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Dock Talk
Welcome to InshoreFan's Dock Talk section, where you will see brief, newsworthy items that for one reason or another can't be made into full-blown news articles. Despite the name, and in keeping with InshoreFan's editorial policy, every effort will be made to avoid publishing outright rumors.
Merc's Fleming to BWB 8/27/2008 Mercury Marine director of communications Steve Fleming announced today that he has accepted the position of editor at Bass & Walleye Boats magazine. This is his last week at Mercury.
"I truly enjoyed my 6 years here, both dealing with the media and working with the folks at Mercury," Fleming noted. "Now I'm very excited about returning to my journalism roots, joining the good people at Ehlert/Affinity Publications and rubbing elbows with the writers and editors of the boating industry."
Bush: Memo on central Pacific 8/27/2008 In an August 25 Executive Memo to the Secretaries of Defense, Interior and Commerce and the Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), President Bush directed them to study potential marine protected areas in the central Pacific Ocean. The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) supports the President for his direction to the agencies and CEQ to sustain access to recreational fishing as part of their study.
"We are very pleased that after much discussion, the President included sustained access for recreational fishing in the central Pacific region as an integral part of a conservation management plan," said ASA President and CEO Mike Nussman. "We are even more pleased that the President chose not to include two areas of great concern for the sportfishing community, the Gulf of Mexico's Islands in the Stream and marine areas of the southeast United States."
As outlined in the memo, the central Pacific region includes coral reefs, pinnacles, sea mounts, islands and the surrounding waters of Johnston Atoll, Howland, Baker and Jarvis Islands, Kingman Reef, Palmyra Atoll, Wake Island and Rose Atoll. These are all high-value fish habitat areas.
Nussman further said, "It is our view that the Gulf of Mexico and marine waters off the southeast United States coast are adequately managed by the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils. Any need for marine protected areas should be addressed through the councils' public and science-driven process."
Yamaha announced yesterday that it recently broke ground on a 220,000 square-foot expansion of its logistics facility in Kennesaw, Ga. According to a Yamaha-issued press release, this expansion is "part of a plan to increase both the capacity and efficiency of its operations (in Kennesaw)."
The expansion is scheduled to be completed in March 2009, and will increase the warehouse space from 200,000 square feet to 420,000 square feet. The company also expects efficiency gains of 20 to 25 percent thanks to the installation of new order tracking and conveyance systems and the consolidation of operations with other Yamaha logistics facilities.
“Our number one priority is achieving the highest customer satisfaction in the industry,” said Phil Dyskow, Yamaha Marine Group President. “We’ve been making improvements and building our marine infrastructure with customer satisfaction in mind. This expansion will allow us to increase the inventory of vital parts and accessories and reduce the time from order to delivery.”
InterMedia buys Barrett 8/21/2008 (Editor's note: Intermedia Outdoors today issued the following press release to announce its acquisition of Barrett Productions.)
New York, NY – InterMedia Outdoors, Inc. (IMO), the industry leader and largest provider of content dedicated to sportsmen, and the parent company of The Sportsman Channel (TSC), today announced that it has acquired Barrett Productions, one of the preeminent producers of outdoors, adventure and sports television programming. This transaction brings together two leading television production and content companies, creating a dynamic and vast video-content entity comprising more than 10,000 hours of video content targeting the outdoors.
"By bringing together Barrett Productions' talented staff and high quality programming with our high-performing television team, TSC network platform, powerful online network of sites and unparalleled print titles, we will be able to achieve even greater success in serving the needs of sportsmen and providing superior value to our marketing partners," said IMO's executive vice president of television and digital media Willy Burkhardt.
"After 18 years of building up an attractive niche in the outdoors television marketplace, the opportunity to join forces with a powerful and professional company like InterMedia Outdoors is a dream come true for us. Our combined video library and production and content creation skills will be unrivaled in the outdoors arena," said John Barrett, president of Barrett Productions.
The acquisition of Barrett adds additional momentum to IMO's strategy of building TSC into the country's leading network serving America's sportsmen. This spring, IMO announced the initial elements of a new programming strategy that includes shifting all of its programming to TSC. With nearly 30 television shows in production this year, including Guns&Ammo TV, Ducks Unlimited, Petersen's Hunting, World Billfish Series, In-Fisherman TV and Gore-Tex Adventures, the newly combined entity will be a powerhouse in delivering high-impact outdoors programming with plans to rapidly expand production with the introduction of new shows on TSC in the next 12 months.
"Barrett creates first-rate, award-winning productions, and we're thrilled to integrate their resources with IMO's already vast, and accomplished outdoor content production platform," said InterMedia Outdoors CEO Jeff Paro. "We'll aggressively begin to tap these new resources for The Sportsman Channel, giving the network a strength no other network in the outdoor category can claim. TSC continues to be a better network for the consumer, and we look forward to accelerating distribution expansion in the near future with the development of new and dynamic distribution partnerships."
Since forming in 1989, Barrett Productions has established itself as an industry leader in outdoor and adventure television production. Barrett has produced award-winning productions on every continent in the world and in every state in America. For more information, visit www.barrettproductions.com.
The third of four FLW Redfish Series western division tournaments kicks off today in Rockport, Texas. This is the time of year when thousands of upper-slot and oversized redfish start to group up in giant schools in preparation of moving offshore through the passes to spawn.
This visit to Rockport comes about 2 weeks earlier than the one last year, when Jon and Kris Culpepper won by power-fishing huge schools of reds in the Upper Laguna Madre. But you can expect a similar story to play out at this event. The Upper Laguna has been coughing up some huge weights in recent local tournaments, and the word is out among the FLW camp.
The wildcard in this event, as it is in just about every Texas-based redfish tournament, will be the weather. Here's a look at the conditions expected throughout the event from OutdoorsFanWeather.com:
Keep an eye on InshoreFan for post-weigh-in coverage each day of the event.
Batten down the hatches 8/21/2008 The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) urges boat owners to properly secure their boats in advance of sustained strong winds from Tropical Storm Fay, which continues to hover over and skirt the state.
Vessels that break free can cause problems to waterways with pollution from spilled fuel and oil, and boats can drift into bridges, docks, seawalls and piers, causing interference to navigation and damaging the boats themselves.
"Now is the time to secure your vessel to make sure it doesn't break free and cause damage to property or result in people getting injured," FWC's law enforcement director, Col. Julie Jones, said. "Boat owners are responsible for their boats, so there is no walking away and forgetting about it."
According to Florida law, marinas can't force boat owners to remove their vessels following a hurricane watch or warning. Florida also has laws related to abandoned vessels. The state is often overwhelmed with lost, abandoned and damaged vessels following significant weather events.
Residents are encouraged to call their local law enforcement agencies or the FWC to report vessels that have broken free.
