B.A.S.S. announces new partnership with Lippert to sponsor 2026 Elite Series Event and Pro-Am Tournament
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. is proud to welcome Lippert as the newest partner in the Bassmaster family, with the company stepping in as title sponsor of a 2026 Bassmaster Elite Series event (location to be announced) and the presenting sponsor of a Pro-Am tournament held in conjunction with that Elite event.
The partnership bridges two forces dedicated to the outdoor lifestyle — Lippert, a leader in products that power adventures from the driveway to the dock, and B.A.S.S., the world’s authority on bass fishing. For fans, this means not only another action-packed stop on the Elite Series but also a Lippert Pro-Am tournament where special guests will get the chance to compete alongside the best bass anglers in the world.
“We’re incredibly excited to partner with Lippert and welcome them to the Bassmaster family,” said Phillip Johnson, Chief Operating Officer of B.A.S.S. “Lippert’s dedication to innovation, performance, and the outdoor lifestyle is a perfect fit for B.A.S.S. and our community of anglers. This partnership isn’t just about event sponsorship — it’s about connecting with fans who live for the outdoors, whether that’s on the water, the road, or the trail. The addition of the Lippert Pro-Am is going to bring an exciting level of energy and engagement to the Elite Series.”
Lippert’s influence on the outdoor experience is broad and deep. From CURT towing gear and Ranch Hand truck protection to UWS storage solutions and Lewmar’s growing marine line, including cutting-edge shallow water anchors, Lippert brands are found wherever adventure begins.
“We’re excited to take our partnership with Bassmaster to the next level,” said Jarod Lippert, Chief Marketing Officer of Lippert. “At Lippert, we cover pretty much all products that enhance the outdoor lifestyle — from the truck to the boat to the RV. Whether it’s CURT towing gear, Ranch Hand protection, or Lewmar’s new shallow water anchors, our brands are built to perform where it counts. We’re proud to be one name with a strong family of brands behind it, showing up for the doers, the explorers, and everyone who makes the outdoors their way of life.”
Lippert’s Director of Marine Aftermarket Sales Harcourt Schutz added, “What we value most about Bassmaster is the loyalty — to the sport, to the community, and to brands that show up and deliver. That’s how we’ve earned trust across CURT, Ranch Hand, UWS, and now our growing marine lines. This partnership is about building relationships, not just awareness, and that’s what drives long-term success.”
The specific location and dates for the 2026 Bassmaster Elite Series event presented by Lippert will be announced soon. In the meantime, fans can look forward to a tournament week packed with Elite competition, a one-of-a-kind Pro-Am experience, and the unmistakable presence of Lippert and their family of outdoor brands.
For more information about the 2026 Bassmaster Elite Series and the Lippert Pro-Am, visit Bassmaster.com.
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, 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, 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.
FluxJet Takes Home Industry's Most Coveted Award
|
|
RLVNT ROGUE Technology
|
Specifically designed for fishing, the freakishly lightweight, fitted, and light-blocking frame overflows with RLVNT technologies, including Trivex® lenses and ScreenVu™ |
|
FINLAYSON, MN (July 15, 2025) – True to their name which means, “Solving Real Life Vexes with New Technology,” Minnesota-based hi-tech sunglasses manufacturer, RVLNT, is proud to introduce another frame style to their burgeoning collection. Developed explicitly for fishing, the new RVLNT ROGUE is a lightweight, narrow-fit, wrap-style frame, which fits comfortably yet snugly to your face, while enhancing field of vision with its optimal wrap. Offering maximum sun protection and ease of wear, ROGUE is perfect for the boat, dock or bank. “We’re really proud of this new RLVNT frame, bringing our total frame family to 14 different models,” said RLVNT Sales Director, Pat Kalmerton. “Beta testers were immediately drawn to ROGUE’s contemporary profile and lightweight construction.” A frame that sits well on about every face, ROGUE is lightweight – almost like you’re not wearing sunglasses at all. Neither glass nor polycarbonate, ROGUE lenses are made of the super-material Trivex®, which has the same optical quality as the human eye and is remarkably shatter and scratch resistant. |
|
|
|
RLVNT ROGUE (Shown with Black Frame/Chameleon Tech/Blue Mirror) |
|
Why does Trivex® blow away polycarbonate? Trivex is a contemporary, high-performance lens material celebrated for its superior optical clarity, ultra-lightweight comfort, and exceptional strength. Originally created for military applications, RLVNT has adapted Trivex for consumer eyewear. Optical Quality: Trivex has a high Abbe value of 43–45, which means it offers less color distortion and sharper vision than polycarbonate, which has a lower Abbe value (about 30). Lightweight: Trivex is the lightest commonly used lens material—even lighter than polycarbonate and other high-index plastics, and markedly lighter than glass. Impact Resistance: Trivex provides superior impact resistance, passing stringent safety standards and making it ideal for boating, fishing, and hunting. UV Protection: Trivex lenses block 100% of UVA and UVB rays, offering full protection from harmful sunlight. Chemical Resistance: Trivex is highly resistant to chemicals and can be safely cleaned with common household products like Windex and alcohol, unlike polycarbonate. Durability: Its structural rigidity and resistance to cracking makes Trivex longer-living than polycarbonate. Light Transmittance: Trivex allows 91.4% of light to pass through, the highest among lens materials, contributing to bright, clear, and crisp vision. |
|
|
ScreenVu™ and Chameleon Technology Kalmerton continued: “The RLVNT ROGUE is more than just another pair of polarized fishing sunglasses. With our Chameleon technology, the lenses lighten and darken in response to the available light. This perfectly coincides with dawn, dusk, and slightly overcast conditions when other sunglasses are too dark, but you still want definition, glare reduction, and be able to see into the water. Chameleon Tech does all that.” The RLVNT Chameleon lens also provides an undisturbed view of your digital screens with ScreenVu™. You can comfortably view your phone, smartwatch, and fish finder screen without straining your eyes or constantly adjusting your viewing position. RLVNT’s ScreenVu polarizing technology reduces glare and enhances contrast, making seeing what’s on your screen easier than ever. The ROGUE frame is offered in three unique colors: Matte Black, Brown Gradient, and Camo. |
|
|
How do you pick the best ROGUE version for your situation and use? First, you need to choose your base lens color, which can be Brown for optimized for enhancing warm colors in low light, cloudy or shady environments. And Grey is great for bright sunshine and reducing brightness without affecting the color balance. The third option is the company’s most popular—Chameleon, which is light adapting for all-day adventures and features ScreenVu™ for representing digital device screens crisp and clear. Second, it’s time to pick the mirror style that meets your adventure. ROGUE is available in eight finishes: |
|
|
RED MIRROR Features: Lowers reds and enhances greens and blues Best Use Case: Designed for those fishing high iron or muddy waters with its ability to lower reds and enhance greens and blues |
|
|
GREEN MIRROR Features: Lowers greens and enhances reds and browns Best Use Case: Great for fishing in heavy greenery; it lowers greens and enhances reds and browns |
|
|
ROSE GOLD MIRROR Features: Lowers reds and oranges and enhances blues and greens Best Use Case: Perfect for any environment with how it lowers reds and oranges and enhances blues and greens |
|
|
BLUE MIRROR Features: Lowers blues and enhances reds, golds, and browns Best Use Case: Classic coastal/offshore mirror that lowers blues and enhances reds, golds, and brown |
|
|
BRONZE MIRROR Features: Maximum glare reduction Best Use Case: Best for maximum glare reduction with bright reflections like snow and ice |
|
|
SMOKE MIRROR Features: Maximum glare reduction for sensitive eyes Best Use Case: Good for glared reduction and most suitable to wearers with especially sensitive eyes |
|
|
SUNFIRE MIRROR Features: Lowers reds, yellows, and oranges and enhances blues, violets, and greens Best Use Case: Optimized to lower reds, yellows, and oranges while enhancing blues, violets and greens, catering to those fishing in brown or red environments |
|
|
CONCEALMENT Features: Prevents UV reflection from all angles Best Use Case: Provides UV invisibility from all angles—in other words, invisibility to game and fowl when sitting in the blind |
Boosting Sonar Visibility
|
Mad Scientist Tackle’s new LS Snipin’ Jig developed to generate the maximum sonar return and fish appeal |
|
FINLAYSON, MN (July 15, 2025) – Looking for the absolute brightest and crispest return when sniping bass, walleyes, crappies, and more with forward-facing-sonar (FFS)? Look no further than Mad Scientist Tackle’s new LS Snipin’ Jig, which sports six sides and 18 total facets to provide the strongest, most reliable sonar return when stalking fish with FFS. “Sniping bass, walleyes, and crappies has become the way to catch fish with today’s forward-facing sonar,” said Mad Scientist Tackle Sales Director, Patrick Kalmerton. “Especially in the tournament world, if you aren’t fishing with FFS, it’s hard to compete. And now, even everyday anglers are equipped with FFS and employing the same techniques and baits.” |
|
|
Kalmerton continued: “But one of the biggest challenges is seeing the bait fall with sonar, especially at long distances and with smaller presentations. Sure, tungsten is one answer, but then you get a fast rate of fall, which sometimes turns the fish off.” “We figured out a better way was to introduce a lead jig with the right, slower rate of fall, but design it in such a way that it would return solid sonar signals, even stronger than tungsten can produce. That’s the origin of the Mad Scientist Tackle LS Snipin’ Jig, with it six sides and an unprecedented 18 flat facets to reflect sonar and show up nice and clear on your screen.” Kalmerton also said the Mad Scientist Tackle crew intentionally designed the LS Snipin’ Jig with a short shank for pairing with smaller plastics and live bait, making it a do-all for bass, walleye, and crappie anglers. Minnow-shaped soft plastics in the 3- to 4-inch range harmonize with the LS Snipin’ Jig. Consider FFS-specific soft plastics like the Megabass Hazedong Shad, Castaic Jerky J, Keitech Shad Impact, and 6th Sense Juggle Minnow. |
|
|
The LS Snipin’ Jig’s sonar reflectivity isn’t limited to FFS, either. It’s a great jig for vertical fishing applications where it’s important to see your lure in real-time, like when jigging deeper for crappies, walleyes, and even bass. And then you get to Mad Scientist Tackle’s pioneering and eye-popping APEX Vision coatings. Feedback has shown that the amplifying APEX Vision coatings enhance catches, drawing fish to the bait when other traditionally-painted or naked-colored jigs won’t spur fish to react. “Our APEX Vision coatings really shine in stained and murky waters,” explained Kalmerton. “You might see the fish on your FFS screen, but unless you’re right above them, it can be hard to get bit. Our field testers are seeing that fish will scoot over to investigate Mad Scientist coated jigs, which gives you a margin of error on the cast.” If you’re fishing with FFS and looking for a better sonar return on your jig, then you’re going to want to give the Mad Scientist Tackle LS Snipin’ Jig a shot. Preliminary testing proves that they’re big-time fast food for all kinds of fish—and difficult, pressured fish at that! |
|
|
LS Snipin’ Jig FEATURES:
MSRP $5.99 (3 per pack) |
|
|
About APEX Vision Colors: Made For the Way Fish See All Mad Scientist Tackle baits start off as either nude, pearl, or black base lures that are then customized through a multistage process whereby they end up in an APEX Vision coating, which radiate color in the visible, UV, and infrared spectrums, mimicking real baitfish scales and making it highly visible to predatory fish. Available colors include Red, Blue, Green, Gold, Pink, and Natural. The novel coatings were developed to appeal to the way fish see, creating flashing iridescent colors in visible, UV, and infrared spectrums that attract fish from farther than ever. Here are recommendations for when to use each APEX Vision color: |
|
|
APEX +RED: Proven to entice reaction bites, Apex +RED imitates bleeding baitfish so perfectly that predatory fish can’t resist. It’s also the best choice for fishing in the green, algae blooms of late summer. |
|
|
APEX +BLUE: In stained to dark water, APEX +BLUE outperforms other colors. Thanks to the iridescent flash of the lure, fish see it in stained to murky water conditions with low light. |
|
|
APEX +GREEN: One of the best colors on any body of water, APEX +GREEN resembles young-of-the-year and other baitfish. It works best in spring and summer in clear and stained water. |
|
|
APEX +GOLD: Gold is a standard in every angler’s arsenal, but APEX +GOLD has brought fishing to a whole new level. It resembles a school of baitfish/minnows and is a great choice year ‘round in any water color. |
|
|
APEX +PINK: One of the most popular colors to attract predator fish from a distance. It works well in clear and stained water conditions. |
|
|
APEX +NATURAL: Resembles crayfish and gives off a more natural presentation, especially when fishing near rocks. It performs well in clear and stained water. |
EGO Fishing Lively & Releasable - Tournament Weigh-in Bag
|
Whitewater - For the Hard Working Angler
|
Whitewater Fishing’s new Riparian Jacket and Bib are designed for those who take fishing as seriously as their dream job |
|
MUSKEGON, Mich. (July 14, 2025) – Fishing can be work. Yes, we said it. Folks are always talking and daydreaming about fishing more and working less – an admirable concept. But, frankly, sometimes a hard day in the boat feels like work. And for those journeyman anglers who attack fishing like they’re aiming for a raise, Whitewater Fishing gives you the new Riparian™ Jacket and Bib. |
|
|
GRAPHITE |
|
|
BLACK |
|
|
BLACK |
|
Think of that guy or gal that’s always first to the bow to the pull the anchor. Or rerig tangled lines with frozen fingers while others have “alligator arms”. Or willingly be the “net-man”, letting the rest of the crew fight and hold fish for Facebook posts. That’s a Riparian angler… Riparian is a hardworking, two-layer rainsuit built for tasks on the water while simultaneously providing the ultimate weather protection. As always, fabrics and construction were ground zero in the development of Riparian. “The Riparian Jacket and Bib are constructed from tough mini-ripstop, 4-way stretch nylon/spandex with a smooth polyester lining,” said Whitewater Fishing Marketing Director, Steve Allie. “We focused on durability, but at the same time made Riparian fit and feel comfortable, like everything we design.” The only things Riparian has in common with those heavy, boxy, yellow longshoreman suits are waterproofness and durability. In fact, Riparian’s 4-way stretch nylon/spandex with laminate boasts 20k waterproof and windproof ratings. A 20k waterproof rating is considered excellent, suitable for heavy rain, wet snow, and high-pressure conditions such as sitting or kneeling on wet surfaces. |
|
|
Supplementing the fabric’s waterproofness are fully taped seams. If a seam can’t repel water, the fabric’s watertightness doesn’t matter. Each strategically cut and sewn fabric panel in the jacket and bib are fully taped. Riparian seams simply don’t leak. And why all the “strategically cut and sewn fabric panels”? Because Whitewater fabric panels represent areas of motion. Riparian is designed to fit and move with the human form. The workhorse Riparian jacket sports a blitz of other foul weather features, too. First, the front zipper is shrouded with an extra wide triple storm flap. The crisscrossing panels keep wind and water soundly on the outside. The front zipper is special as well. The reliable, two-way AquaGuard® zipper is water-resistant, adding yet another layer of defense. The AquaGuard influence doesn’t end there, either. Riparian boasts a total of seven AquaGuard zippers on the jacket alone, and another three on the bib. The jacket features an AquaGuard zippered chest, waist, and hard-warming pockets. On the bib, you’ll find a two-way AquaGuard main zipper and chest storage pocket. |
|
|
The Riparian hood is distinguished as well. The three-piece hood features multiple adjustment points for a customized fit. The adjusters and cords are concealed, too, keeping the components from snagging anything while maintaining a finished look. In the wrist area you’ll appreciate the Riparian jacket’s hook-and-loop cuff. Comfortably secure it to keep rain out or adjust to accommodate inside layers or gloves. Other Riparian jacket callouts include a secure D-ring to connect a safety cord/engine kill switch and purposefully placed reflective tape to ensure visibility in low-light conditions. The Riparian bib benefits from all the same waterproof, windproof, and durable features as the Jacket, and then offers its own specializations. For openers, adjustable suspenders perfectly center on your shoulder, while added silicone grip secures them in place. Every angler out there has fell victim to suspenders slipping off their shoulders underneath a jacket – super uncomfortable |
|
|
Fit and function are further fortified with dual, high-strength and molded waist adjusters. These let you lessen the weight from your shoulders and share it with your hips, consequently reducing the neck and back fatigue often created by a long day on the water. Full length zippers lend quick on-and-off with the Riparian bibs, even with footwear. The AquaGuard zipper itself is sheltered by storm flaps as well. AquaGuard zippers also protect a pair of perfectly situated handwarmer pockets. The total pocket-package also includes two spacious side cargo pockets to accommodate items like gloves and keys. Lastly, hook-and-loop adjusters at the ankles can customize fit to your boot, deck shoe, or open ankle and flip-flops. |
|
|
Riparian Jacket FEATURES:
MSRP $269.99 |
|
|
Riparian Bib FEATURES:
MSRP $269.99 |
Massena Set to host Tackle Warehouse Invitational Season Finale – Stop 6 Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches on the St. Lawrence River
MASSENA, N.Y. (July 15, 2025) – The sixth and final regular-season Major League Fishing (MLF) Tackle Warehouse Invitational event of 2025 is set to visit Massena, New York, next week, July 25-27, on the St. Lawrence River – the Tackle Warehouse Invitational Stop 6 Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches.
The three-day Invitational tournament, hosted by the Town of Massena, will feature professional bass anglers competing for a top prize of up to $115,000. Anglers will take to the river to catch their five biggest bass each day, and the winner will be determined by the heaviest three-day cumulative total.
“Massena is a family-oriented village and town, and we are so proud to welcome Major League Fishing, their anglers and fans to the northern part of St. Lawrence County,” said Ray Lancto, Tourism and Fishing Liaison for the Massena Town Board. “Our area is blessed with three beautiful rivers, which truly creates an anglers’ paradise. Our fishing is legendary, and our local residents encourage and welcome visitors. Please enjoy your stay and return with your families to come and see us again!”
“Massena is excited to host the Tackle Warehouse Invitational event this year. Some of the finest anglers in the world are part of this event, and partnering with Major League Fishing is a welcomed opportunity to help Massena continue to build our reputation as a national fishing destination,” said Don Meissner, Director of Tourism for the Town of Massena.
MLF runs tournaments out of Massena pretty regularly, and that means the fishing is a pretty known quantity to a large degree – although anglers are learning more about the river every year.
Last August, the Northern Division of the Toyota Series finished the season on the St. Lawrence and Casey Smith earned the win with 72 pounds, 1 ounce, over three days. It was one of the best events we’ve seen out of Massena (with Lake Ontario off-limits) and seven anglers weighed more than 25 pounds on Day 1 – stunning weights.
If you want to take it back to a time when forward-facing sonar wasn’t a big factor, the 2019 Toyota Series event is worth a look. Then, Wayne Vaughan won, fishing mid-river, and Scott Dobson finished second, fishing near the cutoff line far to the west. It took 63-5 to win, and consistency was very hard for anglers to maintain – plenty of pros followed up a 23-pound bag with a bag in the teens. We’ll see how things shake out on tournament day, but, it’s a good bet that doing well on Day 2 is going to be critical in this event – usually it is hard to move up and down the leaderboard in smallmouth tournaments, but for the Invitationals event, that may not be the case.
Sitting at 39th in the points, Brett Carnright of Plattsburgh is heading to his home turf with the championship on the line. With three Top 10s to his credit on the St. Lawrence, Carnright should be well-equipped for the final push, and he thinks we’re in for a great event.
“That time of year, typically, the biggest smallmouth live by the most current or the coldest water,” Carnright said. “So I expect a lot of fish to be caught deep. But, of course, it’s the St. Lawrence River, so fish are always caught shallow as well. But I think the predominant deal will be fishing deep, near or close by to at least 100 feet of water. So, high places, shoals, bars, and stuff that is very close to 100 to 150 foot of water. That’s usually where the coldest water is, and it’s usually where the biggest smallmouth live.”
Carnright figures on a winning total of 71 pounds or better, and said that he thinks the lack of forward-facing sonar on Day 2 may not impact the weights much.
“If this was a lake-only tournament, 2D out deep would be a big deal because they really don’t like to bite anymore under the boat,” Carnright said. “Though, if it were eight years ago, it would be a different story.
“But with the river, you can catch them drifting, and LiveScope doesn’t quite matter as much in my opinion, compared to other smallmouth fisheries or if you’re out on the lake,” he said. “I think it will add a little bit of a factor of guys fishing shallow more on Day 2 and possibly trying to save places that are more current-related, where you can get on a good drift. That might be something you don’t fish on Day 1 because you want to use it on Day 2. Especially if it’s sunny and calm on Day 2, I think a lot of guys will get up shallow and even just wing it almost. For myself, I know a lot of places where I don’t really need to use LiveScope to catch them on the St. Lawrence, so I will probably be saving those areas for Day 2.”
Anglers will launch at 6:30 a.m. ET each day from the Massena Intake Boat Launch, located at 1415 State Highway 131 in Massena, New York. Weigh-ins will be held at the boat launch and will begin at 2:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and weigh-in events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW!® live stream and coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The 2025 Tackle Warehouse Invitationals feature a field of professional anglers competing across six invitational tournaments around the country, for a total purse of $4.3 million and valuable Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) points to qualify for the Invitationals Championship, set for Sept. 5-7 on the Mississippi River in La Crosse, and a coveted spot on the MLF Bass Pro Tour – the sport’s premier circuit.
In Tackle Warehouse Invitationals competition, the full field competes in the two-day opening round on Friday and Saturday in a five-fish, weigh-in format. Only the top 30 pros, based on their two-day cumulative weight, advance to the final round on Championship Sunday, where they will compete for the grand prize of up to $115,000.
Forward-facing and/or 360-degree sonar is limited to only days 1 and 3 of competition. No forward-facing and/or 360-degree sonar will be allowed on day 2 of competition.
The MLFNOW! broadcast team of Chad McKee and Rob Newell will break down the extended action live all three days of competition from 7 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. ET. MLFNOW! will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app and Rumble.
Television coverage of the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Stop 6 at the St. Lawrence River Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches will air as a two-hour episode, premiering at 9 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Nov. 1 on CBS Sports Network.
Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Bubba, Deep Dive, E3 Sport Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, 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 complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Tackle Warehouse Invitationals 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, Discovery+, Discovery GO, Animal Planet, Outdoor Channel, VICE, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network 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.
Yo-Zuri America Wins 11th-Annual ICAST Cup Presented by Major League Fishing on Lake Toho
Father-son Bakewell duo catch three-bass limit weighing 16-3 to take home ICAST Cup
KISSIMMEE, Fla. (July 15, 2025) – Representing Yo-Zuri America, the father-son duo of Bobby Bakewell and Robert Bakewell, both of Orlando, weighed in a three-bass limit totaling 16 pounds, 3 ounces, to win the 2025 ICAST Cup at Lake Toho Presented by Major League Fishing (MLF) Tuesday. The four-hour bass-fishing tournament, hosted by the Kissimmee Sports Commission , was one of the kick-off events to ICAST 2025. In its eleven-year history, the charity tournament has raised more than $95,800 to benefit the industry’s angler advocacy program, Keep America Fishing™.
Tuesday’s field totaled 33 boats, including a handful of MLF Bass Pro Tour, Tackle Warehouse Invitationals and Toyota Series anglers, as well as outdoor media and industry representatives from popular tackle brands and non-profits. The tournament this year raised a total of $6,600 Keep America Fishing™.
The Yo-Zuri America team won by a 1-pound, 4-ounce margin over Team FishNFX, which was comprised of Michael Muenzner, Paul Shenep and Sheila Crowe.
Bobby Bakewell said his tournament morning on Lake Toho couldn’t have started much worse – but it couldn’t have ended much better.
“I dropped my Power-Poles when the boat was in the garage, and when I went to put them back up and pull it out, nothing happened,” Bakewell said. “The boat was completely dead.”
Thanks to a last-minute battery swap – courtesy of his dad’s flats boat – and a Power-Pole Charge system that transferred power where needed, the Bakewells managed to launch right at takeoff time and fish the entire day. The early stress was replaced by relief when they hit the right stretch of eelgrass and put all three of his keepers in the boat by around 9 a.m.
“It was one of those stretches you dream about,” Bakewell said. “I pulled up and got all three there – the same area, same grass line.”
Bobby said they leaned heavily on Bakewell Arkie jigs in a custom dark-bluegill-type color, crafted by dad Robert the night before. He paired it with a Bruiser Baits Game Changer trailer, using 25-pound Yo-Zuri T-7 fluorocarbon line. He also mixed in a minnow-style bait with Yo-Zuri’s Super Braid 9 and a 10-pound Yo-Zuri Super Fluoro leader to put one of the key fish in the boat.
Fishing was far from fast and furious – Bakewell said he caught fewer than 10 fish total – but quality was the difference.
“The bite wasn’t hot, but when they hit, they were the right ones,” he said. “I think the biggest factor today was perseverance. After the morning we had, it would’ve been easy to get spun out. But we kept our heads down and made good decisions.”
Bakewell credited his gear – Yo-Zuri, Bakewell Custom Jigs, and his Scenko Stix rods – along with his dad’s great net work for helping seal the win.
The top 10 teams finished the tournament in:
1st: Yo-Zuri America – Bobby Bakewell and Robert Bakewell, three bass, 16-3
2nd: FishNFX – Michael Muenzner, Paul Shenep and Sheila Crowe, three bass, 14-15
3rd: Toho Marine – Grady Johnson, Tripp Berlinsky and Bryce DiMauro, three bass, 13-13
3rd: Tightlines UV – Steve “Boogie” Brown, Terry Segraves and Cindy Joint, three bass, 13-13
5th: Power-Pole, Dan Benson and Cal Lane, three bass, 13-0
6th: Green Outdoors – Moses Oliver, Clayburn Reed and Gina Oliver, three bass, 12-13
7th: CPF Lures – Jason George, Erik Tillson and Mac Hoover, three bass, 12-5
8th: FishNFX – Chuck Smith, Tony Mayfield and Glen Cabezas, three bass, 11-13
9th: Jason’s Fishing Adventures – Jason Haynes, Landon Haynes and Jonathan Semento, three bass, 11-2
10th: Boogerman Lures – Donnie Feagle and Bryson O’Steen, three bass, 10-15
Complete results and photos from the tournament will be posted at ICASTCup.com.
Keep America Fishing™ is leading the fight to preserve our right to sustainably fish on our nation’s waterways. As the voice of the American angler, Keep America Fishing works to keep our public resources – our oceans, lakes, rivers and streams – open, clean and abundant with fish. For more information, please visit KeepAmericaFishing.org.
For more ICAST 2025 coverage, details and tournament information 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, Discovery+, Discovery GO, Animal Planet, Outdoor Channel, VICE, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network 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.
BUBBA® x Major League Fishing® to Launch SCORETRACKER LIVE® Tournament Platform for All Anglers, Organizers
BUBBA® App to Exclusively Launch MLF® SCORETRACKER LIVE Beginning Spring 2026
(Columbia, MO & Benton, KY) July 14, 2025 – BUBBA, a leading fishing brand known for its mobile fishing app and innovative Smart Fish Scales, and Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, have partnered to bring seamless tournament hosting capability and the thrill of live scoring to anglers, organizers and fans everywhere by integrating MLF SCORETRACKER® technology into the BUBBA app to create SCORETRACKER LIVE, beginning Spring 2026.
Host Tournaments Like a Pro
Whether you’re running a professional league, college team, high school competition, fishing club, or just a friendly neighborhood derby –SCORETRACKER LIVE empowers tournament organizers to build, host and manage custom fishing tournaments with ease. All from one platform.
The MLF® Bass Pro Tour Experience at Your Fingertips
Feel the thrill and intensity of Major League Fishing with live, real-time SCORETRACKER LIVE leaderboards on the BUBBA app. Using compatible BUBBA scales, including the Pro Series Smart Fish Scale (SFS) and the BUBBA Smart Fish Scale (SFS) Lite, anglers can rapidly catch, weigh and release their fish, while the catch data automatically syncs with SCORETRACKER LIVE.
Everyone’s Watching
From the dock, a couch, or across the country, spectators can experience SCORETRACKER LIVE tournaments as they happen – live scoring, from anywhere. Just like the pros.
Support Sustainable Fishing
SCORETRACKER LIVE allows everyone, everywhere to participate in catch, weigh, and immediate-release tournaments with real-time scoring, reducing fish stress and mortality. Thanks to the BUBBA Smart Fish Scale, BUBBA app and MLF SCORETRACKER technology, anglers and organizers can support conservation while enhancing the thrill of competition with live, real-time scoring.
Proven and Reliable Performance
The BUBBA Pro Series SFS, BUBBA app and SCORETRACKER have logged over 63,000 hours of intense, real-world use in MLF events, including the 2025 season, making it the most thoroughly tested and vetted on-the-water scoring platform in existence.
"SCORETRACKER is absolutely intense! At all times, you know you’ve got to put the pedal to the metal. Knowing you’ve got to catch that next fish, or that a guy is getting some momentum and starting to catch up with you, it pushes you harder, lets you process information faster, and makes you a better angler. And now with SCORETRACKER LIVE and BUBBA, any angler or fan can experience that intensity.”
– Jacob Wheeler
Three-Time Bass Pro Tour Pro Angler of the Year
Introduced in 2023, the revolutionary BUBBA Pro Series SFS and BUBBA mobile fishing app deliver speed and accuracy for anglers by allowing them to rapidly weigh their catch, automatically upload the data to the connected BUBBA app and immediately release every fish. No need to transport fish to shore for a weigh-in. MLF named the BUBBA Pro Series SFS the Official Scale of Major League Fishing beginning with the 2024 season, citing its rapid data capture, accuracy and communication features that support the catch, weigh, and immediate-release format long advocated by the league to drive tournament excitement and conservation.
The MLF SCORETRACKER platform is currently accessible only by MLF administrators and pro anglers, and visible to Bass Pro Tour fans following the action live on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MLF app, RUMBLE, MOTV and Game and Fish TV. The new, integrated SCORETRACKER LIVE platform will allow any angler, school, team or organization to use the platform to host and manage a tournament from anywhere while providing live scoring for fans. The organizer simply downloads the BUBBA Fishing app, purchases a Pro Subscription, clicks SCORETRACKER LIVE, and follows the easy setup process to build and manage a real-time scoring tournament, including inviting anglers to participate, managing entry fees and payouts, and enforcing custom rule sets. Anglers participate by launching their BUBBA app with paid Pro Subscription, selecting the SCORETRACKER LIVE tournament to which they were invited, and weighing their catch on a BUBBA Pro SFS or SFS Lite scale during tournament hours. Both anglers and fans can track tournament results live for FREE via the real-time leaderboard in the BUBBA app or at SCORETRACKERLIVE.com.
“Today’s announcement marks an exciting step forward in the evolution of tournament fishing,” said Boyd Duckett, President and CEO of Major League Fishing. “At MLF, we are focused on improving bass fishing by creating experiences that are engaging for anglers and fans while removing logistical hurdles for organizers and promoting stewardship of our natural resources. By partnering with BUBBA to expand availability of our SCORETRACKER platform, we are enabling anglers around the world to experience the thrill of competing in real-time scoring events, just like the Bass Pro Tour pros. We are changing tournament fishing forever, and I could not be more excited about the future of our sport and our fisheries.”
Brian Murphy, President and CEO of American Outdoor Brands, Inc., parent company of BUBBA, said, “Bass fishing holds a special place in the hearts of the 30 million American bass anglers and their fans, and at BUBBA, we have always worked to provide them with the absolute best tools. BUBBA is proud to partner with Major League Fishing to play an important role in advancing and preserving this pastime, giving today’s tournament anglers a competitive edge, while helping to sustain bass populations for generations to come. Together, we continue to pioneer the sport of bass fishing.”
