Key Changes Push Walters Into Lead At Bassmaster Eastern Open On Hartwell
ANDERSON, S.C. — Knowing which changes to make and when moved Patrick Walters into the Day 2 lead of the Basspro.com Bassmaster Eastern Open on Lake Hartwell with a two-day total of 30 pounds, 10 ounces.
Turning in one of the most consistent performances so far, the Bassmaster Elite Series pro from Summerville, S.C., added 15-11 Thursday to his Day 1 catch of 14-15. Doing so required several key decisions.
“I had to change it up a good bit today; I had to change the bait, the presentation and color,” Walters said. “My technique was a lot different today.”
Walters lamented a similar frustration echoed by several of his fellow competitors — bass that would rarely commit to a bait. On blueback herring lakes like Hartwell, bass tend to prefer sunnier conditions that allow them to better spot the baitfish silhouettes.
Thursday saw even more clouds than Day 1. Also, the lack of significant wind typically makes bass more skittish, so today’s cloudy, mostly calm conditions presented a tough bite. The upside is that the process of elimination helped Walters dial in an effective program.
“If I would have caught what I saw today, I think I could have caught 20 pounds,” Walters said. “I had the bites, they were just nipping at it. They were being weird today, but I have a good idea about tomorrow.
“I could honestly tell by the way the fish were reacting that they weren’t feeding well. I could call them, but they wouldn’t eat the normal presentations, so I changed it until they started eating it. I was fishing behind people and when they’d leave, I could pull in there and catch a couple. I was that confident in my bait selection.”
Walters withheld specific details but said he caught all of his bass Thursday on topwater lures. Targeting a mix of cane piles and other structure in 10 to 20 feet of water, Walters said he made his final upgrades late in the day.
“I ran down to Lightwood Log Creek, went almost to the dam, fished my way up, went to Sadlers Creek and came all the way back to Green Pond,” he said. “At 2 o’clock around here at Green Pond, I said, ‘I’m going all the way back down to the dam,’ and ran down there and culled up two more times.”
Walters said burning the time to return to the dam was a matter of necessity and confidence.
“The fish weren’t biting, so I had to make a change,” he said. “They’re always biting somewhere, you just have to go find them. It was just instinct; just going with your gut.”
Andy Wicker of Pomaria, S.C., is in second with 29-8. After placing fourth on Day 1 with 15-11, he added 13-13 Thursday. His success depended on being in the right place at the right time.
“It was the same program as yesterday, there’s still a lot of boats fishing for those schooling fish and it’s just a timing deal,” Wicker said. “There were bite windows, but overall the afternoon was better.
“There was a period when I caught two or three pretty quick this morning, but I sat on those fish until probably 1 o’clock until I caught any more. The wind picked up the last couple of hours, and I think that probably helped things.”
Wicker caught his fish on a rotation of a Berkley Cane Walker topwater bait, a weightless Zoom Fluke and a 3.8 Keitech swimbait on a 1/4-ounce jighead.
John Maner of Falkville, Ala., is in third with 28-14. Moving up from 14th place, he added 15-2 to the 13-12 he weighed on Day 1.
“I did not have but three fish at 12:45,” Maner said. “I was throwing topwater, and I had a lot of fish come up and just roll on the bait. I thought if I just keep putting myself in those areas, sooner or later I’ll (fill my limit).
“With about 30 minutes to go, we came back upriver and I caught my fourth and fifth fish. That was cutting it to the wire.”
Maner caught most of his bass on a big topwater lure, but his biggest fish — a 4-15 largemouth — ate a 3/4-ounce football jig with a Strike King Rage Craw trailer in 40 feet of water.
Day 1 leader, Cody Hahner of Wausau, Wis., is in the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors with the 6-3 he caught Wednesday.
Cody Wilson of Ladson, S.C., leads the co-angler division with 13-6. Wilson tied for ninth on Day 1 with 6-3 and caught a better bag that went 7-3 Thursday.
J.W. Smith of Goose Creek, S.C., holds the Phoenix Boats Big Bass lead among co-anglers with a 6-0 largemouth.
The Top 12 remaining anglers in each division will take off Friday at 7 a.m. ET from Green Pond Landing and Event Center. The weigh-in will be held at Green Pond at 3 p.m.
Fans can follow the final-day drama on Bassmaster.com by streaming Nationwide Bassmaster Opens LIVE presented by Grizzly as camera boats provide coverage of the leaders.
The tournament is being hosted by Visit Anderson.
2020 Basspro.com Eastern Open at Lake Hartwell 9/23-9/25
Lake Hartwell, Anderson SC.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Patrick Walters Summerville, SC 10 30-10 200
Day 1: 5 14-15 Day 2: 5 15-11
2. Andy Wicker Pomaria, SC 10 29-08 199
Day 1: 5 15-11 Day 2: 5 13-13
3. John Maner Falkville, AL 10 28-14 198
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 5 15-02
4. Andrew Upshaw Tulsa, OK 10 28-06 197
Day 1: 5 14-10 Day 2: 5 13-12
5. Bobby Stanfill Greenwood, SC 10 28-00 196
Day 1: 5 16-08 Day 2: 5 11-08
6. Marc Frazier Newnan, GA 10 27-13 195
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 5 13-00
7. Jason Christie Park Hill, OK 10 27-01 194
Day 1: 5 14-14 Day 2: 5 12-03
8. Derek Lehtonen Woodruff, SC 10 27-00 193
Day 1: 5 14-15 Day 2: 5 12-01
9. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 10 26-07 192
Day 1: 5 13-14 Day 2: 5 12-09
10. Scott Martin Clewiston, FL 10 26-05 191
Day 1: 5 15-12 Day 2: 5 10-09
11. Cody Hahner Wausau, WI 8 26-04 190
Day 1: 5 20-04 Day 2: 3 06-00
12. Jayme Rampey Liberty, SC 10 26-04 189
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 15-11
13. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 10 26-02 188 $3,263.00
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 13-06
14. Bobby Lane Jr. Lakeland, FL 10 25-08 187 $3,263.00
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 5 15-00
15. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 10 25-03 186 $3,263.00
Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 5 12-10
16. Jason Burroughs Hodges, SC 10 25-02 185 $3,263.00
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 5 10-05
17. Wyatt Burkhalter Coker, AL 10 24-12 184 $3,263.00
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 11-08
18. Joshua Stracner Vandiver, AL 10 24-04 183 $3,263.00
Day 1: 5 10-02 Day 2: 5 14-02
19. Derek Freeman Anderson, SC 10 23-08 182 $3,263.00
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 5 12-13
20. Jody Wilson Blue Ridge, GA 10 23-06 181 $3,263.00
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 5 11-06
21. John Garrett Union City, TN 10 23-05 180 $2,967.00
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 11-08
22. Tyler Purcell Henderson, NC 10 22-07 179 $2,967.00
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 5 11-04
23. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 10 22-01 178 $2,967.00
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 10-00
24. Timmy Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 10 21-15 177 $2,967.00
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 08-11
25. Kenta Kimura Osaka JAPAN 10 21-13 176 $2,967.00
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 5 12-04
26. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 10 21-13 175 $2,729.00
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 10-15
27. Matt Lee Bremen, AL 10 21-12 174 $2,729.00
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 07-12
28. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 10 21-11 173 $2,729.00
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 5 09-12
29. Joe Thompson Clayton, GA 10 21-09 172 $2,729.00
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 5 12-05
30. David Williams Newton, NC 10 21-07 171 $2,729.00
Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 5 08-14
31. Joel Willert Prior Lake, MN 10 21-06 170 $2,729.00
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 5 11-13
32. Parker Mott Winter Garden, FL 10 21-06 169 $2,729.00
Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 5 11-05
33. Paul Gettys Due West, SC 10 21-05 168 $2,729.00
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 5 11-14
34. Kameron Harbin Abbeville, SC 10 21-04 167 $2,729.00
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 5 09-02
35. Shayne Mcfarlin Martin, GA 10 21-03 166 $2,729.00
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 08-11
36. Darrell Davis Dover, FL 10 21-03 165 $2,729.00
Day 1: 5 09-14 Day 2: 5 11-05
37. Derrick Bridges Greenville, SC 10 21-01 164 $2,729.00
Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 5 09-08
38. Chad Smith Minnetonka, MN 10 21-01 163 $2,729.00
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 5 09-14
39. Brad Fowler Townville, SC 10 21-01 162 $2,729.00
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 5 10-05
40. Greg Mansfield Olathe, KS 10 20-15 161 $2,729.00
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 08-07
41. Timmy Cales Sandstone, WV 10 20-13 160
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 5 09-05
42. Josh Douglas Isle, MN 10 20-13 159
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 5 10-02
43. Kyle Austin Ridgeville, SC 10 20-11 158
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 07-10
44. Bryan New Belmont, NC 10 20-09 157
Day 1: 5 08-04 Day 2: 5 12-05
45. Garrett Rose Pipecreek, TX 10 20-09 156
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 09-02
46. Cody Huff Ava, MO 10 20-09 155
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 10-03
47. Alex Wetherell Middletown, CT 8 20-08 154
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 3 05-04
48. Brock Belik Orchard, NE 10 20-06 153
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 09-08
49. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 10 20-02 152
Day 1: 5 09-15 Day 2: 5 10-03
50. Todd Castledine Nacogdoches, TX 10 19-15 151
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 5 08-05
51. Nick Tate Knoxville, TN 10 19-13 150
Day 1: 5 10-10 Day 2: 5 09-03
52. Gary Adkins Green Bay, WI 10 19-13 149
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 09-04
53. Bradley Hallman Norman, OK 10 19-11 148
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 5 08-03
54. Teb Jones Hattiesburg, MS 10 19-11 147
Day 1: 5 08-03 Day 2: 5 11-08
55. Joey Sabbagha Prosperity, SC 10 19-09 146
Day 1: 5 10-02 Day 2: 5 09-07
56. Brad Knight Lancing, TN 10 19-08 145
Day 1: 5 10-10 Day 2: 5 08-14
57. Adam Neu Forestville, WI 10 19-07 144
Day 1: 5 09-00 Day 2: 5 10-07
58. Andy Hribar Lakeville, MN 10 19-07 143
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 5 09-12
59. Justin Debose Anderson, SC 9 19-06 142
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 4 07-12
60. Trait Zaldain Fort Worth, TX 10 19-05 141
Day 1: 5 08-03 Day 2: 5 11-02
61. J.R. McCay Helen, GA 10 19-04 140
Day 1: 5 09-03 Day 2: 5 10-01
62. Tyler Berger Delaware, OH 9 19-03 139
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 4 05-09
63. KJ Queen Catawba, NC 10 19-02 138
Day 1: 5 09-15 Day 2: 5 09-03
64. Ronnie Mccoy Lamar, SC 10 19-01 137
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 06-11
65. Jonathan Carter Glenburn, ME 10 19-01 136
Day 1: 5 08-13 Day 2: 5 10-04
66. Matthew Robertson Kuttawa, KY 10 18-14 135
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 07-09
67. Craig Chambers Midland, NC 10 18-13 134
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 5 09-04
68. Tim Frederick Leesburg, FL 10 18-10 133
Day 1: 5 08-11 Day 2: 5 09-15
69. Justin Kimmel Athens, GA 10 18-10 132
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 5 09-03
70. Andrew Thomasson Dublin, VA 10 18-08 131
Day 1: 5 08-11 Day 2: 5 09-13
71. Scott Siller Milwaukee, WI 10 18-07 130
Day 1: 5 07-05 Day 2: 5 11-02
72. Scott Pellegrin Chippewa Falls, WI 10 18-06 129
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 5 08-11
73. Cameron Smith Wareham, MA 10 18-00 128
Day 1: 5 08-06 Day 2: 5 09-10
74. Alex Redwine Blue Ash, OH 10 17-15 127
Day 1: 5 07-11 Day 2: 5 10-04
75. Kotaro Kiriyama Guntersville, AL 10 17-14 126
Day 1: 5 09-03 Day 2: 5 08-11
76. Bryce Matthews Olanta, SC 10 17-13 125
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 5 08-04
77. Whitney Stephens Waverly, OH 10 17-13 124
Day 1: 5 08-15 Day 2: 5 08-14
78. Shawn Hendrix Sharpsburg, GA 9 17-10 123
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 4 06-11
79. Carl Whitfield Anderson, SC 10 17-08 122
Day 1: 5 08-04 Day 2: 5 09-04
80. Cody Detweiler Orlando, FL 10 17-02 121
Day 1: 5 09-14 Day 2: 5 07-04
81. Corey Lindsey Blacklick, OH 10 17-00 120
Day 1: 5 09-03 Day 2: 5 07-13
82. Steve Sennikoff Edgewood, TX 10 17-00 119
Day 1: 5 09-00 Day 2: 5 08-00
83. Carl Jocumsen Queensland TN AUSTRALIA 10 16-13 118
Day 1: 5 07-14 Day 2: 5 08-15
84. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 9 16-12 117
Day 1: 4 05-06 Day 2: 5 11-06
85. Randy Blaukat Joplin, MO 10 16-12 116
Day 1: 5 07-06 Day 2: 5 09-06
86. Caleb Gibson Locust Grove, OK 10 16-12 115
Day 1: 5 07-07 Day 2: 5 09-05
87. Jacob Foutz Charleston, TN 10 16-12 114
Day 1: 5 07-15 Day 2: 5 08-13
88. Vernon Kemp Umatilla, FL 9 16-10 113
Day 1: 4 08-08 Day 2: 5 08-02
89. Freddy Palmer Estill Springs, TN 10 16-09 112
Day 1: 5 09-03 Day 2: 5 07-06
90. Chris Groh Spring Grove, IL 10 16-08 111
Day 1: 5 06-12 Day 2: 5 09-12
91. Rodney Jones Anderson, SC 10 16-07 110
Day 1: 5 10-10 Day 2: 5 05-13
92. Rich Howes Oviedo, FL 10 16-07 109
Day 1: 5 06-02 Day 2: 5 10-05
93. Greg Alexander Hebron, MD 10 16-07 108
Day 1: 5 08-13 Day 2: 5 07-10
94. Scott Patton Paris, TN 9 16-06 107
Day 1: 5 07-13 Day 2: 4 08-09
95. Frank Ramsey Spring Grove, IL 10 16-01 106
Day 1: 5 05-09 Day 2: 5 10-08
96. Hunter Sales Blaine, TN 10 15-14 105
Day 1: 5 08-05 Day 2: 5 07-09
97. Trevor Topken Warwick, NY 9 15-13 104
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 4 06-09
98. Randy Elliott Severn, MD 10 15-13 103
Day 1: 5 07-08 Day 2: 5 08-05
99. Jeff Williams Gainesville, GA 10 15-12 102
Day 1: 5 08-09 Day 2: 5 07-03
100. Melvin Jiggetts Courtland, VA 10 15-11 101
Day 1: 5 06-12 Day 2: 5 08-15
101. Masayuki Matsushita Tokoname-Shi JAPAN 8 15-10 100
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 3 06-06
102. Cam Sterritt Newfields, NH 10 15-10 99
Day 1: 5 09-00 Day 2: 5 06-10
103. Tommy Williams Shepherdsville, KY 10 15-04 98
Day 1: 5 08-11 Day 2: 5 06-09
104. Barry Wilson Birmingham, AL 10 15-00 97
Day 1: 5 08-08 Day 2: 5 06-08
105. Cole Drummond Effingham, SC 10 15-00 96
Day 1: 5 07-11 Day 2: 5 07-05
106. Stephen Mui Odessa, FL 10 14-15 95
Day 1: 5 06-12 Day 2: 5 08-03
107. Brandon Tallhamer Parkersburg, WV 10 14-15 94
Day 1: 5 07-14 Day 2: 5 07-01
108. Gregg Fogner Conway, SC 10 14-14 93
Day 1: 5 07-15 Day 2: 5 06-15
109. David Kilgore Jasper, AL 10 14-14 92
Day 1: 5 07-05 Day 2: 5 07-09
110. Brad Burkhart Speedwell, TN 8 14-13 91
Day 1: 3 05-08 Day 2: 5 09-05
111. Dave Turner Crystal River, FL 10 14-13 90
Day 1: 5 06-03 Day 2: 5 08-10
112. Denny Fiedler Wabasha, MN 10 14-12 89
Day 1: 5 09-03 Day 2: 5 05-09
113. Matthew Mccarthy Marysville, OH 8 14-09 88
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 3 03-06
114. Allen Brooks Canton, GA 8 14-07 87
Day 1: 5 06-15 Day 2: 3 07-08
115. John Hunter Jr Simpsonville, KY 8 14-04 86
Day 1: 3 05-06 Day 2: 5 08-14
116. Jason Casteel Winter Garden, FL 10 14-04 85
Day 1: 5 07-03 Day 2: 5 07-01
117. Trevor Prince Blue Ridge, GA 10 13-14 84
Day 1: 5 05-14 Day 2: 5 08-00
118. Kenny Mittelstaedt Minnetonka, MN 9 13-13 83
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 4 04-09
119. Davey May Odessa, FL 7 13-10 82
Day 1: 2 02-14 Day 2: 5 10-12
120. Chase Serafin White Lake, MI 10 13-10 81
Day 1: 5 07-14 Day 2: 5 05-12
121. Brandt Tumberg Moore, SC 9 13-04 80
Day 1: 4 03-15 Day 2: 5 09-05
122. Jerry Gallogly Jr North Tazewell, VA 8 13-04 79
Day 1: 3 04-04 Day 2: 5 09-00
123. Brian Latimer Belton, SC 8 13-03 78
Day 1: 3 05-06 Day 2: 5 07-13
124. Matt Mollohan Prosperity, SC 9 13-01 77
Day 1: 4 05-01 Day 2: 5 08-00
125. Craig Cavanna Spring Hill, FL 8 13-00 76
Day 1: 3 02-13 Day 2: 5 10-03
126. Jeremy Maye Windsor, VA 8 13-00 75
Day 1: 3 03-08 Day 2: 5 09-08
127. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 8 12-07 74
Day 1: 5 08-11 Day 2: 3 03-12
128. Spencer Peters Knoxville, TN 8 12-06 73
Day 1: 5 09-02 Day 2: 3 03-04
129. Chris Kingree Inverness, FL 10 12-06 72
Day 1: 5 04-12 Day 2: 5 07-10
130. Luke Plunkett Pinson, AL 10 12-04 71
Day 1: 5 06-13 Day 2: 5 05-07
131. Chuck Pippin Jr Gotha, FL 7 12-02 70
Day 1: 5 09-00 Day 2: 2 03-02
132. Keith Carson Debary, FL 8 12-01 69
Day 1: 5 07-00 Day 2: 3 05-01
133. Cody Bertrand Dyer, IN 7 12-00 68
Day 1: 4 06-12 Day 2: 3 05-04
134. Josh Hubbard Braidwood, IL 10 11-15 67
Day 1: 5 05-14 Day 2: 5 06-01
135. Douglas Reed Bridgeton, NJ 7 11-14 66
Day 1: 5 08-12 Day 2: 2 03-02
136. Garrett Rocamora Lithia, FL 8 11-06 65
Day 1: 3 03-02 Day 2: 5 08-04
137. Mark Duerr West Allis, WI 8 11-06 64
Day 1: 3 03-11 Day 2: 5 07-11
138. Mark Pappas Dandridge, TN 8 11-00 63
Day 1: 4 06-05 Day 2: 4 04-11
139. Darryl Halbert Enoree, SC 8 10-14 62
Day 1: 4 05-14 Day 2: 4 05-00
140. Terry Segraves Kissimmee, FL 5 10-08 61
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
141. Christiana Bradley Goldvein, VA 6 10-08 60
Day 1: 4 07-08 Day 2: 2 03-00
142. Rex Nickel Huff Corbin, KY 6 10-08 59
Day 1: 3 05-00 Day 2: 3 05-08
143. Michael Hall Annandale, VA 7 10-07 58
Day 1: 4 05-14 Day 2: 3 04-09
144. Randy Huffman Charleston, WV 7 10-06 57
Day 1: 2 03-01 Day 2: 5 07-05
145. Lance Owen Greer, SC 5 10-04 56
Day 1: 3 06-03 Day 2: 2 04-01
146. Hunter Bland Williston, FL 6 09-12 55
Day 1: 1 01-01 Day 2: 5 08-11
147. Jake Rossi Columbus, OH 7 09-10 54
Day 1: 3 03-13 Day 2: 4 05-13
148. Blake Smith Lakeland, FL 6 09-04 53
Day 1: 1 01-07 Day 2: 5 07-13
149. James Castillo West Richland, WA 5 08-14 52
Day 1: 2 04-02 Day 2: 3 04-12
150. Harvey Horne Bella Vista, AR 5 08-05 51
Day 1: 4 06-11 Day 2: 1 01-10
151. David Boelkins Hubertus, WI 7 08-04 50
Day 1: 4 04-15 Day 2: 3 03-05
152. Chandler Stewart Waco, TX 6 08-02 49
Day 1: 4 06-02 Day 2: 2 02-00
153. Stephen Morella Whitehall , PA 6 08-00 48
Day 1: 4 05-05 Day 2: 2 02-11
154. Anthony Dumitras Winston, GA 5 07-15 47
Day 1: 4 06-01 Day 2: 1 01-14
155. Barron Adams Mineral Bluff, GA 5 07-13 46
Day 1: 5 07-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
156. Barry Brandt Jr. Newport News, VA 6 07-13 45
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 5 06-01
157. Ronald Ryals Jr Live Oak, FL 6 07-07 44
Day 1: 1 01-01 Day 2: 5 06-06
158. Dustin Reneau Mckinney, TX 5 07-00 43
Day 1: 2 02-09 Day 2: 3 04-07
159. Jon Ear Easley, SC 5 06-15 42
Day 1: 5 06-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
160. Denis Karachopan Rocky Point, NY 5 06-15 41
Day 1: 1 02-03 Day 2: 4 04-12
161. Chris Ferguson Wittensville, KY 5 06-15 40
Day 1: 3 04-06 Day 2: 2 02-09
162. Colby Robertson Summerfield, FL 5 06-14 39
Day 1: 5 06-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
163. Robbie Harrelson Moncks Corner, SC 4 06-13 38
Day 1: 4 06-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
164. Richard Reeger Gastonia, NC 6 06-12 37
Day 1: 3 03-15 Day 2: 3 02-13
165. Chad Randles Elkhorn, NE 4 06-11 36
Day 1: 2 02-02 Day 2: 2 04-09
166. Guy Eaker Cherryville, NC 5 05-11 35
Day 1: 5 05-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
167. Frank Kitchens III Blairsville, GA 3 05-05 34
Day 1: 3 05-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
168. Robert Gibson Niota, TN 3 05-02 33
Day 1: 1 02-06 Day 2: 2 02-12
169. Clayton Dyer Fayetteville, TN 3 04-02 32
Day 1: 3 04-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
170. Lucas Bogosian Harrington Park, NJ 3 03-09 31
Day 1: 1 01-00 Day 2: 2 02-09
171. Ed Stiefel Mahwah, NJ 2 03-05 30
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 1 01-09
172. Tyler Ellis Battlefield, MO 2 03-02 29
Day 1: 2 03-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
173. Jason Postell Colbert, GA 2 02-07 28
Day 1: 2 02-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. Ronnie Getz Sunman, IN 1 01-04 27
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-04
175. Robert Mathis Odessa, TX 1 01-01 26
Day 1: 1 01-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
176. Jon Canada Helena, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
176. Ken Iyobe Tokoname, Aichi JAPAN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
176. Hermilo Salgado Artemus, KY 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
176. Ed Tucker Deland, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 128 768 1477-15
2 125 734 1359-13
----------------------------------
253 1502 2837-12
2020 Basspro.com Eastern Open at Lake Hartwell 9/23-9/25
Lake Hartwell, Anderson SC.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Cody Wilson Ladson, SC 6 13-06 200
Day 1: 3 06-03 Day 2: 3 07-03
2. Mitchell Grimsley Hiawassee, GA 6 12-03 199
Day 1: 3 06-06 Day 2: 3 05-13
3. Caz Anderson Hayesville, NC 6 11-10 198
Day 1: 3 05-07 Day 2: 3 06-03
4. Mark Grizzle Cumming, GA 6 11-09 197
Day 1: 3 04-06 Day 2: 3 07-03
5. Mike Anderson Eustis, FL 5 11-08 196
Day 1: 3 08-05 Day 2: 2 03-03
6. Darren Ashley Calhoun Falls, SC 6 11-08 195
Day 1: 3 06-04 Day 2: 3 05-04
7. Neal Shade Greenville, SC 6 11-00 194
Day 1: 3 06-09 Day 2: 3 04-07
8. Nathan Mcclure Hiawassee, GA 6 10-15 193
Day 1: 3 07-07 Day 2: 3 03-08
9. Andy Simm Piney Flats, TN 6 10-13 192
Day 1: 3 05-09 Day 2: 3 05-04
10. Ronald Young New Braunfels, TX 6 10-12 191
Day 1: 3 06-07 Day 2: 3 04-05
11. Mitch Van Ert Watertown, WI 6 10-10 190
Day 1: 3 06-03 Day 2: 3 04-07
12. Drew Pridgen Greenwood, SC 6 10-09 189
Day 1: 3 04-07 Day 2: 3 06-02
13. Don Harvey Franklin, TN 6 10-08 188 $1,210.00
Day 1: 3 03-11 Day 2: 3 06-13
14. Marshall Robinson Lyman, SC 4 10-07 187 $1,100.00
Day 1: 1 01-00 Day 2: 3 09-07
15. Sam Sobieck New Prague, MN 6 10-07 186 $990.00
Day 1: 3 04-14 Day 2: 3 05-09
16. Chuck Thurlow Auburn, AL 6 10-05 185 $880.00
Day 1: 3 05-03 Day 2: 3 05-02
17. Don Bible II Knoxville, TN 6 10-04 184 $825.00
Day 1: 3 05-11 Day 2: 3 04-09
18. Zachary Hudson Pendleton, SC 6 10-03 183 $825.00
Day 1: 3 04-10 Day 2: 3 05-09
19. Alex Prince Blue Ridge, GA 6 10-02 182 $825.00
Day 1: 3 05-10 Day 2: 3 04-08
20. Rick Hamer Charleston, WV 6 09-15 181 $825.00
Day 1: 3 04-09 Day 2: 3 05-06
21. Isaac Booth Washburn, TN 4 09-14 180 $770.00
Day 1: 1 04-02 Day 2: 3 05-12
22. Neal Wisinski Stevens Point, WI 6 09-12 179 $770.00
Day 1: 3 04-00 Day 2: 3 05-12
23. Burley Langford Jr. S.Chesterfield, VA 6 09-12 178 $770.00
Day 1: 3 04-03 Day 2: 3 05-09
24. Michael Elrod Cropwell, AL 6 09-11 177 $770.00
Day 1: 3 05-04 Day 2: 3 04-07
25. Ronald Humiston Wallingford, CT 6 09-11 176 $770.00
Day 1: 3 05-00 Day 2: 3 04-11
26. Jon Jezierski Troy, MI 6 09-10 175 $660.00
Day 1: 3 04-09 Day 2: 3 05-01
27. William Cooley Belton, SC 6 09-09 174 $660.00
Day 1: 3 04-11 Day 2: 3 04-14
28. Tyler Watts Mount Airy, GA 6 09-06 173 $660.00
Day 1: 3 03-13 Day 2: 3 05-09
29. Austin Cole Rutherford, NC 6 09-03 172 $660.00
Day 1: 3 04-11 Day 2: 3 04-08
30. John Wesley Wardlaw Central, SC 6 09-01 171 $660.00
Day 1: 3 06-02 Day 2: 3 02-15
31. Dawson Wisner Green Cv Spgs, FL 5 08-15 170 $605.00
Day 1: 3 06-01 Day 2: 2 02-14