The FWC will assist local and federal partners to assess waterways to ensure they are clear of dangerous obstacles and that waterway markers are intact and boat ramps are clear. The agency will work with United States Coast Guard to advise mariners about problem areas for navigation and will establish emergency closures of specific waterways if needed.
If boat owners trailer their boats, the FWC recommends they secure their vessels in a safe location, let some air out of the trailer tires, block the wheels, and, if possible, anchor the boat down and/or add weight to help keep the boat in place.
The FWC's Division of Law Enforcement and other law enforcement agencies are often tasked with helping people who intentionally put themselves at risk, such as personal watercraft operators who view the high waves created by a storm as an opportunity to jump waves. In light of a recent serious injury because of kite-boarding in Fay's winds, Jones urged thrill-seekers to avoid the waters and high winds created from the storm.
"Going to the hospital is not a thrill. And please keep in mind, when people choose to act irresponsibly, they jeopardize others," Jones said. "They are causing law enforcement officers, rescue workers and other emergency personnel to risk their lives."
Information on how to moor vessels properly, report debris, as well as other helpful information, is available atMyFWC.com/boating/. Report damaged markers to 1-866-405-BUOY.
The Kayak Angers Society of America (KASA), an organization that specializes in getting wounded veterans out on the water for kayak-fishing expeditions through their Heroes on the Water (HOW) program, received some big news recently.
The Texas-based organization received a co-op grant from Texas Parks and Wildlife for $50,000.
“Working with program managers at BAMC and Fort Sam Houston, we were able to take our first soldier kayak fishing in October of last year,” said KASA treasurer and board member Jim Dolan, a former U.S. Air Force C-130 pilot. “From there it just kind of grew. By December, we were on our fifth trip, trout fishing on the Blanco River with eight wounded warriors.”
Dolan said the TPWD grant is “bootstrap money” that will help the organization acquire paddling and fishing equipment and pay some of the transportation costs associated with the outings.
“We’ve had tremendous interest in this program,” Dolan said. “We’ve actually had more people interested in going out with us than we had money or volunteers to accommodate. This grant will really help, but it’s just a start.”
Danny Paschall, a board member and former enlisted soldier who now works in the oil and gas industry in Houston, said time on the water and recovery from war wounds is a pretty good match.
“To begin with, kayak fishing is an independent activity that almost anyone can participate in,” he said. “It can be just as serene and relaxing or just as exciting and fast-paced as you want it to be. It’s also a lifetime skill that people can continue to enjoy well into their senior years.”
Past participants in the outings have suffered injuries ranging from amputations to burns to traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder.
“We haven’t had anyone who couldn’t comfortably paddle and fish,” said KASA board member Kendal Larson, a professional photographer who also served in the Air Force. “Those plastic boats are great equalizers. The relaxation and empowerment we see in the troops is strong stuff.”
KASA has plans for as many as a dozen outings in the next year, all of which are free to participants.
Abu FOAL: Riddle's shallow-water monster 8/15/2008 Paul Riddle's story about landing a monster black drum off the coast of Florida is the latest entry in the Abu Garcia Fish of a Lifetime contest. You might say it was a family affair as his uncle Joe hooked the beast, Paul fought it, and cousin Nick scooped it up in the net. To read all about it, click over to the Abu Garcia Fish of a Lifetime section of the Berkley Catch More Fish page.
Remember, this is the last month to enter the Fish of a Lifetime contest. So if you've been sitting on your big fish story, now's the time to send it in. Click here to learn how to send in your Abu Garcia story.
And remember: Your fish of a lifetime doesn't have to be a bass, and can also be a tourney limit of a lifetime.
InshoreFan has been tracking a rumor for a little over a month regarding the FLW Redfish Series. Word started spreading last month at the ICAST show in Las Vegas that FLW Outdoors may be completely doing away with the Redfish Series in 2009, and that rumor has just been confirmed in an FLW Outdoors press release. But the cancellation reaches farther than just redfish. FLW is also putting an end to its kingfish and striper events, which completely removes the organization from the saltwater market.
The release didn't say much about the saltwater shutdowns, but rather focused on the extra attention the organization will be giving its bass trails in lieu of the nixed series.
"We are very excited about the future of our bass tournament circuits based on the changes we have made for the 2009 season and the 2010 Forrest Wood Cup," said FLW Outdoors President and CEO Charlie Evans. "We are always looking for ways to enhance our programs, and we chose to refocus our resources on our core bass-fishing business, college fishing and getting young adults and youth participating in the wonderful sport of fishing."
The InshoreFan staff is currently on-site at the Forrest Wood Cup and will attempt to get comments from FLW officials about the decision to discontinue their saltwater-based events.
InshoreFan is also tracking another rumor spawned by this development that says Ranger Boats may somehow carry on the redfish events in what's being dubbed the Ranger Redfish Series. However, these rumors have yet to be confirmed. InshoreFan has contacted an official at Ranger and is awaiting comment.
Look for a follow-up article with reactions from redfish pros and industry insiders sometime next week on InshoreFan.com.
> What are your thoughts on the cancellations? Sound off in our InshoreFan FeedBack section.
Abu FOAL: Last month to enter 8/8/2008 Just a note to let InshoreFans know the long-running Abu Garcia Fish of a Lifetime contest will draw to a close this month. A winner will be named for August, but entries that arrive after August 31 cannot be considered.
Why end the contest? Because another new contest from Abu Garcia will take its place. Details coming soon.
If you've caught the Fish of a Lifetime and want the chance to win a free Abu Garcia reel before the end of this month, click here to find out how to enter.
Abu Garcia today announced the winner of its June Fish of a Lifetime contest to be youngster Shaun Finn (pictured) from Olathe, Kan. Congratulations, Shaun! Your new Abu Garcia Revo reel and hat will arrive soon in the mail.
For your chance at scoring a sweet new Abu Garcia Revo reel, all you have to do is be ready to act when that fish (or tournament limit) of a lifetime comes to the boat. Be sure to have your camera ready and snap some photos of your catch, then click here to learn how to send in your Fish of a Lifetime story.
And remember: This is the Fish of a Lifetime contest, not the Bass of a Lifetime contest. So don't hesitate to send us your story about the monster catfish, redfish, tournament limit or whatever else you haul to the boat on your favorite Abu Garcia reel.
New Bushnell GPS 7/31/2008 With its large 3 1/2-inch color LCD screen, the new Onix 350 GPS receiver from Bushnell provides a big view of the great outdoors. The ability to download high-resolution digital satellite photography and topo maps lets the unit bring navigation to life.
Features of the Onix 350 include a new almanac page that lets users view lunar and solar information to help determine the best fishing and hunting days based on sunrise/sunset times and moon phases. The Solunar Edge Technology utilizes internal sensors that monitor barometric pressure and temperature to provide significantly more accurate information on animal and fish activity than traditional sun and moon tables.
In addition, the internal sensors are also used to provide weather forecasts so that hikers and hunters can be alerted to impending storm fronts.
