Humminbird® and Minn Kota® to Air One-Boat Challenge Finale on April 9
RACINE, Wis. (April 8, 2020) — Humminbird® and Minn Kota® will release the fourth and final installment of the One-Boat Challenge web series on Thursday, April 9. In the series finale, the two remaining teams get a surprise when a bass fishing legend and another special guest show up to take them on in a battle of who can catch the single biggest fish in just 90 minutes. The winning team earns an advantage for the mother of all final challenges, a treasure hunt that takes them above and below Lake El Salto. Guided by a series of clues, the teams race to complete their tasks using all the technology available from the One-Boat Network™ along with their fishing skill to be declared the first ever One-Boat Challenge Champions. The team who completes the series of challenges first and finds the final clue will win the competition as well as $10,000 to split between the winning team’s charities.
In last week’s episode, the teams competed against each other using their AutoChart® Live map on their SOLIX® fish finder to catch the most fish within their assigned boundaries. Tyler Anderson and Mike Roy came in first place with 34 fish followed by Seth Funt and Charlie Breitenbach in second with a solid 24 fish. Willie Young and Louie Vito came up short with a total of 14 fish which resulted in their elimination.
The team who survives all the challenges and avoids elimination will win $10,000 for their fishing charity of choice. Contestants and their charity of choice include:
- Tyler Anderson, Bass Fishing YouTuber – Kids Outdoor Zone
- Mike Roy, Striped Bass Guide – Saltwater Guide’s Association
- Seth Funt, Pelagic Fisherman – Coastal Conservation Association
- Charlie Breitenbach, Inshore Fly Fisherman – Captains for Clean Water
- Cameron Black, Salmon and Steelhead Guide – Hatchery Wild Coexist
- Ashley Nichole Lewis, Salmon and Steelhead Guide – Brown Folks Fishing
- Willie Young, NFL Defensive End – Keep America Fishing
- Louie Vito, Olympic Snowboarder – Take Me Fishing
The teams were outfitted with gear from some of fishing’s most esteemed brands, including AFTCO, Abu Garcia, Berkley, Gerber, Old Town Kayak, Rapala, Plano, Shimano, St. Croix Rods, StrikeKing and VMC. Vexus Boats, rigged with the One-Boat Network, were towed by Toyota USA trucks and SUVs throughout the competition. The entire show was filmed on location at Angler’s Inn on Lake El Salto.
The first three episodes are currently available to stream on OneBoatChallenge.com and Minn Kota’s YouTube channel. The fourth and final episode will air on Thursday, April 9. The series highlights the ups and downs of the competition as well as key features and benefits of the One-Boat Network.
Tune in on Thursday, April 9 to find out which team gets sent home and follow along with the series by tracking #ONEBOATCHALLENGE. The episodes can be viewed at www.OneBoatChallenge.com.
For more information visit www.humminbird.com or www.minnkotamotors.com.
Zona talks silver linings, 6-pounders, and Han Solo
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships
Mark Zona graciously took a few minutes to frame up these challenging times in America with a personal perspective rich in gratefulness for family, fat bass, and even talk of werewolves and Star Wars characters.
Q: The C-19 virus has obviously created a fairly dark time in America’s history we all hope will end really soon. Give us something to smile about, Z.
Zona: As Americans, we’re never going to forget these days, but the silver lining right now is getting to spend exponentially more time with my wife and kids. In fact, as soon as we’re done with this interview, we’re jumping on the family pontoon boat. And trust me, under normal circumstances, I never get to spend a weekday afternoon on a pontoon boat with my family.
Q: Fishing and time outdoors with family is definitely a very popular thing to do right now. Give the parent who may be taking their kid fishing for the first time some Z-Train wisdom.
Zona: It’s all about action. We’re not trying to catch trophy bass here folks. We’re trying to have a good time – and for kids, that means worms on a hook under a bobber for anything that will bite. And listen to me, when they show signs of boredom – move on – pack it up – don’t force them to stay if the fish aren’t biting.
Q: You get to choose three bass lures to fish with anywhere in America for the next 30 days – what three are you picking?
Zona: A half-ounce green pumpkin Strike King Thunder Cricket, second --- a 4.75” Rage Swimmer swimbait on a ¼ ounce belly-weighted 5/0 Trokar hook, and are you ready for the silver bullet I plan to take down the werewolf with? Number three – a green pumpkin purple fleck tube on a spinning rod with a 5/16 ounce jig head.
Q: What’s been your best fishing experience the past three weeks?
Zona: That’s easy, because it was one of the best fishing experiences of my life. I was with Martin Truex Jr. on a private lake in Arkansas, and with zero exaggeration, we caught 200 bass between 6 and 8 pounds on a Thunder Cricket for a Zona Live show on Bassmaster.com.
Q: A lot of people are spending an exceptional amount of time kicking around the house in pajama pants these days. What is the one Carhartt garment you wear so often your wife Karin is nearly tired of seeing it?
Zona: That’s an easy one too. My black Carhartt vest, of course. In fact, I absolutely plan to wear it today on our family pontoon cruise. No shirt beneath, with my 1991 tattoos blazing. To be real honest, I think I look a lot like Han Solo when I wear it.
AC Insider Podcast - Episode 130 with Stetson Blaylock
This week Chris and the boys welcome in Stetson Blaylock to talk about how he's using this time off to prepare for the next event and how he stays busy. Chris gets excited about his new boat and more!
Bernie Schultz on Treasured Tackle
Vance McCullough
On a balmy autumn day Bassmaster Elite Series veteran Bernie Schultz and I rode through a wormhole into the past. A classic Old Florida scene played out as we idled by a clapboard shack squatting at water’s edge with its aged gas pump. Painted red letters on the side of the building read: ‘Restaurant’, parts of the word fading or chipped. The antiquated fish camp looked young compared to the grand live oaks that shaded its boat dock, wearing old man beards of Spanish moss.
As we putted through the canal, Bernie spoke of another time machine he’s enjoyed for decades: antique lure and tackle collecting. It’s a thread that binds people together across the years, and across their differences. “I actually started when I was a kid. My grandfather kind of started me. It brings people together from all walks of life, all income brackets, nationalities, all ages. It’s a common interest.
“There’s something about lures. Whether you collect vintage lures or you just fish with contemporary lures, we’re all collectors, in a sense. People that fish love lures. Some of us love old lures. I like the ones that go way back, that kind of defined the sport,” said Schultz who regularly writes a column on antique tackle for Bassmaster Magazine.
While some lures have defined our sport, Schultz notes that the sport of bass fishing has also defined the art of lure-making on an international scale. “A lot of people don’t realize it, but the plug was developed in our country, not in Europe, not in the Orient, it was developed in America for the black bass, primarily.
“Same with your bass reel, baitcasting reel, those originated in America by a Kentucky watch-maker. They understood gearing, they knew how to work with metal and synchronize all those gears and create level winds and all that. Reels existed long before that but not bass casting reels and multiplying reels.”
Schultz warns that a guy can go deep down the rabbit hole of collecting. “I probably spend an inordinate amount of time looking for stuff when I probably should be doing my homework for the lakes I’m fixing to compete on but it’s a passion,” says Schultz, shrugging a bit and making a plaintive gesture with his free hand, the other guiding us steadily on through the canal of time as he orates our passage back through the years. It’s a journey he shares with many. “There’s a lot of guys like me that love it. It’s not a small group; it’s actually international. We have meets. Every year the National Fishing Lure Collectors Club has a national meet and there are regional meets that are sanctioned by them. Then there are smaller organizations like the Florida Antique Tackle Collectors or the Old Reel Collectors Association, ORCA – that’s their acronym. There’s a lot of people out there looking for old tackle and preserving it which, to me, is really important. It’s the history of our sport and the tools of our trade.”
Far from being dusty pieces of memorabilia from a bygone era, many collectible lures still find use. And still catch bass. “You can bet any number of guys on Tour have old Bagley square bills in their boxes. Takahiro Omori, he’s probably the worst,” laughs Schultz. “He’s afflicted big time. His house is full of old square bill crankbaits.
“A lot of guys like the old, early Rapala lures with the foil finish on them. They’re valuable now. Who would have thought that when we were kids throwing them? And go online and look at the auction prices for some of the Storm Wiggle Warts. They’re hundreds of dollars.”
While old lures fetch high prices, Schultz has different motives for chasing antiques. “To me, it’s not about making money with them. There are guys that do that. I know several guys that have made a profession of brokering antique tackle, and they do really well, but I just like ‘em.”
Everything old is new again. Lure design runs in big circles. Every year we see it at the huge ICAST fishing industry trade show where the ‘latest’ innovations are displayed. “There’s not a lot of new ideas in fishing. They’re just perfecting some old ideas, recycling. Case-in-point, would you care to guess when the first hollow belly frog was made?” asks Schultz. I share that I have some from the 1970’s. “Well, you’re about 70 years off. 1895. Not only was it the first hollow belly bait, like the Rojas frogs and the Scum Frog and the Terminator Frog – lot of great frogs out there these days – but it also incorporated weedless hooks. That’s how far advanced that was. In 1895. Think about that. So, there’s not a lot of new ideas.
“The first anti-backlash reel was pre-1900’s. I’m not saying it was effective, but they were thinking about that back in the day. Still working on it. Shimano has got the DC Series, they do a great job of controlling your cast and preventing backlash, but the concept goes way back. We’ve got better materials. We’ve got engineering that’s off the charts. We can put men on the moon. We can build better reels nowadays. But the concept existed before our grandparents were born.”
Given his knowledge of where we’ve been as lure-slingers, you’d expect Schultz, involved in lure design for companies such as Rapala, to incorporate what he’s learned into some new designs. He has. “One thing I learned from the old guys, back when I was a kid, was how to tune props on propeller baits. One thing I learned early on was the importance of counter-rotating props – the front prop going one way and the back prop going the other – and how significant that could be to the action of the lure. The importance of loose hardware, how to cup the blades so they made more commotion when you pull ‘em across the surface. I utilized that knowledge when I helped design the Rapala X-Rap Prop. And you’ve seen that work,” said Schultz remembering a trip on which I watched him smash a couple of big bass by patiently twitching and pausing the lure in place beside a patch of reeds.
Antique prop baits are sought after by collectors. The current iteration is coveted by anglers looking to collect fish. “There’s not a guy on Tour who doesn’t have an X-Rap Prop in his boat. I don’t care who his sponsor is,” notes Schultz. “Any time we’re In Florida, Louisiana, Texas - the Southern States - prop baits are really effective and they’re in demand, especially on tournament day.”
While the problems shared by anglers are as old as the act of fishing and the race to solve those problems is eternal, the artifacts that tell the stories of our progress are fleeting and fragile. “This stuff is disappearing. They don’t make it anymore. There are more and more people, but there’s fewer and fewer old lures and old reels, rods, creels, minnow buckets. It’s important that people know the value of these things.”
If you’re interested in collecting, Schultz advises you to join a club, such as the National Fishing Lure Collectors Club (nflcc.org). “You can learn so much. They have publications that come out periodically, they’ll teach about what’s collectible and what’s not. There’s a lot of counterfeiting going on - anything that has value kind of brings out the worst in some people - they’ll steer you away from the counterfeits. You can find your way through the hobby by joining these clubs, reading the publications. There’s also a number of videos online. And these regional shows I was talking about, if you go to these shows, you’re going to meet people that are knowledgeable and helpful.”
Alan McGuckin's Tackle Tuesday!
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships
Tackle Tuesday in honor of Aaron Martens. I competed as a co-angler on the back deck of “A Mart’s” boat this same exact week 12 years ago in a Bassmaster Elite Series event on Florida’s Harris Chain of Lakes.
I hadn’t been in his boat three minutes, when Aaron spotted the red glass bead on my Texas rig.
“Dude! Why you using glass? Dude, that glass bead could break when your sinker smashes it, and the sharp edges could cut your line!”
Classic freakin Aaron. Insane attention to details. Outrageously observant. And while he could have let my glass bead serve as a hidden disadvantage – his kind heart couldn’t stand it – he had to try and save me from stupidity.
I must confess, I rolled with my red bead anyhow. It was a day filled with grins. Aaron caught ‘em flippin tall reeds that day. That was 2008. Mike McClelland came from behind to beat leader Brian Snowden for the win.
And truth is, I’m still addicted to any additional clack or rattle I can get out of my Texas rigs and jigs.
But I never look at the glass beads I still use without thinking of Aaron.
Fight hard, you kind hearted, beautiful mind.
You’re loved and adored by a ton of us.
Including me.
FLW Announces Rescheduled Tournament Dates for Select Events
BENTON, Ky. (April 6, 2020) – On March 30, FLW took the unprecedented action of rescheduling all tournaments through May 3 to help flatten the curve in the ongoing fight against COVID-19. The coming weeks will undoubtedly be difficult, but FLW remains hopeful that with some extra precautions we can proceed with tournaments soon.
The FLW staff is working diligently with hosts and sponsors to reschedule all postponed tournaments and are pleased to announce new dates for all of the affected Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and Toyota Series events as well as some Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI and FLW High School Fishing presented by Favorite Fishing events. Rescheduled Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine tournaments will be announced soon.
The rescheduled tournaments are as follows:
Circuit Event Original Date New Date
- Abu Garcia College Fishing Open Kentucky Lake March 17-18 Sept. 16-17
- Toyota Series Lake of the Ozarks March 26-28 Oct. 8-10
- Toyota Series Wheeler Lake March 26-28 July 30 - Aug. 1
- Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI Ft. Gibson March 27 July 10
- FLW High School Fishing presented by Favorite Ft. Gibson March 28 July 11
- Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Cherokee April 2-5 June 11-14
- Toyota Series Ft. Gibson April 8-10 Sept. 2-4
- Toyota Series Dale Hollow Lake April 16-18 Oct. 29-31
- Toyota Series Lake Seminole April 16-18 Nov. 5-7
- Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Lake Hartwell April 23-26 May 28-31
- Toyota Series California Delta April 30-May 2 Aug. 19-21
- Toyota Series Lake Norman April 30-May 2 Oct. 1-3
- Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI California Delta May 2 Aug. 21
- Toyota Series Neely Henry Lake May 7-9 Sept. 2-4
- Toyota Series Championship Lake Cumberland Nov. 5-7 Dec. 3-5
Entries will roll over to the rescheduled events unless instructed otherwise. Balance due dates will also be adjusted in accordance with the new dates.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
B.A.S.S. Postpones Opens Series Event On Cherokee Lake
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Due to public health concerns surrounding the coronavirus, B.A.S.S. officials announced today they will postpone the Basspro.com Bassmaster Eastern Open at Cherokee Lakeoriginally scheduled to be held on the Jefferson County, Tenn., fishery May 7-9.
B.A.S.S. has postponed eight events originally scheduled between March and May and is monitoring the situation and following precautions and advice from the CDC and public officials when evaluating upcoming tournaments. Additionally, B.A.S.S. is tracking mandates at state and local levels regarding public spaces and events.
As more states adopt “shelter in place” recommendations and continue to limit the operation of nonessential businesses, B.A.S.S is also considering the impact that potential logistical issues and restrictions on domestic and international travel may have on anglers’ ability to travel to tournaments.
At this time, no additional Opens Series event has been postponed or canceled other than the Basspro.comBassmaster Central Open at Lewisville Lake in Lewisville, Texas, which was announced last month.
A new tournament date will be announced in the future.
Update – Aaron Martens Doing Well, Post-Surgery
Vance McCullough
David Swendseid, a close friend of the Martens family, posted an inspiring update about Aaron Martens’ condition on Facebook. Martens underwent brain surgery yesterday after collapsing Saturday.
The update from Swendseid:
“The Martens family is doing well. As you may have read or heard Aaron's surgery was successful. He has been able to fully interact with his family. We are very happy for the family and hope the following days will be full of healing. Consultation with his doctors will continue. But what a wonderful thing. Aaron's wife and children have been able to interact with him on FaceTime! The hope is for him to be home tomorrow if all checks out!”
Please continue to keep Aaron and his family in your thoughts and prayers.
AnglersChannel EXTRA - Episode 1
Welcome to the AnglersChannel Extra, a webcast series designed after our extremely popular tv show, The AnglersChannel Bass Wrap Up Show. In our inaugural episode we take a look at the Glenn Browne Memorial Tournament held on the St. Johns River then we head up to Lake Hartwell, site of the 2019 Bassmaster Team Championship. Check it out!!!
Arey offers 3 tips to make you an even better vibrating jig angler
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships
Few could have imagined how Ron Davis Sr.’s unique new lure invention would profoundly improve the catches of bass anglers for decades when he sold his first Chatterbaits at a South Carolina tackle show 16 years ago.
Of course, dozens of manufacturers now mimic Mr. Davis’ patented lure, and for good reason – it’s easy to use – it’s versatile – and it flat-out catches fish.
But look inside the playbook of Team Toyota’s Matt Arey, who grew up in the geographic epicenter of the lure’s birth and rise to popularity, and you’ll find at least three good options worth implementing to your vibrating jig game to increase your catches even further.
Change the Cadence
“Everybody is guilty of just casting these lures and winding them straight back, but in my mind, that’s the single biggest mistake you can make to dampen the full potential of a vibrating jig,” says the Shelby, NC pro.
