KVD's New Boat

I came across this blog entry by Kevin on the bassmasters.com website. I could only wish to have this kind of set up. Check it out;

Jan. 25, 2011
Trickin' out my Nitro

My new Nitro will be delivered next week, and I'm excited.
I'll be running the Z9 again, but I've tweaked the layout a little and changed up some of the equipment I'll be running.

Here's an overview of some of the equipment and accessories I'll have on my 2011 boat:

Power
I'll run the MotorGuide Tour 36-volt motor and a Mercury Pro XS250 with a 25 Fury prop. The outboard will be mounted on an Atlas Hydraulic Jack Plate. The trolling motor will include some prototype features I'll be testing for MotorGuide, whose engineers are always searching for ways to make their motors and mount quiet and more durable. Many of the features on your MotorGuide were battled tested by Elite Series pros the year before.

Electronics
I'll have a Humminbird 998ci combo mounted on a Ram mount at the bow and another 998 flush mounted in the console. I also will have a larger 1197ci combo on a Ram Mount next to the console.
Ram Mounts are great additions because they enable you to adjust the viewing area depending upon where you're standing or sitting.

Nitro revamped its console this year to accommodate the 998, which has a larger screen. I'll use that unit for GPS and mapping. The 1197ci, mounted on the side of the console, has an even larger screen, which I will use for graphing and side imaging. While both of the units are capable of providing sonar, mapping and side imaging on one screen, spreading the information over two units enlarges the amount of information I can see.

I also will run a Stealth Charging System and four 31 Series AGM Deka batteries. The Stealth System transfers excess energy generated from the Pro XS alternator into all of my batteries. When it senses the cranking battery is charged, the amps are passed onto my trolling motor batteries anytime the big motor is running. It has a gauge at the console that displays battery power throughout the day.

The Stealth will keep my batteries fully charged on days when I'm running and gunning. I carry a Dual Pro 36 volt 25-amp portable charger to top off batteries at night, if necessary. It does a great job of charging batteries quickly when I need it.

Miscellaneous gear
I'll have a stereo/CD player at the console and a single Power-Pole mounted on the transom. The Power-Pole anchoring system is one of the greatest accessories to come along. I use it to hold me in grassbeds or when sight fishing in the spring.
I also have a "Key Captain" (Sarasota Quality Products) that replaces the standard locks found on most boat storage compartments and serves as an automatic locking system. With the touch of a key fob, I can lock and unlock all my compartments simultaneously. It's an after-market product offered by some boat companies as an option and one that I've found to be invaluable.

Remember, it's all about the attitude.


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Jeff Kriet signs with Uncle Ray's Potato Chips

This is great news for one of my favorite guys in the Elites. Jeff had lost his primary sponsor, Longhorn, due to a change in federal law.

As an aside I like that this is another non endemic sponsor. If I could only get Target to decide to enter into bass fishing.




Uncle Ray's Potato Chips are proud to announce Bassmaster Elite Series professional angler Jeff Kriet has signed on as the spokesperson of the company. Kriet will display Uncle Ray's branding as the primary image on his boat wrap for the 2011 Bassmaster Elite Series. This relationship marks Uncle Ray's first foray into the sport of bass fishing.
"We really look forward to introducing millions of fishing fans to Uncle Ray's Potato Chips," said Ray Jenkins who founded Uncle Ray's in 1965. "Our company is a family business and we love the idea of connecting with customers through a family oriented sport like fishing."

Jeff Kriet has been fishing professionally in B.A.S.S. tournaments since 1998. He has qualified for the prestigious Bassmaster Classic seven times and will be competing in that championship again in New Orleans from February 18 through 20, 2011.

"I'm excited to show off my new Uncle Ray's boat wrap at the Classic," said Kriet. "This is the kind of company that anyone would be proud to be associated with. I can't wait to introduce more anglers and fans to Uncle Ray's Potato Chips."

About Uncle Ray's
Uncle Ray's has been producing these great tasting chips for over 40 years. Located in Detroit, Mich., Uncle Ray's specializes in great tasting unique flavored potato chips. A chapter from a series of stories dubbed "The Life and Times of Uncle Ray" can be found on the back of each Uncle Ray's branded product."




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Fishing News: FLW exclusive premiere: ‘Reel Cast’ - FLW Outdoors

Fishing News: FLW exclusive premiere: ‘Reel Cast’ - FLW Outdoors

Is it just me or is the FLW coming on strong for 2011? Every time I check out FLW's website there is another announcement post about a sponsor or enhancement. Walmart, minn kota, Kellogg's, Attraxx, EverStar, live streams, Digital magazine with video embedded, podcasts, vodcasts, BFL weigh in coverage, expanded AOY's, expanded payouts, Laura Schara (okay so this isn't a win according to some), Forrest Wood Cup being recognized as event of the year.....Seriously the list goes on. It's down right impressive. Maybe all this is in response to the new ownership group for B.A.S.S and FLW seeing a window of opportunity to dominate during a time of change?

Are you paying attention B.A.S.S.? You are getting it handed to you in a big time way. If it wasn't for the Classic, which for me is still my favorite tournament, what other news would B.A.S.S have that would make similar splashes? Take a moment to visit each site, do you think I'm onto something or just on something? Bassmasteror FLW. Right on the home page of FLW Bass, huge banner announcing the "Live video coverage of FLW outdoor tournaments".

