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2009 Toyota Trucks Championship Week live BASS blog
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4:10 p.m. ET
All the boats have checked in and are starting to load up for the weigh-in.
Our blog is over for the day. But it will resume Tuesday morning and run through the two practice days on the Alabama River.
Check back in with us on those two days as we try and give you a feel for how these guys are working the river and putting together a game plan.
On Thursday and Friday, the two competition days, we will have more eyes and ears on the water and giving you as accurate look as possible as to how the final unfolds.
Until then be sure and check out the weigh in and the all the coverage that will come from today's weigh-in.
4:05 p.m. ET
4:10 p..m.
All the boats are in on time. Everybody's heading for the weigh-in at the Wetumpka Civic Center. How big a bag did Mike Iaconelli catch? Did Tommy Biffle make up for his culled 3-pounder? Does KVD have any magic left?
Come to the weigh-in and see.
3:55 p.m. ET
It's down to the wire for Gerald Swindle. He's crowding the bank.
"Come on, spotted bass. I don't know how much gas I've got left in me," he exclaims to no one in particular.
The skies are darkening again, but rain won't spoil anyone's day now. Gerald fishes his last dock. The party's over.
3:47 p.m. ET
The minutes just seem to be clicking by. There's only 15 minutes left in the first half of the playoff and the catching seems to have slowed.
That is judged purely on the BassTrakk information. Skeet Reese just pulled up to a spot and he caught a big fish. Our guess is he will stick there until time to check in.
There is still a lot of running around, though. Cliff Pace sped by us a few minutes ago and you can hear the constant roar of engines in all directions.
I'm sure each of these guys understand that ounces could mean the difference between a lot of points. They probably don't know how close it is at this point.
It seems like there are eight or so are situated from 12- to 15-pounds, maybe more. The standings should move around some and when that happens, it translates into lost points up to 5 for each position for some of these guys down to 3 points for others.
Our expectation is that it will be really tight as these guys get ready to start the competition on the Alabama River.
We expect Skeet to be on top, KVD has kept the pace and should be in second, while Iaconelli and Swindle will continue to climb as well. Alton Jones will dictate some of that. He could still move into contention depending on how the ounces fall.
There are just a lot of scenarios of "what ifs" and "maybes." Each of them interesting enough to make this a compelling weigh-in.
3:45 p.m. ET
The topwater bite is over and Gerald Swindle heads up the lake. He goes in the cove upriver from Bonner's and targets a dock with a jig. He's looking for a kicker largemouth that might put him over the top.
As it is, his stringer's not too shabby. Gerald leaves the dock and works his way along a seawall to a second dock. The tension is almost palpable as his fan followers watch. Will this Alabama boy pull it out?
The minutes are ticking away. Just a few more casts now. Gerald moves to the next cove upriver; more docks. About 10 minutes left.
— Colin Moore
3:15 p.m. ET
The current in the canal is running so strong now that Swindle is casting the topwater straight upcurrent. Otherwise, throwing at a right angle to the bank would put a big bow in his line.
He decides to give the topwater bite a break and moves to a seawall on the opposite side of the canal.
KVD goes flying by with his entourage, which has shrunk to six boats. Maybe that's not a good sign. Saturday, KVD had about two dozen boats tailing him.
3:05 p.m. ET
Gerald Swindle has caught at least one small limit near the mouth of the canal with a topwater lure.
The sun is high in the sky, but the bass are busting shad that are being concentrated along the north bank by the building current. The lure is a Lucky Craft Gunfish 95. Once in awhile he switches to a jig he drags downcurrent.
When he fishes it, he casts straight upcurrent. When he's fishing the topwater, he casts it perpindicular to the boat, toward the bank. He positions his boat accordingly.
3 p.m. ET
Rob Russow has been watching the anglers fishing the docks, and noticed there are two prevalent ways of approaching the docks.
