Great Point By Kumar on Palaniuk DQ

If I'm Rapala – a MN company – I'm going to chew out MN's head of fisheries because my guy missed out on potentially millions of dollars worth of exposure due to a rule that should've died round about the time T Rex did. Sheesh.

Thanksgiving at Bass Parade Blog

If you haven't seen it yet, you missed it because Bass Parade is no longer.

I Could Use a Break!

Bass Parade Blog is giving out a Core Reel and sweet G. Loomis NRX853C Jig & Worm rod (7′ 1″, med-heavy, extra-fast tip).

Here is what they say:
Back to the question in the title. As much as I love the NRX and Core – and I do love them (*sniff*) – I’m giving them away, only slightly used. Why? I know life is tough for a bunch of folks out there right now, maybe this’ll make someone’s day, month, who knows. Plus I got plenty other rod/reel combos to catch the fishes.

Some of the folks out there who are hurtin’ are bassers, and no doubt they’d appreciate a job or some cash or a miracle more than an expensive rod/reel combo. But that’s all I got.

So: Anyone know someone who can really use a killer combo – and hopefully will really use it/fish with it?
Well in light of my Stroke at Christmas it is certainly something I could use and would use.

If anyone out their wants to send Jay at ( jay@bassparade.com ) a good word for me it would be much appreciated.

Thanks Bass Pundit

Bass Parade B.A.S.S. Speculation.

Bass Parade blog put out a post entitled Something's Brewing at B.A.S.S., which is a jump head long into speculation about what might be coming from the new ownership at B.A.S.S.

Here is an excerpt:
At this point I think it’s safe to say that Jerry and Co. have something cooking that’s either going to impact how anglers qualify for and/or maintain their Elite Series status. Lane says he knows “how good it’s going to be”. So there’s already some hype attached to it as far as the anglers go.

Are we about to see the end of the Elites as we know it? Based on B.A.S.S.’ timeline of scrapping one format in favor of another, we’re about due for a repackaging. Maybe it’s some kind of new TV deal? It’s all speculation at this stage of the game, but I definitely smell smoke.

Anybody out there have any thoughts as to what all this means? What would you like to see happen? Is the Elite Series fine as is or does it need some tweaking?

In the comments some of the speculation centers around B.A.S.S. making it so the Elite anglers don't have to pony up entry fees and get a guaranteed payback.

In regards to this speculation I have some questions and thoughts.

How will anglers "not having to pay to compete" (these were the words used by a commenter) differ from the current system where the idea is for anglers to get sponsors who will pay the anglers entry fees?

Obviously the anglers and organization need sponsors to put up the money. That doesn't change. So what changes and how?

Maybe all anglers get a guaranteed minimum payback from B.A.S.S. and the anglers can make sponsor deals on top of that???

How do you get there other than with a basic redistribution of the total purse with a lot less going to the top finishers?

The way I see it you have risk and reward. The higher the reward means higher risk for individual fishermen. I don't see how you lower the risk without reducing the reward at the top. It's a zero sum game.

For it not to be a zero sum game, somehow you have to create more value for the sponsors than what already exists. It will be interesting to see if the new ownership can figure out a way to accomplish that. Maybe skillful leveraging of new media is the answer. (But then again maybe not, there are a lot of children at that table already and those hi-tech secret formula's are notoriously fickle.)

Some suggest shrinking the field is a way to increase value and that no doubt is probably true, but it seems you will still have the same basic problem where a few at the top reap great rewards while it just becomes more difficult for everybody else to reach that level. If this is the case it might prove a disincentive for people to try to "live the dream" and you end up going backwards. Then again if done right maybe the incentive to try is actually increased and everybody is happy.

And then of coarse the really big question is, what are the implications for Fantasy Bass Fishing?

Go read the Bass Parade article and throw your thoughts in the ring.

Bass Pundit's Bait Hatin’

Bait Hatin’ is a blog post over at Bass Parade by Jason that is a rant on baits/techniques he loathes fishing. So naturally this got me to thinking about lures that I loathe. The problem is when it comes to bass fishing there really are not any lures or techniques that I despise. Yes there are things I don't use much if at all and there are things I prefer over other things, but really there is nothing that I don't enjoy fishing at least when it comes to artificials.

