Wheels on the Bus........
This week David & Kenneth get back in the Drivers Seats and dive into a discussion on the upcoming Big Bass Tour Schedule, changes in the National Professional Fishing League, rosters for the MLF Invitationals and the Bassmaster Opens. Check it out and Happy Holidays!!
Big Bass Tour Expands its Horizons in 2023 - Registration Opens Friday!
Longtime favorites supplemented by more exceptional fisheries
Woodlands, Texas – One goal of the Big Bass Tour is to never rest on our laurels, or in any way remain stagnant, and the expanded 2023 schedule reflects that total level of commitment. All of the longtime favorite venues remain on tap, at the times when they’re likely to show up best, and that murderer’s row of fisheries has been supplemented by a new northern swing: For the first time, we’ll visit New York and Wisconsin, to hit the prolific St. Lawrence River as well as the Upper Mississippi, respectively. If that wasn’t enough, for the first time in its history, the Tour will host four-day mega tournaments at Conroe and Guntersville respectively.
Here's the tale of the tape:
Feb 10-12 | Harris Chain of Lakes, Florida
Florida in February has become a BBT tradition, and with good reason: It’s when the giants show up in the shallows at the heaviest weights they’ll be all year. But the Harris Chain isn’t just any Florida fishery – it offers a wealth of different habitats, and there’s great strategy involved in navigating the chain and employing different techniques. This is one where a double digit isn’t guaranteed to win the top prize.
March 2-5 | Lake Conroe, Texas (4 Day Event for 25th Anniversary, 4 day entry will be $325)
The Big Bass Tour was founded on the back of the Lake Conroe Big Bass Classic and in 2023, will celebrate the 25th annual event with a four-day mega tournament. Highly-developed Lake Conroe may be the best urban bass fishery in the country. It’s just a short drive north of Houston, yet it pumps out giants year after year after year. The other major circuits know it, and have scheduled major events here, but while it’s a popular playground in the summer, at this time of year it’ll swallow up boats and lend itself to various strategies.
March 10-12 | Clarks Hill, Georgia
Located just a stone’s throw from Augusta, Clarks Hill is a textbook fishery, brimming with endless points for anglers to ply and long stretches of river to spread out. While it may not produce a 10-pounder, expect lots of comparably-sized football-shaped bass to hit the scales.
March 24-26 | Lake Norman, North Carolina
Norman is chock full of docks, and that’s always a leading pattern as well as a fallback. The occasional giant largemouth makes a showing, but the increasing population of ever-growing spotted bass should grab some hourly checks.
March 31-April 2 | Lake Eufaula, Alabama
South Alabama in March is a recipe for giant bass moving shallow, and while it may not have the reputation of some of the fisheries of Texas or Florida, rest assured that 10 pound potential exists in every corner of this stories lake from bass fishing history.
April 14-16 | Table Rock Lake, Missouri
Table Rock presents a three-species opportunity – smallmouths and spots will likely earn some of the hourly checks, but expect a big largemouth to take top honors. This is another venue that fishes exceptionally large, and allows skilled anglers to pattern fish among the beauty of the Ozarks.
April 28-30 | Lake Murray, South Carolina
Back to South Carolina, and back to another fishery in the shadows of a big city, in this case Columbia. Murray also has a storied history on the major bass trails, and while the 10-pounders may not show up with regularity, it’s loaded with 6-, 7- and 8-pound studs that make hourly checks and the overall top prize highly competitive.
May 5-7 | Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia (Spring)
The Blue Ridge mountains in the spring are a sight to behold, and Smith Mountain’s clear lower end and two river arms provide anglers with a wide range of habitat for corralling both largemouths and smallmouths. The spawn should be partially over, and everything from a jig to a shakey head or a swimbait could place the winner in his or her prize boat.
May 19-21 | Lake Chickamauga, Tennessee
The first stop on the Tennessee River Chain of lakes couldn’t come at a better time or on a better place than Chickamauga, the grass-filled fishery that has produced 50 pound limits and more 10 pounders over the past decade per acre than just about anywhere on earth. The bass could still be shallow, but many will be headed to their summer haunts.
July 28-30 | St. Lawrence River, New York
It took over a hundred pounds of smallmouths to win a four day tournament on the St. Lawrence last summer, and even the second place finisher was in triple digits. That necessitated our visit, and while we fully expect that a smallmouth will win, the sheer number of 5- and 6-pounders – plus the vast expanses of water available to competitors – will likely take this one down to the wire.
August 4-6 | Upper Mississippi, Wisconsin (LaCrosse)
Our first visit to the Upper Midwest will be held on one of the nation’s most renowned tournament venues, a place where either a largemouth or a smallmouth could claim top honors, and plenty of 3- and 4-pound specimens of both will be caught doing everything from frogging to flipping to cranking to dropshotting.
Sept 29-Oct 1 | Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia (Fall)
Virginia is too pretty and too prolific to only visit once. Four months after our first stop we’ll return, and many of the same places and techniques will still be in play, but as summer turns to fall the fish put on the feed bag and all sorts of new opportunities open up.
Oct 6-8 | Douglas Lake, Tennessee
Douglas, the jewel of East Tennessee, is absolutely loaded with bass, and while some may still be holding offshore, by early October huge numbers are headed to the bank. A big topwater or even a swimbait can be competitive with finesse techniques when this bite window opens up.
Oct 12-15 | Guntersville Lake, Alabama (4 Day Event, 4 day entry will be $325)
We conclude the 2023 season with a four-day mega tournament with a return to the Tennessee River, to perhaps America’s greatest and most resilient tournament lake. Year after year, anglers fish Guntersville’s waters obsessively, and the big bass parade never seems to stop. This is where the Alabama Rig got its first major exposure, but as the fall bite heats up anglers will find multiple big fish patterns.
Registration for the 2023 Bass Pro Shops/Cabela’s Big Bass Tour will open on Friday December 2nd. Visit www.bigbasstour.com for all details.
What we are Thankful For
This week Chris, Kenneth and David do a quick run down of the 2023 Elite Series Roster, KG's Camera work and then finish off the show talking about the Thanksgiving holiday this week and what they are most thankful for. Happy Thanksgiving!!
Can you Hear me Now?
This Week Chris gets a head start on things and welcomes in future MLF Superstar Laker Howell to the program for an impromtu interview. KG and David join in as the boys discuss more MLF Business and try to get Toyota Series Champ Kyle Hall on the show. Try is the optimal word here..... Stay Tuned...
AnglersChannel Bass Wrap Up brought to you by Sportsmans Warehouse Season 13 Ep. 2
On this weeks Episode, we visit the ever popular Wolfson Children’s Tournament on the St. John River in Florida, We check out the Bassmaster high School finals on our favorite place on earth, Lake Hartwell and Visit Anderson and CB gives us another look " Under the Lid" of his 2022 Ranger Boats 520R
Bakewell Leads on Toho with 26-13
Courtesy of Major League Fishing
What would it be like to enter your first tournament as a professional angler, go out on the first day, catch the biggest five-bass limit of your life, weigh it in and take the lead?
Well just ask Bobby Bakewell of Orlando, Fla. Because he did just that today. Fishing as a pro for the first time in the Toyota Series presented by A.R.E., Bakewell sacked up 26 pounds, 13 ounces to take the day-one lead at the Lake Toho event, which is presented by Googan Baits.
“I fished as a co-angler before but this is my first time fishing from the front,” Bakewell says. “And to catch the biggest bag of my life on this day! I got news for you: I’m on cloud 9 right now; I’m ecstatic.”
After several practice days of harsh northwest winds, Thursday brought bright, sunny and still conditions. Air temperatures dipped below the freezing mark and some boats had ice on them this morning.
Bakewell’s solution to the wind-churned lake was to fish stable offshore areas that did not get torched by the wind. He says he’s fishing the same offshore pattern, both above and below the Toho lock.
“The baits and pattern are identical; I’m just doing it in two different areas,” he says. “I’ve got a place in Toho where I can catch a limit fishing that way early, then I lock through and run way south to another spot like the Toho spot.”
Bakewell left Toho with about a 15-pound limit. When he got to his other area, he culled up with 8- and 6-pounders.
“After I caught those two, I left my primary areas alone and went shallow to look around,” Bakewell adds. “I did cull up once more flipping, then I called it a day.”
While 26-13 sounds like an incredible catch for the day, Bakewell still has his work cut out for him the next two days if he wants his dream day to turn into a dream week. Just behind him are some racehorses that hauled in several 20- to 26-pound bags, with more on the horizon considering the warming weather.
Top 10 Pros
1. Bobby Bakewell – 26 – 13 (5)
2. Eric Conant – 26 – 07 (5)
3. Bryan Schmitt – 25 – 09 (5)
4. Samuel Whitmire – 24 – 01 (5)
5. Zak Fadden – 20 – 09 (5)
6. Chad Schroeder – 18 – 10 (5)
7. Christian Greico – 18 – 08 (4)
8. Lance Oligschlaeger – 17 – 04 (5)
9. Joey Cifuentes – 17 – 01 (5)
10. Stephen Albertson – 16 – 09 (5)
Baffa Leads Strike King Co-Angler Division
If you think Bakewell had a magical day on Lake Toho, wait for the tale of Jeffery Baffa, who hauled in 24-11 to take the lead in the co-angler division.
Baffa fished with day-one runner-up pro Eric Conant. Conant weighed in 26 pounds, 7 ounces and Baffa, fishing right behind him, compiled nearly 25 pounds of bass from the back of the boat. That’s over 50 pounds of bass out of one boat.
Baffa has fished MLF events dating back as far as 1996. And his catch today was the biggest of his fishing career.
“What a day, I’ll tell you,” says Baffa. “Every time either Eric [Conant] or I set the hook, we’d say ‘Get the net, it’s a big one!’ And they really were all big ones! It was crazy. We laughed and joked all day long having the time of our lives.”
“My dad passed away two and a half weeks ago,” Baffa adds. “And he was my biggest fan. I couldn’t help but think he was out there with us laughing it up, too, watching us catch those big ones. It was a very, very special day and I dedicate it to him.”
Top 10 Strike King Co-Anglers
1. Jeffery Baffa – 24 – 11 (5)
2. Ricky Grant – 20 – 03 (5)
3. Frank Kitchens Jr. – 15 – 07 (5)
4. James Littich – 15 – 06 (5)
5. Derek Kaalberg – 13 – 07 (2)
6. Kevin Clark – 12 – 08 (5)
7. John Brooks – 10 – 14 (5)
8. James Brooks – 10 – 09 (4)
9. Eric Wild – 9 – 14 (4)
10. Sam Fish – 9 – 11 (5)
Mundy Blasts 39-7 to Take the Lead at Sam Rayburn
- Derek Mundy poses with his 13-pounder shortly before weighing his fish. Photo by Kyle Wood.
Derek Mundy is in the midst of one of the best months of fishing in history. Back at the beginning of January, Mundy weighed 40 pounds, 10 ounces to win the season-opening Phoenix Bass Fishing League event on Sam Rayburn with the fourth-largest single-day bag in MLF history. This week, in the Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. event, Mundy tallied a pedestrian 12-13 on day one. On day two of the Southwestern Division event, which is presented by Berkley, Mundy dropped 39-7 on the scale to rocket into first place with a 52-4 total.
His bag is the second biggest in Toyota Series history, and his 13-10 kicker is the third-largest bass ever weighed by a pro in Toyota Series history. Additionally, in just under a month, Mundy has become the only angler alive with two of the top 10 biggest single-day weights in MLF history, knocking out one of Greg Hackney’s giant Falcon Lake bags to do it.
“I don’t think the first [40-pound bag] has sunk in yet,” Mundy laughs. “It’s been unreal, for sure. You don’t have no control how big they’ll be down there.”
Things started off tough for Mundy, who is fishing out of a borrowed boat thanks to a blown motor on his. On day one, Mundy ran a good portion of his juice to only scrape together 12 pounds. Big bites eluded him on Thursday, but obviously, that changed today.
“I ran my best stuff yesterday, and I completely forgot about the spot I caught them today until I got back to the ramp,” Mundy says. “So, I thought I’d start there today and it all happened quick. My third cast I caught that 13-pounder and then I doubled a few casts later with my next biggest two.
“That big one came up shaking her head and I knew she had the bait good because I couldn’t see it. All I saw was mouth and I was like, ‘Oh my goodness.’ I didn’t realize she was that big. If she would have come off I would have never said it was a 13-pounder.”
After a fast start, things cooled off in a hurry. Knowing his big start could get him to Saturday if he filled his limit, Mundy headed to the grass.
“I started hustling every grass line I felt like I could get a bite on as fast as I could,” says Mundy. “I fished that until about noon and only had one fish that barely beat the ruler.”
So, Mundy decided to dip back to his offshore honey hole if nobody else was around. Once there, Mundy quickly caught his limit fish and culled his line-burner.
“I actually caught a 4-pounder after that, but I knew those were fish I’d need tomorrow,” says Mundy. “So, I talked it over with my co-angler and he was cool with it, so we came in early.”
With two polar opposite days behind him, Mundy knows his 12-5 lead over Jason Bonds isn’t safe. Still, things are working for Mundy and he’s not ready to get off the ride just yet.
“I feel like I know what it takes to do well [this time of year on Rayburn], but it is hard, hard, hard,” Mundy says. “I actually like the summer better because I feel like I can fish a tournament then without even practicing and do good, and I’m not trying to come off bragging. But this time of year is hard work. A lot of daylight to dark type stuff.
“I’m not scared to zero at all and you can’t be to come out here and expect to win,” says Mundy. “You can’t be conservative on Rayburn at all. You gotta go for bigguns and swing for the fences all day. It’d be amazing to win because I just bought a brand new motor for my boat and it’d be nice to have a little money to cover that.”
Ard Moves Into Strike King Co-Angler Lead
After catching 15 pounds, 3 ounces on day one, Heath Ardof Silsbee, Texas put together another limit worth 11-7 on day two to take a 2-2 lead heading into Saturday. With Rayburn being a bit stingy for anglers in the back of the boat, Ard is more than happy with how things have gone so far.
“Man, it was pretty awesome today for me,” Ard says. “I couldn’t have drawn a better partner. [Nick Diberardino] was asking me if I had a preference for what I wanted to fish. Dude, he’s awesome. We didn’t catch a lot of fish, but I caught five. If it hadn’t been for him I don’t know if I’d be where I am today.”
Tomorrow, Ard will be paired with Derek Mundy, so he’ll certainly be around some fish. Now, he just needs one more solid day of fishing to close it out.
“It’s gonna be a grind tomorrow, but I just hope we have good weather and everybody stays safe,” says Ard. “I’m just blessed to be here; it’s awesome.”
Graduation Day
College Angler and past Classic Qualifier Cody Huff joins Jason this week to talk about making the move from College and The Toyota Series to the Big Leagues on the MLF Pro Circuit. Check it out!
Huk Named Exclusive Apparel Sponsor of MLF BIG5
Industry Leader in Outdoor Apparel Expands on Five-Year Partnership with Major League Fishing
TULSA, Okla. (Jan. 27, 2021) – Major League Fishing (MLF) announced today that Huk, an industry leader in performance fishing apparel, has signed on as the Exclusive Apparel of the MLF BIG5 for the 2021 season. This expanded partnership aligns the country’s top anglers and their fans with Huk, a brand known for exceptional, functional and technical clothing to anglers and enthusiasts of all ages.
As the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, MLF provides anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to compete for millions in prize money across five tournament circuits featuring a five-biggest-fish format, including the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit, Toyota Series, Phoenix Bass Fishing League, Abu Garcia College Fishing and High School Fishing.
“Marolina Outdoor is excited about our partnership with the Major League Fishing BIG5,” said Pete Angle, CMO of Marolina Outdoor Inc. “Aside from sharing many common goals like new angler recruitment and access to outdoor recreational opportunities, both brands are committed to showcasing the authentic passion for bass fishing and innovation. We look forward to the 2021 MLF BIG5 tournament season and the exciting opportunity to engage with all followers of our partnered brands.”
The MLF award-winning network television airings on CBS, Discovery, Outdoor Channel, Sportsman Channel and more, along with the MLF NOW! live stream on MajorLeagueFishing.com, create the perfect platform to showcase the high-quality variety of shirts, shorts, pants, accessories and outerwear apparel offered by Huk to anglers and fans across the nation.
“Huk has been a great partner of MLF for five years and we are happy that they have continued their partnership with us on the BIG5 side of our company,” said Jim Wilburn, MLF president and CEO. “These are exciting times in bass fishing and we are thrilled to bring Huk into the fold of our extensive tournament network and the thousands of anglers that fish the MLF BIG5 circuits.”
For more information about MLF, their tournaments and sponsors, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. To learn more about Huk, visit HukGear.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the MLF BIG5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
AC Insider Podcast - "Where I need to be"
This week Chris and the boys welcome in Elite Series Newcomer THE Jason Christie to the show to talk about his return to the Elite Series and what he's looking forward to the most.
T-H Marine Selects Chris Drahman for Sales and Marketing Leadership
Huntsville, AL – January 27, 2021 – T-H Marine Supplies, Inc., of Huntsville, Alabama, announces that it has selected Chris Drahman for the position of National Sales and Marketing Manager. In this role, Chris will put his considerable experience to work in meeting the needs of T-H Marine's customers, identifying business development opportunities, leading T-H Marine's sales strategies, and growing the company's brand. He will work alongside T-H Marine's veteran VP of Sales and Marketing, Greg Buie.
“I've had the pleasure of knowing T-H Marine and many members of their team for more than 20 years and it’s truly an honor to join them,” Chris Drahman said. “Few companies can compare when it comes to innovative product development, dedication to taking care of their customers, and having a game plan and a desire to continue their robust growth. They made joining an easy decision and I look forward to contributing for many years to come.”
Before his recent work in the world of marine components, Chris had over 14 years working for T-H Marine's OEM and distributor sales reps at William F. Miller & Associates. Now, as T-H Marine's National Sales and Marketing Manager, Chris will be leveraging his sales and sales leadership experience, his work history in the marine industry, and his strong ability to drive new business development and expansions into new markets.
“We are pleased to welcome Chris Drahman to the team!” T-H Marine President and CEO, Jeff Huntley said. “We have known Chris for many years and he is exactly what you expect from a true sales professional — a great fit with our boating-centric culture and our aggressive business attitude. With over 25 years of sales roles in the industry, he brings a lot of knowledge, experience, and relationships to the table.
"T-H Marine is building our next generation of executive-level leaders and Chris is a big part of that plan coming into place. We are very excited about the future as we continue to outpace industry growth and we are proud to have Chris’ horsepower to help push that dynamic growth, both organically and through acquisitions.”
Imbued by T-H Marine's commitment to supplying boaters with the gear they need, from TRANSOM TO TROLLING MOTOR®, Chris will work to ensure that the brand thrives across its various sales channels. With his experience in the marine industry, his long-standing familiarity with T-H Marine, and his love of the water, Chris brings a solid foundation to his new role.
“T-H Marine has always had a motto that 'Fridays are for Fishing', fostering an appreciation for why the company exists,” Chris added. “Especially as it is interwoven with a love of being outdoors and my own passion for saltwater fishing, I look forward to reinforcing T-H Marine's ability to put current products to the test, produce ideas for new products, and make the boating and fishing experience even better for everyone."
Now including more products for an even wider variety of boats, check out the full range of T-H Marine's growing product line at thmarine.com/products. For tips about T-H Marine products, company news, and more, including information to improve your boating and fishing experience, follow T-H Marine Supplies (@thmarineteam) on social media.
Yamaha Expands Power Pay Program
Broadens Eligibility Requirements, Adds New Tournaments to 2021 Season
KENNESAW, Ga. – Jan. 27, 2021 — Yamaha Marine today announced the expansion of Power Pay, a contingency program that provides a cash bonus to Yamaha anglers who place in sanctioned salt and freshwater tournaments. For the 2021 season, Yamaha adds 68 new competitive fishing events, enhances the payout bonus amounts and broadens the eligibility requirements to eligible anglers who own a Yamaha outboard with a warranty start date within the 60 months prior to registering for Power Pay.
