Full Fields for 2018 Alabama Bass Trail
by Dan O’Sullivan / Alabama Bass Trail
January 17, 2018 – Decatur, Ala. – For the first time since its inception in 2014, the Alabama Bass Trail will feature full fields of 225 teams in both its North and South Divisions. There have been several seasons where one division filled to capacity, however, 2018 will mark the first time the trail reached full capacity.
It is a feat that signifies the quality of the trail, according to one of its marquee teams.
Mark McCaig and Tim Hurst have been one of the top teams in the circuit since the beginning of ABT, as evidenced by their representing the circuit at the Bassmaster Team Championship every season. “It’s really rare for a trail to continue growing in numbers after several seasons,” they said. “A lot of anglers see tough competition, and decide to find someplace else to fish; it says a lot about ABT that they are not.”
The pair said that they decided to fish from the announcement of the ABT Tournament Trail because they knew it was going to be good competition, and they wanted to be a part of it. “We signed up the first day registration opened because we wanted to make sure we were in,” they said. “We had a feeling all along that ABT was going to be a big deal; it has been, and continues to be, and are proud to be a part of it.”
The team said that they have heard other anglers say how much they wanted to be able to say they were ABT competitors. “We’ve heard people say they wanted to enter to be a part of something big like ABT,” they said. “We also have heard people say that getting a check in ABT events is as significant to them as winning a club tournament, because of the level of competition.”
McCaig himself said that he has had several conversations with ABT Program Director Kay Donaldson about the tour, and he knows what it means to her. “I called Kay the moment I heard about both fields fulling to tell her congratulations,” he said. “She’s worked very hard for us since the beginning, and the full fields are a testament to the quality event that the whole ABT Team has built.
“It has been something that Tim and I have both been proud to represent,” he said. “We’re looking forward to another season and hopefully improving upon our finishes already.”
The 2018 Alabama Bass Trail season kicks off with the Northern Division opener at Pickwick Lake on February 17 and the Southern Division Opener on February 24. Alabama Bass Trail will also be adding a Facebook Live Weigh-in in addition to the Live Streaming on the website in 2018. Just another way that Alabama Bass Trail continues to build a broad spectrum vehicle for the anglers and the fans of the sport in the State of Alabama and beyond.
FLW TOUR READIES TO KICKOFF 23RD SEASON AT LAKE OKEECHOBEE
Courtesy of FLW Fishing
Water Clarity Expected to Play Big Role in Internationally-Televised Event presented by Evinrude
CLEWISTON, Fla. (Jan. 16, 2018) – When Fishing League Worldwide (FLW) co-angler Nik Kayler lost his life in an unexpected tragedy in an event in early January, it saddened the entire bass-fishing industry. Now, FLW is tasked with moving forward through the grief and getting back to competition on the water next week in their return to Lake Okeechobee.
“We’ve had thorough and thoughtful internal discussions as a company and the decision was made that we need to get back on the water,” said FLW President of Operations Kathy Fennel. “We are still grieving as an organization, but fishing tournaments are what we do. It is what Nik loved, too. Getting back on the water, at Lake Okeechobee, is a way to help with the grieving process. Nik and his family will be on the minds of every single angler and staff member throughout the tournament.
“We will honor and remember Nik and his family throughout the weekend, as well as encourage our staff, anglers and fans to donate to the GoFundMe campaign that has been organized for Nik’s family. We will honor Nik by continuing to pursue the sport that we all love.”
The FLW Tour, the most competitive Tour in professional bass-fishing, will launch its 23rd season next week, Jan. 25-28, with the FLW Tour at Lake Okeechobee presented by Evinrude. Hosted by Roland & Mary Ann Martin’s Marina and Resort and the Hendry County Tourism Development Council, the tournament will feature 374 of the world’s best bass-fishing professionals and co-anglers casting for top awards of up to $125,000 cash in the pro division and up to $25,000 cash in the co-angler division.
The FLW Tour has visited Lake Okeechobee 20 times previously, with 2018 marking the 21st visit in FLW’s 23-year history. The total purse for the FLW Tour at Lake Okeechobee presented by Evinrude is more than $930,000, including $10,000 through 60th place in the Pro Division.
“Lake Okeechobee is fishing quite a bit differently than the last six or seven times that the FLW Tour has been here,” said local FLW Tour pro Scott Martin of Clewiston, a 17-time Forrest Wood Cup qualifier with more than $2.7 million in career earnings in FLW competition. “The water levels are much higher this year, and we lost a good amount of our vegetation in some of the more traditional places due to the hurricane last fall. The wind and water clarity are going to play a big role in this tournament and a lot of guys that have been coming here for years are going to have to approach this tournament quite a bit different than they normally would.
“The good news is that the fish didn’t leave, and they still have to eat,” Martin continued. “Some of the traditional areas will still be good, but there will definitely be a few new wildcard areas. Somebody is going to figure out a way to catch them in the stained water.”
“I think moving baits like Rat-L-Traps and ChatterBaits will be pretty good,” he said. “Flipping will also play a big factor this year. We’re fishing a little earlier than we normally do, and January is still prime flipping season. With some stable weather being forecast, I could also see another wave of bass moving up to spawn and sight-fishing playing a role as well. It’s going to be an interesting tournament.
“The weights may be down just a little bit, but it’s still Lake Okeechobee and the potential is always there for a mega-bag, especially if you can find a wildcard area to yourself,” Martin went on to say. “I think the winner will likely have a four-day total around 74 to 76 pounds, but if a guy can find the mega-juice flipping or out in open water, the potential is always there to challenge 100 pounds.”
Anglers will take off at 7:30 a.m. EST each day from Roland & Mary Ann Martin’s Marina and Resort, located at 920 E. Del Monte, Ave., in Clewiston. Thursday and Friday’s weigh-ins, Jan. 25-26, will be held at the resort beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday’s weigh-ins, Jan. 27-28, will also be held at the resort, but will begin at 4 p.m.
Television coverage of the FLW Tour at Lake Okeechobee presented by Evinrude will premiere in high-definition (HD) on NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) March 28 from Noon-1 p.m. EST. The Emmy-nominated "FLW" television show airs on NBCSN, the Pursuit Channel and the World Fishing Network and is broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide.
Prior to the weigh-ins Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 27-28, FLW will host a free Family Fishing Expo at Roland & Mary Ann Martin’s Marina and Resort from noon to 4 p.m. each day. The Expo is a chance for fishing fans to meet their favorite anglers, enjoy interactive games, activities and giveaways provided by FLW sponsors, and learn more about the sport of fishing and other outdoor activities.
Also for youth, the FLW Foundation’s Unified Fishing Derby will be held at the marina on Saturday, Jan. 27 from 9-11 a.m. The event is hosted by FLW Foundation pro Cody Kelley along with other FLW Tour anglers, and is free and open to anyone under the age of 18 and Special Olympics athletes. Rods and reels are available for use, but youth are encouraged to bring their own if they own one. The 1st and 2nd place anglers that catch the biggest fish will be recognized Saturday on the FLW Tour stage, just prior to the pros weighing in.
As part of the FLW Tour’s community outreach initiative, FLW Tour anglers will visit patients, guests and staff at the Hendry Regional Medical Center, located at 524 W. Sagamore Avenue, in Clewiston on Wednesday, Jan. 24 from 8:30-10 a.m. to interact with guests, snap photos and sign autographs for patients, give away some goodie bags and share fishing stories.
In FLW Tour competition, pros and co-anglers are randomly paired each day, with pros supplying the boat, controlling boat movement and competing against other pros. Co-anglers fish from the back deck against other co-anglers. The full field of 374 anglers competes in the two-day opening round. Co-angler competition concludes following Friday’s weigh-in, while the top 30 pros based on their two-day accumulated weight advance to Saturday. Only the top 10 pros continue competition Sunday, with the winner determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from the four days of competition.
Throughout the season, anglers are also vying for valuable points in hopes of qualifying for the 2018 Forrest Wood Cup, the world championship of professional bass fishing. The 2018 Forrest Wood Cup will be on Lake Ouachita in Hot Springs, Arkansas, Aug. 10-12 and is hosted by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism and Visit Hot Springs.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the sport’s top anglers on the FLW Tour on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
For more Information on Lake Okeechobee and the FLW Tour Stop #1, Click HERE to visit our Tournament Calendar and Lake Guide
FLW FOUNDATION, EVINRUDE TEAM WITH NATIONAL PEDIATRIC CANCER FOUNDATION TO PROMOTE ‘FISHING FUNDS THE CURE’ CAMPAIGN
Courtesy FLW Outdoors
MINNEAPOLIS (Jan. 17, 2018) – Fishing League Worldwide (FLW) announced today that the FLW Foundation, the company’s 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting youth to their natural resources and promoting education, conservation and an active lifestyle, has joined forces with their longtime partner Evinrude and the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation (NPCF) to promote the ‘Fishing Funds the Cure’ program throughout the 2018 tournament season.
The NPCF partnered with the two industry giants to raise funds for pediatric cancer research by combining the FLW Foundation’s mission to support the sport of fishing with NPCF’s mission to find less toxic, more targeted treatments for pediatric cancer by engaging all Americans to take a child fishing and support pediatric cancer.
Participants in the campaign are encouraged to take a child fishing and post their catches to social media and tag the NPCF, FLW and Evinrude using #FISHINGFUNDSTHECURE. Friends, family and coworkers are then challenged to make a donation to the NPCF based on a dollar amount assigned to one of the following parameters: the total number of fish caught, the length of the fish in inches or total ounces caught. For example: if the angler catches 10 fish, encourage everyone to donate $10, or $1 per fish. If the angler catches three 12-inch fish (36 inches total), encourage everyone to donate $3, $12 or $36.
“While most cancer research focuses on adult treatments, NPCF funds clinical trials to fast track less-toxic, more targeted treatments for children,” said David Frazer, CEO of the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation. “For NPCF, this natural partnership reinforces that raising awareness and funding cures for cancer is something anyone and everyone can participate in. We’re also very excited to have Evinrude’s support as the official outboard motor partner for this program.”
The campaign will be actively promoted throughout the 2018 FLW Tour season by FLW Tour pro Cody Kelley of Conway, Arkansas. Kelley currently works with the FLW Foundation to showcase its initiatives, including hosting FLW Foundation Unified Fishing Derbies all over the country and inviting children battling cancer to attend for a day of fun on the water.
“I encourage all anglers to get involved with this campaign,” said Kelley. “Together we can engage the spirit of anglers to apply their love of fishing to help kids with pediatric cancer.”
The program will feature prizes, including a VIP trip to the Forrest Wood Cup, for anglers that raise the most money.
For more information on the Fishing Funds the Cure program, or to sign up as a participant, visit fishingfundsthecure.org.
To learn more about the FLW Foundation and its initiatives, check out flwfishing.com/foundation.
About the FLW Foundation
The FLW Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to connecting youth to their natural resources and promoting education, conservation and an active lifestyle. Funding helps support youth fishing recruitment, retention and reactivation programs including Unified Fishing Derbies, “Get Outdoors. Go Fish!” school visits by professional anglers and High School Fishing grants. The FLW Foundation is dedicated to spreading the joy of fishing to a new generation of young anglers. For more information, visit FLWfishing.com/foundation.
About The National Pediatric Cancer Foundation
The National Pediatric Cancer Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to funding research to eliminate childhood cancer through the Sunshine Project, the Foundation’s collaborative research initiative. By partnering with doctors and researchers from the country’s top institutions, the Sunshine Project is fast-tracking the development of new drugs and therapies that will ultimately lead to the cure of childhood cancers. For more information, visit NationalPCF.org.
Brad Knight - 2018 Tournament Season, Here I Come!
Hey folks, Brad Knight here. As I welcomed the new year with my family I began to really look forward to the upcoming tournament season.
I dedicated the Christmas-to-New Year timeframe to my wife, Becky and daughter, Tinsley. Tinsley started school this year and Becky has a job as secretary at the school.
I’ll be traveling without them so that will be a little different. I’m used to having them there with me.
Shortly after New Year’s I went down to Okeechobee to get a look around and see where the changes were after the hurricane.
I wanted to see any changes to the grass, where there’s dirty water, clear water, that sort of thing, just trying to stay on the water as much as possible.
Business-wise, things are good. I actually got ahead of schedule this year, which is a big change for me.
I got my boat before Christmas. Normally, it’s the end of January or first of February when everything is about to happen and you’re rushing to get a boat wrap put on and you’re
rushing to get your electronics installed and it’s ‘go, go, go’ and you’re not able to take your time and it seems like you leave and hit the road and you’re still rushing.
This year I got to take my time because I got my boat early.
I also got a new Lance camper and I got that set up. I actually enjoyed the process. For the first time in 10 years it wasn’t a headache to get prepared for the season. It was enjoyable.
I’m hoping that relaxed mindset carries over into the Tour where you sometimes feel like you don’t get a chance to catch your breath before the year even gets started.
This year though, I’m ready to go. My tackle is in order. My rods and reels are in good shape. I am dialed-in! For the whole year.
The 2017 season did not go as well as I had hoped. I didn’t qualify for the Forrest Wood Cup. People who don’t compete don’t have a clue how hard it is to even qualify for the Cup.
I don’t think I needed any extra motivation, but after watching this one from the sideline last year, I can assure you I want to be in every single one of them going forward.
That said, it was really cool to do media coverage of the Cup from my boat with AnglersChannel.com and the Progressive Bass Wrap Up TV Show and to see, from an outside perspective, how good these anglers are.
Getting my Head Right
One way I cleared my mind of the bass tournament season was by hunting.
You see, my world changed after I won the Cup in 2015. I had fished for a long time but I always went back and worked at the pharmacy here in town full-time after the season wound down. After I won the Cup, that was the first time
I was able to fish full-time and I’m not the kind of guy who needs to be immersed in the fishing industry 12 months out of the year. I need a break.
Some guys fish every day, all day and they love it; can’t get enough. I’m not that type. I can’t keep my intensity level high enough if I do it all the time.
So by September I’m burned out on the tournament fishing and I want to start hunting. And then, by the end of December, I’m burned out on the hunting and I’m ready to go fishing again. So it kind of cycles around and keeps me interested.
Plus, with technology being what it is today, I can just about do all of the checking and returning emails from a tree stand that I could sitting at home in my office so that helps a lot to free up my time so I can go recharge my
mental batteries, so to speak, for the upcoming tournament season.
Maintaining Momentum
Once I get into a season I want to fish a lot because momentum is a big deal in any competitive endeavor. I want to get on a roll. I don’t want to sit around 3 weeks between events.
For instance, this year I am fishing the FLW Tour as well as the Northern Costas and the Bassmaster Eastern Opens. It’s like this deal we had in basketball where you shot until you got in the groove and when you got in the groove you shot some more.
I’m going to fish a lot until I get in the groove and then fish everything.
Controlling the Variables.
Being away from my family is hard but at the end of the day, bass fishing is what I do for a living.
One important aspect of successful fishing involves taking control of all controllable variables. There is so much we can’t control. The weather is a great example, even though we can prepare for whatever weather we may face.
Using the best quality gear is one way to control what is within your grasp. For me it’s an overall system that includes everything including my rods which match, not only my reels, but even the lures themselves.
The electronics on my boat are a big part of it. I demand excellence from all of my gear. Even where I sleep while on the road is a big part of my system.
As for rods, Lew’s and Strike King have joined under the same umbrella now so I expect to see even more perfectly matched combos and lures for certain techniques.
While on Okeechobee recently I enjoyed the new 9-foot flipping stick – talk about power! Now that’s taking control of a controllable variable. HUGE leverage!
This year I am happy to be back with Lowrance Electronics. The Carbon units, well, I can operate them even with gloves on. I run a 12-inch unit on the bow and a 16 at the console. I know what things look like on them and I have a comfort level with Lowrance electronics.
That will definitely make me more efficient this year.
My Lance camper is my home away from home. It has all the comforts I could want. I am 6’3” and weigh 240 pounds and I can stand and take a shower.
I can cook all my meals right there and control what I eat – no worries about food poisoning from some of those restaurants we’ve all eaten at.
I have a propane generator so I can watch satellite TV and charge my boat batteries. Best of all, I don’t even need to find a campground because I’m not pulling a 40-foot trailer.
Where I park the truck is where my camper is so I can just stay in the parking lot at the boat ramp. It doesn’t get any more convenient. And I don’t have to worry about getting to the ramp in the morning with traffic, flat tires, all that stuff.
With the Lance camper I can pack everything that I might possibly need. You really can take it all with you.
Again, it’s a matter of controlling everything I can.
Well, With that said, I’m moving forward and looking to have a great 2018. I wish y’all one as well!
Suzuki Outboards Adds Avena, Rojas & Spohrer to 2018 Fishing Team
(January 16, 2018 – Brea, CA) Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. is proud to announce their roster of pro fishermen for the 2018 Bassmaster® Elite Tournament Series. “Suzuki is back in 2018, bigger and better than ever,” said Gus Blakely, vice president of sales for Suzuki Marine. “We’re eager to see our guys compete on the Elite circuit – all powered by Suzuki’s 250SS 4-stroke outboard.”
Suzuki stalwarts Brandon Card, Chad Pipkens and Clifford Pirch, will welcome Elite veterans Dean Rojas, Gerald Spohrer and Adrian Avena to the team in 2018. Here’s a brief introduction to each angler:
Adrian Avena
Adrian Avena moved up to the Bassmaster® Elite Series after starting out on the FLW Tour and boasts career winnings approaching half a million dollars. Adrian grew up in New Jersey and counts the Chesapeake Bay as his home lake. Needless to say, he’s comfortable on big water.
“I’ve been running a Bass Cat for the past few years and have heard nothing but good things about Suzuki,” said Avena. “I’m stoked to get out on the water and show everybody just how good these Suzuki’s can run.” Avena is 2- for-2 qualifying for the Bassmaster® Elite AOY Championship and we’re looking forward to seeing him on the podium this year.
Brandon Card
Brandon joined the Elite Series right out of the University of Kentucky as the first Bassmaster College Series angler to qualify for the Elite Series. He’s fished the Classic twice so far has been in the money over 35 times. Card is also an inspiration to the upcoming crop of high school and college tournament anglers, holding his own Bass Open every year. This year’s event on Lake Norris in TN, gave out over $15,000 in cash and prizes to eager young anglers.
More importantly, it provided an opportunity for young anglers to showcase their talents and get valuable tournament experience. “When I was starting out, Suzuki gave me a shot,” said Card. “They’ve been behind me ever since and I couldn’t be prouder to see the team grow.” Card will campaign his Bass Cat again in 2018.
Chad Pipkens
Chad Pipkens is another Young Gun that runs a Suzuki on his Bass Cat. Pipkens brings a solid Midwestern work ethic and strong positive outlook to every Elite tournament. He knows the joy of victory, winning on Lake St. Clair near his home in Michigan, and has been in the Top 20 15 times, Career earnings total more than $300,000.
“We had a blast last year with Suzuki,” said Pipkens. “Never let me down, not once.” With another year of experience under his belt, expect to see Chad fishing on more Saturdays and Sundays this year.
Clifford Pirch
Clifford hails from Payson, AZ and cut his teeth on Western bass fishing. In fact, Pirch is a three-time Western Outdoor News Bass Open champion, and has been in the money over 45 times on Bassmaster® Elite Series tournament trail. Pirch has again qualified to fish in the Classic in 2018, his fifth appearance in the granddaddy of all pro angling tourneys.
“Last year was my first year with Suzuki and I have to say, I was impressed,” said Pirch. “And that’s not an easy thing to do,” he added. We can’t wait to see what Cliff will accomplish this season.
Dean Rojas
Suzuki welcomes veteran Arizona bass angler Dean Rojas to the team. Dean is a four-time winner on the Bassmaster® Elite Series tour and has 47 career Top 10 finishes. In addition, Rojas still holds the all-time B.A.S.S.® one day record catch of 45.2 pounds. With winnings totaling over $2 million dollars as a professional angler, Rojas brings a wealth of experience to the Suzuki team.
“I’m super-pumped to have a Suzuki on the transom of my new Blazer bass boat this year,” said Rojas. “I’ve watched Suzuki come alive over the past couple seasons and couldn’t be prouder to be on the team.” Look for Dean to be in the spotlight in 2018, as he campaigns for the first time with Suzuki Power.
Gerald Spohrer
Next up is Gerald Spohrer, a US Navy vet from Gonzales, LA. After starting out on the FLW Tour, Gerald moved to the Elite series last year. He was the Bassmaster® Central Open Angler of the Year in 2016 and broke into the Top 10 at last year’s Elite tournament on Lake St. Clair.
2018 holds a lot of promise for Spohrer. “Having a new Suzuki on my Bass Cat will be a first for me,” said Spohrer, “but not a first for Bass Cat. I can’t wait to get out on the water again and give ‘er a go.”
