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Palaniuk claims sixth Bassmaster Elite win at Lake Okeechobee

March 2, 2025

OKEECHOBEE, Fla. — The gift that kept on giving finally stopped giving. Thankfully, that gift had given enough for Brandon Palaniuk to cruise across the finish line with a four-day total of 95 pounds, 4 ounces in the Champion Power Equipment Bassmaster Elite at Lake Okeechobee.

“It’s so crazy how things happen for a reason,” Palaniuk said of a slow day that tested his resolve. “This morning, me and (seventh-place Greg DiPalma) were fishing next to one another and I watched him lose several big ones. I hate that and I love it, at the same time.

“I don’t wish that upon anyone, but if he would have caught those, I would have been sweating bullets. I could not get a bite, and then I just kept sticking with it and picking off one here and there.”

Starting strong with a third-place, first-round limit of 23-7, the pro from Rathdrum, Idaho, moved into the Day 2 lead by sacking up 34-10 — his personal best and the heaviest bag weighed in a Bassmaster Elite at Lake Okeechobee. That feat sent Palaniuk into Day 3 with a 9-12 lead over Day 1 leader DiPalma.

On Semifinal Saturday, the fish shied from the previous days’ pressure. Enduring a few painful losses and a close call that sent a big crankbait colliding with his face (no serious injury), Palaniuk caught 23 pounds and expanded his lead to an 18-3 advantage over Day 1 leader Greg DiPalma.

Palaniuk, a two-time Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year, endured a stingy Day 4 and sealed the deal with a final-round limit of 14-3. Edging John Garrett by 15-13 — the fourth-largest winning margin in Bassmaster Elite history and Palaniuk’s second double-digit win (also his first Elite win at Bull Shoals, 2012) — he collected the $102,000 top prize and his sixth blue trophy.

All week, Palaniuk has camped in a small stretch of the C-41A Canal, which flows southeast from Lake Istokpoga. The key location was a ridge with an adjacent trench passing between the high spot and the riprap bank.

“I think the biggest thing was this spot had deep water and spawning areas nearby and it allowed those fish to funnel through and replenish every day,” Palaniuk said. “The structure set up right for them to position and funnel into there.

“In the back of that trough was a flat that came off the bank. That created an area where those big females could get sun, and there was tons of bait that they could feed on.”

The final round started slowly for Palaniuk, as the early afternoon found him with only four fish for less than 10 pounds. Losing a key fish sent him huddling to his deck, but Palaniuk recomposed himself, got back to work and ended his day with a 5 1/2-pounder that crushed his Clutch The Boss glidebait.

After the first day’s weigh-in, Palaniuk noted that he cycled through a wide array of baits to determine what would trigger the fish. As the week went on, he dialed in a few key performers, including the Megabass Kanata jerkbait, a prototype Megabass crankbait and the hulking Megabass Big M 4.0.

He also caught fish on a KGB glidebait, a Neko-rigged green-pumpkin Zoom Magnum Finesse Worm, and an XZone Lures Muscle Back Craw punched through a hyacinth mat.

Reviewing this week’s accomplishment, Palaniuk said marking a half dozen Elite victories has stoked his fire for future achievement.

“We’re not done yet,” Palaniuk said. “I’m 15 years into it; I figure I have at least that many more. I feel like we’re just getting started.”

Hailing from Union City, Tenn., Garrett finished second with 79-7. After tying Chris Zaldain for 62nd place on Day 1 with 10-8, Garrett bolted into 12th place with a Day 2 limit of 22-7.

Adding 23-3 on Semifinal Saturday, Garrett rose to fourth before closing the event with a final limit of 23-5. Coming off a fourth-place finish at last week’s FXR Pro Fish Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River, Garrett anchored his Day 4 bag with a 7-4.

“This Florida swing has been absolutely unbelievable,” Garrett said. “Most of the time when I’m in Florida I take a righthand turn, and I was supposed to take a left, but every decision I’ve made the past two weeks has been the right one.”

Garrett fished a black and blue Strike King Hack Attack Swim Jig with a Strike King Rage Scounbug trailer and a Texas-rigged black and blue Strike King Rage Bug. He used the former in shallow water to locate aggressive fish, while the latter handled his flipping duties in deeper spots.

Kyoya Fujita of Yamanashi, Japan, took third with 77-4. His daily weights were 18-0, 11-15, 25-13 and 21-8.

Fujita did most of his work in the Rim Canal. On Day 4, he stayed east of the Taylor Creek area.

“I fished the canal because I practiced in the lake and everything had changed (from his previous visit in 2023),” Fujita said. “I found my fish on Livescope and fished a jighead minnow with a Jackall Driftfry and Deps Sakamata Shad.

David Gaston of Sylacauga, Ala., won the $2,000 award for Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors with an 11-8. Gaston’s catch is the largest fish caught at Lake Okeechobee in Bassmaster Elite history. That fish also ranks as the 10^th-biggest and the 75th double-digit bass in Elite Series history.

Bernie Schultz of Gainesville, Fla., won the $1,000 BassTrakk Contingency award. Garrett won the $1,000 award for leading the Progressive Angler of the Year standings.

Palaniuk won the $2,000 Rapala Crush City Monster Bag award for his Day 2 limit of 34-10.

Garrett leads the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 204 points. John Cox of Debary, Fla., is in second with 191, followed by Gaston with 183, Bill Lowen of Brookville, Ind., with 182 and Will Davis Jr of Sylacauga, Ala., with 182.

Evan Kung of Pickering, Canada, leads the Dakota Lithium Elite Series Rookie of the Year standings with 143 points.

Davis Jr also took home an additional $3,000 for being the highest-placing entrant in the Toyota Bonus Bucks program, while DiPalma earned $2,000 for being the second-highest placing entrant.

As part of the Yamaha Power Pay program, Palaniuk earned an additional $4,000 while Garrett claimed an additional $1,500 for being the second-highest placing entrant. Fujita and Gaston both earned $1,000 for being the third- and fourth-highest placing entrant, respectively.

Visit Florida hosted the event.

2025 Bassmaster Elite Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2025 Bassmaster Elite Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Progressive Insurance, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2025 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Marathon, Triton Boats, VMC

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 500,000-member 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 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.

by AnglersChannel

Consistent Breeden Earns Victory at MLF Toyota Series at Lake of the Ozarks

OSAGE BEACH, Mo. (March 2, 2025) – The only man to catch a limit three days in a row, it’s fitting that pro Cole Breeden of Lebanon, Missouri, took the win in the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats Plains Division event at Lake of the Ozarks . Weighing bags in the low teens every day, Breeden managed 13 pounds, 7 ounces on the final day and totaled 40-13 win on a week that featured incredibly tough fishing.

For the win, which is his second at the Toyota Series level, the young Missouri pro takes home $33,727, which will doubtless bolster his bank account amid the start of a busy tournament season. The win also automatically qualifies him for the Toyota Series Championship, which will be held in the fall on Grand Lake, where Breeden won the 2021 Abu Garcia College Fishing National Championship.

Finishing second with a 39-1 total, pro Andy Newcomb of Camdenton, Missouri, blasted 20-11 on the final day to move up from 11th place. Another Lake of the Ozarks stalwart, pro Brad Jelinek, of Lincoln, Missouri, finished third with 37-5.

A master with his forward-facing sonar, it was no surprise to see Breeden in the hunt this week. But, as the weights proved, simply pointing a transducer at a fish didn’t put it in the boat. Plenty of pros talked about fish blowing through umbrella rigs and never getting hooked or fish biting a jerkbait or jig and still getting off. Add in frigid water and a major shad kill (think pizzas steadily falling from the sky), and the fishing was extremely tough.

On the pro side of the event, anglers with full control of the boat and armed with all the best gear struggled. A stunning 43 pros double zeroed, failing to bring a keeper bass to weigh-in across two days of fishing. That list included some real luminaries, both locally and nationally – Dennis Berhorst, Casey Martin, Eric Olliverson and even the great Rick Clunn couldn’t catch one.

All told, it makes the fact that Breeden caught five every day seem pretty monumental, even though it’s ordinarily the bare minimum for tournament fishing. According to Breeden, even in practice, he was clicking with the lake at an above-average level.

“I practiced for three half days, and on my third day, I started finding fish, and I didn’t catch very many, but I was seeing groups of a lot of fish,” he said. “Like 10 to 30 bass on a spot, which was just crazy. So, I actually felt pretty good, because I had been talking to a lot of people that were talking about how tough it was, and nobody was really catching any bass. So, I actually did feel good going to the tournament – not for winning purposes, but maybe just making a check or a Top 10.”

The key for Breeden was fishing a lot of new water that fit the pattern he increasingly dialed as the event went on.

“The way I started finding fish was kind of on flat, secondary points,” he said. “And then in the tournament, I ran a mixture looking for new stuff, of flat secondary points and creeks or a real flat bank or a pocket in a creek. That’s the kind of stuff I was running – just looking for brush and looking for fish on the brush.

“I know there were fish on other stuff, too, but that was just a good way for me to find numbers of fish,” he outlined. “And I think that was the important thing – throwing in front of as many as possible. Because, if you talk to anybody in the Top 10, they found a ton of fish also, but it was almost impossible to get them to bite.”

Fishing brush in 12- to 18-feet, Breeden did the vast majority of his work with a jerkbait.

The key bait was either a Berkley Stunna 112+1 or a Berkley Stunna 112 in a worn out Table Rock colorway. For both baits, he used a 6-foot, 10-inch, medium-light Abu Garcia Fantasista X paired with an 8.3:1 Abu Garcia Zenon MG-X and 10-pound Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon.

Per Breeden, most of the bass would be near the bottom of the piles, and he needed to coax them into a feeding scenario.

“Most of them were on the bottom or close to the bottom,” he said. “Every now and then, there’d be one up in the top of the pile. But if there was a lot of fish there, most of them would be on the bottom, and then one or two would be high. And then it seemed like if there was a lot of fish there and I could throw my jerkbait in there for the first time, then if I got the attention of one, the whole school would come up. That was when I started catching them, whenever I could get the attention of all of them. Because usually the first one or two or three to come up to it wouldn’t eat it; it would be one that comes up from behind and gets to it.”

Getting the fish in the mood to feed required the perfect bait and the perfect presentation. A challenge considering the windy conditions, Breeden had to use all his wiles to put the bait where it needed to be.

“A lot of times I would be fishing it 15 foot deep, trying to get it down there,” he explained. “I had to make really long casts and just let my line sink. So, every cast was several minutes. And you couldn’t throw a weighted jerkbait, because they were moving so slow that if you threw a weighted jerkbait, it would sink past them by the time they really got to it or wanted to eat it. So, you really needed a suspending jerkbait, but you needed to let your line sink so that it would get deep enough to the fish. It was just a kind of a painful way to fish.”

On Day 3, Breeden added another wintertime trick into the rotation – a float ‘n’ fly. Using a homemade jig with bucktail and feathers on a 1/8-ounce Picasso head with a slip bobber, Breeden actually nabbed the key 5-pounder that gave him the win.

“I didn’t throw it all week because I was just trying to be efficient with my time,” Breeden said. “But today, I knew that I was going back to stuff that I had caught fish on and where I saw some bigger fish. So, I wanted something that would hopefully generate a bite.”

Essentially casting it out and letting it sit above the brush until a fish got interested, Breeden watched his 5-pounder eat on ‘Scope while his co-angler watched the bobber go down.

“I’m watching on LiveScope, and there’s so much slack in your line between the fish and your rod because the bobber is floating 15-foot above the fish,” he said. “So, the 5-pounder I caught today, I saw her eat it, but I didn’t feel it. And I just kept reeling, and finally, it got tight. But my co-angler said that my bobber was down for several seconds before I pulled into it.”

While Breeden seems to have a real knack for Grand Lake, as many Ozark anglers do, he hasn’t previously considered himself to be a favorite at Lake of the Ozarks.

“These guys here, they always catch them, and they catch big ones,” he said. “And I don’t know how they do it, but they do it pretty consistently. So, I pretty much did what I always do at Lake of the Ozarks, which is catch 13 pounds a day and take my check and go home. This one was just a bigger check.”

Now, he’s earned a big win on a historic fishery in maybe one of the toughest tournaments ever held there.

“Finally getting a big win against the competition that we have here just feels amazing,” Breeden said. “It’s a great start to the year, and obviously, I can use that as momentum. And, man, I’m fishing so many tournaments this year that my bank account was looking a little thin.”

The top 10 pros at the Toyota Series at Lake of the Ozarks finished:

1st:        Cole Breeden, Lebanon, Mo., 15 bass, 40-13, $33,727
2nd:       Andy Newcomb, Camdenton, Mo., 14 bass, 39-1, $14,069 (includes $1,000 Phoenix Bonus)
3rd:       Brad Jelinek, Lincoln, Mo., 13 bass, 37-5, $10,118
4th:        Adam Boehle, Warrenton, Mo., 10 bass, 36-12, $8,432
5th:        Travis Fox, Rogers, Ark., 11 bass, 35-7, $7,589
6th:        Jordan Hirt, Council Bluff, Iowa, 12 bass, 34-14, $6,745
7th:        Michael Harlin, Sunrise Beach, Mo., 13 bass, 33-11, $5,902
8th:        Justin Luetkemeyer, Osage Beach, Mo., 10 bass, 32-1, $5,559
9th:        Nathen Luce, Claremore, Okla., 11 bass, 30-12, $4,216
10th:     Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., 11 bass, 28-10, $3,373

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Pro Justin Luetkemeyer of Osage Beach, Missouri, earned Thursday’s $500 Berkley Big Bass Award with a bass weighing 5 pounds, 5 ounces. On Friday, pro Austin Culbertson of Moberly, Missouri, caught a 6-pound, 10-ounce bass and earned the $500 award.

Mark Sloan of Harrison, Arkansas, won the Co-angler Division Saturday with a three-day total of five bass weighing 16 pounds, 15 ounces. Sloan earned the top co-angler prize package worth $34,050, 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 of the Ozarks finished:

1st:        Mark Sloan, Harrison, Ark., five bass, 16-15, Phoenix 518 Pro boat w/115-hp Mercury outboard
2nd:       Dan Bowman, Osage Beach, Mo., seven bass, 15-0, $4,301
3rd:       Drew Boehle, Saint Charles, Mo., five bass, 12-3, $3,441
4th:        Douglas Guidorzi, Fenton, Mo., five bass, 12-1, $3,011
5th:        Alan Bernicky, Dardanelle, Ark., five bass, 10-8, $2,581
6th:        Todd Adamitis, Glen Carbon, Ill., three bass, 8-9, $2,151
7th:        Ryan Steinhoff, Beaulah, Colo., four bass, 8-9, $1,720
8th:        Anthony Scoma, Spring Hill, Kan., three bass, 7-13, $1,505
9th:        Robert Hunt, Ozark, Mo., three bass, 7-8, $1,290
10th:     Ken Coats, Tulsa, Okla., four bass, 7-7, $1,075

Co-angler Clayton Hale of Grove, Oklahoma, earned Thursday’s $150 Berkley Big Bass co-angler award with a 4-pound, 2-ounce bass, while Friday’s Day 2 $150 co-angler award went to tournament winner Mark Sloan, who brought a 5-pound, 11-ounce largemouth bass to the scale.

The Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats at Lake of the Ozarks was hosted by the Tri-County Lodging Association. It was the first of three regular-season tournament for the Toyota Series Plains
Division. The next event for the Toyota Series Plains Division will be April 8-10 on Kentucky and Barkley Lakes in Gilbertsville, Kentucky. 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 Strike King 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 Sports 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.

by AnglersChannel

Palaniuk builds huge lead in Bassmaster Elite at Lake Okeechobee

March 1, 2025

OKEECHOBEE, Fla. — Compared to Friday’s phenomenal performance, Brandon Palaniuk had a slow Day 3. However, his previous heroics, paired with a solid third-round effort kept the Rathdrum, Idaho, angler atop the standings for the Champion Power Equipment Bassmaster Elite at Lake Okeechobee with a three-day total of 81 pounds, 1 ounce.

Palaniuk, a five-time Progressive Bassmaster Elite winner and two-time Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year, placed third on Day 1 with 23-7. A day later, he electrified the weigh-in by catching 34-10 — his personal best and the heaviest bag weighed in a Bassmaster Elite at Lake Okeechobee.

Carrying a lead of 9-12 into Semifinal Saturday, Palaniuk caught 23 pounds and expanded his lead to an incredible 18-3 advantage over Day 1 leader Greg DiPalma. He’s making no assumptions, but Palaniuk acknowledged a notable comparison to his first Elite Series trophy.

“What an unreal week it’s been,” Palaniuk said. “The very first Elite Series event I won (Bull Shoals Lake, 2012), they were dropping the water. It had dropped 7 feet in like two weeks, and I caught them on a deep crankbait.

“The water has been dropping here for almost seven weeks and I’m catching a lot of them on a crankbait. The irony in that is incredible.”

Palaniuk committed his day to the same spot he’s camped in since the start. Palaniuk’s running north of the takeoff site and fishing a canal off the Kissimmee River where a dam spillway creates feeding opportunities.

After catching his Day 2 megasack on aggressive moving baits, a slower third round saw him integrate a Neko-rigged green pumpkin Zoom Magnum Finesse Worm into his rotation. This, along with a Megabass Kanata jerkbait and a prototype Megabass crankbait produced his third day’s limit.

“I think pressuring the area for three days affected the fish,” Palaniuk said. “Three of us (also DiPalma and Tim Dube) beat on it pretty hard. I had some other opportunities; I just didn’t execute. I had one little window where I got them biting, but I just had too many missed opportunities.”

Explaining the obvious injury to his lower lip, Palaniuk pointed out another correlation to his first Elite win. During that Bull Shoals event, Palaniuk got a hook stuck in his finger and required an ER visit for removal.

Around 11 a.m. today he hastily scooped a fish that was barely hooked, and the awkward moment left the fish temporarily pinned to his face.

“One treble hook got stuck in my lip and one got stuck in my face,” Palaniuk said. “I had to take my face gaiter off and cut holes in it to get the treble hooks out. It was a little bit of a train wreck today.

“The hook in my lip wasn’t past the barb, so it popped right out. When the fish came up, she was one thrash from throwing the hook. I couldn’t stand that, so I’ll take a punch in the face.”

Palaniuk said he’ll devote his final day to the canal, but he’ll integrate lessons from his first three days. While he has moved throughout the canal, the key area is a high spot where fish move up to feed.

“Every day the wind has changed, so I’ve tried to adjust my angle,” Palaniuk said. “The biggest thing I’ve found is not blowing up on top of them.

“They’re not that deep, so they feel the boat presence. You’ll see them moving around, but they won’t bite, and they won’t set up correctly if you’re blowing up on top of them.”

Hailing from Millville, N.J., DiPalma opened with a Day 1 limit of 29-12, added 18-9 in the second round and earned his final-round berth with a Day 3 bag that went 14-9. For three days, he has started in the same canal as Palaniuk, but days 2 and 3 saw him include a spot 24 miles south into his game plan.

“I started in the canal today, got two keepers and then I ran to the same spot on the lake’s southwest side,” DiPalma said. “I literally put that fifth fish in the boat, and I said, ‘We’re going back.’

“I spent more time running than I did fishing today. As soon as I got back to the canal, I had maybe 20-30 minutes and I ended up catching a 6- or 7-pounder, which pretty much anchored my entire bag.”

DiPalma said his strategy centered on his final-round objective.

“I thought to myself, ‘It’s pretty important to make the Top 10, so I need a limit to, at least, make the Top 10,” he said. “I made the call to play it safe and then I went up there (to the canal) and got rewarded.”

David Gaston of Sylacauga, Ala., is in third place with 60-3. His daily weights were 14-11, 23-14 and 21-10.

Gaston has spent his time in the Indian Prairie Canal, where he’s mostly targeting prespawn fish that are coming out of the deeper channel and positioning along the riprap bank.

“You have to stick with that place all day, because there are a lot of big fish coming,” Gaston said. “Everything has been on a 1/2-ounce Chatterbait in the black/blue and golden shiner colors with a boot tail or minnow-style trailer.

“I can catch them on a wacky rig, a Texas-rigged worm and sometimes a frog, but a Chatterbait is the only thing I can keep in my hand and get them to bite on the bank, or out there in 3-4 feet of water. I can cover the whole place and comb it over.”

Gaston said the key to his presentation is to keep his bait low and grinding it along the rocks.

Gaston is in the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors with an 11-8. Gaston’s catch is the largest fish caught at Lake Okeechobee in Bassmaster Elite history. That fish also ranks as the 10th biggest and the 75th double-digit bass in Elite Series history

John Garrett of Union City, Tenn., leads the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 202 points. John Cox of Debary, Fla., is in second with 191, followed by Gaston with 186, Bill Lowen of Brookville, Ind., with 182, and Wes Logan of Springville, Ala., with 182.

Evan Kung of Pickering, Canada, leads the Dakota Lithium Elite Series Rookie of the Year standings with 143 points.

Sunday’s takeoff is scheduled for 7 a.m. ET at C. Scott Driver Park. The weigh-in will be held at the park at 3 p.m.

Bassmaster LIVE will be streaming on Bassmaster.com, and coverage will also be available on FS1 on Sunday from 8-10 a.m. Stay up-to-date on all tournament coverage at Bassmaster.com/how-to-watch/.

Visit Florida is hosting the event.

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Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.

Media Contact: Chad Gay, Communications Manager, 256-424-2390, cgay@bassmaster.com

2025 Champion Power Equipment Bassmaster Elite at Lake Okeechobee 2/27-3/2
Lake Okeechobee, Okeechobee FL.
Standings Day 3

Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$

1. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 15 81-01 104
Day 1: 5 23-07 Day 2: 5 34-10 Day 3: 5 23-00
2. Gregory DiPalma Millville, NJ 15 62-14 103 $500.00
Day 1: 5 29-12 Day 2: 5 18-09 Day 3: 5 14-09
3. David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 15 60-03 102 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-11 Day 2: 5 23-14 Day 3: 5 21-10
4. John Garrett Union City, TN 15 56-02 101
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 5 22-07 Day 3: 5 23-03
5. Kyoya Fujita Yamanashi CA JAPAN 15 55-12 100
Day 1: 5 18-00 Day 2: 5 11-15 Day 3: 5 25-13
6. Will Davis Jr Sylacauga, AL 15 53-06 99
Day 1: 5 26-02 Day 2: 5 13-03 Day 3: 5 14-01
7. Bob Downey Detroit Lakes, MN 15 51-07 98
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 5 21-13 Day 3: 5 17-11
8. Jacob Foutz Charleston, TN 15 50-03 97
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 19-01 Day 3: 5 17-07
9. Jason Christie Dry Creek, OK 14 50-00 96 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 20-12 Day 3: 4 15-12
10. Trey McKinney Carbondale, IL 15 49-03 95
Day 1: 5 21-00 Day 2: 5 14-07 Day 3: 5 13-12
11. John Cox Debary, FL 15 49-00 94 $7,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 25-04 Day 3: 5 11-06
12. Jordan Lee Cullman, AL 15 48-11 93 $7,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 14-05 Day 3: 5 19-02
13. Cliff Pace Ovett, MS 15 48-10 92 $7,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 21-04 Day 3: 5 16-13
14. Scott Canterbury Odenville, AL 15 48-04 91 $7,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-12 Day 2: 5 07-04 Day 3: 5 23-04
15. Tyler Williams Belgrade, ME 15 47-14 90 $7,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-06 Day 2: 5 16-15 Day 3: 5 16-09
16. Beau Browning Hot Springs National Pa 15 47-09 89 $6,500.00
Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 5 25-12 Day 3: 5 08-13
17. Wes Logan Springville, AL 15 46-12 88 $6,500.00
Day 1: 5 15-03 Day 2: 5 13-12 Day 3: 5 17-13
18. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 15 46-06 87 $6,500.00
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 5 18-07 Day 3: 5 14-03
19. Bryant Smith Roseville, CA 15 45-02 86 $6,500.00
Day 1: 5 08-03 Day 2: 5 21-07 Day 3: 5 15-08
20. Taku Ito Dalton GA JAPAN 15 44-02 85 $6,500.00
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 5 10-05 Day 3: 5 20-00
21. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 15 44-02 84 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-15 Day 2: 5 13-11 Day 3: 5 10-08
22. Lee Livesay Longview, TX 15 43-10 83 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-12 Day 2: 5 19-13 Day 3: 5 14-01
23. Jake Whitaker Hendersonville, NC 15 43-04 82 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 5 17-04 Day 3: 5 12-01
24. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 15 43-03 81 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 20-12 Day 2: 5 09-06 Day 3: 5 13-01
25. KJ Queen Catawba, NC 15 43-03 80 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 12-14 Day 3: 5 16-05
26. Paul Marks Cumming, GA 15 42-11 79 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 14-15 Day 2: 5 12-00 Day 3: 5 15-12
27. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 15 41-02 78 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 09-01 Day 2: 5 20-14 Day 3: 5 11-03
28. Cody Meyer Eagle, ID 15 41-01 77 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 20-03 Day 2: 5 08-12 Day 3: 5 12-02
29. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 15 40-12 76 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 10-15 Day 3: 5 16-08
30. Jay Przekurat Plover, WI 15 40-04 75 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 17-04 Day 2: 5 07-08 Day 3: 5 15-08
31. Kyle Patrick Cooperstown, NY 15 40-02 74 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 16-09 Day 2: 5 10-02 Day 3: 5 13-07
32. Logan Parks Auburn, AL 15 39-11 73 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 5 11-15 Day 3: 5 15-14
33. Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA 15 39-02 72 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 16-12 Day 2: 5 12-15 Day 3: 5 09-07
34. Kyle Welcher Valley, AL 15 38-15 71 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 17-06 Day 2: 5 11-13 Day 3: 5 09-12
35. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 15 38-08 70 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-11 Day 2: 5 10-10 Day 3: 5 11-03
36. Cooper Gallant Bowmanville Ontario CAN 13 37-05 69 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 19-15 Day 2: 3 04-10 Day 3: 5 12-12
37. Bryan New Leesville, SC 13 37-03 68 $5,500.00
Day 1: 3 06-00 Day 2: 5 18-09 Day 3: 5 12-10
38. Timothy Dube Nashua , NH 11 37-03 67 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 18-03 Day 2: 4 14-13 Day 3: 2 04-03
39. Matty Wong Honolulu, HI 13 37-01 66 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 19-07 Day 2: 3 08-10 Day 3: 5 09-00
40. Cody Huff Ava, MO 15 36-15 65 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 14-14 Day 2: 5 13-09 Day 3: 5 08-08
41. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 15 36-11 64 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 13-07 Day 3: 5 08-12
42. Patrick Walters Eutawville, SC 15 36-02 63 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 16-13 Day 2: 5 12-12 Day 3: 5 06-09
43. Ray Hanselman Jr Del Rio, TX 15 36-01 62 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 5 12-04 Day 3: 5 11-03
44. Bryan Schmitt Deale, MD 15 35-02 61 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 09-08 Day 2: 5 14-02 Day 3: 5 11-08
45. Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 15 33-09 60 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 5 13-00 Day 3: 5 08-14
46. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 14 33-07 59 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 12-13 Day 3: 4 09-05
47. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 15 33-03 58 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 12-01 Day 3: 5 07-07
48. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 15 32-08 57 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 14-15 Day 2: 5 10-12 Day 3: 5 06-13
49. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 15 31-08 56 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 10-07 Day 3: 5 07-06
50. Buddy Gross Chattanooga, TN 15 30-14 55 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 08-15 Day 2: 5 14-07 Day 3: 5 07-08
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Gregory DiPalma Millville, NJ 08-10 $500.00
1 Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 08-10 $500.00
2 David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 11-08 $1,000.00
3 Jason Christie Dry Creek, OK 07-11 $1,000.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 93 498 1261-13
2 95 497 1253-05
3 47 245 679-07
----------------------------------
235 1240 3194-09

by AnglersChannel

Palaniuk’s record-setting day pushes him to Lake Okeechobee lead

Feb. 28, 2025

OKEECHOBEE, Fla. — Big Florida bass are notorious for making you wait for their feeding windows. Brandon Palaniuk knows the game, and his patience paid huge dividends with a phenomenal day that moved him atop the leaderboard for the Champion Power Equipment Bassmaster Elite at Lake Okeechobee with a two-day total of 58 pounds, 1 ounce.

Palaniuk, the five-time Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series winner and two-time Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year from Rathdrum, Idaho, placed third on Day 1 with 23-7. Following a 90-minute Day 2 fog delay, Palaniuk returned to the canal spillway he fished a day earlier and sacked up 34-10 — his personal best and the heaviest bag weighed in a Bassmaster Elite at Lake Okeechobee.

Palaniuk heads into Semifinal Saturday with a lead of 9-12 over Day 1 leader Greg DiPalma.

“This is the most epic day I’ve ever had — pure insanity,” Palaniuk said. “I caught seven bass today.”

Palaniuk’s mega sack comprised two bass over 9 pounds, along with a 7 1/2, a 4-0, and one nearly 3 1/2.

“It was an absolute incredible day,” Palaniuk said. “It’s not like I caught a bunch. I had seven bites all day; I just had the right ones. All week I’ve been saying, ‘High hopes, low expectations.’

“That’s kinda carried me through, and I may live and die by that this week. Tomorrow, it’ll be the same thing. I’m in an area that has big ones, but it depends on if they show up or not.”

Returning to a Day 1 hotspot is nothing new, but Palaniuk’s tale defined persistence and confidence. Repeating the first day’s scenario, Palaniuk shared a key stretch with DiPalma, Will Davis Jr and Tim Dube.

The difference — a much slower start. Palaniuk caught a 4-pounder at 9 a.m. on a Megabass Kanata jerkbait, but the next two hours were lean.

Late morning found Palaniuk’s neighbors exploring other sections of the spillway canal and ultimately relocating, but he was too impressed with what he saw on his sonar screen. All alone when the late-morning light switch flipped, Palaniuk amassed the majority of his weight in about an hour and a half.

“Patience was a big thing,” Palaniuk said. “I knew I was inside the (Top 50) cut and I didn’t have anything else on this body of water that compared to that.

“I think having as tough of a practice as I did made it easier to stay. What else am I gonna do? I stuck it out and I was able to cycle through baits and figure out some different things that I didn’t figure out yesterday.”

On a day when many anglers opted for slower, coaxing techniques, Palaniuk stepped on the gas and challenged the fish to catch his moving baits. Going big and bold, he also caught fish on a prototype Megabass crankbait and a Megabass Big M 4.0.

Coming off the worst season of his professional career, in which he missed the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour cut, Palaniuk said this week’s success has brought much-needed encouragement.

“The thing I’ve learned in life is that a lot of my greatest moments come after my hardest times,” said Palaniuk. “The hardest times are usually followed by the greatest moments if you’re willing to push through.

“When I won my first Angler of the Year title in 2017, I finished 105th on (Lake Okeechobee), so to have the first two days that I’ve had now is pretty special. There’s definitely a little fire to make it happen this week.”

DiPalma, who hails from Millville, N.J., is in second place with 48-5. After topping the Day 1 standings with 29-12 — the event’s second largest bag — he added a Day 2 bag of 18-9.

DiPalma caught a 5-pounder on the spillway spot around 10 a.m. and, after enduring a dry spell, he relocated to a spot on the lake’s southwest side. Targeting hyacinth mats, he flipped a Texas-rigged Senko with a 1/4-ounce weight.

“Around 12:30, I had hardly anything, and I decided to make a 30-mile run and I caught (most of my weight),” DiPalma said. “I decided, ‘It’s really important to get a limit.’

“It’s funny, the area I ran to, all I caught in practice was 12-inchers, but today, every one I caught was 3 to 3 1/2 pounds. It’s like the females pulled in. I’m super excited to have what I had, but tomorrow, I’m digging in and locking down in that area.”

Davis, of Sylacauga, Ala., is in third place with 39-5. His daily weights were 26-2 and 13-3.

After catching only a 2-pound, 4-ounce bass on the spillway spot, Davis left and fished a creek mouth not far from his starting area. On that second location, Davis caught two of his keepers on a swim jig and a jerkbait.

Returning to the spillway around 1 p.m., he added three more keepers — two on a jerkbait and one on a large crankbait. Looking ahead to Day 3, Davis said he may look at other areas of the spillway, but he may leave the main spot to Palaniuk.

“If I had caught 20 pounds there today, it would be different, but I’m going to respect the leaders,” he said. “If the roles were reversed, they would do the same for me.”

David Gaston of Sylacauga, Ala., is in the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors with an 11-8. Gaston’s catch is the largest fish caught at Lake Okeechobee in Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series history. That fish also ranks as the 10th biggest and the 75th double-digit bass in Elite Series history.

