AnglersChannel

Expect big bags from college anglers at James River

RICHMOND, Va. — According to Virginia pro Ryan Lachniet, college anglers will need to hit the tides right to unlock the magic of the James River during the 2026 Strike King Bassmaster College Series event presented by Bass Pro Shops.

“It should be really good,” the former Campbellsville University angler said. “Last October, I won a tournament out there with a two-day total of 49 pounds. The James has been really good the last couple of years.”

Tournament days are scheduled for May 29-30. Daily takeoffs and weigh-ins will take place at Osborne Park and Boat Landing in Richmond, Va. This is the final regular-season event for the College Series and the last chance for teams to qualify for the 2026 Strike King Bassmaster College Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops and earn points toward Team of the Year standings.

The James River has been a popular stop for the Bassmaster Tournament Trail over the past several years. Lachniet, who qualified for the 2025 Nitro Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers presented by Bass Pro Shops, won the Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier at James River presented by Lowrance last April with a three-day total of 53 pounds, 6 ounces, but he anticipates the fishing will be better for this College Series event.

“You can catch them anywhere in the system this time of year, but it will probably be dominated within three miles of the ramp or as far away as you can run,” Lachniet said. “The top half of the Chickahominy and then close to Osborne are going to be the two areas that dominate.”

Lachniet anticipates the bass will be in either a postspawn phase or in their early summer patterns. The bass in the early summer pattern will be set up around tide-related current breaks, and the college teams are in luck, because the tide forecasts call for an outgoing tide for much of the tournament.

“High tide is good for catching a lot of fish, but a lot of the really big bags come from low tide,” Lachniet said. “Someone is going to catch a mega-bag.”

The Chickahominy River is historically the place to win on the James River. Lily pads, hydrilla and cypress trees are key cover elements, as well as the Walkers Dam tailrace. A cold winter caused some of the hydrilla to die off, which Lachniet thinks could make for much better fishing.

The closer anglers stay to takeoff, the less the tide comes into play, but finding the right current breaks will be critical. Kenta Kimura won an April Bassmaster Open within sight of Osborne Landing in 2022.

“There could be 20 4-pounders on one of those current breaks, and you can catch 20 pounds in five casts,” Lachniet said. “I think one-cast spots will be really important.”

With shad and bream being the key forage, Lachniet anticipates that anglers who are willing to commit to a big glidebait or swimbait can have a lot of success. ChatterBaits and frogs around the vegetation and lily pads can produce key bites, as well as wacky rigs and Texas-rigged stickbaits or creature baits.

Richmond Region Tourism and Henrico Sports & Entertainment Authority are hosting the tournament.

2026 Bassmaster College Series Title Sponsor: Strike King

2026 Bassmaster College Series Presenting Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops

2026 Bassmaster College Series Platinum Sponsor: Progressive, Toyota
2026 Bassmaster College Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2026 Bassmaster College Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Lew's, Lowrance, Phoenix Boats, VMC, Yokohama

2026 Bassmaster College Series Youth Sponsors: Seaguar

About B.A.S.S.

B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, Turtlebox Bassmaster Opens Series presented by Battery Tender, Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Junior Series, TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.

by AnglersChannel

Oklahoma Readies for Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Stop 5 on Lake Eufaula Presented by K&N Filters

EUFAULA, Okla. – The fifth stop of the 2026 Major League Fishing (MLF) Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech will launch next week, June 5-7, in Eufaula, Oklahoma – the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Stop 5 on Lake Eufaula Presented by K&N Filters.

The three-day Pro Circuit event will feature up to 150 professional bass anglers competing for a top prize of up to $135,000. Anglers will take to Lake Eufaula to catch their five biggest bass each day, and the winner will be determined by the heaviest three-day cumulative total.

MLF hasn’t had many events in June at Oklahoma’s Lake Eufaula, though the May 2024 Toyota Series event could provide some solid predictions. Won by Bokoshe, Oklahoma pro Chris Jones with a little better than 15 pounds a day, it featured a wide variety of patterns. Jones won the event running south, power fishing shallow, and others caught fish on finesse tactics on cover, offshore, and on a shad spawn.

“It’s very much transition, it’s definitely postspawn 100%,” said Moore, Oklahoma’s Shonn Goodwin. “It will depend very much on the water level. If it is up in the bushes, they’ll still be up in the bushes; you can win it or compete very well in the bushes.”

If the water isn’t up, it might really broaden the possibilities.

“A big thing is the shad spawn, I stopped at Eufaula once in early June, and the shad spawn was incredible, like I had never seen it,” Goodwin said. “That time of year, it can be very muddy, so it can make it difficult to get much of a deep bite. If the water is low, it’ll be cleared up, and it will be postspawn, and there will be good offshore stuff – rough spots, small drop-offs, brush, places that will hold them really well.”

Forward-facing sonar is a powerful tool at Eufaula to fish brush and small targets with shaky heads, Neko rigs and drop-shots. Though there’s a good chance the winner fishes in the dirt the whole event, there’s also plenty of room for modern technology to heavily influence the outcome, despite Oklahoma mud.

Anglers will launch at 6:30 a.m. CT each day from the Nichols Point Boat Ramp, located at 400 Lakeshore Drive in Eufaula, Oklahoma. Weigh-ins will also be held at the Nichols Point Boat Ramp and will begin at 2:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and weigh-in events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW!® live stream and coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The 2026 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech features a field of up to 150 professional anglers competing across six tournaments around the country for a total purse of $3.8 million and valuable 7 Brew Angler of the Year (AOY) points to qualify for the Pro Circuit Championship, set for Sept. 18-20 on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes in Kissimmee, Florida, and a coveted spot on the MLF Bass Pro Tour – the sport’s premier circuit.

In Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit competition, the full field of pros compete in the two-day opening round on Friday and Saturday in a five-fish, weigh-in format. Only the top 50 pros, based on their two-day cumulative weight, advance to the final round on Championship Sunday. The winner is determined by heaviest cumulative weight from all three days and they will be awarded the grand prize of up to $135,000. Forward-facing and/or 360-degree sonar is limited to only 3 hours of competition each day.

The MLFNOW! broadcast team of Chad McKee and Rob Newell will break down the extended action live all three days of competition from 7 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. CT. MLFNOW! will be livestreamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app and Rumble.

Television coverage of the MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech Stop 5 on Lake Eufaula Presented by K&N Filters will air as a two-hour episode, premiering at 9 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Oct. 4 on Vice TV.

Proud sponsors of the 2026 MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech include: 7 Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Buffalo, BUBBA, Cigars International, Epic Baits, Grizzly, Mercury, MillerTech, OFF! Deep Woods, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PirahnO2, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, VOSKER, YETI and Yuengling.

For complete details and updated information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery, Outdoor Channel, VICE, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV, Game & Fish TV and Rumble, 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

Summer showdown set for Santee Cooper Kayak Series event

CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. — Summer will likely be in full swing when anglers arrive at Santee Cooper Lakes for the third stop of the 2026 Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft season.

Tournament days are scheduled for May 30-31. Competitors will be able to launch from any approved public boat launch in this catch-weigh-release format event. The Top 5 anglers at the end of the tournament will punch their tickets to the 2026 National Championship, details of which will be announced later, and all anglers will earn points toward the Pro-Guide Batteries Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year race.

Lakes Marion and Moultrie have undergone a transformation over the last several years. A variety of vegetation, including eelgrass and hydrilla, has taken hold, making the two lakes even better than they already were. For years, Lake Marion was viewed as the superior lake, but with the grass, Lake Moultrie has become the more consistent of the two fisheries.

The water is clearer than it’s been in years, and during the spring, stringers in the upper 30s and lower 40s were brought to multiple tournament scales. Along with the vegetation, thousands of cypress trees stand in the lake. Plus, offshore brushpiles start to play more in the summer months.

By the end of May, the largemouth bass in the system will be either late in their postspawn phase or already in summer patterns. Expect topwaters, frogs, ChatterBaits, soft-plastic stickbaits and Texas-rigged worms to be top-performing baits.

Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce is hosting this event.

2026 Bassmaster Kayak Series Title Sponsor: Newport

2026 Bassmaster Kayak Series Presenting Sponsor: Native Watercraft
2026 Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year Sponsor: Pro-Guide Batteries

About B.A.S.S.

by AnglersChannel

Summer boating season just got even better with Suzuki Marine!

Starting Memorial Day through Independence Day, Suzuki Marine is turning up the heat with the Ultimate 7-Year Warranty on qualifying new 150-350hp outboards with no participation fee. Whether you’re planning offshore runs, sandbar weekends, fishing trips, or sunset cruises, there’s never been a better time to power your adventures with Suzuki Marine. Built for dependable performance and exceptional fuel efficiency, Suzuki outboards are engineered to keep you on the water longer and worry less.

A 7-year warranty speaks volumes about the confidence Suzuki Marine has in its products — and now customers can experience that peace of mind all summer long. If you’ve been considering a repower or shopping for a new boat, now is the time to visit your authorized Suzuki Marine dealer or visit suzukimarine.com and take advantage of one of the best promotions of the season!

Running May 22 through July 3, this limited time 7-Year Warranty gives boaters even more confidence in the performance and durability Suzuki outboards are known for.

by AnglersChannel

Davis Dominates NPFL at Lay Lake

Alabama pro Alex Davis earns his first NPFL win at Lay Lake with a three-day total weight of 51-10.

While things were changing across Lay Lake, the one thing that did not change at the Work Sharp NPFL Stop 3 was Alabama angler Alex Davis’ game plan. He started strong, stayed consistent, and caught fish early and often all three days to seal the deal.

Davis weighed 19-5 on Day One to take a share of the lead, added 18-5 on Day Two to move into the solo lead, and caught 14-0 early on the final day to build a comfortable cushion heading into the afternoon. While things got tougher across the fishery with increased boat traffic and fishing pressure, Davis had done enough to earn the NPFL shield and $100,000 with a three-day total of 51-10.

No stranger to NPFL victories, South Carolina angler Patrick Walters came close to earning another. Walters started strong on Day One with 19-4, including a 5-3 kicker, added 16-7 on Day Two, and weighed 15-1 on the final day to finish second with a three-day total of 50-12.

South Carolina angler Kristopher Queen finished third with a three-day total of 49-5 after weighing 15-2 on Day One, 17-8 on Day Two, and 16-11 on the final day. Georgia pro Drew Cook finished fourth with a total weight of 49-1, while fellow South Carolina angler Wesley Gore rounded out the top five with 47-8.

Big Bass of the event belonged to Ryan Satterfield, who finished just outside the top ten in 12th place with a three-day total of 42-4, anchored by a 7-10 kicker caught on the opening day of competition.

“I found those fish in practice after shaking off two fish, and I saw a big one boil,” said Satterfield. “I had no idea the quality of fish I was around, but I probably caught 30 fish in that little area this week. Every fish I weighed came within 40 yards of that big fish. I caught it on a wacky Senko around shallow grass, and it really kicked off my event.”

Davis Employs the Urchin

Earning his first major victory on an urchin-style bait was not on Alex Davis’ bingo card coming into the event. But after a day of practice and a few key bites, it quickly became a pattern that gave him the confidence to dedicate time to throughout practice.

“I would have never guessed my first big win would be on an urchin bait, but here we are,” Davis said. “I had no idea coming in that I would even throw one, and honestly, I only had six of them to my name. On the first day of practice, I fished for four hours and only had a few small fish. Luke Clausen told me he got a few bites on one (Hags baits), and I gave it a try. We ended up overnighting more of those baits to the house before the tournament.”

Over the rest of Day One, Davis boated roughly 21 pounds worth of Lay Lake bass. On Day Two of practice, he committed to it all day, and while the bite was slower, he was still able to catch numbers of fish while covering water and finding fish. On the final day of practice, he started learning which areas would be best. He boated over 20 bass and also found a jerkbait bite that gave him some added confidence.

“I actually started on the jerkbait bite the first day of the event and caught a few small fish,” he said. “I got sick of it and started throwing the urchin, and within the first few hours I had my Day One limit. I was simply going down the bank, keeping my eyes on Humminbird MEGA 360, fishing every dock, brush pile, stump, or patch of grass I could find. I knew after Day One I had a shot.”

On Day Two, during Live Coverage, his first fish was a 5-pounder that immediately got things rolling. Before lunch, he had over 18 pounds and did enough to take over the solo lead. But it was a decision on Day Two that ultimately set the stage for his victory on the final day.

“At one point I was catching so many fish yesterday that were not helping me, I was throwing back 3-pounders and realized I cannot do this,” he said. “Conserving fish was key. Having a bunch of different places was key. MEGA 360 was key. I just fished slow and methodical, and I knew it was my time going into this morning. I just put my head down and fished.”

On the final day, before Live Coverage had even kicked off, Davis got to work. He boated over 13 pounds early, calming himself down and giving him confidence that he could close it out. Later in the morning, a 2.75-pound cull brought him to his eventual winning weight and was enough to hold off the late charge from Patrick Walters.

“When I came in for weigh-in, I talked to Derek (second place to start the day) and he said he struggled. I talked to Patrick and he showed me his scale, and I thought I may have had it,” Davis said. “This is something I have worked my whole career for. I have been close and finished second several times, and this time was my time. I knew it was my time, and I made it happen. It was a great week.”

Walters Climbs to Second

Practice started well for Patrick Walters, and he turned it into a near victory. In practice, he checked some deeper places and got bit quickly, mostly on a prototype Rapala jerkbait. He then went to the bank, trying to see where the bass were and what they were doing.

“I was looking for any sign of life; brim beds, spawners, shad spawn, just gauging where things were,” he said. “I had enough deeper stuff from the Elite three years ago, so I knew I could run around. We had Scope back then, so I knew how things set up and what the piles looked like. This time, I had to use Humminbird MEGA 360 to be as efficient as possible.”

With a plan in place, Walters sacked them up on Day One, starting the event in third place, and realized he may have a better shot than expected coming in. Each day, he mixed it up, as he generally does, throwing a variety of different baits both shallow and offshore.

“I rotated through a topwater, a new Rapala jerkbait, a Zoom Fluke Stick, and just went down the bank covering water and looking for fish,” Walters said. “The hardest thing when I got offshore was being efficient. It takes so long to fish the brush, but there were fish out there. MEGA 360 helped some; it was three or four casts rather than ten. It also helped me dial in the exact cast.”

On Day Two, he remained in third place with a shot on the final day. Each morning, he started shallow looking for a shad spawn, which turned out to be a huge letdown. Knowing he was one bite away, he may have spent just a little too much time shallow today chasing the big bite rather than trying to make a few culls offshore.

“This event was in my wheelhouse, and I made good decisions all week,” he said. “I shook two off in practice and caught them on Day One, things just worked out. Today, the sun peeked out some and I had a feeling I was one bite away. I went looking for a 5-pounder, and I probably should have tried to cull up offshore.”

To begin Showdown Saturday, he had a fast morning and built what he called a good baseline weight. Wrapping up the week in second, Walters added valuable AOY points and once again did what he does best — make things happen.

Final Leaderboard:

Alex Davis 51-10
Patrick Walters 50-12
Kristopher Queen 49-5
Drew Cook 49-1
Wesley Gore 47-8
Brandon Cobb 46-1
Derek Lehtonen 45-12
Richard Cooper 45-5
John Cox (FL) 44-9
Jason Burroughs 44-2
Darrell Davis 43-9
Ryan Satterfield 42-4
Jon Canada 41-14
Tim Cales 41-5
Luke Clausen 40-13
Jordan Osborne 40-6
Buddy Gross 39-10
Gerald Spohrer 39-1
Jacob Powroznik 39-0
Hank Cherry 38-15
Zack Birge 38-12
Matt Herren 38-7
Kyle Glasgow 37-11
Garrett Smith 37-11
Brock Mosley 37-6
Greg Vinson 37-5
Harmon Davis 36-10
Paul Browning 36-10
Bill Lowen 36-8
Nick Brown 35-15
James Niggemeyer 35-15
Randall Tharp 35-14
Fred Roumbanis 35-9
Greg Hackney 35-8
Josh Butler 35-7
Gary Adkins 35-4
JT Russell 34-14
Jared Lintner 34-13
Chad Grigsby 34-10
Andrew Upshaw 34-3
Scott Hamrick 34-0
Chad Marler 33-15
Wes Logan 33-8
Brad Whatley 33-7
J. Todd Tucker 33-4
Scott Suggs 33-2
Corey Casey 32-4
Stacey James 32-3
Timothy Reams 32-3
Todd Goade 31-14
Chris Baker 31-13
David Wootton 31-7
Lavoyd Lemmond 31-6
Barron Adams 30-15
Jason Meninger 30-13
Ron Johnson 30-4
Ray Hanselman 30-3
Dustin Williamson 30-2
Joey Bloom 30-2
Mike Quinlin 29-15
Andy Morgan 29-13
Pete Ponds 29-12
William Fletcher 29-10
Shane Lineberger 29-5
James Watson 29-3
Quentin Cappo 28-15
Jason Wilson 28-13
Jamie Pierce 28-11
Jason Reyes 28-10
Keith Bardolf 28-8
Logan Latuso 28-6
Russ Lane 28-4
Scott Canterbury 28-2
Gerald Swindle 27-15
Bo Collins 27-15
Hunter Sales 27-11
Todd Auten 27-2
David Williams 27-1
Brad Staley 26-15
Dustin Reneau 26-15
Jason Williamson 26-4
Michael Comeau 25-10
Charlie Apperson 25-7
Troy Roder 25-6
Bob Behrle 25-1
Dylan Freeze 24-14
Cole Harris 24-4
Josh Hooks 24-2
Adam Savage 23-15
Timothy Wilson 23-1
John Cox (GA) 22-12
Lendell Martin 22-12
Kevin Rogers 21-14
Matthew McBee 20-15
Cliff Crochet 20-8
Josh Watkins 20-5
T-Roy Broussard 20-2
Tim Frederick 19-6
Hunter Baughman 17-13
Scott Wiley 17-12
Craig Chambers 17-9
Joseph Lineberry 17-1
Sean Alvarez 16-13
Chip Harrington 16-13
Travis Jewell 15-3
Darrel Robertson 11-11
Alton Wilhoit 11-7
Bill Day 10-11
Johnnie Adams 9-6
Mitchell Webb 9-5
Christopher Whisenant 8-10
Austin Garland 3-4

by AnglersChannel

Knight overcomes adversity to win Bassmaster Open at Kentucky/Barkley Lakes

Opens_Turtlebox_BattTender_4C-Raster (2).png

PARIS, Tenn. — Clint Knight’s lifetime of fishing Kentucky Lake gave him complete confidence in his final-round game plan, but calling an audible set him up for a rain-soaked victory at the Turtlebox Bassmaster Open at Kentucky Lake/Lake Barkley presented by Battery Tender.

With the morning’s light drizzle turning into afternoon downpours, Knight tallied a three-day total of 62 pounds, 2 ounces and edged Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series rookie and fellow Kentucky Lake hammer Tristan McCormick by a margin of 1-3.

“I’m just speechless, right now,” Knight said of his accomplishment. “I think the world of Tristan. Me and him have been good friends for the last three or four years. We’ve learned a lot just growing up fishing the way we fish, so I’m really happy for his (Top 10 finish)."

Knight’s day started with an equipment issue, as his side imaging transducer was not working. He’d later make a wise adjustment that kept him in the hunt, but probably his best call was to delay his initial plan of running down to the Kentucky Lake Dam.

“I took off this morning thinking I was gonna swing for it, but I just had a gut feeling that things were going to change with all the rain, so I started on a little spot right out in front of Paris (north side of US Highway 79 Bridge) that I haven’t even fished this week,” Knight said. “I wanted to make sure I had a limit before I went swinging for it.

“It was just a gut feeling. I was on my way to the dam, but I had a feeling I needed to start there. It’s just a big community hole; a high spot in 20 feet on the edge of the river.”

The plan worked and Knight boated his first keeper — a 4 1/2-pound smallmouth — 11 minutes after the 6:30 a.m. takeoff. Quickly gathering a decent limit, he proceeded to his primary game plan of starting at the dam and working his way back to the Paris Landing area.

Knight caught those early fish with a jighead minnow. Most were eating the bait near the bottom, but when the fish came up schooling on baitfish, Knight would burn his minnow across the surface to draw aggressive bites.

“That made me feel good knowing that I made the right decision,” Knight said. “I fish with more confidence when I have a limit in the boat.”

From the Dam, Knight fished 30 to 40 spots, mostly bars and ledges. With today’s exception, recent weeks have seen minimal rain fall across the region, so the Tennessee Valley Authority has moved very little water through Kentucky Lake.

“When there’s a lack of current, those fish have no reason to be where they’re supposed to be,” Knight said. “I was not very efficient today because I didn’t have my SideScan. All the places I’d look for schools, I just put the trolling motor on 10 and looked for them.”

Describing his strategy, Knight said he’d make a strategic cast to likely areas and watch his forward facing sonar to see if he spotted any fish coming off the bottom to chase his bait.

Along with the jighead minnow, Knight caught the rest of his fish on a 3/4-ounce Green Fish Tackle Living Rubber Jig with a Berkley MaxScent Creature Hog, and a Hideup Coike Fullcast Neko rigged with a 3/0 flipping hook.

Earning his first Bassmaster win, Knight took home the $39,176 top prize and received an invitation to fish the 2027 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour, March 19-21 at Lake Hartwell.

“I was scared to death this morning when I realized I didn’t have any side-imaging,” Knight said. “I had been finding new schools about 1 or 2 o’clock every day, so I didn’t know how this was gonna work out, but it did."

McCormick, who lives in Bon Aqua, Tenn., finished second with 60-15. A Day 1 limit of 21-9 put him in third place, but McCormick added a second-round bag that went 25-4 — the event’s heaviest catch — and surged into the lead. A disjointed final round yielded 14-2.

Since Day 1, McCormick has made a long run upriver to New Johnsonville, which he considers his “home” section of the lake. Unfortunately, Championship Friday required multiple changes, the last of which delivered a late-day opportunity that he was unable to fully exploit.

“I checked a couple places where I expect them to show up and they did not show up,” McCormick said. “I ran all the way down there and all the way back up, past Paris and then I ran all the way down about halfway to New Johnsonville.

“I just couldn’t get in a grove. Everywhere I pulled up, I wasn’t getting a bite and I just knew that if I just kept going and kept going, I’d run into them.”

On his way back to weigh-in, McCormick finally found what he was looking for, but time was not on his side.

“Literally in the last 10 minutes, I scanned over a spot and there they were,” he said. “I turned around and made three casts and caught my three biggest ones. I just ran out of time.”

McCormick caught his fish on a jighead minnow with a Strike King Wing Minnow on a 1/8-ounce head, a Strike King 6XD crankbait, and a Hideup Coike Fullcast.

Trey Schroeder of Theodora, Mo., finished third with 57-12. His daily weights were 21-2, 16-5 and 20-5.

Schroeder did most of his work on a set of bars in 10 to 16 feet not far from the tournament site. He found the fish in different positions throughout the event, but noted that he looked for the aggressive fish that were in a feeding position.

“Every day around at about 1:30-2 o’clock, there was water running and that’s when those fish would set up on the point,” Schroeder said. “If they would set up, you could get right in a hurry.”

Schroeder caught his fish on a football jig, a jighead minnow with a 7-inch Deps Sackamata Shad on a 1/4-ounce head, and a Rapala DT-20.

Jack York of Emory, Texas won the $500 Phoenix Boats Big Bass lead with an 8-1.

Zane Parker of Kingwood, Texas leads the Turtlebox Bassmaster Opens presented by Battery Tender Division 2 standings with 569 points. Yui Aoki of Minamitsurugun, Japan is in second with 561, followed by Brody Robison of Dawson, Ala., with 559, Wyatt Burkhalter of Coker, Ala., with 550, and Ethan Fields of Carlyle, Ill., with 548.

Henry County Tourism Authority hosted this event.

2026 Bassmaster Opens Series Title Sponsor: Turtlebox

2026 Bassmaster Opens Series Presenting Sponsor: Battery Tender

2026 Bassmaster Opens Series Platinum Sponsor: Progressive, Toyota
2026 Bassmaster Opens Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mountain Dew, Nitro Boats, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2026 Bassmaster Opens Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Lew's, Lowrance, Phoenix Boats, VMC, Yokohama

About B.A.S.S.

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

Media Contact: Mandy Pascal, Communications Manager, 334-414-8677, [email protected]

2026 Div 2 Open 3 Kentucky Barkley Lake 5/20-5/22
Kentucky and Barkley Lakes, TN.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3

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

1. Clint Knight Russellville, KY 15 62-02 0 $39,176.00
Day 1: 5 21-08 Day 2: 5 20-15 Day 3: 5 19-11
2. Tristan McCormick Bon Aqua, TN 15 60-15 200 $15,670.00
Day 1: 5 21-09 Day 2: 5 25-04 Day 3: 5 14-02
3. Trey Schroeder Theodosia, MO 15 57-12 199 $11,753.00
Day 1: 5 21-02 Day 2: 5 16-05 Day 3: 5 20-05
4. Cole McAusland Tuscaloosa, AL 15 56-05 198 $10,969.00
Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 5 21-00 Day 3: 5 19-05
5. Garrett Paquette Canton, MI 15 55-11 197 $10,186.00
Day 1: 5 15-10 Day 2: 5 20-11 Day 3: 5 19-06
6. Jace Lindsay Beckville, TX 15 54-08 196 $9,402.00
Day 1: 5 19-00 Day 2: 5 19-00 Day 3: 5 16-08
7. Jack York Emory, TX 14 53-09 195 $9,119.00
Day 1: 5 23-00 Day 2: 4 17-05 Day 3: 5 13-04
8. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 15 51-15 0 $7,835.00
Day 1: 5 19-12 Day 2: 5 19-04 Day 3: 5 12-15
9. Riley Nielsen Salt Lake City, UT 15 51-14 194 $7,835.00
Day 1: 5 23-05 Day 2: 5 13-02 Day 3: 5 15-07
10. Zane Parker Kingwood, TX 15 49-05 193 $7,835.00
Day 1: 5 16-10 Day 2: 5 19-10 Day 3: 5 13-01
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
BIG BASS OF TOURNAMENT
Jack York Emory, TX 08-01 $500.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 105 678 1990-03
2 95 633 1828-12
3 10 50 164-00
----------------------------------
210 1361 3982-15

by AnglersChannel

Auburn University Anglers Shoen & Travis Win Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops

FLORENCE, AL (May 22, 2026) – The scales are closed, and results have been finalized as competition concludes for the 2026 Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops. The Association of Collegiate Anglers’ 21^st National Championship was contested each of the last two days at Pickwick Lake in Florence, AL. An elite field of close to 220 teams competed both days for more than $30,000 in prizes and contingencies, as well as triple points to count towards the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia.

Benjamin Travis & Carty Shoen from 15^th ranked Auburn University win the Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops with a two-day total weight of 45.30 pounds. From 3^rd ranked University of North Alabama, Fisher Heard & Hunter Brewer finish in 2^nd, and Peyton Sorrow & Brady McCormick of top ranked University of Montevallo round out the Top 3.

View the final event standings.

Auburn University anglers Benjamin Travis & Carty Shoen entered the final day of tournament competition at the Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops with the lead after weighing 26.91 pounds on Day 1. They backed that up today with 18.39 pounds to take their total weight to 45.30 pounds. That two-day total edges out their closest competitor by just over one pound. For their victory, Travis & Shoen earn $5,000 along with an additional $1,000 for the ACA logo contingency. Today’s victory marks Auburn’s third ACA National Championship title in the event’s 20-plus year history. Auburn joins Bethel University as the only two schools to have won college fishing’s longest-running National Championship event three times.

Finishing the tournament in 2^nd place are Fisher Heard & Hunter Brewer. Representing 3^rd ranked University of North Alabama, they finished the event with a two-day total weight of 44.27 pounds. After Day 1 of tournament competition, Heard & Brewer were in 9^th place. That had them just over seven pounds out of the top spot. The UNA anglers followed up their Day 1 weight of 22.60 pounds with 21.67 pounds here on Day 2 to jump from 9^th to 2^nd overall. Along with the $2,500 2^nd place prize, the UNA anglers also earn $2,000 as the highest-placing Yamaha Power Pay eligible team.

Rounding out the Top 3 are two anglers for top ranked University of Montevallo. Peyton Sorrow & Brady McCormick finish the Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops in 3^rd. Sorrow & McCormick rallied on Day 2 with what is likely one of the largest moves amongst the entire field today. The pair was tied for 63^rd after bringing in 16.29 pounds yesterday. Here on Championship Day, they managed to catch the largest five fish limit of the entire event. Their Day 2 weight was 27.97 pounds, anchored by the Overall Big Bass for the tournament at 10.09 pounds. A two-day total weight of 44.26 pounds places them in 3^rd and pays out $1,500 to go with the new Power-Pole for Overall Big Bass.

The ACA National Championship was a triple points event to count towards the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia. Bolstered by Sorrow & McCormick’s 3^rd place finish, Montevallo earned enough points to secure its sixth straight title at Pickwick Lake this weekend. Next week, the ACA will update the points total for this season and provide a full breakdown of how this tournament could impact the final standings for the 2025-26 season in the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia.

The ACA would like to thank the team at Visit the Shoals and Florence, AL for hosting us this week. As always, Pickwick Lake proves to be a phenomenal fishery, and the community again continues to provide great hospitality.

by AnglersChannel

Shoen & Travis from 15th Ranked Auburn Surge to Day 1 Lead at Pickwick Lake

22 Teams Top 20 pound limits

FLORENCE, AL (May 21, 2026) – Day 1 of tournament competition has concluded for the Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops. Close to 220 of the top college fishing teams in the nation took to Pickwick Lake to begin the event this morning. At weigh-in this afternoon, approximately eight hours later, a total of 22 limits eclipsing 20 pounds crossed the scales at McFarland Park in Florence, AL.

Leading the pack in 1^st place overall are Benjamin Travis & Carty Shoen with 15^th ranked Auburn University. Kaden Buchmann with 7^th ranked Lander University is in 2^nd. Representing 6^th ranked Blue Mountain Christian University, Blake Bullock & Steven Deschene are in 3^rd.

View the complete Day 1 standings.

On Day 1 of tournament competition for the Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops, Pickwick Lake proved once again why it is one of the best fisheries in the nation. A total of 22 limits over 20 pounds were weighed in by the elite field. The current Overall Big Bass is 9.00 pounds.

Anglers were greeted with light rain and considerable cloud cover this morning. A late season shad spawn, combined with those overcast conditions, provided many anglers with a great opportunity to capitalize on an early morning bite. As the day progressed, some of those clouds burned off and the sun popped out periodically. That then allowed the teams focusing on the deep bite to better target those bass as they set up better on that offshore structure.

One team that capitalized on the changing conditions later in the day was the Auburn University pairing of Benjamin Travis & Carty Shoen. On stage at weigh-in, the two anglers representing the 15^th ranked team in the nation stated that they did not have much weight around noon. In the final hours of the day, they cracked the code and rallied to sack up 26.91 pounds, which includes the current Overall Big Bass at 9.00 pounds. They lead 2^nd place by more than 2.50 pounds, and Auburn’s two best teams at the moment are in the Top 11.

Sitting in 2^nd place is Kaden Buchmann from 7^th ranked Lander University. Fishing by himself, Kaden was able to wrangle in 24.33 pounds. Three teams weighed in limits in the 24-pound range.

In 3^rd place is one of those teams, Blake Bullock & Steven Deschene representing 6^th ranked Blue Mountain Christian University with 24.25 pounds. Blue Mountain Christian anglers have a good deal of experience on Pickwick Lake, as their university is located not too far away in Mississippi. They fellow teammates, Chandler & Clayton, are in 6^th.

Going into the final day of tournament competition tomorrow, while all eyes will be on the top of the leaderboard as teams vie for a National Championship title, the race for Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia will be top of mind too. The University of Montevallo did not have a team weigh-in a 20 plus pound limit today. 2^nd ranked Carson-Newman and 3^rd ranked UNA each had one. Many of the teams in the Top 10 have multiple boats lingering near the top of the leaderboard. It will be interesting to see how the chips fall when the scales close tomorrow, and teams try to move as high up in the standings as possible as the season winds down.

Take off will be streamed live each morning on the series Facebook page, followed by live blog coverage and updates. Teams start weighing in at McFarland Park beginning at 2 pm (CST) and fans are encouraged to attend. The weigh-in will also be streamed live beginning at 2 pm. Keep up with all things pertaining to the 2026 ACA National Championship, including live streams and coverage here.

by AnglersChannel

Lefebre Catches $100K Big Bass, Wins MLF Kubota Heavy Hitters on Orange Lake Presented by Bass Pro Shops

Pennsylvania pro Dave Lefebre catches seven bass weighing 31-3 – including 9-3 largemouth – to earn $100,000 for victory and $100,000 Berkley Big Bass

OCALA, Fla. (May 21, 2026) – Erie, Pennsylvania’s Dave Lefebre never publicly announced whether he’s retired as a professional angler. He’s not sure if Kubota Heavy Hitters Presented by Bass Pro Shops will mark his last event.

But this much is clear: He saved his best performance for what was likely his final Bass Pro Tour event.

Lefebre not only topped the field on Florida’s Orange Lake to win the Heavy Hitters championship belt and $100,000, he also caught the Berkley Big Bass during the Championship Round – a 9-pound, 3-ounce lunker – to earn a second $100,000 paycheck. He’s now the second angler in the history of Heavy Hitters to walk away with $200,000, joining Jordan Lee at the inaugural Heavy Hitters event in 2020.

Lefebre’s total of 31 pounds, 3 ounces on seven scorable bass topped Ron Nelson by 3-12. His first Bass Pro Tour win and first national victory since 2015 just might go down as a storybook ending to his 23-year pro career.

“It’s been an emotional, spiritual battle for the last five years,” Lefebre said. “And it feels like God’s way of telling me I’m doing the right thing by getting out – going out this way.”

Rallying to make the Championship Round
With three FLW Tour wins and a victory at the 2009 Toyota Texas Bass Classic, Lefebre has enjoyed plenty of success during his career. But it had been a while since he even found himself in contention to win a top-level tournament. Before Heavy Hitters, he’d made just two Top 10s and never finished better than seventh in 50 Bass Pro Tour events. He failed to requalify for the tour in 2026 and hasn’t fished any other tournaments this year.

Still, Lefebre earned a spot in Heavy Hitters thanks to his big-bass success a year ago, and he arrived at Orange Lake optimistic. He used to fish the lake often with his late friend Glenn Browne, who passed away from cancer in 2019, and he felt like it would be fitting to end his career on a high note.

“I knew the potential that it was the end, the last one, and I just have learned how God works,” he said. “And I needed it.”

Practice buoyed Lefebre’s hopes. While he didn’t get many bites, he did discover a pair of spots about a quarter mile apart that he thought could be the winning areas if he got them to himself. Sure enough, no other boats tried to fish them during Group A’s first day of qualifying … and yet Lefebre only mustered two scorable bass for 6-4.

“When I didn’t catch them, I felt like I let the spot down,” he said. “Like, I’m in the winning spot, and I sucked that bad.”

Still, he stayed positive. He described the spots as ditches located at the mouth of a big bay. The first deep water outside of the bay, which had become choked out with hydrilla due to Orange Lake’s low water level, he figured the area would continue to replenish.

“Everybody I talked to, I said, ‘I’m going to bust them tomorrow,’ because I’m figuring it out a little bit at a time,” he continued. “They’re there. I just gotta slow down.”

Lefebre started his second day of qualifying by “running around helter-skelter” in an effort to find new, productive water before forcing himself to return to the spots where he’d spend the rest of the event. He switched from a white swim jig, which had produced all his bites during practice and Day 1, to a black-and-blue bladed jig. He also swapped out his braided line for 20-pound fluorocarbon so he could feather the bait more slowly around the hydrilla clumps. He promptly caught an 8-3, followed by a pair of 5-pounders.

“I went back in there and just drifted with the wind instead of using the trolling motor – just Florida stuff, doing what you’re supposed to do,” Lefebre said. “I started making shorter pitches and just letting that ChatterBait flutter, and that black-and-blue one was the deal.”

While Lefebre knew he’d figured out something special, he still had to rally to make it out of the Qualifying Round. He caught a 6-3 with about 30 minutes left on Day 2 to finally climb above the Lucas Oil Cut Line. But with a couple minutes before lines out, Takahiro Omori caught a 6-pounder of his own that knocked him back out. Lefebre landed a 3-5 on his literal last cast to extend his final event – the first of three straight days with clutch catches in the final period.

“I just swung it in like it didn’t matter,” Lefebre said of his Day 2 buzzer-beater. “I didn’t even know that I had fallen (out of the cut). But I fell to ninth, and then that 3-pounder I swung in put me back to eighth, and I didn’t even think I needed that fish. And then yesterday, in the Knockout Round, same thing as today – I caught like a 7-something with an hour and a half, two hours to go, and the fish just shut down.”

One bass worth $200,000
Lefebre once again flirted with the cut line during the Knockout Round, squeaking into the Championship Round field in eighth. Still, he remained confident. He noted that, even as impressive as the quality had been on Orange Lake, bites weren’t easy to come by. No one appeared likely to build a big lead and run away with the win. He was also interacting with a lot more fish than SCORETRACKER® indicated.

“I knew what the potential was,” Lefebre said. “I lost seven fish the first day, 20 (in the Knockout Round) and more than 20 today. I would just miss them a lot more than I’d catch them. Just stupid stuff – stuff you shouldn’t be able to overcome.”

Ironically, one of the few times during the event that Lefebre felt like his chances had slipped away came early in Period 3 on Championship Thursday. He’d hung around by boating a 3-pounder roughly every hour. Then, when he finally got a bigger bite, the fish came off. He then hooked and lost another one around 5 pounds.

“I was devastated,” he said. “Like, I waited all day for that bite. Then I stood up, made two casts, saw that 5-pounder; it ate. I was like 9 pounds back at the time, I think. And I was just like, ‘Man, I just blew it.’”

A couple casts later, Lefebre caught a 3-9. Then another that didn’t quite make the 3-pound minimum weight. Then, he connected with the 9-pounder – the biggest bass Lefebre has ever caught in a tournament, and certainly the most lucrative.

He admitted that he probably should have lost that fish, too. But this one stayed hooked and proved to be worth $200,000.

“I’m kind of out of fishing shape,” he said with a chuckle. “I sat down in the driver’s seat, and it was coming at my hand, and I had a little too much line. I couldn’t make a mistake. My arms were stretched as far as I could. It was just crazy. I barely got my hand on his face because I let too much slack in.”

Suddenly leading both on SCORETRACKER® and in the Berkley Big Bass standings, Lefebre found himself choked up. He called the last 2 hours the most stressful experience he’s ever had in a tournament.

“When you win something like this, you want to run away with it,” he said. “You don’t want the stress. I lost 15 years off my life today.”

When his victory finally became official, Lefebre teared up again. He needed this, he said. He and his wife are working to open a music venue and café in his hometown of Erie, Pennsylvania, and financing the project had been stressful.

“There’s just a lot at stake right now,” Lefebre said. “It’s a big investment. We’re turning the chapter, next page. So, we needed some breathing room. We didn’t get a loan yet, stuff like that. We needed a little bit of breathing room to do what we want to do.”

A $200,000 payday should help. Meanwhile, tasting victory one more time – and winning both of the coveted prizes on offer at Heavy Hitters at that – will make for a fitting ending should Lefebre indeed decide to retire as a touring pro.

The final 10 pros at Orange Lake at Kubota Heavy Hitters 2026 Presented by Bass Pro Shops on Orange Lake finished:

1st:        Dave Lefebre, Erie, Pa., seven bass, 31-3
2nd:      Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich., five bass, 27-7
3rd:       Jake Lawrence, Paris, Tenn., four bass, 24-2
4th:       Mark Davis, Mound Ida, Ark, five bass, 21-1
5th:       Marshall Hughes, Hemphill, Texas, three bass, 18-7
6th:       Alton Jones Jr., Lorena, Texas, three bass, 10-2
7th:       Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., two bass, 7-2
8th:       Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., one bass, 6-3
9th:       Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio, one bass, 3-1
10th:     Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas., one bass, 3-0

Full results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 32 bass weighing 151 pounds, 12 ounces caught by the final 10 pros on Thursday, which included one 9-pounder, two 8-pounders and three 7-pounders caught from Orange Lake.

Berkley Big Bass Bonus Award Winners:

Group A Day 1: Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan (10-1), $10,000
Group B Day 1: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn. (11-0), $10,000
Group A Day 2: Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn. (10-1), $10,000
Group B Day 2: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn. (9-8), $10,000
Knockout Round: Jake Lawrence, Paris, Tenn. (9-8), $30,000
Championship Round: Dave Lefebre, Erie, Pa. (9-3), $100,000

Hosted by the Ocala/Marion County Visitors and Convention Bureau, the Kubota Heavy Hitters at Orange Lake Presented by Bass Pro Shops featured 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. A bass must have met the 2-pound minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable in the Qualifying and Knockout Rounds, and in the Championship Round a bass must have weighed at least 3 pounds to be deemed scorable.

To qualify for Kubota Heavy Hitters, the weight of an angler’s single-largest bass from each event of the seven 2025 Bass Pro Tour events was recorded. The 32 anglers with the heaviest total from those seven bass qualified to compete in this event.

Television coverage of Kubota Heavy Hitters 2026 Presented by Bass Pro Shops will be showcased across six two-hour episodes, premiering at 7 a.m. ET on July 4 and running each Saturday through Aug. 15 on Discovery. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on the Outdoor Channel.

Proud sponsors of the 2026 Kubota Heavy Hitters Presented by Bass Pro Shops include: Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Force, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Black Buffalo, BUBBA, Grizzly, Kubota, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, MillerTech, NITRO Boats, OFF! Deep Woods, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Star brite, Toyota, YETI, Yuengling and Zenni.

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

by AnglersChannel

McCormick’s local knowledge delivers Day 2 lead in Bassmaster Open at Kentucky/Barkley Lakes

Opens_Turtlebox_BattTender_4C-Raster (2).png

PARIS, Tenn. — Tournament anglers often self-motivate with the phrase “Go big or go home.” Tristan McCormick did both and that aggressive strategy delivered the Day 2 lead in the Turtlebox Bassmaster Open at Kentucky Lake/Lake Barkley presented by Battery Tender.

Day 1 saw the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series rookie from Bon Aqua, Tenn., place third with 21-9, but McCormick rocked the second round with the event’s heaviest catch — 25-4. Tallying a 2-day total of 46-13, he heads into Championship Friday with a lead of 4-6 over Clint Knight.

“It was a really special day,” McCormick said. “It started out really slow, I was losing fish and getting really mad, but I had all my buddies out there and they were telling me, ‘Stay calm.’

“I finally ran into them and I caught like 20 pounds pretty quick and then I ran back down here (to the Paris area), scanned a couple places, turned around and caught ’em.”

Fishing a mix of traditional offshore current breaks and wood, McCormick targeted a mix of spawning fish, fry guarders and big postspawners. He caught most of his fish on a jighead minnow with a Strike King Wing Minnow on a 1/8-ounce head. A Strike King 6XD crankbait produced one of McCormick’s better fish.

McCormick started his day by running upriver to New Johnsonville, about an hour west of his home. With a lifetime of experience on Kentucky Lake’s 160,300-acres, he knew that was where he’d find his best options.

“I call New Johnsonville ‘home’ and I’ve never fished a major tournament up there and I’m literally the only guy up there,” McCormick said. “Usually, when we have an event here, I go north, or we run out of Kentucky Dam Marina.

“This time, I told my buddies, ‘If I’m gonna win this thing, it’s gonna be going home.’”

Essential to that objective was leveraging his understanding of geography and seasonal progressions.

“This lake is so big and vast and I grew up here, so I know what areas go off first,” McCormick said. “I know where they get offshore first and where the heavier fish are gonna be. It’s just time behind the wheel.

“I have probably 16,000 waypoints out here, everything from stumps, to schools, the whole 9 yards.”

McCormick, who weighed a mixed bag of largemouth and smallmouth said he’s optimistic about his final-round potential.

“It’s definitely not fast and in a hurry, but I like what I saw in the last 30 minutes, so I’m excited to start on that hole in the morning, because I know what lives there,” McCormick said. “I only made one cast on that spot and caught one.

“I don’t know what’s gonna happen tomorrow, but I’ve dreamed of this a long time on this lake, so I’m excited to get back out there.”

Knight, who makes his home in Russellville, Ky., is in second with 42-7. After placing fourth on Day 1 with 21-8, Knight added 20-15 and gained two spots.

“I found a school yesterday afternoon pretty close to takeoff and I started on them this morning but they weren’t there,” Knight said. “I actually ran all the way to Kentucky Dam and caught a limit but it wasn’t but 12 to 13 pounds. I just started working my way upriver and checking things.”

As Knight observed, the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Kentucky Dam release schedule is pulling such a low level of current through the lake that the fish are simply not as active as he’d like. He addressed this limitation by using the lake to his advantage.

“I ran pretty far upriver and the more narrow it gets in the area I fished, the more current it creates (due to a more constricted flow),” Knight said.

Knight kept his bait details guarded, but he said he’s using a slow presentation.

Jack York of Emory, Texas holds the third-place spot with 40-5. York placed second on Day 1 with a limit of 23-0, but yielded one spot with a Day 2 bag of 17-5.

Notably, York missed his 5-bass limit by one fish, but with over a 4-pound average, he was around the right quality. Ultimately, he surmised that the schools he fished on Day 1 had fractured with the day’s weather.

“I think that with two days of overcast conditions and really strong rain yesterday afternoon, the two schools I was rotating through weren’t setting up right,” York said. “I know I’m around the right kind, they’re just not tight.

“When I get a bite, it’s a big one. Yesterday, I only caught seven and today, just the four. But I’m around the fish to do really well, if I can just catch five of them tomorrow.”

York caught his fish on a 7-inch Sixth Sense Shendo minnow on a 3/16-ounce jig.

York holds the Phoenix Boats Big Bass lead with an 8-1 from Day 1.

Friday’s takeoff is scheduled for 6:30 a.m. CT at Paris Landing Marina. The weigh-in will be held at the marina at 2:30 p.m.

Follow along with all of the action from the Turtlebox Bassmaster Open at Kentucky Lake/Lake Barkley presented by Battery Tender on Bassmaster.com.

Henry County Tourism Authority is hosting this event.

2026 Bassmaster Opens Series Title Sponsor: Turtlebox

2026 Bassmaster Opens Series Presenting Sponsor: Battery Tender

About B.A.S.S.