Suzuki offers four outboards in its 4-Stroke “SS” Series, giving pro and recreational tournament anglers access to the right power for their rig. “From 115 to 250 horsepower, Suzuki’s big displacement blocks, offset driveshaft and advanced fuel injection deliver impressive holeshot and top-end speed, great fuel economy and most importantly, rock solid reliability,” added Blakely. “Every fisherman out there has a choice when it comes to power. With more top pro anglers now running Suzuki’s, the word is spreading that we’ve got something special going on.”
Clifford Pirch will be fishing in this year’s GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods, so don’t miss the weigh-ins to see how he’s doing. You’ll also have an opportunity to meet all of Suzuki’s pro anglers at this year’s 2018 Bassmaster® Classic Outdoors Expo presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods at the TD Convention Center in Greenville, SC. Be sure to stop by the Suzuki display to meet these anglers and take a closer look at the Suzuki SS Series outboards.
Suzuki offers a complete range of 4-stroke outboards from 2.5 to 350 horsepower. For more information, detailed specifications and on-the-water boat tests, please visit www.suzukimarine.com.
Navionics adds 4,500 Fish Attractors in Missouri
POSTED: January 15, 2018
As part of our ongoing product enhancement, we recently added the locations of 4,500 fish attractors on 36 lakes in Missouri. This is in addition to approximately 5,500 released earlier this year for lakes in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.
Fish attractors are made up of a variety of manmade and natural materials, such as pallets and cleared brush, to create habitats where fish can forage or hide from predators. They also serve as productive fishing spots for anglers to target. On some lakes with a lot of structure, reducing the contour density can be help make the fish symbol easier to see. Now, just by searching the map, anglers can find more places to fish for bass, crappie, walleye and more!
In Missouri, the following lakes are updated: Austin, Blue Springs, Brookfield City Lake, Buffalo Bill, Bull Shoals, Clearwater, Fellows, Fourche Lake, Fox Valley, Harrison County, Hunnewell, Jamesport Community, Lake Jacomo, Lake of the Ozarks, Paho, Long Branch, Longview, Macon City, Maple Leaf, Mark Twain, Mozingo, Norfork, Pomme de Terre, Pony Express, Prairie Lee Lake, Ripley, Rt J. Reservoir, Sims Valley, Smithville, Stockton, Table Rock Lake, Thomas Hill, Truman, Wappapello, Watkins, and Willow Brook.
See the improvements now!
Compare your current charts on our Chart Viewer! Boat Safer with the most detailed charts and always have up-to-date information with daily chart updates! If you are an angler, study detailed contours with SonarChart™, SonarChart™ Live and Advanced Map Options, then find your ideal fishing spots and, finally, Fish Smarter!
How to get these updates and enjoy Navionics advanced features:
On plotter: choose Navionics+ or HotMaps Platinum+. If you already have an active subscription, plug your card it into a PC to update your charts (learn more). If you have our Boating app, you can update your plotter card wirelessly with Plotter Sync.
On mobile: download any of the paid apps or the free version that provides a 2-week free trial! If you already have an active subscription, open the app and tap Menu > Update All.
Renew your subscription:
On plotter: choose one of the available options to easily renew.
On mobile: open the app, tap Menu > Charts & Upgrades.
More information available at www.navionics.com
Navionics, the leader in content and location-based services for the recreational boating and outdoor markets.
Fitzgerald Wins ABA Open Series Florida South Season Opener on Lake Okeechobee with over 21 pounds!
ATHENS, Ala. – Trevor Fitzgerald of Belleview, FL won the American Bass Anglers Open Series Florida South tournament, held January 13th on the Lake Okeechobee. Running out of Roland Martin Marina & Resort in Clewiston, FL Trevor caught five bass weighing 21.50 pounds including a 7.19-pound kicker. For the Boater Division victory, Fitzgerald took home a check for $5000 for his win and an additional $630 for the Big Bass.
“I ran pretty far north and found some fish in some reeds. I was flipping and pitching reeds with a Fitzgerald Fishing 3/4oz Texas jig on a Fitzgerald Fishing Versa 7’6” heavy rod. I caught that seven pounder around 1:00pm. We started catching fish right away with swim jigs and chatter-baits, but the better fish came later in the day on the jig.” Fitzgerald said.
In second for the boaters, Gary Milicevic of Labelle, FL landed a five-bass tournament limit going 21.16 pounds. He collected $1050 for the effort.
“I caught fish all day long. Most of my fish came on a speed worm. I had one fish about 8 pounds come off and another about 5 pounds come off, but that’s just the way it goes.” Milicevic said.
Robert Branaugh of Malabar, FL took third for the boaters with five bass going 17.07 pounds with a 5.17-pound kicker. He earned $800 for his catch.
“I ran real far north and fished a senko all day. I started to pick-up a flipping-stick, but I kept getting too many bites to put down that senko.” Branaugh said.
Finishing fourth, Dave Sheffield of Davie, FL landed a five-bass limit for 16.65 pounds. Robert Twiss of Sunrise, FL rounded out the top five boaters with five bass at 16.22 pounds topped by a 4.47-pound kicker.
In the Co-Angler Division, Steven Forssell of Lake Worth, FL won with three bass going 17.06 pounds including an 8.42-pound kicker. He pocketed a check for $1500 for his win and an additional $260 for the Big Bass.
“I was fishing up on the north end of the lake and threw a chatter-bait all day. I lost a 5-pounder that would have helped me. This is my first win and it feels great.” Forssell said.
Taking second for the co-anglers, Ernie Johnson of Okeechobee, FL brought in a three-bass division limit weighing 12.79 pounds with a 6.05-pound kicker. He collected $500 for the effort.
“I caught my fish on a chatter-bait on the south end of the lake. I didn’t lose any fish that would have helped me.” Johnson said.
Eric Andrews of Davenport, FL placed third among the co-anglers with three bass going 11.81 pounds. He earned $400 for his catch.
“I was fishing Harney Pond with a chatter-bait all day. The three fish that I weighed were the first three fish I caught. Everything else I caught was small.” Andrews said.
In fourth place among the co-anglers, Phillip Ford of Clewiston, FL brought in three bass for 11.67 pounds. Donald Dunnam of Okeechobee, FL finished in fifth place with three bass at 11.01 pounds.
Slated for February 17th, the next tournament will be held on Lake Okeechobee out of Scott Driver Park in Okeechobee, FL. At the end of the season, the best anglers from across the nation advance the 2019 Ray Scott Championship, Location to be announced.
For more information on this tournament, call Billy Benedetti, tournament manager, at 256-230-5632 or ABA at 256-232-0406. On line, see www.ramopenseries.com .
About American Bass Anglers: American Bass Anglers is committed to providing low cost, close to home tournaments for the weekend angler and at the same time offer each competitor an upward path for individual angler progression. For more information about American Bass Anglers, the Ram Truck Open Series, the American Fishing Tour or the American Couples Series, visit www.americanbassanglers.com.
CROSNOE WINS T-H MARINE FLW BFL GATOR DIVISION OPENER ON KISSIMMEE RIVER
Courtesy of FLW Fishing
Kissimmee’s Branch Grabs Co-angler Title
LAKE WALES, Fla. (Jan. 15, 2018) – Boater Robert Crosnoe of Inverness, Florida, caught a five-bass limit weighing 18 pounds, 7 ounces, Saturday to win the 2018 T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Gator Division opener on the Kissimmee River. Crosnoe pocketed $4,920 for his victory.
Crosnoe said he spent the event flipping a type of cover he called ‘mud mats’. He said his key stretch of water was 300 yards long and on the east side of Lake Kissimmee.
“When Hurricane Irma hit Florida, lily pads weren’t able to grow on Lake Kissimmee because the water was so high,” said Crosnoe, who logged his fourth career win as a boater in the BFL Gator division. “Eventually, their roots dislodged from the bottom and floated to the surface to form these mud islands, along with some grass.”
Crosnoe said he targeted bass who sought warmth in the mud mats.
“I flipped in 3 feet of water and had 15 bites throughout the day,” said Crosnoe.
Crosnoe said he caught his fish using a Hematoma-colored Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver with a 1¼-ounce tungsten weight on a 7-foot, 6-inch Fitzgerald Titan HD rod with 70-pound-test Vursa braid line.
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Robert Crosnoe, Inverness, Fla., five bass, 18-7, $4,920
2nd: Matthew Wieteha, Miami, Fla., five bass, 18-4, $2,460
3rd: Billy Carroll, Tavares, Fla., five bass, 17-0, $1,574
4th: Van Soles, Haines City, Fla., five bass, 16-6, $1,101
5th: Andrew Markham, Lake Placid, Fla., five bass, 16-1, $944
6th: Jared McMillan, Belle Glade, Fla., five bass, 15-14, $865
7th: Marlon Crowder, Tampa, Fla., five bass, 15-4, $787
8th: Preston Clark, Eagle Lake, Fla., five bass, 15-0, $708
9th: Neal Meadors, Vero Beach, Fla., five bass, 14-9, $629
10th: Raymond Guerra, Port Saint Lucie, Fla., five bass, 14-8, $551
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Chuck Webb of Sarasota, Florida, caught a bass weighing 7 pounds, 14 ounces – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division – and earned the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $695.
Larry Branch of Kissimmee, Florida, won the Co-angler Division and $2,707 Saturday after catching a five-bass limit weighing 17 pounds, 5 ounces.
The top 10 co-anglers were:
1st: Larry Branch, Kissimmee, Fla., five bass, 17-5, $2,707
2nd: Michael Wiles, Perry, Fla., five bass, 14-2, $1,180
3rd: Dean Haughey, Babson Park, Fla., five bass, 13-12, $787
4th: Jim Topmiller, Orlando, Fla., five bass, 12-14, $751
5th: Jeff Claiborne, Pembroke Pines, Fla., five bass, 12-9, $472
6th: John Trudel, Lighthouse Point, Fla., five bass, 12-5, $483
7th: Marco Carbajal, Marshall, Texas, five bass, 11-4, $393
8th: Vince Owen, Coral Springs, Fla., four bass, 11-1, $354
9th: Mike Tucker, Yalaha, Fla., five bass, 10-10, $315
10th: Timothy Hibbs, Bradenton, Fla., five bass, 10-9, $275
Branch also caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division – an 11-pound, 1-ounce giant. The catch earned him the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $347.
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 2018 BFL All-American will be held May 31-June 2 at Cross Lake in Shreveport, Louisiana, and is hosted by the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission. Top performers in the BFL can move up to the Costa FLW Series or even the FLW Tour.
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.
Boater Results:
Co-Angler Results:
TARLETON STATE UNIVERSITY-STEPHENVILLE WINS 2018 YETI FLW COLLEGE FISHING SEASON OPENER ON SAM RAYBURN RESERVOIR
Courtesy of FLW Fishing
LUFKIN, Texas (Jan. 15, 2017) – The Tarleton State University-Stephenville team of Chad Jones of Stephenville, Texas, and Graham Godwin of Princeton, Texas, won the first YETI FLW College Fishing event of 2018 on Sam Rayburn Reservoir Saturday with four bass weighing 17 pounds, 15 ounces. The victory earned the Texan Rider bass club, which competes in the Southern Conference, $2,000 and a slot in the 2019 FLW College Fishing National Championship.
“This win is huge for our club,” said Jones, a junior majoring in Agricultural Business. “We want to win School of the Year, and this is a great way to start off the season and earn some points.”
The duo said they started their day fishing north of the launch site, west of Jackson Hill Park and Marina. They worked along a 100-yard stretch of steep bank packed with hydrilla and were able to put three good fish in the boat early on.
“We had the boat in 13 to 15 feet of water and slow-rolled lipless crankbaits over the hydrilla,” said Godwin a sophomore majoring in Wildlife Science. “The bites we got came in the 3- to 5-foot range. I caught our first keeper within the first few casts, which really got our blood pumping.”
Godwin said he used a gold-colored lipless crankbait to catch the first keeper. After 25 minutes, the team capitalized on the momentum with two more solid fish.
“I caught a 6½-pounder just working down the bank,” said Jones. “On the next pass, I caught a 7-pounder in the exact same spot. Those first three catches really set the tone for the day.”
Jones caught his two lunkers on a ½-ounce Sexy Shad-colored Strike King Red Eye Shad lipless crankbait. He credited his offset treble hooks with helping get the fish in the boat.
“I replaced the original treble hooks with offset treble hooks,” said Jones. “My bites went under the boat, and I think I they were crucial in keeping the fish on.”
With only minutes left in the tournament, Godwin said they caught their final fish from similar hydrilla near the launch ramp.
“The last bite was our most important bite of the day, even though it was a small bass. It gave us the win by an ounce,” said Godwin.
“It was my first win as a collegiate angler and it feels pretty good,” Godwin went on to say, “I hope we can win a couple more events. It’s a big energy boost for the club and gives us all some more confidence.”
The top 10 teams that advanced to the 2019 College Fishing National Championship are:
1st: Tarleton State University-Stephenville – Chad Jones of Stephenville, Texas and Graham Godwin, Princeton, Texas, four bass, 17-15, $2,000
2nd: Stephen F. Austin State University – Wyatt Frankens and Robert Lawson, both of Corrigan, Texas, five bass, 17-14, $1,000
3rd: Northwestern State University – John Joseph Ledet, Robeline, La., and Logan LaPrarie, Deville, La., five bass, 16-8, $500
4th: Arkansas Tech University – Kory England, Hope, Ark., and Will Lancett, Rogers, Ark., five bass, 16-7, $500
5th: Louisiana State University-Shreveport – Jared Rascoe, Stonewall, La., and Harrison Hopkins, Bossier City, La., five bass, 15-3, $500
6th: University of Louisiana-Lafayette – Dakota Moofe, Leesville, La., and Dawson Cranford, Stonewall, La., four bass, 13-11
7th: McNeese State University – Alex Murray, Lake Charles, La., and Trent Manuel, Orange, Texas, four bass, 12-15
8th: Louisiana State University-Shreveport – James Kimbrough, Bossier City, La., and Ryan Antee, Hosston, La., five bass, 12-9
9th: University of Oklahoma – Andrew Fazzino and Grant Davis, both of The Woodlands, Texas, five bass, 12-8, $400
10th: University of Arkansas-Monticello – Trey Rainwater III, Bastrop, La., and Hunter Fluitt, Sterlington, La., three bass, 12-8
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
This YETI FLW College Fishing Southern Conference opener on Sam Rayburn Reservoir was hosted by the Lufkin Convention and Visitors Bureau, and was the first of three regular-season qualifying tournaments for Southern Conference anglers in 2018. The next YETI FLW College Fishing events take place Feb. 10, when Southeastern Conference anglers take on Lake Seminole in Bainbridge, Georgia, and Western Conference competitors take on Lake Havasu in Lake Havasu City, Arizona.
YETI FLW College Fishing teams compete in three regular-season qualifying tournaments in one of five conferences – Central, Northern, Southern, Southeastern and Western. The top ten teams from each division’s three regular-season tournaments and the top 20 teams from the annual FLW College Fishing Open will advance to the 2019 FLW College Fishing National Championship. Additional teams will qualify for the National Championship if the field size in regular-season events exceeds 100 boats.
The 2018 FLW College Fishing National Championship will take place May 30-June 1 on the Red River in Shreveport, Louisiana, and is hosted by the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission & Red River Waterway Commission.
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.
Robinson Partners with Purple Monkey Garage
Former General Tire Exec joins Purple Money Garage Consulting Firm
Charlotte, N.C. (January 15, 2018) – John Robinson, marketing and branding expert, has joined the boutique consulting firm, Purple Monkey Garage. In his role, Robinson is partnering with entrepreneurs and businesses to change the startling statistics that 80% of businesses fail and six out of 10 businesses need a second income to stay open.
As a Business Mechanic with Purple Monkey Garage, Robinson is offering his expertise in the form of training and strategy development to professional race teams, drivers, race track management, professional bass anglers, and tire dealers to aid in building their brands and increase influence within their respective industries.
Leading up to this opportunity, Robinson devoted his professional career to working with premiere tire brands to improve their brand story through event marketing, social media, relationship sales, media relations, and content creation. Most recently, Robinson was with Continental Tire where he managed the media relations and social channels for the General Tire brand.
“This is an exciting opportunity for me to work directly with the individual business owners in industries I have been associated with for over 15 years,” stated Robinson. “Our country was founded on business principles and entrepreneurial skills that are no longer taught. I look forward to sharing those principles and creating change that will help businesses thrive and will have a positive impact in both their professional and personal lives.”
To learn more about Purple Monkey Garage, visit PurpleMonkeyGarage.com or join the online conversation @PurpleMonkeyGarage. John can be reached directly at [email protected].
About Purple Monkey Garage
Purple Monkey Garage consists of “mechanics” around the country who partner with businesses to assist in building them up to their fullest potential. In a world dominated by motivational speakers, failing dreams, and economic turmoil, we have created what is believed by many to be the most complete consulting company in the world. Instead of building engines or realigning tires, we’ve forged a comprehensive business toolbox that’s already helped thousands. Anyone can own their business, but few will truly own their life. The company’s founder, Josh Tolley, is host of the nationally syndicated radio show, “The Josh Tolley Show” airing on the GCN Radio Network Monday thru Friday. He is an author, Top 100 business trainer, behavioral strategist, promoter of freedom and defender of truth. His current book, “Evangelpreneur,” has been rated #1 on Amazon.
Flores brothers win Bass Champs 2018 season kick-off on Amistad winning over $25,000
By: Patty Lenderman |
| Skeeter Bass Champs blasted off their 19th year of honoring the sport of competitive bass fishing and the anglers who love it on lake Amistad January 13, 2018. What started out to be a very cold day ended with hot paychecks to the top twenty-one teams enjoying an incredible 109% payback event. Michael and Armando Flores topped the field of 160 teams taking home over $25,000!
