Tournament News Powered By Lake Drive Marine
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Z-man Report
Z-man Chatterbait
In the years since the Original ChatterBait ascended to dominance on the national bass scene, a new lure-category sensation emerged, evolved and snowballed catch rates.
Newer, refined Z-Man bladed jigs offered subtle variations in vibration and unpredictable hunting action, as well as delivering select situational tools, such as the ChatterBait Elite EVO™ and WillowVibe™, which shine both shallow and deep.
Seems like a no-brainer now. But the enchantment of a ChatterBait and its propensity to produce epic outings often depend on the details. A quick change in the cadence. Reading the blade’s musical language. A little tweak in lure or trailer selection, color or jighead weight can bring about radical results. Read on and learn more . . .
(1) Color Coordinate – A common head-scratching bladed jig puzzle, color-coding your chosen ChatterBait with the right soft plastic trailer is usually easier than we make it. Sure, you can run wildly contrasting combos like a pearl-pattern with a chartreuse/red, or a ‘glitter-bomb’ ChatterBait Elite EVO with a fire-craw ChatterSpike for a different look.
Or, to follow the lead of pro anglers who face this riddle every day, you might opt instead to color-match your chosen trailer to the bladed jig itself. For imitating crayfish, give ‘em a double dose of green pumpkin. In stained or tea-colored water, try black and blue all over. In high, dirty water, especially in spring, it’s all fire-craw orange, all the time. Or, for mimicking openwater baitfish, a one-two punch of shad-white to shad-white’s just right. You get the idea. The goal should mostly be to create one cohesive, color-coordinated critter—a continuous lure that impersonates nature rather than a cosplay convention.
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Mercury Report
The life of a professional tournament angler is fascinating. It looks pretty cool from the outside looking in, like the rodeo cowboy traveling from town to town following their passion and the promise of glory. Pro anglers see the country, fish new and beautiful lakes, and often make catching fish look easy come tournament day.
But there's much more to it. Making a career out of tournament fishing requires a lot of hard work, planning and dedication both on and off the water in order to succeed.
To help reveal what it’s really like to be a tournament angler, we reached out to a handful of bass pros at the end of the 2022 season and asked them a series of questions about their unique lifestyle.
Where do you prefer to stay while on the road?
Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour angler Greg Vinson, of Wetumpka, Alabama: I love renting houses through Airbnb. We used to pack up in small hotels like sardines, but now, fellow Mercury pro Bradley Roy and I rent a house. We're at tournaments for over a week, and it starts to feel like home. I typically book them, but it's usually a winner when Bradley finds one or has a family or friend connection.
Bassmaster Elite Series angler Stetson Blaylock, of Benton, Arkansas: I've done it all over the years. Camping was the most fun when my wife and kids traveled with me, but it was also the most work. For the last couple of years, traveling without them, I have preferred to rent houses or cabins. Hotels are sometimes the only option, but that's not my preference.
Bass Pro Tour angler Brent Ehrler, of Redlands, California: Rental houses are always the best. It's nice to have space and the ability to cook and meal prep for the week with a full kitchen.
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BASS Report
Central Michigan University angler Alina Krasinski of Mount Pleasant, Mich., and Southwestern Michigan College competitor Delaney Platt of Braceville, Ill.
B.A.S.S. and Shimano have partnered to award the second annual Helen Sevier Pioneer Scholarships to Central Michigan University angler Alina Krasinski of Mount Pleasant, Mich., and Southwestern Michigan College competitor Delaney Platt of Braceville, Ill. These scholarships not only honor Sevier’s leadership and long-term vision for the growth of sportfishing, but also recognize the efforts of young female anglers as they pursue fishing at the collegiate level.
“There is no better way to honor Helen Sevier’s legacy than by recognizing Alina and Delaney as they work to make their place in the fishing industry at the college level and beyond,” said Bassmaster Magazine Managing Editor Mandy Pascal, part of the scholarship review committee. “We appreciate Shimano’s ongoing partnership as B.A.S.S. works to ensure future ‘pioneers’ have support and recognition in their endeavors to compete at the college level. The next generation of female anglers is on a clear path to growing and promoting the sport.”
Platt is a freshman studying biology at Southwestern Michigan College, where she is one of two women on the bass fishing team.