“The rules no longer require Power Pay anglers to be the original outboard owners. Now, Power Pay eligibility is open to second, third and even fourth Yamaha owners as long as the outboard has been warranty registered within the stated time,” said Connor Megan, Senior Regional Marketing Specialist, Yamaha Marine Engine Systems. “The first year of the program was a tremendous success with hundreds of qualified anglers winning nearly $140,000 in Power Pay bonus money despite the difficult situations created by COVID-19. We think 2021 will be even bigger.”
Introduced in the fall of 2019, Power Pay gives anglers the opportunity to receive compensation for running eligible Yamaha outboards. Eligible anglers running Yamaha outboards can sign up for the program by visiting yamahapowerpay.com. All applicants are required to accept and adhere to the Yamaha Angler Code of Ethics before completing the registration for the program. Once registered, the highest placing angler in specified Power Pay sanctioned tournaments that meets all eligibility requirements will be compensated by Yamaha accordingly.
New tournaments for 2021 include the MLF Bass Pro Tour, Bass Champs Texas, Carolina Bass Challenge, Texas Team Trail®, Nichols Team Series Oklahoma, Phoenix BFL Regionals, EFL™ Redfish Contender Series and EFL™ Redfish Tour. Additional eligible Power Pay tournaments and trails include the Bassmaster Classic®, Bassmaster® Angler of the Year, Bassmaster Opens, B.A.S.S. Nation®, Bassmaster Elites, Bassmaster College Series, Bassmaster High School series, A.B.A. Bass Pro Shops® Open Series, Alabama Bass Trail, MWC, The National Walleye Tour®, AIM® Walleye, Kingfish Cup and Flatsmasters®.
For more information and complete terms and conditions about Power Pay, visit yamahapowerpay.com. Some restrictions apply. Void where prohibited by law.
Yamaha Marine products are marketed throughout the United States and around the world. Yamaha Marine Engine Systems, based in Kennesaw, Ga., supports its 2,000 U.S. dealers and boat builders with marketing, training and parts for Yamaha’s full line of products and strives to be the industry leader in reliability, technology and customer service. Yamaha Marine is the only outboard brand to have earned NMMA®’s C.S.I. Customer Satisfaction Index award every year since its inception. Visit www.yamahaoutboards.com.
Bassmaster Host Davy Hite Joins The 13 Fishing Family
For Davy Hite, friends, family and fishing have always been in the same boat. Often, quite literally. So when a business merger married his Rapala friends into the 13 Fishing family, the Bassmaster TV co-host was excited to get welcomed aboard as well.
“It’s just a great opportunity to take a company like Rapala, that’s been a leader in our industry for many, many years and so successful, and combine them with 13 Fishing’s young, enthusiastic, and very good product designers and engineers,” says Hite, referencing a 2019 deal in which Rapala VMC purchased a minority stake in 13 Fishing’s parent company. “I just know the future is going to be great for 13 Fishing. And I just hope I can make it even better.”
A longtime star on Rapala’s Pro Team – his career highlights include winning the 1999 Bassmaster Classic and 1997 and 2002 Bassmaster Angler of the Year titles – Hite is excited to “get in on the leading edge of the future of 13 Fishing.” He will fish exclusively with, promote and help design 13 Fishing rods and reels, which Rapala now distributes outside the U.S. Hite’s pro-team liaison at both Rapala and 13 Fishing is Dan Quinn, who wears marketing hats for both companies.
“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Davy for many years and know that he brings a lot to the table,” Quinn says. “I mean, come on, he’s literally a living legend! He brings a long list of accolades and with that comes a lot of experience, which will be invaluable in helping promotion and product development for 13 Fishing. We are beyond excited to welcome Davy to the 13 Fishing family, the future is very bright!”
When It Comes To Hammers, He's A Sledge.
“Davy Hite is an established winner and welcome addition to the 13 Fishing stable,” says 13 Fishing’s marketing coordinator Reid Miller. “Like a champion thoroughbred, Hite has earned the respect of anglers far wide by proving he can lead the pack at the highest level of the sport. Davey has always been a stud, and he understands the importance of performance and reliability and with that he brings a wealth of experience to our team. We’re excited to partner with him to deliver the finest equipment for fishing.”
Hite’s Bassmaster tournament highlights also include eight first-place finishes, 14 Classic appearances, and 45 Top 10 finishes. In 2017, he left behind competition to begin co-hosting Bassmaster’s Elite Series LIVE webcasts and cable TV shows. That doesn’t mean he quit fishing, however.
“I get asked a lot ‘Are you still fishing?’” Hite says, laughing. “And honestly, I’m fishing as much or more as I was in all my years fishing Bassmaster.”
These days, Hite enjoys fishing with one of his grown sons, Payton (the other, Parker, is an Army Captain deployed in Germany), some high school buddies “I’ve fished off and on with my whole life” and his brother-in-law Scott Martin, a South Carolina stick and one-time Classic competitor with whom he fished team tournaments early in his career.
Seeing 13 Fishing logos on stickers, hats and hoodies “all over the country the last few years” first caught Hite’s attention. Glowing reviews from respected Bassmaster anglers then led him to try and like 13 Fishing rods and reels.
“The cool thing about my new job is all of these fishermen will share information with me now about new products, but when I was their competitor, they weren’t so eager to do so,” Hite says. “And that’s part of how I learned about what a good company 13 Fishing is. I started talking to a few people who use their rods and reels and they all had great comments.
“I can talk with guys about products they’re using, and they’ll talk straight with me,” Hite continues. “So if I get good reviews from them, it will spark my curiosity. So I went and played around with some 13 Fishing products and saw that for a young company they had a lot of really good stuff.”
Hite praises 13 Fishing’s product line for including quality rods and reels in both high-end and economical categories. “It’s a well-rounded line-up, from mid-range to upper-range product,” he says.
CLASSIC WINNER TAKAHIRO OMORI JOINS BASS CAT TEAM
New addition strengthens strategic partnership with Japan’s SDG Marine
MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark. (January 25th, 2020) – Bass Cat Boats, a leading manufacturer of tournament-ready, high-performance bass boats, has added veteran Bass Pro Tour competitor Takahiro Omori, winner of the 2004 Bassmaster Classic, to the company’s national pro team. This will bolster an already stout staff with the first and only international pro to win one of bass fishing’s major championships.
“They have supported Major League Fishing since day one,” Omori said. “On top of that, it gave me the opportunity to strengthen my relationship with Showa Denki Group (SDG) Marine, Japan’s leading bass boat dealer. It’s important to promote Bass Cat to Japanese anglers, and my boat will be wrapped to feature SDG’s logo.”
In his decorated career with Bassmaster, Omori won seven events, including the 2004 Classic on South Carolina’s Lake Wylie, one of the 12 Classics in which he competed. He was also a two-tour pro for many years. He qualified for seven Forrest Wood Cups and claimed a 2001 Tour victory on Alabama’s Lake Martin. Since moving to Major League Fishing, he’s added another major title to his list by winning the 2020 MLF Summit Cup at Lake of the Ozarks.
“I first met Takahiro while fishing the Bassmaster Invitationals in the early 1990s,” said Bass Cat President Rick Pierce. “It was obvious then that he had the drive and talent to experience exceptional success and he has fully met those expectations. We are proud to have him join the family.”
Omori will run a Cougar FTD powered by a Yamaha outboard on the Bass Pro Tour in 2021. “The floor plan fits my style, but what I really like about it is that it’s fast and floats higher in the water than other boats, so I can get into skinny water places. I talked a lot to Kelly Jordon and Shin Fukae and they agreed it was the perfect boat for the way I like to fish.”
Kevin Short, Bass Cat’s Pro Staff Director and Head of International Sales, was thrilled to add an angler who is highly respected on multiple continents. “Japan represents a huge opportunity for us, and SDG is a remarkably aggressive and innovative company,” Short said. “The beauty of it is that Takahiro’s influence is so widespread, and his accomplishments are so notable, that it’s like getting two pros in one.”
Heck and Berthelot win Outlaw Outdoors Team Series with over 29 pounds!
Why Brandon Lester chooses a jig over all other winter lures
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships
See the Alabama Rig near Bassmaster Elite Series pro Brandon Lester’s left hand in the photo? It’s the only one he owns. Like literally, he owns one A-Rig, and you’re looking at it.
And while he’s got plenty of proven cold water crankbaits laying there too, every lure in the universe plays second fiddle to a jig on the coldest days of winter for the easy-going Tennessee pro who is closing in on $1 Million in career earnings after just seven years as a full-time pro.
“I realize a lot of guys have come to depend on an Alabama Rig in the dead of winter, but we’re not allowed to use it in Bassmaster Opens or Elites. So there’s no reason for me to get dependent on it when I’m fishing around home at this time of year,” says the Team Toyota pro.
“And honestly, I believe with all my heart, when you’re throwing a jig at this time of year, you’re giving yourself a shot to catch the biggest fish in the lake,” he says.
Bringing the Heat with the Z Train
His recent appearance on “Zona’s Awesome Fishing Show” epitomizes this point. The air temp was 18 degrees the day they filmed on Dale Hollow Lake, water temps were 42, and dragging a football jig brought the heat on quality fish more than any other lure the two tied on.
“We could catch fish on a Ned Rig that day, and probably could have caught some on a crankbait too. But the football jig was hands-down the key to Zona and I catching all our bigger fish,” he recalls.
Biggest Bass of Lester’s Life
However, Lester’s proof of a jig’s frigid water prowess is certainly not limited to his day filming with Zona. Each New Year’s Eve, he and a good buddy make a trip to Nickajack Lake – and it was on that tradition rich trip last year that Lester believes he caught the biggest bass of his life – on a jig of course.
“I had just gotten a brand-new boat. We didn’t even have my graphs mounted yet, let alone have a scale in the boat. I caught a 7-pounder first on a jig, and then caught one that I know was over 10-pounds, which would easily make it the biggest bass of my life,” says Lester.
Callin’ bull on hibernating crawfish
While schools of shad, and specifically, the weak and dying specimens within the school, often become the focal point of the bass’ cold weather dinner menu, crawdads remain a major player too. Lester simply doesn’t buy the dormant crawdad theory. “I’ve had guys tell me crawdads are so dormant in winter that they aren’t a factor for bass. That’s absolute bull! I’ve caught way too many bass in 45-degree water with crawdad pinchers sticking out of their gullets to ever rule out a jig,” he says emphatically.
Lester’s two favorite winter jigs
The skirted jewels he leans on most are pretty simple. First, he never varies far from the colors brown or green pumpkin, and secondly, one of his winter jigs will always be a ½-ounce SpotSticker flipping jig featuring a brown living rubber skirt and a meaty 5/0 Mustad hook. This is the jig that gets pitched to thicker shoreline habitat, and he emphasizes the merits of living rubber skirts in cold water.
The other jig is a football jig. If he’s dragging it on the bottom in less than 15-feet of water, he uses a ½ ounce model. Sometimes, however, bait balls and other desirable sonar images seem to be out in the 15 to 30-foot-deep zone. In that case, when going deeper, he ties a ¾-ounce model to his 15-pound Vicious fluorocarbon. He nearly always dresses his football jig with a craw-style trailer as shown in the photo.
Bama rigs, jerkbaits, and flat-sided cranks all have their mid-winter merits, but for Brandon Lester, jigs are the true trophy chaser when water temps are in the 40s. “All I can tell you is some of the most memorable and biggest bass I’ve ever caught in my life have come in the middle of winter, and all of them bit a jig.”
Its a Family Tradition - with Lawson Hibdon
This week Chris welcomes in MLF Pro Circuit Pro Lawson Hibdon to the Rookie Podcast to talk about following in his Grandfather's, the late Guido Hibdon and his Dad, Dion Hibdon's footsteps and competing on the Pro Level. Check it out!
ABU GARCIA SEEKS INPUT NAMING TOP 100 FISHING LOCATIONS
Company kicks off 100th anniversary celebration by paying homage to the best U.S. fishing waters and is soliciting input from Abu Garcia loyalists.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (Jan. 21, 2021) — Abu Garcia is celebrating a century of innovation and epic fishing in 2021 by asking fans around the country to weigh in on the Top-100 fisheries in the United States.
The list, which could include anything from backyard streams to sprawling lakes and everything in between, will celebrate the best freshwater fishing this country has to offer and introduce anglers of all levels to well-known big-fish locations as well as hidden gems.
Anglers can submit their favorite fisheries for consideration, explain why they top their list and share photos of their favorite honey holes through January 25. The final list will be released in phases, beginning in late February. The detailed results will be available online for avid anglers to explore their next fishing destination as they look ahead to the next century of fishing with Abu Garcia.
To learn more about Abu Garcia’s 100th anniversary and cast your vote by January 25, visit www.abugarcia.com.
XZone adds NEW Adrenaline Craw and Adrenaline Bug Jr to their line-up
The new X Zone Pro Series Adrenaline Craw is the brain child of one of the hottest anglers on earth; Brandon Palaniuk!!
This exciting new bait is fresh for 2021! The super aggressive claws produce unbelievable action . Use alone for great swimming action, tip your jig with it to give great water disturbance or add it to your chatter bait for what will be unmatched performance. Floating Claws are also featured on this bait! Never has a bait with such aggressive attributes been offered with floating claws. Perfect presentation, every time!
Use what Palaniuk uses and get the 4.25" Adrenaline Craw!
Like its bigger brother , the 4" Adrenaline Bug, the NEW 3.5" Adrenaline Bug Jr. is designed to provide a great creature bait presentation that bass love! The floating qualities found in this bait make it 100% NEDable.
The soft, body and floating claws make this bait irresistible to bass. Once they feel this soft bait in their mouth - they will not let go. The specialized plastic, super fine salt and scent infused formula used to make the Adrenaline Bug allows the claws to float at rest for a time, mimicking the defensive stance of a real crayfish. All of these exceptional features produce a creature bait that swims, hops and undulates in the water creating a NEW unique sonic signature and vibration that BASS LOVE!!!
The Adrenaline Bug Jr is extremely versatile. It is available in 12 proven fish catching colors to cover a wide variety of applications, including flipping, pitching and punching.
Nominations Now Open For 2021 Class Of Bassmaster High School All-Americans
Jan. 21, 2021
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. is seeking nominations for the best and brightest high school bass anglers in the country.
The Bassmaster High School All-American Fishing Team presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors recognizes the 12 most outstanding high school anglers in the nation. The program is designed to reward young athletes for their performance in tournaments, leadership in their communities and involvement in conservation efforts.
Applications for the team, which is now in its seventh year, will be accepted today through Feb. 22.
To be considered, a student must be nominated by a parent, coach, teacher or other school official. Students currently enrolled in grades 10 through 12 with a current grade point average of 2.5 or higher are eligible.
Judges will select up to two student anglers in each state. These All-State Fishing Team members will become semifinalists in the selection of the 12-member Bassmaster High School All-American Fishing Team presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors. Criteria include success in high school fishing tournaments and involvement in conservation efforts and other community service activities.
The anglers chosen will compete in a one-day Bassmaster High School All-American Tournament to be held in conjunction with the 2021 Bassmaster Elite at Neely Henry Lake which will be held May 6-9 — one of nine regular-season Bassmaster Elite Series tournaments being held this year. Elite Series anglers will serve as “coaches” for the student anglers in the one-day fishing event near Gadsden, Ala. The high school standouts and Elite Series coaches will be honored before the weigh-in crowd.
“The continued growth and success our High School All-American program has had over the past seven years is amazing,” said Hank Weldon, senior manager of the Bassmaster High School program. “We are so proud to offer a platform that not only recognizes successful student athletes on their accomplishments on the water, but on their academic success and community involvement as well. We can’t wait to see what this 2021 class of anglers has in store.”
All students who compete in high school fishing events are eligible, regardless if they are affiliated with B.A.S.S. or another fishing organization.
Notices have been sent to youth fishing directors of the B.A.S.S. Nation and other organizations, as well as leaders of state high school fishing programs. Adults can nominate students by filling out an online form at Bassmaster.com/allamerican. Nominations must be submitted before midnight on Feb. 22. Please send all questions to [email protected].
BASS FISHING HALL OF FAME ADDS SIX BOARD MEMBERS
All Volunteer Board Dedicated to Celebrating, Promoting and Preserving the Sport of Bass Fishing
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – For Immediate Release – 1/21/21 – The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame has added six members to its Board of Directors to begin serving a three-year term in January 2021, leading the organization into its next steps of growth on the heels of a highly-successful recent effort to expand and increase the Hall’s outreach and impact. The new members include:
- Todd Ceisner, Associate Publisher of In-Fisherman;
- Kathy Fennel, Executive Vice President and COO for Major League Fishing;
- Matt Pangrac, Freelance journalist and tournament angler;
- Tim Price, Freshwater Field Promotions Manager for Johnson Outdoors Marine Group; and
- Bruce Stanton, Vice President and General Manager of PRADCO Fishing.
Restaurant executive Clifton Rutledge, a distinguished former member of the board, returns to serve another term.
“This is an impressive group, and we are thrilled to have every one of them,” said Bass Fishing Hall of Fame President John Mazurkiewicz “Each of our new Board members bring a distinct skill set to assist us in our mission of celebrating, promoting and preserving the sport of bass fishing. We are an all-volunteer ‘working board’ and we pride ourselves on the fact that our leadership encompasses all of the major tours, media outlets and sectors of the industry.”
In addition to Mazurkiewicz, owner of Catalyst Marketing Services, a PR/media relations firm focusing on the recreational fishing industry, the Board’s executive committee includes Vice Presidents Daren Cole with Blue Heron Communications, a fishing/hunting-focused marketing firm, and Tim Carini, sales director at B.A.S.S, along with Treasurer Donald Howell, President & CFO of Southern Sky Aviation. Barbara Bowman serves as the Executive Director. Other Board members include Daiwa’s Curt Arakawa, B.A.S.S. Angler Relations manager Steve Bowman, pro bass angler Guy Eaker, Sr., B.A.S.S. conservation director Gene Gilliland, Wired2Fish CEO Todd Hammill, TH Marine’s Bill Huntley , fishing industry consultant Melinda Mize-Hays, noted bass fishing/travel writer Pete Robbins, and AFTCO president Casey Shedd.
Longtime Bassmaster editor Dave Precht retired from the Board at the end of 2020 after more than a decade of service. All of the members thank him for his extended service and hope that he will continue to guide the Hall’s path informally.
The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame is a nonprofit organization led by a volunteer board of directors and is dedicated to celebrating, promoting and preserving the sport of bass fishing. Since 2017, the Hall’s inductees and memorabilia representing the history of bass fishing have been showcased in Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife Museum and Aquarium in Springfield, Missouri, where it has rapidly become a popular destination.
Cody Huff – Graduating from College Fishing
Courtesy of Luke Stoner - Dynamic Sponsorships
After a successful season in tournament competition along with an unpredictable and challenging year off the water, Cody Huff’s reign as the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Bracket Champion has officially come to an end. Huff turned in his Bethel University wrapped rig last week and a new Toyota Tundra-Nitro Boat combo is being prepared for the 2021 college champ, Trevor McKinney.
Looking back on the year, Cody Huff has a lot to be proud of. Not only did he do an excellent job representing his school, himself, and college fishing on the biggest stages in bass fishing, he also had one of the best on-the-water performance records in the history of this program.
With anglers like Jordan Lee, Matt Lee, Andrew Upshaw, and Brett Pruett (to name a few) coming up through the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Classic Bracket program… that’s high praise.
The 2020 season wasn’t what Huff expected, largely due to the global COVID-19 Pandemic, but the 23-year old Bethel University student certainly made the most of a chaotic year.
After starting the year off with back-to-back victories on Toledo Bend Reservoir, Huff became the first college fishing representative to make it to Day 3 of the Bassmaster Classic since Jordan Lee. Huff had a solid 2020 Bassmaster Opens campaign and bookended his season with a second FLW Toyota Series victory on Table Rock Lake in early November.
