Tawakoni Yielding Secrets

GARLAND, Texas (Sept. 7, 2010) — Practice on Lake Tawakoni has been going about as expected for the third stop on the PAA Bass Pro Shops Tournament Series presented by Carrot Stix.

“The only thing I have to say is I spent more time on Sunday idling around to not hit stumps than I did fishing,” said Ranger/Mercury pro Jason Christie of Oklahoma. “Fishing for me was tough. I don’t know the lake and never have been there, so I spent more time navigating and eliminating areas than anything else.

“The way the lake looks, I’m scared to jerk on anything. But I don’t think I was on the most productive area of the lake. Later in the day I saw better water … I think I was lost during the first part of the day.”

The tournament begins Thursday, going out of West Tawakoni City Park where the daily launches and first two weigh-ins will be held at 3 p.m. The final weigh-in featuring the Top 30 pros will be held at Bass Pro Shops in Garland beginning at 4:30 p.m., with free seminars from the pros starting at noon along with other pros in attendance to meet the fans.

Early expectations were for a shallow bite and with Tawakoni’s vast, shallow shoreline that looks to be on target. Christie said a lot of bait already is shallow and anglers were making the rounds in coves or hitting shallow cover in practice. A deep bite might be possible.

It may become a situation where the field takes what it gets Thursday morning and builds on that afterward.

“I think guys will catch them shallow and a few could catch some deep,” Christie said. “If we have some fresh water coming in and it continues with these cooler nights, it could get pretty good up shallow. There’s a lot of stuff to fish. But maybe after one day, there may be stuff that doesn’t have fish on it. You can fish three or four areas and not get bites, and then pull into an area and get four or five bites.”

Mike Thompson has lived on Tawakoni for years and fishes local events on the lake. He believes the tournament could be a 15- to 18-pound per day event if things stay as they are now.

“I think it may be a cranking tournament with a little bit of flipping going on,” Thompson said. “What’s been real interesting is the fishing has been very tough throughout August. We have a couple of weekly evening tournaments going on with a lot of good local anglers and it’s been extremely tough.

“These little cool fronts coming in the last two weeks have helped knock the water temperature down 10-12 degrees. It put the fish on the fall pattern, and the fall pattern on Tawakoni is not much different than other lakes. It makes the fish school up. The ones I’ve seen schooling are small, maybe around 3 pounds or so.”

Christie said he found water temperatures in the 74- to 75-degree range Monday. Thunderstorms and rain up to 1.3 inches could be possible Tuesday and Wednesday.

Current forecast models show the storm’s track to be west of the Garland area Wednesday, but still bringing a chance for rain and wind. That could change fishing strategies.

“If we happen to get some wind, this little ol’ lake will get rough,” Christie said. “If we got a 20 mph wind out of the south it could get really rough. On some lakes that may be what you want to get them moving, but as shallow as this one is as it is you’d be looking to fish out of the wind. It’s flat about 30 yards off the banks and would get rough pretty quick.”

Tournament facts: The tournament is the third of four in the 2010 PAA Bass Pro Shops Tournament Series presented by Carrot Stix. The winner will earn a prize package worth $45,000 including cash and a new Phoenix 719 Pro XP boat powered by a Mercury Optimax 225hp engine and outfitted with a T-H Marine Atlas Jackplate. Eligible anglers also may benefit from the Bass Pro Shops Tournament Rewards and Phoenix Boats First Flight bonus payout programs.

Daily launches and the first two days’ weigh-ins will be at West Tawakoni City Park. Saturday’s final weigh-in featuring the top 30 pros will be held at the Bass Pro Shops in Garland. All launches and weigh-ins are free and open to the public. Free seminars will be held at Bass Pro Shops beginning at 12:30 p.m. prior to the Saturday weigh-in.

Free seminars featuring Bradley Hallman, Pete Ponds, Edwin Evers and Jason Quinn will be held at Bass Pro Shops on Wednesday, Sept. 8. The seminars begin at 5:30 p.m. inside the store.

About the PAA – The Professional Anglers Association is a non-profit organization that gives professional anglers a unified voice in order to aid in the growth of the sport of professional bass fishing. The PAA also aims to administer educational programs to the average angler, to increase enjoyment of the sport, and to embrace sound conservation practices to further the future of the sport. Web: www.FishPAA.com

PAA Associate Sponsors: The PAA Tournament Series is sponsored by Bass Pro Shops, E21 Carrot Stix, Lazer Trokar, Markel Insurance, Phoenix Boats, Nitro Boats, T-H Marine, Fishouflage, SolarBat, U.S. Reel, Sign Designs, BoatU.S. Foundation, Mercury Marine and Jasper Engines and Transmissions.