John Cox of Debary, Fla., leads the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 196 points. John Garrett of Union City, Tenn., is in second with 194, followed by Bill Lowen of Brookville, Ind., with 190, Gaston with 184 and Davis with 183.

Beau Browning of Hot Springs National Park, Ark., leads the Dakota Lithium Elite Series Rookie of the Year standings with 152 points.

Saturday’s takeoff is scheduled for 7 a.m. ET at C. Scott Driver Park. The weigh-in will be held at the park at 3 p.m.

Bassmaster LIVE will be streaming on Bassmaster.com, and coverage will also be available on FS1 on Saturday from 8-11 a.m. and Sunday from 8-10 a.m. Stay up-to-date on all tournament coverage at Bassmaster.com/how-to-watch/.

Visit Florida is hosting the event.

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Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.

Media Contact: Chad Gay, Communications Manager, 256-424-2390, cgay@bassmaster.com

2025 Champion Power Equipment Bassmaster Elite at Lake Okeechobee 2/27-3/2
Lake Okeechobee, Okeechobee FL.
Standings Day 2

Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$

1. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 10 58-01 104
Day 1: 5 23-07 Day 2: 5 34-10
2. Gregory DiPalma Millville, NJ 10 48-05 103 $500.00
Day 1: 5 29-12 Day 2: 5 18-09
3. Will Davis Jr Sylacauga, AL 10 39-05 102
Day 1: 5 26-02 Day 2: 5 13-03
4. Beau Browning Hot Springs National Pa 10 38-12 101
Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 5 25-12
5. David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 10 38-09 100 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-11 Day 2: 5 23-14
6. John Cox Debary, FL 10 37-10 99
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 25-04
7. Trey McKinney Carbondale, IL 10 35-07 98
Day 1: 5 21-00 Day 2: 5 14-07
8. Jason Christie Dry Creek, OK 10 34-04 97
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 20-12
9. Bob Downey Detroit Lakes, MN 10 33-12 96
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 5 21-13
10. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 10 33-10 95
Day 1: 5 19-15 Day 2: 5 13-11
11. Timothy Dube Nashua , NH 9 33-00 94
Day 1: 5 18-03 Day 2: 4 14-13
12. John Garrett Union City, TN 10 32-15 93
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 5 22-07
13. Jacob Foutz Charleston, TN 10 32-12 92
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 19-01
14. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 10 32-03 91
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 5 18-07
15. Cliff Pace Ovett, MS 10 31-13 90
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 21-04
16. Tyler Williams Belgrade, ME 10 31-05 89
Day 1: 5 14-06 Day 2: 5 16-15
17. Jake Whitaker Hendersonville, NC 10 31-03 88
Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 5 17-04
18. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 10 30-02 87
Day 1: 5 20-12 Day 2: 5 09-06
19. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 10 29-15 86
Day 1: 5 09-01 Day 2: 5 20-14
20. Kyoya Fujita Yamanashi CA JAPAN 10 29-15 85
Day 1: 5 18-00 Day 2: 5 11-15
21. Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA 10 29-11 84
Day 1: 5 16-12 Day 2: 5 12-15
22. Bryant Smith Roseville, CA 10 29-10 83
Day 1: 5 08-03 Day 2: 5 21-07
23. Lee Livesay Longview, TX 10 29-09 82
Day 1: 5 09-12 Day 2: 5 19-13
24. Patrick Walters Eutawville, SC 10 29-09 81
Day 1: 5 16-13 Day 2: 5 12-12
25. Jordan Lee Cullman, AL 10 29-09 80
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 14-05
26. Kyle Welcher Valley, AL 10 29-03 79
Day 1: 5 17-06 Day 2: 5 11-13
27. Cody Meyer Eagle, ID 10 28-15 78
Day 1: 5 20-03 Day 2: 5 08-12
28. Wes Logan Springville, AL 10 28-15 77
Day 1: 5 15-03 Day 2: 5 13-12
29. Cody Huff Ava, MO 10 28-07 76
Day 1: 5 14-14 Day 2: 5 13-09
30. Matty Wong Honolulu, HI 8 28-01 75
Day 1: 5 19-07 Day 2: 3 08-10
31. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 10 27-15 74
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 13-07
32. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 10 27-05 73 $500.00
Day 1: 5 16-11 Day 2: 5 10-10
33. Paul Marks Cumming, GA 10 26-15 72
Day 1: 5 14-15 Day 2: 5 12-00
34. KJ Queen Catawba, NC 10 26-14 71
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 12-14
35. Kyle Patrick Cooperstown, NY 10 26-11 70
Day 1: 5 16-09 Day 2: 5 10-02
36. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 10 25-12 69
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 12-01
37. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 10 25-11 68
Day 1: 5 14-15 Day 2: 5 10-12
38. Scott Canterbury Odenville, AL 10 25-00 67
Day 1: 5 17-12 Day 2: 5 07-04
39. Ray Hanselman Jr Del Rio, TX 10 24-14 66
Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 5 12-04
40. Jay Przekurat Plover, WI 10 24-12 65
Day 1: 5 17-04 Day 2: 5 07-08
41. Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 10 24-11 64
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 5 13-00
42. Cooper Gallant Bowmanville Ontario CAN 8 24-09 63
Day 1: 5 19-15 Day 2: 3 04-10
43. Bryan New Leesville, SC 8 24-09 62
Day 1: 3 06-00 Day 2: 5 18-09
44. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 10 24-04 61
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 10-15
45. Taku Ito Dalton GA JAPAN 10 24-02 60
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 5 10-05
46. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 10 24-02 59
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 10-07
47. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 10 24-02 58
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 12-13
48. Logan Parks Auburn, AL 10 23-13 57
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 5 11-15
49. Bryan Schmitt Deale, MD 10 23-10 56
Day 1: 5 09-08 Day 2: 5 14-02
50. Buddy Gross Chattanooga, TN 10 23-06 55
Day 1: 5 08-15 Day 2: 5 14-07
51. Evan Kung Pickering Ontario CANAD 10 23-06 54
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 09-15
52. Alex Redwine Blue Ash, OH 10 23-05 53
Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 5 10-02
53. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 10 23-04 52
Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 5 09-03
54. Dakota Ebare Brookeland, TX 10 22-12 51
Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 5 13-14
55. Cole Sands Johnson City, TN 10 22-12 50
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 5 11-01
56. Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 10 22-11 49
Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 5 08-12
57. Randy Howell Guntersville, AL 10 22-09 48
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 11-04
58. Brad Whatley Bivins, TX 10 22-04 47
Day 1: 5 09-02 Day 2: 5 13-02
59. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 10 22-02 46
Day 1: 5 09-12 Day 2: 5 12-06
60. Ben Milliken Omaha, NE 10 21-15 45
Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 5 08-09
61. Blake Capps Muskogee, OK 10 21-15 44
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 09-07
62. Jonathan Kelley Old Forge, PA 10 21-14 43
Day 1: 5 09-10 Day 2: 5 12-04
63. Tucker Smith Birmingham, AL 10 21-07 42
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 08-06
64. Robert Gee Knoxville, TN 10 21-05 41
Day 1: 5 05-07 Day 2: 5 15-14
65. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 8 21-05 40
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 3 08-03
66. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 10 21-03 39
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 09-13
67. Wesley Gore Clanton, AL 10 21-00 38
Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 5 08-05
68. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 10 20-14 37
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 5 10-14
69. Emil Wagner Marietta, GA 9 20-12 36
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 4 07-00
70. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 10 20-11 35
Day 1: 5 09-12 Day 2: 5 10-15
71. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 10 20-10 34
Day 1: 5 08-06 Day 2: 5 12-04
72. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 10 20-09 33
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 5 10-09
73. Seth Feider Elko New Market, MN 9 20-08 32
Day 1: 4 06-13 Day 2: 5 13-11
74. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 10 20-07 31
Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 5 08-14
75. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 10 20-06 30
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 5 09-06
76. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 10 20-04 29
Day 1: 5 05-04 Day 2: 5 15-00
77. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 10 20-03 28
Day 1: 5 09-10 Day 2: 5 10-09
78. Brandon Card Salisbury, NC 10 19-15 27
Day 1: 5 07-07 Day 2: 5 12-08
79. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 10 19-13 26
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 5 07-10
80. Matt Arey Shelby, NC 10 19-03 25
Day 1: 5 10-02 Day 2: 5 09-01
81. Jeff Gustafson Kenora, ON Ontario CANA 10 19-00 24
Day 1: 5 09-13 Day 2: 5 09-03
82. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 10 18-15 23
Day 1: 5 09-14 Day 2: 5 09-01
83. Joey Cifuentes III Clinton, AR 9 18-11 22
Day 1: 4 05-07 Day 2: 5 13-04
84. Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 10 18-11 21
Day 1: 5 08-10 Day 2: 5 10-01
85. Carl Jocumsen Queensland TN AUSTRALIA 9 18-04 20
Day 1: 4 11-07 Day 2: 5 06-13
86. Cory Johnston Otonabee CANADA 10 18-02 19
Day 1: 5 09-06 Day 2: 5 08-12
87. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 10 17-15 18
Day 1: 5 08-03 Day 2: 5 09-12
88. Andrew Loberg Guntersville, AL 9 17-13 17
Day 1: 4 07-06 Day 2: 5 10-07
89. Chad Pipkens Dewitt, MI 10 17-13 16
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 5 07-08
90. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 10 16-13 15
Day 1: 5 08-10 Day 2: 5 08-03
91. Austin Felix Eden Prairie, MN 10 16-10 14
Day 1: 5 07-04 Day 2: 5 09-06
92. Ed Loughran III Richmond, VA 10 16-08 13
Day 1: 5 07-07 Day 2: 5 09-01
93. Easton Fothergill Grand Rapids , MN 10 16-07 12
Day 1: 5 08-11 Day 2: 5 07-12
94. Jamie Hartman Newport, NY 8 16-00 11
Day 1: 3 06-00 Day 2: 5 10-00
95. Kenta Kimura Osaka OK JAPAN 10 15-15 10
Day 1: 5 09-13 Day 2: 5 06-02
96. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 8 15-08 9
Day 1: 3 04-15 Day 2: 5 10-09
97. Marc Frazier Newnan, GA 10 15-08 8
Day 1: 5 06-01 Day 2: 5 09-07
98. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 9 15-04 7
Day 1: 4 07-12 Day 2: 5 07-08
99. Logan Latuso Gonzales, LA 8 14-15 6
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 3 02-14
100. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 10 14-09 5
Day 1: 5 08-08 Day 2: 5 06-01
101. Alex Wetherell Middletown, CT 9 13-15 4
Day 1: 4 05-15 Day 2: 5 08-00
102. Chris Zaldain Boyd, TX 7 13-02 3
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 2 02-10
103. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
103. Scott Martin Clewiston, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Gregory DiPalma Millville, NJ 08-10 $500.00
1 Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 08-10 $500.00
2 David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 11-08 $1,000.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 93 498 1261-13
2 95 497 1253-05
----------------------------------
188 995 2515-02

by AnglersChannel

Key adjustment leads to victory for Milam and Dubose at Smith Lake

Feb. 27, 2025

CULLMAN, Ala. — Using lessons learned in their home state of Georgia, Daylon Milam and James Dubose from the University of Montevallo claimed the victory at the Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Smith Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops with a two-day total weighing 29 pounds, 14 ounces.

Milam and Dubose opened the tournament in 23rd place with 13-13 before rocketing up the leaderboard with 16-1 on Day 2. They edged out Stephen F. Austin’s Ben Burns and Grant Pursifull and their Montevallo teammates Brody Robison and Peyton Sorrow by 9 ounces.

“I’ve been watching Bassmaster all of my life, and to hold one of these trophies is something like I’ve never felt before,” Dubose said.

It is the sophomore duo’s second Top 15 finish of the year, adding this victory to their 13^th-place finish at Lake Okeechobee at the end of January.

“You have to have a lot go right (to win),” Milam said. “It was just our day, I guess.”

Smith Lake served as the second stop of the Lunkers Trail season, and anglers took advantage of the warming trend that spread over the southeast this week. In total, 293 limits were brought to the scales and over 4,200 pounds of bass were weighed in over two days.

Neither Milam nor Dubose had ever fished Smith Lake before this week's tournament, but their experiences fishing blueback herring lakes in their home state — notably Lake Lanier — helped them grasp what was happening on the Black River impoundment.

The Montevallo duo discovered their best area the first day of practice — a ¼-mile long stretch of docks in a creek they felt had the best water clarity. Docks with baitfish tended to produce the better-quality bass.

“There were a lot of people around us, but they weren’t doing the same thing we were,” Milam explained. “A lot of teams were out in the middle, and we felt like a lot of the bass were staging on the docks. The water temperature is rising, and we felt like they were staging and waiting for it to warm up a little more so they could go up and spawn.”

On the first day of the tournament, they caught the majority of their prespawn spotted bass by slowly rolling a 3.8 Keitech swimbait rigged on a ¼-ounce jighead by the floating docks. On Day 2, the bass would not touch the swimbait, so they began throwing brown ¼-ounce Spot Sticker casting jigs paired with a Spot Sticker Twin Tail grub trailer.

“It was important to use a ¼-ounce so it would fall slowly around the docks,” Milam added.

Dubose and Milam started Day 2 strong, filling out a solid limit by 9 a.m. While they weren’t catching many quality bass, Milam said they were confident they would eventually run into some bigger bass. Sure enough, they pulled up to one particular dock and saw three bass under it using their forward-facing sonar.

“I skipped my jig under there and the biggest bass of the group ate it,” Milam said. “That ended up being a 4.60 spotted bass.”

The duo searched for one more big bite the rest of the day, and around 2:30 p.m., they landed another 3 ½-pounder that gave them what they needed to seal the win.

“We really felt like we were one fish short,” Dubose said. “We were really nervous, though. We knew the weights were going to be tight and we knew we needed a little luck on our side to pull it off.”

Hailing from east Texas, Burns and Pursifull landed bags of 14-8 and 14-13 to finish in second place with a two-day total of 29-5. They anchored their Day 2 bag with a 4-pound spotted bass. The Stephen F. Austin team also finished fourth at the first event in the Lunkers Trail season at the Harris Chain of Lakes, putting them in position to secure the Team of the Year in the division.

“We didn’t have a good practice at all. We caught maybe seven or eight keepers,” Burns explained. “We came out a lot better than we thought we were going to, for sure. Since we did good at the Harris Chain, we are sitting up there for TOY now. It’s a pretty good finish.”

While Smith Lake looks much different than their home lakes of Sam Rayburn and Toledo Bend, Burns and Pursifull were able to utilize several of their favorite techniques this week. Using their forward-facing sonar, they targeted spotted bass setting up along main-lake breaks.

A 6th Sense Ozzie in the gizzard shad color rigged on either a ¼- or ½-ounce tungsten jighead produced the bulk of their catch.

“We tried to throw at as many bass as we could,” Burns said. “There would be wolfpacks that we could see in 20 feet of water, and then there were some floaters in 8 to 12 feet of water.”

Robison and Sorrow also finished the tournament with 29-5, landing bags of 14-13 and 14-8 respectively.

“It didn’t go as planned,” Sorrow said. “We fished by the seat of our pants and went with the flow. We didn’t stress when our fish disappeared. We sat back, put our heads together and just went fishing.”

After a productive practice fishing flat banks with shaky heads and jigs, the Montevallo duo was forced to move offshore during the tournament where they targeted spotted bass in ditches and drains. The most productive drains had a flat spot in the middle where the bass would set up. The ditches with baitfish ended up being the most productive.

Sorrow and Robison rotated through three different baits depending on how deep the bass were. A 4-inch or 5-inch Z-Man Scented Jerk ShadZ paired with a ½-ounce or ¾-ounce Queen Tackle Live Sonar tungsten jighead produced several key bites. A Neko-rigged Yamamoto Sensei Worm and a Zoom Trick Worm rigged on a ¼-ounce shaky head secured several bigger bites as well.

Tyler Chmelar and Kase Kramer from Tarleton State University caught the Big Bass of the Tournament, a 5-9 spotted bass that anchored their Day 1 bag.

The Top 10% of the field punched their tickets to the 2025 Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops, details of which will be announced at a later date.

New for 2025, the top two highest-finishing teams in the Strike King Bassmaster College Series Bass Pro Shops Team of the Year race as well as each team that stands atop the rankings in the Legends and Lunkers divisions of the College Series will receive the exclusive honor of being named a Bassmaster College All-American. The All-Americans will be honored on the biggest stage in bass fishing, the 2026 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.

Visit Cullman 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: Toyota
2025 Bassmaster College Series Premier Sponsors: Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Progressive Insurance, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2025 Bassmaster College Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Marathon, Triton Boats, VMC

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.

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Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.

Media Contact: Chad Gay, Communications Manager, 256-313-0945, cgay@bassmaster.com

2025 Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Smith Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops 2/26-2/27
Smith Lake, Cullman AL.
Standings Day 2

Angler Club/School Pts

1. Daylon Milam - James Dubose University of Montevallo 250
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 5 16-01 Total: 10 29-14
2. Ben Burns - Grant Pursifull Stephen F Austin State Universit 249
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 14-13 Total: 10 29-05
2. Brody Robison - Peyton Sorrow University of Montevallo 249
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 5 14-08 Total: 10 29-05
4. John Michael Ortman - Max Heaton Emmanuel College 247
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 5 15-04 Total: 10 29-00
5. Garrett Smith - Andrew Blanton Lander University 246
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 5 14-00 Total: 10 28-13
6. Anderson Jones - Lander University 245
Day 1: 5 16-10 Day 2: 5 11-14 Total: 10 28-08
7. Harrison Terry - Jordan Hampton Bethel University 244
Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 5 13-09 Total: 10 27-13
8. Connor Green - Peter West Faulkner University 243
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 5 15-14 Total: 10 27-09
9. Connor Hall - Carson Belville McKendree University 242
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 5 15-11 Total: 10 27-09
10. Nick Dumke - Connor Bell University of Montevallo 241
Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 5 14-12 Total: 10 27-09
11. Cole Hadlock - Jackson Kulijof Murray State University 240
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 14-08 Total: 10 27-09
12. Wyatt Pearman - Ridge Rutledge Campbellsville University 239
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 13-08 Total: 10 27-08
13. Trace Antunes III - Garrett Ring University of Montevallo 238
Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 5 13-05 Total: 10 27-06
14. Adrian Urso - Corbin Templon Murray State University 237
Day 1: 4 09-05 Day 2: 5 17-12 Total: 9 27-01
15. Jeff Giffen - Cooper Gilroy University of Alabama 236
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 14-00 Total: 10 27-01
16. Jaxson Freeman - Evan Sutton McKendree University 235
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 5 12-09 Total: 10 27-00
17. Michael Markham - Kolby Angell University of Montevallo 234
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 5 13-14 Total: 10 27-00
18. Brendin Simich - Benjamin Travis Auburn University 233
Day 1: 5 15-02 Day 2: 5 11-12 Total: 10 26-14
19. Christian Moore - Tarleton State University 232
Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 5 12-12 Total: 10 26-13
20. Braden Cox - Cameron Smith Ohio State University 231
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 5 14-08 Total: 10 26-11
21. Ethan Fields - McKendree University 230
Day 1: 5 15-02 Day 2: 5 11-08 Total: 10 26-10
22. Peyton Harris - Dalton Head University of Montevallo 229
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 5 11-12 Total: 10 26-09
23. Reece Keeney - Brantley Anders Kentucky Christian University 228
Day 1: 5 14-11 Day 2: 5 11-13 Total: 10 26-08
24. Tucker McCoy - Skipper Stallings University Of Montevallo 227
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 11-15 Total: 10 26-07
25. Levi Kohl - Grant Meisenhelter Murray State University 226
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 13-08 Total: 10 26-06
26. Ryan Lachniet - Carter Doren Campbellsville University 225
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 5 12-09 Total: 10 26-03
27. Karsten Raney - Brayson Claunch Campbellsville University 224
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 12-14 Total: 10 26-02
28. Carty Shoen - Tyler Swan Auburn University 223
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 5 12-15 Total: 10 26-01
29. Brett Hill - Brayden Hoehn Campbellsville University 222
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 13-09 Total: 10 26-00
30. Cameron Dials - Ethan Burnette Kentucky Christian University 221
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 5 11-10 Total: 10 25-15
31. Kyle Hopping - Kai Barnett McKendree University 220
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 12-10 Total: 10 25-14
32. Cody Domingos - Jackson Paden University of Tennessee 219
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 5 15-05 Total: 10 25-13
33. Tyler Leachman - Murray State University 218
Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 5 12-09 Total: 10 25-12
34. Matthew Wilson - Gus Dietrich University of Alabama 217
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 13-00 Total: 10 25-12
35. Scooter Ligon Jr - Levi Seagraves Emmanuel College 216
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 12-05 Total: 10 25-10
36. Brock Blazier - Colby Joseph Campbellsville University 215
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 5 11-13 Total: 10 25-06
37. Braxon Hightower - Luke Wenger Dallas Baptist University 214
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 11-14 Total: 10 25-06
38. Corey Morris - Brayden Mercer East Texas Baptist University 213
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 13-13 Total: 10 25-03
39. Coleman Stewart - Keenan Stewart Campbellsville University 212
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 12-05 Total: 10 25-03
40. Brice Hudler - Roy Crush IV Texas A&M University 211
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 12-11 Total: 10 25-03
41. Bryant Martin - William Tew LSU - Shreveport 210
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 5 13-02 Total: 10 25-02
42. Austin Denmark - Matthew Bennett Faulkner University 209
Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 5 12-07 Total: 10 25-02
43. Brett Jolley Jr. - Carson Stevens East Texas Baptist University 208
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 11-13 Total: 10 25-01
44. Charlie Wright - Logan Plueger University of Montevallo 207
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 13-10 Total: 10 25-00
45. Maxwell Trotter - Chase Logue McKendree University 206
Day 1: 4 08-13 Day 2: 5 16-01 Total: 9 24-14
46. Tyler Morris - Hunter Hamilton LSU - Shreveport 205
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 10-14 Total: 10 24-14
47. Matthew Dettling - Mason Thompson University of Tennessee 204
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 5 10-07 Total: 10 24-12
48. Brogan Gregg - Tyler Conrad Wabash Valley College 203
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 13-00 Total: 10 24-07
49. Syler Prince - Parker Stalvey St Johns River State College 202
Day 1: 5 14-06 Day 2: 5 10-00 Total: 10 24-06
50. Mason Kornegay - Miller Dowling University of Montevallo 201
Day 1: 5 09-10 Day 2: 5 14-11 Total: 10 24-05
51. Clayton Greer - Aiden Larson Georgia College 200
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 5 13-05 Total: 10 24-05
52. Hunter Keller - Wes Smith II Catawba Valley Community College 199
Day 1: 5 14-02 Day 2: 5 10-02 Total: 10 24-04
53. Dalton Phelps - Peyton Rose Wabash Valley College 198
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 11-11 Total: 10 24-01
53. Triston Richardson - Johnny Hudson Jr LSU - Shreveport 198
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 11-11 Total: 10 24-01
55. Evan Fields - Noah Dabney Campbellsville University 196
Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 5 11-00 Total: 10 24-00
56. Lane Pohlman - Gabe Amburgey Campbellsville University 195
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 5 12-04 Total: 10 24-00
57. Trent Gilmore - Jack Alexander University of Montevallo 194
Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 5 09-15 Total: 10 23-14
58. Lane Stephens - Jack Stephens McKendree University 193
Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 5 10-13 Total: 10 23-13
59. Jake Peck - Luke Wyle Auburn University 192
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 12-15 Total: 10 23-13
60. Will Oberman - Clay Oberman Campbellsville University 191
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 5 10-00 Total: 10 23-12
61. Will Baker - Hayden Cooper Moltow State Community College 190
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 5 11-08 Total: 10 23-10
62. Ryan Doel - Missouri State University 189
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 11-01 Total: 10 23-09
63. Parker Lambert - Will Hammond Lander University 188
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 11-01 Total: 10 23-08
64. Caleb Neu - Anthony Cicero IV Bethel University 187
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 5 11-09 Total: 10 23-07
65. Grant McCraney - Faulkner University 186
Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 5 10-11 Total: 10 23-04
66. Allen Powe - Jonathan Combs Campbellsville University 185
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 5 12-04 Total: 10 23-04
67. Jackson Smith - Ely Hagans Bethel University 184
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 11-13 Total: 10 23-04
68. Wilson York - Matthew Tucker JC Calhoun Community College 183
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 10-09 Total: 10 23-01
69. Xander Patton - Stephen Brooks Emmanuel College 182
Day 1: 5 09-12 Day 2: 5 13-04 Total: 10 23-00
70. Hunter Russell - Richard Skiff Wabash Valley College 181
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 5 11-04 Total: 10 23-00
71. Logan East - Victor Alford Tennessee Wesleyan University 180
Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 5 10-05 Total: 10 22-14
72. Easton Bouma - Zachary Ward Drury University 179
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 10-13 Total: 10 22-14
73. Noah Wright - Bennett Matheny University of Alabama 178
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 11-01 Total: 10 22-14
74. Fisher Britt - Carson Yero University of Montevallo 177
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 5 11-10 Total: 10 22-14
75. Blair Erickson - Jackson Pontius University of Montevallo 176
Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 5 10-01 Total: 10 22-12
76. Alex Wood - Joe Williams Missouri State University 175
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 10-06 Total: 10 22-12
77. Bryce Kindell - Oklahoma State University 174
Day 1: 5 12-05 Day 2: 5 10-06 Total: 10 22-11
78. Sam Semper - Sonny Mann Tarleton State University 173
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 5 10-09 Total: 10 22-11
79. Jack Carroll - Tucker Dottley Bethel University 172
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 11-15 Total: 10 22-08
80. Jack Gano - Cole Muenzer Southwestern Michigan College 171
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 12-00 Total: 10 22-06
81. Brayden Stoker - Tucker Kendall Tarleton State University 170
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 5 11-09 Total: 10 22-06
82. Tyler Chmelar - Kase Kramer Tarleton State University 169
Day 1: 5 15-01 Day 2: 3 07-02 Total: 8 22-03
83. Brooks Parker - Briggs Alavezos University of Montevallo 168
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 4 07-13 Total: 9 22-02
84. Carter Smith - Ross Deters Wabash Valley College 167
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 5 11-08 Total: 10 21-13
85. Walker Griffith - Brady Mccamy Snead State Community College 166
Day 1: 5 10-07 Day 2: 5 11-06 Total: 10 21-13
86. Logan Greeno - Matthew Nichols University of Nebraska 165
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 5 11-12 Total: 10 21-12
87. Blair Cox - Grant Simmons Missouri State University 164
Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 5 10-00 Total: 10 21-09
88. Noah Trant - Evan Howe Northwestern State University 163
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 5 10-02 Total: 10 21-06
89. Brennan Berglund - Colton White University of Montevallo 162
Day 1: 3 06-12 Day 2: 5 14-09 Total: 8 21-05
90. Caden Pearson - Ty Leak Wabash Valley College 161
Day 1: 5 10-02 Day 2: 5 11-03 Total: 10 21-05
91. Gage Starks - Jack Thompson Murray State University 160
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 5 10-13 Total: 10 21-05
92. Wes Kinard - Sam Hatcher University of Alabama 159
Day 1: 5 08-13 Day 2: 5 12-07 Total: 10 21-04
93. Bryson Dotson - Christian Misciagna Tennessee Wesleyan University 158
Day 1: 5 09-15 Day 2: 5 11-05 Total: 10 21-04
94. Connor Dunn - Caden Denny Texas A&M University 157
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 09-10 Total: 10 21-01
95. Braden Lankford - Tityn Miller Murray State College 156
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 5 10-01 Total: 10 21-00
96. Colten Drawdy - Hunter Shelton Bethel University 155
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 5 11-08 Total: 10 20-15
97. Sam Ausbrooks - Eli Jaime Wabash Valley College 154
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 5 08-11 Total: 10 20-14
98. Tyler Madden - Kyle Knoll Auburn University 153
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 10-05 Total: 10 20-14
99. Jase White - Brady Horton Drury University 152
Day 1: 5 09-02 Day 2: 5 11-10 Total: 10 20-12
100. Colby Carrier - Justin Frey Bethel University 151
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 5 10-15 Total: 10 20-10
101. Hilary Sue Martin - Jack Wilson University of Alabama 150
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 5 09-08 Total: 10 20-09
102. Trey McMeen - Dylan Armstrong East Texas Baptist University 149
Day 1: 5 12-05 Day 2: 4 07-14 Total: 9 20-03
103. Barrett Bennefield - Mason Mccormick LSU - Shreveport 148
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 4 10-03 Total: 9 20-03
104. Shaden Farley - Sam Sutter Murray State College 147
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 4 08-03 Total: 9 19-14
105. Alex Avery - Christian Bales Murray State University 146
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 08-14 Total: 10 19-12
106. Parker Womack - Zayne Niziol Dallas Baptist University 145
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 4 07-12 Total: 9 19-08
107. Cole Pickett - Dawson Cowden Northwestern State University 144
Day 1: 5 08-05 Day 2: 5 11-03 Total: 10 19-08
108. Nathan Preston - Evan Conn Auburn University 143
Day 1: 5 09-02 Day 2: 5 10-06 Total: 10 19-08
109. Ryan Foster - Colton Hill McKendree University 142
Day 1: 4 06-15 Day 2: 5 12-08 Total: 9 19-07
110. Jack Dill - Luca Palermo Clemson University 141
Day 1: 5 09-12 Day 2: 5 09-11 Total: 10 19-07
111. Hunter Sandschafer - Connor Becker Wabash Valley College 140
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 5 09-06 Total: 10 19-06
112. Stone Smith - Drake Wadsworth Northwestern State University 139
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 5 09-13 Total: 10 19-06
113. Malcolm Patton II - Jordan Brewer Auburn University 138
Day 1: 5 08-15 Day 2: 5 10-04 Total: 10 19-03
114. Paul Baker - Chandler Cook Auburn University 137
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 5 08-12 Total: 10 19-00
115. Mason George - Carter Maples Snead State Community College 136
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 5 09-08 Total: 10 18-12
116. Levi Thibodaux - Miles Smith LSU - Shreveport 135
Day 1: 3 06-04 Day 2: 5 12-06 Total: 8 18-10
117. Patrick Monahan - Caleb White Murray State University 134
Day 1: 3 06-07 Day 2: 5 12-00 Total: 8 18-07
118. Coleman Bingham - Bethel University 133
Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 5 08-02 Total: 10 18-05
119. Connor Foreman - Joe Krejci Texas A&M University 132
Day 1: 3 05-15 Day 2: 5 12-05 Total: 8 18-04
120. Clay Henderson - Brant Rowland Drury University 131
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 3 06-07 Total: 8 18-04
121. Ian Carter - Nevan Osburn LSU - Shreveport 130
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 4 06-13 Total: 9 18-04
122. Christian Boyd - Luke Ray Shelton State Community College 129
Day 1: 3 07-08 Day 2: 5 10-11 Total: 8 18-03
123. Jonathan Fitch - Joe Bob Burchett Kentucky Christian University 128
Day 1: 5 10-07 Day 2: 4 07-12 Total: 9 18-03
124. Nathan Finch - Parker Mckee Faulkner University 127
Day 1: 5 08-07 Day 2: 5 09-11 Total: 10 18-02
125. Sawyer Williams - Bethel University 126
Day 1: 3 06-05 Day 2: 5 11-10 Total: 8 17-15
126. Michael Gammons - Colby Elliott Emmanuel College 125
Day 1: 2 05-01 Day 2: 5 12-11 Total: 7 17-12
127. Stone Grove - Bethel University 124
Day 1: 4 07-15 Day 2: 5 09-13 Total: 9 17-12
128. Stone Robertson - Carter Martin University of Tennessee 123
Day 1: 3 05-02 Day 2: 5 12-09 Total: 8 17-11
129. Andrew Oswalt - Evan Mabrey University of Montevallo 122
Day 1: 3 07-05 Day 2: 5 10-05 Total: 8 17-10
130. Easton Booth - Wesley Garner Enterprise State Community Colle 121
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 3 06-08 Total: 8 17-08
131. Zach Pocos - Tucker Siminak McKendree University 120
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 4 08-04 Total: 9 17-08
132. Dustin Michek - Josh Morrow University of Wisconsin - Platte 119
Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 3 06-05 Total: 8 17-07
133. Michael Canonica - Seth Proctor University of Tennessee 118
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 2 04-14 Total: 7 17-06
134. Emerson Petty - Jaxon Humphrey Tennessee Wesleyan University 117
Day 1: 3 07-11 Day 2: 5 09-11 Total: 8 17-06
135. Archer Smith - Nathan Kallstrand Murray State University 116
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 3 05-03 Total: 8 17-05
136. Hayes Pate - Garrett Sullivan Faulkner University 115
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 2 05-01 Total: 7 17-01
137. Reece Knight - Sean Baugh Snead State Community College 114
Day 1: 4 08-02 Day 2: 5 08-15 Total: 9 17-01
138. Landon Robbins - Will Eriksson University of Tennessee 113
Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 3 05-07 Total: 8 17-00
139. Kaden Raichel - Luke Davis University of Montevallo 112
Day 1: 4 11-03 Day 2: 2 05-12 Total: 6 16-15
140. Dawson Hendrix - Henry Fleddermann McKendree University 111
Day 1: 5 09-10 Day 2: 3 07-05 Total: 8 16-15
141. Cade Lipham - Caleb Coleman Drury University 110
Day 1: 5 09-00 Day 2: 4 07-15 Total: 9 16-15
142. Jacob Highley - Kentucky Christian University 109
Day 1: 5 09-13 Day 2: 3 06-14 Total: 8 16-11
143. Andrew Sell - Missouri State University 108
Day 1: 4 06-11 Day 2: 5 09-15 Total: 9 16-10
144. Aaron McGill - Trey Woliver University of Tennessee 107
Day 1: 5 09-06 Day 2: 4 07-04 Total: 9 16-10
145. Breckett Long - Cooper Mayes Texas A&M University 106
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 3 06-02 Total: 8 16-07
146. Michael Raymer - Grayden Scibilia Bethel University 105
Day 1: 3 05-00 Day 2: 5 11-06 Total: 8 16-06
147. Cade Smith - Axel Pierce Murray State College 104
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 3 05-08 Total: 8 16-06
148. Mark Bixler - Ty Reynolds Murray State University 103
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 3 05-12 Total: 8 16-05
149. Karson Denton - Hayden Hurst Tarleton State University 102
Day 1: 4 06-15 Day 2: 5 09-05 Total: 9 16-04
150. Dawson Lynch - John Mizell Tarleton State University 101
Day 1: 3 05-05 Day 2: 5 10-12 Total: 8 16-01
151. Wesley Macdonald - Mississippi State University 100
Day 1: 3 06-09 Day 2: 5 09-08 Total: 8 16-01
152. Trevor Alexander - Fletch Titus Missouri State University 99
Day 1: 4 06-14 Day 2: 5 09-02 Total: 9 16-00
153. Camden Kozikoski - Dayne Kobriger Drury University 98
Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 2 04-12 Total: 7 15-14
154. Atlan Pfluger - Cade Johnson Texas A&M University 97
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 3 05-13 Total: 8 15-08
155. Grant Gale - Tarleton State University 96
Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 3 05-06 Total: 8 15-07
156. Alex Standerfer - Dustin Swafford Catawba Valley Community College 95
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 2 03-13 Total: 7 15-05
157. Logan Ware - Conner Pickens Southwestern Michigan College 94
Day 1: 4 11-07 Day 2: 2 03-14 Total: 6 15-05
158. Caden Cardoza - Greyson Brock University of Tennessee 93
Day 1: 2 04-00 Day 2: 5 11-04 Total: 7 15-04
159. Luke Rokavec - Braden Fairbanks Campbellsville University 92
Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 2 05-00 Total: 7 15-03
160. Trevor Johnston - Ashton Hehr Texas A&M University 91
Day 1: 2 03-05 Day 2: 5 11-11 Total: 7 15-00
161. Dillan Mcglothern - Nick Claussen Webber International 90
Day 1: 3 04-15 Day 2: 5 10-00 Total: 8 14-15
162. Noah Lieberman - Jacob Hiebsch Missouri State University 89
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 3 04-10 Total: 8 14-14
163. Hayden Short - Dylan Mcgee Kentucky Christian University 88
Day 1: 2 03-06 Day 2: 5 11-05 Total: 7 14-11
164. Ben Puckett - Collin Foley Mississippi State University 87
Day 1: 1 01-08 Day 2: 5 13-02 Total: 6 14-10
165. Grant Harris - Tyler Eggers Catawba Valley Community College 86
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 3 04-15 Total: 8 14-08
166. Joshua Roberts - Braylin Lewis Faulkner University 85
Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 3 05-09 Total: 8 14-07
167. Ethan Powell - Aidan Casey Texas A&M University 84
Day 1: 4 06-12 Day 2: 4 07-10 Total: 8 14-06
168. David Gummow - Coleman Self Bethel University 83
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 1 01-15 Total: 6 14-02
169. Cole Edwards - Brody Mitchell University of Montevallo 82
Day 1: 2 05-00 Day 2: 4 09-01 Total: 6 14-01
170. Caleb Johnston - Colin Cosenza Northwestern State University 81
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 1 01-08 Total: 6 13-11
171. Nathan Fideldy - Noah Wells Drury University 80
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 2 03-03 Total: 7 13-11
172. Matthew Parrish - Drew Moss Auburn University 79
Day 1: 1 02-05 Day 2: 5 11-05 Total: 6 13-10
173. Cody Tiemann - Luke Salvail JC Calhoun Community College 78
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 2 03-08 Total: 7 13-08
174. Willem Van Der Heijden - Jack Middlebrook Tarleton State University 77
Day 1: 5 09-13 Day 2: 2 03-09 Total: 7 13-06
175. Delaney Platt - Ryan Olsen Wabash Valley College 76
Day 1: 5 09-03 Day 2: 2 03-12 Total: 7 12-15
176. Jeffrey Jones - Nickolas Illobre Bethel University 75
Day 1: 2 03-15 Day 2: 4 08-14 Total: 6 12-13
177. Kyle Smith - Kentucky Christian University 74
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 1 01-11 Total: 6 12-11
178. Zane Stroman - Dylan Benson East Texas Baptist University 73
Day 1: 1 01-15 Day 2: 5 10-06 Total: 6 12-05
179. Gavin Robinson - Bennett Mcbride Tarleton State University 72
Day 1: 4 07-01 Day 2: 3 05-00 Total: 7 12-01
180. Tyler Dubois - Joseph Senn Bethel University 71
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 11-13 Total: 5 11-13
181. Luke Iles - Hunter Greer III Northwestern State University 70
Day 1: 2 03-11 Day 2: 4 08-02 Total: 6 11-13
182. Nathan Baldwin - Thomas Avery University of Alabama 69
Day 1: 4 07-12 Day 2: 2 04-01 Total: 6 11-13
183. Evan Mccormick - Cole Sampson McKendree University 68
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 11-12 Total: 5 11-12
184. Will Gordon - Will Burch Murray State University 67
Day 1: 3 05-08 Day 2: 3 06-04 Total: 6 11-12
185. Luke Bennett - Tarleton State University 66
Day 1: 3 06-06 Day 2: 3 05-05 Total: 6 11-11
186. Ryan Pero - Tucker Evans Stephen F Austin State Universit 65
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 11-10
187. Wilson Bennett - Luke Abston Auburn University 64
Day 1: 1 01-13 Day 2: 5 09-09 Total: 6 11-06
188. Josh Richardson - Nathan Vahle University of Nebraska 63
Day 1: 5 09-08 Day 2: 1 01-12 Total: 6 11-04
189. Braci Ault - Brody Ault Purdue University 62
Day 1: 3 04-15 Day 2: 2 05-13 Total: 5 10-12
190. Dillon Robertshaw - Jake Mantovani Missouri State University 61
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 10-09
191. Will Boyd Jr - Florida Gateway College 60
Day 1: 1 02-08 Day 2: 3 08-00 Total: 4 10-08
192. Max Newkirk - Murray State University 59
Day 1: 5 00-00 Day 2: 5 10-06 Total: 10 10-06
193. Jordan Bezold - Joe Bezold Northern Kentucky University 58
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 10-06 Total: 5 10-06
194. Isaac Patrick - Braylon Carden Catawba Valley Community College 57
Day 1: 4 08-15 Day 2: 1 01-05 Total: 5 10-04
195. Hunter Stuart - Ryan Rhodes Tarleton State University 56
Day 1: 2 03-06 Day 2: 3 06-13 Total: 5 10-03
196. Palmer Parrish - Clemson University 55
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 09-14 Total: 5 09-14
197. Harmon Marien - Mason Darling McKendree University 54
Day 1: 5 09-12 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 09-12
198. Caden Bunney - Ryan Mizee Oklahoma State University 53
Day 1: 3 05-06 Day 2: 1 03-14 Total: 4 09-04
199. Colton Odom - William Gully Auburn University 52
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 09-02 Total: 5 09-02
200. Parker Welch - Angelo Malek McKendree University 51
Day 1: 3 05-08 Day 2: 2 03-10 Total: 5 09-02
201. Jackson Wyatt - Tyler Gentry Texas A&M University 50
Day 1: 5 09-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 09-00
202. Luka Strepacki - Hampton Smith Jr. University of Tennessee 49
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 4 07-04 Total: 5 09-00
203. Anna Kay - Briley Mills Emmanuel College 48
Day 1: 3 06-05 Day 2: 1 02-08 Total: 4 08-13
204. Carson Owen - Dylan Reed Murray State College 47
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 4 08-09 Total: 4 08-09
205. Landon O'Connor - Stephen F Austin State Universit 46
Day 1: 3 08-09 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 08-09
206. Carson Floyd - Jarred Bodine Snead State Community College 45
Day 1: 2 03-10 Day 2: 2 04-07 Total: 4 08-01
207. Aiden Hamblin - Tarleton State University 44
Day 1: 2 04-00 Day 2: 2 03-15 Total: 4 07-15
208. Mason Lyons - Logan Howarter Kentucky Christian University 43
Day 1: 2 04-08 Day 2: 2 03-05 Total: 4 07-13
209. Colby Ullery - Matthew Poss Faulkner University 42
Day 1: 3 06-04 Day 2: 1 01-08 Total: 4 07-12
210. Hayden Peck - Tennessee Wesleyan University 41
Day 1: 3 05-06 Day 2: 1 02-05 Total: 4 07-11
211. Turner Barksdale - Jared Walters Shelton State Community College 40
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 3 05-12 Total: 4 07-08
212. James Broderick - Camden Romero Mississippi State University 39
Day 1: 3 05-14 Day 2: 1 01-09 Total: 4 07-07
213. Hunter Nipper - Reese Wade Shelton State Community College 38
Day 1: 1 03-09 Day 2: 2 03-13 Total: 3 07-06
214. Peyton Bryant - Brezlyn Hightower Murray State College 37
Day 1: 2 03-12 Day 2: 2 03-09 Total: 4 07-05
215. Anderson Keim - Adam Hyder Clemson University 36
Day 1: 2 03-13 Day 2: 1 02-15 Total: 3 06-12
216. Skyler Stevens - Brier Hardy Faulkner University 35
Day 1: 2 03-09 Day 2: 1 02-12 Total: 3 06-05
217. Parker Phillips - Mac Bowman Auburn University 34
Day 1: 2 04-07 Day 2: 1 01-13 Total: 3 06-04
218. Logan Carter - Caleb Martinez Motlow State Community College 33
Day 1: 1 02-01 Day 2: 2 03-14 Total: 3 05-15
219. Cooper Crowell - Sam Taylor Stephen F Austin State Universit 32
Day 1: 3 05-13 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 05-13
220. Braydon Kelley - Noah Parrish East Texas Baptist University 31
Day 1: 1 01-15 Day 2: 2 03-13 Total: 3 05-12
221. Peter Bourgeois - Joseph Brown Dallas Baptist University 30
Day 1: 2 04-04 Day 2: 1 01-07 Total: 3 05-11
222. Zach Thompson - John Whetter Oklahoma State University 29
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 05-09 Total: 3 05-09
223. Logan Clark - Hunter Stuckey East Texas Baptist University 28
Day 1: 1 02-13 Day 2: 1 02-06 Total: 2 05-03
224. Jack Clancy - Samuel Spraberry University of Tennessee 27
Day 1: 3 04-13 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 04-13
225. Hampton Shull - Lander University 26
Day 1: 2 04-09 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 04-09
226. Will Hadley - Blayne Leeman Kentucky Christian University 25
Day 1: 2 04-04 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 04-04
227. Adam Barinowski - John Ingram Georgia College 24
Day 1: 2 03-14 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 03-14
228. Avery Merrow - Mason Stidwill Southwestern Michigan College 23
Day 1: 1 01-06 Day 2: 1 02-03 Total: 2 03-09
229. Jacob Webb - Cabe Mackey Catawba Valley Community College 22
Day 1: 2 02-14 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 02-14
230. Mitch Johnson - Kentucky Christian University 21
Day 1: 1 02-03 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 02-03
231. Trenton Underwood - Lane Grogan Northeastern State University 20
Day 1: 2 01-15 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 01-15
232. Ty Kreis - University of Nebraska 19
Day 1: 1 01-13 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 01-13
232. Matthew Qualich - Liam Bonnett McKendree University 19
Day 1: 1 01-13 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 01-13
234. Garrett Huddleston - Riley Voltz Auburn University 17
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 01-12
235. Wyatt Loving - Kenny Price Stephen F Austin State Universit 16
Day 1: 1 01-10 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 01-10
235. Colin Oldfield - Southwestern Michigan College 16
Day 1: 1 01-10 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 01-10
237. Elizabeth Eastman - Ethan Powell Auburn University 14
Day 1: 1 01-09 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 01-09
237. Reagan Mills - Luke Wilson Auburn University 14
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-09 Total: 1 01-09
239. Farren Todd III - Brady Cornwell Northeastern State University 12
Day 1: 1 01-08 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 01-08
240. Tyler Gunter - Mason Sills Catawba Valley Community College 11
Day 1: 1 01-03 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 01-03
241. Fisher Edwards - Drew Bates Georgia College 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
241. Chris Fallon - Briar Dodson University of Montevallo 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
241. Pete Johnson - Tanner Wolf Southwestern Michigan College 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
241. Dalton Langner - Charlie Pennington University of Alabama 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
241. Kaden Mueck - Stephen F Austin State Universit 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
241. Jordan Simpson - Jacob Keller University of Florida 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
241. Grason Turnbull IV - Robert Montgomery Auburn University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
241. Elijah Walker - Thomas Skelton Auburn University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
241. Reese Walters - Connor Amberger University of Alabama 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
241. Will Weischwill - Cade Dornburg Texas A&M University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
241. Michael Zanglin - Carter Stambelos Auburn University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
BIG BASS OF TOURN
Tyler Chmelar Stephenville, TX 05-09 $0.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 151 949 2148-07
2 142 902 2052-06
----------------------------------
293 1851 4200-13

