NEW SPONSOR
They say all good things must come to an end, but I like to think there’s always something better around the corner.
As you know, my six year relationship with Kellogg’s recently came to an end, but as a result I was asked to join the Chevy Team. Though I had a wonderful time promoting the Keebler brand over the years, I’m now looking forward to moving in a totally new direction and beginning a fresh season with Chevy Trucks.
Tabu Tackle, a relatively new company started by some of today’s top bass tournament pros, is proud to announce its new relationship with Cabela’s.
Now available at several Cabela’s retail locations, Tabu’s latest handpoured soft plastic bait, the Tiny Tim was the first ultra light baby swimbait to hit the fishing industry early last season. It’s realistic look and life-like swimming action combined with it’s compact size makes it a must have for all serious anglers. Whether fishing for Trout, Bass, Pike, Walleye, or any specie that feeds on small baitfish, the Tiny Tim simply cannot be beat. Fisherman from all around the world are quickly finding out that the Tiny Tim catches fish when nothing else will.
The Tiny Tim baby swimbait is available in 10 hot colors guaranteed to match the hatch no matter where you live, so look for it at a Cabela’s store near you!
Watch Tiny Tim Cabela’s Field Clip Video
“If you go out with me one time, you will be totally addicted to it.” That’s what I tell people and they just shake their head.
Ice fishing has been so stereotyped in people’s minds. The misconceptions come mainly from the movie Grumpy Old Men I think, when Jack Lemon and Walter Matthau set out on an ice fishing adventure back in 1993. But ice fishing is just like fishing from a boat in the summer in the fact that…it is what you make it. You can sit in a fancy hut with a TV, fancy chair, a cup of hot coffee, and a heater, or you can be a runner and gunner, which is my approach most of the time.
I grew up in Northwestern Pennsylvania and my Dad and Uncle used to take me and my cousins on the ice all the time. While the older guys fished, we kids would spend most of our time skating around on the ice and having snowball fights. As I got older and skating mistakes became more painful, I began to share the excitement that my Dad and Uncle possessed for ice fishing. By the time I turned fourteen, I’d stay out there all day long and then fish all night until the next morning. I can honestly say that my passion for ice fishing has not wavered in the least to this day.
Ice fishing is fun, very good exercise, and perfect for kids who need action and want to catch a bunch of fish. You can go to almost any lake that has panfish, find a weedbed and catch hundreds of small bluegills, which my kids cannot get enough of. Besides all of this, the sun rise from the ice on Presque Isle Bay in January is breathtaking.
Nowadays, I typically drill fifty holes in a day, sometime less, sometimes more. Not all, but most of my equipment is probably considered “old school” to many. I have an electric auger, but usually take my old hand auger instead because it provides a little winter time exercise. Most days, depending on where I plan to fish, I will walk well over a mile throughout the day, exploring the lakes structure with my Vexilar (depth finder) and checking old reliable spots from years gone by.
It’s been an awesome ride! Kellogg’s was a blessing and I would not be where I am today without them and FLW Outdoors. It was an honor to be a part of that team for 5 seasons. As with any sponsor whom you believe in, it was actually fun promoting them over the years mainly because it centered around the younger generation, speaking at grade schools, working the Kellogg’s Ranger Boat simulator, giving out cookies, etc. I am obviously saddened by our relationship coming to an end. Keebler has become my identity for the most part over the years, but it’s not the end of the road. I look at it as a new beginning, and honestly I’m excited about what the future may hold. It’s unhealthy to look at it any other way. God is so good and I’m learning to trust in Him more and more every day.
As far as my plans, I’m sticking with FLW. The Northern BASS Opens are without a doubt enticing to me and I had an early invite through Yamaha but after some thought I passed. I have several BASS friends and trust me the grass isn’t always greener. For now I am going to thoroughly enjoy my time off with my family and not worry about things. I’ve been in hyper-panic mode basically since I started fishing the pros in 2003 and it feels good to just forget about it all for a while and start fresh in 2010. Usually I have all my contacts signed by now and I’m going over final graphics for my next boat and RV, this year I haven’t signed a single contract, everything is word of mouth, but I have faith. Almost everyone is in the same boat, all we can do is wait and see what happens.
I will be fishing the FLW Tour, I payed the deposits yesterday. I will be fishing the PAA events in the Fall. I’ll also look into the Eastern Series, as FLW is trying to give us some options to make the payouts stronger. It has got to be tough for them because some guys are upset that the Series has been cut in half, but there are others who really like the changes. You can’t please everyone, but they truly are trying to satisfy both sides and so far I like what I’m hearing is in the works. If FLW don’t care about their anglers, why do they always listen to us and try so hard to make things right? Sponsors or no sponsors, that is the main reason I’m not jumping ship.