-30-

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

Media Contact: Mandy Pascal, Communications Manager, 334-414-8677, [email protected]

2026 Div 2 Open 3 Kentucky Barkley Lake 5/20-5/22
Kentucky and Barkley Lakes, TN.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2

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

1. Tristan McCormick Bon Aqua, TN 10 46-13 200
Day 1: 5 21-09 Day 2: 5 25-04
2. Clint Knight Russellville, KY 10 42-07 0
Day 1: 5 21-08 Day 2: 5 20-15
3. Jack York Emory, TX 9 40-05 199
Day 1: 5 23-00 Day 2: 4 17-05
4. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 10 39-00 0
Day 1: 5 19-12 Day 2: 5 19-04
5. Jace Lindsay Beckville, TX 10 38-00 198
Day 1: 5 19-00 Day 2: 5 19-00
6. Trey Schroeder Theodosia, MO 10 37-07 197
Day 1: 5 21-02 Day 2: 5 16-05
7. Cole McAusland Tuscaloosa, AL 10 37-00 196
Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 5 21-00
8. Riley Nielsen Salt Lake City, UT 10 36-07 195
Day 1: 5 23-05 Day 2: 5 13-02
9. Garrett Paquette Canton, MI 10 36-05 194
Day 1: 5 15-10 Day 2: 5 20-11
10. Zane Parker Kingwood, TX 10 36-04 193
Day 1: 5 16-10 Day 2: 5 19-10
11. Brody Robison Dawson, AL 10 36-01 192 $7,052.00
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 21-14
12. Bailey Gay Union, KY 10 35-03 191 $5,485.00
Day 1: 5 15-00 Day 2: 5 20-03
13. Brandon Ackerson Afton, OK 10 34-14 190 $4,701.00
Day 1: 5 18-09 Day 2: 5 16-05
14. Erik Brztowski Lemont, IL 10 34-11 189 $3,918.00
Day 1: 5 15-06 Day 2: 5 19-05
15. Jay Przekurat Stevens Point, WI 10 34-05 0 $3,918.00
Day 1: 5 19-03 Day 2: 5 15-02
16. Evan Cox-VanVliet Loveland, CO 10 34-05 188 $3,918.00
Day 1: 5 17-04 Day 2: 5 17-01
17. Laker Howell Guntersville, AL 10 34-04 187 $3,918.00
Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 5 18-04
18. Brad Jelinek Lincoln, MO 10 34-00 186 $3,918.00
Day 1: 5 16-01 Day 2: 5 17-15
19. Anthony Garcia Los Angeles, CA 10 34-00 185 $3,918.00
Day 1: 5 16-04 Day 2: 5 17-12
20. Yui Aoki Minamitsurugun JAPAN 10 33-14 184 $3,918.00
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 5 19-01
21. Nathan Thompson Eagan, MN 10 33-06 183 $3,918.00
Day 1: 5 19-00 Day 2: 5 14-06
22. Andrew Jones Trussville, AL 10 33-00 182 $3,918.00
Day 1: 5 16-02 Day 2: 5 16-14
23. Mike McClelland Blue Eye, MO 10 32-12 181 $3,918.00
Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 5 18-11
24. Dalton Head Moody, AL 10 32-07 180 $3,918.00
Day 1: 5 16-12 Day 2: 5 15-11
25. Brennan Flick West Monroe, LA 10 32-05 179 $3,918.00
Day 1: 5 15-15 Day 2: 5 16-06
26. Chris Johnson Farmington, AR 10 32-04 178 $3,918.00
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 19-06
27. Garrett McWilliams Florence, MS 10 32-04 177 $3,918.00
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 17-00
28. Lane Stephens Owasso, OK 10 32-02 176 $3,918.00
Day 1: 5 14-14 Day 2: 5 17-04
29. Casey Scanlon Eldon, MO 10 32-01 175 $3,918.00
Day 1: 5 14-15 Day 2: 5 17-02
30. Peyton Harris Birmingham, AL 10 31-13 174 $3,918.00
Day 1: 5 16-15 Day 2: 5 14-14
31. Lucas Toliver Paw Paw, MI 10 31-08 173 $3,134.00
Day 1: 5 16-03 Day 2: 5 15-05
32. Dillon Falardeau Hixson, TN 10 31-07 172 $3,134.00
Day 1: 5 16-02 Day 2: 5 15-05
33. Nathan Reynolds Nashville, TN 10 31-06 171 $3,134.00
Day 1: 5 17-11 Day 2: 5 13-11
34. Wyatt Burkhalter Coker, AL 10 31-06 170 $3,134.00
Day 1: 5 16-15 Day 2: 5 14-07
35. Grant Neubauer Medford, WI 10 31-03 169 $3,134.00
Day 1: 5 15-02 Day 2: 5 16-01
36. Jeremy Lawyer Sarcoxie, MO 10 30-13 168 $3,134.00
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 5 16-08
37. Michael Harlin Osage Beach, MO 10 30-09 167 $3,134.00
Day 1: 5 16-11 Day 2: 5 13-14
38. Jacob Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 10 30-07 166 $3,134.00
Day 1: 5 16-13 Day 2: 5 13-10
39. Hugh Cosculluela Spring, TX 10 30-05 165 $3,134.00
Day 1: 5 19-01 Day 2: 5 11-04
40. Alex Heintze Denham Springs, LA 10 30-01 164 $3,134.00
Day 1: 5 16-06 Day 2: 5 13-11
41. Ethan Fields Carlyle, IL 10 30-01 163 $3,134.00
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 5 14-09
42. Rylan Hamlin Jackson, MI 10 30-01 162 $3,134.00
Day 1: 5 15-03 Day 2: 5 14-14
43. Brody Campbell Oxford, OH 10 29-14 0 $3,134.00
Day 1: 5 15-11 Day 2: 5 14-03
44. Brian Post Janesville, WI 10 29-08 161 $3,134.00
Day 1: 5 15-14 Day 2: 5 13-10
45. Harmon Marien Eagle River, WI 10 29-08 160 $3,134.00
Day 1: 5 15-06 Day 2: 5 14-02
46. Jeremiah Kindy Benton, AR 10 29-02 159
Day 1: 5 17-07 Day 2: 5 11-11
47. Trace Freeman Northport, AL 10 29-02 158
Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 5 16-07
48. Jonathan Pimentel Camdenton, MO 10 29-02 157
Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 5 16-05
49. Connor Cunningham Springfield , MO 10 28-13 156
Day 1: 5 16-08 Day 2: 5 12-05
50. Chris Beaudrie Princeton, KY 10 28-13 155
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 13-09
50. Ryan Thompson Seymour, MO 10 28-13 155
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 13-09
52. Fisher Anaya Eva, AL 10 28-08 0
Day 1: 5 15-06 Day 2: 5 13-02
53. TJ Edwards Jr Tremont, MS 9 28-05 153
Day 1: 5 17-02 Day 2: 4 11-03
54. Jordan Hartman Benton, KY 10 28-04 152
Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 5 16-00
55. Wyatt Marler Oldfield, MO 10 28-03 151
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 17-13
56. Nate Caldwell Fort Collins, CO 10 28-02 150
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 5 16-14
57. Colby Dark West Monroe, LA 10 27-12 149
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 5 15-14
58. Andy Newcomb Camdenton, MO 10 27-08 148
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 15-01
59. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 10 27-07 147
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 13-12
60. Matt Pangrac Shawnee, OK 10 27-01 146
Day 1: 5 15-05 Day 2: 5 11-12
61. Mason Woley Paducah, KY 9 26-08 0
Day 1: 5 18-15 Day 2: 4 07-09
62. Ty Faber Pagosa Springs, CO 10 26-08 145
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 5 12-03
63. Brock Bila Republic, MO 10 26-06 144
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 5 15-03
64. Trevor McKinney Noble, IL 9 26-05 143
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 4 13-01
65. Matt Stefan Junction City, WI 10 26-03 142
Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 5 13-10
66. Riley Harris Orange, TX 10 26-00 141
Day 1: 5 12-05 Day 2: 5 13-11
67. Blake Schroeder Bullard, TX 8 25-15 140
Day 1: 3 10-10 Day 2: 5 15-05
68. Darold Gleason Leesville, LA 10 25-15 139
Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 5 11-14
69. Paul Elias Laurel, MS 6 25-12 0
Day 1: 1 06-07 Day 2: 5 19-05
70. Wesley Baxley Conroe, TX 10 25-08 138
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 11-00
71. Kyle Palmer Elora, TN 10 25-08 137
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 11-13
72. Ian Waterer East Selkirk CANADA 9 25-03 136
Day 1: 4 11-11 Day 2: 5 13-08
73. Rick Harris Jr Carlsbad, NM 6 25-01 135
Day 1: 5 21-02 Day 2: 1 03-15
74. Blaine Bunney Claremore, OK 8 25-00 134
Day 1: 3 07-04 Day 2: 5 17-12
75. Jaron Burr Bowling Green, KY 8 25-00 133
Day 1: 5 17-01 Day 2: 3 07-15
76. Nick Marsh White Lake, MI 9 24-07 132
Day 1: 4 07-14 Day 2: 5 16-09
77. Kollin Crawford Broken Bow, OK 9 24-04 131
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 4 10-11
78. Jacob Welch Roach, MO 7 24-02 130
Day 1: 2 04-06 Day 2: 5 19-12
79. Colby Bryant Houston, TX 9 24-02 129
Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 4 10-12
80. Byron Hill Clermont, FL 6 23-08 128
Day 1: 1 03-04 Day 2: 5 20-04
81. Jason Adams Guthrie, OK 10 23-08 127
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 5 13-00
82. Brent Shores Savannah, TN 9 23-05 126
Day 1: 5 15-09 Day 2: 4 07-12
83. Cameron Mattison Benton, LA 9 23-04 125
Day 1: 5 15-00 Day 2: 4 08-04
84. Lonnie Cochran Section, AL 7 22-13 124
Day 1: 5 18-12 Day 2: 2 04-01
85. Tanner Visco Antioch, IL 8 22-01 123
Day 1: 3 09-09 Day 2: 5 12-08
86. Doug Chapin Tigerton, WI 9 21-13 122
Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 4 08-13
87. Luke Kerstetter Seymour, TN 10 21-11 121
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 10-06
88. Chase Clarke Virginia Beach, VA 8 21-09 120
Day 1: 4 10-03 Day 2: 4 11-06
89. Chris Hellebuyck White Lake, MI 7 21-08 119
Day 1: 2 04-14 Day 2: 5 16-10
90. Jordan Knutson Saint Croix Falls, WI 9 21-08 118
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 4 10-00
91. Kyle Metzger Pearl River, LA 7 21-07 117
Day 1: 2 05-09 Day 2: 5 15-14
92. John Branch Magnolia, KY 8 21-07 116
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 3 07-04
93. Freddy Palmer Estill Springs, TN 9 21-06 115
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 4 10-02
94. Dylan Fogarty Mechanicsburg, PA 9 21-03 114
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 4 09-15
95. Teb Jones Yalaha, MS 8 21-00 113
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 3 07-03
96. Kyle Zacharuk Keswick Ontario CANADA 8 20-11 112
Day 1: 3 07-01 Day 2: 5 13-10
97. David Walker Huntingdon, TN 8 20-10 0
Day 1: 3 07-12 Day 2: 5 12-14
98. Tommy Dickerson Orange, TX 9 20-10 111
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 4 09-12
99. Chad Pipkens Dewitt, MI 8 20-08 110
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 3 07-03
100. Bryan Partak Marseilles, IL 8 20-08 109
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 3 07-10
101. Yukihiro Sawamura Harker Heights, TX 9 20-05 108
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 4 06-09
102. Joe Wieberg Freeburg, MO 8 20-05 107
Day 1: 3 07-07 Day 2: 5 12-14
103. Steve Tennison Lexington, OK 8 20-05 106
Day 1: 3 07-14 Day 2: 5 12-07
104. Joey Punko Broomfield, CO 8 20-04 105
Day 1: 3 07-12 Day 2: 5 12-08
105. Grae Buck Green Lane, PA 7 20-02 104
Day 1: 2 07-04 Day 2: 5 12-14
106. Sam Ausbrooks Loogootee, IN 7 20-00 103
Day 1: 2 04-07 Day 2: 5 15-09
107. Danny Ramsey Trinidad, TX 8 19-11 102
Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 3 06-08
108. Bo Thomas Edwardsburg, MI 5 19-10 101
Day 1: 5 19-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
109. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 8 19-05 100
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 3 06-01
110. James Campise Brookeland, TX 8 19-05 99
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 3 06-15
111. Adam Rasmussen Sturgeon Bay, WI 8 19-04 98
Day 1: 3 09-04 Day 2: 5 10-00
112. Alex Wetherell Middletown, CT 7 19-03 97
Day 1: 5 15-01 Day 2: 2 04-02
113. David Brand Dittmer, MO 7 19-00 96
Day 1: 2 05-04 Day 2: 5 13-12
114. Zachary Ward Cabot, AR 8 18-09 95
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 3 06-13
115. Kevin Ledoux Choctaw, OK 8 18-05 94
Day 1: 4 09-04 Day 2: 4 09-01
116. Hayden Marbut Birmingham, AL 9 18-04 93
Day 1: 4 07-06 Day 2: 5 10-14
117. Billy Gilbert Hamburg, NY 7 18-03 92
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 2 06-12
118. Darrell Ivey Lebanon, MO 7 18-02 91
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 2 05-03
119. Jacob Wood Pleasant View, TN 6 18-01 0
Day 1: 4 11-10 Day 2: 2 06-07
120. Eddie Carper Valliant, OK 7 18-01 90
Day 1: 3 08-02 Day 2: 4 09-15
121. Easton Lindus Woodville, WI 7 17-14 89
Day 1: 2 05-09 Day 2: 5 12-05
122. Niko Romero Coldspring, TX 7 16-15 88
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 2 04-13
123. Josh Giroldi Beachville Ontario CANA 7 16-13 87
Day 1: 4 10-04 Day 2: 3 06-09
124. Tommy Parker Delano, MN 7 16-10 86
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 2 04-04
125. Hunter Crossland San Angelo, TX 5 16-07 85
Day 1: 5 16-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
126. Ken Day Kennewick, WA 7 16-05 84
Day 1: 2 04-03 Day 2: 5 12-02
127. Kurt Dove Del Rio, TX 6 16-04 83
Day 1: 4 11-03 Day 2: 2 05-01
128. Brett Hite Phoenix, AZ 8 16-04 82
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 3 05-14
129. Josh Pladies Lees Summit, MO 6 16-00 81
Day 1: 1 02-06 Day 2: 5 13-10
130. Clay Henderson Purdy, MO 6 15-10 80
Day 1: 2 05-11 Day 2: 4 09-15
131. Joseph Hardy China Spring, TX 7 15-08 79
Day 1: 2 04-15 Day 2: 5 10-09
132. Dylan Welton Middleville, MI 7 15-06 78
Day 1: 2 04-08 Day 2: 5 10-14
133. Kristine Fischer Spring City, NE 6 15-04 77
Day 1: 3 09-06 Day 2: 3 05-14
134. Chris Lewis Hallsville, TX 5 14-11 76
Day 1: 5 14-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
135. Seiji Kato Forney TX JAPAN 6 14-09 75
Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 1 02-00
136. Bj Miller Adams, NE 6 14-04 74
Day 1: 3 08-00 Day 2: 3 06-04
137. Chris Whitson Louisville, TN 5 14-02 73
Day 1: 5 14-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
138. Chris Miller Spirit Lake, IA 5 14-01 72
Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
139. Nick Lawler Ava, MO 5 13-15 71
Day 1: 4 09-09 Day 2: 1 04-06
140. Ryan Michl Newton, IL 5 13-11 70
Day 1: 2 06-13 Day 2: 3 06-14
141. Sho Egawa Osaka JAPAN 6 13-07 69
Day 1: 1 02-13 Day 2: 5 10-10
142. Andrew Behnke Fond Du Lac, WI 5 13-06 68
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 13-06
143. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 6 12-09 67
Day 1: 5 09-14 Day 2: 1 02-11
144. John Engler III Vinton, IA 5 11-07 66
Day 1: 3 06-06 Day 2: 2 05-01
145. Jim Dillard West Monroe, LA 5 10-15 65
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 10-15
146. Nic Rand Paw Paw, MI 5 10-11 64
Day 1: 1 02-03 Day 2: 4 08-08
147. David Perdue Wirtz, VA 5 10-11 63
Day 1: 3 06-09 Day 2: 2 04-02
148. Rick Pierce Mountain Home, AR 4 09-14 62
Day 1: 2 03-10 Day 2: 2 06-04
149. Ish Monroe Oakdale, CA 3 09-10 61
Day 1: 3 09-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
150. Satoshi Egawa Belton, TX 4 09-09 0
Day 1: 3 07-08 Day 2: 1 02-01
151. Gary Hall Wardville, OK 4 09-07 60
Day 1: 3 07-04 Day 2: 1 02-03
152. Frank Scalish Mount Gilead, OH 3 09-06 59
Day 1: 3 09-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
153. Justin Latham Reelsville, IN 3 08-15 58
Day 1: 1 02-13 Day 2: 2 06-02
154. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 3 08-14 0
Day 1: 3 08-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
155. Tyler Smith Troup, TX 4 08-10 0
Day 1: 3 06-07 Day 2: 1 02-03
156. Matt Keezer Kirkland Quebec CANADA 3 08-09 57
Day 1: 3 08-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
157. Wyatt Wisian Ardmore, OK 3 08-06 56
Day 1: 3 08-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
158. Andy Beloat Montgomery, TX 2 07-11 55
Day 1: 2 07-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
159. John Mark Berry Mount Olive, MS 2 07-04 54
Day 1: 2 07-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
160. A.J. Menssen Bloomington, IL 2 06-04 53
Day 1: 2 06-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
161. Ryan Salzman Huntsville, AL 3 06-02 52
Day 1: 2 04-01 Day 2: 1 02-01
162. Clark Reehm Elm Grove, LA 2 05-12 51
Day 1: 2 05-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
163. Tracy Mitchell Springfield, MO 2 04-14 50
Day 1: 1 02-04 Day 2: 1 02-10
164. Chris Bailey Eddy, TX 2 04-12 49
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 04-12
165. Joey Hanna Corsicana, TX 2 04-10 48
Day 1: 2 04-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
166. Dylan Minch Stevens Point, WI 2 04-08 47
Day 1: 2 04-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
167. Jim Moynagh Outing, MN 1 03-08 46
Day 1: 1 03-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
168. Johnny Grice Arp, TX 1 03-03 45
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 03-03
169. Clay Dyer Fayetteville, TN 1 02-07 44
Day 1: 1 02-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
170. Tyler Wolf Creston, IA 1 02-05 43
Day 1: 1 02-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
171. Anastasia Patterson Sumter, SC 1 02-00 42
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-00
171. Laindree Richardson Benton, IL 1 02-00 0
Day 1: 1 02-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
173. Bryan Hoffman Andrews, TX 3 00-00 41
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 00-00
174. Cody Bertrand Dyer, IN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. David Boelkins Waukesha, WI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. Jason Bonds Lufkin, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. Joe Lucarelli Benton, KY 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. Frank Mixon Abilene, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. Scott Nielsen Murray, UT 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. Isaac Peavyhouse Monroe, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. Tim Sprouse Clarksville, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. Mikey Weems Hull, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 105 678 1990-03
2 95 633 1828-12
----------------------------------
200 1311 3818-15

by AnglersChannel

Lawrence Catches $30K Big Bass, Paces Final 10 into Championship Round at MLF Kubota Heavy Hitters on Orange Lake Presented by Bass Pro Shops

Tennessee pro Jake Lawrence lands 9-8 to win Knockout Round Big Bass, tops Knockout Round with 40-8, final 10 anglers set for Thursday’s Championship Round

OCALA, Fla. (May 20, 2026) – After the opening period of the Knockout Round at Kubota Heavy Hitters Presented by Bass Pro Shops, Jake Lawrence found himself at the bottom of SCORETRACKER®. But even though he’d mustered just one scorable bass, Lawrence reassured himself that on the giant bass factory that is Orange Lake, he only needed a couple bites to put himself right back in the mix.

Indeed, it took him all of 10 minutes and two fish to vault all the way from the bottom of the standings to the top. That’s where Lawrence finished the day with a total of 40 pounds, 8 ounces on seven scorable bass, 1-11 ahead of Mark Davis.

Lawrence found a group of the lunker bass that Orange Lake has been kicking out all week. After boating an 8-pounder and a 6-pounder in the first 10 minutes of Period 2, he added an exclamation point with a 9-8 giant that edged Cole Floyd by 1 ounce for Berkley Big Bass honors, which earned Lawrence an extra $30,000.

Weights will zero overnight, then Lawrence will lead the Top-10 finishers onto the water for Thursday’s Championship Round. If he can replicate his Knockout Round performance, he would take home both of the $100,000 paychecks up for grabs – one for the winner and the other for the angler who catches the biggest bass.

Prior to the flurry that launched him from last to first, Lawrence hadn’t caught a bass from that spot during the event. He’d gotten two quick bites there in practice but revisited it on the first Qualifying Round day and never caught a fish.

Lawrence opened the day in the area that produced most of his Day 2 weight, but as often happens at Heavy Hitters, where Groups A and B trade days during the Qualifying Round before coming together for the Knockout Round, he arrived to find a host of other anglers starting on the same stretch. So, he decided to give his secondary area – which he described as a strip of clean water behind a hydrilla mat – another shot.

“I decided to stop in there at the beginning of the second period, and buddy, it was happening,” Lawrence said. “I had an 8-12. Moved the boat about 10 feet, caught a 6-11. I went and picked my camera operator up so he wouldn’t disturb the area, and once I got back in that zone, I caught the 9 ½-pounder. I actually had another great big one that swirled right behind my ChatterBait. It never actually touched the bait, but had she not boiled, I would have never even known that it happened. But man, the size of that boil, there is no telling how big that fish was. It was another big, big one.”

The 9-8 represented the biggest bass Lawrence has ever weighed during a tournament. Yet at the time, he didn’t think it would be enough to win the $30,000 prize.

“This sounds crazy – obviously I was extremely excited to catch that fish – but I truly did not think that it would hold,” he said. “It had only been one day that it hadn’t taken a double-digit, and we were still fairly early in the day. I just felt like it was going to take a 10-pounder to do it. But super fortunate for that extra ounce.”

Lawrence caught one more bass, a 4-7, from his honey hole before leaving to conserve it for the Championship Round. While he plans to start there Thursday and “probably spend a good portion of my day inside that area,” he also discovered another area during Period 3 that he thinks has potential, where he added two more over 4 pounds.

In all, six of Lawrence’s seven scorable bass weighed over 4 pounds. That could be huge during the Championship Round – the one day during the Bass Pro Tour season that the minimum weight for a scorable bass exceeds 2 pounds. It’ll take at least a 3-pounder to hit SCORETRACKER® on Thursday.

Had the 3-pound minimum been in effect during the Knockout Round, Lawrence would have led the way by more than 10 pounds. Marshall Hughes – who, like Lawrence, only caught one scorable bass under 3 pounds Wednesday – would have finished second with 27-11. Davis would have been third with 26-9, and Floyd would have been the only other angler over 20 pounds with 21-2.

“It gives me a ton of confidence going into that Championship Round with that 3-pound minimum,” Lawrence said. “I know where that caliber is living, and it’s just about settling into those little, key areas and getting the bites and getting them in the boat.”

Lawrence took the Bass Pro Tour by storm as a rookie in 2025, winning an event and knocking out five Top 10s en route to a runner-up finish in the Fishing Clash Angler of the Year race. At least compared to that, 2026 hasn’t been as smooth. This will be his first Championship Round appearance of the year.

A Top 10 and a payday of at least $30,000 is a nice way to turn things around. Leaving Florida with another $200,000 would be even better.

“I’m ecstatic,” Lawrence said. “This season has been a challenge for me, there’s no question. It’s bass fishing; it’s hard to keep everything going in the right direction at all times. And I’ve just had one of those starts to the season. It just seems like what could go wrong does.

“I’m extremely excited to have an opportunity at both winning the event as well as a $100,000 bite. That’s just crazy to even think that we’re going to have a shot at that tomorrow.”

Davis looks like he has a real chance to claim the first Bass Pro Tour victory and tour-level win of his career in Florida, both of which have narrowly eluded him. The Bass Fishing Hall of Famer has twice finished second at BPT events in the Sunshine State, on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes in 2023 and the Harris Chain last year. Both times, he led during the Championship Round before being passed by one of the Lane brothers (Bobby Lane is in the Championship Round field as well, so watch out for him).

Alton Jones Jr. has proven to be dangerous once he reaches this point in a Heavy Hitters event. He has won both the championship belt (in 2023) and cashed the $100,000 Berkley Big Bass prize (in 2022) in past Championship Rounds.

Likewise, Jeff Sprague will look to make it three-for-three at catching the $100,000 bass during his Heavy Hitters Championship Round appearances. When he did so last year on Smith Mountain Lake, he became the first angler to catch the $100,000 bass multiple times. Sprague is also looking to notch his long-awaited first Bass Pro Tour win. This will mark his 17th Top 10 in BPT competition. That’s second only to Brent Ehrler (22) among anglers without a Bass Pro Tour victory and Ehrler is also in the Championship Round field after sneaking across the Lucas Oil Cut Line late for the second day in a row.

The top 10 pros from the Knockout Round that now advance to Thursday’s Championship Round on Orange Lake are:

1st: Jake Lawrence, Paris, Tenn., seven bass, 40-8
2nd: Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark, 12 bass, 38-13
3rd: Marshall Hughes, Hemphill, Texas, six bass, 29-11
4th:         Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio, seven bass, 28-8
5th:         Alton Jones Jr., Lorena, Texas, 10 bass, 28-4
6th:         Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich., 11 bass, 28-2
7th:         Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas., 10 bass, 26-9
8th:         Dave Lefebre, Erie, Pa., four bass, 16-1
9th:         Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., five bass, 15-3
10th: Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., five bass, 14-12

Eliminated from competition after the Knockout Round on Orange Lake are:

11th: Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas., five bass, 14-3
12th: Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan, four bass, 13-8
13th: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., four bass, 12-6
14th: Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., four bass, 9-3
15th: John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky., two bass, 9-1
16th: Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla., two bass, 8-11

Full results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 98 bass weighing 333 pounds, 7 ounces caught by the 16 pros on Wednesday, which included two 9-pounders, two 8-pounders, one 7-pounder and four 6-pounders caught from Orange Lake.

Berkley Big Bass Bonus Award Winners:

The 16 anglers in Group A competed in their two-day qualifying round on Saturday and Monday – the 16 anglers in Group B on Sunday and Tuesday. After the two-day qualifying round, the top eight anglers from both groups advanced to Wednesday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round weights were zeroed, and the remaining 16 anglers competed to finish in the Top 10 to advance to the Championship Round. In Thursday’s final-day Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.

Hosted by the Ocala/Marion County Visitors and Convention Bureau , Kubota Heavy Hitters at Orange Lake Presented by Bass Pro Shops features 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. A bass must meet the 2-pound minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable in the Qualifying and Knockout Rounds, but for tomorrow’s Championship Round a bass must weigh at least 3 pounds to be deemed scorable.

In addition to overall tournament awards, Berkley Big Bass bonuses are awarded in each round of competition with payouts of $10,000 for the single biggest bass on each day of the Qualifying Round, $30,000 for the biggest bass in the Knockout Round and $100,000 for the biggest bass in the Championship Round.

Fans are encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW! livestream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The MLFNOW! broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live each day of competition from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. MLFNOW! will be livestreamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app, and Rumble.

by AnglersChannel

Nielsen’s key catch delivers slim lead in Bassmaster Open at Kentucky/Barkley Lakes

Opens_Turtlebox_BattTender_4C-Raster (2).png

PARIS, Tenn. — A quick tackle inspection likely prevented the loss of an afternoon kicker that gave Riley Nielsen the Day 1 lead in the Turtlebox Bassmaster Open at Kentucky Lake/Lake Barkley presented by Battery Tender.

When a 6-pound, 15-ounce bass surfaced with one point of one treble hook barely pinned in its mouth, fortune’s favor could have tilted one of two ways. Thankfully for the Salt Lake City, Utah pro, the point held and his limit of 23-5 sends him into Day 2 with a 5-ounce lead over Jack York.

“It was a blessing to have that fish,” Nielsen said. “I was shaking like a leaf when I got it in. It was a super-hard day on me, honestly. I didn’t get very many bites, but when I got a bite, it was a pretty nice one.”

Nielsen’s kicker came from a different place than where he began his day. He started on a mile-long stretch with scattered stumps and put together a solid limit by midday.

“I had 18 pounds around noon, so I laid off because I thought 18 would be good,” Nielsen said. “I found another little area that had a bunch of fish and the first one I caught was that big one. I’m hoping they stay there so I can beat on them tomorrow.”

Nielsen said his second spot was only 4 miles from his first. Both were fairly close to take off.

“I fished the 2025 Open here and the area I fished today is where I caught ’em last year,” Nielsen said. “Every time I’ve been to this lake, I try to go practice away from Paris Landing (the tournament site), but I never can find anything away from Paris, so I’ve stuck here.”

Nielsen said he was unsure of what his opening spot would offer, but after an earlier disappointment, he had to make something happen.

“I didn’t have anything else to do,” Nielsen said. “I had a shad spawn in the morning and I went and did that first, but it was terrible. I don’t know if it was the thunder last night, or the fact that we took off a little bit later than I was catching them.

“If my first spot with the stumps didn’t work out, I probably would have been in a lot of trouble, but I just made it work out there.”

Essential to making it work was Nielsen’s bait choice — and the specific bait he chose. Nielsen caught his fish on a Megabass Vision 110+1 jerkbait. He wasn’t picky about the color pattern; he was more concerned with the hardware.

“Whichever one had the best hooks, I just grabbed it and tied it on,” Nielsen said. “That was the key because my big fish literally had one point in its mouth.”

Looking ahead to his Day 2 game plan, Nielsen said he’s not optimistic that his first-round spots can carry him another day.

“I really don’t think so, because I didn’t see very many of them down there and the few that were down there, I caught,” Nielsen said. “I’m a little bit worried about it, but we’re gonna go try our best out there.

“I’m going to look for more stumps. That’s all I have, so I’m gonna live or die by it.”

York of Emory, Texas is in second place with 23-0. After a good start, York made a key move that delivered an afternoon game-changer.

“I had a couple of spots where it went down for me,” York said. “I had about 15 pounds until 1 o’clock and I went and hit a different school that wasn’t set up right this morning.

“I caught an 8-1 on my first drop and then caught a couple good ones to cull up to 23. Honestly, it was kind of an unexpected day, but I’ll take it.”

York caught most of his fish, including his biggest, on a jighead minnow presentation with a 7-inch Sixth Sense Shendo. He also caught a few on a deep-diving crankbait.

“The fish were set up on pretty textbook stuff, points facing into current,” York said. “In practice, it would pick up later and later. Tomorrow, I have a late boat number, so hopefully, I can do it again.

Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series pro Tristan McCormick of Bon Aqua, Tenn., is in third place with 21-9. Drawing on his extensive Kentucky Lake experience, McCormick said he planned his day based on seasonality.

“Right now, there’s a lot of different things going on in each section of the lake,” McCormick said. “I’m fishing a section where the fish have been done spawning longer, so they weigh more. They’re more in their summer patterns.

“I caught a lot of bass today, I just have to run through them to find the right size. I lost a big one today that really would have put me up there on the leaderboard. All in all, I like what I’m seeing.”

McCormick said he caught his fish on a crankbait and a jighead minnow.

York holds the Phoenix Boats Big Bass lead with an 8-1.

Thursday’s takeoff is scheduled for 6:30 a.m. CT at Paris Landing Marina. The weigh-in will be held at the marina at 2:30 p.m.

Follow along with all of the action from the Turtlebox Bassmaster Open at Kentucky Lake/Lake Barkley presented by Battery Tender on Bassmaster.com.

Henry County Tourism Authority is hosting this event.

2026 Bassmaster Opens Series Title Sponsor: Turtlebox

2026 Bassmaster Opens Series Presenting Sponsor: Battery Tender

About B.A.S.S.

-30-

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

Media Contact: Mandy Pascal, Communications Manager, 334-414-8677, [email protected]

2026 Div 2 Open 3 Kentucky Barkley Lake 5/20-5/22
Kentucky and Barkley Lakes, TN.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1

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

1. Riley Nielsen Salt Lake City, UT 5 23-05 200
Day 1: 5 23-05
2. Jack York Emory, TX 5 23-00 199
Day 1: 5 23-00
3. Tristan McCormick Bon Aqua, TN 5 21-09 198
Day 1: 5 21-09
4. Clint Knight Russellville, KY 5 21-08 0
Day 1: 5 21-08
5. Rick Harris Jr Carlsbad, NM 5 21-02 197
Day 1: 5 21-02
5. Trey Schroeder Theodosia, MO 5 21-02 197
Day 1: 5 21-02
7. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 5 19-12 0
Day 1: 5 19-12
8. Bo Thomas Edwardsburg, MI 5 19-10 195
Day 1: 5 19-10
9. Jay Przekurat Stevens Point, WI 5 19-03 0
Day 1: 5 19-03
10. Hugh Cosculluela Spring, TX 5 19-01 194
Day 1: 5 19-01
11. Nathan Thompson Eagan, MN 5 19-00 193
Day 1: 5 19-00
12. Jace Lindsay Beckville, TX 5 19-00 192
Day 1: 5 19-00
13. Mason Woley Paducah, KY 5 18-15 0
Day 1: 5 18-15
14. Lonnie Cochran Section, AL 5 18-12 191
Day 1: 5 18-12
15. Brandon Ackerson Afton, OK 5 18-09 190
Day 1: 5 18-09
16. Nathan Reynolds Nashville, TN 5 17-11 189
Day 1: 5 17-11
17. Jeremiah Kindy Benton, AR 5 17-07 188
Day 1: 5 17-07
18. Evan Cox-VanVliet Loveland, CO 5 17-04 187
Day 1: 5 17-04
19. TJ Edwards Jr Tremont, MS 5 17-02 186
Day 1: 5 17-02
20. Jaron Burr Bowling Green, KY 5 17-01 185
Day 1: 5 17-01
21. Wyatt Burkhalter Coker, AL 5 16-15 184
Day 1: 5 16-15
21. Peyton Harris Birmingham, AL 5 16-15 184
Day 1: 5 16-15
23. Jacob Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 5 16-13 182
Day 1: 5 16-13
24. Dalton Head Moody, AL 5 16-12 181
Day 1: 5 16-12
25. Michael Harlin Osage Beach, MO 5 16-11 180
Day 1: 5 16-11
26. Zane Parker Kingwood, TX 5 16-10 179
Day 1: 5 16-10
27. Connor Cunningham Springfield , MO 5 16-08 178
Day 1: 5 16-08
28. Hunter Crossland San Angelo, TX 5 16-07 177
Day 1: 5 16-07
29. Alex Heintze Denham Springs, LA 5 16-06 176
Day 1: 5 16-06
30. Anthony Garcia Los Angeles, CA 5 16-04 175
Day 1: 5 16-04
31. Lucas Toliver Paw Paw, MI 5 16-03 174
Day 1: 5 16-03
32. Dillon Falardeau Hixson, TN 5 16-02 173
Day 1: 5 16-02
32. Andrew Jones Trussville, AL 5 16-02 173
Day 1: 5 16-02
34. Brad Jelinek Lincoln, MO 5 16-01 171
Day 1: 5 16-01
35. Laker Howell Guntersville, AL 5 16-00 170
Day 1: 5 16-00
35. Cole McAusland Tuscaloosa, AL 5 16-00 170
Day 1: 5 16-00
37. Brennan Flick West Monroe, LA 5 15-15 168
Day 1: 5 15-15
38. Brian Post Janesville, WI 5 15-14 167
Day 1: 5 15-14
39. Brody Campbell Oxford, OH 5 15-11 0
Day 1: 5 15-11
40. Garrett Paquette Canton, MI 5 15-10 166
Day 1: 5 15-10
41. Brent Shores Savannah, TN 5 15-09 165
Day 1: 5 15-09
42. Ethan Fields Carlyle, IL 5 15-08 164
Day 1: 5 15-08
43. Fisher Anaya Eva, AL 5 15-06 0
Day 1: 5 15-06
43. Erik Brztowski Lemont, IL 5 15-06 163
Day 1: 5 15-06
43. Harmon Marien Eagle River, WI 5 15-06 163
Day 1: 5 15-06
46. Matt Pangrac Shawnee, OK 5 15-05 161
Day 1: 5 15-05
47. Chris Beaudrie Princeton, KY 5 15-04 160
Day 1: 5 15-04
47. Garrett McWilliams Florence, MS 5 15-04 160
Day 1: 5 15-04
47. Ryan Thompson Seymour, MO 5 15-04 160
Day 1: 5 15-04
50. Rylan Hamlin Jackson, MI 5 15-03 157
Day 1: 5 15-03
51. Grant Neubauer Medford, WI 5 15-02 156
Day 1: 5 15-02
52. Alex Wetherell Middletown, CT 5 15-01 155
Day 1: 5 15-01
53. Bailey Gay Union, KY 5 15-00 154
Day 1: 5 15-00
53. Cameron Mattison Benton, LA 5 15-00 154
Day 1: 5 15-00
55. Casey Scanlon Eldon, MO 5 14-15 152
Day 1: 5 14-15
56. Lane Stephens Owasso, OK 5 14-14 151
Day 1: 5 14-14
57. Yui Aoki Minamitsurugun JAPAN 5 14-13 150
Day 1: 5 14-13
58. Chris Lewis Hallsville, TX 5 14-11 149
Day 1: 5 14-11
59. Wesley Baxley Conroe, TX 5 14-08 148
Day 1: 5 14-08
60. Jeremy Lawyer Sarcoxie, MO 5 14-05 147
Day 1: 5 14-05
61. Ty Faber Pagosa Springs, CO 5 14-05 146
Day 1: 5 14-05
62. John Branch Magnolia, KY 5 14-03 145
Day 1: 5 14-03
62. Brody Robison Dawson, AL 5 14-03 145
Day 1: 5 14-03
64. Chris Whitson Louisville, TN 5 14-02 143
Day 1: 5 14-02
65. Darold Gleason Leesville, LA 5 14-01 142
Day 1: 5 14-01
65. Mike McClelland Blue Eye, MO 5 14-01 142
Day 1: 5 14-01
65. Chris Miller Spirit Lake, IA 5 14-01 142
Day 1: 5 14-01
68. Teb Jones Yalaha, MS 5 13-13 139
Day 1: 5 13-13
69. Yukihiro Sawamura Harker Heights, TX 5 13-12 138
Day 1: 5 13-12
70. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 5 13-11 137
Day 1: 5 13-11
70. Kyle Palmer Elora, TN 5 13-11 137
Day 1: 5 13-11
72. Kollin Crawford Broken Bow, OK 5 13-09 135
Day 1: 5 13-09
73. Colby Bryant Houston, TX 5 13-06 134
Day 1: 5 13-06
74. Chad Pipkens Dewitt, MI 5 13-05 133
Day 1: 5 13-05
75. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 5 13-04 132
Day 1: 5 13-04
75. Trevor McKinney Noble, IL 5 13-04 132
Day 1: 5 13-04
77. Danny Ramsey Trinidad, TX 5 13-03 130
Day 1: 5 13-03
78. Doug Chapin Tigerton, WI 5 13-00 129
Day 1: 5 13-00
79. Darrell Ivey Lebanon, MO 5 12-15 128
Day 1: 5 12-15
80. Chris Johnson Farmington, AR 5 12-14 127
Day 1: 5 12-14
80. Bryan Partak Marseilles, IL 5 12-14 127
Day 1: 5 12-14
82. Jonathan Pimentel Camdenton, MO 5 12-13 125
Day 1: 5 12-13
83. Trace Freeman Northport, AL 5 12-11 124
Day 1: 5 12-11
84. Seiji Kato Forney TX JAPAN 5 12-09 123
Day 1: 5 12-09
84. Matt Stefan Junction City, WI 5 12-09 123
Day 1: 5 12-09
86. Andy Newcomb Camdenton, MO 5 12-07 121
Day 1: 5 12-07
87. James Campise Brookeland, TX 5 12-06 120
Day 1: 5 12-06
87. Tommy Parker Delano, MN 5 12-06 120
Day 1: 5 12-06
89. Riley Harris Orange, TX 5 12-05 118
Day 1: 5 12-05
90. Jordan Hartman Benton, KY 5 12-04 117
Day 1: 5 12-04
91. Niko Romero Coldspring, TX 5 12-02 116
Day 1: 5 12-02
92. Colby Dark West Monroe, LA 5 11-14 115
Day 1: 5 11-14
93. Zachary Ward Cabot, AR 5 11-12 114
Day 1: 5 11-12
94. Ian Waterer East Selkirk CANADA 4 11-11 113
Day 1: 4 11-11
95. Jacob Wood Pleasant View, TN 4 11-10 0
Day 1: 4 11-10
96. Jordan Knutson Saint Croix Falls, WI 5 11-08 112
Day 1: 5 11-08
97. Billy Gilbert Hamburg, NY 5 11-07 111
Day 1: 5 11-07
98. Luke Kerstetter Seymour, TN 5 11-05 110
Day 1: 5 11-05
99. Nate Caldwell Fort Collins, CO 5 11-04 109
Day 1: 5 11-04
99. Dylan Fogarty Mechanicsburg, PA 5 11-04 109
Day 1: 5 11-04
99. Freddy Palmer Estill Springs, TN 5 11-04 109
Day 1: 5 11-04
102. Brock Bila Republic, MO 5 11-03 106
Day 1: 5 11-03
103. Kurt Dove Del Rio, TX 4 11-03 105
Day 1: 4 11-03
104. Tommy Dickerson Orange, TX 5 10-14 104
Day 1: 5 10-14
105. Blake Schroeder Bullard, TX 3 10-10 103
Day 1: 3 10-10
106. Jason Adams Guthrie, OK 5 10-08 102
Day 1: 5 10-08
107. Brett Hite Phoenix, AZ 5 10-06 101
Day 1: 5 10-06
107. Wyatt Marler Oldfield, MO 5 10-06 101
Day 1: 5 10-06
109. Josh Giroldi Beachville Ontario CANA 4 10-04 99
Day 1: 4 10-04
110. Chase Clarke Virginia Beach, VA 4 10-03 98
Day 1: 4 10-03
111. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 5 09-14 97
Day 1: 5 09-14
112. Ish Monroe Oakdale, CA 3 09-10 96
Day 1: 3 09-10
113. Nick Lawler Ava, MO 4 09-09 95
Day 1: 4 09-09
114. Tanner Visco Antioch, IL 3 09-09 94
Day 1: 3 09-09
115. Kristine Fischer Spring City, NE 3 09-06 93
Day 1: 3 09-06
115. Frank Scalish Mount Gilead, OH 3 09-06 93
Day 1: 3 09-06
117. Kevin Ledoux Choctaw, OK 4 09-04 91
Day 1: 4 09-04
118. Adam Rasmussen Sturgeon Bay, WI 3 09-04 90
Day 1: 3 09-04
119. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 3 08-14 0
Day 1: 3 08-14
120. Matt Keezer Kirkland Quebec CANADA 3 08-09 89
Day 1: 3 08-09
121. Wyatt Wisian Ardmore, OK 3 08-06 88
Day 1: 3 08-06
122. Eddie Carper Valliant, OK 3 08-02 87
Day 1: 3 08-02
123. Bj Miller Adams, NE 3 08-00 86
Day 1: 3 08-00
124. Nick Marsh White Lake, MI 4 07-14 85
Day 1: 4 07-14
125. Steve Tennison Lexington, OK 3 07-14 84
Day 1: 3 07-14
126. Joey Punko Broomfield, CO 3 07-12 83
Day 1: 3 07-12
126. David Walker Huntingdon, TN 3 07-12 0
Day 1: 3 07-12
128. Andy Beloat Montgomery, TX 2 07-11 82
Day 1: 2 07-11
129. Satoshi Egawa Belton, TX 3 07-08 0
Day 1: 3 07-08
130. Joe Wieberg Freeburg, MO 3 07-07 81
Day 1: 3 07-07
131. Hayden Marbut Birmingham, AL 4 07-06 80
Day 1: 4 07-06
132. Blaine Bunney Claremore, OK 3 07-04 79
Day 1: 3 07-04
132. Gary Hall Wardville, OK 3 07-04 79
Day 1: 3 07-04
134. John Mark Berry Mount Olive, MS 2 07-04 77
Day 1: 2 07-04
134. Grae Buck Green Lane, PA 2 07-04 77
Day 1: 2 07-04
136. Kyle Zacharuk Keswick Ontario CANADA 3 07-01 75
Day 1: 3 07-01
137. Ryan Michl Newton, IL 2 06-13 74
Day 1: 2 06-13
138. David Perdue Wirtz, VA 3 06-09 73
Day 1: 3 06-09
139. Tyler Smith Troup, TX 3 06-07 0
Day 1: 3 06-07
140. Paul Elias Laurel, MS 1 06-07 0
Day 1: 1 06-07
141. John Engler III Vinton, IA 3 06-06 72
Day 1: 3 06-06
142. A.J. Menssen Bloomington, IL 2 06-04 71
Day 1: 2 06-04
143. Clark Reehm Elm Grove, LA 2 05-12 70
Day 1: 2 05-12
144. Clay Henderson Purdy, MO 2 05-11 69
Day 1: 2 05-11
145. Easton Lindus Woodville, WI 2 05-09 68
Day 1: 2 05-09
145. Kyle Metzger Pearl River, LA 2 05-09 68
Day 1: 2 05-09
147. David Brand Dittmer, MO 2 05-04 66
Day 1: 2 05-04
148. Joseph Hardy China Spring, TX 2 04-15 65
Day 1: 2 04-15
149. Chris Hellebuyck White Lake, MI 2 04-14 64
Day 1: 2 04-14
150. Joey Hanna Corsicana, TX 2 04-10 63
Day 1: 2 04-10
151. Dylan Minch Stevens Point, WI 2 04-08 62
Day 1: 2 04-08
151. Dylan Welton Middleville, MI 2 04-08 62
Day 1: 2 04-08
153. Sam Ausbrooks Loogootee, IN 2 04-07 60
Day 1: 2 04-07
154. Jacob Welch Roach, MO 2 04-06 59
Day 1: 2 04-06
155. Ken Day Kennewick, WA 2 04-03 58
Day 1: 2 04-03
156. Ryan Salzman Huntsville, AL 2 04-01 57
Day 1: 2 04-01
157. Rick Pierce Mountain Home, AR 2 03-10 56
Day 1: 2 03-10
158. Jim Moynagh Outing, MN 1 03-08 55
Day 1: 1 03-08
159. Byron Hill Clermont, FL 1 03-04 54
Day 1: 1 03-04
160. Sho Egawa Osaka JAPAN 1 02-13 53
Day 1: 1 02-13
160. Justin Latham Reelsville, IN 1 02-13 53
Day 1: 1 02-13
162. Clay Dyer Fayetteville, TN 1 02-07 51
Day 1: 1 02-07
163. Josh Pladies Lees Summit, MO 1 02-06 50
Day 1: 1 02-06
164. Tyler Wolf Creston, IA 1 02-05 49
Day 1: 1 02-05
165. Tracy Mitchell Springfield, MO 1 02-04 48
Day 1: 1 02-04
166. Nic Rand Paw Paw, MI 1 02-03 47
Day 1: 1 02-03
167. Laindree Richardson Benton, IL 1 02-00 0
Day 1: 1 02-00
168. Chris Bailey Eddy, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
168. Andrew Behnke Fond Du Lac, WI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
168. Cody Bertrand Dyer, IN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
168. David Boelkins Waukesha, WI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
168. Jason Bonds Lufkin, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
168. Jim Dillard West Monroe, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
168. Johnny Grice Arp, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
168. Bryan Hoffman Andrews, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
168. Joe Lucarelli Benton, KY 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
168. Frank Mixon Abilene, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
168. Scott Nielsen Murray, UT 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
168. Anastasia Patterson Sumter, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
168. Isaac Peavyhouse Monroe, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
168. Tim Sprouse Clarksville, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
168. Mikey Weems Hull, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 105 678 1990-03
----------------------------------
105 678 1990-03

by AnglersChannel

A Hot Rod of a Boat Builder

There’s a unique and admirable amount of craftsmanship in Flippin, Arkansas, for building premium quality fishing boats that now spans nearly 60 years, and Vexus® leader Greg Hopper and his older brother Randy have been at the core of it the entire time.

