Hooked on Mustad!

ULTRAPOINT 4.3 delivers a 10.0 for Norwegian legend.

There’s nothing overly radical in the package.  Same plastic envelope, same green color we’ve grown accustomed too; and yet when you touch the point you’ll immediately notice the difference.  Sharpened via an all new Micro Sharp 4.3 technology that will have you thoroughly impressed at first touch, they’re purpose is solely to dominate the industry without bankrupting you.  What’s most impressive is the longevity of the point.  What’s the 4.3?  It’s a measurement that refers to the point length, which is designed to be 4.3 times the wire diameter of the hook.  The people at Mustad have determined this number to be the optimum ratio to achieve the highest level of strength and sharpness.  After a full day of dragging them across the rocks, ripping lips, and busting timber, the hooks will still provide the same degree of penetration and toughness you started with.

The KVD Grip Pin, a style designed for soft plastics, features a keeper near the eye to help the bait stay on and near the top.  This keeper is coated in black and forces the bait to stay where it should, eliminating the constant balling up that can impede hook sets and ruin your presentation.  By having bait that will run true cast after cast you reduce time spent by having to reposition your lure time and time again, which translates to having your bait in the water and in front of fish more often.  Not only that, but you’ll have the confidence that each fish that sees your bait is seeing it in the best presentation possible.  Thereby putting an end to that haunting question “Would the fish have bit had your worm or tube been properly places on the hook?”

Another product you finesse guys are gonna love is the No-Twist Shot drop shot hook.  It comes with a built-in swivel system that will eliminate line and hook twisting for good.  The swivel allows your bait to turn with the current, and so you won’t find knots in your line anymore after a couple hours of fishing in deeper water.  You also won’t find that your hook is starting to turn within your knot, or that you tied it upside down in a rush.  You’ll tie it to the line on the top, and tie a separate line for your weight on the bottom.  This is particularly helpful when trying to locate the range which the fish are responding to your bait in relation to the bottom by allowing you to have a longer tag-end to move your weight up or down until you find the perfect location, without having to constantly retie.

The price point for these hooks is great, they’re made from high quality materials, and they’ve been around for years.  If you haven’t used them before, or it’s just been a while, give them a try this year and you’ll be impressed with what you find.  

5 in the box with The Jc Bassmaster!

What does "Jc Bassmaster" stand for?  Is it like a Darth Vader alias?

HAHA.  It's a nickname a friend gave me.  I always wear a Johnson City Cardinals hat when I'm fishing (minor league baseball team), which also happens to be my hometown. 

So when you're not on the water you're more commonly known as __________ ?

Anton McKinney.

How did you manage to get into fishing?  Was it something you did as a child with a family member or did you find it later via some other avenue?

Its a funny story how I got into fishing. I had been a few times when I was younger, but I got serious about fishing a few years back.  I lost a job due to layoffs and took it pretty hard and a friend of mine told me to relax and go fishing--it will help. So he handed me his spinning rod and some tubes and I went to the lake. I caught a 3.5lb bass that day, and that's why I started fishing.

That bass I caught that day changed my life. It turned a negative into a positive.

 

Is it still relaxing if you're tournament fishing?

 

Anytime I'm on the water, if its a tournament or just for fun I'm relaxed and in a good mood.

 

Every day you have "The question of the day" on Facebook that tends to have a lot of great questions, and a large group of people who respond.  How did that come about?

 

It started when I asked a question about if you took the top anglers from B.A.S.S. and FLW who do you think would win. Then i started asking questions about different techniques and people really liked it and has been growing ever since.

 

Is there anyone that you look to as a teacher or that you can turn to for advice, tips, help with new lakes?

 

A lot of the stuff that I've learned from is online. Youtube is a great tool. I learned from the best, learned spinnerbaits and crankin from KVD, flippin and pitchin fron Denny Brauer. But I learn all the time from other anglers. I would like to fish with Ott and learn from him!

 

 

What's your favorite technique?

 

I would have to say crankin'.

 

What's your favorite lake?

 

I'd have to say Lake Boon, it's my home lake and I have more history there than anyplace else.

 

Least favorite?

 

I have two of them. Fort Patrick Henry simply because I don't think there is a single fish in it. The other would be South Holston Lake because I can catch them from 7am to noon after that I might as well pack up and go home (laughing).

 

Other than life as a Professional Angler, what is your "dream job"?

 

I would've loved to have played Professional Football or Basketball.

 

 

Ok JcB, time for five in the box!

 

 

 1.  What's it like on Sunday morning when you're not fishing?

If I'm not working I go to church then I go out to eat with my parents.  After that I spend time with my kids.

2.  Do you have any pretournament rituals or superstitions?

On the way to the lake I will listen to some music for about 10 minutes then I turn it down and give myself a pep talk and go over things in my head. Also I like my baitcasting reels a certain way on the boat.  I  used to wear the same pants but I can't wear them anymore because they have a hole in the back that got too big!  lol

3.  Where do you think your best finish will be in 2013, and where do you think you'll struggle the most?

We'll have to see.  There are a lot of good anglers around, but I think I'll do pretty well at Douglas or Cherokee.  I know I'll struggle the most on South Holston unless I can figure them out in the afternoon.

4.  What's the one body of water you would fish in 2013 if you had your choice?

Just one?!?!? That's a hard one, there's so many great lakes the produce big trophy fish but I would have to go with the BIG O (Lake Okeechobee).

5.  What's one thing that nobody knows about you?

I still watch Saturday morning cartoons with a bowl of cereal.  :)

Me too.  Good luck, buddy!