CONROE, Texas (Jan. 30, 2025) – Six Major League Fishing (MLF) pros swapped their rods and reels for books and markers Wednesday, using their “off day” to bring smiles and inspiration to students at Creekside Elementary and Madeley Ranch Elementary in Montgomery, Texas. As the Bass Pro Tour B&W Trailer Hitches Stage 1 at Lake Conroe loomed, the visiting anglers shared fish stories, answered questions, signed autographs – even on an unexpected item – and left a lasting impression on the young fans.

LINK TO PHOTO GALLERY FROM EVENTS

The day began at Creekside Elementary, where students welcomed pros Ott DeFoe, Edwin Evers, and Andy Montgomery with boundless energy. Students eagerly swapped fishing tales, boasting about their biggest catches and peppered the pros with questions about their lives on the water. Evers, who won when the Bass Pro Tour last visited Lake Conroe in 2019, encouraged the students to chase their dreams, while DeFoe shared his journey to becoming a professional angler and a four-time Bass Pro Tour winner.

The visit also delivered some unexpected humor. Montgomery, known for his calm precision on the water, couldn’t hide his discomfort when he realized one of the classrooms they visited had a pet snake. He spent most of his time standing near the door, drawing laughs from students and teachers.

Later in the day, pros Skeet Reese, Greg Vinson, and Drew Gill brought their own brand of excitement to Madeley Ranch Elementary. The halls were abuzz as students eagerly showed off their hand-colored largemouth bass artwork, which the anglers happily signed. Reese’s truck and boat were a hit, drawing crowds of enthusiastic kids who marveled at the custom rig and peppered him with questions.

“It’s great to see so much joy and curiosity,” Reese said. “This community loves fishing, and being able to connect with these kids is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do.”

One moment of laughter came during the autograph session when an excited student asked Vinson to sign a pair of Crocs—a standout moment that highlighted the fun that everyone was having.

Key school staff, including Creekside’s Betsy Baney and Madeley Ranch’s librarian Jordan Anderson and principal Dallas Clark, were instrumental in organizing the visits. Their efforts ensured a seamless day filled with laughter, learning, and plenty of autograph requests.

Beyond the schools, the excitement for the Bass Pro Tour has swept through Texas. Local newspapers featured stories on the event, billboards dotted the town, and a few anglers took to the airwaves Wednesday to promote the tournament and its accompanying Watch Party. Conroe, a community deeply connected to bass fishing, is buzzing with anticipation for the competition, which launched today at Lake Conroe.

As the anglers return to the water to compete for the $150,000 top prize, they leave behind more than autographs—they leave a legacy of encouragement and excitement in the hearts of Lake Conroe’s young fishing fans.

Hosted by Visit Conroe, the four-day MLF Bass Pro Tour B&W Trailer Hitches Stage 1 Presented by Power-Pole kicks off today on Lake Conroe. The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on all four days of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CT, live streamed on  MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app and Rumble.

On Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 1-2, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF welcomes fans of all ages to visit the Outlets at Conroe for the MLF Fan Experience & Watch Party. Fans can watch the pros live on the MLFNOW! big screen, enjoy free food, enter to win hourly giveaways and cheer on their favorite pros. The first 50 kids 14 and under will receive a free rod and reel each day. The Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand both days to meet and greet fans, sign autographs and take selfies.

For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, X,  Instagram and  YouTube.

About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.