Marks Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Tournament on Lake Eufaula
Strike King Co-angler Victory Goes to Georgia’s Cowart
EUFAULA, Ala. (Oct. 16, 2023) – Boater Paul Marks of Cumming, Georgia, brought a three-day total of 15 bass to the scale weighing 54 pounds, 11 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Regional Event on Lake Eufaula in Eufaula, Alabama . For his victory, Marks earned $67,992, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, along with the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF contingency bonus. Marks also received automatic entry into the 2024 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American Championship, May 29-31, at Cherokee Lake in Jefferson County, Tennessee.
Marks said he roamed from Lakepoint State Park to the dam searching for bass during the event, and his first two days produced solid weights. However, he lost a 5-pounder at the end of Day 1 on Thursday and a 6-pounder late on Friday which would have boosted his weight dramatically.
“Then Saturday was tough for me,” said Marks, who noted he had fished Lake Eufaula only once prior to the regional event. “I had to really beat on them to catch what I caught.”
Marks said he spent most of his time dragging a Picasso Fantasy Football Jig with a Zoom Z Craw trailer, as well as a Texas-rigged worm for his bass. He said he targeted points, ledges, and brush in 8 to 25 feet of water that were holding fish.
“At the end of the day on Friday I thought I had a pretty good chance for a win,” Marks said. “I really wrecked them, and I thought I might catch 20 pounds on Saturday.
“I just don’t have words to describe this experience,” Marks added about his win. “It’s very surreal.”
The top six boaters that qualified for the 2024 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American were:
1st: Paul Marks, Cumming, Ga., 15 bass, 54-11, $67,992 (includes $7,000 Phoenix MFL Contingency Bonus)
2nd: Aaron Yavorsky, Palm Harbor, Fla., 15 bass, 50-9, $10,992
3rd: Bradley Enfinger, Donalsonville, Ga., 15 bass, 49-9, $4,991
4th: Cody Mackie, McMinnville, Tenn., 14 bass, 45-14, $4,198
5th: Jason Burroughs, Hodges, S.C., 15 bass, 45-14, $3,328
6th: Brandon Medlock, Lake Placid, Fla., 15 bass, 44-4, $1,799
Rounding out the top 10 boaters were:
7th: Emil Wagner, Marietta, Ga., 15 bass, 44-2, $1,899
8th: Bobby Padgett, Lagrange, Ga., 15 bass, 43-10, $2,399
9th: Ben McCann, Bradenton, Fla., 15 bass, 42-9, $1,199
10th: Josh Butler, Hayden, Ala., 15 bass, 42-3, $1,099
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The top four boaters from each division that earned a $1,000 bonus for placing highest in the event were:
Choo Choo: Bobby Padgett, LaGrange, Ga., 8th Place, $1,000
Gator: Aaron Yavorsky, Palm Harbor, Fla. 2nd Place, $1,000
Music City: Cody Mackie, McMinnville, Tenn., 4th Place, $1,000
Savannah River: Jason Burroughs, Hodges, S.C., 5th Place $1,000
Marks took home an extra $7,000 as the highest finishing Phoenix MLF Bonus member. Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $7,000 per event in each Phoenix Bass Fishing League tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the Phoenix MLF Bonus contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.
Tommy Cowart of Danielsville, Georgia, weighed in 10 bass over three days totaling 34 pounds, 5 ounces to win the top Strike King co-angler prize package of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The top six Strike King co-anglers that qualified for the 2024 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American were:
1st: Tommy Cowart, Danielsville, Ga., 10 bass, 34-5, $50,000
2nd: Pop Catalin, Cookeville, Tenn., 11 bass, 25-15, $5,502
3rd: Brian Carroll, Glencoe, Ala., 10 bass, 22-0, $3,006
4th: Tyler Nekolny, Coral Springs, Fla., 12 bass, 21-13, $2,001
5th: Randy Paquette, Sarasota, Fla., 12 bass, 21-12, $1,000
6th: Lamar Oxford, Dale, Ind., 12 bass, 21-2, $900
Rounding out the top 10 Strike King co-anglers were:
7th: Justin Stephenson, Jasper, Ala., 10 bass, 20-6, $800
8th: Timothy Jones, Honea Path, S.C., 10 bass, 20-6, $1,200
9th: Chad Bleiler, Old Hickory, Tenn., 10 bass, 20-5, $600
10th: Johnny Suratt, Lawrenceburg, Tenn., 11 bass, 18-8, $550
The top four Strike King Co-anglers from each division that earned a $500 bonus for placing highest in the event were:
Choo Choo: Brian Carroll, Glencoe, Ala., 3rd Place, $500
Gator: Tyler Nekolny, Coral Springs, Fla., 4th Place, $500
Music City: Pop Catalin, Cookeville, Tenn., 2nd Place, $500
Savannah River: Timothy Jones, Honea Path, S.C., 8th Place $500
The Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Regional Tournament on Lake Eufaula was hosted by the Eufaula Barbour County Chamber of Commerce. It featured the top pros and Strike King co-anglers from the Choo Choo, Gator, Music City and Savannah River divisions.
The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.
The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the MLF Toyota Series, the pathway to the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Eldred Earns Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Tournament on Dale Hollow Lake
Strike King Co-angler Victory Goes to Kentucky’s Shrader
BYRDSTOWN, Tenn. (Oct. 16, 2023) – Boater Evan Eldred of Gaines, Michigan, brought a three-day total of 15 bass to the scale weighing 59 pounds, 10 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Regional Event on Dale Hollow Lake in Byrdstown, Tennessee . For his victory, Eldred earned $64,330, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000. Eldred also received automatic entry into the 2024 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American Championship, May 29-31, at Cherokee Lake in Jefferson County, Tennessee.
“Practice was super tough for me,” Eldred said. “I was running all over and trying different things. I’d never been here before. I was trying shallow and deep. I was Damiki rigging a lot because I had heard it worked well on Dale Hollow.
“Finally, out of frustration, I told myself I was going to drive to the farthest point of the lake that I could,” Eldred continued. “I got to the dam and found a creek and saw some shad blowing up. I graphed over them, saw the bait balls, and the fish below them. I figured they were smallmouth.”
Eldred cast to the bait balls in 30 feet of water and caught two largemouth – a 4-pounder and a 4½-pounder – on back-to-back casts.
Eldred said once the tournament began, he repeated that pattern in every creek he came across. He targeted the bait balls with a 1/8-ounce Megabass Okashira Jig Head tipped with a Strike King 3X ElazTech Baby Z Too Soft Jerkbait in Grey Glimmer Pearl Belly.
“The 1/8-ounce head was the key, and within an hour I had a 20-pound bag,” Eldred said.
Eldred said he landed around 30 keeper largemouth during the tournament, but said he had to work really hard for his bites.
“They would bite in bite windows, I noticed,” Eldred said. “There was only an hour or two every day they would bite.
“After the first day, I thought to myself, ‘Man, I’m leading this thing. I’d better not blow it,’” Eldred went on to say. “I had a target on my back.”
Eldred said a slow Day 2 on Friday almost dashed his hopes of victory, as he didn’t have a fish in the livewell at 11 a.m.
“None of the fish on my spots would bite,” Eldred said. “I had to relocate, and as soon as I did, I got three in the boat. Then it took me until 2 o’clock to catch my fifth fish.”
Eldred said he went into the final day of competition not knowing what to expect.
“I wanted to catch 25 pounds, but it wouldn’t have surprised me if I’d zeroed,” Eldred said. “Those fish were that tough to get to bite.”
Eldred caught his limit Saturday by 10 a.m., then upgraded his final day’s weight seven times during the day to secure the win.
The top six boaters that qualified for the 2024 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American were:
1st: Evan Eldred, Gaines, Mich., 15 bass, 59-10, $64,330 (includes $2,500 Phoenix MFL Contingency Bonus)
2nd: Josh Lee, Powell, Tenn., 15 bass, 58-12, $11,000
3rd: Jacob Woods, Loudon, Tenn., 15 bass, 57-7, $5,500
4th: Dillon Falardeau, Hixson, Tenn., 15 bass, 55-6, $3,000
5th: Donavan Carson, Bluff City, Tenn., 15 bass, 53-14, $2,000
6th: Isaac Peavyhouse, Jamestown, Tenn., 15 bass, 53-12, $1,800
Rounding out the top 10 boaters were:
7th: Griffin Heffington, Murfreesboro, Tenn., 15 bass, 53-3, $1,600
8th: Justin Latham, Reelsville, Ind., 15 bass, 51-11, $1,900
9th: Joshua Short, Bean Station, Tenn., 15 bass, 48-4, $1,200
10th: Brody Campbell, Oxford, Ohio, 15 bass, 45-9, $2,600
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The top four boaters from each division that earned a $1,000 bonus for placing highest in the event were:
Bama: Blake Davenport, Jemison, Ala., 11th Place, $1,000
Illini: Levi Kohl, Edinburg, Ill., 17th Place, $1,000
Michigan: Brody Campbell, Oxford, Ohio, 10th Place, $1,000
Volunteer: Josh Lee, Powell, Tenn., 2nd Place $1,000
Eldred took home an extra $2,500 as the highest finishing Phoenix MLF Bonus member. Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $7,000 per event in each Phoenix Bass Fishing League tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the Phoenix MLF Bonus contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.
Luke Shrader of Monticello, Kentucky, weighed in eight bass over three days totaling 17 pounds, 15 ounces to win the top Strike King co-angler prize package of $50,150, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The top six Strike King co-anglers that qualified for the 2024 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American were:
1st: Luke Shrader, Monticello, Ky., eight bass, 17-15, $50,150
2nd: Stephen Vick, Dandridge, Tenn., four bass, 12-8, $6,000
3rd: Gary Huber II, St. Charles, Mo., six bass, 11-4, $3,000
4th: Cody Stokes, Ooltewah, Tenn., five bass, 11-2, $1,500
5th: Ryan Legg, Parma, Ohio, three bass, 10-2, $1,500
6th: Darren Kelly, Wartburg, Tenn., four bass, 8-8, $1,300
Rounding out the top 10 Strike King co-anglers were:
7th: Jeffery McCoy, Montgomery, Ala., three bass, 8-6, $1,300
8th: Stuart Vitollo, Alabaster, Ala., three bass, 6-11, $700
9th: Rob Miller, Albion, Mich., three bass, 6-11, $600
10th: Corey Smith, Hazard, Ky., three bass, 6-10, $550
The top four Strike King Co-anglers from each division that earned a $500 bonus for placing highest in the event were:
Bama: Jeffery McCoy, Montgomery, Ala., 7th Place, $500
Illini: Gary Huber, II, St. Charles, Mo., 3rd Place, $500
Michigan: Ryan Legg, Parma, Ohio, 5th Place, $500
Volunteer: Stephen Vick, Dandridge, Tenn., 2nd Place $500
The Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Regional Tournament on Dale Hollow Lake was hosted by the Byrdstown-Pickett County Chamber of Commerce. It featured the top pros and Strike King co-anglers from the Bama, Illini, Michigan and Volunteer divisions.
The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.
The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the MLF Toyota Series, the pathway to the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
2024 TXTT Registration Announcement & WRMG Owner SPECIAL INCENTIVE!
SPRINGFIELD, MO. (October 16, 2023) – As most bass anglers in the state of Texas are putting down the rods for the off-season and picking up the hunting gear, the leadership at Outdoor TeamWorks is still working each day toward the 2024 season.
Today, Texas Team Trail officials are proud to announce registration will be opening January 3rd at 9am for the 2024 season! Along with opening registration, Texas Team Trail has an exciting new reduced entry fee incentive opportunity for ALL Nitro, Ranger, and Triton boat owners. No matter what year model of White River Marine Group boat brand a team owns and is fishing out of in the 2024 season, if a team’s captain and their partner register during the first week of registration and pays for all of the regular season events (4 events), teams will be able to pay a special rate of $200 per event to enter for the full season. This is a $200 savings for the entire year. This incentive will only be available to Nitro, Ranger, and Triton owners from January 3rd to January 10th, 2024! This incentive is only eligible to teams where the team captain is an owner of a White River Marine Group boat brand.
“2023 was a season for the record books”, says tournament director Mike Hastings. “With Russel Cecil & Todd Castledine winning their third Progressive Team of the Year title, to seeing several bags breaking the 30lb mark; this was truly a remarkable year that saw the TXTT award six fully rigged bass boats and over $480,000 in prizes. However, 2024 is destined to be even better with each tournament winning team taking home a brand-new bass boat package, the Progressive Team of the Year winning a new bass boat package, and a chance at over $500,000 in cash and prizes to teams competing in 2024. We are looking forward to the new year and hopefully will see many new anglers, as well as existing team anglers fishing the 2024 season of the TXTT”.
To register for the 2024 Texas Team Trail tournaments, please read the updated 2024 RULES and then follow this link to get registered: https://www.texasteamtrail.com/register/
2024 Texas Team Trail Schedule:
· February 17th - Brookeland, TX | Sam Rayburn Reservoir
· March 23rd - Brookeland, TX | Sam Rayburn Reservoir
· April 13th - Yantis, TX | Lake Fork
· May 4th - Belton, TX | Belton Lake
· June 8-9th - Many, LA | Toledo Bend Reservoir - CHAMPIONSHIP
For more information on the Texas Team Trail, including photos and official tournament results from the past, visit texasteamtrail.com. Be sure to also check out the tournament schedule for the 2024 Texas Team Trail and subscribe to the e-newsletter list for all the up-to-date information, registration announcements, sponsor incentives, and Outdoor TeamWorks news.
Sloan & Jackson top 250 teams at Texoma
1 DREW SLOAN
SCURRY , TXNOLAN JACKSON
ROYSE CITY , TX10 5.56 39.41
SKEETER FXR20 YAMAHA SHO+$500 Garmin + Surelife 2 DEAN ALEXANDER
CEDAR PARK , TXTHOMAS MARTENS
CEDAR PARK , TX10 5.21 32.06
SKEETER ZXR19 YAMAHA SHO+$2500 Skeeter+$500 Garmin 3 DON MCFARLIN
GORDONVILLE , TXJAMES FENNELL
GORDONVILLE , TX10 5.19 28.48
$6000.00 4 TREVOR ROMANS
CELINA , TXMATT MCMILLAN
FORT WORTH , TX10 0 25.82
$5000+$5000 Classic Arlington Cash+$1000 Skeeter 5 MATT HILL
JONESTOWN , TXBARRY MOTT
GEORGETOWN , TX10 4.06 25.78
$4000.00 6 PAKE SOUTH
WINNSBORO , TXKYLE EVANS
EMORY , TX10 0 24.75
$3000.00 7 ADAM DUNN
HOUSTON , TXJOSHUA WARE
SPLENDORA , TX9 0 24.42
$2000.00 8 STERLING MARTIN
COMFORT , TXJUSTIN MADDING
JARRELL , TX9 5.28 23.97
$1800.00+$500 Skeeter 9 MICHAEL GROSSMAN
DALLAS , TXJAY KENDRICK
FORT WORTH , TX9 0 22.74
$1700.00 10 CHARLIE GANTENBEIN
TEMPLE , TXJAY STIDHAM
CHINA SPRING , TX10 0 22.59
$1600.00 11 MIKE BURNS
LUCAS , TXROB BURNS
PLANO , TX9 0 21.97
$1500.00 12 KEITH HONEYCUTT
TEMPLE , TXSAM JONES
ROGERS , TX10 0 21.61
$1500.00 13 TIM CLINE
SHERMAN , TXJAXON CLINE
SHERMAN , TX9 4.53 20.85
$1500.00 14 WILLIAM BLAINE
SAN ANGELO , TXBEN BLAINE
GOLDWAITE , TX10 0 20.53
$1500.00 15 MIKE RICHARDSON
THORNDALE , TXZACH BROWN
GEORGETOWN , TX8 0 19.38
$1500.00 16 CHRIS STUDINGER
NEW BRAUNFELS , TXJOSHUA RHODES
SAN ANTONIO , TX7 5.84 19.06
$1500.00 + $750.00 Big Bass 17 DEVIN GIBSON
GONZALES , TXROBERT PRESCOTT
MOORE , OK7 4.75 18.95
$1500.00 17 KEVIN DRITSCHLER
PROSPER , TXMIKE WITHROW
CORSICANA , TX9 0 18.95
$1500.00 19 WILL CARSTENS
ALEXANDRIA , LAROSS BRYANT
ALEXANDRIA , LA10 0 18.71
$1500.00 20 GEORGE GLASS
DERRIDER , LATRENT MANUEL
IOWA , LA7 0 18.48
$1500.00 21 DANIEL RODRIGUEZ
NEW BRAUNFELS , TXKENDALL DAVIS
ABILENE , TX8 0 18.11
$1500.00 22 CADE WILSON
EARLY , TXBRANDON DAY
BROWNWOOD , TX9 0 17.61
$1500.00 23 CHRIS BAKER
POWDERLY , TXBRANDON BEERS
PARIS , TX9 0 17.60
$1500.00 24 JUSTYN PARRISH
LAGO VISTA , TXJJ LARSON
LEANDER , TX7 0 17.29
$1500.00 25 BRIAN HALL
BRONTE , TXSTEVE ELDRED JR
YANTIS , TX7 0 17.18
$1500.00 26 BRANDEN HOLLINGSHEAD
AZLE , TXJEREMY LAMBERT
DECATUR , TX9 0 16.91
$1200.00 27 TERRY KIRCUS
BURNET , TXJASON BUCHANAN
BURNET , TX9 0 16.75
$1200.00 28 JON DESPINO
COLFAX , LAKEVIN LASYONE
DRY PRONG , LA7 0 16.49
$1200.00 29 LARRY BENCH
DENISON , TXHI HILLBURN
COLBERT , OK4 6.48 16.37
$1200.00 + $750.00 Big Bass 30 LANCE DILLARD
LLANO , TXBLAKE DILLARD
LLANO , TX7 4.22 16.30
$1200.00 31 RON SAUCEMAN
COLLINSVILLE , TXALEX PISARSKI
COLLINSVILLE , TX8 0 16.15
$1200.00 32 MARK SPURGIN
MCKINNEY , TXTYLER HOLMES
RICHARDSON , TX6 0 15.97
$1200.00 33 TRENT MENEES
NORTHLAKE , TXTERRY BOLLOM
FRISCO , TX9 0 15.90
$1200.00 34 COREY SCHNAUTZ
MARION , TXJASON SCHNAUTZ
ELMENDORF , TX7 0 15.84
$1200.00 35 GIB COATS
FORT WORTH , TXJOHN HARRIS
FORT WORTH , TX7 0 15.58
$1200.00 36 JODY HOLUBEK
FORT WORTH , TXDANIEL HERRING
WATUAGA , TX8 0 15.57
$1000.00 37 DAVE DOBRONSKI
SAN ANTONIO , TXCHASE HUX
FLORESVILLE , TX6 0 15.19
$1000.00 38 LAMARCUS MCCRAY
HOUSTON , TXJAMES ROZELL
PORTER , TX8 0 15.11
$1000.00 39 DOUG POSEY
ORANGE , TXDAKOTA POSEY
ORANGE , TX8 0 15.05
$1000.00 40 RONNY MAYNARD
GEORGETOWN , TXERIC CRUMLEY
LEANDER , TX7 0 15.01
$1000.00 41 JOEY RICHARDSON
GRANBURY , TXLOWELL RICHARDSON
KELLER , TX8 0 14.96
$1000.00 42 JONATHAN LANCASTER
QUITMAN , TXJOSH PRIEST
QUITMAN , TX7 0 14.94
$1000.00 43 ROGER RITCHIE
WICHITA FALLS , TXRICHARD RITCHIE
BENTON , AR5 0 14.75
44 RANDY TURNER
GREENVILLE , TXTREY TURNER
ROYSE CITY , TX6 0 14.66
45 DUANE PITTMAN
GONZALES , LALUCAS RAGUSA
GONZALES , LA6 5.26 14.64
46 BLAIR COBBLE
LAGO VISTA , TXTERRY COBBLE
ROUND ROCK , TX6 0 14.59
47 JEREMY WRIGHT
SAN ANTONIO , TXJASON WILLIAMS
NEW BRAUNFELS , TX6 0 14.50
48 ROBERT CASE JR
PITTSBURG , TXMORRIS MCCUTCHEON
WINNSBORO , TX7 0 14.43
49 NICK BROWN
LINDALE , TXBYRON CHAVES
MINEOLA , TX7 0 14.37
50 STEVE TRIMBLE
ATHENS , TXTREVER DYKEMA
YANTS , TX8 0 14.27
Topwaters may win Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners event at Pickwick
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships
The goosebump-raising explosion of a bass smashing a topwater surface lure remains the sport’s most magical moment for just about any angler who has ever picked up a baitcasting reel, and this coming weekend’s 12th annual Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners event at Pickwick may very well be won on a frog or Super Spook Jr. according to respected veteran guide, Jimmy Mason.
While the Super Spook Jr. will be a great tool for taming surface schooling smallmouth on shallow gravel bars, the frog will be the perfect snag-free utensil to pull weighty largemouth from miles of milfoil and hydrilla patches that are the most abundant they’ve been in at least five years, and certainly thicker than previous Bonus Bucks events held at Pickwick in 2019 and 2020.
“Not only will the frog bite around the hundreds of acres of grass we’ve got this year get stronger and stronger going into this Bonus Bucks event, but the abundant grass mats will also serve to erase some of the local advantages out-of-state guests face when there’s less grass, and specific local-known ledges or deeper water places play a bigger factor,” says Mason.
He also warns visiting tournament participants that river levels are quite low, and flow is minimal in the famous tailraces not far from tournament headquarters below the Wilson Dam. Mason says not only will the tailraces be far less of a player this year,but recommends extreme caution to anybody who chooses to take a left turn out of McFarland Park toward the tailraces, stating he’s seen rocks and boulders exposed this season that he hasn’t seen in years.
However, they’ll be no issues finding a patch of hydrilla or milfoil to fish. In fact, Mason says once particular grass mat spans roughly 8-miles in length from Seven Mile Island to Natchez Trace Bridge, and that the winning five bites could come from an area the size of an average front lawn if a team lands on the magical spot. He says the average water depth beneath most of the matted vegetation is 3 to 6 feet deep.
Mason’s favorite frog is a Booyah Pad Crasher in the color ole smokey, which offers hints of a shad color, and the time proven bone silver flash is his favorite shade of Super Spook Jr.
No major rains are expected in the days leading up to the event, so fishing conditions should remain stable and productive for Toyota Bonus Bucks guests. But they can expect a strong chance of topwater strike induced goosebumps that may very well result in a winning stringer of around 22-pounds and a guaranteed first place check of $5,000 at this no entry fee fellowship filled event.
41st Anniversary WON BASS U.S. Open starts Tomorrow
Josh Bertrand, Gary Klein and Bryant Smith Preview event
San Clemente, Calif. – October 15, 2023 – The 41st Anniversary Bass Cat / Mercury WON BASS U.S. Open presented by Laughlin Tourism Commission and Visit Laughlin kicks off tomorrow on Lake Mohave out of Katerine Landing at Lake Mohave Marina. This event runs through Wednesday October 18. 2023 and marks the second year that the premier bass fishing event in the Western United States will be held on Lake Mohave following consecutive years of lower water conditions at Lake Mead that forced the move.
The 2023 event looks to be as competitive as last year’s event as 182 pro and co anglers will head out onto the 28,000 surface acres of Lake Mohave in search of the kind of quality bass that will take home the 2024 Bass Cat Cougar and Mercury 250 ProXS as well as the cash prize package the eventual champion will receive. As with any bass fishing tournament, the plans the anglers made during practice will need to be adjusted as the Laughlin area has seen significant swings in weather conditions.
In the pre-practice period, the air temperatures saw cooler temperatures with fall type conditions and some windy conditions. During those days,anglers reported seeing the surface temperatures on Lake Mohave dip as much as 10 degrees. While it appears that change may have triggered some type of fall migration, those conditions will change as the event begins as the mercury will reach as high as 100 degrees and the winds will taper to a typical 10 to 15 mph. What effect that has on the fishery remains to be seen.
2022 U.S. Open Champion and MLF Bass Pro Tour pro Josh Bertrand said that he left the areas he won on last year alone and searched new water for this during practice. “Mohave is fishing differently than it did last a year ago,” said Bertrand. “We fished it like a summer event in 2022, and this is more into the fall conditions this year, so it’s going to influence how we do things. “I searched for new water and found some things that I’ll rely on but saved the areas I used to win last year in hopes that they’ll still be good. It’s a different year and I hope to be in position to contend again, but we’ll just have to wait and see.
Fishing his third WON Bass U.S. Open, is Roseville, Calif. pro Bryant Smith who just completed his rookie season on The Bassmaster Elite Series. Smith said that he realized how much the event meant to him as a Western angler after he fished his first U.S. Open and made it a priority. “This is the marquee event and after I fished it for the first time, it becamean event I wanted to win,” he said. “That won’t be an easy task this week, whoever wins is going to have to do several things and make adjustments along the way between the reaction bite, finesse tactics and fishing Active Target Forward Facing Sonar; we’re going to have to earn it this week.”
A former U.S. Open Champion and veteran of more than half of the 41 holdings of the event is Major League Fishing co-founder Gary Klein. AWestern Original, who now makes his home in Texas said he had an urging to return to his roots. “I entered the event because I really started getting an itch to fish out West again, and this event is one that means something to me and a lot of others,” said Klein. “I’ve been out here for a week doing a lot of looking and a little fishing and like how it’s shaping up. It’s not going to be an easy tournament to win, but I feel like I’ve found something I can build on and give it a run; I would really like to give myself a chance to be in the conversation on day three – that would give me a shot at winning my second U.S. Open title.”
Bertrand won the 2022 WON Bass U.S. Open title with a three-day winning weight of 67.78 pounds and it would be reasonable to expect similar weight ranges to be in play this year. Historical averages for winning weights in events on the lake typically exceeds 20 pounds a day,and even with a field this large, that should hold steady. Fishing pressure is likely to play a role as anglers may find themselves competing for areas as the event grinds on.
The 2023 WON BASS U.S. Open Sponsor Expo will be held October 15from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the E-Center Convention Center, adjacent to the host hotel, the Edgewater Hotel, Casino & Resort located at 2020 S. Casino Drive | Laughlin, NV 89029 and will feature dozens of vendor booths showcasing their wares. That sponsor’s fair will be followed by the induction of the 2023 class of the WON BASS Hall of Fame starting at 5:00PM Both events are open to the general public.
The 2023 WON BASS Hall of Fame induction ceremony will occur immediately following the conclusion of Sponsor’s Expo. The WON BASS Hall of Fame has been established to recognize the efforts of competitors and individuals instrumental in the industry who have left indelible marks on the organization and professional bass fishing in theWestern United States through WON BASS.
Individuals being inducted in this inaugural class are three-time U.S. Open Champion Aaron Martens, two-time U.S. Open Champions John Murray and Byron Velvick and past U.S. Open Champion Pat Donoho and Fred Ward.
The three-day long Bass Cat / Mercury WON BASS U.S. Open presented by Laughlin Tourism Commission and Visit Laughlin competition itselfwill begin Monday, October 16, with a champion being crowned on October 18 at the conclusion of the final weigh-in. Takeoff with 182 pro and AAA anglers will commence at safe light and weigh-ins will occur at 3:00PM each day. Takeoff and weigh-ins will be held at Katherine Landing at Lake Mohave Marina located at 2690 Katherine Spur, Bullhead City, AZ 86429.
WON Bass has reserved Thursday October 19 and Friday October 20 in case any day of the event is postponed due to unsafe conditions by the National Parks Service.
Join us for an historic event and look to wonbassevents.com and WONews.com along with WON BASS and Western Outdoor News social media platforms on https://www.facebook.com/WONBassTournamentsand https://www.instagram.com/wonbass/ for event details, livestreamsand updates.
Late bonus pushes Messer to Bassmaster Open victory at Harris Chain of Lakes
Matt Messer of Warfield, Ky., has won the 2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Harris Chain of Lakes with a two-day total of 39 pounds, 13 ounces.
Photo by Andy Crawford/B.A.S.S.
October 14, 2023
LEESBURG, Fla. — Two weeks ago, Matt Messer wondered how he would pay for his 2024 tournament entry fees.
But winning the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Harris Chain of Lakes completely changed that outlook.
After leading Day 1 with 24 pounds, 6 ounces, the Warfield, Ky., angler added a second-round total of 15-7 and tallied 39-13. Edging Blake Sylvester of Plaquemine, La., by 1-12, Messer won $42,467 and an automatic berth in the 2024 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic scheduled for March 22-24 in Tulsa, Okla.
“I’ve been dreaming of the Classic since I was 5 and now I get a shot at it,” Messer said. “I can hardly talk. I’m torn all to pieces.”
Messer, who won the 2022 Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Harris Chain presented by Bass Pro Shops with his brother and Kentucky Christian University teammate Lafe Messer, caught both day's limits in Lake Griffin. While Day 1 yielded a 7-14 and a 7-2, the second round saw his lone shot at a kicker fizzle.
“I did not think I was going to catch ‘em,” Messer admits. “I was grinding and I got one big bite, but I didn’t get it in the boat. It was like a 7-pounder.
“I was (discouraged), but I told myself, ‘If it’s the Lord’s plan, it’s going to happen.’”
Messer would end up catching his fish on a Texas-rigged Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Creature Hawg and a 1/4-ounce Boogerman buzzbait. The latter would deliver the day-making fish right before Messer’s trip back to the weigh-in.
“I came back (from Lake Griffin) and there were boats lined up at the lock,” he said. “I asked (the anglers) if I could fish in front of them while they waited. I trolled by them, threw a buzzbait against the wall and at 3:45, I caught a 3 1/2-pounder.”
Calling the Harris Chain his favorite fishery, Messer said a key Day 1 decision likely determined his fate.
“Yesterday, I was going through the Dead River,” he said. “I was going to go to Lake Dora to catch a limit. I knew I could go and catch enough to get a check. But I started thinking that I really didn’t care about getting a check on this place — I wanted to win.
