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Last Stop on the Mogan Tour for 2013

We're heading to Kendall, FL this weekend for the last stop on the Mogan Tour for 2013. Me, my wife Cari, Mr. Producerman and Trice will be at the Dick's Sporting Goods store in The Palms at Town & Country in Miami. You've only got a few days left to pick out that perfect Christmas gift and we're heading down there on Saturday to help y'all pick it out! We'll be there Saturday (Dec. 21st) from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., so stop on in and shop with us!

I had a great time last weekend in Jacksonville and Daytona helping Dick's Sporting Goods shoppers with fishing questions and presents. Seems like the hot seller this season is the Flats Pink rod. Fishermen who want to get their wives, girlfriends, Moms, sisters, or daughters into fishing know this might just do the trick. A fishing rod made just for her! Not a bad idea for that last minute gift . . . I just don't think it'll make a great stocking stuffer, you'll have to get creative when wrapping it.

After this last stop in 2013 on the Mogan Tour, all of us at AF are going to enjoy the down time, spend time with our families, travel a bit for fun, go hunting and get recharged and ready to head back out on the water. We'll get ready to start shooting 2014 episodes, spend some time in our new Skeeter boats and figure out what new Dick's Sporting Goods stores we're going to. 2014 will be another fun season of fishing and talking fish stories for sure.

If you're not in Miami or can't make it out to see us on Saturday, then you can still get your dose of Addictive Fishing . . . don't miss this week's episodes: Sails and Sam, Part 2 at 10 a.m. on Sunday where I'm fishing with Sam Heaton from Johnson Outdoors and we're catching bonito, cobia and sailfish. Then on Monday at 9 a.m. and Tuesday at 2:30 a.m. you can catch me fishing in Southern California off of Catalina Island for calico bass, that trip was a first for me and a great time. Make sure you tune in to the Sportsman Channel to watch Sails & Sam, Part 2 and Catalina Blue!

Until next week . . . tight lines,

Blair

Giving Thanks, Black Friday and Triple Play

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us on the Addictive Fishing Crew! We have so many things to be thankful for, but most of all we are thankful for you Mogan Maniacs. A special Thank You goes out to this Country's service men and women and their families on this holiday. Some of them don't get to spend Thanksgiving together, and we want you to know we appreciate you and your service.

I'm going to be celebrating Thanksgiving with my family, but don't have too long to nap after that turkey dinner . . . me, my wife Cari, AF Producerman and Trice are all going to experience Black Friday for the very first time. That's right, I said it . . . we're going to be at 3 Dick's Sporting Goods stores this Friday and Saturday as your very own "Personal Shoppers." Keep your eyes peeled for the 2 AF elves in Flats Pink Santa hats. Ha!

We'll be at the Clearwater, Florida store on Friday morning from 9:00 a.m. - Noon and then heading to the Brandon, Florida store from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. On Saturday, we're heading closer to my neck of the woods and will be at the Melbourne, FL store from 9:00 a.m. - Noon. I know there are some of you that just live for the excitement on Black Friday. Me? I have never experienced it, but looking forward to helping you shop for that perfect fishing Christmas gift. So, come out early and get in on the huge tackle savings at DICK'S.

That's it for now. I've got to go help Cari put the leaf in the table and get ready for that turkey. Don't forget to watch Triple Play this Sunday on the Sportsman Channel at 10 a.m. (ET) and watch Airheads on Monday at 9:00 a.m. (ET). Two episodes in the same Thanksgiving weekend - gotta love it!

Until next week . . . tight lines,

Blair

Big Reds, Blue Marbles and Campin' out

This week, I've got another story for ya from our trip to Corpus Christi, Texas. Saturday we were there at DICK'S and a woman was looking for a new tackle set up. She was tired of the bull reds breaking her rods at the Pier. I showed her the strength of the Flats Blue rod, did my very own rod demo for her and she walked out to go fishing "cautiously optimistic". We got back into DICK'S on Sunday morning, and the Lodge Manager there hands me a note with a photo on his phone. The photo was this woman I had sold the rod to the day before, holding a 40 3/4" bull red. Here's the note she left at the store before I got there. Love stories like this . . . they make what I do even better!

