Scenic Cherokee Lake in Morristown, Tenn., was the site of the season-opening event for the 2010 PAA Bass Pro Shops Tournament Series presented by Carrot Stix.
Three days of challenging fishing in July proved to be a stern test for the field as the anglers targeted largemouth, spotted and even smallmouth bass. Cherokee was an unknown fishery for most of the anglers who never had been there or had not been in years.
A strong lineup of some of the best professional anglers met the challenge well. Fishing fans in Morristown were impressed with the catches, especially that of eventual champion Tommy Biffle of Oklahoma. Going against conventional wisdom, the leaders targeted shallow bass despite the summer heat and Biffle prevaled with a stunning final-day catch.
This is just a preview of the FishPAA Television coverage of the PAA Tournament Series. Shows will begin airing on VERSUS in October each Friday and Saturday.
The first in a series of boating safety commercials has been filmed as part of a partnership between the PAA and BoatUS to help increase boating safety education and awareness.
PAA pros Greg Hackney, Mike McClelland, Jeff Kriet and John Crews filmed the commercial about the importance of wearing PFDs. McClelland learns firsthand his inflatable PFD does work and shows how it can help boaters and anglers in an emergency situation.
“This commercial, and others planned in the future with PAA members, are designed to be informative to help viewers remember the importance of boating safety,” said Danny Blandford, PAA Program Director. “We all enjoy our time on the water fishing or boating, but nothing is more important than being safe.”
The commercials will be featured during the FishPAA Television shows airing on VERSUS beginning in October.
If you’re looking for some neat fishing tunes and a way to help a good organization, check out the tracts on “Songs from the Tacklebox.”
The 13 cuts include “John Boat Blues” by Jason Allen, “Out on the Water” by Randy Joe Heavin and “Wishin I was Fishin” by Floyd VanLandingham. Songs include country, blues and good ol’ toe-tapping folksy numbers. The CD was produced by Patriot Records of Oklahoma City.
A portion of sales of every CD will benefit Recycled Fish, a national non-profit organization dedicated to help anglers and conservationists assist and protect waterways. Patriot Records conducted two years of research, testing and production into the CD to ensure its likability.
CDs may be purchased in large quantities for retailers to sell in stores, with special pricing and display assistance for bigger orders. CDs are packaged in recyclable corrugated cardboard and recycled fiber cases with attractive labeling sure to catch consumers’ eyes.
MORRISTOWN, Tenn. – Takahiro Omori is about as easygoing as can be off the water when he’s tinkering with his crankbaits or relaxing with friends.
On the water, though, he’s driven by a competitive nature to be the best in whatever tournament he’s competing in anywhere in the country. That’s why when the PAA Bass Pro Shops Tournament Series presented by Carrot Stix kicks off July 8-10 at Cherokee Lake, he’ll be seeking a bit of personal redemption.
“I’m going to fish all the PAA tournaments, refocus my efforts to them and be ready for them,” said Omori, who lives in Texas near Lake Fork. “I’m so mad right now about the way the (Bassmaster Elite Series) season ended, it’s just part of my nature with competitiveness. Until I have a good tournament I won’t feel good. I’m definitely looking forward to the PAA events.”
Omori has excelled in the past, winning the 2004 Bassmaster Classic and almost $2 million on the Bassmaster and FLW circuits. But his Elite Series season ended with a thud when he finished 54th in the points standings and failed to qualify for the 2011 Classic in New Orleans.
That has spurred Omori to dig deeper as the PAA Tournament Series approaches. The first of four events on the series begin at Cherokee Lake, which with its offshore offerings setting up perfectly for cranking has him enthused.
“We have about seven months before the Classic since the season ended and I’ll be fishing as much as I can,” he said. “My expectations were a top 12 this year for the post-season, but the way I ended up in the points it’s going to kill me the next 6-7 months. I’m going to think about it a lot in the next few months.
“That’s one reason I’m excited about the PAA events, to be able to continue fishing because that’s what professional anglers do. We fish whenever we can.”
Omori is comfortable with shallow cranking situations, often favoring the Lucky Craft RC Series 1.5 and 2.5 crankbaits around cover and shallow structure. He uses his swimming pool at his home to practice and refine techniques with crankbaits, such as line size, while also occasionally getting into the pool to watch how crankbaits track underwater.
One thing Omori is keen on is using fluorocarbon line to help get his crankbaits to maximum depths. Fluorocarbon is more dense than monofilament or co-polymer lines and sinks faster, which helps crankbaits run deeper.
