Jackie Flack and Craig Daniel Win Alabama Bass Trail Pickwick Lake Charlie Cummings and Greg Pugh Claim North Division AOY
by Dan O’Sullivan
September 22, 2018 – Florence, Ala. – It is a rare occurrence for the Alabama Bass Trail to conclude its season this late in the year. However, thanks to a bevy of storm fronts that pummeled Alabama in February, the season opening event – scheduled for Pickwick Lake at Florence’s McFarland Park – was postponed to September. That event was held yesterday, and the drama was high.
Along with the individual event, there was the matter of the Anglers of the Year race to be decided; which separated first and second place by a mere three points. With Pickwick Lake having been in a state of flux, thanks to rising and falling water levels, as well as hot, summerlike conditions, things were going to be dicey.
For the individual event portion, Jackie Flack and Craig Daniels; winners of the inaugural ABT Championship in 2014, they bested the field with a total weigh of 19.89 pounds to earn the $10,000 winners’ purse, but they also earned a slew of contingency bonuses from Phoenix Boats, Garmin and others that will push their total take to over $17,000. To top it all off, they earned the automatic bid to the Championship at Neely Henry Lake in October; something they would not have done based on points.
They said it was a great day. “We really knew we had to perform – in fact - we really needed to win to make the Championship,” they said. “We threw topwater baits around grass near the Natchez Trace Bridge, and culled three times to get our weight. We didn’t think we had enough, but we sure are glad we did.” They reported throwing buzzbaits and Super Spooks all day to get their bites.
The team of Duane and Brandon Edel finished with 19.43 pounds to finish second. They said fished the same general area of the lake, but instead of focusing on the topwater approach, they turned to Punching in the grass. “We flipped a 3/4-ounce, green pumpkin Strike King jig and Rage Craw into the grass and got a bite or two every hour to get to our limit,” they said. “We only caught seven or eight keepers, but are really happy with the way things turned out.” They earned $5,000 for the day.
The Grandfather / Grandson team of Nathan and Hunter Brewer caught the Mountain Dew Big Bass of the day; a 7.04-pound largemouth, that earned them the $500 cash bonus award. The fish anchored their 16.89-pound limit that earned them a ninth place finish.
The day began with Charlie Cummings and Greg Pugh holding a three-point lead in the North Division standings over Bill Mayo and Walt Roberts. Cummings and Pugh finished the event in 13th place, and when Mayo and Roberts struggled, the AOY leaders prevailed. “This is a truly big honor and an accomplishment we will never forget,” they said. “This is very tough field, and to be standing here after this season as the top team is amazing, we are so happy with, and proud of this outcome.”
The rest of the Top 10 Standings are below, for complete standings visit: https://www.alabamabasstrail.org/tournament-series/pl-results/
PLACE | ANGLERS | WEIGHT | PENALTY | BIG FISH | WINNINGS |
1 | Craig Daniel / Jackie Flack | 19.89 | $10,000 | ||
2 | Duane Edel / Brandon Edel | 19.43 | $5,000 | ||
3 | Wesley Sams / Jordan Wiggins | 18.87 | $4,000 | ||
4 | Brian Ingersoll / Michael Restifo | 18.58 | 1.00 | 6.32 | $3,000 |
5 | Cody Nichols / Koby Newman | 18.19 | $2,000 | ||
6 | Bradley Jones / Andy Kilgore | 17.7 | $1,500 | ||
7 | Brad Shelton / Eric White | 17.09 | $1,100 | ||
8 | Brett Coggins / Adam Christen | 16.95 | 5.82 | $1,100 | |
9 | Nathan Brewer / Hunter Brewer | 16.89 | 1.00 | 7.04 | $1,100 |
10 | Shawn Dalrymple / Ryan Salzman | 16.76 | 1.00 | $1,100 |
Northern Division Top 10 Anglers of the Year Standings – foe complete standings, visit: https://www.alabamabasstrail.org/tournament-series/north-division-standings/
PLACE | ANGLERS | POINTS |
1 | Charlie Cummings/Greg Pugh | 1007 |
2 | Bradley Jones /Andy Kilgore | 990 |
3 | Grant Hopson/Wes Ward | 987 |
4 | Cody Nichols/Koby Newman | 976 |
5 | Wesley Sams/Jordan Wiggins | 971 |
6 | Brett Coggins/Adam Christen | 952 |
7 | Paul Davis/Josh Chapple | 939 |
8 | Hunter Penney/Chris Hopper | 929 |
9 | Lanny Guthrie/Lee Hurley | 926 |
Lucas Puts Finishing Touches On Bassmaster Angler Of The Year Championship
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Lucas One Step Away From Raising Coveted Bassmaster AOY Championship Trophy
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Major League Fishing Announces Additional Details of 2019 Expansion
TULSA, Okla. (Sept. 21, 2018) - After the initial announcement of the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour last week, league officials today announced additional details of the tour, including industry-leading media exposure with more than 850 hours of television coverage and 350 hours of live streaming, angler leadership in the series, and payouts of nearly $10 million that have never before been seen in the professional bass fishing industry.



"Our league and sponsor partners have made a significant investment to make sure that the decision to fish with Major League Fishing in 2019 was an easy one for anglers," Jim Wilburn, president and CEO of MLF, said. "With these payout amounts combined with our more than 850 hours of television programming across six networks and support for anglers at every level of the business, we believe our angler-centric business model is one that will resonate with anglers and sponsors."
MLF and PBTAA co-founder Boyd Duckett has been instrumental in guiding the development of the new league expansions that he says will put anglers in control of their own destiny and sets a precedent for the sport of fishing that will benefit generations to come. (Click to enlarge/download)
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AC Insider Podcast - Has BASS Lost its "Elite Status?"
On this episode of the AnglersChannel Insider Podcast Chris and Jason welcome Author and Managing Editor of Fishing Tackle Retailer Ken Duke to the show to talk about the status of the sport and get his take on all the recent news. We also ask Ken the hard Questions like has BASS Lost its edge in Professional Fishing and what about FLW? The boys also welcome outspoken Elite Series Pro Kelley Jaye to program and discuss the future of BASS and their recent upgrade for 2019. All of this and more on the AC insider Podcast!
Swindle talks fishing and football Friday morning at Lake Chatuge
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin / Dynamic Sponsorships
Gerald Swindle is professional bass fishing’s funniest man, and one of only 11 men in history to win the prestigious Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year points title more than once. Swindle is also a former 3-sport athlete from Locust Fork High School in Alabama, and he took time just before blast-off Friday morning to talk bass fishing and football.
Q: As a professional angler, you’re your own head coach and quarterback on the water. What was your best ‘play call’ yesterday?
Swindle:I’d say it was my decision to keep moving around as much as possible on this little 7,000-acre reservoir. Not staying in one spot very long.
Q: When it comes to rods, reels, and lures – who were your most valuable players on Day 1?
Swindle:A Quantum Smoke HD baitcasting reel with a large spool full of 30-pound braided line to help me cast a Rapala topwater walking bait a long way, and a Shaky Head on a Quantum 6’ 10” Vapor spinning rod were my two star players yesterday.
Q: September is one of the toughest months of the year for bass anglers throughout much of the Southern U.S. – give fans some advice on how to beat bass fishing’s “September Blues.”
Swindle:No matter how hot the weather may be during the day, just remember, the nights are getting cooler, and that means there’s always going to be a few more bass moving shallow each day. So don’t give up on the shallow bite, and also expect to take advantage of schooling fish with a topwater in September too.
Q: You started fishing about half-a-football field away from the official tournament launch ramp yesterday, will you start there again today?
Swindle: Yep, because I know that a lot of local tournaments release bass from this ramp, so I’m not ashamed to fish for bass that have already been caught, I’m just putting myself in a high-percentage patch of water to start the day.
Q: What was your best position as a high school football player for the Locust Fork Hornets?
Swindle:I played a little bit of everything, but cornerback was probably my best position.
Q: Will the Alabama Crimson Tide go undefeated this season, and win another National Championship?
Swindle:Yes.
Q: Baker Mayfield helped the Cleveland Browns get their first win in 635 days last night. What do you think about that?
Swindle:Yea, I saw that, but I’m still not a Mayfield fan.
Lucas Takes Commanding Lead At Bassmaster Angler Of The Year Championship
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Jordan Lee talks topwater schooling bass
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin / Dynamic Sponsorships
A new school year, an apple for the teacher, a fresh football season, and bass busting on the water’s surface to eat baitfish are all signature marks of late summer and early fall. And while back-to-back Bassmaster Classic Champ Jordan Lee admits he wasn’t exactly a stellar student, the man does know a thing or three about catching schooling bass on a topwater lure.
“I mean look, I’m not gonna lie, I failed a class or two while at Auburn, but I got pretty good at catching ‘schoolers’ on Lake Mitchell while I was there,” grinned Lee on the final morning of practice at the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship on gorgeous Lake Chatuge in Northern Georgia.
Be Aware
“The first step is to be aware that bass will school-up and bust the surface to feed at all times of day during this time of year,” says Lee.
“Even when I’m running down the lake at 60 mph, I’m keeping my eyes peeled to see ‘em busting. I’m looking for birds diving on bait balls, and just constantly staying alert and aware. And the best topwater school I saw during the second day of practice on Chatuge was at 2:00 in the afternoon.”
Don’t Rush In
While the sight of bass busting the surface can cause the same adrenaline rush as a long touchdown pass, Lee advises anglers not to rush in once schooling activity is apparent. “I’m not a fan of using your outboard to get within casting distance of schooling fish. I prefer to sneak over to them with my trolling motor,” says Lee.
Heavy lures help a ton
This is not a game for casting small poppers or buzzbaits across the surface. “One of the absolute biggest keys to reaching schooling fish is to have a heavy topwater walking bait,” says Lee, with emphasis on ‘heavy’ to help cast it a long way.
The Carhartt pro prefers baits like a Pencil Popper style lure popularized by striped bass anglers, or the legendary Spook style bait.
“If you’ve got a heavy enough lure, you should be able to cast at least 40 yards, if not further. And that’s so key, because you want your lure to reach the fish obviously, but if you get too close you’ll spook them, and they’ll stop eating, so you gotta have a heavy walking bait,” he explains.
Lee loves the braid/mono combo
While many weekend anglers still stray from braided line, Lee believes it’s a game-changer to better connecting with topwater schooling bass. However, there’s a bit of a twist, in that he actually ties a monofilament leader to the 40-pound braided mainline.
“Braided line not only provides you plenty of strength when you’re casting these heavier baits, but it also helps you get a way better hookset when a fish bites at the end of long casts you have to make when chasing ‘schoolers’,” he says.
“But I tie a monofilament leader between my braided main line and the lure, because mono tends to tangle on the front treble hook a lot less than braid,” he explains.
Flunked Calc II. Aced Topwater Schoolers.
“Man, I can’t remember what class it was for sure. It might have been Calculus II, but I had to take it three times before I finally passed it to get my degree,” laughed Lee.
No worries, Champ. You’re earning high honors in professional bass fishing’s toughest curriculum, and “Topwater Schooling Fish 101” seems to be one of your best classes.
KVD and Casey Ashley offer sneak peek of Lake Chatuge
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin / Dynamic Sponsorships
Two of professional bass fishing’s kindest characters and good friends offer a pre-game look at what to expect at the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship on Lake Chatuge in the mountains of North Georgia.
Q: What will be the biggest challenge to success this week on Lake Chatuge?
Kevin:Consistency from day to day. Fans can expect a lot of flip-flopping on the leaderboard.
Casey:Figuring out something different that everybody else isn’t doing to catch quality fish. Like, everybody knows they’re schooling on topwaters, but what can you do to catch better quality fish right behind a guy on the same patch of water? Plus, it’s fall, so fish are chasing bait, and that scatters them.
Q: What percentage of Day 1 do you expect to be fishing with a Quantum spinning rod/reel?
Kevin:It’ll be about 50/50, spinning and baitcasting.
Casey:I’ll say 40% spinning.
Q: Lake Chatuge is “postcard pretty” – a clean, fairly clear water reservoir, surrounded by gorgeous mountains. Name two other bodies of water you’ve competed on that rival the beauty of Lake Chatuge.
Kevin:Smith Mountain Lake, VA and Thousand Islands, NY.
Casey:Smith Mountain Lake, VA and Clear Lake, CA.
Q: Name four lures the Elite Series field will throw a lot this week on Chatuge.
Kevin:Topwater, swimbait, drop shot, and a shaky head.
Casey:A Spook, a Fluke, drop shot, and a shaky head.
Q: What Elite Series anglers should fans have on their fantasy fishing team this week?
Kevin:Ott DeFoe, Andy Montgomery, Justin Lucas, and Josh Bertrand
Casey:Justin Lucas because he’s on fire and is a great finesse angler, Aaron Martens because he’s one of the greatest finesse anglers that’s ever lived, and Swindle for his junk fishing skills.
B.A.S.S. Redefines Professional Bass Fishing With 2019 Elite Series
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — After 50 years of setting the world standard for professional bass tournament competition, B.A.S.S. made historic changes to the Bassmaster Elite Series on Monday, which will elevate the sport to levels never seen before. Elite Series pros will begin the 2019 season with a smaller field of competition, vastly increased payouts, dramatically reduced entry fees and the promise of more exposure through the company’s industry-leading media platforms.
“We just celebrated our 50th anniversary at B.A.S.S., and made the decision to create an environment second to none in the world of professional bass fishing,” said Bruce Akin, CEO of B.A.S.S. “Our anglers have been loyal to the Elite Series, and we want to not only reward that loyalty, but also redefine what it means to be a professional angler. We feel the new Elite Series format accomplishes these goals, and also provides bass fishing fans with more of the content they crave.”
First, the 2019 Elite Series field size will be based on 80 anglers, down from 110 last year. This reduction in the number of competitors will not only allow the pros to get more exposure through B.A.S.S. media platforms, but also will improve their odds of winning and qualifying for the Bassmaster Classic.
The new format features three no-entry fee events that will payout $1 million each: Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest benefiting Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship and the Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods, bass fishing’s crown jewel. Additionally, the eight regular-season Elite Series events will now pay the entire field of anglers, a first in the world of professional fishing. First-place prize will remain $100,000, but now the last-place angler will earn $2,500.
Increased payouts are just half of the story, though. Alongside the three no-entry fee events, B.A.S.S. slashed regular-season entry fees by $5,375. So, the entry fees for Elite Series anglers is now $43,000. Because every angler is guaranteed to make at least $23,500, the total out of pocket expense is now only $19,500.
But there is even more good news for Elite Series anglers. B.A.S.S. is providing a $20,000 credit to anglers who competed in the 2018 Elite Series season and who take advantage of an early entry fee offer, giving these fishermen a $500 surplus above participation fees. So, for the first time in the history of professional bass fishing, anglers are actually being paid by the league to fish. In total, B.A.S.S. is investing an additional $3 million in payouts and reduced entry fees for the 2019 Elite Series.
Not only has B.A.S.S. made a historic financial commitment to anglers through lower entry fees and higher payouts, but the organization also announced an increased investment in exposure opportunities for the pros. Starting with the 2019 season, the incredibly popular Bassmaster LIVE show on Bassmaster.com, which has generated over 2.5 million video views and 59 million minutes of content consumed by fans, will be produced all four days of Elite Series events. Plus, there will be live-streaming cameras on every boat on semi-final Saturday, as well as Bassmaster LIVE cameras on every angler for Championship Sunday.
The Bassmasters TV show is being revamped with a renewed focus of on-the-water footage featuring more anglers, catching more bass. Other opportunities for Elite Series anglers to get exposure for their sponsors include Bassmaster Magazine, which has a readership of 4.4 million; B.A.S.S. Times, which reaches 100,000 of the nations most avid anglers; Bassmaster Radio, which airs on 200 stations on the SB Nation network; and Bassmaster.com, which averages over 1 million unique visitors per month.
