BASS CARE 101

A brief guide on how to best take care of your catch prior to release

The purpose of this communication is to help educate anglers on the basics of how to best care for largemouth bass. We are fortunate here in the US to have a healthy largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and hybrid bass (meanmouth, spotted, ...) resource.  Starting with Ray Scott and his creation of B.A.S.S and the catch and release ethic in bass fishing, anglers, and bass tournaments have been and continue to be protective of this valuable resource.  An important key to a future healthy resource, and continually growing bass fishing opportunities is how we the anglers care for the bass we catch.  The increasing number of bass anglers and tournaments at all levels makes this information more important now than ever.

Larger established tournament circuits provide live-release boats and good weigh-in conditions that help the survival of fish, but they cannot save injured or severally stressed fish.  It is essential that every angler understands that the conditions during the catch, handling, and livewell confinement are critical in determining whether a bass ultimately survives after release.  Over the years there have been a number of valuable studies and publications on bass care.  One of the best and most detailed resources continues to be “Keeping Bass Alive: A Guide Book for Tournament Anglers and Organizers”, an absolute must-read and practice.  The book written by B.A.S.S. Conservation Director Gene Gillard and Hal Schramm (www.bassmaster.com/sites/default/files/keepingbassalive_guide_book_comp.pdf) Another excellent study was done in partnership with Phil Morlock, Director, Environmental Affairs at Shimano and Dr. Bruce Tufts and his team at Queen’s University and the Natural Science and Engineering Council of Canada.  Most recently, a research project funded by ten state fisheries agencies conducted a Mississippi State University evaluated the effects of water temperature, livewell temperature, dissolved oxygen, and fish landing time on largemouth bass survival.

The study took a practical approach of duplicating actual conditions that bass face during a tournament from the catch, to livewell holding, to weigh-in, and to release back into the water.  Survival was measured in 8 hours of livewell retention and for five days after the weigh-in.  Under controlled conditions, adult bass was then subjected to angling times of one (1) minute and three (3) minutes, 8 hours of livewell at dissolved oxygen concentrations of 2, 5.5, and 8.5 parts per million (ppm), and livewell temperatures of no change in temperature, to cooling water 7 degrees F, or warming the water 7 degrees F.  All trials were conducted at temperatures ranging from 63 to 91 degrees F to fully represent the temperature conditions when most bass tournaments occur.

MSU STUDY SUMMARY

Longer fight times, fish handling, low dissolved oxygen, and warm water all impacted survivability with warm water having the biggest negative impact.  However, catch and release tournaments had a minimal effect on survival if the fish were landed quickly, handled properly, and kept in live wells with good water quality at 84F° degrees or less.

WATER TEMPERATURE

It is always best to maintain water temperatures in the live well and at the weigh-in site as close to (or slightly below) the temperature of where the fish was taken from.  Fish are “cold-blooded” animals, so their body temperatures are not regulated internally but rather by the water temperature around them.  Depending on the time of year and the ambient temperature in the lake, the optimum temperature for largemouth bass is below 84F° degrees.  The MSU study confirmed that at 91F° livewell water temperature is a serious problem for your bass.  You want to keep the temperature in your live well close to the water temperature the fish came up out of.  It is important to remember that the temperature gauge on your boat is reading water temperature near the surface, and your bass may be living at a depth with a lower temperature than your gauge displays. 

Once your live well temperature reaches 84F°, keep it from getting any warmer by cooling it down with ice in a contained bottle.   Frozen one-liter bottles are great for this so as not to shock the fish with loose ice altering the Ph of the water and the smaller bottles take up less room in the live well. The frozen bottles can be kept with your drinks and snacks severing a dual purpose while out on the water.  If the weigh-in is a walk-up queue, fill your bag with the cooled water from your live well rather than dipping it into the surface water of the lake.    

OXYGEN

The amount of dissolved oxygen in your live well and weigh bag is also a factor in survivability.  Bass and all fish obtain needed oxygen by passing water over their gills.  The MSU study proved that the minimum level of dissolved oxygen in your livewell is 5.5 ppm.  It also showed that a higher oxygen level of 8.5 ppm was not a problem at 77F³ or 84F³, but these higher dissolved oxygen concentrations were not enough to prevent mortality at 91F³ where the mortality was greater than 50%.  In other words, oxygen is essential, but more oxygen will not make up for too warm of temperatures.  Cool water is essential to survival, but cooling the water also aids in providing sufficient oxygen.  Cool water holds more oxygen and reaerates faster than warmer water, and bass in cooler water use less oxygen.  In addition, more or bigger fish in your livewell will use the dissolved oxygen faster.  Additional oxygen can be added to the live well by adding fresh water periodically, but you must remember to monitor the temperature and add additional ice bottles as needed to maintain a temperature below 84F³.  Add additional oxygen to your livewell diffused through an air stone, and run your recirculating aerators continuously to maximize the amount of oxygen absorbed in the water.

ANGLING TIME AND ANGLING CARE

The MSU Study confirmed that the amount of time does impact survivability. Bass angled for one minute survived better than those angled for three minutes.  However, if the fish is landed quickly and handled carefully, catch and release have a minimal effect on survival.  Largemouth bass have a protective slime coat (mucus) that helps to protect them from disease.  It is important to be careful to not overhandle the fish and be careful to preserve the fish’s slime coat.  Wet your hands when handling the fish.  If the fish is to be measured for competition, wet down the weigh board before placing the fish down for the photograph.  It is important to not “boat flip” your catch into the boat onto the dry carpet or deck surface material.  Grip the fish firmly on the lower jaw to remove the hook. Remove the hook as quickly as possible.  Support the belly of the fish to maneuver to the weigh board to not stress or fracture the jaw.  Be mindful of the gills so as not to damage the fish’s respiratory ability.  Keep the fish out of the water for the shortest time possible. Return the catch to the water and continue fishing …

BASS HANDLING

Anglers should be especially careful when handling big bass not to damage the jaws. If the jaw is damaged, it is essentially a death sentence as the bass will no longer be able to feed resulting in … slow death.  Anglers should hold the bass in a vertical position, gripping the lower lip to contain and control the bass. When moving the bass to a horizontal position, use two hands to support the body and immobilize the body thrashing, using a single hand to hold a bass without the proper weight distribution will damage or dislocate the jaw.

KEY POINTS OF REVIEW

Water temperature is the most important factor.

Keep frozen water bottles (1 liter) in your ice chest to use for cooling live wells.

Fish need oxygen. Maximize aeration and avoid ice directly into live well water altering the Ph.

Land your fish quickly. Do not overplay the fish to exhaustion and return to water quickly.

Handle the catch carefully and try not to damage the slime coat

Hold the bass horizontally with two hands gripping the lower jaw firmly to contain and control the fish.

Catch and release have minimal effect on the survival if the fish are landed quickly, carefully handled, and returned to the water.

*Research conducted by and information received from Mississippi State University*

Friendly conversation about Bass Tournaments

As I was flying back to Arizona from Dallas I had the pleasure of speaking to someone who is an avid fisherman from Montana, but not a tournament angler. He described his time on the water as therapy versus a competition environment. In short, he asked what is the deal with a bass tournament so I thought I would put pen to paper (fingers to keys) and draw it out in a simple form.

Bass fishing tournaments are competitive events where anglers compete to catch the largest or highest combined weight of bass within a designated time frame. These tournaments can take place in various bodies of water, such as lakes, rivers, or reservoirs. Bass fishing tournaments are popular among recreational anglers and professional fishermen alike, offering an opportunity to showcase skills, win prizes, and enjoy the camaraderie of fellow fishing enthusiasts.

Here's some information about bass fishing tournaments:

1. Formats: Bass fishing tournaments can have different formats, including individual tournaments and team tournaments. In individual tournaments, anglers compete against each other to catch the biggest bass or accumulate the highest total weight of the bass. Team tournaments involve two or more anglers working together to catch fish, and the team with the highest combined weight usually wins.

2. Rules and Regulations: Each tournament has its own set of rules and regulations, which govern factors such as the size and number of fish that can be caught, permitted fishing techniques, and boundaries of the fishing area. It's important for participants to familiarize themselves with the specific rules of each tournament they enter.

3. Scoring: In catch-and-release tournaments, the bass is measured, weighed, and then immediately released back into the water. The weight or length of the fish is used to determine the angler's score. Tournaments may have a limit on the number of fish an angler can bring to the weigh-in, and penalties may be imposed for bringing in dead fish or fish that don't meet the minimum size requirements.

4. Prizes and Rewards: Bass fishing tournaments often offer various prizes and rewards for the winners. These can include cash prizes, trophies, fishing gear, sponsorships, or even opportunities to qualify for higher-level tournaments. The value of the prizes usually depends on the size and significance of the tournament.

5. Professional Circuits: There are professional bass fishing circuits that host high-profile tournaments, such as the Bassmaster Elite Series and the FLW Tour. These circuits attract top professional anglers and offer substantial prize purses. Competing at this level requires qualifying through regional events or earning points in the previous seasons.

