Tournament News Powered By Lake Drive Marine
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By Louie Stout
Fizzing a bass
We’ve all heard the pros and cons of forward facing sonar (FFS).
“Older anglers don’t want to adapt.”
“It’s not fishing. It’s video gaming.”
“It provides an unfair advantage.”
“It’s boring to watch online or on TV.”
“It’s perfectly legal and enables an angler to fish for fish that were previously unmolested.”
I see both sides, but frankly, there’s an underlying issue that is being overlooked, especially here in Michiana.
Big fish are dying of barotrauma because some anglers using FFS in deep water aren’t taking care of their catch.
Your responsibility does not end just because you got your fish to the weigh-in scales alive.
I don’t fish a lot of tournaments, but there have been released seen fish struggling along the bank at several events where FFS produced top catches.
Those struggling fish were brought to the surface quickly and their swim bladders filled with gasses. When this happens, the fish cannot swim naturally. The ballooned air bladder pushes against the heart and restricts the heart from pumping blood, hence the fish dies.
Of course, there is a solution – fizzing – a delicate practice that needs to be done the moment you see a fish floundering sideways in the livewell.
I fished a weeknight event with a 13-year-old neighbor boy. As I was backing the trailer at the end of the night, the boy was in the water trying to revive a 4 pounder, struggling to swim upright, that someone released off the dock. Another angler was attempting to fizz another 3 pounder – not his - in the darkness with a cellphone flashlight.
The 4 pounder, and likely others, died.
Scoping is a rapidly growing practice among tournament anglers. It’s perfectly legal, but when you multiply this incident times hundreds of other tournaments held in both states, one has to wonder how many bass are dying unnecessarily.
The point is that anglers who learned to utilize the technology have an added responsibility for taking care of their fish.
Especially on smallmouth bass lakes.
Smallmouth are highly susceptible because of their preference to roam, and a lot of giants are being caught from the middle of the lakes. Those fish, along with big largemouth, carry genetics that assure big, quality fish in the future.
Regardless of whether you scope or just fish deep, you need to learn the PROPER method of fizzing a fish that struggles to remain upright in the livewell.
And do it promptly.
Take time to watch this video. A northern BASS Nation Conservation Director, who has dealt with a lot of smallmouth tournaments, explains the truth about barotrauma and demonstrates the proper method for fizzing.
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BFHOF Report
The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame (BFHOF) has awarded scholarships under its Fishery Management Scholarship Program for the second year in a row.
This program aims to provide financial support and encouragement to high school and college bass anglers pursuing careers in fields that will directly contribute to healthy fisheries, essential access, and clean rivers, lakes and reservoirs, consistent with the BFHOF’s mission.
The 11 selected applicants will each receive $2,500 to pursue their studies. The recipients include:
- Alex Avery, Missouri State University
- Brady Horton, Drury University
- Bradley Howell, Trent University
- Luc LaRochelle, Carleton University
- Nate Hull, Oklahoma State
- Justin Lombardo, University of Illinois
- Tom Miles, Tennessee Tech University
- Morgan Noffsinger, Central Michigan University
- Marcus Prull, Auburn University
- Levi Umland, University of Missouri
- Samuel Vazquez, University of Arkansas–Pine Bluff
“The response to this program was immense and impressive,” said BFHOF Board President John Mazurkiewicz. “Our dedicated Conservation/Education Committee, led by Board Member and BFHOF inductee Gene Gilliland, the growth of this scholarship program aligns perfectly with the Hall’s mission of celebrating, promoting, and preserving the sport by investing in the future of healthy fisheries, accessible waters, and clean aquatic ecosystems.
The awardees consist of high school seniors committed to enrolling in a four-year college or university program, as well as undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled in a four-year college, university, or accredited graduate program with a declared or planned major in biology, aquatic ecology, fisheries, marine science, or a closely related natural resources field.
“We were amazed by the quality and seriousness of the applications and the young men and women who expressed interest,” Gilliland said. “The applications were reviewed by an independent panel of distinguished individuals involved in fishery management across the U.S. and Canada, including: Phil Morlock, Director of Government Affairs for the Canadian Sportfishing Industry Association; Chris Horton, Senior Director of Fisheries Policy for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation; Ross Self, Chief of Inland Fisheries for the South Carolina DNR; and Dr. Mark Rogers, Tennessee Cooperative Fishery Research Unit Leader at Tennessee Tech University. The future of our sport, our fisheries and this program remain bright.”
The financial support for this program is made possible by the support the Hall receives from past inductees, professional anglers competing on the B.A.S.S and MLF tournament trails, bass anglers nationwide who support the Hall’s annual online auctions, and many leading companies involved in the bass fishing industry.
The BFHOF Board will announce details and application requirement for the 2025 Fishery Management Scholarship program later this year
The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame will honor the Class of 2024 at its annual induction ceremony on September 26th at Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife Museum and Aquarium adjacent to the Bass Pro Shop flagship store in Springfield, Mo. Fred Arbogast, Mike McKinnis, Skeet Reese, Alfred Williams and Mark Zona will be inducted.
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USA Bass Report
Kevin VanDam has agreed to be head coach of the USA Bass team which competes in World Championship and Pan American Championship events.
The team will compete in Italy, South Africa and in 2026 at the Bass Fishing World, Arkansas on Hamilton Lake. He joins top figures in the sport such as Scott Martin, Jacob Wheeler and Dustin Connell who are representing USA Bass and expanding bass fishing worldwide.
The officially sanctioned Bass Fishing World Championships are the most important bass fishing tournaments ever held because of their contribution to the sport’s Olympic recognition. Plans are also underway for a Youth Bass Fishing World Championship in 2026. This event will highlight the growth of youth bass fishing globally and inspire younger angler/athletes to pursue the dream of fishing for their country.
These efforts are consistent with Kevin VanDam’s legacy and passion for the sport. Also joining the movement is USAngling Global Sponsor Bass Pro Shops. These two giants of the sport provide a huge boost for the millions of global angler/athletes being evaluated by the International Olympic Committee. The Olympic recognition process is in the last stages of review.