LarryS

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ABU 7.9-1 Revo MGX... weighs 5.4 ounces... easy to dial in and once set for the lure weight you have to work at it to make it backlash... I put it on the 7'6" MH ABU Villain rod with 17-20lb floro for the heavy work and pair it with a 12lb floro on the 7'1" Med ABU Villain rod for the clear water dock work

last I heard they are still needing boats...... Great way to help keep these young kids stay in the outdoors....our club in Leavenworth is aligned with the NWMSU team and working with these youngsters is a real thrill... Hope to see some of you Sunday taking these kids out.....

Schooner Creek and Fish Hook resort off DD Hwy are great options if you wanted to stay on the same side of the lake..... both have websites

Great pic...love the smile.. What are the water temps?

I have had a week to reflect on my Bass University experience in Shreveport, La. During that time, I have had a lot of folks ask me, "was it worth the trip". I usually start my answer the same way. It was worth it for me. Not because of any ah ha moment. If I was new to tournament angling, I am sure there would have been some. During the two days of seminars, I didn’t find a magic lure, a new presentation, or some closely held secrete technique that will catapult me to the next level of tournament fishing. But that wasn’t my purpose for attending. What occured last weekend fueled my passion. After the Shreveport trip, I am more dedicated to pursuing my dreams; but The Bass University was no Anthony Robbins “Date with Destiny” motivational seminar. So, what was it all about? Why did I decide to attend? What was my Bass University experience? I hope to answer all of these questions. What was it all about? Bass University has a lineage back to Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (BASS), but the latest edition comes to us from Mike Iaconelli and Pete Gluszek. They call The Bass University, the institution for advanced anglers. It was two days of seminars that consisted of twelve separate blocks focused on proven tournament angling tactics and techniques. The seminars were delivered by six of the world’s best professional bass anglers. Even if you think you already know everything you need to know about topwater, cranking, spinnerbaits, and soft plastics, the breakout sessions and “the daily weigh-in” may have held a surprise for you. The breakout sessions allowed us to go one on one with the pros, digging into their tackle box and into their years of knowledge of tournament fishing at the highest levels. The pros were frank and honest with no questions off limits. “The daily weigh in” was another special treat. No matter what was on the seminar schedule, “the daily weigh in” brought the pros back in for a discussion on the topic of the attendees choosing. So back to the question, was it worth it? The answer was simple for me. What is having any and all your bass fishing questions answered buy some of the world’s best professional anglers worth? My answer is priceless. Why did I decide to attend? I approach tournament bass fishing with a passion fueled by the competition with the hope of making it a future career. Just like in all life’s endeavors education is the key. Not just primary and secondary education, but I believe in the culture of lifelong learning. Even though, I have taught numerous fishing seminars over the years and have been relatively successful competing against some of the best local and regional tournament anglers. I still have the desire to learn and grow. For me, reading articles on new tackle and equipment is not enough. Spending hours on the internet doing tournament research is not enough. Learning from my peers and competitors is not enough. Spending every available minute on the water still doesn’t fulfill my desire to learn everything about the sport. For me, The Bass University was the next logical option. What was my Bass University experience? It was a reaffirmation, a rededication of sorts. It was two days with like minded people digging into the insights of six of the world’s best professional anglers. Did I walk away with something completely new? No. But, do I have new insights? Absolutely. The insights into details that will no doubt help me make better and faster decisions in the pursuit of becoming a better angler. I left Shreveport with a renewed confidence and a deeper conviction about my bass fishing knowledge and abilities. My experience was a reaffirmation on why the details mean so much and directly lead to success or failure on the water. I left with a rededication to the work ethic that it will take to reach my goals. Mike Iaconelli said, “No bites are accidental” and that resonated with me. The work that remains ahead is figuring out the why of each and every strike. I know that this experience hasn’t propelled my abilities to some new cosmic level. However, my Bass University experience has left me with an endless yearning to improve my abilities and a renewed dedication to achieve in the sport I love. In closing, if you ask me do I think you should attend one of the Bass University events next year? I would say, it depends on what you want out of the experience. If you want to find some hidden secret to catch fish, don’t waste your time. If you want to become a better angler, then don’t miss the opportunity of a lifetime. But you will need to answer that question for yourself. To read more of Larry’s Blogs go to http://larrystoafer.com/

Part II Last week in part I of Red Hot Winter Time Bassin, we discussed the “video fishing” opportunities here in the Midwest. In part II we will look at some of the basics that you need to be successful. First, where to find the fish? Like all other types of bass fishing you have to be around fish to catch fish. When the water temps start reaching the low 50s, it’s time to start looking for the mega schools of bait. I start in the major creek arms. Creeks with standing timber that tops out in 40-70 foot range are good places to start the search, but don’t discount areas because of a lack of deep cover. Remember these winter fish are focused on the bait more than oriented on cover. Start at the mouth of the creek and idle through the gut all the way to the back keeping your eyes on your electronics. Today’s side scan technologies make it possible for you to check out these creeks in a single pass. When you find the schools of bait you are in the right area. Once I’ve checked the creek and bait is present, I narrow the