ICAST Was Hot, but Kansas is Hotter!

First off, I want to say thanks to everyone who voted for me for the Bassmaster post season event. It wasn't enough to get me in, but I do appreciate everybody who tried to get me there. The way I see it, not making it down there has enabled me to do more at home. I am working hard with my church doing promotions and seminars with them, and if I had left to go to Alabama I wouldn't have been able to help out as much.

We got back from ICAST last week, and had a great time. I always enjoy myself there, and enjoy catching up with friends that I don't get to see as often as I would like. Wright & McGill/Eagle Claw had their annual Texas Hold 'Em tournament, which is always a ball. However, my poker game does leave something to be desired. It's more about the camaraderie though (at least that's what I tell myself!) There were some awesome products introduced at ICAST and I was proud to be there representing Wright & McGill, Lazer Trokar, and Tightlines Tackle. Wright & McGill introduced their new Rick Clunn series cranking rods, which I am really excited about. These rods are going to be awesome. I am definitely going to have one of the most colorful boat decks on tour next season with my yellow Skeet rods and my aqua Rick Clunn cranking sticks! I am also super excited that Trokar released their new treble hooks. We all know that Trokar revolutionized the fishing hook industry when they came out a couple years ago, but these trebles will take them to the next level. Also pumped about the new baits that Tightlines unveiled at ICAST. It was a very cool show, and I am proud to be a part of these great companies and can't wait to put all of these awesome products to work next season!

One other cool thing that went down at ICAST, was that I penned myself a new sponsor in a company called Bassminder. They make convenient stickers for your fishing reels, that allow you differentiate between the different line types, the pound test, and the date that each reel was spooled with that line. Pretty neat idea, and sure beats writing on all of my reels with a sharpie! They also are selling convenient fishing conditions and presentation charts that are marketed more for the beginning bass fisherman. Pretty cool new company!

Now back at home, like I said earlier, I have been working a lot with my church doing some fishing seminars and activities. It is really special to be a part of something like this, as I am getting to work with people who really don't get to fish very often, and maybe don't know as much about the sport as they would like to. The last seminar I did, I had a question about why a fisherman like me has so many rods. I think the best way to explain that is to compare bass fishing to golf. A golfer can go out with only one club and play golf, but he isn't going to be nearly as successful as he would be if he had an entire arsenal of clubs to use in the many different scenarios you come across on the golf course. In fishing, I could go out and fish with a spinning rod all day, but I would be limited in how I could go about catching fish with just a spinning rod.

This morning, we did a family fishing day and had a cook out after wards and it was a great time. And later on today and again tomorrow I will be working with parents on teaching their kids how to fish. It really is a privilege to be able to do this, and introduce more people to the sport of fishing!

As always, I am working on ironing out sponsorship deals for next season. And, I find myself thinking of deer season, and the Classic too. I feel like I am going to blink and then it will be time for the Classic, everything is moving along so quickly. I can't wait for deer season, and I need to get out there and start doing some scouting so I can be ready. But, for right now, I am concentrating on just surviving this extremely hot weather, and you all should do the same!

July - Work Hard, Play Hard!

It is sure nice to be home. I have been able to spend a lot of quality time with family and friends, and not have to worry about the pressures of competition. Spent the 4th of July here at home with the family, and watched the fireworks show. It was a nice and relaxing weekend. I have been able to get out on Lake Quivira to do some fun fishing, which is always nice. We also just got a fish feeder for my parent's dock, which has been a real treat. The bluegills are already getting bigger and fatter, and you should see the giant carp that the feeder brings in! They're also pretty darn fun to catch too! You are probably saying, "What is a bass fisherman doing catching carp?" Well, I will tell you. It is fun for the kids, and it is easy, but more importantly I can use that time to learn how to fight fish better. Those carp are the ultimate fighters, and I can downscale my line and tackle and not get worried about breaking them off and become more adept at landing big fish on finesse tackle. At least that is what I am claiming anyway!

Next week is ICAST, and we are excited to get out to Vegas for a week. It is always fun to see all of the new products, and all of our old industry friends that we don't get to see as often as we would like. After ICAST, it will be time to start working on sponsorship details, and getting things ironed out for the next year.

This weekend I will be working a promo out at Roger's Sporting Goods for Tightlines and Trokar, which should be a good time. And, starting on the 17th, our church is starting a 5-sermon series on fishing, and will be utilizing me to help with the presentation of it all. So this month is shaping up to be a pretty exciting, and event filled month.