“There’s no doubt my Stay-N-Charge system will be assisting me throughout the Bassmaster Classic, just as it has during the entire 2009 B.A.S.S. Elite Series!” insists Mark Menendez.

Listening to Menendez elaborate further as to his Bassmaster Classic preparation and strategy for Alabama’s Lay Lake, it was obvious this Skeeter/Yamaha Pro was operating at peak performance! ( www.SkeeterBoats.com

Landing his third B.A.S.S. victory on Arkansas’s Lake Dardanelle in March of 2009, and following that up with his 2nd Place finish in April on Alabama’s Lake Wheeler, Mark Menendez’s 2009 Bassmaster Elite Series performance qualified him for his fifth trip to the prestigious Bassmaster Classic. www.Bassmaster.com

Come February 2010 on Lay Lake in Alabama, Mark Menendez will be ‘Fully Charged and Stay-N-Charged’, with all the right ‘Power Tackle’ as he competes in the 40th B.A.S.S. Bassmaster Classic, on Alabama’s Lay Lake! At stake for this forty-five year old Pro Angler, the coveted Bassmaster Classic Championship Crown!

 After just missing out on qualifying for the 2009 Classic on Louisiana’s Red River last year, this Kentucky Gentleman has been a continued threat to win every event he has entered in 2009!

“The last thing any angler wants is equipment or mechanical problems, especially during the World Championship,” says Menendez. Throughout the 2009 Elite Series season Mark Menendez’s methodical pre-tournament preparation allowed the likeable Paducah, Kentucky Pro to stay one step ahead of his fellow competitors.

Rick Clunn more than any other angler in the history of professional bass competition highlighted the importance of mental preparation. Mark Menendez has taken his advice to heart……… the heart of his equipment power source that is!

“The power source for smooth continued mechanical performance lies within my 4 Opitma Blue Top Batteries.  www.Optimabatteries.com  They are the heartbeat of every mechanical electrical component wired within my Skeeter XS 20, as well as my Yamaha 250 V Max 4-Stroke SHO.”

Pausing for a moment Menendez continued, ”Which by the way is the most “Completely Green” environmentally friendly advanced 4-Stroke outboard power house on the planet!”  www.Yamaha.com

How an angler avoids or handles these situations mentally depends upon the individual angler!

For Mark Menendez the word is ‘Confidence’!

“Confidence is imperative to success! The simple addition of a Stay-N-Charge system on my Skeeter/Yamaha Power Tackle-Strike King wrapped rig, allowed me the ability to fish longer and harder, knowing that at ‘ALL TIMES’ my batteries were at peak power or a mere 10 minute ride on the water and they were at peak power and fully charged!”  www.Stayncharge.com

Menendez elaborated further, “I’m a strong advocate in preserving our environment; the Stay-N-Charge system allowed me to charge my batteries both on and off the water, thus reducing or more often than not, eliminating the need to hook up to a land source to charge my batteries. With Stay-N-Charge, towing over the road the alternator on my truck will bring my Optima batteries to full capacity usually in 30 minutes.  This ‘Confidence’ has become my angling edge!” (Log unto www.stayncharge.com  for detailed information, installation video and instructions.)

Menendez’s strategy, “Lay Lake is actually part of the Coosa River system, which in turn means that moving water coupled with weather conditions, centered around springtime transitional movements can and will play a major part in the February Classic!”

According to Menendez, Lay Lake’s population of bass includes both spotted bass with a strong population of Florida-strain largemouth’s. “There is an enormous amount of water with plenty of backwater habitat, in my opinion these largemouths will play into the Classic Champions game plan!”

When asked what techniques his game plan called for Menendez replied, “Just log unto www.TackleWarehouse.com and start adding every Strike King bait you find to your basket!”

Adding quickly, “Seriously, it will depend on the prevailing conditions. However, I can guarantee you I will be covering water with a variety of Strike King Pro Model Series 4-5-6 Crankbaits, while the water clarity will dictate my color choices!”

Having an insider’s edge I looked Strike King Pro Mark Menendez straight in his eyes, and asked him, “Mark I know for a fact that you have been actively involved with Strike King and their Swimbaits! So, will a Strike Bait Swimbait play a major roll in your arsenal?” www.StrikeKing.com

Looking right back at me with a bass eating grin, “Billy, if these Lay Lake bass eat my Sexy Swimmer, I’ll be feeding them it all-day-long-all three-days!” With a slight pause Menendez said, “I can tell you for certain the following Strike King Baits, will be tied to Berkley line, spooled on Pflueger Reels and saddled to all Power Tackle Rods!”

B.A.S.S. Classic Qualifier Mark Menendez’s arsenal includes the following combinations. Reactions bites will be enticed with Strike King Pro Series Model crankbaits, and Bottom Dweller Spinnerbaits, balanced with Pflueger 5.2:1 Trion Reels and Power Tackle Crankbait and Spinnerbait Rods. www.PowerTackle.com  When Menendez slows down to concentrate in specific areas holding largemouths, he’ll have his Power Tackle Rods/Pflueger Reels pre-tied with Strike King Baby Rage Craws and Smok’in Roosters.

“These tackle combinations paired with all of my mechanical equipment have assisted me in collecting over $200,000.00 in 2009,” says Menendez.

“Thus, establishing an enormous amount of confidence in all of my sponsors products, which in turn have played a major role in contributing to my success!” Ending Mark Menendez looked me straight in the eyes and said, “And who knows, I just might have a few other baits tied on as well!”