12 Top stories of 2012

Here are the 12 biggest events from the world of bass fishing that shaped 2012.

<p>The sport of bass fishing never stands still. The year just ending offered more than its share of ups and downs, highs and lows, celebrations and disappointments. Here are the 12 biggest events from the world of bass fishing that shaped 2012.</p>
The sport of bass fishing never stands still. The year just ending offered more than its share of ups and downs, highs and lows, celebrations and disappointments. Here are the 12 biggest events from the world of bass fishing that shaped 2012.
<p><strong>12A. Wellman returns</strong></p>
<p>After a controversial win amid allegations of attempted cheating at the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Northern Open on Lake Erie in August of 2011, Nate Wellman was fined and suspended by B.A.S.S. More importantly, he gave up the automatic berth in the 2012 Bassmaster Classic that went along with his Erie title. It was a challenging year for the Michigan pro.</p>
12A. Wellman returns
After a controversial win amid allegations of attempted cheating at the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Northern Open on Lake Erie in August of 2011, Nate Wellman was fined and suspended by B.A.S.S. More importantly, he gave up the automatic berth in the 2012 Bassmaster Classic that went along with his Erie title. It was a challenging year for the Michigan pro.
<p><strong>12B. Wellman returns (cont.)</strong></p>
<p>In 2012, Wellman was back and had his best Elite season ever, finishing a strong 17th in the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings and earning a spot in the 2013 Classic. Though still a lightning rod of controversy for some, Wellman made strides in 2012 and further established himself as a talented angler.</p>
12B. Wellman returns (cont.)
In 2012, Wellman was back and had his best Elite season ever, finishing a strong 17th in the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings and earning a spot in the 2013 Classic. Though still a lightning rod of controversy for some, Wellman made strides in 2012 and further established himself as a talented angler.
<p><strong>11A. Homer Circle dies</strong></p>
<p>Every bass angler lost a favorite uncle on June 22, when Homer Circle died in his Florida home. The 97-year-old dean of bass writers became the fishing editor of <em>Sports Afield</em> in 1968 and held the position for 34 years. More recently, Circle was a valued contributor to <em>Bassmaster</em> Magazine with his monthly "Ask Uncle Homer" column.</p>
11A. Homer Circle dies
Every bass angler lost a favorite uncle on June 22, when Homer Circle died in his Florida home. The 97-year-old dean of bass writers became the fishing editor of Sports Afield in 1968 and held the position for 34 years. More recently, Circle was a valued contributor to Bassmaster Magazine with his monthly “Ask Uncle Homer” column.
<p><strong>11B. Homer Circle dies (cont.)</strong></p>
<p>Circle was an integral player in the rise of B.A.S.S. in the late 1960s and early 1970s, bringing attention to the fledgling sport of professional tournament angling through his magazine columns. He wrote four books on bass fishing, hosted three outdoors televisions programs and was the face of Glen Lau's seminal films on bass and bass fishing, "Bigmouth" and "Bigmouth Forever." Circle was inducted into the International Game Fish Association Hall of Fame in 2007.</p>
11B. Homer Circle dies (cont.)
Circle was an integral player in the rise of B.A.S.S. in the late 1960s and early 1970s, bringing attention to the fledgling sport of professional tournament angling through his magazine columns. He wrote four books on bass fishing, hosted three outdoors televisions programs and was the face of Glen Lau’s seminal films on bass and bass fishing, “Bigmouth” and “Bigmouth Forever.” Circle was inducted into the International Game Fish Association Hall of Fame in 2007.
<p><strong>10A. Card wins Rookie of the Year</strong></p>
<p>After making a check in each of the first five Elite Series tournaments he fished, Brandon Card was poised not only to take Bassmaster Rookie of the Year honors, but to make a serious run at Angler of the Year. It would have made him just the third rookie winner in the past 20 years.</p>
10A. Card wins Rookie of the Year
After making a check in each of the first five Elite Series tournaments he fished, Brandon Card was poised not only to take Bassmaster Rookie of the Year honors, but to make a serious run at Angler of the Year. It would have made him just the third rookie winner in the past 20 years.
<p><strong>10B. Card wins Rookie of the Year (cont.)</strong></p>
<p>Unfortunately for Card, his season took a turn for the worse when the Elite trail headed north and he missed the next three cuts. Still, he held on to finish 22nd in the AOY race and earned a spot in his first Bassmaster Classic. Card is the second consecutive ROY from Tennessee (Ott DeFoe won the honor in 2011).</p>
10B. Card wins Rookie of the Year (cont.)
Unfortunately for Card, his season took a turn for the worse when the Elite trail headed north and he missed the next three cuts. Still, he held on to finish 22nd in the AOY race and earned a spot in his first Bassmaster Classic. Card is the second consecutive ROY from Tennessee (Ott DeFoe won the honor in 2011).
