Sorrow and Head post convincing victory at TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship
ANDERSON, S.C. — There is no sorrow when you’re head of the pack on the final day of the TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship.
In fact, smiles abounded for Peyton Sorrow and Dalton Head on Thursday after they posted a commanding win on Lake Hartwell.
The tandem, representing the Lake Hartwell 5 Alive Fall Series, caught limits of five bass on both days of the derby, giving them a total of 10 bass for 38 pounds, 9 ounces. That was more than 5 pounds heavier than their closest competitors and it secured Sorrow and Head the $50,000 cash prize awarded to the winning duo on this 76,450-acre reservoir along the South Carolina/Georgia border.
Both Sorrow, 21, and Head, 22, compete for the University of Montevallo (Ala.) bass fishing team. Sorrow is from Abbeville, S.C., less than 40 miles southeast of historic Green Pond Landing, and he cut his teeth fishing on Hartwell. Head, a native of Moody, Ala., often travels north with his teammate to try his luck at one of America’s most-fabled bass fisheries.
The pair fished with that sort of knowledge and confidence in the Team Championship. After catching 22-13 on Day 1 (good for a 4 1/2 -pound cushion on the field), they followed with 15-12 on what proved to be a difficult day for most anglers. A 2 1/2-hour fog delay complicated matters with boats not taking off until 10 a.m. Thursday morning.
“Yesterday we had a really quick start and that helped relax us,” Head said. “Today, when we didn’t start quickly, it kind of felt like the wheels were spinning off. But we just kept plunking away and it eventually worked out for us.”
Sorrow said he and Head had nine bites between them on Thursday, when Hartwell’s bite was altered beneath heavy cloud cover and temperatures that didn’t climb out of the 40s. In all, 115 of the teams caught limits on Thursday when 163 had limits a day earlier.
“We weighed two largemouth and three (spotted bass) today,” Sorrow said. "Of the nine bites, two were nonkeepers and two others were extremely small. The five we weighed really counted today.”
That certainly was a different scenario than seen on Wednesday, when Head lit into a 6-3 largemouth early and Sorrow hooked a 5-12 late in the day to pad their lead.
“We were throwing a crawfish-colored jig and a green pumpkin Neko worm in anywhere from 15 feet of water to 8 feet of water,” Sorrow said. “We were putting the trolling motor down and stopping at anything that looked good, whether it was a steep drop on a point or a long, flat point. We’d move really slow and try to pick it apart … Some of the fish were suspended and some were so tight to the bottom you couldn’t see them.”
With the victory, Sorrow and Head advance to the Classic Fish-Off portion of this tournament, to be held Friday and Saturday on Hartwell. The Top 5 tandems in the Team Championship (10 anglers in all) have had their weights zeroed and they’ll fish individually, with the leader after Saturday’s weigh-in claiming the last spot in the 2026 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour when it’s held March 13-15 on the Tennessee River in Knoxville, Tenn.
Joining them in the Fish-Off are, second, Bradley Day and Justin Raines, Lake Hartwell 5 Alive No Scope, 33-5, $17,000; third, Xander Patton and Austin McCall, Lake Hartwell 5 Alive Scope Trail, 33-1, $12,000; fourth, Hudson Choquette and Barrett Choquette, Alabama B.A.S.S. Nation, 31-15, $8,000; and fifth, Fisher Anaya and Ryan Anaya, Alabama Bass Trail, 31-8, $6,000.
The Anayas, a father-son team, also reached the 2024 Team Championship at Kentucky Lake.
Brad Stalnaker and Chris Lumpkin, of Georgia-based Berry’s Team Trail, weighed the heaviest bass at Hartwell — a 6-4 they boated on Wednesday that earned them a $500 prize. Anderson Jones, of the South Carolina-based Palmetto Boat Center Series, won the Garmin Rewards Trolling Motor Award of $500 for being the top angler using that equipment in the tournament. Jared Whitt, of West Virginia-based Ferguson’s Great Outdoors Trail, won the Garmin Rewards Electronics Award of $500.
In all, 200 teams from 48 different states and three other countries qualified for the Team Championship via their respective team trails. A total of $120,000 was divided among the Top 50 teams competing at Lake Hartwell.
Barrett Newton and Wesley Kent were disqualified from the 2025 TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship for violation of Rule No. 5, Part III, regarding receiving information from a noncompetitor about catching bass on tournament waters during a no-information period.
Historic Green Pond Landing, 470 Green Pond Road, in Anderson, S.C., is home to the 2025 TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship and Classic Fish-Off. Day 1 of the Fish-Off is set to begin at 7:20 a.m. ET on Friday. Weigh-in is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET.
Visit Anderson and Green Pond Landing are hosting the week’s events.
2025 B.A.S.S. Nation Team Championship Title Sponsor: TNT Fireworks
2025 B.A.S.S. Nation Series Title Sponsor: Mercury
2025 B.A.S.S. Nation Series Presenting Sponsor: Lowrance
2025 B.A.S.S. Nation Series
2025 B.A.S.S. Nation Series
2025 B.A.S.S. Nation Series
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Bassmaster Junior Series, TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
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Media Contact: Mandy Pascal, Communications Manager, 334-414-8677, [email protected]
2025 TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship 12/3-12/4
Lake Hartwell, Anderson SC.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Club/School Pts
1. Peyton Sorrow - Dalton Head Lake Hartwell 5 Alive Fall Serie 0
Day 1: 5 22-13 Day 2: 5 15-12 Total: 10 38-09
2. Bradley Day - Justin Raines Lake Hartwell 5 Alive No Scope 0
Day 1: 5 17-00 Day 2: 5 16-05 Total: 10 33-05
3. Xander Patton - Austin Mccall Lake Hartwell 5 Alive Scope Trai 0
Day 1: 5 15-13 Day 2: 5 17-04 Total: 10 33-01
4. Hudson Choquette - Barrett Choquette Alabama B.A.S.S. Nation 0
Day 1: 5 14-15 Day 2: 5 17-00 Total: 10 31-15
5. Fisher Anaya - Ryan Anaya Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 5 16-05 Day 2: 5 15-03 Total: 10 31-08
6. Avery Padgett - David Fincher Alabama B.A.S.S. Nation 0
Day 1: 5 17-15 Day 2: 5 13-07 Total: 10 31-06
7. Damien Willis - Tyler Kiker Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 5 18-04 Day 2: 5 11-11 Total: 10 29-15
8. Alex Korol - Cameron Alldredge Empire Team Trail 0
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 16-04 Total: 10 29-11
9. Peyton Dunn - Luke Mcguffin Palmetto Boat Center 0
Day 1: 5 15-09 Day 2: 5 14-01 Total: 10 29-10
Registration opening soon for 2026 Bassmaster AmBASSador program
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. officials announced today that registration will open to all B.A.S.S. Members Dec. 9 for the 2026 Bassmaster AmBASSador program, offering fans the opportunity to take part in the action at the 2026 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour and the 2026 Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series tournaments.
The AmBASSador program gives passionate fans the chance to join the world’s top professional anglers on the water, providing an unparalleled behind-the-scenes look at competition days and preparation at the sport’s highest level.
AmBASSadors have the option of signing up for one Elite event or multiple throughout the season. The $99 Elite AmBASSador program fee and $500 Classic AmBASSador program fee awards participants an AFTCO shirt, an AFTCO hat, an AFTCO gift card, a B.A.S.S. hat and, most importantly, a front-row seat to the world’s best anglers in action. Elite Series AmBASSadors are guaranteed spots for Days 1 and 2 of competition. On Day 3, participation is limited to 30 AmBASSadors based on their registration timestamp and 10 Super AmBASSadors selected for blogging excellence. There are no AmBASSadors on the final day of competition. Classic AmBASSadors will have the opportunity to go out on Friday and Saturday of competition, with the option to participate on the practice day, Wednesday, March 11, 2026. On-site registration will be held Thursday, March 12, 2026.
“The AmBASSador program truly bridges the gap between fans and professional anglers,” said Bassmaster Elite Series Tournament Director Lisa Talmadge. “It allows people to see firsthand the dedication, skill and preparation that go into competing on the Bassmaster Elite Series. Every AmBASSador becomes part of the experience, and that’s something unique to B.A.S.S.”
“Having been an AmBASSador for 12 years, I’ve seen it all and I’ve ridden with them all,” said Super AmBASSador Gary Lee Robin. “Last year, I marshaled with Trey McKinney, Cooper Gallant and Kyoya Fujita to name a few, and let me tell you, these kids can catch ’em! Not only will you get to see the techniques and strategies they use from the inside of the boat, you will also get to know what great, positive people they truly are. Why would anyone walk into a tackle store, spend $200 for lures and bad info when you can spend $99 and ride with the best for two days? You’ll make a memory to keep for a lifetime.”
For more information on becoming an AmBASSador, including registration information and detailed guidelines, visit Bassmaster.com/Elite and look under Resources.
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Bassmaster Junior Series, TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
Sorrow and Head take charge in TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship
ANDERSON, S.C. — Peyton Sorrow and Dalton Head know Lake Hartwell pretty darn well, with Sorrow (who lives in nearby Abbeville, S.C.) frequently bringing his University of Montevallo teammate here to fish his home water.
Despite their advanced knowledge of this 76,450-acre reservoir along the South Carolina/Georgia border, neither young man expected to catch a 22-pound, 13-ounce limit on Day 1 of the TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship.
Nevertheless, that was the result of a bountiful Wednesday on Hartwell for the tandem representing the Lake Hartwell 5 Alive Fall Series in the Team Championship. The 22-13 haul helped Sorrow and Head jump into the early lead in this two-day derby which boasts a $50,000 cash prize for first place — part of a $120,000 total cash purse up for grabs at Hartwell.
The Top 5 teams in the standings after Thursday’s weigh-in will advance to the Classic Fish-Off portion of this event, with the 10 anglers having their weights zeroed and fishing individually for two days. The winner of that competition will clinch the final spot in the 2026 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour when it’s held March 13-15 on the Tennessee River in Knoxville, Tenn.
Sorrow and Head knew it was important to get a solid start in the Team Championship, and they did just that, putting a limit of approximately 15 pounds in the livewell early Wednesday morning. Then Head hooked a 6-3 largemouth that quickly improved their catch by another three pounds.
“We saw lots of fish (in practice) but they didn’t bite,” Sorrow said. “We went to those same areas today, though, and just hunkered down, trying to make things work.
“That big one took a lot of pressure off. It gave us a chance to go fish some new areas and practice for tomorrow. We were able to find some fresh fish and not just keep rotating through the ones we’d been beating up on.”
The new water was productive, too, with Sorrow adding a 5-12 to the mix late on Wednesday.
“We saw some fish there in practice, but we only looked at ’em,” Sorrow said. “And honestly, they didn’t look too big. But today, we threw at ’em and it was like turning on a light switch. That area had just blown up with big fish. We got that big bite then just looked at the rest of them. We let them be for tomorrow.”
Sorrow, 21, and Head, a 22-year-old Moody, Ala., resident, weren’t immediately sure of their Day 2 game plan. They have a few good areas to choose from — a fine problem to have with so much riding on Thursday’s results.
“This lake has a lot of big fish in it,” Sorrow said. “And they’re extremely smart, maybe the smartest fish in the country. They see a lot of pressure. So, anything can happen. We’ll talk about what we want to do and hopefully it works out for us.”
Damien Willis and Tyler Kiker, in second place after Day 1 with an 18-4 limit, have high hopes, too. Having combined for eight previous appearances in the Bassmaster Team Championship, Wednesday was by far the best show either angler has had in the event to date. The Alabama Bass Trail partners believe they figured something out midday that could benefit them as they seek a team title and berths in the Classic Fish-Off.
“It scares me how quickly these lakes can change,” Willis said. “But I think we may have found something. We didn’t catch any of the ones we weighed in today until maybe 9 a.m. We were seeing them but couldn’t catch them. When we changed baits, things started happening.”
Rounding out the Top 5 teams on Day 1 are third, Avery Padgett and David Fincher, of the Alabama B.A.S.S. Nation, 17-15, fourth, Bradley Day and Justin Raines, of Lake Hartwell 5 Alive No Scope, 17-0; and fifth, Kyler Murray and Parker Guy, of Georgia-based Super 6 Shootout, 16-15. Fisher and Ryan Anaya, who compete with the Alabama Bass Trail and were one of three tandems to qualify for the 2024 Classic Fish-Off at Kentucky Lake, are currently in a tie for sixth place at Hartwell with 16-5. Illinois B.A.S.S. Nation duo Austin Moore and Jeffrey Lopez also caught 16-5 on Wednesday.
A total of 200 tandems from 48 different states and three other countries began the tournament. In all, 163 of the duos caught a five-fish limit on Wednesday. Brad Stalnaker and Chris Lumpkin, of Georgia-based Berry’s Team Trail, weighed the heaviest bass (6-4) on Day 1 and are in 12th place overall with 15-11.
Other notable tandems in the hunt include Tyler Campbell and Blake Campbell, of Lake Hartwell 5 Alive, in 10th place with 15-13. They were one of three teams to make the 2024 Classic Fish-Off cut, and Tyler Campbell won that portion of last year’s tournament, earning a spot in this year’s Bassmaster Classic in Fort Worth, Texas. Clint Knight and Noah Morgan won last year’s Team Championship and are in 19th place at Hartwell with 14-13. The Russellville, Ky., pair is representing the National Team Bass Association.
Historic Green Pond Landing, 470 Green Pond Road, in Anderson, S.C., is home to the 2025 TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship. The Day 2 take-off is set to begin at 7:20 a.m. ET with weigh-ins starting at 3:30 p.m. ET.
Visit Anderson and Green Pond Landing are hosting the week’s events.
2025 B.A.S.S. Nation Team Championship Title Sponsor: TNT Fireworks
2025 B.A.S.S. Nation Series Title Sponsor: Mercury
2025 B.A.S.S. Nation Series Presenting Sponsor: Lowrance
2025 B.A.S.S. Nation Series
2025 B.A.S.S. Nation Series
2025 B.A.S.S. Nation Series
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Bassmaster Junior Series, TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
Bassmaster College Kayak Series to join select 2026 Bassmaster Kayak Series events
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Building on the success of its inaugural season, B.A.S.S. officials have announced that the Bassmaster College Kayak Series will once again be held in conjunction with select Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft tournaments in 2026.
College anglers will have the opportunity to compete alongside some of the nation’s best kayak anglers at three premier fisheries:
- Feb. 7-8: Kissimmee Chain of Lakes, Kissimmee, Fla.
- April 18-19: Caddo Lake/Lake Bistineau, Shreveport, La.
- Aug. 1-2: Susquehanna River, Bloomsburg, Pa.
These events will follow the same tournament format that debuted in 2025, designed to give collegiate competitors valuable national-level experience while spotlighting the growth and skill of the kayak fishing community. College Kayak Series anglers must register and pay entry fees for each regular-season Bassmaster Kayak Series event they compete in. The highest-placing College Kayak Series angler will be named the winner of the College Kayak Series event and receive a trophy and a berth to the 2027 Bassmaster Kayak Series Championship. College Kayak Series anglers will be competing against the regular Kayak Series field, which will make it possible for a College Kayak Series angler to win both the Bassmaster Kayak Series event as well as the College Kayak Series event, as evidenced by Carson-Newman angler Ewing Minor who took home both top prizes at the 2025 Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series at Dale Hollow Reservoir presented by Native Watercraft.
“In 2025 we had great experience with the college anglers competing in conjunction with the Bassmaster Kayak Series events,” said B.A.S.S. Kayak Series Tournament Director Steve Owens. “The composure and professionalism they each display is a wonderful thing to see in our sport. We look forward to more colleges joining us as we continue to develop the series and highlight its anglers.”
The Bassmaster College Kayak Series allows student anglers to earn recognition on a national stage, connect with peers from other universities and learn the discipline and preparation required to advance within the upper levels of Bassmaster’s tournament trails.
More information on the Bassmaster College Kayak Series, including registration dates and rules, can be found at Bassmaster.com/Kayak.
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
Martin Reinstated for 2026 BFL All-American Following Disclosures
BENTON, Ky. (Dec. 2, 2025) – Boater Aspen Martin of White, Georgia, has been reinstated for the 2026 Bass Fishing League (BFL) All-American championship following new disclosures after he was disqualified from the Lake Murray Regional held Oct. 10-11.
Martin and boater Matt O’Connell of Brooks, Georgia, were disqualified from the tournament following a protest alleging the anglers violated BFL Rule No. 10, which states, in part, that contestants may not use mobile communication devices to communicate with anyone about locating or catching fish on tournament waters during tournament hours.
As part of MLF’s investigation of the protest, both anglers were asked to take a polygraph, at MLF’s expense, as prescribed by tournament rules. Martin cooperated with the investigation and took the polygraph as requested. The results of the polygraph indicated deception (untruthful) responses to the relevant questions asked during the exam, resulting in Martin’s disqualification.
After failing the initial polygraph, Martin turned over text messages from O’Connell showing that O’Connell had requested information about catching fish on tournament waters during tournament hours at the Lake Murray Regional. The messages also show that Martin did not provide the requested information. Based on the disclosure, Martin was granted a second polygraph, at his expense, that considered the text exchange in which information was requested, but none was provided. No deception was indicated in the second polygraph that was administered by an independent examiner mutually agreed upon by MLF and Martin. As such, Martin will be allowed to compete in the 2026 All-American and his $8,530 in winnings from the regional will be restored. He will, however, receive a fine of $500 for failing to report O’Connell’s violation.
O’Connell declined to take a polygraph as requested following the protest and withdrew from the 2025 Toyota Series Championship after being informed that refusal to take the exam would result in disqualification from the Lake Murray Regional and ineligibility to participate in the event. Following his refusal to take a polygraph, O’Connell was suspended from MLF competition through the 2026 season, with eligibility to reapply in 2027. Based on Martin’s subsequent disclosures, however, O’Connell’s suspension has been extended through 2027, with eligibility to reapply in 2028.
“This is an unfortunate situation that could have been avoided had Aspen immediately informed the tournament director of the rule violation by a fellow competitor, which he had direct knowledge of, as required by BFL rule number one,” said Boyd Duckett, MLF President and CEO. “Had he done so, the polygraphs would have been unnecessary. If you are aware of a rule violation, it is your duty to report it to the tournament director.”
As a result of the initial disqualifications, boaters William Bates of Alpharetta, Georgia, and Chad Sims of Lancaster, South Carolina, moved up to second and third place, respectively, in the regional and will advance to the 2026 All-American. Both anglers will keep their All-American spots as well as the adjusted payouts they received along with the remainder of the Lake Murray Regional boaters. Martin’s reinstatement means the 2026 All-American will include an extra boater and co-angler for a field of 47 boats. The extra co-angler spot, to balance the field, goes to Wayne Smelser of Wytheville, Virginia, who finished fourth in the Lake Murray Regional.
2026 NPFL Championship Coming to Smith Lake
CULLMAN, Alabama—The National Professional Fishing League and Visit Cullman are excited to announce that the 2026 NPFL Championship will be held on historic Lewis Smith Lake and hosted by Visit Cullman. The three-day event will run February 26-28 and feature 42 qualifying anglers from the 2025 season.
“Our first visit to Smith Lake will be an important one since it kicks off our 2026 season,” says NPFL president Brad Fuller. “It’s our third annual Championship event and will be the starting point for what’s going to be our biggest year ever. Alabama has hosted four previous league events, and we’ve enjoyed a strong relationship with the state and its bass fishing supporters who have made Alabama a major hub in the tournament world.”
Visit Cullman is one of the sport’s staunchest supporters.
“We are honored to host the 2026 NPFL Championship and welcome these elite anglers to Cullman County,” says Harmony Heard, Executive Director of Visit Cullman. “Smith Lake is one of the most unique and beautiful fisheries in the country, and we are thrilled to showcase our natural resources, hospitality, and the outstanding community that makes Cullman such a special place. Major fishing events like the NPFL Championship play an important role in strengthening Cullman’s local economy. Over this three-day tournament, visiting anglers and spectators will contribute to increased hotel stays, restaurant visits, and retail purchases, supporting small businesses throughout the community. We are grateful for our partnership with NPFL and look forward to welcoming them to our destination.”
Renowned as the most celebrated spotted bass lake in the world, Smith Lake produced several world records in the 1950s, ’60s, and ’70s. Since that time, the genetics of those giants have been transplanted across much of the country and still produce the biggest examples of the species. The lake also boasts a thriving population of largemouth bass.
About the National Professional Fishing League
The National Professional Fishing League exists to elevate competitive bass fishing by creating a platform defined by integrity, competition, and tradition. We believe that bass fishing is more than a sport—it is a lifestyle, a culture, and a path to family, friends, and fulfillment. Our mission is to provide anglers and fans with an authentic and accessible experience that honors the spirit of the sport while building a community united by shared passion and purpose.
For more information, visit our website.
Fish Tip Friday - Bring the Thunder with Heavy Bladed Jigs
By Vance McCullough, AC Insider
Bladed jigs dominate. In bass tournaments. Just fun fishing. From pros in big boats to weekend anglers in kayaks to the hardcore shore-bound bank beaters, these angry little jigs with a thin metal blade attached to the head have been responsible for countless catches, amassing heavy weights and tons of tournament cash.
They all work, to an extent, but as with any tool we use in pursuit of our sport, some are simply a cut above the rest of the pack.
Strike King Pro Tristan McCormick proved he’s a cut above the rest by qualifying for the Bassmaster Elite Series via the gauntlet that is the Bassmaster EQ Series. McCormick used forward-facing sonar and a ‘pinging minnow’ to earn his invite to the big leagues by clearing the final EQ hurdle on Lake Okeechobee recently. He’s good with the latest technology as he demonstrated on a trip to a lake in South Georgia last fall. Then, after he walked us through the particulars of ‘video-gaming’ fish with his electronics, McCormick turned his back to the depths and began to dissect shoreline cover with a Strike King Tungsten Thunder Cricket.
“Three-quarters ounce,” said McCormick, then a hustling, hopeful angler trying to make it to the top of the sport. “Everybody throws a bladed jig, but few people use one this heavy and they’re really missing out. Sure, it works well out there where we just were, but it also shines around shallow cover. You can zip it along and it will stay down, getting solid bites from big fish.
“People might think it’s too heavy to use in the shallows, or that it’ll get constantly hung up, but that blade creates a lot of lift and this bait comes through clean.”
Then again, a little snag here and there allows anglers to pop it out of shallow grass and draw vicious reactions from fish. Contact with cover gives the bait a chance to deflect and carrom off stumps, dock pilings and the grass that begs for a bladed jig in the first place.
Sometimes it’s the lack of noise that counts. “I have more control over a slightly heavier bait,” noted McCormick, “so I can pitch this thing in there with barely a ripple. Let it swing gently from the rod tip and use its momentum to get it in there nice and easy. It’s just suddenly in their face with no warning and then it takes off, rattling away and that draws some mean strikes!”
I’ve had a year to test McCormick’s ideas and I have to give him an assist on the extra bites I’ve generated with the heavier-than-usual vibrating jig.
Tungsten construction makes the head small enough to capitalize on the extra weight, keeping it down in the water column. It’s density gives this version of the Thunder Cricket a unique clacking sound that calls bass from cover. Couple that with the tight action that this bait is known for versus other lures in the category and you have a serious weapon on the end of your line.
I was reminded of the 3/4oz’s prowess while fishing offshore hydrilla this week. I used 4 other bladed jigs, including half-ounce Thunder Crickets. I struck out with them. I tied-on the heavier model and instantly hooked a 4-lber. Two casts after releasing that fish, I got soaked by another of equal or greater size that basted the bait at boatside as I was lifting it out of the water.
Needless to say, I fished the 3/4oz tungsten version of my favorite bladed jig the rest of the day and was delighted by the action a half mile from the bank and, later, in the skinniest water I could find. This adaptability makes the heavy bladed jig perfect for finding and catching scattered bass in the fall when a 5-fish limit could come from 5 different places, each with it’s own depth and cover options.
Be ready for anything with the 3/4oz bladed jig!
Everything you need to know about MLF’s 2026 forward-facing sonar rules
BENTON, Ky. (Nov. 26, 2025) – Starting in 2026, Major League Fishing will restrict the use of forward-facing sonar at all professional and boater/co-angler levels of competition, from the Phoenix Bass Fishing League to the Bass Pro Tour. The decision to limit the technology was made in response to positive feedback from fans and anglers about the forward-facing sonar restrictions implemented on the Bass Pro Tour in 2025 as well as feedback from participants at lower levels.
The goal of these restrictions is to promote multi-dimensional angling – allowing anglers to utilize the latest technology while also creating an environment in which traditional techniques remain highly competitive. MLF believes these rules will make for more dynamic, entertaining competitions and will drive tournament participation, thus enhancing payouts.
A full FAQ page that answers the most common questions received by MLF regarding the forward-facing sonar rules can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The 2026 rules regarding forward-facing sonar for each circuit will be as follows:
Bass Pro Tour
- No changes from 2025.
- Anglers will only be allowed to utilize forward-facing/360-degree sonar for one of three competition periods per day and must declare in advance which period they intend to use it.
- The technology will not be restricted during B&W Trailer Hitches Heavy Hitters or Fishing Clash Team Series competition, as anglers in those events compete in identical, league-issued boats.
Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit
- Anglers will be allowed to utilize forward-facing/360-degree sonar for one 3-hour segment during each competition day.
- The 3-hour segment must be continuous.
- Restrictions will be enforced via electronic lock boxes that track how long they are unlocked as well as live-streaming security cameras onboard each pro’s boat.
Toyota Series and Phoenix Bass Fishing League
- Boaters will be allowed to utilize forward-facing and 360-degree sonar for one 3-hour segment during each competition day.
- The 3-hour segment must be continuous.
- Co-anglers will act as accountability stewards, like they have done for decades with regard to other tournament rules, and must sign off on boaters following all rules at the end of each competition day.
- Co-anglers are allowed to bring a portable forward-facing sonar transducer, but may only utilize it during the same 3-hour period that their boater chooses to use forward-facing sonar. If the boater does not use forward-facing sonar, co-anglers may do so during the final 3 hours of the day.
Abu Garcia College Fishing
- No restrictions on forward-facing or 360-degree sonar.
Abu Garcia High School Fishing
- Forward-facing and 360-degree sonar are not permitted during any MLF regular season competition.
- Forward-facing and 360-degree sonar are not restricted in the High School Fishing National Championship that runs concurrently with the High School Fishing World Finals, as this is a jointly operated event with The Bass Federation.
- Events operated by MLF for state high school athletic associations, including KHSAA, GHSA, IHSA and LHSAA, will operate according to rules adopted by the associations.
For complete details and the latest news from Major League Fishing, 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, Outdoor Channel, VICE, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV and Game & Fish TV, 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.
7 Brew Coffee Becomes Title Sponsor of MLF5 Angler of the Year Awards
BENTON, Ky. (Nov. 25, 2025) – Major League Fishing (MLF) announced today that 7 Brew Coffee has been named title sponsor of the Angler of the Year (AOY) programs for the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit, Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats and Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine.
The announcement comes as MLF launches a revitalized Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit in 2026 with improved payouts and a competitive framework designed to further elevate professional bass fishing. With 7 Brew Coffee stepping in as AOY sponsor across all three circuits, the brand will be prominently connected to one of the sport’s most respected honors.
Founded in Rogers, Arkansas – home of the historic Beaver Lake – 7 Brew Coffee is one of the fastest-growing drive-thru beverage concepts in the nation, known for its upbeat service, customizable drinks and strong community presence across many of the regions where MLF anglers compete. Its addition as AOY title sponsor strengthens the connection between two brands fueled by energy, passion and dedication to being the best in their respective spaces.
7 Brew Coffee 2026 Angler of the Year Awards:
- Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit 7 Brew Coffee Angler of the Year: $50,000 Phoenix 819 Pro powered by a 200-HP outboard
- Toyota Series 7 Brew Coffee Angler of the Year: $5,000 per division (five divisions total)
- Phoenix Bass Fishing League 7 Brew Coffee Angler of the Year: $1,000 per division (24 divisions total)
7 Brew Coffee branding and integration will be featured prominently throughout the 2026 season, including consistent visibility during AOY coverage across MLF digital channels, livestreaming, on-site at event locations and multiple MLF media platforms. Fans can expect to see the 7 Brew Angler of the Year races featured in season-long coverage across the Pro Circuit, Toyota Series and BFL events.
For more information about 7Brew Coffee, visit 7brew.com. For regular MLF5 updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets on Facebook, 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, Outdoor Channel, VICE, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV and Game & Fish TV, 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.
Lew’s® Unveils the All-New Accel Baitcast Reel and Combo for Precision and Performance
Columbia, SC – Lew’s® is excited to announce the launch of a brand new product family: the Accel Baitcast Reel and Combo, a game-changing addition to their lineup that redefines the balance between high performance and affordability. Designed to Accel-lerate the angler experience on the water, Accel delivers expectational performance and durability at an exceptional price.
The Accel Baitcast Reel stands out with its lightweight graphite frame and side covers, built for long-lasting durability and reliability. Its 5-bearing system, including 4 stainless steel double-shielded bearings and a Zero Reverse® one-way clutch bearing, ensures smooth and reliable performance with every cast. The advanced MC-1™ Externally Adjustable Magnetic Cast Control System allows for quick, precise adjustments, while the precision-machined brass Speed Gears®, crafted on Hamai CNC machines, deliver unmatched consistency and strength. Additionally, the anodized aluminum spool with Knot Slot and the 95mm anodized aluminum handle with contoured rubber knobs are engineered for ease of use, comfort, and reliability, even under pressure.
The Accel Baitcast Combo rod offers a perfect synergy of performance and design. The rod features an IM6 graphite blank, which strikes the ideal balance of strength and flexibility for a variety of fishing techniques. Stainless steel guides with matching inserts ensure smooth line performance over time, while the split grip EVA handle provides superior comfort and durability. The addition of Lew’s patented “No Foul” Hook Keeper and an exclusive graphite skeletal reel seat offers convenience, reduced weight, and a seamless, ergonomic grip.
With the Accel Baitcast Reel and Combo, Lew’s delivers premium performance while maintaining affordability. This series embodies Lew’s dedication to designing reliable and durable fishing equipment, ensuring an enhanced experience for anglers of all skill levels.
About Rather Outdoors
Rather Outdoors is a global outdoors corporation uniting some of the most recognizable brands in the fishing space. With historic and iconic brands such as Lew’s, Strike King, Quantum, Zebco, Fox, Matrix, Salmo, and Fox Rage, Rather Outdoors provides a wide assortment of fishing products worldwide in an effort to enhance angler’s success and the enjoyment of outdoor pursuits. To learn more about the Rather Outdoors brands, visit www.ratheroutdoors.com.
NPFL 2026 Field: “Full” … But Room For More!
WILKESVILLE, Ohio—The field of anglers for the 2026 National Professional Fishing League season is full at 130. But if you don’t see your name on the list below, it’s not too late to get in.
“We’re still accepting talented anglers who are also outstanding human beings to join us for what promises to be the biggest and best season ever for the NPFL,” says league president Brad Fuller. “This will be our biggest field of competitors in our six-year history, and we’re about to close the door on new entries because we’ve always considered 130 anglers to be a ‘full’ field, but we can make room for a few more who are talented and ready to test themselves against a top-notch field and a challenging schedule.