search to the areas within a couple hundred yards of the bait. When you find the bait it’s time to narrow your search, drop the trolling motor and start looking for targets. The targets may be active fish streaks, a single fish arc, or something that looks a little different on the bottom like a small hump or rock. If the creek has submerged timber, check for hot spots in the tree tops and abnormalities in the trees. Sometimes the hot spots in the cover will look like a typical fish arc, but on most occasions the hot spots are subtle and any hot spot that’s not completely horizontal is a target to investigate. When you find the targets fish them. As the day progresses you will be able further define your targets and determine where the majority of the bites are coming. You can then focus on those types of targets. When you drop down on a target, your goal is to get the target to react and show itself. If the bass are holding tight to the bottom, you may only see one arc or a small bump. But the majority of the time, if you get a fish to react to your presentation, the school will show itself. Early in the winter season when the water temps are in the low 50s and high 40s, I often find the bass holding tight to the bottom. A majority of the time these fish are in the areas where the channels start flattening out. In these cases, it’s all about finding the flat spots along the creek guts at the correct depth near the bait. These flat areas are easily found on good maps, it’s those areas where the contour lines start to get farther apart. A depression, no matter how small, in these flat areas along the gut of the creek is a prime location. Later in the season as the water temps dip into the low 40s, it seems that these deep fish start to suspend more. Use these general guidelines to get in the correct areas, but don’t get to narrowly focused. These fish will be around the schools of bait, if you can’t find them suspended they are on the bottom or in the trees If the schools of bait aren’t in the creek guts start looking along the bluffs, bluff ends, secondary and main lake points. They will be in one of these locations. Again, during the winter these Ozark bass, Largemouth, Smallies, and especially the Kentuckies are often in open water relating to the bait. So don’t rule out areas just because there isn’t a lot of standing timber. The schools of bait are the key and easily identifiable with good electronics. (left screen school of bait on 2D, right screen same school of bait on down imaging sonar) It will take some practice to find the bass holding tight to the bottom, up under the schools of bait, or suspended in the nearby trees when they aren’t actively feeding. But with a good set of electronics that are setup properly, like the Hummingbird 997 or 1197, you can quickly get the hang of it with some practice. If you are new to using electronics, I recommend you find an electronics seminar in your area and take advantage of these smart guys. The first thing I recommend to setup your electronics for “video fishing” is to turnoff the automatic setting and adjust the sensitivity setting to ensure you can see your lure in the water. Each sonar unit is different, but using your manual settings to establish the upper and lower limits that define the water column you want to concentrate on, and increasing the sensitivity settings will make seeing the targets and your lure much easier. The seminar guys will help you get the settings that you need for seeing these depths clearly, then all you will have to do is tweak the settings when you get on the water. Once I have found the bait and start searching for targets on the trolling motor, I normally have two screen setups saved that I toggle between. One is a split screen with a zoomed in map and 2D sonar focused on the entire water column. The second screen is again split screen with the same 2D sonar looking at the entire water column and a zoomed in 2D sonar screen looking at just the water column where I see the majority of the activity. (Left side shows the zoomed 2D and the right side shows the entire water column) (Left side shows the map and the right side shows the specific water column with the top limit and bottom limit set manually) (Right side also shows active bass under a school of bait) As far as tackle it’s pretty simple. All you will really need is ½ oz and ¾ oz spoons, 4-5inch grubs, 3/8 oz darter jig heads, drop shot hooks, 3/8 oz drop shot weights, and you favorite 3-5 inch finesse plastic. (Single tail grubs and Darter jig heads) (1/2 oz and ¾ oz spoons) (Gulp minnows 2 ½, 3, and 4 inch) Your line and rod and reel combinations are critical. I use spinning gear for all my “video fFishing”, but I do know several folks that are successful with baitcasters on their spooning rigs. My preference is a good spinning reel; the ABU Soron 40 is my reel of choice. I like the control that the spinning reel provides; the bait gets to depth quicker on a free fall and there is no need to pull off line to keep the bait falling free. Some complain of the line twists you can get with spinning gear, but with properly rigged baits, a small swivel, closing the bail by hand, a good line conditioner, and high quality line the twists are not a big problem. As far as rods, I prefer a good medium to medium heavy action 7ft to 7 ½ ft spinning rod with a soft tip. I rig the spoon on the medium heavy rod and the grub and drop shot on the medium action rods. I like the long medium and medium heavy rods because you have to move line at depths of 80 to 100ft and the sensitive tips lets you feel the subtle bites. The hook sets are not the typical flipping and pitching hooks sets. With the light line and small hooks, the hook set is a simple lifting of the rod not the eye crossing big heavy tackle yanks. Your line choice is the most critical of all. A quality fluorocarbon line in 6-10lb test is essential. I use the lightest line I can get away with and prefer “Toray” BAWO Super Hard Premium-Plus 100% Fluorocarbon. “Toray” is a premium imported line from Japan and can be pricey, but the performance and durability is worth every cent. I switched from Seaguar Invizx about a year and a half ago and the upgrade was well worth it. I rig the grub on 6lb test, the drop shot on 8lb test and the spoon on 10lb test. I will go up as high as 12lb test on the spoon, if I have to drop the spoon all the way into the tree tops to get the fish to react. Let’s take a more detailed look at these three presentations. I usually start