Mike Mueller

James, I like your thinking! Keep 'em running all day allowing the rest of us to catch some fish! Eric and I need some good fish this weekend as we're sitting only a point or two behind them guys for the Team points lead! Good Luck this weekend...how many 20# bags will there be THIS weekend???

8.30

Hey James, you letting Donna catch any??? Still trying to catch my first fish on 2011, but up here in Columbia most of the water is frozen. I found water that was half ice and half open and was able to get out today in the snow for about 3 hours and lost one nice one...spring can't get here soon enough! Mike

Razr Rods are a great rod...been using them for 2 years now and I’m completely satisfied. Even though the company is out of Springfield, the rods are actually made out of state - but still MADE IN THE USA! The owner of the company and rod designer - renowned Table Rock guide Capt. Rick Lapoint - is based out of Springfield. Please check out www.RAZRRODS.com to see all of the great product they have to offer...and don't forget about the UNCONDITIONAL LIFETIME WARRANTY! Mike Mueller

hey jeb ... how deep are you fishing the grub? I love throwing it this time of year!

thanks, Mike www.razrrods.com

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — The fast-growing pro staff of RaZr Rods recently added one of bass fishing’s biggest names in three-time world champion George Cochran. The veteran professional angler from Hot Springs, Ark., has garnered $2,087,292 in career winnings, including two Bassmaster Classic championships and a Forrest Wood Cup title. “We feel really blessed to have George come onboard our pro staff,” said Rick LaPoint, president of RaZr Rods. “To have a three-time world champion choose to fish with RaZr Rods says a lot about our products.” Cochran cited quality and technique-specific design among his reasons for choosing RaZr Rods. “Fishing rods are like golf clubs — you need to have one for each job you’re going to do,” he said. “RaZr Rods come in a wide variety of actions, power and applications so I can have one that’s perfect for crank baits, another that’s just right for worm fishing, another for topwaters and so on.” After a storied career on the Bassmaster circuit, Cochran joined the FLW Tour in 1996. To date, he has pocketed $977,296 in FLW prize money. The Forrest Wood Cup title, worth $500,000, came in 2005 on Lake Hamilton in his hometown. “That one was special,” he said. “To win a world championship at home with all of your friends and family there to share it — that’s something you never forget.” Cochran is renowned as one of the sport’s best shallow-water anglers. He won his first Bassmaster Classic title in 1987 on the Ohio River at Louisville, Ky. His second came in 1996 on Lay Lake near Birmingham, Ala., where despite the August heat, he located quality bass in an area so shallow and stumpy that camera crews couldn’t follow him. Cochran began fishing the Bassmaster circuit full time in 1980. Over the next 27 years, he competed in 244 events, qualifying for 21 Bassmaster Classic championships and placing among the top 10 in a dozen Classics. Since joining the FLW Tour, he has qualified for eight Forrest Wood Cup championships and placed in the top 10 twice, included the victory in 2005. Most recently, Cochran has launched a guide service on the waters of the Arkansas River and its backwaters in south Arkansas, where he developed his shallow-water skills and has continued to hone them throughout his career. “Two things I have always loved to do is fish the Arkansas River and teach other people how to fish,” he said. “Guiding allows me to do both. I’m really enjoying it.” RaZr Rods are extremely high modulus, American-made rods backed by a lifetime unconditional warranty. Complete information is available online at www.razrrods.com. Capt. Rick LaPoint 417-861-3899 www.strikebass.com www.razrrods.com

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — The fast-growing pro staff of RaZr Rods recently added one of bass fishing’s biggest names in three-time world champion George Cochran. The veteran professional angler from Hot Springs, Ark., has garnered $2,087,292 in career winnings, including two Bassmaster Classic championships and a Forrest Wood Cup title. “We feel really blessed to have George come onboard our pro staff,” said Rick LaPoint, president of RaZr Rods. “To have a three-time world champion choose to fish with RaZr Rods says a lot about our products.” Cochran cited quality and technique-specific design among his reasons for choosing RaZr Rods. “Fishing rods are like golf clubs — you need to have one for each job you’re going to do,” he said. “RaZr Rods come in a wide variety of actions, power and applications so I can have one that’s perfect for crank baits, another that’s just right for worm fishing, another for topwaters and so on.” After a storied career on the Bassmaster circuit, Cochran joined the FLW Tour in 1996. To date, he has pocketed $977,296 in FLW prize money. The Forrest Wood Cup title, worth $500,000, came in 2005 on Lake Hamilton in his hometown. “That one was special,” he said. “To win a world championship at home with all of your friends and family there to share it — that’s something you never forget.” Cochran is renowned as one of the sport’s best shallow-water anglers. He won his first Bassmaster Classic title in 1987 on the Ohio River at Louisville, Ky. His second came in 1996 on Lay Lake near Birmingham, Ala., where despite the August heat, he located quality bass in an area so shallow and stumpy that camera crews couldn’t follow him. Cochran began fishing the Bassmaster circuit full time in 1980. Over the next 27 years, he competed in 244 events, qualifying for 21 Bassmaster Classic championships and placing among the top 10 in a dozen Classics. Since joining the FLW Tour, he has qualified for eight Forrest Wood Cup championships and placed in the top 10 twice, included the victory in 2005. Most recently, Cochran has launched a guide service on the waters of the Arkansas River and its backwaters in south Arkansas, where he developed his shallow-water skills and has continued to hone them throughout his career. “Two things I have always loved to do is fish the Arkansas River and teach other people how to fish,” he said. “Guiding allows me to do both. I’m really enjoying it.” RaZr Rods are extremely high modulus, American-made rods backed by a lifetime unconditional warranty. Complete information is available online at www.razrrods.com. Capt. Rick LaPoint 417-861-3899 www.strikebass.com www.razrrods.com