Anglers were ready in high anticipation to begin the season for their chance to catch-in some tournament winnings and get back in on the fun. The morning started out just above the freezing mark, but with little to no wind, calm water and clear skies lots of limits were caught and several big fish were seen at the scales as temperatures continued to rise, all culminating to a fantastic weigh in and start of the 2018 season. Brothers Michael and Armando Flores are the first 1st place winners of the year, having the best five fish limit of the day weighing in at 18.64 lbs. “We had a really good day,” Michael began. “We caught most of our fish early, but continued to catch a few throughout the day.” The brothers targeted deep rock ledges for their catch using Alabama rigs. They had drawn boat #10, and by 8a.m. their day was off to a great start with four fish in their live well. “We hit several different spots, all with deep rocky ledges. Only two areas produced well for us. Our two biggest fish went around 5 and 6 pounds. As the day went on, the bite slowed down. We only culled one time after 12:00. It was definitely a team effort!” Bass Champs presented the team with the guaranteed 1st place check for $20,000. Their winnings continued with another $5,000 from Skeeter Boats being the highest placing team in a qualified Skeeter. “We just bought our new Skeeter boat last year from Dean’s Marine in Odessa, TX. I’m so glad – it is already paying off!” They also won $250 from Lowrance and another $200 from Sure-Life. What a way to start their season! Charles Whited and Jimmy Shelton landed in 2nd place with 17.52 lbs. “It was a good tournament, everything went pretty much perfect,” Charles explained. “We had scouted for fish before the tournament, but had not found very much. It was 25 degrees during practice days.” Even though they didn’t feel like they had much to go with, they hit what they had and it paid off for them. “We targeted grass patches, putting the boat in around 25’ and casting to the outside edge of the grass, 12’ to 15’ with 1-1/4 oz Oldhams jigs.” Drawing boat #7, it didn’t take long to get to their first spot, and it was prime. They had a limit in the first 15 minutes! When the bite slowed there, they moved to other similar spots staying in the mid lake area on the American side. “We caught a few more using Alabama rigs, and some on Forage Lures rattle traps.” Around 1:00 when the water had warmed to 55 degrees, the bite picked back up. They went back to their Power Tackle rods, braided line and heavy Oldham jigs. At that point Charles hooked the tournament Big Bass weighing in at 8.36 lbs. “We lost another right after that, probably around 7 lbs!” They won $3,500 for their 2nd place finish, and another $500 for Big Bass. “We would like to thank all of our sponsors already mentioned as well as Energy Sales, Texas Boat World, Evinrude, Samdiego Custom Tackle, Daiwa, Sunline, Super Nova Lights, Grande Bass, Texas Tournament Zone and Simms Rain Gear.” 3rd place winners Kevin Gibson and Chance Woods brought in a solid sack weighing 16.65 lbs. “We started the morning on fire,” Kevin recalled. They had one spot picked out and using Alabama rigs, and had three keepers in 15 minutes. “It was an area at the mouth of a main creek channel with a big deep grass flat. When the bite would slow down, we would ease to another spot nearby, then come back to the grass flat. We just kept grinding at it all day, and caught around 15 keepers. It was a beautiful day. In previous years I got to partner with my son in Bass Champs tournaments. This year Chance and I teamed up, and this is our best finish so far!” They received $2,000 for their day. Rounding out the top five teams: 4th- $1,700 Mike Cones & Ron Wade 16.51 lbs; 5th - $1,600 Bruce White & Cory Leita 16.11 lbs. All total twenty one teams earned a check, the last $600 went to Britten and Russell Gambrel with 10.83 lbs. Be sure and see how to qualify for all of the Bass Champs sponsor bonuses this year. Thousands of dollars are up for grabs at every event! Go to http://www.basschamps.com/sponsorIncentives.cfm to see how you can cash in. The next tournament will be on Sam Rayburn January 20 to kick off the East Region. All regular season events are open to anyone who would like to fish for BIG winnings! |
| Place | Boat | Truck | Angler 1 | Angler 2 | Fish | Big Bass | Wt. | Prize Amt. | |
| 1 |  |
MICHAEL FLORES SAN ANTONIO , TX |
ARMANDO FLORES HELOTES , TX |
5 | 0 | 18.64 |
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| 2 | CHARLES WHITED SAN MARCOS , TX |
JIMMY SHELTON MIDLAND , TX |
5 | 8.36 | 17.52 |
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| 3 | CHANCE WOODS MILLERSVIEW , TX |
KEVIN GIBSON DENVER CITY , TX |
5 | 0 | 16.65 |
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| 4 |  |
MIKE CONES DEL RIO , TX |
RON WADE DEL RIO , TX |
5 | 0 | 16.51 |
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| 5 | |
BRUCE WHITE LA WARD , TX |
CORY LEITA VICTORIA , TX |
5 | 0 | 16.11 |
|
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| 6 | |
CHANS MARTIN FAIR OAKS RANCH , TX |
STERLING MARTIN BEEVILLE , TX |
5 | 7.14 | 16.02 |
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||
| 7 | RICK SCHEEN AUSTIN , TX |
MIKE HARMAN BASTROP , TX |
5 | 0 | 15.20 |
|
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| 8 | |
DOLORES ROBLES DEL RIO , TX |
JOSE MEDRANO DEL RIO , TX |
5 | 5.14 | 15.11 |
|
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| 9 | |
MARTY FOUST SWEETWATER , TX |
WILLIAM BRASHER BRONTE , TX |
5 | 0 | 14.32 |
|
||
| 10 | |
ROSS JEWELL DEL RIO , TX |
WILLIAM BLAINE SAN ANGELO , TX |
5 | 6.72 | 13.93 |
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||
| 10 | ROGER MONTEJANO DEL RIO , TX |
ROGELIO MONTEJANO DEL RIO , TX |
5 | 0 | 13.93 |
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| 12 | BRENDAN KENNELL DEL RIO , TX |
ZACH BIBB FAIR OAKS RANCH , TX |
5 | 0 | 13.61 |
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| 13 | RANDALL EDWARDS MIDLAND , TX |
CORY WHISMAN MIDLAND , TX |
5 | 7.09 | 12.86 |
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| 14 | |
THOMAS ANDREAS KERRVILLE , TX |
STEVE CARAWAY KERRVILLE , TX |
5 | 0 | 12.42 |
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| 15 | |
KENNETH FAIRLY LOCKHART , TX |
TOMMY LAW ABILENE , TX |
5 | 0 | 12.39 |
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| 16 | |
CLAY TREADAWAY DEL RIO , TX |
CHRIS ROHDE WICHETT , TX |
5 | 0 | 11.96 |
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| 17 | |
JASON SCHNEEMANN D'HANIS , TX |
WAYNE JACKSON LEAKEY , TX |
5 | 0 | 11.89 |
|
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| 18 | |
JOSEPH SMITH MIDLAND , TX |
CHRIS SMITH MIDLAND , TX |
5 | 0 | 11.82 |
|
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| 19 | |
GRAN SHANDLEY LEAKEY , TX |
JOSH SHANDLEY LEAKEY , TX |
5 | 0 | 11.02 |
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| 20 | ALAN BOND VIDOR , TX |
TOMMY FREDREGILL HUNTSVILLE , TX |
5 | 0 | 10.94 |
|
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| 21 | BRITTEN GAMBREL DEL RIO , TX |
RUSSEL GAMBREL DEL RIO , TX |
5 | 0 | 10.83 |
|
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| 22 | |
CARLOS ROSALES DEL RIO , TX |
JORGE GALINDO DEL RIO , TX |
5 | 0 | 10.29 |
|
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| 23 | |
ALLEN SHELTON COPPELL , TX |
JEFF MASSEY JUSTIN , TX |
5 | 0 | 10.17 |
|
||
| 24 | CHUCK BLACK LOGAN , NM |
CHAD BLACK SAN ANTONIO , TX |
5 | 0 | 9.91 |
|
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| 25 | LOGAN MCDONALD SAN ANGELO , TX |
JERRY MCDONALD COLEMAN , TX |
2 | 8.34 | 9.87 |
|
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| 26 | JIMMY STEED LAREDO , TX |
CHARLIE HARALSON DEL RIO , TX |
5 | 0 | 9.80 |
|
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| 26 | MITCH GOODALL BOERNE , TX |
FOY OSBURN BOERNE , TX |
4 | 5.60 | 9.80 |
|
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| 28 | |
ARLEN HAUSCHILD SEGUIN , TX |
CHRISTOPHER HAUSCHILD CANYON LAKE , TX |
5 | 0 | 9.79 |
|
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| 29 | |
JOHN CASPARIS SONORA , TX |
WELDON MCGUIRE ODESSA , TX |
5 | 0 | 9.38 |
|
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| 30 | BRUCE RAY ANDREWS , TX |
DEACON RAY ANDREWS , TX |
2 | 7.83 | 9.37 |
|
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| 31 | |
DANIEL RODRIGUEZ NEW BRAUNFELS , TX |
CARY PRUSKI THREE RIVERS , TX |
5 | 0 | 9.27 |
|
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| 32 | |
KEN PARKER BOERNE , TX |
JASON GALLAS BULVERDE , TX |
5 | 0 | 9.10 |
|
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| 33 | |
MIKE COON KERRVILLE , TX |
WESLEY GRAHAM EMORY , TX |
4 | 0 | 9.04 |
|
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| 34 | |
CHARLES GUTHRIE CONROE , TX |
MICHAEL CARROLL NEW BRAUNFELS , TX |
5 | 0 | 8.70 |
|
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| 35 | BRIAN FLEMING JR SAN ANTONIO , TX |
MIKE FLEMING NEW BRAUNFELS , TX |
5 | 0 | 8.64 |
|
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| 36 | |
KENNY ROOKE JUNCTION , TX |
CHAD BARINGTON JUNCTION , TX |
5 | 0 | 8.61 |
|
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| 37 | |
CRAIG SCHUFF SPRINGTOWN , TX |
COLE MASSEY ARGYLE , TX |
5 | 0 | 8.53 |
|
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| 38 | CLAYTON SAATHOFF SAN ANTONIO , TX |
COLE SAATHOFF SAN ANTONIO , TX |
5 | 0 | 8.34 |
|
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| 39 | |
DUSTIN PERRY IRAAN , TX |
MICKEY PERRY IRAAN , TX |
5 | 0 | 8.27 |
|
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| 40 | LEE LEONARD MARTINDALE , TX |
SCOTT BRONDER FALLS CITY , TX |
4 | 0 | 8.20 |
|
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| 40 | |
WES FARRIS ODESSA , TX |
CHISHOLM CARRUTH ODESSA , TX |
3 | 0 | 8.20 |
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| 42 | |
DANIEL BARNES BELTON , TX |
5 | 0 | 7.78 |
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| 43 | SPIKE STOKER STEPHENVILLE , TX |
STUART JEFFREY ANSON , TX |
4 | 0 | 7.63 |
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| 44 | |
OWEN SELLERS JUNCTION , TX |
AUDREY SELLERS JUNCTION , TX |
5 | 0 | 7.42 |
|
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| 45 | |
ERIC CAVANAGH DEL RIO , TX |
CRAIG ALEXANDER DEL RIO , TX |
5 | 0 | 7.38 |
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| 46 | ROBERT BALBOA DEL RIO , TX |
ELENO BALBOA JR DEL RIO , TX |
4 | 0 | 7.16 |
|
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| 47 | |
KELLY STARR DEXTER , NM |
BILLY BETANCOURT CARLSBAD , NM |
4 | 0 | 6.87 |
|
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| 48 | MIKE REID ANDREWS , TX |
JIMMY ALLEN ANDREWS , TX |
2 | 0 | 6.82 |
|
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| 49 | BRIAN HALL BRONTE , TX |
JACOB BECK CHRISTOVAL , TX |
5 | 0 | 6.74 |
|
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| 50 | |
CHARLIE FORSTER CENTER POINT , TX |
MIKE BINGHAM KERRVILLE , TX |
1 | 6.73 | 6.73 |
|
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| 51 | CHRIS PARNELL MIDLAND , TX |
JOHNNY GROSS ANDREWS , TX |
4 | 0 | 6.67 |
|
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| 52 | |
BUFORD ESTEP JR THREE RIVERS , TX |
BUFORD ESTEP SR THREE RIVERS , TX |
4 | 0 | 6.59 |
|
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| 53 | |
LEONARD GONZALES HELOTES , TX |
DENNIS ASHER BOERNE , TX |
3 | 0 | 6.56 |
|
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| 54 | MIKE BATES CANYON LAKE , TX |
BARTON BLAKELOCK WOELDER , TX |
4 | 0 | 6.31 |
|
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| 55 | KEVIN KENNER DEL RIO , TX |
JOSE JIMENEZ DEL RIO , TX |
3 | 0 | 6.25 |
|
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| 56 | |
JEFF RICHARDS BOERNE , TX |
STAN MCHARDY WORING , TX |
3 | 0 | 6.17 |
|
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| 57 | GEORGE CROSSAN FREDERICKSBURG , TX |
CHARLES PERRY FREDERICKSBURG , TX |
3 | 0 | 6.07 |
|
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| 58 | JP DURAN RATON , NM |
STEPHANIE JANSEN RATAN , NM |
4 | 0 | 6.04 |
|
|||
| 59 | |
CODY DAY SAN ANTONIO , TX |
DAVID DAY GOLIAD , TX |
3 | 0 | 5.68 |
|
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| 60 | |
REID FARRIS ADKINS , TX |
CURTIS STOCK DEL RIO , TX |
3 | 0 | 5.64 |
|
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| 61 | JESUS DELUNA EAGLE PASS , TX |
RODRIGO GUTIERREZ SAN ANTONIO , TX |
2 | 0 | 5.48 |
|
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| 62 | |
TIM DOEGE NEW BRAUNFELS , TX |
KENNY HENZE BULVERDE , TX |
3 | 0 | 5.44 |
|
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| 63 | |
CODY HUNDLEY RIO MEDINA , TX |
CHANCE HUNDLEY CASTROVILLE , TX |
4 | 0 | 5.43 |
|
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| 64 | BASIL WILSON COMFORT , TX |
JEFF WILSON COMFORT , TX |
3 | 0 | 5.24 |
|
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| 65 | DANNY PUENTE DEL RIO , TX |
HECTOR RUBIO DEL RIO , TX |
3 | 0 | 5.23 |
|
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| 66 | |
STACY MILLER LUBBOCK , TX |
PHILIP FABIANO LUBBOCK , TX |
3 | 0 | 5.11 |
|
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| 66 | RICARDO CARRILLO LAREDO , TX |
ANTHONY CARRILLO LAREDO , TX |
2 | 0 | 5.11 |
|
|||
| 68 | KOLBY PEYTON VICTORIA , TX |
PRESTON WHITLEY VICTORIA , TX |
3 | 0 | 4.83 |
|
|||
| 69 | MITCH KIRBY SAN ANGELO , TX |
STEVEN WILHA SAN ANGELO , TX |
3 | 0 | 4.76 |
|
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| 70 | |
CODY ROBERSON CIBOLO , TX |
DON BAILEY SAN ANTONIO , TX |
3 | 0 | 4.71 |
|
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| 71 | MATT RIGBY HELOTES , TX |
MATT HOUSTON SAN ANTONIO , TX |
3 | 0 | 4.62 |
|
|||
| 71 | |
ENRIQUE REYES KYLE , TX |
RAFAEL RENTERIA DEL RIO , TX |
3 | 0 | 4.62 |
|
||
| 73 | |
BILL GARZA JR FLORESVILLE , TX |
IRA LYNN ADKINS , TX |
3 | 0 | 4.44 |
|
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| 74 | PAUL BROWN BIG LAKE , TX |
BANDY WATKINS SAN ANGELO , TX |
3 | 0 | 4.41 |
|
|||
| 75 | KEVIN UNGER SMITHVILLE , TX |
TIM GOETZ SMITHVILLE , TX |
2 | 0 | 3.53 |
|
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| 76 | RICHARD CREMO LAREDO , TX |
ROBERTO GONZALEZ LAREDO , TX |
2 | 0 | 3.41 |
|
|||
| 77 | MIKE STANFORD MIDLAND , TX |
2 | 0 | 3.28 |
|
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| 78 | RAUL ESPARZA SAN ANTONIO , TX |
COOPER DOZIER BOERNE , TX |
2 | 0 | 3.15 |
|
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| 79 | |
JONATHAN BOONE CENTER POINT , TX |
JASON BOONE LEAKEY , TX |
1 | 0 | 2.33 |
|
||
| 80 | |
BUDDY BOONE SAN ANTONIO , TX |
RALPH CELEDON ALAMO , TX |
1 | 0 | 2.28 |
|
||
| 81 | |
JAMES RUSS LUBBOCK , TX |
PHILLIP CUMMINGS LUBBOCK , TX |
1 | 0 | 1.92 |
|
||
| 82 | |
CARLOS MORENO | CARLOS GUEVARA | 1 | 0 | 1.77 |
|
||
| 83 | |
KYLE WIEDENFELD BOERNE , TX |
KADEN WIEDENFELD BOERNE , TX |
1 | 0 | 1.76 |
|
||
| 84 | |
CHUCK CLABURN WICKETT , TX |
MIKE CLABURN SR WINK , TX |
1 | 0 | 1.73 |
|
||
| 85 | |
HAROLD SCHLUETER BLOOMFIELD , NM |
LUCAS BRADLEY FLIPPIN , AR |
1 | 0 | 1.72 |
|
||
| 86 | |
DENNIS O'DELL TUSCOLA , TX |
FRANK MIXON ABILENE , TX |
1 | 0 | 1.31 |
|
||
| 87 | DALE DIXON HAWLEY , TX |
SUSAN DIXON HAWLEY , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 87 | CHRISTOPHER NORDTVEDT DEL RIO , TX |
GEROGE AVALOS DEL RIO , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 87 | RONNY PERRY SR FLORESVILLE , TX |
RONNY PERRY JR FLORESVILLE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 87 | CHARLES MURRAY SAN ANGELO , TX |
ALLAN BINDER ROWENA , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 87 | |
TYSON PATRICK MCCAMEY , TX |
LARRY BRADLEY MCCAMEY , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 87 | |
BOBBY GARDUNO MONAHANS , TX |
TOM SCHULER MONAHANS , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 87 | MICHAEL FULWIDER MIDLAND , TX |
LATHAN BRINKER MIDLAND , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 87 | |
RANDY DIXON BORGER , TX |
STEPHEN WINTER MIDLAND , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 87 | |
JONATHAN BOSSOM CASTOVILLE , TX |
BEN BOSSOM DAYTON , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 87 | JUSTIN WOMACK MIDLAND , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||||
| 87 | |
MADISON MCCONAUGHEY MIDLAND , TX |
ANDRES MADRID ODESSA , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 87 | |
RICKY HOWARD DEL RIO , TX |
NICKY HOWARD DEL RIO , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 87 | DAVID HOOTER ELKHART , TX |
ADAM STANFIELD PORTLAND , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 87 | TOMMY LACKEY CENTER POINT , TX |
TJ LACKEY CENTER POINT , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 87 | SCOTT HUTZLER LAKE HILLS , TX |
MICHAEL BRADLEY SAN ANTONIO , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 87 | |
COLEY WOOD MIDLAND , TX |
GERALD DELAFUENTE CASTROVILLE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 87 | |
TREVOR ROBERTSON KERRVILLE , TX |
JARRETT ROBERTSON KERRVILLE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 87 | GARY LAFRENIERE DEL RIO , TX |
WILLIAM GILES DEL RIO , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 87 | |
RICHARD ROBLES SAN ANTONIO , TX |
PETE ACEVES FLORESVILLE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 87 | ADAM AMICK BOERNE , TX |
JOSEPH AMICK SAN MARCOS , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 87 | |
ROBERT SANCHEZ BRACKETTVILLE , TX |
JOSE CASTILLO BRACKETTVILLE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 87 | BRAD NICHOLS NEW BRAUNFELS , TX |
CRAIG CORDOVA AUSTIN , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 87 | |
ROBERT LOPEZ DEL RIO , TX |
RAYMOND BENOIT DEL RIO , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 87 | JERRY RAKOWITZ CIBOLO , TX |
TIM ZIGMOND ADKINS , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 87 | GARY GILLIHAN BIG SPRING , TX |
LEE GILLIHAN SPRING , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 87 | RONNIE DUBOIS LUBBOCK , TX |
STEVAN WALKER LUBBOCK , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 87 | |
RICK SHOCK VICTORIA , TX |
SHERRIL SHOCK VICTORIA , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 87 | |
ROSS WRIGHT MCQUEENEY , TX |
RICHARD YOUNG | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 87 | |
STEVE WILSON FREDERICKSBURG , TX |
JOE RICH MIDLAND , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 87 | |
STEVE CHAFIN SAN ANTONIO , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 87 | |
CHAD KNIGHT MIDLAND , TX |
CORBYN THOMPSON MIDLAND , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 87 | AUSTIN DAY MIDLAND , TX |
MORGAN DAY NEED INFO |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 87 | |
ROBERT ABSHER GRANBURY , TX |
RON ROGERS ROCKWALL , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 87 | CRAIG HATCHEL WHITESBORO , TX |
CHANCE HATCHEL WHITESBORO , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 87 | FRANK RAMSEY CARY , IL |
JOHNNY ELLIS DEL RIO , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 87 | RICHARD BACON BASILE , LA |
BILLY WILLHITE JONESBORO , LA |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 87 | STAN GERZSENYI DEL RIO , TX |
GONZALO NANDIN CARRIZO SPRINGS , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 87 | |
JOE SILL BOERNE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 87 | RANDY CADDELL ANDREWS , TX |
BRYAN HOFFMAN ANDREWS , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 87 | HERNANDO HERNANDEZ DEL RIO , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||||
| 87 | REY MARQUEZ ODESSA , TX |
MARK GONZALES NEED INFO |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 87 | |
TED SPRENCEL VICTORIA , TX |
MATTHEW LANGE YORKTOWN , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 87 | SERGIO GARZA VARRA | ANTONIO SOTO | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 87 | OLIN JENSEN DEL RIO , TX |
COLE QUALLS MIDLAND , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 87 | |
WILLIAM JACOBS EL PASO , TX |
MANUEL ERIVES EL PASO , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 87 | DENTON GRAHAM ANSON , TX |
TRACY GRAHAM ANSON , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 87 | FRED WASHINGTON KERRVILLE , TX |
DON STEHLING KERRVILLE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 87 | |
GERALD VALDEZ SAN ANTONIO , TX |
JOSEPH VALDEZ SAN ANTONIO , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 87 | CLAUDE SIMS BOERNE , TX |
CARSON SIMS BOERNE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 87 | KEITH COUNTS CARLSBAD , NM |
KOOPER COUNTS CARLSBAD , NM |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 87 | |
ROLLIE SHEPPARD LUBBOCK , TX |
MARLON HART WOLFFORTH , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 87 | GENE FEWELL JR DEVINE , TX |
WILL RAMIREZ GEORGE WEST , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 87 | |
JOSH TIDENBERG TEXICO , NM |
KEVIN SMITH CLOVIS , NM |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 87 | JAIME BUITRON SAN ANTONIO , TX |
CARSON JOLLEY BOERNE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 87 | |
LANDON GLASS JARRELL , TX |
AMANDA GLASS JARRELL , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 87 | |
IGNACIO SANCHEZ CAMPWOOD , TX |
ACE SANCHEZ CAMPWOOD , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 87 | RICK CATHEY SAN ANTONIO , TX |
ROBERT SOLTYS DRIFTWOOD , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 87 | ALLEN JUNEK SAN ANTONIO , TX |
BILLY RIECK SAN ANTONIO , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 87 | |
JERRY FOSTER CARLSBAD , NM |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 87 | |
TRENT HUCKABY FORT STOCKTON , TX |
BYRON HEISER CARLSBAD , NM |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 87 | |
BRADLEY JAMESON LOVINGTON , NM |
TODD TOWN AMARILLO , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 87 | |
GARY HENGST CASTROVILLE , TX |
JOE DELACRUZ SAN ANTONIO , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
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| 87 | |
DERICK KUYRKENDALL BERGHEIM , TX |
FORREST WILSON BULVERDE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
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| 87 | RONNIE RENO ODESSA , TX |
STEVEN MORENO DEL RIO , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 87 | TOMMY HEADRICK BURNET , TX |
KAREN HEADRICK BURNET , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 87 | |
JOHN MILLS CIBOLO , TX |
SCOTT BURRIS CIBOLO , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
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| 87 | BODIE NUNN MIDLAND , TX |
TYSON WHISMAN MIDLAND , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
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| 87 | |
MIKE GROUNDS MARBLE FALLS , TX |
JUSTIN HEADRICK KERRVILLE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 87 | |
BRANDON BECK SCHERTZ , TX |
WOODIE TAYLOR SAN ANTONIO , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 87 | DUSTIN DAY PORTLAND , TX |
LANCE BROWN PORTLAND , TX |
1 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 87 | EDDIE LERO BRYAN , TX |
GREG ZWERNEMANN | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 87 | |
RAMIRO REYES HUNT , TX |
JOE REYES ZAPATA , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 87 | |
LUIS NAVARRO DEL RIO , TX |
LUIS NAVARRO JR DEL RIO , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 87 | |
JUAN HERNANDEZ JR UVALDE , TX |
JONATHAN JONES DEL RIO , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 87 | |
PETE ARREDONDO LAREDO , TX |
RICHARD VILLARREAL UVALDE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
Sumrall went from laid-off, to Elite Series Rookie Pro in one afternoon.