A couple of weekends ago I got to experience something awesome. I got to see a hard-working awesome young man become an Eagle Scout. I met Kenny years ago as a kid and he's grown up to be a fine young man. Kenny DiBiase of Scout Troop 101 in Sanibel, FL received his Eagle Scout badge on November 9th and I was there to see it, and to present him with the Blue Marble (from the Blue Marbles Project) for his outstanding environmental achievement.

Kenny developed a program called Protect Our Waters because of his lifelong love of his home waters in Sanibel, and fishing, combined with is desire to help others and protect our fragile environment. We have a lot in common, but I sure learned a lot from him. This 17 year old sure has a bright future. Nice work with the Protect Our Waters program Kenny and keep it up!

Last weekend I came over to see some old friends, meet new fans and camp out for a night at Ft. DeSoto Park in St. Petersburg, Florida. We had a little get together called - Mogan Maniac West Coast Campout. It was a lot of fun catching fish, cutting up and telling stories around the campfire.

There was a little camper there, her name was Lexi and she lit the place up! What a doll. She is only 2 1/2 years old, but could hold a conversation with ya like she was 7. She knew my name when I walked up and put a big smile on my face.

Thanks to everyone who joined us. A big shout out to Jody from Minnesota who drove his big rig down to meet me. His dad's a big fan, but for health reasons couldn't make it to see us. Lounge Member Rich Leber took Jody out on his boat and hooked him into his first cobia. He'll never forget it and we'll never forget how much fun it is to reminisce with our fans that have been around for so very long. Thank you!

I think I'm staying put for . . . oh, wait . . . nope, I'm heading back to Tampa Bay to shoot an episode on the water with Skeeter Pro, Capt. Chad Manning. Then off to the woods for some hunting and then I'm home for Turkey Day. Hope I wake up from that big meal because I'll be in 2 Dick's Sporting Goods stores on Black Friday to help y'all pick out the perfect Christmas fishing gift. That's right, I will be in Clearwater and in Brandon at DICK'S on Black Friday. I'll let you know which store at what time later, but if you're one of those shoppers that makes it out the day after Thanksgiving . . . I'll be there as your personal shopper with a big tackle sale!

Until next week . . . tight lines,

Blair

Drum Solo

We're drummin’ on the West Coast this week with Capt. Billy Henderson. I had so much fun shooting this episode because Billy's one of my favorite people to fish with and Crystal River, Florida is such a beautiful fishery. Capt. Billy made his very first television debut on Addictive Fishing years ago when we just begun shooting the show. It's been so many years ago that I can't remember how we actually met? Billy, help me out here! Well, anywho, he called me up and said, “You’ve got to get up here, we’re catching

some big, fat black drum and it'll make for a great show.” So I called up Mr. Producerman and booked the shoot. We had fun, got some pretty cool lookin’ black drum to show you, and it was definitely good to catch up with Capt. Billy Henderson. Check out this week’s episode “Crystal Drum” on the Sportsman Channel, Monday at 9 a.m. (ET), Tuesday at 10:30 p.m. (PT) and Sunday at 10 a.m. (ET).

We just got done shooting our first episode for the 2014 season over in Cape Canaveral, and let me tell ya, it was nice to be back home on the Space Coast after being on the road for over a month. We gotterdun with Capt. Jim Ross. I got to get our Skeeter XS240 wet, fill up the live wells and put some fish slime on the deck. I'd say she's a fishin' machine for sure! Can't wait to see what Mr. Producerman does with this footage, but I'm sure it'll be good.

