2018 Bassmaster Elite Series Schedule Released, Slate Features Exciting Mix Of New And Familiar Fisheries
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Garmin® Expands Revolutionary Panoptix Sonar Capabilities
OLATHE, Kan./July 10, 2017/Business Wire – Garmin International, Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), today announced the PanoptixTM PS22-TR, its newest Panoptix transducer with LiveVü Forward and LiveVü Down that offers a narrow 20-degree beam angle for crisp, improved resolution and clear images of what’s all around and below the boat – in real time and even while stationary. Paired with a compatible Garmin GPSMAP® or echoMAP® CHIRP chartplotter, Panoptix delivers a whole new perspective to fishing that lets anglers watch the movement of fish and the reactions to their bait, up to 100 feet away. Designed for trolling motor installation, the PS22-TR is the latest addition to the popular Panoptix product line, which now includes seven models with varying installation options for inland and offshore application.
“Garmin’s Panoptix all-seeing sonar technology continues to change the way people fish,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin vice president of global consumer sales. “It’s the only sonar of its kind that gives anglers the ability to see all around their boat in real time, and we’re excited to expand this unique capability to even more inland and near-shore fishermen with the introduction of the PS22-TR that provides two LiveVü modes in one transducer.”
With a Panoptix PS22-TR on board, fishermen can see real-time sonar imagery at video-like speed using the view of their choice – forward or down – and thanks to its simple design, it’s easy to change mounting configurations between the two. By providing both LiveVü scanning views, anglers have the ability to tailor the PS22-TR to best fit how they fish. Unlike traditional or scanning sonar that only provides historical data of what’s been passed over, LiveVü Forward shows an image of fish swimming and moving toward or away from the boat and LiveVü Down shows moving sonar images below the boat. The PS22-TR’s 20-degree narrow beam angle allows users to pinpoint fish and structure so they know exactly where to cast.
The Garmin Panoptix PS22-TR LiveVü Forward and LiveVü Down trolling motor transducer is expected to be available in the third quarter for $999.99. Mounting hardware is included to install the PS22-TR on the shaft or barrel of a trolling motor. It’s compatible with select echoMAP CHIRP 7- and 9-inch models, as well as the GPSMAP 8400/8600, GPSMAP 7400/7600, and the GPSMAP 7x2, 9x2, 10x2 and 12x2 series chartplotters. For more information, visit garmin.com/panoptix.
Garmin was recently named Manufacturer of the Year for the second year in a row by the NMEA, an honor given to the most recognized marine electronics company for support of products in the field. Garmin’s portfolio includes some of the industry’s most sophisticated chartplotters and touchscreen multifunction displays, sonar technology, high-definition radar, autopilots, high- resolution mapping, sailing instrumentation, and other products and services that are known for innovation, reliability, and ease-of-use.
For decades, Garmin has pioneered new GPS navigation and wireless devices and applications that are designed for people who live an active lifestyle. Garmin serves five primary business units, including automotive, aviation, fitness, marine, and outdoor recreation. For more information, visit Garmin's virtual pressroom at garmin.com/newsroom, contact the Media
Relations department at 913-397-8200, or follow us at facebook.com/garmin, twitter.com/garmin, or youtube.com/garmin.
About Garmin International Inc. Garmin International Inc. is a subsidiary of Garmin Ltd. (Nasdaq: GRMN). Garmin Ltd. is incorporated in Switzerland, and its principal subsidiaries are located in the United States, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. Garmin, GPSMAP and echoMAP are registered trademarks and Panoptix is a trademark of Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries.
All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners. All rights reserved.
Notice on Forward-Looking Statements:
This release includes forward-looking statements regarding Garmin Ltd. and its business. Such statements are based on management’s current expectations. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release may not occur and actual results could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting Garmin, including, but not limited to, the risk factors listed in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, filed by Garmin with the Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission file number 0-31983). A copy of such Form 10-K is available at http://www.garmin.com/aboutGarmin/invRelations/finReports.html. No forward- looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and Garmin undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
Strike King Tour Grade Mag Jighead
This Head Will Standup to Big Bass!
Collierville, Tenn. (June 1, 2017) – We have seen a trend in the last few years involving big, straight-tail worms. The proof of this is the success of our Bullworm in both sizes. The most common problem is that it’s hard to find the perfect head. The shape, weight and hook size of what’s out there almost never coincides to be what you would want. Until now. Introducing the all-new Tour Grade Mag Jig Head from Strike King!
“The effectiveness of a worm, or other style of plastic, on a standup-style jig head is something that most pros count on regularly. This type of presentation seems to be attractive to the bigger fish that it takes to win tournaments. The problem is that most of the existing heads are designed for big fish. The new Tour Grade Mag Jighead on the other hand, was designed for just that” explains Keith Combs, 6-time Bassmaster Classic Qualifier.
“This head is perfect in terms of head shape, how it attaches to whatever plastic you use, and especially the hook. When you stick them with this head, they’re coming in the boat!” says Combs.
The all-new Tour Grade Mag Jighead comes in 4 sizes (1/4, 3/8, ½ & ¾), 2 colors (Black & Green Pumpkin) and is offered with both a 5/0 and 7/0 premium black nickel hook. Look for it at better tackle retailers everywhere following ICAST!
T-H MARINE ADDS DEREK TROVILLION AS DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL MARKETING
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Cody Seeger Wins ABA Ram Trucks Open Series Ohio Division Event!!
Cody Seeger won the American Bass Anglers Ram Truck Open Series Ohio Division tournament held 07/08/2017. Running out of Tanner’s Creek park in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, Cody weighed in a five bass limit for 9.07 pounds. He anchored his catch with a bass that weighed 2.91 pounds. For the Boater Division victory, Seeger took home a check for $5000.00.
“I caught probably 17 fish today but most were shorts. I caught about seven keepers. What really helped me was I came up last week when the river was down and I marked some wood that’s now in 6-7 feet of water. I picked the wood apart using a tube and a beaver.” Said Seeger.
In second for the boaters, Christopher Combess of Cleves, Ohio weighed in a five bass limit weighing 9.05 pounds. He anchored his limit with a bass that weighed in at 2.55 pounds. He collected $600.00 for the effort.
“I caught six bass today culling once. I caught them on a worm and a buzzbait.” Said Combess.
Jake Poffenberger of Brookville, Ohio took third place with a five bass limit weighing in at 8.25 pounds. He anchored his catch with a bass that weighed 2.43 pounds. Jake collected $475.00.
“I caught probably eight keepers today along with 6-7 short fish. I was fishing shallow, flipping a tube and throwing a spinnerbait.” Said Poffenberger.
Finishing fourth, Josh Smith of Hamilton, Ohio weighed in a five bass limit weighing 7.69 pounds.
Rounding out the top five Garry Kincaid of Martinsville, Indiana weighed in a five bass limit weighing 7.62 pounds.
Josh Smith of Hamilton, Ohio weighed in the biggest bass for the boaters. Smith’s bass weighed in at 4.30 pounds. Smith collected $380.00 for the catch.
In the Co-Angler Division, Edward Backs of Troy, Ohio won with three bass weighing 4.03 pounds. Backs sealed his victory with a 2.07 pound kicker to pocket a check for $500.00
“I was fishing baits different from the baits my boater was using. I caught one on a crankbait, one on a worm and one on a hair jig.” Said Backs.
Taking second for the co-anglers, Jason Skipworth of Harrison, Ohio weighed in two bass for 3.90 pounds. Skipworth collected $350.00 for the effort.
“I was fishing a jig on the main river. I caught probably 20 fish but only had two that would keep.” Said Skipworth.
Taking third for the co anglers Tim Cukovecki of Dayton, Ohio weighed in three bass that weighed 3.39 pounds.
Finishing fourth was Dennis Cruse of Columbus, Ohio who weighed in two bass for 3.36 pounds. Also for having the biggest bass for the co anglers at 2.39 pounds Cruse won $65.00 for the catch.
Rounding out the top five was James Wilcox of Cincinnati Ohio who weighed in 2 bass for 2.20 pounds.
Slated for 07/29/2017 the next tournament for the Ohio Division will on Indian Lake out of Moundwood State Park . At the end of the season, the best anglers from across the nation advance the 2018 Ray Scott Championship, slated for the Red River in Shreveport-Bossier Louisiana in April 2018.
For more information on this tournament, call Rodney Michael, tournament manager, at 256-497-0967 or ABA at 256-232-0406. On line, see www.ramopenseries.com .
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, the Ram Truck Open Series, the American Fishing Tour or the American Couples Series, visit www.americanbassanglers.com.
American Bass Anglers, Inc. is supported by Ram Trucks, Triton Boats, Mercury Outboards, Carlisle Tires, GEICO, Berkley, Abu Garcia, T-H Marine, Livingston Lures, Best Western Hotels, Maui Jim, Power Pole, LiT Coolers, Simms, Garmin, and Divide-It. American Bass Anglers, Inc. can be contacted at (256) 232-0406 or by visiting americanbassanglers.com
Pescitelli - Kickin Their Bass on the Water and in the Classroom!
By Vance McCullough
Collegiate Angler Noah Pescitelli had an outstanding freshman season on the water. He also took care of business in the classroom where earned a spot on the Dean’s List at Savanah College of Art and Design.
With a 3rd place showing at a Bassmaster Southern Regional Collegiate event Pescitelli proved he’s an avid angler. He also enjoys the academic experience at SCAD. “I really wasn’t much of an ‘artsy’ person at all, but I got offered a really great scholarship and the education you get here . . . 98% job placement, the degree I’ll get here is just absolutely amazing.
“I’ve learned a lot of things about computer programs and other things that are going to help me in my business, not just now, but in the long run.”
Originally from Bufford, GA, Pescitelli enjoys his surroundings at SCAD. “Savanah is amazing. I like everything around there. It’s a fun place to be.”
SCAD is unique in that it doesn’t have a fishing club run by students, but rather, the school itself established a varsity bass fishing team and hired a full-time coach, Isaac Payne, who actively recruits anglers.
How did Pescitelli become the first Georgia high school student to sign a bass fishing scholarship? The ‘business’ he referred to is his Kickin Their Bass TV which has a presence on every social media platform. His followers number in the hundreds of thousands. Couple that with Pescitelli’s on-water achievements and it’s easy to understand why Coach Payne extended the offer.
During his first year as a competitive angler Pescitelli narrowly missed winning the high school state title by 0.03 ounce.
Last year was the first for the SCAD team. Having Pescitelli, a freshman, lead the way for the new program seems appropriate. Indeed, he was the program’s Angler of the Year.
Coach Payne has some off-water considerations when it comes to crowning an Angler of the Year. These requirements speak volumes about Pescitelli’s character. “You’re going to college to graduate and to better your life. And to fish too. But just having all first-place finishes doesn’t get you a job. Being a well-rounded angler, a dynamic individual who encompasses all aspects, who brings it full circle – an Angler of the Year for me is someone who is able to do everything, not just fish.”
Coach Payne is especially impressed with how Pescitelli works with others. “Noah collaborates well. He gets his strengths to match with other peoples’ weaknesses and his weaknesses with other peoples’ strengths. Collaboration is a big thing. If you’re the catcher, you have to have a pitcher. Everybody is important on the team.”
Many young AOY recipients would dream of Bassmaster Elite Series fame. But Pescitelli? “Currently, it’s something I really enjoy doing. I’m doing tournaments. I’m building my own business, doing the whole marketing side of everything. I’m trying to think where, in the future, I’m gonna end up heading. Do I want to head toward pro fishing? Do I want to do TV? Do I want to continue doing social marketing for fishing companies on-line? It’s a lot to think about right now.
“I’m definitely going to keep pursuing my business in the social media side of fishing.”
As the old saying goes, the more deeply involved you are in the fishing industry, the less you time you get to spend fishing. Pescitelli is considering semi-pro competition sometime soon, but, “I was thinking about fishing some of the BFL’s as a boater or even as a co-angler. I’m still contemplating some of that but right now, with my business, I just haven’t had much time to do it. That is something that in the near future, I’ll probably try.”
Pescitelli is majoring in advertising which dovetails nicely with his current business pursuits that revolve heavily around marketing and brand awareness for fishing related companies.
In addition to pond-hopping with his grand dad, Pescitelli practiced his craft on Lake Lanier when he was younger. “Then I started fishing the high school trails and it kind of grew from there. We fished the FLW and B.A.S.S. circuits in high school and now fish both in college.”
Noah’s dad, Steve, is super supportive of his son’s efforts but he can’t fully participate in the fishing part of things. “He drove my boat during my high school fishing days,” said Noah. “He doesn’t fish too often, kind of does it with me and supports me along the way but he’s actually allergic to fish. He can’t even touch them or have them splash on him. But he’ll go out with me on the water.
“When I put a fish in the boat or touch a fish I have to wipe off the slime really good or if I touch him he’ll break out.”
Along with Dad and his mom, Patti, the family rallies around Noah, “Both of my parents and my grandparents show up to pretty much all of the tournaments we fish.”
As for style preferences, “I’m mostly a power fisherman,” says Pescitelli. “It’s kind of hard for me to slow down which is a good and a bad thing. If I have to slow down I will but I’m trying to hit as many spots as I can, trying locate fish and keep grinding; trying to figure out what the fish are doing.”
Most guys his age root for a favorite few anglers. Pescitelli, on the other hand, is friends with some of his favorites. “Mark Daniels Jr – I’ve done some TV shows with him. Scott Martin, I’ve done a few TV shows with him as well.
“Brandon Palaniuk is good. A lot of young kids look up to him. The Shryock brothers are pretty cool. Those would have to be my Top 5 favorite pros.”
Pescitelli has already gained valuable experience in the TV world. “Last summer we went to Canada and filmed a whole series up there for my social media stuff, filmed a whole week up there. Filmed a show as well and I got to fish with Roland Martin.”
Pescitelli’s ambitious outlook makes him a great fit for Coach Payne and the SCAD team. Of his coach, Pescitelli noted, “He started the fishing team. He has big dreams for us. We’re trying to figure everything out. I talk to him regularly, trying to plan things.”
Given that Pescitelli is only entering his sophomore season at SCAD, the future looks bright for the program and for the young man who is handling his business, on the water, in the classroom and, well, in the business world.
B.A.S.S. Extends ‘No-Info Rule’ For The Bassmaster Elite Series And Bassmaster Classic
July 7, 2017
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — From the earliest days of professional fishing a half-century ago, the most important skill an angler could have is the ability to find the biggest schools of bass. That, more than casting ability or lure selection and presentation, sets the greats in the sport, men like Roland Martin, Rick Clunn and Kevin VanDam, apart from the rest.
With the start of the 2018 Bassmaster Elite Series, that fish-finding wizardry will be even more vital, thanks to a new Elite Series rule that went into effect today.
“Beginning at the time the Elite Series schedule is announced next week, anglers are prohibited from soliciting or intentionally receiving any information about the locations of fish or fishing areas on those waters,” announced B.A.S.S. Tournament Director Trip Weldon.
Also effective immediately, Elite Series competitors may not obtain or solicit information about locating fish on Lake Hartwell, South Carolina, site of the 2018 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods. Anglers who earn an invitation to fish the Classic through other Bassmaster circuits or events will have to abide by the rule as soon as they qualify, even provisionally, for the event. For example, winners of Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series events must abide by the no-info rule beginning as soon as they win an Open.
According to current Elite Series rules — which are already among the most stringent in tournament competition — anglers may not be on a fishery or obtain information about fishing it for four weeks prior to an event. Under the new rule, anglers may still practice on the lake until 28 days prior to the start of official practice, but from the time the schedule is announced, they cannot have the help of anyone familiar with the fishery.
“This new rule is supported overwhelmingly by the Elite anglers themselves,” said Weldon, referring to a recent survey in which more than 80 percent of Elite Series anglers responding supported extending the “no-information” period to a much earlier date. “This change not only helps level the playing field, but it also puts a premium on the all-important ability to find, as well as catch, bass.”
B.A.S.S. will announce eight of the 11 Elite Series events for 2018 in a special video program on Bassmaster.com beginning at 11 a.m. CT Monday, July 10. The new no-information rule will become effective for those events at the same time. The rule will also apply to fisheries for three other Elite tournaments — the Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest benefiting Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship and the Bassmaster Classic Bracket tournament — as soon as they are announced later this year.
2017 Bassmaster Elite Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2017 Bassmaster Elite Series Premier Sponsors: Mercury, Minn Kota, Power-Pole, Shell Rotella, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha, Berkley, Huk, Hummingbird, Nitro Boats
2017 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: Shimano, Advance Auto Parts, Livingston Lures, Academy Sports + Outdoors, Carhartt, Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels, Lowrance, Phoenix Boats, T-H Marine
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), television show (The Bassmasters on ESPN2), radio show (Bassmaster Radio), social media programs and events. For more than 45 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation presented by Magellan, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Costa Bassmaster High School Series presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods, Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods.
Humminbird® Basemap Gets Anglers Fishing, Right Out of the Box
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MOUNT IDA HIGH SCHOOL WINS TBF/FLW HIGH SCHOOL FISHING NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP ON PICKWICK LAKE
FLORENCE, Ala. (July 5, 2017) – The Mount Ida High School duo of Hunter Davis and Tyler Allenbrand, both of Mount Ida, Arkansas, brought a five-bass limit to the scale Friday weighing 23 pounds, 10 ounces to win the 2017 TBF/FLW High School Fishing National Championship on Pickwick Lake in Florence, Alabama with a three-day total of 53-6. The win earned the team trophies, the title of national champions and each angler a $5,000 scholarship to their college of choice.
A field of 142 teams competed in the event, which launched from McFarland Park in Florence. The Mount Ida duo won by a 1-pound, 14-ounce margin over the second place team of Cal Culpepper and Mason Waddell from Georgia’s Harris County High School, who weighed in a three-day total of 51-8.
Coached by professional Bassmaster Elite Series angler Mark Davis, Hunter’s father, the youngsters from Arkansas fished two different areas to amass their heaviest stringer of the tournament. The younger Davis and Allenbrand were dragging ¾-ounce Strike King football jigs and Strike King Menace Grub trailers (green pumpkin) slowly across the bottom.