Story & Photo Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships
Leveraged by the magical fate of a few good topwater bites, Caleb Sumrall went from a recently laid-off father of two, to a B.A.S.S. Nation National Champion, and then the last guy invited to join the Bassmaster Elite Series in 2018.
With roughly $40,000 in ‘start-up’ money from his B.A.S.S. Nation National Champion win, he accepted the lofty and rather intimidating invitation to launch a pro career, but with two young children, and a stay-at-home wife, forty grand is only about half the required funding to cover entry fees, boat gas, and travel.
“At one afternoon weigh-in back in October, I went from thinking I might finish second, have to sell my boat, and hurry to find a new job, to being a National Champion and a Bassmaster Classic qualifier, with a chance start the pro career I’ve dreamed about forever,” says the highly likeable and humble, 30-year old from Southern Louisiana.
The Sumralls are all-in. Soon Caleb, wife Jacie, and their two young children will tour the country in a Toyota Tundra, towing a BassCat, and trying to run down a dream.
They’re pushing all the chips to the middle of the table, and instead of laboring for the oil field company, where for 12 years he steadily progressed from turning wrenches to managing a maintenance area, he’s now working daily to secure more sponsorship dollars and fill his 2018 calendar with detailed tournament travel plans.
Sumrall says his Toyota CrewMax, and the thousands of Bonus Bucks dollars he’s won fishing amateur tournaments to this point, are more than a just another truck and some pocket change, and instead, a means to travel with his family, and significantly offset the unnerving expenses he facing.
“There’s a lot of things I love about my Tundra, but if I had to pick one feature I love most, I’d tell you it’s the huge amount of space in the back seat of my CrewMax, because it allows us to travel as a family with a lot more space and comfort,” says Sumrall.
While winning the B.A.S.S. Nation National Championship paid him $5,000 in Toyota contingency cash, he also won a lot of Toyota Bonus Bucks prior to that in American Bass Angler events too, and every bit of that money is playing a significant role to launching a pro career right now.
The odds are high, the costs are steep, but Caleb Sumrall is a special talent. Still very young, and most at home punching hay grass or hyacinth matts with an ounce and quarter weighted Missile Baits D Bomb, he proved he can win in clear water with a topwater and a drop shot too. He also plans to earn extra money and experience between Elite Series tournaments guiding with highly respected Toledo Bend guide Darold Gleason.
“Even though I’m super nervous about all the unknowns of being a rookie on the Elites, I’ll tell you, I don’t wanna be a one-and-done on the Elites. I want to be around for a really long time,” says Sumrall.
Guess what? The win with a drop shot and topwater came on Lake Hartwell, home to this year’s Bassmaster Classic in late March, where Sumrall will have a chance to win $300,000.
Don’t bet against him.
You don’t have to be a rookie pro like Caleb to win the “Bonus Bucks” – you just have to be a registered participant in the Toyota Bonus Bucks program, and be the highest-placing participant in any of the dozens of tournaments supported by the program. To learn more and get signed-up, please visit http://www.toyotatrucksbonusbucks.com/ or phone (918) 742-6424, and ask for Jessica or Kendell and they can also help you get signed-up.
DeVincenzi & Crawford Win Wild West Bass Trail Cali Team Event on Oroville
| Place | Team | #Fish | Big | Weight | Winnings | Big Fish | Contingencies | Total Pay | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 1 | Terry Devincenzi | Scott Crawford | 7 | 5.39 | 16.17 | $7,200 | $885 | $250 Yamamoto Baits | $8,335 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Mark Gomez | Juan Acosta | 7 | 4.96 | 12.41 | $4,300 | $885 | $250 P-Line | $5,435 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Norm Soderberg | Dink Mendez | 7 | 4.55 | 12.39 | $3,400 | $885 | $4,285 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Gary Souza | Mike Klemm | 7 | 0.00 | 11.60 | $2,600 | $500 Evinrude | $500 Dobyns Rods | $3,600 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Jody Jordan | Greg Mccosker | 7 | 4.14 | 11.59 | $2,100 | $885 | $2,985 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Mike Saso | Larry Vignolo | 7 | 2.38 | 11.58 | $1,500 | $1,500 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Brent Cline | Paul Foor | 7 | 2.20 | 11.49 | $1,300 | $500 Lucas Oil | $1,800 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Johnathan Green | De Jon Lewis | 6 | 5.49 | 11.13 | $1,200 | $885 | $2,085 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Joe Bitker | Mike Gordon | 7 | 0.00 | 11.07 | $1,200 | $1,200 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | John Bell | Logan Bell | 7 | 3.80 | 10.54 | $1,200 | $1,200 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11 | Ryan Friend | Clint Isbell | 7 | 0.00 | 10.53 | $1,000 | $1,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12 | Joe Hinkle | Glen Lockhart | 7 | 1.98 | 10.47 | $1,000 | $1,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 13 | Garrett Maddex | Scott Burke | 7 | 2.42 | 10.46 | $1,000 | $1,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 14 | Greg Gutierrez | Ryan Brewer | 7 | 3.76 | 10.35 | $1,000 | $1,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 15 | Dave Raper | Tyler Meuchel | 7 | 2.38 | 10.15 | $1,000 | $1,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 16 | Ryan White | Scott Head | 7 | 2.11 | 9.80 | $1,000 | $1,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 17 | Wade Durling Jr | Joseph Durling | 7 | 2.16 | 9.45 | $1,000 | $300 Evinrude | $1,300 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 18 | Cesar Laguna | Stacy Gee | 7 | 0.00 | 9.15 | $1,000 | $1,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 19 | Travis Bounds | John Bounds | 7 | 0.00 | 9.07 | $1,000 | $1,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 20 | Dale Shirley | Dave Tencati | 7 | 2.34 | 9.03 | $1,000 | $1,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 21 | John Pearl | Ronald Bruggeman Jr | 7 | 0.00 | 8.97 | $600 | $600 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 22 | Dan Wilder | Jake Jimerson | 7 | 0.00 | 8.90 | $600 | $200 Evinrude | $800 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 23 | Ron Howe | Steve Wilson | 7 | 0.00 | 8.87 | $600 | $600 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 23 | Charles Hose | Bob Boyd | 6 | 2.71 | 8.87 | $600 | $600 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 23 | Richard Alcantar | Eric Castro | 7 | 1.76 | 8.87 | $600 | $600 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 76 | Russell Walar | Mike Wohlgemuth | 7 | 0.00 | 7.74 | ||||
| 77 | Seth Dandridge | Taylor Kudrna | 7 | 0.00 | 7.72 | ||||
| 78 | Mark Borges | Jodie White | 7 | 0.00 | 7.71 | ||||
| 79 | Mike Menne | Wayne Breazeale | 7 | 0.00 | 7.70 | ||||
| 80 | Mike Friend | Shelly Carr | 7 | 2.02 | 7.69 | ||||
| 81 | Dennis Sisto | Mike Henry | 7 | 0.00 | 7.65 | ||||
| 81 | Alax Parker | Chris Layton | 7 | 0.00 | 7.65 | ||||
| 83 | Cliff Clement | Timothy Gaura | 7 | 0.00 | 7.64 | ||||
| 84 | Corey Fenske | Andy Vierra | 7 | 0.00 | 7.63 | ||||
| 85 | Benjamin Green | Bill Adkins | 7 | 0.00 | 7.62 | ||||
| 86 | Luke Johns | Tyler Bounds | 7 | 0.00 | 7.53 | ||||
| 86 | John Maes | Russ Graves | 7 | 0.00 | 7.53 | ||||
| 88 | Craig Main | Jason Shy | 7 | 0.00 | 7.51 | ||||
| 89 | Isaac Lawrence | Owen Thatcher | 5 | 2.99 | 7.44 | ||||
| 90 | Doug Jones | Doug Mcka | 7 | 0.00 | 7.42 | ||||
| 91 | Brad Ford | Brad Saurage | 7 | 0.00 | 7.39 | ||||
| 91 | Daniel Andrusaitis | Shane Robertson | 5 | 0.00 | 7.39 | ||||
| 93 | James Avalos | Daryn Avalos | 7 | 0.00 | 7.34 | ||||
| 94 | William Ponting | Terry Snyder | 7 | 0.00 | 7.33 | ||||
| 95 | Jeff Green | Justin Eslick | 7 | 0.00 | 7.32 | ||||
| 96 | Jason Haley | Logan Miles | 7 | 0.00 | 7.31 | ||||
| 97 | Walt Austin | Ron Barksdale | 6 | 0.00 | 7.28 | ||||
| 98 | Austin Wilson | Kirby Wallace | 7 | 0.00 | 7.26 | ||||
| 99 | Dan Scott | Rick Littlejohn | 7 | 0.00 | 7.20 | ||||
| 100 | Anthony Lee | Scott Hellesen | 7 | 0.00 | 7.16 |
| 101 | Dave Church | John Kidder | 7 | 0.00 | 7.11 | ||||
| 102 | Alex Klein | Steve Klein | 5 | 0.00 | 7.06 | ||||
| 103 | Kevin Brown | Anthony Sierra | 7 | 0.00 | 7.01 | ||||
| 104 | Chris Storey | Ed Lopes | 7 | 0.00 | 6.98 | ||||
| 105 | Oscar Sarnecki | Eric Parra | 7 | 0.00 | 6.91 | ||||
| 106 | Nathan Sellers | Jordan Kunde | 7 | 0.00 | 6.85 | ||||
| 107 | Charles Almassey | Paul Fontaine | 7 | 0.00 | 6.70 | ||||
| 108 | Dan Sweat | Tom Shimabukuro | 6 | 0.00 | 6.65 | ||||
| 109 | Philip Garcia | Tony Botelho | 7 | 0.00 | 6.60 | ||||
| 110 | Bryan Diehm | Shon Mckinney | 5 | 0.00 | 6.58 | ||||
| 111 | Kenneth Phillips | Chris Delamain | 5 | 0.00 | 6.45 | ||||
| 112 | Joseph Orozco | Chang Xiong | 6 | 1.75 | 6.40 | ||||
| 113 | Gary Baldwin | Richard Leal | 6 | 1.61 | 6.22 | ||||
| 114 | Ugene Downing | Hunter Albright | 6 | 0.00 | 6.10 | ||||
| 115 | Obedie Williams | Clint Groenwold | 6 | 0.00 | 6.08 | ||||
| 116 | Devin Dick | Toby Farkas | 6 | 0.00 | 6.06 | ||||
| 116 | Anthony Prophet | Nick Swithenbank | 6 | 0.00 | 6.06 | ||||
| 118 | Brian Silva | Dave Mercado | 6 | 0.00 | 6.02 | ||||
| 119 | Vince Hurtado | Jarod Ballardo | 6 | 0.00 | 5.94 | ||||
| 120 | Mike Motley | Dan Sennett | 5 | 0.00 | 5.81 | ||||
| 120 | Gary Okusako | David Symmons | 5 | 0.00 | 5.81 | ||||
| 122 | Earl Dalton Iii | Christopher Gambol | 5 | 0.00 | 5.78 | ||||
| 123 | Bill Talley | Aaron Scott | 5 | 0.00 | 5.72 | ||||
| 124 | Deric Benefield | Frank Martinez | 6 | 0.00 | 5.68 | ||||
| 125 | Mike Frederick | Chad Dibble | 5 | 0.00 | 5.58 |
| 126 | Josh Kaneko | Miles Kaneko | 5 | 0.00 | 5.57 | ||||
| 127 | Vijay Malhotra | Alex Tran | 6 | 0.00 | 5.39 | ||||
| 128 | William Hume | Mike Kuhlman | 5 | 0.00 | 5.38 | ||||
| 129 | Scott Sweet | Russ Greenlee | 5 | 0.00 | 5.22 | ||||
| 130 | Jesse Slaton | Michael Ewing | 4 | 0.00 | 5.18 | ||||
| 131 | Robert Bruggeman | Nicholas De Sabatino | 5 | 0.00 | 5.17 | ||||
| 132 | Firuz Gizatullin | Logan Huntze | 5 | 0.00 | 5.04 | ||||
| 133 | Jason Cordiale | Beau Joudrey | 4 | 0.00 | 4.78 | ||||
| 134 | Stanley Penrod | Steven Penrod | 4 | 0.00 | 4.74 | ||||
| 135 | Scott Chappell | Jimmy Wade | 5 | 0.00 | 4.50 | ||||
| 136 | Mark Mendenhall | Danny Sozzi | 4 | 0.00 | 4.16 | ||||
| 137 | John Garrett | Tony Vaughn | 4 | 0.00 | 4.02 | ||||
| 138 | James Vella | Jared Harris | 3 | 0.00 | 3.99 | ||||
| 139 | Gary Collins | Tony Mihalenko | 3 | 0.00 | 3.96 | ||||
| 140 | Tony Bazzocco | Brandon Youngblood | 3 | 0.00 | 3.41 | ||||
| 140 | Richard Kraft | Jeff Wright | 3 | 0.00 | 3.41 | ||||
| 142 | Jerry Woodward | Rex Woodward | 3 | 0.00 | 3.27 | ||||
| 143 | Mike Moreno | Deanna Moreno | 3 | 0.00 | 3.10 | ||||
| 144 | Mark Hall | Carlos Garcia | 3 | 0.00 | 3.04 | ||||
| 145 | Justin Kraft | Aaron Grooms | 3 | 0.00 | 2.97 | ||||
| 146 | Michael Kraft | Beau Reynolds | 3 | 0.00 | 2.96 | ||||
| 147 | Zack Thompson | Frank Caron | 2 | 0.00 | 2.60 | ||||
| 148 | Jason Vigil | Jaren Mack | 2 | 0.00 | 2.57 | ||||
| 149 | Jeremy Wright | David Holmes | 2 | 0.00 | 2.45 | ||||
| 150 | Ryan Scott | Travis Averill | 2 | 0.00 | 2.34 |
| 151 | Scott Mackenzie | Jimmy Kuroki | 2 | 0.00 | 2.26 | ||||
| 152 | Jamie Clifton | Dave Cole | 2 | 0.00 | 2.22 | ||||
| 153 | Joshua Ireland | Dave Langendorff | 2 | 0.00 | 2.17 | ||||
| 153 | Nicholas Cloutier | Garret Dixon | 2 | 0.00 | 2.17 | ||||
| 155 | Frank Harris | Ron Tobey | 2 | 0.00 | 2.16 | ||||
| 156 | Jason Remmers | Alex Niapas | 1 | 0.00 | 1.41 | ||||
| 157 | Scott Elliott | Dale Baugh | 1 | 0.00 | 1.20 | ||||
| 158 | Yevgeniy Savitskiy | Joshua Lerche | 1 | 0.00 | 0.96 | ||||
| 159 | Pete Jensen | Jack Goodby | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||
| 159 | Robert Cloutier | Gary Mullins | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||
| 159 | Tim Lam | Saeng Saechao | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||
| 159 | Dj Von Bima | Jered Brendel | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||
| 159 | David Homen | Gerry Johnson | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||
| 159 | Ryan Tripp | Clayton Eslick | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||
| 159 | Manuel Nevarez | Manny Nevarez | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||
| 159 | Mike Sperbeck | Larry Hemphill | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||
| 159 | David Zachgo | Juan Angel | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||
| 159 | Jeremy Zipton | Clif Vanderwarf | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||
| 159 | Nick Salvucci | Jerred Jennings | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||
| 159 | Steven Alvarado | Michael O'neill | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||
| 159 | Thomas Vang | Xiong Vang | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||
| 159 | Ryan Contos | James Sweeney | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||
| 159 | Danny Cross | Dugan Wilson | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||
| 159 | Justin Evans | Tony Holt | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||
| 159 | John Morla | Clarence Morla | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| 159 | Derik Dalton | Thomas Dodd | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||
| 159 | Nicklaus Fiscus | Steve Scates | 0 | 0 | 0 |
FLW AND MERCURY MARINE SIGN SPONSORSHIP DEAL FOR 2018 SEASON
MINNEAPOLIS (Jan. 15, 2018) – Fishing League Worldwide (FLW), the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, announced today a sponsorship agreement with Mercury Marine across all FLW tournament circuits. The Fond du Lac, Wisconsin-based marine propulsion manufacturer, will serve as one of two official outboard-engine sponsors in 2018. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
“FLW is pleased to announce our continued partnership with Mercury Marine,” said FLW President of Marketing Trish Blake. “The relationship reinforces the commitment of both companies to the sport of professional bass fishing. Our tournaments and expos offer the perfect showcase to display the efficient, high-quality outboard engines that Mercury is known for to the passionate and engaged FLW fans, anglers and consumers.”
Mercury Marine will receive prominent exposure and on-site activation at all FLW-sanctioned bass fishing tournaments and outdoor expos, including interactive booth space and products at designated events. Mercury products will be highlighted across FLW’s multiple media platforms including FLWFishing.com, FLW social media outlets, FLW Bass Fishing magazine and the Emmy-nominated "FLW" television show. Mercury Marine will also act as the presenting sponsor for three events during the 2018 tournament season.
“Mercury Marine and FLW have enjoyed a long and successful relationship and we are excited to continue that partnership in 2018,” said Michelle Dauchy, Mercury Marine chief marketing officer. “Mercury continues to power the world’s best anglers on tour and we are excited for the upcoming season.”
As part of the agreement, FLW will also administer a contingency reward program to top-performing Mercury-sponsored anglers in FLW events. Complete details about the Mercury Marine contingency program will be posted at FLWFishing.com.
Mercury Marine recently announced its first outboard promotion of 2018; the Go With 5 outboard promotion. Boaters can now take advantage of five years of extended coverage to kick-off the new season. The offer includes three years of standard warranty, plus two years of Mercury Product Protection (MPP) Gold, and the promotion runs now through March 31, 2018. For more details, visit MercuryMarine.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, and South Africa. 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 Mercury Marine
Headquartered in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, Mercury Marine is the world's leading manufacturer of recreational marine propulsion engines. A $2.5 billion division of Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC), Mercury provides engines, boats, services and parts for recreational, commercial and government marine applications, empowering boaters with products that are easy to use, extremely reliable and backed by the most dedicated customer support in the world. Mercury's industry-leading brand portfolio includes Mercury and Mariner outboard engines; Mercury MerCruiser sterndrive and inboard packages; MotorGuide trolling motors; Mercury propellers; Mercury inflatable boats; Mercury SmartCraft electronics; Attwood marine parts; Land ‘N Sea marine parts distribution; and Mercury and Quicksilver parts and oils. More information is available at mercurymarine.com.
Strother & Gilbert Wins 2018 Arkansas Bass Team Trail Lake Greeson Open with over 12 pounds!
