Dusty – I’ve been there, a couple times. That sucks.

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Jack plates are always worth the money.

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Please expound on this… Manual, Hydraulic? How much set-back? How does one size and select a unit? What would a boat owner expect to see in performance changes? I get the basics, but I haven’t ever seen anyone say “always” worth the money… I own a Ranger, too, and the factory advises they are unnecassary and performance gain is minimal…You are now a Ranger owner and curious your experience and thoughs.

In advance, I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts. Thanks.

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First off this is just my opinion based off of my experiences.

I love a hydraulic plate due to the waters I fish. The biggest advantage to the hydraulic plates is the ability to drop the motor 6″ down in rough water, this allows you to keep your prop under the surface with less cavitation. If I was fishing the Mississippi for most of my tournaments I don’t know if I could say spending the extra $500 – $700 is worth the money. The small advantage of hole shot in shallow water(usually only a couple inch gain) isn’t worth it.

I prefer a 10″ – 15″ set back on boats 19′ or longer and a 6″ – 10″ on boats 17′ – 19′. The best way to know which plate is for your boat is to post the question on websites like BBC that have specific forums for each brand of boat.

I am new to the Ranger family so I can’t speak directly about them, but I have never seen a boat that hasn’t improved both hole shot and top end by adding a plate. I’ve seen hole shots cut in half and speed gains as much as 10mph.

I run a 10″ CMC hydraulic plate currently and love it.

Jim

A jack plate should give you more speed and being able to drive the boat trimmed up will give you more speed also.

Jim

I would say you need to go up. Jack plates are always worth the money. You shouldn’t need a bigger prop. What rpm’s are you turning now?

Bassman – I have never seen a prop change get rid of chine walk. You probably need to raise the motor. Do you have a jack plate and water pressure gauge on the boat?

Jim

Doug – that is correct

That was at the Fridgid Open on Lake Puckaway.

Yep

One more

I love my Xtools scale. They are simple to use and are very accurate. I don’t find the lift bar awkward, it really works nice, I can hold the scale and lift the bar at the same time. The gripper arms wont let go either, the fish just don’t flop off like they did on my other scale with a hook on it.

Jim

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I’ve yet to be outfished by a co-angler

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Slop – You would need to put your Co-anglers near some fish so they have a chance of catching something. If you ever find a bunch of fish, it will happen, it happens to everyone.

Jim

Slop- last I saw, they didn’t have Playboy at Gander either. Nobody said you can’t buy them, but Gander doesn’t need to stick their neck out for bad PR either. There are plenty of other lures on the market to fill their shelves. Thats simple business 101. The lure must not be that good if they need a gimmick like that to sell it.

Barb

Bomber, have you seen them? Its not the name that is offensive, it is the packaging and the picture on the front. Even my 6 year old daughter would know that if she saw it. I sure don’t want her seeing that Daddy has that in his boat.

Barb

from Jim’s other half….

I have to say I am happy to see that. I was disgusted to see some of their trixie series plastics Jim brought home a couple weeks ago. I thought it was some gag at first with the lame packaging with the sexy chick on the front, but I was even more annoyed to hear it was for real and came from Sportsman’s Warehouse. I told him there has to be less offensive lures he could use that work just as well.

Most of you who know me know I am pretty laid back. Conservative, yes, but not some crazy activist. I would have to be laid back to let Jim be gone fishing as much as he is. But if I was offended by it, I’m sure plenty of other normal women were too.

And yes, I probably spend as much in the sporting goods stores as he does. Infact if you go in at Christmas or Fathers Day or any of those other holidays, it is full of women buying gifts and gift certificates. If you want to offend women and keep us from buying you gifts there, we will just go back to giving you ugly dress shirts and ties.

Barb

I agree with BomberA. I don’t think he is a huge fan of BASS / ESPN and how they market the guys they push. He led the tourney wire to wire and didn’t get anywhere near the coverage that Ike got for being an A$$. I think his sponsors or new sponsors will appreciate him acting in a professional manner. I believe in all sports you should act like you’ve been there and he did and has been.

Jim

KVD

Jimmy – Great job – You are the man!

I’m in – hope to see everyone

What I heard is that we will still have to pay $15 dues to TBF like we used to pay for BASS Federation dues. $6 goes to insurance just like before. $6 to Divisionals payout and I think $3 to nationals payout.

