Carhartt Countdown to Blastoff - Ross Barnett Elite Series Event - Day 1
Alan McGuckin of Dynamic Sponsorships Previews the First Day of the Ross Barnett Elite Series Event that kicks off today!
Matt Lee and Casey Ashley Make Ross Barnett Predictions
Matt Lee and Casey Ashley both finished in the Top 12 at the most recent Bassmaster Elite Series tournament on Toledo Bend, but what will a crowded Ross Barnett Reservoir bring?
The two young guns graciously share their findings and expectations on the eve of competition at the shallow, wind-swept, reservoir near Jackson, Mississippi.
How many alligators have you seen during the 3-day practice period this week?
Matt Lee: I’d say 25 to 35.
Casey Ashley: I’d say at least 50.
What do you like best about Ross Barnett?
Matt Lee: That I get to stay at my buddy Taylor Ramey’s really cool cabin.
Casey Ashley: That I drew boat #1. I get to go out first on a fishery that’s gonna fish super crowded.
What’s the biggest challenge here at Ross Barnett?
Matt Lee: Fishing pressure, and muddy water.
Casey Ashley: Finding somewhere to fish that hasn’t already been hammered by another competitor.
Name 4 lures most pros will have tied on this week.
Matt Lee: Texas rigged plastics, a heavy Texas rigged ‘punch’ style bait, a soft plastic stick bait, and a spinnerbait.
Casey Ashley: Swim jig, frog, Texas-rigged creature bait, and a topwater.
How much weight will an angler have to average each day to make the Top 12 cut on the final day?
Matt Lee: 15 pounds a day
Casey Ashley: 15 pounds a day
‘Pots and Pans’ led VanDam to top finish at Ross Barnett 32 Years Ago
Story and Photo Courtesy of Alan Mcguckin with Dynamic Sponsorships
A lotta things change in three decades, so Kevin VanDam is putting in long practice days on Ross Barnett in preparation for this week’s Bassmaster Elite presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors, because the only time he fished the shallow reservoir previously was 32 years ago, at the age of 17.
“Back then, I was fishing team tournaments and B.A.S.S. Nation Series tournaments around home in Michigan, and my team partner Don Stevens and I qualified for an end-of-the-year tournament down here at Ross Barnett,” explains VanDam. “To be honest, I don’t even remember what trail it was.”
He may not remember what trail it was, but the southerly winds warming the air at Madison Landing boat ramp following a long day of practice seemed to spin sweet memories of 1985 at a rate equal to the revolutions the giant willow leaf blade was making beneath the swivel of the spinnerbait he was holding.
“Don and I called this spinnerbait blade combination “Pots & Pans” because those big blades clank on each other underwater and make a ton of noise like somebody banging pots and pans together,” remembers VanDam with a smile.
And in what would become a very telling tournament 32 years ago - the noisemaker worked.
“I caught a 7-pounder from a beaver hut on a big-bladed spinnerbait just like this in that tournament, and that big fish is the one that landed us a Top 10 finish,” grins VanDam.
“Other than that, I really couldn’t remember much about this place before practice started Monday,” he admits.
“I mean heck, Don and I came down here from Michigan in an 18-foot boat with a 150 horsepower engine, and nobody had GPS mapping back then, so it was pretty intimidating to try and navigate and figure out where to fish among the massive lily pad fields and underwater stumps.”
Don Stevens has since retired, and spends his days shooting trap and skeet. VanDam has figured things out just fine – to the tune of $6 Million dollars in prize money, with hopes of adding to the sum this week where good memories chime like the big blades of a spinnerbait configuration that helped launch his amazing career.
Mizzell Drops 30 pounds on the scales for third career T-H Marine BFL Win on Okeechobee!
Jessie Mizell of Sarasota, Florida, won the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Gator Division event on Lake Okeechobee Saturday after catching a five-bass limit weighing 30 pounds, 4 ounces. For his win, Mizell took home $5,122.
“I began the day at my frogging hole and caught two 6-pounders,” says Mizell, who also won a Gator Division event held on Lake Okeechobee last month, for a total of three career wins. “That’s where I caught them when I won last month, but I hadn’t been back there since.”
Mizell says his hole was a 100- by 100-yard cove on the North Shore of the lake. He said it protected bass from the wind and had a good mix of lilypads and hydrilla.
“I was actually targeting the pad clumps,” says Mizell. “I used the same frog the entire day to catch my limit.”
Mizell's frog was a natural-colored Spro Dean Rojas Bronzeye Poppin’ 60. Around 9:30 a.m., Mizell says he originally planned on burning through some nearby schooling fish to fill out the remainder of his limit, but was unable to get anything going by 11 a.m.
“When my original plan failed, I went with Plan B and it worked,” says Mizell. “I returned to the frogging hole, and within five casts I put an 8-pound, 10-ounce bass in the boat. I had to sit down and take a drink of water because I was shaking like a leaf. It was a giant.”
The Florida stalwart added an additional 4- and 5-pounder to his livewell within another 20 casts.
“My 13 Fishing Envy Black Rod had the backbone I needed to pull them out of that cover,” says Mizell. “Without it, I wouldn’t have had the confidence to boat-flip them.”
The top 10 boaters:
1st: Jessie Mizell, Sarasota, Fla., five bass, 30-4, $5,122
2nd: Fred George, Okeechobee, Fla., five bass, 27-9, $2,236
3rd: Allen Walls, Loxahatchee, Fla., five bass, 27-3, $1,492
4th: Ronald Yentz, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., five bass, 26-7, $1,043
5th: Nicholas Hoinig, Delray Beach, Fla., five bass, 21-15, $1,094
6th: Brianne McMillan, Belle Glade, Fla., five bass, 18-13, $820
7th: Charles Bass, Felda, Fla., five bass, 18-5, $845
8th: Steve Broughton, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., five bass, 17-9, $671
9th: Donny Bass, Naples, Fla., five bass, 17-8, $596
10th: Jared McMillan, Belle Glade, Fla., five bass, 17-7, $796
10th: Doug Garner, Port St. Lucie, Fla., five bass, 17-7, $496
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Mizell’s 8-pound, 10-ounce largemouth – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division – also earned him the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $650.
Jerdan wins co-angler title
Christopher Jerdan of Cape Coral, Florida, won $2,561 and the Co-angler Division title Saturday after weighing five bass totaling 26 pounds even.
The top 10 co-anglers:
1st: Christopher Jerdan, Cape Coral, Fla., five bass, 26-0, $2,561
2nd: Jay Trudel, Boca Raton, Fla., five bass, 17-10, $1,118
3rd: Shawn York, Sarasota, Fla., five bass, 16-10, $845
4th: Grant Lasseter, Plantation, Fla., five bass, 15-10, $522
5th: Martin Gainsbrugh, Miami, Fla., five bass, 15-1, $447
6th: Jarrod Stroud, Orlando, Fla., five bass, 14-15, $410
7th: David DiMauro, Longwood, Fla., five bass, 14-13, $373
8th: Edward Wertepny Sr., Tampa, Fla., three bass, 14-12, $335
9th: James Brown, Margate, Fla., five bass, 14-6, $298
10th: Mike Morse, Plant City, Fla., five bass, 14-1, $261
Jerdan also caught the biggest bass among Co-angler Division anglers, a lunker bass weighing 8 pounds, 14 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $325.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 19-21 BFL Regional Championship on Lake Lanier in Gainesville, Georgia. 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.
McGill Wins T-H Marine BFL on Lake Shelbyville with over 17 pounds!
Mike McGill of Findlay, Illinois, caught five bass Saturday weighing 17 pounds, 12 ounces, to win the first T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Illini Division tournament of 2017 on Lake Shelbyville. For his win, McGill took home $3,632.
“It was a wonderful way to start the BFL season,” says McGill, who earned his first career-win in FLW competition. “The bass were prespawn and relating to rock that was close to deep water and spawning flats. Basically, I was hitting channel swings that came up onto the flat.
“The fish were shallower than I’d thought they’d be,” McGill continues. “The wind had them up farther, and the cold front made them relate to rock more than anything else. Of the six keepers I caught, two of my biggest fish came out of less than 3 feet of water.”
McGill rotated between two lures – a ½-ounce Strike King Red Eye Shad lipless crankbait, and a Luck-E-Strike Rick Clunn Squarebill Crankbait. He said his Lew’s Custom Speed Stick Lite rod was also a major factor in his success.
“I probably hit 15 to 20 of those transition areas,” sais McGill. “The squarebill did a little better on the north end of the lake where the water was a stained, while the heavier Red Eye Shad made it possible to fish in the wind.”
The top 10 boaters:
1st: Mike McGill, Findlay, Ill., five bass, 17-12, $3,632
2nd: Anthony Balding Jr., Millstadt, Ill., five bass, 16-7, $1,816
3rd: Mike Barnes, Mackinaw, Ill., five bass, 16-5, $1,210
4th: Derek Jenkel, Pinckneyville, Ill., five bass, 16-3, $847
5th: Edward Gettys, Paris, Tenn., five bass, 14-8, $1,026
6th: Garrett McDowell, Mattoon, Ill., five bass, 14-4, $666
7th: Tim Davis, East Alton, Ill., five bass, 14-0, $605
8th: Rick Beck, Hopkinsville, Ky., five bass, 13-9, $545
9th: Chad Diedrich, Nashville, Ill., five bass, 13-5, $454
9th: Toby Corn, Calvert City, Ky., five bass, 13-5, $654
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Michael Black of Toledo, Illinois, caught a bass weighing 6 pounds, 4 ounces – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division – which earned him the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $465.
