On this episode of The Bass Fishing in the Midwest Podcast I talk with Preston Clark.  Preston is best known for breaking two major Bassmaster Records.  He holds the record for the largest largemouth bass caught during a Bassmaster Classic, an 11-pound 10-ounce largemouth on day one of the 2006 Classic.  He also broke Dean Rojas’ heavyweight record at the Santee Cooper Showdown from March 30 to April 2, 2006 with a winning weight of 115 pounds, 15-ounces. In this interview Preston talks about being part of the 2009 USA Team and winning the Euro Bass Cup as well as fishing for bass with Secret Weapon Lures Recoil Rig. 

You can listen to or download the podcast here or you can subscribe to Bass Fishing in the Midwest Podcast for free on iTunes

I have listed below the websites for the sponsors Preston mentions during the interview that played a major role in him competing in the Euro Cup and helping Team USA clinch the victory.

Cooks Go To Tackle System        Cumberland Pro Lures        Gator Grip      

J J's Magic        Secret Weapon Lures        Stick Jackets       

Played: 236 | Download | Duration: 00:20:59

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John is a Pro Staff Member for
 

So the 2010 Bassmaster Classic is over and for the third time Kevin VanDam walks away with the trophy and the $500,000.00.
VanDam has proved his skills by not only capturing the Classic title three times but also being BASS Angler of the Year five times.  He is a focused competitor who finds ways to win even when the odds seem stacked against him.  Going into Lay Lake for the Classic many theorized that VanDam's aggressive power fishing style would not work well in the colder conditions that had set in.  
That obviously wasn't true as he caught all of the fish weighed on a Strike King Red Eye Shad 1/2 oz. in gold and sexy gold colors.

The question VanDam's success raises for me is how do you stop a machine?  Especially a machine that seems to have few weak spots. The other anglers on the Elite series have a little bit of VanDam in their heads.  VanDam has really separated himself from the pack in terms of  his ability to put winning bags together on different types of water.  When you are up against such a competitor it is important to not focus away from your own game and make sure that you aren't chasing the angler but the fish. 

It will be interesting to see what this years Elite series brings for wins and who, if anyone,  can stop the machine. 


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Bass Fishing in the Midwest Podcast Episode 7

The Denny Brauer Interview

 Denny Brauer was kind enough to take the time to come on Bass Fishing in the Midwest to discuss flipping and pitching and highlight his new Signature Reel the F-700 from Ardent.  Click on the interview below to play here or go to iTunes and download it there.

Played: 828 | Download | Duration: 00:19:47

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Green Lake - Chisago, MN - June 13th, 2009

This was the second of the Gopher Bassmasters tournaments of the season.  My partner for this tournament was Greg Dawson and neither of us had a chance to pre-fish this lake.  We were going in blind and hoping to find some fish.  I was coming off a disappointing showing on Lake Minnetonka and mentally I was feeling the pressure.  I brought too many rods for one thing which even added to my frustration as I could not make anything work for me.  I know that I switched too much between presentations instead of sticking to my strengths and making those work for me.

I blanked at this tournament which did not help me mentally.  After the tournament Rich Lindgren took me aside and said I better just show up with 4 rods tomorrow.  I knew he was right in that I needed to get back to what I have the most confidence in.   

Chisago/Lindstrom Lakes - Chisago, MN - June 14th, 2009

My partner for this tournament was Corey Brandt and we had a chance to pre-fish for this tournament.  Both of us had fished a tournament on these lakes two years ago and had spots.  Of course the water level was down quite a bit and some of the spots we had were not holding fish because they about 2 feet lower than when we were there last.  We found two good starting spots.  I decided to fish my strengths at this tournament. My go to presentation is a texas rigged Zoom Baby Brush Hog with a 3/8 oz. Tru-Tungsten worm weight pegged with the Smart Peg system.  I was throwing the watermelon candy color since it seemed the bluegills were spawning.  I also was throwing a Mojo Rig with a 4" Lake Fork Ring Fry in Green Pumpkin. 

My first two bites came on the Mojo Rig on a point and weed line where we started.  They both came unbuttoned but I refused to let that shake me and had confidence that I would break my two tournament skunk performances.  We moved two our second spot which was an edge of a weed line where there were sparse clumps of weeds.  I started throwing my texas rigged baby brush hog and just dead sticking it in the weeds.  I had my first bite on my second cast and landed a nice 2 pounder and instantly felt a relief that I would at least not be blanked.  I ended up with four fish that day for a total weight of 8.67.  Not a winning weight, I finished in 21st place and year to date with Gopher I am in 15th place.  But my confidence was back and I was ready to shake off the beginning of the season and hit the rest of the lakes.

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Sport Smith and I decided to try our hand at the Wednesday Night Denny's Lake Minnetonka Team Tournaments this year.  The only way you improve is to fish against people that can beat you.  The competition on these tournaments is pretty stiff and we knew we would have to step it up in order to remain competitive.  We also wanted to improve our knowledge of Lake Minnetonka. 

