Lebanon, Missouri may be the new home to the production of more aluminum boats than any other city in the nation. The city has a population of just over 14,000 and estimates that over 2500 people there are employed making boats in the area. Current brands being made in Lebanon include Tracker, G3, Landau and Lowe. Ranger Boats has announced it will move all of its aluminum production to Lebanon in 2021. Learn more in this article from Tegan Shockley.
4. Anglers Tribune
Is Wheeler The Most Savvy Angler In The Game Today?
While wild speculation and rumors circulated on social media and message boards last week during the first FLW Super Tournament on Lake Chickamauga about why eventual champion Jacob Wheeler was fishing out of an unwrapped Triton Boat, the eventual champion was laughing all the way to the bank. If there is one thing that we as fishing fans should have learned by now is that we shouldn't believe all of what we read on the internet. Wheeler's strategy of unwrapping his tour boat after checking with his core sponsorship group to make sure they approved of the move was shrewd and savvy. On a lake like Chickamauga, giving yourself any competitive advantage can make a huge difference. Unwrapping his boat allowed Wheeler to not only practice under the radar, but fish the event with a lot less eyes on him and thus his prime locations. What can we as tournament anglers learn from Wheeler's strategy? While most of us likely don't fish multi day events out of wrapped rigs, there are things that you can do on a smaller scale that might make a difference. Keeping a low profile while on the water by doing things like not wearing a jersey unless you are obligated to do so might keep a competitor from identifying where you were fishing on any given day. Learning how to fish tournaments involves much more in this day and age than just mastering techniques. Employing strategy and taking advantage of the resources available to you are imperative in setting you apart from the field. Check out Jacob's full explanation here.
5. Baits Not Being Talked About
The Jackhammer was one of the hottest baits across the country this Spring especially in the Fire Craw color that is still sold out most places. Anglers are finding out it also works well in deep water with the larger sizes that are offered in 3/4oz and 1.25 oz in some colors. Paired with a swimbait they make a great offshore choice. V&M also has a ledge version designed by Cliff Pace.
Bass Talk Liveco-host Matt Pangrac kicks off the 2020 Bassmaster Central Open season on the Arkansas River out of Muskogee, Oklahoma. Even though the river is less than a hour from his house, he has little experience on the challenging fishery. Competing against a field of 192 other anglers, can Matt figure out the puzzle and survive as he attempts to qualify for the 2021 Bassmaster Elite Series? Check out the full episode here.
Chris Jones won his second Bassmaster Open in June. His sponsor lineup includes Ranger, Bass Pro Shops, Mercury, Garmin, Costa, McCain, Booyah, Yum and Vicious.
8. Regional Recommendations
Travel John
As you return to the road this summer, if you are worried about stopping at travel centers or rest stops to use the restroom, Travel John has a new product that has become very popular. It is a disposable urine bag featuring a plastic funnel and bag filled with crystals that absorb the urine and then turn into a gel which prevents odor or spills. The Travel John is unisex. According to Crain’s, the Amazon search rank for “Travel John disposable urinal bags” has grown five times between May and June as a surge of families plan to take road trips while avoiding public bathrooms during the COVID-19 pandemic. The company says it is experiencing a “drastic increase” in product demand.
The Color-C-Lector was invented by the late Dr. Loren Hill the former Director of the Zoology Department and Biological Research Center at the University of Oklahoma and introduced by Lake Systems in 1984. After nine years of research, Dr. Hill established a range of 26 colors that were best visible to the eyes of a fish. Through careful observation and patience, Dr. Hill was able to train the fish to differentiate 26 colors positions under optimum conditions. He then altered those conditions to simulate various times of day and varying degrees of water clarity. With each change, the correct responses were carefully measured and recorded. Several lure companies released specific hard baits and soft plastics to match the exact colors that the Color-C-Lector recommended during this time period. RetroBassin took the time to give some background on the unit, and field test it to see how effective it really is in this video. Spike-It-Outdoors offers the classic Color-C-Lector unit for sale for a retail price of $129 if you'd like to incorporate it into your on the water routine.
What price range of rods do you purchase the most?
