NEWS &
NOTES
WaDe bOurNe
1947-2016
Well-known Tennessee outdoor writer, radio celebrity and television show
host Wade Bourne suffered a fatal heart attack Dec. 15 while cutting a cedar
Christmas tree near his home in Clarksville. Bourne, who was 69 at the time
of his death, was an Air Force veteran who served in the Vietnam War, and
later became one of the most respected communicators in the outdoor
industry. He wrote regularly for several hunting and fishing magazines and
hosted Ducks Unlimited TV and the Wired2Fish/Hunt radio show.
The quality of his work and contribu-
tions to the outdoor community are
reflected in the many writing awards and
honors he received. He was an inductee of
the Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame
and the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall
of Fame, as well as a recipient of the
Southeastern Outdoor Press Association’s
Lifetime Achievement Award and the
Homer Circle Fishing Communicator
Award from the Professional Outdoor
Media Association.
Bourne is survived by his wife, Becky;
a son and daughter, Hampton and Haley;
a brother, Joe; three nieces; and a great
niece and nephew.
yeTI becomes
College Fishing
Title Sponsor
FLW and YETI recently inked a
multi-year sponsorship agreement
that makes the premium cooler and
drinkware brand the title sponsor of
FLW College Fishing.
“As the interest and popularity of
College Fishing continue to grow,
we’re excited to start our partnership
with YETI, a brand known for its cre-
ativity and innovation,” says Trish
Blake, FLW president of marketing.
“We’re extremely proud to be the
official sponsor of the FLW College
Fishing series,” adds Corey Maynard,
vice president of marketing at YETI.
“YETI is dedicated to the expansion
and progression of tournament fish-
ing, and we look forward to multiple
years on the water with collegiate
anglers.”
FLW PRO CODY MEYER CATCHES POSSIBLE WORLD RECORD SPOTTED BASS
16
E
California pro Cody Meyer might have fished his way into the record
books back in mid-December. While fishing Bullards Bar Reservoir in
northern California with FLW co-angler JR Wright, Meyer landed a mam-
moth spotted bass. Well aware that the fish might be a record, Meyer was
able to contact Tim Little, a conservation officer with the California
Department of Fish and Wildlife and the current International Game Fish
Association (IGFA) spotted bass world record holder, who drove several
hours to the lake with a certified scale. Little weighed the fish, which reg-
istered an impressive 10.8 pounds, surpassing his own record weight of
10 pounds, 6 ounces. The anglers documented the process of weighing
the fish on video and submitted the information to the IGFA. Meyer’s pos-
sible record is now under review and pending the organization’s approval.
According to a press release issued by Strike King, which is one of
Meyer’s sponsors, he caught the fish on a wacky-rigged Strike King Ocho
in the KVD magic color. The fish was suspended about 20 feet down over
100 feet of water. He was using 15-pound-test Seaguar Smackdown braid
and a 6-pound-test Seaguar Tatsu leader.
Bullards Bar is one of several trophy spotted bass reservoirs in north-
ern California where multiple world-record-class fish have been landed in
recent years in what has become an annual quest to break the record.
During this particular outing, Meyer and Wright’s best five fish totaled
more than 40 pounds.
FLWFISHING.COM I February-MarCH 2017