The top 10 teams on Pickwick Lake finished:
1st: Mount Ida High School, Mount Ida, Ark. – Hunter Davis and Tyler Allenbrand, both of Mount Ida, Ark., 15 bass, 53-6, $10,000 Scholarship
2nd: Harris County High School, Hamilton, Ga. – Cal Culpepper, Hamilton, Ga., and Mason Waddell, Waverly Hall, Ga., 15 bass, 51-8
3rd: North Mississippi Student Anglers – Hunter Nanney, Dumas, Miss., and Jake Kimbrough, Smithville, Miss., 15 bass, 50-11
4th: Fannin County High School, Blue Ridge, Ga. – Dalton Tankersley, Morganton, Ga., and Zack Nicholson, Epworth, Ga., 15 bass, 47-9
5th: Obion County Central High School, Troy, Tenn. – Blake Robb, Martin, Tenn., and Cody Gregory, Troy, Tenn., 15 bass, 43-1
6th: Tulsa Bass Club, Tulsa, Okla. – Taylor Hamburger, Tulsa, Okla., and Hunter Harrison, Jones, Okla., 14 bass, 42-4
7th: North Forsyth High School, Cumming, Ga. – Glenn Worley, Dawsonville, Ga., and Paul Marks, Cumming, Ga., 15 bass, 42-3
8th: Oviedo High School, Oviedo, Fla. – Fisher Omans and Steven Steinard, both of Oviedo, Fla., 11 bass, 35-1
9th: East Rowan High School, Salisbury, N.C. – Hunter Harwood, Gold Hill, N.C., and Paiton File, Salisbury, N.C., 12 bass, 32-0
10th: Arkansas Student Angler Federation – Cade Gartman and Jay Morgan, both of Trumann, Ark., 10 bass, 29-9
Complete results for the remaining teams and photos from the event can be found at HighSchoolFishing.org.
The 2017 TBF/FLW High School Fishing National Championship was a two-person (team) no-entry fee event for students in grades 7-12. The tournament featured the top anglers from the 2017 TBF High School Fishing State Championships and Bass Pro Shops FLW High School Fishing Open events.
Full schedules and the latest announcements are available at HighSchoolFishing.org and FLWFishing.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 2017 across five tournament circuits. Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, with offices in Minneapolis, FLW conducts more than 258 bass-fishing tournaments annually across the United States and sanctions tournaments in Canada, China, Mexico, South Africa and South Korea. 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.
X Zone Lures Partners with Elite Pro Brandon Lester
Beamsville, Ontario – X Zone Lures has partnered with Bassmaster Elite Series angler Brandon Lester of Fayetteville, TN, to create a new Pro Series line of soft plastic baits.
X Zone Lures has helped anglers catch smallmouth for over a decade with its Slammer and Swammer hand-poured baits. Their following in northern fisheries is cult-like. Recently X Zone Lures has been investing in further lure design and production equipment to increase their footprint and impact in the soft plastic market by adding two new series.
X Zone Lures offers three series of baits which are:
- Classic hand Pour Series
- Pro Series
- Crappie / Panfish Series
The Classic Hand Pour Series is the original series of baits offered by X Zone that has provided anglers with many regional tournament wins. Each bait in this series is meticulously produced using the open mold, hand-pour technique, which allows X Zone to produce baits that replicate the subtleties of nature to a high degree. This series of baits currently offers 10 bait designs.
The Pro Series is a serious line of baits that will be expanding throughout the next year and is being developed with the help of Elite Series Pro Brandon Lester. This series will include bait designs that will be applicable to every situation. Holding to its heritage, the X Zone Pro Series baits will be very soft allowing them to provide the longest fish-holding times in the market. This series of baits currently offers 7 bait designs and 11 more bait designs have been approved and will be available in the coming months.
The Crappie / Panfish Series is a line of baits that consists of classic crappie and panfish designs that are sure to bring fish-catching joy to anglers at all levels. This series of baits currently offers 8 bait designs.
The selection of a Bassmaster Elite Series pro to lead the field portion of the bait design process reflects X Zone’s commitment to producing quality lures. Jim Van Ryn, President of X Zone Lures said “We started reading a lot of articles and watching videos and Brandon’s name kept popping up. And each time he was teaching people how to catch more fish and then mentioning the gear he used, including whatever bait was his favorite. We reached out to him to share our appreciation of his efforts and got to talking about baits. Turns out he has a past work history in the injection-molding process and has always been interested in designing his own lures. We put him to work and have really benefited from his expertise.”
Lester jumped in with both feet when given the opportunity to design lures that will work both on the pro tour and for anglers of all levels in North America. “Our first in-person meeting was last winter at the foundry where the plastic moulds would eventually be made so you could say we started at ground zero. X Zone’s commitment to quality production is critical to putting a fish-catching product out into the market. I’m excited about the lures we’ve designed and those that are coming down the line as well,” said Lester.
ABOUT X Zone Lures
X Zone Lures has rich history in meeting the needs of anglers in North America and throughout the world. Their most famous lure design is called the Slammer and has been a secret bait of the pros while fishing the northern lakes. Innovative bait designs and doing things that are subtly different has helped X Zone Lures stand out from the crowd. The company’s newly-redesigned website is www.xzonelures.com.
ABOUT Brandon Lester
A two-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier, Brandon Lester is currently fishing his fourth season on the Bassmaster Elite Series. He resides in Fayetteville, TN and can be found online at www.brandonlesterfishing.com and via Facebook @proanglerbrandonlester or on Instagram @blesterfishing.
Jeff Cannon Wins Kyle Mabry Memorial Event, Classic Champ Lee finishes 2nd!
Finish | Name | Boat | Boat # | Total | ||||||||||||
1 | Jeff Cannon | 188 | 12.6 | |||||||||||||
2 | Jordan Lee / Will Davenport | 15 | 12.45 | |||||||||||||
3 | Zackery Quinn / Josh Mims | 102 | 12.24 | |||||||||||||
4 |
Tommy Bridges / Chris Kitzinger
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103 | 12.02 | |||||||||||||
5 | Chad Bennett / Chas Moore | 80 | 11.6 | |||||||||||||
6 | Mark Cannon / Steve Winslett | 118 | 11.37 | |||||||||||||
7 | Sambo Fish / Johnathan White | 51 | 11.32 | |||||||||||||
8 | John Richardson / Jon Tubbs | 183 | 11.15 | |||||||||||||
9 | Joe Lay / Nick Turner | 184 | 10.7 | |||||||||||||
10 | Zach Martin / Josh Wissinger | 115 | 10.66 | |||||||||||||
11 |
Daniel White / Durwood Henderson
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34 | 10.31 | |||||||||||||
12 | Will Bulleu / John Belleu | 171 | 10.17 | |||||||||||||
13 | Nick Harris / Walker Kent | 92 | 10.04 | |||||||||||||
14 |
Zeke Gossett / MacKinze Pennington
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123 | 10.03 | |||||||||||||
15 | Brandon McCombs / Evan Nash | 53 | 10.02 | |||||||||||||
16 | Lacey Owens / Travis Wyatt | 22 | 9.95 | |||||||||||||
17 | Dell Oswalt / Andrew Oswalt | 157 | 9.93 | |||||||||||||
18 |
Rodney Duncan / Duncan Clardy
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160 | 9.75 | |||||||||||||
19 |
Matt Vansant / Jennifer Vansant
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181 | 9.62 | |||||||||||||
20 | Blaine Junkin / Micah Eaterling | 87 | 9.58 | |||||||||||||
21 | Walt White / Kelley White | 139 | 9.55 | |||||||||||||
22 | Marty Giddens / Kim Giddens | 112 | 9.48 | |||||||||||||
23 | Josh Butts / Laura Ann Foshee | 147 | 9.47 | |||||||||||||
24 | Aaron Owens / Josh Holcomb | 177 | 9.44 | |||||||||||||
25 | Chris Mason / Jeremy Mason | 159 | 9.03 | |||||||||||||
26 |
Jake Turnbloom / Jared Turnbloom
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70 | 8.99 | |||||||||||||
27 | Kyle Dorsett / Cooper Dorsett | 151 | 8.97 | |||||||||||||
28 | Aaron Smith / Walt Tatum | 162 | 8.95 | |||||||||||||
29 | Lanny Guthrie / Bobby Brown | 155 | 8.85 | |||||||||||||
30 | Matt Herren / Evan Salter | 45 | 8.82 | |||||||||||||
31 | Chris Talton / Logan Talton | 60 | 8.72 | |||||||||||||
32 | Larry Hill / Zach Norton | 48 | 8.7 | |||||||||||||
33 | Chris Rutland / Coby Carden | 166 | 8.68 | |||||||||||||
34 | Randall Carter / Bobby Foshee | 145 | 8.61 | |||||||||||||
35 | Danny Parker / Gage Parker | 67 | 8.6 | |||||||||||||
36 | Kyle Yeilding / Jason Frost | 89 | 8.39 | |||||||||||||
37 | Brandon Smith / Chase Dorsett | 140 | 8.36 | |||||||||||||
38 | Brian Hughes / Heather Parnell | 187 | 8.36 | |||||||||||||
39 |
Joseph Webster / Porter Beasley
|
29 | 8.25 | |||||||||||||
40 |
Derek Hicks / Parker Montgomery
|
46 | 8.23 | |||||||||||||
41 | Daniel Hill / Justin Hill | 91 | 8.18 | |||||||||||||
42 | Johnny Jones / Tim Harbison | 33 | 8.14 | |||||||||||||
43 | Blake Nick / Evan Mabrey | 5 | 8.09 | |||||||||||||
44 | Chad Nichols / Tonya Nichols | 150 | 7.98 | |||||||||||||
45 | Timmy Horton / Sam Smith | 57 | 7.97 | |||||||||||||
46 |
Stephen Chandler / Logan McEwen
|
107 | 7.92 | |||||||||||||
47 | Neal Parker / Tracy Parker | 132 | 7.88 | |||||||||||||
48 | Dustin Connell / Seth Gregory | 10 | 7.77 | |||||||||||||
49 |
Barry Wilson / Drake Montgomery
|
56 | 7.74 | |||||||||||||
50 | CJ Knight / Howdy Thornburg | 85 | 7.74 | |||||||||||||
51 | Matt Webb / Matt McClung | 26 | 7.71 | |||||||||||||
52 | Scott Canterbury / Cole Davis | 25 | 7.71 | |||||||||||||
53 | Scott Phillips / Greg Phillips | 186 | 7.7 | |||||||||||||
54 | Jeremy Wyatt / Trent Minor | 110 | 7.49 | |||||||||||||
55 | Boyd Hodge / Buddy Coleman | 94 | 7.38 | |||||||||||||
56 | Todd Trammell / Doug Beach | 97 | 7.32 | |||||||||||||
57 | Scott Webb / Heath Waldrop | 178 | 7.29 | |||||||||||||
58 | Richard Wehby / Joseph Wehby | 31 | 7.2 | |||||||||||||
59 | Ryan Davis / Reed Horton | 146 | 7.14 | |||||||||||||
60 | Jeremy Mabrey / Brian Mabrey | 44 | 7.12 | |||||||||||||
61 | Clay Downer / David Nail | 3 | 7.11 | |||||||||||||
62 | Greg Vinson / Ridge Mullis | 38 | 6.94 | |||||||||||||
63 |
Jason Shockley / Mike McCullers
|
41 | 6.91 | |||||||||||||
64 | Rickey Campbell / Cathy Cox | 83 | 6.62 | |||||||||||||
65 |
Stephen Lawrence / Tracie Lawrence
|
121 | 6.61 | |||||||||||||
66 |
Mark Daniels Jr / Payton Mitchell
|
30 | 6.53 | |||||||||||||
67 | Steve Pauley / Nick Frye | 109 | 6.49 | |||||||||||||
68 | Rick Otts | 27 | 6.47 | |||||||||||||
69 | Kelly White / Keri Talley | 62 | 6.28 | |||||||||||||
70 | Luke Andress / Justin Kyle | 76 | 6.2 | |||||||||||||
71 | Josh Dees / Parker Woods | 161 | 6.14 | |||||||||||||
72 | Butch Barger / Butch Barger Sr. | 95 | 6.01 | |||||||||||||
73 | Chris Gregory / Chase Gregory | 12 | 5.8 | |||||||||||||
74 | Jay Cain / Tyler Cain | 66 | 5.79 | |||||||||||||
75 | Jimmy Mason / Jon Raper | 55 | 5.76 | |||||||||||||
76 | Sam Fish / Billy Shavers | 101 | 5.68 | |||||||||||||
77 | Gill Steven / Stephen Goin | 9 | 5.63 | |||||||||||||
78 | Lou Cobb / Jim Bell | 69 | 5.38 | |||||||||||||
79 | Mark Rose / Barrett Thomas | 54 | 5.19 | |||||||||||||
80 | Jeremy Freeman / Trevor Ezell | 17 | 5.01 | |||||||||||||
81 | Waylon Mullis / Cody Ezell | 47 | 4.91 | |||||||||||||
82 | Jay Carroll / Jesse Holcomb | 61 | 4.87 | |||||||||||||
83 |
Alen Davenport /Shawn Edmonson
|
18 | 4.84 | |||||||||||||
84 | Reed Montgomery | 138 | 4.82 | |||||||||||||
85 | Matt Lee / Bricen Dees | 24 | 4.79 | |||||||||||||
86 |
James Schweer / Carson Schweer
|
164 | 4.78 | |||||||||||||
87 | Charles Warren / Genie Warren | 37 | 4.71 | |||||||||||||
88 | Chis Clanton / Chelsea Clanton | 86 | 4.28 | |||||||||||||
89 | Franklin Beard /Joey McGinnis | 21 | 4.21 | |||||||||||||
90 | Joe Wester / David Buckelew | 78 | 4.14 | |||||||||||||
91 |
Cody Coffee / Heather Holsomback
|
149 | 4.06 | |||||||||||||
92 | Michael Smith / Shelby Smith | 14 | 3.4 | |||||||||||||
93 | David Mabrey / Skyler Stevens | 6 | 2.48 | |||||||||||||
94 | Tanya Clark / Morgan Beaver | 122 | 1.51 | |||||||||||||
95 | Kyle Mabrey | 1 | 0 | |||||||||||||
96 |
Dale Montgomery / Clay Womble
|
2 | 0 | |||||||||||||
97 | David Hicks / Wilson Scott | 4 | 0 | |||||||||||||
98 |
Brian Stricklin / Mark Whittaker
|
7 | 0 | |||||||||||||
99 | Rob Kyle / Charles Kyle | 8 | 0 | |||||||||||||
100 | Bobby Foster / Todd Rooker | 11 | 0 | |||||||||||||
101 | Jeff Jones /Rory King | 13 | 0 | |||||||||||||
102 | Brad Stevens / Alison Stevens | 16 | 0 | |||||||||||||
103 | Adam Bozarth /Peyton Golden | 19 | 0 | |||||||||||||
104 | Clent Davis / MatthewBell | 20 | 0 | |||||||||||||
105 | Daryl Burchfield / Skip Watts | 23 | 0 | |||||||||||||
106 | Brandon Arnett / Luke Arnett | 28 | 0 | |||||||||||||
107 | Chip Bradley / Jeremy Christian | 32 | 0 | |||||||||||||
108 | Bob Blackerby / Conner Neal | 35 | 0 | |||||||||||||
109 | Jeff Clark / Hunter Odom | 36 | 0 | |||||||||||||
110 |
Robert Behrle / Trace Montgomery
|
39 | 0 | |||||||||||||
111 | Brian Harbison | 40 | 0 | |||||||||||||
112 | Victoria Allen / Ty Cox | 42 | 0 | |||||||||||||
113 | Shane Welch / Shane Cox | 43 | 0 | |||||||||||||
114 | Ben Etheredge / Gabe Aldridge | 49 | 0 | |||||||||||||
115 | Chris Payne / Zebrah Payne | 50 | 0 | |||||||||||||
116 | Lucas Black / Lee Black | 52 | 0 | |||||||||||||
117 | Russ Lane / Logan Kyle | 58 | 0 | |||||||||||||
118 | Scott Dupriest / James Dupriest | 59 | 0 | |||||||||||||
119 |
Roger Perkins / Crystal Patterson
|
63 | 0 | |||||||||||||
120 | Wendell Hickman | 64 | 0 | |||||||||||||
121 | Patrick Sylestine / Brad Dill | 65 | 0 | |||||||||||||
122 | Garrett Carter / Landon Tucker | 68 | 0 | |||||||||||||
123 | Evan Robbins / Justin Coker | 71 | 0 | |||||||||||||
124 | Ashley Brasher / Misty Headley | 72 | 0 | |||||||||||||
125 |
Wayne McDade / Carson Stringfellow
|
73 | 0 | |||||||||||||
126 | Shane Horton / Brandon Horton | 74 | 0 | |||||||||||||
127 |
Anthony Goggins / Jennifer Bryant
|
75 | 0 | |||||||||||||
128 | John Pollard / Katie Pollard | 77 | 0 | |||||||||||||
129 | Josh Piper / Erin Piper | 79 | 0 | |||||||||||||
130 | Josh Herren / Jacob Herren | 81 | 0 | |||||||||||||
131 | Shane Paul / Jeffery Reeves | 82 | 0 | |||||||||||||
132 | Brian Jones / Barry Jones | 84 | 0 | |||||||||||||
133 | Tony Hubka / Justin Davis | 88 | 0 | |||||||||||||
134 | Johnathan Young / Bo Quinnie | 90 | 0 | |||||||||||||
135 | Dustin Sellers / Dustin Warren | 93 | 0 | |||||||||||||
136 |
Hunter McKinley / Aubrey Booth
|
96 | 0 | |||||||||||||
137 | Timmy Ward / Hunter Ward | 98 | 0 | |||||||||||||
138 | Alex Sherrill / Reed Parriett | 99 | 0 | |||||||||||||
139 |
Brandon McCullough / Brandon Sager
|
100 | 0 | |||||||||||||
140 | Bill Weidler / Tucker Weidler | 104 | 0 | |||||||||||||
141 | TJ Justice / Jim Deramus | 105 | 0 | |||||||||||||
142 |
Michael Harper / Madison Harper
|
106 | 0 | |||||||||||||
143 | Kenny Malone / Tony Harris | 108 | 0 | |||||||||||||
144 | John Cook / Matt Oliver | 111 | 0 | |||||||||||||
145 | Roger Morse / Adam Morse | 113 | 0 | |||||||||||||
146 | Chris Dill / Vern Moody | 114 | 0 | |||||||||||||
147 | Larry Franks Sr | 116 | 0 | |||||||||||||
148 | Tommy Land / Jamie Andrews | 117 | 0 | |||||||||||||
149 | Russ Sapp / Justin Barnes | 119 | 0 | |||||||||||||
150 | Kas Kimbrell / Alex Stinnett | 120 | 0 | |||||||||||||
151 | Jason Quick / Jake Quick | 124 | 0 | |||||||||||||
152 | Taylor Parker / Bailey Boutries | 125 | 0 | |||||||||||||
153 | Tony Mashon / Todd Mashon | 126 | 0 | |||||||||||||
154 | Leland Johnson / Breze Johnson | 127 | 0 | |||||||||||||
156 | Darrel High / Terry Pennington | 128 | 0 | |||||||||||||
156 |
David Morrison / Braxton Morrison
|
129 | 0 | |||||||||||||
157 | Max Haygood / Ronald Hynson | 130 | 0 | |||||||||||||
158 | Braxton Setzer / Tim Hatcher | 131 | 0 | |||||||||||||
159 | Jon Maddox / Skyler Roy | 133 | 0 | |||||||||||||
160 | Scott Roy / Grant Humphries | 134 | 0 | |||||||||||||
161 | Rickie Harp | 135 | 0 | |||||||||||||
162 | Matthew Pugh / Randy Pugh | 136 | 0 | |||||||||||||
163 | Bryce Cook / Ryan Williamson | 137 | 0 | |||||||||||||
164 | Allen Branham / Brad Norred | 141 | 0 | |||||||||||||
165 | Larry Wallace / Randy Dalton | 142 | 0 | |||||||||||||
166 | Daniel Dillon / Dale Barnett | 143 | 0 | |||||||||||||
167 |
Jonathan Stuckey / Bryan Lambert
|
144 | 0 | |||||||||||||
168 | Shay Penney / Hunter Penney | 148 | 0 | |||||||||||||
169 | Allen Oliver / Drew Manuel | 152 | 0 | |||||||||||||
170 | Caleb Scott / Christy Scott | 153 | 0 | |||||||||||||
171 | Kevin Cook / Kayla Reynolds | 154 | 0 | |||||||||||||
172 | RJ Seevers / Kasey Seevers | 156 | 0 | |||||||||||||
173 | Heath Rolling / Brad Sanders | 158 | 0 | |||||||||||||
174 | Bryan Asey / Chris Blair | 163 | 0 | |||||||||||||
175 | Willie Kizziah / Brandon Cain | 165 | 0 | |||||||||||||
176 | Ryan Kelley / Ab Argen | 167 | 0 | |||||||||||||
177 | Ben Black / Brian Stiffler | 168 | 0 | |||||||||||||
178 | Barry Isbell / Jackson Isbell | 169 | 0 | |||||||||||||
179 |
Jonathan Hammond / Ashley Hammond
|
170 | 0 | |||||||||||||
180 |
Josh Stracner / Alan Yarborough
|
172 | 0 | |||||||||||||
181 |
Jamie Higdon / Courtney Higdon
|
173 | 0 | |||||||||||||
182 | Ronnie McDonough | 174 | 0 | |||||||||||||
183 |
Billy Reynolds / Kane Richardson
|
175 | 0 | |||||||||||||
184 | Jeff Goodson | 176 | 0 | |||||||||||||
185 |
David Davenport / Blake Davenport
|
179 | 0 | |||||||||||||
186 | Dwight Walden / Zack Alre | 180 | 0 | |||||||||||||
187 | Johnathan Henry / Daniel Kent | 182 | 0 | |||||||||||||
188 | Shiloh Crowder / Brian Boyd | 185 | 0 | |||||||||||||
189 | Trent Fondren / Tyler Fondren | 189 | 0 | |||||||||||||
190 | Dillon Falls / Kelcie Falls | 190 | 0 | |||||||||||||
Our Sport Lost a Great One Today
Vance McCullough
“Max Leatherwood wasn’t just the guy who measured your fish right before you walked on stage,” said Elite Series Pro Russ Lane via Instagram today. “He did so much more. He would give you a smile and a ‘good job babe’ when you really had them and a genuine look of caring and encouragement when you didn’t.