But there is a bait, a live bait, that doesn't do it for me. The book may say Lunkers Love Nightcrawlers but Bass Pundit doesn't love nightcrawlers. It was not always this way. As a boy I loved to go out and catch worms and use them for bait, but I grew out of that. Worms are messy and a pain in the ass. Little fish love nightcrawlers and are always stealing the bait right off the hook. Once I got over my fear of them, I discovered leeches are superior to worms; more durable, less mess.

Breaking: Bassmaster Classic News

Tucked away in the comments on the official B.A.S.S. Facebook Fan Page I found this nugget from Angie Thompson, the B.A.S.S. Online Media Guru.
I am taking this to mean that people will no longer be shut out if their ISP doesn't carry ESPN360, because the live Classic weigh in will now be streamed for everybody at the Bassmaster.com website.

I am 100% behind this change as that I don't get ESPN360 and missed out on watching the previous two years.

In other Classic News Bass Parade blog will be blogging at the Classic and they want bass fishing blog readers input on their coverage. So go to Bass Parade and give 'em your thoughts.

Butt Fish- Hilarious! Poor Kid!

This video was found by Bass Parade

Bass Parade!

Duckett: No Info, No Problem If you haven't, go read it.

Scooped By Bass Parade

I've never made the claim that Bass Pundit is any kind of authority with a finger on the pulse of Minnesota's bass fishing scene. But I feel a little out of it that I got scooped on this one by the bloggers at Bass Parade. Maybe if I was a Fan of the NAFC Facebook Page, I would have been on top of it.

Then again maybe not, looked on the Facebook Page and I couldn't find a mention.

Speaking of Facebook Pages, Bass Pundit Blog has one. You can become a Fan by hitting the "Like Button" on the upper left hand corner of this blog. So if you "Like" Bass Pundit become a Fan. Thank You!

Big Bass Fishing Blog News: Jay Kumar Returns to Bass Fishing with BassParade.com Blog

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Jay Kumar Returns to Bass Fishing with BassParade.com

Califon, NJ - Sept. 15, 2010 - Jay Kumar – founder of BassFan.com and other properties now owned by Intermedia Outdoors, as well as a former co-host of ESPN's underground hit show "Loudmouth Bass" – is back in bass fishing with new site BassParade.com. What exactly is a "bass parade?"

"The best way to put it is that you're either in the parade or watching it, and either way you're a part of it," Kumar said. "We chose the blog format for the site because it encourages fishermen to be part of what we're doing – to participate by leaving feedback, sending in pics and videos for us to post, posting our posts to Facebook, that kind of thing.

"BassParade is also a constant stream, or parade, of all things fishing. It's not the news model pioneered by BassFan. It's not the free-for-all you find in forums. It's more like the Gawker of fishing – short-form, fun, commentary-like content. We cover anything about fishing we think is good, bad, funny or otherwise entertaining."

"We" means him, well-known bass and inshore writer Jason Bryant, and an Alabamian with no shortage of opinions, Bo Crawford.

Bryant said: "The fun thing about BassParade is that it's essentially a stream-of-consciousness blog about all things fishing. We don't sterilize content through a chain of command or a panel of editors. We write it, post it and people read it."

Crawford said: "I hope fishermen find our edgy, out-of-the-box style refreshing." He added: "What I'm most excited about is delivering a mobile device-friendly site to all the anglers out there. I believe that's a first in bass fishing."

Kumar is known as an entrepreneur with no shortage of solid ideas, so what else is he up to? "In hunting, check out SeriousBirdHunting.com," he said. "In fishing, all I can say right now is 'plenty.'"

Naturally I wish the boys well in this endeavor, I hope it is a runaway hit. The Bass Fishing Blogosphere has really started to take shape with some excellent blogs and many blogs like mine that maybe are not so excellent but still contribute to bass fishing in a positive way.

Oh Coarse most of the Bass Fishing Blogosphere is linked here in the blogrolls of Bass Pundit.

Update: I have now read almost all they have written so far and they have a good mix of funny and serious.