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Ranger Report
Ranger Boats is providing additional incentives for potential boat buyers this year with the announcement of its 2020 retail sales promotions. With limited-time-only offers geared for fiberglass, aluminum, saltwater and pontoon customers, qualifying purchases will receive benefits up to $2,350 in combined retail value for eligible models.
For freshwater fiberglass boat buyers, the 2020 Gotcha Covered Sales Event runs from January 3 to March 31, 2020, and is designed to benefit the buyers of Ranger's most popular models. Any new, qualifying Z500 Comanche Series or Fisherman Series model sold during this time will receive a deluxe Ranger boat cover (retail value: $1,050) as well as two (2) custom Mustang inflatable PFDs (retail value: $600) and a $200 credit towards premium Ranger clothing and accessories available through Rangerwear.com. An additional $500 cash discount is available to buyers of in-stock Z Comanche or Fisherman models purchased from dealer inventory.
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Z-man Report
The Godfather of Ned Rigging Tells His Story
Classy, kind-hearted and self-effacing to a fault, Ned Kehde likes to tell you the world has passed him by. That he’s not the angler he used to be. That he uses simple baits because he’s a simple man. The truth is, Kehde has a wise reason for everything he does; knows precisely how to make bass bite; and for goodness sake, knows more about the history of bass fishing—including exact months and years various events occurred— than almost anyone alive.
He’s the namesake and creator of the wildly popular Ned Rig.
A retired archivist for the University of Kansas and legendary writer of fishing stories, Kehde recalls that April day in 2006 when the modern Midwest Finesse technique clicked into place. “I was in Japanese angler Shinichi Fukae’s boat at Beaver Lake. What immediately struck me were Fukae’s methods, which mirrored the finesse tactics my friends and I had adopted back in Kansas. Using a 3/32-ounce jig shad-style worm, Fukae retrieved the lure a few inches off bottom, reeling and shaking as it went along.”
That same year, Kevin VanDam showed Kehde an early ElaZtech bait. The bait, a Strike King Zero, was the first ultra-durable soft stickbait manufactured by the parent company of what would eventually become Z-Man Fishing. Not long after, the Ned Rig was born. But we’ll let Ned take it from there . . .
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Fly Tiers Needed to Help with Annual Tie-A-Thon Project
South Bend - On April 18th, 2020, many avid fly tiers will come together to tie as many flies as they can for the great cause, Reel Recovery.
All the flies tied from the Tie-A-Thon 14 will be distributed to Reel Recovery, an organization that helps the emotional rehabilitation of men dealing with cancer.
Reel Recovery was founded in 2003 by a group of avid fly fishers, inspired by their fishing buddy’s on-going battle with brain cancer. After witnessing the beneficial impact fly fishing provided their friend, they created Reel Recovery to provide the same opportunity for other men battling the disease. Combining expert fly fishing instruction with directed “courageous conversations,” the organization provides men with all forms of cancer a unique opportunity to share their stories, learn a new skill, form lasting friendships and gain renewed hope as they confront the challenges of cancer. For more information, check out https://reelrecovery.org/.
For more Tie-a-thon information, visit sjrvff.com or Tie-a-ton on Facebook.
The premise of the Tie-a-thon is like an old fashion barn raisin’, with several tyers tying as many flies as the can for the cause.
Joining forces again this year to tie flies are members of: St. Joseph River Valley Fly Fishers, The Little Elkhart Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Duneland Fly Fishers, DuPage Fly Tyers (DRIFT), Flygirls of Michigan, Kalamazoo Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited, The Brotherhood of the Jungle Cock; Reel Women, Reel Men of Indianapolis, Grand River Fly Tyers, Anglers of the Au Sable, and many more individuals tyers.
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BoatUS Report
Boaters Beware: Low-Price
With more ethanol than ever before being served up at the nation's gas station pumps this Labor Day holiday weekend, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) cautions America's recreational boaters to avoid filling up with "Regular 88" fuel on recreational boating's traditional last summer hurrah. That's because the latest gasoline blend may contain up to 15% ethanol (E15) ñ enough to harm the boat motor and void the engine manufacturer's warranty.
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BoatUS Report
Boaters Beware: Expect More E15 This Summer
Despite objections of a coalition of American citizens and environmental, conservation, food producer, fuel retailer, taxpayer advocate, and outdoor recreation industry groups, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently waived Clean Air Act provisions.
That eliminated the three-and-a-half-month blackout period on the sale of E15 (15% ethanol) fuel during the summer months, permitting the fuel to be sold year-round.
The fuel had been banned at the pumps from June 1 to September 15 over concerns that it contributed to smog on hot days. As a result of EPA’s action, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) is advising boaters that they will need to be very cautious at the gas station to ensure they aren’t filling their boats with fuel that’s bad (and illegal) for boat engines.