“Along with the depth, there’s less stretch with fluorocarbon so you get a little better hookset,” he said. “Fluorocarbon is good for deep and shallow cranking. The heaviest I’ll usually go is 14-pound test if I get shallower than 10 feet, but mainly I use 10- or 12-pound test line. Sometimes if I’m in really shallow stuff around cover, I may go up to 20-pound test.”
The heavier line in shallow water keeps the bigger-bodied square bill crankbaits Omori favors from running to deep. They wobble and bang around off cover, and bigger line gives him a little more leverage in close quarters.
Omori plans to fish all four PAA Tournament Series events and has his sights set on qualifying for the Toyota Texas Bass Classic in October on Lake Conroe. The top 15 pros after the first three PAA Tournament Series points standings will qualify for it, along with the top 15 from the FLW Tour and Bassmaster Elite Series standings and five TTBC exemptions.
For now, though, he’s getting ready for Cherokee Lake.
“Every morning I wake up with a smile on my face because I’m getting to do what I love to do … go fishing,” Omori said. “That’s all I’ve ever wanted to do and I’m blessed to be able to do what I love.”
FishPAA Television to Air on VERSUS Sports Network
BENTON, Ky. (June 14, 2010) – The VERSUS sports network will air 13 original episodes of “FishPAA Television” including coverage of the 2010 PAA Bass Pro Shops Tournament Series presented by Carrot Stix.
Tournament coverage and other original programming highlighting the Professional Anglers Association will be aired from October through December at 7 a.m. EST each Saturday and 4 a.m. each Friday. Ninety minutes of coverage from Tournament Series events will include 30 minutes per day of competition.
VERSUS is available to approximately 80 million homes throughout the United States as part of the network’s strong block of outdoors programming. Tournament Series events begin with the season-opener July 8-10 on Cherokee Lake in Morristown, Tenn.
“This move is big for our organization and, more importantly, for the anglers competing in the PAA Bass Pro Shops Tournament Series presented by Carrot Stix,” said Danny Blandford, PAA Program Director. “Versus will allow us to showcase our growing organization along with some of the most talented professional anglers in the world to a vast audience. Producing three episodes per event allows us to highlight all the anglers who do well, regardless if they are still in contention on the final day.”
Tournament Series fields will compete for two days before being cut to the top 30, who will compete on the final day. Final weigh-ins will take place at nearby Bass Pro Shops stores where fans can visit with anglers and learn how the pros achieved their success on the water.
Outdoors shows on Versus include “Bill Dance Outdoors,” “Fishing University,” “Jimmy Houston Outdoors,” “O’Neill Outside,” “Scott Martin Challenge,” “The Bass Pros,” “The Next Bite,” “Hank Parker’s Outdoor Magazine,” “Hook and Look” and “Fishing with Roland Martin.” Viewers have a wide range of airtime opportunities to see their favorite shows and glean information about a variety of fishing strategies.
“Versus is quickly becoming the nation’s largest network with dedicated time for outdoor sports,” Blandford said. “When anglers are looking at the best value in terms of entry fees compared to exposure, there really is no better value for the competitors, or their sponsors, than the PAA.
“For a $2,500 entry fee they have an opportunity for 90 minutes of televised coverage per event, with no sponsor restrictions. An angler competing in the Tournament Series has 12 good opportunities to receive national exposure and help create a fantastic promotional opportunity for their careers.”
“FishPAA Television” currently is airing on Versus each Saturday in June at 7 a.m. with highlights from the 2009 Carrot Stix Tournament Series.
Coverage of the four events in the Tournament Series – Cherokee Lake, Lake Norman in Charlotte, Tawakoni Lake near Garland, Texas, and Table Rock Lake in Branson, Mo. — along with other episodes about the PAA will begin in October.
“Our 7 a.m. time slot on Saturday mornings in the fourth quarter, from October through December, is traditionally a very strong position,” Blandford said.”The PAA will be offering the only fresh tournament content during that period. If you’re looking for professional fishing on television this fall and winter, FishPAA Television on Versus will be the best option.”
About VERSUS: VERSUS, the fastest growing sports cable network in the country, prides itself on super-serving passionate sports fans across all platforms (VERSUS.com, VERSUS on Demand and VERSUS HD). Now in more than 80 million homes, the network is the cable television home of the National Hockey League, IZOD IndyCar Series, Tour de France, World Extreme Cagefighting and Professional Bull Riders. VERSUS also airs NASCAR, NBA, UFC, college football and college basketball programming. The network is home to the best outdoor programming on television and airs original programs not available anywhere else, including The Daily Line, Sports Soup and Sports Jobs with Junior Seau. VERSUS, a wholly owned company of Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ: CMCSA, CMCSK), is distributed via cable systems and satellite operators throughout the United States. Web: www.versus.com
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
Media contact:
Alan Clemons – Communications Director
alan@fishpaa.com
Lucky Craft pro Casey Ashley recently hooked one of the biggest catches of his career and it didn’t involve a boat, lures or water.
