What's New for 2011!

Last month I was fortunate enough to have the pleasure of attending ICAST - the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades - put on every year by the ASA, American Sportfishing Association. Nearly all of the big players in the tackle industry attend this event and display their new products that will be introduced later this fall as 2011 products to us, the consumers. To say the least, there is a lot of very cool stuff coming out next year that will probably make it into my tacklebox and on my boat next year. Here are my top 3 of new items to check out:

Blackwater International's "Toray Fishing Line" - Blackwater is the sole North American distributor of Japan's most popular and best fishing line. The newest line from Blackwater/Toray is the Super Hard Premium-Plus Bawo Hi-Grade Fluorocarbon. This line is for those anglers that want the best out of their most important connection to the fish, and it comes with a price. It averages about $7 - $10 more per spool than domestic brands, but after testing the line I can assure you it is worth every dollar spent. There is less need to change line as often and the properties of the multi-technique specific lines make it a product that the hardcore angler should not go without. The Blackwater/Toray Bawo Finesse Braid is the smoothest braid on the market. It is an 8 strand circular braid that brings unmatched durability and casting ease to the braided line market. Check out all of these products and more at www.blackwaterfishingline.com

Minn Kota Motors "Talon Shallow Water Anchor" - For the last few years the only major player in the shallow water anchor industry was Power-Pole. Power-Pole is a great product and many professionals profess they can't do with out one any more. Well now Minn Kota has entered the arena and I think with a pretty neat product. It is different than the Power-Pole design, although it obviously intends the same concept of being able to anchor your boat into position with ease via a pole that is mechanically projected into the water at the stern of your boat. This Minn Kota Talon anchor actually projects straight into the water from a cylindrical tube. This means there is more of a direct hold onto the bottom of the lake from the boat's weight rather than projecting away from the boat and into the lake as the Power-Pole design delivers. It will be interesting to see this on a few boats as they hit the market in full force this fall. Stay tuned to for more information at www.minkotamotors.com

Optimum Bait Company "Double Diamond Swimmer and Baby Line Thru" - This bait company has been a staple in the swimbait market since 1996. This year they add to their already existing line-up of truly exceptional swimbaits. The Double Diamond swimbait is not new for 2011 but Optimum has rounded out one of the most sought after swimbaits on the market. The 3 dimensional design and diamond shaped swimmer is now available in two more sizes and Optimum also introduced 12 new colors meant to "match the hatch" so every angler in nearly every corner of the country can duplicate their own waterway's bait fish. I am most excited about the new colors that were added to the Baby Line Thru Series of baits. The 4 new BLT colors that were added are Camo, Tilapia, Blueback Herring and Sweet Tooth. These should be exceptional on clear water lakes where the swimbait technique really shines. Learn more about these awesome baits at www.optimumbaits.com

Get more information on ICAST and the new products for 2011 at www.icastfishing.org

See you on the lake,
Kurt Dove
www.swtexasbassguide.com
(830) 719-3648

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Lead is a known carcinogen. It can poison multiple organs and lead to anemia, central and peripheral neuropathy, nephrotoxicity, hypertension, and alteration to endocrine and reproductive function. Because of its toxicity, lead content has been limited in paint, water, and gasoline. Lead shot has been banned for all waterfowl hunting in the United States and Canada. Weights, lures, and sinkers made of lead are prohibited in many national parks, including Yellowstone and Glacier.

Two of our anglers in the RecycledFish 24 Hour Fish-a-Thon, Mark Ward and Eric King, will be highlighting this issue by using lead free weights and lures during the Fish-a-Thon. As Mark and Eric note, "Mosquito Lake," the lake they will be fishing, "has a protected marsh which provides nesting, feeding, and living habitat for many different species of birds. Lead weights and lures contaminate the water, diving birds and eagles ingest lead and die of lead poisoning."

We can prevent lead poisoning of our avian populations by making the switch to non-toxic tackle.

Why it is important to the fish: As stewards of our aquatic ecosystems, we are committed to eliminating the introduction of toxic substances into our water. We know that our actions can affect the future of avian species and, ultimately, the health of our streams, rivers, and lakes. We encourage you to join Mark and Eric and make the switch to lead-free tackle.

Learn More Tips at www.RecycledFish.org

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Our featured guides and charters are selected from our Online Fishing Guide & Charter Locator - each one offering a discount to BoatUS and BoatUS ANGLER Members.

To search for a guide or charter for hire in your area simply go to www.BoatUSAngler.com/guides

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While there are flashier, more appealing lures to fisherman, few, if any lures have greater appeal to big bass. The venerable jig-n-pig has been duping bass consistently for more than half a century.

Yes, plastic worms may account for more numbers of fish, but a jig will net more pounds per bite. Why? I honestly don’t know. But I do know from experience that it is fact. There’s something magical about jigs and big bass.

