UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-STEVENS POINT WINS YETI FLW COLLEGE FISHING CENTRAL CONFERENCE FINALE ON LAKE OF THE OZARKS
OSAGE BEACH, Mo. (Oct. 1, 2018) – The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point duo of Reed Fredrick of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, and Nick Dagel of Round Lake Beach, Illinois, won the YETI FLW College Fishing event on Lake of the Ozarks presented by Bass Pro Shops Saturday with five bass weighing 17 pounds, 8 ounces. The victory earned the Pointers’ bass club $2,400 and a slot in the 2019 FLW College Fishing National Championship, scheduled for June 4-6, 2019 at the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland.
“We stayed in the Grand Glaize arm and fished the entire day barely a mile from the launch,” said Fredrick, a senior majoring in water resources. “We were fishing points where the channel swung up against them, just dragging a shaky-head off of the points and onto the ledges.”
“We had three to four areas that we were fishing, all of them 20- to 35-feet-deep,” added Dagel, a senior majoring in biochemistry. “We had 15 pounds by 9 a.m., then culled up slowly throughout the day. No one else was fishing out deep.”
The Pointers’ duo estimated they caught around 20 fish throughout the day – a dozen keepers – with green-pumpkin-magic-colored Zoom Magnum Trick Worms on 5/16-ounce shaky head rigs.
The top 10 teams that advanced to the 2019 College Fishing National Championship are:
1st: University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point – Reed Fredrick, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., and Nick Dagel, Round Lake Beach, Ill., five bass, 17-8, $2,400
2nd: St. Charles Community College – Dale McCrackin, Lake St. Louis, Mo., and Alana Simonsen, Troy, Mo., five bass, 17-1, $1,000
3rd: University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point – Neal Wisinski, Stevens Point, Wis., and Jesse Pliska, Custer, Wis., five bass, 16-6, $500
4th: Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville – Justin Lowry, Moro, Ill., and Brendan Magruder, Edwardsville, Ill., four bass, 16-4, $500
5th: Kansas State University – Nate Gardner, Nickerson, Kan., and Zach Vielhauer, Shawnee, Kan., five bass, 16-3, $500
6th: Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville – Bryce Peters, Camp Point, Ill., and Matt Fors, Batavia, Ill., five bass, 14-6, $200
7th: Southeast Missouri State University – Nick Moore, Desoto, Mo., and Jacob Harris, Bonne Terre, Mo., five bass, 14-5, $200
8th: Campbellsville University – Adam Carman, Berea, Ky., and Hunter Adams, Campbellsville, Ky., five bass, 14-4
9th: Campbellsville University – Nick Ratliff, Vine Grove, Ky., and Bradley Dunagan, Monticello, Ky., five bass, 14-3, $250
10th: McKendree University – James Brown, Decatur, Ill., and Trey Schroeder, Crestwood, Mo., five bass, 14-0
Complete results for the entire field can be found at FLWFishing.com.
The YETI FLW College Fishing event on Lake of the Ozarks presented by Bass Pro Shops was hosted by the Tri-County Lodging Association. It was the third and final regular-season qualifying tournament for Central Conference anglers in 2018. The next YETI FLW College Fishing events takes place Nov. 3, when Southern Conference anglers compete at the final YETI FLW College Fishing event of the season on Toledo Bend Reservoir presented by Bass Pro Shops, in Many, Louisiana.
YETI FLW College Fishing teams compete in three 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 FLW College Fishing Open will advance to the 2019 FLW College Fishing National Championship, June 4-6 at the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland. Additional teams will qualify for the National Championship if the field size in regular-season events exceeds 100 boats.
YETI FLW College Fishing is free to enter. All participants must be registered, full-time students at a college, university or community college and members of a college fishing club that is recognized by their school.
Ranger Boats Strengthen Ties with the Cabela’s Collegiate Bass Fishing Series for the 2019 Season
The Association of Collegiate Anglers along with the Cabela’s Collegiate Bass Fishing Series is proud to announce their renewed partnership with Ranger Boats for the upcoming 2019 season. As part of their committed relationship, Ranger Boats will continue to reach collegiate anglers throughout the nation at events on the national level with the one-of-a-kind Ranger Cup University program.
“At Ranger, we’re very passionate about college fishing,” said Ranger Boats Marketing Director Matt Raynor. “Our partnership with Cabela’s Collegiate Bass Fishing Series lets us make an impact on the sport at an exciting level that’s only going to grow in participation and importance. We’re always looking to connect with the next generation of anglers, and this association lets us do that in a big way.”
Modeled after the most lucrative contingency reward program in the fishing industry, Ranger Cup University is the only program of its kind designed exclusively for collegiate anglers and is open to those competing in the Cabela’s Collegiate Bass Fishing Series events throughout the 2018-2019 season. Regardless of which boat brand they run, collegiate anglers in compliance with the guidelines can earn merchandise and prizes, as well as a once-in-a-lifetime fishing opportunity by qualifying for the Ranger Cup University Team Challenge held each Fall. Collegiate Anglers need to register for the program each year, regardless of past participation. Registration is completely free of charge and includes payout opportunities at each of the Cabela’s Collegiate Bass Fishing Series events this season.
“Ranger Boats’ support of bass fishing has always been legendary when you look at the history of our sport. It only goes without saying that their legacy in college fishing is also historical as they’re one of only a handful of companies that were involved in the early growth of college bass fishing. It continues to be an honor to call them our partners in the Cabela’s Collegiate Bass Fishing Series and the Ranger Cup University is one the top prize programs in all of college fishing,” said Wade Middleton, President of CarecoTV, and Director of the ACA.
DISCOVERY BAY’S TROUGHTON WINS COSTA FLW SERIES WESTERN DIVISION FINALE ON CALIFORNIA DELTA
Gregory Troughton wraps up 2018 Costa FLW Series Western Division season with win, earns $77,000
BETHEL ISLAND, Calif. (Sept. 29, 2018) – Pro Gregory Troughton of Discovery Bay, California, brought five bass weighing 12 pounds, 13 ounces, to the scale Saturday to win the Costa FLW Series Western Division finale on the California Delta presented by Power-Pole. Troughton’s three-day total of 15 bass weighing 60 pounds, 2 ounces, was enough to earn him the grand prize of $77,691, including a brand new Ranger Z518C boat with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard.
“I’ve worked really, really hard to get to this point. This [win] has been 30 years of work [in the making],” said Troughton, who earned his first career win in FLW Series competition. “I focused on this event, put in tons of time and effort and made it happen. It’s been an incredible week.”
Troughton said he started out Thursday expecting to put together a decent limit with a Don Iovino’s bass pattern-colored Splash-It Popper, but as conditions changed, so did his approach.
“My son Carter and I pre-fished together, and I did well with the Splash-It in the morning. I thought I could get limits fairly quickly for about 12 or 13 pounds, but things changed, as they always do in these tournaments,” said Troughton. “On Thursday, I didn’t have any bites for an hour and a half. My co-angler caught a few on a drop-shot and I felt things were changing, so I decided to get to the punching water and go to work.”
Troughton said he primarily worked through grass mats near three flooded islands in the central region of the Delta, adding that he fished slowly in 6 to 8 feet of water.
“I had confidence in the secondary deal. Within five minutes Thursday, I had my first bite – a 4-pounder,” said Troughton. “I made a little move to another small grass mat and stuck a 3-pound, 8-ouncer. I rotated amongst several small mats, focusing on key parts of them. I noticed a new mat had formed with ‘cheese’ on it, which is hydrilla grass that grows from the bottom to the surface. When it gets hot, it blooms yellow, and we call it cheese. It tells you that there’s a good canopy with lots of thick grass and that’s where the big ones live. I punched in there and caught a 7-pounder – my fifth fish.”
Troughton said that both Thursday and Friday’s limits came on a 4½-inch green-pumpkin-colored Yamamoto Baits Flappin’ Hog on a 4/0-sized Gamakatsu Super Heavy Cover Flippin’ Hook with a 1½-ounce River2Sea tungsten weight.
“I focused on one island Friday and did the exact same rotation through the mats. I started out with two 5-pounders, and after about an hour I caught a 3. Then, after an hour and a half, boom – I caught the big one – a 9-pound, 4-ouncer,” said Troughton. “I followed that up with a 7, and then another 3. Then I stopped fishing and helped my co-angler catch his fish, that was enough for the day.”
On Saturday, Troughton mixed in some new baits, catching two keepers punching mats, two on the Splash-It, one on a ½-ounce, green-pumpkin Z-Man/Evergreen Jack Hammer ChatterBait with a Yamamoto Zako trailer. He also used a wacky-rigged, green-pumpkin Yamamoto Senko. He said the early bite died as the sun got up, so he finished out his day at one of his primary islands, noting that the conditions had changed.
“The wind blew out the cheese and there were clouds so you couldn’t see the grass underneath. We scrambled a bit – it was tough today,” said Troughton.
The top 10 pros on the California Delta finished:
1st: Gregory Troughton, Discovery Bay, Calif., 15 bass, 60-2, $77,691
2nd: Bobby Barrack, Maud, Texas, 15 bass, 53-7, $12,507
3rd: Ish Monroe, Hughson, Calif., 15 bass, 52-15, $9,683
4th: Ken Mah, Elk Grove, Calif., 15 bass, 52-12, $8,169
5th: Jerred Jennings, Stockton, Calif., 15 bass, 51-4, $7,369
6th: Jason Cordiale, Orinda, Calif., 15 bass, 51-2, $6,455
7th: Nick Nourot, Benicia, Calif., 15 bass, 50-9, $5,648
8th: Nicholas Cloutier, Oakley, Calif., 15 bass, 48-6, $4,842
9th: Kyle Grover, Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., 15 bass, 45-10, $4,035
10th: Jeremy McKay, Creswell, Ore., 13 bass, 39-15, $3,228
A complete list of results will be posted at FLWFishing.com.
Troughton’s 9-pound, 4-ounce, largemouth was the biggest of the tournament in the Pro Division and earned him the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $214.
Jacob Traba of Pacifica, California, won the Co-angler Division and a Ranger Z175 with a 90-horsepower outboard motor with a three-day total catch of 14 bass weighing 40 pounds, 2 ounces.
The top 10 co-anglers on the California Delta finished:
1st: Jacob Traba, Pacifica, Calif., 14 bass, 40-2, $27,142
2nd: Jack Farage, Discovery Bay, Calif., 15 bass, 38-15, $4,174
3rd: Rodney Brinser, Discovery Bay, Calif., 15 bass, 35-15, $3,309
4th: Blaine Christiansen, San Jose, Calif., 15 bass, 35-2, $2,851
5th: Daniel Lutz, Las Vegas, Nev., 15 bass, 34-11, $2,444
6th: Aaron Sok-Jung Yun, Northridge, Calif., 14 bass, 34-1, $2,037
7th: Chuck Kavros, Grass Valley, Calif., 14 bass, 29-0, $1,629
8th: Scott Bern, San Rafael, Calif., 11 bass, 25-7, $1,426
9th: Brad Shepherd, Templeton, Calif., 12 bass, 24-15, $1,222
10th: Richard Rodriguez, Modesto, Calif., nine bass, 23-10, $1,089
Rodriguez caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the Co-angler Division Thursday, a fish weighing 7 pounds, 3 ounces. For his catch, Rodriguez earned the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $71.
The Costa FLW Series on the California Delta was presented by Power-Pole was hosted by Russo's Marina and Sugar Barge RV Resort and Marina. It was the third and final FLW Series Western Division tournament of the 2018 regular season. The next Costa FLW Series tournament will be the Southwestern Division finale, held Oct. 4-6 on Fort Gibson Lake in Wagoner, Oklahoma, and is presented by Mercury. For a complete schedule, visit FLWFishing.com.
The Costa FLW Series consists of five U.S. divisions – Central, Northern, Southeastern, Southwestern and Western – along with the International division. Each U.S. division consists of three regular-season tournaments with competitors vying for valuable points that could earn them the opportunity to compete in the season-ending Costa FLW Series Championship. The 2018 Costa FLW Series Championship is being held Nov. 1-3 on Lake Guntersville in Guntersville, Alabama, and is hosted by the Marshall County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Costa FLW Series on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
FORT GIBSON LAKE SET FOR COSTA FLW SERIES SOUTHWESTERN DIVISION FINALE PRESENTED BY MERCURY
WAGONER, Okla. (Sept. 25, 2018) – As many as 250 regional boaters and co-anglers are set to fish Fort Gibson Lake Oct. 4-6 for the Costa FLW Series Southwestern Division finale at Fort Gibson Lake presented by Mercury. Hosted by the Wagoner Area Chamber of Commerce, the three-day bass-fishing tournament will feature a top prize of up to $85,000, including a brand new Ranger Z518C boat with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard engine.
“The lake is going to fish differently than it has in previous years because of the amount of rain Oklahoma has received in the past week,” said Gene Larew pro Jeff Sprague of Point, Texas, who finished in eighth place when the FLW Series visited Fort Gibson Lake in September 2016. “The lake is going to be high this week and will eventually be falling. If it stabilizes by the time we get there, the fish will be set up on new stuff.
“There’s also a cold front coming in – the first one of the year – so the fishing is about to change,” continued Sprague. “There’s probably going to be a lot of fish in transition and moving around, and I think that’s going to be a big factor in how well someone does in this event. Trying to find them and stay ahead of them will be the key.”
Sprague said that a lot of Fort Gibson Lake will be in play for this event, and that he expects to see fish caught from one end to the other.
“The thing about Fort Gibson Lake is that they live all the way from the dam to the river,” said Sprague. “I think that guys will be spread out and we’ll see fish come from each end of the lake because the water’s been up and it’s going to pull a lot of the fish from the deeper water to the bank, or just up to feed at shallower rock piles and stuff like that.
“It’s going to come down to whoever finds the right rock pile or stretch of hard bottom where there’s a group of fish feeding and moving back out staging. If the bait’s positioned right, that will be key,” continued Sprague. “Just finding that right little area where the bait has moved in and the fish are keyed in on it. Where the current has positioned some fish due to the amount of high water will be a big deal.”
Sprague said that football-head jigs, spinnerbaits, shaky-head rigs, walking baits and buzzbaits will likely be favored by anglers.
“Gene Larew hard heads have been and always will be a big deal there. You can cover a lot of water with them and they can catch the big ones,” said Sprague. “Competitors are going to be able to catch fish in a lot of different ways.”
The Texas pro said that a three-day total of 51 pounds should be enough to take top honors.
Anglers will take off from Taylor's Ferry North, located on Dock Road, in Wagoner, at 7:30 a.m. CDT each day. Thursday and Friday’s weigh-ins will also take place at Taylor’s Ferry North, and will begin at 3:30 p.m. each day. Saturday’s final weigh-in will take place at Walmart, located at 410 S. Dewey Ave. in Wagoner and will begin at 4 p.m. All takeoffs and weigh-ins are free to attend and open to the public.
In Costa FLW Series regular-season competition, payouts are based on the number of participants competing in the event. At Fort Gibson Lake, pros will fish for a top prize of up to $85,000, including a brand new Ranger Z518C boat with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard if Ranger Cup qualified. Co-anglers will cast for a brand new Ranger Z175 boat with a 90-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard, and $5,000 if Ranger Cup qualified.