PAA Hosts: The City of Garland, Texas

Tawakoni Practice Going About as Expected

GARLAND, Texas — Practice on Lake Tawakoni has been going about as expected for the third stop on the PAA Bass Pro Shops Tournament Series presented by Carrot Stix.

“The only thing I have to say is I spent more time on Sunday idling around to not hit stumps than I did fishing,” said Ranger/Mercury pro Jason Christie of Oklahoma. “Fishing for me was tough. I don’t know the lake and never have been there, so I spent more time navigating and eliminating areas than anything else.

“The way the lake looks, I’m scared to jerk on anything. But I don’t think I was on the most productive area of the lake. Later in the day I saw better water … I think I was lost during the first part of the day.”

The tournament begins Thursday, going out of West Tawakoni City Park where the daily launches and first two weigh-ins will be held at 3 p.m. The final weigh-in featuring the Top 30 pros will be held at Bass Pro Shops in Garland beginning at 4:30 p.m., with free seminars from the pros starting at noon along with other pros in attendance to meet the fans.

Early expectations were for a shallow bite and with Tawakoni’s vast, shallow shoreline that looks to be on target. Christie said a lot of bait already is shallow and anglers were making the rounds in coves or hitting shallow cover in practice. A deep bite might be possible.

It may become a situation where the field takes what it gets Thursday morning and builds on that afterward.

“I think guys will catch them shallow and a few could catch some deep,” Christie said. “If we have some fresh water coming in and it continues with these cooler nights, it could get pretty good up shallow. There’s a lot of stuff to fish. But maybe after one day, there may be stuff that doesn’t have fish on it. You can fish three or four areas and not get bites, and then pull into an area and get four or five bites.”

Mike Thompson has lived on Tawakoni for years and fishes local events on the lake. He believes the tournament could be a 15- to 18-pound per day event if things stay as they are now.

“I think it may be a cranking tournament with a little bit of flipping going on,” Thompson said. “What’s been real interesting is the fishing has been very tough throughout August. We have a couple of weekly evening tournaments going on with a lot of good local anglers and it’s been extremely tough.

“These little cool fronts coming in the last two weeks have helped knock the water temperature down 10-12 degrees. It put the fish on the fall pattern, and the fall pattern on Tawakoni is not much different than other lakes. It makes the fish school up. The ones I’ve seen schooling are small, maybe around 3 pounds or so.”

Christie said he found water temperatures in the 74- to 75-degree range Monday. Thunderstorms and rain up to 1.3 inches are forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday coming off Tropical Storm Hermine. The storm is building in the Gulf of Mexico, expected to make landfall along the U.S.-Mexico border Monday night and then move north-northeast.

Current forecast models show it to be situated over the Garland area about 10 p.m. Wednesday night. Extensive rain and wind could drastically change fishing strategies.

“If we happen to get some wind, this little ol’ lake will get rough,” Christie said. “If we got a 20 mph wind out of the south it could get really rough. On some lakes that may be what you want to get them moving, but as shallow as this one is as it is you’d be looking to fish out of the wind. It’s flat about 30 yards off the banks and would get rough pretty quick.”

Tournament facts: The tournament is the third of four in the 2010 PAA Bass Pro Shops Tournament Series presented by Carrot Stix. The winner will earn a prize package worth $45,000 including cash and a new Phoenix 719 Pro XP boat powered by a Mercury Optimax 225hp engine and outfitted with a T-H Marine Atlas Jackplate. Eligible anglers also may benefit from the Bass Pro Shops Tournament Rewards and Phoenix Boats First Flight bonus payout programs.

Daily launches and the first two days’ weigh-ins will be at West Tawakoni City Park. Saturday’s final weigh-in featuring the top 30 pros will be held at the Bass Pro Shops in Garland. All launches and weigh-ins are free and open to the public. Free seminars will be held at Bass Pro Shops beginning at 12:30 p.m. prior to the Saturday weigh-in.

Free seminars featuring Bradley Hallman, Pete Ponds, Edwin Evers and Jason Quinn will be held at Bass Pro Shops on Wednesday, Sept. 8. The seminars begin at 5:30 p.m. inside the store.

About the PAA – The Professional Anglers Association is a non-profit organization that gives professional anglers a unified voice in order to aid in the growth of the sport of professional bass fishing. The PAA also aims to administer educational programs to the average angler, to increase enjoyment of the sport, and to embrace sound conservation practices to further the future of the sport. Web: www.FishPAA.com

PAA Associate Sponsors: The PAA Tournament Series is sponsored by Bass Pro Shops, E21 Carrot Stix, Lazer Trokar, Markel Insurance, Phoenix Boats, Nitro Boats, T-H Marine, Fishouflage, SolarBat, U.S. Reel, Sign Designs, BoatU.S. Foundation, Mercury Marine and Jasper Engines and Transmissions.

