Thanks for the up-date

Interesting, talked to the Director, knew nothing of a fax nor remembering talking to anyone about such a thing. Posting information on any site is a “crap-shoot”. If you are wrong,it takes along time to forget, if you are patient rely on the info to be checked thoroughly and post correct info, life goes on. We will elect to go “SLOW”

Robby, I appreciate the input. Tournament have been the scape-goat for a number of different offenses. The main argument that is leveled revolves around mortality!! This small “feature” that appeared, in this prestigious mag. is great fodder for the next time an official DOES NOT consider outside influences that have always been prevalent!! Although many times it is not considered relevant!!

I purchased a bunch of these baits at the BASS classic in Pittsburg last Aug. Great bait if you use it like a crankbait. I would not recommend line heavier than 12lb. for this presentation. It is slow working. The company is a father and son deal, really great people!!! they have a pitchin and a casting model. To tell you the truth can not tell the difference other than the colors that are made available. It will catch a weed if it is within 5 feet of it!! NOT very pratical for that scenerio!!! The whole concept is based on a planer-board model attached to a jig head that is skirted with a split-tail or a grub trailer. I am sure it will catch something at some time!!!(bigger fish) the fish like the gold version with more regularity than the siver. It is a sheephead catchin son-of-a-gun Good fishing!!

Everybody has lost sight, again, of the “SPIN”. It is all about the allocated Federal money!! If they do not find a way to use it they lose it!! $500,000,000.00 that’s right 1/2 a billion!!!! They give two hoots about who it effects or who will benefit it is all about POLITICAL abuse. Welcome to the New world of the outdoors!!!! Please let me remind you, this crap will not change since there is appropration money that will be spent!! Enjoy the one way ticket to changes that last a life-time!!

Well, well let the games begin!!! 1st thing 160.00 entry 2nd 20.00 big bass 100% payback 150.00 sticker winner and draw winner 50.00 patch winner 1 in 5 payout!! never ever do we play a game with the STAFF boats they receive a discount that does not allow for pay out. If you want to take shots, take them, with the correct information!! Our sponsors will be amused that their product is worthless!! Rick, interesting use of Team Supreme (chance) think not!! Let the fishermen decide talk is really CHEAP!!!

Very interesting article in the Dec.5 Sports Illustrated!! Sitting here in my easy chair on a Sunday Afternoon decided to catch up on some recreational reading!!! Starting on what would normally be page 70 “Kickin’ Some Bass!” appeared!!! It startled me !!!! I went back to the line-up in the front of the magazine and NOT even a mention??! Curious, A magazine the size of this, you would think there would be P.R., Nope!!! The article is not even listed in the page count. Now for the info. When you read the article a lot of answers start to magically appear!!! This is not so much about Iaconelli, but, the change in course Bass Fishing is currently undertaking!! Amazing! NO need to speculate anymore it is all there for everyone to read. I can not believe this was BURIED!!!!

Jimmy!!, Package is on it’s way!!!! In the end all that matters is fishing and the sport of fishing!! Way too many people (who only know how to enjoy the Outdoors through $4,000.00 2day hunts or $5,000.00 fishing trips to South America) are operating under the assumption Pro Bass Tournaments will end up like NASCAR. They have sniffed to many glue bottles!!! Those same glue bottles they are using trying to keep everything together after their leaderships shows a lack thereof by “AIRING” dirty laundry and without much class “spanks” the leadership of the very fiber (Federation) that enabled BASS to propel its self to the top of Pro Fishing. Pro fishing is a culture. You have to enjoy fishing personally in order to enjoy watching it on TV. What those leaders do not understand is that those who are not completely driven by fishing will not watch it on the tube. They will buy, they have proven, they will not WATCH. Which brings you back to media , ratings, Money, ect. Enter Mr. Jacobs. He is an opportunist!! He was handed a gift!! Customers, Clients, Members (who are extremely loyal) that were just recently sat in the corner. All he wants to do is give them a chance to choose!!! I think the FED. is in an enviable position!! Sit back relax and watch the match. What could be better??!!

Fluker,
WOW!!! Great Post Please comment more often. These forums inside IDA are some of the best in the industry. More to the point, you get a more diverse opinion throughout the fishing culture. In large part to the geography and “types” of fishing personalities.
Ray Scott is the architect, builder, and eventually “watch-dog” of the Pro Bass Fishing Playground. With this being said, This is playing out more as a soap-opera than a business considerations. Hmmm,!! let us look closer,… Media involvement!! Publicity hype, finger pointing, terse words, for that matter hurtful words! To what end?? Promotion!!!! Money is Not the root of all evil, the LOVE of it is!!! In the end Flukers analysis is right on!!! Two BIG BIG pots of Money, FLW and BASS. What quicker way to grow membership and profits get into the other POT.. This whole thing seems way to convenient and orchestrated. I think that many of us really do not KNOW the whole story. Mushroom Mentality; fed crap and keep in the dark. However makes for fantastic reading and conjecture!!!! By the way Jimmy Johnson good Luck at the Fed Championship!!!