Best of the Rest:
ALLEN, LOETSCHER LEVERAGE WINTER CONDITIONS FOR TOLEDO BEND WIN
By David A. Brown
MANY, La. (Jan. 13, 2017) - Tournament victories require equal parts skill, execution and good fortune; other words, when things fall into place, you gotta know what to do with it all. That's the fitting description for Harold Allen and Matthew Loetscher who won the season opener of the 2018 Texas Team Trail, presented by Cabela's, at Toledo Bend Reservoir.
Sacking up a five-bass limit that weighed 28.74 pounds, the winning duo spent their day in the lake's upper third and focused on sheer drops in the main lake. Plunging from 10 to 20 feet, these spots presented classic winter strongholds that provided fish positional options.
"We fished spots that had some wood, not only on the bottom, but also hanging off the drop," Allen said. "Right now, the fish are either going to be right on top of the drop, or where it eases off. If you can find some cover off the side of the ledge, that's even better. Some of our fish were right on top of the ledge and some of them halfway down the sides of the drops."
Allen committed his day to a 3/4-ounce black/blue Santone jig with a Junebug craw trailer, while Loetscher used a 3/4-ounce brown Stanley jig with a green pumpkin Cajun Lures craw trailer. Their strategy involved feeling around for hard cover and then surgically picking it apart.
"We would work our baits fairly fast until we hit some type of structure and then we tried to bump that structure several times," Allen said. "When you bumped it or pulled your bait over, you'd kill the bait and let it go right down in there. That was the deal - working hard, slow and thorough.
"Color didn't seem to matter; the main thing was size. The wind was so bad, we needed a pretty heavy jig to get into the cover and stay in it."
With the morning take-off bringing temperatures in the 20's, Loetscher said they were shaking and bumping their rods to clear their guides of ice accumulations. Frosty conditions lingered most of the day and with lake temperatures in the mid-40s winter's grip remained apparent.
Nevertheless, Allen said his team's pre-tournament recon bespoke ideal conditions for their chosen tactics. Delighted with the cold, as well as the low lake level - about 5 feet below normal - the team followed their game plan to the letter.
"The lake dropped on us, which was in our favor because it pulls fish out to these drops," Allen said. "But then, we kept getting cold front after cold front after cold front. I told Matt 'It's only going to make our stuff better, so what we have to do is just slow down, concentrate and fish.
"What solidified it for us was the water stayed down and it got colder. We were pretty pumped before we even left the dock."
Allen and Loetscher hit about six different spots, only one of which produced at different times of the day. They secured a limit by 10 a.m., upgraded throughout the day and slammed the door shut with a key afternoon decision to visit a familiar spot.
"It was a spot I had a lot of confidence in," Allen said. "We had fished it early and never had a bite, but I told Matt we were crunched down on time and I felt like we might need one more; we didn't really know what we had at the time. We went back to that spot and Matt caught that good one that really sealed the deal for us."
For their efforts Allen and and Loetscher earned a Ranger 189 TRX with a 150-horsepower Mercury outboard. In addition, they claimed $2,550 of Anglers Advantage cash. Their total payday was $34,045.
"It feels really awesome; it's just one of those surreal deals," Loetscher said of his teams first TXTT win. "It's a magical thing that doesn't happen very often. The stars really have to align and things really have to go your way. To win an event like this with this against the caliber of fishermen who fish on this lake feels incredible."
JEANE JR.-REYNOLDS second
They were picky about the type of cover they fished; just not the origin. Such flexibility led George Jean Jr. and Tater Reynolds to a second-place finish with 27.47 Their performance earned them $9,740.
"We fished jigs in brush piles because when it gets cold like this, those fish relate to wood and hard cover," Reynolds said. "A lot of the brush piles we fished were ones we put out, but if we went over one that was holding fish, we'd stop and work that one too."
Fishing V&M Flat Line football jigs with Zoom Super Chunk trailers, the anglers caught most of their weight at their second stop. Reynolds said they had 27 pounds by 8 a.m. and made one small cull around 2:30
Describing a helpful tackle change, Reynolds said this: "Fishing brush piles, we needed to get those big fish out, so we moved up to 17-pound fluorocarbon line. Plus, the water was kind of stained where we were fishing, so we could get away with it."
VICE-GUY third
A key adjustment propelled Bobby Vice and Ricky Guy from doing okay to sacking up the third-place limit that went 25.92 pounds. As Vice explained, they started their day dragging Carolina-rigged Big Bite Baits lizards, but after securing a small limit, Guy tried a different look and it was off to the races.
"Ricky picked up a 6th Sense football jig about 9:45 and caught a better quality fish - a 4-pounder - so we both switched to that and stuck with that pattern the rest of the day," Vice said. "We upgraded the five we had in the well. We also caught a 5-pounder and one that was almost 9.
"We didn't just pull up to any spots and catch a bunch of fish; we probably caught 12 fish all day. We just had it in our mindset that we needed to get out on those ledges and fish really, really slow. We threw the bait out there and let it get water-logged."
Working the mid-lake area, Vice and Guy focused on ridges in 12-15 feet. The key ingredients were proximity to the mouths of spawning creeks and nearby deep water - classic prespawn stuff.
For third place, Vice and Guy earned $4,060
Millender-Cannon fourth, Farris-Hardin fifth
Randy Millender and Rickey Cannon weighed five bass worth 25.67 pounds, taking fourth place and earning $4,240 Behind them was Colt Farris and Taylor Hardin with 24.65 pounds. For fifth place, they earned $2,405
Rest of the best
Rounding out the top 10 teams at the 2017 Texas Team Trail event on Toledo Bend:
6th: CORY RAMBO AND RUSTY CLARK, 23.56
7th: KELLY OWENS AND BRENT BROUSSARD, 23.33
8th: BENJAMIN GULETT AND DUSTIN RIVERS, 22.67
9th: TOMMY MURRAY AND KEITH IVY, 21.67
10th: THOMAS LOVING AND JAMES WHITE, 21.36
Up next
The second event of the 2018 season for the Texas Team Trail presented by Cabela's is slated for Feb. 10 on Lake Sam Rayburn. Register Now!
Mossy Oak Claims Title Sponsorship Of Bassmaster High School Fishing Series
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - From BASS Publications
Jan. 12, 2018
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Mossy Oak, the Official Camo Pattern of B.A.S.S., has signed on as the title sponsor of the organization’s fast-growing high school bass fishing program, B.A.S.S. announced today.
The popular high school fishing series is now known as the Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods.
“At Mossy Oak, it is of the utmost importance to pass on our outdoors traditions of fishing, hunting and taking care of the land,” said Ben Maki, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Mossy Oak. “B.A.S.S. offers so many opportunities for young people to compete in the sport they love. We really wanted to get behind their efforts of supporting future anglers and outdoors enthusiasts. We’re honored to play a role in such a tremendous program.”
Mossy Oak launched its new Elements fishing lifestyle pattern during the annual ICAST fishing tackle trade show in Orlando last summer, when it also became the Official Pattern of B.A.S.S. The Mossy Oaks Elements Agua B.A.S.S. Edition Pattern features the B.A.S.S. logo embedded in the camo design.
“We are excited to partner with Mossy Oak to help introduce this attractive camo pattern for anglers,” said Bruce Akin, B.A.S.S. CEO, “and now we’re especially proud to see the company investing in the next generation of anglers — the Bassmaster High School competitors.
“These young anglers are passionate about our sport, and they are sure to embrace the fishing lifestyle that Mossy Oak Elements patterns represent.”
In addition to the high school title sponsorship, Mossy Oak also has become a supporting sponsor of the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series, and it is the presenting sponsor of the Bassmaster Elite at Upper Chesapeake Bay, Maryland.
For more information on these programs and tournaments, visit www.bassmaster.com. To learn more about Mossy Oak or to enjoy free, timely and entertaining outdoors content, visit www.mossyoak.com.
About Haas Outdoors Inc.
Haas Outdoors Inc. is headquartered in West Point, Miss., was established in 1986 and is home of Mossy Oak. For more than 30 years, Mossy Oak has been a leading outdoors lifestyle brand that specializes in developing and marketing modern camouflage designs for hunters and outdoors enthusiasts. The Mossy Oak Brand and patterns can be found on a multitude of products worldwide. Haas Outdoors Inc. is the parent company of Mossy Oak, BioLogic, Mossy Oak Productions, MOOSE Media, Nativ Nurseries, Nativ Living, GameKeepers, GameKeepers Kennels and Mossy Oak Properties. Mossy Oak is the official camouflage of the National Wild Turkey Federation, Ducks Unlimited, Quality Deer Management Association and Mack’s Prairie Wings and the official pattern of B.A.S.S.
Follow Mossy Oak on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+, Pinterest and YouTube.
TH Marine 2018 ATLAS Awards - Get Signed Up Today!
T-H Marine Supplies Inc. is excited to announce the return of the Atlas Awards Program for the 2018 tournament fishing season! T-H Marine will award cash prizes to Atlas Awards members who are the winners or highest qualifying finisher of sanctioned events, giving everyone the opportunity to win like the top-level pros!
The Atlas Awards program is just $29.99 for a one year (Jan. 1, 2018 – Dec. 31, 2018) membership and gives all anglers the chance to compete for, and win, extra money just for having T-H Marine parts on their boat. This also includes one T-H Marine hat and 2 logo decals.
For 2018 the payouts have been restructured to give more opportunity to anglers fishing smaller tournaments. The payouts below will be for EVERY tournament, regardless of size (50-boat minimum). So Many Ways To Win! Please see official rules for more details.
Each item is valued by credits, one credit is worth $25 in cash, or $50 in store credit. Find more information on sanctioned events, eligible products, and how to submit claims here.
Remapping South Florida Together! Navionics & Partners Making a Difference & You Can Too!
JOIN THE POST-IRMA REMAPPING EFFORT!
When Hurricane Irma passed through the South Florida area last September, much of the boating and fishing community was affected. At the same time, shorelines and bottom contours were also changed. That's why we’re partnering with fellow industry leaders and the South Florida boating community to remap marine and inland waterways impacted by Hurricane Irma. You can help!
Log sonar, mark debris, make a difference in the community
Help make boating safer for everyone by updating local charts. Participants will receive one year of free Navionics+ daily chart updates, which includes access to all the local data collected during this event.
Learn more about the month-long event, that kicks off on January 19th, at https://www.navionics.com/usa/lp/remap-south-florida?utm_source=email&utm_medium=general&utm_campaign=remap_south_florida&utm_content=partner_email&uid=[uid].
Learn more:
The upcoming webinar is planned for Jan 17, 2018 7:00 PM EST. Follow this link to sign up -https://navionics.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_rPxbbHPFRwWfy-GUWWue8w
Not a boater?
You can still help by spreading the word! Forward this email to a boating friend or share event details on social media using the official event hashtag, #RemapSouthFL
Participants will receive one year of daily updates for FREE, which includes access to all the local data collected during this event!
Anglers Invited to Participate in the 34th Annual IGFA International Auction
Online Auction Bidding Open Now
The IGFA International Auction is actually two auctions in one. The LIVE AUCTION will take place at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 27, 2018, at the Pier Sixty-Six Hotel & Marina in Fort Lauderdale. Tickets to attend, along with sponsorship opportunities, are available by contacting Andy Saldana at 954-924-4227 or [email protected]. Individual tickets are only $250 and include an open bar, dinner, silent and live auctions, an awards presentation and a special gift. Table sponsorships are also available, and all proceeds go toward the conservation of game fish and the promotion of responsible, ethical angling practices. Those unable to attend can still participate in the LIVE AUCTION by sending in proxy bids for desired items.
The SILENT AUCTION is online now and open for bidding at www.bidpal.net/igfa18. Those interested in bidding will have until the real-time close of the event on January 27, 2018, at 7:30 p.m. EST to secure the highest bids for the items of their dreams. Anglers are encouraged to check the online auction often, as new items will be donated all the way up to the date of the big event
For those interested in donating to the IGFA International Auction, you’ll receive exposure to more than 30,000 IGFA members and supporters worldwide. Please contact Andy Saldana at 954-924-4227 or [email protected] to make your auction item donation and help protect world-class sport fishing for generations to come.
Following the excitement of the auctions, attendees will enjoy IGFA’s prestigious annual awards ceremony to honor those who have made outstanding contributions to the sport. For the 34th straight year, the IGFA International Auction promises to be an evening to remember.
About the IGFA
Founded in 1939, the IGFA is a non-profit organization committed to the conservation of game fish and the promotion of responsible, ethical angling practices, through science, education, rule making, record keeping and recognition of outstanding accomplishments in the field of angling. The IGFA also maintains worldwide game fish records in freshwater, saltwater, fly fishing and junior angler categories. IGFA members are located in over 100 countries.
Lew's High School Product Grant Program Now Open for Application
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Lew's and the Future Fisherman Foundation (F3) are pleased to announce that the Lew's High School Product Grant Program is now open to receive online applications for 2018 initiatives. Nearly 100 high school fishing clubs across the country took advantage of the program launched last year for the purpose of helping organized teen groups grow their memberships, get involved in community activities and promote conservation awareness.
Officials at F3, a well-known non-profit organization dedicated to youth fishing, liked what they saw in the program's inaugural season and said year two is off to a fast start.
"The Lew's High School Grant Program was instrumental in helping a large number of teams get going last year and we witnessed great use of the products for the right things," said Executive Director Mark Gintert. "The Lew's Mach combos are top-shelf products, so they have been greatly appreciated whether being used for fundraisers, event prizes or
program incentives. Applications are already rolling in for 2018 and we're proudly reviewing and responding quickly."
There are three product award levels - 4, 8 or 12 Mach rod and reel combos, split equally between baitcast and spinning - with application approvals and combos awarded according to club size, activities and conservation involvement.
Lew's funds the product grant program by earmarking a portion of the sales of its Mach rods, reels and combos to support the effort.
"We planned to award up to 1,000 combos for 2017 and we awarded right at that number, but we're looking to grow it this year," said Lew's Senior Vice President of Marketing David May.
"Our company has always been committed to giving back to our industry and I can't think of any group more important to the future of this sport than America's youth. Fishing builds confidence and character, and Lew's is pleased to lead this program," he said.
Any U.S. high school fishing club or team is eligible to apply online between Jan. 1 and Sept. 30, 2018. However, clubs are encouraged to apply early because the application opportunity will close before Sept. 30 if the product allocation is met before then.
For Lew's High School Product Grant Program details, including the online application form, visit Lews.com and Futurefisherman.org.
Bassmaster Classic Boat Order Revealed
After Day 1, the boats will leave the dock in reverse order listed here.
| Flight 1 | ||
| 1 | Brandon | Palaniuk |
| 2 | Jordan | Lee |
| 3 | Jason | Williamson |
| 4 | Kevin | VanDam |
| 5 | Luke | Gritter |
| 6 | Mark | Davis |
| 7 | Brent | Ehrler |
| 8 | Cliff | Pace |
| 9 | Bradley | Roy |
| 10 | Josh | Bertrand |
| 11 | Jacob | Wheeler |
| 12 | Matt | Lee |
| 13 | Caleb | Sumrall |
| 14 | Bobby | Lane |
| 15 | Keith | Combs |
| 16 | Skeet | Reese |
| 17 | Ott | DeFoe |
| 18 | David | Walker |
| 19 | Brandon | Lester |
| 20 | Mark | Daniels |
| 21 | Stanley | Sypeck |
| 22 | Jacob | Foust |
| 23 | Mike | Iaconelli |
| 24 | Edwin | Evers |
| 25 | Rick | Morris |
| 26 | Russ | Lane |
| Flight 2 | ||
| 27 | Marty | Giddens |
| 28 | James | Elam |
| 29 | Steve | Kennedy |
| 30 | Mike | McClelland |
| 31 | Hank | Cherry |
| 32 | Brandon | Coulter |
| 33 | Jesse | Wiggins |
| 34 | Seth | Feider |
| 35 | John | Cox |
| 36 | Clifford | Pirch |
| 37 | Carl | Svebek |
| 38 | Todd | Faircloth |
| 39 | Randy | Howell |
| 40 | Jason | Christie |
| 41 | Micah | Frazier |
| 42 | Jacob | Powroznik |
| 43 | John | Crews |
| 44 | Ryan | Butler |
| 45 | Dustin | Connell |
| 46 | Gerald | Swindle |
| 47 | Jamie | Hartman |
| 48 | Alton | Jones |
| 49 | Casey | Ashley |
| 50 | Aaron | Martens |
| 51 | Greg | Hackney |
| 52 | Luke | Clausen |
Body of Retired Tennessee Tech Professor and Tech Fishing Team Advisor Found in Center Hill Lake
BY LINDSAY MCREYNOLDS - Herald-Citizen Newspaper
The body of a retired Tennessee Tech chemistry professor was recovered just before noon Thursday after he was reported missing following a solo fishing trip Wednesday on Center Hill Lake, according to the TWRA. Scott Northrup, 66, was found in about 33 feet of water in the Florida Branch section of the lake less than 150 yards away from where his boat was recovered.
The boat and life jacket of Northrup were found Wednesday evening according to a friend of Northrup's.
"His truck and trailer were found at the Hurricane boat ramp, and his boat was later recovered from the water around 7:30 p.m.," a release from Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency stated Thursday morning.
TWRA and the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office began looking for Northrup after he was reported missing Wednesday evening.
That search resumed this morning with assistance from the DeKalb County Rescue Squad.
"All I know is that the gentleman had put his boat in at Hurricane Bridge boat access, where the bridge crosses the lake at Highway 56," said Dusty Johnson of the DeKalb County Rescue Squad.
Northrup, a professor emeritus of chemistry and faculty advisor to Tech's bass fishing team, taught chemistry at TTU for 35 years and was a recipient of the university's Outstanding Faculty Award in Teaching.
Upon receipt of that award, Northrup was praised by students for his innovations in teaching.
For struggling students, Northrup helped design a seamless transition from the university’s general chemistry class to a more basic fundamentals class. Students who do poorly on the first general chemistry quiz are allowed to immediately transfer to the fundamentals class, according to TTU's Office of Communications and Marketing.
To allow himself more time with students, he created an online system to grade papers automatically in the 1990s, when no such programs existed.
In an email to Tech faculty and staff Thursday morning, TTU President Phil Oldham said, "Scott is a longtime member of the Tech community, making a significant impact in the lives of his students, his colleagues and this university. Authorities are currently searching for him. Please keep him and his family in your thoughts and prayers."
Northrup's friend Jim Brown said in an email to the Herald-Citizen early Thursday morning, "Scott has played in the Trinity praise and worship team for years. I consider him to be the back bone of the team. Please pray for his safe recovery and for him to be brought home to his wife Chris Northrup."
Berkley, Abu Garcia Named Premier Sponsors Of Bassmaster Events
Bassmaster supplied Press Release
Jan. 11, 2018
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Berkley and Abu Garcia, two of Pure Fishing’s global family of quality fishing tackle brands, have signed on as premier sponsors of the Bassmaster Classic and other bass fishing series and events, B.A.S.S. announced today.
Berkley is renewing its premier sponsorship, and Abu Garcia has joined the lineup of top-tier B.A.S.S. sponsors, said Bruce Akin, B.A.S.S. CEO.
“These two iconic brands are highly respected by our more than 500,000 B.A.S.S. members as well as the millions of fans who follow Bassmaster events in person, online at Bassmaster.com and on ESPN2,” Akin said. “Their sponsorship of the most prestigious bass fishing events in the world makes the statement that Berkley and Abu Garcia are dedicated to serving the most demanding anglers in the sport.”
According to the multiyear agreement, Berkley and Abu Garcia will be listed as premier sponsors of the Bassmaster Classic, Bassmaster Elite Series, Bassmaster Opens Series, B.A.S.S. Nation Series, Bassmaster Team Championship, Bassmaster College Series and Bassmaster High School Series. Berkley, an 80-year-old company that manufacturers fishing line, lures, rods, accessories and other tackle items, has been a premier sponsor of B.A.S.S. events since 2002. Founded in 1921 in Sweden and known by bass anglers for its Revo reels, Abu Garcia is stepping up to the premier sponsorship level for the first time this year.
“Abu Garcia and Berkley are thrilled to continue this relationship with B.A.S.S.,” said Neil Eibeler, CEO of Pure Fishing. “We are always looking for ways to connect with passionate anglers, and this partnership allows us that opportunity. We are committed to fostering growth in the sport of fishing and working with such a renowned organization like B.A.S.S. is a great way for us to do that.”
Berkley also will be title sponsor of the Bassmaster Elite tournament on Kentucky Lake at Paris, Tenn., in May, while Abu Garcia will be presenting sponsor of that event. In addition, Berkley will again sponsor the Berkley Big Bass Award for the heaviest bass weighed in during the Bassmaster Classic. The agreement also entitles Berkley and Abu Garcia to exhibit space at Classic and Elite Series expos and similar venues at each of the tournaments.