Of course you can use a jig right out of its package and still catch fish. But there are also numerous little enhancements that will increase its success ratio. Here’s how I “doctor” a jig: Leadhead- Don’t use those commercially manufactured “eye-busters” to remove the paint in the line tie. These put burrs inside the line tie. Use an ice pick or old hook. Now tie on a foot or so of 30 or 40 pound test. Draw it down tight and work it back and forth to clean all the paint from the eye. Read More

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Send in photos of your catch and you will be entered into monthly drawings to win a $50 Visa Gift Card as well as lures and gear from our sponsors. In November one Grand Prize - a high-quality replica fish mount from Mount This Fish Company - will be awarded in each category, (freshwater and saltwater), in a drawing from all monthly winning entries.

Our Grand Prize winners will also be featured in the 2011 Spring issue of BoatUS ANGLER Magazine. Click Here for complete contest details

Click Here to View all the 2010 Photos so far!

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Click Here to check out our latest humorous but educational video featuring fishing pros Mike McClelland, Greg Hackney and Jeff Kriet talking on the dock about inflatable PFD's.

You can also view our other fishing videos at www.BoatUS.com/videos

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The Latest NBAA / BoatUS ANGLER Rewards Winner –
Bill Wennberg!

Bill Wennberg from Braidwood, IL is our latest weekly winner of the NBAA / BoatUS ANGLER Rewards program. All he had to do to be eligible for this program was to join BoatUS ANGLER and register on-line. His BoatUS ANGLER membership just earned him over $250 in CASH & PRIZES from BoatUS ANGLER and National Angler rods. Not only was he a big winner, but he was able to take advantage of the benefits of being a BoatUS ANGLER Member such as On-Water and On-Road Towing Services, and Low-Cost Boat Insurance.

BoatUS ANGLER and NBAA will be drawing a winner every week through November. Plus, one lucky BoatUS ANGLER member will win a $500 in CASH and 6 National Angler rods. The Grand Prize package is valued at over $1,000!

Click Here to find out how to join BoatUS ANGLER and to register for the Rewards Program. Who knows, you could be the next big winner of the BoatUS ANGLER Rewards Program, just like Bill.

Evers Wins Lake Norman PAA Tournament

Nitro Boats pro Edwin Evers caught five bass weighing 15.70 pounds Saturday on Lake Norman for a three-day total of 40.71 to win the second event of the PAA Bass Pro Shops Tournament Series. The veteran Oklahoma pro had a 5.19-pound largemouth, one more than four pounds and another more than three in his final-day catch. It was the largest limit of the week and came after Evers dissected his “docks with brush” pattern more thoroughly on the second day. Read More

All Alabama Waters Now Open for Fishing

The economic tide for recreational boating may have fallen, but for The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Marine Resources Division (MRD) announces the re-opening to the harvest of fish from all areas previously closed as a precautionary response to the presence of oil from the Deepwater Horizon Incident. These areas include all Alabama Gulf of Mexico waters out to three miles and the remaining closed waters of Mobile Bay that are just north of the Fort Morgan Peninsula.

These waters reopened at 6 a.m., Monday, August 16. This includes both commercial and recreational fishing.Read More

70-year old Grandmother Catches Huge Halibut

The huge halibut measured 7-ft, 4-in, dwarfing LaVerne's 5-ft, 3 1/4-inch frame. LaVerne, a retired receptionist for a beauty salon, used chunk bait with a 5-foot-6-inch Seeker rod, an Avet 4/0 two-speed reel, 16/0 circle hook and 80-pound Spectra line.

She says she knew right away that she had hooked a big fish. Once she saw the fish come to the top, everyone on the boat thought it was a monster.

It took her 45 minutes and help from everyone on board to bring the big fish onto the boat. The gigantic catch didn't make it into the record books, however. The scales were closed at the Kingfisher lodge the day LaVerne caught it. Read More

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BoatUS ANGLER Members receive a 10% discount on select monthly service plans. Sprint will also waive the $36 activation fee for new phone activations. Activate a new line of service at your Sprint Private Store and receive a $50 service credit. Plus, never pay for activation fees, upgrade fees, or shipping when you order online!

To start receiving your discount, call 800-390-9545 or visit us online today! Mention Corporate ID NABHW_BUS_ZMB to receive your discount.

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Not only do BoatUS ANGLER Members save on Budget car rentals, but now you can save with the Budget Truck Program, which offers 10% off one way and local truck rentals Friday and Saturday, and 15% off Sunday through Thursday.

Featuring four different sizes of trucks- from cargo van to 24' box truck-moving has never been easier! To take advantage of this discount, visit Budgettruck.com/boatus or call 1-800-566-8422 and provide BoatUS Account # 5600134521.

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