or installed and so on. If you are taking it all on for the first time, it can be hard to figure out what is a necessity, and what you should leave behind. Here are some helpful tips I wish I had known when I started kayak bass tournament fishing.

•The Necessities:

• Check your local rules and regulations

First, know the state fishing rules and any unique to the body of water hosting the tournament. Local kayak clubs, and the larger national organizations often have varying sets of rules. Some dictate a specific type of measuring board, and record keeping app to use. There will be specific rules regarding pre-fishing, start and stop times, allowable ramp locations, and fishing boundaries. Each organization has a unique set of waivers you may need to sign. Rarely are two events the same, so it’s important to know what the event-specific requirements are.

• Life Jacket

Every kayak fishing club requires life jackets, or PFDs. There are a lot of different styles, and most organizations provide some flexibility allowing you to pick the one that suits you best. Old Town has many options on their website to suit different styles, comfort and fit needs. Trust me on this, It needs to be comfortable- you’re going to be wearing it through the entire tournament day.

• Emergency Whistle

These are cheap, and a great safety feature, so attach one to your person, or lifejacket.

• 360 Light and Flag

This isn’t always a requirement but most of the time it is. The rule usually states that you must have a 360degree light mounted on a pole at least 12” tall. A lot of clubs also require a high-vis flag on the same pole This is so other boaters can see you! When you fish big water you will want to make yourself as visible as possible to the “high flying” bass boats, jet skis and large recreational cruisers- especially when you are fishing offshore structure or fish keying in on large schools of bait.

• Measuring Board

You’ll need to check the rules for this one, but most clubs will accept the Ketch Board check out ketch.com, or your local Old Town retailer can get you pointed in the right direction. Locally, I use Mariner Sails in Dallas. They have a website marinersails.com, as well. Any of the guys over there will be more than happy to give you the information.

• Cell Phone with a Good Camera

This is important! The way you score your fish will likely be done through an app like IAngler, or TourneyX. These apps can be found in your app store. You’ll need to take good pictures of your fish as part of the justification of your score. Therefore I highly recommend using a camera capable of taking a wide angle shot. Remember your body position and the limited space on your kayak. Under these circumstances- even on a calm day- taking good photos of a floppy fish can be tricky. Get some practice taking photos BEFORE tournament day! Then RE- READ THE LOCAL RULES! There are always important notes regarding how the photos must be taken, and REALLY knowing this could be the difference in getting a win, or being disqualified. Remember to turn your location settings on- it will probably be required- and make sure it applies to your photo settings as well. You don’t want the picture to say Logan Martin if the tournament is on Neely Henry.

• Knife

While not an immediate requirement, It’s a safety thing for me. There are a lot of things in the water that can be hazardous. If you get hung up a good sharp knife will be your best friend. Besides, in the NCIS-world it is Gibbs Rule #9- Always carry a knife!

• Think Safety!

Your own personal awareness of •your surroundings is of the •utmost importance.

• Some Other Things That Really Help:

• Headlamp

Some tournaments allow night fishing if the local regulations also allow it. Some also may allow early starts. You may also just want to get set up and ready to launch before the sun rises. Early is often synonymous with dark. It’s nice to shed a little light on everything. It even makes walking around easier. I’ve found that a head lamp works best.

• Bring WATER!

it’s summer, it gets hot out there. Even when it is cool you need to stay hydrated- seriously you really need to stay hydrated! Bring a lot of water and think about bringing high calorie energy snacks too. I have forgotten to eat. You definitely don’t want to get lightheaded on the water!

• Proper Clothing

Check the weather!!! Is it going to rain? Snow? Will it be windy? How cold or hot? It’s always good to carry a raincoat in a dry place.

• Dry Storage

Speaking of dry places, get yourself a waterproof box to keep your phone, keys, and anything else that you don’t want to get wet.

• Tackle

Finally, choosing the right tackle is really another whole article, but I will note that it’s very important not to take too much stuffjust the right stuff- and therein lies the key.

REEL RECIPES

GRILLED FISH & FIREWORKS

Summer means outdoor meals, fresh ingredients all brightened with some fireworks. A good spicy, bright fish dish with fresh summer corn might be just what you need. For fish, think Mahi, Cobia, Redfish, Striper or Halibut. For your spices, the portions are to my tastes, so feel free to increase or decrease the “fireworks” to suit the tastes of your family and friends.