Like Peyton Manning changing the snap count’s cadence at the line of scrimmage, Arey likes to pop the bait with his rod tip, and change the retrieve speed a time or two with his reel handle on every single cast. It’s those erratic changes in the lure’s behavior that pulls strikes from largemouth like Peyton making a nose guard jump offside.
Arey also stresses the importance of allowing the lure to tick the tops of submerged vegetation, or perhaps bump into a log or whatever’s in its path to alter the cadence even more so.
Base trailers on water clarity
“If the water’s pretty dirty, I like a double tail trailer with some craw kicker legs on it to displace more water, and in stained water a more straight tail Lunkerhunt Bento gets the nod. But in clear water, consider removing the skirt and fish the Bento on there by itself,” says Arey.
Go Deep
Of course, much like its first cousin the spinnerbait, vibrating jigs get most of their work in less than 10 feet of water. But Arey reluctantly shares a little deep water secret for this lure.
“I’m kinda giving you ‘the juice’ here – but man, a vibrating jig is not just a shallow water lure. I’ve caught good fish using a ‘lift and drop’ retrieve off the bottom around post spawn schools of fish in 15 to 25 feet of water,” he confesses.
He also warns that in order to work out deep, the water must be fairly clear. But in May and June when most are dragging heavy football jigs or deep cranking, he says lifting and dropping a 5/8 or 1-ounce bladed jig off the bottom can be a super effective alternative to post spawners.
However you choose to fish it, versatility is the beauty of a vibrating jig. It’s hard to fish it wrong. But with these three tips from a $1 Million dollar career prize money winner, you’re sure to fish Ron Davis’ game changing invention even better.
Aaron Martens to Undergo Brain Tumor Surgery
Vance McCullough
Well-known bass tournament pro Aaron Martens collapsed on Saturday, April 4 and was admitted to a hospital where doctors discovered two lesions in his brain, according to a story originally reported by Wired2Fish.
Martens is scheduled to have brain surgery for tumor removal on Monday, April 6, 2020.
Further treatment included a full body scan. Biopsy results to follow in a week.
Under ‘normal’ conditions, this would be a disheartening turn of events. Given the current state of the medical system, Aaron’s wife, Lesley can’t be near her husband.
Family friend David Swendseid of DUO International was quoted in the Wired2Fish story: “Lesley has specifically asked that we all pray for him and her family! Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules and commitments to pray for the Martens family. The outpouring of love has been amazing.”
MLF Postpones Stage Five of the Bass Pro Tour
Originally Scheduled for late April 2020
April 1, 2020 (Tulsa, Okla.) Major League Fishing (MLF) announced the league will postpone Stage Five of the Bass Pro Tour originally scheduled for April 24-30, 2020 on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees. This decision is a result of recommendations by federal, state, and local officials to minimize the transmission of COVID-19. The League will monitor the situation and follow the advice of medical and Public Health officials to reschedule as quickly as possible.
“While we’re disappointed that we can’t move forward with the Bass Pro Tour in April, the safety and health of our anglers, volunteers, staff, and host community are our primary concern,” said Jim Wilburn, Major League Fishing President and CEO. “Our format inherently allows for social distancing and other recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control to minimize the spread of novel coronavirus, but this unprecedented global pandemic cannot be taken likely and we must follow the advice of medical and government officials.”
The Phoenix Boats Stage Five presented by Mercury was scheduled to launch from the Wolf Creek Park Boat Ramp and is hosted by the City of Grove.
“While it saddens us, we fully understand the decision by MLF to postpone the event,” commented Donnie Crain, Director of the Grove Convention & Tourism Bureau. “These proactive, preventative measures are tough decisions but in the best interest for all involved. Grove and Grand Lake look forward to welcoming the MLF Pros and staff back to Northeastern Oklahoma and showcasing our beautiful lake and its great fishing in the future.”
Major League Fishing will continue to assess the impact of COVID-19 and take the advice and mandates set forth by local, state, and national medical and Public Health officials to address the potential impact on future events and potential dates for rescheduling Stages Four and Five.
MLF strongly encourages everyone to follow the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on everyday prevention of viral infection, which include:
- Clean your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
- Avoid close contact with sick persons
- Practice social distancing among your community
- Stay home if you’re sick
- Cover the nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing
- Routinely clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects
- Consult a healthcare provider as needed
- For more information about the novel coronavirus, visit cdc.gov.
MLF fans can tune into the Outdoor Channel and Sportsman Channel to see original airings of the MLF Cup events including the Premiere of the 2020 Patriot Cup on Saturday, April 4, 2020. MLF Cup events feature 30 Pros from the Bass Pro Tour filmed exclusively to premiere on Outdoor Channel. 2020 MLF Cup events were filmed in late 2019. For a complete listing of the MLF television schedule, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com/tv-schedule.
Sportsmans Warehouse Product Spotlight - Plano Edge Part 2!
This week Chris is back with the 6 custom boxes in the Plano Edge Line-up. Chris will review the new Terminal Box, The spinnerbait, Jig, Plastics and both small and large Crank bait boxes. These are rad boxes that will keep you organized and ready for the water. Check them out at your local Sportsmans Warehouse store or online at Sportsmans.com
Zaldain Gives Starter Tips on using Big Swimbaits
Courtesy of Luke Stoner - Dynamic Sponsorships
Bassmaster Elite Series pro Chris Zaldain is well known in the bass fishing world for being a swimbait aficionado. Whether he is looking for five big bites in a tournament or enjoying his local Texas fisheries during our current COVID-19 quarantine, you can bet the Zaldaingerous one has a big swimbait or two at the ready.
Large swimbaits intimidate anglers of all skill levels. It’s a presentation that requires a lot confidence, as you may not get a bunch of bites with a big swimmer, but you could catch the bass of a lifetime. Fortunately, Zaldain graciously offered a pair of tips to help the learning curve associated with swimbaits. Zaldain emphasizes now is the perfect time to try an oversized swimbait at your local fishery.
1.Replace your spinnerbait
Spinnerbaits are a springtime staple in bass fishing. They are almost as reliable as Zaldain’s Yamaha Outboard and are something most anglers have some experience with. Zaldain’s first tip for swimbait greenhorns is to replace your 3/8-ounce spinnerbait with a big swimbait.
“All the conditions and clues you’d look for to throw a spinnerbait also apply for big swimbaits,” Zaldain explained. “Perfect conditions would be a little bit of cloud cover and a fair bit of wind. Target windy points, isolated laydowns, bridges, or any other obvious pieces of isolated shallow cover. Another thing a lot of people don’t realize is off-colored water is a good thing for swimbaits.”
The Carhartt pro mainly employs two sizes of the Megabass Magdraft Swimbait, the 6-inch and 8-inch versions. And he isn’t embellishing when he says he throws these lures in the same scenarios most anglers would reach for spinnerbait, chatterbait, or other more traditional offerings.
This one little tip takes a lot of the intimidation factor out of swimbaiting. By thinking of a beefy swimbait as a replacement for your spinnerbait you now know where to throw it and what conditions improve the bite.
2. Fish it ‘uphill’
Zaldain’s second tip to help you gain confidence with a big swimbait is to fish it uphill. More specifically, nose your boat as if you are fishing from the bank, cast the swimbait out towards deeper, open water and reel it towards the shore.
This tactic takes a little positioning if you are in a boat, but is great news for the bank fishermen and women out there. Fishing off the shore is a perfect place to try one of these swimbaits for the first time. Just remember to bring your swim trunks with you, as big swimbaits can be relatively expensive and you’d hate to loose one to a snag!
If Zaldain had to resort to one single swimbait he’d choose a 6-inch Magdraft in Albino Pearl Shad color and throw it on 15-pound Seaguar InvisX fluorocarbon. The right rod is another integral part of the setup and Zaldain throws 95% of his swimbaits on a 7’2” Heavy Megabass Orichi XX (Perfect Pitch) rod.
While Zaldain has his swimbait equipment down to a science, he emphasizes that most traditional jig rods will work great for a big swimbait. A seven-foot plus heavy action rod that is relatively stiff will get the job done. For more detailed tips on swimbaits and other techniques – follow Chris on Facebook, Instagram, or checkout his new YouTube channel.
Get outside, be safe, #FishSmart, and give a big swimbait a shot this spring whether you are trying to learn a new technique or you are after your new personal best bass.
Carhartt Shifts U.S. Production to Support the Hardworking Men and Women
Serving and Protecting Us During Covid-19 Pandemic
Michigan-based workwear company to manufacture protective masks and medical gowns
for essential workers; will continue production as long as needed
DEARBORN, Mich. (March 31, 2020) – Carhartt, America’s most trusted workwear brand, has been committed to serving and protecting hardworking people since 1889. That is why the company is announcing today that it’s joining in the effort to supply the brave men and women working on the frontline with the gowns and masks they need to protect themselves.
On Monday, April 6, Carhartt will begin producing 50,000 medical gowns, and on April 20, the company will begin manufacturing 2.5 million masks. As long as these critical items are in short supply, Carhartt will continue to assist in production.
“Serving and answering the call during times of need has always been an integral part of Carhartt’s history and it’s why consumers have trusted us to have their back for more than 130 years,” said Mark Valade, Chief Executive Officer at Carhartt. “We are humbled and honored to help all the essential workers serving and protecting us right now.”
Associates from Carhartt’s manufacturing facilities have proudly volunteered to produce these items and the company will continue to compensate them for their important contribution to the effort to support the nation’s need for medical personal protective equipment.
The safety of all associates is Carhartt’s top priority, so the company is working closely with local health authorities and following recommended protocols to ensure a safe work environment for employees. This includes implementing social distancing protocols, limiting the number of employees, and increasing sanitation measures within facilities to ensure the health and well-being of team members.
Over the last few weeks, Carhartt temporarily closed all company-owned stores and implemented temporary rotating paid work schedules in its manufacturing and distribution facilities to encourage social distancing among associates. Decisions continue to be made based on guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
For more information and updates on Carhartt’s response to COVID-19, please visit www.Carhartt.com
One Boat Challenge and Tiger King.........
This week Chris and the boys kick off April by talking with two of the competitors in the #OneBoatChallenge competition airing on Oneboatchallenge.com Striped Bass Guide Captain Mike Roy and In-shore fly-fisherman Charlie Brietenbach join us to talk about El Salto, Anglers Inn and all things Humminbird and MinnKota!
Bassmaster Postpones Events Amid Continuing Coronavirus Concerns
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Public boat ramp closures in South Carolina and Kentucky, as well as extended federal guidelines limiting social gatherings to reduce the spread of the coronavirus, have prompted B.A.S.S. to postpone four additional upcoming tournaments.
The Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes in Clarendon County, S.C., Carhartt Bassmaster College Series at Lake Cumberland presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series at Lake Cumberland presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors and Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster Junior Series at Lake Cumberland, all three to be held in Jamestown, Ky., are being rescheduled for later in the year, B.A.S.S. officials announced today.
“B.A.S.S. believes it is imperative to heed the advice not only of the CDC but of our elected officials as our country navigates this national crisis,” said Bruce Akin, B.A.S.S. CEO. “We are encouraging our anglers, staff and fans to live smart and fish smart, practicing responsible social distancing measures and doing their part to help limit the spread of this disease.”
B.A.S.S. has postponed eight events originally scheduled between March and May and is evaluating upcoming tournaments based on precautions and advice from the CDC and public officials as well as local mandates regarding public spaces and events.
“Although we are disappointed to postpone the Bassmaster Elite Series event previously scheduled for April 16-19, the health and safety of event organizers, the anglers and our community is our top priority,” said Tiffany Myers, Director of Tourism for the Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce. “We are continuing to work with the B.A.S.S. organization to reschedule the event at a later date.”
While the national State of Emergency is in place, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster has closed boat ramps and landings on the state’s lakes, rivers and waterways. Additionally, he has ordered anyone arriving into South Carolina from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut or New Orleans to self-quarantine for two weeks.
As more states adopt “shelter in place” recommendations and continue to limit operation of nonessential businesses, B.A.S.S is also considering the impact that potential logistical issues and travel restrictions, including Canadian border closures, may have on anglers’ ability to travel to tournaments.
During this national crisis and uncertain time, B.A.S.S. is encouraging people, where possible, to use this unexpected time to enjoy the outdoors and recreational fishing in a safe and responsible way with their new “Live Smart, Fish Smart” campaign.
B.A.S.S. is also producing stories and videos designed to ensure those staying inside can still connect to the sport, and people, they love. This includes upcoming content covering topics such as teaching fishing skills to kids and bank fishing basics.
Fans of fishing and the Bassmaster Elite Series anglers can find live Q/A videos, inspiring stories, helpful tips and more at Bassmaster.com. B.A.S.S. is also encouraging outdoor enthusiasts and tournament anglers alike to share photos with the hashtags: #livesmart #fishsmart #bassmaster.
Sumrall: no worms, a little truck gas and a lot of family
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships
Carhartt pro Caleb Sumrall was really looking forward to pitching lures around the thousands of flooded cypress trees at the Bassmaster Elite Series event on Santee Cooper, SC this month. Instead, he’s passing the time as a responsible American by fishing the cypress trees five minutes from his Southern Louisiana home with family.
“Oh man, I was really looking forward to the Bassmaster Elite Series on Santee this month, because let me tell ya, not every cypress tree is created equal, and having grown up fishing them most of my life in Southern Louisiana, my confidence was super high about my ability to fish them really effectively and do well on Santee,” says the former petroleum industry supply yard worker.
The good news is, there’s a small waterway five minutes from Sumrall’s home that allows him to #FishSmart in the treasured company of bride Jacie, sweet daughter, Clelie Rose (named for her French Cajun great grandmother) -- and highly animated 2 year old son, Axel.
“Clelie likes to fish, but she’s just as happy when deer season gets here, and Axel loves to be in “daddy’s boat”, but he’s only two years old, so he’d rather play with the fish I put in the livewell, rather than focus on catching them himself,” says Sumrall, who notched six impressive Top 30 finishes in 2019.
“Truthfully, I’m kinda glad Axel isn’t into worms and bobbers yet, because that would probably require trips to a large retail store by our house to get fresh night crawlers, and right now we’re trying to be smart and avoid trips to places like that where people congregate,” he adds.
The longtime Toyota Bonus Bucks member adds that by fishing so close to home, he’s made roughly five trips to the lake with the family on just one tank of gas in their Tundra. “I’m super careful at the gas pump about safeguarding against the virus. I place a napkin between my skin and the pump handle, and then use hand sanitizer too,” he says.
Sumrall has also committed to better personal health through a passionate jogging routine of at least 5-miles per day. He’s jogged 420 total miles since the end of the 2019 Elite Series Season at Lake St. Clair last fall. It’s a fitness routine that’s peeled away 25 pounds of body fat the past six months.
Still, Sumrall would prefer to be 13 hours from home two weeks from now, running a row of flooded cypress trees in his Xpress boat on Santee Cooper -- pitching a Texas-rigged black and blue Missile Baits D Bomb to their flooded root systems.
But with life and the Bassmaster Elite Series season being paused a bit right now, he’s making a concerted mental effort not to give into fear. And instead, absorb every simple great moment of family time in the outdoors near home.
In uncertain times Bassmaster says Live Smart, Fish Smart
Courtesy of Jim Sexton - Bassmaster.com
Bassmaster has launched a new initiative called Live Smart, Fish Smart, along with the social media hashtags, #livesmart #fishsmart, designed specifically for life in these unsettling times.
What’s this all about?
With states enforcing more and more restrictions daily, many in our great nation are holed up at home. There’s no doubt we’re worried about COVID-19. But those of us with a passion for the outdoors are searching for ways to stay connected to the things we love.
At Bassmaster we’re also seeing this as a unique time to return to our roots, focus on our families, and to do some things we may not have had time to do in the past, such as teaching basic fishing skills to our kids. You don’t necessarily have to be on a lake to do that. A living room, garage or backyard will work too. We’ll share videos and activities that will help you do just that. I’m looking forward to a video of Carl Jocumsen teaching the basics of bank fishing.
We also want to stay connected to our broader families, the Elite anglers as well as the anglers in all our series. They are sending us videos showing what’s going on with their families, what they are doing during this time of social distancing. For Classic Champion Hank Cherry, it was giving blood at the Red Cross. For Chad Morganthaler it was dry-walling a closet. We’ll share these videos on Bassmaster.com and on our social media channels.
Bassmaster fans, let us know what you’re doing during these historic times. Post a photo on your favorite social channel and use the hashtags, #livesmart #fishsmart #bassmaster.
And if you are able to get out and fish, Dave Precht and a medical expert, tell you the smart, safe way to avoid the coronavirus while getting on the water.
Our chairman Chase Anderson reminds us Bassmaster represents core American values, a love for the outdoors. Those values sometimes get lost in our tech savvy era. The essence of Bassmaster is the simple joys of fishing and being outside.
We’re thankful to use this time to rediscover those simple pleasures—the love that comes from connecting with family near and far, the satisfaction of teaching a child how to spool a reel, and the wonder we experience in a beautiful sunset. Perhaps even getting out to fish in a smart, healthy way. That’s what #livesmart #fishsmart is all about.