“In a lot of ways I’d like to forget 2020 like most folks, but from a fishing standpoint I am extremely thankful,” Huff said. “From both an equipment and financial standpoint this year was a massive opportunity for me. For the first time in my fishing career I couldn’t use equipment as an excuse. From my baits and electronics, to my boat and tow vehicle, I was able to use the best of the best.”
Like most of his college fishing peers, Huff had always made due with any limitations in his equipment prior to becoming the 2020 Carhartt College Series Classic representative. He took full advantage of the opportunity this program provided, thanks to both his performance on the water and how he carried himself when not competing.
Huff finished his year by locking up sponsor support for his 2021 tournament season before purchasing a 2020 Toyota Tundra of his own so he could be eligible for Toyota Bonus Bucks in 2021 and have a tow vehicle he could depend on.
With Bass Pro Shops serving as his title sponsor Huff will compete on the Major League Fishing Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit as well as at least one Bassmaster Opens division this year, representing many of the same companies he worked with in 2020. While competing in his first season as a professional fisherman, Huff will complete a few remaining online classes to earn his diploma from Bethel University.
“It really is a dream come true,” Huff said with a smile. “I’ll be competing against guys I’ve been watching on TV since I was a little kid. I don’t think it has really hit me yet… I’m just extremely grateful for everything I learned last year. I wouldn’t be in this position without the support of Bassmaster, Carhartt, Bass Pro Shops, or Toyota.”
There’s no doubt about it, Cody Huff is a special talent with a bright future. His obvious skill for catching bass better than the competition will continue to serve him well in this sport; but his Midwestern roots, even-keeled attitude, and respectful nature put Huff at the top of our list of young anglers to watch.
"Godzilla is my Spirit Animal"
Thats right, Chris and the boys welcome in Elite Series "Newcomer" Greg Hackney to this weeks show to talk about the effort made to prequalify for the Bassmaster Elite Series.
Arey: How to choose jig size
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships
Choosing jig sizes can cause as much contemplation as a burger joint drive-thru lane. Do you get the single patty from the value side of the menu to conserve fat calories and cash, or do you go all-in and get the double burger with bacon to leave you gut-stuffed and grinning?
Both serve a purpose, but like bass fishing jigs, one must choose the right-sized meal for the conditions at hand – and sometimes that’s a struggle. Thanks to Team Toyota’s Matt Arey, picking the perfect sized portion just got a whole lot easier.
“I let two primary rules lead me to picking the right-sized jig,” says Arey. “First, am I fishing a multi-species lake with spotted bass, smallmouth and largemouth like Table Rock, or are we on a body of water like Lake Fork, where it’s all about big largemouth? And also, I let weather dictate my jig of choice.”
If all three species are present, Arey often opts for the bite-sized 5/16- or 7/16-ounce finesse jig, but if it’s all about fat largemouth, he’ll tie on the full-sized ½ or 5/8 bulkier version.
“If I’m flipping flooded bushes or laydowns – I like to “yo-yo” the jig a little bit to keep it in a very small strike zone for a second or two, and the bulkier jig helps me do that easier. Even if I’m pitching or skipping docks, I still choose the bigger jig, but I may downsize the trailer to make it skip easier,” says the devout family man from Shelby, NC.
When it comes to weather’s dictation of Arey’s selection, it boils down to bigger is better when weather is stable, but when the bottom falls out in the form a harsh cold front, finesse wins the day.
If he’s dragging the little jig on a clean secondary point in greater than 15-feet of water, he may drop down to 12-pound line, but most of the time, it’s tied to 15-pound P-Line fluorocarbon.
When it comes to color, he keeps it extremely simple, choosing a shade of green pumpkin on all sizes of jigs 95% of the time, opting only for black/blue if the water’s exceptionally dirty.
Like all great anglers, Arey knows it’s the appetite of the bass based on species and weather that matters way more than his own when choosing the right jig. But dang, a Baconator™ does sound good right now.
Toyota Series to Kick Off 2021 Southwestern Division on Sam Rayburn Reservoir
Multiple Patterns Expected to Be in Play for Competitors Descending on East Texas Reservoir
BROOKELAND, Texas (Jan. 19, 2021) – The Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. Southwestern Division will kick off the 2021 season with a tournament next week in Brookeland, Texas, Jan. 28-30, with the Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. at Sam Rayburn Reservoir. Hosted by the Jasper-Lake Sam Rayburn Chamber of Commerce, the three-day tournament will feature the region’s best bass-fishing pros and co-anglers on some of the best bass water in the country, casting for a top prize of up to $65,000, plus an additional $35,000 bonus if the winner is a qualified Phoenix Boat owner. Anglers will also be competing for qualification opportunities to the Toyota Series Championship and a chance to win up to $235,000.
Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit angler and accomplished Sam Rayburn pro Dicky Newberry of Houston, Texas, said he is expecting good things from the famed fishery at the end of January.
“We’ve had a lot of rain and the lake is coming up,” Newberry said. “We have a little color in the water and the creeks are kind of trashed, but the lake is in good shape with a lot of healthy fish, which is what you expect this time of year.”
By the end of next week, Newberry said some fish will begin to push shallow to stage in preparation for the spawn. Because of that, he expects there to be a little bit of everything to fish for during this tournament.
“Big stringers are going to come from the outside on the clay, drops and ridges,” he said. “That’s where those big ones are living right now. There’s also a pad stem bite and we might have water up in the bushes by then, so that could be going on – but that’s the thing about Rayburn, it’s got a little bit of everything.”
While fishing deep may produce the biggest limits of the event, Newberry said he isn’t ready to write off anything up shallow. Despite the lake kicking out a 40-pound limit a few weeks prior, he said he felt like 57 to 60 pounds should be the benchmark for a winning weight.
“It can be won in any of those patterns, or a combination of them,” said Newberry. “There’s just so many fish. Even though Rayburn gets a lot of pressure, it still takes over 20 to win single-day tournaments, and sometimes, 30 or 40. But I predict it will take around 60 pounds to win this one.”
Anglers will take off daily at 7 a.m. CT from the Umphrey Family Pavilion in Brookeland. Weigh-ins will also be held at the Umphrey Family Pavilion and will begin at 3 p.m. Attendance is limited to competing anglers and essential staff only. Fans are encouraged to follow the event online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts and daily coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
In Toyota Series regular-season competition, payouts are based on the number of participants competing in the event, scaling up for every 20 boats over 160 and scaling down for every boat below 160. With a 160-boat field, pros fish for a top prize of $40,000, plus an extra $35,000 if Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus qualified. Co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard (valued at $33,500). With a 260-boat field, pros fish for a top award of $65,000, plus an extra $35,000 if Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus qualified. Co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard (valued at $33,500) plus $5,000 cash.
The 2021 Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. consists of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and Western – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International division. Anglers who fish all three qualifiers in any of the eight divisions and finish in the top 25 will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. Championship for a shot at winning $235,000 cash, including a $35,000 Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus for qualified anglers. The winning co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The 2021 Toyota Series Championship presented by A.R.E. will be held Oct. 28-30 on Pickwick Lake in Counce, Tennessee, and is hosted by the Hardin County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. on the MLF BIG5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Toyota Series to Kick Off 2021 Season Opener on Lake Shasta
REDDING, Calif. (Jan. 19, 2021) – The Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. Western Division will kick off the 2021 season with a tournament next week in Redding, California, Jan. 28-30, with the Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. at Lake Shasta. Hosted by the Redding Convention and Visitors Bureau, the three-day tournament will feature the region’s best bass-fishing pros and co-anglers casting for a top prize of up to $65,000, plus an additional $35,000 bonus if the winner is a qualified Phoenix Boat owner.
“This is going to be an interesting tournament,” said Toyota Series angler Jason Milligan of Cottonwood, California. “The water took longer to cool off this year and due to that, the bait and fish aren’t really grouped up like they typically would be. The water is also a lot clearer than usual. We generally see green-colored water but it’s like desert clear right now – you can see down 15 feet in some spots.”
Milligan said things can change quickly though on the mountain reservoir and with a week to go before the event and weather between now and then, it’s likely the conditions will change.
“There’s a lot of bait in 45 to 65 feet right now,” Milligan added. “You can catch fish out there, but they’re small. There’s still a ton of fish in the lake, but it’ll be different than in years past – getting some rain and color in the lake should help. These western reservoirs fluctuate a lot. If we stay on a dropping trend the fish won’t move up, but if the lake stabilizes or comes up, it’ll be like a light switch.
“I expect this event will be tougher than usual for Shasta, but it’s still one of the places we broke records at not too long ago, so I’m excited to see what happens.”
Anglers will take off daily at 7:30 a.m. PT from the Bridge Bay Resort in Redding. Weigh-ins will also be held at the Bridge Bay Resort and will begin at 3:30 p.m. Attendance is limited to competing anglers and essential staff only. Fans are encouraged to follow the event online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts and daily coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
In Toyota Series regular-season competition, payouts are based on the number of participants competing in the event, scaling up for every 20 boats over 160 and scaling down for every boat below 160. With a 160-boat field, pros fish for a top prize of $40,000, plus an extra $35,000 if Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus qualified. Co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard (valued at $33,500). With a 260-boat field, pros fish for a top award of $65,000, plus an extra $35,000 if Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus qualified. Co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard (valued at $33,500) plus $5,000 cash.
The 2021 Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. consists of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and Western – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International division. Anglers who fish all three qualifiers in any of the eight divisions and finish in the top 25 will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. Championship for a shot at winning $235,000 cash, including a $35,000 Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus for qualified anglers. The winning co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard. The 2021 Toyota Series Championship presented by A.R.E. will be held Oct. 28-30 on Pickwick Lake in Counce, Tennessee, and is hosted by the Hardin County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. on the MLF BIG5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
13 Fishing Partners with Major League Fishing
Premier Fishing Gear Company Named Presenting Sponsor of First Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Event of the Year
January 14, 2021 (Tulsa, Okla.) Major League Fishing (MLF) announced today that 13 Fishing has signed on as the presenting sponsor of the 2021 season-opening Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit presented by Bad Boy Mowers at Lake Okeechobee, Feb. 11-14. In its 26th season of professional competition and the second year since the acquisition by MLF, the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit is professional bass fishing’s premier five-fish limit tournament series, showcasing a field of 166 of the top bass anglers in the world competing for up to $135,000 at each regular-season tournament and up to $235,000 at the Tackle Warehouse TITLE, the Pro Circuit championship.
“We are thrilled to welcome 13 Fishing to the MLF sponsor family,” said Jim Wilburn, MLF President and CEO. “As an angler-centric league, MLF aligns perfectly with 13 Fishing in putting our professional anglers and their needs at the forefront of the sport, both on and off the water.”
The 2021 MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit will feature 154 two-hour airings on network television, in a run that includes 24 airings on Outdoor Channel and 130 airings on Sportsman Channel, for a total of 308 hours of programming.
“We are extremely excited to partner with Major League Fishing in 2021,” said Ben Alcocer, 13 Fishing Marketing Director. “As one of the fastest growing brands in the fishing industry it only makes sense that we partner with such a prestigious tournament series and media powerhouse. Seeing our professional anglers like Ron Nelson (Pro Circuit 2020 Angler of the Year) not only compete, but win, using our product on one of the most competitive stages in the world is what it’s all about.”
For more information about MLF, their tournaments and sponsors, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. To learn more about 13 Fishing, visit 13Fishing.com.
Lucky Hat Leads High School Angler’s Family to $10,000
Courtesy of Dynamic Sponsorships
KENNESAW, Ga. – Jan. 19, 2021 - High school angler Hunter Keller understands his mom, Ashley, and dad, Dusty, need to live within the family’s financial means - but they’ve always done all they can to support Hunter’s love of competitive bass fishing.
Rather than buy a pricey fiberglass boat, they chose a tough 18-foot aluminum boat powered by a 115-horsepower Yamaha V MAX SHO®. It’s a decision that recently paid back $10,000 in Yamaha Power Pay contingency money after Hunter’s dad, Dusty, registered for the Yamaha Power Pay program.
“When Mom got the email confirming our sixth place finish at the high school national championship was good enough for a $10,000 Yamaha Power Pay bonus, she was screaming and in tears of joy. She’s my biggest fan,” said Hunter. “Dad read about the new Yamaha Power Pay program right after it launched, and knew we had to make sure we signed up and thank goodness we did.”
A self-described baseball hat collector, 17-year old Keller from North Carolina says the Yamaha hat that came in the mail after his dad registered for Power Pay played a major role in their success at the 2020 Mossy Oak® National Championship on Kentucky Lake in late October 2020.
He and partner Daniel Brackett, with dad Dusty as their boat captain, stayed purposely close to the Paris Landing launch and weigh-in area in their smaller vessel, and used a 3/8-ounce fish head dressed with a Keitech® Fat Swing Impact to catch the majority of their three-day weight.
“I took like a dozen hats to that tournament, and the night before, I was studying which one I’d wear to start the tournament and chose the Yamaha Power Pay hat. Once my partner Daniel and I finished sixth, I never took it off. Then I won the next two tournaments I fished in that hat,” recounted Keller.
The fact is, Hunter probably spent more time laboring over what hat to wear than what outboard they’d buy. “We knew we wanted a Yamaha and wouldn’t have bought a boat without a Yamaha on the transom. Now, after this $10,000 Power Pay bonus, there’s no doubt. We’ll never own a boat without a Yamaha,” concludes the up-and-coming fishing talent who will attend Erskine College® on a fishing scholarship next year.
The great thing about the Yamaha Power Pay program is anglers don’t have to win tournaments to take home Power Pay cash. Anglers simply have to be the highest finishing registered participant in a Power Pay supported tournament. Power Pay is not just for bass anglers, it also includes eligible saltwater, walleye, high school and college anglers (over the age of 18) through hundreds of events.
For more information, complete terms and conditions or to register for Yamaha Power Pay, visit yamahapowerpay.com or email Chip with questions at [email protected].
Yamaha Marine products are marketed throughout the United States and around the world. Yamaha Marine Engine Systems, based in Kennesaw, Ga., supports its 2,000 U.S. dealers and boat builders with marketing, training and parts for Yamaha’s full line of products and strives to be the industry leader in reliability, technology and customer service. Yamaha Marine is the only outboard brand to have earned NMMA®’s C.S.I. Customer Satisfaction Index award every year since its inception. Visit www.yamahaoutboards.com.
Tackle HD Partners with Trophy Bass Company in Exclusive License Agreement
St. Clair, Mo., January 13, 2021 – REP Outdoor Group, LLC and Tackle HD announced, effective January 13, it has reached an exclusive license agreement to manufacture, distribute, and sell Trophy Bass Company products.
Tackle HD, a REP Outdoor Group company, produces and markets the Worldwide Buzzer, HD Swimmer, Original Hi-Def Craw, Hellgrammite, and Mega-Mite. Among other products, Trophy Bass Company is best known for the Ozark Flash Spinnerbait, as well as the Trophy Pro, Trophy Swim, and Trophy Finesse Jigs.
“I appreciate the opportunity Casey Scanlon, Travis Perret, and Justin Russell have entrusted in the partnership with our organization,” said Troy Nogosek, President of REP Outdoor Group, LLC. “The partnership completes a winter long product expansion and adds the Trophy Bass tournament-grade brand to our family. During the past few months, we have brought our soft plastic production in-house and invested in injection molding machines and added several new molds to produce brand new Tackle HD branded soft plastic products. In addition, we have developed a new line of hard baits and accessories to be launched early Spring 2021. We’re very excited to have Casey and his team pushing the Trophy Bass brand into more lure categories in 2021.”
“Justin, Travis and I are excited to partner with REP Outdoor Group and Tackle HD to help grow Trophy Bass Company,” said FLW pro Casey Scanlon. Scanlon has over half a million dollars in tournament winnings for his career. “The last four years we have worked hard to bring a high-quality premium product with the best components to tournament fishermen. Our baits have accounted for numerous tournament wins from anglers at all levels and the Trophy Swim Jig helped me win the FLW tournament on Lake Champlain in 2019. This partnership will allow Trophy Bass Company to expand nationally allowing tournament anglers from around the country the opportunity to use our baits. We are super excited for what the future holds.”
About Trophy Bass Company
Trophy Bass Company, LLC was founded by Casey Scanlon, Travis Perret, and Justin Russell and headquartered in Overland Park, KS. They specialize in tournament level fishing tackle that has quickly been recognized as proven winners. All products are made to the highest standards and with top of the line components. It is the home of the #1 selling spinnerbait in the Ozarks, The Ozark Flash. Trophy Bass Company makes tackle that tournament anglers can rely on to put fish in the boat when money is on the line. Find more info at www.TrophyBassCompany.com
About REP Outdoor Group, LLC
REP Outdoor Group, LLC, a division of Harvest Sporting Group, Inc. was founded in 1996 and has offices in St. Clair and St. Louis – Missouri. REP Outdoor Group owns Rivers Edge Products, an outdoor gift company, and Tackle HD, the makers of the original Hi-Def Craw.
Swindle Signs With 13 Fishing, Buckle Up!
Elite Series competitor Gerald Swindle now fishes exclusively with 13 Fishing rods and reels. 13 Fishing’s unique combination of cool-factor and functionality attracted Swindle to sign with the brand. “First off, the rods and reels are lights-out,” says Swindle, Bassmaster Angler of the Year in 2004 and 2016. “But also, I like the 13 image – it’s got a little swagger to it.
Noting Swindle’s “big personality,” 13 Fishing Marketing Director Ben Alcocer says Swindle “is a perfect fit” for the “bold” brand and that “his abilities on the water and his product insight really can't be overstated.”
Swindle’s Bassmaster highlights, in addition to his AOY titles, include 18 Classic appearances and 55 Top 10 finishes.
“It’s a great match,” Alcocer says. “We're very excited to work with Gerald to continue to create innovative products and help him bring home wins.”
Swindle praised 13 Fishing’s product line for including quality rods and reels in both high-end and economical categories.
“Dude, I’m telling ya, for the price of some of these rods and reels, they’re as good as any I’ve ever fished with,” Swindle says. “So, I’m just as happy with a $125 to $150 rod as I am with a $400 rod.”
“I’ve fished with the $125 to $150 rods, and they’re light for the dollar but just don’t break.” Swindle continues. I tell the guys at 13 that, and they laugh and say, ‘If Swindle can’t break ‘em, no one can!’ If I can’t break ‘em, you’re getting zero customer returns.”
Having purchased a minority stake in 13 Fishing’s parent company in 2019, Rapala VMC distributes 13 Fishing products outside the U.S.
Swindle is also a Rapala pro. His pro-team liaison at both Rapala and 13 Fishing is Dan Quinn, who wears marketing hats at both companies.
“Gerald is as good as they get and is one of the very best at catching bass, but just as importantly, he works just as hard off the water,” Quinn says. “Whether it’s filming, doing photo shoots, designing and testing products, his product knowledge and communication are top-level.”
“The fishing world better buckle up for this,” Quinn says. “It’s gonna be a fun ride!”
‘Mean and Elegant’ Concept Z SLD Reel
Swindle is so enthusiastic about 13 Fishing’s Gen II Concept Z SLD baitcasting reel, he’s convinced his wife to paint her vintage truck to match its gun-metal-grey sheen.
“We’re stripping it down to paint it and it’s going to be the same color as that reel,” Swindle says. “That’ how much I like that reel. It looks mean and elegant at the same time.”
LeAnn’s truck, a 1986 square-body Chevy with an LS1 Corvette motor, is undeniably cool. As are she and her fast-talking, quick-witted, square-brim-hatted, designer-jean-wearing husband, one of the Bassmaster Elite Series’ most popular – and colorful – characters. So it likely surprised no one when Swindle signed with 13 Fishing, angling’s coolest brand.