McCleery wins co-angler title
Scott McCleery of Winchester, Illinois, weighed in five bass totaling 14 pounds, 12 ounces Saturday to win the Co-angler Division and the top prize of $1,816.
The top 10 co-anglers:
1st: Scott McCleery, Winchester, Ill., five bass, 14-12, $1,816
2nd: Gage Elder, Lovington, Ill., four bass, 11-11, $908
3rd: Anthony Tatroe, Essex, Ill., three bass, 10-15, $606
4th: Ovidiu Marginean, Des Plaines, Ill., five bass, 10-6, $424
5th: Roger Massey, Bloomington, Ill., four bass, 9-15, $363
6th: Phil Santefort, Roberts, Ill., three bass, 9-10, $333
7th: Doug Miller, Peoria, Ill., four bass, 9-6, $303
8th: Aaron Arning, Walnut Hill, Ill., five bass, 9-2, $272
9th: Ross Davis, St. Elmo, Ill., three bass, 8-8, $242
10th: Marvin Cooke, Towanda, Ill., four bass, 8-3, $212
Michael Kinkade of Benton, Illinois, caught the biggest bass among Co-angler Division anglers, a fish weighing 7 pounds, 8 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $232.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 5-7 BFL Regional Championship on Kentucky Lake in Gilbertsville, Kentucky. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard.
Texas Team Trail to visit Texoma during tricky transition
TOURNAMENT DETAILS:
Registration 4-6pm on Friday - Rustico Restaurant (506 W Chestnut St, Denison, TX)
To Win as a Co-Angler - How Josh Jackson won the BASS Southern Open Co-Angler Title
Story and Images courtesy of BASS Opens Pro Luke Estel, Josh Jackson's Travel Partner
To win on the Co angler side of a B.A.S.S. Open, the key is to draw three pros that are wanting to help their co anglers. Another factor, of course, is to be around fish. That’s exactly what happened to Josh Jackson last weekend on Lake Chickamauga in Dayton Tennessee. Josh and I practiced every day in search of post spawn transition areas. We found several but only two of them had the right ingredients.
Day one Josh drew out with Louisiana angler Todd Murry. They fished shallow areas where post spawn fish were transitioning out into the main river. Josh felt comfortable with this type of fishing and caught his three bass limit that weighed a little over nine pounds putting him in 13th place after day one. On day two, as luck would have it, Josh drew myself and we went straight to our post spawn area. The previous day I caught 75 bass and weighed in 13 ½ pounds. My co angler caught three that weighed 15 ½ pounds. I knew we could catch a limit there fairly quick and Josh once again caught them. He had his limit in fifteen minutes. Throughout the day we boated over fifty bass. Josh did lose a five and a four and thought his chances of making the top twelve were over.
After the last co angler weighed in, Josh snuck into the 12th spot drawing Elite Series Pro, Justin Lucas.
The final day started out slow and by 11 o’clock neither had a fish in the box. Josh suggested they could try the post spawn are we had previously found. Once they arrived both started catching fish immediately. Josh boated three bass all weighing over five pounds.
At the weigh in Josh’s three bass tipped the scales at 15 pounds, 14 ounces. He sat in the hot seat and watched all the co anglers weigh in until it was over. He won by a two pound margin taking home 1st place.
Josh’s key bait all week was a ¾ ounce Strike King Swinging Football head tipped with a Blue Craw Rage Bug. Josh took home a Triton boat powered by a Mercury 115 four stroke engine.
SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE READIES FOR YETI FLW COLLEGE FISHING NORTHERN CONFERENCE OPENER
BEDFORD, Va. (April 18, 2017) – YETI FLW College Fishing is headed to Smith Mountain Lake April 29 for the first of three regular-season stops in the Northern Conference. A full field of college fishing clubs will be competing for $2,000 and an invitation to the 2018 College Fishing National Championship.
“Smith Mountain Lake is full of fish and this is a good time of the year to catch them,” said FLW Tour pro Billy Shelton of La Crosse, Virginia, who has two top-10 career finishes on Smith Mountain Lake in FLW competition. “Right now bass are in all three phases of the spawn. This will be one of those events where anglers are able to do whatever they want to catch a limit.
“For those anglers who have never fished Smith Mountain before, you can’t go wrong targeting docks,” Shelton continued. “There are thousands of them on the lake.Obviously, teams will have to pattern which docks bass will be on. They are usually in the backs of pockets or the mouths of pockets.”
Shelton said that finesse-type baits, wacky-rigged worms and jigs should produce some quality bites for anglers.
“Teams may also run up the Blackwater and Roanoke Rivers to find a little stained water,” said Shelton. “Crankbaits and spinnerbaits will do well in shallow-water areas, but the majority of the lake is pretty clear.”
Shelton went on to say that swimbaits may also play a role for competitors, but it will depend on weather conditions.
“If there is wind and clouds, they may be able to catch them on rocky points near the mouths of pockets,” said Shelton. “The conditions will have to be right, though. If it turns out to be a calm, bluebird sky kind of day, a wacky-rigged worm around docks will be the way to win it.”
The Virginia pro said he expects the winning team to bring a five-bass limit nearing 20 pounds to the weigh-in stage.
Anglers will take off from Parkway Marina, located at 16918 Smith Mountain Lake Parkway in Huddleston, Virginia, at 7 a.m. Saturday. Weigh-in will be held at the marina beginning at 3 p.m. Takeoff and weigh-in are free and open to the public.
Schools are allowed to register up until the morning of the tournament. Entries may be made either by phone or at CollegeFishing.com.
Schools currently registered to compete in the Smith Mountain Lake tournament, which is hosted by Visit Bedford, include:
Adrian College – Caleb Taylor, Zionsville, Ind., and Nickolas Marsh, Commerce Township, Mich.
Adrian College – Dalton Breckel, Onsted, Mich., and Alex Henderson, Mooresville, Ind.
Adrian College – Jarrett Martin and Zachary Graham, both of Gallipolis, Ohio
Adrian College – John Franco, Clare, Mich., and Jack Hippe III, Davison, Mich.
Adrian College – Nicholas Czajka, Brighton, Mich., and Jacob Bayer, Westfield, Mich.
Bowling Green State University – Corey Miller, Perrysburg, Ohio, and Hunter Johnson, Monclova, Ohio
Central Michigan University – Hayden Gosen, Sanford, Mich., and Zach Nelson, Northville, Mich.
Christopher Newport University – Mariela Fuson, Dumfries, Va., and Tanner Knecht, Spotsylvania, Va.
Fairmont State University – Jacob Smith, Martinsburg, W. Va., and Corey Straight, Barrackville, W. Va.
James Madison University – Daniel Jenkins, Midlothian, Va., and Xander Bradley, Vienna, Va.
James Madison University – Spencer Selby, Loudoun County, Va., and Blake Miles, Chesterfield, Va.
James Madison University – Troy Goddard, Oakton, Va., and Scott Pohlmann, Virginia Beach, Va.
Kent State University – Zachary Asher, Sunbury, Ohio, and Christian Hylton, Deerfield, Ohio
New River Community College – Shane Chrisley, Franklin City, Va., and Mark Southern, Pulaski, Va.
Patrick Henry Community College – Hunter Altice, Glade Hill, Va., and Brandon McAlexander, Patrick County, Va.
Paul Smith's College – Jon Herrman, Oneida, N.Y., and Taylor West, Lakewood, N.Y.
Pennsylvania State University – Derek Horner, State College, Pa., and Maurice Hudson Jr., Broomall, Pa.
Pennsylvania State University – James Shank, Blakeslee, Pa., and Matt Huggler, Clarks Summit, Pa.
Pennsylvania State University – Tom Oranzi, West Grove, Pa., and Stephen Jesso, Plymouth, Pa.
Pennsylvania State University-Harrisburg – Ryan Fox, Thornhurst, Pa., and Chad Burkholder, Palmyra, Pa.
Radford University – Sam Shibley, Radford, Va., and Joshua Greenberg, Montpelier, Va.
Radford University – Zack Lemaster, Bedford, Va., and Matthew Cooley, Chesterfield, Va.
Slippery Rock University – Jason Frontino, Cranberry Township, Pa., and Ryan Kozlowski, Pittsburg, Pa.
The Apprentice School – Hunter Atkins, Carrsville, Va., and Kitt Moger, Suffolk, Va.
The Apprentice School – Sean Coast, Virginia Beach, Va., and Nicholas White, Hampton, Va.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University – Andrew Davis, Penhook, Va., and Ethan Morrison, Gordonsville, Va.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University – Cantley Krafft, Christiansburg, Va., and Corey Smith, Dublin, Va.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University – Jacob Thompson, Moneta, Va., and Tyler Dixon, Abdington, Va.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University – Michael Muther, Baltimore, Md., and Garrett Jennings, Boones Mill, Va.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University – Robert Odum, Max Meadows, Va., and Cole Bitler, Earlysville, Va.
West Chester University of Pennsylvania – Kevin Deley, Warrington, Pa., and Thomas Arena, Carlisle, Pa.