The Costa FLW Series consists of five U.S. divisions – Central, Northern, Southeastern, Southwestern and Western – along with the International division. Each U.S. division consists of three regular-season tournaments with competitors vying for valuable points that could earn them the opportunity to compete in the season-ending Costa FLW Series Championship. The 2018 Costa FLW Series Championship is being held Nov. 1-3 on Lake Guntersville in Guntersville, Alabama, and is hosted by the Marshall County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Costa FLW Series on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
Bassmaster Elite Series To Visit Guntersville, Cayuga In 2019
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B.A.S.S. Celebrates The 50th Birthday Of The B.A.S.S. Nation
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AC Insider Podcast - National Signing Week.......
They boys wrap up the week with another Podcast talking "National Signing Day" as it seems to be on the interwebs this week. The boys talk the latest in BASS/MLF/FLW Rumors and facts and welcome newly announced MLF BPT Pro's Skeet Reese & Jason Lambert to the program. Its an educational filled podcast to say the least! Check it out!
COSTA FLW SERIES SET TO VISIT CAL DELTA FOR TOURNAMENT PRESENTED BY POWER-POLE
BETHEL ISLAND, Calif. (Sept. 18, 2018) – More than 150 pros and co-anglers are set to close the Costa FLW Series Western Division regular season next week, Sept. 27-29, at the Costa FLW Series at the California Delta presented by Power-Pole. The tournament, hosted by Russo’s Marina and the Sugar Barge RV Resort and Marina, is the third and final regular-season event scheduled in the FLW Series Western Division. The event will feature anglers competing for a top award of up to $75,000, including a brand new Ranger Z518C boat with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard.
“Overall, the Delta is fishing a little differently than we’ve gotten used to,” said Yamamoto Baits pro Jimmy Reese of Witter Springs, California, a two-time Forrest Wood Cup qualifier. “We can always catch fish doing the normal, Delta-type fishing – current-related, flipping, a ChatterBait, a spinnerbait – all of those standard ways of catching fish are still there. But, a lot of the grass has been killed off. Guys are going to be searching – not for fish, but for vegetation. It’s going to bring quite a few different things into play.”
Reese said that he expects anglers that move around and have multiple different areas to do well as he doesn’t expect one area will hold enough fish to last for three days of competition.
“You can rely on one spot for a day, maybe a day and a half, but nothing will hold up for three days,” Reese said. “I think the key will be dialing in on something off-the-wall that people overlook in the community areas where people normally fish. I think someone who fishes outside the box will do really well.”
Reese predicted that the winner would weigh in around 23 pounds on Day One, 18 pounds on Day Two and 15 pounds on third and final day.
“What is that, 56 pounds?” Reese said. “That’s my prediction – a winning three-day total of 56 pounds and 2 ounces.”
Anglers will take off and weigh-in each day at Russo’s Marina, located at 2995 Willow Road, in Bethel Island. Takeoff will be held at 7 a.m. PDT each day of competition and weigh-ins will start at 3 p.m. All takeoffs and weigh-ins are free to attend and open to the public.
In Costa FLW Series regular-season competition, payouts are based on the number of participants competing in the event. At the California Delta event, pros will fish for a top prize of $75,000, including a brand new Ranger Z518C boat with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard if Ranger Cup qualified. Co-anglers will cast for a brand new Ranger Z175 boat with a 90-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard, and $5,000 if Ranger Cup qualified.
The Costa FLW Series consists of five U.S. divisions – Central, Northern, Southeastern, Southwestern and Western – along with the International division. Each U.S. division consists of three regular-season tournaments with competitors vying for valuable points that could earn them the opportunity to compete in the season-ending Costa FLW Series Championship. The 2018 Costa FLW Series Championship is being held Nov. 1-3 on Lake Guntersville in Guntersville, Alabama, and is hosted by the Marshall County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Costa FLW Series on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
Jump Starting Power Packs Upgraded with Increased Power and More Features
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AC Insider - The AOY Episode
This week the boys head back to the root of the show and talk about the Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship last week on Lake Chatuge. They guys speak with the event winner James Elam and how he went wire-to-wire and grab himself a blue trophy. They boys also introduce you to Rookie of the Year Jake Whitaker. Never heard of him? You will know! Those interviews along with the Progressive Bass Wrap Up, The Costa Countdown to Blast off and more all right here!
YETI FLW COLLEGE FISHING EVENT PRESENTED BY BASS PRO SHOPS SET FOR LAKE OF THE OZARKS
OSAGE BEACH, Mo. (Sept. 18, 2018) – The YETI FLW College Fishing season will continue with an event Sept. 29, at the YETI FLW College Fishing on Lake of the Ozarks presented by Bass Pro Shops. The tournament, hosted by the Tri-County Lodging Association, is the third and final regular-season event for college anglers in the Central Conference and will award a top prize of a $2,000 club scholarship and an invitation to compete in the 2019 College Fishing National Championship to the winners.
“Lake of the Ozarks is the best lake in Missouri, and the best part about it is that you can win the tournament anywhere on the lake,” said FLW Tour pro Jeremy Lawyer of Sarcoxie, Missouri, the 2016 BFL All-American and a two-time Forrest Wood Cup qualifier. “The college teams are going to be able to fish their strengths 100-percent. There is not a bad part of the lake to fish.”
After a mostly warm and pleasant summer, a cold front is predicted for the Ozark region over the next week as fall looks to be making its return. Lawyer said that the weather change should only improve the fishing conditions.
“When it gets cold and rainy here it goes from mediocre fishing to really good fishing,” Lawyer said. “If there is one lake in the country where the fish really start to chew when a front comes in, it’s Lake of the Ozarks. With three days of rain coming at the end of the week, I expect the fishing to really pick up.”
Lawyer said that he expects moving baits to be the bait of choice amongst most anglers – he suggested topwater baits, squarebill crankbaits and Zoom Super Flukes.
“The fish are going to be more apt to chase it, so you want something that you can tease them with,” Lawyer said. “I think anyone that can catch a solid limit above 18 pounds is going to be competing for the win. I predict the winner will have between 18½ to 19 pounds.”
Competitors will take off from Public Beach No. 2 at the Lake of the Ozarks State Park Grand Glaize Recreation Area, located at 711 Public Beach Road, in Osage Beach, at 7 a.m. CDT Saturday. Weigh-in will be held at the takeoff location beginning at 3 p.m. Takeoff and weigh-in are free and open to the public.
Schools are allowed to register up until the morning of the tournament. Entries may be made either by phone or at CollegeFishing.com.
Schools currently registered to compete in the Lake of the Ozarks tournament include:
Bellarmine University – Andrew Kuebler, Louisville, Ky., and Jacob Schmidt, Medina, Ohio
Bellarmine University – Trevor Hulsey, Louisville, Ky., and Patrick McPhillips, Floyds Knobs, Ind.
Campbellsville University – Adam Carman, Berea, Ky., and Hunter Adams, Campbellsville, Ky.
Campbellsville University – Gavin Barnes and Ezra Oliver, both of Campbellsville, Ky.
Central College – Cameron Timok, Glen Allen, Va., and Steven Candley, Pella, Iowa
Eastern Kentucky University – Blake Riley, Henderson, Ky., and Corey Elliott, London, Ky.
Greenville University – Evan Seggerman, Minonk, Ill., and Cale Jausel, Coulterville, Ill.
Greenville University – Ricky Huge, Carlyle, Ill., and Cordell Beckmann, Breese, Ill.
Illinois State University – Anthony Fazio, Channohn, Ill., and Justin Schick, Morton, Ill.
Illinois State University – Benjamin Stedman and Hayden Damery, both of Moweaqua, Ill.
Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis – Ethan Maag, Kendallville, Ind., and Jacob Sanders, Marion, Ill.
Iowa State University – Taggert Tesdal, Jefferson, Wis., and Josef Rogers, Ames, Iowa
Kansas State University – Cole Miller, Kansas City, Mo., and Andrew Easterday, Overland Park, Kan.
Kansas State University – Michael Mueting and Jake Elwood, both of Lincoln, Neb.
Kansas State University – Hunter French, Buhler, Kan., and Laine Werth, Manhattan, Kan.
Lewis University – Joe Skvarla, Tinley Park, Ill., and Zachary Spesia, Coal City, Ill.
Southern Illinois University – Kyle Wagner and Jake Wagner, both of Waterloo, Ill.
Southern Illinois University – Mason Bishop, Goreville, Ill., and Levi Rogers, Albion, Ill.
Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville – Bryce Peters, Camp Point, Ill., and Matt Fors, Batavia, Ill.
Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville – Brendan Magruder, Edwardsville, Ill., and Justin Lowry, Moro, Ill.
Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville – Tristan Friesner, Cabot, Ark., and Cole Hammel, McLean, Ill.
University of Iowa – Jake Usher, Ionia, Iowa, and Bryan Mouser, Iowa City, Iowa
University of Nebraska – Charle Deshazer, Fremont, Neb., and Sean Mulchrone, Maple Grove, Minn.
University of North Dakota – Zachery Oldre, Lakeville, Minn., and Noah Levesseur, Prior Lake, Minn.
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh – Zachary Schnepf, Waukesha, Wis., and Michael Anderson, Lake Tomahawk, Wis.
University of Wisconsin-Platteville – Eric Rasmussen and Bradley Winkel, both of Platteville, Wis.
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point – Reed Fredrick, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., and Nick Dagel, Round Lake Beach, Ill.
Winona State University – Colton Haney, Baldwin, Wis., and Chase Pomeroy, Winona, Minn.
YETI FLW College Fishing teams compete in three 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 FLW College Fishing Open will advance to the 2019 FLW College Fishing National Championship. Additional teams will qualify for the National Championship if the field size in regular-season events exceeds 100 boats. The Potomac River and Marbury, Maryland, will play host to the 2019 FLW College Fishing National Championship, June 4-6, 2019.
YETI FLW College Fishing is free to enter. All participants must be registered, full-time students at a college, university or community college and members of a college fishing club that is recognized by their school.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow YETI FLW College Fishing on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
LABELLE’S MILICEVIC WINS T-H MARINE FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE GATOR DIVISION FINALE ON LAKE OKEECHOBEE
Palm Spring’s Panozzo Takes Co-angler Title
OKEECHOBEE, Fla. (Sept. 24, 2018) – Boater Gary Milicevic of Labelle, Florida, won the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Gator Division tournament on Lake Okeechobee Sunday with a two-day cumulative catch of 10 bass weighing 53 pounds, 2 ounces. For his win, Milicevic earned $8,374.
Milicevic was unable to be reached for details, but according to post-tournament reports he caught his fish near Harney Pond, flipping a Medlock Jig in the cloudy and rainy conditions to catch his limits.
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Gary Milicevic, Labelle, Fla., 10 bass, 53-2, $6,374 + $2,000 Ranger Cup
2nd: Larry Cahan, East Palatka, Fla., 10 bass, 48-0, $2,937
3rd: Bryan Honnerlaw, Moore Haven, Fla., 10 bass, 45-10, $2,057
4th: Donny Bass, Naples, Fla., 10 bass, 40-14, $1,371
5th: Jared McMillan, Belle Glade, Fla., 10 bass, 40-7, $1,175
6th: Fred Chivington Jr., Welaka, Fla., 10 bass, 40-3, $1,077
7th: Chuck Webb, Sarasota, Fla., 10 bass, 39-12, $979
8th: Jim Joseph, Oakland Park, Fla., 10 bass, 39-1, $881
9th: Chris Keith, Gainesville, Fla., 10 bass, 36-13, $783
10th: Mason Boylan, Melbourne, Fla., 10 bass, 36-3, $685
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Steve Broughton of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, caught a largemouth weighing 8 pounds, 11 ounces – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division. The catch earned him the Boater Big Bass award of $780.
John Panozzo of Palm Springs, Florida, caught a two-day total of nine bass weighing 36 pounds even to win the Co-angler Division and $2,937.
The top 10 co-anglers were:
1st: John Panozzo, Palm Springs, Fla., nine bass, 36-0, $2,937
2nd: James Bullard, Glen Saint Mary, Fla., nine bass, 33-1, $1,568
3rd: Vince Owen, Coral Springs, Fla., nine bass, 29-12, $979
4th: Christian Greico, Tampa, Fla., 10 bass, 27-0, $685
5th: Jackie Barber, Cocoa, Fla., nine bass, 24-7, $587
6th: Christopher Gardner, Leesburg, Fla., nine bass, 23-0, $538
7th: Alex Mut, Miami, Fla., seven bass, 23-0, $929
8th: Cody Farnham, Port St. Lucie, Fla., 10 bass, 21-15, $441
9th: General Johnson, Fort Myers, Fla., eight bass, 20-13, $392
10th: Moses Wilson, Clewiston, Fla., 10 bass, 20-10, $343
Mut caught the largest largemouth bass in the Co-angler Division weighing 8 pounds, 15 ounces – and earned the Co-angler Big Bass award of $390.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 11-13 BFL Regional Championship on the St. Johns River in Palatka, Florida. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard.
The 2018 BFL 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 BFL All-American. The 2019 BFL All-American will take place May 30-June 1 on the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
HOYLE WINS T-H MARINE FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE SOUTH CAROLINA DIVISION FINALE ON LAKE WYLIE
Piedmont’s Smith Takes Co-angler Title
ROCK HILL, S.C. (Sept. 24, 2018) – Boater Cody Hoyle of Rutherfordton, North Carolina, won the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) South Carolina Division tournament on Lake Wylie Sunday with a two-day cumulative catch of nine bass weighing 25 pounds, 8 ounces. For his win, Hoyle netted $6,253.
Hoyle said he fished up the Catawba River each day, from just above the mouth of the south fork to the Interstate 85 bridge.
“I fished clay banks, riprap and docks in 1 to 15 feet of water,” said Hoyle, who notched his first win in FLW competition. “I fished docks with a jig and then between the docks I used a square-billed crankbait. I was just trying to cover as much water as possible.”
Hoyle said he caught seven keepers Saturday, some on a TO Craw-colored Lucky Craft 1.5 Silent Squarebill crankbait, and some on a green-pumpkin jig with a green-pumpkin and red Zoom Big Salty Chunk trailer.
“My dad made the jig and I caught my biggest fish on it each day,” said Hoyle. “I just put a set of Power-Poles on and they helped me get those fish as well. I set them down and was really able to pick apart those docks.”
Hoyle said his fish reloaded in the same spots Sunday and that he caught four keepers and two small fish to finish out the event.
“I caught my last fish at 2:55 (p.m.) with the jig from a dock right across the lake from the weigh-in. If I didn’t get that one I would’ve finished in second place.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Cody Hoyle, Rutherfordton, N.C., nine bass, 25-8, $6,253
2nd: Jeff Jennings, Rock Hill, S.C., 10 bass, 24-0, $3,126
3rd: Jason Wilson, Lincolnton, N.C., nine bass, 23-5, $2,018
4th: Britt Myers, Lake Wylie, S.C., 10 bass, 23-2, $1,412
5th: Austin Johnson, Chesnee, S.C., nine bass, 23-1, $1,211
6th: Willie McMullen, Oxford, Ga., 10 bass, 19-13, $1,110
7th: Shane Lineberger, Lincolnton, N.C., eight bass, 19-6, $1,009
8th: Rob Digh, Denver, N.C., nine bass, 19-0, $908
9th: Robby Rush, Gastonia, N.C., eight bass, 18-8, $807
10th: Jake Frye, Charlotte, N.C., nine bass, 18-3, $1,006
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Fred Kauffman of Denver, North Carolina, caught a bass weighing 5 pounds, 2 ounces – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division. The catch earned him the Boater Big Bass award of $817.
Michael Smith of Piedmont, South Carolina, caught a two-day total of six bass weighing 12 pounds, 13 ounces, to win the Co-angler Division and $3,143.