6. Local and Amateur Tournaments: Bass fishing tournaments are not limited to professionals. There are numerous local and amateur tournaments held throughout the year, allowing recreational anglers to participate and test their skills. These tournaments may have smaller prize pools but still provide an enjoyable and competitive experience.

7. Conservation Efforts: Many bass fishing tournaments promote conservation efforts and sustainable fishing practices. Catch-and-release policies, live-well systems for fish care, and educational initiatives are common in tournaments to ensure the long-term health and viability of bass populations.

If you're interested in participating in bass fishing tournaments, I recommend researching local fishing clubs, organizations, or event organizers in your area. They can provide information about upcoming tournaments, registration requirements, and specific rules for participation.

SNAKE AWARENESS & BASS TOURNAMENTS

It is the time of year when the snakes are coming out of hibernation. Rattlesnakes are most active from March through October. During the months that still have cooler nights snakes will gravitate to asphalt for warmth, typical walking areas of early morning tournament competitors.  Snakes do not have a calendar for when to come out. If it warms up quickly then the snakes are out. The most common snakes here in Arizona are the Mojave, Western Diamondback, and Sidewinder species.

Rattlesnakes are venomous and their venom is a hemotoxic element.  Hemotoxic venom damages the circulatory system and muscle tissue and causes swelling, hemorrhage, and necrosis.  Snakebite victims suffering from envenoming are characterized by painful and progressive swelling at the bite site, developing into blistering, and bruising, that are sometimes coupled with systemic effects.

Best thing to do is to educate yourself about the local venomous snakes. Typical profile of venomous snakes is a triangular-shaped head, spotted body, and distinctive rattle when identifying “rattlesnakes”.  Be smart – If you come across a snake, don’t “play” with the snake. If others are in the area be vocal to warn them of the presence of the snake.  Although our conversation to this point has been about walking areas, snakes may not be something on a plane, but they definitely can be found on the water.  There are many stories about an angler moving from the front deck to the back to find out they have an unannounced and unwanted passenger.  Snakes move as quickly on the water as they can on the ground.

If the unthinkable happens and you are bitten here are some recommended steps to follow according to UCI from a 2017 article by Steve Tischler.

·         First, don’t panic. Death by rattlesnake bite is extremely rare.

·         If your symptoms are mild and you can walk or ride your bike out, by all means, do so.

·         For more severe bites, you could try creating a splint to immobilize the bitten appendage, but this is seldom necessary.

·         In all cases, it’s a good idea to lightly wrap the wound with gauze.

·         When cell service becomes available, call 911. You can either request an ambulance ride from the trailhead or, in dire situations, medical evacuation. In the most favorable circumstances, you may want to simply get directions to the nearest medical facility offering anti-venom treatment.

In short stay alert in your surroundings and keep yourself and others a safe distance from a rattlesnake should you spot one.  It is best to wear sturdy shoes and long loose loose-fitting pants when exploring trails or rural properties.  Further, never taunt or try to handle a rattlesnake.  A telltale sign of someone who has provoked a snake is a bite in the upper arm area or the face. 

 Bass Junkyz

Deep Fish, Barotrauma, and Fizzing

Hello Anglers,

It is now the time of year when we start to see fish in distress due to deep-staged bass caught in our lakes during the cooler months. Barotrauma is a condition seen in many fish caught in waters greater than 30 feet that are caused by the expansion of gases in the swim bladder. Signs of barotrauma include the stomach coming out of the mouth, bulging eyes, bloated belly, and distended intestines. 

There are two ways you can help fish suffering from barotrauma.

1. Venting which releases gas that has expanded within the swim bladder so that the fish can return to depth on its own.

2. Weighted descent returns fish to capture depth quickly.

As tournament anglers the second option rarely happens unless the circumstance occurred in a pre-fish cycle before a tournament. Venting or “fizzing” is a traditional barotrauma mitigation method that is particularly suited for situations where you must handle many fish quickly. Data shows that most fish caught at depths shallower than 125 feet generally heal quickly and resume normal activities within 24–48 hours if they are vented appropriately. Fizzing is quick, and the tools are cheap, something every tournament angler should be able to do, but there is a risk of injuring or killing the fish if you don't do it properly.

Fizzing involves the use of a sharp, hollow instrument that is inserted through the muscle to puncture the swim bladder wall and release the gas that expanded within the swim bladder upon ascent. Many varieties of venting tools are available.

Fizzing needles can be purchased at your local tackle store. Try your smaller shops first before going to the big brick and mortar. Why? The small shops cater to the local anglers through communication with their customers.  If an angler asks a small shop about a bait or wants to order something for a specific lake.  99% of the time the little guy will know versus the purchasing agent for a big brick and mortar who buys for the backend of a purchase. All tournament anglers should have a fizzing needle on their watercraft.

So a little basic anatomy is in line for you to understand where the organs are located and what can be damaged. First let’s locate our target, the swim bladder.  Note the location just below the lateral line of the fish and located directly above the swim bladder is the kidney and the spine.

Using the picture above we are going to locate the proper insertion point for the fizzing needle.

To properly vent, lay the fish on its side. Venting tools should be inserted at a 45-degree angle, under a scale at the trailing edge of the pectoral fin, 6th to the 7th spine of the first dorsal, at the bottom of the lateral line, and just deep enough to release trapped gas from the swim bladder.

Never insert venting tools into a fish's belly or back or into its stomach if it is protruding from its mouth.  Even fish not showing visible signs of barotrauma the fish may still be distressed and it up to the angler to monitor the health of the catch before bringing the fish to the weigh master.  Despite obvious signs of trauma, the fish may have suffered fatal internal injuries such as a ruptured swim bladder, damaged organs, internal bleeding and blood clotting.

Best regards,

Bass Junkyz

Youtube – Bass Angler Magazine 1/2019 University of Florida - Betty Staugler, Holly Abeels, Angela Collins, Shelly Krueger, and Kai Lorenzen 8/2018 Missouri Conservation Department 2017

Wind, Fishing, and Boater Safety

You are up, planned for an early AM launch and there is a light breeze, less than 5 miles an hour from the East. What about the wind? Is it going to stay like this and maybe lay down, or is it going to blow and gust all day? If you are on the water for pleasure or for competition, the wind can change the day for the better or for the worse.  An old saying, “Nothing screws up a day of fishing like the wind”.  Of all the environmental impacts on water, nothing else has such a direct impact on fish location and behavior. Wind can be a very good thing. In a way, a good wind is like ringing the dinner bell.  Wind triggers fish by moving water and creating current. Moving water means moving algae and plankton, so small fish waste no time in positioning themselves straight in the path of the current so they can effortlessly intercept this parade of food drifting by. The rolling waves offer a very real level of protection from overhead predators like birds, giving these small fish the chance to pig out without continually scanning the skies for danger.

It's pretty easy to understand that when small fish gather, big fish won't be far behind and that's precisely what happens when the wind blows. All these carefree, happy little bait fish feeding merrily in relatively open water present just too good an opportunity to pass up. So bass, walleye, pike, muskie and even lake trout also move into the wind where they feed like wild. Windy conditions are when fish tend to hunt actively, so use fast-moving lures and cover a lot of water. This is not the time for finesse presentations. Big spinnerbaits, jerk baits, or lipless rattling crankbaits are all top choices when the wind blows.

Everything so far sounds pretty good and here is the reality moment.  Every time I have mentioned wind above, the majority have thought, “Wind. How windy?”  First off, it shouldn't need to be said, but no fish is worth putting yourself in an unsafe position. If it's too rough, use that grey matter, common sense, and wait to fish another day. Or if you can launch in a protected area like a harbor or marina, just stay in the harbor itself.  Some pretty good fishing on rough days happens often without ever leaving the protection of a marina.

Some lakes have wind indicators such as flashing lights on a fixed elevated tower above water or windsocks in different areas around the lake.  An anemometer is a device used to measure wind speed and direction. The most common is either a cup anemometer or a vane which also indicates wind direction.  If the wind indicator is flashing at a very slow rate things are ok, but keep a weathered eye (arrrgh). If the light is flashing at a high rate or solid it is a good idea to rethink the plan for the day. The most simple wind indicator is the windsock.  A windsock is a conical textile tube that shows wind direction and strength.  Wind speed is indicated by the windsock's angle relative to the mounting pole; in low winds, the windsock droops; in high winds, it flies horizontally. Alternating stripes of high-visibility orange and white were initially used to help to estimate the speed of the wind. A windsock will orientate itself at about 3mph. At 5mph the first section of the windsock will be rigid while the remainder of the windsock continues to droop.  At 7-8mph the second section from the windsock opening is now alert. 10-11mph and the third section … If the windsock is fully extended the wind speeds are equal to or greater than 18mph and the lake will have significant rolling waves.  According to the Beaufort Wind Scale; at 4-7mph small waves will form (trailering is more difficult), at 8-12mph the waves will crest and begin to break (trailering for an experienced team), and at 13-18mph lake is now whitecaps (hmmm, look for a safe place). 19-24mph lake is under a small craft advisory as the winds are considered dangerous for small vessels pending the size of the body of water.