West Virginia University – Branden Newcome, Ellamore, W. Va., and Jacob Osborne, Amherstville, W. Va.
Youngstown State University – Jonathan Creed, Youngstown, Ohio, and Jared Latone, Austintown, Ohio
Youngstown State University – Mario Chance, Youngstown, Ohio, and Stan Miketa, New Middletown, Ohio
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 2018 FLW College Fishing National Championship. Additional teams will qualify for the National Championship if the field size in regular-season events exceeds 100 boats.
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 regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow College Fishing on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing. Visit FLWFishing.com to sign up or to start a club at your school.
Winners Interview - Alabama Bass Trail North Division - Smith Lake
Program Director Kay Donaldson and Emcee Robbie Floyd talk with Jordan Wiggins and Wesley Sams on how they won the ABT North Smith Lake Event. Check it out!
Shinn Wins ABA RAM Trucks Open on Chesapeake Bay with over 21 Pounds!
James K. Shinn of New Castle, DE won the American Bass Anglers Ram Truck Open Series Maryland tournament, held April 22nd on the Chesapeake Bay.
Running out of Anchor Boats Marina near North East, Maryland, the New Castle, Delaware angler caught five bass weighing 21.33 pounds. He anchored his bag with a 5.49 pound kicker. For the Boater Division victory, Shinn took home a check for $5,000.
“I stayed on the grass flats all day,” Shinn said. “I was fishing in 3 to 7 feet of water.” His fish were caught on a ¾ oz. rattle trap, a slow retrieve was the ticket.
In second for the boaters, Adam Janerella of Jersey Shore, PA. Adam landed a five-bass tournament limit weighing in at 21.00 pounds with a 4.24-pound kicker. He collected $1,250 for the effort.
“I was fishing the flats, slow rolling a dirty jig swim jig, black and blue with a blue trailer” Janerella said.
Timothy Reams of Morgantown, WV took third for the boaters with five bass weighing 20.48 pounds. He anchored his catch with a 4.33-pound kicker to earn $900.
Reams said “I fished the grass flats all day slow rolling a White and Chartreuse chatter bait. “
Finishing fourth, David Kovack of Lancaster, PA landed a five-bass limit for 19.94 pounds including a 5.16-pound kicker.
John Vanore of Mullica Hill, NJ rounded out the top five boaters with five bass at 17.44 pounds topped by a 6.28-pound kicker.
The biggest bass for the boaters was caught, by John Vanore of Mullica Hill, NJ that weighed 6.29 pounds. Vanore pocketed $660 for his fish.
In the Co-Angler Division, Cherif A. Zaher of Orangeville, PA won with three bass weighing 13.60 pounds. He sealed his victory with a 4.69-pound kicker to pocket a check for $1,700.
“I was slow rolling a white and blue chatter bait over the grass flats." Zaher said.
Taking second for the co-anglers, John C. Doran Jr. of Millersville, MD. Doran Jr. brought in a three-bass division limit weighing 12.62 pounds including a 4.73-pound kicker. He collected $650 for the effort.
Doran said “I was also fishing the grass flats with a black and blue chatter bait."
David T. Williams of Fredericksburg, VA placed third among the co-anglers with three bass weighing 10.98 pounds. He anchored his catch with a 5.06-pound kicker to earn $450.
Williams said “I was fishing wood with a 3/16 black shaky head and had all of my fish within the first two hours of the morning. “
In fourth place among the co-anglers, Kenneth L. Henderson of Milford, VA brought in three bass for 11.16 pounds.
Andy Jones of Pittman, NJ finished in fifth place with three bass at 10.42 pounds topped by a 6.89-pound kicker.
The biggest bass for the co-anglers was caught by: Andy Jones of Pittman, NJ that weighed 6.89 and Andy pocketed $290 for his fish.
Slated for May 13th, the next divisional tournament will be held on the Potomac river out of Smallwood state park near Marbury Maryland. At the end of the season, the best anglers from across the nation advance the 2018 Ray Scott Championship, slated for the Red River in Shreveport-Bossier Louisiana in April 2018.
For more information on this tournament, call Jeff Randall, tournament manager, at 256-777-6152 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.
Lizards vs. Creatures. Elite Series Pro Terry Scroggins Explains Which to Cast When.
Story and Photo Courtesy of Alan McGuckin of Dynamic Sponsorships
Reptilian creatures are fast becoming a story line at the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Elite at Ross Barnett Reservoir in Mississippi.
Team Toyota’s Gerald Swindle posted video on his social media pages of a large alligator on the shoreline during Monday’s practice round, as did likeable California pro Chris Zaldain.
Furthermore, Swindle’s buddy and Florida Gator fan Terry “Big Show” Scroggins says he won’t leave the dock during this time of year without creatures and lizards in his boat.
Of course, Scroggins is referring to the soft plastic fishing lure variety that are proven to work wonderfully in mid-Spring, but the question is when to thread a plastic lizard on your hook, versus the equally popular and similarly-shaped ‘creature’ bait like a Brush Hog, Rage Hawg or Hawk Hawg.
“Lizards and creature baits are both hard to beat at this time of year, and they can be pretty interchangeable, but I differ a little bit as to what situations to use each of them in,” says Scroggins.
Cast Lizards, Pitch Creatures
“I mainly use creature baits when I’m pitching to heavy cover like flooded bushes that are common this time of year as a result of spring rainstorms, or if I’m punching through thick vegetation,” says Scroggins. “But I choose a lizard for just about everything else.”
By ‘everything else’ Scroggins is referring to Carolina Rigs, sight fishing for spawning bass, and swimming lizards over vegetation on a light 1/8-ounce Texas rig.
“The tail of a lizard will often get wrapped around little tree limbs and stuff when you’re pitching flooded cover, but a creature bait is a little more streamlined to help you avoid that issue,” he explains.
Creature Equipment
“If I’m puching a creature bait through heavy vegetation, I’ll Texas rig it with a weight as heavy as 1 ½ ounces. But most of the time, when I’m pitching to wood or around docks, I’ll Texas rig with a 5/16 or 3/8-ounce weight on 25-pound line,” says Scroggins.
You Don’t Need Many Colors
When asked to choose two colors of each lure configuration for the rest of his life, Scroggins didn’t hesitate. “For lizards, I always carry junebug and green pumpkin, and for creature baits, I’m picking black/blue fleck, and again, green pumpkin.”
While he may not carry a wide variety of colors – one thing’s for certain, Scroggins will never launch without lizards and creature baits in his boat at this time of year – including this week at Ross Barnett – where reptiles are a popular sight.
Matt & Emily Dean win ABA Couples Series on Lake Mitchell
Running out of Higgins Ferry near Clanton, AL, they caught 5 bass weighing 12.32 pounds. For the victory, they earned a check for $750. They caught their fish using a tube on the main lake in the middle.
Taking third place, the team of Nicky DaVico and Lauren Hagen caught 5 bass weighing 11.71 pounds and won $225.
American Bass Anglers commitment is to provide 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 and the American Fishing Tour, The Ram Truck Open Series, or the American Couples Series, visit www.americanbassanglers.com or call (256)232-0406.
Gross and Albert win ABA RAM 100% Plus Team Tour on Old Hickory with over 20 pounds!
The team of Keith Gross and Kelly Albert won the second divisional one day of the Ram 100% Plus Team Tour event on April 22, 2017 at Old Hickory. Launching out of Flipper’s Bait and Tackle, Gross and Albert brought in the winning limit weighing 20.43 pounds with a 5.26-pound kicker to win a new 2017 Triton Boats 17TX with a Mercury 60hp four stroke outboard, Garmin Echomap units, Motorguide trolling motor, and a host of T-H Marine products valued at $20,000. They also took home $1,100 from the High Stake Option Pot.
“We went junk fishing today and caught most of our fish throwing a ½ ounce spinner bait that I had custom made for this tournament. They are made out of North Carolina from Dave’s Tournament Tackle, we also used K9 fishing line. We had a tough day, we caught one here and one there hitting the same spots numerous times,” stated Gross.
Jeremy Walker and Kevin Warren took second with an overall weight of 18.52 with a 4.87-pound kicker. They took home $2,400 as well as $500 from the High Stakes Option Pot given them a total winning of $2,900.
“We caught some of our fish throwing a swim jig in the grass as well as throwing a homemade jig. We had a limit by 7:00. We caught anywhere from 25-30 keepers. It was a fun day, we were just a little shy of the boat but maybe next time,” Walker stated.
In third place was Josh Womack and Lance Oligschlaeger. They brought in a 17.74-pound bag with a 6.11-pound kicker and took home $1,600 for their efforts. They also took home $530 for the big bass given them a total of $2,130.
“We did a lot of running and gunning today. We threw most spinner baits, crank baits, and brush hogs. It was a slow day, we were fortunate enough to catch some fish. We were able to cull three times, the biggest fish we had came early, after that it was one here and one there,” Oligschlaeger stated.
4 –Billy Thorne & Scotty Webster– 17.66-pounds & 5.09-pound kicker
5 –Clark Cowley & Vincent Belcher – 17.65-pounds & 4.78-pound kicker
Clark Cowley and Vincent Belcher will take home an addition $500 from Triton for being the highest Triton Gold Finisher of the event. Also, the team of Brennon Binkley and John Wilkerson took home the TH Marine Prize Pack for coming in first place out of the money. The biggest bass of the event was caught by the team of Brad Kell and Michael Brown that weighed 6.31-pounds.
