Previous "Catch of the Month" Photo Contest Winner John Thompson

Cast With a Purpose

Often times bass can be very finicky. That's the reason lure manufacturers sell 20 different colors and 10 different sizes in every lure they produce. It's not just because they want to 'catch the fisherman' to purchase more products, but primarily because the fish will react to subtle little differences. They are providing you with the tools to catch fish in a multitude of situations.

If we are able to figure out the perfect bait with the perfect presentation everyday on the water, then we would all be a huge success. Yep there I said it... the reason we have difficulties in catching fish isn't because of the fish... it's because we are sometimes fishing incorrectly. So what do I think we need to do to fish correctly? Change up often when you are not having success. I have heard it way too many times - "I was crushing them yesterday on blah, blah, blah and I threw it all day today and only caught 2 fish."

Well if you threw something all day for 2 fish then obviously, at some point, you weren't casting with a purpose. You were probably just casting to be casting. We need to adjust quickly to feedback the fish are giving us. If you crushed them yesterday and are throwing the same thing today with no success then change up! The fish have changed and now you must change with them. I am guilty of the same thing, although recently in my tournament success in the BASS Northern Opens I was able to continue changing to conditions and feedback from the fish to be a consistent threat. Next time you hit the water make sure you are always casting with a purpose and you will have great success too!

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Fall is upon us here in the United States. As the days cool, the fish eat voraciously in preparation for winter. It is a good time to fish.

Many states have implemented slot limits to help selected fisheries. A slot limit is a certain size of fish that must be released. Most often, but not always, a slot is between seventeen and twenty-five inches. Every fish caught in this "slot" must be released immediately. Read More

Click to Read More Tips from Recycled Fish

Give Your Fishing Buddy a Holiday Gift Membership and Get a Gift For Yourself!

Not all boat owners are the same, so when it comes time to pick out a holiday gift for your favorite boater or angler, not just any present will do. BoatUS has three gift-giving options that can all be purchased online at www.BoatUS.com/gift.

1. The "affordable" $24 gift: BoatUS Membership is just $24 and is a perfect gift if you are on a budget. A BoatUS Membership makes anyone's boating better and comes in two "flavors" - one for anglers (BoatUS ANGLER Membership) and one for boaters and sailors (BoatUS Membership).

2. The gift for "trailer boaters": There is nothing worse than having a boat trailer breakdown on the road, which often results in having to leave the rig unattended while the owner looks for help. Giving a Membership with Unlimited On-the-Road towing will ensure your loved one can always make it home safely.

3. The "unlimited" gift: Giving a Membership with the Unlimited On-the-Water towing plan from the nation's largest towing fleet means your boater will always have the security of knowing help is just a call away and won't have to pay a large bill.

For complete details or to purchase a gift Membership today visit www.BoatUS.com/gift

Save on Insurance with BoatUS and GEICO

BoatUS and GEICO are working together to save BoatUS Members on auto, home and renters insurance! BoatUS Members could save up to 8% on auto insurance and may save on their home and renters insurance as well.

Discounts are available to new and existing GEICO customers. Visit BoatUS.com/geico to get your free quote today or call 1-800-861-8380 and identify yourself as a Member of the Boat Owners Association of The United States!

Already a GEICO customer? Call GEICO and ask a customer service rep if you qualify for an additional discount as a Member.

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Putting On Your Own Spin

So, you tie on your last spinnerbait that has been catching fish for years. You snag a log and you lose it. But, you can't find that blade and size combination anywhere. Either the company is out of business or they have discontinued that particular lure. Why not make your own?

Building a spinnerbait is as simple as assembly or can be as detailed as bending the wire and molding the lead head all the way through detailed air brushed paint jobs.

For now, take a look at simple assembly. The first step is an inventory activity. You will need only one tool, round bend pliers. While you can use needle nose pliers, the round bends will make a better curve to prevent the rear blade swivel from hanging up. Also, you might want to have split ring pliers to make it easier to attach blades to the split ring on the swivel. Read More

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Build a shelf and fishing manufacturers will fill them with every color shape and size imaginable. Trouble is, do they catch fish or fishermen?

When your partner says, "Get the net!" you search the deck for the webbed hoop you've used for decades, but all you can find is a net pole. Grabbing the handle and thrusting forward, a hidden net springs into action! The new and improved FRABILL Hiber-Net is easily stored in any rod box or strapped to a deck, ready to scoop up the big ones. This product has been around for a while, but now has an added feature. A paddle snaps into the end of the pole allowing the net to double as a long handled paddle! www.frabill.com Read More

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2012 BoatU.S. Collegiate Bass Fishing Open Announced

Paris, Tennessee - Collegiate anglers throughout the country will be setting their sights on Kentucky Lake for the 2012 Collegiate Bass Fishing Open, Presented by Pepsi. Serving as host for the third consecutive year, The Henry County Alliance of Paris, Tennessee, and the Paris Landing Marina will be tournament headquarters. Fishing takes place June 23-24, with the registration, dinner, and activities to be held Friday, June 22, 2012. Read More

ACA Announces 2012 School of the Year Program

The Association of Collegiate Anglers has developed the nation's first comprehensive collegiate bass fishing School of the Year program. The program recognizes collegiate clubs that compete in the BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship Series, along with Mercury College B.A.S.S. and the National Guard FLW Collegiate Fishing. Additional ACA-sanctioned events have also been selected as part of the program to make it the most complete college fishing rankings to date.

The ACA will award points to each competing school, based on their finish in the event in relation to field size. Read More

Have a Fishing Question?

What's the best bait to use for fall fishing? Does water color effect how I fish? What's the best time of day to fish for bass in the fall?

All these questions can be answered by our resident fishing experts Steve Levi, Capt. Steve Chaconas, and Capt "Butch" Rickey. Plus we have nine other experts with answers to your boating and trailering questions.

Read current Question & Answers or submit your own question online today at myBoatUS.com/askexperts

The World's Largest Fishing Lure

Fishing lures are intended to attract fish, but there's one in Sandestin, FL, that's more likely to attract humans.

It stands ten and a half feet tall, weighs in at 355 pounds, and has just been declared the World's Largest Fishing Lure by Guinness World Records.

The extra large lure was unveiled at a ceremony at the Baytowne Marina in Sandestin, FL, and was the culmination of 10 months of effort on the part of Mark Davis, who co-owns S.S. Spitfire Mercantile with his wife, Mary-Ellen, where the lure now sits waiting for customers to take a bite. Read More

Send Us Your Best Catch and Win!

The annual BoatUS ANGLER "Catch of the Month" photo contest is almost over! October is the last month you can send us photos of your best catch for a chance to win monthly prizes including a One-Year BoatUS ANGLER Membership with Basic Towing, a $50 Visa Gift Card and a fishing gear prize pack.

The Grand Prize, awarded in November, includes a high-quality Replica Fish Mount from Mount This! Fish Company, a $50 Gift Certificate to BoatNameGear, and NEW THIS YEAR - an upgrade of your BoatUS ANGLER Membership to include Unlimited On-Water and On-Road Towing.

September 2011 Winners

Jackson Smith Spartanburg, SC Freshwater Entry	Tom Hedgpeth Fairfax Station, VA Saltwater Entry

Click For Complete Contest Details
and to View This Month's Photos

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