Courtesy of Major League Fishing

By Mason Prince – January 24, 2019

When you look at the lineup for the first-ever event of the Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour (Jan. 29-Feb. 3 in Kissimmee, Florida), one word comes to mind: loaded.

The two official competition groups for next week’s MLF Bass Pro Tour B & W Trailer Hitches Stage One presented By Power-Pole are packed with champions, contenders and young stars-in-the-making, which sets the scene for a compelling week of fishing in Kissimmee, Florida.

“Every one of these guys are accomplished anglers in some form or fashion,” says MLF NOW! live stream analyst Maty Stone. “If any one of these anglers in either of these groups does well, it won’t be the first time they’ve ever done so.”

Group A
The resumes of the 40 anglers in Group A are highlighted with a combined 11 FLW and B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year awards, eight Bassmaster Classic titles and two Forest Wood Cup championships. The 40 anglers in each group compete in the Shotgun and Elimination rounds to battle their way into the Top 20 in their respective groups to advance to the Knockout Round.

While 50/50 might sound like good odds, Stone says there is nothing easy about making the cut in this group.

“I try to find a weak spot in Group A and from top to bottom, making that Top 20 is not going to be a given,” Stone says. “If I was one of these anglers trying to make the Top 20, I would be worried because it’s going to take my best to get there in this group.”

Group B
While the challenge in Group A looks daunting, Group B isn’t any easier: this lineup features a combined 19 Angler of the Year awards, nine Bassmaster Classic titles and five Forest Wood Cup trophies.

“You look at all the anglers and accolades in Group A and then say, ‘Okay, now let’s go look at our old sorry Group B,’ and you say, ‘Holy cow!’” Stone laughs. “I look at this group and see all of the young guys and former champs and get fired up. There’s nothing that makes me think that this group of anglers won’t come out of the gates swinging.”

Group A gets the first MLF Bass Pro Tour event started on Tuesday, Jan. 29 and Group B begins competition on Wednesday, Jan. 30. The MLF NOW! live stream will begin at 10 a.m. daily, while SCORETRACKER will be viewable starting at lines in every day.

Group A

1. Mark Daniels
2. Gary Klein, 2 AOY
3. Casey Ashley, 1 BMC
4. Brandon Coulter
5. Andy Montgomery
6. Dave Lefebre
7. Randy Howell, 1 BMC
8. Randall Tharp, 1 FWC
9. Mark Davis, 1 BMC, 3 AOY
10. Ish Monroe
11. Kelly Jordon
12. Jared Lintner
13. Gerald Spohrer
14. Fred Roumbanis
15. Edwin Evers, 1 BMC
16. Brett Hite
17. Chris Lane, 1 BMC
18. Michael Neal
19. Justin Lucas, 1 AOY
20. David Walker
21. Zack Birge
22. Jason Lambert
23. Mike McClelland
24. Tommy Biffle
25. Russ Lane
26. Matt Lee
27. Stephen Browning
28. Andy Morgan, 3 AOY
29. Ott DeFoe
30. Roy Hawk
31. Jacob Wheeler, 1 FWC
32. Greg Vinson
33. Keith Poche
34. Takahiro Omori, 1 BMC
35. James Watson
36. Jordan Lee, 2 BMC
37. Tim Horton, 1 AOY
38. James Elam
39. Cody Meyer
40. Shin Fukae, 1 AOY

Group B

1. Aaron Martens, 3 AOY
2. Adrian Avena
3. Bradley Roy
4. Jeff Kriet
5. Jeff Sprague
6. Skeet Reese, 1 AOY, 1 BMC
7. Terry Scroggins
8. Dustin Connell
9. John Murray
10. Shaw Grigsby
11. Alton Jones, 1 BMC
12. Brent Chapman, 1 AOY
13. Britt Myers
14. Jacob Powroznik
15. Luke Clausen, 1 BMC, 1 FWC
16. Boyd Duckett, 1 BMC
17. Gerald Swindle, 2 AOY
18. Jason Christie
19. Josh Bertrand
20. Todd Faircloth
21. Greg Hackney, 1 AOY, 1 MLF WC
22. Scott Suggs, 1 FWC
23. Jesse Wiggins
24. Wesley Strader
25. Cliff Pace
26. Paul Elias
27. Cliff Crochet
28. Johnathon VanDam
29. Brent Ehrler, 1 FWC
30. Anthony Gagliardi, 1 FWC
31. Justin Atkins, 1 FWC
32. Kevin VanDam, 4 BMC, 8 AOY
33. Bobby Lane, 1 MLF WC
34. Alton Jones Jr.
35. Mike Iaconelli, 1 AOY, 1 BMC
36. Fletcher Shryock
37. Mark Rose, 1 AOY
38. Brandon Palaniuk, 1 AOY
39. Marty Robinson
40. Dean Rojas