by AnglersChannel

Key spot delivers DiPalma’s lead in Bassmaster Elite at Lake Okeechobee

Feb. 27, 2025

OKEECHOBEE, Fla. — Greg DiPalma of Millville, N.J., believes Lake Okeechobee may be one of the nation’s least-explored bass fisheries, but he did his best to change that by sacking up a limit of 29 pounds, 12 ounces to lead Day 1 of the Champion Power Equipment Bassmaster Elite at this Florida powerhouse.

Fishing an atypical area that he found during practice, DiPalma heads into Day 2 with a lead of 3-10 over Will Davis Jr.

“Me and Will were sitting side-by-side, which was pretty special,” DiPalma said. “There were four of us in one area and we all had (big) bags.

“It was an absolutely incredible day. To be leading one of these, to be honest with you, it’s about time! It feels good. It’s gonna feel really good if I can maintain it.”

As DiPalma explained, recent years have seen high water levels choke out much of the Lake Okeechobee vegetation that once created vast bass habitat. With the obvious targets heavily pressured, he knew he needed to find something unique.

“This is probably the most unlocked lake in the country, to be honest with you, because everybody beats the bank here and nobody really goes out in the lake and looks for anything,” DiPalma said. “I think there are key areas in this lake if you can find them, and that was one of them.

“There’s not a lot of contour where we’re fishing, and this is the only area that has a little high spot where they can pull up and feed. I’m guessing maybe that’s part of it. It does have some current flowing through there — not a lot, just a little bit at times.”

DiPalma said his key area has the dingy water tone common to much of the lake. The high point rose to about 4 feet from surrounding depths of 10.

“The key was working together with the other anglers,” DiPalma said. “We just laughed and giggled and caught fish all day.”

Noting that he leaned on a trio of baits to amass his leading weight, DiPalma said he’s eager to give his spot another shot on Day 2.

“There’s definitely some fish in the area; I just hope they stay where they’re at so I can catch them again tomorrow,” DiPalma said.

Hailing from Sylacauga, Ala., Davis is in second place with 26-2. The spot he shared with DiPalma, as well as third-place Brandon Palaniuk, comprised the ideal coming-and-going scenario.

“There’s a lot of hyacinth mats and deep water close to it,” Davis said. “It was just the perfect storm; it was a postspawn/prespawn-type place. There’s a lot of bait in the area.

“There’s more fish around, but they got really educated with (several) of us jacking on them. We might pull up there tomorrow and not get a bite, but if we do, I think the quality is there, and I think we’re going to do good.”

Davis said he threw a mix of moving baits and slower presentations. He caught keepers on both styles.

Looking ahead to Day 2, Davis said he’s comfortable again sharing water with his fellow competitors. In his view, the proximity enhanced the experience.

“It was a blessed day; there was a couple of us fishing around one another and we worked really well together,” Davis said. “It was one of those days you dream about. It was awesome to catch those Okeechobee giants.”

Palaniuk, who makes his home in Rathdrum, Idaho, is in third place with 23-7. In his opinion, the day’s shared productivity was a pleasant surprise.

“It was pretty obvious that we all knew what was going on, but I don’t think any of us knew what was there,” Palaniuk said. “Each one of us caught a big one there in practice and then left. Today, we go to show what it was capable of, but it’s not lights-out.

“I had six bites, Greg might’ve had seven or eight and Will had like seven. It seemed like one guy would get a hot hand.”

Describing a junk-fishing scenario that required each of the neighboring anglers to rotate through several different baits, Palaniuk said he caught his fish on four different baits. Combining camaraderie with competition fueled the necessary cooperation.

“The thing that I’ve learned over the past 15 years is (sharing a spot requires) communication,” Palaniuk said. “The fish catches were special, but being able to work with fellow competitors was pretty amazing.”

DiPalma and Brandon Cobb of Greenwood, S.C., share the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors, each with bass weighing 8-10.

Jay Przekurat of Plover, Wis., leads the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 194 points. Patrick Walters of Eutawville, S.C., is in second with 186, followed by Davis with 184, Shane LeHew of Catawba, N.C., with 180, and 2024 Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year Chris Johnston of Otonabee, Canada, with 179.

Evan Kung of Pickering, Canada, leads the Dakota Lithium Elite Series Rookie of the Year standings with 156 points.

Friday’s takeoff is scheduled for 7 a.m. ET at C. Scott Driver Park. The weigh-in will be held at the park at 3 p.m.

Visit Florida is hosting the event.

by AnglersChannel

BMP Peace of Mind, Irregularities

Palaniuk Touts Peace of Mind and Irregularities

Team Toyota pro is looking to capitalize on specific irregularities in the 2025 Champion Power Equipment Bassmaster Elite on Lake Okeechobee.

The Florida swing is absolutely wild for Bassmaster Elite pros. With rapidly warming temperatures on the horizon and presumably a bunch of bass flocking to the shallows to spawn, Team Toyota pro Brandon Palaniuk is trying his best to take all three phases of the spawn into account this week on Lake Okeechobee.

One may think the bass would be on bed this time of year but according to Palaniuk, that may not be the case.

“This is not even close to bed fishing right now, in my mind,” Palaniuk said. “If you’re fishing in Florida in February, you have a mix of all three phases of the spawn and you need to be ready for all of them. If you land on the right group or wave of fish, you can right in a hurry. But I don’t think it’s going to turn out that way in this event.”

Largemouth bass in this part of the world do things very differently than bass located in other states. Normally, you’d expect to see bass moving into pockets and coves by following contour lines; it’s almost like a rest stop along the highway. But when it comes to giant Florida bass, they’ll use grass lines and edges almost as some sort of contour and travel route.

“The largemouth in Florida tend to get very particular about where they like to set up,” Palaniuk said. “It can be a tiny depth change or something of the sort, but they get really focused on very key areas. It can be depth changes, bottom composition or even the specific type of grass. This is a huge lake and finding these key areas and nuances is extremely important.”

While you’d expect for these largemouth to be fairly predictable in nature, Palaniuk warns against this line of thinking. Many anglers would think you could go through massive spawning flats with fast-moving baits, but he is a little hesitant about that strategy.

“You’d think that fast-moving reaction baits would be a big deal when it comes to locating fish but throughout all of my experience, that’s not usually the case,” Palaniuk said. “These Florida bass don’t always try to chase down a bait, especially during the spawn, so it can make for a challenging practice. While it makes sense efficiency-wise to throw moving baits during the practice period, sometimes you have to follow your gut and just pitch and flip around in order to locate the fish and get quality bites. I think that’s what makes Florida more challenging than other many other states and fisheries we visit.”

Irregularities in vegetation are a big part of Palaniuk’s bass-fishing plan. Just as bass might follow depth contours in other lakes, Okeechobee bass tend to follow small edge changes in vegetation.

“I’m looking for one type of grass that might be different than the others,” Palaniuk said. “So, if I’m in a pad field, I might look for eel grass or something different. If that vegetation line makes a turn, point or a pocket, I’m all about it. All of those characteristics make for an outstanding ambush point and a bass can suck itself in and ambush unsuspecting prey. They’re opportunistic feeders and want to use the least amount of energy possible to get their next meal.”

The correct mentality also proves to be a major aspect of Palaniuk’s game. He has long-been known as someone who’s a steadfast mental warrior. This doesn’t and has not changed with his approach to this tournament.

“When it comes to competing as this level, a giant difference can come in the form of your mental game and confidence,” Palaniuk said. “For me personally, I’m all about peace of mind and the fact that I’m towing my boat behind a Toyota Tundra, I’m absolutely positive that I won’t have any distractions throughout the season. Your boat needs to be right, your tow vehicle… everything has to be working perfectly. While I’m trying to catch these finicky Florida fish, I need as few distractions as possible.”

Will Palaniuk crack the Okeechobee code? We will see but one thing is for certain: He’ll be fishing irregularities in vegetation and trying his best to slow down and methodically fish for those big female Florida largemouth.

by AnglersChannel

Introducing the ELEMENT z2 – The Most Affordable American-Made Rod

Sanford, NC—Cashion Rods is proud to announce the launch of the highly anticipated ELEMENT z2 Series, available in both freshwater and saltwater lines.

At Cashion Rods, we believe every angler should experience the pride of fishing with gear that’s not only expertly crafted but also American-made. That’s why Cashion is excited to unveil the ELEMENT z2 Series. With a retail price of $129.95, the ELEMENT z2 was designed to introduce everyone to American performance at an unbeatable price point.

The ELEMENT z2 Series is the most affordable American-made rod on the market.

“With the ELEMENT z2, you’re not just purchasing a rod—you’re connecting with the American craftsmen who create it,” says Dr. Matthew Cashion, Founder and CEO. “We invite you to join the Cashion community and experience the difference of fishing with equipment made by people you can meet, follow, and trust.”

The ELEMENT z2 Series features the revolutionary new CRzm carbon matte rod blank—a true innovation in American made fishing performance. Designed with the working man in mind, the ELEMENT z2 looks like the rod you grew up fishing with your dad or grandpa but offers a perfect balance of durability, sensitivity, and innovation, all at an accessible price point.

Our engineering team took on the challenge of creating a rod that could endure the rigors of everyday fishing while delivering the superior performance anglers expect from Cashion. The result is the CRzm —a blank that features Raw Finish Protection (RFP). This unique technology uses an epoxy matrix (EM) to protect and encapsulate the carbon fibers, dissipating energy from impacts and making the CRzm more impact-resistant and durable than ever before. The CRzm is designed to take the abuse of riding in truck beds waiting for quitting time so you can hit the local honey hole.

The Cashion ELEMENT z2 Series has been meticulously upgraded with cutting-edge features to provide you with the ultimate fishing experience—and it’s now backed by a 3-year warranty, giving you confidence with every cast. The addition of the CRzm carbon matte blank and K-frame style casting guides not only enhances the rod’s durability and performance, but also strengthens its resilience against wear and tear, allowing Cashion Rods to confidently extend the warranty for three full years. Fish with confidence, knowing your investment is protected and that your rod is built to last.

The bass centric freshwater lineup of ELEMENT z2 includes a wide variety of technique-specific models for various fishing styles such as BFS (Bait Finesse Systems), Frog, Drop Shot, Worm & Jig, Cranking, and the ever popular Multi-Purpose.

The saltwater range of ELEMENT z2 Inshore rods are built to thrive in harsh marine environments and includes rods purpose-built models for speckled trout, redfish, and flounder. These rods feature corrosion-resistant components, the strength to handle powerful saltwater species, and are backed by Cashion’s unmatched warranty to prove it.

“It was no small task when we set out to develop the most affordable American-made rod that also meets the standards of full-time saltwater guides and tournament bass fishermen,” says Cashion’s Sales Manager Ben Choate. “but by utilizing improved materials, better components, and fine tuning our already successful ELEMENT line we have managed to do just that.”

Proudly Made in the USA

What sets the ELEMENT z2 Series apart is that every blank and rod is built in Cashion’s own facility in Sanford, NC. This level of in-house production allows Cashion Rods to maintain strict quality control, ensuring each rod meets the company’s high standards for performance and durability.
“Our American-made approach is key to delivering a rod that anglers can trust,” said Dr. Cashion. “We control every step of the process, from sourcing American made composite materials to the final touches. This gives us the ability to bring an extremely competitive rod to market while staying true to our core values.”
Cashion Rods has a long-standing reputation for producing scientifically superior rods that offer technique-specific precision without sacrificing comfort. The ELEMENT z2 Series continues this tradition, offering ergonomic design and lightweight construction for all-day fishing comfort.

About Cashion Rods

Cashion Rods is dedicated to building superior fishing rods in America with the highest quality materials and craftsmanship. Founded by Dr. Matthew Cashion, a PhD in chemistry with concentration in polymer science, Cashion Rods leverages advanced technologies and American ingenuity to create rods that are both scientifically superior and competitively priced. Based in Sanford, NC, Cashion Rods continues to push the boundaries of innovation while staying true to its roots as a proudly American-made brand.

by AnglersChannel

Will B-Card break out blades again at The Big O?

Witnessing Vexus pro Brandon Card catch 20-pounds last week on a spinnerbait during the Bassmaster Elite Series event on the St. Johns River was about as rare as a bald eagle sighting. Not quite sasquatch rare, but the lure that was once bass fishing’s crescent wrench tool has become sadly underutilized the past two decades.

So, we talked to the 38-year-old about all-things-spinnerbaits, and whether he planned to bust out the blades again this week in Florida at the Elite Series event on Okeechobee, where he finished third in 2023.

Q: Did you have any spinnerbait heroes as a teenager?

Card: All of them! KVD, Jay Yelas, Rick Clunn, Ken Cook and Jimmy Houston, to name a few.

Q: What’s the key to being a great spinnerbait angler?

Card: Realize that windy days are your friend, and heavier spinnerbaits worked at slower speeds often outperform lighter spinnerbaits retrieved too quickly.

I like the ½ ounce Advantage Bait willowleaf spinnerbaits that feature a unique Extreme Flash Technology on the blades, and I reel them on a 7.4:1 reel. My retrieve is slow and steady on a 7’ 3” medium heavy iROD to keep them a bit deeper in the water column, versus a lighter 3/8-ounce bait.

Q: Why didn’t you throw a ChatterBait at the St. Johns instead?

Card: I had a ChatterBait tied on, but on the first cast with a spinnerbait I caught a good one, and I never caught a bass last week on a ChatterBait, so I stayed loyal to the spinnerbait.

Q: How much weight will a guy need to catch each day to make a Top 10 at Okeechobee?

Card: You’d still better have 16 or 17-pounds a day, but the lake is almost totally void of vegetation right now, and a lot dirtier compared to 2023 when I finished third.

Q: And so, the obvious question to round things out, will you break out the spinnerbait again this week?

Card: There’s a chance (laughs) but I honestly don’t think it will play a huge role because of the type of cover and habitat I’m focusing on.

by AnglersChannel

Run-and-gun strategy lifts Jones to lead at Smith Lake

Feb. 26, 2025

CULLMAN, Ala. — Lander University’s Anderson Jones worked a run-and-gun strategy to perfection on Day 1 of the Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Smith Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops.

Anchoring his bag with a 5 1/4-pound spotted bass, the senior from Greenville, S.C., collected a five-bass limit of 16 pounds, 10 ounces to take the Day 1 lead. Jones holds a 1-8 advantage over McKendree University’s Ethan Fields and the Auburn University team of Brendin Simich and Benjamin Travis, who are tied for second with 15-2.

“It was a great day,” Jones said. “I didn’t get many bites, but when I did, they were the right ones. That is all that matters.”

The field of 250 college teams enjoyed warm and breezy conditions on Day 1 of the two-day derby and made the most of it. With the high temperature reaching 77 degrees, 151 limits and over 2,148 pounds of bass hit the scales. Cooler conditions are expected on Day 2, with highs only expected to reach the mid-60s.

While Smith Lake is much deeper than the blueback herring lakes in South Carolina like Lake Hartwell, Jones has employed a similar strategy so far this week. Using four different baits so far, he has found spotted bass staging in shallow pockets off the main river channel. The majority of his bites came between 3 and 8 feet of water.

By the end of the day, Jones estimated he fished 30 different areas with varying degrees of water clarity. In the cleaner water, he found the spotted bass were targeting shad, while in the dirtier water finding good cover was more important.

“I had to fish a lot of new water today,” he said. “A lot of new docks and a lot of new rock. Herring fishing is so spot-oriented. You have to do milk runs throughout the lake.”

Jones started the day strong, landing 14 pounds by 10 a.m., including the big spotted bass that anchored his bag. That bass came from 3 feet of water, and initially Jones thought it might be a striper.

“I (quickly) realized it was a bass and knew it was a good one,” Jones said. “Seeing it come up to the surface, stuff started to get real right there. I got that one in the boat and then caught a couple more to get to a solid place.”

From there, Jones was able to make some small culls before landing a 3-pounder with 20 minutes left to go in his fishing day.

After practice, Jones wasn’t sure he could even reach the 14-pound mark, so he is not sure what to expect on Day 2, either. He is hoping his milk run will continue to pay off with better-than-average bass.

Tyler Chmelar and Dalton Head from Tarleton State University anchored their 15-1 Day 1 bag with a 5-9 spotted bass, which currently leads the Big Bass of the Tournament race.

The full field will launch from Smith Lake Park in Cullman beginning at 6:30 a.m. CT and return for weigh-in starting at 2:30 p.m. The Top 10 percent of the field will punch their ticket to the College Series National Championship, details of which will be announced at a later date. Teams also earned points towards the Legends Trail points race.

Visit Cullman 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 Youth Sponsors: Seaguar, Shimano

About B.A.S.S.

by AnglersChannel

Bassmaster Open at Kentucky Lake/Lake Barkley could see ‘absolutely perfect’ water conditions

Feb. 26, 2025

PARIS, Tenn. — John Garrett finished fourth in the FXR Pro Fish Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River, but he wasn’t surprised when, an hour later, he was asked to shift his attention instead to the upcoming Division 2 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Kentucky Lake/Lake Barkley presented by SEVIIN back home on the Tennessee/Kentucky border.

The Open will be held March 6-8 and Garrett, who hails from Union City, Tenn., cut his teeth on those fisheries just east of his hometown. He then honed his game during routine practices and tournaments there when competing for nearby Bethel University.

And if Garrett’s instinct is correct, the 231 anglers entered in the Open have reason to be excited.

“That’s probably going to be one of the best tournaments of the season,” the 29-year-old pro said. “There should be absolutely perfect water conditions because we’ve had just inches and inches of rain, which makes the water a little dirty but also gets the current flowing.

“And that’s a combination that makes the fish want to eat their own tails,” he added, his voice rising at the prospect of promising catches. “It will be absurd, the number of 15- to 18-pound bags you’re gonna see caught.”

Garrett isn’t fishing in the Open, but said if he was, he’d go with what’s worked for him before to boat the best bass on Lake Barkley or Kentucky Lake.

“I’d go old-school, cranking a Rat-L-Trap in the main-river current,” he said. “(Underwater) drops will be huge players, I’m sure. You can ’Scope out in the current and find fish or tuck into a creek pocket throwing to moving water. There’ll probably be a healthy portion of smallmouth weighed, maybe 50%. But if you’re looking to win, I think you’ll need to mix in four or five largemouth to have a chance.”

There certainly is no lack of space for competitors to explore. Kentucky Lake is a 160,000-acre impoundment of the Tennessee River, making it the seventh-largest man-made lake in the U.S. Lake Barkley, which runs parallel and is connected to Kentucky Lake via a canal at the north (Kentucky) end of both lakes, provides an additional 58,000 acres.