“13 Fishing is a stylish, cool brand, and that’s very appealing to me where I’m at in my career,” Swindle says. “With that image, it’s a lot easier to relate to people who are in their 20s, who are in college. They get into the brand. They like the way everything is ‘murdered out,’ as they call it. And that appeals to the people that I run around with.”
Swindle was impressed with 13’s Gen II Concept Z SLD reel’s performance the moment he picked it up.
“When I put that thing in my hand I knew this is where I want to be,” Swindle says. “If this brand is going in this direction, this fast, with this great of equipment, I want to be there.”
In addition to low-friction centrifugal braking, the Z SLD features 13’s innovative new SLIDE magnetic cast-control system, which is located in the perfect place for anglers to adjust without missing a single cast. You can use it to control casting downwind and then upwind on alternating casts with a flick of the thumb.
“That Slide’s legit,” Swindle says. “I mean, you turn into the wind, push it up – and it steadies the cast.”
Additionally, the Z SLD features zero-corrosion CZB bearings and an advanced-polymer drag system within a rock-solid “Cast Iron Carbon” frame and side plates. And it looks cool – SWINDEL-LEVEL COOL. “It’s got that swagger, it’s got that drip,” he says.
“When you put that reel on your rod, that combo’s got a lot of deck appeal,” Swindle explains. “When that rod and reel is laying on my front deck, I’ve seen people walk all the way across the parking lot and pick it up – 20 rods laying there, and they’ll walk right to that one and pick it up. That’s the ‘drip’ – that’s the deck appeal that draws people in.”
Rods Have ‘Right Feel’ and ‘Right Bend’
Of the 13 Fishing rods he’s fished with so far, Swindle especially likes a 7-foot, 3-inch medium-heavy Omen Black casting rod with an extra-fast tip.
“The tip on those rods just felt right – great for skipping a jig,” he says. “You don’t want a rod that’s too stiff. You’ve got to have a little tip to make an accurate cast. But you also gotta to have 80-percent backbone for when you get a big fish hooked up. That rod has that. When I picked it up, I said, ‘This is perfect.’”
Long respected as the OG of the 13 Fishing lineup, Omen Black-series rods continue to lead 13’s domination of the new school. Available in lengths, actions and powers that cover techniques both current and emerging, every stick in the tournament-proven series features Japanese 36 Ton Toray blanks with Poly Vector Graphite technology. Those innovations make Omen rods lighter and more sensitive without sacrificing durability.
“We have the right feel, the right bend in these rods,” Swindle says. “If the rod’s too stiff, you’re going to lose a lot of fish, you’re going to miss a lot of fish. If the rod’s too limber, you’re going to jump off a bunch of fish.”
Helping design new rods is something is Swindle really enjoys.
“I love having direct input with the guys’ who make the product. To be able make a difference and help with rods means we can build something together,” he says. “For where I’m at, dude, this is perfect.
“It’s so cool, because when you’re talking to guys at 13, you’re talking to guys that fish all the time,” he says. “I’m not talking to an engineer that’s never been on a boat. These guys fish – and they’re hammers. They can catch ‘em. So when you make that conversation, that connection, they know what you’re looking for.”
“I’m looking at the new stuff coming and this is exactly what we need,” Swindle says. “We can kind of ‘do the homework’ for everybody, so people don’t struggle when they come in the store and they know what they’re going in there to get.”
Swindle is looking forward to a “super, super soft” baitcasting rod with a “really parabolic” bend for fishing his Rapala DT-6 and DT-10 crankbaits. “Because you can truly overpower your crankbaits if you get too stiff of a rod,” he explains. “I want a rod that has a nice forgiveness to it – a nice feel – but has a little ‘meat’ on it. Because if you’re ripping that bait out of the grass, you want the bottom part of it to be kind of beefy.”
He is also looking forward also to a “perfect rod” for launching deep-diving Rapala DT-20 crankbaits “a long, long ways – really let ‘em fly.” It will feature a fast-action tip “you can load” and a slightly longer-than-average handle. He’s also working on numerous upcoming projects with technique specific applications in mind.
Jeff Michels win Wild West Shasta event with two day-23 pound total!
Courtesy of Wildwestbasstrail.com By David A. Brown
REDDING, Calif. — When the big guns failed to deliver, APEX Cup angler Jeff Michels shifted gears and sacked up a Day-2 limit of 11.91 pounds and won the Wild West Bass Trail Superclean Showdown Pro/Am on Lake Shasta. with a two-day total of 23.45. For his effort, Michels earned a $25,000 first-place award.
The event was originally scheduled for three days, but an unforeseen complication involving local regulations postponed the start to Friday.
Hailing from Lakehead, Calif., Michels placed second on Day 1 with 11.54. Spending his tournament in the McCloud and Sacramento River arms, he fished a two-pronged game plan in which he looked for big bites early on a 10-inch Hog Hunter Magnum Trout swimbait and then finessed his spots with 5-inch Senkosin natural shad, baby bass and green pumpkin black flake colors on a 3/32-ounce finesse head.
Same as Day 1, Michels fished hard spots on muddy banks from 5 to 30 feet. After missing a few big swimbait opportunities, he caught all of his weight fish on the Senko.
Michels noted that his best action came far up the Sacramento arm where a lack of shad made crawfish and trout imitations the right call. He caught good numbers both days, but a late-day kicker on Day 2 pushed him over the finish line.
“I caught a key fish today — a 4.15 — around 3:30,” Michels said. “I was sweating it. I had a little bit of time left and I had a ton of confidence in that area. I just stuck in that one area and ground it out.
“I just got a couple key bites both days. Coming into this event, I was only catching 8 to 8 1/2 pounds a day. I found one school of fish and I just stuck with them. I had a 1/4-mile stretch of the Sacramento and I was working both sides of the channel, so it was a 1/2-mile loop.”
Michels said the warming trend that arrived right before the tournament made the fish more active. Also, recent rains helped Shasta regain some of its water level deficit (approximately 105 feet below full pool) and Michels believes this further benefitted his cause.
“When this lake starts coming up, fish start coming to the bank,” he said. “It positions them so you can catch them. That was a big key to my victory.”
Michels also lauded the impact of his recently installed Garmin Panoptix.
“That technology is amazing,” he said. “It will show you fish, so you look down at your trolling motor arrow and you know exactly where to cast and how deep the fish are. It’s a game changer.”
Bryant Smith of Roseville, Calif. finished second with 21.95. Mounting a significant comeback, Smith rose from 55th place by adding 13.83 to the 8.12 he caught on Day 1.
“I think the biggest thing was the sun came out today and positioned the fish where I could catch them and they weren’t so scattered,” Smith said. “It seems like yesterday with the clouds and the rain those fish weren’t really setting up; they were cruising around.”
Fishing the main lake, the McCloud arm and the Sacramento arm, Smith bounced around to fish points and drains. His strategy involved playing the numbers game and trying to hit as many big fish spots as he could.
“I had a 6.06 and a 3-pounder on the same point,” Smith said. “They were almost on back-to-back casts. That was a great way for it to go down.”
Smith caught his fish on a 3/16-ounce brown shaky head with a green pumpkin Strike King Fat Baby Finesse worm and Neko-rigged green pumpkin stick bait with a 3/32-ounce Dobyns nail weight and No. 1 Gamakatsu Split shot/dropshot hook.
Cliff King of Ione, Calif. placed third with 20.85. Fishing main lake cuts in about 30 feet, he posted daily weights of 10.09 and 10.76.
King caught all of his fish on a Z-Man FattyZ (The Deal color) on a Ned head. He started out with a 5/32-ounce, but went to a 3/32-ounce when fishing action decreased. Dead sticking the bait proved most productive.
“I started out running and gunning, but when the bite got tougher, I started going back to my best spots,” King said. “I started making a milk run of six different areas.”
Thaddeus Vinson of Medford, Or. won the amateur division with 19.27. After catching 8.3 on Day 1, he added 10.97 today and earned a $10,000 top prize.
Spending time in the main lake, as well as the McCloud, Sacramento and Pit River arms, he caught his fish on a Steelhead Slammer spinner with the single hook replaced by a feathered treble and a Neko-rigged green pumpkin black flake Senko with a 1/16-ounce nail weight.
“Today’s wind made the spinner productive,” Vinson said. “I had all my weight by 10 a.m. When it slicked off, I threw the Senko and got bit, but everything I weighted came on that spinner.”
Register Now for Strike King Big Bass Challenge Tournaments
World Finals Champs Prepare for 2021 High School Season
Lew’s & Strike King Proud to Offer Freshman Scholarships
Lexington, S.C. (January 18, 2021) –
Supporting youth and the future of our sport has been at the core of our brands since their inception. This effort has been supported in many fashions throughout our history. The most notable is the highly successful Mach High School Program, which has enabled Lew’s to support many high school bass clubs across the country. In addition, Strike King is, and has always been, a proud sponsor of numerous high school and college fishing teams and events.
To ensure success of this mission, the Lew’s & Strike King brands will continue to use a fully functional Field Activation Team that heads up our nationwide efforts to support and equip youth anglers. These efforts have helped us lay the foundation for one of our most exciting developments to date. To further support our youth anglers and thank them for carrying the love and passion for fishing, we are excited to bring back the Lew’s & Strike King Freshman Scholarship Program for 2021! “We acknowledge and embrace our youth as the future of fishing. We proudly accept the opportunity to help them carry on this tradition that so many of us count as a passion in our own lives and families.
Our organization is honored to invest in our youth through this program and feel like it is our obligation to ensurethat just as it was passed down to us, the love of fishing is passed on to future generations.”commentsRocky Kalsow, N.A. Presidentof Rather Outdoors. The Lew’s & Strike King Freshman Scholarship Program is designed for graduating High School seniorswho will be advancing their secondary education at an accredited two or four-year institution.
There is no stipulation on the field of study and those planning on attending Technical schools are welcome to apply as well as conventional Colleges and Universities. Lew’s & Strike King will fund up to five scholarships with a $5,000 maximum contribution for each recipient. Those interested must complete theapplication which is available on the Lew’s website. We are proudly partnering with the Future FishermanFoundation in the screening and processing of all applications. More information and the actual application can be found on www.lews.com.
Coon & Graham win BassChamps Falcon Lake event with over 27 pounds!
| Place | Boat | Truck | Angler 1 | Angler 2 | Fish | Big Bass | Wt. | Prize Amt. | |
| 1 |  |
MIKE COON KERRVILLE , TX |
WESLEY GRAHAM EMORY , TX |
5 | 8.37 | 27.88 |
|
||
| 2 |  |
TIM FLOWERS MIDLAND , TX |
BRIAN ANKRUM HONDO , TX |
5 | 0 | 19.86 |
|
||
| 3 |  |
ALFONSO HERRERA ALAMOGORDO , NM |
ALEJANDRO RAMIREZ ALMOGORDO , NM |
3 | 9.21 | 17.28 |
|
||
| 4 | WESLEY PULLIG WALL , TX |
MASON PULLIG WALL , TX |
3 | 0 | 15.18 |
|
|||
| 5 | |
BILL GARZA JR FLORESVILLE , TX |
GABRIELLE GARZA FLORESVILLE , TX |
5 | 0 | 15.02 |
|
||
| 6 |  |
MARK BIONDI JR BURLESON , TX |
MARK BIONDI SR BURLESON , TX |
5 | 0 | 14.73 |
|
||
| 7 | RANDY DIXON BORGER , TX |
STEPHEN WINTER MIDLAND , TX |
4 | 0 | 11.60 |
|
|||
| 8 | ELENO BALBOA JR DEL RIO , TX |
ELENO BALBOA III DEL RIO , TX |
2 | 9.24 | 11.42 |
|
|||
| 9 | |
BILLY BREWER BRUCEVILLE , TX |
L J CASTILLO WACO , TX |
3 | 0 | 11.40 |
|
||
| 10 | |
CLIFF BROWN HARKER HEIGHTS , TX |
JOHN RILEY KILLEEN , TX |
2 | 0 | 11.33 |
|
||
| 11 | JIMMY STEED ZAPATA , TX |
CHARLIE HARALSON DEL RIO , TX |
2 | 0 | 11.07 |
|
|||
| 12 | WILLIAM BLAINE SAN ANGELO , TX |
ROSS JEWELL SAN ANGELO , TX |
4 | 0 | 9.74 |
|
|||
| 13 | VICTOR MARTINEZ LAREDO , TX |
3 | 0 | 9.70 |
|
||||
| 14 | MITCH GOODALL BOERNE , TX |
FOY OSBURN BOERNE , TX |
2 | 0 | 8.24 |
|
|||
| 15 | |
STUART JEFFREY ABILENE , TX |
FRANK MIXON ABILENE , TX |
1 | 8.11 | 8.11 |
|
||
| 16 | |
STEVE CARAWAY KERRVILLE , TX |
DON STEHLING KERRVILLE , TX |
1 | 7.88 | 7.88 |
|
||
| 17 | CRAWFORD BRANTLEY GROVE , OK |
TIM BROADFOOT ABILENE , TX |
2 | 0 | 6.80 |
|
|||
| 18 | MATT RIGBY HELOTES , TX |
LANE RIGBY HELOTES , TX |
1 | 6.78 | 6.78 |
|
|||
| 19 | |
KYLE KELLER RIO MEDINA , TX |
JOSHUA SPENCER SAN ANTONIO , TX |
1 | 5.43 | 5.43 |
|
||
| 20 | RAYMOND NEWTON JUNCTION , TX |
STEVEN CRAVEY JUNCTION , TX |
1 | 4.11 | 4.11 |
|
|||
| 21 | CRAIG PRYOR SEGUIN , TX |
CAROL ROBERSON SEGUIN , TX |
1 | 4.02 | 4.02 |
|
|||
| 22 | RICHARD DRAKE FAIR OAKS RANCH , TX |
CHRISTOPHER EYHORN SAN ANTONIO , TX |
1 | 0 | 3.94 |
|
|||
| 23 | |
JESSE FLAKE JEWETT , TX |
1 | 0 | 3.73 |
|
|||
| 24 | |
THOMAS DAVILA MIDLAND , TX |
ROGER MONTEJANO DEL RIO , TX |
1 | 0 | 3.36 |
|
||
| 25 | |
CHARLIE FORSTER CENTER POINT , TX |
MIKE BINGHAM KERRVILLE , TX |
1 | 0 | 3.10 |
|
||
| 26 | RICHARD CREMO LAREDO , TX |
ROBERTO GONZALEZ LAREDO , TX |
1 | 0 | 3.05 |
|
|||
| 27 | |
FREDDY SANCHEZ LAREDO , TX |
FREDDY SANCHEZ JR LAREDO , TX |
1 | 0 | 2.76 |
|
||
| 28 | RICK SCHEEN AUSTIN , TX |
MIKE HARMAN BASTROP , TX |
1 | 0 | 2.55 |
|
|||
| 29 | ZACH BIBB FAIR OAKS RANCH , TX |
BRENDON KENNELL BOERNE , TX |
1 | 0 | 2.02 |
|
|||
| 30 | |
CHAD BLACK CANYON LAKE , TX |
CHUCK BLACK LOGAN , NM |
1 | 0 | 2.01 |
|
||
| 31 | |
RICARDO CARRILLOL LAREDO , TX |
SUSAN CARRILLO LAREDO , TX |
1 | 0 | 1.98 |
|
||
| 32 | |
AL LOPEZ CLYDE , TX |
ANTHONY CAMPBELL ABILENE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 32 | JOSE MEDRANO DEL RIO , TX |
DOLORES ROBLES DEL RIO , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 32 | |
ZACHARY WYMER MCKINNEY , TX |
DAVID WYMER HALTOM CITY , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 32 | |
|
ROBERT LOPEZ DEL RIO , TX |
JEFF BUTTERS DEL RIO , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|
| 32 | JONATHAN CLICK CHRISTOVAL , TX |
BEN BLAINE GOLDWAITE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 32 | WILLIAM BRASHER BRONTE , TX |
WENDY HALL BRONTE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 32 | |
ARLEN HAUSCHILD SEGUIN , TX |
CHRISTOPHER HAUSCHILD CANYON LAKE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 32 | |
ROBERT GARZA LAREDO , TX |
TONY ALANIZ LAREDO , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 32 | |
BUFORD ESTEP JR THREE RIVERS , TX |
CLIF HUNTER THREE RIVERS , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 32 | |
LEE LEONARD MARTINDALE , TX |
SCOTT BRONDER FALLS CITY , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 32 | CHRIS WEAVER LAWTON , OK |
CHRIS STONE SAN ANTONIO , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 32 | |
BRIAN HALL BRONTE , TX |
JACOB BECK STERLING CITY , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 32 | MIKE KATZER KYLE , TX |
DAVID IMMEL BOERNE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 32 | JUSTIN BROUGHTON GRANBURY , TX |
STEVE PETERSON DEVINE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 32 | RICHARD BACON BASILE , LA |
SPEEDY COLLETT ZAPATA , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 32 | JIMMY SHELTON DUBLIN , TX |
CHARLES WHITED SAN MARCOS , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 32 | |
|
DAVID LAINE HORSESHOE BAY , TX |
WILLIAM FESLER LAMPASAS , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|
| 32 | BRIAN FLEMING JR SAN ANTONIO , TX |
MIKE FLEMING NEW BRAUNFELS , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 32 | |
KIMBERLY SUBIA TAFT , TX |
JAMES GRIMLEY TAFT , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 32 | |
SCOTTY VILLINES POCA , AR |
DAN SCHOONVELD SAN ANTONIO , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 32 | CHAD THEDFORD TYLER , TX |
NICK BROWN LINDALE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 32 | DEREK KARL EDNA , TX |
BRYAN JACOBS YOAKUM , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 32 | ADAM PEREIRA SEGUIN , TX |
MIKE LANE SEGUIN , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 32 | |
CHRIS SNYDER CIBOLO , TX |
STEVE WADE SAN ANTONIO , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 32 | |
JOSEPH TOMPKINS BOERNE , TX |
DEBBIE TOMPKINS BOERNE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 32 | |
CORY LEITA VICTORIA , TX |
BRUCE WHITE LA WARD , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 32 | |
JOHN FORSTER CENTER POINT , TX |
CLAYTON FORSTER CENTER POINT , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 32 | TOMMY LACKEY CENTER POINT , TX |
CODY LACKEY CENTER POINT , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 32 | |
DARRELL GARZA PLEASANTON , TX |
JEREMY WIGGINS PLEASANTON , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 32 | DRAKE WEHRS TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES , NM |
ERIC HALE TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES , NM |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 32 | |
RICK SHOCK VICTORIA , TX |
TED SPRENCEL PORT LAVACA , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 32 | BUBBA HARALSON DEL RIO , TX |
JERRY GREEN BRECKENRIDGE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 32 | |
CRAIG CRIM VICTORIA , TX |
DANIEL RODRIGUEZ NEW BRAUNFELS , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 32 | |
RUSSELL GETSCHMANN VICTORIA , TX |
COLTON GETSCHMANN VICTORIA , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 32 | |
CLAYTON WOODS ANDREWS , TX |
CLAYTON WOODS ANDREWS , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 32 | BOBBY BURKEEN CARLSBAD , NM |
BRANDON BURKEEN CARLSBAD , NM |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 32 | DAVID UNDERWOOD WACO , TX |
CHARLES SIMMONS WACO , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 32 | |
|
ALLEN SHELTON FARMERS BRANCH , TX |
FORREST WILSON SPRING BRANCH , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|
| 32 | |
CODY ROBERSON EMORY , TX |
DON BAILEY SAN ANTONIO , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 32 | |
SCOTTY GALBREAITH WEATHERFORD , TX |
JASON GALBREAITH BURLESON , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 32 | |
MIKE RICHARDSON THORNDALE , TX |
RANDY CADDELL ANDREWS , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 32 | |
KENNETH FAIRLY LOCKHART , TX |
TOMMY LAW TYE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 32 | |
TIM BLANCHETTE BLESSING , TX |
TOMMIE COLLIER VICTORIA , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 32 | TOM CAUTHEN INGRAM , TX |
RONNY GAZAWAY KERRVILLE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 32 | |
KYLE WIEDENFELD BOERNE , TX |
KADEN WIEDENFELD BOERNE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 32 | DEVIN GIBSON GONZALES , TX |
ROBERT PRESCOTT SEGUIN , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 32 | GEORGE ESCAMILLA SAN ANTONIO , TX |
BRANDON KITCHENS CANYON LAKE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 32 | KEVIN UNGER SMITHVILLE , TX |
TIM GOETZ SMITHVILLE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 32 | |
KENNETH LAND EDNA , TX |
RAYMOND ZETKA EDNA , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 32 | |
MIKE PERKINS DALLAS , TX |
STAN GERZENYI DEL RIO , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 32 | ROBERT BALBOA DEL RIO , TX |
DANNY PUENTE JR DEL RIO , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 32 | RAUL ESPARZA SAN ANTONIO , TX |
JOSEPH HURLEY SAN ANTONIO , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 32 | |
JEFFREY PIEL CANYON LAKE , TX |
KASEN PIEL CANYON LAKE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 32 | |
BUDDY BOONE SAN ANTONIO , TX |
RALPH CELEDON ALAMO , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 32 | |
IGNACIO SANCHEZ CAMPWOOD , TX |
ACE SANCHEZ CAMPWOOD , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 32 | |
BRENT SMITH BERTRAM , TX |
BRETT ORLICH LEANDER , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 32 | |
TOM LANPHER SEGUIN , TX |
PAUL RODRIGUEZ SAN ANTONIO , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
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| 32 | |
DAVID MORENO LAREDO , TX |
JOSE AVILA LAREDO , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
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| 32 | IGNACIO GUTIERREZ LAREDO , TX |
ROBERT FRAUSTO LAREDO , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
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| 32 | EDDIE LERO BRYAN , TX |
TERRY WIESE BRYAN , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
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| 32 | |
CHANCE HUNDLEY CASTROVILLE , TX |
CODY HUNDLEY RIO MEDINA , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
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| 32 | DUSTY FRANK WEST POINT , TX |
JOHN PRICE LA GRANGE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
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| 32 | MATIAS YDROGO III LAREDO , TX |
RUBEN QUINTANA LAREDO , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
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| 32 | IRA LYNN ADKINS , TX |
TREVOR ROGGE CANYON LAKE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
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| 32 | |
JOSE GONZALEZ LAREDO , TX |
VICTOR GONZALEZ LAREDO , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
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| 32 | |
JOSE SAUCEDO UVALDE , TX |
JONATHAN JONES DEL RIO , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
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| 32 | |
SERGIO HERRERA LAREDO , TX |
VICTOR GARZA LAREDO , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
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| 32 | RUSTY REEDY SPRING BRANCH , TX |
AYDEN REEDY SPRING BRANCH , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
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| 32 | |
MIKE BATES CANYON LAKE , TX |
GERALD DELAFUENTE CASTROVILLE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
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| 32 | KENNETH WITEK SAN ANTONIO , TX |
ERIC TAUER NEW BRAUNFELS , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
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| 32 | ANDRES FLORES LAREDO , TX |
FRANCISCO GONZALEZ LAREDO , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
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| 32 | |
STEVE WILSON FREDERICKSBURG , TX |
RAMIRO REYES HEBRONVILLE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
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| 32 | MIKE REID NEED INFO |
MICHAEL REID ANDREWS , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
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| 32 | |
WAYNE JACKSON RIO FRIO , TX |
JASON SCHNEEMANN D'HANIS , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
AC Rookie Podcast - "Now or Never with Tai Au"
On the latest AC Insider Rookie Podcast, Chris catches up with MLF Big 5 Pro Circuit Rookie Tai Au as he prepares for his Pro Circuit debut. Based in Glendale, Arizona, Tai has literally come from nothing in the last 10 years to winning two Toyota Series events and qualifying his way into the Pro Circuit. Find out more about Arizona's Tai Au, right here.