with the ½ oz white war eagle spoon; although, the Bass Pro Shops Strata spoonswork well but you will need to add a swivel. The swivel is key to preventing line twists and I use them on all three presentations. The War Eagles spoon comes with a high quality swivel right out of the package; if you are using another brand, you can add a swivel about a foot above your lure. Drop the spoon on slack line and keep it inside your transducer cone. Most of the time you will see the fish come up to get the spoon on the fall. In all three presentations, when you see the fish start up to take the lure start pulling it away. If the target doesn’t start up right away, I stop the spoon a few feet above the target and hop it a few times. These deep fish feed up most of the time. On occasions, especially when you see fish below a school of bait, drop the spoon all the way through the school and let it hit bottom, then start it back up quickly to trigger the strike. If the fleeing action doesn’t trigger the strike start the hopping action. I start with 4-6 foot hopes, but on occasion you may have to go with shorter hops to trigger strikes. On rare occasions, the fish may want it sitting perfectly still right in their face. When you identify fish submerged in the tree tops stop the lure just above the trees and work it at that depth. Occasionally, when they aren’t active you may have to drop all the way into the tree top. You will lose some spoons this way, but if you don’t set the hook hard on the tree you can recover many of them by putting some slack in your line and shaking it. When I can’t get the fish to react to the spoon or after the action slows on the spoon, I pick up the grub. I prefer Yamamotoand Chomperssmoke color grubs in 4-5inch. Some prefer the smoke grubs with some red, purple, or silver flake, but the smoke seems to work for me. The Tightlines UV Silver Grub has been performing well also. I rig the grubs on a 3/8 oz darter head jig. There are several brands on the market but the key to selecting the right jig head is the line tie and quality long shank hook. The line tie needs to be positions so the jig sits horizontal in the water. Fish the grub with the same action as the spoon; however, it’s more common when the fish are less active for them to want the bait sitting right in their face with minimal action. When the bite gets tough and the fish won’t react to the spoon or grub the drop shot is often the ticket. The drop shot can be every effective on suspended fish, as well as those holding tight to the bottom. I rig the drop shot with a 10-18 inch leader. I like the Gulp 2 ½ , 3, and 4 inch minnows for this presentation. Other finesse plastics will work, but I believe the minnow profile is key. When the fish are suspended try keeping the drop shot in their face with as little movement as possible. When the fish are suspended deep in the trees the drop shot hangs up less than the grub or spoon. When the fish are holding tight to the bottom, I am a big fan of the Secret Weapon “recoil rig”.The action of the recoil rig simply induces more strikes when the fish are near the bottom. There will be days when the fish obviously prefer one over the other, but these three “video fishing” presentations will work on our wintertime Ozark bass. In closing, if you have never tried or had little success at vertical fishing, I highly recommend hoping in the boat with someone who is experienced in these techniques. A few hours with someone who can help you through some of the subtleties of the presentations will pay off in the long run. There are a ton of great guides in the Ozarks that will spend the day teaching the finer points of these techniques. As the winter doldrums start closing in, get out of the house and on one of these lakes and enjoy the best kept secret in the bass fishing world, Red Hot Winter Time Bassin in the Ozarks. Check out the below link for an instructional video on “video fishing” hosted by my good friend Robert Jorgensen and produced by Winkiedoodles on You tube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJP4UqsWNv0Here is more Table Rock “video fishing” action thanks to Winkiedoodles. Special thanks to Robert Greene and Robert Jorgensen for their collaborative efforts on this article To read more of Larry’s Blogs go to http://larrystoafer.com/

(PartI) Here in the Midwest many of us look forward to the morning chill that signals the changing of the seasons. As the fall colors start to fade and the nip in the air becomes more prevalent our excitement begins to build. It’s not just for the upcoming holiday season and the time spent with family and friends. Nor is it just for the upcoming hunting seasons and the chance at monster bucks, upland birds, and water fowl. A lot of us enjoy those winter time activities; but personally, my excitement grows from the anticipation of red hot winter time bass action. There are a group of anglers out here that don’t follow the societal norms of winterizing boats and putting tackle away to await the spring thaw. While the snowbirds and southern folks among us are now saying, “what is this loon thinking”? And most are now positive that we Midwestern winter time bass anglers are truly nuts. However true in some cases, when the snow, wind, and winter storms start to take hold of the central part of our country, so does the red hot winter bass action. In December, our highland Ozark reservoirs start to come alive with the hottest bass catching action of the entire year. It gets so crazy that it’s hard to understand until you experience it firsthand. Places like Bull Shoals, Beaver Lake, and my favorite, the world renowned Table Rock Lake, transform from some of the best bass fisheries in the country to one of the bass fishing world’s best kept secrets. In Mid December, when the water temps start approaching the magical 40 degree range, a mythical migration begins where these lake’s shad populations start creating mega-schools. These schools can grow to 50+ feet in diameter and 300+ yards in length. The guts of the major creeks and deep channel bluffs become their preferred winter time hang outs. As these aquatic buffets begin forming, the predators soon follow and on Table Rock from December – February that means bass, lots of bass. On Table Rock during the winter catching all three species is very common, but the Kentuckies are the most abundant. A winter fishing trip to one of these Ozark beauties targeting the schooling bass is one of the most exciting, action filled angling adventures you