I’m sure going to miss my little buddy Ernie always smiling up at me!
-Dave
By Terry Battisti When Dave Lefebre came into the weigh-in this afternoon, he said one thing, “I opened the door.” After two days of competition, it was obvious that no one had anything that would produce a solid bag each day. Other than |
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Lefebre, the leader board changed drastically, with anglers gaining or losing as much as 34 positions between day one and day two. Going into the final round, no one was out of it and one or two “overs” could make anyone a hero.
Lefebre knew he was in a precarious position.With the format of this tournament, there are no scales and no weigh-in lines. Anglers aren’t allowed to talk with each other regarding their unofficial logged weights and, therefore, no one knows the other competitors’ weights until they are announced on stage. Such was the case again today. The other caveat of this tournament was the radio chatter, which on previous days, could be heard on the judges’ radios. The first two days anglers could hear when another angler caught a fish – today the judges wore headsets eliminating knowledge of how the others were progressing. So, as Lefebre came to the weigh-in you could see him running numbers in his head like Stephen Hawking. He knew his 10 pound bag put him in a bad position to lose what he had worked so hard for over the last three days. It was obvious his stomach was in knots and he just wanted it all over with – win or lose. Problem was he had to sit through nine other anglers as they presented their weights on stage. When it came down to the end, Andy Montgomery sat in the hot seat located in the bed of a Toyota Tundra, Dave Mercer had the microphone in his hand and Lefebre stood close by his side. Then Mercer made the announcement, “You need 9-12 to take the lead and win $250,000.” After that comment, you could see the pressure release from his shoulders and when Mercer made it official by displaying his weight on the screen, he finally revealed his excitement to the crowd.
Finally Did It“I’m trying to think of a new word (to explain the way I feel),” Lefebre said. (“I don’t have any words, though.”) “I’ve been in training for this all year,” he said. “I missed out on FLW AOY this year by one point and missed winning the FLW Cup by a close margin, too. I told my wife we had one more shot this year and this is the one we want. “I knew it was going to be close. It ended up being one notch on the Boga-Grip (that won it for me.”) Likes the Format“I like the format of this tournament a lot,” Lefebre said. “We get to catch fish, show them off to the spectators on the water, weigh them and then let them go. I really think this will be the way tournaments are held in the future. “The other thing about this format is the radios,” he added. “It adds a unique aspect to the tournament and a lot of strategy goes along with it. I just wish I had it today – it would have let me know when the other anglers were catching fish. “The tournament was also run smoothly, the crowds were great and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Toyota did a great job.” Felt Like Home“I had a good feeling when I got here,” Lefebre said. “My family and I were staying in a condo on the lake and when I went down to the dock for the first time it reminded me of a lake back home that I fish all the time. “The lake ended up fishing like Lake Conneaut,” he said. “Then the cold front came through the first day and it made me feel even more at home. Winning Way
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Last-minute heroics salvage tourney for Lefebre … Heading into the 2009 Forrest Wood Cup, Dave Lefebre had plenty of pressure on his shoulders. After all, he was the hometown favorite, he had the stands packed with friends and family, and there was the little issue of fishing with a $1 million first-place award on the line. But while everything seemed to go smoothly over the first two days of competition, the rain and changing conditions really threw a monkey wrench into Lefebre’s efforts. Nearing the end of day three, Lefebre had exactly zero fish in the boat. “While all the other guys were locking back through, I decided to stay and fish a little longer because I really had nothing to lose.” As fate would have it, Lefebre hooked into a 3-pound, 15-ounce bass with time winding down for his only catch of the day. While it wasn’t how he’d imagined the tournament unfolding, at least Lefebre had a fighting chance in the finals as he was now only 2 pounds, 7 ounces off the lead. However, by the time Sunday’s finals rolled around, Lefebre once again found himself struggling mightily. “I had nothing again late in the day, and for the second time in a row, I stayed and fished while all of the other guys locked back through.” This time, however, Lefebre discovered that he was playing with fire. After landing yet another last-minute catch (ironically caught while sitting down in his boat being interviewed by Versus camera crews), he realized he had to get back to weigh-in in a hurry. “I knew I had to get back to Pittsburgh by 4:10 p.m., but when I went to the lock, they waved me off. There was barge traffic and another paddle-wheel boat already in the lock, and I didn’t have priority this time.” Whether it was fate, sheer determination or the overwhelming graciousness of the lockmaster, Lefebre managed to squeeze his Ranger boat into the lock. “I think I probably broke every state regulation possible. But the lockmaster went the extra mile for me. He was awesome.” In the end, Lefebre got back to weigh-in with “20 seconds left to spare.” As a result, Lefebre salvaged an eighth-place finish. “You know, I’m disappointed. But it’s been a great week overall. In a lot of ways, I lived the dream. I had people out on the water cheering me on all week. Sure, I would have like to have pulled it off. But it just didn’t work out. In a lot of ways, my fans got to live the downside of tournament bass fishing right there with me.”