Join BUBBA and MLF at ICAST 2025 in Orlando, Florida, in Booth #5139 on Wednesday, July 16, at 3:30 PM, for more information.
About BUBBA®
A member of the American Outdoor Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ:AOUT) family, BUBBA® is a leading lifestyle brand specializing in high-quality fishing tools and accessories. With a commitment to innovation and excellence, BUBBA® delivers premium products designed to enhance the angling experience. From fillet knives to fishing scales, BUBBA's tools are trusted by professional anglers and fishing enthusiasts worldwide. For more information about BUBBA®, visit BUBBA.com.
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, Discovery+, Discovery GO, Animal Planet, Outdoor Channel, VICE, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network 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. For more information, visit www.majorleaguefishing.com.
Kimball’s Mandel Gets Third Win in Two Seasons at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Detroit River Presented by Lew’s
Indiana’s Elswick Tops Co-Angler Division
TRENTON, Mich. (July 14, 2025) – Boater Nolan Mandel of Kimball, Michigan, caught a five-bass limit weighing 22 pounds, 15 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on the Detroit River Presented by Lew’s . The tournament was the second event of the season for the BFL Michigan Division. Mandel earned $10,904, including the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus, for his victory.
Coming off a two-win, Angler of the Year season in the Michigan Division in 2024, Mandel is right back in the winner’s seat and atop the standings once again this year.
“I went to St. Clair,” he said. “I wanted to fish all the way out on the northern end, but the wind was kind of ‘eh.’ So I kind of stopped in the middle of the lake and started scoping around.”
Mandel worked waters on both sides of the border with Canada.
“I started early in the morning trying to cover a lot of water to find fish, and I noticed they were sitting really tight to the bottom,” he added. “So I slowed down and threw a 6-inch minnow on a 3 /16-ounce jighead and a drop-shot with a Berkley (PowerBait MaxScent) Flat Worm and 3/8-ounce weight.”
Opting for a big 6-inch minnow served multiple purposes. First, its big profile helped draw fish up off the bottom. Second, its weight allowed Mandel to make long casts in the stiff wind, and he says the size makes it easier to impart the right action in the windy conditions. Finally, it imitates the big perch that quality smallmouth bass like to eat.
“The morning started really, really slow,” Mandel said. “The first hour we caught a couple dinks, and then I lost one really big one in an area that apparently wasn’t that good. Because I then stayed in that area for another two or three hours and caught no bass that I weighed in. I really caught the majority of my fish in the last hour and a half in a different area.”
With his weight in the box, Mandel’s final hurdle was navigating a rough Detroit River mouth on the way back in. A storm had spun up, and the wind blowing against the river current stacked up the waves. Mandel got a little wet but made it in safely with yet another tournament-winning limit of St. Clair smallmouths.
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Nolan Mandel, Kimball, Mich., five bass, 22-15, $10,904 (includes $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
2nd: Austin Anderson, Ashley, Ind., five bass, 21-2, $1,902
3rd: Chris Hellebuyck, White Lake, Mich., five bass, 21-1, $1,417
4th: Jeremy Reese, Powell, Ohio, five bass, 20-10, $888
5th: Angel Rosario, Kalamazoo, Mich., five bass, 20-2, $761
6th: Noah Stauffer, Gowen, Mich., five bass, 20-0, $1,202
7th: Derek Rodriguez, Okemos, Mich., five bass, 19-10, $634
8th: Julian Sweet, Flint, Mich., five bass, 19-7, $571
9th: Nicholas Seitz, Maumee, Ohio, five bass, 19-3, $507
10th: Cliff Blackford, Addison, Mich., five bass, 18-4, $444
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Noah Stauffer of Gowen, Michigan, caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 8 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $505.
Greg Elswick of Goshen, Indiana, won the co-angler division and $1,952 Saturday, after bringing three bass to the scale that totaled 13 pounds, 4 ounces.
The top 11 co-anglers finished:
1st: Greg Elswick, Goshen, Ind., three bass, 13-4, $1,952
2nd: Justen Fain, Springfield, Ohio, three bass, 11-15, $951
3rd: Brian Townley, Wyoming, Mich., three bass, 11-12, $634
4th: Scott Sims, Morgantown, Ind., three bass, 11-2, $444
5th: Robert Miller, Litchfield, Mich., three bass, 10-15, $380
6th: Cody Salzmann, Southgate, Mich., three bass, 10-14, $449
7th: Scott Lutz, Bremen, Ind., three bass, 10-12, $569
8th: Joseph Gnaster, Crown Point, Ind., three bass, 10-11, $285
9th: Carl Bowser, Indianapolis, Ind., three bass, 10-7, $225
9th: Todd Layne, Poca, W.Va., three bass, 10-7, $225
9th: Rece Kimmel, Lewistown, Ohio, three bass, 10-7, $225
Scott Lutz of Bremen, Indiana, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $252, catching a bass that weighed in at 4 pounds, 14 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After two events, Nolan Mandel of Kimball, Michigan, now leads the Fishing Clash Michigan Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 497 points, while Cody Salzmann of Southgate, Michigan, leads the Fishing Clash Michigan Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 492 points.
The next event for BFL Michigan Division anglers will be held July 26, at the Detroit River out of Trenton, Michigan. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.
The top 60 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 3-4 BFL Regional tournament on Lake Erie out of Sandusky, Ohio. Boaters will fish for a top award of a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard worth $50,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $20,000.
The 2025 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is 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, will advance to one of 12 BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top three, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.
Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, 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, 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 Bass Fishing League 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, Discovery+, Discovery GO, Animal Planet, Outdoor Channel, VICE, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network 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.
Pennsylvania’s Kauffman Catches 25-8 to Win Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at St. Lawrence River Presented by Lew’s
Vermont’s Lowell Tops Co-Angler Division
MASSENA, N.Y. (July 12, 2025) – Boater Josh Kauffman of Marysville, Pennsylvania, caught a five-bass limit weighing 25 pounds, 8 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on the St. Lawrence River Presented by Lew’s . The tournament, hosted by the Town of Massena, was the second event of the season for the BFL Northeast Division. Kauffman earned $6,026, including the lucrative $2,500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus, for his victory.
Anchored by a 6-pound, 1-ounce smallmouth bass that earned the Berkley Big Bass award, Kauffman’s limit came entirely from a single 100-yard stretch near Clayton. The key spot is about 90 minutes from launch, but it was worth the trip. It’s an area Kauffman knows to have bigger bass. And since he’s already in prime shape to make a Regional through the South Carolina Division, where he sits in second place, Kauffman wanted to fish this one to win.
“The morning was pretty slow,” he said. “It was slick calm with no wind. I don’t think they were really chewing too much. Then the wind started picking up maybe around 9 or 10. For me, that’s when they started chewing. It seemed like when it was slick they wouldn’t bite.”
The timing worked to perfection. Kauffman had to fish behind some anglers in a different tournament. Once he got on the key spot – with a bit of breeze added in – he spent nearly an hour and 45 minutes working on that school of fish.
“These fish are coming off beds,” he said. “There’s still a couple up shallow on bed, but I think they’re starting to get to summer patterns. They’re starting to get a little deeper. This spot was an in-between area. It was 15 to 20 feet. What’s important about it is it’s right along the main river channel, where it drops off to 65 or 70 feet.”
Kauffman could actually see on his sonar new fish sliding up onto the ledge to actively feed. With the area replenishing, he worked back and forth repeatedly, eventually landing about 20 keepers.
Key baits included a jig, Carolina rig and drop-shot for dragging on bottom. He also fished a minnow-style bait with forward-facing sonar.
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Josh Kauffman, Marysville, Pa., five bass, 25-8, $6,026 (includes $2,500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
2nd: Joseph Thompson, Coatesville, Pa., five bass, 22-4, $1,678
3rd: Carl Sickles, Morgantown, W. Va., five bass, 21-5, $1,052
4th: Jason Shipton, Muncy, Pa., five bass, 20-8, $683
4th: Jesse Spellicy, Gouverneur, N.Y., five bass, 20-8, $683
6th: Jonathan Robla, Lisbon, N.Y., five bass, 20-7, $579
7th: Steve Baillargeon, Blakeslee, Pa., five bass, 20-3, $526
8th: Ronald Penders Jr., Webster, N.Y., five bass, 19-9, $473
9th: Travis Nale, Pasadena, Md., five bass, 19-8, $421
10th: Troy Adamosky, Butler, Pa., five bass, 18-14, $368
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Kauffman caught a bass that weighed 6 pounds, 1 ounce, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $370.
John Lowell of Orwell, Vermont, won the co-angler division and $1,763 Saturday, after bringing three bass to the scale that totaled 13 pounds, 15 ounces.
The top 10 co-anglers finished:
1st: John Lowell, Orwell, Vt., three bass, 13-15, $1,763
2nd: Kade Wesner, Lancaster, Pa., three bass, 13-11, $839
3rd: Nicholas Yeung, Simcoe, Ont., three bass, 12-13, $526
4th: Isaac Hastings, Schenectady, N.Y., three bass, 12-3, $368
5th: Logan Bloomfield, East Berlin, Pa., three bass, 12-1, $316
6th: Randall Given, Laurel, Del., three bass, 11-10, $289
7th: Kenneth Ibberson, Blackwood, N.J., three bass, 11-4, $363
8th: Chris Slater, Boston, Mass, three bass, 11-2, $237
9th: Devon Norwood Kitson, Montclair, N.J., three bass, 11-0, $186
9th: Joseph Amberg Jr., Hawley, Pa., three bass, 11-0, $186
9th: Jarrett Albert, Dillsburg, Pa., three bass, 11-0, $186
Lowell also earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $185, catching a bass that weighed in at 5 pounds, 9 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After two events, Joseph Thompson of Coatesville, Pennsylvania, now leads the Fishing Clash Northeast Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 485 points, while Chris Slater of Boston, Massachusetts, leads the Fishing Clash Northeast Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 491 points.
The next event for BFL Northeast Division anglers will be held Aug. 2, at Lake Champlain out of Plattsburgh, Vermont. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.
The top 60 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 3-4 BFL Regional tournament on the James River in Richmond, Virginia. Boaters will fish for a top award of a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard worth $50,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $20,000.
The 2025 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is 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, will advance to one of 12 BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top three, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.
Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, 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, 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 Bass Fishing League 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, Discovery+, Discovery GO, Animal Planet, Outdoor Channel, VICE, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network 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.
Russellville’s Knight Wins Second Consecutive Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Kentucky-Barkley Lakes
Tennessee’s Rampaul Tops Co-Angler Division
GILBERTSVILLE, Ky. (July 14, 2025) – Boater Clint Knight of Russellville, Kentucky, caught a three-bass limit weighing 13 pounds, 9 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Kentucky-Barkley Lakes. The tournament, hosted by the Kentucky Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau, was the fourth event of the season for the BFL LBL Division. Knight earned $3,779 for his victory.
Knight is absolutely on fire on the Kentucky-Barkley system. He won the LBL Division Angler of the Year title in 2023, finished runner-up in 2024 and is now in second place again for 2025. Plus, he’s now won two LBL Division tournaments in a row to cap a streak of three consecutive top-three finishes.
“Today, we fished from the dam all the way to the Paris bridge,” he said. “Last month, I won the BFL, but it was completely different and things have changed a lot in the last month or so. I had 31 schools and now on all 31 of those spots, all my fish have moved. I went back and re-idled a lot of the stuff. I came down and practiced Friday, and all the way from the dam to the Paris bridge I only had seven legit schools. And when I say a school, I’m considering a school of 25 fish or more.”
In practice and in the tournament, Knight noticed his fish moving around on him. They’d move 250 or 300 feet overnight or even during the same day, often sliding up on top of the bar instead of setting up on the edge of the ledge. He attributes that to the fishing pressure and slow current. As a result, he had to make a shift midday during the tournament.
“I fished ledges until 10 or 11,” he said. “After that, I realized everything had been beat on pretty good. So I got on top of the bars. I caught a 5-opunder in the last hour in 4 foot of water, and it really surprised me because I started out the morning catching fish in 22 feet. It shows that true transition factor of Kentucky Lake in July.”
While Knight’s best school was in 8 to 10 feet of water, he spent the rest of his day targeting fish up on the bars where they were feeding on massive schools of fry. He worked through a pretty typical ledge-fishing lure rotation, except he left out a crankbait because he says it busts the schools up too much this time of year. Key lures included a Carolina rig, spoon and 5-inch minnow – ledge fishing staples for one of the hottest hands in ledge fishing right now.
“It feels weird because I’ve been second through 10th in the BFLs here, and now I finally can win two of them,” Knight said. “I’ll take it any way I can get it. I’m just gonna enjoy the ride.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Clint Knight, Russellville, Ky., three bass, 13-9, $3,779
2nd: Sam Lashlee, Camden, Tenn., three bass, 13-2, $1,840
3rd: Levi Kohl, Edinburg, Ill., three bass, 12-6, $1,225
4th: Dustin Vaal, Farmington, Ky., three bass, 11-14, $859
5th: Matt Robertson, Kuttawa, Ky., three bass, 11-12, $736
6th: Ron Smith, Walton, Ky., three bass, 11-9, $644
6th: Drew Morgan, Murray, Ky., three bass, 11-9, $644
8th: Harlan Thomas, Paducah, Ky., three bass, 11-7, $552
9th: David Hames, Trezevant, Tenn., three bass, 11-5, $491
10th: Kane Hackemack, Georgetown, Ind., three bass, 11-2, $429
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Ben Wade of South Fulton, Tennessee, caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 2 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $480.
Tim Rampaul of Dickson, Tennessee, won the co-angler division and $2,090 Saturday, after bringing three bass to the scale that totaled 11 pounds, 12 ounces.
The top 11 co-anglers finished:
1st: Tim Rampaul, Dickson, Tenn., three bass, 11-12, $2,090
2nd: Dave Willmore, West Frankfort, Ill., three bass, 10-10, $920
3rd: Trent Gooch, Yuma, Tenn., three bass, 9-10, $612
4th: Joshua Smith, Benton, Ky., three bass, 9-6, $429
5th: Gary Huber II, Saint Charles, Mo., two bass, 8-15, $368
6th: Brendan Murphy, Cape Girardeau, Mo., three bass, 8-11, $337
7th: Kyle Cavitt, Paducah, Ky., three bass, 8-4, $307
8th: Wesley Jennings, Clarksville, Tenn., three bass, 8-2, $276
9th: Corey Green, Paducah, Ky., three bass, 7-7, $245
10th: Peyton Nolen, Lexington, Tenn., three bass, 7-1, $204
10th: Cowboy Tidwell, Madisonville, Ky., three bass, 7-1, $204
Jeff Johnston of Nashville, Tennessee, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $240, catching a bass that weighed in at 4 pounds, 15 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After four events, Levi Kohl of Edinburg, Illinois, now leads the Fishing Clash LBL Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 995 points, while Zach Falder of Sedalia, Kentucky, leads the Fishing Clash LBL Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 942 points.
The next event for BFL LBL Division anglers will be held Sept. 27-28, at Kentucky-Barkley Lakes out of Gilbertsville, Kentucky. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.
The top 60 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 24-25 BFL Regional tournament on Dale Hollow Lake in Byrdstown, Tennessee. Boaters will fish for a top award of a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard worth $50,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $20,000.
The 2025 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is 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, will advance to one of 12 BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top three, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.
Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, 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, 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 Bass Fishing League 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, Discovery+, Discovery GO, Animal Planet, Outdoor Channel, VICE, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network 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.
Lynchburg’s Luckey Gets Third Win of Season at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at James River
Chesterfield’s Gibbs Tops Co-Angler Division
HENRICO, Va. (July 14, 2025) – Boater Broderick Luckey of Lynchburg, Virginia, caught a five-bass limit weighing 18 pounds, 10 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on the James River. The tournament, hosted by Richmond Region Tourism, was the fourth event of the season for the BFL Piedmont Division. Luckey earned $3,213 for his victory.
Luckey continues an incredible run this season. He’s now earned three BFL wins this year, including back-to-back victories on Smith Mountain in March. On the James, Luckey got the win by running up the Chickahominy River – an area known for quality bass.
“I made a real long run and had four spots that I knew had big ones on it,” he said. “I just knew that they were there, but they were hard to get to bite with numerous other boats on them. I kind of pushed through the pressure and kind of forced them to bite, just staying consistent in the areas that I knew had good ones.”
It was a rinse and repeat approach. Luckey made pass after pass on four key areas, which included a “one-cast deal,” a stretch of docks and a grass area – a little bit of everything. Every now and then, a fish would fire. Things really turned on once the tide got right, creating a window of action from about 11:30 to 1. Luckey says he went from catching one fish on each stop in an area to catching three or four once the shift happened.
“They bit best when the water was moving; when the tide started to come back in,” Luckey said. “We’ve had a lot of rain, so the tide never really fell out. I think that hurt the bite in the morning. When the tide started to come back in those fish started to bite. So it was just kind of a waiting game.”
Luckey was hush about some of his key baits, and for good reason. The Shenandoah Division competes on the James next weekend and he’s hunting another W. He did reveal that he used a Yamamoto Senko, a swim jig and a jerkbait. He credits persistence and hours of graphing during practice for his success this week.
“It was really cool, especially this one meant a lot because I’ve won three on my home lake (Smith Lake),” he said. “But to go somewhere else and get the win it makes me feel like I’m not just a one-trick pony on my home body of water. It feels awesome, and I’m hoping to keep the momentum going and maybe get one more this year.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Broderick Luckey, Lynchburg, Va., five bass, 18-10, $3,213
2nd: Martin Villa, Charlottesville, Va., five bass, 17-11, $1,557
3rd: Ed Milton, Chester, Va., five bass, 15-10, $1,037
4th: David Perdue, Wirtz, Va., five bass, 14-15, $726
5th: Frank Poirier, North Prince George, Va., five bass, 14-8, $623
6th: Raymond Jones, III, Mocksville, N.C., five bass, 14-6, $571
7th: Harrison Baker, Quinton, Va., five bass, 14-2, $493
7th: Rob Uzzle, Hampton, Va., five bass, 14-2, $993 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
9th: Micah Mitten, Powhatan, Va., five bass, 14-0, $415
10th: Brandon Buttner, Montpelier, Va., five bass, 13-14, $363
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Shannon Breeding of Moneta, Virginia, caught a bass that weighed 6 pounds, 2 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $365.
Dean Gibbs of Chesterfield, Virginia, won the co-angler division and $1,739 Saturday, after bringing three bass to the scale that totaled 9 pounds, 13 ounces.
The top 10 co-anglers finished:
1st: Dean Gibbs, Chesterfield, Va., three bass, 9-13, $1,739
2nd: Tim Seery, Chesapeake, Va., three bass, 9-11, $778
3rd: Levi Stanley, Fuquay Varina, N.C., three bass, 8-6, $521
4th: Bobby Kennedy, Matoaca, Va., three bass, 7-12, $363
5th: Cornell Badra, Clarksburg, Md., three bass, 7-11, $311
6th: Tracy Gravely, Petersburg, Va., three bass, 7-5, $285
7th: Timothy Kinder, Fairfax, Va., three bass, 7-4, $259
8th: Doug Griles, Providence Forge, Va., three bass, 7-3, $233
9th: Mekye Barnes, Knightdale, N.C., three bass, 7-2, $208
10th: Travis Owens, Hurt, Va., three bass, 6-15, $182
Gibbs also earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $182, catching a bass that weighed in at 5 pounds, 6 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After four events, Chris Brummett of Lynch Station, Virginia, now leads the Fishing Clash Piedmont Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 956 points, while Derek Stanley of Fuquay Varina, North Carolina, leads the Fishing Clash Piedmont Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 949 points.
The next event for BFL Piedmont Division anglers will be held Aug. 23-24, at the James River out of Henrico, Virginia. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.
The top 60 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 3-4 BFL Regional tournament on Lake Norman out of Huntersville, North Carolina Boaters will fish for a top award of a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard worth $50,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $20,000.
The 2025 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is 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, will advance to one of 12 BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top three, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.
Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, 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, 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 Bass Fishing League 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, Discovery+, Discovery GO, Animal Planet, Outdoor Channel, VICE, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network 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.
Smith, Blanton claim second straight National title with overtime heroics at Cherokee Lake
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. — For the first time ever, overtime decided the Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops. Even more history was made at Cherokee Lake when Andrew Blanton and Garrett Smith landed a 2-pound largemouth just five minutes into their sudden death fish-off with Carson Newman’s Andrew Turner and James Sumrell and became the first ever two-time College National Champions.
With a three-day total of 43 pounds, 3 ounces, plus their overtime largemouth, Blanton and Smith became the first team since the inception of the College Series to win multiple National Championships, doing so in back-to-back fashion after hoisting the trophies at Lake Hartwell in 2024.
Not only that, they join only a handful of anglers to qualify for the College Classic Bracket presented by Lew’s multiple times.
“This means the world to me,” Smith said. “Last year was such an amazing experience, and we get to do it all again and it is going to be even better. We are going to enjoy this.”
Opening the tournament in sixth-place with 14-13, Blanton and Smith jumped into second-place on Day 2 with 15-12 before landing 12-10 on the final day, which included a dead-fish penalty that kept them from winning the tournament in regulation.
“We thought for sure that (penalty) cost us the tournament,” Blanton said.
Turner and Sumrell entered Championship Saturday in sixth-place, catching limits of 14-6 and 13-3 before landing 15-10 on Saturday, the biggest total of the day.
Deadlocked at 43-3 at the conclusion of weigh-in, both teams returned to the lake knowing the first team to catch a legal keeper bass would be declared the winner. Blanton and Smith’s primary areas were over 20 minutes away from takeoff at the TVA Cherokee Dam launch, so instead of wasting valuable time running, they made a very short run to the dam and found a promising rockpile using their forward-facing sonar.
“We stopped at the dam knowing they were probably going to catch one before (we made it to our best spot),” Blanton said. “Within five minutes, I saw some sitting on a perfect boulder. The first bass I threw to bit my jig.”
Once Smith netted the largemouth, which likely weighed about 2 1/2 pounds, they quickly confirmed it measured at least 15-inches before celebrating.
“It was insane,” Smith said. “The fish followed it down (perfectly). It is probably the happiest I’ve ever felt, even with everything that went on last year. It is a moment I will never forget.”
Blanton and Smith combined shallow and deep patterns to claim the victory this week. Up the river, the Lander duo targeted three stretches of banks grass located on inside channel swings during the morning hours with a True South V-Twin buzzbait paired with a Zoom Horny Toad. While there wasn’t much of it, Blanton said the baitfish in the area seemed to gravitate to those stretches of grass.
“It was always an early morning thing. After 9 o’clock it was done,” Blanton said. “We caught some flipping bushes too, but if it didn’t have the bank grass, we didn’t get a bite. When you are around good bank grass, you’ll shad flickering.”
As the day wore on, they moved back down the lake to fish isolated boulders and slate rock in 25 to 35 feet of water using a 3/4-ounce or 1/2-ounce Greenfish Tackle jig and a drop shot paired with a morning dawn Roboworm. While seemingly unimpressive in practice, those offshore areas proved to be valuable as they made several key culls in those areas each day. Shad also had to be present to generate bites.
The key to success, however, was making sure they managed their best areas correctly. Blanton and Smith did not fish their better areas on Day 2, electing to stay closer to takeoff instead, a decision that paid off with the biggest bag of the day.
“We knew this tournament would be about managing fish,” Blanton explained. “We ran up the river Day 1, but knew if we went up there the next day there would be no way to keep up on the third day. So we fished a bunch of new water on Day 2 and things fell our way.”
“We tried to fish some stuff towards the mouth of the river,” Smith said. “If we saw a pocket with bank grass, we would stop at the first little point, catch one and then move on to the next one.
“That offshore place yesterday was just perfect. Slate rock sticking up big time. You could see it on (FFS)."
On Championship Saturday, Blanton and Smith ran back up the river and managed to land four bass before switching to their offshore pattern.
“It was a lot slower up there today. The water had been dropping and we caught some shorts. We probably caught 15 or so up there, but only four keepers.”
One of those offshore areas produced a 3-pounder to fill out their limit. Then at the end of the day, they made two key culls, giving them enough to tie the Carson-Newman team and send the tournament to overtime.
While the fish-off was a disappointing result, Turner and Sumrell said they were happy just to be in position to claim the first-place prize.
“The fish-off was unreal,” Turner said. “Pretty stressful, but a fun experience. I didn’t know we had that much weight today and I didn’t expect to be that high-up the leaderboard. It was a good surprise and we are super blessed to come out with second-place.”
Going to school five minutes from the lake, Turner and Sumrell are familiar with which areas of the lake typically produce tournament wins. Those were the areas they focused their event around, with two patterns becoming the most productive. In the mornings, Turner said they started by throwing a topwater in shallow bays before moving into the middle of the creeks to target bass suspending under bait balls. Late in the day, they would move back towards the shallows and drag a jig and a big worm. A lot of their bigger bites came around wood or bank grass.
The mornings were not particularly productive for the Carson-Newman duo the first two days, but that changed in a big way on Day 3.
“We knew we had some ground to make up, so we started in an area that we knew had big bass,” Sumrell said. “We caught a 5-pounder there the first day of the tournament and caught some 3-pounders there on Day 2. We had the majority of our weight in the first hour of the tournament.”
Carson-Newman’s Jacob Berryhill and Zach Knight finished third with a three-day total of 42-12 followed by Day 2 leaders Tripp Berklinsky and Bryce Dimauro from North Alabama in fourth with 41-11 and Day 1 leaders Luke Davis and Kaden Raichel from the University of Montevallo in fifth with 39-7.
While falling short of the victory at Cherokee, Berlinsky and Dimauro won the overall Team of the Year points race with 940 points. Montevallo’s Elisha Colley and Storm Clark finished second with 925 points, John Michael Ortman and Max Heaton from Emmanuel University finished third with 917 points.
The College Classic Bracket presented by Lew’s field is now set. Official details will be released to the public at a later date. Dimauro and Berlinsky, Legends Trail Team of the Year Grant Pursifull and Ben Burns (Stephen F. Austin) and Lunkers Team of the Year Blake Wheat and Zach Helton (Carson-Newman) will join the Lander duo and compete for a chance to qualify for the 2026 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour as well as paid entry into the 2026 St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN with full use of a Nitro Boat and Toyota Tundra.
Visit Jefferson County, Tennessee hosted the tournament.
2025 Bassmaster College Series Title Sponsor: Strike King
2025 Bassmaster College Series Presenting Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops
2025 Bassmaster College Series Platinum Sponsor: Progressive, Toyota
2025 Bassmaster College Series Premier Sponsors: Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2025 Bassmaster College Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Triton Boats, VMC, Yokohama
2025 Bassmaster College Series Youth Sponsors: Seaguar, Shimano
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, 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, 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.
-30-
Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitte
Media Contact: Mandy Pascal, Communications Manager, 334-414-8677, mpascal@bassmaster.com
2025 Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops 7/10-7/12
Cherokee Lake, Jefferson City TN.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Club/School Pts
1. Garrett Smith - Andrew Blanton Lander University 250
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 5 15-12 Day 3: 5 12-10 Total: 15 43-03
2. Andrew Turner - James Sumrell Carson-Newman University 249
Day 1: 5 14-06 Day 2: 5 13-03 Day 3: 5 15-10 Total: 15 43-03
3. Jacob Berryhill - Zach Knight Carson-Newman University 248
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 13-09 Day 3: 5 15-00 Total: 15 42-12
4. Bryce Dimauro - Tripp Berlinsky University of North Alabama 247
Day 1: 5 18-14 Day 2: 5 14-15 Day 3: 4 07-14 Total: 14 41-11
5. Luke Davis - Kaden Raichel University of Montevallo 246
Day 1: 5 19-07 Day 2: 4 07-13 Day 3: 4 12-03 Total: 13 39-07
6. Skyler Stevens - Grant McCraney Faulkner University 245
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 14-04 Day 3: 3 09-08 Total: 13 38-04
7. Dayne Kobriger - Camden Kozikoski Drury University 244
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 14-04 Day 3: 5 11-11 Total: 15 37-06
8. Brody Robison - Peyton Sorrow University of Montevallo 243
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 5 13-15 Day 3: 5 10-09 Total: 15 36-04
9. Phillip Herring - Parker O'Bryan University of Montevallo 242
Day 1: 5 16-05 Day 2: 5 12-10 Day 3: 2 06-15 Total: 12 35-14
10. Easton Drennon - Chase McCarter Carson-Newman University 241
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 14-11 Day 3: 2 06-00 Total: 12 33-01
11. Luke Wenger - Braxon Hightower Dallas Baptist University 240
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 13-01 Day 3: 3 06-09 Total: 13 32-14
12. Zach Wolfe - Brayden Ruckman Carson-Newman University 239
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 12-04 Day 3: 0 00-00 Total: 10 25-09
------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 70 566 1378-12
2 57 490 1176-12
3 5 43 114-09
------------------------------
132 1099 2670-01
Drew Cook Claims First NPFL Shield with Finale Friday Victory
It took three days and nearly 700 miles of running, but Drew Cook conquered the mighty St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario, going wire to wire to earn his first NPFL victory and a cool $100,000.
With three calm and sunny days—something rare this spring and summer in New York—the NPFL arrived in Massena at the perfect time, and the anglers capitalized on it. Many chose to make the long run to the mouth of the lake, with some venturing into Ontario, setting new records in the process.
Running nearly the furthest and fishing a different area each day to stay on fresh fish, Drew Cook’s three-day total of 77-6 gave him a 2-11 margin of victory. In second place, Kyle Welcher fought to maintain his Progressive Angler of the Year lead. He spent the first two days in third place before moving up to second today, extending his lead from 5 to 7 points, unofficially, over Patrick Walters, who dropped to fourth. Andrew Upshaw capped off his event with his biggest bag on the final day, finishing in third.
South Carolina angler Patrick Walters finished in fourth with 71-13 and Alabama pro Justin Adkins finished fifth with 71-3.
Both Drew Cook and Jesse Wise shared the big bass honors, each landing a massive 6-pound, 10-ounce smallmouth on day two.
Cook Goes Wire-to-Wire
Committing to Lake Ontario and the mouth of the St. Lawrence River, Georgia pro Drew Cook earned his first NPFL victory with a three-day total of 77-6. He took the Day 1 lead with 27-2, the biggest bag of the tournament, and when most struggled to catch big bags on Day 2, he added 25-8 and extended his lead.
On the final day, Cook returned to the big lake and fished another new area, but it took a bit of time to get going. Once he settled around lunchtime, he got into a “newish” area and started catching fish.
“Today was a grind,” he said. “I had a few good fish, but I had to really keep moving to find bigger ones than the high 3s, low 4-pounders I was around. I fished different areas each day, but today I fished a new area I hadn’t been to yet, and caught three of my weigh fish from it.”
A key factor was the amount of water he had to work with. Being efficient in practice, he quickly got clued in on the types of areas that would produce. The spot where he caught his key fish on Finale Friday was a new one, and at a time where he was starting to second guess himself.
“I say ‘new’, but I saw it on the map in practice and knew it was going to be good,” he added. “It looked like the same type of stuff, and I opted not to fish it in practice. When I got in there today, it saved me. Fishing new areas every day really allowed me to catch everything I could every day without having to worry about saving anything.”
