Chummin' Around

All over the place again. Hunting, fishing, photo shoots and grand openings . . . it's a crazy, busy world for me but lovin' every minute of it! Just wrapped up a photo shoot for Skeeter this week. Had beautiful weather, caught some fish and hung out with some of the coolest Skeeter Pros out there. In fact, I was fishing with Capt. Chad Manning again. Tomorrow's episode of AF just happens to be "Tampa Chums" from Tampa Bay with Capt. Chad. Had a blast fishing that episode. Caught snook, grouper and redfish in one day. Can't beat that! 

This week though, we were snapping photos and catching kingfish on a "floatilla" of about 6 brand new Skeeter boats. What a good lookin' group! Here's a shot of our early morning sunrise, getting ready to head out. Gorgeous!

This weekend I'm heading to Orlando to kick off the opening of another Dick's Sporting Goods store. Ya know that the holidays are right around the corner, right? What a great way to get ahead of the shopping madness than to come in, see me, get a coupon for $10, save on great "grand opening" deals and check some presents off that long list! Come see me on Saturday, the 25th from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. at the new store:  Fashion Square Mall 724 Herndon Avenue, Orlando, FL 32803

Here's another cool piece of news for y'all . . . AF sponsor, Star brite's CLO2 generator technology, is soon to be helping people, pets and livestock stay healthy near you. President and CEO Peter Dornau stated, "Performacide® is perfectly suited for use in outlying areas to help control viruses as well as to sanitize and disinfect."  I'm impressed and proud to be part of a team like Star brite! Read the entire press release here:  

Ocean Bio-Chem, Inc. To Donate Performacide® to Countries Facing Ebola Virus

Check out "Tampa Chums" tomorrow morning on The Sportsman Channel and then on Sunday tune in for "Keys Chronicle" where I'm fishing with the fine folks at Star brite. It's truly rod bendin' drag screamin' television this weekend! Check the website for times and replays. You can always catch AF on YouTube too! 

Until next week . . . tight lines,

Blair

That's a hawg!!

Have you ever been out on the water in fog so thick you can't see the bow of the boat from where you stand at the console? Well, that's how foggy it was the day we went out in Tampa Bay to shoot this episode. Our guest guide, Skeeter Pro Capt. Ryan Farner had his buddy "escort" us out to the spot because his big offshore boat had radar. It was a scene from "The Fog" really, eerily quiet and a little strange. I was excited though because I was about to do something new in a fishery I really don't know much about . . . hogfish on hook and line. I've only ever spearfished for hogfish in the Keys and off of reefs, this was Capt. Ryan's specialty and so here we go! I've got to say it was a great day, super cool looking fish and probably one of the tastiest I've had too. 

Tune in Sunday (October 12th) at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. and Friday at 2:00 a.m. on The Sportsman Channel to see "Hogs in the Fog." Set your DVR's if you can't tune in on time, or check back online, Mr. Producerman has the full length episode up on YouTube for y'all to watch! Click here for a preview. Isn't that just a cool lookin' fish? 

I just got back from opening a new Dick's Sporting Goods store in Savannah, GA and it was awesome to meet the folks up there. I was happy to see (for the 1st time on the shelves) the Mogan Maiden pink Sabalos reels . . . Yup, they're here!! They will make that Flats Pink rod look extra good. Check 'em out at Dick's y'all. 

Gotta make this week's blog quick . . . I'm getting ready to hunt and leaving early in the a.m. Have a great weekend!

Until next week . . . tight lines,
Blair

2014 Season on Sportsman Channel

Moving to the Sportsman Channel this week, so if you haven't been able to see the 2014 season of Addictive Fishing yet, here's your chance! Check all of your local listings for the Sportsman Channel and get ready for another season of rod bendin' drag screamin' television. We start on Sunday, October 5th at 10 a.m. with "Canaveral Slam." I'm fishing with Capt. Jim Ross right off of Cape Canaveral and hooking into cobia, triple tail and flounder. Great time on the water with one of my favorite captains. Don't miss episode #1 this week! Check out the AF website for replay details. 