PAA Hosts: The City of Garland, Texas

Lane Signs With Boomerang Tool Company

PRATTVILLE, Ala. (Sept. 2, 2010) – Veteran angler Russ Lane has signed an endorsement deal with Boomerang Tool Company of Mountain View, Calif., makers of the “BTC” line of high-performance fishing tools.

Lane lives in Prattville, Ala., and has competed for six years on the Bassmaster Elite Series circuit. Lane has qualified for four Bassmaster Classic championships along with winning one Elite Series title to go with nine Top 10 finishes, 50 Top 50 finishes and more than $540,000 in earnings.

During the recent Bassmaster Elite Series post-season tournaments in Alabama and the Professional Anglers Association tournament on Lake Norman near Charlotte, Lane used the BTC 201A model pliers throughout practice and tournament days. The BTC 201A is made of aircraft-grade cast aluminum and features replaceable carbide cutters, a 36-inch Kevlar retractable cable and glass-reinforced nylon handles.

“Boomerang Tool has created a line of tools every serious angler will want to have,” Lane said. “The pliers made of aircraft grade aluminum reduce weight and won’t rust, but there’s no compromise on strength. One great thing is the retractable cord, which means you eliminate the chance of dropping your pliers overboard into the lake. Just like a boomerang, they’ll always come back to you!”

Along with the BTC 201A, other models of pliers from Boomerang Tool Company include the BTC 201C made from stainless steel and BTC 201S made from machined aluminum with replaceable steel jaw ends on the pliers. All BTC pliers have lightweight but rugged glass-reinforced nylon handles, the retractable 36-inch Kevlar cord that is built into the handle, a leather carrying sheath and two-year “ultra warranty” within the United States or Canada.

During his most recent tournaments, Lane strapped the BTC sheath to the deck of his BassCat and knew exactly where his pliers were at all times. Crankbaits played a big role in his summer tournament success.

“When you go to unhook a fish, you don’t want to be searching for pliers that could be hidden behind a bag, under a seat or somewhere else,” Lane said. “Anglers who fish tournaments want to manage their time to be efficient, and recreational anglers want to get back to fishing just as much as tournament anglers. So, you don’t want to be fumbling around for pliers.

“The retractable cord and sheath are super because you can put them somewhere and know specifically where it is. When you’re dealing with treble hooks, especially, time and safety are critical elements. If you have a fish in hand and need your pliers, they’re right there for you.”

The use of aircraft grade aluminum means the rust is held at bay while maintaining strength and durability. Boomerang Tool also manufactures needlenose pliers, line snips, lineman’s pliers, utility knives, and golf and photo accessories.

“All the pliers I’ve used before have gotten wet, rusted and eventually had to be replaced,” Lane said. “The BTC series won’t, so I know they’ll be ready to use every time I need them.”

For more information on Boomerang Tool Company, visit www.BoomerangTool.com

For more information on Russ Lane, visit www.russlanefishing.com

Fish With the Pros on Grand Lake

Four top professional anglers are offering the chance for multiple days of one-on-one instruction on the water in October on Grand Lake in Oklahoma.

PAA pros Terry Butcher, Jason Christie, Sean Hoernke and Matt Reed have teamed up for a special instructional course on the lake. All compete on the PAA Tournament Series, Bassmaster Elite Series and FLW Tour, with years of experience to bank on.

“It’s basically a one-on-one coaching week with four touring professionals,” Hoernke said. “I have been doing this by myself for a while and it has been very rewarding to watch your clients make their first check or win their first event. Most of the time we are always so involved in making ourselves better and it’s really fun to take the experience we have and give it to others in the sport.”

The dates are Oct. 5-8 and the event will be to the first four individuals or two-person groups that register. The anglers will rotate each day with the four pros and spend the day fishing on Grand Lake. Only you or your group will be in the boat with the pro for the day.

The course is designed for all levels of anglers and tournament anglers looking for one-on-one instruction to help make them better and more successful anglers. From beginners to advanced tournament fishermen, each day the anglers will learn how to locate and catch fish on a large body of water along with different techniques and tricks used on the professional tours.

Students seeking improvement or knowledge on specific techniques also can work to develop those, as well. The course is centered around utilizing years of tournament fishing knowledge and delivering it to the student to make them better anglers.

For more information or to register, visit mattreedbasspro.com

“Never Stop Learning”

America’s Premier Bass Fishing Instructional
2-Day Classroom Seminar Program

August 31, 2010:‘The Bass University’ founders Mike ‘Ike’ Iaconelli and Pete Gluszek announced today the formation of their 2010-2011 Two-Day

Elite Classroom Seminar Programs, to begin November 6th & 7th 2010 in

Kissimmee, Florida.