“Soft spoken, fair and one hell of a nice guy. Bassmaster, the Elite pros and our hometown of Prattville, AL lost a great one today. We will miss you babe.”
Lane’s sentiments were echoed many times over as the bass fishing community learned of the loss.
Fellow Alabamian and reigning Bassmaster Classic Champ Jordan Lee shared, “He always made me smile coming into weigh in. I can hear him say, “what you got for me today Jordan” or “Babe”. Breaks my heart that we won’t be seeing Max around. It definitely won’t be the same. Our prayers are with his family.”
The Bassmaster web site reported: “B.A.S.S., Tournament Team employee Max Leatherwood passed away peacefully this morning after a battle with cancer.”
No matter what job you perform, be it on stage or behind the scenes, you may never know how many people you impact. Let’s all hope we are as missed as Max is when we are gone.
Opens Pro Patrick Pierce Can Walk Again, Won’t Be Able to Fish for Months
As the pros fished the Bassmaster Northern Open on New York’s Lake Oneida this weekend one veteran angler was missing from the action.
Patrick Pierce was recently hospitalized for emergency back surgery.
“I was playing soccer, we were kicking goals and stuff and I was moving around ok but the next day I was getting my boat ready to go to Oneida,
I removed a couple of 75-pound batteries and set them off to the side.
I didn’t really feel bad when I went to bed but when I woke up I couldn’t move. I was in so much pain.”
One of the disks in Pierce’s back was putting pressure on a nerve. “Without surgery, there was a risk that I could have lost use of my leg.,” said Pierce.
Two old lessons highlighted by Pierce’s experience: persistence pays, and behind every good man is a good woman.
“They said it would be weeks before I could be seen but (wife) Lara called and said ‘no, y’all need to look at the MRI’.
The next day I was seen and the next day after that I had the surgery.”
The procedure went well and Pierce was soon home. But as for soccer and bass fishing:
“I can walk now but the doctor says, ‘no fishing for 3-to-4 months’. And I won’t be playing any soccer any time soon,” chuckled Pierce.
“My foot still feels numb and I’m stumping my toes when I walk, but the feeling will come back over the next couple of weeks or a month.”
He enjoys support and understanding from those in the fishing industry. “B.A.S.S. worked with me on the entry fee. And all of my sponsors understand and they are behind me.
“Now I’m just looking forward to a full recovery in time to get out on the St Johns River and enjoy that fall schooling bite.”
Sypeck Targets Green Fish and Jumps to Win BASS Open on Oneida!
Stanley Sypeck Jr. of Sugarloaf, Pa., wins the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Northern Open No. 1 held on Oneida Lake out of Syracuse, N.Y., with a three-day total weight of 55 pounds, 8 ounces.
Photo by James Overstreet/B.A.S.S.
July 1, 2017
Sypeck Targets Largemouth For Comeback Victory At Northern Open On Oneida Lake
AUBURN, N.Y. — The smallmouth bass bite on Oneida Lake was incredible this week.
The smallies already were fat, and yet they still were hungry. Just about every angler in the field was hammering them, and it was that bite that figured to make or break an angler’s chances of winning the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Northern Open No. 1.
Stanley Sypeck Jr. had other plans, though.
From the start of the three-day tournament, he figured largemouth would be key. It certainly wasn’t the most-popular strategy, but it definitely was the most effective.
Sypeck weighed the big bag of the tournament Saturday when he presented a five-bass limit that tipped the scales at 20 pounds, 7 ounces. That was enough to vault him from seventh place into first, and it sealed the victory for the Pennsylvania pro.
Sypeck won more than $9,000 in cash as well as a Nitro Z20 bass boat with a Mercury 225 Pro XS engine. He also earned a spot in the 2018 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods provided he fishes the final two Northern Open events on the James River in August and on Douglas Lake in September.
It was a thrilling come-from-behind win for the 50-year old Sypeck. He started the tournament Thursday with an 18-1 bag that put him third place. He slipped to seventh place Friday with 17-0, but was only 27 ounces out of the lead with a day of fishing remaining.
Had Sypeck caught a lighter bag Saturday, he still would have been well within striking distance of the anglers ahead of him, many of whom struggled on the final day as heavy rain and strong winds from the east fell on Oneida.
Sypeck’s bite continued despite the foul weather. He had five fat largemouth in his sack Saturday; the heaviest weighing 5-4 which won the Phoenix Boats Big Bass Award of $750 in the pro division.
Sypeck’s was the only bag of the week that topped 20 pounds, and it helped him blow past the competition in what had been an extremely close tournament. He wound up winning by more than 3 pounds when the Top 12 was separated by less than that margin heading into the final day of fishing.
Sypeck said he decided to fish for largemouth just before the tournament started, even though he had just spent $300 on drop shots preparing to fish for smallmouth. He fished for smallies for three hours during the opening round, but the results were disappointing.
“I didn’t get a bite when I was out deep drop shotting,” he said. “So I switched up and went after largemouth. I caught 18 pounds on Thursday. But still the next day, I spent the first two hours with a drop shot, and didn’t get a bite again.
“So that was it. I switched to largemouth for good. I knew that’s what I would do all day today.”
Sypeck fished isolated rock piles and weed lines in 6 to 9 feet of water. When the water level rose nearly a foot overnight Friday, he had to move to shallower water.
“At one point this morning, I had five fish in the boat for 6 pounds,” Sypeck said. “I had to go even shallower. I was at 5 or 6 feet today, and I probably hit 25 or 30 different spots.”
Sypeck threw one lure all week to catch the largemouth — a 7/16-ounce jig in the Cumberland craw color. He tried to mimic the forage crawfish present throughout the lake, and the plan worked.
“A local guy here in New York makes them for us,” Sypeck said. “That was the one thing that I went to all week. It worked.”
Sypeck lives about three hours from Oneida in Sugarloaf, Pa., but he has a camp here and he said he fishes on the lake about 100 times a year. He’s won numerous tournaments at various levels on Oneida through the years, but he’d never won a Bassmaster Open — until Saturday.
“It finally worked out” Sypeck said, choking back tears. “Your dream is to go to the Classic. You see it on TV and think it would be nice. Now to say you’re going; it’s just unbelievable.”
Wesley Strader of Spring City, Tenn., finished second with 52-3, and Glynn Goodwin of Marietta, Ohio, placed third with 51-14. Goodwin had the same overall weight as Connecticut pro Alex Wetherell, but Goodwin claimed third with the heaviest-sack tiebreaker.
Strader also earned the Power-Pole Captain’s Cash Award of $500 for being the highest-placing angler who is registered and eligible and uses a client-approved product on his boat in the pro division.
Mike Elkins of Kalamazoo, Mich. won the co-angler division with 29-9. He was the last co-angler to weigh-in Saturday, and his three-bass limit of 10-3 edged him into the top spot. Elkins won a Triton 179 TrX boat and Mercury 115 ELPT 4-stroke outboard with the win.
Bryce Baker of Sherrill, N.Y., received the Phoenix Boats Big Bass Award of $250 for the co-angler division with a 4-11 bass. Barry Brandt Jr. of Newport News, Va., received the Livingston Lures Leader Award of $250 in merchandise for being the Day 2 leader in the co-angler division.
The tournament started with 396 anglers (198 pros and the same number of co-anglers.) Each field was trimmed to the Top 12 for Saturday’s competition.
The Syracuse Convention and Visitors Bureau hosted this Bassmaster Northern Open.
2017 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series Title Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops
2017 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2017 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series Premier Sponsors: Shell Rotella, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha, Berkley, Huk, Humminbird, Mercury, Power-Pole
2017 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series Supporting Sponsors: T-H Marine, Advance Auto Parts, Carhartt, Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels, Livingston Lures, Lowrance, Phoenix Boats, Shimano
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), television show (The Bassmasters on ESPN2), radio show (Bassmaster Radio), social media programs and events. For more than 45 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation presented by Magellan, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Costa Bassmaster High School Series presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods, Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods.
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Media Contact: JamieDay Matthews, 205-313-0945, [email protected] or Dave Precht, 205-313-0931, [email protected]
2017 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Northern Open No. 1 6/29-7/1
Oneida Lake, Syracuse NY.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Stanley Sypeck Jr Sugarloaf, PA 15 55-08 200 $54,198.00
Day 1: 5 18-01 Day 2: 5 17-00 Day 3: 5 20-07
2. Wesley Strader Spring City, TN 15 52-03 199 $20,564.00
Day 1: 5 17-10 Day 2: 5 18-02 Day 3: 5 16-07
3. Glynn Goodwin Marietta, OH 15 51-14 198 $15,048.00
Day 1: 5 15-15 Day 2: 5 19-02 Day 3: 5 16-13
4. Alex Wetherell Middletown, CT 15 51-14 197 $13,464.00
Day 1: 5 18-09 Day 2: 5 17-06 Day 3: 5 15-15
5. Patrick Walters Summerville, SC 15 51-03 196 $11,748.00
Day 1: 5 17-14 Day 2: 5 17-01 Day 3: 5 16-04
6. JT Kenney Palm Bay, FL 15 50-00 195 $10,032.00
Day 1: 5 17-02 Day 2: 5 17-04 Day 3: 5 15-10
7. Chad Pipkens Lansing, MI 15 49-05 194 $8,448.00
Day 1: 5 17-02 Day 2: 5 16-15 Day 3: 5 15-04
8. Steve York Bronson, MI 15 49-04 193 $6,982.00
Day 1: 5 17-01 Day 2: 5 19-11 Day 3: 5 12-08
9. Josh Douglas Mound, MN 15 48-03 192 $5,016.00
Day 1: 5 17-14 Day 2: 5 17-01 Day 3: 5 13-04
10. Kyle Kempkers Hamilton, MI 14 47-05 191 $4,620.00
Day 1: 5 17-13 Day 2: 5 17-11 Day 3: 4 11-13
11. John Garrett Union City, TN 14 46-14 190 $4,224.00
Day 1: 5 16-14 Day 2: 5 18-04 Day 3: 4 11-12
12. Jason Putman Cicero, NY 14 46-13 189 $3,960.00
Day 1: 5 17-03 Day 2: 5 17-03 Day 3: 4 12-07
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Stanley Sypeck Jr Sugarloaf, PA 05-04 $750.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 150 893 2607-05
2 144 842 2437-15
3 9 57 178-08
----------------------------------
303 1792 5223-12
2017 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Northern Open No. 1 6/29-7/1
Oneida Lake, Syracuse NY.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Mike Elkins Kalamazoo, MI 9 29-09 200 $30,000.00
Day 1: 3 09-02 Day 2: 3 10-04 Day 3: 3 10-03
2. John Scipione Jr Brewerton, NY 9 28-14 199 $6,468.00
Day 1: 3 10-07 Day 2: 3 09-03 Day 3: 3 09-04
3. Michael Yarema Phoenix, NY 9 28-07 198 $4,884.00
Day 1: 3 09-07 Day 2: 3 10-00 Day 3: 3 09-00
4. Beanie Leuer Lockport, NY 9 28-07 197 $3,300.00
Day 1: 3 09-13 Day 2: 3 09-07 Day 3: 3 09-03
5. Bill Wiley III Joppa, MD 9 28-04 196 $3,036.00
Day 1: 3 09-02 Day 2: 3 09-15 Day 3: 3 09-03
6. Jason Hannah Dingress, WV 9 27-15 195 $2,904.00
Day 1: 3 09-09 Day 2: 3 10-02 Day 3: 3 08-04
7. James Miller Pittsboro, IN 9 27-03 194 $2,772.00
Day 1: 3 09-10 Day 2: 3 09-13 Day 3: 3 07-12
8. Richard Agostinoni Monroe, NY 9 27-00 193 $2,640.00
Day 1: 3 10-05 Day 2: 3 09-00 Day 3: 3 07-11
9. Chad Smith Minnetonka, MN 9 26-13 192 $2,508.00
Day 1: 3 09-09 Day 2: 3 09-13 Day 3: 3 07-07
10. Barry Brandt Jr. Newport News, VA 6 20-06 191 $2,244.00
Day 1: 3 10-13 Day 2: 3 09-09 Day 3: 0 00-00
11. Michael Saganich Sr Lincoln University, PA 6 20-04 190 $1,980.00
Day 1: 3 09-08 Day 2: 3 10-12 Day 3: 0 00-00
12. Ricky Congero Windermere, FL 6 19-12 189 $1,848.00
Day 1: 3 11-03 Day 2: 3 08-09 Day 3: 0 00-00
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Bryce Baker Sherrill, NY 04-11 $250.00
Mixed Bag Of Largemouth And Smallmouth Lift York Into Lead At Bassmaster Open On Oneida Lake
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The Under Armour® Fish Hunter Collection Provides Anglers with Innovative Performance, Style and Comfort
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Wetherell Takes Lead At Bassmaster Northern Open On Oneida Lake
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Mille Lacs Leaps To No. 1 Lake In The Nation
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Yamaha Launches 2017 National Hunting and Fishing Day Sweepstakes
All-New Kodiak 450 ATV Sweepstakes at YamahaSweepstakes.com/NHFDay
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Kennesaw, Ga. (June 28, 2017) - Yamaha Motor Corp., USA, the Proven Off-Road leader in powersports and supporting outdoorsmen and women, is celebrating 10 years of teaming up with National Hunting and Fishing Day (NHF Day). This year's partnership features an all-new, built in the USA Kodiak 450 ATV sweepstakes at http://YamahaSweepstakes.com/NHFday.
For a decade, Yamaha has sponsored NHF Day, working to raise funds and awareness for their mission. This year, Yamaha is again working to support NHF Day through the sweepstakes, as well as its Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative grant program, aiding NHF Day's Live It! grants.