“I’ve had a spray gun in my hand since age 5. Of course, back then, I was painting everything from trees to tractors,” laughs the younger of the two lifetime boat-building brothers.

About five years later, at only age 10, he and Randy rebuilt a ’37 Ford, and by age 15, Greg was working with Forrest L. Wood doing everything from sweeping floors to cleaning the gel coat booths in a role that would lead to a lifetime career he’s still treasuring 51 years later.

As you might imagine, there’s not much he hasn’t done in a boat factory over five decades – from perfecting fiberglass, to warranty repair, small parts, and production supervisor too – Greg Hopper has had a highly capable hand in it. To this day, he has a prominent seat at the table once a month as Vexus engineers and designers gather to talk openly and honestly about how to keep innovating and improving.

It’s a soulful commitment to doing things at a superior level, and it’s rooted in his childhood as a boy in Flippin whose home was just a long cast from his early mentor Bill Baladge’s auto shop.

“Bill did it all, from brakes to auto body, but the biggest thing he taught us was that anybody could swap out parts; however, only a truly great mechanic knew how to fix the existing parts,” says Hopper.

“Maybe that’s why today’s Bible verse resonated with me. It’s from Proverbs 13, and it says, ‘Walk with the wise, and you’ll become wise, but a companion of fools suffers evil,’” he reflected.

It’s a philosophy that’s also made Greg Hopper one of the most sought-after engine builders by race car drivers in the region. A job he does nearly every evening inside a shop next to his home, only two miles from the state-of-the-art Vexus factory he helped build.

Small block Chevy engines are his specialty, but at the time of this writing, the shop is home to a Yamaha 250 Enduro motorcycle that needs his expertise, and an outboard engine cowling from a friend’s pontoon awaiting fiberglass repair.

“I don’t think there’s any doubt that some of the innovation you see in a Vexus was born out of Randy and me seeing something in the hot rod world, and challenging ourselves to use the same parts or processes to build a better fishing boat,” he explains.

“Forrest always taught us we had to do three things better than anybody else: Build a superior quality boat. Tell people about it. And take care of our customers after we sell them one. I’ve tried my very best to do all those things for 51 years,” he says.

Greg Hopper has succeeded admirably. He’s walked with the wise since childhood. From Bill Baladge to Forrest Wood and his own brother, Randy. When combined with his own supreme talents, it’s resulted in five decades of building both trophy hot rods and award-winning fishing boats.

by AnglersChannel

Columbia and Lake Murray Set to Host 43rd Annual Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American Presented by T-H Marine

Sport’s Longest-Running Grassroots Championship Brings 94 Top Anglers to Lake Murray for High-Stakes Competition at Dreher Island State Park

COLUMBIA, S.C. (May 19, 2026) – Major League Fishing (MLF) is set to return to Columbia, South Carolina next week, May 28-30, for the 43rd annual Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) All-American Championship Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Murray. The three-day tournament, hosted by Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism, will showcase the nation’s best weekend grassroots anglers, and award the winning boater a top prize of up to $120,000, plus qualification to REDCREST 2027 – the Bass Pro Tour Championship – as well as a top prize of $50,000 to the winning co-angler.

“The All-American Championship represents the heart of competitive bass fishing as the longest-running championship in professional fishing history,” said Vickie Davis, Executive Director, Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism. “We are proud to welcome anglers and fans to Lake Murray, the Jewel of South Carolina, and showcase why this region continues to be recognized as one of the top fisheries in the nation. The ongoing commitment of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources to conservation, fisheries management and outdoor recreation plays a vital role in maintaining Lake Murray’s reputation as a world-class bass fishing destination.”

While Lake Murray is no stranger to Major League Fishing competition – with 66 events held on the fishery over the past three decades, the majority coming through BFL tournaments – the 43rd annual All-American marks the first time the circuit’s premier championship visits the renowned South Carolina lake. The field brings a blend of seasoned experience and local knowledge, as 25 of the 94 anglers have previously competed in the All-American – including reigning All-American champion Matteo Turano of Puryear, Tennessee – and four anglers in the lineup already boast victories on Lake Murray, adding an extra layer of familiarity and intrigue to one of the most anticipated events of the season.

Few titles in grassroots bass fishing carry the prestige, tradition and lasting honor of winning the BFL All-American – a championship that has defined careers and elevated anglers to the sport’s biggest stages for more than four decades. Etched into its history are names that have gone on to shape the modern era of the sport, with former champions now competing at the highest levels across the Bass Pro Tour and Tackle Warehouse Invitationals, including Jacob Wheeler (2011), Nick LeBrun (2018) and Matteo Turano (2025).

Local standout Lucas Murphy of West Columbia, South Carolina, has won two Phoenix Bass Fishing League events and finished in the top 10 in three other events on Lake Murray. The local pro, who will be among the competitors, said Lake Murray is setting up to fish differently than a typical late-spring event, with unusual conditions extending the spawn.

“There’s big fish doing a little bit of everything,” said Murphy. “Normally, this time of year the spawn would be completely over, but it seems like it’s been a little bit cooler and lower water, which has kind of elongated the entire spawn process.”

While many bass have moved into a postspawn phase, Murphy noted that some fish are still actively spawning, giving anglers a wide range of opportunities. He added that warming conditions and water temperatures in the mid-70s should continue to push fish into more predictable patterns as the event approaches.

As for techniques, Murphy expects the fishery to offer versatility, with herring-driven patterns playing a key role alongside traditional Carolina staples.

“Guys will be able to fish a little bit of everything in this event,” said Murphy. “You’re going to see a lot of herring fish caught, so I expect to see fluke-style baits like the Strike King KVD Perfect Plastic Caffeine Shad and chrome topwaters like the Strike King KVD Sexy Dawg in Carolina Chrome be key players.”

Murphy added that shallow patterns around bream and shellcracker spawns could also produce, with buzzbaits and plopper-style lures in play, while bottom-contact baits like jigs, shaky heads and drop-shot rigs will remain consistent producers. With forward-facing sonar limited during competition, he believes anglers will need to adjust throughout the day, mixing offshore targets with docks and shallow cover.

When it comes to weights, Murphy said recent tournaments have shown the lake’s potential, but conditions will ultimately dictate how the event unfolds.

“To make the Top 10, I think guys will need anywhere from 36 to 40 pounds,” said Murphy. “To win the tournament, I feel like it’s going to be somewhere in the realm of mid, upper 60s.”

Murphy emphasized that weather will be a major factor, noting that wind and cloud cover typically improve the herring bite, while calm, sunny conditions can make fish difficult to catch despite the lake’s exceptional clarity.

“Getting those fish to see your bait is not hard at all – getting them to bite it is incredibly difficult,” said Murphy. “If we get some wind or some decent weather, it’s going to take more weight.”

Despite his familiarity with Lake Murray, Murphy said the fishery’s current conditions have leveled the playing field, even for local anglers.

“It’s not fishing super friendly to some of the local expertise,” said Murphy, noting the lake is nearly three feet lower than usual. “A lot of the places fish are getting aren’t the normal stuff.”

Murphy said he plans to approach the event with a fresh perspective, adding that success could hinge on timing and capitalizing on a handful of key bites.

“I won’t be surprised to do really, really well, but I also won’t be surprised to struggle,” said Murphy. “It’s just the time of year where a few big bites can make or break it.”

Competing close to home adds another layer of excitement for Murphy, who said having family in attendance and spending an extended stretch on the water makes the opportunity even more meaningful.

“Just being a part of the All-American is exciting,” said Murphy. “It’s one of the cooler experiences I’ve been a part of. I’m looking forward to that experience again but just planning to focus on trying to catch some fish this time.”

Anglers will launch each day at 6:30 a.m. ET from Dreher Island State Park, located at 3677 State Park Road in Prosperity. Weigh-in each day will be held at the park and will begin at 2:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and weigh-in events and encouraged to follow the event’s online coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The full field of 47 boaters and 47 co-anglers will compete on Days 1 (Thursday) and 2 (Friday) of the event. After two days of competition, the field is cut to just the top 10 boaters and co-anglers, based on two-day total cumulative weight, and the final 10 anglers compete on Championship Saturday. The boater and co-angler that catch the heaviest three-day total weight will be crowned the 43rd Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American Champions.

The 2025 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine was a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 134 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 60 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, advanced to one of 12 BFL Regional tournaments where they competed to finish in the top three, which then advanced them to compete in the 2026 BFL All-American. The field also includes the top eligible finisher from each of seven The Bass Federation (TBF) divisions in the 2026 TBF National Championship.

Television coverage of the 2026 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American Presented by T-H Marine will premiere this fall on CBS Sports. The full television air schedule can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Proud sponsors of the 2026 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7 Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Buffalo, BUBBA, Cigars International, Epic Baits, Grizzly, Mercury, MillerTech, Mystik Lubricants, OFF! Deep Woods, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PirahnO2, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, VOSKER, YETI and Yuengling.

For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular BFL updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

by AnglersChannel

Sprague Wins Qualifying Round, Neal Catches Second $10k Big Bass Award at MLF Kubota Heavy Hitters on Orange Lake

Knockout Round field of 16 set for Wednesday as eight pros advance from Group B

OCALA, Fla. (May 19, 2026) – Wills Point, Texas, pro Jeff Sprague had no intention of taking the top spot on SCORETRACKER® during Group B’s second day of qualifying at Kubota Heavy Hitters Presented by Bass Pro Shops. But, in his words, “it got kind of silly there for a few minutes,” and the Texan took advantage.

Sprague found a fresh group of Orange Lake bass Tuesday afternoon and stacked up 37 pounds, 1 ounce on eight scorable bass. That brought his two-day total to 74-4, which earned him the Qualifying Round win for Group B – narrowly topping Mark Davis and Marshall Hughes, who totaled 73-6 and 72-7, respectively.

Meanwhile, the star of the group’s first day on the water, Michael Neal, picked up right where he left off. Less than 5 minutes after lines in, Neal caught a 9-8 lunker on a topwater walking bait. While he didn’t catch another scorable bass for the rest of the day, that was enough to earn his second $10,000 Berkley Big Bass prize in as many days on Orange Lake. Neal caught the biggest bass of the event so far – an 11-pounder – on Sunday.

Weights will zero overnight, then the top eight finishers from each of Group A and Group B will come together for Wednesday’s Knockout Round. They’ll not only fish for 10 spots in the Championship Round but $30,000 for whoever catches the biggest bass.

Sprague keeps Heavy Hitters mojo rolling
Sprague took the water Tuesday morning with a plan and executed it to perfection.

After starting the day in third place, he figured he’d need to catch three or four scorable bass to assure himself a spot in the Knockout Round. He did just that in the first period, revisiting an area that produced for him on Sunday and catching four scorables for 14-2.

Then, he spent the rest of the day exploring new water. During the second period, he stumbled upon a zone loaded with biting bass. Sprague purposely avoided trying to catch all he could from the area, but as he made a few casts to get a feel for the boundaries of the productive stretch, he kept getting bit. He added four more bass during the period, including a 6-7 and an 8-5.

“It was just one of them deals where you can’t do anything wrong,” he said. “I was trying to get out of there, and just every now and again, I’d make a cast. And it seemed like when I made a cast, then I’d catch another bass. It’s a 6, and then it’s an 8. I didn’t intentionally catch those fish to try and win the round. That was a new area to me, and those were new fish, so that’s kind of how that panned out.”

No surprise, Sprague is excited to revisit that spot during the Knockout Round and see just how productive it can be. Given how small Orange Lake is fishing with its water level low, having multiple areas to turn to could give him an edge.

“Just having the confidence to know that the fish are in the area,” he said when asked what he learned Tuesday. “And here’s the thing: I think that there’s so many fish condensed right now at any given moment that new fish are coming to some of these areas. We’re pricking some, they’re moving around, and then there’s some more fish coming in there.”

Sprague is optimistic for the Knockout Round not just because of the new area he found but how he was catching those fish. After he didn’t land a bass over 6 pounds on Day 1, he made a bait adjustment in an effort to appeal to some of the giants that live in Orange Lake. Three of his eight scorable bass Tuesday topped 6 pounds.

“I think I’ve got a little bit of a different bait, and I’m fishing a little bit differently,” Sprague said. “I’m not winding fast, and I’m not just flipping. I’m kind of dragging a big, bulky bait around.”

Seeing Sprague near the top of SCORETRACKER® at Heavy Hitters is nothing new. He’s now made the Knockout Round at each of his five Heavy Hitters appearances. Twice, including last year at Smith Mountain Lake, he’s qualified for the Championship Round and caught the $100,000 Berkley Big Bass on the final day.

Sprague attributes his Heavy Hitters success to his understanding of big bass honed during a lifetime of fishing in Texas. While he knows better than to “put the cart in front of the horse,” that’s another reason he’ll be confident when he returns to the water Wednesday.

“I like the areas and the lakes that they take us to for the Heavy Hitters,” he said. “Growing up in Texas and catching big bass, Florida-strain bass, it just falls into place for what we’re doing here. I feel like it falls into line to the way I like to fish.”

Back-to-back Berkley Big Bass for Neal
Neal enjoyed his best day ever for catching big bass on Sunday, when he caught the biggest bass of his life (the aforementioned 11-pounder) to go along with an 8-pounder and four more over 6. Those bass all came from the same area, but he opted to start Tuesday “on the complete opposite end of the lake.”

It didn’t seem to matter. On one of his first few casts of the morning, a giant largemouth jumped clear out of the water to eat his topwater bait. After a rodeo that at one point saw the fish jump on the opposite side of the boat from where Neal was fighting it, he landed it and set a big bass bar that wouldn’t be topped.

“That was about as bad a job as you could ever imagine,” Neal said with a chuckle. “If you write a script on how to not land a bass, that was pretty much it. But I was fortunate; it had the whole bait in its mouth and had a couple of the hooks. So, it definitely wasn’t going anywhere. I had to get the pliers to get it off.”

Neal hadn’t fished the area that produced the lunker before. He located the sneaky spot by using the new Power-Pole VISION units that are installed on the league-issued boats for this event to access Google Earth.

“Anytime you’re in Florida, when you look around and there’s not another competitor within sight, typically that’s a bad sign,” he said. “And there was not another tournament boat anywhere remotely close to me. … There was a depression there I saw with the Power-Pole VISION, Google Earth, and I was just following that depression. That was the only bite I had there.”

Starting the day well clear of the Lucas Oil Cut Line, that bass quickly achieved Neal’s main objective for Tuesday. He spent the rest of the day continuing to explore new water. While it wasn’t by design that he never caught another scorable bass, he was at least able to eliminate water and zero in on his plan for the Knockout Round.

“I’m going to lean on the area where I caught them the first day way harder than anything else and probably never leave sight of there,” he said. “I feel like that will be my best option. Now, whether I get too antsy to do that – if I don’t catch a fish the whole period, something like that, then you probably gotta give. But I feel like my best chance of making it is to just hunker down in one area.”

Ehrler’s late rally ends Reese’s last event
For the second day in a row, the battle to finish inside the cut line came down to the wire and featured some clutch catches in the final minutes.

With 30 minutes left in Period 3, Brent Ehrler sat nearly 7 pounds back of eighth place, and he hadn’t caught a scorable bass for 2 1/2 hours. Yet Ehrler made a late move that resulted in three quick scorable bass, which pushed him to the right side of the cut. He then punctuated his comeback with a 4-13 in the final 5 minutes.

Ehrler’s late rally bumped his fellow Californian and traveling companion Skeet Reese out of the top eight, officially bringing Reese’s Hall of Fame career to an end. Reese was competing in his final national-level event after retiring following the 2025 Bass Pro Tour season.

The top eight pros from Qualifying Group B that now advance to Wednesday’s Knockout Round on Orange Lake are:

1st:        Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas, 19 bass, 74-4
2nd:      Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark., 18 bass, 73-6
3rd:       Marshall Hughes, Hemphill, Texas, 20 bass, 72-7
4th:       Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 10 bass, 63-0
5th:       John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky., 16 bass, 51-6
6th:       Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., 15 bass, 48-7
7th:       Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., 16 bass, 47-3
8th:       Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., 15 bass, 46-2

Finishing the event in 9th through 15th place in Group B are:

9th:       Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif., 11 bass, 39-15
10th:     Justin Cooper, Zwolle, La., 13 bass, 39-6
11th:     Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., 11 bass, 35-5
12th:     Martin Villa, Charlottesville, Va., nine bass, 26-3
13th:     Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., six bass, 25-15
14th:     Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla., seven bass, 24-14
15th:     Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., five bass, 16-0
16th:     Alton Jones, Lorena, Texas, three bass, 8-8

Full results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 91 bass weighing 325 pounds, 4 ounces caught by the 16 pros on Tuesday, which included one 9-pounder, three 8-pounders and eight 6-pounders caught from Orange Lake.

Hosted by the Ocala/Marion County Visitors and Convention Bureau, the Kubota Heavy Hitters at Orange Lake Presented by Bass Pro Shops features 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. A bass must meet the 2-pound minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable in the Qualifying and Knockout Rounds, but for the final day Championship Round a bass must weigh at least 3 pounds to be deemed scorable.

The 16 anglers in Group A competed in their two-day qualifying round on Saturday and Monday – the 16 anglers in Group B on Sunday and Tuesday. With each two-day qualifying round now complete, the top eight anglers from both groups advance to Wednesday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round weights are zeroed, and the remaining 16 anglers compete to finish in the Top 10 to advance to the Championship Round. In Thursday’s final-day Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.

Fans are encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW! live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

by AnglersChannel

Terry Scroggins Tops Qualifying Round for Group A, DeFoe Earns $10k Big Bass Award at MLF Kubota Heavy Hitters on Orange Lake

Florida pro paces field for top eight anglers advancing in competition, 16 Anglers in Group B to wrap Qualifying Round Tuesday

OCALA, Fla. (May 18, 2026) – There wasn’t much drama at the top of SCORETRACKER® during Group A’s second day of qualifying at Kubota Heavy Hitters Presented by Bass Pro Shops. Yet it was far from a boring day on Orange Lake.

After building a big lead on Day 1, San Mateo, Florida's Terry Scroggins spent most of Monday scouting new water and hunting for a lunker bite that never came, but no one ever threatened his lead. The Florida native added 16 pounds, 7 ounces on the day, bringing his total to 78-10 and winning the round by nearly 25 pounds over Cole Floyd .

The real excitement came farther down the standings. Monday saw five anglers who started the day below the Lucas Oil Cut Line climb into the top eight and advance to the Knockout Round. Takahiro Omori got his boat stuck and missed nearly half the competition day before catching a clutch 6-pounder in the final minutes to make the cut. And the trophy bass factory kicked out yet another double-digit largemouth – a 10-1 that earned Ott DeFoe $10,000 in Berkley Big Bass cash.

While Scroggins didn’t achieve his top objective of catching the Berkley Big Bass, he still had a productive day. He started in the same area where he caught most of his Day 1 weight, then ran all new water from there. He “feels pretty good” about the fact that he conserved some areas that he can revisit during Wednesday’s Knockout Round and found a few more that have potential.

“I just ran around the lake trying to find some more groups of fish and trying to catch a Heavy Hitters fish,” he said. “I didn’t do that, but I did find a couple areas that I think look promising. I didn’t have to hit any of my other stuff – I saved it – so that should be good.”

Scroggins, who lives about an hour away from Orange Lake and knows the fishery well, doesn’t think anyone is likely to find a magical, unpressured group of fish at this point in the competition. Already a small lake at about 12,500 acres, it’s fishing much smaller than that due to the low water level. So, having multiple different areas he can rotate could be important.

“I feel like at this point you’re probably going to have to deal with some pressured fish,” Scroggins said. “The lake’s not that big. I’ve been all the way around it. I’ve been inside and outside and everywhere you can go, and I’ve got a couple areas that I feel like there’s some fish in. Other than that, it’s tough.”

Even though he’s been splitting it with Floyd and Omori, Scroggins plans to revisit his starting spot from the past two days to open the Knockout Round. From there, he has a few more areas in mind where he feels like he can get a number of bites.

His primary focus, of course, will be qualifying for the Championship Round. Ideally, he’ll be able to stack up enough weight early that he can spend the afternoon searching for a big bass (which pays $30,000 in the Knockout Round) without having to worry about the cut line.

“Every day is a different day out there, but I feel like, where I’m catching them at, I don’t think I can catch a Heavy Hitters fish, but I can advance to the next round,” Scroggins said. “I’m going to have to mix it up and do a little bit of both on Wednesday.”

For much of his two days on Orange Lake, Ott DeFoe found the fishing tough. He boated four scorable bass in the opening period of Day 1, then caught just one over the next four periods.

However, with less than an hour before lines out on Monday, DeFoe got a $10,000 bite, illustrating the beauty of Heavy Hitters – you’re always one cast away from a big payday. His 10-1 one-upped a 9-10 that Ron Nelson had caught less than 10 minutes earlier for Berkley Big Bass honors.

The second 10-pounder DeFoe has ever caught, it marked his first time winning one of the boosted big-bass payouts at Heavy Hitters (even though he won the event in 2022). DeFoe caught the lunker flipping hydrilla with a Bass Pro Shops XPS Crawdigy Bug Jr. in the “best of both worlds” color with a 1/2-ounce weight and a 3/0 VMC Redline straight-shank flipping hook.

While he would have loved to advance to the Knockout Round, DeFoe views the week as a success. He spent a day wrangling gators with Bass Fishing Hall of Famer Shaw Grigsby, caught his second 10-pound bass and leaves Florida with a five-figure paycheck.

“This is a fun event,” he said. “Not a lot of pressure; no points. Just coming with the intent to have a good week and win some money – and I got to have a good time and do a lot of fun things while I was here. And I’m leaving with some jingle in my pocket.”

After he totaled an even 35 pounds on eight scorable bass on Day 1, Monday figured to be a low-stress day for Omori. He’d only need to catch one or two scorable bass to cement his spot in the Knockout Round; then he could use the rest of his day to look for a second straight $10,000 bite.

Instead, Omori failed to catch a scorable bass in the first period. Partway through Period 2, he tried to access a backwater pond but beached his bass boat in shallow water. An air boat had to come to the rescue – first shuttling Omori, his boat official and his camera operator to shore, then dislodging the boat, then taking the trio back. Omori still had to serve a 15-minute penalty for requiring official assistance before he could make another cast.

All of that caused Omori to miss about 3 hours of competition time. He finally resumed fishing with about 30 minutes left, then promptly fell to the wrong side of the cut line. But with less than 2 minutes before lines out, a 6-3 engulfed his topwater walking bait. Omori’s only scorable bass of the day, it was enough to send him to the Knockout Round, continuing a dream season in which the 55-year-old has earned his first Bass Pro Tour win, finished second at REDCREST, caught his first tournament 10-pounder and learned that he’ll be inducted into the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame.

That wasn’t the only drama around the cut line, though. Dave Lefebre had climbed all the way from 15th place at the start of the day into eighth, but Omori’s fish pushed him to the wrong side of the cut. Lefebre boated a 3-5 of his own in the final seconds to jump back into the top eight and push Bryan Thrift out of the Knockout Round field. A day after he caught just two scorable bass for 6-4, Lefebre caught four bass over 5 pounds, totaling 33-10 on seven scorables.

Ultimately, the last four fish that hit SCORETRACKER® all carried major significance – DeFoe’s $10,000 10-pounder, followed by a 6-13 that put Lefebre inside the top eight and knocked Omori out, followed by Omori’s aforementioned 6-3, then Lefebre’s 3-5.

The top eight pros from Qualifying Group A that now advance to Wednesday’s Knockout Round on Orange Lake are:

1st: Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla., 20 bass, 78-10
2nd: Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio, 12 bass, 53-13
3rd: Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas, 17 bass, 52-5
4th: Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich., 15 bass, 52-3
5th: Alton Jones Jr., Lorena, Texas, 16 bass, 45-2
6th: Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan, nine bass, 41-3
7th: Jake Lawrence, Paris, Tenn., 13 bass, 41-2
8th: Dave Lefebre, Erie, Pa., nine bass, 39-14

Finishing the event in 9th through 15th place are:

9th:      Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., 10 bass, 37-5
10th:    Colby Miller, Elmer, La., seven bass, 33-2
11th:    Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., six bass, 30-15
12th:    Brent Chapman, Lenexa, Kan., 10 bass, 30-10
13th:    Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., seven bass, 23-1
14th:    Gary Klein, Mingus, Texas, eight bass, 20-14
15th:    Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., seven bass, 18-11
16th:    Nick LeBrun, Benton, La., seven bass, 18-4

Full results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 81 bass weighing 290 pounds, 4 ounces caught by the 16 pros on Monday, which included one 10-pounder, one 9-pounder, two 8-pounders and one 7-pounder caught from Orange Lake.

Hosted by the Ocala/Marion County Visitors and Convention Bureau , the Kubota Heavy Hitters at Orange Lake Presented by Bass Pro Shops features 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. A bass must meet the 2-pound minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable in the Qualifying and Knockout Rounds, but for the final day Championship Round a bass must weigh at least 3 pounds to be deemed scorable.

The 16 anglers in Group A competed in their two-day qualifying round on Saturday and Monday – the 16 anglers in Group B on Sunday and Tuesday. After each two-day qualifying round is complete, the top eight anglers from both groups advance to Wednesday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round weights are zeroed, and the remaining 16 anglers compete to finish in the Top 10 to advance to the Championship Round. In Thursday’s final-day Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.

In addition to overall tournament awards, Berkley Big Bass bonuses are awarded in each round of competition with payouts of $10,000 for the single biggest bass on each day of the Group A & B Qualifying Round, $30,000 for the biggest bass in the Knockout Round and $100,000 for the biggest bass in the Championship Round.

Fans are encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW! live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

by AnglersChannel

Mount Airy’s Watson Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on High Rock Lake

Elm City’s Jean Lacerte Earns Victory in Co-Angler Division

SALISBURY, N.C. (May 18, 2026) – Boater Troy Watson of Mount Airy, North Carolina, caught a five-bass limit weighing 20 pounds, 6 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on High Rock Lake. The tournament was the third of five events of the season for the BFL Piedmont Division. Watson earned $2,980 for the win.

Watson put together his winning bag by capitalizing on an early-morning shad spawn bite before making a key adjustment later in the day. He got off to a fast start with a topwater presentation during low-light conditions, building momentum before the bite began to fade.

“Started off with a shad spawn in the morning and got it done with a Megabass popper real early,” Watson said.

When the action slowed, Watson changed gears and moved to a bridge, where a dropshot-rig produced the biggest bass of his tournament – a 5-pound, 9-ounce kicker that anchored his winning limit. The timely adjustment helped him separate himself from the field and secure the victory at High Rock Lake.

Watson credited more than just fishing decisions for the win, pointing first to his faith and support system.

“I think the key to victory was the good Lord above,” he said. “And I want to credit my parents – I’ve got a great support team.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st: Troy Watson, Mount Airy, N.C., five bass, 20-6, $2,980
2nd: Conrad Manuel, Pilot Mountain, N.C., five bass, 20-4, $1,420
3rd: Otis Darnell, Linden, Va., five bass, 19-2, $840
4th:         Andrew George, Poplar Branch, N.C., five bass, 19-1, $1,100 (includes $500 Phoenix Bonus)
5th:         Steve Allender, Fallston, Md., five bass, 18-11, $530
6th:         Ben Reynolds, Callands, Va., five bass, 18-6, $455
6th:         Donghyeon Kim, Ridgefield, N.J., five bass, 18-6, $455
8th:         Adam Flora, Red House, W. Va., five bass, 18-1, $430
9th:         Chris Brummett, Lynch Station, Va., five bass, 17-15, $410
10th: Carl Enos, Bracey, Va., five bass, 17-7, $400

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Boater winner Troy Watson and fellow boater Otis Darnell split the Berkley Big Bass Boater award, as each landed a 5-pound, 9-ouncer, and each took home $100 after splitting the $200 prize.

Jean Lacerte of Elm City, North Carolina, earned the victory in the co-angler division on Saturday with three bass weighing 12 pounds, 13 ounces. Lacerte earned $1,490 for his victory.

The top 10 co-anglers finished:

1st: Jean Lacerte, Elm City, N.C., three bass, 12-13, $1,490
2nd: Allen Haigh, Prospect Hill, N.C., three bass, 9-14, $760
3rd: Chip Crews, Trinity, N.C., three bass, 9-13, $370
4th:         Shane Clark, Statesville, N.C., three bass, 9-6, $300
5th:         Sean Tobatto, Greensboro, N.C., three bass, 9-1, $247
5th:         David Everly, Conway, S.C., three bass, 9-1, $247
7th:         James Roten, West Jefferson, N.C., three bass, 8-13, $230
8th:         Demon Pittman, Timberlake, N.C., three bass, 8-12, $215
9th:         Bart Hill, Clemmons, N.C., three bass, 8-11, $210
10th: Robert Wedding, Welcome, Md., three bass, 8-10, $300

Lacert also caught the Berkley Big Bass, landing a 5-pound, 10-ounce kicker to with the co-angler award and $100.

After three events, Chris Brummett of Lynch Station, Virginia, now leads the 7 Brew Piedmont Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 716 points, while Allen Haigh of Prospect Hill, North Carolina, leads the Piedmont Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 737 points.

The top 45 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. 8-10 BFL Regional tournament on the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland. 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 prize of a new Phoenix 518 pro with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard, worth $33,500.

The 2026 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying tournament winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top seven, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2026 BFL All-American will take place May 28-30, at Lake Murray in Columbia, South Carolina, and is hosted by Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism.

by AnglersChannel

Onalaska’s Laufenberg Earns 12th Career Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Mississippi River in La Crosse

Minnesota’s Hansen Wins Co-Angler Division

LA CROSSE, Wis. (May 18, 2026) – Boater Cade Laufenberg of Onalaska, Wisconsin, brought a five-bass limit to the scale weighing 19 pounds even to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on the Mississippi River in La Crosse . The tournament was the second of five events of the season for the BFL Great Lakes Division. Laufenberg earned $2,780 for his victory.

Laufenberg relied on a patient finesse approach to earn his 12th career BFL victory, targeting postspawn smallmouth bass throughout Pool No. 8 on the Mississippi River. Fishing slowly around bass recovering from the spawn or guarding fry, he used subtle presentations to coax reluctant fish into biting.

“It’s that time of year that I’ve done well in the past,” Laufenberg said. “Just dragging super slow and fishing finesse presentations for those weary postspawn smallmouth.”

A Strike King Rage Scounbug accounted for multiple key fish, while additional finesse baits helped him pick apart areas holding inactive bass. Rather than covering large amounts of water, Laufenberg focused on thoroughly working individual fish and trusting that patience would eventually pay off. That persistence proved to be the defining factor in the victory.

“Sometimes a fish would take 45 minutes to catch,” he said. “Just having the confidence that it’s the right fish and it’s worth giving that time to when you only got those three hours to make it happen with the scope.”

Laufenberg added that forward-facing sonar played a critical role in allowing him to stay locked onto specific fish.

“Without the scope, I couldn’t catch any of those fish,” he said.

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Cade Laufenberg, Onalaska, Wis., five bass, 19-0, $2,780
2nd:      Kevin Ruh, Onalaska, Wis., five bass, 16-12, $2,020 (includes $500 Phoenix Bonus)
3rd:       Wyatt Becker, West Salem, Wis., five bass, 16-9, $740
4th:        Fernando Lobato, Sparta, Wis., five bass, 15-5, $700
5th:        Tyler Fitch, Fall River, Wis., five bass, 14-15, $530
6th:        Dan Mohn, Lansing, Iowa, five bass, 14-13, $460
7th:        Rob Leidholdt, Milton, Wis., five bass, 14-9, $440
7th:        Brandyn Baum, La Crosse, Wis., five bass, 14-9, $440
9th:        Clayton Reitz, Morton, Ill., five bass, 14-8, $410
10th:     Devin Teigen, Nelson, Wis., five bass, 14-6, $400

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Kevin Ruh of Onalaska, Wisconsin, and Brent Schroeder of Caledonia, Minnesota, split the Berkley Big Bass Boater award after each brought a bass weighing 4 pounds, 2 ounces, to the scale to split the $200 award.

Shaun Hansen of Spring Grove, Minnesota, earned the win the co-angler division on Saturday with a three-bass limit weighing in at 10 pounds, 8 ounces. Hanser earned the top co-angler payout of $1,390 for his victory.

The top 10 co-anglers finished:

1st:        Shaun Hansen, Spring Grove, Minn., three bass, 10-8, $1,390
2nd:      Blake Miller, Cedar Falls, Iowa, three bass, 8-11, $760
3rd:       Dan Goeke, West Point, Iowa, three bass, 8-10, $370
4th:        Danny Mancini, Necedah, Wis., three bass, 8-7, $282
4th:        Ian Wiese, Slinger, Wis., three bass, 8-7, $282
6th:        Shane Treu, Belvidere, Ill., two bass, 8-6, $330
6th:        Lee Lewis, Peoria, Ill., three bass, 8-6, $230
8th:        David Ondrla, Elmhurst, Ill., three bass, 8-2, $212
8th:        Thomas Bridges, Kanakee, Ill., three bass, 8-2, $212
10th:     Mike Bonewitz, Dakota, Minn., three bass, 8-0, $200

Shane Treu of Belvidere, Illinois, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award after landing a 5-pound, 3-ounce bass, good for the $100 prize.

After two events, Wyatt Becker of West Salem, Wisconsin, now leads the 7 Brew Great Lakes Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 494 points, while David Ondrla of Elmhurst, Illinois, leads the Great Lakes Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 488 points.

The top 45 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. 22-24 BFL Regional tournament on Grand Lake in Grove, 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 prize of a new Phoenix 518 pro with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard, worth $33,500.

by AnglersChannel

Edinburg’s Kohl Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Kentucky and Barkley Lakes

West Frankfort’s Daniell Wins Co-Angler Division

GILBERTSVILLE, Ky. (May 18, 2026) – Boater Levi Kohl of Edinburg, Illinois, caught five bass totaling 19 pounds, 11 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Kentucky and Barkley Lakes. The tournament, hosted by the Kentucky Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau, was the third of five events of the season for the BFL LBL Division. Kohl earned $2,590 for his victory.

Kohl adjusted to a difficult bite by slowing down and thoroughly working productive areas, a strategy that helped him separate himself from the field. With conditions making bites hard to come by, Kohl stayed patient and methodical throughout the day.

“It was not easy to get one to bite,” Kohl said. “I just slowed way down on the same spots I was fishing and picked them apart.”

While many anglers leaned heavily on forward-facing sonar, Kohl found most of his success without his electronics. He built the majority of his weight before even turning on his unit, relying primarily on blind-casting a minnow-style bait around productive areas.

“I had most of my weight before I even turned my ‘scope on,” he said. “I had 15 pounds before I turned it on, and then I only got up to 16 when I started scoping.”

In addition to the minnow presentation, Kohl mixed in a crankbait to round out his bag, with two key fish coming from roughly 10 feet of water.

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st: Levi Kohl, Edinburg, Ill., five bass, 19-11, $2,590
2nd: Noah Morgan, Russellville, Ky., five bass, 16-4, $1,330
3rd: Michael Weimann, Murfreesboro, Tenn., five bass, 14-10, $700
4th:         Robert Wade, Jackson, Mo., five bass, 14-8, $770
5th:         Daniel Johnson, Lebanon, Tenn., five bass, 14-2, $610
6th:         Harlan Thomas, Paducah, Ky., five bass, 13-10, $450
7th:         Ron Smith, Walton, Ky., five bass, 13-8, $425
8th:         Scott McWaters, Clarksville, Tenn., five bass, 13-8, $425
9th:         Kain Joiner, Benton, Ky., five bass, 13-6, $400
9th:         Grant Meisenhelter, Decatur, Ill., five bass, 13-4, $390

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Robert Wade of Jackson, Missouri, earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award with a 5-pound, 1-ounce bass worth $200.

Ed Daniell of West Frankfort, Illinois, won the co-angler division on Saturday with a three-bass limit totaling 11 pounds, 6 ounces. Daniell brought home $1,295 for his victory.

The top 10 co-anglers finished:

1st: Ed Daniell, West Frankfort, Ill., three bass, 11-6, $1,295
2nd: Brendan Murphy, Cape Girardeau, Mo., three bass, 7-14, $715
3rd: Brady Kendall, Paducah, Ky., three bass, 7-7, $350
4th:         Douglas Colson, Cadiz, Ky., three bass, 7-5, $285
5th:         Joey Cambron, Morganfield, Ky., two bass, 7-3, $255
6th:         Brian Huber, Saint Charles, Mo., three bass, 6-11, $222
6th:         Corey Green, Paducah, Ky., three bass, 6-11, $222
8th:         Mike Westfall, Norris City, Ill., three bass, 6-8, $210
9th:         Marcus Mann, Benton, Ky., three bass, 6-3, $300
10th: Angel Sierra, St. Louis, Mo., three bass, 5-14, $195

Daniell also earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award after landing a 5-pounder, worth $100.

After two events, Noah Morgan of Russellville, Kentucky, now leads the 7 Brew LBL Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 745 points, while Marcus Mann of Benton, Kentucky, leads the LBL Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 739 points.

The top 45 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. 22-24 BFL Regional tournament on Watts Bar Lake in Spring City, 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 prize of a new Phoenix 518 pro with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard, worth $33,500.

by AnglersChannel

Clarksville’s Williams Earns Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Lake Dardanelle

Benton’s McCullar Earns Victory in Co-Angler Division

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. (May 18, 2026) – Boater Charles Williams of Clarksville, Arkansas, caught five bass totaling 23 pounds even to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Dardanelle . The tournament, hosted by Russellville Tourism, was the fourth of five events of the season for the BFL Arkie Division. Williams earned $10,150, including the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus, for his victory.

Williams had a stellar day on Lake Dardanelle, targeting wind-blown mats around the Spadra area to earn his third career BFL victory. Focusing on shallow water where wind and current positioned fish correctly, Williams spent the day swimming a jig around matted cover and isolated targets.

“We were focusing on mats and the things the wind was blowing into,” Williams said. “The wind had to be hitting it just right.”

Using a Strike King swimjig in a sexy shad color paired with a white Zoom Speed Craw trailer, Williams was able to generate consistent quality bites throughout the day.

“Everything I caught came on that swimjig,” he said.

After boating around 17 pounds by 10 a.m., Williams continued upgrading through midday, including two of his biggest fish around noon.

“I got three more after 10 that put me up over 23 pounds,” he said.

Williams credited quickly recognizing how the fish were positioned in relation to both the wind and river flow as the key to victory.

“Figuring the pattern out early and running with it all day,” he explained. “Once I got figured out how they were set up in the wind versus how the river flows, and the depth range around 2 to 3 feet, I was able to run that pattern all the way back down to weigh-in.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st: Charles Williams, Clarksville, Ark., five bass, 23-0, $10,150 (includes $7,000 Phoenix Bonus)
2nd: Walker Woodall, Benton, Ark., five bass, 22-11, $1,590
3rd: Mike Rhinehart, Pottsville, Ark., five bass, 19-4, $910
4th:         Jon Paulovich, Benton, Ark., five bass, 18-14, $650
5th:         Brandon Lee, Ratcliff, Ark., five bass, 18-8, $730
5th:         Matt Baker, Glenwood, Ark., five bass, 18-8, $500
7th:         Ben Blaschke, Roland, Okla., five bass, 17-2, $480
7th:         Zack Freeman, Russellville, Ark., five bass, 17-2, $460
9th:         Shawn Gordon, Russellville, Ark., five bass, 16-15, $630
10th: Leland Nixon, Bee Branch, Ark., five bass, 16-11, $430

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Mike Scoggins of Danville, Arkansas, earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award after landing a 5-pound, 15-ounce bass worth $200.

John McCullar of Benton, Arkansas, won the co-angler division on Saturday with a three-bass limit that weighed in at 10 pounds, 9 ounces. McCullar brought home $1,865 for his victory.

The top 10 co-anglers finished:

1st: John McCullar, Benton, Ark., three bass, 10-9, $1,865
2nd: Michael Snowden, Malvern, Ark., three bass, 10-8, $885
3rd: Alan Bernicky, Dardanelle, Ark., three bass, 10-1, $550
3rd: Cole Allen, Carlisle, Ark., three bass, 10-1, $550
5th:         Joe Tucker, Osceola, Mo., three bass, 9-15, $315
6th:         Ray Cates, Texarkana, Ark., three bass, 9-8, $270
7th:         Randy Allen, Russellville, Ark., three bass, 8-13, $252
7th:         Tony Wherry, Malvern, Ark., three bass, 8-13, $252
9th:         Jason Phillips, Rison, Ark., three bass, 8-7, $240
10th: Ricco Johnson, Conway, Ark., three bass, 8-4, $225

McCullar also earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award after landing a 5-pound, 6-ounce bass worth $100.

After four events, Matt Baker of Glenwood, Arkansas, leads the 7 Brew Arkie Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 990 points, while Alan Bernicky of Dardanelle, Arkansas, leads the Arkie Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 985 points.

by AnglersChannel

Scottsburg’s McClain Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Lake Patoka

Greenwood’s McDougal Earns Victory in Co-Angler Division

BIRDSEYE, Ind. (May 18, 2026) – Boater Frank McClain of Scottsburg, Indiana, caught a total of five bass weighing 19 pounds, 11 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Patoka . The tournament was the second of five events of the season for the BFL Hoosier Division. For his victory, McClain earned the top payout of $4,000.

McClain used a two-part pattern to earn the victory at Lake Patoka, capitalizing on an early-morning shad spawn before moving upriver later in the day to finish out his limit. Targeting main-lake points during the morning hours, McClain relied heavily on topwater presentations to trigger feeding fish.

“There was a good shad spawn going on, and it was mostly topwater bites,” McClain said.

Throwing a Evergreen SB-style topwater bait along with a jerkbait, McClain focused on productive points until the morning bite faded around 10 a.m. After that, he made a move upriver where he switched gears and flipped shallow cover to add key fish to his total.

“I went up the river and was able to flip and catch a couple more keepers,” he said. “I ended up catching eight keepers today and luckily culled out a couple of small ones.”

McClain credited both timing and local knowledge for helping him put together the winning pattern.

“A little luck finding some good points and a good shad spawn,” he said. “And I know the lake pretty good up the river, and I had some good spots where I knew I could pick up some good fish.”

The victory marked the ninth BFL win of McClain’s career.

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Frank McClain, Scottsburg, Ind., five bass, 19-11, $4,000
2nd:      Richard Ison, North Vernon, Ind., five bass, 18-12, $2,500 (includes $500 Phoenix Bonus)
3rd:       Blake Knies, Jasper, Ind., five bass, 17-14, $1,100
4th:        Patrick Myers, Lebanon, Ind., five bass, 17-8, $800
5th:        Chris Myers, Madison, Ind., five bass, 17-6, $700
6th:        Rich Fye, Galveston, Ind., four bass, 16-14, $787
6th:        Scott Sledge, Greenwood, Ind., five bass, 16-14, $587
8th:        Randy French, Laurel, Ind., five bass, 16-9, $550
9th:        Dave Tinsman, Losantville, Ind., five bass, 16-1, $775
10th:     Nick Uebelhor, Jasper, Ind., five bass, 15-13, $500

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Rich Fye of Galveston, Indiana, earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award after landing a 5-pound, 13-ounce bass, worth $200.

Greenwood, Indiana’s Brennan McDougal won the co-angler division at Lake Patoka on Saturday with a three-bass limit totaling 11 pounds, 8 ounces. For his victory, McDougal brought home the top co-angler prize of $2,000.

The top 10 co-anglers finished:

1st:        Brennan McDougal, Greenwood, Ind., three bass, 11-8, $2,000
2nd:      Ben Gilbert, Mooresville, Ind., three bass, 11-5, $1,000
3rd:       Tony Burke, Bloomington, Ind., three bass, 11-4, $550
4th:        Brian Ferguson, Louisville, Ky., three bass, 10-15, $500
5th:        David Prater, Franklin, Ohio, three bass, 10-8, $350
6th:        Jericho Laney, Greenwood, Ind., three bass, 10-4, $300
7th:        Yaounde Howard, Bolingbrook, Ill., three bass, 10-3, $282
7th:        Nathaniel Hester, Indianapolis, Ind., three bass, 10-3, $282
9th:        Josh Weber, West Harrison, Ind., three bass, 10-1, $260
10th:     Derrik Cornett, Scottsburg, Ind., two bass, 9-8, $250

Rich Fye of Galveston, Indiana, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award after landing a 5-pound, 13-ounce bass worth $200.

After two events, Blake Knies of Jasper, Indiana, now leads the 7 Brew Hoosier Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 496 points, while Derrik Cornett of Scottsburg, Indiana, leads the Hoosier Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 491 points.

The top 45 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. 15-17 BFL Regional tournament on Kentucky and Barkley Lakes in Calvert City, Kentucky. 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 prize of a new Phoenix 518 pro with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard, worth $33,500.

by AnglersChannel

Peavyhouse Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Lake Cumberland

Ashland’s Jones Earns Win in Co-Angler Division

MONTICELLO, Ky. (May 18, 2026) – Boater Isaac Peavyhouse of Jamestown, Tennessee, caught five bass weighing 17 pounds, 9 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Cumberland . The tournament was the third of five events of the season for the BFL Mountain Division. Peavyhouse earned the top prize of $3,280 for the win.

Peavyhouse pieced together a multi-stage pattern to earn the win on Lake Cumberland, targeting fish from the mid-lake area down to the dam with a mix of topwater, finesse and forward-facing sonar techniques. He got off to a fast start early in the morning, boating several quality keepers on a custom-built walking topwater bait that he pours and paints himself.

“I caught probably six or seven pretty good keepers on topwater for the first two hours,” Peavyhouse said. “It’s just a chrome walking-style bait that I make myself.”

As the morning progressed, Peavyhouse adjusted by targeting brush with a Ned rig, where he added a couple more key fish before entering his forward-facing sonar period later in the day. During that final stretch, he upgraded multiple times using a jighead minnow presentation.

“I culled up a couple times during my scope period,” he said. “I caught probably 20 to 25 keepers total and caught them all day pretty much.”

Peavyhouse also mixed in a Megabass Magdraft swimbait, which produced his biggest bass of the tournament. The diverse approach allowed him to adapt as conditions changed and maximize bites throughout the day.

“The topwater caught quite a few, then I caught several on the Ned rig,” he said. “But I caught my biggest one on the Magdraft.”

The victory marked the fifth win of Peavyhouse’s MLF career.