“We chose Kissimmee, Florida in November to kick-off our instructional bass fishing seminar programs for a variety of reasons.” says Gluszek. “Kissimmee, ‘The Heart of Florida’, is the headwaters for the Florida Everglades, including over 100,000 acres of waterways and brimming with wildlife which reflects Florida’s true natural beauty.  What better location to kick off ‘The Bass University’ than in Kissimmee, world-renown for its largemouth bass fishery, as well as one of the country’s premier vacation destinations!”

The 2010-2011 Bass University schedule looks like this:

Kissimmee, Florida
November 6, 2010 – November 7, 2010
Chicago, Illinois
December 4, 2010 – December 5, 2010
Nashville, Tenn.
December 11, 2010 – December 12, 2010
Shreveport, La.
January 8, 2011 – January 9, 2011
Framingham, Mass.
January 15, 2011 – January 16, 2011

According to Iaconelli and Gluszek, the Kissimmee and Shreveport locations allow attending students and their families the unique opportunity to plan bass fishing trips around The Bass University seminars.  This is due to the time of year and southern locations of these two events.  November fishing in Florida and Louisiana fishing in January is exceptional.  Students will have the opportunity to apply their newly acquired techniques and tactics on some of the country’s great bodies of water like; Lake Tohopekaliga (Lake Toho) in Kissimmee and the Red River in Shreveport.

Adhering to the ‘The Bass University’ Motto ‘Never Stop Learning’,

Iaconelli and Gluszek have once again assembled a ‘Who’s Who’ list of the

world’s top professional bass anglers as their instructional staff.  Attending

students can expect to receive the most in-depth informational and

comprehensive seminars available.

“‘The Bass University’ instructors will teach each of their personal areas of expertise, explaining in detail tackle, tactics and techniques that have allowed them to be successful,” says Mike Iaconelli.  
Student registration is now being accepted for ‘The Bass University’, by logging onto www.TheBassUniversity.com <http://www.thebassuniversity.com/> . For group discounts and additional information, please call 1.856.521.0046 or email BassUniversity@gmail.com.

Oppose the Proposed Federal Ban

on Lead in Fishing Tackle – Public Comment Being Accepted

For more information, contact Gordon Robertson, vice president and Government Affairs lead or Alyssa Hausman, ASA Policy Fellow, x244.

The Situation
On August 23, 2010, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was petitioned by the Center for Biological Diversity and four other organizations to ban all lead in fishing tackle under the Toxic Substances Control Act. This includes sinkers, jigs, weighted fly line, and components that contain lead such as brass and ballast in a wide variety of lures, including spinners, stick baits and more.

It is important that industry members send comments now! Let your voice be heard!

On August 27, 2010, the EPA denied the petition for ammunition but maintained the petition to ban lead fishing tackle. Supporters of hunting and the shooting sports have been successful in having ammunition excluded from this ban.

The petition was presented with the aim of reducing bird deaths caused by the ingestion of lead sinkers and jigheads; however, a study conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service found that less than one percent of all waterfowl and other birds such as eagles are killed by lead sinker ingestion.

The reasons for opposing the ban are:

• The data does not support a federal ban on lead sinkers used for fishing. In general, bird populations, including loons and other waterfowl species, are subject to much more substantial threats such as habitat loss through shoreline development. Any lead restrictions need to be based on sound science that supports the appropriate action for a particular water body or species.
  
• Depending on the alternative metal and current prevailing raw material costs, non-lead fishing tackle products can cost from six to 15 times more than lead products. Non-lead products may not be as available and most do not perform as well. Mandatory transitioning to non-lead fishing tackle would require significant changes from both the industry and anglers.
  
• A federal ban of the use of lead in fishing tackle will have a significant negative impact on recreational anglers and fisheries resources, but a negligible impact on waterfowl populations. 
  
• America’s 60 million anglers generate over $45 billion in retail sales with a $125 billion impact on the nation’s economy creating employment for over one million people.

Industry members are encouraged to support voluntary angler education programs for the use of lead sinkers and should urge state and federal fish and wildlife agencies to do the same.

How You Can Help
The EPA has opened the petition for public comments. Please take the following four simple steps to oppose this ban.

1. Officially submit your comments opposing this ban using the EPA’s comment page at www.regulations.gov. Comments are due by September 15. You can copy and paste the template message below into the official comment form.
2. Voice your concerns directly to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson through ASA’sLegislative Action Center . This can be done through ASA’s Legislative Action Center. Your letter to EPA Administrator Jackson will also be copied to your two Senators and House member.
3. In addition, we encourage you to turn the comments below into a letter to FAX to Administrator Jackson on your company letterhead. Please include information about your company. Her FAX number is: (202) 501-1450.
4. Please FAX a copy of the same letter to your Congressional delegation. You can find their FAX numbers by clicking here and entering your zip code.