American Bass Anglers, Inc. is supported by Ram Trucks, Triton Boats, Mercury Outboards, Carlisle Tires, GEICO, Berkley, Abu Garcia, T-H Marine, Hydrowave, Livingston Lures, Best Western Hotels, Maui Jim, Power Pole, Garmin, Simms, LIT Coolers, and Divide It. American Bass Anglers, Inc. can be contacted at (256) 232-0406 or by visiting americanbassanglers.com.
Kyle Henderson wins T-H Marine BFL on Arkansas River with 16 pounds even, wins by 2 ounces!
Gravelly’s Rhoades Earns Co-angler Title
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (April 24, 2017) – Kyle Henderson of Sheridan, Arkansas, brought a five-bass limit totaling 16 pounds even to the scale Saturday to win the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Arkie Division event presented by Mud Hole Custom Tackleon the Arkansas River. For his win, Henderson took home $3,792.
“We launched out of Pool No. 6, but I locked to Pool No. 5 because it’s my home waters,” said Henderson, who earned his second career-win in BFL competition. “Unfortunately, there was a barge in the lock, so I wasn’t able to get to my main area until 8:30 a.m.
“The area I targeted was a backwater that had some clearer water in it,” continued Henderson. “The shad were spawning on a stretch of grass. I wasn’t sure if they’d still be spawning by the time I got in there but when I pulled up they were there, along with some bass. I was able to see them – even in the low-light cloudy conditions – with my Costa Sunrise Silver glasses.”
Henderson said he made three initial passes along a 100-yard stretch of grass. He said he used a different bait each time – a white custom spinnerbait, a shad-colored Z-Man ChatterBait and a Sexy Shad-colored Strike King 2.5 KVD HC Square Bill Silent Crankbait.
“I caught a couple of key fish on the ChatterBait, and a big one on the third pass with the square bill,” said Henderson. “I caught everything I weighed in within an hour.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Kyle Henderson, Sheridan, Ark., five bass, 16-0, $3,792
2nd: Chris Dennis, Little Rock, Ark., five bass, 15-14, $2,256
3rd: David Summers, Mount Ida, Ark., four bass, 15-1, $1,501
4th: Larry Gragg, Pine Bluff, Ark., five bass, 14-4, $778
4th: Fred Martin, North Little Rock, Ark., five bass, 14-4, $878
6th: Hoyt Akins, Scott, Ark., five bass, 13-11, $659
7th: Danny Gwinn, Mount Ida, Ark., five bass, 13-9, $599
8th: Quincy Houchin, Mabelvale, Ark., five bass, 13-6, $539
9th: Cody Burke, Bryant, Ark., five bass, 12-14, $479
10th: Paul Browning, Morrilton, Ark., five bass, 12-5, $419
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Dennis caught a bass weighing 5 pounds, 11 ounces – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division – which earned him the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $460.
Dusty Rhoades of Gravelly, Arkansas, weighed in five bass totaling 14 pounds, 13 ounces Saturday to win the Co-angler Division and the top prize of $1,896.
The top 10 co-anglers were:
1st: Dusty Rhoades, Gravelly, Ark., five bass, 14-13, $1,896
2nd: Previn Dixon, Fort Smith, Ark., four bass, 11-10, $898
3rd: Cole Allen, Stamps, Ark., four bass, 11-1, $598
4th: Stephen Simms, Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 10-9, $419
5th: Michael Lucas, Forrest City, Ark., five bass, 9-14, $359
6th: Mark Stevens, Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 9-12, $329
7th: Jason Wedel, Lowell, Ark., five bass, 9-8, $299
8th: Jody Jones, Harvey, Ark., five bass, 9-4, $269
9th: Robert Widger, Cabot, Ark., four bass, 9-1, $239
10th: Nicholas Bergt, Atlanta, Texas, four bass, 8-12, $210
Jonathan Wolfe of Camden, Arkansas, caught the biggest bass among Co-angler Division anglers, a fish weighing 5 pounds, 4 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $230.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 19-21 BFL Regional Championship on the Red River in Bossier City, Louisiana. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard.
The 2017 BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. Top performers in the BFL can move up to the Costa FLW Series or even the FLW Tour.
For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the BFL on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing.
B.A.S.S. Announces High School And Junior Bass Fishing Championships
April 24, 2017
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — For the fourth consecutive year, the Costa Bassmaster High School National Championship presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods will be held on Kentucky Lake at Paris, Tenn., B.A.S.S. announced today.
The prestigious national championship will take place June 22-24.
In addition, the Junior Bassmaster Championship will be held June 20-21, on Carroll County’s 1,000 Acre Recreational Lake in nearby Huntingdon, Tenn. That event includes teams of youngsters aged 7 to 13 representing state organizations within the B.A.S.S. Nation. The Junior Bassmasters qualify to fish the national championship through one of three regional fish-offs of the Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation presented by Magellan.
“We are elated to have the 2017 Bassmaster Junior Championship back at the Carroll County 1,000 Acre Recreational Lake,” said Brad Hurley, president of the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce. “This is a great opportunity to showcase Carroll County to people from more than 25 states”.
High School anglers will compete on Kentucky Lake, an extremely popular bass fishery straddling the Tennessee-Kentucky border. Four regional High School Opens — Central, Midwestern, Western and Southern — qualify student anglers for the national championship. Top competitors from state high school championships and from sanctioned team trails also earn invitations to compete in the high school championship.
The high school championship’s full field will compete on the first two days, after which the field will be cut to the Top 10 on the final day.
The daily takeoffs and first two days’ weigh-ins will take place at Paris Landing State Park, with the final day weigh-in being held in downtown Paris.
“The Carroll County Chamber of Commerce, Bethel University and the Henry County Alliance have welcomed us for another great event,” said Hank Weldon, B.A.S.S. College and High School Series senior manager. “And with the Costa Bassmaster High School program continuing to grow, we are expecting an even larger field at this year’s tournament.”
“We are excited to once again host the Costa Bassmaster High School National Championship on Kentucky Lake,” said Henry County Tourism Authority CEO David Hamilton. “Our community looks forward to this tournament each year.”
With more than 5,500 student athletes representing 600 schools in 45 states, the Bassmaster High School program is one of the fastest-growing initiatives within B.A.S.S.
Both the High School and Junior National Championships will kick off with an official welcome party for all contenders hosted by Bethel University on June 19.
“We are all honored to be a part of such a wonderful and prestigious event,” said Dale Kelley, Bethel director of athletics. “This is an annual event that brings national exposure to our campus and all of our Henry and Carroll County communities. Bassmaster and ESPN being here allows us to showcase our university, this great part of our nation and the opportunities available in the area.”
For more information on the Bassmaster High School and Junior Bassmaster programs, please visit Bassmaster.com/high-school-bass-fishing.
2017 Costa Bassmaster High School Title Sponsor: Costa
2017 Costa Bassmaster High School Presenting Sponsor: DICK’S Sporting Goods
2017 Costa Bassmaster High School Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2017 Costa Bassmaster High School Premier Sponsors: Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Shell Rotella, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha, Berkley, Huk, Humminbird
2017 Costa Bassmaster High School Supporting Sponsors: Academy Sports + Outdoors, Advance Auto Parts, Carhartt, Lowrance, Phoenix Boats, Shimano, St. Croix Rods, ABU Garcia
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), television show (The Bassmasters on ESPN2), radio show (Bassmaster Radio), social media programs and events. For more than 45 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation presented by Magellan, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Costa Bassmaster High School Series presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods, Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods.
Pedigo Wins ABA RAM Trucks Open on Ft. Gibson
Brandon Pedigo won the American Bass Anglers Ram Truck Open Series Oklahoma event held April 22nd on Ft. Gibson Reservoir.
Running out of Taylor’s Ferry North near Wagoner OK, the Lawton, OK angler caught five bass weighing 13.34 pounds. The tournament originally scheduled for the Arkansas River was moved to Ft Gibson on Friday morning due to dangerously high waters from a recent storm that passed through the area. The rain subsided for Saturday and for the Boater Division victory, Pedigo took home a check for $5,000.
“What a day,” Pedigo said. “This weather changed everything. The bite was a brutal day. Cold, windy, just brutal. My Coangler had his limit by 9 o’clock. I was trying to force feed them a frog and only got one bite on it and ended up flipping the rest of them. I finally finshed out my limit around noon. I only had 5 bites and luckily all 5 were keepers. One of them I had to flip over to make her touch 14 and that’s the one that did it for me."
In second for the boaters, Josh Teply of Harrah, OK landed two bass that weighed in at 9.98 pounds. He collected $1,400 for the effort.
“I tell you what, I was all over this lake today. I ran all the way up the river, all the way to 14 mile, and ended up catching these 2 fish straight across the lake with about 30 minutes to go. I left them biting and may have been able to do something with a little more time but that’s fishing.” Teply said.
Tom Nilssen of Perry, OK finished third for the boaters with three bass going 9.96 pounds, just .02 oz behind the 2nd place finisher to earn $950.
“I froze all day! There really isn’t much to talk about. I caught 2 fish early down by paradise, and I caught my last fish across the lake here about an hour before weigh in. It was a long cold day. No other bites, just those 3, I got them in the boat and that was it. They were all keepers.” Nilssen said.