“We want the world to know that B.A.S.S. and our incredible stable of sponsors are committed to growing the sport of bass fishing,” Akin said. “Ray Scott launched the sport and industry 50 years ago with the creation of B.A.S.S., and we will continue to push his vision forward for the next 50 years.”
“J-Proz” previews AOY at Lake Chatuge
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin / Dynamic Sponsorships
The 2018 Bassmaster Elite Series season concludes this week with the crowning of a Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Champion on gorgeous Lake Chatuge Reservoir in the mountains of Northern Georgia, on the North Carolina border.
It’s a small body of water where the Elites have never competed previously. But Quantum pro Jacob Powroznik who has had one heck of a year, and sits inside the Top 10 of the prestigious season-long points race, graciously helps fans grow a little more familiar with the postcard perfect patch of water with a deep Cherokee heritage.
Q: Jacob, paint a picture for angling fans to give them a feel for how Chatuge sets up as a bass fishery.
J-Proz:It’s surrounded by mountains and it’s awesome looking. The water is pretty clear, but not super clear. There will be guys who fish in a wide range of water depths here. The surface temp is still hot at 82 degrees; so it’s pretty much a summer pattern, with a lot of surface schooling activity as largemouth and spotted bass chase both shad and blueback herring.
Q: Tell us about the structure and habitat.
J-Proz:Man, you’ve got tons of red clay points, plus brushpiles, and docks. It’s gonna be “all out, game on” – guys will be running around doing a variety of things from really shallow, to pretty deep.
Q: This reservoir is a really pretty place, but it’s only 7,000 surface acres, which is very small compared to most Elite Series playing fields, will pros be crowded, or is there plenty of water for everybody?
J-Proz:Nah, it’s gonna be crowded. Here’s the deal, I can run my Ranger from one end of Chatuge to the other in about 8 minutes, but it does have plenty of shoreline habitat to cast at in between.
Q: Compare this reservoir to places where the Elite Series has fished before.
J-Proz:It looks a lot like Lake Martin in Alabama where we kicked-off this season way back in February. And it shows a little bit of resemblance to Buggs Island where B.A.S.S. used to go back in the day.
Q: Rattle of a list of lures we’ll see pros throwing this week on Chatuge.
J-Proz:Shaky Head, drop shot, topwater, and swimbaits
Q: When the green flag drops on Thursday morning, how’s it going to fish?
J-Proz:Well, it’s no secret that surface schooling activity is key here, especially early. So you’ll see guys pick-off a keeper or three, then maybe hit a lull for an hour or two, then go do something different and catch a couple more. It’ll be sort of wide-open. But I think 14 pounds a day here will get you a really high finish – and you might even win if you have 14 pounds a day.

Costa’s New Half Moon, Rincon and Remora Frames Incorporate Classic West Coast Style with Optimal Performance
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – September 18, 2018 – Evoking the spirit of the ocean and integrating West Coast style cues, Costa Sunglasses’® newest frame styles include the Half Moon, Rincon and Remora. These new frames don’t skimp on the performance features Costa is known for, and come in a wide array of colors and lens options.
Half Moon channels the inner Maverick in all of us, featuring straight temples and double-cut textures. This new style offers a sporty, stylish look that goes seamlessly from the water to dinner on the beach. Its large fit includes Integrated Spring Hinges that provide outstanding function and comfort with classic aesthetics. The inset Hydrolite® nose and temple pads prevent slippage for all-day hard core use. Half Moon is available in five frame colorways with multiple lens color options in either 580 glass or polycarbonate lenses.
Like the California point break it was named for, the Rincon has a classic West Coast straight bridge, wrapping style lines and edgy curved temples. The extra-large frame and sharp angles reflect the right point break and the hard-charging surfers who champion the sport. Rincon’s spring hinges and Hydrolite nose and temple pads make it the perfect option for outdoor enthusiasts on-the-go. Rincon is available in six frame color options, and comes in five of Costa’s 580 lens colors in either glass or polycarbonate.
Remora is a medium-sized frame named after a small fish that hitchhikes on some of the most voracious sharks in the ocean. This lightweight frame also features Costa’s Hydrolite nose and temple pads so it won’t slip. Integral pin hinges provide assisted action when opening and closing the temple. Remora is available in five frame colorways, including Tiger Shark and Shiny Tortoise available with Costa’s 580 glass or polycarbonate lenses. All other colors are available with various polycarbonate lens combinations including gray, blue mirror and gray silver mirror.
“Our West Coast anglers and water enthusiasts played a big role in the inspiration for our newest frame styles and colors,” said John Sanchez, vice president of product design for Costa. “They’ve got great style and we make great sunglasses. So, we combined these on-trend designs with Costa’s patented lens technology and performance features to make the best, clearest and most stylish sunglasses available today.”
Each of the three new styles are durable and lightweight, and are constructed with Costa’senvironmentally friendly bio-resin, which holds up under the harshest conditions. The new styles feature Costa’s 580® color-enhancing lens technology, which provides 100 percent UV protection and polarization, delivering the clearest lenses on the planet. Available in both polycarbonate and scratch-resistant Lightwave® glass, Costa’s 580 lenses selectively filter out harsh yellow light for superior contrast and definition while absorbing high-energy blue light to cut haze and enhance sharpness.
The new styles range in price from $159 to $279, based on frame style, color and lens selection. For more information on the new frames and Costa’s full line of performance sunglasses, visit www.costadelmar.com.
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Spencer Shuffield Wins Mr. Bass of Arkansas Classic!
Spencer Shuffield Weighs 41.46lbs for a 3 day total to win the Mr. Bass of Arkansas 2018 Classic on Lake Dardanelle!
More results to come!
BASS PRO SHOPS FLW HIGH SCHOOL FISHING OPEN TOURNAMENT PRESENTED BY YETI SET FOR WHEELER LAKE
WHAT: Fishing League Worldwide (FLW) High School Fishing will continue the 2018 fishing season with the upcoming Bass Pro Shops FLW High School Fishing Wheeler Lake Open presented by YETI bass-fishing tournament. The no-entry fee event is open to High School Fishing teams from across the country, and the top 10-percent of finishers will automatically advance to the 2019 High School Fishing National Championship.
WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018
WHERE: Bass Pro Shops FLW High School Fishing Wheeler Lake Open presented by YETI
Ingalls Harbor
701 Market St. N.W.
Decatur, Ala.
Hosted by Decatur Morgan County Tourism
NOTES: The Bass Pro Shops FLW High School Fishing Wheeler Lake Open is a two-person (team) event for students in grades 7-12. Registration for anglers and their coach, who will provide the boat they compete in, is online at FLWFishing.com. Takeoff will be at Ingalls Harbor at 7 a.m. CDT and the weigh-in will also be held at the harbor, beginning at 3 p.m. High School Fishing takeoffs and weigh-ins are free and open to the public. For more information about this event contact the FLW High School Fishing National Youth Director Scott Ellison at (270)-205-6864.
A preliminary list of schools participating will not be available as teams can still register up until the morning of the event. Complete event details can be found here.
All FLW and TBF High School Fishing tournaments are free to enter. The tournaments are two-person (team) events for students in grades 7-12 and open to any Student Angler Federation-affiliated high school club. The top 10 percent of each Challenge, Open, and state championship field will advance to the 2019 High School Fishing National Championship on a body of water that has yet to be revealed. The High School Fishing national champions will each receive a $5,000 college scholarship to the school of their choice.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Bass Pro Shops FLW High School Fishing Opens on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
About FLW
FLW is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, providing anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to compete for millions in prize money in 2018 across five tournament circuits. Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, with offices in Minneapolis, FLW and their partners conduct 286 bass-fishing tournaments annually around the world, including the United States, Canada, China, Italy, South Korea, Mexico, Portugal, South Africa and Spain. FLW tournament fishing can be seen on the Emmy-nominated “FLW" television show, broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, while FLW Bass Fishing magazine delivers cutting-edge tips from top pros. For more information visit FLWFishing.com and follow FLW at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
About The Bass Federation
The Bass Federation Inc., (TBF) is a member of the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame. TBF is owned by those we serve and dedicated to the sport of fishing. The Federation is the largest and oldest, organized grassroots fishing, youth and conservation organization there is. TBF, our affiliated state federations and their member clubs conduct more than 20,000 events each year and have provided a foundation for the entire bass fishing industry for more than 45 years. TBF founded the Student Angler Federation and the National High School Fishing program in 2008 to promote clean family fun and education through fishing. Visit bassfederation.com or highschoolfishing.org and “LIKE US” on Facebook.
AC insider Podcast Episode 33 - Featuring Brandon Lester & More Tour News!
On this weeks regularly scheduled program Chris & Jason welcome Elite Series Pro Brandon Lester on to talk about his recent string of 3rd place finishes as well as looking ahead to the Classic Bracket & Opens Championship. The boys also talk about the recent BASS Proposal to their anglers and more MLF and FLW news to boot. Jason looks ahead on the Costa Countdown to blast off and gives props to Progressive and their sponsorship of college footballs Pylon cam.... All of this and MORE only on the AnglersChannel Insider Podcast!
BASS PRO SHOPS EXPANDS FLW SPONSORSHIP
MINNEAPOLIS (Sept. 18, 2018) – Fishing League Worldwide (FLW), the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, announced today that Bass Pro Shops, the leading retailer in the outdoor industry, has renewed its sponsorship of the organization to showcase its destination stores to millions of loyal FLW fans, anglers and consumers. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Per terms of the agreement, Bass Pro Shops will retain title sponsorship of the FLW High School Fishing Opens. In addition to the title sponsorship, Bass Pro Shops will also receive exposure across all FLW platforms, including more than 260 tournaments and Expos, website, social media outlets, FLW Bass Fishing magazine and the fan favorite “FLW Live” webcasts from each FLW Tour stop.
"Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s prior to their coming together last year, have been an integral part of both professional and recreational fishing for many years,” said FLW President of Marketing Trish Blake. “We recognize the renewed commitment to FLW as a substantial and important confirmation of Bass Pro Shops’ support for their customers' passion for the outdoors. We look forward to building upon our continued relationship with this iconic outdoor brand."
The 2019 Bass Pro Shops FLW High School Fishing Open Series features tournaments for High School Fishing anglers around the country. The top 10 percent of teams in each event advance directly to the High School Fishing National Championship.
In addition to High School Fishing tournaments, Bass Pro Shops will also be the presenting sponsor of multiple YETI FLW College Fishing tournaments. Select tournaments across all circuits will have registration and/or weigh-ins hosted at various Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s store locations, and FLW will be showcased in the annual summer-time Bass Pro Shops “Gone Fishing” events planned for summer.
Additionally, Bass Pro Shops will expand its support of the Costa FLW High School Fishing Camp. The inaugural camp held at Murray State University and Kentucky Lake in July of 2018 drew 125 students and 50 coaches from 23 states to attend three days of seminars and panel discussions with top FLW Tour pros, FLW staff and industry executives. Dates for the 2019 camp will be released soon.
“Under the visionary leadership of our founder Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shops is deeply committed to helping young people connect with nature through fishing and outdoor recreation,” said Bass Pro Shops Director of Communications Jack Wlezien. “We are very proud to support Fishing League Worldwide and their efforts to grow the sport of fishing with anglers of all ages.”
For more information about FLW, their tournaments and sponsors, visit FLWFishing.com. To learn more about Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s, visit basspro.com and cabelas.com.
About FLW
FLW is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, providing anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to compete for millions in prize money in 2018 across five tournament circuits. Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, with offices in Minneapolis, FLW and their partners conduct 286 bass-fishing tournaments annually around the world, including the United States, Canada, China, Italy, South Korea, Mexico, Portugal, South Africa and Spain. FLW tournament fishing can be seen on the Emmy-nominated “FLW" television show, broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, while FLW Bass Fishing magazine delivers cutting-edge tips from top pros. For more information visit FLWFishing.com and follow FLW at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
About Bass Pro Shops®
Bass Pro Shops is North America’s premier outdoor and conservation company. Founded in 1972 when avid young angler Johnny Morris began selling tackle out of his father’s liquor store in Springfield, Missouri, today the company provides customers with unmatched offerings spanning premier destination retail, outdoor equipment manufacturing, world-class resort destinations and more. In 2017 Bass Pro Shops acquired Cabela’s to create a “best-of-the-best” experience with superior products, dynamic locations and outstanding customer service. Bass Pro Shops also operates White River Marine Group, offering an unsurpassed collection of industry-leading boat brands, and Big Cedar Lodge, America’s Premier Wilderness Resort. Under the visionary conservation leadership of Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shops is a national leader in protecting habitat and introducing families to the outdoors and has been named by Forbes as “one of America’s Best Employers.”
KastKing Signs 2018 KBF National Champ Dwayne Taff
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(For Immediate Release - Garden City, Long Island NY - September 12, 2018) KastKing (www.kastking.com) is thrilled to announce the addition of KBF (Kayak Bass Fishing) reigning Champion, Dwayne Taff to their Pro Staff line up. Taff will exclusively use a variety of KastKing fishing reels such as the newly introduced KastKing Royale Legend Elite low profile baitcasting reel developed for bass fishing tournament anglers, and KastKing fishing lines that include KastKing KastPro braided fishing line.
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Taff has competed in 30 tournaments in 2018 so far and has many more scheduled for the remainder of the year. He has 15 top ten KBF career finishes with eight coming during the 2018 season
BELLEVILLE’S GOSHEN WINS T-H MARINE FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE MICHIGAN DIVISION FINALE ON DETROIT RIVER
Ohio’s Lovin Grabs Co-angler Title
TRENTON, Mich. (Sept. 17, 2018) – Boater Ronnie Goshen Sr. of Belleville, Michigan, won the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Michigan Division tournament on the Detroit River Sunday with a two-day cumulative catch of 10 bass weighing 51 pounds, 10 ounces. Goshen earned $5,329 for his win.
“This is like a dream come true – I’ve always wanted to win a BFL event,” said Goshen, who had three previous top-10 finishes on the Detroit River in BFL competition. “I used tubes, swimbaits and spinnerbaits and fished rocks and current all over the river.”
Goshen said he used a green pumpkin-colored Impulse Fatty Tube, a LIVETARGET Goby Paddle Tail Swimbait with a ¾-ounce head and a ¾-ounce chartreuse and white-colored custom bullet head spinnerbait. He noted that he was able to catch 25 to 30 keepers each day.
“I’ve got three or four favorite baits and if they wouldn’t hit one I’d throw another,” said Goshen. “I fished in 4- to 15-foot depths and covered a lot of water. It was a run and gun thing – I’d get one here and one there.”
Goshen said he experienced engine problems at the conclusion of the day Saturday, and that his son let him use his boat for the remainder of the event Sunday.
“I was really blessed. Without his help, I would’ve had to use my trolling motor all day (Sunday),” said Goshen.
Goshen said that the Spot-Lock feature on his Minn Kota Ultrex trolling motor was crucial to helping him stay put in the current Saturday, and that his Lowrance electronics helped him pinpoint specific spots to fish.