“In 2026, we have the anglers, the schedule, the platforms, and the team to rival any organization in bass fishing,” adds Fuller. “For the fishing fans who enjoyed the great strides we made in 2025, it’s going to be even bigger and better next year.”
Anglers who wish to be part of the 2026 field should complete the Angler Application as soon as possible!
The six-event 2026 season kicks off on Florida’s Harris Chain of Lakes in March and wraps up in September on New York’s Lake George. In between, there are four other events in Texas, Alabama, and New York. Florida bass, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and spotted bass will all be in play on the diverse fisheries that will reward versatility and adaptability in a true test of the best.
"For anglers ready to test themselves against a variety of fisheries, species, seasons, and conditions, the NPFL is the answer,” Fuller says. “But maybe even more than that, it’s a chance to compete against all-time greats like Rick Clunn, Greg Hackney, and Andy Morgan; top crossover pros like Patrick Walters, John Cox, and Zack Birge; and home-grown stars like Timmy Reams, Todd Goade, and Scott Hamrick. Plus, we’ve got more than a dozen true rookies joining the field in 2026—anglers who have never fished at the top level of a major tour, but who are ready to make a name for themselves."
Applicants must commit to a locked field and agree to participate in all six regular-season events. This ensures a committed group of anglers for the entire season. Choosing the right anglers for the field is critical to the NPFL’s mission.
“We take our selection process very seriously,” Fuller adds. “We interview each angler before they’re selected. No one is automatically accepted into the league just because they have an impressive tournament résumé or a lot of sponsors. We’re not just looking for excellent anglers. We want excellent people who are passionate about the sport—people who share our commitment and vision.”
Apply here.
Here's the list of 129 anglers committed to compete in the NPFL in 2026:
- Barron Adams
- Johnnie Adams
- Gary Adkins
- Sean Alvarez
- Charlie Apperson
- Todd Auten
- Chris Baker
- Keith Bardolf
- Hunter Baughman
- Bob Behrle
- Tommy Biffle
- Zack Birge
- Joey Bloom
- T-Roy Broussard
- Nick Brown
- Paul Browning
- Jason Burroughs
- Josh Butler
- Jon Canada
- Scott Canterbury
- Quintin Cappo
- Corey Casey
- Craig Chambers
- Ryan Chandler
- Hank Cherry
- Luke Clausen
- Rick Clunn
- Brandon Cobb
- Bo Collins
- Michael Comeau
- Drew Cook
- Richard Cooper
- John Cox (FL)
- John Cox (GA)
- Cliff Crochet
- Alex Davis
- Darrell Davis
- Harmon Davis
- Bill Day
- Seth Ellis
- Will Fletcher
- Tim Frederick
- Kyle Freeman
- Dylan Freeze
- Austin Garland
- Kyle Glasgow
- Todd Goade
- Wesley Gore
- Chad Grigsby
- Buddy Gross
- Greg Hackney
- Scott Hamrick
- Ray Hanselman
- Chip Harrington
- Cole Harris
- Matt Herren
- Paul Hodges
- Josh Hooks
- Stacey James
- Travis Jewell
- Ron Johnson
- Jonathan Kelley
- Russ Lane
- Logan Latuso
- Shane LeHew
- Derek Lehtonen
- Lavoyd Lemmond
- Shane Lineberger
- Joe Lineberry
- Jared Lintner
- Wes Logan
- Bill Lowen
- Kevin Madeley
- Chad Marler
- Lendell Martin
- Matt McBee
- Jason Meninger
- Harry Moore
- Andy Morgan
- Rickey Morris
- Brock Mosley
- Shawn Murphy
- James Niggemeyer
- Jordan Osborne
- Jamie Pierce
- Pete Ponds
- Jacob Powroznik
- J. Queen
- Mike Quinlin
- Timmy Reams
- Dustin Reneau
- Jason Reyes
- Joshua Reynolds
- Darrel Robertson
- Matt Robertson
- Troy Roder
- Kevin Rogers
- Fred Roumbanis
- T. Russell
- Hunter Sales
- Ryan Satterfield
- Adam Savage
- Garrett Smith
- Gerald Spohrer
- Brad Staley
- Scott Suggs
- Gerald Swindle
- Randall Tharp
- J Todd Tucker
- Andrew Upshaw
- Grant Vest
- Martin Villa
- Greg Vinson
- David Walker
- Patrick Walters
- Jimmy Ward
- Josh Watkins
- James Watson
- Mitchell Webb
- Brad Whatley
- Chris Whisenant
- Scott Wiley
- Alton Wilhoit
- David Williams
- Dustin Williamson
- Jason Williamson
- Jason Wilson
- Tim Wilson
- Jesse Wise
- David Wootten
About the National Professional Fishing League
The National Professional Fishing League exists to elevate competitive bass fishing by creating a platform defined by integrity, competition, and tradition. We believe that bass fishing is more than a sport—it is a lifestyle, a culture, and a path to family, friends, and fulfillment. Our mission is to provide anglers and fans with an authentic and accessible experience that honors the spirit of the sport while building a community united by shared passion and purpose.
For more information, visit our website.
Ehrler and Lucas Run Away with Victory at Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup
Team Ferguson Catches 29-9 to Lead Wire-to-Wire and Win Final Fishing Clash Team Series Event of Season
SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER CITY, La. (Nov. 21, 2025) – The Team Ferguson duo of Justin Lucas and Brent Ehrler powered through a stingy Championship Day on Cross Lake to claim the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by Zenni, capping a gritty wire-to-wire performance in one of the tightest final rounds of the season.
Lucas stacked 10 scorable bass for 19 pounds, 1 ounce, while Ehrler’s late surge pushed the team to a commanding finishing weight of 29-9, securing the title over Team Lucas Oil – defending Summit Cup champs Drew Gill and Marshall Robinson.
The four-team field competed on Cross Lake for the first time this week, and the Louisiana fishery proved challenging. Early rain, muddy water and scattered bait kept the entire field in check and prevented any team from pulling away. Through the grind, Lucas and Ehrler proved to be the only duo able to generate steady opportunities across all three periods, and they stacked seven scorable bass in the final two hours to secure the victory.
Lucas, who now calls Guntersville, Alabama, home but grew up in California, noted how fitting it was to win alongside Ehrler, a fellow West Coast product he looked up to as a young angler.
“This one feels special,” Lucas said. “Brent and I kind of came up in the same circles back home, and to win this one together – especially in Louisiana – that’s something I’ll never forget. Today wasn’t easy. Nobody was running away with it, and we had to grind every single minute.”
The team started on the dam with a shallow-running crankbait – including an older, discontinued model Lucas grabbed off his garage wall on the way out the door – and quickly put a pair of scorable fish on the board. As the bite slowed, they adjusted by targeting shallow, rocky points where bait was sliding up with the wind. The crankbait continued to play throughout the afternoon, but the biggest strategic shift came when Ehrler moved to a finesse flipping setup to clean up behind Lucas.
“When Justin gets on a roll with a crankbait, there isn’t much point in me trying to do the same thing behind him,” Ehrler said. “I tied on the Yamamoto Yama Bug and just started pitching around the walkways and docks. It’s a new bait – I only had four packs of them. But it was the right adjustment. Those bites came fast, and they were the ones that really sealed the deal for us.”
Despite entering the final period just over 4 pounds behind Team Ferguson, the Team Lucas Oil duo of Gill and Robinson couldn’t match the late-day momentum. Meanwhile, Team B&W Trailer Hitches mounted a charge behind Todd Faircloth’s 4-pound, 14-ounce Berkley Big Bass of the Day, but the gap was simply too large to close in the remaining time. Local favorite Nick LeBrun , who had previously won the 2018 BFL All-American on Cross Lake, made a late run with Faircloth in the shallow cypress forest on the west end, but it wasn’t enough to catch Ehrler and Lucas.
Lucas said the victory was the result of constant communication and trust – two things that define a successful Team Series partnership.
“We made the right calls,” he said. “We stuck together, we stayed patient, and when things got tough ,we didn’t panic. Brent caught some absolutely critical fish behind me, and that’s what makes this format so fun. You’re never out of it as long as you’re making good decisions.”
“It’s been a while since either of us has won one of these,” Ehrler agreed as he was awarded the Summit Cup trophy. “We worked hard this week, we adjusted when we had to, and we got it done today in a really challenging place. Sharing this win with Justin, after all the years we’ve fished against each other – and now with each other – is just awesome.”
The final four teams at the Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by Zenni finished:
1st: Team Ferguson, 15 bass, 29-9
Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., five bass, 10-8
Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 19-1
2nd: Team Lucas Oil, 11 bass, 16-15
Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., eight bass, 13-4
Marshall Robinson, Landrum, S.C., three bass, 3-11
3rd: Team B&W Trailer Hitches, six bass, 16-6
Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas, four bass, 9-13
Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La., two bass, 6-9
4th: Team Kubota, two bass, 3-6
Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio, two bass, 3-6
Nick Hatfield, Greeneville, Tenn., zero bass, 0-0
Complete results from throughout the week can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 34 bass weighing 66 pounds, 4 ounces caught by the final four teams Friday in the Championship Round on Cross Lake. Team B&W Trailer Hitches pro Todd Faircloth weighed a largemouth bass totaling 4 pounds, 14 ounces – the largest of the day – to earn the Berkley Big Bass of the Day honors.
The Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by Zenni was hosted by the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission and took place over six days in Shreveport-Bossier City, Louisiana. The competition water for each day was top secret and only revealed to the anglers when they arrived at the boat ramp each morning.
The Summit Cup featured 12 two-man teams divided into three groups as they entered the one-day Elimination Round matches. Each of the three Elimination Round matches featured four new teams, with the top two teams from each match of the Elimination Round advancing to the Knockout Round on Days 4 & 5. In the Knockout Rounds, three teams competed each day, with the top two teams from each Knockout Round match moving on to the Championship Round on Day 6. In the Day 6 Championship Round, the final four teams competed in a one-day shootout to determine which team would be declared the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by Zenni champions.
The MLF Fishing Clash Team Series Presented by Bass Pro Shops featured four Cup events in 2025 – the Challenge, Heritage, Patriot, and Summit Cups – with 12 two-man teams of Bass Pro Tour anglers competing for a share of $560,000 in prize money.
Television coverage of the Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by Zenni will premiere on Outdoor Channel as six two-hour original episodes each Saturday afternoon starting May 9, 2026. The complete television schedule for the Fishing Clash Team Series on Outdoor Channel will be posted at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Proud sponsors of the MLF Fishing Clash Team Series include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Boat Technologies, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, E3 Sport Apparel, Epic Baits, Ferguson, Fishing Clash, Knighten Industries, Kubota, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, NITRO Boats, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Smokey Mountain Caffeinated Pouches, Star brite, Toyota, YETI and Zenni.
For complete details and updated information on the MLF Fishing Clash Team Series, 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, Outdoor Channel, VICE, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV and Game & Fish TV, 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.
Fish Tip Friday - Rip, Kill, Trigger
By Vance McCullough, AC Insider
Rip, Kill, Trigger - Your 3-Beat Fall Spinnerbait Cadence
Fall bass are aggressive but moody – chasing shad in 2-to-8 feet of water around cover such as grass edges, points and creek mouths. They are on the move, and so should you be if you plan to cross paths with a few of them. What autumn bassin’ lacks in consistency, it makes up for in fun. Here’s the deal.
A Strike King 1/2oz double willow leaf spinnerbait in white, chartreuse and white, or a shad pattern is your search-and-destroy tool. And you’re going to use it with a cadence that has won many a tournament dollar for the savvy pros who know about it.
One key to success in autumn is to stay on the move so we’re not slow rolling here. We’re standing on the trolling motor, channeling our inner KVD and slinging that bladed beauty around anything that has water on it. Soundtrack courtesy of Metalica.
The technique:
Rip - Burn the bait subsurface for a few feet (5-to-10 cranks on the reel handle). This mimics fleeing shad and triggers a few bonus reaction strikes.
Kill – Stop dead. Let it helicopter down a foot or two while holding the rod tip at 10 o’clock. Bass follow 70% of rips but strike on the fall. The pause is key. This is when most bites will happen.
Trigger – Twitch twice with sharp, short pops, keeping the bait in the same general area for an extra beat or two. Wounded baitfish panic. So should your bait, giving those uncommitted followers a second chance before we move on to the next target.
Pro tip - Typically, that double willow gets the job done with a blade combo that features a #4 ahead of a #5 size blade, but if the fish start striking short, swap to a single Colorado blade for more thump and a slower fall. Pump the rod tip on the kill to imitate a dying shad. This could become your go-to tactic after that first Arctic blast causes a massive shad die off as fall gives way to winter.
Master this cadence, and you’ll turn follower fish into hooked fish. Fall bass can’t resist. Once you feel that thump on the fall, you’ll be hooked on spinnerbaits in the fall.
Now go burn some blades!
Team Ferguson’s Ehrler and Lucas Rally Around Docks to Win Knockout Round Match 2 at Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by Zenni
Team Kubota duo of Floyd and Hatfield advance with second-place finish, final four teams set for Friday’s Championship Round
SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER CITY, La. (Nov. 20, 2025) – A mid-match slump turned into a dominant closing run for Team Ferguson, who unlocked a crucial dock bite in the final period, Thursday, to win Knockout Round Match 2 of the Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by Zenni on Cypress Bayou and punch their ticket to Friday’s Championship Round. Team Ferguson’s Brent Ehrler of Redlands, California, and Justin Lucas of Guntersville, Alabama, closed out a tense, back-and-forth battle with a total of 30 pounds, 5 ounces on 18 scorable bass to overtake a tight field in the closing stretch and secure the win.
Team Kubota (Cole Floyd and Nick Hatfield) held steady throughout the day to finish second with 13 bass for 23 pounds, 7 ounces, earning the final berth in the Championship Round.
Meanwhile, Team Fishing Clash – Keith Carson and Ron Nelson – struggled to maintain momentum in the third period, weighing 10 bass for 18-9 and falling 4-14 below the Lucas Oil Cut Line to end their Summit Cup run.
Team Ferguson opened the match strong, targeting a hard spot along the dam with a Lucky Craft 1.5 Square Bill crankbait to set an early pace. But as the bite faded, their momentum stalled, and the team temporarily fell to the bottom of SCORETRACKER® before a critical adjustment reignited their day.
“Justin and I really took turns catching them today,” said Ehrler in his postgame interview. “We started off great and were leading the pack but then stalled out midday and found ourselves in last place there for a second.”
The turning point came when Ehrler fired a Lucky Craft Pointer 78DD jerkbait to the corner of a dock, hooking up almost instantly.
“We got on a really good pattern going into the third period,” said Lucas. “Brent caught a fish on the jerkbait and that changed things up for us. I picked up the drop-shot rig and caught some on that. We had a nice little one-two punch going.”
From that moment on, Team Ferguson dialed in a consistent rhythm, targeting docks sitting over a distinct 4- to 8-foot break along the bank. The combination of Ehrler’s jerkbait paired with Lucas’ drop-shot rig and occasional Neko rig with a Yamamoto Baits Sensei Worm allowed them to systematically pick apart productive water and regain control of the round.
“It seemed like the bite just completely turned midday,” Ehrler said. “They were chasing bait in the morning, kind of through midday, and then they just stopped, and they were on the bottom.”
“I got one that weighed 1-3 about halfway through the second period and I was like, ‘Oh my god. I got a bite,’ said Lucas. “Then I caught another one and that gave me all the confidence in the world. That was a game-changer in our day for sure.”
Together, the duo managed the emotional roller coaster of fluctuating leaderboard positions and switched up their pattern at exactly the right time.
“It was a stressful day because it was really close for a long time, and we just started to pull away at the end,” said Lucas. “But I think we had a nice little back-and-forth pattern going.”
The Knockout Round win marks the second Championship Round appearance together in three Team Series events for Ehrler and Lucas.
Team Kubota’s Floyd and Hatfield stayed committed to a single productive area all day, never firing up their Mercury outboard as they worked their way through a shallow, bait-rich zone in 2 to 3 feet of water. They rotated through vibrating jigs, crankbaits and topwater baits to generate enough steady action to remain above the Lucas Oil Cut Line despite a bumpy final period that included lost fish and several non-scorable hookups.
The top two teams from Knockout Round Match 2 at the Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by Zenni that now advance to Friday’s Championship Round are:
1st: Team Ferguson, 18 bass, 30-5
Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., 12 bass, 20-8
Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., six bass, 9-13
2nd: Team Kubota, 13 bass, 23-7
Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio, seven bass, 13-6
Nick Hatfield, Greeneville, Tenn., six bass, 10-1
Eliminated from competition are:
3rd: Team Fishing Clash, 10 bass, 18-9
Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla., eight bass, 13-3
Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich., two bass, 5-6
Complete results from throughout the week can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 41 bass weighing 72 pounds, 5 ounces caught by the three teams Thursday in Knockout Round Match 2 on Cypress Bayou. Team Fishing Clash pro Ron Nelson caught the Berkley Big Bass of the day – a largemouth bass weighing 4 pounds, 4 ounces.
The final four teams that will compete in Friday’s final-day Championship Round at the Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by Zenni are:
Team B&W Trailer Hitches:
Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas
Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La.
Team Ferguson:
Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif.
Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala.
Team Kubota:
Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio
Nick Hatfield, Greeneville, Tenn.
Team Lucas Oil:
Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill.
Marshall Robinson, Landrum, S.C.
The Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by Zenni is hosted by the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission and takes place over six days in Shreveport-Bossier City, Louisiana. The competition water for each day is top secret and is only revealed to the anglers when they arrive at the boat ramp each morning. Anglers are driven directly to the day’s competition area launch ramp by their officials. Competition begins on the water at 9:15 a.m.
The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on Championship Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. CT. MLFNOW!® is livestreamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MLF and MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) apps, RFD-TV Now, Game & Fish TV and Rumble. The final period of every day of competition of the 2025 Fishing Clash Team Series is broadcast live on RFD-TV, from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. CT.
The Summit Cup features 12 two-man teams divided into three groups as they entered the one-day Elimination Round matches. Each of the three Elimination Round matches featured four new teams, with the top two teams from each match of the Elimination Round advancing to the Knockout Round on Days 4 & 5. In the Knockout Rounds, three teams competed each day, with the top two teams from each Knockout Round match now moving on to the Championship Round on Day 6. In Friday’s Day 6 Championship Round, the final four teams will compete in a one-day shootout to determine which team will win the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by Zenni.
The MLF Fishing Clash Team Series Presented by Bass Pro Shops features four Cup events in 2025 – the Challenge, Heritage, Patriot, and Summit Cups – with 12 two-man teams of Bass Pro Tour anglers competing for a share of $560,000 in prize money. Teams were formed through a selection process, where 48 team captains – based on Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) standings throughout the 2025 Bass Pro Tour season – selected a teammate. Teams will compete throughout the fall of 2025.
The MLF Fishing Clash Team Series Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by Zenni will also air on Outdoor Channel as six two-hour original episodes each Saturday afternoon starting May 9, 2026. The complete television schedule for the Fishing Clash Team Series on Outdoor Channel will be posted at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Proud sponsors of the MLF Fishing Clash Team Series include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Boat Technologies, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, E3 Sport Apparel, Epic Baits, Ferguson, Fishing Clash, Knighten Industries, Kubota, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, NITRO Boats, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Smokey Mountain Caffeinated Pouches, Star brite, Toyota, YETI and Zenni.
For complete details and updated information on the MLF Fishing Clash Team Series, 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, Outdoor Channel, VICE, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV and Game & Fish TV, 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.
Strike King & Lew’s Pro Anglers Qualify For Bassmaster Elite Series
Lake Okeechobee, FL – Rather Outdoors is proud to announce that two of its pro anglers, Tristan McCormick and Aaron Jagdfeld, have successfully qualified for the prestigious 2026 Bassmaster Elite Series. Both fishermen earned their spots through the rigorous Bassmaster Opens Elite Qualifier (EQ) series, showcasing exceptional skill and determination.
Tennessee native Tristan McCormick secured his place after a consistent performance throughout the EQ series. He initially qualified for the EQs by finishing 15th in Division 1 of the Bassmaster Opens with 640 points. A two-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier, McCormick demonstrated his experience by climbing from 15th to 6th place in the standings at the Lake Okeechobee event. He ultimately finished 9th overall with 226 points, solidifying his invitation to the Elite Series.
After finishing as the runner-up in the 2024 College Classic Bracket, Michigan angler Aaron Jagdfeld qualified for the EQs through Division 2 of the Opens. Despite a challenging start to the season, Jagdfeld mounted an impressive rally, posting three top-40 finishes to earn his EQ qualification. Jagdfeld then delivered a standout EQ performance, including an eighth-place finish at Lake Champlain and a 12th at Wheeler Lake. A critical day 2 comeback at Lake Okeechobee propelled him to 29th in the tournament. This was just enough to clinch 3rd overall in the EQ standings with 242 points, locking in his Elite Series invitation.
The pathway from the Bassmaster Opens to the Elite Series, established by B.A.S.S. in 2025, is designed to identify the most consistent and skilled anglers in the sport. The success of McCormick and Jagdfeld highlights their ability to perform under pressure across diverse fisheries.
About Rather Outdoors
Rather Outdoors is a global outdoors corporation uniting some of the most recognizable brands in the fishing space. With historic and iconic brands such as Lew’s, Strike King, Quantum, Zebco, Fox, Matrix, Salmo, and Fox Rage, Rather Outdoors provides a wide assortment of fishing products worldwide in an effort to enhance angler’s success and the enjoyment of outdoor pursuits. To learn more about the Rather Outdoors brands, visit www.ratheroutdoors.com.
Hobie Eyewear Announces Northern Outer Banks Destination Giveaway Sweepstakes
Hobie® Eyewear is excited to announce the Northern Outer Banks Destination Giveaway Sweepstakes, a collaborative digital campaign between Hobie® Eyewear, Hobie®, and the Northern Outer Banks. The promotion will run from Friday, November 14, 2025, through Wednesday, December 31, 2025. Participants can enter online at the Northern Outer Banks website, with full details available at northernouterbanks.com/hobie.
This program brings together a shared spirit of adventure and coastal lifestyle. The concept celebrates the natural beauty of the region while showcasing the passion for exploration that defines Hobie®. The visual storytelling campaign will reach audiences across digital platforms, social channels, retail partners, and through a custom sweepstakes.
The Grand Prize winner will receive an unforgettable travel and product package designed to highlight the best of the Northern Outer Banks and Hobie®. The full Grand Prize includes:
- A weeklong six-bedroom vacation house rental in Corolla through Twiddy Realty
- A Kitty Hawk Kites Hobie® experience for four people
- A Hobie® All Around 11’ SUP
- A Wild Horse Adventure Tour for four people
- Admission to Currituck Beach Lighthouse for four people
- Admission to Whalehead in Historic Corolla for four people
- A $250 Visa gift card
- Four Hobie Eyewear swag bags, including three pairs of Hobie® Eyewear sunglasses and additional Hobie® Eyewear accessories
“Hobie Eyewear and the Northern Outer Banks share a deep connection to coastal culture, rooted in heritage, community, and a love for life on the water,” said Dylan Coates, Hobie® Eyewear Marketing Manager. “The Northern Outer Banks offers the same coastal spirit that inspires every pair of Hobie Eyewear, making it the perfect backdrop for new experiences. We are thrilled to invite fans to explore this incredible destination and enjoy the performance and style of Hobie Eyewear as they soak in the timeless feeling of life by the ocean.”
The Northern Outer Banks Giveaway Sweepstakes supports Hobie® Eyewear’s mission to bring premium polarized eyewear and coast-inspired storytelling to passionate explorers everywhere.
How to Enter
Participants can submit entries beginning Friday, November 14th, 2025. Entries must be received by Wednesday, December 31st, 2025. For complete sweepstakes details, visit northernouterbanks.com/hobie
Team B&W Trailer Hitches’ Nick LeBrun and Todd Faircloth Smash Team Series Record to Win Knockout Round Match 1 at Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup
Local pro LeBrun and Texas veteran Faircloth ignite Cypress Bayou with a record-setting 139-15 to advance to Friday’s Championship Round
SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER CITY, La. (Nov. 19, 2025) – Team B&W Trailer Hitches delivered a historic performance Wednesday on Louisiana’s Cypress Bayou, rewriting the Major League Fishing (MLF) record books with a jaw-dropping total of 139 pounds, 15 ounces to win Knockout Round Match 1 of the Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by Zenni. Hometown favorite Nick LeBrun of Bossier City, Louisiana, and Jasper, Texas veteran Todd Faircloth erupted for one of the single most dominant periods in Fishing Clash Team Series history – boating a staggering 91-13 on 55 scorable bass in Period 1 alone.
Team B&W Trailer Hitches final total of 139-15 surpassed the previous one-day record of 114-4 in two-man Fishing Clash Team Series competition, cementing the duo’s place in the 2025 Summit Cup Championship Round.
“All I can say is, ‘Praise Jesus,’” LeBrun said in his post-match interview. “There’s nothing better than two friends, spot-locked down with the Lowrance Ghost, reeling in a fish on every cast. It’s been an amazing day.”
Working a pair of current-swept hard spots – rare gems amid Cypress Bayou’s typically soft bottom – LeBrun and Faircloth triggered schools of fired-up bass with a two-crankbait assault. LeBrun leaned heavily on a chartreuse-and-blue colored Bill Lewis MR-12 crankbait with Hayabusa TBL930 treble hooks, while Faircloth threw a Strike King 3XD crankbait to match the pace. When the school slowed, the duo seamlessly mixed in a Buckeye Mini Mop Jig, a Yamamoto Baits Shad Shape Swimmer and a Strike King KVD Perfect Plastics Ocho to mop up stragglers.
“We caught a lot of fish today a lot of different ways, but that first-period crankfest was unbelievable,” LeBrun said.
As the day wound down, the pair shifted gears in Period 3, trading the blistering crankbait pace for a slower search around docks and nearby brush in hopes of connecting with a kicker.
“We spent some of the third period just fishing docks and a few little brush piles outside the docks. We weren't catching a whole lot, but just spent some time hunting a big one,” LeBrun explained. “We're super thankful for how the day went. It’s been very special getting to know Todd this week and growing our friendship – and it’s really easy to grow a friendship when you’re anchored down catching one on every cast.”
Faircloth echoed the sentiment, crediting LeBrun’s deep local knowledge for the runaway win.
“Nick pretty much called his shots today. He knows when those fish are going to fire, and he made it look easy,” Faircloth said. “It was just a fun, stress-free day. We don’t get many like this, and we’re excited to be moving on to the Championship Round.”
For the second straight day, Team Lucas Oil – Drew Gill and Marshall Robinson – relied on forward-facing sonar mastery and a commitment to the drop-shot rig to secure the final Championship Round berth. The pair finished second with 45 pounds even on 21 scorable bass, powered by exceptional quality.
Gill mixed his drop-shot presentation with the same new “fuzzy dice” rig he showcased earlier in the week, while Robinson delivered steady production with classic drop-shot setups and “netted” Gill’s catches. Their bag was loaded with 3- and 4-pounders, enough to stay well above the Lucas Oil Cut Line and comfortably earn their place in the Championship Round on Friday.
Team Star brite’s Bobby Lane and Jacob Wall came out hot, catching fish early around boat docks with a drop-shot before switching to the same crankbait pattern that carried them through Tuesday’s Elimination Round Match 3 on Caddo Lake. But, after midday, the bite collapsed. Despite several adjustments, the fish never re-fired, leaving Star brite with 16 bass for 22-11 and ending their Summit Cup run.
The top two teams from Knockout Round Match 1 at the Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by Zenni that now advance to Friday’s Championship Round are:
1st: Team B&W Trailer Hitches, 77 bass, 139-15
Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas, 33 bass, 55-10
Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La., 44 bass, 84-5
2nd: Team Lucas Oil, 21 bass, 45-0
Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., 16 bass, 38-1
Marshall Robinson, Landrum, S.C., five bass, 6-15
Eliminated from competition are:
3rd: Team Star brite, 16 bass, 22-11
Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., nine bass, 12-8
Jacob Wall, New Hope, Ala., seven bass, 10-3
Complete results from throughout the week can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 114 bass weighing 207 pounds, 10 ounces caught by the three teams Wednesday in Knockout Round Match 1 on Cypress Bayou. Team B&W Trailer Hitches pro Nick LeBrun and Lucas Oil pro Drew Gill tied for the Berkley Big Bass of the day with a pair of largemouth bass weighing 4 pounds, 12 ounces.
The three teams that will compete Thursday in Knockout Round Match 2 at the Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by Zenni are:
Team Ferguson:
Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif.
Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala.
Team Fishing Clash:
Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla.
Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich.
Team Kubota:
Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio
Nick Hatfield, Greeneville, Tenn.
The Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by Zenni is hosted by the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission and takes place over six days in Shreveport-Bossier City, Louisiana. The competition water for each day is top secret and is only revealed to the anglers when they arrive at the boat ramp each morning. Anglers are driven directly to the day’s competition area launch ramp by their officials. Competition begins on the water at 9:15 a.m.
The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live every day of competition from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. CT. MLFNOW!® is livestreamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MLF and MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) apps, RFD-TV Now, Game & Fish TV and Rumble. The final period of every day of competition of the 2025 Fishing Clash Team Series is broadcast live on RFD-TV, from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. CT.
The Summit Cup features 12 two-man teams divided into three groups as they entered the one-day Elimination Round matches. Each of the three Elimination Round matches featured four new teams, with the top two teams from each match of the Elimination Round advancing to the Knockout Round on Days 4 & 5. In the Knockout Rounds, three teams compete each day, with the top two teams from each Knockout Round match moving on to the Championship Round on Day 6. In Friday’s Day 6 Championship Round, the final four teams will compete in a one-day shootout to determine which team will win the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by Zenni.
The MLF Fishing Clash Team Series Presented by Bass Pro Shops features four Cup events in 2025 – the Challenge, Heritage, Patriot, and Summit Cups – with 12 two-man teams of Bass Pro Tour anglers competing for a share of $560,000 in prize money. Teams were formed through a selection process, where 48 team captains – based on Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) standings throughout the 2025 Bass Pro Tour season – selected a teammate. Teams will compete throughout the fall of 2025.
The MLF Fishing Clash Team Series Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by Zenni will also air on Outdoor Channel as six two-hour original episodes each Saturday afternoon starting May 9, 2026. The complete television schedule for the Fishing Clash Team Series on Outdoor Channel will be posted at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Proud sponsors of the MLF Fishing Clash Team Series include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Boat Technologies, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, E3 Sport Apparel, Epic Baits, Ferguson, Fishing Clash, Knighten Industries, Kubota, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, NITRO Boats, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Smokey Mountain Caffeinated Pouches, Star brite, Toyota, YETI and Zenni.
For complete details and updated information on the MLF Fishing Clash Team Series, 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, Outdoor Channel, VICE, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV and Game & Fish TV, 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.
Under Armour renews presenting sponsorship of the Bassmaster Classic, the premier event in competitive bass fishing
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. officials announced today that Under Armour will remain the presenting sponsor of the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic, continuing its role as a premier partner of the most prestigious event in professional bass fishing.
The renewed partnership underscores Under Armour’s dedication to performance, innovation and the athletes who embody the spirit of competitive angling. Widely regarded as the “Super Bowl of Bass Fishing,” the Bassmaster Classic draws tens of thousands of fans annually and reaches millions more through Bassmaster LIVE and extensive media coverage across digital and broadcast platforms.