The top 10 co-anglers were:
1st: Michael Smith, Piedmont, S.C., six bass, 12-13, $3,143
2nd: Bobby Henderson, Charlotte, N.C., five bass, 10-8, $1,522
3rd: Donald Poteat, Morganton, N.C., five bass, 9-0, $980
4th: Cole Drummond, Effingham, S.C., four bass, 8-1, $687
5th: Beau Wilder, Charlotte, N.C., five bass, 8-0, $589
6th: Harold Addison II, Columbia, S.C., four bass, 7-12, $540
7th: Khris Williams, Mount Holly, N.C., four bass, 7-11, $491
8th: Kate Hough, Gilbert, S.C., three bass, 7-7, $441
9th: Jarrod Egolf, Frederick, Md., three bass, 6-14, $392
10th: Jason Byrd, Lugoff, S.C., three bass, 6-12, $343
Tom Brown of Newton, North Carolina, caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division – a fish weighing 3 pounds, 12 ounces – and earned the Co-angler Big Bass award of $397.
The 2018 T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) South Carolina Division finale on Lake Wylie was hosted by the Rock Hill/York County Convention & Visitors Bureau.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 18-20 BFL Regional Championship on Lake Norman in Huntersville, North Carolina. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard.
The 2018 BFL 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 BFL All-American. The 2019 BFL All-American will take place May 30-June 1 on the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
VANDIVER’S STRACNER WINS T-H MARINE FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE BAMA DIVISION FINALE ON LAKE JORDAN
Sylacauga’s Scott Grabs Co-angler Title
WETUMPKA, Ala. (Sept. 24, 2018) – Boater Josh Stracner of Vandiver, Alabama, won the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Bama Division tournament on Lake Jordan Sunday with a two-day cumulative catch of 10 bass weighing 30 pounds, 8 ounces. For his win, Stracner netted $4,110.
Stracner said he fished on the south end of the lake throughout the event. On Saturday, he primarily used a 6½-inch green-pumpkin-colored Netbait T-Mac Straight Tail worm on a Davis Bait Company shaky-head jig. He also used a homemade jig with a green-pumpkin Zoom Super Chunk Jr. trailer.
“I caught pretty much everything I weighed on the Netbait worm in brush piles and one from docks on the jig,” said Stracner. “I would pull up and throw that shaky-head and if I didn’t get anything in three or four casts, I moved on.
“I skipped the jig under the deepest docks I could find,” continued Stracner. “The one I weighed was from a dock near the launch ramp and it ended up being my biggest of the day.”
Stracner said he fished 30 to 40 brush piles each day, in anywhere from 12 to 20 feet of water.
“I started with the shaky-head rig in brush piles Sunday but couldn’t get a bite,” said Stracner. “I picked up a (bone-colored) Zara Spook and was able to catch a limit really quick – including my biggest fish of the event.
“As the sun got up, I switched to a (Sexy Blue Back Herring-colored) Strike King 6XD crankbait and caught them well late in the day,” continued Stracner. “In the last couple of hours, I could get them at a brush pile on the first cast.”
Stracner said he ended up putting nearly 10 keepers in the boat on Saturday and 30 on Sunday.
“I got some new rods that really helped me out, especially the 7-foot, 6-inch Shimano (Expride A) heavy casting rod. It’s versatile and you can fish a lot of different techniques with it.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Josh Stracner, Vandiver, Ala., 10 bass, 30-8, $4,110
2nd: Michael Smith, Andalusia, Ala., 10 bass, 28-7, $2,255
3rd: Anthony Goggins, Clanton, Ala., 10 bass, 27-7, $1,469
4th: Dusty Robinson, Eclectic, Ala., 10 bass, 27-3, $959
5th: Shaye Baker, Tallassee, Ala., 10 bass, 27-2, $822
6th: Erick Sommers, Deatsville, Ala., 10 bass, 25-12, $754
7th: Chad Schroeder, Lowndesboro, Ala., 10 bass, 25-10, $685
8th: Joe Wikoff, Phenix City, Ala., 10 bass, 25-1, $617
9th: Jeremy Green, Gadsden, Ala., 10 bass, 24-3, $990
10th: Terry Tucker, Gadsden, Ala., seven bass, 21-9, $480
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Bueltmann caught a bass weighing 4 pounds, 9 ounces – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division. The catch earned him the Boater Big Bass award of $442.
Caleb Scott of Sylacauga, Alabama, caught a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 23 pounds, 11 ounces, to win the Co-angler Division and $2,055.
The top 10 co-anglers were:
1st: Caleb Scott, Sylacauga, Ala., 10 bass, 23-11, $2,055
2nd: Jeff Morgan, Kennesaw, Ga., 10 bass, 21-15, $1,228
3rd: Radney Atchison, Prattville, Ala., 10 bass, 21-2, $684
4th: David McMurphy, Wilsonville, Ala., 10 bass, 20-11, $480
5th: Mike Grose, Salem, Ala., nine bass, 20-6, $461
6th: Jennings Earnest, Guin, Ala., 10 bass, 20-4, $377
7th: Lew Moore, Roanoke, Ala., eight bass, 18-9, $343
8th: Ryan Sweeney, Springville, Ala., nine bass, 17-12, $308
9th: Tyler Conn, Wetumpka, Ala., seven bass, 14-1, $274
10th: Larry Purdie, Columbus, Ga., seven bass, 13-12, $240
Jacob Robinson of Temple, Georgia, caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division – a fish weighing 3 pounds, 3 ounces – and earned the Co-angler Big Bass award of $221.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 11-13 BFL Regional Championship on St. Johns River in Palatka, Florida. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard.
The 2018 BFL 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 BFL All-American. The 2019 BFL All-American will take place May 30-June 1 on the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
BENTON’S WRIGHT WINS T-H MARINE FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE ARKIE DIVISION FINALE ON LAKE HAMILTON PRESENTED BY GEARED
Delaney Takes Co-angler Title
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. (Sept. 24, 2018) – Boater Adam Wright of Benton, Arkansas, won the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Arkie Division tournament on Lake Hamilton Sunday with a two-day cumulative catch of 10 bass weighing 31 pounds, 10 ounces. For his win, Wright pocketed $6,387.
Wright said he fished all over the main lake Saturday and Sunday, hitting 15 diffeent areas Saturday and 20 on Sunday. He said he was able to put 17 keepers in the boat, mostly with a white Stanley Ribbit frog and a Black’s Custom Lures buzzbait with a white Zoom Horny Toad.
“I used a medium retrieve and made thousands of casts. They were just getting to the bank in shallow grass,” said Wright, who logged his fourth career win as a boater in BFL competition – third on Lake Hamilton. “On Saturday, I had them by 10 a.m. – it was the perfect storm. It rained the night before and it played into my strategy. I had some brush piles ready, but when it rains they go shallow.”
Wright said that when it rained during the tournament he used the buzzbait, and when it subsided, he switched to the frog.
“On Sunday I caught my largest – a 4-pound, 13-ouncer – on two ‘donkey-rigged’ white Zoom Super Flukes. It came from a 5-foot-deep creek channel at around 12:30 (p.m.). They were breaking there Saturday, but I couldn’t catch them. It was my fifth fish and ended up being my kicker as well.”
Wright said he used blue and green-colored 60-pound-test Sunline FX2 braided line on a a 7-foot, 1-inch G. Loomis NRX heavy casting rod and Lew’s Tournament Pro reel .
“The NRX is the perfect rod for swimming a frog,” said Wright. “And the Lew’s high speed reel gave me the right cadence – more repetitions and faster casts.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Adam Wright, Benton, Ark., 10 bass, 31-10, $6,387
2nd: Cody Kemp, Donaldson, Ark., 10 bass, 28-5, $2,694
3rd: Wayne Dixon, Morrilton, Ark., 10 bass, 26-5, $1,795
4th: Matt Wood, Jessieville, Ark., 10 bass, 25-13, $2,147
5th: Chip Hawkins, Little Rock, Ark., 10 bass, 23-10, $1,177
6th: Teddy Bogard, Rison, Ark., 10 bass, 20-14, $988
7th: Quincy Houchin, Mabelvale, Ark., 10 bass, 20-8, $898
8th: Steve Howard, Conway, Ark., 10 bass, 19-13, $808
9th: Leland Nixon, Bee Branch, Ark., 10 bass, 19-12, $718
10th: Keith Green, Arkadelphia, Ark., 10 bass, 19-5, $628
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Wood caught a bass weighing 4 pounds, 13 ounces – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division. The catch earned him the Boater Big Bass award of $690.
Trevor Delaney of Benton, Arkansas, caught a two-day total of eight bass weighing 18 pounds, 12 ounces, to win the Co-angler Division and $2,694.
The top 10 co-anglers were:
1st: Trevor Delaney, Benton, Ark., eight bass, 18-12, $2,694
2nd: Dusty Rhoades, Gravelly, Ark., 10 bass, 17-7, $1,547
3rd: Ethan Sutton, Hot Springs, Ark., 10 bass, 17-3, $899
4th: Daniel Elam, Lamar, Ark., 10 bass, 15-1, $628
5th: Robert Bogard Jr., Conway, Ark., 10 bass, 14-11, $539
6th: Kevin Clark, Malvern, Ark., 10 bass, 14-6, $544
7th: Jody Jones, Harvey, Ark., nine bass, 14-3, $449
8th: John McCullar, Benton, Ark., nine bass, 12-0, $404
9th: Cody Nickles, Vanndale, Ark., five bass, 11-12, $359
10th: Brian Choate, Conway, Ark., seven bass, 11-2, $314
McCullar caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division – a fish weighing 4 pounds, 10 ounces – and earned the Co-angler Big Bass award of $345.The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 25-27 BFL Regional Championship on Lake of the Ozarks in Osage Beach, Missouri. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard.
The 2018 BFL 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 BFL All-American. The 2019 BFL All-American will take place May 30-June 1 on the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
MATTOON’S MCDOWELL WINS T-H MARINE FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE ILLINI DIVISION FINALE ON LAKE SHELBYVILLE
Co-angler Title Goes to Walnut Hill’s Arning
SHELBYVILLE, Ill. (Sept. 24, 2018) – Boater Garrett McDowell of Mattoon, Illinois, won the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Illini Division tournament on Lake Shelbyville Sunday with a two-day cumulative catch of 10 bass weighing 26 pounds, 3 ounces. McDowell earned $6,540 for his win.
“I went from one end of the lake to the other running the backs of coves in a foot or less of water,” said McDowell, who earned his first win in FLW competition. “The water was pretty clear but my polarized Solar Bat sunglasses were key for me. If you didn’t have sunglasses where you could see the wood on the bottom, I wouldn’t have caught what I did. A lot of the stumps were a foot or more under the water where you just can’t see them without the polarized lenses.”
McDowell said he primarily used a custom white swimjig with a White Pearl-colored Zoom Super Chunk. He also rotated in a ChatterBait with a white Keitech swimbait when he needed to cover more water, and noted that it caught one of his largest fish of the day Saturday.
“I probably hit 12 to 15 coves each day, with stumps and laydowns being the deal,” said McDowell. “I saved my southern coves for Sunday. I thought they held better-quality fish.”
McDowell said he ended up catching about eight keepers each day.
“Making multiple casts to the same target was important. Sometimes I had to cast 10 times to a stump before they’d eat the bait.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Garrett McDowell, Mattoon, Ill., 10 bass, 26-3, $4,540 + $2,000 Ranger Cup Bonus
2nd: Jeremy Mull, Chatham, Ill., 10 bass, 23-5, $2,470
3rd: Brennon McCord, West Frankfort, Ill., 10 bass, 22-7, $1,515
4th: Brian Tschudy, Mascoutah, Ill., nine bass, 20-15, $1,159
5th: Darren Frazier, Anna, Ill., seven bass, 20-13, $908
6th: Michael Black, Toledo, Ill., eight bass, 20-12, $832
7th: Mike McGill, Findlay, Ill., nine bass, 20-4, $757
8th: Dan Morehead, Paducah, Ky., nine bass, 20-1, $981
9th: Andrew Harper, Shelbyville, Ill., eight bass, 19-2, $605
10th: Bobby McMullin, Pevely, Mo., nine bass, 17-15, $530
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Nick Koehne of Manteno, Illinois, caught a bass weighing 4 pounds, 12 ounces – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division. The catch earned him the Boater Big Bass award of $532.
Aaron Arning of Walnut Hill, Illinois, caught a two-day total of eight bass weighing 18 pounds, 15 ounces, to win the Co-angler Division and $2,470.
The top 10 co-anglers were:
1st: Aaron Arning, Walnut Hill, Ill., eight bass, 18-15, $2,470
2nd: David Duzan, Oakland, Ill., seven bass, 15-11, $1,135
3rd: Mark Carlock, Hillsboro, Ill., five bass, 12-10, $757
4th: Ryan Murphy, Paris, Ill., six bass, 11-12, $530
5th: Dale Renth, Mascoutah, Ill., seven bass, 11-10, $504
6th: Adrian Lungu, Palos Hills, Ill., five bass, 11-5, $682
7th: Aaron Wehmeyer, Odell, Ill., five bass, 11-0, $378
8th: Austin Sloan, Shelbyville, Ill., four bass, 9-14, $341
9th: Mario Rossi Jr., Granite City, Ill., five bass, 9-10, $303
10th: Shane Campbell, Highland, Ill., four bass, 9-7, $265
Lungu caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division – a fish weighing 4 pounds, 3 ounces – and earned the Co-angler Big Bass award of $266.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 25-27 BFL Regional Championship on Lake Chickamauga in Dayton, Tennessee. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard.
The 2018 BFL 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 BFL All-American. The 2019 BFL All-American will take place May 30-June 1 on the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
BYRDSTOWN’S REAGAN WINS T-H MARINE FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE MOUNTAIN DIVISION FINALE ON BARREN RIVER
Scottsville’s Bennington Takes Co-angler Title
GLASGOW, Ky. (Sept. 24, 2018) – Boater Robert Reagan of Byrdstown, Tennessee, won the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Mountain Division tournament on the Barren River Sunday with a two-day cumulative catch of nine bass weighing 30 pounds, 7 ounces. For his win, Reagan took home $7,329.
Reagan said he caught most of the fish he weighed on a homemade football-head jig with a Watermelon Meat-colored Strike King Rage Tail Craw trailer in 18 to 20 feet of water.
“I got on a shallow bite early in practice, so I went to the river Saturday but only caught one small fish by 1:30 p.m.,” said Reagan, who earned his fourth career win in BFL competition. “I ran back down to the main lake to the mid-lake area and ran some ledges. I marked fish and got four bites by the end of the day and they were the right ones.”
Reagan flipped shallow wood with a green-pumpkin Zoom Speed Craw with a 3/8-ounce weight to catch his keeper from the river.
“I returned to the same mid-lake area Sunday and caught two fish from a place I’d caught them Saturday, and the other two from ledges I hadn’t fished yet,” said Reagan. “I marked them and fished them with the same jig – I never laid it down. I lost my “fifth” a couple of times Sunday – it just didn’t get into the net.”
Reagan noted that his Lowrance electronics were essential to his win.