"Yamaha has been, and continues to be, committed to public land access and safe, responsible use while giving back to the outdoors community in significant, impactful ways," said Steve Nessl, marketing manager for Yamaha's ATV / SxS group. "Yamaha's partnership with National Hunting and Fishing Day is a great example of the work we can do together to support the outdoor, adventure, and family recreation lifestyle."
NHF Day serves as the most effective grassroots effort ever taken to promote outdoor sports and conservation. Yamaha, through its relationships with organizations such as Ducks Unlimited, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Safari Club International, Buckmasters, Tread Lightly!, National Wild Turkey Federation and NHF Day, among others, is a continued supporter of conservation efforts for outdoor recreational enthusiasts. For 45 years, NHF Day has been scheduled annually on the fourth Saturday of September. This year the celebration of hunting, fishing and conservation is set for September 23rd.
"We're honored to be celebrating our 10-year anniversary partnering with Yamaha in support of outdoor recreation across the country," said Misty Mitchell, director of conservation programs for Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium in Springfield, Mo. - the official home of National Hunting and Fishing Day. "It's exciting for NHF Day entrants to have a chance to win an all-new vehicle that outdoorsmen and women will love, and we're anticipating a record turnout on the online sweepstakes and at our events in September thanks to Yamaha's support."
One lucky entrant, 18 years-of-age or older, will win a 2018 Kodiak 450, the highest value mid-class 4x4 ATV providing the best off-road capability, comfort and confidence for all-day riding. No purchase necessary. Sweepstakes ends 11:59 PM Pacific Standard Time on October 31, 2017. Winner will be determined by random drawing.
For more information on NHF Day, visit their website at NHFday.org. Complete rules, entry details and additional information are available by visiting http://YamahaSweepstakes.com/NHFday. Follow Yamaha Outdoors at Facebook.com/YamahaOutdoors, Twitter.com/YamahaOutdoors or Instagram.com/YamahaOutdoors. #Yamaha #YamahaOutdoors #NHFDay #ProvenOffRoad #YamahaAdventure
About Yamaha Motor Corp., USA
Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, (YMUS) a leader in the motorsports market, makes the toughest, most capable and versatile ATV and Side-by-Side vehicles. The company's ever-expanding product offerings also include motorcycles, outboard motors, personal watercraft, snowmobiles, boats, outdoor power equipment, accessories, apparel and much more. YMUS products are sold through a nationwide network of dealers in the United States.
Headquartered in Cypress, Calif., since its incorporation in 1976, Yamaha also has facilities in Wisconsin and Georgia, as well as factory operations in Tennessee and Georgia. For more information on Yamaha, visit www.yamahamotorsports.com.
ATVs over 90cc are recommended for use only by riders 16 years and older.
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TENNESSEE ANGLERS PACE HSF DUAL EVENT
June 29, 2017 by Colin Moore
Catching five keepers out of Pickwick Lake in a day’s fishing is seldom a major obstacle for most experienced anglers, but catching a limit with some weight behind it can be an issue. A team representing Tennessee’s Student Angler Federation solved that problem here on the first day of the 2017 High School Fishing World Finals by taking a 7-pound, 14-ounce toad to the scale that provided it with a tournament-leading total of 20 pounds, 12 ounces.
Bolstered by the day’s heaviest bass, the limit stringer caught by Jon David Bedford of Lawrenceburg, Tenn., and Walker Brown of Loretto, Tenn., gave that duo a lead of more than 1 1/2 pounds heading into the tournament’s second round.
Hunter Bryant and Jordan Mungle of Arkansas’ Cobra Bass Club are trailing Bedford and Brown with 19-02 in the World Finals, but are leading the High School Fishing National Championship event, which is running concurrently. The World Finals is an open tournament, whereas the National Championship event features qualifying teams from this season’s High School Fishing tournament series. National Championship qualifiers are entered in both events.
Wes Rollo and Kade Busby of the Natchitoches (La.) Central Fishing Team posted the third highest overall weight with 18-14. They’re competing in the World Finals.
Both Cobra Bass Club and Natchitoches Central owe their placement to big bass as well. Rollo and Busby had a 7-pound, 1-ounce largemouth, while Bryant and Mungle brought in a 5 1/2-pounder.
As was expected, the tournament is settling into a ledge-fishing duel, with anglers strung out for miles along Pickwick’s Tennessee River channel and using a variety of jigs, soft plastics and crankbaits to entice offshore bass that are largely unresponsive after weeks of being pounded by successive waves of tournament anglers. Though several of the competitors culled at least a few fish during the day, they reported that in most cases each replacement fish only added an ounce or so to their sacks. A 15-inch size limit is being enforced.
Whether the average weight will get better over the next two days is questionable, as cloudy weather and rain are in the forecast for Friday and Saturday. If the sky darkens and bass roam away from the ledges, the fishing is likely to deteriorate.
“All we can do is put our heads down and fish,” says Busby of the likely routine, come rain or shine.
The tournament continues Thursday. The top 10 teams from the National Championship compete Friday for the title. The top two teams from each state in the World Finals continue to Friday’s standard round. All teams from both events that miss the cut compete in a second chance World Finals round Friday. Top finishers from both events Friday will finish up the World Finals on Saturday.
Click here for day one results from the National Championship.
Click here for day one results from the World Finals.
Its Back!!!!! The New Season of the Progressive Bass Wrap Up Show!!
The 2017 Season of the Progressive Bass Wrap Up Show is about to be underway!!!!!
Kicking off this Saturday Afternoon, We will be bringing you highlights and behind the scenes footage of the 2017 Bassmasters Classic from Houston, Tx!!
Complete with Strike King Tip of the Week, Sportsman's Product Spotlight, Progressive Insider and Much More! Make sure you are tuned in and have that DVR set for Saturdays at 3:30 EST only on the Pursuit Channel!
Bigger, Fatter Bass Awaiting Bassmaster Opens Anglers At Oneida Lake - BASS Communications
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Alfred Williams Stakes Claim on ABA RAM Open Series Event on Ross Barnett with 16.64-pound Limit!
Alfred Williams of Jackson, MS won the American Bass Anglers Ram Truck Open Series Mississippi tournament, held June 24th on Ross Barnett Reservoir. A cold front and torrential rains the night before the tournament set the tone. The skies lifted throughout the day allowing for overcast morning and sun filled afternoon.
Running out of Madison landing near Ridgeland, MS, Williams brought in a five-fish limit weighing 16.64 pounds, anchoring his bag with 5.08-pound kicker. For the Boater Division victory, he took home a check for $5000.00.
“I’ve been catching about 14-15 lbs. a day during practice and I knew it was gonna be tough. I expected it to take a lot more than that honestly because it took more to win some of the past tournaments. We got started early this morning and when you catch a couple good ones that quick the day just really picks up and goes from there. We caught a good bit of fish too. 25-30 and most of them were keepers. Even with the storm and front that passed last night, once you get them stacked up in an area you can catch them. You won’t have one on every cast but if you can get the bait in front of them they will bite it. I’m happy because we fished clean. We didn’t lose any, and they all made it in the boat.” Williams said.
In second for the boaters, Ray King of Brandon, MS landed a five-bass limit going 16.42 pounds. His bag was anchored by a 5.59-pound kicker, which turned out to be big bass for the boaters. He collected $800.00 for placing and $530.00 for big bass.
“I started off up the lake and threw crankbaits all day long. I was shallow, not any deeper than 6 ft. and managed about 20 fish today. I just never got the real big bites to push me up over the top. I only needed a few more ounces today but sometimes more than others that’s all the difference ever is.” Ray said.
Thomas B Smith of Pearl, MS took third for the boaters with five bass going 13.46 pounds to earn $600.00.
“Started off a little rough this morning with some engine issues but got it fixed. I stayed with top water baits and managed about 8 keepers. As soon as that sun come out though it was over.” Said Thomas.
In fourth, Shannon Denson of Brandon, MS came in with 13.13 lbs.
Finishing 5th was Jason Cordell of Pelahatchie, MS with 12.22.
In the Co-Angler Division, David “Flip” Flippo of Amory, MS won with three bass going 12.19 pounds. He sealed his victory with a 5.84-pound kicker. For the Co-Angler Division victory, David took home a check for $850. His 5.84-pound kicker gave him an additional $95 for the Co-Angler big bass, it was also the biggest bass caught in the tournament.
“The fella I was fishing with told me we were gonna have limits. I’m not from down here so I didn’t know anything about the lake other than one spot. I caught 4 keepers today and the big one bit at 10:45 AM and I couldn’t be happier. This was a lot of fun and I'm looking forward to the 2 day.” Flip said.
Taking second for the co-anglers, Glen Mire of Brandon, MS brought in a three-bass limit weighing 8.24 pounds. He collected $250.00 for the effort.
“I caught mine on a frog pretty much all day. We stayed in the main lake and I stuck with it. I culled a couple times but it ended up working out.” Said Glen.
Nathan Martin of Golden, MS placed third among the co-anglers with three bass going 7.83 pounds to earn $200.00
“Buddy it was a grind. The first 2 keepers came pretty quick this morning and then it stopped. It was a long day catching a couple shorts in between but my last keeper finally came about 20 minutes before we had to be in.” Nathan said.
In fourth place among the co-anglers, Anthony Thomas of Jackson, MS brought in three bass for 6.78.
Marion Hall of Hattiesburg, MS finished in fifth place with three bass at 6.76 pounds.
Slated for October 7th and 8th, the next tournament will be the $10,000.00 and $5000.00 first place guarantee at the 2-day Championship held on Lake Pickwick McFarland Park, near Florence, AL October 7th and 8th. Anglers must have fished in 3 of the Mississippi divisional events to qualify. At the end of the season, the best anglers from across the nation advance to the 2018 Ray Scott Championship, slated for the Red River in Bossier City, LA.
For more information on this tournament, call Chris Wayand, tournament manager, at 256-230-5627 or ABA at 256-232-0406. On line, see www.ramopenseries.com .
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, the Ram Truck Open Series, the American Fishing Tour or the American Couples Series, visit www.americanbassanglers.com.
MILLS, BECKLEY TIE FOR WIN AT T-H MARINE FLW BFL LBL DIVISION EVENT ON KENTUCKY/BARKLEY LAKES
Taylorsville’s Basham Takes Co-angler Title
GILBERTSVILLE, Ky. (June 26, 2017) – Hunter Mills of Mayfield, Kentucky, and Don Beckley of Paducah, Kentucky, each brought five bass weighing 21 pounds, 12 ounces, to the scale Saturday to tie for the win at the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) LBL Division tournament on Kentucky and Barkley lakes. For their limits, Mills earned $5,462 after contingency bonuses, while Beckley took home $3,462.
“I fished north of Jonathan Creek on the east side of the main-river channel,” said Beckley, who notched his first career-win in BFL competition. “I sat in 25 to 30 feet of water, which is a lot deeper than most people go. When I got to my area, I stayed there all day because there was a lot of wind and boat traffic.”
Beckley said he was able to catch 12 to 15 keepers throughout the tournament.
“I stayed south of the sweet spot about 50 yards, and every hour I’d ease in there and catch a 4-pounder,” said Beckley. “It was important that I let the fish rest. I used a ¾-ounce football-head jig with a green pumpkin-colored (Strike King Rage Tail) Craw trailer and dragged it as slow as I possibly could.”
“I did a lot of cranking, mostly in 25 to 27 feet of water,” said Mills, a current FLW College Fishing Murray State University angler who also earned his first career-win on the BFL circuit. “The Tennessee Valley Authority was pulling water which created a lot of current and that was a big factor for the crankbait bite.”
Mills said he spent his morning on the north side of Eggner’s Ferry Bridge, and after 9:30 a.m. he moved south. Mills said he fished around eight areas throughout the event, and used a Profound Outdoors Randy Haynes’ Azuma Z Boss 25 crankbait to catch his fish.
“Some of the bass were on top of the ledges, and some were hanging right off of the lip,” said Mills. “There was a north wind that impacted how I fished. Normally the wind is from the south and I have to face it and cast into it, but on Saturday, I had to reposition the boat a few times because they would only bite the bait if it was coming from a certain direction.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Hunter Mills, Mayfield, Ky., five bass, 21-12, $3,462 + $2,000 Ranger Cup Bonus
1st: Don Beckley, Paducah, Ky., five bass, 21-12, $3,462
3rd: Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio, five bass, 21-11, $1,551
4th: Brent Anderson, Kingston Springs, Tenn., five bass, 21-5, $942
4th: Stuart Eversole, Middletown, Ohio, five bass, 21-5, $942
6th: Jordan Hartman, Murray, Ky., five bass, 20-12, $798
7th: David Young, Mayfield, Ky., five bass, 20-6, $725
8th: Tommy Williams, Shepherdsville, Ky., five bass, 19-4, $653
9th: Thomas O'Bryant, Cedar Grove, Tenn., five bass, 17-11, $515
9th: Sam White, Gilbertsville, Ky., five bass, 17-11, $515
9th: Keith Amerson, Bethel Springs, Tenn., five bass, 17-11, $515
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Rob Vannerson of Benton, Kentucky, caught a fish weighing 7 pounds, 2 ounces – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division – and earned the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $615.
Dan Basham of Taylorsville, Kentucky, won the Co-angler Division and $2,375 Saturday after weighing five bass totaling 18 pounds, 2 ounces.
The top 10 co-anglers were:
1st: Dan Basham, Taylorsville, Ky., five bass, 18-2, $2,375
2nd: Bryce Morrison, Collierville, Tenn., five bass, 17-12, $1,138
3rd: Mike Beasley, Cookeville, Tenn., five bass, 17-2, $726
4th: Taylor Genz, Indian Mound, Tenn., five bass, 16-8, $507
5th: Benton Peoples, Bardstown, Ky., five bass, 16-3, $742
6th: Craig Middleton, Harrodsburg, Ky., five bass, 15-8, $399
7th: Jake Steinkuhl, Evansville, Ind., five bass, 15-6, $363
8th: Scott Sims, Morgantown, Ind., five bass, 15-3, $326
9th: Dean Dearwester, Cincinnati, Ohio, four bass, 14-2, $290
10th: Colby Shaver, Owensboro, Ky., five bass, 13-8, $254
Peoples caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division – a fish weighing 5 pounds, 10 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $307.
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. 12-14 BFL Regional Championship on the Barren River in Scottsville, 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 2017 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. Top performers in the BFL can move up to the Costa FLW Series or even the FLW Tour.
For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the BFL on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing.
WAGGONER WINS T-H MARINE FLW BFL OZARK DIVISION EVENT ON LAKE OF THE OZARKS
Kansas’ Sloan Earns Co-angler Title
WARSAW, Mo. (June 26, 2017) – Joe Waggoner of Carthage, Missouri, caught a five-bass limit weighing 18 pounds, 15 ounces, Saturday to earn top honors at the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Ozark Division tournament on Lake of the Ozarks. For his efforts, Waggoner pocketed $4,672.
“I focused on main-lake and secondary points with brush, from mid-lake down to the lower end,” said Waggoner, who earned his first career-victory as a boater in BFL competition. “I probably hit 12 areas and revisited the ones that were the most productive.”
Waggoner said his primary points were littered with bait after local authorities pulled water to bring the lake level down.
“My Lowrance units helped me see the bait on the points, which gave me more confidence to stop and fish them,” said Waggoner. “I caught almost all of my weight by 8 (a.m.) and after that it died off. They actually stopped pulling water the morning of the tournament, and I think that’s what scattered them.”
Waggoner said he caught his limit on a plum-colored Zoom Ol’ Monster Worm with a ½-ounce Bullet Weights tungsten slip sinker.
“In the afternoon I caught three good ones on points that were across from each other to finish out my day,” said Waggoner. “I guess I just ran the right points at the right time.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Joe Waggoner, Carthage, Mo., five bass, 18-15, $4,672
2nd: Stan Tucker, Festus, Mo., five bass, 18-11, $2,236
3rd: Brett Govreau, House Springs, Mo., five bass, 18-9, $1,492
4th: Jeremy Johnson, Kansas City, Kan., five bass, 17-14, $968
4th: Tom Alsop, Overland Park, Kan., five bass, 17-14, $1,068
6th: Bryan Tracy, Saint Peters, Mo., five bass, 17-8, $820
7th: Matthew Roberts, Osage Beach, Mo., five bass, 17-5, $745
8th: Mike Roller, Purdy, Mo., five bass, 15-15, $671
9th: Drew Sanford, Springfield, Mo., five bass, 15-12, $596
10th: Wesley Myers, Raytown, Mo., five bass, 15-9, $522
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Roger Fitzpatrick of Eldon, Missouri, caught a bass weighing 6 pounds, 9 ounces – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division – and earned the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $650.
Jacob Sloan of Paola, Kansas, won the Co-angler Division and $2,436 Saturday after catching a five-bass limit weighing 17 pounds, 13 ounces.
The top 10 co-anglers were:
1st: Jacob Sloan, Paola, Kan., five bass, 17-13, $2,436
2nd: Derrick Tyree, Owensville, Mo., five bass, 16-4, $1,168
3rd: Kory Ries, Union, Mo., five bass, 15-3, $745
4th: Matt Wertheimer, Arnold, Mo., five bass, 15-2, $522
5th: Daniel Ashby, Independence, Mo., five bass, 15-1, $447
6th: Chris Dale, Chanute, Kan., five bass, 14-1, $410
7th: Rich Carpenter, Parkville, Mo., five bass, 12-11, $373
8th: Quenten Reed, Osage Beach, Mo., five bass, 11-13, $335
9th: Alan Quick, Springfield, Mo., four bass, 11-10, $298
10th: Brandon Hecker, Camdenton, Mo., four bass, 10-11, $261
Charles Frick of Saint Louis, Missouri, caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division – a fish weighing 5 pounds, 11 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $325.
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. 5-7 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 2017 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. Top performers in the BFL can move up to the Costa FLW Series or even the FLW Tour.
For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the BFL on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing.
Flournoy & Chumley hit a Bullseye at Techron TX Shootout on Rayburn with over 33 pounds!
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After dodging a bullet with the first tropical storm of the season making its way through East Texas, William Flournoy and James Chumley hit a bullseye fishing the 3rd Annual Techron TX Shootout on Sam Rayburn, cashing in over $60K! Nearly 300 teams participated in this world’s largest one day team event hosted by Bass Champs that paid back over $137,000 in cash and prizes. It may have been the recent weather having the bass all stirred up, giving way to the tremendous fish seen at the scales.
