First cast
Where would you look for the world record bass? California? Japan? Try eBay.
That’s what one advertiser claims. One grand was the initial asking price for information on the world record largemouth bass, but it just dropped to $800. That’s right, a record fish has been discovered and the location can be yours, if you take any stock in this ad on eBay.
If you’ve ever visited the online auction site, you’d know there are some nifty fishing related items – cool reels, vintage lures, etc. Hawking info isn’t a first – it’s been attempted for trophy deer – but the bass is certainly unique.
Ken Duke did a spot-on job researching this questionable post for this article on Fishing Tackle Retailer. The seller, payout237, responded to Duke’s queries and didn’t offer him much more to go on. He acknowledged the fish, which was touted to be worth millions, was somewhere in Georgia. Questions galore remain.
Payout237 admitted he had the where, but not the wherewithal to catch it. Duke, familiar with bass hoaxes after years of reporting at B.A.S.S., knocks back the proposition in journalistic fashion — addressing the who, what, where, how and why. He didn’t exactly call the poster a Charleton, but ended his report with “Caveat Emptor,” or buyer beware. Yeah. No kidding.
It leaves you wondering what would most people do if they spotted a potential world record bass. First off, you’d think that person would certainly try to catch it himself or go about learning how to.
If that fails, next would be to find someone who could. Offer a knowledgeable bass angler a fair share of any proceedings. If that’s impossible, sure, put it up for auction on eBay. Don’t cost nothin’.
But we see how that’s working out. Since first posted on June 28, the ad’s “Buy It Now” price has dropped. Nobody has even ponied up the initial bid of $120 for the auction that ends late this month. There is only one watcher. (Probably Duke).
For any potential takers, I have info on the whereabouts of bigfoot for sale.
Two in the well
Casey Ashley brings us some good news from South Carolina, where his Classic win on Lake Hartwell was celebrated withCasey Ashley Day in his hometown of Donalds on June 27th.
For a preview story, a local TV station interviewed Eddie Stone, the fishing coach of nearby Dixie High. Stone had nothing but good things to say about the area’s favorite fishing son. He met him at a show some years back and heeded Ashley’s words to start a fishing team. Dixie has since excelled with multiple state fishing titles.
“Casey probably started the whole ordeal,” said Stone, adding the angler’s great presence in the area. “He comes when he can to a meeting, and he really sees kids light up.”
The town of 348, divided among 95 families, came out to the Upper Abbeville County Recreation Complex for free hot dogs, drinks and to rub elbows with Ashley.
“I feel like I won it, not just for me, but for my family, my friends, the whole state,” Ashley said.
Three’s company
We can all feel good again about yanking lips. A study says fish don’t feel pain.
An international team, led by University of Wisconsin zoology and physiology professor Jim Rose, found that fish don’t have enough sensory receptors in their nerve cells or the brain system to experience suffering.
Sounds like they had fun testing it out, too. “In spite of large injections of acid or bee venom, that would cause severe pain to a human, the trout showed remarkably little effect,” Rose told the dailymail.co.uk for this story. “It is highly improbable that fish can experience pain.”
Our own James Overstreet wasn’t too affected by the news, posting to his popular Facebook page: “Like we were gonna quit if they did.”
On that line, he followed with an interesting premise if it was found that fish in fact do feel pain.
“No doubt some marketing brainiac would have came out with a signature series line of ‘BRING THE PAIN!’ apparel, rods, hooks, caps, boat wraps, etc.”
No doubt.
Four on the floor
Roland Martin is a legendary angler, what with his fishing successes that include 19 B.A.S.S. victories and a record nine Bassmaster Angler of the Year titles.
His son, Scott Martin, is a chip off the block and recently won the FLW AOY title, his first. So what does dad do? Remind him of his place, of course. Roland posted this on his Facebook page — in all caps:
MY SON SCOTT WILL WIN FLW ANGLER OF THE YEAR AT TODAY’S WEIGH-IN, I AM SO PROUD!!! 8 MORE AND WE WILL BE TIED!
That’s a limit
B.A.S.S. and individual anglers have participated in getting wounded warriors out on the water for years. There’s no denying that this fishing therapy can make them feel whole again.
Right in time for Independence Day, Steve Bowman shared the story of a great program aptly named HOOAH!, which stands for Healing Outside Of A Hospital. They take soldiers on fishing and hunting trips.
One suffering soldier who went on the weekend’s fishing, L.J. Planer, expressed his pain well.
“In my mind the devil got in there and was just making me depressed saying ‘you can’t,’ ‘you can’t,’ ‘you can’t,’ ‘you can’t,’” he said. “And when they took me on that hunting trip and made it possible for me to be able to do it. It was God working through Matt (Taylor) and the whole program. Now I know I can.”
Bowman asked for everyone to reach out to help assist this worthy cause.
“I hope and pray that all my fishing and hunting brothers and sisters will realize the things we do in the woods and waters can actually help those who have paid a price for our freedom to do those things, and reach out to HOOAH!, Wounded Warrior Project or the one linked below, or reach out to a veteran down the street or one across town and take these warriors fishing or hunting.”
See the story here.
Culling
- There’s no truth to the rumor that John Crews went under water to scout for fish in the St. Lawrence River. Under rule C3, subsection 3, Elite rules clearly state: During the official practice and during the tournament, a competitor may not snorkel, “skin dive” or “scuba dive” in the tournament waters. So no, Crews might have been looking for fish, but he was snorkeling while vacationing at Punta Cana in the Domican Republic, and friend Noah snapped this GoPro shot of him.
- Who is Trip Weldon? If you missed it, Don Barone takes a look at the baritone B.A.S.S. tournament boss. Weldon marks his 24th year of managing competitions with integrity. Anglers call Weldon tough but fair. Barone writes that he’s never openly rooted for any one angler, but omitted one thing — that Weldon never misses a chance to cheer on his beloved Crimson Tide. See 24 years at B.A.S.S.
- Our gratuitous big bass comes from Dennis Tiejte and this beast. Naysayers might claim it’s not that big, that he’s doing the arm extension deal. Sure, but look at his hand. It’s at least four inches from index finger to pinkie, so put that fish at more than five hands long, around 22 inches or so. TJ didn’t provide a weight; he probably didn’t even weigh it. He only reported it was great way to start the day. Any way you look it, it is a horse. And a great first catch to any day.
- Speaking of fish size, In-Fisherman has a Bass Length To Weight Conversion Chart. A 22-inch fish is converted to 6.65 pounds, but Tiejte’s looks bigger, don’t you think? Patrick Sebile holds the IGFA length record for largemouth at 24.016 inches. The chart shows a 24-incher should weigh around 8.64 pounds. Hmmm. Seems light too. The best line on the chart is for anyone claiming a 24.5-inch bass – “Liar.”
- Skeet Reese had an enjoyable vacation, taking his family to watch the U.S. win the Women’s World Cup on Sunday. The Reeses traveled the Northwest then headed to Canada where his girls youth teams played a friendly soccer match. His girls got a big kick out of meeting U.S. defender Becky Sauerbrunn at a Starbucks near their hotel, the youngest running back to their room to grab her soccer ball to be autographed.
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