Angler: Logan Jaeren

Tournament: 2007 Long Lake Bass Club Tournament Series

Standing: 13th - Big Bass!!

Location: Lake Sammamish, Washington

Fish Weight (lb): 4.69 (Big Bass)

Bait Used: V&M - Pork Pin (Green Pumpkin / Chartreuse Tail)

Story: Lake Sammamish is probably better known for the spawning salmon that migrate through the lake than its bass, but this lake has quality largemouth and smallmouth bass. The lake was full of food for foraging bass, so the bite was tough. I was looking for smallies in deep water. I located a deep flat off a point in 30 feet of water with a lot of fish suspended from top to bottom around deep weeds filled with streaming air bubbles. There are a lot of baits that northwestern bass haven't seen, and I was gambling that they have never seen a V&M Pork Pin. I rigged a Green Pumpkin / Chartreuse Tail colored V&M Pork Pin on a 1/4 ounce black colored Picasso Luke Clausen Shakedown jig head with a 4/0 straight shanked hook — an awesome combination! Now, I had lots of strikes from panfish, but there was one strike strong enough that it ripped off half the worm. I told my tournament partner that I can feel it — a fish is here and I am not leaving without hooking up. It didn't take long and my rod was bent over, I mean BENT OVER, and my line started coming off the reel. It was a wonderul fight and a beautiful fish at 4lb 11oz and 17.5 inches long it was the Tournament Big Bass. It was a tough day that ended well.

Angler: Scott Walker

Location: Point Aux Chen, LA

Fish Weight (lb): 11

Bait Used: V&M - Lil Marsh Minnow (Glo)

Story: Me and my mother pulled up to a spot where the seagulls were diving and anhored. I got my 7ft rod and reel out that had the Glo colored Lil Marsh Minnow out because that was putting the bigger fish in the boat. I threw out the first cast and had a bird nest. I got the bird nest out and started retrieving the minnow in when I felt a thump. I pulled back and my reel started screaming. I knew what it was when my line started going out. Lost two bull reds from this spot before. My mother go the net ready as soon as my reel started screaming. Got him to the boat and my mother was shocked when we netted the big red. Now my mother fishes with the V&M Lil' Marsh Minnow and also the Tickle Tail Grub. Thanks to V&M for the baits and the sponsorship - they have the only plastics I've seen with the right action because of the way they are made. We ended up with a limit of Speckled Trout and six Redfish.

Angler: Tony Zacher

Location: Lake Sharp, SD

Fish Weight (lb): 3

Bait Used: V&M - Chopstik 4in. (Green Pumpkin Pearl)

Story: This smallmouth was caught at Lake Sharp, Fort Thompson South Dakota on the Missouri River. It was caught on a V&M 4" Chopstick. It was rigged Texas style with a small pinch weight in the front of the hook so it could be fished deeper. This smallmouth was 18" and weighed 3lbs, finishing 7th place in a tournament, fishing with Mid West Bass Busters out of Philip, SD.

Angler: Elvis Jeanminette

Location: Vermillion Bay, LA

Fish Weight (lb): 6+

Bait Used: V&M - Marsh Minnow (White)

Story: Speckled Trout caught on white Marsh Minnow on a 3/8 ounce red head.

Angler: Ray Beadle Jr. and JP

Location: Morgan City, LA

Fish Weight (lb): Unknown

Bait Used: V&M - Lil Marsh Minnow

Story: We bought some of these baits a year ago in Hahnville at a Shell station. The owner said the baits lasted longer than most and had better action. JP and I found that the bait colors stayed in the box better than the others. We ran out of this bait after catching 9 reds. We put on the ole regular one and could not finish the limit! It was as if the fish decided not to bite again. They were not on a feed all day seemingly. But I assume the attractant in this bait made a difference. We used the "LSU Grub" as it has been nicknamed down here - the purple/chartreuse color with the chartreuse head on a spinner bait.

Angler: Johnnie Crain

Location: Unknown

Fish Weight (lb): Unknown

Bait Used: V&M - Magnum Bassin Eel

Story: I caught this nice bass on a red shad colored Magnum Bassin Eel along with several others the first time I used the bait. That long flopping swimming tail is just too much for bass to resist. The cooked in Pork Fat and lifelike action is a winning combination. I also sprayed the line, hook and sinker with V&M Anise Spray which I use on everything including spinnerbaits and crankbaits just to up the odds a little.