I'm heading to Savannah, GA tomorrow to celebrate the opening of a new Dick's Sporting Goods store! Come out and spend some time with me after you get off work. I'll be there from 3 p.m. - 7 p.m. and can help ya pick out the perfect rod/reel combo, the right lures, line and everything you need to catch your next Mogan! They always have killer grand opening deals going on throughout the store, so no matter what you need get on in here! Make sure you stop by the Lodge at Dick's and say hello to me. 

After that, I think I'm going to take some time to do some hunting. Bow season is open and I'm in Georgia, so I need to get my hunt on! I spend so much time on the road, shooting shows and doing appearances that sometimes it's just nice to unplug, unwind and listen to the wind blow. Before long, I'll be back on the water shooting next season's episodes. If I'm not fishing, I like to be hunting. How many of you feel the same way? 

Our new Skeeter Boats will be here when I get back. They're on their way from Kilgore, TX and heading into Skeeter dealer, Central Marine in St. Petersburg, FL. Can't wait to pick 'em up. They're sweet fishing machines rigged with the top equipment in the industry. This year I've got a new Skeeter SX240 coming, but without the tower and another SX220 as well. Got Yamaha engines on the back, Minn Kota iPilot, Humminbird Onix and 360 imaging, Talons, Atlas Jackplates, and Engel coolers. New color schemes to keep things fresh on camera. Stay tuned, I'll have photos for you soon. Stay in touch with us. We love to hear from ya! Check out our Facebook page, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube channel. Got fishing questions, share your photos or just say hey! 

Until next week . . . tight lines,

Blair

That's a wrap!

Just shot the Season Finale of Addictive Fishing 2014! Had a great time last night shooting it, sitting around with the Mogan Music Boys, crew and a few of the 4-legged staff members. It was a tough season, one of the toughest we've had in the history of AF, but we made it through and we're not looking back. I think we put in all our dues to Mother Nature this season, so the 2015 season will be smooth sailing, right? Achem . . . right? 

I say it every year and mean it every time I say it, THANK YOU to our sponsors for supporting us, without them we couldn't bring you rod bendin' drag screamin' television like we do. I've just gotta call 'em all out too . . . thanks to:  Dick's Sporting Goods, Skeeter, Star Brite, Wright & McGill, Trokar, Minn Kota, Humminbird, Talon, DOA Lures, Mirrolure, FINS Braid, Seaguar, Engel Coolers, Altas Jackplates, Costa Del Mar Sunglasses, and Florida's Spacecoast. Proud to be part of such a fantastic team! 

THANK YOU to all of the Mogan Maniacs out there who continue to tune in whether it's on television or online . . . we appreciate you and look forward to having more fun in the future!

Speaking of 2015 season, we're heading out next week to start shooting in North Carolina. I'm going to be fishing with an old friend from my FLW Redfish / Kingfish days and can't wait. The reason we're up there in the first place is to kick off the week in Cary, NC at the grand opening of the new Field & Stream store. Field & Stream is a new specialty retail concept that'll be carrying all the best brands that hunters, anglers and outdoor enthusiasts could ever want/need. You've probably seen me this past season wearing those cool lookin' Field & Stream shirts in all the "Rig it Right" segments, well you can pick those up there too! Me and the AF crew will be celebrating the opening of its new store in Cary, NC on Sunday, September 7th from noon - 4 p.m. (Parkside Town Commons 1048 Parkside Main Street, Cary, NC 27519 - O'Kelly Chapel Road/Exit 66B)

Then we'll be heading South to North Myrtle Beach, SC on Saturday, September 13th to celebrate the opening of a new Dick's Sporting Goods store (Coastal North Town Center, 1536 Highway 17 North, N. Myrtle Bch, SC 29582). Me and the AF Crew will be there from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. and trust me . . . get in, get shopping and save big! There will be some sweet deals happening and you don't want to miss it.

Cheers to "that's a wrap" for the 2014 season, we're already fishin' for 2015! I'll keep you posted on new things to come.