That tremendous expanse of water, not to mention historically solid largemouth and smallmouth populations, has lured B.A.S.S. through the years. The last visit, for the 2024 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Team Championship on Kentucky Lake in December, saw the team portion of the event won by Noah Morgan and Clint Knight, who caught 47 pounds, 5 ounces over the course of two days.

Garrett said it’ll take a similar daily haul to win the Open tournament. And, of course, this isn’t a team event, so the burden of production is placed squarely on the shoulders of individual anglers.

“Over three days, you’ll need about 23 pounds per day to win it,” Garrett said. “But this will be different than that December tournament. That was strictly a deep-water ’Scoping deal. There will be a lot more shallow-water bites this time. And the water will have some color with how much is moving through the TVA right now.

“And, it’ll definitely still be prespawn,” Garrett added. “Kentucky Lake has a later spawn than any (Southern) lake because it gets all the cooler water dumped into it from other lakes above it.”

The St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Kentucky Lake/Lake Barkley presented by SEVIIN will begin with daily takeoffs at 6:15 a.m. CT from Paris Landing State Park. Daily weigh-ins are scheduled for 2:15 p.m. CT and will be held back at the park. The full field will compete the first two days of the event, with the Top 10 anglers fishing on Championship Saturday.

Bassmaster LIVE will be streaming on Bassmaster.com. Stay up-to-date on all tournament coverage at Bassmaster.com/how-to-watch/.

The City of Paris is hosting the event.

2025 Bassmaster Opens Series Title Sponsor: St. Croix

2025 Bassmaster Opens Series Presenting Sponsor: SEVIIN

2025 Bassmaster Opens Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2025 Bassmaster Opens Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Progressive Insurance, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2025 Bassmaster Opens Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Marathon, Triton Boats, VMC

About B.A.S.S.

by AnglersChannel

Major League Fishing Signs O’Reilly Auto Parts as Official Sponsor in Expanded Partnership

Automotive aftermarket leader to increase brand presence across all MLF events, including title sponsorship of Bass Pro Tour Stage 4 in Chattanooga

BENTON, Ky. (Feb. 26, 2025) – Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, announced today an expanded sponsorship with O’Reilly Auto Parts for the 2025 season, with the automotive aftermarket leader now serving as an Official Sponsor across all MLF circuits. O’Reilly Auto Parts will have a prominent brand presence at every Bass Pro Tour and MLF5 event throughout the year, including a marquee role as title sponsor of Stage 4 of the Bass Pro Tour, May 1-4 in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

“Our expanded partnership with Major League Fishing is a natural fit as we continue to engage with passionate outdoor and fishing enthusiasts across the country,” said Hugo Sanchez, Vice President of Advertising and Marketing for O’Reilly Auto Parts. “From trucks and trailers to marine and outdoor equipment, O’Reilly Auto Parts is proud to be a trusted source for everything anglers need to stay on the road and on the water. We’re thrilled to support the incredible competition that brings fans closer to the sport they love.”

The agreement provides O’Reilly Auto Parts significant brand exposure on the MLFNOW! livestream and across all MLF platforms. It includes digital content at MajorLeagueFishing.com and a strong brand presence at live events and on-site activations that bring the brand directly to fans. As the title sponsor of Bass Pro Tour Stage 4, O’Reilly Auto Parts will play a central role in one of the most anticipated stops of the season, further strengthening its connection to the fishing community.

“We are excited to build on our strong relationship with O’Reilly Auto Parts and welcome them as an Official Sponsor of Major League Fishing,” said Kathy Fennel, Executive Vice President and General Manager of MLF. “Their commitment to supporting anglers at every level is a strong demonstration of their support for our sport, and we are proud to showcase their brand throughout the 2025 season.”

Fans can catch live coverage of all Bass Pro Tour events, including O’Reilly Auto Parts Stage 4, and a range of MLF5 events on MLFNOW! via MajorLeagueFishing.com, MyOutdoorTV (MOTV), Rumble and the new Game & Fish TV channel on Samsung TV Plus. Additional television coverage will air on CBS, Discovery, Discovery+, Discovery GO, Animal Planet, Outdoor Channel and VICE as part of MLF’s national broadcast schedule.

To learn more about O’Reilly Auto Parts and its full range of automotive, marine, and outdoor products, visit OReillyAuto.com. For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing, its tournaments and sponsors, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.

About O’Reilly Automotive, Inc.
Since 1957, O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. has grown from a family-owned business into a leader in the automotive replacement parts industry. With over 6,100 stores across the United States, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Canada, O’Reilly Auto Parts provides professional service, expert knowledge, and quality products to both professional service providers and do-it-yourself customers. For more information, visit OReillyAuto.com.

by AnglersChannel

NPFL and Fishing Chaos Form Strategic Partnership

WILKESVILLE, Ohio—The National Professional Fishing League (NPFL) announces a new partnership with Fishing Chaos, a leading technology company in the competitive fishing industry. This collaboration marks a significant step forward in enhancing the NPFL’s tournament operations, angler experience, and fan engagement for the 2025 season.

Fishing Chaos is renowned for its cutting-edge tournament management solutions, real-time data tracking, and innovative digital tools that streamline operations for anglers and fans alike. By partnering with Fishing Chaos, the NPFL continues its commitment to providing a premier platform for professional anglers while delivering an unparalleled experience to fishing enthusiasts worldwide.

Brad Fuller, President of the NPFL, expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership: “We are excited to push the envelope with a great tech company like Fishing Chaos. They do some amazing things in the industry, and we look forward to blazing a new trail with them. Their platform will allow us to elevate our tournament experience for anglers, fans, and sponsors, ensuring the NPFL remains at the forefront of professional fishing.”

The partnership will bring enhanced features to NPFL tournaments, including real-time scoring, seamless angler communication, and improved digital integration for fans following the action.

John Calagaz, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Fishing Chaos, elaborated on his company’s role: "Our mission is to use technology to enhance the experience for both anglers and fans. We're excited to partner with the NPFL and showcase how our platform can enhance the success of any tournament, trail, club, or series."

The 2025 season promises to take the League to the next level. With Fishing Chaos onboard, the NPFL is poised to set a new standard in professional bass fishing.

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 [email protected].

by AnglersChannel

Mosley Mines Toyota Bonus at St. Johns River

Brock Mosley left the FXR Pro Fish St. Johns River Bassmaster Elite with a 6^th place finish and an extra $3,000 of Toyota Bonus Bucks thanks to being the highest finishing angler towing his boat with a Toyota tow vehicle. The Dakota Lithium pro currently drives a 2024 Tundra, which is the fifth tow vehicle he has purchased from the automotive company who has consistently backed bass fishing the past two decades.

“We are a Toyota family because I want to support the companies who support bass fishing,” Mosley said. “When you add in the Bonus Bucks program and the fact that I can make extra money by driving a Tundra, it’s even better. This 2024 is the fifth Tundra I’ve owned. It pulls my Phoenix boat super well and has plenty of power. I’ve been very happy with this truck and then I have an ’03 Tacoma at home and my wife drives a Highlander. They’re all great vehicles.”

This season marks Mosley’s tenth year on the Bassmaster Elite Series and it began on the very same fishery he started his Elite career on. Ten years ago, he left Palatka with a humbling 105^th finish, but this year Mosley’s experience on this body of water helped him claim his first top ten on the famed St. Johns River.

The Mississippi native has often excelled in events that are dubbed “a grinder” and while you might not know it looking at the weights from the St. Johns, this fishery is extremely fickle and absolutely fits Mosley’s definition of a grind.

“This place can serve you up some humble pie so quick, I just feel blessed to have caught what I did and to get out of here with a strong finish,” Mosley explained. “Each day I was having to scrap my limit together with several baits in multiple different areas.

“I sight fished some, wound a Chatterbait around, and caught a few key fish flipping. Including my big bass on day three, which came from the same matted vegetation I caught a six pounder out of five years ago. That fish catch was meant to be, as the spot is way off the beaten path, and I literally hadn’t been in there since I caught that fish in like 2020.”

Fish catches like that make all the difference in springtime Florida tournaments where you might only get five or six keeper bites per day. Mosley bested fellow longtime Toyota Bonus Bucks member John Cox, who finished in 8^th and will win an additional $2,000 for being the second highest finisher towing with a Tundra.

Both Mosley and Cox’s results highlight the fact that you don’t need to win a tournament to earn money through Bonus Bucks. You simply must drive an eligible Toyota tow vehicle and finish higher than the other registered anglers competing in one of the over 620 supported tournaments in 2025.

Toyota Bonus Bucks is available to tournament anglers of all levels, plus it’s completely free to sign-up. For a full list of payouts, supported events, or to learn more information about the program, follow this link: www.toyotabonusbucks.com. Or reach out to Kendell at [email protected] with any questions.

by AnglersChannel

MLF Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats Returns to Sam Rayburn for Southwestern Division Event

BROOKELAND, Texas (Feb. 25, 2025) – The Major League Fishing (MLF) Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats is returning to Sam Rayburn Reservoir, next week, March 6-8, for the second Southwestern division tournament of the 2025 season – the Toyota Series at Sam Rayburn Reservoir.

The three-day tournament, hosted by the Jasper-Lake Sam Rayburn Area Chamber of Commerce, will showcase the region’s top bass-fishing boaters and co-anglers competing for a grand 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.

Known for its consistent production of trophy-sized bass and limits, Sam Rayburn Reservoir is a hotspot for diverse strategies, especially during the transitional pre-spawn period. Local standout Kaden Mueck of Livingston, Texas, who finished in second-place at the first Toyota Series event on Sam Rayburn earlier this year, anticipates another action-packed showdown.

“This time of year, the fish are really spread out – you’ve got some shallow, some staging, and some already making moves to spawn,” said Mueck, who also competes for the Stephen F. Austin College Fishing team. “I’ll be targeting the prespawners – they’re bigger, and they tend to group up better. But we’ll definitely see some solid shallow-water patterns playing out too.”

The versatility of Sam Rayburn ensures that anglers will be able to choose their preferred approach, whether it’s punching shallow grass, cranking offshore structure, or deploying forward-facing sonar to target fish on the move. When it comes to baits, expect to see proven Rayburn staples and some innovative techniques.

“A Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap is a go-to for this time of year,” Mueck said. “We’ll also see some guys dragging Carolina rigs, throwing swimjigs, and possibly some glide baits or swimbaits offshore. And, of course, throwing a minnow using forward-facing sonar. That’s going to be a strong pattern, no doubt.”

With fish staging near drains and the mouths of spawning flats, targeting these transitional areas will be crucial.

“Those staging fish are the big ones, and they’ll make the difference if you can find them,” Mueck added.

“It’s going to take every bit of 70 pounds to win over three days,” Mueck went on to predict. “It takes close to 30 pounds to win any local tournament, and I think we’ll see something similar here. Someone will crack a 30-pound bag, at least one day. It’s doing it for three days that is the hard part.”

Anglers will begin each day at 7 a.m. CT, launching from the Umphrey Family Pavilion at 5438 Sam Rayburn Parkway in Brookeland. Weigh-ins will take place at the same location, starting at 3 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. 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 (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.

by AnglersChannel

2025 Bassmaster High School, Junior National Championships headed to Clarks Hill Lake

Feb. 25, 2025

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. officials announced today that the Bassmaster Junior National Championship will be held July 25-26 on Clarks Hill Lake in Evans, Ga., followed by the Strike King Bassmaster High School National Championship July 31-Aug. 2. Visit Columbia County will host both events, with daily takeoffs and weigh-ins held at Wildwood Park.

The Junior Series National Championship will feature qualifying anglers from grades second through eighth, while the High School Series National Championship will have a field comprised of eighth- to 12th-graders. With the High School and Junior Series kicking off the season last month on the Harris Chain in Leesburg, Fla., young anglers are busy qualifying now through regular-season events at both levels.

“We are thrilled to welcome the Bassmaster High School/ Junior Series Championship to Clarks Hill Lake,” said Shelly Blackburn, Visit Columbia County Georgia’s executive director. “Hosting this prestigious event is an incredible honor, and we are excited to showcase the natural beauty and hospitality of Columbia County to anglers and spectators alike. The economic impact of this championship will be significant, bringing numerous visitors and opportunities to our local businesses and residents. We look forward to a successful and memorable event that highlights the very best of what our community has to offer.”

Chase Clarke perfectly executed a big-bass pattern to win the weather-shortened St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Clarks Hill Reservoir presented by SEVIIN last month with a two-day total of 47 pounds, 7 ounces.

The 2022 Auburn University graduate caught three 6-pound-or-better largemouth during the tournament, two on the first day that lifted him to a daily total of 25-14 and one on the second day that anchored his 21-9 Day 2 total. Those two bags propelled him over second-place Blaine Bunney by 6-plus pounds.

“I'm super-excited about these National Championships,” said Glenn Cale, B.A.S.S. tournament manager for the College, High School and Junior Series. “I’m excited about sharing the stage with the best student anglers in the country and having this event on the outstanding fishery that is Clarks Hill Lake.”

2025 Bassmaster High School Series Title Sponsor: Strike King

2025 Bassmaster High School Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2025 Bassmaster High School Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Progressive Insurance, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2025 Bassmaster High School Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Marathon, Triton Boats, VMC

2025 Bassmaster High School Series Youth Sponsors: Seaguar, Shimano

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the 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, Bass Pro Shops 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.

by AnglersChannel

Lake Murray Readies for MLF Bass Pro Tour PowerStop Brakes Stage 3 Presented by Strike King

$150,000 Top Prize Up for Grabs in Columbia Next Week as 66 Anglers Battle it Out on Lake Murray, Follow the Competition Live All Four Days at MajorLeagueFishing.com

COLUMBIA, S.C. (Feb. 25, 2025) – The Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour is set to visit Columbia, South Carolina, and Lake Murray next week, March 6-9, for the third regular-season event of the 2025 Bass Pro Tour – the PowerStop Brakes Stage 3 at Lake Murray Presented by Strike King.

Hosted by the Capital City/Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board, the four-day tournament will feature 66 of the world’s top professional anglers competing for a $150,000 top prize, crucial points in the Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) race and coveted qualification spots for the Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2026.

The star-studded lineup will showcase top professionals and local fan favorites, including defending Lake Murray champion and Prosperity, South Carolina local, Anthony Gagliardi, reigning Fishing Clash AOY Jacob Wheeler, and REDCREST 2024 Champion Dustin Connell. Joining them are South Carolina standouts Casey Ashley, Andy Montgomery, Britt Myers , and the father-son duo of Marty and Marshall Robinson , all eager to capitalize on their home-state advantage.

The tournament will feature the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, in which anglers catch as much weight as they can each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. The tournament is being filmed for broadcast later this year on Discovery.

"Capital City/Lake Murray Country is honored to host this prestigious event that will showcase the natural beauty and world-class fishing opportunities that Lake Murray has to offer,” said Miriam Atria, President and CEO of Capital City/Lake Murray Country. “Our region is a premier destination for anglers and outdoor enthusiasts alike. Lake Murray is a highly competitive fishery, and we know it will deliver a challenging event with strong final weights.”

The Bass Pro Tour last visited Lake Murray in 2023, where Gagliardi added another major victory to his impressive record on his home lake. His success on the fishery includes a 2006 FLW Tour win, a 2014 Forrest Wood Cup title and a runner-up finish at the 2021 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit event – a tournament won by fellow Bass Pro Tour competitor Matt Becker , underscoring the high level of competition that defines this event.

When asked about the conditions and expectations, Gagliardi shared insights into how he anticipates the tournament unfolding.

"I know that it's fishing good. It always does this time of year," Gagliardi said. "You can catch them on a lot of different things, so I think the guys are going to have fun because they're going to catch fish – big fish – in a variety of ways."

Taking current weather patterns into consideration, Gagliardi said he believes the event will fall squarely in the pre-spawn stage.

"We're kind of in a place where the spawn can really move. Sometimes they spawn in February, sometimes not until April. It depends on the winter and recent weather. We've had some cold spells and a warm week, but I think it's going to be a pre-spawn event. It's just not warm enough to push a lot of fish into the spawn, yet."

With multiple ways to target bass, Gagliardi expects a mix of techniques to play a role throughout the tournament.

"There will be fish caught in all depths,” the Suzuki pro explained. “Some guys will fish shallow with crankbaits, spinnerbaits and flipping jigs around cover. Others will focus on jerkbaits or forward-facing sonar. It’s really going to be a typical pre-spawn deal, with ChatterBaits, crankbaits, dragging a worm and flipping a jig all coming into play. There’s not really a way you could fish this lake right now and not catch one."

As for tournament weights, Gagliardi admits it's difficult to predict.

"I’ve never fished a tournament here in the everything-counts format. Last time, I won under the five-fish limit format. Looking at it that way, you’re going to have mid-20-pound bags, and then who knows how many fish beyond that? Maybe someone cracks 100 pounds. I’d guess that 30 pounds a day would be a solid mark to advance, but we’ll have to see how it plays out."

Despite his history of success on Lake Murray, Gagliardi remains cautious about his chances at another win on his hometown fishery.

"I never feel good about it going in. Even though I’ve done well, I’m always leery,” Gagliardi said. “I honestly don’t fish the lake as much as I should, even though I live here. I know the lake well, but I don’t always know the bite for a given time of year. Every time I’ve won, it’s been doing something different than I expected.

“I’m a little nervous going into it, like I always am before any big tournament, but I enjoy fishing the lake and it’ll be fun. It’s just the lead-up that gets me – figuring out how to practice, when to use forward-facing sonar and how to adapt. That’s what stresses me out the most. But once we hit the water, it’s all about figuring things out fast enough to stay in productive areas."

Anglers will launch at 7:15 a.m. ET each day from Dreher Island State Park, located at 3677 State Park Road in Prosperity. Each day’s takeout will be held at the same location, beginning at 3:45 p.m. 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.

On Saturday and Sunday, March 8-9 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF welcomes fans of all ages to visit Dreher Island State Park for the MLF Fan Experience & Watch Party. Fans can watch the pros live on the MLFNOW! big screen, enjoy free food, participate in casting contests, enter to win hourly giveaways and cheer on their favorite pros. The first 50 kids 14 and under will receive a free rod and reel each day. The Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand both days to meet and greet fans, sign autographs and take selfies.

The PowerStop Brakes Stage 3 at Lake Murray Presented by Strike King will feature anglers competing with a 2-pound 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.

The full field of anglers will compete in the two-day Qualifying Round on Thursday and Friday. After the two-day Qualifying Round is complete, the pro with the highest 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.

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.

Television coverage of the PowerStop Brakes Stage 3 at Lake Murray Presented by Strike King will premiere as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Oct. 4 on Discovery, with the Championship Round premiering on Sunday, Oct. 5. 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 and Toyota.

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.

by AnglersChannel

PowerStop Brakes Returns as Title Sponsor of Bass Pro Tour Stage 3 at Lake Murray

BENTON, Ky. (Feb. 24, 2025) – Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, announced today that PowerStop Brakes is renewing its sponsorship for the 2025 season, and stepping up as title sponsor of Bass Pro Tour Stage 3 at Lake Murray next week. This renewed partnership showcases PowerStop’s passion for the sport and its commitment to supporting anglers and fans alike.

“We’re thrilled to extend our relationship with Major League Fishing and Edwin Evers into 2025,” said Jake Walenga, Marketing Manager of PowerStop. “Whether it’s our high-performance brake upgrade kits or our new PowerClear™ windshield wiper kits, we’re dedicated to providing the reliability anglers need when towing their boats. MLF is an incredible platform, and we’re excited to see this year’s competition unfold.”

As PowerStop Brakes Stage 3 approaches, anticipation continues to grow following the wave of excitement and digital engagement seen at Stages 1 and 2. Hundreds of thousands of fishing fans tuned in to MLFNOW!^® livestreams, engaged on social media, and visited MLF’s digital platforms, putting the 2025 season on pace to be one of the most-watched seasons in league history. With PowerStop Brakes’ support, and the tremendous fishery known as the Jewel of South Carolina, Lake Murray, serving as the backdrop, Stage 3 is set to deliver more thrilling action and memorable moments for fans worldwide.

“PowerStop Brakes has been a fantastic partner of Major League Fishing,” said Chris Bork, MLF Vice President of Sponsorship and Sales Development. “Their dedication to innovation and reliability resonates with our audience, and their continued support elevates not only the competition but also the overall experience for our fans and anglers. Together, we’re making professional fishing more exciting and accessible than ever before.”

PowerStop Brakes has also renewed its sponsorship of pro angler Edwin Evers, one of the most accomplished and celebrated anglers in MLF history with more than $4 million in career earnings and 79 top-10 finishes – including 13 career victories. During PowerStop Brakes Stage 3 at Lake Murray, fans can visit Edwin Evers’ social media channels to enter the PowerStop Brakes giveaway for a complete brake upgrade kit – the perfect addition for anglers hitting the road with a boat in tow.

The MLFNOW! broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on each day of competition from PowerStop Brakes Stage 3 at Lake Murray Presented by Strike King from 7:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. ET. MLFNOW! is livestreamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app and Rumble.

Television coverage of PowerStop Brakes Stage 3 at Lake Murray Presented by Strike King will premiere on Discovery as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET Saturday, Oct. 4, with the Championship Round premiering Sunday, Oct. 5 at 7 a.m. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel.

For additional information about MLF, its tournaments and sponsors, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. To learn more about PowerStop Brakes and its entire product line of braking systems, visit PowerStop.com.

About PowerStop® LLC
The PowerStop brand was first introduced in 1995, and over the past 25 years has been the innovative leader in the auto aftermarket brake category. Taking the guesswork out of choosing your brakes, our performance brake kits directly bolt-on your vehicle with ease to get you back on the road quicker with components that outperform standard, off-the-shelf parts. Whether you are towing heavier loads, pushing for more horsepower or simply want a better daily drive, PowerStop offers an affordable upgrade for all driving needs.

by AnglersChannel

Records Set at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Santee Cooper Lakes

Cross’ Riley Weighs in 12th largest limit in BFL history, Georgetown’s Pope ties all-time biggest bass record with 13-6 behemoth

SUMMERTON, S.C. (Feb. 24, 2025) – Boater Brent Riley of Cross, South Carolina, caught a five-bass limit weighing 35 pounds, 3 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine at Santee Cooper Lakes . The tournament, hosted by the Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce, was the third event of the season for the BFL South Carolina Division. Riley earned $2,890 for his victory.

Before diving into the incredible 35-plus-pound limit – the 12th largest limit in BFL history – that Riley caught on Santee, take a minute to think about this: His limit could’ve very easily approached 40. Riley, a local who lives on the lower lake, lost a big one at the boat early in the morning.

“I just had one of those days,” Riley said. “The first spot, I caught an 8-pounder. Second spot, I caught an 8-pounder and I lost two good ones – one about 7 pounds. Third spot, I caught one about 8. And fourth spot I caught one about 8. I had four right at 8 pounds and another one that was about 3 1/2. Then I culled twice for very little difference.

“What was crazy was watching the one that I lost that was right at the boat with my partner trying to get to it with the net. It got into a little bit of grass, and we watched it just spit out the lure and swim away. That was like my second fish, and I thought, ‘Woah, there it goes. There’s no recovering from that.’ And then it just got better and better. I thought, ‘Wow, how good a day am I having here?’”

Riley has had some pretty epic experiences in bass tournaments. He and a partner once weighed in a 60-pound 10-bass limit in a tournament. He also won an old Red Man tournament – the precursor to the BFL series – with an impressive mid-30s limit. And while catching 35-3 to kick off the 2025 season doesn’t quite compare to fishing the BFL All-American and the Bassmaster Classic, each of which Riley has done, it’s a pretty awesome milestone in a great grassroots bass fishing career. Especially since, according to Riley, who’s on the verge of turning 64, winning bass tournaments is getting tougher by the season. And last year was a pretty mediocre season by his standards. That all makes this win so much sweeter.

“I’m starting this year off with a bang,” Riley said.

As for the fishing, Santee Cooper is coming on strong with healthy grass growth, and this is the prime time of the year for catching big fish. Prior to the tournament, the bass were starting to move up. Then a cold front knocked them back a little bit. Riley and others expected the weather change to shut down the fish, but it was the exact opposite.

“They bit, and they bit good,” Riley said. “The fish had pulled back in the ditches, and when I caught that first one, it was a big one, and it was still shallow. They were in that 3 foot to where it dropped into 5 or 6 foot.”

Riley spent the tournament hopping around a handful of spots picking off a fish or two here and there, always focusing on areas where the bass are eventually going to spawn. He caught them pretty evenly from both lakes in the system – weighing three from Lake Moultrie and two from Lake Marion.

“I caught most of them on a Berkley Slobberknocker,” Riley said. “I had two on a Berkley Frittside, but the Slobberknocker is what the studs were on – all the big ones. They were in eelgrass more than anything. In the ditches, where it drops from 3 to 6, that grass seems to have survived, and it’s thicker there than anywhere else. I was just bumping the top of the grass. It took some touch keeping it out of the grass and in the strike zone.”

Reflecting on his remarkable day, Riley offered a special thanks to the team at Berkeley Outdoors, his boat dealer, for keeping him on the water and competing at a high level. And what a level it was on Saturday – one of the most impressive BFL victories in recent seasons.

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Brent Riley, Cross, S.C., five bass, 35-3, $2,890
2nd:       James Gibbons, Timmonsville, S.C., five bass, 31-3, $1,445
3rd:       Lucas Murphy, West Columbia, S.C., five bass, 27-12, $1,464 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
4th:        Kyle Austin, Ridgeville, S.C., five bass, 27-11, $674
5th:        Chad Sims, Lancaster, S.C., five bass, 26-11, $578
6th:        Robert Clarke III, Pineville, S.C., five bass, 26-5, $530
7th:        Gary Pope, Georgetown, S.C., four bass, 25-10, $812
8th:        Wendell Causey Jr., Irmo, S.C., five bass, 24-11, $433
9th:        Lane Clark, Anderson, S.C., five bass, 23-6, $385
10th:     Sandy Montgomery, Irmo, S.C., five bass, 21-13, $337

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

In addition to the huge limit weighed in by the winner, boater Gary Pope of Georgetown, South Carolina, also had an extremely memorable day on Saturday. Pope caught a bass that weighed 13 pounds, 6 ounces – tying the record for largest bass ever weighed in MLF Bass Fishing League history. For his feat, Pope earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $330.

Chuck Bagwell of Laurens, South Carolina, won the co-angler division and $1,445 Saturday, after bringing three bass to the scale that totaled 11 pounds, 2 ounces.

The top 10 co-anglers finished:

1st:        Chuck Bagwell, Laurens, S.C., three bass, 11-2, $1,445
2nd:       Bobby Smith, Asheville, N.C., three bass, 11-0, $722
3rd:       Troy Crippen, Lancaster, S.C., three bass, 10-11, $480
4th:        Brendan Yeckley, Monroe, N.C., three bass, 10-8, $337
5th:        Nathan Sipes, Laurens, S.C., three bass, 10-4, $289
6th:        Davy Goodman, Sumter, S.C., three bass, 9-6, $265
7th:        Roger McKee, Columbia, S.C., two bass, 8-10, $406
8th:        Tim Chadwick, Mount Pleasant, S.C., two bass, 8-9, $217
9th:        Thomas Pennell III, Boiling Springs, S.C., three bass, 8-3, $193
10th:     Joshua Brogden, Sumter, S.C., three bass, 8-1, $169

Roger McKee of Columbia, South Carolina, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $165, catching a bass that weighed in at 6 pounds, 8 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

After three events, Lucas Murphy of West Columbia, South Carolina, leads the Fishing Clash South Carolina Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 735 points, while Thomas Pennell III of Boiling Springs, South Carolina, leads the Fishing Clash South Carolina Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 724 points.

The next event for BFL South Carolina Division anglers will be held June 21, at Clarks Hill Lake out of Appling, Georgia. 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 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. The 2025 BFL All-American will take place May 29-31, 2025, at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is hosted by hosted by Visit Hot Springs and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.

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 Sports 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, Vosker, 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 17 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.

by AnglersChannel

Ryan Armstrong Leads Wire-to-Wire, Wins Tackle Warehouse Invitational Stop 1 at the Kissimmee Chain Presented by VOSKER

Robinson, Illinois pro catches final day limit weighing 16-1 on Championship Sunday to earn $115,000 top prize

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (Feb. 23, 2025) – The 2025 Tackle Warehouse Invitationals opener at the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes was a wild ride from start to finish. Up and down the Top 10, young guns and veterans alike caught big ones all kinds of ways, and the results showed off the best of a really talented group.

This Invitationals season appears to have picked up where 2024 left off. One thing remained steady throughout the event, and it was pro Ryan Armstrong of Robinson, Illinois, at the top of the leaderboard. After blasting 29 pounds, 12 ounces to take the lead in Stop 1 Presented by VOSKER on the Kissimmee Chain, Armstrong backed it up again and again, only ever looking shaky late in the mornings before his afternoon bite picked up.

On Day 3, Armstrong weathered the morning, snatched up 16-1 in the afternoon and totaled up 68-6 for the win and an $80,000 paycheck.

Finishing second, pro Drew Gill of Mount Carmel, Illinois, weighed an even 62 pounds on the week. In third, rookie Banks Shaw of Harrison, Tennessee, got his year started off on the right foot with 61-10, and in fourth, bolstered by 28-5 on Day 2, Macon, Georgia’s Joshua Weaver earned another Florida Top 10 with 61-3.

“Fancy” has not been the way to win tournaments in Florida lately. Last week, Robert Branagh basically did one thing to win at Okeechobee, and Bobby Lane didn’t have to get very creative for his win on the Harris Chain . This week, Armstrong continued the trend, locking big line and a big stick in hand and picking apart one area day after day, flip after flip.

Fishing the pads in the mouth of the creek that flows out of Tiger Lake, Armstrong used one of the lesser-fished sections of the Kissimmee Chain to great effect. On the first day of practice, Armstrong toured Kissimmee and found too many people in a lot of it – and some fish on the south end. On the second day, he went to Tiger.

“I didn't know what I was getting myself into running that creek,” he said. “But we ran that creek, and when I came around that last bend, I sat the boat down, and I just started pitching around. Once I got up in there, my rod just started just getting annihilated, fish just jarring my rod like crazy. I didn't set the hook. I just started learning the area, pitching around a little bit, and I just kept getting bites.”

Getting a lot of bites that he thought were big, Armstrong spent some time picking the zone apart, and then he did a lap around Tiger.

“I spent the rest of the day in Tiger going in a circle and I got one bite,” Armstrong said.

After the first couple days of practice, and maybe with the benefit of hindsight, Armstrong realized he’d put together a bit of a pattern.

“Whenever I came in there, I noticed some flow leaving; it was going out from Tiger to Kissimmee, and I knew it was shell bars there. I felt them,” he said. “I had some flow, and I knew it was getting cold. I thought the current was holding them there because of the cold weather. That was my key. And, honestly, I got bites down on the southern end of Kissimmee, and it was it was current-related hard edge, on pads, and they were stacked, so there was a pattern.”

Pattern aside, Armstrong didn’t end up needing his fish in Kissimmee – all that mattered for him was the fish in Tiger. Flipping a variety of beaver-style baits in several colors, he used a 3/4-ounce weight, a 5/0 Owner Jungle Flipping HD hook, 60-pound-test Sunline XPlasma Asegai, an 8.5:1 Shimano Curado DC and an 805 Dobyns Champion XP . With dialed tackle, he combed each patch of pads with an extremely methodical approach.
His slow approach was the product of the size of the area, and it allowed him to attempt to line up his flips to bolster his landing ratio.

“I think it was more circumstantial as far as the way the area is set up,” Armstrong said. “It was a small area, so I could go as slow as I wanted and still work the whole area if I wanted because it was so small. There were fish everywhere.”

From there it was a matter of getting enough bites and converting on enough of them every day. When it was all said and done, Armstrong made a monumental win look pretty breezy.

“It doesn't seem real, because winning doesn't happen in fishing at high levels very often,” Armstrong said. “Most of the time [it’s] never for most people. To win is just unbelievably special to me.

“The sport means a lot to me,” he went on. “I literally think about, watch, it’s everything fishing, every single day of my life, regardless of where I'm at or what I'm doing. I love fishing. I love everything about fishing, and to win at such a high level against these guys that are legitimately the best in the world, it's kind of surreal.”