“I went to Griffin about 11 o’clock with two bass in my livewell. I caught those two 7s, and it just worked out.”
Sylvester finished second with 38-1. Making the long run to Lake Apopka, he caught a limit of 15-14 on Day 1 and then added 22-3 on the final day.
Returning to Apopka for Day 2, Sylvester anchored his big limit with an 8-pounder. He caught his bass by throwing a Prototype Lures Smasher Frog and a Delta Lures Thunder Jig and flipping a Missile Baits D Bomb.
“I was around some big ones,” he said. “I caught a 7-8 (on Friday), and I saw a couple of big ones that missed my frog. I left a lot out there yesterday. I weighed in three 2-pounders and you can’t do that on a place like this.”
Sylvester started his day in Lake Harris. Once he reached Apopka, he caught all of his bass between 12:30 and 2:30 p.m.
Ben Milliken of New Caney, Texas, finished third with 32-3. After placing second on Day 1 with 20-13, he endured a day of frustration but managed to catch a final round limit of 11-6.
“A lot of things went wrong today, and I really had to work hard to overcome a lot of challenges,” Milliken said. “I got to my first spot and there was an angler parked on top of it. I never caught any fish there, so I drove all the way down to Lake Apopka. I got to the lock and there were 20 boats lined up — they can only take three at a time.
“I finally got down to Apopka around 11:30 or noon and got to the brushpile where I caught my whole Day 1 limit. I broke off the first four fish that bit on a drop shot with a 7-inch 6th Sense Divine Shakey Worm.”
Milliken ended up catching two fish out of the brushpile and filled his limit elsewhere.
Lafe Messer of Warfield, Ky., won the $750 Phoenix Boats Big Bass award for his 8-12.
As part of the Yamaha Power Pay program, Sylvester took home a $2,000 bonus. He also earned an additional $500 Garmin Tournament Rewards bonus.
Pic Dieffenbauch Jr. of Hundred, W.Va., won the nonboater division with 21-5. Dieffenbauch led Day 1 with a limit of 13-14, which he anchored with a 6-15. Adding a limit of 7-7 on Day 2 pushed him past Mike Spears of Jasper, Ala., by 2 pounds.
“Getting a big bag on Day 1 was the key,” he said. “Today was a struggle. It was 10 o’clock before I had my first fish.”
Dieffenbauch caught all of his fish on a Zoom Speed Worm in the junebug color. He rigged the bait with a 3/16-ounce weight and fished it around submerged vegetation.
Rick Adams of Lake Wales, Fla., won the $250 Phoenix Boats Big Bass award among nonboaters with his 8-1.
The tournament was shortened to just two days due to inclement weather on Thursday — and in addition to deciding one of the final Classic berths of the season, it determined the final standings for the Opens Elite Qualifiers division. Only anglers who fished all nine Opens were eligible for the EQs, and the top nine finishers in the season standings will receive invitations to the 2024 Bassmaster Elite Series.
JT Thompkins of Myrtle Beach, S.C., won the EQ Division Angler of the Year title with 1,659 points. The other eight EQ anglers earning an Elite invitation were John Garrett of Union City, Tenn., Trey McKinney of Carbondale, Ill., Robert Gee of Knoxville, Tenn., Tyler Williams of Belgrade, Maine., Wesley Gore of Clanton, Ala., Logan Parks of Auburn, Ala., Milliken and Kyle Patrick of Cooperstown, N.Y. Since Kenta Kimura, who finished fifth in the EQ point standings, is already an Elite Series angler, that allowed one additional angler to earn an Elite invitation.
“You look back at the year I had and I don’t think I’ll be able to duplicate a string of tournaments like that again,” Thompkins said of his four Top 10 finishes. “To be able to do that with the kind of people around me was a blessing.
“Big shout out to everyone who made the Elite Series. Those guys really made the race what it was and they made the (EQ Angler of the Year) trophy mean that much more.”
2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Harris Chain 10/13-10/15
Harris Chain Of Lakes, Leesburg FL.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Matt Messer Warfield, KY 10 39-13 200 $42,467.00
Day 1: 5 24-06 Day 2: 5 15-07
2. Blake Sylvester Plaquemine, LA 10 38-01 199 $21,127.00
Day 1: 5 15-14 Day 2: 5 22-03
3. Ben Milliken New Caney, TX 10 32-03 198 $14,560.00
Day 1: 5 20-13 Day 2: 5 11-06
4. Tyler Lubbat Wheeling, IL 10 32-03 197 $12,133.00
Day 1: 5 18-02 Day 2: 5 14-01
5. Andrew Hargrove Moody, TX 10 31-06 196 $10,556.00
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 5 18-04
6. Mike Mayo Athens, TX 10 30-05 195 $9,707.00
Day 1: 5 16-13 Day 2: 5 13-08
7. John Soukup Sapulpa, OK 9 30-01 194 $9,100.00
Day 1: 5 19-10 Day 2: 4 10-07
8. Wesley Gore Clanton, AL 10 29-15 193 $8,493.00
Day 1: 5 18-15 Day 2: 5 11-00
9. Tyler Williams Belgrade, ME 10 29-08 192 $6,673.00
Day 1: 5 15-03 Day 2: 5 14-05
10. Jack York Emory, TX 10 29-05 191 $5,460.00
Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 5 16-08
11. Lafe Messer Warfield, KY 10 29-04 190 $4,853.00
Day 1: 5 10-02 Day 2: 5 19-02
12. Billy Charland Lakeland, FL 10 28-13 189 $4,247.00
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 15-08
13. Shaine Campbell Brookeland, TX 10 28-08 188 $3,337.00
Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 5 15-14
14. Allen Brooks Canton, GA 10 28-02 187 $3,337.00
Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 5 19-04
15. Chad Prough Chipley, FL 10 28-00 186 $3,337.00
Day 1: 5 17-05 Day 2: 5 10-11
16. Keith Tuma Brainerd, MN 10 27-09 185 $3,337.00
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 5 14-00
17. Griffin Phillips Mount Olive, AL 10 27-07 184 $3,337.00
Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 5 13-08
18. John Garrett Union City, TN 10 26-15 183 $3,337.00
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 5 15-11
19. Alex Wetherell Middletown, CT 10 26-10 182 $3,337.00
Day 1: 5 15-14 Day 2: 5 10-12
20. Chase Clarke Virginia Beach, VA 10 26-10 181 $3,337.00
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 5 15-02
21. Trevor McKinney Benton, IL 10 26-09 180 $3,033.00
Day 1: 5 16-12 Day 2: 5 09-13
22. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 10 26-07 179 $3,033.00
Day 1: 5 15-11 Day 2: 5 10-12
23. Ish Monroe Oakdale, CA 10 26-02 178 $3,033.00
Day 1: 5 16-11 Day 2: 5 09-07
24. Trey McKinney Carbondale, IL 10 26-01 177 $3,033.00
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 5 13-14
25. Louis Monetti Brielle, NJ 10 26-00 176 $3,033.00
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 10-12
26. Brett Cannon Kiln, MS 10 25-13 175 $2,791.00
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 5 13-13
27. Kurt Mitchell Milford, DE 10 25-05 174 $2,791.00
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 12-09
28. Takayuki Koike Otsu-City JAPAN 10 25-03 173 $2,791.00
Day 1: 5 16-13 Day 2: 5 08-06
29. Miles Burghoff Dayton, TN 10 25-01 172 $2,791.00
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 5 11-05
30. Keith Nemcek St Charles, IL 10 25-01 171 $2,791.00
Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 5 13-08
31. Alex Murray Lake Charles, LA 10 25-01 170 $2,791.00
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 5 11-15
32. Trey Swindle Cleveland, AL 10 24-13 169 $2,791.00
Day 1: 5 09-14 Day 2: 5 14-15
33. Dave Turner Citrus Springs, FL 10 24-13 168 $2,791.00
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 11-06
34. Bryan New Saluda, SC 10 24-10 167 $2,791.00
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 5 11-00
35. Parker Mott Winter Garden, FL 10 24-09 166 $2,791.00
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 12-08
36. Allen Johnson Trinity, AL 10 24-07 165 $2,791.00
Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 5 11-13
37. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 10 24-02 164 $2,791.00
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 11-06
38. Craig Chambers Midland, NC 10 23-15 163 $2,791.00
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 5 10-03
39. Daniel Valois Gomez Caracas FL VENEZUELA 10 23-14 162 $2,791.00
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 5 10-12
40. Clayton Wiggins Sorrento, FL 10 23-12 161 $2,791.00
Day 1: 5 06-07 Day 2: 5 17-05
41. Tim Arnold Crane Hill, AL 10 23-11 160
Day 1: 5 09-08 Day 2: 5 14-03
42. Ron Ryals Jr Live Oak, FL 10 23-11 159
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 10-13
43. Danny Ramsey Trinidad, TX 10 23-10 158
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 5 12-09
44. Scout Echols Monticello, AR 10 23-10 157
Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 5 12-08
45. B.J. Usie Bourg, LA 10 23-05 156
Day 1: 5 08-04 Day 2: 5 15-01
46. Bobby Lane Jr. Lakeland, FL 10 23-04 155
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 5 11-08
47. Robert Gee Knoxville, TN 10 22-13 154
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 10-12
48. Chad Warren Sand Springs, OK 10 22-11 153
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 09-15
49. Zack Smith Starke, FL 10 22-07 152
Day 1: 5 14-02 Day 2: 5 08-05
50. Blake Smith Lakeland, FL 10 22-03 151
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 5 12-15
51. Jason Lambert Savannah, TN 10 22-00 150
Day 1: 5 08-10 Day 2: 5 13-06
52. David Wootton Collierville, TN 10 21-15 149
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 5 09-12
53. Mike Surman Boca Raton, FL 10 21-13 148
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 5 10-02
54. Kenta Kimura Osaka JAPAN 10 21-13 147
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 10-07
55. Caleb Gibson Locust Grove, OK 10 21-07 146
Day 1: 5 09-06 Day 2: 5 12-01
56. Josh Hubbard Dunnellon, FL 10 21-06 145
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 10-13
57. Dale Hightower Mannford, OK 10 21-04 144
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 5 08-02
58. Keith Bardolf Abbeville, AL 10 21-02 143
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 07-11
59. Chris Blanchette Edisto Island, SC 10 21-00 142
Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 5 08-03
60. Logan Parks Auburn, AL 10 21-00 141
Day 1: 5 09-05 Day 2: 5 11-11
61. Jimmy Washam Stantonville, TN 10 20-15 140
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 5 09-04
62. Tim Frederick Leesburg, FL 10 20-12 139
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 5 09-04
63. Brian Post Janesville, WI 10 20-10 138
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 08-09
64. Chris Beaudrie Princeton, KY 9 20-09 137
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 4 11-05
65. Cody Stahl Barnsville, GA 10 20-09 136
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 5 10-01
66. Joey Bloom Winter Springs, FL 10 20-06 135
Day 1: 5 08-08 Day 2: 5 11-14
67. Jason Meninger Yulee, FL 10 20-06 134
Day 1: 5 09-13 Day 2: 5 10-09
68. Josh Bragg Fayetteville, GA 9 20-05 133
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 4 10-00
69. Brady Vernon Sterrett, AL 9 20-04 132
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 4 05-13
70. Jonathan Dietz Corry, PA 10 20-01 131
Day 1: 5 08-06 Day 2: 5 11-11
71. Cody Bertrand Dyer, IN 10 20-01 130
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 5 10-13
72. Scott Kerslake Okeechobee, FL 10 20-01 129
Day 1: 5 10-10 Day 2: 5 09-07
73. Justin Kimmel Athens, GA 10 20-00 128
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 5 07-13
74. Chris Kingree Inverness, FL 10 20-00 127
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 5 09-05
75. Jack Tindel III Orange, TX 10 19-12 126
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 5 07-10
76. Justin Barnes Ellaville, GA 10 19-12 125
Day 1: 5 09-06 Day 2: 5 10-06
77. Teb Jones Yalaha, MS 8 19-11 124
Day 1: 5 15-13 Day 2: 3 03-14
78. David Kilgore Jasper, AL 10 19-09 123
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 5 08-06
79. Kyle Patrick Cooperstown, NY 10 19-07 122
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 5 08-04
80. Darrell Davis Dover, FL 9 19-05 121
Day 1: 4 06-02 Day 2: 5 13-03
81. Andrew Harp Linden, TX 10 19-03 120
Day 1: 5 08-11 Day 2: 5 10-08
82. Dustin Neat Dunnville, KY 10 19-02 119
Day 1: 5 08-05 Day 2: 5 10-13
83. Tony Dumitras Winston, GA 7 18-14 118
Day 1: 2 04-01 Day 2: 5 14-13
84. Ryan Clark Whitby Ontario CANADA 10 18-13 117
Day 1: 5 08-13 Day 2: 5 10-00
85. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 10 18-12 116
Day 1: 5 07-15 Day 2: 5 10-13
86. Brayden Rakes Winston Salem, NC 10 18-11 115
Day 1: 5 07-12 Day 2: 5 10-15
87. Kyle Austin Ridgeville, SC 9 18-09 114
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 4 06-08
88. Joey Hanna Corsicana, TX 10 18-09 113
Day 1: 5 08-05 Day 2: 5 10-04
89. Matt Henry Milledgeville, GA 9 18-08 112
Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 4 06-15
90. Wil Dieffenbauch III Hundred, WV 10 18-08 111
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 07-03
91. Cody Detweiler Guntersville, AL 10 18-06 110
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 07-08
92. Keith Brumfield Vicksburg, MS 10 18-05 109
Day 1: 5 08-01 Day 2: 5 10-04
93. Sam George Athens, AL 10 18-04 108
Day 1: 5 07-07 Day 2: 5 10-13
94. Bo Thomas Edwardsburg, MI 10 18-03 107
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 5 06-00
95. Colby Robertson Summerfield, FL 10 18-02 106
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 5 06-03
96. Tripp Noojin Bryant, AL 10 17-15 105
Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 5 06-13
97. Jamie Bruce Kenora Ontario CANADA 10 17-15 104
Day 1: 5 08-07 Day 2: 5 09-08
98. Austin Cranford Norman, OK 10 17-14 103
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 5 08-07
99. JT Russell Mc Calla, AL 7 17-11 102
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 2 03-11
100. Hunter Bland Williston, FL 9 17-10 101
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 4 06-00
101. Jacob Bigelow Cecil, WI 10 17-10 100
Day 1: 5 09-13 Day 2: 5 07-13
102. Harvey Horne Bella Vista, AR 9 17-10 99
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 4 07-15
103. Daisuke Kita Ostu Shiga JAPAN 10 17-07 98
Day 1: 5 09-15 Day 2: 5 07-08
104. Clark Reehm Elm Grove, LA 10 17-07 97
Day 1: 5 08-08 Day 2: 5 08-15
105. Billy McDonald Greenwood, IN 8 17-05 96
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 3 03-00
106. Derek Lehtonen Woodruff, SC 10 17-05 95
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 5 07-10
107. Hunter Sales Blaine, TN 10 17-05 94
Day 1: 5 09-10 Day 2: 5 07-11
108. Greg Bohannan Bentonville, AR 10 17-04 93
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 06-06
109. Scott Gibbs Rome, GA 10 17-02 92
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 5 06-05
110. Joey Nania Cropwell, AL 10 17-02 91
Day 1: 5 06-13 Day 2: 5 10-05
111. Lance Owen Greer, SC 10 17-02 90
Day 1: 5 09-15 Day 2: 5 07-03
112. Kyle Monti Okeechobee, FL 9 17-01 89
Day 1: 5 09-12 Day 2: 4 07-05
113. Warren Gensel Brooksville, FL 8 16-15 88
Day 1: 3 07-10 Day 2: 5 09-05
114. Guy Eaker Cherryville, NC 10 16-14 87
Day 1: 5 05-09 Day 2: 5 11-05
115. Jack Dice Lynchburg, VA 10 16-14 86
Day 1: 5 09-08 Day 2: 5 07-06
116. Briana Tucker Trinity, AL 9 16-11 85
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 4 05-13
117. Casey Scanlon Eldon, MO 8 16-10 84
Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 3 06-09
118. Chancy Walters West Des Moines, IA 9 16-08 83
Day 1: 5 08-09 Day 2: 4 07-15
119. Christian Shoda Homosassa, FL 8 16-08 82
Day 1: 3 08-02 Day 2: 5 08-06
120. Evan Kung Pickering Ontario CANAD 10 16-06 81
Day 1: 5 08-02 Day 2: 5 08-04
121. Brandon McMillan Clewiston, FL 10 16-05 80
Day 1: 5 07-04 Day 2: 5 09-01
122. Kyle Goltz Cornell, WI 10 16-04 79
Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 5 07-06
123. Scott Isaacs Ladonia, TX 9 16-00 78
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 4 06-07
124. Daniel Rogers Morriston, FL 10 15-12 77
Day 1: 5 07-00 Day 2: 5 08-12
125. Erik Brztowski Lemont, IL 10 15-12 76
Day 1: 5 07-04 Day 2: 5 08-08
126. Logan Johnson Jasper, AL 9 15-04 75
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 4 04-06
127. Destin DeMarion Harborcreek, PA 7 15-02 74
Day 1: 4 11-07 Day 2: 3 03-11
128. Adam Rasmussen Sturgeon Bay, WI 9 14-12 73
Day 1: 4 06-11 Day 2: 5 08-01
129. Bobby Lanham Eddyville, KY 10 14-10 72
Day 1: 5 08-00 Day 2: 5 06-10
130. Cole Thompson Saint Cloud, FL 10 14-08 71
Day 1: 5 07-14 Day 2: 5 06-10
131. Jake Maddux Birmingham, AL 9 14-08 70
Day 1: 5 07-07 Day 2: 4 07-01
132. Ty Faber Pagosa Springs, CO 7 14-06 69
Day 1: 4 05-11 Day 2: 3 08-11
133. Paul Bouvier Kingston CANADA 10 14-06 68
Day 1: 5 06-02 Day 2: 5 08-04
134. Michael Wooten White House, TN 7 13-15 67
Day 1: 4 09-00 Day 2: 3 04-15
135. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 9 13-12 66
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 4 00-00
136. D.J. Ellis Leesburg, FL 5 13-12 65
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
137. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 9 13-05 64
Day 1: 4 05-09 Day 2: 5 07-12
138. Brad Leuthner Victoria, MN 7 13-04 63
Day 1: 2 04-07 Day 2: 5 08-13
139. Julius Mazy Phoenix, AZ 10 13-04 62
Day 1: 5 05-07 Day 2: 5 07-13
140. Mike Greenwell Alva, FL 8 13-01 61
Day 1: 3 04-02 Day 2: 5 08-15
141. Terry Segraves Kissimmee, FL 5 12-14 60
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
142. David Perdue Wirtz, VA 6 12-12 59
Day 1: 3 05-13 Day 2: 3 06-15
143. Mike Oncale Port Allen, LA 9 12-11 58
Day 1: 4 06-07 Day 2: 5 06-04
144. Jason Carpenter Castle Pines, CO 8 12-09 57
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 3 03-00
145. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 5 12-07 56
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
146. Frank Talley Temple, TX 5 12-05 55
Day 1: 5 12-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
147. Gary Caruso Baton Rouge, LA 8 12-01 54
Day 1: 3 04-07 Day 2: 5 07-10
148. Frank Williams Mountain Home, AR 9 11-10 53
Day 1: 4 05-01 Day 2: 5 06-09
149. Jess Beihoffer Soddy Daisy, TN 8 11-05 52
Day 1: 5 08-03 Day 2: 3 03-02
150. Cole Drummond Effingham, SC 5 11-04 51
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
150. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 5 11-04 51
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
152. Harry Peyton Guntersville, AL 9 10-11 49
Day 1: 5 06-01 Day 2: 4 04-10
153. Destry Ford Tuscaloosa, AL 8 10-01 48
Day 1: 3 03-03 Day 2: 5 06-14
154. Paul Browning Pecos, TX 6 10-01 47
Day 1: 2 04-03 Day 2: 4 05-14
155. Jeffrey Fosdyck Umatilla, FL 5 09-15 46
Day 1: 5 09-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
155. Brandon Tallhamer Parkersburg, WV 5 09-15 46
Day 1: 5 09-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
157. Bryan Jones Zephyrhills, FL 5 09-13 44
Day 1: 5 09-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
158. Scott Allgood Fair Play, SC 7 09-09 43
Day 1: 2 04-13 Day 2: 5 04-12
159. Chad Grigsby Maple Grove, MN 5 09-04 42
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
160. Allan Nail Sand Springs, OK 5 09-02 41
Day 1: 5 09-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
160. Jacob Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 5 09-02 41
Day 1: 5 09-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
162. Christian Greico Tampa, FL 5 09-01 39
Day 1: 5 09-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
163. Gary Ogden Sumrall, MS 3 09-00 38
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 2 07-04
164. Danny Hardy Cantonment, FL 5 08-14 37
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 08-14
165. Clayton Batts Butler, GA 5 08-12 36
Day 1: 5 08-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
165. Randall Carter Maplesville, AL 5 08-12 36
Day 1: 5 08-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
167. Jason Tibbetts Centreville, VA 5 08-04 34
Day 1: 5 08-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
168. Jerry Riddle Jr Summit, MS 6 07-13 33
Day 1: 4 05-14 Day 2: 2 01-15
169. Denny Fiedler Wabasha, MN 6 07-10 32
Day 1: 4 05-15 Day 2: 2 01-11
170. Kenji Yamada Hixson, TN 6 07-09 31
Day 1: 2 02-09 Day 2: 4 05-00
171. Shane Lineberger Lincolnton, NC 4 07-07 30
Day 1: 4 07-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
172. Frank Ramsey Spring Grove, IL 4 07-02 29
Day 1: 4 07-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
173. Tommy Young Orlando, FL 4 06-11 28
Day 1: 3 04-09 Day 2: 1 02-02
174. Clay Dyer Fayetteville, TN 4 06-01 27
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 4 06-01
175. Taylor Watkins Clinton, TN 4 05-06 26
Day 1: 4 05-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
176. Roland Stevens Prairieville, LA 4 05-00 25
Day 1: 3 04-00 Day 2: 1 01-00
177. A.J. Menssen Bloomington, IL 5 04-12 24
Day 1: 3 02-07 Day 2: 2 02-05
178. Dalton Dowdy Newberry, SC 4 04-06 23
Day 1: 4 04-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
179. Phil Killian Solomon, AZ 2 03-15 22
Day 1: 2 03-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
180. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 2 03-05 21
Day 1: 1 02-01 Day 2: 1 01-04
181. Koby Kreiger Alva, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
181. Harry Moore Valley, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 147 832 1818-02
2 123 731 1493-15
----------------------------------
270 1563 3312-01
2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Harris Chain 10/13-10/15
Harris Chain Of Lakes, Leesburg FL.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Pic Dieffenbauch Jr Hundred, WV 6 21-05 200 $17,000.00
Day 1: 3 13-14 Day 2: 3 07-07
2. Mike Spears Jasper, AL 6 19-05 199 $4,000.00
Day 1: 3 06-02 Day 2: 3 13-03
3. Riku Hayashi Ritto Shiga JAPAN 6 16-13 198 $3,000.00
Day 1: 3 10-08 Day 2: 3 06-05
4. Frank Lauria Wesley Chapel, FL 6 16-04 197 $2,250.00
Day 1: 3 08-05 Day 2: 3 07-15
5. Phillip Easterling Clanton, AL 5 15-08 196 $2,100.00
Day 1: 2 02-13 Day 2: 3 12-11
6. Clyde Roberts Marshall, NC 6 14-09 195 $2,000.00
Day 1: 3 07-01 Day 2: 3 07-08
7. Yukinori Kusabuka Ibaraki JAPAN 6 14-06 194 $1,900.00
Day 1: 3 10-08 Day 2: 3 03-14
8. Dusty Wood Belton, SC 6 13-12 193 $1,800.00
Day 1: 3 04-09 Day 2: 3 09-03
9. Eric Camarote The Villages, FL 6 13-12 192 $1,650.00
Day 1: 3 05-03 Day 2: 3 08-09
10. Dawson Wisner Palatka, FL 6 13-11 191 $1,500.00
Day 1: 3 04-15 Day 2: 3 08-12
11. Kyle Graham Flagler Beach, FL 6 13-11 190 $1,400.00
Day 1: 3 05-13 Day 2: 3 07-14
12. Chad Stahl Barnesville, GA 6 13-08 189 $1,300.00
Day 1: 3 04-00 Day 2: 3 09-08
13. Nathan Bloom Winter Springs, FL 6 13-08 188 $1,100.00
Day 1: 3 07-07 Day 2: 3 06-01
14. Dylan Mayo Athens, TX 5 13-06 187 $1,000.00
Day 1: 2 04-14 Day 2: 3 08-08
15. Larry Mullikin Jacksonville, FL 6 13-04 186 $900.00
Day 1: 3 08-08 Day 2: 3 04-12
16. Shane Davis Jacksonville, FL 5 12-11 185 $800.00
Day 1: 2 03-08 Day 2: 3 09-03
17. Sakae Ushio Tonawanda, NY 6 12-07 184 $750.00
Day 1: 3 04-12 Day 2: 3 07-11
18. Satoshi Egawa Fort Lee, NJ 6 12-06 183 $750.00
Day 1: 3 05-12 Day 2: 3 06-10
19. Avery Williams Murrells Inlt, SC 6 11-15 182 $750.00
Day 1: 3 08-08 Day 2: 3 03-07
20. Landon Parrish Trenton, FL 5 11-15 181 $750.00
Day 1: 3 07-13 Day 2: 2 04-02
21. Clayton Ellis Saltillo, MS 6 11-15 180 $700.00
Day 1: 3 07-07 Day 2: 3 04-08
22. Marrell Deering Rome, GA 6 11-14 179 $700.00
Day 1: 3 08-08 Day 2: 3 03-06
23. Troy Mims Suwanee, GA 6 11-09 178 $700.00
Day 1: 3 03-13 Day 2: 3 07-12
24. David Dimauro Longwood, FL 6 11-09 177 $700.00
Day 1: 3 07-10 Day 2: 3 03-15
25. Bobby Williams Salisbury, NC 6 11-07 176 $700.00
Day 1: 3 08-00 Day 2: 3 03-07
26. John Higginbotham Slaughter, LA 6 11-07 175 $600.00
Day 1: 3 04-06 Day 2: 3 07-01
27. Kevin Edwards Ruskin, FL 6 11-07 174 $600.00
Day 1: 3 06-11 Day 2: 3 04-12
28. Dylan Johnson Longwood, FL 6 11-07 173 $600.00
Day 1: 3 05-08 Day 2: 3 05-15
29. Chandler Howell Guntown, MS 4 11-05 172 $600.00
Day 1: 3 08-11 Day 2: 1 02-10
30. Blake Campbell Bremen, AL 6 11-05 171 $600.00
Day 1: 3 06-04 Day 2: 3 05-01
31. Michael Hill Daytona Beach Shores, F 6 11-05 170 $550.00
Day 1: 3 05-10 Day 2: 3 05-11
32. Thomas Crosswhite Hartwell, GA 5 11-02 169 $550.00
Day 1: 3 07-10 Day 2: 2 03-08
33. Ronnie Davidson Leesburg, FL 6 10-15 168 $550.00
Day 1: 3 06-04 Day 2: 3 04-11
34. Ronald Miller Attalla, AL 6 10-14 167 $550.00
Day 1: 3 09-04 Day 2: 3 01-10
35. Mark Moore Freeport, FL 6 10-13 166 $550.00
Day 1: 3 07-05 Day 2: 3 03-08
36. Wil Flack Smithers BC CANADA 5 10-08 165 $550.00
Day 1: 2 02-03 Day 2: 3 08-05
37. Ralph Gibson Locust Grove, OK 4 10-05 164 $550.00
Day 1: 3 08-15 Day 2: 1 01-06
38. Sho Egawa Osaka JAPAN 6 10-04 163 $550.00
Day 1: 3 03-05 Day 2: 3 06-15
39. Austin Nelson Apopka, FL 6 10-01 162 $550.00
Day 1: 3 03-12 Day 2: 3 06-05
40. Keir Sexton Clermont, FL 6 10-01 161 $550.00
Day 1: 3 06-00 Day 2: 3 04-01
41. Brian Strickland Yantis, TX 4 10-00 160
Day 1: 1 01-00 Day 2: 3 09-00
42. David Petrisko Jacksonville, FL 5 10-00 159
Day 1: 3 04-08 Day 2: 2 05-08
43. Ashton Smith Lake Helen, FL 6 09-14 158
Day 1: 3 05-13 Day 2: 3 04-01
44. Jimmy Brumfield Madison, MS 6 09-14 157
Day 1: 3 04-02 Day 2: 3 05-12
45. Ron Causey Spring Hill, FL 4 09-12 156
Day 1: 3 07-13 Day 2: 1 01-15
46. Rick Adams Lake Wales, FL 2 09-11 155 $250.00
Day 1: 1 01-10 Day 2: 1 08-01
47. Ronald Young New Braunfels, TX 5 09-11 154
Day 1: 3 07-10 Day 2: 2 02-01
48. Byong Lee Stedman, NC 5 09-09 153
Day 1: 3 07-01 Day 2: 2 02-08
49. Jerry Gonzalez Rivero Torreon Coah MEXICO 6 09-09 152
Day 1: 3 04-01 Day 2: 3 05-08
50. AJ Jones Lutz, FL 6 09-08 151
Day 1: 3 03-02 Day 2: 3 06-06
51. Matthew Rogers Chiefland, FL 4 09-07 150
Day 1: 3 04-06 Day 2: 1 05-01
52. John Lewis Centreville, VA 4 09-00 149
Day 1: 3 08-03 Day 2: 1 00-13
53. Chris Timmons Apopka, FL 6 08-15 148
Day 1: 3 05-02 Day 2: 3 03-13
54. Jordan McDonald Jackson, GA 5 08-15 147
Day 1: 3 04-07 Day 2: 2 04-08
55. Perry See Rochester, MN 5 08-14 146