Comments to Submit to EPA

As a member of the sportfishing industry, I urge the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to dismiss the petition to ban lead in all fishing tackle.

The sweeping petition has many deficiencies including:

• Misinformation on sinker use and loss
• The actual impact to wild bird populations
• The economic impact of higher cost raw materials and that EPA can only regulate the interstate commerce of lead fishing products under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and not the use or manufacture.

As stewards of our nation’s natural resources, the sportfishing industry continues to seek new developments to minimize our environmental impact. In addition, the Sportfishing industry pays some $115 million in federal excise taxes each year for fisheries restoration.

I am concerned that the results sought by the petitioners greatly exaggerate the biological impacts on waterfowl; ignore the significant economic impacts to anglers, the industry and to fisheries management; and underestimate the potential impact of human health hazards when anglers seek to produce their own fishing sinkers.

In short, I find the proposal lacking scientific rigor and common sense, and urge you to reject the petition.

Nation’s Top Bass Pros to Hit Lake Tawakoni

PAA Bass Pro Shops Tournament Series

GARLAND, Texas (Aug. 27, 2010) – Shallow tactics have proven to be critical during the first two stops of the PAA Bass Pro Shops Tournament Series presented by Carrot Stix, so why should the third event of the season on Lake Tawakoni be any different?

Some of the nation’s top bass pros will compete Sept. 9-11, based at West Tawakoni City Park, for more than $250,000 and a first place prize package worth $45,000. Daily launches and the first two days’ weigh-ins will be at the park at 3 p.m. The final weigh-in will be at Bass Pro Shops in Garland at 4:30 p.m. Saturday.

Among the pros scheduled to compete are Zell Rowland, Harold Allen, Justin Rackley and Kelly Jordon of Texas, Edwin Evers and Bradley Hallman of Oklahoma, Pete Ponds and Paul Elias of Mississippi, John Crews and JT Palmore of Virginia, Jason Quinn of South Carolina and many more.

Located northeast of Dallas, the sprawling 37,900-acre Sabine River impoundment may be more well-known for its superb catfishing. But bass fishermen find enough action with largemouth to stay busy. The lake record is 13.33 pounds, and earlier this year a 10.22-pounder was caught during a spring tournament.

“For bass, it’s a shallow-style lake and I think we’re going to see a lot of guys fishing docks, stumps, laydowns, riprap and cover anywhere along the bank,” said Texas A&M pro Justin Rackley, who guides on Lake Fork east of Tawakoni.

“Because of that, it could fish small with everyone looking at a lot of the same things,” he said. “There’s some stain to it, too, which I like. We’ll see a lot of jigs, big worms, crankbaits and spinnerbaits … good power-fishing techniques, and I like that better than anything.”

Numerous coves dotted with docks, shallow backwaters with woody cover and several creeks will provide the PAA Tournament Series field with ample targets. Offshore opportunities will be available, too, although the majority of bass anglers will stay relatively shallow.

“It’s going to be a good tournament and will fish shallow,” said Yamaha pro Zell Rowland of Austin. “It has deeper water, but is mainly a shallow fishery. There are some quality bass in it, a lot of timber and maybe a little vegetation. I haven’t been there in a few years but I really believe we’ll see some good bags.”

Rackley agreed, noting the population of striped bass and catfish offshore that seem to keep largemouth in the shallow areas of the lake.

“It has some depth in the middle, but with all the stripers out there … when the bass spawn they don’t have a lot of cover out there so they stay closer to the bank,” he said. “I believe we’ll see a lot of guys fishing from 1-5 feet.”

Rowland added that getting upriver could be a key if an angler wanted to try that challenge.

“One of the big secrets there is to get upriver, but I don’t know how many or if any of these guys will bring a jet boat,” he said. “I don’t have one, so it won’t be me.”

The tournament also will determine the final 15 berths in the Toyota Texas Bass Classic, set for Oct. 1-3 on Lake Conroe north of Houston. The top 15 in the PAA Tournament Series, Bassmaster Elite Series and FLW Tour points standings will qualify, along with four exempt selections and defending champion Dave Lefebre of Pennsylvania.

Tournament facts: The tournament is the third of four in the 2010 PAA Bass Pro Shops Tournament Series presented by Carrot Stix. The winner will earn a prize package worth $45,000 including cash and a new Phoenix 719 Pro XP boat powered by a Mercury Optimax 225hp engine and outfitted with a T-H Marine Atlas Jackplate. Eligible anglers also may benefit from the Bass Pro Shops Tournament Rewards and Phoenix Boats First Flight bonus payout programs.
Daily launches and the first two days’ weigh-ins will be at West Tawakoni City Park. Saturday’s final weigh-in featuring the top 30 pros will be held at the Bass Pro Shops in Garland. All launches and weigh-ins are free and open to the public. Free seminars will be held at Bass Pro Shops beginning at 12:30 p.m. prior to the Saturday weigh-in.