could ever enjoy. I start looking forward in anticipation to my first mid-December trip soon after the normal tournament season winds down in October. I am a relative newcomer to this thing we call “Video Fishing”, but with some simple tackle, good electronics, and an understanding of where to look, it doesn’t take long to start taking advantage of the winter time bite. If you aren’t a regular on these highland reservoirs the first thing you need to do is get rid of your bass biases relative to cover and depth. Growing up in western Kentucky and spending most of my military career stationed in the south, my understanding of fishing deep meant 8-10ft with the occasional 20ft ledge coming into play. My home lakes on the Tennessee River just didn’t require you to think about deeper depths to catch fish year round. Moving to the Midwest in 2005 and joining the local bass club, I soon started hearing stories about catching hundreds of bass a day during the winter doing this thing they called “video fishing”. No not the latest Xbox, Wii, or PS2 game. These guys were vertical fishing for schooling bass in 40, 60, 80, and even 100 feet of water. Like most fish tales, the stories were unbelievable and I was very skeptical at first. But the more I listened, the more enchanted I became. Even then, I couldn’t comprehend schools of bass in the hundreds and maybe thousands. It wasn’t long until my first Midwest winter and after several of the usual winter time power plant lake trips, I was ready to try this “video fishing” thing. The bass club guys finally succumbed to my continuous nagging, whining, and crying and invited me along on a December trip to Table Rock in 2006. I started my preparation with some online research and a seminar from one of the best vertical fisherman in the club. After a couple weeks of anticipation and a stop by Bass Pro Shop to pick up the needed tackle, the day finally arrived and off we went. I can still recall that first trip like it was yesterday. Being the hard head that I am, I figured I could take what the guys taught me in the seminar and the subsequent answers to my follow up questions and make this thing happen. Oh not so fast puddle jumper. After struggling all day that first day without a clue, I was just about to head in humbled and humiliated. I was already thinking about the stories that I would have to endure back at the room later that night. I had seen some of the guys throughout the day and knew they were just slaying the fish. Feeling sorry for myself, I decided to make one more pass along a main lake point before calling it a day. That’s when I noticed something that looked like an isolated cedar tree in about 60ft of water. I dropped the ½ oz white spoon down like I was taught and had done a zillion times previously that day without reward. I watched the spoon falling on my electronics and stopped it just above the tree. I hopped it once, the graph exploded as fish swarmed out of the lone tree, and the rod loaded up. Not sure of what had just happened or what I had on the end of the line, the excitement was unnerving. It felt like I had just hooked into a nuclear sub and the images on the graph reminded me of a video game called Missile Command, I played as a kid. After a struggle that seemed to last a half hour, I finally landed the 3lb spot. From that moment, my addiction grew to all consuming and unbearable. (The right image is a school of actively feeding bass under a school of bait; the vertical lines are the lures being dropped into the strike zone) After four winters of practice, some great mentoring, and a couple of rounds of electronic and tackle upgrades, I am convinced very few things in the outdoors can compare to the excitement of this thing we call “video fishing”. The rest of this article will focus on the basic tackle and techniques required to be successful. We hope that part II of this article will narrow the learning curve, so even a relative newcomer can get out and take advantage of our winter time bass bonanza. Next week, we will discuss some of the basics like where to find the fish, electronics, and the tackle you will need to get started. Until then, let your excitement grow by enjoying some of these “video fishing” videos I found on You Tube. Table Rock: The Cold and the Beautiful Getting Grubby at Table Rock Fishing With Table Rock Loons Special thanks to Robert Greene and Robert Jorgensen for their collaborative efforts on this article To read more of Larry’s Blogs go to http://larrystoafer.com/

The Leavenworth Bass Club (LBC) held its' annual end of season banquet on 23 January 2010 at the American Legion Post 23 in Leavenworth, KS. The LBC was formed 25 years ago by a group of avid anglers as a means to improve their bass angling skills through fellowship and the friendly exchange of bass catching techniques. They organized around the core functions of: stimulating public awareness of bass fishing as a major sport; promoting a full adherence to all conservation codes and water standards; providing state conservation departments organized moral, political, and physical support; and promoting youth fishing by fostering young people’s appreciation of outdoor recreation activities. The LBC is simply a group of avid outdoor enthusiasts that love Mother Nature and place a premium on the camaraderie they enjoy when together. They are bass anglers and their membership reflects a vast array of angling experience from successful regional tournament professionals to weekend recreational anglers. And above all they hold dear the freedoms of living in the greatest country in the world. Though organizing and conducting competitive bass tournaments is just part of the LBC’s annual activities, they did conduct 11 competitive bass tournaments on five different lakes catching and releasing over 1,095 lbs of bass in 2009. Since its' humble beginings over 25 years ago, the club has grown significantly over the years into the largest BASS affiliated club in the state of Kansas. As the club grew, so did its'sense of civic responsibility. Over the years the LBC has undertaken numerous conservation projects, working directly with state conservation departments emplacing fish habitat in Leavenworth County Lake, Lost 80 Lake, and Hillsdale Reservoir. The LBC works hard to engage our youth in the outdoors and has organized and conducted numerous BASS sponsored Casting Kid’s events, hosted youth fishing derbies, and sponsored a junior bass club. As the adult club sponsor of the Blue Valley Bass Buster