“I couldn’t have won without my Lowrance unit – they showed me the fish. I idled the ledges and when I‘d see them I’d stop the engine and cast in there. It seemed like I could catch them on a first or second cast.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Robert Reagan, Byrdstown, Tenn., nine bass , 30-7, $5,329 + $2,000 Ranger Cup Bonus
2nd: Densmore Goodson, Letcher, Ky., 10 bass, 24-8, $2,664
3rd: James Copeland, Bowling Green, Ky., 10 bass, 24-8, $2,118
4th: Steve Whitaker, Scottsville, Ky., 10 bass, 23-13, $1,543
5th: Tim Akers, Richmond, Ky., 10 bass, 23-10, $1,407
6th: Mike Casada, Stearns, Ky., 10 bass, 22-7, $977
7th: Keith Monson, Burgin, Ky., 10 bass, 21-6, $888
8th: Ryan White, Lancaster, Ky., nine bass, 21-0, $799
9th: Kenneth Patterson, Knifley, Ky., eight bass, 20-9, $910
10th: Bennie Mutter, Glasgow, Ky., nine bass, 20-4, $722
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Copeland caught a bass weighing 5 pounds, 8 ounces – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division. The catch earned him the Boater Big Bass award of $341.
Ed Bennington of Scottsville, Kentucky, caught a two-day total of eight bass weighing 23 pounds, 5 ounces, to win the Co-angler Division and $2,664.
The top 10 co-anglers were:
1st: Ed Bennington, Scottsville, Ky., eight bass, 23-5, $2,664
2nd: Tommy Glass, Verona, Ky., eight bass, 16-4, $1,532
3rd: Jason Ratcliff, Eubank, Ky., seven bass, 15-12, $939
4th: Doug Adkins, Gray Hawk, Ky., eight bass, 15-8, $622
5th: Andy Spencer, Glasgow, Ky., nine bass, 13-3, $533
6th: Matt Chiodi, West Chester, Ohio, seven bass , 13-1, $488
7th: Les Reeves, Rockholds, Ky., five bass, 12-5, $444
8th: Jonathan Sydnor, Canmer, Ky., four bass, 10-4, $400
9th: Bobby Arms, Jamestown, Tenn., five bass, 10-3, $355
10th: Bob Wiles, Huntington, W. Va., six bass, 10-3, $311
Nick Haunert of Maineville, Ohio, caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division – a fish weighing 3 pounds, 7 ounces – and earned the Co-angler Big Bass award of $341.
The 2018 T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Mountain Division finale on the Barren River was hosted by the Glasgow-Barren County Tourist & Convention Commission.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 25-27 BFL Regional Championship on Lake Chickamauga in Dayton, Tennessee. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard.
The 2018 BFL 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 BFL All-American. The 2019 BFL All-American will take place May 30-June 1 on the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY BASS CLUB WINS BASS PRO SHOPS FLW HIGH SCHOOL FISHING RAYSTOWN LAKE OPEN PRESENTED BY COSTA
HESSTON, Pa. (Sept. 24, 2018) – The Susquehanna Valley Bass Club duo of Cadin Sheesley and Gavin Enders, both of Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania, brought a five-bass limit to the scale Saturday weighing 15 pounds, 5 ounces to win the 2018 Bass Pro Shops FLW High School Fishing Raystown Lake Open presented by Costa.
According to post-tournament reports, the duo caught their limit by working a green-pumpkin-colored worm very slowly on the lower end of Raystown, near the dam.
A field of 20 teams competed in the no-entry fee tournament, which launched from Seven Points Marina. In FLW/TBF High School Fishing competition, the top 10-percent of teams competing advance to the High School Fishing National Championship.
The top two teams on Raystown Lake that advanced to the 2018 High School Fishing National Championship were:
1st: Susquehanna Valley Bass Club, Lewisburg, Pa. – Cadin Sheesley and Gavin Enders, both of Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania., five bass, 15-5
2nd: Central High School, Martinsburg, Pa. – Kasey Imler and Ken Imler, both of East Freedom, Pa., five bass, 15-2
Rounding out the top 10 teams were:
3rd: Susquehanna Valley Bass Club, Lewisburg, Pa. – Dylan Edwards, Milton, Pa., and Zachary Stroud, South Williamsport, Pa., five bass, 14-15
4th: Archbishop Curley High School, Baltimore, Md. – Reed Barra and Travis Nale, both of Pasadena, Md., five bass, 12-9
5th: Central High School, Martinsburg, Pa. – Hunter Klutz and Gerald Brumbaugh, both of Martinsburg, Pa., five bass, 12-3
6th: Lancaster Junior Hog Hunters – Ben Wright, Lititz, Pa., and Andrew Fields, Myerstown, Pa., five bass, 11-6
7th: Berkeley Springs High School, Bath, W.Va. – Landon Harrington and Sam Ambrose, both of Berkeley Springs, W.Va., five bass, 10-11
8th: Camp Hill High School, Camp Hill, Pa. – Andrew Zulli and Casey Zulli, both of Camp Hill, Pa., five bass, 8-9
9th: Susquehanna Valley Bass Club, Lewisburg, Pa. – Tyler Mowery and Dominic Cecco, both of Winfield, Pa., five bass, 8-8
10th: Chambersburg High School, Chambersburg, Pa. – Dylan Barefoot and Carson Forrester, both of Chambersburg, Pa., five bass, 7-12
Complete results from the event can be found at FLWFishing.com.
The 2018 Bass Pro Shops FLW High School Fishing Raystown Lake Open presented by Costa was a two-person (team) event for students in grades 7-12, open to any Student Angler Federation (SAF) affiliated high school club in the United States. The top 10 percent of each Challenge, Open, and state championship field will advance to the 2019 High School Fishing National Championship on a body of water that has yet to be revealed. 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 2019 High School Fishing World Finals, held in conjunction with the National Championship. At the 2018 World Finals more than $150,000 in scholarships and prizes were awarded.
Full schedules and the latest announcements are available at HighSchoolFishing.org and FLWFishing.com.
2019 ABA Open Schedules
September 25, 2018
Athens, AL. American Bass Anglers announced today the 2019 ABA Open Series schedules with 81 tournaments in 18 divisions, in a Pro/Am style format. The series provides the path the 2020 Ray Scott Championship where the winning boater will be awarded $50,000 and a new Triton/Mercury Boat package valued over $70,000. The winning co-angler at the Ray Scott Championship will win $25,000 and a new Triton/Mercury Boat package valued over $55,000.
ABA will take top ten Boaters and top ten Co-Anglers from each division by points after the Area Championship to the 2020 Ray Scott Championship. Additionally, the top five Boaters and top five Co-Anglers at the Area Championship by place of finish, who do not advance by divisional points, will also advance.
Each division hold four one-day qualifying events and advance anglers to a two-day Area Championship. The Angler of the Year, both Boater and Co-Angler from each division will receive their entries paid for the 2020 season in the same division. This includes four Divisional events and Area Championship.
Area Championships are held in the fall of year and the full field competes both days of these events which gives all anglers the opportunity to qualify for the Ray Scott Championship.
The Ray Scott Championship is a four-day event held in the spring of the following year. The full field competes for 3 days and the top 25 Boaters and Co-Anglers advance to Championship Sunday.
Entry fees are; for the divisional one-day events are $210 for boaters and $105 for co-anglers, for the area Championships entries are $310 for boaters and $155 for co-anglers. Ray Scott Championship entries will be $310 for boaters and $155 for co-anglers.
Payout for all events will be based on number of entries, for one-day divisional events a guaranteed $5000 will go the wining boater based on a minimum of 60 boats, for each 2-day Area Championship a guaranteed $10,000 for boaters and $5,000 for co-anglers based on 100 boats.
ABA will introduce a new Arkansas division for 2019. Arkansas anglers will compete on Greer's Ferry, Hamilton, Ouachita, Pine Bluff. In October of 2019, this division will compete against the Oklahoma division at the two-day Area Championship on Lake Dardanelle.
ABA will also hold events in east Tennesseee in 2019. The division will hold events on Chickamauga, Cherokee, Douglas, and Watts Bar lakes.
Boaters are always guaranteed use of their boats at all events. Co-Anglers registering as a package entry will receive priority entry into each event in that division. Co-Anglers can guarantee their spot in an event by “linking” with a registered Boater.
Registration opens for the 2019 season on Monday October 1, 2018 at 8am central time. Early package (paying for all events) registrations will receive the following.
- Free one-year new or renewal ABA membership
- Freedom Pass (Allows anglers to not attend the Friday night meetings)
- Personal pre-event local information including best hotel rates at the location
- Personal points and divisional reports and tournament report after each event
More information can be viewed on the ABAOpenSeries.com website including payouts, schedules, and additional information. Registrations can be done online at ABAOpenSeries.com or by phone at (256)232-0406.
About American Bass Anglers: American Bass Anglers is committed to providing low cost, close to home tournaments for the weekend angler and at the same time offer each competitor an upward path for individual angler progression. For more information about American Bass Anglers Open Series, the American Fishing Tour, the American Couples Series, Military Team Bass Tournament and the Triton Boats 100% Plus Team Tour visit www.americanbassanglers.com or call (256) 232-0406. American Bass Anglers, Inc. is supported by Triton Boats, Mercury Marine, T-H Marine, Abu Garcia, Berkley, Hydrowave, SiriusXM® Radio, SiriusXM® Marine Weather, Garmin, Maui Jim, Power Pole, GEICO, and Optima Batteries.
Area 1
Division Dates Lake
Alabama North 03/02 Guntersville
Alabama North 04/13 Neely Henry
Alabama North 05/04 Guntersville
Alabama North 06/22 WeissEast Tennessee 02/16 Chickamauga
East Tennessee 05/11 Cherokee
East Tennessee 06/08 Douglas
East Tennessee 07/13 Watts BarArea 1 Championship 09/07-08 Guntersville
Area 2
Division Dates Lake
Tennessee Central 02/23 Percy Priest
Tennessee Central 03/23 Center Hill
Tennessee Central 05/11 Old Hickory
Tennessee Central 06/15 Old HickoryKentucky 03/16 Kentucky Lake
Kentucky 04/20 Lake Barkley
Kentucky 06/08 Lake Barkley
Kentucky 06/29 Kentucky LakeArea 2 Championship 09/28-29 Kentucky Lake
Area 3
Alabama South 02/02 Eufaula
Alabama South 03/02 Lay Lake
Alabama South 05/11 Eufaula
Alabama South 06/22 Logan MartinMississippi 02/16 Ross Barnett
Mississippi 03/16 Ross Barnett
Mississippi 06/22 Ross Barnett
Mississippi 07/13 PickwickArea 3 Championship 09/14-15 Logan Martin
Area 4
Georgia 01/26 Eufaula
Georgia 03/09 Hartwell
Georgia 04/27 Sinclair
Georgia 06/15 OconeeSouth Carolina 01/26 Santee
South Carolina 02/23 Murray
South Carolina 04/13 Clark's Hill
South Carolina 06/22 RussellArea 4 Championship 10/05-06 Hartwell
Area 5
Florida Central 01/12 Toho
Florida Central 02/23 Kissimmee Chain
Florida Central 04/13 Harris Chain
Florida Central 06/08 Kissimmee ChainFlorida South 01/19 Okeechobee
Florida South 02/09 Okeechobee
Florida South 03/23 Okeechobee
Florida South 05/18 OkeechobeeArea 5 Championship 09/28-29 Okeechobee
Area 6
Southeast Texas 02/23 Sam Rayburn
Southeast Texas 03/23 Sam Rayburn
Southeast Texas 06/29 Sam Rayburn
Southeast Texas 09/14 Sam RayburnEast Texas 02/09 Cedar Creek
East Texas 03/30 Lake Palestine
East Texas 05/04 Lake of the Pines
East Texas 09/07 Ray RobertsArea 6 Championship 10/26-27 Toledo bend
Area 7
Arkansas 03/09 Greer's Ferry
Arkansas 04/27 Hamilton
Arkansas 05/11 Ouachita
Arkansas 06/15 Pine BluffOklahoma 03/02 Grand Lake
Oklahoma 04/13 Eufaula
Oklahoma 05/18 Tenkiller
Oklahoma 06/08 Ft GibsonArea 7 Championship 10/12-13 Dardanelle
Area 8
North Carolina 02/02 Norman
North Carolina 03/09 Wylie
North Carolina 05/04 Hickory
North Carolina 06/15 High RockVirginia 03/02 Kerr
Virginia 03/23 Gaston
Virginia 05/18 Kerr
Virginia 06/29 GastonArea 8 Championship 09/28-29 Kerr
Area 9
Maryland 03/23 Potomac River
Maryland 04/13 Chesapeake Bay
Maryland 05/04 Potomac River
Maryland 06/01 Chesapeake BayNew York 06/08 Lake Champlain Ticonderoga
New York 07/27 1000 Islands
New York 08/17 Lake Champlain Plattsburgh
New York 06/29 Oneida LakeArea 9 Championship 09/28-29 Hudson River
Justin Lucas wins Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Points Title
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin / Dynamic Sponsorships
Justin Lucas caught a momentous fire of top finishes this summer on the Bassmaster Elite Series trail that was hotter than his native State of California’s summer sun. He fished his way to five Top 12 finishes in a row to round out this season. And his laser focused competitiveness continued Sunday at Lake Chatuge, Georgia, where he finished 7thto win the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year points title, something only 23 men in history have done.
He kept his emotions in check on stage in front of thousands of fans until he spoke of his grandfather taking him fishing. “My grandfather took me fishing in my first bass tournament around Sacramento when I was 12-years-old, he’s still alive today, and this trophy is for him,” said Lucas, choking back tears, and urging fans to take a kid fishing.
“I didn’t want to become a pro angler to collect logos on my shirt, I wanted to fish for a living purely because I love it, and when I think about being only the 23rdguy in history to win this title in the 51 year history of B.A.S.S. -- that’s so humbling,” he said on stage.
Surrounded by family after raising the trophy, it became apparent Lucas is the product of a loyal group of souls that adamantly support his professional angling career, and likewise, Lucas has been hugely loyal to Toyota, buying three Tundras throughout his young but prolific career.
“I drive a Tundra because as a tournament angler, the Toyota Bonus Bucks program pays me cash money when I do well. I’m guessing I’ve won almost $15,000 during my career from the Bonus Bucks program. Plus, I love the way my ARE truck cap looks on it, and it’s just a really comfortable tow vehicle,” says Lucas.
Indeed, loyalty has its rewards, and so does a run of Top 12 finishes undeniably worthy of professional bass fishing’s most respected trophy.
However, you don’t have to be a Bassmaster Elite Series pro to win the “Bonus Bucks” – you just have to be a registered participant in the Toyota Bonus Bucks Program, and be the highest-placing participant in any of the dozens of tournaments supported by the Program.To learn more and get signed-up, please visit www.toyotatrucksbonusbucks.com or phone (918) 742-6424, and ask for Kendell and she can also help you get signed-up.
Jackie Flack and Craig Daniel Win Alabama Bass Trail Pickwick Lake Charlie Cummings and Greg Pugh Claim North Division AOY
by Dan O’Sullivan
September 22, 2018 – Florence, Ala. – It is a rare occurrence for the Alabama Bass Trail to conclude its season this late in the year. However, thanks to a bevy of storm fronts that pummeled Alabama in February, the season opening event – scheduled for Pickwick Lake at Florence’s McFarland Park – was postponed to September. That event was held yesterday, and the drama was high.
Along with the individual event, there was the matter of the Anglers of the Year race to be decided; which separated first and second place by a mere three points. With Pickwick Lake having been in a state of flux, thanks to rising and falling water levels, as well as hot, summerlike conditions, things were going to be dicey.
For the individual event portion, Jackie Flack and Craig Daniels; winners of the inaugural ABT Championship in 2014, they bested the field with a total weigh of 19.89 pounds to earn the $10,000 winners’ purse, but they also earned a slew of contingency bonuses from Phoenix Boats, Garmin and others that will push their total take to over $17,000. To top it all off, they earned the automatic bid to the Championship at Neely Henry Lake in October; something they would not have done based on points.