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Isaac Peavyhouse, Jamestown, Tenn., five bass, 17-9, $3,280
2nd:      Jason Smith, Union, Ky., five bass, 14-11, $1,920 (includes $500 Phoenix Bonus)
3rd:       Branden Grubb, Lily, Ky., five bass, 14-10, $740
4th:        Dustin Bishop, Mount Vernon, Ky., five bass, 13-10, $600
5th:        Clay Reece, Lexington, Ky., five bass, 13-9, $530
6th:        Billy Hall, Russell Springs, Ky., five bass, 12-10, $460
7th:        Greg Perry, Byrdstown, Tenn., five bass, 12-9, $450
8th:        Freddy Adkins, East Bernstadt, Ky., five bass, 12-5, $430
9th:        Lucas Reagan, Byrdstown, Tenn., five bass, 11-15, $405
9th:        Bradley Stringfield, Oliver Springs, Tenn., five bass, 11-15, $405

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Seth Rittenberry of Cookeville, Tennessee, earned the $200 Berkley Big Bass boater award with a bass weighing 4 pounds, 7 ounces.

Brent Jones of Ashland, Kentucky, won the co-angler division on Saturday at Lake Cumberland, as he caught a three-bass limit weighing 7 pounds, 13 ounces. Jones earned $1,390 for his victory.

The top 10 co-anglers finished:

1st:        Brent Jones, Ashland, Ky., three bass, 7-13, $1,390
2nd:      Glenn Alan Ruth, Frankfort, Ky., three bass, 7-12, $540
2nd:      Doug Back, Jackson, Ky., three bass, 7-12, $540
4th:        Timothy Ernst, Winchester, Ky., three bass, 7-9, $350
5th:        Kevin Conner, Mitchell, Ind., three bass, 7-1, $265
6th:        Michael Anderson, Knoxville, Tenn., three bass, 6-15, $230
7th:        Mitchell Green, Crandall, Texas, three bass, 6-13, $230
8th:        John Rediess, Smiths Grove, Ky., three bass, 6-12, $215
9th:        Pop Catalin, Cookeville, Tenn., three bass, 6-6, $210
10th:     Barry King, Liberty, Ky., three bass, 6-4, $200

Jimmy Rhodus of Versailles, Kentucky, and Timothy Ernst of Winchester, Kentucky, tied for the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award as each weighed in a bass totaling 3 pounds, 9 ounces to split the $100 prize.

After three events, Greg Perry of Byrdstown, Tennessee, now leads the 7 Brew Mountain Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 725 points, while Pop Catalin of Cookeville, Tennessee, leads the Mountain Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 735 points.

The top 45 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. 22-24 BFL Regional tournament on Watts Bar Lake in Spring City, 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 prize of a new Phoenix 518 pro with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard, worth $33,500.

by AnglersChannel

Davis Leads Group B, Neal Catches 11-Pound Big Bass to win $10K on Day 2 of MLF Kubota Heavy Hitters on Orange Lake

Arkansas pro catches 12 bass weighing 53-12 to lead Group B Qualifying Round, 16 anglers in Group A to wrap Qualifying Round on Monday

OCALA, Fla. (May 17, 2026) – On his first day competing on Orange Lake, Bass Fishing Hall of Famer Mark Davis of Mount Ida, Arkansas, boated three bass over 6 pounds and topped SCORETRACKER® with a total of 53 pounds, 12 ounces on 12 scorable bass – a banner day by just about any standard.

Yet it wasn’t Davis who called Group B’s first day of the Qualifying Round at Major League Fishing’s (MLF) Kubota Heavy Hitters Presented by Bass Pro Shops “a once-in-a-lifetime day.”

That would be Michael Neal. While he concluded Sunday 4 ounces behind Davis, Neal stole the show with a big-bass bonanza that included an 11-pounder, which won him $10,000 as the Berkley Big Bass. In all, Neal caught six bass over 6 pounds for a total of 53-8 on nine scorable bass.

Davis and Neal put plenty of distance between themselves and the rest of the field. They’re both more than 16 pounds ahead of Jeff Sprague in third place and more than 36 pounds clear of the Lucas Oil Cut Line, virtually assuring themselves spots in Wednesday’s Knockout Round.

Davis has always gotten along well with Florida bass. In fact, his two best events on the Bass Pro Tour – a pair of second-place finishes – both came in the Sunshine State. He quipped that’s because Florida bass are “cantankerous” and “hard-headed” like himself.

“There’s just something about it, I get along well with Florida bass,” he said. “They’re cantankerous. They can be hard to catch and hard-headed. You've got to be hard-headed with them. That was kind of the case today.”

Davis clarified that succeeding in Florida usually means finding an area with a population of bass then slowing down and picking it apart, which has long been his specialty. He showed that Sunday. Even though he caught all of his bass with a moving bait (a bladed jig), he spent most of the day with his Power-Poles down, methodically dissecting the same area.

While that’s always key in Florida, Davis said it’s especially vital given the low water on Orange Lake, which has the bass grouped into small areas and less willing than usual to bite.

“If you fish too fast, you can fish right over these fish,” he said. “You’ve got to really be diligent and slow down and pick it apart and trigger those fish to bite.”

Davis found his honey hole during practice. It took him a little while to relocate the school of bass there, but once he did, he surged to the top of SCORETRACKER® in a hurry with five bass for 23-8 in the first period. He added a couple more scorable bass early in Period 2 before going more than 2 hours without another fish.

Davis said he tried checking a few other spots during that lull, but when they didn’t produce, he returned to his starting spot. Afternoon showers reignited the bite, and he added five more bass for 22-5 during the latter half of Period 3. That included a 7-5, his biggest of the day.

“I got out of that area, and I went to fish some other areas, and they weren’t any good,” Davis said. “Then we got some cloud cover this afternoon – some storms and whatnot – and I just went back to that primary area and spent the rest of the day in there, and it worked out pretty well.”

Davis doesn’t think that same spot will be able to hold up for the rest of the event. The good news is his cushion over the cut line earned him the opportunity to spend all of Tuesday looking for more productive water.

“The nice thing about it is with 53 pounds, I can afford to go look for some fish on that second day,” he said. “That's what I’m planning to go do.”

As much success as Davis has enjoyed in Florida during his Hall of Fame career, he’s never won a tour-level event in the state. Both his runner-up finishes on the Bass Pro Tour were heartbreakers, too, in which he held the lead during the Championship Round before getting passed late by one of the Lane brothers.

So, Davis would love to earn some redemption and get his long-awaited first Bass Pro Tour victory all at once this week. But he’s not ready to think about that quite yet.

“I’d like to finally win one down here,” he said. “This would be a great one to win. But you just never know. Everything has to work out perfectly to win one of these. It would be nice to win, but you don’t want to get ahead of yourself.”

Neal has experienced a lot of special days on the water during a career that’s seen him win three tour-level events and two Angler of the Year titles on the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit. But never has the Tennessee pro had a day like Sunday when it comes to catching big bass.

Neal accounted for six of the 12 bass over 6 pounds caught by the 16-angler field on the day. His five biggest bass combined to weigh 38-13 – easily the heaviest five-fish limit of his life.

“We had almost 38 in a team tournament, but I didn’t catch any of them,” he said. “I netted them, so that’s part of it. But I’d never caught 30 by myself.”

Neal’s 11-0 big bass represented the first bass he’s ever caught over 10 pounds – and he did it during a tournament with $10,000 up for grabs. He knew the fish was sizable upon setting the hook, but it wasn’t until he grabbed its lip and unearthed it from a mound of hydrilla that he realized just how big it was.

“I knew it was big,” he said. “I figured it was like an 8-pounder until I got my hands on it. Then I knew it had a real good shot at being a double-digit.”

Making Neal’s day all the more impressive was the fact that he caught all his fish on a technique he called “not my strong suit” – punching. Neal tried to start the day fishing his strengths by winding a bladed jig, but he couldn’t muster a scorable bass during the first period. Late in the period, he went to a football field-sized area where the hydrilla had formed a canopy with open space beneath it – the only place he could find that wasn’t choked out, he said.

“I know (flipping) is always a thing here in Florida, and anytime you’ve got hydrilla – not just in Florida – it's going to be a player,” he said. “But 99 percent of the areas that I was in, it’s still too thick underneath it. But that one football field section, it’s actually canopied. So, I think that’s why the fish were holding there.”

Every time Neal thought about putting down his flipping stick (with a Big Bite Baits YoMama on the business end), he’d get another bite. He never ended up leaving, catching all nine of his scorable bass from the same area.

“That exact area, there’s really nothing – you can get on the outskirts of it, but as far as getting up in it, there’s nothing else you can do but punch it,” he explained. “I made the comment on camera, every time I’m about zoned out or falling asleep, I get a bite.”

As special as that spot was, Neal figures he’ll need to find something new to win his first Heavy Hitters belt. He plans to start Day 2 playing some defense before spending the rest of the day looking for similar areas.

“I’ve got to find something else,” he said. “My best bet at this point is probably show up, make your presence known, try and defend your ground a little bit, and then try and practice and cover as much water as I can the rest of the day.”

The 16 anglers in Group B will now have the day off Monday, while the 16 anglers in Group A will conclude their two-day Qualifying Round. Group B will complete their two-day Qualifying Round of competition on Tuesday.

The standings for the 16 pros from Qualifying Group B after Day 1 on Orange Lake are:

1st: Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark., 12 bass, 53-12
2nd:        Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., nine bass, 53-8
3rd: Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas, 11 bass, 37-3
4th:         Marshall Hughes, Hemphill, Texas, 11 bass, 34-0
5th:         John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky., 10 bass, 29-4
6th:         Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., eight bass, 26-3
7th:         Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., eight bass, 25-2
8th:         Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., seven bass, 20-3
9th:         Justin Cooper, Zwolle, La., six bass, 16-14
10th: Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., five bass, 15-5
11th: Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif., five bass, 14-14
12th: Adrian Avena, Marmora, N.J., three bass, 12-13
13th: Martin Villa, Charlottesville, Va., four bass, 10-12
14th: Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla., one bass, 9-1
15th: Alton Jones, Lorena, Texas, two bass, 5-14
16th: Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., one bass, 2-5

Full results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 103 bass weighing 367 pounds, 1 ounce caught by the 16 pros on Sunday, which included one 11-pounder, one 9-pounder, one 8-pounder and three 7-pounders caught from Orange Lake.

Hosted by the Ocala/Marion County Visitors and Convention Bureau , the Kubota Heavy Hitters at Orange Lake Presented by Bass Pro Shops features 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. A bass must meet the 2-pound minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable in the Qualifying and Knockout Rounds, but for the final day Championship Round a bass must weigh at least 3 pounds to be deemed scorable.

The 16 anglers in Group A compete in their two-day qualifying round on Saturday and Monday – the 16 anglers in Group B on Sunday and Tuesday. After each two-day qualifying round is complete, the top eight anglers from both groups advance to Wednesday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round weights are zeroed, and the remaining 16 anglers compete to finish in the Top 10 to advance to the Championship Round. In Thursday’s final-day Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.

Fans are encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW! live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

by AnglersChannel

Johnston Coike’s his way to victory at Santee Cooper Lakes

CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. — Ever since joining the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, Chris Johnston has wanted to win a tournament centered around southern largemouth.

The Peterborough, Ontario native achieved that goal this week by winning the Yokohama Tire Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes with a four-day total of 113 pounds, 12 ounces, breaking away from second-place Brandon Palaniuk to earn his second blue trophy and the $100,000 first-place prize, a margin of victory of 19-12.

“I’ve been pegged as a smallmouth guy up north, but I have been very consistent with these southern fisheries and had some close calls with Bassmaster,” Johnston said. “So, to win one in this fashion is unbelievable. To have the week I had, catching 5-,6- and 7-pounders the whole time, you couldn’t ask for anything more.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been that dialed in a tournament ever.”

Not only is it Johnston’s second career Elite Series win, his first coming at the St. Lawrence River in 2020, but he also earned his second career Century Belt and became the third angler to earn a belt on both a smallmouth fishery (St. Lawrence River in 2023) and a largemouth fishery.

Lakes Marion and Moultrie have now produced nine Century Belts since the inaugural 2006 Elite Series season, and Johnston’s four-day total is the second-highest winning weight after Preston Clark’s 115-15 beatdown in 2006.

The 10th-year-pro’s game plan centered around main lake docks in less than 10 feet of water that Johnston believes harbored resident largemouth. Because of the abundance of vegetation and cypress trees, those docks are often ignored, making them a perfect option in this tournament.

“I don’t think they get a lot of pressure, and I don’t think there are a lot of bass that live on them,” the two-time reigning Angler of the Year said. “There aren’t really any spawning pockets nearby. But the ones that do live there are big ones.”

He skipped and pitched a Hideup Coike Fullcast under those docks, a bait he said very few of those Santee Cooper bass have seen. He rigged it using a Gamakatsu treble hook and pushed a 1/8-ounce tungsten sinker into the bottom of the bait so the buoyant material would sink.

Although it was a non-forward-facing sonar event, Johnston applied the concepts he learned from using the bait with his Garmin LiveScope. To keep the bait above the heads of the bass, he would count down to his desired depth and then begin his presentation.

“As soon as I felt it was in the depth range I wanted, I would jerk it. I learned from watching on LiveScope that usually would get the fish’s attention. Then if you give it a double twitch, that gets the bass aggravated. It was almost like working a jerkbait.”

For the tight-quarters style of fishing, Johnston used a 7-foot-3 medium-heavy Daiwa Tatula Multi-Purpose casting rod paired with an 8:1:1 Daiwa Tatula SV baitcaster and tied his Coike to 22-pound Seaguar Tatsu fluorocarbon.

“I could have just put one rod on my deck,” he remarked.

He discovered his pattern on Lake Moultrie his first day of practice, receiving a 4-pound bite before shaking off two more quality bass. Day 1 on Moultrie was a struggle, forcing Johnston to move into Lake Marion, where he finished out a 21-3 limit. The upper lake is where he would spend the rest of his tournament and sacked up 32-8 on Day 2 (the Rapala CrushCity Monster Bag of the Tournament) before backing it up with 29-2 and 30-15 the final two days.

Johnston opened Championship Sunday by catching a 6-pounder, filling out a decent limit before making a long run up Lake Marion to a new area. There, he tossed his Coike up under a dock and hooked up with a 7-7, the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day. Once he got it in the boat, he knew it would be hard to be beat by anyone in the Top 10.

“I set the hook and it didn’t move,” Johnston explained. “It started going sideways and it must have gone around four different poles. My line was one way and it jumped 4 feet to the right of that. Somehow, it swam back through all the poles and to the boat. My small one was 3 pounds at that point.”

The rest of the day was icing on the cake, as he caught two more weighing around 5 pounds and another 6-pounder to cull one of those 5-pounders.

“I had one of the best afternoons of the week as far as catching fish goes,” he said. “I wish I had two more hours.”

Palaniuk called Jack’s Creek on the north side of Lake Marion home this week, landing limits weighing 29-1, 29-15, 20-11 and 14-5 to notch his fourth Top 5 at Santee Cooper, his best finish at the fishery since winning in the fall of 2020.

“It was an incredible week,” Palaniuk said. “The first two days were some of the best days I’ve had on this place. Really, they were some of the most fun days I’ve had fishing. Today, I would have had to have had 34 pounds to win. I’m glad (Chris) caught them that well, it eases the pain. What makes me mad though is that I’ve had the chance to break 100 twice, basically punts, and I screwed it up both times.”

Each year, the Idaho pro has taken a new approach to the fishery. This year, he targeted shallow cypress trees harboring postspawn largemouth. A certain contour break and a mix of vegetation were key ingredients for finding high percentage groups of trees.

“There was a combination of dollar pads, star grass and some other fluffy stuff,” he explained. “If there were dollar pads around and a little bit of scattered star grass, that’s where the big ones wanted to be. Only a few places had that.”

A Hideup Coike Fullcast produced the bulk of his bites the first two days. Later on Day 2, a 6-pounder tore up his last Coike, so he switched to a homemade urchin-style bait. Since his homemade one wasn’t as buoyant as the Coike, he had reservations about how effective it would be, but within the first couple casts using it he landed a 4-pounder.

He used the same hook in both, a BKK Spear 21 treble hook, but used a 3/32-ounce X-Zone tungsten nail weight in the Coike while the other he left weightless. 20 or 22-pound Seaguar Tatsu fluorocarbon kept Palaniuk from breaking off around the thick cover.

With limits measuring 21-8, 24-14, 25-11 and 20-8, Georgia pro Drew Cook finished third with a total of 92-9. The 2022 Santee Cooper Lakes champion once again fished for spawning largemouth on Lake Marion, although it was much harder to find areas where bass were spawning this go-round than in 2022.

Most of the time, he sight-fished in clearer water areas with a mix of vegetation in short pockets. Some other quality bites came around cypress trees and docks where he had shaken off bites in practice.

“It was strictly bed fishing and we milked it for all it was worth,” Cook said. “There would be a pocket in a creek that really wouldn’t look that good and they were all in there. You’d go to the next pocket, and there would be nothing in there. I just had to hunt and peck around.”

The 2020 Rookie of the Year rotated through three baits this week. A Spro Wacky Snack was the most productive of the bunch the first three days while a Nories Front Flapper was his sight-fishing bait of choice. He also mixed in a Coike around a variety of cover elements.

Wisconsin pro Kyle Norsetter earned Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament honors with a 9-14 he caught on Day 3, earning a $3,000 bonus. The 9-14 is also the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Year, which pays out $10,000 at the end of the season. Additionally, Norsetter earned another $1,000 for catching the daily big bass on Day 1 while Palaniuk (8-6) and Johnston (7-7) also cashed $1,000 bonuses for their daily big bass on Days 2 and 4.

Johnston earned $2,000 for the Rapala CrushCity Monster Bag of the Tournament while John Crews Jr. took home the $1,000 BassTrakk Contingency bonus for accurate reporting.

Cook claimed the $4,000 Toyota Bonus Bucks contingency for highest-placing eligible angler while Alabama’s Kyle Welcher earned $3,000 as the second-place angler.

Palaniuk also won the $2,500 Yamaha Power Pay contingency award for the highest-placing eligible angler. Cook earned the $1,500 second-place award.

Canadian pro Cory Johnston leads the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year race with 483 points, followed by Illinois pro Trey McKinney in second with 463 points and Texas pro Dakota Ebare in third with 455 points. Cole Sands is fourth with 454 points; Brandon Cobb is fifth with 446 points; John Garrett is sixth with 443 points; Drew Cook is seventh with 440 points; Caleb Hudson is eighth with 430 points; Bob Downey is ninth with 426 points; and Justin Atkins is 10th with 411 points.

Hudson leads the Pro-Guide Batteries Bassmaster Rookie of the Year race followed by Fisher Anaya in second with 372 points and Pake South in third with 322 points. Tristan McCormick is fourth with 306 points and Matt Messer is fifth with 233 points.

Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce hosted the tournament.

2026 Bassmaster Elite Series Title Sponsor: Progressive

2026 Bassmaster Elite Series Platinum Sponsor: Progressive, Toyota
2026 Bassmaster Elite Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Humminbird, Mercury, Mountain Dew, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2026 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Lew's, Lowrance, Phoenix Boats, VMC, Yokohama

About B.A.S.S.

-30-

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

Media Contact: Mandy Pascal, Communications Manager, 334-414-8677, [email protected]

2026 Yokohama Tire Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes 5/14-5/17
Santee Cooper Lakes, Clarendon County SC.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 4

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

1. Chris Johnston Peterborough Ontario CA 20 113-12 101 $103,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-03 Day 2: 5 32-08 Day 3: 5 29-02 Day 4: 5 30-15
2. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 20 94-00 100 $21,000.00
Day 1: 5 29-01 Day 2: 5 29-15 Day 3: 5 20-11 Day 4: 5 14-05
3. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 20 92-09 99 $15,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-08 Day 2: 5 24-14 Day 3: 5 25-11 Day 4: 5 20-08
4. Cory Johnston Otonabee CANADA 20 92-03 98 $13,500.00
Day 1: 5 29-06 Day 2: 5 17-08 Day 3: 5 23-09 Day 4: 5 21-12
5. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 20 90-03 97 $11,750.00
Day 1: 5 21-13 Day 2: 5 23-12 Day 3: 5 20-11 Day 4: 5 23-15
6. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 20 85-10 96 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 23-12 Day 2: 5 15-03 Day 3: 5 28-15 Day 4: 5 17-12
7. Kyle Welcher Valley, AL 20 83-09 95 $10,500.00
Day 1: 5 16-12 Day 2: 5 26-09 Day 3: 5 19-04 Day 4: 5 21-00
8. Tucker Smith Birmingham, AL 20 82-08 94 $10,300.00
Day 1: 5 19-15 Day 2: 5 21-03 Day 3: 5 22-00 Day 4: 5 19-06
9. Bob Downey Detroit Lakes, MN 20 77-05 93 $10,200.00
Day 1: 5 23-12 Day 2: 5 19-02 Day 3: 5 24-07 Day 4: 5 10-00
10. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 19 71-02 92 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 22-05 Day 2: 5 23-00 Day 3: 5 17-05 Day 4: 4 08-08
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 07-14 $1,000.00
2 Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 08-06 $1,000.00
3 Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 09-14 $1,000.00
4 Chris Johnston Peterborough Ontario CANADA07-07 $1,000.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 09-14 $2,000.00
RAPALA CRUSHCITY MONSTER BAG

Chris Johnston Peterborough, 32-08 $2,000.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 93 481 1613-10
2 87 476 1598-15
3 46 242 828-10
4 9 49 188-01
----------------------------------
235 1248 4229-04

by AnglersChannel

Scroggins Leads Group A, Omori Wins $10K Big Bass Award with 10-1 on Day 1 of MLF Kubota Heavy Hitters on Orange Lake Presented by Bass Pro Shops

San Mateo, Florida, pro catches 15 Bass weighing 62 Pounds, 3 ounces to pace Group A Qualifying Round, 16 anglers in Group B to compete Sunday

OCALA, Fla. (May 16, 2026) – Low, dirty water had some pros tempering expectations ahead of Orange Lake’s national tournament debut at Kubota Heavy Hitters Presented by Bass Pro Shops. Florida native Terry Scroggins, who knows the fishery as well as anyone in the field, said it’s “100% fishing tough for Orange Lake right now.”

Yet, on Saturday, the lake showed why it’s earned a reputation as Florida’s premier big-bass factory.

The bite may not have been fast and furious throughout the opening day of the Qualifying Round for Group A, but the 16 anglers combined to catch 10 bass over 6 pounds, including some savage topwater strikes. Scroggins used his local expertise to boat three over 7 on his own. He racked up 62 pounds, 3 ounces on 15 scorable bass to take a commanding lead. He’s 27-3 ahead of Takahiro Omori in second place and nearly 44 pounds clear of the Lucas Oil Cut Line.

Omori, meanwhile, earned the first of the boosted Berkley Big Bass payouts that are unique to Heavy Hitters by landing a 10-1 lunker. The biggest bass in Heavy Hitters history, it earned Omori $10,000.

Scroggins entered Day 1 feeling like he could catch 15 scorable bass, which proved dead on. But the way his day unfolded has him more optimistic about the rest of the event than he was at takeoff.

Scroggins, who resides about an hour away from Orange Lake, started Saturday on the southern end of the fishery in an area that featured cleaner water and gaps in the hydrilla – two ingredients that aren’t easy to find right now. Thus, he figured it would attract quite a bit of pressure. Indeed, Omori and Cole Floyd – the two anglers right behind him on SCORETRACKER® – spent most of the morning within eyesight.

That area produced nine scorable bass for Scroggins before noon, headlined by an 8-9 and a 7-14. He then spent the latter half of the day running new water and was pleased to add six more bass to his total, including a 7-5.

“I went to an area where I thought I could catch four or five scorables, and I ended up catching eight or nine out of there,” Scroggins said. “But I left out of there pretty early and just went and ran some new stuff and found a couple more areas that’s got ‘em. So, I feel good about it.”

Getting extra time to scout new water during competition could be especially valuable at this event. With Orange Lake fishing small due to the low water and Heavy Hitters spanning six days, Scroggins doesn’t think the best spots from Day 1 (like the area he started in) will still be viable come the Knockout and Championship Rounds.

“Where we caught them, I was in there, Takahiro was in there, Cole Floyd was in there, and then Todd Faircloth came in there,” he said. “And then there’s no telling who’s going to be in there tomorrow. That area is going to get beat up. It's not going to be good. So, it’s important to find some new stuff.”

The other thing that has Scroggins feeling optimistic is how he caught many of his fish. In addition to a vibrating jig, he mixed in a topwater prop bait. While far from a secret, he thinks his years of experience throwing the bait in Florida could give him an edge. It yielded eight of his bass Saturday, including four of the five he caught over 4 pounds.

With a huge cushion over the cut line, Scroggins plans to devote the entire second day of qualifying to looking for even more new water – and hunting for a $10,000 big bass, of course.

“I feel pretty good,” he said. “I left out of there where I caught them this morning around 12 o’clock or so – partway through the second period. And I caught a 5, a 7 and a 4, and I got just as many bites not in that area as I was in there. So, I feel good about it.”

Omori lands first tournament 10
There have been a lot of big bass caught during the first six editions of Heavy Hitters, both in terms of size and the paychecks they’ve earned the anglers who caught them. But never had one cracked double digits.

It took less than one period on Orange Lake for Omori to change that. His 10-1 claimed Berkley Big Bass honors by more than a pound over Floyd’s 8-14, earning him the first of four $10,000 prizes that will be handed out each day of the Qualifying Round.

Like all eight scorable bass Omori caught on the day, that giant ate a topwater walking bait. It also marked the first 10-pounder the newly minted Bass Fishing Hall of Famer has ever caught in a tournament.

The 15 anglers in Group A will now have the day off Sunday, while the 15 anglers in Group B will begin their Day 1 Qualifying Round. Group A will complete their two-day Qualifying Round of competition on Monday.

The standings for the 16 pros from Qualifying Group A after Day 1 on Orange Lake are:

1st:        Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla., 15 bass, 62-3
2nd:      Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan, eight bass, 35-0
3rd:       Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio, seven bass, 31-13
4th:       Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., seven bass, 22-11
5th:       Brent Chapman, Lenexa, Kan., seven bass, 22-1
6th:       Colby Miller, Elmer, La., three bass, 19-14
7th:       Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., seven bass, 18-11
8th:       Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., four bass, 18-8
9th:       Alton Jones Jr., Lorena, Texas, seven bass, 18-5
10th:     Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich., five bass, 15-10
11th:     Jake Lawrence, Paris, Tenn., five bass, 15-5
12th:     Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas, five bass, 13-14
13th:     Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La., five bass, 13-5
14th:     Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., three bass, 8-8
15th:     Dave Lefebre, Erie, Pa., two bass, 6-4
16th:     Gary Klein, Mingus, Texas, two bass, 4-14

Full results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 92 bass weighing 326 pounds, 14 ounces caught by the 16 pros on Saturday, which included one 10-pounder, three 8-pounders and three 7-pounders caught from Orange Lake.

Fans are encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW! live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

by AnglersChannel

Johnston’s big bass pattern vaults him to Day 3 lead at Santee Coooper Lakes

CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. — Not much went right for Chris Johnston on Day 3 of the 2026 Yokohama Tire Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes. He got hung up a lot, fell in the lake and left a pair of sunglasses and a flip flop in the water, but what he took out of the lake was much more important.

The Peterborough, Ontario pro caught 29 pounds, 2 ounces on Day 3 to claim the lead with 82-13. He will carry a 3-2 advantage over second-place Brandon Palaniuk into Championship Sunday.

“It felt like I couldn’t do anything wrong other than falling in the lake. Maybe that’s good juju, I don’t know. I smell like Santee Cooper for sure,” Johnston said.

The tournament lead has changed every day so far, and multiple anglers have a chance at breaking the century mark this week on Lakes Marion and Moultrie. If he can keep pace for one more day, this will be Johnston’s second Elite Series win and potentially his second Century Belt.

“It would be awesome to win here, especially catching all of these giants,” he said. “This is the way to do it. You are having so much fun, but it stresses me out when they are going crazy jumping and swimming around the wood. Getting them in the boat is a feat all its own.”

Johnston has ran a pattern centered around wood docks on one lake in the Santee Cooper system. These particular pieces of cover are in 3 to 8 feet of water, and postspawn largemouth are using the wood to stage and feed. Johnston feels like there are bass deeper than that, but they are hard to target without forward-facing sonar.

His pattern also involves one very specific lure. With how the bait suspends, the 10th-year-pro can keep it over the heads of the bass and trigger reaction strikes.

“It is a technique that the bass haven’t seen a lot yet. Once they do, I think they will catch on to it pretty quick,” Johnston said. “But it is something different, and they are curious creatures, so when they put their mouth on it that is when I get my crack at them.

“I can run my pattern anywhere on the lake.”

After landing 21-3 on Day 1 to start in 16th, Johnston caught the Rapala CrushCity Monster Bag of the tournament on Day 2, a limit that weighed 32-8 to jump into second.

Johnston’s day started with a bang, landing a 5-pounder right out of the gate, but didn’t receive many bites for a while after. Around mid-morning, he landed a 5-pounder and two more 2-pounders to reach the 18-pound mark.

“That’s what I wanted, because where I was going next, I wasn’t going to get a lot of bites,” he said. “And I didn’t. I went an hour and a half without a bite. I lost a 3 3/4 and then caught a 5 1/2-pounder.”

He continued to fish new water the rest of the day, and in the process, made several key culls. At one point, Johnston culled out a 5-2 with a 6-pounder.

While he isn’t getting many bites, Johnston is confident he can run the pattern throughout the lake and still has one area he has yet to return to.

“I’m going to fish new stuff tomorrow, but the stuff I fished today I will probably fish pretty quickly,” he said.

Palaniuk stumbled for the first time this tournament, catching 20-11 after landing 29-1 and 29-15 the first two tournament days. The Day 2 leader now sits in second with a three-day total of 79-11. Not a whole lot changed for the eight-time Bassmaster champion. He still got the bites he needed, they just didn’t make it to the boat.

“Execution was the only difference. Every day I’ve had two flurries; a mid-morning flurry and an afternoon flurry,” Palaniuk said. “I had those today, but I didn’t land the bites. I broke a 6-pounder off, lost one that was 6 at the boat and another one that was 7 or 8 pounds. You can’t do that, and now it’s going to be interesting.”

The 2020 Santee Cooper Lakes champion has been targeting cypress trees in one broad area of Lake Marion. Not all trees are productive. Palaniuk is looking for specific contour lines on his Humminbird LakeMaster combined with a certain type of vegetation.

One bait has caught most of his bass. While it worked flawlessly the first two days, the hook-to-land ratio was not good on Day 3.

“I’m just learning how to use it,” he said. “There are probably better ways to rig it and other things to figure out with it. It is the first time I’ve really put it in my hands and went to work with it.

“It is wild to watch how the bass respond to it, thought”

Georgia’s pro Drew Cook climbed his way into the Top 3 with a total of 72-1. His tournament had steadily gotten better, opening the tournament with 21-8 before landing 24-14 and 25-11 the next two days.

The 2020 Rookie of the Year has utilized the same game plan he used to win the 2022 Santee Cooper Lakes Elite; sight fishing for spawning largemouth. Unlike in 2022 when he used one area to win, he has bounced around a couple different regions. Four baits have produced bites around these beds, which have been located in 3 to 8 feet of water.

“I’m surprised (I’ve been able to do this),” Cook said. “The main contributor to that is the low lakes levels. That’s why there are still enough up shallow to make it work. We had a new moon today, and I’m hoping more will trickle up.

“I never imagined that I’d ever sight fish a bass in 7 feet of water on Santee Cooper.”

There were promising signs as Day 3 wore on. As he scanned the shallows, Cook located a 9-pounder swimming near a 2-pound male and left both bass alone in hopes they would pair up tomorrow.

Wisconsin’s Kyle Norsetter claimed the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day, a 9-14 that also claimed the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament honors. It is also the current Big Bass of the Year, which pays $10,000 at the end of the year.

Canadian pro Cory Johnston leads the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year race with 483 points, followed by Illinois pro Trey McKinney in second with 463 points and Texas pro Dakota Ebare in third with 454 points. Cole Sands is fourth with 454 points, Brandon Cobb is fifth with 446 points, John Garrett is sixth with 446 points, Drew Cook is seventh with 440 points, Caleb Hudson is eighth with 430 points; Bob Downey is ninth with 429 points and Justin Atkins is 10th with 411 points.

Hudson leads the Pro-Guide Batteries Bassmaster Rookie of the Year race followed by Fisher Anaya in second with 372 points and Pake South in third with 322 points.

The Top 10 anglers following the Day 3 weigh-in advance to Championship Sunday for a chance to win $100,000 and a coveted blue trophy. Takeoff begins at 6:30 a.m. ET at John C. Land Sport Fishing Facility and weigh-in will begin at 3 p.m.

Bassmaster LIVE will begin coverage at 9 a.m. ET and continue until noon. Bassmaster.com will take the reins at noon and last until weigh-in time at 3 p.m.

Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce is hosting the event.

2026 Bassmaster Elite Series Title Sponsor: Progressive

About B.A.S.S.

-30-

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

Media Contact: Mandy Pascal, Communications Manager, 334-414-8677, [email protected]

2026 Yokohama Tire Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes 5/14-5/17
Santee Cooper Lakes, Clarendon County SC.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 3

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

1. Chris Johnston Peterborough Ontario CA 15 82-13 101
Day 1: 5 21-03 Day 2: 5 32-08 Day 3: 5 29-02
2. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 15 79-11 100 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 29-01 Day 2: 5 29-15 Day 3: 5 20-11
3. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 15 72-01 99
Day 1: 5 21-08 Day 2: 5 24-14 Day 3: 5 25-11
4. Cory Johnston Otonabee CANADA 15 70-07 98
Day 1: 5 29-06 Day 2: 5 17-08 Day 3: 5 23-09
5. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 15 67-14 97
Day 1: 5 23-12 Day 2: 5 15-03 Day 3: 5 28-15
6. Bob Downey Detroit Lakes, MN 15 67-05 96
Day 1: 5 23-12 Day 2: 5 19-02 Day 3: 5 24-07
7. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 15 66-04 95
Day 1: 5 21-13 Day 2: 5 23-12 Day 3: 5 20-11
8. Tucker Smith Birmingham, AL 15 63-02 94
Day 1: 5 19-15 Day 2: 5 21-03 Day 3: 5 22-00
9. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 15 62-10 93
Day 1: 5 22-05 Day 2: 5 23-00 Day 3: 5 17-05
10. Kyle Welcher Valley, AL 15 62-09 92
Day 1: 5 16-12 Day 2: 5 26-09 Day 3: 5 19-04
11. Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 15 62-01 91 $9,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-11 Day 2: 5 15-08 Day 3: 5 28-14
12. Carl Jocumsen Queensland TN AUSTRALIA 14 60-09 90 $7,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-06 Day 2: 5 26-06 Day 3: 4 12-13
13. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 15 59-08 89 $7,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 5 18-07 Day 3: 5 25-09
14. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 15 59-06 88 $7,000.00
Day 1: 5 22-03 Day 2: 5 20-04 Day 3: 5 16-15
15. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 15 59-00 87 $7,000.00
Day 1: 5 22-14 Day 2: 5 19-05 Day 3: 5 16-13
16. Easton Fothergill Grand Rapids , MN 15 58-15 86 $6,500.00
Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 5 21-10 Day 3: 5 23-04
17. Evan Kung Pickering Ontario CANAD 15 55-10 85 $6,500.00
Day 1: 5 15-11 Day 2: 5 23-07 Day 3: 5 16-08
18. Jay Przekurat Stevens Point, WI 15 55-08 84 $6,500.00
Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 5 23-07 Day 3: 5 16-10
19. Cole Sands Johnson City, TN 15 55-08 83 $6,500.00
Day 1: 5 19-13 Day 2: 5 15-00 Day 3: 5 20-11
20. Robert Gee Knoxville, TN 15 54-14 82 $6,500.00
Day 1: 5 23-08 Day 2: 5 16-07 Day 3: 5 14-15
21. Scott Canterbury Odenville, AL 15 54-04 81 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 20-14 Day 2: 5 14-07 Day 3: 5 18-15
22. John Garrett Union City, TN 15 54-01 80 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 22-03 Day 2: 5 18-07 Day 3: 5 13-07
23. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 15 54-01 79 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-11 Day 2: 5 15-10 Day 3: 5 18-12
24. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 15 53-04 78 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-08 Day 2: 5 20-12 Day 3: 5 16-00
25. Dakota Ebare Brookeland, TX 15 52-12 77 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-02 Day 2: 5 17-15 Day 3: 5 16-11
26. Jason Christie Dry Creek, OK 15 52-10 76 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 18-13 Day 2: 5 20-06 Day 3: 5 13-07
27. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 15 52-06 75 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 22-09 Day 2: 5 15-03 Day 3: 5 14-10
28. Patrick Walters Eutawville, SC 15 52-00 74 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 14-11 Day 2: 5 21-09 Day 3: 5 15-12
29. Bryant Smith Roseville, CA 15 51-01 73 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 18-11 Day 2: 5 14-00 Day 3: 5 18-06
30. Cliff Pace Ovett, MS 15 50-15 72 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 20-11 Day 2: 5 15-05 Day 3: 5 14-15
31. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 15 50-09 71 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 18-00 Day 2: 5 19-12 Day 3: 5 12-13
32. Will Davis Jr Sylacauga, AL 15 50-04 70 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 18-05 Day 2: 5 18-08 Day 3: 5 13-07
33. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 15 49-15 69 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 5 22-07 Day 3: 5 12-00
34. Seth Feider Elko New Market, MN 15 49-10 68 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 17-08 Day 2: 5 17-12 Day 3: 5 14-06
35. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 15 49-07 67 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 21-08 Day 2: 5 14-01 Day 3: 5 13-14
36. Jacob Foutz Philadelphia, TN 15 49-00 66 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 16-13 Day 2: 5 17-12 Day 3: 5 14-07
37. Austin Felix Eden Prairie, MN 15 48-12 65 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 20-01 Day 2: 5 15-07 Day 3: 5 13-04
38. Alex Redwine Blue Ash, OH 15 48-11 64 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 19-06 Day 2: 5 17-01 Day 3: 5 12-04
39. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 15 48-10 63 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 09-15 Day 2: 5 24-08 Day 3: 5 14-03
40. Logan Parks Auburn, AL 15 48-10 62 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 19-14 Day 2: 5 15-13 Day 3: 5 12-15
41. Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 15 48-03 61 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 17-11 Day 2: 5 17-08 Day 3: 5 13-00
42. David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 15 48-00 60 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 21-10 Day 2: 5 13-04 Day 3: 5 13-02
43. Brad Whatley Bivins, TX 15 47-05 59 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 19-15 Day 2: 5 16-14 Day 3: 5 10-08
44. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 15 47-04 58 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 5 18-03 Day 3: 5 14-04
45. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 15 47-03 57 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 17-15 Day 2: 5 16-04 Day 3: 5 13-00
46. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 15 46-13 56 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 18-00 Day 2: 5 17-03 Day 3: 5 11-10
47. Tristan McCormick Bon Aqua, TN 15 44-15 55 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 18-12 Day 2: 5 14-04 Day 3: 5 11-15
48. Fisher Anaya Eva, AL 13 44-02 54 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 19-08 Day 2: 5 15-11 Day 3: 3 08-15
49. Joey Cifuentes III Clinton, AR 12 40-12 53 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 5 20-12 Day 3: 2 05-09
50. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 13 40-06 52 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 5 18-07 Day 3: 3 07-08
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 07-14 $1,000.00
2 Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 08-06 $1,000.00
3 Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 09-14 $1,000.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 93 481 1613-10
2 87 476 1598-15
3 46 242 828-10
----------------------------------
226 1199 4041-03

by AnglersChannel

Palaniuk’s big bag vaults him to the lead at Santee Cooper Lakes

CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. — Brandon Palaniuk’s Santee Cooper Lakes hot streak continued on Day 2 of the 2026 Yokohama Tire Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes. The Idaho native landed 29 pounds, 15 ounces to take the lead with a two-day total of 59-0.

“The Prodigy” anchored his limit with an 8-6 postspawn largemouth, a bass that helped him build a 4-5 advantage over Canadian pro Chris Johnston. The gap from Johnston to third-place Carl Jocumsen is 5-15.

“I was nervous after practice, to be honest, that I was gonna blow the good reputation I have here,” Palaniuk said. “Today was unreal. I didn’t see it coming yesterday and I didn’t see it coming today.”

Palaniuk has yet to miss a Championship Sunday cut, let alone a Day 3 cut, at Santee Cooper Lakes in three attempts. He’s 4/4 now with Semifinal Saturday’s and in prime position again to make the final day.

So far this week, Palaniuk has called one broad area of Lake Marion home, targeting postspawn largemouth around particular pieces of cover. One bait has generated most of his bites so far. While the one area has stayed the same, the eight-time Bassmaster champion said the same pieces of cover have produced bites two days in a row.

Overall, he received more bites on Friday than Thursday, but most were 2-pounders, which don’t count for much on this body of water.

“I’m not catching them off the same places. On a place I haven’t gotten a bite all week, I caught the majority of my bag there today,” he said. “An 8-pounder, a 6-pounder and a 4-pounder. Then places I did get bites before I didn’t get bites today. That’s nerve-wracking but also appealing because any stop I make could be the difference.”

On Day 1, Palaniuk steadily worked his way to his 29-1 limit. On Day 2, he fished through several spots before catching his first bass, a 4-pounder. He followed that up with 6-pounder and then a 4-pounder.

“That settled me down a lot,” he said.

He rounded out his initial limit with 2-pounders before landing the 8-6, a bass that surely would have weighed close to 10 pounds had it not been postspawn. Later, he added a 6-pounder to cap off the day.

“I was like, now I don’t know what to do,” he said. “I kind of burned through some other areas and caught some later in the day on different stuff. So, I think I can go run new water if I have to, and there is still some stuff I haven’t fished yet I had big bites on in practice.

“But if they are going to keep biting in the same area, I’m going to keep putting it to them.”

The one potential hiccup Palaniuk foresees is an increase in fishing pressure in his area from a local tournament, an area where several other competitors have landed quality bags.

Johnston, meanwhile, caught 32-8 to rocket from 16th all the way to second place with a total of 53-11. After winning back-to-back Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year titles, the Canadian pro has had an uncharacteristically tough 2026 season. All of that seemed to wash away as the day progressed.

“It feels like it turned my season around,” he explained. “I haven’t been having a good year. I feel like a day like this gets your mojo going and gets you back in a groove. Suddenly you can’t do anything wrong, which is what happened a lot last year. Today was the same, I couldn’t do anything wrong.”

The Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series champion opened Day 2 fishing around submerged vegetation before moving to a stretch with prominent wood cover. It took about an hour, but once I got my first bite I had a 5 3/4 and a 7.

“I was like, oh, we have a chance now,” Johnston said. “It definitely took some pressure off.”

From there, Johnston moved to a new area and added another 7-pounder and a 5-pounder. With his impressive limit, he was able to practice a good portion of the afternoon and received good bites at each stop. At his last stop, he added a 6 1/2 to the team.

Two baits triggered quality bites on Day 2 around that wood cover, most of which was in 3 to 5 feet of water. His really big bites seemed to come in a little bit deeper water. Most of the bass he catches are postspawners.

“It’s old school fishing. If it looks good, I pull in and fish it,” Johnston said.

Australian pro Carl Jocumsen moved into third place with a two-day total of 47-12. Jocumsen landed 21-6 on Day 1 before catching a 26-6 limit on Friday. The three-time Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour qualifier opened the morning by landing a 7-pounder, a bite that relieved some pressure.

“It was a good decision this morning. I turned left and went away from my main area and went to some big fish I wanted to try and catch in low light. I got one of them to bite, so that was super cool.”

From there, he moved to his best region and built his limit with several more 5-pounders. The opportunities were there to have an even bigger bag, however.

“I lost two, one that was about 8 and the other looked about 9 pounds,” he said. “The way I am fishing, sometimes you either hook them really good or they come off.”

Jocumsen has fished several different shallow water elements so far this week with one main presentation. He said he doesn’t really know where his next bite will come from, but he has been able to figure out a couple hot spots.

Palaniuk’s 8-6 earned him Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day honors, which comes with a $1,000 bonus, and currently holds the overall Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament, unseating Kyle Norsetter’s 7-14 from Day 1.

Johnston holds the Rapala CrushCity Monster Bag of the Tournament with his Day 2 limit.

Cory Johnston leads the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year competition with 483 points. Illinois pro Trey McKinney is second with 463 points followed by Texas pro Dakota Ebare in third with 453 points, Tennessee’s John Garrett in fourth with 452 points and South Carolina’s Brandon Cobb in fifth with 446 points. Drew Cook, Cole Sands, Caleb Hudson, Bob Downey and Justin Atkins round out the Top 10.

The Top 50 anglers after the Day 2 weigh-in will launch from John C. Land III Sport Fishing Facility Saturday at 6:30 a.m. ET and return for weigh-in at 3 p.m. Only the Top 10 pros will advance to Championship Sunday to compete for a blue trophy and $100,000.

Bassmaster LIVE will begin coverage at 8 a.m. ET on FS1 before moving to FOX at noon ET. Bassmaster.com will carry the live weigh-in at 3 p.m.

Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce is hosting the tournament.

2026 Bassmaster Elite Series Title Sponsor: Progressive

About B.A.S.S.

-30-

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

Media Contact: Mandy Pascal, Communications Manager, 334-414-8677, [email protected]

2026 Yokohama Tire Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes 5/14-5/17
Santee Cooper Lakes, Clarendon County SC.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 2

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

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

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 07-14 $1,000.00
2 Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 08-06 $1,000.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 93 481 1613-10
2 87 476 1598-15
----------------------------------
180 957 3212-09

by AnglersChannel

Johnston’s stellar day lifts him to Day 1 lead at Santee Cooper

CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. — On paper, there are few similarities between southern Canada and the Lowcountry of South Carolina, but Cory Johnston feels at home one way or the other.

The 41-year-old from Peterborough, Ontario brought in a limit weighing 29 pounds, 6 ounces to take the Day 1 lead at the 2026 Yokohama Tire Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes. Johnston holds a 5-ounce advantage over second-place Brandon Palaniuk.

“I love fishing shallow. That is kind of my deal,” Johnston said. “It really fishes a lot like home. It may not look like it, but with the grass and everything it does feel like home.”

It is a two-man breakaway at the stop of the standings on Day 1. The gap between Palaniuk and the third-place tie between Bob Downey and Justin Hamner is 5-6. In total, 28 anglers caught over 19 pounds on Lakes Marion and Moultrie and nearly the entire field reached a limit.

Both Johnston and Palaniuk have dueled at the top of the Santee Cooper leaderboard before. When “The Prodigy” won in the fall of 2020, Johnston finished third while each earned a Top 10 finish in 2022.

Coming off a 70th-place finish at Lake Murray, Johnston made the most of his “decent” practice period, mixing in several different areas in one lake using three different baits to collect his Day 1 total. Several of his keepers were spawning, and he caught those sight fishing. He also caught prespawners and postspawners around stumps and hydrilla.

“I caught them a few different ways,” he said. “I’m pretty surprised by how many bass are still on bed. I’m shocked, and I still feel like there are a few more coming too.”

Johnston had the opportunities to have an even bigger bag, but he lost a 7-pounder at the boat and another 6-pounder in the opening hours of the tournament.