I'm enjoying the "throwback" photos on Facebook lately. The only thing I don't like is this getting older stuff. This one's from Mogan Mania in 2010 . . . it just doesn't seem like three years ago, feels like just yesterday. Time flies I guess, when you're having so much fun. Here's one of our dear friend and writer, Mark Bellotte (aka "Billbird"). He was a great fisherman, fun to be around and always knew how to put our crazy stories into a well written article. He is missed.

I'm heading out to Texas to shoot a couple of episodes. We'll also be out there for the grand opening of a new Dick's Sporting Goods store in Corpus Christi. Come out and see me and the AF crew on Saturday, November 2nd and Sunday, November 3rd from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. both days. There'll be a lot of grand opening deals to be had, pick up a $10 off coupon from us and check out the new store at The Shops at La Palmera on South Staples Street. Hope to see y'all there!

Until next time . . . 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

That's all folks!

This week the Season Finale airs and what a great time we had filming it with LIVE music from the Mogan Music Boys, Bill Ehrsam and Jerry Outlaw, our entire crew and even the dogs. Can't beat your very own private concert with these guys! Had a challenging season on the water with Mother Nature, but we had a blast, gotterdun and another year of AF is in the history books.

Check out this week's episode for y'alls favorite segment too, the bloopers!

If you haven't been to addictivefishing.com in a while, make sure you visit and check out the STORE page. Check online at YouTube.com/AFTV for all the episodes and then for all of you who don't get Fox SunSports, make sure you tune into The Sportsman Channel starting next month! Stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and keep an eye out for photo contests and prize paks coming up too.

Tune in this week to the "Season Finale" episode of AF's 15th season. Good fish, good fun, great friends and you don't want to miss this week's episode. Tune in tomorrow, Friday, September 19th at 10:30 a.m. ET on Fox SunSports for this week's episode "Season Finale." Check the AF website for replay times on Sunday and Wednesday.

It's not goodbye y'all, it's we'll see ya on the Sportsman Channel!

Until next week . . . Tight lines,

Blair

Redfishosaurus Rex

Field & Stream in Cary, North Carolina, fishing in Oriental, NC, and then to Dick's Sporting Goods in N. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina . . . it's been a busy week for me and the AF Crew, but what a fun week it's been!

Last weekend we celebrated the grand opening of the new Field & Stream store in Cary, NC. What a beautiful store! I could spend a lot of time and money if there were one closer to me at home in Florida. My wife Cari is probably happy there isn't one there, yet! Thanks to everyone who came out to see us and a special thanks to Durham Bulls mascot, Wool E. Bull. I think he'll be real happy fishing with his new Flats Blue rod.

We then headed on to Oriental, NC to shoot an episode. We stayed at the Oriental Marina and Inn, great place and some really nice fishing. Took the crew out fun fishing today and my new producer, Sam Tilly hooked into what he calls a "Redfishosaurus Rex." We get to show you some of these big red drum in the episode we shot from here. Can't wait!

Next stop, I'm off to N. Myrtle Beach, SC to celebrate the newest Dick's Sporting Good Store. I'll be there on Saturday the 13th from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.. Stop by and stock up! If you're not in the Carolinas, the Orlando Boat Show is happening this weekend. Stop by the Skeeter booth to check out the ZX225 and ZX250 bass boats making their first debut. Skeeter's also running a cool new promo . . . save up to $3,000 on your next purchase! Can't beat that.

Tune in this week to "Bits and Bites" episode . . . we get to show you some extra footage you didn't get to see this season. Good fish, good fun and you don't want to miss this week's episode. Tune in tomorrow, Friday, September 13th 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.

I think I might get to fit in just a little more fishing before I have to pack the boat, my gear and truck up for N. Myrtle Beach!

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

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

Snook-squatch!