The unit also features a new elevation page that provides not only the current elevation, but the ability to track your changes in altitude over time or distance as you hike. Elevation changes are presented graphically, so it’s easy to see at a glance how much has been gained or lost.
An upgraded base map of the United States and Canada shows roads, cities and points of interest. The unit can be set up with customized user profiles that allow the user to set specific displays for land or water navigation. A built-in self calibrating digital compass makes navigation more precise, whether on land or on the water. For more personal navigation, users can download detailed topo maps and color satellite images
Designed for rugged outdoor use, the Onix 350 is waterproof (IPX-7 standard) and rubber-armored for protection. It will soon be available at Bushnell dealers nationwide, with a suggested retail price of $399.99.
Chief Tauzin (right) says sight-casting a Berkley Gulp! Shrimp is his favorite technique.
Here's the second entry in what will be an ongoing project here on InshoreFan profiling the nations foremost saltwater tournament anglers. This installment features another FLW Redfish Series pro: Chief Tauzin. Tauzin and his partner Clark Jordan are heavy-hitters in the FLW Western Division and have several Top 5 finishes to their credit.
Tauzin and Jordan are right at home in the waters around Rockport, Texas, the location of the upcoming FLW Redfish Series event. Tauzin notched a Top-5 finish out of Rockport a couple weeks ago in a Texas Redfish Series tournament with a different partner, and he and Jordan are a likely pick for another Top-5 showing when the FLW rolls through town.
Read below to learn more about Tauzin, and if you'd like your profile featured on InshoreFan, scroll down to the bottom of this entry to find out how.
Name: Chief, Tauzin
Hometown: Pearland, Texas
Date of Birth: 04/20/1976
Teammate: Clark Jordan
League: FLW
Occupation: Oilfield Sales
Height: 5'9" Weight: 185 pounds
Pro Debut: 2004
Top 10 Finishes (Wins): 13 (1 in FLW) As of: 02/2008
Career Earnings: $85,000 As of: 02/2008
Championships/All Stars Fished (Won): 4 (0)
Home Waters/Port: Galveston, Texas
Favorite species to catch: redfish
Favorite place to fish: Port Aransas, Texas (Laguna Madre). There's clear, shallow water and an abundance of schooling fish.
Least favorite place to fish: Orange Beach, Ala. You have to run a long way to catch solid fish.
Favorite Technique: Sight-casting with a 3-inch Berkley Gulp! Shrimp.
Primary Fishing Strength: Staying calm when things aren't going our way.
Secondary Fishing Strength: Running and spotting schools of fish.
Biggest Weakness: Patience.
Boat: Ranger 2200 Bay
Motor: 250 hp Evinrude E-Tec
Tow Vehicle: Ford F-250
Fishing Sponsors: Ranger, Evinrude, Berkley, Abu Garcia, Gulp!, Costa Del Mar, Falcon Rods
Favorite Food: Mexican
Favorite Music: Texas music.
Favorite Book/Movie: Lonesome Dove
Angling Hero: Kevin VanDam. He's the master of consistency.
Non-Angling Hero: My father, Johnny Tauzin. He's proof that hard work pays off.
When Not Fishing: I like to golf and watch college football.
Why do you fish? - Fishing is my release from everyday life and stress at work.
> If you're an individual or team that fishes the Oh Boy! Oberto Redfish Cup, Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series, IFA Redfish Tour, American Striper Association (ASA) or Professional Tarpon Tournament Series (PTTS) events and would like your profile featured on InshoreFan.com, click here to send us an e-mail and let us know. Leave us a phone number and we'll contact you for the profile information.
CBA now a law 7/30/2008 President Bush today signed the Clean Boating Act of 2008 into law. The legislation will protect recreational boaters throughout the U.S. from unprecedented federal regulations.
To read a press release from the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), click here.
ASA Nationals in Virginia Beach 7/30/2008 The American Striper Association (ASA) announced today that it will hold its season-ending National Tournament in Virginia Beach, Va. on December 13, 2008, and again next year in 2009.
According to the press release: "The move to Virginia Beach will provide an exciting opportunity for ASA tournament participants to fish the Chesapeake Bay, which is known as the premier striped Bass fishery on the East Coast.
"The move will also allow tournament participants to get familiar with the fishery around Virginia Beach preparing them for the 2009 ASA Series kickoff tournament, The Mid-Atlantic Rockfish Shootout held on January 8th, 9th and 10th."
Diamond Jim on the loose 7/30/2008 On July 31, 2008, 21 specially tagged striped bass will be released at locations throughout the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. One of the 21 will be Diamond Jim, a fish worth $25,000 cash courtesy of Boater's World and a $5,000 diamond from Smyth Jewelers, if caught by midnight on August 31. The other tagged striped bass, Diamond Jim imposters, will each be worth $500 in Boater's World gift certificates.
Designed to promote recreational fishing in Maryland, recognize angler efforts and inspire environmental stewardship, the 2008 Maryland Fishing Challenge began Saturday, April 12 and runs through Labor Day, September 1. Any angler who catches a citation-qualifying fish will be eligible to win one of the official sponsor grand prizes. To date, over 1,100 anglers have qualified to win grand prizes, including a 2008 Toyota Tundra 4x4 pickup truck from Central Atlantic Toyota, a boat and trailer package from Bass Pro Shops and $5,000 in gear from Bill's Outdoor Center.
The Redfish Cup broadcast season is in full swing, and if you still haven't checked out this year's coverage - you should. The coverage is more in-depth than ever and has featured some fantastic on-the-water footage, fish-catches and a few bloopers, too.
Here's the schedule for the remaining broadcasts. Tune in to ESPN2 on any of the following dates to check out the action.
Air Date -- Start Time -- End Time -- Venue
08/02/08, SAT -- 08:30A -- 08:56A -- Special Redfish Techniques Episode
08/23/08, SAT -- 08:30A -- 08:56A -- Chalmette, LA Part 1
08/30/08, SAT -- 08:30A -- 08:56A -- Chalmette, LA Part 2
09/06/08, SAT -- 08:30A -- 08:56A -- Road to the Championship
10/4/08, SAT -- 8:30A -- 08:56A -- Pensacola, FL Part 1
10/11/08, SAT -- 8:30A -- 08:56A -- Pensacola, FL Part 2
10/18/08, SAT -- 8:30A -- 08:56A -- Championship Part 1, Biloxi, MS
10/25/08, SAT -- 8:30A -- 08:56A -- Championship Part 2, Biloxi, MS
Congress passes CBA 7/23/2008 Both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives yesterday passed the Clean Boating Act of 2008. The combined bills, which will exclude recreational boaters from a new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) permitting plan, will now go to President Bush.
To read a press release on the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) website, click here.