Iaconelli and Swindle are rushing the docks, fishing as many as they as quick as they can.
Meanwhile, Alton Jones is taking the slow and steady approach. He's pulling up to the docks and working each one slow and methodical.
To each his own, we guess. Because they are both working. Jones and Iaconelli both have about 14 pounds or more.
Rumors are that Iaconelli, who has been relatively calm today, went off a couple of minutes ago after supposedly catching a 4-pounder. Can't wait to see if that is true.
2:50 p.m. ET
Bass are busting everywhere at the mouth of the canal. Gerald Swindle catches another throw-back. There isn't any size to these bass...yet.
Gerald is walking the dog with a small topwater and trying to stay with the school. Where are the bigger fish?
The flurry is about over. Gerald misses a short-striker and groans, but it's doubtful it would have helped him. Two casts later and he catches a small spot. It goes back.
2:45 p.m. ET
Skeet Reese is having a much better day. Within less than a half mile of Lake Jordan Marina, he's fishing a ledge.
Our man Zona was in the boat with him and captured a piece of video of him catching a 3 3/4-pound spotted bass on a swim bait.
That puts Skeet in the 14-pound range or better. He had the lead in the points race going into today and several of the anglers below him, including KVD, are making moves. Skeet may have insured himself of keeping that lead for one more day.
But as we watch and listen to the reports, those bigger bites seem to be showing up more often in this last hour of competition.
It's like anything can happen, and probably will.
2:40 p.m. ET
One of the guys in the Gerald Swindle convoy figures he's got 12 or 13 pounds. So, he needs another solid 4-pounder to lock it up, all else being equal.
He's working his way out of the canal, throwing a jig. I wish you could see his white-and-blue-plaid cargo shorts. They are quite stylish.
"Every time I take them off to iron them, somebody wants to have a picnic on them," he wisecracks.
Swindle catches a dink and throws it back. The current in the canal is really starting to pick up; a good time to catch a big spot in the canal. He catches a small largemouth on a topwater lure; they're schooling. He catches another and tosses it back, too. The lure looks like a small Sammy.
2:25 p.m. ET
Alton Jones is fishing under a bridge in the mid-lake area. He thinks his "money-stretch" of dock is close.
The biggest difference for him has been timing. He feels like he's already had the fish on to win the tournament. He's lost 3- and 4-pound keepers that would have moved him way up.
He currently has about 14 pounds. He's catching his fish by pitching soft-plastics around docks in the area. He still has time to do some damage.
2:20 p.m. ET
We find Gerald Swindle has migrated to the new lake, but no sooner do we get there than he leaves.
Gerald stops near the mouth oh the canal with his armada of 15 boats. He's fishing a seawall wrapped with grass. A pleasure boat goes by very close to Swindle's boat. "A Jeff Gordon fan, I guarantee it," said Swindle, obviously annoyed.
2 p.m. ET
Alton Jones has made a big move. He now has a limit totaling 14 pounds and change. That should move him back into contention for the points race.
The catch rates are definitely up from yesterday. We saw some movement late yesterday and we expect with the increase in catch rates we will see even more of a movement in the next two hours.
1:55 p.m. ET
This is that time of the day when the fish seem to be taking a siesta. Guys are making the most of the lull to reposition.
KVD just went by heading north, and Skeet Reese just flew by going south. Mike Iaconneli and Tommy Biffle, in particular, seem to be going sideways, in and out of coves where there is deep water nearby.
Gerald Swindle is rumored to have a sack of toads from Swayback and environs. The docks in the lower part of Swayback have produced many a winning stringer of largemouths over the years, and apparently there are still a few lunkers left. I'm going looking for Gerald.
1:45 p.m. ET
Russow and Overstreet are in a small pocket off the main lake. The only place we've seen matted grass.
Randy Howell just caught one about 2 1/4, culling him up a pound. That gives him somewhere around 14 or 15 pounds.