Here is the way I understand it as it might affect Wisconsin…. There are 2 seperate avenues.

1. Continue with club, zone, state tournaments the same as we do now. The only difference is no 12 man team, no divisionals. The person who wins state goes directly to B.A.S.S. Federation Championship, paid by B.A.S.S. Then 6 people from the Nationals go on to the Bassmaster Classic.

2. The other route is that each club sends their 6 man teams to compete at the State level, larger clubs may send more than one 6 man team depending on the size of their club. This team always competes together as a team. Maybe this could replace our 4-Man Classic that we have now? The top 6 teams from Wisconsin go on to compete at a regional tournament with other states. The top 6 teams at each of 10 regional tournaments goes to a national. The winning team there wins a boat each. No one goes to the Bassmaster Classic from this route. I beleive there will be entry fees at each level of this competition.

Hope my interpretation helps.

Looks like the Divisional tournaments are gone so each state qualifies their state champion and that one person goes to the championship. How will we get any non-boaters to come to our state tournament when the only spot that goes on is 1st place. Its pretty hard to win from the back of the boat.

Good luck Jimmy – Do what you do.

Power Pro on most baitcasters
P-Line Floroclear on spinning and some baitcasters

The only place I want Basshog losing his Grandma’s money is at my poker table.

I was just watching the news and saw they had to pull a guy out of Lake Onalaska today. I wonder what his PSI is?

I can’t wait for this weekend!!!

http://www.bassfan.com

For A Few Dollars More
BASS/Federation Rift Reaches Critical Mass

Friday, November 18, 2005

Editor’s note: This is part 1 of a 2-part story on recent developments concerning the relationship between BASS, the BASS Federation and The Bass Federation, Inc.)

ESPN acquired BASS in 2001, and since that time, the relationship between BASS and the BASS Federation has been on shaky ground. Over the past 3 years in particular, BASS and the Federation have sought to understand one another, but common ground has been difficult to find. Latent tensions may have reached critical mass this morning (Fri., Nov. 18) when BASS VP and GM Don Rucks sent an Open Letter to all Federation members.

In that letter, he revoked the memberships of the six Federation divisional representatives – Robert Cartlidge, Chuck Rolfsmeyer, Gary Bradford, Joe McKinnon, Mike Dunkerly and Charles Mitchell. Cartlidge also serves as president of The Bass Federation, Inc. (TBF, Inc.). In addition, TBF, Inc. VP Roger Fitchett had his BASS membership revoked.

Rucks accused those seven people of threatening “illegal” activity.

In order to properly frame the current conflict, here’s a brief timeline with key events that have shaped the current relationship between BASS and the Federation.

Understanding The Clubs

To help properly grasp the size and scope of the Federation, here are a few facts:

>At about 40,000 members, the BASS Federation is one of the largest groups – if not the largest, definable, single group – of tournament anglers and enthusiasts in the world. Everyone in the business side of bass fishing – including BASS and FLW Outdoors – recognizes the group’s value in the marketplace.

>Federation members do far more than fish tournaments. Their efforts in conservation activism and youth and other activities benefit all bass anglers.

> The Federation is the only definable grassroots/weekend angler component of BASS. As part of BASS, it enables BASS to put this sentence at the end of all its press releases: “BASS is the worldwide authority on bass fishing, sanctioning more than 20,000 events through the BASS Federation annually.”

> The value of the Federation in the bass-fishing marketplace is arguably larger than anyone has realized or quantified.

Key Developments

Prior to the 2003 Bassmaster Classic, tensions between BASS and the Federation were strained. State Federation presidents (who are elected by state members) elected five divisional representatives. The state presidents asked those divisional reps to construct a plan in case BASS and ESPN intentionally or unintentionally forced the Federation to jump ship.

Those divisional reps were referred to as the “Fab 5,” and included present-day reps Cartlidge, Rolfsmeyer, Mitchell, Bradford and Fitchett (no longer a divisional rep but employed by TBF., Inc.).

A few weeks prior to the 2003 Classic, BASS fired Federation president Al Smith, who was seen by many Federation members as the fall guy for what they felt were ill-conceived strategies on the part of BASS.