After Brunswick Corp. made significant management cuts at both Lund and Crestliner, many assumed similar cuts were ahead at Triton Boats, which is also a Brunswick brand. However, recent layoffs at Triton appear to be of a somewhat different nature.
Brunswick spokesman Dan Kubera today told BassFan: "The layoffs that have taken place at Triton have mostly occurred in our hourly work force, with a handful of salaried positions in the Accounting/Finance department and the Sales department. The pro-staff manager's position was not eliminated."
The sales position was said to be clerical.
There was initial concern that cuts would come to Triton's pro-staff management. Its pro staff is monstrous, with names like Gary Klein, Aaron Martens, Terry Scroggins and others, plus a long list of affiliated pros throughout all ranks of competitive fishing. The concern was intensified when the pro-staff management position was eliminated at both Lund and Crestliner.
Kubera noted: "As we've discussed, the economy has taken a toll on the marine industry and has put pressure on all marine companies. For our planning purposes, Brunswick is not assuming that these pressures will abate any time soon. As a result, we're planning for an environment in which the U.S. marine market will be smaller in the near term, and we will resize our company accordingly. Our objective is to thrive and prosper while the U.S. marine market remains under pressure and to outperform when we see a rebound in demand.
"Unfortunately, as part of this overall effort, several positions were eliminated recently at Triton. As we move forward and continue to seek ways to remove costs and improve efficiencies, there will be similar actions such as these at Triton throughout the organization as we step up the pace and magnitude of these efforts."
The immediate question in the sport and industry now is what effect the downsizing will have on Mercury Marine staffing.
Pradco has big plans 7/21/2008 Pradco today announced its plans to spend $21 million on a new 300,000-square-foot manufacturing facility at Fort Chaffee, Ark.
Currently, Pradco operates three buildings in Fort Smith, Ark. where it’s been located since 1962. The new location will consolidate the older buildings and give the company the opportunity to expand in the future. Pradco currently employs 150 people in Fort Smith.
“Pradco and its fishing lures have found a great fit in Fort Smith and the Natural State for 46 years,” Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe said in a news release announcing the move. “We appreciate their continued investment in Arkansas, especially as we work with businesses to redevelop this area of Fort Chaffee.”
Pradco, a subsidiary of Esbco, manufactures popular lures such as Rebel, Heddon, Yum, Bomber and Booyah.
“We are a leader in the fishing industry worldwide, and we are pleased that the innovation and leadership will continue to be located in Fort Smith, Ark.,” Bruce Stanton, Pradco’s vice president and general manager, said in the release. “This is our home and we definitely have been made to feel extremely welcome by our local and state leaders.”
Foot-eating fish? 7/21/2008 Here's a new and unique way to utilize live fish: as instruments for a pedicure. CNN has the story. To check it out, click here.
Today, it was announced Yamaha has purchased the Indianapolis-based company with the intention of retaining its workforce while upgrading its facility and making improvements in the processes for producing marine propellers.
“Until today, we have been a customer of Precision Propeller,” said Phil Dyskow, Yamaha Marine Group President, in a news release announcing the purchase. “We liked the company so much, we decided to make it a part of Yamaha Marine Group.”
Precision Propeller’s name will change to Precision Propeller Industries, Inc. (PPI).
The Kennesaw, Ga.-based Yamaha Marine Group markets marine outboard motors ranging in size from 2.5 to 350 horsepower. The addition of PPI will allow Yamaha to better meet the needs of its customers, which include more than 120 independent boat builders in the United States.
“The marine outboard industry is complex,” said Dyskow. “We need to have the right outboard motors for our customers and all the right hardware to go along with them. PPI employees will help us supply them. We value their knowledge and skill.”
PPI opened in 1969 as a propeller repair company. In 1980, the company began producing custom-made propellers under owner and founder Jim Booe.
“I am convinced Yamaha will take this business to the next level,” said Booe, founder of PPI. “I could think of no better way to assure PPI’s continued growth in the marine industry
Want the heads-up on what's new in tackle? Watch for a comprehensive ICAST report, which will be published soon. In the meantime, here's a summary of the products that won "Best of Show" awards in the respective categories this week at the industry's annual tradeshow in Las Vegas.
> Overall Best of Show -- Shimano -- Curado E Series (shown to right)
> Boating Accessory -- Bert's Custom Tackle -- Drop Down Rocket Launcher
Entering the Stonze age 7/16/2008 Tired of lead sinkers? Anglers will soon have a new alternative when Pallatrax USA launches its Stonze System at this week’s ICAST show in Las Vegas.
The Stonze weights, which have been granted a patent in Europe, are made of naturally-occurring stones and are available in different sizes and colors.
Both swivel and in-line versions will be offered for various fishing applications, including walleye, bass, catfish, carp and steelhead. A heavier Boulderz line will be geared toward the saltwater fishing market.
Pallatrax will be at booth 2049 at ICAST this week. To learn more about Pallatrax, click here.
Marilyn Monroe: Rapala HOFer? 7/16/2008 Flashback to August 1962. Marilyn Monroe’s death was in the headlines and it was the subject of the cover of that month’s Life magazine, which featured a pictorial look at the actress and model’s life. That issue broke all circulations records and became Life’s best-selling issue of all-time.
So where’s the connection to fishing? In the same issue, Rapala’s original floating lure was featured in an article entitled A Lure Fish Can’t Pass Up. At the time, Rapala was a two-person company in the U.S. but following the issue’s release, Rapala was swamped with orders, receiving three or more bags of mail per day with some orders containing cash begging for as many lures as it could buy.
"Rapala wobblers were starting to catch on," Rapala USA co-founder Ron Weber said in a news release. "It was like pouring gasoline on a campfire, we were overwhelmed with requests for Rapala lures. In no time at all we had orders for about three million pieces."
Because of the link between the coverage of Monroe’s death and the surge in popularity of Rapala’s lure, Rapala will induct Monroe into its Hall of Fame for the impact she had on its business.
"The article about Rapala lures in the 1962 issue of Life magazine created an unforeseeable chain of events for our company," said Tom Mackin, president of Rapala USA. "Marilyn Monroe's presence in that issue should definitely be credited for dramatically launching the Rapala brand.”
Hands-free boat at ICAST 7/16/2008 Carolina Electric Boats will be showing off its new Twin Troller Boat this week at the ICAST show in Las Vegas.
The boat features hands-free maneuverability and twin electric motors that operate independently which allow for a zero-degree turning radius. Using foot pedals, anglers can go from forward to reverse or change direction. The 10-foot boat can operate in as little as 6 to 8 inches of water and weighs 175 pounds.
“Fishing is much more productive when the sportsman’s hands are free to cast and not struggling to maintain position on the water or worry about underwater obstacles,” said Frank Jones, President of Carolina Electric Boats.
Berkley Experience Trailer: Bowling Green, Ky. 7/16/2008 The Berkley Experience Trailer is headed to the Gander Mountain store in Bowling Green, Ky., from July 18-20 to offer demonstrations and interactive games for kids and adults.
