I ended my last Dock Post with… “Hopefully I’ll have something better to say. I know I’m getting tired of second place.” Hee hee, I have something better to say… I finally won one! Of course it’s old news now, but in case someone out there doesn’t know, I won the PAA’s Texas Toyota Bass Classic on Lake Conroe, TX. The show aired on CBS a couple weeks ago and I thought the show was alright. I actually opened the door going into the final day and even lost a 4 pounder on my second to last cast. Why they didn’t show that on the TV Show, I’ll never know?? I caught a 2 pounder on my next (last) cast which they did show and that turned out to be the winning fish…incredible. The PAA is really rockin and rollin, that event was in hyper mode all week long. It was quite a show and the fishing fans really showed up for it, it was a week I’ll never forget. I never did get to thank my Judges for their help and my Cameramen, so I want to make sure I say thanks to them for everything.

Before the main event, we had a Pro-Am tournament in which I had the pleasure to fish with Elizabeth Samuel and her Dad. She works for Toyota in Houston and now has a 1^st place trophy on here desk thanks to a great day on the water. We had a blast that day on Conroe. I think we had around 18lbs or so. Thank God I didn’t need any of those fish in the Toyota Classic…scary, but it all worked out.

After Conroe, I had my last tournament on Pickwick Lake, the Stren Series Championship (Watch it now). I had a very good chance at winning that one too with some deep fish I found, but between loosing some really big ones and then having Electronic issues on the last day, I couldn’t get it done. We used FLW’s boats on the last day, which I don’t think has really hurt me all that much in the past, but this time if I’d had my Garmins and Vexilar flashers, who knows? I saved my best place for the last day and never got to make a cast there…sickening! I finished 6^th. I’ve been off since then and don’t go back on the road until mid February. This is by far the longest off season I’ve ever had and I’m loving the break.

It’s almost Christmas, it’s snowing, and we are so excited. The kiddies are at the perfect age and of course this will be the dog’s first go around. Maybe she’ll get a new sweater or some little booties, yee haw! Only five more days and I’m still not finished shopping, I plan on wrapping it up tomorrow. Mitchell and I are getting ready to do some ice-fishing. It won’t be long. I have been out catching a bunch of walleyes in the Allegheny River about 30 minutes south of my house. It’s a lot of fun and I am stocking up the freezer big time.

On the sponsor front…The biggest news I have I cannot make public yet, but I can say it is especially exciting and involves my new title sponsor. I’m very thankful to have been blessed with a deal for 2010 because you just never know, ya know? I’ve had a couple things on the burner over the last couple months, but finally made my decision on Friday. Now it’s time to start working on next season and all that stuff. I don’t even know where all the tournaments are yet; I’ve been so out of it. I’ll start making my calendars this coming week and figuring everything out. I will be fishing the FLW Tour and the PAA events for sure; everything else is up in the air right now. The Stren northern schedule has an interesting site on it that will be hard not to fish (Presque Isle Bay), but I’m not sure what I will end up doing. The FLW Series schedule is strong as well. Despite an inviting 2010 schedule, I opted to not pay the deposits for the BASS Northern Opens this year.

Besides my title sponsor, I will basically have the same line up next season. Some contracts are not out yet, but I have the faith. There are obviously some sacrifices we all may need to make for a while, but that’s just the way it has to be right now. Understandable I think, but at the same time there are companies out there that are thriving through it all and handing out raises, so it all evens out. My team for 2010 so far includes: ???, Ranger, Rapala, Kinami, Reel Grip, TABU, Garmin, Solar Bat and Setyr Rods. Rapala has a whole bunch of new baits just introduced late last season that I can’t wait to play with some more. The new Kinami Bug will play big time in 2010. We are working on a new gadget with Reel Grip that we will start seeing samples of in about a month from now. It will be something that every fisherman will have in his box. Setyr rods are still going strong and will be doing some cool things to start the New Year as well. My new rods are awesome. I’m hoping to Revo them out soon!

We (Tabu Tackle) are excited that Cabela’s will be carrying our Tiny Tim baby swimbait. If you haven’t got your grubbies on these baits yet and you live around smaller than average bass that eat minnows for breakfast, well then you, uh, well you should, uh, maybe get some, ha ha. Several companies have since tried to copy Tiny Tim, but none compare that I’ve seen, not even close. I just wrapped up shooting a Cabela’s Field Clip video promoting the Tiny Tim that will play in select Cabela’s stores starting next month. We caught over 500 bass on those things in only 3 trips about two weeks ago. It was amazing and I got it all on video!

I think that about covers it. All in all, a great year and there’s still 10 more days of it!!!!! If you get a chance, become one of followers on Twitter. My user name is a tough one, it’s DaveLefebre. Thanks. We have some plans involving Twitter during the 2010 season, so get on board, it’s free and easy!

Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!

Dave