On Day 2, while on Live Coverage, Cook spotted a big fish over 40 yards away and made a long cast. The fish, which he had seen in practice but opted not to catch, ended up being the biggest bass of the event, and came with a special surprise.
“My Leopold Sunglasses were awesome this week, and the trolling motor batteries,” he said on stage before weighing his fish. “That big one on Day 2 was a tagged fish, and I saw it in practice. It was almost a 7-pounder – it was super cool. I could see the tag from that far away.”
Overall, he kept it low key: spreading out and focusing on fish that were either spawning or hanging out on the rocks.
“I kept it simple and focused on fish that I could see up in the rocks,” he said. “I also have to thank Dobyns Rods and Sunline. I kept the big ones hooked and got them in the boat.”
Kyle Welcher Battles to Second Place and Extends AOY Lead
With 24-13 on Day 1 and 24-3 on Day 2, Alabama angler Kyle Welcher saved the best for last, adding 24-14 to the scales on Finale Friday. His three-day total of 74-11 moved him from third to second place - increasing his AOY margin.
Coming into the event, Welcher held a tight lead over Patrick Walters and Greg Hackney but knew he could easily lose ground in New York. Playing it safe wasn’t an option, so he made the long run toward Lake Ontario, executing perfectly for three straight days.
“Coming in, I knew with how much experience those guys (Walters/Hackney) had here that there was no way I could play it safe and not make the long run,” he said. “I knew I likely needed a top five or top ten to stay where I was, and I was right. Those guys caught them extremely well, and I needed all that I caught to keep things interesting heading back to Alabama for the final event.”
Like the others, Welcher focused his efforts shallow, looking for smallmouth cruising or spawning. Staying with that “key” type of area allowed him to move around and use his eyes to locate better-than-average bass.
“You know, I really just looked for places on Humminbird LakeMaster where they may want to be either spawning or post-spawn,” he added. “I worked through casting around a bladed jig until I got bit or saw one with my eyes, and then I would slow down and pitch a dropshot at them. It was a pretty simple deal.”
Upshaw Moves to Third
Texas angler Andrew Upshaw waited until the very end of Finale Friday to catch his biggest fish, a 6-5 smallmouth with 30 minutes left. That last-minute catch gave him his biggest bag of the week, 24-14, and moved him into third place. He started strong on Day 1 with 24-8, followed by 23-5 on Day 2, kicking off a solid week of fishing.
Coming into the event, Upshaw was set against running to Lake Ontario, preferring to fish in the St. Lawrence River, where he had two solid days of practice. On the final day of practice, with the wind laying down, he ventured to the Duck Islands area, which changed his entire event.
“I had no plans of even going there, but I found 25 pounds of fish on beds out there,” he said. “I pondered the idea and decided to go. I caught a solid weight on Day 1, and then Day 2, I fished in the river, but the bite was super weird.”
Scrapping the river, he returned to the Duck area and added another 23-5 to his livewells. On Finale Friday, he made the long run again, sticking with his one-two punch of a Strike King Baby Z-Too and a Strike King Ned Ocho.
“I got down there and caught a decent bag, just looking over the last two days at new water,” he said. “I never really practiced there, but they were easy to catch, so I kept going back. On the way back, with a half hour left, I stopped at a river spot and caught that 6-5. It really was a perfect ending to the week.”
Top Ten:
Drew Cook 77-6
Kyle Welcher 74-11
Andrew Upshaw 72-11
Patrick Walters 71-13
Justin Adkins 71-3
Scott Canterbury 69-10
Jason Christie 69-8
KJ Queen 69-3
Corey Casey 69-1
Cole Harris 69-0
Key offshore bites carry Dimauro, Berlinsky to Day 2 lead at Cherokee Lake
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. — Bryce Dimauro and Tripp Berlinsky dialed in their offshore game plan just enough to take the Day 2 lead at the Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship at Cherokee Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops with a two-day total of 33 pounds, 13 ounces.
The University of North Alabama duo opened the tournament in second place with a five-bass limit of largemouth weighing 18-14. Although the same quality didn’t show up today, the sophomores landed 14-15 and find themselves with a 3-4 advantage over reigning champions Garrett Smith and Andrew Blanton from Lander University heading into the final day.
In 2020, Dimauro watched his brother hoist the College Series trophy at the Harris Chain of Lakes and now could add another trophy to the family trophy case.
“It would really mean the world to me (to win). We had a chance last year and didn’t make it happen,” he said. “Connor made the Bracket twice and won a National Championship. It is kind of in my blood to do it so hopefully we make it happen.”
Not only are they in position to win the National Championship, but Dimauro and Berlinsky could potentially win the overall Team of the Year race. They entered this tournament in sixth-place just 38 points out of first place and are the only team who started this event in the Top 10 in points to qualify for Championship Saturday.
“We finished second in our division,” Berlinsky said. “To win Team of the Year, that would be pretty cool. We didn’t think it would be possible. There was a sliver of hope that we could but haven’t thought about it the past two days. When (tournament director) Glenn Cale said something on stage, it opened my eyes up to it.”
While they fished the bank and offshore areas on Day 1, Berklinsky said the offshore bite was considerably better on Friday and he expects he and his partner will remain offshore for the rest of the tournament. Their best bites have come up the lake in 10 to 20 feet of water using five different baits.
“We dialed in what the bass really wanted yesterday, and we stuck to that today and kept it simple,” Berlinsky said.
By looking at their forward-facing sonar, Dimauro has noticed the majority of the bass in their primary spots are glued to hard bottom and rock. There are plenty of shad around, however, and occasionally those bass will rise off the bottom to chase those shad.
After weighing in only largemouth the first day, the duo brought a smallmouth to the scales on Friday along with four more green fish.
“It was a 19-incher,” Dimauro said. “It was a big help.”
It was a slow start to the morning for the UNA duo, who found boats in two of their best areas to start the morning. With just one bass in the livewell at 11 a.m., Dimauro and Berlinsky were able to pull into one of those spots, a drop off close to the main river current, landed a limit and culled twice before the end of the day.
“It wasn’t necessarily a great day,” Dimauro said. “We just had to put (something) together.”
Smith and Blanton, meanwhile, are looking to win their second-straight National Championship, something that has yet to be done since the inception of the Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops. The 2024 Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Lew's competitors opened the tournament in sixth-place with a 14-13 limit before landing 15-12 on Day 2, the heaviest bag of the day.
The Lander duo has been moving between shallow and offshore areas throughout the tournament. A buzzbait and a jig have produced quality bites up shallow around a specific type of cover with baitfish around it. That same flipping jig has produced key offshore bites on rock in 25 to 35 feet of water, including several in the waning moments of Day 2.
“We’ve kept it really simple,” Smith said. “It has been about finding the bass that are biting. When you get around them and they are biting, especially shallow, it’s insane. They’ll blow up on the bait when it is skipping in if they are there.”
Smith and Blanton have been fishing up the river most of the tournament, and Day 1 the shallow bite lasted until 11 a.m. The Lander team caught an 11-pound limit in the first 45 minutes on Friday, but with so many other boats fishing the same areas, they did not catch anything else until the final 45 minutes when they pulled up on an offshore spot they found in practice.
“We hadn’t even caught a bass there, and we pulled up and I caught a 3-pound smallmouth,” Blanton said. “(At that point) we were hopeful we had done enough to make the Top 12. We didn’t expect to catch much more, but we sat there for 10 more minutes and boated three more, two of which were over 3 pounds. That was huge.”
Catching bags of 16-5 and 12-10, Phillip Herring and Parker O’Bryan from the University of Montevallo are third with a total of 28-15. On Day 1, Herring and O’Bryan did the majority of their damage in the same area as Day 1 leaders Luke Davis and Kaden Raichel. On Day 2, both Montevallo teams returned to the area and struggled most of the morning.
“Where we caught every single fish on Day 1, we didn’t get a bite today. Our teammates only caught one,” O’Bryan said. “We realized everything was dead, so we started running around and found a current hole that was holding some good smallmouth. We caught two 3-pounders there, which gave us some confidence.”
Towards the end of the day, Herring and O’Bryan landed their final two keepers in the same pocket, lifting them into Championship Saturday.
Emmanuel University’s Levi Seagraves and Scooter Ligon Jr. claimed the Big Bass of the Day with a 3-7 bass, but Cole Hadlock and Jackson Kulijof of Murray State University officially hold Big Bass of the Tournament honors with their 4-3 largemouth from Day 1.
The Top 12 anglers will launch from TVA Cherokee Dam beginning at 6 a.m. and return for weigh-in at 2 p.m. The winning team will earn a spot in the Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Lew’s. The final Bracket spot will be awarded to the overall Team of the Year, which will be announced during weigh-in on Saturday.
Visit Jefferson County, Tennessee is hosting the tournament.
2025 Bassmaster College Series Title Sponsor: Strike King
2025 Bassmaster College Series Presenting Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops
2025 Bassmaster College Series Platinum Sponsor: Progressive, Toyota
2025 Bassmaster College Series Premier Sponsors: Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2025 Bassmaster College Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Triton Boats, VMC, Yokohama
2025 Bassmaster College Series Youth Sponsors: Seaguar, Shimano
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, 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, 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.
-30-
Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitte
Media Contact: Mandy Pascal, Communications Manager, 334-414-8677, mpascal@bassmaster.com
2025 Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops 7/10-7/12
Cherokee Lake, Jefferson City TN.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Club/School Pts
1. Bryce Dimauro - Tripp Berlinsky University of North Alabama 250
Day 1: 5 18-14 Day 2: 5 14-15 Total: 10 33-13
2. Garrett Smith - Andrew Blanton Lander University 249
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 5 15-12 Total: 10 30-09
3. Phillip Herring - Parker O'Bryan University of Montevallo 248
Day 1: 5 16-05 Day 2: 5 12-10 Total: 10 28-15
4. Skyler Stevens - Grant McCraney Faulkner University 247
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 14-04 Total: 10 28-12
5. Jacob Berryhill - Zach Knight Carson-Newman University 246
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 13-09 Total: 10 27-12
6. Andrew Turner - James Sumrell Carson-Newman University 245
Day 1: 5 14-06 Day 2: 5 13-03 Total: 10 27-09
7. Luke Davis - Kaden Raichel University of Montevallo 244
Day 1: 5 19-07 Day 2: 4 07-13 Total: 9 27-04
8. Easton Drennon - Chase McCarter Carson-Newman University 243
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 14-11 Total: 10 27-01
9. Luke Wenger - Braxon Hightower Dallas Baptist University 242
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 13-01 Total: 10 26-05
10. Dayne Kobriger - Camden Kozikoski Drury University 241
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 14-04 Total: 10 25-11
11. Brody Robison - Peyton Sorrow University of Montevallo 240
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 5 13-15 Total: 10 25-11
12. Zach Wolfe - Brayden Ruckman Carson-Newman University 239
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 12-04 Total: 10 25-09
13. Dalton DeFelice - Evan Ludlow University of Montevallo 238
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 12-13 Total: 10 25-09
14. Alex Wood - Joe Williams Missouri State University 237
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 5 13-13 Total: 10 25-08
15. Jacob Swanson - Matt Boerboom University of Montevallo 236
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 5 11-14 Total: 10 25-07
16. Evan Newell - Dylan May Carson-Newman University 235
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 5 12-05 Total: 10 25-07
17. Bryson Dotson - Hayden Peck Tennessee Wesleyan University 234
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 5 13-12 Total: 10 25-06
18. Robert Miller - Levi Bolton Emmanuel College 233
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 12-04 Total: 10 25-05
19. Cameron Dials - Ethan Burnette Kentucky Christian University 232
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 5 11-07 Total: 10 25-00
20. Brayden Batchelor - Georgia Southern University 231
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 4 10-12 Total: 9 24-15
21. Hunter Keller - Wes Smith II Catawba Valley Community College 230
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 11-12 Total: 10 24-13
22. Brett Mouw - Asa Putnam University of Montevallo 229
Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 5 12-01 Total: 10 24-11
23. Carson Owen - Dylan Reed Murray State College 228
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 12-00 Total: 10 24-08
24. Elisha Colley - Storm Clark University of Montevallo 227
Day 1: 4 10-01 Day 2: 5 14-01 Total: 9 24-02
25. Brendin Simich - Benjamin Travis Auburn University 226
Day 1: 5 16-06 Day 2: 4 07-11 Total: 9 24-01
26. Chase Wodzinski - Kaden Buchmann Lander University 225
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 10-15 Total: 10 23-13
27. Hunter Hamilton - Tyler Morris LSU - Shreveport 224
Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 5 11-00 Total: 10 23-09
28. Chris Baker - Elijah Kelley Kentucky Christian University 223
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 5 12-09 Total: 10 23-09
29. Peyton Harris - Dalton Head University of Montevallo 222
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 11-14 Total: 10 23-05
30. Lucas Washburn - Braylon Eggerding Adrian College 221
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 5 10-11 Total: 10 22-14
31. Carty Shoen - Tyler Swan Auburn University 220
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 5 11-15 Total: 10 22-14
32. Ethan Elliott - Bryce Mcdonald University of Pikeville 219
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 5 11-04 Total: 10 22-12
33. Brady Metzger - Mason Bohland Purdue University 218
Day 1: 4 09-14 Day 2: 5 12-12 Total: 9 22-10
34. Harrison Terry - Jordan Hampton Bethel University 217
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 12-04 Total: 10 22-10
35. Cameron Yates - Harrison McCall Lander University 216
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 4 09-05 Total: 9 22-07
36. Clayton Ellis - Chandler Howell Blue Mountain Christian Universi 215
Day 1: 5 09-12 Day 2: 5 12-09 Total: 10 22-05
37. Angelo Malek - Parker Welch McKendree University 214
Day 1: 4 10-06 Day 2: 5 11-15 Total: 9 22-05
38. Caleb Bridges - Jonathan Fann Middle Tennessee State Universit 213
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 4 10-10 Total: 9 22-05
39. Gage King - Banks Shaw University of North Alabama 212
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 10-15 Total: 10 22-05
40. Michael Canonica - Seth Proctor University of Tennessee 211
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 3 07-11 Total: 8 22-02
41. John Michael Ortman - Max Heaton Emmanuel College 210
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 5 11-05 Total: 10 22-01
42. Riley Faulkner - Szymon Piton Carson-Newman University 209
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 11-04 Total: 10 21-13
43. TJ Edwards Jr - Sawyer Brady Blue Mountain Christian Universi 208
Day 1: 5 14-02 Day 2: 3 07-08 Total: 8 21-10
44. Braden Cox - Cameron Smith Ohio State University 207
Day 1: 4 10-09 Day 2: 4 11-00 Total: 8 21-09
45. Jackson Paden - Mason Thompson University of Tennessee 206
Day 1: 4 09-00 Day 2: 5 12-06 Total: 9 21-06
46. Nick Dumke - Connor Bell University of Montevallo 205
Day 1: 2 06-15 Day 2: 5 14-05 Total: 7 21-04
47. Dillon Robertshaw - Jake Mantovani Missouri State University 204
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 4 10-03 Total: 9 21-04
48. Jake Peck - Luke Wyle Auburn University 203
Day 1: 4 07-12 Day 2: 5 13-06 Total: 9 21-02
49. Blake Wheat - Zach Helton Carson-Newman University 202
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 3 08-06 Total: 8 21-02
50. Triston Richardson - Johnny Hudson Jr LSU - Shreveport 201
Day 1: 3 08-09 Day 2: 5 12-09 Total: 8 21-02
51. James Dubose - Daylon Milam University of Montevallo 200
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 3 07-15 Total: 8 21-00
52. Brayden Mercer - Corey Morris East Texas Baptist University 199
Day 1: 4 09-00 Day 2: 5 11-15 Total: 9 20-15
53. Cole Divin - Grant Gale Tarleton State University 198
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 5 09-10 Total: 10 20-14
54. Carter Nutt - Dylan Nutt University of North Alabama 197
Day 1: 5 09-12 Day 2: 5 11-02 Total: 10 20-14
55. Carson Winn - Ethan Tedder University of North Alabama 196
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 5 09-01 Total: 10 20-13
56. Adrian Urso - Corbin Templon Murray State University 195
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 3 07-05 Total: 8 20-12
57. Paxton Giem - Nick Seitz Adrian College 194
Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 3 07-07 Total: 8 20-10
58. Noah Trant - Evan Howe Northwestern State University 193
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 5 10-05 Total: 10 20-10
59. Nathan Reynolds - Jake Brown University of North Alabama 192
Day 1: 4 09-03 Day 2: 5 11-04 Total: 9 20-07
60. Hunter Brewer - Fisher Heard University of North Alabama 191
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 3 08-08 Total: 8 20-06
61. Brock Blazier - Colby Joseph Campbellsville University 190
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 4 09-08 Total: 9 20-05
62. Jeff Giffen - Cooper Gilroy University of Alabama 189
Day 1: 4 09-07 Day 2: 5 10-11 Total: 9 20-02
63. Cole Moulton - Jared Hubbard Lander University 188
Day 1: 3 08-11 Day 2: 5 11-03 Total: 8 19-14
64. Noah Belt - Micah Belt Southeastern Oklahoma University 187
Day 1: 4 09-03 Day 2: 5 10-08 Total: 9 19-11
65. Cole McNeely - Cole Martin University of Montevallo 186
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 4 09-15 Total: 9 19-10
66. Dalton Phelps - Peyton Rose Wabash Valley College 185
Day 1: 4 09-00 Day 2: 4 10-09 Total: 8 19-09
67. Joe Lutz - Jake Monti UNC - Charlotte 184
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 3 06-06 Total: 8 19-08
68. Trey Marco - Jake Rowlands King University 183
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 3 07-03 Total: 8 19-06
69. Hunter Barrow - Kanton Trull Catawba Valley Community College 182
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 3 07-07 Total: 8 19-06
70. Matthew Qualich - Liam Bonnett McKendree University 181
Day 1: 3 06-04 Day 2: 5 12-14 Total: 8 19-02
71. Riley Nuessle - Garrett Cromer University of Montevallo 180
Day 1: 3 08-06 Day 2: 4 10-08 Total: 7 18-14
72. Brett Hill - Brayden Hoehn Campbellsville University 179
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 3 07-09 Total: 8 18-12
73. Caleb Dugger - Kolby Gambrel King University 178
Day 1: 5 09-10 Day 2: 4 08-14 Total: 9 18-08
74. Jerry Brumbaugh Jr. - Quade Lobo Adrian College 177
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 3 06-10 Total: 8 18-05
75. Garrett Sullivan - Hayes Pate Faulkner University 176
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 2 06-15 Total: 7 18-03
76. Carter Doren - Ryan Lachniet Campbellsville University 175
Day 1: 4 09-07 Day 2: 3 08-10 Total: 7 18-01
77. Cole Taylor - Clay Taylor Lander University 174
Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 3 07-13 Total: 8 18-00
78. Peyton Bryant - Brezlyn Hightower Murray State College 173
Day 1: 3 07-00 Day 2: 5 10-15 Total: 8 17-15
79. Cody Abbott - Trenton Carey Lander University 172
Day 1: 3 07-09 Day 2: 4 10-02 Total: 7 17-11
80. Michael Gammons - Colby Elliott Emmanuel College 171
Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 2 04-14 Total: 7 17-09
81. Levi Seagraves - Scooter Ligon Jr Emmanuel College 170
Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 1 03-07 Total: 6 17-08
82. Syler Prince - Parker Stalvey St Johns River State College 169
Day 1: 3 08-09 Day 2: 3 08-15 Total: 6 17-08
83. Hunter King - Calup Williams Blue Mountain Christian Universi 168
Day 1: 5 17-05 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 17-05
84. Turner Hart - Bryan College 167
Day 1: 3 06-02 Day 2: 5 11-00 Total: 8 17-02
85. Carson Belville - Connor Hall McKendree University 166
Day 1: 3 07-15 Day 2: 4 08-14 Total: 7 16-13
86. Tyler Chmelar - Kase Kramer Tarleton State University 165
Day 1: 4 09-08 Day 2: 3 07-03 Total: 7 16-11
87. Brennan Berglund - Colton White University of Montevallo 164
Day 1: 2 04-08 Day 2: 5 12-02 Total: 7 16-10
88. Tucker McCoy - Skipper Stallings University of Montevallo 163
Day 1: 2 04-14 Day 2: 5 11-09 Total: 7 16-07
89. Colton Boelkes - Joshua Hayes University of North Alabama 162
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 2 05-08 Total: 7 16-05
90. Hampton Shull - Landon Surrett Lander University 161
Day 1: 3 08-06 Day 2: 4 07-12 Total: 7 16-02
91. Luke Rokavec - Braden Fairbanks Campbellsville University 160
Day 1: 4 08-05 Day 2: 3 07-10 Total: 7 15-15
92. Connor Green - Peter West Faulkner University 159
Day 1: 2 03-14 Day 2: 5 11-15 Total: 7 15-13
93. Joe Vaulton - Clay Bales Carson-Newman University 158
Day 1: 4 08-14 Day 2: 2 06-06 Total: 6 15-04
94. Corban Chenevey - Garrett Christy Catawba Valley Community College 157
Day 1: 3 07-04 Day 2: 4 07-14 Total: 7 15-02
95. Allen Powe - Jonathan Combs Campbellsville University 156
Day 1: 4 07-09 Day 2: 4 07-09 Total: 8 15-02
96. Brett Jolley Jr. - Carson Stevens East Texas Baptist University 155
Day 1: 4 07-13 Day 2: 3 06-13 Total: 7 14-10
97. Evan Sutton - Jaxson Freeman McKendree University 154
Day 1: 5 09-15 Day 2: 2 04-00 Total: 7 13-15
98. Brock Vogel - Kyle Zainitzer University of North Alabama 153
Day 1: 1 02-01 Day 2: 5 11-13 Total: 6 13-14
99. Carson Hoots - Dylan Kelly Texas A&M University 152
Day 1: 1 03-03 Day 2: 4 10-11 Total: 5 13-14
100. Preston Kolisek - Smith McGregor University of North Alabama 151
Day 1: 2 04-07 Day 2: 4 09-03 Total: 6 13-10
101. Kai Barnett - Kyle Hopping McKendree University 150
Day 1: 4 08-09 Day 2: 2 04-15 Total: 6 13-08
102. Brooks Parker - Briggs Alavezos University of Montevallo 149
Day 1: 4 08-11 Day 2: 2 04-12 Total: 6 13-07
103. Cody Monlezun - Josh Kerr Texas A&M University 148
Day 1: 3 08-00 Day 2: 3 05-05 Total: 6 13-05
104. Trey McMeen - Dylan Armstrong East Texas Baptist University 147
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 1 02-05 Total: 6 13-04
105. Levi Thibodaux - William Tew LSU - Shreveport 146
Day 1: 4 08-15 Day 2: 2 04-01 Total: 6 13-00
106. Anderson Jones - Lander University 145
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 2 03-08 Total: 7 12-12
107. Zach Pocos - Tucker Siminak McKendree University 144
Day 1: 3 07-08 Day 2: 3 05-03 Total: 6 12-11
108. Trace Antunes III - Garrett Ring University of Montevallo 143
Day 1: 2 04-05 Day 2: 4 08-05 Total: 6 12-10
109. Braden Lankford - Murray State College 142
Day 1: 4 10-08 Day 2: 1 02-01 Total: 5 12-09
110. Kolby Angell - Michael Markham University of Montevallo 141
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 12-07
111. Will Weischwill - Cade Dornburg Texas A&M University 140
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 12-05 Total: 5 12-05
112. Easton Bouma - Zachary Ward Drury University 139
Day 1: 3 06-08 Day 2: 2 05-12 Total: 5 12-04
113. Lane Clark - Tallis Morrison Erskine College 138
Day 1: 4 08-10 Day 2: 3 03-09 Total: 7 12-03
114. Delaney Platt - Ryan Olsen Wabash Valley College 137
Day 1: 4 12-02 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 4 12-02
115. Ethan Fields - McKendree University 136
Day 1: 4 11-10 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 4 11-10
116. Jeremy Monda - Florida Gateway College 135
Day 1: 3 06-14 Day 2: 2 04-07 Total: 5 11-05
117. Peyton Matherne - Beau Landry LSU 134
Day 1: 1 03-12 Day 2: 3 07-06 Total: 4 11-02
118. Hunter Russell - Richard Skiff Wabash Valley College 133
Day 1: 4 08-15 Day 2: 1 02-00 Total: 5 10-15
119. Owen Wheeler - Bethel University 132
Day 1: 5 08-12 Day 2: 1 02-03 Total: 6 10-15
120. Reece Keeney - Brantley Anders Kentucky Christian University 131
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 10-04
121. Drake Sturgill - Hudson Choquette University of Montevallo 130
Day 1: 2 04-05 Day 2: 3 05-09 Total: 5 09-14
122. Justin Latham - Lake Hatfield Campbellsville University 129
Day 1: 4 09-08 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 4 09-08
123. Noah Lieberman - Jacob Hiebsch Missouri State University 128
Day 1: 2 05-06 Day 2: 2 03-10 Total: 4 09-00
124. Cody Brumfield - Alex Mccarty University of Rio Grande 127
Day 1: 1 02-03 Day 2: 3 06-09 Total: 4 08-12
125. Matthew Gunn - Matthew Massey Erskine College 126
Day 1: 3 06-06 Day 2: 1 01-15 Total: 4 08-05
126. Karsten Raney - Brayson Claunch Campbellsville University 125
Day 1: 1 02-09 Day 2: 2 05-07 Total: 3 08-00
127. Matthew Norton - Ian Schroeder UNC - Charlotte 124
Day 1: 1 02-01 Day 2: 2 05-07 Total: 3 07-08
128. Jase Smith Jr. - Zachary Nolan Georgia College 123
Day 1: 3 07-04 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 07-04
129. Cabe Mackey - Jacob Webb Catawba Valley Community College 122
Day 1: 4 07-03 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 4 07-03
130. Luke McGuffin - Rylan Green Erskine College 121
Day 1: 2 04-14 Day 2: 1 02-02 Total: 3 07-00
131. Sam Ausbrooks - Eli Jaime Wabash Valley College 120
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 06-15 Total: 3 06-15
132. Carter Teune - Nick Hawkins Southeastern University 119
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 06-06 Total: 3 06-06
133. Wyatt Pearman - Ridge Rutledge Campbellsville University 118
Day 1: 3 06-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 06-00
134. Dom Begier - Erich Thompson SUNY - ESF 117
Day 1: 1 02-08 Day 2: 2 03-08 Total: 3 06-00
135. Will Wester - Jackson Thomas Emmanuel College 116
Day 1: 2 05-15 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 05-15
136. Josh Richardson - Nathan Vahle University of Nebraska - Lincoln 115
Day 1: 2 03-14 Day 2: 1 02-01 Total: 3 05-15
137. Caleb Neu - Anthony Cicero IV Bethel University 114
Day 1: 2 04-03 Day 2: 1 01-11 Total: 3 05-14
138. Grayson Ball - Sellers Odom University of North Alabama 113
Day 1: 2 05-13 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 05-13
139. Grant Rice - Blake Marcum Morehead State University 112
Day 1: 2 05-09 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 05-09
140. Harmon Marien - Mason Darling McKendree University 111
Day 1: 3 05-04 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 05-04
141. Drew Blasi - Noah Amundson Kansas State University 110
Day 1: 2 03-04 Day 2: 1 02-00 Total: 3 05-04
142. Owen Januszewski - Brady Pinwar Adrian College 109
Day 1: 1 02-13 Day 2: 1 02-07 Total: 2 05-04
143. Blake Bullock - John Mark Berry Blue Mountain Christian Universi 108
Day 1: 2 05-01 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 05-01
144. Dallas Copeland - Mario Botan Texas A&M University 107
Day 1: 2 00-14 Day 2: 2 03-14 Total: 4 04-12
145. Colten Drawdy - Bethel University 106
Day 1: 1 02-10 Day 2: 1 02-01 Total: 2 04-11
146. Peyton Dunn - Michael Avery Emmanuel College 105
Day 1: 2 04-09 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 04-09
147. Will Hammond - Parker Lambert Lander University 104
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 04-04 Total: 2 04-04
148. Cole Hadlock - Jackson Kulijof Murray State University 103
Day 1: 1 04-03 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 04-03
149. Michael John Teate - Diego Alea Southeastern University 102
Day 1: 1 02-06 Day 2: 1 01-08 Total: 2 03-14
150. Grant Simmons - Missouri State University 101
Day 1: 1 02-13 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 02-13
151. Lance Denney - Jackson Slaughter University of Nebraska - Lincoln 100
Day 1: 1 02-08 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 02-08
152. Kenny Price - Wyatt Loving Stephen F Austin State Universit 99
Day 1: 1 02-04 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 02-04
153. Ben Burns - Grant Pursifull Stephen F Austin State Universit 98
Day 1: 1 02-03 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 02-03
154. Tanner Wassilchalk - West Virginia University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 70 566 1378-12
2 57 490 1176-12
------------------------------
127 1056 2555-08
Raichel, Davis take advantage of morning flurry to take Day 1 lead at Cherokee Lake
July 10, 2025
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. — A game time adjustment paid off in a big way for Luke Davis and Kaden Raichel on Day 1 of the Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship at Cherokee Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops.
The University of Montevallo duo caught a five-bass limit weighing 19 pounds, 7 ounces to take the Day 1 lead at the east Tennessee reservoir, anchoring their bag with a largemouth weighing around 5 pounds.
Davis and Raichel hold a 9-ounce advantage over University of North Alabama’s Bryce Dimauro and Tripp Berlinsky, who caught 18-14 to land in second. Hunter King and Calup Williams from Blue Mountain Christian University are third with 17-5.
“We switched our game plan late last night,” Davis said. “We had been set on doing something different, but we were talking about it and decided to switch it up. I guess it was the perfect little tweak that put us on the right spot at the right time.
“There aren't words to describe how this morning went.”
The grumblings about how tough Cherokee Lake was fishing weren’t particularly quiet during Wednesday’s registration day, but the 154 teams managed to land a total of 70 limits and only five teams failed to catch a bass during Thursday’s opening round. If the cut had been made today, a team would have needed 14-2 to advance to the final day.
After brutally hot temperatures during practice, a weather system produced overnight showers and clouds lingered for most of the morning. Those conditions helped many teams achieve early limits, including Davis and Raichel.
“We had most of our weight in 10 minutes. It was insane. At 8:30 a.m., we were completely done,” Raichel said. “At the mouth of the river I could definitely tell there was more current, and I think that got them positioned better.”
While they found bass shallow and deep, Davis and Raichel primarily focused on bass suspending under schools of threadfin shad in 20 to 30 feet of water. One presentation was key during the morning madness. As they went along the rest of the day, they found a few more baits that could produce key bites later in the tournament.
They finished Day 1 with four largemouth and one smallmouth that weighed over 3 pounds. Although they can only keep two 18-inch smallmouth a day per Tennessee regulations, Davis said they spent a lot of time looking for areas that could provide that better-than-average smallmouth, but the one they caught on Day 1 was by far their best thus far.
“That one was a healthy one,” Davis said. “We caught some 20- and 21-inch smallmouth in practice, but they were only 3 pounds. A lot of the fish are skinny, but today we pulled up on a place with fat ones.”
A couple of things could make life a little more difficult on Raichel and Davis on Day 2. For one, they will launch in a later flight. Raichel also knows of at least one team who also fished their primary area and believes they might be sharing the spot tomorrow.
Dimauro and Berlinsky, meanwhile, finished the day with all largemouth in their 18-14 limit. Considering the smallmouth regulations, the UNA duo went all in on finding largemouth and found the right quality on Day 1.