Angler: Johnnie Crain

Location: Unknown

Fish Weight (lb): Unknown

Bait Used: Cyclone Baits - Lightning Blade (Chartreuse / White)

Story: I have over the years tested and evaluated hundreds of new products, some with success some total flops. It is with great pleasure that I report nothing but great things about The V&M Lightning Blade. The first time I used thgis unique fine quality bait I was a little concerned that it didn't have a weed/brush guard. After the first cast I realized it didn't need one. The blade actually protected the hook. I have never felt a bait pulse through my rod tip like the Lightning Blade, the throbbing pulsating feel is incredible! The built-in swimming action allows even a novice angler to fish the bait properly.

I prefer to fish the Lightning Blade just below the surface with a fairly fast retrieve. Almost, but not quite leaving a wake. When this bait swims across a fallen log or brush pile, the bass simply cannot resist the action. I have in a short while taken several very nice bass on the Texas Sage Lightning Blade and expect even bigger and better bass in the near future. I higly recommend this bait, order a few and you'll soon be catching some qaulity fish and you don't need to be a pro to do it. My 10 year old Grandson is catching fish too!!

Angler: Thomas Thibodeaux

Location: Lacassine Wildlife Refuge, Louisiana

Fish Weight (lb): 10.37

Bait Used: V&M - Super Ringer (Black Red Glitter)

Story: Well after my mother-in-laws passing and having to take my wife to the emergency room Monday I finally had time to try to do my member challenge. I went to local marsh, tried crank baits in the canals which was my challenge for last month and this month. Well needless to say I was skunked on crank baits but managed to catch 12 and lose 5 on a Rat-L-Trap. About an hour before I decided to leave I took out my trusty Texas Rig with a V&M 9" Super Ringer worm black neon. On my second cast the worm landed in some grass so a short flip landed it back in the water, after a 30 second pause I bumped and pause again when the line started to get tight.

Drop the rod, reel the slack, and set the hook produced a 23" x 20" 10.37 lb hawg.

The picture was taken on my cell phone.

You wanna talk about stress relief.

Angler: Steven Schonewolf

Location: Lake Belton, Texas

Fish Weight (lb): 6.5

Bait Used: V&M - Pork Pin (Black)

Story: I was just fishing around this sportsman dock we have near a boat ramp, and I threw it into about 20 ft of water and twiched about five times and then WHAM! This baby just almost ripped my rod out of my hands!! I was using a 6´6" medium heavy spinning rod with 8lb Trilene and it felt like a whale was on my line!! I fought it in and pulled it up on the bank and just couldnt believe it, thanks to you V&M I can catch fish like this all the time!!

Angler: Dennis Weaver

Tournament: Permian Bass Club Classic Championship

Standing: 1st - Tournament Winner!

Location: Choke Canyon Reservoir, Texas

Fish Weight (lb): 14.478 !!

Bait Used: Cyclone Baits - Thunder Rattle Jig (1/2 oz. / Alligator)

Story: Dennis Weaver, Sequin, Texas, fished a local club tournament, March 10-11, 2007. Dennis was pleased to win the tournament, but the real prize was hooking up a 14.478 lb lunker on a Cyclone Baits - Thunder Rattle Jig!

The story starts out with Bayou Outdoors sponsoring a fishing tournament on Lake Sam Rayburn, Texas, where Dennis received a diddy bag with a Cyclone Baits, alligator colored 1/2 oz., Thunder Rattle Jig. The jig made its way to the Permian Bass Club Classic Championship in Dennis' tackle box. Now, Dennis was not familiar with Cyclone Baits, but the morning of the tournament, he was looking to throw a jig of a certain color, and that's when he found the Thunder Rattle Jig, and it joined the hunt for a big fish. Dennis threw the jig and... WHAM!! - hooked up a 7.5 pound hog on his first cast. Soon after, a big sow of a bass was on the line - the dream of any angler is to hook up a huge lunker during a tournament. Hooking up a fish that weighs 14+ pounds during a tournament is now Dennis' reality. That Thunder Rattle Jig hooked up two fish and more than half of Dennis' total weight for the two-day tournament.

Needless to say, Dennis is now more familiar with Cyclone Baits and Bayou Outdoors. After the tournament, he contacted us to share his story, and the story keeps getting better. The Big Bass was turned over to the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center to become fish #431 of the Budweiser ShareLunker Program - View Full Stats.