Everyday anglers will have a chance to view Berkley baits in action and take part in games and knot-tying contests.
Special sales and promotions will be offered wherever the Berkley trailer stops. The Bowling Green Gander Mountain is located at 725 Bluegrass Farms Blvd., Suite 1. You can call the store at (270) 538-0444.
The Berkley Experience Trailer has two more stops on its schedule this summer:
Gander Mountain course geared toward women 7/16/2008 Outdoor retailer Gander Mountain is offering a boating education and hands-on training program exclusively for women in partnership with the Marine Marketers of America (MMA).
The Boating Education and Safety Training (B.E.S.T.) course is scheduled for July 19 & 20 at the Gander Mountain store in Huber Heights, Ohio (8001 Troy Pike). Certified instructors will be on hand to lead the course, which will include on-the-water, hands-on boat-handling instruction and a boating education class.
The program is designed to give women from all experience levels with boating more skills and confidence to operate a boat safely on the water.
There area only 12 spots available and the cost is $40 per person. Pre-registration is required by calling the Huber Heights Gander Mountain at (937) 236-9786 or by visiting the store’s website.
Gander Mountain is the first recreational retail marine dealer among a total of five marine retailers around the country participating in the pilot program to test and validate the concept of a dealer-based women’s boating education course that will be launched nationally in 2009.
Yamaha recognized for customer satisfaction 7/16/2008
Photo: Photo: Yamaha
The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) has awarded the Yamaha Marine Group its 2008 Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) Recognition Award for Excellence in Customer Satisfaction.
The announcement was made Monday. Also, Yamaha’s three boat companies, Century, Skeeter and G3 Boats, all received awards.
Yamaha was lauded in the Outboard Engine category for the 7th straight year while Century and Skeeter were recognized in the Fiberglass Outboard Boat class and G3 Boats earned recognition in the Aluminum Outboard Boat category.
Skeeter was recognized for the 7th straight year as well.
“This award shows the dedication that our company, and our dealers, has to providing the highest levels of service to our customers,” Skeeter Products, Inc. Senior Vice President/General Manager Jeff Stone said in a news release. “After seven years, outstanding customer service is expected from our customers, and this will always be a cornerstone our our company.”
Skeeter’s Customer Service Manager, Robert Young, added that the company uses CSI data to identify trends and learn what the customer says, allowing the company too make improvements in the way it does business.
“The entire Skeeter family has a ‘can do’ attitude, with everyone doing their part to manufacture the best product available,” he said. “From our factory employees to our dealer network, each person in this process is held accountable for our success.”
“Customer satisfaction is what drives all of us here at Yamaha,” Yamaha Marine Group President Phil Dyskow said in a news release announcing the awards. “We share the award with our dealers, our boat-builder partners and our Yamaha team members, all of whom work to keep Yamaha Outboard customers satisfied.“
New Tru-T website and Tru-Life saltwater swimbaits 7/15/2008 Tru-Tungsten has revamped their website with a new look and tons of new content including videos and pro testimonials. We could tell you about all the cool stuff on the new site, but it'd be easier if you just went and checked it out for yourself at Tru-Tungsten.com.
While you're there, scroll down the front page and check out the new Tru-Life Saltwater swimbaits. The Tru-Life mullet is modeled after Tru-Tungsten's popular, fish-catching Tru-Life freshwater swimbaits. The mullet comes with saltwater-safe stainless steel components, and just from the looks of it, it's got to be one of the best big mullet imitations on the market. Looks like it'll be killer for trophy trout chasers.
Pure Fishing expands distribution deal 7/10/2008 Pure Fishing announced on Tuesday its plans to expand its current distribution with Big Rock Sports, a leading wholesale distributor.
The expanded offerings will include Abu Garcia, Berkley, Fenwick, Gulp!, Mitchell, SevenStrand, Spiderwire, Stren and Trilene products. Currently, Big Rock Sports distributes Penn, Pflueger, Shakespeare and Ugly Stik products, all Pure Fishing brands.
"The expanded presence with Big Rock Sports will build upon our strong brand distribution and greatly enhance service to our customers and consumers,” Terry Carlson, CEO of Pure Fishing, said in a news release. “We have a long history of developing strong, mutually beneficial partnerships with distributors and retailers.
“This past February, we were honored to be recognized as the 2007 Big Rock Vendor of the Year on behalf of our Shakespeare Fishing Tackle. This expanded partnership with Big Rock Sports underscores our commitment to providing exceptional service to our customers and providing consumers improved access to our brands."
Crazy Gulp! 7/9/2008 The Berkley Gulp! Jerk Shad and grub are two of Berkley's most popular and traditional offerings. Both bass and inshore anglers alike have come to love these two baits for their ease of use and fish-catching prowess.
But the folks at Berkley are always changing their baits trying to achieve the next step that will allow anglers to "Catch More Fish". That's why they engineered the new Gulp! Alive! Crazy Legs Jerk Shad and grub. They took two of their deadliest baits and souped them up with even more action and scent.
Fish-cancer link in Texas 7/8/2008 There's been a consumption advisory on certain species of fish and shellfish in the upper reaches of Texas' Galveston Bay near the Houston Ship Channel for quite some time now. But according to an article today in the Houston Chronicle, The Texas Department of State Health Services has extended that advisory to include Galveston's East, West and Chocolate Bays - areas previously regarded as safe for harvest.
According to a recently completed 2-year study, speckled trout and catfish taken from Galveston Bay waters are exhibiting high levels of dioxins and polychlorinated byphenyls (PCBs) - two chemicals that have been linked to cancer, as well as other reproductive and immune system issues.
The study concluded that speckled trout and catfish are the two primary offenders. Redfish, black drum and flounder were deemed safe to consume. The article makes no mention of shellfish.
> InshoreFan is currently working to contact the individual(s) who conducted the study to obtain further details about the consumption advisory and the state of the Galveston Bay fishery.
Anglers feeling fuel pinch 7/7/2008 A recent survey has illustrated the connection between higher gas prices and reduction in fishing trips.
According to a June survey by AnglerSurvey.com, 22% of anglers said higher fuel prices wouldn’t affect their fishing activities this summer. That’s compared to 35% who answered “no effect” to the same question a year ago.
Also, 32% of anglers this year indicated that gas prices would affect their fishing plans, up from the 22% who felt the same way in 2007.
As of July 2, the average price of a gallon of gasoline in the U.S. was $4.10, a 39% increase over last year, according to the American Automobile Association.
For more information on the survey, e-mail Rob Southwick at Rob@southwickassociates.com.
OFM continues growth 7/7/2008 (Editor's note: The following press release was issued tonight by OutdoorsFan Media.)