What's bigger than Snookzilla? Snook-squatch! Went fishing with Capt. Greg Snyder just a couple of weeks ago in Jensen Beach and caught my biggest snook of my life. I get to show you in this week's episode and I can't wait! Here's the scoop, we went down to Jensen Beach and tried to film a couple of episodes with Capt. Greg Snyder and Capt. Ed Zyak. Went out with Capt. Greg first day and had a rough start to the day. It was hot, nothing big biting, we had to outrun some storms and almost called it quits late in the afternoon. So we hid under the 10 cent bridge and s we were casting for the 400th time, I hooked into something huge and lost it. My stomach sank . . . but I knew they were here! Then Greg casts and hooks into something that feels pretty decent and pulls in a sweet 42 inch snook. Now, I'm happy for him an all . . . after all it was his birthday, but I'm feeling a little left out, right?

So, I'm casting, and casting, I'm throwing a deep diving DOA Baitbuster by the bridge, I'm actually doing a "tip" for the camera on using the baitbuster when all of a sudden I feel a thump . . . it felt like a good fish, but when I got the first look at it I think I may have freaked out a bit! It was a beast! Both Greg and me had to hold on to her at first when we got her to the boat. Once I was sure I had a hold, I told Greg to let go. I got her into the boat and measured her on the boat. I got my personal best snook, ever that day - 48 inches! Happy Birthday Greg and an early Happy Birthday to me too I guess, my birthday was only 4 days away. Can't wait to show y'all this episode.

I was just over at the MPI Studios yesterday shooting some stuff for our upcoming "Bits and Bites" episode and got to get a quick sneak peak of the segment where I'm fighting that big snook. Got my heart pumping and my knees shaking again. Wait until you see how much my 7'6" Flats Blue rod is bent over fighting that 48 inch Snook-squatch! If you've ever wanted to know if those rods have the backbone needed to catch big fish - you'll get to see it in action with your own eyes on this episode.

The second day we went out with Capt. Ed Zyak and the conditions had changed, completely different than the day before. Capt. Ed was also just back from a 10 day road trip out in Texas for DOA Lures and this was his first day back on the water. We had a great day tooling around in my Skeeter SX240 and playing with all the gadgets (especially since Capt. Ed's also a Pro for Humminbird - I always learn something new from him), but the fish just weren't biting. That's all right, we'll be back to Jensen Beach, River Palm Cottages and will be visiting those snook again soon.

Tune in tomorrow, Friday, August 8th at 10:30 a.m. ET on Fox SunSports for this week's episode "Baitbuster Bridge." Check the AF website for replay times on Sunday and Wednesday.

Until next week . . . tight lines,

Blair

Going Glades

This photo's not technically a "flashback" since we just shot it a couple of weeks ago, and I've already shared it on Facebook. But I've got to say how much I love catching snook and this one was caught the night before a shoot we had down in South Florida with my long time cameraman George. Sweet little backwater snook!

Gotta make this week's update short . . . we're heading out on the water to shoot another episode, and sticking close to home while getting all my gear and my boat ready has gotten me a little stir crazy. I think I better do some fishin' before we go fishin'!

I'm also getting ready to head to another Dick's Sporting Goods store grand opening. If y'all haven't been out to one yet, they're a lot of fun and you can really load up on some great deals! I'll be in Clermont, Florida next weekend (on Saturday, June 28th from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.) at the newest store at the Sandhills Commons. Stop by to say "hey" and I'll help ya pick out a new Flats Blue or Flats Pink rod, some killer Mirrolure topwater plugs, DOA Lures and rig it all up with the right Seaguar leader and FINS braid.

Tune in to this week's episode "Going Glades" (Friday, June 20th at 10:30 a.m. ET on Fox SunSports). I'm fishing the Everglades again with my good friend Capt. Gary Thompson. Y'all might remember a show we did in 2007 ("Tarpon Time") with Capt. Gary. I was battling big tarpon in the mosquito canals down there, and this year we went back for more, but did something a little different. I'm fishing for redfish and snook on this episode and we had a blast.