Stay safe!
Tinkerer Terry Scroggins designs a bass catching original
Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships
Toyota pro Terry Scroggins has long been nicknamed “Big Show” – a name given to him by a boat mechanic near his home waters of the St. Johns River, when Scroggins was winning darn near every derby held on the famous Northeast Florida waterway.
Just as fitting however, might be the nickname “Terry the Tinkerer.” The highly likeable pro can’t stand not using his mechanically talented mind and hands to improve an existing lure, or better yet, build an original of his own.
Scroggins’ fast growing in popularity “Kicker Tail” worm – created in a side room of his garage with the help of a mold maker from Michigan -- provides fascinating proof of Scroggins’ talents.
“My buddy from Michigan is a mold maker, and I guess you could say I’m a mold tinkerer,” says Scroggins. “He came down to visit me, and one evening after taking him fishing, I got to experimenting with two worms I melted together. We saw how good the action looked in my swimming pool, so he went home to Michigan, cut me a mold for the 5.5” Kicker Tail, and I caught 25 pounds of bass using the very first round of prototypes -- that’s how the Big Show Kicker Tail was born.”
Not only has Scroggins done well with the creation, but other anglers are now posting their Kicker Tail tournament catches on social media too, and thanks to a retail distribution agreement with Stanford Baits, the “Big Show Kicker Tail Worm” is now widely available at retail.
Available in three sizes and a dozen colors, Scroggins says if he had to pick only two colors, he’d use green pumpkin in clear water and red bug in heavily stained water. But the versatility of the lure is what makes it such a great creation.
“I can flip it in lily pads rigged Texas style with a ¼-ounce weight, drag the 9” version on a deep ledge in summertime, use it Neko style, or probably most popular, is simply throwing it on a shaky head,” says Scroggins.
Versatility and proven success will obviously continue to spur retail sales, but the fun and soulful rewards Scroggins has already experienced thanks to his creation are very strong too.
Through cooperation with Toyota, he supplied 12,000 free worms to all participants at the 2018 Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners tournament on Table Rock.
If that wasn’t generous enough, again with support from Toyota, Scroggins and highly decorated soldier Dakota Meyer gave all active and former military members a free bag of “Kicker Tail” worms at the 2019 Bassmaster Classic in Knoxville.
To know Scroggins is to realize his unbelievably generous heart. So while his tinkering hands created a big bass catching piece of soft plastic that will put more fish in your boat, and perhaps a few more dollars in his pocket– trust me, “Big Show” will always be more focused on making people smile, more so than making the next buck for his bank account.
Humminbird® and Minn Kota® Pro Ott DeFoe Moves off the Bank to Cash in at Lake Athens in Bass Pro Tour Stage Three Win
Despite entering the final round 19 pounds behind the leader, Humminbird® and Minn Kota® pro, Ott DeFoe came from behind to check off his first win on the Bass Pro Tour in exciting fashion last week in Texas. The Stage Three victory came down to impressive numbers in the last hour of the Major League Fishing Tournament. DeFoe, the 2019 Bassmaster Classic champion put on a fish-catching clinic in an impressive and unprecedented run on Lake Athens during the championship day. DeFoe recorded 18 scoreable bass in just over an hour for a total weight of 57 pounds, 4 ounces for his first Bass Pro Tour Stage Championship Trophy.
The first rounds of the third stage of the Bass Pro Tour found the field of anglers hunting for big bass on Lake Fork before moving 75 miles south to Lake Athens for the championship round. On Lake Fork, DeFoe had success sight fishing and connecting with shallow fish during the qualification and knockout rounds, utilizing his Minn Kota Talon anchors and Ultrex™ trolling motor to pick apart pockets of spawning bass in the early days of the tournament to stay alive.
“In the beginning, Lake Fork was all about sight fishing and looking for fish on beds,” noted DeFoe. “I was trying to get a pre-spawn bite working in the shallows and I could see the fish I wanted to target. I would Talondown in the soft bottom mode to not spook them off of their beds to make the casts I needed to. I was also able to mark and add waypoints for fish I’d see and come back to them and ease into casting range using this technique, and it was working.”
With a solid qualification round already behind him, DeFoe was able to take advantage of an off day and pre-fish Lake Athens during the week to prepare for the chance to return later in the championship round. He started off with the same approach there as at Lake Fork but wasn’t seeing anything except smaller males on beds and knew he was going to have to change tactics to put fish on the scale.
Using his Humminbird MEGA 360 Imaging™ and MEGA Side Imaging®, he noticed the fish had moved out of the shallows and were schooling in 6-12 feet of water, a classic post-spawn movement. This is where he planned to focus his efforts going into the final day.
“It honestly seemed like a different climate at Lake Athens. I noticed even the trees seemed to be greener and knew right away we were working with a totally different lake than we had been fishing previously. It was only 75 miles south, but you could tell everything was farther along in the year compared to where we were. I started off with the same approach as Lake Fork and wasn’t seeing the fish on beds like I had been and knew then I had to move off the bank and use the HELIX 12 with MEGA Side Imaging to help find the fish I was looking for.”
Moving out of the shallows allowed DeFoe to put the Humminbird electronics to work and spend time locating fish and looking for different areas during the practice round that he would try to come back to later.
“I came out around a point during practice at Lake Athens and noticed a couple fish bust at the surface and as I got closer, I realized it was a group schooling in about 8 feet of water above a hard bottom. I cast into them a couple times and caught a smaller one and then a four-pounder and could see on my MEGA 360 that it was a big group. I continued to idle around and mark these similar areas that would top out around six feet, and it was unbelievable how many fish I could see on Side Imaging in those areas all in six to twelve feet of water with a rise and a hard bottom. I wasn’t seeing as many fish on beds and I could tell that a few that I was catching were post spawn. At that point, I was committed to continuing this method and with the few hours I had left, I planned to study what I was seeing on Side Imaging while marking waypoints and graphing as much of the 1,800-acre lake as I could.”
During the final day the ten top scoring anglers made the move to Lake Athens to decide the champion. With only 12 pounds 8 ounces on the SCORETRACKER going into the final period, Ott knew he had work to do. But he was confident in the areas he was able to mark during practice. Each time he stopped during the practice round he was able to catch scoreable fish and felt he had located a few solid spots that would be productive on the final day. Little did he know that the fish that would score him the win would not come from those locations.
“I had seen a few fish on this spot under a bridge and right at the ramp during practice but didn’t catch much at that time. I had also passed it up during the tournament three times that day and on my fourth pass by I saw a group on my MEGA Side Imaging as I was going under the bridge. I told my camera man, they are right there. I just need to get them to bite.” DeFoe commented.
“I hit Spot-Lock on the Ultrex and worked from the back of the boat with the nose upwind so I could make the cast I needed to. I threw a crankbait first and could feel the bait bouncing off fish there were so many of them. I knew then this was it. On my 4th cast I caught one and then they went crazy and it blew up from that point.”
Ott scored the biggest fish on the SCORETRACKER during the championship round with a 9 pound 6 ounce largemouth and finished the day with a margin of 28 pounds 3 ounces over 2nd place. He soared to the top of the leaderboard in record time with 23 fish for 69 pounds 12 ounces on the final day of the tournament.
“Humminbird MEGA Side Imaging was a crucial tool on my boat that helped locate and confidently fish areas that I had passed up several times before. Being able to pick apart unfamiliar water is key to finding these big fish. Learning their movements helps to understand and adapt in changing conditions. The One-Boat Network™ allows me to have complete control from anywhere in the boat and make real time decisions that play a big part in my success” Added DeFoe.
It’s not the first time Ott DeFoe has celebrated a victory in March. It was almost exactly one year ago that he found himself on the Bassmaster stage hoisting the trophy for the 2019 Bassmaster Classic Championship celebration and now he is celebrating again with this MLF win in 2020. Quite the coincidence but no matter the date on the calendar, with the Minn Kota and Humminbird One-Boat Network on his side, Ott DeFoe will continue to be a force to be reckoned with.
FLW Schedule Update for April 2020
Statement from FLW Executive Vice President Kathy Fennel
BENTON, Ky. (March 30, 2020) – The following statement was released by FLW Executive Vice President & General Manager Kathy Fennel today regarding the postponement and rescheduling of FLW tournaments:
In response to the ongoing spread of COVID-19 and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control to slow its progression, we announced March 17 that all tournaments through April 5 would be rescheduled along with the May 7-9 Toyota Series tournament on Neely Henry Lake.
Today we are taking the additional steps of rescheduling all tournaments through May 3. This unprecedented action, taken out of an abundance of caution and continued uncertainty of venue availability, will help protect the health and welfare of our anglers, staff, fans, sponsors and host communities.
Rescheduled dates for all affected tournaments will be announced as soon as possible. Entries will roll over to the rescheduled events unless instructed otherwise. Balance due dates will also be adjusted in accordance with rescheduled events.
In addition to tournaments through May 3, the Toyota Series Championship and Phoenix Bass Fishing League Wild Card will be moved to later dates to accommodate rescheduling.
Tournaments already rescheduled include:
- Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI Open on Kentucky Lake in Gilbertsville, KY, was March 17-18 now Sept. 16-17.
- Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit on Cherokee Lake in Jefferson City, TN, was April 2-5 now June 11-14.
- Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit on Lake Hartwell in Anderson, SC, was April 23-26 now May 28-31.
- Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American on Lake Hartwell in Anderson, SC, was April 30-May 2 now Nov. 11-13.
- Toyota Series Championship on Lake Cumberland in Burnside, KY, was Nov. 5-7 now Dec. 3-5.
- Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Wild Card was Nov. 13-14 now Nov. 20-21.
We will continue to monitor CDC, federal, state and local guidelines and adjust tournament operations as necessary to reschedule events. As an open-air sport that disperses competitors on thousands of acres of water, tournament fishing allows for social distancing. We are, therefore, hopeful that tournaments will proceed on schedule starting with the May 7-9 Toyota Series tournament on Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri.
We encourage everyone to follow CDC, federal, state and local guidelines to help prevent infection. Please watch FLWFishing.com, the FLW Facebook page and your inbox for ongoing updates. Our prayers are with everyone impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and those on the front line in the fight against it. Let’s all do our part.
Sincerely,
Kathy Fennel
Executive Vice President & General Manager, FLW
New Plano Edge Tackle Boxes on the Sportsmans Warehouse Product Spotlight
On this weeks Sportsmans Warehouse Product Spotlight Chris Brown walks us through a few of the new Plano Edge Tackle boxes debuted at last years ICAST Show. The 3700 models are the most used boxes in the Plano line and the Edge line-up has made them even better. Make sure and check out next weeks video as Chris walks us through some of the custom boxes tailor made for your fishing needs in the Edge line-up. Make sure and visit Sportsmans.com for ALL your fishing and outdoors needs.
Rookie Insider - Shooting em' Straight!
This week Jason is back with two FLW Pro Circuit Rookies in Jason Vance and Jimmy Washam. Check it out!
Called out...........
This weeks show the boys cut up a little, okay a lot and CB responds to being called out after last weeks show. The Circus welcomes in NPFL Angler Chase Colby from Utah and Chris is ready to give some stuff away! Buckle up and hit PLAY!
Lester picks two forgotten spring classics
Courtesy Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships
Just because Team Toyota’s Brandon Lester is only 31 years old, doesn’t mean he’s too inexperienced to remember lures that everybody cast not long ago to catch springtime bass -- which then seemed to fall out of fashion.
Fact is, Lester has competed in nearly 100 B.A.S.S. events, and already qualified for 5 Bassmaster Classics, including the 2020 Classic in Alabama where he had a very good chance to win going into the final day.
So we asked the country music loving father of two young daughters to choose a couple lures we all should consider digging out of our tackle collection to throw big bass a change-up as springtime bass fishing is in full effect.
Bone colored Bomber Long A
“If you love a good topwater bite, this may very well be the first lure you’ll get a topwater bite on this spring,” says Lester. “It’s a ‘wake bait’ intended to be reeled nice and slow across the surface anywhere you’ve got clear water, and bass staging to spawn on grass flats, shallow secondary points, or a series of laydown trees,” he explains.
One trick Lester utilizes with the vintage Bomber Long A is to cast it on spinning tackle, not baitcasting equipment. He spools his spinning reel with 15 pound Vicious braid and no leader, and theorizes a spinning rod and reel allow for critically important long casts in clear water with this lightweight lure.
Once the lure splashes down, Lester holds the rod tip high to pull thebraided line off the surface as he reels slowly, being sure not to let the lure dive, but instead to move gently across the surface while leaving anexplosive topwater provoking wake behind its narrow body.
6” creature bait
While a creature bait might not be as vintage as a Bomber Long A, the popularity of Senkos and beaver-style baits often seems to replace soft plastic lizards and creature baits as a first choice amid spring time fishingthese days – but not for Brandon Lester.
“I feel like with so many soft plastic craws and beaver style baits on the market right now, people have forgotten about those big invasive creature style baits like the 6” Muscle Back Hawg Hunter that I reach for a lot this time of year,” says Lester.
Notice how Lester describes the Hawg Hunter as “invasive.” He believes these larger profiled creature lures stir animosity in big protective female bass that are either just about to spawn or already on beds.
“As soon as the water temp gets around 58 degrees, I’m going to tie a 6” Hawg Hunter to 20-pound line with a 5/0 Mustad Grip Pin Max hook and pitch to every shallow flooded bush, laydown, or dock I encounter,” he says. “I don’t know whether they think it’s a bluegill, a lizard, or what, I just know they don’t seem to like it, so they eat it.”
While he may be a fairly young guy, keep in mind Lester has already weighed-in over 3,000 pounds of bass in his pro career. So if you find yourself struggling to catch bass the next few weeks on popular trendylures – try going retro like Lester, and tie on a Bomber Long A or a 6” creature bait.
Bassmaster Elite Series Event At Lake Eufaula Postponed
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. officials announced they will postpone the Bassmaster Elite at Lake Eufaula in Eufaula, Ala., originally scheduled to be held April 2-5, in keeping with the advice of both medical professionals and federal officials to limit gatherings to reduce the spread of the Coronavirus. Anglers, sponsors, staff and the local hosts were informed of this decision on Monday afternoon.
“We are committed to putting the health and safety of our anglers, fans, staff, sponsors and volunteers — and their families — first,” said Bruce Akin, B.A.S.S. CEO. “It has become clear that postponing the upcoming tournament at Lake Eufaula is in the best interest of everyone involved, as well as the community of Eufaula.
“B.A.S.S. believes it is imperative to heed the advice not only of the CDC but of our elected officials as our country navigates this national crisis.”
B.A.S.S. has postponed five March and April events, and is evaluating upcoming tournaments based on precautions and advice from the CDC and public officials as well as local mandates regarding public spaces and events.
“B.A.S.S. has represented core American values since Ray Scott founded the organization,” said Chase Anderson, Chairman of B.A.S.S. “So, in light of the very real national threat of COVID-19, it was a simple decision for B.A.S.S. to postpone events, follow the advice of our elected leaders and medical professionals, and be responsible citizens to assist in curbing the spread of this virus.”
Currently, the CDC recommends avoiding group events, while the White House’s Coronavirus Task Force issued guidelines asking citizens to avoid discretionary travel and gatherings of more than 10 for another seven days. Those guidelines extend to the timeframe when practice days were scheduled to begin on Lake Eufaula.
As more states adopt “shelter in place” recommendations and continue to limit operation of nonessential businesses, B.A.S.S is also considering the impact that potential logistical issues and travel restrictions, including Canadian border closures, may have on the Elite Series anglers’ ability to travel to Alabama.
B.A.S.S. is working alongside the local hosts to identify a new date for the tournament later in the year.
“Although we are truly saddened that the Bassmaster Elite event will be postponed, we respect the decision B.A.S.S. has made,” said Ann Sparks, Tourism and Main Street Executive Director for the City of Eufaula. “They are assuring that the safety of the public, anglers and staff is of the utmost importance, and we look forward to rescheduling and pulling those big bass out of Lake Eufaula!”
Fans of fishing and the Bassmaster Elite Series anglers can find live Q/A videos, inspiring stories, helpful tips and more at Bassmaster.com.
During this national crisis and pause to the tournament season, B.A.S.S. is encouraging people to adhere to local guidelines and, where possible, use this unexpected time to fish smart and enjoy recreational fishing in a safe and responsible way — especially with their families.
“Our ultimate goal is to be good citizens and good stewards of our sport,” B.A.S.S. Chairman Chase Anderson said.
KAYAK ANGLERS SEE SUPER ACTION IN 2020 HOBIE B.O.S. ON LAKE NORMAN
Legendary Mooresville, NC bass lake produces over 1,200 catch, photo and release bass as Hobie pro Kurt Smits grabs top prize!
OCEANSIDE, Calif. (March 20, 2020) - Lake Norman, in Mooresville, NC has a well-earned reputation as an early spring hot spot for aggressive bass and it gave anglers exactly what they hoped for in the third installment of the 2020 Hobie Bass Open Series (B.O.S.) held last weekend. Following four straight days of warming air temperatures, both the famed spotted and largemouth bass at this legendary watering hole, the largest man-made body of water in North Carolina at 32,510 acres, were ready to rock and roll. With the aid of venue sponsors Visit Mooresville and the GoPro Motorplex, so were participants that came from across the country to test their black bass skills against top-level competition.