32. Michael Miller Greenville, SC 6 08-15 169 $605.00
Day 1: 3 05-05 Day 2: 3 03-10
33. Doyle Jarrard Gainesville, GA 6 08-14 168 $605.00
Day 1: 3 05-04 Day 2: 3 03-10
34. Angela Mayo Maiden, NC 6 08-13 167 $605.00
Day 1: 3 04-07 Day 2: 3 04-06
35. Zack Barrera Morriston, FL 5 08-12 166 $605.00
Day 1: 2 03-07 Day 2: 3 05-05
36. Logan Stewart Nashville, TN 6 08-12 165 $605.00
Day 1: 3 04-01 Day 2: 3 04-11
37. Stanley Beebe San Luis obispo, CA 4 08-08 164 $605.00
Day 1: 1 01-01 Day 2: 3 07-07
38. Terry Lisle Columbus, GA 4 08-08 163 $605.00
Day 1: 1 02-01 Day 2: 3 06-07
39. JW Smith Goose Creek, SC 2 08-08 162 $605.00
Day 1: 1 06-00 Day 2: 1 02-08
40. Lloyd Raheem Orange, NJ 6 08-08 161 $605.00
Day 1: 3 04-03 Day 2: 3 04-05
41. Bradley Brooks Easley, SC 5 08-07 160
Day 1: 3 06-05 Day 2: 2 02-02
42. Cody Stahl Griffin, GA 5 08-07 159
Day 1: 2 02-06 Day 2: 3 06-01
43. Cody Shry Pinehrst, TX 5 08-07 158
Day 1: 2 02-08 Day 2: 3 05-15
44. James Roten West Jefferson, NC 6 08-07 157
Day 1: 3 04-08 Day 2: 3 03-15
45. JP Przekurat Stevens Point, WI 5 08-07 156
Day 1: 3 04-00 Day 2: 2 04-07
46. AJ Jones Odessa, FL 5 08-05 155
Day 1: 3 05-10 Day 2: 2 02-11
47. Eric Dell Cumming, GA 6 08-05 154
Day 1: 3 04-06 Day 2: 3 03-15
48. Mike Spears Jasper, AL 6 08-04 153
Day 1: 3 04-15 Day 2: 3 03-05
49. Luke Shrader Barrington, NJ 5 08-01 152
Day 1: 2 03-03 Day 2: 3 04-14
50. Kibbee Mccoy Knoxville, TN 6 08-00 151
Day 1: 3 04-03 Day 2: 3 03-13
51. Craig Congleton Rockford, MI 5 08-00 150
Day 1: 3 03-15 Day 2: 2 04-01
52. John Connell Marion, IL 5 07-13 149
Day 1: 2 02-15 Day 2: 3 04-14
53. Chaz Carrington Suffolk, VA 6 07-13 148
Day 1: 3 03-08 Day 2: 3 04-05
54. Bill Bruce Hendersonville, TN 5 07-12 147
Day 1: 3 05-03 Day 2: 2 02-09
55. Robert Holliday Greensboro, GA 5 07-12 146
Day 1: 2 02-13 Day 2: 3 04-15
56. Stacey Jefferson Conway, SC 5 07-11 145
Day 1: 3 04-07 Day 2: 2 03-04
57. Jarrod Lancaster Iron Station, NC 6 07-11 144
Day 1: 3 04-00 Day 2: 3 03-11
58. Ken Sharkey Spring Lake, MI 5 07-09 143
Day 1: 2 02-15 Day 2: 3 04-10
59. Josh Morse Apopka, FL 5 07-09 142
Day 1: 3 04-07 Day 2: 2 03-02
60. Andy Semonco Chester, VA 4 07-08 141
Day 1: 1 02-05 Day 2: 3 05-03
61. Bradley Sterner Manchester, PA 5 07-06 140
Day 1: 3 04-01 Day 2: 2 03-05
62. Tyler Sheffield Murrayville, GA 6 07-05 139
Day 1: 3 04-02 Day 2: 3 03-03
63. Jacob Fortner Monroe, GA 4 07-01 138
Day 1: 3 05-12 Day 2: 1 01-05
64. Daniel Istik Cranberry Twp, PA 5 07-01 137
Day 1: 2 02-08 Day 2: 3 04-09
65. David Booth Erin, TN 5 07-01 136
Day 1: 3 04-07 Day 2: 2 02-10
66. Sam Naib Decatur, GA 4 07-00 135
Day 1: 1 00-15 Day 2: 3 06-01
67. Tony Hudson Liberty, SC 5 06-13 134
Day 1: 3 04-09 Day 2: 2 02-04
68. Ray Hill Lake City, FL 5 06-13 133
Day 1: 2 02-05 Day 2: 3 04-08
69. Carl Hunter Snellville, GA 5 06-11 132
Day 1: 3 04-05 Day 2: 2 02-06
70. John Swann Fort Valley, VA 4 06-10 131
Day 1: 3 05-05 Day 2: 1 01-05
71. Dustin Shirley Royston, GA 4 06-09 130
Day 1: 1 01-02 Day 2: 3 05-07
72. Jeff Queen Catawba, NC 4 06-09 129
Day 1: 3 05-06 Day 2: 1 01-03
73. Ben Brumley Priest River, ID 4 06-08 128
Day 1: 1 01-03 Day 2: 3 05-05
74. Byong Lee Stedman, NC 4 06-08 127
Day 1: 1 01-07 Day 2: 3 05-01
75. Huey Hewett Floral City, FL 5 06-07 126
Day 1: 3 04-04 Day 2: 2 02-03
76. Mike Anderson Harlem, GA 3 06-04 125
Day 1: 3 06-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
77. William Rogers Summerton, SC 3 06-03 124
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 06-03
78. Curtis Cole Sharpsburg, MD 4 06-03 123
Day 1: 1 01-01 Day 2: 3 05-02
79. Nic Rand Kalamazoo, MI 5 06-03 122
Day 1: 3 04-15 Day 2: 2 01-04
80. Joel Greene Enoree, SC 4 06-02 121
Day 1: 3 04-14 Day 2: 1 01-04
81. Jesse Simmons Columbia, SC 4 05-12 120
Day 1: 1 01-10 Day 2: 3 04-02
82. Curtis Crooke Washburn, TN 3 05-11 119
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 05-11
83. Chip Stith Piscataway, NJ 4 05-11 118
Day 1: 1 01-03 Day 2: 3 04-08
84. Keith Vonderhaar Monticello, GA 4 05-11 117
Day 1: 2 04-00 Day 2: 2 01-11
85. Howard Gaston Chatom, AL 4 05-10 116
Day 1: 1 00-13 Day 2: 3 04-13
86. Frank Kitchens Jr Oxford, GA 3 05-09 115
Day 1: 3 05-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
87. Wesley Watson Huntington, WV 3 05-07 114
Day 1: 2 03-11 Day 2: 1 01-12
88. Skyler Anderson Harlem, GA 4 05-05 113
Day 1: 1 01-03 Day 2: 3 04-02
89. Michael Schrader North Attleboro, MA 4 05-05 112
Day 1: 1 01-07 Day 2: 3 03-14
90. Robert Bruguiere Mechanicsville, VA 3 05-04 111
Day 1: 3 05-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
91. Charles Cotton Hemingway, SC 3 05-04 110
Day 1: 1 01-09 Day 2: 2 03-11
92. Paul Propst Jr. Kearneysville, WV 4 05-03 109
Day 1: 2 02-02 Day 2: 2 03-01
93. Daniel Valois Gomez Coral Springs FL VENEZU 4 05-02 108
Day 1: 1 01-09 Day 2: 3 03-09
94. Jeffrey Worthy Jr Lakeland, FL 4 05-02 107
Day 1: 2 01-15 Day 2: 2 03-03
95. Bryan Collins Jefferson, GA 4 05-01 106
Day 1: 3 03-15 Day 2: 1 01-02
96. Matt Roberson Powder Springs, GA 4 04-14 105
Day 1: 2 02-12 Day 2: 2 02-02
97. Mauricio Marciales Miami FL VENEZUELA 3 04-13 104
Day 1: 3 04-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
98. Jonathan Barnette Jasper, AL 4 04-13 103
Day 1: 2 02-03 Day 2: 2 02-10
98. Bobby Williams Salisbury, NC 4 04-13 103
Day 1: 2 02-03 Day 2: 2 02-10
100. David Few Lake Wylie, SC 2 04-12 101
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 04-12
101. Scott Waters Saint Cloud, FL 4 04-12 100
Day 1: 1 01-09 Day 2: 3 03-03
102. Edward Stiefel Jr. Lake Worth, FL 3 04-11 99
Day 1: 2 02-03 Day 2: 1 02-08
103. Travis Culbreth Columbia, AL 3 04-10 98
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 04-10
104. Rick Williams Jr Sandston, VA 4 04-10 97
Day 1: 3 03-06 Day 2: 1 01-04
105. Shawn Spaeth Cadott, WI 3 04-08 96
Day 1: 2 03-10 Day 2: 1 00-14
106. Tony Sears Dahlonega, GA 4 04-08 95
Day 1: 1 01-10 Day 2: 3 02-14
107. Luke Bennett Hartwell, GA 3 04-06 94
Day 1: 1 01-06 Day 2: 2 03-00
108. Brian Parker Calhoun, GA 3 04-03 93
Day 1: 1 01-05 Day 2: 2 02-14
109. Osvaldo Gutierrez Grand Island, NE 3 04-02 92
Day 1: 2 02-12 Day 2: 1 01-06
110. Ralph Hunter Pelzer, SC 2 04-01 91
Day 1: 1 02-10 Day 2: 1 01-07
111. James Southeard Scottsboro, AL 3 04-00 90
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 04-00
112. Earnie Jones Jr Chapin, SC 3 03-14 89
Day 1: 3 03-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
113. Thomas Abraham Winchester, TN 3 03-14 88
Day 1: 1 01-00 Day 2: 2 02-14
114. Thomas Ulintz Mars, PA 2 03-14 87
Day 1: 1 01-01 Day 2: 1 02-13
115. Liam Oneill Beverly Hills, FL 4 03-13 86
Day 1: 1 01-05 Day 2: 3 02-08
116. David Everhart Kearneysville, WV 3 03-12 85
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 03-12
116. Bruce Faulkner Seneca, SC 3 03-12 85
Day 1: 3 03-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
118. Dennis Lane Rutledge, TN 3 03-12 83
Day 1: 2 01-13 Day 2: 1 01-15
119. Daniel Hanniford Florence, SC 3 03-11 82
Day 1: 3 03-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
120. Edward Bean Johnsburg, IL 3 03-11 81
Day 1: 2 02-13 Day 2: 1 00-14
121. Alan Alfonso Ashland, VA 3 03-10 80
Day 1: 2 02-05 Day 2: 1 01-05
122. Connor Graham Minneapolis, MN 3 03-09 79
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 03-09
122. Jeffery Strong Sharpsburg, GA 3 03-09 79
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 03-09
124. Ralph Gibson Locust Grove, OK 3 03-08 77
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 03-08
125. Bryden Mugleston Mount Juliet, TN 2 03-08 76
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 03-08
126. Jeff Keever Tignall, GA 3 03-06 75
Day 1: 2 01-12 Day 2: 1 01-10
127. Connor Mcelvaney Tallahassee, FL 2 03-04 74
Day 1: 2 03-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
128. Mark Kendra Great Meadows, NJ 3 03-03 73
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 03-03
129. Thomas Crosswhite Hartwell, GA 2 03-03 72
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 03-03
129. Eric Osborne Jefferson, NC 2 03-03 72
Day 1: 2 03-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
131. Harold Addison Columbia, SC 2 03-02 70
Day 1: 1 02-01 Day 2: 1 01-01
132. Thomas Hendel Russells Point, OH 2 02-15 69
Day 1: 2 02-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
133. Hunter Pearson Williamston, SC 2 02-13 68
Day 1: 1 01-08 Day 2: 1 01-05
134. Greg O'Neal Winchester, TN 2 02-11 67
Day 1: 2 02-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
135. Billy Messer Spartanburg, SC 2 02-10 66
Day 1: 2 02-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
136. Dan McGarry Leland, NC 2 02-08 65
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 02-08
137. David Grooms Summerville, SC 2 02-08 64
Day 1: 1 01-01 Day 2: 1 01-07
138. Charles Reed Batesville, MS 1 02-07 63
Day 1: 1 02-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
139. Gary Teague Gaffney, SC 3 02-07 62
Day 1: 2 01-10 Day 2: 1 00-13
140. Jacob Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 2 02-05 61
Day 1: 1 01-03 Day 2: 1 01-02
141. Briar Postell Carlton, GA 2 02-02 60
Day 1: 2 02-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
142. Kevin Steele Kissimmee, FL 1 02-01 59
Day 1: 1 02-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
143. Jim Ford Magnolia, AR 1 02-00 58
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-00
144. Darrell Hille Springfield, TN 1 01-14 57
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-14
145. Zachary Catoe Lancaster, SC 1 01-13 56
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-13
146. John Vest Cloverdale, VA 1 01-11 55
Day 1: 1 01-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
147. Steven Kellam Dry Ridge, KY 2 01-09 54
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 01-09
148. Jamie Ferdarko Dubois, PA 1 01-09 53
Day 1: 1 01-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
149. Mason Gunter Newnan, GA 1 01-06 52
Day 1: 1 01-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
149. Steve Legg Vincent, OH 1 01-06 52
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-06
151. Kyle Brown Wexford, PA 2 01-04 50
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 01-04
152. Justin Fitch New Smyrna Beach, FL 1 01-03 49
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-03
153. Rich Lachance Talbott, TN 1 01-02 48
Day 1: 1 01-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
154. Scott Mcnair Murfreesboro, TN 1 01-00 47
Day 1: 1 01-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
154. Steven Roosen Charlotte, NC 1 01-00 47
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-00
156. Russell Phillips Guilford, CT 1 00-15 45
Day 1: 1 00-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
157. Steve Robbins Piketon, OH 1 00-14 44
Day 1: 1 00-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
158. Jeffrey Bolen Lexington, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
158. Jef Fox Jr East Flat Rock, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
158. Donald Fredericks Saint Charles, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
158. Dehn Ganey Bonneau, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
158. Greg Mauldin Archdale, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
158. Benjamin Nye Summerville, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
158. Joe Olivas Worthington, OH 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
158. Greg Secord Salem, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
158. David Winn Woodstock, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
158. Darrell Wittner Moore, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
La Crosse Selected to Host 2021 Tackle Warehouse TITLE Championship
Pro Circuit Championship to Showcase 50 Pros Competing on Mississippi River for $235,000 Top Prize
LA CROSSE, Wis. (Sept. 24, 2020) – FLW and Explore La Crosse announced Thursday that the 2021 Tackle Warehouse TITLE, the Pro Circuit Championship, will be held Aug. 17-22, 2021, on the Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Although FLW’s top championship has been held on the Mississippi River once before – in Moline, Illinois in 1998 – this event marks the first time that FLW has hosted its premier event in La Crosse.
“We are elated to host the TITLE Pro Circuit Championship and showcase the incredible bass fishing that the Upper Mississippi River offers,” said A.J. Frels, Executive Director of Explore La Crosse. “The scenic La Crosse region presents a picturesque backdrop of bluffs that overlooks one of the best bass fisheries in the country. The catch-weigh-release format fits the Mississippi River perfectly as massive quantities of quality largemouth and smallmouth inhabit these bountiful waters, providing nonstop action and exciting competition for the live webcast and television broadcasts.”
La Crosse and the Mississippi River has played host to dozens of FLW tournaments over the years, including four High School Fishing events, three Abu Garcia College Fishing events, 43 Phoenix Bass Fishing League tournaments, five Toyota Series tournaments and two Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit events. The 2021 Tackle Warehouse TITLE will mark the 26th anniversary of FLW’s top-tier championship. The tournament will launch from Veterans Freedom Park in La Crosse.
“We couldn’t be more excited to take the Tackle Warehouse TITLE to La Crosse and the Mississippi River,” said Kathy Fennel, FLW Executive Vice President and General Manager. “We’ve had tremendous success hosting tournaments in La Crosse in the past, so it made bringing our championship an obvious choice. The bass fishing fans in Wisconsin have always been extremely passionate and enthusiastic, and we’re proud to be showcasing our most prestigious championship to them.”
In 2021, the 26th season of the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit will feature six regular-season tournaments showcasing the best 150 anglers in the world competing for as much as $135,000, including a $35,000 FLW PHOENIX Bonus, in a five-biggest-fish format on top bass fisheries at peak times. The 2021 season culminates with the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit TITLE in La Crosse, where the top 50 pros will compete for as much as $235,000, including a $35,000 FLW PHOENIX Bonus, in a catch, weigh, immediate-release format.
Each Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit tournament features live on-the-water coverage plus television coverage on the Outdoor Channel and Sportsman Channel.
The complete 2021 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit schedule was announced earlier this month.
2021 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Schedule:
- Feb. 11-14 Lake Okeechobee Clewiston, Fla.
Hosted by Roland & Mary Ann Martin’s Marina & Resort and the Hendry County Tourism Development Council - March 11-14 Smith Lake Cullman, Ala.
Hosted by Cullman Area Local Organizing Committee - April 22-25 Lake Murray Columbia, S.C.
Hosted by Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board - May 13-16 Lake Eufaula Eufaula, Ala.
Hosted by Eufaula Barbour County Chamber of Commerce - June 17-20 Potomac River Marbury, Md.
Hosted by Charles County Board of Commissioners - July 29-Aug. 1 St. Lawrence River Massena, N.Y.
Hosted by the Town of Massena - Aug. 17-22 Tackle Warehouse TITLE at Mississippi River – La Crosse, Wis.
Hosted by Explore La Crosse
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 - Catching up & Mid-Show Surprises
This week Chris and the boys catch up on the happenings across the industry and Kenneth returns to try and make a run at Jason in the U-Pick em' contest. around the 44 minute mark Chris gets a nice little surprise as well. Check it out!
Iaconelli is never without a tackle bag
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships
Editor’s note: This is the latest installment of a new series themed “Two from the Tundra” – in which the author asks a Toyota Tundra driving pro angler to pick one special possession, and one special piece of tackle to share with fans.
If you’ve ever thought the outrageous exuberance you’ve witnessed Team Toyota’s Mike Iaconelli exhibit is some sort of made-for-TV stunt --- you’d be wrong. The dude is an all-natural bucket of fishing passion, and he’d be the first to tell you his filter is full of holes.
Hence, it makes perfect sense when “Ike” was asked to pick one special piece of fishing tackle and one unique personal item from his Tundra – both were a reflection of his passion for fishing and the raw emotion with which he does life.
Small portable Flambeau tackle bag: “I try my best to fish every single day. And it doesn’t always involve a boat. There are a lot of times when a fast trip from the shoreline is all a busy day affords. So one rod and this little Flambeau bag keep things simple and still give me the chance to catch a fish or two each day, no matter where I am,” says Iaconelli.
“Two weeks ago, we took a short family trip to the beach and I took this bag along to catch striped bass from the beach at sunrise. At the Toyota Bonus Bucks event on Pickwick, I took it up to the tailraces by a dam above where our 400 guest teams were competing downriver and caught 20+ pounds of smallmouth from the shore. From Pickwick, I took it to Table Rock for a Lowrance media outing – just in case I got some free time to fish,” he recounts.
The bag holds four to five small trays. Iaconelli lets the species he’s targeting, and the water column dictate what he packs. “For bass fishing, I start with surface lures like a Rapala Skitter V, then add some soft jerkbaits for subsurface, Rapala DT4 and DT6s for a little deeper, and finally some Missile Jigs for on the bottom,” he explains.
Ike stress relieving foam squeeze ball – Iaconelli will also be quick to tell you he has a great life. His best friends are the same guys he went to junior high school with, he adores his wife Becky, and 9-year-old son, Vegas is one of his most constant fishing buddies – but it’s not a life void of stress.
“The stress ball was Becky’s idea. I used to have tons of stuffed animals and trinkets on the dash, but every time I’d get mad after a bad tournament, it seemed like I’d throw one away in frustration,” laughs “Ike” in a moment of self-depreciating humor he never shies away from.
“I absolutely love what I do – but there’s tons of stress. There’s obviously stress and pressure to do well in tournaments. There’s stress related to rushing from one sponsor event to the next, often times driving hundreds of miles alone on a tight schedule. So, the Ike stress ball is always in the cab of my Tundra and it saves on taking my temper out on a stuffed animal if I have a bad tournament,” he laughs.
Two Big Largemouth Lift Hahner To Bassmaster Open Lead At Lake Hartwell
Cody Hahner, of Wausau, Wis., is leading after Day 1 of the Basspro.com Bassmaster Eastern Open at Lake Hartwell with 20 pounds, 4 ounces.
Photo by Andy Crawford/B.A.S.S.
September 23, 2020
ANDERSON, S.C. — When the window of opportunity opened, Cody Hahner of Wausau, Wis., seized the moment and nabbed a pair of big largemouth bass to anchor a limit of 20 pounds, 4 ounces that gave him the Day 1 lead of the Basspro.com Bassmaster Eastern Open on Lake Hartwell.
“My morning started off fine, and I was on course to catch 11 to 12 pounds, and then I stumbled across something special,” Hahner said. “It was one of those days where, if you fish enough, it will happen. But for it to happen in a tournament was unbelievable. I took advantage of a situation that just materialized.”
Hahner is proud that his plan produced two big fish that went 6-3 and 5-8.
He caught those two kickers and several more bass on a mix of reaction baits selected to mimic Hartwell’s sizable blueback herring population. He rotated through a big, walking topwater bait, a jerkbait and a fluke.
The key to success, Hahner said, was a blistering retrieve.
“These herring are quick baitfish, and you have to keep a bait moving fast to get them to react,” he said. “I was watching spotted bass chasing my bait, and there was no way I could keep it away from them.
“A fast, slashing bait was the key. I was just mixing it up and whatever I felt was right at the current moment is what I threw. It seemed like every decision I made was a good one.”
During the usual midday slowdown, Hahner turned to a drop shot and a shaky head.
“There was definitely a midday lull and even into the end of the day, it was tough,” Hahner said. “The fish are getting really beat up. Everybody knows where to fish and it’s just a matter of if you get there at the right time and you just pop one in the head.”
Despite holding a lead of 3-12, Hahner said his day was no cakewalk. With the exception of his magical midmorning moment that produced his heaviest two bass, Hahner described a lake full of often indecisive fish.
“Most of the time, the fish are just following your bait back,” he said. “It’s really hard to get a bite. I was just on the bookend of a very fortunate event.”
Looking ahead to Thursday’s second round, Hahner said he wouldn’t hesitate to exploit another golden opportunity like the one he faced today. However, he feels confident that a solid Day 2 will advance him to Championship Friday.
“I’m never going to count on something like that happening again, but if it did, it would be great,” Hahner said. “If I can catch 10 to 11 pounds, I’d feel pretty comfortable going into the Top 10.”
Bobby Stanfill of Greenwood, S.C., is in second place with 16-8. With a limit comprising four spotted bass and one kicker largemouth of approximately 5 pounds, Stanfill caught all of his fish on topwater lures. He, too, reported a tough — often frustrating — bite.
“Today was just torture,” Stanfill chuckled. “They didn’t bite good today. All the fish were tentative and it was really hard to get a bite. So many would just come up and nip at my bait.”
Stanfill said he tried several combinations of bait style and presentations. Ultimately, he found a high-speed retrieve with a silent bait (no interior rattles) was most effective.
Scott Martin of Clewiston, Fla., is in third place with 15-12. Noting that he used a mix of reaction baits and slower presentations, Martin said he stayed on the move and hit several dozen spots throughout the day.
“I had to mix it up all day; different times, they’d trigger on different things,” Martin said. “It was a wide range of lures. I just made some good decisions today. That’s what it boiled down to.”
Hahner is in the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors with his 6-3.
Mike Anderson of Eustis, Fla., leads the co-angler division with 8-5. Holding his cards low, Anderson said his success came from making sure he gave the bass a different look from the back of the boat.
“I think for me it was maybe fishing a little differently than my boater to pick up some fish that he missed,” Anderson said. “I was fishing quickly; I was just fishing a different bait. I was catching my fish anywhere from 20 to 40 feet over cane piles, submerged wood, brushpiles and points.”
J.W. Smith of Goose Creek, S.C., holds the Phoenix Boats Big Bass lead among co-anglers with a 6-0.
Thursday’s takeoff is scheduled for 7 a.m. ET from Green Pond Landing and Event Center. The weigh-in will be held at Green Pond at 3 p.m. After Thursday, only the Top 12 remaining anglers will advance to the championship round.
The tournament is being hosted by Visit Anderson.
