Ice Fishing 2013

It’s that time of year again.  Temps are dropping well below freezing at night and barely warming to the freezing point during the day.  This time of year triggers something in us that makes us leave the comfort of our warm homes and head out on the ice.  Today let’s talk about some of the new products for this year. These items not only get you out on the ice but to make each trip a successful one!

Frabill In-line Ice Rod and Reel Combo:  No guides on the rod.  Line actually runs through the blank, keeping the wind from blowing your line giving you better sensitivity.  Don’t have to worry about ice forming on your rod guides!  The combo comes with an integrated fly reel, which features a composite body so it’s light weight and durable, with a 1:1 gear ratio and a super smooth drag.  The line comes straight off the spool so no worries about line twists.  Works with Braided, Fluorocarbon and Monofilament lines.  Retails for $39.99

Rapala Snap Rap Jig:  Comes in two sizes.  2 ½ inches, 5/16oz $6.99 and 3 1/8 inches at 7/8oz $7.49.  Hard darting action on these baits.  With a snap of the wrist they will shoot off to the side in a hard darting motion and swim down on the fall.

Tungsten Ice Jigs:  Tungsten ice jigs are an awesome addition to any ice anglers assortment.  It allows us to run a heavier jig in a smaller profile due to the density of tungsten over lead.  They get to our desired depths quicker and being a denser metal they can be bounced on the bottom and kick up whatever the bottom content is, producing little clouds on the bottom, many times sparking the curiosity of the game fish in the area and brings them in for a closer look.

There are two good brands of Tungsten ice jigs.  Fiskas Wolfram Jigs, $3.19 and Northland Tackles Mooska Jigs, also $3.19.  They come in a variety of colors and sizes.

Ion Electric Auger:  Drills up to 40 holes, through 2 feet of ice, all on one lithium charge!  Never have to worry about gas or oil again on your power auger.  $499.99

Clam Bigfoot XL2000 Ice Shanty:  Pop-up style shanty that houses 4 to 5 anglers.  Super tough 600 denier fabric.  Over sized skirt.  Comes with a travel bag for easy transportation and storage, 4 ice anchors and tie downs.  56 squared feet of fishable area on the inside.  Compared to other models that’s 30% more interior space!  Weight 35lbs.  $229.99

Well there’s just a few to get you started.  Come on in to Bass Pro Shops in Bolingbrook and talk to our ice fishing exports to see all these great products in person as well as many other new and exciting additions to our ice fishing selection!

Be safe on the ice this year!

Tony Krizek

Team Lead Fishing

Bass Pro Shops Bolingbrook.

By Bob Frampton, TMBC Bolingbrook, IL

Sadly the time has come for most of us to think about putting our boats in storage for the winter months. The things we do now can save us valuable time and money in the spring when it is time to hit the water again.  The easiest way to get your boat ready for winter storage is to bring it to the Power Pros in our service department for a professional winterization and inspection.  Many times during the winterization process our Certified Techs can spot something that will prevent trouble in the spring or summer when you want to be out on the water.  If you have been experiencing trouble or know that water pump needs attention remember that if you wait until spring you will be bringing your boat to us at one of our busiest times.  So drop your boat off here at Tracker Marine Bolingbrook any time Monday through Friday 9 am to 4:30 pm and we will get you taken care of.  We also shrink wrap boats for winter.

If you like to winterize the boat yourself, here are a few tips:

• Check the winterizing/storage section of your owner's manual
• Check fiberglass hulls for stress cracks and gelcoat blisters.  Serious issues should be referred to the Tracker Power Pros
• Clean/power wash/scrape the bottom to get rid of barnacles, dirt, scum and other aquatic hitchhikers.
• Ice and snow accumulation can lead to splitting and cracking causing leaks and other damage. Get a proper fitting cover, make sure it is vented to prevent moisture build up and adequately supported to evenly distribute the weight of snow.
• Spray vinyl surfaces with cleaners and protectant to keep them from drying out.
• Proper venting of the storage cover also aids in the prevention of mildew.
• Moisture also likes to corrode your electrical system.  Remove all the electronics you can and store them indoors.  Corrosion prone wiring can cause shorts and blown fuses come spring time. If your wiring is non-marine grade, spray all connections with a moisture replacing lubricant. 
• Clean and inspect all your bright work such as rails, cleats and bimini top hardware.
• Vacuum/wash the carpet/deck and give your boat a general overall cleaning.
• Biggest dangers to engines are freezing, corrosion and stabilizer degradation.
• Pull the engine cover and check the hoses, belts and wiring.  Replace any that appear to be worn.  Tighten loose belts and hose clamps.
• Flush the engine with fresh water while the engine is at idle.
• Fill the fuel tank and add stabilizer, run the engine 10-15 minutes to be sure it is through the whole fuel system.
• Store outboards vertically to be sure all water drains out.  In-boards and stern drives need  require refilling with anti-freeze.
• Fog the engine and cylinders with fogging oil to prevent internal corrosion.
• Drain the gear case lube a and look for a milky color which would indicate water in the oil.  Look too for metal shavings which would indicate excessive gear wear.

Taking care now could mean a trouble free launch in the spring!

Bob

By Bob Frampton

This Saturday, November 10th is a big day for us here at the Bolingbrook Bass Pro/Tracker Marine Boat Center.  Beginning at 10:00 am we will have the New Nitro ZV-21 walleye boat here for everyone to see.  Then starting at noon we will be traveling to Big Basin Marina for on the water demo rides. If you're interested in a demo ride you can RSVP to Dan White at ddwhite@basspro.com.  The Nitro Walleye Pro Team of Gary Parsons, Chase Parsons and Keith Kavajecz have been getting a lot of attention while performance testing this boat on a variety of waterways.  The ZV 21 is loaded with standard features and options so that the boat can be customized to your specifications. Special introductory pricing starts at $49,995 with a  Mercury 250 Optimax Pro XS.  Pre-orders will be accepted on a first come first serve basis. The preliminary forecast for Saturday is partly sunny and 62 degrees, can't get much better than that for early November.

Later Saturday afternoon Santa arrives and Santa's Wonderland opens with a special preview event from 5pm to 8pm.  There will be crafts, games, free pictures with Santa and more!  Also this year we will be featuring FREE carousel rides!  Be sure to come early to check out the ZV 21 and stay for the opening of Santa's Wonderland, it is sure to be a good time.

Bob

by Bob Frampton

This week, Tracker Bolingbrook took deliveries of two new Bad Boy Buggies for 2013. The Recoil iS is a fully electric 4wd with a 72v (9 8v batteries) that offers a 40 mile range between charges. Select both drive methods and you've got 4x4 capability in the really tough situations.  The Recoil has rack and pinion steering and 4-wheel independent suspension for improved control, tighter turning and a smoother ride. There is a 10.2 cubic foot cargo bed for gear and supplies.  If you need more passenger room, the cargo bed can be replaced by an optional rear seat that converts into a cargo deck when you need the extra space. Safety features include roll bars, 3-point seat belts and side safety nets.

The Ambush is the best of both worlds. It is a gas/electric powered utility vehicle. A 16hp V-twin gas engine powers the rear wheels.  A 48v DC power train drives the front wheels. Select the gas motor for the power and the range to get out to where your tree stand or blind is and then switch to the electric motor to get you in close without the engine noise. The ambush can tow up to 1,000 pounds if you have a lot of gear or decoys to tote out to the field.  This is the perfect utility vehicle to take deer hunting when you want the silence of the electric drive or goose hunting when you may need the power, range and towing capacity of the gas engine. The Ambush has a bucket seats for 2, front independent suspension, a manual locking rear differential for extra traction and torque for when the going gets tough, and a 9.6 cubic foot cargo bed.

Stop by the Tracker Boat Center in Bolingbrook and check these Buggies out!

Bob

So early season goose is almost here and we still have a ton of things to do. First of all, we have to secure all of our hunting spots with the farmers and insurance company. It's to your benefit to carry liability insurance on the land you lease for your sake and the farmers in case of injury or property damage, with that being said let's move on.

When it comes to scouting you want to scout your fields from a distance so you don't scare birds.

You want to watch birds in your fields react to different wind conditions and contours of the land.

You want to locate roost waters and food sources and the routes the birds take to and from.