<p><strong>9A. Monroe catches 100 pounds</strong></p>
<p>Ish Monroe had been there before. In fact, he was the first Elite Series entry into the Century Club when he won the debut Elite event in 2006 on Lake Amistad, cracking 100 pounds in the process and putting his name in the bass fishing history books as the first Elite champ. Big weights in slugfest tournaments are not new to Monroe.</p>
9A. Monroe catches 100 pounds
Ish Monroe had been there before. In fact, he was the first Elite Series entry into the Century Club when he won the debut Elite event in 2006 on Lake Amistad, cracking 100 pounds in the process and putting his name in the bass fishing history books as the first Elite champ. Big weights in slugfest tournaments are not new to Monroe.
<p><strong>9B. Monroe catches 100 pounds (cont.)</strong></p>
<p>At the Lake Okeechobee Elite event in March 2012, Monroe grabbed the early lead with more than 30 pounds on the first day and never looked back. He finished the tournament with 108 pounds, 5 ounces and his second entry in the Century Club. Monroe pitched and flipped his way to the win, holding off a charging Chris Lane in the final round.</p>
9B. Monroe catches 100 pounds (cont.)
At the Lake Okeechobee Elite event in March 2012, Monroe grabbed the early lead with more than 30 pounds on the first day and never looked back. He finished the tournament with 108 pounds, 5 ounces and his second entry in the Century Club. Monroe pitched and flipped his way to the win, holding off a charging Chris Lane in the final round.
<p><strong>8A. Martens is the All-Star champ</strong></p>
<p>Aaron Martens started slow in 2012, failing to make a single cut in the first three Elite tournaments and causing fans to wonder if he could qualify for the Bassmaster Classic. That's when The Natural kicked things into gear, posting three top five finishes in the next four events and ending the season 10th in the AOY race. Along the way, he grew a beard for luck, and "Fear the Beard" became a mantra for Martens fans.</p>
8A. Martens is the All-Star champ
Aaron Martens started slow in 2012, failing to make a single cut in the first three Elite tournaments and causing fans to wonder if he could qualify for the Bassmaster Classic. That’s when The Natural kicked things into gear, posting three top five finishes in the next four events and ending the season 10th in the AOY race. Along the way, he grew a beard for luck, and “Fear the Beard” became a mantra for Martens fans.
<p><strong>8B. Martens is the All-Star champ (cont.)</strong></p>
<p>The highlight of 2012 for Martens came when the fans voted him into the second annual All-Star Week competition. On two lakes in Illinois, Martens put together winning patterns, beating the biggest names in the sport and taking home the $60,000 first place prize money. Momentum was everything for The Natural in 2012, and he should have it to start the 2013 season at the Bassmaster Classic.</p>
8B. Martens is the All-Star champ (cont.)
The highlight of 2012 for Martens came when the fans voted him into the second annual All-Star Week competition. On two lakes in Illinois, Martens put together winning patterns, beating the biggest names in the sport and taking home the $60,000 first place prize money. Momentum was everything for The Natural in 2012, and he should have it to start the 2013 season at the Bassmaster Classic.
<p><strong>7A. Fine lining</strong></p>
<p>When the water's extremely clear and bites are hard to come by, most bass anglers go deep, opt for light lines and finesse baits, look for their action early or just wait for better conditions. At the Bassmaster Southern Open on Alabama's Smith Lake, Hank Cherry had another option and it will work for you whenever you're fishing under those conditions.</p>
7A. Fine lining
When the water’s extremely clear and bites are hard to come by, most bass anglers go deep, opt for light lines and finesse baits, look for their action early or just wait for better conditions. At the Bassmaster Southern Open on Alabama’s Smith Lake, Hank Cherry had another option and it will work for you whenever you’re fishing under those conditions.
<p><strong>7B. Fine lining (cont.)</strong></p>
<p>Cherry went to a long spinning outfit, extremely light line (5-pound-test) and 4-inch swimbaits to tackle the clear water. The long rod and light line allowed him to make extra-long casts that didn't spook the skittish bass, even through the brightest parts of the day when other anglers were struggling. His method earned him the win and a berth in the 2013 Bassmaster Classic.</p>
7B. Fine lining (cont.)
Cherry went to a long spinning outfit, extremely light line (5-pound-test) and 4-inch swimbaits to tackle the clear water. The long rod and light line allowed him to make extra-long casts that didn’t spook the skittish bass, even through the brightest parts of the day when other anglers were struggling. His method earned him the win and a berth in the 2013 Bassmaster Classic.