Free seminars featuring Bradley Hallman, Pete Ponds, Edwin Evers and Jason Quinn will be held at Bass Pro Shops on Sept. 8. The seminars begin at 5:30 p.m.

About the PAA – The Professional Anglers Association is a non-profit organization that gives professional anglers a unified voice in order to aid in the growth of the sport of professional bass fishing. The PAA also aims to administer educational programs to the average angler, to increase enjoyment of the sport, and to embrace sound conservation practices to further the future of the sport. Web: www.FishPAA.com

PAA Associate Sponsors: The PAA Tournament Series is sponsored by Bass Pro Shops, E21 Carrot Stix, Lazer Trokar, Markel Insurance, Phoenix Boats, Nitro Boats, T-H Marine, Fishouflage, SolarBat, U.S. Reel, Sign Designs, BoatU.S. Foundation, Mercury Marine and Jasper Engines and Transmissions.

PAA Hosts: The City of Garland, Texas

3rd Annual North Texas Big Bass Classic

Oakley, Bass Pro Shops and Tracker Marine host open big bass tournament on the “Urban Bass Fishing Capitol of Texas” on September 25-26, 2010.

Based at Lake Park, the 3rd Annual North Texas Big Bass Classic comes to Lake Lewisville on September 25-26, 2010; offering amateur bass anglers the chance to compete for thousands in cash and prizes. The angler with the largest overall big bass of the tournament will take home a 2011 Nitro Z7 valued over $25,000.

The North Texas Big Bass Classic will be open to amateur anglers only. Anglers will compete for thousands in hourly cash payouts throughout the two day event. There will be seven hourly weigh-ins each day with the overall largest fish of the event earning the winner a fully rigged 2011 Nitro Z7 powered by Mercury. The first 100 anglers to pre-register for this event will receive a custom Oakley 7′ MH Carolina Rod valued at $150. Anglers may pre-register for this event online at www.oakleybigbass.com <http://www.oakleybigbass.com/> Anglers may also register by phone, fax or mail. Additionally, mandatory event registration will be held at Bass Pro Shops in Grapevine, Texas on Friday September 24th from 11am-8pm. Anglers may pick up registration forms at Bass Pro Shops. Anglers must check in at Bass Pro Shops on Friday to pick up tournament packet.

Oakley’s Rolling O Lab http://www.oakley.com/community/olab <http://www.oakley.com/community/olab> will be onsite at Bass Pro Shops in Grapevine, Texas for Friday’s registration. There will be complimentary food and drink on Friday along with prize raffles and contests. Saturday and Sunday’s weigh-ins will take place at the Toyota Main Stage at Lake Park. The public is welcome at the live weigh-ins from 8am-3pm on Saturday and Sunday and after the weigh-ins there will be angler and attendee hospitality activities from 3-5pm each day. Lake Lewisville information can be found here. http://www.visitlewisville.com/where-to-play/lake-and-outdoors/fishing/ <http://www.visitlewisville.com/where-to-play/lake-and-outdoors/fishing/>

“We are thrilled to be back in Dallas for another year,” says Keith Odom with the Oakley Big Bass Tour. “Our partnerships with Oakley, Bass Pro Shops and Tracker Marine have allowed us to create one of the premier tournament experiences that exist at the amateur level. We welcome all anglers and look forward to a great event weekend on Lake Lewisville.”

Sponsors of the North Texas Big Bass Classic include: Oakley, Bass Pro Shops, Tracker Marine, Mercury, MotorGuide, Lock-n-Haul, Quantum, Toyota, Lake Fork Trophy Lures, and Power-Pole.

Oakley is a worldwide leader in performance optics including premium sunglasses, goggles and prescription eyewear. Headquartered in Southern California, the company’s optics brand portfolio includes Fox Racing, Mosley Tribes, Oliver Peoples and Paul Smith Spectacles. In addition to its worldwide wholesale business, Oakley operates retail locations including Oakley Stores and The Optical Shop of Aspen. The company also offers a wide selection of Oakley-branded technical and active apparel, footwear, watches and accessories. Additional information is available at www.oakley.com <http://www.oakley.com/> .

