The hype during the weigh-in was amazing. The B.A.S.S. crew was amazed at the level of excitement and buzz created by the TroKar team.  Brent Chapman wound up finishing 5^th and securing his place as the current leader for Angler of the Year.  It could not have been a more exciting and fun tournament to sponsor!  Thanks to all of our pro anglers for giving us a shout on stage and sporting our logo’s proudly.  Keep your eyes peeled to ESPN and watch the full coverage of the 2012 TroKar Quest when it airs.

Brent Chapman

Skeet Reese

Gerald Swindle

Jeff Kriet

Skeet Reese seems to be back to his normal self after a rough season in 201l when Skeet did not qualify for the Bassmaster Classic. This year seems to be similar to his 2009 season where he won the Angler of the Year. Skeet placed 5^th at his first event of the year on St John River, Fl. His next event proved to be even better when he placed 3^rd on Lake Okeechobee, Fl. If these first two events say anything, it’s that Skeet should have an amazing race for the Angler of the Year.

Brent Chapman has had just an incredible start to the season. Brent ripped out of the starting gate by winning his first event of the year at the Central Open #1 on Lewisville Lake, TX. This win has set the pace for his season. Brent showed up to the Bassmaster Classic and took 18^th. After the Classic, Brent has been on a roll placing  4^th and 5^th  in the last two Elite Series events.

The season may still be young but Team TroKar hopes to continue to win and improve on their finishes. Lets wish all of the Lazer TroKar pros the best of luck in the upcoming events.

-Micheal Rel

The picture was taken in front of the pond owners building and then released back into the water.

ADAM HARRIS

It was a slow 1st of November day at the office and three of us were talking fishing in the shop area.   Nick and J.R. were talking smack about beating the old man in a tournament earlier in the summer.  I told them that if they thought they could repeat I had my boat hooked up and was heading out 1 more time to the Lake before putting the boat away. They were invited to a little Battle of Lake Erie Tournament.  The water temp was still in the low 50′s and the air temperature was in the 60′s, which was very unusual for the first of November in Erie PA.  After some prodding it was Game On!!!

I left work an hour before the two of them because if it was going to be two against one I should get a head start.  I started in the Bay put after 1 hour and no fish I headed out East towards New York.  The lake was a little rough for my 17 foot Triton but the chance to redeem myself from the earlier loss pushed me on.  After a 7 mile run I found fish in 35 foot of water.  I lost two and broke 1 off before landing a 3 lber.  We only had about three hours before dark so I had to catch fish fast.  I knew it would be gutsy but since I never had another hit for the next hour I decided to go another 5 miles to a spot almost in New York.  When I got there I was marking fish everywhere.  The first Drop with my Dropshot came back with a 4lb small-mouth.  It was Game On for sure.  Just like that the wind changed from the south east to the north east and the temperature dropped 15 degrees.  The bite stopped the fish disappeared and the waves went from two footers to four’s and five’s.  I decided to head back to the protection in the bay.

When I got to my first spot I found J.R. and Nick camped there.  They already had 1 fish in the box and I knew I needed to finish my limit.  J.R.’s boat is a 21 foot Pro Craft and a little better suited for the lake so I knew they were staying.  I got back to the channel leading to the Bay and decided to hit some of my summer deep spots and see if I couldn’t catch 2 more 15” fish to finish my limit.  Lake Erie in Pa has a 4 fish 15” limit.  I caught a 17 inch large-mouth on my first drop on my first spot.  I followed that up with a 15” BARELY legal large mouth on my last spot to finish my limit.

I got back to the ramp just in time the waves in the bay were now 3 footers.  I was getting a little worried because the boys didn’t get back until almost dark.  They were a little wet and cold, especially Nick he didn’t have a rain suit or a windshield to protect him.  J.R. and Nick finished with 3 smallmouth and a little over 8 lbs and I had a 4 fish mixed bag of almost 12 lbs.  I guess that makes me The Battle of Lake Erie Champion of 2011.  See ya next November boys!!!!!!

If Im Smillin I must be Fishin!!!!!!

I don’t Fish!! I Catch!!

But I still go Hunting!!