Food sources for early season will be all your easily digested grains and grasses such as wheat, peas, beans, milo and thick grass. Corn won't be needed till mid to late season for the high carbs that they need to make long flights and to stay warm.

Always use the highest point in the field to set decoys but stay just below the highest point so you don't sillouette yourself and leave the highest point for the geese to land.

Decoys spreads can very but for the most part use family groups of 5-7 birds per group keeping birds about 7-10 ft apart from each other in that family unit and 15-20yds. away from other family groups and leave enough room for landing birds.

Remember sometimes that the Boss Gander does like to land the young birds directly into other geese so if that happens keep the spread there and move the blinds down wind and keep your caller in the decoy spread.

Use mostly full bodies because they will only be there for an hour or so, they won't stay to rest. Use different size decoys like lessers and giants together.

 Keep decoys away from fence lines or ditches or anywhere predetors can hide.

 When calling birds keep it simple just use clucks and moans

 Hope this helps !!!

 Have fun and be safe and remember SAFETY FIRST !!

 Ken Ingo- RedHead ProStaff

Owner/Operator- Poorman's Guide Service

ProStaff- Sean Mann Outdoors

D.T. Training Systems- ProStaff

Hayes Calls- ProStaff

This week I decided to take my family on a combination picnic and fishing trip. We arrived at the park around 10AM. We grilled some burgers and hotdogs and had a great time. Around 6PM I decide it was time for me to go fishing on the nearby lake. As I arrived with all my fishing gear, I found that I was being attacked by big, I mean big , mosquitos. I tried just about everything to defeat them but they just kept attacking. I tried several different types of bug repellent but nothing seem to work. I had one more line of defense that I had not used. It was something called Thermacell. It came with 12 hours of protection and it cleared a 15 foot square foot area. I purchased it a the Bass Pro Shop in Bolingbrook. I wasn't sure it would work but my customers advised that it was great stuff so I figured, what did I have to loose? It was very easy to set it up. I put one of the blue pads in it and put a small butane tank in the bottom. I then turned it on and pressed a button to start it. After about five minutes I noticed that the mosquitoes stopped biting. At first I thought it was because the temperature was dropping. I didn't dream it was the Thermacell because it didn't smell or make any noise. It just laid there. I then made my mistake, since the mosquitoes were gone, I turned it off. After a few minutes here they came again. Out of desperation I turned it back on and enjoyed the rest of the evening in peace. Only problem was I didn't catch any fish.

For under $20 bucks I purchased another one for my wife to use. That way I won't have to listen about the bugs all the way home on our next outdoor trip. You see, she didn't have one. She entertained the mosquitoes while I was fishing. Pick up your Thermacell and be prepared for your next trip.

Rich

Camping Department

Bolingbrook, Illinois

.

    As the miles go by and the scenery changes, I'm always excited about my next adventure.  Being  the host of the web show, www.hookandhunttv.com and as a member of the RedHead Hunting team, I look forward to any fishing and hunting expedition.  With all the traveling, I thought it might be a good idea to stop at Bass Pro stores that are along the way and this year so far I have stopped at several.  Every Bass Pro Shops is a little different and takes on the history of the area its in.  My home store is in Bolingbrook, Illinois and its unique compared to the stores in Gurnee and East Peoria, Illinois. One of the things I have always enjoyed about Bass Pro is their attention to detail and every time you enter a new store, there is bound to be something that catches your eye and makes you say, Wow!

     On a recent trip to Georgia to go hog hunting, I stopped at the Macon Georgia Bass Pro and really liked there hunting section which was loaded with great turkey hunting essentials.  It was a fun store and as always I picked up a Bass Pro t-shirt from that location.  I have got in the habit of collecting them and I look forward to going to every store to add to my collection.

  We just arrived back from Florida where I fished with the "Bass Professor" Doug Hannon for snook and on the way I stopped at the Prattville, Alabama store and enjoyed a great meal and picked up some well needed World Wide Sportsman gear for the trip.

    If your reading this, you are a fan of Bass Pro shops and we are glad you are part of the family.  When your on the road, stop by some of the different locations and each store will have its own story with a little something different to offer their guest.   As with any Bass Pro shops, your adventure starts there!