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Ronnie Goshen Sr., Belleville, Mich., 10 bass, 51-10, $5,329
2nd: Pat Upthagrove, Monroe, Mich., 10 bass, 49-1, $2,864
3rd: Joshua Barr, Stow, Ohio, 10 bass, 45-11, $1,877
4th: Scott Davis, Coloma, Mich., 10 bass, 45-5, $1,243
5th: Troy Stokes, Brownstown, Mich., 10 bass, 45-1, $1,066
6th: Mark Flick, Plainwell, Mich., 10 bass, 45-1, $977
7th: John Devries, Fishers, Ind., 10 bass, 44-0, $888
8th: Randy Ramsey, Burlington, Mich., 10 bass, 43-13, $799
9th: Michael Sitko, Pinckney, Mich., 10 bass, 43-11, $1,010
10th: Clayton Reitz, Morton, Ill., 10 bass, 43-9, $622
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Jerry Arnett of Mexico, Indiana, caught a bass weighing 5 pounds, 15 ounces – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division. The catch earned him the Boater Big Bass award of $682.
John Lovin of Fayetteville, Ohio, caught a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 44 pounds, 13 ounces, to win the Co-angler Division and $2,664.
The top 10 co-anglers were:
1st: John Lovin, Fayetteville, Ohio, 10 bass, 44-13, $2,664
2nd: Darwin Griva, Hamilton, Ind., 10 bass, 42-1, $1,332
3rd: John Martin, Caledonia, Mich., 10 bass, 41-3, $889
4th: Erik Jacques, Marine City, Mich., 10 bass, 40-14, $822
5th: Mike Eldridge, Blacklick, Pa., 10 bass, 36-10, $533
6th: Tony Mitchell, Plainwell, Mich., 10 bass, 36-6, $538
7th: Clint Joyner, Metamora, Mich., 10 bass, 34-3, $444
8th: Jeffrey Thomson, Birmingham, Mich., nine bass, 32-1, $400
9th: Dayton Land, Coatesville, Ind., nine bass, 32-1, $355
10th: Michael Kokoska, Findlay, Ohio, eight bass, 31-7, $311
Eric Wild of Brooklyn, Michigan, caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division – a fish weighing 5 pounds, 9 ounces – and earned the Co-angler Big Bass award of $341.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 18-20 BFL Regional Championship on Kentucky Lake in Gilbertsville, Kentucky. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard.
The 2018 BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2019 BFL All-American will take place May 30-June 1 on the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
About FLW
FLW is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, providing anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to compete for millions in prize money in 2018 across five tournament circuits. Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, with offices in Minneapolis, FLW and their partners conduct 286 bass-fishing tournaments annually around the world, including the United States, Canada, China, Italy, South Korea, Mexico, Portugal, South Africa and Spain. FLW tournament fishing can be seen on the Emmy-nominated “FLW" television show, broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, while FLW Bass Fishing magazine delivers cutting-edge tips from top pros. For more information visit FLWFishing.com and follow FLW at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
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KINGSTON’S HENLEY WINS T-H MARINE FLW BFL VOLUNTEER DIVISION FINALE ON WATTS BAR LAKE
Seymour’s Brumett Takes Co-angler Title
ROCKWOOD, Tenn. (Sept. 17, 2018) – Boater Chase Henley of Kingston, Tennessee, won the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Volunteer Division tournament on Watts Bar Lake Sunday with a two-day cumulative catch of 10 bass weighing 32 pounds, 15 ounces. For his win, Henley earned $5,126.
“On Saturday I caught them around the Kingston area of the lake. I caught them as the water was falling – I kind of moved out with the fish,” said Henley, who earned his first career win FLW competition. “I probably had four areas and fished laydowns and seawalls with a jig and buzzbait.”
Henley said he used a ½-ounce Green Pumpkin Craw-colored Strike King Greg Hackney Hack Attack jig with a Hematoma-colored Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver for the laydowns, and a 3/8-ounce Showboat Lures buzzbait with a white Zoom Split Tail trailer on the seawalls.
“I started out with the buzzbait on the seawalls, but when the sun came out I switched to the jig and laydowns,” said Henley. “They didn’t want to chase anything after the sun came out. I caught about eight keepers total.”
On Sunday, as the water level continued to fall, Henley said he ran to a part of the lake near the Kingston steam plant and the mouth of the Emory River. He said he targeted visible isolated wood and rocky points and was able to put around 13 keepers in the boat.
“It was more of a pattern on Day Two,” said Henley. “I started out with the buzzbait, and then switched to a homemade vibrating jig with a white (Zoom Z-Craw) trailer when it got windy. I saw some bubbles on the retrieve which means a change in pressure, and usually the buzzbait bite does better with that. That’s when I started catching them on both lures.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Chase Henley, Kingston, Tenn., 10 bass, 32-15, $5,126
2nd: Marcus Jackson, Dayton, Tenn., 10 bass, 30-13, $2,763
3rd: Ken Vicchio, Bluff City, Tenn., 10 bass, 28-9, $2,009
4th: John Murray, Spring City, Tenn., 10 bass, 27-5, $1,196
5th: Derrick Snavely, Piney Flats, Tenn., 10 bass, 26-15, $1,125
6th: Kevin Edwards, Knoxville, Tenn., 10 bass, 26-13, $940
7th: Troy Redwine, Crossville, Tenn., 10 bass, 26-10, $854
8th: Archie Wilson Jr., Corryton, Tenn., nine bass, 25-4, $769
9th: Joshua Short, Bean Station, Tenn., eight bass, 22-13, $998
10th: Derrick Blake, Rockwood, Tenn., eight bass, 22-3, $598
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Rob Linkous of Rogersville, Tennessee, caught a bass weighing 4 pounds, 15 ounces – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division. The catch earned him the Boater Big Bass award of $315.
Larry Brumett Jr. of Seymour, Tennessee, caught a two-day total of nine bass weighing 23 pounds, 3 ounces, to win the Co-angler Division and $2,641.
The top 10 co-anglers were:
1st: Larry Brumett Jr., Seymour, Tenn., nine bass, 23-3, $2,641
2nd: Tony Brown, Harriman, Tenn., six bass, 16-2, $1,270
3rd: Jason Ridenour, Loudon, Tenn., six bass, 15-2, $814
4th: Tim Godsey, Chickamauga, Ga., six bass, 14-13, $570
5th: Bradley Watts, Afton, Tenn., six bass, 13-10, $488
6th: Jaylen Andrews, Culleoka, Tenn., six bass, 13-6, $447
7th: Darren Kelly, Wartburg, Tenn., six bass, 12-13, $407
8th: Travis Nelson, Wartburg, Tenn., five bass, 12-13, $666
9th: Bill Freshour, Strawplains, Tenn., five bass, 11-12, $325
10th: Matt Brown, Harriman, Tenn., four bass, 10-11, $285
Nelson caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division – a fish weighing 4 pounds, 6 ounces – and earned the Co-angler Big Bass award of $300.
The 2018 T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Volunteer Division finale on Watts Bar Lake was hosted by the Roane County Visitors Bureau.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 18-20 BFL Regional Championship on Lake Norman in Huntersville, North Carolina. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard.
The 2018 BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2019 BFL All-American will take place May 30-June 1 on the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
FLOWERY BRANCH’S VINSON WINS T-H MARINE FLW BFL BULLDOG DIVISION FINALE ON LAKE LANIER
Waycross’ Bythwood Takes Co-angler Title
GAINESVILLE, Ga. (Sept. 17, 2018) – Boater Roger Vinson of Flowery Branch, Georgia, won the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Bulldog Division tournament on Lake Lanier Sunday with a two-day cumulative catch of 10 bass weighing 28 pounds, 11 ounces. For his win, Vinson earned $6,891.
“I live about 10 minutes from Lake Lanier and have been fishing it for a long time. I have some top-10 finishes in BFL competition, so it’s nice to finally win one,” said Vinson, who earned his first win in FLW competition. “I knew that with the conditions, the fish would be scattered. I fished both deep and shallow. I think most of the field was fishing out deep, but I’d say I fished shallow 30-percent of the time. Changing things up was crucial for my win.
“I fished from the mid-lake area down to the lower end each day,” continued Vinson. “I targeted places like the mouths of creeks and places they would pull up when they are scattered because of the weather. Out deep, I fished humps and points. I targeted more rock on Sunday.”
Vinson said he caught fish on a Pearly White-colored Zoom Super Fluke, a Roboworm Straight Tail Worm on a shaky-head rig, a MegaBass 110 Ito Vision jerkbait and a Pearl White-colored SuperFish Underspin with a Zoom Fluke Jr. of the same color.
“My big fish – a 4-pound, 12-ounce spotted bass – came Sunday morning about 10:30 (a.m.) around the mouth of Two Mile Creek,” said Vinson. “I caught it on a homemade jig with a green pumpkin-colored (Zoom) Creepy Crawler trailer. I felt like I needed 17 pounds (after Saturday) to win and it was a game-changer.”
Vinson said he caught 19 keepers throughout the weekend and weighed all spotted bass. He said that bass both deep and shallow liked the jerkbait best on Saturday, and that on Sunday it was more about the jig and the SuperFish Underspin.
“I used a Kistler rod and (InvizX Seaguar) fluorocarbon line combo which helped me feel when they grabbed onto the bait,” said Vinson. “They didn’t feel like normal bites, but the sensitivity of that combo helped me feel them.”
Vinson noted that his 19-year-old son, Peyton, finished seventh on the co-angler side.
“I think I’m more proud of him and his finish than my own,” said Vinson.
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Roger Vinson, Flowery Branch, Ga., 10 bass, 28-11, $6,891
2nd: Rob Jordan, Flowery Branch, Ga., 10 bass, 25-15, $3,445
3rd: Guy Jordan, Gainesville, Ga., 10 bass, 24-10, $2,229
4th: Brad Wiley, Alto, Ga., eight bass, 24-6, $1,561
5th: J.R. McCay, Robertstown, Ga., 10 bass, 24-2, $1,338
6th: Jeremy Eaton, Dahlonega, Ga., 10 bass, 22-5, $1,227
7th: Undre Montgomery, Lawrenceville, Ga., 10 bass, 22-2, $1,115
8th: Terry Adams, Mansfield, Ga., 10 bass, 21-10, $1,004
9th: Kip Carter, Mansfield, Ga., 10 bass, 20-12, $892
10th: LaMontie Walters, Warner Robins, Ga., 10 bass, 19-7, $781
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Eric Aldrich of Cumming, Georgia, caught a bass weighing 4 pounds, 15 ounces – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division. The catch earned him the Boater Big Bass award of $960.
Justin Bythwood of Waycross, Georgia, caught a two-day total of seven bass weighing 16 pounds, 10 ounces, to win the Co-angler Division and $3,287.
The top 10 co-anglers were:
1st: Justin Bythwood, Waycross, Ga., seven bass, 16-10, $3,287
2nd: Glenn Martin, Gainesville, Ga., eight bass, 14-9, $1,644
3rd: Benjie Winkler, Cleveland, Ga., seven bass, 13-6, $1,096
4th: March Glenn, Decatur, Ga., six bass, 12-10, $867
5th: Spencer Sato, Warner Robins, Ga., six bass, 10-14, $657
6th: Ben Smith, Lula, Ga., five bass, 10-12, $653
7th: Peyton Vinson, Flowery Branch, Ga., five bass, 10-3, $548
8th: Andrew Fisher, Alexandria, Ala., six bass, 9-14, $493
9th: Wayne Hancock, Cumming, Ga., five bass, 9-11, $438
10th: Devereaux Adams, Powder Springs, Ga., five bass, 9-9, $384
Jack Fowler of Coleman, Georgia, caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division – a fish weighing 5 pounds, 5 ounces – and earned the Co-angler Big Bass award of $465.
The 2018 T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Bulldog Division finale on Lake Lanier was hosted by the Gainesville Convention & Visitors Bureau.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 11-13 BFL Regional Championship on the St. Johns River in Palatka, Florida. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard.
The 2018 BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2019 BFL All-American will take place May 30-June 1 on the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
BYLOTAS WINS T-H MARINE FLW BFL NORTHEAST DIVISION FINALE ON 1000 ISLANDS WITH OVER 48 POUNDS!
Co-angler Title Awarded to Pennsylvania’s Amberg
CLAYTON, N.Y. (Sept. 17, 2018) – Boater Brian Bylotas of Scott Township, Pennsylvania, won the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Northeast Division tournament on 1000 Islands Sunday with a two-day cumulative catch of 10 bass weighing 48 pounds, 3 ounces. For his win, Bylotas pocketed $6,886.
“I started in the river Saturday and caught a few small fish before running out to Lake Ontario about 8 (a.m.),” said Bylotas, who also clinched the BFL Northeast Division Angler of the Year (AOY) points title with his win. “There were some shoals out there and by 10 or 10:30 (a.m.) I got on a school that I had all to myself. I stayed there all day and my co-angler and I caught them pretty well.”
Bylotas said he focused on a ledge off of a shoal near Galloo Island. He said the baitfish were stacked up along a ¼-mile stretch in 25 to 30 feet of water and bass were schooling around them.
“On Sunday I started on a few rock piles in the river and caught a big one – about 5½ pounds – on a (4.5-inch Quick Limit Baits) motor oil-colored Dropshot Worm, which I had used Saturday morning in the river as well,” said Bylotas. “By 9 (a.m.), I went out to the same ledge and school on Lake Ontario, but the bite was a little bit slower. I probably caught around 35 fish Sunday compared to 50 fish Saturday.”
Bylotas said he used a 3.8-inch green pumpkin-colored Keitech Sexy Impact on a drop-shot rig on the ledge each day. He added that a Sexy Impact in Silver Flash color was also productive.
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Brian Bylotas, Scott Township, Pa., 10 bass, 48-3, $6,886
2nd: John Vanore, Mullica Hill, N.J., 10 bass, 46-6, $3,493
3rd: Jason Shipton, Muncy, Pa., 10 bass, 44-8, $2,195
4th: Ken Golub, Pittsford, N.Y., 10 bass, 42-12, $1,637
5th: Dennis Carnahan, Cazenovia, N.Y., 10 bass, 42-9, $1,317
6th: Joe Zombek II, Scranton, Pa., 10 bass, 42-6, $1,207
7th: Travis Manson, Conshohocken, Pa., 10 bass, 41-14, $1,098
8th: Matt Becker, Finleyville, Pa., 10 bass, 41-11, $988
9th: Joseph Fonzi, Gasport, N.Y., 10 bass, 40-6, $878
10th: Frank Arthur, Fallston, Md., 10 bass, 39-12, $768
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Dale Gorrell of Hatfield, Pennsylvania, caught a bass weighing 6 pounds, 4 ounces – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division. The catch earned him the Boater Big Bass award of $945.
Joseph Amberg Jr. of Hawley, Pennsylvania, caught a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 43 pounds, 12 ounces, to win the Co-angler Division and $3,529.
The top 10 co-anglers were:
1st: Joseph Amberg Jr., Hawley, Pa., 10 bass, 43-12, $3,529
2nd: Richard Jordan, Muncy Valley, Pa., 10 bass, 42-4, $1,746
3rd: Cherif Zaher, Orangeville, Pa., 10 bass, 40-7, $1,148
4th: Jim Buehler, Montoursville, Pa., 10 bass, 40-4, $768
5th: Doug Cameron, Belchertown, Mass., 10 bass, 37-0, $659
6th: Michael Duarte, Baltimore, Md., 10 bass, 35-11, $604
7th: Christy Tiano, Hudson, N.Y., nine bass, 34-6, $549
8th: Ryan Buttermore, Leetsdale, Pa., 10 bass, 33-14, $730
9th: Jeff Mellott, Warfordsburg, Pa., 10 bass, 32-7, $439
10th: Jack Wolf, Chesapeake City, Md., 10 bass, 32-4, $384
Amberg also caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division – a fish weighing 6 pounds, 6 ounces – and earned the Co-angler Big Bass award of $236.
The 2018 T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Northeast Division finale on 1000 Islands was hosted by the Clayton Chamber of Commerce.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 11-13 BFL Regional Championship on Chesapeake Bay in North East, Maryland. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard.