Short story, be smart, be aware and be able to fish another day.  Below are some wind link apps you can access on your mobile device as well as some graphics for reference.  So, take it to the lake, have a great day on the water, and keep feeding the addiction.

-          Bass Junkyz

https://www.windfinder.com

https://windalert.com/

https://Windy.com/

Resources: Center for Limnology – Twitter, Patentyogi.com/windsocks, Lake-Link – Craig Ritchie (9/2019), PilotInstitute.com – (11/2021), NOAA – Marine Weather Safety Rules

10/23/2023

Hello Anglers,

The first event of the season is in the books so it is time to look forward to November.  The WON Bass Arizona Open at Lake Havasu was cancelled and slated to be rescheduled for a later date back in February 2023 due to high winds at and extreme weather issues forecast over the coming days.  The decision was made for the safety of the anglers to protect them and their equipment. The WON Bass Arizona Open rescheduled for November 10-12 and is in conflict with our November event at Lake Pleasant.  This conflict catalyzed the need for serious evaluation creating a positive solution and deeper review overall.  The Bass Junkyz’ schedule was released early and schedules still overlapped.  Bass Junkyz has reached out to schedule a meeting with other TDX to avoid this next season.

The solution is to make changes which are something that historically we do not do.  This requires making a couple of adjustments needing permission with work travel changes and making sure the family calendar is clear as well.  In order to reduce or remove conflicts these changes are being made for the remainder of the season. 

The Bass Junkyz November 11 tournament is being postponed due to WON Bass.  The next team event will be on December 16, 2023 at Bartlett Lake. On January 20, 2024 we will be returning to Bartlett Lake without a conflict. On February 10, 2024 we will return to Roosevelt Lake at Cholla. Anglers may fish both Bass Junkyz and LTF events the same day with uniform “off-limits” for the competition day.

The March tournament at Alamo is now a double header to replace the November qualifier.  Saturday will count as an individual event and Sunday will do the same.  Anglers will be able to participate in two qualifying tournaments the same weekend.  Teams fishing both days will have a discounted entry fee per day of $250 reduced from $275.  Teams fishing only one day will have the standard entry fee due of $275.  The Option will remain the same.    

In recap, this is our updated schedule:

NEW CIRCUITS & NEW LOOK FOR 2023 – 2024

There is only one constant in all of our lives with everything that we do, and that is change.  Change requires growth, adaptation, and in the end generally better. Growing pains are just some small bumps here and there.  At Bass Junkyz we are in the midst of just exactly that, a growth spurt with some changes. With a new season kicking off just around the corner it is time to reveal what we have been doing to create a better more accessible competition event for you the anglers.

The staff at Bass Junkyz had been using TaySys software for tournaments before Bass Junkyz even held its first event in 2016.  Familiarity with a previous organization made it easy to adapt to our new organization and we dealt with the limitations.  Mostly the inconvenience was experienced by anglers and audiences that were left waiting for results to be posted on a webpage or a social media platform. With the implementation of a new software platform Bass Junkyz will be able to deliver our leaderboard live to an online audience logged into our link provided on our website for the event.  This is a great convenience for anglers, sponsors, and the public audience not at the event.

With the tournament software change our e-commerce is changing slightly as well for sign up.  Anglers will now build a profile that includes your information.  This information will be used moving forward for all tournaments and will include the liability waiver and insurance information. Sign-up will be as easy as logging in on your PC, laptop, tablet, or phone and entering the event for a base entry including Big Fish.  An additional option is available this year too. We will still accept cash entries day of at the lake, but the profile will still need to be entered by the anglers and we are going to help.  There are going to be three live “trainings” to assist you with building your angler (team) profile. We will do this one line at a time, slowly, and be thorough in providing the support you may require.  It is not difficult, but we want to make it as easy as possible.

What other benefit does this provide? As an organization this allows Bass Junkyz to develop a mixed event that will include the weight of the bag at the scale and also Catch, Photograph, and Release (CPR). The three-day format allows for anglers to qualify for the third day two ways; total weight or total inches. Day three is weight at the scale for the championship. On Monday there is a message being sent out to tournament directors across the West and that is the only tease provided here – you will know more tomorrow, Monday, September 11, 2023.

Another benefit is the software covers the newest platforms to Bass Junkyz; kayaks.  The competition platform is based on CPR logging of fish.  After a great deal of review, a decision was made to go with software that will provide tournament tracking for Teams, Pro/AM, Kayaks, PWC, and a new Bass Junkyzformat of Brackets. The bracket format was talked about in 2019 and not initiated mostly due to the absence of software and being labor intensive tracking.

The last addition for Bass Junkyz this year is youth. After several conversations, it is aligned that our local future anglers will be following Bass Junkyz Teams events.  So please look at the calendar and check those dates.

Here is how the information looks live on screen

Why is this change important? This allows you as an angler to share the link with your friends, family, and sponsors … broadcast it on all of your social media platforms.

Last and in closing, Bass Junkyz will be filming and photographing as much as we possibly can this year with live feeds (Starlink) and sponsor support.

An enormous thank you to Tim and Claudine Price and family, and all of you who have fished with Bass Junkyz over the last few years, and those of you planning on joining us for the 2023-2024 season into the championship which is returning to Bluewater Resort and Casino. If you have a chance to ask someone about the experience last year, do it.

For our social media, Like, Follow, and Share …

BASS JUNKYZ

Keeping Bass Alive During Summer

Summer or like summer temperatures are here again to stay for the next few months and as night tournaments kick off their session over the next couple of weekends, fish stress is a factor. Although we will not see much of the fish caught deep again until October here in Arizona. Here is some information on keeping your catch healthy. The last words a competitive angler wants to hear at the scale, “5 fish, 4 alive. Dead fish penalty 1lb”. Here are a few simple practices to keeping your catch alive.

Hot summer temperatures coincide with catching bass. During the summer months the metabolism of bass increases and so does their aggression active feeding bass are the easiest to catch. Summer temperatures create an additional challenge to the angler, keeping bass alive. Either release the bass immediately and keep fishing, or take the extra precautions needed to keep bass in the live well for weigh-in.

A few little extras to keep on hand and pay attention to

1) Fizzing Needle – A slim chance you will be fizzing fish in the summer, but the possibility is still present

2) Belly Weights – Noninvasive tool allowing the bass to regulate their air bladder on their own

3) Livewell Treatment – There are a few options out there for the angler. Bass Junkyz uses a product from Sure Life. This product is used in our recovery tanks and boat for fish. Many of the livewell systems need to use a liquid-based additive due to the filtering and oxygenator boosting the dissolved oxygen level in the water.

4) Ice – The right kind of ice is most important. Do not just drop ice into the live well with your bass. A sudden temperature change of cold water will shock the bass like having a cold bucket of water dumped on you while in a warm shower. This ice also has chlorine and perhaps fluoride as a treatment for potable water. Fish do not swim in potable water; fish in the water they pee in. It is best to freeze water bottles and insert them every 45 minutes to an hour depending on the lake temperature. Some have recommended treating the frozen water bottles with an additive and removing the cap when placed into the live well. This allows the frozen water to release slowly into the live well and treat the water at the same time.

5) Mountain Dew – Deep-hooked fish bleed and doing the Dew can seemingly heal the fish causing a coagulating effect and stopping the bleeding.

6) Lid Vents – Lid vents allow for the CO2 to release from the livewell space.

7) Get a Good Net – Frabil makes a good net that is knotless and will not take the protective slime off of the bass.

Culling Clips – Do not use the old clips that poke holes in the lower lip. Unfortunately, many inexperienced anglers would create the hole deeper in the lip and the device would rip a hole forward to the front of the jaw. New culling clips are non-piercing and clip securely to the bass’s jaw.

Less stress on the fish promotes a low morbidity rate at the weigh-in and the long-term stabilization of our fisheries. So, take it to the lake, enjoy your time on the water, and keep feeding the addiction.

– Bass Junkyz

IS FISHING A SPORT

Hello Anglers,

Listening to and participating in a conversation this morning the subject of “fishing” as a sport and hydration on and off the water dropped into a topic.  Knowing something firsthand still requires the pursuit of knowledge to catalyze your experience with data … even with the bias of “experience and knowing”, the opportunity to have other optics is beneficial.  So, the dive into information, others’ experiences, and opinions initiated this.