He's been fishing the mats pretty fast and covering water with a topwater frog.
Prior to that, Overstreet and Russow were out on the main lake, but the boat traffic was so constant that it was like "being in a bath tub."
They watched Gary Klein a bit trying to fish a finesse worm in the rolling waves. But he was having very little success.
Even on our lonely little point at Lake Jordan Marina, the waves from boat traffic are consistently crashing over the short break wall next to us. And there has never been a moment when there wasn't at least two or three boats passing at one time.
1:20 p.m. ET
Kevin VanDam is making a move. He just caught a 3-pounder. You can watch that on BassCam.
His limit totals about 14 pounds, all caught on topwater and jerkbaits.
VanDam caught all those in the New Lake area. With that quality limit, he's moving toward Mitchell Dam.
Zona said: "You can tell he's feeling it right now. The guy has never had two bad days in a row."
1:15 p.m. ET
Click here to see the photo gallery of Tommy Biffle releasing his "illegal" fish.
Early on Sunday, Tommy Biffle realized he had six fish in his livewell and called tournament director Tripp Weldon.
Chuck Harbin met Biffle at the dock to release his largest fish. It weighed about 3 pounds. The bass was released back into Lake Jordan.
Biffle led Day One, but this move cost him 20 minutes and brought his total weight for the day down to 8 pounds. But he is allowed to fish the rest of the day and keep his weight.
1 p.m. ET
On Day One, Mark Menendez had lot of trouble with lost fish.
Today he's been fishing boat docks. And he now has about 12 pounds thanks to not losing fish.
His largest fish, a 3 1/2-pounder, was caught on 8-pound test after a fight that wrapped him up under a dock, around a boat prop and then out to open water to wrap around his own prop.
Luck like that tends to pay off in the long run.
12:40 p.m. ET
Mike Iaconelli and a retinue of a couple of dozen boats shut down in the cove above Lake Jordan Marina. Ike is dock fishing, and mostly staying well out and casting to them, which indicates he's using a swim bait and is more interested in the water in front of and to the sides of the docks than what's under them.
Ike has been culling for some time and the New Jersey lad seems to be looking good in the Heart of Dixie. Mike spends about five minutes around one dock, and he's gone.
12:29 p.m. ET
Tommy catches another dink from a cypress. Spectators are coming and going now, spot-checking. Tommy leaves and we leave him. He is heading back to the place with the big 'heads.
12:17 p.m. ET
Kevin VanDam has just added a 2 1/2 pounder to his overall weight. He still has some catching up. But that puts him around 10 pounds.
He could start making a little head way. According to reports, big spotted bass are schooling all around him.
12:15 p.m. ET
Zona got on Ike's boat and caught video (BASSCam) of Ike setting the hook on a 1-1/2 pounder like it was the fish of his life. Great video. I laugh every time I watch it.
12:10 p.m. ET
Tommy sticks a throw-back from around a cypress tree. It makes you wonder if he ought not to be targeting only cypress trees, because that's where most of the bass he's catching are coming from.
The weather is still cloudy and a nice breeze is blowing. It was supposed to rain today, but it doesn't look like it now. It only rains about every three months in this part of Alabama and then it will rain 3 inches in one day. If the sun comes out, it will improve Tommy's chances with cover fish.
11:57 a.m. ET
Russow and Overstreet are in the same pocket that all the anglers and spectators were in a few minutes ago.
They are following Skeet, who is concentrating on the shallow water. That's a little surprising since Skeet felt like his only chance to win was fishing out deep.
He's caught his two largest fish on a topwater frog.
Meanwhile, we haven't heard much from Swindle. Chris Dutton of Viscous Lures is following him and just sent a text that the G-Man has caught three — two 3-pounders and a 4-pounder.
No sooner than that was typed in and he added a fourth and is getting close to 12 pounds.
The jelly biscuit must have finally kicked in.