The Berkley Bassmaster Elite at Kentucky Lake presented by Abu Garcia will be held May 4-7 and is the fourth of nine regular-season events in the Bassmaster Elite Series, the exclusive, top-tier bass tournament circuit including 111 of the best-known professional anglers in the world. The 2018 series kicks off Feb. 8-11 on Lake Martin, Alabama.
Elite competition will break for the 48th GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods on Lake Hartwell, South Carolina, March 16-18. Long known as the “Super Bowl of Bass Fishing,” the Classic is a three-day, no-entry-fee championship in which 50 bass anglers will compete for a share of the $1 million purse.
The Classic and Elite Series are covered in television programming on ESPN 2, while on-the-water fishing action from those events are streamed live on Bassmaster.com and ESPN3.
Founded in Montgomery, Ala., in 1968 by Ray Scott, B.A.S.S. celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.
About Pure Fishing, Inc.
Pure Fishing, Inc. is a leading global provider of fishing tackle, lures, rods and reels with a portfolio of brands that includes Abu Garcia®, All Star®, Berkley®, Chub™, Fenwick®, Gulp!®, Hardy & Greys™, Hodgman®, Johnson™, Mitchell®, PENN®, Pflueger®, Sébile®, Shakespeare®, SpiderWire®, Stren®, Trilene® and Ugly Stik®. Pure Fishing, Inc. operates in 22 countries with a dedicated workforce conversant in 28 languages. Pure Fishing, Inc., a part of Newell Brands’ strong portfolio of well-known brands, is a leader in developing outdoor and active lifestyle products. Additional information can be found at www.purefishing.com.
About Newell Brands
Newell Brands (NYSE: NWL) is a leading global consumer goods company with a strong portfolio of well-known brands, including Paper Mate®, Sharpie®, Dymo®, EXPO®, Parker®, Elmer’s®, Coleman®, Jostens®, Marmot®, Rawlings®, Irwin®, Lenox®, Oster®, Sunbeam®, FoodSaver®, Mr. Coffee®, Rubbermaid Commercial Products®, Graco®, Baby Jogger®, NUK®, Calphalon®, Rubbermaid®, Contigo®, First Alert®, Waddington and Yankee Candle®. Driven by a sharp focus on the consumer, leading investment in innovation and brands, and a performance-driven culture, Newell Brands helps consumers achieve more where they live, learn, work and play. Additional information about Newell Brands is available on the company’s website, www.newellbrands.com.
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), radio show (Bassmaster Radio), website (Bassmaster.com), television show (The Bassmasters on ESPN2), social media programs and events. For 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation presented by Magellan Outdoors, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods, Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods.
Former B.A.S.S. owner Jim Copeland Passes Away.
Story & Photo provided by bassmaster.com
NORCROSS, Ga. — Jim Copeland, one of three men who purchased B.A.S.S. from ESPN in 2010, has died. Copeland passed away Monday, following a short illness, at his home in Peachtree Corners, Ga., where he was surrounded by his family.
An avid bass fisherman, Copeland was a partner with Don Logan and Jerry McKinnis in buying B.A.S.S., LLC. A former global CEO of Deloitte, the international financial services firm, Copeland was a leader in community service as well as business. He was a board member of United Way International and served on the board of the 9/11 Memorial Fund, which raised more than $400 million of private funds for victims of the attack.
He was known for his leadership in diversity and enhancing the role of women in business, especially in the firms where he worked. In retirement, he joined the boards of Coca Cola Enterprises, Equifax, Time Warner Cable, and ConocoPhillips. He was both a senior fellow at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and a Global Scholar at Georgia State University.
He is survived by his wife Patricia; his two sons, James Edwin Copeland, III (Trip) of Atlanta and David Watson Copeland and his wife Darcy F. Copeland of Peachtree Corners; and five grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, Copeland wished for donations to be sent to Norcross Cooperative Ministries, 2275 Mitchell Road, Norcross, GA 30071; www.norcross-op.org.
Adding Orange to Crawfish Lures Gets More Bites
Story & Photo Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships
Crayfish, mudbugs, yabbies, crawdads – call ‘em what you want – there are more than 300 different species of them in North America, and their bodies range in color from red to olive green, and even blue.
But it’s the tiny bit of bright orange on the very tips of their large ‘pinchers’ (chelipeds) that have become a minor obsession for anglers like 2014 Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Greg Hackney, and other avid anglers like myself.
The orange highlights on many of their pinchers make these freshwater lobster species look like they’re fresh from a $30 manicure at the local nail salon.
Trying to replicate this naturally fashionable color scheme includes the use of paints and dyes on soft plastics, as well as custom painting crankbaits – because we’re absolutely convinced that adding a tiny touch of bright orange generates more bites.
There’s some science behind our thinking
“For whatever reason, orange seems to be the color Mother Nature chose to dot the tips of the pinchers, which likely serves as an advantage as they seek one another for reproduction, and also a warning color for predator fish to ‘stay away’ – but somewhat unfortunate for the crawfish, the contrasting orange also helps bass to find them even in off colored water,” explains Gene Gilliland, B.A.S.S. Director of Conservation, who is also a passionate bass angler.
Picasso, Rembrandt, and Hackney
“I’ve always dyed the tips of soft plastics with orange or chartreuse, but only in recent years have I started using the paint,” says Hackney. “Paint is great because it takes a lot less to get a ton of bright color on the lure,” he explains.
More orange for Smallies, less orange for Largies
“I do believe that smallmouth are truly sight oriented fish that are attracted to bright colors – they’re just such an inquisitive species, but for largemouth, I use a little less paint, because they don’t seem to like it quite as bright,” says Hackney, who is using a very affordable $99 Quantum Prism spinning rod for most of his smallmouth fishing.
He opts for the 7’ 4” model when dragging plastic tubes, the 7’ 0” for wacky rigging, and the 6’ 6” Prism rod for drop shotting.
Widely produced, as well as customs worth leaning on
Hackney is by no means alone. It seems his penchant for applying Spike-It paints and dyes is shared by every bass angler who has ever stepped on a trolling motor pedal.
Nearly everybody carries either a bottle of the Southeast Georgia based company’s Dip-N-Glo, scented marking pens, or paint, to provide a simple and very effective dab of chartreuse, orange, red, or blue.
But there’s also a handful of both mass-produced lures, and custom models perfectly ‘painted’ or colored right out of the package to satisfy my orange pincher obsession.
In fact, my earliest recognition of orange’s importance was on the original, now vintage, model #V86 phantom green craw Wiggle Wart, featuring a rather transparent olive green body, and yes, a hint of orange on the diving bill.
These days I lean on Oklahoma angler and custom lure painter Beau Kemp, whose work can be seen @WaylonsBoot on Instagram, to add plenty of orange to my Wiggle Warts and widely produced Rapala DT series of crankbaits. Although, we’ve discovered the Rapala color called “Rusty” offers a bite-generating scheme with plenty of orange right out of the package.
Hand poured soft plastic craws to satisfy the orange craw obsession
Now, when it comes to soft plastics, I’ve yet to discover an orange-tipped, more natural looking creation, than those made by Paul Krew. Based near Buggs Island Reservoir on the Virginia-North Carolina border, Krew has been making hand-poured plastics for 30 years, and his efforts are truly works of art.
I personally prefer his compact little hand-poured soft plastic Weasel Craw, but it’s Krew’s color schemes that really set him apart. For example, I had always wanted a soft plastic craw with an army green body, some blue – and of course, plenty of orange on the pinchers – and he is the only person I’ve ever found to make them.
And while I can’t honestly say I’ve used his hand painted crankbaits – they too are among the Rembrandts of the casting plug universe.
“Orange just seems to be a color they see a lot in the natural universe – from sunfish to crawfish pinchers, and so whether I’m pouring plastics, or painting crankbaits – I’ve often emphasized orange,” says Krew.
I couldn’t agree more with Mr. Krew. I’m absolutely convinced the addition of orange to a crawfish imitating lure helps generate more bites, especially from smallmouth, but also largemouth to some degree as well.
So even though we tend to default to our more natural bass fishing color pallette of green pumpkins, blacks and blues – adding a splash of orange can certainly increase your catch rates.
BASS AOY Brandon Palaniuk Joins Mossy Oak Fishing Team for 2018 Elite Season!
WEST POINT, MS – Mossy Oak’s Fishing Team is growing with the addition of Brandon Palaniuk, three-time Bassmaster Elite Series Champion and 2017 Angler of the Year.
Established in 2017 in conjunction with the launch of Mossy Oak Elements Agua, the Mossy Oak Fishing Team is growing with five bassmasters and saltwater fisherman Mark Davis. Palaniuk will be joining fellow Mossy Oak Fishing Team anglers on the Bassmaster Series: Kevin VanDam, Ott DeFoe, Gerald Swindle and Jordan Lee.
“I couldn’t be more excited to pair with such an iconic brand in the outdoors industry,” said Palaniuk. “Mossy Oak has always been a leader in helping those of us that love the outdoors to be more successful through camouflage concealment. Pair that up with their strong efforts toward conservation and you’ve got the kind of people I want to work with.”
“It’s important that our fishing team members embody the outdoors lifestyle and reflect that passion in all they do,” said Ben Maki, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. “We’re proud to have Brandon on the team. He’s an incredibly successful angler and an outstanding representative for Mossy Oak and our Elements Agua pattern.”
Palaniuk joined B.A.S.S. in 2011 and has competed in 89 tournaments. His career earnings total over $1 million. Besides fishing, Palaniuk is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys hunting, snowboarding, videography and photography.
For more information on Brandon Palaniuk, visit his website at http://www.bmpfishing.com/.
Join Today - AnglersChannel.com Fantasy Fishing Group for BASS & FLW Events!
If you are a fan of Fantasy Fishing or if you're just getting started in it, Then sign up today on both the BASS and FLW Pages and Join the AnglersChannel.com Group.
We will be giving away prizes each event to winners across both groups. Prizes from Strike King, Ranger, TH Marine, Costa and More! Click on the logo's below and sign up today!
Missing Co-Angler Nik Kayler's Body Has Been Recovered from Lake Okeechobee
To Make a Donation to the Nik Kayler GoFundMe Account to help his family, Please Click here.
Wednesday January 10, 2018
10:45 am CST
From the FB Group, "Boaters looking for Nik Kayler, " Admin Jonathan Lockwood released this post below.
"WITH A HEAVY HEART, I REGRET TO INFORM EVERY1 THAT NIK HAS BEEN RECOVERED.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR THE FAMILY. PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT THE FAMILY
AS THEY ARE NEEDING THEIR TIME TOGETHER RIGHT NOW. PLEASE CONTINUE
PRAYING FOR THE KAYLER FAMILY."
Statement From FLW at 11:41am CST
FLW is extremely saddened to announce that the body of co-angler Nik Kayler, 38, of Apopka, Florida, has been recovered from Lake Okeechobee.
Kayler’s body was recovered from the lake near Clewiston, Florida, Wednesday morning by a commercial vessel.
Numerous agencies, including the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), United States Coast Guard, St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office and Okeechobee Sheriff’s Office were involved in the search which began Thursday evening.
“Our prayers are with Nik’s family during this time of unimaginable tragedy,” said FLW President of Operations Kathy Fennel. “The loss of his life touches the entire fishing community.”
Further updates will be released as they become available from local authorities investigating the accident.
A GoFundMe campaign has been established benefiting Nik’s wife, Kelly, and daughter, Caralee. To make a contribution, please visit GoFundMe.com/Nik-Kayler.
Please keep Nik's Wife and Young Daughter in your thoughts and prayers.
G-Man Signs Hardbait Deal with Rapala
Photo & Press Release Courtesy of Rapala
When it comes to Rapala® crankbaits, The G-Man is an O.G.
“I’ve got a bunch of Shad Raps I started collecting when I was 19,” says Gerald Swindle, 48, who joined Rapala’s pro team Jan. 1. “This young pro saw my collection and says, “You’re an O.G. when it comes to Shad Raps, G.’ I said ‘Yessir!’ A Shad Rap®, a DT®-6, a DT®-10 have always been stable baits of mine.”
And whether or not you’re of the era that knows “O.G.” means “original gangsta” – and that that’s a good thing – you surely know that Swindle, “The G-Man” to his fans, won Bassmaster’s 2016 Angler of the Year.
“Throughout it all, a Rapala – a DT-6, a DT-10 – if it’s a shallow-crankin’ tournament, ol’ Gerald’s gonna have ‘em tied on,” says Swindle, who’s won two Angler of the Year awards, competed for 15 Bassmaster Classic titles and notched 50 Top 10 finishes in 20 years of Bassmaster competition. “And if they’re deeper? I tell everybody the best all-around deep crankbait ever is the DT-14, hands down. You can’t beat a DT-14 for the depth it runs, what it will achieve and what it will do. It’s an all-around bait for that range. It’s the right size, you won’t lose many on it, and it wobbles right.”
Since Swindle became what he laughingly calls a “free agent” in the hard-bait pro-team market, “Rapala was the only brand I had my eye on,” he says. “Because I want to be with a company that I already win money with, already believe in 100 percent, heart and soul.
“I feel like when I put Rapala on my chest, that’s going to be a big pride thing,” he says. “I’m looking forward to this relationship.”
The admiration is mutual says Rapala Field Promotions Manager Dan Quinn.
“We have a stable full of thoroughbreds when it comes to our Pro Staff and I’ve always had the motto of quality over quantity,” Quinn says. “With that mindset, I haven’t had a need to grow our team. But, after getting to know Gerald the last few years, he didn’t give me a choice. G is the full meal deal, incredibly talented on and off the water, and his genuine passion for Rapala/VMC products frosted the cake. He’s one of the very best and will be a valuable addition to the Rapala and VMC Pro Staff.”
While Swindle is looking forward to growing his Rapala collection with newer game-changing baits like the RipStop®, Shadow Rap® and BX® Brat, he says Rapala’s classic balsa baits will always have a place in his boat. The balsa-wood bodies of Shad Raps and DT baits impart action that imitators just can’t match – especially in cold water.
“When it gets to be cold, balsa’s gonna whoop your butt about anywhere you go,” Swindle says. “That’s just how it is. It’s just got the right wiggle.”
“I’ve said this a thousand times in articles,” he continues, “when the water temperature gets below 49, you cannot beat a Shad Rap in the South – period. And a DT is right there with it.”
A proven classic, the Shad Rap is equally effective whether cast or trolled and is designed to be fished from ultra-slow to super-fast speeds with superior results. The DT series of crankbaits dive fast to a pre-set depth and stay in the strike zone longer than any other crankbait on the market. They combine carefully placed internal weights, a tapered fuselage and a thin tail to create the ultimate crankbait action.
Swindle to Represent VMC® also
Another new name Swindle will be wearing with pride on his jersey in 2018 is hook and terminal tackle brand VMC, a Rapala Respected Brand. Since 1910 VMC has led the market in hook manufacturing and innovation.
“I’ve been using these hooks for a long time, so I know a lot about them and have a lot of trust in them,” Swindle says.
VMC manufactures the highest quality fish hooks, rigs, jigs and terminal tackle in the industry. It creates award-winning products for every style of fishing, many with first-to-market features. With two centuries of experience, the innovative craftsmanship of VMC design shows in every product.
FLW Tour Pro Todd Castledine Talks New Colors of the Strike King Poppin' Perch
FLW Pro Todd Castledine talks about the new colors of the Strike King Poppin' Perch that he helped design. Check it out!
Registration for Alabama Bass Trail Open Series on Smith Lake Opens January 22, 2018 - Mark your Calendar!
Registration Open on January 22, 2018 at 6:00am for the first annual Alabama Bass Trail Open. With a guaranteed prize of $15,000 for first place, this is a great way to see what the Alabama Bass Trail is all about!
BASS PRO SHOPS FLW HIGH SCHOOL FISHING LAKE MITCHELL OPEN SET TO OPEN SEASON
WHAT: Fishing League Worldwide (FLW) High School Fishing will open the 2018 fishing season with the upcoming Bass Pro Shops FLW High School Fishing Lake Mitchell Open 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 2018 High School Fishing National Championship.
WHEN: Saturday, January 13, 2018
WHERE: Bass Pro Shops FLW High School Fishing Lake Mitchell Open
Lake Mitchell
Higgens Ferry Park
11161 County Road 28
Clanton, Ala.
NOTES: The Bass Pro Shops FLW High School Fishing Alabama 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 Higgens Ferry Park and the weigh-in will also be held at the park, 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 teams competing in each event held prior to June 10 will advance directly to the 2018 High School Fishing National Championship, which is held in conjunction with the 2018 High School Fishing World Finals, June 26-30 on Pickwick Lake in Florence, Alabama. Qualifiers in tournaments held June 10 or later will advance to the 2019 High School Fishing National Championship. The High School Fishing national champions will each receive a $5,000 college scholarship to the school of their choice.
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, and South Africa. 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.
Mike BlackShear Takes ABA AFT Div. 72 Win on Lake Sinclair with over 12 pounds!
Athens, Ala. - D72 had a great turnout of 34 anglers at Lake Sinclair on December 16th, 2018.
It was chilly morning at blast off with the temperature sitting around 27 degrees. 34 Anglers blasted off from The Little River Marina near Milledgeville, GA., but it was Mike Blackshear that brought back the winning sack.
Mike Blackshear of Macon, Ga took first with a sack of 4 fish weighing 12.88 pounds. He anchored his catch and sealed his victory with 5.82-pound kicker. He took home $738 for his victory.
William "Duke" Roberson of McDonough, Ga caught the Big Fish of the tournament weighing 6.58 pounds which put $170 in his pocket.
He also secured second place with 4 fish totaling 11.37 pounds and won an additional $464 for his placement
Evidently it was Duke's lucky day, because he also won a $50 gift card drawn at the end of the tournament!
Congratulations to Jay Carter, 3rd place with 9.07 pounds, winning $197.
Joshua George placed 4th with 8.75 pounds, winning $151.
Jimmy Little came in 5th with 8.32 pounds, winning $115.
The next tournament for D72 will be on Lake Oconee, on January 13, 2018.
For more information on this event or any future events, please contact Benny Howell at (770)365-4795.
These anglers are earning valuable points toward the divisional angler of the year title.
The points champion from each division will compete in the annual American Bass Anglers AFT Angler of the Year Final Round at the American Fishing Tour National Championship.
The American Fishing Tour offers low cost, close to home bass tournaments that are designed for the weekend angler.
All ABA anglers fish for money and points. The points advance the angler to their divisional championship and the top 500 anglers in the
US are invited to the American Fishing Tour National Championship. For more information on American Bass Anglers
please visit www.americanbassanglers.com or call (256)232-0406.
DALLAS’ MARKS WINS 2018 T-H MARINE FLW BFL SEASON OPENER ON SAM RAYBURN
Arlington’s Cotter Takes Co-angler Title
BROOKELAND, Texas (Jan. 8, 2018) – Phil Marks of Dallas, Texas, caught a five-bass limit weighing 27 pounds, 8 ounces, Saturday to earn top honors at the first T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) event of the 2018 tournament season on Sam Rayburn Reservoir. For his efforts, Marks pocketed $8,143.
Marks said he caught the majority his fish on the main lake, specifically on the tips of ridges with isolated stumps. He said he fished through a dozen areas and was able to put 10 keepers in the boat throughout the day.
“I don’t think the water temperature on Sam Rayburn has been below 55 degrees in a few years, so the fish were really lethargic,” said Marks, an FLW Tour winner who had earned eight prior top-10 finishes on Sam Rayburn in FLW competition. “I caught three or four good ones in the first hour which allowed me to focus on catching the big ones. It was a grind out there, but I knew when I got one it’d be a good one.”
Marks said he used a Powder Blue Back Chartreuse-colored Strike King 8XD crankbait to fish in 16 to 19 feet of water, and switched to a 10XD for deeper casts in the 18- to 24-foot range.
“It’s funny – just about every bite was on the initial descent or when the bait was up under the boat,” said Marks. “I started making shorter casts so I could maximize my time in those strike zones.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Phil Marks, Dallas, Texas, five bass, 27-8, $6,143 + $2,000 Ranger Cup Bonus
2nd: Richard Ballard, Sulphur, La., four bass, 19-12, $4,081
3rd: Terry Hawkins, Corsicana, Texas, five bass, 17-2, $2,048
4th: Kevin Lasyone, Dry Prong, La., five bass, 16-8, $1,363
5th: Anthony Jones, Irving, Texas, five bass, 15-13, $1,169
6th: Coy Riggins, Georgetown, Texas, five bass, 15-12, $1,071
7th: Chris Lewis, Longview, Texas, three bass, 15-11, $925
7th: Darold Gleason, Many, La., five bass, 15-11, $925
9th: Todd Castledine, Nacogdoches, Texas, five bass, 15-9, $779
10th: Brandon Thrash, Downsville, La., five bass, 15-8, $682
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Ballard caught a bass weighing 8 pounds, 1 ounce – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division – and earned the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $960.
