James Niggemeyer – The Year is Underway

I just returned from the Bassmaster Classic and the whole world was watching as friend and competitor Randy Howell hoisted the Classic trophy overhead in dramatic last day heroics. Congratulations to Randy!  He will be a great ambassador for our sport.

The 2014 BASSMASTER Elite season is almost here.  I look forward to getting this year started for many reasons, however a lot has taken place since the beginning of the new year.  First, I am pleased to announce that I have joined the Ranger boats team.  This year on the Bassmaster Elite series, OPENS and in my guide service I will running a brand new Z520c!

In February I fished the first Bassmaster Central OPEN of 2014 on Lake Amistad.  It was one of the more challenging tournaments I have fished in a LONG time.  It was cold!  Highs in the 40’s with wind chills bringing the temps even lower and ice in the rod guides until the middle of the day.  Amistad was not showing her true colors at all!  The big bass the lake is known for weren’t anywhere to be found.  A couple showed up on tournament day and I understand that out of 160 plus pros only less then five pros caught a limit each day.

After Day one I was in 18th place and looking to move into the top 12 cut, however a couple of missed opportunities and I fell to 28th.  BASS paid the the top 40 and so I was able to take home a check from one of the coldest, toughest events in recent years.

The following week Kurt Dove, Mike McClelland, Jeff Kriet and myself put on the first Pro Bass Class!   www.probassclass.com is an on the water instructional.  We had eight participants from all over come to Del Rio for this “in depth”, “hands on” course to learn from full time Elite Series pros.  Over two days participants would fish with each pro to gain valuable experience on things like jerkbait fishing with Mike McClelland,  finesse with Jeff Kriet, off shore fishing with Kurt Dove and shallow power fishing with myself.

We held back to back classes and they were really well received.   We plan to announce shortly upcoming dates and lakes we’ll be conducting them on, so go to www.probassclass.com or follow my blog here at www.advancedangler.com.

That is it for now.  Thank you for taking time to read my blog and God Bless!