“I went to my first area and didn’t get a single bite. I went to my second area and didn’t get a bite either. I went to my third area, and the first bass I hooked was that 7-pounder. It came off at the side of the boat. The next bite was a 2-pounder and it came off. At that point I was about ready to throw my gear in the water. We kept it together and made the best of the (rest of) the day.”

Throughout the rest of the day, Johnston landed two almost 7-pounders and another around 6-pounds before rounding out the limit with an almost 5-pounder and a 4-pounder.

Palaniuk, meanwhile, has found success each time the Elite Series has visited Santee Cooper, notching three Top 5 finishes. The fishery has changed drastically since he won in 2020.

“When we came here in the fall, if you found grass, it was like finding a needle in a haystack. Now there is grass everywhere,” he explained. “It seems like every time we come the conditions are a little different. With that, you have to fish differently. It is one of those lakes that sets up well for me.

“But for a long-time during practice, and for a little while today, it didn’t feel like I was going to figure it out (this week).”

Staying in one of the two sister lakes, Palaniuk threw two different baits to land his hefty Day 1 limit of postspawners. He only received eight bites throughout the day, but when he did catch one, it was big. Once he reached a weight he felt comfortable bringing back to check-in, Palaniuk switched tactics and landed a 6-pounder that culled out a 3 1/2.

“That’s when I was like, all right, this is one of those days you can’t make up.”

Palaniuk leaned heavily on one strategy on Day 1 and said he is looking for certain cover and depth elements. With that said, he isn’t sure what the rest of the week might bring.

“I don’t know if any of it is sustainable,” he said. “But there are (consistencies) where I feel like I should get a bite here.”

Downey and Hamner are tied for third with 23-12. Downey said he utilized one main area of the lake, starting the morning with a quick limit before making key upgrades throughout the day. Hamner, though, junk-fished his way into the Top 5, landing all five of his limit fillers on five different baits.

Wisconsin pro Kyle Norsetter caught the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day, a 7-14 largemouth that earned the $1,000 daily bonus.

After falling to third in the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year race after Murray, Johnston now leads the season-long competition with 486 points. South Carolina’s Brandon Cobb is second with 462 points and Illinois's Trey McKinney is third with 461 points. Tennesseans John Garrett and Cole Sands are fourth and fifth with 456 points and 448 points respectively. Dakota Ebare, Caleb Hudson, Bob Downey, Drew Cook and Matt Robertson round out the Top 10.

The full field of 99 anglers will launch from John C. Land III Sport Fishing Facility Friday at 6:30 a.m. ET and return for weigh-in at 3 p.m. After Day 2 weigh-in, the Top 50 anglers will move onto Semifinal Saturday before ten pros compete on Championship Sunday.

Bassmaster LIVE will begin coverage at 8 a.m. ET on Bassmaster.com and the Roku Sports Channel and the Day 2 weigh-in will be livestreamed on Bassmaster.com as well.

Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce is hosting the tournament.

2026 Bassmaster Elite Series Title Sponsor: Progressive

About B.A.S.S.

-30-

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

Media Contact: Mandy Pascal, Communications Manager, 334-414-8677, [email protected]

2026 Yokohama Tire Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes 5/14-5/17
Santee Cooper Lakes, Clarendon County SC.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 1

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

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

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 07-14 $1,000.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 93 481 1613-10
----------------------------------
93 481 1613-10

by AnglersChannel

The Past 20 Winners of the Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops

SAN ANTONIO, TX (May 14, 2026) – Next week, the Association of Collegiate Anglers will contest its 21^st Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops. College fishing’s longest-running National Championship tournament, the ACA contested its first National Championship in 2006. Since that inaugural event, a total of 20 winners have been crowned victor at this prestigious tournament.

Here are the past Champions:

2006 – North Carolina State University

Christopher Craven & Alexander Freeman

2007 – Texas A&M University

Justin Rackley & Trevor Knight

2008 –University of Arkansas

Bodie Drake & Kazuki Kitajima

2009 – Murray State University

Kalem Tippett & Vincent Campisano

2010 – University of Georgia

Bo Page & Ben Cleary

2011 – University of Central Florida

Miles “Sonar” Burghoff & Casey O’Donnell

2012 – North Carolina State University

Ben Dziwulski & Ethan Cox

2013 – Bethel University

Zach Parker & Matthew Roberts

2014 – University of Georgia

Byron Kenney & William Treadwell

2015 – Northern Kentucky University

Brandon Houston & Brandon Knapmeyer

2016 – Auburn University

Cole Burdeshaw & Mitchell Jennings

2017 – University of North Alabama

Sloan Pennington & Hunter McCarty

2018 – Bethel University

Carter McNeil & Cole Floyd

2019 – Bethel University

Carter McNeil & Cole Floyd

2020 – Bryan College

Bailey Fain & Preston Kendrick

2021 – Texas Christian University

Noah Skolnick & Garrett Torres

2022 – Wallace State Community College

Bryar Chambers & Clent Blackwood

2023 – Auburn University

Tucker Smith & Hayden Marbut

2024 – University of North Alabama

Dylan Nutt & Carter Nutt

2025 – University of Montevallo

Peyton Harris & Dalton Head

Over the 20 years in which the Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops has been contested, 14 different colleges/universities have taken home the title. Five schools have won multiple titles; UNA (2), Auburn (2), UGA (2), NC State (2), and Bethel (3). Bethel University leads the way with the most victories, winning the ACA National Championship in 2013, 2018, and 2019.

Since 2006, the Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops has been contested at numerous famed fisheries. Here is a list of those locations:

Lake Lewisville – Lewisville, TX
Pickwick Lake – Florence, AL
Lake Hartwell – Anderson, SC
Lake Murray – Columbia, SC

The 2026 edition of the Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops will take place at Pickwick Lake in Florence, AL. Tournament competition will take place on May 21-22. Follow along with a variety of coverage and more here.

by AnglersChannel

Rob Gee’s Yamaha Power Pay Preview for Santee Cooper

Courtesy of Dynamic Sponsorships

Competition began for Rob Gee and his Elite Series peers this morning for the Yokohama Tire Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes. Gee is fresh off a top ten from last weekend at Lake Murray, where the third-year pro posted a fourth-place finish and earned an extra $1,000 payout from Yamaha’s Power Pay contingency program.

Gee was the third highest finishing angler powered by a Yamaha purchased within the past 60-months, showcasing how many opportunities there are for bonus rewards through Yamaha Power Pay. Power Pay supports and pays out on more than 600 tournaments for anglers of all levels. Follow this link: https://yamahapowerpay.com/ if you’re interested in learning more or to sign-up for the popular program.

Though both fisheries are in South Carolina and separated by less than a three-hour drive, Santee Cooper promises to be a very different event than we saw last week at Lake Murray. Aquatic vegetation, water clarity, and average depth are all differentiators for the two fisheries, but the allowance of FFS on Lake Murray and the prohibition of FFS on Santee Cooper will perhaps be the most distinguishing factor.

We caught up with Rob Gee minutes before boat launch on day one to get his predictions and previews for Santee Cooper.

Q – Based on what you saw in practice, what phase of the spawn are these fish in and what patterns do you expect to see excel on Santee this week?

Rob – “I’d say 80% of the fish are done spawning and off the bank. I didn’t find giant offshore schools of them or anything, but they seem to be following grass lines moving out away from the shoreline. Because of that I think you’ll see a lot of chatterbaiting in the 3 to 8-foot depth zone. That seems to be one of the best ways to target fish offshore here without ‘Scope (FFS). I’ll be doing some old-school worming, too.”

Q – What kind of weight do you think it will take to make the top 10 and be fishing on Championship Sunday?

Rob – “Man, that’s tough to say. It’s a post-spawn tournament but we’re kinda handcuffed without FFS, so I don’t think it will be as big of a beatdown as it should be. There are so many giants in here and these guys are the best, so it’ll still take 20-lbs a day I am sure, but it’s certainly not easy to catch that kind of weight out here right now without FFS.”

Q – You are a FFS aficionado, how would this event have looked different if FFS was in play?

Rob – “I think it would have taken over 25-lbs a day to have a chance at winning with FFS, because we would have been able to target isolated fish offshore. Those individual fish are usually big ones this time of year, and I saw in pre practice just how quickly you can catch a mega bag here with FFS. Without FFS, the weights will be quite a ways down from that in my opinion.”

Q – As well-known as Santee Cooper is for big bass amongst tournament anglers, it also has a reputation for getting rough when the wind blows. With moderate to strong winds forecasted this week, will you make long runs or stay close to takeoff?

Rob – “This place definitely gets bumpy, but with that Yamaha SHO behind me I’m never too worried. That said, I’m boat number three today (day one) so I am planning to stay close today, fish some protected water and try to maximize my fishing time. Tomorrow we might have to make a long run and play in the waves.”

by AnglersChannel

Unified Pros and Fishing Chaos Partner on Virtual Qualifier

SCOTTSBORO, Ala. – Unified Pros is proud to announce the continued partnership with Fishing Chaos, the industry leader in digital tournament management, for the 2026 Ultimate Angler World Championship—a premier competition uniting the best anglers from across the nation.

As part of this partnership, Unified Pros and Fishing Chaos will once again launch a Virtual Qualifying Tournament this May, giving anglers nationwide the opportunity to compete from their home waters for a coveted spot on one of fishing’s biggest stages. The Top 5 anglers from the virtual qualifier will earn their place in the Ultimate Angler World Championship, set to take place September 27 – October 3, 2026, at Goose Pond Colony on Lake Guntersville in Scottsboro, Alabama.

“Fishing Chaos continues to bring unmatched technology and innovation to the tournament space,” said Lori Waller, Vice President of Unified Pros. “This partnership allows us to expand access, grow excitement nationwide, and make the Ultimate Angler more inclusive for competitive anglers at every level.”

The virtual qualifier will be hosted through the Fishing Chaos app, featuring real-time scoring, live leaderboards, and seamless digital submissions, allowing anglers across the country to compete on a level playing field using a modern, efficient platform.

“We’re excited to continue supporting Unified Pros and the Ultimate Angler with a seamless digital tournament experience,” said Tom Brewbaker, CEO of Fishing Chaos. “Together, we’re helping elevate the sport and create new opportunities for anglers everywhere to compete and be recognized.”

Registration for the Virtual Qualifier will open soon through the Fishing Chaos platform. Full rules, prize details, and eligibility information will be available at app.fishingchaos.com/tournament.

To learn more about the Ultimate Angler World Championship, visit www.theultimateangler.org

or email [email protected]

by AnglersChannel

ANGLERS CHANNEL AND BASS 365 PARTNER WITH THE ULTIMATE ANGLER CHAMPIONSHIP

Two of Bass Fishing’s Most Recognized Digital Media Brands to Deliver Full-Scale Coverage of the World Championship Event on Lake Guntersville, September 27–October 3, 2026

SCOTTSBORO, AL (April 28, 2026) — The Ultimate Angler Championship, organized by Unified Pros, today announced a media partnership with Anglers Channel (AnglersChannel.com) and Bass 365 (Bass365.com) to provide pre-event and on-site coverage of the 2026 Ultimate Angler World Championship Bass Fishing Tournament. The event, billed as the largest bass fishing championship in history, takes place September 27 through October 3, 2026, at Goose Pond Colony Resort on Lake Guntersville in Scottsboro, Alabama.

Together, Anglers Channel and Bass 365 will bring the full story of the Ultimate Angler Championship directly to hundreds of thousands of bass fishing fans across the country, from the announcement of the first qualified angler through the crowning of the Ultimate Angler World Champion.

About the Ultimate Angler World Championship

The Ultimate Angler World Championship is a first-of-its-kind, multi-league bass fishing event designed to crown a single World Champion across all competitive circuits. Organized by Unified Pros—a nonprofit with no ownership interest—in partnership with the State of Alabama, the event features a guaranteed $500,000 first-place payout and more than $1 million in total prize money, making it one of the largest payout structures in tournament bass fishing history.

“2026 is shaping up to be our biggest year yet,” said Lori Waller, Vice President of Unified Pros. “The anglers, the expo, the concert, the excitement—it all comes together in a way you simply can’t experience anywhere else in the country. Having Anglers Channel and Bass 365 tell that story to their massive audiences is tremendous for the sport.”

Modeled after the Masters and U.S. Open in golf, the Ultimate Angler Championship is open to qualifying college anglers, amateurs, and seasoned touring professionals, with anglers earning their way in through a series of Unified Pros-sanctioned qualifying events. The 2026 field will draw elite competitors from virtually every major bass fishing circuit, including the Bass Pro Tour, Bassmaster Elite Series, NPFL, Alabama Bass Trail, American Bass Anglers, Ikon Tailgate Tour Grassroots Tournament Series, and more.

Beyond the competition itself, the week-long event features daily fan experiences, an Outdoor Expo with industry vendors, educational and conservation programs, live entertainment, and activities for all ages—all set against the backdrop of one of the nation’s premier bass fisheries, Lake Guntersville.

Coverage Provided by Anglers Channel and Bass 365

Under this partnership, Anglers Channel and Bass 365 will deliver a full media package that keeps fans engaged from the first qualifying announcement through the final weigh-in, including:

Pre-Event Coverage — In-depth previews and features setting the stage for the championship
Qualified Angler Announcements & Profiles — News and background features on anglers as they earn their spot in the field
Daily Reports from the Event — Timely dispatches from the water covering competition results, standings, and storylines as they develop throughout the week
Angler Interviews — Behind-the-scenes conversations with competitors on their strategies, experiences, and thoughts on the championship
On-Site Coverage — Live and near-live content streaming directly from Goose Pond Colony on Lake Guntersville, including blastoffs, weigh-ins, and event activities

Coverage will be distributed across Anglers Channel’s and Bass 365’s combined digital platforms—including their websites, email newsletters, YouTube channels, and social media networks on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok—putting the championship in front of bass fishing fans wherever they follow the sport.

“The Ultimate Angler Championship is exactly the kind of event that our audience lives for—elite anglers from every circuit, competing on one of the best bass lakes in the country, with everything on the line,” said Danny Blandford of Anglers Channel. “Our audience expects us to be there, and with Bass 365 alongside us, we’re going to deliver the comprehensive coverage this event and field of anglers deserve.”

Anglers Channel has built one of the largest bass fishing audiences in digital media, with more than 175,000 followers across Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube channels, in addition to a strong e-newsletter following. The platform amplifies partner content across all channels, including its homepage news slider, social media shares, and 16-season-running AC Bass Wrap Up Show.

Bass 365 is recognized as one of the most consistent and prolific tournament bass fishing media outlets in the country, with a dedicated following built on deep event coverage, angler profiles, and live-stream capabilities that have brought competition to audiences who otherwise could not attend.

“At Bass 365, we pride ourselves on covering nearly every blastoff and weigh-in in professional bass fishing,” said Ricky Bodsford of Bass 365. “The Ultimate Angler Championship is something the sport has been longing for over the years—bringing together the best from every league and giving them a chance to prove who is truly the Ultimate Angler. We are honored to be a part of telling that story.”

This partnership builds on a model Anglers Channel and Bass 365 have already proven together. At the inaugural Touring Anglers Association event on Lake Lanier in 2024, the two outlets joined forces with other media partners to stream daily weigh-ins to more than 180,000 viewers, collectively reaching well over a quarter of a million bass fishing fans across platforms.

About the Ultimate Angler Championship / Unified Pros

The Ultimate Angler World Championship is an annual, multi-league, invitation-only bass fishing event organized by Unified Pros, a nonprofit alliance of professional athletes. Grounded in competition, conservation, and community, the event brings together elite anglers from all major circuits to compete on one of the nation’s premier fisheries. For more information, visit www.theultimateangler.org or contact Lori Waller at [email protected] | 256-613-3193.

About Anglers Channel

Anglers Channel (AnglersChannel.com) is one of the fishing industry’s leading digital media platforms, delivering bass fishing news, tournament coverage, product information, and angler content to more than 175,000 combined followers across Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. With 16 seasons of the AC Bass Wrap Up Show and video production, social amplification, and digital marketing services—powered in partnership with Byrne Media—Anglers Channel is a go-to resource for anglers and industry partners across the sport. For more information, visit www.AnglersChannel.com.

About Bass 365

Bass 365 (Bass365.com) is a premier bass fishing media outlet dedicated to covering tournament bass fishing at every level. Bass 365 makes a point of being on the ground at events across the country, delivering blastoffs, weigh-ins, angler interviews, and breaking tournament news to a nationwide audience of dedicated bass fishing fans. For anglers, by anglers. For more information, visit www.Bass365.com.

MEDIA CONTACT

Ultimate Angler Championship / Unified Pros

Lori Waller, Vice President

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 256-613-3193

Website: www.theultimateangler.org

by AnglersChannel

THE FUTURE - A Revolutionary Fully Livestreamed Team Fishing Tournament Announced on Lake Guntersville

Worlds collide for a first-of-its-kind competition designed to reinvigorate the future of tournament fishing.

GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. - May 11th, 2026 — Competitive bass fishing is set to enter a new era with the launch of THE FUTURE, an innovative team-format tournament taking place May 27, 2026, on Lake Guntersville in Alabama. Bringing together some of the sport’s most accomplished professional anglers, influential creators, and recognizable personalities, THE FUTURE is designed to deliver a completely new experience for both competitors and fans through immersive livestream coverage, real-time audience interaction, and creator-driven broadcasting.

The event will feature two-person teams competing on one of the nation’s premier bass fisheries, while every competitor livestreams their tournament day across platforms including YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Fishing Chaos. Fans will also be able to watch a centralized live production stream on Fishing Chaos featuring live leaderboard updates, tournament insights, giveaways, audience interaction, and coverage from across the field.

The tournament field includes a star-studded lineup of professional anglers and fishing personalities with combined career tournament winnings exceeding $10 million and a collective social media audience of more than 9 million followers.

Confirmed competitors include Scott Martin, Gerald Swindle, Jordan Lee, Keith Poche, Logan Parks, Dylan Nutt, Carter Nutt, Kristine Fisher, Hilary Martin, Laker Howell, Kyle Patrick, Tyler Anderson, James Watson, Lucas Black, Rob Gee, Justin Lucas, Slick Johnson, Tristan McCormick, Garrett Walters, and additional notable anglers and personalities.

In addition to competing for tournament bragging rights, teams will battle for cash prizes and six qualification spots into the Ultimate Angler Championship, which features a $500,000 first-place payout.
THE FUTURE represents one of the first fully livestreamed team events of its kind in bass fishing, offering fans the unprecedented ability to follow every team individually while simultaneously experiencing a centralized live broadcast that captures the biggest moments from across the lake.

Organizers believe the format reflects the growing demand for more direct, personality-driven content within the sport and creates a new model that benefits audiences, anglers and tournament trails looking to implement livestreaming coverage into their events. “We're answering the call to push the standards of competition and entertainment - putting it all on display for anglers and fans of bass fishing.” said Tom Brewbaker, CEO of Fishing Chaos. “THE FUTURE aims to elevate opportunities for anglers and creators through new age livestreaming capabilities, while introducing more interactive ways for viewers to engage with the sport and for trails of any size to implement streaming. We’re not creating a new league - but serving as a catalyst of new opportunities to benefit the industry as a whole.”

While competition remains central to the event, THE FUTURE also aims to spotlight the personalities, stories, and real-time interactions that continue to fuel the growth of fishing’s digital audience.

EVENT DETAILS
THE FUTURE May 27, 2026 Lake Guntersville - Guntersville, Alabama

WHERE TO WATCH
Streaming live and free on:
● Fishing Chaos
● YouTube
● Facebook
● Instagram

Fans can follow individual angler streams or tune into the centralized live broadcast for complete tournament coverage throughout the day.

Viewers can pre-register to watch the event and stay up to date on tournament news, audience opportunities, giveaways, and event updates at FishingChaos.com or through the Fishing Chaos app. Follow this link to get in on the action: https://app.fishingchaos.com/club/thefuture

by AnglersChannel

Maggie Jo: Lessons from my First Bass Boat

Courtesy of Dynamic Sponsorships

The idea of owning her own bass boat is something BassmastHER ambassador Maggie Jo Carsello has been dreaming about for years. Maggie Jo already spent as much time on the water as her schedule allows, but until recently that was done via her kayak or as a co-angler, oftentimes competing out of the back of the boat with her fiancé Andrew.

Some of that is changing this year, as Maggie Jo is the proud owner of a 2026 Basscat Eyra. Her first vessel is just over 20-feet long and came equipped with a 250HP Mercury outboard, two Power Poles, and electronics. The eye-catching Fearless Fuschia color palette Maggie chose means a lot to her in more ways than one.

“I’m so in love with this boat,” Carsello said. “I like everything about it from how it handles, the speed, fishability, and storage. Those that know me well know pink isn’t always my first color choice, but for every Basscat boat sold in the Fearless Fuschia color $500 is donated towards Breast Cancer research.

“I have ladies in my life battling that disease, and sadly pretty much everyone has been affected by cancer in some capacity. It’s humbling and incredible to be able to spread awareness and help raise money for such a worthy cause with this boat.”

Her first boat is optimized to capture bass and catch awareness around this great cause; two things Maggie is passionate about. She’s been putting in time on the water around her home in Wisconsin at every opportunity and has already hooked the boat up to her Toyota Tundra and hauled her rig as far as east Tennessee for the Bassmaster Classic Celebrity Pro-Am. Where she and her partner Lee Ellis finished in 5^th place out of a tough field of anglers on Douglas Lake.

While her comfort and confidence increase with every trip, Maggie says her timing was intentional. Despite growing up around water and loving the outdoors, Carsello admits owning and operating a bass boat on her own felt overwhelming at first.

“I guess it’s just easy to get intimidated when you fish amongst people who have been behind the wheel of a boat for years,” Carsello said. “Being the one to make the fishing decisions never scared me. It was things like trailering and launching the boat by myself, driving in rough water or bad conditions… I never wanted to be a liability for those in my boat or around me.

“I’ve also waited until now, logistically, so I had my own house with a garage to store the boat in. You’ve gotta consider that with our Wisconsin winters. I guess I’m a bit of a late bloomer with a bass boat, but I’m proof that it’s never too late!”

For novice boaters, those concerns are incredibly common. Learning how to safely tow a boat, navigate crowded ramps, troubleshoot equipment issues, and handle changing water conditions can feel like an entirely different skillset compared to what drew us all into the sport, which is getting the next fish to bite.

According to Maggie following the crawl-walk-run progression with her boating has been key in organically growing her confidence. The Team Toyota pro believes starting as a co-angler first is the best way to dip your toes into competitive fishing, which is exactly how she began. Eventually, Maggie started competing solo in kayak events, adding another layer of comfort to her decision making on the water.

When it came time to ultimately own and operate her own boat, Carsello realized there was only one real way to improve: time behind the wheel.

“The biggest helper has simply been spending time in the boat,” she explained. “The more you do it, the more comfortable you become. You start understanding how the boat reacts in different situations and conditions.

“The first few trips I watched the weather and ensured I knew another boater on the lake before I launched. That way if I ran into any trouble, I had someone to call who could get there quickly. You don’t have to have it all figured out before you start, you just have to take your time and be willing to learn.”

For the beginning boaters reading this, Maggie’s advice is to start small, respect the water, and don’t rush the process. Practice at quieter boat ramps, take short trips before running long distances, ask questions from experienced anglers and use online resources to your benefit. Most importantly, gain confidence at your own pace.

For Maggie Jo, becoming a boat owner wasn’t about instantly mastering every nuance and aspect of boating. Instead it’s been about embracing the learning curve and accepting that confidence comes one trip to the lake at a time.

by AnglersChannel

Matoaca’s Crowder Earns Seventh Career BFL Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Potomac River Presented by Suzuki Marine

Virginia’s Garrett Claims Victory in Co-Angler Division

MARBURY, Md. (May 11, 2026) – Boater Kermit Crowder of Matoaca, Virginia, caught five bass weighing 16 pounds, 5 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on the Potomac River Presented by Suzuki Marine . The tournament, hosted by the Charles County Government, Dept. of Recreation, Parks and Tourism, was the second of five events of the season for the BFL Shenandoah Division. Crowder earned $4,730 for his victory.

Crowder leaned on a straightforward power-fishing pattern to earn his seventh career BFL victory, targeting rocky banks in the main river. Fishing in stained, wind-blown conditions, Crowder said he kept a Strike King 1.5 crankbait in his hands from start to finish and steadily put together a winning limit.

“We were in the main river, just fishing rocks going down the river,” Crowder said

Despite tough conditions that included muddy water, sparse grass and persistent wind, Crowder was able to stay consistent around the hard cover pattern.

“There ain’t much grass on the river up there now,” he said. “The water was really stained, because the wind’s been blowing for months, it seems like.”

Even with the 10- to 15-mph winds creating rough conditions, the fish continued to bite throughout the day. Crowder and his co-angler caught an estimated 25 to 30 bass, with the action remaining steady regardless of the changing tide.

“We caught them all day long,” he said. “We started there on a low tide and fished it all the way to high tide, and we caught fish the whole time.”

While he downplayed the performance as “just getting lucky and landing on the right spot,” Crowder credited years of experience on the Potomac for helping him recognize the timing and conditions needed for the pattern to come together.

“I’ve been fishing this river for a very long time,” he went on to say. “Any time that you can get a win out here, it’s always a lot of fun.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Kermit Crowder, Matoaca, Va., five bass, 16-5, $4,730
2nd:      Stacey Craft, Dunkirk, Md., five bass, 15-13, $1,330
2nd:      Travis Lewis, Stanley, Va., five bass, 15-13, $1,430
4th:        Marvin Reese, Randallstown, Md., five bass, 15-12, $710
5th:        Brian Laclair, Denton, Md., five bass, 15-10, $630
6th:        Chris Baldwin, Lexington, N.C., five bass, 15-3, $540
7th:        Joshua Wright, Toano, Va., five bass, 14-13, $520
8th:        Robert Ramsey, Hubert, N.C., five bass, 14-11, $490
9th:        Robert Grike, Dumfries, Va., five bass, 14-9, $460
9th:        Michael Fry, Gallitzin, Pa., five bass, 14-9, $460

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Crowder also earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award with a 5-pound, 10-ounce bass worth $200.

Michael Garrett of Buena Vista, Virginia, won the co-angler division and the top prize of $1,765 Saturday after bringing three bass to the scale that totaled 10 pounds, 5 ounces.

The top 10 co-anglers finished:

1st:        Michael Garrett, Buena Vista, Va., three bass, 10-5, $1,765
2nd:      Jonathan Ceaser, Maidens, Va., three bass, 10-3, $985
3rd:       Lew Jenkins, Waldorf, Md., three bass, 9-8, $445
4th:        Dave Wilt, Lititz, Pa., three bass, 9-3, $355
5th:        Ashton Crickenberger, Charlottesville, Va., three bass, 9-2, $365
6th:        Dewey Mathis, Orange, N.H., three bass, 8-12, $270
7th:        Jed Ranck, Powhatan, Va., three bass, 8-9, $260
8th:        Allen (Tink) Burns, Concord, Va., three bass, 8-8, $242
8th:        Shawn Hill, Muncy, Pa., three bass, 8-8, $242
10th:     Nathan Sullivan, Fredericksburg, Va., three bass, 8-7, $187
10th:     Melvin Smitson, Baltimore, Md., three bass, 8-7, $187

Jonathan Ceaser of Maidens, Virginia, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award after landing a 4-pound, 7-ounce bass worth $100.

After two events, Chris Baldwin of Lexington, North Carolina, now leads the 7 Brew Shenandoah Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 493 points, while Michael Garrett of Buena Vista, Virginia, leads the Shenandoah Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 498 points.

The top 45 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. 15-17 BFL Regional tournament on Clarks Hill Lake in Appling, Georgia. 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 prize of a new Phoenix 518 pro with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard, worth $33,500.

by AnglersChannel

Local Boater Kollin Crawford Earns Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Broken Bow Lake

Terlton’s Harris Earns Victory in Co-Angler Division

BROKEN BOW, Okla. (May 11, 2026) – Boater Kollin Crawford of Broken Bow, Oklahoma, caught a total of five bass weighing 17 pounds, 3 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Broken Bow Lake . The tournament was the third of five events of the season for the BFL Okie Division. Crawford earned $10,250 for his victory, including the lucrative Phoenix MLF contingency bonus.

Crawford used a patient offshore approach to earn the victory on his home waters, targeting bass positioned around points in roughly 15 feet of water. Fishing slowly and methodically with a Carolina rig, he was able to generate the quality bites needed to separate himself from the field.

“I caught them about 15 feet deep on some points and stuff on a Carolina rig,” Crawford said.

Rather than covering water quickly, Crawford focused on dragging his bait slowly through productive areas and letting the fish commit. The deliberate presentation proved to be critical as conditions demanded a slower approach.

“Seems like the slower you drug it, the better they bit it,” he said.

Crawford credited patience as the defining factor in the win, trusting his areas and resisting the urge to speed up his presentation.

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Kollin Crawford, Broken Bow, Okla., five bass, 17-3, $10,250 (includes $7,000 Phoenix Bonus)
2nd:      Joshua Teply, Harrah, Okla., five bass, 15-0, $1,790
3rd:       Jeremy Johnson, Sapulpa, Okla., five bass, 13-13, $810
4th:        Harmon Davis, Marlow, Okla., five bass, 13-7, $650
5th:        John Bowling, Broken Bow, Okla., five bass, 13-2, $540
6th:        Bryce Steel, Wagoner, Okla., five bass, 13-2, $540
7th:        Charles Williams, Mannford, Okla., five bass, 13-0, $480
8th:        Justin Parchman, Oologah, Okla., five bass, 12-15, $460
9th:        Austin Rose, Mena, Ark., five bass, 12-12, $440
10th:     Stacy Bissett, Henryetta, Okla., five bass, 12-11, $420

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Joshua Teply of Harrah, Oklahoma, earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award after landing a 6-pound, 3-ounce bass worth $200.

Jeff Harris of Terlton, Oklaoma, won the co-angler division and the top prize of $1,860 Saturday with three bass that weighed in at 6 pounds, 8 ounces.

The top 10 co-anglers finished:

1st:        Jeff Harris, Terlton, Okla., three bass, 9-14, $1,675
2nd:      Frank Clymer, Wagoner, Okla., three bass, 8-14, $795
3rd:       Paul Lane, Wagoner, Okla., three bass, 7-7, $405
4th:        Dalton Brake, Mountain View, Mo., three bass, 7-5, $425
5th:        Aaron Uncapher, Tyler, Texas, three bass, 7-3, $290
5th:        Milton Cade, Tulsa, Okla., three bass, 7-2, $250
7th:        Mark Taylor, Oklahoma City, Okla., three bass, 7-1, $290
7th:        Mark Johnson, Weleetka, Okla., three bass, 7-0, $225
9th:        Dylan Johnson, Miami, Okla., three bass, 7-0, $225
10th:     Thad Hewitt, Delaware, Okla., three bass, 6-15, $180
10th:     Dustin Chuculate, Wagoner, Okla., three bass, 6-15, $180

Harris also earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award with a 6-pound, 1-ounce bass worth $100.

After three events, Trenton Underwood of Pocola, Oklahoma, now leads the 7 Brew Okie Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 710 points, while Fred Fielder of Afton, Oklahoma, leads the Okie Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 711 points.

by AnglersChannel

Salem’s Russell Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Lake Shelbyville

Elder and Thacher Tie for Win in Co-Angler Division

SHELBYVILLE, Ill. (May 11, 2026) – Boater Hunter Russell of Salem, Illinois, caught a total of five bass weighing 15 pounds, 11 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Shelbyville . The tournament was the second of five events of the season for the BFL Illini Division. Russell earned $10,150, including the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus, for his victory.

Russell leaned on his extensive knowledge of Lake Shelbyville to separate himself from a field that struggled to put together limits in challenging conditions. With only four five-bass limits weighed on the boater side, Russell targeted deeper spawning fish near the dam area, focusing on bass positioned well off the bank.

“The biggest thing this week was just understanding the lake,” Russell said. “I’ve covered about every square inch of this lake, especially up here by the dam. This is probably my favorite lake in the country.”

While many anglers targeted shallow water due to rising lake levels, Russell took a different approach by focusing on fish holding in 10 to 16 feet of water.

“One thing that I was doing that was unique was catching spawners in anywhere from 10 to 16 foot of water, with a few fry guarders mixed in,” he said. “I saw a lot of these other guys and they were just fishing too shallow.”

Russell said that using his forward-facing sonar to locate offshore fish proved critical, although one of his biggest bass came from his pre-event practice rather than electronics.

“I caught my biggest fish without forward-facing sonar,” Russell added. “I had him marked from practice the day before.”

Russell caught all of his fish on two baits – a drop-shot rig and a new unreleased bait from Jig Shack Outdoors that is expected to hit the market later this summer.

“Everything was just picture perfect,” he said. “I had a couple more big ones that I didn’t quite get to bite today, but that’s just the way it goes. I’m super thankful with how everything turned out.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Hunter Russell, Salem, Ill., five bass, 15-11, $10,150 (includes $7,000 Phoenix Bonus)
2nd:      Jason Valentine, Pinckneyville, Ill., five bass, 14-9, $1,590
3rd:       Michael Black, Toledo, Ill., five bass, 10-13, $910
4th:        Craig Sutton, Sesser, Ill., three bass, 10-5, $650
5th:        Scott Neighbors, Makanda, Ill., five bass, 9-4, $730
6th:        Riley Walk, Neoga, Ill., three bass, 9-2, $500
7th:        Greg James, Carterville, Ill., two bass, 8-10, $480
8th:        Tim Davis, East Alton, Ill., three bass, 8-9, $460
9th:        Laindree Richardson, Benton, Ill., two bass, 8-6, $630
9th:        Jon Kringer, Cowden, Ill., three bass, 8-6, $430

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Laindree Richardson of Benton, Illinois, earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award after landing a 6-pound, 10-ounce bass worth $200.

Gage Elder of Decatur, Illinois, and Brad Thacher of Murray, Kentucky, tied for the win the co-angler division on Saturday, as each brought three bass to the scale that totaled 6 pounds, 7 ounces. Thacher brought home $1,185 for his victory, while Elder brought home $1,235 after contingency bonuses.

The top 10 co-anglers finished:

1st:        Gage Elder, Decatur, Ill., three bass, 6-7, $1,235
1st:        Brad Thacher, Murray, Ky., three bass, 6-7, $1,185
3rd:       Andy Hille, Effingham, Ill., two bass, 6-2, $505
4th:        John Schuessler, Decatur, Ill., three bass, 5-11, $325
5th:        Jimmy Null, Palmyra, Ill., three bass, 5-8, $290
6th:        David Keefer, Charleston, Ill., three bass, 5-4, $250
7th:        Ken Landreth, Belleville, Ill., two bass, 4-5, $240
8th:        Andrew Dunford, Christopher, Ill., two bass, 3-13, $230
9th:        Rowdy King, Shelbyville, Ill., one bass, 3-11, $220
10th:     Timothy Nanzer, Oswego, Ill., one bass, 3-10, $210

Andy Hille of Effingham, Illinois, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award after landing a 4-pound bass worth $100.

After two events, Michael Black of Toledo, Illinois, now leads the 7 Brew Illini Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 488 points, while Gage Elder of Decatur, Illinois, leads the Illini Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 496 points.

by AnglersChannel

Wilkinson Earns 12th Career BFL Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Ohio River at Tanners Creek

Ohio’s Woodford Claims Victory in Co-Angler Division

LAWRENCEBURG, Ind. (May 11, 2026) – Boater Chris Wilkinson of Farmersburg, Indiana, caught a total of five bass weighing 14 pounds, 13 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on the Ohio River at Tanners Creek . The tournament was the first of five events of the season for the BFL Buckeye Division. Wilkinson earned $3,720 for his victory.

Wilkinson put together a strong pattern around shallow cover to earn his 12th career BFL victory. Starting the morning roughly 10 miles away from the launch area, he quickly established a productive bite targeting wood cover in stained water conditions.

“I caught four on a spinnerbait and one on a buzzbait early,” Wilkinson said.

The stained water allowed him to fish aggressively throughout the morning, and his power-fishing approach helped him build an early limit. Later in the day, Wilkinson said he made a key adjustment by returning closer to the Tanners Creek area, where he was able to upgrade twice using a tube.

“I went back toward the Tanners area and culled up two more times,” he said.

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Chris Wilkinson, Farmersburg, Ind., five bass, 14-13, $3,720
2nd:      Sean Wieda, Alexandria, Ky., five bass, 13-15, $2,660 (includes $500 Phoenix bonus)
3rd:       Chris Martinkovic, Hamilton, Ohio, five bass, 11-4, $1,080
4th:        Nico Urso, Union, Ky., five bass, 11-2, $740
5th:        Scott Devault, New Philadelphia, Ohio, five bass, 10-9, $650
6th:        Stacey Edwards, Milton, Ky., five bass, 10-2, $560
7th:        Bob Logan, Waynesfield, Ohio, five bass, 9-15, $530
8th:        William Kronander, Brownsville, Pa., five bass, 9-13, $510
9th:        Kenny Dials, Gallipolis, Ohio, five bass, 9-7, $490
10th:     Aaron Stahley, Batavia, Ohio, five bass, 8-11, $460

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Wieda earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award after landing a 5-pound, 3-ounce bass worth $200.

Steven Woodford of Belmont, Ohio, won the co-angler division and the top prize of $1,860 Saturday after bringing three bass to the scale that totaled 6 pounds, 8 ounces.

The top 10 co-anglers finished:

1st:        Steven Woodford, Belmont, Ohio, three bass, 6-8, $1,860
2nd:      James Wilcox, Barboursville, W. Va., three bass, 5-12, $930
3rd:       Jeff Moorman, Liberty Township, Ohio, three bass, 5-11, $665
4th:        Scott Standafer, Milford, Ohio, three bass, 5-6, $370
5th:        Jesse Foster, Franklin, Ohio, three bass, 5-0, $302
6th:        Jordan Smith, Middletown, Ohio, three bass, 5-0, $302
7th:        Matt Luken, Independence, Ky., three bass, 4-13, $262
8th:        Jim Feathers, Vermilion, Ohio, three bass, 4-13, $262
9th:        Bill Meyers, Urbana, Ohio, three bass, 4-8, $250
10th:     Austin Herbst, Hamilton, Ohio, three bass, 4-7, $230

Jeff Moorman of Liberty Township, Ohio, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award with a 2-pound, 14-ounce bass worth $100.

by AnglersChannel

Tom Monsoor scores come-from-behind victory at B.A.S.S Nation Qualifier on Upper Mississippi River

LA CROSSE, Wis. — As the saying goes, close only counts in horseshoes and hand-grenades.

Exact ties, however, count in a lot of places, including the Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier at Mississippi River presented by Lowrance.

Ties, of course, are meant to be broken, and so it was on Sunday afternoon when 30-year-old Justin Yenter, who led this tournament from Day 1, was pressed into a sudden-death tie-breaker by Tom Monsoor, the hard-charging 77-year-old local who knows this stretch of the mighty Mississippi as well as anyone.

With both anglers deadlocked with three-day totals of 54 pounds, tournament by-laws directed them back to the water immediately following the Day 3 weigh-in at La Crosse’s Veterans Freedom Park Boat Launch. And by the same tournament rules, the first man to catch a regulation bass would win the tournament.

In this case, it was the veteran Monsoor who made the first strike, and it proved to be the one that earned him a surprise win late Sunday afternoon.

Monsoor motored some 15 minutes from the Veterans Freedom Park before stopping to fish a spot where he’d caught bass earlier in the tournament. The winning catch was a 3 1/2- pounder, and it came on one of the same brown swim jigs Monsoor has made for decades. B.A.S.S. officials rode as witnesses with both Yenter and Monsoor in the fish-off.

Monsoor earned $11,948 for the win and he qualified for the 2026 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Championship presented by Lowrance, scheduled for Nov. 18-21 at Lake Hartwell in South Carolina.

Nifty paydays and tournament victories are not new to the La Crosse native, however. Indeed, Monsoor is among the most celebrated anglers in professional history and is known by many as the "Godfather of the Mississippi River".

His legend grew again on Sunday, and on the river he’s fished since Harry Truman was president.

"I just got the right bites today," he said. "I let the bass show me where they are. You have to be open-minded here on this part of the river. It's cold one week, hot the next. The water's up. The water's down. All you can do is go fishing."

But having the confidence to motor 15 minutes before making a cast in a sudden-death fish-off? That’s a nerve reserve built on decades of know-how.

"I saw him going to the bridge right there near the take-off," Monsoor said of Yenter's spot of choice in the fish-off. "I didn't mind making the longer run. He either was going to beat me fishing there or I was gonna' make it to my spot and win because I knew I'd catch a fish there. A few boats were there when I arrived, but I asked the guys if I could move up near them, that I just had to catch one fish and then I'd be gone.

"They said 'Yes', and a couple of casts later, I had the fish," he added.

Monsoor's best bites came from 3 to 4 feet of water on Day 1 and he finished the day in sixth place with 17-13. He moved into slightly deeper water on Saturday and his 15-14 total inched him into third place overall in the boater division.

He saved his best show for last, of course, with a 20-5 limit of five largemouth — the second-heaviest sack of the derby.

"I had a terrible morning, only had one nice one, weighed 3-10," Monsoor said. "I kept bouncing around and caught a 4-plus and another big 3-pounder. I just kept slowly working the same four or five spots. Before I realized it, the 3-10 I started the day with was the smallest fish in my livewell."

Yenter, meanwhile, came back to the field on Sunday with a 15-7 limit after catching a tournament-best 20-6 on Day 1 and another 18-3 on Day 2. He knew he had a final-day limit in the mid-15s, but it wasn't enough to hold off the wily veteran this day.

For Yenter, who lives in Stevens Point, Wis., about two hours from La Crosse, it was a tough way to lose.

"I ran the same things I did on the first two days, and I caught plenty fish," he said. "But I had a 2-pounder in my livewell that I couldn't get rid of. And then I lost a 3-pounder at the railroad bridge right before heading in for the weigh-in. I had my chances."

Yenter headed back to that bridge, located just outside of off-limits water, for the fish-off. He also threw the same lure that proved successful throughout the week — a Castagain Tackle Ringer Craw 3/8-ounce football head jig with a Berkley Lil Trooper trailer.

"I worked that real slow the whole week, pebble by pebble," he said. "It was a finesse thing. When I heard we were having a fish-off ... my instinct was to get fishing as fast as I could with the lure that was hot. It just didn't happen when I needed it to."

But the confidence lure did work for Monsoor when he needed it most.

"There are three jigs that work really well here — white, brown and black/blue," he said. "Brown's been the best for the past two, three weeks. When I got to my spot in the fish-off, I had six rods on the deck, all of them with my brown swim jig on it.

"Jigs are an art," he added. "No matter what the conditions, I have a jig for it."

Rounding out the Top 5 in the boater division are third, Cade Laufenberg, of Onalaska, Wis., 51-11; fourth, Andrew Mlotek, of Plainfield, Ill., 47-13; and fifth, Dan Mohn, of Lansing, Iowa, 45-15.

Jake Minch, of Stevens Point, Wis., didn’t need a tiebreaker to win the nonboater division, though it took every bit of the 21-10 he caught over three days to hold off Matt McVeigh, of Fort Dodge, Iowa. McVeigh finished a very close second with 21-7.

Minch, 26, won $4,135 with the nonboater title. McVeigh earned $2,363 and Bill Olson, of Barrington, Ill., pocketed $1,181 for finishing third here in La Crosse.

Minch flipped shallow brush with a Strike King black/blue tube bait with a Rage Craw trailer (also blue/black) for most of his bigger bass. He also threw an Evergreen Grass Ripper swim jig with a pearl white Skinny Dipper on the back for several keeper bites.

He said his key fish came with only minutes remaining on Day 3, fishing from the back of Yenter’s boat. The 3 1/2-pound smallmouth was caught on the same bridge Yenter couldn’t coax a bit in the sudden-death fish off.

“I’m stoked,” Minch said after the tournament. “I qualified for Nationals out of Lake Champlain two years ago, but I couldn’t make it to tournament. I’ll make this one for sure. After winning today, I want to ride that high. I was shaking on stage. It was just an incredible feeling to win my first Bassmaster event.”

Kyle Seubert, of Chaseburg, Wis., caught a 5-15 on Saturday which earned him Big Bass of the Tournament honors among boaters. Denny Boyles Jr., of Princeton, Ill., caught a 5-pounder Saturday to take the Big Bass lead among nonboaters. Both earned $500 with the award.

A total cash purse of $84,200 was divvied among the Top 40 anglers in both the boater and nonboater divisions of the tournament. A total of 289 anglers started the tournament and the leading 10% in both fields (19 boaters and another 19 non-boaters) also locked down berths at Nationals later this year at Lake Hartwell.

Explore La Crosse hosted this event.

2026 B.A.S.S. Nation Series Title Sponsor: Mercury

2026 B.A.S.S. Nation Series Presenting Sponsor: Lowrance

2026 B.A.S.S. Nation Series Platinum Sponsor: Progressive, Toyota
2026 B.A.S.S. Nation Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mountain Dew, Nitro Boats, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2026 B.A.S.S. Nation Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Lew's, Lowrance, Phoenix Boats, VMC, Yokohama

About B.A.S.S.