in Olathe, Ks; the LBC conducts seminars, provides boats for their tournaments, and club members take on mentorship roles for these up and coming young tournament anglers. Additionally, the LBC has been instrumental in supporting the Kansas Bass Club Federation Nation (KBCFN) kids programs by providing boats for all three Kansas state junior qualifying tournaments last year. Even with all these annual activities, the LBC took on another meaningful project in 2009. They planned, organized, and hosted their 1st annual Fishing for Freedom event on Truman Reservoir. The LBC organized volunteer boaters from Kansas, Missouri, and Kentucky to take 30 wounded warriors and Global War on Terrorism veterans out for a day of tournament bass fishing. Thanks to private donations and numerous local and corporate sponsors, these warriors enjoyed great food, awesome participation prizes, great camaraderie, and trophies for the winners. The success of the 2009 event generated a tremendous amount of support and the LBC hopes to be able to take 100 warriors out in 2010. The LBC awards banquet is an annual winter ritual where members, guest, and sponsors come together for an evening of fellowship to reflect on our blessing and freedoms, and to recognize members for their successes and contributions throughout the year. Following a buffet style meal, the 2009 LBC president, Steve Clark, presented certificates of appreciation and thanked the 2009 Club Officers, committee members, and sponsors. 2009 Club Officers Steve Clark President Bill Horvath Vice President Larry Stoafer Secretary Ken Hackworth Treasurer Ray Hildebrand Webmaster Bob Greene Tournament Director Danny Lee Member at Large Dave Clevenger Member at Large 2009 Committees Tournament Committee Bob Greene Mark Luna Danny Lee Larry Stoafer Steve Clark Banquet Committee Ray Hillebrand Bill Horvath Steve Clark Fishing for Freedom Committee Larry Stoafer Bob Greene Bill Horvath Bob Jorgensen Ray Hillebrand Steve Clark Special Youth Project coordinator Miles Miller – adult advisor Blue Valley BassBusters Jr. Club The president then turned the floor over to the club’s 2009 tournament director, Bob Greene. Bob recognized the 2009 awardees for their accomplishments during the season with a custom club fishing shirt donated by Bass Pro Shops and embroidered by Cathy’s Creations. 2009 Leavenworth Bass Club Awardees Angler of the Year/Guide of the year Bob Greene Bob’s successes included: Table Rock 1st Place Mozingo 1st Place Truman 1st Place 99.51 Pounds Weighed Big Bass 4.95 Sponsors Fishblaster Baits Wired2fish Mikes Probass Gear Gandy Custom Tackle Gemini Sport Marketing Whopper Baits Transducer Armor Fitzwater Jigs Iguana Grafix 2nd place Larry Stoafer Larry’s successes included: Table Rock 1st Place Truman 1st Place Pomme 2nd Place 81.82 Pounds Weighed Big Bass 4.57 Sponsors Secret Weapon Lures 7-24 Outdoors Crooked Creek Tackle Blackwater International Inc. 3rd place Bill Gevedon Bill’s successes included: Table Rock 1st Place Pomme 1st Place Truman 2nd Place 84.20 Pounds Weighed Big Bass 5.6 4th place Bill Horvath Bill’s successes included: Table Rock 2nd Place (2) Mozingo 3rd Place 66.37 Pounds Weighed Big Bass 4.15 5th place Ken Hackworth Kenny’s successes included: Table Rock 3rd Place Mozingo 1st Place 83.58 Pounds Weighed Big Bass 5.86 6th place/Co-AOY Mark Luna Mark's successes include: Table Rock 4th Place Mozingo 4th Place 53.74 Pounds Weighed Big Bass 5.65 7th place/Boater Big Bass Randy Kenton Randy’s successes included: Smithville 1st Place Table Rock 6th Place 48.02 Pounds Weighed Big Bass 6.02 8th place Ray Hillebrand Ray’s successes included: Table Rock 7th Place Truman 9th Place 20.56 Pounds Weighed Big Bass 4.73 9th place Craig Schale Craig’s successes included: Table Rock 10th Place (2) Truman 7th Place 13.17 Pounds Weighed Big Bass 4.98 10th place Bob Jorgenson Bob’s successes included: Mozingo 1st Place Truman 3rd Place 59.79 Pounds Weighed Big Bass 4.57 Co-angler Big Bass of the Year Danny Lee Danny’s successes included: Smithville 3rd Place Mozingo 2nd Place (2) 57.91 Pounds Weighed 6.71 Big Bass Rookie of the Year Carl Chasteen Carl’s successes included: Mozingo 3rd Place Truman 6th Place 41.37 Pounds Weighed Big Bass 4.48lbs 2009 Sportsman of the Year Steve Clark The Sportsman of the Year is the most coveted LBC award and is elected by secret ballot at the October meeting. The results of the Sportsman of the Year election are not announced until the award is presented at the annual banquet. The definition for a sportsman of the year is not precise. But he is not necessarily the best fisherman; he doesn’t have to have the biggest or fastest boat or the most expensive equipment. He does not have to be the most popular or best looking member of the club. But, the Sports Man of the Year contributes. He is active in all the clubs activities and gives more than he receives. He willingly shares his angling knowledge and is respected for his opinions, attitude, and love of the sport. He is the member that we look up to, not out of jealousy, but with admiration. 2008 Leavenworth Bass Club Awardees Front Row left to right – Ray Hillebrand, Danny Lee, Bob Jorgensen, Randy Kenton, Bill Horvath 2nd Row left to right – Steve Clark, Larry Stoafer, Bob Greene, Mark Luna, Kenny Hackworth, Bill Gevedon After the awards ceremony, things settled down for the night’s big attraction, a raffle of numerous prizes donated by sponsors or purchased by the club. Jeff Irvin was the big winner. Jeff won the week long Canadian fishing trip donated by Big Cannon Lodge. Additionally, Travis Perret won a three night stay at Fish Hook Resort on beautiful Table Rock Lake donated by Richard and Brenda Cornell. The banquet was a wonderful success and was only made possible by our generous sponsor’s support. We sincerely appreciate them and will endeavor to maintain their support in the future by not only providing excellent and enjoyable fishing opportunities for both experienced and novice anglers but also by giving back to the community. 2009 Leavenworth Bass Club Sponsors and Contributors Bass Pro Shops Big Cannon Lodge Brunson Builders Butler Muffler and Brake Cabelas Cathy’s Creations Dennis Edward’s Tackle Fish Hook Resort Franks Marine Garmin International Kansas Bass Club federation Nation Secret Weapon Lures Randy Kenton Smithville Marine If interested in joining the Leavenworth Bass Club, you can contact any of our club officers listed on our webpage www.theleavenworthbassclub.org for additional information.