SEBILE Fishing Wins Four Awards

at 2010 Australian Fishing Tackle Trade Show

2010 has been successful for SEBILE with a total of eight industry awards won at major trade shows in Australia, the United States and Europe

Gold Coast, Australia, August 17, 2010 — SEBILE has won an unprecedented four awards at AFTA, the Australian Fishing and Tackle Association’s trade show held from August 14-16, 2010 on Australia’s Gold Coast, including Best Hard Lure for its Koolie Minnow BRL Big Round Lip, Best Soft Lure for its Magic Swimmer Soft, Best Terminal Tackle for the SEBILE Soft Weight System, and Best Medium Stand for its booth with casting length lure demonstration tank. No company or brand has ever won four awards at this show before.

The three winning tackle products are:

Koolie Minnow BRL Big Round Lip. A hard plastic, long-bodied lure. The favorite of almost every angler who has ever tried one, the BRL rolls side to side, generating a zigzag action that’s terribly exciting to predators and draws fish from great depths and distances. Available in three sizes and in regular, Full Wire Reinforced and ultra-strong Salt & Sun strengths for all medium to large fish. The BRL is one incredible lure you won’t find anywhere else, and it catches fish when nothing else does.
Magic Swimmer Soft. A durable jointed soft lure that swims as good as a real baitfish, plus it can be rigged weedless and snagless to go where ordinary lures can’t. It comes pre-rigged with the SEBILE Soft Weight System or may be used with a variety of popular hooks, jigs and rigs. Comes in four sizes to appeal to most predators in fresh or saltwater.
Soft Weight System. Tungsten gum rubber weights that are environmentally-friendly and may be re-used multiple times. Weights hold in place where positioned on SEBILE’s custom-made hook. Easy on/off allows on-the-water adjustments to fishing conditions. Change position to give a lure different falling and swimming actions. Hooks are ultra-sharp, ultra-strong and made to the highest precision hook standards with durable, corrosion-resistant finish for fresh or saltwater.
Speaking from the Australian Fishing Tackle Trade Show floor upon accepting the four awards, company founder, CEO, lure designer and legendary angler Patrick Sebile said, “Ever since I was a little boy, I have always dreamed of having my own lure company. Yet never have I imagined winning so many awards or being so popular with the media, retailers and shopkeepers who voted for SEBILE in Australia and the outdoor writers, editors, wholesale buyers and retailers who voted for us at EFTTEX and ICAST. To each of you, I dearly thank you for helping make the success and reality of SEBILE surpass even my wildest dreams. And I really want to thank Claire and Damon Olsen as well as every one at Nomad Sportfishing, my distributor in Australia, for the wonderful support they bring to me to make the SEBILE brand introduction in Australia such a success. Thank you so much!”

SEBILE has won awards at all three of the world’s major international tackle trade shows in 2010.

In June 2010, Sebile became the first brand on record to win three awards at EFTTEX, the European Fishing Tackle Trade Exhibition in Valencia, Spain with Best Hard Lure for its D&S Crank, Best Metal Lure for its Pro-Shad Spinnerbait and Best Terminal Tackle for the SEBILE Soft Weight System.

In July 2010 at ICAST, the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades in Las Vegas, Nevada, SEBILE won the Best Terminal Tackle award for the SEBILE Soft Weight System.

Including the eight awards in 2010, SEBILE has a grand total of eleven industry awards within the past three years.

At ICAST in 2009 in Orlando, Florida, SEBILE became the first company in ICAST’s 41 year history to win both hard and soft lure categories, including Best Soft Lure for its Magic Swimmer Soft and Best Hard Lure for its Spin Shad.

At EFTTEX in 2008 in Rome Italy, SEBILE won Best Hard Lure for its Stick Shad Blood Red series.

AFTA, ICAST and EFTTEX Best of Show awards are the highest level of achievement and recognition possible within the international fishing tackle trade.

What is most remarkable is that SEBILE USA (located in Palmer Lake, Colorado) has only been in business for four years, since 2006. To win eleven of the industry’s most highly-coveted awards in such a short time is exceptional and unprecedented.

About SEBILE Innovative Fishing

SEBILE is not a typical company that produces common styles or copies currently popular tackle as others in the industry do; but SEBILE researches, tests and offers anglers unique products that are one-of-a-kind. One of SEBILE’s trademark methods to activate SEBILE lures is to design for water turbulence that lets them mimic aquatic life, move naturally and be sensed by fish due to these turbulences. Innovative shapes never seen before are also trademarks of SEBILE lures. They are quite different than the common industry standard shapes because they’re designed to truly “speak” to the fish more than to the angler, and that is a big part of the success that SEBILE baits have had in the short time the company has been in business.

SEBILE lures are designed for all predator species, for the biggest to the smallest, from top to bottom, anywhere you fish in fresh or saltwater, there are SEBILE lures to match the size and strength of the species you plan to catch, to match your fishing gear, methods, the conditions and environment..

Headquartered in Palmer Lake, Colorado, SEBILE has product distribution in over forty countries.