Finishing fourth, Lee Sanders of Stillwater, OK landed three bass for 9.73 pounds.
Craig Sampson of Chelsea, OK rounded out the top five boaters with three bass weighing in at 9.23 pounds.
The biggest bass for the boaters was caught by Brandon Linney of Tahlequah, OK locking in at 6.05 pounds. Brandon took home a check for $700 for his fish and the Abu Garcia Big Bass award for catching the biggest bass of the tournament. Brandon was the recipient of an Abu Garcia Revo SX.
In the Co-Angler Division, Corey Wiseman of Broken Arrow, OK won with two bass weighing 7.17 pounds. He sealed his victory with a 4.10-pound kicker to pocket a check for $1,200.
“I only had 2 bites. I caught one early and the other later in the afternoon. We started all the way up the river and ended up going all the way down to the dam. I did break one off at the end of the day but the best thing is I can go home knowing it wasn’t the fish that would have won the tournament. I am very fortunate.” Wiseman said.
Taking second for the co-anglers, Stan Forrester of Westville, OK brought in a three-bass limit weighing 7.12 pounds. He collected $400 for the effort.
“It was rough. I caught 3 fish all day and everything I caught I kept. I had all three of them by 9 o’clock and that was it. We rode around for the next 6 hours trying everything we could but nothing else happened. It made for a long day but I’m happy to be here.” Forrester said.
Mike Beus of Ozark, MO placed third among the co-anglers with three bass weighing 6.62 pounds to earn $350.
“Very difficult. I didn’t catch my first bass until 1 o’clock. We went to a gravel point, threw a wobble head and they were there. I was not able to cull any but I did get 3 keepers and that was it,” Beus said.
In fourth place among the co-anglers, Al Longoria of Pottsboro, TX brought in two bass for 6.49.
Derrick Kinight of Durant, OK finished in fifth place with two bass at 6.26 pounds.
The biggest bass for the co-anglers was caught by Corey Wiseman of Broken Arrow, OK that weighed 4.10 pounds. Corey pocketed an extra $180 for his fish.
Slated for May 6th, the next divisional tournament will be held on Lake Eufaula out of Eufaula Cove South near Eufaul, OK. At the end of the season, the best anglers from across the nation advance the 2018 Ray Scott Championship, slated for the Red River in Bossier City, LA.
For more information on this tournament, call Chris Wayand, tournament manager, at 256-230-5627 or ABA at 256-232-0406. On line, see www.ramopenseries.com .
About American Bass Anglers: American Bass Anglers is committed to providing low cost, close to home tournaments for the weekend angler and at the same time offer each competitor an upward path for individual angler progression. For more information about American Bass Anglers, the Ram Truck Open Series, the American Fishing Tour or the American Couples Series, visit www.americanbassanglers.com.
John Cox's Love/Hate Relationship with the TN River
Story by Vance McCullough / Images Courtesy of BASS, Ronnie Moore
John Cox has a windshield/bug relationship with TVA lakes. The 31-year-old professional tournament veteran either smashes the competition or gets wiped away when he takes to Tennessee River fisheries.
“Kentucky Lake messed me up from winning the points, year-before-last. I’ve always just had awful finishes, in the hundreds, on TVA lakes,” says Cox. Then there’s the Forrest Wood Cup he won last summer on Wheeler Lake. And his most recent win this past weekend on Chickamauga.
Cox is an unapologetic skinny water angler. Shallow patterns are often fragile patterns, especially on lakes with volatile water levels. This has a lot to do his success/failure rate on the Tennessee.
“TVA fish go shallow quick and they go deep quick,” says Cox. “They change. All of the tournaments that I’ve done well in, the fish have come to me. They were leaving the deep water and coming shallow so I was able to beat the guys that were fishing out on the ledges.”
And so it went this week at the Bassmaster Southern Open on Lake Chickamauga where Cox won with a 3-day total weight of 68 pounds, 3 ounces and a winning margin of nearly 3 pounds over local favorite Michael Neal.
Not only did Cox beat a local stick, he beat the local wisdom which said the tourney would be won offshore. It’s hard to win a multi-day tourney solely by sight fishing any more, but he pulled it off.
Cox attributes his win to a couple of factors. “Timing, weather, them pulling water and the time of year - it just worked out perfectly.”
A less obvious contribution came from the Tennessee DNR who stocked Florida strain largemouth into the lake a few years ago. Cox, of DeBary, FL knows how those fish act. “On the Tennessee River, there’s always a good deep bite, always more fish out there on the ledges, but it’s just that, when I get around the right area . . . and those fish there act a lot like Florida bass, so it was just awesome.”
Cox is happy to win an Open after 12 years of trying, but the real prize for him is the berth into the 2018 Bassmaster Classic. It will be held on one of his favorite fisheries, Lake Hartwell. “My main goal was to go to the Classic on Hartwell. If I could fish a Classic on any of the places we go to, it would be Hartwell at that time of year.”
Cox can’t pinpoint the reason for his love of Hartwell, a lake so different from his native environs. “I didn’t do well the first time I went there, but I liked how it laid out. I spent a lot of time practicing, seeing the lake with the water down and learning as much as I could about it. Last year, 
winning, and the year before that, finishing 3rd or 4th, it just fits into the way I like fishing. Even with a full field you can get so spread out and there’s fish everywhere. It’s a fun place to fish. You can fish all day and never see another boat.
“I haven’t been able to sleep for thinking about it,” said an already exhausted Cox as he headed to the hotel after practicing for the FLW Tour tourney on Beaver lake which starts this Thursday. He went directly from Chickamauga to Beaver hoping to ride some momentum, if not some good rest. “As soon as they announced the Classic location on Hartwell I said ‘I can win, if I can get in that thing’. I can’t believe it.”
As for the other carrot that dangles before all Opens competitors, Cox doesn’t think He will fish the Elite Series next year, even though he is currently 2nd in points in the Southern Opens standings.
“I’m not planning on it unless something drastic changes. I really like everybody at FLW and I like fishing over there. I like the lakes we go to. Things are going good. I don’t feel like I need to change up anything for any reason.”
As for his win on Chickamauga,
“I just barely put it together.
“I had a few that I saw during practice that were really shallow and I thought they were going to be really hard to catch so I marked them but I didn’t think that I was going to go back to any of those. The fish I was planning on catching were gone during the tournament and the water came up where I couldn’t see anything so a lot of the smaller fish that I saw but didn’t even mark, I started running those areas where I had seen them and I found few others.
“Each day I might have culled 1 or 2 fish. I really struggled to catch them.”
Cox also planned for each coming day. “I knew we would have a south wind coming one day so I left a few fish in an area for that day. The last day I just started trolling around and I ran into 5 and I caught them and had 20 pounds. I couldn’t believe it. It just worked out. I got a little lucky.”
Cox relied on a weightless Senko, 15-lb fluorocarbon line and a 7’ 6” MHX 873 rod to take care of business. He occasionally used a jig as well, particularly when trying to locate fish under less than ideal sight fishing circumstances.
Cox is impressed with the health of Chickamauga’s bass population. “I had no idea, like the ones I was looking at that I didn’t mark because I thought they weighed 3 pounds, they ended up being more like 4 apiece. I was way off on how big a lot of them were. They were wide and heavy. They fight harder. They’re really neat fish, different than a lot of places we go.”
Cox has earned the nickname ‘Tin Man’ because he fishes from an aluminum rig. While he was able to sneak up on shallow bass this week, he didn’t have to access any hard-to-reach spots. Instead, 90% of the field eliminated themselves by fishing offshore when the likes of Shaw Grigsby, Ish Monroe and other sight fishermen dominated the standings.
“Nothing was really hard to get into or anything - and I really didn’t have a single spot. I fished different places every day. I’d pull into a cove and troll the entire cove or the entire creek arm and I might find 1 fish. I never went back to any of those areas. I trolled new water every day.”
Cox visited areas where he did not even practice. “There was a whole bunch of spots I’d end up going to where I might have seen a fish in there 4 or 5 years ago or where I saw one swim off in practice that wasn’t on a bed yet and I went back in the tournament and they’d be set up on a bed.”
When an idea struck him, Cox acted on his hunches. “I was just riding by the seat of my pants. I didn’t second guess myself.
“Where ever I felt like going I just went.”
And that approach has led him to a place he dearly wants to go - the Bassmaster Classic on Lake Hartwell.
Marty Warren Drops 19 pound limit with 7 pound kicker on the scales for ABA Ram Open Win
Marty Warren of Elon, North Carolina won the American Bass Anglers Ram Truck Open Series Virginia division tournament held 4/22/2017 held on Kerr Lake.
Running out of Nutbush Park in Henderson North Carolina, Marty caught five bass weighing 19.71 pounds including a big bass that weighed 7.04 pounds. For the Boater Division victory, Warren took home a check for $5,000.
"I caught my fish today flipping plastics. I was fishing bushes and docks," stated Warren.
In second for the boaters, Chase Johnson of Four Oaks, North Carolina landed a five bass tournament limit weighing 16.42 pounds. He collected $700 for the effort. "I probably caught 10-15 fish today. I was catching fish that were bedding and cruising," said Johnson.