Day 1: 3 06-04 Day 2: 2 02-10
56. Tim Rasmussen Orlando, FL 6 08-13 145
Day 1: 3 04-12 Day 2: 3 04-01
57. Jon Jezierski Troy, MI 5 08-11 144
Day 1: 3 04-14 Day 2: 2 03-13
58. Gary Haraguchi Murfreesboro, TN 4 08-10 143
Day 1: 3 06-01 Day 2: 1 02-09
59. Corey Yaden Grovetown, GA 5 08-10 142
Day 1: 3 04-09 Day 2: 2 04-01
60. Noah Reville Orlando, FL 6 08-09 141
Day 1: 3 05-14 Day 2: 3 02-11
61. John Haynes Gainesville, FL 3 08-06 140
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 08-06
62. Mark Wethington Liberty, KY 4 08-06 139
Day 1: 3 07-03 Day 2: 1 01-03
63. Jacob Altman Edgewood, TX 6 08-03 138
Day 1: 3 03-09 Day 2: 3 04-10
64. Michael Ryan Mount Dora , FL 6 08-02 137
Day 1: 3 03-01 Day 2: 3 05-01
65. Skyler Anderson Harlem, GA 5 08-01 136
Day 1: 3 05-13 Day 2: 2 02-04
66. Michael Murphy Umatilla, FL 6 08-01 135
Day 1: 3 04-14 Day 2: 3 03-03
67. Jeff Fellows Orlando, FL 5 08-00 134
Day 1: 2 03-14 Day 2: 3 04-02
68. Cal Teneyck Shakopee, MN 5 07-14 133
Day 1: 2 04-07 Day 2: 3 03-07
69. Kyle Mckinney Cedartown, GA 3 07-13 132
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 07-13
70. Jack Taft Winter Garden, FL 5 07-13 131
Day 1: 3 03-14 Day 2: 2 03-15
71. Bailey Rothrock Milan, MI 5 07-12 130
Day 1: 2 03-14 Day 2: 3 03-14
72. Satoshi Yaguchi Ibaraki JAPAN 4 07-11 129
Day 1: 1 02-05 Day 2: 3 05-06
73. Adam Sangster Sanford, FL 6 07-10 128
Day 1: 3 04-03 Day 2: 3 03-07
74. Buddy Rohn Jacksonville, FL 5 07-09 127
Day 1: 3 04-06 Day 2: 2 03-03
75. Michael Leach Shenandoah, TX 6 07-09 126
Day 1: 3 03-11 Day 2: 3 03-14
76. Cody Richardson Gautier, MS 5 07-07 125
Day 1: 3 04-09 Day 2: 2 02-14
77. Jeffery Davis Palm Bay, FL 5 07-07 124
Day 1: 3 03-13 Day 2: 2 03-10
78. Steve Deyton Forest City, NC 3 07-04 123
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 07-04
79. Jon Brown Brandon, FL 4 07-03 122
Day 1: 3 05-14 Day 2: 1 01-05
80. Jay Kamensky Plantation, FL 4 07-03 121
Day 1: 2 03-05 Day 2: 2 03-14
81. Rick Ivy Ponder, TX 5 06-14 120
Day 1: 2 03-03 Day 2: 3 03-11
82. Rick Cheatham Carterville, IL 4 06-12 119
Day 1: 3 04-11 Day 2: 1 02-01
83. Ray Larson Springfield, IL 4 06-11 118
Day 1: 3 05-12 Day 2: 1 00-15
84. Mike Tenda Casselberry, FL 3 06-11 117
Day 1: 2 04-14 Day 2: 1 01-13
85. Stephen Mcpherson Minneola, FL 6 06-11 116
Day 1: 3 02-14 Day 2: 3 03-13
86. Larry Davis Gladewater, TX 2 06-09 115
Day 1: 2 06-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
87. Greg Fernandez Palm Harbor, FL 5 06-09 114
Day 1: 2 01-14 Day 2: 3 04-11
88. Frankie Spicer Brandon, FL 5 06-09 113
Day 1: 3 04-09 Day 2: 2 02-00
89. Jimmy Bass Ocala, FL 5 06-08 112
Day 1: 2 01-13 Day 2: 3 04-11
90. George Malcolm Gainesville, FL 3 06-06 111
Day 1: 3 06-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
91. David Booth Erin, TN 3 06-06 110
Day 1: 1 02-05 Day 2: 2 04-01
92. Ray Hill Lake City, FL 6 06-05 109
Day 1: 3 06-05 Day 2: 3 00-00
93. Tristan Bramblett Tiger, GA 4 06-04 108
Day 1: 1 01-02 Day 2: 3 05-02
94. Steven Obester Palatka, FL 4 06-04 107
Day 1: 3 03-13 Day 2: 1 02-07
95. Jeff Baffa Estero, FL 3 06-01 106
Day 1: 1 01-14 Day 2: 2 04-03
96. Jim Bland Ocala, FL 6 06-01 105
Day 1: 3 03-00 Day 2: 3 03-01
97. Robbie Anderson Crystal River, FL 3 05-14 104
Day 1: 3 05-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
98. Scott Waters Saint Cloud, FL 3 05-09 103
Day 1: 3 05-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
99. Chris Westhelle Sanford, FL 3 05-02 102
Day 1: 3 05-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
100. Jackie Flack Cullman, AL 3 05-00 101
Day 1: 3 05-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
101. Alvin Jenkins Savannah, GA 4 05-00 100
Day 1: 3 03-11 Day 2: 1 01-05
102. Zach Burell Gainesville, FL 4 04-14 99
Day 1: 1 00-11 Day 2: 3 04-03
103. Allen Heston Pittsburg, TX 3 04-12 98
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 04-12
104. Nick Richey Aledo, TX 3 04-10 97
Day 1: 3 04-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
105. Craig Cavanna Spring Hill, FL 3 04-09 96
Day 1: 3 04-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
106. John Searles Jr. Townville, SC 4 04-09 95
Day 1: 3 03-08 Day 2: 1 01-01
107. Chris Earles Lady Lake, FL 4 04-09 94
Day 1: 2 02-02 Day 2: 2 02-07
108. Antoni Bicy Ocklawaha, FL 2 04-05 93
Day 1: 1 02-15 Day 2: 1 01-06
109. James Cornell Longwood, FL 3 04-04 92
Day 1: 3 04-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
110. Fred Rigdon Belleview, FL 3 04-03 91
Day 1: 3 04-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
111. Michael Robel Bradenton, FL 2 04-02 90
Day 1: 1 01-00 Day 2: 1 03-02
112. Emiliano Zucchi Port Orange, FL 2 04-01 89
Day 1: 1 01-15 Day 2: 1 02-02
113. James Cottingham Panama City, FL 2 03-15 88
Day 1: 2 03-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
114. Philip Morris Jr Raleigh, NC 3 03-14 87
Day 1: 3 03-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
115. Todd Boyd Lynn Haven, FL 2 03-14 86
Day 1: 2 03-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
116. Johnnie Garrett Union City, TN 3 03-13 85
Day 1: 2 02-12 Day 2: 1 01-01
117. Eddie Kidd Fort Benning, GA 3 03-08 84
Day 1: 1 01-07 Day 2: 2 02-01
118. Dehn Ganey Bonneau, SC 2 03-07 83
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 03-07
119. Stephen Toth Alachua, FL 2 03-05 82
Day 1: 1 00-14 Day 2: 1 02-07
120. Carl Hunter Snellville, GA 3 03-04 81
Day 1: 3 03-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
120. Randy Tallhamer Brandenton, FL 3 03-04 81
Day 1: 3 03-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
122. Bill Hutchison Jr. Bessemer, AL 2 03-03 79
Day 1: 2 03-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
123. Thomas Abraham Winchester, TN 3 03-03 78
Day 1: 1 01-01 Day 2: 2 02-02
124. Johnny Ward Jr Ludowici, GA 3 03-02 77
Day 1: 3 03-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
125. Randy Lawrence Pensacola, FL 3 03-01 76
Day 1: 1 00-15 Day 2: 2 02-02
126. Jonathan Barnette Jasper, AL 3 02-15 75
Day 1: 3 02-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
127. Brian Rothrock Monticello, IN 2 02-13 74
Day 1: 2 02-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
128. Cody Koehler Acworth, GA 2 02-13 73
Day 1: 1 01-13 Day 2: 1 01-00
129. Gary Saxarra Tavares, FL 2 02-11 72
Day 1: 1 01-01 Day 2: 1 01-10
130. Alonzo Evans Jr Topeka, KS 2 02-09 71
Day 1: 1 00-11 Day 2: 1 01-14
131. Josh Roberts Ocala, FL 1 02-08 70
Day 1: 1 02-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
132. Glenn Bailey Temple Terrace, FL 2 02-04 69
Day 1: 1 01-01 Day 2: 1 01-03
133. Zachery Kuhn Summerfield, FL 2 02-03 68
Day 1: 2 02-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
134. Zach Pringle Newton, NC 1 02-02 67
Day 1: 1 02-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
135. Steven Smith Logan, OH 1 01-11 66
Day 1: 1 01-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
136. Akeem Marsh Wildwood, FL 2 01-11 65
Day 1: 1 00-12 Day 2: 1 00-15
137. Matthew Ball Groveland, FL 1 01-10 64
Day 1: 1 01-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
137. JW Battle Jr. Orlando, FL 1 01-10 64
Day 1: 1 01-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
139. Ben Shuler Nokomis, FL 1 01-09 62
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-09
140. William Carrasquillo Clermont, FL 1 01-07 61
Day 1: 1 01-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
141. Brian Jones Meridianville, AL 1 01-03 60
Day 1: 1 01-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
142. Jim Williams Winter Springs, GA 1 00-12 59
Day 1: 1 00-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
143. Daniel Hart Orlando, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
143. Darrell Hille Springfield, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
143. Kevin Mallow Kansas, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
143. Bob Morin Seymour, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
143. John Mortimer Mount Pleasant, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
143. David Patterson Flowood, MS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
143. Greg Sloan Chipley, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
143. Jeffery Strong Sharpsburg, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 89 334 609-12
2 65 267 499-07
----------------------------------
154 601 1109-03
Messer adjusts and takes Bassmaster Open lead at Harris Chain of Lakes
Matt Messer of Warfield, Ky., is leading after Day 1 of the 2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Harris Chain of Lakes with 24 pounds, 6 ounces.
Photo by Andy Crawford/B.A.S.S.
October 13, 2023
LEESBURG, Fla. — Most folks love it when a plan comes together.
But Matt Messer is actually pretty stoked that his did not initially work.
As much as it pained Messer to shift gears from his starting area and technique, doing so delivered a limit of 24 pounds, 6 ounces, which leads Day 1 of the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Harris Chain of Lakes.
Hailing from Warfield, Ky., Messer heads into Championship Saturday — the event was shortened to two days due to inclement weather on Thursday — with a lead of 3-9 over Ben Milliken of New Caney, Texas.
“I had something I was going to run, but I only had two keepers at almost 11 o’clock. I had to completely switch everything,” Messer said. “I have a way that I can catch a limit pretty easily, but I knew I wasn’t going to win doing it, so I completely scrapped that.
“I’ve fished this place a bunch. I love this place and it ended up working out. I got a couple of the right bites.”
Anchoring his bag with a 7-14 largemouth, Messer also had a 7-2.
No stranger to these waters, Messer and his brother, Kentucky Christian University teammate Lafe Messer, won the Bassmaster College Series event at Harris Chain in 2022 with a two-day total of 61 pounds, 13 ounces that included monster bags of 25-6 and 36-7, a College Series single-day record.
After severe weather prompted the postponement of Day 1, the full field is now fishing both Friday and Saturday instead of the traditional format of trimming the field to the Top 10 for the third and final day.
With the heavy rains and strong winds roiling the Harris Chain, Messer found much of his success flipping a Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Creature Hawg. While many chose to flip hydrilla and Kissimmee grass, Messer opted to target pads, eelgrass and shellbars.
“This is the dirtiest I’ve seen this water,” Messer said. “I think I could have caught ‘em on some of the stuff I started on this morning. I’m glad I didn’t because I ended up finding good ones elsewhere.”
In addition to his creature bait, Messer caught keepers on a Zoom Speed Worm and a buzzbait.
“I started catching them early, and I junk fished my way to a limit,” he said. “The two big ones came between noon and 1. Both of them were pretty close.
“I fished Lake Harris, Eustis and Griffin. I have a lot of history on this place, so I was just running around checking stuff. I wasn’t really on anything (solid).”
Milliken, who won the Bassmaster Open at Toledo Bend in mid-April, is in second place with 20-13. Stating that he was committed to his areas regardless of weather, Milliken said he was pleasantly surprised with the quality he encountered.
“I was just fortunate to find a spot with a big group of fish on Day 2 of practice,” Milliken said. “I never went back there in practice, so I had no idea what it was going to be like when I got there this morning.
“I fished multiple lakes today, but I’m going to narrow it down tomorrow because I know what I’m doing. One lake had all of them — one spot.”
Fishing in what he described as a mid-depth range, Milliken said he caught his bass on a mixture of dragging baits, cranking and a big glidebait.
Bassmaster Elite Series pro John Soukup of Sapulpa, Okla., is in third place with 19-10. Parking in one lake all day, Soukup put his faith in an offshore grass area he had located during practice.
“It was a whole day of figuring out what the bass were going to do — was (Thursday’s weather) going to pack them into their areas really tight, or was it going to loosen them up because the weather started getting good and they started feeling good,” Soukup pondered. “It was a little bit of both.
“I think the weather drew more fish into the cover, and they started biting early and kept going and going and going.”
Noting he threw mostly reaction baits, Soukup said he had several other boats in close proximity, but none seemed to fare as well as he did. The key, he said, was stepping on the gas.
“It was speed, weight, bait,” Soukup said. “I was being way more aggressive than everyone else.
“When other guys came through my area, I could see they were struggling. When people are struggling, they usually think they have to slow down. But sometimes to trigger fish in Florida, you need a heavier weight and a faster presentation.”
Messer is in the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors with his 7-14.
Pic Dieffenbauch Jr. of Hundred, W.Va., leads the co-angler division with 13-4. With a 6-15 anchoring his limit, Dieffenbauch established a margin of 3-6 over Yukinori Kusabuka of Ibaraki, Japan.
“I threw some moving baits and I did some flipping,” Dieffenbauch said. “I caught the big one on a flipping bait in the afternoon.
“It kind of surprised me because it was later in the day. It wasn’t even in the cover. It was just out in the open water.”
Dieffenbauch holds the Phoenix Boats Big Bass lead among co-anglers with his 6-15.
JT Thompkins of Myrtle Beach, S.C., leads the Bassmaster Opens Elite Qualifiers standings with 1667 points. The EQ season standings will be decided after Saturday’s rounds, with the top nine finishers earning invitations to fish the 2024 Bassmaster Elite Series.
Saturday’s takeoff is scheduled for 7:15 a.m. ET at Ski Beach and the weigh-in will be held back at the launch site at 3:15 p.m. FS1 will broadcast live with the leaders beginning at 8 a.m. with continuing coverage on Bassmaster.com.
2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Harris Chain 10/13-10/15
Harris Chain Of Lakes, Leesburg FL.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Matt Messer Warfield, KY 5 24-06 200
Day 1: 5 24-06
2. Ben Milliken New Caney, TX 5 20-13 199
Day 1: 5 20-13
3. John Soukup Sapulpa, OK 5 19-10 198
Day 1: 5 19-10
4. Wesley Gore Clanton, AL 5 18-15 197
Day 1: 5 18-15
5. Tyler Lubbat Wheeling, IL 5 18-02 196
Day 1: 5 18-02
6. Chad Prough Chipley, FL 5 17-05 195
Day 1: 5 17-05
7. Takayuki Koike Otsu-City JAPAN 5 16-13 194
Day 1: 5 16-13
7. Mike Mayo Athens, TX 5 16-13 194
Day 1: 5 16-13
9. Trevor McKinney Benton, IL 5 16-12 192
Day 1: 5 16-12
10. Ish Monroe Oakdale, CA 5 16-11 191
Day 1: 5 16-11
11. Blake Sylvester Plaquemine, LA 5 15-14 190
Day 1: 5 15-14
11. Alex Wetherell Middletown, CT 5 15-14 190
Day 1: 5 15-14
13. Teb Jones Yalaha, MS 5 15-13 188
Day 1: 5 15-13
14. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 5 15-11 187
Day 1: 5 15-11
15. Louis Monetti Brielle, NJ 5 15-04 186
Day 1: 5 15-04
16. Tyler Williams Belgrade, ME 5 15-03 185
Day 1: 5 15-03
17. Brady Vernon Sterrett, AL 5 14-07 184
Day 1: 5 14-07
18. Billy McDonald Greenwood, IN 5 14-05 183
Day 1: 5 14-05
19. Zack Smith Starke, FL 5 14-02 182
Day 1: 5 14-02
20. JT Russell Mc Calla, AL 5 14-00 181
Day 1: 5 14-00
21. Griffin Phillips Mount Olive, AL 5 13-15 180
Day 1: 5 13-15
22. Miles Burghoff Dayton, TN 5 13-12 179
Day 1: 5 13-12
22. Craig Chambers Midland, NC 5 13-12 179
Day 1: 5 13-12
22. D.J. Ellis Leesburg, FL 5 13-12 179
Day 1: 5 13-12
22. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 5 13-12 179
Day 1: 5 13-12
26. Bryan New Saluda, SC 5 13-10 175
Day 1: 5 13-10
27. Keith Tuma Brainerd, MN 5 13-09 174
Day 1: 5 13-09
28. Keith Bardolf Abbeville, AL 5 13-07 173
Day 1: 5 13-07
29. Dave Turner Citrus Springs, FL 5 13-07 172
Day 1: 5 13-07
30. Billy Charland Lakeland, FL 5 13-05 171
Day 1: 5 13-05
31. Andrew Hargrove Moody, TX 5 13-02 170
Day 1: 5 13-02
31. Dale Hightower Mannford, OK 5 13-02 170
Day 1: 5 13-02
31. Alex Murray Lake Charles, LA 5 13-02 170
Day 1: 5 13-02
31. Daniel Valois Gomez Caracas FL VENEZUELA 5 13-02 170
Day 1: 5 13-02
35. Ron Ryals Jr Live Oak, FL 5 12-14 166
Day 1: 5 12-14
35. Terry Segraves Kissimmee, FL 5 12-14 166
Day 1: 5 12-14
37. Chris Blanchette Edisto Island, SC 5 12-13 164
Day 1: 5 12-13
37. Jack York Emory, TX 5 12-13 164
Day 1: 5 12-13
39. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 5 12-12 162
Day 1: 5 12-12
39. Kurt Mitchell Milford, DE 5 12-12 162
Day 1: 5 12-12
39. Chad Warren Sand Springs, OK 5 12-12 162
Day 1: 5 12-12
42. Shaine Campbell Brookeland, TX 5 12-10 159
Day 1: 5 12-10
42. Allen Johnson Trinity, AL 5 12-10 159
Day 1: 5 12-10
44. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 5 12-07 157
Day 1: 5 12-07
45. Frank Talley Temple, TX 5 12-05 156
Day 1: 5 12-05
46. Trey McKinney Carbondale, IL 5 12-03 155
Day 1: 5 12-03
46. David Wootton Collierville, TN 5 12-03 155
Day 1: 5 12-03
48. Bo Thomas Edwardsburg, MI 5 12-03 153
Day 1: 5 12-03
49. Justin Kimmel Athens, GA 5 12-03 152
Day 1: 5 12-03
50. Jack Tindel III Orange, TX 5 12-02 151
Day 1: 5 12-02
51. Kyle Austin Ridgeville, SC 5 12-01 150
Day 1: 5 12-01
51. Brian Post Janesville, WI 5 12-01 150
Day 1: 5 12-01
53. Robert Gee Knoxville, TN 5 12-01 148
Day 1: 5 12-01
53. Parker Mott Winter Garden, FL 5 12-01 148
Day 1: 5 12-01
55. Brett Cannon Kiln, MS 5 12-00 146
Day 1: 5 12-00
56. Colby Robertson Summerfield, FL 5 11-15 145
Day 1: 5 11-15
57. Bobby Lane Jr. Lakeland, FL 5 11-12 144
Day 1: 5 11-12
58. Mike Surman Boca Raton, FL 5 11-11 143
Day 1: 5 11-11
58. Jimmy Washam Stantonville, TN 5 11-11 143
Day 1: 5 11-11
60. Hunter Bland Williston, FL 5 11-10 141
Day 1: 5 11-10
61. Matt Henry Milledgeville, GA 5 11-09 140
Day 1: 5 11-09
61. Keith Nemcek St Charles, IL 5 11-09 140
Day 1: 5 11-09
63. Chase Clarke Virginia Beach, VA 5 11-08 138
Day 1: 5 11-08
63. Tim Frederick Leesburg, FL 5 11-08 138
Day 1: 5 11-08
65. Destin DeMarion Harborcreek, PA 4 11-07 136
Day 1: 4 11-07
66. Kenta Kimura Osaka JAPAN 5 11-06 135
Day 1: 5 11-06
67. Wil Dieffenbauch III Hundred, WV 5 11-05 134
Day 1: 5 11-05
68. Cole Drummond Effingham, SC 5 11-04 133
Day 1: 5 11-04
68. John Garrett Union City, TN 5 11-04 133
Day 1: 5 11-04
68. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 5 11-04 133
Day 1: 5 11-04
71. David Kilgore Jasper, AL 5 11-03 130
Day 1: 5 11-03
71. Kyle Patrick Cooperstown, NY 5 11-03 130
Day 1: 5 11-03
73. Scout Echols Monticello, AR 5 11-02 128
Day 1: 5 11-02
73. Tripp Noojin Bryant, AL 5 11-02 128
Day 1: 5 11-02
75. Danny Ramsey Trinidad, TX 5 11-01 126
Day 1: 5 11-01
76. Cody Detweiler Guntersville, AL 5 10-14 125
Day 1: 5 10-14
76. Logan Johnson Jasper, AL 5 10-14 125
Day 1: 5 10-14
76. Briana Tucker Trinity, AL 5 10-14 125
Day 1: 5 10-14
79. Greg Bohannan Bentonville, AR 5 10-14 122
Day 1: 5 10-14
80. Scott Gibbs Rome, GA 5 10-13 121
Day 1: 5 10-13
81. Chris Kingree Inverness, FL 5 10-11 120
Day 1: 5 10-11
82. Scott Kerslake Okeechobee, FL 5 10-10 119
Day 1: 5 10-10
83. Josh Hubbard Dunnellon, FL 5 10-09 118
Day 1: 5 10-09
84. Cody Stahl Barnsville, GA 5 10-08 117
Day 1: 5 10-08
85. Josh Bragg Fayetteville, GA 5 10-05 116
Day 1: 5 10-05
86. Lafe Messer Warfield, KY 5 10-02 115
Day 1: 5 10-02
87. Casey Scanlon Eldon, MO 5 10-01 114
Day 1: 5 10-01
88. Jeffrey Fosdyck Umatilla, FL 5 09-15 113
Day 1: 5 09-15
88. Daisuke Kita Ostu Shiga JAPAN 5 09-15 113
Day 1: 5 09-15
88. Lance Owen Greer, SC 5 09-15 113
Day 1: 5 09-15
88. Brandon Tallhamer Parkersburg, WV 5 09-15 113
Day 1: 5 09-15
92. Trey Swindle Cleveland, AL 5 09-14 109
Day 1: 5 09-14
93. Jason Meninger Yulee, FL 5 09-13 108
Day 1: 5 09-13
94. Jacob Bigelow Cecil, WI 5 09-13 107
Day 1: 5 09-13
94. Bryan Jones Zephyrhills, FL 5 09-13 107
Day 1: 5 09-13
96. Kyle Monti Okeechobee, FL 5 09-12 105
Day 1: 5 09-12
97. Harvey Horne Bella Vista, AR 5 09-11 104
Day 1: 5 09-11
97. Derek Lehtonen Woodruff, SC 5 09-11 104
Day 1: 5 09-11
99. Hunter Sales Blaine, TN 5 09-10 102
Day 1: 5 09-10
100. Jason Carpenter Castle Pines, CO 5 09-09 101
Day 1: 5 09-09
100. Scott Isaacs Ladonia, TX 5 09-09 101
Day 1: 5 09-09
102. Jack Dice Lynchburg, VA 5 09-08 99
Day 1: 5 09-08
103. Tim Arnold Crane Hill, AL 5 09-08 98
Day 1: 5 09-08
104. Austin Cranford Norman, OK 5 09-07 97
Day 1: 5 09-07
105. Justin Barnes Ellaville, GA 5 09-06 96
Day 1: 5 09-06
105. Caleb Gibson Locust Grove, OK 5 09-06 96
Day 1: 5 09-06
107. Logan Parks Auburn, AL 5 09-05 94
Day 1: 5 09-05
108. Chris Beaudrie Princeton, KY 5 09-04 93
Day 1: 5 09-04
108. Cody Bertrand Dyer, IN 5 09-04 93
Day 1: 5 09-04
108. Blake Smith Lakeland, FL 5 09-04 93
Day 1: 5 09-04
111. Chad Grigsby Maple Grove, MN 5 09-04 90
Day 1: 5 09-04
112. Allan Nail Sand Springs, OK 5 09-02 89
Day 1: 5 09-02
112. Jacob Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 5 09-02 89
Day 1: 5 09-02
114. Christian Greico Tampa, FL 5 09-01 87
Day 1: 5 09-01
115. Michael Wooten White House, TN 4 09-00 86
Day 1: 4 09-00
116. Allen Brooks Canton, GA 5 08-14 85
Day 1: 5 08-14
116. Kyle Goltz Cornell, WI 5 08-14 85
Day 1: 5 08-14
118. Ryan Clark Whitby Ontario CANADA 5 08-13 83
Day 1: 5 08-13
119. Clayton Batts Butler, GA 5 08-12 82
Day 1: 5 08-12
119. Randall Carter Maplesville, AL 5 08-12 82
Day 1: 5 08-12
121. Andrew Harp Linden, TX 5 08-11 80
Day 1: 5 08-11
122. Jason Lambert Savannah, TN 5 08-10 79
Day 1: 5 08-10
123. Chancy Walters West Des Moines, IA 5 08-09 78
Day 1: 5 08-09
124. Joey Bloom Winter Springs, FL 5 08-08 77
Day 1: 5 08-08
124. Clark Reehm Elm Grove, LA 5 08-08 77
Day 1: 5 08-08
126. Jamie Bruce Kenora Ontario CANADA 5 08-07 75
Day 1: 5 08-07
127. Jonathan Dietz Corry, PA 5 08-06 74
Day 1: 5 08-06
128. Dustin Neat Dunnville, KY 5 08-05 73
Day 1: 5 08-05
129. Joey Hanna Corsicana, TX 5 08-05 72
Day 1: 5 08-05
130. Jason Tibbetts Centreville, VA 5 08-04 71
Day 1: 5 08-04
130. B.J. Usie Bourg, LA 5 08-04 71
Day 1: 5 08-04
132. Jess Beihoffer Soddy Daisy, TN 5 08-03 69
Day 1: 5 08-03
133. Evan Kung Pickering Ontario CANAD 5 08-02 68
Day 1: 5 08-02
134. Christian Shoda Homosassa, FL 3 08-02 67
Day 1: 3 08-02
135. Keith Brumfield Vicksburg, MS 5 08-01 66
Day 1: 5 08-01
136. Bobby Lanham Eddyville, KY 5 08-00 65
Day 1: 5 08-00
137. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 5 07-15 64
Day 1: 5 07-15
138. Cole Thompson Saint Cloud, FL 5 07-14 63
Day 1: 5 07-14
139. Brayden Rakes Winston Salem, NC 5 07-12 62
Day 1: 5 07-12
140. Warren Gensel Brooksville, FL 3 07-10 61
Day 1: 3 07-10
141. Sam George Athens, AL 5 07-07 60
Day 1: 5 07-07
141. Jake Maddux Birmingham, AL 5 07-07 60
Day 1: 5 07-07
143. Shane Lineberger Lincolnton, NC 4 07-07 58
Day 1: 4 07-07
144. Erik Brztowski Lemont, IL 5 07-04 57
Day 1: 5 07-04
144. Brandon McMillan Clewiston, FL 5 07-04 57
Day 1: 5 07-04
146. Frank Ramsey Spring Grove, IL 4 07-02 55
Day 1: 4 07-02
147. Daniel Rogers Morriston, FL 5 07-00 54
Day 1: 5 07-00
148. Joey Nania Cropwell, AL 5 06-13 53
Day 1: 5 06-13
149. Adam Rasmussen Sturgeon Bay, WI 4 06-11 52
Day 1: 4 06-11
150. Clayton Wiggins Sorrento, FL 5 06-07 51
Day 1: 5 06-07
151. Mike Oncale Port Allen, LA 4 06-07 50
Day 1: 4 06-07
152. Paul Bouvier Kingston CANADA 5 06-02 49
Day 1: 5 06-02
153. Darrell Davis Dover, FL 4 06-02 48
Day 1: 4 06-02
154. Harry Peyton Guntersville, AL 5 06-01 47
Day 1: 5 06-01
155. Denny Fiedler Wabasha, MN 4 05-15 46
Day 1: 4 05-15
156. Jerry Riddle Jr Summit, MS 4 05-14 45
Day 1: 4 05-14
157. David Perdue Wirtz, VA 3 05-13 44
Day 1: 3 05-13
158. Ty Faber Pagosa Springs, CO 4 05-11 43
Day 1: 4 05-11
159. Guy Eaker Cherryville, NC 5 05-09 42
Day 1: 5 05-09
160. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 4 05-09 41
Day 1: 4 05-09
161. Julius Mazy Phoenix, AZ 5 05-07 40
Day 1: 5 05-07
162. Taylor Watkins Clinton, TN 4 05-06 39
Day 1: 4 05-06
163. Frank Williams Mountain Home, AR 4 05-01 38
Day 1: 4 05-01
164. Scott Allgood Fair Play, SC 2 04-13 37
Day 1: 2 04-13
165. Lee Young Orlando, FL 3 04-09 36
Day 1: 3 04-09
166. Gary Caruso Baton Rouge, LA 3 04-07 35
Day 1: 3 04-07
167. Brad Leuthner Victoria, MN 2 04-07 34
Day 1: 2 04-07
168. Dalton Dowdy Newberry, SC 4 04-06 33
Day 1: 4 04-06
169. Paul Browning Pecos, TX 2 04-03 32
Day 1: 2 04-03
170. Mike Greenwell Alva, FL 3 04-02 31
Day 1: 3 04-02
171. Tony Dumitras Winston, GA 2 04-01 30
Day 1: 2 04-01
172. Roland Stevens Prairieville, LA 3 04-00 29
Day 1: 3 04-00
173. Phil Killian Solomon, AZ 2 03-15 28
Day 1: 2 03-15
174. Destry Ford Tuscaloosa, AL 3 03-03 27
Day 1: 3 03-03
175. Kenji Yamada Hixson, TN 2 02-09 26
Day 1: 2 02-09
176. A.J. Menssen Bloomington, IL 3 02-07 25
Day 1: 3 02-07
177. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 1 02-01 24
Day 1: 1 02-01
178. Gary Ogden Sumrall, MS 1 01-12 23
Day 1: 1 01-12
179. Clay Dyer Fayetteville, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
179. Danny Hardy Cantonment, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
179. Koby Kreiger Alva, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
179. Harry Moore Valley, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 147 832 1818-02
----------------------------------
147 832 1818-02
2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Harris Chain 10/13-10/15
Harris Chain Of Lakes, Leesburg FL.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Pic Dieffenbauch Jr Hundred, WV 3 13-14 200
Day 1: 3 13-14
2. Yukinori Kusabuka Ibaraki JAPAN 3 10-08 199
Day 1: 3 10-08
3. Riku Hayashi Ritto Shiga JAPAN 3 10-08 198
Day 1: 3 10-08
4. Ronald Miller Attalla, AL 3 09-04 197
Day 1: 3 09-04
5. Ralph Gibson Locust Grove, OK 3 08-15 196
Day 1: 3 08-15
6. Chandler Howell Guntown, MS 3 08-11 195
Day 1: 3 08-11
7. Marrell Deering Rome, GA 3 08-08 194
Day 1: 3 08-08
7. Larry Mullikin Jacksonville, FL 3 08-08 194