A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to fish a Maple Bassmasters club tourney on the Hennepin Canal at the Hennepin State Park. I knew absolutely nothing about this body of water and at first sight I was pretty disappointed. Oh boy, I get to fish a ditch was my first thought! The Canal is about 60 feet wide and the average depth is probably five feet, it is full of lay downs and carp and you can only use your trolling motor or a 10 hp or less. Needless to say, my expectations were not very high. Goodness was I wrong.

This body of water is loaded with some really nice bass! I brought in a 5 bass limit that weighed nearly 11 pounds with my biggest around 3 pounds and I got 2^nd in the tourney! I had a few guys close to me in weight, but it was the final contestant to weigh in that took the prize. Thomas Garbacz brought 5 fish to the scales that weighed over 15 pounds with a 4 pound kicker. It turned out to be one of our best weigh ins so far this year. Since I am the tournament director, I was pleased not to hear all the bad comments about this choice of venues that I originally expected before we started.

My choice of baits for this trip consisted of a wacky rigged Sticko on a Gamagatsu wacky rig hook that I fished on a 7’ medium action G Loomis spinning rod with a Shimano Stradic reel. I used 10# BPS fluorocarbon line with the wacky rig and found it to be more than a match for the woody situation and the fairly clear water. My second choice was a double willow 3/8oz white spinnerbait that I fished on a 7’ medium action Carbonlite casting rod with a matching Carbonlite reel. I fished both of these baits as tight to the lay downs and as close to shore as I could get them and I used a very slow retrieve with both. The fish were hammering them when they hit! Sometimes they had me in the stick ups before I could react and I lost a couple of nice ones that way. This body of water is fairly easy to pattern…just fish the wood! In retrospect, I probably should have tried what Thomas caught his on, which was a Senko rigged straight with no weight fished in the grassy areas with wood. But I guess I can’t expect a call from him while we are on the water competing against each other with any real information! (We all know he would be lying anyway LOL!) Great Job Thomas and for the rest of you, take a short trip out to this body of water just off of I80 and have a blast! It is a pretty cool experience.

See ya on the water!

Mel Hedrick

Bolingbrook BPS Fishing Pro Staff Team

The Go Outdoors Event & Sale runs from May 18- 28. With the way the economy is a lot of families can't afford to go on that expensive family vacation, so what do you do? Bring the family to BPS Bolingbrook and spend time there doing crafts, kid's challenge, family photos and a kid's wildlife photo contest. They have daily specials and a ton of cool outdoor gear on sale. Let's take the kids on a camping vacation , you can get a BPS family tent, Ascend canoe,BPS camp stove and maybe some new fishing gear. The best thing is  you will be spending quality time with your family in the GREAT OUTDOORS !!. Every dept. has gear on sale from new boats to hunting and fishing to apparel. So load the family up and come on down to the GO OUTDOORS EVENT & SALE and have some FUN !!!!

Ken Ingo ProStaff

RedHead Hunting Team

Tested in -  Ontario Canada, Illinois and The Upper Peninsula of Michigan

Weather- Sunny, thunderstorms, downpours and snow showers

Temps- 23 degrees - 65 degrees

Winds- N-NW  5-35mph

 Hunter- 6'1 - 270lbs.  2xl

          The parka fit was very good in upper body but a little tight in the hips.Upper body has lots of room to swing gun from side to side. The high extended fleece collar was a godsent from the blustery northern winds and the sideways rains. Along with the windproof membrane of the parka the BONE DRY waterproofing really held up well with the downpours we encountered.

          The ARCTIC SHIELD- RETAIN membrane really worked  hard in keeping the body heat in and the cold out. High neck and good elastic sleeve cuffs help the RETAIN do it's job very well without adding bulk to the parka. The extended cuffs gloves are a great idea until they get wet and then they add some coolness to you body.The only drawback on this parka is the zipper which kept pulling apart and then you have to rezip it. If this parka had the zipper from the CANVASBACK parka it would be the perfect waterfowl parka.For more info on this parka visit BassPro.com

Would I recommend this - YES

 Rating 1-5 -  4

 Ken Ingo ProStaff

RedHead Hunting Team

We Service What We Sell

Many of the customers that come through the Boat Center are surprised to learn that we have a full service department right here.  The fact is our service manager has thirty plus years of boating experience, our two full time techs are both Mercury Marine certified and so is our parts/warranty specialist.  In addition we have a full time rigger and customer service representative.   These are the guys that prep and rig the new boats for delivery to their new owners and maintain them over the years.  Whether you need some routine maintenance or a major repair there are none better to take care of your boat, Arctic Cat ATV, UTV or Bad Boy Buggy.

