My Opening Thoughts

I'm back! I decided to come back to my blog and renew submitting my thoughts. I had taken time away due to my job and wasn't sure if my thoughts should be put online. After some consideration I have decided, screw it, I am going to speak my mind.

Some of you are aware, I work in the fishing industry as a sales representative. I had been concerned that my thoughts would be tied to a company that I work for. Well, here is my get out of jail free card, these are my thoughts, mine, not yours, mine! If or perhaps WHEN I say something stupid, I am stupid, not a company that I represent. These are my thoughts.

My fishing style is simple, I am a finesse fisherman with a minor in heavy cover! Odd combo I know but something that has served me well over the years. I love to have a couple drop shot rods on the deck and a couple flipping sticks.

I consider myself a good fisherman. Not the best or I would be doing it for a living. I enjoy tournaments but seldom fish them anymore due to high costs.

I prefer natural lakes that are near my home. I live in the great state of Minnesota! Minnesota offers what I believe is the best bass fishing in the world. Sure we have ice for 5 months a year but that is what also makes it so good. I can travel 30 miles from my home and fish over a dozen lakes where I can catch 3 to 5 lb fish on a regular basis! More important then that, I can do it in August and also have 25 to 50 fish days along with those 5lb fish. Sure we don't have 20lb Monsters like they do in California but we have the most consistent 3 to 5lb fish in the nation.

With my background in the fishing industry I will also make comments on the industry and thoughts on products. I have one major bias and that is my boat, Bass Cat makes the best boat in the world! Well, there is also a second bias, Humminbird.

With that being said lets all enjoy the ride!

Monday, March 29, 2010

Sport Show Season?

Well as the sports show season comes to an end I have to ask, where is the excitement? Years ago there was a buzz around the Northwest Sports Show, this year there just wasn't as much rah, rah.

I wonder, is it the internet that has slowed the shows? We get to see everything the second it hits the market, no waiting, and no wanting. With a click of a button the new bait is on the way. Perhaps that is killing some of the excitement. Perhaps it is the endless sales that run up to the shows. Gander, Cabela's, Bass Pro and every tackle website on the net are having sales and many of us are attending these events. If we have a question it will get answered before we ever get to downtown Minneapolis or where ever your show of choice is.

I still feel the show is important to the industry but I feel we as an industry need to find a new way to put our shows out to the public. I am open to ideas if anyone has one! LOL

A fellow rep made a great point at the recent Northwest Show, he commented on what seemed to be a huge age gap. There just doesn't seem to be very many 15 to 30 year old's walking the show. I hope we can come up with a way to change that trend.

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Velvick Wins Clear Lake Event!

Way to go Byron! I for one will look past the bachelor and say you are a GREAT fisherman and say congrats!

Byron won the event on a Jerry Rago swimbait. I am very impressed by the whole deal and wish that I could better understand the whole swimbait deal. I have tried and tried but guess what, haven't got it done.

Swimbaits are the rage all over the country and I just haven't seen any success on them in my part of the country. Perhaps after this event and when my state's ice clears I will try them again.

If I do, I will keep you in the loop.

Hey Skeet, You need to be a Professional!

I am sure most of you are not like myself that lives and breaths bass fishing, but for those that do I am sure you are aware of what is called BassCast. It is a video feed that is put in the back of two BASS Elite Anglers per day and you can follow them online. Kind of a cool deal.

Well today 3/21/2010 the final day of the Clear Lake Elite Tournament they are following Skeet Reese and Brian Snowden. Around the 10:46 mark Skeet comes along some fellow anglers and they appear on the feed to ask how he is doing. His response, "Might be doing better if you wouldn't fish here."

The fisherman in question don't appear to have any idea who he is or what the Elite tour is. I understand when pro fisherman get upset with guys that steal a spot that know exactly who they are and what they are doing. This appears to be some people in a boat that don't have any idea that they might be effecting his day. Skeet, try a little class once!

I watch most weight in days online (espn 360) and I for one am sick of Skeet Reese's attitude. Most fans love him because they see him when things are going well for him, and miss the days that he is having bad tournaments. During the days when he is having a great day he is professional, fun and likable but when things are not going his way and the ESPN Bassmaster cameras aren't running he acts in an unprofessional way.

For those that saw it there is no denying that Skeet Reese acted unprofessional because he lost to John Crews by an Ounce in his home state during the Delta Tournament. Well tough, fish better, don't blame John Crews or act like CA owes you something.

Skeet, I am sorry but you need to act more professional. You owe the sport that! You are an amazing fisherman and one of the best doing it today but the sport, the fans, and the fish don't owe you anything! You owe it to us to act more like a professional!

Go Byron Go!!!!!!!!

Byron Velvick is leading the Clear Lake Elite tournament after 3 days and I for one am willing to stand up and say GO BYRON GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You can hold a stupid opinion of him because of the Bachelor show but if you do you don't understand fishing. This guy can flat out catch them! I don't care how he looks, acts or how much gel he uses in his hair, the man is a stud fisherman!

I have stated on many chat boards over the years and even on this blog, the man won the US Open TWICE, not an easy tournament to win. If fact Rick Clunn has called that the toughest tournament in the country to win and Byron has won it TWICE! If you don't know about this tournament spend some time looking it up. Some beasts in the tournament world have won this thing and some studs have bombed fishing it.

I hope he blows the doors off this thing today!

GO BYRON GO!!!!!!!!!!!!