They said it was a great day. “We really knew we had to perform – in fact - we really needed to win to make the Championship,” they said. “We threw topwater baits around grass near the Natchez Trace Bridge, and culled three times to get our weight. We didn’t think we had enough, but we sure are glad we did.” They reported throwing buzzbaits and Super Spooks all day to get their bites.
The team of Duane and Brandon Edel finished with 19.43 pounds to finish second. They said fished the same general area of the lake, but instead of focusing on the topwater approach, they turned to Punching in the grass. “We flipped a 3/4-ounce, green pumpkin Strike King jig and Rage Craw into the grass and got a bite or two every hour to get to our limit,” they said. “We only caught seven or eight keepers, but are really happy with the way things turned out.” They earned $5,000 for the day.
The Grandfather / Grandson team of Nathan and Hunter Brewer caught the Mountain Dew Big Bass of the day; a 7.04-pound largemouth, that earned them the $500 cash bonus award. The fish anchored their 16.89-pound limit that earned them a ninth place finish.
The day began with Charlie Cummings and Greg Pugh holding a three-point lead in the North Division standings over Bill Mayo and Walt Roberts. Cummings and Pugh finished the event in 13th place, and when Mayo and Roberts struggled, the AOY leaders prevailed. “This is a truly big honor and an accomplishment we will never forget,” they said. “This is very tough field, and to be standing here after this season as the top team is amazing, we are so happy with, and proud of this outcome.”
The rest of the Top 10 Standings are below, for complete standings visit: https://www.alabamabasstrail.org/tournament-series/pl-results/
| PLACE | ANGLERS | WEIGHT | PENALTY | BIG FISH | WINNINGS |
| 1 | Craig Daniel / Jackie Flack | 19.89 | $10,000 | ||
| 2 | Duane Edel / Brandon Edel | 19.43 | $5,000 | ||
| 3 | Wesley Sams / Jordan Wiggins | 18.87 | $4,000 | ||
| 4 | Brian Ingersoll / Michael Restifo | 18.58 | 1.00 | 6.32 | $3,000 |
| 5 | Cody Nichols / Koby Newman | 18.19 | $2,000 | ||
| 6 | Bradley Jones / Andy Kilgore | 17.7 | $1,500 | ||
| 7 | Brad Shelton / Eric White | 17.09 | $1,100 | ||
| 8 | Brett Coggins / Adam Christen | 16.95 | 5.82 | $1,100 | |
| 9 | Nathan Brewer / Hunter Brewer | 16.89 | 1.00 | 7.04 | $1,100 |
| 10 | Shawn Dalrymple / Ryan Salzman | 16.76 | 1.00 | $1,100 |
Northern Division Top 10 Anglers of the Year Standings – foe complete standings, visit: https://www.alabamabasstrail.org/tournament-series/north-division-standings/
| PLACE | ANGLERS | POINTS |
| 1 | Charlie Cummings/Greg Pugh | 1007 |
| 2 | Bradley Jones /Andy Kilgore | 990 |
| 3 | Grant Hopson/Wes Ward | 987 |
| 4 | Cody Nichols/Koby Newman | 976 |
| 5 | Wesley Sams/Jordan Wiggins | 971 |
| 6 | Brett Coggins/Adam Christen | 952 |
| 7 | Paul Davis/Josh Chapple | 939 |
| 8 | Hunter Penney/Chris Hopper | 929 |
| 9 | Lanny Guthrie/Lee Hurley | 926 |
Lucas Puts Finishing Touches On Bassmaster Angler Of The Year Championship
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Lucas One Step Away From Raising Coveted Bassmaster AOY Championship Trophy
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Major League Fishing Announces Additional Details of 2019 Expansion
TULSA, Okla. (Sept. 21, 2018) - After the initial announcement of the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour last week, league officials today announced additional details of the tour, including industry-leading media exposure with more than 850 hours of television coverage and 350 hours of live streaming, angler leadership in the series, and payouts of nearly $10 million that have never before been seen in the professional bass fishing industry.
"Our league and sponsor partners have made a significant investment to make sure that the decision to fish with Major League Fishing in 2019 was an easy one for anglers," Jim Wilburn, president and CEO of MLF, said. "With these payout amounts combined with our more than 850 hours of television programming across six networks and support for anglers at every level of the business, we believe our angler-centric business model is one that will resonate with anglers and sponsors."
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MLF and PBTAA co-founder Boyd Duckett has been instrumental in guiding the development of the new league expansions that he says will put anglers in control of their own destiny and sets a precedent for the sport of fishing that will benefit generations to come. (Click to enlarge/download)
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AC Insider Podcast - Has BASS Lost its "Elite Status?"
On this episode of the AnglersChannel Insider Podcast Chris and Jason welcome Author and Managing Editor of Fishing Tackle Retailer Ken Duke to the show to talk about the status of the sport and get his take on all the recent news. We also ask Ken the hard Questions like has BASS Lost its edge in Professional Fishing and what about FLW? The boys also welcome outspoken Elite Series Pro Kelley Jaye to program and discuss the future of BASS and their recent upgrade for 2019. All of this and more on the AC insider Podcast!
Swindle talks fishing and football Friday morning at Lake Chatuge
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin / Dynamic Sponsorships
Gerald Swindle is professional bass fishing’s funniest man, and one of only 11 men in history to win the prestigious Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year points title more than once. Swindle is also a former 3-sport athlete from Locust Fork High School in Alabama, and he took time just before blast-off Friday morning to talk bass fishing and football.
Q: As a professional angler, you’re your own head coach and quarterback on the water. What was your best ‘play call’ yesterday?
Swindle:I’d say it was my decision to keep moving around as much as possible on this little 7,000-acre reservoir. Not staying in one spot very long.
Q: When it comes to rods, reels, and lures – who were your most valuable players on Day 1?
Swindle:A Quantum Smoke HD baitcasting reel with a large spool full of 30-pound braided line to help me cast a Rapala topwater walking bait a long way, and a Shaky Head on a Quantum 6’ 10” Vapor spinning rod were my two star players yesterday.
Q: September is one of the toughest months of the year for bass anglers throughout much of the Southern U.S. – give fans some advice on how to beat bass fishing’s “September Blues.”
Swindle:No matter how hot the weather may be during the day, just remember, the nights are getting cooler, and that means there’s always going to be a few more bass moving shallow each day. So don’t give up on the shallow bite, and also expect to take advantage of schooling fish with a topwater in September too.
Q: You started fishing about half-a-football field away from the official tournament launch ramp yesterday, will you start there again today?
Swindle: Yep, because I know that a lot of local tournaments release bass from this ramp, so I’m not ashamed to fish for bass that have already been caught, I’m just putting myself in a high-percentage patch of water to start the day.
Q: What was your best position as a high school football player for the Locust Fork Hornets?
Swindle:I played a little bit of everything, but cornerback was probably my best position.
Q: Will the Alabama Crimson Tide go undefeated this season, and win another National Championship?
Swindle:Yes.
Q: Baker Mayfield helped the Cleveland Browns get their first win in 635 days last night. What do you think about that?
Swindle:Yea, I saw that, but I’m still not a Mayfield fan.
Lucas Takes Commanding Lead At Bassmaster Angler Of The Year Championship
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Jordan Lee talks topwater schooling bass
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin / Dynamic Sponsorships
A new school year, an apple for the teacher, a fresh football season, and bass busting on the water’s surface to eat baitfish are all signature marks of late summer and early fall. And while back-to-back Bassmaster Classic Champ Jordan Lee admits he wasn’t exactly a stellar student, the man does know a thing or three about catching schooling bass on a topwater lure.
“I mean look, I’m not gonna lie, I failed a class or two while at Auburn, but I got pretty good at catching ‘schoolers’ on Lake Mitchell while I was there,” grinned Lee on the final morning of practice at the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship on gorgeous Lake Chatuge in Northern Georgia.
Be Aware
“The first step is to be aware that bass will school-up and bust the surface to feed at all times of day during this time of year,” says Lee.
“Even when I’m running down the lake at 60 mph, I’m keeping my eyes peeled to see ‘em busting. I’m looking for birds diving on bait balls, and just constantly staying alert and aware. And the best topwater school I saw during the second day of practice on Chatuge was at 2:00 in the afternoon.”
Don’t Rush In
While the sight of bass busting the surface can cause the same adrenaline rush as a long touchdown pass, Lee advises anglers not to rush in once schooling activity is apparent. “I’m not a fan of using your outboard to get within casting distance of schooling fish. I prefer to sneak over to them with my trolling motor,” says Lee.
Heavy lures help a ton
This is not a game for casting small poppers or buzzbaits across the surface. “One of the absolute biggest keys to reaching schooling fish is to have a heavy topwater walking bait,” says Lee, with emphasis on ‘heavy’ to help cast it a long way.
The Carhartt pro prefers baits like a Pencil Popper style lure popularized by striped bass anglers, or the legendary Spook style bait.
“If you’ve got a heavy enough lure, you should be able to cast at least 40 yards, if not further. And that’s so key, because you want your lure to reach the fish obviously, but if you get too close you’ll spook them, and they’ll stop eating, so you gotta have a heavy walking bait,” he explains.
Lee loves the braid/mono combo
While many weekend anglers still stray from braided line, Lee believes it’s a game-changer to better connecting with topwater schooling bass. However, there’s a bit of a twist, in that he actually ties a monofilament leader to the 40-pound braided mainline.
“Braided line not only provides you plenty of strength when you’re casting these heavier baits, but it also helps you get a way better hookset when a fish bites at the end of long casts you have to make when chasing ‘schoolers’,” he says.
“But I tie a monofilament leader between my braided main line and the lure, because mono tends to tangle on the front treble hook a lot less than braid,” he explains.
Flunked Calc II. Aced Topwater Schoolers.
“Man, I can’t remember what class it was for sure. It might have been Calculus II, but I had to take it three times before I finally passed it to get my degree,” laughed Lee.
No worries, Champ. You’re earning high honors in professional bass fishing’s toughest curriculum, and “Topwater Schooling Fish 101” seems to be one of your best classes.
KVD and Casey Ashley offer sneak peek of Lake Chatuge
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin / Dynamic Sponsorships
Two of professional bass fishing’s kindest characters and good friends offer a pre-game look at what to expect at the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship on Lake Chatuge in the mountains of North Georgia.
Q: What will be the biggest challenge to success this week on Lake Chatuge?
Kevin:Consistency from day to day. Fans can expect a lot of flip-flopping on the leaderboard.
Casey:Figuring out something different that everybody else isn’t doing to catch quality fish. Like, everybody knows they’re schooling on topwaters, but what can you do to catch better quality fish right behind a guy on the same patch of water? Plus, it’s fall, so fish are chasing bait, and that scatters them.
Q: What percentage of Day 1 do you expect to be fishing with a Quantum spinning rod/reel?
Kevin:It’ll be about 50/50, spinning and baitcasting.
Casey:I’ll say 40% spinning.
Q: Lake Chatuge is “postcard pretty” – a clean, fairly clear water reservoir, surrounded by gorgeous mountains. Name two other bodies of water you’ve competed on that rival the beauty of Lake Chatuge.
Kevin:Smith Mountain Lake, VA and Thousand Islands, NY.
Casey:Smith Mountain Lake, VA and Clear Lake, CA.
Q: Name four lures the Elite Series field will throw a lot this week on Chatuge.
Kevin:Topwater, swimbait, drop shot, and a shaky head.
Casey:A Spook, a Fluke, drop shot, and a shaky head.
Q: What Elite Series anglers should fans have on their fantasy fishing team this week?
Kevin:Ott DeFoe, Andy Montgomery, Justin Lucas, and Josh Bertrand
Casey:Justin Lucas because he’s on fire and is a great finesse angler, Aaron Martens because he’s one of the greatest finesse anglers that’s ever lived, and Swindle for his junk fishing skills.
B.A.S.S. Redefines Professional Bass Fishing With 2019 Elite Series
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — After 50 years of setting the world standard for professional bass tournament competition, B.A.S.S. made historic changes to the Bassmaster Elite Series on Monday, which will elevate the sport to levels never seen before. Elite Series pros will begin the 2019 season with a smaller field of competition, vastly increased payouts, dramatically reduced entry fees and the promise of more exposure through the company’s industry-leading media platforms.
“We just celebrated our 50th anniversary at B.A.S.S., and made the decision to create an environment second to none in the world of professional bass fishing,” said Bruce Akin, CEO of B.A.S.S. “Our anglers have been loyal to the Elite Series, and we want to not only reward that loyalty, but also redefine what it means to be a professional angler. We feel the new Elite Series format accomplishes these goals, and also provides bass fishing fans with more of the content they crave.”
First, the 2019 Elite Series field size will be based on 80 anglers, down from 110 last year. This reduction in the number of competitors will not only allow the pros to get more exposure through B.A.S.S. media platforms, but also will improve their odds of winning and qualifying for the Bassmaster Classic.
The new format features three no-entry fee events that will payout $1 million each: Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest benefiting Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship and the Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods, bass fishing’s crown jewel. Additionally, the eight regular-season Elite Series events will now pay the entire field of anglers, a first in the world of professional fishing. First-place prize will remain $100,000, but now the last-place angler will earn $2,500.
Increased payouts are just half of the story, though. Alongside the three no-entry fee events, B.A.S.S. slashed regular-season entry fees by $5,375. So, the entry fees for Elite Series anglers is now $43,000. Because every angler is guaranteed to make at least $23,500, the total out of pocket expense is now only $19,500.
But there is even more good news for Elite Series anglers. B.A.S.S. is providing a $20,000 credit to anglers who competed in the 2018 Elite Series season and who take advantage of an early entry fee offer, giving these fishermen a $500 surplus above participation fees. So, for the first time in the history of professional bass fishing, anglers are actually being paid by the league to fish. In total, B.A.S.S. is investing an additional $3 million in payouts and reduced entry fees for the 2019 Elite Series.
Not only has B.A.S.S. made a historic financial commitment to anglers through lower entry fees and higher payouts, but the organization also announced an increased investment in exposure opportunities for the pros. Starting with the 2019 season, the incredibly popular Bassmaster LIVE show on Bassmaster.com, which has generated over 2.5 million video views and 59 million minutes of content consumed by fans, will be produced all four days of Elite Series events. Plus, there will be live-streaming cameras on every boat on semi-final Saturday, as well as Bassmaster LIVE cameras on every angler for Championship Sunday.
The Bassmasters TV show is being revamped with a renewed focus of on-the-water footage featuring more anglers, catching more bass. Other opportunities for Elite Series anglers to get exposure for their sponsors include Bassmaster Magazine, which has a readership of 4.4 million; B.A.S.S. Times, which reaches 100,000 of the nations most avid anglers; Bassmaster Radio, which airs on 200 stations on the SB Nation network; and Bassmaster.com, which averages over 1 million unique visitors per month.
“We want the world to know that B.A.S.S. and our incredible stable of sponsors are committed to growing the sport of bass fishing,” Akin said. “Ray Scott launched the sport and industry 50 years ago with the creation of B.A.S.S., and we will continue to push his vision forward for the next 50 years.”
“J-Proz” previews AOY at Lake Chatuge
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin / Dynamic Sponsorships
The 2018 Bassmaster Elite Series season concludes this week with the crowning of a Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Champion on gorgeous Lake Chatuge Reservoir in the mountains of Northern Georgia, on the North Carolina border.