We pre-fished the lake a couple of times and both of us had spots we wanted to try out.  I struggled all night as I could not put a keeper fish in the boat.  This tournament sure blew my mental game.  I left the lake that night really discouraged in terms of my performance.  Fortunately Sport was able to boat five keepers but as in our FAB Tour outing they were small and only weighed in at 6.15 lbs.  I was not much help in upping our weight so I couldn't really complain.

It took 18 plus pounds to win the tournament and we discovered what we need to do in the future to be more competitive at this level.  Our next Wednesday night tournament on Tonka will be July 8th.  Our plan is to really scout some more water and have a more solid pattern going in to the tournament.  I also need to carry my weight so to speak and boat some decent fish.

Have a Great Day on the Lake!

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Sport Smith and I are fishing the Tuesday night FAB Tour which is a team tournament best five fish format.  The Lakes are all within an hour and a half of the Minneapolis area.  Our first stop was June 2nd on Sugar Lake near Clearwater.

We did not have a chance to pre-fish this lake before the tournament.  I had fished it last year with a different partner but we were not able to find the bigger fish.  Sport and I started on a set of docks that the wind was blowing into pretty well.  The wind was really strong and so boat control was an issue and I am not sure we picked the docks apart as well had the wind been a little less strong.  I was skipping a Tru-Tungsten 3/8 oz. Sunfish Colored Jig under the docks and Sport was throwing a weightless Senko.  We both managed to catch some fish but small ones that we knew were not going to win the tournament for us. 



So we moved to some other spots and only managed another couple of fish again they were small.  We had 5 minutes left in the tournament and had only managed 3 keeper fish.  So we went back to a set of reeds near the docks where we began our night and both of us were able to catch another keeper fish to round out our limit which managed us an 11th place finish with about 6.5 pounds.  It was a disappointing night in that we could not find the fish that would gives us a 10 plus pound bag. 

Our next stop on the tour is June 23rd on Cedar Lake in Wright County.

Have a Great day on the Lake!

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Sunday May 17th at 7 am Rich Lindgren and I took off for our first spot to kick off the first Gopher Bassmasters tournament of the season on the Mississippi River Pool 2.  We had done pretty well in practice and were confident in our spots for the day.  We started in an area where we had some of our larger fish in practice.  The water temps had dropped a little as well as the water levels in some of the areas we fished.  The bite was not as active first thing in the morning though I boated a fish on my first cast  and not long after had a second one in the boat. 

This was a paper tournament so the fish needed to be released immediately after measuring them and verifying that length with the other angler in the boat.  A length to weight conversion chart was then used by the tournament director to determine the total weight for your five best fish of the tournament.  There were about three other boats in the same starting spot and they left after a while but Rich and I decided to stay believing as it was warming up the bite would turn on.  We were right.  We both rounded out our five fish limit and then went on to try some other spots. 

We gambled on one area that did not pay off and that lost us some time but as Rich says you have to swing for the fences even if it doesn't pay off.  We ran to our last area and each of us were able to cull up to some larger fish.  We had estimated that it would take 18 lbs to win and we were right.  I ended up finishing 12th with a total weight of 10.82 lbs for 5 fish and Rich finished 3rd with 14.99 lbs for five fish. 

All in all it was a good first outing for me.  I was glad to bring in a limit as not everyone in the tournament did and there were a few who got blanked.  My quality fish came off one of two baits.  I was throwing a 3/8 oz. Tru-Tungsten jig - Sunfish pattern and a texas rigged Vertical Lures Creature X bait in watermelon red flake color. 

           

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john@johnhaynesbassangler.com

                               
Saturday the 2nd Rich Lindgren and I hit Pool 2 on the Mississippi River to pre fish for our tournament there on the 17th of May.  Each of us had been on the water once before but neither of us produced much.  So we decided to head in the opposite direction of where we had gone before.

We found several productive spots and both caught a limit plus some for the day.  I had an 11 pound limit for 5 fish which is decent but I believe I will need at least 18 pounds to finish in the top 3.  All of my fish came off jigs or soft plastics.  I was able to establish a good pattern of lures and colors to throw on tournament day.  Rich and I are in boat 3 for the take off and should be able to make it to our two main spots early. 

We also established some back up spots which produced fish for us and I have no doubt we will both weigh in a limit.  We had water temperatures from 54 to 61 degrees during the day.  Given the changing weather conditions this time of year in Minnesota there is no way to know just yet what we will face on tournament day.

It was great to get out and actually have a successful day on the water. I will blog a full report after the tournament.

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Episode 6 of Bass Fishing in the Midwest Podcast features a great interview with the President of Secret Weapon Lures talking about their great line of products.  To see what they offer click on the banner above.

Played: 3332 | Download | Duration: 00:31:25

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Here it is finally, episode number 5 of The Bass Fishing in the Midwest Podcast.  This is a special episode as I had the pleasure along with Rich Lindgren to interview 2008 WBT AOY and the first female competitor in the Bassmaster Classic Kim Bain-Moore.

Don't forget you can subscribe to The Bass Fishing in the Midwest Podcast on iTunes for Free!  Just click here

Played: 2107 | Download | Duration: 00:19:03