Tournament News Powered By Lake Drive Marine
Friday, October 10, 2025
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Provided by Aqua-vu
Hook ‘n Look Stricker Says Aqua-Vu Provides ‘Eyes in the Dark’ and Proves It
“It was so murky down there, I could barely see my hand in front of my face,” observed underwater explorer Kim Stricker.
Submersed in chilly, coffee-colored water, Stricker was recently filming a segment for the Outdoor Channel’s popular series, Hook ‘n Look when something remarkable happened. As he’d done hundreds of times before, the ace angler had donned scuba gear to explore the depths, this time attempting to swim with bass in a highly stained natural lake.
“We knew this was a bass wintering location, but I wanted to take the plunge and show folks what the bottom looked like, how the fish were positioned, and any other important detail,” Stricker recalls. “But as I descended into just 17 feet of water, it was already getting pretty dark. At 20 feet, where most of the bass were holding, you couldn’t see anything at all. It gets a little creepy in those sorts of conditions, especially when you’re down there by yourself.”
Back aboard his boat, Stricker couldn’t believe what occurred next.
“Out of curiosity, I turned on my underwater camera to see if it would give me a better look. Incredibly, the monitor showed an almost crystal-clear environment. We saw colorful bluegills swimming by. We could make out the reddish-tan color of the silt bottom and all the subtle dips and holes, plus little clumps of vegetation. One of the bass we saw was laying so still on the bottom that we could see algae falling away from the its belly as it woke up and started to swim.
“The difference in clarity between what I saw through my scuba mask and the lens of the HD7i Pro camera absolutely blew me away. The image on the screen looked almost like aquarium water, as if I was looking at an entirely different lake.”
Unable to explain the discrepancy, Stricker called Aqua-Vu vice president and product designer, Tom Maschhoff.
“We built the newest generation of high-definition Aqua-Vu cameras with specialized firmware that essentially auto-adjusts the underwater image,” Maschhoff explained. “What the angler sees is a super-refined or clarified underwater video image, altered as light and clarity conditions change.”
The science of light, says Maschhoff, demonstrates that water absorbs different colors based on depth. Colors with the longest wavelengths, such as red, disappear first, followed by orange, yellow, blue and green, as depth increases and light fades. “By auto-filtering specific colors— based on water conditions— we’re able to project a clean, clear video image—even in stained water.”
Maschhoff adds that Aqua-Vu HDi series cameras also feature refined low-light sensors that preserve a bright, clear picture, even as light fades by depth, and during low-light periods. AutoClear Technology, Aqua-Vu’s term for the new, groundbreaking video software, allows underwater camera users to observe the depths of even relatively dirty-water lakes in impressive color and clarity.
“People are always asking us how well an Aqua-Vu will work on their home lake, which may have limited clarity. We think anglers and underwater explorers will be pleasantly surprised with what these new cameras can show them,” he says.
Pre-loaded on all Aqua-Vu HD10i Pro, HD10i, HD7i Pro and HD7i high-definition underwater viewing systems, the special visibility enhancement technology will also be available as a physical add-on accessory for existing Aqua-Vu systems later this winter.
But the bigger question remains: Did Stricker catch fish? (For full details, tune in to Hook ‘n Look in March 2019—episode 11— to see for yourself.)
“The camera showed us the bass were hunkered tight to bottom, unwilling to chase fast-moving lures. Once we figured that out, we caught a bunch of good fish on a small jig and swimbait, crawled slowly along bottom, barely hopping it,” explains Stricker. “When the jig touched down, it created a puff of silt. The bass would simply nose down into the little mushroom cloud and inhale it.”
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Shimano Report
Shimano’s New Convergence Rods/Sienna Combos Designed for Ice Anglers
Anglers in northern climates have always known the fishing doesn’t stop when temperatures dip below freezing and the water gets hard.
Ice fishing continues to attract anglers to their favorite lakes for everything from panfish and perch, to walleye and northern pike, and Shimano is addressing their tackle needs. Now available - or soon to be at selected tackle dealers - Shimano introduces a new line-up of cork grip Convergence ice rods, along with a selection of Sienna combos featuring EVA grip rods matched with Sienna 500 spinning reels.
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Shimano Report
New Computerized Shimano Curado Baitcaster Eliminates Backlashes
Utilizing a, Shimano brings its digital control technology (I-DC4) to a new series of Curado baitcasting reels that includes a microcomputer to control braking at every moment of the cast.
The new Shimano Curado DC reels will quickly allow all anglers - from the most to avid to those who are intimidated by baitcasting reels and the backlashes that can happen - to cast smarter by allowing the DC’s microcomputer to monitor spool speed 1,000 times every second, prevent backlashes and maximize distance.