Michael Cotter of Arlington, Texas, won the Co-angler Division and $3,006 Saturday after catching a five-bass limit weighing 20 pounds, 10 ounces.
The top 10 co-anglers were:
1st: Michael Cotter, Arlington, Texas, five bass, 20-10, $3,006
2nd: Jacob Dupree, Haughton, La., four bass, 18-3, $1,453
3rd: Lindy Hadley, Sam Rayburn, Texas, five bass, 16-10, $971
4th: Richard Hooter, Natchitoches, La., five bass, 14-4, $678
5th: Fred Martin, North Little Rock, Ark., five bass, 13-10, $631
6th: Logan Slaughter, Dallas, Texas, five bass, 13-4, $533
7th: Taylor Hardin, Fort Worth, Texas, five bass, 13-1, $484
8th: Jimmy Brumfield, Madison, Miss., five bass, 12-3, $436
9th: Eric Lacroix, Ball, La., four bass, 11-13, $387
10th: Brian Allen, Katy, Texas, five bass, 11-8, $339
James Spell of Sulphur, Louisiana, caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division – a fish weighing 8 pounds, 2 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $477.
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 2018 BFL All-American will be held May 31-June 2 at Cross Lake in Shreveport, Louisiana, and is hosted by the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission. Top performers in the BFL can move up to the Costa FLW Series or even the FLW Tour.
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.
Texas Team Trail Presented by Cabela's Opens Season on Toledo Bend
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Record payouts, exceptional fishing expected for first
TXTT event of 2018
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NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. (January 8, 2018) - The Texas Team Trail (TXTT) presented by Cabela's will open its regular season on Saturday, Jan. 13, at Toledo Bend Reservoir. The fishery straddles the Texas/Louisiana border and is one of the world's premier bass fishing destinations. Registration for the event is already underway - anglers can secure an opportunity to pre-fish Friday, Jan. 12, by completing their registration online or via phone prior to midnight on Thursday, Jan. 11. Additionally, all anglers that pre-register online at www.texasteamtrail.com will be entered into a drawing for a $100 Cabela's gift card.
The Toledo Bend event is the first regular-season event of four 2018 qualifying events that guarantee a fully rigged, 18-foot boat, motor, trailer package as first-place prize. The winning anglers at Toledo Bend will walk away with a brand-new Triton 189TRX powered by a 150HP Mercury, valued at $30,495.
In addition to the payout, the event offers anglers an unprecedented opportunity in terms of sponsor bonuses and television coverage. The budget-friendly $250 entry fee, plus multiple contingency programs and a guaranteed, over-100 percent payback at every event provides tremendous value to the weekend angler.
On-site registration is set for Friday, Jan. 12, from 3-6 p.m. at Cypress Bend Park (3462 Cypress Bend Dr., Many, LA 71449). At least one team member must attend, as boat numbers will be assigned during this time. The tournament will launch Saturday, Jan. 13, at safe light from Cypress Bend and weigh-in will begin at the same location at 3 p.m.
Anglers with questions or anyone interested in more details on the event are encouraged to visit www.texasteamtrail.com or call 210-281-1752 or 210-788-4143.
Texas Team Trail events are made possible through the sponsorship and continued support of these well-respected brands: Cabela's, Ranger Boats, Lucas Oil, Evinrude, Mercury, Minn Kota, Triton Boats, Power-Pole, NITRO, Lowrance, Protect the Harvest, Garmin, Valley Fashions, T-H Marine, Atlas, G-Juice, Powertex Group.
2018 TXTT scheduled events:
January 13 - Toledo Bend
February 10 - Sam Rayburn
April 14 - Amistad
May 5 - Ray Roberts
Championship
June 2-3 - Sam Rayburn
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Bass Champs 2018 Season Kicks off this Weekend on Amistad - Register Today!
| 2018 Bass Champs Season starts this weekend. Lake Amistad -Diablo East Ramp On-site registration: Friday (1/12) from 6-8 PM and Saturday morning starting at 5:00 AM $20,000 Guaranteed for 1st Place - Regardless of Entries Register online before 11:59 PM this Thursday and be eligible for $100 Academy Gift Card Click here to register online 
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Boatsafe.com - PFD Basics
In the wake of last weeks incident at the FLW Costa ever on Lake Okeechobee where a Co-Angler was ejected from the boat, we found this link from Boat Safe.com on PFD Basics and how to choose a PFD. Please continue to pray for Nik Kayler and his family as the search continues.
http://www.boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/pfdbasics.htm
Russell Clark Wins ABA AFT D96 Tournament on Clarks Hill!
AFT D-96 Tournament Results
Clarks Hill Lake – January 7, 2018
D-96 2018 Season Qualifier Tournament
Group photo from left to right: 1st place Russell Clark of Abbeville, SC / 2nd place and ALX Big Fish winner Jonathan Botts of Abbeville, SC / 3rd place Shane Abbott of Ninety Six, SC / 4th place Truett Hill of Laurens, SC / 5th place Danny Ashley of Donalds, SC. / 6th place Evan Buller of Lincolnton, Ga.
This was a cold day. Started out at 12 degrees and was at 34 degrees by the 4 pm weigh-in. Because of the cold we started out a 8am. Mostly sunny skies all day long and a wind out of the ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Clarks Hill Lake is at 9 feet below full pool with surface temp in the mid 40s.
There were 18 anglers fishing this Division 96 1-day qualifier tournament out of the Dorn Boating Facility near McCormick, SC.
First place, Russell Clark had 5 fish weighing 23.67 pounds that was anchored by a kicker fish at 5.86 pounds. His total weight takes the lead for the Level Performance Rod Big Sack Rod. Russell caught his fish on jigs fishing rocks in the middle part of the lake. The combined payback for first place and first place option pot earned Russell $610.
Jonathan Botts was second with 5 fish weighing 22.36 pounds which included the 9.45 pound tournament big fish. The big fish puts Jonathan in the lead for the ALX Rod Big Fish Rod. He caught his big fish on a Shad Rap fishing the upper part of the lake. The rest of his fish came on a jig or a medium diver crank bait fishing creek channels. Jonathan took home $448 for second place, second place option pot and big fish.
Shane Abbott took third place with 5 fish weighing 17.56 pounds which included a 4.73 pound kicker. Shane caught his fish on a jig fishing the lower part of the lake. He was targeting rocks and hydrilla. He won a total of $94 for third place.
Fourth place was Truett Hill with 4 fish weighing 9.38 pounds. Truett won a $25 coupon from WolfStone Tungsten for his fourth place finish.
Fifth place was Danny Ashley with 4 fish weighing 8.54 pounds that included a kicker fish of 5.45 pounds. Danny won an ALX Rod Hat and a $50 off coupon towards the purchase of an ALX Rod.
Evan Buller finished sixth with 5 fish weighing 8.29 pounds. Evan won an Level Performance Rod Hat for his sixth place finish.
The next D-96 tournament for the 2018 season is February 25, 2018 on Lake Murray out of Dreher Island State Park near Prosperity, SC.
Here’s how we finished:
Angler |
# Fish |
Big Bass |
Penalty |
Total Wt. |
Points |
Payout |
|
1 |
Russell Clark |
5 |
5.86 |
23.67 |
198 |
$610 |
|
2 |
Jonathan Botts |
5 |
9.45 |
22.36 |
197 |
$448 |
|
3 |
Shane Abbott |
5 |
4.73 |
17.56 |
196 |
$94 |
|
4 |
Truett Hill |
4 |
4.32 |
|
9.38 |
195 |
WolfStone $25 0ff |
5 |
Danny Ashley |
4 |
5.45 |
|
8.54 |
194 |
ALX Hat $50 off |
6 |
Evan Buller |
5 |
|
8.29 |
193 |
Level Rod Hat |
|
7 |
Chase Stewart |
2 |
6.1 |
|
7.81 |
192 |
$0 |
8 |
Jay Treon |
4 |
4.75 |
|
7.74 |
191 |
$0 |
9 |
John Wilson |
2 |
4.76 |
190 |
$0 |
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10 |
Steve Christie |
2 |
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4.73 |
189 |
$0 |
|
11 |
Rodney Chastain |
1 |
3.83 |
|
3.83 |
188 |
$0 |
12 |
Jason Moyer |
2 |
|
3.68 |
187 |
$0 |
|
13 |
Roger Farr |
2 |
|
3.36 |
186 |
$0 |
|
14 |
Phil Morris |
1 |
2.71 |
185 |
$0 |
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15 |
Rodney Cromer |
1 |
1.03 |
184 |
$0 |
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16 |
Darren Taylor |
0 |
0 |
50 |
$0 |
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16 |
Jamie Satterwhite |
0 |
0 |
50 |
$0 |
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16 |
Brian Jones |
0 |
|
0 |
50 |
$0 |
D-96 Angler of the Year Leaders for 2018 Season:
George Berry – 788 points
Joey Miller – 788 points
J. Treon – 766 points
Paul Selle – 762 points
R. Cromer – 758 points
ALX Rod Big Fish Leader for 2018 Season:
Jonathan Botts – 9.45 pounds Clarks Hill Lake, January 7, 2018
ALX Rods Big Fish Award for the 2018 Season (New ALX IKOS Series Rod for Season Big Fish Winner www.alxrods.com)
Jonathan Botts won an ALX IKOS Series Promise 7 Rod at the drawing on December 3rd Lake Greenwood weigh-in.
Level Performance Rods Big Sack Leader for 2018 Season:
Russell Clark – 23.67 pounds Clarks Hill Lake, January 7, 2018
Andy Lake won a Level Rod at the drawing at the August 20th Murray weigh-in.
Local Sponsors:
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!
Palmetto Electrical Systems serving Greenwood, SC. Residential & Commercial Services – 30 years experience – Quality Service – Reasonable Prices – Free Estimates – Locally owned and operated by Mark T. Abbott – 8117 Highway 246 S, Ninety Six, SC - 864-227-8500
Kneece Investigations, LLC Saluda, SC www.kneeceinvestigations.com (864-445-3713) (one stop for both your Investigative and Surveillance Equipment needs)
ALX Rods Aiken, SC www.alxrods.com (866-628-5052) Email: [email protected] (ALX Rods are available locally at Palmetto State Armory Fishing Outpost (Fernandina Road in Columbia, SC & also stores in Summerville & Mt. Pleasant, SC), Cabela’s (Augusta, Ga. Greenville and Fort Mill, SC) Wacky Riggers (Salisbury, NC), Calyx Outdoors (Piedmont, SC) Grady’s Great Outdoors (Anderson, SC), Number 1 Tackle (Clearwater, SC) and direct at www.alxrods.com ) 3 ALX IKOS Rods are to be awarded to D-96 anglers. 1 at a 1-day drawing – 1 at the 2-day drawing – 1 for the Big Fish of the Season
Antler Road On-Line Shopping – This is an on-line store with items your wives and female anglers will like with jewelry, bags and items for the home. www.antlerroad.com
WolfStone Tungsten is our local Columbia SC area tungsten manufacturer. WolfStone is providing the fishing industry with the best tungsten products at the best prices. Gift certificates will be provided at our tournaments this season. You can contact them and place orders through their facebook page with their web site www.wolfstonetungsten.net
Level Performance Rods: Rods designed and fished by FLW Pro Anthony Gagliardi of Prosperity, SC. See the complete line of these affordable rods at www.levelfishingrods.com (803-500-2354) Also Level Rods are at Palmetto State Armory Fishing Outpost Fernandina Road in Columbia, SC. 3 Level Rods are to be awarded to D-96 anglers. 1 at a 1-day drawing – 1 at the 2-day drawing – 1 for the Big Sack of the Season
Complete results and news on www.aba-sc.com and see your photos on ‘facebook’ at D-96 American Fishing Tour
Up Coming Tournaments:
Open Series Jan. 27, 2018 Keowee South Cove
D-26 Jan. 28, 2018 Clarks Hill Wildwood Park
Open Series Feb. 17, 2017 Murray Dreher Island
D-25 Feb. 18, 2018 Hartwell Green Pond
D-26 Feb. 18, 2018 Clarks Hill Wildwood Park
D-96 Feb. 25, 2018 Murray Dreher Island
SC Couples Mar. 3, 2018 Keowee South Cove
D-25 Mar. 11, 2018 Russell Hwy 72 Ramp
D-26 Mar. 11, 2018 Clarks Hill Wildwood Park
D-96 Mar. 18, 2018 Clarks Hill Dorn Facility
D-25 Mar. 25, 2018 Clarks Hill Dorn Facility
D-96 Apr. 8, 2018 Russell Hwy 72 Ramp
D-26 Apr. 14-15, 2018 Clarks Hill Wildwood Park
D-25 Apr. 22, 2018 Hartwell Green Pond
SC Couples Apr, 28, 2018 Hartwell Green Pond
D-96 May 12, 2018 Bring A Youth Greenwood State Park
SC Couples May 19, 2018 Russell Russell State Park
D-25 May 19-20, 2018 Russell Hwy 72 Ramp
D-96 May 20, 2018 Clarks Hill Dorn Facility
D-96 Jun. 2-3, 2018 Greenwood Greenwood State Park
SC Couples Jun. 9, 2018 Greenwood One Stop Marina
AFT 2018 National Championship was announced to be on Lake Hartwell, Anderson, SC out of the Green Pond Facility. October 21-26, 2018
UPDATE: COMPETITION CANCELED AT COSTA FLW SERIES ON LAKE OKEECHOBEE AS SEARCH FOR ANGLER CONTINUES
Advisory for Friday, January 5, 2018
WHAT: In order to concentrate all efforts on the ongoing search for co-angler Nik Kayler, Fishing League Worldwide (FLW) officials have decided to cancel the remaining competition day at the Costa FLW Series tournament on Lake Okeechobee.
WHERE: Costa FLW Series at Lake Okeechobee
C. Scott Driver Park
10100 W. Highway 78
Okeechobee, Fla.
NOTES:
FLW confirmed Thursday night that a boat with two anglers that was competing in the Costa FLW Series event on Lake Okeechobee did not check in at the designated weigh-in location Thursday at C. Scott Driver Park in Okeechobee, Florida.
The boat belonged to pro Bill Kisiah of Slidell, Louisiana. Also in the boat was co-angler Nik Kayler of Apopka, Florida. Kisiah was found alive Thursday night around 11 p.m. local time. Kayler has not yet been located and the search remains ongoing.
Kisiah is a nine-year veteran boater of FLW Series competition, while Kayler had fished in 61 previous FLW events as a co-angler.
At this time, air search and recovery operations are still being conducted under the guidance of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and local authorities. FLW is assisting the search operations.
Final tournament standings will be determined by Day One of competition.
FLW will continue to release information as it becomes available. Updated information will also be posted on the FLW website, FLWFishing.com.
Editors Note:
FLW Has Canceled Day 2 of the Costa Series Season Opener on Lake Okeechobee after a boat competing in the event failed to check in at the designated check in point after Day 1 of competition. The full Press Release and Advisory from FLW is below.
The Missing Boater, Bill Kisiah of Slidell, LA was found alive last night around 11pm. The Co-Angler, Nik Kaylor of Apopka, FL is still missing. Search & Rescue efforts are underway and ongoing.
Please keep the Angler, his family, FLW staff and the search and rescue teams in your prayers as the search continues for Kaylor. We will keep you updated as we hear and learn more. The full advisory from FLW is below.
Advisory for Friday, January 5, 2018
WHAT: To assist with the ongoing search efforts for co-angler Nik Kayler, Fishing League Worldwide (FLW) has canceled Friday’s day two of competition.
WHERE: Costa FLW Series at Lake Okeechobee
C. Scott Driver Park
10100 W. Highway 78
Okeechobee, Fla.
NOTES: FLW confirmed Thursday night that a boat with two anglers that was competing in the Costa FLW Series event on Lake Okeechobee did not check in at the designated weigh-in location Thursday at C. Scott Driver Park in Okeechobee, Florida.
The boat belonged to pro Bill Kisiah of Slidell, Louisiana. Also in the boat was co-angler Nik Kayler of Apopka, Florida. Kisiah was found alive Thursday night around 11 p.m. local time. Kayler has not yet been located and the search remains ongoing.
Kisiah is a nine-year veteran boater of FLW Series competition, while Kayler had fished in 61 previous FLW events as a co-angler.
At this time, air search and rescue operations are being conducted under the guidance of the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Department, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the U.S. Coast Guard. FLW is assisting the search operations.
Tournament competition is expected to resume Saturday, with the full field competing. The tournament winner will be determined based on a two-day weight total.
FLW will continue to release information as it becomes available. Updated information will also be posted on the FLW website, FLWFishing.com.
About FLW
FLW is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, providing anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to compete for millions in prize money in 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, and South Africa. 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.
Terry Tucker Leads Day 1 of the FLW Costa Series on Okeechobee
January 4, 2018 by Rob Newell
There’s an old theory about Florida-strain largemouth bass that suggests if they have spawned and eggs are in the nest, the fish will stay to protect them no matter how severe a passing cold front might be.
Terry Tucker tested that theory on Lake Okeechobee today and found that it held true, providing him with the day-one lead in the Costa FLW Series event presented by Power-Pole. His five-bass limit weighing 21 pounds, 3 ounces was helped by three 6- to 7-pound females he found in practice when the water was still warm and the full moon was nearing.
“That’s something I’ve learned about these Florida bass over the years: If they have spawned, they’ll hang in there with their beds even if the water temperature drops like it did today,” Tucker says. “It’s unlikely new ones will move in, but the ones that committed before the front will stay.”
Tucker found the area that produced the three big ones on Saturday when he hooked an 8-pounder and shook off several other bites. He knew the fish had moved in to spawn and was confident they would stay despite one of the worst cold fronts Okeechobee has endured in the last several years. While other anglers lost a lot of their productive areas due to incoming muddy water, Tucker’s area stayed protected from mud.
“The water color did not change,” says the Alabama pro. “In fact, it was already a little stained when I found the area initially. Today I pulled in there, and it had that same color to it. I caught those three big ones and left. After that I went to some other places to catch two more to finish my limit.”
As for tomorrow, Tucker believes the small area still has a couple of big ones left in it.
“Well, I know there is still an 8-pounder in there somewhere,” he says. “I’d like to catch her again and bring her to weigh-in tomorrow.”
LEHMAN LEADS CO-ANGLERS
James Lehman of Oviedo, Fla., leads the co-angler division after day one with a five-bass limit weighing 17 pounds, 8 ounces.
Lehman caught about nine keepers on the day while fishing with Florida pro Jessie Mizell. But it was a 5-pound, 5-ounce bruiser that got his day started early.
“You toss and turn all night long before tournament day dreaming of catching a big one,” Lehman says. “And today it happened. After I got it in the boat I had to tell myself to breathe. It was an awesome moment.”
Sportsmans Warehouse Product Spotlight - Jeff Sprague - 6th Sense Snatch 70 Lipless Crank
Costa Pro Jeff Sprague Talks about one of his favorite "Go-To" Baits for Early spring weather or really anytime he trying to cover a bunch of water. Check it out!
Garmin® signs as title sponsor for fishing pro Jason Christie
Adds four additional anglers to its 2018 marine pro team
OLATHE, Kan./January 4, 2018/Business Wire – Garmin International, Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ:GRMN), today announced its title sponsorship of professional Bassmaster Elite series angler and longtime Garmin pro, Jason Christie. Three-time Elite Series champion and winner of two Bassmaster Opens and 10 FLW events, Christie is a leading, and perhaps one of the most recognized anglers on the national bass tournament scene. With 56 top-ten finishes to date, he is currently BassFan’s second-highest ranked bass fisherman in the world.
“This new sponsorship reaffirms our continued commitment to being a top player in the freshwater fishing industry and we couldn’t be more excited to be all-in with Jason,” said
David Dunn, Garmin director of marine sales. “With a world-class team of nearly 70 anglers and some of the most innovative sonar technology on the water today, the time was right for Garmin to become a title sponsor and Jason is a perfect fit. An avid angler, outdoorsman and family man with a proven track record of success, he represents Garmin’s values through and through.”
“I knew from day one with Garmin that they were a company I wanted to be a part of,” said Christie. “Garmin’s Panoptix™ sonar technology has played a huge role in my recent success, especially my win on St. Clair last year, and I know this opportunity will only push both Garmin and myself further to the top. Electronics have always been crucial to me on the water, and I’m looking forward to working even closer with Garmin now as they lead the way.”