Carl Jocumsen - New Year, New Opportunities
Carl Jocumsen - Bassmaster Elite Series Pro
2021 has kicked off to a crazy busy start for Kayla and me. I have been competing since I was 16 years old and this will be my 11th year here in the states. Just like for anyone out there, it’s been a tough road and you just have to keep pushing forward, breaking down barriers and for me I have this goal or vision in my mind on where I want to get to. These past few years have really been humbling for me, to have the opportunity to have companies who’ve you’ve looked up to and their products you use and trust, to have them reach out and want to work with me and support me. Like I said before, crazy humbling.
Those that know me, know that I am an extremely loyal person, and I don't like changing sponsors. The majority of my sponsors have been with me for over 10 years, some over 20 years, and I'm proud of that. The fun part to me is working with a company who listens to their pro-staff and takes the input we give them and utilizes that. We are on the water every day and when a company really wants and values your input, that’s a company I want to align with.
One of my biggest moves this year will be moving into a new Falcon bass boat. The last 5 years with BassCat has been incredible, but it was my decision to move into a little bigger boat and into something that I believe was going to help me in my career going forward. They are a family-owned company, with a great product and the ride in the boat is just awesome, so it made sense for me and my career to make this move.
Another move for me this year is the welcome addition of both Rapala and XZone lures. Both products I have used over my career and products I truly have confidence in to help me catch more fish. The XZone Slammer is one bait that had been kind of a secret for a long time, especially up north and I caught onto it pretty quickly and the fish just love it. Most of their products I have been using for a while now, Brandon (Palaniuk) had turned me on to a few of their newer products that he helped design and I quickly saw how I could utilize them in my arsenal. One neat upgrade is putting a swammer on a chatterbait, the difference in the action was incredible. Another thing XZone does, is it gives me a lot of options for my soft plastics, especially for jig trailers. The craws with the floating claws, the chunks, the adrenaline bug, I’m excited to dial those into my jig game because I do change my trailers a lot and I like options because jig fishing is an important part of my arsenal. The XZone stuff is something you should really check out. Great people and the products are awesome.
Over my career I’ve probably never been more excited to get a season started. With the new boat, rigging up the new Humminbird and MinnKota stuff, getting all my tackle organized and being prepared to not have a single excuse when we kick off next month in Florida. I’m ready to go!
The Waters of Opportunity
This Week Chris & the boys welcome in NPFL and BASS Opens Pro Joel Willert to the show to talk about his move from FLW last year and why he chose to fish the NPFL Inaugural season & all 3 divisions of the Bassmaster Opens in 2021.
B.A.S.S. Officially Announces 2021 Bassmaster Elite Series Field
Bryan New of Belmont, N.C., who won the Falcon Rods Bassmaster Opens Angler of the Year title, is one of 13 new anglers on the 2021 Bassmaster Elite Series.
Photo by James Overstreet/B.A.S.S.
January 12, 2021
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — A reworked 2020 Bassmaster Elite Series season drew millions of enthusiastic fans to live broadcasts as the Elites became one of the only major sports to complete their full schedule, so it is no surprise that the full field is eager to resume competition. When the Elite Series takes to the St. Johns River to launch the 2021 season in February, the roster will feature 101 anglers.
B.A.S.S. announced the field for the 2021 Elite Series today, and every angler from the 2020 roster is returning, along with 12 qualifiers from the Basspro.com Bassmaster Opens and the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation champion.
“To have all of the guys back from last year says a lot about the positive momentum we have with the Bassmaster Elite Series,” said B.A.S.S. CEO Bruce Akin. “The reaction to last season was overwhelmingly positive from sponsors and fans. While they may not have always been able to join us lakeside for weigh-ins, B.A.S.S. fans cheered on each big moment while watching live coverage and encouraged their favorite anglers with messages on social media. We’re looking forward to adding 13 incredibly talented anglers into the mix.”
The list of returnees will include the legendary Clark Wendlandt, who fished a brilliant season to secure his first Bassmaster Angler of the Year title to go along with three FLW AOY crowns. Also returning are the six first-time Elite Series champions from 2020: Buddy Gross, Chris Johnston, Lee Livesay, Frank Talley, Patrick Walters and Bill Weidler.
They will be joined by a talented crop of rookies that includes Bryan New of Belmont, N.C., who won the Falcon Rods Bassmaster Opens Angler of the Year title, along with overall qualifiers Marc Frazier of Newnan, Ga., and Matt Robertson of Kuttawa, Ky. The rookie anglers who qualified through the Central Opens are Darold Gleason of Many, La., and Kenta Kimura of Osaka, Japan. Justin Hamner of Northport, Ala., KJ Queen of Catawba, N.C., and Joshua Stracner of Vandiver, Ala., all qualified through the Eastern Opens and round out the rookie class.
Pat Schlapper of Eleva, Wis., will also join the rookie class after winning the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship on Pickwick Lake in November but also earned an invitation via his Top 4 finish in Eastern Opens points.
Four additional anglers who qualified through the Opens Series points standings are joining the Elite field; however, any angler who has combined earnings of at least $500,000 with B.A.S.S. and FLW is not considered a rookie.
Scott Martin of Clewiston, Fla., earned an Elite Series invitation through the Eastern Opens division; however, while this will be his first season on the Elite Series, he will not be eligible for the 2021 Rookie of the Year race.
Instead, Martin will join Justin Atkins, Jason Christie and Greg Hackney as established anglers competing on the Elite Series. Atkins (No. 2 in Opens AOY points), Christie (No. 1 in Eastern Opens points) and Hackney (No. 2 in Eastern Opens points) all fished another pro circuit in 2020. Both Christie and Hackney have competed on the Elite Series previously, combining for six Elite event wins and an AOY title.
The 2021 Elite Series schedule will begin Feb. 11-14 with the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River in Palatka, Fla. From there, it will wind through six states for nine events as anglers compete for cash and prizes and attempt to qualify for the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk. For the first time in history, every Bassmaster Elite Series event as well as the Bassmaster Classic will feature live television coverage on the FOX Sports platforms.
Each tournament will begin with the full field of anglers on Days 1 and 2 before the field is cut to 50 for the semifinal round on Day 3. Only the Top 10 remaining anglers will fish the final day of each event with a $100,000 first-place prize on the line.
“Momentum is a powerful thing in any business or sport,” Akin said. “We built a lot of momentum over the last two seasons, and we have a field of anglers who will help us keep it going this year.”
2021 Bassmaster Elite Series Field
1. Matt Arey, Shelby, N.C.
2. Justin Atkins, Florence, Ala.
3. Todd Auten, Lake Wylie, S.C.
4. Drew Benton, Blakely, Ga.
5. Stetson Blaylock, Benton, Ark.
6. Scott Canterbury, Odenville, Ala.
7. Quentin Cappo, Prairieville, La.
8. Brandon Card, Salisbury, N.C.
9. Tyler Carriere, Youngsville, La.
10. Hank Cherry, Lincolnton, N.C.
11. Jason Christie, Park Hill, Okla.
12. Gary Clouse, Winchester, Tenn.
13. Rick Clunn, Ava, Mo.
14. Brandon Cobb, Greenwood, S.C.
15. Keith Combs, Huntington, Texas
16. Drew Cook, Cairo, Ga.
17. John Cox, DeBary, Fla.
18. John Crews, Salem, Va.
19. Clent Davis, Montevallo, Ala.
20. Destin DeMarion, Grove City, Pa.
21. Rob Digh, Denver, N.C.
22. Greg DiPalma, Millville, N.J.
23. Bob Downey, Hudson, Wis.
24. Seth Feider, New Market, Minn.
25. Austin Felix, Eden Prairie, Minn.
26. Marc Frazier, Newnan, Ga.
27. Micah Frazier, Newnan, Ga.
28. David Fritts, Lexington, N.C.
29. Darold Gleason, Many, La.
30. Chris Groh, Spring Grove, Ill.
31. Buddy Gross, Chickamauga, Ga.
32. Jeff Gustafson, Keewatin, Ontario, Canada
33. Greg Hackney, Gonzales, La.
34. Skylar Hamilton, Dandridge, Tenn.
35. Justin Hamner, Northport, Ala.
36. Ray Hanselman Jr., Del Rio, Texas
37. Jamie Hartman, Greenbrier, Ark.
38. Matt Herren, Ashville, Ala.
39. Dale Hightower, Mannford, Okla.
40. Cody Hollen, Beaverton, Ore.
41. Harvey Horne, Bella Vista, Ark.
42. Derek Hudnall, Denham Springs, La.
43. Mike Huff, Corbin, Ky.
44. Taku Ito, Okegawa, Japan
45. Kelley Jaye, Dadeville, Ala.
46. Carl Jocumsen, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia
47. Chris Johnston, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
48. Cory Johnston, Cavan, Ontario, Canada
49. Steve Kennedy, Auburn, Ala.
50. Kenta Kimura, Osaka, Japan
51. Koby Kreiger, Alva, Fla.
52. Caleb Kuphall, Mukwonago, Wis.
53. Robbie Latuso, Gonzales, La.
54. Shane LeHew, Catawba, N.C.
55. Brandon Lester, Fayetteville, Tenn.
56. Shane Lineberger, Lincolnton, N.C.
57. Lee Livesay, Longview, Texas
58. Wes Logan, Springville, Ala.
59. Ed Loughran III, Richmond, Va.
60. Bill Lowen, Brookville, Ind.
61. Scott Martin, Clewiston, Fla.
62. Mark Menendez, Paducah, Ky.
63. Yusuke Miyazaki, Forney, Texas
64. Kyle Monti, Okeechobee, Fla.
65. Chad Morgenthaler, Reeds Spring, Mo.
66. Rick Morris, Virginia Beach, Va.
67. Brock Mosley, Collinsville, Miss.
68. Paul Mueller, Naugatuck, Conn.
69. David Mullins, Mt. Carmel, Tenn.
70. Bryan New, Belmont, N.C.
71. Brandon Palaniuk, Rathdrum, Idaho
72. Luke Palmer, Coalgate, Okla.
73. Garrett Paquette, Canton, Mich.
74. Randy Pierson, Oakdale, Calif.
75. Chad Pipkens, DeWitt, Mich.
76. Clifford Pirch, Payson, Ariz.
77. Brett Preuett, Monroe, La.
78. Cliff Prince, Palatka, Fla.
79. KJ Queen, Catawba, N.C.
80. Tyler Rivet, Raceland, La.
81. Matt Robertson, Kuttawa, Ky.
82. Pat Schlapper, Eleva, Wis.
83. Bryan Schmitt, Deale, Md.
84. Bernie Schultz, Gainesville, Fla.
85. Hunter Shryock, Newcomerstown, Ohio
86. Brian Snowden, Reeds Spring, Mo.
87. Joshua Stracner, Vandiver, Ala.
88. Randy Sullivan, Breckenridge, Texas
89. Caleb Sumrall, New Iberia, La.
90. Gerald Swindle, Guntersville, Ala.
91. Jesse Tacoronte, Orlando, Fla.
92. Frank Talley, Temple, Texas
93. Patrick Walters, Summerville, S.C.
94. Bill Weidler, Helena, Ala.
95. Kyle Welcher, Opelika, Ala.
96. Clark Wendlandt, Leander, Texas
97. Brad Whatley, Bivins, Texas
98. Jake Whitaker, Fairview, N.C.
99. Jason Williamson, Wagener, S.C.
100. Jay Yelas, Lincoln City, Ore.
101. Chris Zaldain, Fort Worth, Texas
Zaldain: Bend the hook for better swimbait success
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships
The Megabass Magdraft rigged swimbaits Chris Zaldain uses most frequently to catch super-sized largemouth range in price from $13 to $25 each. Yet, the first thing he’ll tell you to do is bend one of the three shanks on the factory treble hook out to nearly 90-degrees, and then use your pliers to squeeze the other two shanks closer to one another.
“Obviously, every facet of these baits is designed with meticulous detail and innovation, including the hook they come rigged with, but there’s two great reasons to straighten the one shank to nearly 90-degrees,” says the San Jose native who now calls Fort Worth home.
“First, by straightening it out and then reinserting it in the body, it stays anchored in the belly of the bait way better when it splashes down at the end of a long cast. And secondly, when I skip it around and under docks, it stays anchored way better too,” he explains.
Zaldain’s habit of using pliers to squeeze the two remaining exposed hooks closer is a reflection of years spent casting these favorite lures. And experience has taught him he lands more fish when the two exposed hooks are squeezed tighter to one another.
Fact is, he’s won a million bucks fishing professionally, cashing a check in a super-impressive 72% of the B.A.S.S. events he’s competed in, and he’ll unapologetically tell you if conditions allowed, he throw a Magdraft swimbait nearly every day. Thankfully for all us wanting to learn more, his gracious advice doesn’t stop at how to bend the hooks.
Just out of sight, and barely get the tail wagging
“Just like Jimmy Houston taught us all to retrieve a spinnerbait just deep enough to where you could barely see it flash, the same rule pretty much applies to swimbaits,” says Zaldain. “And as far as the speed of retrieve, you want to wind it just barely fast enough to get the tail wagging – no faster, no slower.”
Throw it at the most obvious stuff
You might think fishing pressure and a subsequently educated population of largemouth has ruled out most of the obvious forms of habitat such as bridge pilings, primary points, or that lone isolated dock that sticks out like a sore thumb – but Zaldain makes a great point about exactly why you should never pass those places up with a swimbait.
“Those places still hold fish, and while they may not bite a lot of baits on those spots, the thing you have to remember is the fish that live on that obvious stuff are seeing very few if any 6” or 8” swimbaits.”
CZ’s swimbait gear
When throwing his tournament favorite 6” Magdraft, he ties it to 15-pound fluorocarbon on a 7.1:1 reel and a 7” 2” jig pitching rod. But when he beefs up to the 8” version, his line and rod size follow – choosing 25-pound fluorocarbon and beefier a 7’ 6” flipping stick.
Don’t make the biggest mistake
When asked what the biggest mistake most people make with swimbaits, Zaldain didn’t have to think about it.
“People make five or six casts with it and set it back down. You gotta fish it, man. If you throw it long enough, there’s a real good chance you’ll get bit by the size of fish that’ll forever change your approach to this sport we love.”