2020 Basspro.com Eastern Open at Lake Hartwell 9/23-9/25
Lake Hartwell, Anderson SC.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Cody Hahner Wausau, WI 5 20-04 200
Day 1: 5 20-04
2. Bobby Stanfill Greenwood, SC 5 16-08 199
Day 1: 5 16-08
3. Scott Martin Clewiston, FL 5 15-12 198
Day 1: 5 15-12
4. Andy Wicker Pomaria, SC 5 15-11 197
Day 1: 5 15-11
5. Alex Wetherell Middletown, CT 5 15-04 196
Day 1: 5 15-04
6. Derek Lehtonen Woodruff, SC 5 14-15 195
Day 1: 5 14-15
6. Patrick Walters Summerville, SC 5 14-15 195
Day 1: 5 14-15
8. Jason Christie Park Hill, OK 5 14-14 193
Day 1: 5 14-14
9. Jason Burroughs Hodges, SC 5 14-13 192
Day 1: 5 14-13
9. Marc Frazier Newnan, GA 5 14-13 192
Day 1: 5 14-13
11. Andrew Upshaw Tulsa, OK 5 14-10 190
Day 1: 5 14-10
12. Matt Lee Bremen, AL 5 14-00 189
Day 1: 5 14-00
13. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 5 13-14 188
Day 1: 5 13-14
14. John Maner Falkville, AL 5 13-12 187
Day 1: 5 13-12
15. Tyler Berger Delaware, OH 5 13-10 186
Day 1: 5 13-10
16. Wyatt Burkhalter Coker, AL 5 13-04 185
Day 1: 5 13-04
17. Timmy Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 5 13-04 184
Day 1: 5 13-04
18. Kyle Austin Ridgeville, SC 5 13-01 183
Day 1: 5 13-01
19. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 5 12-12 182
Day 1: 5 12-12
20. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 5 12-09 181
Day 1: 5 12-09
20. David Williams Newton, NC 5 12-09 181
Day 1: 5 12-09
22. Greg Mansfield Olathe, KS 5 12-08 179
Day 1: 5 12-08
23. Shayne Mcfarlin Martin, GA 5 12-08 178
Day 1: 5 12-08
24. Ronnie Mccoy Lamar, SC 5 12-06 177
Day 1: 5 12-06
25. Kameron Harbin Abbeville, SC 5 12-02 176
Day 1: 5 12-02
26. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 5 12-01 175
Day 1: 5 12-01
27. Jody Wilson Blue Ridge, GA 5 12-00 174
Day 1: 5 12-00
28. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 5 11-15 173
Day 1: 5 11-15
29. John Garrett Union City, TN 5 11-13 172
Day 1: 5 11-13
30. Todd Castledine Nacogdoches, TX 5 11-10 171
Day 1: 5 11-10
31. Justin Debose Anderson, SC 5 11-10 170
Day 1: 5 11-10
32. Derrick Bridges Greenville, SC 5 11-09 169
Day 1: 5 11-09
33. Timmy Cales Sandstone, WV 5 11-08 168
Day 1: 5 11-08
33. Bradley Hallman Norman, OK 5 11-08 168
Day 1: 5 11-08
35. Garrett Rose Pipecreek, TX 5 11-07 166
Day 1: 5 11-07
36. Matthew Robertson Kuttawa, KY 5 11-05 165
Day 1: 5 11-05
37. Matthew Mccarthy Marysville, OH 5 11-03 164
Day 1: 5 11-03
37. Tyler Purcell Henderson, NC 5 11-03 164
Day 1: 5 11-03
37. Chad Smith Minnetonka, MN 5 11-03 164
Day 1: 5 11-03
40. Shawn Hendrix Sharpsburg, GA 5 10-15 161
Day 1: 5 10-15
41. Brock Belik Orchard, NE 5 10-14 160
Day 1: 5 10-14
41. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 5 10-14 160
Day 1: 5 10-14
43. Brad Fowler Townville, SC 5 10-12 158
Day 1: 5 10-12
44. Josh Douglas Isle, MN 5 10-11 157
Day 1: 5 10-11
44. Derek Freeman Anderson, SC 5 10-11 157
Day 1: 5 10-11
46. Rodney Jones Anderson, SC 5 10-10 155
Day 1: 5 10-10
46. Brad Knight Lancing, TN 5 10-10 155
Day 1: 5 10-10
46. Nick Tate Knoxville, TN 5 10-10 155
Day 1: 5 10-10
49. Jayme Rampey Liberty, SC 5 10-09 152
Day 1: 5 10-09
50. Gary Adkins Green Bay, WI 5 10-09 151
Day 1: 5 10-09
51. Terry Segraves Kissimmee, FL 5 10-08 150
Day 1: 5 10-08
52. Bobby Lane Jr. Lakeland, FL 5 10-08 149
Day 1: 5 10-08
53. Cody Huff Ava, MO 5 10-06 148
Day 1: 5 10-06
54. Joey Sabbagha Prosperity, SC 5 10-02 147
Day 1: 5 10-02
54. Joshua Stracner Vandiver, AL 5 10-02 147
Day 1: 5 10-02
56. Parker Mott Winter Garden, FL 5 10-01 145
Day 1: 5 10-01
57. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 5 09-15 144
Day 1: 5 09-15
57. KJ Queen Catawba, NC 5 09-15 144
Day 1: 5 09-15
59. Darrell Davis Dover, FL 5 09-14 142
Day 1: 5 09-14
59. Cody Detweiler Orlando, FL 5 09-14 142
Day 1: 5 09-14
61. Andy Hribar Lakeville, MN 5 09-11 140
Day 1: 5 09-11
61. Scott Pellegrin Chippewa Falls, WI 5 09-11 140
Day 1: 5 09-11
63. Craig Chambers Midland, NC 5 09-09 138
Day 1: 5 09-09
63. Kenta Kimura Osaka JAPAN 5 09-09 138
Day 1: 5 09-09
63. Bryce Matthews Olanta, SC 5 09-09 138
Day 1: 5 09-09
63. Joel Willert Prior Lake, MN 5 09-09 138
Day 1: 5 09-09
67. Paul Gettys Due West, SC 5 09-07 134
Day 1: 5 09-07
67. Justin Kimmel Athens, GA 5 09-07 134
Day 1: 5 09-07
69. Masayuki Matsushita Tokoname-Shi JAPAN 5 09-04 132
Day 1: 5 09-04
69. Kenny Mittelstaedt Minnetonka, MN 5 09-04 132
Day 1: 5 09-04
69. Joe Thompson Clayton, GA 5 09-04 132
Day 1: 5 09-04
69. Trevor Topken Warwick, NY 5 09-04 132
Day 1: 5 09-04
73. Denny Fiedler Wabasha, MN 5 09-03 128
Day 1: 5 09-03
73. Kotaro Kiriyama Guntersville, AL 5 09-03 128
Day 1: 5 09-03
73. Corey Lindsey Blacklick, OH 5 09-03 128
Day 1: 5 09-03
73. J.R. McCay Helen, GA 5 09-03 128
Day 1: 5 09-03
73. Freddy Palmer Estill Springs, TN 5 09-03 128
Day 1: 5 09-03
78. Spencer Peters Knoxville, TN 5 09-02 123
Day 1: 5 09-02
79. Adam Neu Forestville, WI 5 09-00 122
Day 1: 5 09-00
79. Chuck Pippin Jr Gotha, FL 5 09-00 122
Day 1: 5 09-00
79. Steve Sennikoff Edgewood, TX 5 09-00 122
Day 1: 5 09-00
79. Cam Sterritt Newfields, NH 5 09-00 122
Day 1: 5 09-00
83. Whitney Stephens Waverly, OH 5 08-15 118
Day 1: 5 08-15
84. Greg Alexander Hebron, MD 5 08-13 117
Day 1: 5 08-13
84. Jonathan Carter Glenburn, ME 5 08-13 117
Day 1: 5 08-13
86. Douglas Reed Bridgeton, NJ 5 08-12 115
Day 1: 5 08-12
87. Tim Frederick Leesburg, FL 5 08-11 114
Day 1: 5 08-11
87. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 5 08-11 114
Day 1: 5 08-11
87. Andrew Thomasson Dublin, VA 5 08-11 114
Day 1: 5 08-11
87. Tommy Williams Shepherdsville, KY 5 08-11 114
Day 1: 5 08-11
91. Jeff Williams Gainesville, GA 5 08-09 110
Day 1: 5 08-09
92. Barry Wilson Birmingham, AL 5 08-08 109
Day 1: 5 08-08
93. Vernon Kemp Umatilla, FL 4 08-08 108
Day 1: 4 08-08
94. Cameron Smith Wareham, MA 5 08-06 107
Day 1: 5 08-06
95. Hunter Sales Blaine, TN 5 08-05 106
Day 1: 5 08-05
96. Bryan New Belmont, NC 5 08-04 105
Day 1: 5 08-04
97. Carl Whitfield Anderson, SC 5 08-04 104
Day 1: 5 08-04
98. Teb Jones Hattiesburg, MS 5 08-03 103
Day 1: 5 08-03
98. Trait Zaldain Fort Worth, TX 5 08-03 103
Day 1: 5 08-03
100. Gregg Fogner Conway, SC 5 07-15 101
Day 1: 5 07-15
100. Jacob Foutz Charleston, TN 5 07-15 101
Day 1: 5 07-15
102. Carl Jocumsen Queensland TN AUSTRALIA 5 07-14 99
Day 1: 5 07-14
102. Chase Serafin White Lake, MI 5 07-14 99
Day 1: 5 07-14
104. Brandon Tallhamer Parkersburg, WV 5 07-14 97
Day 1: 5 07-14
105. Barron Adams Mineral Bluff, GA 5 07-13 96
Day 1: 5 07-13
105. Scott Patton Paris, TN 5 07-13 96
Day 1: 5 07-13
107. Cole Drummond Effingham, SC 5 07-11 94
Day 1: 5 07-11
107. Alex Redwine Blue Ash, OH 5 07-11 94
Day 1: 5 07-11
109. Randy Elliott Severn, MD 5 07-08 92
Day 1: 5 07-08
110. Christiana Bradley Goldvein, VA 4 07-08 91
Day 1: 4 07-08
111. Caleb Gibson Locust Grove, OK 5 07-07 90
Day 1: 5 07-07
112. Randy Blaukat Joplin, MO 5 07-06 89
Day 1: 5 07-06
113. David Kilgore Jasper, AL 5 07-05 88
Day 1: 5 07-05
113. Scott Siller Milwaukee, WI 5 07-05 88
Day 1: 5 07-05
115. Jason Casteel Winter Garden, FL 5 07-03 86
Day 1: 5 07-03
116. Keith Carson Debary, FL 5 07-00 85
Day 1: 5 07-00
117. Allen Brooks Canton, GA 5 06-15 84
Day 1: 5 06-15
118. Jon Ear Easley, SC 5 06-15 83
Day 1: 5 06-15
119. Colby Robertson Summerfield, FL 5 06-14 82
Day 1: 5 06-14
120. Luke Plunkett Pinson, AL 5 06-13 81
Day 1: 5 06-13
121. Robbie Harrelson Moncks Corner, SC 4 06-13 80
Day 1: 4 06-13
122. Chris Groh Spring Grove, IL 5 06-12 79
Day 1: 5 06-12
122. Melvin Jiggetts Courtland, VA 5 06-12 79
Day 1: 5 06-12
122. Stephen Mui Odessa, FL 5 06-12 79
Day 1: 5 06-12
125. Cody Bertrand Dyer, IN 4 06-12 76
Day 1: 4 06-12
126. Harvey Horne Bella Vista, AR 4 06-11 75
Day 1: 4 06-11
127. Mark Pappas Dandridge, TN 4 06-05 74
Day 1: 4 06-05
128. Dave Turner Crystal River, FL 5 06-03 73
Day 1: 5 06-03
129. Lance Owen Greer, SC 3 06-03 72
Day 1: 3 06-03
130. Rich Howes Oviedo, FL 5 06-02 71
Day 1: 5 06-02
131. Chandler Stewart Waco, TX 4 06-02 70
Day 1: 4 06-02
132. Anthony Dumitras Winston, GA 4 06-01 69
Day 1: 4 06-01
133. Josh Hubbard Braidwood, IL 5 05-14 68
Day 1: 5 05-14
134. Trevor Prince Blue Ridge, GA 5 05-14 67
Day 1: 5 05-14
135. Michael Hall Annandale, VA 4 05-14 66
Day 1: 4 05-14
136. Darryl Halbert Enoree, SC 4 05-14 65
Day 1: 4 05-14
137. Guy Eaker Cherryville, NC 5 05-11 64
Day 1: 5 05-11
138. Frank Ramsey Spring Grove, IL 5 05-09 63
Day 1: 5 05-09
139. Brad Burkhart Speedwell, TN 3 05-08 62
Day 1: 3 05-08
140. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 4 05-06 61
Day 1: 4 05-06
141. John Hunter Jr Simpsonville, KY 3 05-06 60
Day 1: 3 05-06
141. Brian Latimer Belton, SC 3 05-06 60
Day 1: 3 05-06
143. Stephen Morella Whitehall , PA 4 05-05 58
Day 1: 4 05-05
144. Frank Kitchens III Blairsville, GA 3 05-05 57
Day 1: 3 05-05
145. Matt Mollohan Prosperity, SC 4 05-01 56
Day 1: 4 05-01
146. Rex Nickel Huff Corbin, KY 3 05-00 55
Day 1: 3 05-00
147. David Boelkins Hubertus, WI 4 04-15 54
Day 1: 4 04-15
148. Chris Kingree Inverness, FL 5 04-12 53
Day 1: 5 04-12
149. Chris Ferguson Wittensville, KY 3 04-06 52
Day 1: 3 04-06
150. Jerry Gallogly Jr North Tazewell, VA 3 04-04 51
Day 1: 3 04-04
151. Clayton Dyer Fayetteville, TN 3 04-02 50
Day 1: 3 04-02
152. James Castillo West Richland, WA 2 04-02 49
Day 1: 2 04-02
153. Brandt Tumberg Moore, SC 4 03-15 48
Day 1: 4 03-15
154. Richard Reeger Gastonia, NC 3 03-15 47
Day 1: 3 03-15
155. Jake Rossi Columbus, OH 3 03-13 46
Day 1: 3 03-13
156. Mark Duerr West Allis, WI 3 03-11 45
Day 1: 3 03-11
157. Jeremy Maye Windsor, VA 3 03-08 44
Day 1: 3 03-08
158. Garrett Rocamora Lithia, FL 3 03-02 43
Day 1: 3 03-02
159. Tyler Ellis Battlefield, MO 2 03-02 42
Day 1: 2 03-02
160. Randy Huffman Charleston, WV 2 03-01 41
Day 1: 2 03-01
161. Davey May Odessa, FL 2 02-14 40
Day 1: 2 02-14
162. Craig Cavanna Spring Hill, FL 3 02-13 39
Day 1: 3 02-13
163. Dustin Reneau Mckinney, TX 2 02-09 38
Day 1: 2 02-09
164. Jason Postell Colbert, GA 2 02-07 37
Day 1: 2 02-07
165. Robert Gibson Niota, TN 1 02-06 36
Day 1: 1 02-06
166. Denis Karachopan Rocky Point, NY 1 02-03 35
Day 1: 1 02-03
167. Chad Randles Elkhorn, NE 2 02-02 34
Day 1: 2 02-02
168. Barry Brandt Jr. Newport News, VA 1 01-12 33
Day 1: 1 01-12
168. Ed Stiefel Mahwah, NJ 1 01-12 33
Day 1: 1 01-12
170. Blake Smith Lakeland, FL 1 01-07 31
Day 1: 1 01-07
171. Hunter Bland Williston, FL 1 01-01 30
Day 1: 1 01-01
171. Robert Mathis Odessa, TX 1 01-01 30
Day 1: 1 01-01
171. Ronald Ryals Jr Live Oak, FL 1 01-01 30
Day 1: 1 01-01
174. Lucas Bogosian Harrington Park, NJ 1 01-00 27
Day 1: 1 01-00
175. Jon Canada Helena, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. Ronnie Getz Sunman, IN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. Ken Iyobe Tokoname, Aichi JAPAN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. Hermilo Salgado Artemus, KY 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. Ed Tucker Deland, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 128 768 1477-15
----------------------------------
128 768 1477-15
2020 Basspro.com Eastern Open at Lake Hartwell 9/23-9/25
Lake Hartwell, Anderson SC.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Mike Anderson Eustis, FL 3 08-05 200
Day 1: 3 08-05
2. Nathan Mcclure Hiawassee, GA 3 07-07 199
Day 1: 3 07-07
3. Neal Shade Greenville, SC 3 06-09 198
Day 1: 3 06-09
4. Ronald Young New Braunfels, TX 3 06-07 197
Day 1: 3 06-07
5. Mitchell Grimsley Hiawassee, GA 3 06-06 196
Day 1: 3 06-06
6. Bradley Brooks Easley, SC 3 06-05 195
Day 1: 3 06-05
7. Mike Anderson Harlem, GA 3 06-04 194
Day 1: 3 06-04
7. Darren Ashley Calhoun Falls, SC 3 06-04 194
Day 1: 3 06-04
9. Mitch Van Ert Watertown, WI 3 06-03 192
Day 1: 3 06-03
9. Cody Wilson Ladson, SC 3 06-03 192
Day 1: 3 06-03
11. John Wesley Wardlaw Central, SC 3 06-02 190
Day 1: 3 06-02
12. Dawson Wisner Green Cv Spgs, FL 3 06-01 189
Day 1: 3 06-01
13. JW Smith Goose Creek, SC 1 06-00 188
Day 1: 1 06-00
14. Jacob Fortner Monroe, GA 3 05-12 187
Day 1: 3 05-12
15. Don Bible II Knoxville, TN 3 05-11 186
Day 1: 3 05-11
16. AJ Jones Odessa, FL 3 05-10 185
Day 1: 3 05-10
16. Alex Prince Blue Ridge, GA 3 05-10 185
Day 1: 3 05-10
18. Frank Kitchens Jr Oxford, GA 3 05-09 183
Day 1: 3 05-09
18. Andy Simm Piney Flats, TN 3 05-09 183
Day 1: 3 05-09
20. Caz Anderson Hayesville, NC 3 05-07 181
Day 1: 3 05-07
21. Jeff Queen Catawba, NC 3 05-06 180
Day 1: 3 05-06
22. John Swann Fort Valley, VA 3 05-05 179
Day 1: 3 05-05
23. Michael Miller Greenville, SC 3 05-05 178
Day 1: 3 05-05
24. Robert Bruguiere Mechanicsville, VA 3 05-04 177
Day 1: 3 05-04
24. Michael Elrod Cropwell, AL 3 05-04 177
Day 1: 3 05-04
24. Doyle Jarrard Gainesville, GA 3 05-04 177
Day 1: 3 05-04
27. Bill Bruce Hendersonville, TN 3 05-03 174
Day 1: 3 05-03
27. Chuck Thurlow Auburn, AL 3 05-03 174
Day 1: 3 05-03
29. Ronald Humiston Wallingford, CT 3 05-00 172
Day 1: 3 05-00
30. Nic Rand Kalamazoo, MI 3 04-15 171
Day 1: 3 04-15
30. Mike Spears Jasper, AL 3 04-15 171
Day 1: 3 04-15
32. Joel Greene Enoree, SC 3 04-14 169
Day 1: 3 04-14
32. Sam Sobieck New Prague, MN 3 04-14 169
Day 1: 3 04-14
34. Mauricio Marciales Miami FL VENEZUELA 3 04-13 167
Day 1: 3 04-13
35. Austin Cole Rutherford, NC 3 04-11 166
Day 1: 3 04-11
35. William Cooley Belton, SC 3 04-11 166
Day 1: 3 04-11
37. Zachary Hudson Pendleton, SC 3 04-10 164
Day 1: 3 04-10
38. Rick Hamer Charleston, WV 3 04-09 163
Day 1: 3 04-09
38. Tony Hudson Liberty, SC 3 04-09 163
Day 1: 3 04-09
40. Jon Jezierski Troy, MI 3 04-09 161
Day 1: 3 04-09
41. James Roten West Jefferson, NC 3 04-08 160
Day 1: 3 04-08
42. David Booth Erin, TN 3 04-07 159
Day 1: 3 04-07
42. Angela Mayo Maiden, NC 3 04-07 159
Day 1: 3 04-07
42. Josh Morse Apopka, FL 3 04-07 159
Day 1: 3 04-07
42. Drew Pridgen Greenwood, SC 3 04-07 159
Day 1: 3 04-07
46. Stacey Jefferson Conway, SC 3 04-07 155
Day 1: 3 04-07
47. Eric Dell Cumming, GA 3 04-06 154
Day 1: 3 04-06
48. Mark Grizzle Cumming, GA 3 04-06 153
Day 1: 3 04-06
49. Carl Hunter Snellville, GA 3 04-05 152
Day 1: 3 04-05
50. Huey Hewett Floral City, FL 3 04-04 151
Day 1: 3 04-04
51. Burley Langford Jr. S.Chesterfield, VA 3 04-03 150
Day 1: 3 04-03
51. Kibbee Mccoy Knoxville, TN 3 04-03 150
Day 1: 3 04-03
51. Lloyd Raheem Orange, NJ 3 04-03 150
Day 1: 3 04-03
54. Tyler Sheffield Murrayville, GA 3 04-02 147
Day 1: 3 04-02
55. Isaac Booth Washburn, TN 1 04-02 146
Day 1: 1 04-02
56. Bradley Sterner Manchester, PA 3 04-01 145
Day 1: 3 04-01
56. Logan Stewart Nashville, TN 3 04-01 145
Day 1: 3 04-01
58. Jarrod Lancaster Iron Station, NC 3 04-00 143
Day 1: 3 04-00
58. JP Przekurat Stevens Point, WI 3 04-00 143
Day 1: 3 04-00
58. Neal Wisinski Stevens Point, WI 3 04-00 143
Day 1: 3 04-00
61. Keith Vonderhaar Monticello, GA 2 04-00 140
Day 1: 2 04-00
62. Bryan Collins Jefferson, GA 3 03-15 139
Day 1: 3 03-15
62. Craig Congleton Rockford, MI 3 03-15 139
Day 1: 3 03-15
64. Earnie Jones Jr Chapin, SC 3 03-14 137
Day 1: 3 03-14
65. Tyler Watts Mount Airy, GA 3 03-13 136
Day 1: 3 03-13
66. Bruce Faulkner Seneca, SC 3 03-12 135
Day 1: 3 03-12
67. Daniel Hanniford Florence, SC 3 03-11 134
Day 1: 3 03-11
67. Don Harvey Franklin, TN 3 03-11 134
Day 1: 3 03-11
69. Wesley Watson Huntington, WV 2 03-11 132
Day 1: 2 03-11
70. Shawn Spaeth Cadott, WI 2 03-10 131
Day 1: 2 03-10
71. Chaz Carrington Suffolk, VA 3 03-08 130
Day 1: 3 03-08
72. Zack Barrera Morriston, FL 2 03-07 129
Day 1: 2 03-07
73. Rick Williams Jr Sandston, VA 3 03-06 128
Day 1: 3 03-06
74. Connor Mcelvaney Tallahassee, FL 2 03-04 127
Day 1: 2 03-04
75. Eric Osborne Jefferson, NC 2 03-03 126
Day 1: 2 03-03
75. Luke Shrader Barrington, NJ 2 03-03 126
Day 1: 2 03-03
77. John Connell Marion, IL 2 02-15 124
Day 1: 2 02-15
77. Thomas Hendel Russells Point, OH 2 02-15 124
Day 1: 2 02-15
77. Ken Sharkey Spring Lake, MI 2 02-15 124
Day 1: 2 02-15
80. Edward Bean Johnsburg, IL 2 02-13 121
Day 1: 2 02-13
80. Robert Holliday Greensboro, GA 2 02-13 121
Day 1: 2 02-13
82. Osvaldo Gutierrez Grand Island, NE 2 02-12 119
Day 1: 2 02-12
82. Matt Roberson Powder Springs, GA 2 02-12 119
Day 1: 2 02-12
84. Greg O'Neal Winchester, TN 2 02-11 117
Day 1: 2 02-11
85. Billy Messer Spartanburg, SC 2 02-10 116
Day 1: 2 02-10
86. Ralph Hunter Pelzer, SC 1 02-10 115
Day 1: 1 02-10
87. Daniel Istik Cranberry Twp, PA 2 02-08 114
Day 1: 2 02-08
87. Cody Shry Pinehrst, TX 2 02-08 114
Day 1: 2 02-08
89. Charles Reed Batesville, MS 1 02-07 112
Day 1: 1 02-07
90. Cody Stahl Griffin, GA 2 02-06 111
Day 1: 2 02-06
91. Ray Hill Lake City, FL 2 02-05 110
Day 1: 2 02-05
92. Alan Alfonso Ashland, VA 2 02-05 109
Day 1: 2 02-05
93. Andy Semonco Chester, VA 1 02-05 108
Day 1: 1 02-05
94. Jonathan Barnette Jasper, AL 2 02-03 107
Day 1: 2 02-03
94. Edward Stiefel Jr. Lake Worth, FL 2 02-03 107
Day 1: 2 02-03
94. Bobby Williams Salisbury, NC 2 02-03 107
Day 1: 2 02-03
97. Briar Postell Carlton, GA 2 02-02 104
Day 1: 2 02-02
97. Paul Propst Jr. Kearneysville, WV 2 02-02 104
Day 1: 2 02-02
99. Harold Addison Columbia, SC 1 02-01 102
Day 1: 1 02-01
99. Terry Lisle Columbus, GA 1 02-01 102
Day 1: 1 02-01
99. Kevin Steele Kissimmee, FL 1 02-01 102
Day 1: 1 02-01
102. Jeffrey Worthy Jr Lakeland, FL 2 01-15 99
Day 1: 2 01-15
103. Dennis Lane Rutledge, TN 2 01-13 98
Day 1: 2 01-13
104. Jeff Keever Tignall, GA 2 01-12 97
Day 1: 2 01-12
105. John Vest Cloverdale, VA 1 01-11 96
Day 1: 1 01-11
106. Gary Teague Gaffney, SC 2 01-10 95
Day 1: 2 01-10
107. Tony Sears Dahlonega, GA 1 01-10 94
Day 1: 1 01-10
107. Jesse Simmons Columbia, SC 1 01-10 94
Day 1: 1 01-10
109. Charles Cotton Hemingway, SC 1 01-09 92
Day 1: 1 01-09
109. Jamie Ferdarko Dubois, PA 1 01-09 92
Day 1: 1 01-09
109. Daniel Valois Gomez Coral Springs FL VENEZU 1 01-09 92
Day 1: 1 01-09
109. Scott Waters Saint Cloud, FL 1 01-09 92
Day 1: 1 01-09
113. Hunter Pearson Williamston, SC 1 01-08 88
Day 1: 1 01-08
114. Byong Lee Stedman, NC 1 01-07 87
Day 1: 1 01-07
114. Michael Schrader North Attleboro, MA 1 01-07 87
Day 1: 1 01-07
116. Luke Bennett Hartwell, GA 1 01-06 85
Day 1: 1 01-06
116. Mason Gunter Newnan, GA 1 01-06 85
Day 1: 1 01-06
118. Liam Oneill Beverly Hills, FL 1 01-05 83
Day 1: 1 01-05
118. Brian Parker Calhoun, GA 1 01-05 83
Day 1: 1 01-05
120. Skyler Anderson Harlem, GA 1 01-03 81
Day 1: 1 01-03
120. Ben Brumley Priest River, ID 1 01-03 81
Day 1: 1 01-03
120. Chip Stith Piscataway, NJ 1 01-03 81
Day 1: 1 01-03
120. Jacob Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 1 01-03 81
Day 1: 1 01-03
124. Rich Lachance Talbott, TN 1 01-02 77
Day 1: 1 01-02
124. Dustin Shirley Royston, GA 1 01-02 77
Day 1: 1 01-02
126. Stanley Beebe San Luis obispo, CA 1 01-01 75
Day 1: 1 01-01
126. Curtis Cole Sharpsburg, MD 1 01-01 75
Day 1: 1 01-01
126. David Grooms Summerville, SC 1 01-01 75
Day 1: 1 01-01
126. Thomas Ulintz Mars, PA 1 01-01 75
Day 1: 1 01-01
130. Thomas Abraham Winchester, TN 1 01-00 71
Day 1: 1 01-00
130. Scott Mcnair Murfreesboro, TN 1 01-00 71
Day 1: 1 01-00
130. Marshall Robinson Lyman, SC 1 01-00 71
Day 1: 1 01-00
133. Sam Naib Decatur, GA 1 00-15 68
Day 1: 1 00-15
133. Russell Phillips Guilford, VT 1 00-15 68
Day 1: 1 00-15
135. Steve Robbins Piketon, OH 1 00-14 66
Day 1: 1 00-14
136. Howard Gaston Chatom, AL 1 00-13 65
Day 1: 1 00-13
137. Jeffrey Bolen Lexington, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
137. Kyle Brown Wexford, PA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
137. Zachary Catoe Lancaster, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
137. Curtis Crooke Washburn, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
137. Thomas Crosswhite Hartwell, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
137. Travis Culbreth Columbia, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
137. David Everhart Kearneysville, WV 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
137. David Few Lake Wylie, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
137. Justin Fitch New Smyrna Beach, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
137. Jim Ford Magnolia, AR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
137. Jef Fox Jr East Flat Rock, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
137. Donald Fredericks Saint Charles, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
137. Dehn Ganey Bonneau, SC 0 00-00 0
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137. Ralph Gibson Locust Grove, OK 0 00-00 0
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137. Connor Graham Minneapolis, MN 0 00-00 0
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137. Darrell Hille Springfield, TN 0 00-00 0
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137. Steven Kellam Dry Ridge, KY 0 00-00 0
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137. Mark Kendra Great Meadows, NJ 0 00-00 0
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137. Steve Legg Vincent, OH 0 00-00 0
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137. Greg Mauldin Archdale, NC 0 00-00 0
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137. Dan McGarry Leland, NC 0 00-00 0
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137. Bryden Mugleston Mount Juliet, TN 0 00-00 0
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137. Benjamin Nye Summerville, SC 0 00-00 0
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137. Joe Olivas Worthington, OH 0 00-00 0
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137. William Rogers Summerton, SC 0 00-00 0
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137. Steven Roosen Charlotte, NC 0 00-00 0
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137. Greg Secord Salem, SC 0 00-00 0
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137. James Southeard Scottsboro, AL 0 00-00 0
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137. Jeffery Strong Sharpsburg, GA 0 00-00 0
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137. David Winn Woodstock, GA 0 00-00 0
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137. Darrell Wittner Moore, SC 0 00-00 0
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Best buddies and neighbors win 9th Annual Toyota Bonus Bucks Event
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships
Steve Humphries and Mike Gilley are best buddies, neighbors, and tournament fishing partners of 15 years, and now they’re the champions of the 9th Annual Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners event held this year in their hometown of Florence, AL on the famed waters of Pickwick Lake.
Gilley, a former Canadian Football League wide receiver and now retired schoolteacher, and Humphries who works in commercial real estate, brought 19 pounds of Tennessee River smallmouth to the scales for the $5,000 win in the no entry fee event. They caught their admirable limit early on a locally made ¾-ounce Johnston Lures football jig.
“We fished the Bonus Bucks tournament last year too. I drive a 2017 Tundra that I’ve never had to take to the shop for a repair, and Mike owns a 2012 Tundra. We really believe they’re the best trucks we’ve ever owned, and this is such a well-run, first class event,” says Humphries.
The biggest bass of the tournament was not bronze-colored, but instead a fat green 7-pound 7 ounce largemouth that Dale Pelfrey of East Tennessee caught, and was awarded a $1,000 Carhartt prize pack for his memorable catch.
This year’s event had 246 registered teams that guarantees a paycheck to the Top 31 teams in which only one team member is required to be a registered Toyota Bonus Bucks member.
Several stringent precautions were taken to assure a safe event amid the current pandemic, the weather was judged perfect, and cheerful attitudes were plentiful at what has become a treasured event for hundreds of loyal Toyota anglers each year.
Toyota and Longtime Partner Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Extend Partnership for Additional Five Years
PLANO, Texas (September 23, 2020) – Toyota and partner Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s are thrilled to announce the renewal of a longstanding partnership for an additional five years, which will lead the brands into 20 years of collaboration together.
“Whether it’s on the water, on the track, or in a store, Toyota and Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s are a natural fit, and we’re thrilled to extend our partnership to 2025,” said Vinay Shahani, vice president, Integrated Marketing Operations, Toyota Motor North America. “It’s been a rewarding partnership since the beginning, and we look forward to additional years of supporting our customers with continued synergy.”
As the Official Vehicle and Mobility Category Partner of Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s, Toyota is proud to partner with a brand that aligns with Toyota’s brand ethos, “Let’s Go Places.”
In similar style, at Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s, “Your Adventure Starts Here” by helping customers connect with the outdoors through the gear, apparel and expertise they need.
“We’re honored to extend our partnership with our friends at Toyota, a brand proudly made in the USA and trusted by millions of sportsmen and women to help connect them to nature,” said Jack Wlezien, communications director, Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s. “Beyond serving everyone who loves the outdoors, we are grateful to Toyota for their continued support of our conservation mission, which allows us to protect vital wildlife habitat and inspire the next generation of outdoor stewards.”
Throughout the years, the brands have worked together in numerous ways, including: partnering on vehicle launches, including the Toyota Tundra; Toyota vehicle displays in and outside of Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s stores; annual co-branded sweepstakes with a Toyota vehicle as the grand prize; and, vehicle ride-and-drive events with Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s gift card giveaways. The partnership has also included a rich history of bass fishing and motorsports support, as both brands sponsor B.A.S.S., Major League Fishing, as well as Team Toyota athletes including NASCAR driver Martin Truex Jr. and Major League Fishing pro angler Kevin VanDam. Both Truex Jr. and VanDam have participated in Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s in-store autograph signings and fan meet-and-greet events.
“It’s pretty cool that two of my biggest partners in NASCAR are also teaming up off the racetrack,” said Martin Truex Jr., NASCAR Driver and Team Toyota Athlete. “I’ve been fortunate to drive for Toyota for many years and bring them a NASCAR Cup Series championship with Bass Pro Shops on the side of my Toyota Camry. Both of these companies have become more than just sponsorship partners in racing, they’re family and they also reflect my passions for the outdoors and spending quality time with family.”
“Both Toyota and Bass Pro Shops are the best in their class, and their commitment to safety, quality and sustainability is something I’m really proud to be associated with,” said Kevin VanDam, Team Toyota Pro Angler.
In addition, both brands have a shared interest in corporate initiatives to support important environmental and conservation efforts. For example, the Toyota Environmental Challenge 2050 has strived to reduce the environmental burden attributed to automobiles to as close to zero as possible, with the aim of achieving a sustainable society. Under the visionary conservation leadership of Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s has restored millions of acres of habitat, enhanced public access and worked to connect millions of kids to nature for the first time.
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM), creator of the Prius hybrid and the Mirai fuel cell vehicle, is committed to building vehicles for the way people live through our Toyota and Lexus brands. Over the past 60 years, we’ve built more than 40 million cars and trucks in North America, where we have 14 manufacturing plants, 15 including our joint venture in Alabama (10 in the U.S.), and directly employ more than 47,000 people (over 36,000 in the U.S.). Our 1,800 North American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in the U.S.) sold nearly 2.8 million cars and trucks (nearly 2.4 million in the U.S.) in 2019.