Descending now into summer, angling hydration and nutrition is a factorable metric into the competition.  For competitive anglers, this is a constant due to road travel and time on the water.  Exercise, nutrition, and hydration are as critical to bait choice, casting efficiency, lake cycle, and location choice.  For the weekend guys and gals, this is even more important due to the daily mobility of our vocation and lifestyle choices.  Facts are many weekend anglers have jobs that require long moments of sitting and computer time. Perhaps a great deal of travel in a vehicle or long flights … short version is that daily for many people is sedentary an accurate classification. What to do? MOVE! Get moving around and stretch.  Not everyone can join a gym but all of us can take a few minutes to walk the dog, take the stairs for one flight maybe two to get the blood pumping.  Walk around the building while on your mobile. Everyone has one to two minutes several times a day to stretch.  At your desk, you can stretch the shoulders, back, hamstrings, and calves never attracting attention. Easy peasy …

Nutrition and hydration - Guess what? Fast food, soda, coffee, sugared “recovery” or energy drinks are not the answer and alcohol will dehydrate you. This writer is not the best regarding disciplining away from the aforementioned as I am known for energy drinks and trying to gain wings to shake off the morning before blasting off.  Water! Good Ol’ fashioned water and plenty of it before, during, and after. The week of and the night before, add foods heavier in potassium to prevent cramping during competition. There are simple electrolyte replenishing products you can keep in your tackle bag or on the boat; Nunn, SaltStick, and Liquid IV. Often here in the southwest, we are sweating profusely and do not realize it. Literally, like a sprinkler where as if in Florida you would look like someone had used a garden hose to soak you.  Sweat evaporates quickly giving an illusion of it not being as hot when really your body is working 3x harder to preserve itself.  If you start to experience a headache or lightheaded while out, it is too late to counter the symptoms of a heat-related injury and it is time to call it a day.

Fishing as a sport causes many a kerfuffle in conversation out there.  The facts are those tournament anglers have something that is a trifecta to overcome: elements, physical function, and mental.  Are you kidding me?! No.  A typical day for a tournament angler begins at 3:15 - 3:30 AM during warmer months and launch on the water holding at 4:15 – 4:20. Normal for a take-off run to be at the speed of Mach-Jesus to get to the targeted starting location.  If you have ever been on an unstable surface there is a great deal of core muscle contraction during this time. Wave and wake irregularities caused by other watercraft make the ride unpredictable, tense, and at times dangerous (always wear a PFD).  Grab a rod, step up to the casting deck of either the front or back of the boat, and the cast. The rod brought back, loads with the weight of the bait, and the execution of the motion, the bait projected away to the target. The range of motion and force is dependent upon bait, presentation, and range of the cast.

Some research on the internet that a typical angler makes three casts per minute which translates on any given tournament an angler may make 1440 casts during an eight-hour day.  Let’s say you catch five fish over that eight-hour period which falls to a ratio of 1 to every 288 casts. Now for sake of comparison, let’s look at some stats of a noted pro angler and power fisherman, Kevin VanDam. At a Bassmaster Elite event on Lake Dardanelle in 2004. At 36 years of age, VanDam’s observer timed his casts for the first hour finding an average of a cast every ten seconds. So roughly 360 casts per hour or an estimated 2500 cast a day. “It is important to keep your bait wet” Joey Monteleone.  Short story is to keep casting, stay focused, and be ready.

“Be ready” … after all, it is a sport requiring physical health, fitness, mental acuity, and stamina. As a close to my thoughts for today, be conscious of what you are doing to your health and fitness on a daily basis.  Eat with better habits; keep moving, stretch, hydrate, and always one more cast. 

Keep Feeding the Addiction friends - Bass Junkyz

Topwater Chaos Continues

By: Arizona Boating And Watersports

The explosive Ever Green Shower Blows SB-150 topwater family adds a range of new colors.

Cypress, CA (October 13, 2022) – Thar she blows…Shower Blows. Since famed Japanese bass angler Morizo Shimizu offered input in developing Ever Green’s original Shower Blows SB-125, the regal topwater plug has captivated bass anglers worldwide and sent untold gallons of water skyward. Then, based on popular demand, Ever Green introduced the larger SB-150 for even more topwater pandemonium. Now, the technology-based lure crafter welcomes six new wicked patterns to the SB-150 lineup.

The SB-150’s distinctive design moves water like a subdued popper – splatters, spits, and bubbles – while locomoting in walk-the-dog fashion – a truly novel hybridization. At 5-7/8-inch (150mm) and 1-9/16-ounce (44.5g), the SB-150 sports a trio of nasty #2 trebles, the rear tied with tantalizing feathers, which subtly sway when the bait is paused. The feathered hook also adds resonance in the intervals between stillness and motion and creates suction, connecting with light biters not blasting the surface.

Ever Green SB-150 (GHOST OLIVE SHAD)

The larger SB-150 plays well with big bass, as well as in darker or turbid water when extra commotion is required. Additionally, the bigger bait is well suited for the upsized appetites of striped bass and wipers.

The SB-150’s elongated body design minimizes air resistance on the cast, while internal tungsten weights in the rear guarantee incredible distances even against headwinds. This incredible range expands your search with every cast. Moreover, the SB-150’s perfect balance in the water allows it to make quick, consecutive turns without jumping out of the water, replicating an agitated baitfish on the run.

Ever Green SB-150 (GHOST OLIVE SHAD)

FLASH CLEAR SHAD, FLASH WAKASAGI, FULL METALGLOW, SHAD DUZZLAR

The SB-150’s cosmetics add to its overall effectiveness. The lure features stunningly accurate eyeballs, scale patterns, and authentic gills. Layered airbrushing creates added realism, as nature’s palette of colors are seldom stark.

New colors include Full Metal, Glow Shad Duzzlar, Flash Wakasagi, Flash Clear Shad, Ghost Olive Shad, Silver Flitter Shad, adding to existing patterns, Bone, Natural Gill and Black Bone. MSRP $23.99. New colors available 2023.

The Ever Green Shower Blows SB-150 is a big-bass bully. And with six new patterns to choose from, expect the beatdowns to continue.

Compliments of Traditions Media, LLC

SNAKE AWARENESS AT BASS TOURNAMENTS

It is the time of year that the snakes are coming out of hibernation. Rattlesnakes are most active from March through October. During the months that still have cooler nights, snakes will gravitate to asphalt for warmth, typical walking areas of early morning tournament competitors. Snakes do not have a calendar for when to come out. If it warms up quickly then the snakes are out. The most common snakes here in Arizona are the Mojave, Western Diamondback, and Sidewinder species.

Rattlesnakes are venomous and their venom is a hemotoxic element. Hemotoxic venom damages the circulatory system and muscle tissue and causes swelling, hemorrhage, and necrosis. Snakebite victims suffering from envenoming are characterized by painful and progressive swelling at the bite site, developing into blistering, bruising, which is sometimes coupled with systemic effects.

Best thing to do is to educate yourself about the local venomous snakes. The typical profile of venomous snakes is a triangular-shaped head, spotted body, distinctive rattle when identifying “rattlesnakes”. Be smart – If you come across a snake, don’t “play” with the snake. If others are in the area be vocal to warn them of the presence of the snake. Although our conversation to this point has been about walking areas, snakes may not be something on a plane, but they definitely can be found on the water. There are many stories about an angler moving from the front deck to the back to find out they have an unannounced and unwanted passenger. Snakes move as quick on the water as they can on the ground.

If the unthinkable happens and you are bitten here are some recommended steps to follow according to UCI from a 2017 article by Steve Tischler.

• First, don’t panic. Death by rattlesnake bite is extremely rare.

• If your symptoms are mild and you can walk or ride your bike out, by all means, do so.

• For more severe bites, you could try creating a splint to immobilize the bitten appendage, but this is seldom necessary.

• In all cases, it’s a good idea to lightly wrap the wound with gauze.

• When cell service becomes available, call 911. You can either request an ambulance ride from the trailhead or, in dire situations, medical evacuation. In the most favorable circumstances, you may want to simply get directions to the nearest medical facility offering anti-venom treatment.

In short, stay alert in your surroundings and keep yourself and others at a safe distance from a rattlesnake should you spot one. It is best to wear sturdy shoes and long loose-fitting pants when exploring trails or rural properties. Further never taunt or try to handle a rattlesnake. The telltale sign of someone who has provoked a snake bite has a bite in the upper arm area or the face.

Bass Junkyz

2022 - Promo Video

2020 Season announcement

December 27, 2019

To all our Bass Junkyz Anglers, Friends, and Family:

We are excited to announce registration is now open for the 2020 season!

There are some new changes and after overcoming some challenges, we always push hard to raise the bar higher each and every year! With that being said, we are very excited to announce that we are able to offer for the first time and unheard of, 125 BOAT CAP AT BARTLETT LAKE for our opening event.

Our off-season has been an eye-opening and eventful one. After experiencing ICAST 2019, large events such as Skeeter Owners Tournament in Texas, and Texas Team Trail seeing the participation of sponsors and anglers, we discovered some more items to bring to our participants.  We are very humbled by those who decided to partner with us for our 2020 season, expanding the sponsorship lineup! We have been blessed with many NEW and EXCITING SPONSORS, as well as the many returning sponsors you will see on our website, social media platforms of Facebook, Instagram, and out at the events!!

There has been a change in the entry fee this season of $50 which goes directly into the championship payout.