Day 1: 3 08-08
7. Avery Williams Murrells Inlt, SC 3 08-08 194
Day 1: 3 08-08
10. Frank Lauria Wesley Chapel, FL 3 08-05 191
Day 1: 3 08-05
11. John Lewis Centreville, VA 3 08-03 190
Day 1: 3 08-03
12. Bobby Williams Salisbury, NC 3 08-00 189
Day 1: 3 08-00
13. Ron Causey Spring Hill, FL 3 07-13 188
Day 1: 3 07-13
13. Landon Parrish Trenton, FL 3 07-13 188
Day 1: 3 07-13
15. Thomas Crosswhite Hartwell, GA 3 07-10 186
Day 1: 3 07-10
15. David Dimauro Longwood, FL 3 07-10 186
Day 1: 3 07-10
15. Ronald Young New Braunfels, TX 3 07-10 186
Day 1: 3 07-10
18. Nathan Bloom Winter Springs, FL 3 07-07 183
Day 1: 3 07-07
18. Clayton Ellis Saltillo, MS 3 07-07 183
Day 1: 3 07-07
20. Mark Moore Freeport, FL 3 07-05 181
Day 1: 3 07-05
21. Mark Wethington Liberty, KY 3 07-03 180
Day 1: 3 07-03
22. Byong Lee Stedman, NC 3 07-01 179
Day 1: 3 07-01
22. Clyde Roberts Marshall, NC 3 07-01 179
Day 1: 3 07-01
24. Kevin Edwards Ruskin, FL 3 06-11 177
Day 1: 3 06-11
25. Larry Davis Gladewater, TX 2 06-09 176
Day 1: 2 06-09
26. George Malcolm Gainesville, FL 3 06-06 175
Day 1: 3 06-06
27. Ray Hill Lake City, FL 3 06-05 174
Day 1: 3 06-05
28. Blake Campbell Bremen, AL 3 06-04 173
Day 1: 3 06-04
28. Ronnie Davidson Leesburg, FL 3 06-04 173
Day 1: 3 06-04
28. Perry See Rochester, MN 3 06-04 173
Day 1: 3 06-04
31. Mike Spears Jasper, AL 3 06-02 170
Day 1: 3 06-02
32. Gary Haraguchi Murfreesboro, TN 3 06-01 169
Day 1: 3 06-01
33. Keir Sexton Clermont, FL 3 06-00 168
Day 1: 3 06-00
34. Robbie Anderson Crystal River, FL 3 05-14 167
Day 1: 3 05-14
34. Jon Brown Brandon, FL 3 05-14 167
Day 1: 3 05-14
34. Noah Reville Orlando, FL 3 05-14 167
Day 1: 3 05-14
37. Skyler Anderson Harlem, GA 3 05-13 164
Day 1: 3 05-13
37. Kyle Graham Flagler Beach, FL 3 05-13 164
Day 1: 3 05-13
37. Ashton Smith Lake Helen, FL 3 05-13 164
Day 1: 3 05-13
40. Satoshi Egawa Fort Lee, NJ 3 05-12 161
Day 1: 3 05-12
40. Ray Larson Springfield, IL 3 05-12 161
Day 1: 3 05-12
42. Michael Hill Daytona Beach Shores, F 3 05-10 159
Day 1: 3 05-10
43. Scott Waters Saint Cloud, FL 3 05-09 158
Day 1: 3 05-09
44. Dylan Johnson Longwood, FL 3 05-08 157
Day 1: 3 05-08
45. Eric Camarote The Villages, FL 3 05-03 156
Day 1: 3 05-03
46. Chris Timmons Apopka, FL 3 05-02 155
Day 1: 3 05-02
46. Chris Westhelle Sanford, FL 3 05-02 155
Day 1: 3 05-02
48. Jackie Flack Cullman, AL 3 05-00 153
Day 1: 3 05-00
49. Dawson Wisner Palatka, FL 3 04-15 152
Day 1: 3 04-15
50. Jon Jezierski Troy, MI 3 04-14 151
Day 1: 3 04-14
50. Michael Murphy Umatilla, FL 3 04-14 151
Day 1: 3 04-14
52. Dylan Mayo Athens, TX 2 04-14 149
Day 1: 2 04-14
52. Mike Tenda Casselberry, FL 2 04-14 149
Day 1: 2 04-14
54. Tim Rasmussen Orlando, FL 3 04-12 147
Day 1: 3 04-12
54. Sakae Ushio Tonawanda, NY 3 04-12 147
Day 1: 3 04-12
56. Rick Cheatham Carterville, IL 3 04-11 145
Day 1: 3 04-11
57. Nick Richey Aledo, TX 3 04-10 144
Day 1: 3 04-10
58. Craig Cavanna Spring Hill, FL 3 04-09 143
Day 1: 3 04-09
58. Cody Richardson Gautier, MS 3 04-09 143
Day 1: 3 04-09
58. Frankie Spicer Brandon, FL 3 04-09 143
Day 1: 3 04-09
58. Dusty Wood Belton, SC 3 04-09 143
Day 1: 3 04-09
58. Corey Yaden Grovetown, GA 3 04-09 143
Day 1: 3 04-09
63. David Petrisko Jacksonville, FL 3 04-08 138
Day 1: 3 04-08
64. Jordan McDonald Jackson, GA 3 04-07 137
Day 1: 3 04-07
65. Cal Teneyck Shakopee, MN 2 04-07 136
Day 1: 2 04-07
66. John Higginbotham Slaughter, LA 3 04-06 135
Day 1: 3 04-06
66. Matthew Rogers Chiefland, FL 3 04-06 135
Day 1: 3 04-06
66. Buddy Rohn Jacksonville, FL 3 04-06 135
Day 1: 3 04-06
69. James Cornell Longwood, FL 3 04-04 132
Day 1: 3 04-04
70. Fred Rigdon Belleview, FL 3 04-03 131
Day 1: 3 04-03
70. Adam Sangster Sanford, FL 3 04-03 131
Day 1: 3 04-03
72. Jimmy Brumfield Madison, MS 3 04-02 129
Day 1: 3 04-02
73. Jerry Gonzalez Rivero Torreon Coah MEXICO 3 04-01 128
Day 1: 3 04-01
74. Chad Stahl Barnesville, GA 3 04-00 127
Day 1: 3 04-00
75. James Cottingham Panama City, FL 2 03-15 126
Day 1: 2 03-15
76. Philip Morris Jr Raleigh, NC 3 03-14 125
Day 1: 3 03-14
76. Jack Taft Winter Garden, FL 3 03-14 125
Day 1: 3 03-14
78. Todd Boyd Lynn Haven, FL 2 03-14 123
Day 1: 2 03-14
78. Jeff Fellows Orlando, FL 2 03-14 123
Day 1: 2 03-14
80. Bailey Rothrock Milan, MI 2 03-14 121
Day 1: 2 03-14
81. Troy Mims Suwanee, GA 3 03-13 120
Day 1: 3 03-13
81. Steven Obester Palatka, FL 3 03-13 120
Day 1: 3 03-13
83. Jeffery Davis Palm Bay, FL 3 03-13 118
Day 1: 3 03-13
84. Austin Nelson Apopka, FL 3 03-12 117
Day 1: 3 03-12
85. Alvin Jenkins Savannah, GA 3 03-11 116
Day 1: 3 03-11
85. Michael Leach Shenandoah, TX 3 03-11 116
Day 1: 3 03-11
87. Jacob Altman Edgewood, TX 3 03-09 114
Day 1: 3 03-09
88. John Searles Jr. Townville, SC 3 03-08 113
Day 1: 3 03-08
89. Shane Davis Jacksonville, FL 2 03-08 112
Day 1: 2 03-08
90. Sho Egawa Osaka JAPAN 3 03-05 111
Day 1: 3 03-05
91. Jay Kamensky Plantation, FL 2 03-05 110
Day 1: 2 03-05
92. Carl Hunter Snellville, GA 3 03-04 109
Day 1: 3 03-04
92. Randy Tallhamer Brandenton, FL 3 03-04 109
Day 1: 3 03-04
94. Bill Hutchison Jr. Bessemer, AL 2 03-03 107
Day 1: 2 03-03
94. Rick Ivy Ponder, TX 2 03-03 107
Day 1: 2 03-03
96. AJ Jones Lutz, FL 3 03-02 105
Day 1: 3 03-02
96. Johnny Ward Jr Ludowici, GA 3 03-02 105
Day 1: 3 03-02
98. Michael Ryan Mount Dora , FL 3 03-01 103
Day 1: 3 03-01
99. Jim Bland Ocala, FL 3 03-00 102
Day 1: 3 03-00
100. Jonathan Barnette Jasper, AL 3 02-15 101
Day 1: 3 02-15
101. Antoni Bicy Ocklawaha, FL 1 02-15 100
Day 1: 1 02-15
102. Stephen Mcpherson Minneola, FL 3 02-14 99
Day 1: 3 02-14
103. Phillip Easterling Clanton, AL 2 02-13 98
Day 1: 2 02-13
103. Brian Rothrock Monticello, IN 2 02-13 98
Day 1: 2 02-13
105. Johnnie Garrett Union City, TN 2 02-12 96
Day 1: 2 02-12
106. Josh Roberts Ocala, FL 1 02-08 95
Day 1: 1 02-08
107. David Booth Erin, TN 1 02-05 94
Day 1: 1 02-05
107. Satoshi Yaguchi Ibaraki JAPAN 1 02-05 94
Day 1: 1 02-05
109. Wil Flack Smithers BC CANADA 2 02-03 92
Day 1: 2 02-03
109. Zachery Kuhn Summerfield, FL 2 02-03 92
Day 1: 2 02-03
111. Chris Earles Lady Lake, FL 2 02-02 90
Day 1: 2 02-02
112. Zach Pringle Newton, NC 1 02-02 89
Day 1: 1 02-02
113. Emiliano Zucchi Port Orange, FL 1 01-15 88
Day 1: 1 01-15
114. Greg Fernandez Palm Harbor, FL 2 01-14 87
Day 1: 2 01-14
115. Jeff Baffa Estero, FL 1 01-14 86
Day 1: 1 01-14
116. Jimmy Bass Ocala, FL 2 01-13 85
Day 1: 2 01-13
117. Cody Koehler Acworth, GA 1 01-13 84
Day 1: 1 01-13
118. Steven Smith Logan, OH 1 01-11 83
Day 1: 1 01-11
119. Rick Adams Lake Wales, FL 1 01-10 82
Day 1: 1 01-10
119. Matthew Ball Groveland, FL 1 01-10 82
Day 1: 1 01-10
119. JW Battle Jr. Orlando, FL 1 01-10 82
Day 1: 1 01-10
122. William Carrasquillo Clermont, FL 1 01-07 79
Day 1: 1 01-07
122. Eddie Kidd Fort Benning, GA 1 01-07 79
Day 1: 1 01-07
124. Brian Jones Meridianville, AL 1 01-03 77
Day 1: 1 01-03
125. Tristan Bramblett Tiger, GA 1 01-02 76
Day 1: 1 01-02
126. Thomas Abraham Winchester, TN 1 01-01 75
Day 1: 1 01-01
126. Glenn Bailey Temple Terrace, FL 1 01-01 75
Day 1: 1 01-01
126. Gary Saxarra Tavares, FL 1 01-01 75
Day 1: 1 01-01
129. Michael Robel Bradenton, FL 1 01-00 72
Day 1: 1 01-00
129. Brian Strickland Yantis, TX 1 01-00 72
Day 1: 1 01-00
131. Randy Lawrence Pensacola, FL 1 00-15 70
Day 1: 1 00-15
132. Stephen Toth Alachua, FL 1 00-14 69
Day 1: 1 00-14
133. Akeem Marsh Wildwood, FL 1 00-12 68
Day 1: 1 00-12
133. Jim Williams Winter Springs, GA 1 00-12 68
Day 1: 1 00-12
135. Zach Burell Gainesville, FL 1 00-11 66
Day 1: 1 00-11
135. Alonzo Evans Jr Topeka, KS 1 00-11 66
Day 1: 1 00-11
137. Steve Deyton Forest City, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
137. Dehn Ganey Bonneau, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
137. Daniel Hart Orlando, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
137. John Haynes Gainesville, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
137. Allen Heston Pittsburg, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
137. Darrell Hille Springfield, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
137. Kevin Mallow Kansas, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
137. Kyle Mckinney Cedartown, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
137. Bob Morin Seymour, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
137. John Mortimer Mount Pleasant, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
137. David Patterson Flowood, MS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
137. Ben Shuler Nokomis, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
137. Greg Sloan Chipley, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
137. Jeffery Strong Sharpsburg, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 89 334 609-12
----------------------------------
89 334 609-12
B.A.S.S. creates committee and institutes technology reviews for 2024 Elite Series season
October 13, 2023
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. officials announced today that, while they will continue allowing the use of forward-facing and live sonar during the 2024 Elite Series season, the organization is creating a committee of representatives from across the company to continuously monitor the use of live sonar, listen to angler feedback and gauge the technology’s impact on competition, fan experience and bass populations.
As part of the monitoring, the committee will review data gathered internally to evaluate live sonar’s impact throughout the coming season. A review of onboard technology being used by each Elite Series angler will be conducted by tournament staff and the committee at the beginning of the 2024 season. Subsequent surveys of the Top 10 following each Elite event will also cover the time spent using live sonar and the positioning of transducers.
That data will be reported to the committee alongside information such as catch rates and tournament weights to paint a more accurate picture of the technology’s significance to competitive bass fishing.
B.A.S.S. has emphasized that the organization is committed to listening to anglers, fans and industry insiders while monitoring and evaluating the use of these tools and studying how they impact both competition and fan experience.
For more information on how the committee and B.A.S.S. will evaluate forward-facing technology during the 2024 Elite Series season, visit Bassmaster.com.
Bradley Roy’s 11th Annual High School Open, presented by Covercraft 200 Teams Competed on Lake Cumberland and Cedar Creek Lake
The 2023 Bradley Roy High School Open, presented by Covercraft, was one of the most closely contested chapters in the tournament’s eleven-year history. The winning team on Sunday was Blake Marcum and Reese Hughes of Louisa Bass Club HS. Marcrum, a senior, had qualified for the Top 5 Sunday Fish Off as a freshman four years earlier.
155 high school teams and 45 junior teams (6-8th grade) competed on October 7th at Lake Cumberland and the top five fished the following day at Cedar Creek Lake in Stanford, Kentucky.
The tournament is an officially sanctioned high school event by the Kentucky Bass Nation. Two spots in the 2024 Bassmaster High School National Championship were awarded to Saturday’s top finishers: Andrew Worrall and Will Melching of Central KY Bassmasters (1 st ) and Cole Richerson and Kayden Bickett of Taylor County HS (2 nd ).
The winning team weighed a bag of five fish totaling 9.75 pounds. The runners-up weighed in five fish for 9.31 pounds.
3rd place – Bryce McDonald/Ethan Elliott – Paintsville HS: 8.01
4th place – Landon Pierce/Korbin Neat – Casey County HS: 7.85
5th place – Blake Marcum/Reece Hughes – Louisa Bass Club HS: 7.51
Worrall and Melching caught the Railblaza Big Bass, a largemouth weighing 4.38 pounds. Following the Saturday weigh-in, Roy gathered the top five teams and prepared them for a fish-off on Sunday at a mystery destination.
The Bass Pro Tour angler convened the group at the Riverside Inn in Jamestown at 4:00 CDT on Sunday morning and led a convoy east on the Cumberland Parkway. The teams didn’t know their destination until they arrived at Cedar Creek Lake. “I picked Cedar Creek Lake again this year as our mystery lake; it’s a lake I grew up fishing and thinks it’s one of the best lakes in Kentucky,” said Roy. “It was fun watching these high school anglers approach this body of water because it has so much cover, structure, and fish to target.”
Each team was assigned boat officials trained by Roy and provided two sets of MLF-supplied scales. Teams were given fifteen minutes to ride around on the designated section of the 784-acre fishery.
Roy streamed commentary on his social media pages as he covered the action. The teams fished two 2.5-hour sessions, with a thirty-minute break in between. The conditions on Cedar Creek were cold to begin the morning, with temperatures in the high 30s warming up as the day progressed. Roy noted during the live stream that the weather conditions played a significant factor in the difficulty of the fishing and would make every catch even more crucial to the outcome. As temperatures warmed, the frequency of catches from the teams increased. Marcum and Hughes landed a solid two-pound fish with 12 minutes to go to take the victory over the Casey County HS team of Pierce and Neat.
On Sunday, both team members from the top two teams were offered four-year scholarships to attend Campbellsville University. Kentucky Christian also offered four-year scholarships to teams in the Top Five. In all, potential scholarships were over $400,000. In addition, Drury University will award scholarships to the Kentucky Bass Nation Angler of the Year team.
On Sunday, Marcum/Hughes and Pierce/Neat earned berths in the 2024 Major League Fishing High School National Championship. Significant general scholarships and prizes for all teams were made possible by Covercraft, First
Southern National Bank, The Cain Pole, A Few Good Men Fishing Tournament, City of Jamestown, State Dock, Angler’s Outpost & Marine, BC Lures, Land Big Fish, Lexington Ice Center, Gumm Concrete, Whitaker Bank, Neat Companies, Ark Fishing, Bass Pro Shops, Railblaza, Grundens, Solar Bat, Triton, Mercury, and D&L Tackle.
“I want to thank everyone who helped us pull this tournament off for the eleventh consecutive year. If you have ever run a tournament, you know the work involved; I have an awesome staff, family, and sponsors. Even though this tournament has my name on it, I am just a small part, and none of this happens without them.”
For a video of the event, visit -- https://youtu.be/bPF5U5ATzEg
Media contact: J.D. Blackburn | jd@profishingmanagement.com | (615) 479-7991
For complete tournament results, visit www.kybassnation.org.
For more information on Bradley Roy, visit www.BradleyRoy.com.
Fishin' Tip Friday - JVD on breaking down new water
Happy Fishin' Tip Friday! We're bringing you a fresh video edition just in time for the weekend. Are you headed to a new body of water this weekend? Check out how Jonathon VanDam goes about locating a pattern on unfamiliar waters.
Shallow-water consistency lifts Snyders to Bassmaster Kayak Series AOY title
Rus Snyders of Pegram, Tenn., has won the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year title.
Photos by Mark Cisneros/B.A.S.S.
October 12, 2023
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Rus Snyders entered the 2023 Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX season with one goal in mind: win the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Kayak Angler of the Year title.
With a total of 746 points accumulated across four events, Snyders accomplished his goal and claimed the AOY title, earning the $5,000 top prize. He capped off his incredible season with a second-place finish at the Susquehanna River last weekend.
“It means a lot to win this,” he said. “It is always the goal of any tournament series that I enter. The AOY is the first thing on my mind as far as my goals to accomplish. Even more so than winning a championship event. It is a reflection of the entire year as a whole and not just one tournament. I cashed a check in every tournament, and I’m happy anytime I can get a check.”
The California native turned Tennessean outlasted Alabama’s Nick Dyer, who finished second with 727 points, and Elite Series pro Greg DiPalma, who finished third with 726 points.
Throughout the year, Snyders continually picked apart shallow-water cover and structure. While the season spanned across vastly different fisheries, his understanding of how water moves around these shallow areas contributed greatly to his success.
“When you are fishing shallow, it is important to recognize ambush points, feeding areas and to be as efficient as possible in mechanics,” he explained. “Efficiency is everything, and the better you can recognize those areas they will use to feed, the more you can eliminate the areas that aren’t going to be as effective.”
Of the four Bassmaster Kayak Series tournaments he fished in 2023, Snyders finished in the Top 15 or better in all four. He opened the season with a third-place finish at Lake Guntersville before traveling to Lake Hartwell and finishing in 15th place.
Between those two events, Snyders also won the Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series Championship at Chickamauga Lake and hoisted that trophy on the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic stage.
“It is gratifying when you accomplish such a large goal,” he said.
With one drop to give for AOY eligibility, Snyders did not participate in the Possum Kingdom Lake event but came back strong in La Crosse, Wis., with a second-place finish on the Upper Mississippi River before his runner-up showing at the Susquehanna River.
“That was my fourth tournament in La Crosse, and I fished in the same area I fished in the last three events. It paid off,” he said. “I had to take it tournament by tournament, I didn’t want to get too ahead of myself. But as soon as the La Crosse tournament ended, my main focus at that point was working really hard for the last tournament.”
While he is more comfortable fishing shallow-water situations in a kayak, lakes tend to cater to Snyders’ strengths. So although the Susquehanna River is a shallow fishery, Snyders wasn’t super-confident about his prospects when he arrived in Pennsylvania.
Although calm conditions prevailed most of practice, producing some of the best smallmouth fishing many anglers had ever experienced, a major cold front also moved through the area the last practice day. That made Snyders even more unsure if he could finish where he needed to in order to wrap up AOY.
“When I got into bass fishing, it was in a bass boat,” Snyders explained. “Coming from that world, we go to a lot of the lakes that are similar to what I grew up fishing out of a boat. Drew Gregory, Jody Queen and some of those people, that’s not what they specialize in. But when we go to a place like the Susquehanna River, you can take all of the top guys and they won’t be the favorite because you are competing against guys who have fished rivers like that their whole lives. When we go to these rivers, it is so difficult to do well.
“So I didn’t have a ton of confidence going into that event, even though it is something I really like doing and spend a lot of time doing.”
Snyders combated that by working harder than he has for any other tournament, and when the weather changed on the final day of practice, he marked over 100 waypoints in his primary area to ensure he had enough to fish.
“In order for me to lock it up, I knew I needed a sixth-place finish or better,” he said. “I just tried to keep an open mind. Knowing the weather conditions were playing out that way, I had a strategy to really find as many targets as I could. The bass were really living in places where they could tuck under something. I zigzagged back and forth and between the cuts of every island. I left no stone unturned.”
That hard work paid off, and while he couldn’t see the majority of the targets he marked because of the rising water, he was able to cast to them with a Megabass Magdraft swimbait and a Neko-rigged Z-Man Bang StickZ. His Torqeedo motor was also imperative to proper boat positioning. Snyders made just a few casts at every target before moving to the next waypoint.
That tournament will go down as his favorite of the season.
“When you look at the amount of fish caught, it was the best week of smallmouth fishing I have had in my entire life,” Snyders said. “I’m glad my hard work paid off.”
Snyders will now look ahead to next season and attempt to become the first back-to-back Bassmaster Kayak Series AOY champion in the short history of the kayak series. The 2024 season will kick off at Lake Murray in late February.
Introducing the Upgraded PENN Prevail III Rods
Quality saltwater rods with models for most general fishing applications
COLUMBIA, S.C. (Oct. 10, 2023) PENN’s Prevail line of rods is undergoing significant changes to their composition and performance with the addition of strengthened rod features for surf, inshore, and general boating needs, bringing this already reliable rod to the next level. Saltwater anglers can look to the Prevail III Rod Series for the sensitivity and strength needed to match a variety of fishing situations.
Incorporating the same qualities and features found in high-end saltwater rods, the new PENN Prevail III rod features significant upgrades and comes at an affordable price while offering anglers the quality they demand for harsh saltwater conditions. The rod provides models that span surf, inshore, and general boat needs, with the power to stand up to formidable fish.
The PENN Prevail III rod features 100% 24-ton graphite composition in its inshore-specific models. This enhancement gives anglers the sensitivity to detect a fish strike and the strength required to land the catch successfully. The rods come with premium cork grips, providing a comfortable and secure hold for long fishing days.
A graphite composite blank combines strength, versatility, and outstanding performance for the jig, surf, and heavier boat models. They feature rubber shrink tube handles, delivering all-day comfort and reliable grip for various fishing situations.
All Prevail III rods are equipped with one-piece stainless-steel PENN Dura-Guides, ensuring exceptional durability and flawless performance with all types of fishing lines.
For more information about the Prevail III rods or PENN fishing products, click here.
AVAILABLE: Now
MSRP: $99.95 - $139.95
PREVAIL III INSHORE MODELS
- 100% 24 Ton Carbon Blank
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MODELS: PREINIII612S70 • PREINIII815S70 • PREINIII1017S70 • PREINIII1220S70 • PREINIII1530S70 • PREINIII1017C70 • PREINIII1220C70 • PREINIII1530C70
MSRP: $99.95 - 109.95
PREVAIL III SURF MODELS
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MODELS: PRESFIII1220S80 • PRESFIII815S90 • PRESFIII1220S90 • PRESFIII1530S10 • PRESFIII1530S11 • PRESFIII2040S12 • PRESFIII1220C10 • PRESFIII1530C10 • PRESFIII1530C11 • PRESFIII2040C12
MSRP: $99.95 - 129.95
PREVAIL III BOAT MODELS
- Graphite Composite Blank
- PENN Dura-Guides
- High Density EVA Handles
- Rubber Shrink Tube Rear Grips (select models)
- Comfortable Graphite Reel Seats
- Rubber Gimbals
- Nylon Gimbals (select models)
MODELS: PREBWIII1530S70 • PREBWIII2040S70 • PREBWIII3050S66 • PREBWIII3050S70 • PREBWIII4080S70 • PREBWIII50100S60 • PREBWIII2040C70 • PREBWIII3050C66 • PREBWIII3050C70 • PREBWIII4080C60 • PREBWIII4080C66 • PREBWIII4080C70 • PREBWIII50100C60 • PREBWIII50100C66 • PREBWIII50100C70
MSRP: $129.95 - $139.95
PREVAIL III JIG MODELS
- Graphite Composite Blank
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MODELS: PREJGIII3080S66 • PREJGIII50130S64 • PREJGIII80200S60 • PREJGIII3080C66 • PREJGIII50130C62 • PREJGIII80200C58
MSRP: $109.95
B.A.S.S. postpones Day 1 of Bassmaster Open at Harris Chain of Lakes
October 12, 2023
LEESBURG, Fla. — B.A.S.S. officials are postponing Day 1 competition at the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Harris Chain of Lakes due to forecasted severe weather, which includes lightning and winds gusting to 35 mph. The National Weather Service has also issued a Tornado Watch for the area.
The full field of anglers will now compete on Friday and Saturday.
Daily takeoffs will be held from Ski Beach at 7:15 a.m. ET and weigh-ins each day back at the launch site at 3:15 p.m. Full coverage will be available on Bassmaster.com with FS1 broadcasting live with the leaders on Saturday morning beginning at 8 a.m.
Challenging dynamics at play for B.A.S.S. Nation Championship Qualifiers
Top grass-roots anglers from around the world will compete for a berth in the 2024 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic and an invitation to fish the Elite Series at the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship on Lake Hartwell Oct. 18-20.
Photo by Chase Sansom/B.A.S.S.
October 11, 2023
ANDERSON, S.C. — Several dynamic scenarios will be at play when anglers take on Lake Hartwell for the 2023 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship, and Bassmaster Elite Series pro Brandon Cobb believes everything will depend on the lake turnover.
“This time of year is kind of a strange time,” the Greenwood, S.C., native said. “On Hartwell the fish act similarly during the late summer until winter. How you catch them, however, changes.”
Competition days are scheduled for Oct. 18-20, with the 7:30 a.m. ET daily takeoffs and 3:30 p.m. weigh-ins being held at the legendary Green Pond Landing. Anglers from across the U.S. and seven other countries — Canada, Japan, Mexico, Namibia, Portugal, South Africa and Spain — qualified for this event. The Paralyzed Veterans of America Tour will also send its Angler of the Year winner to compete. Complete coverage will be available at Bassmaster.com.