New Promotions

April 15th brought the end to our first quarter promotions, and thanks to all of you who took advantage of them and now have new boats for this season!  Starting April 16th, Tracker announced incentives on our two most popular deep-V models, the Pro Guide 16SC and the Pro Guide 175SC.  Each of these boats have a $600.00 discount and receive a free boat cover ($550.00 value) through June 17th. Tracker and Mercury are still offering the 5-year warranty on their outboard motors through the end of May.  And don't forget the VIP Owner's discount card that comes with all new boat purchases.  If you missed the gift card promotion and are still interested in either of these models, give us a call at 630-296-2680 or just stop on by.

Marine Accessories

There are a couple of new additions to the line up in the Marine department. The Monaco DLX paddle boat and the Predator 103 fishing boat both made by Pelican.

The Monaco features a built in cooler/storage area with a solid cover, sun canopy, and adjustable back rests.  The boat is made of RAM-X composite, is 7' 7" long with a 62.5" beam.  It weighs 105 lbs and has a weight capacity of 775lbs and is rated for 5 people. This is the ideal boat to have fun on the water and get your exercise too!  The Monaco DLX sells for $499.99.

The Predator 103 is a molded 2-person fishing boat featuring 2-drink holders, 2-folding swivel seats, a live well (non-aerated) built in motor mounts fore and aft, and a battery compartment.  You can use either a 12v trolling motor (the boat is pre-wired and has receptacles fore and aft) or up to a 7-hp gas motor to move you along.  The Predator is 10' 3" long and weighs in at 154 pounds.  It is the perfect boat for some of the small lakes and strip pits in the area that have horsepower or motor restrictions.

That's what's going on here......see you on the water.

Bob Frampton

Tracker Marine Boat Center

Hello Bass Pro Fans!

I'm Mike from the Camping Department at Bass Pro Shops in Bolingbrook, IL. I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself, my coworkers & how we can help you truly enjoy every moment of the great outdoors.I have been an outdoors and camping enthusiast all my life. I have experience in general camping, canoeing & kayaking. I have been with Bass Pro Shops since 2010 & have become the resident "bug" guy.

The number one reason why people don't have an enjoyable experience with the great outdoors is to the fact that not everyone knows how to truly protect themselves and their family from the onslaught of biting bugs. Back in the day there were one, maybe two products that we used to attempt to deter biting bugs, mostly mosquitoes. Today there is close to a dozen different products each serving a different purpose. Unfortunately there isn't one "end all be all" product that does the job of every product. There are skin, clothing & area effect products. By utilizing all three ways of coverage at the same time, you are guaranteed to have a much more enjoyable experience in the great outdoors.

So, I invite you to come into the Camping Department at Bass Pro Shops in Bolingbrook, IL. Take a moment to talk with myself or my coworkers. We're here to guide you into the right product. It's okay to approach us. We don't bite & once we get you into the right bug repellancy the bus won't either.

See ya next time, happy campers!

Mike in Camping

Bass Pro Shops

Bolingbrook, IL

By: Bill Oldenburg

This cooler weather should be breaking soon and that will really get the fishing moving. I just wanted to let you all know about a new reel that we are carrying this year its the new Carbon Lite bait casting  reel by Johnny Morris & Bass Pro Shops. Its a completely different reel this year. Weighting in at 5.9oz its one of the lightest reels on the market and it has a carbon Fiber & Stainless Steel drag washer system to increase the amount of drag pressure you can put into the reel to 14lbs. for a reel built on bass fishing that is a lot of drag.

The reel is completely adjustable from the outside so the no fear of dropping the side cover over the side or losing it. The braking system offer both a magnetic and a centrifugal adjustments so you you can add or remove brake in any part of your cast for better control.