Ken

Brent put his trust in TroKar when in comes down to the wire. Sunday’s fish-off is one to go down in history. Brent set up a wacky rig using TroKar and  Tight Lines UV worm to catch the only fish in the fish-off. This 6lb 5oz fish pushed Brent for this his first win of the season.

Lets hope Brent continues to have a great season.

The following is a true story…

My name is TJ Shafer and I am the poster child for the weekend tournament fisherman. I have been fishing all of my life but just within the last two years have I really devoted my weekends to tournament fishing. The following is a story of one of those weekends that will always remain as a very special day in my life, and how Lazer Trokar Hooks played a huge part in it.

I had experience an extremely rough start to my 2011 tournament season. Signing up for the Bassmaster Weekend Series, East Texas Division had my adrenaline running in early as December of 2010. This was going to be the year that I gave it my all and fished hard all day long, never loosing a minute of focus. As I showed up for my first tournament I had received a phone call telling me that my link securing a spot to fish was a no-show and my hopes were that there would still be a spot for me. Those hopes quickly dies when I was told after the pairing meeting that I was not fishing. As I was driving home that night with boat in tow, it could have been easy to get down, or even upset at the situation, but the excitement of the next tournament a month away easily kept my feeling at bay.

The next tournament came along and as I sat in my boat ready for takeoff visions of my fishing heroes holding up their first place trophies wildly ran through my mind. I could not wait to get started. But this day of fishing proved only to be another enjoyable day of fishing with no trophy presentations featuring myself. Catching and weighing a few fish I could not help but think of the few fish that day that “got away”. I had always taken great pride in my tight knots inspecting the line after every few cast to check for nicks and frays in the line. Also knowing that when my 6’2″, 270 lb frame set the hook I used every ounce of energy and leverage to make sure that the hookset was solid and secure. But this day I had lost three fish. Could these three bites have made a difference? Could these three bites have been the difference in driving home empty handed and driving home with a First Place Trophy carefully secured with a seatbelt in the passenger side seat?

The third tournament rolled around and as I drove three hours to my next challenge again I was focused and ready to get a hook wet. But this time it was no ordinary hook that would be getting wet. I had armed myself with the new Lazer Trokar Hooks. I was bothered by my performance in my last tournament. I could not let the thought escape my mind that the three fish that escaped my grasp could have made the outcome of that tournament different. So I researched in my spare time reading articles, talking to people at the boat ramps, and even making a phone call to the one fishing pro I knew. All of my research led me to one product line… The Lazer Trokar Hooks. As I again anxiously waiting for the director to call my boat number for take off I began practicing in my mind the retrieve of each lure, the pressure of the bite, and the feared hookset. I was ready. As my number was called the boat took off with a mind of its own blazing a white-water trail to the first spot. The morning was slow, but then without any warning there was the light tap indicating that a fish was testing the lure. Without hesitation and without fear I violently threw the rod back setting the hook. This hookset felt like no other time before. Did I do something wrong? Oh, no… did I also botch this hookset? Wait, wait one second, the line took off bending the rod over almost double! I reeled carefully but aggressively making sure this fish knew he was in my grasp and finally getting him to the boat I noticed something, something that gave me great joy. This fish, my first keeper, was securely hooked through the roof of it’s mouth. He was mine all of the way. Could it have been a coincidence that the hookset felt so effortless and appeared to be inserted through the upper lip of this fish by the hand of God? I shook off these thoughts and focused on getting my second fish in the boat.

Throughout the day the fishing seemed slow and the fish were in no way aggressive. I carefully executed each cast placing the bait in key areas while with kid hands working the bait back to the boat. That day I managed to get 5 bites, and capitalized on each of those 5. I fished to the last second of that tournament day racing my boat back to the ramp for weigh in. I knew it had been a tough day for me, was it just as tough for others? Grabbing my weigh-in bag I carefully inserted each of my five fish into the bag knowing that one was a pretty good chunk. I walked up to the stage and waited for my turn to walk across and weigh my fish. Nerves built up as I glanced at the other anglers and their bags hoping that this might be a day for me to come home with a check… maybe even a trophy. I reflected about each of my 5 bites as my turn was nearing. I knew that the fish were not tearing the baits up. How did I manage to harvest each of those cautious bites? Then it hit me. I had been so focused on fishing I had not even thought about the new hooks. As I thought of each opportunity that each fish gave me that day I realized the impact these hooks had made. Would a hook that was made with less care and attention have worked as well? The calling of my name through the PA system interrupted my train of thought as I walked onto stage. I carefully placed my weigh-in bag on the scales. After a few brief seconds my weight appeared on the scale. I was in first place! Adrenaline rushed through my body as I lifted my biggest fish up for all to see. Walking down the stairs I understood that there were several anglers left, but I hoped my standing would hold.