Shawn Hammack of Gasburg, Virginia took third for the boaters with five bass weighing 15.83 pounds. His limit earned him $500. "I caught probably 10-12 fish today. They were mostly bed fish. I got lucky on a couple of good ones and the others were just keepers," said Hammack.
Finishing fourth, Tyler Trent of Nathalie, Virginia landed a five bass limit weighing 15.29 pounds. Trent also pocketed an additional $460 from the big fish pot with a bass weighing 3.91 pounds.
Bowman Gray of Lake Waccamaw North Carolina rounded out the top five with five bass weighing 14.44 pounds.
In the Co-Angler Division, Tim Gardner of Goldsboro, North Carolina won with three bass weighing 7.57 pounds. He sealed his victory with a 3.99 pound kicker to pocket a check for $600.
"It was a pretty slow day. I caught four fish culling one time. My fish came off a shakey head using a trickworm," said Gardner.
Taking second for the co-anglers, Randy Ruffin from Norfolk, Virginia brought in a three-bass division limit weighing 6.89 pounds. Randy anchored his catch with a 3.50 pound bass. He collected $300 for his catch. "I had a blast today said Ruffin. I caught 7 or 8 fish on a shakey head with a bait my boater gave me," said Ruffin.
Ernest McIntyre Jr. of Fayetteville, North Carolina placed third among the co anglers with three bass weighing 6.83 pounds. He earned $225 for his catch. "I caught my fish today on a texas rigged 4 inch worm on a small weight," said McIntyre.
In fourth place among the co-anglers, David Lanaville of Goldsboro, North Carolina weighed in three bass weighing 6.81 pounds.
Tom O’Neal finished in fifth place with three bass at 6.08 pounds.
Slated for May 13th 2017 the next divisional tournament will be held on Lake Gaston out of Americamps in Bracey Virginia. At the end of the season, the best anglers from across the nation advance the 2018 Ray Scott Championship, slated for the Red River in Shreveport-Bossier Louisiana in April 2018.
For more information on this tournament, call Rodney Michael, tournament manager, at 256-497-0967 or ABA at 256-232-0406. On line, see www.ramopenseries.com.
About American Bass Anglers: American Bass Anglers is committed to providing low cost, close to home tournaments for the weekend angler and at the same time offer each competitor an upward path for individual angler progression. For more information about American Bass Anglers, the Ram Truck Open Series, the American Fishing Tour or the American Couples Series, visit www.americanbassanglers.com.
DOTY AND ROBINSON WIN BASS CAT OWNERS INVITATIONAL
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Steed & Haralson win Bass Champs South Region Season Finale on Amistad Anglers of the Year Declared
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Bass Champs South Region teams took the final plunge on Lake Amistad April 22 to wrap up the 2017 season. Not only were these 152 teams vying for a portion of this incredible 107% payback tournament, but it was the final push for Angler of the Year points. Multiple awards were earned at this last South Region event as well as lots of money won. Jimmy Steed and Charlie Haralson won 1st place and over $20,000 catching over 25 pounds, and the Angler of the Year race was tight!
Amistad is a shared lake between Texas and Mexico, and is renowned for its big bass and huge stringers. Anglers had their work cut out for them as a cold front moved in shortly after the fishing began, bringing excessive winds and high waves. As the front curled around the area, so did the wind direction as it continued blowing at over 25 mph at times. Nevertheless, multiple 7 and 8 pound kickers were seen at the scales, including one over nine pounds. 120 teams brought in their five fish limits making for a great season finale. Winners Jimmy Steed and Charlie Haralson had not had much luck finding fish during practice. “We decided to just go fishing.” Using a shaky head rig and a drop shot, they started their hunt for bass. “We caught a good one early on, and that kind of steered us to what we needed to do for the rest of the day.” Positioning their boat in up to 50’ of water along ledges, they casted to depths of 20’-25’. “It took a while to let our baits sink, but the fish were there, and it didn’t take long to get our bites.” They caught quite a few fish, many of them were small, but had a limit in the boat by 9:30. Continuing their hunt, the team hit six or seven spots throughout the day, all with the same structure and depths in mind. “Once we got our limit, we were only able to cull twice, and had what we weighed in by 11:00.” Their creel included two nice ones around 7 pounds each, helping with their total weight of 25.05 pounds. Bass Champs presented the winners with the guaranteed 1st place $20,000 check, then Sure Life added another $200 to their winnings. “We have been fishing with Bass Champs since they opened up the South Region in 2004 and were fortunate to have won the first tournament on Falcon. We really enjoy fishing these tournaments!” They would like to thank Big Bite Baits, 13 Fishing and Seaguar Line for their help and support. 2nd place was won by Bret Mills and Richard Tampke, bringing in a five-bass limit of 23.73 pounds. They had one spot to anchor their chances in about the size of an acre. “It was on a main lake area, and it was tough fishing it with the wind and 2’ waves,” Mills recalled. They were using Carolina rigs in about 15’ of water. “We started out using 6” and 8” lizards, and while we caught a lot of fish, they were all small.” The bite, albeit mostly ‘dinks’, was too good to leave their spot. “It is hard to leave biting bass to go hunt for biting bass. We just adjusted by putting on bigger lizards, 10”, and that worked for us.” The bigger fish started biting at that point, and they landed a 7 pounder and their kicker at 8.22 before rounding up their limit. At the end of the day they secured a 2nd place win and a check for $3,000. “Bass Champs is a fantastic organization, and they run great tournaments for us!” Rounding out the top 10: The biggest bass of the day was reeled in by Ronnie Dubois fishing with partner Stevan Walker. “We had a spot picked out on the Mexico side of the lake, and fished in about 6’ of water with a baby bass Senko,” Walker explained. “The fish were really biting, but they wouldn’t measure.” Stevan kept casting, and then thought is bait was caught in the grass. “She had just inhaled my bait and sat there with it. I tugged on my line, and it tugged back!” They landed the big sow, tipping the scales at 9.03 pounds earning a check for Big Bass of $500. They had a tough day, but caught a lot of fish. They also won the Costa Del Mar and Abu Garcia bonuses. “We had a good day and had a lot of fun!” Bass Champs sponsors added to the winnings for a few more teams too. Sure Life added winnings for Jimmy Steed & Charlie Haralson for using the product in their livewell. Jim Robertson & Beau Kaiser doubled their winnings for being in a qualified Skeeter boat, and won the Lowrance Gen3 Cash. Mike Coon and David Laine won the Sportsman’s Auto Network Bonus, valued at over $5,000. Bass Champs sponsors have more winnings available to win at every single tournament – a little homework pays off BIG at Bass Champs! In the Angler of the Year race, it was a push for every point. In the end, Spike Stoker and Stuart Jeffrey came up from their third-place position after the third event to win Anglers of the Year by ONE point! For their great efforts and consistency, they not only carry this prestigious title, but their entry fees for the South Region 2018 events are waived. Congratulations to them for a job well done! There are still a few tournaments left to go with a couple of specialty events as well. Every tournament except the Team Championship is open to anyone who would like to fish. Sign up now for these remaining chances to win!
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Chico State Claims Carhartt College Regional Win At Shasta
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Nick Wood Goes Wire-to-Wire and Takes Individual Title In B.A.S.S. Nation Regional On Shasta
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Wesley Sams & Jordan Wiggins Claim Smith Lake ABT North Event with over 17 pounds!
April 22, 2017 – Jasper, Ala. – Lewis Smith Lake always seems to present a challenge to anglers in the state of Alabama. Save for those who call the surrounding areas home, Smith Lake is a departure from the usual shallow, dirty water fishing styles that dominate the state.
Since the inception of the Alabama Bass Trail, one of the teams that seemed to always be sniffing a home lake win were the Wiggins brothers; however, that result seemed to be just slightly out of reach.
Not this time.
Despite the fact that Jesse Wiggins had graduated to the upper echelon of bass fishing by qualifying for The Bassmaster Elite Series, Jordan, along with his partner Wesley Sams climbed the final rung of the ladder and claimed the title of Alabama Bass Trail Champions at the 2017 ABT stop at Smith Lake.
Wiggins said that the win resonated through the family. “My brother has already been texting me from his sponsor obligations; he’s been watching on his phone,” said Wiggins. “He’s really happy that we were able to pull this off today.”
It almost didn’t happen. If it wasn’t for a late decision to make a 20 minute run, the pair may have fallen short. We had about 16 pounds, and felt like we needed one more fish,” they reported. “We made a run from the back of Rock Creek to Crooked Creek and caught a 3-pound, 3-ounce spotted bass at 3:20 that culled a 2-6, and that was the one that put us over the top.”
The pair reported throwing homemade 1/4-ounce Shaky Heads tipped with a green pumpkin finesse worm on spinning gear and 8-pound-test fluorocarbon line. They threw them in Rock Creek, White Oak and Crooked Creek. “We covered a ton of water today, and we caught fish most of the day,” they said. “All of the fish we caught were on those Shaky Heads from the bank to 10 feet of water. We’re really pleased with the way things turned out, it feels really good.” The pair earned $10,000 for their victory.
As much as the winner’s story is remarkable, the runner ups’ may be just as painful. The team of Damien Willis and Mark Steward had an impressive tournament, finishing in second place with 16.53 pounds – it marks the team’s third runner up finish in Alabama Bass Trail competition. “We’ll get over the hump one of these days and close the door on one of these things,” they reported. “We’re happy to get a lot of points towards qualifying, but to finish second again is a little frustrating.”
