THE BUSINESS NEWS OF FISHING.

Best on Tour will bring you a business perspective of the fishing industry to help keep you up to date. 2019 will be the biggest year pro fishing has ever seen!

1. Stat of the Day

PRESENTED BY: Sunline

After four Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour events Edwin Evers is on top of the earnings list. While 33% of the 80 angler field have earned less than $6100, seven BPT competitors have yet to cash a check. These anglers also have no entry fees in 2019.

2. Money Matters

PRESENTED BY: Big Bite Baits

More and more tournament anglers are turning to alternatives like Vrbo and Airbnb when searching for lodging for their tournament destinations. While saving money by renting a home that can accommodate multiple anglers is beneficial on the bank account, the added security of having your rig in a safer environment than your typical hotel parking lot is also an added bonus. Other, less popular sites such as HomeAway are also great options when searching for a safe, affordable place to stay for your next event.

3. Behind the Scenes

PRESENTED BY: SPRO

Tips for parking your rig in a hotel parking lot

Hotel/Motel Boat Parking Tips 1) Take a look at the hotel before booking on Google Earth to see if the parking lot easily can accommodate your rig. 2) Ask hotel desk if you can cone off 2 parking spots to accommodate both your truck and boat trailer during your stay. 3) Pick a spot where you can park your truck next to your boat, as this will give you enough room to get out of in the morning. 4) Plan on disconnecting your trailer if needed – many parking lots cannot accommodate trucks and boats connected. Make sure you have something to chock your trailer wheels. 5) Try to park off site if possible (must ask parking lot owner). 6) Bring both a long and short extension cords for charging to reach power plug. 7) Park in a lighted area if possible.

4. Anglers Tribune

My first year on the Bassmaster Elite Series, Garrett Paquette

This is my first season fishing on the Bassmaster Elite Series, and I will also be fishing some B.A.S.S. Opens as well. With this being my first year facing the Elite Series level of competition, I am taking everything in stride and focusing on controlling the things that I can control. I know that the Elite anglers that I will be facing at this level of competition are a step up or two above what I have competed against before. I can’t control what they do, or how they catch fish I can only control what I do, and take the steps every day to make sure that I’m at the top of my game. Going out and catching fish to the best of my ability us my daily goal at each event. If I have a bad day, I have to let it go and get right back out there and fish at the highest level each and every day that I am on the water during both practice and competition. Living up North in Michigan gives me an advantage when it comes to learning and developing new tactics and presentations, as a bass is a bass wherever you travel in this country. On a day to day basis I can get on the water and catch more fish than I can down South, this puts my learning curve at an accelerated pace helping me learn and develop skills at a quicker pace. I embrace the fact that I live up North, and believe I have been able to use it to my advantage thus far in my career.

5. Baits Not Being Talked About

The Bill Lewis MR-6 is holding down a spot on Tackle Warehouse's top selling tackle list after a ton of early season success by pro staffers Mark Daniels JR and Brian Latimer. The 2.25" bait, which perfectly hits that six foot depth range has been a staple in both angler's arsenals, during what seems to have been the season of the mid range crankbait thus far.

6. What We're Watching & Listening To

PRESENTED BY: Gamakatsu

TACTICAL BASSIN'

The duo of Matt Allen and Tim Little make up the Tactical Bassin' team. Tactical Bassin's goal is to give anglers of all skill levels, around the world, an in-depth look at various techniques that will help them become better fishermen. With over 200,000 subscribers on their popular YouTube channel, the guys at Tactical Bassin' are having a great amount of success in helping anglers learn more about the sport.

7. Jersey Watch

PRESENTED BY: Denali

Greg Hackney's 2019 tournament jersey looks significantly different than it did in 2018. The "Hack Attack" signed on with big box outdoor retailer Academy Sports + Outdoors, and also left his long time rod and reel sponsor Quantum, signing with Lew's Fishing. Hackney is currently in 4th place in the Bass Pro Tour standings, earning $24,000 for his efforts thus far. 

8. Regional Recommendations

Traveling to a lake and looking for the best place to stay, launch your boat, get gas or buy tackle? See the top choices for Lake St. Clair in Michigan here:

Harley Ensign Memorial Boat Access Valero on Jefferson Gina's Cafe Luigi's Original Restaurant Swan View Inn Shores Car Care Rose Marine Anglers Point & Sportsman's Direct

9. Best for Last

PRESENTED BY: AFTCO

Spending countless hours on the water with the latest in GARMIN technology has made Justin McClelland one of the foremost experts on PANOPTIX and PANOPTIX Livescope in the industry. While anglers throughout the country are becoming more widely exposed to the technology and the advantages it offers, the exposure has allowed GARMIN to take a strong foothold in the electronics category. "In layman's terms PANOPTIX would be like live 2D sonar, while PANOPTIX Livescope is the equivalent of a forward facing side scan and down view to keep it simple. That's how I try to explain it to people when I first introduce them to it," says McClelland. The PANOPTIX technology, hit the market and changed the game for McClelland. "Once I learned how to use PANOPTIX it made a huge difference in my fishing immediately. It allowed me to see targets out in front of my boat, which I could key in on, and catch fish off of without having to go over the top of them. The first time I was able to cast to a target and catch a fish off of it I was addicted to the technology. It truly only took me about 5 or 6 trips with it before I felt confident in what I was looking at, so it isn't something that will take you forever to learn, contrary to what some anglers think." said McClelland. If seeing cover in front of your boat wasn't enough, PANOPTIX Livescope changed the game again. "When the Livescope came out I wasn't sure how much better it could be than the original PANOPTIX. After a few trips with the new technology I was sold on the new system for sure. I can now see real time images up to 100' from my transducer, and can interpret what my bait looks like, and see fish actually come and eat it. I mean what more can you ask for from your electronics? I suggest to anyone that if you have the opportunity to get in the boat with someone who has the technology that you should do so and see for yourself what all of the hype is about." concluded McClelland.

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