“We had a perfect storm of factors come together to fire up the fish,” said Hobie B.O.S. Tournament Director, A.J. McWhorter. “Rain early in the week gave way to four days of temperatures over 70 degrees and drew a ton of hungry fish into the shallows. That provided great bite opportunities for our anglers. The bass were hitting hard baits, soft baits, moving baits, crawling baits and even some topwater patterns, as evidenced by the 1,215 fish registered by 116 competitors. That’s a new, all-time B.O.S. record.”
Indeed, anglers were filling limits and culling fish at a super-fast pace on both days of the tournament with 75 limit catches on Saturday and 72 on Sunday. With many similar-sized bass in the haul, however, culls often added only one-half- to one inch onto an angler’s tally. That may have made it difficult to get a little separation, but with many making multiple culls each day, watching the leader board proved to be quite exciting. Following day one, only two inches separated the top five contestants, with Melvin Yang, 27, leading the way with a 90-inch total. Eventual winner, Kurt Smits, 49, of Terrace Park, OH, meanwhile, was lurking in seventh position with 86.50” of bass, 3.5” behind Yang, while third place finisher Cole Kleffman, 17, of Seymour, IN was sitting in a comfortable fourth place just two inches off the pace.
Your winners: Melvin Yang, Kurt Smits and Cole Kleffman
“I was happy with my first day results,” revealed Smits. “I knew there were some really solid anglers ahead of me, but when the fish turn on like that, anything is possible. Three-and-a-half inches is something you can make up in a two-day tourney. Heck, I made up 10 inches on Lake Seminole back in February, so I knew I was within striking distance if I fished clean and things broke a little bit my way.”
Smits had spent his first day fishing in front of three prominent points that jutted out across a shallow flat and reached out nearly to the middle of the lake. “That was the first spot I noticed when doing my mapwork before the tourney,” he said. “They were dramatic points but close enough that I could get to them easily in my Hobie Pro Angler 14. My pre-fishing sessions had brought mixed results but as soon as the tournament began, I started catching. In the mornings, most of my fish smacked a small Strike King Rage Swimmer on a tungsten 1/4-ounce jighead made by Picasso lures in 4- to 6-foot depths. In the afternoons, I moved out to 10 to 15 to feet of water and used a Texas-rigged Z-Man Big TRD. With that lure, I would cast out as far as possible, give a little slack, and then allow the wind to blow me across the points and over deeper water. You never had to guess if the fish were biting in this tournament. They were mainly spotted bass and they were hitting hard.”
Smits used a St. Croix 7’ Legend Tournament Bass, medium-fast spinning stick and 20-lb. braided line with a 12-lb. fluorocarbon leader to toss his Rage Swimmer. To work the Z-Man Big TRD, he opted for a 7’1” St. Croix Legend Extreme, medium-heavy power, fast action casting outfit spooled with 35-lb braid and a 17-lb. leader.
Melvin Yang, meanwhile, was cleaning up the bass on day one in his Hobie Pro Angler 12 camo edition kayak. Focusing on a rip-rap bottom that passed beneath a bridge before fanning out
amongst a field of boulders and chunk rocks, he probed a spot where a significant channel bordered a 6’ to 8’ deep shoal. There he found the bass ready to slam crankbaits right along the drop-off, with Spro Ruko Shads and Rock Crawlers his weapons of choice.
“Red was the key for me,” recalled Yang. “Anything red or crayfish-colored seemed to work. Red with an orange belly was my top crankbait pattern.”
Day 2 found both Smits and Yang back in their respective hot spots. “I got off to a solid start,” recalled Yang, “but my action dropped off in the afternoon and I finished with 83.5” while Kurt managed to keep on catching. He had an amazing day.”
He certainly did, and it could have been even better. On his third cast of the morning, Smits hit a nice bass he figured would measure roughly 20 inches. After netting the fish, however, the lure got tangled in the mesh and the bass used the leverage to flip onto the deck, then onto the floor of the kayak and, finally, with one big leap, back into the drink.
“As the day grew late, I was thinking about that lost fish a lot,” admitted Smits. “Melvin didn’t post his results until nearly the end and that gave me plenty of time to wonder if my 90-inch day-2 score would be enough. I was sweating bullets when the final numbers went up. It would have been tough to take if that fish had been the difference.”
While Smits and Yang were battling it out for first, Cole Kleffman just kept pounding away. After hauling in 88” of bass on day 1 to place himself in fourth position, he managed 83.75” on Sunday, enough to move up one spot, take the bronze and qualify for the Hobie Tournament of Champions (T.O.C.).
“I was burning down the bank on day one when I stumbled upon a point that spilled out onto a flat with some big boulders,” recalled Kleffman. “I caught my limit there on a Z-Man Chatterbait Jack Hammer in about 15 minutes and just culled the rest of the day. On day 2 I hit the same spot but with a slight cold front approaching the bass wanted a finesse retrieve, so I switched to a Ned rig with a 1/20-oz.Z-Man Finesse ShroomZ jig head and 2.75” Z-Man TRD. I’m happy with my performance. I had about 15 fish from that area each day. My Hobie PA12 was a big help, too, because it allowed me to lay my rods flat for 360° castability.”
Unlike the top three finishers, fourth place Ryan Lambert covered a ton of water on Lake Norman. On Saturday he got off to a decent start working a marina area and flipping some small wooden docks to tally 84.5”. On Sunday, he returned to the same spot and quickly drilled one good fish before the action screeched to a halt.
“I knew I’d need more bites to stay in money,” said Lambert, “so I rolled the dice and drove an hour-and-a-half north to a spot where friends said they had good luck recently fishing muddy water off a shallow, windy point.”
It was 1:30 p.m. before Lambert started casting again but the move paid off big-time as he tallied 86.75” of bass and qualified for the T.O.C.
In the end, Smits earned the win over Yang, 177” to 173.50”. His top fish measured 20 inches and he had three more in the 19-inch class. Kleffman used his Hobie PA12 kayak to advance to third place with 171.75” and fourth-place finisher Ryan Lambert, of Chattanooga, TN also broke the 170” barrier (171.25”). Shane Williams of Orange Park, FL, on Saturday drilled the biggest fish of the tournament at 22.25”. Spotted bass were the stars of the show as they greatly outnumbered bucketmouths among the top finishers.
Payouts for the Lake Norman B.O.S. tourney covered the top 12 spots with Smits receiving a healthy $6,300, Yang earning $3,250, Kleffman taking home $1,900, and Lambert pocketing a cool $1,600 payday.
““I absolutely love these B.O.S. events,” Smits offered when the big show was over. “Hobie does a fantastic job making it about all the anglers, not just the guys who bring home a check. They have a killer raffle, feed you for a night, and do everything possible to assemble a very competitive field while keeping things fun. Everyone’s always in a great mood. We catch fish, we laugh, we learn. They’ve knocked it out of the park with these tourneys.”
McWhorter couldn’t be more satisfied with the results. “That’s exactly what we strive for,” he said. “We want everyone to be competitive, but we also want every competitor to have a great time. We’re especially proud that we were able to work with our anglers to ensure everyone’s safety while staying within the great state of North Carolina’s guidelines at the time for limited gatherings and other health considerations. That only works when respect rules the day and everyone is on the same page.”
All photography by Shane Durrance
MLF Postpones Stage Four of the Bass Pro Tour in an Abundance of Caution
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 23, 2020 (Tulsa, Okla.) Major League Fishing (MLF) announced the league will postpone the next stop on the Bass Pro Tour originally scheduled for April 3-8, 2020 in Raleigh, North Carolina in an abundance of caution surrounding the novel coronavirus. The League will monitor the situation and follow the advice of medical and Public Health officials to reschedule as quickly as possible.
“The safety and health of our anglers, volunteers, staff, and host community are our primary concern,” said Jim Wilburn, Major League Fishing President and CEO. “While our format inherently allows for social distancing and other recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control to minimize the spread of COVID-19, we feel it’s in the best interest of all involved to pause our 2020 season.”
The Berkley Stage Four presented by Covercraft was originally scheduled to take place on Jordan Lake, Falls Lake, and Shearon Harris Reservoir hosted by the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance.
“We understand the decision by MLF to postpone the event,” commented Tori Collins, Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance Director. “These proactive measures are tough decisions but in the best interest for all involved. The Greater Raleigh area looks forward to welcoming the MLF Pros and staff back to North Carolina and showcasing our region’s beautiful lakes in the future.”
Major League Fishing will continue to assess the impact of COVID-19 and take the advice and mandates set forth by local, state, and national medical and Public Health officials to address the potential impact on future events and potential dates for rescheduling Stage Four.
MLF strongly encourages everyone to follow the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on everyday prevention of viral infection, which include:
Clean your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
Avoid close contact with sick persons
Practice social distancing among your community
Stay home if you’re sick
Cover the nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing
Routinely clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects
Consult a healthcare provider as needed
For more information about the novel coronavirus, visit cdc.gov.
MLF fans can tune into the Outdoor Channel and Sportsman Channel to see original airings of the MLF Cup events including the Premiere of the 2020 Patriot Cup on Saturday, April 4, 2020. MLF Cup events feature 30 Pros from the Bass Pro Tour filmed exclusively to premiere on Outdoor Channel. 2020 MLF Cup events were filmed in late 2019. For a complete listing of the MLF television schedule, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com/tv-schedule.
Over 41 Pound limit Wins Chattanooga Bass Trail Chickamauga Event!
Courtesy of CBA:
The team of Cory Vetten and Kevin Drake on their giant 41.10# bag to win the Coca-Cola March CBA Open. They also had big fish honors with a 12.32#
Jason Abram Wins Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit at Lake Martin
Tennessee Veteran Claims First Career Pro Victory, Wins $100,000
ALEXANDER CITY, Ala. (March 21, 2020) – After fishing at FLW’s top pro-level circuit for 11 years, competing in his 76th career event, pro Jason Abram of Piney Flats, Tennessee, finally got it done. Abram earned his first career victory in a dramatic finale Saturday at the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit at Lake Martin in Alexander City, Alabama, after bringing a five-bass limit totaling 11 pounds, 3 ounces to the scale.
A person that is standing in the grass
Description automatically generatedAbram’s four-day total of 20 bass weighing 52-9 earned him the victory by a 1-pound, 1-ounce margin over second-place pro Ron Nelson of Berrien Springs, Michigan, and the $100,000 first-place prize.
“I’ve been chasing this dream for as long as I can remember,” said an emotional Abram on-stage after being declared the champion. “The trophy is more important to me than the money. I’ve had a couple of good finishes, and a couple of chances to win in the past but came up short. To win today, it feels absolutely great. So great.
“Every fish that I caught this week came on a Reaction Innovations product – either a Skinny Dipper or a Flirt Worm – and the key was just covering a lot of water with those two baits,” Abram continued. “I’ve never been here before, so I just relied on my Lowrance unit. I’d see a pocket on the map and then just run it.”
The reason Abram stuck with his pattern Saturday was the same reason he’d be fishing it all week – it didn’t get many bites, but it got the right bites. In this case, a 4-pounder that couldn’t resist his merthiolate Reaction Innovations Flirt Worm walked under docks – but not just any docks.
“It had to be the last three docks in a pocket,” said Abram. “I was looking for flatter pockets with three docks lined up in the back. I could look on my graphs and quickly see which pockets looked good, which helped me fish fast, and I needed to. I caught one fish for every 15 pockets I hit.”
Abram spent roughly the first few hours of every day targeting spotted bass to catch a limit before focusing his efforts in the mid-lake region, right around where the dirty and clear water met.
“I was paralleling just random banks with a Reaction Innovations Skinny Dipper,” he said. “I think the spots were just pushing bait up against the bank, because I’d go awhile with nothing and then catch three or four quick. It’s like a pod swam up and I’d catch them.
“I’d been so close to winning before and always came up short,” Abram went on to say. “I thought I didn’t close it out again today. But I stuck to what I thought I could win this thing on, and I was rewarded.”
The top 10 pros on Lake Martin finished:
1st: Jason Abram of Piney Flats, Tenn., 20 bass, 52-9, $100,000
2nd: Ron Nelson of Berrien Springs, Mich., 20 bass, 51-8, $30,000
3rd: Spencer Shuffield of Hot Springs, Ark., 20 bass, 51-0, $25,000
4th: Matt Becker of Finleyville, Pa., 20 bass, 49-3, $20,000
5th: Laramy Strickland of Bushnell, Fla., 20 bass, 49-1, $19,000
6th: Greg Bohannan of Bentonville, Ark., 20 bass, 48-5, $18,000
7th: Tom Monsoor of La Crosse, Wis., 20 bass, 47-15, $17,000
8th: Jordan Osborne of Longview, Texas, 20 bass, 45-15, $16,000
9th: Kerry Milner of Bono, Ark., 20 bass, 45-2, $15,000
10th: Derrick Snavely of Piney Flats, Tenn., 20 bass, 43-10, $14,000
Complete results for the entire field can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Overall there were 50 bass weighing 107 pounds, 6 ounces caught by pros Saturday. All of the final 10 pros weighed in five-bass limits.
Television coverage of the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit at Lake Martin will premiere in 2020. The 2020 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit will have 156 two-hour airings on network television, including 26 consecutive weeks of Friday night primetime airing on Outdoor Channel and 130 airings on Sportsman Channel for a total of 312 hours of Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit programming.
The Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit at Lake Martin was hosted by the Alexander City Chamber.
In Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit competition, the full field of 150 anglers competed in the two-day opening round Wednesday and Thursday. The top 30 pros based on their two-day accumulated weight advanced to Friday. Only the top 10 pros continued competition Saturday, with the winner determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from the four days of competition.
Throughout the season, anglers are also vying for valuable points in hopes of qualifying for the 2020 FLW TITLE, the Pro Circuit Championship. The 2020 FLW TITLE will be on the St. Lawrence River in Massena, New York, Aug. 8-13 and is hosted by the Town of Massena.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Tennessee’s Abram Takes Lead at Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit at Lake Martin
ALEXANDER CITY, Ala. (March 19, 2020) – Pro Jason Abram of Piney Flats, Tennessee, caught five bass weighing 17 pounds, 10 ounces Thursday to take control of the leaderboard after Day Two of theTackle Warehouse Pro Circuit at Lake Martin in Alexander City, Alabama. Abram’s two-day total of 10 bass weighing 29 pounds even gives him a 1-pound, 9-ounce advantage heading into Day Three of the four-day competition that features a field of bass-fishing professionals from around the world competing for a top cash award of up to $135,000.
“I’m fishing mid-lake, running a pattern,” said Abram, who is fishing in his 11thseason as a professional in FLW’s top-level circuit. “I was running and gunning – I hit around 30 stops today.
“I started out in the morning catching spotted bass – I probably caught around 30 of them and my limit weighed around 7 pounds,” Abram continued. “I had a key bite around 9 a.m. that clued me in and showed me something that I hadn’t seen all week. It was the first fish that I had caught like that, and it was a good one.
“I ended up culling every one of those spots out and managed to bring one big spot and four largemouth to the scale.”
Although Abram remained tight-lipped about the specific details of his pattern, he said that he was fishing “really shallow” and throwing just two baits – both made by Reaction Innovations.
“I’m not sight-fishing like most of the guys are,” Abram said. “I need the sun, so the cloud cover being forecast tomorrow will probably hurt me significantly. I’ll catch some spots in the morning, and hopefully the sun will show its head. If not, I’ll have to scramble.”
The top 30 pros that made the cut and will fish Friday on Lake Martin are:
1st: Jason Abram of Piney Flats, Tenn., 10 bass, 29-0
2nd: Matt Becker of Finleyville, Pa., 10 bass, 27-7
3rd: Ron Nelson of Berrien Springs, Mich., 10 bass, 27-5
4th: Laramy Strickland of Bushnell, Fla., 10 bass, 26-11
5th: Tom Monsoor of La Crosse, Wis., 10 bass, 26-9
6th: Spencer Shuffield of Hot Springs, Ark., 10 bass, 26-9
7th: Derrick Snavely of Piney Flats, Tenn., 10 bass, 26-1
8th: Barron Adams of Mineral Bluff, Ga., 10 bass, 25-13
9th: Dylan Hays of El Dorado, Ark., 10 bass, 25-5
10th: Brandon Mosley of Choctaw, Okla., 10 bass, 25-2
11th: Andy Young of Isle, Minn., 10 bass, 25-2
12th: Jim Moynagh of Shakopee, Minn., 10 bass, 24-15
13th: Kerry Milner of Bono, Ark., 10 bass, 24-13
14th: Kevin Martin of Crown City, Ohio, 10 bass, 24-12
15th: Cole Floyd of Leesburg, Ohio, 10 bass, 24-11
16th: Jordan Osborne of Longview, Texas, 10 bass, 24-7
17th: Kyle Hall of Granbury, Texas, 10 bass, 24-7
18th: Wade Strelic of Alpine, Calif., 10 bass, 24-7
19th: Jon Canada of Helena, Ala., 10 bass, 24-5
20th: Casey Scanlon of Lake Ozark, Mo., 10 bass, 24-5
21st: Jacob Wall of New Hope, Ala., 10 bass, 24-4
22nd: Tom Redington of Royse City, Texas, 10 bass, 24-1
23rd: Grae Buck of Green Lane, Pa., 10 bass, 24-1
24th: Jason Vance of Battle Ground, Ind., 10 bass, 23-14
25th: Randy Allen of Gilliam, La., 10 bass, 23-13
26th: Greg Bohannan of Bentonville, Ark., 10 bass, 23-12
27th: Matthew Stefan of Junction City, Wis., 10 bass, 23-10
28th: Clayton Batts of Butler, Ga., 10 bass, 22-14
29th: Scott Ashmore of Broken Arrow, Okla., 10 bass, 22-10
30th: Jared McMillan of Belle Glade, Fla., 10 bass, 22-5
Full results for the entire field can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Martin brought the largest bass of the day, a 6-pound, 1-ounce largemouth, to the scale Thursday to claim the day’s $500 Berkley Big Bass award.