11:50 a.m. ET
Tommy Biffle hasn't caught a bass since he returned from his stringer-culling session. He's still slowly flipping away, moving as fast as a house painter with a small brush. Hold the presses: He just now caught a bass from around a cypress, and culled one from his livewell. So he's still in the 8-pound range, but has about four hours to improve his weight.
11:33 a.m. ET
Tommy Biffle drops his Power Poles again to give a big grass patch a good going over. After several flips, he picks up and moves to some cypress trees on the end of a point. He misses a fish and sets the Power Poles again. Apparently it was a tail-grabber because Tommy has to stop and rig up a new trailer.
11:30 a.m. ET
Russow and Overstreet are in a cove near the dam on the southside of Lake Jordan.
Swindle, Ike, and Skeet are all in that cove fishing the docks. On top of that, each of them has their spectator contingent with them, numbering somewhere around 35 to 40 total.
Those spectators are getting a show as each of the anglers seem to be racing from dock to dock to make sure they get the first start. And, of course, their spectators are going with them.
"It's a real mess,'' Russow said.
Makes you wonder what that type of activity will do to the fish in that cove.
11:20 a.m. ET
Steve Bowman of ESPN Outdoors says Tommy's throwback was about 3 pounds, so he backed up a couple of pounds and has about 7 pounds or so. He just came back and is working the grass again.
11:07 a.m. ET
Tommy Biffle is headed back to his little creek with five fish in the boat. He had to come to Lake Jordan Marina and wait for a tournament official to come and cull for him.
After about a 10-minute wait, Chuck Harbin arrived, went through his catch and released Biffle's largest bass. The fish appeared to be in the 3-pound range, possibly a little heavier.
Biffle said he caught the fish and in his excitement quickly jumped up and cast again. Once he realized his mistake, he called Trip Weldon.
If Biffle had culled a fish on his own, then he would have lost his whole catch for the day.
The miscue will likely cost Biffle, but he's still in good shape. He has a limit and is obviously in a good area to catch quality fish. His current five have to be in the 8- to 10-pound range and with the heavy sack from yesterday he could stay on top, if he can keep catching those better ones.
If he doesn't, then this will be one of those Jim Bitter moments, where you actually have the fish in hand and have to let it go.
Talk about all the "what if" stories that will come from this.
11:00 a.m. ET
Apparently, Tommy Biffle caught a bass in the back of the creek in the previous cove he was fishing when he was out of our sight. That gave him five keepers. Then, after he ran to another cove and started fishing again, he caught another keeper and deposited it in his livewell. A few minutes later, he realized what he had done.
Tommy says he's coming back to this cove after Tripp takes his biggest bass. Jim, my boat driver, thinks it's about a 3 1/2-pounder. That means Mike Iaconelli is looking good at this point, if the rumor that he is culling is true.
10:55 a.m. ET
Tommy asks if anybody has a gun or a dull knife, apparently to use on himself. He miscounted his bass and has six fish. The rules say an angler can have no more than five fish in his livewell. Tommy calls tournament director Trip Weldon and is ordered to return to Lake Jordan Marina where Trip will cull Tommy's biggest bass. Bad stuff, but a game breaker? We'll see.
10:45 a.m. ET
It's a different side of the same coin for Tommy Biffle. He swaps sides for another cove. Immediately, he catches his fifth keeper, about 2 1/2 pounds. Now he has about 9 pounds. The largemouth came off a grassy point. Tommy lowers his Power Poles and locks himself down.
10:40 a.m. ET
Just like that, Tommy Biffle catches two more small bass to give him four keepers of about 7 pounds. He got off to a slow start, but in a minute he's going to be in a position to cull. There are about two dozen dogs barking their heads off, ducks are quacking for handouts and a car horn is blowing up above us, but Tommy is focused on the business at hand. Tommy is using a Gene Larew Biffle Bug. Maybe the bass here haven't seen one before, but they seem to like it.
