The 4472 Open Top SoftSider tackle bag’s sleek minimalistic design allows for quick and easy access to your tackle.  Included are four StowAway® utility boxes allowing you to organize and carry all your tackle.  A molded waterproof base protects the bag from early morning dew or water from the floor of the boat while a rain shield built into a back pocket that covers the entire bag and protects the contents from rain and overspray.  Additional storage is provided by the mesh pockets on either end of the back, the two zippered pockets on the front and the large full-length zippered pocket along the back.

The 4472 Open Top SoftSiderincludes four 3700 series StowAway utility boxes.  The 4472 Open Top SoftSidermeasures 14.5″L x 9.5″W x 8.5″H. VisitPlanoMolding.com.

Featuring an all new design, the Guide Series waterproof cases are now available in our four classic StowAway footprints: 3449, 3500, 3600 and 3700 allowing them to be used in our tackle bags alongside our traditional StowAway utility boxes. Visit PlanoMolding.com.

“I was up against a lot of great anglers on Berkley Big Fish,” said Smith. “The website is so much fun, I can’t get away from it. The voting and pictures that are submitted show that fishing is growing. Families and individuals still love to get outdoors and stay active.”

The St. Charles, Ill., native has been posting pictures of her and anything with gills on BerkleyBigFish.com since early 2009. She has won multiple awards on BBF, most notably being named Elite Angler for the month of April. Smith is also a five-time category winner and has marked her place as one of the standout anglers on the site.

“It’s so good to have a website that is all positive,” said Hank Parker. “Everything about the outdoors should be all about being positive. BerkleyBigFish.com is for any angler wanting to share their story. Cheryl was the crown jewel out of the 22 anglers selected for the Grand Prize. She is held in high regard from her competitors and myself as well.”

BerkleyBigFish is a Web site that celebrates the sport of fishing through creating an online community of dedicated anglers. The almost-12,000 users (nearly double from a year ago) can post photos that are entered into monthly contests and sweepstakes with the chance to win prizes from Berkley, Abu Garcia and other sponsors.

Users have the ability to comment on others’ photos and rate them on a scale of 1 to 5 “bobbers.” Five monthly winners are chosen from these votes based on fish specie (Bass, Trout, Walleye, Inshore Saltwater and Other), with one monthly Grand Prize Finalist being hand-selected by Hank Parker to be in the running for the grand prize.

In addition, monthly “Elite Anglers” are chosen based on skill level to compete for the grand prize alongside monthly finalists. Smith qualified for the grand prize by being named an Elite Angler.

ASA, under its consumer-show management com­pany, ASA/Eastern Fishing & Outdoor Exposition, is a leader in producing sports shows in the eastern United States, showcasing fishing, hunting and other outdoor sports for enthusiasts. In 2006 ASA, the sportfishing industry’s trade association, assumed ownership of Eastern Fishing & Outdoor Exposition from founder, Paul Fuller. For more than 30 years, the Eastern fishing shows have entertained and educated hundreds of thousands of sportsmen and women and been host to thousands of exhibitors.

The new show will serve the millions of fishing, hunting and outdoor sports enthusiasts who live in the Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware region who collectively spend over $3.9 billion in pursuit of fish or game each year. The Suburban Philadelphia Market has not had a venue capable of housing a large-venue sports show since 2006 when the Fort Washington Exposition center closed.

“Sportsmen and women will really enjoy this new Philadelphia show,” said ASA’s Consumer Shows Director Jonathan Sauers. “For over 30 years we have been providing a showcase for the best there is in the fishing, hunting and marine industries. In the tradition established by Paul Fuller, we are going to produce a first class show that will be a key destination for exhibitors and attendees alike. Big name talent, big name features, super seminars and, most importantly, first class exhibitors are hallmarks of ASA’s consumer shows and I can assure you that the Greater Philadelphia Outdoor Sportshow will enjoy the same success as our other shows.”