About Bass Pro Shops-Cabela’s
Bass Pro Shops is North America’s premier outdoor and conservation company. Founded in 1972 when avid young angler Johnny Morris began selling tackle out of his father’s liquor store in Springfield, Missouri, today the company provides customers with unmatched offerings spanning premier destination retail, outdoor equipment manufacturing, world-class resort destinations and more. In 2017 Bass Pro Shops acquired Cabela’s to create a “best-of-the-best” experience with superior products, dynamic locations and outstanding customer service. Bass Pro Shops also operates White River Marine Group, offering an unsurpassed collection of industry-leading boat brands, and Big Cedar Lodge, America’s Premier Wilderness Resort. Under the visionary conservation leadership of Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shops is a national leader in protecting habitat and introducing families to the outdoors and has been named by Forbes as “one of America’s Best Employers.”
Pickwick Lake Named Host of 2021 Toyota Series Championship
Tournament to Be Held at Counce’s Newly-Renovated Pickwick Landing State Park
COUNCE, Tenn. (Sept. 23, 2020) – FLW and the Hardin County Convention & Visitors Bureau announced Wednesday that Counce, Tennessee, will host the prestigious 2021 Toyota Series Championship, Oct. 28-30, 2021, on Pickwick Lake.
Pickwick Lake is a familiar destination for FLW and its Toyota Series anglers. The fishery has played host to numerous Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit, Toyota Series, Phoenix Bass Fishing League and Abu Garcia College Fishing events over the years. The 2021 Toyota Series Championship marks the first time that FLW will run a tournament in Counce.
“We are proud that Pickwick Lake and Hardin County were selected to host the 2021 FLW Toyota Series Championship,” said Dennis Tumlin, Chief Customer Officer for the State of Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. “Our partners at the Tennessee State Parks recently cut the ribbon on an $11 million renovation project at Pickwick Landing State Park in Counce and have created one of the premier fishing tournament destinations anywhere in the Southeastern United States. We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to showcase this amazing facility as we host the Toyota Series Championship.”
“Pickwick Lake has been the site of many successful FLW events over the years,” said Mark McWha, Director of Tournament Operations for the Toyota Series. “We are thrilled to be working with our partners at the Hardin County Convention and Visitors Bureau to bring the Toyota Series Championship to Tennessee in 2021.”
The championship will launch from the Pickwick Landing State Park, located just south of Pickwick Dam, at 120 Playground Loop in Counce, Tennessee. Accommodations in the park include a lodge and restaurant, cabins, and camping. In addition to water sports, guests enjoy golfing, birding, picnicking, disc golf, nature walks and tennis. The park contains 1,416 acres of forested hills and hollows.
“Pickwick Lake is known for great fishing and scenic beauty that we get to enjoy every day,” said Beth Pippin, Tourism Director, Hardin County Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Hosting this tournament will allow us to showcase our beautiful area with national media exposure. The event will bring dollars into our community for a huge economic impact. Anglers, FLW staff and their families will spend money when they stay, shop and dine the week leading up to the big tournament. It’s a win-win for everyone,”
The 2021 Toyota Series will consist of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and Western – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International division. Anglers who finish in the top 25 in each division’s Angler of the Year (AOY) standings will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series Championship for a shot at winning $200,000 cash, plus lucrative contingency bonuses like the $35,000 FLW PHOENIX Bonus offered this season. The winning co-angler at the championship earns a $33,500 Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat (or comparable model) with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The complete 2021 Toyota Series schedule was announced earlier this month. The full schedule can be found online at FLWFishing.com.
Toyota Series to Host Event on Lake Norman
HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (Sept. 23, 2020) – The 2020 Toyota Series Eastern Division will wrap up their season with a tournament next week in Huntersville, North Carolina, Oct. 1-3, with the Toyota Series at Lake Norman. Hosted by Visit Lake Norman, Charlotte & Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation, the three-day tournament will feature the region’s best bass-fishing pros and co-anglers casting for a top prize of up to $65,000, plus a $35,000 bonus if the winner is a qualified Phoenix Boat owner.
“Everyone is going to catch a lot of fish and this is going to be a good tournament,” said Bass Pro Tour angler Bryan Thrift of Shelby, North Carolina, who has five top-10 finishes – two wins – on Lake Norman in FLW competition. “I was looking at the long-range forecast, and it’s supposed to cool off considerably. Like down into the 40s at night. That’s going to get them moving and make the shallow bite turn on real good.
“That’s what makes Norman such a fun tournament lake, though, is guys can catch them on pretty much anything that they want to throw,” Thrift continued. “Shallow topwater is going to be strong – buzzbaits, walking baits – I’m going to have a Damiki Rambler tied on, and I’m sure that we’ll see lots of Whopper Ploppers – but plenty of guys will be catching them out deep with drop-shot rigs, as well. We’re going to have to run everything, and fish different stuff every day.”
When asked for a weight prediction, Thrift mentioned that the winning weight will be largely determined by the weather.
“I think if you can catch 12½ to 14 pounds a day, you’ll be right there at the end,” Thrift went on to say. “I think the winner will have something like 37 to 40 pounds. If you catch that and don’t win, you didn’t do anything wrong. You just got beat.”
Anglers will take off daily at 7 a.m. EDT from the Blythe Landing Park at 15901 N.C. Highway 73 in Huntersville. Weigh-ins will also be held at the park and will begin at 3 p.m. Attendance is limited to competing anglers and essential staff only. Fans are encouraged to follow the event online through the “FLW Live” weigh-in broadcasts and daily coverage at FLWFishing.com.
In Toyota Series regular-season competition, payouts are based on the number of participants competing in the event, scaling up for every 20 boats over 160 and scaling down for every boat below 160. With a 160-boat field, pros fish for a top prize of $40,000, plus an extra $35,000 if FLW PHOENIX BONUS qualified. Co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard (valued at $33,500). With a 260-boat field, pros fish for a top award of $65,000, plus an extra $35,000 if FLW PHOENIX BONUS qualified. Co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard (valued at $33,500) plus $5,000 cash.
The 2020 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 $235,000 cash, including a $35,000 FLW PHOENIX Bonus for qualified anglers. 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 will be held Dec. 3-5 on Lake Cumberland in Burnside, Kentucky, and is hosted by the Somerset Tourist & Convention Commission and the Burnside Tourism Commission.
Lake Mead To Host B.A.S.S. Nation Western Regional
HENDERSON, Nev. — Grass-roots anglers from nine Western states will take to the iconic waters of Nevada’s Lake Mead Sept. 30-Oct. 2, 2020 for the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Western Regional. Recently named one of the Best Western Bass Lakes of the Decade by Bassmaster Magazine, Lake Mead was the site of the first Bassmaster Classic back in 1971.
The tournament is one of five regional championship events B.A.S.S. Nation originally scheduled around the country this year. Anglers will be competing for cash prizes and a spot in the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship, Nov. 11-13 on Alabama’s Pickwick Lake.
Finding striped bass busting baitfish could be the key to winning the Western Regional, according to Bassmaster Elite Series angler Chris Zaldain.
The Regional contenders won’t be allowed to weigh in striped bass, but finding these fish feeding on baitfish could be the key to catching Lake Mead’s largemouth bass. “The fishing can be tough then,” said Zaldain, who has fished several U.S. Opens on Lake Mead during October. “The key then is finding an abundance of fish. It is very, very hard to catch bass then because it is catching one here and one there. So it is all about finding groups of bass.
“This all boils down to finding schools of shad, and the way to find an abundance of shad is by finding the striped bass,” Zaldain said. “You will have a lot of stripers all through the summer and early fall corralling baitfish in the backs of some of the pockets.” He noted the competitors should look for a flat in the back of a pocket that contains some type of cover, such as willow trees, tumbleweeds or grass.
“The name of the game is covering water there because the bass live shallow (3 to 5 feet deep) that time of year and you can get right in a hurry when you find that mix of shad, stripers and cover near a flat,” Zaldain said. The Elite Series pro favors throwing white buzzbaits, white Zara Spooks and topwater poppers to catch bass in the pockets in the early fall at Lake Mead.
Targeting shade lines along sloping point dropoffs is a productive secondary pattern for Lake Mead bass in early October.
“You can always find bass in the shade then on Lake Mead because it is a desert lake and is so hot there,” he said. Zaldain recommends working a brown-and-purple 1/2-ounce jig along the shade line from 15 feet down to 25 feet deep.
Four areas Zaldain thinks could produce the winning weight are the Las Vegas Wash, Temple Basin, Gregg Basin and Overton arm. “Every year that U.S. Open tournament is won in a different area of the lake,” he said.
The winner’s bag could contain a mixture of largemouth and smallmouth each day. However, Zaldain believes the contenders will mainly target largemouth chasing shad and accidentally catch some smallmouth.
Zaldain noted any anglers catching limits “north of 11 pounds” a day will be in the hunt to win the Regional.
Competition days will start each day at 6:15 a.m. PT from Callville Bay Marina. Weigh-ins will be held back at the marina each day at 2:15 p.m., with a full field fishing Days 1 and 2 and the Top 18 in the pro and co-angler divisions competing on Championship Friday.
The tournament is being hosted by Visit Henderson.
“We are so excited to host the B.A.S.S. Nation anglers and their families, and for them to experience the beauty of this place we call home,” said Edward Kirby from Visit Henderson. “We are located just minutes from the Las Vegas strip and are a burgeoning destination for outdoor adventure. With over 180 miles of hiking and biking trails, kayaking, paddle boarding, jet packing and fishing, visitors fall in love with the variety they can experience here. Home to Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters and the minor league AHL Silver Knights, Henderson also offers unforgettable experiences at Lake Las Vegas, the Ethel M Chocolate Factory, the Lion Habitat and the Booze District, which includes microbreweries, a wine tasting room and a distillery. We hope these anglers awaken the spirit of adventure while they're here.”
Douglas Lake Selected to Host 2021 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American Championship
38th Annual Grassroots Bass-Fishing Championship to be held in Dandridge
DANDRIDGE, Tenn. (Sept. 22, 2020) – FLW announced Tuesday that the 38th annual Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American will be held on Tennessee’s Douglas Lake in 2021. The tournament, scheduled for June 3-5, showcases the nation’s best weekend anglers and awards the winner a $120,000 cash award, but Jefferson County is the real winner, as the area will benefit from the tournament’s estimated $1 million economic impact.
“With 500,000 acres of lakes and 50,000 miles of rivers and streams, there is truly no better place to cast a line than right here in our great state of Tennessee. We are proud that Douglas Lake and the community of Dandridge were selected to host the 2021 BFL All-American championship,” said Mark Ezell, commissioner, Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. “Fishing strengthens our economy and brings jobs to our citizens, and we’re excited to host the All-American and showcase why millions fish here each year.”
The championship, hosted by the Jefferson County Department of Tourism, will launch from the Dandridge Boat Dock and Ramp, located at 100 Public Drive in Dandridge, Tennessee.
“It is very exciting to be able to host FLW for the 2021 All-American,” said Lauren Hurdle, Director of Tourism for Jefferson County, Tennessee. “Our community truly embraces the fishing-event industry and always accommodates our guests, showing them the true meaning of southern hospitality. We truly are the Lakeside of the Smokies and can’t wait to welcome FLW and the participating anglers to our region once again.”
As the nation’s leading provider of affordable, close-to-home weekend tournaments, the Phoenix Bass Fishing League is widely credited with opening competitive bass fishing to the masses. It also serves as a steppingstone for anglers who wish to advance to the Toyota Series, Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the Bass Pro Tour. Former All-American champions who currently compete on the Bass Pro Tour and the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit include Shaw Grigsby (1984), Stephen Browning (1996), Troy Morrow (2010), Jacob Wheeler (2011), Kerry Milner (2013), Jeremy Lawyer (2016) and Nick LeBrun (2018).
The 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 complete schedule and rules for the 2021 Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine season will be announced this fall. The full schedule and rules will be posted online at FLWFishing.com.
Giant September Sack wins 4th Annual Quantum Next Gen Open
Courtesy of Luke Stoner - Dynamic Sponsorships
Wagoner High School anglers Garrett Barton and Braden Lankford stole the show this weekend when they weighed a massive 19.19-lb stringer of Grand Lake bass to win the 4th Annual Quantum Next Gen Open. Brad Langford served as their boat captain and all three Wagoner natives said it was a day on the water they’ll never forget.
Opting to focus a little deeper than most of the competition, Langford and Barton used Quantum Smoke S3 reels and matching 7’2” heavy action rods to drag 12-inch Berkley Power worms in twelve to eighteen feet of water to catch their fish.
“This was our first year fishing the Quantum Next Gen Open and it’s been a great experience,” Langford said. “We can’t wait to come back!”
The Wagoner Bulldogs and the rest of the top 10 finishing teams left Wolf Creek Park with a boatload of great prizes donated from companies like Lowrance, Yamaha, Carhartt, Lure Lock, TH Marine, Mossy Oak, Toyota, and Quantum.
All high school and college competitors received a FREE special edition Quantum Accurist shallow-cranking rod among other registrations prizes for this no entry-fee event.
Rogers State University seniors Tanner Bracken (Business Management major) and Tyler Dunlap (studying Biology) took the top spot in the college division of this two-prong tournament celebrating all things youth fishing. The Hillcats relied on a topwater spook in the morning and then flipped deep brush piles in the afternoon to catch 11.82-lbs and bring home the win.
The fishing proved fickle for most of the nearly 90 boat field, as is often the case in September when faced with blue bird skies. While the fishing was tough, every angler in attendance left new Quantum gear and a smile. Major League Fishing and Quantum sponsored pros Matt Lee and James Watson were on-site to host the event and offer advice to the next generation of bass anglers.
“It’s really incredible to see what Quantum puts on for these young anglers each year,” Lee said. “College and high school fishing have a special place in my heart and I look forward to the Next Gen Open every year. No entry fee, free Quantum product just for registering, and the chance at thousands of dollars of prizes… it’s a first class event.”
Tramel Wins Two-Day Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Old Hickory Lake
Co-angler Division Win Goes to Decherd’s Cantrell
GALLATIN, Tenn. (Sept. 21, 2020) – Boater Josh Tramel of Smithville, Tennessee, brought a two-day total of 10 bass to the scale this weekend weighing 34 pounds, 5 ounces to win the Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine Music City Division Super-Tournament at Old Hickory Lake. Tramel earned a total of $5,540 for his victory.
The tournament was the fifth and final event in the Music City Division presented by A.R.E. Truck Caps.
“I had two spectacular days and caught them mostly a schooling spot,” said Tramel, who earned his seventh career victory in FLW competition. “Saturday was real crazy, but Sunday was kind of a struggle. I was catching them on topwater baits, a squarebill crankbait, and I caught a couple of really good ones on a worm on a few deep holes. But the majority came on the squarebill and topwater.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament as follows:
1st: Josh Tramel of Smithville, Tenn., 10 bass, 34-5, $5,540
2nd: Drew Boggs of Lebanon, Tenn., 10 bass, 23-10, $2,270
3rd: Tony Eckler of Lebanon, Tenn., 10 bass, 22-6, $1,515
4th: Daniel Johnson of Lebanon, Tenn., nine bass, 19-12, $1,059
5th: Adam Wagner of Cookeville, Tenn., 10 bass, 19-11, $1,408
6th: Preston Henson of College Grove, Tenn., 10 bass, 19-10, $832
7th: Matt Stanley of Alexandria, Tenn., seven bass, 18-6, $757
8th: Jason Dies of Lebanon, Tenn., eight bass, 18-3, $681
9th: Jayson Johnson of Smithville, Tenn., eight bass, 16-7, $605
10th: Josh Womack of Gallatin, Tenn., eight bass, 15-14, $530
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Clabion Johns of Social Circle, Georgia, brought a 4-pound, 15-ounce bass to the scale to win the Boater Big Bass award of $532.
Wagner 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.
Dakota Cantrell of Decherd, Tennessee, won the Co-angler Division and $2,270 Sunday after catching a two-day total of six bass weighing 13 pounds, 3 ounces.
The top 10 co-anglers finished as follows:
1st: Dakota Cantrell of Decherd, Tenn., six bass, 13-3, $2,270
2nd: Curtis Cline of LaFayette, Tenn., six bass, 12-8, $1,135
3rd: Brian Reed of Cookeville, Tenn., five bass, 11-6, $757
4th: Jared Kutil of Beaufort, S.C., four bass, 11-5, $1,246
5th: Ryan Mealer of Spring Hill, Tenn., six bass, 9-13, $454
6th: Abbie Greynolds, Liberty, Ky., five bass, 9-3, $416
7th: Teddy Baggett of Nashville, Tenn., four bass, 9-3, $378
8th: Pauley Pitcher of Huntsville, Ala., five bass, 9-2, $341
9th: Dustin Forrest of Knob Lick, Ky., five bass, 9-1, $303
10th: Kenny Botts of Alvaton, Ky., five bass, 8-9, $265
Kutil caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 5 pounds, 2 ounces. The catch earned him the Co-angler Big Bass award and added $266 to his winnings.
The 2020 Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine Super-Tournament on Old Hickory Lake was hosted by Sumner County Tourism.
Now the top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the Music City 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. 22-24 Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on Lake Lanier in Gainesville, Georgia, hosted by the Gainesville Convention and Visitors Bureau. 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 Nov. 11-13 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.
Whitehead Earns Win at Two-Day Phoenix Bass Fishing League event on Pickwick Lake
Bond Wins Co-angler Title
IUKA, Miss. (Sept. 21, 2020) – Boater Christopher Whitehead of Tupelo, Mississippi, brought a two-day total of 10 bass to the scale weighing 33 pounds, 1 ounce to win the Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine Mississippi Division Super-Tournament at Pickwick Lake. For his victory, Whitehead earned $5,942.
“It feels great – I had a pretty good day,” said Whitehead, who weighed the biggest limit of the event on Sunday. “I was just riding around graphing ledges, trying to find little schools. Then I’d throw a crankbait right in the middle of them and try to get them to react. If they didn’t bite the crankbait, I’d follow up with a big jig.”
Whitehead said that he targeted fish in 18- to 22-feet-of-water with a Tennessee Shad-colored Strike King 6XD crankbait and an unnamed peanut butter and jelly-colored jig.
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament as follows:
1st: Christopher Whitehead of Tupelo, Miss., 10 bass, 33-1, $5,942
2nd: Cody Nichols of Fayette, Ala., 10 bass, 30-9, $2,971
3rd: Chris Quaintance of Muscle Shoals, Ala., 10 bass, 29-10, $1,983
4th: Mitch Crane of Columbus, Miss., 10 bass, 29-4, $1,386
5th: Michael Savell of Brandon, Miss., 10 bass, 29-2, $1,388
6th: Jennings Earnest of Guin, Ala., 10 bass, 28-3, $1,089
7th: Joel Barber of Brandon, Miss., nine bass, 28-1, $990
8th: Andy Coy of Corinth, Miss., 10 bass, 26-6, $1,391
9th: Mark Willins of Como, Miss., 10 bass, 26-2, $792
10th: Kyle Glasgow of Guin, Ala., 10 bass, 25-6, $693
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Bill Terrell of Memphis, Tennessee, earned the day’s $802 Boater Big Bass award with a 5-pound, 5-ounce bass.
Coy 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.
Mitchell Bond of Collins, Mississippi, earned the win in the Co-angler Division Sunday after catching a two-day total of seven bass weighing 23 pounds, 5 ounces. Bond earned $2,909 for his victory.
The top 10 co-anglers finished as follows:
1st: Mitchell Bond of Collins, Miss., seven bass, 23-5, $2,909
2nd: Ty James of Iuka, Miss., seven bass, 20-5, $1,454
3rd: Justin Dobble of Leoma, Tenn., seven bass, 18-15, $970
4th: Chase Fernandez of Florence, Ala., seven bass, 16-9, $679
5th: Taylor Odom of Flowood, Miss., seven bass, 16-4, $582
6th: Gary Lucas of Columbus, Miss., five bass, 12-7, $533
7th: Nick Quaintance of Russellville, Ala., three bass, 12-6, $871
8th: Yu Han of Memphis, Tenn., five bass, 11-14, $436
9th: Michael Harrison of Moscow, Tenn., five bass, 11-1, $388
10th: Keith Whipple of Iuka, Miss., five bass, 10-9, $339
Quaintance earned the event’s Co-angler Big Bass Award of $386 with, a fish weighing in at 6 pounds, 1 ounce.
The Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine on Pickwick Lake was the fifth and final qualifying event in the 2020 Mississippi Division.
Now the top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the Mississippi 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 County 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 Nov. 11-13 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.
Langford Wins Two-Day Phoenix Bass Fishing League event on Smith Mountain Lake
Co-angler Victory Goes to Woodlawn’s Hall
HUDDLESTON, Va. (Sept. 21, 2020) Boater Todd Langford of Great Falls, Virginia, brought a two-day total of 10 bass to the scale weighing 33 pounds, 4 ounces to win the Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine Piedmont Division Super-Tournament at Smith Mountain Lake. For his victory, Langford earned $5,065.
“The best fishermen in the state compete in these events. They’re super tough to win, so when you’re fortunate enough to get one, it feels really great,” said Langford, who earned his second career win. “I didn’t catch a ton of fish, but the ones that I did catch were good ones.”
Langford said that he targeted flats in the mid-lake area that had fish pulled up feeding.
“It got cold this week, which really helped – they were eating,” said Langford. “I caught all of my fish this week on a Steve Robert’s Cheeseburger jig. Steve is a local legend down here – they call him the godfather of jig fishing. He made me a half-dozen of these jigs a few months ago and they were just eating it this weekend.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament as follows:
1st: Todd Langford of Great Falls, Va., 10 bass, 33-4, $5,065
2nd: Bobby Rakes of Max Meadows, Va., 10 bass, 32-5, $2,532
3rd: Bryan Humphreys of Lewisburg, W.Va., nine bass, 28-5, $1,687
4th: Travis Christian of Riner, Va., 10 bass, 27-7, $1,182
5th: Trevis Towe of Daleville, Va., 10 bass, 26-13, $1,013
6th: Ben Reynolds of Callands, Va., 10 bass, 25-9, $929
7th: Tyler Trent of Nathalie, Va., 10 bass, 24-13, $844
8th: David Williams of Maiden, N.C., 10 bass, 23-11, $1,260
9th: Martin Villa of Charlottesville, Va., seven bass, 20-12, $675
10th: Derik Hudson of Concord, Va., 10 bass, 19-2, $791
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Mike Miller of Trinity, North Carolina, earned the day’s $311 Boater Big Bass award with a 5-pound, 2-ounce bass.
Chad Pilson of Bassett, Virginia, 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.
Matt Hall of Woodlawn, Virginia, earned the win in the Co-angler Division Saturday after catching a two-day total of seven bass weighing 22 pounds, 14 ounces. Hall earned $2,466 for his victory.
The top 10 co-anglers finished as follows:
1st: Matt Hall of Woodlawn, Va., seven bass, 22-14, $2,466
2nd: Tim Garner of Margo, Va., nine bass, 22-2, $1,233
3rd: James Roten of West Jefferson, N.C., eight bass, 16-8, $823
4th: David Mills of Wirtz, Va., five bass, 16-1, $723
5th: Jacob Yelton of Christiansburg, Va., six bass, 15-2, $493
6th: Jacob Zimmerman of Warrenton, Va., five bass, 12-10, $452
7th: Brandon McCallister of Wytheville, Va., six bass, 11-7, $411
8th: Chris Jackson of Marshall, Va., three bass, 9-13, $370
9th: Terry Graham of Leesburg, Va., three bass, 9-0, $477
10th: Adam Lester of Huddleston, Va., four bass, 8-13, $288
Graham earned the event’s Co-angler Big Bass Award of $148 with, a fish weighing in at 5 pounds, 6 ounces.
The 2020 Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine on Smith Mountain Lake was the fifth and final qualifying event in the 2020 Piedmont Division.
Now the top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the Piedmont Division based on point standings, along with the five winners of each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 22-24 Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on Lake Lanier in Gainesville, Georgia, hosted by the Gainesville Convention & Visitors Bureau. 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 Nov. 11-13 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.
Trim Wins Two-Day Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super Tournament on Mississippi River in La Crosse
Juen Takes Home Co-angler Title
LA CROSSE, Wis. (Sept. 21, 2020) – Boater Nick Trim of Galesville, Wisconsin, brought a two-day total of 10 bass to the scale weighing 34 pounds, 9 ounces to win the Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine Great Lakes Division Super-Tournament at the Mississippi River. For his victory, Trim earned $6,690.
“I made the lock to Pool 7 on both days and primarily fished wingdams with a topwater,” said Trim, who earned his second career win in Bass Fishing League competition this year. “Every fish that I weighed in came on a (Heddon) Zara Spook.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament as follows:
1st: Nick Trim of Galesville, Wis., 10 bass, 34-9, $6,690
2nd: Mike Brueggen of La Crosse, Wis., 10 bass, 30-13, $2,845
3rd: Brandon Gann of Sparta, Wis., 10 bass, 30-10, $1,897
4th: Rob Leidholdt of Milton, Wis., 10 bass, 28-14, $1,328
5th: Tom Monsoor of La Crosse, Wis., 10 bass, 28-13, $1,138
6th: Kyle Von Ruden of Stoddard, Wis., 10 bass, 28-12, $1,043
7th: Rick Bosshard of Hartland, Wis., 10 bass, 28-12, $948
8th: Brian Fitzpatrick of La Crosse, Wis., 10 bass, 28-1, $853
9th: Kevin Wolfram of Chicago, Ill., 10 bass, 27-1, $759
10th: Jerry Robackouski of Joliet, Ill., 10 bass, 26-15, $664
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Dakota Proft of Onalaska, Wisconsin, earned the day’s $742 Boater Big Bass award with a 5-pound, 2-ounce bass.
Kevin Ruh of Onalaska, Wisconsin, 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.
Brad Juen of La Crosse, Wisconsin, earned the win in the Co-angler Division Sunday after catching a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 25 pounds, 4 ounces. Juen earned $2,845 for his victory.
The top 10 co-anglers finished as follows:
1st: Brad Juen of La Crosse, Wis., 10 bass, 25-4, $2,845
2nd: Richard Conrad of Arcadia, Wis., 10 bass, 24-4, $1,422
3rd: Michael Black of Toledo, Ill., nine bass, 21-3, $948
4th: Arden Damberg of Wheatland, Iowa, 10 bass, 20-9, $664
5th: Thad Vettrus of Chippewa Falls, Wis., eight bass, 19-11, $569
6th: Scott Miller of Burlington, Wis., seven bass, 18-11, $893
7th: Lee Lewis of Peoria, Ill., seven bass, 16-11, $474
8th: Jason Swanson of Waterloo, Iowa, eight bass, 16-6, $427
9th: Ed Remian of Schiller Park, Ill., six bass, 15-11, $379
10th: Levi Schmidt of Caledonia, Minn., seven bass, 13-6, $332
Miller earned the event’s Co-angler Big Bass Award of $371 with a fish weighing in at 5 pounds, 11 ounces.
The Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine Super Tournament on the Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wisconsin, was hosted by the La Crosse County Convention & Visitors Bureau. It was the fifth and final qualifying tournament in the 2020 Great Lakes division.
Now the top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the Great Lakes Division based on point standings, along with the five winners of each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 22-24 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri, hosted by ExploreBranson.com. 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 Nov. 11-13 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.
Sifers Wins Two-Day Phoenix Bass Fishing League Tournament on Rough River Lake
Sorrels Earns Co-angler Victory
FALLS OF ROUGH, Ky. (Sept. 21, 2020) – Boater Jeramiah Sifers of Sellersburg, Indiana, brought a two-day total of 10 bass to the scale this weekend weighing 22 pounds, 14 ounces to win the Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine Hoosier Division Super-Tournament at the Rough River. Sifers earned a total of $6,917 for his victory.
Sifers caught a monster limit weighing 19 pounds, 11 ounces on day one of the event that gave him a near 10-pound lead to start the second day of competition. Sifers said he targeted shallow water in the north end.
“I flipped a black and blue jig, threw a Whopper Plopper, a buzzbait and a spinnerbait,” Sifers said. “It was just a shallow-water deal – the fish were really keying on the channel stumps.
“This is my third career win, but I haven’t won since 2004,” Sifers went on to say. “I’ve had lots of second- and third-place finishes since, but it’s awesome to get the win. When it’s your time, it’s your time.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament as follows:
1st: Jeramiah Sifers of Sellersburg, Ind., seven bass, 22-14, $6,917
2nd: Michael Bays of Bellevue, Ky., 10 bass, 18-5, $2,628
3rd: B.J. Fitzgerald of Whitesville, Ky., nine bass, 17-1, $1,752
4th: Chris Martinkovic of Hamilton, Ohio, 10 bass, 17-0, $1,927
5th: Ryan Deal of Elberfeld, Ind., 10 bass, 15-14, $1,051
6th: Brody Campbell of Oxford, Ohio, nine bass, 15-14, $964
7th: Phil Hunt of Connersville, Ind., eight bass, 15-12, $876
8th: Larry Sisk of Evansville, Ind., nine bass, 15-9, $788
9th: Chris Wilkinson of Farmersburg, Ind., eight bass, 14-15, $701
10th: Craig Carns of Noblesville, Ind., seven bass, 14-11, $613
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Sifers brought a 6-pound, 12-ounce largemouth bass to the scale to win the Boater Big Bass award of $660.