<p><strong>6A. Long lining</strong></p>
<p>Check out the packaging on your favorite deep-diving crankbait. It probably tells you that the bait will dive 15 or 18 feet deep on a long cast with 10- or 12-pound-test line — and that's likely an exaggeration. At the Douglas Lake stop for the Bassmaster Elite Series, several pros used a technique called long-lining or strolling to get their baits much, much deeper.</p>
6A. Long lining
Check out the packaging on your favorite deep-diving crankbait. It probably tells you that the bait will dive 15 or 18 feet deep on a long cast with 10- or 12-pound-test line — and that’s likely an exaggeration. At the Douglas Lake stop for the Bassmaster Elite Series, several pros used a technique called long-lining or strolling to get their baits much, much deeper.
<p><strong>6B. Long lining (cont.)</strong></p>
<p>By making a long cast and then slowly motoring away from the bait while stripping line off the reel (it's against the rules to use the motor to pull the bait), tournament winner Jeremy Starks, runner-up Britt Myers and a few others were effectively making casts of well over 100 yards and getting their lures down to 30 feet or more, where bass have never seen crankbaits. Kneeling and reeling will get the bait down even further.</p>
6B. Long lining (cont.)
By making a long cast and then slowly motoring away from the bait while stripping line off the reel (it’s against the rules to use the motor to pull the bait), tournament winner Jeremy Starks, runner-up Britt Myers and a few others were effectively making casts of well over 100 yards and getting their lures down to 30 feet or more, where bass have never seen crankbaits. Kneeling and reeling will get the bait down even further.
<p><strong>5A. CURs banned from Classic and Elite Series</strong></p>
<p>In October 2011, castable umbrella rigs were all the buzz in the bass fishing world as Paul Elias used The Alabama Rig to win an FLW tournament on Lake Guntersville. The rigs weren't exactly new — umbrella rigs had been around for decades — but the multiple lure approach was controversial, and most state fisheries offices and every tournament organization was forced to take a hard look at their rules.</p>
5A. CURs banned from Classic and Elite Series
In October 2011, castable umbrella rigs were all the buzz in the bass fishing world as Paul Elias used The Alabama Rig to win an FLW tournament on Lake Guntersville. The rigs weren’t exactly new — umbrella rigs had been around for decades — but the multiple lure approach was controversial, and most state fisheries offices and every tournament organization was forced to take a hard look at their rules.
<p><strong>5B. CURs banned from Classic and Elite Series (cont.)</strong></p>
<p>On January 17, upon "the recommendation of its Bassmaster Elite Series Rules Committee," B.A.S.S. amended its tournament rules to limit anglers competing in the Bassmaster Classic and Bassmaster Elite Series to the use of a single lure during practice and competition. This effectively banned the use of all multiple lure rigs, including umbrella rigs. One unnamed member of the Rules Committee was quoted as saying, "It doesn't matter how you work it, the fish can't help themselves."</p>
5B. CURs banned from Classic and Elite Series (cont.)
On January 17, upon “the recommendation of its Bassmaster Elite Series Rules Committee,” B.A.S.S. amended its tournament rules to limit anglers competing in the Bassmaster Classic and Bassmaster Elite Series to the use of a single lure during practice and competition. This effectively banned the use of all multiple lure rigs, including umbrella rigs. One unnamed member of the Rules Committee was quoted as saying, “It doesn’t matter how you work it, the fish can’t help themselves.”
<p><strong>4A. Family affair</strong></p>
<p>Oklahoma State University's team of Zach Birge and Blake Flurry dominated the Carhartt College Series National Championship, going wire-to-wire on three different Arkansas fisheries to take the title. But it was a pair of brothers from Auburn University who owned the College B.A.S.S. spotlight that week.</p>
4A. Family affair
Oklahoma State University’s team of Zach Birge and Blake Flurry dominated the Carhartt College Series National Championship, going wire-to-wire on three different Arkansas fisheries to take the title. But it was a pair of brothers from Auburn University who owned the College B.A.S.S. spotlight that week.
<p><strong>4A. Family affair (cont.)</strong></p>
<p>Jordan (left) and Matt Lee (right) are not only fellow students at Auburn, they're bass anglers, tournament fishermen and brothers. When the two ran the gauntlet of competitors to qualify for the Bassmaster Classic Bracket of College B.A.S.S., the stage was set for drama. In the end, Jordan watched his chances for a Classic berth disappear when a five-pound bass broke his line with just minutes left to fish, and Matt won with 5 pounds, 6 ounces to Jordan's 2-4.</p>
4A. Family affair (cont.)
Jordan (left) and Matt Lee (right) are not only fellow students at Auburn, they’re bass anglers, tournament fishermen and brothers. When the two ran the gauntlet of competitors to qualify for the Bassmaster Classic Bracket of College B.A.S.S., the stage was set for drama. In the end, Jordan watched his chances for a Classic berth disappear when a five-pound bass broke his line with just minutes left to fish, and Matt won with 5 pounds, 6 ounces to Jordan’s 2-4.