“Times are tough, but that’s all the more reason to get outside and enjoy the simple pleasures that can be found in our great outdoors,” said ASA President and CEO Mike Nussman. “What we’re finding is that many folks that have not been afield in some time are returning to the sports they enjoyed in their youth and are bringing the next generation along with them.”

With the addition of the Philadelphia show, ASA/Eastern Fishing & Outdoor Exposition will produce four East Cast consumer shows in 2010 serving all of the major metro markets on the eastern seaboard from Delaware to Maine.

The dates and locations of the 2010 shows are:

·Eastern Fishing & Outdoor Exposition, Worcester, Mass., Feb. 11−14, 2010

·NEW! The Greater Philadelphia Outdoor Sportshow, Oaks, Pa., Feb. 25−28, 2010

·World Fishing & Outdoor Exposition, Suffern, N.Y., March 4−7, 2010

·The Saltwater Fishing Expo, Somerset, N.J., March 19−21, 2010

The Greater Philadelphia Expo Center at Oaks is one of the largest privately owned exhibition centers on the East Coast with 210,000 square feet of exhibitor-friendly space and is just 20 minutes from central Philadelphia. The Expo Center has the following features:

Services the tri-state region (Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware) and is within driving distance of all five counties in the Greater Philadelphia area
Easy access to the building right off the highway.
More than 5,000 free on-site parking spaces.
Wireless internet service.
Eight 14 x 14 drive-in loading dock doors.
Ceilings that measure 22-45 feet.
Privately owned by American Expo Corp.
Managed by experienced professionals from the Fort Washington Expo.

Advantages and Applications

No Knots
This connection allows you to retain 100% breaking strength of your line.

Cleaner Connection
Since there are no knots here, the connection flows seamlessly through your guides.

Wind-On Top Shots
The hollow braid splice is ideal for attaching your pre-made topshots directly to the main line on your reel. Either by having a full spool of hollow braid or a hollow sleeve on top of your solid braid backing, you are able to perform this splice.

Repairing Your Line
The advantage to spooling up directly with hollow braid is the ability to repair your line with this connection. If your line gets damaged halfway down the spool, you can simply cut out the knick and do a hollow braid splice. With standard mono or solid braid, you would have to cut out the damaged area, but then re-attach the good line with a knot.

Bulk Spool Purchases
With a hollow braid splice, you are never left over with 100 yards of line that can’t be used. With monofilament, smaller quantities of line leftover on bulk spools serve no purpose as you would have to tie it to another length of line to fill up your spool. By using a hollow braid splice, you can use smaller quantities of hollow braid to make topshots or to splice onto your mainline should the situation arise.

Tools

Loop Puller Needle

Braid Scissors

Instructions

Step 1: Thread the tag end of one of the hollow lengths through your end loop and insert the needle into the other length of hollow heading inward (toward the bulk of the line) about a foot from the end.

Step 2: Thread the needle about 10 inches through hollow and then push it out. Leave about an inch of first hollow hanging out of the length it is inside of, (this will come into play later).

Step 3: Now perform the same action, but opposite. Thread the tag end of the hollow you just went inside of through the end loop and insert the splicing needle into the other. Insert the needle about an inch from the junction heading toward the bulk of the line.

Step 4: Thread the needle about 10 inches through hollow and then push it out. Remember to leave the end of the hollow hanging out about 1 inch. The hollows should now be inside of each other with their tag ends hanging out.

Step 5: Hold one of the tag ends and push the hollow surrounding it down towards the junction. At this point a loop should appear at the junction.

Step 6: Now hold the other tag end and push the hollow down towards the junction. This should have taken up the loop.

Step 7: Now work the bunched up hollows back in opposite directions with your fingers. This will help to flatten everything out and take up any slack.

Step 8: Holding one of the tag ends, push the hollow surrounding it down about a half inch and cut. Perform the same action with the other tag end as well.