There is also a membership fee of $45 per angler being implemented this season which will include the highly desired Bass Junkyz Pack. Those that have fished our previous Championship events know these are filled with sponsorship goodies, Bass Junkyz swag, and will be given out at the time of registration.

We believe this is going to be the best season yet as we have really gone above and beyond to make our 2020 season absolutely a very and most memorable year!! There will be expanded details about our sponsors with updates posted as we peel back the layers of these New Sponsors.  Keep in touch with us via Facebook and Instagram as we announce and talk about special drawings and raffles to come!

We know you have options, and as always, we are grateful to all of you, our anglers, for your continued support!

Feed The Addiction,

Bass Junkyz

Lake Bartlett Feb 2019

The 5th event of the 2018-2019 Season is now in the books.  Bartlett Lake is a great place to catch fish and tends to be a battle of the culling bar during the day where the slightest advantage is determined with good discipline and catch/live-well management.  Bass Junkyz arrived at the lake Friday afternoon to set up for the following day.  The staff jumped in and got it done quickly allowing for a relaxing evening and some 2020 planning by Tim and Greg.  By the end of the night, the 2020 Season has been laid out and ready to develop sponsor packages.  Exciting events and times ahead.

The forecast called for possible light rain during the day increasing heavily in the evening.  The morning started off with some heavy cloud cover mixing in a few dark and ominous-looking clouds moving quickly.  Later, before noon the sky would break up allowing for a little sunshine here and there as the storm moved in.  With the water level lower than the norm competitors were is close proximity able to see who was catching and who was not.  Surely there were some mumbles about being on a “spot”.  Competitors stayed on the water as long as they could versus what we have seen at other events with early arrivals at the angler cue. 

This being the 5th of 6 events the race for AOY is on the line. Prior to the event, the team of Matt Shura / Lon Armel had a virtual stranglehold on the title, but unfortunately, their day did not go as planned and their tightened grip has loosened greatly.  Finishing in the 11th, Taylor Hale / Brad Meade were first out of the money for the field but brought to the scale Big Fish of the event at 3.59lbs.  The BF check was for $1,038 and they also received some new rods from ACE Hardware our Big Fish Sponsor.  Not only did they take home the ACE prize, but also 1st out of the money Costa Sunglasses prize. Steve Lund / Steven Boyce in 10th place at the scale with 8.41 $524. Brett Nagelhout – Cory Baehman for their first Bass Junkyz event took home 9th and a check for $655.  Dylan Maxon / Thor Dusenberry locked in 8th place and 2nd place Big Fish at 3.19 amounting to winnings of $1,343.  7th place, Andrew Napoleon / Johnny Johnson with 8.96lbs taking home a check for $786.  Rounding out the bottom of the top 10, in 6th place Marty Halsey / Athena Hammond with 9.15lbs and a check for $852.

In 5th place, Scott Guetti / Jim Wood with 9.31lbs took home a check for $1,045. The team of Paul Mathew / Alex Onofrei locked in 4th place with 9.44lbs for a check of $1,179. 3rd place for the first time with Bass Junkyz Joel Skinner / Clint Everett landed a limit at 6.68lbs and a payday of $1,917.  Our next anglers arrived at the scale with their own fan club watching the Facebook live feed.  Bobby Hamner / Jason Stockon (autofill) showed up with a 2.91 kicker and a total weight of 10.75lbs. The check total was $2,908.  In the first place, the team of Laron Porter / Creston Carroll stayed focused and fished hard all day long right to the last cast.  The scale locked in at 12.83lbs and a kicker of 3.09lbs for 3rd place Big Fish.  The checks totaled up to $4,978 for them and launched them into contention for Angler of the Year. Our first-place anglers closed the gap for AOY with this win, but the team of Shura/Armel is still holding onto the lead.

Thank you to Century Marine, the Southwest Bass Cat dealer for bringing this event to you, the anglers. Special thanks to the award-winning Flyin’ K BBQ for their contribution to a Bass Junkyz tournament experience.   The next event is scheduled for Alamo Lake the first weekend of March 2nd.  We will be evaluating the water level, ramp access, and if another government shutdown affects this location this week.  If a change is necessary we can announce this quickly so pre-fishing time and money are not wasted.

Thank you anglers and, Keep Feeding your Addiction.

Lake Martinez Jan 2019

Canyon Coolers sponsored Event 4 of the 2018-2019 Season at Martinez Lake.  Now with it being in the rearview mirror we can tell you about it.  Fisher’s Landing was nearly as busy as any holiday weekend I have experienced.  Bass Junkyz, Desert Bass, and a car show all in competition for space, specifically parking space. With some adjustment in the normal routine everyone at Bass Junkyz was back into their role and things were getting done quickly.  The Bass Junkyz crew set up Friday night in the East overflow parking area anticipating a field of about 60 boats, down from our average of 85. Water level has been low the past few weeks limiting practice ability and access to backwater several decided to use this event as their drop for the season.  The water level had come up about 18-24” from the previous weekend making launching easier at the ramp.  Cloud cover in the morning created a spectacular sunrise with a crisp 45 degrees.  Anglers bowed their heads in prayer and then stood tall for the National Anthem prior to being released for the day.

Sand bars are ever the issue with a river system fishery and most anglers had success avoiding and keeping off of them, or at least being able to free themselves easily, except for one team; more on this a little later.  Several teams elected to leave their catch in the river as conservationist only taking creel samples for the day; others were setting hooks and ripping lips.

10th place Robby Ballew-Wallace Wright with 12.58, 9th Steve Lund-Steven Boyce with 12.73 and a solid kicker of 4.91, 8th Dustin Driscoll-Grant Estrada 13.29, 7th Loren Bryant-Anthony Walker with 13.93, 6th Joe Uribe Jr-Joe Uribe Sr with a solid 14.98 for the bottom half of the top ten.

5th place brought to the stage Max Hernandez-Richard Witt with 4 fish for a weight of 15.71 and a 2nd place Big Fish of 5.07, unfortunately Max and Richard just could not get the 5th fish into the boat. 4th place the team of Jim Waits-John Turner with 16.51 and 1st place Big Fish of 5.10.  3rd place was Matt Shura-Lon Armel with and a nice limit of 16.55. 2nd place went to the father/son team of Murray White-Taj White with 16.91 and a 3rd place Big Fish of 4.94.

1st place went to the team of Lynn Domby-Tim Price. Now don’t worry, this is the other “Tim Price” … The team brought to the scale a solid effort of 17.45, a kicker of 4.20, and a very lovely lady in the crowd shouting, “Momma is getting some new shoes!” Domby and Price walked away with a total amount for their effort on a testy river system with $3,044. Guys, get the lady what she wants. Lol

Huge thank you to the Flyin’ K BBQ for making out to the event and taking care of our anglers.  Please anglers go to their Facebook and Instagram pages and give them a like and a follow.  If you have an event on the calendar you now know who to call for great food.

Oh, and back to the sandbar … not to drop any names, but we did see a shout-out to Billy Kelly over at Robo Junkie Boat Detail. I did not see a sand bucket set on the back of the boat, but maybe that was the only thing left behind at the river.    

See you at the next Bass Junkyz event, February 2. Keep “Feeding the Addiction”

Lake Roosevelt December 1, 2018

Well the weather outside is … Not as bad as forecast.  Bass Junkyz staff rolled into Tonto Basin experiencing just a mild drizzle on the drive from the Phoenix metro area.  Traffic for a Friday afternoon was not nearly as heavy as we feared.  The Windy Hill, Badger Ramp parking area, which is very large dirt and gravel lot, had standing water in a couple of places.  With a little readjustment from our normal set up point we moved closer to the ramp ensuring our own runoff from the bump station would move away versus puddle up and stand.  The Bass Junkyz crew dropped trailers off and headed a few miles further up the road to the Roosevelt Lake Resort for dinner.  Anglers had booked out the hotel in a matter of 24 hours due to a BOGO special with Bass Junkyz for the event.

Saturday morning the temperature was 47 and as anglers entered the parking area live well checks were taken care of quickly allowing anglers to park and head over to the sign-up table.  Three fire pits were roaring, coffee flowing, and the assortments of donuts and danishes all laid out.  Anglers jockeyed patiently for later flights and when number 61 was called the cue filled right up.  The field capped at 5 flights to launch with 82 boats, and with the weather forecast we had speculated that a lower number would come out to compete. We were pleasantly surprised to see so many of you.

Broken skies painted purple, blue, splashes of yellow, and orange with the dawn.  Visible rain falling in areas away from the ramp, both North and South was indeed an amazing gift to start the day.  A few brief announcements, then the Morning Prayer, followed by the National Anthem opened up competition.  Media team of Rick and Chris captured drone footage and stills of blastoff.  After the last team was released our on the water media team was in hunt mode.  One of the best captured moments of the day was not too far away from the boat ramp itself.  Daniel Elias ended up landing an estimated 20lb flathead catfish.  Not what he was looking for, and I am sure initially it was a thrill to have the rod load up that heavy.