PITTSBURGH – His tournament jersey sports pins for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pittsburgh Penguins
– both of which have brought home championships. Today, Pennsylvania pro Dave Lefebre sets out with hopes of moving a step closer to his own moment of victory in the $2 million Forrest Wood Cup on Pittsburgh’s Three Rivers.
A limit catch on day one gave the Union City angler an 8-pound, 13-ounce total. Lefebre will likely return to his undisclosed location on the Ohio River, where he’ll make precise presentations to specific rocks. His day one strategy yielded 25 keeper smallmouth.
Grabbing a gridiron analogy, Lefebre described his day one performance: “I thought it was going to be a running game and it ended up being a passing game. There were so many fish, it really surprised me.”
Of course, maximizing such a resource is like playing ball control offense – even if you can go long, keeping it conservative is often the wiser call.
“You always hear people talk about managing fish,” Lebere said, “but this is going to be one of those tournaments where I’m really going to have to make the right call. If this turns out to be four days for me, then I have to be careful.”
That strategy will prove particularly important with Texas pro David Curtis trailing by one ounce at 8-12. At nine ounces off the lead, Arkansas legend Larry Nixon fished within eyesight of Lefebre and caught 8-4. Lefebre said that keeping close tabs on the competition helps him know what he’ll need to catch – and what to leave – on day two.
Story Credits: By David A. Brown - 31.Jul.2009 FLW OutdoorsRapala revealed a few new hard baits at last weeks ICAST show that Dave thinks will be a huge hit. Check these babies out!
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FLWOutdoors.com, July 14, 2009
World’s top anglers converge July 30-Aug. 2 for bass fishing’s only $1 million cash prize
“I was in a lot of tournaments there when I was growing up,” said Lefebre, who has won more than $1 million in FLW Outdoors events. “I like the tougher tournaments – the ones where it’s not always a slam-fest. I like the fisheries where it’s harder to get a limit.
“There are a lot of obscure things I like to fish,” Lefebre added. “I’m just excited to go look at the old holes and feel out what’s going on … just having an understanding of how those fish work is what excites me.”
Lefebre said the quality of fishing on the Three Rivers fluctuates, but he expects the overall catch to be better than the 2005 Bassmaster Classic in Pittsburgh.
“It’s definitely going to be better than that,” Lefebre said. “It’s up and down from one year to the next. It depends on the flooding and the snow and that stuff. That was just an off year. It will definitely be leaps and bounds better than what we saw there.
“I think it will take 8 ½ to 10 pounds to make the cut, and 14 to 15 pounds on the final two days to win,” Lefebre added.
Lefebre said all three Pittsburgh-area rivers – the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio – all contain quality fish and that winning fish could come from any of the three rivers. Lefebre also said that anglers will rely on a variety of baits to catch their limits.
“Ninety percent of the fish weighed in will be smallmouth, maybe nine percent will be spotted bass and the rest will be largemouth,” Lefebre said. “That being said, topwater, crankbaits, spinnerbaits and a real small shaky-head worm will be productive.”
The Forrest Wood Cup presented by BP and Castrol includes 154 pro and co-anglers who have qualified – the top 40 pros and co-anglers from the Walmart FLW Tour, the top 30 pros and co-anglers from the 2008 Walmart FLW Series BP Eastern and National Guard Western Divisions, the top five pros and co-anglers from the 2008 Stren Series divisions (Central, Northeast, Southeast, Texas and Western), the 2009 BFL All-American champion, who competes with more than 34,000 anglers to win their spot, and the 2009 The Bass Federation National Championship presented by the National Guard champion, who competes with more than 20,000 anglers to win their spot.
“The Forrest Wood Cup is the most important event, most competitive event and most difficult-to-qualify-for event in our sport,” said FLW Outdoors President and CEO Charlie Evans. “Forrest Wood Cup competitors are world-class athletes with skills that are second to none. These are the best men and women in the sport, and the best of the best will win as much as $1 million in Pittsburgh on Aug. 2.”