The timing was just right for this highly-coveted event on June 25, 2017, with tropical storm Cindy just having passed through the area just scant days before. The elements came together just right for these teams to find the biting bass they needed to cash in on this world’s richest team event. The excitement started just before 2:00 when the first team to weigh hit the scales with their huge sack of bass. William Flournoy and James Chumley christened the scales with a 33.02 lb sack that included an 8.89 lb kicker! They had a long wait to see if their incredible weight would hold up as the rest of the field were yet to come in. Watching the entire field bring in their catch with a few close calls rivaling their weight, finally the scales closed to declare them the winners of this tremendous event. “We drew boat #235, so we were having to fish behind other boats,” they explained. Using a combination of worms and jigs in open water for their catch, they lucked on to the fish they were looking for and caught nearly all the fish they weighed before 8am. “We only caught eight keepers all day, and caught our last 8 pounder about 1:00 on a Stanley Jig.” They knew they had over 30 pounds in the boat, and needed to get the fish weighed to be released back into Sam Rayburn. They were shocked when the scales locked in at 33.02 lbs. “We were a nervous wreck!” When it was all said and done, they had won 1st place and the guaranteed $50,000 purse. Their winnings didn’t stop there – they were also the highest finishing team in a qualified Skeeter boat for another $10,000. Lowrance added to their winnings as well with the GEN3 bonus for an incredible finish to their day. “We would like to thank our wives for their encouragement and support, as well as a special thanks to Lonnie Stanley!” So many teams brought in sacks exceeding the twenty-pound mark, the line-up was stacking up tight. Three different teams brought in huge kickers bumping ten pounds anchoring several huge limits brought in. The anticipation from the crowd and the contenders continued to grow with each team that came in to weigh. Incredibly, the 2nd place winners also had an excessive bag, weighing in at 31 pounds even! Brothers Ronnie and Ricky Madole reported that their morning bite was on, using 10XD crank baits. “The fish were really biting for us, and we basically had all of our fish by 10am. After that we were only catching four pounders. We lost several good fish but had a great day!” Their 2nd place finish landed a check for $10,000. Husband and wife Michael and Crystal Lowery slid into 3rd place with another great sack weighing 28.95 pounds. Included in their limit was a 9.17 lb kicker! Michael is a seasoned tournament angler, but his wife Crystal is pretty new to bass fishing. Chad Potts asked the couple how their day went, and Crystal explained that she caught a lot of sun and learned how to net! Nevertheless, the duo finished the day with an $8,000 payday. Twenty teams brought in limits exceeding 20 pounds. Rounding out the top 10: There were two other nine pounders brought in. A 9.56 lb’r anchored the 8th place finish for Troy Roder & Dakota Ebare. The team who caught the $1,000 check for biggest bass of the day was Chris and Rusty Harvey with their 9.73 lb sow. This money fish bit at 2pm for them on a Texas rigged Ol’ Monster worm. “We really appreciate everyone for coming out and fishing this event with us,” Chad Potts announced. “Techron has become a big part of this event, helping to make it the world’s richest team tournament!” Bass Champs continues to provide tournament angling opportunities open to anyone who would like a chance to win and have fun. The 12th Annual Berkley Big Bass tournament on Lake fork will happen October 21-22. All of the information and details can be found at www.BassChamps.com – be sure and sign up to fish! The 2018 schedules for all of Bass Champs events have now been posted. Be sure and mark your calendars for next years’ tournaments! In the meantime, Bass Champs TV show has several special and exciting episodes coming up on the WFN channel. Don’t miss out!
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SAMO, FELDERMANN TIE FOR WIN AT T-H MARINE FLW BFL GREAT LAKES EVENT ON WOLF RIVER CHAIN
Knox, Pliwko Tie for Co-angler Title
WINNECONNE, Wis. (June 26, 2017) – Curtis Samo of Rochelle, Illinois, and Mike Feldermann of Galena, Illinois, each caught five bass Saturday weighing 13 pounds, 10 ounces, Saturday to win the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Great Lakes Division tournament on the Wolf River Chain. For their efforts, Feldermann earned $5,731 after contingency bonuses, while Samo took home $3,431.
“I flipped brush, grass and rocks in Lake Winneconne,” said Samo, who logged his fifth career-win in BFL competition. “It was post-frontal conditions, and in my opinion, flipping is the best technique after a front moves through.”
Samo said he had five areas that he focused on, and that he caught every fish on a green-pumpkin and purple-colored Chompers Ultra Pro Tube.
“I dipped the tail in orange as well,” said Samo. “A little bit of orange flash works great on Winneconne because when you open the livewell, it’s filled with orange crawdads that the bass regurgitate.”
“I targeted bass in a slough right off of the main river that had some good grass, coontail and laydowns in it,” said Feldermann, who earned his ninth career-win on the BFL circuit. “I used a black and blue-colored (Berkley Havoc Grass Pig) swimbait in about 3 feet of clean water. The stretch was about a mile long. I stayed in there all day and only had five bites.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Curtis Samo, Rochelle, Ill., five bass, 13-10, $3,431
1st: Mike Feldermann, Galena, Ill., five bass, 13-10, $3,731 + $2,000 Ranger Cup Bonus
3rd: Jim Jones, Big Bend, Wis., five bass, 13-6, $1,725
4th: Cade Laufenberg, Winona, Minn., five bass, 13-0, $1,168
5th: Jason Howland, Albert Lea, Minn., five bass, 12-15, $877
5th: Clayton Reitz, Morton, Ill., four bass, 12-15, $877
7th: Brad Leifermann, Andover, Minn., five bass, 12-12, $763
8th: Mike Wilmoth, Onalaska, Wis., five bass, 12-11, $686
9th: Rick Martin, Winter, Wis., five bass, 12-6, $610
10th: Kyler Chelminiak, McKenzie, Tenn., five bass, 12-3, $534
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Mike Ratz of Hudson, Wisconsin, caught a 4-pound, 5-ounce bass – the heaviest of the day in the Boater Division – and earned the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $665.
Matt Knox of Metamora, Illinois, and John Pliwko of Plover, Wisconsin, each weighed five bass totaling 10 pounds, 7 ounces, to tie for the win in the Co-angler Division. Each angler pocketed $1,716 for their limits.
The top 10 co-anglers were:
1st: Matt Knox, Metamora, Ill., five bass, 10-7, $1,716
1st: John Pliwko, Plover, Wis., five bass, 10-7, $1,716
3rd: Mongshoua Xiong, La Crosse, Wis., five bass, 9-8, $762
4th: Mike Puterbaugh, Montello, Wis., three bass, 8-15, $534
5th: Tom Lyskawka, Arlington Heights, Ill., four bass, 8-11, $458
6th: Steve Ubersox, Cherry Valley, Ill., four bass, 8-3, $419
7th: Paul Vonwald, La Crosse, Wis., four bass, 7-14, $362
7th: Jaz Duncan, Eau Claire, Wis., four bass, 7-14, $362
9th: Mike Kochanski, Bolingbrook, Ill., four bass, 7-9, $305
10th: Charles Novotny, Mauston, Wis., three bass, 7-7, $267
Rex McTier of Endeavor, Wisconsin, caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division – a fish weighing 3 pounds, 7 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $332.
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. 12-14 BFL Regional Championship on the Barren River in Scottsville, 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 2017 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. Top performers in the BFL can move up to the Costa FLW Series or even the FLW Tour.
For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the BFL on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing.
MIKE CUNNINGHAM WINS T-H MARINE FLW BFL MICHIGAN DIVISION OPENER ON DETROIT RIVER
Redford’s Borsa Claims Co-angler Title
TRENTON, Mich. (June 26, 2017) – Mike Cunningham of Fenton, Michigan, caught five bass weighing 23 pounds, 1 ounce, Saturday to win the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Michigan Division opener on the Detroit River. Cunningham took home $3,718 for his victory.
“I’ve been fishing BFL tournaments for a long time and this is my first win – it’s pretty special,” said Cunningham, whose previous top finish in BFL competition was a 19th-place showing on Lake St. Clair in 2015. “I targeted a ridge in Lake Erie that had a nice flat. It stayed active until noon and then it shut down.”
Cunningham said he began his day using a green pumpkin-colored Smack Daddy Baby Elite Tube. He said he put a couple of good fish in the boat, but decided to switch techniques after losing two 4- and 5-pounders.
“After I lost the bigger fish I picked up my drop-shot rod and went to work,” said Cunningham. “I used a Poor Boy’s Erie Darter in 12 feet of water and stuck them hard. I probably caught 40 fish, and was releasing 4-pounders at one point. It ended up being a great day out there.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Mike Cunningham, Fenton, Mich., five bass, 23-1, $3,718
2nd: Arthur Teper, Lake Orion, Mich., five bass, 22-1, $2,544
3rd: Kyle Greene, Ortonville, Mich., five bass, 21-12, $1,338
4th: Dan Mittlestat, Woodhaven, Mich., five bass, 20-9, $867
5th: David Reault, Livonia, Mich., five bass, 19-11, $744
6th: Mark Modrak, China Township, Mich., five bass, 19-5, $982
7th: Randy Ramsey, Burlington, Mich., five bass, 19-0, $620
8th: Michael Sitko, Pinckney, Mich., five bass, 18-12, $558
9th: Freddy Hurley, Somerset, Ky., five bass, 18-10, $496
10th: Jerry Arnett, Mexico, Ind., five bass, 18-9, $434
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Teper caught a 5-pound, 11-ounce bass – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division – and earned the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $485.
Philip Borsa of Redford, Michigan, caught five bass weighing 19 pounds, 5 ounces, Saturday to win the Co-angler Division and $1,859.
The top 10 co-anglers were:
1st: Philip Borsa, Redford, Mich., five bass, 19-5, $1,859
2nd: Aaron Stahley, Batavia, Ohio, five bass, 18-4, $974
2nd: Jeffrey Thomson, Birmingham, Mich., five bass, 18-4, $774
4th: John Lovin, Fayetteville, Ohio, five bass, 17-14, $555
5th: Jerry Propst, Jasper, Texas, five bass, 17-11, $422
6th: Cyril Haxton, Peru, Ind., five bass, 17-10, $325
6th: Robert Hernandez, Canton, Mich., five bass, 17-10, $325
8th: Jamie Elliott, Warsaw, Ind., five bass, 17-9, $279
9th: Erik Jacques, Harrison Township, Mich., five bass, 17-5, $248
10th: Matt Vermilyea, Perrysburg, Ohio, five bass, 16-12, $206
10th: Dan O’Neil, Canton, Mich., five bass, 16-12, $206
John Murphy of Mooresville, Indiana, caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division – a fish weighing 4 pounds, 12 ounces – and earned the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $121.
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. 12-14 BFL Regional Championship on the Barren River in Scottsville, 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 2017 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. Top performers in the BFL can move up to the Costa FLW Series or even the FLW Tour.
For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the BFL on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing.
Bo Hunter wins ABA RAM Trucks Open on Logan Martin with over 17 pound limit.
Bo Hunter won the American Bass Anglers Ram Truck Open Series Georgia Division tournament, held June 24th on Logan Martin. Running out of Lakeside Park in Pell City, Bo caught five bass weighing 17.62 pounds. For the Boater Division victory, Hunter took home a check for $5000.
“The bite started off real strong. We probably caught twenty to thirty fish this morning. I was fishing in about five to six feet of water in the current up the river with a swimbait. Then on our way in we stopped by a spot to help my co-angler cull a smaller fish, and I made one cast with a crankbait and caught a five pounder.” Hunter said.
In second for the boaters, Josh Stracner of Vandiver, AL landed a five-bass tournament limit going 16.35 pounds. He collected $800 for his catch. Stracner is also Triton Gold qualified and will win additional monies from Triton based on his finish.
“I caught most of my fish early and shallow today, and I caught that one good fish later in the day in some brush in about fifteen feet of water. I started off fishing top-water and swimming a jig.” Stracner said.
Coming in third, Jimmy Bahakel of Birmingham, AL caught five bass going 15.00 pounds. He collected $600 for his catch.
“I caught all my fish but one on a deep diving crankbait. The very first keeper that I caught was on a swim-jig in the grass. I culled quite a few as the day went on. My fish came between ten to fifteen feet deep today.” Bahakel said.
Finishing fourth, Kyle Dorsett of Odenville, AL landed a five-bass limit for 14.66 pounds.
Marty Giddens of Eclectic, AL rounded out the top five boaters with five bass at 12.90 pounds.
The boater big bass award went to Kyle Dorsett of Odenville, AL for a 5.94-pounder. collected $490 for that catch, and also took home a new Abu Garcia Revo SX spinning reel for that catch.
“I caught that fish on a shaky head worm around fourteen feet deep on a brush pile.” Dorsett said.
In the Co-Angler Division, Justin Girdner of Wetumpka, AL won with three bass going 7.41 pounds. For the Co-Angler Division victory, Justin took home a check for $900.
“I caught my fish on a swim-bait and a few on a jig up the river in about five to six feet of water. If I would have caught everything I hooked, I would’ve had about twelve pounds today.” Girdner said.
Taking second for the co-anglers, James Walden of Newnan, GA brought in a three-bass division limit weighing 7.18 pounds. He collected $400 for the effort.
“I caught most of my fish on a frog in the grass and around docks today. I just never had a big bite today.” Walden said.
Lenn McManus of Bowden, GA placed third among the co-anglers with three bass going 6.96 pounds including a big bass that weighed 4.01-pounds. He earned $300 for his catch and an additional $140 for the big bass award.
“I caught my fish on a shaky head today and I caught that big fish around 10:00am this morning.” McManus said.
In fourth place among the co-anglers, Eldred Lewis of Tuscaloosa, AL brought in three bass for 6.62 pounds.
Jonathan Adams of Phenix City, AL finished in fifth place with three bass at 6.57 pounds.
Slated for September 23rd & 24th, the next tournament will be the Area 3 Championship to be held on Lake Eufaula out of Lakepoint Resort State Park in Eufaula, AL. At the end of the season, the best anglers from across the nation advance the 2018 Ray Scott Championship, to be held on the Red River in Bossier City, LA.
For more information on this tournament, call Billy Benedetti, tournament manager, at 256-230-5632 or ABA at 256-232-0406. On line, see www.ramopenseries.com .
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, the Ram Truck Open Series, the American Fishing Tour or the American Couples Series, visit www.americanbassanglers.com.
MICHAEL MURPHY WINS T-H MARINE FLW BFL BUCKEYE DIVISION EVENT ON INDIAN LAKE
Hamilton’s Wilkens Claims Co-angler Title
LAKEVIEW, Ohio (June 26, 2017) – Michael Murphy of Troy, Ohio, won the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Buckeye Division tournament on Indian Lake Saturday with a five-bass limit weighing 11 pounds, 2 ounces. For his win, Murphy took home $4,610.
“When I found out I won, it was unbelievable,” said Murphy, who earned his first career-victory in FLW competition. “I’ve wanted that trophy for a long time. I never expected it in a million years.”
To craft his limit, Murphy said he sat in 3 feet of water and threw a shad-colored Luck-E-Strike RC2 crankbait along small rock patches between seawalls.
“I hit a 150-yard stretch around Wolf Island,” said Murphy. “I caught my limit within the first 40 minutes of the event, culled one in the next hour and caught my biggest fish at 9:15 (a.m.). The wind was blowing into the bank, and I think it was pushing baitfish into the rock patches. It was one of those magical mornings.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Michael Murphy, Troy, Ohio, five bass, 11-2, $4,610
2nd: Daniel Sepeck, West Union, Ohio, five bass, 10-10, $2,505
3rd: Chris Bulaw, Wheaton, Ill., five bass, 10-1, $1,536
4th: Dan Moran, London, Ohio, five bass, 9-10, $1,176
5th: James Mayle, Newark, Ohio, five bass, 9-6, $845
5th: John Roth, Lawrenceburg, Ind., four bass, 9-6, $845
5th: James Hailstones, Cincinnati, Ohio, five bass, 9-6, $845
8th: Kyle Weisenburger, Ottawa, Ohio, five bass, 9-4, $614
8th: Tony Newland, Belle Center, Ohio, five bass, 9-4, $614
8th: Brandon Good, Fort Jennings, Ohio, four bass, 9-4, $614
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Dave Perry of Trenton, Ohio, caught a bass weighing 4 pounds, 7 ounces – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division – and earned the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $670.
Brent Wilkens of Hamilton, Ohio, won the Co-angler Division and $2,505 Saturday after weighing five bass totaling 10 pounds, 5 ounces.
The top 10 co-anglers were:
1st: Brent Wilkens, Hamilton, Ohio, five bass, 10-5, $2,505
2nd: Adam Coleman, Canal Winchester, Ohio, five bass, 8-7, $1,152
3rd: Ryan McCusker, Beaver Falls, Pa., five bass, 7-3, $768
4th: Alexander Datz, Thornville, Ohio, three bass, 6-15, $923
5th: Jon Angstmann, Saint Marys, Ohio, five bass, 6-13, $461
6th: Dennis Blakely, Norwalk, Ohio, four bass, 6-6, $423
7th: Bradley Fulton, Ray, Ohio, four bass, 6-3, $384
8th: Roy Lester, Hamilton, Ohio, three bass, 5-15, $346
9th: Alfie Bricker, West Portsmouth, Ohio, three bass, 5-8, $307
10th: Jeffrey Lewis, Greenup, Ky., three bass, 5-5, $269
Datz weighed the largest bass in the Co-angler Division – a 4-pound, 12-ouncer. The catch earned him the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $335.
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. 12-14 BFL Regional Championship on the Barren River in Scottsville, 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 2017 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. Top performers in the BFL can move up to the Costa FLW Series or even the FLW Tour.
For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the BFL on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing.