The 2018 BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2019 BFL All-American will take place May 30-June 1 on the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
DION HIBDON WINS T-H MARINE FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE OZARK DIVISION FINALE ON LAKE OF THE OZARKS
Saint Charles’ Rothweil Takes Co-angler Title
OSAGE BEACH, Mo. (Sept. 17, 2018) – One of only five anglers in history to win both of pro bass fishing’s major championship events – the Forrest Wood Cup and the Bassmaster Classic – pro Dion Hibdon of Stover, Missouri, won the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Ozark Division tournament on Lake of the Ozarks Sunday with a two-day cumulative catch of 10 bass weighing 32 pounds, 10 ounces. For his win, Hibdon netted $8,595.
Hibdon said he fished docks along a 20-mile stretch of lake, hitting both the Osage and Niangua rivers. He said he caught them a couple of different ways – on the ends of docks early, and under the docks as the day progressed.
“You could catch them loose around the ends of docks early, especially ones with brush,” said Hibdon, who earned his fifth career victory in FLW competition. “I could swim a jig and pitch to the corners early – you didn’t need to worry about skipping. Once they started missing the bait and jerking the trailer I started getting up under the docks and putting it where they were.
“I think the docks with brush held more fish,” Hibdon continued. “You could catch them on docks without brush, but you’d be limited. A lot of guys in the top 10 caught them out of the brush, but the fish got out of it. Fishing pressure will drive them out of that stuff and toward the docks. As far as I’m concerned, fishing pressure helps me because that’s where I want them to be.”
Hibdon said he caught 90-percent of his fish on a jig. He said he used a homemade black jig with a black and blue flake-colored Ledgerock Lures crawdad trailer and a brown jig with a green pumpkin-colored Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver. He said he ended up with around 12 keepers Saturday and 15 on Sunday.
“I also caught some bass on a spinnerbait and a worm, but didn’t weigh any of them,” said Hibdon. “I had a limit each day fairly quick. On Sunday, we had a fog delay, so the loose stuff finished up a bit quicker, but I still had five within an hour so. I used 25-pound-test Berkley Fluorocarbon line – these fish aren’t line-shy.”
Hibdon noted that the fishing was sporadic, a factor he had to deal with in practice.
“I had to cover a lot of water. You could hit 50 docks and not catch one, and then pull up on the next that looks the same as the others and catch two or three. I caught fish off of docks that I haven’t fished in years,” HIbdon went on to say. “Luckily, I got a couple of those tough days in practice to see what I was in for. I hustled pretty hard and fast and that’s probably what made the difference.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Dion Hibdon, Stover, Mo., 10 bass, 32-10, $6,595 + $2,000 Ranger Cup Bonus
2nd: Cody Spinks, Springfield, Mo., 10 bass, 30-3, $3,148
3rd: Rob Bueltmann, Osage Beach, Mo., 10 bass, 29-14, $3,173
4th: John Taylor Jr., Pacific, Mo, nine bass, 29-12, $1,469
5th: Jason Rhyne, Foristell, Mo., 10 bass, 29-9, $1,259
6th: Donovan Hensley, Nixa, Mo., 10 bass, 29-5, $1,254
7th: Marcus Sykora, Osage Beach, Mo., 10 bass, 28-12, $1,049
8th: Jeremy Johnson, Kansas City, Kan., nine bass, 27-5, $944
9th: David McCormick, Lee’s Summit, Mo., 10 bass, 26-14, $839
10th: Tom Silber, Labadie, Mo., 10 bass, 26-4, $734
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Bueltmann caught a bass weighing 5 pounds, 12 ounces – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division. The catch earned him the Boater Big Bass award of $877.
Larry Rothweil of Saint Charles, Missouri, caught a two-day total of eight bass weighing 23 pounds, 12 ounces, to win the Co-angler Division and $3,148.
The top 10 co-anglers were:
1st: Larry Rothweil, Saint Charles, Mo., eight bass, 23-12, $3,148
2nd: Ryan Hopping, Lake Saint Louis, Mo., eight bass, 21-3, $1,574
3rd: Jordan Williams, Oak Grove, Mo., six bass, 16-4, $1,250
4th: Brandon Hecker, Camdenton, Mo., seven bass, 15-15, $734
5th: Dennis Young, Olathe, Kan., five bass, 13-8, $630
6th: Michael Fey Sr., Cuba, Mo., six bass, 12-6, $577
7th: Nathan Klepper, Union, Mo., four bass, 12-2, $525
8th: Jeremy Fiedler, Sullivan, Mo., six bass, 11-14, $472
9th: Rick Dahlman, Mokena, Ill., five bass, 11-3, $470
10th: Carl Breeden, Valley Park, Mo., four bass, 10-8, $367
Kyle Anderson of Foley, Missouri, caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division – a fish weighing 5 pounds, 4 ounces – and earned the Co-angler Big Bass award of $219.
The 2018 T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Ozark Division finale on Lake of the Ozarks was hosted by the Tri-County Lodging Association and the Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitors Bureau.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 18-20 BFL Regional Championship on Kentucky Lake in Gilbertsville, Kentucky. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard.
The 2018 BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2019 BFL All-American will take place May 30-June 1 on the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
MARSHALL COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL WINS BASS PRO SHOPS FLW HIGH SCHOOL FISHING KENTUCKY LAKE OPEN PRESENTED BY YETI
GILBERTSVILLE, Ky. (Sept. 15, 2018) – The Marshall County High School duo of Nathan Steele and Evan Bremmerkamp, both of Benton, Kentucky, brought a five-bass limit to the scale Saturday weighing 11 pounds,14 ounces to win the 2018 Bass Pro Shops FLW High School Fishing Kentucky Lake Open presented by YETI.
A field of 65 teams competed in the no-entry fee tournament, which launched from Kentucky Dam Marina. In FLW/TBF High School Fishing competition, the top 10-percent of teams competing advance to the High School Fishing National Championship.
The top six teams on Kentucky that advanced to the 2018 High School Fishing National Championship were:
1st: Marshall County High School, Benton, Ky. – Nathan Steele and Evan Bremmerkamp, both of Benton, Ky., five bass, 11-14
2nd: Marshall County High School, Benton, Ky. – Harlan Thomas, Gilbertsville, Ky., and Tristan Barrett, Benton, Ky., three bass, 10-15
3rd: North Mississippi Student Anglers – TJ Edwards, Tremont, Miss., and Houston Vaiden, Hamilton, Miss., three bass, 10-3
4th: Obion County Central High School, Troy, Tenn. – Conner Terry and Matthew Cummings, both of Union City, Tenn., three bass, 6-15
5th: Knox Central High School, Knox County, Ky. – Brady Elza, London Ky., and Lance Smith, Barbourville, Ky., two bass, 6-9
6th: Ohio County High School, Beaver Dam, Ky. – Darren Scoggins, Centertown, Ky., and Jacob Autry, Beaver Dam, Ky., two bass, 6-4
Rounding out the top 10 teams were:
7th: Logan County High School, Russellville, Ky. – Connor Barnes, Adairville, Ky., and Noah Morgan, Sharon Grove, Ky., two bass, 6-4
8th: Spencer County High School, Taylorsville, Ky. – Ryan Whitehead and Andy Napier, both of Louisville, Ky., three bass, 5-4
9th: Logan County High School, Russellville, Ky. – Thomas Lockhart and Kolton Coomer, both of Lewisberg, Ky., two bass, 5-0
10th: Calloway County High School, Murray, Ky. – Caden Emerson, Almo, Ky., and Ethan Tidwell, New Concord, Ky., one bass, 3-9
Complete results from the event can be found at FLWFishing.com.
The 2018 Bass Pro Shops FLW High School Fishing Kentucky Lake Open presented by YETI was a two-person (team) event for students in grades 7-12, open to any Student Angler Federation (SAF) affiliated high school club in the United States. The top 10 percent of each Challenge, Open, and state championship field will advance to the 2019 High School Fishing National Championship on a body of water that has yet to be revealed. The High School Fishing national champions will each receive a $5,000 college scholarship to the school of their choice.
In addition to the High School Fishing National Championship, all High School Fishing anglers nationwide automatically qualify for the world’s largest open high school bass tournament, the 2019 High School Fishing World Finals, held in conjunction with the National Championship. At the 2018 World Finals more than $150,000 in scholarships and prizes were awarded.
Full schedules and the latest announcements are available at HighSchoolFishing.org and FLWFishing.com.
Ott DeFoe Scores Repeat Win In Bassmaster Open On Douglas Lake
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Patrick Walters Grabs Lead In Bassmaster Open At Douglas Lake
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Cal Coast Fishing Adds 2018 Forrest Wood Cup Champion Clent Davis
Carpentaria, Calif. – September 11, 2018 – Cal Coast Fishing, a fishing accessories manufacturer from Carpentaria, Calif., has the signing of 2018 Forrest Wood Cup Clent Davis of Montevallo, Ala. to their national pro team. The addition adds to a staff that includes Elite Series pros Ish Monroe and Caleb Sumrall, FLW pros James Watson, Jimmy Reese, Jeff Dobson and Kyle Cortiana, as well as kayak fishing stalwarts Ron Champion and Jay Wallen.
Cal Coast Fishing has become known for their innovative products, such as the Bait Sack, Rod mule and the Clip ‘n Cull 2.0 culling system. The product line has found its way into the boats of pros and recreational anglers everywhere, and the growing pro staff will help that product line to become even more necessary.
Dave Romanus, CEO of Cal Coast Fishing, said that product development was a strong consideration for adding Davis, but there was a more important reason. “Everything I have ever heard about Clent was that he was a great guy, and one that would fit our team very well,” said Romanus. “He was highly recommended to me by people I consider family, and in a short time, he has already proven that to be true. Couple that with his fishing product knowledge and the fact that he just won the Forrest Wood Cup, made the decision a no-brainer for us. We are thrilled to welcome him to our family.”
Davis said he felt the same about joining Cal Coast Fishing, and the products he has already used. “I’ve really enjoyed all of my interactions with Dave and his team,” said Davis. “I know what they stand for as a company, and the products they make are really high quality. The Clip ‘n Cull system is easy to use, and makes culling a breeze; I look forward to working with them to build more great products and working with them like a family.”
The partnership has shown productivity in the short time they have been collaborating, with Davis having input in projects already in the works. While nothing is yet ready to be shown to the public, Cal Coast Fishing will be releasing new products to the marketplace with the help of their world class team of professional anglers.
About Cal Coast Fishing – Established in 2015 and based out of Carpentaria, Calif., Cal Coast Fishing began by offering their original Bait Sack Premium Lure protectors and has since grown to include rod storage and transportation, Conservation minded fish culling system, and other problem solving and fishing efficiency products. The company prides itself on producing products that help anglers be more efficient and enjoy their time on the water more thoroughly. View their products online at https://calcoastfishing.com/, on social media or one of their hundreds of dealers nationwide.
AC Insider Podcast - Keeping you in the know, Discussing BASS, FLW & MLF
Tonight the Boys talk with BASS Elite Series Pro Matt Herren and his thoughts on the new Major League Fishing Bass Tour and his thoughts on BASS. Chris and Jason also speak to FLW Pro Zack Birge about his invitation to the new tour and why his gut is telling him to make the move. Again, everything we say is officially unofficial. Check it out and as we learn more, you will be the first to know!
Jeff Lugar Leads First Round Of Bassmaster Open On Douglas Lake
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WONDERS OF WILDLIFE MUSEUM TO HOST BASS FISHING HALL OF FAME INDUCTION FESTIVITIES
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Icons and luminaries of the sport of bass fishing will gather at Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium September 27 to celebrate the newest members of the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame.
The event marks the 16th induction ceremony of the Hall of Fame and the second at Wonders of Wildlife, which also houses the new Bass Fishing Hall of Fame museum. The 2018 class of inductees includes four-time Bassmaster Classic champion Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich.; former Bassmaster Angler of the Year Gary Klein of Mingus, Texas; ESPN and Bassmaster television host Tommy Sanders of Little Rock, Ark.; former B.A.S.S. CEO Helen Sevier of Montgomery, Ala.; Berkley Bedell of Naples, Fla., founder of Berkley and Co.; and Dr. James Henshall, a 19th Century author who is considered the father of bass fishing.
The 2017 induction banquet was attended by more than 350 sportfishing industry leaders, professional anglers, outdoor media representatives and avid fans of the sport. This year’s event again kicks off with a special VIP reception within the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame home inside the Wonders of Wildlife Museum and Aquarium.
“Our annual Bass Fishing Hall of Fame induction dinner is becoming the hottest ticket in the bass fishing world,” said Donald Howell, president of the Hall of Fame board. He said the gathering, again with Dave Mercer serving as emcee, should be especially well-attended with the induction of two of bass fishing’s most popular anglers, as well as other well-known leaders of the sport.
Supporters of the Hall of Fame nominate potential inductees who are then considered and voted on by a 30-member panel of sportfishing industry insiders, anglers, outdoor journalists and former Hall of Fame inductees.
Tickets are still available at the Hall’s website, bassfishinghof.com, or by calling 501/541.6660.
Established in 1999, the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame is committed to celebrating and promoting the sport of bass fishing and honoring the men, women, organizations and companies that have supported and elevated the sport. The museum includes artifacts of bass fishing and memorabilia from many of the more than 70 individuals inducted during the past 20 years, including pioneers such as B.A.S.S. founder Ray Scott, Ranger Boats founder Forrest Wood, tournament legend Rick Clunn and television hosts Bill Dance, Roland Martin and Jimmy Houston.
With more than 1.5 miles of immersive trails to explore, the Wonders of Wildlife Museum and Aquarium features saltwater and freshwater exhibits that are home to more than 35,000 live animals including double-digit largemouth in the Lunker Lake exhibit. The museum is adjacent to the Bass Pro Shops flagship store in Springfield.
GIVEAWAY: Bienville Plantation PARTY IN THE PINES MUSIC FESTIVAL TICKETS!!
Ticket Giveaway!
Get signed up today for your chance to win 2 tickets
to the Second Annual Bienville Plantation Party in the Pines Music Fest
October 19-20, 2018 in White Springs, Florida
Featuring
Up for Grabs is Two (2) Weekend General Admission Tickets for Friday and Saturday October 19th & 20th, 2018 only.
Winner is responsible for their own travel and lodging for the event.
Visit www.partyinthepines.com for more music fest info.
Terms & Conditions
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Presented by AnglersChannel.com, 2927 Devine Street Suite 100, Columbia, SC 29205. Presenter’s decisions concerning all matters related to this giveaway are final. This giveaway begins on September 13, 2018. To enter click the link provided. Limit of one entry per person, per day. No responsibility is assumed for late or misdirected entries or prize acceptance responses. Entries must be received by Midnight September 27, 2018. Odds of winning depend upon the number of entries received. One winner will be chosen to receive the Baitcast Combo and one winner chosen to receive the Spinning Combo. No cash substitution, transfer, or assignment of prizes allowed, except by AnglersChannel.com, which reserves the right to substitute prizes of equal or greater value. Please allow 1-2 weeks for delivery of prizes as product is brand new and not yet released to the public. Winners must pay all costs and taxes other than those specifically identified in the prize description. Limit of one (1) prize per person. One (1) winner will be randomly selected on or about September 28th, 2018, and notified by e-mail. If attempted notification is returned as undeliverable, if a potential winner cannot be verified, or if a potential winner is otherwise unable or unwilling to accept the prize, then the prize will be forfeited and may be awarded to an alternate winner in AnglersChannel.com’s discretion. Open to all AnglersChannel.com Viewers and Readers. Void where prohibited by law. Winner must be at least sixteen (16) years old. AnglersChannel employees and their immediate family members are not eligible to win. Winner gives AnglersChannel.com the right to use their name, photograph, and likeness in advertising and promotion without compensation or permission except where prohibited by law. Winner releases AnglersChannel.com from any liability arising out of participation in this giveaway or the acceptance, use or misuse of a prize. Winner will be posted on AnglersChannel.com as well as AnglersChannel’s Social media sites including, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Simms Katafront Hoody - A Technical Hoodie with Water Proof Cuffs and Boat to Bar Style!