Not only will the Top 3 anglers from the overall standings realize a dream of competing in the 2024 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic in Tulsa, Okla., the winning angler will also be named the Nation’s Best, punch their ticket to the 2024 Elite Series and enjoy the use of a fully-rigged Nitro Boat and Toyota Tundra. The second- and third-place finishers and nonboater champion will each earn paid entry fees for all divisions of the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens with the opportunity to qualify for the Elites.
To win this event, Cobb believes an angler will have to decipher what stage the lake is in, and the tactics they use will be determined by the lake turnover.
“The third week of October is usually within a week of the lake turnover, either way,” he explained. “It will be within a three-week transition period.”
Two scenarios could play out. The first would be the ideal scenario for Cobb — that would be that the main lake is getting close to turning over but hasn’t yet. If that is the case, the two-time Elite Series champion said the topwater bite will be phenomenal and a walking bait like a Yo-Zuri 3DB will be the only thing anglers need on their deck.
“The peak topwater bite is always the week before it turns over,” Cobb said. “Essentially, a turnover is when the deeper water rises to the top. It isn’t an instant process, and the herring get on top during that process. That is when the topwater bite is ridiculous. They will school across the whole lake. Three- and 4-pounders will be on top schooling.
“You will catch 25% largemouth and 75% spotted bass, but your five-bass limit will be mostly largemouth.”
The second, more likely scenario, is that the lake will be in the process of turning over or has already turned over. That will mean the topwater action, at least on the main lake, will likely be nonexistent and anglers will need to utilize forward-facing sonar to target main-lake bass.
“The topwater bite essentially ends. That, call-them-up-out-of-cane piles, cool offshore topwater bite pretty much ends when the lake turns over,” he said. “They aren’t as easy to catch. You have to go to the finesse-type baits like a drop shot, a little bitty swimbait and a spybait. You tend to catch 95% spotted bass.”
Anglers will also have the option to run up the Tugaloo or Seneca rivers in search of shallow wolf packs. While a great way to catch a big bag, Cobb said this can be inconsistent at times.
“There will be a shallow, junk fishing-type bite, even on the main lake,” Cobb said. “You will also have a normal fall creek bite up the rivers in some of the stained water. The problem with both of those bites is, if the topwater bite is really good, you will be wasting your time. But if it is past the turnover, then the bank plays again.”
Over the summer months, water levels on Hartwell were below full pool. But one tropical system could bring water levels back up and also dirty up the creeks and rivers, adding yet another potential wrinkle to this event.
Visit Anderson is hosting the event.
Costa Sunglasses continues to grow its lifestyle offering with two additions to the Del Mar Collection
Inspired by coastal cultures across the globe, Catherine & Kailano feature an eco-friendly design and 580 glass lens technology - so you can take in every detail while soaking up the sun.
JUPITER, Fla. (Sep. 26, 2023) – Costa Sunglasses, manufacturer of the first color-enhancing all-polarized glass sunglass lens, welcomes two new lifestyle frames to its Del Mar Collection, Catherine and Kailano. Bearing inspiration from marine habitats, the two new frames elevate the Del Mar Collection with sophisticated style, eco-friendly materials and 580 glass (580G) lens technology.
For the first time since the Del Mar Collection debuted, Costa is growing the lifestyle collection with a new men’s and women’s frame. The Del Mar Collection is designed around the colors, patterns and textures of the sea and with Costa’s higher calling in mind - craft sunglasses with the highest quality lenses and protect the waters we love. Catherine and Kailano add to the collections offering of Bio-Acetate frames, marking one more step forward in Costa’s journey to reduce its impact on the watery world. Bio-Acetate is made from 67% natural and renewable materials (vegetable-based plasticizers and responsibly sourced wood pulp from FSC forests).
A sister frame to the best-selling Sullivan, Catherine features a soft cat-eye design and is named after St. Catherine Island, home to protected salt marshes that keep the island pristine. The refined frame possesses effortless elegance and modern detailing, including a core-wire temple design pulling straight from the waves. The more masculine Kailano derives its name from a Hawaiian word for the sea. The timeless square-shaped design, water-inspired temple and keyhole bridge are at home exploring coastlines or simply taking a load off. Ready for any adventure, both Catherine and Kailano are a six-base frame with medium wrap and west-coast vibes.
“As we continue to make waves in the lifestyle category, Catherine and Kailano bring a high level of sophistication to the Del Mar Collection, but still stay true to our roots,” says Jed Larkin, Brand Marketing Director at Costa Sunglasses. “These frames are your ideal companion for life on and off the water - whether you’re enjoying a seaside sunset, sailing the coastline or grabbing happy hour at the end of the day.”
Catherine and Kailano come with Costa’s polarized, color-enhancing 580G® lens technology for superior clarity and definition. These scratch-resistant glass lenses effectively reduce haze and blur, while boosting essential colors for superior definition. In addition, the lightweight and durable Bio-Acetate frame reduces the carbon footprint of each new pair by 54% when compared with industry standard acetate.
Starting at $242, Catherine and Kailano are now available at local dealers or Costasunglasses.com. For more information about Costa’s complete collection of award-winning performance, optical and lifestyle frames, visit Costasunglasses.com.
Canadian Expansion
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Legacy tackle manufacturer recruits Can-Am Sales Group to multiply sales north of the border. |
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BEMIDJI, Minn. (October 11, 2023) – Northland Fishing Tackle and Canada are like peanut butter and jelly. If it catches fish in Canada, Northland makes it. And now, the Minnesota-based fishing gear manufacturer further fortifies its relationship with Canadian anglers by recruiting the Can-Am Sales Group, a leading full-service sales organization out of Quebec, Canada. “We have always had strong business partners in Canada, but now with the signing of Jeff “Gussy” Gustafson, and our purchase of Smeltinator, we are adding the Can-Am Sales Group to help us expand our retail and marketing support throughout all of Canada,” said Northland President and CEO Gregg Wollner. “We make lures for all Canadian fisheries including crankbaits, soft plastics, ice lures and jigs for every species and every season. We are excited to expand our innovative new products to more consumers in Canada.” |
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Northland recently announced a licensing agreement with Bass Tactics to produce, distribute, and sell the Smeltinator and Smeltinator Underspin Jigs under the Northland Fishing Tackle brand name. The Smeltinator is hardly new to the fishing scene. The jig and the moping technique have been dominating the Canadian tournament scene for a decade and is quickly taking root in the US. The “Moping” technique popularized by 2023 Bassmaster Classic victor Jeff “Gussy” Gustafson involves fishing a fluke or minnow style plastic on the Smeltinator Jig and the Smeltinator Underspin Jig over the top of deep suspending smallmouth bass. Alongside the Smeltinator business deal, Northland inked a title sponsorship deal with Gussy for all B.A.S.S. events moving forward. Along the lines of offering more bass-centric bait designs vis-à-vis Gussy’s recommendations, Northland has already invited input from the influential bass angler that brought products to retailers and consumers in 2023, with more to come in 2024. |
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Gustafson’s input was utilized when Northland came to market earlier this year with the new Elite Series of jigheads featuring Gamakatsu hooks, as well as the popular Finesse Football Head, Nedster, Weedless Nedster, and Weedless Wacky Jig. For 2024, anglers will discover an all-new Marabou Jig and Bassmaster Elite-winning Smeltinator Jig. Can-Am is led by founder and President Scott Makway, an experienced sales executive with a proven track record of driving retail performance in the outdoor sporting goods arena. With relationships at many of North America’s leading retailers, Scott has a solid history of partnering with customers to understand and support their unique strategies while delivering comprehensive solutions. “In our quest to provide our distribution and retail partners with the best and most innovative brands on the market, we are very excited to join forces with Northland Fishing Tackle and add them to our stable of top tier fishing brands,” said Scott Makway. “With Walleye being the number one targeted species in Canada and Northland’s focus and commitment on Walleye lures, this is a win / win for our customers and the Canadian angler.” |
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Lake Norman Readies to Host Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Tournament
Lake Norman to Host 200 Boaters and Co-anglers from Four BFL Divisions Competing for Spot in 2024 BFL All-American, Top Prize of $60,000
HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (Oct. 11, 2023) – The Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine’s Bulldog, Mountain, Shenandoah and South Carolina divisions will wrap up their 2023 season in Huntersville, N.C. next week, Oct. 19-21, with the Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine Regional Event at Lake Norman.
Hosted by Visit Lake Norman, Visit Charlotte and Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation, the three-day regional tournament will feature the top 45 boaters and co-anglers plus tournament winners from all four divisions, battling it out for a top prize of $60,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, along with lucrative contingency awards, including up to an additional $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus. Strike King co-anglers will compete for a top prize of $50,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard. Winners will be determined by the heaviest three-day catch.
The top six finishers in each regional will qualify for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American. The highest finishing boater from each division will also receive a $1,000 bonus and the highest finishing co-angler from each division will receive a $500 bonus.
“Lake Norman is always good, but this time of year the tournament is really going to be dependent on the weather,” said pro Bryan Thrift of Shelby, North Carolina, who won REDCREST 2023 – the Bass Pro Tour Championship – on Lake Norman earlier this year. “On a calm, slick day, I’d expect finesse presentations, more use of forward-facing sonar and obviously topwater baits will play a big part.
“We’re also in that transition period where some wind could stir up a really good reaction bait bite, so a jerkbait, Chatterbait or some kind of moving bait could also come into play,” Thrift continued. “This is really going to be an event where you can pick your poison, which is pretty typical for Lake Norman.”
In addition to being able to play the weather to their advantage this time of year, Thrift said with some decent wind, anglers can run a wind pattern that typically results in bigger weights.
“If they hit it when there’s a little bit of wind, or rainy, cloudy weather, I’d expect the weights to be a little higher than if it’s slick and sunny,” said Thrift. “I think anglers that can consistently pull in 14 to 15 pounds every day will have a chance at winning the event.
“The lake has typically turned over by now, so there should be bass scattered from 2 feet of water up to 50 feet of water,” Thrift continued. “I’d expect to see guys throwing drop-shot rigs and spoons in 40 to 50 feet of water, but you’ll also have anglers burning the bank, throwing topwater baits right up on the bank.
“I do think bigger weights will be caught up shallow. Historically on Lake Norman, the bigger fish typically live in 10 feet of water or less this time of year.”
Anglers will launch at 7:30 a.m. ET each morning from Blythe Landing, located at 15901 Highway 73, in Huntersville. Weigh-ins will also be held at the landing and will begin at 3:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the action online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine consisted of 24-divisions devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season and five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, advance to one of six Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regionals. The 2024 BFL All-American will be held May 29-31 at Cherokee Lake in Jefferson County, Tennessee.
The top boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the Toyota Series, the pathway to the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals and ultimately the Bass Pro Tour.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
B.A.S.S. reveals schedule for fifth season of Bassmaster Kayak Series
The 2024 Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX season features five regular-season events around the country as anglers compete for the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year title.
Photo by Mark Cisneros/B.A.S.S.
October 10, 2023
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Just days after wrapping their regular season, B.A.S.S. officials announced the schedule for the 2024 Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX.
The fifth season of the ever-popular Kayak Series will include five stops in five states — and for the second year in a row will feature all two-day events.
Kayak Tournament Director Steve Owens says excitement has grown exponentially for the trail every year since its inception, and he expects that interest to rise even more next year with five choice destinations.
“Kayak fishing for bass is as popular as it’s ever been,” said Owens. “People buy kayaks for a lot of different reasons. Some don’t want the responsibility of tending to a bass boat. Others just love the freedom a kayak provides for entering places that are off-limits to many others.
“That’s why the technology for kayak bass fishing has improved so much — and why so many people are anxious to compete from one.”
The 2024 Bassmaster Kayak Series schedule will kick off Feb. 24-25 at Lake Murray in Columbia, S.C. The 50,000-acre Palmetto State fishery ranked fourth overall on Bassmaster Magazine’s annual 100 Best Bass Lakes list and hosted one of the more exciting Bassmaster Elite Series events of the 2023 season, which was won by Florida pro Drew Benton with 87 pounds.
“Capital City/Lake Murray Country is excited to kick off the 2024 Bassmaster Kayak Series on Lake Murray. We can’t wait to greet the anglers and showcase our region to all," said Miriam Atria, President/CEO of the Capital City/Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board.
The second kayak event of the 2024 season will be held April 20-21 at Possum Kingdom Lake in Graford, Texas. Possum Kingdom has become known as one of the top competitive kayak destinations in the country and has been featured heavily in the Bassmaster Kayak Series’ short history. The inaugural 2021 Bassmaster Kayak Series National Championship tournament was held on Possum Kingdom and featured a memorable performance by Mark Pendergraf, who won with what was, at the time, the highest two-day total in TourneyX history — a 10-bass total measuring 209.25 inches. The regular-season event held on Possum Kingdom this year was won by Texas angler Michael Cates with a two-day total of 210.25 inches (an average of more than 21 inches per bass).
Under B.A.S.S. rules, the five longest verified lengths each day will be totaled to determine the angler’s score. Ketch boards and other measuring devices must be brought to and approved at the registration and angler meeting before each event. Scores will be entered and shown, as always, in real time by TourneyX.
“Our relationship with TourneyX has been fantastic,” Owens said. “The system has been virtually flawless for the first four years of the Kayak Series, and we’re proud to have them handle scoring for us again.”
From Possum Kingdom Lake, the Kayak Series will make a return trip to Alabama’s Lake Guntersville in Scottsboro, Ala., May 18-19. Bassmaster Elite Series pro Greg DiPalma of Millville, N.J., made waves during the 2023 Bassmaster Kayak Series event on Guntersville, winning with a two-day total of 189.75 inches.
The fourth stop on the Kayak Series will be July 27-28 on the smallmouth paradise that is the Susquehanna River in Lewisburg, Pa. Those who follow the Kayak Series know that the Susquehanna just hosted a fabulous, season-ending event that was won by Indiana angler Josh Chrenko, who captured the victory with 194 inches of smallies.
Even with the tournament still fresh, officials from that region are excited about the prospect of hosting the Kayak Series again.
“We were thrilled to have Bassmaster consider and select our portion of the Susquehanna River to host their October 2023 Bassmaster Kayak Series (event),” said Andrew Miller, executive director of the Susquehanna River Valley Visitors Bureau, the event’s official host. “To learn that a return in 2024 was a possibility was met with great excitement and anticipation.
“Signing the host agreement for next year’s event was the icing on the cake. Bassmaster has been a joy to work with, and together we will introduce the Susquehanna River Valley to fishing enthusiasts and Bassmaster fans all over the world.”
Tennessee’s Rus Snyders took second at the season-ending tournament in the Keystone State, which was more than enough to lock down the 2023 Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year title.
The 2024 season will culminate on Caddo Lake and Lake Bistineau in Shreveport, La., on Oct. 19-20. The 25,400-acre Caddo Lake is one of the first Louisiana fisheries stocked with Florida-strain largemouth, while Lake Bistineau covers 17,200 acres in Bienville, Bossier and Webster parishes.
The Top 5 anglers from each event, plus several dozen from the Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year standings, will be invited to compete in the championship, which will be held at a date and time to be announced later. Anglers will earn points in every regular-season tournament, with their lowest finish dropped to determine the final Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year standings.
The kayak championship is held each year in conjunction with the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic, with the anglers’ weights announced on the Classic stage.
“We’ve seen tremendous growth under Steve’s direction, and I look forward to working with him in 2024 as we continue to build and expand the Bassmaster Kayak Series,” said GL Compton, tournament manager for the B.A.S.S. Nation, who oversees the Kayak Series.
For more information on registration for Bassmaster Kayak Series events, visit Bassmaster.com/kayak.
Deep Dive with Brock Mosley on the Rat-L-Trap
The guys catch up with Brock Mosley and talk about a fall fishing staple, the good ole Rat-L-Trap. Brock dishes on different sizes, techniques, and tactics for a bait that goes all the way back to his childhood. Tune and learn a few things about the "Trap" that you may not have thought about in this episode of The Deep Dive.
https://youtu.be/Wh5PJznlxR8
New performance frames from Costa Sunglasses build on its 40 year legacy of making the best sunglasses on the water
Tailfin and Seadrift maximize every moment on the water with 580 glass lens technology and performance features at an approachable price point.
JUPITER, Fla. (Oct. 10, 2023) - Costa Sunglasses, manufacturer of the first color-enhancing all-polarized glass sunglass lens, welcomes two new performance frames to its collection, Tailfin and Seadrift. At an entry-level price point, the 8-base brother and sister frames offer the performance-level features that you’ve come to know and love from Costa, including its 580 glass lens technology for superior clarity.
Built for all watermen, Tailfin combines a modern design with a comfortable fit. No matter where you’re headed, Tailfin will help you get there — and maximize every moment spent on the water. For waterwomen looking for a frame designed specifically for them, look no further than Seadrift. Similar to Tailfin, the sleek, 8-base frame offers protection from the sun with micro-sculpted side shields and is purposefully-built with Hydrolite™ rubber to keep your frames locked in place. Both Tailfin and Seadrift are ready for whatever the water throws at you.
"Our goal with Tailfin and Seadrift is to introduce a collection of frames built for long days on the water, but at an approachable price point for all anglers and water-lovers,”said Mike Turner, Global Product Director at Costa Sunglasses. “Our community lives to be out on the water and demand frames that hold up to the sun, salt, water - while keeping their vision clear so they can keep their eyes on the prize. That’s where our performance line comes into play. Tailfin and Seadrift are great additions to the collection and add a new, more modern style option to our performance collection.”
For the first time ever, Tailfin and Seadrift will be available in two frame sizes to help you find the perfect fit. Both frames also come equipped with Costa's cutting-edge polarized 580® glass lens technology, providing exceptional clarity and color enhancement. These scratch-resistant lenses effectively reduce haze and blur, while boosting essential colors for superior definition. And built with Costa's proprietary and environmentally friendly Bio-Resin, Tailfin and Seadrift are lightweight and maintain the durability necessary for all water adventures.
Starting at just $160, Tailfin and Seadrift are now available at local dealers or Costasunglasses.com. For more information about Costa’s complete collection of award-winning performance, optical and lifestyle frames, visit Costasunglasses.com.
MLF Returns to Lake of the Ozarks for Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Tournament
Osage Beach Set to Host 200 Boaters and Strike King Co-anglers from Four BFL Divisions Competing for Spot in 2024 BFL All-American, Top Prize of $60,000
OSAGE BEACH, Mo. (Oct. 10, 2023) – The Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine’s Great Lakes, Hoosier, LBL and Okie divisions will close out the 2023 season in Osage Beach, Missouri, next week, Oct. 19-21, with the Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine Regional Event at Lake of the Ozarks.
Hosted by the Tri-County Lodging Association, the three-day regional tournament will feature the top 45 boaters and co-anglers plus tournament winners from all four divisions, battling it out for a top prize of $60,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, along with lucrative contingency awards, including up to an additional $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus. Strike King co-anglers will compete for a top prize of $50,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard. Winners will be determined by the heaviest three-day catch.
The top six finishers in each regional will qualify for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American. The highest finishing boater from each division will also receive a $1,000 bonus and the highest finishing co-angler from each division will receive a $500 bonus.
The typical Lake of the Ozarks fall patterns were not really in play at the MLF Toyota Series event earlier this month, but cooler temperatures should have the fish transitioning into their traditional fall routine. Jigs, creature baits and plastic worms will all be popular options, for tournament competitors as will topwater and squarebill crankbaits. A 14- to 16-pound-a-day average over the three-day competition will likely be needed by boaters seeking to advance to the All-American, and the winner is projected to have right around 44 to 48 pounds.
Anglers will launch at 7:30 a.m. CT each day from Public Beach No. 2 at Lake of the Ozarks State Park, located at 711 Public Beach Road in Osage Beach. Weigh-ins will also be held at the landing and will begin at 3:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the action online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine consisted of 24-divisions devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season and five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, advance to one of six Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regionals. The 2024 BFL All-American will be held May 29-31 at Cherokee Lake in Jefferson County, Tennessee
The top boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the Toyota Series, the pathway to the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals and ultimately the Bass Pro Tour.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Carl Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Tournament on Lake Eufaula
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Strike King Co-angler Victory Goes to Arkansas’ James
EUFAULA, Okla. (Oct. 9, 2023) – Boater Cody Carl of Lotawana, Missouri, brought a three-day total of 14 bass to the scale weighing 41 pounds even to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Regional Event on Lake Eufaula in Eufaula, Oklahoma . For his victory, Carl earned $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000. Carl also received automatic entry into the 2024 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American Championship, May 29-31, at Cherokee Lake in Jefferson County, Tennessee. “This was a whirlwind,” said Carl. “I didn’t get a keeper bite in four days of practice. The first day of the tournament I started out running points where I thought maybe I could get a keeper bite. That didn’t happen for me, so, I just started fishing my strength – flipping docks.” Carl said he had never fished Lake Eufaula, and decided his best approach would be to fish how he would on his home water of Lake of the Ozarks and see what happened. “Before the first day of the tournament I wanted to pack it up and go home,” said Carl. “I knew I just had to put my head down and grind. So, I just started fishing like I knew how, and I stumbled across this ‘magic’ dock that produced all my fish for three days.” Later in the afternoon on the tournament’s opening day, Carl said he came across a dock that had set up just right for bass at this time of year. There was a cold front moving in, water temperatures were dropping, the dock sat in 8 feet of water on one side and 17 on the other, and shad were funneling into the dock, providing a perfect ambush spot for bass. “I didn’t have anything else,” said Carl. “I left it Thursday just hoping the fish would be there again on Friday. “On Day 2 I tried to run some other things early in the morning, but it didn’t pan out, so I returned to the dock about 10:30,” Carl continued. “Within an hour and a half, I had my limit. Saturday, I did the same thing and had a limit of fish by 9:30.” All told, Carl said he caught 40 keepers off the dock throughout the tournament. In addition to fishing just one dock, Carl said he used just one bait during the tournament to catch his bass – a Zoom Brush Hog with a 3/8-ounce weight. Carl said when he had landed around 13 pounds by 1:30 on the second day of competition, he left the fish biting to save them for the final day. “It occurred to me I really had something going on and that I could win it if the fish stayed,” said Carl. “The cold front that moved in late Friday night scared me a little bit, but I rolled in there and caught a 5-pounder on my third cast. I just kept grinding it out for almost 18 pounds Saturday. “This feels great,” Carl added. “This is my first year as a boater. It’s emotional for me because you want to prove what you can do out here and when it’s your time, it’s your time.” The top six boaters that qualified for the 2024 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American were:
1st: Cody Carl, Lotawana, Mo., 14 bass, 41-0, $60,000
2nd: Ian Leybas, McAlester, Okla., 13 bass, 32-13, $11,450 3rd: Austin Lawson, Charleston, Ark., 15 bass, 31-13, $6,000 4th: Phil Smith, Orange, Texas, 12 bass, 31-12, $3,000 5th: Jeff Clark, Van Buren, Ark., 15 bass, 28-14, $2,300 6th: Thomas Rallo, Eldon, Mo., 12 bass, 28-14, $2,800
Rounding out the top 10 boaters were:
7th: Lance Williams, Billings, Mo., 13 bass, 28-5, $1,600
8th: Alton Wilhoit, Noble, Okla., 12 bass, 28-0, $1,400 9th: Trevor Bartlett, Grain Valley, Mo., 14 bass, 26-6, $1,200 10th: Christopher Smith, North Branch, Minn., 11 bass, 25-1, $1,600 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
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The top four boaters from each division that earned a $1,000 bonus for placing highest in the event were:
Arkie: Austin Lawson, Charleston, Ark., 3rd Place, $1,000
Cowboy: Ian Leybas, McAlester, Okla. 2nd Place, $1,000 Mississippi: Adam Brister, Meadville, Miss., 47th Place, $1,000 Ozark: Thomas Rallo, Eldon, Mo., 6th Place $1,000
Smith took home an extra $500 as the highest finishing Phoenix MLF Bonus member. Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $7,000 per event in each Phoenix Bass Fishing League tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the Phoenix MLF Bonus contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.
Philip James of Benton, Arkansas, weighed in nine bass over three days totaling 22 pounds, 13 ounces to win the top Strike King co-angler prize package of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The top six Strike King co-anglers that qualified for the 2024 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American were:
1st: Philip James, Benton, Ark., nine bass, 22-13, $50,000
2nd: Jody Jones, Harvey, Ark., eight bass, 18-7, $5,500 3rd: Jeremy White, Dittmer, Mo., eight bass, 16-9, $3,000 4th: Caleb Welch, Bolivar, Mo., five bass, 14-13, $2,000 5th: Douglas Guidorzi, Fenton, Mo., seven bass, 14-2, $1,000 6th: Kris McCarter, Pheba, Miss., six bass, 13-8, $1,600
Rounding out the top 10 Strike King co-anglers were:
7th: David Hamilton, Rogers, Ark., five bass, 13-7, $800
8th: Bubba Wright, Ridgeland, Miss., five bass, 12-4, $700 9th: Ben Bromley, Odessa, Mo., five bass, 11-12, $800 10th: Shaun Smith, Smithville, Mo., six bass, 10-14, $550
The top four Strike King Co-anglers from each division that earned a $500 bonus for placing highest in the event were:
Arkie: Jody Jones, Harvey, Ark., 2nd Place, $500
Cowboy: Leavitt Hamilton, Gonzales, La., 13th Place, $500 Mississippi: Kris McCarter, Pheba, Miss., 6th Place, $500 Ozark: Jeremy White, Dittmer, Mo., 3rd Place $500
The Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Regional Tournament on Lake Eufaula was hosted by the Eufaula Area Chamber of Commerce. It featured the top pros and Strike King co-anglers from the Arkie, Cowboy, Mississippi and Ozark divisions.
The 2023 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the MLF Toyota Series, the pathway to the MLF Invitationals and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour. Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI. For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. |
Barnes Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Tournament on the Potomac River
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Co-angler Victory Goes to Tar Heel State’s Metz
MARBURY, Md. (Oct. 9, 2023) – Boater Jason Barnes of Concord, North Carolina, brought a three-day total of 15 bass to the scale weighing 44 pounds, 10 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Regional Event on the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland . For his victory, Barnes earned $68,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, along with the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF contingency bonus. Barnes also received automatic entry into the 2024 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American Championship, May 29-June 31, at Cherokee Lake in Jefferson County, Tennessee. Barnes said he didn’t have a good practice period leading up to the tournament; he had only two bites each day on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Barnes said he started to figure out what the bass might have been looking for on the last day of practice and formed a game plan. He focused his efforts on the creeks – specifically the Potomac, Aquia and Mattawoman – and used a frog, a worm and creature baits to target grass that held bass. “Once I figured that out, I went back to one particular area the first day of the tournament and got some bites,” said Barnes. After catching his limit, Barnes spent the rest of Thursday continuing to search for waters that would produce quality bass. On the third and final day of competition, stormy weather rolled into the area. Barnes said he decided to brave the weather and run to the same areas where he had caught fish the first two days of competition. After he had four fish in the livewell, he made the decision to relocate to a secondary area he had found, closer to the tournament takeoff site. He culled two fish after the move and secured his final day’s weight and the victory. “I don’t have a lot of history on the Potomac River, so I didn’t know what to expect,” said Barnes. “I knew the weather would change things up, so I just went out and went fishing. After I caught my last fish, I thought I had a pretty good shot at a good finish. “I’ve fished BFL’s for quite a while and come close, but I’ve never been able to pull off a win,” Barnes added. “To win this one really is special to me.” The top six boaters that qualified for the 2024 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American were:
1st: Jason Barnes, Concord, N.C., 15 bass, 44-10, $68,000 (includes $7,000 Phoenix MFL Contingency Bonus)
2nd: Chris Baldwin, Lexington, N.C., 15 bass, 43-5, $11,780 3rd: Jim Vitaro, Wooster, Ohio, 15 bass, 42-13, $6,000 4th: Randy Williams, New Richmond, Ohio, 15 bass, 41-13, $3,000 5th: Michael Duarte, Baltimore, Md., 15 bass, 41-12, $3,000 6th: Brett Carnright, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 15 bass, 41-6, $1,800
Rounding out the top 10 boaters were:
7th: Joe Zombek II, Scranton, Pa., 15 bass, 40-3, $1,900
8th: Conrad Manuel, Pilot Mountain, N.C., 15 bass, 39-1, $2,400 9th: Richard Hodges, Jr., Camden, N.C., 13 bass, 38-8, $1,200 10th: Aaron Dixon, Bel Alton, Md., 15 bass, 37-14, $1,100
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
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The top four boaters from each division that earned a $1,000 bonus for placing highest in the event were:
Buckeye: Jim Vitaro, Wooster, Ohio, 3rd Place, $1,000
North Carolina: Conrad Manuel, Pilot Mountain, N.C., 8th Place, $1,000 Northeast: Michael Duarte, Baltimore, Md., 5th Place, $1,000 Piedmont: Chris Baldwin, Lexington, N.C., 2nrd Place $1,000
Barnes took home an extra $7,000 as the highest finishing Phoenix MLF Bonus member. Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $7,000 per event in each Phoenix Bass Fishing League tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the Phoenix MLF Bonus contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.
Stacy Metz of Staley, North Carolina, weighed in 13 bass over three days totaling 33 pounds, 7 ounces to win the top Strike King co-angler prize package of $50,500, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The top six Strike King co-anglers that qualified for the 2024 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American were:
1st: Stacy Metz, Staley, N.C., 13 bass, 33-7, $50,500
2nd: Terry Bucciarelli, Ypsilanti, Mich., 14 bass, 31-7, $5,850 3rd: Matthew Strickland, Portsmouth, Ohio, 13 bass, 30-12, $2,500 4th: Josh Kauffman, Marysville, Pa., 14 bass, 30-7, $2,000 5th: Connor Kapp, Benton, Pa., 15 bass, 30-6, $1,000 6th: Jonathan Ceaser, Maidens, Va., 14 bass, 28-11, $1,400
Rounding out the top 10 Strike King co-anglers were:
7th: Matt Hummel, Dillsburg, Pa., 11 bass, 27-12, $800
8th: John Chacosky, Media, Pa., 15 bass, 26-11, $700 9th: Logan Kaplon, Rural Valley, Pa., 11 bass, 24-12, $600 10th: Cornell Badra, Clarksburg, Md., 13 bass, 24-8, $550
The top four Strike King Co-anglers from each division that earned a $500 bonus for placing highest in the event were:
Buckeye: Terry Bucciarelli, Ypsilanti, Mich., 2nd Place, $500
North Carolina: Stacy Metz, Staley, N.C., 1st Place, $500 Northeast: Josh Kauffman, Marysville, Pa., 4th Place, $500 Piedmont: Jonathan Ceaser, Maidens, Va., 2nd Place $500
The Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Regional Tournament on the Potomac River was hosted by the Charles County Board of Commissioners. It featured the top pros and Strike King co-anglers from the Buckeye, North Carolina, Northeast and Piedmont divisions.