Until next week . . . tight lines,
Blair

Tarpon, Grand Openings and the Carolinas

Where am I? Seriously, been traveling so much lately, I'm not really sure where I am or where I'm supposed to be? Thankfully my wife and/or the AF Crew just point me in the right direction and I'm fine and on time. Just got back from a trip to California with my wife to visit her folks. I'm heading to Coral Springs, FL on Friday for the Grand Opening of a new Dick's Sporting Goods store. Saturday I'll be in Lakeland for another Dick's Grand Opening. Then I'm heading to North Carolina and South Carolina in a couple of weeks, but 1st this week's episode takes me back to Tampa to catch some Tarpon! 

Come see me this Friday afternoon (August 22nd) at the newest Dick's Sporting Goods store in Coral Springs, FL. I'll be there from 3 p.m. - 7 p.m. helping you pick out all the fishing tackle you need to catch Mogans! Stock up and take advantage of the grand opening deals in the entire store. I've got some $10 off coupons too! Stop on by after school or when you get off work and get ready for the weekend.

Central Florida, I'll be in Lakeland at the newest Dick's Sporting Goods store on Saturday from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. (August 23rd). There's always a reason to head on into Dick's, especially during the Grand Opening weekend! Would love to see some familiar Mogan Maniacs and meet some new faces too! 

Check out this week's episode, "Camp Tarpon." We shot this episode in just a few hours with Capt. Chris Camps right off of Anna Maria Island in Tampa Bay. We've known Capt. Chris for years but have never been able to fish together or shoot an episode with him. Finally we get together and he put us on some Mogan tarpon. Had a blast and y'all have to check this out. Tune in tomorrow, Friday, August 22nd at 10:30 a.m. ET on Fox SunSports. Check the AF website for replay times on Sunday and Wednesday. 

Hey - I've got to get my suitcase unpacked, get some laundry done and get ready to hit the road again. I hope to get back on the water a little next week in between trips . . . need to get the level of saltwater in my blood back up to normal. I'm sure y'all know what that's like!

Until next week . . . tight lines,
Blair

Got More To Show Ya!

We're breaking out some footage you haven't seen yet this season! This stuff is the stuff Mr. Producerman can't fit into an episode, but it's good stuff, so he puts it all together in the "Bits and Bites" episode each year. This episode you'll see me hooking into snook, redfish and fishing with another "first" on AF. First time in 15 years of shooting Addictive Fishing Television we've had a lady angler on the show. And, what a better way to do it than with Engel Pro and model, Miss Darcie . . . she's fishing with the Flats Pink rod, rigged with FINS Pink Windtamer and decked out in Pink to catch her first Mogan Redfish, ever.  

You'll get to see some footage of me fishing with Capt. Ed Zyak from Jensen Beach that you didn't get to see from the "Baitbuster Bridge" episode too. Fishing with Ed is always fun. He knows the fishery, knows DOA Lures and knows all things Humminbird / Minn Kota too. Never a doubt that I learn something when I fish with this guy!

If you saw last week's "Baitbuster Bridge" episode then you saw the snook both Capt. Greg Snyder and I caught, but there was a lot more footage to be seen. We'll get to show you some more in this week's episode. Tune in tomorrow, Friday, August 15th at 10:30 a.m. ET on Fox SunSports for this week's episode "Bits and Bites." Check the AF website for replay times on Sunday and Wednesday.

Been traveling a bit again lately, this time I'm on the West Coast of the U.S. - California. My wife, Cari is from Orange County and we're back to visit family and go to her high school reunion. I've fished out here a few years ago for Calico and Vermilion Snapper and had a blast. 

Trying to get some fishing in this trip between Angels Baseball games, reunions and family, but not sure I'll get to it. No worries, I'll be back in March for a tradeshow and to do some fishing then . . . and I've seen a lot of Skeeters out here too. Besides, when I come home to Florida I'm back on the water immediately shooting episodes up in the Carolinas so a break out here in California is just fine with me. 