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Media Contact: Mandy Pascal, Communications Manager, 334-414-8677, [email protected]

2026 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier at Mississippi River presented by Lowrance 5/8-5/10
Mississippi River, LaCrosse WI.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3

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

1. Tom Monsoor La Crosse, WI 15 54-00 0 $11,948.00
Day 1: 5 17-13 Day 2: 5 15-14 Day 3: 5 20-05
2. Justin Yenter Stevens Point, WI 15 54-00 0 $5,803.00
Day 1: 5 20-06 Day 2: 5 18-03 Day 3: 5 15-07
3. Cade Laufenberg Onalaska, WI 15 51-11 0 $4,096.00
Day 1: 5 18-01 Day 2: 5 16-04 Day 3: 5 17-06
4. Andrew Mlotek Plainfield, IL 15 47-13 0 $3,414.00
Day 1: 5 13-14 Day 2: 5 19-01 Day 3: 5 14-14
5. Dan Mohn Lansing, IA 15 45-15 0 $2,970.00
Day 1: 5 15-13 Day 2: 5 16-03 Day 3: 5 13-15
6. Harmon Marien Eagle River, WI 15 45-08 0 $2,731.00
Day 1: 5 18-08 Day 2: 5 14-06 Day 3: 5 12-10
7. Nick Owens Eau Claire, WI 14 45-05 0 $2,560.00
Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 5 17-13 Day 3: 4 13-04
8. Wyatt Becker LaCrosse, WI 15 45-00 0 $2,390.00
Day 1: 5 17-07 Day 2: 5 14-07 Day 3: 5 13-02
9. Mike Raber Elkhart, IN 15 44-14 0 $1,878.00
Day 1: 5 20-01 Day 2: 5 11-07 Day 3: 5 13-06
10. Nick Koehne Bradley, IL 15 44-10 0 $1,536.00
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 13-09 Day 3: 5 16-09
11. Nic Rand Paw Paw, MI 14 43-13 0 $1,365.00
Day 1: 5 15-02 Day 2: 4 14-00 Day 3: 5 14-11
12. Luke Gritter Otsego, MI 15 43-07 0 $1,195.00
Day 1: 5 17-07 Day 2: 5 15-02 Day 3: 5 10-14
13. Brady Hanna Bettendorf, IA 15 42-15 0 $939.00
Day 1: 5 14-10 Day 2: 5 16-15 Day 3: 5 11-06
14. Doug Chapin Tigerton, WI 15 42-06 0 $939.00
Day 1: 5 16-09 Day 2: 5 13-09 Day 3: 5 12-04
15. Mason Bohland Noblesville, IN 15 42-02 0 $939.00
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 17-10 Day 3: 5 12-01
16. Adam Hamann Prairie Du Chien, IA 15 40-07 0 $939.00
Day 1: 5 16-12 Day 2: 5 12-12 Day 3: 5 10-15
17. Griffin Fernandes Fishers, IN 15 40-04 0 $939.00
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 13-14 Day 3: 5 11-14
18. Jeremy Nokken La Crosse, WI 15 39-15 0 $939.00
Day 1: 5 16-12 Day 2: 5 12-14 Day 3: 5 10-05
19. Mitch Van Ert Okauchee, WI 12 37-11 0 $939.00
Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 5 16-00 Day 3: 2 05-11
20. Joe Titus Bemidji, MN 10 28-03 0 $939.00
Day 1: 5 09-15 Day 2: 5 18-04 Day 3: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
BIG BASS OF TOURN
Kyle Seubert Chaseburg, WI 05-15 $0.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 89 642 1652-14
2 64 494 1278-09
3 17 91 250-15
----------------------------------
170 1227 3182-06
2026 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier at Mississippi River presented by Lowrance 5/8-5/10
Mississippi River, LaCrosse WI.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 3

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

1. Jake Minch Stevens Point, WI 8 21-10 0 $4,135.00
Day 1: 2 05-03 Day 2: 3 07-12 Day 3: 3 08-11
2. Matt McVeigh Ft. Dodge, IA 8 21-07 0 $2,363.00
Day 1: 3 08-09 Day 2: 2 04-11 Day 3: 3 08-03
3. Bill Olson Barrington, IL 8 21-02 0 $1,181.00
Day 1: 3 06-03 Day 2: 3 09-06 Day 3: 2 05-09
4. Hector Garcia Elgin, IL 9 21-01 0 $1,094.00
Day 1: 3 07-10 Day 2: 3 07-00 Day 3: 3 06-07
5. Tanner Visco Antioch, IL 8 20-11 0 $809.00
Day 1: 2 07-02 Day 2: 3 07-08 Day 3: 3 06-01
6. Scott Bullinger Bismarck, ND 8 19-08 0 $679.00
Day 1: 3 07-06 Day 2: 2 03-10 Day 3: 3 08-08
7. Philip Olson Waukesha, WI 7 19-07 0 $607.00
Day 1: 3 08-15 Day 2: 2 05-06 Day 3: 2 05-02
8. Eric Storms Winner, SD 8 19-03 0 $567.00
Day 1: 3 07-05 Day 2: 3 07-12 Day 3: 2 04-02
9. Joe Paulson Winner, WY 8 18-15 0 $532.00
Day 1: 2 04-07 Day 2: 3 07-07 Day 3: 3 07-01
10. Austin Hubatch Rosholt, WI 8 18-04 0 $473.00
Day 1: 3 06-09 Day 2: 3 08-01 Day 3: 2 03-10
11. Brian Hensley Edwardsburg, MI 8 17-15 0 $473.00
Day 1: 3 07-00 Day 2: 2 05-02 Day 3: 3 05-13
12. John Kozel Leawood, KS 7 17-10 0 $413.00
Day 1: 2 05-11 Day 2: 3 05-14 Day 3: 2 06-01
13. Mike Towe Braidwood, IL 7 16-02 0 $354.00
Day 1: 3 08-01 Day 2: 3 06-10 Day 3: 1 01-07
14. Drew Pingel Star Prairie, WI 6 15-07 0 $354.00
Day 1: 3 07-08 Day 2: 3 07-15 Day 3: 0 00-00
15. Jim Thompson Manchester, IA 7 15-06 0 $295.00
Day 1: 3 05-14 Day 2: 3 07-11 Day 3: 1 01-13
16. Neal Wisinski Stevens Point, WI 7 14-15 0 $295.00
Day 1: 3 06-03 Day 2: 3 05-05 Day 3: 1 03-07
17. Aaron Konopacki New Albin, IA 6 14-12 0 $295.00
Day 1: 2 03-12 Day 2: 3 08-12 Day 3: 1 02-04
18. Jackson Miller Prior Lake, MN 6 12-12 0 $295.00
Day 1: 3 06-03 Day 2: 2 04-09 Day 3: 1 02-00
19. Bob Zagrzebski Stevens Point, WI 7 12-09 0 $295.00
Day 1: 3 05-14 Day 2: 3 05-00 Day 3: 1 01-11
20. Dan Mcadams Reedsburg, WI 5 10-15 0 $295.00
Day 1: 2 04-13 Day 2: 3 06-02 Day 3: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
BIG BASS OF TOURN
Denny Boyles Jr Princeton, IL 05-00 $0.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 29 157 347-11
2 29 143 331-01
3 7 37 87-14
----------------------------------
65 337 766-10

by AnglersChannel

Carter Nutt cracks the code, he and twin brother Dylan go 1-2 at Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Stop 4 on Douglas Lake

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Tenn. (May 10, 2026) – There are a number of historically notable sets of brothers in bassin’, and some are very much in action today. But there probably isn’t a hotter set than twins Carter and Dylan Nutt, who have made it look easy recently most times they launch their boats. In Stop 4 Presented by Phoenix Boats of the Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech, the pair finished 1-2 at Douglas Lake, and their biggest competition was each other.

Earning his first Pro Circuit win, Carter weighed a massive 18 pounds, 8 ounces on the final day for a 48-0 total and the $100,000 payday. Finishing second, Dylan racked up 17 pounds on the final day for a 47-10 total and a $23,900 payday.

The win also qualified Carter for REDCREST in 2027, and he took over the lead in the 7 Brew Angler of the Year race, ahead of fellow University of North Alabama angler Banks Shaw. While the Nutt brothers stuck offshore, Keith Poche finished third with 47 pounds that he caught off the grid, and Will Harkins fished docks to catch a big bag on Day 3 and moved into fourth.

Offshore skills fuel Nutt
Growing up in Tennessee, Carter is well-versed in the offshore game. He learned it in high school before forward-facing sonar, and he’s perfected it in college. This week, the depth of knowledge that both brothers have was on full display. Each day, Carter caught the majority of his fish on a crankbait, and most of his weight in the event came with minimal aid from LiveScope.

“I was running the whole lake every day, from the dam to pretty far up the river,” he said. “I was just running around, scanning a bunch of stuff, trying to find places where they were set up good. Run and gun, and stumble on a couple places where they were biting.”

Pretty early in practice, Carter realized the smart play was to put some hours on his Mercury and devote a lot of effort to scanning.

“The first morning of practice, I spent the first hour looking for a shad spawn,” he said. “I didn’t see any shad spawn activity, and nobody we were staying with saw any kind of shad spawn. So, at that point, I stayed out deep the entire time. I feel like that’s one of my strengths, I felt really comfortable with what I was doing.”

During the event, it wasn’t uncommon for Carter to go 15 or 20 minutes between casts, as he ran and idled, looking for the best places to stand up and fish. That’s difficult for anyone not trained on the Tennessee River, but easy when you have the history and know the potential of the strategy.

“I scanned a lot of the same stuff every day, but I fished different places every day,” Nutt said. “I would scan all the same areas, depending on if they were set up really good or not, I would fish them. I want to see a whole bunch of fish down there, out here, they move around a lot, and if someone fished them before you, they can scatter. You really want to be fishing for the fish that haven’t really been messed with, and are grouped up pretty good. Especially fishing for them without ‘Scope, that’s the best.”

Douglas is famous as a lake where fish are caught super deep, but this week, Carter did most of his work in fairly reasonable depths. He and Dylan also concentrated a lot of effort in the upper region of the lake, which may have helped separate them.

“I recognized in practice, it seemed like there was better quality up there,” Carter said. “Down the lake, there were so many small ones in those schools. There were also a lot of big ones, but those big ones were super smart.

“Pretty much all the fish I weighed came fairly shallow, I’d say 18 to 20 feet, but I weighed a couple that were 25. I had schools that were in 35 foot, I just never caught any big ones out of them.”

A handful of deep crankbaits did most of the damage for Nutt, with a Berkley Dredger 25 among them. He also caught fish on a jig with a Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Crud Craw, as well as a Berkley Lab Series Minnow. Using 12-pound Berkley Gin Clear line was key for his cranking, and he also used pretty fast reels. For his deepest, biggest baits, he used a 7-foot, 11-inch, heavy Fenwick World Class stick, paired with a 6.8:1 Abu Garcia Zenon. For his slightly lighter duty cranking, he used a 7-11, medium heavy Abu Garcia Veritas Winch, with an 8.3:1 Zenon.

Finally Carter’s time on top
Carter has won in solo competition at the BFL level and elsewhere, but when it comes to signature wins, Dylan has thus far had the edge. Sunday, it was Carter’s time to shine.

“I went out every day not really knowing what was going to happen, not really knowing where I was going to catch them,” he said. “I just figured it out as the week went on, and I had a couple places that were really, really good, and caught some big ones. Today was unbelievable.”

It started off hot – Carter popped a big one out of a school that had been good for about 12 pounds every day, but no giants. Still, he didn’t really expect to be sharing the stage with Dylan when it came down to it at weigh-in.

“I knew it was a possibility, but how big of a bag I had, that was totally out of leftfield,” he said. “I caught a 4 ½ pretty early this morning. Then, I caught a 2 ½ and a 3-pounder, and I knew I was putting myself in the right position. When I had over 18 pounds, I knew it was a possibility. Then, Dylan pulled up, and he only had four, and he caught a 3 ½ and had an ounce more than me on his Bubba. After that, I wasn’t as stoked, I was trying to catch another. I thought he was going to win it.”

Pulling into the same spot as Carter, Dylan quickly minnowed up his fifth fish late in the day, and it was a big one. It was a moment that resonated on MLFNOW! – was Carter really ok with Dylan whipping in for a quick fish?

According to Carter, he was totally in the clear.

“I was a little less cool when he had more than me, but we fish as a team,” he said. “Scanning a lot in practice, you don’t really get to sample a lot of the schools. So, we were able to talk about where we were finding better size, and baits they were biting better. We scanned the entire lake, and we found pretty much every school in the lake.”

And, considering Carter finally got a big win of his own, it’s probably safe to say that he’s fine letting Dylan catch a fish or two in front of him.

“He’s had his moments. I’m super happy to finally get one for myself,” Carter said. “It’s super cool. To get a win on this level, it’s unbelievable. It’s crazy.”

The top 20 pros at the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Stop 4 on Douglas Lake Presented by Phoenix Boats finished:

1st:        Carter Nutt, Nashville, Tenn., 15 bass, 48-0, $100,000
2nd:      Dylan Nutt, Nashville, Tenn., 15 bass, 47-10, $23,900
3rd:       Keith Poche, Cecil, Ala., 15 bass, 47-0, $19,300
4th:       Will Harkins, Blairsville, Ga., 15 bass, 45-14, $17,400
5th:       Aaron Yavorsky, Palm Harbor, Fla., 15 bass, 42-3, $16,500
6th:       Harbor Lovin, New Concord, Ky., 15 bass, 42-0, $15,600
7th:       Colby Miller, Elmer, La., 15 bass, 41-13, $14,700
8th:       Brody Campbell, Oxford, Ohio, 15 bass, 41-9, $13,700
9th:       Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., 15 bass, 41-7, $12,800
10th:     Drew Boggs, Lebanon, Tenn., 15 bass, 41-6, $11,900
11th:     Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., 15 bass, 41-1, $10,000
12th:     Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., 15 bass, 41-1, $10,000
13th:     Marty Robinson, Landrum, S.C., 15 bass, 40-15, $10,000
14th:     Brent Chapman, Lenexa, Kan., 15 bass, 40-13, $10,000
15th:     Chad Mrazek, Montgomery, Texas, 15 bass, 39-15, $10,000
16th:     Jason Vance, Battle Ground, Ind., 15 bass, 39-9, $10,000
17th:     Banks Shaw, Harrison, Tenn., 15 bass, 39-3, $10,000
18th:     Miles Burghoff, Dayton, Tenn., 15 bass, 39-2, $10,000
19th:     Nick Hatfield, Afton, Tenn., 15 bass, 39-2, $10,000
20th:     Levi Kohl, Edinburg, Ill., 15 bass, 38-10, $10,000

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

Overall, there were 229 bass weighing 580 pounds, 1 ounce caught by the final 46 pros on Sunday. The catch included 45 five-bass limits.

The Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech at Douglas Lake Presented by Phoenix Boats was hosted by Visit Jefferson County, TN.

The full field of pros competed in the two-day opening round on Friday and Saturday in a five-fish, weigh-in format. Only the top 46 pros, based on their two-day cumulative weight, advanced to the final round on Championship Sunday. The winner was determined by heaviest cumulative weight from all three days and awarded the grand prize of up to $135,000.

Television coverage of the MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech Stop 4 on Douglas Lake Presented by Phoenix Boats will air as a two-hour episode, premiering at 9 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Sept. 27 on Vice TV.

The 2026 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech features a field of up to 150 professional anglers competing across six tournaments around the country, for a total purse of $3.8 million and valuable 7 Brew Angler of the Year (AOY) points to qualify for the Pro Circuit Championship, set for Sept. 18-20 on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes in Kissimmee, Florida, and a coveted spot on the MLF Bass Pro Tour – the sport’s premier circuit.

The next event for the 2026 MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit is Stop 5 at Lake Eufaula Presented by K&N Filters, set for June 5-7 in Eufaula, Oklahoma.

Proud sponsors of the 2026 MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech include: 7 Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Buffalo, Bubba, Cigars International, Epic Baits, Grizzly, Mercury, MillerTech, OFF! Deep Woods, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PirahnO2, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, VOSKER, YETI and Yuengling.

For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

by AnglersChannel

Marks masters Murray for second Bassmaster Elite Series win

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Paul Marks’ day did not begin the way he’d wanted, but it ended the way he’d dreamed. The difference — a gut call that changed his trajectory and put a second blue trophy on his mantle, this one from the Tedy’s Team Bassmaster Elite at Lake Murray.

Marks, who makes his home in Cumming, Ga., highlighted his rookie season by winning the 2025 Bassmaster Elite at South Carolina’s Lake Hartwell. A little more than a year later, a four-day total of 90 pounds, 14 ounces delivered blue trophy No. 2, along with a $101,000 top prize.

“Today was just spectacular, it was one of those days you dream of,” Marks said. “Everything went perfectly.”

Speaking of perfect, Marks told Bassmaster Emcee Dave Mercer the significance of winning on May 10, 2026: “You said I needed to bring the motherlode for Mother’s Day and I did. Happy Mother’s Day, mom.”

Notably, Marks notched both of his Elite wins on “herring lakes” — water bodies where blueback herring are the dominant forage. These fast-paced baitfish greatly impact predatory behavior, most noticeably increased pelagic tendencies and decreased consistency.

Marks, who guides on Georgia’s Lake Lanier, another noted herring lake, said his deep immersion in this style of fishing prepared him for a week of changing weather and finicky fish. After Day 1 brought clouds, rain and wind, the rest of the week brought a mix of clouds, sun and varying wind, concluding with Championship Sunday’s sunny, still makeup.

Marks said a lifetime of fishing the techniques relevant to Lake Murray provided the insight he needed to effectively adjust his locations, baits and presentations based on his understanding of herring fish preference.

“I really wanted to win this so I could say I’m the “Herring Master” or the “Herring King,” Marks said. “I struggled a little bit the first day, but I made up for it today.”

Marks placed 14th on Day 1 with 21-14 and rose to second with a second-round limit of 22-15. Adding a Semifinal Saturday bag that weighed 20-15 sent Marks into the final round in third place.

Stepping on the gas, Marks dominated the final round with the day’s heaviest bag — a limit of 25-2 that pushed him past rookie Sam Hanggi by a margin of 3-9.

Marks made that gut call after his opening effort flopped. He started on some of his most dependable herring spots, but when those areas failed to produce, he shifted to a riprap pattern and caught his fish on a Spro Little John 50 squarebill.

“I had a tough couple of early spots where I had been catching them and made a game-time decision to change locations and caught two over 5-pounds really quick,” Marks said. “I banged out a few more throughout the day on a Zoom Super Fluke rigged on a a 5/0 Gamakatsu offset worm hook and caught a 6-2. It was just a miracle.

“I had a similar spot last year at Hartwell that I also saved until the last day. Then weather didn’t really work out right the first three days, so I just saved it.”

Many in the 99-boat field lauded Lake Murray’s healthy complexion and stellar fishing. Vickie Davis, Executive Director of the Capital City/Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board expressed appreciation for the opportunity to show off this Palmetto State gem.

“Congratulations to Paul Marks on an incredible performance at the 2026 Tedy’s Team Bassmaster Elite at Lake Murray,” Davis said. “Hosting this event once again has been an outstanding opportunity to showcase Lake Murray and the surrounding region to a national audience through Bassmaster’s extensive coverage and passionate fanbase.

“We're honored to have hosted the best anglers on Lake Murray and appreciate the excitement and economic impact this event has brought to our communities.”

Making his first Top 50 cut of his rookie season, Hanggi finished second with 87-5. Hailing from Knoxville, Tenn., Hanggi turned in daily weights of 19-0, 24-0, 22-9 and 21-12.

“I had a super blessed week; I didn’t lose a fish all week,” Hanggi said. “Everything about it was fantastic. The fish catches yesterday and the fish catches today were some of the most fun I’ve ever had on the water.”

Day 3 saw Hanggi blast into the Top 10 on the strength of a 7-pound bass that he caught on his last cast before heading to weigh-in. Today, Hanggi added a 5-pound kicker around 12:30.

“It was a two-pronged approach for me,” Hanggi said of his game plan. “In the morning, I started out fishing the herring spawn and targeting those fish that were chasing bait.

“In the afternoon, I went up shallow and had two primary areas that were working for me. I did some sight fishing and fished some docks and shallow brush.”

Hanggi caught his morning fish on a 1/8-ounce Buckeye Lures Elevate jighead with a 4.25 Big Bite Baits Spotlight Minnow. In the afternoon, he did his work with a Neko-rigged urchin style bait.

Brandon Cobb of Greenwood, S.C., placed third with 86-7. His limit catches weighed 24-3, 16-6, 26-10 and 19-4.

Cobb spent most of his tournament moving throughout the lake to fish points, brush and cane piles with an unweighted Zoom Super Fluke. Day 1 saw him start with a different plan.

“I went up the Saluda River and caught my fish on an Ark CT35 squarebill,” Cobb said. “I went up the river because I didn’t have a great boat draw and I knew I couldn’t get on anything down the lake.

“I knew I could get 15 to 17 pounds up the river and I wanted to go get something. The rest of the day, I caught them on a Super Fluke in glimmer blue.”

Alex Redwine of Blue Ash, Ohio won the $2,000 Phoenix Boats Big Bass lead with his 7-15.

Trey McKinney of Carbondale, Ill. won the $1,000 award for leading the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 451 points. Caleb Hudson of Lincolnton, Ga., is second with 409, followed by Cobb with 408, Cory Johnston of Otonabee, Canada with 385 and Justin Atkins of Florence, Ala., with 381.

Cobb won the $2,000 Rapala CrushCity Monster Bag with 26-10.

JT Thompkins of Myrtle Beach, S.C., won the $1,000 BassTrakk Contingency prize for the angler whose BassTrakk estimates are closest to their official weight.

Emil Wagner of Marietta, Ga., won the $4,000 Toyota Bonus Bucks contingency award for the highest-placing eligible angler. Drew Benton of Panama City, Fla., won the $3,000 second-place award.

Marks won the $2,500 Yamaha Power Pay contingency award for the highest-placing eligible angler. Cobb won the $1,500 second-place award.

Caleb Hudson of Lincolnton, Ga. leads the Pro-Guide Batteries Elite Series Rookie of the Year standings with 409 points.

This event was hosted by Capital City/Lake Murray Country.

2026 Bassmaster Elite Series Title Sponsor: Progressive

About Capital City/Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board:

CCLMC is the official source for all things Lake Murray Country. Explore the Top Southern Destinations of Columbia, Lake Murray, Lexington, Newberry, Richland, and Saluda. To plan your next trip, find information on attractions, dining, hotels, outdoor recreation, fishing, golf, and events. For more information about CCLMC, visit LakeMurrayCountry.com or call 803-781-5940 | 1-866-SC-JEWEL. Stay up-to-date with trip ideas, events, and more by following us on social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

About B.A.S.S.

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

Media Contact: Mandy Pascal, Communications Manager, 334-414-8677, [email protected]

2026 Bassmaster Elite Series at Lake Murray 5/7-5/10
Lake Murray, Columbia SC.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 4

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

1. Paul Marks Cumming, GA 20 90-14 101 $101,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-14 Day 2: 5 22-15 Day 3: 5 20-15 Day 4: 5 25-02
2. Sam Hanggi Knoxville, TN 20 87-05 100 $20,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-00 Day 2: 5 24-00 Day 3: 5 22-09 Day 4: 5 21-12
3. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 20 86-07 99 $17,000.00
Day 1: 5 24-03 Day 2: 5 16-06 Day 3: 5 26-10 Day 4: 5 19-04
4. Robert Gee Knoxville, TN 20 85-11 98 $12,500.00
Day 1: 5 20-11 Day 2: 5 20-13 Day 3: 5 22-12 Day 4: 5 21-07
5. Trey McKinney Carbondale, IL 20 84-07 97 $12,750.00
Day 1: 5 23-11 Day 2: 5 19-03 Day 3: 5 22-14 Day 4: 5 18-11
6. Emil Wagner Marietta, GA 20 84-02 96 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 25-07 Day 2: 5 16-06 Day 3: 5 22-03 Day 4: 5 20-02
7. Jordan Lee Cullman, AL 20 83-04 95 $11,500.00
Day 1: 5 18-03 Day 2: 5 26-05 Day 3: 5 19-07 Day 4: 5 19-05
8. Andrew Loberg Guntersville, AL 20 82-06 94 $10,300.00
Day 1: 5 23-12 Day 2: 5 20-00 Day 3: 5 21-04 Day 4: 5 17-06
9. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 20 80-06 93 $11,200.00
Day 1: 5 20-08 Day 2: 5 23-13 Day 3: 5 18-13 Day 4: 5 17-04
10. Caleb Hudson Lincolnton, GA 20 78-07 92 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-04 Day 2: 5 21-08 Day 3: 5 21-12 Day 4: 5 13-15
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Drew Benton Panama City, FL 07-00 $1,000.00
2 Jordan Lee Cullman, AL 07-07 $1,000.00
3 Alex Redwine Blue Ash, OH 07-15 $1,000.00
4 Paul Marks Cumming, GA 06-02 $1,000.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Alex Redwine Blue Ash, OH 07-15 $2,000.00
RAPALA CRUSHCITY MONSTER BAG

Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 26-10 $2,000.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 93 485 1769-09
2 92 483 1713-08
3 49 248 937-15
4 10 50 194-04
----------------------------------
244 1266 4615-04

by AnglersChannel

Nutt and Poche Tied At Top of Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Stop 4 on Douglas Lake Presented by Phoenix Boats

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Tenn. (May 9, 2026) – There are two major tournaments happening on Douglas Lake at the moment, and Keith Poche and Dylan Nutt are leading them. Stop 4 Presented by Phoenix Boats of the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech has shown off the extremes of Douglas – on the one hand, lot of bass are being caught in the actual lake, in offshore schools with summertime tactics (Nutt’s game). On the other hand, a lot of bass are being caught at the far upper reaches, where the Nolichucky and the French Broad feed into the lake, with some pros (like Poche) able to go farther than others.

In the official lead via tiebreaker, Poche tallied 17 pounds, 3 ounces on Day 2 for a 30-10 two-day total. Also with 30-10, Nutt has been a little steadier overall with 14 and change on Day 1, which he followed up with 16-4 on Day 2. Behind the leaders, Bobby Lane has 29-11, Carter Nutt has 29-8 and Aaron Yavorsky fell from the lead to fifth with 29-1.

Rule 19 reads that “Ties for first place on Day 3 will be broken by a one-hour fish-off.” It’s hard to bet on a tie after three days of fishing, but this week, there’s more potential for after-hours MLFNOW! than we’ve seen in a while.

Poche is off the grid as usual
Naturally, Poche is going as far as he can go, and, in his tricked-out GatorTrax, he’s able to get farther up the French Broad than anyone else. The one-of-a-kind pro is going more than a mile over the first line of visible, breaking shoals – truly impassable for a normal bass boat. He nabbed a 6-pounder up there for Berkley Big Bass on Day 2 and had a legitimately great day of fishing even before that big bite. To hear him tell it, though, he might have to fish the same lake as everyone else tomorrow.

“It’s good – it’s real good – but too bad it’s over with,” he said. “I’m not going to be able to get there tomorrow. The water is dropping. I had to make hay today. I stroked them. I didn’t leave any stone unturned. I caught bunch of fish to catch as much as I could.”

Per Poche, the rain from practice gave him just enough water to work with.

“The rain we had last week picked that river up,” he said. “The first day of the tournament, I was really able to run up there. Even today was a bit of a chore. I had to troll; it takes a while to navigate because it’s so shallow and treacherous. Coming back down, it was bad.

“You’ve got the shoals, and I’ll jump them, I’ll hit them and coast over,” he said. “But once you get over a couple, there’s no water, so I can’t get up on pad to get over the next one. For something like that, 6 inches of water is a lot, and it is not there.”

Fishing a Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Stank Bug and a Berkley PowerBait MaxScent The General on a shaky head, Poche has been targeting current breaks and jog jams. Catching mostly largemouth, he ought to be able to translate his success down the river a little, to where the crowd is. He’d sure like to be fishing alone, though, where he’s the only one educating the bass.

“I may have to decide in the morning,” said the veteran pro. “It’s almost a recipe for disaster waiting to happen. It’s not looking good. I don’t have to go up there. I can get it done. I just need to get the right bites.”

Nutt in pursuit of another Tennessee win
Last year, in addition to several local wins, Dylan Nutt also won two Toyota Series events on various TVA reservoirs. This winter, the phenom won another event, the Bassmaster Classic, on Fort Loudon, and he’s now extremely in the hunt to win this week in East Tennessee. His college career at the University of North Alabama loaded him up with ledge fishing skills, and today, he looked like a next-gen Randy Haynes or Kevin VanDam – making all the right moves and putting miles on a crankbait.

Day 1 was frustrating for Dylan – he blitzed out to the early unofficial lead and then stalled. That was not the case today.

“It went better than I planned, 100 percent,” he said. “I didn’t know where I was going to catch any fish, because yesterday I pretty much caught them all off the place I started and I kind of burned it down. I turned my LiveScope on this morning and I had a small limit for about 9 pounds. I turned it off and went and scanned some places where I saw a couple fish and there were a bunch of them.”

A little seat time, a crankbait and a jig moved Dylan up leaderboard rapidly.

“I pulled up on one place, my first cast in there was a double on a crankbait,” he said. “Then, I caught one every cast, and then every now and then it would be every other cast, for an hour. I left there with 15 pounds.

“I scanned out deep the rest of the day. I ended up finding another school that was really good. I caught them almost every cast there as well – but I didn’t find that until today.”

Then, to top it off, he finished off with some more bass-catching action.

“There was a big school in one area in practice and they were all gone,’ he said. “I went and scanned for about 30 minutes in that area. When I finally found them, I started smashing them off it – there were like 100 fish down there.”

Tomorrow, the shallow crew figures to do well, but Dylan isn’t boxing himself in either way.

“There’s no telling,” he said. “I didn’t think I had this in me, so we’ll see.”

The top 20 pros after Day 2 on Douglas Lake are:

1st:        Keith Poche, Cecil, Ala., 10 bass, 30-10
2nd:      Dylan Nutt, Nashville, Tenn., 10 bass, 30-10
3rd:       Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., 10 bass, 29-11
4th:       Carter Nutt, Nashville, Tenn., 10 bass, 29-8
5th:       Aaron Yavorsky, Palm Harbor, Fla., 10 bass, 29-1
6th:       Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., 10 bass, 28-11
7th:       Will Harkins, Blairsville, Ga., 10 bass, 28-10
8th:       Brent Chapman, Lenexa, Kan., 10 bass, 28-9
9th:       Drew Boggs, Lebanon, Tenn., 10 bass, 28-3
10th:     Brody Campbell, Oxford, Ohio, 10 bass, 28-2
11th:     Miles Burghoff, Dayton, Tenn., 10 bass, 28-0
12th:     Banks Shaw, Harrison, Tenn., 10 bass, 26-15
13th:     Kyle Cortiana, Broken Arrow, Okla., 10 bass, 26-13
14th:     Colby Miller, Elmer, La., 10 bass, 26-12
15th:     Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., 10 bass, 26-10
16th:     Harbor Lovin, New Concord, Ky., 10 bass, 26-6
17th:     Marty Robinson, Landrum, S.C., 10 bass, 26-5
18th:     Tyler Stewart, Dubach, La., 10 bass, 25-11
19th:     Chad Mrazek, Montgomery, Texas, 10 bass, 25-7
20th:     Nick Hatfield, Afton, Tenn., 10 bass, 25-7

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

Overall, there were 669 bass weighing 1,491 pounds even caught by 135 pros Saturday. The catch included 131 five-bass limits.

Keith Poche earned the $500 Day 2 Berkley Big Bass award with a bass that weighed in at 6 pounds even.

In Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit competition, the full field of pros competed in the two-day opening round on Friday and Saturday in a five-fish, weigh-in format. Now only the top 50 pros, based on their two-day cumulative weight, advance to the final round on Championship Sunday. The winner is determined by heaviest cumulative weight from all three days and they will be awarded the grand prize of up to $135,000. Forward-facing and/or 360-degree sonar is limited to only 3 hours of competition each day.

The final 50 pros will launch at 7 a.m. ET Sunday from the Dandridge Boat Dock & Ramp, located at 157 Public Drive in Dandridge, Tennessee. Sunday’s championship weigh-in will also be held at the Dandridge Boat Dock & Ramp and will begin at 3 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the launch and weigh-in events and are also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW!® live stream and coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech at Douglas Lake Presented by Phoenix Boats is hosted by Visit Jefferson County, TN.

The MLFNOW! broadcast team of Chad McKee and Rob Newell will break down the extended action live on Championship Sunday from 7:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. ET. MLFNOW! is live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app and Rumble.

Proud sponsors of the 2026 MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech include: 7 Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Buffalo, Bubba, Cigars International, Epic Baits, Grizzly, Mercury, MillerTech, OFF! Deep Woods, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PirahnO2, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, VOSKER, YETI and Yuengling.

by AnglersChannel

Wisconsin’s Justin Yenter setting the pace at B.A.S.S Nation Qualifier on upper Mississippi River

LA CROSSE, Wis. — Justin Yenter lives in Stevens Point, Wis., only a two-hour drive from La Crosse and site of this week’s Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier at Mississippi River presented by Lowrance.

Yenter says he doesn’t know the Mighty Mississippi very well, but this much is certain — he’s fishing it better than anyone else at the moment.

Yenter, 30, caught a limit of five bass weighing 18 pounds, 3 ounces on Saturday to maintain the lead in this three-day derby. Combined with his Day 1 best weight of 20-6, he’s sitting at 38-9 with only one day of quality fishing between him and victory in this event that boasts 289 competitors and a total cash purse of $84,200.

“A cold front moved in overnight and it was pretty chilly out there,” Yenter said of the temperatures that dipped into the mid-30s overnight in western Wisconsin. “By the time I was on the water, it was dead calm, though, and I didn’t have much happening. By about 930 or 10 (a.m.), the wind picked up and that helped me. I ran back to my juice and I caught a 4-3 and a 3 1/2-pounder. That gave me a good bump. I left fish there, too.”

Following Saturday’s weigh-in, Yenter was willing to discuss a bit more about the area he’s fishing in Pool 7 of the Mississippi River. He said he’s targeting a spot where largemouth are moving from deeper water to an area near the bank that has a mix of sand, weeds and rock on the bottom. Current in the area is key, he said, adding that he’s targeting bigger bass he’s locating on his electronics.

“I think they’re coming to me, or at least coming in and out of this area,” Yenter said. “It’s kind of like a highway and they’re pulling up on the rocks in about 4 to 6 feet, good mid-depth range for this area. I don’t know if they’re coming in there to feed or what. I’m not seeing any (forage) in there.”

Following Friday’s weigh-in, Yenter said he planned to target smallmouth to start Day 2, much like he did on Day 1. He did make the same milk run, but saw no smallies in Pool 8 where he hoped to score an early advantage on the field. He checked some preferred smallmouth spots later in the day when he had more than a dozen pounds of bass in the livewell, but again came up with no quality bites.

“I’m not even gonna’ try the smallmouth tomorrow,” Yenter said. “It’s gonna’ be this same spot I’ve been fishing and working for the right bites.”

Of the 10 bass he’s weighed through two days of the tournament, nine have been largemouth. Only one, a 3-9 he hooked Saturday, was a smallmouth.

“That was definitely a pre-spawn fish,” he said of the chunky smallmouth that helped him to a lead of four-plus pounds on Saturday. “I’m slowing everything down and picking it apart. There are some people around me, but I think they might be fishing too fast. I’m excited to see what happens tomorrow when maybe there’s less pressure around me.”

The field did narrow considerably following the Day 2 cut. Only 20 boats remain in the tournament heading into Championship Sunday, with the Top 20 anglers in both the boater and nonboater divisions remaining.

Wisconsinites have been especially impressive on the river, and they hold seven of the Top 10 positions on the leaderboard. Rounding out the Top 5 in the boater standings are second, Wisconsin’s Cade Laufenberg, 34-5; third, Wisconsin’s Tom Monsoor, 33-11; fourth, Illinois’ Andrew Mlotek, 32-15; and fifth, Wisconsin’s Harmon Marien, 32-14.

Kyle Seubert, a 32-year-old resident of Chaseburg, Wis., caught a 5-15 on Saturday to take the lead for Big Bass of the Tournament honors.

Illinois’ Bill Olson leads the nonboater field after Day 2 with a pair of limits (six bass totaling 15-9). Wisconsin’s Drew Pingel is just behind him with 15-7 and South Dakota’s Eric Storms is in third with 15-1.

Denny Boyles Jr., of Princeton, Ill., caught a 5-pounder Saturday to take the Big Bass lead among nonboaters.

The Top 40 anglers in both divisions of the tournament are guaranteed a check, though the Top 19 on each side (10% of anglers in each division) have extra incentive to finish strongly as they vie for berths in the 2026 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Championship presented by Lowrance, scheduled for Nov. 18-21 at Lake Hartwell in South Carolina.

Action resumes Sunday with a 6 a.m. CT take-off from Veterans Freedom Park Boat Launch in La Crosse. Weigh-in will begin at 2 p.m. CT. at the same location. Fishing fans from around the globe can catch all the action on Bassmaster.com.

Explore La Crosse is hosting this week’s tournament.

2026 B.A.S.S. Nation Series Title Sponsor: Mercury

2026 B.A.S.S. Nation Series Presenting Sponsor: Lowrance

About B.A.S.S.

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Media Contact: Mandy Pascal, Communications Manager, 334-414-8677, [email protected]

2026 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier at Mississippi River presented by Lowrance 5/8-5/10
Mississippi River, LaCrosse WI.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2

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

1. Justin Yenter Stevens Point, WI 10 38-09 0
Day 1: 5 20-06 Day 2: 5 18-03
2. Cade Laufenberg Onalaska, WI 10 34-05 0
Day 1: 5 18-01 Day 2: 5 16-04
3. Tom Monsoor La Crosse, WI 10 33-11 0
Day 1: 5 17-13 Day 2: 5 15-14
4. Andrew Mlotek Plainfield, IL 10 32-15 0
Day 1: 5 13-14 Day 2: 5 19-01
5. Harmon Marien Eagle River, WI 10 32-14 0
Day 1: 5 18-08 Day 2: 5 14-06
6. Luke Gritter Otsego, MI 10 32-09 0
Day 1: 5 17-07 Day 2: 5 15-02
7. Nick Owens Eau Claire, WI 10 32-01 0
Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 5 17-13
8. Dan Mohn Lansing, IA 10 32-00 0
Day 1: 5 15-13 Day 2: 5 16-03
9. Mitch Van Ert Okauchee, WI 10 32-00 0
Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 5 16-00
10. Wyatt Becker LaCrosse, WI 10 31-14 0
Day 1: 5 17-07 Day 2: 5 14-07
11. Brady Hanna Bettendorf, IA 10 31-09 0
Day 1: 5 14-10 Day 2: 5 16-15
12. Mike Raber Elkhart, IN 10 31-08 0
Day 1: 5 20-01 Day 2: 5 11-07
13. Doug Chapin Tigerton, WI 10 30-02 0
Day 1: 5 16-09 Day 2: 5 13-09
14. Mason Bohland Noblesville, IN 10 30-01 0
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 17-10
15. Jeremy Nokken La Crosse, WI 10 29-10 0
Day 1: 5 16-12 Day 2: 5 12-14
16. Adam Hamann Prairie Du Chien, IA 10 29-08 0
Day 1: 5 16-12 Day 2: 5 12-12
17. Nic Rand Paw Paw, MI 9 29-02 0
Day 1: 5 15-02 Day 2: 4 14-00
18. Griffin Fernandes Fishers, IN 10 28-06 0
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 13-14
19. Joe Titus Bemidji, MN 10 28-03 0
Day 1: 5 09-15 Day 2: 5 18-04
20. Nick Koehne Bradley, IL 10 28-01 0
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 13-09
21. Ryan Michek Brooklyn, WI 10 28-00 0 $853.00
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 5 13-11
22. Brian Post Janesville, WI 10 27-15 0 $853.00
Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 5 13-11
23. Darren Zumach Onalaska, WI 10 27-11 0 $853.00
Day 1: 5 15-00 Day 2: 5 12-11
24. Corey Lindsey Cardington, OH 10 27-06 0 $853.00
Day 1: 5 15-10 Day 2: 5 11-12
25. Fernando Lobato Sparta, WI 10 27-05 0 $853.00
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 14-13
26. Calvin Davidson Plainfield, IN 10 27-04 0 $785.00
Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 5 14-04
27. Kevin Ruh Onalaska, WI 10 27-00 0 $785.00
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 14-15
28. Kyle Seubert Chaseburg, WI 10 26-08 0 $785.00
Day 1: 5 09-01 Day 2: 5 17-07
29. Spencer Requarth Dayton, OH 10 26-08 0 $785.00
Day 1: 5 12-05 Day 2: 5 14-03
30. Tad Tinlin Des Moines, IA 10 26-07 0 $785.00
Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 5 13-12
31. Parker Kratochvill Onalaska, WI 8 26-06 0 $785.00
Day 1: 5 17-15 Day 2: 3 08-07
32. Tanner Bock Davenport, IA 10 26-04 0 $785.00
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 5 13-02
33. Cory Hauk River Falls, WI 10 26-03 0 $785.00
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 5 12-06
34. Evan Newell Jefferson City, TN 10 26-00 0 $785.00
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 5 11-07
35. Casey Knaup Fort Atkinson, WI 10 26-00 0 $785.00
Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 5 13-00
36. Kyle Goltz Chippewa Falls, WI 9 25-15 0 $785.00
Day 1: 5 16-04 Day 2: 4 09-11
37. Erik Brztowski Lemont, IL 9 25-10 0 $785.00
Day 1: 4 10-02 Day 2: 5 15-08
38. Jack Webb Trempealeau, WI 10 25-10 0 $785.00
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 13-09
39. Grant Neubauer Medford, WI 10 25-10 0 $785.00
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 12-03
40. Evan Sutton Highland, IL 10 25-07 0 $785.00
Day 1: 5 14-14 Day 2: 5 10-09
41. Johnathan Bestul Iola, WI 10 25-04 0
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 13-07
42. Steve Lee Minneapolis, MN 9 25-03 0
Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 4 13-10
43. Nathan Gray Columbus, IN 10 25-00 0
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 12-02
44. Nick Dumke Grand Rapids, MN 10 24-14 0
Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 5 12-01
45. Marty Rollins Groveland, IL 10 24-13 0
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 5 10-00
46. Adam Hutmacher Oacoma, SD 10 24-13 0
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 5 12-15
47. Travis Ellefson Luck, WI 9 24-09 0
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 4 10-00
48. Andrew Behnke Fond Du Lac, WI 9 24-06 0
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 4 10-12
49. Brett Hurst Helena, MO 9 24-05 0
Day 1: 4 10-07 Day 2: 5 13-14
50. Devon Dvorak Keystone, IA 10 24-04 0
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 5 12-06
51. Allan Hall Brandon, SD 9 23-12 0
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 4 10-14
52. Jerry Pape Bella Vista, AR 10 23-10 0
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 10-05
53. Dan Hendley Mankato, MN 9 23-10 0
Day 1: 4 10-11 Day 2: 5 12-15
54. Jackson Perry Houston, MN 6 23-07 0
Day 1: 4 14-11 Day 2: 2 08-12
55. Matt McCoy Indianapolis, IN 10 23-05 0
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 5 11-07
56. Austin Brimeyer Dubuque, IA 9 22-09 0
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 4 10-06
57. Jason Citta Hershey, NE 10 22-08 0
Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 5 10-15
58. Tyler Fitch Fall River, WI 7 22-07 0
Day 1: 4 15-00 Day 2: 3 07-07
59. Jamie Curia Dixon, IL 9 22-05 0
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 4 08-10
60. Cody Dawson Mount Vernon, OH 8 22-01 0
Day 1: 5 15-10 Day 2: 3 06-07
61. Christopher Welch Fall River, WI 10 21-14 0
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 5 10-10
62. JJ Patton Eldridge, IA 8 21-09 0
Day 1: 3 07-02 Day 2: 5 14-07
63. Bailey Bleser Burlington, WI 9 21-08 0
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 4 10-09
64. Sean Lofgren Forest Lake, MN 9 21-07 0
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 4 09-07
65. Wyatt Szymanski Stevens Point, WI 8 21-06 0
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 3 06-09
66. Nathaniel Melgaard Elk Mound, WI 9 21-05 0
Day 1: 4 10-08 Day 2: 5 10-13
67. Troy Sippl Sussex, WI 9 21-02 0
Day 1: 4 08-00 Day 2: 5 13-02
68. Jeff Brown Wentworth, SD 9 20-15 0
Day 1: 4 08-12 Day 2: 5 12-03
69. Aidan Lee Saint Paul, MN 7 20-04 0
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 2 07-00
70. Jack Mulholland Eyota, MN 8 20-01 0
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 3 07-05
71. Troy Diede Sioux Falls, SD 9 19-14 0
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 4 07-08
72. Dustin Taylor Galesburg, IL 10 19-13 0
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 5 09-05
73. Parker Batts Dandridge, TN 8 19-09 0
Day 1: 3 07-05 Day 2: 5 12-04
74. Michael Rubino Hoffman Estates, IL 8 19-09 0
Day 1: 4 10-02 Day 2: 4 09-07
75. Jon Kludt Mitchell, SD 8 19-03 0
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 3 06-01
76. Zach Stall Lindenhurst, IL 8 18-10 0
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 3 05-14
77. Gary Michalski Naperville, IL 7 18-08 0
Day 1: 3 07-12 Day 2: 4 10-12
78. Szymon Piton Orland Park, IL 8 18-04 0
Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 3 05-11
79. Dave Schneider Jr Indianapolis, IN 8 18-01 0
Day 1: 4 10-04 Day 2: 4 07-13
80. Josh Sokol Orland Park, IL 8 18-01 0
Day 1: 4 07-15 Day 2: 4 10-02
81. Matt Pasma Minneapolis, MN 7 17-10 0
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 2 03-10
82. Leo Morris Markesan, WI 8 17-10 0
Day 1: 3 07-11 Day 2: 5 09-15
83. Trey Zagrzebski Plover, WI 7 17-08 0
Day 1: 4 10-12 Day 2: 3 06-12
84. Joe Moyer Dubuque, IA 7 17-08 0
Day 1: 3 07-14 Day 2: 4 09-10
85. John Mayo Granite Falls, NC 8 17-05 0
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 3 04-15
86. Bryce Hauf Winner, SD 8 17-00 0
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 3 04-08
87. Greg Cooper Monroe City, MO 8 17-00 0
Day 1: 3 05-15 Day 2: 5 11-01
88. Perry See Rochester, MN 6 16-12 0
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 1 03-01
89. Frank Ramsey Spring Grove, IL 7 16-11 0
Day 1: 2 04-07 Day 2: 5 12-04
90. Nolan Freeman Johnson Lake, NE 8 16-11 0
Day 1: 3 07-03 Day 2: 5 09-08
91. Adam Markiewicz Plainfield, IL 7 16-09 0
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 2 04-06
92. Trevor Sanderson New Lenox, IL 6 16-07 0
Day 1: 4 11-15 Day 2: 2 04-08
93. Josh Miller Woodville, WI 7 16-04 0
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 2 04-05
94. Gary Schild Mundelein, IL 7 15-13 0
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 2 04-10
95. Michael Messall Bismarck, ND 8 15-13 0
Day 1: 5 08-03 Day 2: 3 07-10
96. Harry Therault Elgin, IL 7 15-10 0
Day 1: 5 09-05 Day 2: 2 06-05
97. Luis Gonzalez Round Lake Beach, IL 7 15-10 0
Day 1: 3 07-15 Day 2: 4 07-11
98. Evan Powell Norwalk, IA 6 15-04 0
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 1 03-05
99. Larry Peterson II Hammond, WI 5 15-03 0
Day 1: 4 12-06 Day 2: 1 02-13
100. Christopher Helfer Baltimore, OH 6 15-00 0
Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 1 02-12
101. Mike Obal Jr Springfield, NE 7 14-10 0
Day 1: 5 10-07 Day 2: 2 04-03
102. Nathaniel Terbush Ann Arbor, MI 6 14-08 0
Day 1: 4 09-10 Day 2: 2 04-14
103. Marcus Livingston Augusta, WI 6 14-08 0
Day 1: 3 06-06 Day 2: 3 08-02
104. Kenneth Swint Bargersville, IN 6 14-03 0
Day 1: 1 01-05 Day 2: 5 12-14
105. Dustin Williams Tiskilwa, IL 6 14-02 0
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 1 03-01
106. Chase Loftus Iowa City, IA 5 14-01 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 14-01
107. Blake Knies Jasper, IN 6 14-01 0
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 1 02-11
108. Ty Kenyon Dodgeville, WI 7 14-00 0
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 2 03-07
109. Christopher Horton West Salem, IL 5 13-09 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 13-09
109. Ben Potaracke Stoddard, WI 5 13-09 0
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
111. Kevin Johnson Sparta, WI 5 13-09 0
Day 1: 2 03-03 Day 2: 3 10-06
112. Bryan Moreland Durango, IA 6 13-09 0
Day 1: 4 09-13 Day 2: 2 03-12
113. Edward Gad Morris, IL 5 13-07 0
Day 1: 4 10-13 Day 2: 1 02-10
114. Jason Rice Willard, MO 5 12-14 0
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
115. Logan Bullinger Bismarck, ND 5 12-10 0
Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
116. Robert Myers Lacona, IA 5 12-06 0
Day 1: 2 04-08 Day 2: 3 07-14
117. Drew Campbell Cedar Falls, IA 5 12-02 0
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
118. Andy Toft Canton, SD 6 12-02 0
Day 1: 1 01-10 Day 2: 5 10-08
119. Aaron Olsen Lenexa, KS 5 11-11 0
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
120. Brady Schran Zumbrota, MN 5 11-07 0
Day 1: 2 06-11 Day 2: 3 04-12
121. Tyler Darrow Cottage Grove, MN 4 11-06 0
Day 1: 2 04-08 Day 2: 2 06-14
122. Jay Swanson Lakeville, MN 5 11-03 0
Day 1: 4 09-08 Day 2: 1 01-11
123. Austin Moore Washburn, IL 6 11-02 0
Day 1: 4 07-01 Day 2: 2 04-01
124. Jim Tomsovic Sparta, WI 4 11-00 0
Day 1: 4 11-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
125. John Randall Powell, OH 6 11-00 0
Day 1: 1 01-02 Day 2: 5 09-14
126. Steve Brockman Milford, OH 6 11-00 0
Day 1: 3 05-07 Day 2: 3 05-09
127. Bryan Schumacher Eau Claire, WI 5 10-11 0
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
128. Cody Gray Delaware, OH 4 10-04 0
Day 1: 4 10-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
129. Carson Dewald Jamestown, ND 4 10-02 0
Day 1: 2 03-12 Day 2: 2 06-06
130. Collin Tweten Decorah, IA 5 10-00 0
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
131. Jason Merschdorf Baldwin, WI 4 09-10 0
Day 1: 4 09-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
132. Eli Lubbehusen Evansville, IN 4 09-08 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 4 09-08
133. Kazuki Kitajima Corinth, TX 5 09-03 0
Day 1: 5 09-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
134. Curtis Hughes Greenwood, IN 4 09-03 0
Day 1: 4 09-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
135. Dan Beberniss Valentine, NE 4 09-03 0
Day 1: 1 02-07 Day 2: 3 06-12
136. Brett Logue Lincoln, NE 4 08-08 0
Day 1: 4 08-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
137. Dylan Minch Stevens Point, WI 4 08-02 0
Day 1: 4 08-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
138. Charles Verfuerth Port Washington, WI 4 08-01 0
Day 1: 3 06-11 Day 2: 1 01-06
139. Kent Priel No Platte, NE 3 08-00 0
Day 1: 3 08-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
140. Wes Westerveld Anoka, MN 3 07-14 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 07-14
141. Adam Green Davis, IL 4 07-12 0
Day 1: 3 05-15 Day 2: 1 01-13
142. Jacob Martin Hortonville, WI 4 07-03 0
Day 1: 4 07-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
143. Dolyn Brown II Valley, NE 3 07-01 0
Day 1: 2 04-13 Day 2: 1 02-04
144. David Homan Palatine , IL 3 06-07 0
Day 1: 3 06-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
145. Colby Kirwan Platte, SD 3 06-06 0
Day 1: 3 06-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
146. Brandon Hobbs Galloway, OH 4 05-15 0
Day 1: 4 05-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
147. Jay Spencer Lincoln, NE 3 05-10 0
Day 1: 1 01-09 Day 2: 2 04-01
148. Brock Belik Orchard, NE 3 05-09 0
Day 1: 3 05-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
149. Jordan Schumacher Weyauwega, WI 3 05-07 0
Day 1: 3 05-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
150. David Schneider Indianapolis, IN 2 05-05 0
Day 1: 2 05-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
151. Kevin Allen Springport, IN 2 05-01 0
Day 1: 2 05-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
152. Jeremiah Shaver Holmen, WI 2 04-07 0
Day 1: 2 04-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
153. Mark Tonjum Jr Spencer, IA 2 04-02 0
Day 1: 2 04-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
154. Michael Kazmierczak Lemont, IL 2 04-01 0
Day 1: 2 04-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
155. Ai Len Saesee Rochester, MN 2 03-15 0
Day 1: 2 03-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
156. John Carr Chaseburg, WI 1 03-13 0
Day 1: 1 03-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
157. Wills VanDommelen Midlothian, IL 1 02-07 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-07
158. Bill Skowronski Hennepin, IL 1 02-05 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-05
159. Shaun Fowler Spring Park, MN 1 02-03 0
Day 1: 1 02-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
160. Colton Boelkes Roscoe, IL 1 01-09 0
Day 1: 1 01-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
161. Xander Daniel Iron City, TN 1 01-08 0
Day 1: 1 01-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
162. Jeffrey Mulholland Elgin, MN 1 01-06 0
Day 1: 1 01-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
163. Michael Jarvis Ingleside , IL 1 01-05 0
Day 1: 1 01-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
163. Clint Paulette Malvern, OH 1 01-05 0
Day 1: 1 01-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
165. Jeremy Anibas Menomonie, WI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
165. Jordan Bellendier Cedar Rapids, IA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
165. Bryan Close Fairbank, IA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
165. Conrad Fox Prescott, WI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
165. Mason Gillihan Manchester, IA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
165. Dylan Griswold Cedar Rapids, IA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
165. Ricardo Guzman Sunrise Beach, MO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
165. Hayden Lambe Scugog CANADA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
165. Michael Lebsack Duluth, MN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
165. Brady LeMarbe Milford, MI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
165. Tim Prokop Plainfield, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
165. Travis Seitzinger Sidney, MT 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
165. Justin Shepard Lansing, IA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
165. Gordon Tufte Fountain City, WI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
165. Scott Tyrell White Lake, MI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
165. Taylor Umland Carlock, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
165. Greg Vance Delhi, IA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
165. Dan Welsh Elko New Mrkt, MN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 89 642 1652-14
2 64 494 1278-09
----------------------------------
153 1136 2931-07
2026 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier at Mississippi River presented by Lowrance 5/8-5/10
Mississippi River, LaCrosse WI.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 2