Slopbass,
The one real spiney rule that we all have had to contend with is “JACK-POTTERS” is that fair??? See them putting in the water 7:30 pm see them signing up @ 3:30 am!!?? A boat fishing the area they show up at with not ever seeing that boat there for 3 days. Only to realize that they are screwed if the boat moves in on you!! is that fair??!! Probably NOT but is it also cheating?? Happen twice last year!! Really hard NOT to know who my partner and I are fishing out of the front of the boat. Even heard the conversation take place from about 100 yards away!! The best one last year!!! Watched a boat catch a good limit in a short period of time. A very out of the way spot, tough to navigate really tough to fish right!! 5 minutes later 2 boats come from opposite ends of the river to miraculously end up in the exact some spot!!!!! Then comes the merry-go-round show!!!! all are laughing and carrying on, all are “buds”. Is that cheating??!! I believe that is where you somehow have to take a stand!!! Slop, keep fishing your way and you will be much the better!! Remember: Experience is Knowledge; all the rest is just information!!

I am sorry, my opinion is as yours. I agree with fair chase and the spirit of the catch. Remember we live in such a litigious society, that anything technical is the opportunity for contempt against what is right, fair and ethical, let alone moral. This guy went to great lenghts to usurp the spirit of the rules. He had to study very carefully the wording as well as the content/context aspect,making sure he was left an “OUT”. Did he cash a check?? Was he in contention toward a payout?? Did the authorities hit the “hammer” to soon?? He admitted to manipulating the fish catching aspect of the tournament. That flys into your correct assertion as to fair chase and catch!!! What was the end result? (placement or money) Hard work and sacrifice plus committment yields the opportunity to succeed!! It never ceases to amaze me the lenghts to which someone can expend negative energy hoping for positive results!!

I have had the opportunity to talk with many of the touring “Pro’s” about this “situation”. I call it a situation from this standpoint; what he did was technically NOT illegal. All are concerned as to the premeditiation as well as motive.
First off was it money?? Not one of the guys I talked to seemed to think it was money motivated at all. Instead, promotion, consistency and the ability to make a name!! This leads to the POTENTIAL for making the “BIG” money. EGO, the driving force, behind any self gratifiying major “Athlete”.
The largest concern, Planning!!!!! This took lots and lots of time!!! Coordination, This could not be a “loner” job!!! Unforutnatley making a name seems to be the quickest way to the golden sanctum of Bass Fishing. Everyone needs PR! (not this type mind you) but promotion is the NEW driving force behind Professional Bass Fishing.
I have had a chance to view other pertinent info regarding Pro Bass Fishing, the Tournaments and the hubub! as submitted to the other forums. I believe you are watching the beginning of the end!! If things do not change quickly for this industry, it will be lost at all levels not just the “Big Boys”
A parting question. If he did not technically CHEAT, Who is going to pay for the Slander Suit that is sure to now arise from this mess??!! This is just the sign of the times and the potential future of tournament fishing!!!! Tournament fishermen inadvertantly give naysayers enough ammo without much thought regardless of the situation. Change is the HERE and NOW. Let us all be proactive it will not be long and this too might be a thing of the past!

We had already talked about this with our stores. The on-line program is @ http://www.teamsupremetackle.com click at the top of the page on specials and take a look. There will be special pricing for IDA anglers. You will need to call for your discount!!! 800.393.6667

Tennispro, Thanks for stopping to shop. Seems as if it is a family affair!!!! Had a good talk with your Dad, last night, and saw your Mom this morning!! Too bad your dad still travels a lot. He is a great fisherman along with being a good guy!!

Hey, J.C. I told you Bandits are $2.85 and we got hundreds!! Even in those “WACKED” colors 100’s 200’s 300’s

I do not feel sorry for them at all!! I think the “show me the money” theme took affect somewhere around $35k.I really feel Wisc. would have been better served as a State and a great fishery if the venue would have been some place different. Giving rise the the pro’s ability to find fish in a larger area. This reminds me of the old saying “like shooting fish in a barrel” change to “shooting Pro’s in a barrel”

I do not think their whining!! Here is the scenerio, 6,000 acre Lake, 50 pro’s in boats, 250 curiosity seekers in boats, locals looking to check out the pros in boats!! the fish are shallow and will move deep with the pressure of the traffic and the Pro’s fishing. Locals and vacationers fishing the same ares’s the Pro’s do. Even, if they are Pro’s,that is just too much activity. Not just one day but 6 days. The 14″ limit is killing them right now!!! Not one of them can catch a single limit. As of this morning 27 anglers were eating breakfast at 9:00 am laughing about their chances at the local breakfast nook!!!!!