"I can't get those bigger largemouths to bite yet, but they'll get another chance," he said.
We're moving...
10:10 a.m. ET
Gary Tromatina, another B.A.S.S. photographer, comes along looking for some shots of Biffle. But Tommy's around the bend, literally, in the small creek.
Gary's boat pulls back and waits with us. I ask Gary if he saw any good fish caught.
"No," he says, "but a lady came down to the dock that Gerald Swindle is fishing and gave him a jelly biscuit and a cup of coffee."
Swindle will gain 10 pounds at this tournament, especially if somebody has any barbeque chicken. These Alabama folks look after their own.
10:08 ET
Zona just came in to download some of his video. He's telling me that Biffle is way in the back of pocket in about 10 inches of water. He's caught a 3-pounder and you can see that on BassCam.
But Zona says he's in a spot where he can win the tournament or waste his day.
For instance, he pulled up to a cypress tree in 10 inches of water, pitched to it, set the hook and missed. Biffle and Zona both watched as a 5-pounder cruised out from the tree and away from them.
Zona said he got to paying closer attention and was able to see at least 18 pounds of fish cruising in the pocket.
If Biffle can get something going, he could blow some things away. Obviously that is a big "if."
10:04 a.m. ET
Just saw the comment about wanting to know the specific baits these guys are using.
We know a few specifics, but the reality of it is most of these guys are junk fishing, which means they have a dozen rods on their boat and are changing constantly.
I do know that one of Biffle's primary weapons is Gene Larew Biffle Bug or something like that. It's similar to a Sweet Beaver, but has tails and a hollow body.
Swindle was using a topwater frog early today and yesterday, but I don't know the exact brand.
We know what Skeet is using, but we've been sworn to secrecy for the moment.
It's a type of bait that will be surprising to some, but he expects to use it on the Alabama River. We want to respect that privacy at the moment, not wanting to impact the game from our vantage point.
KVD is throwing a walking bait and a popper. Knowing KVD, that popper is probably a Yellow Magic.
I've watched several of these guys like Pace and Howell and they seem to be throwing a lot of Carolina rigs, at least when I see them. Don't know what they are tipping it with. We will work on that info as we get closer.
Be sure and check BassCam from time to time, those little clips from Zona and Alan have a lot to offer.
Keep checking in and if you want to comment or ask questions, we do find a moment every once in a while to check them out.
10 a.m. ET
Tommy Biffle has covered every square inch of the back of the cove we're in. He saw a big fish spook away from a cypress and is birddogging it.
We hear that Mike Iaconelli and Kevin Van Dam have limits now. Tommy has two keepers, including a 3-pound spot he just caught. He's not looking for a lot of fish, just a few good ones. That's flipping; you might go all day without more than a half-dozen bites.
Tommy moves back farther into the spring mouth, looking for resident bass. We can't see him now as he follows the creek out of sight. No doubt he'll circle the cypress again when he comes back to see if the 5-pound largemouth has come home.
Mark Zona, who just got out of Biffle's boat, says "there's 18 pounds of largemouths back there where Biffle is, I guarantee you."
9:54 a.m. ET
The catch rates seem to be up from yesterday and a quick call to Bouldin Dam reveals why.
They have been running water through one turbine since midnight and are expecting to turn on another at noon ET. That could change up things considerably, at least in the weight of fish that will be brought to the scales today.
Already Ike has 12 pounds, Menendez has 10 and Skeet just boated his fourth keeper and has 8 and change.
9:30 a.m. ET
Kevin VanDam is not fishing docks. He's in the middle of the lake on the south end with a spinning reel. He just boated his fifth fish — it was a 2-1/2 pounder. An observer estimated his weight at 9 pounds.
Todd Faircloth stopped about 200 yards from our point and he's fishing grass. A couple locals here at the marina say that if he sticks with this area, he could catch a nice limit.