Rounding out 15th to 11th; Joe White – Danny Adams 9.04lbs, Matt Shura – Lon Armel 9.94lbs, Laron Porter-Creston Carroll 9.99lbs (+ Pro Strike package), Tyler Derman-Tyler Turk 10.13lbs (+ Canyon Cooler 22qts), and the team of Jacob Russell-Nick Phelps with 10.46lbs. Team Jacobs-Phelps brought in Big Fish for the day at 6.59lbs landing a check for $1,025, Ace Sporting Goods and Fishing Big Fish prize of 13 Fishing reel and rod at $540 value, and first Out of the Money at 11th place a pair of Costa 580s at $469. Not bad for 11th place.  

Team of Charlie Crawford-Richard Vizcarra hit the 10th place with 11.37lbs and a check for $479. Daniel Elias-David Bebawy and 11.52lbs at 9th place and a check at $638.  In 8th place with 12.11lbs, team Buddy Randall-Robert O’Donnell and a check $701. 7th place brings us to 12.19lbs and the team of Taylor Hale-Brad Meade and a check for $756. Just out of the top 5 in 6th place, team David Stachowski-Greg Valenzuela 12.29lbs, with a check for $829 followed up with 2nd place Big Fish 5.67lbs and a check of $615.

Our top 5 starts with Preston Smith-Chris Dix at 13.75lbs and a check for $893. In 4th place the team of Danny Uptain-Jerett Coleman at 14.03lbs and closing out with a check for $1,180. 3rd place at 14.24lbs brings us to the team of Tom Wennerlund-Danny Hallock with checks for $1,530 and 3rd place Option of $405 for a total payout of $1,935.  Team of Steve Lund-Steven Boyce wrapped up a solid 2nd place finish with 16.67lbs and a kicker fish of 5.35lbs for 3rd place Big Fish. Lund-Boyce took home checks for 2nd place $2,104, 2nd place Option $608, and 3rd place Big Fish of $410 for a total of $3,122.

Closing out the field in an authoritative fashion, the team of Mike Williams-Ricky Romans brought to the scale 19.20lbs and a kicker of 5.03lbs.  Unfortunately their big fish did not make a check for them, but not all was lost.  For 1st place the team was paid out $3,634 and for 1st place Option a check for $1,012 for a total of $4,646.  When asked how they hit the water. Williams-Romans responded they found a place and spent nearly the entire day throwing reaction baits, jigs, and drop shot.  They felt they had fish and were catching at a rate that it was better to stay than move.

Bass Junkyz next event is at Martinez Lake outside of Yuma.  Early registration is now open and can be found at www.bassjunkyz.com.  Registration will continue Saturday morning in the parking lot of Fisher’s Landing at the trailers.  Coffee will be fresh, hot, and plentiful.  The fire barrels will be a blaze.  Live well checks will be at the stop sign coming into Fisher’s, so please be cautious in that last 1000 yds.

Find us on Instagram at @azbassjunkyz and please follow and share. You can also locate us on Twitter at @BassJunkyz  and again please follow us and share.  These two platforms are growing quickly for us because of you and your participation.

 A very special “Thank You” to all of you that participate with us either in competition, or follow along on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or check our webpage.  We; Tim, Greg and the staff put on the event, but you all are what this is all about and all the extra that isn’t being done elsewhere.  You are truly Bass Junkyz.

Wishing you all a Very, Very Merry Christmas and an Amazing & Safe Happy New Year.

See you in 2019 with something a little better and a little bigger as we continue to push The Bar higher!!!!

Bass Junkyz  

Lake Havasu November 3rd 2018

The Bass Junkyz Crew rolled out of Phoenix Friday AM to Lake Havasu via the Town of Wickenburg, a small town left over from the old west.  Not a place of western legend of the likes of Tombstone, but I believe has all the grit, some tall tales, and perseverance. The railroad arrived in 1895 and the small desert mine town grew to a size to incorporate in 1909, three years before Arizona became State 48.  If you happen to have a little extra time look over the town’s Chamber of Commerce website at www.Wickenburgchamber.com which also has a self-guide tour available.        

Century Marine the Southwest’s Bass Cat dealer presented the event.  Minding the forecast of wind for Saturday every affordable measure and precaution needed to be taken in to prevent damage to canopies, protect anglers, and spectators.  Livewell checks were done effectively and quickly as anglers entered the marina.  Soon enough a field of 84 teams was on the water bowing their heads in prayer and standing for the anthem.  The morning proved to be amazing as the orange sky mixed with purple gave way to safe light and blast off.  Five flights on the water with the first flight due at check-in by 3:00PM.

Almost like clockwork a breeze picked up at 11:00 and gradually became more steady and stronger toward weigh-in time.  A few anglers struggled through the day and called their day short due to dissatisfied productivity and results. Few anglers stuck around to stow their gear, eat, and later socialize with friends.  Spectators began to arrive at about 2:30 and the crowd slowly expanded.  Several pleasure boaters came up from the lower parking lot just to get an idea what all the fuss and was all about.  A gentleman had mistaken Bass Junkyz for a large national entity, but didn’t remember them having an event scheduled or as much hospitality for the anglers during prior events.

Top ten teams were rounded out by Shawn Hilton-Kody Johnson 12.89lb, Laron Porter-Creston Carroll 13.49lb, Jeff Lenard-Erick Cline 13.88lb, Allan Blackmon-Steve Reiter 14.09lb, and Randy Ernest-Darlene Ernest 14.15lb weights respectively. In 5th Place the team of Daniel Elias – David Bebawy put in a solid day and a five fish limit tipping the scale at 14.15 with a big fish of 4.18. The 4th Place team of Scott Kramer-Aaron Riggs didn’t break the 15 pound mark but brought in a respectable 14.61 and a big fish kicker of 4.50.  3rd Place and breaking into the 15 pound range was team Mark Williams – Matt Williams and a five fish limit at 15.71.

The separation in weight appears in 2nd place over the field jumping up 6.05 pounds.  The team of Roy Hawk – Mark White weighed in at 21.76 with a 2nd place Big Fish at 5.01.  A mere .09 from tying for first place.  In 1st Place the team, out of the 2nd flight on the launch order, the team of Shaun Bailey – Mike Williams took home 1st place Big Fish with a 6.07, 1st Place Option, and  overall 1st Place with a total weight of 21.85

The next event for Bass Junkyz is at Roosevelt Lake December 1st.  Please make your reservations at Roosevelt Resort using #bassjunkyz when securing your room.  As always you can register online at http://www.bassjunkyz.com/register till Thursday night before the event by 7:00PM, and then registration continues at the lake the morning of the event.

Lake Pleasant October 6th 2018

The tables and chairs set up and anglers clambering about, telling stories while drinking coffee and grabbing a few packaged donuts and muffins for out on the water.  The morning greeted all of us kindly as the Morning Prayer opened up competition, followed by the National Anthem. 90 teams kicked off Bass Junkyz 2018-2019 season drawing in competitors from Arizona, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, and Southern California.  The weather itself was not cool or brisk but rather warm with broken cloud cover for the day.  An addition for this season, we have elevated our media presence driving social media to new levels for Bass Junkyz, as well as enlisting the services of a drone pilot and livestream sponsorship of our events.  Make sure you follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Unfortunately the lake was a bit stingy with her yield.  Only 9 teams came in with a bag weight in the teens. Clifford Pirch-Buddy Randall, Daniel Nicholson-Jeff Erickson, Ernie Griego-Tony Lerma, Greg Hines-Steve Watson, and Tim Roden-Kyle Coppinger rounded out the bottom of the top ten from 10th place to 6th place respectively. Less than 1.40lbs separated 10th to 6th and the competition was fierce. Team Rick Foerester-Mike Lyman brought in the 2nd place Big Fish at 5.54 for the day. Team Charlie Crawford-Richard Vizcarra closed out 3rd place Big Fish with a 4.98

In 5th place, Matt Shura-Lon Armel, a longtime fishing duo weighed in at 14.16 with 4.08 kicker in the bag securing a check for $969.00. 4th place was held onto by Brandon Koon and Conrad Demecs with a tying weight of 14.69 with Bobby Lanham-Jason Stockton.  Lanham-Stockton were able to secure the go ahead to 3rd place, via the big fish tie breaker at 4.64 vs 3.99.  Each team gathering up and walking away with checks for $1,280 and $2,096 respectively. 2nd place was captured by the father son team of Murray and Taj White, presenting a weight of 16.67 and a 2nd place option for a total payout of $2,935.

1st place was closed out by Robert Kettner-Seth Furmanek with the heaviest bag of the day at 17.52 securing the “trifecta” win; Entry, Option, and Big Fish.  The kicker fish at 5.70, giving them Big Fish for the event and a total payout of $6,118.  Kettner-Furmanek are the first team to qualify for the 2018-2019 championship by securing the win and now must go by participation rules to show up at our dance on the water.