What seemed like an eternity finally came to an end with the tournament director closing the scales. My name was called and I walked on stage and proudly received my trophy for first place. I had done it. I had achieved a dream. I had won a tournament. Driving home that day with the trophy securely strapped in the passenger seat with the seat belt I could not help but think about the bites I had that day. The fish were so careful, so cautious. What made the difference in securing those fish and loosing the ones the last tournament. I reached in a brown bag stowed in the back seat and pulled out a package of Lazer Trokar Hooks. I open the package and pulled one hook from it’s carefully positioned place. I felt of the hook. The solidness of it, the sharpness. I knew this is what made the difference.

I finished out the 2011 Tournament Season with one win and ending the season in the top 40 qualifying me for Regionals. Throughout the year I did not miss a single fish that bit a bait on a Lazer Trokar Hook. To this day, there are no other hooks in my box other than Lazer Trokar Hooks, and as far as I’m concerned, there never will be.

Team TroKar Captain TJ Shafer

       

After realizing that following the big craze, or following what everyone else was doing, always put me with the crowd, instead of in front of the crowd, I discovered that the key to becoming more successful was to trust my own instincts.  It seems the talk at weigh-ins, or the talk at the boat ramp, always consisted of what everyone else was throwing, how they were rigging their baits, what kind of presentation that they used and what color was hot. It is never what is working for you, but what you hear is working for everyone else.  Very few people that are fishing local tournaments want to share their secrets with everyone they are fishing with.  Just think how things would be different if Elias wasn’t on camera with the Alabama rig.  You better believe it wouldn’t have been tied on when he returned to the ramp, and the news would not have taken the fishing world by storm.  
        It is that kind of thinking that can put you ahead of the game.  It is being prepared that helps you make the right decisions, and gives you an advantage when everyone else starts on the same playing field.  This starts way before you hit the lake.  If you have ideas on variations of baits, have a game plan implemented before you hit the water.  Learn the lake, know which way the wind is blowing from, and keep notes of what is successful, when it was successful, and in what conditions it was successful.  It may seem unnecessary when you are out there, but when you are fishing a year later in those exact same condition, and you find in your notes some valuable information, you will be thankful.  
        Trokar hooks are one fine example, of how to be better prepared.  Switching out Trebles, or rigging your plastics with such a superior product, is the type of thing even the average angler can do to better your chances of landing the big one.  Use your imagination, look in the livewell, see what kind of things you find in there after the fish are out, and don’t be afraid to try new things.  If you become the one that everyone is trying to duplicate, then you are doing something right.  You are leading the pack, and then you can have fun misleading as you choose.  

-Team TroKar Captain Mike Jennings

Lazer TroKar is thrilled to announce the expansion of their pro staff, by adding Jeff Kriet.  He will join Skeet Reese, Shaw Grigsby, Brent Chapman, Gerald Swindle, Scott Martin, Jason Williamson, Jonathon Vandam and Rick Clunn representing Lazer TroKar hooks during the 2012 Bassmaster Elite season.

TroKar manufactures the only hooks in the world utilizing surgically sharpened technology. Introduced three years ago, these wickedly sharp hooks are sweeping the competitive bass market.

Jeff commented, “Even if I didn’t sign with Lazer TroKar I would use the hooks, they are AWESOME.”

“We can’t be any more excited to add Jeff to our Bassmaster Elite Series team, he has showed for many years how dominant he can be.” stated Matt Gray, Lazer TroKar hook product manager.

Jeff will be fishing all year on the Bassmaster Elite Series Tour.  He’s looking forward to winning again now that he’s using the sharpest fishhook the world has ever seen.

Look for Jeff on the water this year in Louisiana and hopefully on stage all week during the upcoming Bassmasters Classic.