The top 30 pros at the Tackle Warehouse Invitational Stop 1 on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes Presented by VOSKER finished:

1st:        Ryan Armstrong, Robinson, Ill., 15 bass, 68-6, $80,000
2nd:       Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., 15 bass, 62-0, $30,000
3rd:       Banks Shaw, Harrison, Tenn., 15 bass, 61-10, $20,000
4th:        Joshua Weaver, Macon, Ga., 15 bass, 61-3, $18,000
5th:        Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., 15 bass, 59-10, $17,000
6th:        Joseph Webster, Hamilton, Ala., 15 bass, 58-12, $16,000
7th:        Colby Miller, Elmer, La., 15 bass, 53-6, $15,000
8th:        Alex Bradley, Wellford, S.C., 15 bass, 53-5, $14,000
9th:        Bobby Bakewell, Orlando, Fla., 15 bass, 53-3, $13,000
10th:     Jordan Wiggins, Cullman, Ala., 15 bass, 51-15, $12,000
11th:     Blake Hall, Rogersville, Ala., 15 bass, 51-4, $10,000
12th:     Dustin Smith, Trussville, Ala., 15 bass, 51-0, $10,000
13th:     Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich., 15 bass, 50-8, $10,000
14th:     Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., 15 bass, 49-13, $10,000
15th:     Kennie Steverson, Umatilla, Fla., 15 bass, 48-10, $10,000
16th:     John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky., 15 bass, 48-3, $10,000
17th:     Brody Campbell, Oxford, Ohio, 15 bass, 47-14, $10,000
18th:     Mitchell Robinson, Landrum, S.C., 15 bass, 42-6, $10,000
19th:     Cal Lane, Grant, Ala., 15 bass, 42-3, $10,000
20th:     Hayden Marbut, Birmingham, Ala., 15 bass, 42-0, $10,000
21st:      Matt Reed, Madisonville, Texas, 15 bass, 41-12, $9,000
22nd:    Jon Canada, Helena, Ala., 15 bass, 41-5, $9,000
23rd:     Spike Stoker, Cisco, Texas, 15 bass, 40-10, $9,000
24th:     Hunter Mills, Mayfield, Ky., 15 bass, 40-8, $9,000
25th:     Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla., 15 bass, 39-7, $9,000
26th:     Thomas Wooten, Huddleston, Va., 15 bass, 38-9, $9,000
27th:     Flint Davis, Leesburg, Ga., 13 bass, 37-15, $9,000
28th:     Paul Elias, Laurel, Miss., 13 bass, 35-4, $9,000
29th:     Matt Baty, Bainbridge, Ga., 14 bass, 34-4, $9,000
30th:     Andrew Nordbye, Guntersville, Ala., 13 bass, 32-10, $9,000

Complete results for the entire field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 143 bass weighing 406 pounds, 1 ounce caught by the final 30 pros on Sunday. The catch included 26 five-bass limits.

The three-day tournament, hosted by Experience Kissimmee, featured a field of pro 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, where they competed for the grand prize of up to $115,000.

Television coverage of MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Stop 1 at the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes Presented by VOSKER will air as a two-hour episode, premiering at 9 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Oct. 4 on CBS Sports Network.

The next event on the schedule for 2025 is the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Stop 2 at Lake Hartwell Presented by Suzuki Marine, set for March 14-16 in Anderson, South Carolina.

Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Bubba, Deep Dive App, E3 Sports 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, 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.

by AnglersChannel

Lowen lifts second Elite trophy with narrow St. Johns victory

Feb. 23, 2025

PALATKA, Fla. — Twice in three days vegetation threatened to thwart Bill Lowen’s efforts. Both times persistence prevailed, as the Brookville, Ind., pro tallied a four-day total of 73 pounds, 14 ounces to win the 2025 FXR Pro Fish Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River.

Lowen, who won his first Elite title at Pickwick Lake in 2021, placed third on Day 1 with 21-5, then took over the lead with a second-round limit of 24-4. Sacking up 18-1 on Semifinal Saturday, Lowen held the top spot and entered Championship Sunday with a 5-4 lead over his nearest competitor.

Day 4 proved excruciatingly stingy, as Lowen struggled to coax fish that showed increasing sensitivity to the week’s severe cold front. He missed his limit by one keeper, but after anchoring an otherwise slim bag with a 7-pound, 7-ounce bass, Lowen turned in a final bag that went 10-4 and edged Jay Przekurat by 4 ounces.

“Today was weird; I lost my fifth fish three times, and one of them was a good one — maybe 4 or 5 pounds,” Lowen said. “I’ve always said, ‘When it’s your time, it’s your time and you can’t do anything wrong.’

“Even though I lost those fish, the good Lord was looking out for me. To say I’m a two-time Elite winner is unbelievable.”

Lowen caught all of his fish in Deep Creek, north of the tournament site, on the river’s east bank. He chose this artery because its 20-plus-foot depths offered greater stability than shallower areas.

“It was all dependent on the tide, and the tide just never got right today,” Lowen said. “All week, my bigger bites came when the tide got low, but that window got later and later every day.”

Lowen caught his Day 1 fish on a blue craw 3/8-ounce signature series Lure Parts Online flipping jig with a Zoom Super Chunk. From then on, he did most of his work with a 5/16-ounce blue craw signature series Lure Parts Online swim jig with a Zoom Super Speed Craw.

“The key was fishing that swim jig really slow,” Lowen said. “In that cold water, they just wanted that bait moving slowly.”

That tactic, while clearly productive, was not without risk, and a Day 2 entanglement nearly cost Lowen the tournament. When one of his better fish became ensnared in a sunken tree, Lowen tensely tugged and manipulated his rod for a couple of minutes until the main branch miraculously broke and released the fish.

Two days later, Lowen’s painfully slow final round saw Deep Creek taunting him with a random obstruction that blocked one of his key areas. With the cold front dropping his water temperatures, Lowen targeted areas with slightly greater warmth.

“Last night during the high tide, a grass mat moved into one of my best bends in the creek,” Lowen said. “I had caught a 5 and a 6 there in the last three days and that mat was in my way.

“I said, ‘I’m just going to punch through that mat,’ so I dropped right through that mat and caught that 7-7. I’ve been dropping through a lot of mats this week and never got a bite. If that mat hadn’t blown in there and I hadn’t dropped through there, I wouldn’t have caught that key fish.”

Przekurat, who makes his home in Plover, Wis., finished second with 73-10. The 2022 Dakota Lithium Elite Series Rookie of the Year started strong and kept himself in the conversation all week.

After taking the Day 1 lead with 24-15, Przekurat managed only 12-12 in the second round but slipped only one spot to second. Adding 16-10 on Day 3, Przekurat slipped to third before gaining back one notch with his final-round limit of 19-5.

Przekurat caught most of his Day 1 weight by targeting prespawners and bed fish in Salt Springs Run. The next three days saw him focus more on targeting fry guarders (male bass protecting hatchlings) with jerkbaits in canals below Lake George.

On Day 4, Przekurat started in the canals, but later returned to Salt Springs and added a key fish on a dropshot with a Strike King Baby Z-Too.

“I started on the fry guarders just to get my day going, and then I was trying to catch a kicker in the springs,” Przekurat said. “With the fry guarders, it seemed like the quicker the better.

“It would take them a minute to get on it. As soon as they would start coming for the bait, you had to make sure it was in the strike zone, because if it was a little bit too far outside the fry ball, they wouldn’t bite.”

Shane LeHew finished third with 73-9. His daily weights were 18-4, 17-3, 17-14 and 20-4.

Devoting most of his attention to throwing a Berkley Stunna jerkbait at fry guarders, LeHew anchored his biggest bag with a 7-7.

“I had a fantastic day,” LeHew said. “I went to the canal where I caught almost all of my fish in. For whatever reason, it’s been super special.

“I decided to go try and find a big one on bed. I went to a bed that had a 2-pounder in practice and there went that 7-7. It took me about 10 minutes to catch her, and then I caught the male, and it was a 3-pounder.

“I said, ‘I just went from (stinking) really bad to doing really well really quick.’ I caught both of those bed fish on the new Berkley MaxScent Stank-Bug.”

John Cox of Debary, Fla., won the $2,000 Phoenix Boats Big Bass award for his 8-13. Cox also won the $1,000 Day 1 daily award.

Austin Felix of Eden Prairie, Minn., won the $1,000 BassTrakk Contingency award. Lowen won the $1,000 award for leading the Progressive Angler of the Year standings.

John Garrett of Union City, Tenn., won the $2,000 Rapala CrushCity Monster Bag award for his Day 3 limit of 31-6.

Brock Mosley took home an additional $3,000 for being the highest-placing entrant in the Toyota Bonus Bucks program, while Cox earned $2,000 for being the second-highest placing entrant.As part of the Yamaha Power Pay program, Lowen earned an additional $4,000 while LeHew claimed an additional $1,500 for being the second-highest placing entrant. Garrett and Patrick Walters both earned $1,000 for being the third- and fourth-highest placing entrant, respectively.

Florida’s Putnam County Chamber of Commerce hosted the event.

-30-

Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.

Media Contact: Chad Gay, Communications Manager, 256-424-2390, cgay@bassmaster.com

2025 FXR Pro Fish Bassmaster Elite Series St. Johns River 2/20-2/23
St. Johns River, Palakta FL.
Standings Day 4

Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$

1. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 19 73-14 104 $101,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-05 Day 2: 5 24-04 Day 3: 5 18-01 Day 4: 4 10-04
2. Jay Przekurat Plover, WI 20 73-10 103 $20,000.00
Day 1: 5 24-15 Day 2: 5 12-12 Day 3: 5 16-10 Day 4: 5 19-05
3. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 20 73-09 102 $16,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-04 Day 2: 5 17-03 Day 3: 5 17-14 Day 4: 5 20-04
4. John Garrett Union City, TN 18 71-00 101 $15,500.00
Day 1: 5 14-12 Day 2: 5 12-04 Day 3: 5 31-06 Day 4: 3 12-10
5. Cory Johnston Otonabee CANADA 20 68-06 100 $11,750.00
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 14-04 Day 3: 5 22-07 Day 4: 5 18-13
6. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 20 68-06 99 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-11 Day 2: 5 16-08 Day 3: 5 18-03 Day 4: 5 16-00
7. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 20 63-00 98 $10,500.00
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 17-05 Day 3: 5 17-05 Day 4: 5 14-06
8. John Cox Debary, FL 20 59-04 97 $13,300.00
Day 1: 5 18-05 Day 2: 5 16-13 Day 3: 5 14-12 Day 4: 5 09-06
9. Patrick Walters Eutawville, SC 20 58-12 96 $10,200.00
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 18-04 Day 3: 5 16-15 Day 4: 5 09-06
10. Jake Whitaker Hendersonville, NC 20 57-14 95 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-12 Day 2: 5 12-12 Day 3: 5 20-09 Day 4: 5 08-13
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 John Cox Debary, FL 08-13 $1,000.00
2 Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA08-12 $1,000.00
3 John Garrett Union City, TN 08-06 $1,000.00
4 Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 07-07 $1,000.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
John Cox Debary, FL 08-13 $2,000.00
RAPALA CRUSHCITY MONSTER BAG

John Garrett Union City, TN 31-06 $2,000.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 93 494 1317-03
2 81 456 1205-06
3 38 228 628-11
4 8 47 139-03
----------------------------------
220 1225 3290-07

by AnglersChannel

Yamaha Power Pay One-Two Punch

Courtesy of Dynamic Sponsorships

Yamaha Outboards pros Bill Lowen and John Garrett headed out in first and second place on Championship Sunday of the FXR Pro Fish Bassmaster Elite at the St. Johns River. Lowen, the twenty-year Elite Series veteran, has led days two and three and is holding on to a sizable five-plus-pound lead over Garrett. But while “dollar Bill” Lowen is at peace with the way he is fishing, he is anything but comfortable with his lead over Garrett and the rest of the top ten field.

After all, this is the St. Johns River. Where the potential for double-digit bass is there on any given cast and, as Garrett proved on Saturday, where thirty-pound stringers are a very real possibility. Garrett dropped a bag of fish weighing over 31-pounds on the scales yesterday which was the biggest of the tournament and the largest limit of the 29-year-olds life.

On top of competing for their second Elite Series trophy, Lowen and Garrett are battling for the Yamaha Power Pay top spot today, along with Shane LeHew and Patrick Walters. A favorite among amateur and pro anglers alike, Power Pay rewards the highest finishing registered angler in supported tournaments with bonus payouts.

Fortunately for the pros on the St. Johns today, Power Pay honors the top two highest finishers in Elite Series competition. Lowen and Garrett are employing completely different tactics this week to find success, and they are both fishing “their way.”

“I’m fishing the way I like to fish and for the first time in my career, I’m not really nervous at all,” Lowen said. “I’m power fishing shallow cover, fishing what’s in front of me, and while each day has been different it has been a very special week. I’m not making a real long run, but even so having that Yamaha 250 V MAX SHO behind me is super comforting. Yamaha has had my back my entire career and it just gives me all the confidence in the world out on the water.”

To contrast Lowen’s old-school braided line swim jig beat down is Garrett, who caught his day three monster bag on a deep crankbait targeting a special offshore spot he found during the event on Saturday.

“I caught the biggest bag of fish of my life yesterday on the same Strike King 5XD I won the Harris Chain Elite with last year,” Garrett said. “Offshore cranking is my favorite way to fish and yesterday was just really special. I started the day in 38^th place pretty much zero expectations. The worst I could fall to was 50^th place, so I changed things up and went out to try and find a fresh group of fish.

“Well, I found a group and there was a whole lot of fish there (on Saturday). I caught my weight in less than an hour before making the long run, almost an hour and a half, back to Palatka. I have no idea if they’ll be there on Sunday, but if they are, they’re big and willing to bite. I’m fired up to get back down there.”

The St. Johns River has been the site for a lot of Bassmaster magic over the years and it showed out once again this week. No lead is safe here, no matter how large, but just the same, no deficit is insurmountable either. No matter how Sunday shakes out, both Lowen and Garrett find comfort via the way they are catching their fish and the outboard motor they have behind them.

by AnglersChannel

Despite slower third day, Lowen stays on top at St. Johns River

Feb. 22, 2025

PALATKA, Fla. — Even the ideal habitat cannot fully hide from a major Florida cold front. Just ask Bill Lowen, who fought through a slower Day 3 to retain his lead at the 2025 FXR Pro Fish Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River.

After placing third on Day 1 with 21-5, the Brookville, Ind., pro moved into the lead with a second-round limit of 24-4. Adding 18-1 on Semifinal Saturday, Lowen heads into Championship Sunday with 63-10 and a 5-4 lead over John Garrett.

“That water where I’m fishing is about 4 degrees colder than it was yesterday,” Lowen said in reference to the sharp cold front that arrived on Thursday. “I had one little zone that was a couple degrees warmer, and that’s where I caught all my fish.

“My primary area where I caught ‘em the last two days, I never caught a fish there today. When the tide got right (around 11 a.m.), I made sure I was there, and I caught my two biggest fish. The tide is so important here and if you miss that window, you’ll miss those big bites.”

Sticking to the game plan that delivered his prior success, Lowen spent most of his day in a creek north of takeoff. He targeted shallow, submerged wood but he noted that the creek’s 27-foot depths proved strategic in giving the bass greater stability than shallower areas throughout the St. Johns system.

“That was kinda my game plan — to find those creeks with deeper water in them for the cold front,” Lowen said. “That would give those fish somewhere to fall back to instead of being in a big, shallow bay. That was my whole game plan and, so far, it’s working. Hopefully, it will work one more day.”

Lowen caught most of his weight on a swim jig. He caught a few smaller fish on a flipping jig, but a slow, winding presentation carried his day.

Lowen’s committed to his shallow water program, but he said he might relocate for part of Championship Sunday.

“I’m going to go run that primary deal that I’ve been fishing and then I have two areas about 8 miles up from there that I haven’t been to yet,” Lowen said. “Maybe I’ll use them tomorrow.

“I might start on one of them tomorrow just to see. I’d hate to not go and say, ‘What if?’ I might check those two other areas tomorrow and get back to my primary area when the tide gets right.”

While Lowen’s making no final-round predictions, he said he’s looking forward to another day of familiar fishing.

“I’m fishing the way I like to fish; I’m fishing in my comfort zone. I feel like you fish to the best of your ability when you do that. I’m fishing that way and for the first time in my career, I’m really not nervous at all.

“God willing, it will happen. If not and I don’t catch a bass tomorrow, the last three days have been amazing.”

Hailing from Union City, Tenn., Garrett wowed the crowd with a Day-3 mega sack that went 31-6 and eclipsed his combined first two days’ weights of 14-12 and 12-4. Tallying a three-day total of 58-6, Garrett rocketed up the standings from 38th to second.

“It was a total surprise,” said Garrett, who anchored his bag with an 8-6. “I went out with zero expectations. I was like, ‘I hope I don’t fall to 50th today,’ because that was how little I was on.

“I just started running new water and I ran across that spot.”

Garrett said he travelled south of takeoff and found his fish on a main-river shellbar in 10-13 feet of water. He wasn’t sure if the fish were prespawners or postspawners, but they were aggressive.

“I caught a lot of bass today,” Garrett said. “I caught six fish on that spot and left them alone. Today was special.

“We had a lot of hard north wind the past two days, and we had a lot of water moving out. I’m not sure how hard that water will be moving tomorrow, or if those fish will be there, but I’m excited to get back and see if they’re there.”

During an hour-long tear, Garrett lit up the BassTrakk standings with an amazing run of big bass smackdown that erased all but an ounce of Lowen’s advantage. Lowen’s late-morning efforts would rebuild his lead, but Garrett’s heroics yielded the event’s heaviest bag and his personal best.

Garrett’s third-round limit is the seventh-largest single-day bag caught during a Bassmaster event on the St. Johns River.

Jay Przekurat of Plover, Wis., is in third place with 54-5. A Day 1 limit of 24-15 put him atop the standings and buoyed him to second when Day 2 yielded only 12-12. Przekurat fared a little better on Day 3 with 16-10, but slipped to third.

“I’m just happy that I was able get that big bag the first day and I was able to ride it into a top 10,” Przekurat said. “That was my goal for today — just ride it out. I wasn’t sure after I had that struggle yesterday with (a smaller bag).

“I bounced back a little bit today and put a nice 5-pounder in the boat. I think I just hit a little stretch of fish that were active, compared to the ones I was fishing.”

Przekurat spent most of his time in canals near the lower end of Lake George. Fishing around docks and kickouts, he caught his fish on a shallow-running jerkbait.

John Cox of Debary, Fla., is in the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors with his 8-13.

Sunday’s takeoff is scheduled for 7 a.m. ET at the Palatka City Boat Ramp. The weigh-in will be held at Palatka Riverfront Park at 3 p.m.

Bassmaster LIVE will be streaming on Bassmaster.com, and coverage will also be available on FS1 on Sunday from 8-11 a.m. Stay up-to-date on all tournament coverage at Bassmaster.com/how-to-watch/.

Florida’s Putnam County Chamber of Commerce is hosting the event.

-30-

Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.

Media Contact: Chad Gay, Communications Manager, 256-424-2390, cgay@bassmaster.com

2025 FXR Pro Fish Bassmaster Elite Series St. Johns River 2/20-2/23
St. Johns River, Palakta FL.
Standings Day 3

Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$

1. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 15 63-10 104
Day 1: 5 21-05 Day 2: 5 24-04 Day 3: 5 18-01
2. John Garrett Union City, TN 15 58-06 103 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-12 Day 2: 5 12-04 Day 3: 5 31-06
3. Jay Przekurat Plover, WI 15 54-05 102
Day 1: 5 24-15 Day 2: 5 12-12 Day 3: 5 16-10
4. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 15 53-05 101
Day 1: 5 18-04 Day 2: 5 17-03 Day 3: 5 17-14
5. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 15 52-06 100
Day 1: 5 17-11 Day 2: 5 16-08 Day 3: 5 18-03
6. John Cox Debary, FL 15 49-14 99 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-05 Day 2: 5 16-13 Day 3: 5 14-12
7. Cory Johnston Otonabee CANADA 15 49-09 98
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 14-04 Day 3: 5 22-07
8. Patrick Walters Eutawville, SC 15 49-06 97
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 18-04 Day 3: 5 16-15
9. Jake Whitaker Hendersonville, NC 15 49-01 96
Day 1: 5 15-12 Day 2: 5 12-12 Day 3: 5 20-09
10. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 15 48-10 95
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 17-05 Day 3: 5 17-05
11. Wes Logan Springville, AL 13 48-04 94 $7,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-12 Day 2: 3 08-03 Day 3: 5 20-05
12. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 15 48-02 93 $7,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-10 Day 2: 5 13-04 Day 3: 5 16-04
13. Seth Feider Elko New Market, MN 14 46-12 92 $7,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-15 Day 2: 5 18-08 Day 3: 4 09-05
14. Robert Gee Knoxville, TN 15 46-09 91 $7,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 18-08 Day 3: 5 15-05
15. Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA 15 46-08 90 $8,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 5 18-12 Day 3: 5 16-15
16. Evan Kung Pickering Ontario CANAD 15 46-01 89 $6,500.00
Day 1: 5 19-05 Day 2: 5 16-01 Day 3: 5 10-11
17. Lee Livesay Longview, TX 12 45-15 88 $6,500.00
Day 1: 5 22-13 Day 2: 2 05-09 Day 3: 5 17-09
18. Logan Parks Auburn, AL 15 45-07 87 $6,500.00
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 5 17-05 Day 3: 5 13-09
19. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 15 44-15 86 $6,500.00
Day 1: 5 15-02 Day 2: 5 20-02 Day 3: 5 09-11
20. Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 15 44-10 85 $6,500.00
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 15-11 Day 3: 5 14-07
21. David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 15 44-06 84 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-12 Day 2: 5 16-03 Day 3: 5 18-07
22. Carl Jocumsen Queensland TN AUSTRALIA 15 43-11 83 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-04 Day 2: 5 08-14 Day 3: 5 18-09
23. Joey Cifuentes III Clinton, AR 15 43-07 82 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 21-15 Day 3: 5 09-00
24. Will Davis Jr Sylacauga, AL 15 43-06 81 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-12 Day 2: 5 12-15 Day 3: 5 14-11
25. Tucker Smith Birmingham, AL 15 43-03 80 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-03 Day 2: 5 12-07 Day 3: 5 12-09
26. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 12 41-15 79 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 17-07 Day 2: 5 14-11 Day 3: 2 09-13
27. Brandon Card Salisbury, NC 13 41-08 78 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 20-00 Day 2: 5 13-09 Day 3: 3 07-15
28. Austin Felix Eden Prairie, MN 15 41-07 77 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 18-14 Day 3: 5 12-03
29. Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 14 41-04 76 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 19-10 Day 3: 4 08-03
30. Bryant Smith Roseville, CA 15 41-01 75 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 5 11-02 Day 3: 5 14-08
31. Bryan Schmitt Deale, MD 15 40-12 74 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 13-05 Day 3: 5 14-11
32. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 15 40-03 73 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 18-07 Day 2: 5 11-13 Day 3: 5 09-15
33. Emil Wagner Marietta, GA 15 40-03 72 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 5 17-00 Day 3: 5 09-10
34. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 15 39-11 71 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 18-12 Day 3: 5 09-02
35. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 15 37-12 70 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 5 17-08 Day 3: 5 10-13
36. Jason Christie Dry Creek, OK 14 37-12 69 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 16-09 Day 2: 5 15-05 Day 3: 4 05-14
37. Taku Ito Dalton GA JAPAN 15 37-11 68 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 5 13-07 Day 3: 5 10-11
38. Logan Latuso Gonzales, LA 15 37-09 67 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 15-01 Day 2: 5 14-15 Day 3: 5 07-09
39. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 13 37-07 66 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 16-05 Day 2: 3 12-02 Day 3: 5 09-00
40. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 15 37-02 65 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 15-11 Day 3: 5 10-09
41. Bryan New Leesville, SC 12 37-00 64 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 20-10 Day 2: 5 12-11 Day 3: 2 03-11
42. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 15 37-00 63 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 15-11 Day 2: 5 12-08 Day 3: 5 08-13
43. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 14 36-15 62 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 07-12 Day 2: 5 19-01 Day 3: 4 10-02
44. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 14 36-06 61 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 21-02 Day 2: 5 08-03 Day 3: 4 07-01
45. Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 12 36-03 60 $5,500.00
Day 1: 4 10-09 Day 2: 5 17-13 Day 3: 3 07-13
46. KJ Queen Catawba, NC 14 35-05 59 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 5 11-07 Day 3: 4 08-06
47. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 15 35-04 58 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 19-01 Day 2: 5 09-00 Day 3: 5 07-03
48. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 15 33-04 57 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 13-14 Day 2: 5 12-15 Day 3: 5 06-07
49. Alex Wetherell Middletown, CT 13 32-07 56 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 5 17-08 Day 3: 3 06-01
50. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 11 27-09 55 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 11-14 Day 3: 1 01-03
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 John Cox Debary, FL 08-13 $1,000.00
2 Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA08-12 $1,000.00
3 John Garrett Union City, TN 08-06 $1,000.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 93 494 1317-03
2 81 456 1205-06
3 38 228 628-11
----------------------------------
212 1178 3151-04

by AnglersChannel

Magical day lifts Lowen to St. Johns lead

Feb. 21, 2025

PALATKA, Fla. — When the necessary became the nemesis, Bill Lowen’s patient persistence delivered a clutch catch that typified his amazing day.

Bolstering a Day 1 limit of 21 pounds, 5 ounces with a second-round bag that went 24-4, the seasoned pro from Brookville, Ind., leads the 2025 FXR Pro Fish Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River with a two-day total of 45-9. Lowen heads into Semifinal Saturday with a 7-14 margin over Day 1 leader Jay Przekurat.

“It was an amazing day; you just can’t explain it when it happens,” Lowen said. “You look for those days all the time, and I had one of those days today.”

Lowen has been targeting shallow wood with a flipping jig and swim jig. When he hooked a solid bass around noon, the fish became entangled in a pile of limbs. After a couple of minutes of Lowen tugging and carefully poking his rod tip toward the snare, the fish suddenly found its way free.

“I saw the fish run a bream up against the bank, so I threw my jig over there, and as soon as the jig hit the water, she ate it,” Lowen said. “I was going to the back of the boat to land her and she just got stuck in a (submerged tree). I could feel her pulling, so I knew she was still there, but I couldn’t gain on her.

“After what felt like an eternity, I just put a lot of pressure on her. I was thinking the line was gonna break, but actually, the branch broke, and she just floated to the top. Usually, when that happens, it doesn’t end well. I got really lucky.”

Not long after that miracle catch, Lowen culled his smallest fish — a 1 1/2-pounder — with a 5 1/2. Another late-day cull gave him the confidence to pack up and head to weigh-in.

Lowen has been fishing a creek north of Palatka where deep, protected water has suffered less impact from the cold front that arrived on Day 1. While high, bright skies and significantly lower air and water temperatures challenged other competitors, Lowen found his fish generally cooperative.

“It’s all about the tide on the St. Johns, and when it finally got right around 11, I went to my main area and my first bite was a 6-pounder,” Lowen said. “From there on out, every decision I made was the right decision.

“I’m very comfortable doing what I’m doing. Obviously, I was worried about the cold front, but I don’t think it’s bothering them at all.”

Lowen knows he still has a lot of ground to cover, but the potential for adding a blue trophy to the one he claimed at Pickwick Lake in 2021 is well within his sights.

“Typically, on the St. Johns, I catch them good the first day and then I stub my toe,” Lowen said. “I didn’t want to do that this time. Obviously, I didn’t, but I was blessed.

“Everything just went right, and I’m looking forward to getting the XPress boat and Yamaha back out there, throwing my little cricket around and making a run at this thing. After last year, coming off my worst season ever, it feels good to start out like this. I definitely needed this to get my confidence back up.”

Hailing from Plover, Wis., Przekurat set the Day 1 high mark with 24-15, the event’s heaviest bag. Day 2’s shivering, windy weather halved his productivity with a limit of 12-12 and dropped him to second with 37-11.

“It was a tough day for me; I kinda knew that going into the day,” Przekurat said. “I had to scramble around a little bit and caught what I caught. Hopefully, tomorrow, I can step it up a little bit and stay in the Top 10.”

Calling his day a junk-fishing exhibition, Przekurat said the day’s weather complexion made consistency nonexistent.

“I caught a couple off the bed on a dropshot, I caught a couple just (blind casting) a wacky-rigged Strike King Ocho, and I caught one on a jerkbait on a little channel-swing place,” Przekurat said. “I didn’t catch many fish at all.”

Seth Feider of New Market, Minn., is in third place with 37-7. Turning in a consistent performance, he backed up his Day 1 score of 18-15 with 18-8 and gained seven spots from 10th.

“It was the same bait as yesterday; I caught every one on a Texas-rigged black/blue Z-Man Bang StickZ with a 3/16-ounce weight,” Feider said. “I fished some different areas today and moved around a little more. It seems like I can’t keep beating on the same areas over and over again.

“I’m trying to pick one or two areas each day and try to catch everything I can out of it and then move on down the road. I caught some of my fish on docks and seawalls, but mostly on pads.”

Despite the conventional wisdom of expecting sunny afternoons to excel in post-frontal conditions, Feider said the morning hours produced his best bites — including an estimated 6-pounder.

John Cox of Debary, Fla., is in the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors with his 8-13.

Saturday’s takeoff is scheduled for 7 a.m. ET at the Palatka City Boat Ramp. The weigh-in will be held at the Palatka Riverfront Park at 3 p.m.

Bassmaster LIVE will be streaming on Bassmaster.com all four days, and coverage will also be available on FS1 on Saturday from 8 a.m.-noon and Sunday from 8-11 a.m. Stay up-to-date on all tournament coverage at Bassmaster.com/how-to-watch/.

Florida’s Putnam County Chamber of Commerce is hosting the event.

-30-

Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.