It’s a small body of water where the Elites have never competed previously. But Quantum pro Jacob Powroznik who has had one heck of a year, and sits inside the Top 10 of the prestigious season-long points race, graciously helps fans grow a little more familiar with the postcard perfect patch of water with a deep Cherokee heritage.
Q: Jacob, paint a picture for angling fans to give them a feel for how Chatuge sets up as a bass fishery.
J-Proz:It’s surrounded by mountains and it’s awesome looking. The water is pretty clear, but not super clear. There will be guys who fish in a wide range of water depths here. The surface temp is still hot at 82 degrees; so it’s pretty much a summer pattern, with a lot of surface schooling activity as largemouth and spotted bass chase both shad and blueback herring.
Q: Tell us about the structure and habitat.
J-Proz:Man, you’ve got tons of red clay points, plus brushpiles, and docks. It’s gonna be “all out, game on” – guys will be running around doing a variety of things from really shallow, to pretty deep.
Q: This reservoir is a really pretty place, but it’s only 7,000 surface acres, which is very small compared to most Elite Series playing fields, will pros be crowded, or is there plenty of water for everybody?
J-Proz:Nah, it’s gonna be crowded. Here’s the deal, I can run my Ranger from one end of Chatuge to the other in about 8 minutes, but it does have plenty of shoreline habitat to cast at in between.
Q: Compare this reservoir to places where the Elite Series has fished before.
J-Proz:It looks a lot like Lake Martin in Alabama where we kicked-off this season way back in February. And it shows a little bit of resemblance to Buggs Island where B.A.S.S. used to go back in the day.
Q: Rattle of a list of lures we’ll see pros throwing this week on Chatuge.
J-Proz:Shaky Head, drop shot, topwater, and swimbaits
Q: When the green flag drops on Thursday morning, how’s it going to fish?
J-Proz:Well, it’s no secret that surface schooling activity is key here, especially early. So you’ll see guys pick-off a keeper or three, then maybe hit a lull for an hour or two, then go do something different and catch a couple more. It’ll be sort of wide-open. But I think 14 pounds a day here will get you a really high finish – and you might even win if you have 14 pounds a day.
Costa’s New Half Moon, Rincon and Remora Frames Incorporate Classic West Coast Style with Optimal Performance
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – September 18, 2018 – Evoking the spirit of the ocean and integrating West Coast style cues, Costa Sunglasses’® newest frame styles include the Half Moon, Rincon and Remora. These new frames don’t skimp on the performance features Costa is known for, and come in a wide array of colors and lens options.
Half Moon channels the inner Maverick in all of us, featuring straight temples and double-cut textures. This new style offers a sporty, stylish look that goes seamlessly from the water to dinner on the beach. Its large fit includes Integrated Spring Hinges that provide outstanding function and comfort with classic aesthetics. The inset Hydrolite® nose and temple pads prevent slippage for all-day hard core use. Half Moon is available in five frame colorways with multiple lens color options in either 580 glass or polycarbonate lenses.
Like the California point break it was named for, the Rincon has a classic West Coast straight bridge, wrapping style lines and edgy curved temples. The extra-large frame and sharp angles reflect the right point break and the hard-charging surfers who champion the sport. Rincon’s spring hinges and Hydrolite nose and temple pads make it the perfect option for outdoor enthusiasts on-the-go. Rincon is available in six frame color options, and comes in five of Costa’s 580 lens colors in either glass or polycarbonate.
Remora is a medium-sized frame named after a small fish that hitchhikes on some of the most voracious sharks in the ocean. This lightweight frame also features Costa’s Hydrolite nose and temple pads so it won’t slip. Integral pin hinges provide assisted action when opening and closing the temple. Remora is available in five frame colorways, including Tiger Shark and Shiny Tortoise available with Costa’s 580 glass or polycarbonate lenses. All other colors are available with various polycarbonate lens combinations including gray, blue mirror and gray silver mirror.
“Our West Coast anglers and water enthusiasts played a big role in the inspiration for our newest frame styles and colors,” said John Sanchez, vice president of product design for Costa. “They’ve got great style and we make great sunglasses. So, we combined these on-trend designs with Costa’s patented lens technology and performance features to make the best, clearest and most stylish sunglasses available today.”
Each of the three new styles are durable and lightweight, and are constructed with Costa’senvironmentally friendly bio-resin, which holds up under the harshest conditions. The new styles feature Costa’s 580® color-enhancing lens technology, which provides 100 percent UV protection and polarization, delivering the clearest lenses on the planet. Available in both polycarbonate and scratch-resistant Lightwave® glass, Costa’s 580 lenses selectively filter out harsh yellow light for superior contrast and definition while absorbing high-energy blue light to cut haze and enhance sharpness.
The new styles range in price from $159 to $279, based on frame style, color and lens selection. For more information on the new frames and Costa’s full line of performance sunglasses, visit www.costadelmar.com.
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Spencer Shuffield Wins Mr. Bass of Arkansas Classic!
Spencer Shuffield Weighs 41.46lbs for a 3 day total to win the Mr. Bass of Arkansas 2018 Classic on Lake Dardanelle!
More results to come!
BASS PRO SHOPS FLW HIGH SCHOOL FISHING OPEN TOURNAMENT PRESENTED BY YETI SET FOR WHEELER LAKE
WHAT: Fishing League Worldwide (FLW) High School Fishing will continue the 2018 fishing season with the upcoming Bass Pro Shops FLW High School Fishing Wheeler Lake Open presented by YETI bass-fishing tournament. The no-entry fee event is open to High School Fishing teams from across the country, and the top 10-percent of finishers will automatically advance to the 2019 High School Fishing National Championship.
WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018
WHERE: Bass Pro Shops FLW High School Fishing Wheeler Lake Open presented by YETI
Ingalls Harbor
701 Market St. N.W.
Decatur, Ala.
Hosted by Decatur Morgan County Tourism
NOTES: The Bass Pro Shops FLW High School Fishing Wheeler Lake Open is a two-person (team) event for students in grades 7-12. Registration for anglers and their coach, who will provide the boat they compete in, is online at FLWFishing.com. Takeoff will be at Ingalls Harbor at 7 a.m. CDT and the weigh-in will also be held at the harbor, beginning at 3 p.m. High School Fishing takeoffs and weigh-ins are free and open to the public. For more information about this event contact the FLW High School Fishing National Youth Director Scott Ellison at (270)-205-6864.
A preliminary list of schools participating will not be available as teams can still register up until the morning of the event. Complete event details can be found here.
All FLW and TBF High School Fishing tournaments are free to enter. The tournaments are two-person (team) events for students in grades 7-12 and open to any Student Angler Federation-affiliated high school club. The top 10 percent of each Challenge, Open, and state championship field will advance to the 2019 High School Fishing National Championship on a body of water that has yet to be revealed. The High School Fishing national champions will each receive a $5,000 college scholarship to the school of their choice.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Bass Pro Shops FLW High School Fishing Opens on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
About FLW
FLW is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, providing anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to compete for millions in prize money in 2018 across five tournament circuits. Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, with offices in Minneapolis, FLW and their partners conduct 286 bass-fishing tournaments annually around the world, including the United States, Canada, China, Italy, South Korea, Mexico, Portugal, South Africa and Spain. FLW tournament fishing can be seen on the Emmy-nominated “FLW" television show, broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, while FLW Bass Fishing magazine delivers cutting-edge tips from top pros. For more information visit FLWFishing.com and follow FLW at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
About The Bass Federation
The Bass Federation Inc., (TBF) is a member of the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame. TBF is owned by those we serve and dedicated to the sport of fishing. The Federation is the largest and oldest, organized grassroots fishing, youth and conservation organization there is. TBF, our affiliated state federations and their member clubs conduct more than 20,000 events each year and have provided a foundation for the entire bass fishing industry for more than 45 years. TBF founded the Student Angler Federation and the National High School Fishing program in 2008 to promote clean family fun and education through fishing. Visit bassfederation.com or highschoolfishing.org and “LIKE US” on Facebook.
AC insider Podcast Episode 33 - Featuring Brandon Lester & More Tour News!
On this weeks regularly scheduled program Chris & Jason welcome Elite Series Pro Brandon Lester on to talk about his recent string of 3rd place finishes as well as looking ahead to the Classic Bracket & Opens Championship. The boys also talk about the recent BASS Proposal to their anglers and more MLF and FLW news to boot. Jason looks ahead on the Costa Countdown to blast off and gives props to Progressive and their sponsorship of college footballs Pylon cam.... All of this and MORE only on the AnglersChannel Insider Podcast!
BASS PRO SHOPS EXPANDS FLW SPONSORSHIP
MINNEAPOLIS (Sept. 18, 2018) – Fishing League Worldwide (FLW), the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, announced today that Bass Pro Shops, the leading retailer in the outdoor industry, has renewed its sponsorship of the organization to showcase its destination stores to millions of loyal FLW fans, anglers and consumers. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Per terms of the agreement, Bass Pro Shops will retain title sponsorship of the FLW High School Fishing Opens. In addition to the title sponsorship, Bass Pro Shops will also receive exposure across all FLW platforms, including more than 260 tournaments and Expos, website, social media outlets, FLW Bass Fishing magazine and the fan favorite “FLW Live” webcasts from each FLW Tour stop.
"Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s prior to their coming together last year, have been an integral part of both professional and recreational fishing for many years,” said FLW President of Marketing Trish Blake. “We recognize the renewed commitment to FLW as a substantial and important confirmation of Bass Pro Shops’ support for their customers' passion for the outdoors. We look forward to building upon our continued relationship with this iconic outdoor brand."
The 2019 Bass Pro Shops FLW High School Fishing Open Series features tournaments for High School Fishing anglers around the country. The top 10 percent of teams in each event advance directly to the High School Fishing National Championship.
In addition to High School Fishing tournaments, Bass Pro Shops will also be the presenting sponsor of multiple YETI FLW College Fishing tournaments. Select tournaments across all circuits will have registration and/or weigh-ins hosted at various Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s store locations, and FLW will be showcased in the annual summer-time Bass Pro Shops “Gone Fishing” events planned for summer.
Additionally, Bass Pro Shops will expand its support of the Costa FLW High School Fishing Camp. The inaugural camp held at Murray State University and Kentucky Lake in July of 2018 drew 125 students and 50 coaches from 23 states to attend three days of seminars and panel discussions with top FLW Tour pros, FLW staff and industry executives. Dates for the 2019 camp will be released soon.
“Under the visionary leadership of our founder Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shops is deeply committed to helping young people connect with nature through fishing and outdoor recreation,” said Bass Pro Shops Director of Communications Jack Wlezien. “We are very proud to support Fishing League Worldwide and their efforts to grow the sport of fishing with anglers of all ages.”
For more information about FLW, their tournaments and sponsors, visit FLWFishing.com. To learn more about Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s, visit basspro.com and cabelas.com.
About FLW
FLW is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, providing anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to compete for millions in prize money in 2018 across five tournament circuits. Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, with offices in Minneapolis, FLW and their partners conduct 286 bass-fishing tournaments annually around the world, including the United States, Canada, China, Italy, South Korea, Mexico, Portugal, South Africa and Spain. FLW tournament fishing can be seen on the Emmy-nominated “FLW" television show, broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, while FLW Bass Fishing magazine delivers cutting-edge tips from top pros. For more information visit FLWFishing.com and follow FLW at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
About Bass Pro Shops®
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.”
KastKing Signs 2018 KBF National Champ Dwayne Taff
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(For Immediate Release - Garden City, Long Island NY - September 12, 2018) KastKing (www.kastking.com) is thrilled to announce the addition of KBF (Kayak Bass Fishing) reigning Champion, Dwayne Taff to their Pro Staff line up. Taff will exclusively use a variety of KastKing fishing reels such as the newly introduced KastKing Royale Legend Elite low profile baitcasting reel developed for bass fishing tournament anglers, and KastKing fishing lines that include KastKing KastPro braided fishing line.
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Taff has competed in 30 tournaments in 2018 so far and has many more scheduled for the remainder of the year. He has 15 top ten KBF career finishes with eight coming during the 2018 season
BELLEVILLE’S GOSHEN WINS T-H MARINE FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE MICHIGAN DIVISION FINALE ON DETROIT RIVER
Ohio’s Lovin Grabs Co-angler Title
TRENTON, Mich. (Sept. 17, 2018) – Boater Ronnie Goshen Sr. of Belleville, Michigan, won the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Michigan Division tournament on the Detroit River Sunday with a two-day cumulative catch of 10 bass weighing 51 pounds, 10 ounces. Goshen earned $5,329 for his win.
“This is like a dream come true – I’ve always wanted to win a BFL event,” said Goshen, who had three previous top-10 finishes on the Detroit River in BFL competition. “I used tubes, swimbaits and spinnerbaits and fished rocks and current all over the river.”
Goshen said he used a green pumpkin-colored Impulse Fatty Tube, a LIVETARGET Goby Paddle Tail Swimbait with a ¾-ounce head and a ¾-ounce chartreuse and white-colored custom bullet head spinnerbait. He noted that he was able to catch 25 to 30 keepers each day.
“I’ve got three or four favorite baits and if they wouldn’t hit one I’d throw another,” said Goshen. “I fished in 4- to 15-foot depths and covered a lot of water. It was a run and gun thing – I’d get one here and one there.”
Goshen said he experienced engine problems at the conclusion of the day Saturday, and that his son let him use his boat for the remainder of the event Sunday.
“I was really blessed. Without his help, I would’ve had to use my trolling motor all day (Sunday),” said Goshen.
Goshen said that the Spot-Lock feature on his Minn Kota Ultrex trolling motor was crucial to helping him stay put in the current Saturday, and that his Lowrance electronics helped him pinpoint specific spots to fish.
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Ronnie Goshen Sr., Belleville, Mich., 10 bass, 51-10, $5,329
2nd: Pat Upthagrove, Monroe, Mich., 10 bass, 49-1, $2,864
3rd: Joshua Barr, Stow, Ohio, 10 bass, 45-11, $1,877
4th: Scott Davis, Coloma, Mich., 10 bass, 45-5, $1,243
5th: Troy Stokes, Brownstown, Mich., 10 bass, 45-1, $1,066
6th: Mark Flick, Plainwell, Mich., 10 bass, 45-1, $977
7th: John Devries, Fishers, Ind., 10 bass, 44-0, $888
8th: Randy Ramsey, Burlington, Mich., 10 bass, 43-13, $799
9th: Michael Sitko, Pinckney, Mich., 10 bass, 43-11, $1,010
10th: Clayton Reitz, Morton, Ill., 10 bass, 43-9, $622
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Jerry Arnett of Mexico, Indiana, caught a bass weighing 5 pounds, 15 ounces – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division. The catch earned him the Boater Big Bass award of $682.
John Lovin of Fayetteville, Ohio, caught a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 44 pounds, 13 ounces, to win the Co-angler Division and $2,664.
The top 10 co-anglers were:
1st: John Lovin, Fayetteville, Ohio, 10 bass, 44-13, $2,664
2nd: Darwin Griva, Hamilton, Ind., 10 bass, 42-1, $1,332
3rd: John Martin, Caledonia, Mich., 10 bass, 41-3, $889
4th: Erik Jacques, Marine City, Mich., 10 bass, 40-14, $822
5th: Mike Eldridge, Blacklick, Pa., 10 bass, 36-10, $533
6th: Tony Mitchell, Plainwell, Mich., 10 bass, 36-6, $538
7th: Clint Joyner, Metamora, Mich., 10 bass, 34-3, $444
8th: Jeffrey Thomson, Birmingham, Mich., nine bass, 32-1, $400
9th: Dayton Land, Coatesville, Ind., nine bass, 32-1, $355
10th: Michael Kokoska, Findlay, Ohio, eight bass, 31-7, $311
Eric Wild of Brooklyn, Michigan, caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division – a fish weighing 5 pounds, 9 ounces – and earned the Co-angler Big Bass award of $341.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 18-20 BFL Regional Championship on Kentucky Lake in Gilbertsville, Kentucky. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard.