Overall there were 749 bass weighing 1,464 pounds, 1 ounce caught by 150 pros Thursday. The catch included 149 five-bass limits.
The Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit at Lake Martin is hosted by the Alexander City Chamber.
In Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit competition, the full field of 150 anglers competed in the two-day opening round Wednesday and Thursday. The top 30 pros based on their two-day accumulated weight now advance to Friday. Only the top 10 pros continue competition Saturday, with the winner determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from the four days of competition.
Throughout the season, anglers are also vying for valuable points in hopes of qualifying for the 2020 FLW TITLE, the Pro Circuit Championship. The 2020 FLW TITLE will be on the St. Lawrence River in Massena, New York, Aug. 8-13 and is hosted by the Town of Massena.
Anglers will take off at 7 a.m. CST each day from Wind Creek State Park, located at 4325 Alabama Highway 128, in Alexander City. Daily weigh-ins will be held at the State Park beginning at 3 p.m.
Television coverage of the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit at Lake Martin will premiere in 2020. The 2020 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit will have 156 two-hour airings on network television, including 26 consecutive weeks of Friday night primetime airing on Outdoor Channel and 130 airings on Sportsman Channel for a total of 312 hours of Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit programming.
The FLW Live on-the-water broadcast will air on Friday and Saturday, featuring live action from the boats of the tournament’s top pros each day. Host Travis Moran is joined by Toyota Series pro Todd Hollowell to break down the extended action each day from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. On-the-water broadcasts will be live streamed on FLWFishing.com, the FLW YouTube channel and the FLW Facebook page.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
MLF Sets Viewership Records after Three Events:
Total Minutes, Unique Viewers, and Social Numbers Jump in 2020
March 19, 2020 (Tulsa, Okla.) Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour viewership rises in 2020 before and after the impact of the novel coronavirus on professional sports nationwide. With an abundance of caution, MLF fished through the latest Bass Pro Tour event after putting into place several recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control to minimize the spread of COVID-19. This last week, March 13-18, viewership increased by 20% over Stages One and Two, which were held in February. On their own, the February events reported a significant increase over the 2019 season with a 72% increase in unique tune-ins year-over-year.
“After our first season, we made some minor adjustments to our game that we believe resonated well with fans causing the increase in viewership in February,” said Jim Wilburn, President and CEO of Major League Fishing. “Going into Stage Three last week, we had no idea how much the sports world would change and we’re hopeful that those who tuned into the Bass Pro Tour found a few hours of respite among an unprecedented reality at work and home. Our sport inherently allows social distancing and without a weigh-in, we can broadcast safely via MLFNOW! without crowds.”
Major League Fishing launched the Bass Pro Tour in January 2019 featuring an innovative catch-weigh-immediately-release format with cumulative, real-time scoring that appeals to mainstream sports fans and avid anglers alike. MLF completed the 2019 season with over 111 million minutes of livestream watched by an average of 270,000 unique visitors over nine events. After the first three Stages of the 2020 Bass Pro Tour, MLF averages 471,698 unique visitors and 48 million minutes streamed, an increase of 75% year-over-year. Social media impressions are also up 15% in 2020 over 2019.
The General Tire Stage Three presented by TrueTimber on Lake Fork, Texas saw the most significant increase with over 19 million minutes watched by 500,000 unique visitors. This represents a 20% increase in unique visitors and an 18% increase in minutes viewed over Stage Two February 21-26, 2020. The Bass Pro Tour trended on social media (Facebook and Instagram) during Stage Three with a 72% increase in social media impressions compared to Stage Two.
While the increases in Stage Three viewership may have been impacted by the national quarantine surrounding COVID-19, the first two Stages of the Bass Pro Tour also saw significant increases over the 2019 season. The MLFNOW! livestream attracted over 886,000 unique viewers over two events for a total of 30 million minutes, which represented an increase of 72% year-over-year and an 89% over 2019 averages.
Bass Pro Tour Competition Details:
Major League Fishing (MLF) Pro Ott DeFoe charged from behind with 18 catches in the third period to win $100,000 and the Bass Pro Tour General Tire Stage Three presented by TrueTimber Title. After leading for much of the week including the first two periods of today’s Championship Round, Mark Daniels, Jr. fell to third with 39 pounds, two ounces. Alton Jones, Jr. changed his game midway through the second period to finish in second place overall. The MLF Bass Pro Tour is scheduled to continue in Raleigh April 3-8, 2020.
For complete results of the General Tire Stage Three presented by TrueTimber, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com, Bass Pro Tour, Results.
The Bass Pro Tour continues April 3-8, 2020 with the Berkley Stage Four presented by Covercraft in Raleigh, N.C. In response to COVID-19, Major League Fishing has cancelled all public gatherings associated with their tournaments per recommendations from Public Health and medical professionals.
Fans can catch all the action every day of competition on MLFNOW! livestream on MajorLeagueFishing.com or download the MLF App for your Apple or GooglePlay device or on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV).
About the Bass Pro Tour:
The Bass Pro Tour began in 2019 and features 80 of the best professional anglers in the world, including Kevin VanDam, Edwin Evers, Aaron Martens, Mike Iaconelli, Jordan Lee, and Skeet Reese. Each stage includes six days of competition using the Major League Fishing, catch-weigh-and-immediately-release format, where every bass over a variable minimum weight, which is two pounds on Lake Eufaula for Stage One, toward a cumulative weight total for the day. Variable minimum weights are determined by fishery akin to a golf course handicap. The field of 80 anglers is divided into two groups (Group A and B) of 40 to compete in the Qualifying Round where a two-day cumulative weight total determines the winners. The winners of Groups A and B receive automatic berths to the Championship Round and the anglers finishing in places 2-19 (38 total) advance to the Knockout Round on day five. The top eight from the Knockout Round join the winners in Groups A and B (field of 10) to compete in the Championship Round and a shot at the $100,000 top prize and Stage Title.
Each of Eight Stages of the Bass Pro Tour have the following payout schedule: 1st $100,000; 2nd $42,000; 3rd $30,000; 4th$24,000; 5th $18,000; 6th $16,800; 7th $15,600; 8th $14,400; 9th $13,200; 10th $12,000; 11th – 40th $6,000; Big Bass Daily $1,000; Big Bass Overall $1,000.
In addition to the economic impact on a host community, Major League Fishing showcases the region through their award-winning, live and linear programming. Each Stage of the Bass Pro Tour is broadcast live on the Major League Fishing app, MyOutdoorTV (MOTV), and majorleaguefishing.com, totaling more than 325 hours of original programming. Fans can follow the fast-paced nature of the MLF format as it unfolds on the live leaderboard through “SCORETRACKER® updates.” Highlights from each Stage of the 2020 Bass Pro Tour will air on Discovery Network beginning in July 2020 and Sportsman Channel in early 2021.
“MLF offers the strongest broadcast presence in the industry to fans and sponsors,” said Jim Wilburn, President and CEO of Major League Fishing. “And with these lakes planned for this coming Bass Pro Tour, we know 2020 will be our best year yet as we continue to capture a broad audience of both longtime fishing fans and those new to the sport, thanks to our fast-paced, fan-friendly format,”
DeFoe Demolishes Period Three on Lake Athens:
57 Pounds in 150 Minutes Pushes Daniels to Third Place
March 18, 2020 (Lake Athens, Texas) Major League Fishing (MLF) Pro Ott DeFoe charged from behind with 18 catches in the third period to win $100,000 and the Bass Pro Tour General Tire Stage Three presented by TrueTimber Title. After leading for much of the week including the first two periods of today’s Championship Round, Mark Daniels, Jr. fell to third with 39 pounds, two ounces. Alton Jones, Jr. changed his game midway through the second period to finish in second place overall. The MLF Bass Pro Tour is scheduled to continue in Raleigh April 3-8, 2020.
DeFoe began Period Three 19 pounds, eight ounces behind the leader, Mark Daniels, Jr. before coming upon a school and launching to the top of SCORETRACKER®. DeFoe also snuck into today’s Championship Round by catching a four-pound-eight-ounce bass late in the Period 3 of Tuesday’s Knockout Round to finish only one pound, four ounces over the elimination line. The Bass Pro Shops Pro said that he knew if he could get into the Championship, he could make great things happen.
“Yesterday was such a stressful, stressful day and with this format you can’t have a bad day,” DeFoe told MLF commentator Rob Newell after lines-out. “These events are the toughest group of anglers I’ve ever fished against; I couldn’t be more honored to take this trophy home. I wish Jennie and the kids were here to celebrate with me.”
DeFoe, who overcame a medical issue last season that kept him out of Stage Eight, showed fans that he is great physical shape now by catching nine bass in the last 30 minutes alone, including the Berkley Big Bass of the Day weighing nine pounds, six ounces. The 35-year-old father of three is no stranger to tough competition, today’s win, featuring a one-day total of 69 pounds, 12 ounces, brings him to eight major wins in his career and over $2.2 million in winnings.
Despite a slow start across the field on Lake Athens, Daniels secured a solid lead early in the first period, which he held onto until DeFoe caught a 4-14 with less than 30 minutes to go in the day. Daniels ended the day with 39 pounds, two ounces on 13 scoreable bass, which earned him third place and $24,000. The Bill Lewis Pro dominated much of this week’s tournament by catching 111 pounds, 15 ounces on Lake Fork to win Group A and the automatic berth into today’s Championship Round.
“It’s been one heck of a week,” said Daniels. “I had over 111 pounds to win (Group A) and then I led the tournament all day long before Ott got fired up in a school just demolished them. Hats off to Ott! That’s how this game goes, but I believe my time is coming.”
Mystil Lubricants Pro, Alton Jones, Jr., caught a 20-pound run in Period 3 overtaking Daniels for second place with a three-pound-14-ounce bass three minutes before the buzzer. Jones, who caught seven of his 13 fish for the day in the third period, finished with 41 pounds, nine ounces. This is the best finish on the Bass Pro Tour for the 27-year-old Texan.
“I had such a struggle in the first couple periods,” reflected Jones after lines-out. “Mark (Daniels) had gotten such a lead that I had to make a change. Then I found some good (fishing) holes, but I didn’t find an Ott-DeFoe-magic hole.”
The General Tire Stage Three presented by TrueTimber Championship Round finished as follows:
Place Angler Championship Round Total Weight Championship Round Total Bass Championship Round Largest Bass
1 Ott DeFoe 69-12 23 9-06
2 Alton Jones, Jr. 41-09 13 5-08
3 Mark Daniels, Jr. 39-02 13 6-14
4 Brent Chapman 37-13 13 5-10
5 Brandon Coulter 28-01 12 3-12
6 Keith Poche 21-09 9 4-06
7 Jeff Sprague 20-06 7 4-06
8 Andy Montgomery 11-05 5 3-08
9 Justin Atkins 11-01 4 3-08
10 Bryan Thrift 10-08 4 3-08
For complete results of the General Tire Stage Three presented by TrueTimber, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com, Bass Pro Tour, Results.
The Bass Pro Tour continues April 3-8, 2020 with the Berkley Stage Four presented by Covercraft in Raleigh, N.C. In response to COVID-19, Major League Fishing has cancelled all public gatherings associated with their tournaments per recommendations from Public Health and medical professionals.
Fans can catch all the action every day of competition on MLFNOW! livestream on MajorLeagueFishing.com or download the MLF App for your Apple or GooglePlay device or on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV).
Georgia Rookie Adams Leads Day One of Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit at Lake Martin
ALEXANDER CITY, Ala. (March 18, 2020) – A field of bass fishing professionals from around the world began their four-day competition for a top award of up to $135,000 at the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit at Lake Martin Wednesday in Alexander City,AL.
Rookie pro Barron Adams of Mineral Bluff, Georgia, weighed a five-bass limit totaling 17 pounds, 2 ounces to take the early lead after Day One. Adams holds a 15-ounce lead over pro Derrick Snaveley of Piney Flats, Tennessee, who caught five bass weighing 16-3, good for second place.
“I was fishing on the lower end of the lake, trying to sight fish for most of the day,” said Adams, who finished the season ranked No. 12 in the Toyota Series Southeastern division last year. “I caught the big one first thing this morning off a bed. Then I ran around and plucked a few more and tried to find some big ones for tomorrow.”
Adams said he caught his big one – an 8-pound, 13-ounce giant – on a Texas-rigged white Gambler Burner Craw, but he also weighed in a few fish on a 3/8-ounce green-pumpkin-colored jig with a green-pumpkin Zoom Fat Albert Twin Tail Grub. His limit that he brought to the scale consisted of four largemouth and one spotted bass.
“I found a 6-pounder and a 4-pounder still on the bed. They wouldn’t bite for me today, but hopefully they will tomorrow,” the Georgia pro said.
“I’m in the last flight tomorrow, and during practice it seemed like I was getting bit a little more later in the evening so hopefully that is a good thing,” Adams went on to say. “First thing in the morning I’m going to run to those bedders and pick a couple of fish off and then I’ll start fishing.
“I can throw a shaky-head around docks and get bit doing that if I have to. Hopefully I can get what I need.”
The top 10 pros after day one on Lake Martin are:
1st: Barron Adams of Mineral Bluff, Ga., five bass, 17-2
2nd: Derrick Snavely of Piney Flats, Tenn., five bass, 16-3
3rd: Ron Nelson of Berrien Springs, Mich., five bass, 14-3
4th: Dylan Hays of El Dorado, Ark., five bass, 14-0
5th: Tom Redington of Royse City, Texas, five bass, 14-0
6th: Spencer Shuffield of Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 13-14
7th: Jon Canada of Helena, Ala., five bass, 13-12
8th: Lendell Martin Jr. of Nacogdoches, La., five bass, 13-12
9th: Matt Becker of Finleyville, Pa., five bass, 13-10
10th: Jason Vance of Battle Ground, Ind., five bass, 13-8
10th: Randy Allen of Gilliam, La., five bass, 13-8
10th: Dakota Ebare of Denham Springs, La., five bass, 13-8
For a full list of results visit FLWFishing.com.
Adams also won the day's $500 Berkley Big Bass award in the pro division after bringing a largemouth weighing 8 pounds, 13 ounces to the scale.
Overall there were 750 bass weighing 1,513 pounds, 8 ounces caught by 150 pros Wednesday. The catch included 150 five-bass limits – every pro that was on the water caught a limit.
The Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit at Lake Martin is hosted by the Alexander City Chamber.
In Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit competition, the full field of 150 anglers compete in the two-day opening round Wednesday and Thursday. The top 30 pros based on their two-day accumulated weight advance to Friday. Only the top 10 pros continue competition Saturday, with the winner determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from the four days of competition.
Throughout the season, anglers are also vying for valuable points in hopes of qualifying for the 2020 FLW TITLE, the Pro Circuit Championship. The 2020 FLW TITLE will be on the St. Lawrence River in Massena, New York, Aug. 8-13 and is hosted by the Town of Massena.
Anglers will take off at 7 a.m. CST each day from Wind Creek State Park, located at 4325 Alabama Highway 128, in Alexander City. Daily weigh-ins will be held at the State Park beginning at 3 p.m.
Television coverage of the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit at Lake Martin will premiere in 2020. The 2020 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit will have 156 two-hour airings on network television, including 26 consecutive weeks of Friday night primetime airing on Outdoor Channel and 130 airings on Sportsman Channel for a total of 312 hours of Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit programming.
The popular FLW Live on-the-water broadcast will air on Friday and Saturday, featuring live action from the boats of the tournament’s top pros each day. Host Travis Moran is joined by Toyota Series pro Todd Hollowell to break down the extended action each day from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. On-the-water broadcasts will be live streamed on FLWFishing.com, the FLW YouTube channel and the FLW Facebook page.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
AC Insider Podcast - Changes, Changes, Changes.......
This week the Circus welcomes in the Team from Outlaw Outdoors to talk about postponing tournaments due to the COVID-19 Situation. They also welcome in MLF Stage 3 Group B winner Brandon Coulter to the show to talk about his day off before the Championship round today on Lake Athens. Check it out!