The 2023 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the MLF Toyota Series, the pathway to the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour. Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI. For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. |
PENN Wrath II Spinning Reel & Combo Now Features the Classic PENN Cosmetics
COLUMBIA, S.C. (Oct. 9, 2023) PENN Fishing is renowned for producing some of the sturdiest and most reliable fishing reels on the water. From offshore conventional reels to inshore spinning reels, PENN anglers can be confident that their equipment will endure countless casts. The newly introduced PENN Wrath II spinning reel and combo is no exception to this standard. This affordable reel should be considered an essential addition for all anglers.
The PENN Wrath II reel was built on an affordable platform without compromising the history of durability associated with PENN products. The reel's lightweight design and user-friendly features make it an ideal choice for individuals of all ages, whether they're novice or experienced anglers. With this exceptional fishing reel at hand, introducing friends and family to fishing and helping them achieve success becomes an effortless endeavor.
Designed with a corrosion-resistant body and a precision-machined, anodized aluminum spool, this reel provides impressive power for fishing in various environments, from rivers to coastal areas. The inclusion of 2+1 shielded stainless steel bearings and instant anti-reverse functionality ensures a smooth and dependable gear system, enhancing casting performance. The Wrath II reel is offered in a range of sizes with upgraded aesthetics, catering to a diverse range of fishing preferences and target species, appealing to anglers young and old.
Additionally, the PENN Wrath II is available as a versatile combo, featuring a durable two-piece graphite composite rod that is both easy to travel with and store. The rod has EVA grips designed for comfort during fish battles. The ultra-tough Dura-Guides eliminate the risk of guide insert pop-outs, enhancing the combo's longevity and safeguarding your investment. From inshore waters to the waves of the surf, the Wrath II combo is fully equipped to take on various fishing challenges.
For more information about PENN and this reel, please click here.
PENN WRATH II REEL
- Lightweight and Corrosion-resistant graphite body
- 2 Shielded Stainless Steel Ball Bearings
- Instant Anti-Reverse Bearing
- Machined and Anodized Aluminum Spool
- Line Capacity Rings
- Classic PENN Cosmetic
Models: WRTHII2500 • WRTHII3000 • WRTHII4000 • WRTHII5000 • WRTHII6000 • WRTHII8000
MSRP: $49.99-69.99
Available: September 2023
PENN WRATH II COMBO
- PENN Dura-Guides
- Lightweight and corrosion-resistant body
- EVA Grips
- Two-Piece composite blank
- New Combo - 12 Ft. Surf Model
Models: WRTHII2500612S662ML • WRTHII3000612S702ML • WRTHII40001017S702M • WRTHII50001220S702MH • WRTHII50001225S802MH • WRTHII60001530S902MH • WRTHII80002040S102H • WRTHII80002040S122H
MSRP: $69.99-119.99
Available: September 2023
Chrenko flexes his smallmouth muscle to win Bassmaster Kayak Series event on Susquehanna River
Josh Chrenko of Greenwood, Ind., has won the Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX on Pennsylvania's Susquehanna River with a two-day total of 194 inches.
Photo by Mark Cisneros/B.A.S.S.
October 8, 2023
LEWISBURG, Pa. — Josh Chrenko said earlier this week that the Susquehanna River is as good as any smallmouth bass river he’s ever fished.
Then he went out and proved it.
Chrenko, 38, won the Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX on Sunday in the center of the Keystone State. He took the Day 1 lead with a five-bass limit that measured 96.25 inches and delivered again on the second and final day of the derby with another limit, this one measuring 97.75 inches.
That gave the Greenwood, Ind., resident a total of 194 inches, which was more than enough to claim the tournament’s $8,500 first prize. The Top 15 anglers and Big Bass Award winner split a cash purse of $30,200.
“I’m not a national tournament guy,” Chrenko said, shortly after receiving the championship trophy.
“I’m from Indiana and we don’t have anything like this at home. So, if I get a chance to fish here, I’m gonna go ... And to be standing up here now (after winning the tournament), it’s just surreal.”
Chrenko fished an isolated spot of the river — a gamble, he said, because it was an effort to reach. But the chunky smallmouth bass feeding there, alongside big muskie and flatheads, made it worth the risk.
“I went there on Thursday for my first practice day and in 45 minutes, I had two 20s and two 19s,” Chrenko said. “So, I knew that was my spot. But (if the bite changed) there was nothing else I could fish around it. I would pretty much be stuck.”
Fortunately for Chrenko, no one was on his spot Saturday morning. He caught only eight fish, but they were the ones he needed.
“I only had four fish until about 1:30 that afternoon,” he said. “I had only one Bull Shad in my swimbait box, and I caught my first four keepers on that.”
After a giant muskie broke his bait off, Chrenko threw a Megabass Magslowl swimbait to finish his limit. He loaded up on swimbaits Saturday night, figuring he might need them after the front pushed through fully overnight.
“The water was like chocolate milk today,” he said. “But I put on a Z-Man JackHammer and I wound up catching nine fish. I only had 17 fish in two days, but they were the right ones.”
Rus Snyders of Pegram, Tenn., stormed from fifth place on Saturday into second on Sunday, courtesy of a limit that measured 97.25. That gave him a 191.25-inch total over the weekend — good enough not only for the second-place bounty of $3,800, but also to earn him the 2023 Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year title.
Snyders pocketed an additional $5,000 prize for winning the year’s points race.
“This is the best week of smallmouth fishing I’ve had in my life,” he said. “Every day they were just chewing ... I saw what the forecast was doing over the weekend, and I found a few baits that were working. But over 50% of my time, I was on that Torqeedo and I would zig-zag back and forth all over the place.
“I marked everything I could — a shoal, a big boulder, a rockpile, a laydown.”
With more than 300 waypoints charted, Snyders was able to find fish despite the water dirtying following the front. His best bites on Saturday came on Neko rigs. On Sunday, he leaned on a variety of Megabass Magdraft swimbaits.
Snyders’ second-place finish this weekend capped a spectacular year, in which he won the Kayak Series Championship on Chickamauga Lake in his home state in March. He also had a second-place showing on the Mississippi River in Wisconsin, finished third at Alabama’s Lake Guntersville and 15th at Lake Hartwell in South Carolina.
“Everything this year has gone so smoothly,” Snyders said. “Not just with my fishing, but everything in general.”
Rounding out the Top 5 this weekend on the Susquehanna are Pennsylvania’s Jordan Welliver, third, 190.5, $2,700; Pennsylvania’s Jake Harshman, fourth, 187, $1,950; and West Virginia’s Mark Edwards, fifth, 186.75, $1,800.
Welliver also won the $500 Big Bass Award for the 21.5-inch smallmouth he caught Sunday.
A total of 146 anglers from across the U.S. competed in the derby.
The final berths in the 2024 Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series Championship powered by TourneyX will be announced later this week. The Top 5 anglers from each event this season, plus several dozen from the Angler of the Year standings, will be invited to the championship which is scheduled for March 20-21 on Oklahoma’s Lake Tenkiller. The kayak championship will be held in conjunction with the 2024 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota, which is scheduled for March 22-24 in Tulsa.
Major League Fishing 2024 General Tire Team Series Costa Qualifier Presented by Toyota Wraps Production in West Virginia
MLF Completes Week-Long Television Shoot in West Virginia with Nine Three-Man Teams Competing to Advance to Bass Pro Shops Team Series Championship
ROANOKE, W. Va. (Oct. 6, 2023) – Major League Fishing (MLF) and 27 of the best pro anglers in the world officially wrapped production this week at the second event of the 2024 General Tire Team Series season – the Costa Qualifier Presented by Toyota in West Virginia. Hosted by the West Virginia Department of Tourism, the competition was filmed entirely for television broadcast and shot over six days this week, featuring nine teams of three anglers competing to finish in the top three and advance to the Bass Pro Shops Team Series Championship.
The General Tire Team Series Costa Qualifier Presented by Toyota marked the first time that MLF, the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, had visited West Virginia. The event that showcased MLF’s unique catch, weigh and immediate-release tournament format.
The event featured professional anglers visiting West Virginia to compete in select areas of Stonewall Jackson Lake and Summersville Lake. The competition waters for each day of the event were not disclosed until the anglers arrived at the launch ramp each morning, creating a reality-based television episode that showcases how the top anglers in the world work with their teammates to break down new and unfamiliar waters.
The nine teams that competed in the General Tire Team Series Costa Qualifier Presented by Toyota in West Virginia were:
Team B&W Trailer Hitches:
Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas
Jeff Kriet, Ardmore, Okla.
Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas
Team Builders FirstSource:
Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn.
Fletcher Shryock, Guntersville, Ala.
James Watson, Lampe, Mo.
Team Crockett Creek:
David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va.
Bradley Roy, Lancaster, Ky.
Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala.
Team Ferguson:
Jeremy Lawyer, Sarcoxie, Mo.
Cody Meyer, Star, Idaho
Shinichi Fukae, Osaka, Japan
Team Knighten Industries:
Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif.
Brett Hite, Phoenix, Ariz.
John Murray, Spring City, Tenn.
Team Kubota:
Jordan Lee, Cullman, Ala.
Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark.
Timmy Horton, Muscle Shoals, Ala.
Team Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff & Pouches:
Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C.
Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla.
Jacob Wall, New Hope, Ala.
Team Sqwincher:
Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala.
Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif.
Fred Roumbanis, Russellville, Ark.
Team Star brite:
Kevin VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich.
David Walker, Huntingdon, Tenn.
Kelly Jordon, Flint, Texas
The MLF General Tire Team Series Costa Qualifier Presented by Toyota will air on Outdoor Channel as six, two-hour original episodes each Saturday afternoon starting Feb. 17, 2024, airing from 2 to 4 p.m. EDT. The full television schedule can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com/tv-schedule.
The 2024 General Tire Team Series is comprised of three Qualifying Events, filmed for production in the fall of 2023, where teams compete for advancement to the Bass Pro Shops Teams Series Championship, set to film in early December 2023. Each of the three Team Series Qualifiers consist of nine teams, each comprising three anglers.
Nearly a half a million dollars will be paid out over the three no-entry fee Qualifiers, and the total season-long purse for the General Tire Team Series is more than $720,000.
Proud sponsors of the MLF General Tire Team Series include: Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Barbasol, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Bubba, Builders FirstSource, Costa, Crockett Creek Beef Jerky, Ferguson, General Tire, Knighten Industries, Kubota, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury Marine, Mossy Oak, NITRO Boats, Onyx, Optima Batteries, Power-Pole, Quad Lock, Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff & Pouches, Sqwincher, St. Croix Rods, Star brite, Toyota and YETI.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the General Tire Team Series, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
Fall Fishing Season Update with Rob Digh
It is officially time for Championship Season and fall fishing throughout the country. We got a chance to catch up with AC Insider Rob Digh to see what's up in the Carolina's, and a tip on what the pros are throwing right now.
https://youtu.be/Wy6nft_eDQU
Bass Fishing Hall of Famer Iaconelli extends his tourney season at Bassmaster Kayak event on Susquehanna
Legendary angler Mike Iaconelli will be among the field when the Susquehanna River hosts the Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX October 7-8, 2023.
Photo by B.A.S.S.
October 6, 2023
LEWISBURG, Pa. — Mike Iaconelli isn’t ready just yet for the annual “offseason” of the Bassmaster Elite Series. This weekend, Iaconelli will compete on what he claims to be home turf on the Susquehanna River at the Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX just days after being inducted into the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame.
Joining Pittsgrove, New Jersey's Iaconelli in the tournament will be fellow Elite pro Greg DiPalma of Millville, N.J., who currently sits third in the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year points race.
The playing field is the upper reaches of the massive river that concludes as a tidal fishery where it empties into the Upper Chesapeake Bay where Iaconelli won a 2021 Bassmaster Kayak Series event. Iaconelli is so passionate about kayak tournament fishing that his trophy sits beside his Bassmaster Classic trophy as a testimony to its value in his Hall of Fame fishing career.
“I got into kayak fishing about 12 years ago because it fills a lot of voids for me,” Iaconelli said. “It reminds me of how I grew up fishing small waters in canoes, and it enables me to stay competitive, which I need.”
Like anything else he does, Iaconelli got serious about his kayak fishing gear. Hobie even designed the Mirage Pro Angler 14 360 Mike Iaconelli Edition from which he competes. He competes with the same level of energy that he brings to the Elite Series, and not just because that defines his angling persona.
“I’ve had people ask me during practice why I’m going down a level, backwards in my level of competing,” Iaconelli said. “That’s not it at all, because these kayak anglers are as good and competitive in their craft as the Elite guys.
“These kayak dudes put in just as much work, are just as competitive, and when you beat them, you’ve accomplished something legitimate.”
Iaconelli grew up in the Philadelphia area and when he returned to his angling roots, annual pilgrimages to the Susquehanna were a summertime ritual.
“The upper river is a real gem; I’ve fished up here for about 15 years now,” he said. “What makes it so great is, in the stretch where we compete, it isn’t accessible to a fiberglass bass boat, which also deters tournament pressure.
“The tournament stretch is also catch-and-release only, and it’s not uncommon to catch over 50 smallmouth a day.”
Iaconelli described the tournament zone as relatively shallow, with moderate current, ultra-clear water and rocky habitat, making it ideal for river smallmouth. The section supports a healthy ecosystem of forage, including shad, redhorse sucker chubs and river shiner, adding to the viability of the smallmouth fishery.
On his first practice day, Iaconelli caught 50 smallmouth, and he identified two priorities in focus for completing his game plan.
“First, I’m looking for a stretch of river that has quality smallmouth, and by that, I mean 16- to 18-inchers, compared to the 12- and 14-inchers that are common,” he said. “Second, I’m looking for concentrations of bait that are beginning to form into schools for the fall period.”
Iaconelli planned to fish a different section of the river each of his allotted practice days to find that combination of needs. Current is a key ingredient to making those two come together in the same place.
“Smallmouth here will move 10, 15 miles to find bait, and that’s easy for them because they just swim and float downstream with the current, just like the baitfish do,” he said. “When they find the bait, they school up and feed in that same area.”
Find the bait, find the bass. That’s a textbook approach to fall fishing anywhere. On the upper Susquehanna, Iaconelli will also key in on current breaks that form the textbook ambush points for smallmouth as the bait comes downstream.
He sees two emerging patterns in play, both with the overarching theme of a fall bite that is underway — power fishing for smallmouth on the move and a finesse approach for the ultra-clear water.
“The river is low and clear, and finesse fishing will be a dominant pattern for catching wary fish,” Iaconelli said.
The weather could be a factor in the event. A low-pressure system will move across the area over the weekend, bringing showers and a significant change in temperatures. Nighttime lows on Saturday night will drop to the mid-40s. A 10-degree temperature drop is forecasted for the Sunday finale, with highs in the mid-50s.
Competition days are scheduled for October 7-8, with the final berths to the 2024 Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series Championship powered by TourneyX to be awarded and the 2023 Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year to be decided. The live leaderboard can be found on Bassmaster.com throughout the tournament, with the awards ceremony streaming live on the Bassmaster YouTube channel October 8 at 5 p.m. ET.
Fishin' Tip Friday - The Carolina Rig with Peter T
By Vance McCullough
Peter Thliveros, a.k.a.: ‘Peter T’ enjoyed a career that saw him amass more than $2,000,000 in tournament winnings as he captured titles in both professional leagues - B.A.S.S. and FLW (now Major League Fishing).
Early on Thliveros set himself apart as an expert with the Carolina rig.
“I just got fascinated with it when I found out a tournament was won with it on the St Johns River,” says Thliveros of the fishery that flows through his hometown of Jacksonville, FL.
“I really began to study it and use it a lot.
“As far as leader length, I’ve learned that the old standard 3-foot leader is all you usually need. I used to experiment with different lengths. Sometimes in cold water a shorter leader is better.”
“It’s all about the feel. A tight line helps with this. It increases the sensitivity and helps you identify the type of bottom, hard or soft, and what’s on it, shell, grass, wood. Then when you catch a fish, you can feel around for more of that same type of bottom. Fluorocarbon line and tungsten weights help tremendously to increase sensitivity as well. When I started doing this, all we had was stretchy monofilament, lead egg sinkers and cheap, dull hooks. And the longest rods were only 6 feet. Try throwing a Carolina rig on a short rod sometime,” laughed Thliveros. “I lost more fish than I caught on the rig back then.”
As he began to master the technique, Thliveros added his personal wrinkle to the game. It’s called the Petey Rig and it takes advantage of a lighter sinker, perhaps as light as ¼ ounce, to finesse a downsized, but otherwise normal, Carolina rig through cover where a heavier weight would constantly snag. The Petey is especially appropriate in thick grass, brush and rocks.
Bassmaster Opens season finale offers different look at Florida’s Harris Chain of Lakes
Anglers will have one more opportunity to qualify for the 2024 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota and earn their way onto the Elite Series at the 2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Harris Chain of Lakes Oct. 12-14.
Photo by Chase Sansom/B.A.S.S.
October 5, 2023
Bassmaster Opens season finale offers different look at Florida’s Harris Chain of Lakes
LEESBURG, Fla. — It’s a familiar venue in a less-familiar time frame, but anglers should find the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Harris Chain of Lakesrich with opportunity.
Competition days will be Oct. 12-14 with daily takeoffs from Ski Beach at 7:30 a.m. ET and weigh-ins each day back at the launch site at 3:30 p.m. Full coverage will be available on Bassmaster.com with FS1 broadcasting live with the leaders on Saturday morning beginning at 8 a.m.
Recent years have seen all levels of Bassmaster tournaments, from the High School and Junior series to the Elite Series, visit the Harris Chain. All, however, have been spring events, so this season-ending finale presents the field with an atypical shot at Florida fall fishing.
“Fall opens everything up,” said Lakeland, Florida’s Bobby Lane, who lives about an hour from Harris Chain. “I don’t see anyone winning it off of one spot. The beautiful thing about the Harris Chain of Lakes is you have shellbars, brushpiles, Kissimmee grass, buggy whips, docks, canals — you have everything.
“The local tournament weights have been OK for this time of the year. Nothing out of the ordinary, but nice stringers are coming in.”
Comprising eight lakes — Harris, Griffin, Eustis, Dora, Beauclair, Carlton, Apopka and Yale — the chain covers approximately 75,000 acres. All but Yale are linked by rivers and canals, so there’s plenty of room to spread out. While Lane believes much of this central Florida gem could contribute to the winning limit, he’s fairly certain no one lake will dominate the show.
“Normally, you can predict where it will go down. In the spring, we see Apopka become a huge player with the big fish up shallow,” Lane said. “There’s a huge group of fish in Apopka, but with the run from the takeoff site in Lake Harris, you only get three or four hours to fish.
“That creates a challenge in the fall because you need a little more time to fish. You might catch one or two big ones early, then you might catch one at noon, then you catch one at 1 or 2 o’clock, and somewhere in between you need a 2-plus-pounder to go with all of that.”
Basically, anyone investing the time to run down to Lake Apopka or north to Lake Griffin must calculate the idle time through the connecting waterways they’d have to traverse. Time management is critical, and if anything goes wrong, the trip could turn into a big goose egg.
“You’re cutting your time so short, if you’re really not on ’em or, for some reason, something isn’t the same as it was the day before, you’re putting yourself in jeopardy,” Lane said. “Even if you fish closer in Lake Dora, Lake Beauclair or Lake Eustis, all of those canals take time to idle.
“That opens everything up, and it’s going to make for a lot of fun. A lot of burning gas. No one’s going to roll up on a shellbar and win the tournament.”
Wherever anglers end up, Lane said the Harris Chain water bodies are in good shape, largely due to favorable vegetation levels. From non-native hydrilla to native eelgrass, the lakes benefit from water filtration, along with vast habitat for bass and the forage they seek.
“The Harris Chain of Lakes is in great condition. We’re starting to get some grass back in all the lakes,” Lane said. “This year, we’ve had more grass than we’ve had in a while. I attribute that to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) believing in bass fishing and doing a good job of managing the (invasive submersed aquatic vegetation).
“Aquatic vegetation can take over, but it can be maintained in certain areas. I think it makes for a healthy fishery and a good pleasure boat scenario.”
As Lane points out, the spring season puts an emphasis on shallow cover, but bass utilize Florida grass throughout the year. While shallow areas with scattered hard bottom attract a lot of fish during the spawn and prespawn, autumn brings another set of dynamics.
“In the fall, you deal with wind,” Lane said. “It blows bait from one end of the lake to the other. If you can find the grass with the bait in it, the bass will move to these areas.
“The wonderful thing about aquatic vegetation is that bass don’t need to leave, so you can have a great bass population there. The grass contributes to a great fishery and it leads to better weights across the board.”
Lane said the fall season definitely opens up tactical possibilities, as many of the fish will be scattered and disjointed. He’s looking for topwaters like the Berkley Cane Walker or Choppo to get a good workout, while flipping shallow cover always plays on Florida lakes.
Offshore, anglers will target deeper grass, shellbars and subtle contour changes with bladed jigs, big worms and drop shots. Lane suggests pairing a diverse arsenal with an open mind.
“There’s a lot of fish to catch, but it’s going to boil down to that 4-plus-pound fish,” Lane said. “In spring, we would talk about a 6- or 7-pound fish (when more large bass move shallow to spawn), but this time of year, a 4-pounder is a big fish.
“This time of year, they get off the bank, they roam around, they suspend, they just eat bait out in the middle of the lake. They swim around shellbars and brushpiles. They kind of have the whole lake to do whatever they want until it’s time to head to the bank and spawn.”
Given the lack of concentrated giants, Lane predicts 15 1/2 to 16 pounds a day will make the Top 10 cut and 18 a day will win. However it shakes out, this season finale will see dreams flourish and fizzle.
In addition to the top cash prize, the top pro will receive an automatic berth in the 2024 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota scheduled for March 22-24 on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees near Tulsa, Okla.
Also, this tournament decides the final Elite Qualifiers (EQ) points totals for the season. Anglers who committed to all 2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Opens events (three divisions with three events in each) will be eligible for one of nine Elite Series invitations based on the EQ standings.
JT Thompkins of Myrtle Beach, S.C., leads the Bassmaster Open Elite Qualifiers standings with 1,480 points. He is followed by John Garrett of Union City, Tenn., (1,461), Trey McKinney of Carbondale, Ill., (1,417), Robert Gee of Knoxville, Tenn., (1,372) and Japanese pro Kenta Kimura (1,355).
The tournament is being hosted by Visit Lake, the City of Leesburg and the Greater Orlando Sports Commission.
New Berkley PowerBait Saltwater Shapes Featuring a Formula Fish Can’t Resist
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Bassmaster Classic takes 2023 SportsTravel award for Best Professional Event
The 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota has been recognized as the Best Professional Event in the annual SportsTravel Awards.
Photo by Dalton Tumblin/B.A.S.S.
October 4, 2023
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota was honored as the “Best Professional Event” at the annual SportsTravel Awards. The awards recognize the best events, venue and host city in the sports-event industry. The NCAA Women’s Final Four and Salt Lake City, host of the 2023 NBA All-Star Weekend, were among the event’s other honorees.
“There is just no way to overstate the significance of the Bassmaster Classic to the sport of bass fishing, fishing fans, host communities and the sportfishing industry as a whole, and we are thrilled to see this iconic tournament recognized as the best professional sports event in the country,” said Chase Anderson, CEO of B.A.S.S.
“We’re thrilled to see the Bassmaster Classic mentioned alongside the Stanley Cup Finals, Super Bowl and World Cup, which have all won this same award previously. This is a true testament to the hard work of the B.A.S.S. team, talented professional anglers, dedicated sponsors and our partnership with Visit Knoxville. It also shows what our organization has known and proven for more than 50 years — fishing and the outdoor industry are a win for fans and local economies.”
The Bassmaster Classic not only welcomed a staggering crowd of 163,914 fans to Classic Week activities across Knoxville, Tenn., but also reached 4.5 million viewers across the two days of FOX and FS1 coverage. Bassmaster.com and the B.A.S.S. social media channels also broke records for engagement as fans devoured content on the web and social channels. During the 2023 Bassmaster Classic, records were set for social media impressions, engagement and video views as well as BassTrakk page views and streams of Bassmaster LIVE coverage — 1.2 million streams for more than 32.7 million minutes across Bassmaster.com, Tubi and the FOX Sports digital platforms.
The Super Bowl of Bass Fishing has also proven itself as one of the best investments in sports.
According to numbers released by Visit Knoxville, the Bassmaster Classic generated an economic windfall of more than $35.5 million for the community. In addition to producing more than $2.85 million in state and local tax revenue, including taxes on sales, restaurant purchases and lodging, the 2023 Bassmaster Classic and associated activities supported a total of 12,698 jobs.
Fans traveling from across the nation and as far away as Australia and Japan also accounted for 31,525 room nights at hotels across Knox County.
“The SportsTravel Awards recognize the stars of the sports-event industry,” said Jason Gewirtz, vice president of the Sports Division of Northstar Travel Group, which publishes SportsTravel magazine, in a release by the organization. “As events began to come back in 2022, we were thrilled to see hundreds of worthy events nominated for this year’s awards. The winners in each category exemplify everything that we love about the sports-event industry and underscore the resiliency and power of the sports-related travel market.”
The SportsTravel Awards are nominated and voted on by the readers of SportsTravel magazine. Criteria included superior organization of and attendance at the event and competitor and/or spectator experience.
Fishing the Carolina Rig
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The Anytime Big Fish Technique By: Shane Beilue |
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Whether competing in a bass tournament or simply fishing a weekend afternoon, all anglers are constrained by one element: time. This time constraint has led to the strategy known as “power fishing,” epitomized by the run-and-gun approach introduced by Kevin Van Dam, who recently retired with the best track record in competitive bass fishing history. Power fishing is not just fishing fast; rather, it’s about covering water with improved time management and efficiency in order to get a sense of how the most active bass are behaving on a given day. Once located, an angler can slow to a more methodical means to catch more bass located in an area. |
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What if you could utilize a technique that offered the best of both worlds: long casts to cover water relatively quickly but also a means to efficiently probe the lake bottom and surrounding cover for bass? Such is the appeal of the Carolina rig, aka the “ball and chain." The Carolina rig shot to the national spotlight in the 1985 Bassmaster’s Classic when Jack Chancellor dragged it across river sand bars for the winning catch. He called it the “Do-Nothing Rig," which is appropriate given the simplicity of the technique. The Carolina rig is a heavy barrel weight, such as Epic's ¾ or 1 oz Tungsten Barrel Weight, separated from the hook and an 18-36” leader by a barrel swivel. Most anglers will include a series of plastic or metal beads above the swivel knot to cushion it from the heavy sinker and add an audible component to attract a bass’ attention. |
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If you want extra cushion and less clack, use the XL Blue-Colored Weight Peg from Epic. Place the peg right above the swivel so that when the weight comes down, it will bounce back. If Epic's Tungsten Bead is on there, then it will have a different sound than glass beads. Soft plastic choices for the Carolina rig are a matter of the angler’s imagination and preference, with creature baits and craws a popular choice, as are the more subtle 5-inch "french fry” worms or even the ubiquitous Senko. Choices in hooks can include a 3-4/0 EWG (extra wide gap), such as the AlphaPoint® Assault Tactical Wide Gap Hook, or the offset round bend hooks in the same size. |
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Typically, the Carolina rig uses 30-50# braided line to eliminate stretch on a long hookset. The leader material is usually 12-15 pound fluorocarbon to reduce underwater line visibility and increase abrasion resistance. The Carolina rig can be fished on the bottom from shallow to deep, stirring up sediment as the heavyweight drags along the bottom with short bursts from the rod tip. The efficiency of the setup comes from the ability to bomb the rig great distances with long casts due to the heavy sinker. The sinker also impacts structure along the lake bottom as it drags, which draws fish to the commotion. It also offers feedback to the astute angler about the composition of the lake bottom. One can feel the tactile change in feedback through the rod tip as the sinker drags through the muted feel of a silty bottom to the more “crunchy” sensation of gravel or shell bottom. These little patches of gravel and shell are what is known as a “hard bottom” among accomplished offshore anglers and is considered “the juice” when searching for schools of feeding bass. Among all the components of dragging a Carolina rig effectively, the rod is front and center. The technique requires a specialized rod long enough to heft the heavy sinker and extend leader a great distance while also maintaining the sensitivity to feel those subtle bottom changes through the rod tip. The new KastKing Assegai “Sweet Caroline” is aptly named, as it checks all the boxes for defining the perfect rod for lobbing and dragging the old ball and chain. |
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At 7 '6”, the Sweet Caroline has the needed length to fire the Carolina rig to its maximum range, as well as move a lot of line in a hurry on the hookset with a sweep of the long rod. Considered a “fast/medium/heavy” action, this technique-specific rod from KastKing also offers the tip sensitivity to feel the bottom and detect the bite, but has the power to drive the hook home on bass from a great distance. Want a wide spool reel that eliminates backlashes and also lets you know the distance of your last cast? You can pair the Assegai rod with the new KastKing iReel, which is an incredibly smooth reel that casts the Carolina rig a country mile. At ICAST '23, all the buzz centered around the iReel’s ability to provide audible feedback for the casting distance, as well as retrieve speed, both important metrics when fishing any lure. Should you choose to turn off the audio capability, the iReel records all the casting data to your phone via the KastKing app for your review at a later time. The Carolina rig is a versatile technique that can be fished fast or slow, shallow or deep, regardless of the season. When searching for schools of bass away from the shoreline, drag ‘em up with the “ball and chain.” |
Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Tournament Set for Alabama’s Lake Eufaula
“The Bass Capital of the World” Set to Host 200 Boaters and Strike King Co-anglers from Four BFL Divisions Competing for Spot in 2024 BFL All-American, Top Prize of $60,000
EUFAULA, Ala. (Oct. 4, 2023) – The Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine’s Choo Choo, Gator, Music City and Savannah River divisions will finish out the 2023 season in Eufaula, Alabama, Oct. 12-14, with the Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine Regional Event at Lake Eufaula.
