Save big on your tackle expense this spring with the New Umbrella Rig Kits fromDo-it Molds! If you’ve ever wanted to craft your own perfectly tuned umbrella rigs, now’s your chance! The new Umbrella Rig Kit has everything you need to get started – a lead melter, high-quality lead, precision mold, and durable wire forms – so you can pour, customize, and fine-tune your a-rigs exactly how you like them. Whether you’re chasing largemouth down south, or smallmouth up north, this kit lets you create fully custom A-rigs at a fraction of the cost of store-bought versions. Don’t settle for off-the-shelf – build it your way and start landing more fish!
Elite Series DQ’s
B.A.S.S. officials announced recently that Matt Herren had been disqualified from the St. Johns River Elite Series event and fined after it was determined he had violated “Rule C3. 3 PRACTICE AND COMPETITION (ii) a. and j.” concerning the receipt of information to gain a competitive advantage from a non-competitor. Yesterday they also announced that they received a call on the morning of Feb. 26 from Elite Series pro Scott Martin, self-reporting a violation of Rule C3. 3 PRACTICE AND COMPETITION (ii) a. and j., concerning the receipt of information to gain a competitive advantage from a non-competitor. Martin admitted to having a conversation with a local angler about conditions at certain locations on Lake Okeechobee after the no information period was in effect. Due to the infraction, Martin has been disqualified from the 2025 Champion Power Equipment Bassmaster Elite on Lake Okeechobee and has been assessed a fine. For more information visit the Bassmaster website here.
Thoughts From Lawyer
After two MLF BPT events there’s 3 things that really stand out to me.
The scope period is the most dominating period for several anglers.
You still have to practice both traditional and scoping fish to be relevant at the end for the win.
20 anglers are getting cut again this season and that’s definitely on a lot of guys radar.
Knowing that a cold winter and low water temps was still lingering around at our first event in Texas had everyone focused on which period to scope. I chose the first period for the fact that the first day of competition would still have all the fresh fish that really weren’t educated yet. Some guys made other periods work but for the most part, the decision to scope first was a great one because the majority of the field scope the first period and the weights showed.
Trying to say we were in Florida and scope was not necessary to compete was probably a mistake myself/others made. There were still a lot of guys that made the knockout round making great use of their scope and targeting bass. That will become a decision as the year goes on that will probably dictate some outcomes on places like Saginaw Bay and the Potomac River where anglers say that possibly scope won’t be needed, but I bet it will! Finally, the inevitable angler cuts coming based off each anglers career % avg. which is a different way of ranking everyone compared to last year. Fishing to keep your career is a lot different than fishing to win the event when it all comes down to it that has to be affecting some anglers performances but only time will tell! Both B.A.S.S. and Major league fishing are trying different angles with FFS in different circuits. B.A.S.S. with transducer limitations and the BPT has it in use one period per day where the Invitationals have it in use every other day of the event. I got the opportunity to try both styles in both circuits over the last couple weeks in Florida and here’s my thoughts. Just like the domination it has in just a single period at the BPT level, the weights on the days it was in play during the invitational seemed to definitely show out better. Maybe it was from targeting a fish directly or targeting offshore cover to make better casts it definitely showed out in the day end weights from what I could tell! So which is correct? With everyone’s entitled opinion not being wrong and the leagues trying to make the correct adjustments moving forward only time will tell. Although, from an angler that just fished both angles the past two weeks here’s my opinion. The only way to fairly approach practice and the event without being forced to utilize it one period/day is to go “every other event”! Shuffling the cards once again and taking it completely off the table for a single event may be the only way to truly see how dominant FFS is at the highest level of the sport. Now, I love utilizing Garmin Livescope and obviously there’s the rabbit hole of discussions for days on end but to be completely honest and unbiased in my opinion this is just what I’ve observed the last couple weeks competing in both circuits!
Built to mimic the mid-size profile of threadfin shad, small gizzard shad, or baby bluegill, the Damiki Fat Armor Shad features a deeper belly than the original Damiki Armor Shad to accurately mimic larger forage. Designed to dart and glide erratically through the water imitating a fleeing baitfish, the Damiki Fat Armor Shad is loaded with scent for added fish attraction and is poured with a ribbed body for a realistic feel that fish hold onto longer. Perfect for pairing with the Damiki Rig Jig Head, the Fat Armor Shad is a premiere soft plastic minnow bait for live sonar fishing, that’s also proven deadly for saltwater species and many different rigging techniques. Available in a variety of natural and TW-exclusive color patterns, the Damiki Fat Armor Shad brings a bigger profile to your forward-facing sonar presentations to help you bring big weight to the scales on tournament day. Check out the full selection here.
Bassmaster Elites Series professional Bill Lowen’s sponsors include Ark-Rod, Boss Shotshells, Drake, Grosse Savanne, Humminbird, Impulse Lithium, Lakewood Products, Lure Parts Online, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Seaguar, and Zoom just to name a few.
Gamakatsu YouTube
The Gamakatsu YouTube channel is a must-watch for anglers of all levels, offering expert tips, product insights, and tutorials on how to use their high-quality fishing gear effectively. Subscribers get exclusive access to fishing techniques, product demos, and tips from professionals, helping them stay ahead of the game. Whether you’re an experienced angler or a beginner, Gamakatsu’s channel provides valuable content that can improve your fishing experience and skills. Stay connected with the latest innovations and strategies in the fishing world by subscribing today! Check out the channel here.
Fifteen years after purchasing a used 2008 Tundra in his home state of Idaho, Brandon Palaniuk’s journey with Toyota comes full circle with his addition to Toyota’s team of professional anglers. Texas-based Toyota Motor North America is proud to welcome Palaniuk to Team Toyota. Check out more details on Palaniuk’s addition to team Toyota here.
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https://bestontour.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Best-On-Tour-Logo-1920-minified.png8141920Jordan Babcockhttps://bestontour.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Best-On-Tour-Logo-1920-minified-300x127.pngJordan Babcock2025-02-27 12:07:372025-02-27 12:07:37How many species of bass actually live in North America? (Issue 313)