Dennis Weaver's trophy bass didn't challenge the Texas state record, but it will be released into an aquarium at Cabelas in Buda, TX to join other trophy fish.

Cyclone Baits has now become Dennis' go-to bait for jigs and spinnerbaits, so the story continues with more fishing, catching and dreams of tournament trophy bass. Congratulations Dennis!

Angler: Mark Curry

Tournament: Italian Elite Series

Standing: 2nd Place

Location: Lake Bolsena, Italy

Bait Used: V&M

Story: V&M Baits, The Ultimate Bassin Bait takes 2nd Place at the Italian Elite Series on Lake Bolsena. Pro Staff member Mark Curry and his co-angler Giulio Galletti fished the soft plastics on drop-offs in 10-15' of water. Drop-Shotting and Mojo-Rigging was the technique of the day. Proof that bass around the world will eat V&M Baits.

Angler: Ricky Naquin

Location: Bayou Black and Des Allemends, Louisiana

Fish Weight (lb): Unknown

Bait Used: V&M - Bayou Bug (Black Blue, Junebug, Green Pumpkin, Watermelon Red)

Story: I generally rig the Bayou Bug on what I call my Cajun Drop Shot Rig. This is similiar to a regular drop shot rig with the exception, that instead of using a weight at the bottom, I use a jig. By using a jig, it gives you an extra chance at catching fish. the jig works the bottom while the bayou bug lures suspended fish. The Bayou Bug also does great for flipping. You can flip it on 15lb test with a 1/2oz weight in almost any conditions and it will catch fish. My favorite colors are 1st - Black Blue, 2nd - June Bug and 3rd - Green Pumpkin or Watermelon red.

Angler: Ricky Naquin

Location: Bayou Black and Des Allemends, Louisiana

Fish Weight (lb): Unknown

Bait Used: V&M - Bayou Bull Frog (Watermelon Red/Pearl Red Belly, White and Black)

Story: I am amazed at the action of the new Bayou Bull Frog to say the least! I generally rig the Bayou Bull Frog with a Falcon Lures Bait-Jerker super line weighted hook or a offset Mustad Ultra point hook. I have found these two hooks seem to work best for me. I generally use braided line 40-60lb test as the fish that usually hit the Bayou Bull Frog are quality fish. The best part about fishing the Bayou Bull Frog is how easy it is to fish. One of the more productive ways to fish it is to just cast it out and reel it back in. When the fish hits it, "pause" as you have to let him eat it before you set the hook. Another good quality about the Bayou Bull frog is the plastic used in making it. It is very durable and seems to hold up "alot" longer than other similiar type plastics. When you see the rippling action of the new foot design, I'm sure you will be know why thios bait catches fish. As for my choice of colors, 1st-watermelon red with a pearl belly, 2nd - white, and 3rd - black.

Angler: Donald Crowell

Location: Unknown

Fish Weight (lb): 9.5

Bait Used: V&M - Hogwild Worm

Story: The fish really hold on to the V & M Hogwild Worm, which gives me more time to set the hook. This really gives me an advantage over the other anglers fishing the same water. The other anglers/friends think I am either lucky or a good fisherman. I think it is the V & M. I have caught and released probably, 10 to 15 fish that went 8 to 10 lbs.

Angler: Edward Gettys

Tournament: 2004 EverStart Eastern Division

Standing: 1st - Tournament Winner!

Location: Guntersville Lake, Alabama

Bait Used: V&M - Hogwild Worm (Red Bug)

Story: Gettys is a full-time biology teacher and coach at a local school, but his part-time job could be considered winning tournaments on Guntersville Lake. This was his second EverStart Series victory on the lake. "It's been a great week," said Gettys, who won a total of $23,000 plus a fully rigged Ranger Boat. "I'd like to fish more of these events, but I don't want to give up coaching just yet - I've been coaching girls basketball and softball for 27 years." Gettys used a V&M 11-inch Hogwild Worm in Red Bug to catch most of his fish this week. He rigged the worm both Texas and Carolina style, depending on where he was fishing. "In the mornings, I'd Texas rig the worm with a 3/16-ounce weight and swim it in 4 to 5 feet of water in scattered grass," he said. "In the afternoons, I'd Carolina rig it out on deeper river ledges in about 10 feet of water." The local angler surmised that the fish moved deeper as the tournament progressed. "I had been catching a few shallow, but today that bite died and I caught most everything out deep," he added.