9:23 a.m. ET
Iaconelli has boated the first limit. It totals about 11-2, which puts him in the lead for the moment.
Of those five, one is a 4-pounder, which means he could be around some quality fish and has the chance to really build something special in the next few hours.
Like KVD, he's been running around the lake like a "wild man."
We reported yesterday and then witnessed firsthand when he came near the Lake Jordan Marina that he's moving so fast that his camera boat and spectators have to idle on their big motors to keep up with his trolling motor.
9:20 a.m. ET
We're following Tommy Biffle and the ducks are following us. Mallards love the Cheetos we're throwing them; otherwise, all is quiet.
Biffle is in the very back of a cove where a spring comes out. It's the kind of place where a big largemouth ought to be.
We're waiting with Tommy Sanders and Hank Weldon, Trip's boy. The other night, Tommy was inducted into the Arkansas Outdoor Hall of Fame. Quite an honor and well-deserved. Tommy has paid his dues in promoting outdoor recreation through the years, mainly via ESPN Outdoors.
9:05 a.m. ET
Even though shad are everywhere in the New Lake area, Rob Russow reports that something is wrong there.
The water level seems to have fallen an inch or two since yesterday, which may have pulled the fish out some.
That may be the reason Swindle has had some tough luck in the area. KVD has caught three from there, but he was fishing deeper than Swindle.
Plus, Russow said, "KVD is running around like a wild man."
Both anglers just left the area.
9:00 a.m. ET
Just a quick update on the standings with BassTrakk.
Iaconelli has the unofficial lead at the moment. He's added three fish at 7 pounds and change to his total, giving him more than 21 pounds for the two days.
He's followed by Mark Menendez, who also has three, but they are little better quality according to BassTrakk at 10 pounds and change. He's also in the 21-pound neighborhood.
Skeet Reese has moved to third with 5 pounds on the day and 17 pounds and change for the two days.
Biffle has dropped to fourth with one in the well at two pounds and has 17 total.
8:45 a.m. ET
The race for the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year really tightened up yesterday with KVD slightly stubbing his toe and Biffle, Iaconelli and Swindle making moves.
It's become so tight, and just thinking in print, that there could actually be a tie for the title. Biffle and KVD are tied at present in second place behind Skeet in that race.
So what happens if there is a tie at the end of this on Friday?
According to Trip Weldon, the tie would be broken by the total number of pounds and ounces caught in the post-season playoff.
Right now Biffle has everyone whipped in that department with a respectable 15-pound start on Day One.
8:43 a.m. ET
Keith Alan reports that they've just found KVD in the New Lake area and he has three in the box.
That's a big change from yesterday when it took him most of the day to get that many.
We all knew that VanDamage would not go quietly in this tournament. But it certainly seemed that way yesterday.
With something to work with this morning, his confidence has to be soaring at the moment, not that he really needs that.
From our perspective, though, it just makes things more interesting. This could be a very interesting day, setting up a compelling showdown on the Alabama River.
8:40 a.m. ET
The sun might be about to pop out of the clouds, at least for a while. Tommy Biffle hasn't caught any more keepers since his first one a few minutes ago, though he did just throw back a 10-incher.
You have to hand it to Tommy; he wasn't expected to do so hot on Lake Jordan with all the dinky bank-runner spotted bass, but figured to be as strong as Red Devil Lye on the Alabama River next week.
If he hangs onto the lead here, he'll be tough to beat when they turn him loose on all that bank cover on the river. There's some good ol' big 'uns down there.
8:34 a.m. ET
The morning bite seems to be a little slower than it was yesterday.
A key bite from yesterday has disappeared. Swindle also had no fish in the livewell. They seem to be short striking. He had a fish yesterday that chocked a frog and today he can't even get them hooked up.
He's worked through the same stretch he caught four on yesterday morning and has no fish. He missed one more good one on a frog and is moving to the other spot that produced for him on Saturday.
8:30 a.m.