BASS, at that time, was rumored to be considering a weekend “BFL-style” trail, which the Federation saw as a threat to its weekend events. BASS did eventually launch its ESPN Outdoors Bassmaster Series, but not until 2005.

At the 2003 Classic, BASS and the Federation met under significant tension. Although some things were resolved, the Federations still felt ill at ease. But BASS founder Ray Scott stepped in and did a lot to reassure the Federation. By some accounts, Scott “saved” the Federation.

Two weeks after the 2003 Classic, BASS announced that former Federation director Don Corkran was returning to that post. The move was seen as a positive by the Federation.

Things went fairly smoothly until a letter appeared in the September, 2003 issue of BASS Times, penned by then-BASS GM Dean Kessel. In that letter, Kessel accused the Fab 5 (who at that time had formed the United Bass Federation, which later became TBF, Inc.) of wanting “to assume control of the Federation and take over virtually all of its functions.” The Fab 5 disagreed – arguing they were elected by the state presidents – and tensions flared again.

TBF, Inc. became a stand-alone company meant to act for the Federation as a whole in its dealings with BASS/ESPN and other companies pertinent to the Federation.

Corkran retired from his position in January 2005, and in July, BASS hired Gary Jones as director of Federation and angler relations.

A Little More Background

The Federation is a difficult animal to grasp. At its core, it’s a group of 50 state and international Federations that are stand-alone corporations in the state or country where they do business. The “Federation” is therefore not owned by any one group.

Each Federation has a president, elected by members. Those presidents in turn elect divisional representatives.

Each Federation, and each club within each Federation, is different, with a unique style and personality. Some Federation members remain fiercely loyal to BASS, while others have stated they wish to break that affiliation. Still other members could care less either way – as long as they can fish a few days a year with their friends.

Federation members pay $15 yearly dues, the allocation of which has been printed to be: $6 to fund the Divisionals, $6 to fund liability and AD&D insurance policies, and $3 to fund the BASS Federation National Championship.

Anglers who advance through the Divisionals are invited to fish the National Championship. The highest finisher in each of the six respective divisions at the National Championship are invited to the Bassmaster Classic.

Today’s Developments

Events came to a head this morning when Rucks issued his open letter. The root of the issue can be traced to a dues increase. BASS increased Federation dues from $15 to $20 in October. But the divisional reps said BASS could not institute a dues increase. According to them, BASS may propose a dues increase, but it ultimately has to be approved by the state presidents.

Rucks, in his letter, compared the cost of the increase to a single crankbait. He also accused the divisional reps of threatening “illegal” activity. Here’s why.

The divisional reps suggested to the state presidents that they not support the dues increase, and rather than have members submit dues directly to BASS, asked the state Federations to collect the money and hold it until a meeting in early January. At that meeting, the presidents and divisional reps would decide “a final path forward for the Federation as a whole.”

Rucks felt that action “crossed the line” and stated, again in the open letter: “Presuming they were ‘representing’ the interests of all 50,000 Federation members, these individuals issued a proclamation stating that membership dues for the upcoming year should be withheld from BASS and sent to the state Federations directly. The reps were attempting to take on duties and responsibilities that were never in the scope and spirit of their role.

“It’s important to note the individuals issued this directive independent of the membership, and their actions run counter to the principles on which Ray Scott founded the BASS Federation.

“By instructing State Federation presidents to withhold 2006 club/member dues, which must be received by BASS by Dec. 31, 2005, the seven ‘divisional representatives’ have crossed the line. We are compelled to act, and to act decisively. To do otherwise would be detrimental to the sport of bass fishing.

“Threatening to illegally withhold annual BASS membership dues is a deliberate attempt to jeopardize the business of BASS and operations of the BASS Federation. By authority granted BASS in the BASS Federation Divisional Representatives Group Operating Policies and Procedures, BASS has decided to dismiss the Federation Presidents Advisory members and to terminate this Board indefinitely.”

BASS VP and GM Don Rucks accused BASS Federation divisional representatives of threatening ‘illegal’ activity.

So yes, the current argument is about the $5 dues increase. But yes, it’s about much more. It’s about who has the authority to impose an increase, who controls the money, and who controls the future of the Federation as a whole.

Reps React

The letter from Rucks was issued as the Federation divisional reps stepped off a plane this morning for a meeting in Orlando, Fla. When BassFan spoke with Cartlidge, he had not yet received the letter.