Brainerd, MN – OutdoorsFan Media (OFM), a division of InterMedia Outdoors, Inc., today released its web-traffic numbers for the first half of 2008, highlighting extraordinary growth across the portfolio of outdoors-focused websites. All six websites are racking up explosive growth in page views, with the overall portfolio breaking through the 3-million page-view mark in June.
OFM's portfolio now captures nearly 150,000 unique visitors monthly – visitors that are truly passionate about their outdoors interests, logging more than 17 pages per visitor. Collectively, the websites grew average monthly unique visitors by 65% over the first half of 2007, while page views increased an astounding 137% over the prior year period.
Major highlights include:
> 2.5 million page views in June, an all-time record for BassFan.com, up 169% versus 2007.
> Record number of unique visitors in June (100,527) on BassFan.com; an increase of 51% versus June 2007; average page views per unique visitors reached more than 24 pages.
> A 506% increase in average monthly page views on InshoreFan.com versus 2007; all-time record monthly unique visitors and monthly page views in May 2008.
> Powerful launch of TacticalGunFan despite a mid-month launch. TacticalGunFan has instantly established a significant fanbase of almost 12,000 unique visitors and more than 76,000 page views over just a few weeks.
OFM general manager Jim Manry said, "The first half of 2008 has been a period of tremendous growth for OFM's websites. Our content and user experience are clearly resonating with our audience and our growth in both page views and unique visitors has been outstanding."
InterMedia Outdoors, Inc. vice president Steve Hoffman added, "We've made a significant investment in improving the depth and breadth of content on BassFan and it's rewarding to see the positive response from our audience. Plus, we're ecstatic with the early traffic performance of TacticalGunFan, which we're convinced will become a major contributor to the growth of the OFM franchise."
Moving into the second half of the year, OFM plans to continue to build out content and features across the portfolio of sites while refining its sales strategy to create more effective and cost-efficient opportunities for sponsors to tap into the passion of OFM's growing audience base.
"Our sites continue to provide sponsors with direct and highly targeted connections to the world's most dedicated fishing and shooting enthusiasts," said Hoffman. "Our accurate and timely news content and unique analysis strongly resonates with hardcore shooters and anglers, and those are the potential customers that our advertisers most want to reach."
Fish Harder hooks Youvella 7/2/2008 Fish Harder Companies, parent company for brands Tru-Tungsten and Picasso, announced today it has acquired the rights to be the sole distributor of Youvella-USA products in the U.S. and Canada.
Fish Harder sales and marketing chief Tim Norman has been named head of the newly formed Youvella-USA, LLC.
Norman said: "We're excited about this opportunity. Youvella is by far the most modern and progressive sportfishing hook company in the world. They make a wide variety of hooks for the freshwater, saltwater and commercial markets. We intend to use their expertise - along with that of our pro staff - to develop a line of professional-grade fish hooks for the American and Canadian markets."
The first of the new pro-designed Youvella-USA hooks are expected to be shown in a few weeks at the ICAST industry tradeshow.
Notable about the deal, too, is that parallel models exist in the industry. Norman came to Fish Harder from Spro, and Spro is a sister company of Gamakatsu. Spro regularly engages with Gamakatsu to produce proprietary hooks for products like the Dean Rojas BronzEye Frog and Gary Klein signature-series jig.
Additionally, VMC is owned by Rapala, and Rapala hangs VMC hooks on its baits, including the proprietary Sure Set designed by David Fritts.
Fishing Friend Needs Help 7/2/2008 Former Kentucky Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Resources head Tom Bennett has been hospitalized in Louisville, Ky. and is facing a very serious medical situation that requires dialysis and plasma. Unfortunately, Bennett has a very rare blood type – AB Negative. Only one in 167 people have this blood type, but men with either AB+ or AB- can donate plasma to be used in his treatment.
As of last evening, the hospital where Bennett's being treated had only a 4-day supply of that plasma.
BassFans are asked to please consider a plasma donation. A donation can be made from any blood center, as long as Bennett's family faxes the facility an authorization form. Roy Grimes, of the National Archery in the Schools program, is the contact point for those who may be able to donate. Grimes can be reached at (502) 600-2053.
More on Boat-business slowdown 7/2/2008 Daily news publications have followed the downturn in the boat market fairly closely. Alongside Brunswick's announcement last week that it will lay off 1,000 (and possibly 1,700 more) workers, other bad-news items from around the industry include:
> Soundings Trade Only and the St. Cloud Times reported that Genmar Holdings laid off 35 of 700 workers at its Larson/Glastron plant in Little Falls, Minn. last week.
> The Baxter Bulletin reported that Ranger Boats had changed production schedule to two shifts, 3 days a week, and that Bass Cat had released 17 workers – both as adjustments to the market.
Abu Garcia today announced the winner of its June Fish of a Lifetime contest to be Gary Ginter (pictured) from Maplewood, Ohio. Congratulations, Gary! Your new Abu Garcia Revo reel and hat will arrive soon in the mail.
Meanwhile, the Fish of a Lifetime contest is still taking entries and awarding reels to the best big-fish story you can muster. Here's some comments from April winner Mark Linman:
"Thanks for entering my story in the Abu Garcia Fish of a Lifetime contest. My friends and family got a real kick out of reading my story and seeing my picture on BassFan.com. I also have to say that at first I thought I didn’t win.
"I was at a client's setting up new PCs, and when it comes time to test the Internet I always go to BassFan.com. It was then that I saw the FOAL winner announcement in the Dock Talk column, and it also had the name of the newest entry.
"I misread it and assumed the newest entry was the winner, so I clicked on the link and saw my picture. At first I thought, 'Oh man, they put my picture in by mistake.' Then I read and realized that I was the April winner. I shouted “YES!” and startled the girl in the cube next to me. Abu Garcia contacted me shortly afterwards and in 2 weeks I had an Abu Garcia Revo STX reel and fishing hat. The reel is simply incredible. I love my Revo S, but the STX is so smooth. It's simply the finest baitcaster I've ever used.
"Thanks again for letting me tell my Fish of a Lifetime story and hopefully I will have another one after using the Revo STX."
When you're fishing, remember to make sure you have a digital camera (or cell phone) with you because Abu Garcia is giving out a free new reel a month for the Fish of a Lifetime story it likes best. Click here to learn how to send in your Abu Garcia story.
And remember: Your fish of a lifetime doesn't have to be a bass (c'mon inshore guys, let's hear your stories), and can also be a tourney limit of a lifetime.
Have a website? Want to possibly make a little side cash? You might want to check out the new Angler Affiliate Program from BoatU.S. The organization has made available a button for website use, which links to its boat insurance quotes. Put it on your site, and you'll receive $4 for every completed application it generates.
To check out the program, click here, then click "Publishers" and scroll down to "Apply for a Commission Junction Publisher Account."
BassFan was pleasantly surprised when two boxes arrived at the offices. Inside each was a brand new Abu Garcia Revo model.