Media Contact: Chad Gay, Communications Manager, 256-424-2390, cgay@bassmaster.com

2025 FXR Pro Fish Bassmaster Elite Series St. Johns River 2/20-2/23
St. Johns River, Palakta FL.
Standings Day 2

Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$

1. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 10 45-09 104
Day 1: 5 21-05 Day 2: 5 24-04
2. Jay Przekurat Plover, WI 10 37-11 103
Day 1: 5 24-15 Day 2: 5 12-12
3. Seth Feider Elko New Market, MN 10 37-07 102
Day 1: 5 18-15 Day 2: 5 18-08
4. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 10 35-07 101
Day 1: 5 18-04 Day 2: 5 17-03
5. Evan Kung Pickering Ontario CANAD 10 35-06 100
Day 1: 5 19-05 Day 2: 5 16-01
6. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 10 35-04 99
Day 1: 5 15-02 Day 2: 5 20-02
7. John Cox Debary, FL 10 35-02 98 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-05 Day 2: 5 16-13
8. Joey Cifuentes III Clinton, AR 10 34-07 97
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 21-15
9. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 10 34-03 96
Day 1: 5 17-11 Day 2: 5 16-08
10. Brandon Card Salisbury, NC 10 33-09 95
Day 1: 5 20-00 Day 2: 5 13-09
11. Bryan New Leesville, SC 10 33-05 94
Day 1: 5 20-10 Day 2: 5 12-11
12. Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 10 33-01 93
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 19-10
13. Patrick Walters Eutawville, SC 10 32-07 92
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 18-04
14. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 10 32-02 91
Day 1: 5 17-07 Day 2: 5 14-11
15. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 10 31-14 90
Day 1: 5 18-10 Day 2: 5 13-04
16. Logan Parks Auburn, AL 10 31-14 89
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 5 17-05
17. Jason Christie Dry Creek, OK 10 31-14 88
Day 1: 5 16-09 Day 2: 5 15-05
18. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 10 31-05 87
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 17-05
19. Robert Gee Knoxville, TN 10 31-04 86
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 18-08
20. Tucker Smith Birmingham, AL 10 30-10 85
Day 1: 5 18-03 Day 2: 5 12-07
21. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 10 30-09 84
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 18-12
22. Emil Wagner Marietta, GA 10 30-09 83
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 5 17-00
23. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 10 30-04 82
Day 1: 5 18-07 Day 2: 5 11-13
24. Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 10 30-03 81
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 15-11
25. Logan Latuso Gonzales, LA 10 30-00 80
Day 1: 5 15-01 Day 2: 5 14-15
26. Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA 10 29-09 79 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 5 18-12
27. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 10 29-05 78
Day 1: 5 21-02 Day 2: 5 08-03
28. Austin Felix Eden Prairie, MN 10 29-04 77
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 18-14
29. Will Davis Jr Sylacauga, AL 10 28-11 76
Day 1: 5 15-12 Day 2: 5 12-15
30. Jake Whitaker Hendersonville, NC 10 28-08 75
Day 1: 5 15-12 Day 2: 5 12-12
31. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 8 28-07 74
Day 1: 5 16-05 Day 2: 3 12-02
32. Lee Livesay Longview, TX 7 28-06 73
Day 1: 5 22-13 Day 2: 2 05-09
33. Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 9 28-06 72
Day 1: 4 10-09 Day 2: 5 17-13
34. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 10 28-03 71
Day 1: 5 15-11 Day 2: 5 12-08
35. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 10 28-01 70
Day 1: 5 19-01 Day 2: 5 09-00
36. Wes Logan Springville, AL 8 27-15 69
Day 1: 5 19-12 Day 2: 3 08-03
37. Cory Johnston Otonabee CANADA 10 27-02 68
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 14-04
38. John Garrett Union City, TN 10 27-00 67
Day 1: 5 14-12 Day 2: 5 12-04
39. Taku Ito Dalton GA JAPAN 10 27-00 66
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 5 13-07
40. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 10 26-15 65
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 5 17-08
41. KJ Queen Catawba, NC 10 26-15 64
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 5 11-07
42. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 10 26-13 63
Day 1: 5 07-12 Day 2: 5 19-01
43. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 10 26-13 62
Day 1: 5 13-14 Day 2: 5 12-15
44. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 10 26-09 61
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 15-11
45. Bryant Smith Roseville, CA 10 26-09 60
Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 5 11-02
46. Alex Wetherell Middletown, CT 10 26-06 59
Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 5 17-08
47. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 10 26-06 58
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 11-14
48. Bryan Schmitt Deale, MD 10 26-01 57
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 13-05
49. David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 10 25-15 56
Day 1: 5 09-12 Day 2: 5 16-03
50. Carl Jocumsen Queensland TN AUSTRALIA 10 25-02 55
Day 1: 5 16-04 Day 2: 5 08-14
51. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 10 24-15 54
Day 1: 5 16-07 Day 2: 5 08-08
52. Cody Meyer Eagle, ID 10 24-13 53
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 11-09
53. Kenta Kimura Osaka OK JAPAN 7 24-09 52
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 2 10-02
54. Paul Marks Cumming, GA 10 24-07 51
Day 1: 5 08-03 Day 2: 5 16-04
55. Beau Browning Hot Springs National Pa 7 24-06 50
Day 1: 5 17-08 Day 2: 2 06-14
56. Jordan Lee Cullman, AL 10 24-05 49
Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 5 14-04
57. Cooper Gallant Bowmanville Ontario CAN 10 24-02 48
Day 1: 5 15-05 Day 2: 5 08-13
58. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 10 24-02 47
Day 1: 5 09-05 Day 2: 5 14-13
59. Brad Whatley Bivins, TX 8 24-01 46
Day 1: 3 09-09 Day 2: 5 14-08
60. Dakota Ebare Brookeland, TX 10 24-01 45
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 5 14-06
61. Scott Martin Clewiston, FL 10 23-12 44
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 5 10-13
62. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 10 23-03 43
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 5 08-06
63. Cody Huff Ava, MO 10 23-01 42
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 09-13
64. Cole Sands Johnson City, TN 9 22-15 41
Day 1: 5 14-11 Day 2: 4 08-04
65. Ed Loughran III Richmond, VA 10 22-13 40
Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 5 09-07
66. Cliff Pace Ovett, MS 10 22-11 39
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 5 11-11
67. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 10 22-09 38
Day 1: 5 07-15 Day 2: 5 14-10
68. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 8 21-09 37
Day 1: 3 06-03 Day 2: 5 15-06
69. Ben Milliken Omaha, NE 10 21-08 36
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 10-01
70. Kyle Welcher Valley, AL 10 21-05 35
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 09-15
71. Jonathan Kelley Old Forge, PA 10 21-03 34
Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 5 08-15
72. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 10 21-00 33
Day 1: 5 09-01 Day 2: 5 11-15
73. Wesley Gore Clanton, AL 10 20-15 32
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 08-14
74. Bob Downey Detroit Lakes, MN 10 20-09 31
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 08-01
75. Chris Zaldain Boyd, TX 10 20-08 30
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 5 07-09
76. Matt Arey Shelby, NC 10 19-13 29
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 5 08-14
77. Chad Pipkens Dewitt, MI 10 19-06 28
Day 1: 5 07-12 Day 2: 5 11-10
78. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 7 19-05 27
Day 1: 2 03-08 Day 2: 5 15-13
79. Ray Hanselman Jr Del Rio, TX 10 18-13 26
Day 1: 5 09-13 Day 2: 5 09-00
80. Gregory DiPalma Millville, NJ 10 18-11 25
Day 1: 5 09-00 Day 2: 5 09-11
81. Scott Canterbury Odenville, AL 6 18-04 24
Day 1: 5 15-10 Day 2: 1 02-10
82. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 10 17-04 23
Day 1: 5 10-10 Day 2: 5 06-10
83. Jeff Gustafson Kenora, ON Ontario CANA 10 17-02 22
Day 1: 5 08-00 Day 2: 5 09-02
84. Alex Redwine Blue Ash, OH 10 17-00 21
Day 1: 5 10-07 Day 2: 5 06-09
85. Jamie Hartman Newport, NY 10 16-15 20
Day 1: 5 08-02 Day 2: 5 08-13
86. Buddy Gross Chattanooga, TN 10 16-10 19
Day 1: 5 08-02 Day 2: 5 08-08
87. Timothy Dube Nashua , NH 10 16-07 18
Day 1: 5 09-01 Day 2: 5 07-06
88. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 8 16-03 17
Day 1: 5 09-02 Day 2: 3 07-01
89. Tyler Williams Belgrade, ME 7 16-02 16
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 2 02-08
90. Trey McKinney Carbondale, IL 8 15-05 15
Day 1: 3 02-13 Day 2: 5 12-08
91. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 9 14-07 14
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 4 04-14
92. Marc Frazier Newnan, GA 8 14-04 13
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 3 03-07
93. Kyoya Fujita Yamanashi CA JAPAN 5 13-13 12
Day 1: 3 10-01 Day 2: 2 03-12
94. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 9 13-09 11
Day 1: 5 05-10 Day 2: 4 07-15
95. Randy Howell Guntersville, AL 6 13-07 10
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 1 01-15
96. Jacob Foutz Charleston, TN 4 13-06 9
Day 1: 4 13-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
97. Kyle Patrick Cooperstown, NY 5 13-00 8
Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
98. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 8 12-05 7
Day 1: 5 05-10 Day 2: 3 06-11
99. Blake Capps Muskogee, OK 6 12-00 6
Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 1 03-02
100. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 3 11-10 5
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 11-10
101. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 7 11-07 4
Day 1: 3 03-07 Day 2: 4 08-00
102. Easton Fothergill Grand Rapids , MN 8 10-12 3
Day 1: 5 05-14 Day 2: 3 04-14
103. Andrew Loberg Guntersville, AL 4 07-09 2
Day 1: 3 06-05 Day 2: 1 01-04
104. Matty Wong Honolulu, HI 1 02-11 1
Day 1: 1 02-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 John Cox Debary, FL 08-13 $1,000.00
2 Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA08-12 $1,000.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 93 494 1317-03
2 81 456 1205-06
----------------------------------
174 950 2522-09

by AnglersChannel

Illinois Pro Ryan Armstrong takes Day 1 Lead at Tackle Warehouse Invitational Stop 1 at the Kissimmee Chain Presented by VOSKER

Third year Invitationals pro battles through wind and sets the bar high with 29-12

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (Feb. 21, 2025) – Though Day 1 of Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Stop 1 Presented by VOSKER on the Kissimmee Chain was far from balmy, which can often make for a tough bite in Florida, the fishing proved solid. A strong north wind made large swaths of Kissimmee barely fishable, and the going was slow in the morning. But by weigh-in, the quality of the field shone through.

Leading the way, pro Ryan Armstrong of Robinson, Illinois, blasted 29 pounds, 12 ounces to claim a solid lead of nearly 4 pounds. In second, pro Drew Gill of Mount Carmel, Illinois, snatched up 25-13, and Berrien Springs, Michigan’s Ron Nelson caught 23-1 for third place. Three more anglers brought in 20-pound bags, and a bunch of pros got into the mid-teens, putting themselves within striking distance if they can land a couple of the big bass Florida is known for.

Competitors will conclude the two-day opening round on Saturday, with only the top 30 pros based on their two-day cumulative weight advancing to Championship Sunday. The three-day tournament, hosted by Experience Kissimmee, features pro 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.

“I practiced hard, like everybody else, from sunrise to sunset and kept the trolling motor down and fished a lot of water,” Armstrong said. “A couple times, I got around a lot of bites. I think I have two or three areas that I have a whole lot of faith in. I shook the fish off for the most part in practice, and so I just went to where I thought I had the best bites. I started there this morning, and I never left.”

Fishing away from most of the field, Armstrong caught fish early and often.

“I had a limit pretty quick, and I left around noon,” he said. “I just took my time getting back in and making sure I was in safe.”

While leading an Invitationals event isn’t a familiar position for Armstrong, he’s feeling good.

“I feel very, very comfortable fishing grass,” he explained. “I feel very, very comfortable in the area that I'm in. I know what's going on. And what I've seen today, I learned a lot about my area that I wasn't able to learn in practice, because I didn't want to expose the fish anymore.

“So, today was a really good learning day for me about my area, which really is probably more important than what my weight was. Because I think I'm going to be more efficient, and I have a better idea of how many fish are around me to manage it.”

Armstrong hasn’t declared victory yet, and he’d be a little premature to call game, especially with last week’s Bass Pro Tour winner on the Harris Chain, Bobby Lane, lurking in the Top 10 along with a bevy of high-level talent within striking distance. But he couldn’t ask for a better way to open the season.

“It feels great, man,” said Armstrong. “But it's far from over. I'm nowhere near what we want. This is a long road, and it was a good Day 1. But we want to win, and we're going to try to do everything in order to make it happen.”

Despite the new rules limiting forward-facing sonar this year, second-place angler Drew Gill was likely a fixture in most Phoenix Fantasy Fishing rosters, and he rewarded his faithful on Day 1. Knocking their lights out as he is known to do, the young Illinois pro is in striking position again.

“I went out there and executed the game plan,” said Gill. “It was a pretty high-risk approach, fishing isolated targets for isolated big ones. I caught eight or nine bass today and caught them all on the spinning rod – a pretty unique deal for here.”

With his echolocation machines turned off on Day 2, Gill is planning on making some pretty big changes.

“I’m going to fish mostly new water,” he said. “A little bit of the same stuff less precisely, but most of my stretches just don't have enough of a population to catch them blind. I mean, you would throw for four hours before ever hitting a single bass.

“We're going to try and hold serve for the last day and see if we can't pull off something crazy,” he said. “I know 30 is doable doing what I'm doing, and I want to get another shot at it on Day 3. So, we’ve got to make it through tomorrow.”

The top 20 pros after Day 1 on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes are:

1st:        Ryan Armstrong, Robinson, Ill., five bass, 29-12
2nd:       Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., five bass, 25-13
3rd:       Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich., five bass, 23-1
4th:        Matt Reed, Madisonville, Texas, five bass, 21-14
5th:        Troy Stokes, Harrison, Tenn., five bass, 21-12
6th:        Kennie Steverson, Umatilla, Fla., five bass, 20-3
7th:        Jon Canada, Helena, Ala., five bass, 19-4
8th:        Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., five bass, 18-14
9th:        Mitchell Robinson, Landrum, S.C., five bass, 18-14
10th:     Joseph Webster, Hamilton, Ala., five bass, 18-13
11th:     Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla., five bass, 18-10
12th:     Bryson O’Steen, Live Oak, Fla., five bass, 18-8
13th:     Joshua Weaver, Macon, Ga., five bass, 17-7
14th:     Bobby Bakewell, Orlando, Fla., five bass, 17-7
15th:     John Brown, Wedowee, Ala., five bass, 17-0
16th:     Gary Klein, Mingus, Texas, five bass, 16-12
17th:     Andrew Nordbye, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 16-10
18th:     Hayden Marbut, Birmingham, Ala., five bass, 16-10
19th:     Ethan Greene, Eufaula, Ala., five bass, 16-6
20th:     Thomas Wooten, Huddleston, Va., five bass, 16-4

Complete results for the entire field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Pro Matt Reed earned the first $1,000 Berkley Big Bass award of the year, Friday, with a largemouth bass that weighed in at 8 pounds, 12 ounces.

In Tackle Warehouse Invitational competition, the full field compete in the two-day opening round on Days 1 and 2 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. The winner of the Tackle Warehouse Invitational Stop 1 at the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes Presented by VOSKER will be determined by the heaviest three-day cumulative weight.

Anglers will launch at 7 a.m. ET each morning from the Big Toho Marina, located at 69 Lakeview Drive in Kissimmee, Florida. Weigh-ins will be held at the marina and will begin at 3 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 MLFNOW! broadcast team of Chad McKee and Rob Newell will break down the extended action live each day of competition from 7:30 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 1 at the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes Presented by VOSKER will air as a two-hour episode, premiering at 9 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Oct. 4 on CBS Sports Network.

by AnglersChannel

Bassmaster Elite Qualifier at Pickwick Lake relocates to Wheeler Lake

Feb. 21, 2025

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — After confirming a tournament scheduling conflict with the Bassmaster Elite Qualifier at Pickwick Lake Oct. 2-4, B.A.S.S. tournament officials have announced the event will relocate to Wheeler Lake in Decatur, Ala. Tournament dates will remain the same.

The Bassmaster Elite Qualifier at Wheeler Lake will be hosted by Decatur Morgan County Tourism.

“Moving a tournament is never easy,” said Executive Director of Tournaments Hank Weldon. “Ultimately, we needed to keep our anglers in mind as well as anglers who are planning on fishing the other events. We are thankful for our friends in Tennessee and Pickwick Landing State Park for understanding as well as Decatur Morgan County Tourism committing to host the second stop of the EQs. Wheeler fishes great in October. It will be exciting to see the EQs start to take shape at this second stop.”

The first EQ event is scheduled for Sept. 18-20 at Lake Champlain in Plattsburgh, N.Y. The series will then head to Wheeler Lake Oct. 2-4 before heading to the third and final EQ stop of the season Nov. 13-15 at Lake Okeechobee in Clewiston, Fla.

In addition to the 100 anglers qualifying from both divisions of the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN, all current Bassmaster Elite Series anglers will be eligible to compete in the Elite Qualifiers, as well as the second- and third-place finishers from the 2024 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Championship presented by Lowrance.

B.A.S.S. remains committed to the “win and you’re in” concept for the 2026 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour. Anglers who fish every event in a division of the Opens will receive a berth to the Classic if they win an event. The same applies to the three-event EQ series, taking the total to 11 berths to the Classic, which is an increase of two berths from years past.

Also new for 2025, the number of anglers who will qualify for the Elite Series has been increased to 10 (nine qualified in each of the past two years). Additionally, the EQ series rules will mirror those of the Elite Series, meaning the “no-info rule” is currently in effect and soliciting information for these bodies of waters is now prohibited.

EQ entry fees will be $3,500 per event. For full details please visit Bassmaster.com.

2025 Elite Qualifiers

Sept. 18-20, Lake Champlain, Plattsburgh, N.Y.

Oct 2-4, Wheeler Lake, Decatur, Ala.

Nov. 13-15, Lake Okeechobee, Clewiston, Fla.

About B.A.S.S.

by AnglersChannel

2025 Season of the Alabama Bass Trail (ABTTS) Kicks Off the South Division at Lake Martin This Week!

DECATUR, AL (February 20, 2025) - The Alabama Bass Trail Teams Series (ABTTS) is set to kick off its twelfth season of the South Division on Stop #1 at Lake Martin on Saturday, February 22, 2025.

The season's South Division opener will take place at Wind Creek State Park, 4325 AL-128, Alexander City, AL 35010 at 7:00 A.M. or safe daylight, with the first flight due in at 3:00 P.M. for weigh-in.

"It is always good to get to Alexander City, and one reason we love to go there is Wind Creek State Park—they always roll out the red carpet. Sandra Fuller with the Tallapoosa Tourism Bureau does a phenomenal job welcoming our teams in. She is there during the weigh-in, along with the local news media. It is always great to see them, and it is a lot of fun. This facility is well equipped for tournaments," said Kay Donaldson, Director of the Alabama Bass Trail.

This promises to be an exciting and challenging tournament. We invite viewers to tune into our live broadcast on www.alabamabasstrail.org on February 22,nd, at 7:00AM CST for the tournament action. Weigh-ins will be held at Wind Creek State Park, and will be available on live broadcast, beginning at 3:00PM CST.

Named "Event of the Year" by Decatur Morgan Tourism, the Alabama Bass Trail stands as one of the Southeast's most competitive tournament circuits and is the second-largest tournament trail in the United States. Selling out in under 7 minutes, the ABTTS 2025 Season will bring in anglers from across the United States, fishing the best lakes in the state of Alabama. The series maintains a guaranteed first-place prize of $15,000 per tournament, with payouts extending to the top 40 finishers in the regular divisions. Over $750,000 in cash and prizes will be up for grabs this season! The Tournament Trail offers two divisions along with a no-entry-fee championship with a grand prize of $50,000! As a sanctioned tournament series in the B.A.S.S. Team Championship, the ABTTS will qualify 18 teams to fish the BASSMASTER Team Championship in 2025. The top angler fishing the BASSMASTER Team Championship will qualify to fish the 2026 BASSMASTER Classic!

Our South Division angler roster link is below.

https://www.alabamabasstrail.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/ABTTS-2025-South-Division-Roster.pdf

For additional questions, photos, and interviews, please contact Angela Cross.

The 2024 Alabama Bass Trail Sponsors Include; Phoenix Boats, AMFirst, Landers-McLarty Chevrolet, McGraw-Webb Chevrolet, Rapala, VMC, Crush City, Buffalo Rock, Academy Sports & Outdoors, Jack's, Garmin, Lew’s, Strike King, Alabama State Parks, Halo Fishing, Snag Proof, NetBait, Bait Fuel, TH Marine Supplies, Power-Pole, Pro Guide Batteries, American Trailer Rental, Yamaha, Anheuser-Busch, American Baitworks, E3 Sports Apparel, FishAlabama.org, Sweet Home Alabama, and Alabama Mountain Lakes.

About Alabama Bass Trail Since its inception, the Alabama Bass Trail has generated over $103 million in tourism revenue for Alabama, underscoring its importance as a premier fishing destination.

The Alabama Bass Trail is a program of the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association. Its mission is to promote Alabama as a year-round fishing destination, to preserve natural resources for generations to come, and to educate high school and college-aged students to be good stewards of natural resources. The 13 bass fishing lakes consist of Lake Guntersville, Wheeler Lake, Pickwick Lake, Lewis Smith Lake, Neely Henry Lake, Weiss Lake, Lake Martin, Lay Lake, Logan Martin Lake, Lake Jordan, Alabama River, Lake Eufaula, and the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta. For more information, visit www.alabamabasstrail.org and www.alabamabasstrail100.org.

by AnglersChannel

Anglers will share small areas during Bassmaster Elite at Lake Okeechobee

Feb. 20, 2025

OKEECHOBEE, Fla. — As Florida’s largest lake and the 10th-largest lake nationally, Lake Okeechobee boasts 730 square miles of surface area. However, when the Champion Power Equipment Bassmaster Elite at Lake Okeechobee visits the storied fishery Feb. 27-March 2, anglers will focus on relatively small sections defined by the right habitat.

As with most Florida lakes, “the right habitat” refers to plant life, both submersed aquatic vegetation (SAV) like hydrilla and emergent species such as lily pads, Kissimmee grass and various reeds. In recent years, Okeechobee has lost vast areas of its vegetation, largely due to high water, which reduces sunlight penetration necessary for photosynthesis and limits plant growth.

Two weeks prior to the tournament’s commencement, Lake Okeechobee’s water level was 14.11 feet. That’s well within the historic average for mid-February, and barring any major influx, that number will be declining.

Florida Elite Series pro Scott Martin, who grew up fishing and guiding on “The Big O,” claimed a wire-to-wire victory at the 2024 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Lake Okeechobee presented by SEVIIN. Making his home in Clewiston, at the lake’s south end, Martin said Okeechobee will present the upcoming Elite event with a challenging but optimistic scenario.

“The lake is fishing small like usual, but the fishing’s been really good,” Martin said. “I believe that we’ve had a good spawn around the lake due to light winds and warm temperatures for the last three weeks.

“The water is falling .03 feet per day and is targeted to hit 12 feet by May. This will help greatly in increasing our submerged vegetation.”

Typically, productive areas exist at the lake’s upper end where the tournament is based, as well as the southern portion, where the famous Roland Martin Marina resides. Notably, late January saw the 2025 Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Lake Okeechobee presented by Bass Pro Shops won in Pelican Bay at the lake’s southeast side.

“The tournament could be won in the north or south end, but this time of year, if the south end turns on, it’s hard to beat,” said shallow-water stick Drew Cook. “If they’re eating in South Bay, it’s going to be the deal.

“It’s always been that way. South Bay is a long (boat) drive from anywhere, so maybe it’s a little less pressured.”

Balancing the outlook, Martin references his lifetime of experience to note that the lake’s annual cycle ensures a dynamic and challenging scenario. Essentially, summer rains can raise the lake level by several feet until the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers releases the excess through dams on the lake’s west and east sides.

“The lake resets every year,” Martin said. “The water comes up during hurricane season then it comes down, so it’s all a matter of what habitat remains. This year, it’s very different and a lot of habitat has changed. There’s not one single waypoint where I caught them last year that I think I can catch them at this year.”

Adding to this truth, Tyler Rivet, who won the 2023 Elite held on Okeechobee, unveiled the previously underutilized potential found in the Kissimmee River. As the backstory goes, the Louisiana native fished the river prior to the event primarily to catch sac-a-lait (black crappie) for dinner but also located a previously unknown gold mine of unpressured bass.

Rivet got off to a quick start, and, during the first day’s weigh-in, he boldly stated that he was on the winning pattern. Three more days of Kissimmee River productivity earned the win and added a new facet to the Lake Okeechobee mystique — one that will, no doubt, receive serious attention at this year’s event.

While Cook expects a mostly spawn-centered tournament, he’s also aware the southern Florida bass work on a more relaxed schedule than the rest of the country. That could bring a mix, including prespawn and postspawn action that places a premium on prudent positioning.

“Any time in Florida, you’re going to have to have fish coming to you,” Cook said. “Whenever you find that area where they’re coming to you, you’re going to succeed.

“That area used to be a hard reedline, then you’d move back into the ponds to look for spawners. Now there’s not much of that left. If there are any offshore grasslines, they should be absolutely stacked with staging fish.”

Less habitat shared by a full field of 104 competitors means competition for prime areas. Predicting several groups of anglers fishing within sight of one another, Cook said success will require a measured pace and a disciplined focus.

“You’ll have to slow down; and if you think you're going slow, go slower,” Cook said. “You can’t pay attention to what other people are doing, and you can’t worry about fishing behind other people.

“Someone in front of you might catch the males in a spawning area, and then you might come behind them and find the larger females will eat your bait.”

In 2023, Rivet won with a four-day total of 86 pounds, 15 ounces. Cook finished 10th with 66-11 and is expecting similar numbers for this year’s event.

“It’s not going to be a home-run-type spawn, but it will still be good; I think it will take 85 pounds to win,” Cook said. “I think you’ll need about 17 a day to make the Top 10.”

Daily takeoffs for the event will be at C. Scott Driver Park at 7 a.m. ET and weigh-ins each day will be held back at the park at 3 p.m.

Bassmaster LIVE will be streaming on Bassmaster.com all four days, and coverage will also be available on The Roku Channel’s Roku Sports Channel Thursday and Friday as well as on FS1 from 8-11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday from 8-10 a.m. Stay up to date on all tournament coverage at Bassmaster.com/how-to-watch/.

Visit Florida is hosting the event.

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.

by AnglersChannel

Montevallo Takes Over Number One Ranking in Bass Pro Shops School of the Year

University of North Alabama climbs to 2^nd, Carson-Newman University drops to 3^rd

SAN ANTONIO, TX (February 20, 2025) – The Association of Collegiate Anglers announces the latest points update to the standings for the 2024-25 Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia. This most recent points update is highlighted by points awarded at multiple School-Run/Other Events, as well as a MLF College Series tournament.

Four-time defending title winner the University of Montevallo moves into first place with a season total of 18,260 points. 2^nd ranked University of North Alabama climbs two places since the previous update to trail Montevallo by just over 700 points, and Carson-Newman University moves from 1^st to 3^rd.

For the second time this season, the University of Montevallo is ranked 1^st overall in the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia. Montevallo’s other appearance atop college fishing’s only all-encompassing National Rankings system came at the end of September, following the ACA’s first event of its historic 20^th season. At that time, Montevallo was coming off of a victory at the Bass Pro Shops Big Bass Bash presented by Berkley. That 1^st place finish by Evan Mabrey, paired with a 6^th place finish by Storm Clark, helped to propel Montevallo into the number one spot.

Four months later, Montevallo finds itself ranked number one once again. A four-time defending title winner of the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024), Montevallo earned 2,400 points at the latest MLF College Series event at Lake Seminole. Connor Bell & Nicholas Dumke finished in 5^th, and Brennan Berglund & Colton White took 7^th. Those two Top 10 finishes earned Montevallo the second most points of any school to compete at Lake Seminole.

Taking a look at the Top 4 ranked teams, it’s important to note that each team has fished the same amount of major national college tournaments. These teams are on equal footing in that respect, and just under 2,400 points separate 1^st from 4^th.

McKendree University (7^th) and Drury University (13^th) each have room to gain on the teams around them, as they’ve fished one less MLF event than every team in the Top 15. With the spring season set to continue for each of the three major college trails, a clearer picture in the race for Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia will continue to be drawn as teams continue to earn major points.

Here is a look at teams that made major moves up in the Top 25 for the latest standings in the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia:

4) LSU-Shreveport: Previously Ranked 8^th

9) Campbellsville University: Previously Ranked 13^th

10) Lander University: Previously Ranked 15^th

20) Florida Gateway College: Previously Ranked 24^th

21) Georgia College: Previously Ranked 22^nd

Click here to view the complete rankings.

Two teams moved up into the Top 25 after previously not being ranked in that coveted position. The University of Tennessee moved from 27^th to 24^th, and Troy University jumped five spots from 30^th to 25^th.

by AnglersChannel

St Johns River Questions and Insights

Courtesy of Dynamic Sponsorships

The first event of the Elite Series season conjures a unique, nervous excitement amongst the entire field of pro anglers. Even for established veterans, who have competed in most, if not all, of the twenty seasons of Bassmaster’s premier level of competition; the first day of a new season brings certain questions that only a full day of fishing can answer.

Such was the case on day one at the 2025 FXR Pro Fish Bassmaster Elite at the St Johns River. To compound the first day mental debates anglers were dealing with prior to blast-off at the Palatka City Boat Dock & Ramp, they had to factor in how Wednesday’s off-day would affect what they found in practice, as well what a volatile forecast featuring a significant cold front might do to these Florida bass.

As fans we expect professional fishermen to have all the answers, but the reality is most top finishes require real-time adjustments and adapting with the fish as each day progresses. Make no mistake, how they approach an event mentality, and their decision-making process is every bit as important as the lures or equipment they employ.

With day one behind them, Elite Series pros now have the insights of yesterday to lean on. Peek inside this process with Team Toyota pros Mike Iaconelli and Matt Arey. What questions did they have coming into day one, what did they learn, and what new riddles do they hope to answer on the water today?

Mike Iaconelli: 16-lbs 7-ounces, 20th place after day one.

Longtime fan favorite Mike Iaconelli is fishing his 30^th season as a full-time pro in 2025, but a few weeks ago he started dealing with a right arm injury that jeopardized his season. The Yamaha Outboards pro is making due, fishing through obvious pain and wearing a brace on his arm to hopefully thwart his elbow from getting worse.

“Yesterday I was asking questions I’ve never asked myself in my entire career,” Iaconelli admitted. “I was wondering if I was really going to be able to compete with my injury. Can I make the casts I need to make? Is my elbow going to hold up to the hooksets? Normally, the questions I’m looking to answer revolve around fish patterns but yesterday was all about physical capabilities. Which is wild to say. My elbow felt OK during practice, but practice is half speed compared to a tournament day.”

Ike had a strong day one, catching over 16-lbs including a six-pound St. Johns River special.

“Yesterday I learned I can compete, and that adrenaline is a good pain reliever,” Iaconelli said with a laugh. “My arm hurt at times, but my mindset is… I’m fishing, I’m happy. A few days before I came here, I didn’t know if I’d get to fish my “dirty thirty” season or not. It’s all good! Today, my mindset has shifted and the questions I’m facing revolve around how this cold front is going to affect the fish in my area.

“I am making a long run and fishing an area I don’t think the fish are going to completely vacate. They aren’t going to swim several miles out of there, so I just have to see what their mood is and what adjustments I need to make to put together another solid day.”

Matt Arey: 10-lbs 15-ounces, 65th place after day one.

Arey ended day one on the wrong side of the top 50 cut and while he’ll tell you he didn’t find definitive answers to his internal questions yesterday, he did eliminate some things. Which is all part of the problem-solving process for Arey, who’s proven to be one of the most consistent anglers on tour.

“Coming into day one I was battling the typical Florida questions of how these fish, that really would like to move up to spawn, will be affected by this cold front,” Arey explained. “Florida bass do not like the cold, so my main goal for yesterday was figuring out what adjustments I needed to make to capitalize on the few good bites I’ll get this week. I only had seven keeper bites yesterday. I salvaged day one, but it wasn’t what I was hoping for.

“Honestly, I don’t feel like I got answers to those main questions (on day one). I got a puzzle piece or two figured out, but the whole picture isn’t clear yet. I have more work to do today, and I’m hoping to answer the cold-front conundrum I came into day one chewing on. I have a longer day today (Friday), so I’m thinking I’ll make a long run and try to keep putting the puzzle pieces together.”

by AnglersChannel

Przekurat warms up to Florida’s cold for St. Johns lead

Feb. 20, 2025

PALATKA, Fla. — Jay Przekurat of Plover, Wis., was just happy to finally hit the water, but his winter-weary enthusiasm lead him to a five-bass limit of 24 pounds, 15 ounces that leads Day 1 of the 2025 FXR Pro Fish Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River.

Przekurat, who won the 2022 Dakota Lithium Elite Series Rookie of the Year title, leads Texan Lee Livesay by 2-2.

Not the least bit intimidated by takeoff temperatures in the upper 40s, or Friday’s forecast for 34 degrees at sunrise, Przekurat ignored the traditionally gloomy outlook associated with cold fronts and notoriously weather-sensitive Florida bass. The result was a nearly flawless day far surpassing his expectations.

“What a day; I couldn’t do any wrong today,” Przekurat said. “All I have to say is ‘I’m so happy to be fishing in Florida.’ At home yesterday they cancelled school because it was so cold. Whatever tomorrow is, I know everybody at home will be watching me fishing in Florida, wishing they were fishing in Florida.

“I’m just happy to be fishing. Prior to this tournament, I hadn’t wet a line since before October, so I was really anxious to get out.”

Growing up around weedy Wisconsin fisheries, Przekurat’s solid on the skill sets that equally fit Sunshine State waters.

“I’m fishing shallow; that’s what I like to do in Florida,” he said. “I’m not much for fishing past about 8 feet in Florida. I like a flipping stick, and I like to use a spinning rod with a wacky worm.

“It’s a lot like back home in Wisconsin. The only difference is this place has 8- to 10-pounders and we have 4-pounders.”

Indeed, Przekurat anchored his bag with an 8-4 — his first catch, which ate a Strike King Baby Z-Too. He caught several other fish on that bait and also fished a wacky-rigged Strike King Ocho.

“I was looking for flats and places where the fish are going to pull up to spawn,” Przekurat said. “We had a really warm week (before the cold front) and I think a lot of fish had pulled up to where they were spawning, and now they’re kinda getting that push back. But they’re still lingering in those areas; they’re not going to swim a mile away.”

Notably, the past several years have seen the lush eelgrass meadows that once carpeted much of the St. Johns sadly absent. Hurricanes and the sunlight-choking high water that followed rendered much of the historically productive patterns and places irrelevant.

Starting his fourth Elite Series season, Przekurat said he’s unhindered by changes that preceded his pro career.

“I wasn’t able to fish here when they had eelgrass, so I’m not even familiar with how good the fishing used to be, which maybe is an advantage for me,” he said. “I think (the lack of eelgrass) makes areas a lot smaller, and it makes you concentrate on areas where you know there’s fish instead of running around.”

Despite his clearly productive efforts, Przekurat admitted to a pleasantly casual day where all the pieces simply fell into place. Spending most of his time in the Lake George area, he went into the day without a defined target list.

“There wasn’t a specific spot that I thought was going to be the deal,” Przekurat said. “I’m kinda playing this tournament day by day. I thought I had an area that I could catch fish in today, but I don’t know if I can catch fish there tomorrow.