The pair caught most of their fish on Xcite Baits X-Lock heads and and Slim-X worms in green pumpkin and Plumkin colors. “We caught a healthy limit on the Xcite worms, and were able to cull a couple on other bats,” they said. “Our big fish [a 5.45-pound largemouth] came swimming by the boat, we saw it and threw a wake bait in front of it, and she bit it; we thought it might be our time, but we got beaten by some really good anglers; we did everything we could do.” They earned a total of $6,000 for their day’s effort; which includes the ABT payout and a $1,000 Wedowee Marine bonus for being the highest finishing team who purchased their Phoenix Boat from the ABT sponsor.
Bill Mayo and Walt Roberts finished third for the event by bringing a 16.17-pound mixed bag limit of 
spotted and largemouth to the scales; they earned $4,000 for their efforts. Caleb Smith and Clint Hutcherson finished fourth with 16.03 pounds and earned $3,000 and Tyler Stewart and Will Grisham rounded out the top five with 15.92-pundes, good for a $2,000 payday.
The team of Jason Berrong and Chris Pointer weighed in the heaviest bass of the tournament. Their 6.08-pound largemouth anchored their 12.57-pound limit which landed them in 37th place for the event. Their payday, with payout and the $500 Big Bass bonus earned them a total of $1,000.
The top 10 standings are below, for complete standings go to http://www.alabamabasstrail.org/tournament-series/lsl-results/
| PL | ANGLERS | WT | BIG FISH | WINNINGS | Bonus |
| 1 | Wesley Sams / Jordan Wiggins | 17.09 | $10,000 | ||
| 2 | Damien Willis / Mark Steward | 16.53 | 5.45 | $5,000 | $1,000 Wedowee Marine |
| 3 | Bill Mayo / Walton Roberts | 16.17 | $4,000 | ||
| 4 | Caleb Smith / Clint Hutcherson | 16.03 | 4.05 | $3,000 | |
| 5 | Tyler Stewart / Will Grisham | 15.92 | 3.82 | $2,000 | |
| 6 | Robb Young / Chad Sykes | 15.87 | $1,500 | ||
| 7 | Tony Wasco / Phil Harrell | 15.27 | 3.63 | $1,100 | |
| 8 | Terry Pryor / Terry Mann | 15.03 | $1,100 | ||
| 9 | Travis Clemen / Ricky Clemen | 14.88 | $1,100 | ||
| 10 | Austin Weaver / Pride Weaver | 14.51 | 3.85 | $1,100 |
The sponsors of the 2017 Alabama Bass Trail include; Bill Penney Toyota, Phoenix Bass Boats, GP8 Oxygen Water, Garmin, Academy Sports & Outdoors, Wind Creek Hospitality – Wetumpka, Wind Creek Hospitality – Montgomery, Alabama Tourism Department, SCA Performance, T-H Marine Supplies, Wedowee Marine, AFTCO, Fish Neely Henry Lake.com, Lew’s Fishing, Crossed Industries, YETI, E3 Apparel, TVA and Alabama Power.
For information about Alabama Bass Trail and for complete tournament standings visit www.alabamabasstrail.org.
Prvonozac Prevails in Weather Shortened FLW Costa Event on Grand Lake
Ohio Angler Tops Pro Field, Wins $42,400 and New Ranger Boat
Link to photo of winner Nick Prvonozac
GROVE, Okla. (April 22, 2017) – Pro Nick Prvonozac of Warren, Ohio, won the Costa FLW Series Southwestern Division tournament on Grand Lake presented by Ranger Boats Saturday after weighing a five-bass limit totaling 16 pounds, 10 ounces. Prvonozac’s two-day total of 10 bass weighing 36 pounds, 6 ounces was enough to earn him $42,400 and a new Ranger Z518C boat with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard.
“I feel great right now – it’s unbelievable,” said Prvonozac, who earned his third career-win in FLW competition, first in the Costa FLW Series. “Over the past few years I’ve been able to compete on this lake and get a good feel for it. That knowledge really helped in this event. I’ve made some mistakes before that I was able to correct this time around.”
Prvonozac said he spent his tournament working through a variety of areas stretching from the Shangri-La Resort to down near the dam. On Day One he said he split his time between sight-fishing bass on beds and targeting larger females in nearby areas that were staging to spawn.
“On Day One I caught two off of the beds with a Yum Vibra King Tube,” said Prvonozac. “The females were more off to the sides of the bedding areas. I hit a lot of 45-degree banks along secondary points and threw a Smithwick Suspending Rattlin’ Rogue jerkbait to catch one. I also caught one from a dock near bedding areas with a Booyah Bankroll Jig and a Yum Chunk trailer.”
Day Two of the three-day tournament was canceled due to severe thunderstorms and lightning in the Grove area. With the sudden influx of rain, Prvonozac said he was forced to make some adjustments heading into the final day of competition.
“I wanted to sight-fish today but the lake rose by a foot and a half so I couldn’t see them on the beds,” said Prvonozac. “I decided to make a run to a creek by the dam to target some fish that I had saved. I caught three good ones using the tube in two different areas with secondary points.”
Prvonozac said he flipped a bush with the Booyah jig for another keeper before making his way back to check-in.
“I went to my last area near Shangri-La and ended up finding one that looked good,” said Prvonozac. “I threw the Rogue and caught him out of some flooded bushes. It was my last fish, and it culled.”
The top 10 pros on Grand Lake finished:
1st: Nick Prvonozac, Warren, Ohio, 10 bass, 36-6, $42,400 + Ranger Z518C boat w/ 200-horsepower outboard
2nd: Quaker State pro Matt Arey, Shelby, N.C., 10 bass, 33-10, $16,600
3rd: Chad Warren, Sand Springs, Okla., 10 bass, 30-11, $12,700
4th: Matt Cooper, Smithville, Texas, 10 bass, 30-0, $10,600
5th: Tommy Martin, Hemphill, Texas, 10 bass, 28-12, $9,500
6th: Albert Collins, Nacogdoches, Texas, nine bass, 28-10, $8,250
7th: Dave Donham, Highlandville, Mo., 10 bass, 28-7, $7,200
8th: Jim Moynagh, Carver, Minn., 10 bass, 28-6, $6,200
9th: Tye Smith, Fort Gibson, Okla., 10 bass, 28-5, $5,350
10th: Todd Castledine, Nacogdoches, Texas, 10 bass, 27-15, $4,100
A complete list of results will be posted at FLWFishing.com.
Charlie Apperson of Jay, Oklahoma, caught a 6-pound, 9-ounce bass Saturday – the biggest of the tournament in the Pro Division. For his catch, Apperson earned the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $300.
Mark Talley of Grove, Oklahoma, won the Co-angler Division and a Ranger Z175 with a 90-horsepower Evinrude outboard motor. Talley earned his win with a two-day total catch of 10 bass weighing 25 pounds, 11 ounces.
The top 10 co-anglers on Grand Lake finished:
1st: Mark Talley, Grove, Okla., 10 bass, 25-11, $450 + Ranger Z175 boat w/ 90 horsepower outboard
2nd: James Allen Pruitt, Houston, Texas, 10 bass, 24-4, $5,300
3rd: John Dickerson, Orange, Texas, nine bass, 23-0, $4,200
4th: Frank Divis Sr., Farmington, Ark., seven bass, 21-6, $3,600
5th: Lonnie Miller, Broken Arrow, Okla., eight bass, 21-1, $3,100
6th: Tommy Henley, Gonzales, La., eight bass, 20-0, $2,650
7th: Robert Heath, Wellsville, Kan., 10 bass, 19-10, $2,100
8th: Robert Derr, Hawkins, Texas, eight bass, 19-9, $1,800
9th: Jason Sandidge, Centerton, Ark., eight bass, 18-11, $1,520
10th: Shane Hill, LaGrange, Ga., eight bass, 17-7, $1,270
Taylor Sherrill of Granbury, Texas, caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the Co-angler Division Saturday, a fish weighing 6 pounds even that earned him the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $200.
The Costa FLW Series on Grand Lake presented by Ranger Boats was hosted by the City of Grove. It was the second Southwestern Division tournament of the 2017 season. The next Costa FLW Series tournament will be the Southeastern Division finale, held May 4-6 on Lake Chickamauga in Dayton, Tennessee. For a complete schedule, visit FLWFishing.com.
The Costa FLW Series consists of five U.S. divisions – Central, Northern, Southeastern, Southwestern and Western. Each division consists of three tournaments with competitors vying for valuable points that could earn them the opportunity to fish in the Costa FLW Series Championship. The 2017 Costa FLW Series Championship is being held Nov. 2-4 on Kentucky Lake in Paris, Tennessee.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Costa FLW Series on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing.
Mud Hole Tackle Pro John Cox wins BASS Open on Chickamauga!!
John Cox of Debary, Fla., wins the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open #2 held on Chickamauga Lake out of Dayton, Tenn., with a three-day total weight of 68 pounds, 3 ounces.
Photo by James Overstreet/Bassmaster
April 22, 2017
EAST RIDGE, Tenn. — John Cox is one of the more laid-back professional anglers you’ll find. But from the start of the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open No. 2, he was confused.