Fishing’s Best Flow
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Z-Man® snags Bassmaster Elite star Seth Feider |
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Ladson, SC (January 12, 2020) – For a dude whose BassFan profile lists sideburns and chest hair as his biggest weaknesses, Seth Feider brings an awfully strong salad game. Beyond his rising street cred on the Bassmaster Elite Series, Feider’s trademark mustache and spicy blonde mullet have made the Bloomington, Minnesota based bass ace one of the most recognizable anglers in the country. “Z-Man respects high-end facial hair,” quips Joey Prochazka, pro-staff and promotions manager for Z-Man Fishing Products. “Seriously, we’re super happy to welcome Seth to team Z. He’s the real deal—a genuine dude who shoots it to you straight. Of course, he’s already logged a really successful tournament career on the Bassmaster Elite Series, and sits at the top of his game right now. “No doubt, he’ll fit right in with our motley bunch of Z-Man pros—all exceptional anglers as well as good gals and guys; friendly, approachable people who know how to catch fish anywhere there’s water.” |
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New Z-Man pro Seth Feider continues his hot-streak on the Bassmaster Elite Series. |
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Feider, who owns an uncanny knack for filtering out the fluff and getting down to brass tacks, summarizes the formalized friendship. “I’ve been stealing ElaZtech® baits and ChatterBaits® out of Gussy’s stash for years,” admits Feider. “Heck, I’ve won a lot of money on Z-Man stuff under the radar. Figured it was time to get on board with these guys and work with a company whose baits really work—stuff I prefer to have at the end of my line as opposed to just doing the whole sales pitch thing. I mean, Z’s one of the topnotch fishing companies out there right now—I think a lot of the anglers are figuring that out.” When asked to explain his appeal, Feider goes all modest. “Guess you could say I’m pretty easy going. Honest. Maybe too much so, at times. But yeah, I’m certainly capable of getting excited, too—especially when thigs go well and the tournament is over. On the water, though, for the most part, I stay pretty chill.” Feider, who travels the tournament road with fellow Z-Man pro Jeff “Gussy” Gustafson, also shares his buddy’s fondness for north-country smallmouth bass. “Gussy’s the one who put me on the ElaZtech Hula StickZ™ on a Ned rig. I saw right away, the durability, flotation and action of that little thing gets me way more bites from quality smallmouths. I mean, the Ned rig buoyancy deal routinely cranks out like ten bites to one against other baits that don’t stand up. Looks to me like the perfect mimic of a crawdad’s defensive posture. Regardless, it seems like I’ve already caught like a million smallmouths on that little bait.” A dropshot aficionado from way back, Feider entered his Z-Man alliance already familiar with another elite ElaZtech bait. “I fish that StreakZ™ on a dropshot all the time. Sometimes, the 3.75-inch one is the deal. But at last year’s St. Clair tourney, I threw the bigger 5-inch StreakZ a bunch and it got me way more quality bites. The buoyancy of that bait is key—keeps it floating up above the grass and where bass can see it from a long ways away.” |
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A current project has Feider prospecting with some of the full-sized Z-Man baits in search of high-grade largemouth bites. “Suppose it’s no surprise I’ve been a huge fan of the (ChatterBait) JackHammer,” he notes. “I mean, who isn’t, right? Threw that bait at the 2020 Classic and again at Lake Fork for real strong finishes at both events. “This year, it’ll be fun to start dialing in to some of the other Z-Man ChatterBait patterns, like the StealthBlade™, Freedom CFL™ on deep structure and WillowVibe™. That bait should be a player for big smalljaws and suspended spots.” On his usual tourney game, Feider likes flipping brush or swim-jigging milfoil mats; he pitches a Neko rig everywhere else. “That 7-inch Mag FattyZ™ is really becoming a big deal for largemouths. I’ll be throwing that on a Neko rig a ton this year. And the Turbo CrawZ™ is already becoming my favorite trailer on the back of a swim jig. Guess you could say I’m feeling a little like a kid in a candy store right now.” During the off-season, Feider approaches life more or less low key. “Fall and winter in Minnesota, I do a lot of duck hunting. I also like to sneak out in my duck boat for a little river fishing, or put in on a bunch of secret little lakes; do things sort of incognito.” For the affable, fan-favorite angler, that’s becoming more and more of a challenge—particularly among the younger crowd who’ve been known to follow Feider like puppies before and after tournaments. He’s cool with that, too. Chalk the likeability factor up to his chill attitude, unmistakable style and the ‘do and ‘stache Feider refers to as ‘a Minnesota thing.’ “Yeah, we’ve got the Minnesota All Hockey Hair Team deal (Google it.) But for me the hair has always been a superstition thing. Kind of like keeping a Han Solo action figure in my boat as a good luck charm. Years ago, I’d cut my hair short at the start of the season and let it grow out all year. Seemed like I always did better toward the end of the season, so eventually, I just let it ride. Guess you could say, it’s kind of worked out.” |
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Rodgers & Burleigh win BassChamps Opener on Rayburn with 26.69, 13 pounder wins Big Fish!
Travis Moore and Norman Land with their 13.44 lb Sharelunker
| Place | Boat | Truck | Angler 1 | Angler 2 | Fish | Big Bass | Wt. | Prize Amt. | |
| 1 | JOSH RODGERS BEAUMONT , TX |
CASEY BURLEIGH ORANGE , TX |
5 | 7.23 | 26.69 |
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| 2 | |
KEELAN MANUEL SULPHUR , LA |
CLINT CONRAD MOSS BLUFF , LA |
5 | 0 | 24.33 |
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| 3 | PETE LOWE WOODWORTH , LA |
JERRY STROTHER GLENMORA , LA |
5 | 0 | 21.00 |
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| 4 | |
RUSTY CLARK BROOKELAND , TX |
CORY RAMBO ORANGE , TX |
5 | 0 | 20.61 |
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| 5 | WYATT FRANKENS CORRIGAN , TX |
CODY BARCHENGER TAYLOR , TX |
5 | 0 | 20.21 |
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| 6 | |
KENNY COLE KENNARD , TX |
JERAMY COLE KENNARD , TX |
5 | 0 | 19.39 |
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| 7 | SAMMY CHRISTIAN LUMBERTON , TX |
ALLAN SHIVERS JASPER , TX |
5 | 6.89 | 19.32 |
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| 8 | TRAVIS MOORE CLEVELAND , TX |
NORMAN LAND CLEVELAND , TX |
4 | 13.44 | 19.28 |
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| 9 | JASON MOORHEAD JASPER , TX |
TY MOORHEAD JASPER , TX |
5 | 0 | 19.13 |
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| 10 | KURTICE FLOYD NEWTON , TX |
5 | 0 | 18.45 |
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| 11 | JADEN PARRISH LIBERTY , TX |
CODY PARRISH LIBERTY , TX |
5 | 0 | 18.13 |
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| 12 | BRANNON MIRE BLOUSSARD , LA |
DENNIS NARCISSE ST MARTINVILLE , LA |
5 | 9.59 | 18.05 |
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| 13 | CODY PITT HINESTON , LA |
RICHARD ALLEN ANACOLO , LA |
5 | 0 | 17.96 |
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| 14 | CLINT WADE HUNTSVILLE , TX |
STACY SPRIGGS HUNTSVILLE , TX |
5 | 0 | 17.79 |
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| 15 | GEORGE GLASS DERRIDER , LA |
KANE BASS DE RIDDER , LA |
5 | 0 | 17.71 |
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| 15 | JEFF GRUBBS JR DICKINSON , TX |
JEFF GRUBBS SR GOODRICH , TX |
5 | 0 | 17.71 |
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| 15 | |
TODD CASTLEDINE NACOGDOCHES , TX |
JASON BONDS LUFKIN , TX |
5 | 0 | 17.71 |
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| 18 | RALPH DUPUY GROVES , TX |
BRYANT RODRIGUES PORT NECHES , TX |
5 | 8.83 | 17.62 |
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| 18 | CHRIS CLEMENS LUFKIN , TX |
DALLAS COLE LEESVILLE , LA |
5 | 0 | 17.62 |
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| 20 | BOB SIGNORIN OAKHURST , TX |
TRAVIS SIGNORIN WILLIS , TX |
5 | 0 | 17.55 |
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| 21 | JEFF BRIDGES PROSPER , TX |
PETE ELLIOTT VIDOR , TX |
5 | 0 | 17.32 |
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| 22 | |
JAMES BLYTHE JR ELM GROVE , LA |
KEVIN LASYONE DRY PRONG , LA |
5 | 0 | 17.22 |
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| 23 | |
BUBBA NUGENT POLLOCK , LA |
JOHN BENOIT POLLOCK , LA |
5 | 0 | 17.20 |
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| 24 | KRIS WILSON MONTGOMERY , TX |
BRYAN LOHR LUMBERTON , TX |
5 | 0 | 16.87 |
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| 25 | OSCAR LANGELE JR MANY , LA |
JAMES CAMPISE ORANGE , TX |
5 | 0 | 16.85 |
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| 26 | MICHAEL LATHAM LUFKIN , TX |
BEN VAUGHAN LUFKIN , TX |
5 | 0 | 16.49 |
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| 27 | WILL CARSTENS ALEXANDRIA , LA |
ROSS BRYANT ALEXANDRIA , LA |
5 | 0 | 16.39 |
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| 28 | |
CHRIS MOORE ROCKWALL , TX |
KY MARTIN GRANDVIEW , TX |
5 | 0 | 16.26 |
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| 29 | |
MARK MCWHIRTER ARGYLE , TX |
ZEB STRICKLAND TIOGA , TX |
5 | 0 | 16.16 |
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| 30 | PHILIP CRELIA CENTER , TX |
TJ GOODWYN CENTER , TX |
5 | 0 | 16.00 |
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| 31 | JAKE GOODRUM CLEVELAND , TX |
RAY BURNETT CLEVELAND , TX |
5 | 0 | 15.96 |
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| 32 | DENNIS COURTNEY LAKE CHARLES , LA |
GRADY MAYEAUX RAGLEY , LA |
5 | 0 | 15.91 |
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| 33 | GROVER MANSFIELD BROOKELAND , TX |
CORT WESTOVER NEED INFO |
5 | 0 | 15.70 |
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| 34 | ANDREW GOLDEN CENTER , TX |
JOHN BARRERA MILAM , TX |
5 | 0 | 15.63 |
|
|||
| 35 | CRAIG MASSEY HOUSTON , TX |
SCOTT HOLIFIELD GRAND BAY , AL |
5 | 0 | 15.58 |
|
|||
| 35 | |
PHILIP HANKS BUNA , TX |
RODNEY SAMMONS BUNA , TX |
5 | 0 | 15.58 |
|
||
| 37 | CLAYTON BOULWARE ZAVALLA , TX |
ALBERT COLLINS NACOGDOCHES , TX |
5 | 0 | 15.56 |
|
|||
| 38 | |
WES OUSLEY LUMBERTON , TX |
TYLER OUSLEY LUMBERTON , TX |
5 | 0 | 15.32 |
|
||
| 39 | |
TIM RENEAU RICHLAND SPINGS , TX |
JUDY RENEAU RICHLAND SPRINGS , TX |
5 | 0 | 15.12 |
|
||
| 40 | JARRETT LATTA LIBERTY HILL , TX |
BRIAN LOWRANCE NACOGDOCHES , TX |
5 | 0 | 14.97 |
|
|||
| 41 | JAMES LARAMORE VIDOR , TX |
GARRETT HILTON BEAUMONT , TX |
5 | 0 | 14.73 |
|
|||
| 42 | NATHAN STROUP WILLIS , TX |
WELSEY JOHNSON WILLIS , TX |
5 | 0 | 14.66 |
|
|||
| 43 | COLE MOORE ANACOCO , LA |
RICHARD BACON BASILE , LA |
5 | 0 | 14.65 |
|
|||
| 44 | SCOOTER CLARK CENTER , TX |
RYAN PINKSTON CENTER , TX |
5 | 0 | 14.30 |
|
|||
| 45 | |
JAY STIDHAM CHINA SPRING , TX |
CHARLIE GANTENBEIN TEMPLE , TX |
5 | 5.78 | 14.28 |
|
||
| 46 | TED PRIESING DALLAS , TX |
VIRGIL CHANEY JASPER , TX |
5 | 0 | 14.24 |
|
|||
| 47 | MARSHALL HUGHES HEMPHILL , TX |
COLE STEWART HEMPHILL , TX |
5 | 0 | 14.23 |
|
|||
| 48 | ED MELTON HOUSTON , TX |
HORACE FRAZIER MANY , LA |
5 | 0 | 14.15 |
|
|||
| 49 | CADE DURIO LAKE CHARLES , LA |
JOHN DURIO HEMPHILL , TX |
5 | 0 | 14.12 |
|
|||
| 50 | BLAKE ISTRE ORANGE , TX |
DYLAN ISTRE ORANGE , TX |
5 | 0 | 14.10 |
|
|||
| 51 | |
ROBERT MORE LEESVILLE , LA |
JERRY COUTEE MONTGOMERY , LA |
5 | 0 | 13.98 |
|
||
| 52 | TERRY HELGESON LEESVILLE , LA |
CHRIS HELGESON TEMPLE , TX |
5 | 0 | 13.93 |
|
|||
| 53 | |
MICHAEL SCALISE PORT ALLEN , LA |
CORY CHUSTZ LAKELAND , LA |
5 | 0 | 13.89 |
|
||
| 54 | |
MIKE RICHARDSON THORNDALE , TX |
SCOTT MEADS KILLEEN , TX |
3 | 0 | 13.82 |
|
||
| 55 | |
LARRY WEPPLER HOUSTON , TX |
DENNIS FIKES HOUSTON , TX |
5 | 0 | 13.40 |
|
||
| 56 | RANDY MILLENDER TEAGUE , TX |
KENNETH NICHOLS TEAGUE , TX |
5 | 0 | 13.35 |
|
|||
| 57 | RODNEY LEWIS CROCKETT , TX |
DAVID DRISKELL CROCKETT , TX |
5 | 0 | 13.06 |
|
|||
| 58 | |
STEVEN RIZZO PROSPER , TX |
CHRIS STRATTA LITTLE ELM , TX |
5 | 0 | 12.77 |
|
||
| 59 | MELVIN DUNN ORANGE , TX |
DOMONICK POULLARD HOUSTON , TX |
5 | 0 | 12.64 |
|
|||
| 60 | |
CHAD KEMP BRIDGE CITY , TX |
BRENT KEMP ORANGE , TX |
5 | 0 | 12.47 |
|
||
| 61 | SHANNON PRICE PORT ARTHUR , TX |
JOHNNY VINES GROVES , TX |
5 | 0 | 12.42 |
|
|||
| 62 | |
JASON RILEY MONTGOMERY , TX |
BRIAN RISH MONTGOMERY , TX |
5 | 0 | 12.41 |
|
||
| 63 | |
JONATHAN SIMON ORANGE , TX |
COREY STANLEY ORANGE , TX |
5 | 0 | 12.04 |
|
||
| 64 | TEDDY CLOIDE VIDOR , TX |
WESLEY DAWSON CHESTER , TX |
5 | 0 | 12.03 |
|
|||
| 65 | |
BUSTER JOHNSON KRUM , TX |
CODY MORRISON COLLINSVILLE , TX |
5 | 0 | 12.00 |
|
||
| 66 | BRYAN LANDERS JASPER , TX |
JOSH PRIEST QUITMAN , TX |
5 | 0 | 11.98 |
|
|||
| 67 | |
JARRED WILLIAMS BUNKIE , LA |
MATHEW ARMAND HESSMER , LA |
5 | 0 | 11.93 |
|
||
| 68 | |
LARRY COTTEN HUFFMAN , TX |
NICK DIBERARDINO JASPER , TX |
4 | 0 | 11.91 |
|
||
| 69 | |
CONNAN CLINE ANACOCO , LA |
JOE COOLEY FLORIEN , LA |
5 | 0 | 11.86 |
|
||
| 69 | JOSEPH NORRIS BOSSIER CITY , LA |
BARTON BLAKELOCK WAELDER , TX |
5 | 0 | 11.86 |
|
|||
| 71 | |
BRANDON PICOU LAKE CHARLES , LA |
JOE WARD IOWA , LA |
4 | 0 | 11.79 |
|
||
| 72 | BLAKE HARVEY VIDOR , TX |
LANCE FREEMAN EDDYVILLE , KY |
5 | 0 | 11.63 |
|
|||
| 73 | SEAN MECHE LAKE CHARLES , LA |
RODNEY OWENS RAGLEY , LA |
5 | 0 | 11.59 |
|
|||
| 73 | TOMMY SHELTON MONTGOMERY , TX |
DAN WILLIAMSON JASPER , TX |
5 | 0 | 11.59 |
|
|||
| 75 | |
CHARLES GUTHRIE CONROE , TX |
COLE BREWER LEESVILLE , LA |
5 | 0 | 11.40 |
|
||
| 76 | SHELBY SHAW HUNTSVILLE , TX |
WESLEY LEWIS KIRBYVILLE , TX |
5 | 0 | 11.37 |
|
|||
| 77 | BRANDON DAVIDSON LITTLE ELM , TX |
JIM FURR HEMPHILL , TX |
5 | 0 | 11.21 |
|
|||
| 78 | JOHN ILES LUFKIN , TX |
BRIAN SHOOK CHINA , TX |
4 | 0 | 11.09 |
|
|||
| 79 | JASON REAVES MONTAGUE , TX |
JOHN BALLARD WICHITA FALLS , TX |
5 | 0 | 11.03 |
|
|||
| 80 | |
LANCE SILVERTOOTH KILGORE , TX |
CHARLIE BROWN III FLINT , TX |
4 | 0 | 11.00 |
|
||
| 81 | GREG OSTERTAG MT VERNON , TX |
BRENT EDWARDS MIDLOTHIAN , TX |
4 | 0 | 10.95 |
|
|||
| 82 | |
JUSTIN CHILDRESS MANSFIELD , LA |
ROY LOVE JR STONEWALL , LA |
5 | 0 | 10.92 |
|
||
| 83 | |
BRIAN SALAS FT WORTH , TX |
COLT FARRIS JOSHUA , TX |
5 | 0 | 10.71 |
|
||
| 84 | |
|
ALLEN SHELTON FARMERS BRANCH , TX |
STRIDER BROWNING TIMPSON , TX |
5 | 0 | 10.70 |
|
|
| 85 | JOHN HIGHTOWER BROOKELAND , TX |
HUNTER HIGHTOWER BROOKELAND , TX |
3 | 0 | 10.64 |
|
|||
| 86 | |
CHARLES HICKMAN HUNTINGTON , TX |
TERRY HICKMAN KINGWOOD , TX |
5 | 0 | 10.56 |
|
||
| 87 | |
JACK TINDEL III ORANGE , TX |
DALTON SOLIZ ORANGE , TX |
5 | 0 | 10.50 |
|
||
| 88 | |
RANDY DEAVER BLANCHARD , LA |
JEFF RICE BENTON , LA |
4 | 0 | 10.36 |
|
||
| 89 | |
TRAVIS PITRE HOUMA , LA |
HARRIS ALLEMAND STEPHENVILLE , LA |
3 | 0 | 10.30 |
|
||
| 90 | MARTIN ELSHOUT ABITA SPRINGS , LA |
MARK PRICE RUSTON , LA |
5 | 0 | 10.15 |
|
|||
| 91 | |
AARON WILSON KEMP , TX |
SALVADOR PEREZ FERRIS , TX |
3 | 0 | 10.09 |
|
||
| 92 | |
RANDY DESPINO COLFAX , LA |
WILLIAM DOWDEN ANACOCO , LA |
5 | 0 | 10.02 |
|
||
| 93 | LARRY PRICE CROSBY , TX |
RYDER PRICE LA GRANGE , TX |
5 | 0 | 9.95 |
|
|||
| 94 | |
KOOPER ABERNATHY ORANGE , TX |
TRENT BUCHHOLZ BEAUMONT , TX |
3 | 0 | 9.93 |
|
||
| 95 | |
GENE EISENMANN FRISCO , TX |
GILBERT MILLER MIDLOTHIAN , TX |
5 | 0 | 9.88 |
|
||
| 96 | |
MARK MARTIN VIDOR , TX |
CHRIS MCCLAIN ORANGE , TX |
4 | 0 | 9.65 |
|
||
| 97 | ROBERT DUKES HINESTON , LA |
RAYMOND ROLLINS GLENMORA , LA |
5 | 0 | 9.51 |
|
|||
| 98 | COLBY CALONGNE CYPRESS , TX |
TAYLOR STRANGE WHITEHOUSE , TX |
5 | 0 | 9.33 |
|
|||
| 99 | CHRIS EAVES PORTER , TX |
ROBERT SCOTT LIVINGSTON , TX |
3 | 0 | 9.11 |
|
|||
| 100 | NICK BROWN LINDALE , TX |
CHAD THEDFORD TYLER , TX |
5 | 0 | 8.65 |
|
|||
| 101 | |
JIMMY BRUMFIELD MADISON , MS |
TONY OWEN CARTHAGE , MS |
2 | 0 | 8.59 |
|
||
| 102 | |
CASEY FRIDAY LAPORTE , TX |
MICHAEL CLEMENTS SANTAFE , TX |
2 | 0 | 8.49 |
|
||
| 103 | BRETT CASSIDY PASADENA , TX |
MICHAEL BELVIN ALVIN , TX |
2 | 0 | 8.33 |
|
|||
| 104 | |
JIM CULP TULSA , OK |
THOMAS BOWDEN SR LAFAYETTE , LA |
3 | 0 | 7.32 |
|
||
| 105 | |
KEVIN MASON COLDSPRING , TX |
TODD HUGHES GOODRICH , TX |
3 | 0 | 7.18 |
|
||
| 106 | |
BRIAN RAMOUR VIDOR , TX |
AUSTIN BROUSSARD PORT NECHES , TX |
4 | 0 | 7.06 |
|
||
| 107 | LEON STONE CARTHAGE , TX |
AUSTIN STONE CARTHAGE , TX |
2 | 0 | 6.94 |
|
|||
| 108 | STEPHANIE PELLERIN VILLAGE MILLS , TX |
STEVEN PELLERIN VILLAGE MILLS , TX |
3 | 0 | 6.16 |
|
|||
| 109 | |
BILL DAIGLE LAFAYETTE , LA |
ANDRE CHAPMAN CHURCH POINT , LA |
2 | 0 | 6.11 |
|
||
| 110 | |
ROBERT VANZANDT MONTGOMERY , TX |
JOE DAW MONTGOMERY , TX |
1 | 5.82 | 5.82 |
|
||
| 111 | JUSTIN WOOLARD BEDFORD , TX |
DANIEL WOOLARD HEATH , TX |
2 | 0 | 4.15 |
|
|||
| 112 | |
JESSE FLAKE JEWETT , TX |
LEONARD FLAKE JEWETT , TX |
2 | 0 | 3.89 |
|
||
| 113 | |
BILLY LAWSON VAN , TX |
JOHN BOWLING BROKEN BOW , OK |
1 | 0 | 2.43 |
|
||
| 114 | |
LARRY MATTHEWS LEAGUE CITY , TX |
RANDALL HALL ALVIN , TX |
1 | 0 | 1.98 |
|
||
| 115 | |
ROBBIE JOHNSON GOODRICH , TX |
JARROD CLARK SANTA FE , TX |
1 | 0 | 0.64 |
|
||
| 116 | |
KERRY CAMPBELL GOODRICH , TX |
CLIFFORD HINZE JR GOODRICH , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 116 | |
GENE BAGLEY BEAUMONT , TX |
MITCH STEPHENSON BEAUMONT , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 116 | LEE BATSON HEATH , TX |
JUSTIN GARRETT HEATH , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 116 | DUANE PITTMAN PRAIRIEVILLE , LA |
DWIGHT MINOGUE KEITHVILLE , LA |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 116 | |
|
GREG WEST QUITMAN , TX |
JOEY SHOEMAKE | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|
| 116 | TODD NEWMAN NACOGDOCHES , TX |
SHANNON HALE NACOGDOCHES , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 116 | |
WILLIAM LLOYD SHELBYVILLE , TX |
COLLIN LLOYD SHELBYVILLE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 116 | BLAKE STEPTOE SAN AUGUSTINE , TX |
CODY WISE CHIRENO , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 116 | |
KEITH JENSCHKE NATCHITOCHES , LA |
JOHN HRAPMANN NATCHITOCHES , LA |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 116 | |
RYAN HARPER FRANKSTON , TX |
BRANDON CLAYTON HASLET , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 116 | ROBERT GRAFTON ANACOCO , TX |
LANCE GRAFTON ANACOCO , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 116 | |
WARREN CONNER MAGNOLIA , TX |
MIKE HANKS HEMPHILL , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 116 | ERIC PHILLIPS KERENS , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||||
| 116 | HUNTER MARSHALL BEAUMONT , TX |
SHANE SPENCE LUMBERTON , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 116 | CHARLES GALLAGHER LAWTON , OK |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||||
| 116 | CHRIS ROMANO ORANGE , TX |
STUART WELCH JR ORANGE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 116 | JAMES DORTLON MARTHAVILLE , LA |
LAYNE LACAZE ROBELINE , LA |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 116 | KENNETH DAVIS MONTGOMERY , TX |
BURT BRIGGS UNIVERSAL CITY , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 116 | MICHAEL BOHAC COLDSPRING , TX |
THOMAS LEARNED CONROE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 116 | |
CHUCK BISHOP SANGER , TX |
JUNIOR MITCHELL KRUGERVILLE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 116 | |
TERRY HOTARD HEMPHILL , TX |
CHARLIE LAMASTUS HEMPHILL , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 116 | TONY DAVIS CROSBY , TX |
LEVI DAVIS CROSBY , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 116 | RICKY STEPHENS HINESTON , LA |
RUSSELL MILLER ELMER , LA |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 116 | MARSHALL HOSEA BROADDUS , TX |