Montgomery Clinches the Knockout Round on Lake Fork:
Field of 10 Reset to Zero in the Fight for $100,000 on Lake Athens Wednesday
March 17, 2020 (Lake Fork, Texas) Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour on Lake Fork, Texas brought sports excitement to fans around the world as 38 Pro anglers fought for eight spots in Wednesday’s Championship Round. South Carolina-resident Andy Montgomery emerged victorious in today’s Knockout Round with a one-day total of 45 pounds, nine ounces. Alton Jones, Jr. held the lead for much of the third period ultimately finishing in second place. MLF Rookie Bryan Thrift secured a spot in his second out of three Championship Round after catching the Berkley Big Bass of the day late in the third Period. Wednesday’s Championship Round on Lake Athens features the top eight anglers from today’s Knockout Round and the winners of the Qualifying Round, Mark Daniels, Jr. and Brandon Coulter in a battle for most weight the $100,000 top prize. Coverage begins at 9:45 a.m. central time on MLFNOW!
Andy Montgomery steadily caught scoreable fish all day long ended up with both the most fish caught and the most weight to win the Round. The Clemson grad caught four in the first period including his largest, a six-pound-seven-ounce largemouth as the clock wound down to the first break. While his six-fish run in the second period kept Montgomery at the top of the SCORETRACKER®, it was the fish weighing five pounds, 14 ounces to start the third period that push him into the lead over Alton Jones, Jr.
“I won … I won!” exclaimed Montgomery as the Official called lines-out to end the day. “I didn’t win any more money, but I wanted to win, and I won. I get to fish Lake Athens tomorrow so we’re going to Athens!”
Waco-resident Alton Jones Jr., who led for a good portion of the late second and third period, finished three pounds even behind the leader with 42 pounds, nine ounces. Jones caught his largest fish of the day, weighing five pounds, eight ounces, on his first cast at 10:02 a.m. Two more five-pounders in the second period and six scorable bass in the third period secured his position in the Championship Round. The youngest angler on the Bass Pro Tour (age 27), Jones credits his pre-event routine and use of technology for preparing him for the tough competition.
“The biggest thing that I do to prepare is to study maps on my Garmin,” said Jones. “I really put in the hours to find the details of the lake. The other thing I use a lot, especially for a shallow lake like Fork is Google Earth; you can really see things in the satellite photos that you might not otherwise notice.”
New to the Bass Pro Tour in 2020, Thrift hurdled himself into the top eight with 30 minutes left in the day by catching a nine-pound-eight-ounce largemouth. While Thrift’s nine other fish of the day kept him in the hunt, it was the Berkley Big Bass of the Day that secured him 5th place and a chance to compete on Lake Athens tomorrow for $100,000. The 40-year-old Damiki Pro won the FLW Cup in 2019 and has earned over $3 million in earnings making it no wonder he’s a contender on the Bass Pro Tour.
The top eight of the Knockout Round, who will join Group A Qualifying Round winner Mark Daniels Jr. and Group B Qualifying Round winner Brandon Coulter, include:
Place Angler Knockout Round Total Weight Knockout Round Total Bass Knockout Round Largest Bass
1 Andy Montgomery 45-09 13 6-07
2 Alton Jones, Jr. 42-09 11 5-08
3 Keith Poche 42-01 13 4-14
4 Justin Atkins 41-11 11 8-06
5 Bryan Thrift 38-06 10 9-08
6 Brent Chapman 37-06 11 7-04
7 Jeff Sprague 35-11 10 4-12
8 Ott DeFoe 34-05 10 5-01
For complete results, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com, Bass Pro Tour, Results.
The competition concludes Wednesday with the Championship Round where ten anglers compete for the General Tire Stage Three presented by TrueTimber Title and $100,000 top prize on Lake Athens.
Pending no weather delays, the day begins with launch at Lake Athens Marina, Athens, Texas at 9:30 a.m. CST before lines-in at 10:00 a.m. Period 1 ends at 12:30 p.m. Period 2 spans 12:45 until 3:15 p.m. Period 3 begins at 3:30 p.m. and lasts until day’s end at 6:00 p.m. The General Tire Takeout, including the trophy presentation, airs approximately 6:15 – 7:15 p.m. as anglers return to the ramp and talk through their strategies and equipment from the day.
Fans can catch all the action every day of competition on MLFNOW! livestream on MajorLeagueFishing.com or download the MLF App for your Apple or GooglePlay device or on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV).
Bassmaster Central Open At Lewisville Lake Postponed Amid COVID-19 Concerns
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Officials in Denton County, Texas and the City of Lewisville have closed many public facilities and cancelled special events for eight weeks, including the Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Open at Lewisville Lake scheduled for April 9-11, prompting B.A.S.S. to reschedule the event for later this year.
The CDC has recommended that those at higher risk for contracting the disease or those who may have been exposed to COVID-19 should avoid crowds of more than 50 people for the next eight weeks to help prevent the spread of the virus. Additionally, the federal Coronavirus Task Force issued guidelines Monday to avoid discretionary travel and gatherings of more than 10 for the next 15 days.
B.A.S.S. is monitoring the situation and following precautions and advice from the CDC and public officials when evaluating upcoming tournaments. B.A.S.S. is also tracking mandates at the state and local levels regarding public spaces and events. At this time, no other Opens Series event has been postponed or cancelled.
A new tournament date will be announced in the future.
FLW To Reschedule Tournaments Through April 5
Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit at Lake Martin to Continue, All Other Events Postponed
ALEXANDER CITY, Ala. (March 17, 2020) – FLW announced today that out of an abundance of caution and the uncertainty of venue availability amid rapidly evolving restrictions, the organization will reschedule all tournaments through April 5, except for the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit event on Lake Martin in Alexander City, Alabama, for which practice has already begun and extra precautions have been instituted.
The Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit tournament originally scheduled for April 2-5 on Cherokee Lake will be held June 11-14 on Cherokee.
In addition to tournaments through April 5, the May 7-9 Toyota Series tournament on Neely Henry Lake will also be rescheduled to allow for cohesive scheduling in the circuit’s Southeastern division given the need to reschedule the division’s March 26-28 tournament on Wheeler Lake.
Rescheduled dates for all affected tournaments during this period will be announced as soon as possible. These tournaments include:
Circuit Fishery Original Date
- Abu Garcia College Fishing Open Kentucky Lake March 17-18
- Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Kentucky Lake March 21
- Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Grand Lake March 21
- Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Lake Ouachita March 21
- Toyota Series Lake of the Ozarks March 26-28
- Toyota Series Wheeler Lake March 26-28
- Abu Garcia College Fishing Fort Gibson Lake March 27
- Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Harris Chain of Lakes March 28
- Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Lake Oconee March 28
- Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Santee Cooper March 28
- Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine South Holston March 28
- FLW High School Fishing presented by Favorite Fishing Fort Gibson Lake March 28
- Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Columbus Pool April 4
- Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Lake O' the Pines April 4
- Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Lake Hartwell April 4
- Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Lake Wylie April 4
- Toyota Series Neely Henry Lake May 7-9
Entries will be rolled over to the rescheduled events unless instructed otherwise.
The safety of everyone involved in FLW tournaments, including anglers, volunteers, and essential staff, is our primary concern. FLW will continue to monitor the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), federal, state and local guidelines and adjust tournament operations or reschedule beyond April 5 as necessary. FLW recommends that everyone follow the recommendations from the CDC on everyday prevention of viral infection, which include:
- Stay home when sick or living with a sick person.
- Cover the nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing.
- Wash hands often with soap and water.
- Routinely clean frequently touched surfaces and objects.
- Limit face-to-face contact.
- Consult a healthcare provider as needed.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
FLW Shifts Start Date of Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit at Lake Martin
Event Starts Competition Wednesday, Run through Saturday
ALEXANDER CITY, Ala. (March 17, 2020) – FLW announced today that this week’s Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit event at Lake Martin, originally scheduled to start Thursday, has been shifted and will now begin competition Wednesday. Hosted by the Alexander City Chamber, the tournament will remain four days and will now run through Saturday. This decision is based on a desire to allow pros, who began practicing for the tournament March 15, to safely complete the event and return home as quickly as possible amid evolving COVID-19 guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control.
By its nature, the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit allows for social distancing as anglers compete widely dispersed on thousands of acres of water. Fans are encouraged to forgo daily weigh-ins per CDC guidelines and watch FLW Live on-the-water broadcasts, which air Friday and Saturday and feature live action from the tournament’s top pros. Host Travis Moran will be joined by Toyota Series pro Todd Hollowell to break down the extended action each day from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. On-the-water broadcasts will be live streamed on FLWFishing.com, the FLW YouTube channel and the FLW Facebook page.
The event will proceed without marshals and participation is limited to pros and essential tournament staff only. A modified media team from FLWFishing.com will cover the event – with limited access – to the best of their abilities.
Anglers will take off at 7 a.m. CST each day from Wind Creek State Park, located at 4325 Alabama Highway 128, in Alexander City. Daily weigh-ins, March 18-21, will be held at the State Park beginning at 3 p.m.
FLW announced last week the suspension of all public gatherings associated with their events through April 12, 2020, in response to the pandemic. Public gatherings include the attendance of fans and non-essential staff at all FLW tournaments, including weigh-ins.
Television coverage of the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit at Lake Martin will premiere in 2020. The 2020 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit will have 156 two-hour airings on network television, including 26 consecutive weeks of Friday night primetime airing on Outdoor Channel and 130 airings on Sportsman Channel for a total of 312 hours of Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit programming.
The full field of anglers compete in the two-day opening round on Wednesday and Thursday. The top 30 pros based on their two-day accumulated weight advance to Friday. Only the top 10 pros continue competition Saturday, with the winner determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from the four days of competition.
Throughout the season, anglers are also vying for valuable points in hopes of qualifying for the 2020 FLW TITLE, the Pro Circuit Championship. The 2020 FLW TITLE will be on the St. Lawrence River in Massena, New York, Aug. 8-13 and is hosted by the Town of Massena.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Black and Kinney win Rodeheaver Tourney with over 24 pounds!
Vance McCullough
The 5th Annual Rodeheaver Boys’ Ranch Benefit Bass Tournament commenced on Florida’s St Johns River Saturday, March 14. The fishing was good and the fund-raising efforts went well.
Austin Black of San Mateo and Wyatt Kinney of Bunnell won the event’s top prize of $7,500 with a 5-fish limit that weighed 24.28 pounds, minus a dead fish penalty of a half-pound that put their official total weight at 23.78.
Eric Roberts and Chris Cercy won $1,000 for bringing in the bog bass of the day, a specimen that weighed 9.68 pounds.
Greg Walker of Palatka Daily News said, “There were a lot of fish caught, for sure.” A fixture in the Palatka bass tournament scene, Walker was on hand for the festivities and fellowship.
This year’s event drew 167 teams in support of the Rodeheaver Ranch which provides a wholesome home environment with a program for social, educational, vocational, and spiritual development for up to 50 boys who, because of parental death, desertion, divorce, disability, or general dysfunction, are at-risk or insecure.
Rodeheaver Boys Ranch does not receive any government money and functions as a residential childcare facility providing total care for the boys who make the ranch their home. The Ranch is not a summer or day camp, a detention center or an institution for the mentally impaired. Rodeheaver Boys Ranch functions as a lively structured community.
Coulter Clinches Championship Berth for Group B:
38 Anglers Compete Tuesday for 8 Open Spots in Wednesday's Championship
March 15, 2020 (Lake Fork, Texas) Major League Fishing Pros weathered a slower day on Lake Fork during the General Tire Stage Three presented by TrueTimber. Mark Daniels, Jr., who started the day with a 12-pound lead over the rest of the field, won Group A Qualifying Round and earned a berth to Wednesday’s Championship Round. Jeff Sprague and Jason Christie battled for second place throughout the day with Sprague edging out Christie in Period Three. 32-year-old Josh Bertrand began the day in 23rd place and caught 43 pounds, six ounces to rise to finish in 7th place. Anglers who finished in 2nd through 20th places will start-over in Tuesday’s Knockout Round when weights begin at zero in hopes to be among the top eight (out of 38) anglers to advance.
Coulter began today in second place after falling behind Michael Neal by one pound with only seven minutes left on the first day of the Qualifying Round. Catching 11 bass weighing 52 pounds, six ounces, Crockett Creek Pro Coulter led the field for much of the day finishing 10 pounds ahead of Atkins. He chose to fish offshore where he landed three fish over five pounds including one weighing eight pounds, one ounce. The 49-year-old father of four is looking forward to his day off during tomorrow’s Knockout Round. He looks forward to fishing the infamous Lake Athens on Wednesday against Mark Daniels Jr. and the top eight (field of 10) from Tuesday’s Knockout Round.
“I’m exhausted,” said Coulter as the Official called for lines out at the end of Period 3. “It was a really fun two days. I didn’t expect to do this in these two days and now I get to go directly to the Championship after rest tomorrow. I’m looking forward to seeing which eight guys make it to Athens, and then let’s go have a shootout on Athens!”
Justin Atkins finished second in Group B Qualifying Round after catching the second most weight in Day two with 47 pounds, one ounce with 20 fish, including an eight-pound-four-ounce largemouth during the first Period. His record 10-8 fish that he caught on Saturday currently retains the lead as the heaviest fish caught in both MLF and Bass Pro Tour histories.
Dustin Connell and Jordan Lee leapt up the leaderboard by 17 places each. Connell landed the biggest fish of the day weighing nine pounds even within 30 minutes of the competition start and caught a steady stream, including a seven-pound-eight-ounce bass throughout the morning before stalling out for much of the second and third periods. Connell ended with seventh place for the two-day Round with 64 pounds, 15 ounces. Berkley Pro, Jordan Lee began the day in 31st place and proceeded to advance in a slow climb up the leaderboard including when he caught a 6-15, which launched him into 11th place an secured his position in the Knockout Round.
“I had a great day,” said Lee. “Lake Fork has been kind of stingy; but overall I had a great comeback today and looking forward to tomorrow.”
Local Pro Kelly Jordon fought with his home lake much of the day only to fall from sixth after Day One to 24th today. After catching 45 pounds on Saturday, Jordon was only able to score three pounds, 10 ounces today.
“Doesn’t that just make you sick,” said Jordan as the Official called lines out. “I just couldn’t make anything happen today; my home lake got me.”
The Top Ten of Day One, Qualifying Group B finished as follows:
Place Angler 2-Day Qualifying Round Total 2-Day Total Fish Largest Fish
1 Brandon Coulter 108-06 25 9-05
2 Justin Atkins 98-01 20 10-08
3 Wesley Strader 78-02 26 4-08
4 Michael Neal 57-00 22 6-14
5 Jacob Powroznik 68-06 20 5-00
6 James Watson 65-11 19 5-10
7 Dustin Connell 64-15 18 9-00
8 Bryan Thrift 64-00 19 5-04
9 Todd Faircloth 62-01 17 5-04
10 Brent Chapman 61-05 17 7-01
For complete results, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com, Bass Pro Tour, Results.
The competition continues Tuesday when 38 anglers return to the water for the Knockout Round. Weights reset to zero and the top eight weights for the day advance to Wednesday’s Championship Round. . Monday’s weather forecast shows slightly warmer temperatures and overcast with a high of 66.
The General Tire Stage Three presented by TrueTimber Knockout Round begins with launch at Oak Ridge Marina, Quitman, Texas, 9:15 a.m. CT before lines-in at 10:00 a.m. Period 1 ends at 12:30 p.m. Period 2 spans 12:45 p.m. until 3:15 p.m. Period 3 begins at 3:30 p.m. and lasts until day’s end at 6:00 p.m. The General Tire Takeout show airs approximately 6:15–7:15 p.m. as anglers return to the ramp.
Fans can catch all the action every day of competition on MLFNOW! livestream on MajorLeagueFishing.com or download the MLF App for your Apple or GooglePlay device or on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV).
URGENT NEWS: MEGA BASS on Fork postponed until July 19th
*IMPORTANT*
Based on Presidents Trump's recommendation today of limiting crowds
to less than 10 people for the next 15 days we are
postponing the remaining two March events.
1: The MEGA BASS has been moved to July 19th at Lake Fork
2: The Lake Falcon team event has been moved to May 30th
For those anglers that have pre-registered for either event
we can move your entry to the new dates
or give you a 100% refund .
Please email [email protected] or [email protected] for refunds
*If you want to just move your entry to the new date no action is needed.
Please do not call our office for a refund as we will be on a limited staff.
Email will be much more efficient for everyone
We appreciate your patience during this difficult time. It is never easy to reschedule events, but, we respect our President's decision in keeping the health of our anglers & staff as our #1 priority.
Alabama Team Wins 33rd Bass Cat Owners Invitational
Tommy McGuff and Bobby Taylor of Alabama won the 33rd Bass Cat Owners Invitational on Lewis Smith Lake in Alabama, topping 224 other teams to take the first-place prize boat, a new Bass Cat Sabre FTD and Bass Cat Trailer. They were in second place after Day One with 13.68 pounds, just a tenth of a pound behind the leaders, but made a charge on Day Two with 12.57 to claim the victory by a razor-thin margin of 0.62 pounds.