I have for a few years now. Like you, what sold me on them was the sensitivity of these light-weight rods and the lifetime warranty...not to mention that they're made in the USA. I had an entire line-up of a very well known brand of rods that I thought were the lightest, but once Rick actually got one in my hand, the difference was amazing. I sold off all of that brand and stocked up on all Razr Rods! I know that once you use yours this spring, you'll be sold on it as a high-quality, mid-priced rod. Good luck and be sure to let Rick know what you think. You can reach him at www.razrrods.com Mike

Razr Rods announced that it’s signed FLW Tour pro Greg Bohannan to a sponsorship deal. “Razr Rods is extremely excited to have Greg on our pro staff,” said president Rick La Point. “Greg Bohannan has been a friend for years and we are excited to have him on board. His fishing talent is one of high caliber and we look forward to the future. “Greg’s reputation as a Christian and devoted family man has impressed me and my staff. His character and integrity is a notch above the field. I look forward to a strong and long relationship with Greg” said Razr Rod owner Rick LaPoint. “I am excited about the opportunity to work with Razr Rods and Rick LaPoint” said Greg Bohannon. “They feature a light, sensitive, high quality rod at a very affordable price. They also feature one of the best warranties in the business. Their unique Kevlar scrim cloth with the 58 million modulus graphite makes for an extremely strong product and their new E-glass series is an awesome cranking rod.” Razr Rods plans to release a Greg Bohannan signature series e-glass crankbait and football jig rod late in 2010. Razr Rods is an extremely high modulus, American made rod with a Lifetime Unconditional Warranty. Check them out on the web at www.razrrods.com

Razr Rods announced that it’s signed FLW Tour pro Greg Bohannan to a sponsorship deal. “Razr Rods is extremely excited to have Greg on our pro staff,” said president Rick La Point. “Greg Bohannan has been a friend for years and we are excited to have him on board. His fishing talent is one of high caliber and we look forward to the future. “Greg’s reputation as a Christian and devoted family man has impressed me and my staff. His character and integrity is a notch above the field. I look forward to a strong and long relationship with Greg” said Razr Rod owner Rick LaPoint. “I am excited about the opportunity to work with Razr Rods and Rick LaPoint” said Greg Bohannon. “They feature a light, sensitive, high quality rod at a very affordable price. They also feature one of the best warranties in the business. Their unique Kevlar scrim cloth with the 58 million modulus graphite makes for an extremely strong product and their new E-glass series is an awesome cranking rod.” Razr Rods plans to release a Greg Bohannan signature series e-glass crankbait and football jig rod late in 2010. Razr Rods is an extremely high modulus, American made rod with a Lifetime Unconditional Warranty. Check them out on the web at www.razrrods.com

How does this list not include Captain Rick LaPoint? He's a great teacher, angler and Christian. He's personally taught me and many others more about deep water bassing then I ever thought I could know. There's not a nicer, more patient guy on the water and I look forward to every chance I get to fish with him...I learn something new every time that I can directly apply to my own fishing techniques. I know the other names on this list are great too, but if you want to learn how to catch those seemingly elusive deep bass, then my vote goes to Capt. Rick! (BTW, he can catch 'em shallow too, as he won a Heartland event a couple of springs ago with almost 26#'s on the flooded banks of Table Rock)

For the summer you need finesse worms (any combo of watermelon, purple, green pumpkin seem to work well) on shakey heads, spoons, drop shots and 3/4-1 oz. football-head jigs (in neutral browns, greens and purples) for draggin'. Some fish shallow but mainly up the rivers. There you can throw a spinnerbait, but square bills also will do the trick. As for leaning the baitcaster, go in the back yard and tie on a practice plug...the heavier the better to start. Crank down the brakes pretty good and practice that way for starters. It's all about the thumb pressure. With this initial setup you won't need the feather the spool with your thumb that much. Once you get the hang of it, loosen the brakes a bit and rely a little more on your own thumb pressure. Once you're comfortable with this, then lessen the weight of the practice plug, continue to play with the brake settings, and slowly begin to rely more on your thumb pressure. One more hint for beginners...strip off about 50 yards of line and place a piece of tape on the spool. this will minimize the impact of the inevitable "birdsnest" that you will encounter. Good Luck! Mike