The Carbon Lite bait casting reel also has  9 + 1 ball bearings so its very smooth casting which is great for fishing a little lighter bait or trying a thinner lighter line. I think we are quickly getting to the day that we will be able to fish the same smaller baits that have been to this point reserved for spinning tackle.

These reels are offered in 3 different gear ratios:

7.1 - Great for buzz baits, lipless crank baits or anything requiring a fast retrieve

6.4 - A super choice for all around fishing

5.4 - Perfect for those deep diving crank baits

Also in left handed 6.4

I would pair this reel with the Carbon Lite rod series for a couple of reasons

1.) The Rods have great feel and are also super light weight so as a combo they weight next to nothing.

2.)There is a good amount of saving when we built this as a combo in the store for the customer verses buying each the rod and reel separate the savings can be as much as $50 on the combo

This also allows us to work with you to find just the right combo to do the job you are looking for it to do.

Have A Good One & See You Soon

Bill

A long time ago (when I was about 7 years old) my father and grandfather decided to take me fishing. I couldn't wait to go on my first fishing trip. We took a small john boat out on a small lake near our house. My father was in the front of the boat, my dad was in the back, and needless to say I was in the middle. After being on the lake for awhile my father started talking about a fishing trip he had gone on a month earlier. He claim he caught one of the largest bass he had ever gotten. He said it was twelve and a half pounds.

Not to be out done, my grandfather advised that on his last fishing trip that he had also done pretty good. He said his line got caught on something and after playing around with it he finally got it freed up. When it surfaced he was astounded to find he had hooked a lantern. He said the strange thing was that the lantern was still lit.

Well my father jumped all over this, he said that was the most ridiculous thing he had ever heard. My grandfather then calmly replied "If you take ten pounds off your fish I will blow out my light. After that my dad didn't say anything for the next several hours.  

The reason I am bring this up was that this was a trip I still remember like it was yesterday. I would like to remind you to take your kids, or grandchildren, and do some camping and fishing.  There is nothing like setting around a camp fire and telling stories, roasting marsh mellows, or popping popcorn.They will remember it forever. Don't use the excuse that you haven't been camping or fishing in years and that you don't have any of the required equipment or knowledge to do this. This does not need to be an expensive trip and you do not need to be a genius to impress your kids in order to have fun with them. You can get all the equipment you need at Bass Pro Shop and our associates can advise you on how to use it. We will be happy to advise you where to go and what to do on your camping trip. Please come in and see us and don't be afraid to ask us for advice. We enjoy making new friends and teaching you about our favorite hobbies. So go out and make some memories so your kids will have something to talk about when they get as old as I am.

Rich

Camping Dept.

Bolingbrook, Illinois

The National Bass Anglers Association (NBAA) together with Opperation Mom's Cookies, a group that helps the familys of men and women of the military serving over seas, put together a chairity tournament on Braidwood Lake.

Braidwood is a power plant cooling lake in Braidwood IL.  Due to the year round warm watter temps, the IL DNR, for the past 10 or 12 years or so, has been stocking the Florida strain Bass in Braidwood.  For those of you not familiar with this strain of Bass,they are eating machines and tend to be fairly aggressive.  That combined with the shad population of Braidwood has made this man made lake one of the best Bass fisheries in the Chicagoland Area!

The morning of April 22, 2012 was a little on the chilly side here in the greater Chicagoland area.  Morning temps in the 30's and the forcast for strong North East Winds seemed to spell disaster for the tournament anglers heading out to participate in the event.  Regardless of Braidwood being a cooling lake, the drastic change in pressure could still have an adverse effect on the fish.  That morning only 12 boats arived for the tournament.

My partner for the event, Dave Farmer and I had a game plan for the day and we stuck to it to the very end!  There is a wind protected area on Braidwood known as the "Old DNR Pens".  Structure back there consists of Reeds, Rock and the most important part to this equation it holds TONS of Shad!  It has been a spot that has always produced good quality fish year round.  Today would be no exception!