After chowing down on jelly biscuits, Keith Alan went to the New Lake area of Lake Jordan. That is where KVD, Randy Howell and Kelly Jordon are fishing.
They haven't seen KVD or Howell, yet. But Jordon is in the back of the area, while Swindle is staying on docks.
No catches yet, but Alan says that shad are everywhere.
8:24 a.m. ET
Gerald Swindle is fishing docks and has had two misses on a topwater. A homeowner, a nice lady with the same last name as Gerald, just brought a bag of jelly biscuits to him.
You got to love Southern hospitality.
8:23 a.m. ET
Mark Zona just came in with Skeet's first catch of the day, a 2 3/4-pound spotted bass. That puts Skeet way ahead of where he was yesterday. He admits that he "got his head caved in from all the dock fishermen" on Day One.
Not taking anything for granted Skeet started hitting docks early to help add to his decent start on Day One. That was actually his first dock fish of this event.
It confirms what a lot of these anglers were saying they would do on Day Two, which is fish completely new stuff, new places today. So many of them said they got the feeling that the bigger spotted bass were just feeding guerilla-style, hitting the bank, munching then getting back to their deeper haunts.
If Skeet keeps up the pressure, he could walk out of this day with a nice lead going into the final two days on the Alabama River. Be sure and watch his first catch on the BassCam page.
8:14 a.m. ET
Tommy Biffle just caught his first bass. It is a small keeper that came off a stretch of bank between docks.
8:08 a.m. ET
I get in with Jim Hardy, who lives on Lake Jordan. Jim is paralyzed from the waist down, having broken his back when a treestand collapsed under him a few years ago.
It didn't stop him from hunting all over the country or fishing in local bass tournaments. Jim can scoot around his Skeeter pretty good and runs a foot-controlled trolling motor with one hand.
We're sticking with Tommy Biffle, but he still hasn't had a keeper. He moves to the next dock. Overcast weather like this is no friend of a dock fisherman; there's no need for bass to hide in ambush spots in the shade of a dock.
Bright light helps concentrate bass around and under cover in the shallows, or at least the ones interested in eating. That's the excuse I've always used when I don't catch bass around docks on a cloudy day.
7:45 a.m. ET
Seigo, the B.A.S.S. photoghrapher, and Dave Lundquist, the boat driver, are travelling companions for a while.
We've set up on tournament leader Tommy Biffle. I thought Seigo was from up north somewhere when I first met him, but he's actually from Japan. He lives in California now and travels around the country, mainly covering Elite Series tournaments, though we worked together on a saltwater tournament in Islamorada a couple of months ago.
Seigo replaced the much-loved Gerald Crawford, who retired and went back to Texas with wife Faye to be near their kids and grandkids. Boy, there's nobody finer than Gerald Crawford. The reason I'm telling you all this is because not much is happening with Tommy. He's flipping and pitching docks with jigs and Gene Larew stuff.
Welcome
Welcome to the Toyota Trucks Championship Week version of the live BASS blog (which will look suspiciously like the live blog we ran during the Classic.)
Our crew is in Montgomery and we're not leaving until the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the year is crowned next Friday night. Over the next 10 days, you can expect frequent posts on this live blog, especially during tournament hours, as we follow the guys on BASSTrakk.
We'll have end-to-end coverage on Bassmaster.com from the moment these guys pull their boats into the boatyard (which has already happened), to when they drive off at the end of next week. You can expect news, features, photos, and the BASS trifecta: BASSCast, BASSTrakk and the new BASSCam.
We experimented with BASSCam at the final event in Syracuse (we called it Kyte then), but it's going to be an entirely new beast this week. It will launch tomorrow (Thursday) morning, so be sure and check that out (along with our new design).
That's the overview.
Thursday is the first day of practice. We'll be on the water, trying to find all 12 and reporting back with photos, blogs and BASSCam video all day.
Let the madness begin.
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