BUD PRUITT HOUSTON , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 116 | BRANDON GUILLORY LAKE CHARLES , LA |
MARK SPELL LAKE CHARLES , LA |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 116 | |
ERIC BRIGMAN BRYAN , TX |
HAROLD MOORE CALDWELL , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 116 | KIRK MCCARTY BROOKELAND , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||||
| 116 | ROBERT CHRISMAN WHITEHOUSE , TX |
ADDIS MCCARVER NACOGDOCHES , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 116 | JAMES BOUDREAUX IOWA , LA |
GREGORY GUIDRY SULPHUR , LA |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 116 | CODY CLARK HERMPHILL , TX |
SHANNON FRICK HEMPHILL , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 116 | |
SHAINE CAMPBELL BROOKELAND , TX |
CRAIG CORDOVA AUSTIN , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 116 | |
LANCE DUFF LUMBERTON , TX |
COLE COSTLOW LIBERTY , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 116 | JEFF LANE PORT NECHES , TX |
HEATHER SMITH BROOKELAND , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 116 | LARRY BYRD LAKE CHARLES , LA |
TRAVIS BROUSSARD LAKE CHARLES , LA |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 116 | DAVID CURTIS TRINITY , TX |
MARK MUECK LIVINGSTON , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 116 | |
ARCHIE DORE II NATCHITOCHES , LA |
ANDY BARNES NATCHITOCHES , LA |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 116 | |
GLEN KIMBLE LUFKIN , TX |
RICHARD CRENSHAW LUFKIN , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 116 | JAMES DAVIS JR FERRIDAY , LA |
CEDRIC JACKSON HOUSTON , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 116 | |
MIKE EDWARDS ETOILE , TX |
MIKE GREER DERIDDER , LA |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 116 | |
DOUG MCCAIN LAKE CHARLES , LA |
MASON MCCAIN LAKE CHARLES , LA |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 116 | |
JOHN MCDIFFITT GRANBURY , TX |
STEPHEN WELLS MARSHALL , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 116 | |
LORIN LIVELY MONTGOMERY , TX |
GARY MCCORQUODALE PORTER , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 116 | DAVID ADKINS MONTGOMERY , TX |
GARY GILLIHAN BIG SPRING , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 116 | CLINT WEST BEAUMONT , TX |
NATHAN PRINE BUNA , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 116 | |
|
ERIC HUNT BUNA , TX |
STEVEN MOORHEAD JASPER , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|
| 116 | |
PAUL BATMAN SILSBEE , TX |
JESSE FLOYD NEDERLAND , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 116 | DANIEL METREYEON BEAUMONT , TX |
TONY BOREL GROVES , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 116 | JAMES LEE ORANGE , TX |
ALSTON GILBERT ORANGE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 116 | CLAY DARDEAU RAGLEY , LA |
CRAIG BEAN LAKE CHARLES , LA |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 116 | JOHN BURTON NEDERLAND , TX |
ZACH HARGRODER VIDOR , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 116 | |
|
TOBY JONES STONEWALL , LA |
CARL JONES DAYTON , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|
| 116 | JOHN BOWEN HEMPHILL , TX |
TOMMY WASHINGTON MILAM , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 116 | JOEL MAYFIELD PERKINSTON , MS |
RYAN PATTERSON PASCAGOULA , MS |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 116 | |
KENNETH FRANKLIN JR ETOILE , TX |
RANDY LEWIS LUFKIN , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 116 | BRADLEY HILLEBRANDT FLORIEN , LA |
JORDAN BREAUX LAKE CHARLES , LA |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 116 | |
VICTOR SEALS CLEVELAND , TX |
RONNIE USHER SPLENDORA , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 116 | |
TOMMY WOODARD CONROE , TX |
DUNDE HARRIS MAGNOLIA , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 116 | CHANCE ARCENEAUX LAKE CHARLES , LA |
DWIGHT ABSHIRE SANTA FE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 116 | STEVEN WALKER BURTON , TX |
CASSANDRA PRATT BURTON , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 116 | |
ALEX STEWART HEMPHILL , TX |
RANDAL TUCKER ALEXANDRIA , LA |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 116 | MICHAEL RISINGER WEST MONROE , LA |
SONTUS MITCHELL RUSTON , LA |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 116 | JOSEPH DUHON SULPHUR , LA |
KENNETH CONSTANCE JR LAKE CHARLES , LA |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 116 | STEPHEN SHANNON ARLINGTON , TX |
JACOB SHANNON ARLINGTON , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 116 | |
CHRIS WILEY POLLOCK , LA |
JOHN BURNLEY STONEWALL , LA |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 116 | |
BENJI DUMAS MINDEN , LA |
JIMMY DUCK III CENTER , LA |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 116 | DAMON BOREL HEMPHILL , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||||
| 116 | JESSE JOHNSON PORT NECHES , TX |
COREY HARMON ORANGE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 116 | LARRY ODSTRCIL SHEPHERD , TX |
TED GEHRELS PORTER , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 116 | |
DEAN WOOD NEDERLAND , TX |
PHIL ADDISON BAYTOWN , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 116 | |
JIMMY LLOYD LUMBERTON , TX |
ANTHONY WAGUSPACK LUMBERTON , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 116 | MATTHEW WRIGHT BRIDGE CITY , TX |
CAMERON MALLETT BUNA , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 116 | |
RAYMOND CHEEK WEST MONROE , LA |
HUNTER FLUITT MONROE , LA |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 116 | |
RICHARD GILL TEMPLE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 116 | |
DONNIE MARTIN JOAQUIN , TX |
MATTHEW JONES HUMBLE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 116 | |
ERIC PLEDGER TIMPSON , TX |
STEVEN BURGAY TIMPSON , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 116 | |
DERRIN RIDDICK KINGWOOD , TX |
JESSE SHERLOCK NEW CANEY , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 116 | |
TIMOTHY LOUPE HUFFMAN , TX |
WILLIAM BRIGGINS HUFFMAN , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 116 | BENJAMIN GULETT CONVERSE , LA |
DUSTIN RIVERS NOBLE , LA |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 116 | |
STEVE WRIGHT PLANO , TX |
MITCHELL FRIEDMAN COLLEYVILLE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 116 | |
SKYE BALL MAGNOLIA , TX |
KAY CLIFTON MAGNOLIA , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 116 | ADAM DUNN HOUSTON , TX |
JASON DUNN HOUSTON , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 116 | SKIP FLOYD BROOKELAND , TX |
ANTHONY FOUNTAIN SHREVEPORT , LA |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 116 | DEREK MUNDY BROADDUS , TX |
STEPHEN PHILLIPS HUNTINGTON , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 116 | AARON FREEMAN MONTGOMERY , TX |
KEVIN WALKER JR BUNA , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 116 | |
JERRY HESTER COUSHATTA , LA |
MICHAEL BEDGOOD COUSHATTA , LA |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 116 | |
DEAN LEWIS NATCHITOCHES , LA |
JOHNNY COSTELLO BOSSIER CITY , LA |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
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| 116 | LEE SHEARIN BRIDGE CITY , TX |
ANDREW DELANO BUNA , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
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| 116 | TAYLOR JAMES PT NECHES , TX |
BLAKE RAMBIN GROVES , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
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| 116 | RICKEY ELLIOTT SPRING , TX |
JOHNNY GRICE ARP , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
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| 116 | JOHN MADDOX LUFKIN , TX |
JEFFERY WISE LUFKIN , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
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| 116 | JACOB ROOT BROOKELAND , TX |
JOSHUA ROOT BROOKELAND , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
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| 116 | JOHN NEMECEK FRIENDSWOOD , TX |
BRADLEY PAGE FRIENDSWOOD , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
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| 116 | NEIL MATHEWS HOCKLEY , TX |
COLE STOREY HOCKLEY , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
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| 116 | LESLIE HARPER HEMPHILL , TX |
GARY FRICK HEMPHILL , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
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| 116 | BOBBY VICE GROVES , TX |
RICKY GUY HUMBLE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
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| 116 | BOBBY LOGAN COUSHATTA , LA |
KENNY COBB HODGE , LA |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
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| 116 | THOMAS LEWIS JASPER , TX |
DOUGLAS ROSS JASPER , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
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| 116 | |
TED PATE ALEXANDRIA , LA |
KEITH DELANEY POLLOCK , LA |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
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| 116 | |
KRISTOPHER PICKETT COUSHATTA , LA |
CHRISTOPHER GORDON CLARENCE , LA |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
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| 116 | JACOB JOHNSON LAKE CHARLES , LA |
SHANE CORMIER RAGLEY , LA |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
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| 116 | RICHARD CHUMLEY JOAQUIN , TX |
MILES MCDANIEL MILAM , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
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| 116 | |
RYLON GANEY PINEVILLE , LA |
JARED GANEY PINEVILLE , LA |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
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| 116 | RANDY QUINN HUFFMAN , TX |
DEAN COLEMAN HUMBLE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
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| 116 | SAM HUCKABEE SHREVEPORT , LA |
TOBY JOHNSON WASKOM , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
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| 116 | LARRY PEACHER BENTLEY , LA |
MICHAEL BREWTON NACOGDOCHES , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
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| 116 | |
SKEETER FOWLER GRAND SALINE , TX |
BEN MATSUBU MILAM , TX |
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| 116 | LOUIS FERGUSON WOODVILLE , TX |
JJ MATZKE LEAGUE CITY , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
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| 116 | ROGER JOHNSON JR VIDOR , TX |
KIRK LELEUX KIRBYVILLE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
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| 116 | |
CODY NIX PLANO , TX |
TRACY NIX PLANO , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
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| 116 | MICHAEL HETTICK CORPUS CHRISTI , TX |
MARK FILE WRIGHT CITY , MO |
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| 116 | |
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JUSTIN DUBOSE PARADISE , TX |
JERRY MEECE LUFKIN , TX |
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| 116 | |
NATHAN BYRD MIDLOTHIAN , TX |
JOE BYRD SPRING , TX |
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| 116 | |
PAUL PROCTOR BROOKELAND , TX |
RANDY FOY LUMBERTON , TX |
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| 116 | LARRY DEAN HUMBLE , TX |
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| 116 | LANCE SCOTT BROOKELAND , TX |
KEVIN BOLTON LUMBERTON , TX |
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| 116 | |
DON DICKERSON PINEVILLE , LA |
JASON FOUNTAIN PINEVILLE , LA |
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| 116 | TERRY STEVENS HUTTO , TX |
JASON HARPER MONTGOMERY , TX |
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| 116 | NOLAN GASKIN BROUSSARD , LA |
CHAD MRAZEK MONTOGOMERY , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
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| 116 | KEN SMITH RICHARDSON , TX |
TERRY HAWKINS CORSICANA , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
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| 116 | |
JOHNNIE FRANKS HEMPHILL , TX |
CHET SLAYDON DE RIDDER , LA |
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| 116 | |
TONY COBURN LAKE CHARLES , LA |
RICKY TRAHAN LAKE CHARLES , LA |
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| 116 | |
ERIC WILSON MARSHALL , TX |
HOWARD WILSON NACOGDOCHES , TX |
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| 116 | YARRI SCHREIBVOGEL BROOKLAND , TX |
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TIMOTHY MCCLURE TROUP , TX |
SAM FLYNN NACOGDOCHES , TX |
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| 116 | |
DANNY LASHLEY BOYCE , LA |
MICHAEL IVEY OTIS , LA |
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| 116 | |
CHRIS HUEBEL NEDERLAND , TX |
DON GOULD MAURICEVILLE , TX |
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| 116 | GERALD MITCHELL JENA , LA |
JASON LEBRUN CHOUDRANT , LA |
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| 116 | TRENT JAMES ORANGE , TX |
JOEL GUIDRY LUMBERTON , TX |
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DANNY BENNETT HUNTSVILLE , TX |
MICHAEL BENNETT LUCAS , TX |
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| 116 | DUANE COLVIN NEDERLAND , TX |
ZACK LUCAS BRTOOKELAND , TX |
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KEITH JONES WHITE OAK , TX |
CHRIS LEWIS HALLSVILLE , TX |
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| 116 | JERREL PRINGLE HEMPHILL , TX |
KEITH KEELE NORTH TENAHA , TX |
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| 116 | RICHARD WAGNON JASPER , TX |
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MIKE STEGALL PORT NECHES , TX |
MICHAEL LAFLEUR ORANGEFIELD , TX |
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| 116 | MIKE TAYLOR JASPER , TX |
ROBERT RICKETTS JASPER , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
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| 116 | |
LEE BROWN LEESVILLE , LA |
IKE STEPHENS SIMPSON , LA |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
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RICKY MADOLE MANY , LA |
RONNIE MADOLE SHREVEPORT , LA |
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| 116 | JERRY MCKNIGHT WELLS , TX |
QUINTON MCKNIGHT WELLS , TX |
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DOUG MORROW HOUSTON , TX |
KENNY CORLEY HOUSTON , TX |
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TED ODELL BUNA , TX |
SHAWN BUTLER ORANGE , TX |
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DAVID OZIO TYLER , TX |
AVERY GATTON NEW SHARON , IA |
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PERRY HOOKS DOUGLASS , TX |
GREGG DRIVER NACOGDOCHES , TX |
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DONNIE PICKARD BRIDGE CITY , TX |
ALAN ASHBY ORANGE , TX |
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BRYAN CARETHERS SILSBEE , TX |
JUSTIN HOLMES LUMBERTON , TX |
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| 116 | MIKE LOTT MONTGOMERY , TX |
JIMMY ROZELLE JR PORTER , TX |
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CLINT KIRBY LUFKIN , TX |
ANDREW KIRBY LUFKIN , TX |
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| 116 | MATTHEW BENEFIELD HUFFMAN , TX |
LARRY BENEFIELD HUFFMAN , TX |
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| 116 | LAMARCUS MCCRAY HOUSTON , TX |
JAMES ROZELL NEW CANEY , TX |
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DOUG PERKINS PORTER , TX |
BRAD HENSLEY CLEVELAND , TX |
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RICKY CRUZ NATCHEZ , LA |
WESLEY HOLT OTIS , LA |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
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ANDREW FATERKOWSKI MONTGOMERY , TX |
BILLY DRIGGERS HUNTSVILLE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
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| 116 | CHRIS KING BEAUMONT , TX |
TROY KIRKLAND DAYTON , TX |
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| 116 | DAVE REDINGTON WINNSBORO , TX |
LEE SANDERS HILLSBORO , TX |
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| 116 | CLIFFORD MCCARTY LONGVIEW , TX |
RIKI PIKE BROOKELAND , TX |
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KENT GRAHAM NACOGDOCHES , TX |
MYLES MOORE NACOGDOCHES , TX |
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| 116 | ROBERT HATCHETT HOUSTON , TX |
CHRIS BERRY HOUSTON , TX |
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DEREK MONG MANY , LA |
TAMMY MONG MANY , LA |
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| 116 | DOUGLAS SCHYSM LONGVILLE , LA |
JACOB EBERT OAKDALE , LA |
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| 116 | TOM WALLS PORTER , TX |
BRETT JOLLEY JR KINGWOOD , TX |
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DANIEL HICKMAN HUNTINGTON , TX |
DUSTIN ALEXANDER HUNTINGTON , TX |
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HAROLD ALLEN SHELBYVILLE , TX |
MATT LOETSCHER MANY , LA |
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| 116 | ERIC SMITH ERATH , LA |
CHRIS TERRY KILGORE , TX |
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MICHAEL MCDONALD IOWA , LA |
JERE BICE LAKE CHARLES , LA |
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| 116 | KENNETH CATES ZAVALLA , TX |
MARVIN SPIVEY OAKHURST , TX |
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| 116 | PRUITT PERKINS ORANGE , TX |
DUSTIN GUNSTREAM VIDOR , TX |
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STEVE BROWN DEER PARK , TX |
DOUG BROWN MONT BELVIEU , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
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| 116 | CHAD FRIEDMAN FORT POLK SOUTH , LA |
DEAN JOHNSON FORT POLK SOUTH , LA |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
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SCOTTIE STINSON MONTGOMERY , TX |
JACK STINSON MONTGOMERY , TX |
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JORDAN FREDERICK MAURICE , LA |
GARRETT TUNKS SULPHUR , LA |
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SAM MCCOLLUM CORSICANA , TX |
PAUL MCCOLLUM CORSICANA , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
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| 116 | ALEX CARLSON LIBERTY , TX |
JAMES CROUTHERS LIBERTY , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
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| 116 | RONNIE CASTLEBURY ELGIN , OK |
JAKE CASTLEBURY ELGIN , OK |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
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| 116 | JOHNNY STEWART GOLDONNA , LA |
DANIEL CHANCE JR CARTHAGE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
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| 116 | DOUGLAS WROTEN WILLIS , TX |
RAYMOND PETERS HUFFMAN , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
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| 116 | KIP PASSANT LAKE CHARLES , LA |
PAUL LUNDY BROOKELAND , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
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| 116 | BRYAN TRAHAN ORANGE , TX |
JOHN HATTON BUNA , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
B.A.S.S. Nation 2021 Regional Championship Schedule Announced
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The 2021 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation schedule features five opportunities for grass-roots anglers to battle some of the country’s best bass fisheries. Each regional championship will provide opportunities for everyday anglers to qualify for the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship and a shot at one of three berths in the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk.