Frank Haysley of Louisville, Kentucky, 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.
Colby Sorrels of Fordsville, Kentucky, won the Co-angler Division and $2,958 Sunday after catching a two-day total of six bass weighing 14 pounds, 4 ounces.
The top 10 co-anglers finished as follows:
1st: Colby Sorrels of Fordsville, Ky., six bass, 14-4, $2,958
2nd: Ronnie Gill of Indianapolis, Ind., seven bass, 12-7, $1,314
3rd: Jeffery Johnson of Austin, Ind., seven bass, 12-7, $1,077
4th: Mark Sollman of Haubstadt, Ind., seven bass, 11-7, $613
5th: Ryan Sykes of Hamilton, Ohio, five bass, 11-0, $526
6th: Lincoln Bowen of Crothersville, Ind., six bass, 8-15, $482
7th: Cory Malcom of Bremen, Ind., six bass, 8-13, $438
8th: Payne Blackburn of Muncie, Ind., five bass, 8-9, $394
9th: Chris Hogue of Bargersville, Ind., four bass, 8-9, $350
10th: Rod Yoder of West Lafayette, Ind., six bass, 8-3, $307
Sorrels also caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 5 pounds, 4 ounces. The catch earned him the Co-angler Big Bass award and added $330 to his winnings.
The 2020 Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine Super Tournament on the Rough River was the fifth and final qualifying event in the Hoosier Division.
Now the top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the Hoosier Division based on point standings, along with the five winners of each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 15-17 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on the Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wisconsin, hosted by 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 Nov. 11-13 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.
Georgia’s Rockefeller Wins Two-Day Phoenix Bass Fishing League event on Clarks Hill Lake
Co-angler Victory Goes to Hollywood’s Hoy
MCCORMICK, S.C. (Sept. 21, 2020) – Boater Joshua Rockefeller of Harlem, Georgia, brought a two-day total of nine bass to the scale weighing 21 pounds even to win the Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine South Carolina Division Super-Tournament at Clarks Hill Lake. For his victory, Rockefeller earned $4,668.
“I caught them frogging,” said Rockefeller, who earned his first career Bass Fishing League victory. “I was throwing a Zoom Horny Toad and a (Stanley) Ribbit frog, and I was also mixing it up with a Strike King hollow-body frog.
“The key was never putting it down,” Rockefeller continued. “I was on the north end, fishing about three miles north of the bridge, right around Murray Creek. I kept that frog in my hand all day – you’d get the bites, but you had to keep your bait in the water. It feels awesome to get the win.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament as follows:
1st: Joshua Rockefeller of Harlem, Ga., nine bass, 21-0, $4,668
2nd: Ross Burns of Columbia, S.C., 10 bass, 20-14, $2,334
3rd: Jeremiah Jensen of Columbia, S.C., seven bass, 20-2, $1,557
4th: Donald Miller of Thomson, Ga., 10 bass, 18-13, $1,636
5th: Chuck Howard of Elloree, S.C., nine bass, 14-4, $934
6th: Sandy Oliver of Hartsville, S.C., six bass, 13-13, $856
7th: Jerry Pelfrey of Laurens, S.C., 10 bass, 13-13, $778
8th: Austin Johnson of Chesnee, S.C., 10 bass, 13-11, $700
9th: Winston Husband of Gilbert, S.C., eight bass, 12-10, $622
10th: Nick Gant of Myrtle Beach, S.C., eight bass, 12-9, $545
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Miller earned the day’s $547 Boater Big Bass award with a 5-pound, 5-ounce bass.
Roger Medlock of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, 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.
Jack Daniel Hoy of Hollywood, South Carolina, earned the win in the Co-angler Division Sunday after catching a two-day total of nine bass weighing 16 pounds, 6 ounces. Hoy earned $2,334 for his victory.
The top 10 co-anglers finished as follows:
1st: Jack Daniel Hoy of Hollywood, S.C., nine bass, 16-6, $2,334
2nd: Roger Coggins of Greenville, S.C., eight bass, 12-15, $1,167
3rd: Blake Winans of Sumter, S.C., six bass, 11-7, $779
4th: Jeff Rikard of Leesville, S.C., six bass, 11-5, $1,045
5th: Markice Johnson of Thomson, Ga., nine bass, 10-15, $467
6th: Michael Penney of Columbia, S.C., five bass, 10-14, $702
7th: Dave Leggett of McCormick, S.C., seven bass, 10-3, $389
8th: Thomas Robbins of Jackson, S.C., eight bass, 9-1, $350
9th: Ken Hodges of Hodges, S.C., five bass, 8-11, $311
10th: Eddie Hall of Inman, S.C., five bass, 8-7, $272
Penney earned the event’s Co-angler Big Bass Award of $274 with a fish weighing in at 4 pounds, 4 ounces.
The 2020 Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine on Clarks Hill Lake was the fifth and final qualifying event in the 2020 South Carolina Division.
Now the top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the South Carolina Division based on point standings, along with the five winners of each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 16-18 Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on Lake Cherokee in Jefferson City, Tennessee, hosted by the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce. 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 Nov. 11-13 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.
Grand Lake to Host 2021 Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI National Championship
Nation’s Top Collegiate Bass Anglers to Visit Oklahoma for Three-Day Tournament in Grove
GROVE, Okla. (Sept. 21, 2020) – FLW announced Monday that the 12th annual Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI National Championship will be held on Oklahoma’s Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees in 2021. The tournament, slated for March 3-5, showcases the nation’s best collegiate anglers and awards the winners a $33,500 prize package, including a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard and automatic entry into the 2021 Toyota Series Championship where they will compete for a top prize of up to $235,000.
The event on Grand Lake will directly follow Major League Fishing’s REDCREST, the Bass Pro Tour’s championship event and outdoor show. Although the fishery has never hosted a collegiate national championship, Grand Lake has played host to numerous major bass-fishing tournaments over the years and proved to be a fantastic fishery as anglers hauled in high numbers of solid limits.
“We couldn’t be more excited to be bringing the 2021 National Championship to Grand Lake,” said Kevin Hunt, Senior Director of Tournament Operations for Abu Garcia College Fishing. “The entire bass-fishing world will have their focus on Oklahoma and Grand Lake for REDCREST, and we are pumped for the opportunity to follow it with the sport’s next generation of stars competing on one of the top fisheries in the country.”
The championship, hosted by the Grove Convention and Tourism Bureau and the City of Grove, will launch from the Wolf Creek Park Marina, located at 963 N. 16th St. in Grove.
“The City of Grove is very excited to be chosen as the site for the prestigious College Fishing National Championship,” said Grove Mayor Ed Trumbull. “We look forward to having the best collegiate anglers in the nation in our community, utilizing Wolf Creek Park, and fishing on Grand Lake O’ The Cherokees.”
Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI teams compete in three regular-season qualifying tournaments in one of five conferences – Central, Northern, Southern, Southeastern and Western. The top 10 teams from each division’s three regular-season tournaments along with the top 20 teams from the annual Abu Garcia College Fishing Open advance to the following year’s Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI National Championship.
The complete schedule and rules for the 2021 Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI season will be announced this fall. The full schedule and rules will be posted online at FLWFishing.com.
For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Dalton Kelly from Top Ranked Murray State Wins Bass Pro Shops Big Bass Bash presented by Berkley
Berkley Choppo Dominates Day 2 Fish Catches During Tournament Action on Kentucky Lake
PARIS, TN (September 20, 2020) – The final weigh-in session has concluded, and anglers are now on their way home from the 2020 Bass Pro Shops Big Bass Bash presented by Berkley. Paris, TN and Kentucky Lake proved yet again why this is considered one of the top tournament destinations in the country. Anglers enjoyed beautiful weather conditions and a plentiful number of quality bites during the two days of competition. The final day, which featured anglers using only Berkley baits, lived up to its billing as one of the most anticipated days of the year.
Matthew Cummings started things off with a bang as he brought a 4.78 pound bass across the stage to claim top honors for Day 2 Session 1 presented by Abu Garcia. He caught the session winning fish on a Berkley Hit Worm, a finesse style soft plastic. Cummings became the third Bethel University angler to win a session at this weekend’s tournament. By taking 1st Place in that session, he received a $300 Bass Pro Shops gift card, Abu Garcia Veritas rod, and an Abu Garcia Revo S reel.
A Berkley topwater bait helped to reel in the winning fish of Day 2 Session 2 presented by Berkley. Evan Hill from the University of Tennessee caught a bass weighing 4.07 pounds on the Berkley Choppo. “We were just fishing along a nothing bank near a marina,” said Hill. “That fish came up and hit that Berkley Choppo.” The Choppo is a propellor style topwater bait that excels when being reeled continuously across the surface of the water. Many anglers in the field received one of these baits as part of their swag bags before the event began.
Dalton Kelly from number one ranked Murray State University won Session 3, and claimed 1st place overall for the entire event, with a largemouth bass weighing 5.53 lbs. “Honestly, I can’t believe that just happened,” noted Kelly. “I caught that fish on a Berkley Choppo.” Kelly, who had already weighed in during another session earlier in the day, became the second angler on day two of competition to win a session using the Berkley Choppo. He earned a $1,000 Bass Pro Shops gift card, Abu Garcia Revo Ike spinning reel, and an Abu Garcia Veritas rod.
Murray State University entered the Bass Pro Shops Big Bass Bash presented by Berkley in 1st place for Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia. Kelly’s victory will earn the team 1,000 points to go along with their second highest finishing angler inside of the Top 100. Murray has consistently finished at the top of the School of the Year standings over the course of the last 10 years. A hot start to the 2020-2021 season could go a long ways in helping them secure their first School of the Year title in team history.
Lieblong Wins Toyota Series Tournament at Lake Dardanelle presented by Fish-Intel
Arkansas Pro Takes Home Top Payout of $70,000
RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. (Sept. 21, 2020) – Conway, Arkansas’ Jason Lieblong weighed five bass totaling 15 pounds, 15 ounces, Saturday – the largest limit of the event – to win the three-day Toyota Series at Lake Dardanelle presented by Fish-Intel tournament in Russellville, Arkansas. Lieblong’s three-day total of 15 bass weighing 40-9 earned him the top payout of $70,227, including the lucrative $35,000 FLW PHOENIX BONUS contingency award, in the first tournament of the 2020 Toyota Series Plains Division.
Lieblong spent most of the tournament in a relatively small area in the lower part of Lake Dardanelle that teemed with baitfish. He caught most of them on a white Z-Man ChatterBait Jack Hammer and a bone colored topwater by Paycheck Baits called The One, which is no longer produced. He also flipped wood cover with a green pumpkin Zoom Brush Hog.
Discouraged from nearly a half decade of futility on his home lake, Lieblong said he dedicated himself this year to winning this Toyota Series event. He fished many small tournaments throughout the summer and paid close attention to prominent local anglers like Kevin Short, who finished 10th in this event.
“That’s the best of the best,” Lieblong said. “Fishing against those guys every weekend, you’re doing something. It’s time on the water. Find a spot here and there and find out what’s going on. It’s making the right choices, like coming back downriver yesterday when we weren’t getting bit upriver.
“The lake level was high on the lower end, which makes it good for my kind of fishing,” Lieblong explained. “The wind pushed the bait out, but they were still on points in 2 to 3 feet of water. The shad were so thick you could almost walk on them. We threw a ChatterBait or Spook to fire them up, and it never stopped.”
The top 10 pros on Lake Dardanelle finished:
1st: Jason Lieblong of Conway, Ark., 15 bass, 40-9, $70,227
2nd: Kevin Riney of Bono, Ark., 15 bass, 38-5, $13,069
3rd: Teddy Bogard of Rison, Ark., 15 bass, 36-1, $10,118
4th: Joe Bennett of Ashland, Mo., 14 bass, 34-0, $8,432
5th: Steve Floyd of Leesburg, Ohio, 14 bass, 33-12, $7,589
6th: Dicky Newberry of Houston, Texas, 15 bass, 33-3, $6,745
7th: Billy Doak of Centerview, Mo., 15 bass, 32-5, $5,902
8th: Kyle Weisenburger of Columbus Grove, Ohio, 13 bass, 32-0, $5,172
9th: Cody Bird of Granbury, Texas, 14 bass, 31-8, $4,216
10th: Kevin Short of Fairfield Bay, Ark., 11 bass, 24-4, $3,373
A complete list of results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Lieblong took home an extra $35,000 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.
Jeremy Parker of Batavia, Illinois, won the Co-angler Division Saturday with a three-day total of nine bass weighing 17 pounds, 1 ounce. Parker took home the top prize package of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard motor.
The top 10 co-anglers on Lake Dardanelle finished:
1st: Jeremy Parker of Batavia, Ill., nine bass, 17-1, Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat w/115-hp outboard
2nd: Bill Amis of Shawnee, Kan., seven bass, 16-12, $4,376
3rd: Scott Parsons of Rogers, Ark., six bass, 16-1, $3,478
4th: Don Billiot of Hot Springs Village, Ark., seven bass, 15-15, $3,011
5th: Derrick Wright of Carl Junction, Mo., eight bass, 15-4, $2,581
6th: John Kozel of Overland Park, Kan., seven bass, 15-3, $2,151
7th: Matt Kelley of Willard, Mo., six bass, 13-14, $1,757
8th: John Foster Case of Clarksville, Ark., seven bass, 13-11, $1,505
9th: Jaret Rushing of Hampton, Ark., eight bass, 12-13, $1,290
10th: Kendrick Hopes of Lonoke, Ark., seven bass, 12-0, $1,075
The Toyota Series at Lake Dardanelle presented by Fish-Intel was hosted by Russellville Advertising and Promotions. It was the first of three regular-season tournaments in 2020 for Plains Division anglers. The next event for Toyota Series anglers will take place Sept. 24-26 – the Toyota Series at Clear Lake in Clearlake, California. 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 $235,000 cash, including a $35,000 FLW PHOENIX Bonus for qualified anglers. 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 will be held Dec. 3-5 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.
Dobson Wins Toyota Series Event on Detroit River
TRENTON, Mich. (Sept. 21, 2020) – Pro Scott Dobson of Clarkston, Michigan, brought a five-bass limit to the scale Saturday weighing 18 pounds, 9 ounces to win the three-day Toyota Series at the Detroit River event in Trenton, Michigan. Dobson’s three-day total of 15 bass weighing 59-3 earned him the win by a 1-pound, 7-ounce margin over second-place angler Troy Stokes of Brownstown, Michigan, and earned Dobson the top payout of $27,534 in the third and final tournament of the 2020 Toyota Series Northern Division.
Dobson said that he caught fish on more than a half dozen baits and weighed fish from the mouth of the Detroit River near Erie to the mouth of the St. Clair River in St. Clair.
“I appreciate them making the call to keep us all in the river day one and two, I don’t think I’ve ever fished 16 hours in the Detroit River in two tournament days,” said Dobson. “I grew up here in Trenton, I see a lot of Trenton people here, it’s awesome to win a big tournament out of Trenton.”
Dobson’s baits this week ran the gamut, but aside from a few fish caught on dragging baits, his main players were moving baits. His umbrella rig of choice was a Shane’s Baits Mini Blades of Glory with Keitech Swing Impact FAT swimbaits. For his spinnerbait, he used a ¾-ounce War Eagle Spinnerbait with gold and silver willow blades and a trailer hook. On the jerkbait side of things, Dobson wielded a Megabass Vision 110+1, a Lucky Craft Pointer 100 and a Duo Realis Jerkbait 100DR.
His dragging baits included a 5-inch tube on a ¾-ounce head and a magnum Ned rig with a Z-Man Giant TRD cut in half on a ½-ounce Nichols Lures Magnum Ned Rig Jig Head. He also mixed in a drop-shot with a Poor Boy's Erie Darter and a 3/8-ounce weight.
On days one and two, Dobson targeted fish in the river, catching a few off a rock pile on a flat, but catching most of his fish in current on the faces of points and breaks. In some places, he threw the umbrella rig, and on other spots he slow-rolled the spinnerbait in water as deep as 15 feet.
Saturday, Dobson started in the river on a community hole at the mouth, some shallow rock and a couple of deeper current spots. Then he burned up to the mouth of the St. Clair River.
“I knew it was still going to be rough, but I wanted to get three in the box,” Dobson said. “I knew there was another tournament up there, and I wanted some fish in the box in case I got there and couldn’t get on anything or they had snatched a few.”
Once in St. Clair, Dobson got on a spot at the mouth of the river that was loaded with fish, but they were barely catchable for him. His first cast produced a 4-pounder, he broke off another on the next cast and then failed to catch any quality the rest of the time. So, he headed back down into the river.
“With 5-minutes to go I caught a 4-pounder,” says Dobson. “I slow-rolled the spinnerbait up the face of a point, probably 12 feet down, and she hammered it, and then I came in.”
The top 10 pros on the Detroit River finished:
1st: Scott Dobson of Clarkston, Mich., 15 bass, 59-3, $27,534
2nd: Troy Stokes of Brownstown, Mich., 15 bass, 57-12, $10,669
3rd: Wilson Burton of Findlay, Ohio, 15 bass, 56-15, $9,260
4th: Josh Kolodzaike of Toledo, Ohio, 15 bass, 56-5, $6,883
5th: Mike Trombly of Belleville, Mich., 15 bass, 54-11, $6,195
6th: Chase Serafin of White Lake, Mich., 15 bass, 54-5, $5,507
7th: Randy Ramsey of Burlington, Mich., 15 bass, 52-0, $4,818
8th: Matt Becker of Finleyville, Pa., 15 bass, 49-3, $4,130
9th: Robert Lefere of Jackson, Mich., 15 bass, 48-14, $3,442
10th: Ryan Davidson of Branchland, W.Va., 12 bass, 40-4, $2,753
A complete list of results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Burton 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.
Tony Grubb of Ann Arbor, Michigan, won the Co-angler Division Saturday with a three-day total of 14 bass weighing 46 pounds, 5 ounces. Grubb took home the top prize package of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard motor.
The top 10 co-anglers on the Detroit River finished:
1st: Tony Grubb of Ann Arbor, Mich., 14 bass, 46-5, Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat w/115-hp outboard
2nd: Rod Mackinnon of Middletown, N.Y., 13 bass, 45-3, $3,625
3rd: Jon Witt of Allegan, Mich., 13 bass, 43-8, $2,863
4th: John Husnay of Marcy, N.Y., 12 bass, 38-3, $2,481
5th: Dan Mundy of Swartz Creek, Mich., 14 bass, 36-15, $2,127
6th: Mark Sturgill of Brownstown, Mich., 12 bass, 32-15, $1,772
7th: Darwin Griva of Hamilton, Ind., 10 bass, 32-5, $1,418
8th: Zac Mumford of Covington, Ohio, nine bass, 28-14, $1,241
9th: Arnold Payne Jr. of Kokomo, Ind., eight bass, 23-3, $1,063
10th: Aaron Stahley of Batavia, Ohio, seven bass, 21-6, $886
The Toyota Series at the Detroit River was hosted by the Detroit Sports Commission and the City of Trenton Parks and Recreation. It was the third and final regular-season tournaments in 2020 for Northern Division anglers. The next event for Toyota Series anglers will take place Sept. 24-26 – the Toyota Series at Clear Lake in Clearlake, California. For a complete schedule, visit FLWFishing.com.
The 2020 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 $235,000 cash, including a $35,000 FLW PHOENIX Bonus for qualified anglers. 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 will be held Dec. 3-5 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.
STOKES LEADS TOYOTA SERIES ON THE DETROIT RIVER
September 17, 2020 by Jody White
Wind kept the pros in the Toyota Series Northern Division event on the Detroit River pinned to the actual river, but the fishing was still very good. Plenty of anglers brought in 17 pounds or more, and the leaders are all concentrated around the 20-pound mark. In first, Troy Stokes of Brownstown, Mich., weighed 21 pounds, 4 ounces to kick things off. In second, Scott Dobson cracked 20-14, and Dan Mittlestat and Wilson Burton also crossed the 20-pound barrier.
With the wind forecasted to be even stronger on day two, the anglers will be fishing in the river again tomorrow. For Stokes, that’s not the worst thing, because he’s been making the trek from Sandusky to the Detroit River for most of the season.
Today, Stokes pulled out most of the stops to stay away from the crowd.
“It was crazy, I started fishing, and I hit some honey holes first thing, and there’s like 10 boats on everything,” says Stokes. “I have some other stuff that no one is fishing, and I just kept bouncing around until I hit them.”
Stokes says that he never fished next to another boat after his starting spot, and he caught his bigger fish one at a time.
“I’ve got maybe one school, but they’re not big,” he says. “But, it’s a good spot to get a limit. The spots where I caught the big ones, it was pretty much just one big one. I didn’t do anything special, just regular smallmouth stuff. I caught one on a spinnerbait, other than that, it was a drop-shot for the most part.”
Fishing right on the bank and in more than 20 feet of water, Stokes covered about everything the river has to offer. Given the chance to go anywhere he wants, he says he’s got some stuff in Erie to hit, but he’s not too disappointed to be stuck in the river.
2. Scott Dobson – Clarkston, Mich. – 20 - 14 (5)
As is so often the case for Scott Dobson, he caught a bunch of smallmouths on moving baits in a river.
“Everything right now is predicated on the shad and the current and moving baits,” says Dobson. “Spinnerbaits, crankbaits, a-rigs, swimbaits, jerkbaits. I’m sure guys are catching them on a drop-shot, but the big fish are keying in on big shad. Every one of my fish came on a moving bait.”
Fishing a whole slew of spots from shallow to deep, Dobson says that more moderate current is key. He also did markedly better later in the day, catching most of his big ones from about 11 a.m. on.
“The floating grass was a big problem today,” says Dobson. “The eelgrass is dying off, it’s starting to float downriver and usually a north wind for a few days will blow it out, but it’s everywhere now.”
3. Dan Mittlestat – Woodhaven, Mich. – 20 - 9 (5)
A Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine Michigan Division stalwart, Dan Mittlestat put his local knowledge to work on day one.
“For me to catch 20 pounds today was pretty special,” says Mittlestat. “I had a terrible practice on St. Clair and an even worse practice down here.”
Still, Mittlestat ended up putting it together nicely.
“It started off awful, the current was ripping, and the water I was fishing was pretty dirty,” he says. “So, I scrubbed my plan and went back to the basics. I’m local, so I just went back to some old jump holes and the current slowed down enough to get them to set up on some boulders. So, I just kept my bait vertical and caught them pretty good between 11 and 12 o’clock.”
Culling twice and catching perhaps 12 keepers, Mittlestat isn’t too sure about tomorrow, but things are definitely looking up after day one.
4. Wilson Burton – Findlay, Ohio – 20 - 7 (5)
Had the tournament only been 30 minutes long, Wilson Burton would have locked up the W in a hurry.
“I went out to my spot and there were like five boats in the area,” says Burton. “I drifted off to the left, and I started doing something different than everybody else and it started producing.”
Burton says he caught his limit in about 10 casts once he started doing the right thing, catching fish on back-to-back casts multiple times.
“Tomorrow is going to be tough,” Burton says. “People saw what I was doing and they moved in, and I’m going to be a late boat tomorrow.”
Still, Burton isn’t too mad to be in the river. He says he’s practiced a lot in the river, and even if the weather calmed down and he could go anywhere, he’d still be sticking it out in the Detroit River.
5. Josh Kolodzaike – Toledo, Ohio – 19 - 10 (5)
One of two pros who caught 19 pounds, Josh Kolodzaike doesn’t want to give too much up, especially considering the crowded nature of some parts of the Detroit River.
“I caught a limit pretty early and then went to a couple other spots and culled up to catch some bigger ones,” says Kolodzaike. “I caught them on some shallow spots, and I lost one good one, but other than that I fished pretty clean.”
Kolodzaike says that the amount of boats isn’t really the issue, but the amount the fish are moving is.
“I’m not worried too much about the pressure, but the size is an issue,” he says. “There were good ones on a couple spots today, and if the wrong ones are there tomorrow, I could easily catch 15 pounds instead. There’s skinny ones and fat ones, and if the fat ones are there, you’re going to have a good day.”
Top 10 pros
1. Troy Stokes – Brownstown, Mich. – 21 - 4 (5)
2. Scott Dobson – Clarkston, Mich. – 20 - 14 (5)
3. Dan Mittlestat – Woodhaven, Mich. – 20 - 9 (5)
4. Wilson Burton – Findlay, Ohio – 20 - 7 (5)
5. Josh Kolodzaike – Toledo, Ohio – 19 - 10 (5)
6. Jim Vitaro – Wooster, Ohio – 19 - 2 (5)
7. Tom Beale – St. Clair Shores, Mich. – 18 - 13 (5)
8. Randy Ramsey – Burlington, Mich. – 18 - 9 (5)
9. Mike Trombly – Belleville, Mich. – 18 - 4 (5)
10. Matthew Kiefer – Fort Wayne, Ind. – 18 - 1 (5)
KING TOPS DAY 1 AT DARDANELLE TOYOTA SERIES
September 17, 2020 by Marshall Ford
Zach King of Clarksville, Ark., used a Heddon Zara Spook to catch 14 pounds, 11 ounces claim the day one lead in the Toyota Series Plains Division event on Lake Dardanelle presented by Fish-Intel. King will take a 6-ounce lead over Matt Wood of Jessieville, Ark., into day two.
“I caught 15 keepers junk fishing mostly,” King says. “I caught some on a Rat-L-Trap, and I caught some on a worm. I caught some on a River2Sea Whopper Plopper, but the main bait I’ve been catching them on is a (Zara) Spook. I caught them all day on it.”
King says it took him until about 9:30 a.m. to find a groove. After that, he says he caught fish consistently on light-colored lures.
“I didn’t have a fish at 9 o’clock,” King says. “I pulled up on a spot, and at 9:25 I was culling. When I figured that out, I started running that pattern, and I caught them all day.”
Although current surged through the lake all morning, King says current was not a factor for him.
“I have some places that have got current, and I have some places where there is no current,” King says. “They’re keying in on shad right now. I don’t think current’s going to bother them too much.”
King has fished Dardanelle his entire life and says the lake is true to its usual mid-September form.
“This time of year, the pattern I’m running is pretty good,” King says.
2. Matt Wood – Jessieville, Ark. – 14 - 5 (5)
After an unproductive practice, Matt Wood feared he was doomed to a dud tournament, but a single hot spot put him in contention.
“Practice was brutal, to say the least,” Wood says. “I caught just a few keepers all week long. I found one little area that had some fish. I ran to it this morning, and they were biting.”
Wood had his weigh-in limit by 9:30 a.m. Plenty of fish remained, but Wood left them because he said there were none that would improve his weight.
“I hated to set the hook on many more because I knew 12-13 pounds a day was going to be good,” Wood says. “My scale said had 14, so I knew I was all over it.”
Wood says he caught his fish in shallow structure, but it isn’t part of a reliable pattern. His spot just happened to pop on Thursday.
“That’s the way this lake is. You find one spot that has fish and they’re either going to bite or not,” Wood says. “Tomorrow I could zero, but I’m optimistic I can catch them.”
3. Kyle Weisenburger – Columbus Grove, Ohio – 13 - 12 (5)
Like Wood, Kyle Weisenburger practiced poorly, and his slump continued until 1 p.m. on Thursday. His fortunes improved dramatically when he found fish in shallow grass in the back of a pocket. He only caught five fish all day, but they were the right kind.
“I saw a bunch of bait and I started flipping some grass in there, and I came across four good bites to finish off the day,” Weisenburger says.
Weisenburger says he caught his fish inside the grass. The bites were quick and decisive.
“Looking at Google Maps, that’s what I wanted to do down here, but I really struggled to make that bite happen,” Weisenburger says. “Luckily I decided to go back to it at the end of the day, and luckily there was a group of fish in there. Truly, I thought it might be a zero day after about the first two hours, but it turned into a good day.”
Like Wood, Weisenburger says his spot is situational and not linked to a reliable pattern. There was no current on his spot Thursday, and visibility was about 1 foot deep. He said the key factor was sunlight and wind pushing bait into the pocket.
“That made it come alive,” Weisenburger says. “I’m going to swing for the fences tomorrow. I’m catching quality fish doing what I’m doing.”
4. Joe Bennett – Ashland, Mo. – 13 - 6 (5)
Unlike the top three anglers, Joe Bennett came out of the gate in full gallop and caught a 4-pounder on a spinnerbait in the first five minutes to set a quick pace. Unfortunately, electrical problems cost him the last two hours of fishing.
“I culled quite a few, but my cranking battery died, and then my aerators wouldn’t work,” Bennett says. “I couldn’t fish the last two hours.”
Bennett says his pattern is strong, and nothing can happen overnight to help or hurt him.
“I just have to put them in the boat,” Bennett says. “I lost a couple of fish today. One was over 5 pounds and it just jumped and came off. I could have culled a 14-inch fish with that 5-pounder. The malfunctions hurt quite a bit, too.”
5. Steve Floyd – Leesburg, Ohio – 13 - 1 (5)
Flipping a Strike King Rage Bug on shallow wood cover in an up-lake backwater enabled Steve Floyd to catch nine keepers, including five that totaled 13-1.
Floyd says his pattern is strong, but it would be stronger if the water rose.
“Current is not important where I was at,” Floyd says. “The water fell today, and it hurt. They’ve been biting real good in the morning.”
Many anglers said they lost fish and they complained that bites were not aggressive. Floyd experienced it, too.