BASS was supposed to attend that meeting, but canceled a few weeks ago. The divisional reps decided to go forth with the meeting anyway.

BASS’s Jones told BassFan: “We had set up a meeting for today, and after the response from the divisional reps to both BASS and the Federation State presidents around the country on Nov. 1, we were so surprised with their deliberate attempt to affect our business and hold the members hostages that we felt it best (to cancel the meeting).

“And actually, some things did come up where managers were out of town – they had some meetings this week and some other things happen within the management ranks up in NY –but it was not that. We decided to cancel the meeting because we had to get this response up to their letter sent out Nov. 1. We saw no reason to go forward with the meeting after their obstructions to the states regarding 2006 dues.”

Cartlidge, after he met with the divisional reps today in Orlando, said BASS cannot revoke his position of divisional rep. That authority, according to him, lies with the state presidents.

“I am still the president of TBF, Inc., and the Central division representative,” he said. “I was elected by the presidents, not appointed by BASS. Until the presidents tell me I’m done, I’m still here. The presidents are the only ones who can remove us. The presidents are the ultimate decision-makers here.”

And Cartlidge noted he spoke with “lots of presidents” today, who expressed they would “support” him.

And on why, specifically, he asked the state presidents to withhold dues from BASS, Cartlidge said: “We have been pushing for over a year now for an accounting from BASS of where the current money’s going, and have been unable to get those questions answered satisfactorily. We would need that before sending more money that’s not being accounted for into BASS. The only thing Gary Jones told us is their costs have gone up.

“The Federation dues, which have been widely publicized in BASS Times and chapter updates, shows exactly where Federation dues are supposed to go. When they increased the dues $3 to fund the National Championship, the presidents voted to do that.”

Cartlidge also said: “If you take $3 times 50,000 (members) that’s $150,000. But the National Championship is still paying out the same $50,000 we were before. The Federation members are paying their own way and always have, so we need to know where the rest of the money’s going if we’re to okay a dues increase.”

Robert Cartlidge, Central division representative and president of The Bass Federation, Inc., asked state Federation presidents to refuse to pay the $5 dues increase.

Jones restated Rucks’ assertion – that the extra money is needed to fund an increase in benefit operating costs. “As the expenses or costs of those benefits increase over time, dues increases are warranted,” Jones said. “And it’s BASS’s prerogative to increase the dues.”

In terms of a paper trail of where the extra $5 in dues would be applied, Jones said: “There are elements of the membership dues that go against all these benefits, including the two or three primary benefits that were in the past communicated as components of the dues. All those components, as well as others, have continued to rise in costs.

“There are obviously costs involved with running the business, including benefits provided to Federation members, which go way beyond what the Federation dues actually cover. But at this point, we do not plan to describe specific components for the dues.”

Notable

> The timing of the dues increase was also a major issue. Cartlidge noted that “many State Federations have constitutions and bylaws that can’t be changed with a sweep of the hand. And when we left to come (to Orlando), the dues paperwork had not yet been mailed to the clubs.”

> Along with a subscription to BASS Times, other Federation benefits described by BASS include: 24/7 AD&D insurance coverage, event liability coverage, conservation programs, Junior World Championship berths, early entries, preferred tournament slots for boaters and non-boaters, six reserved Classic slots, divisional tournament expertise, worldwide coverage on the Internet, the Alliance program, Family Fest, Casting Kids kits and international Federation administration.

> Although BASS uses the figure of 50,000 to describe total Federation membership, both Cartlidge and Jones agreed the number was somewhere in the low-40s.

> The complete text of the Rucks Open letter appears below, followed by the complete text of a letter sent by divisional reps to Jones and the Federation presidents, dated Nov. 1.

– End of part 1 (of 2) –

If set up right and the motor is still strong you should get 63 – 64 mph out of that rig.

I’m in on the China Buffet – does that suprise anyone

Happy Birthday Casey

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAN

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It will bring in more of the non-endemic sponsors to our sport. The NASCAR model was used beacause it works, Pepsi, Coke, Tide, Viagra Snap-On Tools, ect all become potential sponsors.

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You got a deal in the works or what?

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If they want to pay me $100000, I’m on board.