Congratulations to all of the anglers and thank you for choosing and participating with Bass Junkyz. We know there are choices out there, but there is only one bass tournament experience, Bass Junkyz.

Championship at Lake Havasu May 4th and May 5th

The Bass Junkyz crew rolled into Lake Havasu City Thursday knowing anglers had been on the water working out their strategy for the 2017-2018 Championship.  The Quality Inn hosted the event opening up the Saguaro Room teams began to pour in at 6:10 for the 6:30 meeting.  You could see the minds working out what they had accomplished and like any tournament with something big on the line talk wasn’t loud and jovial as is the norm.  A little rib poking took place, but all in good fun.  Just prior to kicking off the meeting teams were greeted with Bass Junkyz goodie bags. An assortment of Havasu essentials; Jack Lewis fish weights, Flirt Skirts jigs, Century Marine key chain, Pro-Strike spooling band, Strike King baits, Frog Toggs, Crossed Industries stickers, Bass Junkyz stickers,  Bass Junkyz hats and shirts, local coupons, … Each angler had in hand $85 of items to say “thank you” for committing to the Bass Junkyz Tournament Series.

Day 1 was an absolute gift.  The golf cart shuttle was racing back and forth between the ramp and the parking lot as teams positioned their boats with the launch order in mind. The Morning Prayer just as the colors of dawn was changing the horizon and a very light breeze.  The National Anthem resonated across the water and at the last note live well check and launch ensued.  29 Teams of the 30, ready for the challenge of the day and solid competition idled out of the Lake Havasu Marina toward the open water. As 2:40pm rolled around teams began to come in and once again the shuttle was at task.

Deb Cunningham was one of the first of the anglers to come up to the parking lot and she was literally shaking with excitement.  Deb and Vic had experienced some battery issues out on the water and with some assistance were able to finish out the day, and what a day they had. Leading day 1, Vic and Deb brought to the scale a bag weight of 21.30 and a big fish of 5.24. Matt Shura and Lon Armel were on their heels with a solid 19.66 and a 4.58 big fish.  Ben Foster and Jeff Erickson were in hot pursuit with their own 19.08 bag and day 1 big fish of 5.46. With rounding out the top 5; Jeff Allen and John Browning with 19.00 and a 4.88, Derek Francom and Aaron Reese 18.56 and a 5.04 big fish.  Day 2 was going to be a battle.

All anglers in and scales closed, Deb and Vic were able to hold onto the lead from start to finish 10/10, a day 2 weight of 19.84, a big fish of 5.84 for a total weight of 41.14 and tournament big fish.  Standing in second place Matt Shura and Lon Armel managed to hold off the competition bringing in 18.07 making a two day total of 37.73.  Dean Kreuzer and Rich Kereny closed the gap but not enough with an 18.33 bag and a two day total of 36.73, 1.01lb off to jump to 2nd place. Kevin and Mike Caruso finished up with 35.76.  Joe Wheeler and Derrick Amerson leaped from Day 1 15th place to 5th place with a day 2 bag of 19.20 and a total weight of 34.28

Second place big fish went to Jeff Erickson and Ben Foster for their 5.46 and Third place went to Derek Francom and Aaron Reese for their 5.04. What an event!  In total Bass Junkyz paid out in cash and products a whopping total of $36,674.00!!!

Bass Junkyz would like to thank all of their sponsors, anglers, those that have helped during the events, help behind the scenes, and the people that have listened and offered guidance.  Many, many thanks to all of you.  It is because of you that this organization is doing as well as it is and events in the future look to be bigger and better.

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Lake Pleasant April 7th

Lake Pleasant, the final event of the Bass Junkyz 2017-2018 Season and as unsure as we were of what to expect it can be said of everyone that the event did not disappoint.  Holding onto a boat average of 87 boats per event for the season Lake Pleasant offered up a field of 88 ready to mix it up, take risks, and step up to the internal challenges of the day.  Sponsors stepped in upping the ante with demo rides for Bass Cat from Pro Staff coordinated by Century Marine.  Foster’s Rustic Furniture was on hand showing off their awesome items. Canyon Coolers were on display and prizes galore from Napier Outdoors, Taipan Rods, Costa, Ace Fishing and Hunting, Crossed Industries, Jack Lewis, ProStrike, Robo Junkies …

The weather turned out to be fantastic and honestly could not have been better on the April 7th morning.  Tai Au and Joe Uribe teamed up for this one and it was a match.  The team brought to the scale a solid bag of 16.55lbs with the help of 4.71 kicker, just enough to best the Johnny Johnson and Andrew Napoleon team with 16.23 and tournament big fish at 7.54. A 0.32 difference but not enough.  3rd place Ben Foster and Jeff Erickson with a healthy and steady bag of 15.55 and 4.75 kicker keeping them ahead of 4th place, the steady team of Danny Hallock and Michael Reyes with 15.17 and 2nd place big fish of 5.72.  Rounding out the top five, 5th place team Kenny Cartledge and Zack Lamb with 14.48 and a 4.24,  3rd place big fish belonged to the team of Charlie Crawford and David Jenkins with a solid 5.29.

Bass Junkyz AOY team was decided at this event.  The team of Todd Herman and Julius Mazy held on to their lead by fending off the pressing team of Marty Halsey and Bob Perkins. Both will meet again at the championship May 4th and 5th at Lake Havasu.

Congratulations to all that have qualified or were drawn … See you at Havasu!!!

Herman –Mazy            Kereny-Kruezer           Porter – Carroll            Halsey – Perkins

Uptain – Coleman       Johnson – Napoleon    Francom-Reese            Coffey – Mckenzie

Ashford – Ashford      Shura –Armel              Hallock – Reyes           Henrickson – Shull

Blauvelt – Hart            Smith – Dix                 Foster – Erickson        Everett – Ballard

Brillhart – Nugent        Allen – Browning         Caruso – Caruso          Jonovich – Jonovich

Cartledge – Lamb        Cautter – Teixeira        Wheeler – Amerson     Cunningham – Cunningham

Schook – Casillas         Lee – Pingry                Lamanna – Lamanna   Lund – Boyce

Singletary – Singletary  Sierra – Stanton 

Click Here for pictures

Lake Havasu March 3rd

Event 6 of 7 for the 2017-2018 season proved to be a formidable one.  Anglers monitored the wind forecast for the weekend trying to set out a game plan for participation and success.  Some made alternative plans versus risking Lake Havasu rollers and the others let out the battle cry, “Fish on!”  The morning started off with a steady breeze and made progressive gains after 10 o’clock.  As the first flight of the day began to make it into the marina conceding their efforts to the clock, stronger wind gusts had become more consistent and the norm.  A few of the teams found themselves to be less than dry.

Ted Stewner and Al Carlson lead all teams with 19.65 and a 4.61 kicker.  The Canadian team fished fast covering a great deal of water during the day.  The past two time Canadian Fort Frances Champions and a host of top 10 finishes over the past several years gave the team a small amount of anonymity among other anglers, but they are on the radar now.  2nd place went to a familiar team of Matt Shura and Lon Armel with 18.48 and a 5.61 kicker.  Via a Bass Junkyz contingency, Team Shura/Armel were able to add an additional $500 in Nitro Bass Pro Tournament Rewards.  Following in third, Justin Kerr and Tim Rath with 18.28 and a 4.37 and in fourth place, Kyle Grover and Garrett Howard with 16.98 with a solid 4.67 in the mix.

Click here for photos. 

Lake Alamo Feb 3rd

Alamo Lake did not disappoint.  Last year the lake rose 42 feet with heavy precipitation taking the lake to a level nearly full pool of 1129 and stopping just short at 1126.5.  Arizona has been unseasonably warm this year and the tradeoff is beautiful crisp (our definition) winter mornings in the mid/hi 40s.  Daytime temperature on the water was 78/79 and a mild afternoon breeze.   Aaaahhhh. 

88 teams participated and rewarded.  32 teams brought a big fish to the scale in excess of 4.02lbs and several had to decide which was going to test the scale.  Out of the 88 only three elected to either not weigh fish or didn’t complete a full day on the water for other reasons.  Some of the usual suspects were in the top 10 and new winners this go round.  Steve Lund and Steven Boyce put together a 24.00lb bag to top the field including a 2nd place big fish kicker at 6.30lbs.  In 2nd place was father/son team of Chris and Conner Yates with a bag weight of 19.99 which held for a very long time including a 4.92 kicker. In 3rd , Joe Uribe Jr. and Joe Uribe Sr. came to the scale with a very respectful 19.84.  4th place Marty Henrickson and Jacob Shull jumped in with 19.19lbs.  A tie for 5th place at 19.12lbs was settled by a big fish tie breaker.  Both teams came to the scale with healthy 5lb big fish, but the team of Collin Nelson and Brandon Morton edged out Nate Foreman and Danny Clark with and 5.89lb big fish versus 5.53lb.