Floyd, Gibbons Overcome Adversity To Win Bassmaster High School National Championship
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RON NELSON WINS COSTA FLW SERIES NORTHERN DIVISION EVENT ON LAKE CHAMPLAIN PRESENTED BY POWER-POLE
Fourth-Year Boater Bests 195-boat Field – Largest in Northern Division History – to Earn Second Career Victory, $93,200
PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (June 24, 2017) – Pro Ron Nelson of Berrien Springs, Michigan, who started the day in third place, brought a five-bass limit to the scale Saturday weighing 18 pounds, 9 ounces to jump to the top of the leaderboard and win the Costa FLW Series Northern Division event on Lake Champlain presented by Power-Pole. Nelson’s three-day total of 15 bass weighing 54 pounds, 9 ounces, was enough to earn him the win by a 10-ounce margin and the first place prize package worth $93,200, including a new Ranger Z521C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard.
Nelson weighed a mixed bag of three largemouth bass and two smallmouth bass on each of the three days of competition and was the only competitor to surpass the 18-pound mark on Saturday. On Thursday, Nelson started off sight-fishing smallmouths and targeting largemouth later in the day. On Friday, he did the opposite, ditching the early smallmouth and heading to his largemouth grounds. Then, with better weather in the afternoon, the Michigan pro culled twice with smallmouth caught off beds. Saturday, Nelson again targeted the largemouth early, before moving to the bedding smallmouth, then back to the largemouth.
“When I was fishing for the smallmouth I threw an (Poor Boy’s) Erie Darter on a stand-up head jig,” said Nelson, who earned his second career FLW Series event – the first coming on Virginia’s Smith Mountain Lake in 2013. “For the largemouth I threw a Beaver, the Darter and a Yamamoto Senko. It didn’t matter what color I threw, they were biting pretty much anything. I found a couple of largemouth on beds and they were as aggressive as the smallmouth were.
“The Costa FLW Series events are always extremely tough and a lot of fun,” Nelson went on to say. “I enjoy fishing all over the country and the challenge of figuring each lake out. Lake Champlain fishes pretty similarly to my lakes back home and I knew that I was going to be able to come here and just have fun. I was glad just to be in the top 10, but to come out of here with a win is pretty special.”
The top 10 pros on Lake Champlain were:
1st: Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich., 15 bass, 54-9, $93,200
2nd: Chris Adams, Shrewsbury, Vt., 15 bass, 53-15, $19,600
3rd: Thomas Lavictoire Jr., W. Rutland, Vt., 15 bass, 52-3, $14,000
4th: Chris Johnston, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, 15 bass, 52-3, $12,000
5th: Brett Carnright, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 15 bass, 52-0, $11,000
6th: Shayne McFarlin, Martin, Ga., 15 bass, 51-14, $9,000
7th: Neil Farlow, Niagra Falls, Ontario, Canada, 15 bass, 51-8, $7,800
8th: Ryan Latinville, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 15 bass, 51-8, $6,800
9th: Scott Dobson, Clarkston, Mich., 15 bass, 50-12, $5,800
10th: Rob Lamoy, Chazy, N.Y., 15 bass, 48-13, $4,400
A complete list of results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Kurt Mitchell of Milford, Delaware, caught a bass weighing 5 pounds, 11 ounces Thursday – the biggest of the tournament in the Pro Division. For his catch, Mitchell earned the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $300.
Daniel Weaver of Macon, Georgia, won the Co-angler Division and a new Ranger Z175 boat with a 90-horsepower Evinrude outboard motor. Weaver earned his win with a three-day total catch of 15 bass weighing 44 pounds, 1 ounce.
The top 10 co-anglers on Lake Champlain were:
1st: Daniel Weaver, Macon, Ga., 15 bass, 44-1, $28,100
2nd: Bill Spence, Saint Albans, Vt., 15 bass, 44-0, $6,000
3rd: Tom Stark, Angola, Ind., 15 bass, 40-5, $4,800
4th: Mike Mueller, Berryville, Va., 15 bass, 39-13, $3,900
5th: Greg Mauldin, Archdale, N.C., 15 bass, 39-9, $3,450
6th: Gary Haraguchi, Redding, Calif., 15 bass, 39-7, $2,900
7th: John McBride, Mount Airy, N.C., 15 bass, 38-13, $2,400
8th: Greg Tesch, Middlebury, Conn., 15 bass, 38-8, $1,950
9th: Edward Pecore, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 15 bass, 37-13, $1,580
10th: Tim Saylor, Johnson City, Tenn., 15 bass, 37-10, $1,330
Jason Bezio of Plattsburgh, New York, caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the Co-angler Division Thursday, a largemouth weighing 4 pounds, 9 ounces, and earned the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $200.
The Costa FLW Series on Lake Champlain presented by Power-Pole was hosted by the City of Plattsburgh and the Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau. It was the first of three Northern Division tournaments in 2017. The next Costa FLW Series tournament will be the second Northern Division event, held July 27-29, at 1,000 Islands in Clayton, New York. For a complete schedule, visit FLWFishing.com.
The Costa FLW Series consists of five U.S. divisions – Central, Northern, Southeastern, Southwestern and Western. Each division consists of three tournaments with competitors vying for valuable points that could earn them the opportunity to fish in the Costa FLW Series Championship. The 2017 Costa FLW Series Championship is being held Nov. 2-4 on Kentucky Lake in Paris, Tennessee.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Costa FLW Series on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing.
BASS CHAMPS ANNOUNCES 2018 SCHEDULE!
2018 Bass Champs Schedules | ||||
Date | Region | Lake | Type | Payback |
1/13/2018 | South | Amistad | team | $20k Guaranteed 1st Place |
1/20/2018 | East | Sam Rayburn | team | $20k Guaranteed 1st Place |
2/3/2018 | Central | Travis | team | $20k Guaranteed 1st Place |
2/10/2018 | South | Falcon | team | $20k Guaranteed 1st Place |
2/17/2018 | East | Toledo Bend | team | $20k Guaranteed 1st Place |
2/24/2018 | North | Lake Fork | team | $20k Guaranteed 1st Place |
3/3/2018 | Central | LBJ | team | $20k Guaranteed 1st Place |
3/10/2018 | East | Sam Rayburn | team | $20k Guaranteed 1st Place |
3/17/2018 | Mega Bass | Lake Fork | big bass | Over $200,000 Guaranteed |
3/24/2018 | South | Amistad | team | $20k Guaranteed 1st Place |
4/7/2018 | North | Ray Roberts | team | $20k Guaranteed 1st Place |
4/14/2018 | Central | Belton | team | $20k Guaranteed 1st Place |
4/21/2018 | South | Amistad | team | $20k Guaranteed 1st Place |
5/5/2018 | Central | TBA | team | $20k Guaranteed 1st Place |
5/12/2018 | East | Toledo Bend | team | $20k Guaranteed 1st Place |
5/19/2018 | North | Tawakoni | team | $20k Guaranteed 1st Place |
6/9/2018 | Skeeter Owners | Fork | big bass | Over $200,000 Guaranteed |
6/16/2018 | North | Cedar Creek | team | $20k Guaranteed 1st Place |
6/23/2018 | Techron TX Shootout | Sam Rayburn | team | $50k Guaranteed 1st Place |
10/13 & 10/14 | Championship | TBA | team | Over $200,000 Guaranteed |
10/20 & 10/21 | Berkley Big Bass | Fork | big bass | 2 Skeeter boats Guaranteed |
All lakes and dates are subject to change based on weather & lake levels Additional events will be announced as they become available. Special Note: The Mega Bass event will be on Saturday in 2018 |
Alabama High School Team Grabs Early Lead In Bassmaster High School National Championship
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MCFARLIN LEADS ON CHAMPLAIN
June 22, 2017
by Jody White
Leading day one of the Costa FLW Series event presented by Power-Pole on Lake Champlain, Shayne McFarlin of Martin, Ga., sacked up 19 pounds, 7 ounces of smallmouths to get the ball rolling. Behind him, he’s got a murderer’s row of out-of-town Champlain sticks and locals from Vermont and New York. Though the fishing was good on day one, weights fell slightly short of some pre-tournament expectations. Even so, eight of the top 10 weighed more than 18 pounds, and in true Champlain style, 10th place is only 1 1/2 pounds off the lead.
Top five patterns
Morning story
Complete results
Like many others up high in the standings, McFarlin relied heavily on spawning smallmouths for his weight and fished the northern half of the lake.
“I pretty much stayed local,” says the Georgia pro. “I’ve got probably 20 fish marked, and I caught three of the biggest I had today. I left a few because I found a few bonus fish. I’m trying to save ’em. I don’t want to be greedy, but honestly I didn’t think I had 19 pounds.”
The forecast for Friday doesn’t look pretty. It’s supposed to blow pretty hard and storm, which could put a damper on some of the sight-fishing. Luckily for the leader he has other options.
“That’s not my only way of catching them,” says McFarlin. “I don’t know what the rain and the wind are going to do tomorrow, but it’s been making it tough all week in practice.”
McFarlin finished 10th as a co-angler in last year’s FLW Tour event on Champlain, and he enjoyed it so much he figured he needed to return.
“It was a lot of fun,” says McFarlin of last year’s fishing. “It’s a long ways from Georgia, but it’s worth it.”
Top 10 pros
1. Shayne McFarlin – Martin, Ga. – 19-7 (5)
2. Chris Adams – Shrewsbury, Vt. – 18-13 (5)
3. Ron Nelson – Berrien Springs, Mich. – 18-10 (6)
4. Thomas Lavictoire Jr. – West Rutland, Vt. – 18-9 (5)
5. Neil Farlow – Niagara Falls, Ont. – 18-4 (5)
6. JJ Judd – Saint Albans, Vt. – 18-3 (5)
7. Bob Izumi – Milton, Ont. – 18-2 (5)
8. Cory Johnston – Cavan, Ont. – 18-1 (5)
9. Brett Carnright – Plattsburgh, N.Y. – 17-15 (5)
10. Casey Casamento – Morrisonville, N.Y. – 17-14 (5)
Complete results
Daniel Weaver
Weaver leads co-anglers
Weighing 18 pounds, 7 ounces, Daniel Weaver jumped out to a dominating lead on the co-angler side at Champlain. Hailing from Macon, Ga., Weaver is the brother of FLW Tour pro Josh Weaver and had never been to Champlain before this week.
“It started out real slow, and then they started biting real good,” says Weaver. “I wasn’t getting many bites, but the ones that bit were good.”
Weaver fished down south by Ticonderoga with Daryl Biron and was one of the few anglers in the field who had any success there. He even managed to weigh in a smallmouth from “Ti.”
“I had a 4 1/2-pound smallmouth,” adds Weaver. “We caught it down there. I just flipped up next to a dark spot, and it started swimming off and ended up being a big ol’ smallmouth.”
Weaver says he flipped mostly, but changed to a topwater late in the day for some of his bigger bites. On the day, he says he landed 10 bass and culled three times.
Top 10 co-anglers
1. Daniel Weaver – Macon, Ga. – 18-7 (5)
2. Tim Saylor – Johnson City, Tenn. – 16-2 (5)
3. Justin Hicks – Roanoke, Va. – 16-1 (5)
4. Tom Stark – Angola, Ind. – 15-4 (5)
5. Wataru Iwahori – Palestine, Texas – 14-15 (5)
6. Brent Lyons – Altona, N.Y. – 14-11 (5)
7. Bill Spence – Saint Albans, Vt. – 14-9 (5)
8. Kyle Richardt – Raleigh, N.C. – 14-8 (5)
9. Jack Dice – Lynchburg, Va. – 14-7 (5)
10. Darius Kohl – Raymond, Neb. – 14-6 (5)
FLW Cup Field Set for Lake Murray August 11-13, 2017
From FLW Outdoors
June 21, 2017
With the conclusion of the FLW Tour season, the field is now set for the 2017 Forrest Wood Cup on Lake Murray. Pitting 53 of the best anglers around against each other for $300,000 and the title of Forrest Wood Cup Champion August 11-13, the Cup is the premier championship of the summer. This year, most of the field is comprised of FLW Tour pros plucked from the top 35 in the standings, with additional qualifiers pulled from lower in the points due to some double qualifiers. The rest of the field comes from all throughout the FLW ranks – from YETI FLW College Fishing to the Costa FLW Series.
2017 FLW Tour qualifiers
Anthony Gagliardi – Prosperity, S.C.
Jeff Sprague – Point, Texas
David Dudley – Lynchburg, Va.
Cody Meyer – Auburn, Calif.
Shane LeHew – Catawba, N.C.
Bryan Schmitt – Deale, Md.
Shinichi Fukae – Palestine, Texas
Mark Rose – West Memphis, Ark.
Michael Neal – Dayton, Tenn.
Brandon Cobb – Greenwood, S.C.
Wesley Strader – Spring City, Tenn.
Clark Reehm – Huntington, Texas
Jamie Horton – Centerville, Ala.
Brandon McMillan – Clewiston, Fla.
Clark Wendlandt – Leander, Texas
Bradley Dortch – Atmore, Ala.
Larry Nixon – Bee Branch, Ark.
Casey Scanlon – Lake Ozark, Mo.
Matt Arey – Shelby, N.C.
Justin Atkins – Florence, Ala.
Terry Bolton – Paducah, Ky.
Austin Felix – Eden Prairie, Minn.
JT Kenney – Palm Bay, Fla.
Scott Martin – Clewiston, Fla.
Scott Canterbury – Odenville, Ala.
Chris McCall – Palmer, Texas
Matthew Stefan – Junction City, Wis.
Andrew Upshaw – Tulsa, Okla.
Scott Suggs – Alexander, Ark.
Michael Wooley – Collierville, Tenn.
Joseph Webster – Fulton, Miss.
Joey Cifuentes – Clinton, Ark.
Jason Reyes – Huffman, Texas
Aaron Britt – Yuba City, Calif.
Darrel Robertson – Jay, Okla.
2016 Forrest Wood Cup Champion
John Cox – DeBary, Fla.
2016 FLW Tour Angler of the Year
Andy Morgan – Dayton, Tenn.
2016 FLW Tour Invitational winners
Bryan Thrift – Shelby, N.C.
James Watson – Lampe, Mo.
2016 Costa FLW Series Championship
Southeastern Division
Pat Fisher – Colbert, Ga.
Southwestern Division
Cody Bird – Granbury, Texas
Central Division
Greg Bohannan – Rogers, Ark.
Northern Division
Joel Richardson – Kernersville, N.C.
Western Division
Roy Hawk – Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
International Division
Hyochul Kim – Korea
Next 5 highest Costa Championship finishers
Zack Birge – Blanchard, Okla.
Christopher Jones – Bokoshe, Okla.
Travis Fox – Rogers, Ark.
Jeremy Lawyer – Sarcoxie, Mo.
Bradford Beavers – Ridgeville, S.C.
2017 BFL All-American winner
Marshall Deakins – Dunlap, Tenn.
2017 TBF National Champion
Allen Boyd – Salem, Ind.
2017 YETI FLW College Fishing Fish-Off winner
Kyle Alsop – Overland Park, Kan.
Alabama Duo Wins Bassmaster Junior Championship In Tennessee!
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Texas Team Trail Announces 2018 Schedule - Strong mix of popular venues for upcoming season
NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. (June 20, 2017) - The Texas Team Trail (TXTT) presented by Cabela's recently unveiled the 2018 schedule, which includes stops at some of the most popular tournament bass lakes in the country.
The regular season will kick off February 10, 2017 at Sam Rayburn Reservoir - a favorite stop for many TXTT anglers. The following month, the TXTT will return to Toledo Bend, which produced a 30-pound winning bag at the 2017 TXTT event on the lake.
The TXTT will return to the site of its 2012 championship with a stop at south Texas' Amistad Reservoir in April. The regular season will wrap up on Ray Roberts Lake in May, which has hosted TXTT in years past.
The two-day, entry-fee championship will be announced at a later date and will once again feature higher payout and contingency prize opportunities. The TXTT Lucas Oil Team of the Year will be decided at the championship event as well. The team that has accrued the highest amount of points from the regular-season and championship events will win custom Lucas Oil rings and paid entry fees for the 2019 TXTT season.
2018 TXTT scheduled events:
February 10 - Sam Rayburn
March 17 - Toledo Bend
April 14 - Amistad
May 5 - Ray Roberts
Championship
June 2-3 - TBA
Texas Team Trail events are made possible through the sponsorship and continued support of these well-respected brands: Cabela's, Ranger Boats, Lucas Oil, RAM, Evinrude, Mercury, Minn Kota, Triton Boats, Power-Pole, Evinrude, Arctic Ice, Stratos Boats, Lowrance, Protect the Harvest, General Tire, SuperClean, Garmin, Valley Fashions, T-H Marine, Atlas, G-Juice, Powertex Group.
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DORTCH WINS FLW TOUR ROOKIE OF THE YEAR TITLE
MINNEAPOLIS (June 20, 2017) – Pro angler Bradley Dortch of Atmore, Alabama, finished the 2017 FLW Tour regular-season in 18th place overall – the highest of any Tour rookie – with 1,087 points, earning him the prestigious FLW Tour Rookie of the Year (ROY) title.
Each year, the ROY title is awarded to the rookie pro who has the highest year-end point total in the standings at the conclusion of the regular-season. Dortch secured the crown at the 2017 season-finale on the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland, last week, finishing the tournament in 86th place and qualifying for his first Forrest Wood Cup championship appearance.
“Making the Forrest Wood Cup was my main goal this season, but winning Rookie of the Year is a nice bonus,” said Dortch. “I know guys like (Quaker State pro) Scott Canterbury have won this title and have gone on to excel at this level, so to be in the same category as them means the world to me.”
Dortch was an early front-runner for the ROY title after posting a strong 15th-place finish in his first event as a professional on Lake Guntersville in Guntersville, Alabama. He stumbled a bit after landing in 87th at Lake Travis in Jonestown, Texas, but quickly rebounded with a victory at the Tour’s third stop on the Harris Chain of Lakes in Leesburg, Florida.
Dortch spent most of the season neck-and-neck in the ROY race with fellow Alabama rookie Justin Atkins, of Florence, Alabama. After an 85th place showing on Lake Cumberland in Somerset, Kentucky, Dortch finished 14th on Beaver Lake in Rogers, Arkansas, and pulled comfortably ahead of Atkins to sit atop the standings. At the sixth event of the season on the Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wisconsin, Dortch finished 32nd while Atkins finished 10th, putting the title back up for grabs as the race came down to a dramatic finish on the Potomac River.