Hosted by the Eufaula Barbour County Chamber of Commerce, the three-day regional tournament will feature the top 45 boaters and co-anglers plus tournament winners from all four divisions, battling it out for a top prize of $60,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, along with lucrative contingency awards, including up to an additional $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus. Strike King co-anglers will compete for a top prize of $50,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard. Winners will be determined by the heaviest three-day catch.
The top six finishers in each regional will qualify for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American. The highest finishing boater from each division will also receive a $1,000 bonus and the highest finishing co-angler from each division will receive a $500 bonus.
“I think this tournament is likely going to be a feast- or famine-type event,” said MLF pro Braxton Setzer of Wetumpka, Alabama. “Fall fishing in Alabama is very fun, but it can be tough. I think we’ll see some guys really catch them, but I many guys in the field may not do so hot.
“The fish are scattered out, so we’ll probably see anglers doing a little bit of everything,” Setzer continued. “From offshore with the forward-facing sonar to way up shallow, it’s really a toss up between the two patterns. I think if a guy gets on the right deal up shallow, he could run away with it.”
Setzer said that he’d have a squarebill crankbait and topwater or walking bait tied on, like a 5-inch Yo-Zuri Pencil, to target the cypress trees and shallow cover. If he moved out offshore, he’d throw a Yo-Zuri 3+ or 4+ crankbait and a Rabid Baits shakey-head rig.
“Typically, if a guy can get into the upper teens – 17 or 18 pounds a day – he’ll be feeling pretty good about his week,” Setzer went on to say. “But that being said, there are plenty of very big fish in Lake Eufaula so it could definitely take even more.”
Anglers will launch at 7 a.m. CT each morning from Lakepoint Resort State Park, located at 104 Lakepoint Drive, in Eufaula, Alabama. Weigh-ins will also be held at the landing and will begin at 3 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the action online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine consisted of 24-divisions devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season and five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, advance to one of six Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regionals. The 2024 BFL All-American will be held May 29-31 at Cherokee Lake in Jefferson County, Tennessee
The top boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the Toyota Series, the pathway to the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals and ultimately the Bass Pro Tour.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Two Michigan collegiate anglers win 2023 Helen Sevier Pioneer Scholarships
Central Michigan University's Alina Krasinski and Southwestern Michigan College's Delaney Platt have won the 2023 Helen Sevier Pioneer Scholarships presented by B.A.S.S. and Shimano.
Photos courtesy of Alina Krasinski and Delaney Platt
October 4, 2023
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. and Shimano have partnered to award the second annual Helen Sevier Pioneer Scholarships to Central Michigan University angler Alina Krasinski of Mount Pleasant, Mich., and Southwestern Michigan College competitor Delaney Platt of Braceville, Ill. These scholarships not only honor Sevier’s leadership and long-term vision for the growth of sportfishing, but also recognize the efforts of young female anglers as they pursue fishing at the collegiate level.
“There is no better way to honor Helen Sevier’s legacy than by recognizing Alina and Delaney as they work to make their place in the fishing industry at the college level and beyond,” said Bassmaster Magazine Managing Editor Mandy Pascal, part of the scholarship review committee. “We appreciate Shimano’s ongoing partnership as B.A.S.S. works to ensure future ‘pioneers’ have support and recognition in their endeavors to compete at the college level. The next generation of female anglers is on a clear path to growing and promoting the sport.”
Krasinski grew up fishing the Detroit River, Lake St. Clair and Saginaw Bay before making her way to Central Michigan University. A first-generation college student, she is a Dean’s List student majoring in entrepreneurship and advertising in addition to serving as the treasurer for the CMU Chippewas Bass Fishing Team. After graduation, Krasinski plans to pursue a career in the fishing industry, leveraging this passion into an analyst or marketing position.
“I am so honored and blessed to receive this scholarship,” said Krasinski. “It is a great stepping stone in the journey that is college. This scholarship has been helping with tuition and travel expenses related to the tournament season. Central Michigan fishing has been amazing to me. I can't thank my team members enough ... I owe them everything.”
Platt is a freshman studying biology at Southwestern Michigan College, where she is one of two women on the bass fishing team.
“Fishing in college has been a dream of mine since starting competitive fishing, and I am so proud to have met this goal,” said Platt. “I am extremely excited to finally be able to fish with another girl. One of my biggest goals is to be able to make it to the professional level, but as long as I inspire young girls to get into competitive fishing, am a role model to them and make a difference in the lives of others, I will be happy.”
In addition to three years on her high school fishing team, where she and her partner won multiple Illinois Coaches and Student State Tournament Trail (ICASSTT) and Illinois High School Association tournaments, Platt was a member of the National Honor Society, Student Council, Students Against Destructive Decisions, Youth Philanthropy, Trap Shooting Team, Math Team, Natural Helpers, Student Ambassadors, Prom Committee and the school's pep club. After finishing her biology and pre-med work at Southwestern Michigan, Platt hopes to continue her education with the ultimate goal of becoming a dermatologist.
Sevier, the second full-time member of B.A.S.S. hired by founder Ray Scott in 1970, was a pioneer at all levels of the organization. During her 31-year career at B.A.S.S., Sevier oversaw a boom in membership as well as the expansion of Bassmaster’s media operation to include seven magazines and two television shows. Sevier was also instrumental in recruiting young people to the sport through the innovative CastingKids program. In 2004, Sevier was inducted into the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame, and her induction into the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame came in 2018.
Both Krasinski and Platt earned a $2,500 scholarship.
Abu Garcia Zenon MG-X Spinning Reel
Abu Garcia’s completion of the premium and high-performance Zenon spinning reel lineup.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (Oct. 4, 2023) – Filling out the premium Abu Garcia Zenon spinning reel family, the new Abu Garcia Zenon MG-X spinning reel is designed with the ultimate finesse angler in mind. Designed for anglers who are looking for an ultra-lightweight reel to match with an ultra-sensitive lightweight rod, this reel features a magnesium one-piece asymmetric design and mid-arbor air fin spool. Delivering unparalleled finesse spinning performance in a lightweight and sensitive reel, the Zenon MG-X also delivers when it comes to durability.
KEY FEATURES
• Asymmetric one-piece magnesium gear box design delivers a compact reel design that is ultra-lightweight
• Air fin spool design helps reduce weight
• V-Rotor design reduces start up inertia
• Carbon handle and co-molded handle knob
• AMG fully machined aluminum main gear gives unparalleled smoothness and durability
• 10+1 HPCR bearing system
• Rocket line management system
• Mid arbor spool design
• 6.2:1 gear ratio
• Weight: 2500 – 5.5oz • 3000 – 5.7oz
MSRP: $399.95
Available: September, 2023
Travel Tuesday - Panama Excuses
You Have No Excuses to Avoid Fishing in Panama
By Hanna Robbins - Half Past First Cast
The vast majority of my fishing friends have likely not popped for tuna in Panama, but I can guarantee you that just about all of them would love it. No matter what your preferred style of fishing is now, It’s the type of experience that would cause you to give up other species, sell your belongings and live in a van down by the river just to get a few extra days of it.
For the bass tournament guys, it offers the same thrill of that first morning run, except instead of heading to a spot you found in practice, you’re scanning the sky and radar for diving birds, clenching a rail as the boat barrels in their direction, and then leaping up to shoot out a cast as the fish boil on bait. If you don’t hook up then 30 seconds later you’re holding on for dear life again as you look for the next bait ball. It’s an amazing rush.
For anyone who loves topwater fishing (and if you don’t, I don’t want to be your friend) this is the ultimate. The fish absolutely destroy fast-moving poppers. And these suckers PULL. I thought that peacock bass were the ultimate topwater gladiator but I think a 10-pound tuna tied tail-to-tail with a 20-pound peacock would dominate the jungle fighter.
Finally, they grow big. Two hundred pounds plus is not out of the question, but in what other topwater fishery is a 40-pound plus brawler just an average fish? I can’t think of one. If you know it, let me know and I’ll try to arrange a trip.
Nevertheless, while some friends have been wowed by our tales and pictures of our initial trip to Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge, others who I know would love it have been oddly resistant. Here are their primary excuses and my responses:
“I get seasick.”
The four days we fished in the Gulf of Chiriquí (plus the mornings we ran the boat an hour to and from the marina and the island) were remarkably calm. I realize that’s just one snapshot in time, during a specific month, but I’m told that these waters typically stay quite placid. I don’t know if I’d get seasick in rougher conditions. The one time it got me was in the early 1980s in St. Martin in a small boat in giant waves. Starting with my halibut trip in 2019, followed by sailfish trips to Guatemala in 2020 and 2021, and now this trip to Panama, I’ve worn the scop patch and have had no problems. The only side effect is a bit of dry mouth. I can’t guarantee that I’d have gotten sick without it, but it seems to be effective across several friends and family members who’ve tried it.
“It’s too dangerous.”
I was pleasantly surprised that Panama City is a vibrant, modern city, and a very friendly one. Hanna, myself and our friend Dale took a walk from the hotel the first afternoon – something I would not do in many foreign locales – and felt no trepidation whatsoever. Tourism is a huge part of the country’s economy, and the long-term American military presence there and political stability make it safe. There are no State Department warnings on the areas we visited based on crime.
“It’s too far.”
If you live on one coast of the United States, it’s likely quicker to get to Panama City than it is to get to the other coast. Our DIRECT flight from Washington-Dulles was less than 5 hours, and we had multiple direct flights per day to choose from. From Houston, it’s almost exactly 4 hours and from Miami it’s almost exactly 3. While we overnighted in Panama City on the way down, on the way home we did the entire journey (Isla Paridas to David to Panama City to Dulles to home) in a single day. Furthermore, several major airlines serve Panama, so no matter which alliance group you’re a member of, you can likely use miles or gain miles by traveling there.
“I don’t have the right gear.”
As I’ve chronicled before, I didn’t bring any tackle to Panama. Well, that’s not exactly true – a friend at a tackle company gave me two hard stickbaits to try and I brought them but never tied them on. You literally need NOTHING. I know that some lodges and outfitters tell you that, and then you arrive and they have tomato-stake rods, crusty reels and line that was spooled during Gerald Ford’s administration. That wasn’t the case here. We had top notch tackle, including Shimano Twin Power and Saragosa reels, a wide array of Yo-Zuri Poppers, and Mustad hooks. I got home and started looking at popping stores’ inventories online, then realized I don’t need to worry about it.
“It’s too expensive.”
Well, it’s not inexpensive. If you don’t have the money, there’s nothing you can do about it – but if you have the disposable income and you’re trying to figure out how/where to spend it, this is a good bet. Why? Because it’s a value for what you get. To put it in simple terms, would you rather pay $500 for a charter that takes you out for a boat ride and produces nothing or $1,000 for the fishing day of a lifetime? To me, my time is limited enough that want to get the most bang for the buck, even if it means spending more bucks. Can you get cheaper packages in Panama than the one we took? Probably, but not with the same high-quality boats, lodging, food and gear. I value my time – and specifically my vacation time – more than just about anything, and this one gets my stamp of approval. Furthermore, it’s like two or three trips in one – you get the tuna popping deal (which alone is enough to bring me back), plus the inshore fishery, plus the chance at billfish.
Seriously, trust me on this one. If fishing is in your blood, or you think it might be, you need to go on this trip.
If you have more questions – or more excuses – shoot us an email and we’ll try to shoot them down.
AC Insider Podcast - Elite Series Pro Brock Mosley, Tough Bites, and Trap Fishin'
The guys catch up with Elite Series Pro, and Sabine River Champ, Brock Mosley. They give some good PSAs based on stupid things they've done and then get into the fishin'. Brock sticks around and does a Deep Dive on a favorite technique that has helped propel his career, the trusty Rat-L-Trap. Tune in!
Fisheries Managers Need to Keep a Watchful Eye on Forward-Facing Sonar
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New fish-finding technology has changed the way many fish. |
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Forestville, WI (October 3, 2023) – Recreational anglers have long benefited from advancements in technology. From fully-rigged fishing boats filled with high-tech electronics to amazing reels, rods, lures and even superlines, better tech has equated to more effective, fun, and productive results. But there is concern among some anglers about one of the latest and most incredible advances to hit the fishing scene. It is called forward-facing sonar (FFS), and angling experts are heralding it as far superior to any recreational fishing electronics feature ever created. “This technology has been around for about three years now and it is truly amazing,” says Patrick Neu, president of the National Professional Anglers Association (NPAA). “It is, quite frankly, far superior to any fish-finding electronics I’ve ever used, and therein lies the concern,” states Neu. “As the technology comes down in price and even more anglers utilize it to find and catch greater numbers of fish in both freshwater and saltwater, there will be much higher catch rates. In species that are targeted for harvest, especially, higher catch rates ultimately lead to more stress on the fisheries.” For this reason, continues Neu, the National Professional Anglers Association feels it is important to do its part as steward of the resource to help fisheries managers understand the effect this technology may have on fish stocks. “We need to help fisheries managers across the country understand how effective this new technology can be, and we need to assist them in any way we can as they begin to look into the effects of increased catches due to this new technology.” Essentially, FFS allows anglers to scan 360-degrees around the boat (or under the ice), finding fish with amazing efficiency and watching how they react to a lure or live bait in real time. This technology makes the fish infinitely easier to find and follow, even in open water, whether suspended, on the bottom, or tucked into structure. FFS is a game changer for anglers who embrace the technology and learn to use it effectively. As of now, only a small percentage of anglers have this technology on their boats, points out Neu, which is no surprise since the current systems run approximately $4,000 per unit. But as with all technology, the price is likely to come down in the next few years. “I wouldn’t be surprised to see this technology available at or near $1,000 in the next 3-4 years,” says Neu. |
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NPAA President Pat Neu being inducted into the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame by longtime NPAA and FFHoF member Al Lindner. |
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INSIGHTS AND OBSERVATIONS FROM A FISHING LEGEND Freshwater Fishing Hall of Famer and a Lifetime NPAA member Al Lindner agrees, noting he already sees FFS making a substantial difference on some of the waters he fishes. “Technology never goes backwards,” states Lindner, “so this is not going away. It has been a real revelation in terms of learning about fish movement and their reaction to lures and baits. It shows the number of fish in various locations and the direction they are moving. It allows anglers to uncover and explore what used to be hidden sanctuary locations where we never suspected the fish might hold. The technology is amazing. It is changing the way people fish and making them more productive than ever before. That brings up the question of if we are putting too much pressure on the fish stocks we pursue when employing forward-facing sonar?” Overall, says Lindner, it is too early to fully comprehend the magnitude of what we are dealing with, but he has already seen at least two fishing situations where it has clearly demonstrated a negative impact. “The harvest levels and damage to crappie populations on some very popular waters around the country have been staggering because the fish can no longer escape our vision,” he explains, “especially when they winter in tight schools. It used to take some effort to stay on crappies when they moved. That is no longer the case when you use FFS. Some crappie populations have been greatly impacted.” Muskie is another species taking a hit, expands Lindner. “These used to be the fish of 1,000 casts. Now, you move around with your trolling motor, look at the screen and they stick out like a sore thumb because they are so big. You cannot miss them – and when you find them you many times catch them!” According to Lindner, many people in the fishing industry are seeing similar results – and he, like Neu, believes that FFS technology is now beginning to take a bite out of the walleye fishery as well. Both agree the time for fisheries managers to act is now, preemptively, before the effects of FFS technology are compounded by greater availability, additional improvements, and more usage. “It’s been my experience that state agencies and fisheries managers usually don’t move until fisheries collapse,” states Lindner. “We need to get out in front of this before it becomes a genuine problem. There is no time to waste.” |
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To be sure, neither Neu nor Lindner want to ban this technology. The genie is already out of the bottle, and FFS is a significant improvement that will help anglers at every level catch more fish. “What we need right now is to make the appropriate state agencies and fishery managers aware of the extra stress and possible increased mortality rate this new advancement may have on specific fish populations in both freshwater and saltwater environments in the near future,” says Neu. “At NPAA, we believe the time to act is now. Open seasons for harvest, possession limits and length regulations all need to be analyzed for the species that are proving most vulnerable to this new technology, and we need to adjust those parameters accordingly.” In other words, concludes Neu, this is a true case of better safe than sorry. “It is clear that appropriate changes to fisheries management need to be in place before FFS technology explodes on the scene. It is my hope that technology may become a critical part of fisheries management in the near future as well. I envision cell phone applications that can help fisheries managers gather data, and the use of artificial intelligence that will help guide them to quickly adjust harvest rates to protect and allow the fisheries to flourish into the future.” NPAA represents all who make a living in the sportfishing industry. Membership includes everyone from guides and captains to tournament anglers, fishing department associates/management/shop owners, manufacturing personnel, engine mechanics, and professional rep groups. In addition to superior networking opportunities, sportfishing advocacy and promoting entry into the sport, the organization offers a monthly member newsletter, a weekly industry NewsBLAST, and access to significant discounts on gear and services provided by many of its nearly 80 supporting partners. For more information on joining the NPAA and exploring the many benefits memberships provide, visit npaa.net. |
Dale Hollow Lake Set to Host Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Tournament
Byrdstown Set to Host 200 Boaters and Strike King Co-anglers from Four BFL Divisions Competing for Spot in 2024 BFL All-American, Top Prize of $60,000
BYRDSTOWN, Tenn. (Oct. 3, 2023) – The Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine’s Bama, Illini, Michigan and Volunteer divisions will finish out the 2023 season in Byrdstown, Tennessee, Oct. 12-14, with the Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine Regional Event at Dale Hollow Lake.
Hosted by the Byrdstown-Pickett County Chamber of Commerce, the three-day regional tournament will feature the top 45 boaters and co-anglers plus tournament winners from all four divisions, battling it out for a top prize of $60,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, along with lucrative contingency awards, including up to an additional $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus. Strike King co-anglers will compete for a top prize of $50,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard. Winners will be determined by the heaviest three-day catch.
The top six finishers in each regional will qualify for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American. The highest finishing boater from each division will also receive a $1,000 bonus and the highest finishing co-angler from each division will receive a $500 bonus.
“Dale Hollow is an awesome fishery, no doubt,” said pro Adam Wagner of Cookeville, Tennessee, who has four career victories on Dale Hollow Lake in MLF competition. “This event is definitely going to be a forward-facing sonar tournament. If you’re not a LiveScoper, you’re in trouble. I think the entire top 6 will likely be LiveScoping.”
Wagner said Dale Hollow’s water levels were 12 to 15 feet low right now, and with not much grass to be found an angler may be able to catch a few bass fishing shallow, but certainly not enough to win.
“Everything is out right now, roaming with the shad,” Wagner continued. “I don’t think the smallmouth will be much of a factor, strictly due to the slot. If you get lucky and catch one over 21 inches, it’ll definitely help. But with so many largemouth there now, I don’t think the smallmouth will really play.”
Wagner said that an angler may be able to find an early morning topwater bite, but that most of the tactics employed by anglers would be offshore baits.
“There are definitely certain areas where you can find them schooling in the morning and you might be able to catch them on topwater, but that bite usually fizzles pretty quickly,” Wagner said. “I think Damiki rigs, swimbaits and spoons are all going to be strong in this event.
“It will take at least 19 pounds a day to get this one,” Wagner went on to say. “I predict the winner has 57 to 60 pounds over the three days of competition.”
Anglers will launch at 7 a.m. CT each morning from the Sunset Marina & Resort, located at 2040 Sunset Dock Road, in Monroe, Tennessee. Weigh-ins will also be held at the landing and will begin at 3 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the action online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine consisted of 24-divisions devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season and five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, advance to one of six Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regionals. The 2024 BFL All-American will be held May 29-31 at Cherokee Lake in Jefferson County, Tennessee
The top boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the Toyota Series, the pathway to the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals and ultimately the Bass Pro Tour.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Fothergill outlasts Smith to win Bassmaster College Classic Bracket
University of Montevallo angler Easton Fothergill, a native of Grand Rapids, Minn., has won the 2023 Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Lew's at Milford Lake.
Photo by Tommy Sendek/B.A.S.S.
October 2, 2023
JUNCTION CITY, Kan. — Throughout his young fishing career, several unfortunate incidents have ruined Easton Fothergill’s chances at winning tournaments he felt confident about.
Whether it was a mechanical issue or things he simply defined as “dumb stuff,” something always got in the way.
In mid-August, the University of Montevallo junior thought he would be adding emergency brain surgery to the list of misfortunes that derailed his path to success. But it turns out life works in mysterious ways.
“Now I know what God’s vision was,” he said.
Just over a month after undergoing surgery to remove an infected abscess on his brain, Fothergill won the 2023 Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Lew’s by catching 11 pounds, 13 ounces on the final day at Milford Lake, defeating Auburn University’s Tucker Smith (9-8).
“I can’t really put into words what it means to me yet,” said Fothergill. “This is something I never thought I would be capable of. I never saw myself doing something like this. It is crazy special. The fact I wasn’t even planning on being here and then winning it, I really can’t put it into words.”
The Grand Rapids, Minn., native earned a spot in the 2024 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota scheduled for Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees near Tulsa, Okla., March 22-24. Fothergill also earned paid entry fees into a division of the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens with the use of a fully rigged Toyota Tundra and Nitro Boat.
After qualifying for the College Classic Bracket by winning the Bassmaster College Team of the Year title with partner Nick Dumke, Fothergill caught 10-15 in the opening round to advance to the semifinal round over Montevallo teammate Jack Alexander (9-8). Fothergill then landed 9-1 on the second day to cruise past Auburn’s Hayden Marbut (6-11) before catching the tournament’s biggest bag on the final day. Fothergill caught mostly smallmouth, but he caught a key largemouth each day of the tournament.
While he hails from northern Minnesota, the section of the state most people identify with when discussing its fishing superlatives, Fothergill often ventured to the southern part of the state for high school tournaments.
He didn’t know it at the time, but those lakes set up much like Milford Lake and that past experience helped Fothergill break down his areas this week.
“In northern Minnesota where I’m from, you can see the bottom in 20 feet of water,” he explained. “You go to southern Minnesota, there is a lot of dirty water like Milford has. I had a couple of high school tournaments where we went down to those types of lakes and it was a huge learning experience, which now I think prepared me for this. I didn’t know it at the time, but it prepared me for the future.”
As he recovered from surgery, Fothergill studied Google Earth for days, looking for oddities in the rock-lined banks. He discovered there were bigger boulders in several specific spots on the lake. Those boulders turned out to be the key, as Fothergill caught nearly all of his bass around bigger rock.
“It was basketball-sized boulders, not the slab rock that the lake is littered with,” he said. “In the morning, they wanted the slow tapering banks and then a sharp break. The bass were in inches of water.
“Most of the spots I found were while I was recuperating and resting at home.”
A mix of baits contributed to his success. On Day 1, Fothergill tossed an underspin with a 3-inch swimbait along with a 3/8-ounce double-willow spinnerbait with a translucent skirt. As the tournament progressed, a homemade finesse football jig (made by his father) paired with a Strike King Rage Menace Grub played an important role as well as a 3.5-inch Strike King Coffee Tube rigged on either a 1/4-ounce or 3/8-ounce jighead.
While the spinnerbait bite fizzled some on Day 2, it fired back up on the final day.
The wind howled over Milford Lake from the moment anglers arrived this week and that played right into Fothergill’s strategy.
“My bite was wind-driven. Especially with smallmouth, you always want to chase the wind and if possible, you want the wind blowing in on your stuff,” he said. “My starting spot, the wind wasn’t blowing into it, but it was blowing over the point. I positioned my boat on the downwind side so I would cast into the wind so it looked more natural.”
The first two days of the tournament, Fothergill achieved a quick limit and Championship Monday was no different, as he filled a limit for just over 8 pounds within the first two hours.
“Last night I knew I had to brainstorm and come up with something new. I hopped on Google Earth and found two spots that could be promising for my morning pattern,” he said. “I tried my areas I had fished the first two tournament days and didn’t get a bite. I went to the stuff I found on Google Earth and immediately caught a keeper and then one of my bigger ones, a 2-7.”
From there, Fothergill rotated through several areas, catching smallmouth on spots where he had yet to get a bite. But it was a return to his Day 1 starting spot that proved to be the difference, as he landed three bass close to 2 1/2 pounds in a 20-minute flurry during the early afternoon.
“I was planning on hitting my main starting spot a bunch of times today. I knew what quality lived there if I could just get a couple of bites,” he said. “As soon as I left that spot this morning, there were a bunch of catfish guys walking down the bank. About an hour later I came back by and there were trotlines and four bobbers littered on my point. I was like, ‘What is going on?’ I checked it two more times and they were still there.
“Finally, after the (midday) break they were gone and that’s when I stopped in there and caught the three upgrades, which ended up winning the tournament for me.”
While Smith achieved a limit shortly after Fothergill and even led for a good portion of the mid-morning and early afternoon, the Auburn junior from Shoal Creek, Ala., could not find a true kicker bass. Fothergill never knew what Smith had in his bag, but felt as though he needed one more bite to solidify his spot in the Bassmaster Classic.
“I knew I had the biggest bag of my week, so I knew I made Tucker earn it if he did beat me,” Fothergill said. “I had this feeling I was one fish away the whole afternoon. I just had a feeling, but it worked out.”
Andrews, Holt, Iaconelli inducted as Bass Fishing Hall of Fame caps off historic Celebrate Bass Fishing Week
SPRINGFIELD, MO – For Immediate Release – Oct. 2, 2023 – It was a banner night for the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame. With more than 275 people gathered inside the White River Conference Center, including Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris, the Hall of Fame on September 28th enshrined three new members — Glen Andrews, Bruce Holt and Michael Iaconelli.
Through donations and industry support as well as the popular online auction that featured fishing trips and other outdoor experiences, pro angler memorabilia and a vast array of fishing tackle, the 2023 version of Celebrate Bass Fishing week raised more than $200,000, exceeding all previous Celebrate Bass Fishing Week totals.
“The induction ceremony evening and the events and activities leading up to it really showed what the bass fishing world is all about,” said BFHOF Board President John Mazurkiewicz. “It didn’t matter whose tournament circuit you favor, whose boat you ride in or the brand of the tackle you use, we all were able to come together as one to support the Hall’s mission of celebrating, promoting, and preserving the sport of bass fishing.”
With 20 Hall of Famers in attendance, all distinguishable by their royal blue blazers, and with new banners hanging from the ceiling to commemorate each induction class, it was an evening to remember for many reasons.
On a night when the Hall’s inductee roster grew to 95 and the fishing industry gathered to collectively celebrate the sport and its icons, Morris revealed during his remarks to start the evening that work will begin later this fall on new additions and features at the Wonders of Wildlife facility that should enhance visitor traffic through the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame space.
“We will be rerouting the traffic so that everyone that comes through Wonders of Wildlife and the aquarium, it’ll be an option for everybody to go through the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame,” Morris said. “As folks exit the Hall, it’ll lead them to some new aquariums and really celebrate bass as a species of fish.”
Andrews, 93, was seated in a wheelchair for much of the evening but he stood tall at the podium during his acceptance speech and displayed a sharp wit as he was celebrated for his pioneering efforts when tournament fishing was still in its infant stages in the 1960s.
“This has got to be one heck of a big extravaganza since it only comes around every 92 years,” Andrews said with a wry grin.
Andrews, from Lead Hill, Ark., is often referred to as the “best bass angler to have ever lived” by the likes of fellow Hall of Famers Bobby Murray and Bill Dance, both of whom counted Andrews as their mentor. He won multiple state bass fishing championships in the 1960s and was a key figure in developing rigging techniques such as the Andrews Slip Sinker Worm (now known as the Texas rig) and establishing the framework of rules that tournament anglers still abide by today.
“I’d give anything to stand up here and tell stories and swap lies with you for the next 30 minutes, but I can’t do that. I may not know as many good stories as Bill Dance, but some of mine are true,” Andrews quipped. “If you’ll forgive me for that, Bill, I’ll say thank you for that 30 minutes you spent on a Zoom call a few months ago to tell me that I was going to be inducted in the Hall of Fame. I thank you and I thank each and every one of you for coming. God bless you.”
Holt, who passed away in 2021, was represented by dozens of family members, former colleagues and industry friends. Bruce’s younger brother, Ryan, accepted his plaque and told the crowd that his older brother would have been in awe of being inducted.
“Bruce would be humbled, thrilled and mostly surprised to receive this honor. He gave his life to fishing and all it represents, but he would never in his wildest dreams believe he’d have been inducted here with all the people he idolized and admired,” Ryan Holt said.
Holt spent more than 30 years with G. Loomis in various positions and played a central role in helping grow the profile of the G. Loomis rod brand, especially in the bass category.
Following Holt’s induction, it was announced that Shimano (parent company of G. Loomis) will donate $5,000 to the Hall of Fame in Holt’s memory with the funds to be earmarked for the Hall’s conservation grants, scholarship programs, and youth fishing initiatives.
Iaconelli, still an active competitor on the Bassmaster Elite Series, concluded the evening by retracing the steps of what has been a transcendent career on and off the water.
“This is the most amazing feeling. I can’t even put it into words,” said Iaconelli, the only angler to win the B.A.S.S. Nation national championship, the Bassmaster Classic and the Bassmaster Angler of the Year award. “To look out at this sea of people who are my heroes from the fishing industry and not just the fishermen, but the writers, the retailers, my friends … it really feels like my life has come full circle.”
