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In honor of you guys viewing my blog 10,000 times, I am giving away some awesome free stuff to one lucky winner!!!! There are a variety of prizes to win including:

An FTO 170 tackle bag which holds four FTO 102 utility cases (not included) and features three zippered pockets and a removable shoulder strap. The dimensions of this bag are 14” x 9” x 9”.

A 1435 Plano Guide Series polycarbonate box. The Guide Series waterproof cases provide unparalleled protection for your important items. The strong poly-carbonate structure and TPR lining make the cases crushproof and airtight. Perfect for the boating, fishing, hunting, hiking or camping. The dimensions of this box are 9.75″x7.5″x 4″. This case is airtight and lockable with a patent pending latch with pressure release and features a comfortable moulded handle.

A ONE YEAR subscription to FLW Outdoors Magazine. This magazine is a must have for any angler but should especially appeal to the Bass fans that read my blog. I had to throw something in there for you guys!!

Also included are a couple of packages of weedless jigs from www.fishcraze.com/. Along with those jigs, I will also be including in the prize a selection of my favorite lures for trophy fish…and yes, I am including a couple of the FAMOUS CABELA’S ORANGE HAMMER LURES!!!!

So…as you can see its a big variety of A LOT of great stuff!!! But reaching 10,000 views in only 7 months is a huge deal, and I, of course, owe it all to you guys!!!! Thanks so much for reading, and I do hope you will all stick around to hear my adventures for years to come!!!

NOW…to the RULES…to win these lovely prizes here is what you MUST do:

1. Leave me a comment telling me your favorite fishy tale.

That is it…LOL!! Just leave me a simple comment including your favorite fishing memory, and you, my friends, will be entered in the random drawing to be held next week.

But here is a twist…you can be entered to win TWICE by leaving a comment here on this blog AND on the same post on Fisherbabe.com. You may copy and paste the same tale…that is just fine. When the contest deadline arrives in one week (Monday October 5,2009), I will combine the list and www.random.org will choose a winner!!!

So get to commenting…I just can’t wait to read those stories!!!! Feel free to email me with any questions, but emails will not be entered into the contest…ONLY COMMENTS WILL BE ENTERED TO WIN!!

Happy Posting ~

LIZZY aka The Fisherbabe

I haven’t ever really interviewed anyone on my blog before. SO…you can imagine how excited I am that the first person to answer a few questions for this Fisherbabe is none other than Mr. Jason Sealock who is the Editor-In-Chief over at FLW Outdoors. I met Jason recently, and what a NICE GUY!! He was nice enough to send me a few of his amazing magazines to read. I was so impressed that I decided to review them right here on my blog immediately. Annnnnnd…since he is such a nice guy, he agreed to a little mini interview for all my readers!!!

I know…YAY RIGHT??????

So here we go…

The Fisherbabe (FB): Tell us about the magazine and its beginnings. How did this amazing publication come to be?

Jason Sealock (Jason): FLW Outdoors Magazine actually started as a newsletter called CAST in 1980. It was a membership newsletter for anglers fishing the Operation Bass circuit. From there the newsletter became Bass Fishing magazine in the early 90’s. In 2002, it became FLW Outdoors Magazine and was more geared towards teaching readers the tricks and techniques of the nation’s best anglers. In 2006, we split the magazine into three separate magazines – the Bass Edition, the Walleye Edition and the Saltwater Edition. Each magazine was wholly independent. Today we still produce the Bass Edition and the Walleye Edition.

We really try to get in the boat with the best anglers and learn the behind the scenes stuff that you don’t get from regular tournament reporting or even on television. We focus on very detailed aspects that can be expanded in the magazine and then applied to your own fisheries.

FB: How did you become the Editor-in-Chief of the magazine?

Jason: My path is an odd one. I actually graduated from college with a degree in Marketing/Business Management. I went to work in the Information Technology field. I freelanced on the side with an outdoors page for a local paper in Northwest Arkansas (The Morning News). I got to know the staff at FLW Outdoors pretty well through reporting on the tournaments. In 2004, I got a call asking if I wanted to switch careers and come to work full-time as a Public Relations Specialist and Associate Editor for FLW Outdoors.

We took the leap of faith and moved to Kentucky. I worked as associate editor until 2006 when I promoted to Photo Editor. In 2007, the previous editor left for another company, and I took over as editor-in-chief. I have the best young staff with so much talent. We have no preconceived notions on how a fishing magazine has to be made. And we pride ourselves on our hands-on knowledge of the sport, the products and the techniques.

FB: Tell us…what is the most exciting fishing memory you have?