“I knew it was going to come down to me and Justin at the end,” said Dortch. “When the schedule came out last year, I was glad to see the Potomac River in there because I figured it would be my kind of deal. But, I never thought it would be the make-or-break tournament for Rookie of the Year, or that I would even be in the running.”
Dortch ended up placing 86th on the Potomac River, but Atkins’ 47th-place finish wasn’t enough to close the gap and Dortch clinched the coveted title by 11 points.
The top 5 rookies on the 2017 FLW Tour finished:
1st: *Bradley Dortch, Atmore, Ala., 1,087 points
2nd: *Justin Atkins, Florence, Ala., 1,076 points
3rd: *Joey Cifuentes, Clinton, Ark., 992 points
4th: *Aaron Britt, Yuba City, Calif., 981 points
5th: Dylan Hays, Sheridan, Ark., 877 points
* denotes 2017 Forrest Wood Cup qualification
The FLW Tour Rookie of the Year title is determined by the total accumulated points from regular-season events. Two hundred points are awarded for a win, 199 for second, 198 for third, and so on.
The next FLW Tour event for Dortch will be the 2017 Forrest Wood Cup championship held on Lake Murray, August 11-13, in Columbia, South Carolina.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing.
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 2017 across five tournament circuits. Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, with offices in Minneapolis, FLW conducts more than 274 bass-fishing tournaments annually across the United States and sanctions tournaments in Canada, China, Mexico, South Africa and South Korea. 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.
Thrift Claims Second FLW Angler of the Year Title
MINNEAPOLIS (June 20, 2017) – Pro angler Bryan Thrift of Shelby, North Carolina, capped off an incredible season this weekend, winning his second FLW Tour Angler of the Year (AOY) title and the $100,000 prize Saturday at the FLW Tour's final 2017 regular-season event on the Potomac River.
Thrift started the FLW Tour season off with back-to-back second-place finishes in February at Alabama’s Lake Guntersville and Lake Travis in Texas. He posted a sixth-place showing in March on the Harris Chain of Lakes in Florida, then continued the hot streak through April with finishes of 12th place at Lake Cumberland in Kentucky and a third-place finish at the Tour’s annual stop at Beaver Lake in Arkansas. He wrapped up the season with respectable finishes on two river systems – 59th on the Mississippi River in Wisconsin and 48th on the Potomac River in Maryland.
Thrift now joins an illustrious club of David Dudley (three), Andy Morgan (three), Clark Wendlandt (three), and Jay Yelas (two) as anglers with multiple FLW Tour AOY titles.
"The Angler of the Year is the greatest accomplishment you can have in professional fishing," Thrift said after clinching the title. “You were the best fisherman all year long. Not one tournament, not the championship, but all year long.”
The FLW Tour Angler of the Year title is determined by the total accumulated points from seven regular-season events. Two hundred points are awarded for a win, 199 for second, 198 for third, and so on. Thrift earned the title with 1,275 out of a possible 1,400 points, successfully fending off reigning three-time AOY Morgan (1,231), 2006 AOY Anthony Gagliardi (1,192), Jeff Sprague (1,176), and three-time AOY Dudley (1,161).
Thrift, an 11-year veteran of the Tour, earned his first AOY title in 2010, when he posted top-10 finishes in four of the five regular-season tournaments, then added another at the Forrest Wood Cup.
“It’s nice to finally win it again,” the 37-year old Thrift said. “I think I blew Angler of the Year three or four times since then (2010). To be able to do it the first season we’ve had seven events, to me that’s a huge accomplishment.”
Along with the Angler of the Year title, which annually goes to the Tour’s most dominant bass angler, Thrift earned the top prize of $100,000 and became the first angler to officially punch his ticket to the 2018 Forrest Wood Cup next fall.
Thrift has fished as a professional on the FLW Tour since 2007. Over the past 10 seasons, Thrift has finished outside the top-10 just once in the end of the year AOY standings, an impressive feat when you consider most FLW Tour events feature more than 160 anglers competing each season.
The next FLW Tour event for Thrift will be the 2017 Forrest Wood Cup Championship on Lake Murray, August 11-13 in Columbia, South Carolina.
Coverage of Thrift’s historic Angler of the Year win on the Potomac River will premiere in high-definition (HD) on NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) Sept. 20 from Noon.-1 p.m. EDT. The Emmy-nominated "FLW" television show airs on NBCSN, the Pursuit Channel and the World Fishing Network and is broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, making it the most widely distributed weekly outdoors-sports television show in the world.
For a full schedule of events, complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing.
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 2017 across five tournament circuits. Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, with offices in Minneapolis, FLW conducts more than 274 bass-fishing tournaments annually across the United States and sanctions tournaments in Canada, China, Mexico, South Africa and South Korea. 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.
8 Pounder Propels Eighth Grader Into Bassmaster Junior Championship Lead
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BRETT BRUMNETT WINS T-H MARINE FLW BFL OKIE DIVISION EVENT ON FORT GIBSON LAKE
El Reno’s Ezell tops Co-angler Division
WAGONER, Okla. (June 19, 2017) – Boater Brett Brumnett of Wagoner, Oklahoma, weighed a five-bass limit totaling 19 pounds, 7 ounces Saturday to win the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Okie Division event on Fort Gibson Lake. Brumnett took home $4,507 for his victory.
“I started out fishing 6 to 8 miles north of takeoff, on the upper end of the lake,” said Brumnett, who earned his first career victory in BFL competition. “About 20 minutes in I caught a 4-pounder on a football jig, but after another hour or so I couldn’t get a bite. So, I started making my way back down the lake.
“I noticed that they were pulling water, so I went and hit a couple of points that had some big wood on it,” Brumnett continued. “I was throwing a chartreuse and white (Strike King) spinnerbait with gold Colorado blades and I ended up catching a 6½-pounder at my first spot. When I caught that one I figured that is what I needed to be doing.”
Brumnett said that he fished shallow for the rest of the afternoon, targeting fish that were feeding on shad around big wood and bushes. He said that he ended up catching seven keepers on the spinnerbait.
“Near the end I came down close to the check-in and got out on a ledge,” Brumnett said. “I picked the football jig back up and caught a nice one with about 10 minutes to go. That fish won me the tournament.”
Brumnett said his jig that caught his first and last fish was a peanut butter and jelly-colored Jewel Football jig with a Gene Larew Biffle Bug trailer.
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Brett Brumnett, Wagoner, Okla., five bass, 19-7, $4,507
2nd: James Marsh, Thomas, Okla., five bass, 19-2, $2,253
3rd: Sheldon Collings, Grove, Okla., five bass, 17-13, $1,702
4th: Ed Barton, Vian, Okla., five bass, 17-7, $1,152
5th: Keith Hays, Broken Arrow, Okla., five bass, 17-2, $901
6th: Brad Lankford, Wagoner, Okla., five bass, 16-14, $826
7th: Christopher Jones, Bokoshe, Okla., five bass, 16-8, $751
8th: Paul Loveland, Grove, Okla., five bass, 15-15, $676
9th: Travis McKelvey, Jenks, Okla., five bass, 15-9, $601
10th: Rick Kelley, Ada, Okla., five bass, 15-6, $526
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Don Benson of Eufaula, Oklahoma, caught a 6-pound, 7-ounce bass, which was the heaviest of the tournament in the Boater Division. The catch earned him the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $655.
Chastin Ezell of El Reno, Oklahoma, weighed in five bass totaling 19 pounds, 1 ounce Saturday to win the Co-angler Division and the top prize of $2,253.
The top 10 co-anglers were:
1st: Chastin Ezell, El Reno, Okla., five bass, 19-1, $2,253
2nd: Justin Catcher, Park Hill, Okla., four bass, 16-1, $1,454
3rd: David Lansford, Muskogee, Okla., four bass, 15-11, $751
4th: Colten Hutson, Edmond, Okla., five bass, 14-15, $526
5th: Cord Colwell, Pryor, Okla., three bass, 12-5, $651
6th: Chris Rinehart, Mustang, Okla., five bass, 12-4, $394
6th: Cameron Foster, Wagoner, Okla., four bass, 12-4, $394
8th: David Bowen, Chouteau, Okla., five bass, 11-14, $338
9th: Steve Bradfield, Claremore, Okla., five bass, 11-11, $300
10th: Alex Lane, Ada, Okla., five bass, 11-8, $263
Catcher weighed a 5-pound, 12-ounce bass which also earned him the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award and $327.
The T-H Marine BFL at Fort Gibson Lake was hosted by the Wagoner Area 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. 19-21 BFL Regional Championship on the Red River in Bossier City, Louisiana. 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 2017 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. Top performers in the BFL can move up to the Costa FLW Series or even the FLW Tour.
For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the BFL on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing.
Open-Minded Approach Yields Monsoon His First FLW Tour Win!
Tom Monsoor is a happy man. This time last week he had 8 Top 10 finishes in his FLW Tour career. No wins. At the conclusion of Sunday’s weigh in Monsoor hoisted the big trophy that said he was now a champion.
“Couldn’t be any better,” chuckled Monsoor. “I’m tickled pink. That’s the one trophy I didn’t have.”
Monsoor totaled 66 pounds, 11 ounces over 4 days on the Potomac River. He achieved his signature win with his signature lure, the swim jig.
Every bass Monsoor weighed-in fell for a black and blue jig with a Yamamoto Flappin’ Hog trailer.
What makes Monsoor so good with a swim jig that he can beat a full field of professional anglers with a single lure – and the oldest, simplest lure of all at that? In a word, open mindedness. Not the answer you expected of such a seemingly one-track guy? “You know, bass fishing is a learning process. You never stop learning.”
Across the decades his open-minded approach has allowed Monsoor to adapt to the various possibilities that a simple jig presents.
“It’s so versatile I can use it in 30 feet of water or I can use it in 2 feet of water. I’ve got different sizes, different trailers. You know how many different crankbaits there are? It’s the same with a swim jig but nobody knows that. I’ve got 1/8 ounce swim jigs, I’ve got swim jigs up to an ounce. I swim a jig on ledges. Up shallow, I’ll pull up and there will be 5 or 6 guys there not catching anything and I’ll pull up and get them every cast. It’s just knowing how to use it because I’ve done it for 40 years.
“And in those 40 years I’ve learned something. Every year you learn how to expand on it more and more and more. There are different trailers, different sizes, different colors whether you’re fishing shad, or if you’re fishing crayfish. There’s a lot more to it than what people think. It’s so cool. If somebody understands how many ways you can fish that swim jig, it’s unbelievable.”
Of the options available on a swim jig Monsoor says color and trailer choice are the most important considerations. “I’ve gone through a lot of changes on trailers, believe me. I started off with a grub and for 10 years that’s all I threw was a grub. And then I started learning about some other stuff. Gary Yamamoto came up with this 3.5-inch Swim Senko that I don’t think people even know about. They know about the big one, they swim the big one with a hook, like a Senko.
“He made a little one for me that I remember my son and I were down on Okeechobee and he came up to us with a big smile on his face and said, “look at this”. That little thing is a killer, I mean, it’s the perfect size. He went out and made me a perfect trailer for my swim jig.”
Monsoor des stay the course with his line choice. “I use fluorocarbon 99% of the time. I use 16 lb. Sugoi in cover and 10 lb. in open water.”
His years of experience and experimentation have led Monsoor to what he believes is the ultimate rod/reel set up. Lew’s rods and reels with Winn grips. “I thought my hands would slip off the reel handles because they are round, but those Winn grips are amazing.
“And Lew’s has come out with this rod with Winn grips – when you pick one up you’re going to flip out. They are light, I mean light, and you don’t get worn out and they make a reel that matches it.”
Monsoor says the action of the rod allows him to generate reaction bites with a swim jig the way most anglers hope to do with a squarebill crankbait. “The lighter rods don’t wear me out. When you’re swimming a jig through weeds, I’m telling you, it’s work if you fish the weeds the right way. You’ve got to bounce it off each weed and pull it through each weed and then let it sit and when it jumps off the weed like that it’s a reaction strike that drives them nuts.
“I learned some stuff about rods and reels this year that was really cool.”
Monsoor still molds his own jigs, a practice he began when he was frustrated with the quality of hooks found in jigs back when he started fishing with them. He says that the quality of mass=produced jigs has greatly improved but he still makes his own.
“I like a good quality high end hook, light but strong because you’ve got to set the hook at the end of your cast a lot of times.”
Monsoor, being open to new things, relied on 2 spots to sack his winning fish and he had never fished either area before. He caught a quick limit each day in Mason’s Neck where the water was 2 feet deep and held ugly black weeds. His better fish came from the clean green grass of Quantico Bay, a known area that has been pressured to the point that Monsoor could only catch 3 or 4 fish there after fishing the area for 5 or 6 hours each day. But those fish were the difference-makers.
Monsoor will occasionally swim a lure, such as the Swim Senko, without a jig. He’ll also throw a Senko. “But I usually end up coming back to the jig,” he says. The difference is that the jig tends to produce bigger fish.
“I had Darrel Robertson right next to me just killing them for 2 days. He didn’t make the cut. And I mean he’s catching 30 fish – in front of me. But he didn’t have the weight. I was using my jig and he was throwing a Senko.
“A Senko will catch big fish. I’ve caught 10-pounders on them. Brandon McMillan caught two 20-pound bags this week. He was throwing a Senko.” Still, for Monsoor this week, the jig with its skirt and bulkier profile produced bigger bass.
Shane Ellis Wins ABA RAM Trucks AL North Open on Lake Weiss
Shane Ellis of Boaz, AL won the American Bass Angler Ram Truck Opens Series Alabama North tournament, held June 17, 2017 on Lake Weiss. Running out of the Little River Marina and Lodge near Cedar Bluff, Al Ellis caught five bass locking in at 24.19 lbs. with a 6.09 lb. kicker. He took home $5000 for his efforts.
“I was throwing a black and blue jig in the grass. Most of the fish came early, slowing down later in the day. I lost a big one, should have had more but that’s how it goes.” Said Ellis.
In second for the boaters, Bradley Jones of Aragon, GA. Jones landed a five-fish limit weighing in at 17.51 lbs. He took home $1500 for his catch, plus an additional $500 for being the highest placing Triton Gold finisher.
“I caught my fish today on a Strike King 6XD and a football jig. I Caught 8 fish all day culling up once.” Said Jones.
Taking third for the boaters was Greg Lamb of Birchwood, TN. He brought in a weight of 16.91 lbs.
“I was using a DD-22 crankbait today, fishing up river on a ditch break. I only caught 5 fish all day.” Said Lamb.
Fourth goes to John Paulk of Counce, TN with a weight of 16.01 lbs.
Rounding out the top five was Jason Atkins of Section, AL with 15.74 lbs.
Big bass for the boaters goes to Jeff Edmonson with a fish weighing in at 6.13 lbs. He took home a check for $640.
In the co-angler division, Randy Hobbs of Dawson, AL takes first. Hobbs brought in a 3-fish limit weighing in at 11.41 lbs. with a 5.62 lb. kicker. He took home $1700 for his efforts.
“I used a shaky-head all day flipping docks. I was able to cull up a few times.” Said Hobbs.
Taking second for the co-anglers was Stephen Barday of Acworth, Ga. He brought in 3 fish for a weight of 9.78 lbs. with a 5.03 lb. kicker. Stephen walks away with a check for $650.
“I fished a black and blue jig. I just flipped docks all day, it was a real tough day.” Said Barday.
Coming in third was Clyde Hunt of Rome, GA. Clyde brought in a weight of 9.40 lbs. with a 5.02 lb. Kicker. He takes home $450 for his efforts.
“I threw a black and blue jig on the edge of the river. Later we found a good school of fish and threw a crankbait to pull some out.” Said Hunt.
Fourth goes to Tony Hill of Chatsworth, GA with 9.00 lbs.
Rounding out the top five for the co-anglers was Frank Penn of Guntersville, Al with a weight of 8.97 lbs.
Big fish for the co-anglers goes to Nathan Blalock with a beautiful bass weighing in at 5.67 lbs. that fish was worth $300.
Slated for September 9-10, 2017 the Divisional Championship will be held on Chickamauga launching out of Dayton Boat Dock. At the end of the season, the best anglers from across the nation advance the 2018 Ray Scott Championship.
For more information on this tournament, call Kristin Malott, tournament manager, at 256-771-3709 or ABA at 256-232-0406. On line, see www.ramopenseries.com .
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, the Ram Truck Open Series, the American Fishing Tour or the American Couples Series, visit www.americanbassanglers.com.
Aaron Batson Wins ABA RAM Trucks Open on Lake Oconee
Aaron Batson of Oxford, GA won the American Bass Anglers Ram Truck Open Series Georgia Division tournament, held June 17th on Lake Oconee.
Running out of Sugar Creek Marina in Buckhead, GA Batson caught five bass weighing 16.34 pounds including a 4.98-pound kicker. For the Boater Division victory, took home a check for $5000 for his win.
“I was fishing mid-lake and I only caught seven fish all day. It was a grind for me. I was junk fishing today. I was fishing docks and scattered wood that I knew about in eight to ten feet of water.” Batson said.
In second for the boaters, Kim Carver of Milledgeville, GA landed a five-bass tournament limit going 15.49 pounds. He collected $1250 for his catch.
“I caught my fish today on a Zoom Brush Hog on a 1/16oz sinker around docks.” Carver said.
Larry Cason of Newborn, GA caught five bass going 14.98 pounds. He collected $900 for his catch.
“I caught ten keepers all day. All but one came on docks with the biggest one on a rock pile. It was a good morning bite and then late in the day the fish turned on again.” Cason said.
Finishing fourth, Dylan Peppers of Good Hope, GA landed a five-bass limit for 13.18 pounds.
Buster Slocumb of Juliette, GA rounded out the top five boaters with five bass at 12.66 pounds.
The boater big bass award went to Kyle Welcher of Opelika, AL for a 5.38-pounder. Welcher collected $660 for that catch.
“I caught that fish in a brush pile off a main lake dock on the South end of the lake. It was around 10:30am and I was fishing a shaky-head and when she hit, she slacked the line.” Welcher said.
