Trapper Tackle Lets Loose the dropshot hook
Courtsey: FTR
Date: August 11, 2016
Fresh off a whirlwind introduction at ICAST 2016, including a Best-in-Show performance in the New Product Showcase, Trapper Tackle reveals details about its ultra-versatile Dropshot-Live Bait-Finesse Trapper Hook. With applications that are as broad and far-reaching as the sport of fishing itself, this is truly a game changing tool that belongs in every angler’s tackle box.
Trapper Hooks are uniquely designed to address two persistent problems anglers face when using antiquated J-shaped hooks: First and foremost, J-hooks rock and rotate in a fish’s mouth as the fish fights for freedom. The thrashing expands the initial point of entry and creates a path to escape. Second, the round bend of J-hooks allows soft plastics and live baits to slide freely along the hook shank as the bait is cast and retrieved, or fished through cover. That unwanted mobility leads to frequent adjustments between casts, consuming valuable time on the water. The patent-protected design of the Trapper Hook addresses both of these problems with two right-angle bends at the base of the hook shank, creating the Trapper Box, which locks fish and baits in place.
With Trapper Hooks, anglers spend less time re-rigging, while landing more striking fish. This is truly the ultimate “win-win” proposition for anglers, originating from a seemingly simple, “why didn’t I think of that” change in hook geometry.
The Dropshot/Live Bait/Finesse hook from Trapper Tackle is poised to take the bass fishing scene by storm. Vince Hurtado, former B.A.S.S. Elite Series angler and Trapper Tackle pro, relies on Trapper Hooks for all of his finesse and dropshot presentations. “I fish with total confidence when I tie on a Trapper. The Trapper Box at the bottom of the hook keeps my baits rigged perfectly and keeps fish pinned so I know they are coming to the boat.,” says Hurtato, who has logged thousands of hours and hundreds of California Delta bass testing Trapper Hooks over the past several seasons.
Far from a bass-only proposition, the Trapper Drophshot/Live Bait/Finesse hook also excels at securing and presenting a wide variety of live and natural offerings. Walleye anglers rejoice at how well Trapper dropshot hooks hold jumbo leeches, crawlers and live minnows, delectables that frequently tempt trophy whitetips from the depths. Carp and catfish chasers will find that corn and dough balls are accommodated equally well in the Trapper Box. Likewise, wader-clad anglers in pursuit of migratory trout and salmon will quickly learn that the Trapper dropshot hook excels when dressed with spawn bags and single egg presentations.
The award winning ultra-versatile Dropshot/Live Bait/Finesse hook from Trapper Tackle can truly find a home in any angler’s tacklebox.
Anglers will find the Trapper dropshot/live bait/finesse hook in five sizes, ranging from #4 to 2/0, in packs of 6 (MSRP $3.79) or 25 (MSRP $14.99), with retail and on-line availability in December 2016. Until then, visit us at http://TrapperTackle.com to sign up for free samples and to learn more about the game-changing family of Trapper Hooks from Trapper Tackle.
Tagged Tarpon Travels 400 Miles in One Month.
Courtesy Bonefish & Tarpon Trust
Date; July 21, 2016
Bonefish & Tarpon Trust (BTT) reports the first tarpon detection from its acoustic tagging program, and it provides new insight into tarpon movement.
Helios is an approximately 45-pound tarpon sponsored by Perk Perkins, CEO of The Orvis Company. It was caught on a live crab and tagged in late May in the Lower Florida Keys by BTT scientists from UMass Amherst and Carleton University, and was the second fish ever tagged as part of the program. We just received word from colleagues that their receiver near Port Orange, Florida, detected Helios in late June. This relatively small tarpon traveled over 400 miles in a month.
Previous satellite tagging efforts funded by Bonefish & Tarpon Trust were limited to tagging fish 80 pounds or larger.
The group began to acoustically tag tarpon this past May in an effort to expand on knowledge of tarpon habitat use and movement at different life stages. This underscores the importance of acoustic tagging to provide new insight into tarpon movement and habitat use during different life stages, and will provide information that is critical to BTT’s conservation efforts. Stay tuned for more recaptures and fascinating new insights on these amazing creatures.