Jason: It’s hard to pin it on one memory, but the most memorable experience that replays vividly in my mind was catching a 42-pound striper in Beaver Lake while bass fishing.

It was 1996. The lake was flooded in early spring, and I was slow rolling a spinnerbait over buck brush. I pulled my spinnerbait over a shallow bush and this huge mouth came out and swirled on the spinnerbait. For an instant, I thought I’d hooked the state record largemouth. The fish shot out towards the middle of the lake. I had a low-profile baitcaster with 12-pound line, and I started to see my spool. So I put the trolling motor on high and chased the fish down to get my line back.

After about 12 minutes, I landed the fish. It took two tries to get the fish in the boat because I needed two hands to grab its bottom jaw and pull it aboard. I remember her jaw felt like a suitcase handle at the time. At the end of the fight, I don’t know who was more worn out, the fish or me.

We shot pictures, and I was going to keep the fish to mount it, but I decided if there was a chance someone else could feel what I did, then I should let it go. So I babied the fish for about 10 minutes in the water until it swam off on its own. Got home to find out the camera didn’t have any film. But I have a witness, a scale, the measurements (44 ¼ inches long with the biggest gut I had ever seen on a fish) and of course the lasting memory.

FB: That is a super cool memory!! What is the best part of working at FLW Magazine?

Jason: The people are the best part of my job. I work with great folks, and I’ve met some great anglers and industry reps that I consider friends all over the country. The folks in the fishing industry are more like a big family than just your peers. And so many folks around fishing will help you, a total stranger, for no other reason than you share a common bond with them. I meet more down-to-earth, good-natured people around fishing than anything else I’ve ever done.

FB: Kinda like you helping me now…LOL!!! We met through twitter, and now you have a great blog that people can follow and be a part of. Are you a member of any other social networking sites? Tell me a little more about your blog and what my readers can expect to see on there.

Jason: I’m still a social-networking newbie, but I think I have a pretty good grasp on it. On Twitter (www.twitter.com/FLW_Magazine), it’s not about selling your products; it’s about connecting with people that share a common passion with you. No one gets on twitter to see what you have to sell. They get on there to be “connected” to people around things that interest them.

Likewise, our blog (http://flwmag.blogspot.com/) is very new. Our goal is to have a new blog every single day. The blog is geared towards more personal experiences with products, at great destinations, and with the top anglers in the sport. We get a lot of great inside information that readers will find here. We’ve started shooting videos and we have a YouTube page at www.youtube.com/flwmagazine. We’re even on FaceBook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/FLW-Outdoors-Magazine/119868703580.

FB: How lucky do you feel to be doing what you do every day?

Jason: I’m extremely lucky to be in this position. I joke with Charlie Evans (CEO) that they’ll have to run me out of here with a stick. I also know that thousands of people want to have my job, so it pushes me to keep improving and listen to what folks are asking for in the magazine. At the end of the day, you’ve got to make a magazine folks want to read.

FB: …And lastly, how lucky do you feel to be getting interviewed by The Fisherbabe…LOL????????

Jason: I’m very excited to share information with you. Like I said before, the people in and around this sport is what makes it so great. Fishing is a blast, and I still enjoy fishing by myself on occasion. I enjoy the sport more, however, with others.

See what a nice guy he is everyone…he even said he was excited to be sharing information with me!!!! Now about the magazine itself…I LOVED IT!!! The October issue is full of amazing and useful information on how to catch that Bass of a lifetime, and although I really was expecting “just another fishing magazine”, what I got was so much more!!

First of all, there are articles that are great for any fisherman or woman…regardless of the type of fish you prefer to catch. For example, in the August – September 2009 issue, there is a small article on “Capturing Photos Like A Pro” which I LOVED. How many pictures do you get where the tail fin is cut off. That is so disappointing after a great trip, and this article helps you fix the details like that. A great read for anyone who loves to fish…or just take GREAT pictures!!!

Another great little article in this issue is one that lists some of the superstitions of some of the best fishermen in the country. It is a super fun read, and who knew bananas could bring such bad luck!!!

The October 2009 cover (featured above) is one of my favorite covers of any fishing magazine that I have ever read. The photo itself is amazing, and reading the article about Greg Hackney was really, really entertaining. In fact, the October magazine is full of great articles and tips on how to catch more bass. I would definitely suggest you go out and get yourselves a copy ‘cuz there is just too much good stuff to talk about here on this blog post!!!

I hope you guys enjoy this post as much as I enjoyed writing it!!! Talking with Jason was informative and great. Needless to say, the professionalism and excitement that comes with FLW Outdoors Magazine has made me a fan for life!!