The fourth-year pro from South Carolina has signed a development contract with Buddy Lee Attractions, one of Nashville’s largest privately-owned talent agencies. Founded in 1964, BLA’s diverse client list includes Earl Thomas Conley, Edgar Winter, Jamie O’Neal, Jason Aldean, Gallagher, Rhett Atkins, Atlanta Rhythm Section, John Cafferty and Pat Travers.
“It’s just a developmental contract, the beginning stages of it,” Ashley modestly said. “They see potential and will try to carry me to where I need to be, and we’ll see where it goes from there.
“They’re one of the biggest companies in Nashville. They’re good people to be with and have a lot of ties. I think it will go somewhere. They like the fact I have a ready-made audience with fishing fans and have had a pretty good career so far.”
In four years on the Bassmaster Elite Series, Ashley has won once and earned more than $435,000 while finishing in the money 32 times out of 49 tournaments. His win came in 2007 on Smith Mountain Lake. Ashley has qualified for three Bassmaster Classic championships.
Ashley is registered for the PAA Bass Pro Shops Tournament Series presented by Carrot Stix. The season begins July 8-10 on Cherokee Lake in Morristown, Tenn.
“I’ve heard some guys talking about the lake and how it might be tough, which is just fine with me,” Ashley said. “I like tough tournaments, the ones where you have to figure out something and then get with it. Last year I didn’t fish anything after the (Elite) season ended and it just about killed me. I’m a fisherman and need to fish, so this year I’m looking forward competing in the PAA events.”
Ashley began singing “I guess as early as I can remember,” he said, and has parlayed that into appearances at different events. He has performed the National Anthem before tournament launches, played at social gatherings and last week performed for more than an hour at the Triton Owner’s Tournament at Kentucky Lake.
Ashley didn’t learn to play guitar until eight years ago when he was 18 years old, which he regrets starting so late in life. He carries his guitar on the road now, playing when he can, to build on the two years of lessons he took to learn the instrument.
Two years ago Ashley might have just laughed if someone told him he’d be on the cusp of a music development deal.
“Everyone’s always said I could have a career singing, but I love to fish and want to do that, and fishing’s got me where I am,” he said. “But fishing also has presented this opportunity and I’m going to try both. It’s an advantage to have an audience of sorts with the fishing world because so many people who enjoy fishing also enjoy country music.”
Donna Lee of Buddy Lee Attractions said the combination of fishing, the outdoors and country music is a natural fit.
“I have wanted to integrate music and sports on our roster for a while,” Lee said in a press release. “What better way to do so than with the merging of country music and professional fishing fans? Casey Ashley is the epitome of the ‘hometown country boy.’ I look forward to watching him grow into as talented of a singer as he is a fisherman.”
Low-key and humble, Ashley says he’s excited to see what the future holds. He’s talked with fellow angler Boyd Duckett of Alabama, who had a successful career in the Nashville music industry, and already has tasted success with his song “Fisherman.”
“I guess we’ll just see where this takes me,” he said. “Boyd said the tip of the triangle is small and it’s narrow on both sides, and he’s right. You have to work hard to get there.”
You’re excited about the big bass you just caught, and your fishing buddy whips out his cell phone to take a photo.
A couple of quick keypad touches, the fish goes back in the lake and then you take a look. Part of your buddy’s finger was over the phone’s small lens but he didn’t notice. The sun was high overhead and your shadowed face is dark. Or maybe the sun was glaring off the water, blowing out the photo with bright light.
In any case, your trophy catch is not preserved for history.
It’s not difficult to take better photos. Instead of crooked shots, sun problems, a dopey expression on your face or the “Hold ‘er up, Bubba!” photo, all it takes is a little thinking and time to get things right. If it truly is a great fish, 10 minutes of work will pay off for a quality photo.
Great photos combine multiple elements to capture the scene and provide a lasting memory. (Photo: Doug Cox)
Professional photographers for outdoors magazines, websites and organizations are like those for any other business. They’re serious about getting good photos because solid photography makes people take notice. Photographers always are looking around, scanning backgrounds, thinking about angles and sunlight or what cool vantage point might offer a unique perspective.
Just like you plan ahead for a fishing trip, you can plan ahead to take good photos.
Don’t rush
Hawgzilla finally bit your bait and it’s in the boat as you go bonkers high-fiving your buddy. A photo is suggested but your shirt is untucked, there’s tobacco dribbling down your chin and the background is a busy marina gas dock.