“Under Armour has been an incredible partner in helping us elevate the Bassmaster Classic experience for both anglers and fans,” said Phillip Johnson, Chief Operating Officer at B.A.S.S. “Their focus on innovation and performance aligns perfectly with the intensity and precision demanded by our sport. We’re thrilled to continue building on this partnership as we showcase the best anglers in the world competing on bass fishing’s biggest stage.”
“The Bassmaster Classic is more than a tournament — it’s a cultural moment for the fishing community, and we’re proud to continue our partnership as presenting sponsor,” said Tyler Rutstein, SVP of Brand & Americas Marketing at Under Armour. “B.A.S.S. has been an exceptional partner, and together, we’re elevating the experience and providing innovative outdoor products for the next generation of anglers.”
Under Armour will continue outfitting tournament staff and on-air talent with performance apparel engineered for the demanding conditions of elite-level competition. The brand’s presence will span across Bassmaster LIVE broadcasts, fan expos and digital activations, ensuring fans and competitors alike experience the synergy between athletic excellence and outdoor passion.
The 2026 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour, will take place March 13-15 on the Tennessee River in Knoxville, Tenn. The three-day championship will feature the top anglers from the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN, Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Championship presented by Lowrance and the Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, all competing for the coveted Ray Scott Bassmaster Classic trophy and a place in bass fishing history.
Fans can follow coverage of the 2026 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour, including live weigh-ins and Bassmaster LIVE streaming, at Bassmaster.com and across all official Bassmaster and Under Armour social channels.
About Under Armour, Inc.
Under Armour, Inc., headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, is a leading inventor, marketer, and distributor of branded athletic performance apparel, footwear, and accessories. Designed to empower human performance, Under Armour's innovative products and experiences are engineered to make athletes better. For further information, please visit http://about.
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Bassmaster Junior Series, TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
Team Fishing Clash Surges Late To Win Elimination Round Match 3 at Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup
Carson and Nelson Combine for 36-10 to Pace Field and Advance to Knockout Round
SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER CITY, La. (Nov. 18, 2025) – A dominant late-day rally powered Team Fishing Clash to the top of the leaderboard Tuesday at the Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by Zenni, as teammates Keith Carson of DeBary, Florida, and Ron Nelson of Berrien Springs, Michigan , posted 17 bass for 36 pounds, 10 ounces to win Elimination Round Match 3 on Caddo Lake and secure a berth into the Knockout Round.
Team Star brite, pros Bobby Lane and Jacob Wall, also advanced after tallying 16 bass for 36-0, finishing just 10 ounces behind Fishing Clash in a tight race for the top spot.
Teams YETI – Fred Roumbanis and Jeff Sprague – and O’Reilly Auto Parts – Adrian Avena and Mark Daniels Jr. – were eliminated.
Carson and Nelson spent most of the first two periods relying on a methodical punching pattern, but a visible shift in fish behavior late in the day forced an adjustment, and the team capitalized.
“We started really slow, but once we got that first bite punching, it settled us down,” Nelson said. “Then the winding bite just wasn’t happening at all. Late in the afternoon, Keith caught one winding and said, ‘They’re switching.’ From that moment on, everything changed.”
Carson agreed the momentum swing was unmistakable.
“Once those fish pushed up and got active, the swimjig took over,” Carson said. “It almost felt like a topwater bite – they were eating it that aggressively. We kept it moving, covered water and that flurry in the last 45 minutes is what won us the round.”
The team combined for 19 pounds in the final period, overtaking Star brite during the closing stretch of Toyota Overdrive. Throughout the afternoon, both anglers recognized the environmental shift that triggered the winning pattern.
“You could feel it coming,” Nelson explained. “The fish stopped wanting that slow presentation. Then we started seeing a few bust on top, a little bait moving – that’s when we knew we had to pick up something winding.”
Carson credited the team’s ability to stay open-minded.
“After losing several flipping fish in Period 2, we had to pivot,” he said. “That’s the beauty of this format – when it changes, you change with it. Today that decision saved our day.”
Lane and Wall controlled much of the match through two periods, using a mix of mat-punching and mid-lake crankbait fishing to stay ahead of the cut line. Despite falling just short of the daily win, their 36-0 total comfortably advanced the team into tomorrow’s Knockout Round Match 1.
Team YETI finished third with 15 bass for 26-15, highlighted by Jeff Sprague’s 3-12, which tied for Berkley Big Bass Honors of the Day. Despite a strong final-period push. Team O’Reilly Auto Parts finished fourth with 15 bass for 24-3.
The top two teams from Elimination Round Match 3 at Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by Zenni that now advance to the Knockout Round are:
1st: Team Fishing Clash, 17 bass, 36-10
Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla., nine bass, 17-1
Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich., eight bass, 19-9
2nd: Team Star brite, 16 bass, 36-0
Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., 11 bass, 25-1
Jacob Wall, New Hope, Ala., five bass, 10-15
Eliminated from competition are:
3rd: Team YETI, 15 bass, 26-15
Fred Roumbanis, Russellville, Ark., two bass, 2-12
Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas, 13 bass, 24-3
4th: Team O’Reilly Auto Parts, 15 bass, 24-3
Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., 11 bass, 18-4
Mark Daniels Jr., Tuskegee, Ala., four bass, 5-15
Complete results from throughout the week can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 63 bass weighing 123 pounds, 12 ounces caught by the four teams Tuesday in Knockout Round Match 3 on Caddo Lake. Team Fishing Clash pro Ron Nelson and Team YETI pro Jeff Sprague both caught largemouth bass weighing in at 3 pounds, 12 ounces, to share the Berkley Big Bass of the Day honors.
The three teams that will compete Wednesday in Knockout Round Match 1 at the Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by Zenni are:
Team B&W Trailer Hitches:
Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas
Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La.
Team Star brite:
Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla.
Jacob Wall, New Hope, Ala.
Team Lucas Oil:
Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill.
Marshall Robinson, Landrum, S.C.
The Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by Zenni is hosted by the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission and takes place over six days in Shreveport-Bossier City, Louisiana. The competition water for each day is top secret and is only revealed to the anglers when they arrive at the boat ramp each morning. Anglers are driven directly to the day’s competition area launch ramp by their officials. Competition begins on the water at 9:15 a.m.
The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live every day of competition from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. CT. MLFNOW!® is livestreamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MLF and MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) apps, RFD-TV Now, Game & Fish TV and Rumble. The final period of every day of competition of the 2025 Fishing Clash Team Series is broadcast live on RFD-TV, from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. CT.
The Summit Cup features 12 two-man teams divided into three groups as they entered the one-day Elimination Round matches. Each of the three Elimination Round matches featured four new teams, with the top two teams from each match of the Elimination Round now advancing to the Knockout Round on Days 4 & 5. In the Knockout Rounds, three teams compete each day, with the top two teams from each Knockout Round match moving on to the Championship Round on Day 6. In Friday’s Day 6 Championship Round, the final four teams will compete in a one-day shootout to determine which team will win the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by Zenni.
The MLF Fishing Clash Team Series Presented by Bass Pro Shops features four Cup events in 2025 – the Challenge, Heritage, Patriot, and Summit Cups – with 12 two-man teams of Bass Pro Tour anglers competing for a share of $560,000 in prize money. Teams were formed through a selection process, where 48 team captains – based on Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) standings throughout the 2025 Bass Pro Tour season – selected a teammate. Teams will compete throughout the fall of 2025.
The MLF Fishing Clash Team Series Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by Zenni will also air on Outdoor Channel as six two-hour original episodes each Saturday afternoon starting May 9, 2026. The complete television schedule for the Fishing Clash Team Series on Outdoor Channel will be posted at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Proud sponsors of the MLF Fishing Clash Team Series include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Boat Technologies, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, E3 Sport Apparel, Epic Baits, Ferguson, Fishing Clash, Knighten Industries, Kubota, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, NITRO Boats, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Smokey Mountain Caffeinated Pouches, Star brite, Toyota, YETI and Zenni.
For complete details and updated information on the MLF Fishing Clash Team Series, 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, Outdoor Channel, VICE, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV and Game & Fish TV, 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.
Love, Laughter and a Little Friendly Competition: Steve and Kim Sandlin’s Lake Guntersville Adventure
By Walker Smith / Courtesy of Dynamic Sponsorships
There’s something about Lake Guntersville that brings out the best in people. The water sits still and glassy, the light just beginning to pour through the mountains and the laughs and storytelling among excited anglers carries a kind of electricity that only anglers understand.
For Steve and Kim Sandlin of Spartanburg, South Carolina, that electricity wasn’t just about chasing bass. It was about sharing time together, unplugging from the world and soaking up every laugh and quiet moment in between.
“This is my second Toyota Owners Tournament,” Steve said with a grin. “I loved the first one so much, I just knew I had to come back. I even told my wife, Kim, that she needed to come with me this year. I’m so glad she decided to join me.”
Kim, his wife and co-angler for the weekend, smiled at that. “We took half a week off of work and came down Wednesday morning just to enjoy this beautiful fishery and enjoy spending some much-needed time together,” she said. “We treated this like a mini vacation. We have had a blast.”
It’s clear that for the Sandlins, fishing tournaments aren’t really about competition. It’s about connection to each other and to the tight-knit community of anglers who come together every year for the Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners Tournament.
Joy in the journey
Steve, the Metrology Methods Leader for Michelin Tire, approaches life with the precision you’d expect from a man whose career revolves around measurements and details.
“Metrology is the study of measurements, so I’m a pretty meticulous and detail-oriented guy,” he said. “That’s why I drive a 2022 Toyota Tundra. Heck, I kept my first one for 13 years. I choose them because they’re reliable and durable. I’m always very particular about researching our vehicles before we make the decision to buy one. It couldn’t have been an easier decision when I decided to go with Toyota. I’m doubt if I’ll ever have another brand.”
That same level of research and precision, though, seems to take a backseat when it comes to fishing with Kim. Out on the water, Steve trades spreadsheets and measurements for laughter and lighthearted ribbing. It’s a different kind of balance that’s just as important, if not more.
“I really don’t even fish,” Kim admitted with a laugh. “I normally just let him do his thing but I’m here to catch some fish this year.”
When asked if she’d be the professional net-person, Kim laughed again, shaking her head.
“No! I have to show him how it’s done out there! I’m going to catch a bigger bass than he will!”
Steve chuckled, knowing she just might make good on that promise.
“She actually out-fished me at Hartwell last year,” he confessed. “But don’t tell anyone!”
Quiet moments and big memories
Couples who fish together are special. It’s the way they move around each other in the boat, one setting the hook while the other grabs the net, their laughter rolling across the water. It’s teamwork and teasing, patience and persistence. All wrapped into one experience.
For the Sandlins, that balance comes naturally. They’re a little quiet at first, the kind of couple who takes a few minutes to warm up in a crowd. But once they do, they’re quick to laugh, to tell stories and to poke fun at each other in that easy way that only comes from years of love and partnership.
They’ve made a life together in Spartanburg, surrounded by friends, family and now this growing circle of anglers they’ve come to call friends through the Toyota Owners Tournament. It’s a community that celebrates not only the catch but the stories behind it.
The heart of the tournament
Every year, the Toyota Owners Tournament draws anglers from all walks of life. Weekend warriors, first-time anglers, seasoned pros and couples like the Sandlins who just love the water and the people who gather around it. It’s a place where the brand loyalty that brings them together quickly gives way to something deeper: fellowship.
For Steve and Kim, that sense of belonging is what keeps them coming back. The laughter shared at the weigh-in line, the friendly trash talk between teams and the collective appreciation for the outdoors. It’s all part of what makes the event feel less like a tournament and more like a family reunion.
“This is something we’ll definitely keep doing,” Steve said with his arm around Kim. “We just love the atmosphere. Everyone’s so kind and welcoming and it’s a great chance to meet other folks who share the same passion.”
Kim nodded, still smiling.
“And I get to see him in his element,” she said. “I might not be as serious about fishing as he is, but being out there with him is special. Even when I’m tangled up in the line or casting in the wrong direction, we just laugh about it. That’s what it’s all about.”
More than a fishing trip
For some, a fishing tournament might just be a weekend getaway. For Steve and Kim, it’s something more. Out there on the boat, surrounded by the quiet of the water, everything slows down. The world fades, leaving just the two of them, the lake and a handful of fishing rods.
They may not bring home the biggest bass or the heaviest bag but what they do take home is far more valuable.
As the rain melted the horizon on their last evening at Lake Guntersville, Steve and Kim stood by their Tundra, packing up tackle boxes and gear. The air was cold, carrying the faint smell of the lake and the sound of distant laughter from other anglers wrapping up their own days.
Steve turned to Kim and smiled.
“You know,” he said, “even if we didn’t catch another thing, I’d still call it a great trip.”
Kim laughed softly.
“That’s because you’re just happy I came with you.”
He nodded.
“That’s exactly right.”
Burch frogs his way to a Vexus® buckle
Ask Minnesota native, turned Lake Okeechobee area resident, Matt Burch what his favorite lures are, and he’ll grin and say, “A frog, a frog, and a frog!” However, if you ask him what he loves most about his new Vexus® VXs21, he’ll tell you it’s really tough to name just one or two features.
“When you fish big water like Okeechobee, the AirWave® seats are phenomenal for comfort in big waves, but I also love the unique plexiglass livewell shields that allow you to see your fish, and cull easily, without worrying a bass is going to jump out of the livewell,” says Burch.
“I’ve been in a lot of boats, and I studied a lot of boats, before I bought this Vexus, and it’s just a cut above in terms of the craftsmanship. Even the carpet trim is made of powder-coated aluminum, instead of plastic that cracks in the sun like most boat builders use. And honestly, when I learned about the chance to win up to $10,000 in the Vexus REV Rewards™ program, that’s what finalized my decision to buy a Vexus,” confirms Burch.
His purchase decision quickly led to his first unique Vexus buckle and a check for nearly $5,000 to match his winnings in a recent Roland Martin Marine Center Team Series event on Okeechobee -- and as you might have guessed, a frog was he and his partner’s primary lure in the victory, along with a few key bites on a speed worm.
“I’m going to display my new Vexus buckle next to the 2023 RMMC team championship trophy that Kyle Powers and I won,” says Burch, who works in sales, selling AI-powered legal technology to law professionals.
Burch certainly applied plenty of genuine intelligence to his recent boat buying decision and tournament strategies, and he’s got a shiny new buckle and a big bonus check from Vexus® to prove it.
To make sure you’re eligible to cash-in on the Vexus REV Rewards™ program, please visit https://vexusboats.com/rev-rewards/. High school and college anglers competing in a Vexus® should be sure to check out the Vexus® Varsity and University contingency programs that offer generous gift card prizes from Tackle Warehouse.
Team Lucas Oil’s Gill and Robinson Cruise to Day 2 Victory in Elimination Round Match 2 at Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup
Team Ferguson rallies to claim second advancing spot, four new teams set for Elimination Match 3 on Tuesday
SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER CITY, La. (Nov. 17, 2025) – On a day defined by dramatic swings and one unforgettable giant, Team Lucas Oil’s Drew Gill and Marshall Robinson surged to the top of SCORETRACKER® to go wire-to-wire in Elimination Round Match 2 of the Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by Zenni at Caddo Lake. With 27 scorable bass for 62 pounds even – anchored by the biggest bass of the event thus far – Gill and Robinson punched their ticket to the Knockout Round and reminded the field why they’re the reigning Summit Cup champions.
Right behind them, Team Ferguson – made up of Brent Ehrler and Justin Lucas – used an explosive final-period rally to lock down the second advancing spot, stacking up 37 pounds, 4 ounces in the final period alone.
The pairing of Gill and Robinson continues to prove formidable. The duo teamed up last season to win the 2024 Summit Cup in Florida, and their chemistry was on full display again as they dismantled Caddo Lake with the same blend of efficiency, communication and precision that carried them to that championship. Their comfort fishing together – and their shared understanding of how to break down water with forward-facing sonar – has quickly made them one of the most dangerous teams in the field.
Their Day 2 victory was built on a disciplined, straightforward approach – target bass loosely relating to bait in 10 to 12 feet of water, then pick them apart with a drop-shot rig once they slid away from the main bait balls.
“We targeted fish in drains and holes, and fish that were chasing bait and relating to divots with the drop-shot rig,” said Gill. “That rig was an absolute bass catcher in a situation like this.”
Robinson agreed that the pattern worked spectacularly.
“Today was a really good day and Caddo Lake was great to us,” he said. “The fish were pretty much where we thought they’d be after looking at the map this morning. We had good weather and a solid average weight across our fish throughout the day.”
Gill leaned on a classic setup – a 7-inch green-pumpkin-colored worm on a 1/0 hook with a ¼-ounce weight – while Robinson threw a 3/8-ounce drop-shot rig with a Roboworm to keep the numbers climbing. Together, they caught 27 scorable bass and left no doubt that forward-facing sonar could be a winning tool this week.
“We absolutely smashed them,” Gill said in his post-game interview. “That was so fun.”
The signature moment of the day came courtesy of Robinson, who launched a vibrating jig toward a cypress-studded point and connected with the heaviest bass caught so far this week – a 7-pound, 14-ounce Caddo Lake giant.
“I caught it on a shad-colored, 3/8-ounce Z-Man Original ChatterBait,” Robinson said. “We pulled up to a cypress island we’d looked at earlier, and I made a long cast. When it locked up, I thought I was hung. That was one of the biggest tournament fish I’ve ever caught.”
Gill was equally stunned.
“When it came up and jumped, I freaked out,” he said. “That was awesome. Top-tier experience right there.”
The fish was more than a highlight – it was the exclamation point on a dominant day that secured Lucas Oil’s advancement to the Knockout Round and gave notice to the remaining field.
Though they finished the day in second place, Ehrler and Lucas delivered one of the most electric periods of the Summit Cup thus far in Period 3. After identifying a jerkbait bite over hydrilla in 3 feet of water, the duo returned to the area late – and unleashed a flurry.
“We had a great start to the third period that carried us, and I think we did everything right,” Ehrler said. “We let that spot rest, and when we came back, they were ready.”
Lucas could only laugh at the chaos.
“There were a lot more in that area than we realized,” he said. “We caught about 30 pounds in, what, forty minutes? That doesn’t happen every day. Everything was right about that spot.”
Team Ferguson ended the day with 23 scorable bass in the final period alone, securing their move into the Knockout Round.
Team BUBBA, Wesley Strader and Brent Chapman , entered the final period only 4 pounds, 4 ounces below the Lucas Oil cutline, but despite several quality fish – including a 4-8 on a bladed swim jig and a 4-3 on a buzzbait – the bite fizzled late. They managed just three scorable bass in the last period and finished the day in third.
Team Smokey Mountain’s Terry Scroggins and Britt Myers committed early to punching thick mats of salvinia and hyacinth – a pattern that showed promise – but the momentum didn’t hold. After a solid start, the bite evaporated through the second and third periods, dropping them below the cutline to finish in fourth place and end their Summit Cup hopes.
The top two teams from Elimination Round Match 2 at Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by Zenni that now advance to the Knockout Round are:
1st: Team Lucas Oil, 27 bass, 62-0
Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., 19 bass, 41-6
Marshall Robinson, Landrum, S.C., eight bass, 20-10
2nd: Team Ferguson, 34 bass, 59-1
Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., 21 bass, 35-0
Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., 13 bass, 24-1
Eliminated from competition are:
3rd: Team BUBBA, 12 bass, 25-10
Brent Chapman, Lake Quivira, Kan., one bass, 2-2
Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn., 11 bass, 23-8
4th: Team Smokey Mountain, 10 bass, 22-9
Britt Myers, Lake Wylie, S.C., five bass, 12-8
Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla., five bass, 10-1
Complete results from throughout the week can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 83 bass weighing 169 pounds, 4 ounces caught by the four teams Monday in Elimination Round Match 2 on Caddo Lake. Team Lucas Oil pro Marshall Robinson caught the Berkley Big Bass of the day – a chunky 7-pound, 13-ounce largemouth bass.
The four teams that will compete Tuesday in Elimination Round Match 3 at the Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by Zenni are:
Team Fishing Clash:
Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich.
Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla.
Team O’Reilly Auto Parts:
Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J.
Mark Daniels Jr., Tuskegee, Ala.
Team Star brite:
Jacob Wall, New Hope, Ala.
Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla.
Team YETI:
Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas
Fred Roumbanis, Russellville, Ark.
The Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by Zenni is hosted by the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission and takes place over six days in Shreveport-Bossier City, Louisiana. The competition water for each day is top secret and is only revealed to the anglers when they arrive at the boat ramp each morning. Anglers are driven directly to the day’s competition area launch ramp by their officials. Competition begins on the water at 9:15 a.m.
The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live every day of competition from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. CT. MLFNOW!® is livestreamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MLF and MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) apps, RFD-TV Now, Game & Fish TV and Rumble. The final period of every day of competition of the 2025 Fishing Clash Team Series is broadcast live on RFD-TV, from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. CT.
The Summit Cup features 12 two-man teams divided into three groups as they enter the one-day Elimination Round matches. Each of the three Elimination Round matches will feature four new teams, with the top two teams from each match of the Elimination Round advancing to the Knockout Round on Days 4 & 5. In the Knockout Rounds, three teams compete each day, with the top two teams from each Knockout Round match moving on to the Championship Round on Day 6. In Friday’s Day 6 Championship Round, the final four teams will compete in a one-day shootout to determine which team will win the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by Zenni.
The MLF Fishing Clash Team Series Presented by Bass Pro Shops features four Cup events in 2025 – the Challenge, Heritage, Patriot, and Summit Cups – with 12 two-man teams of Bass Pro Tour anglers competing for a share of $560,000 in prize money. Teams were formed through a selection process, where 48 team captains – based on Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) standings throughout the 2025 Bass Pro Tour season – selected a teammate. Teams will compete throughout the fall of 2025.
The MLF Fishing Clash Team Series Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by Zenni will also air on Outdoor Channel as six two-hour original episodes each Saturday afternoon starting May 9, 2026. The complete television schedule for the Fishing Clash Team Series on Outdoor Channel will be posted at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Proud sponsors of the MLF Fishing Clash Team Series include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Boat Technologies, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, E3 Sport Apparel, Epic Baits, Ferguson, Fishing Clash, Knighten Industries, Kubota, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, NITRO Boats, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Smokey Mountain Caffeinated Pouches, Star brite, Toyota, YETI and Zenni.
For complete details and updated information on the MLF Fishing Clash Team Series, 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, Outdoor Channel, VICE, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV and Game & Fish TV, 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.
BASS FISHING HALL OF FAME OPENS NOMINATION SEASON FOR THE INDUCTION CLASS OF 2026
SPRINGFIELD, Mo.— For Immediate Release — November 17, 2025 — Fresh off an induction ceremony that celebrated three influential members of the bass fishing community, the Board of Directors of the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame has opened the nomination process for the next class of inductees.
Starting immediately, any interested person may nominate deserving individuals for consideration in the Hall. Nominees should have made a major impact on the world of bass fishing and brought honor and credit to the sport. Properly submitted nominations are accepted on a rolling basis, but in order to be considered for the Class of 2026, they must be completed in full by January 15, 2026. The initial list of nominees will be narrowed to an official ballot to be evaluated by our Selection Panel, which includes 30 members of the industry plus all living Hall of Famers.
More information about the process can be found on the “Road to Induction” page of the Hall’s website.
A nomination form is also available on the Hall’s website and may be returned electronically or by mail. While the length or depth of the submitted materials does not determine whether a nominee advances in the process, a thorough description of the candidate’s achievements allows selectors to make well-informed evaluations.
“We continue to be impressed by the passion and care that the bass fishing community puts into these nominations each year,” said Craig Lamb, Chair of the Board’s Nominations Committee. “The voters always face tough choices, and we are confident that the Selection Panel will again do an outstanding job.”
The most recent class of inductees — the Class of 2025 — included longtime industry leader Craig Lamb, innovative boat manufacturer Randy Hopper, and influential tackle pioneer William Shakespeare Jr.
“As we head toward the next era of growth for the Hall, we will continue recognizing both the modern leaders of our sport and the foundational figures whose innovations shaped bass fishing,” said incoming 2026 President Bruce Stanton. “Each successful banquet and nomination cycle strengthens our ability to support projects that protect, preserve, and promote the future of bass fishing.”
Proceeds from the induction ceremony’s auction support the Hall of Fame’s core mission of celebrating, preserving, and promoting the sport of bass fishing. Funding grants for fisheries conservation, scholarships for fisheries science students, and youth fishing initiatives are among the many programs supported through these efforts.
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About the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame (BFHOF)
Celebrating its 25th year, the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame is a nonprofit organization led by a volunteer board of directors, dedicated to celebrating, promoting, and preserving the sport of bass fishing. The Hall’s inductees and historical memorabilia are showcased in Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife Museum and Aquarium in Springfield, Missouri. For more information about the road to induction, the Hall’s impact on the community, or to get involved, visit www.BassFishingHOF.com.
or contact BFHOF executive director Barbara Bowman at [email protected].
South Carolina’s Murphy Clinches Home-Water All-American Berth With Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Wild Card on Pickwick Lake
Alabama’s Ramsey Claims Co-Angler Division
COUNCE, Tenn. (Nov. 17, 2025) – Boater Lucas Murphy of West Columbia, South Carolina, caught a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 46 pounds, 4 ounces, to win the Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine Wild Card on Pickwick Lake . The tournament, which was hosted by Hardin County Convention & Visitors Bureau, concluded Saturday. For his win, Murphy earned $4,017 and a spot in the 2026 BFL All-American.
The BFL Wild Card is an annual event held at the conclusion of the BFL postseason as a last-chance opportunity to make the All-American. It’s open to BFL contestants who pay an entry fee prior to the tournament for all five tournaments in a division, fish two or more tournaments in the same division, and are not already advancing to the All-American. A total of 104 boaters and 104 co-anglers competed in this season’s Wild Card tournament.
Murphy’s previous fishing experience on Pickwick Lake before the Wild Card event consisted of one spring visit, so he practiced for 2½ days before the tournament hoping to gain crucial knowledge to secure a berth into the 2026 All-American, which takes place on his home waters of Lake Murray.
“I thought I had found some areas that I could catch some,” Murphy said. “Not many, but some big ones. So, on the first day of the tournament, I scrambled down the lake a little bit and fished main-river bars and gravel flats to catch a 19½-pound bag of mostly smallmouth.”
On the second day of the tournament, Murphy eyed the leaderboard and knew he had to catch a big limit to close the gap to the top of the field.
“I figured I’d stay down the lake, by the dam, where a lot of the big largemouth seemed to be hanging out,” Murphy said. “If I caught five, I’d catch five, and if I didn’t, I didn’t. And at the end of the day, I had caught a lot of them.”
Murphy said he caught 20 bass that weighed more than 4 pounds, and six that checked in at more than 5 pounds on Saturday.
“All of the fish were quality,” Murphy said. “There weren’t many little fish in there. There are a lot of really big fish biting in Pickwick right now. If you get a bite right now, it’s at least a 3-pounder.”
Murphy said the fish were in a typical fall pattern – chasing shad on gravel bars, or sitting behind ambush points on stumps or on bluffs. Murphy said the baits that produced for him were a Strike King 3X ElazTech Z Too Soft Jerkbait in various shad colors, an Alabama rig and a jighead minnow. Murphy said a slow, dragging-the-bait presentation turned the fish off; many times, they wanted a bait burned past them to trigger a bite.
“At 10:00 I had 22½ pounds, and the thought started creeping into my head that I might have a shot at qualifying for the All-American,” Murphy said. “Winning the tournament wasn’t even a thought until I checked in and saw the leaderboard.
“I’m ecstatic about this,” Murphy went on to say. “Now I can relax a little bit knowing I’ll be fishing the All-American at home on Lake Murray. I can’t wait.”
The top three boaters who qualified for the 2026 All-American finished:
1st: Lucas Murphy, West Columbia, S.C., 10 bass, 46-4, $4,017
2nd: Caz Anderson, Haysville, N.C., 10 bass, 45-9, $1,958
3rd: Gavin Clevenger, Knoxville, Tenn., 10 bass, 45-5, $1,307
The rest of the Top 10 finished:
4th: Jackson Bennett, Knoxville, Tenn., 10 bass, 44-10, $914
5th: Clint Knight, Russellville, Ky., 10 bass, 43-10, $783
6th: Harlan Thomas, Paducah, Ky., 10 bass, 42-14, $718
7th: Zane Parker, Kingwood, Texas, 10 bass, 42-4, $653
8th: Buddy Benson, Dahlonega, Ga., 10 bass, 42-0, $588
9th: Dustin Blasengame, Booneville, Miss., 10 bass, 40-11, $522
10th: Kaden Buchmann, Troutman, N.C., 10 bass, 40-8, $457
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Clint Pegg of Caledonia, Mississippi, won the Berkley Big Bass boater award and $520 for landing a bass that weighed 7 pounds, 10 ounces.
James Ramsey of Boaz, Alabama, won the co-angler division Saturday after bringing a two-day total of six bass weighing 20 pounds, 8 ounces, to the scale. For his win, Ramsey won $1,958 and also advances to the All-American to compete as a co-angler.
The top three co-anglers who qualified for the 2026 All-American finished:
1st: James Ramsey, Boaz, Ala., six bass, 20-8, $1,958
2nd: Tyson Giesbrecht, Gurley, Ala., six bass, 20-8, $979
3rd: Jimmy Rhodus, Versailles, Ky., six bass, 16-7, $653
The rest of the Top 10 finished:
4th: James Menold, Amory, Miss., five bass, 15-15, $457
5th: Scott Sayasing, Grantville, Ga., four bass, 15-10, $392
6th: Mark Miller, Baltic, Ohio, four bass, 15-10, $359
7th: Ben Carter, Lancaster, Ky., five bass, 14-15, $326
8th: Arturo Baquera, Noble, Okla., four bass, 13-4, $294
9th: Nicholas Mowen, Pataskala, Ohio, three bass, 12-13, $261
10th: Brian Huber, St. Charles, Mo., four bass, 12-5, $228
Dennis Blakely of Norwalk, Ohio, won the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $260 for catching a bass that weighed 7 pounds, 6 ounces.
The 2025 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine was a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 134 events throughout the season – five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 60 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying tournament winners, advanced to one of 12 BFL Regional tournaments, and the Wild Card, where they competed to finish in the top three, which then qualified them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the 43rd annual BFL All-American. The BFL All-American will take place May 28-30, 2026, at Lake Murray in Columbia, South Carolina, and is hosted by the Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board.
Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Deep Dive App, E3 Sport Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Li Time Batteries, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PirahnO2, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular BFL updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, 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, Outdoor Channel, VICE, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV and Game & Fish TV, 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.
Anaya leads the charge into the 2026 Elite Series
CLEWISTON, Fla. — It was only last July when Fisher Anaya wrapped up his final high school tournament. Now, the 19-year-old is achieving his dream of becoming a professional angler.
Anaya claimed the Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifier presented by Bass Pro Shops points race, earning 264 points during the three-tournament gauntlet. He and nine other Elite Qualifiers earned invitations to the 2026 Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series.
“It’s awesome. I’m ready to go. I wish we started tomorrow,” Anaya said.
Hailing from Eva, Ala., Anaya has been fishing as a boater in adult-level tournaments for several years, racking up impressive results in BFL’s and Toyota Series events as well as Alabama Bass Trail tournaments with his father Ryan.
Even still, Anaya wasn’t quite sure how he would stack up against an impressive group of St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN pros. Turns out, he was top of the class.
“I knew I had a chance,” he explained. “Like, if you are going to fish this stuff you have to bet on yourself. You have to have confidence. I told myself I could do it. I came out here, worked my rear end off daylight to dark every day and it paid off.”