“As we’ve seen in the past with anglers like Paul Mueller and Brandon Palaniuk, who both won Elite Series events last year, the B.A.S.S. Nation can be the gateway to a stellar career in professional fishing,” said B.A.S.S. Nation Director Jon Stewart. “Once you reach the Nation Championship, you’re fishing for a chance to fish in the Bassmaster Classic, and we’re excited this year to offer even more chances for anglers to do that.
“We’ve put together a great, really unique schedule.”
The schedule will kick off with the Western Regional at Lake Havasu in Havasu, Ariz., Feb. 3-5. This Western fishery, which offers a combination of crystal-clear waters and stark desert beauty, ranked No. 17 on Bassmaster Magazine’s list of the Best Bass Lakes of the Decade.
During April, Nation anglers will take on the largest lake in Kansas during the Central Regional at Milford Lake in Junction City, Kan., April 21-23, just before the Southeast Regional heads to Lake Hartwell in Anderson, S.C., April 28-30. Hartwell has hosted three Bassmaster Classics and six major B.A.S.S. events.
The schedule will swing to the upper region of the United States with the Northeast Regional at Lake Erie/Presque Isle Bay in Erie, Pa., June 23-25. This smallmouth mecca ranked No. 3 on the Best Bass Lakes of the Decade list.
“We are thrilled that Bassmaster has chosen to host its 2021 B.A.S.S. Nation Northeast Regional Championship in Erie,” said Mark Jeanneret, Executive Director of the Erie Sports Commission. “The Erie region offers world-class bass fishing on Lake Erie and Presque Isle Bay, as well as the accommodations and attractions that will make the tournament memorable for participants and their families. We are eager to welcome a full field of anglers to experience all that our community has to offer while competing in this prestigious event.”
The final regular-season event, the Northern Regional, will be held on the Upper Mississippi River out of La Crosse, Wis., Sept. 1-3.
“The B.A.S.S. Nation means so much to so many different people,” said B.A.S.S. CEO Bruce Akin. “Of course, for those anglers who aspire to fish professionally, it can certainly be a great stepping stone. For weekend anglers, it is a chance to compete for big money on a big stage. Beyond these Regional Championship events, there is such great camaraderie among B.A.S.S. Nation clubs at their local tournaments and youth events.”
The date and location for the 2021 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship will be released at a later date. The Championship tournament will be made up of qualifiers from all five regions, and the Top 3 anglers from the overall standings will earn a berth to the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk.
The winner of the 2021 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship will also receive a cash prize, an invitation to join the 2022 Bassmaster Elite Series and use of a “Nation’s Best” wrapped, tournament-ready boat.
2021 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Schedule
Western Regional: Feb. 3-5, Lake Havasu, Havasu, Ariz.
Central Regional: April 21-23, Milford Lake, Junction City, Kan.
Southeast Regional: April 28-30, Lake Hartwell, Anderson, S.C.
Northeast Regional: June 23-25, Lake Erie/Presque Isle Bay, Erie, Pa.
Northern Regional: Sept. 1-3, Upper Mississippi River, La Crosse, Wis.
Logan Johnson and Jeremy Christian win the Inaugural Alabama Bass Trail 100
By Jason Duran
Photos by Chris Brown
January 10- Columbiana, AL- 100 Teams launched at Beeswax Park for the first of three events in the brand-new Alabama Bass Trail 100 series. The ABT 100 series features 100 teams, 100 percent payback and $100,000 total payout in each event. Logan Johnson and Jeremy Christian claimed the first-place title and took home the hardware and $25,000.
Logan and Jeremy started the morning in an area they found in practice and felt would produce because of the large amount of shad active in the area. They soon realized it wasn’t the winning spot and quickly moved to their second area located in Spring Creek. Logan said, “it was a very large area, and in practice, we found it also was holding a lot of shad.” They spent the rest of the day on the trolling motor in this area.
Logan caught the big fish of the tournament, a 5.01 spot, near a dock. He was surprised to catch a spot in that area saying, “it was completely random. I caught it on the second cast in a transition area between docks.” During practice he fished near the area and decided to give the bank a try. The area was loaded with shad, and he shook off three fish during practice, so he decided it would be a good place to try on Saturday and expand on. Jeremy said, “when Logan caught that big fish, it really helped us settle down on a very frustrating morning.”
Logan noted, “I didn’t really know what was holding the fish in this area other than the shad. The area was shallow with grass mixed in.” They worked the area over because they felt the fish were there. Jeremy said, “we stuck with this pattern also because we didn’t really have anything else and knew we would just have to grind it out.” After practice they felt it would take around 19 pounds to win. They ended up with catching six fish all day long, but they were the right fish for a total of 18.70 with four largemouth and a 5.01 spotted bass.
Logan said he and Jeremy talked all week how cool it would be to win the very first ABT 100. He said they “have won an ABT event before, but winning this one is kind of surreal.” They are not only the first ABT 100 winners; they also hold the record for the largest bass ever caught in an ABT with 10.36 at Lake Guntersville. Today they proved they are a solid team and stand tall against the best of the best in the ABT 100.
The second-place team of Gerald Swindle and Ryan Anaya made the long run north to the dam. Ryan said, “it was a long, cold run, and we went as far as we could go.” “Them boys don’t want to go where we go,” said Gerald. They spent eight hours fishing a drift pattern. They would drive up to the dam and drift back with the current for about a mile just fishing and talking. Gerald said, “you have to be so patient; you can’t call your shot and say throw right there. You go up there and just drift backwards for hours. We would get on a run where we caught a couple, and then it would be hours before we caught another one.” He said, “it’s a style of fishing that messes most people up because it’s so boring and seems so random, but we know if two people do it for 7-8 hours a day, they’re going to get 7-8 bites and have 17-18 pounds.” They were right as they weighed in 17.06 pounds.
In addition to their $12,500 second place money, they also took home a $500 Garmin bonus. They used Garmin Live Scope to help them find places where the bank and other structure caused the current to speed up. There they would cast their bait and come by those areas saying they could see the fish come up and go after their bait.
Their key bait was a ½ oz black and blue Boss flipping jig with a Zoom big salty chunk. They said, “it is a big bait and it looked like we were tarpon fishing.” Gerald said, “you can go up there, throw a little jig and probably get a lot more bites, but you won’t catch any of the quality 4-pound bites.”
Ryan is recovering from a very difficult battle with COVID-19. He spent 7 days in the ICU and weeks on oxygen recovering at home. He just started back fishing and said, “today was a fun day but at times, I still got a little winded.” Gerald said, “it’s awesome being able to come back and fish this format with the guys I grew up fishing with. These are my boys and it brings back the fun of fishing to see everybody.”
Third place went to Paul Davis Josh Chapple, also long-time fishermen on the ABT, having fished the ABT North and the ABT South in previous years. Josh said, “the morning started out slow. We began early throwing a jerkbait in chartreuse and a red Rapala Shad Rap. We hit a couple spots using that pattern and decided to make an adjustment.
They said they have some “good history on this lake and went with the idea of knowing where to be this time of year.” Saturday the current didn’t really play a factor for teams on the south end of the lake. Paul and Josh said they have fished here enough to “know not to base their tournament on the current.” After making a couple adjustments and a location change, Paul caught a 4.35 and followed right up with a 3.5 about 9:00. After that quick flurry of fish catches, they thought they had figured them out. However, Josh said then “the fishing got really, really slow, so we made another adjustment and moved around a little more. We spent some time flipping to finish out our limit.” They spent most of their time fishing the “narrows” fishing primarily in the creeks off the river. With a total of 16.37 they secured third place and a $10,000 pay day. They echoed what many teams keep saying, “we are just looking forward to Eufaula.”
The second stop of the Alabama Bass Trail 100 will be on Lake Eufaula, “The Bass Fishing Capital of the World,” Saturday, June 5, where once again 100 teams will go for the $100,000 total payout.
Top five standings are below for a complete list see https://www.alabamabasstrail100.org/lay-lake-results/
Download and listen to the ABT Podcast on your favorite Podcast app by searching for “Alabama Bass Trail Podcast.” The Podcast is released each week on Tuesday. This week podcast will feature winners
The sponsors of the 2021 Alabama Bass Trail 100 include; Phoenix Bass Boats, Bill Penney Automotive Group, Garmin, America’s First Federal Credit Union, Sweet Home Alabama, Alabama Tourism Department, T-H Marine Supplies, Wedowee Marine, Big Bite Bait Company, Black Rifle Coffee Company, Anheuser- Bush, Inc., fishalabama.org and American Baitworks.
For information about Alabama Bass Trail 100 visit www.alabamabasstrail100.org
Bassmaster Classic And Outdoors Expo Moved To June 2021
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Due to the ongoing public health emergency and associated limits on large gatherings, B.A.S.S. officials announced today that the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk and Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo originally scheduled for late March would be moved to June 11-13, 2021.
“It’s our hope that this delay will allow us to alleviate many of the challenges — including any potential capacity restrictions and travel complications — related to hosting both the tournament and Outdoors Expo in the current pandemic environment,” said B.A.S.S. CEO Bruce Akin. “We look forward to seeing thousands of fans, along with our partners and industry friends, at the 51st Bassmaster Classic.
“Our team will be working with the Fort Worth Sports Commission and Visit Fort Worth to make this historic trip to Texas an incredible and memorable event.”
B.A.S.S. Chairman Chase Anderson emphasized the importance of cooperation with the city of Fort Worth. “We are so appreciative of Fort Worth officials and our hosts at Visit Fort Worth for working with us during these unprecedented times to reschedule this exciting event and ensure we have an outstanding Classic.”
For more than 50 years, the iconic Bassmaster Classic has been the premier tournament in sportfishing. Recent Classics held in Birmingham, Ala., and Knoxville, Tenn., have drawn record-breaking crowds of 122,814 and 153,809 fans respectively to Classic Week events, including the Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo.
At least 12 new products were launched during the 2020 Outdoors Expo, which is recognized as fishing’s biggest consumer show and annually draws 200 exhibitors ranging from major international brands to local retailers.
“Hosting the Bassmaster Classic later this spring will bring jobs and much-needed business to our local economy,” said Jason Sands, Director of the Fort Worth Sports Commission. “We are looking forward to hosting anglers and the thousands of outdoor enthusiasts and Bassmaster fans this world-class sporting event attracts.”
The success of the Expo is a major contributing factor to the Classic’s overall economic impact which generated a windfall of $35.9 million according to 2020 host community Birmingham, Ala.
The move from an early spring tournament to June is a throwback to previous events. From its inaugural outing in 1971 until 1983, the Bassmaster Classic was held in the fall. The Super Bowl of Bass Fishing became a summer event in 1984 but shifted to February and March in 2006, the first season of the Bassmaster Elite Series.
The Bassmaster Elite at Pickwick Lake, which was originally scheduled for June 10-13, will instead be held on the Florence, Ala., fishery March 18-21.
For more information, visit Bassmaster.com.
AC Insider Podcast - The 40-Pound clubs newest member
This week Chris & the boys kick off the yer right with Rayburn BFL Winner Derek Mundy who dropped a 40-pound 10-ounce bag on the scales last Saturday to win the 2021 BFL opener on Rayburn putting him in an elite club. Kenneth shares some news and we catch up on what Santa brought the boys for Christmas!
Broaddus’ Mundy Smashes at 2021 Season Kickoff of Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Sam Rayburn
Mundy Weighs in Fourth-Largest Five-Fish Limit in MLF History, Mississippi’s Petras Wins Co-angler Division
BROOKELAND, Texas (Jan. 4, 2021) – Derek Mundy of Broaddus, Texas, brought a five-bass limit to the scale Saturday weighing a staggering 40 pounds, 10 ounces to win the 2021 Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine season opener at Sam Rayburn Reservoir in Brookeland, Texas. Mundy earned $7,000 for his victory.
Mundy said he found his fish in practice but didn’t realize just how good his spot was going to be.
“You can’t look on the graph and see 40 pounds, but I knew I could have a good bag if they bit,” Mundy said. “It’s not guaranteed you’re going to roll up to your first spot and catch 30, much less 40.
“I caught the first four on a big crankbait and they busted up a bit,” Mundy said. “Then I pulled out a jig and caught the last one. I caught those five, all on the first stop, in about 20 minutes.”
Fishing a Strike King 8XD and a ¾-ounce V&M The Flatline Pacemaker Football Jig, Mundy said he did all of his damage in about 17 feet of water, in the mid-lake region.
After catching five giants, including a 11-pound, 10-ounce largemouth, Mundy said he felt he could relax.
“I took it easy and went to some Plan B stuff to try to get my co-angler on fish, but it never worked out – the wind got up pretty bad in the afternoon,” he admitted.
Weighing his fish as soon as he was allowed, Mundy said he was content to wait for the weigh-in to conclude before collecting his check.
“It’s the biggest bag I’ve ever caught,” said Mundy, who makes his living working on oil pipelines. “It felt good. I didn’t realize they were that big until I was checking on them to make sure they were doing alright in the livewell, but even then, I didn’t realize I had 40 pounds.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament as follows:
1st: Derek Mundy of Broaddus, Texas, five bass, 40-10, $7,000
2nd: Cameron Mattison of Bossier City, La., five bass, 28-6, $3,000
3rd: Tommy Loving of Cypress, Texas, five bass, 22-14, $2,000
4th: Wyatt Frankens of Corrigan, Texas, five bass, 17-11, $1,400
5th: Jimmy Hickman of Shreveport, La., five bass, 17-8, $1,200
6th: Cannon Bird of Marshall, Texas, five bass, 16–6, $1,100
7th: Chris McCall of Woodville, Texas, five bass, 15-15, $1,000
8th: Richard Ballard of Sulphur, La., five bass, 15-12, $1,400
9th: Dicky Newberry of Houston, Texas, five bass, 15-0, $800
10th: Bobby Vice of Orange, Texas, five bass, 14-11, $665
10th: Travis Franks of Lake Charles, La., five bass, 14–11, $665
Mundy’s 11-pound, 10-ounce largemouth was also good for the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $1,000.
Ballard took home an extra $500 as the highest finishing Phoenix MLF BIG5 Contingency Bonus member. Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $7,000 per event in each Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.
Michael Petras of Biloxi, Mississippi, won the Co-angler Division and $3,000 Saturday after catching a five-bass limit weighing 16 pounds even.
The top 10 co-anglers finished as follows:
1st: Michael Petras of Biloxi, Miss., five bass, 16-0, $3,000
2nd: Shane Stoddard of Hot Springs, Ark., four bass, 15-4, $2,000
3rd: Michael Horne of Dodson, La., five bass, 14-10, $1,000
4th: Carson Dillinger of Bloomburg, Texas, five bass, 12-70
5th: Tracy Hawkins of Corsicana, Texas, three bass, 11-15, $600
6th: Julio Garza of Houston, Texas, five bass, 11-5, $550
7th: Steve Lee of Benton, Ark., five bass, 11-2, $500
8th: Daniel Bryant of LaFayette, La., five bass, 10-10, $450
9th: Ryker Holmes of Arlington, Texas, five bass, 10-7, $400
10th: John Webb of Fort Smith, Ark., four bass, 10-4, $332
10th: Greg Boik of College Station, Texas, five bass, 10-4, $332
Stoddard caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 9 pounds, 15 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $500.
The 2021 Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine on Sam Rayburn Reservoir was hosted by the Jasper County Development District.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the Cowboy Division based on point standings, along with the five winners of each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 21-23 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on Lake Ouachita in Mount Ida, Arkansas hosted by Visit Hot Springs. Boaters will compete for a $60,000 prize package, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury s outboard.
The 2021 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American.
The 2021 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American will be held June 3-5 at Douglas Lake in Dandridge, Tennessee and hosted by the Jefferson County Department of Tourism. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division earn priority entry into the Toyota Series, the pathway to the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Bassmaster College Series 2021 Regular-Season Stops Announced
December 28, 2020
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Talented teams from across the country can officially start marking their calendars after B.A.S.S. officials announced the 2021 schedule and a format change for the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops today.
The circuit will include four regular-season events, plus a Wild Card tournament and season-ending National Championship. Each two-angler team will not only be vying for Bassmaster College Series Team of the Year honors, but one skilled angler will advance from the College Classic Bracket with a berth to the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk.
“There are thousands of young anglers who are hungry to compete — and as we’ve seen with so many former college anglers now competing at the highest levels of bass fishing, it’s changing the sport from top to bottom, ” said Hank Weldon, Tournament Director for B.A.S.S.’s College Series. “The 2021 season offers these college teams an opportunity to test their skills on a variety of fisheries.”
Based on feedback from coaches and anglers, for 2021 all regular-season tournaments will be two-day events with the full field fishing both days. The National Championship will still be a three-day tournament.
The Bassmaster College Series will begin March 5-6 on Lake Norman in Cornelius, N.C. It will then include two more springtime events on Lewis Smith Lake in Cullman, Ala., Apr. 16-17 and Lake Cumberland in Russell County, Ky., Apr. 30-May 1. The trail’s final stop June 9-10 will be held on a Northern fishery, but the exact location will not be announced until a later date.
The leading anglers in the Bassmaster College Series Team of the Year points standings will be determined after those four events. The Team of the Year will punch their ticket to the College Classic Bracket event, which will be held in September.
Due to overwhelming interest in the series, B.A.S.S. will once more cap the field size at 250 boats. Those teams who register but remain on the waitlist for the four regular-season events will enjoy an opportunity to qualify for the National Championship via the Wild Card tournament June 23-24 on Alabama’s Lay Lake.
“The Bassmaster College Series has always been about giving young anglers a chance to compete,” said Weldon. “While we want to limit field size at events, it was important that we not limit the opportunity for these teams. The Wild Card event is a great way to ensure any team that couldn’t compete previously still has a shot at fishing for a national title.”
More information on the July Bassmaster College National Championship and September College Classic Bracket event will be released in 2021.
Registration for the College Series will open January 19. For more information, visit Bassmaster.com.
2021 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops
March 5-6, Lake Norman, Cornelius, N.C.
Apr. 16-17, Lewis Smith Lake, Cullman, Ala.
Apr. 30-May 1, Lake Cumberland, Russell County, Ky.
June 9-10, TBA
June 23-24, Wild Card Tournament, Lay Lake, Shelby County, Ala.