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

1. Bill Olson Barrington, IL 6 15-09 0
Day 1: 3 06-03 Day 2: 3 09-06
2. Drew Pingel Star Prairie, WI 6 15-07 0
Day 1: 3 07-08 Day 2: 3 07-15
3. Eric Storms Winner, SD 6 15-01 0
Day 1: 3 07-05 Day 2: 3 07-12
4. Mike Towe Braidwood, IL 6 14-11 0
Day 1: 3 08-01 Day 2: 3 06-10
5. Austin Hubatch Rosholt, WI 6 14-10 0
Day 1: 3 06-09 Day 2: 3 08-01
6. Hector Garcia Elgin, IL 6 14-10 0
Day 1: 3 07-10 Day 2: 3 07-00
7. Tanner Visco Antioch, IL 5 14-10 0
Day 1: 2 07-02 Day 2: 3 07-08
8. Philip Olson Waukesha, WI 5 14-05 0
Day 1: 3 08-15 Day 2: 2 05-06
9. Jim Thompson Manchester, IA 6 13-09 0
Day 1: 3 05-14 Day 2: 3 07-11
10. Matt McVeigh Ft. Dodge, IA 5 13-04 0
Day 1: 3 08-09 Day 2: 2 04-11
11. Jake Minch Stevens Point, WI 5 12-15 0
Day 1: 2 05-03 Day 2: 3 07-12
12. Aaron Konopacki New Albin, IA 5 12-08 0
Day 1: 2 03-12 Day 2: 3 08-12
13. Brian Hensley Edwardsburg, MI 5 12-02 0
Day 1: 3 07-00 Day 2: 2 05-02
14. Joe Paulson Winner, WY 5 11-14 0
Day 1: 2 04-07 Day 2: 3 07-07
15. John Kozel Leawood, KS 5 11-09 0
Day 1: 2 05-11 Day 2: 3 05-14
16. Neal Wisinski Stevens Point, WI 6 11-08 0
Day 1: 3 06-03 Day 2: 3 05-05
17. Scott Bullinger Bismarck, ND 5 11-00 0
Day 1: 3 07-06 Day 2: 2 03-10
18. Dan Mcadams Reedsburg, WI 5 10-15 0
Day 1: 2 04-13 Day 2: 3 06-02
19. Bob Zagrzebski Stevens Point, WI 6 10-14 0
Day 1: 3 05-14 Day 2: 3 05-00
20. Jackson Miller Prior Lake, MN 5 10-12 0
Day 1: 3 06-03 Day 2: 2 04-09
21. Vincent Lattyak Crestwood, IL 5 10-10 0 $295.00
Day 1: 2 04-04 Day 2: 3 06-06
22. Scott Blaesi Maxwell, NE 4 10-08 0 $295.00
Day 1: 2 04-11 Day 2: 2 05-13
23. Michael Schelling Sioux Falls, SD 4 10-05 0 $295.00
Day 1: 1 02-08 Day 2: 3 07-13
24. Jacob Lange Mount Vernon, IA 5 10-05 0 $295.00
Day 1: 2 04-06 Day 2: 3 05-15
25. Troy Jutting Savage, MN 4 10-01 0 $295.00
Day 1: 3 06-11 Day 2: 1 03-06
26. Keith Jensen Omaha, NE 5 10-00 0 $295.00
Day 1: 3 06-07 Day 2: 2 03-09
27. Charles Carroll West Liberty, OH 5 09-14 0 $295.00
Day 1: 3 06-12 Day 2: 2 03-02
28. Brandon Troupe Chicago, IL 4 09-12 0 $295.00
Day 1: 3 07-05 Day 2: 1 02-07
29. Elijah Smith-Nguyen Lake Elmo, MN 4 09-12 0 $295.00
Day 1: 2 04-07 Day 2: 2 05-05
30. Alex Garcia Chadron, NE 5 09-10 0 $295.00
Day 1: 3 05-13 Day 2: 2 03-13
31. Denny Boyles Jr Princeton, IL 3 09-06 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 09-06
32. Kevin Watson Bloomington, MN 5 09-05 0
Day 1: 2 03-09 Day 2: 3 05-12
33. Bill Heller Wildwood, IL 4 09-04 0
Day 1: 1 01-14 Day 2: 3 07-06
34. Brian Casey Blaine, MN 5 09-02 0
Day 1: 2 02-14 Day 2: 3 06-04
35. Casey Hutmacher Oacoma, SD 4 08-14 0
Day 1: 3 07-02 Day 2: 1 01-12
36. Chase Kinney Stevens Point, WI 4 08-09 0
Day 1: 3 06-11 Day 2: 1 01-14
37. Sean Ruegemer Bloomington, MN 3 08-08 0
Day 1: 2 04-06 Day 2: 1 04-02
38. John Jacobson Midlothian , IL 4 08-05 0
Day 1: 3 07-00 Day 2: 1 01-05
39. Chris Grocholski Mc Gregor, IA 4 08-04 0
Day 1: 1 01-10 Day 2: 3 06-10
40. Derrick Peterson Minneapolis, MN 4 08-04 0
Day 1: 1 01-11 Day 2: 3 06-09
41. David Blake-Gasper Waukesha, WI 4 08-03 0
Day 1: 1 01-14 Day 2: 3 06-05
42. Cole Jilderda Tiskilwa, IL 3 07-13 0
Day 1: 3 07-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
43. Greg Poetz Winsted, MN 3 07-13 0
Day 1: 2 04-01 Day 2: 1 03-12
44. Conor Hansen Chicago, IL 3 07-12 0
Day 1: 2 05-11 Day 2: 1 02-01
45. TJ Soppe Manchester, IA 4 07-12 0
Day 1: 3 05-10 Day 2: 1 02-02
46. Robin Hessling Quincy, IL 4 07-08 0
Day 1: 3 06-01 Day 2: 1 01-07
47. Casey Cornelius Greenfield, IN 4 07-07 0
Day 1: 3 05-10 Day 2: 1 01-13
48. Ted Tinlin Des Moines, IA 3 07-06 0
Day 1: 1 02-12 Day 2: 2 04-10
49. Angela Mayo Granite Falls, NC 4 07-04 0
Day 1: 1 01-05 Day 2: 3 05-15
50. Casey Rzentkowski Mosinee, WI 3 07-02 0
Day 1: 1 02-07 Day 2: 2 04-11
51. Michael Clark Milford, IA 4 07-01 0
Day 1: 2 03-05 Day 2: 2 03-12
52. Nathan Patten Sioux Falls, SD 3 06-14 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 06-14
53. Noah Pawlak Prior Lake, MN 3 06-10 0
Day 1: 3 06-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
54. Kevin Stewart Dowagiac, MI 3 06-09 0
Day 1: 3 06-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
55. Antonio Gradi Sr Peotone, IL 3 06-07 0
Day 1: 2 04-15 Day 2: 1 01-08
56. Jim Blumenstein Bolingbrook, IL 3 06-04 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 06-04
57. Leo Glynn Orland Park, IL 3 06-01 0
Day 1: 3 06-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
58. Will Yule Springfield, SD 2 05-10 0
Day 1: 1 03-02 Day 2: 1 02-08
59. Kevin Collins Bristol, WI 3 05-07 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 05-07
60. Lenny Pawlak Prior Lake, MN 2 05-06 0
Day 1: 2 05-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
61. Joe Wilcox Newark, OH 2 05-06 0
Day 1: 1 02-00 Day 2: 1 03-06
62. Owen Worthington Kenosha, WI 2 05-05 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 05-05
63. Devan Jenkins Milwaukee, WI 3 05-05 0
Day 1: 2 03-07 Day 2: 1 01-14
64. James Maynard Marysville, OH 2 05-04 0
Day 1: 1 02-15 Day 2: 1 02-05
65. Alfonso Garcia Jr Mccook, NE 2 05-03 0
Day 1: 2 05-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
66. Renee Hensley Edwardsburg, MI 2 04-08 0
Day 1: 2 04-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
67. Kara Wattunen Minneapolis, MN 2 04-07 0
Day 1: 1 02-02 Day 2: 1 02-05
68. Nicholas Schneidewent Oshkosh, WI 2 04-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 04-00
69. Dolyn Brown III Bellevue, NE 1 04-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 04-00
70. Zach Jarchow Burnsville, MN 2 04-00 0
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 1 02-04
71. Lance Arnoldussen Oconomowoc, WI 2 03-14 0
Day 1: 2 03-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
72. Blev Blevins Cottage Grove, WI 2 03-11 0
Day 1: 2 03-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
72. Cody Reynolds Brookings, SD 2 03-11 0
Day 1: 2 03-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
74. Glen Shoemaker Cortland, NE 2 03-07 0
Day 1: 1 01-03 Day 2: 1 02-04
75. Matthew Brew Loveland, OH 2 03-06 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 03-06
76. Neri Kiliotaitis Darien, IL 1 03-01 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 03-01
77. Jefferson Lehman Elk Point, SD 1 02-14 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-14
78. Rod Yoder West Lafayette, IN 1 02-13 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-13
79. Jeff Wineberg Minneapolis, MN 1 02-08 0
Day 1: 1 02-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
80. Casey Briggs Highmore, SD 1 02-01 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-01
81. Brian Hinspeter Waukee, IA 1 01-14 0
Day 1: 1 01-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
81. David Sprow Grove City, OH 1 01-14 0
Day 1: 1 01-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
83. Mason Blankenship Esko, MN 1 01-12 0
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
84. Richard Conrad Arcadia, WI 1 01-08 0
Day 1: 1 01-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
84. Scott Pitlick Pierre, SD 1 01-08 0
Day 1: 1 01-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
86. Kristian Dus Roselle, IL 1 01-06 0
Day 1: 1 01-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
86. Jerrid Schmidt Wyoming, MN 1 01-06 0
Day 1: 1 01-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
88. Brian Becker Eagle Lake, MN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
88. Aaron Bunge Fairfax, IA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
88. Robert Daniels Sioux City, IA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
88. William Gruwell Muncie, IN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
88. Steven Huegerich Bloomfield, IA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
88. Nicholas Ireland Davison, MI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
88. Dante Johnson Gurnee, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
88. Joseph Johnson Maquoketa, IA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
88. Tom Logue Tyndall, SD 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
88. Angela Messall Bismarck, ND 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
88. Kaden Pingel Star Prairie, WI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
88. Charles Pustz Tinley Park, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
88. Amanda Riley Galesville, WI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
88. Chris Roberts South Holland, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
88. Erika Spencer Lannon, WI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
88. Heath Spratlin Overland Park, KS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
88. Logan Staloch Jamestown, ND 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
88. John Therault Valparaiso, IN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
88. Brian Turro Minooka, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
88. Ronald Weilage Shepherdsville, KY 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 29 157 347-11
2 29 143 331-01
----------------------------------
58 300 678-12

by AnglersChannel

Big bite trio lifts Cobb to Day 3 lead in Bassmaster Elite at Lake Murray

COLUMBIA, S.C. — If we compared Brandon Cobb’s day to a cookie, it would be an Oreo — two good things with something really sweet in the middle.

Spoiler alert: we’re talking three big bites that helped put the South Carolina pro into first place in the Tedy’s Team Bassmaster Elite at Lake Murray with a three-day total of 67 pounds, 3 ounces.

“Believe it or not, I fished the exact same places I fished yesterday, but while I couldn’t get them to bite yesterday, today was biting conditions,” Cobb said. “On these (blueback) herring lakes, what you do is run a bunch of places, but what I’m doing is a little bit different.

“I don’t have a ton of places with fish on them, but I’m not sitting anywhere. If they don’t bite in four to seven casts, I’ll go try another one and I’ll come back to it later.”

Employing that rotation strategy yielded plenty of action punctuated by three big bites — a 5-pounder shortly before 9 a.m., a 7 around 9:30 and one just over 5 1/2 in the final hour of fishing.

Cobb said timing has been the key factor in his daily fortunes.

"I had good timing on Day 1, bad timing yesterday and good timing today.”

Reflecting that point, Cobb started strong with a Day 1 limit of 24-3 that left him tied for fifth place. Day 2 was less generous and a bag that went 16-6 dropped him to 22nd.

Roaring back with a Semifinal Saturday limit of 26-10 — the event’s heaviest single day catch — Cobb heads into Championship Sunday with a lead of 1-7 over Trey McKinney.

Cobb targeted what he termed “textbook herring spawn places.” Comprising a mix of clay points, saddles and flats with grass, these areas saw bass capitalizing on the distracted baitfish.

Cobb caught all of his fish on a Zoom Super Fluke in the glimmer blue color. Notably, a lot of competitors have fared well with chartreuse colored soft jerkbaits, but Cobb channeled a throwback vibe.

“I feel like the chartreuse is so bright and they see it so much that now, going back to a natural color is almost better,” Cobb said. “Chartreuse has been good, because they hadn’t seen it, but now I do better with naturals.

“I changed my retrieve every hour, because a lot of fish aren’t biting. They’ll just blow up on the bait or they follow behind it, so I’ve been changing my presentations to try and trigger bites.”

Herring lakes like Murray and Cobb’s Lake Hartwell home waters often see bass schooling, but he caught only one of his Day 3 fish that way. The rest, he caught either by spotting them on his Garmin LiveScope or casting to a promising spot.

Cobb said his final-round game plan will likely look a lot like the one he’s followed for three days. The one hopeful exception would be a shot at better quality fish.

“I caught my fish off four different spots today, but I have another 12-15 that I think are good, but I don’t know if they’re as good,” he said. “Today, I was catching fish, so I didn’t want to go exploring too much.

“I have a couple of deep places I’ve been mixing in, but I can’t get them to bite. There’s actually bigger fish than I caught on today’s spots, so if they start biting, we might be able to catch a lot.”

Hailing from Carbondale, Ill., McKinney is in second place with 65-12. The 2024 Bassmaster Elite Series Rookie of the Year has kept himself in the conversation all week, starting with a ninth-place limit of 23-11 on Day 1.

McKinney added 19-3 on Day 2 and gained a spot, before making a serious run at the top spot with his third-round limit of 22-14.

McKinney caught his fish on a mix of topwaters and soft plastic jerkbaits. Diversity, he said, proved to be the most influential factor.

“I kinda stayed with the same stuff, just different cadences and different ways of throwing the baits,” he said. “Every fish is different, so I’d twitch a bunch of different ways in one cast and whichever way the fish acted the hottest is the way I’d keep it going.

“I hit about 10 spots today and I had two spots where I caught three each and all six of them were 4-pounders.”

Paul Marks of Cumming, Ga., is in third place with 65-12. (After Day 1, ties are broken by the heaviest single day catch.) Marks caught 21-14 on Day 1 and placed 14th, before moving into second with a limit of 22-15. Marks’ Day 3 bag weighed 20-15.

On Day 2, Marks said he prefers targeting fish in deeper spots over brush, cane piles, and humps, but Day 3 offered a mix of opportunities.

“I caught my two biggest ones up in less than 5 feet,” Marks said. “It was cooler today, so a lot of them went back to the bank and I didn’t adjust right. But tomorrow’s another day, so I’m gonna go run around and see if I can make it happen.”

On a day that saw him catch shallow and deep fish, Marks three a Zoom Super Fluke on a 5/0 Gamakatsu offset worm hook. Chartreuse was his most productive color.”

Alex Redwine of Blue Ash, Ohio holds the Phoenix Boats Big Bass lead with his 7-15.

McKinney leads the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 454 points. Caleb Hudson of Lincolnton, Ga., is second with 413, followed by Cobb with 410, Cory Johnston of Otonabee, Canada with 385 and Justin Atkins of Florence, Ala., with 381.

Sunday’s takeoff is scheduled for 6:30 a.m. ET at Dreher Island State Park. The weigh-in will be held at the park at 3 p.m.

Follow along with the morning action of Bassmaster LIVE on FS1 May 10 from 8-11:30 a.m. ET before heading to Bassmaster.com for afternoon coverage. All weigh-ins will be available live on Bassmaster.com starting at 3 p.m. ET.

This event is being hosted by Capital City/Lake Murray Country.

2026 Bassmaster Elite Series Title Sponsor: Progressive

About Capital City/Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board:

About B.A.S.S.

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

Media Contact: Mandy Pascal, Communications Manager, 334-414-8677, [email protected]

2026 Bassmaster Elite Series at Lake Murray 5/7-5/10
Lake Murray, Columbia SC.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 3

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

1. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 15 67-03 101
Day 1: 5 24-03 Day 2: 5 16-06 Day 3: 5 26-10
2. Trey McKinney Carbondale, IL 15 65-12 100
Day 1: 5 23-11 Day 2: 5 19-03 Day 3: 5 22-14
3. Paul Marks Cumming, GA 15 65-12 99
Day 1: 5 21-14 Day 2: 5 22-15 Day 3: 5 20-15
4. Sam Hanggi Knoxville, TN 15 65-09 98
Day 1: 5 19-00 Day 2: 5 24-00 Day 3: 5 22-09
5. Andrew Loberg Guntersville, AL 15 65-00 97
Day 1: 5 23-12 Day 2: 5 20-00 Day 3: 5 21-04
6. Caleb Hudson Lincolnton, GA 15 64-08 96
Day 1: 5 21-04 Day 2: 5 21-08 Day 3: 5 21-12
7. Robert Gee Knoxville, TN 15 64-04 95
Day 1: 5 20-11 Day 2: 5 20-13 Day 3: 5 22-12
8. Emil Wagner Marietta, GA 15 64-00 94
Day 1: 5 25-07 Day 2: 5 16-06 Day 3: 5 22-03
9. Jordan Lee Cullman, AL 15 63-15 93 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-03 Day 2: 5 26-05 Day 3: 5 19-07
10. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 15 63-02 92 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 20-08 Day 2: 5 23-13 Day 3: 5 18-13
11. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 15 63-02 91 $7,000.00
Day 1: 5 22-11 Day 2: 5 20-00 Day 3: 5 20-07
12. Kyoya Fujita Yamanashi CA JAPAN 15 62-09 90 $7,000.00
Day 1: 5 24-02 Day 2: 5 20-05 Day 3: 5 18-02
13. Bryant Smith Roseville, CA 15 62-08 89 $7,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-15 Day 2: 5 24-07 Day 3: 5 16-02
14. Tyler Williams Barnett, MO 15 62-07 88 $7,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-08 Day 2: 5 20-07 Day 3: 5 23-08
15. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 15 62-03 87 $7,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-09 Day 2: 5 22-02 Day 3: 5 21-08
16. Pake South Winnsboro, TX 15 61-11 86 $6,500.00
Day 1: 5 18-13 Day 2: 5 20-07 Day 3: 5 22-07
17. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 15 61-00 85 $6,500.00
Day 1: 5 17-12 Day 2: 5 23-00 Day 3: 5 20-04
18. Jake Whitaker Hendersonville, NC 15 60-13 84 $6,500.00
Day 1: 5 24-03 Day 2: 5 16-10 Day 3: 5 20-00
19. Alex Redwine Blue Ash, OH 15 60-13 83 $7,500.00
Day 1: 5 20-11 Day 2: 5 16-14 Day 3: 5 23-04
20. Taku Ito Dalton GA JAPAN 15 60-08 82 $6,500.00
Day 1: 5 25-00 Day 2: 5 17-07 Day 3: 5 18-01
21. Tucker Smith Birmingham, AL 15 60-07 81 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-06 Day 2: 5 21-09 Day 3: 5 19-08
22. Evan Kung Pickering Ontario CANAD 15 60-04 80 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-07 Day 2: 5 22-02 Day 3: 5 18-11
23. Aaron Jagdfeld Rochester Hills, MI 15 60-04 79 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-00 Day 2: 5 19-03 Day 3: 5 20-01
24. Cody Huff Ava, MO 15 59-09 78 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 22-15 Day 2: 5 18-05 Day 3: 5 18-05
25. Jay Przekurat Stevens Point, WI 15 59-03 77 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-14 Day 2: 5 19-13 Day 3: 5 17-08
26. Blake Capps Muskogee, OK 15 58-13 76 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 21-06 Day 2: 5 15-13 Day 3: 5 21-10
27. Cody Meyer Eagle, ID 15 58-12 75 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 24-10 Day 2: 5 14-06 Day 3: 5 19-12
28. Easton Fothergill Grand Rapids , MN 15 58-06 74 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 20-09 Day 2: 5 18-13 Day 3: 5 19-00
29. Patrick Walters Eutawville, SC 15 58-05 73 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 21-03 Day 2: 5 18-06 Day 3: 5 18-12
30. Bryan Schmitt Deale, MD 15 58-00 72 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 20-02 Day 2: 5 21-05 Day 3: 5 16-09
31. Jeff Gustafson Kenora, ON Ontario CANA 15 57-09 71 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 20-00 Day 2: 5 16-08 Day 3: 5 21-01
32. Lee Livesay Longview, TX 15 57-04 70 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 19-14 Day 2: 5 18-09 Day 3: 5 18-13
33. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 15 56-13 69 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 19-11 Day 2: 5 16-06 Day 3: 5 20-12
34. Kyle Welcher Valley, AL 15 56-01 68 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 21-05 Day 2: 5 18-08 Day 3: 5 16-04
35. Kyle Patrick Cooperstown, NY 15 55-04 67 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 22-04 Day 2: 5 18-00 Day 3: 5 15-00
36. Fisher Anaya Eva, AL 15 55-02 66 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 19-04 Day 2: 5 19-00 Day 3: 5 16-14
37. Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 15 54-06 65 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 18-02 Day 2: 5 18-12 Day 3: 5 17-08
38. Logan Parks Auburn, AL 15 54-05 64 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 17-13 Day 2: 5 19-13 Day 3: 5 16-11
39. Bryan New Leesville, SC 15 54-00 63 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 20-10 Day 2: 5 19-02 Day 3: 5 14-04
40. Bob Downey Detroit Lakes, MN 15 54-00 62 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 16-11 Day 2: 5 20-06 Day 3: 5 16-15
41. John Garrett Union City, TN 15 54-00 61 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 19-12 Day 2: 5 15-15 Day 3: 5 18-05
42. David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 15 53-13 60 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 21-03 Day 2: 5 15-06 Day 3: 5 17-04
43. Brock Reinkemeyer Warsaw, MO 15 53-10 59 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 20-13 Day 2: 5 16-14 Day 3: 5 15-15
44. Dakota Ebare Brookeland, TX 15 52-15 58 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 18-04 Day 2: 5 19-02 Day 3: 5 15-09
45. KJ Queen Catawba, NC 15 52-14 57 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 18-00 Day 2: 5 19-06 Day 3: 5 15-08
46. Brad Whatley Bivins, TX 15 52-10 56 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 17-05 Day 2: 5 18-07 Day 3: 5 16-14
47. Wes Logan Springville, AL 15 52-09 55 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 19-08 Day 2: 5 17-00 Day 3: 5 16-01
48. Jacob Foutz Philadelphia, TN 15 52-06 54 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 25-06 Day 2: 5 14-08 Day 3: 5 12-08
49. Seth Feider Elko New Market, MN 15 50-09 53 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 19-10 Day 2: 5 18-10 Day 3: 5 12-05
50. Kenta Kimura Osaka OK JAPAN 13 46-13 52 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 22-04 Day 3: 3 10-14
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Drew Benton Panama City, FL 07-00 $1,000.00
2 Jordan Lee Cullman, AL 07-07 $1,000.00
3 Alex Redwine Blue Ash, OH 07-15 $1,000.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 93 485 1769-09
2 92 483 1713-08
3 49 248 937-15
----------------------------------
234 1216 4421-00

by AnglersChannel

Florida’s Aaron Yavorsky Leads Day 1 of Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Stop 4 on Douglas Lake Presented by Phoenix Boats

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Tenn. (May 8, 2026) – After a substantial fog delay, the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech pros in Stop 4 Presented by Phoenix Boats hit Douglas Lake hard. Dylan Nutt had over 13 pounds in, seemingly, minutes, and he wasn’t the only one to blitz out ahead of the pack early. By day’s end, though, the flurries leveled out and some other pros hit hot stretches of their own. All told, 27 anglers weighed in at least 13 pounds with 3-10 separating first from 39th.

In the lead with 15 pounds, 10 ounces, Aaron Yavorsky got solidly ahead of the pack. Carter Nutt slid into second with 14-13, and Ott DeFoe tallied up 14-12 for third. Behind Nutt, there are ten other pros within a pound, and there’s a lot going on. Within the Top 10, there are at least two very distinct gameplans, ranging from running up the river and fishing in the dirt to getting crankbaits as deep as humanly possible in the main lake. Plus, some of the pros are really mixing things up with diverse strategies fitted for their time with and without modern sonar.

If you liked Day 1 on MLFNOW!, you might want to keep watching, because it’s only going to get more interesting from here.

Yavorsky stays deep for the lead
Yavorsky is right in his offshore wheelhouse after putting in some serious idle time in practice.

“My first time on the lake was day one of practice, it was really good for me,” he said. “I probably had almost 17 pounds, just catching one here, one there, finding some groups offshore. The next two days, I really didn’t even find much. It was kind of frustrating. I knew I could catch fish, but finding those 2 3/4-pounders and anything bigger than that was going to be a little bit of a struggle.”

Sitting in the fog in the morning, Yavorsky devised a plan that would put him fishing at his peak efficiency while others were running back to weigh-in. As boat 112, he wasn’t going to get to pick his starting hole, but he knew he’d have a lot of room to work in the afternoon.

“I kind of like the fog delay with the three hours of ‘Scope,” he said. “As time was going by, I was thinking I’d probably just turn it on later. I didn’t start on what I thought was my best stuff because I knew someone was probably going to be on it.

“I no-‘Scoped my offshore stuff for the first few hours,” he said. “I think I turned it on at 1:05, and I was due in at 4:45. When I turned it on, I had like 11 pounds. I caught one dragging that was a 2.80, I knew that one could come to weigh-in, but the rest were 2-pounders.”

Moving and grooving, Yavorsky started to hit a number of offshore spots, and finally hit one that was firing.

“My next spot, I caught a 3.85, and I hadn’t caught one that big all week,” he said. “Then, I ran around [with 13 pounds] for a while and pulled back up to a place I started on this morning at about 3:30. I had caught a limit there in the morning, but I really wasn’t even fishing the right spot. They had moved. I was missing it, and then I relocated them and caught a lot of little ones, and then a 2.90. They were pretty fired up – I caught probably 20 fish in 30 or 40 casts.”

Shortly after wrapping up his forward-facing sonar period, Yavorsky caught another near-3-pounder, throwing at his lineup on the bank. He then called it a day with at least one good school in his back pocket that he might have to himself on Day 2.

“I don’t think anyone found the place I started on and ended on,” he said. “It’s a sneakier spot, but there’s 60 or 80 fish down there and they act like they’ve never seen a bait before. There’s a lot of big fish on all the other places people are fishing, but they’re really hard to catch.

“I think it’s going to get tough as the week goes on. There’s a lot of people fishing the same stuff. I might have to do some different stuff throughout the week, but I feel good about the start. I need to stay locked in.”

Nutt fishes his strengths
An expert offshore on the Tennessee River, Douglas is not far from Nutt’s favored stomping grounds. However, while Yavorsky had a late number and a great plan, Nutt’s early number didn’t do him any favors.

“It was a dumpster fire,” he said of the day. “I had an early number and I figured I could start on a really big school and catch them, but I didn’t. There was one place I wanted to start at and I bounced around and ended up there.”

Tomorrow, he’s still all in on the deep game, but he’s not going into it sure of success.

“I think it’s going to be really bad,” he said. “All the fish are pretty beat up and the groups are pretty scattered. There’s a couple places where they’re really grouped up, but they just won’t bite. So, it’s super tough.”

Unofficially in the lead for 7 Brew Angler of the Year after Day 1, Carter isn’t eyeing a win just yet. He’s very much after points.

“I’ve got a bunch of places to run, so I’m going to run around and try to land on biting fish,” he said. “I felt like [deep] was my best shot to have a consistent finish, and that’s what I’m looking for – for points. That was the goal, to catch them pretty good, hopefully have a Top 20, Top 10 here, and give myself a little more of a cushion going into Eufaula and Champlain. It worked out pretty well today.”

Big afternoon puts DeFoe in contention
The ultimate local in this event, DeFoe entered as the favorite, and he’s pretty disappointed in his start. That should probably have everyone else in the field worried.

“Today was a weird day,” said the Tennessee legend. “The fog delay, we’ve had two rainy, nasty days where the fish really bit. Today was extremely postfrontal, no wind, bright skies, cold, all the things that make for hard fishing – we had ‘em all today. So that made the day weird.”

Weird is maybe an understatement as, around noon, DeFoe had two in the box. Then he pulled into a backwater area and caught fish fast.

“My timing was good,” he said. “That’s all it was. Drew Boggs, he caught three or four; I just got in there 30 minutes before he did, and I feel like the side I was on was the better side.”

Today, DeFoe fished deep and shallow, and he might do the same thing on Day 2, but, he’ll be doing it with some more data – even if he’s not settled on the winning pattern yet.

“I’m completely unsure; I’ll try to take the day as it comes,” he said. “I’ve got a place I would like to start now, but I know another guy fished it a lot today before I did. I’d like to start on it, but it’s pretty much just take it as it comes and fish what’s open. You don’t want to be right behind somebody. If you let an area rest for an hour, you can go behind somebody and possibly still get a bite – you just don’t want to be in somebody’s propwash.”

In it for the win, DeFoe wanted a lot more out of Day 1.

“As bad as the day was, I found myself on a steep bank throwing a shaky head just to catch something. I was like, ‘Dude, what are you doing? You’re just here to win.’ Sometimes, just trying to get bites is what you need to do, because it was so hard,” he said. “I expected Day 1, there to be a handful [of bags] over 15. I didn’t expect it to be that low – my weight ended up being pretty good, but I was not happy with my day. I’ve never been so upset about being in third place, less than a pound off the lead, on the first day of the tournament.”

The top 20 pros after Day 1 on Douglas Lake are:

1st:        Aaron Yavorsky, Palm Harbor, Fla., five bass, 15-10
2nd:      Carter Nutt, Nashville, Tenn., five bass, 14-13
3rd:       Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., five bass, 14-12
4th:       Mark Condron, Murfreesboro, Tenn., five bass, 14-9
5th:       Brent Chapman, Lenexa, Kan., five bass, 14-8
5th:       Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., five bass, 14-7
7th:       Dylan Nutt, Nashville, Tenn., five bass, 14-6
8th:       Brody Campbell, Oxford, Ohio, five bass, 14-4
8th:       Clint Knight, Russellville, Ky., five bass, 14-4
10th:     Miles Burghoff, Dayton, Tenn., five bass, 14-2
11th:     Marshall Hughes, Hemphill, Texas, five bass, 14-1
12th:     Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., five bass, 14-0
13th:     Banks Shaw, Harrison, Tenn., five bass, 13-14
14th:     Harbor Lovin, New Concord, Ky., five bass, 13-13
14th:     Evan Barnes, Dardanelle, Ark., five bass, 13-13
14th:     Ethan Greene, Eufaula, Ala., three bass, 13-13
17th:     Kyle Austin, Ridgeville, S.C., five bass, 13-11
17th:     Austin Pemberton, Tuscola, Texas, four bass, 13-11
18th:     Ethan Fields, Breese, Ill., five bass, 13-9
20th:     Keith Poche, Cecil, Ala., five bass, 13-7

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

Overall, there were 664 bass weighing 1,434 pounds, 5 ounces caught by 137 pros Friday. The catch included 125 five-bass limits.

Pro Clint Knight earned the Day 1 Berkley Big Bass award of $500 with a bass that weighed in at 4 pounds, 2 ounces on the scale.

Anglers will launch at 7 a.m. ET each day from the Dandridge Boat Dock & Ramp, located at 157 Public Drive in Dandridge, Tennessee. Weigh-ins will also be held at the Dandridge Boat Dock & Ramp and will begin at 3 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and weigh-in events and are also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW!® live stream and coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech at Douglas Lake Presented by Phoenix Boats is hosted by Visit Jefferson County, TN.

The MLFNOW! broadcast team of Chad McKee and Rob Newell will break down the extended action live all three days of competition from 7:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. ET. MLFNOW! is live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app and Rumble.

Proud sponsors of the 2026 MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech include: 7 Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Buffalo, Bubba, Cigars International, Epic Baits, Grizzly, Mercury, MillerTech, OFF! Deep Woods, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PirahnO2, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, VOSKER, YETI and Yuengling.

by AnglersChannel

Smith’s patience puts him atop Bassmaster Elite at Lake Murray

COLUMBIA, S.C. — One of the oldest and most revered angling axioms states: “Don’t leave fish to find fish.”

Honoring that timeless truth, Bryant Smith of Roseville, Calif., sacked up a five-bass limit of 24 pounds, 7 ounces and improved to first place at the Tedy’s Team Bassmaster Elite at Lake Murray with a two-day total of 46-6.

Smith, who placed 13th on Day 1 with 21-15, heads into Semifinal Saturday with a lead of 1-9 over Paul Marks.

“It was just an amazing day,” Smith said. “I’ve been really fortunate to get the right bites at the right time.”

Days 1 and 2 saw Smith starting on the blueback herring spawn, which typically lasts only an hour or two past daybreak. The first day saw the dimmer lighting of cloudy, rainy conditions extending that activity longer, but with Day 2’s sunnier start, the baitfish congregations concluded as normal.

Knowing that the bass would remain in the general area and continue feeding whenever more herring crossed their radar, Smith committed his day to a focused strategy.

“I’ve been starting in the same spot both mornings and, between two points, I can usually get a limit with a couple good ones,” Smith said. “I know where they’re sitting and that’s the whole key. I’m using my Lowrance ActiveTarget to see if they’re up there.

“You have to be patient. I probably sat and Power-Poled down for an hour, then I’d rotate around, come back and sit there again.”

Smith said he’s been able to identify particular hard spots on the points where the bass sit and wait for passing meals.

“The herring fish are all over the points, but you want the ones that have a home base,” he said. “I can catch one, pull the school off and they always go back.”

Maximizing his spots, Smith said, has required diversity. He’s using an assortment of what he called traditional herring baits, but changing up his presentations has kept the deal going.

“I’m approaching them from different angles and just trying to mix it up,” Smith said. “Playing the wind is super important. We didn’t have much wind today, but it was enough to get them chasing.

“I had my weight around noon today. The bite lasts for quite a while, but they just get super finicky when the sun comes up and the wind dies.”

Notwithstanding his ongoing effort to find the right presentation for a particular time of day, Smith called patience his biggest asset. Increased fishing pressure has made this lake’s fish extremely wary, so success required him to capitalize on the brief windows of opportunity.

“You just never know, so you have to cycle through all your baits and just be there for the opportunity when it presents itself. It’s not like years past when they come up schooling a lot, but they do come up once or twice a day, so you gotta be ready to throw right at ’em.

“That’s the whole deal; you gotta be in the right place at the right time.”

Considering his Day 3 game plan, Smith said he’ll return to the key spots he’s fished since the start, but if those locations fail to produce, he has options.

“I have six or seven points where I know exactly where the fish sit,” he said. “I haven’t really milked anything else, because by the time I’ve gotten to everything else, I had a good bag yesterday and today, I felt like I had a great bag.

“I’m not gonna cull out a 4 1/4-pound fish for a 4 1/2, so I’ve saved my other spots in case I need them later in the tournament.”

Hailing from Cumming, Ga., Marks is in second place with 44-13. A noted herring expert, he placed 14th on Day 1 with 21-14 and rose a dozen spots on the strength of his second-round limit of 22-15.

As Marks explained, seasonal patterns are working in his favor. Specifically, the fish are transitioning to deeper structure — a scenario that fits squarely in his wheelhouse.

“The fish are definitely moving out to some cane piles and some longer points, and drop-offs out there in 15 to 20 feet,” he said. “I really like seeing that. I feel like I’m pretty good at fishing like that from my home waters of Lake Lanier. That’s what I’d fish nine months out of the year.

“I’m ready to get back out there tomorrow. We have some nasty weather coming and they’re gonna chew.”

Marks said he fished a Zoom Super Fluke on a 5/0 Gamakatsu offset worm hook and caught about 20 fish, with his bites spread throughout the day. His biggest was about 6 1/2 pounds.

Jordan Lee of Cullman, Ala., is in third place with 44-8. After placing 49th with a Day 1 limit of 18-3, the two-time Bassmaster Classic champion (2017-2018) rocketed up the leaderboard with a Day 2 limit of 26-5 — the event’s biggest catch.

Anchoring his limit with a 7-7 that bit around 10 o’clock, Lee said the day’s different weather, particularly a different wind direction, spurred his fish to change locations. Moving around and watching for fish on his Lowrance ActiveTarget 2 was his best strategy.

“Catching that 7-7 helped the cause, because this lake is full of 3- and high 4-pounders, but to trick one of those giants is hard to do,” Lee said. “I used the Anchor Lock on my Lowrance Ghost trolling motor and had my boat facing into the wind and I was blind casting to where I knew they were sitting and I caught several of my fish doing that.

“I was being stealthy and not running the trolling motor around a lot. That could have been a key to catching that big one.”

Lee said he caught most of his fish, including the big one on a jig head minnow.

Lee holds the Phoenix Boats Big Bass lead with his 7-7.

Trey McKinney of Carbondale, Ill., leads the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 448 points. Caleb Hudson of Lincolnton, Ga., is second with 410, followed by Brandon Cobb of Greenwood, S.C., with 389, Cory Johnston of Otonabee, Canada with 385 and Justin Atkins of Florence, Ala., with 382.

Saturday’s takeoff is scheduled for 6:30 a.m. ET at Dreher Island State Park. The weigh-in will be held at the park at 3 p.m.

Follow along with the morning action of Bassmaster LIVE on FS1 May 9 and 10 from 8-11:30 a.m. ET before heading to Bassmaster.com for afternoon coverage. All weigh-ins will be available live on Bassmaster.com starting at 3 p.m. ET.

This event is being hosted by Capital City/Lake Murray Country.

2026 Bassmaster Elite Series Title Sponsor: Progressive

About Capital City/Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board:

About B.A.S.S.

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

Media Contact: Mandy Pascal, Communications Manager, 334-414-8677, [email protected]

2026 Bassmaster Elite Series at Lake Murray 5/7-5/10
Lake Murray, Columbia SC.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 2

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

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

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Drew Benton Panama City, FL 07-00 $1,000.00
2 Jordan Lee Cullman, AL 07-07 $1,000.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 93 485 1769-09
2 92 483 1713-08
----------------------------------
185 968 3483-01

by AnglersChannel

Yenter leads large Wisconsin contingent at B.A.S.S Nation Qualifier

LA CROSSE, Wis. — River fishing can be tricky at times, but Wisconsin anglers put their best effort forward Friday on Day 1 of the Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier at Mississippi River presented by Lowrance.

Justin Yenter caught a five-bass limit of 20 pounds, 6 ounces to take the Day 1 lead in the tournament being held on the wide expanse of America’s greatest river. He led a group of Wisconsin residents who surged to the top of the leaderboard in this tournament, grabbing seven of the Top 10 spots in the standings after the first of three derby days on the water.

Yenter, 30, hardly ever fishes the Mississippi, however. He lives in Stevens Point, Wis., which is a two-hour drive from La Crosse, and added that there aren’t many similarities between the river and Lake Winnebago, which he considers home water.

“The biggest thing I’ve noticed here is that the fish group up,” Yenter said. “Once you find them out on the mats, they move up together pretty good.”

Understandably, Yenter wasn’t ready to discuss specifics of the techniques he used to jump into the lead, but his statement about bass moving up from mats is telling. He said fish on this part of the Mississippi are in all three stages right now and confirmed that his best fish were pre-spawn largemouth.

“The smallmouth are post-spawn,” he said. “I have some spawners on beds, but they’re not big enough to mess with. The largemouth I caught, I could see them on LiveScope and I could watch them moving in and out (or potential bedding areas). That’s good news.”

Indeed, it was great news for Yenter, who was committed to a bedding smallmouth bite on Friday until about 9:30 a.m. After an extremely slow start, he went after largemouth and the move brought good fortune.

“The first spot I fished largemouth this morning, I landed on 17 pounds,” he said. “I went back to the smallmouth later, but it just wasn’t happening. So, I locked down from Pool 7 into Pool 8, and then I caught my big fish of the day (4-13). I didn’t want to sting all those fish once I had 20 pounds, so I left them alone.”

Yenter said the river appeared lower than usual, but that water depth was not his main concern.

“I found some cleaner water and that was the big thing for me,” he said.

Despite his success with the largemouth bite on Friday, Yenter said he expects to start Saturday trying to get bites from the smallmouth he previously targeted in Pool 7. He’s fairly sure he can find transitioning largemouth again Saturday and again on Sunday, after the field is cut and only the top anglers advance to compete for the tournament title.

“It’s hard to say (what you’ll wind up doing,)” he admitted. “This river changes so much, especially during the spawn when fish are moving up.”

A total of 289 anglers started the tournament Friday (183 boaters and 106 nonboaters). The Top 10% will make the cut here and also earn berths in the 2026 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Championship presented by Lowrance, scheduled for Nov. 18-21 at Lake Hartwell in South Carolina.

Mike Raber, a 30-year-old resident of Elkhart, Ind., is in second place after Friday’s weigh-in with a five-bass limit weighing 20-1. He was the only non-Wisconsin boater in the Top 6 after the Day 1 results were posted.