Put the fish in the livewell and relax for a moment. Clear the front deck of any rods that are a’kilter. Tuck in your shirt, make sure your fly is zipped and look for a nice background where you don’t have telephone poles growing out of your head or vehicles on a highway behind you.
If you have a Power Pole and are in shallow water, use it to hold the boat.
Find the sun
Bright, overhead sun ruins many photos because it blows out the colors, or the deep shadow of your cap’s bill makes your face too dark.
Anything between about 10 a.m. and 3 or 4 p.m. when the sun’s highest in the sky can cause problems. Take off your sunglasses and tip your cap back a bit, or remove it completely for the photo. If the sun’s too bright and you’re squinting, put on the sunglasses but leave the cap off.
The sun should be behind the photographer if you’re out in the morning or afternoon. Position yourself so it’s shining from behind the photographer on you holding the fish. That way you get the light on your face and the fish instead of your back, which creates shadows.
Professional photographers love about 90 minutes after sunrise and 90 before sunset, which is called “golden light.” The light isn’t as harsh and everything is pretty. There’s not as much, if any, glare.
Fill the frame
You’ve seen the bad fishing photos where a guy on the back deck snaps the shot and gets half the boat, the front deck, the rods and lots of water. Joe Angler with the fish is somewhere in the middle, like he was dropped into the scene as an extra instead of being the featured player.
Avoid that by filling the frame with the angler and fish. There should only be a little band of background around you. Even with that little band, though, you don’t want it to be a sign with the barbecue special at the highway snack bar or marina slips. Remember to check your background.
If you’re at a scenic location or seasonal colors are nice – dogwoods in spring, or changing leaves in autumn – use those to your advantage. Sometimes a hint of color looks good in photos as borders or backgrounds.
Support the fish
Lip the fish and, if it’s a big bass, support the tail with your other hand for a horizontal or near-horizontal pose.
If you’re doing it this way, have the photographer shoot closer to fill the frame with your upper body and the fish. A vertical photo would look silly if you were holding the fish horizontally. If you’re holding it vertically, the photographer should shoot vertically.
Please smile … please?
There are countless photos of big fish and a guy holding it who looks like he just came from the proctologist’s office.
Smile! You just caught a fish worthy of taking photos, so you don’t need to look like Bobo the Stone Man on some deserted island.
A good tip is to talk with the photographer while he’s shooting. That sounds goofy, but as you’re talking your facial expressions change. Excitedly say, “Man, what a big fish! This sucker hit that jig like a freight train! We need to catch some more!” Show off your molars and get a smile on your face.
If you notice your buddy doing something wrong, let him know. Turn the camera … it won’t break if you do something different with it.
Another tip is after a few shots, securely hold the fish and dip it in the water. This adds some “shine” to it, water dripping and often the dorsal fin will pop up. Tell your camera operator to be ready to shoot when you lift the fish from the water and get positioned.
When you’re done
After taking some photos for a couple of minutes, put the fish back in the livewell so it can rest. Keeping a fish out for long periods of time isn’t good.
Check the photos. Look at your face, the colors, the backgrounds … if there is anything terribly wrong, re-position and shoot some more. If you’re satisfied with the photos, release the fish when it’s able to swim away.
Weekend anglers from across nation to compete for championship title, Forrest Wood Cup berth
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. — The BFL All-American presented by Chevy will take place on DeGray Lake in Hot Springs, Ark., May 27-29. The All-American is one of the longest-running championships in the history of competitive bass fishing. Hosted by the Hot Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau, the tournament will feature the top 55 boaters and top 55 co-anglers from across the country casting for top awards of up to $130,000 in the Boater Division and $60,000 in the Co-angler Division plus the opportunity to compete at the Aug. 5-8 Forrest Wood Cup on Lake Lanier.
Don and Kevin Brown, father and son, from Malvern, Ark., are two of the top weekend anglers that qualified for the All-American competition. Don has fished the lake for over 40 years and raised Kevin, along with several of his friends, on DeGray. He feels fortunate to be able to fish in a tournament of this caliber next to his son.
“We are both very competitive,” said Don Brown, who claims to be his own worst enemy. “I struggle to keep up with the younger kids, or maybe I’m just too stubborn – I don’t know. Kevin has some really good instincts when it comes to fishing this lake; he knows when to move, where I sometimes decide to wait it out.
“Nobody’s on fish right now, and conditions are going to change between now and when the tournament starts. The fish are going to start coming off beds and will be in transition by tournament time. The angler that can find the places where the fish are hanging up will be the one that wins this thing.