As you can see in the photo to right, one is midnight-blue, and the other's yellow. The blue one's The Winch, which features the popular ultra-low-profile Revo styling, but is geared at 5.4:1. Looking for a high-performance, low-profile, deep-cranking reel? This could be it. It should also be perfect for BassFans who tend to fish too fast with a higher-speed reel. It's packed with 11 ball-bearings, weighs a diminutive weighs 8 1/2 ounces, and features a deeper spool to carry more line.
The yellow specimen is the new Revo SKT Skeet Reese custom model. It's geared at 6.4:1, weighs a feather-light 6.8 ounces, also includes 11 bearings, and features oversized grips. Comes with a cool protective carry sleeve too.
The reels are in stock now at the BassFan store. To check out the Revo pages, which include detailed specs on the new models, click here for The Winch, or here for the SKT.
Major cutbacks at Brunswick 6/26/2008 With high gas prices, a teetering housing market, rising unemployment, a war, and general economic uncertainty, fishing industry insiders have been relatively nervous about the health of the industry. Hopes for a rebound took yet another step back today when Brunswick – parent company of Mercury Marine, plus several boat brands including Lund, Triton, Trophy and others – announced further, sweeping cutbacks to its marine business with the goal to save $300 million in fixed costs.
In a press release and conference call today, Brunswick detailed its downsizing strategy. In summary, the press release outlined the following news:
> "Brunswick Corp. announced today a set of comprehensive actions to resize the company to improve profitability during the current downturn in the U.S. marine market, including actions to reduce its fixed-cost structure by $300 million versus 2007 spending levels."
> Brunswick chairman and CEO Dustan McCoy stated: "For the past several years, we've been implementing initiatives to fundamentally change our cost structure by reducing our manufacturing footprint, and leveraging purchases of common components and materials across our brands and operations. In addition, we've addressed the prolonged downturn in the U.S. marine market by continually reducing production rates throughout our marine businesses, divesting under-utilized assets, exiting or divesting certain businesses, eliminating discretionary spending and reducing headcount. While these efforts have resulted in significant savings, the realities of the current U.S. marine market have caused us to step up the pace and magnitude of these efforts."
> McCoy also noted that "total unit sales of power boats in the United States in 2007 were at their lowest in more than 40 years."
> To reach its $300 million cost-savings target, the company will further shrink its North American manufacturing footprint, with 17 or fewer boat plants by the end of 2009, compared with the 29 it had in 2007. This will require the closure of four plants in addition to eight plant closures already completed or announced. Brunswick will also continue its efforts to reduce the complexity of its operations, including a reduction in the number of models and option packages to "focus on those that are popular and clearly resonate with consumers."
> In addition, Brunswick notified employees today that it will reduce its hourly and salaried work force at certain of its marine plants by 1,000. Further work force reductions of approximately 1,000 hourly and 700 salaried employees across the company's marine business units and staff functions are contemplated as additional plant closures and consolidations and other cost-cutting measures are completed.
Although not addressed today by the company, it can be expected that the cutbacks will also include pro-staff support and tournament sponsorship/underwriting, as well as media spending. Already this year, Brunswick chose not to renew its longstanding sponsorship of the Professional Walleye Trail. Earlier, it had stepped back from exclusive sponsorship of BASS.
The National Scholastic Sportsman Program (NSSP), based in Paducah, Ky., is an organization with the mission to educate outdoor enthusiasts in middle and high schools through the strengthening of character, leadership skills, respect for life and the promotion of conservation. The 2-year-old organization has members and schools in 38 states and reaches approximately 10,000 students through its program.
The NSSP today announced Triton Boats as its newest partner. As the official boat of the NSSP, Triton will be featured throughout all of the NSSP's media outlets and marketing materials.
Triton president Earl Bentz said of the partnership: "We think the NSSP is not only a great program, but it's also a much needed outlet within the outdoor industry. We're excited to be involved in a program that can directly impact the youth and help insure the future of our outdoor heritage. We look forward to being involved in the growth of this program."
Pure Fishing moving to Columbia, S.C. 6/25/2008 Since Pure Fishing's meager beginnings as the Berkley company, it had been headquartered in Sprit Lake, Iowa. The company, founded by Berkley Bedell, retained those roots and sense of place throughout its massive expansion over the past decades. The company announced today, however, that it would relocate its world headquarters to Columbia, S.C.
Pure Fishing was purchased by Jarden Corp. in April 2007, a few weeks before Jarden purchased Shakespeare.
Shakespeare, and its sister brands Pflueger, Penn, All-Star and X-Tools, are headquartered in Columbia, and for the past year there seemed some question as to where respective Pure Fishing and Shakespeare employees would eventually be housed.
The news that Pure Fishing will relocate its management and sales headquarters to Columbia (rather than Shakespeare to Spirit Lake), and roll the Shakespeare, Pflueger, Penn, All-Star and X-Tools brands into the Pure Fishing umbrella, has brought at least a bit of uncertainty to the industry, with insiders wondering if all Pure Fishing executives will make the move.
The Columbia location will contain the Pure Fishing world headquarters staff including senior leadership, sales management, sourcing and supply chain management, and specific category marketing and product-development teams. Pure Fishing will continue to maintain the majority of its U.S. coworker base in Spirit Lake, Iowa for manufacturing and research.
The move appears to be the result of several factors. An oft-cited complication of the Spirit Lake headquarters was recruitment difficulties – it was an ongoing challenge to attract talent to the remote location. Also, Columbia is more central to the bass and inshore markets, which are both key in the company's growth strategy.
A press release issued by Pure Fishing today stated: "This move will strongly position Pure Fishing for its next phase of growth as an international leader in the fishing-tackle market, with closer proximity to its global customer base and improved operating efficiencies."
Pure Fishing CEO Terry Carlson was quoted as saying: "We're committed to building the world's best fishing-tackle company and our decision to establish our world headquarters in Columbia represents this commitment in action. Combining three fishing companies into one organization with centralized leadership at one location is a key element of our long-term focus on building on what is the strongest cross-category brand portfolio in the industry. With this new headquarters, we will better serve our customers around the world and be able to take advantage of synergies and new business opportunities created through the combination of Pure Fishing, Shakespeare and Penn."
Carlson added, "The talent and passion of our staff across each of our facilities, including our freshwater and saltwater centers of excellence in Philadelphia, Spirit Lake, Iowa, and Columbia, are unparalleled in our industry and we'll continue to drive innovation across all of our brands to ensure they remain the best in the industry."
In addition, Pure Fishing recently began the process of building a new 400,000 square-foot facility distribution center in Kansas City, Mo.
Abu FOAL: Russow's catch-and-release story 6/25/2008 Today in the Abu Garcia Fish of a Lifetime section of the Berkley Catch More Fish page, Rob Russow shares his story about the hard-fighting cat he landed while tossing a wacky-rigged Senko in a friend's neighborhood pond.