Until next week . . . tight lines,
Blair

Skunked!

Y'all ever have one of those dry spells on the water where the fish just aren't biting every time you go out? Maybe the wind's kicked up, the tide's too low, too much rain has made the saltwater too fresh, not enough rain has made the salinity level go sky high, moon phase was wrong time . . . you name it, it went wrong? Well, it feels like we've been proving ourselves to Mother Nature all season long and working extra hard for our dinner every shoot. We went out to shoot episodes more than a couple time this season and came home without a show. Here's one for ya, I had Bass Legend, Bill Dance on my boat again this year and the conditions and wind were so rough that we just couldn't put Bill through the abuse and called it an early shoot. We caught a shark and then went in for lunch and interviewed Bill about getting "Skunked". We didn't get enough footage for an entire episode, but still had fun. 

Also went out to fish one of the most incredible lakes in Florida, Lake X with Skeeter Pro, Chuck Pippin and it was supposed to be like fishing in a barrel. Nope! The bass had shut down because we were fishing on the wrong moon phase and not many of them wanted to "smile for the camera." Another trip that had the hopes of making an epic episode that never came to be. 

Went up to Destin for a week-long shoot, thinking we would come home with at least 2 episodes. Nope! The rain moved in just as we arrived and never stopped. Too much fresh water in the places we were fishing and our targeted species moved out. The complete opposite happened in Corpus Christi earlier in the year when we traveled out there to shoot an episode . . . not enough rain for weeks had caused too much evaporation and the salinity level was sky high. Our fish moved out to cleaner water. 

This week's episode is a look at all of those shoots. We had at least one fish from each shoot that Mr. Producerman could piece together into one episode. I explain to you at the beginning of each segment what challenge we were up against and what we did to try to make it happen. 

Yes, even on television we get "Skunked!" Tune in tomorrow, Friday, August 1st at 10:30 a.m. ET on Fox SunSports. Check the AF website for replay times on Sunday and Wednesday. 

Until next week . . . tight lines,
Blair

Takin' me to camp!

Just back from ICAST last week, off to Jensen Beach to shoot some episodes this week, and then we're opening up some more Dick's Sporting Goods stores in Florida soon . . . this train keeps on movin'!

ICAST was probably the best one I've been to yet! There were a lot of new vendors, they added a new "Fly" division to the show and seeing all of my sponsors under one roof debut new product was just plain fun. Here's a just a few of some of the "Best of Show" winners from our team:

Humminbird ONIX with Best of Electronics

Minn Kota Ulterra with Best of Boating Accessories 

Engel with Best of Tackle Management Products for its Cooler Dry Box with Rod Holders

Trokar with Best of Terminal Tackle for its new TK619

Addictive Fishing is proud to be part of such a winning team!! I can't wait to put all these new products to use. We are now down in Jensen Beach filming shows with Capt. Greg Snyder and Capt. Ed Zyak this week. Just went out with Capt. Greg yesterday and got my personal best snook, ever - 45 inches! Producerman may have to go back and check the footage to make sure I won't need a "bleep" when I first hooked into this beast. LOL! Here's a photo of me with Capt. Greg's 42 incher. Guess you could say it was a good day. Can't wait to show y'all this episode. 

Speaking of great episodes . . . we just shot this week's episode a couple of weeks ago and it airs tomorrow - "Camp Tarpon." Shot this one in just a few hours with Capt. Chris Camps right off of Anna Maria Island. We've known Capt. Chris for years and we were excited about finally getting to shoot an episode with him, but even happier after he put us on some Mogan tarpon. Had a blast and y'all have to check this out. Tune in tomorrow, Friday July 25th at 10:30 a.m. ET on Fox SunSports. Check the AF website for replay times on Sunday and Wednesday. 

I'll keep you posted on what we're doing next and where we'll be for the next Dick's Grand Opening. 

Until next week . . . tight lines,

Blair

It's that time of year . . .