Christie will kick off the 2018 tournament season at Lake Martin, Feb. 8-11, and will compete in his sixth Bassmaster Classic at Lake Hartwell, March 16-18. The Garmin logo will have prominent visibility on Christie’s new jersey, boat and vehicle at all of his tournament weigh-ins and public appearances this year. Click here to learn more about Christie and this new sponsorship.
Additionally, Garmin has four more reasons to be excited about the 2018 season as it welcomes the following professional anglers to its team: Randy Haynes (FLW), Brian Snowden (B.A.S.S.), Carl Svebek (B.A.S.S.), and Jesse Tacoronte (B.A.S.S.). The Garmin team will be equipped with detailed lake maps and best-in-class electronics and technology, including the National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA®) award-winning GPSMAP® 7600xsv series chartplotters ranging in size from seven- to 16-inches, and the Garmin Panoptix PS22-TR all-seeing sonar. Garmin was the first to bring Panoptix sonar imaging to the water, giving anglers the ability to see all around their boat in real time.
Garmin is the world’s leading marine electronics manufacturer1 and was recently named Manufacturer of the Year for the third consecutive year by the NMEA, an honor given to the most recognized marine electronics company for support of products in the field. Garmin’s portfolio includes some of the industry’s most sophisticated chartplotters and touchscreen multifunction displays, sonar technology, high-definition radar, autopilots, high-resolution mapping, sailing instrumentation, and other products and services that are known for innovation, reliability, and ease-of-use.
For decades, Garmin has pioneered new GPS navigation and wireless devices and applications that are designed for people who live an active lifestyle. Garmin serves five primary business units, including automotive, aviation, fitness, marine, and outdoor recreation. For more information, visit Garmin's virtual pressroom at garmin.com/newsroom, contact the Media Relations department at 913-397-8200, or follow us at facebook.com/garmin, twitter.com/garmin, or youtube.com/garmin.
Garmin® signs as title sponsor for fishing pro Jason Christie
Adds four additional anglers to its 2018 marine pro team
OLATHE, Kan./January 4, 2018/Business Wire – Garmin International, Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ:GRMN), today announced its title sponsorship of professional Bassmaster Elite series angler and longtime Garmin pro, Jason Christie. Three-time Elite Series champion and winner of two Bassmaster Opens and 10 FLW events, Christie is a leading, and perhaps one of the most recognized anglers on the national bass tournament scene. With 56 top-ten finishes to date, he is currently BassFan’s second-highest ranked bass fisherman in the world.
“This new sponsorship reaffirms our continued commitment to being a top player in the freshwater fishing industry and we couldn’t be more excited to be all-in with Jason,” said
David Dunn, Garmin director of marine sales. “With a world-class team of nearly 70 anglers and some of the most innovative sonar technology on the water today, the time was right for Garmin to become a title sponsor and Jason is a perfect fit. An avid angler, outdoorsman and family man with a proven track record of success, he represents Garmin’s values through and through.”
“I knew from day one with Garmin that they were a company I wanted to be a part of,” said Christie. “Garmin’s Panoptix™ sonar technology has played a huge role in my recent success, especially my win on St. Clair last year, and I know this opportunity will only push both Garmin and myself further to the top. Electronics have always been crucial to me on the water, and I’m looking forward to working even closer with Garmin now as they lead the way.”
Christie will kick off the 2018 tournament season at Lake Martin, Feb. 8-11, and will compete in his sixth Bassmaster Classic at Lake Hartwell, March 16-18. The Garmin logo will have prominent visibility on Christie’s new jersey, boat and vehicle at all of his tournament weigh-ins and public appearances this year. Click here to learn more about Christie and this new sponsorship.
Additionally, Garmin has four more reasons to be excited about the 2018 season as it welcomes the following professional anglers to its team: Randy Haynes (FLW), Brian Snowden (B.A.S.S.), Carl Svebek (B.A.S.S.), and Jesse Tacoronte (B.A.S.S.). The Garmin team will be equipped with detailed lake maps and best-in-class electronics and technology, including the National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA®) award-winning GPSMAP® 7600xsv series chartplotters ranging in size from seven- to 16-inches, and the Garmin Panoptix PS22-TR all-seeing sonar. Garmin was the first to bring Panoptix sonar imaging to the water, giving anglers the ability to see all around their boat in real time.
Garmin is the world’s leading marine electronics manufacturer1 and was recently named Manufacturer of the Year for the third consecutive year by the NMEA, an honor given to the most recognized marine electronics company for support of products in the field. Garmin’s portfolio includes some of the industry’s most sophisticated chartplotters and touchscreen multifunction displays, sonar technology, high-definition radar, autopilots, high-resolution mapping, sailing instrumentation, and other products and services that are known for innovation, reliability, and ease-of-use.
For decades, Garmin has pioneered new GPS navigation and wireless devices and applications that are designed for people who live an active lifestyle. Garmin serves five primary business units, including automotive, aviation, fitness, marine, and outdoor recreation. For more information, visit Garmin's virtual pressroom at garmin.com/newsroom, contact the Media Relations department at 913-397-8200, or follow us at facebook.com/garmin, twitter.com/garmin, or youtube.com/garmin.
Yo-Zuri and Duel Add Luke Clausen
January 3rd, 2018
Port St. Lucie, FL – Duel Corporation, the parent company of Yo-Zuri America and Hardcore Bass Lures, announced today the addition of Luke Clausen to their pro-staff. Clausen will use the entire lineup of Yo-Zuri and Duel hardbaits as well as their braided and fluorocarbon line as he competes on the 2018 Bassmaster Elite Series and in the upcoming Bassmaster Classic.
“The entire Yo-Zuri and Duel line of baits are excellent and I am happy to be part of the team for the 2018 season. They produce top-quality hardbaits and offer a huge selection of great colors,” added Clausen.
“Yo-Zuri and Duel USA are pleased to announce the latest addition to our National Pro Staff. ‘Fish the Best’ is our company’s motto, and we are excited to have Luke Clausen joining our team of professionals in the field,” said Rusty Edwards, National Account Manager for Yo-Zuri.
“Helping to grow fishing in all avenues and areas, not only bass fishing, makes Luke a perfect fit for our team, and our vision to grow the brand in North America. 2018 looks to be one of the brightest yet for Yo-Zuri/Duel USA, and having Luke on the team just bolsters that drive,” he continued.
Clausen is the first angler in FLW history to win the Forrest Wood Cup his rookie season and he is one of only five anglers to have won both the Forrest Wood Cup and the Bassmaster Classic. Also in 2006, Clausen became the youngest angler to reach the one million dollar career earnings mark.
Yo-Zuri has been making quality fishing lures, fishing lines, and leaders for over 50 years in Japan and shipping throughout the world. Yo-Zuri has developed technologically advanced fishing products that constantly lead the industry and have become one of the top rated brands of hard-baits in the world. Yo-Zuri fishing lures are crafted to be the most realistic looking, have the best actions, and are designed to help each angler have their best fishing days.
For more information on Yo-Zuri, visit yo-zuri.com.
For more information on Luke Clausen, visit LukeClausenFishing.com.
LAKE OKEECHOBEE SET FOR COSTA FLW SERIES SEASON OPENER
OKEECHOBEE, Fla. (Jan. 2, 2018) – A full field of 500 pros and co-anglers are set to kick off the FLW tournament season this week at the season-opening Costa FLW Series at Lake Okeechobee. The tournament, presented by Power-Pole, is the first regular-season event scheduled in the FLW Series Southeastern Division. Hosted by the Okeechobee County Tourism Development Council, the event will feature anglers competing for a top award of up to $105,000, including a brand new Ranger Z518C boat with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard.
“The lake has been fishing great – some of the best fishing that we’ve had in a long time – but we’ve got a cold front coming through this week and it is going to get tough,” said FLW Tour pro Brandon McMillan of Clewiston, who has 11 career top-10 finishes as a pro on Lake Okeechobee in FLW competition. “They’re forecasting 30 degrees at takeoff on Thursday morning. Down here that’s frigid, and I expect it’s going to make this a tough event.
“It also takes away any sort of local advantage,” McMillan continued. “I had found 4 or 5 different off-the-beaten path areas while practicing and had this cold front not come in it would have given me a chance to get away from some of the crowds. But now, all of that is for naught.”
McMillan said that despite the frigid temperatures most anglers would still employ standard Florida-fishing tactics. He predicted that the winning pro would likely bring a three-day total of 40 pounds to win.
“It’s going to be a 15-minute window here, or a 10-minute window there. Somebody is going to get lucky and be in the right place at the right time. The fish are definitely still going to bite, but it’s not going to be a normal Okeechobee slugfest.”
Anglers will take off and weigh-in at C. Scott Driver Park, located at 10100 W. Highway 78, in Okeechobee. Takeoff will be held at 7 a.m. EST each day of competition and weigh-ins will start at 3 p.m. All takeoffs and weigh-ins are free to attend and open to the public.
In Costa FLW Series regular-season competition, payouts are based on the number of participants competing in the event. At Lake Okeechobee pros will fish for a top prize of $105,000, including a brand new Ranger Z518C boat with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard if Ranger Cup qualified. Co-anglers will cast for a brand new Ranger Z175 boat with a 90-horsepower Evinrude outboard, and $5,000 if Ranger Cup qualified.
The Costa FLW Series consists of five U.S. divisions – Central, Northern, Southeastern, Southwestern and Western – along with the International division. Each U.S. division consists of three regular-season tournaments with competitors vying for valuable points that could earn them the opportunity to compete in the season-ending Costa FLW Series Championship. The 2018 Costa FLW Series Championship is being held Nov. 1-3 on Lake Guntersville in Guntersville, Alabama, and is hosted by the Marshall County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Costa FLW Series on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
The Year That Was; The Year That Is to Come
Vance McCullough
2017 featured some high points and great memories for the bass fishing world. 2018 is sure to bring more and we at AnglersChannel.com look forward to sharing them with you.
The year started off with a bang as I covered the Bassmaster Classic on Lake Conroe for the Progressive Bass Wrap Up TV Show and AnglersChannel.com. I watched with sympathy as, on Day 1, Jordan Lee bobbed in the wind trying to fish a main lake point, his trolling motor constantly popping out of the water.
No sympathy for Lee as he weighed 27 pounds, 4 ounces of fish on the final day. Just admiration for our reigning Bassmaster Classic Champ!
Lee later shared that he pulled a 7-pounder off that spot and a host of 5-to-6-pound bass followed it to the boat. That was the turning point for Lee who used a Strike King Pro Model 5XD crankbait in Citrus Shad to trigger the bites. When action slowed he used a rubber-skirted jig and Strike King trailers.
By the time we caught up Lee at the ICAST show in Orlando he had designed his Comeback Jig to replicate the action of the one used in the Classic. Classic Champ, lure designer. What’s next for the young Alabamian? That’s one of the questions I have as we head into 2018.
As for the aforementioned ICAST show, I enjoyed meeting and working with Jacob Fine as we teamed up with David Brown and AnglersChannel.com’s own Chris Brown to bring y’all the latest and greatest of everything that might possibly help you catch more fish or just better enjoy your time on the water. I’d say we covered ICAST from all angles and had a blast doing it.
I’m sure many of y’all got some of that stuff for Christmas. And you first saw it when we did with pros and industry insiders sharing the details before much of it was even available in stores.
Also at ICAST we were treated to the big reveal of the 2018 FLW Tour schedule. It’s going to be an interesting year. Follow along with us as we keep tabs on the Tour.
We closed the major tournament season with the Forrest Wood Cup on Lake Murray. That was perhaps my favorite event due, in large part, to the company of 2015 Cup Champion Brad Knight, and Chris Brown as we took to the water each day and brought you the Cup on multiple media platforms with a depth and scope unmatched by ANYBODY except, perhaps, FLW Outdoors themselves.
Producer Kenny Curnow joined us, TV camera in-hand, in Brad’s Phoenix boat and despite the circus-like atmosphere there was plenty of room for everybody to work and the ride was smooth and dry.
Though he missed qualifying for the 2017 Cup, Brad was a true professional and worked for his sponsors on and off the water. He certainly made our coverage even better, adding insight that only a Cup Champion could. Check it out under the ‘video’ tab on the main page.
Thanks again Brad!
Brad had a great time with us, but he plans to spend the 2018 Cup without us in his boat as he competes in the event. More on that in an upcoming blog.
While covering the Cup we practically put you in the boat with Justin Atkins when he caught a 5-pounder on a pencil popper style topwater lure. He talked about the technique – not just the cast and retrieve, but what – and I mean exactly what type of structure and cover he was fishing – and how he adjusted his electronics to find it in the first place.
Cane piles with leaves on them held the best schools of bait and bass. Yeah, Atkins and his buddy Brandon Cobb were that dialed-in and it made for an entertaining exhibition of topwater fishing as well as a close race to claim the Cup. Which Atkins did.
Those of you who followed us on Facebook Live got the scoop long before anybody else as we followed the guys on blazing, up-and-down trips around their milk runs of submerged cane piles on underwater points. And you saw our aerial footage of that massive flotilla trying to do the same. It was crazy out there!
It was fun. And we’re doing it again this year so buckle up come along for the ride!
Of all the coverage I was privileged to share with you I’d say the T-H Marine Rookie Profiles were most meaningful. Before the season began we met Justin Atkins, Dustin Connell, Jamie Hartman, Jesse Wiggins, Mark Daniels Jr and others who went on to have a big breakout year in 2017.
I look forward to introducing you to more of the newest personalities in our sport during the coming weeks via my blog here on AnglersChannel.com.
One of the biggest stories in the tournament world this coming year is the Bassmaster Elite Series new and improved ‘No Info Rule’ intended to stop the solicitation of information that some pros say has become a big problem. It has always been part of the game but at our sport’s highest level you’d expect professional anglers to find their own fish.
I am very eager to see who finishes atop the leaderboards now.
I am especially curious to see an Elite Series event in South Dakota – on Lake Oahe near Pierre June 29-July 2. The fresh location combined with the strengthened ‘No Info Rule’ should be very revealing with regards to an angler’s ability to find quality fish.
And the cool factor is pretty high – I mean, an Elite tourney in South Dakota? Who’d have thunk it?
There’s a lot to see in 2018 so join us as we bring you the sport you love on the Progressive Bass Wrap Up TV Show and right here at AnglersChannel.com!
Bill Lowen Joins Minn Kota, Humminbird and Express Boats Team for 2018
BILL LOWEN CHOOSES XPRESS BOATS
Hot Springs, AR. January 1, 2018 - It is with great xcitement to announce and welcome Mr. Bill Lowen to Xpress Boats Next Level: Elite Team.
Known as one of the founding members and most consistent angler on the Bassmaster Elite tour, Bill has chosen to run The Original All-Welded Aluminum Xpress Xclusive Pro Series X21 this year on the elites series after years in a glass boat.
“Bill epitomizes everything great about our family, our company and our product. As a complete outdoorsman, best in class competitor, and simply a fine sportsman, father and family man, we could not be happier with Bill’s choice to run Xpress” said Xpress Boats President, Rory Herndon.
“My style of fishing demands a boat that is fast, tough, quiet, stable, and handles big water with ease. There is not another solution on the market that can compare to my Xpress. I am on the forefront of an epic paradigm shift in our industry by running a boat that can do anything asked of it said Bill”. “While researching my options, I started with Yamaha’s performance bulletin on the X21 and was blown away by its superior performance, yet when I test drove the boat I was immediately invested, its front deck is huge, the handling was second to none, it is exactly what I have been looking for. I am proud to be part of a great company with such great history and focus on performance, safety and innovation. This ain’t your grand daddy’s aluminum boat” said Bill.
Xpress Boats is family owned and operated by the Herndon family since 1966. Fifty-two years ago in an old schoolhouse in Friendship, AR Kermit Bryant’s dream was to develop the original “all-welded” aluminum boat. Today Xpress operates out of a state of the art manufacturing facility in Hot Springs, AR producing top of the line boats for nearly any application.
No Regrets
A New Week, A New Year, No Regrets.
As the Clock struck Midnight and the New Year Changed many of us do as we always do and make a few "New Years Resolutions."
I've heard January is a big month for Gym Memberships across the country and yes, in the past I was one of them.
Many of us want to lose a little (or a lot) of weight, we want to eat better, feel better and just overall be better. Day 1 of a new year often gives us that luxury so to speak, as the Calendar starts over and we can begin a new.
One resolution I am adopting this year is to have No Regrets.
Stop second guessing my decisions "to do or not to do" and just live life to the best of my ability.
Life's short, the past is the past and while I can't change what has happened in my past, I can make today the best day possible and I can look ahead and make sure tomorrow doesn't suck as well.
So what do you say?
If your resolution is to fish more, then plan it and do it. If you want to play more golf, Then Schedule the tee time and be there. If you want enjoy more time with your kids, with your family, then do it. Whatever your "thing" is, then make that happen!
Only YOU can make it happen!
Be more productive at work, at home, be a better you. Then Make. it. Happen.
No Regrets!
Make THIS Happen.
Happy New Year!
Pro Fisherman Jay Brainard Guiding on Mille Lacs between 2018 Events
Photo courtesy Jaybrainardfishing.com
Isle, MN- Bassmaster pro Jay Brainard has announced that he will be guiding between tournaments on Lake Mille Lacs during the 2018 season. Jay guided on Grand Lake O' the Cherokees for 3 years before having quick success during his rookie year on the Bassmaster Opens in 2015. He placed second during his first event on Ross Barnett Reservoir and went on to win the Central Opens Angler of the Year points with a 40th place finish on Fort Gibson and 10th place finish on Table Rock. Jay then fished the Bassmaster Elite Series until his son was born in April of 2017. Shortly after he moved his family to Mille Lacs and began guiding for a local resort.
Lake Mille Lacs was ranked the #1 lake in the United States by Bassmaster Magazine in 2017. The lake is well known for its trophy walleye fishing but has been a well kept secret among smallmouth anglers. Smallmouth in the 4- to 6- pound range are common as seen during the 2016 and 2017 Bassmaster AOY Championships.
July and August of 2017 Jay said his clients were catching 20 to 40 fish with 5 fish limits over 20 pounds on most trips. That limit included personal best catches 75% of his trips. Jay said, "This lake is crazy, there are times when it's actually hard to catch a smallmouth under three and three-quarter pounds. I said I would never guide again when I qualified for the Elites but this place changed my mind. Mille Lacs is pretty special, I will guide here as long as I have the time."
Jay also expressed his intentions of conserving the resource on Mille Lacs saying, "I've been all over the country and never seen a population of giant smallmouth like there is here. It's a resource that we have to protect for future generations. I definitely want to see my son experience this".
For more information about fishing with Jay visit www.jaybrainardfishing.com.
Christopher Chavis Wins ABA Division 94 Tournament on Savannah River
Chavis moves one step closer to the ABA National Championship with a 1st place win and earned a total of $401.00, in the American Fishing Tournament held on the Savannah River. Chavis weighed in five bass, which weighed 13.95 lbs.
2nd place went to Joe Toth with a five-bass weighing 7.73 lbs.
3rd place went to Joe McDonie with five bass weighing 6.89.
Christopher Chavis also had the big fish weighing in at 6.81 lbs.
These anglers are acquiring valuable points to insure their birth in the ABA National Championship for the 2018 season.
Top Finishers:
1. Christopher Chavis 13.95 lbs. 8. T.J. Pittman 3.61 lbs.
2. Joe Toth 7.73 lbs. 9. Robert Allen Sr 3.50 lbs.
3. Joe McDonie 6.89 lbs. 10. Matthew Price 3.07 lbs.
4. Jason Brown 6.03 lbs. 11. Marty Jeffers 2.21 lbs.
5. Bradwell Sampey 5.14 lbs. 12. Rockey Mullis -0-
6. Dan Martin 4.93 lbs.
7. Brian Gunn 3.77 lbs.
At launch the temperatures were in the low 30's with cloud cover. The day continued with temperatures topping out in the mid 50's, clear throughout the day. Water temperatures were in the upper 40's.
The winner Chavis reported catching all his fish at the entrance of Oxbows using Kistler rods paired with Ardend reels and his baits of choice were Treeshaker Tackle jigs and phcustomlures “W1”.
The next tournament in division 94 will be scheduled for January 13th out of Stokes Bluff Landing.
For more information on this or any future events in this Division contact Dan J Martin (843) 384-3855 or by email [email protected]
These anglers are earning valuable points toward the divisional angler of the year title. The points champion from each division will compete in the annual Ram American Bass Anglers AFT Angler of the Year Final Round at the Ram American Fishing Tour National Championship.
The Ram American Fishing Tour offers low cost, close to home bass tournaments that are designed for the weekend angler. All ABA anglers fish for money and points. The points advance the angler to their divisional championship and the top 500 anglers in the US are invited to the Ram American Fishing Tour National Championship. For more information on American Bass Anglers please visit www.americanbassanglers.com or call (256)232-0406.