Conditions for Division II, and the EQ schedule for that matter, were volatile. But each tournament, Anaya found one area that he felt could produce quality bites. Nothing seemed like it came easy, however.
“I would land on one area each tournament that would have big ones and I could bank on those to help me survive,” Anaya said. “Really and truly, it looks great on paper, but all my tournaments were super slow and were always a grind.
“I think it bettered me.”
The ability to fight through those grimy days will no doubt serve him well at the Elite Series level.
Let’s take a look at how the Top 10 finishers in EQ points got to this point.
1st place - Fisher Anaya (264 points; $45,000)
Anaya was one of the 50 anglers who best navigated a tumultuous Division II schedule, finishing second in the regular season to Pake South by two points. He opened the season with a 9th place finish at Sam Rayburn, which he feels set the tone for the season.
“After catching them in the first one, I was like, ‘I can do this,’” Anaya said. “I caught them at a place I’d never seen before. I just had to carry my momentum and keep going.”
He then notched back-to-back 11th places at Kentucky Lake and Norfork Lake before rounding out the regular season with a 24th at Leech Lake.
He didn’t miss a beat once the EQ schedule started, claiming 19th, 5th and 3rd place finishes at Champlain, Wheeler and Okeechobee respectively.
2nd place - Russ Lane (244 points; $12,000)
After a couple seasons away, the seasoned veteran will return to the Elite Series next year. Lane, a million dollar earner at B.A.S.S., fished both divisions of the Opens, earning his spot in the EQ with a sixth-place finish in Division II, which included a Top 10 at Tombigbee River and Top 35 finishes at Clarks Hill and Chesapeake Bay.
In the EQ, he earned Top 20s in every event, including a Top 10 at Lake Champlain.
3rd place - Aaron Jagdfeld (242 points; $10,000)
The runner-up in the 2024 College Classic Bracket presented by Lew’s wasted no time making it through the Opens grind and into the Elite Series. Despite a dismal 197th at Kentucky Lake, Jagdfeld earned a spot in the EQ on the back of three Top 40 finishes in Division II.
He followed that up with an eighth place finish at Lake Champlain and a 12th at Wheeler Lake. He needed a Day 2 comeback to earn 29th in the tournament and his spot in the Elite Series.
4th place - Austin Cranford (240 points; $9,000)
Another Okie will join the Elite ranks in 2026. Cranford had been close to making the Elite Series the past several years, but this year all the pieces fell into place. He finished seventh in Division II points with three Top 35s and a 55th place showing at Sam Rayburn.
Cranford showed his muscle in the EQ, claiming Top 30 finishes at Champlain and Wheeler before clinching at Okeechobee with a fourth place finish.
5th place - Sam Hanggi (238 points; $8,000)
Hanggi becomes the fourth Auburn alum to qualify for the Elite Series, joining Logan Parks, Tucker Smith and Jordan Lee. Hanggi fished both divisions of the Opens, double qualifying for the EQ round with a 28th place finish in Division I and a 10th place finish in Division II points.
A 5th place finish at Champlain put him in prime position. Although he stumbled slightly with a 36th at Wheeler Lake, he rebounded nicely with a 13th at Okeechobee.
6th place - Matt Messer (237 points; $7,000)
The Kentucky native has been known for big time performances, winning a College Series event and a 2023 Open to earn a spot in the 2024 Bassmaster Classic. Now he will get to showcase his big game prowess on the biggest stage.
Messer earned a spot in the EQ via a 16th place showing in Division I before nearly winning the opening round at Lake Champlain, ultimately finishing second. A 16th place finish at Wheeler Lake vaulted him into the points lead, but Messer needed a Day 2 comeback to finish 35th at Okeechobee and secure his Elite bid.
7th place - Caleb Hudson (228 points; $6,000)
Hudson competed against Jagdfeld in the semifinal round of the 2024 College Classic Bracket, and now will do the same in the Elite Series.
Hudson found himself behind the eight ball after the first two EQ events, entering Okeechobee in 20th place in points. On the strength of a 25-pound Day 2 limit, he won Okeechobee and punched his ticket to the big show in the process.
8th place - Tristan McCormick (228 points; $5,000)
The two-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier had an excellent 2025 campaign, earning a long-awaited berth to the Elites. McCormick finished Division I in 15th place while also notching a 15th and a 26th at Sam Rayburn and Kentucky Lake in Division II.
After a 44th place finish at Champlain, the former College Bracket Champion rattled off a 14th at Wheeler Lake and a 7th at Okeechobee to jump into the Top 10.
9th place - Pake South (226 points; $4,500)
Another member of the 25 and under club, South was one of the most consistent anglers during the Opens season.
South notched two Top 5s on his way to winning the Division II points race and punching his ticket to the EQ round. He then overcame a 51st place finish at Champlain with a 6th and 10th at Wheeler and Okeechobee to send him to the Elite Series.
10th place - Brock Reinkemeyer (222 points; $3,500)
A Team Series Fish-Off runner-up, Reinkemeyer overcame a 100th place finish at Sam Rayburn to finish 19th in Division II points. The Missouri angler then rattled off 27th, 13th and 30th place finishes in the EQ Division to qualify for the Elite Series.
2025 Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series Title Sponsor: Nitro Boats
2025 Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series Presenting Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops
2025 Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series Platinum Sponsors: Progressive, Toyota
2025 Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2025 Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Triton Boats, VMC, Yokohama
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, Nitro Boats Elite Qualifiers Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Bassmaster Junior Series, TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
Team B&W Trailer Hitches’ Faircloth and LeBrun Win Elimination Round Match 1 on Caddo Lake at Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup
Team Kubota’s Floyd has big day to advance alongside Hatfield with second-place finish
SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER CITY, La. (Nov. 16, 2025) – On a day when every bite felt earned, local favorite Nick LeBrun of Bossier City, Louisiana, and veteran hammer Todd Faircloth of Jasper, Texas, leaned on heavy punching gear and steady teamwork to power Team B&W Trailer Hitches to the top of SCORETRACKER® in Elimination Round Match 1 of the Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by Zenni at Caddo Lake.
The duo caught 15 scorable bass for 27 pounds, 5 ounces, securing the win and a spot in Knockout Round Match 1 on Wednesday.
Right behind them – and riding a heroic solo performance – Team Kubota grabbed the second advancing position with 24 pounds, 13 ounces, all caught by Ohio pro Cole Floyd, who carried his squad into Thursday’s Knockout Round Match 2.
In total, the four teams combined for 38 bass weighing 80 pounds, 5 ounces on a tough Caddo Lake that made every presentation matter.
For LeBrun, the win carried emotional weight. Fishing his home lake, LeBrun said the day felt significant from the moment he made his first run.
“I got pretty emotional this morning running across the lake and passing the island where my dad and I used to wade fish,” LeBrun said. “I miss my dad a lot, and it was special to be back on this lake, fishing a major event with Todd. Today was a really good day.”
LeBrun set the pace with 10 of the team’s 15 scorable bass – the most of any angler in the field – contributing 18-11 of B&W Trailer Hitches’ winning total. Faircloth added five bass for 8-10, and the pair protected their lead throughout the final period.
The key for Team B&W Trailer Hitches was an early commitment to punching matted vegetation. LeBrun and Faircloth identified the pattern before any other team and leaned on it all day, rotating targets and angles to stay efficient.
Faircloth relied on a 7-foot, 6-inch Lew’s Signature Series rod paired with an 8:1 Lew’s skipping and pitching reel, a 1¼-ounce Strike King tungsten weight and 50-pound Sunline braid. He focused on probing deeper sections of the thick mats while LeBrun targeted the outer edges.
“The key for our team was keeping fresh water in front of us and staying efficient with every pitch,” Faircloth said. “Nick set us up perfectly, and I just needed to settle in, fish clean and keep the momentum going.”
He credited the team dynamic for their success.
“Nick and I communicate extremely well, and that’s what makes this format so much fun,” Faircloth said. “We trust each other’s instincts, and when you get in sync like that, these results happen.”
LeBrun used a similar setup, anchored by a TFO Resolve 7-foot, 2-inch heavy-action rod, a 4/0 Hayabusa FPP Straight hook and Elite Tungsten weights – both 1 and 1¼ ounces. Both anglers flipped compact creature-style plastics designed to slip through dense vegetation.
LeBrun also gave a lot of credit to the Lowrance Ghost, as the trolling motor also played a major role as the team maneuvered through heavy cover for most of the day.
“We were in the sticks all day long, and that Ghost was quiet and reliable,” LeBrun said. “I put it through the test.”
It was a little bit of a different story for Team Kubota. While Nick Hatfield went scoreless, Cole Floyd delivered a dominant solo effort for Team Kubota, boating all eight of the team’s fish for 24-13 – the highest individual weight of the round.
Floyd also earned the Berkley Big Bass of the Day with a 5-pound, 13-ounce largemouth caught on a frog – more than 2 pounds heavier than the next-largest fish. He added multiple bass over 3 pounds and briefly put Team Kubota in the lead before B&W Trailer Hitches pulled away late.
Team Knighten Industries – Matt Becker and Spencer Shuffield – made things interesting in the final period, cutting the deficit to just over five pounds with less than two minutes remaining. Shuffield’s 1-9 late catch gave the team hope, but the run stalled and they finished the day in third with 19-4.
Team 7Brew Coffee’s Zack Birge and Keith Poche struggled to generate consistent bites and ended the day fourth with 8-15.
The top two teams from Elimination Round Match 1 at Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by Zenni that now advance to the Knockout Round are:
1st: Team B&W Trailer Hitches, 15 bass, 27-5
Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas, five bass, 8-10
Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La., 10 bass, 18-11
2nd: Team Kubota, eight bass, 24-13
Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio, eight bass, 24-13
Nick Hatfield, Greeneville, Tenn., zero bass, 0-0
Eliminated from competition are:
3rd: Team Knighten Industries, 10 bass, 19-4
Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., four bass, 7-6
Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., six bass, 11-14
4th: Team 7Brew Coffee, five bass, 8-15
Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., four bass, 7-14
Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., one bass, 1-1
Complete results from throughout the week can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 38 bass weighing 80 pounds, 5 ounces caught by the four teams Sunday in Elimination Round Match 1 on Caddo Lake. Team Kubota pro Cole Floyd caught the Berkley Big Bass of the day – a 5-pound, 13-ounce largemouth bass.
The four teams that will compete Monday in Elimination Round Match 2 at the Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by Zenni are:
Team BUBBA:
Brent Chapman, Lake Quivira, Kan.
Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn.
Team Ferguson:
Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif.
Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala.
Team Lucas Oil:
Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill.
Marshall Robinson, Landrum, S.C.
Team Smokey Mountain:
Britt Myers, Lake Wylie, S.C.
Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla.
The Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by Zenni is hosted by the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission and takes place over six days in Shreveport-Bossier City, Louisiana. The competition water for each day is top secret and is only revealed to the anglers when they arrive at the boat ramp each morning. Anglers are driven directly to the day’s competition area launch ramp by their officials. Competition begins on the water at 9:15 a.m.
The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live every day of competition from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. CT. MLFNOW!® is livestreamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MLF and MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) apps, RFD-TV Now, Game & Fish TV and Rumble. The final period of every day of competition of the 2025 Fishing Clash Team Series is broadcast live on RFD-TV, from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. CT.
The Summit Cup features 12 two-man teams divided into three groups as they enter the one-day Elimination Round matches. Each of the three Elimination Round matches will feature four new teams, with the top two teams from each match of the Elimination Round advancing to the Knockout Round on Days 4 & 5. In the Knockout Rounds, three teams compete each day, with the top two teams from each Knockout Round match moving on to the Championship Round on Day 6. In Friday’s Day 6 Championship Round, the final four teams will compete in a one-day shootout to determine which team will win the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by Zenni.
The MLF Fishing Clash Team Series Presented by Bass Pro Shops features four Cup events in 2025 – the Challenge, Heritage, Patriot, and Summit Cups – with 12 two-man teams of Bass Pro Tour anglers competing for a share of $560,000 in prize money. Teams were formed through a selection process, where 48 team captains – based on Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) standings throughout the 2025 Bass Pro Tour season – selected a teammate. Teams will compete throughout the fall of 2025.
The MLF Fishing Clash Team Series Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by Zenni will also air on Outdoor Channel as six two-hour original episodes each Saturday afternoon starting May 9, 2026. The complete television schedule for the Fishing Clash Team Series on Outdoor Channel will be posted at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Proud sponsors of the MLF Fishing Clash Team Series include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Boat Technologies, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, E3 Sport Apparel, Epic Baits, Ferguson, Fishing Clash, Knighten Industries, Kubota, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, NITRO Boats, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Smokey Mountain Caffeinated Pouches, Star brite, Toyota, YETI and Zenni.
For complete details and updated information on the MLF Fishing Clash Team Series, 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, Outdoor Channel, VICE, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV and Game & Fish TV, 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.
Hudson survives final day lull to win at Okeechobee
CLEWISTON, Fla. — Last September, Caleb Hudson didn’t know what direction he wanted to take in life. He came just short of winning the College Classic Bracket presented by Lew’s, what he assumed would be his best chance at qualifying for the Bassmaster Classic, at least in the foreseeable future.
But with the support of his family and a few good sponsors, the USC-Union grad decided to fish Division I of the 2025 St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN and it was the best decision he ever made.
“I feel like I’m on top of the world right now,” he said.
With a three-day total of 52 pounds, 6 ounces, Hudson claimed the victory at the Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifier presented by Bass Pro Shops. The win not only sends him to the 2026 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour, it also vaulted him into the Top 10 in Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifier presented by Bass Pro Shops points.
Opening the tournament in 25th with 10-9, Hudson brought 25-7 to the scales on Day 2 before landing 16-6, which was enough to outlast Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series pro Robert Gee, who finished with 51-12.
“This was never in my 2025 bingo card. It is the best kind of blindside. This is the last event on the schedule I would have ever thought I would win,” Hudson said. “God is the reason for this. Day 2 I was blessed, and it carried me the rest of the way. This is what exactly needed to happen to get me into the Elite Series. I sent it and it worked out.”
Despite warming temperatures, the final day proved to be just as difficult as the previous two. Only one 20-pound bag hit the scales on Saturday while five limits under 10 pounds were brought in.
Hudson spent his week fishing the Rim Canal on the southwest side of Lake Okeechobee targeting largemouth he saw on his Garmin LiveScope. While he didn’t know there was winning potential in the area after practice, Hudson knew he could achieve a solid finish if he could get the bass to commit.
Two different stretches of the canal produced all of his bites. The water in that area was dirtier than other areas of Okeechobee, which is usually a receipt for disaster in Florida, but a key ingredient for Hudson.
Most of the bass he caught were just under the surface, and because of the dirty water, he could get the largemouth to bite close to his boat. The first two tournament days, Hudson didn’t notice any baitfish in the area, but the final day he noticed much more activity.
A Spro McDart jerkbait and a jighead minnow were his two best presentations the first two days of the tournament, but with calmer conditions on the final day, only the minnow played. To keep the minnow in the strike zone, he used 1/16-ounce, 3/16-ounce or a 1/8-ounce jighead.
Hudson’s final day started with a bang, landing three bass in the opening hours, including a 4-pounder and a 5-pounder. The bite dissipated quickly after that, and he spent most the day trying to fill out his limit. Around midday, he caught two 1-pounders, which turned out to be the winning catches.
“Those two fish saved the day and put me over the top,” he said.
Gee, meanwhile, came up just short of qualifying for the Bassmaster Classic in his hometown of Knoxville. The Elite Series pro weighed in bags of 14-11, 19-9 and 17-8 to notch his third second place finish as a B.A.S.S. angler.
“It was a pretty good week,” he said. “First day, I lost two key fish that would have helped. That would have won me the tournament. But there is a lot of momentum to build on. I missed the Classic by one spot now, which sucks.”
Spending his time in a pocket in the J&S Canal on the east side of the lake, an area he shared with several other competitors, Gee targeted largemouth feeding on balls of bait. He rotated between the new Yamamoto Hinge Minnow on a jighead and a spoon given to him by fellow Elite pro Cody Huff.
The way he fished this week in Florida reminded him of fishing highland reservoirs in his home state.
“I was in the right area,” the Tennessean said. “It was a tough bite. There were a lot of bass in there, but they are so hard to catch. The fish I caught on the spoon were on the bottom, but as the day went on these started suspending.”
Weighing in bags of 14-9, 13-13 and 19-10, Eva, Ala.,’s Fisher Anaya finished third with a total of 48-0. Not only did he notch a Top 10, he claimed EQ Angler of the Year with 264 points.
“It’s crazy, honestly. I have never seen this place, and it is big and intimidating. After two days of practice, I was a little spun out. I ended up finding one little area and hunkered down there. I knew if I got bit, they would be big.”
Anaya spent the entire tournament in a short stretch of the Harney Pond Canal searching for largemouth with his forward-facing sonar with a new 6.25-inch Rapala CrushCity Freeloader on a jighead and a Rapala Mavrick jerkbait.
The majority of the bass he threw at never bit, but the ones that did were quality. That included the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament, an 8-13 worth $500.
Joining Anaya in the 2026 Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series are Russ Lane (244 points); Aaron Jagdfeld (242); Austin Cranford (240); Sam Hanggi (238); Matt Messer (237); Caleb Hudson (228); Tristan McCormick (228); Pake South (226); and Brock Reinkemeyer (222). Jaden Parrish, Riley Nielsen and Ryan Lachniet were the first three anglers outside the cut.
Visit Hendry County and Roland and Mary Ann Martin’s Marina and Resort hosted the tournament.
2025 Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series Title Sponsor: Nitro Boats
2025 Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series Presenting Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops
2025 Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series Platinum Sponsors: Progressive, Toyota
2025 Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2025 Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Triton Boats, VMC, Yokohama
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, Nitro Boats Elite Qualifiers Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Bassmaster Junior Series, TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
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Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitte
Media Contact: Mandy Pascal, Communications Manager, 334-414-8677, mpascal@
2025 Nitro Bassmaster Elite Qualifier at Lake Okeechobee presented by Bass Pro Shops 11/13-11/15
Lake Okeechobee, Clewiston FL.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Caleb Hudson Lincolnton, GA 15 52-06 95 $46,910.00
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 25-07 Day 3: 5 16-06
2. Robert Gee Knoxville, TN 15 51-12 0 $12,032.00
Day 1: 5 14-11 Day 2: 5 19-09 Day 3: 5 17-08
3. Fisher Anaya Eva, AL 14 48-00 94 $55,126.00
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 4 13-13 Day 3: 5 19-10
4. Austin Cranford Moore, OK 14 47-04 93 $18,145.00
Day 1: 5 19-01 Day 2: 4 15-06 Day 3: 5 12-13
5. Riley Nielsen Salt Lake City, UT 15 46-01 92 $8,663.00
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 5 16-08 Day 3: 5 20-05
6. Ty Faber Pagosa Springs, CO 13 43-02 91 $8,182.00
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 4 15-01 Day 3: 4 14-01
7. Tristan McCormick Bon Aqua, TN 15 41-11 90 $12,701.00
Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 5 16-11 Day 3: 5 09-09
8. Ryan Lachniet Gum Spring, VA 14 41-06 89 $7,220.00
Day 1: 4 07-06 Day 2: 5 27-01 Day 3: 5 06-15
9. Aaron Yavorsky Palm Harbor, FL 15 40-06 88 $6,738.00
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 5 22-12 Day 3: 5 06-13
10. Pake South Winnsboro, TX 13 32-06 87 $10,757.00
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 3 12-12 Day 3: 5 06-09
------------------------------
BIG BASS OF TOURNAMENT
Fisher Anaya Eva, AL 08-13 $500.00
------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 47 305 661-07
2 40 279 692-15
3 9 52 135-11
------------------------------
96 636 1490-01
Hudson claims Day 2 lead at Lake Okeechobee EQ
CLEWISTON, Fla. — Day 2 of the Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifier at Lake Okeechobee presented by Bass Pro Shops is a day Caleb Hudson won’t soon forget.
The Lincolnton, Ga., native caught a five-bass limit weighing 25 pounds, 7 ounces, adding to his 10-9 limit from Day 1 to take the tournament lead with a two-day total of 36 pounds. After starting the day in 25th, Hudson now has a 1-9 advantage over Ryan Lachniet and Austin Cranford who are tied for second with 34-7.
Not only did Hudson jump into the lead, but he also launched himself into eighth in Elite Qualifier points.
“This place is one of my favorites now,” he said. “Today was crucial. I got sick several times on the boat today thinking about the points.”
It’s been a challenging week on Lake Okeechobee as anglers struggled with the remnants of a powerful cold front that swept through the country earlier in the week. The field of 75 weighed in 47 limits on Day 1, while only 40 limits were caught on Day 2.
Hudson, a former Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops competitor with USC-Union, is fishing one of the canals surrounding Lake Okeechobee. Using his forward-facing sonar, he has located individual bass swimming just under the surface.
“I think they are trying to absorb some heat,” he explained.
Two things make his bite unique. For one, the water in his area is murky, an unusual occurrence for productive Florida fishing. Because of this, the bass can’t see Hudson’s baits as well, and he has gotten plenty of bites close to his boat.
A Spro McDart and a jighead minnow with either a 1/16-ounce or 1/8-ounce head.
“They are biting it so close to the trolling motor and so high in the water column, they are hard to see because the numbers on my Garmin block the picture,” Hudson explained. “I caught three today I didn’t have to reel on.
“I don’t think the bass have good coordination (in murky water). I float around until I see a bunch of them and then I slow down and pitch on them from there.”
After practice, Hudson had confidence in two areas of the lake, but Day 1 didn’t unfold how he hoped. Still, his limit kept him in the Top 25, giving him the chance to make the comeback he did today.
“I’m not going to say I had a chance at 25, but in practice knew what I was on. Yesterday it didn’t happen. I made up for it today,” Hudson said.
Hudson opened the day with a 7 1/2-pounder, a bass he initially thought was a different species of fish.
“He followed (my bait) all the way to the boat. It was basically head-butting my trolling motor,” he said. “He jumped immediately. I toted him around for 4 or 5 hours before I had any more luck.”
It took most of the day, and throwing at more than 50 bass that didn’t bite, but Hudson went on an impressive 45-minute flurry in the afternoon that included a 6-pounder to reach his daily total. He isn’t sure he can repeat his performance, but he knows there are still plenty of bass in the area.
After weighing 7-6 on Thursday, Lachniet landed the tournament’s biggest bag on Day 2, a 27-1 limit with three bass weighing 6 pounds or better, a 5-pounder and a 1-8. Those five bass lifted him from 44th all the way into the second-place tie.
“I knew I needed a big bag, so I started on the main lake thinking that was my best chance. After an hour and a half, I knew it wasn’t going to work,” the Campbellsville University angler said. “I want to make the Elite’s more than anything. I’d rather do that than win the tournament, honestly.”
Lachniet proceeded to lock into Taylors Creek, hoping to catch 10 pounds, and immediately had several bass follow his jerkbait. Soon after, he pitched a jighead minnow at a 4-pounder that didn’t bite. But those fish gave him all the clues he needed.
“10 minutes later, I catch a 7-pounder. Not long after I catch a 5,” Lachniet explained. “I thought it was an area thing, but I ran to a known spot and caught a 6. Ran to another spot and caught another 6.”
The minnow was not something he intended on throwing at all this week at Okeechobee. In fact, he tied on the minnow he used while he was waiting in the lock, which proved to be a critical decision.
“I was kind of done with it,” he said. “It got good quick. I think they were prespawn. Three of them were pretty fat. They were all over the place.”
Cranford, meanwhile, almost certainly secured his spot in the 2026 Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series field with four bass that weighed 15-6 on Day 2. The Norman, Okla., pro has been fishing the lower end of the J&S canal on the lakes east side all week.
“I gave myself two hours to get back,” he said. “We were worried about making the Elites today, we’ll worry about winning tomorrow.”
Each day the bass in the area have changed. One small area produced his 19-1 Day 1 limit, but it took most of the morning for Cranford to unlock the bite. On Day 2, that small area received much more fishing pressure, and he struggled to generate bites.
“I spent four hours in there knowing they weren’t going to bite. Luckily, I caught one 4-pounder,” Cranford said. “At noon, I pulled the plug. I had another group of bass that I hadn’t been to yet and no one else has been on it.”
When he arrived, he landed a 3-pounder, 6-pounder and finished the day with a 12-incher. Cranford believes the majority of those bass are either spawning or getting ready to spawn. A certain 6-inch jighead minnow presentation generated all his bites in the afternoon.
“These are giant ones. I’m starting there in the morning,” Cranford said. “These fish might be spawning. The 6-pounder came out of 4 feet of water and the 3-pounder looked like it was sitting on a bed. I just figured it out in the last hour.”
Georgia’s Brady Vernon caught the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day, an 8-6 largemouth. Alabama’s Fisher Anaya holds the Big Bass of the Tournament, an 8-13 he landed on Day 1.
Anaya leads the Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers presented by Bass Pro Shops points with 259 points, followed by Alabama’s Russ Lane with 244 points and Aaron Jagdfeld in third with 242 points. Cranford is fourth with 240 points and Tennessee’s Sam Hanggi is fifth with 238 points. Kentucky’s Matt Messer is sixth with 237 points; Tennessee’s Tristan McCormick is seventh with 229 points; Hudson is eighth with 228 points; Texas’s Pake South is ninth with 226 points; and Missouri’s Brock Reinkemeyer is 10th with 222 points.
Jaden Parrish, Lachniet and Bailey Gay are the first three anglers out of the cut currently.
The Top 11 anglers will launch from Roland Martin Marina at 7 a.m. ET and return for weigh-in at 3 p.m. The winner will earn a spot in the 2026 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour. The Top 10 finishers in EQ points will earn a spot in the 2026 Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, and those anglers will be revealed during weigh-in.
Bassmaster LIVE will carry coverage of the Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifier at Lake Okeechobee presented by Bass Pro Shops on Bassmaster.com and ROKU from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. ET and from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Visit Hendry County and Roland and Mary Ann Martin’s Marina and Resort are hosting the tournament.
Tournament note
An angler in the Top 10 is advancing to tomorrow’s final round under appeal of the results of a polygraph administered at the event. In accordance with tournament rules, an 11th angler will also compete Saturday while B.A.S.S. officials continue to carry out the appeals process.
2025 Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series Title Sponsor: Nitro Boats
2025 Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series Presenting Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops
2025 Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series Platinum Sponsors: Progressive, Toyota
2025 Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2025 Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Triton Boats, VMC, Yokohama
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, Nitro Boats Elite Qualifiers Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Bassmaster Junior Series, TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
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Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitte
Media Contact: Mandy Pascal, Communications Manager, 334-414-8677, mpascal@
2025 Nitro Bassmaster Elite Qualifier at Lake Okeechobee presented by Bass Pro Shops 11/13-11/15
Lake Okeechobee, Clewiston FL.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Caleb Hudson Lincolnton, GA 10 36-00 95
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 25-07
2. Ryan Lachniet Gum Spring, VA 9 34-07 94
Day 1: 4 07-06 Day 2: 5 27-01
3. Austin Cranford Moore, OK 9 34-07 93
Day 1: 5 19-01 Day 2: 4 15-06
4. Robert Gee Knoxville, TN 10 34-04 0
Day 1: 5 14-11 Day 2: 5 19-09
5. Aaron Yavorsky Palm Harbor, FL 10 33-09 92
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 5 22-12
6. Tristan McCormick Bon Aqua, TN 10 32-02 91
Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 5 16-11
7. Ty Faber Pagosa Springs, CO 9 29-01 90
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 4 15-01
8. Fisher Anaya Eva, AL 9 28-06 89
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 4 13-13
9. Jaden Parrish Liberty, TX 10 26-01 88
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 5 15-09
10. Pake South Winnsboro, TX 8 25-13 87
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 3 12-12
11. Riley Nielsen Salt Lake City, UT 10 25-12 86 $4,813.00
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 5 16-08
12. Chris Beaudrie Princeton, KY 10 25-08 85 $4,813.00
Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 5 12-15
13. Sam Hanggi Knoxville, TN 6 25-07 84 $4,813.00
Day 1: 5 23-15 Day 2: 1 01-08
14. Hayden Gaddis Dandridge, TN 10 25-07 83 $4,813.00
Day 1: 5 15-14 Day 2: 5 09-09
15. Kyle Austin Ridgeville, SC 10 25-04 82 $4,813.00
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 5 14-08
16. Trey Swindle Cleveland, AL 10 25-00 81 $2,888.00
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 5 14-03
17. Connor Jacob Peoria, IL 10 24-12 80 $2,888.00
Day 1: 5 07-15 Day 2: 5 16-13
18. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 10 23-15 79 $2,888.00
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 5 11-12
19. Adam Rasmussen Sturgeon Bay, WI 10 22-07 78 $2,888.00
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 11-00
20. Michael Neal Dayton, TN 10 22-03 77 $2,888.00
Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 5 09-08
21. Colby Dark West Monroe, LA 7 22-02 76 $2,888.00
Day 1: 5 18-12 Day 2: 2 03-06
22. Blake Smith Lakeland, FL 10 21-14 75 $2,888.00
Day 1: 5 07-04 Day 2: 5 14-10
23. Chris Blanchette Chapin, SC 10 21-04 74 $2,888.00
Day 1: 5 14-02 Day 2: 5 07-02
24. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 10 21-04 73 $2,888.00
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 5 09-06
25. Nic Rand Paw Paw, MI 9 20-14 72 $2,888.00
Day 1: 4 08-15 Day 2: 5 11-15
26. Ryan Salzman Huntsville, AL 8 20-11 71 $2,888.00
Day 1: 3 05-09 Day 2: 5 15-02
27. Evan Cox-VanVliet Loveland, CO 10 20-07 70 $2,888.00
Day 1: 5 07-12 Day 2: 5 12-11
28. Brad Jelinek Lincoln, MO 10 20-07 69 $2,888.00
Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 5 11-09
29. Aaron Jagdfeld Rochester Hills, MI 9 20-06 68 $2,406.00
Day 1: 4 05-13 Day 2: 5 14-09
30. Brock Reinkemeyer Warsaw, MO 9 20-05 67 $2,406.00
Day 1: 5 10-07 Day 2: 4 09-14
31. Trey Schroeder Theodosia, MO 10 20-03 66 $2,406.00
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 08-13
32. Chris Hellebuyck White Lake, MI 10 19-02 65 $2,406.00
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 5 09-02
33. Cole Drummond Effingham, SC 10 19-02 64 $2,406.00
Day 1: 5 09-10 Day 2: 5 09-08
34. Bo Thomas Edwardsburg, MI 10 19-00 63 $2,406.00
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 5 07-06
35. Matt Messer Warfield, KY 7 18-14 62 $2,406.00
Day 1: 2 05-06 Day 2: 5 13-08
36. Jack Dice Lynchburg, VA 10 18-14 61 $2,406.00
Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 5 07-05
37. Tommy Wood Peregian Springs AUSTRA 7 18-06 60 $2,406.00
Day 1: 2 03-07 Day 2: 5 14-15
38. Erik Brztowski Lemont, IL 10 18-03 59 $2,406.00
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 06-13
39. Beau Browning Hot Springs National Pa 10 18-03 0 $2,406.00
Day 1: 5 08-06 Day 2: 5 09-13
40. Joey Nania Cropwell, AL 6 17-15 58 $2,406.00
Day 1: 2 09-11 Day 2: 4 08-04
41. Tanner Hadden Appling, GA 9 17-04 57
Day 1: 4 04-15 Day 2: 5 12-05
42. Bailey Gay Union, KY 8 17-04 56
Day 1: 5 06-06 Day 2: 3 10-14
43. Jimmy Washam Stantonville, TN 10 17-03 55
Day 1: 5 06-10 Day 2: 5 10-09
44. Jack York Emory, TX 8 17-03 54
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 3 06-13
45. Alec Morrison Peru, NY 9 16-15 53
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 4 06-11
46. Chase Clarke Virginia Beach, VA 10 16-14 52
Day 1: 5 09-08 Day 2: 5 07-06
47. Lane Olson Forest Grove, OR 10 16-10 51
Day 1: 5 09-06 Day 2: 5 07-04
48. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 8 16-06 50
Day 1: 5 09-15 Day 2: 3 06-07
49. Matt Adams Guntersville, AL 5 15-00 49
Day 1: 5 15-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
50. Brady Vernon Sterrett, AL 4 15-00 48
Day 1: 2 04-01 Day 2: 2 10-15
51. Michael Corbishley Raleigh, NC 9 14-08 47
Day 1: 4 05-15 Day 2: 5 08-09
52. Yui Aoki Minamitsurugun JAPAN 8 14-04 46
Day 1: 5 07-02 Day 2: 3 07-02
53. River Lee Diboll, TX 8 14-03 45
Day 1: 3 05-01 Day 2: 5 09-02
54. Jace Lindsay Beckville, TX 7 13-13 44
Day 1: 5 09-03 Day 2: 2 04-10
55. Bobby Bakewell Orlando, FL 8 13-09 43
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 3 04-05
56. Andrew Behnke Fond Du Lac, WI 6 13-06 42
Day 1: 1 01-10 Day 2: 5 11-12
57. Brandon McMillan Clewiston, FL 7 13-03 41
Day 1: 3 04-01 Day 2: 4 09-02
58. Cody Stahl Barnsville, GA 7 13-01 40
Day 1: 4 07-01 Day 2: 3 06-00
59. Laker Howell Guntersville, AL 5 12-06 39
Day 1: 2 06-04 Day 2: 3 06-02
60. Matt Baker Glenwood, AR 9 12-00 38
Day 1: 5 06-05 Day 2: 4 05-11
61. Bryan Partak Marseilles, IL 5 11-14 37
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
62. Grae Buck Green Lane, PA 6 10-15 36
Day 1: 4 06-11 Day 2: 2 04-04
63. Dillon Harrell New Caney, TX 6 10-03 35
Day 1: 2 04-05 Day 2: 4 05-14
64. Lucas Lindsay Auburn , AL 7 10-02 34
Day 1: 5 07-00 Day 2: 2 03-02
65. Ryan Broughman Corapeake, NC 6 09-15 33
Day 1: 3 05-12 Day 2: 3 04-03
66. Bailey Bleser Burlington, WI 6 09-15 32
Day 1: 3 04-06 Day 2: 3 05-09
67. Tyler Campbell Martin, GA 6 08-09 31
Day 1: 1 01-02 Day 2: 5 07-07
68. Blaine Bunney Claremore, OK 4 07-02 30
Day 1: 3 05-08 Day 2: 1 01-10
69. Bryson Osteen Live Oak, FL 3 06-00 29
Day 1: 3 06-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
70. James Chandler Liberty, TX 4 05-11 28
Day 1: 4 05-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
71. Timothy Dube Nashua , NH 2 03-10 27
Day 1: 2 03-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
72. Cameron Mattison Benton, LA 1 01-14 26
Day 1: 1 01-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
73. Dylan Akins Flowery Branch, GA 1 01-03 25
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-03
74. Tai Au Glendale, AZ 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
74. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 47 305 661-07
2 40 279 692-15
------------------------------
87 584 1354-06
Hanggi’s afternoon rally lifts him to lead at Okeechobee
CLEWISTON, Fla. — After practice for the Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifier at Lake Okeechobee presented by Bass Pro Shops, Sam Hanggi was convinced he wasn’t going to catch a keeper bass come tournament time.