In the Co-Angler Division, James E Walden of Newnan, GA won with three bass going 8.42 pounds. For the Co-Angler Division victory, took home a check for $1000 for his win.
“I caught my fish dragging a big worm mid-lake. The fish bit scattered throughout the day. I probably had five keepers today. I want to thank my boater, David Lowery, I had a good time.” Walden said.
Taking second for the co-anglers, Robert Enke of Columbus, GA brought in a three-bass division limit weighing 8.20 pounds. He collected $400 for the effort.
“I caught my fish within sight of the marina today. If not for a dead fish penalty, I would have won. It cost me.” Enke said. “
Joseph Ellington of Statesboro, GA placed third among the co-anglers with three bass going 7.89 pounds. He earned $300 for his catch.
“I caught my fish on top-water first thing this morning and then it was tough. I lost one fish that would have helped me today but it happens.” Ellington said.
In fourth place among the co-anglers, Michael Mincey of Zebulon, GA brought in three bass for 5.68 pounds.
Timothy Woods of Midville, GA finished in fifth place with two bass at 5.38 pounds.
The co-angler big bass award went to Ray Holloway of Eatonton, GA for a 4.84-pounder. Holloway collected $145 for that catch.
“I caught that fish on a 3/16oz shaky-head with a Zoom Trick worm fishing a shallow mid-lake dock around 8:30am.” Holloway said.
Slated for September 23rd & 24th, the next tournament will be the Area 3 Championship to be held on Lake Eufaula out of Lakepoint Resort State Park in Eufaula, AL. At the end of the season, the best anglers from across the nation advance the 2018 Ray Scott Championship, to be held on the Red River in Bossier City, LA.
For more information on this tournament, call Billy Benedetti, tournament manager, at 256-230-5632 or ABA at 256-232-0406. On line, see www.ramopenseries.com .
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, the Ram Truck Open Series, the American Fishing Tour or the American Couples Series, visit www.americanbassanglers.com.
CHRIS MYERS WINS T-H MARINE FLW BFL HOOSIER DIVISION EVENT ON LAKE MONROE
Hamilton’s Sykes tops Co-angler Division
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (June 19, 2017) – Boater Chris Myers of Madison, Indiana, weighed a five-bass limit totaling 16 pounds, 13 ounces Saturday to win the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Hoosier Division event on Lake Monroe presented by Navionics. Myers took home $6,394 for his victory.
“Summertime in the Hoosier division is tough fishing,” said Myers, who earned his third career BFL win – second on Lake Monroe. “To win you have to have a perfect day. You have to boat every keeper that bites and I did – I had six bites all day long and I boated them all.
“The key for me in this event was mental strength,” Myers continued. “I had engine problems on Friday, the day before the tournament. It wouldn’t even start. I took it to a local dealer and they fixed some loose wires and got it to where it would start, go forward and in reverse. I didn’t even have time to take it out on the water and make sure that I could get on plane.
“I didn’t want to take a chance during game day and I didn’t want to get too far away because I didn’t want to break down again, so all day long I fished no further than 2 miles from the launch ramp – all idle, never once on plane.”
Myers said that he caught his six keepers on Texas-rigged soft plastic worms – 5-inch green pumpkin, 7-inch electric blue and 12-inch solid black.
“I caught them as shallow as 6 inches and as deep as 12 feet,” Myers said. “I don’t think that size or color mattered. I was fishing shallow buck brush and deep water stumps and rock piles. Three came shallow and three came deep.
“You have to have the right kind of makeup to fish bass tournaments,” Myers went on to say. “Tough things happen to everybody, and when they happen to you, you have to embrace it. I certainly did not think that I was going to win, but I thought that if I put my head down and fished hard that I could possibly cash a check. It turned out that my day was better than that.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Chris Myers, Madison, Ind., five bass, 16-13, $6,394
2nd: Frank McClain, Scottsburg, Ind., five bass, 14-15, $2,197
3rd: Jeramiah Sifers, New Albany, Ind., five bass, 14-6, $1,464
4th: Scott Bateman, Jasper, Ind., five bass, 14-0, $1,225
5th: Brad Stogsdill, Nashville, Ind., five bass, 12-14, $879
6th: James Richardson Jr., Cincinnati, Ohio, five bass, 11-0, $805
7th: Phil Hunt, Connersville, Ind., three bass, 10-15, $732
8th: David Spivey, Hamilton, Ohio, three bass, 10-14, $1,552
8th: Shane Oxford, Saint Meinrad, Ind., five bass, 10-14, $622
10th: Bryce Kalen, Indianapolis, Ind., four bass, 10-10, $513
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Spivey caught a 6-pound, 10-ounce bass, which was the heaviest of the tournament in the Boater Division. The catch earned him the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $630.
Ryan Skyes of Hamilton, Ohio weighed in five bass totaling 16 pounds, 11 ounces Saturday to win the Co-angler Division and the top prize of $2,393.
The top 10 co-anglers were:
1st: Ryan Sykes, Hamilton, Ohio, five bass, 16-11, $2,393
2nd: David Jenkins, Shelbyville, Ind., two bass, 10-15, $1,406
3rd: Gary Hoffman, Stoutsville, Ohio, two bass, 6-13, $621
3rd: Leroy Miller, Napoleon, Ohio, two bass, 6-13, $621
5th: Charlie Kuebler, Jasper, Ind., three bass, 6-11, $439
6th: Jim Betts, Fort Wayne, Ind., two bass, 5-14, $402
7th: Jason Bailey, Mooresville Ind., two bass, 5-13, $347
7th: Dave Roberts, Indianapolis, Ind., one bass, 5-13, $347
9th: Greg Roberts, Columbus, Ind., two bass, 5-10, $292
10th: Tyler Buell, Lafayette, Ind., two bass, 5-8, $256
Jenkins weighed a 6-pound, 4-ounce bass which earned him the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award and $310.
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. 5-7 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 2017 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. Top performers in the BFL can move up to the Costa FLW Series or even the FLW Tour.
For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the BFL on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing.
FLW Tour pro Tom Redington hosting 400 Scouts fishing in NYC this week
With fishing poles in hand and fishing superstars at the ready to give pointers, the first experience of reeling in a catch next week for hundreds of young New Yorkers is sure to be a memorable one.
New York City may not be what you imagine when you think of prime fishing holes. But Brooklyn’s Prospect Park is exactly where 400 to 500 kids will be angling alongside Fishing League Worldwide tour pros Tom Redington and Grae Buck Tuesday evening.
What makes Brooklyn Fishing Day even more exciting? Zebco is giving the first 400 boys registered for the event a free rod and reel.
That means some New York City families who may rarely have the chance to fish will be equipped to cast a line in their own urban backyard.
Cub Scouts and Outdoor Adventures
Brooklyn Fishing Day is one way Boy Scouts of America brings outdoor adventure to youth in all parts of the country. The event marks one of Scouting’s many opportunities for children and families to learn about the outdoors from a hands-on, unique perspective.
All interested families are invited to attend this free fishing event and experience the types of activities Scouting offers.
Brooklyn Fishing Day will take place Tuesday, June 20 at Prospect Park Boat House (101 East Dr, Brooklyn, NY 11225) from 5 to 9 p.m.
There is still time to sign your kids up. Interested families can register for this free event at bsa-gnyc.org/fishbrooklyn.
Share this post with someone you think should be hooked on Scouting.
Hawkins Wins ABA Open on Bob Sandlin with help of 10.39 BIG Fish!!!
Joel Hawkins won the American Bass Anglers Ram Truck Open Series Texas East Division, held June 17th at Lake Bob Sandlin.
Running out of Public Ramp No 1 near Mt Pleasant, TX, a picture-perfect morning with a slight breeze set the day at takeoff with partly cloudy skies. The field was able to take off right on time around 5:45 AM. Weigh in started at 2 PM still giving the anglers over 8 hours to fish as the heat index pushed over 100 degrees and made it a welcome to come off the water.
Joel Hawkins is out of Irving, TX and was very pleased to manage a five-fish limit weighing 19.43 lbs., landing a massive 10.39-pound kicker around 8:00 AM to anchor his bag. For the boater division victory, he took home a check for $5000.00 and an additional $460.00 for big bass.
“Man, Scott Dean and I were doing the exact same thing today with almost the same bait. I was throwing a Carolina rig with June bug but the big fish came on a 6 XD. When she hit, it felt like I hung a stump, then it moved… I hollered at my partner to get the net and look in the side compartment for my other pair of shorts because I may need them too! She jumped about 3 times just like a smallmouth but I have to say this. These coanglers that fish with us are some great anglers. I had Jeff Grubbs with me today. He asked me this morning if I wanted him to net my fish and I told him, if I need it you will know. He was right there and knew exactly what to do, and how. It was awesome. The last time I fished this lake was 1998 and I won that tournament, and 30 minutes after we took off this morning I had almost 20 lbs. I think I may start fishing here some more.” Said Hawkins.
In second for the boaters, Carlisle Tire and ABA Pro Staff member Scott Dean of Terrell, TX landed a five-bass limit weighing 18.12 lbs held up by his 8.28 lb kicker. He collected $700.00.
“I was doing the opposite of my buddy Jackie today, I was out deep. I caught most of my fish on a 6XD between 14-16 ft. A lot of the fish were suspended a bit and you just had to crank a lot to get the bites. Most of them would hit the bait just as it came off the bottom and started to lift it back to the boat. The fish moved around a little bit and you had to try and stay with them but catching an 8 lber sure helps a lot.” Said Scott. Scott is also going to receive a check from Triton Boats as the highest placing Triton Gold member for the event.
Jackie Jayroe of Royse City, TX took third for the boaters with a limit of five bass weighing 17.81 lbs. Jayroe took home a check for $500.00
“It worked out pretty good. I didn’t get the chance to practice but I found the right water and stuck with it all day. I didn’t have to start the big motor but to run up there and come back. We were up above the bridge flipping shallow water cover. I got to cull one time catching 6 keepers throughout the day but had a lot of fun with 3 bowfin. They hit hard and fight good, get you wound up, then let you down when you see what they are.” Said Jackie.
In fourth, Keith Jones of Texarkana, TX came in with a solid bag locking in at 16.93 lbs.
Finishing 5th was Owen Windham of Little Elm, TX with 16.46 lbs.
In the Co-Angler Division, Michael Nantz of Ben Wheeler, TX won with three bass for 10.63 lbs. anchored with the big bass for the coanglers at 7.03 lbs. His victory allowed him to walk away with a check for $1200.00 and a check from his big bass at $180.00
“We bounced around the lake all day long and I stuck to my one bait. A frog. I had confidence in it and caught a lot of fish but only had 3 keepers. The 7 lber bit right around 12:00 and that’s what sealed the deal for me.” said Michael.
Taking second for the co-anglers, JoeFrank Thomas of Forney, TX came in weighing a 3-fish limit at 10.06 lbs. His placement earned him a check for $400.
“It was really good. I caught my fish on Berkley Power worms all day long. We moved around the lake quite a bit too and I went through about 7 keepers, culling a few times and came in with a little over 10 lbs. I had a lot of fun but came up just a little shy.” Thomas stated.
John Binz of Mesquite, TX placed third among the co-anglers. He had three fish weighing in at 8.71 lbs to earn a check for $350.
“The day started early for me, I managed my first keeper on a swim jig and wasn’t able to get any more bites for a while. It wasn’t until later in the day I was able to finish out my limit. I caught my 3 keepers and that was it. We stayed in the same cove all day and just had to grind through them to get the better fish.” Explained Binz.
In fourth place among the co-anglers, Jeramy Marinelli of Royse City, TX brought in three bass for 8.52 lbs.
Joe Embry of Tyler, TX and Al Norman Jr of Borger, TX tied for 5th with a scale weight of 7.50 lbs.
Slated for September 16th, the next divisional tournament will be held on Cedar Creek near Log Cabin, TX. At the end of the season, the best anglers from across the nation advance to the 2018 Ray Scott Championship, slated for the Red River in Shreveport & Bossier City, LA.
For more information on this tournament, call Chris Wayand, tournament manager, at 256-230-5627 or ABA at 256-232-0406. On line, see www.ramopenseries.com .
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, the Ram Truck Open Series, the American Fishing Tour or the American Couples Series, visit www.americanbassanglers.com.
New Jersey Angler Wins B.A.S.S. Nation Regional On Upper Chesapeake
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MONSOOR WINS FLW TOUR ON POTOMAC RIVER PRESENTED BY COSTA SUNGLASSES
Wisconsin pro Wins FLW Tour regular-season finale, $100,000
Link to HD video of Monsoor’s winning moment
MARBURY, Md. (June 18, 2017) – Yamamoto Baits pro Tom Monsoor of La Crosse, Wisconsin, won the FLW Tour on the Potomac River presented by Costa Sunglasses Sunday after bringing a five-bass limit to the scale weighing 15 pounds, 2 ounces. Monsoor’s four-day cumulative total of 20 bass weighing 66 pounds, 11 ounces was enough to fend off second-place finisher pro Chad Warren of Sand Springs, Oklahoma, by 5 ounces. Monsoor earned $100,000 and his first career Tour victory.
“I’ll tell you what, to finally win my first Tour event is the coolest thing that has ever happened,” said Monsoor, who had eight previous top-10 finishes in Tour competition. “I’ve won a lot of tournaments and awards over the years, but never an FLW Tour event. I could die tomorrow and be a happy man. I don’t want to, obviously, but I’ve had a good life.”
Monsoor said he spent his week picking apart two areas of the Potomac River – a 100- to 200-foot stretch near an area known as Mason’s Neck, and a 100-yard section of water in Quantico Bay. This week, Mason’s Neck gave Monsoor the number of fish he needed to put together limits, while Quantico Bay produced the bigger bites that helped him best the field.
“I started at Mason’s Neck today and like each morning this week, I got a limit by 8:30 (a.m.),” said Monsoor. “I culled one fish and then headed to Quantico. I made the run because I knew it would be out of the wind, and you can’t beat Mother Nature. I figured I’d go to the only place I knew that was protected and that was it.”
Monsoor said he caught two fish from Mason’s Neck that culled before his day concluded.
“The limit-spot in Mason’s Neck was about 2-feet-deep and had black, nasty weeds,” said Monsoor. “The big-fish spot in Quantico Bay was around 4-feet-deep and had clean weeds. I think that’s why the bigger fish were there this week.”
Monsoor said every fish he weighed in during the tournament was caught on a black and blue-colored swimjig with a Yamamoto Baits Flappin’ Hog trailer of the same color.
“It has two tails that flap like an old jig ‘n pig, only this one is cooler,” said Monsoor. “The fish liked the Flappin’ Hog because it wasn’t overwhelming. It was simple – there wasn’t too much going on with it.”
The top 10 pros finished on the Potomac River:
1st: Yamamoto Baits pro Tom Monsoor, La Crosse, Wis., 20 bass, 66-11, $100,200
2nd: Chad Warren, Sand Springs, Okla., 20 bass, 66-6, $30,100
3rd: Chris Johnston, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, 20 bass, 65-8, $25,000
4th: Cody Meyer, Auburn, Calif., 20 bass, 64-11, $20,000
5th: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 20 bass, 64-3, $19,000
6th: Brandon McMillan, Clewiston, Fla., 20 bass, 63-2, $18,000
7th: Jeff Sprague, Point, Texas, 20 bass, 59-8, $17,000
8th: Mike Surman, Boca Raton, Fla., 20 bass, 59-1, $16,000
9th: Brandon Cobb, Greenwood, S.C., 20 bass, 57-11, $15,000
10th: Andy Young, Mound, Minn., 17 bass, 52-8, $14,000
For a full list of results visit FLWFishing.com.
Overall there were 47 bass weighing 128 pounds, 13 ounces caught by pros Sunday. Nine pros brought a five-bass limit to the scale.
Bryan Thrift of Shelby, North Carolina, clinched the 2017 FLW Tour Angler of the Year title Friday after accumulating 1,122 points in the annual Angler of the Year race. Thrift’s incredible regular-season was highlighted by four top-10 finishes including two back-to-back second-place efforts. Along with the title, Thrift earned $100,000 and an automatic berth into the 2018 Forrest Wood Cup.
Bradley Dortch of Atmore, Alabama, claimed the FLW Tour Rookie of the Year award, which is awarded to the rookie pro angler who finishes the season with the highest point total.
Ryan Cannon of Bullard, Texas, won the Co-angler Division and $20,000 Friday with a two-day catch of 10 bass weighing 33 pounds, 6 ounces, followed by Richie Eaves of Nauvoo, Illinois, who finished in second place with 10 bass totaling 30 pounds, 3 ounces, worth $7,750.
Gary Haraguchi of Redding, California, won the FLW Tour Co-angler of the Year title and a new Ranger Z518C boat with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard.
In FLW Tour competition, pros and co-anglers are randomly paired each day, with pros supplying the boat, controlling boat movement and competing against other pros. Co-anglers fish from the back deck against other co-anglers. The full field of anglers competed Thursday and Friday. Co-angler competition concluded following Friday’s weigh-in, while the top 20 pros based on their two-day accumulated weight advanced to Saturday. Only the top 10 pros continued competition Sunday, with the winner determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from the four days of competition.
Throughout the season, anglers were also vying for valuable points in hopes of qualifying for the 2017 Forrest Wood Cup, the world championship of professional bass fishing. The 2017 Forrest Wood Cup will be on Lake Murray in Columbia, South Carolina, Aug. 11-13.
The FLW Tour at the Potomac River presented by Costa Sunglasses was hosted by the Charles County Board of Commissioners. The next event for FLW Tour anglers is the final event of the 2017 tournament-season – the Forrest Wood Cup championship.
Television coverage of the FLW Tour at the Potomac River presented by Costa Sunglasses will premiere in high-definition (HD) on NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) Sept. 20 from Noon.-1 p.m. EDT. The Emmy-nominated "FLW" television show airs on NBCSN, the Pursuit Channel and the World Fishing Network and is broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, making it the most widely distributed weekly outdoors-sports television show in the world.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing.
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 2017 across five tournament circuits. Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, with offices in Minneapolis, FLW conducts more than 274 bass-fishing tournaments annually across the United States and sanctions tournaments in Canada, China, Mexico, South Africa and South Korea. 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.