Here are the Ingredients:

For the fish:

2 teaspoons garlic powder

2 teaspoons onion powder

2 teaspoons paprika

1 teaspoon dried thyme

2 teaspoons ground cumin

2 teaspoons chili powder

1 teaspoon ground oregano

¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)

1 teaspoon coarse salt

4 fillets

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

For the Street Corn Style Salsa:

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1½ cups corn kernels, fresh

½ red onion, diced

1 jalapeno, diced (de-seeded if you don’t like it spicy)

½ teaspoon chili powder

½ teaspoon salt

Zest and juice of ½ lime

2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped

Optional: 2 ounces sharp cheddar, grated (about ½ cup)

for the Directions:

Make “Blackened” spice mixture by combining the garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, thyme, cumin, chili powder, ground oregano, cayenne pepper and salt in small bowl.

Pat the fish fillets dry with paper towels. Season evenly on both sides with the spice mix.

Heat your sauté pan/ iron skillet on medium heat.

Add 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil. When oil shimmers gently lay the fish fillets in the pan.

Cook for 3 to 4 minutes per side. Set aside and cover with foil.

Add 1 tablespoon vegetable oil to the same pan/skillet used to cook the fish and turn the heat to high. Add the corn and sauté until the corn starts to blister, about 5 minutes.

Lower the heat to medium and add onion and jalapeno. Sauté for 3 to 4 minutes, until onions get translucent, and vegetables are aromatic.

Turn off the heat and add the chili powder, salt, lime zest and juice. Stir, taste, and adjust seasoning as desired.

Optional: Add chopped cilantro and the sharp cheddar cheese. Top fish with corn salsa and enjoy!

Optional: Serve in hard corn taco shells

LET'S SHOP LOCAL

Keepin it Reel Bait

Authored by: Joe Diano

& Tackle

When Fishing the Hudson Valley, You Must be Keepin it Reel! Joe Diano is one of iBass360’s charter members. He’s a multispecies angler who not only fishes for Largemouth and Smallmouth, but also fishes the Hudson and Long Island Sound for stripers, fly fishes the Salmon River and ice fishes in the Adirondacks.

An angler with such diverse passions needs a tackle shop that meets all those needs and that’s where Chris Oliver of Keepin’ It Reel Sportfishing, and Keepin’ It Reel Bait and Tackle comes into the play- Joe’s favorite tackle shop.

Keepin’ it Reel is in the heart of the Hudson Valley within easy driving distance of the Hudson River fisheries, Candlewood Lake, and the bass and trout waters of the Catskills and Upper Delaware River. Chris also serves anglers heading to the waters of Long Island Sound, the Adirondacks, and the Finger Lakes Region.

The bait shop was created to bring a tackle shop to all types of Hudson Valley anglers. The guide service specializes in striped bass fishing both during the spring river run up the Hudson and in the saltwater. Likewise, the bait shop provides Hudson Valley area fishermen with a specialized shop for Striper fishing of all types including offshore and ocean gear.

They also stock a full selection of fresh and frozen baits- blood worms, eels, live and frozen herring and frozen clams.

The Poughkeepsie bait & tackle shop has expanded to a wide variety of terminal tackle, accessories and live bait. It has been the fulfillment of Chris’ life-long dream to provide tools, clothing, rods & reels, line, lures and guide services to the Hudson Valley he has always called home.

Keepin’ It Reel Bait & Tackle is located at 58 Noxon Rd, Poughkeepsie NY.

The shop boasts a knowledgeable staff who enjoy the outdoors and fish often in the Hudson River, Wappingers Creek, Sprout Creek, Sylvan Lake, Morgan Lake, Browns Pond, and many other local ponds and lakes! Best of all they love sharing their local knowledge.

They stock tackle items from brands such as Eagle Claw, Fin Strike, Gamakatsu, Rapala, Daiwa, Penn, Lew’s, Berkley, Z-man, and many others.

You can reach Chris and the KIR team at (845) 214-0021.

NOT GETTING HOOKED? YOU NEED THE RIGHT TOOLS FOR THE JOB

Authored by: Joe Pelligrini of the Long Island Beach Buggy Association

Why should surf fishing be any different? Your tackle and equipment play a major role in achieving the objective- catching AND, if you are so inclined or required, releasing- fish. It’s important to have the right tools for the job at hand. Having the right tool for the various situations common in fishing is just as important in your fishing as matching the hatch.