“Today looked great, but tomorrow might be a completely different area and a completely different style of fishing. I didn’t expect to catch 24-15 today, not in my wildest dreams. I was hoping for 15 pounds. Tomorrow I’ll be really happy with 15 pounds.”

Lee Livesay of Longview, Texas, is in second place with 22-13. Making a big run paid off, in terms of jump-starting his day, but returning to waters closer to the tournament site proved most productive.

“I ran an hour south to Lake Astor, fished some shellbeds and caught a limit really quick,” Livesay said. “It was maybe 7-8 pounds, but it got me comfortable. Then I went and fished some new water and caught a 6-pounder on a Chatterbait in some pads.

“I caught a nearly 3-pounder on a 6th Sense Provoke 97X jerkbait, then I came back (downriver) toward Palatka and caught a 7, a 4 and a couple of 3s just flipping a black/blue-tip 6th Sense Clout (stick worm). I made the right decisions today.”

Contemplating Day 2, Livesay said he’s planning to repeat the shallow power-fishing game plan.

“It kinda feels like I can’t do it again, but at the same time, I had them fairly early and it felt pretty good,” Livesay said. “I kinda laid off some areas where I think maybe I could duplicate today.”

Bill Lowen of Brookville, Ind., is in third place with 21-5. Enjoying a fast start to his day, Lowen drew on his vast experience fishing the Ohio River’s shallow, muddy water and relied on tactics with which he’s deeply familiar.

“I ran to my primary area where I had kinda figured out a little deal with a swimming technique, but they were just nipping at the bait,” Lowen said. “I figured out a flipping bait to get bit on, and my first bites this morning were a 5 and a 4. That’s a good way to start the morning.

“I’m just fishing shallow wood, and I don’t have any company in my area, so hopefully, what I have going on will hold out. I have two other areas that I didn’t even look at today, because I have my weight pretty quickly.”

John Cox of Debary, Fla., is in the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors with his 8-13.

Friday’s takeoff is scheduled for 7 a.m. ET at the Palatka City Boat Ramp. The weigh-in will be held at the Palatka Riverfront Park at 3 p.m.

Florida’s Putnam County Chamber of Commerce is hosting the event.

by AnglersChannel

B.A.S.S. inks deal with Champion Power Equipment as Elite Series event title sponsor

Feb. 20, 2025

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. announced today that Champion Power Equipment has signed on as the title sponsor of the upcoming Champion Power Equipment Bassmaster Elite at Lake Okeechobee to be held in Okeechobee, Fla., Feb. 27-March 2.

Champion Power Equipment is a market leader in power generation equipment, and the Nevada-based company’s product lineup now includes portable generators, home standby generators, inverter generators, lithium-ion power stations, winches, log splitters and other outdoor power equipment.

“At Champion Power Equipment, we’re excited to partner with the Bassmaster Elite Series and celebrate the spirit of adventure that fishing embodies,” said the Director of Marketing at Champion Power Equipment Scott Henning. “While this sponsorship showcases the playful side of our tagline, ‘For home, work, and play,’ it’s also a reminder that our versatile equipment does so much more. From providing backup power during emergencies at home to reliable energy at remote job sites, we make the power that makes people’s lives easier — whether at work, at play, or somewhere in between.”

The Elite Series last visited Lake Okeechobee in 2023, and fans were treated to a victory by Louisiana’s Tyler Rivet when he posted a four-day weight of 86-15 and won by almost 4 pounds over Texas’ Clark Wendlandt, who brought 83 pounds to the scales.

“Champion Power Equipment specializes in outdoor power equipment — something that is used extensively by the fishing demographic, and this partnership is a natural fit,” said B.A.S.S. Chief Operating Officer Phillip Johnson. “We are looking forward to a very successful and exciting event at Lake Okeechobee and a mutually beneficial partnership in 2025.”

About Champion Power Equipment

Champion Power Equipment is a market leader in power generation equipment. Champion has decades of experience providing dependable and durable power products designed and engineered in the US for the North American and world markets. For home, work or play, Champion products are the standard of performance excellence. We make the power that makes your life easier.

Since 2003 Champion Power Equipment has earned a reputation for designing and producing the market’s finest power equipment. Headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, Champion's North American footprint also includes facilities in Southern California, Tennessee, Wisconsin and Ontario, Canada.

Today Champion’s product line has expanded to include portable generators, home standby generators, inverter generators, engines, winches and log splitters. With over 4.5 million generators sold in North America, Champion is a market leader in the power equipment field.

About B.A.S.S.

by AnglersChannel

Cox picks fishing partners and lures prior to Elite Series opener

We caught up with always jovial John Cox prior to opening day of the Bassmaster Elite Series season in his home state of Florida. He disclosed what variables fans should keep an eye on at this event, along with folks he’d love to share a day fishing with, and lures he’ll depend on this week.

Q: What two variables should fans keep an eye on as they follow this event on the St. Johns River at Palatka, Florida.

Cox: As always, the weather. We’ll be dealing with gusty north winds the first two days, and then things calm down considerably for the weekend. It could be like two different events packed into one. And the leaderboard. Don’t assume what you see on the leaderboard after Day 2, is what the final score will look like.

Q: What two people do you wish you could spend a day on the water with?

Cox: Forrest L. Wood, he’s no longer with us, but being a part of Vexus® Boats has grown my appreciation for the super-quality guy he was. He was a great fishing guide too. Plus, he handed me the big $300,000 check when I got my first championship win in 2016, but I never really got the chance to know him.

And I’d pick Shaw Grigsby. He’s a Florida guy that I’ve admired since 5^th grade, but I would make him take me gator hunting, not bass fishing.

Q: What are you loving most about your new Vexus?

Cox: It’s the smoothest riding aluminum boat made. It rides and feels like a fiberglass boat. So, I no longer have to worry about how rough the water will be. I can go anywhere I want to go. It floats super shallow too, so I’ve got peace-of-mind knowing I can get into any backwater I’m wanting to fish.

Q: What two lures will you for sure have tied on this week?

Cox: A Texas-rigged 6” Berkley Maxscent General in black-blue tip, and a new tungsten-weighted lipless style bait called the Berkley Jack. It was kind of designed for vertical jigging walleyes, but I like it around St. Johns River shell beds.

by AnglersChannel

Major League Fishing BFL Arkie Division Opener on Lake Ouachita Set for Saturday Postponed

WHAT:
The Major League Fishing (MLF) Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine Arkie division season-opening tournament on Lake Ouachita, scheduled for this Saturday, Feb. 22, has been postponed due to inclement weather.

MLF officials are working to reschedule the tournament at a later date. The rescheduled tournament date and location will be announced very soon, once confirmed.

NOTES:
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 Lake Eufaula in Eufaula, Oklahoma. 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 Strike King 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. The 2025 BFL All-American will take place May 29-31, 2025, at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is hosted by hosted by Visit Hot Springs and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.

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, E3, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Li Time, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, 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 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 17 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.

by AnglersChannel

Smith Lake primed to shine during Bassmaster College Series event

Feb. 19, 2025

CULLMAN, Ala. — Smith Lake is as healthy as it’s ever been, according to guide Logan Johnson, which is good news for teams looking to make a splash during the Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops event.

“Really and truly, the lake as a whole health-wise, the population of the fish, is exponentially better than it has been in a while,” the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN pro said. “Every bass you catch is fat, round and happy as they can be. They are healthy. And the clouds of blueback herring seem to get bigger and bigger.”

Tournament days are scheduled for Feb. 26-27 with daily takeoffs at Smith Lake Park in Cullman at 6:30 a.m. CT and weigh-ins to be held back at the park at 2:30 p.m. The top 10% of the field will punch a ticket to the 2025 Strike King Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops and all teams will earn points toward the Team of the Year race in the Legends Trail. The Strike King Bassmaster High School Series and Bassmaster Junior Series events will follow on March 2.

Located in north-central Alabama, Smith Lake sports an impressive population of big spotted bass as well as lunker largemouth. Last year, the Bassmaster Elite Series showcased that when they took on the Black Warrior River impoundment in early July. Taku Ito won that event thanks in part to a 5 1/2-pound spotted bass he landed on the last day.

Barring a major freeze or flood, Johnson anticipates the lake to be close to full pool with both the spotted bass and largemouth in the prespawn stage. If there is a really impactful warming trend, there might be a couple of bass that find their way to the bank to spawn.

On the whole, though, Johnson expects there to be a lot of offshore fishing using forward-facing sonar.

“There will obviously be a lot of ’Scoping,” he said. “But whoever wins that event will have to have one or two big largemouth every day. You won’t be able to win on straight spotted bass. You can win on straight spots all winter, but once spring arrives, you have to have one or two largemouth.”

Much of the spotted bass population will be chasing blueback herring. Ditches just off the main-lake channel are the best areas to find herring chasers this time of the year, but Johnson says finding the right areas requires a lot of scanning.

“Herring are a little bit unpredictable,” he said. “It takes a lot of seat time and finding as many areas with good herring in them as you can, because they will move on you in a heartbeat.”

Jighead minnows will be key baits for these bass as well as a medium-diving crankbait like a Strike King Gravel Dawg or a Spro RkCrawler. A big glidebait could also come into play if the correct conditions present themselves.

Meanwhile, the largemouth will gravitate to the back thirds of the pockets and secondary points leading into the spawning coves. Isolated rock and wood will give those bass a place to stage. Moving baits like ChatterBaits will be key for getting big bites.

Visit Cullman will host the tournament.

2025 Bassmaster College Series Title Sponsor: Strike King

2025 Bassmaster College Series Presenting Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops

2025 Bassmaster College Series Youth Sponsors: Seaguar, Shimano

About B.A.S.S.

by AnglersChannel

Toyota Adds Brandon Palaniuk to Star Studded Team Toyota Roster

PLANO, TX – Fifteen years after purchasing a used 2008 Tundra in his home state of Idaho, Brandon Palaniuk’s journey with Toyota comes full circle with his addition to Toyota’s team of professional anglers. Texas-based Toyota Motor North America is proud to welcome Palaniuk to Team Toyota.

“We are proud to welcome Brandon to Team Toyota,” said Dedra DeLilli, Vice President of Marketing, Toyota Motor North America. “As a dedicated husband, father, and champion, Brandon embodies the values we admire. Having owned and towed with multiple Tundras, he truly understands the strength and reliability of our vehicles.”

Long before Palaniuk became a household name in tournament bass fishing, he was a young man from Idaho with what seemed like a farfetched dream of fishing for a living. In 2010 he was climbing the ranks of Bassmaster competition in hopes of one day qualifying for the Elite Series. It was then he made a pivotal decision to purchase a used Toyota Tundra, which proved to be the beginning of this new partnership.

“A big reason I bought that first Tundra was Toyota’s involvement in the sport and because I aspired to be one of the guys on Team Toyota,” Palaniuk recalled. “I wanted to be KVD, Swindle, Ike or Big Show. I was trying to emulate what they had. Fast forward over a decade, it’s incredibly humbling to be mentioned in the same conversation and on the same team as the anglers I idolized at the start of my career. It’s an honor that I don’t take for granted.”

Palaniuk has been a long-time member and proponent of the Toyota Bonus Bucks program. Toyota’s popular contingency program was another major factor in establishing his loyalty to the brand and tow vehicle in the early stages of his competitive fishing pursuits.

“I credit the money I made through Bonus Bucks with helping launch my professional career,” Palaniuk said. “I didn’t have sponsorship money coming in back in those days. I was working for a timber company in between tournaments to support my fishing, running heavy equipment building logging roads in the mountains, pretty much living paycheck to paycheck. The extra cash from Bonus Bucks checks here and there was a difference maker for me in being able to fund my first year on tour.”

Since those humble beginnings, which sometimes included sleeping in his “Tundra Suites” in the back of his tow vehicle, Palaniuk has gone on to live up to his nickname of “the prodigy”. His resume includes a B.A.S.S. Nation Championship, two Bassmaster Angler of the Year titles, and five Bassmaster Elite Series trophies in his 15-years as a full-time pro angler.

More than his impressive accolades, Palaniuk is a leader both on and off the water. He’s looked up to by fans and his peers alike for his positive outlook and supportive nature. Palaniuk works just as hard at being the best dad, husband, business partner and person as he does at being the top bass angler on tour.

Toyota’s partnership with Palaniuk is a testament to the brand’s on-going support of bass fishing. Sponsoring numerous top-level tournament trails, a team of pro anglers, the BassmastHER movement, and amateur anglers of all levels through Toyota Bonus Bucks.

by AnglersChannel

B.A.S.S. announces multifaceted partnership with Yokohama Tire

Feb. 19, 2025

B.A.S.S. announces multifaceted partnership with Yokohama Tire

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. and Yokohama Tire announced today that Yokohama has signed an agreement to sponsor multiple events, including title sponsorship of the Yokohama Bassmaster Elite at Lake St. Clair, in Macomb County, Mich., Aug. 7-10.

Other touchpoints of the agreement include Bassmaster supporting-level sponsorship for the Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Series presented by Lowrance, Bassmaster Team Championship, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops and Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, as well as presenting sponsors of the Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Classic Celebrity Pro-Am and of the daily weigh-ins at Dickies Arena during the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour at Lake Ray Roberts in Fort Worth, Texas, Mar. 21-23.

“We’re excited to partner with Bassmaster again and increase our support and involvement,” said Andrew Briggs, Yokohama Tire’s VP of marketing and product management. “Last year was a hit with our customers, and we really connected with Bassmaster’s incredibly passionate fan base around our wide range of GEOLANDAR truck and CUV/SUV tires. We’re looking forward to an even greater presence this year with more fan-related activities and activations.”

Along with the Bassmaster Classic, Yokohama will have an outdoor experiential activation at several of the Elite Series locations in 2025, which will incorporate an interactive display, giveaways and autograph sessions with Team Yokohama athletes.

“We’re proud to have Yokohama become a supporting sponsor in the 2025 season,” said B.A.S.S. Chief Executive Officer Chase Anderson. “Bassmaster anglers require the best equipment available to them both on and off the water, and Yokohama tires are a constant they can count on to get them safely to every destination during a tournament season. I personally made the switch to Yokohama on my vehicles and can attest to the quality and durability of Yokohama’s tires.”

About Yokohama Tire Corporation

Yokohama Tire Corporation is the North American manufacturing and marketing arm of Tokyo, Japan-based The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., a global manufacturing and sales company of premium tires since 1917. Servicing an extensive sales network throughout the U.S., Yokohama Tire Corporation is a leader in technology, innovation, sustainable manufacturing and environmentally conscious products. The company’s complete product line includes tires for high-performance, light truck, passenger car, and commercial truck and bus. For more information on Yokohama’s broad product line, visit yokohamatire.com and yokohamatruck.com.

Yokohama is a strong supporter of the tire care and safety guidelines established by the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association and the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration. Details can be found at the “Tires 101” section at yokohamatire.com.

About B.A.S.S.

by AnglersChannel

Saturday’s Upcoming BFL Tournament on Kentucky/Barkley Lakes Postponed Due to Flooding and Extreme Weather

WHAT:
The Major League Fishing (MLF) Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine tournament on Kentucky and Barkley lakes, scheduled for this Saturday, Feb. 22 has been postponed due to the recent flooding and extreme weather conditions being forecast by the National Weather Service.

The event, set to be the first event in the BFL LBL Division, has been rescheduled to Sunday, March 16, and will piggyback on the next BFL LBL event at Kentucky and Barkley lakes on Saturday, March 15.

WHEN:
Saturday-Sunday, March 15-16
Takeoff: 7 a.m. CT
Weigh-in: 3 p.m. CT

WHERE:
Moors Resort & Marina, 570 Moors Road, Gilbertsville, Ky.

NOTES:
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 Strike King 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. The 2025 BFL All-American will take place May 29-31, 2025, at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is hosted by hosted by Visit Hot Springs and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.

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 17 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.

by AnglersChannel

Roku becomes the streaming hub of Bassmaster tournaments

Feb. 18, 2025

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Audiences can soon hook free access to live coverage of Bassmaster professional bass fishing tournaments thanks to a new streaming rights partnership between Roku, America’s No. 1 TV streaming platform, and Bassmaster, the world’s leading authority on sportfishing. Upcoming Bassmaster LIVE events will include action from the brand-new Elite Qualifiers (EQ) Series, five Bassmaster Open Series events, which set the field for the EQs, select coverage of all nine Bassmaster Elite Series events, Friday coverage of the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour and a special prime time production of the Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Classic Celebrity Pro-Am presented by Yokohama, all streaming for free on The Roku Channel.

Kicking off with Thursday and Friday coverage of the 2025 Bassmaster Elite Series season on Feb. 20, the Bassmaster tournaments will stream live on The Roku Channel’s Roku Sports Channel. Professional fishing fans can also enjoy replays of the live stream alongside additional on-demand content, clips and highlights across The Roku Channel, Roku Sports Channel and Roku's Sports Zone, plus a dedicated Bassmaster FAST channel launching later this year. The partnership will expand coverage availability of Bassmaster LIVE properties and further bolster Roku's free lineup of exclusive live sports.

“It’s an honor to call Roku the streaming home of Bassmaster, an iconic brand with a decades-spanning history of producing best-in-class professional fishing tournaments,” said Joe Franzetta, head of sports, Roku Media. “We look forward to bringing these events for free to the passionate fanbase of this top outdoor sport, as well as introducing Bassmaster to new audiences, expanding the tournaments’ reach to millions of streaming households in the U.S.”

“We are proud to bring so much live programming to Roku's fast-growing sports channel, and we’re very excited about the creation of a new outlet for posted video content on a dedicated Bassmaster FAST channel on Roku. It’s thrilling to have one of the first streaming-rights partnerships in outdoor sports and the first for professional fishing on America's No. 1 streaming platform,” said B.A.S.S. Chief Operations Officer Phillip Johnson. “This partnership will allow Bassmaster to bring our exciting coverage of the highest level of professional bass fishing to Roku’s enormous audience and introduce our sport to a new fan base.”

Viewers not familiar with Bassmaster events are in for a real treat, as the show follows the best bass anglers on the planet racing against the clock to catch the five biggest bass they can wrangle to end the multiday tournaments with the heaviest weight. Of course, high winds, rainstorms, intense heat waves and the drama of tricking largemouth and smallmouth bass into biting leads to intense moments, as the competitors vie for the coveted trophy and millions of dollars in prize money. New viewers and die-hard fishing fans alike can expect world-class coverage of each storyline as the catches unfold across the competitions.

David Katz and Mike Kelly of ThePostGame, a leading sports media consultancy and content production company, represented Bassmaster in its recent third-party media negotiations and helped secure the partnership with Roku.

The Roku Channel is available to stream for free — no subscription or sign-up required. Audiences can watch it on Roku devices or TVs, and it's also easily accessible online at TheRokuChannel.com, iOS and Android devices, Amazon Fire TVs, Samsung TVs, Google TVs and other Android TV OS devices.

*By hours streamed (Hypothesis Group: Dec 2024)

About The Roku Channel

Launched in 2017, The Roku Channel is the home of free ad-supported streaming television on Roku, and features a diverse lineup of more than 80,000 on-demand movies and programs, more than 500 live linear television channels, and premium subscription offerings in the U.S. It licenses and distributes content from more than 250 partners and features a growing library of Roku Originals. In Q3 2024, The Roku Channel was the #3 app on Roku's platform by both reach and engagement.

About B.A.S.S.

by AnglersChannel

At the Junction of Youth and Humility

Courtesy of Dynamic Sponsorships

Life tried to land a right-hook on Toyota Bonus Bucks pro Easton Fothergill a few years ago. Not only did he dodge it; he landed an even stronger counterpunch showcasing his elite mental fortitude.

Imagine being a college-aged angler and having the world at your proverbial fingertips. You’re in your early 20s, you’ve earned a college scholarship to fish bass tournaments and you’re looking forward to graduating with your hard-earned 3.6 GPA in Marketing from The University of Montevallo.

Life is good.

Heck, life is better than good. The 2023 Bassmaster College Classic Bracket is in a few weeks and you’re feeling optimistic about your chances. You’re currently practicing for an upcoming derby on famed Pickwick Lake, enjoying a beautiful day in nature. What more could someone want?

As you make a cast, however, your focus is quickly interrupted when you notice a twinge of pain in your head. Maybe you didn’t drink enough water, or you might have skipped breakfast, so no big deal. You’re a young buck and you can handle it.

A few casts later, the pain returns. It goes away for a bit so hopefully it’s a one-off thing and you’re in the clear. But then it happens again. This time, it doesn’t go away. This time, the intense headache causes you to pass out in your boat.

Toyota Bonus Bucks pro Easton Fothergill will never forget that pivotal day on the water. Just three weeks before the biggest college tournament of his life, his world was turned upside down in a matter of hours.

“I was determined to fish this Pickwick tournament and somehow I got through it by taking Ibuprofen,” Fothergill said. “I felt terrible, but I was able to finish the event. Four days later, about three weeks before the 2023 Bassmaster College Classic Bracket, I couldn’t take the pain any longer and ended up at an urgent care clinic to get checked out. A few hours later, I was having brain surgery.”

The doctors found a tangerine-sized mass on Fothergill’s brain. The doctors said it was an infectious mass initially caused by a small sore in his mouth from brushing his teeth. The infection got into his bloodstream and came to rest in the young man’s brain. The doctors told him this only happens to four in one million people.

Thankfully, the surgery went well, and Fothergill was totally pain free from the moment the surgery was finished. After being prescribed 20 weeks of strong antibiotics, both his youth and impressive mental fortitude shined through.

“I had the biggest college tournament of my life in three weeks,” he said. “They gave me a recovery time of four weeks, but I had work to do. I didn’t have any intention of missing the tournament. That was absolutely not an option.”

He’s a man of his word because not only did he fish the tournament while recovering from emergency brain surgery… he won it against the best college anglers in the country.

“I was catching them on a small finesse jig and a spinnerbait,” Fothergill said. “I’ll never forget that tournament for so many reasons. As you can imagine, it was such a wide range of emotions. I had a hot starting spot each tournament day, so I’d catch some key fish first thing but after that, it was super tough and it took a lot of discipline for me to remain confident and focused.”

This impressive victory gave the Minnesota native an opportunity to fish the 2024 Bassmaster Classic while driving a 2024 Toyota Tundra. His win also earned him paid entry fees into the 2024 Bassmaster Open EQs. Fothergill ended up winning two of them—one on his home lake of Leech Lake and the other on Lake Eufaula in Oklahoma. The 22-year-old also earned the 2024 Bassmaster EQ Opens Angler of the Year honors for his efforts which qualified him for the 2025 Bassmaster Elite Series.

That’s quite the run (and mouthful), wouldn’t you say?

While he’s always been a talented angler from a very young age, Fothergill credits his calmness and level head for his unprecedented success.

“I’ve never been the kind of person to get too up or down,” he said. “But that whole brain surgery issue put things into a unique perspective for me. I don’t take a single day on the water for granted whatsoever. There is always someone having a worse day than you so whether a fish jumps off or you have a bad tournament, it’s important to get over it quickly and accept it. Negativity doesn’t fix anything, and you can’t go back and change mishaps, so there’s no need to let it mess with your head.”

With plans to lean heavily on those traits, the Toyota Bonus Bucks angler is full of excitement and admittedly a few nerves as the 2025 Elite Series season approaches. A large part of his excitement comes from his new ride. He had never owned his own vehicle before, so Fothergill was able to purchase the 2023 Toyota Tundra he won the rights to use after his Bassmaster College Classic Bracket victory.

“I knew after about two months that I wanted to buy it,” Fothergill said. “I put about 55,000 miles on it last year and I’ve only had it in the shop for oil changes. At least I know I’m going to get to and from tournaments and to and from boat ramps towing my Skeeter/Yamaha with no problems this year. That might sound silly but having confidence in my equipment, especially my truck, boat, and outboard are huge. It lets me totally focus on my job.”

Both the fishing industry and fans are in for a treat as they watch this young man embark on his dream career. Whether it’s a shallow, dirty-water tournament on the Sabine River or a northern smallmouth event, everyone will quickly learn just how well-rounded his skillset is.

“I’ve spent the time necessary with forward-facing sonar because I have to stay with the times,” Fothergill said. “Just like I had to learn about side imaging technology when I was a kid, I owe it to my career to stay updated on technology. But I love a good junk-fishing tournament when I don’t even have to look down at my units. I’ll fish any and everything with a smile on my face and a positive attitude. I don’t ever want to be a one-trick pony.”

At the junction of youth and humility, you’ll find very few young men who have what it takes to make it in this game full of trials, difficult decisions and heartbreak. But whether it’s shrugging off emergency brain surgery, fishing old school or staying up to date with the new, Easton Fothergill has what it takes to become a household name in the fishing world.

by AnglersChannel

Lawrence Loads up on Bonus Bucks at Lake Conroe

Courtesy of Dynamic Sponsorships

It took Jake Lawrence exactly one endeavor in Bass Pro Tour competition before he notched a top ten finish in the dynamic format that often throws even the most seasoned pros a curveball. This comes as no surprise to fishing fans who have been following the career of this young fishing phenom who calls Paris, Tennessee home. The BPT rookie left Lake Conroe with a sixth-place finish and strong momentum to start the 2025 season.

Lawrence backed up his Stage One finish with an impressive second-place result in the slugfest that was the Toyota Series on Pickwick Lake. These finishes allowed Lawrence to load up $4,500 of Toyota Bonus Bucks earnings ($3,000 for Lake Conroe, $1,500 on Pickwick), as he was the highest placing angler hauling his boat with a 2021 or newer Toyota tow vehicle in both events.

“This is the third Tundra I have owned, and I absolutely love this thing,” Lawrence said. “More than the added incentive of Bonus Bucks, I believe Toyota makes the safest and most comfortable vehicle on the road. I have two young children, so the safety factor means more to me than anything.”

Before becoming a full-time pro, Lawrence actually competed in the amateur-only Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners Tournament in 2023 on Pickwick Lake and won the event in dominating fashion. It was plain to see then that he was a special angler, and it nearly seemed par for the course when he continued his impressive campaign on the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals last year en route to qualifying for the 2025 Bass Pro Tour.

“Tournament anglers are crazy if they overlook the opportunities with Toyota Bonus Bucks,” Lawrence said. “My wife and I were talking, and I think we paid all but two or three truck payments with Bonus Bucks winnings last year. It’s a great vehicle that literally pays you to fish.”

Well known as a wizard with forward facing sonar, Lawrence caught most of his weight on Lake Conroe employing either a 3-inch or 4-inch Yamamota Scope Shad during the one-period he was allowed to use FFS each day. The other two-thirds of each competition day, Lawrence targeted hydrilla and eelgrass secondary points with a vibrating jig or ¼-ounce Rat-L’Trap.

Much of the BPT field employed a similar one-two punch on Lake Conroe, but Lawrence and the rest of the top ten caught scoreable bass at such a blistering rate it was hard for the field to keep up. Thankfully, you don’t have to out fish Jake Lawrence to reap the rewards of Toyota’s popular fishing contingency program.

Bonus Bucks is paying out on over 620 supported tournaments in 2025, rewarding anglers of all levels for towing their boat with an eligible Toyota tow vehicle. For more information or to get signed up today, visit https://www.toyotatrucksbonusbucks.com/ or shoot an email to [email protected].

by AnglersChannel

B.A.S.S., Cavender’s Boot City announce 2025 Bassmaster Classic partnership

Feb. 17, 2025

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. announced today that Cavender’s Boot City, the leading Western wear retailer based out of Tyler, Texas, has signed on to partner for the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour. Cavender’s will join the Classic as a local partner as well as title sponsor of the Bassmaster Classic Kickoff Party.

The Cavender’s Bassmaster Classic Kickoff Party will officially start the festivities surrounding Classic week Thursday, March 20 at Fort Worth’s Historic Stockyards in downtown Fort Worth, Texas. Last year’s Kickoff Party at the Bassmaster Classic in Tulsa, Okla., featured live music from the Toyota Music Den from country sensation Stoney LaRue.

“We’re excited to have Cavender’s as a partner with us at the Fort Worth Bassmaster Classic,” said B.A.S.S. CEO Chase Anderson. “Cavender’s represents 60 years of building their brand into the authority on Western lifestyle clothing. The Classic Kickoff Party is one of the most anticipated events surrounding the Bassmaster Classic, and we couldn’t be happier to celebrate it in the heart of cowboy country in Fort Worth with Cavender’s.”

Details about the Bassmaster Classic Kickoff Party and other fan-favorite events surrounding the Bassmaster Classic in Fort Worth can be found here.

“The outdoor enthusiast and Western lifestyle go hand in hand. Cavender’s carries many products that we want to share with the Bassmaster Classic,” said Joe Cavender. “We look forward to everyone’s visit to Fort Worth and the Stockyards.”

About Cavender's Boot City

Founded by James and Patricia Cavender in 1965 in the small east Texas town of Pittsburg, Cavender’s has grown into America’s premier destination for top-of-the-line Western boots, jeans and hats for the entire family. Across a dozen states, every one of its 100-plus stores takes great pride in embracing the history, values and culture Cavender’s shares with the American West. Likewise, Cavender’s exclusive lines — Rafter C, Rockin’ C, and JRC & Sons — ensure that its customers’ wardrobes are as authentic and enduring as their lifestyles. As the Cavender’s family puts it: “We will always remain true to who we are and what we stand for: the cowboy way of life. Because ours is not just a Western lifestyle. This is how we live.”

Cavender’s commitment to quality is also evident in its comprehensive range of boots and Western wear from brands such as Ariat, Wrangler, Rock & Roll Denim, Resistol and Stetson, as well as its full line of top-shelf workwear and work boots. For more information on Cavender’s products and history, and to find a store near you, visit cavenders.com.

About B.A.S.S.

by AnglersChannel

Clarification on Membership Requirement for Points Leaders in The Ultimate Angler World Championship Bass Fishing Tournament

February 17, 2025 — In response to inquiries from anglers and fans, Unified Pros would like to provide a clarification regarding the requirements for qualifying for The Ultimate Angler World Championship Bass Fishing Tournament as a points leader in a professional bass fishing league.

To be eligible for qualification as a points leader, anglers must be active members of Unified Pros by the official cutoff date of March 5th. This membership requirement is an essential step in ensuring all anglers meet the necessary criteria for competing in this prestigious tournament.

Anglers who have accumulated enough points to qualify leading up to the championship, but who are not Unified Pros members by the cutoff date, will not be eligible to qualify for The Ultimate Angler World Championship, regardless of their performance.

"We want to make sure there is no confusion moving forward," said Danny Groves, Unified Pros Chairman. "To clarify, being a Unified Pros member by March 5th is a requirement for any angler hoping to qualify for the World Championship by being a points leader. This is part of our ongoing efforts to support professional anglers and maintain the integrity of the tournament."

For more details on how to become a Unified Pros member and ensure qualification, please visit www.unifiedpros.org.

The Ultimate Angler World Championship Bass Fishing Tournament will take place at Lake Guntersville, one of the top bass fishing lakes in the United States, in October 2025. This highly anticipated event promises to be a thrilling competition for anglers from around the world.

For further information about the tournament, please visit www.theultimateangler.org.

For any further questions or membership information, please contact:
Susan Carothers
[email protected]

by AnglersChannel

Lake View’s Shields Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Choo Choo Division Opener at Lake Guntersville

Illinois’ Spacil Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division

SCOTTSBORO, Ala. (Feb. 17, 2025) – Boater Austin Shields of Lake View, Alabama, caught a five-bass limit weighing 29 pounds, 3 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine at Lake Guntersville . The tournament, hosted by the Mountain Lakes Chamber of Commerce, was the first event of the season for the BFL Choo Choo Division. Shields earned $5,133 for his victory.

Shields caught not only his biggest-ever tournament limit, but also his biggest tournament bass. And that kicker – an 8-pound, 2-ounce fish – knocked a foot of slack in the line while Shields was fishing the way he really loves to fish: old-school power fishing. But more on that in a bit.

Shields came to Guntersville Friday to practice, armed with a tip from a buddy that put him around some really nice quality bass. In fact, he was able to put 20 pounds in the boat in practice on one key spot then bounced around checking secondary areas and eventually landed more than 29 pounds for the day. You might be thinking that’s too many fish to hook in practice, but Shields was just catching one here and one there to gauge the quality on each spot – and there was plenty left for the tournament.

“This morning (Saturday), I ran to that spot first thing, and I had 25 pounds by 8 a.m.,” Shields said. “I made a couple of small culls throughout the day, and late in the day, like 2:30 or 2:45, I rolled up the river because the wind started getting rough. So we decided to come back and just kind of fish close to the ramp for the last hour or so.