“Our practice was very slow,” Dimauro said. “We knew we saw some good ones, but we never thought we would be able to catch almost 19 pounds.”
While the day started slow, Berlinsky said they started seeing big ones as the day progressed. One particular spot produced three key bites, including a 5-pounder and two 4-pounders that anchored their day. Berlinsky estimated using between 15 or 20 rods throughout Day 1.
“We’ve really been junk fishing around structure,” Berlinsky said. “Any can hold them out here it seems like. We haven’t even been looking for big fish, we are just trying to get a bite, and it just so happened that those bass were big.”
King and Williams, meanwhile, didn’t know where they would start Day 1 until they got in the truck Thursday morning. They chose correctly and landed their limit within the first two hours of the day and finished the day with four largies and a brown fish.
“It was pretty surprising. We only caught one keeper in practice,” Williams said. “To then catch five fish by 8 a.m. is crazy.”
The majority of their bites came in 8 feet of water or less with four or five baits generating the best strikes.
Cole Hadlock and Jackson Kulijof of Murray State University currently hold Big Bass of the Tournament honors with their 4-3 largemouth.
The full field of 154 boats will launch from the TVA Cherokee Dam Launch beginning at 6 a.m. and will return for weigh-in at 2 p.m. The Top 12 anglers after Friday’s weigh-in will advance to Championship Saturday where the winner will earn a spot in the Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Lew’s.
The final Bracket spot will be awarded to the overall Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops Team of the Year, which will be announced during weigh-in on Saturday.
Visit Jefferson County, Tennessee is hosting the tournament.
2025 Bassmaster College Series Title Sponsor: Strike King
2025 Bassmaster College Series Presenting Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops
2025 Bassmaster College Series Platinum Sponsor: Progressive, Toyota
2025 Bassmaster College Series Premier Sponsors: Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2025 Bassmaster College Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Triton Boats, VMC, Yokohama
2025 Bassmaster College Series Youth Sponsors: Seaguar, Shimano
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, 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, 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.
-30-
Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitte
Media Contact: Mandy Pascal, Communications Manager, 334-414-8677, mpascal@bassmaster.com
2025 Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops 7/10-7/12
Cherokee Lake, Jefferson City TN.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Club/School Pts
1. Luke Davis - Kaden Raichel University of Montevallo 250
Day 1: 5 19-07 Total: 5 19-07
2. Bryce Dimauro - Tripp Berlinsky University of North Alabama 249
Day 1: 5 18-14 Total: 5 18-14
3. Hunter King - Calup Williams Blue Mountain Christian Universi 248
Day 1: 5 17-05 Total: 5 17-05
4. Brendin Simich - Benjamin Travis Auburn University 247
Day 1: 5 16-06 Total: 5 16-06
5. Phillip Herring - Parker O'Bryan University of Montevallo 246
Day 1: 5 16-05 Total: 5 16-05
6. Garrett Smith - Andrew Blanton Lander University 245
Day 1: 5 14-13 Total: 5 14-13
7. Skyler Stevens - Grant McCraney Faulkner University 244
Day 1: 5 14-08 Total: 5 14-08
8. Michael Canonica - Seth Proctor University of Tennessee 243
Day 1: 5 14-07 Total: 5 14-07
9. Andrew Turner - James Sumrell Carson-Newman University 242
Day 1: 5 14-06 Total: 5 14-06
10. Brayden Batchelor - Georgia Southern University 241
Day 1: 5 14-03 Total: 5 14-03
10. Jacob Berryhill - Zach Knight Carson-Newman University 241
Day 1: 5 14-03 Total: 5 14-03
12. TJ Edwards Jr - Sawyer Brady Blue Mountain Christian Universi 239
Day 1: 5 14-02 Total: 5 14-02
13. Levi Seagraves - Scooter Ligon Jr Emmanuel College 238
Day 1: 5 14-01 Total: 5 14-01
14. Cameron Dials - Ethan Burnette Kentucky Christian University 237
Day 1: 5 13-09 Total: 5 13-09
15. Jacob Swanson - Matt Boerboom University of Montevallo 236
Day 1: 5 13-09 Total: 5 13-09
16. Adrian Urso - Corbin Templon Murray State University 235
Day 1: 5 13-07 Total: 5 13-07
17. Zach Wolfe - Brayden Ruckman Carson-Newman University 234
Day 1: 5 13-05 Total: 5 13-05
18. Luke Wenger - Braxon Hightower Dallas Baptist University 233
Day 1: 5 13-04 Total: 5 13-04
19. Paxton Giem - Nick Seitz Adrian College 232
Day 1: 5 13-03 Total: 5 13-03
20. Joe Lutz - Jake Monti UNC - Charlotte 231
Day 1: 5 13-02 Total: 5 13-02
20. Evan Newell - Dylan May Carson-Newman University 231
Day 1: 5 13-02 Total: 5 13-02
22. Cameron Yates - Harrison McCall Lander University 229
Day 1: 5 13-02 Total: 5 13-02
23. James Dubose - Daylon Milam University of Montevallo 228
Day 1: 5 13-01 Total: 5 13-01
23. Hunter Keller - Wes Smith II Catawba Valley Community College 228
Day 1: 5 13-01 Total: 5 13-01
23. Robert Miller - Levi Bolton Emmanuel College 228
Day 1: 5 13-01 Total: 5 13-01
26. Chase Wodzinski - Kaden Buchmann Lander University 225
Day 1: 5 12-14 Total: 5 12-14
27. Dalton DeFelice - Evan Ludlow University of Montevallo 224
Day 1: 5 12-12 Total: 5 12-12
27. Blake Wheat - Zach Helton Carson-Newman University 224
Day 1: 5 12-12 Total: 5 12-12
29. Michael Gammons - Colby Elliott Emmanuel College 222
Day 1: 5 12-11 Total: 5 12-11
30. Brett Mouw - Asa Putnam University of Montevallo 221
Day 1: 5 12-10 Total: 5 12-10
31. Hunter Hamilton - Tyler Morris LSU - Shreveport 220
Day 1: 5 12-09 Total: 5 12-09
32. Carson Owen - Dylan Reed Murray State College 219
Day 1: 5 12-08 Total: 5 12-08
33. Kolby Angell - Michael Markham University of Montevallo 218
Day 1: 5 12-07 Total: 5 12-07
34. Easton Drennon - Chase McCarter Carson-Newman University 217
Day 1: 5 12-06 Total: 5 12-06
35. Trey Marco - Jake Rowlands King University 216
Day 1: 5 12-03 Total: 5 12-03
36. Lucas Washburn - Braylon Eggerding Adrian College 215
Day 1: 5 12-03 Total: 5 12-03
37. Delaney Platt - Ryan Olsen Wabash Valley College 214
Day 1: 4 12-02 Total: 4 12-02
38. Hunter Barrow - Kanton Trull Catawba Valley Community College 213
Day 1: 5 11-15 Total: 5 11-15
39. Hunter Brewer - Fisher Heard University of North Alabama 212
Day 1: 5 11-14 Total: 5 11-14
40. Carson Winn - Ethan Tedder University of North Alabama 211
Day 1: 5 11-12 Total: 5 11-12
41. Brody Robison - Peyton Sorrow University of Montevallo 210
Day 1: 5 11-12 Total: 5 11-12
42. Caleb Bridges - Jonathan Fann Middle Tennessee State Universit 209
Day 1: 5 11-11 Total: 5 11-11
42. Alex Wood - Joe Williams Missouri State University 209
Day 1: 5 11-11 Total: 5 11-11
44. Jerry Brumbaugh Jr. - Quade Lobo Adrian College 207
Day 1: 5 11-11 Total: 5 11-11
45. Bryson Dotson - Hayden Peck Tennessee Wesleyan University 206
Day 1: 5 11-10 Total: 5 11-10
46. Ethan Fields - McKendree University 205
Day 1: 4 11-10 Total: 4 11-10
47. Ethan Elliott - Bryce Mcdonald University of Pikeville 204
Day 1: 5 11-08 Total: 5 11-08
48. Peyton Harris - Dalton Head University of Montevallo 203
Day 1: 5 11-07 Total: 5 11-07
49. Dayne Kobriger - Camden Kozikoski Drury University 202
Day 1: 5 11-07 Total: 5 11-07
50. Gage King - Banks Shaw University of North Alabama 201
Day 1: 5 11-06 Total: 5 11-06
51. Cole Divin - Grant Gale Tarleton State University 200
Day 1: 5 11-04 Total: 5 11-04
51. Garrett Sullivan - Hayes Pate Faulkner University 200
Day 1: 5 11-04 Total: 5 11-04
53. Brett Hill - Brayden Hoehn Campbellsville University 198
Day 1: 5 11-03 Total: 5 11-03
54. Dillon Robertshaw - Jake Mantovani Missouri State University 197
Day 1: 5 11-01 Total: 5 11-01
55. Chris Baker - Elijah Kelley Kentucky Christian University 196
Day 1: 5 11-00 Total: 5 11-00
56. Carty Shoen - Tyler Swan Auburn University 195
Day 1: 5 10-15 Total: 5 10-15
57. Trey McMeen - Dylan Armstrong East Texas Baptist University 194
Day 1: 5 10-15 Total: 5 10-15
58. Brock Blazier - Colby Joseph Campbellsville University 193
Day 1: 5 10-13 Total: 5 10-13
58. Colton Boelkes - Joshua Hayes University of North Alabama 193
Day 1: 5 10-13 Total: 5 10-13
60. John Michael Ortman - Max Heaton Emmanuel College 191
Day 1: 5 10-12 Total: 5 10-12
61. Riley Faulkner - Szymon Piton Carson-Newman University 190
Day 1: 5 10-09 Total: 5 10-09
62. Braden Cox - Cameron Smith Ohio State University 189
Day 1: 4 10-09 Total: 4 10-09
63. Braden Lankford - Murray State College 188
Day 1: 4 10-08 Total: 4 10-08
64. Harrison Terry - Jordan Hampton Bethel University 187
Day 1: 5 10-06 Total: 5 10-06
65. Angelo Malek - Parker Welch McKendree University 186
Day 1: 4 10-06 Total: 4 10-06
66. Noah Trant - Evan Howe Northwestern State University 185
Day 1: 5 10-05 Total: 5 10-05
67. Reece Keeney - Brantley Anders Kentucky Christian University 184
Day 1: 5 10-04 Total: 5 10-04
68. Cole Taylor - Clay Taylor Lander University 183
Day 1: 5 10-03 Total: 5 10-03
69. Elisha Colley - Storm Clark University of Montevallo 182
Day 1: 4 10-01 Total: 4 10-01
70. Evan Sutton - Jaxson Freeman McKendree University 181
Day 1: 5 09-15 Total: 5 09-15
71. Brady Metzger - Mason Bohland Purdue University 180
Day 1: 4 09-14 Total: 4 09-14
72. Clayton Ellis - Chandler Howell Blue Mountain Christian Universi 179
Day 1: 5 09-12 Total: 5 09-12
72. Carter Nutt - Dylan Nutt University of North Alabama 179
Day 1: 5 09-12 Total: 5 09-12
74. Cole McNeely - Cole Martin University of Montevallo 177
Day 1: 5 09-11 Total: 5 09-11
75. Caleb Dugger - Kolby Gambrel King University 176
Day 1: 5 09-10 Total: 5 09-10
76. Tyler Chmelar - Kase Kramer Tarleton State University 175
Day 1: 4 09-08 Total: 4 09-08
76. Justin Latham - Lake Hatfield Campbellsville University 175
Day 1: 4 09-08 Total: 4 09-08
78. Carter Doren - Ryan Lachniet Campbellsville University 173
Day 1: 4 09-07 Total: 4 09-07
79. Jeff Giffen - Cooper Gilroy University of Alabama 172
Day 1: 4 09-07 Total: 4 09-07
80. Anderson Jones - Lander University 171
Day 1: 5 09-04 Total: 5 09-04
81. Nathan Reynolds - Jake Brown University of North Alabama 170
Day 1: 4 09-03 Total: 4 09-03
82. Noah Belt - Micah Belt Southeastern Oklahoma University 169
Day 1: 4 09-03 Total: 4 09-03
83. Brayden Mercer - Corey Morris East Texas Baptist University 168
Day 1: 4 09-00 Total: 4 09-00
83. Jackson Paden - Mason Thompson University of Tennessee 168
Day 1: 4 09-00 Total: 4 09-00
83. Dalton Phelps - Peyton Rose Wabash Valley College 168
Day 1: 4 09-00 Total: 4 09-00
86. Levi Thibodaux - William Tew LSU - Shreveport 165
Day 1: 4 08-15 Total: 4 08-15
87. Hunter Russell - Richard Skiff Wabash Valley College 164
Day 1: 4 08-15 Total: 4 08-15
88. Joe Vaulton - Clay Bales Carson-Newman University 163
Day 1: 4 08-14 Total: 4 08-14
89. Owen Wheeler - Bethel University 162
Day 1: 5 08-12 Total: 5 08-12
90. Brooks Parker - Briggs Alavezos University of Montevallo 161
Day 1: 4 08-11 Total: 4 08-11
91. Cole Moulton - Jared Hubbard Lander University 160
Day 1: 3 08-11 Total: 3 08-11
92. Lane Clark - Tallis Morrison Erskine College 159
Day 1: 4 08-10 Total: 4 08-10
93. Kai Barnett - Kyle Hopping McKendree University 158
Day 1: 4 08-09 Total: 4 08-09
94. Syler Prince - Parker Stalvey St Johns River State College 157
Day 1: 3 08-09 Total: 3 08-09
94. Triston Richardson - Johnny Hudson Jr LSU - Shreveport 157
Day 1: 3 08-09 Total: 3 08-09
96. Riley Nuessle - Garrett Cromer University of Montevallo 155
Day 1: 3 08-06 Total: 3 08-06
96. Hampton Shull - Landon Surrett Lander University 155
Day 1: 3 08-06 Total: 3 08-06
98. Luke Rokavec - Braden Fairbanks Campbellsville University 153
Day 1: 4 08-05 Total: 4 08-05
99. Cody Monlezun - Josh Kerr Texas A&M University 152
Day 1: 3 08-00 Total: 3 08-00
100. Carson Belville - Connor Hall McKendree University 151
Day 1: 3 07-15 Total: 3 07-15
101. Brett Jolley Jr. - Carson Stevens East Texas Baptist University 150
Day 1: 4 07-13 Total: 4 07-13
102. Jake Peck - Luke Wyle Auburn University 149
Day 1: 4 07-12 Total: 4 07-12
103. Allen Powe - Jonathan Combs Campbellsville University 148
Day 1: 4 07-09 Total: 4 07-09
104. Cody Abbott - Trenton Carey Lander University 147
Day 1: 3 07-09 Total: 3 07-09
105. Zach Pocos - Tucker Siminak McKendree University 146
Day 1: 3 07-08 Total: 3 07-08
106. Corban Chenevey - Garrett Christy Catawba Valley Community College 145
Day 1: 3 07-04 Total: 3 07-04
107. Jase Smith Jr. - Zachary Nolan Georgia College 144
Day 1: 3 07-04 Total: 3 07-04
108. Cabe Mackey - Jacob Webb Catawba Valley Community College 143
Day 1: 4 07-03 Total: 4 07-03
109. Peyton Bryant - Brezlyn Hightower Murray State College 142
Day 1: 3 07-00 Total: 3 07-00
110. Nick Dumke - Connor Bell University of Montevallo 141
Day 1: 2 06-15 Total: 2 06-15
111. Jeremy Monda - Florida Gateway College 140
Day 1: 3 06-14 Total: 3 06-14
112. Easton Bouma - Zachary Ward Drury University 139
Day 1: 3 06-08 Total: 3 06-08
113. Matthew Gunn - Matthew Massey Erskine College 138
Day 1: 3 06-06 Total: 3 06-06
114. Matthew Qualich - Liam Bonnett McKendree University 137
Day 1: 3 06-04 Total: 3 06-04
115. Turner Hart - Bryan College 136
Day 1: 3 06-02 Total: 3 06-02
116. Wyatt Pearman - Ridge Rutledge Campbellsville University 135
Day 1: 3 06-00 Total: 3 06-00
117. Will Wester - Jackson Thomas Emmanuel College 134
Day 1: 2 05-15 Total: 2 05-15
118. Grayson Ball - Sellers Odom University of North Alabama 133
Day 1: 2 05-13 Total: 2 05-13
119. Grant Rice - Blake Marcum Morehead State University 132
Day 1: 2 05-09 Total: 2 05-09
120. Noah Lieberman - Jacob Hiebsch Missouri State University 131
Day 1: 2 05-06 Total: 2 05-06
121. Harmon Marien - Mason Darling McKendree University 130
Day 1: 3 05-04 Total: 3 05-04
122. Blake Bullock - John Mark Berry Blue Mountain Christian Universi 129
Day 1: 2 05-01 Total: 2 05-01
123. Tucker McCoy - Skipper Stallings University of Montevallo 128
Day 1: 2 04-14 Total: 2 04-14
123. Luke McGuffin - Rylan Green Erskine College 128
Day 1: 2 04-14 Total: 2 04-14
125. Peyton Dunn - Michael Avery Emmanuel College 126
Day 1: 2 04-09 Total: 2 04-09
126. Brennan Berglund - Colton White University of Montevallo 125
Day 1: 2 04-08 Total: 2 04-08
127. Preston Kolisek - Smith McGregor University of North Alabama 124
Day 1: 2 04-07 Total: 2 04-07
128. Trace Antunes III - Garrett Ring University of Montevallo 123
Day 1: 2 04-05 Total: 2 04-05
128. Drake Sturgill - Hudson Choquette University of Montevallo 123
Day 1: 2 04-05 Total: 2 04-05
130. Caleb Neu - Anthony Cicero IV Bethel University 121
Day 1: 2 04-03 Total: 2 04-03
131. Cole Hadlock - Jackson Kulijof Murray State University 120
Day 1: 1 04-03 Total: 1 04-03
132. Connor Green - Peter West Faulkner University 119
Day 1: 2 03-14 Total: 2 03-14
132. Josh Richardson - Nathan Vahle University of Nebraska - Lincoln 119
Day 1: 2 03-14 Total: 2 03-14
134. Peyton Matherne - Beau Landry LSU 117
Day 1: 1 03-12 Total: 1 03-12
135. Drew Blasi - Noah Amundson Kansas State University 116
Day 1: 2 03-04 Total: 2 03-04
136. Carson Hoots - Dylan Kelly Texas A&M University 115
Day 1: 1 03-03 Total: 1 03-03
137. Owen Januszewski - Brady Pinwar Adrian College 114
Day 1: 1 02-13 Total: 1 02-13
137. Grant Simmons - Missouri State University 114
Day 1: 1 02-13 Total: 1 02-13
139. Colten Drawdy - Bethel University 112
Day 1: 1 02-10 Total: 1 02-10
140. Karsten Raney - Brayson Claunch Campbellsville University 111
Day 1: 1 02-09 Total: 1 02-09
141. Dom Begier - Erich Thompson SUNY - ESF 110
Day 1: 1 02-08 Total: 1 02-08
141. Lance Denney - Jackson Slaughter University of Nebraska - Lincoln 110
Day 1: 1 02-08 Total: 1 02-08
143. Michael John Teate - Diego Alea Southeastern University 108
Day 1: 1 02-06 Total: 1 02-06
144. Kenny Price - Wyatt Loving Stephen F Austin State Universit 107
Day 1: 1 02-04 Total: 1 02-04
145. Cody Brumfield - Alex Mccarty University of Rio Grande 106
Day 1: 1 02-03 Total: 1 02-03
145. Ben Burns - Grant Pursifull Stephen F Austin State Universit 106
Day 1: 1 02-03 Total: 1 02-03
147. Matthew Norton - Ian Schroeder UNC - Charlotte 104
Day 1: 1 02-01 Total: 1 02-01
147. Brock Vogel - Kyle Zainitzer University of North Alabama 104
Day 1: 1 02-01 Total: 1 02-01
149. Dallas Copeland - Mario Botan Texas A&M University 102
Day 1: 2 00-14 Total: 2 00-14
150. Sam Ausbrooks - Eli Jaime Wabash Valley College 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
150. Will Hammond - Parker Lambert Lander University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
150. Carter Teune - Nick Hawkins Southeastern University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
150. Tanner Wassilchalk - West Virginia University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
150. Will Weischwill - Cade Dornburg Texas A&M University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 70 566 1378-12
------------------------------
70 566 1378-12
MDJ Shines with Old-School Tactics at Potomac River
By Walker Smith, Courtesy of Dynamic Sponsorships
The Potomac River, a sprawling tidal fishery just a stone’s throw from the nation’s capital, has long been a proving ground for bass anglers. Its grassy banks, labyrinthine creeks and ever-changing tides demand versatility, patience and a keen understanding of the environment. For Team Toyota pro Mark Daniels Jr., the tournament was a chance to lean on his roots, tap into old-school techniques and deliver a stellar 11th-place finish.
“I don’t think a single person caught ‘em scoping there,” Daniels said, reflecting on Zenni Stage 6 presented by Athletic Brewing Company.
Forward-facing sonar (FFS) took a backseat at the Potomac. Instead, the river rewarded anglers who could expertly read the water, work the tides and wield time-tested power-fishing tactics. For Daniels Jr., a California native who cut his teeth on the tidal California Delta, this played right into his wheelhouse.
“It’s a tidal fishery and is very diverse as far as how you want to fish. You can fish offshore grass, hard cover, docks or old duck blinds. You can even fish lily pads in super skinny water which is how the tournament was won getting way back into those creeks in inches of water. It’s a power fisherman’s dream. Topwaters, buzzbaits, poppers; tons of pitching and flipping. Pick your poison.”
Daniels Jr.’s affinity for tidal fisheries stems from his early days fishing the Delta, where he learned to navigate the ebb and flow of tides and capitalize on fleeting bite windows.
“That’s part of the reason I did so well,” he explained. “I grew up on a tidal fishery so that definitely helps. But what makes it tough is the small, hour-long bite windows. You have a very limited opportunity to make hay but once you lose the tide, you better be where you need to be.”
His experience gave him an edge, but the Potomac’s complexity kept him on his toes. A year prior, the James River—a similar tidal fishery—had dealt him a “devastating finish,” a humbling reminder that even seasoned anglers can get burned.
“You’d think I’d get super excited about tidal fisheries but last year I had a devastating finish at the James River which is very much like the Potomac. That place hurt me, and I love the fishery but even with being so comfortable on tidal waters, they can get you in a hurry.”
At the Potomac, MDJ found his groove by keying in on low tide, when the receding water concentrated fish around isolated cover.
“Low water was the deal for me,” he said. “Right when the tide started going out, the bite was best for you, and I was losing that tide with each passing day. With the lower tide, a wacky rig was really good and so was a plopper-style lure and a topwater popper. The lower tide concentrated the fish in my area and made them a lot easier to locate. It concentrated them on isolated wood and hydrilla seemed to be the deal for me.”
His approach was a masterclass in old-school finesse and power fishing, blending subtle presentations like wacky-rigged soft plastics with aggressive topwaters to trigger bites in the Potomac’s grassy, shallow haunts.
“I fished 3 areas predominantly about 15 miles apart,” he noted. “They were only about 10-12 miles from the boat ramp.”
This strategic selection allowed him to maximize his time in productive zones without burning too much fuel or time running the river. Each spot featured a mix of hydrilla and isolated wood—classic Potomac cover that held fish during the outgoing tide.
But the tournament wasn’t without its hiccups.
“I finished 11th place. I was happy with my performance. I could have made the final day, but I lost a few key fish,” MDJ admitted. “Overall, I’m satisfied. I didn’t have a lot of areas, but I was able to optimize the few areas I had.”
What set Daniels Jr. apart was his reliance on traditional techniques in an era increasingly dominated by technology. The Potomac’s shallow, grass-heavy nature favored those who could read the water and adapt to its rhythms. Daniels Jr.’s background—honed on the California Delta and later refined through years of competitive fishing—gave him the instincts to capitalize. His love for punching mats, a technique he mastered on the Delta, wasn’t the primary pattern here but his comfort with power fishing and tidal dynamics translated seamlessly.
As a Team Toyota pro, MDJ embodies the versatility that the brand champions. His journey from fishing San Francisco Bay with his dad to competing on the Bass Pro Tour is a testament to his work ethic and passion.
“I have literally dedicated my life to this sport,” he said. “And let me say one thing, if anyone out there has something they love, pursue it. I’m living proof you can live your dream if you are willing to work for it.”
That drive was evident at the Potomac, where he turned limited areas into a near-Top-10 finish through smart decisions and relentless execution.
MLF Announces 2026 Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Schedule
BENTON, Ky. (July 10, 2025) – Major League Fishing (MLF) announced today the 2026 Tackle Warehouse Invitationals schedule, which features six high-stakes regular-season events with a top award of up to $115,000 each and the no-entry-fee Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Championship, where anglers compete for a top prize of $135,000 and a coveted berth to REDCREST 2027.
The 2026 Tackle Warehouse Invitationals will once again spotlight professional anglers battling across six stops for a share of some of the sport’s best payouts and qualification into the prestigious Bass Pro Tour, where every stage features a top award of $150,000. The Bass Pro Tour’s live catch, weigh and immediate-release scoring that has produced some of the sport’s most memorable moments, including Tackle Warehouse Invitationals alum Jake Lawrence’s buzzer beater win over Jacob Wheeler at Stage 4 on Nickajack Lake this season.
“No other circuit prepares professional anglers for the next step in their career like the Invitationals,” said Kathy Fennel, MLF Executive Vice President and General Manager. “That makes the Invitationals popular among veteran and up-and-coming pros alike, and this season fans responded to our format, which restricts the use of forward facing and 360-degree sonar to half the qualifying days, with record MLFNOW! viewership at every stop. We’re looking forward to carrying that momentum into the 2026 season as we visit some outstanding fisheries.”
The regular season kicks off in early February at Florida’s Harris Chain of Lakes before traveling to South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, Oklahoma and New York. The top angler in the season-long point standings will be crowned the Fishing Clash Angler of the Year and receive a $50,000 bonus, and the top five anglers in points will secure invitations to compete on the 2027 Bass Pro Tour. A third of the field fishing all six qualifying events will also advance to the 2026 Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Championship, Sept. 18-20, 2026, on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes in Kissimmee, Florida.
Every day of competition will stream live on MLFNOW! at MajorLeagueFishing.com and through the MLF app, MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) and Rumble. All six Invitationals and the championship will also be televised nationally.
Invitations for the 2026 Tackle Warehouse Invitationals will be issued to qualifying anglers this fall.
2026 MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Schedule:
Feb. 6-8 Stop 1 at the Harris Chain of Lakes Leesburg, Fla.
Hosted by Discover Lake County Florida
Feb. 26-28 Stop 2 at Santee Cooper Lakes Clarendon County, S.C.
*Thurs – Fri Hosted by Destination Clarendon
March 19-21 Stop 3 at Wheeler Lake Decatur, Ala.
*Thurs – Fri Hosted by Decatur Morgan County Tourism
May 8-10 Stop 4 at Douglas Lake Jefferson County, Tenn.
Hosted by Visit Jefferson County, TN
June 5-7 Stop 5 at Lake Eufaula Eufaula, Okla.
Hosted by Vision Eufaula
July 24-26 Stop 6 at Lake Champlain Plattsburgh, N.Y.
Hosted by the City of Plattsburgh and the Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau
Sept. 18-20 Invitationals Championship at Kissimmee Chain of Lakes Kissimmee, Fla.
Hosted by Experience Kissimmee
Full program details and rules for the 2026 MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals will be announced later this year. For complete details and updated information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals on the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook , Instagram and YouTube.
Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing Co., B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Bubba, Deep Dive, E3 Sport Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, 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.
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, Discovery+, Discovery GO, Animal Planet, Outdoor Channel, VICE, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network 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.
Expect smallmouth slugfest for Nation Qualifier at Lake Erie
MONROE, Mich. — Plenty of options will be available to anglers competing in the final regular-season Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier presented by Lowrance of the year at Lake Erie, many of which will revolve around postspawn smallmouth, according to St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN angler Michael Spaulding Jr.
“There’s tons of water to fish and a ton of different ways you can fish,” the Dundee, Mich., angler said. “There are so many different options. I think it will be a super-fun tournament. It will take at least 22 or 23 pounds a day to win. Even if the wind blows, the fish still eat on Erie when it blows.”
Tournament days are scheduled for July 16-18 with daily takeoffs scheduled for 6:30 a.m. ET. Anglers will return for weigh-in at 2:30 p.m. At the conclusion of the event, the top 10% of the field will punch tickets to the Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Championship presented by Lowrance scheduled for Oct. 22-25 at the Upper Mississippi River.
This is the first major Bassmaster tournament to launch out of Lake Erie’s western shore. In recent years for Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series and Bassmaster Opens competition, anglers launched in Lake St. Clair and had the option to run to Lake Erie. With anglers starting in Erie, and a decent run to the mouth of the Detroit River that connects Erie with St. Clair, some new strategies and water will likely come into play.
“It will play to an angler’s fishing style,” Spaulding said. “Erie is structure driven, while St. Clair is going to be more of a ’Scoping deal. You will follow the perch and bait around. From where we are taking off, St. Clair is about 40 miles. You’ll have a shorter day if you go up there. There is also 26 miles of the Detroit River to fish. It will be interesting, and the wind will be a huge factor in all of it.”
For good reason, much of the attention in this tournament will be focused on postspawn smallmouth feeding up after the spawn. On Lake Erie, those smallmouth will hold on the offshore rockpiles and reefs in 15 to 30 feet of water, as well as structure in the shipping channel. On St. Clair, meanwhile, the smallmouth gravitate to hard sand and grass in shallower water.
Spaulding also anticipates the Detroit River will garner attention from anglers who are comfortable in heavy current.
“Drop shots, spinnerbaits, jerkbaits and a minnow will all play,” he said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if someone got on a sneaky crankbait or spybait deal either. Sometimes in the summer, that will happen somewhere on the lake. Something out of the ordinary could be a big factor.”
There is also a healthy population of largemouth in the fishery, and someone could potentially catch a 20-pound bag targeting green fish.
“Lake Erie is my home lake, and we fish a lot on bad-weather days. There is at least 20 miles on this western shore with really good largemouth fishing in some of the backwaters. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone has a really good tournament on just largemouth.”
Explore Monroe Michigan is hosting the tournament.
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 Pr
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, 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, 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.
Cook in Control at NPFL on St. Lawrence
Long runs and giant smallmouth – that’s the story of Day One and, frankly, the entire event. Launching in Massena, New York, about 95 miles from Lake Ontario, the early summer conditions are perfect for catching big bass. Drew Cook leads the pack with a 27-2 bag, anchored by a 6-pound smallmouth.
In second place by just 2 ounces, South Carolina angler Patrick Walters weighed in 27-0 and capitalized on a strong start this morning. Kyle Welcher sits in third place with 24-13, while Andrew Ready and Andrew Upshaw are tied for fourth with 24-8.
Robert Wroblewski leads big bass with a 6-7 lunker. Progressive AOY leader Kyle Welcher is in third place with 24-13 on Day One. Greg Hackney, who started the event in second place for AOY, is in 13th, keeping the top anglers tight in contention. Coming into the event, Cook was in 8th place and is now looking to climb the leaderboard with a strong performance this week.