Due to the change in pressure and the recent shad hatch Dave and I fished a down sized more compact presentation for the day.  We used the Bass Pro Shops River Bug http://www.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops-River-Bug-Soft-Plastic-Lures/product/10209906/43910 in the 3 1/2in size in the Watermelon with Blue Fleck color.  Riged up a Gamakatsu EWG 2/0 Worm Hook. http://www.basspro.com/Gamakatsu-EWG-Worm-Hook/product/53661/140157.  We wanted a slow presentation with more of a glide then a hop.  We ran a Bass Pro Shops Tungsten Worm Weight in an 1/8oz.. http://www.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops-XPS-Tungsten-Worm-Weights/product/10210181/49523

Needless to say our game plan worked and we were culling fish by 8:30am.  3 fish limit per team with a 15in size limit.  We wighed in with just about 11.5lbs for a 1st place finish and I had also won the Big Bass for the event at 5.5lbs.

Remember folks, stay versital, have confidence and you'll put more fish in the boat this year!

Tony Krizek - Team Lead Fishing Bass Pro Shops Bolingbrook.

How many times have you made a trip to a store to purchase an item and when you got there you were not sure what requirements you wanted in the item, or if an item will do exactly what you intended it to do?

I would like to encourage you to take some time an tell a department associate what you need to purchase, how you will use it, and what your requirements are. Our Bass Pro associates have a wealth of information about our products and how to use them. We are willing to listen to your needs and help YOU decide which item meets your needs. We can tell you the advantages and disadvantages of our products. Items can change from year to year. The next time one of our associate approaches you and asks if we can help you, please don't say no. Buy getting the correct items you are looking for on your first trip to Bass Pro will save you time and money. Believe me, we are looking forward in talking with you and helping you make wise decisions. Heck-We might enjoy having a little fun with you and enjoy getting to know you. You can even ask for me. Hope to see ya soon.

Rich

Camping Department

Bolingbrook Ill. Store 

Well, it’s that time of year again. Anticipation of the new fishing season is at a fever pitch, from casual fisherman to the avid tournament angler. I happen to be the latter. I have found myself spending most of my spare time getting ready for the season. Boat, tackle, and equipment must be in tip-top shape. When I pulled the boat out of the garage the first time this year I found low tire pressure, an aerator pump had gone bad, and I needed to adjust the brakes on my trailer. Since I was that far into it, I changed the wheel bearings.

Now it was time to focus on my tackle box. Do I have enough hooks, sinkers, jigs, and other baits? The answer to that question was “no.” Time to head to Bass Pro Shops where I found everything I needed.

Next, I turned my attention to my rods and reels. Time to clean grease and oil the reels. I have found that when I do this every spring my reels perform like brand new. I check the guides along each rod to make sure there is no dirt, cuts or cracks; a Q-tip works great for this. Spin the Q-tip around the guides - not only does it clean them, if a piece tears off you know that the guide may be chipped or cracked.  Bass Pro Shops has a rod and reel repair service for all of your rod and reel needs.

Now it is time to spool and rig. The last thing you want to happen when you go fishing is to have a slinky hanging from your rod, or worse, your line break on the fish of a lifetime. Any line you used last year with the exception of braided should be changed. I do not use last years line at all. I may have some left over in the garage, but if I left it out there and did not bring it into a temperature-controlled environment, its garbage. Moisture in the air deteriorates monofilament and fluorocarbon, making it weaker and therefore unusable. Next, I spool and tie on the baits I think will be most productive. Bass Pro Shops will spool all your reels. Come in and purchase the line and our expert staff will put it on for you for free.

Whew! That was a lot of work, but I am now set for the season. I will see you all out there. Oh, and don’t forget: Set that hook!

Travis Hendrix

Well, it’s that time of year again. Anticipation of the new fishing season is at a fever pitch, from casual fisherman to the avid tournament angler. I happen to be the later. I have found myself spending most of my spare time getting ready for the season. Boat, tackle and equipment must be in tip top shape. When I pulled the boat out of the garage the first time this year I found low tire pressure, an aerator pump had gone bad and I needed to adjust the brakes on my trailer, and since I was that far into it I changed the wheel bearings.

Now it was time to focus on my tackle box. Do I have enough hooks, sinkers, jigs, and other baits? The answer to that question was “no” Time to head to Bass Pro Shops where I found everything I needed.