Figuring out the right fishing line for the right situation is something anglers of all skill levels spend significant time pondering. As technology in the industry advanced over the years, the multitude of line types, all with different performance characteristics have made those decisions even more difficult. While much has changed in the fishing line industry over the years, one element has persevered. Discerning anglers demand performance in an ever widening range of applications and those demands require innovation and diversity of product lines. In the late 1930s, a synthetic fiber called nylon was introduced and the braided lines became a favorite with anglers for the next decade. Nylon was also used to produce the first monofilament lines during this era, but these early versions were stiff and difficult to cast. By the late 1940s, technology improved and polyester fibers were first used to produce fishing lines. Again in the late 1950s, technological advances led to the introduction of nylon monofilaments that were easier to use than their predecessors and the Stren and Trilene monofilament brands of the day are still popular today. Until the 1990s, nylon monofilament was the king of fishing lines. However, in the 1990s, as the popularity of tournament angling, the demand for better line performance for diverse applications, and the overall knowledge base of anglers grew the super line era began. Braided lines were first, and made a strong comeback with the development of high performance fibers such as Spectra and Dyneema. The properties of these fibers were ideal as they were stronger than earlier versions, offered little or no stretch; the added improvements in casting, better color retention, and their ability to hold knots were also instrumental in their resurgence. But the technological advances that led to the development of fluorocarbon lines were the real revolution of this new era. Invented in Japan in the mid 1970s, fluorocarbon is made from a polymer of fluorine and carbon and was first introduced as fishing line in the 1990's. Fluorocarbon line is stronger and more durable than monofilament, nearly invisible in water, impervious to ultra violet rays allowing it to have up to four times the life span of monofilament. Fluorocarbon lines are about twice as dense as monofilament which allows for a much faster sink rate and much smaller diameters at equivalent monofilament breaking points. The lines density gives it an amazing sensitivity, little to no stretch, and keeps the angler in positive contact with his lure. Early fluorocarbons were stiff, hard to manage, and expensive at nearly a $1 per yard. However, new production processes has made the line more flexible, easier to manage, and affordable. Today, nearly every fishing line manufacturer produces fluorocarbon lines and no two brands are the same. Some fluorocarbons handle better while others are stronger, more durable, and more invisible than others. Until now, the challenge has been finding a fluorocarbon line that offers the best of all these factors. Anglers in search of a premium fluorocarbon fishing line maybe familiar with one brand from Japan that has been available in North America for a few years called Sunline. But as with most tackle manufacturers in Japan, the battle over the number one spot, at least in the eyes of the Japanese consumer, is never cut and dry. There is yet another battle for the best, poised to take place right here in the USA in the coming years. Japan's Toray brand premium fishing line brought to us by Blackwater International, Inc. After trying various fluorocarbon brands like Sunline shooter, Seaguar inviz-x, Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon, and P-line Fluorocarbon in the past four years, I am convinced that the Toray brand fluorocarbon lines combine the most important factors of a premium line and are the absolute best line on the market. Toray is not for everyone; it is designed for the discerning angler that demands the best performance characteristics in a fishing line. The Toray brand lines are for serious anglers who are searching for a competitive advantage.Toray is very manageable and casts like no other fluorocarbon line. Under tournament conditions that require you to cover water, if you could get an extra 5 to 8 feet on every cast and you can make 500 casts in a tournament day; you cover 2500 to 4000 more feet of water with Toray. That is a competitive advantage. Toray’s abrasion resistance is the absolute best on the market. Less time retying equals more time with your lure in the strike zone. That is a competitive advantage. Toray’s durability is unmatched. Toray simply lasts longer; even at a premium price point a line that requires changing half as often as other premium lines saves you money in the long run. But you don’t have to take my word, checkout how Toray performed in lab and field tests on Tackletour.com. The biggest challenge you will have with Toray is finding it on the selves’ of tackle stores here in the USA. I recommend MikesProBassGear.com or check out the Blackwater International website for a dealer near you. We have come a long way from the horsehair, linen, silk, and cotton fishing lines of the early 1900’s. Can you imagine having to un-spool, wash, and spread out your line to dry between uses to prevent it from dry rotting. So even with all the choices and decisions we have today, we really don’t have it all that bad. My hope is I have help enhance your knowledge and understanding when it comes to making a fishing line decision. I encourage you to try a spool and see firsthand the competitive advantage Toray brand lines can provide.

