Mother Nature delivers mixed bag of weather; bass fishing class offered at OCCHS

The roller coaster ride continues with the weather as we have cold shots of air that squeeze in between the warmer air as well as bouts with rains and windy conditions. Rainy conditions are in and out as well with most systems dropping three quarters of and in to over a inch of rainfall.
Reelfoot Lake remains above pool level with a reading at midweek at the 282.70 mark. Normal is 282.20 feet above sea level. Water temps are in the lower to mid-40s. Water color is getting better each day. It will be interesting how things will be after this week’s rains.
This week, I want to continue telling you what is needed to help make your fishing trip more successful. I will talk a little bit on electronics for your boat.
But first, something is coming to our area that has never been here before, a bass fishing class. Yes, that’s right, a fishing class.
The Obion County Central High School Bass Angler Team will be hosting a bass fishing class that will be taught by BassMaster Elite Series professional bass fisherman Mark Menendez. He tours full time on the professional fishing circuit and has for over 20 years accumulating just over $1 million in earnings so far. Mark is from Paducah, Ky., and graduated from Murray State University with a degree is fisheries biology.
This will be held on March 9 in the lunchroom at Obion County Central High School in Troy. The cost for the class will be $40 for adults as long as they pre-register before March 6. After that, you can register and sign up at the door, but it will be $50. For students from high school down, it will be a cost of just $10.
The class will begin at 9:30 a.m. that day and will last until 4 p.m. with a one hour break for lunch from noon until 1 p.m. The OC Anglers will have hamburgers, hot dogs and other goodies for sale, so you won’t have to leave for lunch.
Mark will cover many aspects of bass fishing, teaching basics and advanced methods as well.
There will be several silent auction items up for bid also.
This will be a great time and learning experience for all while learning from one of the best. This is also good and open to an unlimited age group no matter how young or old you may be.
To pre-register, you can stop by Union City Marine on North Second Street in Union City or call Johnnie Garrett at 885-2903 or get in touch with one of the OC Club anglers to register. For any other information, you can call 446-9404, 446-9405 or 446-3678. Hope to see you there. Money raised will help support the Obion County Central High School Bass Anglers Club. You will be assigned a ticket with a number on it showing you have prepaid and pre-registered for the bass class. We hope to see you there and so does Mark.
Electronics is something now that many depend on, weekend fishing and especially when tournament fishing. Technology has come a very long way from the first graphs out using paper to what we have today with LCD and LED screens, just like your TV’s at home.
Humminbird is one major brand name that has been around many years in the fishing industry. They have been a dependable piece of equipment that many now have on their boats. Not only is showing where the fish are important, also knowing the water depth and water temperature is very important in locating fish.
I am happy to say I’m on the Humminbird team and have been for several years now.
For many, many years, Humminbird has been America’s favorite fishfinder, the leading innovator of Side Imaging technology which they have provided recreational and professional anglers difference-making days out on the water, day after day, year after year. Humminbird says “Simply, Clearly, Better.” Humminbird products are available through a wide variety of retail outlets both in sporting good stores and online websites.
The Humminbird brand is manufactured by the Marine Electronics Group of Johnson Outdoors. At a state-of-the-art facility in Eufaula, Ala., Humminbird designs, engineers and manufactures sonar and electronic products primarily for the consumer market.
Techsonic Industries Inc. began in Eufaula in 1971 as Fulton Electronics in a small garage-like facility financed by a handful of local investors. Operations began by modifying Heath Kits to produce electronic fish-finding devices, marketed as the first Humminbird Depth Sounders.
In 1975, the company introduced the first-ever waterproof depth sounder, the Super Sixty and suddenly every serious fisherman in the country was hooked.
Then in 1984, Techsonic unveiled the LCR series, forerunners of the liquid crystal displays. And by 1987, under the Humminbird brand label, the LCR4ID fishfinder became the No. 1 selling product in both the sport fishing and marine industries.
From there, the company created the first 3-D sonar in 1993 partnering with Techsonic to create the Humminbird® WIDE series, what would become the finest product launch in Techsonic history. The new millennia began with the continued innovation that’s become synonymous with Humminbird.
Humminbird also has the side image and down image technologies. This has taken fishing to the next level and anglers with it. I have the largest and best unit Humminbird has to offer in the Humminbird 1198 unit. This is a computer and then some in your boat. I have weather radar, forecast, GPS and all technologies for locating my fish to try and catch with this unit. Just to make a statement, I won’t leave home without it no matter what body of water I fish on. I have even offered and on standby with the local Obion County Rescue Squad to locate folks who may have drowned or be missing in water. This unit and the technology is simply amazing. Yes, you can see anything with this unit.
So just reminding you, to take your fishing to the next level and be a step up on the other person fishing, make sure you have a good piece of marine electronics in your boat, it does make a big difference.
Reminder dates.
March 8 the local Reelfoot Longbeards Chapter of the National Wildlife Turkey Foundation will be holding their its banquet on at 6 p.m. at the National Guard Armory in Union City. This is located on East Reelfoot Avenue heading towards Martin. I will have more on this banquet next week. If you have any questions or for more information, you can contact Jason Craig at (731) 697-6017.
Reelfoot Lake Adult Bass Club’s 20th Annual Reelfoot Lake Bass Club Open Buddy Bass Tournament on Reelfoot Lake will be held March 30. Registration forms will be available by calling Gordon Fox at 885-5541. This tournament is the longest running bass tournament held on Reelfoot Lake and known throughout West Tennessee.
Bass Pro Shops Crappie Masters Crappie Tournament(s) will be held in a few weeks on March 2 and on April 27, both on Reelfoot Lake. These will be open events as long as you are a member of their Crappie Masters organization. Tournament hours will be from 7 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. that day. For more information on both of these tournaments and register in advance, go to www.crappiemasters.net.
Second Baptist Church in Union City will be hosting Sportsman’s Night Out on March 14 starting at 5:30 p.m., with a meal and having well known bass fisherman and TV show host Hank Parker as the guest speaker. Tickets are $10 with limited tickets available. For more information, contact the church at 7885-5223.
Fulton First Baptist Church will be hosting a Wild Game Dinner March 23 at 6 p.m. This will be held in the church fellowship hall, which is located on the church grounds at 115 Second St. You can contact the church by calling (270) 472-1663 or visit them at www.fbcfulton.org.
The TWRA Hunters Education Course will be offered in Union City starting March 11-12, 14, 19, 21 and 23. This will be held at First Assembly of God Church, 1810 Pleasant Valley Road, Union City. You must sign up online at www.tnwildlife.org. The class is five different nights from 6:30 until 9 and the live shoot day, which is from 9-10 a.m. If you were born on or after Jan. 1, 1969, you must possess proof of successful completion of a hunter education class before hunting in Tennessee.
In closing this week, I want to wish my good friend, Charles Whitby a happy 91st birthday today. He is a World War II HERO and I just had to say a happy birthday wish from my family to him. When you see him, wish him a happy birthday, as well as say thank you Mr. Charlie and the other millions of service men and women around this great country of ours, for your service and sacrifice for our country. GOD bless them all for our freedom!

Til next week’s column,
Catch ya on the water folks.
Brent

Published in The Messenger 2.22.13

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