Patrick Sebile is CEO, founder and product designer. Patrick has landed over 600 species of fish in fresh and salt water in 63 countries. He has developed the company’s entire product line of sportfishing tackle based on his vast experience, including designing fishing products for over twenty years for other major tackle companies prior to founding his own company in 2006.

For more info, product-specific press releases and print-ready photos of SEBILE’s s award-winning new products, visit:

http://www.sebileusa.com/media/

Also visit the AFTA show review by Fishing World Magazine at:

http://www.fishingworld.com.au/news/tackle-industry-takes-on-alp/greens-as-poll-looms

PRO FISHERMAN CHAD MORGENTHALER TEAMS WITH SPECIAL OLYMPICS FOR 5th ANNUAL BASS TOURNAMENT

NORMAL, Ill. – Professional bass fisherman and Professional Anglers Association (PAA) President Chad Morgenthaler of Coulterville is hooked on Special Olympics. He is teaming up with Special Olympics Illinois and the Law Enforcement Torch Run to host the 5th Annual Chad Morgenthaler Bass Tournament presented by Jasper Engines & Transmissions on Aug. 28 at Rend Lake in southern Illinois.

The tournament is a buddy team format, with a Beat the Pro fishing contest and chances to win great prizes. Professional anglers Guido and Dion Hibdon pros will attend as celebrity guests to meet and greet anglers and participate in the Beat the Pros contest.

The fishing tournament is limited to the first 150 boats to register. Entry is $175 per boat if registered by 5 p.m. Aug. 20 which includes entry into the Big Bass pot. The team that still catches the Big Bass of the tournament will win a guaranteed $500, sponsored by Svada GM Motor Group. Entry fee is $200 per boat for those who register after 5 p.m. Aug. 20. Entries will be taken until 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 27. Each angler receives a meal, T-shirt and goodie bag full of tackle. The first four years of the tournament raised more than $100,000 for Special Olympics Illinois.

Anglers and companies interested in getting involved in the tournament may contact Henson at 800-394-0562 or email him at jhenson@soill.org. Tournament sponsors and auction items are still needed for the tournament. Auction items may be sent in care of Jeff Henson at Special Olympics Illinois, 605 E. Willow St., Normal, IL 61761.

Registration for the tournament is from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 27, at Rend Lake Resort. A pre-tournament meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at the resort. The meeting includes dinner, an auction of great fishing items and a meet and greet with the pro anglers. Rend Lake Sailboat Harbor is the launch site for the tournament.

For entry forms or more information, contact Jeff Henson at Special Olympics Illinois at 800-394-0562, email him at jhenson@soill.org or visit http://www.soill.org to download a form.

Morgenthaler is a three-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier and has several FLW Top 10 tournament finishes. He became involved with Special Olympics Illinois in 2005 when he donated a day-long fishing trip as part of an online auction sponsored by the organization. Special Olympics athletes were on hand at Crab Orchard Lake in southern Illinois to see Morgenthaler and the auction winner begin their fishing trip. That experience led to Morgenthaler’s interest in hosting a charity tournament for the organization.

“I was inspired by the courage and enthusiasm shown by the Special Olympics athletes,” said Morgenthaler. “After talking more with Special Olympics Illinois, we agreed a fishing tournament would be an exciting way to introduce the organization and its athletes to a previously untapped audience of fishermen.”

Chad Morgenthaler, 43, has been a professional bass fisherman since 2002. He is sponsored by Jasper Engines & Transmissions, Phoenix Boats, Lunker Lure – Hawg Caller, Svanda GM Motor Group, Solar Bat, Power-Pole, Nameoki Village Marine, Plano Tackle, Minn Kota, Element 21 Fishing, Optima Batteries, Fishouflage, U.S. Reel, Humminbird, Line & Lure, BTS Protectant and El Grande Lures.

Special Olympics Illinois is a not-for-profit organization offering year-round training and competition in 19 sports for nearly 21,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities and more than 4,000 Young Athletes ages 2-7 with and without intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics changes lives by empowering people with intellectual disabilities to realize their full potential in sports and in life. Special Olympics programs enhance physical fitness, motor skills, self-confidence, social skills and encourage family and community support.  If you are interested in learning more about Special Olympics Illinois, volunteering or providing financial support to help make Special Olympics programs possible, contact your local Special Olympics agency, call 800-394-0562 or visit our website at http://www.soill.org.

The Illinois Law Enforcement Torch Run is the single largest year-round fund-raising event benefiting Special Olympics Illinois. The intrastate relay and its various fundraising projects have two goals: to raise money and increase public awareness for the athletes of Special Olympics. Each year, more than 3,000 officers in Illinois run more than 1,500 miles carrying the Flame of Hope through the streets of their hometowns and deliver it to the State Summer Games in Normal in June.

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