First Place - “I bought a Bass Cat so that I could be first, not last,” McGuff said, and indeed his 2010 Puma FTD led the pair to victory, a day before his 41st birthday. They fish Smith frequently, but McGuff noted that “sometimes the hardest lakes to fish are the ones that are close to you.”
They burned substantial amounts of gas during practice, running history and new water until they found a single pocket holding a substantial amount of herring. “As the week went on, they weren’t spawning yet, but they were moving in the pocket getting ready,” McGuff explained. “The herring were in the exact same spot every time we went in there.”
It was an early morning bite, and the lengthy fog delay on Day One hurt them. They had to scramble to some main lake areas to fill out a limit, but on Day Two the herring paid off and they had four of their keepers in the livewell in the first hour. After that they could “hunt for one good fish.”
Their key bait was the same one that Bass Cat pro Hank Cherry used last week to win the 50th Bassmaster Classic, a Megabass Ito Vision 110+1 jerkbait, except they used a different color: M-Shad.
“That bait was the key,” McGuff said. “We were fishing in 6 to 8 feet of water, and not only can you make long casts with it, but it digs deeper than most jerkbaits. You can get down in that range with many crankbaits, but not many jerkbaits. We’d crank it down to get it to the bottom, and then when we’d get it there we wouldn’t jerk it hard. We just made very soft jerks with pauses.”
McGuff said that he wouldn’t have any other boat than a Bass Cat, and now he has two of them.
“I feel like Bass Cat is the best of all worlds,” he said. “I love the performance of it, and if you ever have a problem with it, they go above and beyond to help everybody out.
Second Place - Alex Barbour and Paul Driscoll made the long drive from northern Illinois to fish not only their first Owners Invitational, but also their first event on Smith.
“It set up completely different from what we find on the lakes we fish at home, mostly in southern Wisconsin,” Barbour said. “We weren’t on much of anything all week.”
Early in practice, they caught 12 short fish for every keeper, but gradually they worked up a shallow water bite with bladed jigs and spinnerbaits around flooded bushes. While the fog delay didn’t help them, it forced them to commit to one key bank, and even though the water was falling out of the bushes, the fish remained. On the first day they caught a limit relatively quickly and culled, but on Day Two they found a boat camped on their best stretch. They scrambled to catch one keeper nearly before moving onto similar spots to add several more. When they came back to their best pocket late in the day, they were able to cull twice, but ultimately fell less than a pound short of the win.
Their key baits were a Z-Man Jack Hammer and a War Eagle spinnerbait. Barbour fished a chartreuse and white Jack Hammer with a white Reaction Innovations Little Dipper, and Driscoll fished a black and orange Jack Hammer with a matching Yamamoto Zako.
Barbour’s 2016 Cougar FTD is his first Bass Cat, and he loves the way it rides and appreciates “the incredibly stable platform.”
Third Place - Veteran touring pro Bill Chapman of West Virginia and partner Ryan Bowman suffered through a tough practice before switching gears and ending up 3rd overall with 22.91.
“We burned a lot of gas looking,” Chapman said. “And we ended up finding some big spots deep on the main lake, but then on Thursday afternoon we hit some shallow, dirty water and I caught a 5 and a 6 in just a few minutes.” With the short day on Friday, they chose the shallow option where they could cover water more quickly, and that carried them through the tournament.
Their key technique was flipping a Missile Baits D-Bomb, developed by fellow BCB pro John Crews.
“On the first day, I was using the Bruiser color,” Chapman said. “On Day two I caught one on that, and then the rest on green pumpkin with a little bit of orange. That was the color of the jig I was using for those big spots.”
Chapman estimates that he’s had “10 or 11” Bass Cats in his career, but for the first time in many years he didn’t change boats this year, instead electing to keep his 2019 Lynx.
“For me it’s the perfect boat,” he explained. “It’s a wider body. I absolutely love the width of it.”
Grand Prize - Mitchell Kriger of Muskegon, Michigan won the grand prize of a fully rigged Puma FTD in the random drawing. He and his father-in-law, Peter Zykstra, fishing out of the latter’s 1998 Jaguar, finished 32nd overall in the event, but still took home the biggest prize.
“I don’t know what to say,” Kriger said. “I’d never fished down there before and never won anything like that before. It didn’t really hit me until I pulled into the driveway. I still can’t believe it.”
Notes
- The overall payout amounted to an amazing 527% of entry fees.
- The 6.51-pound big bass of the tournament was weighed in on Day Two by the 7th place team of Randall Kramer and Tanner Huckstep.
- The 1.70-pound big crappie of the tournament was weighed in on Day Two by the team of Michael Haley and Daniel Brown.
- The 17.50-pound big striped bass of the tournament was weighed in on Day Two by the team of Kyle Carden and Joe Laseter.
- Lee Black won the lucky rubber duck drawing and received a Mercury 150HP outboard.
Sponsors – The Walker County Chamber of Commerce, Mercury Marine, Strike King Lures and Tour Line, Lew’s Rods and Reels, Minn Kota Trolling Motors, Humminbird, Attwood and Siren Marine
Bass Cat President, Rick Pierce, expressed appreciation for the continuing support of the anglers, the sponsors and the host Chamber of Commerce for their continuing support and hospitality despite the concerns caused by the coronavirus.
“Once again, the Bass Cat family showed their true colors by showing up in numbers and adhering to several unusual practices to promote good health and hygiene,” he said. “Our sponsors including Strike King, Lew’s and Mercury never wavered in their support, and the Chamber of Commerce of Walker County really rolled out the red carpet, despite everyone’s questions. They made sure we could have a top-notch event while still ensuring safety and for that we are exceptionally thankful.”
Visit the BCB OI EVENT PAGE for more information.
Texas Team Trail Toledo Bend Event Cancelled
Steckler Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Lake of the Ozarks
Oronogo’s Moss Wins Co-angler Division
OSAGE BEACH, Mo. (March 16, 2020) – Boater Cory Steckler of Rocky Mount, Missouri, brought a five-bass limit to the scale Saturday weighing 18 pounds, 7 ounces to win the 2020 Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine event at Lake of the Ozarks in Osage Beach, Missouri. For his victory, Steckler earned a total of $13,457, including the lucrative $7,000 FLW PHOENIX Bonus contingency award. The victory was the second win of Steckler’s FLW career.
A person wearing a uniform
Description automatically generatedThe tournament was the second of five events in the Ozark Division presented by Tournament Anglers Group (TAG).
“It feels amazing – my Phoenix boat is the best boat out there and it’s amazing to win this much money,” said Steckler, who in addition to his $13,457 payout also took home an extra $5,000 as part of the TAG contingency program.
“Water clarity was everything,” Steckler continued. “I basically threw a Megabass Vision 110 jerkbait (Table Rock Shad) all day long. All my fish came in the mouth of Gravois Creek.
“I had just five keepers total,” Steckler went on to say. “I tried to throw an umbrella rig, but I never got bumped on it. I had eight bites – two came off and the other was a drum or something like that. I was just happy they were biting the jerkbait.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament as follows:
1st: Cory Steckler of Rocky Mount, Mo., five bass, 18-7, $13,457
2nd: Don Beckley of Linn Creek, Mo., five bass, 14-12, $2,728
3rd: Ben Verhoef of Osage Beach, Mo., five bass, 14-0, $1,819
4th: Adam Boehloe of Warrenton, Mo., five bass, 13-12, $1,182
4th: Kyle Alsop of Overland Park, Kan., three bass, 13-12, $1,182
6th: Ben McCord of Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, five bass, 13-4, $1,000
7th: Wes Endicott of Joplin, Mo., five bass, 13-0, $864
7th: Rob Bueltmann of Osage Beach, Mo., five bass, 13-0, $864
9th: Dennis Berhorst of Holts Summit, Mo., five bass, 12-15, $728
10th: Bill Edwards of Nixa, Mo., three bass, 12-9, $637
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Dennis Harmon of Camdenton, Missouri, brought a 6-pound, 4-ounce bass to the scale to win the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $875.
Steckler took home an extra $7,000 as the highest finishing FLW PHOENIX 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 FLW PHOENIX BONUS contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.
Jeff Moss of Oronogo, Missouri, won the Co-angler Division and $2,878 Saturday after catching a five-bass limit weighing 11 pounds, 13 ounces.
The top 10 co-anglers finished as follows:
1st: Jeff Moss of Oronogo, Mo., five bass, 11-13, $2,878
2nd: Jon Cordray of House Springs, Mo., three bass, 11-6, $1,801
3rd: Joshua Brassard of Nixa, Mo., two bass, 10-5, $911
4th: Steven Galczynski of DeSoto, Mo., four bass, 10-0, $637
5th: Ron Brake of Sullivan, Mo., three bass, 8-13, $546
6th: Noah Dickneite of Freeburg, Mo., four bass, 8-12, $477
6th: Alan Bernicky of Joliet, Ill., three bass, 8-12, $577
8th: Michael Dempsey of Wentzville, Mo., two bass, 8-8, $409
9th: Richard Rouse of House Springs, Mo., three bass, 8-7, $364
10th: Rick McGuire of Monroe City, Mo., two bass, 7-3, $318
Cordray caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 7 pounds, 2 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $437.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the Ozark Division presented by the Tournament Anglers Group based on point standings, along with the five winners of each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 15-17 Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on the Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wisconsin, hosted by the Explore La Crosse. 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 18-foot Phoenix bass boat with a 200-horsepower outboard.
The 2020 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 2020 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American will be held April 30 through May 2 at Lake Hartwell in Anderson, South Carolina and is hosted by Visit Anderson. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division earn priority entry into the FLW Series, the pathway to the FLW Pro Circuit and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour, where top pros compete with no entry fees.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.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.
Graham Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Dale Hollow Reservoir
Helton Wins Co-angler Division
BYRDSTOWN, Tenn. (March 16, 2020) – Boater Brett Graham of Cold Spring, Kentucky, brought a five-bass limit to the scale weighing 18 pounds, 11 ounces to win the 2020 Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine Mountain division opener at Dale Hollow Reservoir in Byrdstown, Tennessee. For his victory, Graham earned a total of $6,000.
" src="blob:https://anglerschannel.com/81ee0e25-144c-4216-baab-1ec93c94b459" alt="A person posing for the camera Description automatically generated" align="right" hspace="12" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_2" class="Apple-web-attachment Singleton" style="width: 4in; height: 2.25in; opacity: 1;">“I caught most of my fish mid-lake, dragging a homemade green-pumpkin jig with a craw trailer out deep,” said Graham, who earned his third career victory in BFL competition. “The key was really slowing down and working the areas. I only caught five keeper fish all day, but I had confidence in the areas and I really had to milk them for all they were worth.
“I was stuck on four fish right up until the very end of the day,” Graham continued. “I fished a spot that I hadn’t been to at all and ended up catching my last keeper with about 20 minutes left to check in.
“The last year has been pretty tough, but it feels good to get back in the groove and remember what I can do and put together a good tournament.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament as follows:
1st: Brett Graham of Cold Spring, Ky., five bass, 18-11, $6,000
2nd: Adam Militana of Saluda, N.C., five bass, 17-10, $3,000
3rd: Shane Sloan of Knoxville, Tenn., five bass, 16-13, $2,000
4th: Kendall Robinson of Lexington, Ky., five bass, 16-12, $1,400
5th: J.R. Stalcup of Albany, Ky., five bass, 16-10, $1,150
5th: Jimmy Gayhart of Sadieville, Ky., five bass, 16-10, $1,150
7th: Ben Stacy of Cincinnati, Ohio, five bass, 16-8, $1,000
8th: Christian Nickles of Clintwood, Va., five bass, 16-5, $1,400
9th: Drew Boggs of Lebanon, Tenn., five bass, 16-1, $1,000
10th: Dathan Jones of Harrodsburg, Ky, five bass, 15-12, $700
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Brent Butler of Vonore, Tennessee earned the day’s $1,000 Boater Big Bass award with his largest fish, a 5-pound, 13-ounce bass.
Nickles took home an extra $500 as the highest finishing FLW PHOENIX 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 FLW PHOENIX BONUS contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.
Tracy Helton of London, Kentucky, earned the win in the Co-angler Division Saturday after catching a five-bass limit weighing 17 pounds, 15 ounces. Helton earned $3,000 for his victory.
The top 10 co-anglers finished as follows:
1st: Tracy Helton of London, Ky., five bass, 17-15, $3,000
1st: Patrick Crawley of Burkesville, Ky., five bass, 15-14, $1,500
3rd: Randy Wilson of Murfreesboro, Tenn., five bass, 15-9, $1,150
4th: Scottie Cook of Hustonville, Ky., five bass, 14-14, $700
5th: Brandin Carey of Harrodsburg, Ky., five bass, 13-15, $600
6th: Doug Dewar of Burlington, Ky., four bass, 13-1, $550
7th: Brandon Lake of Berea, Ky., five bass, 12-11, $500
8th: Robert Pillow of Campbellsville, Ky., five bass, 12-4, $450
9th: Garry Collins of Russell Springs, Ky., four bass, 12-1, $400
10th: Luke Smith of Florence, Ky., four bass, 11-15, $350
Jared Rudd of Salyersville, Kentucky, caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 5 pounds, 12 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $500.
The 2020 Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine on Dale Hollow Reservoir was hosted by Star Point Resort. The tournament was the first of five events in Mountain Division.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the Mountain Division based on point standings, along with the five winners of each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 8-10 Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on Lake Chickamauga in Dayton, Tennessee, hosted by the Rhea Economic and Tourism Council. 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 18-foot Phoenix bass boat with a 200-horsepower outboard.
The 2020 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 2020 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American will be held April 30 through May 2 at Lake Hartwell in Anderson, South Carolina and is hosted by Visit Anderson. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division earn priority entry into the FLW Series, the pathway to the FLW Pro Circuit and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour, where top pros compete with no entry fees.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.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 outletsat Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Dice Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Smith Mountain Lake
Grottoe’s Melendez Wins Co-angler Division
HUDDLESTON, Va. (March 16, 2020) – Boater Jack Dice of Lynchburg, Virginia, brought a five-bass limit to the scale weighing 22 pounds even to win the 2020 Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine event at Smith Mountain Lake in Huddleston, Virginia. For his victory, Dice earned a total of $5,246.
A person wearing a hat
Description automatically generatedThe tournament was the first of five events in the Shenandoah Division presented by A.R.E. Truck Caps.
“I started my day in the upper lake in the Roanoke River arm, near the bridge, but I was really just killing time until later in the afternoon when the sun was going to warm up the lake,” said Dice, who earned his first career victory in FLW competition. “My best area was actually in Craddock Creek, and I ran there for the second half of the day and caught most of my fish there.”
Dice said that the key to his victory was fishing in north-facing pockets. He said the sun had been warming those pockets faster than the rest of the lake and it had the fish pulling up shallow.
“Where the water was warmest was important, but another key factor was timing,” Dice said. “I’d been out practicing the last two days and the day before the event I didn’t have a keeper until 12:30. I figured that any fish that I caught earlier in the day was a bonus.”
Dice targeted laydowns and floating docks with a wacky-rigged 5-inch Yamamoto Senko (green-pumpkin) and a 6-inch Megabass Magdraft swimbait.
“I fished so hard, I’m exhausted,” Dice went on to say. “I’ve wanted to win a tournament so badly. I’ve won the Angler of the Year (AOY) title a few times, but I’ve never won a single tournament before. It feels awesome to finally get one.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament as follows:
1st: Jack Dice of Lynchburg, Va., five bass, 22-0, $5,246
2nd: Cavin Young of Prince George, Va., five bass, 20-1, $2,623
3rd: Steve Colgin of Lanexa, Va., five bass, 18-15, $2,452
4th: Frank Ippoliti of Mercersburg, Pa., five bass, 18-13, $1,177
5th: Thomas Wooten of Huddleston, Va., five bass, 18-8, $1,009
6th: Justin Hicks of Roanoke, Va., five bass, 18-7, $925
7th: Chad Pilson of Bassett, Va., five bass, 17-9, $1,341
8th: Wayne Dorman of Louisa, Va., five bass, 17-4, $757
9th: Kevin Chandler of New London, N.C., five bass, 16-14, $673
10th: Peter Yanni of Gaithersburg, Md., five bass, 16-9, $589
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Colgin also earned the day’s $770 Boater Big Bass award with his largest fish, a 7-pound bass.
Pilson took home an extra $500 as the highest finishing FLW PHOENIX 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 FLW PHOENIX BONUS contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.
Costas Melendez of Grottoes, Virginia, earned the win in the Co-angler Division Saturday after catching a five-bass limit weighing 16 pounds, 2 ounces. Melendez earned $2,523 for his victory.