Let’s dive deeper and heed the advice of guys known for having the right tools. Indiana Jones was heard to say, “Don’t bring a knife to a gunfight”. Meaning? Have the right type of gear for your situation. However, it’s not always about the type of tool. Sometimes size matters.

For example, Crocodile Dundee certainly knows which size knife to use for a given situation. You need a variety of rod/reel combos and a variety of tackle options. If you are fishing a jetty or beachfront on the ocean, don’t bring your snapper rod or back bay set up.

Undersized equipment could result in a longer, more exhausting/stressful and, unfortunately, often unsuccessful fight with the fish. Not only could that bring disappointment, but longer fights, especially in warmer water, make the fish more vulnerable in its mortality.

When it comes to tackle, never underestimate the importance of having the right hook. If its fish mortality that concerns you, it’s a good idea to use barbless hooks or crush or file down the barb. This will result in a quicker, more efficient release. They also cause less damage to the fish's mouth, and less bleeding if the fish is foul hooked. Depending on your state, if you’re fishing with bait, you may be required to use circle hooks. This practice reduces the potential for deep hooking and foul hooking.

If you're using crankbaits, think about changing the hook set up. Replacing the treble hooks with single hooks allows for a quicker, and much safer release. You can even reduce the number of treble hooks on the lure. That middle hook is more likely to end up in your hand or leg rather than the fish’s mouth.

So, you fight the fish almost to the beach. You’ve waded in for the fight. What do you do now? You don’t want to handle the fish too much. Dragging it to the beach or grabbing it in your hands will remove the “slime coat”- the protective coating containing antibodies and enzymes that protect the fish from parasites and bacteria.

Removing the coat can leave the fish susceptible to disease. If you must handle the fish, it's best to do it with two wet hands. A dry hand contacting the fish will remove more slime coat than a wet hand.

Having the right tools can minimize the risk of doing damage to the fish and to you. First, have your pliers or hook removal device ready. I wish I had a dollar for every time I saw a fish get dragged to the beach and left there while the angler walks back to his truck to get pliers. Make sure you have a pair of pliers with a line cutter or have something to cut the line close at hand. If the hook is stuck deep inside the fish, cut the leader as close to the hook as possible and leave it in the fish. It’s not ideal, but the stress and injury to the fish trying to remove the hook jeopardizes the mortality substantially.

RIGHT TOOLS CONT.

It is best not to remove the fish from the water. That is not easy to do sometimes and of course anglers want pictures. Consider having a fish grip to minimize fish handling during the photos and release.

The Eastaboga Tackle Boga Grip is pretty much the class of the field. Consider the weight of the fish you are catching as well as the way the grip fastens to the mouth. They are not the answer to every releasing problem and, like with any procedure, care must be taken to keep fish stress to a minimum. Try to keep the fish vertical, and support the weight of the fish with your free hand if you move the fish from a vertical position. The Boga Grip is super tough, and it is known to provide very accurate weights. It is easy to use.

The grip certainly solves the problem of very sharp teeth, and plastic grips are better for the fish's teeth. Just remember that lifting the fish with lip grippers can alter the alignment of the vertebrae and possibly damage internal organs so care must be taken to release the fish quickly, supporting it as much as possible until that is achieved.

The right rig for the fight, the right hook to minimize damage, and the proper release tools make for both a better fishing experience, and better fish care when releasing fish. As with anything else in life, having the right tools for the job makes a big difference.

Tight Lines and Live the Passion!

Always Something New on St. Clair!

If you use the same lures at the same spots to catch the same fish it's still fun, but what really makes fishing fun and challenging is trying new methods and different baits to entice the bite. Guys like good friend and iBass360 guide Ryan Said do it day after day during the season and they will tell you, St Clair smallmouth are smart. You need to give them a new look, and mix it up to increase the catch rate. Ryan and I just concluded a 3-day fishfest with good results on Lake St. Clair.

In terms of numbers of fish caught, these were my best days on the lake in 11 years of fishing it. Ryan, who books with Marcels Guide Service, always has a well thought out game plan and this trip's plan was heavy on shallow water fishing- mostly 4-9 ft. of water, with a few deeper staging areas mixed in for backup.

