What's New?
Matt and Todd Hagerman won last weekend’s Palestine Lake tourney and captured big bass honors.
Jeff Stankovich and Paul Groves took home top honors in the Four Flags tournament at Austin Lake last weekend.
New Gear
St. Croix has introduced three spinning rod “minnow shakers” designed specifically for forward facing sonar tactics.
| Drew Cook: Try Burnin' a Fluke for Reaction Bites |
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Michiana Circuit May Ban Forward Facing Sonar
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By Louie Stout
A popular Michiana tournament circuit may not permit the use of forward facing sonar (FFS) electronics this season.
Scott Crocker, tournament director for the Southwest Michigan Anglers Club (SMAC), said he has received a lot of feedback from anglers who are requesting FFS not be allowed during SMAC competitive events this summer.
“I’m giving it serious consideration,” said Crocker. “Some of our regulars said they’re tired of getting their butts beat by guys with expensive electronics. I understand that. I fish with Terry Smith and his graphs are 20 years old and don’t even have GPS!”
Crocker noted that some national tournament groups are considering a similar move.
Bassmaster formed a committee to study the impact of FFS during its Elite events this year before deciding upon whether some restrictions are required for 2025. A few larger regional events have banned them.
“The circuits with co-anglers are having trouble getting non-boaters to fish with guys using FFS because the co-anglers are stuck in the back of the boat and have very little chance of catching fish,” he said. “I don’t want to lose our anglers because of it.”
Crocker advised anyone who wants to call him to complain should make sure he’s got all the facts, because - you’ve been played!
Happy April fool’s Day from Michiana Outdoors News and SMAC!
Hamner completes wire-to-wire Bassmaster Classic victory on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees
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Bassmaster Elite Series pro Justin Hamner of Northport, Ala., claimed the 54th Bassmaster Classic title on Sunday with a limit of five bass that weighed 15 pounds, 13 ounces, for a three-day total of 58-3. Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.
Bassmaster Elite Series pro Justin Hamner of Northport, Ala., claimed the 54th Bassmaster Classic title on Sunday with a limit of five bass that weighed 15 pounds, 13 ounces, for a three-day total of 58-3. Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.
TULSA, Okla. — When most anglers win the Super Bowl of Bass Fishing, they at least pretend like it came as the biggest surprise of their lives.
But not Justin Hamner.
The fourth-year Bassmaster Elite Series pro from Northport, Ala., said openly that he “just had a feeling” coming into this year’s Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors that he was going to win — and in three days on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees, he turned that feeling into a hard-core reality.
Hamner completed an assault on B.A.S.S. history with a Championship Sunday limit of five bass that weighed 15 pounds, 13 ounces, and pushed his three-day total to 58-3. He became only the 10th angler in the 54-year history of the event to lead all three days.
“I have no idea what’s been going on, but this past month has been pretty dang good,” said Hamner, who earned $300,000 and the coveted Ray Scott trophy. “I can’t explain it, but I really did feel like I had a good chance to win.”
That feeling wasn’t exactly reinforced during a tough practice when Hamner said the best bass he caught was a 3-pounder. But he started the tournament on the spot where he caught that fish and used a shad-colored, deep-diving jerkbait to put together a limit that weighed 22-6 and gave him the Day 1 lead.
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