Not only did he catch a bass, but he also filled out most impressive limit of Day 1 at the legendary south Florida fishery.
“Every day I wake up and I do what I feel like I need to do to make the Elite Series,” Hanggi said. “That’s how I’ve spent the last four years. For it to come down to this event, on a place I’m so bad at (is crazy)”
Hanggi leads the field of 75 anglers with 23 pounds, 15 ounces, anchoring his bag with a 7-15 largemouth and a 6-pounder he landed during the afternoon hours. His advantage over second-place Austin Cranford is 4-14.
Call it a redemption tour for Hanggi, who finished 188th during the 2024 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Lake Okeechobee presented by SEVIIN.
“Today had nothing to do with my fishing ability, it was just a blessing from God,” the Auburn University alum said. “The way I’m fishing is something I’m not confident in doing. It isn’t something I’ve done in over a year and something that’s never worked for me in Florida. It was just meant to be.”
A cold front rushed through the country over the weekend, ushering in the coldest temperatures of the year to the Clewiston area during official practice. Those conditions made life tough for Hanggi, who only caught one keeper bass during warm-up period.
“I didn’t catch anything anywhere,” he said. “I caught one 7-pounder in the area I caught them today. It was super random.”
That bass, however, clued Hanggi into his best area, a prespawn and postspawn staging area in 4 feet of water outside of a major spawning pocket. The Tennessee native believes many of these bass are roaming in the area and will set up on reeds or other pieces of cover for short periods of time. A Texas-rigged Yamamoto Senko with a 3/16-ounce weight produced all of his best bites.
The area also harbors plenty of other life, including a plentiful population of shad and bluegill.
“It is a really healthy area,” Hanggi said.
Hanggi started the morning in an area he fished during his previous open, landing two 12-inchers before moving to a second area that produced just one bass.
“Moral was pretty low,” he said. "I didn’t expect to catch anything after that. I decided to go out to that area I got my one bite and caught a 5 and a 4 pretty quick.”
From there, Hanggi only caught two more bites, but they were his two biggest bites.
“(That 8-pounder) was unbelievable. It had been two hours since my last bite. I flipped to a patch of reeds, picked up on my Senko and felt it barely moving off to the right,” he explained. “It was like setting a hook into the moose. It was ripping drag on my locked down drag.
“I thought it was biggest bass I’d ever seen. I tried to grab and threw it 7 feet in the air and it fell back in the water before I got my hands on it.”
While it may not be the biggest bass he’d ever seen, it may be the most important bass he’s ever caught. Hanggi is now sitting in second in the points race, with the Top 10 anglers earning a Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series berth at the end of Saturday’s weigh-in.
Despite his Day 1 success, Hanggi isn’t convinced he can come close to repeating that performance the rest of the tournament. There are promising signs though. Of the four bass he landed in his best area, three of them were prespawn and only one was postspawn.
“It is an expansive area. I went hours between bites,” he explained. “I don’t know if I’ll catch a bass tomorrow.”
Cranford, meanwhile, caught a limit weighing 19-1 to vault himself into the Top 10 in EQ points. Coming into this tournament in 11th, the Norman, Okla., pro wanted to find an area he could consistently catch 15 pounds of largemouth. So far, he has exceeded those expectations.
“I knew we had that cold front coming, and I didn’t want to mess around with that too much,” Cranford said. “I’m doing something completely different than I did in (2024). I didn’t expect this to happen, but it did.”
When he arrived at his starting spot, Cranford discovered giant schools of tilapia had invaded the area, which made it difficult to pick up the largemouth on his forward-facing sonar.
After an hour of fishing, Cranford fished his way to a spot without tilapia, and landed a 5-pounder.
“That keyed me in to what they were doing,” he explained. “They had changed from practice. I don’t know if it is this warmer weather, but they weren’t nearly as lethargic as they were. They grouped up a little bit more too. The key is being around life. If you have bird chirping, shad flickering and alligators, you are around bass.”
The bigger largemouth he is finding on FFS are usually alone, while the groups of fish seem to produce 3 and 4-pounders. One bait produced all his bites, although Cranford adjusted his weight size throughout the day.
West Monroe, La.,’s Colby Dark finished Day 1 in third with 18-12 while Tennessean’s Hayden Gaddis and Tristan McCormick rounded out the Top 5 with 15-14 and 15-7 respectively.
Eva, Ala.,’s Fisher Anaya landed the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day, a 8-13 largemouth.
Anaya leads the Nitro Boats Elite Qualifier presented by Bass Pro Shops standings with 259 points followed by Hanggi in second with 249 points and Alabama’s Russ Lane in third with 248 points. Cranford is fourth with 241 points while Alabama’s Matt Adams is fifth with 237 points. McCormick is sixth with 229 points; Virginia’s Jack Dice is seventh with 228 points; Texas’s Pake South is eight with 225 points; Brock Reinkemeyer is ninth with 225 points; and Dark is 10th with 223 points.
Jace Lindsay, Grae Buck, Aaron Jagdfeld, Bo Thomas and Matt Messer are the first five outside of the Top 10 cut.
The full field will launch from Roland Martin’s Marina at 7 a.m. ET and return for weigh-in at 3 p.m. ET. The Top 10 anglers after tomorrow’s weigh-in will advance to Championship Saturday and the winner will clinch a berth in the 2026 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
Bassmaster LIVE will be providing coverage of all three days of the 2025 Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifier at Lake Okeechobee presented by Bass Pro Shops on Bassmaster.com and Roku from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Visit Hendry County and Roland and Mary Ann Martin’s Marina and Resort are hosting the tournament.
2025 Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series Title Sponsor: Nitro Boats
2025 Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series Presenting Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops
2025 Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series Platinum Sponsors: Progressive, Toyota
2025 Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2025 Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Triton Boats, VMC, Yokohama
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, Nitro Boats Elite Qualifiers Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Bassmaster Junior Series, TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
MINN KOTA AND HUMMINBIRD ANNOUNCE 2026 OWNERS TOURNAMENT AT LAKE EUFAULA, AL
This year’s event will take place April 10–12, 2026, at Lakepoint State Park, featuring three days of big-bass excitement, exclusive on-site experiences, and opportunities to connect with the brands and products anglers rely on every day. Registration opens January 9, 2026.
Event Details
Dates: April 10–12, 2026
Location: Lake Eufaula, Alabama
Weigh-In Site: Lakepoint State Park, 104 Lakepoint Dr., Eufaula, AL 36027
Lodging Information
For lodging options, visit the Eufaula Chamber of Commerce Lodging page for a list of nearby accommodations.
About Minn Kota and Humminbird
JOHNSON OUTDOORS is comprised of the Humminbird®, Minn Kota® and Cannon® brands. Humminbird is a leading global innovator and manufacturer of marine electronics products including fish finders, multifunction displays, autopilots, ice flashers, and premium cartography products. Minn Kota is the world’s leading manufacturer of electric trolling motors, as well as a complete line of shallow water anchors, battery chargers and marine accessories. Cannon is the leader in controlled-depth fishing and includes a full line of downrigger products and accessories.
Visit Humminbird at www.humminbird.com
Visit Minn Kota at www.minnkotamotors.com
Visit Cannon at www.cannondownriggers.com
JOHNSON OUTDOORS is a leading global outdoor recreation company that inspires more people to experience the awe of the great outdoors with innovative, top-quality products. The company designs, manufactures and markets a portfolio of winning, consumer-preferred brands across four categories: Watercraft, Fishing, Diving and Camping.
Visit Johnson Outdoors at www.johnsonoutdoors.com
Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech Reaches 125-Angler Benchmark for 2026 Season
Strong coalition of pros commit to full season of Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit
BENTON, Ky. (Nov. 12, 2025) – Major League Fishing (MLF) announced today that the 2026 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech has reached the benchmark of 125 pros committed to all six stops – surpassing the threshold required to lock down the field exclusively to anglers fishing all six qualifying events along with Bass Pro Tour anglers.
The milestone marks a major step forward for the newly revamped Pro Circuit, ensuring that each stop of the 2026 season features the same competitive roster of anglers. The result is greater consistency, fierce competition and the elimination of local jackpotting – strengthening both the integrity and excitement of competing in MLF’s top five-fish, weigh-in circuit.
“From the onset, we worked with our loyal anglers and sponsors to build a circuit that provides incredible payouts and unmatched media opportunities for veteran pros and rising stars alike,” said Kevin Hunt, Tournament Director for the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit. “It’s a true team effort, and we are proud of the results. Every stop will feature the same lineup of world-class pros. That consistency strengthens both the quality of competition and the fan experience.”
The field of 125 pros has collectively earned more than $25.2 million in MLF winnings, an average of $201,000 per angler. That total will undoubtedly climb as each 2026 stop features a guaranteed $100,000 payout for the winner ($135,000 including the Phoenix MLF Bonus) and a minimum payout of $10,000 to a third of the field.
“The Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit is a special program that is built on respect for the anglers, the fans, and the sport as a whole,” Hunt added. “We’re all in this together, and we’re going to continue working with all of our constituents to ensure MLF is the greatest place in the world to fish competitively.”
Although the 2026 roster is already among the strongest in years, registration remains open until the 150-angler cap of pros committed to all six qualifying stops is reached. Anglers interested in joining the 2026 campaign can enter by phone at 270.252.1000, or if you have questions about the events, call tournament director Kevin Hunt at 270.205.5155. Anglers hoping to fish individual events will be placed on a waiting list should the field of all-six anglers drop below 124. For the complete Pro Circuit schedule, rules and payouts, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The first 125 pros that have signed up for all six stops on the 2026 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech are:
-
- Charles Abshire, Lake Charles, La.
- Caz Anderson, Haysville, N.C.
- Allen Armour, Cumming, Ga.
- Kyle Austin, Ridgeville, S.C.
- Teimuraz (Tom) Balachvili, Scarsdale, N.Y.
- Jay (Striker) Barnett, Locust Grove, Ga.
- Matt Baty, Bainbridge, Ga.
- Tripp Berlinsky, Florence, Ala.
- Josh Bertrand, San Tan Valley, Ariz.
- Daryl Biron, Meriden, Conn.
- Daniel Blackert, Richfield, Ohio
- Drew Boggs, Lebanon, Tenn.
- Greg Bohannan, Bentonville, Ark.
- Alex Bradley, Wellford, S.C.
- John Brown, Wedowee, Ala.
- Dennis Burdette, Pembroke, Va.
- Miles Burghoff, Dayton, Tenn.
- Brody Campbell, Oxford, Ohio
- Tyler Campbell, Martin, Ga.
- Brett Carnright, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
- Eddie Carper, Valliant, Okla.
- Brent Chapman, Lenexa, Kan.
- Mark Condron, Murfreesboro, Tenn.
- Kyle Cortiana, Broken Arrow, Okla.
- Ben Cox, Andrews, S.C.
- (Skeeter) Wayne Crosby, Green Pond, S.C.
- John Dial, Winter Haven, Fla.
- Boyd Duckett, Guntersville, Ala.
- Tony Dumitras, Winston, Ga.
- Charlie Evans, Berea, Ky.
- Ty Faber, Pagosa Springs, Colo.
- Ron Farrow, Rock Hill, S.C.
- Ethan Fields, Breese, Ill.
- Mark Fisher, Wauconda, Ill.
- Terry Fisher, Decatur, Ala.
- Jeff Fitts, Keystone Heights, Fla.
- Shinichi Fukae, Harlem, Ga.
- Nick Gainey, Charleston, S.C.
- Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill.
- Kyle Glasgow, Guin, Ala.
- Kyle Goldstein, Paso Robles, Calif.
- Will Gordon, Athens, Ill.
- Robert Grabow, Morgantown, W. Va.
- Ethan Greene, Eufaula, Ala.
- Christian Greico, New Bern, N.C.
- Mitchell Grimsley, Hiawassee, Ga.
- Tommy Guthke, Anderson, S.C.
- Blake Hall, Rogersville, Ala.
- Will Harkins, Blairsville, Ga.
- Byron Haseotes, West Newton, Mass.
- Brian Hatfield, Spring City, Tenn.
- Marshall Hughes, Hemphill, Texas
- Lake Johnson, Trinity, Ala.
- Kelly Jordon, Flint, Texas
- Richard Kee, Somerville, Tenn.
- Aidan Kerlin, Nags Head, N.C.
- Frank Kitchens III, Oxford, Ga.
- Gary Klein, Mingus, Texas
- Clint Knight, Russellville, Ky.
- Parker Knudsen, Shakopee, Minn.
- Levi Kohl, Edinburg, Ill.
- Andrew Krintz, Brookston, Ind.
- Parker Lambert, Riegelsville, Pa.
- Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla.
- Cal Lane, Grant, Ala.
- Christopher Lane, Guntersville, Ala.
- Brian Latimer, Belton, S.C.
- Michael Leach, Shenandoah, Texas
- Robby Lefere, Jackson, Mich.
- John Levesque, Nashua, N.H.
- Jared Lintner, Covington, Ga.
- Steve Lopez, Oconomowoc, Wis.
- Harbor Lovin, New Concord, Ky.
- Broderick Luckey, Lynchburg, Va.
- Terry Luedtke, Burton, Texas
- Adam Lynn, Culleoka, Tenn.
- Matt Massey, Saint Augustine, Fla.
- Mike Mayo, Athens, Texas
- Julius Mazy, Phoenix, Ariz.
- Bill McDonald, Greenwood, Ind.
- T.J. Mckenzie, Georgetown, S.C.
- Brandon McMillan, Clewiston, Fla.
- Bryan McNeal, Madison, Ala.
- Neal McWhorter, Hiram, Ga.
- Grant Meisenhelter, Decatur, Ill.
- Jesse Millsaps, Jasper, Ga.
- Chad Mrazek, Montgomery, Texas
- John Murray, Spring City, Tenn.
- Britt Myers, Clover, S.C.
- Britt Myers Jr., Clover, S.C.
- Riley Nielsen, Murray, Utah
- Andrew Nordbye, Guntersville, Ala.
- Hayden O'Barr, Scottsboro, Ala.
- Terry Olinger, Louisa, Va.
- Lane Olson, Forest Grove, Ore.
- Bruce Parsons, Arbela, Mo.
- Austin Pemberton, Tuscola, Texas
- Keith Poche, Cecil, Ala.
- Matt Reed, Madisonville, Texas
- Charlie Reed Jr., Gloucester, Va.
- Dusty Rice, Breaux Bridge, La.
- Marshall Robinson, Landrum, S.C.
- Marty Robinson, Landrum, S.C.
- Ricky Robinson, Greenback, Tenn.
- Fred Roumbanis, London, Ark.
- Roman Ryan, Madison, Wis.
- Jackson Ryley, Clinton, Ind.
- Cason Sanchez, Flintville, Tenn.
- Colby Schrumpf, Highland, Ill.
- Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla.
- Banks Shaw, Harrison, Tenn.
- Blake Smith, Lakeland, Fla.
- Miles Smith, Houma, La.
- Robert Sparks, Heflin, La.
- Kennie Steverson, Umatilla, Fla.
- Tyler Stewart, Dubach, La.
- Troy Stokes, Trenton, Mich.
- Mike Surman, Boca Raton, Fla.
- Levi Thibodaux, Thibodaux, La.
- Matteo Turano, Puryear, Tenn.
- Jason Vance, Battle Ground, Ind.
- Todd Walters, Kernersville, N.C.
- Jimmy Washam, Stantonville, Tenn.
- Joseph Webster, Hamilton, Ala.
- Thomas Wooten, Huddleston, Va.
Proud sponsors of the MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Deep Dive App, E3 Sport Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Mercury, Minn Kota, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PirahnO2, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, VOSKER, WIX Filters and YETI.
For regular Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets on Facebook, 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, Outdoor Channel, VICE, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV and Game & Fish TV, 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.
TNT Fireworks named title sponsor of the 2025 Bassmaster Team Championship at Lake Hartwell
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. officials announced today that TNT Fireworks, the nation’s largest distributor of consumer fireworks, has signed on as the title sponsor of the 2025 TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship, which will be held December 3-6 on South Carolina’s Lake Hartwell.
The Bassmaster Team Championship marks the culmination of a yearlong grass-roots competition that gives anglers from team trails across the country the chance to fish for one of the most coveted prizes in competitive bass fishing — a berth in the 2026 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
More than 200 two-angler teams representing B.A.S.S.-sanctioned team trails nationwide will compete over two days for the team title. The top three teams will then split up and compete individually in a two-day fish-off, where the winner will earn the final spot in the Bassmaster Classic field.
“TNT Fireworks is thrilled to be the official sponsor of the 2025 Bassmaster Team Championship,” said Carson Anderson, Managing Director at TNT Fireworks. “We look forward to watching anglers from across the country experience the excitement and energy of competition at beautiful Lake Hartwell.”
TNT Fireworks, headquartered in Florence, Ala., has been lighting up celebrations for more than 100 years. The company’s passion for bringing people together through family-friendly entertainment aligns perfectly with the community spirit and excitement of Bassmaster events.
Lake Hartwell, one of the Southeast’s most storied fisheries, has hosted multiple major B.A.S.S. tournaments, including the Bassmaster Classic, and is known for its healthy populations of both largemouth and spotted bass. The deep, clear reservoir straddling the Georgia-South Carolina border provides the perfect backdrop for a championship-level event.
“The Bassmaster Team Championship is one of the most special events we host each year because it represents the heart of competitive fishing, everyday anglers earning their shot at the Classic,” said B.A.S.S. Nation Tournament Manager GL Compton. “Having TNT Fireworks as our title sponsor adds an extra spark to an already exciting event. Their enthusiasm for community, celebration and competition mirrors what this championship is all about.”
Fans can follow live coverage of the 2025 TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship on Bassmaster.com and across B.A.S.S. social media platforms, including live weigh-ins, photo galleries and on-the-water updates.
2025 B.A.S.S. Nation Team Championship Title Sponsor: TNT Fireworks
2025 B.A.S.S. Nation Series Title Sponsor: Mercury
2025 B.A.S.S. Nation Series Presenting Sponsor: Lowrance
2025 B.A.S.S. Nation Series
2025 B.A.S.S. Nation Series
2025 B.A.S.S. Nation Series
About TNT Fireworks
TNT Fireworks, established in 1920, is America’s bestselling brand of fireworks and the largest distributer of 1.4G consumer fireworks in the U.S. The company offers a diverse range of products including aerials, ground-based items, assortments and novelties, while also supporting fundraising initiatives nationwide. TNT’s goal is to provide safe family fun that lets consumers ignite the night!
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Bassmaster Junior Series, TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
Family Ties and Trophy Bass: The Schwers’ Fifth Ride at the 2025 Toyota Owners Tournament
Courtesy of Dynamic Sponsorships / By Walker Smith
As the first rays of sunlight pierced over Lake Guntersville, the air hummed with the low rumble of Toyota Tundras and Tacomas backing boats down the ramps at Goosepond Marina. It was a celebration of bass fishing, family ties and the unbreakable reliability of Toyota vehicles.
Scottsboro, Alabama played host to this amateur showdown on one of the South's most legendary fisheries, a TVA impoundment renowned for its sprawling grass mats, deep ledges and trophy largemouth bass that can tip the scales at double digits.
For the uninitiated, the Toyota Owners Tournament isn't just another derby; it's a heartfelt nod to loyalty. Open exclusively to Toyota Bonus Bucks members who own or lease a 2021 or newer Tundra, Tacoma, Sequoia or 4Runner, the event draws everyday anglers from across the country.
This year, hundreds of teams converged on Guntersville, braving a post-frontal chill that turned the bite tough but couldn't dampen the spirit.
For many, the real trophies weren't on the stage. They were the stories forged on the water, like that of father-son duo Steve and Ryan Schwer, whose journey to Guntersville embodied the tournament's deeper essence.
Hailing from Missouri, the Schwers have made the Toyota Owners Tournament a family tradition.
"This will be our fifth Toyota Owners Tournament and we’ll continue to try to go to as many as possible, no matter where they are," Steve shared. At 64 years old, Steve is the patriarch, a veteran of 44 years in the family business installing and repairing paint booth equipment.
"My father-in-law started the company, and it's been an interesting and fulfilling career," he said. Their work spans automotive spray booths and Toyota is even one of their customers. They also install and maintain gel coat equipment for boat brands, tying their livelihood neatly to the outdoor world they love.
Ryan, 38, echoes his dad's passion with a competitive fire honed in unexpected arenas.
"I love to fish and I don’t care where it is," he said, grinning under his Toyota sock hat.
A former professional paintball player for seven years, Ryan traveled the country chasing adrenaline before settling into bass fishing as his outlet.
"Bass fishing is my competitive outlet and I absolutely love it.”
Their bond runs as deep as Guntersville's river channels, rooted in childhood memories on Missouri rivers.
"My dad used to take me on float trips all the time when I was growing up," Ryan recalled. "We’d fish for anything that bit and always had such a good time together. We’d fish a jig, Texas rig and Carolina rig."
Those simple setups, a jig hopped along rocky bottoms, a Texas-rigged worm probing brush or a Carolina rig dragging ledges, taught Ryan the fundamentals that serve him well in competitive bass fishing.
Steve, beaming with pride, added, "I’m super proud of my son and I remember every memory with him and all my children. I have four boys and a girl, and they all grew up on the river fishing with me.”
On tournament day, the Schwers launched their boat behind Steve's 2021 Tundra. It’s his third Toyota, a testament to the brand's dependability.
"Reliability is what it’s all about to me," Steve explained. "I’ve passed down my older Toyotas to my kids and they’ve had nothing but good luck with them. My old Toyota truck is now my son’s work truck and it has 300,000 miles on it with zero problems. Pretty much my entire family has Toyota vehicles."
That Tundra hauled them seamlessly from Missouri to Alabama, a reliable steed for their adventures. Fishing together offers more than competition for the pair; it's more of a sanctuary.
"I love traveling and fishing with my dad. It’s just so enjoyable and easy," Ryan said.
Amid the casts and retrieves, conversations drift from family gatherings to business strategies, but the water tempers it.
"We talk a lot about the business at home whether it’s birthday parties or family gatherings, we’re always talking about the family business. But we do it a bit less when we’re fishing together. It gives us time to relax and enjoy nature and at events like these, meet new friends.”
Guntersville tested them, as it does everyone. The lake's famed grass beds demanded precise electronics to locate schools. They flipped jigs into matted hydrilla and dragged Carolina rigs over shell bars, adapting to the post-front blues. Their bag didn't crack the top spots but that hardly mattered.
"This is such an outstanding event every year," Steve said. "They treat you like rockstars and everything is top-notch. We cannot wait to come back.”
In a sport often dominated by solo pursuits, the Toyota Owners Tournament shines a light on shared legacies. The Schwers' story reminds us why we fish: for the tug on the line, sure, but more for the pull on the heart. As the weigh-in wrapped and trucks loaded up in the cold Alabama rain, Guntersville whispered promises of next year. But for Steve and Ryan, it's not just about the bass. It’s about the miles, the memories and the unbreakable thread that binds them, towed faithfully by their Toyota.
Bass Fishing Hall of Fame Awards Grants to Fund Six More Projects
SPRINGFIELD, Mo.— For Immediate Release — Nov 11, 2025 As part of its mission to celebrate, promote and preserve the sport of bass fishing, the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame’s Board of Directors is again providing financial support to numerous conservation projects that will benefit grassroots efforts to improve the sport.
Over the past six years, the BFHOF has provided grants totaling over $127,000 to local bass fishing clubs and other organizations working with state fishery management agencies for various conservation projects.
“Thanks to our substantial fundraising success this year, we are prepared to offer nearly $20,000 in additional donations beyond our traditional conservation grants,” said BFHOF conservation committee chair Gene Gilliland. “We realized that there are a host of projects that don’t fit into the traditional bass club/agency partnership model. These groups have been selected for their foresight and commitment to improving the sport with boots-on-the-ground sweat equity.”
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- The Hall is supporting the American Fisheries Society Southern Division Reservoir Committee Jenkins Scholarship Endowment. The Scholarship is intended to provide financial assistance to graduate students conducting reservoir-related fisheries research who show exceptional progress in their research, education, and professional endeavors. This is a five-year commitment that will benefit both bass fishing and other freshwater fishing opportunities.
Five additional fishing organizations receiving Bass Fishing Hall of Fame donations in 2025 to enhance and preserve bass fishing were made possible by the Hall’s partnership with the Costa Compete + Conserve program. They include:
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- Friends of Reservoirs, an organization dedicated to protecting, restoring and enhancing fish habitat in reservoir systems, was awarded funds for their Small Grants program, that support smaller-scale habitat projects that bass clubs or friends groups can accomplish in a single season.
- The Pennsylvania Wildlife Leadership Academy’s PA BASS summer camp, that focuses on teaching teens about bass ecology and warm water conservation. PA BASS continues to spark passion for fisheries biology and instill a sense of stewardship in the next generation of conservation leaders.
- The Texas Bass Brigade is a unique educational program designed to educate youths from ages 13 to 17 about aquatic ecosystems and natural resource management and empower attendees with leadership skills and knowledge in wildlife, fisheries, and land stewardship. The BFHOF donation will support tuition for several students attending the 2026 Bass Camp.
- Mighty River Recovery, a Florida organization dedicated to ending the continued decline of the St. Johns River, while working to organize and unify outdoor enthusiasts. The Hall’s donation will support the Citizen Enclosure Project where volunteers assist with fencing areas of the river to allow the regrowth of essential native aquatic vegetation.
- Heroes on the Water, an organization providing free outdoor programs for U.S. active-duty military, veterans, law enforcement officers, first responders and their families, was awarded funds to bolster their kayak bass fishing programs.
In addition to the above donations, the Hall was an important sponsor of the 2025 Black Bass Symposium in San Antonio in August. This was a meeting of state fishery biologists, university researchers, private water managers, media professionals, and anglers sharing information and ideas to plot a course for black bass management in the future.
The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame will be issuing a request for proposals for 2026 Conservation Grants in January as well as soliciting nominations for inductees into the Hall itself. The Hall will hold its annual induction dinner on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, at Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium in Springfield, Mo. There will also be a concurrent auction (visit www.BassFishingHOF.com for details) as part of the annual “Celebrate Bass Fishing Week “with funds raised going to assist the Hall in funding conservation grants such as these and other worthy endeavors benefiting the sport of bass fishing.
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About the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame (BFHOF) The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame is a nonprofit organization led by a volunteer board of directors, dedicated to celebrating, promoting, and preserving the sport of bass fishing for over 25 years. The Hall’s inductees and historical memorabilia are showcased in Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife Museum and Aquarium in Springfield, Missouri. For more information about the road to induction, the Hall’s impact on the community, or to get involved, visit www.BassFishingHOF.com.
or contact BFHOF executive director Barbara Bowman at [email protected].
Old School Tactics Result in $20,000 Payday at 2nd Annual Costa Bass Derby
Jupiter, FL – November 10th, 2025 –
A field of over 450 anglers comprised of 230 teams came together to fish the 2nd annual Costa Bass Derby on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees the weekend of October 25-26. Freddie Stopp and Rickey Hicks caught a limit of 20.93-lbs to take the top honors for this 2nd annual celebration of Costa Sunglasses and the brand’s support of bass fishing and conservation.
Not only did Hicks and Stopp win an incredible $20,000 payday for winning this amateur only team tournament, but they also were awarded the chance to choose a conservation partner to receive a $1,000 donation made through Costa’s Compete+Conserve contingency program. The winners from Tahlequah, Oklahoma chose the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame to receive the donation, which will directly benefit freshwater conservation efforts.