The 2018 BFL 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 BFL All-American. The 2019 BFL All-American will take place May 30-June 1 on the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
About FLW
FLW is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, providing anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to compete for millions in prize money in 2018 across five tournament circuits. Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, with offices in Minneapolis, FLW and their partners conduct 286 bass-fishing tournaments annually around the world, including the United States, Canada, China, Italy, South Korea, Mexico, Portugal, South Africa and Spain. FLW tournament fishing can be seen on the Emmy-nominated “FLW" television show, broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, while FLW Bass Fishing magazine delivers cutting-edge tips from top pros. For more information visit FLWFishing.com and follow FLW at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
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KINGSTON’S HENLEY WINS T-H MARINE FLW BFL VOLUNTEER DIVISION FINALE ON WATTS BAR LAKE
Seymour’s Brumett Takes Co-angler Title
ROCKWOOD, Tenn. (Sept. 17, 2018) – Boater Chase Henley of Kingston, Tennessee, won the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Volunteer Division tournament on Watts Bar Lake Sunday with a two-day cumulative catch of 10 bass weighing 32 pounds, 15 ounces. For his win, Henley earned $5,126.
“On Saturday I caught them around the Kingston area of the lake. I caught them as the water was falling – I kind of moved out with the fish,” said Henley, who earned his first career win FLW competition. “I probably had four areas and fished laydowns and seawalls with a jig and buzzbait.”
Henley said he used a ½-ounce Green Pumpkin Craw-colored Strike King Greg Hackney Hack Attack jig with a Hematoma-colored Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver for the laydowns, and a 3/8-ounce Showboat Lures buzzbait with a white Zoom Split Tail trailer on the seawalls.
“I started out with the buzzbait on the seawalls, but when the sun came out I switched to the jig and laydowns,” said Henley. “They didn’t want to chase anything after the sun came out. I caught about eight keepers total.”
On Sunday, as the water level continued to fall, Henley said he ran to a part of the lake near the Kingston steam plant and the mouth of the Emory River. He said he targeted visible isolated wood and rocky points and was able to put around 13 keepers in the boat.
“It was more of a pattern on Day Two,” said Henley. “I started out with the buzzbait, and then switched to a homemade vibrating jig with a white (Zoom Z-Craw) trailer when it got windy. I saw some bubbles on the retrieve which means a change in pressure, and usually the buzzbait bite does better with that. That’s when I started catching them on both lures.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Chase Henley, Kingston, Tenn., 10 bass, 32-15, $5,126
2nd: Marcus Jackson, Dayton, Tenn., 10 bass, 30-13, $2,763
3rd: Ken Vicchio, Bluff City, Tenn., 10 bass, 28-9, $2,009
4th: John Murray, Spring City, Tenn., 10 bass, 27-5, $1,196
5th: Derrick Snavely, Piney Flats, Tenn., 10 bass, 26-15, $1,125
6th: Kevin Edwards, Knoxville, Tenn., 10 bass, 26-13, $940
7th: Troy Redwine, Crossville, Tenn., 10 bass, 26-10, $854
8th: Archie Wilson Jr., Corryton, Tenn., nine bass, 25-4, $769
9th: Joshua Short, Bean Station, Tenn., eight bass, 22-13, $998
10th: Derrick Blake, Rockwood, Tenn., eight bass, 22-3, $598
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Rob Linkous of Rogersville, Tennessee, caught a bass weighing 4 pounds, 15 ounces – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division. The catch earned him the Boater Big Bass award of $315.
Larry Brumett Jr. of Seymour, Tennessee, caught a two-day total of nine bass weighing 23 pounds, 3 ounces, to win the Co-angler Division and $2,641.
The top 10 co-anglers were:
1st: Larry Brumett Jr., Seymour, Tenn., nine bass, 23-3, $2,641
2nd: Tony Brown, Harriman, Tenn., six bass, 16-2, $1,270
3rd: Jason Ridenour, Loudon, Tenn., six bass, 15-2, $814
4th: Tim Godsey, Chickamauga, Ga., six bass, 14-13, $570
5th: Bradley Watts, Afton, Tenn., six bass, 13-10, $488
6th: Jaylen Andrews, Culleoka, Tenn., six bass, 13-6, $447
7th: Darren Kelly, Wartburg, Tenn., six bass, 12-13, $407
8th: Travis Nelson, Wartburg, Tenn., five bass, 12-13, $666
9th: Bill Freshour, Strawplains, Tenn., five bass, 11-12, $325
10th: Matt Brown, Harriman, Tenn., four bass, 10-11, $285
Nelson caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division – a fish weighing 4 pounds, 6 ounces – and earned the Co-angler Big Bass award of $300.
The 2018 T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Volunteer Division finale on Watts Bar Lake was hosted by the Roane County Visitors Bureau.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 18-20 BFL Regional Championship on Lake Norman in Huntersville, North Carolina. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard.
The 2018 BFL 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 BFL All-American. The 2019 BFL All-American will take place May 30-June 1 on the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
FLOWERY BRANCH’S VINSON WINS T-H MARINE FLW BFL BULLDOG DIVISION FINALE ON LAKE LANIER
Waycross’ Bythwood Takes Co-angler Title
GAINESVILLE, Ga. (Sept. 17, 2018) – Boater Roger Vinson of Flowery Branch, Georgia, won the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Bulldog Division tournament on Lake Lanier Sunday with a two-day cumulative catch of 10 bass weighing 28 pounds, 11 ounces. For his win, Vinson earned $6,891.
“I live about 10 minutes from Lake Lanier and have been fishing it for a long time. I have some top-10 finishes in BFL competition, so it’s nice to finally win one,” said Vinson, who earned his first win in FLW competition. “I knew that with the conditions, the fish would be scattered. I fished both deep and shallow. I think most of the field was fishing out deep, but I’d say I fished shallow 30-percent of the time. Changing things up was crucial for my win.
“I fished from the mid-lake area down to the lower end each day,” continued Vinson. “I targeted places like the mouths of creeks and places they would pull up when they are scattered because of the weather. Out deep, I fished humps and points. I targeted more rock on Sunday.”
Vinson said he caught fish on a Pearly White-colored Zoom Super Fluke, a Roboworm Straight Tail Worm on a shaky-head rig, a MegaBass 110 Ito Vision jerkbait and a Pearl White-colored SuperFish Underspin with a Zoom Fluke Jr. of the same color.
“My big fish – a 4-pound, 12-ounce spotted bass – came Sunday morning about 10:30 (a.m.) around the mouth of Two Mile Creek,” said Vinson. “I caught it on a homemade jig with a green pumpkin-colored (Zoom) Creepy Crawler trailer. I felt like I needed 17 pounds (after Saturday) to win and it was a game-changer.”
Vinson said he caught 19 keepers throughout the weekend and weighed all spotted bass. He said that bass both deep and shallow liked the jerkbait best on Saturday, and that on Sunday it was more about the jig and the SuperFish Underspin.
“I used a Kistler rod and (InvizX Seaguar) fluorocarbon line combo which helped me feel when they grabbed onto the bait,” said Vinson. “They didn’t feel like normal bites, but the sensitivity of that combo helped me feel them.”
Vinson noted that his 19-year-old son, Peyton, finished seventh on the co-angler side.
“I think I’m more proud of him and his finish than my own,” said Vinson.
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Roger Vinson, Flowery Branch, Ga., 10 bass, 28-11, $6,891
2nd: Rob Jordan, Flowery Branch, Ga., 10 bass, 25-15, $3,445
3rd: Guy Jordan, Gainesville, Ga., 10 bass, 24-10, $2,229
4th: Brad Wiley, Alto, Ga., eight bass, 24-6, $1,561
5th: J.R. McCay, Robertstown, Ga., 10 bass, 24-2, $1,338
6th: Jeremy Eaton, Dahlonega, Ga., 10 bass, 22-5, $1,227
7th: Undre Montgomery, Lawrenceville, Ga., 10 bass, 22-2, $1,115
8th: Terry Adams, Mansfield, Ga., 10 bass, 21-10, $1,004
9th: Kip Carter, Mansfield, Ga., 10 bass, 20-12, $892
10th: LaMontie Walters, Warner Robins, Ga., 10 bass, 19-7, $781
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Eric Aldrich of Cumming, Georgia, caught a bass weighing 4 pounds, 15 ounces – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division. The catch earned him the Boater Big Bass award of $960.
Justin Bythwood of Waycross, Georgia, caught a two-day total of seven bass weighing 16 pounds, 10 ounces, to win the Co-angler Division and $3,287.
The top 10 co-anglers were:
1st: Justin Bythwood, Waycross, Ga., seven bass, 16-10, $3,287
2nd: Glenn Martin, Gainesville, Ga., eight bass, 14-9, $1,644
3rd: Benjie Winkler, Cleveland, Ga., seven bass, 13-6, $1,096
4th: March Glenn, Decatur, Ga., six bass, 12-10, $867
5th: Spencer Sato, Warner Robins, Ga., six bass, 10-14, $657
6th: Ben Smith, Lula, Ga., five bass, 10-12, $653
7th: Peyton Vinson, Flowery Branch, Ga., five bass, 10-3, $548
8th: Andrew Fisher, Alexandria, Ala., six bass, 9-14, $493
9th: Wayne Hancock, Cumming, Ga., five bass, 9-11, $438
10th: Devereaux Adams, Powder Springs, Ga., five bass, 9-9, $384
Jack Fowler of Coleman, Georgia, caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division – a fish weighing 5 pounds, 5 ounces – and earned the Co-angler Big Bass award of $465.
The 2018 T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Bulldog Division finale on Lake Lanier was hosted by the Gainesville Convention & Visitors Bureau.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 11-13 BFL Regional Championship on the St. Johns River in Palatka, Florida. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard.
The 2018 BFL 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 BFL All-American. The 2019 BFL All-American will take place May 30-June 1 on the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
BYLOTAS WINS T-H MARINE FLW BFL NORTHEAST DIVISION FINALE ON 1000 ISLANDS WITH OVER 48 POUNDS!
Co-angler Title Awarded to Pennsylvania’s Amberg
CLAYTON, N.Y. (Sept. 17, 2018) – Boater Brian Bylotas of Scott Township, Pennsylvania, won the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Northeast Division tournament on 1000 Islands Sunday with a two-day cumulative catch of 10 bass weighing 48 pounds, 3 ounces. For his win, Bylotas pocketed $6,886.
“I started in the river Saturday and caught a few small fish before running out to Lake Ontario about 8 (a.m.),” said Bylotas, who also clinched the BFL Northeast Division Angler of the Year (AOY) points title with his win. “There were some shoals out there and by 10 or 10:30 (a.m.) I got on a school that I had all to myself. I stayed there all day and my co-angler and I caught them pretty well.”
Bylotas said he focused on a ledge off of a shoal near Galloo Island. He said the baitfish were stacked up along a ¼-mile stretch in 25 to 30 feet of water and bass were schooling around them.
“On Sunday I started on a few rock piles in the river and caught a big one – about 5½ pounds – on a (4.5-inch Quick Limit Baits) motor oil-colored Dropshot Worm, which I had used Saturday morning in the river as well,” said Bylotas. “By 9 (a.m.), I went out to the same ledge and school on Lake Ontario, but the bite was a little bit slower. I probably caught around 35 fish Sunday compared to 50 fish Saturday.”
Bylotas said he used a 3.8-inch green pumpkin-colored Keitech Sexy Impact on a drop-shot rig on the ledge each day. He added that a Sexy Impact in Silver Flash color was also productive.
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Brian Bylotas, Scott Township, Pa., 10 bass, 48-3, $6,886
2nd: John Vanore, Mullica Hill, N.J., 10 bass, 46-6, $3,493
3rd: Jason Shipton, Muncy, Pa., 10 bass, 44-8, $2,195
4th: Ken Golub, Pittsford, N.Y., 10 bass, 42-12, $1,637
5th: Dennis Carnahan, Cazenovia, N.Y., 10 bass, 42-9, $1,317
6th: Joe Zombek II, Scranton, Pa., 10 bass, 42-6, $1,207
7th: Travis Manson, Conshohocken, Pa., 10 bass, 41-14, $1,098
8th: Matt Becker, Finleyville, Pa., 10 bass, 41-11, $988
9th: Joseph Fonzi, Gasport, N.Y., 10 bass, 40-6, $878
10th: Frank Arthur, Fallston, Md., 10 bass, 39-12, $768
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Dale Gorrell of Hatfield, Pennsylvania, caught a bass weighing 6 pounds, 4 ounces – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division. The catch earned him the Boater Big Bass award of $945.
Joseph Amberg Jr. of Hawley, Pennsylvania, caught a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 43 pounds, 12 ounces, to win the Co-angler Division and $3,529.
The top 10 co-anglers were:
1st: Joseph Amberg Jr., Hawley, Pa., 10 bass, 43-12, $3,529
2nd: Richard Jordan, Muncy Valley, Pa., 10 bass, 42-4, $1,746
3rd: Cherif Zaher, Orangeville, Pa., 10 bass, 40-7, $1,148
4th: Jim Buehler, Montoursville, Pa., 10 bass, 40-4, $768
5th: Doug Cameron, Belchertown, Mass., 10 bass, 37-0, $659
6th: Michael Duarte, Baltimore, Md., 10 bass, 35-11, $604
7th: Christy Tiano, Hudson, N.Y., nine bass, 34-6, $549
8th: Ryan Buttermore, Leetsdale, Pa., 10 bass, 33-14, $730
9th: Jeff Mellott, Warfordsburg, Pa., 10 bass, 32-7, $439
10th: Jack Wolf, Chesapeake City, Md., 10 bass, 32-4, $384
Amberg also caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division – a fish weighing 6 pounds, 6 ounces – and earned the Co-angler Big Bass award of $236.
The 2018 T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Northeast Division finale on 1000 Islands was hosted by the Clayton Chamber of Commerce.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 11-13 BFL Regional Championship on Chesapeake Bay in North East, Maryland. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard.
The 2018 BFL 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 BFL All-American. The 2019 BFL All-American will take place May 30-June 1 on the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
DION HIBDON WINS T-H MARINE FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE OZARK DIVISION FINALE ON LAKE OF THE OZARKS
Saint Charles’ Rothweil Takes Co-angler Title
OSAGE BEACH, Mo. (Sept. 17, 2018) – One of only five anglers in history to win both of pro bass fishing’s major championship events – the Forrest Wood Cup and the Bassmaster Classic – pro Dion Hibdon of Stover, Missouri, won the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Ozark Division tournament on Lake of the Ozarks Sunday with a two-day cumulative catch of 10 bass weighing 32 pounds, 10 ounces. For his win, Hibdon netted $8,595.
Hibdon said he fished docks along a 20-mile stretch of lake, hitting both the Osage and Niangua rivers. He said he caught them a couple of different ways – on the ends of docks early, and under the docks as the day progressed.
“You could catch them loose around the ends of docks early, especially ones with brush,” said Hibdon, who earned his fifth career victory in FLW competition. “I could swim a jig and pitch to the corners early – you didn’t need to worry about skipping. Once they started missing the bait and jerking the trailer I started getting up under the docks and putting it where they were.