From clouds to sun to showers, it's no secret that the weather is fickle and on a good day on the water you can see it all. The search for the layer that bridges all conditions is over. Our men's Katafront Hoody is a technical fishing jacket that meets all conditions. Layer it under a rain shell or wear it on its own on drier days. Watershedding forearms move in and out of the water while keeping you dry, and an adjustable hood provides shelter and warmth as needed. It's cut for a full range of motion with just the right amount of stretch.
Features:
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- Water shedding fabrics
- Hydrophobic cuffs
- Adjustable hood
- Zippered, thermolaminated chest pocket; 2 zippered hand warming pockets
AC Insider Episode 31 - Big News In the Fishing Industry!
The Cats out of the bag as Major League Fishing Introduces a new tournament circuit to the industry. the boys talk smallmouth with Costa Northern Winner Kyle Hall and the spotted bass with BASS Opens winner Justin Atkins. They also look at the past weekends results and dive into the upcoming tournaments for the weekend! Check it out!
BREAKING NEWS: Major League Fishing, Bass Pro Shops and Outdoor Sportsman Group Announce Exciting New Fishing Competition to Grow the Sport
Major League Fishing announces sport-growing expansion plans for 2019 which include a premier 80-angler, eight-event Bass Pro Tour with championship that uses MLF's conservation-minded "catch, weigh and immediate-release" rules.
Under the visionary leadership of noted conservationist and founder Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shops has been committed to connecting new audiences to the outdoors and advocating for conservation for more than 40 years. These foundational values directly align with MLF's innovative approach to competitive fishing.
MLF Pro Kevin VanDam (left), Bass Pro Shops Founder Johnny Morris (center) and MLF President and CEO Jim Wilburn are on the same team and same page when it comes to growing the sport of fishing and elevating pro anglers' stature to levels comparable to athletes in other major league sports. (Click to enlarge/download)
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Today MLF tournaments reach a bigger
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MLF's fast paced, action-packed format has scored high TV ratings with anglers of all ages and created celebrity status around the league's participating anglers. (Click to enlarge)
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audience than any other tournament of their kind, and television ratings and independent surveys consistently indicate the fast-paced, action-packed format resonates with anglers of all ages, and is especially effective at reaching the youth audiences essential for achieving long-term interest and growth.
The model has earned respect and accolades from many state fish and game agencies.
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MLF's "catch, weigh and immediate-release" rules allow the Bass Pro Tour to take place on some waters where typical tournament formats can't go, plus win favor with many state game and fish agencies. (Click to enlarge/download)
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MotorMate® Unlocks new, enhanced website
September 10, 2018, FORT WAYNE, INDIANA - MotorMate has launched an enhanced and expanded version of its website at MotorMateUSA.com. The updated site features several user-friendly additions, including easy-to-find product pages and video tutorials on installing the outboard stabilizing system.
The new MotorMateUSA.com offers a mobile-friendly interface and makes it simple for visitors to shop its growing product lineup by motor manufacturer - providing clear and concise information on motor horsepower size, yoke and transom bracket measurements, color availability and pricing. Users can also find videos and downloads to help measure and install the device.
New and updated features also include a dealer locator, enhanced product selection videos, social media feeds featuring the latest news, as well as testimonials and bios on the many pro anglers that use MotorMate on their bass boats while traveling to and from tournaments. Currently, more than 50 of the world's best bass pros use the outboard stabilizing system.
"MotorMate provides an unparalleled and trustworthy experience time and time again for our customers, and the new MotorMateUSA.com website is designed and built to do the same," says Jon Aichele of MotorMate. "Our new site reinforces our core promise - MotorMate is the industry's best product to protect your investment, secure your outboard while trailering and allow you to tow with confidence."
The MotorMate system keeps the outboard motor from bouncing and jostling, which can inflict collateral damage to the engine's steering cables, hydraulic lines, housing and finishing. MotorMate is proudly made in the USA using marine-grade, high-quality stainless steel and has high-impact nylon end caps. MotorMate comes with a lifetime warranty and is available online at MotorMateUSA.com or through its growing dealer network, which now includes more than 200 locations throughout the United States and Canada.
To view the entire product lineup, locate the nearest dealer, order online or determine which MotorMate is the right fit for your individual motor, visit MotorMateUSA.com.
GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY WINS YETI FLW COLLEGE FISHING NORTHERN CONFERENCE EVENT ON LAKE ERIE
SANDUSKY, Ohio (Sept. 10, 2018) – The Grand Valley State University duo of Lucas Murphy of Walker, Michigan, and Nolan Hitt of Midland, Michigan, won the YETI FLW College Fishing event on Lake Erie presented by Berkley Saturday with five bass weighing 19 pounds, 2 ounces. The victory earned the Lakers’ bass club $2,000 and a slot in the 2019 FLW College Fishing National Championship, scheduled for June 4-6, 2019 at the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland.
“Due to the wind, we were confined to fishing in just Sandusky Bay,” said Hitt, a recent Marketing graduate at Grand Valley State. “We found one large area in the northeast corner that had a lot of grass in it and decided to stick with what we’re good at – fishing grass for largemouth. We focused on areas near lily pads that had vegetation and eel grass blown into them.”
“We stuck with the largemouth because we figured that we could catch around 12 to 13 pounds, sneak into the top-10 cut and qualify for the National Championship,” said Murphy, a senior double-majoring in Marketing and Accounting. “We missed a lot of bites, but we ended up catching around 8 keepers throughout the day and brought five largemouth to the scale that were big enough to win.”
The duo said they spent their day flipping – a green-pumpkin Strike King Rodent in cleaner water and a black and blue-colored Strike King Rage Bug in dirty water.
“It was weird because there were pockets of super clear water, but they were surrounded by dirty water,” Hitt said. “We caught fish out of both, but we did have to adjust the baits that we were throwing.
“I would credit our rods as being one of the keys to us getting the win,” Hitt continued. “We were using a 7’11” extra heavy Denali Lithium flipping stick. It is by far the most sensitive rod I’ve ever used. The fish were biting very lightly, so you needed a sensitive rod to feel the bite but also with enough juice to horse them out. The Denali Lithium was the deal for us.”
“I think the key was just fishing our strengths,” Murphy went on to say. “We really thought that someone would catch them in the middle of the bay cranking to win. We were just trying to sneak into the top-10 cut so it was great that we got the right bites to get it done.”
The top 10 teams that advanced to the 2019 College Fishing National Championship are:
1st: Grand Valley State University – Lucas Murphy, Walker, Mich., and Nolan Hitt, Midland, Mich., five bass, 19-2, $2,000
2nd: Adrian College – Jack Hippe III, Davison, Mich., and Nickolas Marsh, Walled Lake, Mich., five bass, 15-8, $1,650
3rd: University of Michigan-Dearborn – Zach Nelson, Northville, Mich., and Austin Klotz, Westland, Mich., five bass, 15-7, $500
4th: Gannon University – Nolan Pyle, Eastlake, Ohio, and Aaron Bunting, Champion, Penn., five bass, 15-2, $500
5th: Ohio State University – Jacob Miller, Thornville, Ohio, and Jaycen Newsome, Fairborn, Ohio, five bass, 14-7, $500
6th: Slippery Rock University – Jason Frontino, Cranberry Township, Pa., and Cody Neal, Evans City, Pa., five bass, 14-6
7th: State University of New York-ESF – Caleb Konrad, Brooklyn, N.Y., and Brandon Exner, Liverpool, N.Y., five bass, 14-6
8th: University of Pittsburgh – Dominic Vitale, Shickshinny, Pa., and Henry Colberg, Pittsburgh, Pa., five bass, 14-2
9th: Michigan State University – Kevin Lukens, Norton Shores, Mich., and Danny Sprague, Hastings, Mich., five bass, 13-3
10th: Ramapo College – Ryan Worth, Ronkonkoma, N.Y., and Alex Johnson, Milltown, N.J., five bass, 12-9
Complete results for the entire field can be found at FLWFishing.com.
The YETI FLW College Fishing event on Lake Erie presented by Costa was hosted by the City of Sandusky. It was the third and final regular-season qualifying tournament for Northern Conference anglers in 2018. The next YETI FLW College Fishing events takes place Sept. 9, when Central Conference anglers compete at the YETI FLW College Fishing event on Lake of the Ozarks presented by Bass Pro Shops, in Osage Beach, Missouri, and Western Conference anglers compete at the YETI FLW College Fishing event at the California Delta presented by Costa in Bethel Island, California.
YETI FLW College Fishing teams compete in three regular-season qualifying tournaments in one of five conferences – Central, Northern, Southern, Southeastern and Western. The top ten teams from each division’s three regular-season tournaments and the top 20 teams from the annual FLW College Fishing Open will advance to the 2019 FLW College Fishing National Championship, June 4-6 at the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland. Additional teams will qualify for the National Championship if the field size in regular-season events exceeds 100 boats.
YETI FLW College Fishing is free to enter. All participants must be registered, full-time students at a college, university or community college and members of a college fishing club that is recognized by their school.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow YETI FLW College Fishing on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
VIRGINIA’S TRENT WINS T-H MARINE FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE PIEDMONT DIVISION FINALE ON KERR LAKE
Virginia’s Dacey Grabs Co-angler Title
HENDERSON, N.C. (Sept. 10, 2018) – Boater Tyler Trent of Nathalie, Virginia, won the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Piedmont Division tournament on Kerr Lake Sunday with a two-day cumulative catch of 10 bass weighing 28 pounds, 13 ounces. For his win, Trent earned $4,732.
Trent said he picked apart mid-lake areas in 20 to 50 feet of water each day.
“Each day I caught a couple on a (6-inch, dark-colored) Zoom Trick Worm on a drop-shot rig and a couple throwing topwater baits, but most of my fish I weighed came on a custom jig,” said Trent, who notched his first win in FLW competition. “Basically I used the drop-shot rig and different topwater baits to get a limit and then used the custom jig. It was more about the bait rather than the structure in my areas.
“I had 40 spots I could’ve hit Saturday, but only needed a few to put together a good limit,” continued Trent. “On Sunday, I ran a lot more because there was less boat pressure and I had more room to move.”
Trent used a 6-foot, 10-inch, G. Loomis E6X Casting rod with an Abu Garcia Revo SX reel for the topwater bait and an NRX Spinning rod, also fitted with an Abu Garcia reel, for the drop-shot and the jig. He estimated that he caught between 15 and 20 keepers Saturday, and even more on Sunday.
“I caught them all day on Sunday,” said Trent. “My Lowrance electronics really paid off, as well. I could see some of the fish I was catching and could cast right back to the school.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Tyler Trent, Nathalie, Va., 10 bass, 28-13, $4,732
2nd: Ryan Harrell, Roanoke Rapids, N.C., 10 bass, 26-10, $2,566
3rd: Mark Inman, Greensboro, N.C., eight bass, 19-6, $1,577
4th: Burke Hutcheson, Durham, N.C., 10 bass, 18-4, $1,204
5th: Danny Moss Jr., Norlina, N.C., eight bass, 18-0, $946
6th: James Wall, Greensboro, N.C., eight bass, 18-0, $868
7th: Mike Miller, Trinity, N.C., eight bass, 17-2, $789
8th: David Wright, Lexington, N.C., six bass, 17-0, $710
9th: Les Ore, Chesapeake, Va., eight bass, 16-1, $631
10th: Kevin Chandler, New London, N.C., seven bass, 14-4, $552
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Chris Brummett of Lynch Station, Virginia, caught a bass weighing 4 pounds, 9 ounces – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division. The catch earned him the Boater Big Bass award of $555.
Ben Dacey of Chesterfield, Virginia, caught a two-day total of six bass weighing 16 pounds, 8 ounces, to win the Co-angler Division and $2,743.
The top 10 co-anglers were:
1st: Ben Dacey, Chesterfield, Va., six bass, 16-8, $2,743
2nd: Jason Hinger, Timberlake, N.C., six bass, 14-8, $1,233
3rd: Robert Jarrett, Lexington, N.C., six bass, 13-12, $790
4th: Anthony Rife, Max Meadows, Va., four bass, 9-1, $552
5th: Victor Riveras, Newport News, Va., four bass, 8-14, $473
6th: David Mills, Moneta, Va., four bass, 8-8, $434
7th: Jesse Jodon, Windber, Pa., four bass, 8-8, $394
8th: Jamaine Brown, Halifax, Va., three bass, 8-3, $355
9th: Arthur Clark, Cary, N.C., four bass, 7-14, $315
10th: Gregory Skerven, Kernersville, N.C., four bass, 7-8, $276
Dacey also caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division – a fish weighing 4 pounds, 13 ounces – and earned the Co-angler Big Bass award of $277.
The 2018 T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Piedmont Division finale on Kerr Lake was hosted by the Vance County Department of Tourism.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 18-20 BFL Regional Championship on Lake Norman in Huntersville, North Carolina. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard.
The 2018 BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2019 BFL All-American will take place May 30-June 1 on the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
PEORIA HIGH SCHOOL WINS BASS PRO SHOPS FLW HIGH SCHOOL FISHING REND LAKE OPEN IN ILLINOIS
Whittington, Ill. (Sept. 10, 2018) – The Peoria High School duo of Connor Jacob of Peoria, Illinois, and Samuel Smith of Dunlap, Illinois, brought a five-bass limit to the scale Saturday weighing 10 pounds, 4 ounces to win the 2018 Bass Pro Shops FLW High School Fishing Rend Lake Open.
According to post-tournament reports, Jacob and Smith caught their fish throwing square-billed crankbaits near the Rend Lake dam.
A field of 18 teams battled through heavy rains and competed in the no-entry fee tournament, which launched from Wayne Fitzgerrell Sailboat Landing. In FLW/TBF High School Fishing competition, the top 10-percent of teams competing advance to the High School Fishing National Championship.
The top team on Rend Lake that advanced to the 2018 High School Fishing National Championship was:
1st: Peoria High School, Peoria, Ill. – Connor Jacob of Peoria, Illinois, and Samuel Smith of Dunlap, Illinois., five bass, 10-4
Rounding out the top 10 teams were:
2nd: Roanoke-Benson High School, Roanoke, Ill. – Logan Gastman and Brayden Blunier, both of Roanoke, Ill., five bass, 8-0
3rd: Nashville Community High School, Nashville, Ill. – Conner Wolters and Tanner McFeron, both of Nashville, Ill., four bass, 7-2
4th: McCracken County High School, McCracken County, Ky. – Allen Everett, Kevil, Ky., and Sarah Morehead, Paducah, Ky., three bass, 6-2
5th: West Frankfurt Community High School, Frankfurt, Ill. – Cole Levanti and Brendan Johnson, both of West Frankfurt, Ill., two bass, 6-1
6th: Nashville Community High School, Nashville, Ill. – Lilly Taft, Hoyleton, Ill., and Grant Pedtke, Nashville, Ill., three bass, 6-0
7th: Mount Vernon Township High School, Mount Vernon, Ill. – Lane Deichman and Tanner Shaw, both of Mount Vernon, Ill., two bass, 5-10
8th: McCracken County High School, McCracken County, Ky. – Hunter Valerius and Austin Braboy, both of Paducah, Ky., three bass, 4-12
9th: Pinckneyville Community High School, Pinckneyville, Ill. – Rayce Baker, Pinckneyville, Ill., and Terry Davis, Coulterville, Ill., two bass, 4-1
10th: Red Bud High School, Red Bud, Ill. – Brier Longley, Prairie du Rocher, Ill., and Ethan Mudd, Red Bud, Ill., one bass, 3-1
Complete results from the event can be found at FLWFishing.com.