“I lost a couple of fish early that kind of hurt,” Floyd says. “They’re biting funny. They really are. I’d put it in a laydown and the line would jump. I’d set the hook and get nothing. There was a lot of that.”
Baitfish were key to Floyd’s area. He caught fish in practice around bait with spinnerbaits and buzzbaits, but bass wouldn’t hit them Thursday.
“I just had to bear down and flip most of the day,” Floyd says. “They’re biting early. The shad are popping and then it’ll go dead a little bit about 9:30 or 10 o’clock. and then it picks back up later in the day.”
Top 10 pros
1. Zach King – Clarksville, Ark. – 14 - 11 (5)
2. Matt Wood – Jessieville, Ark. – 14 - 5 (5)
3. Kyle Weisenburger – Columbus Grove, Ohio – 13 - 12 (5)
4. Joe Bennett – Ashland, Mo. – 13 - 6 (5)
5. Steve Floyd – Leesburg, Ohio – 13 - 1 (5)
6. Teddy Bogard – Rison, Ark. – 12 - 5 (5)
7. Dylan Hays – Hot Springs, Ark. – 11 - 14 (5)
8. Spencer Shuffield – Hot Springs, Ark. – 11 - 13 (5)
9. Jason Lieblong – Conway, Ark. – 11 - 10 (5)
10. Israel Mills – Donaldson, Ark. – 11 - 8 (5)
Amis Seizes Co-Angler Lead
Fishing soft plastics over a sandy drop enabled Bill Amis of Shawnee, Kan., to nail down the co-angler lead with four bass weighing 11 pounds, 5 ounces.
Amis says his pattern was being paired with a generous pro, DeWayne French of Mammoth Spring, Ark., that put Amis in a position to catch fish.
“I had a good guide and he done great,” Amis says. “You can’t catch them from the back of the boat unless they put you on them.”
Once on them, Amis put them in the boat dragging green pumpkin Zoom Baby Brush Hog on drops.
MONTEVALLO TAKES COLLEGE OPEN TITLE ON KY LAKE
September 17, 2020 by Justin Onslow
As tough as Kentucky Lake was fishing this week in the Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI Open, Grayson Morris and Jacob Pfundt of the University of Montevallo leading after day one and finishing the job on Thursday resulted in one of the more impressive wins you’ll see.
After weighing in a day-one best 12-13, the duo backed it up with another 12-7 on day two for the victory, displaying the kind of consistency it takes to grind it out in tough fishing conditions. For their efforts, Morris and Pfundt were awarded a new Phoenix bass boat with a 115-hp Mercury outboard.
The Montevallo duo was the only team in the entire tournament to weigh in a limit both days. It’s sometimes cliché to talk about just bringing a limit to the scales to have a shot, but this week, it couldn’t have been more accurate.
“Consistency always pays off,” Morris says. “Everyone out here can catch fish. When you have a pattern that you think you can get five bites a day off of, especially on Kentucky Lake, you might as well grind it out and stick to that.”
Morris and Pfundt got more than five bites a day, but only barely, and only because they had confidence in the one area they found in practice in which they got more than one bite.
“Yesterday, we had eight bites, but only five of them kept,” Pfundt says. “Today, we got eight bites, and all of them would have kept, but we only culled once.”
“Either way, we didn’t get that many bites,” Morris adds. “It was just a grind.”
It was a grind for the entire field, due in part to rising water at a time of year when bass want to be moving off the bank and closer to deeper water to corral baitfish. That high water also caused fish to be scattered more than they otherwise would be, which is why finding the area they did was so key for Morris and Pfundt.
Plying the same stretch of bank they found in practice and plucked 12-13 from on day one, the pair went to work on the final day in search of a few key bites. With the wind blowing harder than the day before, Morris and Pfundt found their stretch of bank was windswept with bait being pushed right up into it.
Two baits got the job done from there: A Reaction Innovations Vixen and a River2Sea Whopper Plopper 130, both in the bone color. The team didn’t have another rod on the deck. They covered water, running the same bank all day save for a brief period in which they ran to some deeper brush, only to pump the brakes and return to their best area.
“We messed around with it (brush) a little bit, but pretty much as soon as we went there, we had a bad feeling about it and ran back to our main area,” Pfundt says. “We didn’t catch a keeper in the brush yesterday, but we figured we should check and keep it honest.”
Again, it came down to faith in their best area – or least the realization that it probably wouldn’t get much better than that spot.
“When we got two bites on the same bank, we thought it had to mean something,” Morris explains. “Everybody else was getting two or three bites a day. It’s huge this time of year, just finding some fish.”
Morris has had success on Kentucky Lake in the past, particularly in high school tournaments, but that prior success did little to reassure Morris and Pfundt after a tough practice period. Those high school tournaments taught Morris two important things, though: Getting bites on Kentucky Lake can be a grind, and sticking with the good game plan is the only way around it.
“We knew we had to catch five,” Pfundt says. “It was just relief. We caught our fifth at probably at 12 o’clock. It was more of a relief than anything because we were just worried about bringing in five.”
As it turns out, they had good reason to be relieved. Winning by just 1 pound, 15 ounces, anything less than a full limit probably would have spelled disaster.
“We’re feeling just shocked,” Morris says after weigh-in. “It doesn’t even feel real. I’ve had a lot of success on this lake, and I just continue to be blessed on it. Me and Jacob had a great day. We had a lot of bonding time and had a good time on the water catching some fish.”
It sure is easier to have a good time when there’s a winner check waiting for you at the weigh-in stage.
Top 10 teams
1. Grayson Morris and Jacob Pfundt – University of Montevallo – 25-4 (10) – $30,000
2. Joseph McClosky and Ryan Winchester – Bethel University – 23-5 (9)
3. Mark Harris and Reece Martin – Dallas Baptist University – 23-1 (9)
4. Dalton Kelly and Jacob Autry – Murray State University – 22-12 (9)
5. Harbor Lovin and Luke McKinney – Murray State University – 20-2 (7)
6. Matt Marcel and Hunter Palmer – Bryan College – 19-4 (8)
7. Kaden Proffitt and Cason Ragsdale – East Texas Baptist University – 18-8 (7)
8. Tristan McCormick and Steven Mills – Bethel University – 17-6 (7)
9. Cody Ross and Cameron Tullis – East Texas Baptist University – 17-1 (8)
10. Wil Rigdon and Hunter Grant Adams – Campbellsville University – 16-15 (7)
Warm Fall Temperatures Await Anglers At Bassmaster Eastern Open On Hartwell
ANDERSON, S.C. — Autumn officially arrives a day before the Basspro.com Bassmaster Eastern Open on Lake Hartwell begins. That means anglers will be dealing with summer’s lingering swelter as they seek to unlock this 56,000-acre reservoir straddling the Georgia/South Carolina border.
September began with the tournament’s host city, Anderson, S.C., sweating through daytime highs around 90. Weather forecasts show that number sliding into the upper 70s by tournament week. Even with overnight lows dipping into the 50s, that likely will not have time to impact surface temperatures, which have been holding in the low to mid-80s for most of the summer.
Competition days will be Sept. 23-25 with daily takeoffs at 7 a.m. ET from Green Pond Landing and Event Center. Weigh-ins will be held back at Green Pond each day at 3 p.m., with a full field fishing Days 1 and 2 and the Top 12 in the pro and co-angler divisions competing on Championship Friday.
While the calendar says fall, Bassmaster Elite Series pro Patrick Walters of South Carolina said he expects to hear the dog days barking through tournament week.
“It’s been extremely warm, but I think there will a shallow and a deep bite,” Walters said. “One of the keys will be staying conditioned; being able to fish for eight hours.”
Hartwell owes its existence to the namesake dam, completed in 1962 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The dam backs up the Savannah River, which is formed by the confluence of the Tugaloo and Seneca rivers, 7 miles upstream. At normal pool elevation, Hartwell extends 49 miles up the former and 45 up the latter.
At its deepest, the lake is 185 feet, but it averages 45. With Hartwell standing just a few inches over normal pool of 660 feet, there’s plenty of shallow cover available. With that said, Walters believes the tournament will show off just about every feature Hartwell has to offer.
“The entire lake will play; the lower part will be better for schoolers, while the upper part will offer a mix of all (options),” Walters said. “There’s not one spot that it will be won on this time of year.
“There will be guys fishing from the dam to way up the rivers. That’s what makes fall so interesting.”
For spotted bass schooling in 30 to 40 feet of water, Walters likes big, shiny topwaters like Rapala’s 5 1/4-inch Skitter V 13 in chrome. Long popping-style baits like the Cotton Cordell Pencil Popper or the Lucky Craft Gunfish also work.
When the deep bite turns tough, Walters suggests sending a drop shot through suspended fish. Spots that don’t want to run topside will chase down a tiny pink finesse worm heading for the bottom.
For shallow largemouth, topwater lures — walkers, smaller poppers and frogs — offer an effective and enticing way to cover water and find active bass, while flipping wood and docks is Largemouth 101 anywhere in the country. It’s possible there may even be some late-season bluegill bedding activity, but anywhere panfish congregate, largemouth will find the food source.
This time of year, Walters said anglers have to carefully weigh their options and use their time wisely. Spotted bass are abundant, but it’s easy to burn a lot of time on fish that won’t help the limit.
“It’s easy to catch lots of spots, but it’s going to take you all day to get five good ones,” he said. “You’re going to catch a lot of fish, but you’ll have to weed through a lot of little ones.
“There are fewer largemouth, but there’s (the potential for) better quality. You’re not going to catch as many largemouth, but the chances of catching a big fish are higher.”
Walters said he expects the majority of anglers will spend their days chasing spotted bass. Committing to this program means releasing a lot of fish, but a flurry of good bites could quickly elevate an angler in the standings.
Conversely, a shallow game plan will almost certainly prove far less active, while exposing anglers to a potentially bitter reality.
“The largemouth are scattered,” Walters said. “You could spend a day fishing for them and only come in with three. That’s the risk of targeting largemouth this time of year.”
Ultimately, neither approach offers much assurance during this transitional season. Whether an angler chooses to pursue quantity (spotted bass) or quality (largemouth), it’s a gamble either way.
“Mobility will be important, but you have to have confidence in what you’re doing,” Walters said. “It’s going to be hot, it’s going to be a grind, so you have to be able to stick to what you’re doing.”
With fan interest at an all-time high and a stacked field of anglers that includes some of the sport’s biggest names, B.A.S.S. officials have expanded live coverage options on Bassmaster.com. Both boaters and co-anglers will be logging their catches using BASSTrakk for real-time updates. Fans can also follow the final-day drama by streaming Nationwide Bassmaster Opens LIVE presented by Grizzly as camera boats provide coverage of the leaders.
The Lake Hartwell derby will be the fourth of eight Basspro.com Bassmaster Opens. After three tournaments, Bryan New, of Belmont, N.C., holds a narrow lead in the Falcon Rods Bassmaster Opens Angler of the Year race.
The tournament is being hosted by Visit Anderson.
Annual Bass Fishing Hall of Fame Auction Achieves Unprecedented Scale
Fishing fans can bid on one-of-a-kind experiences, jerseys, and top-quality gear
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — For Immediate Release — 9.16.20 — The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame is excited to announce its first Digital Hall of Fame Week, which will be anchored by a massive online auction offering up an incredible selection of fishing-related items not available elsewhere. All proceeds from the event will fund the Hall’s continuing efforts to celebrate, promote and preserve the sport of bass fishing. Last month the Hall’s Board of Directors announced that it was funding grants for four conservation efforts. Those projects and others will be the direct beneficiaries of the auction’s revenue.
“Unfortunately, we were not able to hold our 2020 induction banquet as planned,” said Hall of Fame President John Mazurkiewicz. “Nevertheless, the fishing community has demonstrated its strength and resilience by coming together around this common goal. We have been truly overwhelmed by the generosity of the industry and pro bass anglers in filling this auction with amazing items, and we are glad that the public will be able to participate.”
Whether you are looking for a signed jersey from your favorite pro, a fishing trip to a world-class lake, or some top-of-the-line gear, this event has something for everyone. Most notably, it offers one-of-a-kind items, not available anywhere else, like coaching sessions with Kevin VanDam, a day of angling on Jimmy Houston’s ranch, or a fishing trip with 2017 Bassmaster Angler of the Year Brandon Palaniuk. For a full list of items, click here.
“I got very excited the first time I saw all 100+ premium auction items up for grabs in one place,” said board member Casey Shedd, President of AFTCO. “There are trips throughout the country, and even into Canada, along with rare memorabilia and enough tackle to outfit a complete college team.”
Because the Board decided to hold this event exclusively in the digital arena, the five new members of the Hall – Steve Bowman, James Heddon, Bryan Kerchal, Ron Lindner and Jay Yelas – will be honored in person at the 2021 banquet to ensure that their contributions to the sport are properly celebrated.
All Digital Hall of Fame Week event details are located here.
EVENT DETAILS
Event Preview – You can learn more about the event at this link: https://one.bidpal.net/bassfishinghof/welcome Bidding starts Tuesday, September 22 at 9 am ET and ends Friday, September 25 at 2 pm ET. Please be sure you register your account.
AC Insider Podcast - Family First, Fishing Second
This week Chris and the boys talk with newly announced National Professional League Angler, Jeff Dobson about his move from the FLW Tour to the newly formed NPFL. We ask Jeff the tough questions and ultimately its family first then fishing. As it should be.
Toyota Series to Host Event on Clear Lake
CLEARLAKE, Calif. (Sept. 15, 2020) – The 2020 Toyota Series Western Division will finish out their season with a tournament next week in Clearlake, California, Sept. 24-26, with the Toyota Series at Clear Lake. The three-day tournament will feature the region’s best bass-fishing pros and co-anglers casting for a top prize of up to $65,000, plus a $35,000 bonus if the winner is a qualified Phoenix Boat owner.
“There will be stellar competition at Clear Lake, which will make for an exciting tournament,” said Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit TITLE ChampionRusty Salewske of Alpine, California, who has two top-10 finishes on Clear Lake in Toyota Series competition. “The locals fishing in this event have spent a lot of time in different levels of bass fishing, from FLW to Bassmaster to Major League Fishing and back.
“This time of year frees up a lot of anglers – MLF pros Jared Lintner and Brett Hite will be there – I’ve heard rumors that MLF pros Brent Ehrler and Ish Monroe may be competing as well. There will be a lot of hammers and some amazing anglers so it will be a very tough competition.”
Salewske said fall tournaments on Clear Lake have been won both on topwater and in 20 feet of water, so the big bites could come anywhere, making it exciting this time of year.
“I’m looking forward to the possibility of a 30-pound stringer every time I go out on the water,” Salewske continued. “I predict 17 pounds per day will win this tournament. It could be as high as 25 per day, but a three-day bag of 51 pounds should do it.”
Anglers will take off daily at 7 a.m. PT from the Redbud Park Boat Ramp, located at 14655 Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake. Weigh-ins will also be held at the Redbud Park Boat Ramp and will begin at 3 p.m. Attendance is limited to competing anglers and essential staff only. Fans are encouraged to follow the event online through the “FLW Live” weigh-in broadcasts and daily coverage at FLWFishing.com.
In Toyota Series regular-season competition, payouts are based on the number of participants competing in the event, scaling up for every 20 boats over 160 and scaling down for every boat below 160. With a 160-boat field, pros fish for a top prize of $40,000, plus an extra $35,000 if FLW PHOENIX BONUS qualified. Co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard (valued at $33,500). With a 260-boat field, pros fish for a top award of $65,000, plus an extra $35,000 if FLW PHOENIX BONUS qualified. Co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard (valued at $33,500) plus $5,000 cash.
The 2020 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 $235,000 cash, including a $35,000 FLW PHOENIX Bonus for qualified anglers. 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 will be held Dec. 3-5 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.
American Baitworks Pro Lenny DeVos Wins Renegade Bass Tour Canadian Championship
DeVos and partner Jeff Desloges take the win on St. Lawrence River
September 16, 2020, Ocean Springs, Mississippi – When it comes to fishing the St. Lawrence River, the weather is always a factor. Idyllic conditions on Saturday made for great fishing and big weights, with 15 teams weighing in 20lbs+ limits of 5 fish. Sunday’s conditions saw the switch flip, on the St. Lawrence, as high South winds and heavy bands of rain turned conditions upside down, on the famed smallmouth river.
American Baitworks Pro Lenny DeVos and his partner Jeff Desloges finished Day 1 of the Canadian Championship in 3rd place, sacking 22.51lbs of St Lawrence Smallmouth, trailing Day 1 leaders, American Baitworks Pros Scott Lecky and Steve Bean, who weighed in an unreal 25.66lbs.
Day 2’s major weather shift, would also result in a major change in the standings, as high winds and intermittent heavy rains would hamper the teams targeting shallow water smallmouth and open the window for the deep fish bite, to dominate the final championship day.
DeVos’ Day 1 bite would rely on fishing for deep smallmouth in 25’ to 45’ of water and he continued that pattern on Day 2. DeVos relied on Set The Hook Co.’s drop shot baits; Crush Worms and Drifters in Smokin Joe pattern (https://americanbaitworks.com/products/stumpy-crush-worm) (https://americanbaitworks.com/products/the-drifter), as well as, Carolina Rigging using a Halo Fishing XD III Pro 7’3” Medium Heavy (https://americanbaitworks.com/products/xdiii-pro).
DeVos and Desloges would wind up bringing the final day’s biggest bag to the scales of 23.06lbs and a winning two-day total of 45.57lbs.
“We had an incredible two days on the water and got the critical bites we needed because of the STH Crush Worm and Drifter.” said the 2020 RBT Canadian Champion Lenny DeVos “This is our third championship and I’m proud to say we took the win relying on American Baitworks products.”
Lenny DeVos will be the guest on American Baitworks Live Wednesday, September 16, 2020, at 7 pm ET on Facebook.
Abu Garcia® Veritas® Rods Get Lighter and Stronger with an Infusion of Powerlux®
COLUMBIA, S.C. (September 15, 2020) — Abu Garcia’s Veritas line of rods is undergoing a significant change to their composition and performance with the introduction of Powerlux® 100 Micro resins, which allowed the designers to decrease weight by 5%* for increased sensitivity while simultaneously increasing the rod’s strength by 15%**. The new Veritas rod family gives anglers the performance, sensitivity and durability they need to win on the water, whether they’re fishing for fun or for a paycheck.
Built around the same Powerlux technology previously only employed in rods costing twice as much, the new Veritas rods offer uncompromising strength and durability required by serious anglers without asking them to sacrifice weight or sensitivity. Powerlux nano resin’s unique molecular structure fills in evenly around the 30 Ton carbon fibers as it bakes into the blank. This allows for a stronger bond that previously was only achieved by adding additional resin or fiber which increased a rod’s weight. The result is a rod with higher break strengths and improved impact and fracture resistance without sacrificing sensitivity.
The new Veritas rods are equipped with a custom Abu Garcia-designed reel seat for hypersensitivity around the exposed blank sections, which, along with the weight savings, leads to improved comfort conditions for anglers. Abu Garcia anglers fish long and hard, so these features help lessen fatigue and missed bites during long days on the water. The rod family’s performance features are also enhanced by titanium alloy guides with Zirconium inserts and EVA split grips. The grips on the new Veritas rods are constructed of a closed-cell foam that is easy to clean and keep looking brand new regardless of how many fish it brings to the boat.
The Veritas rod lineup features 48 different models, including eight casting and three spinning models equipped with custom Winn® grips. The rods are available in Winch actions, which are more parabolic and ideal for crankbaits, as well as Toro actions for large baits like A-rigs and swimbaits. Prices of the new Veritas rods range from an MSRP of $99.95 to $199.95, depending on configuration. For more information, visit AbuGarcia.com
*On average, based on controlled lab testing, compared to identically constructed Veritas rods without Powerlux resin. Results may vary.
** On average, based on controlled lab setting, compared to prior generation Veritas rods without Powerlux resin. Results may vary
Abu Garcia Veritas rods: Specifications
Casting: 14 SKUs • MSRP: $99.95
Casting (7 feet, 4 inches and longer): 9 SKUs • MSRP $119.95
Spinning: 11 SKUs • MSRP: $99.95
Toro: 3 SKUs • MSRP: $149.95 to $199.95
WINN Grip Casting: 8 SKUs • MSRP: $119.95 to $149.95
WINN Grip Spinning: 3 SKUs • MSRP: $119.95
Key Features:
• Powerlux® delivers a 15 percent stronger rod while remaining 5 percent lighter and well balanced
• Ergonomic Abu Garcia-designed reel seat
• ROCS™ (Robotically Optimized Casting System) guide train for maximized casting distance with lighter lures
• Titanium alloy guides with ultralight Zirconium inserts save more weight and help retain balance
• High-density EVA for greater sensitivity and durability
• Limited 3-year warranty
Berkley Expands Fusion19 Line of Hooks
COLUMBIA, S.C. (September 15, 2020) — Innovator in science and technology, Berkley® introduces its latest additions to the Fusion19™ line of ultra-sharp hooks with the launch of three new painted EWG Treble Hook colors, Frog Hooks and Weighted Frog Hooks. Fusion19 hooks are designed for use across all types of fishing with needle points that create easier penetration and increase hook-up ratios.
Ideal for use with soft body frogs like the Berkley PowerBait® Buzz’n Speed Toad and Beat’n Paddle Frog, both the Berkley Fusion19 Frog Hook and Weighted Frog Hook feature needle points designed for easier penetration on top water hits in heavy cover. The round bend and double hooks, forged for increased lateral strength, keep fish hooked up all the way back to the boat. The Weighted Frog Hook features an 1/8-ounce molded weight to stabilize the keel of the bait and increase casting distance. Both varieties of Berkley Frog Hooks are available in 4/0 and 5/0 hook sizes and come in an innovative, resealable clam package for tackle management.
In addition to frog hooks, the Fusion19 EWG Treble hooks feature a strong, lightwire design for improved hook-ups. The lightwire shank on these hooks makes them ideal for pairing with high action and small profile baits. In addition to its current lineup the new colors of Fusion19 EWG Treble Hooks include white, chartreuse and orange and will be available nationwide beginning September 2020.
Fusion19™: Specifications
Berkley® Fusion19 Frog Hook
4/0 Frog Hook
Hooks per pack: 2
MSRP: $5.99
5/0 Frog Hook
Hooks per pack: 2
MSRP: $5.99
Key Features:
• Needle Point for easier penetration
• Forged hook for increased lateral strength
• The round bend, double hook keeps fish on all the way to the boat
• Package features innovative resealable clam for tackle management
Berkley Fusion19 Weighted Frog Hook
4/0 Weighted Frog Hook
Hooks per pack: 2
MSRP: $5.99
5/0 Weighted Frog Hook
Hooks per pack: 2
MSRP: $5.99
Key Features:
• Needle point for easier penetration
• Forged hook for increased lateral strength
• The round bend, double hook keeps fish on all the way to the boat
• 1/8-ounce molded weight stabilizes the keel of the bait and adds casting distance
• Package features innovative resealable clam for tackle management
Berkley Fusion19 EWG Treble
Size 8 EWG Treble
Hooks per pack: 6
MSRP: $5.99
Size 6 EWG Treble
Hooks per pack: 6
MSRP: $5.99
Size 4 EWG Treble
Hooks per pack: 6
MSRP: $5.99
Key Features:
• Needle point for easier penetration
• EWG bend for increased hook ups and keeping fish on
• Strong lightwire design for improved penetration
• Lightwire shank ideal for high action and small profile baits
• Forged hook for increased lateral strength
• Package features innovative resealable clam for tackle management
Berkley Adds New Shape, Sizes and Colors to Gulp! And Gulp! Alive! Lines
COLUMBIA, S.C. (September 15, 2020) – Continuing its ongoing leadership in bait-development technology, Berkley® is expanding its saltwater Gulp!® and Gulp! Alive!® portfolios with the addition of the all new Paddleshad shape, color and size extensions to the popular Swimming Mullet, and a new size for the Grub. In addition to the new sizes and firetail color additions, all of these new baits feature the scientifically proven Gulp! guarantee to catch 30 percent more fish while allowing anglers to forego expensive and short-lived live bait.
“We owe it to saltwater anglers to continue innovating and expanding our offering of Gulp! baits that have been lab and field tested to help them catch more fish,” said Berkley Vice President of Marketing Jon Schlosser. “Whether we’re developing a completely new shape like the Paddleshad, or we’re working on new colors or sizes for the Swimming Mullet and Grub, the angler is at the forefront of everything we do, and these shapes are no exception.”
Outperforming real and artificial bait, Gulp! has 400 times the scent dispersion of the best competing soft plastic, making it one of the best alternatives to live bait ever produced. Gulp! Alive! baits have all of the same benefits of standard Gulp!, but come in half pints or pint jars and are soaked in the powerful attractant. Simply put the bait back in the bucket to recharge its effectiveness and stop dealing with the hassles of live bait.
The new Gulp! Paddleshad has a lifelike baitfish profile with an optimized nose for rigging jig heads. Its body and tail design work together to provide fast actions and slow speed movement. Sizes range from three to six inches and colors include a variety of standard and firetail offerings.
Now available in all new firetail colors, the Gulp! Swimming Mullet features a realistic body and tail design that work together to deliver key action. The high-action swimming tail and Gulp! scent dispersion attracts fish quicker and longer than other soft baits.
Within the Gulp! family, the Gulp! and Gulp! Alive! Grub is now available in a 4-inch size and is ideal for use on jigs or as a trailer. A leading favorite among saltwater anglers, the proven tail action of the Grub swims under all conditions.
For more information on the full offering of Berkley Gulp! and Gulp! Alive! visit www.berkley-fishing.com.
Gulp! and Gulp! Alive Specifications:
Gulp! & Gulp! Alive! Paddleshad
- Sizes: 3-inch, 4-inch, 5-inch and 6-inch
- Colors
- Arkansas Glow
- Black Gold
- Black Silver
- Chartreuse
- Chartreuse Pepper Neon
- Glow
- Morning Glory/Chartreuse
- Mullet
- New Penny
- Pearl White
- Pearl White/Chartreuse
- Pearl White/Pink
- Root Beer Gold/Chartreuse
- Silver Mullet
Gulp! Swimming Mullet
- Sizes: 3-inch, 4-inch, 5-inch and 6-inch
- New Colors
- Glow (new for 3” size)
- Glow/Orange
- Nuclear Chicken (new for 6” size)
- Pearl White/Chartreuse
- Pearl White/Pink
- Root Beer Gold/Chartreuse
Gulp! Alive! Swimming Mullet
- Sizes: 3-inch, 4-inch, 5-inch and 6-inch
- New Colors
- Chartreuse
- Glow
- Glow/Orange
- Nuclear Chicken
- Pink
- Pearl White
- Pearl White/Chartreuse
- Pearl White/Pink
- Root Beer Gold/Chartreuse
Gulp! & Gulp! Alive! Grub
- Size 4-inch
- Colors
- Chartreuse
- Nuclear Chicken
- Pearl White
- Pink
- Pink Shine
- Salmon Red
NOCO Sponsors Elite Event At Lake Guntersville
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — NOCO, which designs and creates premium consumer electronics including battery chargers, jump starters and related power accessories, has signed on as the title sponsor when the Bassmaster Elite Series heads to Scottsboro, Ala., to take on historic Lake Guntersville Sept. 30-Oct. 3. The NOCO Bassmaster Elite at Lake Guntersvillekicks off a busy schedule of fall derbies that will take the Elite Series pros to South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.
“We are thrilled to partner with the team at NOCO to present what is sure to be an exciting event,” said B.A.S.S. CEO Bruce Akin. “Everyone from enthusiastic fishing fans to complete novices have been following the excitement as our anglers compete on the country’s incredible fisheries, making this the ideal platform for NOCO to showcase its innovative products to a broad audience of sports fans.”
Bass fishing has become one of the summer’s hottest sports with an audience of more than 13.2 million viewers tuning in to ESPN2 to catch 16 days of live coverage of the four most recent Bassmaster Elite Series tournaments. Between televised coverage on ESPN2 and the livestream on Bassmaster.com and ESPN3, avid fans devoured more than 398 million minutes of tournament coverage.
“B.A.S.S. presents an excellent opportunity for NOCO to engage with some of the most loyal and passionate sporting fans in competitive fishing today,” said Jonathan Nook, Chief Visionary Officer for NOCO. “Its professional anglers and many avid followers demand reliable, high-performance gear, which closely aligns with our relentless pursuit of quality."
Not only are both dedicated fans and newcomers alike eagerly tuning in to Bassmaster tournaments, but participation in the sport is booming across the country.
According to the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, 81% of Americans say they’ve spent time enjoying outdoor activities during the pandemic, 31% for the first time. Many of those people are flocking to fishing, as states across the country have seen remarkable growth in fishing license sales. Iowa, Minnesota, Vermont and Louisiana all report more than 50% higher fishing license sales in 2020, according to their state conservation agencies. Considered a hotbed of recreational fishing, even Alabama has experienced a 37% jump in resident fishing license sales.
Live coverage of the NOCO Bassmaster Elite at Lake Guntersville starts Wednesday, Sept. 30 on Bassmaster.com.