Cook Crushes Day One
Fully committed to fishing “near the mouth” of Lake Ontario, Drew Cook decent run and bounced between several spots, catching better-than-average smallmouth at each. With no forward-facing sonar in the NPFL, he kept things simple—targeting hard structure and keeping a bait around fish.
“It took me a little while to get to my fish, but I stopped and hit a couple of places on the way,” he said. “I’m not doing anything special—just fishing typical smallmouth stuff and targeting areas where they’re setting up.”
He caught his leading limit in about three hours and feels confident heading into Day Two, with similar conditions in the forecast.
“The hardest part is getting there, getting back, and being efficient with my time,” he said. “Yesterday, the forecast showed clouds and rain, but now it looks like tomorrow might be similar to today—and I’m good with that.”
Walters Off to Strong Start
Making a strong start, South Carolina angler Patrick Walters kicked off his day in the river, quickly putting a couple of keepers in the well. Staying true to his style, he bounced between multiple spots around the river mouth, landing big smallmouth along the way.
“It took me about 15 minutes to get dialed in, but the fish are doing exactly what I wanted,” he said. “This afternoon, on my way back, I hit a spot and caught some bigger fish than I expected. I might start there tomorrow.”
With a couple of upgrades at the end of the day, Walters is considering a change in strategy for Day Two. He may skip the long run and stick to fishing the river, where he feels he can make the most of his time.
“I’m doing what I always do—this is the St. Lawrence, there are fish everywhere. I’m fishing a bunch of different finesse baits, including a Hatch Match Goby-style bait and several Zoom plastics,” he explained. “Just bouncing around and catching big old smallies.”
Top Ten After Day One – Lake Eufaula:
Drew Cook 27-2
Patrick Walters 27-0
Kyle Welcher 24-13
Andrew Ready 24-8
Andrew Upshaw 24-8
Jesse Wise 24-4
Cole Harris 24-0
Justin Adkins 23-13
Shane Lehew 23-12
Jason Christie 23-7
National Championship Predictions with Stephen F Austin, Purdue, and Wabash Valley College
Courtesy of Dynamic Sponsorships
Competition begins for the 2025 Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops tomorrow morning at sunrise. 156 boats comprised of the best 304 college anglers in the country will back down the TVA Dam Ramp on Cherokee Lake at dark-thirty to officially begin the most important tournament of their young lives.
National Championship trophies, a Bassmaster Classic qualification, a chance to win a fully rigged Toyota Tundra + Nitro Boat package for 2026, and college fishing glory is on the line. For these young anglers, the stakes do not get any higher.
Teams from all corners of the country have converged upon picturesque Cherokee Lake, which sits nestled in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains just outside of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This scenic fishery will serve as the playing field this week. Along with beautiful scenery, Cherokee is known to be full of bass, but initial practice reports suggest the fishing has been tough.
We caught up with a few competitors representing different colleges to hear their thoughts and predictions heading before competition kicks off for the 2026 “College Natty”.
Q – What’s your name, school, year in college and your major?
Ben (Stephen F Austin) – “Ben Burns. Stephen F Austin State University. I will be a senior starting in August and I’m pursuing a Business degree.”
Mason (Purdue University) – “My name is Mason Bohland, I graduated from Purdue University with a Design & Construction degree this summer. I actually just started a full-time job as a construction manager in Fishers, Indiana.”
Eli (Wabash Valley College) – “Eli Jaime, I am a Junior at Wabash Valley College in Mount Carmel, Illinois. I transferred to WVC last year, so I am technically in between majors right now. But I’m looking at the lineman’s program and that’s what I hope to do when I graduate.”
Q – What are two techniques / tactics you think will excel in this tournament, and what weight will it take (per day) to make Saturday’s top 12 cut?
Ben (Stephen F Austin) – “I’m going to say a drop shot and a shakey head. I wish I had something power fishing to report, but that’s not been my experience. I think 12-lbs. per day will be super strong.
Mason (Purdue University) – “Topwater walking bait like a Spook first thing in the morning and then it’ll turn into a jighead minnow FFS deal. I think 13.5-lbs per day would put you into the top 12. Anything over 12-lbs will be extremely tough to do.”
Eli (Wabash Valley College) – “FFS and a minnow will be a key bait for just about every team this week. Then I’d say something to drag on offshore rock. Drop shot, Carolina rig, shakey head… something like that. I’d say 11-12 lbs. per day will have you towards the top. “
Q – What do you foresee being the biggest challenge this week?
Ben (Stephen F Austin) – “Catching those key 18” smallmouth. We can only weigh in one 18” or bigger smallmouth per day, so those bites will be at a premium. Catching keeper largemouth will be a challenge, too. It’s not hard to catch 15” smallies, but 15” largemouth have been super hard to come by.”
Mason (Purdue University) – “My biggest concern will be getting bit early and setting the tone for the day. It’s been really tough once the sun gets high, so catching a couple keepers early will be huge to calm us down and keep us focused.”
Eli (Wabash Valley College) – “Spot rotation and decision making, which I guess you could say for every tournament. But with the caliber of anglers and 150 teams competing on Cherokee this week, those factors will be even more important.”
Q – What has been your favorite thing about your college fishing experience?
Ben (Stephen F Austin) – “Honestly, it’s been traveling around and competing with buddies I have made through fishing. I’ve fished all three years I’ve been in school, and it’s been one of the best parts about my whole college experience.”
Mason (Purdue University) – “No doubt it’s been traveling with teammates. College fishing buddies are some of the best friends I have. We usually travel with three or four teams from our school and it’s so much fun. Something I’ll never forget for sure.”
Eli (Wabash Valley College) – “I’ve really valued the chance to learn from so many other serious anglers and build a network, make friends, etc. I’ve tried to soak up as much info as possible. Being able to try your hand at competing against the best college age anglers in the nation has been so cool. This is only my second-year fishing in college, and it’s been such a great opportunity.”
Challenging playing field awaits College Championship contenders
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. — College teams from across the country will face quite the challenge at the 2025 Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship at Cherokee Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops according to Carson-Newman University alumni Hayden Gaddis.
“It could be brutal, honestly,” Gaddis said. “The team that wins this event will have some luck on their side if they can catch a limit every day. I could see 13 to 15 bass winning it. If a team can catch 13 or 14 pounds a day, they will blow it out of the water. Junk fishing will be big for sure.”
Tournament days are scheduled for July 10-12. Daily takeoffs and weigh-ins will be held at Cherokee Dam Boat Ramp in Jefferson City. Around 160 teams will compete in the National Championship after qualifying via the six regular-season College Series events or the college circuit of their B.A.S.S. Nation’s state championships.
The full field will compete for the first two days of the event before the Top 12 teams advance to Championship Saturday. The winning duo will advance to the College Classic Bracket presented by Lew’s to fish against the top teams from each of the College Divisions trails — the Legends Trail and the Lunkers Trail — as well as overall College Series Team of the Year, which will also be decided at the conclusion of the championship. Anglers will also be vying for a spot on the inaugural Bassmaster College All-American Team presented by Huk. The top two highest-finishing teams in the Strike King Bassmaster College Series Team of the Year race as well as each team that stands atop the rankings in the Legends and Lunkers division of the College Series will receive this honor.
Tucked into the hills of east Tennessee, the Holston River impoundment has been a popular destination for tournament anglers and weekend anglers alike. The College Series last visited the lake in 2023, a weather-shortened event in early April that took over 17 pounds to win.
Cherokee is known for its smallmouth fishing, but Tennessee wildlife regulations state that anglers can only keep one 18-inch smallmouth each day from June 1 until the middle of October. The smallmouth limit, along with the summer heat, will make for a challenging setup for this National Championship.
“If you can find a way to catch one big smallmouth and four largemouth to go with it, you will be in contention to win,” Gaddis said.
Gaddis believes limits will be hard to come by, but the best way to get one or two big bites will be by throwing topwater baits and buzzbaits early in the morning. Teams in the first few flights will have the best opportunity to take advantage of that feeding window.
“Night fishing is really good this time of the year, so the early morning bite will be huge,” he said. “That is when the majority of the big fish will be caught. It is the best bite window of the day, in my opinion. If they can get lucky and catch a couple fish before that bite window shuts off on an offshore hole, that will be crucial.”
Boulder and slate rock are the predominant cover on the lake, but anglers fishing the shallows can also generate bites around laydowns, bank grass and docks. Offshore points and humps will also play a role for anglers looking to utilize their forward-facing sonar. Drop shots, Neko rigs, jighead minnows and jigs will produce good bites as well during the summer months.
With the lake at full pool, Gaddis also expects several teams will make the run up to the Sevier dam tailrace, an area that has grown in popularity over the last several years.
“I’m sure it will be very crowded up there, just because of all of the publicity it has received over the last couple of years,” he said. “This time of the year it shouldn’t be an issue getting up there. There’s a good chance someone will have a good finish up there, but it will be hard to manage fish if too many boats are up there.”
Visit Jefferson County, Tennessee is hosting the tournament.
2025 Bassmaster College Series Title Sponsor: Strike King
2025 Bassmaster College Series Presenting Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops
2025 Bassmaster College Series Platinum Sponsor: Progressive, Toyota
2025 Bassmaster College Series Premier Sponsors: Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2025 Bassmaster College Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Triton Boats, VMC, Yokohama
2025 Bassmaster College Series Youth Sponsors: Seaguar, Shimano
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, 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, 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.
Reengineered for the Elements: Gill Sets New Standard in Rainwear
Jacksonville Beach, FL – Gill, a leading innovator in high-performance outerwear, announces the release of its newly updated line of fishing rain suits, engineered to provide superior protection and comfort in the most challenging wet weather conditions. This updated collection features XPLORE and XPLORE+ Fabric with SHIELD PFAS-Free DWR, updated features, and additional safety reflective accents is setting a new standard for performance and reliability.
"We're committed to pushing the boundaries of what's possible in rainwear," said Matt Clark, Product Development Director. "With this new line, we've taken our proven designs and elevated them with cutting-edge materials and construction techniques. This translates to unmatched comfort and protection for our customers, allowing them to stay focused and perform at their best, regardless of the weather."
Key Features and Benefits:
- Superior Waterproofing: Updated XPLORE and XPLORE+ Fabric with SHIELD PFAS-Free DWR "Utilizing our advanced XPLORE+ technology, these reengineered rain suits achieve a waterproof rating up to 40,000 mm, keeping users dry even in heavy downpours.
- Enhanced Breathability: Optimal moisture vapor transmission ensures breathability and comfort during high-exertion activities.
- Increased Durability: Constructed with a highly abrasion-resistant fabric, these rain suits are built to withstand rugged use and provide long-lasting performance.
- Improved Fit and Comfort: Updated and upgraded, we’ve introduced the next generation Vortex Hood System for full weather protection, even when traveling at high speeds. Reengineered adjustable cuffs and ankle seals feature an ergonomic closure design for a more comfortable, customized fit.
- Sustainable Design: Our reengineered rain suits are made with 100% recycled polyester lining and a SHIELD PFAS-Free DWR finish, reducing their environmental impact.
- Updated Product Line:
- Apex Pro Jacket and Bib 2.0
- Meridian-X Jacket and Bib 2.0
- Aspect Jacket and Bib 2.0
The reengineered rain suit collection will be available in the fall.
Attending ICAST?
Mark your calendars for the live unveiling of the 2.0 suits during our press conference Tuesday, July 15 at 2p (Conference Room S220A).
Want to see the testing equipment in action? Stop by during ICAST in booth 2836 for Hydrostatic Happy Hour on Wednesday July 16.
About Gill
Don't let our appearance fool you – Gill is more than just a clothing company. We're an engineering company, crafting highly technical products that you wear. Every piece of our gear is designed, engineered, and tested to the absolute highest standards, ensuring fishermen get maximum protection from the elements.
This commitment defines our brand: ‘Engineered for the Elements’. It’s been our focus for the last 50 years, and it will be for the next 50. We're dedicated to providing anglers with wearable technology that performs when it matters most.
Contact:
Michele Eichstead
Fishing Marketing Manager
MLF Announces 2026 Bass Pro Tour Schedule
BENTON, Ky. (July 9, 2025) – Major League Fishing (MLF) announced today the 2026 Bass Pro Tour schedule, ushering in a new chapter for the sport’s premier professional bass fishing circuit. Featuring a roster of 51 pros, the 2026 season will spotlight some of the country’s most diverse fisheries and record-setting payouts as the field competes for Fishing Clash Angler of the Year honors and qualification into REDCREST 2027 and the MLF Heavy Hitters all-star event.
The new season kicks off January 15 at Lake Guntersville in Alabama and winds through fisheries in South Carolina, Texas, Arkansas, Florida, Oklahoma and Ohio, introducing multiple new venues and back-to-back dual-lake events that will push competitors to the limit.
“Our 2026 schedule showcases everything we love about the Bass Pro Tour – challenging new waters, high-stakes competition and a roster of the most accomplished anglers in the sport,” said Kathy Fennel, MLF Executive Vice President & General Manager. “We’re especially excited about several new stops on the Tour next season, and working on some exciting developments for REDCREST 2026, which we’ll be announcing soon. There’s never been a better time to be a fan of the sport of professional bass fishing.”
A key storyline entering the 2026 season is the Bass Pro Tour’s transition to a 51-angler field – the final step in a strategically planned two-year restructuring of the league’s competitive format. The next evolution is designed to create a more streamlined, sustainable model that elevates the profile of each competitor, improves storytelling for fans and sponsors and maximizes the league’s evolving digital broadcast strategy.
As in 2025, each Bass Pro Tour event will feature the full field of anglers competing in the Qualifying Round on Days 1 and 2, followed by the Knockout Round on Day 3 and then the Championship Round on Day 4. The league’s signature catch-weigh-release format ensures immediate fish care and maximum fan excitement, with every fish scored and streamed live on MLFNOW! via the MLF app, MyOutdoorTV (MOTV), Rumble, and at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
With fresh lakes and a field of the world’s best anglers ready to make history, the 2026 Bass Pro Tour promises more action, more surprises and more big bass moments than ever before.
2026 MLF Bass Pro Tour Schedule:
Jan. 15-18 Stage 1 at Lake Guntersville Guntersville, Ala.
Hosted by Marshall County Tourism & Sports
Feb. 19-22 Stage 2 at Lake Hartwell Oconee County, S.C.
Hosted by Visit Oconee SC
March 5-8 Stage 3 at Lake Whitney (Days 1-2) & Lake Waco (Days 3-4) Waco, Texas
Hosted by the Greater Waco Sports Commission, the City of Waco and the Waco TPID
March 26-29 Stage 4 at O.H. Ivie Lake (Days 1-2) & Lake Brownwood (Days 3-4) Early, Texas
Hosted by Visit Early
April 16-19 REDCREST 2026 TBA
April 30-May 3 Stage 5 at Beaver Lake Northwest Ark.
May 16-21 MLF Heavy Hitters at Orange Lake Ocala, Fla.
Hosted by the Ocala/Marion County Visitors & Convention Bureau
June 18-21 Stage 6 at Grand Lake Grove, Okla.
Hosted by the City of Grove and the Grove Convention & Tourism Bureau
Aug. 6-9 Stage 7 at Lake Erie Sandusky, Ohio
Hosted by Shore & Islands Ohio
Proud sponsors of the MLF Bass Pro Tour include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing Co., Bass Force, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, E3 Sport Apparel, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Lowrance, Mercury, MillerTech, NITRO Boats, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Star brite, Suzuki Marine, Toyota and Zenni.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the 2026 Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery, Discovery+, Discovery GO, Animal Planet, Outdoor Channel, VICE, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network 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.
Bassmaster reveals the 2025 100 Best Bass Lakes in America
July 8, 2025
Bassmaster reveals the 2025 100 Best Bass Lakes in America
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — After a year of record-setting catches and jaw-dropping tournament results, Bassmaster Magazine has unveiled its annual list of the 100 Best Bass Lakes in America for 2025 — and this year, a powerhouse lake returns to the top spot.
California’s Clear Lake takes the crown as the best bass fishery in the country, edging out some of the sport’s most celebrated waters. Topping Bassmaster’s 100 Best Bass Lakes list in 2020, the 43,785-acre natural lake in northern California continues to churn out double-digit largemouth like clockwork — including a staggering 102.81-pound, 15-bass total landed by John Pearl in the WON Bass Open this spring. Biologists and anglers alike agree: despite heavy pressure, Clear Lake is a big-bass factory like no other.
“This fishery has endured decades of tournament traffic and still produces monsters year-round,” said B.A.S.S. Conservation Director Gene Gilliland. “It’s a testament to both the ecosystem’s productivity and sound fisheries management.”
Rounding out the Top 3 nationally are Texas' O.H. Ivie Lake, long regarded as a bucket-list destination for trophy bass seekers, and the ever-reliable Lake Fork, also in the Lone Star State.
The 2025 rankings were developed through a combination of tournament data, fishery reports from state wildlife agencies and feedback from thousands of anglers across the country. More than 500 bodies of water were evaluated in the process.
California leads the pack this year with an unmatched 10 lakes in the Top 100, followed by Texas with nine and New York with seven.
The full list — segmented by region and topped with the national Top 10 — showcases a wide diversity of waters, from sprawling Southern impoundments to remote glacial lakes teeming with smallmouth. Whether you’re chasing personal bests or scenic solitude, there’s a lake on this list calling your name.
Full rankings can be found in the July/August issue of Bassmaster Magazine and on Bassmaster.com.
Bassmaster Magazine’s Top 10 Best Bass Lakes of 2025
1. Clear Lake, California
2. O.H. Ivie Lake, Texas
3. Lake Fork, Texas
4. St. Lawrence River (Thousand Islands), New York
5. Lake Casitas, California
6. Orange Lake, Florida
7. Santee Cooper Lakes, South Carolina
8. Mille Lacs Lake, Minnesota
9. Lake Erie, New York
10. Lake St. Clair, Michigan
Best Bass Lakes – Central Division
1. O.H. Ivie Lake, Texas
2. Lake Fork, Texas
3. Mille Lacs Lake, Minnesota
4. Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Texas
5. Bussey Brake Reservoir, Louisiana
6. Toledo Bend Reservoir, Louisiana/Texas
7. Caney Creek Reservoir, Louisiana
8. West Okoboji Lake, Iowa
9. Lake J.B. Thomas, Texas
10. Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees, Oklahoma
11. Lake Claiborne, Louisiana
12. Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri
13. Upper Mississippi River, Wisconsin
14. Lake Oahe, South Dakota/North Dakota
15. Bull Shoals, Arkansas
16. Lake O’ the Pines, Texas
17. Table Rock Lake, Missouri
18. Bois d’Arc Lake, Texas
19. Caddo Lake, Louisiana/Texas
20. Millwood Lake, Arkansas
21. Newton Lake, Illinois
22. Lake Conroe, Texas
23. Lake Hamilton, Arkansas
24. Lake Tenkiller, Oklahoma
25. Black Bayou Lake/Hosston Lake, Louisiana
Best Bass Lakes – Southeastern Division
1. Orange Lake, Florida
2. Santee Cooper Lakes, South Carolina
3. Lake Guntersville, Alabama
4. Albemarle Sound & Connected Rivers, North Carolina
5. Lake Murray, South Carolina
6. Fellsmere Reservoir/Headwaters/Lake Egan, Florida
7. Pickwick Lake, Alabama/Tennessee/Mississippi
8. Jordan Lake, North Carolina
9. Withlacoochee River/Lake Rousseau, Florida
10. Lake Lanier, Georgia
11. Falls Lake, North Carolina
12. Lake Seminole, Florida/Georgia
13. Lake Tohopekaliga, Florida
14. Kentucky Lake, Tennessee/Kentucky
15. High Rock Lake, North Carolina
16. Dale Hollow Reservoir, Tennessee/Kentucky
17. Clarks Hill Reservoir, Georgia/South Carolina
18. Lake Eufaula, Alabama/Georgia
19. Chickamauga Lake, Tennessee
20. Lake Chatuge, Georgia/North Carolina
21. Wheeler Lake, Alabama
22. South Holston Reservoir, Tennessee/Virginia
23. Lake Hartwell, South Carolina/Georgia
24. Ross Barnett Reservoir, Mississippi
25. Lake Okeechobee, Florida
Best Bass Lakes – Northeastern Division
1. St. Lawrence River (Thousand Islands), New York
2. Lake Erie/Upper Niagara River, New York
3. Lake St. Clair, Michigan
4. Lake Erie, Ohio/Michigan
5. Lake Champlain, New York/Vermont
6. Burt/Mullett Lakes, Michigan
7. Grand Traverse Bay, Michigan
8. Cayuga Lake, New York
9. Lake Charlevoix, Michigan
10. Bays de Noc, Michigan
11. Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia
12. Cobbosseecontee Lake, Maine
13. China Lake, Maine
14. Great Pond, Maine
15. Candlewood Lake, Connecticut
16. Presque Isle Bay/Lake Erie Central Basin, Pennsylvania
17. Oneida Lake, New York
18. Upper Chesapeake Bay, Maryland
19. Otisco Lake, New York
20. Potomac River, Maryland/West Virginia/Virginia
21. Saginaw Bay, Michigan
22. Chautauqua Lake, New York
23. Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire
24. Pymatuning Reservoir, Ohio/Pennsylvania
25. Lake Cumberland, Kentucky
Best Bass Lakes – Western Division
1. Clear Lake, California
2. Lake Casitas, California
3. Lake Berryessa, California
4. Diamond Valley Lake, California
5. Lake Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
6. Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, California
7. Lake Mead, Nevada/Arizona
8. Lake Perris, California
9. Siltcoos Lake, Oregon
10. Lake Washington, Washington
11. Lake Havasu, Arizona/California
12. Roosevelt Lake, Arizona
13. Lower Colorado River, Arizona/California
14. Moses Lake, Washington
15. Lake Powell, Utah/Arizona
16. Don Pedro Reservoir, California
17. Lake Mohave, Nevada/Arizona
18. Lake Sammamish, Washington
19. Lower Otay Reservoir, California
20. Elephant Butte Reservoir, New Mexico
21. Navajo Lake, New Mexico/Colorado
22. Alamo Lake, Arizona
23. Columbia River, Oregon/Washington
24. Fort Peck Reservoir, Montana
25. Dworshak Reservoir, Idaho
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, 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, 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.
Flooded Beaver Dam Helps Ott DeFoe Win Toyota Bonus Bucks
Courtesy of Dynamic Sponsorships: Photos: MLF
It’s not often you hear about a beaver dam playing a role in a top-level bass fishing tournament win in 2025, but according to five-time Bass Pro Tour champion Ott DeFoe, that’s part of the story enroute to his victory at Zenni Stage Six presented by Athletic Brewing Company on the Potomac River.
While Ott can catch bass with the best of them employing any technique, the east Tennessee native is well-known for his shallow water prowess. DeFoe grew up exploring little creeks and backwaters, using his eyes and instincts to find and catch fish. After a decent practice, Ott believed the area he found had potential and knew he was going to be able to fish his strengths on the Potomac.
“I was able to fish the way I enjoy… I didn’t have a depth finder turned on, but I don’t think I caught a bass much deeper than 24-inches in four days of competition,” DeFoe said with a smile.
Except for day two, DeFoe caught most of his weight in the backwaters of Neabsco Creek. Using a 3/8-ounce compact flipping and a wacky-rigged Bass Pro Shops Stik-O Worm, DeFoe methodically fished visible cover and sight-fished scoreable bass he could see cruising in the clear, cooler flows of water coming into Neabsco Creek.
It was in the furthest reaches of a little creek flowing into Neabsco where a single beaver dam played a big role in Ott’s triumph. On day one of competition, Ott fished up a creek feeding the Neabsco all the way to a beaver dam that blocked his passage.
DeFoe was surprised he didn’t catch anything below the dam, but he did catch two quality fish above the dam: literally having to drag those fish across the dry beaver dam to put them in the boat. Four-wheel drive bass fishing.
Ott finished day one in second place behind Keith Poche, with intentions to head back to the same area on day two. A later boat draw and increased fishing pressure from competitor boats ended up keeping Ott out of Neabsco on the second day, which almost cost Ott the tournament.
“I really struggled on day two and honestly it was a blessing just to make the Knockout Round,” DeFoe said. “On day three I knew I had to head back to my primary area. I started catching them as soon as I got there on Saturday, which helped me take my time and fish thoroughly. Eventually I fished my way back up to that beaver dam and much to my surprise, the beaver dam was gone.
“We had big rains the night before and a super high tide. To the best of my knowledge, all the water must have washed that dam out. I was pleasantly surprised and pushed past that dam a few hundred yards. I only caught a couple of fish above the dam on the third day before my bites dried up. But I had caught enough to make the Championship Round, so it was a success. I turned around and thought I had caught what lived above that beaver hut.”
On Championship Sunday, DeFoe learned there were a whole lot more fish to be caught in the skinny creek above the beaver dam. Living up to his “River Otter” nickname, Ott pushed up past the now washed-away beaver dam and caught the bulk of his weight for the day, which was 32-bass totaling over 78-pounds. Enough to handily outpace the field on the final day.
“I wish I could say I knew that was going to be the winning area or I had those fish saved for the final day but that’s just not true,” DeFoe admitted. “I fished what was in front of me and took it as it came every single day. It’s been a while since I’ve gotten my hands on a BPT trophy and to do it fishing the way I love makes it even sweeter.”
Along with his fifth BPT title, DeFoe cashed in an additional $3,000 from Toyota Bonus Bucks for being the highest finishing angler towing his boat with a 2021 or newer Toyota tow vehicle. Ott’s owned several Tundras and has been a longtime Bonus Bucks participant. He has put around 50,000 miles on his 2022 Tundra, and nearly every one of those miles has been towing.
“That truck is a pulling machine,” DeFoe said. “When I put my truck in tow-mode and it gets those turbos working it really pulls whatever you are hauling smooth as butter. The V6 engine has a lot of torque and doesn’t downshift on you. It’s been a great truck and Toyota pays anglers of all levels to fish through Bonus Bucks. How can you beat that?”
Toyota Bonus Bucks pays out on over 620 events, including college and team tournament trails. For a full list of supported tournaments, for more information or to get signed up today follow this link: https://www.toyotatrucksbonusbucks.com/
Cartersville Fishing Team Goes Wire-to-Wire to Win 16th Annual High School Fishing National Championship on Grand Lake
GROVE, Okla. (June 30, 2025) – In the days leading up to their arrival in Oklahoma for the 2025 Abu Garcia High School Fishing National Championship on Grand Lake, Georgia-based Cartersville Fishing Team teammates Cooper Moon and Carson Holbert thought that their chances of winning the nearly 400-boat tournament were, in their words, “a long shot.”
But within a 30-minute span on Day 1 – after catching 12 quick pounds en route to a tournament best of 15 pounds, 12 ounces – “long shot” turned to “Dude, I think we have a shot at this” for the Cartersville Fishing Team pair.
Two days and 44 pounds later, Moon and Holbert are leaving Grand Lake with a pair of trophies, matching $5,000 checks to spend on college, and the title of 2025 National Champions. The Georgia high school seniors sacked up 13-15 on the final day to finish the three-day event with 44-1 – good enough for a 3-pound win over Dylan Sorrells and Andrew Waters (41-1) of the Texas Highland Park Bass Team.
“We came out here with an open mind, learned as much about the lake as we could in practice, and kind of just worked our way through it, day by day,” Holbert said. “There were almost 400 teams fishing, so we knew it was a little bit of a long shot just because of the numbers. But we figured out a few things that got us onto bigger fish and ran with it.”
Moon and Holbert spent the majority of their tournament fishing what they referred to as “transitional” water – rocky structure in 8 to 12 feet of water that seemed to harbor bigger-than-average fish while remaining impervious to the fluctuating water on Grand Lake. They started the tournament with 15-12 on Day 1 and held onto the lead with 14-6 on Day 2 before finishing with 13-15 on Friday to secure the win.
The teams of Carson Mowdy and Colton Stewart of the Milano Eagles (37-10); Jackson Roumbanis and Lawson Lewis of the Russellville Cyclones (37-4); and Wyatt Woods and Wyatt McBride of Lexington High School (35-5) rounded out the Top 5.
Moon and Holbert were meticulous in their pre-tournament research and invested ample time leading up to the National Championship collecting facts and trends about Grand Lake (which they put to use practicing on a handful of lakes local to them that approximated Grand). They identified the basics of their winning pattern on Day 1 of practice, then spent the rest of practice eliminating water and techniques. The duo started the tournament with a basic plan to fish crankbaits over mid-depth rock while most of the other teams either fished shallow or on main-river offshore spots.
“We weren’t back in the bushes, and we weren’t on the main river ledge stuff that other people found them on – we wanted to stay in that transitional zone where the water would be somewhat more stable and fish didn’t move very much,” Moon said. “If the water came up a few feet, they’d be in maybe 12 feet of water; when it came down, they’d move to 8 feet. They’d only have to move maybe 20 feet. I think it was just the area where they felt safe and could feed.”
Holbert and Moon fished a variety of crankbaits from various manufacturers, almost all in shad colors, each working different depths and retrieves until they found the magic combination that touched off a flurry. They knew they found the right pattern early on Day 1.
“We caught 12 pounds in 30 minutes on our first spot on Day 1 and thought ‘We might be putting ourselves in contention here,’” Holbert said. “We had heard mixed reviews all week about people catching them just OK or not catching them. It didn’t seem that the lake was fishing that great for a lot of the teams, so we felt good about that first day.”
They picked right up in the same area on Day 2, despite being in a late flight and some increased pressure on their main spot. The pressure didn’t seem to affect Moon and Holbert as they plucked 13 pounds from that spot within 15 minutes, setting themselves up for the final day.
“We had some boats fishing around our spot, but they weren’t doing what we were doing,” Holbert said. “Everybody was doing the same thing, but we were working the bait right, hitting the angles right, doing everything efficiently.”
They arrived to a ripping current on their key spot the final morning as water managers pulled water, which played right into Holbert and Moon’s hands.
“They pulled a ton of current Friday, those fish wanted something moving, and fast,” Moon said. “We had lost a big fish on that spot just before weigh-in on Day 2, and when we went back to it on the final day, it was loaded. We caught a 5 and a 4 on one bait and had total chaos for about 10 minutes before the school broke up a little.”
“We knew we were around the fish to win,” Holbert said. “It was just a matter of getting the right bites and getting them at the right times when they were setting up to feed. Getting them in the boat was a big thing, too. We’d get a lot of bites in a flurry, and then it would go pretty dead. We knew we needed to take advantage of every bite, especially on those bigger fish.”
Moon and Holbert’s National Championship partnership will eventually lead them both to Montevallo University in Alabama – both have declared to fish for the College Fishing powerhouse, now with $5,000 apiece to help with expenses.
“We met back in July of 2024 – both of us were looking for a partner who was committed to travel the whole country and be serious about it,” Holbert said. “We’ve fished together very well from the beginning and have some experience fishing giant tournaments. Going into this week, we wanted to look for more sneaky stuff that people hadn’t looked at. It really worked out for us.”