Some of the anglers qualified for the Forrest Wood Cup presented by BP and Castrol are the 2008 Champion and $1 million winner Team Febreeze pro Michael Bennett of Lincoln, Calif., Pringles Rookie of the Year and Team Berkley pro Stetson Blaylock of Benton, Ark., 1997 Bassmaster Classic and 2000 Forrest Wood Cup winner and Team Chevy pro Dion Hibdon of Stover, Mo., 2003 Bassmaster Classic winner Michael Iaconelli of Runnemede, N.J., legendary Team Chevy pro Larry “The General” Nixon of Bee Branch, Ark., 2004 Bassmaster Classic winner Takahiro Omori of Emory, Texas, 2007 Forrest Wood Cup winner, bass fishing’s first instant millionaire and Team Folgers pro Scott Suggs of Bryant, Ark., and 2009 Land O’Lakes Angler of the Year and Team Kellogg’s pro Clark Wendlandt of Leander, Texas. To view the full field of 2009 Forrest Wood Cup competitors, visit www.forrestwoodcup.com
Anglers will take off at 7 a.m. each day from Steelers Quay, North Shore Riverfront Park located at Art Rooney Drive across from the South Plaza of Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. Daily weigh-ins will be held at Mellon Arena at 66 Mario Lemieux Pl. in Pittsburgh beginning at 5 p.m.
In conjunction with the weigh-ins, FLW Outdoors will host a free Family Fun Zone and outdoor show at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center located at 1000 Ft. Duquesne Blvd. in Pittsburgh. The Family Fun Zone will be open from 2 to 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. The Family Fun Zone offers fans a chance to meet their Fantasy Fishing team anglers face-to-face and review the latest products from Berkley, Lowrance, Ranger, Evinrude, Yamaha and other sponsors while children are treated to giveaways, fishing themed games and rides like the Ranger Boat simulator. Children 14 and under visiting the Family Fun Zone on Sunday will receive a free rod and reel combo while supplies last. One lucky member of the audience will even win a new special edition Three Rivers Ranger Z20boat powered by Evinrude during the final 5 p.m. weigh-in Sunday, Aug. 2, courtesy of Froggy Radio. Admission is free, and you must be present to win.
The total purse for the Pittsburgh Forrest Wood Cup presented by BP and Castrol is $2 million, including $10,000 through 40th place in the Pro Division.
Coverage of the Forrest Wood Cup presented by BP and Castrol, hosted by VisitPittsburgh, will be broadcast in high-definition (HD) on VERSUS, the network which brings anglers the best fishing programming on television featuring the most-trusted authorities on the water. The Emmy-nominated “FLW Outdoors,” will air Nov. 8 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. ET. “FLW Outdoors,” hosted by Jason Harper, is broadcast to approximately 500 million households worldwide, including internationally through agreements with WFN (World Fishing Network) and Matchroom Sport to such countries as Canada, Germany, China, South Africa, Australia, Malaysia, Russia, Hungary and the United Kingdom, making it the most widely distributed weekly outdoor-sports television show in the world.
FLW Outdoors, named after Forrest L. Wood, the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, is the largest fishing tournament organization in the world. FLW Outdoors also is taking fishing mainstream with FLW Fantasy Fishing, offering the largest awards possible in the history of fantasy sports, $10 million in cash and prizes. Sign up for Player’s Advantage to get your edge and win.
For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, visit FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000. For more information about FLW Fantasy Fishing and Player’s Advantage, visit FantasyFishing.com.
Dave picks up his first top 10 of 2009 in the FLW Series tournament on Lake Eufaula, and in doing so surpasses the $1 BLK_PAA in career earnings. “What an exciting tournament, I’ve never had so much fun during an event as I had on the final day at Eufaula. My hands were actually bleeding after that last day I caught so many big mean fish. Not to mention, Guido was so far ahead of me that I really had nothing to loose, no pressure, it was just a perfect day on the water and one I’ll never forget. I was so wrapped up in the great day of fishing that I totally forgot about the career earnings deal, that made it even better!”
This 5th place finish gave Dave his 33rd FLW Outdoors Top 10 in just 119 total events. He now sits in 4th place, only 10 points from the leader, in the FLW Series BP Eastern Division AOY Race, a title in which we captured back in 2006. “I’ve pretty much blown my Angler of the Year chances in the Tour and now the PAA, so I definately have my sites set on that title again, although my main focus for this season is making the Forrest Wood Cup in Pittsburgh.”
Stay tuned here at DLC, as we will be announcing the winner of the “Autographed Jersey Contest” very soon. Several of you picked Dave to hit the million dollar mark in the 4th FLW Outdoors event, so whoever is closest to the exact dollar amount will be the lucky winner. Dave’s next event is an FLW Tour on Lake Norman, so look for his pre-tournament analysis sometime on the Wednesday before the event. Also, be sure to watch the FLW TV Show on Versus next Sunday as Dave takes famous violin player, Shoji Tabuchi out in the boat on Table Rock Lake for a fishing lesson, and in return gets a free violin lesson from the master himself. “Mary Had a Little Lamb” never sounded so good!
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