Mike McClelland might feel a pang of regret for not winning the 2008 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year crown, the sport's most coveted title, but he's not kicking himself over it.

He wouldn't have any reason to, not with the Bassmaster Elite Series season he's had. Read More

Mike McClelland heats up the 2008 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year race as the series looks to its final stretch of tournaments. With the eye-catching bright green and black wrap of his latest sponsor, Tahoe Smokeless, Mike finished 4th in the Bluegrass Brawl in Gilbertsville, KY and finds himself in the hunt for the AOY.

Hoping to keep his momentum, Mike will once again be in the green and black of Tahoe Smokeless in the Tennessee Triumph which runs June 26 – 29th at Old Hickory Lake in Hendersonville, TN. Speaking about his new sponsor, Mike says "I am very excited about teaming up with Tahoe Smokeless again and I am looking forward to keeping the momentum going in my quest for the AOY title. This sponsorship opportunity is very unique and will hopefully open the doors for other anglers to obtain similar types of sponsorship deals."

Currently in 3rd place for the AOY title, there are three tournaments left and Mike has every intention of knocking the leaders out of the hot seat.

Tahoe Smokeless is manufactured by Rock Bridge Tobacco Corp. in Keysville, VA. While new to the smokeless market, they have a strong history in the tobacco industry and choose only the finest American tobacco for all of their products. Steven Bailey, President, acknowledges that “Mike had an outstanding performance at Kentucky Lake and we are thrilled to be able to partner with him again at Old Hickory.  I am an avid bass fisherman myself so the opportunity to be associated with Mike during his quest for AOY is very exciting for me. It’s the perfect fit…Mike, one of America’s best anglers, wearing the colors of Tahoe Smokeless, America’s best tasting snuff.”

BASS

"I did what I like to do (throw a jig on deep structure), and I feel fortunate that I ended up where I did," he said. "Every day I went out shooting for a 20-pound bag, and today went more according to plan than the last 2 days.

"I spent too much time on two or three particular ledges (on days 2 and 3) when I should have moved. Today I caught some in places I hadn't been to."

He went through about 25 keepers, but didn't have a limit until 11:30. He eventually culled four times in the afternoon.

"My best fish was a 5-01, and I had four other good ones."  Read More