Me and the AF Crew are heading to Orlando next week . . . getting ready right now for one of the biggest fishing industry events of the year, ICAST. All week, manufacturers, vendors, Television Networks, and fishing legends walk the tradeshow floors to buy, sell and plan for the next fishing season. It's a fisherman's candy store I tell ya and it's hard for me to concentrate on stuff. Ha! Something always catches my eye, each of my sponsors' booths are filled with the newest products, gadgets and doohickeys, and it's all I can do to not sneak out and go fishing with them. Plus, it's amazing how many of my fishing heroes I get to meet and see. Should be an interesting week. To kick off the start of the week, I'm taking the McGills (of Wright & McGill) out fishing. They're making the trip from Colorado for ICAST and it's my pleasure to show them a little of the saltwater world before we all have to suit up and work for the week. Hope to have some photos and a nice update for you next time. 

My schedule at the convention is usually a little crazy and all over the place, but I do know a couple of locked down times and booths where I'll be. So if you're at the show this year, and you want to stop by to say "hey," come see me on Wednesday at the W&M/EagleClaw/Trokar booth from 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. and in the same booth on Thursday from 2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. After that on Thursday, I'll be in the Engel Coolers booth at 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. They're testing out their coolers to show you firsthand how good they really work. When they load in on Tuesday, Engel is filling a couple of coolers with ice and beer, not touching them again until Thursday at 4 p.m. I will be ready for an "Engel cold" beer by 4 p.m. on Thursday . . . stop by for one too! 

I'm going to miss next week's blog because I'll be at ICAST, so stay tuned for reports and updates on Facebook and the following week in my blog. Gotta go meet with all my wonderful sponsors to see what's new for next year and how soon can we put it on TV. Can't wait!

Tune in tomorrow for this week's episode . . . "Lyin' Hawaiian." I'm fishing with Capt. Tony DelosSantos in the backcountry waters of Key Largo. Had a great time catching snook and redfish, and finally getting to fish with Tony. Watch tomorrow, Friday July 11th at 10:30 a.m. ET on Fox SunSports. Check the AF website for replay times on Sunday and Wednesday.

Until next week . . . tight lines,
Blair

Fishing for the 4th?

Mr. Producerman and our new editor Sam were over at the music studios today making soundtracks for upcoming episodes when Mr. Producerman had an idea for the Mogan Music guys to play the Star Spangled Banner in honor of our great country's birthday coming up. So . . . here's a 15 second Instagram video. <<Click Here>>

We spent a week on the Emerald Coast this past April and although it may have been one of the toughest shoots we've had in our 15 years due to the weather, we still were able to get out and fish and get an episode for you with Skeeter Pro and Captain, Pat Dineen. I love fishing those emerald waters, the people up there are some of my favorite folks to fish with and the hospitality is awesome. We'll definitely be back to do it again next season! Um, can we get some better weather for next time please?! Tune in this week to "Panhandle Permit" (Friday, June 6th at 10:30 a.m. ET on Fox SunSports). Check the AF website for replay times on Sunday and Wednesday.

This past week was a busy one for us. I was over in Tampa shooting some cool stuff for the new Star Tron "Enzo" commercial spot. Y'all have seen the killer spot my producer put together with that nice vintage truck and 3D animation, right? Well, Star Tron liked it so much they asked for the same kind of spot but with a boat this time. So, we shot that in the middle of the week. 

We also shot some stuff for a special episode coming up. It's definitely been a tough season for us with the weather and this special episode tells you all about it. After we wrapped shooting, I headed home to prefish for an upcoming episode shoot off of Cape Canaveral and then at Dick's in Clermont, FL to kick off another grand opening of a new store. Had a great time meeting some new folks and getting up on the bass tank outside to share some fishing tips. 

I'm ready for a quick break over the 4th Holiday and then we're back at it. Hope y'all have a great weekend. Be safe on the water and shooting off all your fireworks. Whatever you do over the weekend - have fun! (Thanks to our Eagle Claw sponsor for this awesome flag image. One of my favorite.)

Until next week . . . tight lines,
Blair