The Bass Pastor had to look through the comments section to find out the elites are streaming the classic weigh in outside of ESPN360. "Tucked away" was the exact term he used; Check it out here

The Bassmaster Elites is an awesome circuit with unreal anglers. I have to believe there has been some really news worthy events for them over the off season. Where is the new ownership group? What are a few of the things they have begun work on? Do we have to dig through the comments sections to find the news?

Anyway this is just my opinion and really what do I know anyway? Truth be told I have historically followed the elites more closely. I like the TV coverage more than FLW's. But it seems to me that the FLW has come ready to play and I've taken notice.

FLW EverStart Series Kicks Off 2011 Season

The EverStart series makes it's much anticipated return today by opening the Southeastern Division on Lake Okeechobee. EverStart is returning as the primary sponsor and bringing a few welcomed changes along with it.

For starters (pun intended), they have added an Angler of the Year race for each division. The AOY race is not only for the front of the boat guys either, they are including the co-anglers as well. Payouts for capturing the title of AOY is $5000 and $2000 respectively. And speaking of money, the overall payouts have increased. Apparently EverStart anglers have taken notice of these changes and have come out in droves to participate. The Okeechobee tournament is 165 anglers and 165 co-anglers strong. That's 30 total fishermen over the "full" tournament level of 150/150.

The FLW Outdoors website has a good article about early perceptions on how the lake is going to fish. By all accounts guys are anticipating heavy bags at the weigh in's. It will be interesting to how the tournament really plays out with a possible front moving in overnight.

If you are a bassin' newbie like myself, stay tuned for another post breaking down the different FLW series offerings. If you are a Minnesota rube and like to know how other "Minnesotans" are fairing on the tournament trail, this will be a place for you to get that info too.

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Masters Bass Circuit

In reading a great post by Five Bass Blog I learned that Minnesota has a new professional tournament trail starting in 2011; Masters Bass Circuit created by North American Membership Group.

I don't follow walleye fishing very closely, and yes I am born and raised right here in Minnesota, but apparently we've had a very successful walleye circuit for 26 years running; Cabela's Masters Walleye Circuit. The new bass circuit is going to be modeled after the walleye circuit.

The Masters Bass Circuit is a two person team format. According to the NPAA the payouts are substantial. "We are planning on four tournaments in 2011 in the Minnesota/Wisconsin area," said Sr. Events Coordinator Dan Johnson, who oversees both the bass and walleye circuits. "We'll have three one-day qualifiers, each with a 50-boat limit and $10,000 first-place prize and 80 percent payback, and a two-day, 30-boat championship with a $20,000 first-place payout."

Entry fees are $400 for qualifying tournaments and $600 for the championship. Details on the schedule, registration, sponsor contingencies and more will be announced shortly."

Apparently this is somewhat old news since several blogs have already posted about it but it's the first time i had heard about it. I'm not a good enough angler to complete at this level but I'm excited about what this circuit could do for bass fishing in Minnesota.


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Fish PAA TV

I watched an episode of Fish PAA TV today covering the BPS PAA tournament on Lake Cherokee. It houses anglers from both the Elites and FLW Tour. I have had a blog post in draft status for some time where I started to lay out the various pro circuits; PAA, FLW Tour and BASS Elites. But today I when I discovered that the PAA was going to be on TV, I knew I'd have to watch and comment before I finished my original post.

So what is the PAA? Well in short it has similar rules to the elites; 3 day tournament with all anglers fishing on days 1 & 2 but then the top 30 advance to the 3rd day. Standard 5 bass limit. One interesting difference is they practice for 3 days followed by a day off. Then after the day off the tournament starts. I believe this is different from both of the other two major circuits. The anglers had many positive things to say about the format.

The money for this tournament was okay with over 300k in cash and prizes available. The top angler got 10k and a Phoenix 719 bass boat with a 225 Merc. Definitely more than a club tournament but in comparison to the elites the winner gets 50k-100k and on the FLW Tour it's 125k for some events.

As I mentioned, the tournament had both FLW and BASS anglers. Just a few names in the tournament; Casey Ashley, Timmy Horton, Shaw Grigsby, Charley Hartley, Sean Hoernke, Brent Chapman, Todd Faircloth, Lance Vick and one of my favorites, Jeff Kreit.

The quality of the guys fishing makes the tournament impressive. The production quality of the actual show wasn't as impressive however. I was surprised because the "Bass Pros" show is one that I think is fairly well done. I had higher expectations for the tournament coverage.

The program is 30 minutes on the sportsman's channel. Today's episode covered just day one of the tournament. Day two is set to air next week on Monday. I do like the quick 30 minute format for the program. It allows me to watch a bit of tournament fishing in a quick 22 minute block if I fast forward through the commercials. The voice over guy was too formal. A positive was the "off the water" segments they had were actually quite good.

Overall it was worth the 22 minute investment. It's a program that I will continue to tune into primarily because of the mix of FLW and BASS guys. So set your DVR's to record the next episode. I think you'll enjoy it.

Oh and on a side note, I always find it moderately humorous when you see a pro using another pro's signature equipment. A perfect example was Brent Chapman using the yellow Skeet Reese rods.


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