This conservation payout is a core component of Compete+Conserve, which rewards the highest finishing angler wearing Costa Sunglasses in over 325 bass tournaments each year. Along with the bonus payout or prize for the highest placing fisherman, Costa donates to one of five conservation partners based on the winners’ choice.
2025 marked the second year of the Costa Bass Derby, with Tulsa SCHEELS serving as the retail partner for the event. Costa and SCHEELS rolled out the red carpet for tournament participants; with registration kits valued at over $250 gifted to the first 150 boats to register, along with provided dinner the night before derby day, and a meet and greet with Costa pros Casey Ashley and Jason Christie.
The tournament winners, Hicks and Stopp, are the kind of fishing buddies we all aspire to have. They’ve been good friends and team tournament partners for nearly twenty years. Their shared passion for bass fishing is so linked together that they split the cost of their last two bass boats. The duo developed a system to co-own the boats and use the vessel to chase bass around northeast Oklahoma.
Hicks is a captain at the Tahlequah Fire Department and Stopp owns Ace Yard Company, which specializes in lawncare, landscaping, tree and fence work. They are salt of the earth people who love to spend their days off outdoors and on the water. They caught their fish with a one-two punch type of pattern, crediting old-school tactics and a reliable milk run for their good fortune.
“We are just normal fishermen who love to be on the water,” Hicks said. “We pretty much always fish the same little rotation of spots this time of year. When the fish are there, we do alright. When they aren’t, we struggle. Today the fish were there, and we got to catch them the way we like to… old school!”
“We ran three or four topwater stretches early and caught a couple key fish,” Stopp explained. “That is a hit or miss deal in the fall on Grand, so it was great to have a strong start. Then we went offshore and fished a football jig on some deeper hard spots in 18 to 22-feet of water. We caught the rest of our weight with those jigs and didn’t lose a fish all day.”
Stopp and Hicks fish hit the scales early in the weigh-in but none of the other 230+ teams could overtake their five fish limit of nearly 21-lbs. Both anglers have been wearing Costa Sunglasses for ten years or more and own multiple pairs a piece. Hicks go-to frame is the Tailfin in Blue Mirror lens color, while Stopp wears the Permit with prescription lens with the Blue Mirror.
“Costa has so many options for people with different sized faces and heads. They’re the best sunglasses out there, period,” Stopp said.
Like many of the teams, Hicks and Stopp returned in 2025 after fishing the inaugural event last year. Though they didn’t have a good finish last October, they appreciated the support they felt from the eyewear icon in 2024.
“To have big brands like Costa and SCHEELS put on this event for average anglers like us is super cool,” Hicks said. “We looked forward to this tournament all year and feel fortunate just for the opportunity to fish it, let alone win the whole thing.”
The complete results for the 2025 Costa Bass Derby can be found here. For information on future Costa Bass Derby events, or to learn more about Costa Compete + Conserve, visit https://www.costacompeteandconserve.com/. If you own a pair of Costas, it’s completely free to register and you can win extra payouts if you compete in supported tournaments.
To shop Costa Sunglasses’ full collection of performance, lifestyle and optical eyewear, and learn more about its commitment to conservation, visit costasunglasses.com.
About Costa Sunglasses
More than 40 years ago, a group of anglers created Costa Sunglasses to stand up to the harsh light, unforgiving salt and rough conditions of a day at sea. The gear they made was up to the task, and it’s been on the water ever since. Today, Costa combines its superior 580® lens technology with unparalleled fit and durability to make the highest-quality sunglasses and prescription eyewear for adventures on the water. Committed to protecting the watery world it calls home, sustainability and conservation is woven throughout everything they do. From building products made of responsible materials, to Costa-owned initiatives like Kick Plastic® and #OneCoast, and its partnerships with 40+ mission-aligned conservation organizations, Costa inspires its community to help protect the earth’s resources and #SeeWhatsOutThere. Find out more on Costa’s website and join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter at @CostaSunglasses.
An Angler’s Plea for His Boat: “Just Work”
Opinion - Courtesy of LAUNCH Boat Protection
See for yourself as you take a walk around the upcoming winter boat shows. The cutting-edge technology that has become expected in our vehicles has now crept into our boats. Remote starters, seat heaters, multiple graphs the size of TV screens, digital gauges and incredibly detailed motor diagnostics; yes, bass boats have become just as loaded as most luxury SUVs.
Nowhere was this technology more on display than Major League Fishing’s 2025 REDCREST Expo in Huntsville, AL. Every manufacturer brought their best on full display. Those boats were awesome. How do you pick one when so many players are making excellent boats? Well, it seems their strategy is to embed as many cool electronic accessories and digital technology as they can in their boat. Boats today have full-fledged operating systems.
Of course, this drives the cost of boats higher, but that may not be the biggest issue with anglers. More anglers are starting to ask questions like “Is a battery powered key fob with a button start better for bass fisherman? What about trolling motors that need software updates? According to some veteran bass fisherman who call Table Rock Lake, Missouri their home, the answer is a resounding “NO”.
“What’s wrong with inserting and turning a key? Introducing wireless connectivity, software, and a battery to something as simple as starting your motor just creates more problems.” Says Todd J., a bass fisherman who has fished the Ozark lakes for over 30 years. “Why introduce digital gauges on expensive screens when a simple speedometer has reliably told me how fast my boats have gone for years?”
“Have you ever had your fishing trip cut short because your trolling motor needed a software update?” asks Brooks B., another Missouri angler.
They both ask valid questions that outline a sentiment that is increasingly shared by other bass fishermen. In fact, some pro anglers request the traditional key start rather than opting for the Bluetooth fob.
Somewhat fittingly, Major League Fishing’s REDCREST 2026 tournament will be held on Table Rock Lake with the Expo hosted at Bass Pro Shop’s flagship store in Springfield, MO. The same anglers who are asking for simpler efficiency in their boats will have the chance to preview the newest enhancements that bass boat manufacturers will bring with the next generation of boats.
It all begs the question, “Do we really need all these features just to catch a bass? Is it worth the added headache and repair cost?”. From a warranty perspective, manufacturers must know how much they are spending on in-warranty fixes on both hardware and software for these enhancements. When the manufacturer’s warranty expires, an angler might consider shopping for an aftermarket warranty product like LAUNCH Boat Protection just to cover these features, especially on a used boat. Simple efficiency seems to have given way to shiny new features that may or may not enhance a boat owner’s experience on the water.
A growing opinion in the bass fishing community seems to be that while all these new enhancements certainly have a cool factor, the bass fishermen’s plea for his boat is this: “Just Work”.
Guest Contributor:
Chad Burris of LAUNCH Boat Protection
SCROGGINS: 2025 Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners Tournament was One for the Books
Courtesy of Dynamic Sponsorships / By Walker Smith
There’s a certain magic that lingers in the air after a great fishing event. It’s a blend of satisfaction, fellowship and a bit of wistfulness that it’s over. As I rolled out of Guntersville this year, that feeling sat heavy on my mind.
The 2025 Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners Tournament was one of those special weekends where everything just seemed to click. The fishing, the people, the purpose. And if you ask Team Toyota pro Terry “Big Show” Scroggins, he’ll tell you this one might have been the best yet.
“I’ve been to a bunch of these Toyota tournaments over the years,” Scroggins said, leaning back onto his Tundra at launch with a grin that only comes from a man who’s been around the sport for decades. “But this one right here. Man, it was something special. From the food to the folks, I don’t think I’ve ever had a better time at one of these things.”
A tournament built on fellowship
For those who haven’t had the pleasure of experiencing one firsthand, the Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners Tournament isn’t your average weekend derby. Sure, there’s a competitive element with $5,000 on the line for first place and an impressive pile of prizes and free gear. But that’s not what most folks remember when they trailer their boats and head home.
What sticks with them are the laughs shared under the tent after weigh-in, the smell of barbecue rolling across the parking lot and the easy conversations with anglers who’ve driven from all corners of the country.
“Toyota does this thing right,” Scroggins said. “They feed you well, they treat you right and they make you feel like part of the family. I’ve been coming to these things for years and I can tell you it never gets old. Everybody’s smiling, cutting up, swapping fish stories. It just makes you feel good.”
That feeling was on full display this year at Lake Guntersville. The lake showed off its generous side, giving up plenty of solid fish and a handful of big bass that made for an exciting weigh-in. The anglers were grinning, the crowd was loud, and the camaraderie was as thick as the morning fog that rolled off the Tennessee River.
A brand that stands behind the sport
Scroggins, who’s been a proud Toyota pro for years, doesn’t mince words when it comes to what makes these tournaments and Toyota’s role in the fishing world so meaningful.
“Toyota is the only vehicle manufacturer that supports the entire fishing industry,” he said plainly. “And that’s not just talk. You see it in events like this, in their Bonus Bucks program and in the way they back the anglers whether it’s the pros all the way to the weekend guys. Nobody else does it like Toyota.”
It’s a statement that carries weight coming from a veteran like Scroggins. The Toyota Owners Tournament is completely free to enter for eligible Toyota owners, and the prizes and giveaways could rival many high-entry events. From tackle and gear to the generous cash payout, it’s clear that Toyota isn’t just dipping a toe in the fishing world.
They’re all in.
Anglers have responded in kind. Each year, the turnout grows, with hundreds of teams traveling from across the map to share a weekend on the water. They come for the competition, sure, but they also come for something deeper: community.
“You look around and see guys from all over the country,” Scroggins said. “Different accents, different boats and different styles. But everyone’s got one thing in common. We all love fishing. That’s what makes this event so special. It’s a great representation of our sport.”
More than just a tournament
By Sunday afternoon, it was hard not to feel proud of what this event represents. The Toyota team, as always, went above and beyond to make sure every detail was nailed down from the hospitality to the prizes, to the seamless flow of the event.
But beyond the logistics and the weigh-in numbers, there was something else that made this one memorable. It was the laughter. The shared respect. The sense that for a weekend, the fishing community had come together not just to compete, but to celebrate what binds them.
The simple joy of chasing bass and the fellowship that comes with it.
Looking ahead
As the sun dipped low over Lake Guntersville and the last few boats idled back to the ramp, you could feel that sense of gratitude and belonging that Toyota has managed to cultivate year after year. For Scroggins, a man who’s seen just about everything in this sport, that feeling never gets old.
“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again,” he said. “Toyota gets it. They understand what this sport means to people. That’s why I’ll never miss one of these events.”
And that’s the truth of it. The 2025 Toyota Owners Tournament wasn’t just another stop on the calendar. It was a reminder of what makes this sport so special. The people, the passion and the companies that care enough to keep it all going.
When anglers packed up and pointed their trucks toward home, they didn’t just leave with new gear and prize money. They left with full hearts, new friendships and another memory that’ll last long after the fish stories fade.
Lake Guntersville was good to them this year but it’s much, much more that made this bass derby one for the books.
Key decision leads Vercillo and Frost to Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship win
PORT ARANSAS, Texas — Calling an audible at the line of scrimmage yielded the game-winning score for Tony Vercillo and Darren Frost, who took first place at the Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter at Port Aransas.
Hailing from Fort Pierce and Melbourne, respectively, Vercillo and Frost placed third on Day 1 with a two-fish limit of 15 pounds, 6 ounces and held that spot with a second-round limit of 13-5. On Championship Sunday, the winners posted 12-6 and tallied a three-day total of 41-1.
Overtaking Easton Fothergill and Clark Jordan Jr., who led the first two days, by 4 1/2-pounds, Vercillo and Frost split the $75,000 top prize.
“This is a dream come true; I’ve been doing this (redfishing) since I was 5,” Vercillo said. “We’ve worked so hard to get here.”
Frost echoed his partner’s sentiment: “It hasn’t completely hit me yet, but I was about to cry three or four times (while sitting in the hot seat). I don’t remember the last time I cried.”
For two days, Vercillo and Frost had worked a two-stage plan in which they started their mornings in areas north of the takeoff site at Fisherman’s Wharf, inside Port Aransas Municipal Boat Harbor. By late morning, they would run south to the upper Laguna Madre, where they caught their better fish.
That plan likely would have worked again, but Day 3 saw a cold front unleash brutal conditions. With a forecast for 25- to 35-knot north-northeast winds, Vercillo and Frost discussed the option of fishing closer the night before, but Championship Sunday’s harsh reality prompted an easy decision.
“Our best fish were a good ways south and we’d have to cross Corpus Christi Bay,” Vercillo said. “Last night, we were 80/20. We were desperate to get to those fish. We could win if we got to them.
“This morning, it was more like 50/50 and by the time we came around the corner for check-out, I said, ‘No sir, we’re staying close.’ We both agreed. We were very much at piece; there was no argument.”
Spending their final day on the west side of Redfish Bay, north or Port Aransas, the winners targeted oyster bar habitat.
“We dedicated Wednesday’s practice to finding spots that were out of the wind,” Vercillo said. “We found two spots that were holding fish and we just let it ride. We were done by 9 o’clock. We never caught another good fish after that.”
Frost said he and Vercillo anticipated they could catch about 12 pounds in Redfish Bay, so their final-round productivity was right on point.
“That’s what we saw pre-fishing; we has a couple of low-6’s and that’s what we ended up catching,” Frost said. “We kinda knew what was there and that’s why we didn’t go there yesterday.”
Vercillo noted that similarities to their Florida home waters helped him and his partner excel in their first Port-A visit. One of the biggest was finding areas with significant mullet activity — typically considered an indication of good redfish waters.
For the first two days, Vercillo and Frost caught several of their fish on spoons. When Day 3 found the fish less willing to chase the shiny baits, they switched to more subtle presentations.
Vercillo threw a Rapala Crush City The Mayor paddletail rigged weedless on a Strike King Hack Attack Heavy Cover Flipping Hook. His partner fished a Berkley Gulp! Shrimp.
“I rigged (the Gulp! Shrimp) weedless on a wide gap hook with a 3/16-ounce tungsten weight,” Frost said. “I added a little gold Colorado blade between the weight and the bobber stop to add a little flash."
In its fifth year, the Redfish Cup Championship fielded 10 two-angler teams — six comprising all redfish anglers and four pairing a Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series pro with a redfish pro.
Representing the hybrid teams, Fothergill — the reigning Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour champion — and Jordan took the early lead with a Day 1 limit of 17-3, the event’s heaviest catch. Adding 16-8 in the second round, they held on to their lead.
Day 3 delivered an early blast with what appeared to be the day-maker, as Jordan caught an 8-pound red that measured a breath below the 28-inch maximum length.
Tournament anglers know that fish typically enter the live well slightly shorter from contracting stress, but on a day unlikely to offer many opportunities, Jordan and Fothergill decided to take their chances that the fish would remain at or under 28 inches on the tournament’s official measurement.
Unfortunately, the fish had become relaxed in the livewell so it measured just over the 28-inch mark. Weighing a single fish of 2-14, Fothergill and Jordan settled at second with 36-9.
“After we caught that big fish, we thought we had a good plan the rest of the day to catch a couple 4 1/2- to 5-pound fish and just never got bit,” Jordan said. “We pulled the plug at the last minute and came in. Easton made a good sight cast with a Berkley Gulp! Shrimp to catch that one we weighed in.”
In third place, Ryan Rickard and Patrick Marsonek turned in weights of 15-0, 11-0 and 10-8 to finish with 36-8. The game plan, Rickard said, meant devoting three days to the Upper Laguna Madre, where he partnered with Bassmaster Elite Series pro Chris Zaldain to win the inaugural Redfish Cup Championship in 2021.
“Knowing what we had in practice, I said going into this that we just had to get bit right,” Rickard said. “I felt like if we could catch 10-12 fish a day, we would have what we needed. Unfortunately, on Day 1, we still caught 10-12 fish, we just didn’t have any great ones and that’s what bit us.
“We did all we could do and it just gave us what it gave us.”
Rickard and Marsonek caught their fish on the new 1/2-ounce gold Aqua Dream spoons.
This event was hosted by Port Aransas Fisherman’s Wharf.
2025 Redfish Cup Championship Title Sponsor: Yamaha
2025 Redfish Cup Championship Presenting Sponsor: Skeeter Boats
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Bassmaster Junior Series, TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
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Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitte
Media Contact: Mandy Pascal, Communications Manager, 334-414-8677, [email protected]
2025 Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup presented by Skeeter 11/7-11/9
Port Aransas, Port Aransas TX.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Club/School Pts
1. Tony Vercillo - Darren Frost 0
Day 1: 2 13-05 Day 2: 2 15-06 Day 3: 2 12-06 Total: 6 41-01
2. Easton Fothergill - Clark Jordan Jr 0
Day 1: 2 17-03 Day 2: 2 16-08 Day 3: 1 02-14 Total: 5 36-09
3. Patrick Marsonek - Ryan Rickard 0
Day 1: 2 11-00 Day 2: 2 15-00 Day 3: 2 10-08 Total: 6 36-08
4. Bo Favre - Frank Risk 0
Day 1: 2 11-10 Day 2: 2 10-07 Day 3: 2 09-11 Total: 6 31-12
5. Recie Tisdale - Jeremy Reeves 0
Day 1: 2 10-08 Day 2: 2 12-07 Day 3: 1 07-02 Total: 5 30-01
6. Tyler Williams - Chris Cenci 0
Day 1: 2 15-01 Day 2: 2 14-03 Day 3: 0 00-00 Total: 4 29-04
7. Lance Reynolds - Austin Angel 0
Day 1: 2 13-00 Day 2: 2 10-11 Day 3: 1 04-12 Total: 5 28-07
8. Bryant Smith - Kevin Akin 0
Day 1: 2 12-08 Day 2: 2 14-08 Day 3: 0 00-00 Total: 4 27-00
9. Carl Jocumsen - Robbie Hunzicker 0
Day 1: 2 06-15 Day 2: 2 16-15 Day 3: 0 00-00 Total: 4 23-14
10. Mark Robinson - Mike Frenette 0
Day 1: 1 03-10 Day 2: 2 12-11 Day 3: 0 00-00 Total: 3 16-05
------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 9 19 114-12
2 10 20 138-12
3 3 9 47-05
------------------------------
22 48 300-13
Roger Fitzpatrick Wins 2025 Toyota Series Championship Presented by Phoenix Boats on Grand
Missouri pro reels in $200K with three-day total of 41 pounds, 1 ounce, MLF Italy’s Giovanni Ceccarelli wins co-angler division
GROVE, Okla. (Nov. 8, 2025) – The final day of the 2025 Toyota Series Championship Presented by Phoenix Boats
on Grand Lake will go down as one the tightest of all-time. Entering Championship Saturday, four Ozark stalwarts were ounces apart – in theory shooting it out with jigs and spinnerbaits for the win. Then, the power-fishing bite crumbled, and Drew Gill, Tucker Smith and Riley Harris blitzed up the leaderboard, picking off fish after fish with forward-facing sonar.
At weigh-in, Smith and Gill both weighed over 14 pounds, by far the biggest bags of the day. But, with 11 pounds, 7 ounces, Roger Fitzpatrick had just enough to hang on, moving up from second to first with 41-1 and beating Gill for the win via tiebreak, which is previous day’s standing first and then heaviest single-day catch, both of which favored the veteran angler.
For the win, which is his 13th with MLF in nearly 250 events, Fitzpatrick took home $200,000 plus a berth in REDCREST 2026 – which just so happens to be at Table Rock Lake, where he’s won twice before with MLF. Though Fitzpatrick had come oh so close many times in the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American, he’d never won it or a Toyota Series event until now. Throw in a Fishing Clash Angler of the Year title in the Plains Division, and it’s clear that Fitzpatrick waited until age 61 to have his best year yet.
As someone who has been cashing checks with MLF/FLW since 1995, Fitzpatrick has plenty of experience when it comes to winning, but he’s probably going to need to fish for another 30 years or so to replicate this one.
“When I pulled into the buoys down here, I was hoping I would stay in the Top 10,” he said. “I was never nervous all day. The whole afternoon, I thought I needed at least one good fish to have a shot at this. I left biting fish on some docks – they weren’t big, but I had two fish in there that weren’t 2 pounds. When it was all said and done and was this close, I thought I probably messed up and didn’t cull those 2-pounders out.”
At the docks, with anglers bagging fish and swapping reports, Fitzpatrick realized that instead of a definite drop in the standings, he might have done enough to win, or at least make it close.
“People started saying how tough it was, and nobody had anything,” he said. “Toby Hartsell watched the livestream, and he said, ‘It’s going to be closer than you think.’”
On stage with weighmaster Chris Jones and Gill, Fitzpatrick watched the readout on the scale with rapt attention as Jones took his hand off the bag.
“Whenever he threw it down, it went 11-8, 11-7, 11-8, 11-7 – it wasn’t going 11-6,” said Fitzpatrick. “I was hoping he’d lock it at 11-8. I knew Justin [Luetkemeyer] didn’t have it. But when it locked in at 11-7, I was like ‘You’ve got to be kidding me.’”
With the top four finishers all separated by just 4 ounces, it’s almost certain that each of them (and perhaps others farther down the standings) lost a fish or two that cost them the ounces they needed to separate themselves from the rest of the pack, Fitzpatrick included. But regardless of the outcome, Fitzpatrick isn’t one to sweat the small stuff.
“I can’t believe there’s a God that’s so big that he listens to a prayer of a fisherman,” he said. “I give it all to Him. You can’t stop it if He’s in control. You can’t stop it. There’s no doubt He had His hand in every bit of it.”
The amount of money won on a spinnerbait in Oklahoma and the Ozark region is pretty much incalculable, but $200,000 was added to the tally this week. Near the end of practice, Fitzpatrick hit upon the pattern, which happened to be firmly in his wheelhouse.
“I got keyed in at 4 o’clock the last day of practice,” he said. “I pulled into a spot at the mouth of Wolf Creek out by the bridge, and I caught a 5-pounder on a spinnerbait. I thought, ‘That was a fluke.’ So, I went a little further, and I caught another one. I put a little rubber deal on my hook to not catch anymore, and I got two more bites. One of them didn’t drop it; he was a big one. My plan, until then, was fishing at the dam, 20-foot boat docks with a 3/4-ounce jig. That’s what I was all-in on until this happened.”
After a day of thinking it over, Fitzpatrick decided to abandon the deep docks. Instead, he spooled up some 7-foot, 4-inch St. Croix Legend Xtreme rods with 20-pound P-Line Fluorocarbon on 8.1:1 Daiwa Tatula reels and tied on a few 1-ounce Omega double-willow spinnerbaits with a big No. 7 blade to imitate gizzard shad.
Fishing shade and cables, Fitzpatrick went to work, poking his boat in and out of the many docks that Grand Lake offers.
“If it had a cable behind the dock, it was almost automatic,” he said. “They were laying on those cables. It’s an Ozark thing. The 1-ounce also was key. Late in the day, the first two days, they got real shallow; I probably didn’t need a 1-ounce. But until that time, they were out in 5 feet of water, and that 1-ounce hugs the bottom – it immediately goes to the bottom. I could cover more water with it.”
Fishing mostly near Wolf Creek, Fitzpatrick made it up into the Elk River a little as well. On the final day, he bolstered his bag with a few fish caught on a 1/2-ounce Omega Flippin’ Jig trailered with a Bojangle Baits Nos Craw.
For most of the final day, the conditions weren’t optimal for Fitzpatrick’s bite, even though the ‘Scope-friendly calm in the morning gave way to pre-frontal winds in the afternoon.
“It didn’t get here soon enough, I don’t think,” he said. “We had a morning where it was just glass out there, and it was high pressure for the most part. I had several fish nip the blades and just not eat it. This afternoon, I thought I might catch them because it did start to blow, but it was blowing a different direction than the banks I wanted to fish. When I caught them, it was a southeast wind, and it was blowing into one pocket where I started, where I caught several big fish, and the wind did not hit it at all today.”
Still, old-school Ozark skills got it done once again on Grand Lake. Now, Fitzpatrick already has his wheels spinning for REDCREST this coming spring. There, the veteran Ozark angler will have a chance to put on a show on the biggest stage yet.
“April can be touchy; it’s probably going to be close to the spawn, if not spawn,” he said. “So, it’s pretty much anybody’s game. I don’t think it’ll be a ‘Scopin’ deal so much. I’m looking forward to it. I can’t imagine I get to go. It’s outstanding.”
The top 25 pros at the 2025 Toyota Series Championship Presented by Phoenix Boats on Grand Lake finished:
1st: Roger Fitzpatrick, Eldon, Mo., 15 bass, 41-1, $200,000
2nd: Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., 15 bass, 41-1, $50,000
3rd: Tucker Smith, Birmingham, Ala., 15 bass, 40-15, $40,000
4th: Riley Harris, Orange, Texas, 15 bass, 40-13, $35,000
5th: Adam Boehle, Warrenton, Mo., 15 bass, 40-2, $21,000 (includes $1,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus)
6th: Hayden O’Barr, Scottsboro, Ala., 15 bass, 40-1, $24,000
7th: Chad Mrazek, Montgomery, Texas, 15 bass, 40-0, $23,000
8th: Banks Shaw, Harrison, Tenn., 15 bass, 39-3, $12,000
9th: Justin Luetkemeyer, Osage Beach, Mo., 15 bass, 38-14, $11,000
10th: Eli Brumnett, Wagoner, Okla., 15 bass, 38-11, $20,000
11th: Buddy Benson, Dahlonega, Ga., 15 bass, 38-10, $4,500
12th: Benjamin Travis, Guntersville, Ala., 15 bass, 38-5, $4,500
13th: Jack Daniel Williams, Kingsport, Tenn., 15 bass, 38-0, $4,500
14th: Broderick Luckey, Lynchburg, Va., 15 bass, 37-13, $4,500
15th: Bradley Sullivan, Shawnee, Okla., 15 bass, 37-10, $4,500
16th: Lee Livesay, Longview, Texas, 15 bass, 37-9, $3,500
17th: Dillon Falardeau, Hixson, Tenn., 15 bass, 37-4, $3,500
18th: Chance Shelby, Denham Springs, La., 15 bass, 37-2, $3,500
19th: T.J. Martin, Claremore, Okla., 15 bass, 37-0, $3,500
20th: Greg Bohannan, Bentonville, Ark., 14 bass, 36-15, $3,500
21st: Brody Campbell, Oxford, Ohio, 15 bass, 36-13, $3,000
22nd: Travis Pitt, Niceville, Fla., 14 bass, 36-8, $3,000
23rd: Carter Nutt, Nashville, Tenn., 15 bass, 36-1, $3,000
24th: Tyler Weberg, Eugene, Mo., 13 bass, 34-1, $3,000
25th: Shane Long, Willard, Mo., 11 bass, 31-7, $3,000
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The top-finishing boater from each division (not including the winner) earned a $10,000 bonus. Those anglers included:
Central: Hayden O’Barr, Scottsboro, Ala., 6th place, $10,000
Northern: Tucker Smith, Birmingham, Ala., 3rd place, $10,000
Plains: Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., 2nd place, $10,000
Southern: Chad Mrazek, Montgomery, Texas, 7th place, $10,000
Southwestern: Riley Harris, Orange, Texas, 4th place, $10,000
Wild Card: Eli Brumnett, Wagoner, Okla., 10th place, $10,000
International: Luca Vittorio Della Ciana, Perugia, Italy, 46th place, $10,000
Overall, there were 118 bass weighing 267 pounds, 1 ounce caught by 25 pros Saturday. The catch included 21 five-bass limits.
MLF Italy’s Giovanni Ceccarelli brought four bass to the scale weighing 7 pounds, 1 ounce to win the co-angler division of the 2025 Toyota Series Championship and earn a new Phoenix 518 pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard engine, worth $33,500.
Ceccarelli’s three-day total of 14 bass weighing 27-2 earned him the victory by a 14-ounce margin over second-place co-angler Jeremy Bouldin, who weighed in 10 bass weighing 26-4 over the three days of competition, good for the second-place prize of $12,600.
The top 25 co-anglers at the 2025 Toyota Series Championship Presented by Phoenix Boats on Grand Lake finished:
1st: Giovanni Ceccarelli, Rimini, Italy, 14 bass, 27-2, Phoenix 518 pro w/115-hp outboard
2nd: Jeremy Bouldin, Kings Mountain, N.C., 10 bass, 26-4, $12,600
3rd: Michael Luckey, Lynchburg, Va., 11 bass, 25-2, $10,000
4th: James Cobbs, Vinemont, Ala., 12 bass, 24-14, $7,500
5th: Glenn Hall, Wellsville, N.Y., 11 bass, 24-4, $5,000
6th: Jakob Labelle, Hinesburg, Vt., 11 bass, 24-2, $4,000
7th: Scott Standafer, Milford, Ohio, 12 bass, 23-13, $3,500
8th: Tommy Pritchard, Bargersville, Ind., 10 bass, 21-5, $3,000
9th: Ben Burk, Norman, Okla., nine bass, 20-11, $2,500
10th: Kade Wesner, Lancaster, Pa., 11 bass, 19-12, $2,000
11th: Brent Jones, Okeana, Ohio, eight bass, 19-6, $1,800
12th: Les Brandenburg, Springfield, Mo., 10 bass, 19-5, $1,500
13th: Jason Wiley, Swainsboro, Ga., nine bass, 18-9, $1,500
14th: Joshua Paul, Oliver Springs, Tenn., six bass, 17-9, $1,500
15th: Will Lancett, Jacksonville, Ark., eight bass, 17-6, $1,500
16th: Mark King, Gurdon, Ark., nine bass, 17-0, $1,000
17th: Alex Moore, Chester, Ill., seven bass, 16-13, $1,000
18th: Kenny Manning, Bethpage, Tenn., seven bass, 16-12, $1,000
19th: Kyle Malone, Troy, Ohio, eight bass, 16-9, $1,000
20th: Ryan Steinhoff, Beulah, Colo., eight bass, 16-4, $1,000
21st: DJ Pugh, Overland Park, Kan., eight bass, 15-10, $900
22nd: Pop Catalin, Cookeville, Tenn., eight bass, 15-10, $900
23rd: Brian Durham, Dinwiddie, Va., seven bass, 15-6, $900
24th: Noah Dickneite, Freeburg, Mo., seven bass, 13-8, $900
25th: David Johnson, Memphis, Tenn., seven bass, 13-3, $900
The 2025 Toyota Series Championship Presented by Phoenix Boats at Grand Lake was hosted by the City of Grove and the Grove Convention & Tourism Bureau . The three-day, no-entry-fee championship event featured more than 350 pros and co-anglers from around the world competing for the top cash award of up to $235,000, plus numerous contingency bonuses.
The 2025 Toyota Series Championship Presented by Phoenix Boats will air on VICE Sports January 4 and January 11, 2026, at 9 p.m. ET.
The full field of anglers competed on Days 1 and 2 of the event, with the top 25 pros and top 25 co-anglers based on cumulative weight from the first two days continuing to the third and final day. The 2025 Toyota Series champions were determined by the heaviest three-day total weight.
The 2025 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats consisted of five divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern and Southwestern – each holding three regular-season events, along with the MLF International division and the Wild Card. The highest finishing pro from each division at the championship will claim a $10,000 bonus. The bonus will go to the second-highest finishing pro in the division represented by the overall champion.
The 2025 Toyota Series Championship field featured the top 25 pros, top 25 co-anglers and tournament winners from each of the five divisions; the top 25 pros and 25 co-anglers from the Wild Card division plus tournament winners; the highest finishing boater and co-angler from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Regional and the TBF at the All-American; the top three teams from the College Fishing National Championship; High School Fishing National Champions; TBF National Champions; and MLF International anglers from Canada, Italy, Mexico, Portugal, Spain and South Africa.
Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Toyota Series include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing Co., B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Deep Dive App, E3 Sport Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PiranhO2, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters 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.
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, Outdoor Channel, VICE, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV and Game & Fish TV, 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.
Fothergill and Jordan remain atop Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship
PORT ARANSAS, Texas — Early productivity played a key role for Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series pro Easton Fothergill and redfish pro Clark Jordan Jr., who maintained their lead on Day 2 of the Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter at Port Aransas.
After weighing a two-fish limit of 17 pounds, 3 ounces in the opening round, the leaders added a Day 2 limit of 16-8 and tallied a two-day total of 33-11. Fothergill, who hails from Grand Rapids, Minn., and Jordan, who makes his home in Pearland, Texas, head into Championship Sunday with a 4-pound, 7-ounce margin over second-place Tyler Williams and Chris Cenci.
“Who would’ve thought a kid from Grand Rapids would be out here chasing redfish,” said Fothergill, the reigning Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour champion. “Clark has been teaching me a lot about redfish and it’s been a blast watching him do his thing and learning from him.”
In its fifth year, the Redfish Cup Championship fields 10 two-angler teams — six comprising all redfish anglers and four pairing a Bassmaster Elite Series pro with a redfish pro. With a catch-weigh-release format, each team is allowed to bring in two fish per day within the 20- to 28-inch Texas slot limit.
Returning to where they fished on Day 1, Fothergill and Jordan caught their reds in the Upper Laguna Madre, south of Port Aransas. Jordan said he favors that region because it’s relatively protected and fishable in a variety of conditions.
“It’s clear water and shallow flats — the most consistent type of fishing you’re gonna find,” Jordan said. “You can locate as good a quality of fish as you can anywhere (within tournament boundaries).”
The leaders’ game plan comprised long casts with paddletail swimbaits and fast retrieves. Same as Day 1, they got the ball rolling quickly with their first keeper in the boat at 7:35 a.m. They had a limit of 14 pounds within an hour of the 6:45 takeoff.
“The way we’re fishing, we’re not getting many bites, so to get off to that fast of a start allowed both of us to slow down and really take our time through our areas,” Fothergill said. “That allowed us the confidence that we just needed two bites the rest of the day. We were just way ahead of the game early.”
Jordan said their first hour’s productivity removed the performance pressure that begins every tournament day.
“You can be as conditioned as you want, but you have a timeframe in your mind when you should have fish and if you’re not there, you’re doing something wrong, the clock’s ticking and you’re panicking,” he said. “Having those two fish early just eliminated any of that. Now we know we can follow the game plan.”
The leaders upgraded a few times throughout the day and, as Jordan noted, his team’s early start also gave them the comfort to invest a little more time in a promising area. That decision delivered major results.
“We went through an area, didn’t catch anything, made another drift maybe 50 yards from the first one and caught our heaviest fish of the day,” Jordan said. “Easton caught a real good one there in prefishing and yesterday afternoon, we caught an 8-pounder and a 7 back-to-back, so we knew that area had good fish.”
While Fothergill’s pleased with the way the first two days have unfolded, he’s mentally preparing for what will be a significantly tougher final round. A major cold front entering the area overnight will shave about 10 degrees off daytime temperatures and pummel the region with north-northeast winds of 25-35 mph.
“It’s not gonna be easy for anyone out there; it’s gonna test everyone in this field,” Fothergill said. “No lead is safe in this one. With that weather coming in, there’s no telling what’s gonna happen.
“But like I say in the bass world, the ones that test you are my favorite days. I look forward to getting out there, getting in the areas we feel good about, grinding it out and seeing what happens.”
Jordan agrees and adds: “I’m glad to have the lead we’ve got and I think that will go a long way tomorrow, but we could stumble bad tomorrow. I think a lot of people will stumble tomorrow.
“It’s good to have a little bit of cushion, but it’s gonna be tough on everybody tomorrow.”
Williams, a Bassmaster Elite Series angler, and Cenci, a Florida redfish guide, placed second on Day 1 with 15-1 and held their position by adding 14-3. Their two-day total is 29-4.
Also returning to the Laguna Madre, they fished an area in the upper lagoon and one farther south. Cenci said they started on the upper spot, later transitioned to the lower one and then returned to the starting area.
“Each of our areas was good for one fish and we only needed two,” Cenci said. “We caught one of the fish we weighed on the first spot and one on the second spot.”
Williams and Cenci caught their fish on 1/4-ounce Slayer, Inc. Predator Weedless Jigs with Slayer, Inc. SST XL Tiger Bait bodies.
Redfish pros Tony Vercillo and Darren Frost are in third place with 28-11. Their daily weights were 13-5 and 15-6.
“It was a really good day today,” Frost said. “We started off by pulling right up to a spot and caught one that was 7 1/2 within the first three or four casts.
“There was mullet everywhere and the water was coming around a couple of the points really good. It just looked right and we hammered on ’em for about 3 hours.”
Vercillo and Frost caught their fish on a mix of Precision Tackle Flats Intruder spoons, Aqua Dreams Spoons and Rapala Crush City The Mayor paddle tails.
Sunday’s takeoff is scheduled for 6:45 a.m. CT at Fisherman’s Wharf. The weigh-in will be held at the Wharf at 2:45 p.m.
All of the action can be found live on Bassmaster.com as well as on Roku throughout the three-day event.
This event is being hosted by Port Aransas Fisherman’s Wharf.
2025 Redfish Cup Championship Title Sponsor: Yamaha
2025 Redfish Cup Championship Presenting Sponsor: Skeeter Boats
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Bassmaster Junior Series, TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
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Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitte
Media Contact: Mandy Pascal, Communications Manager, 334-414-8677, [email protected]
2025 Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup presented by Skeeter 11/7-11/9
Port Aransas, Port Aransas TX.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Club/School Pts
1. Easton Fothergill - Clark Jordan Jr 0
Day 1: 2 17-03 Day 2: 2 16-08 Total: 4 33-11
2. Tyler Williams - Chris Cenci 0
Day 1: 2 15-01 Day 2: 2 14-03 Total: 4 29-04
3. Tony Vercillo - Darren Frost 0
Day 1: 2 13-05 Day 2: 2 15-06 Total: 4 28-11
4. Bryant Smith - Kevin Akin 0
Day 1: 2 12-08 Day 2: 2 14-08 Total: 4 27-00
5. Patrick Marsonek - Ryan Rickard 0
Day 1: 2 11-00 Day 2: 2 15-00 Total: 4 26-00
6. Carl Jocumsen - Robbie Hunzicker 0
Day 1: 2 06-15 Day 2: 2 16-15 Total: 4 23-14
7. Lance Reynolds - Austin Angel 0
Day 1: 2 13-00 Day 2: 2 10-11 Total: 4 23-11
8. Recie Tisdale - Jeremy Reeves 0
Day 1: 2 10-08 Day 2: 2 12-07 Total: 4 22-15
9. Bo Favre - Frank Risk 0
Day 1: 2 11-10 Day 2: 2 10-07 Total: 4 22-01
10. Mark Robinson - Mike Frenette 0
Day 1: 1 03-10 Day 2: 2 12-11 Total: 3 16-05
------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 9 19 114-12
2 10 20 138-12
------------------------------
19 39 253-08
Missouri’s Justin Luetkemeyer Takes Lead at the Toyota Series Championship Presented by Phoenix Boats on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees
Missouri pro leads by slim 3-ounce margin, Top 25 set for final-day in competition for up to $235,000
GROVE, Okla. (Nov. 7, 2025) – If you want some indication of how tough and volatile the fishing is on Grand Lake right now, you need only look at the leaderboard turnover. On Day 2 of the 2025 Toyota Series Championship Presented by Phoenix Boats , only four pros in the Top 10 from Day 1 managed to stay there, and the top two pros fell out of it entirely.
Moving up into the lead, Justin Luetkemeyer weighed 15 pounds, 5 ounces on Day 2 for a 29-13 total, while Roger Fitzpatrick moved into second with 15-2 to bring his total to 29-0. In third, Greg Bohannan tallied 29-5, and even Lee Livesay in 10th is within 2 pounds of the lead.
Link to Hi-Res Photo of Toyota Series Championship Day 2 Leader Justin Luetkemeyer
Link to Photo Gallery of Toyota Series Championship Day 2 Highlights
The clear trend through two days is that it’s good to be from the Ozarks. While proficiency on Ozark waters was not a guarantee of success, seven of the top 15 pros are clearly at home in the region – and, by extension, at home wrangling bass around docks, rocks and all that Grand Lake offers.
On Day 1, Luetkemeyer put together a solid bag on docks – exactly what you’d expect out of the young Lake of the Ozarks guide.
“I had a good practice. I wasn’t getting a lot of bites, but I was up here in the dirty water flipping, and I felt pretty good,” he said. “It was a grind, but I was catching bigger fish. Yesterday went well, and I don’t know what changed today. Either they weren’t there, or they weren’t biting.
“At 1:30 this afternoon, I had one 3-pounder and two 14-inchers,” he said. “We made a big run down to the dam, found some schooling fish and caught ‘em pretty quick.”
Luetkemeyer was fishing in college not long ago and actually finished eighth in the Abu Garcia College Fishing National Championship on Grand Lake in 2021, when the lake was partially iced over during practice and some teams broke out crappie jigs to catch the finicky bass. Now, he’s on the cusp of a huge payday if he can make the right calls tomorrow.
“It hasn’t really hit me yet,” he said. “A few hours ago, I was all upset because I didn’t think I was going to come close to making a check. But that’s why we never give up and why I love bass fishing.”
As for the game plan, it sounds like Luetkemeyer is going to set the flipping jig aside, at least to start.
“I’m probably going to start down (the lake) and maybe work my way back and see how it goes,” he mused. “But I think I’m going to run to the clear water tomorrow.”
The top 25 pros that advanced to the Championship Round on Grand Lake are:
1st: Justin Luetkemeyer, Osage Beach, Mo., 10 bass, 29-13
2nd: Roger Fitzpatrick, Eldon, Mo., 10 bass, 29-10
3rd: Greg Bohannan, Bentonville, Ark., 10 bass, 29-5
4th: Shane Long, Willard, Mo., 10 bass, 28-14
5th: Travis Pitt, Niceville, Fla., 10 bass, 28-11
6th: Adam Boehle, Warrenton, Mo., 10 bass, 28-8
7th: Hayden O’Barr, Scottsboro, Ala., 10 bass, 28-4
8th: Riley Harris, Orange, Texas, 10 bass, 28-3
9th: Broderick Luckey, Lynchburg, Va., 10 bass, 28-0
10th: Lee Livesay, Longview, Texas, 10 bass, 27-14
11th: Eli Brumnett, Wagoner, Okla., 10 bass, 27-12
12th: Chad Mrazek, Montgomery, Texas, 10 bass, 27-10
13th: Chance Shelby, Denham Springs, La., 10 bass, 27-5
14th: Tyler Weberg, Eugene, Mo., nine bass, 26-14
15th: Brody Campbell, Oxford, Ohio, 10 bass, 26-14
16th: Dillon Falardeau, Hixson, Tenn., 10 bass, 26-7
17th: Tucker Smith, Birmingham, Ala., 10 bass, 26-7
18th: Benjamin Travis, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 26-7
19th: Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., 10 bass, 26-5
20th: Buddy Benson, Dahlonega, Ga., 10 bass, 26-4
21st: Banks Shaw, Harrison, Tenn., 10 bass, 26-3
22nd: Carter Nutt, Nashville, Tenn., 10 bass, 26-2
23rd: T.J. Martin, Claremore, Okla., 10 bass, 25-15
24th: Jack Daniel Williams, Kingsport, Tenn., 10 bass, 25-10
25th: Bradley Sullivan, Shawnee, Okla., 10 bass, 25-9
For a full list of results visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 604 bass weighing 1,325 pounds, 10 ounces caught by 141 pros Friday. The catch included 94 five-bass limits.
After Day 2, both REDCREST 2026 berths were officially decided. Luca Vittorio Della Ciana of Perugia, Italy, secured the MLF International Division title, earning a $10,000 bonus and a coveted spot in REDCREST 2026. On the collegiate side, University of Montevallo’s Brody Robison of Dawson, Alabama clinched his own REDCREST qualification as the highest-finishing member of the College Fishing National Championship team. Both anglers will now advance to compete against the sport’s best at Table Rock Lake next spring, representing their divisions – and the next generation of Major League Fishing talent – on bass fishing’s most prestigious platform.
On the co-angler side, the race is just as tight or tighter. In first but tied by weight, Michael Luckey has 21-10 on nine fish. Technically in second, Glenn Hall also has 21-10 but on 10 fish. In third, Tommy Pritchard has tallied 21-5 through two days.
The top 25 co-anglers that advanced to the Championship Round on Grand Lake are:
1st: Michael Luckey, Lynchburg, Va., nine bass, 21-10
2nd: Glenn Hall, Wellsville, N.Y., 10 bass, 21-10
3rd: Tommy Pritchard, Bargersville, Ind., 10 bass, 21-5
4th: Giovanni Ceccarelli, Rimini, Italy, 10 bass, 20-1
5th: Jeremy Bouldin, Kings Mountain, N.C., seven bass, 18-13
6th: Ben Burk, Norman, Okla., eight bass, 18-13
7th: Jakob Labelle, Hinesburg, Vt., eight bass, 18-7
8th: Brent Jones, Okeana, Ohio, seven bass, 17-3
9th: Will Lancett, Jacksonville, Ark., seven bass, 15-10
10th: Les Brandenburg, Springfield, Mo., eight bass, 15-8
11th: Joshua Paul, Oliver Springs, Tenn., five bass, 15-6
12th: Brian Durham, Dinwiddie, Va., seven bass, 15-6
13th: James Cobbs, Vinemont, Ala., seven bass, 15-2
14th: Mark King, Gurdon, Ark., eight bass, 15-1
15th: Ryan Steinhoff, Beulah, Colo., seven bass, 15-0
16th: Kenny Manning, Bethpage, Tenn., six bass, 14-15
17th: Jason Wiley, Swainsboro, Ga., six bass, 14-12
18th: Kyle Malone, Troy, Ohio, seven bass, 14-9
19th: DJ Pugh, Overland Park, Kan., seven bass, 14-2
20th: Pop Catalin, Cookeville, Tenn., seven bass, 14-0
21st: Scott Standafer, Milford, Ohio, eight bass, 13-13
22nd: Kade Wesner, Lancaster, Pa., eight bass, 13-12
23rd: Alex Moore, Chester, Ill., six bass, 13-10
24th: Noah Dickneite, Freeburg, Mo., seven bass, 13-8
25th: David Johnson, Memphis, Tenn., seven bass, 13-3
The final 25 pros and co-anglers will take off Saturday at 7 a.m. CT from Wolf Creek Park, located at 963 N. 16th Street, in Grove. Saturday’s Championship weigh-in will also be held at the park and will begin at 3 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the daily takeoffs and weigh-ins and also follow the action online through daily “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts and daily coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Hosted the City of Grove and the Grove Convention & Tourism Bureau, the championship event features more than 350 pros and co-anglers from around the world, competing for a top cash award of up to $235,000. The field is now cut to just the top 25 pros and co-anglers heading into the final day of competition, the culmination of the 2025 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats season.
The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and Rob Newell will break down the extended action live on Championship Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. CT. MLFNOW!® is live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app and Rumble. T he 2025 Toyota Series Championship Presented by Phoenix Boats will air on VICE Sports January 4 and January 11, 2026, at 9 p.m. ET.
The full field of anglers competed on Days 1 and 2 of the event Thursday and Friday, with the top 25 pros and top 25 co-anglers based on cumulative weight from the first two days continuing to the third and final day on Saturday. The 2025 Toyota Series champions will be determined by the heaviest three-day total weight.
Pros and co-anglers can qualify for multiple contingency awards based on final standings in the championship, including the lucrative $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus for pros. The winning co-angler will earn a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard motor.
The 2025 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats consisted of five divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern and Southwestern – each holding three regular-season events, along with the MLF International division and the Wild Card. The highest finishing pro from each division at the championship will claim a $10,000 bonus. The bonus will go to the second-highest finishing pro in the division represented by the overall champion.
The 2025 Toyota Series Championship field features the top 25 pros, top 25 co-anglers and tournament winners from each of the five divisions; the top 25 pros and 25 co-anglers from the Wild Card division plus tournament winners; the highest finishing boater and co-angler from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Regional and the TBF at the All-American; the top three teams from the College Fishing National Championship; High School Fishing National Champions; TBF National Champions; and MLF International anglers from Canada, Italy, Mexico, Portugal, Spain and South Africa.
Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Toyota Series include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing Co., B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Deep Dive App, E3 Sport Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PiranhO2, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters 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.
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, Outdoor Channel, VICE, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV and Game & Fish TV, 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.
Fothergill & Jordan take Day 1 lead at Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship
PORT ARANSAS, Texas — The Lone Star State has been mighty cordial to Easton Fothergill, both in freshwater and salt.
Late-March saw the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series pro from Grand Rapids, Minn., win the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour at Lake Ray Roberts. Seven and a half months later, Fothergill teamed with Pearland, Texas, redfish pro Clark Jordan Jr. to lead Day 1 of the Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter at Port Aransas with a two-fish total of 17 pounds, 3 ounces.
“I’m having a blast learning all kinds of stuff about redfish from Clark,” said Fothergill, who previously had never caught this species. “It’s been a learning experience and every day, I get the hang of it a little more.”
In its fifth year, the Redfish Cup Championship fields 10 two-angler teams — six comprising all redfish anglers and four pairing a Bassmaster Elite pro with a redfish pro. With a catch-weigh-release format, each team is allowed to bring in two fish per day within the 20- to 28-inch Texas slot limit.
The first team to officially register a keeper fish, Fothergill and Jordan put a solid 7-pounder in the boat less than an hour after the 6:45 a.m. takeoff. The duo added another in the 7-pound range about an hour later and logged the day’s first 2-fish limit.
Shortly after 9, Fothergill stuck a 27 1/2-inch copper beauty that went 8-14 and culled out their first 7-pounder. A couple more culls got them to their total.
“Those were the best two fish we’ve caught all week, so it’s not like we’re on this quality fish,” Jordan said. “It just worked out today. When you have the Classic champ in the boat with you, things happen.
“We kind of over-achieved with what we expected to catch. We figured we’d have high 15-pound limits, but maybe this will help us for the rest of the tournament. Especially with (inclement) weather coming Sunday.”
Catching their fish with paddle tail swimbaits on lead head jigs, the leaders spent their day south of the John F. Kennedy Bridge, in the upper end of Laguna Madre. They chose this region because it tends to remain reasonably stable in a variety of weather conditions.
Jordan said he and Fothergill opted to trade quantity for quality by targeting areas likely to hold bigger fish. A discerning practice effort helped them identify areas with heavier fish and that allowed them to eliminate a lot of water.
“We talked about it prior to the event and this is a two-fish event and we have two anglers, so we both need one fish,” Jordan said. “We decided to fish our big stuff and swing for it.
“We could have gone to a spot and caught some 5- and 6-pounders early, but the conditions were good for fishing all day; so we just said, ‘Let’s get on our better stuff and hope for the best.’”
Fothergill said his freshwater power fishing prowess served him well, as he and Jordan covered large swaths of flats habitat to locate their fish.
“Chucking and winding is all that we were doing and I do that all the time in bass fishing, so it took a little while to dial in my cadence because we were drifting pretty fast with the boat — faster than I ever do bass fishing,” Fothergill said. “It took a little while to get a feel for what the redfish wanted, but once I got a couple bites, the confidence just kept growing.
“We got a couple of good bites really early and that got both of us feeling good right from the get-go. That’s a big deal up there because we’re not catching many fish. As long as we’re confident, I think good things will happen.”
Elite pro Tyler Williams and Chris Cenci are in second place with 15-1. Their big break came around 12:15 when Williams stuck a 27-inch fish that weighed over 7 pounds. This addition moved the team up from the bottom of BassTrakk’s unofficial standings to the No. 2 spot.
“You put me on fish and I can catch ’em here and there,” Williams said. “This is fun fishing; it’s something new to me. Probably the scariest part of this whole thing is trying to hold a redfish, they’re very slimy. Hopefully, we get to hold some more tomorrow.”
As Cenci explained, he and Williams started north of the Fisherman’s Wharf takeoff site, but after that area failed to impress, they ran south to the upper end of Laguna Madre. During practice, their better bites came in the southern area later in the morning, so the gave the northern area a look while waiting for the optimal southern period.
The anglers caught all of their redfish on Slayer, Inc. weedless jig heads and paddle tails. Their day-making fish came after a critical decision.
“I was about to move to another spot and Tyler said, ‘Let’s move over about 100 yards and make another drift,’” Cenci recalled. “That’s when he stuck the big one.”
Redfish pros Tony Vercillo and Darren Frost are in third place with 13-5. They also started on a spot north of takeoff and later ran south to the Laguna Madre.
Frost said the lagoon fish were more aggressive during practice, but despite a slower day, he and his partner remained optimistic with their main area. Vercillo surmised that the influence of Wednesday’s Beaver Moon — the year’s biggest and brightest moon — affected the fish and curtailed their feeding.
“The fish are there, we just need them to cooperate a little better,” Frost said.
The anglers ended up catching their better fish with a two-pronged strategy. Vercillo made long casts along the edge of a flat with a spoon, while Frost made shorter presentations and watched for possible sight-fishign targets with a Berkley Gulp! Shrimp on a jig head.
Saturday’s takeoff is scheduled for 6:45 a.m. CT at Fisherman’s Wharf. The weigh-in will be held at the Wharf at 2:45 p.m.
All of the action can be found live on Bassmaster.com as well as on Roku throughout the three-day event.
This event is being hosted by Port Aransas Fisherman’s Wharf.
2025 Redfish Cup Championship Title Sponsor: Yamaha
2025 Redfish Cup Championship Presenting Sponsor: Skeeter Boats
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Bassmaster Junior Series, TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
Florida’s Travis Pitt Leads After Day One of the Toyota Series Championship Presented by Phoenix Boats on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees
Pitt Leads by 3-Ounce Margin in the Competition for up to $235,000
GROVE, Okla. (Nov. 6, 2025) – Day 1 of the 2025 Toyota Series Championship at Grand Lake O' the Cherokees Presented by Phoenix Boats was about as tough as predicted. No pros or co-anglers caught 20 pounds, and a mere 13 pounds went a very long way. On Day 2, things are set up for a ton of leaderboard movement, but at the top, pros Travis Pitt and Tyler Weberg set themselves apart.
Leading, Pitt sacked up 18 pounds, 14 ounces and Weberg tallied 18-11 for second. In third, Greg Bohannan weighed 16-3, and, helped by a 6-pounder, Brody Luckey fished his way into fourth with 15-15.
On the co-angler side, Ben Burk caught five for 12-9 for the lead and Tommy Pritchard sits in second with 11-12. Overall, limits were pretty hard to come by for co-anglers, and the leaderboard looks ripe for movement on Day 2.
Leading the way, Pitt currently sports a Florida address (and he came out of the Southern Division), but he’s originally from the west, calling Lake Mead home. A delivery driver who fished the Toyota Series for the first time in 2025, Pitt is in the mix for some pretty big things if he can put together another solid limit tomorrow.
“Practice was bad – the worst practice I’d ever had,” he said. “If you would have told me I’d have that today, I’d have said you were nuts. It felt like I was at Mead today. The wind, the stuff I was fishing, I just settled in. I had a couple places where I was getting some bites, and today, I had a limit by 9 o’clock – they were going nuts.”
Culling three times and catching at least two limits of keepers, Pitt reacted to what he’s used to seeing in the desert.
“It’s bait,” he said. “Normally, the bait will show up, and then you’ll see bass moving in. In theory, those areas will get better. I can’t speak to this place. I pulled into some areas today and the bait was just gone [to] who knows where.”
As such, he’s not ready to declare victory just yet.
“Tomorrow could be another story,” he said. “What I’m seeing, I think it might stay, but you don’t know. Today I backed off of my stuff. I started to burn it down, but I was like, ‘Dude, this is not the day to do that.’”
One thing is for sure: Really early in the process, Pitt could make his move east pay dividends.
“I moved to try to make a run at doing something like this,” he said. “I wanted to fish something that could possibly take me someplace else. At the end of the day, I hate working. The only time I’m happy is when I fish.”
As you’d expect on Grand Lake, Ozark talent is very present on the leaderboard, but, considering that he’s never fished a tournament on Grand before, Weberg might not be the likeliest candidate. That said, he put it together as well as anyone, and he’s got the right skills for the moment.
“I’m a bank power fisherman, and this lake sets up really good for how I like to fish,” he said. “I had a good practice, so, if the stars aligned, I knew somewhere in the 18- to 20-pound range was possible today. It’s fishing tough. I didn’t get a lot of bites today. It was pretty much about making every bite count.”
Weberg is not burning through numbers by any means.
“This lake has taught me a lot,” he said. “You can’t let it get to your head; you’ve just got to keep your nose down and keep going – go back to your spots, re-fish everything, and new fish pull up. I’m nervous about tomorrow. I know how tough this lake is fishing. Just as easily as you can go out and get a good limit, you can go out and blank right now.”
The three-day, no-entry-fee championship, hosted by the City of Grove and the Grove Convention & Tourism Bureau, features the nation’s best Toyota Series pros and international anglers, and is the culmination of the 2025 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats season.
The top 20 pros after Day 1 on Grand Lake are:
1st: Travis Pitt, Niceville, Fla., five bass, 18-14
2nd: Tyler Weberg, Eugene, Mo., five bass, 18-11
3rd: Greg Bohannan, Bentonville, Ark., five bass, 16-3
4th: Broderick Luckey, Lynchburg, Va., five bass, 15-15
5th: Adam Boehle, Warrenton, Mo., five bass, 15-13
5th: Bradley Sullivan, Shawnee, Okla., five bass, 15-13
7th: Erik Luzak, Fenelon Falls, Ontario, five bass, 15-8
8th: Nicholas Dumke, Grand Rapids, Minn., five bass, 15-7
9th: Lee Livesay, Longview, Texas, five bass, 15-6
10th: Jack Daniel Williams, Kingsport, Tenn., five bass, 15-2
11th: Eli Brumnett, Wagoner, Okla., five bass, 15-1
11th: Chris Macy, Diamond, Mo., five bass, 15-1
13th: Justin Luetkemeyer, Osage Beach, Mo., five bass, 14-9
14th: Roger Fitzpatrick, Eldon, Mo., five bass, 14-8
15th: Matt McCluskey, Ashburn, Va., five bass, 14-6
15th: Hayden O’Barr, Scottsboro, Ala., five bass, 14-6
17th: Buddy Benson, Dahlonega, Ga., five bass, 13-15
17th: Dillon Falardeau, Hixson, Tenn., five bass, 13-15
19th: Shane Long, Willard, Mo., five bass, 13-14
19th: Mike Brueggen, Lacrosse, Wis., five bass, 13-14
19th: Brock Bila, Republic, Mo., five bass, 13-14
For a full list of results visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 731 bass weighing 1,690 pounds, 12 ounces caught by 169 pros Thursday. The catch included 119 five-bass limits.
The 2025 Toyota Series Championship will determine not only the overall champion, but also which standout anglers advance to REDCREST 2026. Representing the college ranks, University of Montevallo teammates Brody Robison and Peyton Sorrow are in a head-to-head race for the coveted REDCREST berth – with Robison off to a strong start in 28th place after catching five bass for 13 pounds, 3 ounces, while Sorrow sits in 77th with 10 pounds, 12 ounces. On the international side, Scandiano, Italy’s Leonardo Benassi leads the global contingent, weighing in 13 pounds, 13 ounces on Day 1 to claim 22nd place – a promising start in his fourth Toyota Series Championship appearance.
Ben Burk of Norman, Oklahoma, leads the co-angler division with five bass weighing 12 pounds, 9 ounces, followed by Tommy Pritchard of Bargersville, Indiana, who weighed five bass totaling 11-12 to end the day in second place. Co-anglers are competing for a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard.
The top 20 co-anglers after Day 1 on Grand Lake are:
1st: Ben Burk, Norman, Okla., five bass, 12-9
2nd: Tommy Pritchard, Bargersville, Ind., five bass, 11-12
3rd: Joe Lee, Midlothian, Texas, five bass, 11-7
4th: Michael Luckey, Lynchburg, Va., five bass, 11-0
5th: Glenn Hall, Wellsville, N.Y., five bass, 10-15
6th: Giovanni Ceccarelli, Rimini, Italy, five bass, 10-14
7th: Leonardo Dini, Arezzo, Italy, five bass, 10-11
8th: Jakob Labelle, Hinesburg, Vt., five bass, 10-5
9th: James Cobbs, Vinemont, Ala., five bass, 10-0
10th: D.J. Pugh, Overland Park, Kan., five bass, 9-13
11th: Brian Durham, Dinwiddie, Va., four bass, 9-11
11th: Ricky Sexton, Oliver Springs, Tenn., five bass, 9-11
13th: Kyle Malone, Troy, Ohio, four bass, 9-3
14th: Jeff Moss, Oronogo, Mo., five bass, 9-2
15th: Ben Bromley, Odessa, Mo., four bass, 9-0
16th: Joseph Casale, Nutley, N.J., four bass, 8-14
17th: Alex Moore, Chester, Ill., three bass, 8-11
18th: Clayton Hale, Grove, Okla., five bass, 8-8
19th: Jason Wiley, Swainsboro, Ga., three bass, 8-6
19th: Kade Wesner, Lancaster, Pa., five bass, 8-6
Anglers will take off daily at 7 a.m. CT from Wolf Creek Park, located at 963 N. 16th Street, in Grove. Weigh-ins will be held at the park and will begin at 3 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the daily takeoffs and weigh-ins and also follow the action online through daily “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts and daily coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and Rob Newell will break down the extended action live on Championship Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. CT. MLFNOW!® is live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app and Rumble. T he 2025 Toyota Series Championship Presented by Phoenix Boats will air on VICE Sports January 4 and January 11, 2026, at 9 p.m. ET.
The full field of anglers compete on Days 1 and 2 of the event Thursday and Friday, with the top 25 pros and top 25 co-anglers based on cumulative weight from the first two days continuing to the third and final day on Saturday. The 2025 Toyota Series champions will be determined by the heaviest three-day total weight.
Pros and co-anglers can qualify for multiple contingency awards based on final standings in the championship, including the lucrative $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus for pros. The winning co-angler will earn a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard motor.
The 2025 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats consisted of five divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern and Southwestern – each holding three regular-season events, along with the MLF International division and the Wild Card. The highest finishing pro from each division at the championship will claim a $10,000 bonus. The bonus will go to the second-highest finishing pro in the division represented by the overall champion.
The 2025 Toyota Series Championship field features the top 25 pros, top 25 co-anglers and tournament winners from each of the five divisions; the top 25 pros and 25 co-anglers from the Wild Card division plus tournament winners; the highest finishing boater and co-angler from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Regional and the TBF at the All-American; the top three teams from the College Fishing National Championship; High School Fishing National Champions; TBF National Champions; and MLF International anglers from Canada, Italy, Mexico, Portugal, Spain and South Africa.
Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Toyota Series include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing Co., B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Deep Dive App, E3 Sport Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PiranhO2, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters 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.