Missile Baits Partners with Outdoor Brand Team
alem, Va. – October 2, 2023 – Missile Baits is partnering with the Outdoor Brand Team for assistance in growing sales and the Missile brand across theirterritory. After 11 years, Missile Baits continues to grow in the bass fishing tackle market for soft plastics, skirted jigs, and terminal tackle. The Outdoor Brand Team has extensive expertise and experience working with select brands in the fishing industry to grow sales. OBT will represent the Missile line up of plastics and jigs across their territory in the Eastern half of the United States.
“I have personally worked with the whole OBT crew for over 10 years through other brands and they do an amazing job for the brands that they represent. Missile has never had the opportunity to partner with OBT but they recently had an opening, so I jumped on it. OBT will definitely help Missile Baits continue to grow and expand for many more years,” states Missile Baits owner, John Crews.
Matt Ledbetter, Sales Manager for OBT continued, “John and his team have built a great brand and we are excited to join the Missile team. The range of products and colors they have in their lineup is outstanding and I know our team can help them continue to grow the Missile brand.”
The official kick off date for the partnership between Missile Baits and OBT will begin October 2, 2023.
Henley Edges Field to Win Two-Day Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super Tournament on Cherokee Lake
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. (Oct. 2, 2023) – Boater Chase Henley of Kingston, Tennessee, caught 10 bass weighing 25 pounds, 4 ounces, to win the two-day MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on Cherokee Lake in Jefferson City, Tennessee. The tournament, hosted by the Jefferson County Department of Tourism, was the fifth and final regular-season event for the Bass Fishing League Volunteer Division. Henley earned $13,517 for his victory, including the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF contingency bonus.
Henley said he approached the tournament looking to fish what he was most comfortable with - shallow water that would produce quality bass, including pockets with bait and trees he could flip into.
“I just went fishing,” said Henley. “I fished what was in front of me and had a good time. Basically, I just flew down the banks and covered as much water as I could with a Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver. I keep it simple.”
Henley said he adjusted the weight used with the Sweet Beaver to adjust the fall rate depending on water clarity. He said he didn’t focus on a certain area of Cherokee; he fished from the low end of the lake all the way to the river on the north end.
“I’d catch a fish on the lower end and then wouldn’t get another until I got to Highway 25E, then I’d catch one in the river, then I’d be all the way back down to the dam and catch another one,” said Henley. “It was as scattered as scattered gets.”
Henley said he stopped fishing at 1 p.m. Saturday because he was confident in his weight, and he spent the rest of the day planning for Sunday’s round of fishing. Sunday morning started off well for Henley with three good keepers, and his confidence was high for the rest of the day against a tough field of competitors.
“East Tennessee has some of the best fishermen around,” Henley continued. “They’re versatile. They’re not good at just one thing, they’re good at all of it. So, this win means a lot.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
2nd: Isaac Peavyhouse, Jamestown, Tenn., 10 bass, 24-7, $3,239
3rd: Jacob Woods, Loudon, Tenn., 10 bass, 23-10, $1,939
4th: Jimbo Harris, Soddy Daisy, Tenn., 10 bass, 23-7, $1,357
5th: Nick Huff, Bean Station, Tenn., 10 bass, 23-1, $1,163
6th: Dale Pelfrey, Rockwood, Tenn., eight bass, 20-15, $1,066
7th: Bill Humbard, New Market, Tenn., nine bass, 20-9, $970
8th: Casey Majni, Knoxville, Tenn., 10 bass, 20-3, $873
9th: Corey Neece, Bristol, Tenn., 10 bass, 19-8, $776
10th: Christian Nash, Allons, Tenn., eight bass, 19-0, $679
Dylan Wright of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, caught a bass weighing 5 pounds, 1 ounce that was the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division to earn the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $772.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers were:
2nd: Ryan Lee, Pound, Va., five bass, 10-1, $1,332
3rd: Robert Ford, Boones Mill, Va., four bass, 9-0, $1,089
4th: Brandon Hartgrove, Hiltons, Va., two bass, 8-10, $963
5th: Dewayne Drummonds, Gray, Ky., three bass, 7-9, $533
6th: Todd Adkins, Knoxville, Tenn., three bass, 6-14, $488
7th: John Nickerson, Mooresburg, Tenn., two bass, 6-13, $444
8th: Kevin Powers, Unicoi, Tenn., three bass, 6-12, $600
9th: Ronaldo Garcia, Louisville, Ky., two bass, 6-4, $355
10th: Billy Hughes, Eubank, Ky., four bass, 6-3, $311
With the regular season now complete, boater Dillon Falardeau of Hixson, Tennessee, won the 2023 Bass Fishing League Volunteer Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with a five-event total of 1,260 points to earn the $1,000 boater AOY award. Lenny Bays of Dayton, Kentucky, won the 2023 Strike King Co-Angler Volunteer Division AOY race with 1,286 points and earned the $500 Strike King Co-angler of the Year award.
Now, the top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five winners of each qualifying event, will advance to compete in the Oct. 12-14 Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on Dale Hollow Lake in Byrdstown, Tennessee. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.
The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the MLF Toyota Series, the pathway to the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Davenport Rides Buzzbait Bite to Win Two-Day Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super Tournament on the Alabama River
PRATTVILLE, Ala. (Oct. 2, 2023) – Boater Blake Davenport of Jemison, Alabama, caught 10 bass weighing 26 pounds, 10 ounces, to win the two-day MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on the Alabama River Presented by Southern Petroleum Services in Prattville, Alabama. The tournament, hosted by the City of Prattville, was the fifth and final regular-season event for the Bass Fishing League Bama Division Presented by Mystik Lubricants. Davenport earned $4,668 for his victory.
“I found something up the river on channel swings where the fish were up, and I caught them all on a white ¼-ounce Crusher Lures Crusher Pro Buzzbait,” Davenport said.
Davenport said the buzzbait accounted for 15 to 20 keepers Saturday and 30 to 40 keepers on the second day of competition. He said he lives 40 minutes from the river, and he felt his familiarity with the fishery gave him confidence in the tournament.
“When I culled the last time with a 3-pounder, I thought the tournament was over,” said Davenport. “I’ve worked so hard for this, and it’s finally come to fruition. What went down this weekend was nothing short of special.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
2nd: Kyle Dorsett, Springville, Ala., 10 bass, 23-1, $2,334
3rd: Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., 10 bass, 22-5, $1,857
4th: Cal Burton, Dadeville, Ala., 10 bass, 21-15, $1,089
5th: Jason Nixon, Wetumpka, Ala., 10 bass, 20-13, $934
6th: Chris Payne, Vance, Ala., eight bass, 20-4, $1,356 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
7th: David Wesson, Southside, Ala., 10 bass, 19-3, $778
8th: Jake Akin, Heflin, Ala., 10 bass, 18-3, $1,247
9th: Chad Boykin, Robertsdale, Ala., 10 bass, 17-8, $622
10th: Henry McPherson, Tuscaloosa, Ala., nine bass, 16-4, $545
Jake Akin of Heflin, Alabama, caught a bass weighing 5 pounds even that was the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division to earn the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $547.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers were:
2nd: Chad Macks, Robertsdale, Ala., six bass, 13-12, $1,401
3rd: Michael Petras, Biloxi, Miss., seven bass, 11-3, $550
4th: Johhny Albritton, Cullman, Ala., five bass, 10-8, $530
5th: Danny Smith, Tyrone, Ga., seven bass, 10-0, $454
6th: Ethan McDonald, Livingston, Tenn., six bass, 9-0, $416
7th: Ben Caldwell, Hartselle, Ala., six bass, 8-8, $378
8th: Michael McLaurin, Chickamauga, Ga., six bass, 7-11, $341
9th: Gunter Williams, Linden, Ala., six bass, 7-7, $303
10th: Bobby Biggun, Cleveland, Ga., four bass, 7-6, $265
With the regular season now complete, boater Chris Payne of Vance, Alabama, won the 2023 Bass Fishing League Bama Division Presented by Mystik Lubricants Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with a five-event total of 1,282 points to earn the $1,000 boater AOY award. Chad Macks of Robertsdale, Alabama, won the 2023 Strike King Co-Angler Bama Division Presented by Mystik Lubricants AOY race with 1,329 points and earned the $500 Strike King Co-angler of the Year award.
Now, the top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five winners of each qualifying event, will advance to compete in the Oct. 12-14 Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on Dale Hollow Lake in Byrdstown, Tennessee. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.
The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the MLF Toyota Series, the pathway to the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
O’Connell Rides Blueback Bite to Win Two-Day Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super Tournament on Lake Hartwell
Mullins Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division
LAVONIA, Ga. (Oct. 2, 2023) – Boater Matt O’Connell of Brooks, Georgia, caught 10 bass weighing 31 pounds, 5 ounces, to win the two-day MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Hartwell Presented by Harrison Oil Company in Lavonia, Georgia. The tournament, hosted by the City of Lavonia, was the fifth and final regular-season event for the Bass Fishing League South Carolina Division Presented by Mystik Lubricants. O’Connell earned $14,448 for his victory, including the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF contingency bonus.
“I got to Hartwell on Thursday and started looking around to see how things were setting up,” said O’Connell, who finished second in the Phoenix Bass Fishing League 2023 All-American Championship at Lake Hartwell in June. “I found some big schools set up in places, and that led me down the path I would continue on for the rest of the weekend. I just picked up all the different blueback (herring) style baits and ran all over the lake fishing the big schools and brush piles and dialing it in as the weekend continued.”
O’Connell said he caught more keepers than short fish during the two-day event but never felt confident his weight would be enough for a win.
“I thought after Day 1 if I could duplicate that weight, I might have a shot at a win,” O’Connell said. “My goal was to get the same weight, basically. But at Hartwell, anybody can catch 20 pounds, and a bunch of guys had 11, 12, and 13 pounds after the first day, so I was super worried.
“This win definitely feels good,” O’Connell continued. “I’ve fished close to a hundred BFLs and hadn’t won one, and it definitely feels a little different than when you finish second or third.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Matt O’Connell, Brooks, Ga., 10 bass, 31-5, $14,448 (includes $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
2nd: Joe Anders, Easley, S.C., 10 bass, 28-14, $2,824
3rd: Emil Wagner, Marietta, Ga., 10 bass, 27-2, $1,882
4th: Robert Clarke III, Pineville, S.C., 10 bass, 26-11, $1,318
5th: Bradford Beavers, Summerville, S.C., 10 bass, 25-4, $1,130
6th: Scott Hamrick, Denver, N.C., 10 bass, 24-8, $1,035
7th: Troy Morrow, Eastanollee, Ga., 10 bass, 24-7, $1,691
8th: Chris Dover, Blacksburg, S.C., 10 bass, 23-4, $847
9th: Brad Benfield, Demorest, Ga., 10 bass, 23-1, $753
10th: Jeremy Bouldin, Kings Mountain, N.C., 10 bass, 23-0, $659
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Troy Morrow of Eastanollee, Georgia, had a bass that weighed 4 pounds, 10 ounces that was the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $750.
Wesley Mullins of Guyton, Georgia, won the Strike King Co-angler Division and $3,199 Sunday after catching a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 20 pounds, 15 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers were:
1st: Wesley Mullins, Guyton, Ga., 10 bass, 20-15, $3,199
2nd: Bobby Henderson, Charlotte, N.C., 10 bass, 17-9, $1,812
3rd: Thomas Pennell III, Boiling Springs, S.C., 10 bass, 17-7, $940
4th: Kevin Henderson, Honea Path, S.C., 10 bass, 15-5, $659
5th: Ashley Klaus, Thomson, Ga., nine bass, 15-4, $565
6th: Dylan Locklear, Elgin, S.C., seven bass, 14-13, $518
7th: Jacob Yaden, Evans, Ga., 10 bass, 14-13, $621
8th: Mark Garrett, Walhalla, S.C., 10 bass, 14-1, $424
9th: Rob Nicholson, Union Mills, N.C., nine bass, 13-13, $377
10th: Lonnie Drusch, Sumter, S.C., nine bass, 13-9, $329
Mullins also caught the largest bass in the Strike King Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 5 pounds, 14 ounces. The catch earned him the Berkley Big Bass Co-angler award of $375.
With the regular season now complete, boater Troy Morrow of Eastanollee, Georgia, won the 2023 Bass Fishing League South Carolina Division Presented by Mystik Lubricants Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with a five-event total of 1,275 points to earn the $1,000 boater AOY award. Wesley Mullins of Guyton, Georgia, won the 2023 Strike King Co-Angler South Carolina Division Presented by Mystik Lubricants AOY race with 1,310 points and earned the $500 Strike King Co-angler of the Year award.
Now, the top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five winners of each qualifying event, will advance to compete in the Oct. 19-21 Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on Lake Norman in Huntersville, North Carolina. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.
The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the MLF Toyota Series, the pathway to the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Lawrence Posts Second Win in Four Weeks at Two-Day Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super Tournament on Kentucky-Barkley Lakes
Workman Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division
BUCHANAN, Tenn. (Oct. 2, 2023) – Boater Jake Lawrence of Paris, Tennessee, caught 10 bass weighing 36 pounds, 14 ounces, to win the two-day MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on Kentucky-Barkley Lakes in Buchanan, Tennessee. The tournament, hosted by the Henry County-Tourism Authority, was the fifth and final regular-season event for the Bass Fishing League LBL Division. Lawrence earned $6,398 for his victory.
“There are a lot of fish out there, but they’re just not in a good mood,” Lawrence said. “I’ve never in my life had so many fish come up and follow my bait and not finish the deal.”
Lawrence said a cool snap a couple of weeks before the tournament dropped the water temperature by about eight degrees to near 70, and a recent warm trend raised temps back up to around 80. He said he thinks if the warmer temps had held off, tournament weights would have been better.
“I really had to make the most of what I had,” Lawrence said. “I didn’t have a specific area or spot. I had a generalized pattern, but I was more or less covering a tremendous amount of water to come across them. The key this week was to find more than one bass.
“I could find single bass all over the place, but I could not get them to bite,” Lawrence continued. “So, I would cover ground until I found a little wolfpack of two to six fish. I could get those to bite. Once one went after it, the others would try to take the bait from them.”
Lawrence said he spent the first of competition fishing 15 miles in either direction of the Paris area but felt he couldn’t go back to the same water Sunday.
“Once they get wise to you, they’re done,” Lawrence said. “So, Sunday I ran up to the Moors area and spent half my time up there. It really didn’t pan out the way I had envisioned up there, so I ran back to the Paris area and finished it out fishing new ground.”
Lawrence said he caught the majority of his fish on an unnamed Jenko Fishing prototype bait that is slated for a spring release, although he did catch one of his weigh fish on a Jenko Fishing Booty Shaker Swimbait.
“I don’t know if that bait needs to be a prototype bait much longer after winning a couple of events here recently,” said Lawrence, who also won the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Pickwick Lake Super Tournament on Sept. 10. “This week just topped off a few good weeks for me. I really enjoyed this tournament. I didn’t know if I was going to win this one. Every win is special, and this was just a cool way for things to work out lately.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Jake Lawrence, Paris, Tenn., 10 bass, 36-14, $6,398
2nd: Matteo Turano, Puryear, Tenn., 10 bass, 36-1, $2,824
3rd: Dustin Vaal, Farmington, Ky., 10 bass, 33-0, $1,882
4th: Clint Knight, Lewisburg, Ky., 10 bass, 31-1, $1,518
5th: Harrison Terry, Burns, Tenn., nine bass, 30-12, $1,630 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
6th: Richard Meuth, Henderson, Ky., 10 bass, 25-7, $1,035
7th: Hunter Fillmore, Waynesville, Ohio, 10 bass, 25-1, $941
8th: Toby Corn, Paducah, Ky., eight bass, 25-1, $847
9th: Sam Boss, Paducah, Ky., 10 bass, 24-13, $753
10th: Bill Schroeder III, Benton, Ky., seven bass, 23-14, $659
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Lawrence also had a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 13 ounces that was the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $750.
David Workman of Harrisburg, Illinois, won the Strike King Co-angler Division and $2,995 Sunday after catching a two-day total of eight bass weighing 17 pounds, 11 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers were:
1st: David Workman, Harrisburg, Ill., eight bass, 17-11, $2,995
2nd: Jeff Akers, Benton, Ky., eight bass, 17-9, $1,422
3rd: Ryan Luper, Bowling Green, Ky., five bass, 14-14, $948
4th: Todd House, Hawesville, Ky., six bass, 13-15, $864
5th: Ethan Wheeler, Water Valley, Ky., three bass, 10-12, $1,140
6th: Jedidiah Baggett, Tennessee Ridge, Tenn., three bass, 9-6, $522
7th: Sean Obrien, McKenzie, Tenn., five bass, 8-13, $474
8th: Rodney Childerson, Pocahontas, Ill., three bass, 8-3, $427
9th: Matt Chumbler, Carbondale, Ill., three bass, 8-3, $379
10th: Dennis Taylor, Murray, Ky., three bass, 7-3, $332
Ethan Wheeler of Water Valley, Kentucky, caught the largest bass in the Strike King Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 4 pounds, 10 ounces. The catch earned him the Berkley Big Bass Co-angler award of $371.
With the regular season now complete, boater Clint Knight of Lewisburg, Kentucky, won the 2023 Bass Fishing League LBL Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with a five-event total of 1,324 points to earn the $1,000 boater AOY award. Sean O’Brien of McKenzie, Tennessee, won the 2023 Strike King Co-Angler LBL Division AOY race with 1,326 points and earned the $500 Strike King Co-angler of the Year award.
Now, the top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five winners of each qualifying event, will advance to compete in the Oct. 19-21 Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on Lake of the Ozarks in Osage Beach, Missouri. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.
The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the MLF Toyota Series, the pathway to the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Pickwick Lake Tapped for 2023 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Wild Card Regional
FLORENCE, Ala. (Oct. 2, 2023) – Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s largest tournament fishing organization, announced today that the 2023 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Wild Card Regional will take place on Pickwick Lake in Florence, Alabama, Nov. 10-11.The two-day event, hosted by Florence/Lauderdale Tourism, will launch from McFarland Park Marina in Florence.
“The Wild Card event should be taking place at the perfect time of year for Pickwick Lake to really show out,” said Tyler Dolan, Sales Manager, Sport + Travel Trade at the Florence/Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. “We are looking forward to having everyone in town to see what the Shoals has to offer in the fall.”
In order to be eligible to fish the Wild Card, anglers must have entered all five events within a Phoenix Bass Fishing League division during the 2023 season, fished at least two of them and not qualify for a regular Regional.
Anglers will take off from McFarland Park Marina, located at 1050 Clayborn Lyles Drive in Florence, at 6:30 a.m. CT each day of competition. Weigh-ins will be held at the marina both days beginning at 2:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the action online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The full field competes both days at the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Wild Card, with winners determined by the heaviest two-day catch. The top six boaters and top six Strike King co-anglers will advance to the 2024 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine All-American, held on Cherokee Lake in Jefferson County, Tennessee, May 29-31, hosted by Visit Jefferson County, TN.
There will be no off-limits period prior to the pretournament meeting for the Wild Card. No contestant may be on tournament waters for the purpose of locating bass or potential fishing waters after the start of the pretournament meeting except during tournament hours.
Entry for the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Wild Card is now open and runs through Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023, at 5 p.m. CT. Anglers can enter by phone at 270.252.1000.
The 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine was a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season and five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, advanced to one of six Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regionals. The top six finishers in each regional qualified for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Travis Harriman Wins MLF Toyota Series Plains Division Finale on Lake of the Ozarks
Huntsville Pro Catches Only One Bass on Final Day, Enough to Hang on at Final Plains Division Tournament of Season
OSAGE BEACH, Mo. (Oct. 2, 2023) – Pro Travis Harriman of Huntsville, Arkansas, only brought one bass weighing 4 pounds, 4 ounces to the scale Saturday, but it was still enough to hang and win the third and final event in the Major League Fishing (MLF) Toyota Series Plains Division – the Toyota Series at Lake of the Ozarks Presented by FVP and earn the top payout of $45,000.
“I’m in disbelief,” Harriman said. “When I checked in I thought for sure the writing was on the wall. I thought there was no shot one bass would bring it home.
“They say when it’s your time, it’s your time. Today is truly a testament of it. Thank the Lord above I got the one right bite that I needed.”
It truly was a dramatic week for Harriman from the start.
Initially, he just came into the event hoping to secure a berth into the Toyota Series Championship on his home waters of Table Rock Lake. Then he located an area of docks up the Niangua arm of the lake that had a significant amount of bait on them that seemed to change everything.
First thing in the morning he’d hit some deeper docks, which produced a 5-pound bite within minutes each of the first two mornings. Then he’d run some shallower docks where he noticed shad were flicking and bluegill were roaming around.
Around the deeper docks, he went with a 3/4-ounce Jewel Football Jig (green pumpkin purple flash) and a Strike King Rage Scounbug trailer. Up shallow, it was a 1/2-ounce Jewel J-Lock Flip’N’ Jig in the same color with the same trailer. Both were tossed on 7-foot VIRTUS|Jewel Red Diamond rods, going with the flip/pitch model for the football jig and the Titan model for the J-Lock. He said the rod choice was key to be able to skip his jig to “where the sun don’t ever shine.” To get his fish out from the darkest recesses, he used 25-pound Strike King Tour Grade Fluorocarbon.
Considering his fast starts meant he barely touched all his good stuff, he was more than pumped to “burn it all down” on the final morning. Problem is, local anglers got there first, as he said almost all his initial starting docks had people fishing them first thing this morning.
“That really got me off my rotation,” Harriman said. “I ended up going shallow a lot earlier than I had been, and I figured I’d have plenty of time to catch a limit.”
An entire day of fishing later, he’d only had two bites, and he lost the first one. That fish, for sure, was one he felt would haunt him.
“I was kicking myself over that lost fish,” Harriman said. “I’d fished clean all week long. You’re not supposed get them all out from under docks, but I had up until that one. I thought that one was going to cost me.
“What do you say? I’m glad it didn’t.”
The top 10 pros on Lake of the Ozarks finished:
1st: Travis Harriman, Huntsville, Ark., 15 bass, 42-12, $40,000
2nd: Cody Huff, Ava, Mo., 15 bass, 41-14, $15,500
3rd: Joe Grafeman, Camdenton, Mo., 15 bass, 41-14, $13,200 (includes $1,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus)
4th: Jim Stamper, Montreal, Mo., 15 bass, 41-4, $10,000
5th: Kirk Smith, Edmond, Okla., 15 bass, 40-11, $9,000
6th: Adam Boehle, Warrenton, Mo., 15 bass, 40-7, $8,000
7th: Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., 15 bass, 40-2, $7,000
8th: Corey Cook, Lebanon, Mo., 15 bass, 40-1, $6,000
9th: Michael Harlin, Sunrise Beach, Mo., 15 bass, 39-7, $5,000
10th: Brad Jelinek, Lincoln, Mo., 12 bass, 37-13, $4,500
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
On Thursday, pro Brad Jelinek earned the $500 Day 1 Berkley Big Bass award in the pro division with a bass weighing 6 pounds, 8 ounces. On Friday pro Cody Spetz earned the $500 Berkley Big Bass prize with a largemouth weighing in at 6 pounds, 2 ounces.
Scott Parsons of Rogers, Arkansas, won the Strike King Co-angler Division Saturday with a three-day total of 13 bass weighing 28 pounds, 12 ounces. Parsons took home the top co-angler prize package worth $33,500, including a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard motor.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers on Lake of the Ozarks finished:
1st: Scott Parsons, Rogers, Ark., 13 bass, 28-12, Phoenix 518 Pro boat w/115-hp Mercury outboard
2nd: Brian Lopp, Springfield, Ill., 14 bass, 27-4, $5,000
3rd: Anthony Scoma, Spring Hill, Kan., 11 bass, 24-6, $4,000
4th: Sakae Ushio, Tonawanda, N.Y., 10 bass, 22-7, $3,500
5th: Justin Layton, Kirbyville, Mo., 11 bass, 21-9, $3,000
6th: Nycholas Swanson, Cedar Falls, Iowa, nine bass, 21-2, $2,500
7th: Bill Ramsey, Huntsville, Ark., eight bass, 20-15, $2,150
8th: Mike Youngblood, St. Louis, Mo., nine bass, 20-9, $1,750
9th: Rick Dahlman, Mokena, Ill., eight bass, 20-7, $1,500
10th: Chris Bunk, Sullivan, Mo., nine bass, 18-14, $1,250
Pro Todd Mowery of Madison, Alabama, earned Thursday’s $150 Berkley Big Bass co-angler award after weighing in a 6-pound, 4-ounce largemouth, while Friday’s Day 2 $150 co-angler award went to Bill Ramsey who weighed in a bass that totaled 5 pounds, 13 ounces.
With the three regular-season events in the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats Plains Division now complete, pro Drew Gill of Mount Carmel, Illinois, was crowned the 2023 Plains Division Pro Angler of the Year (AOY) and earned the $5,000 AOY bonus with a total of 762 points. Alan Bernicky of Joliet, Illinois, won the 2023 Plains Division Strike King Co-angler AOY race and the $2,000 AOY bonus with 745 points.
The Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats at Lake of the Ozarks Presented by FVP was hosted by the Tri-County Lodging Association. It was the third and final regular-season event for the Toyota Series Plains Division. The next event for the top 25 anglers in the Toyota Series Plains Division AOY standings will be the Toyota Series Championship at Table Rock Lake, Nov. 2-4, in Branson, Missouri. For a complete schedule of events, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The 2023 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats consists of six divisions – Central, Northern Division Presented by Rabid Baits, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and the Western Division Presented by Tackle Warehouse – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International and Wild Card divisions. Anglers who fish in any of the six divisions or the Wild Card division and finish in the top 25 will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series Championship for a shot at winning up to $235,000 and a qualification to REDCREST 2024. The winning Strike King co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard. The 2023 Toyota Series Championship will be held Nov. 2-4 on Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri, and is hosted by ExploreBranson.com.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Toyota Series include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Black Rifle Coffee Company, E3, Favorite Fishing, Fox Rent a Car, General Tire, Gill, Grundéns, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Next Gen Lithium, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Toyota Series updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
FERNANDES CAPTURES NPFL VICTORY AT LAKE EUFAULA
Story by Justin Brouillard | Photos by Tanner Lyons & Ben Kennedy
In true “Bass Warrior” fashion, Louis Fernandes did what he does best this week in Oklahoma at stop number five of the NPFL season. With his largest bag of the week on the final day at 15 pounds, he becomes an NPFL Champion earning $100,000 and the NPFL Sheild.
With his weights increasing each day, Fernandes started with 11 pounds, 9 ounces on day one, added 13-pounds on day two, and came from behind with his best day of the week on Showdown Saturday to slam the door shut with a three-day total of 39-pounds, 9-ounces.
Will Harkins
Coming into the event, Will Harkins had one goal to give himself a shot at the Progressive AOY going into his home Lake Lanier. With a three-day total of 39 pounds, 9 ounces, finished the event in second place moving him up in the AOY standings and going back to Georgia to end the season.
Harkins started the event with 13 pounds, 15 ounces on day one, added 12 pounds on day two, and caught another 13-pound, 10-ounce bag on the final day to move into second, tied with winner Louis Fernandes, but lost the tiebreaker.
“Fishing offshore like that is my favorite way to fish,” said Harkins. “At the final weigh-in, I knew it was going to be close, but not that close”
Harkins started on docks each of the first two mornings before going to his offshore area but opted against it for day three. He made a right turn and ended up in a pocket with schooling fish which got his day started quickly and took some pressure off.
“I was culling early in there but they were 2-pounders and I left them to look for bigger fish,” he added. “I ran some brush, and I got away from the normal stuff and fished off the beaten path a little bit. I caught that big one and culled twice more.”
Despite fishing offshore and around brush, most of the bigger bass were not in the brush, but cruising around, and he was able to target them with a drop shot and a jig to get some key bites.
“I was casting the jig around blind and catching them and used the drop shot when I could see one.”
Patrick Walters
Patrick Walters added 12 pounds, 12 ounces on the final day at Eufaula to finish the event in the third-place spot with a three-day total of 36 pounds, 9 ounces. Walters started on day one with 11 pounds, 13 ounces, and added 12 pounds on day two to slide into the top ten going into the final day.
Marc Schilling
Despite his weight dropping each day, Marc Schillingfinished the event in fourth place spot with a total weight of 36 pounds, 8 ounces. Schilling caught 13 pounds on day one, 12 pounds, 13 ounces, and added another five-bass limit on day three weighing 10 pounds, 11 ounces.
Brandon Perkins
Brandon Perkins began the event in sixth place overall in the AOY race and helped his cause yet again this week in Oklahoma where he has a decent track record. He started the event on day one with 15 pounds, 14 ounces, added 9 pounds and, 11 ounces on day two, and another limit of bass today weighing 10 pounds, 10 ounces. He finished the event in fifth place with a total weight of 36 pounds, 3 ounces.
At the end of the day, Brandon Perkins is happy with a top-five finish at a tough event fishing how he wanted to fish, but looking back, the opportunity to steal another win was there.
“First off, I had some quality brush pile this week I was saving and I never fished them,” said Perkins. “And this morning, I had pick of my starting spot and I opted to start where I had been all week. In the back of my mind, I knew I should go to the back where my biggest fish of day one came, and I broke one off yesterday too. I never went.”
Fishing is all about decisions, and it’s hard to argue with yourself after the season he has had, winning an event and sitting securely within the championship cut line in AOY. Despite missed opportunities, he made a decision and will live with it.
“I felt like this afternoon I was going to catch some bigger fish and it just didn’t happen. I fished for a check and that’s what I got. The win was right there today, but I did not know that until after. It is what it is; I enjoyed fishing docks and it was a good week,” he added.
Rest of the best:
Jason Wilson 35-0
Stephanie Hemphill –Pellerin 33-10
Jesse Wise 33-4
John Cox 32-10
Todd Goade 32-7