Honnerlaw Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League event on Lake Okeechobee
Moore Haven Angler Wins Weather-Shortened Super Tournament. Earns $6,817
OKEECHOBEE, Fla. (Sept. 14, 2020) Boater Bryan Honnerlaw of Moore Haven, Florida, brought a five-bass limit to the scale Sunday weighing 22 pounds, 9 ounces to win the Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine Gator Division Super-Tournament at Lake Okeechobee. For his victory, Honnerlaw earned $6,817.
The tournament was the fifth and final event in the 2020 Gator Division presented by A.R.E. Truck Caps. Originally scheduled for two days, competition was canceled on Saturday due to Hurricane Sally.
“This win feels great, especially with how the day started,” said Honnerlaw. “I only had two fish by noon and was pretty upset around 12:30. The worst thing that can happen to you in a tournament is to get spun out, but I stayed positive and feel very blessed.”
Honnerlaw said the key to his victory was running to the river and letting himself calm down.
“After fishing a few places and getting little to no bites, I ran back to the river and fished a ledge with a Gambler Power Ned with a Gambler Fat Ace,” Honnerlaw continued. “I caught three big ones in a row before my co-angler caught a few good ones. Then I picked up a crankbait and caught another big one to finish out the day.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament as follows:
1st: Bryan Honnerlaw of Moore Haven, Fla., five bass, 22-9, $6,817
2nd: Doug Vest of Okeechobee, Fla., five bass, 22-2, $2,909
3rd: Brian Divito of Seminole, Fla., five bass, 19-9, $1,939
4th: Mitchell Liss of Grand Island, Fla., five bass, 19-2, $2,629
5th: Mark Lundgren of Saint Cloud, Fla., five bass, 18-3, $1,163
6th: Steve Boogie Brown of Altamonte Springs, Fla., five bass, 18-2, $1,066
7th: Gary Milicevic of Labelle, Fla., five bass, 18-2, $970
8th: Ron Veale of Okeechobee, Fla., five bass, 17-12, $873
9th: Justin Morgan of Okeechobee, Fla., five bass, 17-12, $776
10th: Chris Crow of Lake Placid, Fla., five bass, 17-2, $679
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Liss earned the day’s $772 Boater Big Bass award with a 7-pound, 10-ounce bass.
Liss also 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.
Andrew Pulliam of Spring Hill, Florida, earned the win in the Co-angler Division Sunday after five bass weighing 17 pounds, 11 ounces. Pulliam earned $2,909 for his victory.
The top 10 co-anglers finished as follows:
1st: Andrew Pulliam of Spring Hill, Fla., five bass, 17-11, $2,909
2nd: Austin Baskette of Leesburg, Fla. five bass, 17-11, $1,454
3rd: Justin Brown of Frostproof, Fla., five bass, 16-0, $1,170
4th: Kenneth Hunnicutt of Jacksonville, Fla., five bass, 15-8, $679
5th: Theron Asbery of Longwood, Fla., five bass, 15-2, $968
6th: Nihad Basic of Saint Petersburg, Fla., five bass, 14-11, $533
7th: J.P. Sims of Port St. Lucie, Fla., five bass, 13-12, $485
8th: Doug Back of Monticello, Fla., five bass, 13-11, $436
9th: Ernie Thompson of Anthony, Fla., five bass, 13-11, $388
10th: Aaron Gengler of Lakeland, Fla., five bass, 13-6, $339
Asbery earned the event’s Co-angler Big Bass Award of $386 with a fish weighing in at 8 pounds, 7 ounces.
Now the top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the Gator Division presented by A.R.E. Truck Caps, based on point standings, along with the five winners of each qualifying event, will advance to the Oct. 22-24 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on Lake Lanier in Gainesville, Georgia, hosted by Okeechobee County Tourist & Development 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 Nov. 11-13 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.
Andalusia’s Smith Wins Two-Day Phoenix Bass Fishing League event at Lake Eufaula
Co-angler Victory Goes to Trion’s Brown
EUFAULA, Ala. (Sept. 14, 2020) Boater Michael M. Smith of Andalusia, Alabama brought a two-day total of 10 bass to the scale weighing 40 pounds, 4 ounces to win the Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine Bama Division Super-Tournament at Lake Eufaula. For his victory, Smith earned $6,329.
“The key to this win was running as many places as I could where I had found big fish over the past couple months,” said Smith. “I probably pulled the trolling motor up more than fifty times today and the key was to just keep moving.
“Almost every fish I caught this weekend was on the first or second cast on a spot, so if I’d made five casts and hadn’t caught one, I’d move somewhere else,” Smith continued. “I spent a lot of time practicing up here and finding as many places as I could and it certainly paid off.”
Smith said this was his third BFL win and he was excited to get a win on one of his home lakes.
“Out deep I was cranking a 6th Sense C20 and C15 Crankbait in a custom color, so I had something a little different than anyone else on the lake,” Smith said. “I’ve run my Mercury outboard all over this place the past two days. Having great equipment definitely helps, as well as using products you’re confident in and trusting what you’ve got.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament as follows:
1st: Michael M. Smith of Andalusia, Ala, 10 bass, 40-4, $6,329
2nd: Ryan Ingram of Phenix City, Ala., 10 bass, 32-14, $2,664
3rd: Dustin Wood of Eufaula, Ala., 10 bass, 32-13, $1,777
4th: Robert Werner of Spanish Fort, Ala., 10 bass, 31-3, $1,925
5th: Josh Stracner of Vandiver, Ala., 10 bass, 30-9, $1,066
6th: Clayton Batts of Butler, Ga., 10 bass, 29-0, $1,477
7th: Ashley Brasher of Clanton, Ala., eight bass, 26-14, $888
8th: Ethan Greene of Eufaula, Ala., 10 bass, 25-13, $799
9th: Scott Daughtry of Abbeville, Ala., 10 bass, 24-11, $710
10th: Guy Jordan of Gainesville, Ga., 10 bass, 24-1, $622
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Werner earned the day’s $682 Boater Big Bass award with a 6-pound, 4-ounce bass.
Batts 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.
Garrett Brown of Trion, Georgia earned the win in the Co-angler Division Saturday after catching a two-day total of eight bass weighing 20 pounds,11 ounces. Brown earned $2,658 for his victory.
The top 10 co-anglers finished as follows:
1st: Garrett Brown of Trion, Ga., eight bass, 20-11, $2,658
2nd: Mark Denney of Perry, Ga., 10 bass, 20-10, $1,329
3rd: Charles Davis of Wetumpka, Ala., seven bass, 19-5, $886
4th: Michael Anderson of Newton, Ala., nine bass, 18-11, $620
5th: Jacob Smith of Daleville, Ala., seven bass, 17-5, $532
6th: Christian Bladen of Dothan, Ala., nine bass, 16-2, $487
7th: Randy Hill of Athens, Ala., nine bass, 15-10, $443
8th: Randy Brooks of Dozier, Ala., eight bass, 15-2, $399
9th: Keith Lynch of River Falls, Ala., seven bass, 14-12, $354
10th: Keith Reynolds of Ozark, Ala., six bass, 13-9, $310
Girdner earned the event’s Co-angler Big Bass Award of $334 with a fish weighing in at 5 pounds, 9 ounces.
The 2020 Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine on Lake Eufaula was the fifth and final qualifying event in the 2020 Bama Division.
Now the top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the Bama Division based on point standings, along with the five winners of each qualifying event, will advance to the Oct. 8-10 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on Lake Chickamauga in Dayton, Tennessee, hosted by 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 Nov. 11-13 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.
Bethel Springs’ Amerson Wins Two-Day Phoenix Bass Fishing League event on Kentucky/Barkley Lakes
Co-angler Victory Goes to Paducah’s Dunn
BUCHANAN, Tenn. (Sept. 14, 2020) Boater Keith Amerson of Bethel Springs, Tennessee, brought a two-day total of six bass to the scale weighing 22 pounds, 7 ounces to win the Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine LBL Division Super-Tournament at Kentucky and Barkley Lakes. For his victory, Amerson earned $5,376.
“I came into this event really confident,” said Amerson. “I feel like I’ve had an opportunity to win every event we’ve had this year, but it finally came together the past two days and I got the bites I needed for my first BFL win.
“I was dreading today because of the cloud cover, but I went to my first stop where I caught a 4-11 yesterday and ended up catching a five pounder and two more, which got me to my limit before 7:30 this morning,” Amerson continued. “That settled me down and allowed me to run my points and catch seven keepers throughout the rest of the day.”
Amerson said he was throwing a Strike King Rage Thumper Worm with a ½-ounce Strike King Tour Grade Tungsten Weight throughout most of the tournament.
“I’ve caught just about every bass I’ve weighed on that combination this year, just dragging it around on shallow bars and shallow humps,” said Amerson.
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament as follows:
1st: Keith Amerson of Bethel Springs, Tenn., six bass, 22-7, $5,376
2nd: Marty Sisk of Evansville, Ind., six bass, 20-9, $2,563
3rd: Bill Schroeder III of Benton, Ky., six bass, 19-12, $1,709
4th: Drew Boggs of Lebanon, Tenn., six bass, 16-14, $1,196
5th: Ramie Colson, Jr. of Cadiz, Ky., six bass, 16-14, $1,025
6th: Jeff Johnston of Marion, Ark., four bass, 16-11, $1,570
7th: Edward Gettys of Paris, Tenn., six bass, 16-1, $1,354
8th: Ryan Kirkpatrick of Benton, Ky., six bass, 15-15, $769
9th: Billy Schroeder of Paducah, Ky., four bass, 14-2, $683
10th: Gary Singleton of Dickson, Tenn., four bass, 13-5, $598
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Johnston earned the day’s $630 Boater Big Bass award with a bass weighing in at 8-pounds even.
Gettys 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.
Wesley Dunn of Paducah, Kentucky, earned the win in the Co-angler Division Saturday after catching a two-day total of five bass weighing 13 pounds, 7 ounces. Dunn earned $2,434 for his victory.
The top 10 co-anglers finished as follows:
1st: Wesley Dunn of Paducah, Ky., five bass, 13-7, $2,434
2nd: Jeff Turner of Plainfield, Ill., five bass, 11-3, $1,217
3rd: Johnny Brantley of Medon, Tenn., four bass, 10-13, $813
4th: Frank Haysley of Louisville, Ky., four bass, 9-11, $568
5th: Alan Brasher of Decaturville, Tenn., four bass, 9-10, $487
6th: Orville Gowen of Leitchfield, Ky., four bass, 9-6, $446
7th: Pat Rapp of Hawesville, Ky., four bass, 9-3, $606
8th: Jojo Walsh of Lyles, Tenn., three bass, 8-4, $365
9th: Chuck Ledbetter of Fort Campbell, Ky., two bass, 7-13, $617
10th: Dave Roberts of Indianapolis, Ind., two bass, 7-10, $284
Ledbetter earned the event’s Co-angler Big Bass Award of $292 with a fish weighing in at 5 pounds, 7 ounces.
The 2020 Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine on Kentucky/Barkley Lakes was the fifth and final qualifying event in the 2020 LBL Division.
Now the top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the LBL Division based on point standings, along with the five winners of each qualifying event, will advance to the Oct. 8-10 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on Chickamauga Lake in Dayton, Tennessee, hosted by Henry County Tourism Authority. 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 Nov. 11-13 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.
Morgan Wins Two-Day Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Lake Norman
Mooresville Angler Wins Third BFL North Carolina Division Event in 2020
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Sept. 14, 2020) – Boater Brian Morgan of Mooresville, North Carolina, brought a two-day total of 10 bass to the scale this weekend weighing 24 pounds, 10 ounces to win the Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine North Carolina Division Super-Tournament at Lake Norman. Morgan earned a total of $5,831 for his victory – his third win of the year in the North Carolina division.
“To be honest, I kind of want to cry right now,” said Morgan, who earned a total of $16,693 in Bass Fishing League tournaments this season. “I can’t even think straight. To win three in a year… unbelievable.”
Morgan said that his key bait throughout the weekend was a jig.
“I caught most of my fish on a jig, but I got my biggest one of the day Sunday on a buzzbait,” Morgan said. “I worked hard for this one. I spent almost three months planting brush piles.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament as follows:
1st: Brian Morgan of Mooresville, N.C., 10 bass, 24-10, $5,831
2nd: Chris Baumgardner of Gastonia, N.C., 10 bass, 24-2, $3,702
3rd: Craig Chambers of Charlotte, N.C., 10 bass, 23-0, $1,945
4th: John Parker of Gaffney, S.C., 10 bass, 22-14, $1,361
5th: Maurice Freeze of Concord, N.C., 10 bass, 22-12, $1,166
6th: Bryan Thrift of Shelby, N.C., 10 bass, 22-10, $1,069
7th: Drew Montgomery of Maiden, N.C., nine bass, 22-7, $972
8th: Kyle Austin of Ridgeville, S.C., 10 bass, 21-12, $875
9th: Donald Poteat of Morganton, N.C., 10 bass, 21-10, $777
10th: Scott Hamrick of Denver, N.C., 10 bass, 21-3, $680
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Baumgardner brought a 4-pound, 1-ounce bass to the scale to win the Boater Big Bass award of $787.
Jake Monti of Mooresville, North Carolina, 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.
Hunter Harwell of Hickory, North Carolina, won the Co-angler Division and $2,916 Sunday after catching a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 20 pounds, 2 ounces.
The top 10 co-anglers finished as follows:
1st: Hunter Harwell of Hickory, N.C., 10 bass, 20-2, $2,916
2nd: Carson Palmer of Richfield, N.C., nine bass, 16-4, $1,458
3rd: Dale Surrett of Midland, N.C., seven bass, 13-10, $971
4th: Willard Taylor of Newton, N.C., seven bass, 13-5, $680
5th: David Miller of China Grove, N.C., eight bass, 13-3, $583
6th: Logan Anderson of Catawba, N.C., seven bass, 13-0, $535
7th: David Deciucis of Chester, Va., eight bass, 12-5, $628
8th: Bryon Medeiros of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., four bass, 11-8, $565
9th: Steven Jacobs of Sanford, N.C., seven bass, 11-1, $502
10th: Artie Phillips of Monroe, N.C., six bass, 11-0, $439
Medeiros caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 4 pounds, 12 ounces. The catch earned him the Co-angler Big Bass award and added $394 to his winnings.
The 2020 Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine Super-Tournament on Lake Norman was hosted by the Marshall County Convention & Visitors Bureau. It was the fifth and final qualifying event in the 2020 North Carolina Division.
Now, the top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the North Carolina 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 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 Nov. 11-13 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.
Charleston’s Foutz Wins Two-Day Phoenix Bass Fishing League event on Lake Chickamauga
Co-angler Victory Goes to Ten Mile’s Steele
DAYTON, Tenn. (Sept. 14, 2020) Boater Jacob Foutz of Charleston, Tennessee, brought a two-day total of 10 bass to the scale weighing 29 pounds, 12 ounces to win the Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine Northeast Division Super-Tournament at Lake Chickamauga. For his victory, Foutz earned $5,126.
According to post-tournament reports, Foutz mainly had success targeting grass with a jig and junk-fishing to catch his 10 keepers.
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament as follows:
1st: Jacob Foutz of Charleston, Tenn., 10 bass, 29-12, $5,126
2nd: Kevin Drake of Cleveland, Tenn., 10 bass, 29-1, $2,563
3rd: Craig Powers of Rockwood, Tenn., nine bass, 27-12, $2,339
4th: Seth Davis of Harrison, Tenn., 10 bass, 26-14, $1,696
5th: Thomas Helton of Charleston, Tenn., 10 bass, 26-13, $1,225
6th: Steve Barnes of Harrison, Tenn., 10 bass, 25-4, $940
7th: Taylor Watkins of Clinton, Tenn., eight bass, 22-0, $854
8th: John Murray of Spring City, Tenn., 10 bass, 21-10, $769
9th: Brent Butler of Vonore, Tenn., nine bass, 21-6, $683
10th: Jim Leary of Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 20-15, $598
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Powers earned the day’s $630 Boater Big Bass award with a 7-pound, 10-ounce largemouth bass.
Davis 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.
William Steele of Ten Mile, Tennessee, earned the win in the Co-angler Division Saturday after catching a two-day total of seven bass weighing 18 pounds, 5 ounces. Steele earned $2,563 for his victory.
The top 10 co-anglers finished as follows:
1st: William Steele of Ten Mile, Tenn., seven bass, 18-5, $2,563
2nd: Cody Lewis of Ooltewah, Tenn., six bass, 16-5, $1,281
3rd: Travis Pridemore of White Pine, Tenn., six bass, 14-12, $853
4th: Jason Sosebee of Knoxville, Tenn., five bass, 14-2, $848
5th: Robert Ford of Boones Mill, Va., five bass, 14-0, $513
6th: Darren Kelly of Wartburg, Tenn., five bass, 13-9, $670
7th: Harold Parsons of Fairfield, Ohio, six bass, 12-9, $427
8th: Curtis Brown of Loudon, Tenn., five bass, 11-1, $384
9th: David Perron of Dayton, Tenn., five bass, 10-14, $342
10th: Ben Arnold of LaFollette, Tenn., five bass, 9-8, $299
Charles Douglas of Wesson, Mississippi, earned the event’s Co-angler Big Bass Award of $315 with a fish weighing in at 4 pounds, 15 ounces.
The 2020 Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine on Lake Chickamauga was the fifth and final qualifying event in the 2020 Volunteer Division.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the Volunteer 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 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 Nov. 11-13 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.
Mabelvale Boater Houchin Wins Two-Day Phoenix Bass Fishing League event on Lake Hamilton
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. (Sept. 14, 2020) Boater Quincy Houchin of Mabelvale, Arkansas, brought a two-day total of nine bass to the scale weighing 23 pounds, 5 ounces to win the Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine Arkie Division Super-Tournament at Lake Hamilton. For his victory, Houchin earned $13,460, which includes the lucrative FLW PHOENIX BONUS contingency payout.
“There were a lot of great anglers fishing this event with a vast amount of experience on this lake, so it feels good to pull out a win,” said Houchin. “I was in second place at the end of day one and was worried about being so close to a victory and losing it. That would have been a hard pill to swallow, but it come through.
“I started out yesterday with a (River2Sea) Whopper Plopper and covered a ton of water fishing shallow, windy points, rock and brown grass,” Houchin continued. “I actually lost my fifth fish several times Sunday, but finished strong to bring home the fifth BFL win in my career.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament as follows:
1st: Quincy Houchin of Mabelvale, Ark., nine bass, 23-5, $13,460
2nd: Spencer Shuffield of Hot Springs, Ark., 10 bass, 21-14, $3,442
3rd: Adam Wright of Benton, Ark., 10 bass, 21-8, $1,820
4th: Evan Barnes of Hot Springs, Ark. 10 bass, 21-2, $1,274
5th: Brian Bean of Hot Springs, Ark. 10 bass, 20-4, $1,092
6th: Kevin Brown of Hot Springs, Ark., 10 bass, 18-10, $1,001
7th: Carl Cole of Little Rock, Ark., 10 bass, 18-5, $910
8th: Josh Ray of Alexander, Ark., 10 bass, 16-12, $819
9th: Chris Layton of North Little Rock, Ark., nine bass, 15-11, $728
10th: Bill Hughan of Little Rock, Ark., 10 bass, 15-9, $637
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Shuffield earned the day’s $712 Boater Big Bass award with a 5-pound, 1-ounce bass.
Houchin 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.
David Dam of Maumelle, Arkansas, earned the win in the Co-angler Division Sunday after catching a two-day total of eight bass weighing 16 pounds, 15 ounces. Dam earned $2,730 for his victory.
The top 10 co-anglers finished as follows:
1st: David Dam of Maumelle, Ark., eight bass, 16-15, $2,730
2nd: John McCullar of Benton, Ark., six bass, 12-12, $1,721
3rd: Ethan Sutton of Hot Springs, Ark., six bass, 12-12, $909
4th: Ron Knight of Hot Springs, Ark., seven bass, 10-7, $637
5th: Matt Russell of Prairie Grove, Ark., eight bass, 10-7, $546
6th: Chris Cusick of Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 10-3, $501
7th: Zachary Morrow of Lonsdale, Ark., eight bass, 9-8, $455
8th: Josh Castleberry of Jessieville, Ark., seven bass, 8-13, $410
9th: Melinda Hays of Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 7-14, $364
10th: Dakota Scott of Benton, Ark., seven bass, 7-3, $319
McCullar earned the event’s Co-angler Big Bass Award of $356 with a fish weighing in at 4 pounds, 6 ounces.
The 2020 Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine on Lake Hamilton was the fifth and final qualifying event in the 2020 Arkie Division.
Now the top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the Arkie Division based on point standings, along with the five winners of each qualifying event, will advance to the Oct. 22-24 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri, hosted by Explore Branson. 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 Nov. 11-13 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.
Freeburg’s Dickneite Earns Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Tournament on Lake of the Ozarks
WARSAW, Mo. (Sept. 14, 2020) – Boater Andre Dickneite of Freeburg, Missouri, brought a five-bass limit to the scale Sunday weighing 18 pounds, 7 ounces to win the Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine event on Lake of the Ozarks in Warsaw, Missouri. For his victory, Dickneite earned a total of $3,794.
The tournament was the fourth of five events in the Ozark Division presented by Tournament Anglers Group (TAG).
“My wife let me go fishing a few weeks ago on Labor Day, and on that trip I found the docks that I caught them off of today,” said Dickneite, who earned his fourth career tournament win in FLW competition. “I caught them on two different jigs. I have one combination that I use in dirty water, and one combination for cleaner water.”
With more big tournaments upcoming, including two Toyota Series events at Lake Dardanelle and Lake of the Ozarks in the next month, Dickneite declined to divulge the specifics of his jig.
“I caught all of my fish flipping,” Dickneite said. “I had to have the wind, I had to have shade and I had to have shad. The color of the jig is the whole key.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament as follows:
1st: Andre Dickneite of Freeburg, Mo., five bass, 18-7, $3,794
2nd: Adam Boehle of Warrenton, Mo., five bass, 17-10, $1,897
3rd: Bob Bueltmann of Osage Beach, Mo., four bass, 17-1, $1,760
4th: Chris Aswegan of Tiffin, Iowa, five bass, 16-12, $822
4th: Kyle Alsop of Overland Park, Kan., five bass, 16-12, $1,322
6th: Chad Deaver of Russellville, Mo., five bass, 15-4, $696
7th: Jacob Welch of Jefferson City, Mo., five bass, 15-3, $632
8th: Mike Malone of Lake Ozark, Mo., five bass, 14-12, $569
9th: Jason Rhyne of Foristell, Mo., five bass, 14-7, $506
10th: Andy Newcomb of Camdenton, Mo., five bass, 14-0, $443
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Bueltmann caught a bass weighing 5 pounds, 10 ounces to earn the day’s $495 Boater Big Bass award.
Alsop 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.
Walter Hammond of Lees Summit, Missouri, earned the win in the Co-angler Division Sunday after catching five bass weighing 12 pounds, 10 ounces. Hammond earned $1,897 for his victory.
The top 10 co-anglers finished as follows:
1st: Walter Hammond of Lees Summit, Mo., five bass, 12-10, $1,897
2nd: Michael Clark of Richland, Mo., four bass, 11-7, $949
3rd: Bryan Plyter of Greeley, Colo., four bass, 9-4, $633
4th: David Rice of Galena, Mo., four bass, 9-0, $411
4th: Dennis Young of Olathe, Kan., three bass, 9-0, $411
6th: Zach Wilson of Kansas City, Kan., five bass, 7-9, $348
7th: Ed Lawrence of Florissant, Mo., two bass, 7-4, $316
8th: Shawn Kemper of Iberia, Mo., two bass, 6-2, $269
8th: Troy Ladehoff of Kansas City, Mo., three bass, 6-2, $519
10th: Paul Davis of Battlefield, Mo., two bass, 5-15, $210
10th: Jeremy Fiedler of Sullivan, Mo., three bass, 5-15, $210
Mark Landis of Ballwin, Missouri, caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 4 pounds, 14 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $247.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the Ozark Division presented by TAG, based on point standings, along with the five winners of each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 15-17 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on the Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wisconsin, hosted by 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 Nov. 11-13 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.
Hallsville’s Wallis Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Tournament on Lake Truman
Joliet, Illinois’ Bernicky Earns Co-angler Victory
WARSAW, Mo. (Sept. 14, 2020) – Boater Mike Wallis of Hallsville, Missouri, brought a five-bass limit to the scale Saturday weighing 19 pounds, 14 ounces to win the Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine event on Lake Truman in Warsaw, Missouri. For his victory, Wallis earned a total of $5,009.
The tournament was the third of five events in the Ozark Division presented by Tournament Anglers Group (TAG).
“My day started off real slow – I went to primary spot and didn’t have fish before 10 o’clock,” said Wallis, who was fishing in his first career Bass Fishing League event. “After the sun popped out I caught a couple of big ones, then the sun went back in and they stopped. Later in the day they started biting again and I caught three more.”
Wallis said that his key baits were a shaky-head rig and a Pig Sticker jig.
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament as follows:
1st: Mike Wallis of Hallsville, Mo., five bass, 19-14, $5,009
2nd: Kyle Alsop of Overland Park, Kan., five bass, 19-2, $2,505
3rd: Darrell Reach of Kansas City, Mo., five bass, 18-10, $1,336
4th: Andy Newcomb of Camdenton, Mo., five bass, 18-0, $935
5th: Mark Tucker of Kirkwood, Mo., five bass, 17-12, $802
6th: Chris Aswegan of Tiffin, Iowa, five bass, 17-10, $735
7th: Roger Fitzpatrick of Eldon, Mo., five bass, 17-9, $668
8th: Tom Alsop of Overland Park, Kan., five bass, 16-7, $601
8th: Jared Knuth of Wahoo, Neb., five bass, 16-1, $535
10th: Keith Nickell of Raymore, Mo., five bass, 15-12, $468
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
McCormick earned the day’s $550 Boater Big Bass award with a 6-pound, 11-ounce bass.
Alsop 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.
Alan Bernicky of Joliet, Illinois, earned the win in the Co-angler Division Saturday after catching five bass weighing 14 pounds, 15 ounces. Bernicky earned $2,705 for his victory.
The top 10 co-anglers finished as follows:
1st: Alan Bernicky of Joliet, Ill., five bass, 14-15, $2,705
2nd: Ryan Stagner of Robertsville, Mo., five bass, 14-14, $1,002
3rd: Anthony Johnson of Excelsior Springs, Mo., five bass, 14-3, $668
4th: Brian Huber of Saint Peters, Mo., four bass, 12-4, $468
5th: Cameron Rieder of Independence, Mo., four bass, 11-7, $401
6th: Larry Rothweil of Saint Charles, Mo., five bass, 10-15, $368
7th: William Hoffert of Columbia, Mo., four bass, 9-9, $334
8th: Tim Sisco of Fair Grove, Mo., two bass, 9-4, $301
9th: Jon Cordray of House Springs, Mo., three bass, 9-3, $250
9th: Kyle Anderson of Foley, Mo., three bass, 9-3, $250
Steve Schaefer of Palmyra, Missouri, 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 $275.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the Ozark Division presented by TAG, based on point standings, along with the five winners of each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 15-17 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on the Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wisconsin, hosted by 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 Nov. 11-13 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.
Abu Garcia® Expands on its Successful Launch of Virtual Rods with the Addition of Virtual Combos
COLUMBIA, S.C. (September 14, 2020) — Anglers looking for a way to take their fishing to the next level have been spending this season putting the Abu Garcia Virtual rods to the test. These innovative rods have given anglers the ability to plan, record and improve their fishing success by gathering real-time fishing data like waypoints and catch records with the push of button, linking the rods to the ANGLR™ app via Bluetooth-enabled cell phones. Now, Abu Garcia is making it even easier for anglers to pair their cutting-edge rod technology with custom-matched reels through the new Virtual combos.
The new Virtual combos are designed for all-around performance regardless of species being targeted or whether anglers are fishing from a boat, a personal watercraft or the bank. The combos feature baitcast reels with eight bearings, a 6.4:1 gear ratio and 18 pounds of max drag. The spinning reels on the Virtual combos are equipped with six bearings, a 5.1:1 gear ratio and 14 pounds of max drag.
The Virtual series of rods is the first to integrate this type of technology and has been created in concert with ANGLR, an innovation company that offers a free fishing intelligence app that helps anglers plan, record and improve their fishing. The Virtual rods allow the angler to simply press a button to record catches, double-click to drop editable waypoints at their exact location and press and hold the button to indicate a change in tackle. The action to record a catch also compiles location, weather and water data with the stored catch information.
Building on this powerful functionality, the ANGLR app can simultaneously and seamlessly transfer waypoints bi-directionally onto compatible Lowrance®multifunction displays. The NMEA-based sync also allows data sharing from Lowrance sensors back to the app, providing greater precision by importing precise depth, water temperature, real-time GPS routes and other data to be added to the user’s logbook. This information, coupled with the durability and performance of Abu Garcia rod technology, will provide anglers a complete package as they look to maximize their time on the water.
Abu Garcia is known for delivering gear that gives anglers what they need to “fish to win," and that reputation takes on an additional dimension with the Virtual combos. When connected to friends via the ANGLR app, anglers can compete for bragging rights even when they aren’t fishing together, setting the stage for “virtual” tournaments whenever it’s time to go fishing.