Sounds like a simple fish story, right? But when we say 'cat', we don't mean catfish. Click the link above to read about Russow's feline fiasco.
When you're fishing, remember to make sure you have a digital camera (or cell phone) with you because Abu Garcia is giving out a free new reel a month for the Fish of a Lifetime story it likes best. Click here to learn how to send in your Abu Garcia story.
And remember: Your fish of a lifetime doesn't have to be a bass, and can also be a tourney limit of a lifetime.
Sebile was given the Best New Hard-Bait Lure award for its Stick Shadd Blood Red Series entry at the annual European Fishing Tackle Trade Exhibition (EFTTEX) held recently in Rome.
It was the first time Sebile had participated in the EFFTEX new products competition, hosted by the European Fishing Tackle Trade Association (EFFTA). The hard-bait category annually features the most entries.
The Stick Shadd is a personal favorite of designer Patrick Sebile.
"When EFFTA's Jean-Claude Bel announced our name at the awards ceremony, it was truly an astonishing moment," Sebile said. "We believed the Stick Shadd's design and the Blood Red innovation were something special, but to have others vote it as best really validates our thinking. I will never forget this experience."
The award-winning Stick Shadd model 114 SU is designed to suspend at 1 to 2 feet and delivers erratic, unpredictable lifelike baitfish movements when twitched by the angler during retrieve. Blood Red is the name of Sebile's new and revolutionary internal body fluid "blood" system.
Even at rest, the Blood Red fluid continues to transfer energy fore and aft, creating lifelike quivers, trembles, pulsations, sights and sounds of weak and distressed baitfish. The feature comes in a number of lure models and color finishes, each having transparent sides to allow visibility of the liquid inside.
For more about Sebile, click here to visit the company's website.
Where do sandbags come from? 6/20/2008 Little known fact: Irwin Jacobs is in the sandbag business. In fact, millions of the sandbags being used right now in the Midwest flood disaster are from his Jacobs Trading Company. According to a recent story on WCCO.com, " Jacobs got his start in business following in his father's footsteps at Northwest Bag Co. in Minneapolis, selling burlap bags. He's continued that tradition by keeping an incredibly large amount of sandbags in a warehouse outside the Twin Cities."
To read WCCO's full story, which is pretty darn interesting, click here.
Kingfish cancel: hmmm... 6/19/2008 FLW Outdoors served notice today that it canceled its Fort Pierce Kingfish Series tournament "due to a low number of preregistered contestants." Is this perhaps the first instance of a significant fishing tournament being canceled due to the gas-price surge? Impossible to tell without surveying the teams, but it is fuel for thought.
There's a somewhat parallel situation right now on the walleye side of the fence, although not as dire. Next week's Bull Shoals PWT will field just 60 boats. In 2005, the last time the PWT fished at Bull Shoals, the field was 118 boats. (To read the WalleyeFan report on the Bull Shoals field, click here.)
Tru-Tungsten will display its new Tru-Life Softys swimbaits next month at ICAST in Las Vegas. They'll come in 3- and 5-inch models with a flexible wire-through harness and super-strong needle-point hooks.
The company says the Tru-Life baits have the same lifelike action as more-expensive hard swimbaits, and the soft plastic feels more realistic to the fish. They undergo a special painting process to achieve their highly detailed finish.
Special saltwater colors with stainless-steel components will be available in Fish Harder Companies "Captain Mike's Guide-Proven Lure" packaging.
(Editor's note: OutdoorsFan Media issued the following press release today about the launch of its new firearms site.)
OutdoorsFan Media (OFM), a division of InterMedia Outdoors, Inc., announced today the launch of TacticalGunFan.com. This ground-breaking website provides the rapidly growing community of tactical-gun enthusiasts with timely news and commentary about the equipment, tactics, and training methods used by top military, law enforcement, and competition shooters across the country and around the world.
TacticalGunFan.com delivers enthusiasts a unique combination of in-depth news and comprehensive analysis of the tactical-gun industry, along with advice on training methods, equipment maintenance and modifications, marksmanship, and gear selection from the world's leading experts. This contemporary website also delivers professional video and audio segments featuring industry experts demonstrating the latest tactical gear and techniques.
Announcing the launch, OutdoorsFan Media General Manager Jim Manry said, "We're very excited about what this site provides tactical-gun enthusiasts and the entire industry, including gun, ammunition, optics, and accessory manufacturers. TacticalGunFan.com will fast become the most effective and efficient way for these advertisers to reach a highly targeted and motivated buying audience."
Steve Hoffman, Vice President, InterMedia Outdoors, Inc. added, "TacticalGunFan builds on the proven foundation shared by all OFM sites: objective daily news coverage, timely event analysis, and detailed product reviews. We're confident that TacticalGunFan.com will soon become the home page for hardcore tactical-gun fans. With TacticalGunFan, our web portfolio at OFM expands to six powerful sites serving audiences across all three segments of shooting, hunting and fishing. We are very excited about the continued growth and leadership position of OFM's core business."
Salt-boat slowdown continues 6/16/2008 Several sources, including the Orlando Business Journal, are reporting that Brunswick-owned Boston Whaler Inc. will furlough 250 employees sometime in the next month at its Edgewater, Fla. plant. The news follows previous Brunswick announcements of layoffs at sister boat brand Sea Ray, and the dissolution of its Bluewater Marine brands.
Brunswick is also the parent of several bass-related brands, including Mercury Marine and Triton Boats. Mercury in April laid off 50 salaried employees.
The Orlando Business Journal story sourced a Brunswick spokesperson in reporting that Boston Whaler expects to recall the workers at a future date.
Rapala buys Sufix 6/13/2008 Yao I Fabric Co., Ltd. has agreed to sell its Sufix fishing line property to Rapala, a move that triggers the conclusion of an exclusive supply agreement between the two companies.
According to a release announcing the transaction, as part of the purchase, Rapala will also acquire all intangible assets related to Sufix-branded and other fishing line business, as well as all Sufix inventory from Sufix North America, Inc.
According to the terms of the exclusive supply agreement, after an interim period and under certain conditions, Rapala will be selling fishing lines manufactured by Yao I and Yao I will be manufacturing fishing line for Rapala only, including subcontracted fishing lines for third party customers (OEM).
Financial terms of the deal were not released.
"Through this deal Rapala enters into the worldwide fishing line category in a meaningful way," Rapala CEO Jorma Kasslin said in the release. "As a result of this deal, Yao I will supply Rapala's global distribution network with a wide selection of fishing lines, including monofilament, braided and fluorocarbon lines.
"While Yao I is strong in manufacturing and development of fishing line, Rapala is strong in global marketing and distribution. Therefore, this will be a win-win concept creating an exceptionally strong fishing line business for both companies. Rapala's target is to gain a significant market share from the worldwide fishing line business during the next few years."
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