The Top 10 teams at the 2025 Abu Garcia High School Fishing National Championship on Grand Lake finished:
1st: Cartersville Fishing Team – Cooper Moon, White, Ga., and Carson Holbert, Louisville, Tenn., nine bass, 44-1
2nd: Highland Park Bass Team – Dylan Sorrells, Dallas, Texas, and Andrew Waters, Melissa, Texas, nine bass, 41-1
3rd: Milano Eagles – Carson Mowdy and Colton Stewart, both of Milano, Texas, nine bass, 37-10
4th: Russellville Cyclones – Jackson Roumbanis, Russellville, Ark., and Lawson Lewis, Knoxville, Ark., nine bass, 37-4
5th: Lexington High School Bulldogs – Wyatt Woods and Wyatt McBride, both of Lexington, Okla., nine bass, 35-5
6th: Haughton Fishing Team – Carsen Adcock, Haughton, La., and Colton Arnold, Hope, Ark., nine bass, 35-1
7th: SoCal Jr. Bass Anglers – Brenner Lynn, San Diego, Calif., and Bryce Deheyn, San Marcos, Calif., nine bass, 34-14
8th: Saint Xavier High School – Miles Allen, Louisville, Ky., and Ethan Roths, Prospect, Ky., nine bass, 33-12
9th: Track & Channel Youth – Wesson Vint, Syracuse, Ind., and JJ Gruber, Mishawaka, Ind., nine bass, 32-15
10th: Camdenton High School – Corbin Bailey and Kaden Messina, both of Camdenton, Mo., nine bass, 32-0
Complete results for the entire field can be found at HighSchoolFishing.org.
The 2025 Abu Garcia High School Fishing National Championship Presented by Tackle Warehouse on Grand Lake was hosted by the Grove Convention & Tourism Bureau. MLF High School Fishing tournaments are free, two-person (team) events for students in grades 7-12 and are open to any MLF and TBF Student Angler Federation-affiliated high school club. The top 10 percent of teams at each Open event, along with the TBF High School Fishing state championships, advanced to the 2025 High School Fishing National Championship.
In addition to the college scholarships and prizes offered, the 2025 High School Fishing National Champions – Moon and Holbert – will also advance to compete as co-anglers at the 2025 MLF Toyota Series Championship, held Nov. 6-8 on Grand Lake in Grove, Oklahoma, and a shot at the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro boat with a 115-horsepower outboard.
Proud sponsors of the MLF Abu Garcia High School Fishing Presented by Tackle Warehouse include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Columbia PFG, Deep Dive, E3 Sport Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, 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 tournament information, visit HighSchoolFishing.org. For regular High School Fishing updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow High School Fishing on Facebook and on 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 Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Drake Sturgill from the University of Montevallo Receives the First Annual Travis Ely Memorial Scholarship
|
|
Ohio’s Fain Gets Career Win No. 2 at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Detroit River Presented by Lew’s
Ypsilanti’s Bucciarelli Tops Co-Angler Division
TRENTON, Mich. (June 30, 2025) – Boater Ty Fain of Springfield, Ohio, caught a five-bass limit weighing 23 pounds, 3 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on the Detroit River Presented by Lew’s. The tournament was the first event of the season for the BFL Michigan Division. Fain earned $4,385 for his victory.
“I made a long boat ride all the way out to Pelee (an area on the Canadian side of Lake Erie),” Fain said. “I fished anywhere from 10 to 20 foot of water. I fished a little bit on the north shore of Lake Erie, too, and I caught 20 to 25 fish all on a drop-shot.”
Fain’s decision to run out to the famed Pelee area came down to his history in that part of the lake, and “just being comfortable” in that area. Of course, it helped that the weather was nice enough for him to make it there and back in a reasonable amount of time. The trip left him about 2 1/2 hours to fish around Pelee and a couple more hours on the north shore. His primarily lures included smallmouth staples like a Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flat Worm and Flatnose Minnow.
“I would say they were decently spread out,” added Fain about the smallmouth bass he was targeting. “It wasn’t like a real tight group of fish or anything like that.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Ty Fain, Springfield, Ohio, five bass, 23-3, $4,385
2nd: Cody Kelley, Plainwell, Mich., five bass, 22-10, $2,193
3rd: Aaron Jagdfeld, Rochester, Mich., five bass, 22-9, $2,063 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
4th: Nolan Mandel, Kimball, Mich., five bass, 22-5, $1,023
5th: Brock Vogel, Perrysburg, Ohio, five bass, 22-2, $877
6th: Lucas Toliver, Paw Paw, Mich., five bass, 21-9, $804
7th: Joshua Barr, Louisville, Ohio, five bass, 20-0, $731
8th: Mike Trombly, Belleville, Mich., five bass, 19-15, $585
8th: Cody Dawson, Mount Vernon, Ohio, five bass, 19-15, $585
8th: Clinton Moring, Fort Wayne, Ind., five bass, 19-15, $585
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Jesse Hickman of Waynesville, Ohio, caught a bass that weighed 6 pounds, 6 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $620.
Terry Bucciarelli of Ypsilanti, Michigan, won the co-angler division and $2,593 Saturday, after bringing three bass to the scale that totaled 12 pounds, 15 ounces.
The top 12 co-anglers finished:
1st: Terry Bucciarelli, Ypsilanti, Mich., three bass, 12-15, $2,593
2nd: Brian Ruetz, Toledo, Ohio, three bass, 12-3, $1,096
3rd: Rosario Murello, Greenwood, Ind., three bass, 12-1, $730
4th: Cody Salzmann, Southgate, Mich., three bass, 11-13, $512
5th: Mark Lyons, Marion, Ind., three bass, 11-7, $439
6th: Steve Doak, Sylvania, Ohio, three bass, 11-3, $402
7th: James Welch, Litchfield, Maine, three bass, 10-15, $415
8th: Klaus Kuester, Forest Park, Ill., three bass, 10-14, $329
9th: Philip Castrodale, West Bloomfield, Mich., three bass, 10-11, $292
10th: Scott Sims, Morgantown, Ind., three bass, 10-10, $232
10th: Ryan Legg, Parma, Ohio, three bass, 10-10, $232
10th: Stephen Waggoner, New Whiteland, Ind., three bass, 10-10, $232
Joseph Gnaster of Crown Point, Indiana, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $310, catching a bass that weighed in at 4 pounds, 12 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
In addition to winning the event, Ty Fain of Springfield, Ohio, has the early lead in the Fishing Clash Michigan Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 250 points, while Terry Bucciarelli of Ypsilanti, Michigan, leads the Fishing Clash Michigan Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 250 points.
The next event for BFL Michigan Division anglers will be held July 12, at the Detroit River out of Trenton, Michigan. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.
The top 60 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 3-4 BFL Regional tournament on Lake Erie in Sandusky, Ohio. Boaters will fish for a top award of a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard worth $50,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $20,000.
The 2025 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is 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, will advance to one of 12 BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top three, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.
Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, 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, 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 Bass Fishing League 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 Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
South Carolina’s Wicker Earns First Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Clarks Hill Lake
South Carolina’s Chadwick Tops Co-Angler Division
APPLING, Ga. (June 30, 2025) – Boater Andy Wicker of Cayce, South Carolina, caught a five-bass limit weighing 14 pounds, 12 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Clarks Hill Lake. The tournament was the fourth event of the season for the BFL Savannah River Division. Wicker earned $4,259 for his victory.
For Wicker, the shallow bite never really happened. And while he wanted to go chase suspended schoolers, he never really unlocked how to catch big fish using that approach. So, with a three-bass limit in effect for this tournament, he decided to slow down and go fish with confidence for a few good bites using an old-school approach.
“I was basically just throwing a worm around,” he said. “I caught the big one (a 6-pound, 10-ounce bass) out of a brush pile. The other ones were just on stereotypical summer places – rocks and brush mostly. I started dragging a worm around old-school style.
“The three-fish limit I think was pretty key,” he added. “I don’t know that I would’ve done what I did with a five-fish limit. I probably would’ve wanted to chase schooling fish or suspended fish. It (the three-fish limit) makes it easier mentally to just go throw a big worm and get three bites.”
In most brush pile events, Wicker prefers to have a big milk run. But he only had a half-day to practice. So he stuck to one primary area, running from target to target with a Zoom Ol’ Monster.
“I got a fair amount of bites,” he added. “I guess it was tough and it wasn’t. I have a couple brush piles that are really good, but outside of those there’s a lot of dead brush. So you can go a long time in between bites.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Andy Wicker, Cayce, S.C., three bass, 14-12, $4,259
2nd: Wesley Sandifer, Chapin, S.C., three bass, 12-9, $1,840
3rd: Dan Geurtsen, Chapin, S.C., three bass, 12-0, $1,225
4th: Eric Allen, Powder Springs, Ga., three bass, 11-10, $859
5th: Lane Parker, Waleska, Ga., three bass, 10-13, $736
6th: Greg Rikard, Leesville, S.C., three bass, 10-10, $1,300 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contginency Bonus)
7th: Caleb Sheldon, West Columbia, S.C., three bass, 10-7, $613
8th: Bart Blackburn, North Augusta, S.C., three bass, 10-5, $552
9th: Matt O'Connell, Brooks, Ga., three bass, 9-14, $491
10th: Michael Wilson, Burnsville, N.C., three bass, 9-13, $429
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Wicker caught a bass that weighed 6 pounds, 10 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $480.
Tim Chadwick of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, won the co-angler division and $1,840 Saturday, after bringing three bass to the scale that totaled 9 pounds, 6 ounces.
The top 10 co-anglers finished:
1st: Tim Chadwick, Mount Pleasant, S.C., three bass, 9-6, $1,840
2nd: Gibson Huntley, Inman, S.C., three bass, 8-6, $920
3rd: Jeff Rikard, Leesville, S.C., three bass, 7-1, $520
3rd: Dwayne Parton, Anderson, S.C., three bass, 7-1, $520
5th: James Akins, Cumming, Ga., three bass, 6-15, $352
5th: Ashton Mabery, Wellford, S.C., three bass, 6-15, $352
7th: Jason Wood, Windsor, S.C., three bass, 6-10, $307
8th: Chase Gurkin, Simpsonville, S.C., three bass, 6-8, $276
9th: Jackson Williams, Keysville, Ga., three bass, 6-6, $245
10th: Benjie Winkler, Cleveland, Ga., three bass, 5-14, $215
Joe Smith of Sardis, Georgia, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $240, catching a bass that weighed in at 4 pounds, 12 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After four events, Lane Parker of Waleska, Georgia, now leads the Fishing Clash Savannah River Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 963 points, while Rusty Odom of Simpsonville, South Carolina, leads the Fishing Clash Savannah River Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 965 points.
The next event for BFL Savannah River Division anglers will be held Sept. 27-28, at Lake Hartwell in Anderson, South Carolina. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.
The top 60 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 10-11 BFL Regional tournament on Lake Murray in Columbia, South Carolina. Boaters will fish for a top award of a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard worth $50,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $20,000.
The 2025 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is 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, will advance to one of 12 BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top three, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.
Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, 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, 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 Bass Fishing League 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 Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Gallatin’s Womack Frogs and Flips for the Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Old Hickory Lake
Ashland City’s Pillars Tops Co-Angler Division
GALLATIN, Tenn. (June 30, 2025) – Boater Josh Womack of Gallatin, Tennessee, caught a three-bass limit weighing 11 pounds, 14 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Old Hickory Lake . The tournament was the fourth event of the season for the BFL Music City Division. Womack earned $10,434, including the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus, for his victory.
“I started out this morning, just went up shallow and threw a frog around and caught several keepers,” Womack said. “I think maybe one of the fish I weighed in was one of the ones I caught on a frog, but I didn’t have any big ones. The rest of the day I just kind of ran around and flipped shallow wood with a (Zoom) Brush Hog. And that’s how I caught the rest of my fish.”
Womack’s frog bite was primarily around water willow grass. When he switched to wood, Womack flipped targets on the main river in 5 to 6 feet of water – some wood he could see and some that was submerged. He caught 15 to 20 keepers.
The top 11 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Josh Womack, Gallatin, Tenn., three bass, 11-14, $10,434 (includes $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
2nd: Austin True, Dickson, Tenn., three bass, 11-8, $1,802
3rd: Daniel Johnson, Lebanon, Tenn., three bass, 11-3, $830
3rd: Brandon Edel, Hendersonville, Tenn., three bass, 11-3, $830
5th: Hunter Bouldin, McMinnville, Tenn., three bass, 10-12, $587
6th: John Hopkins, Hendersonville, Tenn., three bass, 10-10, $538
7th: Tim Messer, Hendersonville, Tenn., three bass, 10-8, $489
8th: Larry Crisp, Gallatin, Tenn., three bass, 10-7, $440
9th: Christopher Stites Sr., Lebanon, Tenn., three bass, 10-2, $391
10th: Trevor Sanford, Lebanon, Tenn., three bass, 10-0, $325
10th: Corey Steakley, Lebanon, Tenn., three bass, 10-0, $325
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Austin True of Dickson, Tennessee, caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 10 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $335.
Kyle Pillars of Ashland City, Tennessee, won the co-angler division and $1,467 Saturday, after bringing three bass to the scale that totaled 10 pounds, 5 ounces.
The top 10 co-anglers finished:
1st: Kyle Pillars, Ashland City, Tenn., three bass, 10-5, $1,467
2nd: Chris Seese, Ten Mile, Tenn., three bass, 9-2, $733
3rd: Josh Underhill, Watertown, Tenn., three bass, 8-2, $490
4th: Scott Duncan, Lebanon, Tenn., three bass, 7-14, $317
4th: Trevor Medley, Sparta, Tenn., three bass, 7-14, $317
6th: Tommy Pritchard, Bargersville, Ind., three bass, 7-13, $486
7th: David Marr, Cleveland, Tenn., three bass, 7-9, $232
7th: Wayne Crouch, Jamestown, Tenn., three bass, 7-9, $332
9th: Mark Redman, Scottsville, Ky., three bass, 7-4, $196
10th: Brad Thacher, Murray, Ky., three bass, 7-2, $171
Tommy Pritchard of Bargersville, Indiana, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $167, catching a bass that weighed in at 4 pounds, 8 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After four events, Hunter Bouldin of McMinnville, Tennessee, now leads the Fishing Clash Music City Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 985 points, while Tommy Pritchard of Bargersville, Indiana, leads the Fishing Clash Music City Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 974 points.
The next event for BFL Music City Division anglers will be held Sept. 13-14, at Kentucky Lake out of Buchanan, Tennessee. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.
The top 60 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 10-11 BFL Regional tournament on Douglas Lake in Dandridge, Tennessee. Boaters will fish for a top award of a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard worth $50,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $20,000.
The 2025 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is 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, will advance to one of 12 BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top three, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.
Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, 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, 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 Bass Fishing League 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 Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Ott DeFoe Wins MLF Bass Pro Tour Zenni Stage 6 at Potomac River Presented by Athletic Brewing Company
CHARLES COUNTY, Md. (June 29, 2025) – After a week that saw Tennessee pro Ott DeFoe near the top of SCORETRACKER® leaderboard every day he was on the water, the Tennessee pro finally shot to the top when it mattered most, taking down the Zenni Stage 6 Presented by Athletic Brewing Company Championship Round for his fourth Bass Pro Tour regular-season win and fifth BPT win overall.
With a dominant final-day performance, DeFoe stacked up 32 bass for 78 pounds, 11 ounces to beat his closest pursuer in Ron Nelson of Berrien Springs, Michigan by nearly 27 pounds. Nelson finished as the runner-up, his best finish on the Bass Pro Tour since joining the ranks last season.
DeFoe is one of the winningest anglers in Bass Pro Tour history, behind only Jacob Wheeler and Dustin Connell, but this marks his first individual win since Heavy Hitters in 2022. It's his the first regular season win since 2021 on Florida's Harris Chain of Lakes. He did it in typical DeFoe fashion, too, escaping the bulk of the 66-angler field and fishing far up a creek in the Potomac River backwaters.
Kicking off the event, DeFoe found himself in second place behind pro Keith Poche after catching 70-2 during the first day of qualifying, most of it early in the day in what would end being his winning area, the extreme backwaters of Neabsco Creek.
The second day, he didn't catch near as much after abandoning his creek when he saw other competitors heading there ahead of him, qualifying for the Knockout Round in 14th, where he again finished in second place behind Nelson with 54-3. On the final day, he was back in his element and caught them steadily, especially midday during high tide as he began to pull away from the field.
"The place where I caught them today was my first stop on the first day of the tournament,” he said. “I saw them everywhere in practice and knew it had great potential. I had some other places where I could get bites, but with an early boat number on the first day, I had to go and see if I could get there first because it's not a big area."
Fishing the same general area as fellow Championship Round qualifier Keith Carson, both got off to fast starts the first day.
"[Carson] was in there with me as well, fishing a little different section, but it was a blistering start on the first day for both of us," he said. "I had 40 pounds by noon, but I had a later boat draw the second day, and I drove there and could see some other competitors idling back in there. I opted to turn around and leave and really struggled most of the day and barely made it to the Knockout Round."
DeFoe couldn't make any other areas work but caught enough to advance. He was all-in on the area the final two days and took advantage of the tide schedule to get as far back as possible and reach bass in ultra-shallow water during the high tide, catching many of these fish he visually saw cruising due to the clear water.
"In practice, the best bite was mid-to-lower part of the outgoing tide when the water was really moving; kind of that mid-tide zone to the bottom end of the tide,” he said. “That's when the bite made the most sense. We only got that the first day of the tournament, though. The high tide was the best for my deal because I could get so much further back. That was the most productive for me, especially today with how high the tide was during the final days of the tournament."
Getting to ultra-shallow water was helped by the tide schedule, and DeFoe believes the recent excessive heat was also a benefit, pushing bass to the shelter in the cooler creeks.
"All of the major tributaries have a lot cooler water because it's flowing, and then you have big pad flats and cover going in for bass to relate to," he said. "With the extreme heat we had here, I believe it was a driving factor in why so many bass were up there. It also seemed like new fish were coming every day."
Each day was slightly different in terms of DeFoe's lure choice, but a green pumpkin and orange compact 3/8-ounce pitching jig and a wacky rig with a Sooner Run-colored Bass Pro Shops Wacky Stik-O Worm were two staples.
"The jig was a big player every day but the second day, and the wacky rig was the best for me today," he added.
DeFoe is excellent at fishing moving water and getting shallow in creeks and rivers everywhere he goes. He also has plenty of tidal river fishing experience over the years, both on the Potomac and other locations, but this was easily his best result.
"Tidal water, in general, I've cashed a lot of checks, but I don't know that I've ever had a Top 10 on a tidal fishery," he said. "We've come to the Potomac quite a bit over the years, but this was by far my best finish."
As an angler who's frequently won events at all levels, DeFoe admits that his winning drought since 2022 has been on his mind.
"Andy Montgomery and I were able to get a win in the Team Series this last Fall, but it definitely has been weighing on me a little not winning one of these," he admitted. "This also was my first Top 10 of the year. It's been a funky year and not up to my standards, so this one feels really good to get it done."
The top 10 at the Zenni Stage 6 Presented by Athletic Brewing Company on the Potomac River finished:
1st: Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., 32 bass, 78-11, $150,000
2nd: Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich., 23 bass, 51-13, $45,000
3rd: Bradley Roy, Lancaster, Ky., 20 bass, 44-11, $35,000
4th: Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio, 21 bass, 43-11, $30,000
5th: Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., 20 bass, 41-9, $25,000
6th: Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., 20 bass, 40-12, $23,000
7th: James Elam, Tulsa, Okla., 18 bass, 36-7, $22,000
8th: Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., 15 bass, 35-7, $21,000
9th: Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., 15 bass, 31-1, $20,500
10th: Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla., 14 bass, 30-1, $20,000
A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 198 scorable bass caught weighing 434 pounds, 3 ounces, by the final 10 pros on Sunday.
Pro Bradley Roy won Sunday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award with a 4-pound, 9-ounce largemouth that he caught on a bladed swimjig in Period 2. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day.
The four-day Zenni Stage 6 Presented by Athletic Brewing Company at the Potomac River was hosted by the Charles County Government, Dept. of Recreation, Parks, and Tourism, and showcased 66 of the top professional anglers in the world competing for a $150,000 top prize, a share of the $6.49 million season purse, and valuable AOY points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2026, the Bass Pro Tour championship.
Television coverage of the Zenni Stage 6 at the Potomac River Presented by Athletic Brewing Company will premiere as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Nov. 1 on Discovery, with the Championship Round premiering on Saturday, Nov. 8. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel.
The 2025 Bass Pro Tour features a field of 66 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual Heavy Hitters all-star event and the REDCREST 2026 championship.
Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, Bass Force, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, E3 Sport Apparel, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Lowrance, Mercury, MillerTech, Mossy Oak Fishing, NITRO, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Power-Pole, Rapala, Star brite, Suzuki, Toyota and Zenni.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Ron Nelson Leads After Day 3 Knockout Round at MLF Bass Pro Tour Zenni Stage 6 at Potomac River Presented by Athletic Brewing Company
Final 10 anglers set for Championship Round Sunday, heaviest one-day total earns top prize of $150,000
CHARLES COUNTY, Md. (June 28, 2025) – There are few secrets on a fishery as well known as the Potomac River, and yet, that doesn’t mean it won’t cause pros to scratch their heads now and again.
Take the Knockout Round at Zenni Stage 6 Presented by Athletic Brewing Company on the Potomac River. The leader, pro Ron Nelson of Berrien Springs, Michigan, admits he never got into a good rhythm with the tides. Tennessee pro Ott DeFoe was able to light up SCORETRACKER® the first period with more weight than he had all the day before combined. And Casey Ashley went from catching 35 fish and contending for the lead on Friday to a mere 11 today and missing the cut.
Like the fishery’s infamous tides, it was a day of rising and falling across the board.
While leading today may make it seem like Nelson is in control – he did catch 28 scorable bass weighing 58 pounds, 15 ounces – he admits he was anything but for most of it.
“Really kinda surprised about the whole day, the whole week, really,” Nelson admitted. “I love fishing here, but it’s been a different Potomac for me than usual. I just haven’t gotten into a rhythm. Today, I fished all new water, running up and down the river trying to fish the tides. Fishing all different types of cover. It wasn’t until I switched baits that things clicked a little.”
After a solid first period, Nelson made the switch to a swim jig to start Period 2, which changed everything.
“The tide changed and I picked up that swim jig, and they just went to snapping,” Nelson said. “I went on a little flurry. I had a goal to catch 10 fish a period, and I had nine after the first period. I must’ve caught seven or eight or in that flurry.”
A similar flurry near lines out – admittedly while he was practicing and trying to eliminate water for tomorrow – ultimately placed him in the top spot. But to say he’s still seeking something better is an understatement.
“I usually am able to locate a big group of fish, but I’ve not been able to do that this time yet,” Nelson said. “So, I’m grateful to make it to the Championship round, but I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow. It could be horrendous or lights out.”
DeFoe knew all along that he had a good amount of fish in his mid-river area. His 32-fish, second-place showing the first day of the Qualifying Round proving solid evidence.
However, he was also sharing his area with the likes of Keith Carson and a few others. That’s pretty typical on the Potomac, but it still made him second guess himself on Friday and not fish it first thing, causing him to struggle.
He wasn’t about to make that mistake twice.
“Yesterday was just terrible for me,” DeFoe said. “So, today I started where I caught most my fish the first day, and that was definitely the right call with 30-something pounds the first period today.”
What was even better for DeFoe was he did all his damage the first period with a high tide, which usually is anglers’ Achilles heels. And considering the tide looks to be “getting worse” tomorrow (aka. staying at high tide longer), DeFoe still has plenty of confidence he’ll make a run at the win.
Meanwhile, that tide news is only going to make Carson sweat more than he did today.
While DeFoe and Carson are fishing near one another – with DeFoe commenting how incredible the amount of fish the two have pulled from the area – Carson is relying heavily on a low tide to pull fish from cover to the channels. That didn’t happen until near the end of the third period today, which just so happens to be when he made a massive run to grab the final spot in the Championship Round.
“It’s all about the tide,” Carson said. “I just kind of wait, because I know the last hour I’ll catch the most fish, but it’s so stressful. It’s terrible. The whole time I’m thinking I’m not going to make it, and then suddenly I’m in.”
The top nine pros from the Knockout Round that now advance to Championship Sunday on the Potomac River are:
1st: Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich., 28 bass, 58-15
2nd: Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., 24 bass, 54-3
3rd: Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., 24 bass, 53-6
4th: Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio, 24 bass, 51-15
5th: James Elam, Tulsa, Okla., 20 bass, 46-5
6th: Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., 21 bass, 43-4
7th: Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., 17 bass, 43-0
8th: Bradley Roy, Lancaster, Ky., 20 bass, 41-14
9th: Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla., 16 bass, 40-14
*QR Winner: Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla.
Eliminated from competition are:
11th: Mark Daniels Jr., Tuskegee, Ala., 18 bass, 37-15, $15,900
12th: Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark., 17 bass, 35-8, $15,800
13th: Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas, 14 bass, 33-12, $15,700
14th: Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., 15 bass, 31-13, $15,600
15th: Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan, 13 bass, 30-8, $15,500
16th: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 13 bass, 29-11, $15,400
17th: Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., 11 bass, 28-5, $15,300
18th: Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C.., 11 bass, 25-0, $15,200
19th: David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., 11 bass, 24-1, $15,100
20th: John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky., seven bass, 14-2, $15,000
A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 324 scorable bass caught weighing 724 pounds, 7 ounces, by the 19 pros on Saturday.
Pro Adrian Avena won Saturday’s Berkley Big Bass Award, boating a 4-pound, 5-ounce largemouth in Period 2. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day.
Hosted by the Charles County Government, Dept. of Recreation, Parks, and Tourism, the four-day event features 66 of the top professional anglers in the world competing for a $150,000 top prize, a share of the $6.49 million season purse, and valuable AOY points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2026, the Bass Pro Tour championship.
The full field of anglers competed in the two-day Qualifying Round on Thursday and Friday. After the two-day Qualifying Round was complete, leader Zack Birge advanced directly to Sunday’s Championship Round. The anglers that finished 2nd through 20th competed in Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights were zeroed, and the top nine finishers now join Birge in Sunday’s Championship Round. In the Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $150,000.
The final 10 anglers will launch at 7:15 a.m. ET Sunday from Smallwood State Park, located at 2750 Sweden Point Road in Marbury, Maryland. The takeout will be held at the same location beginning at 3:45 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on Championship Sunday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. MLFNOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app and Rumble.
On Sunday, June 29, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF welcomes fans of all ages to visit the Village Green Park, located at 100 Walter Thomas Road in Indian Head, Maryland for the Hooked! on the Potomac Festival and MLF Fan Experience & Watch Party. Fans can watch the pros live on the MLFNOW! big screen, enjoy free dessert, enter to win giveaways, listen to live music from country music artist Megan Barker, and cheer on their favorite pros. The first 50 kids 14 and under will receive a free rod and reel. The event also includes a youth casting contest. The Bass Pro Tour anglers, along with the PAW Patrol’s Skye and Marshall, will be on hand to meet and greet fans, sign autographs and take selfies.
The Zenni Stage 6 at the Potomac River Presented by Athletic Brewing features anglers competing with a 1-pound, 8-ounce minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable. The MLF Fisheries Management Division determines minimum weights for each body of water that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.
The 2025 Bass Pro Tour features a field of 66 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual Heavy Hitters all-star event and the REDCREST 2026 championship.
Television coverage of the Zenni Stage 6 at the Potomac River Presented by Athletic Brewing Company will premiere as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Nov. 1 on Discovery, with the Championship Round premiering on Saturday, Nov. 8. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel.
Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, Bass Force, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, E3 Sport Apparel, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Lowrance, Mercury, MillerTech, Mossy Oak Fishing, NITRO, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Power-Pole, Rapala, Star brite, Suzuki, Toyota and Zenni.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Alabama’s Tucker Smith Wins Weather-Shortened Toyota Series at Lake Champlain
PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (June 28, 2025) – Due to high winds and the associated waves, Day 3 of the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats Northern Division opener on Lake Champlain was canceled. With sustained south winds over 20 miles per hour in parts of the lake, it was set to be one of the roughest tournament days on record on the big pond.
The weather put the brakes on what was an outstanding event, with the top seven pros separated by less than a pound heading into the final day, and postspawn smallmouth coming over the gunwales in bunches. Leading after two days, pro Tucker Smith of Birmingham, Alabama, took home the win by 3 ounces over Ethan Fields of Breese, Illinois, with a 40-pound, 4-ounce total. On the co-angler side, Jarvis Ellis of Leesburg, Georgia, wrangled 31-8 over two days for the win and a new Phoenix boat.
Oddly enough, despite a short but very decorated career, the win is the first with MLF for Smith. For it, the young pro banks $40,000, and he’s now qualified for the Toyota Series Championship at Grand Lake, and his presence will strengthen the already impressive field.
Though he admittedly was surrounded by fellow anglers with experience on Champlain, this was Smith’s first time on the big northern lake. Obviously, it suited him, and it didn’t take much practice for him to find the winning zone.
“I tried to stick to certain areas and just figure out that area,” said Smith. “I started off going into the Inland Sea when I first got to practice, and I caught some fish. I found a lot of fish, I also found some bed fish and I was actually able to catch a couple in the tournament. But, I ended up running around and ended up going around the midsection of the lake. I went down below the Inland Sea and ended up starting to catch some better quality smallmouth than I’d caught up the lake.”
Fishing for bass a little farther from the spawn, Smith capitalized on what may be turning into the norm for June events on Champlain. Though the smallmouth spawn has historically been a key player, these days, modern technology allows anglers to pursue fish in all stages very effectively.
“I think where I was at, the water was a little bit warmer, and those fish were a little bit farther along,” Smith outlined. “It seemed like in the Inland Sea, the water was a little bit colder, and they were still in that spawning phase and, you know, postspawn funk. It seemed like where I was at, they were already moving out off the bank chasing bait, alewives, and getting fat again. A lot of them had guts on them, which was key.”
Roaming on flats, the edges of them and the basin associated with them, Smith ran into what would be the winning fish in the afternoon on the first day of the event.
“I found the spot that I caught them off yesterday in the afternoon,” said Smith. “There were probably, you know, 20 smallmouth swimming around, and I ended up catching a few nice ones the first day off of it. I started there in the morning on the second day, and I would say I saw 50 to 75 smallmouth on a 50-yard stretch. And, it seemed like that morning they were biting really good.”
Smith used some smallmouth staples for his catch, namely, a minnow and a Ned rig. For his minnow, he used a 5-inch Yamamoto Shad Shape Worm, with ¼- and 3/16-ounce Picasso heads. He also used a Yamamoto Ned Senko with a Picasso Rhino Ned Head . For his minnow, his setup of choice was a 3000-sized Shimano Vanquish spinning reel and a 6-10, medium light G. Loomis NRX+ spinning rod.
Smith had a few keys to his event, other than finding the fish. One was being able to pick out the smallmouth to be efficient.
“There were smallmouths in all depths,” Smith explained. “There were some swimming as deep as 50 feet coming up onto the flat and shallower, and then there was also some that were in 20 foot on the bottom on top of the flats. And then there were also some that were just swimming on the edge that were suspended. There were even some up near the surface as well, but they were kind of just swimming everywhere in that area in the morning. You had to pick apart which were the smallmouth and which were the walleye, because there were a lot of different trash fish as well, swimming around. After looking at those fish for a while, I was able to really figure out exactly which one was a smallmouth pretty quickly and make as many casts at just smallmouth as I could.”
Smith has been very successful in his young career, and winning a smallmouth tournament up north was meaningful for him.
“It was awesome,” he said. “It is really special to win on a place like this. I’ve never been here before, and I love smallmouth. I really wanted to fish today, but, you know, it was definitely not the conditions to fish. But I had a blast being here, and I’m thankful for the win. This is definitely a good step for the next tournaments this year, and hopefully it gets me back in the groove.”