The Phoenix Junior Bassmasters competed the following day with many of our adult anglers rolling over to take out the contestants:  Anglers of the future fishing today.  Next event will be at Lake Havasu on March 3rd.  Please contact Quality Inn and Days Inn and tell them you with Bass Junkyz to secure our agreed rate for this event. 

For event pictures click here. 

Lake Bartlett Jan 6th

Bartlett did not disappoint as the weather was absolutely amazing versus what January can be sometimes here in Arizona.  There was a milestone set with participation and a limit set by the permit issuing agency that a maximum of 100 boats would be allowed.  Preregistration closed with 81 positions spoken for leaving 19 for day of sign up.  Some firsts happen with this circumstance; a large number of the competition field spent the night, several day of signees put down bed rolls or cots to sleep and hold their line position, and 21 other teams were informed the tournament had capped out.  All are firsts for Bass Junkyz.

Early arriving vehicles were met with live-well checks prior to entering into the parking lot around 3:45am.  Sign-ups and sign-ins went rather smoothly considering the field size.  Prayer included a moment of silence for the Costa FLW Lake Okeechobee anglers.  As of this writing co-angler Nik Kayler remains missing and his family and friends remain in our prayers.  The National Anthem played loudly resonating across the water ended with loud cheers. 7 flights launched orderly without crowding or conflict and the day was ahead.  First flight due in at 3:00pm, the last at 4:30pm, and the last team weighed in with the scales closing at 5:07.  Sponsor row was a hit with Century Marine and BassCat, Costa Sunglasses, Inyati Bed Liners, Pro Strike, and Canyon Coolers.

At the end of it all father/son duo Joe Uribe Jr and Sr topped the field with a healthy 13.62 including a nice kicker of 3.42lbs.  Team Porter and Carroll followed up with a 12.33 sack and Team Maxon and Romano on their heels with an 11.99lbs sack. Team Uptain and Coleman on their aft with 11.79 with Team Halsey and Perkins at 11.56lbs.  Of the 100 teams competing 97 weighed in fish and 100% of the fish were returned to the water thanks to the fish care practices, oxygenated holding tanks/tubs, and the use of Rejuvenade in our cue.

The next event is at Alamo Lake on February 3rd so please get online and reserve your camp spot.  There are full hookups available, as well as power only hookups, bathrooms, including showers.  After Alamo we are headed to Lake Havasu on March 3rd so mark your calendars and make your reservations at Quality Inn and Days Inn asking for the “Bass Junkyz” rate.

Lake Roosevelt December 2nd

Things go smoothly where there is cooperation.  Thank you Let’s Talk Fishing for switching ramps with us at Windy Hill for the event.  It is a blessing to be here in Arizona and not having to do as our brothers and sisters do up north, winterize and store our boats. The agony of waiting for the river or lake to be ice free knowing the bass are there.  This is the first event we used the recovery boat to take fish back down to the lake and everything went amazingly well.  We tried something new this event with the live well checks.  As vehicles entered into the ramp area staff inspected live wells and issued a token to exchange at registration.  This worked extremely well and we are hopeful we can utilize this method going forward. 

Partly cloudy skies and very mild temperatures for early December on Arizona’s Mother Lake.  93  boats in all on the water.  Fishing was better than Apache and 52 teams brought limits to the scale.  Heavy bag for the day belonged to Todd Herman-Julius Mazy at 16.64, followed up by Richard Witt-Tai Au 16.01, and in 3rd place Roy Hawk-Mark White at 15.75. Todd Herman-Julius Mazy made their day oh so much sweeter with the Bass Pro Tournament Rewards for Nitro giving them a $5,000.00 bonus to their day at the outdoor office. Big fish was brought to the scale by Richard Witt-Tai Au at 5.71lbs securing Big Fish Option, Ace Hardware & Fishing Big Fish, and Century Marine Big Fish for a cash and prize amount of $1,837.00.  Catch of the day was credited to Derek Francom-Aaron Reese with an extremely healthy 5lb smallmouth.  Bass Junkyz is a 1 to 6 ratio tournament paying down a max of 10 places.  Special thanks to A&M Graphics, Century Marine, Quest Rewards, Ace Hardware, Bass Pro Shop Tournament Rewards, Canyon Coolers, VooDoo Athletics, Pro Strike, Robo Junky Boat Detail, Inyati Bed Liners, Rico, Amp Upholstery and Marine, Rejuvenade, and Costa.

Next event is at Bartlett Lake on January 6th and online registration will open on December 21st.

Apache Lake November 11th

The 2nd event of Bass Junkyz season was colorful. Orange and blue/purple clouds scattered about the eastern horizon with dawn's paintbrush as safelight approached. A 58 boat field, 116 anglers stood for prayer and the Anthem then the competition day was underway. Rumors prior to the event were that the lake was fishing tough, but we all know how fisherman can be sometimes ... Well it wasn't tough, it was T O U G H!  Some of the best anglers around struggled this weekend at a lake historically offering up plus 25lb sacks and the scales told the tale.  Winners, Kreuzer/Kereny put the smack down on the entire field coming across the scales at 15.28lbs, 4.18lbs over 2nd place Allen/Browning at 11.10lbs who passed the slap along to 3rd place Everett/Ballard with 8.39lbs.  The weights narrowed from there with 10th place Herman/Mazy at 5.27lbs.  Special thanks to ACE Hardware's Tim Baird on Houghton in Tucson for the G Loomis Rod and to Century Marine for the product/service certificates. It is great having you on board as our Big Bass sponsors this season.

The next event will be at Roosevelt Lake, December 2nd.  Online registration will open for Roosevelt on November 20th, close on November 30th, then continue December 2nd at the lake.

Lake Bartlett Oct 7th

The Bass Junkyz 2nd Season kicked off with a beautiful October Arizona morning. We had anticipated a larger field than last year’s average but the actual boat count blew our forecast count of 60 out of the water! 97 teams rolled into the Bartlett Lake parking lot and then it was time to get to business. The morning started off with a prayer followed by the National Anthem.  We stand.

7 flights blasted off and then the real work began for the Bass Junkyz staff; 97 boats, 184 anglers plus curious spectators coming over to see what was going on.  We knew immediately we needed more food, water, soda, tables, chairs, and canopies.  The extra food was ordered and we had to make do with the tables and chairs. A little reconfiguring of the canopies, everyone who stayed ate, and most everything else worked out with a little ripple here or there but taken care of.

It is not often a large fish comes out of Bartlett but Team Guetti/Wood managed to find an El Diablo weighing in at 6.66lbs taken 1st place for Big Fish.  The fish locked them in at 14.11lbs for a first place trifecta; Entry, Option 1, and Big Fish. The 2nd Place Team of Porter/Smith were just behind by .65lbs at 13.46lbs. The gap to 3rd Place with Locke/Sumrall was nearly 2.2lbs at 11.24lbs total. The following weights for 4th through 10th looked like everyone would expect for Bartlett Lake being separated by 100ths.

Next on the schedule is Apache Lake on November 11th.  The online registration will open on Thursday November 2nd and close on November 9th at 7:00pm. Registration will then continue at the lake Saturday morning at 4:30am. We are hoping for a good turnout so make sure to secure your hotel room or campground ahead of time. 

Championship @ Lake Martinez

When we chose Martinez Lake it was in the mindset of “something different” for the anglers.  We wanted to change things up and give the participants some new scenery. It worked. Day 1 of the competition kept everyone aware of the changing weather and subsequent water conditions. Anglers fought hard for their weight with day one bringing in a 7.29lb by Team Hodge/Guerrette closely followed by Team Reyes/Carson with a 7.25lb. Day 1 Leaders Hodge/Guerrette with 20.27lbs was closely followed by Team Mabry/Sautter with 18.77lbs, Team Howden/Understiller with 18.20lbs, Team Singletary/Singletary with 14.60lbs, and Team Dudley/Goettl with 14.43lbs.

Day 2 presented more challenges than the first day. Weather had set it after Day 1 and since has been identified as the most aggressive storm flow for the Yuma area of the monsoon season. Telephone and power poles had snapped in half from a microburst parallel to Route I95 shutting down travel for about two hours the night before and power outages throughout Yuma were rampant. The river and backwater stained up and many anglers lost the bite and pattern they had been on.  For others, persistence, adjustments, and some luck paid off. The heaviest bag for Day 2 was brought to the scale by Team Ampersee/Ampersee at 19.09lbs, but it wasn’t enough to take over the lead and hold off Team Dudley/Goettl from pushing them off and taking over the hot seat with a 18.23lb bag.  Team Hodge/Guerrette had lost their bite but still kept on trying to find the kicker to secure a win. Team Howden/Understiller approached the scale with a hero’s effort braving the rain and lightning at what turned into their most productive spot up river. Although they knew the sack was smaller than the day before, and with 14.74lbs and the day before weight of 18.20lbs Team Dudley/Goettl stepped aside yielding the hot seat and first place by 0.23lbs.

The event finished with our new Bass Junkyz Champions, Team Howden/Understiller at 32.94lbs.