Happy Reading ~

LIZZY aka The Fisherbabe

P.S. Be sure to check out their main website at http://www.flwoutdoors.com/!! If you want to leave Jason and the others at FLW Outdoors a comment on their new blog, the address is http://www.flwmag.blogspot.com/!!

First of all, let me begin by saying that NOBODY told ME that fish sperm would be involved in our adventure. I mean, sure its the spawn…buuuuuut I guess I really didn’t think about what that might mean when my husband asked me back in July if I would like to go along for it this year. All I thought was, “Ohhhhhh hungry, hungry lake trout!!!”

Anyways…so about the third day, we drove our boat all the way over to Nodinka Narrows which was about a good 1 hour boat ride away on a good day. The wind had calmed considerably, and it looked like it was gonna be a fabulous day. I was SO excited by the prospect of catching a whopper. I could barely sit still.

So we get to the Narrows and we throw in our lines. As I am sure many of you already know, fishing for lakers involves a lot of trolling. So I let out my line, kicked back, and closed my eyes to wait for the big one. All was going good until…

Fisherbabe: Cody, I think I have one!!

Fisherhubby: Oh yeah…(reel reel reel)? Does it feel big?

FB: Yeah, actually, it feels pretty good. Its seems heavier and bigger than any I have felt before.

FH: Well just take your time. Keep it up and tight. Bring that baby in!!

FB: Ok…here it comes. Are you ready? You aren’t ready!! Get the damn net!! Get it in!! Get it in!!

FH: Calm down. Jeez I got it. This is a nice one Lizzy. Way to go. Lets measure it!!!

FB: How much?? How much??

FH: WOW nice one Lizzzzzzz : ) 18.5 POUNDS!!!

So that seems innocent enough…until I am holding that big fish up for the photo. This is what comes next…

FB: Hmmm…Cody something weird is going on.

FH: Whatcha mean (snap snap of the camera)? Hold it up higher.

FB: Something white is coming out of its…you know. I mean…isn’t that the poopy hole? Is that white poop? No its too thin for that. Cody, what is this stuff?

FH: HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

FB: What the hell is so funny…it’s running down my arm and leg, C. What the hell is this stuff. Ewwww…it got on my seat too!!! Hurry up with those damn pictures.

FH: HA HA HA HA HA HA HA…well Lizzzzz it is called “the spawn” for a reason!!

FB: What…I don’t…OMG NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO… Did this fish just jizz on me? Holy Shit…is that…is that SPERM. OMG OMG OMG OMG…Get it off me…take this fish…Get it off my seat..OH ewwww don’t touch my camera…its dripping off my hands…get me a damn towel…

FH: HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HAHA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HAHA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HAHA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HAHA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HAHA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HAHA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HAHA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA…

So yeah…I got spermed on by not one but THREE male fish during the trip. I also got egged on by TWO huge females. I felt like I was working in a damn hatchery…finally I just conceded to touching the stupid stuff and mixed it all together and threw it back in the lake…

There you go…my efforts at conservation…LOL ~

I am not sure I will ever get over my little fish molestation moment. If you look closely at this photo, here, you can see it dripping off my pinky…AND to top it all off…I think this damn fish had hemroids, too.

Dudes…can you say TRAUMATIZED? Gotta love fishing to throw your line back out after that!!

Happy Fishing ~

LIZZY aka The Fisherbabe

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Check out my site: www.fisherbabe.com

Picked up a pocket Dictionary the other day and I thought I’d share a few Definitions. Such as….

Fishing

1. n. The art of casting, trolling, jigging, or spinning while freezing, sweating, swatting or swearing.

Angler

1. n. One of two cold, wet, devious, and temperamental creatures of somewhat limited intelligence found at either end of a fishing line. See FISH

Fish

1. n. Remarkable aquatic animal typically weighing less than 10 pounds which, without gear, tackle, or equipment of any kind and using nothing more than hypnotic suggestion, can easily lure an angler as much as 50 times it’s size tens or even hundreds of miles into inhospitable terrain or unfamiliar waters and keep him there for hours with nothing more than a couple of false rises and a few practiced flicks of its tail.

Dusk

1. Brief twilight period that separates the time when fish don’t bite because they can see your line from the time when fish don’t bite because they can’t see your lure.

Strike

1. v. The thrilling moment when, with a quick rolling or lunging motion, an unseen finned quarry suddenly takes the hook of an angler fishing the spot you left five minutes ago.

This Dictionary is hilarious I found it sitting at the checkout counter at Boarders in the mall but this book can be found almost anywhere. Written by Henry Beard & Roy Mckie and published by Workman Publishing. Funny little book, you and your fishing buddies will love.