The 2018 Bass Pro Shops FLW High School Fishing Rend Lake Open was a two-person (team) event for students in grades 7-12, open to any Student Angler Federation (SAF) affiliated high school club in the United States. The top 10 percent of each Challenge, Open, and state championship field will advance to the 2019 High School Fishing National Championship on a body of water that has yet to be revealed. The High School Fishing national champions will each receive a $5,000 college scholarship to the school of their choice.
In addition to the High School Fishing National Championship, all High School Fishing anglers nationwide automatically qualify for the world’s largest open high school bass tournament, the 2019 High School Fishing World Finals, held in conjunction with the National Championship. At the 2018 World Finals more than $150,000 in scholarships and prizes were awarded.
Full schedules and the latest announcements are available at HighSchoolFishing.org and FLWFishing.com.
NORMAN’S COALE WINS T-H MARINE FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE OKIE DIVISION FINALE ON GRAND LAKE
Broken Arrow’s Weir Takes Co-angler Title
GROVE, Okla. (Sept. 10, 2018) – Boater Dane Coale of Norman, Oklahoma, won the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Okie Division tournament on Grand Lake Sunday with a two-day cumulative catch of 10 bass weighing 33 pounds, 3 ounces. For his win, Coale earned $8,904.
Coale said he had a lot of success in practice with Spro Mike McClelland RkCrawler 55 and MD 55 crankbaits in Green Craw and Red Crawfish colors, but ended up casting something completely new on Saturday.
“I caught a huge alligator gar with the crankbait and broke it off,” said Coale, who earned his first win in FLW competition. “I reached down and grabbed a shaky-head rig and caught a keeper a couple of casts later. I rotated in another worm, but didn’t get a bite. I went back to the shaky-head and caught a 4-pounder and basically never put it down.”
Coale said he used Zoom Trick Worms on 5/16- and ½-ounce green-pumpkin-colored Buckeye Lures Magnum Series Spot Remover heads. He rotated through a couple of colors including green-pumpkin and Tilapia Magic, which he dipped in chartreuse, and Plum Apple.
“I started fishing south of Sailboat Bridge Saturday,” said Coale. “I fished the tips of main-lake points and bluff ends all the way to the back of Horse Creek, where I caught a key 4-pounder around 1:30 p.m. On my way back to takeoff I did the exact same thing but only at spots I’d caught fish at.”
“On Sunday I had eight rods on the deck and they all had shaky-head rigs on them,” continued Coale. “I fished a bit more down the banks of the points and bluff ends than I did Saturday and it paid off. I got a couple of key 3-pounders fishing 40 yards away from the points in spots that I hadn’t fished.”
Coale used G. Loomis Heavy and Medium-Heavy NRX Casting rods, 12-, 15- and 17-pound-test Seaguar AbrasX line and Lew’s reels. He attributed his win to a couple of different factors – first, that the dock and brush pile bite was off, and second, how well his MinnKota Ultrex trolling motor handled the wind and waves.
“My MinnKota Ultrex was key. I had to fish in the wind Saturday and most of the day Sunday and Spot Lock kept me stationary,” said Coale. “I could take my foot off of it and land a fish when I needed to.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Dane Coale, Norman, Okla., 10 bass, 33-3, $6,904 + $2,000 Ranger Cup Bonus
2nd: Kirk Smith, Edmond, Okla., 10 bass, 29-8, $3,352
3rd: Thomas Canady, Collinsville, Okla., 10 bass, 26-9, $2,333
4th: Justin Parchamn, Oologah, Okla., nine bass, 25-5, $1,564
5th: Larry Crouch, Carthage, Mo., nine bass, 25-3, $1,341
6th: Darrel Robertson, Jay, Okla., nine bass, 23-15, $1,229
7th: Wade Ramsey, Choctaw, Okla., 10 bass, 23-12, $1,117
8th: Christopher Jones, Bokoshe, Okla., nine bass, 23-5, $1,006
9th: Marcus Sykora, Osage Beach, Mo., nine bass, 22-7, $894
10th: Derek Fulps, Broken Arrow, Okla., 10 bass, 22-2, $782
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Shonn Goodwin of Moore, Oklahoma, caught a bass weighing 5 pounds, 1 ounce – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division. The catch earned him the Boater Big Bass award of $975.
Patrick Weir of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, caught a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 28 pounds, 11 ounces, to win the Co-angler Division and $3,352.
The top 10 co-anglers were:
1st: Patrick Weir, Broken Arrow, Okla., 10 bass, 28-11, $3,352
2nd: Shane McGlothlin, Anadarko, Okla., six bass, 24-10, $2,363
3rd: Harold Frazier, Okmulgee, Okla., seven bass, 20-10, $1,117
4th: Cameron Foster, Wagoner, Okla., seven bass, 20-0, $832
5th: Brandon Ackerson, Afton, Okla., nine bass, 19-6, $670
6th: Jim Eckhart, Bartlesville, Okla., six bass, 15-9, $615
7th: Bob Keeth, Dixon, Mo., four bass, 14-5, $559
8th: Dewey Larson, Fayetteville, Ark., six bass, 13-10, $503
9th: Mick Jackson, Glenpool, Okla., six bass, 13-10, $447
10th: Matthew Hargarten, Bolivar, Mo., five bass, 13-6, $391
McGlothlin caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division – a fish weighing 5 pounds, 12 ounces – and earned the Co-angler Big Bass award of $487.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 25-27 BFL Regional Championship on Lake of the Ozarks in Osage Beach, Missouri. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard.
The 2018 BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2019 BFL All-American will take place May 30-June 1 on the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
LA CROSSE’S MAGLIO WINS T-H MARINE FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE GREAT LAKES DIVISION FINALE ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER
Cochrane’s Rothering Takes Co-angler Title
LA CROSSE, Wis. (Sept. 10, 2018) – Local boater T.J. Maglio of La Crosse, Wisconsin, won the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Great Lakes Division tournament on the Mississippi River Sunday with a two-day cumulative catch of 10 bass weighing 31 pounds, 3 ounces. For his win, Maglio earned $6,295.
“I’ve been looking forward to this Super Tournament all year. This tournament is one of my favorites because it’s in the fall and provides a bigger payout,” said Maglio, who earned his first win in FLW competition. “The river rose about a foot from takeoff on Saturday to weigh-in on Sunday – it definitely made it tougher.”
Maglio stated that the water he was fishing in Pool No. 8 managed to stay clear during the two days of competition. He said he caught all of his fish on moving baits – ChatterBaits, Rat-L-Traps and swimjigs, all in white or shad colors.
“In my rotation I would hit spots two or three times a day with different bait presentations,” said Maglio. “I caught fish from three different areas – grass, current seams and rocks. The largest shad were in the areas I was fishing and that is what the bass were feeding on.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: T.J. Maglio, La Crosse, Wis., 10 bass, 31-3, $6,295
2nd: Cade Laufenberg, Goodview, Minn., 10 bass, 30-6, $3,348
3rd: Curtis Samo, Rochelle, Ill., 10 bass, 29-5, $2,096
4th: Mike Brueggen, La Crosse, Wis., 10 bass, 29-4, $1,469
5th: Jeff Ritter, Prairie du Chien, Wis., 10 bass, 28-1, $1,359
6th: Yamamoto Baits pro Tom Monsoor, La Crosse, Wis., 10 bass, 28-0, $1,154
7th: Devin Teigen, Eau Claire, Wis., 10 bass, 27-7, $1,049
8th: Mark Myers, Cedar Falls, Iowa, 10 bass, 27-4, $944
9th: Kyle Von Ruden, Stoddard, Wis., 10 bass, 26-14, $839
10th: John Engler, Vinton, Iowa, 10 bass, 26-10, $734
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Kevin Johnson of Sparta, Wisconsin, caught a bass weighing 4 pounds, 13 ounces – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division. The catch earned him the Boater Big Bass award of $877.
Tom Rothering of Cochrane, Wisconsin, caught a two-day total of nine bass weighing 24 pounds, 4 ounces, to win the Co-angler Division and $3,148.
The top 10 co-anglers were:
1st: Tom Rothering, Cochrane, Wis., nine bass, 24-4, $3,148
2nd: Nathan Huss, Elkhart Lake, Wis., eight bass, 22-14, $1,574
3rd: Pelli Lee, La Crosse, Wis., nine bass, 21-8, $1,050
4th: Jason Swanson, Waterloo, Iowa, 10 bass, 20-8, $934
5th: Josh Mohn, Lansing, Iowa, nine bass, 20-5, $630
6th: Matt Knox, Metamora, Ill., eight bass, 19-15, $577
7th: Alan Bernicky, Joliet, Ill., seven bass, 18-1, $575
8th: Rick Ragner, La Crosse, Wis., six bass, 17-1, $472
9th: Arden Damberg, Wheatland, Iowa, seven bass, 15-15, $420
10th: Kristian Dus, Chicago, Ill., seven bass, 15-11, $367
Andrew Hegerty of Colgate, Wisconsin, caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division – a fish weighing 4 pounds, 4 ounces – and earned the Co-angler Big Bass award of $439.
The 2018 T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Great Lakes Division finale on the Mississippi River at La Crosse was hosted by the La Crosse County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 25-27 BFL Regional Championship Lake of the Ozarks in Osage Beach, Missouri. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard.
The 2018 BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2019 BFL All-American will take place May 30-June 1 on the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
Ingram's 44 pounds over 2-days Wins ABA event on Lake Eufaula
ATHENS, Ala. –Ryan Ingram of Phenix City, AL won the American Bass Anglers Open Series Area 3 Championship tournament, held September 8TH & 9TH, 2018 on Lake Eufaula.
Running out of Lakepoint Resort State Park in Eufaula, Ryan caught five-bass on day one weighing 22.02 pounds. On day two, Ingram weighed in another five-bass limit that weighed 22.65 pounds including a 5.93-pound kicker and that sealed the deal for his victory by almost a four-pound margin with a total weight of 44.67 pounds. For the Boater Division victory, Ingram took home a check for $10,000.
“I caught my fish the same on both days. I was throwing a deep crankbait and a ¾ oz jig. I thought I had messed up by not fishing after 8:00am on the first day. I had my limit by then and they were still biting. The bite slowed on day two and took a little longer to get my best five. This is the best trail going as far as the payout for the weekend angler,” Ingram said.
In second for the boaters, Dustin Wood of Eufaula, AL landed two five-bass tournament limits totaling 40.70 pounds. He collected $1650 for his catch.
“I caught my fish both days throwing a deep crankbait, a jig, a big worm, and a big spoon; basically, junk fishing. I had my limit by 9:30am and stopped fishing as well. On day two, I caught my fish on my first stop and it went downhill from there,” Wood said.
Bobby Padgett of LaGrange, GA placed third for the boaters with two five-bass tournament limits totaling 33.54 pounds. He earned $1100 for his catch.
“I caught my fish on a crankbait in 10ft-12ft of water,” Padgett said.
In fourth place among the boaters, Anthony Goggins of Clanton, AL brought in two five-bass limits totaling 31.76 pounds. Ronnie Ray of Phenix City, AL finished in fifth place with two five-bass limits totaling 30.34 pounds.
The big bass for the boaters was awarded to Larry Garner of Cottondale, AL for a big bass that weighed 6.47-pounds that was caught on day one. For that big bass, Garner collected $920.
“I caught that fish on a KVD crankbait,” Garner said.
In the Co-Angler Division, James Murphy of Phenix City, AL won with a total of six-bass that weighed 18.06 pounds with a 4.54-pound kicker. He pocketed a check for $5,000 for his win.
“On day one I caught all three fish on a jig back to back to back, then it slowed down from there. On day two, I caught two fish on a frog and one on a shaky-head. I broke one off in a brush pile,” Murphy said.
Taking second for the co-anglers, Barry Jones of Verbena, AL brought in four-bass totaling 13.43 pounds. He collected $350 for the effort.
“On day one I only weighed in one fish that I caught on a frog. On day two I fished a shaky-head in 15ft-20ft of water and caught lots of fish,” Jones said.
Lamar Crowe of Andulusia, AL placed third among the co-anglers with three-bass totaling 13.16 pounds including a 6.23-pound kicker that was caught on day two. He earned $250 for his catch and an additional $260 for the big bass award.
“I didn’t catch any fish on day one but on day two, I caught my fish on a jig. I caught that big fish around 12:30pm on a jig,” Crowe said.
In fourth place among the co-anglers, William Blake Woods of Gray, GA brought in two three-bass limits totaling 13.00 pounds. Durward Henderson of Titus, AL finished in fifth place with two three-bass limits totaling 12.83 pounds.
The next tournament will be the Ray Scott Championship. At the end of the season, the best anglers from across the nation advance the 2018 Ray Scott Championship to be held on the Lake Eufaula in Eufaula, Alabama in April 2019.
KENTUCKY’S HOUSTON WINS T-H MARINE FLW BFL BUCKEYE DIVISION FINALE ON INDIAN LAKE
Co-angler Title Awarded to Oxford’s Thome
LAKEVIEW, Ohio (Sept. 10, 2018) – Boater Brandon Houston of Burlington, Kentucky, won the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Buckeye Division tournament on Indian Lake Sunday with a two-day cumulative catch of 10 bass weighing 19 pounds, 2 ounces. Houston took home $4,944 for his win.
“I started out fishing pads on Saturday, but I didn’t have a fish in the boat at 11 (a.m.),” said Houston, who earned his second career win in BFL competition. “I decided to move and fish stretches of rock in the Black Hawk area of the lake. Other anglers seemed to be casting reaction-type baits like spinnerbaits and crankbaits, so I decided to slow down and drag a tube.”
Houston said he used a Texas-rigged green-pumpkin Strike King KVD Pro-Model Tube with a ¼-ounce tungsten weight with a 4/0-sized Black Chrome-colored Owner Wide Gap Plus hook. He threw the bait using 20-pound-test Seaguar InvizX line on a 7-foot Falcon BuCoo SR Heavy Casting rod.
“On Sunday I started by the ramp and a caught couple of keepers, but then went until 11:30 (a.m.) again without a bite,” said Houston. “I went down a stretch where I’d caught a couple on Saturday and caught two more. By that time, I’d already fished my main stretch from Saturday, but it seemed like they were pulling up on that rock later in the day, so I went back at about 1:30 (p.m.) and caught my biggest fish of the day. Those were the only five bites I got.”
Houston added that his second fish – a 2½-pounder – came from pads on a black Strike King KVD Sexy Frog.
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Brandon Houston, Burlington, Ky., 10 bass, 19-2, $4,944
2nd: Cody Seeger, Bellefontaine, Ohio, 10 bass, 15-7, $2,472
3rd: Kyle Weisenburger, Ottawa, Ohio, 10 bass, 15-5, $1,579
4th: Jeremy Tenwalde, Ft. Jennings, Ohio, nine bass, 14-12, $1,107
5th: Miles Johnson, Centerville, Ohio, 10 bass, 13-7, $1,249
6th: Eric Moore, Hamilton, Ohio, eight bass, 13-4, $870
7th: Josh Smith, Hamilton, Ohio, eight bass, 11-14, $791
8th: Ron Hiles, Piketon, Ohio, five bass, 11-8, $1,282
9th: Jay Ellis, Celina, Ohio, five bass, 10-7, $633
10th: Kevin Spears, New Boston, Ohio, four bass, 9-8, $553
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Hiles caught a bass weighing 3 pounds, 12 ounces – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division. The catch earned him the Boater Big Bass award of $570.