<p><strong>3A. Brauer retires</strong></p>
<p>In 2012, we said goodbye to a bass angling legend as Denny Brauer retired from the Bassmaster Elite Series. His B.A.S.S. professional career began in 1980 with a 20th-place finish on Lake of the Ozarks (where he later relocated). In 1987, Brauer was Bassmaster Angler of the Year, and in 1998 he won the Bassmaster Classic on High Rock Lake in North Carolina.</p>
3A. Brauer retires
In 2012, we said goodbye to a bass angling legend as Denny Brauer retired from the Bassmaster Elite Series. His B.A.S.S. professional career began in 1980 with a 20th-place finish on Lake of the Ozarks (where he later relocated). In 1987, Brauer was Bassmaster Angler of the Year, and in 1998 he won the Bassmaster Classic on High Rock Lake in North Carolina.
<p><strong>3B. Brauer retires (cont.)</strong></p>
<p>Brauer ends his illustrious career ranked third on the all-time B.A.S.S. money list ($2.58 million), third in wins (17), third in most B.A.S.S. events (321), sixth in Bassmaster Classic appearances (21) and as the first angler ever to be featured on a Wheaties cereal box (after winning the FLW Angler of the Year title in 1998). In 2005, Brauer finished fourth in ESPN's Greatest Angler Debate.</p>
3B. Brauer retires (cont.)
Brauer ends his illustrious career ranked third on the all-time B.A.S.S. money list ($2.58 million), third in wins (17), third in most B.A.S.S. events (321), sixth in Bassmaster Classic appearances (21) and as the first angler ever to be featured on a Wheaties cereal box (after winning the FLW Angler of the Year title in 1998). In 2005, Brauer finished fourth in ESPN’s Greatest Angler Debate.
<p><strong>2A. Lane wins the Classic</strong></p>
<p>For the next two entries on this list, 2012 was a year of redemption. Chris Lane struggled in his first few seasons as an Elite angler, but it all came together in 2012. He started the season with a Bassmaster Southern Open win on the Kissimmee Chain and finished second in the Elite season opener on Lake Okeechobee. It's what happened in between at the Bassmaster Classic on the Red River that fishing fans will remember for decades to come.</p>
2A. Lane wins the Classic
For the next two entries on this list, 2012 was a year of redemption. Chris Lane struggled in his first few seasons as an Elite angler, but it all came together in 2012. He started the season with a Bassmaster Southern Open win on the Kissimmee Chain and finished second in the Elite season opener on Lake Okeechobee. It’s what happened in between at the Bassmaster Classic on the Red River that fishing fans will remember for decades to come.
<p><strong>2B. Lane wins the Classic (cont.)</strong></p>
<p>Lane ended the first round of the Classic in sixth place, tied with his brother Bobby and just over a pound and a half out of first. Day 2 belonged to the eventual champ as he grabbed the lead and held on for a decisive victory in just his second Classic appearance. Lane backed it up with a strong year on the Elite Series, where he finished the season in 14th place in the AOY race, triple qualifying for the 2013 Bassmaster Classic.</p>
2B. Lane wins the Classic (cont.)
Lane ended the first round of the Classic in sixth place, tied with his brother Bobby and just over a pound and a half out of first. Day 2 belonged to the eventual champ as he grabbed the lead and held on for a decisive victory in just his second Classic appearance. Lane backed it up with a strong year on the Elite Series, where he finished the season in 14th place in the AOY race, triple qualifying for the 2013 Bassmaster Classic.
<p><strong>1A. Chapman claims AOY crown</strong></p>
<p>After a season (2011) that nearly sent him looking for a new career, Kansas' Brent Chapman was back with renewed focus and purpose in 2012. It paid off right away with a win at the Bassmaster Central Open on Lake Lewisville. That gave him a guaranteed berth in the 2013 Classic and freed him up to focus on the Elite season. </p>
1A. Chapman claims AOY crown
After a season (2011) that nearly sent him looking for a new career, Kansas’ Brent Chapman was back with renewed focus and purpose in 2012. It paid off right away with a win at the Bassmaster Central Open on Lake Lewisville. That gave him a guaranteed berth in the 2013 Classic and freed him up to focus on the Elite season. 
<p><strong>1B. Chapman claims AOY crown (cont.)</strong></p>
<p>After posting top five finishes in four of the first five Elite events, Chapman was on top in the Bassmaster Angler of the Year race and would never relinquish the lead. Along the way, he won the Elite event on Toledo Bend, made a check in seven of eight tournaments and finished worse than 27th only once.</p>
1B. Chapman claims AOY crown (cont.)
After posting top five finishes in four of the first five Elite events, Chapman was on top in the Bassmaster Angler of the Year race and would never relinquish the lead. Along the way, he won the Elite event on Toledo Bend, made a check in seven of eight tournaments and finished worse than 27th only once.