The DC series includes the Curado DC150 and left-hand retrieve DC151 with 6.2:1 gear ratios, the Curado DC150HG and DC151HG with 7.4:1 gear ratios, and the even higher speed Curado DC150XG and DC151XG with 8.5:1 gear ratios.
They will retail for $249.99 and become available in August, 2018.
With the I-DC4 braking technology, anglers can fish a variety of lures and in any weather conditions, with limited or no adjustments to the reel. There are four external adjustable brake settings depending on fishing situations. The settings are a ‘max distance mode’ for ultra-long casts in calmer conditions; a ‘braid/mono mode’ for general all-around use of those types of lines; a ‘fluorocarbon mode’ that is best when using these stiffer lines; and a ‘skipping mode’ for challenging casts (under docks and piers) or extreme conditions.
“The Curado DC reels appeal to skill levels among anglers,” said Shimano product planning manager Trey Epich. “While everyone will appreciate how the reel curtails backlashes, anglers who already are accomplished with a baitcast reel will be able to skip docks without overruns and to bomb out longer casts.
"Tech-head anglers will focus on the DC technology and that cool noise the reels makes with each cast," added Epich.
Anglers will notice the overall lightweight feel from the aluminum frame, along with other key Shimano features including MicroModule gears, rigid HAGANE body, CI4+ material sideplates, X-Ship and A-RB anti-rust bearings. For smoother and sensitive rotation, Shimano’s MicroModule gearing provides more gear engagement between the drive gear and pinion gear.
The DC reels will hold from l50 yards of 20-pound PowerPro braid, or up to 120 yards of 10-pound 14-pound mono. The DC 150/151 cranks in 26 inches of line per rotation, while the DC150HG/151HG reels in 31-inches per crank.
The DC150XG/151XG, with a longer handle, blisters in 36 inches of line per crank.
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Z-man Report
Z-Man Bait BinderZ Doublewide
Anyone who’s fished the progressive softbait material figures it out pretty much after the very first bite: Z-Man’s ElaZtech® softbaits are different. Are they better? Do they catch more fish? Plenty of anglers would argue an affirmative “yes.” But facts are facts:
- ElaZtech baits are significantly softer than traditional PVC baits.
- The material is at least ten times tougher—a single Z-Man® softbait can hold up to several dozen fish catches, or more.
- ElaZtech is significantly more buoyant than PVC baits, translating to more action and more realism in the water.
- The material is non-toxic, both to the fish and within the aquatic environment.
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p>Provided by Booyah
BOOYAH ToadRunner Provides Fully Adjustable Wire Form TailFor a topwater bait to be effective, the bait must have the ability to disturb the water surface with attributes that create sound, action and vibration. The ToadRunner from BOOYAH Bait Co. not only has those qualities, but it gives anglers the ability to adjust the sound and action based upon fishing conditions.
The ToadRunner is built around a modified BOOYAH Pad Crasher body. Grooves were added under the body and the legs were shortened so the bait will not spin in the water. These modifications also give the bait a life-like appearance when it stops and floats. The key to the bait however lies in the patent pending Wire Form Tail, which will allow anglers to easily tune the bait so that it will make different sounds from subtle to super loud.
The Wire Form Tail consists of a pliable wire that is molded inside a translucent tail. The tail is connected to the body of the ToadRunner by a ball bearing swivel and a split ring, which allows the tail to rotate 360 degrees and produces a plopping sound. When the bait is placed in the water the translucent tail takes on the color of the water so fish will not hone in on it and hook sets will not be impacted. The pliable wire inside the tail can be bent to change the motion and the sound of the bait as needed.
The ToadRunner is designed to be fished around heavy cover and grass mats without getting hung up but it will fish just as well in open water or around sparse vegetation. The ToadRunner is a tournament-tested bait first used by professional angler Jason Christie, who fished the ToadRunner to a top-ten finish at the 2017 Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest on Lake Sam Rayburn.
“Being able to adjust the tail to trigger strikes under different conditions is a game changer,” said Christie. “By being able to actually adjust the sound of the bait and make fish react is the reason I had a good finish on Sam Rayburn. With the translucent tail the fish will key on the body of the bait reducing short strikes, the grooves in the body and shortened legs will eliminate the chance of the frog rolling in the water.”
Learn more at www.BOOYAHbaits.com and www.lurenet.com.
Specifications:
Colors: Leopard Frog, Cricket Frog, Bullfrog, Albino Frog, Shad Frog, Sunburn, Night Train, Ole Smokey, Blue Gill, Bone Length: 4.5 inches Weight: 7/8 ounce Depth: Topwater Hook: Double MSRP: $9.99
*Pro Tip From Jason Christie*
If you miss a fish when Fishing the ToadRunner don’t change baits, just adjust the tail to make a different sound and cast back to him. More often than not the fish will strike again.