“But I tell you, there is going to be some good competition, and local advantage, I’m sure, will come into play; Keith Green (of Arkadelphia, Ark.) and Chris Darby (of Mount Ida, Ark.) will both be tough to beat.”
Anglers will take off from Spillway Ramp located at 284 Skyline Drive in Arkadelphia at 7 a.m. each day. Weigh-ins all three days will be at the Summit Arena located at 134 Commerce Blvd. in Hot Springs, Ark. Thursday and Friday’s weigh-ins will be at 4 p.m. Saturday’s final weigh-in will be at 3 p.m. prior to the final weigh-in for the FLW Tour Chevy Open on Lake Ouachita.
Fans will be treated to the FLW Outdoors Expo at the Hot Springs Convention Center on Friday from 4 to 9 p.m. and Saturday prior to the final weigh-in from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be a drawing for a Can-Am ATV, and rod and reel combos will be given to the first 300 kids under 14 in attendance Saturday. The FLW Outdoors Expo includes Ranger boat simulators as well as the opportunity to interact with professional anglers, enjoy interactive games, activities and giveaways provided by sponsors, and to learn more about the sport of fishing and other outdoor activities. All activities are free and open to the public. For a full schedule of events, additional information and to register for the ATV, visit FLWOutdoors.com/chevyopen.
Coverage of the BFL All-American tournament will be broadcast in high definition (HD) on VERSUS. “FLW Outdoors” will air Nov. 28 from 12:30 to 1:30 ET. “FLW Outdoors,” hosted by Jason Harper, is broadcast to approximately 500 million households worldwide.
About FLW Outdoors
FLW Outdoors, named after Forrest L. Wood, the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, is the largest fishing tournament organization in the world offering anglers worldwide the opportunity to compete for millions over the course of 189 tournaments in 2010. FLW Outdoors has also taken fishing mainstream with FLW Fantasy Fishing awarding the largest prizes in the history of fantasy sports. FLW Outdoors memberships are available featuring numerous benefits including Player’s Advantage. For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, visit FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000. For more information about FLW Fantasy Fishing, visit FantasyFishing.com.
BENTON, Ky. (April 23, 2010) – Voting is underway to fill three positions on the Professional Anglers Association Board of Directors.
Voting is restricted to PAA Tour Members. All votes must be received by 4 p.m. CST on April 30.
Nominees are Mark Davis of Arkansas, Timmy Horton of Alabama, Dave Mansue of Texas, Mike McClelland of Arkansas, Chad Morgenthaler of Illinois, Ronnie Wagner of Texas, Dave Wolak of North Carolina and Mike Wurm of Arkansas.
The positions are for the term beginning with 2010-11.
Outgoing board members are Sean Hoernke of Texas, Mansue and Morgenthaler.
Tour members may submit their votes via mail to PAA, c/o Lisa Bell, P.O. Box 655, Benton, KY 42025; via email to lisa@fishpaa.com or by calling (270) 527-2032.
The PAA is a 501c6 non-profit organization that is owned and operated by the members of the organization. Board members serve in a volunteer capacity. For information on the election process, Tour members can contact Lisa Bell at lisa@fishpaa.com 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
ATHENS — So far this season O.H. Ivie Reservoir has produced nine largemouth bass weighing 13 pounds or more that have been entered into the Toyota ShareLunker program. All were special fish to the anglers who caught them, but the ninth was a little more special than the others: Sam Callaway of Corpus Christi will collect $500 a pound for his catch, a total of $6,670.
Callaway caught Toyota ShareLunker No. 500 at 9:20 a.m. April 9 using a Zoom Magnum eight-inch lizard in watermelon/red. The 13.34-pound fish was immediately taken to an official ShareLunker weigh and holding station, Concho Park Marina, where it was held for pickup by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) ShareLunker program manager David Campbell. The fish, which is 20.5 inches in girth and 26.25 inches long, now rests in the Lunker Bunker at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center. Read more →
That has spurred Omori to dig deeper as the PAA Tournament Series approaches. The first of four events on the series begin at Cherokee Lake, which with its offshore offerings setting up perfectly for cranking has him enthused.
and 4 a.m. each Friday. Ninety minutes of coverage from Tournament Series events will include 30 minutes per day of competition.
Tournament Series fields will compete for two days before being cut to the top 30, who will compete on the final day. Final weigh-ins will take place at nearby Bass Pro Shops stores where fans can visit with anglers and learn how the pros achieved their success on the water.
“FishPAA Television” currently is airing on Versus each Saturday in June at 7 a.m. with highlights from the 2009 Carrot Stix Tournament Series.