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, Outdoor Channel, VICE, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV and Game & Fish TV, 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.
Finding consistency will be key in final EQ at Lake Okeechobee
CLEWISTON, Fla. — To claim a spot in next year’s 2026 Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series field during the final 2025 Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifier presented by Bass Pro Shops, anglers will need to find consistency on a Lake Okeechobee that has been “all or nothing” as of late, according to local guide and social media guru Kane Weekley.
“It has been super hit or miss,” the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN angler said. “One day you’ll pull into a spot and catch almost 30 pounds and the next day you won’t catch anything. It’s not the peak spawning season, but there are early spawners moving in and I think that is why it is hit or miss. As well as some cold fronts.
“There’s going to be all sorts of things going on.”
Tournament days are scheduled for Nov. 13-15. Anglers will launch from Roland Martin’s Marina in Clewiston starting at 7 a.m. ET and will return for weigh-in at 3 p.m. The winner of the event will earn a spot in the 2026 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour while the Top 10 anglers in overall EQ points at the end of the tournament will earn an invitation to the Elite Series.
Since the Elite Series visited at the beginning of the year, water levels have dropped close to normal levels, which has allowed the vegetation to begin growing in earnest on the vast fishery. As a result, the water is cleaner throughout the lake than it's been in several years.
The improved water clarity and the reemergence of eelgrass, needlegrass and other grasses has Okeechobee on the upswing. Big bass have always lived in these waters, but anglers have been catching impressive stringers as of late.
“There are a lot of different areas that are fishable,” Weekley said. “I think people will spread out a lot. The community holes will still play, but there will be a lot of areas that people will be fishing in.”
Fall cold fronts have made repeating successes difficult, and the EQ field will face one of those cold fronts during practice.
Sunday’s forecasted high is 86 degrees, before the front moves through in the evening. Once the front moves through, Monday’s high will only be 72 degrees while Tuesday’s high will only rise to 67 degrees. The lows, meanwhile, will bottom out at 47 and 51 those two days, which is very chilly for south Florida.
“The first couple of days of practice will be tough for sure,” the 20-year-old said. “There is a chance it could be a little bit tougher than usual.”
While it could be a tough practice period, temperatures warm back up into the high 70s and low 80s for the tournament, and more importantly the lows will be closer to the 60-degree mark.
Weekley anticipates both prespawn and spawning largemouth to factor in this tournament, but those bites occur in completely different areas. Even though its November, water temperatures are still conducive for spawning activity. During his trips ahead of the tournament, Weekley noticed plenty of bucks in those spawning areas.
Targeting the shallow needlegrass with Texas-rigged worms, frogs and swim jigs will likely be the most productive pattern for spawners.
“The females just haven’t moved in like crazy yet,” Weekley said. “It could be next week. If the water temperatures stay between 72 to 80, that bite will still be good. The warmer the better.”
The prespawners are less predictable. The wind tends to dictate where the baitfish in the lake set up. Those prespawners can also choose to hit the bed at any time. But, if a pro can find the right group of bass, they can get a sizable limit in the box in a hurry. Spooks, swim jigs, Gambler Big EZ swimbaits and ChatterBaits will be popular baits for targeting this class of largemouth.
“There are some big fish around prespawn areas with some shad balls in the grass,” he said. “There have been times when big bass are busting shad out of the water. Depending on the wind, you can get right. But it can also be a total fail. It’s weather dependent.”
With how the weather is setting up, Weekley doesn’t anticipate a 30-pound bag being weighed-in, but he does think close to 67 or 68 pounds will be enough to win the tournament and claim a Classic spot.
“Most of the tournaments on Okeechobee are won within a single area. You Power-Pole down and stay in one spot or move around within an area. That seems to be a Florida thing. But, there might be some moving around in this tournament with how many different bites are going on. But it is hard to (pin down) the timing.”
Kentucky’s Matt Messer leads the Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers presented by Bass Pro Shops standings after two events with 175 points followed closely by Michigan’s Aaron Jagdfeld in second with 174 points. Alabama’s Fisher Anaya is third with 170 points, Pennsylvania’s Grae Buck is fourth with 170 points and Alabama’s Russ Lane is fifth with 164 points. Jace Lindsay (164 points), Bailey Gay (159 points), Brock Reinkemeyer (155 points), Sam Hanggi (153 points) and Jack Dice (149 points) round out the Top 10. Only 10 points separate Dice and 14th-place Pake South.
Bassmaster LIVE will be providing coverage of all three days of the 2025 Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifier at Lake Okeechobee presented by Bass Pro Shops. Days 1 and 2 will be available on Bassmaster.com and Roku from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. before Bassmaster.com carries the afternoon coverage from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Both the morning sessions and afternoon sessions of the final day of competition will be carried on both Bassmaster.com and Roku.
Visit Hendry County and Roland and Mary Ann Martin’s Marina and Resort are hosting the tournament.
2025 Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series Title Sponsor: Nitro Boats
2025 Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series Presenting Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops
2025 Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series Platinum Sponsors: Progressive, Toyota
2025 Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2025 Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Triton Boats, VMC, Yokohama
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, Nitro Boats Elite Qualifiers Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Bassmaster Junior Series, TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
Tackle Warehouse Renews Partnership with BAM Trail for 2026
Anglers to Continue Earning Exclusive Tackle Warehouse Rewards at Every BAM Event
Dixon, Calif. – November 2025 – The Bass Angler Magazine Tournament Trail (BAM Trail) is proud to announce that Tackle Warehouse has renewed its Level 1 sponsorship for the 2026 season.
This continued partnership ensures that anglers competing in BAM events will once again have the opportunity to earn $250 and $500 Tackle Warehouse Gift Cards at each tournament throughout the year.
Tackle Warehouse has been a longtime partner of Bass Angler Magazine, supporting the print publication for many years before joining forces with the BAM Trail during its launch. Now entering year three of the BAM Trail, the collaboration between these two industry leaders continues to deliver value to anglers and fans alike.
“Tackle Warehouse not only offers an incredible array of bass tackle, but they’ve also been an amazing partner to work with,” said Mark Lassagne, BAM CEO. “Their continued support is much appreciated, and we’re proud to have them as part of the BAM family as we grow this trail across the West.”
Joey Reggio of Tackle Warehouse added,“As longtime partners of Bass Angler Magazine, we at Tackle Warehouse are proud to continue our partnership with BAM Trail in support of our great Western anglers. Looking forward to following the action in 2026!”
As the BAM Trail prepares for its 2026 season, anglers and fans can look forward to even more exposure, bigger rewards, and opportunities.
Stay tuned — the BAM Trail continues to evolve into one of the greatest circuits to ever grace the West Coast.
About the BAM Tournament Trail
The Bass Angler Magazine Tournament Trail (BAM Trail) is powered by Bass Angler Magazine’s national print, digital, and media platforms, offering unmatched exposure across TV, YouTube, podcast, and social channels.
BAM Tournament Trail Divisions:
BAM Super 60 Pro Tour | BAM Pro-Am Series | BAM Scholastic Series | BAM Kayak Series
Proud Partners of BAM Tournament Trail:
BAM Trail is honored to be associated with its title sponsor, Bass Boat Technologies, and presenting sponsor, Tackle Warehouse
The trail is supported by Bass Cat Boats, Storquest, Chicken Ranch Resort, Ford Fairfield, Power Pole, Mercury Outboards, Black Bear Diner, Bridgford Foods, Bob’s Machine, Anderson Auto Group, Sticky Graphics, Jean Deleonardi Real Estate, Valley Outdoors and our conservation sponsor Fisherman’s Warehouse.
BAM TT tourism sponsors: Lake Don Pedro, City of Oakley, Lake Almanor Chamber, the Boardman Community Development , and the Feather River Tourism Association.
Tournament events include BAM Pro Tour (Super 60), Pro-Am, Scholastic and a Kayak Tours with a no entry Championship can be viewed on YouTube. Learn more here: BAM TRAIL, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
#bamtrail #bassanglermag #basscatboats #mercurymarine #bamsuper60 #bassfishingtournament
2026 Bassmaster Kayak Series schedule announced
2026 Bassmaster Kayak Series schedule announced
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. has announced the schedule for the 2026 Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, featuring six premier fisheries across the country as well as a championship event to be held in conjunction with the 2026 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour in Knoxville, Tenn.
“The 2026 schedule highlights some of the best and most diverse kayak fisheries in the nation,” said Steve Owens, Bassmaster Kayak Series tournament director. “From Florida vegetation to California clear water and everything in between, this trail reflects how kayak fishing continues to thrive nationwide. We’re also thrilled to once again tie our championship to the biggest stage in bass fishing, the Bassmaster Classic.”
GL Compton, B.A.S.S. Nation tournament manager, added, “The growth of the Bassmaster Kayak Series has been incredible. This lineup showcases the variety of fisheries that make kayak competition so exciting, including shallow river systems, deep clear lakes and everything in between. Each stop provides anglers with unique challenges and opportunities to demonstrate their skill and adaptability.”
The season kicks off February 7-8 on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes in Kissimmee, Fla., one of Florida’s most famous bass fisheries known for its vast vegetation, winding canals and potential for giant largemouth.
In March, qualifying anglers from the 2025 Bassmaster Kayak Series season will head to Chickamauga and Nickajack lakes in Chattanooga, Tenn., March 11-13 to compete in the Bassmaster Kayak Series Championship, which will be held alongside the 2026 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour. This Tennessee River stretch is renowned for its trophy-sized bass and vibrant springtime bite.
April will bring the series to Caddo Lake and Lake Bistineau in Shreveport, La., April 18-19. These cypress-filled bayous deliver scenic beauty and challenging fishing, offering opportunities to flip, pitch and power fish through heavy cover.
The next stop will take the trail east to Santee Cooper lakes in Clarendon County, S.C., May 30-31. Santee Cooper — comprised of Lakes Marion and Moultrie — is a historic big-bass fishery known for its flooded timber, shallow flats and trophy potential.
From there, the series will head west to Clear Lake in Lake County, Calif., June 6-7. California’s largest natural freshwater lake consistently ranks among the top bass lakes in the nation, offering both numbers and size thanks to its abundant forage and complex structure.
After the summer heat sets in, competitors will test their skills on the Susquehanna River in Bloomsburg, Pa., August 1-2. This shallow, rocky river is one of the premier smallmouth bass destinations in the country, where current and positioning play key roles in success.
The 2026 season will conclude August 22-23 in Appleton, Wis., at the Wolf and Fox rivers. These interconnected systems, flowing into Lake Winnebago, offer dynamic current-based fishing and the potential for both largemouth and smallmouth bass to finish the season strong.
For more information on the Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, visit Bassmaster.com/kayak.
2026 Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft Schedule
- Feb. 7-8 — Kissimmee Chain of Lakes, Kissimmee, Fla.
- April 18-19 — Caddo Lake/Lake Bistineau, Shreveport, La.
- May 30-31 — Santee Cooper Lakes, Clarendon County, S.C.
- June 6-7 — Clear Lake, Lake County, Calif.
- Aug. 1-2 — Susquehanna River, Bloomsburg, Pa.
- Aug. 22-23 — Wolf and Fox Rivers, Appleton, Wis.
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
Carson-Newman Grows its Lead in the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year
SAN ANTONIO, TX (November 5, 2025) – With approximately one month remaining in the fall semester, the Association of Collegiate Anglers updates the standings to the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia. 30 points qualifying events have been contested so far this season. The latest points update includes results from the MLF College Series tournament at Lake Hartwell, as well as numerous local and regional events.
Carson-Newman University holds on to the top spot, expanding its lead by 2,200 points. Both 2nd ranked University of Montevallo and 3rd ranked University of North Alabama did not compete in the MLF College Series event but did manage to remain in their respective spots near the top of college fishing’s only all-encompassing National Rankings system.
Top ranked Carson-Newman placed two teams in the Top 15 at Lake Hartwell. Hayden Burnett & Hunter Owens placed 7th, and Walker Larue & Joe Vaulton took 15th. Those two finishes earned Carson-Newman 2,300 points. In the previous points update, Carson-Newman led 2nd ranked Montevallo by a mere 35 points. That lead has now grown to 2,235 points, as Montevallo did not compete in the latest major college tournament.
Here is a look at teams that made significant moves up in the Top 25 for the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia in the latest rankings:
4) Wabash Valley College – Previously Ranked 5th
5) Lander University – Previously Ranked 10th
8) Auburn University – Previously Ranked 12th
9) Bethel University – Previously ranked 13th
17) Emmanuel University – Previously ranked 23rd
19) Murray State University – Previously Ranked 25th
20) Catawba Valley Community College – Previously Ranked 24th
View the complete updated rankings.
Emmanuel University, who moved up six places, earned the most points of any team to compete at Lake Hartwell. Logan Fisher & John Michael Ortman finished in 2nd, and Stephen Brooks & Xander Patton took 3rd. The two Top 3 finishes earned Emmanuel University 2,470 points.
Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech Nears All-Six Lockdown with 115 Anglers Committed for 2026 Season
Only nine spots remain before the roster locks in to only pros fishing all six stops plus Bass Pro Tour anglers; impressive field has earned more than $24 million in MLF career winnings
BENTON, Ky. (Nov. 5, 2025) – The field for the 2026 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech is nearly complete, with 115 pros now committed to all six stops next season. That leaves just nine spots remaining before the field is officially exclusive – once it hits 124 anglers, participation will be restricted to pros fishing all six events and Bass Pro Tour anglers.
The latest group of anglers to join the 2026 roster includes: Daniel Blackert, Brent Chapman, (Skeeter) Wayn Crosby, Ethan Fields, Kyle Glasgow, Lake Johnson, Aidan Kerlin, Clint Knight, Parker Lambert, Cal Lane, Neal McWhorter, Grant Meisenhelter, Riley Nielsen, Ricky Robinson, Roman Ryan, Cason Sanchez and Matteo Turano. This latest group further bolsters what’s already one of the strongest Pro Circuit lineups in years. See the current 115-pro roster below.
In total, the 115 committed anglers have combined to earn more than $24.3 million in career winnings through MLF events alone, representing a mix of veteran heavyweights, young stars on the rise and seasoned regional hammers ready to test themselves on a national stage.
“This roster is as competitive as they come,” said Kevin Hunt, Tournament Director of the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit. “The momentum behind the Pro Circuit right now is incredible, and with only a handful of spots left, we’re expecting to lock down the field soon. Once we hit 124 anglers that have committed to all six events, that’s it. No cherry-picking events, no one-off local entries – just a consistent field of the best anglers in the country battling it out for the title and $100,000 to $135,000 at each stop.”
The 2026 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit season will feature six regular-season events, each offering top-tier competition, national exposure and qualification opportunities for REDCREST and the Bass Pro Tour.
The enhanced Pro Circuit, which features $100,000 to first place ($135,000 including the Phoenix MLF Bonus) and at least $10,000 to the top 33% of the field, continues to attract both new and returning competitors from across the country. The 2026 season will culminate in the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Championship on Florida’s Kissimmee Chain of Lakes. The full schedule, announced earlier this year, is available at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Anglers interested in joining the 2026 campaign can enter by phone at 270.252.1000, or if you have questions about the events, call tournament director Kevin Hunt at 270.205.5155. For the complete Pro Circuit schedule, rules and payouts, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Proud sponsors of the MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Deep Dive App, E3 Sport Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Mercury, Minn Kota, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PirahnO2, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, VOSKER, WIX Filters and YETI.
For regular Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
The first 115 anglers that have signed up for all six stops on the 2026 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech are:
- Charles Abshire - Lake Charles, LA
- Caz Anderson - Haysville, NC
- Allen Armour - Cumming, GA
- Kyle Austin - Ridgeville, SC
- Teimuraz (Tom) Balachvili - Scarsdale, NY
- Jay (Striker) Barnett - Locust Grove, GA
- Matt Baty - Bainbridge, GA
- Josh Bertrand - San Tan Valley, AZ
- Daryl Biron - Meriden, CT
- Daniel Blackert - Richfield, OH
- Drew Boggs - Lebanon, TN
- Greg Bohannan - Bentonville, AR
- Alex Bradley - Wellford, SC
- John Brown - Wedowee, AL
- Dennis Burdette - Pembroke, VA
- Miles Burghoff - Dayton, TN
- Brody Campbell - Oxford, OH
- Tyler Campbell - Martin, GA
- Brett Carnright - Plattsburgh, NY
- Eddie Carper - Valliant, OK
- Brent Chapman - Lenexa, KS
- Mark Condron - Murfreesboro, TN
- Kyle Cortiana - Broken Arrow, OK
- Ben Cox - Andrews, SC
- (Skeeter) Wayn Crosby - Green Pond, SC
- John Dial - Winter Haven, FL
- Boyd Duckett - Guntersville, AL
- Tony Dumitras - Winston, GA
- Charlie Evans - Berea, KY
- Ty Faber - Pagosa Springs, CO
- Ron Farrow - Rock Hill, SC
- Ethan Fields - Breese, IL
- Mark Fisher - Wauconda, IL
- Terry Fisher - Decatur, AL
- Jeff Fitts - Keystone Heights, FL
- Shinichi Fukae - Harlem, GA
- Drew Gill - Mount Carmel, IL
- Kyle Glasgow - Guin, AL
- Kyle Goldstein - Paso Robles, CA
- Robert Grabow - Morgantown, WV
- Ethan Greene - Eufaula, AL
- Christian Greico - New Bern, NC
- Mitchell Grimsley - Hiawassee, GA
- Tommy Guthke - Anderson, SC
- Blake Hall - Rogersville, AL
- Will Harkins - Blairsville, GA
- Byron Haseotes - West Newton, MA
- Brian Hatfield - Spring City, TN
- Marshall Hughes - Hemphill, TX
- Lake Johnson - Trinity, AL
- Kelly (James) Jordon - Flint, TX
- Aidan Kerlin - Nags Head, NC
- Frank Kitchens Iii - Oxford, GA
- Gary Klein - Mingus, TX
- Clint Knight - Russellville, KY
- Parker Knudsen - Shakopee, MN
- Levi Kohl - Edinburg, IL
- Parker Lambert - Riegelsville, PA
- Bobby Lane - Lakeland, FL
- Cal Lane - Grant, AL
- Christopher Lane - Guntersville, AL
- Brian Latimer - Belton, SC
- Michael Leach - Shenandoah, TX
- Robby Lefere - Jackson, MI
- John Levesque - Nashua, NH
- Jared Lintner - Covington, GA
- Steve Lopez - Oconomowoc, WI
- Harbor Lovin - New Concord, KY
- Terry Luedtke - Burton, TX
- Matt Massey - Saint Augustine, FL
- Mike Mayo - Athens, TX
- Julius Mazy - Phoenix, AZ
- Bill McDonald - Greenwood, IN
- Brandon McMillan - Clewiston, FL
- Bryan McNeal - Madison, AL
- Neal McWhorter - Hiram, GA
- Grant Meisenhelter - Decatur, IL
- Jesse Millsaps - Jasper, GA
- Chad Mrazek - Montgomery, TX
- John Murray - Spring City, TN
- Britt Myers - Clover, SC
- Britt Myers Jr. - Clover, SC
- Riley Nielsen - Murray, UT
- Andrew Nordbye - Guntersville, AL
- Hayden O'Barr - Scottsboro, AL
- Terry Olinger - Louisa, VA
- Lane Olson - Forest Grove, OR
- Bruce Parsons - Arbela, MO
- Austin Pemberton - Tuscola, TX
- Keith Poche - Cecil, AL
- Matt Reed - Madisonville, TX
- Charlie Reed Jr. - Gloucester, VA
- Dusty Rice - Breaux Bridge, LA
- Marshall Robinson - Landrum, SC
- Marty Robinson - Landrum, SC
- Ricky Robinson - Greenback, TN
- Fred Roumbanis - London, AR
- Roman Ryan - Madison, WI
- Jackson Ryley - Clinton, IN
- Cason Sanchez - Flintville, TN
- Colby Schrumpf - Highland, IL
- Terry Scroggins - San Mateo, FL
- Banks Shaw - Harrison, TN
- Blake Smith - Lakeland, FL
- Miles Smith - Houma, LA
- Robert Sparks - Heflin, LA
- Tyler Stewart - Dubach, LA
- Troy Stokes - Trenton, MI
- Mike Surman - Boca Raton, FL
- Levi Thibodaux - Thibodaux, LA
- Matteo Turano - Puryear, TN
- Jason Vance - Battle Ground, IN
- Jimmy Washam - Stantonville, TN
- Joseph Webster - Hamilton, AL
- Thomas Wooten - Huddleston, VA
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, Outdoor Channel, VICE, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV and Game & Fish TV, 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.
Shreveport-Bossier City Set to Host MLF’s Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by Zenni
Fourth and Final MLF Fishing Clash Team Series event of 2025 to take place over six days next week at mystery fisheries
SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER CITY, La. (Nov. 5, 2025) – The fourth Major League Fishing (MLF) Fishing Clash Team Series Presented by Bass Pro Shops event of the 2025 season is set to take place next week, Nov. 16-21, in Shreveport and Bossier City, Louisiana – the Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by Zenni.
Hosted by the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission, the Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by Zenni is the fourth and final Fishing Clash Team series event of the 2025 season. In keeping with traditional MLF Cup protocols, Shreveport, Louisiana, was not revealed to Team Series competitors until six weeks prior to the start of the tournament. All fishable waters within 60 miles of Shreveport then went off limits to anglers. Fans watching the MLFNOW! livestream will find out the day’s competition waters right along with the anglers each morning.
“We are so excited to partner with Major League Fishing right here in the heart of Sportsman’s Paradise,” said Sara Nelms, Director of Sports for the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission. “Our waterways offer some of the best fishing in the world, and Shreveport-Bossier City will deliver nothing less than the world class hospitality Louisiana is known for.”
Fans are encouraged to follow the Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by Zenni online throughout the day on the MLFNOW!® live stream. Every minute of every event will still stream in full on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MLF and MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) apps, RFD-TV Now, Game & Fish TV, and Rumble, with the final period each day being broadcast live nationwide on RFD-TV. Post-produced episodes of the Fishing Clash Team Series will start in January 2026 on Outdoor Channel.
The 12 teams of professional anglers that will compete in the Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by Zenni in Shreveport-Bossier City, Louisiana, are:
Team 7Brew Coffee:
Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla.
Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala.
Team B&W Trailer Hitches:
Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas
Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La.
Team BUBBA:
Brent Chapman, Lake Quivira, Kan.
Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn.
Team Ferguson:
Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif.
Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala.
Team Fishing Clash:
Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla.
Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich.
Team Knighten:
Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn.
Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark.
Team Kubota:
Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio
Nick Hatfield, Greeneville, Tenn.
Team Lucas Oil:
Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill.
Marshall Robinson, Landrum, S.C.
Team O’Reilly Auto Parts:
Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J.
Mark Daniels Jr., Tuskegee, Ala.
Team Smokey Mountain:
Britt Myers, Lake Wylie, S.C.
Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla.
Team Star brite:
Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla.
Jacob Wall, New Hope, Ala.
Team YETI:
Fred Roumbanis, Russellville, Ark.
Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas
The MLF Fishing Clash Team Series Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by Zenni will also air on Outdoor Channel as six two-hour original episodes each Saturday afternoon starting May 9, 2026. The complete television schedule for the Fishing Clash Team Series on Outdoor Channel will be posted at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Proud sponsors of the MLF Fishing Clash Team Series include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Boat Technologies, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, E3 Sport Apparel, Epic Baits, Ferguson, Fishing Clash, Knighten Industries, Kubota, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, NITRO Boats, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Smokey Mountain Caffeinated Pouches, Star brite, Toyota, YETI and Zenni.
For complete details and updated information on the MLF Fishing Clash Team Series, 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, Outdoor Channel, VICE, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV and Game & Fish TV, 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.
Stacked field ensures high competition for Redfish Cup Championship
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Ryan Rickard has faced stiff competition before, but he’s anticipating a top-tier shootout when the Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter returns to Port Aransas, Texas.
Competition days will be Nov. 7-9 with daily takeoffs from Fisherman’s Wharf at 6:30 a.m. CT and weigh-ins each day back at the wharf at 2:45 p.m. With a catch-weigh-release format, each team will be allowed to bring in two fish per day within the 20- to 28-inch Texas slot limit.
The cumulative three-day weights will determine the winning team, and the top prize of $75,000 will be awarded at the end of the competition.
Rickard won the 2021 Redfish Cup Championship — also at Port Aransas — alongside Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series pro Chris Zaldain. This year, he teams with his Power-Pole Redfish Trail Team of the Year partner Patrick Marsonek.
With a second-place finish at the 2022 Redfish Cup Championship, again held at “Port A,” history certainly favors Rickard, but the Brandon, Fla., pro said he’s making no assumptions. If anything, Rickard’s looking forward to the challenge.
“This is the most stacked field we’ve ever seen,” Rickard said. “I know all the guys who are in this event and I know how they like to fish. This will be a very diverse tournament and that should make it very interesting for fans.”
This year’s event features six championship-caliber redfish teams and four hybrid teams, which will pair a redfish pro with an Elite Series angler. Representing the Elite Series are reigning Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour champion Easton Fothergill, Australian pro Carl Jocumsen, Bryant Smith and Tyler Williams.
The playing field is a big one, with tournament waters stretching from Port O’Connor, south to Bird Island in the Laguna Madre. This area includes several major bays, islands, oyster bars, marsh habitat and passes accessing the Gulf of Mexico.
“I think every area and every single style of fishing will come into play,” Rickard said. “The previous two times this event was held at Port Aransas, for the vast majority of time, we all liked to fish those grass flats with potholes and all the bait flow; but you have a lot of different guys this year that fish differently.
“I think that some of the northern areas might come into play, as well as the traditional guys that like to run all the way down south and get into the Laguna Madre.”
Rickard said he expects to find the Texas redfish in late-summer/early-fall transition. With water temperatures cooling, the fish will be leaving the deeper dropoffs where they spend much of the hot summer months in favor of the shallow flats where they can feed more easily.
“Those flats have a mix of pinfish, shrimp, mullet, crabs and pogies,” Rickard said. “There’s also a lot of needlefish, some ballyhoo and flatworms, as well. So, there’s a mixture of things these fish will be keyed in on.”
Rickard’s favorite redfish baits — paddletail jigs and weedless spoons — will be common choices among the field, as these baits allow anglers to cover water with a simple cast-and-wind presentation. Sizes and colors are determined by depth and water clarity, but in any scenario, Rickard suggests enhancing baits with scented gel.
“There will not be a single day where I won’t have the Pro-Cure Inshore Salt Water formula on my baits,” he said. “We’ll also see some topwater baits because, in that transitional time when those fish are pulling up on the flats, they will be looking up a little bit because of those ballyhoo, needlefish and mullet. My partner likes a Z-Man Kicker CrabZ, so we’ll see a lot of different baits play.”
While tidal flushing feels more pronounced near coastal passes, the Texas coast sees relatively small tides. Wind, on the other hand, can play a significant role in daily redfish behavior.
“A lot of us will be fishing grass flats, which will keep the water clean,” Rickard said. “If it’s windy, the water might get a little smoky (with sediment), which I tend to like. It’s clean, but it’s just not clear.
“In areas that don’t have a lot of grass to filter the water, if the wind really kicks up, it might make those areas a lot more murky. That doesn’t necessarily mean the fishing will be bad in those murky areas, but you will need to use some baits with more vibration like spoons, spinnerbaits, lipless baits and bladed jigs so the fish can feel them with their lateral lines.”
As Rickard notes, wind direction can prove just as impactful as its velocity. Tournament waters are flanked by long barrier islands with infrequent inlets, so a strong blow can create a bathtub effect.
“If you have a constant south wind, which is the typical flow of south Texas, and you get a cold front that completely flips (the wind direction), it could blow all the water in or out,” Rickard said. “That could be a really big thing because we could be practicing on a specific wind direction with a specific water level, but we might not have that on tournament day.
“The tides are minimal in this fishery, because the inlets that produce the tides are so few and far between, so it’s almost like a pendulum with the wind. If it blows one direction, it’ll blow it all out; if it blows another direction, it’ll blow it all in.”
While most of the field will likely stick to the interior habitat elements, Rickard said the jetties at Port O’Connor or Port Aransas will likely see some level of attention. As he pointed out, Michael Frenette and Mark Robinson won the 2024 Redfish Cup Championship at Florida’s Apalachicola Bay mostly by fishing the Government Cut jetties.
“You really have to know how to fish the jetties, but that can be where you find some really heavy fish,” Rickard said. “There are only a few passes (within tournament boundaries) where all the fish are coming in and going out, so that could be a big-time play for someone.
“Whether that stays consistent for multiple days, I don’t know. Usually, those jetty fish are the oversized fish, but if someone catches those slot-sized fish at the jetty, the rest of us might be in trouble.”
No question, variables are many and the pressure to perform will be sky high. However, everyone in the field is well acquainted with fierce competition and Rickard said the winning anglers will be the ones that best manage the pressure and execute on their game plan.
“Stay calm and stay focused, because there’s no telling what we’re going to get in terms of conditions,” Rickard said. “If you get off your game plan, you’re gonna start fishing scattered and you’re gonna start fishing really fast. If you get desperate, that’s gonna be a disaster.”
Tournament teams will be seeking high-slot redfish in the 7-plus-pound range. In 2021, Rickard and Zaldain won with a three-day total of 43 pounds, 4 ounces. A year later, Sean O’Connell and Edward Adams took first place with 48-3.
All of the action can be found live on Bassmaster.com as well as on Roku throughout the three-day event.
This event is being hosted by Port Aransas Fisherman’s Wharf.
2025 Redfish Cup Championship Title Sponsor: Yamaha
2025 Redfish Cup Championship Presenting Sponsor: Skeeter Boats
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Bassmaster Junior Series, TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
MLF Executive Vice President, General Manager, Kathy Fennel, Diagnosed with Stage 4 Cancer
Hall of Famer to take leave of absence as she battles the disease
BENTON, Ky. (Oct. 31, 2025) – Major League Fishing’s Executive Vice President and General Manager, Kathy Fennel, has been diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer and will take a leave of absence from the organization as she pursues treatment.
“This all transpired very quickly, and I’m still processing the diagnosis, but what I know for certain is that I will fight, and that I am loved,” Fennel said. “The outpouring of support I’ve already received is overwhelming. Our team at Major League Fishing is the best in the world, and they will continue to provide the highest level of service to our anglers, sponsors and fans as I work toward defeating this indiscriminate disease.”
Fennel is a pioneer in the sport having served Major League Fishing and its predecessors, Fishing League Worldwide and Operation Bass, since 1982. She is a 2015 inductee into the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame, a 2022 inductee into the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame and a 2023 inductee into the Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame. She was named to Sports Business Journal’s 2023 class of Game Changers: Women in Sports Business, and in 2025 received the American Sportfishing Association’s prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award.
In addition to her position at Major League Fishing, Fennel serves on the American Sportfishing Association board of directors, Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation board of directors and Kentucky Lake Economic Development board of directors.
“This diagnosis is heartbreaking for everyone who knows Kathy,” said Major League Fishing President and CEO Boyd Duckett. “She is universally loved and admired by everyone who has ever met her. She is strong and empathetic, always looking out for those around her. Those same qualities will help guide her through this diagnosis and the treatments to come. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.”
Anyone who would like to wish her well may send correspondence to Major League Fishing, 30 Gamble Lane, Benton, KY 42025, ATTN: Kathy Fennel. Emails may be sent to information@