The top 10 pros at the Toyota Series at Lake Champlain finished:
1st: Tucker Smith, Birmingham, Ala., 10 bass, 40-4, $40,250
2nd: Ethan Fields, Breese, Ill., 10 bass, 40-1, $15,500
3rd: Emil Wagner, Marietta, Ga., 10 bass, 40-0, $13,000
4th: Brody Campbell, Oxford, Ohio, 10 bass, 40-0, $10,000
5th: Dylan Quilatan, Windermere, Fla., 10 bass, 39-7, $9,000
6th: Kurt Mitchell, Milford, Del., 10 bass, 39-6, $8,000
7th: Kyle Patrick, Cooperstown, N.Y., 10 bass, 39-5, $7,000
8th: Riley Harris, Orange, Texas, 10 bass, 38-15, $6,000
9th: Ethan Carr, Massena, N.Y., 10 bass, 38-11, $5,000
10th: Tripp Berlinsky, Florence, Ala., 10 bass, 38-9, $4,000
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Pro David Kranz of Woodstock, Illinois, who also hosts the popular WeFishASA podcast, earned Thursday’s $500 Berkley Big Bass Award with a bass weighing 5 pounds, 4 ounces, while pro Bryan Schmitt of Deale, Maryland, won Friday’s $500 Berkley Big Bass, weighing in a 5-pound, 8-ouncer to earn the $500 award.
Jarvis Ellis of Leesburg, Georgia, won the co-angler division at Lake Champlain with a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 31 pounds, 8 ounces. Ellis earned the top co-angler prize package worth $33,500, including a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard motor.
The top 10 co-anglers at the Toyota Series at Lake Champlain finished:
1st: Jarvis Ellis, Leesburg, Ga., 10 bass, 31-8, Phoenix 518 Pro boat w/115-hp Mercury outboard
2nd: Christopher Dam, Staatsburg, N.Y., 10 bass, 31-3, $5,100
3rd: Hunter Tibbetts, Centreville, Va., 10 bass, 31-0, $4,100
4th: Glenn Hall, Wellsville, N.Y., 10 bass, 30-15, $3,500
5th: Michael Luckey, Lynchburg, Va., 10 bass, 30-2, $3,000
6th: Jakob Labelle, Hinesburg, Vt., 10 bass, 30-1, $2,500
7th: Allen Haigh, Prospect Hill, N.C., 10 bass, 29-10, $2,000
8th: David Archibald, Somerset, Mass., 10 bass, 29-9, $1,750
9th: Robert Bruguiere, Roseland, Va., 10 bass, 29-4, $1,500
10th: Haydan Marshall, Quitman, Texas, 10 bass, 29-3, $1,250
Co-angler Braxton Clements of Donalsonville, Georgia, earned the first Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of the event on Thursday with a 5-pound, 4-ounce bass to earn the $150 prize, while Friday’s Day 2 $150 co-angler award went to David Williams of Fredericksburg, Virginia, who weighed in a bass totaling 5 pounds, 5 ounces.
The Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats at Lake Champlain was hosted by the City of Plattsburgh and the Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau. It was the first of three regular-season tournaments for the Toyota Series Northern Division. The next event for Toyota Series Northern Division anglers will be the Toyota Series at the St. Lawrence River Presented by Suzuki Marine, Aug. 14-16, in Massena, New York. For a complete schedule of events, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The 2025 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats consists of five divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern and the Southwestern – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International and Wild Card divisions. Anglers who fish in any of the five divisions or the Wild Card division and finish in the top 25 will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series Championship for a shot at winning up to $235,000 and a qualification to REDCREST 2026. The winning co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard. The 2025 Toyota Series Championship will be held Nov. 6-8 on Grand Lake in Grove, Oklahoma, and is hosted by the City of Grove Convention & Tourism Bureau.
Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Toyota Series include: 7Brew, 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, Mossy Oak, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, 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 Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Zack Birge Wins Qualifying Round at MLF Bass Pro Tour Zenni Stage 6 at Potomac River Presented by Athletic Brewing Company
Oklahoma pro advances directly to Championship Sunday with two-day catch of 68 bass weighing 145-8, 2nd through 20th now advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round
CHARLES COUNTY, Md. (June 27, 2025) – The second day of Zenni Stage 6 Presented by Athletic Brewing Company on the Potomac River was the polar opposite of Day 1 in terms of weather as the sweltering heat shifted to much cooler, rainy conditions. The bass bite stayed sizzling, though.
Leading the way and winning the Qualifying Round for an automatic berth to Sunday’s Championship Round was Oklahoma's Zack Birge with a two-day total of 145 pounds, 8 ounces on 68 scorable bass. While SCORETRACKER® saw some wild shifts in some anglers’ weights between the two days, Birge stayed steady. He caught 78-7 Friday (on 34 scorables) compared to his 34 for 67-1 on Thursday – the only angler to surpass 60 pounds and 30 bass both days to help him earn his day off ahead of the Championship Round.
Two other anglers crossed the 70-pound mark Friday, including South Carolina pro Casey Ashley with 76-7 on a day that saw him briefly overtake Birge for the lead in Period 2. Spencer Shuffield of Hot Springs, Arkansas, rose from 39th to seventh after a 71-11 day, with over 50 pounds of that coming in Period 3.
This marks Birge's third time automatically qualifying for the Championship Round on the Bass Pro Tour, but it wasn't even a consideration when the day started. He had a solid first day, finishing in fifth place, but he was over 23 pounds behind Day 1 leader Keith Poche. After a strong morning bite on Day 2, Birge changed his thinking and contemplated gunning for the top position.
"Winning the round wasn't even in my mind; I was just going to go out and try to catch a few and make the Knockout Round," he said. "I started the day catching them pretty well, and I was right there in the lead or close to it. I thought, 'Dang, I better reconsider some things here.' After Period 1, I decided to run back and get to an area where I knew there were a bunch of fish."
The gamble to go for the win was in the back of his mind throughout the mid-morning hours.
"It's a catch-22 situation because, on the one hand, you get to skip tomorrow, but if you don't win, you can end up burning yourself by catching all those fish," he said. "I knew if I could catch enough to advance and have that day off, I wouldn't have to touch those areas again and can let them rest a bit."
This is Birge's third trip to the Potomac River, and things have gotten better every time.
"I came here my rookie year on the FLW Tour and have never been more frustrated after an event because I caught so many fish but never could get a kicker and didn't get a check," he said. "The next time, I was able to figure it out a little more and cash a check, and this time, sitting in this position, it feels really good."
Fishing for bass relating to vegetation, Birge has mixed it up with a vibrating jig and a worm. He reports that the tide hasn’t been to his liking, but any water movement – incoming or outgoing – has been the key.
"I really like it when the tide is low, but it's been high for a long period of the day, so I'm just trying to get around where there's a good population of fish and just fishing what looks good," he said. "I'm fishing my bladed jig on an Alpha Angler Rebound rod with 20-pound Yo-Zuri T7 fluorocarbon and fishing the worm on the same line but on an Alpha Angler ZillaVAAder rod."
Looking ahead, Birge is confident in what he's doing and shares that he isn't fishing around other competitors.
"I haven't seen anybody fishing the same stuff, which is good because, hopefully, those fish will be fresh when I get back out there," he said. "I feel pretty good about my chances because I feel like my fish are not as pressured as some other anglers’ areas, but I know it's going to take some big weight. You'll need to catch at least 80 pounds on the last day to have a good shot to win.”
The top 20 pros that now advance in competition on the Potomac River are:
1st: Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., 68 bass, 145-8
2nd: Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C.., 58 bass, 125-13
3rd: Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas, 50 bass, 109-12
4th: Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark., 47 bass, 108-0
5th: Mark Daniels Jr., Tuskegee, Ala., 50 bass, 107-0
6th: Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla., 44 bass, 105-13
7th: Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., 52 bass, 105-0
8th: Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., Bossier City, La., 48 bass, 104-9
9th: John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky., 47 bass, 104-3
10th: Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan, 52 bass, 103-3
11th: Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., 48 bass, 102-11
12th: Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio, 46 bass, 100-1
13th: James Elam, Tulsa, Okla., 44 bass, 99-5
14th: Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., 47 bass, 99-5
15th: Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., 44 bass, 97-9
16th: David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., 42 bass, 97-1
17th: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 44 bass, 96-7
18th: Bradley Roy, Lancaster, Ky., 45 bass, 96-5
19th: Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich., 44 bass, 95-7
20th: Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., 42 bass, 93-11
A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 1,178 scorable bass caught weighing 2,541 pounds, 12 ounces, by the 66 Bass Pro Tour anglers Friday.
The Day 2 Berkley Big Bass Award of $1,000 went to Spokane, Washington pro Luke Clausen, who weighed in a 5-pound, 1-ounce bass during Period 2 that he caught on a Speed Worm. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day.
Hosted by the Charles County Government, Dept. of Recreation, Parks, and Tourism, the four-day event features 66 of the top professional anglers in the world competing for a $150,000 top prize, a share of the $6.49 million season purse, and valuable AOY points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2026, the Bass Pro Tour championship.
The full field of anglers competed in the two-day Qualifying Round on Thursday and Friday. With the two-day Qualifying Round now complete, Birge advances directly to Sunday’s Championship Round. The anglers that finished 2nd through 20th advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the top nine anglers will join Birge in Sunday’s Championship Round. In the Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $150,000.
Anglers will launch at 7:15 a.m. ET each day from Smallwood State Park, located at 2750 Sweden Point Road in Marbury, Maryland. The takeout will be held at the same location beginning at 3:45 p.m. daily. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on all four days of competition from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. MLFNOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app and Rumble.
On Saturday and Sunday, June 28-29, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF welcomes fans of all ages to visit the Village Green Park, located at 100 Walter Thomas Road in Indian Head, Maryland for the Hooked! on the Potomac Festival and MLF Fan Experience & Watch Party. Fans can watch the pros live on the MLFNOW! big screen, enjoy free dessert, enter to win giveaways, listen to live music from country music artist Megan Barker, and cheer on their favorite pros. The first 50 kids 14 and under will receive a free rod and reel each day. The event also includes a youth casting contest. The Bass Pro Tour anglers, along with the PAW Patrol’s Skye and Marshall, will be on hand both days to meet and greet fans, sign autographs and take selfies.
The Zenni Stage 6 at the Potomac River Presented by Athletic Brewing will feature anglers competing with a 1-pound, 8-ounce minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable. The MLF Fisheries Management Division determines minimum weights for each body of water that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.
The 2025 Bass Pro Tour features a field of 66 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual Heavy Hitters all-star event and the REDCREST 2026 championship.
Television coverage of the Zenni Stage 6 at the Potomac River Presented by Athletic Brewing Company will premiere as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Nov. 1 on Discovery, with the Championship Round premiering on Saturday, Nov. 8. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel.
Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, Bass Force, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, E3 Sport Apparel, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Lowrance, Mercury, MillerTech, Mossy Oak Fishing, NITRO, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Power-Pole, Rapala, Star brite, Suzuki, Toyota and Zenni.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Inaugural Restock Alabama event seeks to improve Coosa River fishery
LINCOLN, Ala. — Parties from all around the state of Alabama joined at Lincoln’s Landing on Logan Martin Lake today for the inaugural Restock Alabama event where 20,000 largemouth bass were released into the Coosa River system. Municipal leaders, Alabama state representatives, Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series pros Jordan Lee and Will Davis Jr. and representatives from the Alabama Department of Natural Resources all joined to take part in an initiative that over the course of time will make an impact to fisheries across the state of Alabama.
While it has taken an entire support system to make Restock Alabama a reality, one of the most influential individuals of the initiative is Lee Holmes of Sylacauga Marine & ATV. Knowing all the hard work that was put into this program made the day extremely special for Holmes.
“This is close to my heart, and this is just the beginning,” said Holmes. “We’ve had so much help from so many people to make this happen. This is the culmination of two years of really hard work with plenty of hoops to jump through to get to this point.
“I don’t know that I can mention everyone that has been a part of this, but companies like AmFirst Bank, Humminbird, Minn Kota, Davis Bait Co., Burton Advertising, American Sport Fish and the City of Lincoln have all been instrumental throughout this process.”
Considering the group is made of avid anglers and advocates of the sport, the goal of the Restock Alabama program is to give back and make fishing great for future generations to come.
“I just think this is a great thing for the community and the younger generations to be able to enjoy the resource like we’ve done for all these years,” said Holmes. “This is just the starting point. We hope that in years to come we’re stocking over 50,000 fish a year every year and that this stretches to other lakes in the state long term.”
Also on hand for the inaugural stocking was Deputy Commissioner of Conservation for the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Ed Poolos.
“Anytime the Department of Conservation gets to come to an event like this and see local partners coming together for the outdoors and fishing it is a win, win, win for generations to come,” said Poolos. “The one thing that comes through about Lee Holmes and everyone involved is the passion for fishing, the bodies of water and doing what’s right for conservation. None of this would be possible without great passion.”
Once the largemouth bass fingerlings were distributed, volunteers, which included local anglers, high school anglers, college anglers and Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series anglers Davis Jr. and Lee, took the fish to strategically chosen destinations for release.
Having the opportunity to give back and be a part of a special program was an opportunity that Lee and Davis Jr. couldn’t pass up.
“I’ve always wanted to be a part of something like this,” said Lee. “The bass fishing in Alabama and the people around here have given me so much over the course of my career. A little bit goes a long way, and this is just the start, and that’s what’s so cool about it. In five to 10 years there’s no telling (what) this can become.”
Spending so much time growing up on Logan Martin Lake made this experience extremely special for Davis Jr.
“It just feels so good to give back to a lake that means so much to you and a sport that you love,” said Davis Jr. “Supplying the resource for younger generations that are growing up in the sport is special.”
To see photos from the inaugural Restock Alabama event click here.
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, 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, 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.
The Future of Charging is NOW! - The Dual Pro Eagle HF
Big News from our friends at Pro Charging Systems/Dual Pro!
The Eagle Performance Series built a reputation that’s hard to beat—rugged, reliable, easy to use; all while giving you the best in class charge. The next iteration had to include everything our customers have come to expect in our chargers for the past 35+ years and then some!
That’s exactly what we’ve done with the Eagle HF ES800.
This next-level charger brings faster, more efficient charging in a smaller footprint, making it easier to install on your boat, golf cart, or equipment rig. It's also fully waterproof to IP67, so it handles anything the outdoors throws its way! Just like you—no problem!
Inside that durable, aluminum casing is 800 watts of precision power, available for 24V, 36V, and 48V battery systems. And like the Eagle Performance chargers that came before, every ES800 is equipped with PROView Link. That means you get the real time data, over 20 adaptable charge profiles (with more to come), and even free over-the-air updates—all from your phone or smart device.
Whether you fish tournaments, golf religiously, or just appreciate reliable US designed and assembled products in your garage, the ES800 delivers peace of mind with every charge.
Visit our new and improved online store to get your hands on one of the 24V editions TODAY!!
Red-Hot Keith Poche Takes Lead on Day 1 of MLF Bass Pro Tour Zenni Stage 6 at Potomac River Presented by Athletic Brewing
Alabama pro catches 36 largemouth weighing 80-2 to lead Day 1 on historic fishery, full field to complete Qualifying Round Friday
CHARLES COUNTY, Md. (June 26, 2025) – They say that momentum is real in bass fishing, and Pike Road, Alabama, pro Keith Poche proved that point on the Potomac River Thursday on Day 1 of Zenni Stage 6 at the Potomac River Presented by Athletic Brewing.
Less than a week after winning the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals stop just two hours south on the James River, Poche was the only angler to surpass 80 pounds on the Potomac and leads with 36 bass for 80 pounds, 2 ounces. Going into the second day, Poche will enjoy a 10-pound, 1-ounce advantage over pro Ott DeFoe of Blaine, Tennessee, in second place as he looks to win for the second time in as many weeks on a tidal fishery in the Mid-Atlantic.
It wasn't just Poche giving SCORETRACKER® a workout as the 66-angler field caught 1,217 bass weighing 2,572 pounds, 9 ounces, both easily the highest totals of the season. With so many bass biting, things are shaping up for an excellent finish this weekend.
Coming off his victory on the James, Poche certainly felt confident about coming into Stage 6. On the James, he fished in the style he's known for, accessing a shallow water backwater with his 18-foot aluminum boat to go places that heavier fiberglass boats simply can't. That's the same approach he took Thursday on the Potomac, but the results were even better than expected.
"I knew the place I found had some fish and knew the potential was there, but I had no idea it would be this good," Poche said. "I'm just trying to keep this rolling, whatever it is, because it's working."
Poche shared that his best area had all the ingredients to harbor a big population of bass.
"I'm going way back into the creek and fishing shallow, but the water back there is moving, and it's a lot cooler," he said. "It's a sandy creek with some shallow flats and deeper swings; when the tides out, they pull to those little deeper spots. When the water is up, they get up in the pads and grass along the banks. It's been best with the falling tide, but I feel like I can get bit any time of day in there."
While the falling tide has been his best bite, Poche was able to catch bass throughout the day and caught vastly more bass than the 36 that exceeded the 1-8 minimum for the event. His area is full of bass of all sizes, and he discovered it during practice by visually seeing them swimming around at low tide.
"When I went there in practice during a low tide, they were swimming everywhere," Poche said. " I found a few similar areas but didn't hit them at the right tide, so I don't know if they will be as good as this one, but they have potential if I need to try somewhere else."
As for whether he plans to vie for the automatic bid to the Championship Round or to use some of his time to practice, Poche was emphatic with his response.
"One hundred percent I'm going to catch everything I can to try to advance. I'm not going to let up one bit," he said. "You never know what's going to happen during the Knockout Round. I know I have a 10-pound lead, but I'm going to have to do my part again, and I think I'll need to catch at least 60 pounds tomorrow to have a chance to advance to the final day."
Poche is employing a variety of lures to catch his fish, including the same Berkley PowerBait MaxScent The General on a shaky-head rig that accounted for his winning bass on the James River; a Berkley Pit Boss on a Texas Rig; and a Bama bream colored 3/8-ounce Berkley Swim Jig with a green pumpkin Berkley Power Swimmer on the back.
"It's just shallow-water junk fishing," Poche said. "The best bait for me today was that swim jig, that was my bread and butter, throwing it on 30-pound Berkley X5 braid, a 10.1:1 (Abu Garcia) Revo Rocket Reel, and a 7-1 heavy Fenwick World Class rod. That faster reel was a big deal because I'm burning that thing and pulling it through the current. I need to pick up the slack and hit them when it's coming at me."
As time expired on MLFNOW! Poche remarked on the sweltering conditions. The high was 93 degrees with a "feels like" temperature of 106 degrees, and there was hardly a puff of wind.
"The hottest tournament I had ever fished was here on the Potomac back in 2015, and this one blows it out of the water; it was brutal out there," he added.
The top 20 pros in after Day 1 on the Potomac River are:
1st: Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., Bossier City, La., 36 bass, 80-2
2nd: Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., 32 bass, 70-2
3rd: David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., 29 bass, 68-6
4th: John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky., 30 bass, 68-4
5th: Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., 34 bass, 67-1
6th: Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla., 27 bass, 64-7
7th: Mark Daniels Jr., Tuskegee, Ala., 30 bass, 62-7
8th: Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas, 28 bass, 61-7
9th: Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., 27 bass, 55-15
10th: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 25 bass, 55-10
11th: Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan, 26 bass, 52-7
12th: Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark., 23 bass, 52-4
13th: Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La., 26 bass, 50-4
14th: Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., 25 bass, 50-2
15th: Jake Lawrence, Paris, Tenn., 24 bass, 50-1
16th: Marshall Robinson, Landrum, S.C., 22 bass, 49-7
17th: Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C.., 23 bass, 49-6
18th: Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., 24 bass, 49-6
19th: Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., 22 bass, 46-12
20th: Justin Cooper, Zwolle, La., 23 bass, 46-5
A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 1,217 bass caught weighing 2,572 pounds, 9 ounces, by the 66 Bass Pro Tour anglers on Thursday. Both the number of bass caught and the total weight were new season-high totals for the circuit.
Abu Garcia pro Justin Lucas earned the Day 1 Berkley Big Bass Award Thursday with a chunky 4-pound, 12-ounce largemouth that he caught in Period 3 on a Berkley Slobberknocker. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day.
Hosted by the Charles County Government, Dept. of Recreation, Parks, and Tourism, the four-day event features 66 of the top professional anglers in the world competing for a $150,000 top prize, a share of the $6.49 million season purse, and valuable AOY points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2026, the Bass Pro Tour championship.
The full field of anglers compete in the two-day Qualifying Round on Thursday and Friday. After the two-day Qualifying Round is complete, the pro with the heaviest two-day total will advance directly to Sunday’s Championship Round. Anglers that finish 2nd through 20th will advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining anglers compete to finish in the top nine to advance to Sunday’s Championship Round. In the final-day Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $150,000.
Anglers will launch at 7:15 a.m. ET each day from Smallwood State Park, located at 2750 Sweden Point Road in Marbury, Maryland. The takeout will be held at the same location beginning at 3:45 p.m. daily. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on all four days of competition from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. MLFNOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app and Rumble.
On Saturday and Sunday, June 28-29, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF welcomes fans of all ages to visit the Village Green Park, located at 100 Walter Thomas Road in Indian Head, Maryland for the Hooked! on the Potomac Festival and MLF Fan Experience & Watch Party. Fans can watch the pros live on the MLFNOW! big screen, enjoy free dessert, enter to win giveaways, listen to live music from country music artist Megan Barker, and cheer on their favorite pros. The first 50 kids 14 and under will receive a free rod and reel each day. The event also includes a youth casting contest. The Bass Pro Tour anglers, along with the PAW Patrol’s Skye and Marshall, will be on hand both days to meet and greet fans, sign autographs and take selfies.
The Zenni Stage 6 at the Potomac River Presented by Athletic Brewing will feature anglers competing with a 1-pound, 8-ounce minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable. The MLF Fisheries Management Division determines minimum weights for each body of water that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.
The 2025 Bass Pro Tour features a field of 66 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual Heavy Hitters all-star event and the REDCREST 2026 championship.
Television coverage of the Zenni Stage 6 at the Potomac River Presented by Athletic Brewing will premiere as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Nov. 1 on Discovery, with the Championship Round premiering on Saturday, Nov. 8. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel.
Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, Bass Force, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, E3 Sport Apparel, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Lowrance, Mercury, MillerTech, Mossy Oak Fishing, NITRO, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Power-Pole, Rapala, Star brite, Suzuki, Toyota and Zenni.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Win Big Like Ian – The Next Big MLF and Toyota Sweepstakes Starts Thursday
| This Virginia man just won a Toyota 4Runner at REDCREST 2025. Now you can win a Tundra.
BENTON, Ky. (June 25, 2025) – When Ian Cath of Virginia Beach walked into the Major League Fishing (MLF) REDCREST 2025 Outdoor Sports Expo in Huntsville, Alabama, this spring, he was hoping for a good time, maybe a handshake with his old fishing buddy Skeet Reese, and a bit of fresh Alabama air. What he left with? A brand-new 2025 Toyota 4Runner – and a story that’s still making waves. “I told my MLF contact Todd (Hollowell), ‘I didn’t pick the winning box. It picked me,’” Cath said, laughing. “I figured I was going home with a nice memory. I didn’t know I’d be going home with a new car.” Cath, a soft-spoken, saltwater-loving grandfather, was the pre-event finalist in the 2025 MLF Toyota Road to REDCREST Sweepstakes. He traveled down to Lake Guntersville and Huntsville from Virginia, made a quick detour to Chattanooga to visit some friends, and showed up at the Von Braun Center ready to take his shot at the big prize. He was also kind enough to lend a hand. “I found Todd and said, ‘Anything I can help with?’ Next thing I knew I was helping to direct foot traffic near the fishing rod giveaway,” Cath said. “I figured if I was going to win a car, I might as well earn it!” Then came the big moment – the Grand Prize Game. Three contestants. Fifteen boxes. One hidden key. “I ended up drawing the last pick, so I was third to go. And wouldn’t you know it – every box got opened but mine,” he said. “The crowd was buzzing… then the other guy opened his box and it was empty. I just raised my hands in the air. Winner by default!” |
|
| After a few days with his new 4Runner, Cath has been appreciating all the smart features that come standard.
“It’s like a spaceship,” he said. “It does just about everything except catch the fish for me.” But beneath the jokes is real gratitude. “I’ve never owned a vehicle this nice. I’m really thankful to Major League Fishing and Toyota. This has been a highlight of my life.” Your Turn to Ride Major League Fishing and Toyota are proud to announce the MLF Toyota Tundra & More Sweepstakes, launching June 26, 2025. One lucky winner will take home the ultimate outdoor adventure machine – a 2025 Toyota Tundra Limited i-FORCE MAX, a truck built for both the workweek and the weekend outdoors. And that’s not all:
Fans can enter daily at majorleaguefishing.com/promos from June 26 through October 3, 2025. If Ian Cath’s story proves anything, it’s that these sweepstakes are real, winnable, and potentially life-changing – whether you’re a bass fishing fanatic or just someone who could use a little luck and a lot more horsepower. So what are you waiting for? “Go for it,” Cath said. “Somebody’s got to win. It might as well be you!” For complete details and updated information on MLF and their promotional sweepstakes, 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 |
Beyond Polarization
|
Hi-tech design, manufacturing, and performance define RLVNT eyewear as the leader in outdoors optics |
|
FINLAYSON, MN (June 24, 2025) – The origins of RLVNT sunglasses stem from the state-of-the-art sister company of U.S. Navy and civilian optics manufacturing industry veteran, Founder/CEO Norm Kester’s Quantum Innovations. Kester took decades of experience in the field and started his own sunglasses company to “reinvent the way we see and are seen in the outdoors”, solving problems for the outdoors crowd, specifically anglers and hunters. “RLVNT is a company by and for outdoors enthusiasts. We say we exist to give enthusiasts the edge, so we’re trying to take some of the technological know-how I’ve gained through years with my other optics company, Quantum Innovations, and bring that to the outdoors space,” said Kester. “What RLVNT brings to the eyewear game is new, exciting, and offers numerous advantages over competitive products,” added Kester.
|
Georgia’s Miller Finds Redemption with First Career Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Clarks Hill Lake
| North Carolina’s Scott McKay and Georgia’s John Long Tie to Top Co-Angler Division
APPLING, Ga. (June 23, 2025) – Boater Donald Miller of Harlem, Georgia, caught a three-bass limit weighing 15 pounds, 9 ounces Saturday to win the Major League Fishing (MLF) Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Clarks Hill Lake . The tournament was the fourth event of the season for the BFL South Carolina Division. Miller earned $3,747 for his victory. The Georgia boater said he was excited to be fishing on his home lake again, and to secure his first career win targeting storm-downed trees with a shallow-water game plan. "We had a storm come through in October, and it knocked down a lot of trees around the bank," Miller explained. "I practiced a couple days before the tournament and found some fish in those blowdowns.” Despite the promising practice, Miller said the competition day started slow. "I thought I'd get some bites early on, but I didn't have a single fish at 10 a.m.,” he said. “I reckon they didn't move in until after 10 that morning.” Once the bite turned on, however, Miller was in it for the win. "I was fishing swim jigs, Rebel Pop-R’s, and jerkbaits around those blowdowns,” he added. “That's where I caught my biggest two – both six-pounders – and I caught one off of a rock bank. I had six keepers, but the league changed the limit to three fish due to the excessive heat, so that made it better." The win was especially meaningful for the Clarks Hill local. “This is my first career win, although I came in second on Clarks Hill Lake two years ago,” Miller said. “I had two dead fish and lost that event by one ounce. So, this definitely feels like redemption." The top 10 boaters finished the tournament: 1st: Donald Miller, Harlem, Ga., three bass, 15-9, $3,747 Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com. Miller caught a bass that weighed 6 pounds even to earn the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $410.
Scott McKay of New London, North Carolina, and John Long of Grovetown, Georgia, tied for the win in the co-angler division to take home $1,251 each on Saturday, after bringing three bass to the scale that totaled 7 pounds, 10 ounces. The top 10 co-anglers finished: 1st: Scott McKay, New London, N.C., three bass, 7-10, $1,251 Devall earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $205, catching a bass that weighed in at 5 pounds, 3 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day. After four events, Lucas Murphy of West Columbia, South Carolina, now leads the Fishing Clash South Carolina Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 966 points, while Thomas Pennell III of Boiling Springs, South Carolina, leads the Fishing Clash South Carolina Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 943 points. The next event for BFL South Carolina Division anglers will be held Sept. 6-7 – the Phoenix BFL Super Tournament at Lake Murray in Prosperity, South Carolina. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com The top 60 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 3-4 BFL Regional tournament on Lake Norman in Huntersville, North Carolina. Boaters will fish for a top award of a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard worth $50,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $20,000. The 2025 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is 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, will advance to one of 12 BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top three, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, 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, 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 Bass Fishing League 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 Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Mull Picks Up Fourth Career Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Lake Shelbyville
Swansea’s Ken Landreth Tops Co-Angler Division
SHELBYVILLE, Ill. (June 23, 2025) – Boater Jeremy Mull of Pawnee, Illinois, caught a five-bass limit weighing 14 pounds, 8 ounces Saturday to win the Major League Fishing (MLF) Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Shelbyville. The tournament was the third event of the season for the BFL Illini Division. Mull earned $5,203, including a lucrative $2,500 Phoenix MLF Bonus contingency award, for his victory.
Mull leaned into his offshore roots to take home the win on Lake Shelbyville, putting together a methodical approach that relied on his electronics, confidence in a handful of spots, and a 1–2 punch of a jig and Carolina rig.
“I actually started the morning with a bit of a different plan,” he said. “I was heading toward a shoreline I’d marked, but I called an audible and pulled off before I got there. I ended up backing out and targeting offshore wood – stumps, laydowns, that sort of thing. Most of the fish I caught were sitting in about six to eight feet of water.”
Jeremy utilized forward-facing sonar to pick apart his areas, dialing in isolated pieces of cover and slowly working his baits to provoke bites. His winning fish came on a green pumpkin jig and matching Strike King Rage Bug trailer, as well as a Carolina rig, which helped him feel out the bottom and stay locked into the strike zone.
“It was probably fifty-fifty between the jig and the Carolina rig,” he added. “I think I ended up with eight keepers total. Nothing crazy, just slow and steady. I wasn’t around a lot of people – I just covered water, stayed patient, and picked off the better bites when they showed up.”
Though he didn’t bring in a giant bag, every bite mattered, and his consistency ultimately gave him the edge. His win at Shelbyville was especially meaningful, given the proximity to home – just an hour away – and the fact that offshore fishing is squarely in his comfort zone.
“Shelbyville’s close, so I know it pretty well, but I hadn’t really fished it much lately. I’ve been spending more time on smaller lakes,” Jeremy said. “But this kind of offshore stuff — that’s really my style.”
With the Illini Division headed to Rend Lake and Kentucky Lake next, Jeremy’s sights are set on qualifying for the regional at the Quad Cities. Despite a slow start to the season, he’s got momentum now, and a fresh trophy to prove it.
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Jeremy Mull, Pawnee, Ill., five bass, 14-8, $5,203 (included $2,500 Phoenix MLF Bonus)
2nd: Andrew Harper, Shelbyville, Ill., five bass, 13-5, $1,702
3rd: Todd Blakeman, Chatham, Ill., five bass, 13-3, $1,026
4th: Garrett McDowell, Windsor, Ill., five bass, 12-5, $631
5th: Hunter Russell, Salem, Ill., five bass, 12-3, $541
6th: Corey Bohlmann, Le Roy, Ill., five bass, 12-2, $496
7th: Joshua Tyner, Spencer, Ind., five bass, 12-1, $451
8th: Robert Davis, Bethalto, Ill., five bass, 11-13, $405
9th: Bobby McMullin, Pevely, Mo., five bass, 11-12, $360
10th: Greg James, Carterville, Ill., five bass, 11-6, $299
10th: Chase Johnson, Quincy, Ill., five bass, 11-6, $299
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
James Jones of Bumpus Mills, Tennessee, caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 14 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $300.