Next, I turned my attention to my rods and reel’s. Time to clean grease and oil the reels. I have found that when I do this every spring my reels  perform like brand new. I check the guides along each rod to make sure there is no dirt, cuts or cracks, a Q-tip works great for this. Spin the Q-tip around the guides, not only does it clean them, if a piece tears off you know that the guide may be chipped or cracked.  Bass Pro Shops has a rod and reel repair service for all your rod and reel needs.

Now it is time to spool and rig. The last thing you want to happen when you go fishing is to have a slinky hanging from your rod or worse your line break on the fish of a lifetime. Any line you used last year with the exception of braided should be changed. I do not use last years line at all. I may have some left over in the garage, if I left it out there, and did not bring it into a temperature controlled environment its garbage. Moisture deteriorates monofilament and fluorocarbon it will be weaker and should not be used, next spool and tie on the baits I think will be most productive. Bass Pro Shops will spool all your reels. Come in purchase the line and our expert staff will put it on for you for free.

Whew! That was a lot of work, but I am now set for the season. I will see you all out there. Oh and don’t forget, Set that hook!

Travis Hendrix

This Saturday and Sunday, April 21 - 22, is Kids Challenge Weekend here at Bass Pro Shops in Bolingbrook.There will be challenges/activities from noon-4pm and crafts from 1pm-4pm both days.  The challenges include archery, casting, life jacket races, a sleeping bag challenge and knot tying. Sounds like a lot of fun!  Check our store website for complete details.

While you are visiting be sure to stop by the Tracker Boat Center and check out our boats.  We have just received new pricing on our non-current (2011 and prior) inventory which translates into savings. You can also check out or selection online at trackerboats.com  Have a great weekend

See you on the water.

Bob Frampton

TMBC Bolingbrook, IL

Now is the time to get that e-collar and learn how to use it before hunting season comes. Well there are a few things you should know before you can make an educated purchase. There are different types of collars to choose from depending on what your needs are. There are bark, beeper, training and tracking collars. Let's talk about training collars used for obedience and field. First let's talk about  RANGE. Range is the distance the  collar will be used at such as ( Short Range) under 1/2 mi.- ( Medium Range) is used between 1/2- 1 mi.- ( Long Range ) 1 mi. or better and ( Super Long Range) 2mi.. Next we'll talk about the Range Signal . All collars are one of 2 signals, AM or FM . Line of sight- the line between the dog and the transmitter. AM signal is easily blocked by objects in field such as barns, ditches, vehicles and terrain and does minimize effectiveness of collar. FM signal conforms to terrain and is not blocked by obstacles in field maximizing effectiveness  of the collar. Tone or Vibration are used as a stimulate to make a correction with the dog. My personal preference is Vibration because a dog under intense concentration can block out the tone but they will always feel the vibration when a correction is given. I use the vibration for correction instead of a electrical stimulation. All e-collars are have a built in safety now ( cuts off electrical shock at 8 seconds ) so you can't over stimulate you dog. Let's move on the transmitter and the option it has. Some transmitters have a rheostat knob which you can move to get different levels of stimulation, not very consistent when adjusting to different levels. Positive click dial is very precise in setting different stimulation levels. The more precise your dial the more control you will have over your dog with out going to negative stimulation scenario. Transmitter buttons should fit your fingers so you don't hit 2 buttons at one time. The buttons should feel crisp when pushed and not squishy ,this way you know when a correction is delivered to the collar. The Collar ( Receiver ) has electrodes with deliver the correction to the dog.The electrodes come in 2 sizes long or short. Short hair dogs such as pointers would use the short ones and long hair dogs such as labs would use the longer ones. There are a couple of different antenna's that are used. One antenna is screwed in to the collars and the other antenna is sewn into the collar (usually FM antenna ). LED lights on the collar tell you when its on and when a stimulation is given from the transmitter.

When you go to buy an e-collar you must decide what you want in a collar such as where the dog is going to be in the field or your back yard, range, amount of stimulation, price,warranty, waterproof, customer service. If you would like to compare collars side by side go to your nearest Bass pro shop or on the web at basspro.com.  THANKS

Ken Ingo  ProStaff   Bass Pro Shop  Bolingbrook, Ill

ProStaff  for D.T. Training Systems