Austin Thome of Oxford, Ohio, caught a two-day total of seven bass weighing 8 pounds, 10 ounces, to win the Co-angler Division and $2,238.
The top 10 co-anglers were:
1st: Austin Thome, Oxford, Ohio, seven bass, 8-10, $2,238
2nd: Jordan Scales, Russells Point, Ohio, five bass, 7-15, $1,119
3rd: James McWhorter, Hamilton, Ohio, four bass, 6-12, $748
4th: Mark Miller, Baltic, Ohio, three bass, 5-9, $522
5th: Darian Ginter, Maplewood, Ohio, five bass, 5-7, $448
6th: Aaron Stahley, Batavia, Ohio, four bass, 5-1, $610
7th: Jeff Turner, Plainfield, Ill., three bass, 5-0, $373
8th: David Rackley, Kettering, Ohio, three bass, 4-11, $336
9th: Rick McGuire, Brookville, Ohio, two bass, 4-8, $298
10th: Aaron Kuhlmann, Hamilton, Ohio, three bass, 4-7, $261
Logan Kaplon of Rural Valley, Pennsylvania, caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division – a fish weighing 3 pounds even – and earned the Co-angler Big Bass award of $262.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 11-13 BFL Regional Championship on Chesapeake Bay in North East, Maryland. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard.
The 2018 BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2019 BFL All-American will take place May 30-June 1 on the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
TENNESSEE’S JOHNSON WINS T-H MARINE FLW BFL LBL DIVISION FINALE ON KENTUCKY LAKE
Texas’ Glynn Grabs Co-angler Title
GILBERTSVILLE, Ky. (Sept. 10, 2018) – Boater Daniel Johnson of Lebanon, Tennessee, won the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) LBL Division tournament on Kentucky and Barkley lakes Sunday with a two-day cumulative catch of 10 bass weighing 32 pounds, 11 ounces. For his win, Johnson earned $5,943.
“I had three areas on the south end of Barkley Lake that I worked through both days,” said Johnson, who notched his second career win in BFL competition. “I targeted ultra-shallow cover like rock and wood – basically anything in less than 2 feet of water.”
Johnson flipped green-pumpkin or black and blue-colored tubes with ½-ounce Jenko Creature Weights. He also rotated in handmade balsa square-billed crankbaits. For crankbait colors, he said he preferred shad on Saturday and chartreuse with a black back on Sunday.
“The majority of my fish came from flipping, but I caught one key fish and a couple of keepers on the square-bill,” said Johnson. “I utilized the square-bill more early in the morning when I noticed shad up around the cover. Later in the day I flipped.”
Johnson said he caught eight keepers Saturday and six keepers on Sunday.
“Sticking with my gameplan was important,” said Johnson. “A lot of times, with those shallow fish, there aren’t enough of them for a two-day event, but I felt I could get two limits and two limits would go far. The fishing has been tough, but I knew there were some good, quality fish to be caught up shallow.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Daniel Johnson, Lebanon, Tenn., 10 bass, 32-11, $5,943
2nd: Drew Boggs, Lebanon, Tenn., 10 bass, 32-0, $2,671
3rd: Chris Beaudrie, Princeton, Ky., eight bass, 28-15, $1,748
4th: Joey Mallicoat, Lebanon, Tenn., seven bass, 28-10, $1,153
5th: Chuck Callahan, Cincinnati, Ohio, 10 bass, 27-11, $989
6th: Josh Malone, Alma, Ill., 10 bass, 27-7, $1,206
7th: Cody Bertrand, Dyer, Ind., seven bass, 27-1, $824
8th: Keith Amerson, Bethel Springs, Tenn., seven bass, 26-11, $1,348
9th: Billy Schroeder, Paducah, Ky., nine bass, 26-9, $659
10th: Brad Baldwin, Waynesville, Ohio, seven bass, 23-7, $577
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Amerson caught a bass weighing 6 pounds, 5 ounces – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division. The catch earned him the Boater Big Bass award of $607.
Michael Glynn of Boerne, Texas, caught a two-day total of seven bass weighing 23 pounds, 7 ounces, to win the Co-angler Division and $2,671.
The top 10 co-anglers were:
1st: Michael Glynn, Boerne, Texas, seven bass, 23-7, $2,671
2nd: Dennis Taylor, Murray, Ky., six bass, 22-11, $1,236
3rd: Jerry Sterling, Jackson, Mo., five bass, 18-10, $872
4th: Wesley Dunn, Paducah, Ky., six bass, 18-0, $577
5th: Spencer Childers, Jasper, Ga., five bass, 17-15, $494
6th: Nathan Steele, Benton, Ky., five bass, 15-15, $453
7th: Ryan Kirkpatrick, Benton, Ky., four bass, 13-9, $412
8th: Danny Robinson, Fairland, Ind., two bass, 11-6, $675
9th: James Kelley, Maryland Heights, Mo., three bass, 11-4, $330
10th: Evan Bremmerkamp, Benton, Ky., three bass, 10-12, $288
Robinson caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division – a fish weighing 6 pounds, 15 ounces – and earned the Co-angler Big Bass award of $304.
The 2018 T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) LBL Division finale on Kentucky and Barkley lakes was hosted by the Kentucky Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 25-27 BFL Regional Championship on Lake Chickamauga in Dayton, Tennessee. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard.
The 2018 BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2019 BFL All-American will take place May 30-June 1 on the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
CASEY MARTIN WINS T-H MARINE FLW BFL CHOO CHOO DIVISION FINALE ON LAKE GUNTERSVILLE
Co-angler Title Goes to Athen’s Hill
GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. (Sept. 10, 2018) – Boater Casey Martin of New Hope, Alabama, won the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Choo Choo Division tournament on Lake Guntersville Sunday with a two-day cumulative catch of 10 bass weighing 36 pounds, 5 ounces. Martin earned $8,174 for his win.
Martin said he spent his weekend fishing the Goose Pond area of Lake Guntersville.
“I fished mid- to upper-lake, just junk-fishing,” said Martin, who earned his seventh career win – third on Lake Guntersville – in FLW competition. “I caught a couple of fish deep with a swimbait at a depression on a shell bed, and a couple schooling with a topwater bait. For the schooling fish I sat in 7 to 8 feet of water and threw into 3 to 5 feet. You could see the grass right under the surface.”
Martin said he used a 99 Problems-colored True Bass Perfect Head Swimbait rigged on a ¾-ounce Picasso Smart Mouth Jig Head out deep, and a Sexy Shad-colored Bill Lewis’ StutterStep and a green-pumpkin-colored Z-Man ChatterBait with a Z-Man Razor Shadz trailer for a one-two punch up shallow. He said he logged about nine keepers total Saturday.
“I’d run the StutterStep and then the ChatterBait after to get ones that wouldn’t commit to the StutterStep,” said Martin.
On Sunday, strong winds forced Martin to switch patterns. He opted to flip main-lake grass mats with a Z-Man Palmetto BugZ rigged with a 1½-ounce Picasso tungsten weight and ended up catching around eight keepers.
“The key for me was knowing how to adjust to the conditions,” said Martin. “Having confidence in my areas was important as well. It can be tough out there this time of year.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Casey Martin, New Hope, Ala., 10 bass, 36-5, $6,174 + $2,000 Ranger Cup Bonus
2nd: Ryan Salzman, Huntsville, Ala., 10 bass, 34-3, $3,137
3rd: Jason Grape, Attalla, Ala., 10 bass, 31-9, $2,057
4th: Casey O'Donnell, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 31-4, $1,371
5th: Alex Davis, Albertville, Ala., 10 bass, 31-3, $1,175
6th: Paul Tidwell, Horton, Ala., 10 bass, 29-4, $1,077
7th: Laker Howell, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 28-12, $979
8th: Derek Remitz, Grant, Ala., eight bass, 27-14, $881
9th: Bryan Dowdy, Florence, Ala., 10 bass, 27-14, $783
10th: Jake Gipson, Birmingham, Ala., 10 bass, 27-8, $685
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Douglas Webster of Pinson, Alabama, caught a bass weighing 6 pounds, 14 ounces – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division. The catch earned him the Boater Big Bass award of $780.
Randy Hill of Athens, Alabama, caught a two-day total of eight bass weighing 23 pounds, 1 ounce, to win the Co-angler Division and $3,080.
The top 10 co-anglers were:
1st: Randy Hill, Athens, Ala., eight bass, 23-1, $3,080
2nd: Alex Pruitt, Bessemer, Ala., eight bass, 22-13, $1,440
3rd: Ron Montgomery, Rome, Ga., six bass, 17-4, $1,012
4th: Colby Hester, Russellville, Ala., five bass, 16-12, $672
5th: Marcus Corbett, Anniston, Ala., five bass, 15-12, $576
6th: Paul Clayton, Cohutta, Ga., six bass, 15-4, $528
7th: Cameron Gatlin, Chattanooga, Tenn., seven bass, 14-15, $480
8th: Tony Hill, Chatsworth, Ga., seven bass, 14-12, $432
9th: Steven Jacques, Addison, Ala., five bass, 12-9, $384
10th: Chris Smith, Resaca, Ga., five bass, 11-11, $336
David Marr of Cleveland, Tennessee, caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division – a fish weighing 5 pounds, 12 ounces – and earned the Co-angler Big Bass award of $382.
The 2018 T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Choo Choo Division finale on Lake Guntersville was hosted by the Marshall County Convention & Visitors Bureau.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 25-27 BFL Regional Championship on Lake Chickamauga in Dayton, Tennessee. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard.
The 2018 BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2019 BFL All-American will take place May 30-June 1 on the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
TINGEN TAKES WIN AT T-H MARINE FLW BFL SAVANNAH RIVER DIVISION FINALE ON LAKE HARTWELL
Martin’s Watson Wins Co-angler Title
LAVONIA, Ga. (Sept. 10, 2018) – Boater Justin Tingen of Moore, South Carolina, fishing in his first ever tournament with FLW, won the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Savannah River Division tournament on Lake Hartwell Sunday with a two-day cumulative catch of 10 bass weighing 23 pounds, 14 ounces. For his win, Tingen earned $4,465.
“Fishing in my first ever BFL event and getting a win – the joke now is that I’m going to retire undefeated,” said Tingen, a 28-year old who grew up fishing on Lake Hartwell. “I had a great time, though, and I can’t wait to fish another one. I didn’t catch a whole lot of fish – just 8 or 9 keepers a day – but they were the right size.”
Tingen said he started his day Saturday with a 25-mile run up the Seneca River, catching a few fish early on a Shooter Lures buzzbait with a Zoom Horny Toad before working his way back down towards the Tugaloo River to finish his limit. Sunday, he started his day fishing the mid-lake area with a Roboworm on a drop-shot rig before working his way back up the Tugaloo.
“The key for me was covering a lot of water,” Tingen went on to say. “I burned ¾ of a tank of gas both days.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Justin Tingen, Moore, S.C., 10 bass, 23-14, $4,465
2nd: Chris Nelson, Social Circle, Ga., 10 bass, 22-2, $2,233
3rd: Matthew Justice, Fair Play, S.C., 10 bass, 21-11, $1,688
4th: Tra Dumit, Greenville, S.C., 10 bass, 21-2, $1,142
5th: Thomas Guthke, Anderson, S.C., 10 bass, 19-3, $893
6th: Derek Freeman, Anderson, S.C., 10 bass, 19-2, $819
7th: Brad Benfield, Cornelia, Ga., 10 bass, 18-14, $744
8th: William Fordree, Six Mile, S.C., 10 bass, 18-0, $670
9th: Michael Mengeling, Cumming, Ga., 10 bass, 16-11, $595
10th: Carl Zoellner, Highlands, N.C., eight bass, 15-8, $1,031
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Zoellner caught a bass weighing 5 pounds, 13 ounces – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division. The catch earned him the Boater Big Bass award of $510.
Tim Watson of Martin, Georgia, caught a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 16 pounds even to win the Co-angler Division and $2,333.
The top 10 co-anglers were:
1st: Tim Watson, Martin, Ga., 10 bass, 16-0, $2,333
2nd: Stephen Burress, Mills River, N.C., 10 bass, 14-8, $1,421
3rd: Michael Smith, Piedmont, S.C., 10 bass, 13-0, $744
4th: Jeremy Winn, Seneca, S.C., eight bass, 11-7, $521
5th: Peter Adames, Statesboro, Ga., seven bass, 11-2, $447
6th: Brandon Lawson, Union, S.C., four bass, 10-5, $409
7th: Bobby Smith, Asheville, N.C., six bass, 9-10, $372
8th: Matt Redd, Belton, S.C., eight bass, 9-7, $335
9th: Bobby Wade, Gaffney, S.C., five bass, 8-14, $298
10th: Thomas Morris, Walhalla, S.C., seven bass, 8-12, $260
Burress caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division – a fish weighing 4 pounds, 2 ounces – and earned the Co-angler Big Bass award of $255.
The 2018 T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Savannah River Division finale on Lake Hartwell was hosted by Tugaloo State Park.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 11-13 BFL Regional Championship on the St. Johns River in Palatka, Florida. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard.
The 2018 BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2019 BFL All-American will take place May 30-June 1 on the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
Marathon Man to Fish for 24 Hours Straight with Goal of Raising $25,000 for Fishing for Life’s “Next-Gen” Program
Kolodzinski set the mark in August 2011 for most fish caught in a 24-hour period with an entry of 2,143 fish in the Guinness Book of World Records, which still stands today. Over his numerous attempts to break the record, Kolodzinski has continued to raise awareness and money for the cause and the sport of fishing. This year, beginning at 9am Central Standard Time on September 11, Kolodzinski will begin his battle to beat the record at the Giant Goose Ranch in Canton, Illinois. The event will last a full 24 hours, with the final buzzer sounding at 9am Central Standard Time on September 12. The endeavor will be broadcast, in its entirety, live online and on the Marathon Man Facebook page.
Kolodzinski has represented the United States seven times in the World Championships of Freshwater Fishing and has worked in the fishing industry for his entire professional career, which has exposed him to the healing value of time on the water.
“My true passion has always been to introduce people – especially families – to the sport of fishing,” said Kolodzinski. “Living out that passion has lead me to partner with ‘Fishing For Life’ in support of their many programs that serve families through the language of fishing. Their Next-Gen program finds mentors for children of families in need. A special focus within the program serves families of our Veterans who have lost loved ones serving our nation. The intersection of these components inspires me to do something especially meaningful to help them.”
The venue for the Marathon’s Man 2018 undertaking is the Giant Goose Ranch, a family-focused recreation facility offering activities like camping, kayaking, and fishing.
Beyond the Marathon Man’s attempt to break the record, viewers will get the opportunity to learn about fishing techniques and see new gear and equipment from some of the fishing industry’s most prolific brands. Dozens of companies have contributed prizes that will be awarded throughout the 24-hour period.
People interested in contributing can donate through the GoFundMe page or learn more by checking out the Marathon Man Facebook page.
TEXAS’ HALL GOES WIRE-TO-WIRE, WINS COSTA FLW SERIES NORTHERN DIVISION FINALE ON 1000 ISLANDS PRESENTED BY NAVIONICS
21-year-old Kyle Hall tops 172-Boat Field at 1000 Islands, Nets $45,700
CLAYTON, N.Y. (Sept. 8, 2018) – Pro Kyle Hall of Rio Vista, Texas, brought five bass weighing 18 pounds, 10 ounces, to the scale Saturday to win the Costa FLW Series Northern Division finale on 1000 Islands presented by Navionics. Hall’s three-day total of 15 bass weighing 68 pounds, 11 ounces, was enough to earn him the win and a check for $45,700.