Less experienced anglers believe St. Clair is all about drifting up and down the "mile-roads" (yes, as in "8-Mile" of Detroit's Eminem fame) and fishing where you see boats congregated, but that is not the way to really catch'em.

You have to know where the "meeting places" are, the shell beds mixed with rocks and patches of grass, the sandy areas amongst the grass or the rocks- areas where features are different from the "sameness" of the surrounds- are where fish stage.

Being prepared, knowing what to look for and where, is the secret sauce, and as a high school teacher, Ryan lives his life needing to be WELL PREPARED for every situation- new plans for each day. The first day, we introduced the Queen Tackle 1/8 oz black hair jig to the normal drop shot/swim bait/tube mix, and I caught the majority of my day 1 fish using it.

Day 2 was a wild weather day with much more wind and the jig did not work as well so I threw the Strike King Lure Company Tour Grade spinnerbait and caught quite a number of shallow water fish as well as a couple on the drop shot. The wind was blowing very hard and we cut the day short for safety.

Day 3 conditions were still windy but Ryan had just the right location where we could set up drifts semi-protected over some great structure. The spinnerbait was a huge star resulting a lot of good fish- including a couple largemouth. Not wanting to wear out the spot, we moved deeper and picked up a few drop shot fish. I had caught smallies on a spinnerbait on St Clair before, but never in such numbers. The hair jig was something I had heard about but never tried.

As always, many thanks to Ryan for the three F's- the fishing (especially the planning), the friendship and the fun!

#LiveThePassion

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Master Rod Builder Introduces FishNFX Rods

As soon as I picked it up, I knew I was holding something special. The rod was light, responsive, and just felt right in my hands. After taking it on one trip I definitely had to elevate it to my new favorite rod. The journey of this rod from design concept to my hands started almost a decade earlier in the mind of master rod builder Douglas Roberts.

The experience of working with mentor Don Morse combined with building thousands of fishing rods, helped Roberts elevate his craft to elite levels. His custom FishNFX rods are considered highly functional art coveted by many. Unfortunately, time became his enemy. “I had more people wanting to buy rods than I could make,” noted Roberts. To get his rod building expertise and craftsmanship into the hands of more anglers, Roberts had to develop a production line of fishing rods that stayed true to the characteristics he personally had built into the rods. That realization grew into the premium FishNFX Gold Series line of fishing rods now available to anglers everywhere.

Production started in earnest three years ago when Roberts brought investors and business partners together and made the first prototype Gold Series rods. Roberts knew he wanted American Tackle Bushido blanks made from Japanese Toray carbon fiber for this new rod series- the same blanks he uses in his custom rods. They are light, sensitive and ridiculously strong- the perfect foundation for a new rod series.

To compliment the Bushido blanks he chose American Tackle Company’s CCT –Compressed Carbon Technology- reel seats. These reel seats are made from injection molded carbon making them extremely light weight and exceptionally sensitive to even the slightest vibration from the blank to the angler’s hand. They have an attractive smoke polished finish and come in unique contours that make them feel like they were almost molded to fit your hand.

To finish out the components, Roberts would settle for nothing less than the most award-winning rod components in the fishing industry, American Tackle Company’s iconic MicroWave guides. If you’ve never cast a rod with MicroWave guides, you’re missing out.

The funneling effect of the MicroWave stripper guide eliminates line oscillations allowing longer, smoother, tangle free casts.

FishNFX Cont.

The guides are made with 316 stainless steel frames and American Tackle’s top-of-theline Nano Plasma ceramic rings. These rings are diamond polished and plasma coated with PVD Titanium Nitride or Titanium Oxide, the same material that is used to coat drill bits. Nano Plasma rings are impervious to the toughest braided fishing lines and have nearly zero friction. The gold rings add an elegant cosmetic touch to the FishNFX Gold Series.

Selecting the right components is only part of the craft Roberts learned from his mentor. How the components are positioned on the blank is just as important to the performance of the rod. Guide spacing on the Gold Series rods is optimal thanks to Roberts’ years of rod building experience. When you load up the rod, the line flows smoothly from guide to guide with no abrupt changes or flat spots like you see on lesser rods. “The line follows the curvature of the blank allowing you to really utilize the rod’s full potential,” he said.