Ken Landreth of Swansea, Illinois, won the co-angler division and $1,352 Saturday, after bringing three bass to the scale that totaled 7 pounds, 6 ounces.
The top 10 co-anglers finished:
1st: Ken Landreth, Swansea, Ill., three bass, 7-6, $1,352
2nd: Ryan Murphy, Paris, Ill., three bass, 6-14, $726
3rd: Arthur Brown, Jefferson City, Mo., three bass, 6-13, $450
4th: Dan Brown, Glenarm, Ill., one bass, 6-10, $442
4th: Brandon Depew, Odin, Ill., three bass, 6-10, $292
6th: Wayde Fehr, Fairbury, Ill., three bass, 6-7, $248
7th: Austin Bloemer, Effingham, Ill., three bass, 6-4, $225
8th: Gary Huber II, Saint Charles, Mo., three bass, 6-3, $203
9th: Nathan Hunhoff, Jasper, Ind., three bass, 6-2, $180
10th: Dale Renth, Macoutah, Ill., three bass, 6-1, $150
10th: Matt Chumbler, Carbondale, Ill., three bass, 6-1, $150
Dan Brown of Glenarm, Illinois, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $150, catching a bass that weighed in at 6 pounds, 10 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After three events, Andrew Harper of Shelbyville, Illinois, now leads the Fishing Clash LBL Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 730 points, while Matt Chumbler of Carbondale, Illinois, leads the Fishing Clash LBL Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 723 points.
The next event for BFL Illini Division anglers will be held June 21 – the Phoenix BFL at Rend Lake Presented by Suzuki Marine in Whittington, Illinois. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.
The top 60 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 3-4BFL Regional tournament on the Mississippi River in Quad Cities, Illinois. Boaters will fish for a top award of a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard worth $50,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $20,000.
The 2025 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is 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, will advance to one of 12 BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top three, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.
Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, 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, 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 Bass Fishing League 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 Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Hitting a Lick: Terry Scroggins’ Unshakable Grit on the Bass Pro Tour
Written by Walker Smith, Courtesy of Dynamic Sponsorships
Terry “Big Show” Scroggins has been slinging baits and towing bass boats across the country for nearly two decades, racking up well over $2 million in tournament winnings and cementing his name as one of professional bass fishing’s most respected veterans.
With five professional wins, nearly 50 top 10 finishes and 13 season Championship appearances, the Palatka, Fla., native has seen it all — the highs of hoisting trophies and the lows of poor finishes. Yet, as he navigates the 2025 Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour season, Scroggins remains unfazed by recent lackluster tournament, leaning on a veteran mentality and a timeless Southern saying.
“Hitting a lick.”
In the world of professional fishing, “hitting a lick” means seizing that perfect moment when everything clicks — the fish are biting, the pattern is dialed, and the leaderboard reflects your name at the top. It’s a phrase rooted in Southern vernacular, often tied to striking it big or catching a break.
For Scroggins, it’s more than just a saying; it’s a philosophy that defines his approach to the sport.
“When it’s your time, ain’t nothing stopping you,” he said with a grin. “And when it ain’t, you can’t do a darn thing about it. That’s part of fishing.”
The veteran’s perspective
Scroggins is no stranger to the rollercoaster of competitive fishing. His career, spanning hundreds of tournaments, has been a masterclass in resilience. From his first Bassmaster win in 2001 on his home waters in Palatka to his role as a Team Toyota stalwart, Scroggins has weathered every storm the sport can throw — from cold fronts to mechanical failures to the unpredictable whims of largemouth bass.
Scroggins’ ability to stay grounded comes from a deep well of experience. He’s learned that fishing is as much about mental fortitude as it is about technique.
“You can’t let a bad day — or a bad season — define you,” he explained. “I’ve had stretches where I couldn’t buy a bite and then, boom, you hit a lick; and it’s like you never missed a cast.”
The slump: Just another day on the water
A couple solid showings at the Harris Chain and Lake Murray was tempered by less-than-stellar finishes at Lake Chickamauga and Kentucky Lakes, where he noted the fisheries’ potential but struggled to convert quantity into quality.
“The Tennessee River is good, but you gotta find the big ones,” he said. “I was close, but close don’t cut it.”
Despite these setbacks, Scroggins’ optimism is infectious. He’s not one to dwell on missed opportunities or curse the fish gods. Instead, he leans on a mantra that’s carried him through 18 years of professional fishing.
“Treat others how you want to be treated, keep smiling and showing up.”
Hitting a lick: The art of patience
For Scroggins, “hitting a lick” isn’t about forcing the issue. It’s about preparation, patience and trusting that the moment will come.
These moments, he says, are what keep him grinding.
“When it’s your time, the fish find you,” he said. “You just gotta be out there, doing the work.”
His approach to slumps reflects this same patience. Scroggins doesn’t panic when the bites don’t come. Instead, he doubles down on preparation.
“Preparation is everything,” he said. “You control what you can — your tackle, your rig, your mindset — and let the rest fall into place.”
A Southern soul on the national stage
Scroggins’ Southern roots run deep and his love for the sport is matched only by his love for the lifestyle that comes with it. When he’s not competing, he’s grilling rib-eye steaks for friends, blasting old-school country music or tinkering with custom rods and baits.
His nickname, “Big Show,” isn’t just about his on-the-water performance; it’s about the larger-than-life personality that makes him a fan favorite. Whether he’s joking with anglers at the Toyota Owners Tournament or helping a competitor troubleshoot equipment, Scroggins embodies the camaraderie that defines bass fishing.
Looking ahead: The next big lick
For Scroggins, the key to overcoming slumps is simple: keep fishing, keep smiling and keep believing.
“Every angler hits a rough patch,” he said. “But I’ve been doing this long enough to know that your time comes around. You just gotta be there when it does.”
His veteran mentality — equal parts grit, patience and Southern charm — ensures that he’s always ready for the next lick. And when it happens, you can bet he’ll be wearing that Toyota hat, flashing a grin and reminding everyone why they call him “Big Show."
Poche Leads Wire-to-Wire, Wins Tackle Warehouse Invitational Stop 5 at the James River Presented by 7Brew Coffee
Alabama pro holds on with 12-15 limit on final day to win by 4 ounces and earn $80,000 payday
RICHMOND, Va. (June 22, 2025) – Pro Keith Poche of Pike Road, Alabama, has a sterling record when it comes to riverine fisheries, with a bevy of Top 10s and wins on rivers proper plus high finishes plucked from the upper reaches of reservoirs. At Stop 5 Presented by 7Brew Coffee on the James River, Poche led the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals event from the start after catching the biggest bag of the event on Day 1 – 23 pounds, 15 ounces. On Day 3, he tallied 12-15 for an even 53-pound total and the win, surviving 20-pound charges from Chad Mrazek and Dustin Smith and staying well clear of his closest competition at the start of the day.
The win is Poche’s third with MLF and his first at the Invitationals level, and he pocketed $80,000 for his efforts. It also sends him into next week’s Bass Pro Tour Zenni Stage 6 Presented by Athletic Brewing Company at the Potomac River (just up the Chesapeake Bay) with some prime time tidal momentum.
Famous for running a Gator Trax aluminum boat with a 150-horsepower Mercury, Poche is a master when it comes to getting where others can’t. This week, he caught all but one of his weigh fish out of a hard-to-reach creek off the James, which he could access at any water level – a feat that others in larger tin rigs and standard fiberglass boats couldn’t accomplish.
“That was the X-factor in the whole deal, my boat and motor,” said Poche. “I mean, having that Gator Trax with a Mercury allowed me to win. I could get there. No nobody else could. It doesn't matter how many fish are in there if you can't get there. That was the difference.”
In practice, Poche scouted the area, which he’s leaned on before in James events, and he immediately liked his chances.
“I went in there first thing, and it was tough to get in there,” he said. “There's trees down everywhere in there, it's just nasty. Looking at the tide, there were some boats, I think, that went in there. I could tell stuff was disturbed. But, the first day of the tournament, I knew it was going to be low tide. Ain't nobody gonna get in there. Like, they could try, but they ain't gonna get there. So, I felt good about it, knowing that at least I can get there before anybody else – even if I had to pass them in the ditch, because I knew they could not make it all the way.”
As it happened, Poche was the first in the area and made hay, blasting nearly 24 pounds right out of the gate. In the creek, which led into a backwater pond, he did his damage in two key areas – one deeper section as well as the mouth of the pond.
“It's really two key spots in there,” he explained. “A little hole halfway back or three-quarters way back. It has steep banks, and it was just a little dip. They stay there waiting for the water to go back and forth. And early morning, the tide was coming out, the water was clean, and they would feed. And then, of course, the other spot was right there at the pond.
“I think that each day catching fish in those small little areas, there’s just only so many that live there,” he said. “But, I did all I could. I cleaned house.”
This week, the fishing in the creek was a little different than Poche has experienced before, but it didn’t slow him down.
“That water's going back and forth. Before, typically, when it's going in the pond, that's when I caught them,” he said. “But this time, it had to be coming out. And I don't know why, but I think it was the water color. I think the river got dingy, and then when that mud pushed in there from the river, the fish aren’t used to that in there.
“They’re used to that clean water in there, and it would scatter them. But when it turned and it would start sucking that clean pond water out, they'd set up and feed.”
Across the event, Poche didn’t need anything super fancy to get the job done. He used a 5/16-ounce shaky head with a Berkley PowerBait MaxScent The General for a lot of his fish, as well as a crankbait and vibrating jig. For the shaky head, he used 15-pound Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon, an Abu Garcia Zenon reel and a 7-1, heavy, Fenwick baitcaster.
On stage, Poche was emotional as always.
“I was worried all day,” he said. “I felt like I needed more. I couldn't hold it back, I couldn't hold it back, man. It feels good to get it done.”
The top 30 pros at the Invitationals Stop 5 at the James River Presented by 7Brew Coffee finished:
1st: Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., 15 bass, 53-0, $80,000
2nd: Chad Mrazek, Montgomery, Texas, 15 bass, 52-12, $30,000
3rd: Dustin Smith, Trussville, Ala., 15 bass, 51-13, $20,000
4th: Banks Shaw, Harrison, Tenn., 15 bass, 51-12, $18,000
5th: Britt Myers Jr., Lake Wylie, S.C., 15 bass, 47-12, $17,000
6th: Mitch Crane, Columbus, Miss., 15 bass, 47-6, $16,000
7th: Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla., 15 bass, 46-1, $15,000
8th: Cal Lane, Grant, Ala., 14 bass, 45-15, $14,000
9th: Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., 15 bass, 45-14, $13,000
10th: Blake Hall, Rogersville, Ala., 15 bass, 45-3, $12,000
11th: Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich., 15 bass, 44-0, $10,000
12th: Jacob Walker, Springville, Ala., 15 bass, 44-0, $10,750
13th: Chaz Carrington, Suffolk, Va., 15 bass, 43-1, $10,000
14th: Matt Baty, Bainbridge, Ga., 15 bass, 42-10, $10,000
15th: Justin Cooper, Zwolle, La., 15 bass, 42-9, $10,000
16th: Kyle Cortiana, Broken Arrow, Okla., 15 bass, 42-1, $10,000
17th: Blake Smith, Lakeland, Fla., 15 bass, 41-15, $10,000
18th: Cole Breeden, Lebanon, Mo., 15 bass, 41-13, $10,000
19th: Cody Petit, Arundel, Maine, 15 bass, 41-13, $10,000
20th: Jimmy Washam, Stantonville, Tenn., 15 bass, 40-4, $10,000
21st: Brody Campbell, Oxford, Ohio, 15 bass, 40-4, $9,000
22nd: Chris Lane, Guntersville, Ala., 15 bass, 40-3, $9,000
23rd: Kyle Goldstein, Paso Robles, Calif., 15 bass, 40-1, $9,000
24th: Alex Davis, Albertville, Ala., 15 bass, 39-11, $9,000
25th: Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La., 13 bass, 39-10, $9,000
26th: Martin Villa, Charlottesville, Va., 15 bass, 38-8, $9,000
27th: Robby Lefere, Jackson, Mich., 15 bass, 38-1, $9,000
28th: Colby Schrumpf, Highland, Ill., 15 bass, 37-13, $9,000
29th: Christian Greico, New Bern, N.C., 15 bass, 36-13, $9,000
30th: Ken Thompson, Roaring Springs, Pa., 15 bass, 34-6, $9,000
Complete results for the entire field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 149 bass weighing 404 pounds 14 ounces caught by the final 30 pros on Sunday. The catch included 29 five-bass limits.
The three-day MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Stop 5 at the James River Presented by 7Brew Coffee was hosted by Richmond Region Tourism and featured professional bass anglers competing for a top prize of up to $115,000 and valuable points to qualify for the 2025 Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Championship in September. The full field of anglers competed in the two-day opening round on Friday and Saturday in a five-fish, weigh-in format. Only the top 30 pros, based on their two-day cumulative weight, advanced to the final round on Championship Sunday.
Television coverage of the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Stop 5 at the James River Presented by 7Brew Coffee will air as a two-hour episode, premiering at 9 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Oct. 25 on CBS Sports Network.
The next event on the schedule for Invitationals anglers is the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Stop 6 at the St. Lawrence River Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches, set for July 25-27 in Massena, New York.
Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Bubba, Deep Dive, E3 Sport Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, 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 complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Tackle Warehouse Invitationals 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 Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Catch the 2025 Minn Kota and Humminbird Owners Tournament on the Anglers Channel Bass Wrap Up Show on Pursuit Channel
Columbia, SC (June 23, 2025) – The Anglers Channel Bass Wrap Up Show was recently in Eufaula, Alabama to cover the third annual Minn Kota and Humminbird Owners Tournament. Although only in its third year, the Big Bass format and HUGE payout has become a big hit, with over 700 anglers participating for their shot at over $200,000 in cash and prizes!
Big Bass of the event earns a fully rigged Nitro® Z20 XL, LOADED with Minn Kota and Humminbird products, as well as a Mercury 250 Pro XS, all valued at over $80,000! The Anglers Channel crew was there to capture the excitement, and now fans can tune in to Pursuit to see how big of a bass it takes to win a new boat! The Anglers Channel Bass Wrap Up Show airs on Pursuit Channel Tuesday, June 24th at 5:00 am, with additional airings June 25th at 7:00 pm, as well as June 26th at 7:00 am, with all times being CST.
According to Anglers Channel’s Danny Blandford, “Having attended all three Owners events, I must say Eufaula was a great choice! It was a homecoming for the Humminbird team, the community rolled out the red carpet, and the fish cooperated too! It was a three-day parade of really nice catches crossing the scales.”
Blandford went on to add, “We’re excited to take this event to Pursuit for a dedicated episode of the Anglers Channel Bass Wrap Up Show. Their television platform allows us to highlight the event for millions of fishing fans and bring even more awareness to this awesome event open to all Minn Kota and Humminbird Owners.”
Since 2008 Pursuit has been delivering extensive high-quality outdoor content to millions of viewers unserved by any other full-time outdoor network. The unique basic tier package delivery with the major satellite distributors, plus major recent additions in the cable sector, provides access to an audience that is ripe with outdoorsmen and women for its content partners. Additional episodes of the Anglers Channel Bass Wrap Up Show can be found online via the Pursuit UP streaming channel available to over 100 million users, or available 24/7 on Pursuit UP’s VOD/App platforms.
About Johnson Outdoors
JOHNSON OUTDOORS FISHING 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
About AnglersChannel.com
AnglersChannel.com multimedia platform combines the web, social media platforms, on-site event coverage and The Anglers Channel Bass Wrap Up Show on Pursuit to bring you the No. 1 resource in tournament bass fishing. Anglers Channel features the web’s most robust tournament database, used by thousands of anglers daily, including schedules, results and searchable details by body of water. Anglers Channel also delivers industry news as it happens, along with coverage of all tournament bass fishing, from BASS and Major League Fishing to the weekend warriors. Visit Anglers Channel via the web, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.
For more information about Angler’s Channel, contact Danny Blandford at Danny@anglerschannel.com
About Pursuit
Pursuit Media is the industry leader in outdoor lifestyle programming, delivering hunting, fishing, shooting, and adventure content to over 22 million homes via linear TV and 100+ million users through its Pursuit UP digital platform. Based in Glenwood, Alabama, Pursuit Media, LLC, is majority-owned by The Bordelon Group and remains dedicated to promoting the outdoors lifestyle and supporting the rights of enthusiasts nationwide.
Reach out today for more about Pursuit, and to learn how Pursuit can help your business! #wearepursuit
Pursuit Media TV, LLC – 334.544.0701 – media@pursuitchannel.com
NPFL - Marler Seals the Deal on Eufaula
Big kicker anchors comeback win for Alabama angler
After a storm-delayed start, the 2025 NPFL Stop Four ended with fireworks. Texas pro Chad Marlor stole the show on Finale Friday with a clutch 17-pound, 11-ounce bag, anchored by a jaw-dropping 8-1 largemouth that rocketed him into first place. His two-day total of 33-12 was enough to hold off Alabama’s Gerald Swindle, who nearly pulled off a comeback of his own with a two-day total of 31-11.
The final day proved tougher for much of the field—big bags were harder to come by, but the shallow bite held strong. Anglers sticking with bushes and flipping or burning spinnerbaits were still able to grind out solid weights. Marlor made the winning move by abandoning his day-one area and trusting a new stretch of water he hadn’t touched since practice—a gamble that paid off big with the day’s biggest bass.
Rounding out the top five: Mike Quinlin finished third with 30-9, KJ Queen in fourth with 30-4, and Greg Hackney just two ounces back in fifth at 30-2.
Spinnerbait Pays Big for Marlor
Texas pro Chad Marlor came to Eufaula with redemption on his mind. His last trip was a tough one—but this week, he got his revenge. Armed with two versions of a custom-built Hilandero Blades Spinnerbait, Marlor committed to burning it through the bushes and triggering reaction bites.
“I was 4x4 with that bait, just crashing it through the cover,” he said. “I settled into a tight little area on day one, caught a good one early, and just leaned on it. There were other guys around, but I stuck it out and made it work.”
On Finale Friday, he called an audible. Instead of returning to his day-one zone, Marlor ran to a new stretch of water he hadn’t touched since practice.
“I left that area alone during the last day of practice, just in case I needed it,” he said. “I didn’t know if it’d be clean or dirty, but I had a feeling. The water was a little clearer, and those big girls were ready to eat that spinnerbait.”
His timing proved perfect. Another angler was on the stretch he wanted, so Marlor gave them space and kept grinding until they moved off.
“I slid in and on the third cast, she ate it—an 8-pounder,” he said. “When she jumped, I just started praying she’d stay buttoned up. Got her in the livewell and had to take a minute to process it. I was blessed today, plain and simple.”
Marlor had a quick limit and that giant kicker sealed it. On a day when many of the leaders struggled, he made every bite count.
“If you didn’t have your fish by 10:30, you were in trouble,” he added. “I caught the right ones at the right time, and it all worked out.”
Swindle Swings to Second with Bush-Flipping Gameplan
Alabama pro Gerald Swindle made a hard charge on Finale Friday, nearly pulling off the comeback—if not for Chad Marlor’s Oklahoma giant. Swindle committed his two practice days to fishing flooded bushes and split time between a lower creek arm and one further upriver, ultimately deciding which to focus on for the tournament.
“On the first morning, I was headed to my area, and I wish I could say it was the plan, but I looked over and saw a bunch of white birds in the trees,” Swindle said. “I pulled in and started catching them instantly.”
With a Buckeye spinnerbait in hand, Swindle worked the area efficiently. His plan was to stay in a single creek, adjust as needed, and avoid running around. That extra fishing time paid off.
“The only real run I made was late this afternoon,” he said. “I told the camera guy we had ten minutes left, slid into a little protected pocket, and flipped up a 4.5-pounder. I needed every one of those minutes.”
On Day One, Swindle keyed in on the outer edges of the bushes—where other anglers were flipping the visible ones, he targeted the hidden stuff.
“Every good bite came from those out-of-sight bushes. Whenever that Buckeye bumped one, they’d crush it,” he said.
But Day Two started off weird. His first bites were small, and he missed a better fish. Knowing something had changed, Swindle adjusted—but didn’t abandon the spinnerbait entirely.
“I picked up a Zoom Brush Hog and started flipping,” he said. “You usually don’t connect right away with a switch like that, and I lost a couple in the bushes. But the next bite was a 4.5—and that one really helped.”
Water clarity wasn’t a major factor. Swindle fished the Dutch Creek area, which had slightly cleaner water than surrounding zones.
“I could see about ten inches,” he laughed. “But the fish bit, and I love fishing this kind of stuff. The mud actually rolled in heavier today, but I think it helped more than hurt.”
Top Ten:
Chad Marler 33-12
Gerald Swindle 31-11
Mike Quinlin 30-9
KJ Queen 30-4
Greg Hackney 30-2
Buddy Gross 29-10
Brandon Cobb 29-2
Tommy Biffle 29-2
John Cox 28-9
Hunter Baughman 28-2
Swindle’s Tenkiller Turnaround
Courtesy of Dynamic Sponsorships
When the scales closed after day one at the Lowrance Bassmaster Elite on Lake Tenkiller it looked as though perpetual fan favorite Gerald Swindle was on his way to a disappointing finish. But the two-time Angler of the Year dug deep, dusted off his rally cap and hit ‘em with the Tenkiller turnaround on day two, weighing in one of the biggest bags of the tournament to jump from 77th place to 10th.
Swindle referred to Lake Tenkiller as a “heart monitor tournament”, meaning he had dramatic spikes in the positive direction followed by some big downturns, like the reading on a heart monitor.
“I had the bites to be leading that event after day one,” Swindle admitted. “I was really disheartened to be honest. I had bad breaks in both the last two tournaments (Fork and Sabine) that the world will never see. I was determined to turn it around in Oklahoma and after day one I had the bites to lead the son of a gun and there I am in 77th.”
Swindle is not usually one to talk about missed or lost fish. The Team Toyota pro lives by the mantra positive-mental-attitude (PMA) and doesn’t dwell on spilt milk. He knows every angler on the Elite field has a story about ‘almost’ nearly every tournament day, and ultimately his fans want to see “G” the entertainer, not G the complainer.
“When I go on stage people don’t want to hear shoulda, coulda, woulda,” Swindle said. “But I’ll be honest with you, I felt like I was gut-punched on day one. I weighed my 11-pounds and then had to sit with my wife and try to figure out why. Why am I losing these fish? I know I wasn’t doing anything wrong, just like at Sabine, it just happened that way. And now I’ve got less than 12-hours to pick up the pieces before blast-off on day two. It’s in those moments that you really gotta dig deep.”
The 30-year tournament veteran did just that on day two, leveraging a stellar bite around marina docks coupled with a pattern around flooded bushes to mount his comeback. Swindle is one of the most accomplished “junk fishermen” in bass fishing and said this tournament fit right into his wheelhouse. He fished what was in front of him while trying to adapt with the volatile weather conditions anglers were dealt at Tenkiller.
“It’s like I was a basketball player and went from not being able to make a layup to draining every shot I took,” Swindle said. “I was flowing and, man, it felt good.”
Employing old-school staples of a white 3/8-ounce Buckeye swimjig tipped with a Zoom Z-Craw Jr and a Texas-rigged Zoom Brush Hawg in watermelon red around flooded bushes, Swindle continued to climb the leaderboard on day three. He caught a few key marina fish on a topwater popper, including one viral four-pound catch that you couldn’t help but smile watching.
The 56-year-old former Alabama carpenter was quick on his toes but even faster with his commentary, making fans laugh and cheer.
Unfortunately, the same excitement that makes “G-man” a fan favorite cost him on day three, as he unintentionally made a cast with six fish in his livewell after failing to cull his smallest fish. Swindle realized his mistake almost immediately and called the tournament director to turn himself in. He was assessed a two-pound penalty.
“I wish I had a better excuse, but I just had a momentary brain fart, which happens to us old guys sometimes,” Swindle said with a wry smile. “Hopefully anglers watching can learn from my mistake and from how it was handled. I don’t care if you fish the Elite Series or a Tuesday night jackpot; if you break a rule, you owe it to your competitors, to yourself, and to the sport to report yourself. Integrity is everything in life and it’s even more important when no one is watching.”
That two-pound penalty cost Swindle from making Championship Sunday. He ultimately finished in 14th, missing the top ten by one pound. But Swindle didn’t hang his head, his glass was half-full after an up and down three days on Lake Tenkiller.
“Whether it’s fishing or really anything in life, there will always be times when you question yourself,” Swindle offered. “It’s natural. It’s going to happen. I’ll be honest enough to say after debacles at Fork, Sabine, and day one at Tenkiller I was right there. I was fighting demons in my head.
“But you know what, you can’t do that. Don’t doubt the process. Don’t doubt yourself. Always learn from mistakes or near misses, but you gotta believe even when it ain’t going right.”
Cox rooming with legends, but loses sandals in a beaver dam
Florida’s John Cox has been in Oklahoma for two weeks competing in pro-level tournaments. Last week, at Lake Tenkiller, and this week at the NPFL event on Lake Eufaula.
Eufaula is very muddy, lake levels are nearly 8-feet above normal, and Day 1’s competition on Wednesday at the NPFL event was canceled due to … you guessed it …. the threat of harsh lightning storms. However, Cox’s endless enthusiasm remains firmly in-tact despite constantly changing conditions and losing his shoes in a beaver dam.
Rooming with legends
Cox was invited to stay with two Bass Fishing Hall of Famers this week. Tommy Biffle and David Fritts, at Biffle’s home, about an hour from Eufaula.
“I started rooming with those two legends at NPFL events last season, and I love it. They were two of my heroes growing up,” says the 39-year old Vexus pro.
“I play them You Tube videos of some of their career highlights. Stuff they’ve never seen. And I swear to you they narrate every minute like it happened yesterday, and they get tears in their eyes watching some of the best days of their lives,” smiles Cox.
So how did Cox lose his flip flops?
“No surprise I tried to drive my 21-foot aluminum Vexus over a beaver dam to get into a backwater pond. But I got stuck on top of the beaver dam. The whole boat was high centered on top of the beaver dam, so I had to get out and push,” grins Cox.
“I would have spent the night there stranded, had I not got out and pushed. But when I planted my feet to push the boat, one of my flip-fops got stuck in the dam and never re-surfaced. So then, I was down to one flip-flop, and that one broke. So I finally got un-stuck, but had no shoes, and only caught two non-keeper bass,” says Cox.
What to expect at Eufaula, OK
Cox admits that dealing with two solid weeks of constantly changing water levels has become mentally exhausting, but physically he feels fine, and remains excited for what will now be a 2-day shootout.
“Somebody’s going to find a magical stretch or two, but I don’t think it will be dirt shallow, but instead on the deeper flooded bushes, or from one magical laydown or small boulder. That’s how I caught them in the NPFL the last time we were at Eufaula. I had a magical rock that produced close to half the fish I weighed-in. I would think 30-pounds for two days will win.”
Let’s just hope Cox finds a magical piece of habitat Thursday and Friday, and that perhaps Biffle or Fritts will loan him a new pair of flip-flops.
Plattsburgh Set for MLF Toyota Series at Lake Champlain
PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (June 18, 2025) –The Major League Fishing (MLF) Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats is set to visit Plattsburgh, New York, next week, June 26-28, for the first event of the Northern division – the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats at Lake Champlain.
The three-day tournament, hosted by the City of Plattsburgh and the Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau, will feature a roster of the region’s best bass-fishing pros and co-anglers competing for a top prize of up to $100,000 in the pro division and a new Phoenix 518 Pro boat with a 115-horsepower outboard motor plus $5,000 in the co-angler division.
Pro Bryan LaBelle of Hinesburg, Vermont, is one of the best anglers on Lake Champlain and said he expects bedding smallmouth to be in play.
“I think with the cold season, the smallmouth are going to be the way to go,” he said. “That’s what I’m seeing right now. I think the green fish will probably be in a funk, and they’ll be thinned out. Definitely a lot of smallmouth are going to spawn out too, but I think there will be enough big ones around that guys will find them and the tournament will likely be won that way.”
LaBelle said he anticipates the winning weight will be about 61 pounds over the three-day event. Champlain veteran Brett Carnright of Plattsburgh, New York, figures on something in the same ballpark – he predicted that it would take 60-12 to win and thinks it will take 13 smallmouth and two largemouth.
If Carnright and LaBelle are correct, fans and anglers are in for an event along the lines of some of the late 20-teen barnburners that were seen on Champlain, which were highlight-reel Toyota Series events. Regardless, anglers will be fishing on one of the premier lakes in the country at a prime time.
Anglers will begin each day at 6 a.m. ET, launching from Plattsburgh City Marina at 5 Dock St. in Plattsburgh. Weigh-ins will take place at the same location, starting at 2 p.m. daily. Fans are invited to attend in person and can also stay connected by following the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts and daily updates on MajorLeagueFishing.com.
In Toyota Series regular-season competition, payouts are based on the number of participants competing in the event, scaling up for every 20 boats over 160 and scaling down for every boat below 160. With a 160-boat field, pros fish for a top prize of up to $75,000, if Phoenix MLF Bonus qualified. Co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard (valued at $33,500). With a 260-boat field, pros fish for a top award of up to $100,000, if Phoenix MLF Bonus qualified. Strike King co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard plus $5,000 cash.
The 2025 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats consists of five divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern and Southwestern – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International and Wild Card divisions. Anglers who fish in any of the five divisions or the Wild Card division and finish in the top 25 will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series Championship for a shot at winning up to $235,000 and a qualification to REDCREST 2026. The winning co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard. The 2025 Toyota Series Championship will be held Nov. 6-8 on Grand Lake in Grove, Oklahoma, and is hosted by the City of Grove Convention & Tourism Bureau.
Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Toyota Series 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, Mossy Oak, 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 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 Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
NPFL Postpones Day 1 at Lake Eufaula
EUFAULA, OKLA. — The National Professional Fishing League has postponed Day 1 of NPFL Stop 4 at Lake Eufaula due to unsafe weather conditions. The bass tournament will now start on Thursday, June 19, and end on Friday, June 20.
The decision was made after tournament officials reviewed reports from the National Weather Service and other sources calling for high winds and lightning, making for unsafe fishing and boating conditions.
“Our commitment is to the safety and well-being of our anglers,” said NPFL president Brad Fuller. “We will not subject our anglers to unsafe conditions. The tournament will begin on Thursday and end on Friday. It will be a two-day event.”
Livestream coverage of the event with Luke Dunkin and Fat Cat Newton will be available on Thursday and Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the NPFL website (TheNationalProfessionalFishingLeague.com) and on YouTube.
Weigh-ins will begin at 2:00 p.m. CT at Nichols Point on Thursday and Friday and can be viewed online via the same outlets.
About the National Professional Fishing League
The National Professional Fishing League (NPFL) was founded to bring competitive fishing to a broader audience and offer anglers a platform to compete at the highest level. The NPFL is committed to fostering integrity, competition, and innovation in the sport, providing anglers and fans alike with an exciting and unique experience.
Media Contact: Ken Duke — (407) 574-1898 or ken@tnpfl.com.