The Virtual rod connects to the free ANGLR app on iPhone and Android devices. It also enables the phone’s camera to add a photo. All recorded fishing data is 100 percent private by default. The rod does not require charging and delivers a 2-year battery life. It works regardless of cell service for off-the-grid fishing and is ideal for small-water and small-vessel anglers who typically have not had access to electronics while fishing. Paired together, the ANGLR app and Virtual rods allow anglers of all experience levels the ability to capture and review their trips so they can strategize how they can fish to win even bigger on their next trip.
The Abu Garcia Virtual combo lineup includes two different baitcast combos, each available in either right- or left-handed configuration, as well as two different spinning combos, each available in either a 1- or 2-piece rod configuration. Virtual baitcast combos have an MSRP of $179.95; spinning combos have an MSRP of $159.95. For more information on the Virtual rod and Virtual combos, visit http://bit.ly/AbuGarciaVirtual.
Abu Garcia Virtual Combos: Specifications
Baitcast Combos
Rod Length: 7 feet
Rod Power: Medium Heavy
Reel Bearings: 8
Gear Ratio: 6.4:1
Max Drag: 18 pounds
MSRP: $179.95
Rod Length: 7 feet, 3 inches
Rod Power: Heavy
Reel Bearings: 8
Gear Ratio: 6.4:1
Max Drag: 18 pounds
MSRP: $179.95
Virtual Baitcast Combo Key Features:
• Both Virtual baitcast combos are available in either left- or right-handed configurations
• 7 ball bearings + 1 roller bearing
• Machined aluminum spool
• Power Disk™ drag system
• One-piece graphite frame
• Graphite sideplate
• 1-piece rod
• Integrates with the ANGLR app via Bluetooth-enabled cell phones
Spinning Combos
Rod Length: 6 feet, 6 inches
Rod Power: Medium
Reel Bearings: 6
Gear Ratio: 5.1:1
Max Drag: 14 pounds
MSRP: $159.95
Rod Length: 7 feet
Rod Power: Medium
Reel Bearings: 6
Gear Ratio: 5.1:1
Max Drag: 14 pounds
MSRP: $159.95
Virtual Spinning Combo Key Features:
• Both Virtual spinning combos are available with either a 1- or 2-piece rod
• 5 ball bearings +1 roller bearing for smooth operation
• Lightweight graphite body and rotor
• Machined aluminum spool for strength without extra weight
• Everlast™ bail system for improved durability
• Slow Oscillation for even line lay with all types of line
• Rocket Line Management™ system for better control of all types of line
• Rocket Spool Lip Design™ for increased control of line coming off of spool
• Integrates with the ANGLR app via Bluetooth-enabled cell phones
• Each Virtual spinning combo comes in either a 1- or 2-piece rod configuration
New Ugly Tools for Anglers that Fish Ugly
COLUMBIA, S.C. (September 14, 2020) — Fishing isn’t always pretty. Some anglers want tools that look nice on the boat or in their tackle box, but an Ugly Stik fisherman isn’t fooled by looks. They want tools that stand up to whatever gets thrown at them - from being dropped, left out in the rain, thrown in the back of the truck and everything in between. An Ugly Stik angler wants new Ugly Tools that can take a beating the Ugly Stik way.
Engineered to over deliver on durability, Ugly Tools make tasks like filleting a walleye or skinning a catfish on the dock at your buddy’s fishing camp a breeze. Rugged metals with hardy coatings ensure plier jaws and fillet blades will not corrode or pit with exhaustive use, and ergonomic, custom Ugly Tuff™ grips enhance control and the feel of the tool in the angler’s hand. These tools are so durable they’ll stand up to just about any punishment that gets thrown at them – that’s why all Ugly Stik tools are also backed with an unprecedented 7-year warranty.
“We knew if we were going to put the Ugly Stik name on tools they better be able to hold up to just about anything an angler can throw at them, so we designed these tools with real-life use situations in mind,” said Ugly Stik Vice President of Marketing Jon Schlosser. “We’ve taken the iconic toughness of Ugly Stik and incorporated it through a broad line of Ugly Tools built on durability and dependability, ranging from knives to shears and pliers.”
New Ugly Tools feature a variety of items including a fish skinner, pliers and marine shears. Ugly Tools knives feature blades that extend fully through the handle creating the most durable design to avoid breakage via pressure. The sheaths include a protective shielding and aeration to allow the blades to dry while in the sheath. The 7-inch Tapered Knife and the 9-inch Flex Knife also include a sharpening mechanism in the sheath to maximize usage and durability.
Tools and their uses:
Ugly Tools 7-inch Serrated Knife: Best for cutting through tough skin, scales and light bone. A semi-stiff and semi-thick blade make it easier to start fillet cuts on thick skinned or scaled fish.
Ugly Tools 7-inch Tapered Knife: Smaller to medium-sized fish; some flex allows for easy filleting and a short blade helps cut around bones salvaging as much meat as possible.
Ugly Tools 90-Degree Pliers: Used to remove hooks and baits from toothy fish or fish that are hooked deep. The extended 90-degree handle design allows for best line of sight when working in tight spaces.
Ugly Tools 9-inch Flex Knife: Medium to large-sized fish, extended length and flex allow for easy filleting of larger fish allowing maximum meat on fillets with even cuts.
Ugly Tools 9-inch Pliers: All-around tool used for removing hooks, modifying baits, cinching knots, cutting line, etc.
Ugly Tools Fish Skinner: Used to strip skin from meat when preparing table fare.
Ugly Tools Gut Hook Bait Knife: With nearly zero flex, this is best used as a bait board knife and can be used to skin fish.
Ugly Tools Marine Shears: Designed for any cutting task, including cutting chunks, fin snipping, rope cuts, etc. Also includes a scaler and measuring scale for quick reference when needed.
Ugly Tools Utility Knife: Less Flex and a thicker blade allow for steaking, breaking and bait fish work including cutting chum chunks.
Ugly Tools: Specifications
Knives
• Ugly Tools 9-inch Flex Knife: $29.99
• Ugly Tools 7-inch Tapered Knife: $24.99
• Ugly Tools 7-inch Serrated Knife: $24.99
• Ugly Tools 7-inch General Utility Knife: $29.99
• Ugly Tools 5-inch Gut Hook Bait Knife: $19.99
Marine Shears
• Robust Non-Slip Ugly Tuff™ Grips provide control even in wet/slippery conditions
• 420 Stainless Steel Blades
• Air-through Sheath – protects anglers, pets and blades when not in use
• Scaler – expose bait oils for more prolific scent dispersion
• Fin Snip – modify bait action to attract more bites
• Measuring Scale – quickly measure cut chunks for best results
• Blades Separate – easy clean up and go
• MSRP: $24.99
Fish Skinner
• Robust Non-Slip Ugly Tuff™ Grips provide control even in wet/slippery conditions
• 420 Stainless Steel Jaws
• Triggered Reverse Grip Handle Design
• Spring loaded – one hand operation
• Coiled Lanyard – allows angler to extend reach up to 36 inches
• Textured Jaws – grips skin better
• MSRP: $19.99
90-Degree Pliers
• Robust Non-Slip Ugly Tuff™ Grips provide control even in wet/slippery conditions
• High Carbon Steel Jaws
• 90-degree triggered handle equals maximum leverage with line of sight
• Spring loaded – one hand operation
• Coiled Lanyard – allows angler to extend reach up to 36” inches
• MSRP: $29.99
9-inch Pliers with Cutter
• Robust Non-Slip Ugly Tuff™ Grips provide control even in wet/slippery conditions
• High Carbon Steel Jaws
• Spring loaded – one hand operation
• Adjustable Vented Sheath with Belt Clip – Easy access for wear without inference on either right or left side
• Coiled Lanyard – allows angler to extend reach up to 36 inches
• Carbide Cutters – cuts nylons and superlines
• Triggered Reverse Grip Handle Design
• Cutters up – allows angler direct line of sight in tight working spaces
• Cutters down – allows angler to apply heavy pressure when needed
• Serrated Jaws – maximum friction and control
• Hook Cinching Notch – tighten line knots to hook limiting the angler’s risk of being stuck
• MSRP: $29.99
Maupin Wins Toyota Series Event on Potomac River
Virginia Pro Wins by 7-Ounce Margin, Earns $24,293
MARBURY, Md. (Sept. 13, 2020) – Toyota Series angler James Maupin of Stanardsville, Virginia, brought a five-bass limit to the scale Saturday weighing 13 pounds, 13 ounces to win the three-day Toyota Series at the Potomac River tournament in Marbury, Maryland. Maupin’s three-day total of 15 bass weighing 40-11 earned him the win by a 7-ounce lead over second-place angler Todd Walters of Kernersville, North Carolina, and earned Maupin the top payout of $24,293 in the second tournament of the 2020 Toyota Series Eastern Division.
Maupin was ecstatic just to make a top 10 in a field with Potomac hammers like this event featured, but to win was even more special.
“This win means a lot,” Maupin said. “It definitely makes all the hard work worth it to know I can compete with these guys.”
The two areas Maupin spent the majority of his time on this week were Greenway Flats and Mason Neck. Each area had a 200-yard stretch that he would work back and forth, no matter the tide, and each produced fish throughout the day.
“I’m not very familiar with tides, so I just put my head down and fished,” said the 42-year-old angler. “I got on this bite Wednesday and it was so consistent. When the sun would peek out I couldn’t get a bite going, but when it was cloudy I had success throwing a spinnerbait down those grass lines. Thankfully it was consistently cloudy all three days of the tournament.”
The bread and butter for Maupin was a 3/8-ounce Terminator spinnerbait with two gold willow blades. He had two identical spinnerbaits rigged on the deck, one on 15-pound-test fluorocarbon and the other on 20-pound-test to help the bait run lower or higher in the water. When the sun came out, especially on day two, Maupin ran a V&M swim jig with a Zoom Fat Albert Twin Tail Grub as a trailer to get a few bites.
As a brick mason by day, Maupin is more than happy to see fish pay the bills for a change. Though he may not be ready to dive into fishing full-time, he’s excited to keep competing at this level.
“This is seriously one of the greatest moments of my life,” said Maupin. “It’s just amazing. I’m going to use this check to pay off my house, so it’s cool to say I was able to do that by fishing. I’m not sure what I’m going to fish next year, but I definitely want to keep it going."
The top 10 pros on the Potomac River finished:
1st: James Maupin of Stanardsville, Va., 15 bass, 40-11, $24,293
2nd: Todd Walters of Kernersville, N.C., 15 bass, 40-4, $9,413
3rd: Bryan Schmitt of Deale, Md., 15 bass, 38-4, $7,288
4th: Wayne Vaughan of Chester, Va., 14 bass, 37-14, $6,139
5th: Michael Hall of Annandale, Va., 14 bass, 32-9, $5,532
6th: Kurt Mitchell of Milford, Del., 15 bass, 31-7, $5,059
7th: Danny Kirk of Bartow, Ga., 12 bass, 30-15, $4,251
8th: David Williams of Maiden, N.C., 14 bass, 30-15, $3,644
9th: Cody Pike of Powhatan, Va., 12 bass, 27-12, $4,037
10th: Joseph Thompson of Coatesville, Pa., 11 bass, 26-8, $2,429
A complete list of results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Pike 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.
James Roten of West Jefferson, North Carolina won the Co-angler Division Saturday with a three-day total of 12 bass weighing 27 pounds, 9 ounces. Roten took home the top prize package of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard motor.
The top 10 co-anglers on the Potomac River finished:
1st: James Roten of West Jefferson, N.C., 12 bass, 27-9, Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat w/115-hp outboard
2nd: Michael Duarte of Baltimore, Md., 12 bass, 26-3, $3,165
3rd: Jarrod Egolf of Frederick, Md., 13 bass, 24-1, $2,532
4th: Gary Haraguchi of Phoenix, Ariz., 14 bass, 22-2, $2,215
5th: Lenny Baird of Stafford, Va., 11 bass, 21-6, $1,899
6th: Jeff Mellott of Warfordsburg, Pa., nine bass, 19-1, $1,582
7th: Logan Fitzpatrick of Pennsville, N.J., eight bass, 18-13, $1,266
8th: Jason Hinger of Timberlake, N.C., 11 bass, 18-3, $1,808
9th: Derek Brown of Charlottesville, Va., nine bass, 13-15, $949
10th: Tony Toombs of Drakes Branch, Va., eight bass, 13-15, $791
The Toyota Series at the Potomac River was hosted by the Charles County Board of Commissioners. It was the second of three regular-season tournaments in 2020 for Eastern Division anglers. The next event for Toyota Series anglers will take place on Sept. 24-26 – the Toyota Series at Clear Lake in Clearlake, California. For a complete schedule, visitFLWFishing.com.
The 2020 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 $235,000 cash, including a $35,000 FLW PHOENIX Bonus for qualified anglers. 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 will be held Dec. 3-5 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.
Shelbyville’s Martha Layne Collins High School Wins FLW High School Fishing presented by Favorite Fishing Ohio River Open
PADUCAH, Ky. (Sept. 14, 2020) – Shelbyville’s Martha Layne Collins High School duo of Johnathan Brian and Evan Hellman brought three bass to the scale Saturday weighing 7 pounds even to win the FLW High School Fishing presented by Favorite Fishing Ohio River Open in Paducah, Kentucky.
For their win on the Ohio River, the team now advances to the 2021 High School Fishing National Championship.
The top two teams that qualified for the 2021 High School Fishing National Championship are:
1st: Martha Layne Collins High School, Shelbyville, Ky. – Johnathan Brian and Evan Hellmann, three bass, 7-0
2nd: Estill County High School, Irvine, Ky. – Brandon Vanderpool and Summer Evans, two bass, 5-7
Rounding out the top 10 were:
3rd: Calloway County High School, Murray, Ky. – Landon Morgan and Ross Kearns, two bass, 4-14
4th: Ohio County High School, Hartford, Ky. – Carson Fitzgerald and Clayton Cruze, one bass, 4-8
5th: West Tennessee Home Education Association – Caleb Griffin and Bryson Bailey, two bass, 4-1
6th: East Prairie High School, East Prairie, Mo. – Jase Archie and Sam Small, two bass, 3-11
7th: Bag 5 Bassin’. – Blake Schuster and Charlie Remmers, both of Roanoke, Ill., one bass, 3-7
8th: Bag 5 Bassin’– Brock Sauder, Carlock, Ill., and Brayden Blunier, Roanoke, Ill., two bass, 3-3
9th: McCracken County High School, Paducah, Ky. – Dalton Skinner and Harley Valerius, one bass, 2-11
10th: East Prairie High School, East Prairie, Mo – Mark Bixler and Coy Small, one bass, 2-9
Complete results from the event can be found at FLWFishing.com.
The FLW High School Fishing presented by Favorite Fishing Ohio River Open in Paducah, Kentucky, was a free, two-person (team) event for students in grades 7-12 and open to any FLW and Student Angler Federation-affiliated high school club. The top 10 percent of teams at each Open event along with the TBF High School Fishing state championships will advance to the 2021 High School Fishing National Championship. The High School Fishing national champions will each receive a $5,000 college scholarship to the school of their choice.
In addition to the High School Fishing National Championship, all High School Fishing anglers nationwide automatically qualify for the world’s largest open high school bass tournament, the 2021 High School Fishing World Finals, held in conjunction with the National Championship. More than $2.8 million in scholarships and prizes were offered at the 2020 World Finals.
Full schedules and the latest announcements are available at HighSchoolFishing.org and FLWFishing.com.
Western Illinois University Wins Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI Tournament on Ohio River
PADUCAH, Ky. (Sept. 14, 2020) – The Western Illinois University team of Hunter Litchfield of Macomb, Illinois, and Hunter Imhof of Wilmington, Illinois, won the Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI at the Ohio River event Friday with a five-bass limit weighing 7 pounds, 14 ounces. The victory earned the Western Illinois bass club $2,000 and qualified them to compete in the 2021 College Fishing National Championship.
The Leathernecks duo won by an 8-ounce margin over the second-place team of Luke Ripple and Blake Albertson from Murray State University, who weighed in four bass totaling 7 pounds, 6 ounces. The tournament launched from the Ohio River Ramp in Paducah, Kentucky.
The top 10 teams that advanced to the 2021 College Fishing National Championship are:
1st: Western Illinois University – Hunter Litchfield, Macomb, Ill., and Hunter Imhof, Wilmington, Ill., five bass, 7-14, $2,000
2nd: Murray State University – Luke Ripple, Murray, Ky., and Blake Albertson, Bloomington, Ind., four bass, 7-6, $1,000
3rd: Eastern Kentucky University – Chris LeMaster, Argillite, Ky., and Chase Terry, Whitley City, Ky., three bass, 6-14, $500
4th: University of Illinois – Robbie Schmidt, Tolono, Ill., and Tyson Stork, Strawn, Ill., four bass, 6-5, $500
5th: University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point – Neal Wisinski, Stevens Point, Wis., and Jesse Pliska of Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., four bass, 6-5, $500
6th: University of Central Missouri – Tyler Bartlett, Lees Summit, Mo., and Tad Deatherage, Concordia, Mo., five bass, 5-9
7th: McKendree University – Parker Domschke, Bolingbrook, Ill., and Ethan Jones, Sparta, Wis., three bass, 5-8
8th: Murray State University – Zachary Martin, Murray, Ky, and Harbor Lovin, Fayetteville, Ohio, three bass, 5-4
9th: Murray State University – Dalton Kelly, Keenes, Ill., and Jacob Autry, Beaver Dam, Ky., three bass, 4-9
10th: Western Illinois University – Brandon Briscoe, McHenry, Ill., and John Ott Jr., Lindenhurst, Ill., three bass, 4-6
Complete results for the entire field can be found at FLWFishing.com.
The Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI event on the Ohio River was the third and final regular-season qualifying tournament for Central Conference anglers. The next event for College Fishing anglers will be this week, Sept. 16 – the Abu Garcia College Fishing OPEN presented by YETI event at Kentucky and Barkley lakes in Gilbertsville, Kentucky.
Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI teams compete in regular-season qualifying tournaments in one of five conferences – Central, Northern, Southern, Southeastern and Western. The top ten teams from each division’s three regular-season tournaments and the top 20 teams from the annual Abu Garcia College Fishing Open advance to the following year’s Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI National Championship.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Shelbyville’s Martha Layne Collins High School Wins FLW High School Fishing presented by Favorite Fishing Ohio River Open
PADUCAH, Ky. (Sept. 14, 2020) – Shelbyville’s Martha Layne Collins High School duo of Johnathan Brian and Evan Hellman brought three bass to the scale Saturday weighing 7 pounds even to win the FLW High School Fishing presented by Favorite Fishing Ohio River Open in Paducah, Kentucky.
For their win on the Ohio River, the team now advances to the 2021 High School Fishing National Championship.
The top two teams that qualified for the 2021 High School Fishing National Championship are:
1st: Martha Layne Collins High School, Shelbyville, Ky. – Johnathan Brian and Evan Hellmann, three bass, 7-0
2nd: Estill County High School, Irvine, Ky. – Brandon Vanderpool and Summer Evans, two bass, 5-7
Rounding out the top 10 were:
3rd: Calloway County High School, Murray, Ky. – Landon Morgan and Ross Kearns, two bass, 4-14
4th: Ohio County High School, Hartford, Ky. – Carson Fitzgerald and Clayton Cruze, one bass, 4-8
5th: West Tennessee Home Education Association – Caleb Griffin and Bryson Bailey, two bass, 4-1
6th: East Prairie High School, East Prairie, Mo. – Jase Archie and Sam Small, two bass, 3-11
7th: Bag 5 Bassin’. – Blake Schuster and Charlie Remmers, both of Roanoke, Ill., one bass, 3-7
8th: Bag 5 Bassin’– Brock Sauder, Carlock, Ill., and Brayden Blunier, Roanoke, Ill., two bass, 3-3
9th: McCracken County High School, Paducah, Ky. – Dalton Skinner and Harley Valerius, one bass, 2-11
10th: East Prairie High School, East Prairie, Mo – Mark Bixler and Coy Small, one bass, 2-9
Complete results from the event can be found at FLWFishing.com.
The FLW High School Fishing presented by Favorite Fishing Ohio River Open in Paducah, Kentucky, was a free, two-person (team) event for students in grades 7-12 and open to any FLW and Student Angler Federation-affiliated high school club. The top 10 percent of teams at each Open event along with the TBF High School Fishing state championships will advance to the 2021 High School Fishing National Championship. The High School Fishing national champions will each receive a $5,000 college scholarship to the school of their choice.
In addition to the High School Fishing National Championship, all High School Fishing anglers nationwide automatically qualify for the world’s largest open high school bass tournament, the 2021 High School Fishing World Finals, held in conjunction with the National Championship. More than $2.8 million in scholarships and prizes were offered at the 2020 World Finals.
Full schedules and the latest announcements are available at HighSchoolFishing.org and FLWFishing.com.
Western Illinois University Wins Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI Tournament on Ohio River
PADUCAH, Ky. (Sept. 14, 2020) – The Western Illinois University team of Hunter Litchfield of Macomb, Illinois, and Hunter Imhof of Wilmington, Illinois, won the Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI at the Ohio River event Friday with a five-bass limit weighing 7 pounds, 14 ounces. The victory earned the Western Illinois bass club $2,000 and qualified them to compete in the 2021 College Fishing National Championship.
The Leathernecks duo won by an 8-ounce margin over the second-place team of Luke Ripple and Blake Albertson from Murray State University, who weighed in four bass totaling 7 pounds, 6 ounces. The tournament launched from the Ohio River Ramp in Paducah, Kentucky.
The top 10 teams that advanced to the 2021 College Fishing National Championship are:
1st: Western Illinois University – Hunter Litchfield, Macomb, Ill., and Hunter Imhof, Wilmington, Ill., five bass, 7-14, $2,000
2nd: Murray State University – Luke Ripple, Murray, Ky., and Blake Albertson, Bloomington, Ind., four bass, 7-6, $1,000
3rd: Eastern Kentucky University – Chris LeMaster, Argillite, Ky., and Chase Terry, Whitley City, Ky., three bass, 6-14, $500
4th: University of Illinois – Robbie Schmidt, Tolono, Ill., and Tyson Stork, Strawn, Ill., four bass, 6-5, $500
5th: University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point – Neal Wisinski, Stevens Point, Wis., and Jesse Pliska of Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., four bass, 6-5, $500
6th: University of Central Missouri – Tyler Bartlett, Lees Summit, Mo., and Tad Deatherage, Concordia, Mo., five bass, 5-9
7th: McKendree University – Parker Domschke, Bolingbrook, Ill., and Ethan Jones, Sparta, Wis., three bass, 5-8
8th: Murray State University – Zachary Martin, Murray, Ky, and Harbor Lovin, Fayetteville, Ohio, three bass, 5-4
9th: Murray State University – Dalton Kelly, Keenes, Ill., and Jacob Autry, Beaver Dam, Ky., three bass, 4-9
10th: Western Illinois University – Brandon Briscoe, McHenry, Ill., and John Ott Jr., Lindenhurst, Ill., three bass, 4-6
Complete results for the entire field can be found at FLWFishing.com.
The Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI event on the Ohio River was the third and final regular-season qualifying tournament for Central Conference anglers. The next event for College Fishing anglers will be this week, Sept. 16 – the Abu Garcia College Fishing OPEN presented by YETI event at Kentucky and Barkley lakes in Gilbertsville, Kentucky.
Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI teams compete in regular-season qualifying tournaments in one of five conferences – Central, Northern, Southern, Southeastern and Western. The top ten teams from each division’s three regular-season tournaments and the top 20 teams from the annual Abu Garcia College Fishing Open advance to the following year’s Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI National Championship.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
VanDam’s sentimental tokens
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships
He’s garnered 7 Bassmaster Angler of the year titles, 4 Bassmaster Classic victories, and 3 MLF Cup wins, and rest assured, if you were tossing bean bags in a game of backyard cornhole with him, he’d muster everything in his jerkbait slinging’ fibers to win that too.
Yet, within bass fishing’s all-time greatest angler lies a loyal and sentimental heart only those closest to him get to see. If you don’t believe it, check the Plano waterproof stowaway inside the pullout storage drawer of his Nitro Boat. That’s where you’ll find a collection of heartfelt tokens “KVD” never leaves home without.
“It started about 23 years ago when my twin sons Jackson and Nicholas were born,” says VanDam in reference to the collection of meaningful stones, a mini-cross, and a small red wooden sign that has traveled along in his boat since 1997.
“We spend about 200 days a year away from home and the people we love fishing tournaments. So, every one of these tokens makes me feel a little closer to them when I’m away,” he reflects.
Always first-class, VanDam was gracious enough to share the backstory of each.
“Kisses” rock – “That was from Sherry, and it’s the very first sentimental piece I ever remember carrying.”
Dad coins – “Those are from the boys of course. I think they were about 5-years-old when they gave them to me. Each coin has its own unique words on it.”
Mini cross – “I got it at Fellowship of Christian Anglers meeting before one of our tournaments.”
Heart rock – “It was one the boy’s projects at school.”
“Love You More” sign – “That’s the latest addition to my collection. It was just a sweet random gift from Sherry before the start of the season.”
And so, no doubt, while the trophies that line the fireplace in the VanDam family basement are virtually unmatched by any angler to every pickup a baitcaster, perhaps equally important to Kevin is the collection of tokens stored in his boat, and ultra-close to his heart.
Son and Mom Take Home the Win from Lewis Smith Lake
By Jason Duran
September 12 – Jasper, AL– Lewis Smith Lake concludes the 2020 Alabama Bass Trail North Division Season. Ethan and Becky Flack were the first team to cross the stage when the scales opened for early weigh-in. They surprised everyone when they registered 17.29 pounds on the scale. They watched and waited as the entire field crossed the stage one-by-one, and at the end of the day, their weight surpassed everyone.
Ethan and his wife, Jorden, are team partners this year. Jorden, as competitive as she is, decided to sit this one out because she is a soon to be new mom. So, Ethan reached out to his alternate partner Becky, whom he also calls mom. Ethan grew up fishing Smith Lake and spent many years fishing with mom and dad.
The team had an early boat number and felt confident they were going to get their spot. They made a ten-minute boat ride from blast off to their main spot and went to work quickly trying to locate the fish. The area can be described as a winding creek channel full of blueback herring. Ethan said, “it is all about the bait here at Smith Lake, and it really makes the fish move around.” They fished in water depths from 20-25 feet and were forced to move around a lot in that area because the fish were moving around chasing bait. With four fish in the box they were off to a good start until they hit a lull about 9:00. They left the area to see if they could find more fish, but with no luck, they decided to return to their main spot where they were able to make some upgrades to that final 17.29 pounds. The team said, “It was a struggle today. I know we had a good weight, but it wasn’t easy”
Ethan said, “I can attribute this win to Garmin electronics. I ordered the LiveScope a week ago, stayed up late last Friday night to put it on my boat and practiced with it last weekend to get used to it. It really helped to see the bait and the fish. We went to some of our other spots today where we had fish, and they were just gone.”
Becky was all smiles when they held up the $10,000 check and the first-place trophy. She said, “this was a very special day! Take your kids fishing; it makes for a lifetime of memories, and this one is one I’ll never forget.”
“Beating dad felt really good and to get him on his home lake is pretty hard. He’s won a whole lot of money here and it’s really unreal” said Ethan. This win makes them the first co-ed team to win an ABT event.
They primarily used two baits to target spotted bass and largemouth chasing blueback herring in the water column: a 4 inch Keitech Easy Shiner and a 2.8 inch Keitech Swing impact both in shad colors. They rigged them on 3/8 ball heads to help keep the bait down deeper and used a slow retrieve.
The second team to cross the stage was Craig Daniel and Jackie Flack. With 15.63, it was enough to secure second place. Craig and Jackie have decades of experience and numerous wins on Smith Lake. Craig has won four boats here and, as a team, they won the first ABT Championship.
For them practice really paid off. “We worked really hard the last two weeks to find these fish.” They had a few areas located that were holding fish, but their key area also had a couple boats in it- one of those boats being Ethan and Becky. On the water Becky said there “was some trash talking because she knew Craig and Jackie weren’t going to cut them any slack.”
Jackie also said the Garmin electronics were key. He said, “it really gives you confidence when you can turn it around and see the bait and the fish, cast right to them then watch your bait come through and the fish chase and bite it.” Craig said, “over the years we had to constantly change; we don’t even fish the same way we fished five years ago. We had to tweak and learn our electronics, or these other guys would just beat our brains out.”
They were also throwing a 3/8 ball head with a Zoom and Keitech Swim Bait. Jackie said, “if you aren’t fishing the blueback herring at Smith Lake, somebody else is and they are beating you. We had blueback spit up in the live well that were 6 inches long.” They reported together they “caught about 15 fish over the slot throughout the day.”
The first-year team of Mark Condron and Tony Simeri take home the North Division Angler of the Year with 1058 points. Mark and Tony were really excited to see their name at the top of AOY. They said, “we learned a lot this year. The fishing was really tough this whole year. We tried to figure them out in practice to a point but ended up doing something different on tournament day, and it worked out.” They join 8 other teams from the north division and qualify for BASS Team Championship later this year.
This concludes the 2020 ABT North Division. The top 75 teams (North Teams) in points have Qualified for the two-day championship along with 10 regular season winners, top 15 student teams, top 5 collegiate teams and top 5 couple teams (from both divisions). The no entry fee Championship will be held on Lake Martin October 23-24.
The top ten standings are below for a full list of results visit.
https://www.alabamabasstrail.org/tournament-series/nhl-results/