The initial lineup of Gold Series rods includes four baitcasting and three spinning models. The range of lengths and actions are based on Roberts’ own fishing experience plus the types of rods most requested by his customers. “It is nice knowing the rods in which I have the most confidence are the ones we’re putting out there for anglers,” adds Roberts. The rods in the Gold Series line will meet the needs of most freshwater and inshore saltwater anglers.

Through his years of rod building experience, Roberts knows custom fishing rodswith their fine detail and artistic embellishments- are not for everyone. “Many people just want a nice, simple, highperformance rod with quality components,” muses Roberts. That was the impetus behind the line of FishNFX Gold Series rods. The focus was on functionality in developing rods that outperform almost everything else on the market. That’s not to say Gold Series rods are not beautiful. Quite the contrary, these rods have a simple, understated elegance with their matte black blanks, gold guide rings and black with gold accented guide wraps. With the FishNFX Gold Series rods, Roberts has achieved his objective delivering the finest in quality and performance in a premium custom fishing rod at a considerably more wallet friendly price.

FEATURED GUIDE

BILL LORTZ

NY NORTH COUNTRY BASSIN'

Capt. Bill Lortz has been fishing Oneida Lake and the Eastern Lake Ontario/St Lawrence/ 1000 Islands region for over 20 years. He is also a tournament angler locally, regionally and even has competed at the national level. He was initiated into guiding by his uncle who ran a successful charter business on Lake Ontario. It was there that Bill experienced first-hand the value of educating fishermen. It is a goal at NY NORTH COUNTRY BASSIN’ to not only catch fish but also really learn to fish. Bill has been part of the iBass360 family of guides for many years. We recently caught up with him to ask him about guiding in upstate New York.

iBass360: Where do you guide and on what species do you focus?

Bill: Due to our harsh winters and seasonal fishing restrictions, I start guiding on Lake Oneida around May 1st and that runs through the middle of June. After that I switch over to the St. Lawrence and Lake Ontario for the remainder of the season. We fish Henderson and Chaumont Bays in the southeast corner of Lake Ontario, and on the St. Lawrence River.

iBass360: What brought you to guiding in that region?

Bill: I grew up in Rochester along the south shore of Lake Ontario. There is good fishing there, but not much else in the way of tourism. I had done a lot of fishing in the 1,000 Islands region and the Finger Lakes and finally I just set up a camper there in the summer and started guiding. It is a much better place than Rochester for guiding due to the variety of outdoor opportunities. I started working for Home Depot in the winter doing home installations and this allowed me the flexibility to guide in the summer and set my own schedule.

iBass360: What kind of fishing knowledge or experience do I need to fish with you?

Bill: No fishing experience is needed at all. We cater to our clients’ experience level. We have a wide variety of places to fish that accommodate different experience levels. For example, I recently took a father and his nine-year-old son fishing. The kid was all about bass fishing but had the attention span of a flea- like most nine-year-olds. I had him throw a dropshot, but I could see he was not letting it get to the bottom. The bait was just dangling about eight feet under the boat. Wouldn’t you know it, a four-pound smallmouth came up and ate it! He got really focused, real fast! Obviously, not all our fish are that cooperative, but upstate NY is a great place to fish for people of all experience levels.

iBass360: What are the best times to fish in your area?

Bill: When clients ask me that question, I usually respond by asking them how they would like to fish. If they really want to fish offshore or learn how to use electronics, then August and September are best for that. If you are more interested in power fishing for shallow fish, then it’s June, early July, and again in late September and October. We don’t really have a down time during the season, it is just a matter of how you want to fish. Due to regulations, we don’t have muc season. Personally, I really like the fall because they feed real well and there’s a good chance to ca

iBass360: What kind of techniques will we be using?

Bill: We usually start the season with lots of swimbait fishing. I keep it simple. There is no reason to go all crazy with lots of different techniques. Our smallmouth are ready and willing, it’s just a matter of getting bait in front of them. Of course, they have a lot of water to roam around, so tracking them down is always challenging, but once you do, they bite. Once we get to the post-spawn and summer, we start to fish deeper with jigs, dropshots, and the Ned rig. The swimbait bite picks up again in the fall.

iBass360: If I have questions or want to book a trip, contact Bill at: Website: nynorthcountrybassin.com Phone: 585-738-7455 Facebook: facebook.com/nynorthcountrybassin