“I get here, and I was like, it’s Guntersville and there’s always big fish around causeways. I pulled up to a causeway, picked up a ChatterBait and caught an 8-2 that culled out a 4.90, and that gave me 29.”

Making the switch to the Z-Man ChatterBait and following his instincts was a big reward for Shields, who spent the entire morning shaking a minnow on secondary points using forward-facing sonar. The new technology is not his favorite, but he’s driven to win and has learned to use it by necessity.

“This afternoon, I noticed that they quit biting. They wouldn’t react to the bait anymore on LiveScope,” Shields said. “So I just kind of had to go old school. I grew up fishing old school without LiveScope, so I’ve kind of been rebellious toward using it. I have not wanted to use it. But all this past winter, I made myself use it to make myself get up to date with it because in central Alabama, like on the Coosa River, if you’re not using it in the wintertime, you’re getting beat. So I had to figure it out. But it was refreshing to pull up (on the causeway with the ChatterBait) and just kind of fish instinctually.”

Reflecting on his win, Shields was quick to credit his wife, Brittney, for her support.

“We’ve got a 3-year-old, and we’ve got a 5-month-old. We’ve got two very young kids in the house,” he said. “It’s not easy taking care of them and trying to spend time with them and still get out here to do a little practice and still working Monday through Friday like most everybody does. I’m glad that my wife takes the time and sacrifice to watch our kids while daddy comes out here and fishes. I’ve got to give credit to her. My family is up here with me. We rented a cabin in Goose Pond. Because it’s not just a me thing, it’s a family thing. We’re all in it together. We’re just a little fishing family.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Austin Shields, Lake View, Ala., five bass, 29-3, $5,133
2nd:       Michael Hood, Winchester, Tenn., five bass, 26-11, $2,566
3rd:       Mike Lowry, Hixson, Tenn., five bass, 25-3, $1,710
4th:        Jake Bice, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 24-3, $1,198
5th:        Ryan Salzman, Huntsville, Ala., five bass, 24-2, $1,527 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
6th:        Mark Guhne, Hixson, Tenn., five bass, 23-14, $941
7th:        Chuck Medley, Owens Cross Roads, Ala., five bass, 23-6, $855
8th:        Brody Robison, Dawson, Ala., five bass, 23-2, $770
9th:        Jimmy Neece Jr ., Bristol, Tenn., five bass, 22-14, $684
10th:     Chip Wammack, Muscle Shoals, Ala., five bass, 22-12, $599

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Bo Collins of Robbinsville, North Carolina, caught a bass that weighed 8 pounds, 5 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $800.

Frank Spacil of Downers Grove, Illinois, won the Strike King co-angler division and $2,566 Saturday, after bringing three bass to the scale that totaled 15 pounds, 15 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:        Frank Spacil, Downers Grove, Ill., three bass, 15-15, $2,566
2nd:       Tim van Polen, Guntersville, Ala., three bass, 15-12, $1,683
3rd:       Rodney Bolte, Bloomington, Ind., three bass, 15-5, $855
4th:        Roderick Green, Columbia, Tenn., three bass, 15-2, $599
5th:        Jonathan Majors, Chelsea, Ala., three bass, 14-10, $513
6th:        Coy Gregg, Cleveland, Tenn., three bass, 14-9, $449
6th:        Shane Browder, Lynville, Ind., three bass, 14-9, $449
8th:        Adam Brenton, Terre Haute, Ind., three bass, 14-2, $385
9th:        Gerald Bennett, Dallas, Ga., three bass, 13-10, $320
9th:        Jeff McWhorter, New Concord, Ky., three bass, 13-10, $320

Tim van Polen of Guntersville, Alabama, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $400, catching a bass that weighed in at 8 pounds, 10 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

After one event, Austin Shields of Lake View, Alabama, now leads the Fishing Clash Choo Choo Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 250 points, while Frank Spacil of Downers Grove, Illinois, leads the Fishing Clash Choo Choo Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 250 points.

The next event for BFL Choo Choo Division anglers will be held March 8, at Lake Chickamauga out of Dayton, 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 Logan Martin Lake in Lincoln, Alabama. 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 Strike King 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. The 2025 BFL All-American will take place May 29-31, 2025, at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is hosted by hosted by Visit Hot Springs and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.

by AnglersChannel

Haughton Fishing Team Wins MLF Abu Garcia High School Fishing Presented by Tackle Warehouse Open on Lake Seminole

BAINBRIDGE, Ga. (Feb. 17, 2025) – The MLF High School Fishing team of Carsen Adcock and Colton Arnold, representing the Haughton Fishing Team, brought five bass to the scale Saturday weighing 18 pounds, 3 ounces to win the MLF Abu Garcia High School Fishing Presented by Tackle Warehouse Open at Lake Seminole in Bainbridge, Georgia.

A field of 36 teams competed in the no-entry fee tournament, which was hosted by Visit Bainbridge. In MLF High School Fishing competition, the top 10 percent of teams competing advance to the High School Fishing National Championship.

The top three teams that advance to the 2025 High School Fishing National Championship are:

1st: Haughton Fishing Team, Haughton, La. – Carsen Adcock and Colton Arnold, five bass, 18-3
2nd: Lancaster Academy – Fisher Lancaster and Jesse Lancaster, five bass, 14-11
3rd: Bainbridge Bass Cats, Bainbridge, Ga. – Caleb Logue and Hayden Reynolds, four bass, 14-7

Rounding out the top 10 teams were:

4th:        Westfield High School, Perry, Ga. – Brant Beckham and Daniel Sapp, five bass, 14-3
5th:        Bainbridge Bass Cats, Bainbridge, Ga. – Mason Bright and Drake Walls, five bass, 13-8
6th:        Wayne County High School, Jesup, Ga. – Tucker Chalfant and Tripp Harvey, five bass, 12-15
7th:        Thomas County Central High School, Thomasville, Ga. – Nathan Henson and Gareth Joslin, five bass, 12-11
8th:        Highland Park High School, Dallas, Texas – Carson Falk and Dylan Sorrells, five bass, 12-7
9th:        Southwest Georgia Academy, Damascus, Ga. – Nate Akers and Noah Fetner, five bass, 12-0
10th:     Rehobeth High School, Rehobeth, Ala. – Jacob Johnson and Karson Peterman, five bass, 11-6

Complete results from the event can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

MLF Abu Garcia High School Fishing presented by Tackle Warehouse 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, advance to the High School Fishing National Championship. Tournaments held on or before March 29, 2025, advance teams to the 2025 National Championship. Tournaments held after March 29, 2025, advance teams to the 2026 National Championship.

The 2025 Abu Garcia High School Fishing National Championship & World Finals events will take place June 25-27, at Grand Lake in Grove, Oklahoma. The High School Fishing National Champions each receive a $5,000 college scholarship to the school of their choice and advance to the 2025 MLF Toyota Series Championship to compete as co-anglers.

Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Abu Garcia High School Fishing Presented by Tackle Warehouse include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Deep Dive App, E3 Sports Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, 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 tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular High School Fishing updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

by AnglersChannel

LSU-Shreveport Wins MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Tournament on Lake Seminole Presented by Suzuki Marine

BAINBRIDGE, Ga. (Feb. 17, 2025) – The Louisiana State University (LSU)-Shreveport duo of Miles Smith of Houma, Louisiana, and Levi Thibodaux of Thibodaux, Louisiana, won the MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event on Lake Seminole Presented by Suzuki Marine Friday with a five-bass limit weighing 24 pounds, 2 ounces. The victory earned the Pilots’ bass club $2,000 and a qualification into the 2025 MLF College Fishing National Championship.

Both business majors, Thibodaux and Smith are comfortable fishing grass from their time on Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn. So when they came to Lake Seminole – the first time there for each of them – they tried to spend practice running the lake and getting a feel for the grass. Bad weather on two of the days limited their search efforts, but the anglers were able to find a handful of spots in one area where they could stay on the fish amid a cold front.

“We found a few different holes in the grass that had a few fish,” Thibodaux said. “We really didn’t know what to expect because we didn’t practice the last day because of the rain and all. We didn’t expect to do that great, to be honest.

“Basically, what we figured out in practice was there were a lot of fish roaming on the grass flats. We kind of figured out with that cold front coming some of them would get off the flats and get in the holes or edges where it’s a little deeper.”

The grass flats were mostly 2 to 4 feet deep, and Thibodaux and Smith targeted holes that were anywhere from 5 to 10 feet deep, mostly keying on edges and hard-bottom areas. They found five or so areas that fit the bill, ranging in size from an area the size of a couple bass boats to one area that was about 100 yards long. The champs caught their fish throwing a jerkbait and a Strike King Hybrid Hunter crankbait – a lure they have plenty of experience with back home.

Throughout the day, the LSU-Shreveport anglers rotated their best spots, staying close and “burning down” each spot for everything they could catch.

“Since we really couldn’t see a lot of the lake like we wanted to, we just kind of settled into that area where we knew we had fish,” Thibodaux added. “It’s a popular area. There were a lot of boats there, but I don’t know that they were focusing on the same things we were focusing on.”

The top 10 teams finished:

1st: LSU-Shreveport – Miles Smith, Houma, La., and Levi Thibodaux, Thibodaux, La., five bass, 24-2, $2,000
2nd: University of North Alabama – Jake Brown, Loretto, Tenn., and Nathan Reynolds, Nashville, Tenn., five bass, 22-14, $1,000
3rd: Florida Gateway College – Bryce Balentine, Sorrento, Fla., and Connor Koch, Lakeland, Fla., five bass, 22-10, $700
4th: Emanuel University – Colby Elliott, Blairsville, Ga., and Michael Gammons, North Charleston, S.C., five bass, 21-11, $600
5th: University of Montevallo – Connor Bell, Lisbon, N.Y., and Nicholas Dumke, Grand Rapids, Minn., five bass, 21-6, $500
6th: University of Tennessee – Matthew Dettling, El Macero, Calif., and Cody Domingos, Knoxville, Tenn., five bass, 20-15
7th: University of Montevallo – Brennan Berglund, Zimmerman, Minn., and Colton White, Moore, Okla., five bass, 20-10
8th: Florida Gateway College – Will Boyd, Quincy, Fla., five bass, 20-9
9th: Campbellsville University – Noah Dabney, Mannsville, Ky., and Evan Fields, Shelbyville, Ky., five bass, 20-7
10th: Lander University – Harrison McCall, Salisbury, N.C., and Cameron Yates, New Durham, N.H., five bass, 19-15

The full list of National Championship qualifiers and complete results for the entire field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event on Lake Seminole was hosted by Visit Bainbridge. The next tournament for MLF College Fishing anglers will be the Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event on Grand Lake, March 7 in Grove, Oklahoma.

The 2025 MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI season features college teams from across the country competing in six regular-season open tournaments. The top 15 percent of teams from each regular-season tournament advance to the 2026 Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship.

Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Deep Dive App, E3 Sports Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, 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 tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular College Fishing 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 17 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.

by AnglersChannel

Western U.S. bass anglers corralling a bunch of Vexus® bonuses and buckles

California’s famous for gold, Arizona for its copper, and thanks to a loyal group of talented tournament anglers, Vexus® Boats is becoming famous throughout the Western United States for its uniquely cool silver belt buckle trophies and generous cash bonuses that are part of the premium boat brand’s REV Rewards™ tournament contingency program.

Anglers such as Matt Frazier, Alex Klein, Joe Uribe Jr., Ken Mah, Ryan Friend. K.C. Harris, and Jeff Michels made the decision to invest in a heritage-rich, top-quality Vexus bass boat, and collectively they’ve now won around $200,000 in REV Rewards bonuses, along with enough silver buckles to make a herd of bull riders happy.

In fact, Joe Uribe Jr. of Surprise, Arizona just added another buckle and $10,000 bonus check to his growing collection for his win at the cold and wet WON BASS Lake Shasta Open.

“I’ve now won $40,000 cash total through Vexus REV Rewards program, and if you don’t think the silver buckles are a source of pride for us anglers, look no further than the trophy case in our home’s dining room,” smiles Uribe, who works at Complete Marine in Phoenix, AZ.

He’s proven he can catch ‘em everywhere, but says throwing squarebill crankbaits on Clear Lake in the fall is as good as it gets, and when it comes to the favorite features of his Vexus VXs20, he loves the unmatched smooth ride, and the highly insulated cooler that will keep ice frozen for days, even in the Sonoran Desert heat.

Even better news is the fact you don’t have to live near a desert, or west of the Mississippi to win REV Rewards and silver buckles, you simply need to make sure you’re eligible by visiting https://vexusboats.com/rev-rewards/ and taking a few minutes to register.

by AnglersChannel

Livingston Lures Adds Scott Canterbury to Pro Staff

2019 Bassmaster Angler of the Year to Promote Brand, Help with Product Development

SAN ANTONIO, Tex. – February 14, 2025 –– Livingston Lures, the San Antonio, Tex. based manufacturer of premium fishing lures featuring their patented EBS (Electronic Baitfish Sounds) Technology introduce the addition of 2019 Bassmaster Angler of the Year Scott Canterbury to their world class Pro Fishing Team.

Canterbury, from Odenville, Ala., who has competed on the FLW Tour and Bassmaster Elite Series since 2008. In his career, Canterbury competed in 257 professional events, claimed two FLW wins, the 2019 Bassmaster Angler of the Year title, 54 top 10 finishes, qualified for 10 trips to the Forrest Wood Cup and four Bassmaster Classics. He has claimed $1,984,937 in paychecks in his career.

The veteran pro is a shallow water, power fisherman who honed his craft on the famed Coosa River and the legendary fisheries of North Alabama before hitting the tours. He joins the Livingston Lures team because he has used the lineup throughout his career to put bass in his livewell that equates to being able to feed his family.

Having trust in a product lie is key to the Alabama pro. “I have had some success in my career with several of the Livingston Lures products before deciding to join with them officially,” said Canterbury. “I have caught a lot of fish on the Howeller Series of crankbaits, the Walking Boss is a great topwater bait and the Flat Master and Walk ‘n Pop have all been a part of my arsenal for a while.”

He said that he is proud to be joining the Livingston Lures family. “I am beyond excited to be a part of such a great team,” he said. “The EBS technology is proven to be a great fish catcher and the crew at Livingston is continuously working with their pros to bring out new, fish catching baits; I am thrilled to be a part of this family and be a part of this process.”

Erick Arnoldson, Livingston Lures’ Vice President of Operations knows adding Canterbury is a definitive addition to his team. We are thrilled to welcome Scott Canterbury to the Livingston Lures family,” said Arnoldson. “His exceptional skill, experience, and passion for fishing perfectly align with our mission to push the boundaries of innovation and performance.”

Arnoldson said he trusts Canterbury to contribute to the brand. “As a Livingston Lures Pro Staff member, he will play a key role in product development, serve as a brand ambassador at tournaments and industry events, and contribute to educational content designed to help anglers elevate their skills,” Arnoldson continued. “His insights and expertise will be invaluable as we continue developing cutting-edge solutions for anglers worldwide.”

Canterbury joins a Pro Staff that includes 2014 Bassmaster Classic Champion Randy Howell, five-time Bassmaster Champion Jacob Powroznik, Six-time Major League Fishing winner and the 2014 Forrest Wood Cup Champion Anthony Gagliardi and Bassmaster Opens pro Laker Howell.

About Livingston Lures: Livingston Lures has built a reputation among top freshwater and saltwater anglers for innovation and premium quality baits that flat out catch fish. These hard plastic lures are designed to call the fish and meet the highest standards for swimming action with quality construction. Every Livingston Lures’ bait features EBS™, Electronic Baitfish Sound Technology™. For more information visit www.LivingstonLures.com or visit a retailer near you.

by AnglersChannel

Yamaha Welcomes Accomplished Bassmaster Elite Angler Randy Howell to Pro Fishing Team

KENNESAW, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Yamaha Marine today announced the addition of veteran BASS^® angler Randy Howell to the freshwater Pro Fishing Team for the 2025 season. Requalifying via the Legends invitations, Howell will join current Yamaha Pro Team members to compete in the 2025 Bassmaster^® Elite Series, representing Yamaha’s premium brand position and serving as an ambassador for the sport of competitive fishing.

“Not only is Randy an outstanding competitive angler, he also lends support to his community through Kings Home, an Alabama-based independent charity that houses over 160 youth, teens, ladies and moms with children suffering from severe abuse, abandonment, neglect or homelessness,” said Connor Megan, Pro Staff and Sponsorship Supervisor, Yamaha Marine Business Unit. “Overall, Randy exemplifies the Yamaha Angler Code of Ethics and his passion for competitive fishing aligns with our commitment to excellence. We look forward to supporting him as he returns to the Bassmaster^® Elite Series.”

Howell, the 2014 Bassmaster Classic^® champion, has more than four decades of experience under his belt. Amassing more than $1.9 million in career earnings, the elite series angler boasts four first place finishes, 37 Top 10 finishes and 125 Top 30 finishes. The Guntersville, Alabama native returns to BASS^® from the Major League Fishing^® (MLF), where he broke the Bass Pro Tour record twice, two days in a row during Stage One of the 2022 Bass Pro Tour.

The 2025 Bassmaster^® Elite season kicks off at St. Johns River in Palatka, Florida, Feb. 20-23. Fans can follow Howell during the season on bassmaster.com.

Yamaha Marine products are marketed throughout the United States and around the world. Yamaha Marine Engine Systems, based in Kennesaw, Ga., supports its 2,000 U.S. dealers and boat builders with marketing, training and parts for Yamaha’s full line of products and strives to be the industry leader in reliability, technology and customer service. Yamaha Marine is the only outboard brand to have earned NMMA^®’s C.S.I. Customer Satisfaction Index award every year since its inception. Visit www.yamahaoutboards.com.

This document contains many of Yamaha's valuable trademarks. It may also contain trademarks belonging to other companies. Any references to other companies or their products are for identification purposes only and are not intended to be an endorsement. B.A.S.S., Bassmaster and Bassmaster Classic are registered trademarks of B.A.S.S. LLC.

REMEMBER to always observe all applicable boating laws. Never drink and drive. Dress properly with a USCG-approved personal floatation device and protective gear.

Contacts

Serena Ortiz
Public Relations Specialist
Yamaha U.S. Marine Business Unit
Mobile: (678) 832-9158
[email protected]

Neal Wheaton
Wilder+Wheaton for
Yamaha U.S. Marine Business Unit
Mobile: (404) 317-0698
[email protected]

by AnglersChannel

Bobby Lane Rallies to Comeback Win at MLF Bass Pro Tour Suzuki Marine Stage 2 Presented by YETI at Harris Chain of Lakes

Lakeland, Florida pro catches 19 bass totaling 56-5 in final day Championship Round to earn top prize of $150,000

LEESBURG, Fla. (Feb. 16, 2025) – Across a decorated 17-year career that includes a REDCREST victory, one of the few accomplishments that had eluded Bobby Lane was a national-tour win in his home state of Florida. He’d come close – in fact, the last time the Bass Pro Tour visited the Harris Chain of Lakes, Lane finished second to Ott DeFoe – but had yet to lift a trophy in his home state.

Midway through the Championship Round at the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour Suzuki Marine Stage 2 Presented by YETI at the Harris Chain of Lakes, it looked like Lane would have to keep waiting.

Matt Becker and Mark Davis shot out of the starting blocks, both amassing more than 30 pounds in the first period. Lane, meanwhile, started on the opposite end of Lake Apopka from where he’d caught most of his fish due to the strong south wind and struggled to gain traction. Halfway through Period 2, he’d tallied just 17 pounds, 6 ounces and trailed Davis by more than 20 pounds – and as the wind continued to increase in intensity, presenting baits and generating bites became more difficult by the minute.

But while the action slowed for everyone else, Lane used his Sunshine State savvy to steadily stack weight onto his total. He boated six bass in an hour, which included a 5-8 and a 4-9, to pull within one scorable bass of Davis’ lead at the end of the second period. He took over the top spot on SCORETRACKER® for the first time all tournament 30 minutes into the final frame. Finally, a flurry of five fish totaling 16-10 brought his total to 56-5 and sealed the long-awaited win – and $150,000 prize that comes with it – for the Lakeland native.

“I've been close before,” Lane said of winning in Florida. “I finished second here last time to Ott DeFoe, and to finally seal the deal on one in the home state – in a big, national tournament, not just a team event or something like that, but to get a big tournament – means the world to me.”

Prior to the start of practice, much of the dock talk centered on a recent fish kill that occurred on Lake Apopka. That news made Lane, like most of the field, hesitant to venture into the southernmost lake on the Harris Chain, especially since doing so meant a long run from takeoff each morning at Venetian Gardens.

Lane almost didn’t even check Apopka during his two days of practice. It wasn’t until the second day, when he was in nearby Lake Beauclair, that he figured he might as well lock through the Apopka canal and at least check it out.

The first place he stopped, he got six bites without lifting his Power-Poles. His next spot – the area where he ultimately caught most of his fish during competition – produced similar action.

“I make maybe 15, 20 flips, and I have five bites in a row, and two of them were big ones,” Lane said. “And I’m like, oh boy.”

Lane started Day 1 of competition in Lake Harris due to his late boat number, but after that, he was all-in on Apopka, which wound up producing six of the Top 10 finishers. He said the key to finding concentrations of bass was locating hard-bottom areas next to patches of emergent reeds. He thinks bass were staging on the hard bottom before spawning on the reeds.

“When you drop your Power-Poles, it sounds like you’re hitting rocks,” Lane said. “I think with all the grass being eradicated out of that lake, those fish have nowhere else to go but to swim to shore, and I think with the full moon we had during practice, all those fish that wanted to spawn on this moon were moving into that hard spot that I was on.”

While his area was full of fish, Lane said slow presentations were the only way to get them to bite. He locked an Abu Garcia Fantasista X 7-foot, 6-inch, heavy flipping stick in his hands with an Abu Garcia Premier REVO reel spooled with 50-pound-test Durabraid. Using a 5/0 Berkley Fusion19 hook and either a 5/16- or 3/8-ounce Epic Tungsten weight, he flipped a 6-inch Berkley PowerBait MaxScent The General to every reed in the area, slowly dragging the worm along the bottom.

Even for Lane, that could be painstaking. He joked that he was “tired of looking at the same 50 or 60-yard stretch of reeds.” But for an angler born and raised in Florida, wielding a flipping stick and slowly picking apart cover made for “a breath of fresh air.”

“Forward-facing sonar has its place, but it did not have its place on the Harris Chain of Lakes this week,” Lane said. “I live and breathe on that flipping stick. It usually gets me close sometimes. I’ve made a lot of money with it. But to actually seal the deal with it in my hands, there’s nothing sweeter.”

Far from the only accomplished flipper to find the bite in Apopka, Sunday’s Championship Round set up for an old-school slugfest. Lane’s first decision of the day almost took him out of the fight.

Seeing the wind buffeting his prime stretch, Lane decided to start the morning on the more protected southern end of the lake. On his third flip, he caught a 5-8, which reinforced his confidence in the area. But over the next 1 hour, 20 minutes, he would only get one more bite, a 2-pounder.

Watching his deficit to Becker and Davis balloon, Lane decided he had no choice but to battle the wind on the north end. The conditions made it almost impossible to present his bait accurately, but skillful boat positioning and patience allowed him to keep stacking up weight when no one else in the field could.

“You really had to get the boat positioned properly when you find the piece of cover you want to fish, drop your Power-Poles, and focus on keeping your bait on the bottom no matter what the wind was doing,” Lane explained. “That was the hardest task today was trying to keep that bait down there where the fish live.”

Lane committed to fighting the wind for the rest of the day, figuring the weather system would eventually blow through the area. With about an hour left before lines out, the gusts finally relented. Right on cue, he caught a 2-pounder, then a 2-6 (which Lane dove onto the front deck of his Phoenix to wrangle after it shook free of his hook). A 5-10, his biggest bass of the day, followed by a 4-8 five minutes later sealed his victory.

“I decided I was going to stay there until the wind shifted directions, which it did, and it just got better and better and better and better,” Lane said. “The minute that wind laid down, it was just perfect. Big one, big one, big one.”

Lane’s wife, Madeline; his daughter, Lexi; and his son-in-law, Kenny, cheered from shore as they watched him swing those final few fish into the boat. When time expired, he trolled over to them to exchange hugs, the perfect cap to the Florida win he’d been waiting for.

“That’s one thing you dream of is winning a huge tournament in your home state,” Lane said. “I’ve had a lot of close calls. They couldn’t stop me today.”

The top 10 pros at the Suzuki Marine Stage 2 Presented by YETI on the Harris Chain of Lakes finished:

1st: Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., 19 bass, 56-5, $150,000
2nd:        Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark., 14 bass, 38-13, $45,000
3rd: Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., 15 bass, 36-15, $35,000
4th:         Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla., 13 bass, 36-7, $30,000
5th:         Fletcher Shryock, Guntersville, Ala., 11 bass, 27-15, $25,000
6th:         Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., eight bass, 23-9, $23,000
7th:         Jacob Wall, New Hope, Ala., seven bass, 16-10, $22,000
8th:         James Elam, Tulsa, Okla., five bass, 10-3, $21,000
9th:         Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., four bass, 7-6, $20,500
10th: Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., one bass, 2-2, $20,000

A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall there were 97 scorable bass weighing 256 pounds, 5 ounces caught by the final 10 pros on Sunday.

Jacob Wheeler of Harrison, Tennessee, won the Berkley Big Bass Award on Sunday – his third Big Bass Award of the week – with a 7-pound, 1-ounce largemouth that he caught in the third period. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day.

A new angler has taken the lead in the Fishing Clash Angler of the Year competition: pro Jacob Wall of New Hope, Alabama. The third-year Bass Pro Tour pro finished seventh on the Harris Chain after a third-place showing at Stage 1 on Lake Conroe.

Wall leads Jacob Wheeler, who has claimed the AOY crown in three of the past four years, by just one point. The two of them have a bit of cushion over Stage 1 winner Justin Cooper, who sits 10 points back of Wheeler.

The four-day tournament, hosted by Discover Lake County Florida , showcased 66 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing for a purse of $650,000, including a top payout of $150,000 and valuable Angler of the Year (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 Suzuki Marine Stage 2 at the Harris Chain of Lakes Presented by YETI will premiere as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Sept. 13 on Discovery, with the Championship Round premiering the following Saturday on Sept. 20. 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 Sports Apparel, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Lowrance, Mercury, MillerTech, Mossy Oak Fishing, NITRO, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Power-Pole, Rapala, Star brite, Suzuki Marine and Toyota.

by AnglersChannel

Malabar’s Robert Branagh Goes Wire-to-Wire, Wins MLF Toyota Series at Lake Okeechobee

OKEECHOBEE, Fla. (Feb. 16, 2025) – Hopes were high going into the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats Southern Division event on Lake Okeechobee, and through two days, the lake lived up to the hype. But on Saturday’s Day 3, with a strong southern wind blowing out many key areas, things started to fall apart.

Entering with a comfortable lead after two great days, Robert Branagh almost stumbled as well. But, with the rest of the field struggling, 16 pounds, 13 ounces for a 73-1 total was enough for the win and $44,000.

The victory is Branagh’s second Toyota Series title on Okeechobee, which is not a common feat. Branagh also set the three-day Toyota Series weight record for the fishery, bumping the top weight up to 73-1, a bit more than the previous high-water mark of 72-9 that Jessie Mizell set in 2024.

As the vegetation in Okeechobee has deteriorated in recent years, the frequency of success off the lake has increased. Now, it’s pretty well-known that the various canals and ditches around the edge of the lake can kick out winning weight. Still, old habits die hard, and the bulk of the weight and the bulk of the pressure remains in the lake.

Though Branagh did spend some practice time there, he made the canals his primary focus, and it worked.

“I saw what the wind was going to do for the first two days and then the third day,” said the Florida pro. “That’s why I targeted something out of the ordinary. I knew that the water would stay clean and the wind wouldn’t affect it, and it paid off.

“Now that there’s no grass in the lake to clean the water, I knew the water would get muddy right up to the hard line. And I knew fish were going to spawn. They spawn in the canals just like they spawn in the lake. Just so happens, I found them spawning on rocks. No grass, no nothing; but they were spawning on the rocks.”

Branagh found two key areas where bass were bedding on rock and the hard-bottom areas around it.

“I started in practice,” he explained. “I caught a few on a Senko, and then I picked up the Bruiser Baits Bullet, and I caught a couple of better ones. So, I went to another spot in another canal and did the same thing and caught an 8. So, I knew that was the plan going in.”

Branagh never used his forward-facing sonar. He simply fished very methodically, picking apart his zones foot by foot and using his Power-Poles every inch of the way.

“I’d ease up, I’d say, about 5 feet off the bank,” he said. “The fish were actually out about 3 foot from the from the actual rock piles. I would parallel the rocks, put it on the rocks, and just slow roll it out, ticking the top of the rocks. When you felt it tick the rock, sometimes it was rock, and sometimes it was a fish swimming out with your bait.”

Branagh basically only those needed two areas to win – one was responsible for his weight on Day 1, and his backup spot was the place to be on Day 2 and Day 3.

“I was going to try to save my second spot for today and not burn it up yesterday,” he explained. “But I went in there yesterday and should’ve had over 30 pounds again and lost a double-digit. So, I went in there today and just expanded on it.”

Branagh’s victory was not without flaw – he did lose some key fish. But, it turned out not to matter, and he was thrilled on stage after a grueling Day 3.

“Man, I was sick to my stomach for the last two hours,” he said. “Now, I’m freaking stoked.”

The top 10 pros at the Toyota Series at Lake Okeechobee finished:

1st:        Robert Branagh, Malabar, Fla., 15 bass, 73-1, $44,000
2nd:       Steve Lopez, Oconomowoc, Wis., 15 bass, 65-8, $17,000
3rd:       Parker Knudsen, Minnetonka, Minn., 14 bass, 59-8, $13,750 (includes $1,000 Phoenix Bonus)
4th:        Kyle Glasgow, Guin, Ala., 15 bass, 56-1, $10,750
5th:        Michael Venditto, Boca Raton, Fla., 15 bass, 53-14, $9,750
6th:        Hunter Weston, Palm City, Fla., 15 bass, 53-10, $8,375
7th:        Dillon McMillan, Palm Bay, Fla., 15 bass, 52-2, $7,300
8th:        Kyle Monti, Okeechobee, Fla., 15 bass, 51-10, $6,300
9th:        Travis Pitt, Niceville, Fla., 15 bass, 50-1, $5,300
10th:     Michael Catt, Jacksonville, Fla., 15 bass, 49-9, $4,200

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Pro Brian Haseotes of West Newton, Massachusetts, earned Thursday’s $500 Berkley Big Bass Award with a bass weighing 9 pounds, 2 ounces. On Friday, pro David Sheffield of Davie, Florida, brought an 8-pound, 5-ounce largemouth to the scale to earn the $500 award.

Alan Hults of Gautier, Mississippi, won the Strike King Co-angler Division Saturday with a three-day total of 15 bass weighing 45 pounds, 11 ounces. Hults earned the top co-angler prize package worth $34,000, including a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard motor.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers at the Toyota Series at Lake Okeechobee finished:

1st:        Alan Hults, Gautier, Miss., 15 bass, 45-11, Phoenix 518 Pro boat w/115-hp Mercury outboard
2nd:       Rich Frey, Guntersville, Ala., 15 bass, 41-5, $5,375
3rd:       Ray Ruiz, Boca Raton, Fla., 15 bass, 38-13, $4,300
4th:        Brady Lunsmann, Citrus Springs, Fla., 13 bass, 38-5, $3,650
5th:        Roger Phillips, Delta, Ala., 15 bass, 36-11, $3,150
6th:        Garrett Vick, Lake Worth, Fla., 10 bass, 36-8, $2,650
7th:        Jeffery Baffa, Estero, Fla., 14 bass, 36-0, $2,150
8th:        Grant McPeters, Marion, N.C., 11 bass, 35-9, $1,825
9th:        Grayson Honeycutt, Temple, Texas, 15 bass, 35-2, $1,530
10th:     Michael Leach, Shenandoah, Texas, 12 bass, 34-10, $1,290

Strike King Co-angler Greg Shaughnessy of Miami, Florida, earned Thursday’s $150 Berkley Big Bass co-angler award with an 8-pound, 15-ounce bass, while Friday’s Day 2 $150 co-angler award went to Shannon Pike of Sarasota, Florida, who weighed in an 8-pound, 9-ounce largemouth bass.

The Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats at Sam Rayburn Reservoir was hosted by the Hendry County Tourism Development Council. It was the first of three regular-season tournament for the Toyota Series Southern
Division. The next event for the Toyota Series Southern Division will be March 27-29 on the Harris Chain of Lakes in Leesburg, Florida. For a complete schedule of events, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.

by AnglersChannel

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