The top 10 co-anglers finished as follows:
1st: Costas Melendez of Grottoes, Va., five bass, 16-2, $2,523
2nd: David Mills of Moneta, Va., five bass, 14-2, $1,262
3rd: Matthew Noraas of Pamplin, Va., five bass, 14-1, $841
4th: Victor Auriemma of Baltimore, Md., five bass, 13-11, $589
5th: Brian Byrd of Roanoke, Va., three bass, 13-4, $505
6th: Scott Howard of Bedford, Va., five bass, 12-10, $463
7th: Timothy Kinder of Manassas, Va., five bass, 12-7, $571
8th: Pat Kendrick of Bumpass, Va., four bass, 12-1, $378
9th: Eric Gifford of Colonial Beach, Va., three bass, 11-12, $721
10th: Ricky Grant of Callands, Va., five bass, 10-4, $294
Gifford caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 6 pounds, 4 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $385.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the Shenandoah Division presented by A.R.E. based on point standings, along with the five winners of each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 8-10 Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on the James River in Richmond, Virginia, hosted by Richmond Region Tourism. 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 18-foot Phoenix bass boat with a 200-horsepower outboard.
The 2020 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 2020 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American will be held April 30 through May 2 at Lake Hartwell in Anderson, South Carolina and is hosted by Visit Anderson. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division earn priority entry into the FLW Series, the pathway to the FLW Pro Circuit and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour, where top pros compete with no entry fees.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.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.
Daniels Earns Championship Berth with 111-15
20 Anglers Eliminated as Group A Qualifying Round Ends
March 15, 2020 (Lake Fork, Texas) Major League Fishing Pros weathered a slower day on Lake Fork during the General Tire Stage Three presented by TrueTimber. Mark Daniels, Jr., who started the day with a 12-pound lead over the rest of the field, won Group A Qualifying Round and earned a berth to Wednesday’s Championship Round. Jeff Sprague and Jason Christie battled for second place throughout the day with Sprague edging out Christie in Period Three. 32-year-old Josh Bertrand began the day in 23rd place and caught 43 pounds, six ounces to rise to finish in 7th place. Anglers who finished in 2nd through 20th places will start-over in Tuesday’s Knockout Round when weights begin at zero in hopes to be among the top eight (out of 38) anglers to advance.
Mark Daniels, Jr. (MDJ to fans and friends) began the day in first place with a 12-pound-three-ounce lead over Jeff Sprague. Despite catching three fish over five pounds, Daniels’ lead fell to five pounds, 11 ounces but he remained in first place. His two-day total ended at 111 pounds, 15 ounces. Daniels faced mechanical issues late in the third Period that kept him from fishing for nearly an hour before MLF arrived with a replacement boat. The 38-year-old from Tuskeegee (Ala.) won Group A and will bypass Tuesday’s Knockout Round to advance to Wednesday’s Championship where he will earn a minimum of $12,000 and have a chance to win the $100,000 top prize.
Sprague, who claims Fork as his “home lake,” began and ended Sunday in second place but battled with Jason Christie throughout the day as the two worked to win the Group A Qualifying Round. Sprague came out strong 19 minutes into Period One with his first fish weighing in at six pounds, four ounces - his biggest fish of the day. Christie answered that catch with two bass in the next 10 minutes weighing a combined total of 10 pounds, three ounces. Ultimately Sprague out-caught Christie with a six-pound bass late in the third period which secured him a five-pound lead and second place.
“Today was the same as the first day just alot less bites,” said Christie from his boat shortly after lines out. “On Tuesday in the Knockout Round, the best bet for me is to start where I’ve been starting and then I will fish all new water, which everyone will do. Sometimes you have to just put your elbows out and fish.”
Bertrand began the day below the elimination line in 23rd place with 38 pounds, 13 ounces - 46 pounds out of first place. With a four-pound-one-ounce largemouth 14 minutes into today’s competition, Bertrand began steady 43-pound, 16-place march up the leaderboard catching at least one scoreable bass each hour until the last hour of the day. A resident of Queen Creek, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix, the Berkley Pro has one major win and 13 top ten finishes on his career stats.
The Top Ten of Day One, Qualifying Group A finished as follows:
Place Angler 2-Day Qualifying Round Total 2-Day Total Fish Largest Fish
1 Mark Daniels, Jr. 111-15 31 7-05
2 Jeff Sprague 106-04 29 6-05
3 Jason Christie 97-11 25 10-04
4 Keith Poche 89-10 28 9-09
5 Greg Hackney 87-11 25 8-12
6 Andy Morgan 86-09 23 7-04
7 Josh Bertrand 82-03 22 7-01
8 Bobby Lane 80-03 25 8-03
9 Ott DeFoe 79-10 27 5-14
10 Greg Vinson 79-10 21 8-03
For complete results, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com, Bass Pro Tour, Results.
The competition continues Monday when Group B takes to the water for the first day of their Qualifying Round. Michael Neal, who took a one-pound lead over Brandon Coulter with only seven minutes left in the day, will work to stave off Brandon Coulter and Justin Atkins. Atkins holds the league and tour records at 10 pounds, 8 ounces. Monday’s weather forecast shows slightly warmer temperatures and overcast with a high of 66.
Group B Qualifying Round Day Two begins with launch at Oak Ridge Marina, Quitman, Texas, 9:15 a.m. CT before lines-in at 10:00 a.m. Period 1 ends at 12:30 p.m. Period 2 spans 12:45 p.m. until 3:15 p.m. Period 3 begins at 3:30 p.m. and lasts until day’s end at 6:00 p.m. The General Tire Takeout show airs approximately 6:15–7:15 p.m. as anglers return to the ramp.
Fans can catch all the action every day of competition on MLFNOW! livestream on MajorLeagueFishing.com or download the MLF App for your Apple or GooglePlay device or on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV).
Glendale’s Au Leads Wire-to-Wire, Wins Toyota Series Tournament at Lake Havasu
LAKE HAVASU CITY, Ariz. (March 14, 2020) –General Tire pro Tai Au of Glendale, Arizona, brought five bass to the scale Saturday totaling 16 pounds, 15 ounces to win the three-day Toyota Series at Lake Havasu event in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. Au won the event by a 1-pound, 12-ounce margin after bringing a three-day total of 15 bass weighing 61-3 to the scale. For his win, Au earned a payout of $26,589 in the opening tournament of the 2020 Toyota Series Western Division season.
“I’ve dreamt about this moment for a long time,” Au said on stage. “I’ve been close so many times. This is my 15th top-10, and for a while there I thought it just was never going to happen; it wasn’t in the cards for me. I woke up this morning at midnight, just getting teary-eyed thinking about it. I’ve got a lot of friends supporting me, and I want to thank them for that.”
Au opened the tournament Thursday with the biggest limit of the week. Four of the five keepers he weighed in he caught while sight-fishing. Day one was by far the best day of the event. Sunny skies in the morning made bed-fishing easy. Plus, there were tons of unpressured bass on beds to be caught. That changed when afternoon and evening rains on Thursday dirtied parts of the lake and were followed up with post-frontal weather on Friday, which really challenged many anglers. Au threw everything he had at them and had to do much of the same today.
“As far as numbers-wise, I did all I could today,” Au said. “I went out there and ran the same stuff and caught a whole lot more today than I did the first and second day.
“I just went junk-fishing. I checked a few of my beds. They weren’t there. I did catch one on a bed. That was a 2½-pound male that was on the same bed with my 7-pounder that I caught, so I went back and caught it today to put it in my livewell just to cull it out later. I caught one of my nicer ones on an Evergreen Jack Hammer with a Zako Paddle Tail trailer. I caught one flipping a Flappin’ Hog. I caught two on a Senko, and about five or six on a Daiwa Neko Fat.”
Au spent his time in areas where he saw the best quality fish on beds in practice. Knowing there were good ones around gave him the confidence to stay in those areas. From there, his strategy was to fish whatever looked good in front of him, cycling through all the baits he knew he could get bit with, but he focused mostly on tules, which is “where the largemouth are.”
“Deep tules, shallow tules, it didn’t matter as long as there were tules nearby I was catching them,” Au said.
“It was just a matter of running into them and making the right cast. I felt like I made a million casts out there. I left it all out there. I know for a fact I couldn’t have done anything else.”
The top 10 pros on Lake Havasu finished:
1st: Tai Au of Glendale, Ariz., 15 bass, 61-3, $26,589
2nd: Jordan Collom of Temecula, Calif., 15 bass, 59-7, $10,303
3rd: Todd Kline of San Clemente, Calif., 15 bass, 57-5, $7,977
4th: Michael Caruso of Peoria, Ariz., 15 bass, 56-13, $6,647
5th: Kyle Grover of Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., 15 bass, 55-0, $5,982
6th: Tanner Austin of Shingle Springs, Calif., 15 bass, 54-13, $5,318
7th: Kevin Hugo of Canyon Lake, Calif., 14 bass, 53-10, $5,653
8th: Clayton Eslick of Gilroy, Calif., 14 bass, 49-2, $3,988
9th: Kevin Caruso of Glendale, Ariz., 15 bass, 48-15, $3,824
10th: Lane Olson of Tigard, Ore., 15 bass, 47-9, $2,659
A complete list of results can be found atFLWFishing.com.
Hugo took home an extra $1,000 as the highest finishing FLW PHOENIX BONUS member. Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $35,000 per event in each Toyota Series tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the FLW PHOENIX BONUS contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.
Delaney Dwyer of Scottsdale, Arizona, brought a 7-pound, 12-ounce largemouth bass to the scale Thursday – the largest fish weighed by a boater in the event – to earn the day’s Big Bass award of $76.
Jack Farrage of Discovery Bay, California, won the Co-angler Division Saturday with a three-day total of 15 bass weighing 43 pounds, 3 ounces. For his win, Farrage took home the top prize package of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard motor, worth $33,500.
The top 10 co-anglers on Lake Havasu finished:
1st: Jack Farage of Discovery Bay, Calif., 15 bass, 43-3, $33,500
2nd: Ty Faber of Pagosa Springs, Colo., 15 bass, 43-2, $3,438
3rd: James Hollingshead of Clarkston, Wash., 13 bass, 37-5, $2,950
4th: Kevin Gross of Claremont, Calif., 12 bass, 35-15, $2,457
5th: Zack Eggleston of Goleta, Calif., 15 bass, 34-9, $2,063
6th: Jacob Traba of Pacifica, Calif., 12 bass, 33-15, $1,719
7th: James Poff of Apple Valley, Calif., 13 bass, 32-6, $1,375
8th: Clint Messner of North Bend, Ore., 12 bass, 31-13, $1,203
9th: Aaron Seay of El Cajon, Calif., 12 bass, 29-11, $1,031
10th: Mark Bowman of San Dimas, Calif., 10 bass, 27-7, $860
Co-angler Gabriel Diaz of Nuevo, California, brought the largest bass of the tournament on the co-angler side to the scale on Friday, weighing 6 pounds, 8 ounces to win the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $50.
The Toyota Series at Lake Okeechobee was hosted by the Lake Havasu City Convention & Visitors Bureau. It was the first of three regular-season tournaments in 2020 for Western Division anglers. For a complete schedule, visit FLWFishing.com.
The Toyota Series consists of eight divisions – Central, Eastern, Northern, Plains, Southeastern, 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 Championship for a shot at winning $200,000 cash, plus lucrative contingency bonuses. The winning co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard. The 2020 Toyota Series Championship is being held Nov. 5-7 on Lake Cumberland in Burnside, Kentucky, and is hosted by the Somerset Tourist & Convention Commission and the Burnside Tourism Commission.
For complete details and updated information visitFLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Toyota Series on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook,Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Lake Placid’s Medlock Wins Toyota Series Tournament at Lake Okeechobee
CLEWISTON, Fla. (March 14, 2020) – Pro Brandon Medlock of Lake Placid, Florida, brought a five-bass limit to the scale Saturday totaling 19 pounds, 4 ounces to win the three-day Toyota Series at Lake Okeechobee event in Clewiston, Florida. Medlock’s three-day total of 15 bass weighing 54-4 earned him the win by a 5-pound, 13-ounce margin and earned him a payout of $37,548 in the second tournament of the 2020 Toyota Series Southern Division season.
A picture containing man, black, riding, young
Description automatically generatedAll three days, Medlock started on an outside reed line where bass were eating shad.
“I was practicing for a tournament a couple weeks ago and I caught some big ones out on the outside, but not very many bites,” said Medlock, who earned his third career Toyota Series victory on Lake Okeechobee. “So, as soon as the wind laid down in practice I went over there to check it, and it was bite after bite after bite. Those shad just came in there.”
Pitching and making short casts with a ½-ounce, white Medlock Double Guard Flipping Jig with a white Zoom Super Speed Craw was the ticket for the shad fish.
After corralling a limit each day, Medlock flipped reeds the rest of the time.
“The fish have all been behind the reeds for the past month – there’s not been anything going on the outside, that just started in the last two weeks,” said Medlock. “As hot as it is, I felt like that inside bite was dying. I felt like the fish were leaving that, so I concentrated more on the outer stuff.
“The first day I thought I was going to have 25 pounds, I caught probably 20 fish, but they were all little ones. I ran really shallow stuff that day, but the next day I went deeper.”
Going deeper turned out to be the key, and on days two and three Medlock flipped up multiple big fish from isolated reeds out past the main reed edge.
For his flipping attack, Medlock used a 3/8-ounce and a 3/4-ounce Medlock Double Guard Flipping Jig in black and blue. He tipped the 3/8-ounce model with a Riot Baits Little Fuzzy, and used a Zoom Big Salty Chunk as a trailer on the 3/4-ounce model.
Flipping the heavier jig on the outer reeds, Medlock opted for the lighter jig in shallower stuff.
“The water depth was the main deal there,” Medlock went on to say. “That 3/8-ounce jig is unreal for spooky fish. It doesn’t spook ‘em. I can lay it down on super long flips and it lays down effortlessly.”
Medlock used an Ark Tharp Series Guntersville Special with 50-pound Vicious No-Fade Braid for the 3/8-ounce jig. For the heavier jigs he opted for a Ark Tharp Series Okeechobee Special with 80-pound No-Fade. For all his setups, Medlock stuck with high-speed Quantum baitcasters.
The top 10 pros on Lake Okeechobee finished:
1st: Brandon Medlock of Lake Placid, Fla., 15 bass, 54-4, $37,548
2nd: Peter Thliveros of St. Augustine, Fla., 15 bass, 48-7, $14,550
3rd: Ronnie Buck of Miami, Fla., 15 bass, 48-3, $12,265
4th: Gary Milicevic of LaBelle, Fla., 15 bass, 45-8, $9,387
5th: Darrell Davis of Dover, Fla., 15 bass, 44-8, $8,448
6th: Brett Cannon of Parkland, Fla., 15 bass, 43-7, $7,645
7th: Bradley MacQueen of West Palm Beach, Fla., 14 bass, 41-4, $7,071
8th: John Kremer of Sanford, Fla., 13 bass, 40-15, $5,632
9th: Robby Frashier of Carrollton, Ga., 14 bass, 39-4, $4,829
10th: Casey Warren of Galivants Ferry, S.C., 15 bass, 38-13, $3,755
A complete list of results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Buck took home an extra $1,000 as the highest finishing FLW PHOENIX BONUS member. Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $35,000 per event in each Toyota Series tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the FLW PHOENIX BONUS contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.
Frashier brought a 7-pound, 14-ounce largemouth bass to the scale Friday – the largest fish weighed by a boater in the event – to earn the day’s Big Bass award of $135.
Andy Niles of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, won the Co-angler Division Saturday with a three-day total of 15 bass weighing 44 pounds, 7 ounces. For his win, Niles took home the top prize package of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard motor, worth $33,500.
The top 10 co-anglers on Lake Okeechobee finished:
1st: Andy Niles of Ocean Springs, Miss., 15 bass, 44-7, $33,500
2nd: George Kapiton of Inverness, Fla., 15 bass, 39-4, $4,729
3rd: Edwin Bartlett of Casco, Maine, 15 bass, 38-1, $3,783
4th: J.P. Sims of Port St. Lucie, Fla., 15 bass, 37-2, $3,310
5th: Aaron Gengler of Lakeland, Fla., 13 bass, 32-12, $3,037
6th: Roger Gonzalez of Hollywood, Fla., 12 bass, 32-1, $2,364
7th: Bobby Bakewell of Orlando, Fla., 12 bass, 30-13, $1,891
8th: John Riddling of Melrose, Fla., 10 bass, 29-9, $1,755
9th: Christian Greico of Tampa, Fla., 12 bass, 29-8, $1,419
10th: Brian Toth of Brandon, Miss., 13 bass, 29-8, $1,182
Co-angler Mike Garrett of Pensacola, Florida, caught just two bass on Thursday and one bass on Friday, but they were big ones. Garrett weighed in a 7-pound, 11-ouncer on both days of competition, and both days earned the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $90. Garrett’s three bass totaling 16 pounds, 15 ounces landed him in 50th place.
The Toyota Series at Lake Okeechobee was hosted by Roland & Mary Ann Martin’s Marina and Resort and Hendry County Tourism. It was the second of three regular-season tournaments in 2020 for Southern Division anglers. For a complete schedule, visit FLWFishing.com.
The Toyota Series consists of eight divisions – Central, Eastern, Northern, Plains, Southeastern, 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 Championship for a shot at winning $200,000 cash, plus lucrative contingency bonuses. The winning co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard. The 2020 Toyota Series Championship is being held Nov. 5-7 on Lake Cumberland in Burnside, Kentucky, and is hosted by the Somerset Tourist & Convention Commission and the Burnside Tourism Commission.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Toyota Series on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