Step 9: Finally work each length of hollow back in opposite directions. This will cause the remaining tag ends to completely disappear.

More fishing line tips at Blackwater’s website: http://www.blackwaterinternationalinc.com/tech_tips.html
(Images provided by Blackwater International Inc.)

Tools can be bought at Hi’s TackleBox

If you fish micro-tubes you will like the new Berkley Gulp! Alive! 1 inch Minnow Heads. This bait reminds me of a tapole except it has three tails instead of one, giving this tiny bait more action as you cast it out there with 2 pound or less fishing line. Not only that the one inch Minnow Heads are great when used to tip spoons and jigs. And this next part is kind of shocking as the Minnow Heads have lifelike gill and eye detail on the small head.

Another effective bait that’s introduced is a 1 inch Fish Fry. This micro-sized, quivering tail action and Gulp! Alive! scent turns sniffers into biters. These baits can be rigged on a bare hook and fished under a bobber or rigged on a jighead for a swimming twitching action.

Small and effective action is the key here and that’s what we’ve been seeing with the two baits above. Lastly there’s the Berkley Gulp! Alive! 1.5 inch Jigging Grub. This tiny grub offers a proven shape that works perfectly for panfish. You can rig it with a tiny jighead, as a trailer, or directly on the hook and effectively catch crappie, bluegills, and much more.

These new Berkley Gulp! Alive! Panfish baits are now available at your favorite online store and  local tackle shop. Many colors are available for all three baits and the great thing is that with artificial biodegradable baits, there’s no mess, refrigeration, aeration, or sticky stuff to deal with as with real dead bait.

The Bac Rac is constructed of powdercoated aircraft-grade aluminum and EVA foam. The Bac Rac has 2 security straps  ensuring the safety of your rods and reels in rough water.

The Bac Rac comes in a heavy duty nylon backpack and weighs just over a pound. If you’re tired of tangled rods and not having space for the rods you need try a Bac Rac and enjoy safe secure rod storage for the back of any boat!

Retail price is $49.99
Retailers currently carrying the Bac Rac:

Tackle Warehouse

Inland Marine
Antioch, Ca

D&D Marine and Tackle
Zapata, Texas

Berkley sends two 4,000-gallon bass tanks all over the country to help out the everyday angler. Kids and adults alike will enjoy learning about new Berkley products and tips on how to use these innovative baits.

“The Berkley Bass Tanks are out on the road, giving all anglers the opportunity to hone their skills,” said Tammy Cox, Berkley Marketing Manager “Not only will attendees learn to “Catch More Fish,” they will also learn about new products that will help them become a better angler.”

March 4 – 8
Fred Hall Tackle and Boat Show
Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center
300 E. Ocean Boulevard
Long Beach, CA 90802

If you are unable to make it by the Fred Hall Tackle and Boat Show, plan to attend one of these other upcoming events:

March 12-16 – Minneapolis Boat Show, Minneapolis, Minn.
March 14-15 – FLW Tour Family Fun Zone, Branson, Mo.
March 28-29 – BASS Elite Series Expo, Russellville, Ark.
March 26 – April 5 – South Texas State Fair, Beaumont, Texas
April 24 – April 26 – Joe’s Fish Fest, St. Paul, Minn.
April 25 – 26 – FLW Tour Family Fun Zone, Charlotte, N.C.

“A NOTE ON THE ECONOMY:

Despite rumors published on certain websites … Albackore is not going out of business. Has the economy had an impact on us? Yes, and just like thousands of businesses across the nation, we’ve had to shrink staffing, discontinue products, as well as trim our advertising and marketing programs. Some products have been discontinued due to decreased demand or the introduction of similar products by other manufacturers, including the Albackore Jig Wraps, Jig Keepers and Reel Transports. I’m sure you will see these products on sale this season!

Finally, I’d like to thank all of the customers that have supported us throughout the years and I wish you all the best in the coming year. Hang in there!

Sincerely yours,

Jeff Jost”