“I don’t even know what to say right now. I’m still in shock – it hasn’t sunk in yet,” said Hall, who notched his first win in FLW competition. “I knew coming into the first day I had a chance to do well based on how my practice went. It’s the first time I’ve ever been up here and it’s the best place I’ve been in terms of hospitality and fishing. You can’t go anywhere else in the world and catch 6-pound smallmouth on a daily basis.”
Hall fished both the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario this week. On day one, he fished the river and was able to put together a solid limit within a couple of hours.
“I caught 26 pounds by 9:30 (a.m.) Thursday,” said Hall. “I got about 25 pounds off one spot – a main-river current break. It had a few big rocks and went from about 40 to 20 feet, and then off to the side it came up from 50 to 35 feet. I caught a 5-pounder at another stop and by then I knew I wanted to be done and save fish.”
On Friday, Hall returned to his current break, but couldn’t get anything going. He said he decided to make his way to Lake Ontario and was able to put a 6-pounder in the boat near Stony Island. From there, he worked through 15 to 20 stops to piece together a limit.
“I ran points that went out to the middle of the lake. Some had boulders – maybe 8 to 10 of them – and I just ran through them multiple times,” said Hall. “I caught my limit by 1:30 p.m. and spent the rest of the day helping my co-angler out.”
On Saturday, Lake Ontario was deemed off-limits by FLW officials due to high wind and waves. Hall said he returned to his current break once again, but ended up moving somewhere different due to the wind.
“I ran to an area in Canadian waters where I figured I could catch a limit. At about 8:30 (a.m.) I found that my drift paddles were really helping me out,” said Hall. “The wind was going one way and the current was going the other, but my paddles pulled me and I moved with the current. Without them, my boat would’ve been sitting on top the fish I targeted. They’re highly pressured and probably would’ve been spooked, but I was able to cast straight out in front of me and have my bait come right across their faces without my boat sitting over them.”
Hall caught his fish this week on a drop-shot rig using a 3-inch Natural Shad-colored Berkley Powerbait MaxScent Flatnose Minnow. He said he also threw a 3-inch Smelt-colored Berkley Gulp Minnow on a drop-shot rig early in the morning or when it got cloudy. Hall preferred 2/0-sized VMC Sureset hooks on 20-pound-test PowerPro Super Slick line with a 10-pound-test Seaguar InvizX flourocarbon leader. His line was spooled on a Shimano 15 Stradic C3000 reel attached to a 6-foot, 10-inch, G-Loomis NRX rod.
“I used 5/8-ounce weights throughout the week, and a 1-ounce weight today because of the wind,” said Hall. “I caught every fish looking at my Lowrance electronics this week – my favorite way to fish, by far.”
The top 10 pros on 1000 Islands finished:
1st: Kyle Hall, Rio Vista, Texas, 15 bass, 68-11, $45,700
2nd: Carl Jocumsen, Frisco, Texas, 15 bass, 65-9, $17,500
3rd: Chris Johnston, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, 15 bass, 64-6, $13,100
4th: A.J. Slegona, Pine Bush, N.Y., 15 bass, 61-13, $11,000
5th: Curtis Richardson, Belleville, Ontario, Canada, 15 bass, 60-15, $10,000
6th: Matt Becker, Finleyville, Pa., 15 bass, 60-12, $8,800
7th: John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky., 15 bass, 57-15 , $7,400
8th: Austin Felix, Eden Prairie, Minn., 15 bass, 57-12, $6,400
9th: Jesse Spellicy, Gouverneur, N.Y., 13 bass, 54-10, $5,400
10th: Joe Ford, Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada, 12 bass, 53-7, $4,200
A complete list of results will be posted at FLWFishing.com.
Becker weighed a 6-pound, 11-ounce, bass Friday – the biggest of the tournament in the Pro Division. For his catch, Becker earned the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $300.
Drew Tiano of Hudson, New York, won the Co-angler Division and a Ranger Z175 with a 90-horsepower outboard motor with a three-day total catch of 15 bass weighing 59 pounds, 5 ounces.
The top 10 co-anglers on 1000 Islands finished:
1st: Drew Tiano, Hudson, N.Y., 15 bass, 59-5, $27,600
2nd: Aaron Middleton, Fredericktown, Ohio, 15 bass, 53-13 , $5,550
3rd: Cort Gardner, Jessup, Md., 15 bass, 53-8, $4,600
4th: Wataru Iwahori, Palestine, Texas, 15 bass, 52-14, $3,700
5th: Zack Hajecate, Wallkill, N.Y., 15 bass, 51-4, $3,200
6th: Timothy Pearch, Amherst, Ohio, 15 bass, 50-11, $2,700
7th: Corey Burton, Canton, Ohio, 15 bass, 49-7, $2,200
8th: Justin Lonchar, Industry, Pa., 15 bass, 49-0, $1,850
9th: Joseph Marsh, Phillipsburg, N.J., 12 bass, 43-5, $1,540
10th: Justin Mounce, Springdale, Ark., 13 bass, 40-3, $1,290
Peter Bates of Wallingford, Connecticut, caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the Co-angler Division Thursday, a fish weighing 7 pounds, 1 ounce. For his catch, Bates earned the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $200.
The Costa FLW Series on 1000 Islands presented by Navionics was hosted by the Clayton Chamber of Commerce. It was the third and final FLW Series Northern Division tournament of the 2018 regular season. The next Costa FLW Series tournament will be the Western Division finale, held Sept. 27-29 on the California Delta in Bethel Island, California, and is presented by Power-Pole. For a complete schedule, visit FLWFishing.com.
The Costa FLW Series consists of five U.S. divisions – Central, Northern, Southeastern, Southwestern and Western – along with the International division. Each U.S. division consists of three regular-season tournaments with competitors vying for valuable points that could earn them the opportunity to compete in the season-ending Costa FLW Series Championship. The 2018 Costa FLW Series Championship is being held Nov. 1-3 on Lake Guntersville in Guntersville, Alabama, and is hosted by the Marshall County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Costa FLW Series on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
POTOMAC RIVER SELECTED TO HOST 2019 BFL ALL-AMERICAN AND COLLEGE FISHING NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Two Bass Fishing Championship events to be held at Smallwood State Park in Charles County
MINNEAPOLIS (Sept. 10, 2018) – FLW announced Monday the dates and location for the 2019 T-H Marine Bass Fishing League (BFL) All-American and the 2019 YETI FLW College Fishing National Championship. The Potomac River and Marbury, Maryland, will play host to both the 36th annual BFL All-American, May 30-June 1, and the College Fishing National Championship, June 4-6.
Although the historic fishery has played host to numerous FLW Tour, Series, BFL, College Fishing and High School events over the year, the Potomac River has never before hosted an FLW championship-level event. Both the BFL All-American and the College Fishing National Championship are being hosted by the Charles County Board of Commissioners and the Department of Recreation, Parks and Tourism.
Anglers in both events will take off and weigh-in from Smallwood State Park, located at 2750 Sweden Point Road in Marbury. Time and tide wait for no man, and that’s especially true for bass anglers on the lower Potomac River and its feeder streams. Hit the right spot at the right time in the daily cycle of tides, and a fisherman can put himself in a position to win. Miss the mark, and finish back in the pack.
2019 T-H Marine FLW BFL All-American
- May 30-June 1 Potomac River Marbury, Md.
2019 YETI FLW College Fishing National Championship
- June 4-6 Potomac River Marbury, Md.
Anglers competing in the BFL All-American on the Potomac River will cast for a cash prize of up to $120,000 in the Boater Division and $60,000 in the Co-angler Division. In addition to the six-figure payday, the top boater will also receive an invitation to compete for bass fishing’s most coveted prize – the Forrest Wood Cup – held Aug. 9-11 on Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
The 2019 FLW College Fishing National Championship awards the top team a $30,000 prize package, including a Ranger Z175 boat with a 90-horsepower outboard engine and each angler an entry into the 2019 Forrest Wood Cup.
The complete schedule and rules for the 2019 BFL and FLW College Fishing season will be announced soon. The full schedule and rules for both circuits will be posted online at FLWFishing.com.
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 FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
Jesse Wiggins Wins Pro Division of Alabama Bass Trail Open at Smith Lake Wesley Sams and Jordan Wiggins win Amateur Division
by Dan O’Sullivan
September 8, 2018 – Jasper, Ala. – For the first time since the inception of the Alabama Bass Trail, the trail hosted an event outside of the usual schedule. The Alabama Bas Trail Open, presented by Phoenix Boats provided anglers to enjoy the Alabama Bass Trail experience in an event that featured a payback that eclipsed $75,000.
The event drew a total of 164 boats, which was an incredible number, especially when considering that there was a B.A.S.S. Open at Logan Martin, along with a BFL Super Tournament at Lake Guntersville on the same day. The event featured a standalone Pro Division, as well as an Amateur Division.
Bassmaster Elite Series pro Jesse Wiggins, who calls Smith Lake his home lake beat FLW Tour pro Bill Hutchison and his partner Billy Green in the winner take all format with 14.59 pounds. Wiggins said from stage that he started the day throwing moving baits, but that he turned to something he is well known for. “I weighed most of these fish on a homemade 3/16-ounce shakin’ head that we make with a green pumpkin Zoom Trick Worm,” he said. “We have fished this way since I was a kid, and any time I can fish at home, I’m gonna fish it and that setup is gonna be a part of it.”
The amateur division was won by Wiggins’ brother Jordan and his partner Wesley Sams - who have won an ABT on Smith Lake in the past – claimed victory in the amateur division with a limit of bass weighing 14.92 pounds. The pair said that the fished the Rock Creek area and targeted largemouth primarily with topwater baits. “We fought the trend of chasing spotted bass because we thought everyone was going to chase them,” they said. “We got good bites early and managed to fill in a bit later. Any time you can win at home is a good thing, we are extremely happy.”
The father / son team of Kyle and Luke Glasgow posted a 14.23-pound limit that earned them second place. They said they covered a bunch of water throwing small swimbaits to catch their fish. “We threw a Keitech on a jighead and burned through 50 gallons of gas to catch our bag,” they said. “We had one big one swipe at the lure and miss it, and while we would have liked to have had it, it’s great to get to fish together and do well.”
The Mountain Dew Big Bass of the event was caught by Charles and Chuck Beach. The 5.68-pound largemouth anchored their 34th place finish and earned them the $1000 big bass bonus.
The rest of the Top 10 Standings are below, for complete standings visit: https://www.alabamabasstrail.org/tournament-series/abt-open-results/
PRO RESULTS
Place | Pro Anglers | Weight | Big Fish | Winnings |
PRO | Jesse Wiggins/ | 14.59 | 4.19 | $7,500 |
PRO | Bill Hutchison/Billy Green | 4.66 | $0 |
AMATEUR RESULTS
Place | Anglers | Weight | Big Fish | Winnings |
1 | Wesley Sams/Jordan Wiggins | 14.92 | 5.13 | $15,000 |
2 | Kyle Glasgow/Luke Glasgow | 14.23 | 4.00 | $7,500 |
3 | Craig Daniel/Jackie Flack | 14.13 | $6,000 | |
4 | Eric Phillips/Tim Cornelius | 13.07 | $5,000 | |
5 | David Nixon/Delano Green | 12.39 | $4,000 | |
6 | Kyle Welcher/Kevin Whitaker | 12.35 | 4.40 | $3,000 |
7 | Jeston Anderson/Gene Latham | 12.29 | 4.01 | $2,500 |
8 | David Hudson/Justin Stephenson | 12.26 | $2,000 | |
9 | Brian Jett/Matthew Hyde | 12.24 | $1,500 | |
10 | Tim Arnold/Brian Graves | 12.10 | 4.12 | $1,000 |
Late Fall In Tennessee Could Make Bassmaster Open On Douglas Lake Challenging
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Justin Atkins Rocks Bassmaster Open For A Win On Logan Martin Lake
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AFT D-96 Tournament Results, Clarks Hill Lake – August 19th, 2018
D-96 2018 Season Qualifier Tournament
Courtesy James Satterwhite
There were 21 anglers fishing this Division 96 1-day qualifier tournament at Clark Hill out of the Dorn Facility near McCormick, SC. There were 54 fish brought to the scales that weighed a total for 98.22 lbs.
Group photo from left to right: 1st place Chase Stewart of Ware Shoal, SC / 2nd place Don Branham of Hodges, SC / 3rd place Don Kneece of Saluda, SC / 4th place Andy Lake of Batesburg, SC / 5th place Kevin Bragg of Laurens, SC. The day started out at with overcast skies, 71 degrees with a slight breeze, reaching a high temperature of 91. At the 3pm weigh-in we had nice rain shower, that seemed to be meant just for us, since it wasn’t raining anywhere else. The rain cooled off the setting until the sun came back out creating a nice steamy outdoor sauna.
- First place, Chase Stewart had a 5.98lbs kicker that anchored his (5) fish limit of 12.21lbs for the win. Congrats! Chase fished the middle portion of the lake through-out the day, catching his best fish on a frog or buzzbait later in the day. The payback for first place, first place option, and Big Fish option earned Chase $770, along with the first place trophy.
- Second place, Don Branham had a (5) fish limit weighing 9.35lbs. The payback for second place and second place option earned Don $400 to go along with the second place trophy.
- Third place, Don Kneece had (4) fish weighing 9.11lbs. The pay back for third place was $105 and the third place trophy.
- Fourth Place, Andy Lake had a (5) fish limit weighing 9.04lbs. The pay back for fourth place was $70 plus a discount coupon from Level Performance Rods worth a $50 value towards the online purchase of any Level Performance Rod!
- Fifth place, Kevin Bragg had (4) fish weighing 7.53lbs. Fifth place didn’t receive a payback but Kevin did receive a nice Level Performance Rods hat.
The next D-96 tournament for the 2019 season is a Division 1-Day Qualifier on Lake Hartwell, September 16thout of the Greenpond ramp, in Anderson SC.
Our local sponsors will be providing products or money for products for the anglers fishing Division 96 tournaments. Please give them your support by looking to them first when considering your purchases. They are supporting you!
Level Performance Rods: Rods designed and fished by FLW Pro Anthony Gagliardi of Prosperity, SC. See the complete line of these affordable rods atwww.levelfishingrods.com (803-500-2354) Also Level Rods are at Palmetto State Armory Fishing Outpost Fernandina Road in Columbia, SC.
We have (10) $50 coupons, (1) to be given out at each event, and 1 Level Rod are to be awarded to D-96 anglers for the Big Sack of the Season.
Kneece Investigations, LLC Saluda, SC www.kneeceinvestigations.com (864-445-3713) (one stop for both your Investigative and Surveillance Equipment needs)
Angler's Headquarters: (previously SCFishingTackle.com) Committed to providing our customers with the best prices and customer service on all of our merchandise, including the complete line of Buckeye Lures products. In the coming months we will continue to add more brands, and we will continue to guarantee the lowest prices around as well as excellent service. If you find a lower regular price on an item, let us know and we will match or beat it. We are located in Columbia, SC, but can ship our products anywhere in the United States. You don't have to be in South Carolina to enjoy our fishing tackle! We have quietly been in business for more than five years, but we are now expanding our product line and marketing. Be sure to check out our sister website www.scfishingreport.com. Email: Sales@AnglersHeadquarters.com; Phone: (803) 253-4084;
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Complete results and news on www.aba-sc.com and see your photos on ‘facebook’ at D-96 American Fishing Tour
Up Coming Tournaments:
D-96 Sept 16, 2018 Hartwell Greenpond Ramp
D-25 Sept 23, 2018 Hartwell Greenpond Ramp
D-18 Oct 20, 2018 Wylie Buster Boyd Ramp