“I had some boat trouble today, so I decided to put some hay in the barn,” Raber said, hinting he might have hit some of his best spots Friday after missing key fishing time on Day 1. “We’ll hope that doesn’t burn me tomorrow. We’ll see how it goes.”

Rounding out the Top 6 in the boater division after Day 1 on the Mississippi River are third, Harmon Marien, of Eagle River, Wis., 18-8; fourth, Cade Laufenberg, of Onalaska, Wis., 18-1; fifth, Parker Kratochvill, also of Onalaska, Wis., 17-15; and sixth, Tom Monsoor, of La Crosse, Wis., 17-13. Yet another Wisconsin resident, West Salem’s Wyatt Becker, is tied for seventh with Michigan’s Luke Gritter. Both anglers caught 17-7 on Friday.

Tyler Fitch, of Oregon, Wis., weighed a 5-6 on Friday to take the early lead for Big Bass of the Tournament honors.

Philip Olson, of Waukesha, Wis., leads the nonboater division with a three-fish limit of 8-15 caught Friday. Matt McVeigh, of Ft. Dodge, Iowa, is currently in second place with 8-9; and Mike Towe, of Braidwood, Ill., is third 8-1.

Tanner Visco, of Antioch, Ill., caught the heavy (a 4-10) among nonboaters on Friday.

Action will resume Saturday for Day 2 of the tournament. Fans can follow the action live on Bassmaster.com. Take-off is scheduled for 6 a.m. CT and weigh-in will begin at 2 p.m. CT.

Explore La Crosse is hosting this week’s tournament.

2026 B.A.S.S. Nation Series Title Sponsor: Mercury

2026 B.A.S.S. Nation Series Presenting Sponsor: Lowrance

About B.A.S.S.

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

Media Contact: Mandy Pascal, Communications Manager, 334-414-8677, [email protected]

2026 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier at Mississippi River presented by Lowrance 5/8-5/10
Mississippi River, LaCrosse WI.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1

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

1. Justin Yenter Stevens Point, WI 5 20-06 0
Day 1: 5 20-06
2. Mike Raber Elkhart, IN 5 20-01 0
Day 1: 5 20-01
3. Harmon Marien Eagle River, WI 5 18-08 0
Day 1: 5 18-08
4. Cade Laufenberg Onalaska, WI 5 18-01 0
Day 1: 5 18-01
5. Parker Kratochvill Onalaska, WI 5 17-15 0
Day 1: 5 17-15
6. Tom Monsoor La Crosse, WI 5 17-13 0
Day 1: 5 17-13
7. Wyatt Becker LaCrosse, WI 5 17-07 0
Day 1: 5 17-07
7. Luke Gritter Otsego, MI 5 17-07 0
Day 1: 5 17-07
9. Adam Hamann Prairie Du Chien, IA 5 16-12 0
Day 1: 5 16-12
9. Jeremy Nokken La Crosse, WI 5 16-12 0
Day 1: 5 16-12
11. Doug Chapin Tigerton, WI 5 16-09 0
Day 1: 5 16-09
12. Kyle Goltz Chippewa Falls, WI 5 16-04 0
Day 1: 5 16-04
13. Mitch Van Ert Okauchee, WI 5 16-00 0
Day 1: 5 16-00
14. Dan Mohn Lansing, IA 5 15-13 0
Day 1: 5 15-13
15. Cody Dawson Mount Vernon, OH 5 15-10 0
Day 1: 5 15-10
15. Corey Lindsey Cardington, OH 5 15-10 0
Day 1: 5 15-10
17. Nic Rand Paw Paw, MI 5 15-02 0
Day 1: 5 15-02
18. Darren Zumach Onalaska, WI 5 15-00 0
Day 1: 5 15-00
19. Tyler Fitch Fall River, WI 4 15-00 0
Day 1: 4 15-00
20. Evan Sutton Highland, IL 5 14-14 0
Day 1: 5 14-14
21. Marty Rollins Groveland, IL 5 14-13 0
Day 1: 5 14-13
21. Wyatt Szymanski Stevens Point, WI 5 14-13 0
Day 1: 5 14-13
23. Jackson Perry Houston, MN 4 14-11 0
Day 1: 4 14-11
24. Brady Hanna Bettendorf, IA 5 14-10 0
Day 1: 5 14-10
25. Travis Ellefson Luck, WI 5 14-09 0
Day 1: 5 14-09
25. Evan Newell Jefferson City, TN 5 14-09 0
Day 1: 5 14-09
27. Griffin Fernandes Fishers, IN 5 14-08 0
Day 1: 5 14-08
27. Nick Koehne Bradley, IL 5 14-08 0
Day 1: 5 14-08
29. Ryan Michek Brooklyn, WI 5 14-05 0
Day 1: 5 14-05
30. Nick Owens Eau Claire, WI 5 14-04 0
Day 1: 5 14-04
30. Brian Post Janesville, WI 5 14-04 0
Day 1: 5 14-04
32. Matt Pasma Minneapolis, MN 5 14-00 0
Day 1: 5 14-00
33. Andrew Mlotek Plainfield, IL 5 13-14 0
Day 1: 5 13-14
34. Cory Hauk River Falls, WI 5 13-13 0
Day 1: 5 13-13
35. Jamie Curia Dixon, IL 5 13-11 0
Day 1: 5 13-11
35. Perry See Rochester, MN 5 13-11 0
Day 1: 5 13-11
37. Andrew Behnke Fond Du Lac, WI 5 13-10 0
Day 1: 5 13-10
38. Ben Potaracke Stoddard, WI 5 13-09 0
Day 1: 5 13-09
39. Grant Neubauer Medford, WI 5 13-07 0
Day 1: 5 13-07
40. Jerry Pape Bella Vista, AR 5 13-05 0
Day 1: 5 13-05
41. Aidan Lee Saint Paul, MN 5 13-04 0
Day 1: 5 13-04
42. Tanner Bock Davenport, IA 5 13-02 0
Day 1: 5 13-02
42. Jon Kludt Mitchell, SD 5 13-02 0
Day 1: 5 13-02
44. Calvin Davidson Plainfield, IN 5 13-00 0
Day 1: 5 13-00
44. Casey Knaup Fort Atkinson, WI 5 13-00 0
Day 1: 5 13-00
46. Nathan Gray Columbus, IN 5 12-14 0
Day 1: 5 12-14
46. Allan Hall Brandon, SD 5 12-14 0
Day 1: 5 12-14
46. Jason Rice Willard, MO 5 12-14 0
Day 1: 5 12-14
49. Nick Dumke Grand Rapids, MN 5 12-13 0
Day 1: 5 12-13
50. Jack Mulholland Eyota, MN 5 12-12 0
Day 1: 5 12-12
50. Zach Stall Lindenhurst, IL 5 12-12 0
Day 1: 5 12-12
52. Tad Tinlin Des Moines, IA 5 12-11 0
Day 1: 5 12-11
53. Logan Bullinger Bismarck, ND 5 12-10 0
Day 1: 5 12-10
54. Szymon Piton Orland Park, IL 5 12-09 0
Day 1: 5 12-09
55. Bryce Hauf Winner, SD 5 12-08 0
Day 1: 5 12-08
55. Fernando Lobato Sparta, WI 5 12-08 0
Day 1: 5 12-08
57. Mason Bohland Noblesville, IN 5 12-07 0
Day 1: 5 12-07
58. Troy Diede Sioux Falls, SD 5 12-06 0
Day 1: 5 12-06
58. John Mayo Granite Falls, NC 5 12-06 0
Day 1: 5 12-06
60. Larry Peterson II Hammond, WI 4 12-06 0
Day 1: 4 12-06
61. Spencer Requarth Dayton, OH 5 12-05 0
Day 1: 5 12-05
62. Christopher Helfer Baltimore, OH 5 12-04 0
Day 1: 5 12-04
63. Austin Brimeyer Dubuque, IA 5 12-03 0
Day 1: 5 12-03
63. Adam Markiewicz Plainfield, IL 5 12-03 0
Day 1: 5 12-03
65. Drew Campbell Cedar Falls, IA 5 12-02 0
Day 1: 5 12-02
66. Kevin Ruh Onalaska, WI 5 12-01 0
Day 1: 5 12-01
66. Jack Webb Trempealeau, WI 5 12-01 0
Day 1: 5 12-01
68. Sean Lofgren Forest Lake, MN 5 12-00 0
Day 1: 5 12-00
69. Josh Miller Woodville, WI 5 11-15 0
Day 1: 5 11-15
69. Evan Powell Norwalk, IA 5 11-15 0
Day 1: 5 11-15
71. Trevor Sanderson New Lenox, IL 4 11-15 0
Day 1: 4 11-15
72. Devon Dvorak Keystone, IA 5 11-14 0
Day 1: 5 11-14
72. Adam Hutmacher Oacoma, SD 5 11-14 0
Day 1: 5 11-14
72. Matt McCoy Indianapolis, IN 5 11-14 0
Day 1: 5 11-14
75. Johnathan Bestul Iola, WI 5 11-13 0
Day 1: 5 11-13
76. Aaron Olsen Lenexa, KS 5 11-11 0
Day 1: 5 11-11
77. Jason Citta Hershey, NE 5 11-09 0
Day 1: 5 11-09
77. Steve Lee Minneapolis, MN 5 11-09 0
Day 1: 5 11-09
79. Blake Knies Jasper, IN 5 11-06 0
Day 1: 5 11-06
80. Christopher Welch Fall River, WI 5 11-04 0
Day 1: 5 11-04
81. Gary Schild Mundelein, IL 5 11-03 0
Day 1: 5 11-03
82. Dustin Williams Tiskilwa, IL 5 11-01 0
Day 1: 5 11-01
83. Jim Tomsovic Sparta, WI 4 11-00 0
Day 1: 4 11-00
84. Bailey Bleser Burlington, WI 5 10-15 0
Day 1: 5 10-15
85. Edward Gad Morris, IL 4 10-13 0
Day 1: 4 10-13
86. Trey Zagrzebski Plover, WI 4 10-12 0
Day 1: 4 10-12
87. Bryan Schumacher Eau Claire, WI 5 10-11 0
Day 1: 5 10-11
88. Dan Hendley Mankato, MN 4 10-11 0
Day 1: 4 10-11
89. Ty Kenyon Dodgeville, WI 5 10-09 0
Day 1: 5 10-09
90. Dustin Taylor Galesburg, IL 5 10-08 0
Day 1: 5 10-08
91. Nathaniel Melgaard Elk Mound, WI 4 10-08 0
Day 1: 4 10-08
92. Mike Obal Jr Springfield, NE 5 10-07 0
Day 1: 5 10-07
93. Brett Hurst Helena, MO 4 10-07 0
Day 1: 4 10-07
94. Cody Gray Delaware, OH 4 10-04 0
Day 1: 4 10-04
94. Dave Schneider Jr Indianapolis, IN 4 10-04 0
Day 1: 4 10-04
96. Erik Brztowski Lemont, IL 4 10-02 0
Day 1: 4 10-02
96. Michael Rubino Hoffman Estates, IL 4 10-02 0
Day 1: 4 10-02
98. Collin Tweten Decorah, IA 5 10-00 0
Day 1: 5 10-00
99. Joe Titus Bemidji, MN 5 09-15 0
Day 1: 5 09-15
100. Bryan Moreland Durango, IA 4 09-13 0
Day 1: 4 09-13
101. Jason Merschdorf Baldwin, WI 4 09-10 0
Day 1: 4 09-10
101. Nathaniel Terbush Ann Arbor, MI 4 09-10 0
Day 1: 4 09-10
103. Jay Swanson Lakeville, MN 4 09-08 0
Day 1: 4 09-08
104. Harry Therault Elgin, IL 5 09-05 0
Day 1: 5 09-05
105. Kazuki Kitajima Corinth, TX 5 09-03 0
Day 1: 5 09-03
106. Curtis Hughes Greenwood, IN 4 09-03 0
Day 1: 4 09-03
107. Kyle Seubert Chaseburg, WI 5 09-01 0
Day 1: 5 09-01
108. Jeff Brown Wentworth, SD 4 08-12 0
Day 1: 4 08-12
109. Brett Logue Lincoln, NE 4 08-08 0
Day 1: 4 08-08
110. Michael Messall Bismarck, ND 5 08-03 0
Day 1: 5 08-03
111. Dylan Minch Stevens Point, WI 4 08-02 0
Day 1: 4 08-02
112. Troy Sippl Sussex, WI 4 08-00 0
Day 1: 4 08-00
113. Kent Priel No Platte, NE 3 08-00 0
Day 1: 3 08-00
114. Josh Sokol Orland Park, IL 4 07-15 0
Day 1: 4 07-15
115. Luis Gonzalez Round Lake Beach, IL 3 07-15 0
Day 1: 3 07-15
116. Joe Moyer Dubuque, IA 3 07-14 0
Day 1: 3 07-14
117. Gary Michalski Naperville, IL 3 07-12 0
Day 1: 3 07-12
118. Leo Morris Markesan, WI 3 07-11 0
Day 1: 3 07-11
119. Parker Batts Dandridge, TN 3 07-05 0
Day 1: 3 07-05
120. Jacob Martin Hortonville, WI 4 07-03 0
Day 1: 4 07-03
121. Nolan Freeman Johnson Lake, NE 3 07-03 0
Day 1: 3 07-03
122. JJ Patton Eldridge, IA 3 07-02 0
Day 1: 3 07-02
123. Austin Moore Washburn, IL 4 07-01 0
Day 1: 4 07-01
124. Charles Verfuerth Port Washington, WI 3 06-11 0
Day 1: 3 06-11
125. Brady Schran Zumbrota, MN 2 06-11 0
Day 1: 2 06-11
126. David Homan Palatine , IL 3 06-07 0
Day 1: 3 06-07
127. Colby Kirwan Platte, SD 3 06-06 0
Day 1: 3 06-06
127. Marcus Livingston Augusta, WI 3 06-06 0
Day 1: 3 06-06
129. Brandon Hobbs Galloway, OH 4 05-15 0
Day 1: 4 05-15
130. Greg Cooper Monroe City, MO 3 05-15 0
Day 1: 3 05-15
130. Adam Green Davis, IL 3 05-15 0
Day 1: 3 05-15
132. Brock Belik Orchard, NE 3 05-09 0
Day 1: 3 05-09
133. Steve Brockman Milford, OH 3 05-07 0
Day 1: 3 05-07
133. Jordan Schumacher Weyauwega, WI 3 05-07 0
Day 1: 3 05-07
135. David Schneider Indianapolis, IN 2 05-05 0
Day 1: 2 05-05
136. Kevin Allen Springport, IN 2 05-01 0
Day 1: 2 05-01
137. Dolyn Brown II Valley, NE 2 04-13 0
Day 1: 2 04-13
138. Tyler Darrow Cottage Grove, MN 2 04-08 0
Day 1: 2 04-08
138. Robert Myers Lacona, IA 2 04-08 0
Day 1: 2 04-08
140. Frank Ramsey Spring Grove, IL 2 04-07 0
Day 1: 2 04-07
140. Jeremiah Shaver Holmen, WI 2 04-07 0
Day 1: 2 04-07
142. Mark Tonjum Jr Spencer, IA 2 04-02 0
Day 1: 2 04-02
143. Michael Kazmierczak Lemont, IL 2 04-01 0
Day 1: 2 04-01
144. Ai Len Saesee Rochester, MN 2 03-15 0
Day 1: 2 03-15
145. John Carr Chaseburg, WI 1 03-13 0
Day 1: 1 03-13
146. Carson Dewald Jamestown, ND 2 03-12 0
Day 1: 2 03-12
147. Kevin Johnson Sparta, WI 2 03-03 0
Day 1: 2 03-03
148. Dan Beberniss Valentine, NE 1 02-07 0
Day 1: 1 02-07
149. Shaun Fowler Spring Park, MN 1 02-03 0
Day 1: 1 02-03
150. Andy Toft Canton, SD 1 01-10 0
Day 1: 1 01-10
151. Colton Boelkes Roscoe, IL 1 01-09 0
Day 1: 1 01-09
151. Jay Spencer Lincoln, NE 1 01-09 0
Day 1: 1 01-09
153. Xander Daniel Iron City, TN 1 01-08 0
Day 1: 1 01-08
154. Jeffrey Mulholland Elgin, MN 1 01-06 0
Day 1: 1 01-06
155. Michael Jarvis Ingleside , IL 1 01-05 0
Day 1: 1 01-05
155. Clint Paulette Malvern, OH 1 01-05 0
Day 1: 1 01-05
155. Kenneth Swint Bargersville, IN 1 01-05 0
Day 1: 1 01-05
158. John Randall Powell, OH 1 01-02 0
Day 1: 1 01-02
159. Jeremy Anibas Menomonie, WI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
159. Jordan Bellendier Cedar Rapids, IA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
159. Bryan Close Fairbank, IA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
159. Conrad Fox Prescott, WI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
159. Mason Gillihan Manchester, IA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
159. Dylan Griswold Cedar Rapids, IA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
159. Ricardo Guzman Sunrise Beach, MO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
159. Christopher Horton West Salem, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
159. Hayden Lambe Scugog CANADA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
159. Michael Lebsack Duluth, MN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
159. Brady LeMarbe Milford, MI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
159. Chase Loftus Iowa City, IA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
159. Eli Lubbehusen Evansville, IN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
159. Tim Prokop Plainfield, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
159. Travis Seitzinger Sidney, MT 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
159. Justin Shepard Lansing, IA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
159. Bill Skowronski Hennepin, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
159. Gordon Tufte Fountain City, WI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
159. Scott Tyrell White Lake, MI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
159. Taylor Umland Carlock, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
159. Greg Vance Delhi, IA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
159. Wills VanDommelen Midlothian, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
159. Dan Welsh Elko New Mrkt, MN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
159. Wes Westerveld Anoka, MN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 89 642 1652-14
----------------------------------
89 642 1652-14

2026 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier at Mississippi River presented by Lowrance 5/8-5/10
Mississippi River, LaCrosse WI.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 1

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

1. Philip Olson Waukesha, WI 3 08-15 0
Day 1: 3 08-15
2. Matt McVeigh Ft. Dodge, IA 3 08-09 0
Day 1: 3 08-09
3. Mike Towe Braidwood, IL 3 08-01 0
Day 1: 3 08-01
4. Cole Jilderda Tiskilwa, IL 3 07-13 0
Day 1: 3 07-13
5. Hector Garcia Elgin, IL 3 07-10 0
Day 1: 3 07-10
6. Drew Pingel Star Prairie, WI 3 07-08 0
Day 1: 3 07-08
7. Scott Bullinger Bismarck, ND 3 07-06 0
Day 1: 3 07-06
8. Eric Storms Winner, SD 3 07-05 0
Day 1: 3 07-05
8. Brandon Troupe Chicago, IL 3 07-05 0
Day 1: 3 07-05
10. Casey Hutmacher Oacoma, SD 3 07-02 0
Day 1: 3 07-02
11. Tanner Visco Antioch, IL 2 07-02 0
Day 1: 2 07-02
12. Brian Hensley Edwardsburg, MI 3 07-00 0
Day 1: 3 07-00
12. John Jacobson Midlothian , IL 3 07-00 0
Day 1: 3 07-00
14. Charles Carroll West Liberty, OH 3 06-12 0
Day 1: 3 06-12
15. Troy Jutting Savage, MN 3 06-11 0
Day 1: 3 06-11
15. Chase Kinney Stevens Point, WI 3 06-11 0
Day 1: 3 06-11
17. Noah Pawlak Prior Lake, MN 3 06-10 0
Day 1: 3 06-10
18. Austin Hubatch Rosholt, WI 3 06-09 0
Day 1: 3 06-09
18. Kevin Stewart Dowagiac, MI 3 06-09 0
Day 1: 3 06-09
20. Keith Jensen Omaha, NE 3 06-07 0
Day 1: 3 06-07
21. Jackson Miller Prior Lake, MN 3 06-03 0
Day 1: 3 06-03
21. Bill Olson Barrington, IL 3 06-03 0
Day 1: 3 06-03
21. Neal Wisinski Stevens Point, WI 3 06-03 0
Day 1: 3 06-03
24. Leo Glynn Orland Park, IL 3 06-01 0
Day 1: 3 06-01
24. Robin Hessling Quincy, IL 3 06-01 0
Day 1: 3 06-01
26. Jim Thompson Manchester, IA 3 05-14 0
Day 1: 3 05-14
26. Bob Zagrzebski Stevens Point, WI 3 05-14 0
Day 1: 3 05-14
28. Alex Garcia Chadron, NE 3 05-13 0
Day 1: 3 05-13
29. Conor Hansen Chicago, IL 2 05-11 0
Day 1: 2 05-11
29. John Kozel Leawood, KS 2 05-11 0
Day 1: 2 05-11
31. Casey Cornelius Greenfield, IN 3 05-10 0
Day 1: 3 05-10
31. TJ Soppe Manchester, IA 3 05-10 0
Day 1: 3 05-10
33. Lenny Pawlak Prior Lake, MN 2 05-06 0
Day 1: 2 05-06
34. Alfonso Garcia Jr Mccook, NE 2 05-03 0
Day 1: 2 05-03
34. Jake Minch Stevens Point, WI 2 05-03 0
Day 1: 2 05-03
36. Antonio Gradi Sr Peotone, IL 2 04-15 0
Day 1: 2 04-15
37. Dan Mcadams Reedsburg, WI 2 04-13 0
Day 1: 2 04-13
38. Scott Blaesi Maxwell, NE 2 04-11 0
Day 1: 2 04-11
39. Renee Hensley Edwardsburg, MI 2 04-08 0
Day 1: 2 04-08
40. Joe Paulson Winner, WY 2 04-07 0
Day 1: 2 04-07
40. Elijah Smith-Nguyen Lake Elmo, MN 2 04-07 0
Day 1: 2 04-07
42. Jacob Lange Mount Vernon, IA 2 04-06 0
Day 1: 2 04-06
42. Sean Ruegemer Bloomington, MN 2 04-06 0
Day 1: 2 04-06
44. Vincent Lattyak Crestwood, IL 2 04-04 0
Day 1: 2 04-04
45. Greg Poetz Winsted, MN 2 04-01 0
Day 1: 2 04-01
46. Lance Arnoldussen Oconomowoc, WI 2 03-14 0
Day 1: 2 03-14
47. Aaron Konopacki New Albin, IA 2 03-12 0
Day 1: 2 03-12
48. Blev Blevins Cottage Grove, WI 2 03-11 0
Day 1: 2 03-11
48. Cody Reynolds Brookings, SD 2 03-11 0
Day 1: 2 03-11
50. Kevin Watson Bloomington, MN 2 03-09 0
Day 1: 2 03-09
51. Devan Jenkins Milwaukee, WI 2 03-07 0
Day 1: 2 03-07
52. Michael Clark Milford, IA 2 03-05 0
Day 1: 2 03-05
53. Will Yule Springfield, SD 1 03-02 0
Day 1: 1 03-02
54. James Maynard Marysville, OH 1 02-15 0
Day 1: 1 02-15
55. Brian Casey Blaine, MN 2 02-14 0
Day 1: 2 02-14
56. Ted Tinlin Des Moines, IA 1 02-12 0
Day 1: 1 02-12
57. Michael Schelling Sioux Falls, SD 1 02-08 0
Day 1: 1 02-08
57. Jeff Wineberg Minneapolis, MN 1 02-08 0
Day 1: 1 02-08
59. Casey Rzentkowski Mosinee, WI 1 02-07 0
Day 1: 1 02-07
60. Kara Wattunen Minneapolis, MN 1 02-02 0
Day 1: 1 02-02
61. Joe Wilcox Newark, OH 1 02-00 0
Day 1: 1 02-00
62. David Blake-Gasper Waukesha, WI 1 01-14 0
Day 1: 1 01-14
62. Bill Heller Wildwood, IL 1 01-14 0
Day 1: 1 01-14
62. Brian Hinspeter Waukee, IA 1 01-14 0
Day 1: 1 01-14
62. David Sprow Grove City, OH 1 01-14 0
Day 1: 1 01-14
66. Mason Blankenship Esko, MN 1 01-12 0
Day 1: 1 01-12
66. Zach Jarchow Burnsville, MN 1 01-12 0
Day 1: 1 01-12
68. Derrick Peterson Minneapolis, MN 1 01-11 0
Day 1: 1 01-11
69. Chris Grocholski Mc Gregor, IA 1 01-10 0
Day 1: 1 01-10
70. Richard Conrad Arcadia, WI 1 01-08 0
Day 1: 1 01-08
70. Scott Pitlick Pierre, SD 1 01-08 0
Day 1: 1 01-08
72. Kristian Dus Roselle, IL 1 01-06 0
Day 1: 1 01-06
72. Jerrid Schmidt Wyoming, MN 1 01-06 0
Day 1: 1 01-06
74. Angela Mayo Granite Falls, NC 1 01-05 0
Day 1: 1 01-05
75. Glen Shoemaker Cortland, NE 1 01-03 0
Day 1: 1 01-03
76. Brian Becker Eagle Lake, MN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
76. Jim Blumenstein Bolingbrook, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
76. Denny Boyles Jr Princeton, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
76. Matthew Brew Loveland, OH 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
76. Casey Briggs Highmore, SD 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
76. Dolyn Brown III Bellevue, NE 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
76. Aaron Bunge Fairfax, IA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
76. Kevin Collins Bristol, WI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
76. Robert Daniels Sioux City, IA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
76. William Gruwell Muncie, IN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
76. Steven Huegerich Bloomfield, IA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
76. Nicholas Ireland Davison, MI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
76. Dante Johnson Gurnee, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
76. Joseph Johnson Maquoketa, IA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
76. Neri Kiliotaitis Darien, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
76. Jefferson Lehman Elk Point, SD 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
76. Tom Logue Tyndall, SD 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
76. Angela Messall Bismarck, ND 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
76. Nathan Patten Sioux Falls, SD 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
76. Kaden Pingel Star Prairie, WI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
76. Charles Pustz Tinley Park, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
76. Amanda Riley Galesville, WI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
76. Chris Roberts South Holland, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
76. Nicholas Schneidewent Oshkosh, WI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
76. Erika Spencer Lannon, WI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
76. Heath Spratlin Overland Park, KS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
76. Logan Staloch Jamestown, ND 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
76. John Therault Valparaiso, IN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
76. Brian Turro Minooka, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
76. Ronald Weilage Shepherdsville, KY 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
76. Owen Worthington Kenosha, WI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
76. Rod Yoder West Lafayette, IN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 29 157 347-11
----------------------------------
29 157 347-11

by AnglersChannel

The ACA Announces Program Details for the 2026-27 Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia

SAN ANTONIO, TX (May 7, 2026) – The Association of Collegiate Anglers announces the program details for the 2026-27 chase for Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia. College fishing’s only all-encompassing National Rankings system is a 12 month-long race. Hundreds of college fishing teams compete in national, regional, and local tournaments across the country. Earning valuable points along the way, college fishing programs vie to finish the year in the Top 25, Top 10, or even be ranked number one.

View the complete program details here.

“We are excited for a new season of the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia to begin,” said Wade Middleton, ACA Director and President of CarecoTV. “Each and every college bass fishing team in the nation works extremely hard, maintaining their class work, putting in time on the water, and representing their university. This year long race, and the notoriety that comes with it, rewards these anglers and teams for their efforts throughout the season and helps showcase collegiate programs who are consistently ranked in the Top 25 in the nation.”

The Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia was first introduced during the 2012 season. Arkansas Tech University, located in Russellville, AR, claimed the title during the inaugural season. Since its inception, eight different schools have finished the year ranked number one in college fishing’s only all-encompassing National Rankings system. Three of those schools have won the title multiple times. Here is a look at the schools that have won the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia:

University of Montevallo (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 20245)

McKendree University (2019, 2020)

University of North Alabama (2014, 2015)

Bethel University (2018)

Bryan College (2017)

University of Alabama (2016)

University of Louisiana – Monroe (2013)

Arkansas Tech University (2012)

Follow this link to view a list of current points eligible events for the 2026-27 Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia.

To submit an event to be eligible for points, email [email protected].

by AnglersChannel

Wagner’s stellar day delivers whisper-thin lead in Bassmaster Elite at Lake Murray

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Emil Wagner’s formula was simple: Expectation and execution. Combined, those two elements yielded a five-bass limit of 25 pounds, 7 ounces that leads Day 1 of the Tedy’s Team Bassmaster Elite at Lake Murray.

“I started the morning with a 5-pounder and between 9:30 and 11, I caught almost all my weight and (this afternoon), I caught another 20 pounds that didn’t help,” said the pro from Marietta, Ga. “It was an incredible day on Lake Murray. I fished the way I like to fish.”

On a productive day that saw this Saluda River impoundment give up 29 bags over 20 pounds, Wagner topped a tight leaderboard where 2-8 separates first from 10th. Heading into the second round an ounce ahead of Tennessee pro Jacob Foutz, Wagner said the day’s mostly rainy complexion worked to his advantage.

“I prepared for this event with the weather anticipated,” Wagner said. “I spent a lot of time fishing places where you couldn’t catch them in practice anticipating (today’s weather).

“I’ve seen it a million times. I checked the weather every day in practice, I saw we were gonna have the storms we had and I couldn’t even sleep last night because I thought, ‘If they do what I think they’re gonna do, it’s gonna be ridiculous.’ And they did.”

Noting that he caught 40 largemouth bass and 25 striped bass (nontournament species), Wagner said he made a couple of key presentation adjustments based on the weather. The leader kept his lure details slim, but he said changing a bait color and his retrieve made distinct impacts.

As a guide on Lake Lanier, Wagner is well-acquainted with fast-paced blueback herring and the bass that nomadically chase them. Lake Murray’s herring are spawning, so the bass are targeting these aggregations with sporadic feeding frenzies that create brief, but intense windows of opportunity.

“The key is having enough places, knowing which ones to hit at what time of day and running them correctly, timing-wise,” Wagner said. “I don’t stay anywhere very long, unless it’s really good.

“You just want to stay efficient and keep your eye on where other boats are. I try not to go places where I know a bunch of boats have hit, because I know those fish are going to be nearly impossible to catch. They’re already so smart out here.”

In addition to the right place, right time premise, Wagner explained the execution truth.

“I always say that herring fishing is doing all the little things right,” he said. “The wind getting heavier, or the clouds get in front of the sun for 5 minutes might change the color you want to throw.

“All the little things — retrieve, color, timing, the places you hit — doing all that stuff right throughout the day is how you have a good day. You can’t always control the losses, but I made some good calls today and we destroyed ’em. It was one of the most fun days of fishing I’ve ever had.”

Wagner said one of those good calls involved running to a spot downlake earlier than he had initially planned. As he explained, practice showed him the fish in that area tend to turn on later in the morning, but the day’s dim skies nullified that consideration.

“I had a section that I knew if I got bit down there, the quality was way higher than average,” Wagner said. “I went down there with about 19 pounds and culled up to 24 1/2 in probably an hour.”

Wagner said his day could have been even more impressive, had he boated an estimated 6-pounder that slipped through his grasp. An unexpected line wrap on his rod tip left Wagner unable to effectively fight his fish, and when he lunged for it at boat side, the bait dislodged and the fish swam free.

Summarizing his takeaway, Wagner said: “We had 25-7, so it’s all good.”

Coming off his first Elite win in the previous Progressive Bassmaster Elite tournament at the Arkansas River, Foutz is in second place with 25-6. The pro from Philadelphia, Tenn., said his day got off to a great start.

“The first one I caught this morning was a 6-pounder,” Foutz said. “The last time we were here, the weather did the same thing; it was cloudy and nasty the first morning and they bit, so I figured they’d do the same thing. Obviously, they did.”

While some of his competitors parked on certain spots for long periods of time, Foutz fared best with a run-and-gun formula. No one technique dominated his day, but his mobility delivered what he needed.

“I think I weighed all five of those bass on five different baits,” Foutz said. “I don’t feel like I’m that dialed in, but there are so many big fish in here, if you fish hard enough, you’re probably going to get five big bites.”

Takumi Ito of Chiba, Japan is in third place with 25-0. He compiled his day’s results with a blended strategy that included bed fishing for spawning bass and running points for bass targeting the blueback herring.

“That was awesome,” Ito said of his performance. “After practice, I was thinking 22 to 23 pounds.”

Ito targeted his bed fish with several options, including dropshots, Neko rigs and unweighted worms and crawfish. For the herring fish, he mostly used a fluke style bait. Ito said he weighed in three bed fish and two herring chasers.

Drew Benton of Panama City Beach, Fla., holds the Phoenix Boats Big Bass lead with a 7-0.

Trey McKinney of Carbondale, Ill., leads the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 447 points. Brandon Cobb of Greenwood, S.C., is in second with 406, followed by Caleb Hudson of Lincolnton, Ga., with 401, Foutz with 382 and Justin Atkins of Florence, Ala., with 381.

Friday’s takeoff is scheduled for 6:30 a.m. ET at Dreher Island State Park. The weigh-in will be held at the park at 3 p.m.

Bassmaster LIVE will be available all four days of the event, starting on Bassmaster.com and Roku Sports Channel May 7 and 8. FS1 will host the morning session on May 9 and 10 from 8-11:30 a.m. ET before heading to Bassmaster.com for afternoon coverage. All weigh-ins will be available live on Bassmaster.com starting at 3 p.m. ET.

This event is being hosted by Capital City/Lake Murray Country.

2026 Bassmaster Elite Series Title Sponsor: Progressive

About Capital City/Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board:

About B.A.S.S.

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

Media Contact: Mandy Pascal, Communications Manager, 334-414-8677, [email protected]

2026 Bassmaster Elite Series at Lake Murray 5/7-5/10
Lake Murray, Columbia SC.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 1

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

1. Emil Wagner Marietta, GA 5 25-07 101
Day 1: 5 25-07
2. Jacob Foutz Philadelphia, TN 5 25-06 100
Day 1: 5 25-06
3. Taku Ito Dalton GA JAPAN 5 25-00 99
Day 1: 5 25-00
4. Cody Meyer Eagle, ID 5 24-10 98
Day 1: 5 24-10
5. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 5 24-03 97
Day 1: 5 24-03
5. Jake Whitaker Hendersonville, NC 5 24-03 97
Day 1: 5 24-03
7. Kyoya Fujita Yamanashi CA JAPAN 5 24-02 95
Day 1: 5 24-02
8. Andrew Loberg Guntersville, AL 5 23-12 94
Day 1: 5 23-12
9. Trey McKinney Carbondale, IL 5 23-11 93
Day 1: 5 23-11
10. Cody Huff Ava, MO 5 22-15 92
Day 1: 5 22-15
11. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 5 22-11 91
Day 1: 5 22-11
12. Kyle Patrick Cooperstown, NY 5 22-04 90
Day 1: 5 22-04
13. Bryant Smith Roseville, CA 5 21-15 89
Day 1: 5 21-15
14. Paul Marks Cumming, GA 5 21-14 88
Day 1: 5 21-14
14. Jay Przekurat Stevens Point, WI 5 21-14 88
Day 1: 5 21-14
16. Blake Capps Muskogee, OK 5 21-06 86
Day 1: 5 21-06
17. Kyle Welcher Valley, AL 5 21-05 85
Day 1: 5 21-05
18. Caleb Hudson Lincolnton, GA 5 21-04 84
Day 1: 5 21-04
19. David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 5 21-03 83
Day 1: 5 21-03
19. Patrick Walters Eutawville, SC 5 21-03 83
Day 1: 5 21-03
21. Aaron Jagdfeld Rochester Hills, MI 5 21-00 81
Day 1: 5 21-00
22. Brock Reinkemeyer Warsaw, MO 5 20-13 80
Day 1: 5 20-13
23. Robert Gee Knoxville, TN 5 20-11 79
Day 1: 5 20-11
23. Alex Redwine Blue Ash, OH 5 20-11 79
Day 1: 5 20-11
25. Bryan New Leesville, SC 5 20-10 77
Day 1: 5 20-10
26. Easton Fothergill Grand Rapids , MN 5 20-09 76
Day 1: 5 20-09
27. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 5 20-08 75
Day 1: 5 20-08
28. Bryan Schmitt Deale, MD 5 20-02 74
Day 1: 5 20-02
29. Jeff Gustafson Kenora, ON Ontario CANA 5 20-00 73
Day 1: 5 20-00
30. Lee Livesay Longview, TX 5 19-14 72
Day 1: 5 19-14
31. John Garrett Union City, TN 5 19-12 71
Day 1: 5 19-12
32. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 5 19-11 70
Day 1: 5 19-11
32. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 5 19-11 70
Day 1: 5 19-11
34. Seth Feider Elko New Market, MN 5 19-10 68
Day 1: 5 19-10
34. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 5 19-10 68
Day 1: 5 19-10
36. Wes Logan Springville, AL 5 19-08 66
Day 1: 5 19-08
37. Evan Kung Pickering Ontario CANAD 5 19-07 65
Day 1: 5 19-07
38. Tucker Smith Birmingham, AL 5 19-06 64
Day 1: 5 19-06
39. Fisher Anaya Eva, AL 5 19-04 63
Day 1: 5 19-04
40. Beau Browning Hot Springs, AR 5 19-03 62
Day 1: 5 19-03
40. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 5 19-03 62
Day 1: 5 19-03
40. Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 5 19-03 62
Day 1: 5 19-03
43. Sam Hanggi Knoxville, TN 5 19-00 59
Day 1: 5 19-00
44. Pake South Winnsboro, TX 5 18-13 58
Day 1: 5 18-13
45. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 5 18-09 57
Day 1: 5 18-09
46. Tyler Williams Barnett, MO 5 18-08 56
Day 1: 5 18-08
47. Dakota Ebare Brookeland, TX 5 18-04 55
Day 1: 5 18-04
47. Austin Felix Eden Prairie, MN 5 18-04 55
Day 1: 5 18-04
49. Jordan Lee Cullman, AL 5 18-03 53
Day 1: 5 18-03
50. Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 5 18-02 52
Day 1: 5 18-02
51. Will Davis Jr Sylacauga, AL 5 18-01 51
Day 1: 5 18-01
52. KJ Queen Catawba, NC 5 18-00 50
Day 1: 5 18-00
53. Logan Parks Auburn, AL 5 17-13 49
Day 1: 5 17-13
54. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 5 17-12 48
Day 1: 5 17-12
55. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 5 17-10 47
Day 1: 5 17-10
56. Brad Whatley Bivins, TX 5 17-05 46
Day 1: 5 17-05
57. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 5 17-02 45
Day 1: 5 17-02
58. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 5 17-01 44
Day 1: 5 17-01
59. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 5 16-13 43
Day 1: 5 16-13
60. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 5 16-12 42
Day 1: 5 16-12
61. Scott Canterbury Odenville, AL 5 16-11 41
Day 1: 5 16-11
61. Bob Downey Detroit Lakes, MN 5 16-11 41
Day 1: 5 16-11
63. Cole Sands Johnson City, TN 5 16-08 39
Day 1: 5 16-08
64. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 5 16-06 38
Day 1: 5 16-06
65. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 5 16-05 37
Day 1: 5 16-05
65. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 5 16-05 37
Day 1: 5 16-05
67. Randy Howell Guntersville, AL 5 16-03 35
Day 1: 5 16-03
68. Wesley Gore Clanton, AL 5 16-02 34
Day 1: 5 16-02
69. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 5 16-00 33
Day 1: 5 16-00
70. Brandon Card Salisbury, NC 5 15-14 32
Day 1: 5 15-14
71. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 5 15-13 31
Day 1: 5 15-13
71. Austin Cranford Oklahoma City, OK 5 15-13 31
Day 1: 5 15-13
73. Joey Cifuentes III Clinton, AR 5 15-10 29
Day 1: 5 15-10
73. Tristan McCormick Bon Aqua, TN 5 15-10 29
Day 1: 5 15-10
75. Cooper Gallant Bowmanville Ontario CAN 5 15-08 27
Day 1: 5 15-08
76. Chris Johnston Peterborough Ontario CA 5 15-07 26
Day 1: 5 15-07
77. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 5 15-06 25
Day 1: 5 15-06
78. Cory Johnston Otonabee CANADA 5 15-03 24
Day 1: 5 15-03
79. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 5 15-02 23
Day 1: 5 15-02
80. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 5 15-00 22
Day 1: 5 15-00
81. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 5 14-14 21
Day 1: 5 14-14
82. Matt Messer Warfield, KY 5 14-13 20
Day 1: 5 14-13
83. Jason Christie Dry Creek, OK 5 14-11 19
Day 1: 5 14-11
84. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 5 14-06 18
Day 1: 5 14-06
85. Cliff Pace Ovett, MS 5 14-05 17
Day 1: 5 14-05
86. Gregory DiPalma Millville, NJ 5 13-14 16
Day 1: 5 13-14
87. Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 5 13-13 15
Day 1: 5 13-13
88. Kenta Kimura Osaka OK JAPAN 5 13-11 14
Day 1: 5 13-11
89. Luke Palmer Atoka, OK 5 13-05 13
Day 1: 5 13-05
90. John Cox Debary, FL 4 13-01 12
Day 1: 4 13-01
91. Chris Zaldain Boyd, TX 5 12-14 11
Day 1: 5 12-14
92. Buddy Gross Chattanooga, TN 5 12-13 10
Day 1: 5 12-13
93. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 5 12-12 9
Day 1: 5 12-12
94. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 5 11-14 8
Day 1: 5 11-14
95. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 4 10-03 7
Day 1: 4 10-03
96. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 4 09-05 6
Day 1: 4 09-05
97. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 3 08-07 5
Day 1: 3 08-07
98. Carl Jocumsen Queensland TN AUSTRALIA 3 07-10 4
Day 1: 3 07-10
99. Nick Trim Galesville, WI 2 04-11 3
Day 1: 2 04-11
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 93 485 1769-09
----------------------------------
93 485 1769-09

by AnglersChannel

Catch the 2026 Minn Kota and Humminbird Owners Tournament on the Anglers Channel Bass Wrap Up Show on Pursuit Channel

Columbia, SC (May 08, 2026) -- The Anglers Channel Bass Wrap Up Show was recently in Eufaula, Alabama to cover the fourth annual Minn Kota and Humminbird Owners Tournament. Now in its fourth year, the Big Bass format and HUGE payout continue to be a massive hit, with over 800 anglers competing for their shot at over $200,000 in cash and prizes!

Big Bass of the event earns a fully rigged 2026 Nitro® Z20 XL, LOADED with Minn Kota and Humminbird products, as well as a Mercury 250 Pro XS, all valued at over $88,000! This year’s winner, Mark Lloyd of Kalamazoo, Michigan, made history at Lake Eufaula — catching the biggest bass of the entire three-day event to claim the grand prize. The Anglers Channel crew was there to capture every exciting moment, and now fans can tune in to Pursuit Channel to see how it all unfolded!

The Anglers Channel Bass Wrap Up Show airs on Pursuit Channel on the following dates and times:

Tuesday, May 12 at 5:30 AM EST / 4:30 AM CST
Wednesday, May 13 at 7:00 PM EST / 6:00 PM CST
Thursday, May 14 at 7:00 AM EST / 6:00 AM CST

Tuesday, May 19 at 5:30 AM EST 4:30 AM CST
Wednesday, May 20 at 7:00 PM EST / 6:00 PM CST
Thursday, May 21 at 7:00 AM EST / 6:00 AM CST

According to Anglers Channel’s Danny Blandford, “Having attended all four Owners events, Lake Eufaula did not disappoint! The Humminbird team was right at home in Alabama, the community was incredibly welcoming, and the fish were there in a big way. Watching Mark Lloyd’s personal best hold up as the biggest bass of the entire event over three days and 800-plus anglers — that’s what tournament fishing is all about.”

Blandford went on to add, “We’re thrilled to bring this event to Pursuit Channel fans again in 2026. The Anglers Channel Bass Wrap Up Show gives us a powerful platform to showcase the excitement of the Minn Kota and Humminbird Owners Tournament to millions of fishing enthusiasts. This is a can’t-miss episode for any bass fishing fan.”

Pursuit Channel, founded in 2008 celebrates its 18^th Anniversary this June providing great outdoors content to millions of viewers across the country. Today, the Pursuit platforms and networks continue to expand in influence as a top outdoor media company in the U.S., due to their industry-leading total audience reach and diversity of content. Pursuit Channel is available to over 22 million homes across the country. Pursuit UP, is on the largest outdoor-focused free streaming platforms available to over 120 million users across a multitude of distribution partners, with both platforms available at no additional cost to consumers.

###

About Johnson Outdoors

JOHNSON OUTDOORS FISHING is comprised of the Humminbird®, Minn Kota® and Cannon® brands. Humminbird is a leading global innovator and manufacturer of marine electronics products including fish finders, multifunction displays, autopilots, ice flashers, and premium cartography products. Minn Kota is the world’s leading manufacturer of electric trolling motors, as well as a complete line of shallow water anchors, battery chargers and marine accessories. Cannon is the leader in controlled-depth fishing and includes a full line of downrigger products and accessories. Visit Humminbird at www.humminbird.com • Visit Minn Kota at www.minnkotamotors.com • Visit Cannon at www.cannondownriggers.com

About AnglersChannel.com

AnglersChannel.com multimedia platform combines the web, social media platforms, on-site event coverage and The Anglers Channel Bass Wrap Up Show on Pursuit to bring you the No. 1 resource in tournament bass fishing. Anglers Channel features the web’s most robust tournament database, including schedules, results and searchable details by body of water. Anglers Channel also delivers industry news as it happens, along with coverage of all tournament bass fishing, from BASS and Major League Fishing to the weekend warriors. Visit Anglers Channel via the web, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.

For more information about Anglers Channel, contact Danny Blandford at [email protected]

About Pursuit

Pursuit Media is the industry leader in outdoor lifestyle programming, delivering hunting, fishing, shooting, and adventure content to over 22 million homes via linear TV and 120+ million users through its Pursuit UP digital platform. Based in Glenwood, Alabama, Pursuit Media, LLC, is majority-owned by The Bordelon Group and remains dedicated to promoting the outdoors lifestyle and supporting the rights of enthusiasts nationwide.

Reach out today for more about Pursuit, and to learn how Pursuit can help your business! #wearepursuit

Pursuit Media TV, LLC – 334.544.0701 – [email protected]

by AnglersChannel

Join the ASA Million Pound Challenge

Clean water is the foundation of everything we do—and now, there’s a way for the entire industry to come together and make a measurable impact.

The American Sportfishing Association is launching the Million Pound Challenge, a member-led effort to remove 1,000,000 pounds of trash from our nation’s waterways.

Timed around National Fishing & Boating Week and continuing throughout the summer, this initiative is built to unite our industry behind a simple message: we protect what we love.

Here’s how to get involved:

Organize a local cleanup—shorelines, boat ramps, rivers, lakes, and more

Rally your staff, customers, and community partners

Track and report the trash you remove to contribute to the million-pound goal

ASA will support your efforts with promotional resources, social media visibility, and a dedicated campaign hub to track progress and highlight member participation.

This is more than a cleanup—it’s a chance to demonstrate leadership, strengthen our local connections, and be part of a national story that reflects the best of our industry.

Commit to participating today and help us reach one million pounds.

by AnglersChannel

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