Folks, the Leavenworth Bass Club, with assistance from the Kansas Bass Federation Nation (KBFN), a network of bass anglers throughout the region, and caring local and corporate sponsors are conducting an inaugural Fishing For Freedom event on 19 September at Harry S. Truman Reservoir in Warsaw, Mo. Inspired by the Army Bass Anglers, the Leavenworth Bass Club is organizing local bass clubs, local bass anglers, and fishing guides to take Global War on Terrorism veterans and wounded warriors fishing. The Fishing For Freedom event is modeled from similar events that are occurring across the nation. It is a no entry fee event that pairs avid tournament fishermen, local anglers, and fishing guides with our returning heroes in a buddy bass tournament format on a local fishery. The purpose of the event is to let these American Heroes know how much we appreciate their service and sacrifice. Trophies will be awarded for the top teams and we hope to have participation prizes for all. The inaugural event will launch from Long Shoal Marina on 19 September 2009 at 7 A.M. with a weigh-in at 2 P.M. an awards presentation and a camaraderie building social with food and drinks to follow. Boater and warrior check-in and pairings will begin at 5:30 A.M. at the Long Shoal Marina. Tournament rules will be posted on the Leavenworth Bass Club website on the Fishing For Freedom webpage in the near future. The The Long Shoal Marina restaurant will be open at 5 A.M. Saturday for business, serving a buffet style breakfast. We are in need of Bass Anglers with boats to assist in taking these American heroes fishing. Boaters will need to be able to provide additional life vests for their backseater and should have shareable tackle available. With your support, there is a significant opportunity for this event to have a tremendous impact on our warriors and their families as they re-assimilate to life back home. Only the generosity of caring local and regional anglers and our sponsors can make this event possible. If interested in becoming a volunteer boater please contact Larry Stoafer at Lsto19@yahoo.com or 913-240-5254. GWOT veterans and wounded warriors who would like to participate contact Larry Stoafer at Lsto19@yahoo.com or 913-240-5254. Contact Hidden lake resort for accommodations and let them know you are with the Fishing for Freedom event to receive discount. We are hoping to have a field of 50 volunteer boaters. If you can make it please contact me with your name/phone/email address Thanks for the support

Folks, the Leavenworth Bass Club, with assistance from the Kansas Bass Federation Nation (KBFN), a network of bass anglers throughout the region, and caring local and corporate sponsors are conducting an inaugural Fishing For Freedom event on 19 September at Harry S. Truman Reservoir in Warsaw, Mo. Inspired by the Army Bass Anglers, the Leavenworth Bass Club is organizing local bass clubs, local bass anglers, and fishing guides to take Global War on Terrorism veterans and wounded warriors fishing. The Fishing For Freedom event is modeled from similar events that are occurring across the nation. It is a no entry fee event that pairs avid tournament fishermen, local anglers, and fishing guides with our returning heroes in a buddy bass tournament format on a local fishery. The purpose of the event is to let these American Heroes know how much we appreciate their service and sacrifice. Trophies will be awarded for the top teams and we hope to have participation prizes for all. The inaugural event will launch from Long Shoal Marina on 19 September 2009 at 7 A.M. with a weigh-in at 2 P.M. an awards presentation and a camaraderie building social with food and drinks to follow. Boater and warrior check-in and pairings will begin at 5:30 A.M. at the Long Shoal Marina. Tournament rules will be posted on the Leavenworth Bass Club website on the Fishing For Freedom webpage in the near future. The The Long Shoal Marina restaurant will be open at 5 A.M. Saturday for business, serving a buffet style breakfast. We are in need of Bass Anglers with boats to assist in taking these American heroes fishing. Boaters will need to be able to provide additional life vests for their backseater and should have shareable tackle available. With your support, there is a significant opportunity for this event to have a tremendous impact on our warriors and their families as they re-assimilate to life back home. Only the generosity of caring local and regional anglers and our sponsors can make this event possible. If interested in becoming a volunteer boater please contact Larry Stoafer at Lsto19@yahoo.com or 913-240-5254. GWOT veterans and wounded warriors who would like to participate contact Larry Stoafer at Lsto19@yahoo.com or 913-240-5254. Contact Hidden lake resort for accommodations and let them know you are with the Fishing for Freedom event to receive discount. We are hoping to have a field of 50 volunteer boaters. If you can make it please contact me with your name/phone/email address Thanks for the support

The Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) is now in its’ 7th year and our troops have served on multiple combat deployments. The stresses of combat and high operational tempo have strained our military and our military families to no end. We have seen and heard the stories of these heroes as many have returned home with horrific physical injuries, but a tremendous psychological toll is also being paid. Suicide rates are alarmingly high across the services even though several new Department of Defense initiatives have attempted to de-stigmatize mental health treatment in the military culture. There is more to be done, and we citizens back home free from their hardships can help these returning heroes deal with the baggage of combat and re-assimilate back into everyday life. At the 2008 Leavenworth Veteran's Day parade, the local Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Henry Leavenworth Chapter's (HLC) announced an initiative called Helping Our Own At Home (HOOAH). The HOOAH initiative attempts to increase community awareness, individual involvement, and private sector participation by shining a consistent spotlight on the needs of Wounded Warriors and their families in Leavenworth and the surrounding counties in Kansas and Missouri. The goal of the HOOAH initiative is to tackle the most pressing, unmet needs of our wounded warriors, still serving veterans, and their families. This non-profit initiative has a goal of raising $100,000 in 2009 for this cause. Hearing the call to duty, the Leavenworth Bass Club, with assistance from the Kansas Bass Federation Nation (KBFN) and a network of bass anglers throughout the region, are planning an inaugural Fishing For Freedom event on 19 September at Harry S. Truman