This detection is interesting because it’s the first time we have been able to actively track fish in this size range — previous satellite tagging efforts funded by BTT were limited to tagging fish 80 pounds or larger. A 45-pound fish like Helios is years from becoming sexually mature, which has been considered the size that tarpon start longer distance migrations. It’s also pretty remarkable that it traveled so far in a short period of time.
For more information about the program, visit the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust website, www.BonefishTarponTrust.org.
Scott Martin Remains on Top
Date: August 17, 2016
Courtesy: The Fishing Wire
A 12th-place finish at the recent Forrest Wood Cup allowed Scott Martin to retain his hold on the top slot in the latest edition of the BassFan World Rankings. Events since the previous edition that impact the Rankings were the Cup, which was contested at Alabama’s Wheeler Lake, and the Potomac River Bassmaster Elite Series. Martin has an advantage of a little more than 3 points over Andy Morgan, a previous Rankings kingpin who’s won three of the past four FLW Tour Angler of the Year titles (Martin won the other). Cup winner John Cox, who had a stint at No. 1 earlier this year, moved up from 4th to 3rd, swapping positions with Greg Hackney. In other notable movement: Potomac River winner Justin Lucas gained a whopping 17 spots to No. 8. FLW Tour stalwarts Scott Canterbury and Jacob Wheeler moved into the Top 10 – Canterbury rose two places to No. 9 and Wheeler gained four spots to 10th. Kevin VanDam, who’s won two regular-season Elite events this year and has spent far more time at the top of the Rankings than any other angler, dropped from 8th to 17th with a 99th-place showing at the Potomac. VanDam’s appearance among the Top 10 in the previous edition was his first since 2013. Second-year pro Jordan Lee debuts inside the Top 20 at No. 19 (up seven places). Lee is 7th in the AOY race and is riding a streak of three consecutive placements of 9th or better. The next event that will impact the Rankings is the Mississippi River Elite Series, set for Sept. 8-11.
Bassmaster’s list of the nation’s 100 best bass lakes
Bassmaster’s list of the nation’s 100 best bass lakes includes seven from Florida. Each year Bassmaster Magazine gathers catch-rate data, tournament results, consults with B.A.S.S. Nation members, state biologists and public input to assembly a list of the nation’s best bass fishing lakes. This year’s top lake is Toledo Bend Reservoir which straddles the Texas and Louisiana border. Texas also leads the States with eight fisheries within the top 100 while Florida and California tied for second with seven lakes each on the list.
Within the Southeast Division, Santee Copper lakes, Marion and Moultrie in South Carolina took the top spot while Florida’s Rodman Reservoir came in second. The local lakes of Lake Istokpoga, Lake Tohopekaliga and Lake Okeechobee came in 6th, 11th, and 17th respectively.
The Nation’s Top 10:
Toledo Bend, Texas/Louisiana
Santee Cooper lakes, Marion and Moultrie, South Carolina
Clear Lake, California
Lake Erie, Buffalo, New York
Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, California
Mille Lacs Lake, Minnesota
Lake Berryessa, California
Rodman Reservoir, Florida
Falcon Lake, Texas
Lake St. Clair, Michigan
Southeast’s best lakes
Santee Copper lakes, Marion and Moultrie, South Carolina
Rodman Reservoir, Florida
Chickamauga Lake, Tennessee
Kentucky Lake/Barkley Lake, Tennessee/Kentucky
Lake Guntersville, Alabama
Lake Istokpoga, Florida
Pickwick Lake, Alabama/Mississippi/Tennessee
Falls of the Neuse Reservoir, North Carolina
Ross Barnett Reservoir, Mississippi
Lake Murray, South Carolina
Lake Tohopekaliga, Florida
Dale Hollow Reservoir, Tennessee/Kentucky
St. Johns River, Florida
Randleman Lake, North Carolina
Watauga Lake, Tennessee
Okatibbee Lake, Mississippi
Lake Okeechobee, Florida
South Holston Lake, Tennessee
Clarks Hill Lake, Georgia
Lake Rousseau, Florida
If you feel your favorite lake should be higher on the list than make a concerted effort to report all largemouth bass catches over 8-lbs to the FWC Trophy Catch Program for these reports are a key data point in determining a lake’s position on the list. All it takes is a clear photo of the entire fish and the reading on the scale to enter into FWC’s Trophy Catch Program. For more detail visit www.MyFWC.com
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