“I think the docks with brush held more fish,” Hibdon continued. “You could catch them on docks without brush, but you’d be limited. A lot of guys in the top 10 caught them out of the brush, but the fish got out of it. Fishing pressure will drive them out of that stuff and toward the docks. As far as I’m concerned, fishing pressure helps me because that’s where I want them to be.”
Hibdon said he caught 90-percent of his fish on a jig. He said he used a homemade black jig with a black and blue flake-colored Ledgerock Lures crawdad trailer and a brown jig with a green pumpkin-colored Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver. He said he ended up with around 12 keepers Saturday and 15 on Sunday.
“I also caught some bass on a spinnerbait and a worm, but didn’t weigh any of them,” said Hibdon. “I had a limit each day fairly quick. On Sunday, we had a fog delay, so the loose stuff finished up a bit quicker, but I still had five within an hour so. I used 25-pound-test Berkley Fluorocarbon line – these fish aren’t line-shy.”
Hibdon noted that the fishing was sporadic, a factor he had to deal with in practice.
“I had to cover a lot of water. You could hit 50 docks and not catch one, and then pull up on the next that looks the same as the others and catch two or three. I caught fish off of docks that I haven’t fished in years,” HIbdon went on to say. “Luckily, I got a couple of those tough days in practice to see what I was in for. I hustled pretty hard and fast and that’s probably what made the difference.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Dion Hibdon, Stover, Mo., 10 bass, 32-10, $6,595 + $2,000 Ranger Cup Bonus
2nd: Cody Spinks, Springfield, Mo., 10 bass, 30-3, $3,148
3rd: Rob Bueltmann, Osage Beach, Mo., 10 bass, 29-14, $3,173
4th: John Taylor Jr., Pacific, Mo, nine bass, 29-12, $1,469
5th: Jason Rhyne, Foristell, Mo., 10 bass, 29-9, $1,259
6th: Donovan Hensley, Nixa, Mo., 10 bass, 29-5, $1,254
7th: Marcus Sykora, Osage Beach, Mo., 10 bass, 28-12, $1,049
8th: Jeremy Johnson, Kansas City, Kan., nine bass, 27-5, $944
9th: David McCormick, Lee’s Summit, Mo., 10 bass, 26-14, $839
10th: Tom Silber, Labadie, Mo., 10 bass, 26-4, $734
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Bueltmann caught a bass weighing 5 pounds, 12 ounces – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division. The catch earned him the Boater Big Bass award of $877.
Larry Rothweil of Saint Charles, Missouri, caught a two-day total of eight bass weighing 23 pounds, 12 ounces, to win the Co-angler Division and $3,148.
The top 10 co-anglers were:
1st: Larry Rothweil, Saint Charles, Mo., eight bass, 23-12, $3,148
2nd: Ryan Hopping, Lake Saint Louis, Mo., eight bass, 21-3, $1,574
3rd: Jordan Williams, Oak Grove, Mo., six bass, 16-4, $1,250
4th: Brandon Hecker, Camdenton, Mo., seven bass, 15-15, $734
5th: Dennis Young, Olathe, Kan., five bass, 13-8, $630
6th: Michael Fey Sr., Cuba, Mo., six bass, 12-6, $577
7th: Nathan Klepper, Union, Mo., four bass, 12-2, $525
8th: Jeremy Fiedler, Sullivan, Mo., six bass, 11-14, $472
9th: Rick Dahlman, Mokena, Ill., five bass, 11-3, $470
10th: Carl Breeden, Valley Park, Mo., four bass, 10-8, $367
Kyle Anderson of Foley, Missouri, caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division – a fish weighing 5 pounds, 4 ounces – and earned the Co-angler Big Bass award of $219.
The 2018 T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Ozark Division finale on Lake of the Ozarks was hosted by the Tri-County Lodging Association and the Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitors Bureau.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 18-20 BFL Regional Championship on Kentucky Lake in Gilbertsville, Kentucky. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard.
The 2018 BFL 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 BFL All-American. The 2019 BFL All-American will take place May 30-June 1 on the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
MARSHALL COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL WINS BASS PRO SHOPS FLW HIGH SCHOOL FISHING KENTUCKY LAKE OPEN PRESENTED BY YETI
GILBERTSVILLE, Ky. (Sept. 15, 2018) – The Marshall County High School duo of Nathan Steele and Evan Bremmerkamp, both of Benton, Kentucky, brought a five-bass limit to the scale Saturday weighing 11 pounds,14 ounces to win the 2018 Bass Pro Shops FLW High School Fishing Kentucky Lake Open presented by YETI.
A field of 65 teams competed in the no-entry fee tournament, which launched from Kentucky Dam Marina. In FLW/TBF High School Fishing competition, the top 10-percent of teams competing advance to the High School Fishing National Championship.
The top six teams on Kentucky that advanced to the 2018 High School Fishing National Championship were:
1st: Marshall County High School, Benton, Ky. – Nathan Steele and Evan Bremmerkamp, both of Benton, Ky., five bass, 11-14
2nd: Marshall County High School, Benton, Ky. – Harlan Thomas, Gilbertsville, Ky., and Tristan Barrett, Benton, Ky., three bass, 10-15
3rd: North Mississippi Student Anglers – TJ Edwards, Tremont, Miss., and Houston Vaiden, Hamilton, Miss., three bass, 10-3
4th: Obion County Central High School, Troy, Tenn. – Conner Terry and Matthew Cummings, both of Union City, Tenn., three bass, 6-15
5th: Knox Central High School, Knox County, Ky. – Brady Elza, London Ky., and Lance Smith, Barbourville, Ky., two bass, 6-9
6th: Ohio County High School, Beaver Dam, Ky. – Darren Scoggins, Centertown, Ky., and Jacob Autry, Beaver Dam, Ky., two bass, 6-4
Rounding out the top 10 teams were:
7th: Logan County High School, Russellville, Ky. – Connor Barnes, Adairville, Ky., and Noah Morgan, Sharon Grove, Ky., two bass, 6-4
8th: Spencer County High School, Taylorsville, Ky. – Ryan Whitehead and Andy Napier, both of Louisville, Ky., three bass, 5-4
9th: Logan County High School, Russellville, Ky. – Thomas Lockhart and Kolton Coomer, both of Lewisberg, Ky., two bass, 5-0
10th: Calloway County High School, Murray, Ky. – Caden Emerson, Almo, Ky., and Ethan Tidwell, New Concord, Ky., one bass, 3-9
Complete results from the event can be found at FLWFishing.com.
The 2018 Bass Pro Shops FLW High School Fishing Kentucky Lake Open presented by YETI was a two-person (team) event for students in grades 7-12, open to any Student Angler Federation (SAF) affiliated high school club in the United States. The top 10 percent of each Challenge, Open, and state championship field will advance to the 2019 High School Fishing National Championship on a body of water that has yet to be revealed. 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 2019 High School Fishing World Finals, held in conjunction with the National Championship. At the 2018 World Finals more than $150,000 in scholarships and prizes were awarded.
Full schedules and the latest announcements are available at HighSchoolFishing.org and FLWFishing.com.
Ott DeFoe Scores Repeat Win In Bassmaster Open On Douglas Lake
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Patrick Walters Grabs Lead In Bassmaster Open At Douglas Lake
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Cal Coast Fishing Adds 2018 Forrest Wood Cup Champion Clent Davis
Carpentaria, Calif. – September 11, 2018 – Cal Coast Fishing, a fishing accessories manufacturer from Carpentaria, Calif., has the signing of 2018 Forrest Wood Cup Clent Davis of Montevallo, Ala. to their national pro team. The addition adds to a staff that includes Elite Series pros Ish Monroe and Caleb Sumrall, FLW pros James Watson, Jimmy Reese, Jeff Dobson and Kyle Cortiana, as well as kayak fishing stalwarts Ron Champion and Jay Wallen.
Cal Coast Fishing has become known for their innovative products, such as the Bait Sack, Rod mule and the Clip ‘n Cull 2.0 culling system. The product line has found its way into the boats of pros and recreational anglers everywhere, and the growing pro staff will help that product line to become even more necessary.
Dave Romanus, CEO of Cal Coast Fishing, said that product development was a strong consideration for adding Davis, but there was a more important reason. “Everything I have ever heard about Clent was that he was a great guy, and one that would fit our team very well,” said Romanus. “He was highly recommended to me by people I consider family, and in a short time, he has already proven that to be true. Couple that with his fishing product knowledge and the fact that he just won the Forrest Wood Cup, made the decision a no-brainer for us. We are thrilled to welcome him to our family.”
Davis said he felt the same about joining Cal Coast Fishing, and the products he has already used. “I’ve really enjoyed all of my interactions with Dave and his team,” said Davis. “I know what they stand for as a company, and the products they make are really high quality. The Clip ‘n Cull system is easy to use, and makes culling a breeze; I look forward to working with them to build more great products and working with them like a family.”
The partnership has shown productivity in the short time they have been collaborating, with Davis having input in projects already in the works. While nothing is yet ready to be shown to the public, Cal Coast Fishing will be releasing new products to the marketplace with the help of their world class team of professional anglers.
About Cal Coast Fishing – Established in 2015 and based out of Carpentaria, Calif., Cal Coast Fishing began by offering their original Bait Sack Premium Lure protectors and has since grown to include rod storage and transportation, Conservation minded fish culling system, and other problem solving and fishing efficiency products. The company prides itself on producing products that help anglers be more efficient and enjoy their time on the water more thoroughly. View their products online at https://calcoastfishing.com/, on social media or one of their hundreds of dealers nationwide.
AC Insider Podcast - Keeping you in the know, Discussing BASS, FLW & MLF
Tonight the Boys talk with BASS Elite Series Pro Matt Herren and his thoughts on the new Major League Fishing Bass Tour and his thoughts on BASS. Chris and Jason also speak to FLW Pro Zack Birge about his invitation to the new tour and why his gut is telling him to make the move. Again, everything we say is officially unofficial. Check it out and as we learn more, you will be the first to know!
Jeff Lugar Leads First Round Of Bassmaster Open On Douglas Lake
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WONDERS OF WILDLIFE MUSEUM TO HOST BASS FISHING HALL OF FAME INDUCTION FESTIVITIES
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Icons and luminaries of the sport of bass fishing will gather at Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium September 27 to celebrate the newest members of the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame.
The event marks the 16th induction ceremony of the Hall of Fame and the second at Wonders of Wildlife, which also houses the new Bass Fishing Hall of Fame museum. The 2018 class of inductees includes four-time Bassmaster Classic champion Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich.; former Bassmaster Angler of the Year Gary Klein of Mingus, Texas; ESPN and Bassmaster television host Tommy Sanders of Little Rock, Ark.; former B.A.S.S. CEO Helen Sevier of Montgomery, Ala.; Berkley Bedell of Naples, Fla., founder of Berkley and Co.; and Dr. James Henshall, a 19th Century author who is considered the father of bass fishing.
The 2017 induction banquet was attended by more than 350 sportfishing industry leaders, professional anglers, outdoor media representatives and avid fans of the sport. This year’s event again kicks off with a special VIP reception within the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame home inside the Wonders of Wildlife Museum and Aquarium.
“Our annual Bass Fishing Hall of Fame induction dinner is becoming the hottest ticket in the bass fishing world,” said Donald Howell, president of the Hall of Fame board. He said the gathering, again with Dave Mercer serving as emcee, should be especially well-attended with the induction of two of bass fishing’s most popular anglers, as well as other well-known leaders of the sport.
Supporters of the Hall of Fame nominate potential inductees who are then considered and voted on by a 30-member panel of sportfishing industry insiders, anglers, outdoor journalists and former Hall of Fame inductees.
Tickets are still available at the Hall’s website, bassfishinghof.com, or by calling 501/541.6660.
Established in 1999, the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame is committed to celebrating and promoting the sport of bass fishing and honoring the men, women, organizations and companies that have supported and elevated the sport. The museum includes artifacts of bass fishing and memorabilia from many of the more than 70 individuals inducted during the past 20 years, including pioneers such as B.A.S.S. founder Ray Scott, Ranger Boats founder Forrest Wood, tournament legend Rick Clunn and television hosts Bill Dance, Roland Martin and Jimmy Houston.
With more than 1.5 miles of immersive trails to explore, the Wonders of Wildlife Museum and Aquarium features saltwater and freshwater exhibits that are home to more than 35,000 live animals including double-digit largemouth in the Lunker Lake exhibit. The museum is adjacent to the Bass Pro Shops flagship store in Springfield.
GIVEAWAY: Bienville Plantation PARTY IN THE PINES MUSIC FESTIVAL TICKETS!!
Ticket Giveaway!
Get signed up today for your chance to win 2 tickets
to the Second Annual Bienville Plantation Party in the Pines Music Fest
October 19-20, 2018 in White Springs, Florida
Featuring
Up for Grabs is Two (2) Weekend General Admission Tickets for Friday and Saturday October 19th & 20th, 2018 only.
Winner is responsible for their own travel and lodging for the event.
Visit www.partyinthepines.com for more music fest info.
Terms & Conditions
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Presented by AnglersChannel.com, 2927 Devine Street Suite 100, Columbia, SC 29205. Presenter’s decisions concerning all matters related to this giveaway are final. This giveaway begins on September 13, 2018. To enter click the link provided. Limit of one entry per person, per day. No responsibility is assumed for late or misdirected entries or prize acceptance responses. Entries must be received by Midnight September 27, 2018. Odds of winning depend upon the number of entries received. One winner will be chosen to receive the Baitcast Combo and one winner chosen to receive the Spinning Combo. No cash substitution, transfer, or assignment of prizes allowed, except by AnglersChannel.com, which reserves the right to substitute prizes of equal or greater value. Please allow 1-2 weeks for delivery of prizes as product is brand new and not yet released to the public. Winners must pay all costs and taxes other than those specifically identified in the prize description. Limit of one (1) prize per person. One (1) winner will be randomly selected on or about September 28th, 2018, and notified by e-mail. If attempted notification is returned as undeliverable, if a potential winner cannot be verified, or if a potential winner is otherwise unable or unwilling to accept the prize, then the prize will be forfeited and may be awarded to an alternate winner in AnglersChannel.com’s discretion. Open to all AnglersChannel.com Viewers and Readers. Void where prohibited by law. Winner must be at least sixteen (16) years old. AnglersChannel employees and their immediate family members are not eligible to win. Winner gives AnglersChannel.com the right to use their name, photograph, and likeness in advertising and promotion without compensation or permission except where prohibited by law. Winner releases AnglersChannel.com from any liability arising out of participation in this giveaway or the acceptance, use or misuse of a prize. Winner will be posted on AnglersChannel.com as well as AnglersChannel’s Social media sites including, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Simms Katafront Hoody - A Technical Hoodie with Water Proof Cuffs and Boat to Bar Style!
From clouds to sun to showers, it's no secret that the weather is fickle and on a good day on the water you can see it all. The search for the layer that bridges all conditions is over. Our men's Katafront Hoody is a technical fishing jacket that meets all conditions. Layer it under a rain shell or wear it on its own on drier days. Watershedding forearms move in and out of the water while keeping you dry, and an adjustable hood provides shelter and warmth as needed. It's cut for a full range of motion with just the right amount of stretch.
Features:
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- Water shedding fabrics
- Hydrophobic cuffs
- Adjustable hood
- Zippered, thermolaminated chest pocket; 2 zippered hand warming pockets