Reservoir. Inspired by the Army Bass Anglers, the Leavenworth Bass Club has begun organizing local bass clubs, local bass anglers, and fishing guides to take GWOT veterans and wounded warriors fishing. Outdoor recreational activities are extremely therapeutic by their very nature and recent examples have made a difference in our returning hero’s lives. Although angling is only one of those activities, it can help our returning warriors escape the hardships of combat deployments and begin the process of readjusting back to everyday life. The Fishing For Freedom event is modeled from similar events that are occurring across the nation. It is a no fee event that pairs local anglers and fishing guides with our returning heroes in a buddy bass tournament format on a local fishery. The inaugural event will launch from Long Shoal Marina on 19 September 2009 at 7 A.M. with a weigh-in at 2 P.M. an awards presentation and a camaraderie building social with food and drinks will follow. With your support, there is a significant opportunity for this event to have a tremendous impact on our warriors and their families as they re-assimilate to life back home. Only the generosity of caring local and regional anglers and sponsors will make this event possible. We are in need of sponsorship help for trophies/plaques; tackle packs, food, and drinks. If you would like to get involved and volunteer as a boater or assist in anyway please contact Larry Stoafer at Lsto19@yahoo.com or 913-240-5254. Additionally, the KBFN in conjunction with the Leavenworth Bass Club are in the initial stages of planning and hosting a HOOAH charity bass tournament in the fall of 2009. Although the location and date has not yet been selected, the tournament will be a buddy team format. The purpose of this event is to mobilize the regional tournament fishing community to raise funds for the HOOAH initiative and support their attempts to increase community awareness, individual involvement, and private sector participation by shining a consistent spotlight on the needs of Wounded Warriors and their Families in Leavenworth and the surrounding counties in Kansas and Missouri. These funds will allow HOOAH to tackle the most pressing, unmet needs of our wounded warriors, still serving veterans, and their families. If you are interested in sponsoring or volunteering to support HOOAH Charity Tournament, please contact Larry Stoafer at Lsto19@yahoo.com or 913-240-5254. Keep your eyes on the KBFN website for additional information as it develops.

The Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) is now in its’ 7th year and our troops have served on multiple combat deployments. The stresses of combat and high operational tempo have strained our military and our military families to no end. We have seen and heard the stories of these heroes as many have returned home with horrific physical injuries, but a tremendous psychological toll is also being paid. Suicide rates are alarmingly high across the services even though several new Department of Defense initiatives have attempted to de-stigmatize mental health treatment in the military culture. There is more to be done, and we citizens back home free from their hardships can help these returning heroes deal with the baggage of combat and re-assimilate back into everyday life. At the 2008 Leavenworth Veteran's Day parade, the local Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Henry Leavenworth Chapter's (HLC) announced an initiative called Helping Our Own At Home (HOOAH). The HOOAH initiative attempts to increase community awareness, individual involvement, and private sector participation by shining a consistent spotlight on the needs of Wounded Warriors and their families in Leavenworth and the surrounding counties in Kansas and Missouri. The goal of the HOOAH initiative is to tackle the most pressing, unmet needs of our wounded warriors, still serving veterans, and their families. This non-profit initiative has a goal of raising $100,000 in 2009 for this cause. Hearing the call to duty, the Leavenworth Bass Club, with assistance from the Kansas Bass Federation Nation (KBFN) and a network of bass anglers throughout the region, are planning an inaugural Fishing For Freedom event on 19 September at Harry S. Truman Reservoir. Inspired by the Army Bass Anglers, the Leavenworth Bass Club has begun organizing local bass clubs, local bass anglers, and fishing guides to take GWOT veterans and wounded warriors fishing. Outdoor recreational activities are extremely therapeutic by their very nature and recent examples have made a difference in our returning hero’s lives. Although angling is only one of those activities, it can help our returning warriors escape the hardships of combat deployments and begin the process of readjusting back to everyday life. The Fishing For Freedom event is modeled from similar events that are occurring across the nation. It is a no fee event that pairs local anglers and fishing guides with our returning heroes in a buddy bass tournament format on a local fishery. The inaugural event will launch from Long Shoal Marina on 19 September 2009 at 7 A.M. with a weigh-in at 2 P.M. an awards presentation and a camaraderie building social with food and drinks will follow. With your support, there is a significant opportunity for this event to have a tremendous impact on our warriors and their families as they re-assimilate to life back home. Only the generosity of caring local and regional anglers and sponsors will make this event possible. We are in need of sponsorship help for trophies/plaques; tackle packs, food, and drinks. If you would like to get involved and volunteer as a boater or assist in anyway please contact Larry Stoafer at Lsto19@yahoo.com or 913-240-5254. Additionally, the KBFN in conjunction with the Leavenworth Bass Club are in the initial stages of planning and hosting a HOOAH charity bass tournament in the fall of 2009. Although the location and date has not yet been selected, the tournament will be a buddy team format. The purpose of this event is to mobilize the regional tournament fishing community to raise funds for the HOOAH initiative and support their attempts to increase community awareness, individual involvement, and private sector participation by shining a consistent spotlight on the needs of Wounded Warriors and their Families in Leavenworth and the surrounding counties in Kansas and Missouri. These funds will allow HOOAH to tackle the most pressing, unmet needs of our wounded warriors, still serving veterans, and their families. If you are interested in sponsoring or volunteering to support HOOAH Charity Tournament, please contact Larry Stoafer at Lsto19@yahoo.com or 913-240-5254. Keep your eyes on the KBFN website for additional information as it develops.