Hey Blue?! Crawford get that Bussbait hung in that Maple tree??? Those were not Black Maple leaves. That spot looks vaguely familiar.

The show that you were referring, to was the Ponce & Porkey show!! Harry DeLeon and Porkey Meyer were the gentleman that created the idea about televising fishing. Some believe this was the first true fishing show to make the airways. Unfortunately both have passed away. Harry in his younger days became a dock-boy at the Life of Riley resort up on Lake Vermillion. Porkey fished all the time. If you ever had the chance to meet Porkey you would have never forgot him!!!! As for pool 10 lots and lots of fish. Most of the good fisherman learn where the big ones go to after spawn and during the summer months. Spring and Fall really make 10 shine!!!

As I said I would probably “out” myself. Thanks for the comments we are trying real hard to find such a sponsor. I will tell Pete and the “Hill” of your comments!! This forum is great for us IDA members.

Survey was taken and 87% of those who responded kept the entry fee at 160.00!! T.S. pays 1 in 5 there has not been a sponsor who will step forward and guarantee $2,000.00 it takes 66 boats to cover 2,000.00 payback. It is math, the sponsors cover the boat difference between 66 and the actual number of participants. There is a SIGNIFICANT difference in payout $ between 110.00 and 160.00

look at the “NEW” post by Crawford $4000.00 Guaranteed. Two days 3 payouts!!!

Hey, just to let everyone know Ed Britton is one of the “BIG CHEESES” at the fed level. He is an advocate of the fisherman, believes everyone should enjoy this resourse and is asking us to use the forum dates and meeting sites as a way to let our voices be heard!!!! refreshing! I will probably blow my cover with this post, however, many of the membership “posters” are falling into the trap laid out by those who wish to see fishing, regulated into oblivion!! At this point in the game Minn. is the state that is drawing the most attention. I believe it is not for what they are doing, but, for what we the fisherman are not doing!! Our voices are no longer good enough. Our presents is not requested, it is now REQUIRED, to make a difference!!!! Talk is cheap!! Action gets it done. The momentum that has taken hold is from CHICKEN SH.. people looking for something to attack. Ed has given us the oportunity to make our presents felt, heard , and to make a difference. I do not think we will get another opportunity like this!!!! I have sat through many meeting where the voices are silent!! Lets us, all make an inpact. The outdoors is one of the last places that we can relax without worry of “BIG BROTHER” lets keep it that way.

Congrats to the Howlands!!! We really enjoy the family. Have not had the opportunity to meet Jason, However Bob and Tom are great gentleman and incredible hooks, I can always count on seeing one of them in the most remote part of the river. Just when you think you have found a “honey-hole” there they are!!! I understand that the Minnesota division will keep there schedule format for the 2005 season!!!

J.C., you certainly know how I feel about this whole …… thing!! The day of going out and finding fish are GONE!!!! The days of packing a lunch, picking out your favorite binoch’s, getting the latest river map, making sure the cell is charged are here to STAY!! Funny thing; those who are guilty are the “OLE-GUARD” who in turn are teaching the really “NEW-GUARD” the ropes!! As for Curts post, Wow!!! never better words to describe alot of feeling that are SHARED by so many!

Champman,

I know if I lived and fished up there I would have to sabbatage the ole champaigne champ. You are like an annuity!!! congrats,are the brown one’s going that good?? cause I know green is definitely not your color!

I think it would be like c-rigging a Heddon “sonar”. Fast,Fast current 15+ft depth, and floating c-rig weight. In all reality I think the author of the article got just alittle confused!! C-rigging and fishing Sammies should have been the quote!

I am disappointed, the human recorder went on the fritz??Must be like in that movie “Johnny 5 had input overload”

Bomber, I can speak to a couple of issues. The first “rule#1,rule changes””These rules shall remain unchanged through the tournament tour, with exception to the tournament of champions”.Rule#4 “anglers may enter the tournaments in either category with no prerequisites”.There are now prerequisites! if you do not bring a non-boater there is not a guarantee you can fish at all!! which then positions Rule #1 against the fisherman. The 350.00 fee for boater and the 200.00 for non-boater creates some pretty hard feelings if you cannot fish!!! Case in point Savanna this week-end (pool 13). They must have consistancy to be viable.

J.C. Who were the locals that the boys were fearful when discussing the classic the other day? Tucker, and P.T. said it might come down to the deep stuff and there were two local professionals that made it that are suppose to be real tough!

Sorry, Bomber!! Champman had a victory with carolina rigged Sammies!? Please do not try this at home. This method is only used under the watchful eye of trained professionals!! The weapon of choice for slop is truely what I posted before!! Go Large or Go Home!!