He was perplexed by Chickamauga Lake and the way fishing conditions seemingly changed on him from hour to hour. He ran countless miles to find clean water, and fought for quality catches as his bites were infrequent each day. He got so worked up at times that he stopped for regular breaks to regroup and regain focus.
The hand wringing may have been tough for him on the water, but it all proved worthwhile on Saturday during the final weigh-in at the Bass Pro Shops location just outside of Chattanooga. Cox finished with a three-day total of 68 pounds, 3 ounces.
Cox, who hails from Debary, Fla., locked up a berth in the 2018 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods with the victory. He also won more than $8,000 in cash, as well as a Triton 19 TrX and Mercury 200 Pro XS boat/motor package worth $40,000.
It was the 31-year old pro’s first Bassmaster Open win after nearly a dozen years of fishing the events.
“I’ve tried so long to win one of these Opens; it seems like forever,” Cox said. “I started fishing the Opens when I was 19. It’s where I started, really; so this definitely is a special thing for me.”
Cox was one of the few anglers who exclusively sight fished throughout the second Southern Open of the season, though it was an effective technique for several of the tournament’s top finishers. He put himself in contention for the open championship with a 22-6 limit on Thursday, followed by a 25-7 bag on Friday.
His two-day total of 47-13 gave him more than a 3-pound lead heading into Saturday’s action, and his 20-6 limit on Saturday was heavy enough to lock up the win.
His Saturday haul was the second-heaviest limit of the day.
“There wasn’t actually a real window when I would catch them, but they would start biting when it warmed up,” he said. “Then they would back off when (it would get cloudy or rainy as it did throughout the tournament). So, it was really hard to catch them.”
Cox was fishing in extremely shallow water; less than a foot at times. He caught the majority of his fish on a 7 1/2 foot MHX 873 rod with 15-pound fluorocarbon line and a Senko worm attached. He pitched a jig from time to time, as well, to try and locate the bedding bass he sought.
“In the beginning of the week, the (bass) that stayed on the banks; their backs were out of the water,” Cox said. “So it was really shallow. As the water came up a couple feet, I just went back to the spots where I saw fish with their backs out of the water. I couldn’t see anything deeper.”
The heavy bag of the day came from Michael Neal, who hails from Dayton, Tenn., and was the hometown favorite. Neal weighed a five-bass limit on Saturday that weighed 24-6 and gave him a three-day total of 65-6. As impressive of a week as it was, it still wasn’t enough to catch Cox.
“I wish I had yesterday to do over again,” said Neal, who spent the tournament fishing Chickamauga Lake’s offshore ledges for postspawn transitioning bass. “I ran past an area where I caught all my biggest fish yesterday, and all of them today. That’s the only thing I would do over.”
Coincidentally, Cox’s win was the second time in recent history that he topped Neal on a Tennessee River fishery. Cox won the FLW Tour Championship on Wheeler Lake last August, and Neal placed second there, as well.
Next year’s Bassmaster Classic will be held on Lake Hartwell in Greenville, S.C., and that’s a fishery where Cox has won before. When he heard that the 2018 Classic would be held on Hartwell, he was especially eager to win a Bassmaster Open this year to punch his ticket to next year’s big event.
“My worst finishes have been on the Tennessee River and so have my best finishes,” Cox said. “So to win this, and get into a Classic is just unreal. If I was going to pick a Classic to fish, I would want it to be on Hartwell.”
The field of 390 pro and co-anglers was cut to the Top 12 in each division for Saturday’s competition. The remainder of the Top 12 on the pro side were: third, Hunter Shryock, 62-6; fourth, Shaw Grigsby, 61-0; fifth, Ish Monroe, 59-6; sixth, Bill Weidler, 52-12; seventh, Wayne Hauser Jr., 52-0; eighth, Brandon Lester, 51-4; ninth, Wes Logan, 49-6; 10th, Josh Douglas, 47-14; 11th, Justin Lucas, 45-2; and 12th, Sam George, 41-15.
Josh Jackson of Cobden, Ill., was the top co-angler in the second Southern Open of the season. He caught a three-bass limit each day of the tournament and finished with a three-day total weight of 32-9. Jackson won a Triton 179 TrX and Mercury 115 ELPTR Four Stroke boat/motor package with the victory.
The Top 40 anglers in each division earned a check for their finish, and the Top 12 pros and co-anglers fished on Saturday.
The Phoenix Boats Big Bass Award of $750 on the boater side went to Darrell Davis of Dover, Fla., with an 11-5 bass. In the nonboater division, Zach Clark of Newnan, Ga., received the Phoenix Boats Big Bass award of $250 with a 9-8 bass.
Cox also received the Livingston Lures Leader Award of $250 for being the Day 2 leader in the pro division. Clark received the Livingston Lures Leader Award of $250 in merchandise for being the Day 2 leader in the co-angler division.
Ish Monroe of Hughson, Calif., earned the Power-Pole Captain’s Cash Award of $500 for being the highest-placing angler who is registered and eligible and uses a client-approved product on his boat.
The Rhea County (Tenn.) Economic Development and Tourism Council hosted the Bass Pro Shops Southern Open No. 2. Anglers from 27 different states and countries competed.
2017 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series Title Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops
2017 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2017 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series Premier Sponsors: Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha, Berkley, Huk, Humminbird, Mercury, Power-Pole, Shell Rotella, Minn Kota
2017 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series Supporting Sponsors: Livingston Lures, Lowrance, Phoenix Boats, Shimano, T-H Marine, Advance Auto Parts, Carhartt, Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), television show (The Bassmasters on ESPN2), social media programs and events. For more than 45 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation presented by Magellan, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Costa Bassmaster High School Series presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods, Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods.
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Media Contact: JamieDay Matthews, 205-313-0945, [email protected] or Dave Precht, 205-313-0931, [email protected]
2017 Chickamauga Lake 4/20-4/22
Chickamauga Lake, Dayton TN.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. John Cox Debary, FL 15 68-03 200 $53,570.00
Day 1: 5 22-06 Day 2: 5 25-07 Day 3: 5 20-06
2. Michael Neal Dayton, TN 15 65-06 199 $19,760.00
Day 1: 5 23-00 Day 2: 5 18-00 Day 3: 5 24-06
3. Hunter Shryock Newcomerstown, OH 15 62-06 198 $14,820.00
Day 1: 5 25-07 Day 2: 5 18-14 Day 3: 5 18-01
4. Shaw Grigsby Jr. Gainesville, FL 15 61-00 197 $13,260.00
Day 1: 5 25-01 Day 2: 5 17-05 Day 3: 5 18-10
5. Ish Monroe Hughson, CA 15 59-06 196 $12,070.00
Day 1: 5 18-02 Day 2: 5 21-14 Day 3: 5 19-06
6. Bill Weidler Helena, AL 15 52-12 195 $9,880.00
Day 1: 5 19-13 Day 2: 5 16-00 Day 3: 5 16-15
7. Wayne Hauser Jr Mooresville, NC 15 52-00 194 $8,320.00
Day 1: 5 18-15 Day 2: 5 19-13 Day 3: 5 13-04
8. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 15 51-04 193 $6,630.00
Day 1: 5 19-11 Day 2: 5 17-08 Day 3: 5 14-01
9. Wes Logan Springville, AL 15 49-06 192 $4,940.00
Day 1: 5 16-15 Day 2: 5 18-06 Day 3: 5 14-01
10. Josh Douglas Mound, MN 14 47-14 191 $4,550.00
Day 1: 5 24-13 Day 2: 4 10-08 Day 3: 5 12-09
11. Justin Lucas Guntersville, AL 14 45-02 190 $4,160.00
Day 1: 5 17-07 Day 2: 5 18-07 Day 3: 4 09-04
12. Sam George Athens, AL 12 41-15 189 $3,900.00
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 5 26-02 Day 3: 2 04-12
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Darrell Davis Dover, FL 11-05 $750.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 106 741 2101-12
2 97 691 1933-03
3 10 56 185-11
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213 1488 4220-10
2017 Chickamauga Lake 4/20-4/22
Chickamauga Lake, Dayton TN.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Josh Jackson Cobden, IL 9 32-09 200 $30,000.00
Day 1: 3 09-10 Day 2: 3 07-01 Day 3: 3 15-14
2. Alan Woodford Winslow, IN 9 30-15 199 $6,370.00
Day 1: 3 12-02 Day 2: 3 10-06 Day 3: 3 08-07
3. Zach Clark Newnan, GA 7 27-10 198 $5,060.00
Day 1: 2 03-05 Day 2: 3 19-07 Day 3: 2 04-14
4. Barry Stalcup Marble, NC 8 27-04 197 $3,250.00
Day 1: 3 11-07 Day 2: 3 10-05 Day 3: 2 05-08
5. Garrett Geouge Lanexa, VA 9 26-12 196 $2,990.00
Day 1: 3 08-11 Day 2: 3 10-06 Day 3: 3 07-11
6. Taylor Stumbo Prestonsburg, KY 9 25-07 195 $2,860.00
Day 1: 3 10-15 Day 2: 3 08-03 Day 3: 3 06-05
7. David Gladden II Ooltewah, TN 8 24-11 194 $2,730.00
Day 1: 3 13-03 Day 2: 2 04-02 Day 3: 3 07-06
8. Fred Rigdon Belleview, FL 8 24-05 193 $2,600.00
Day 1: 2 06-10 Day 2: 3 11-12 Day 3: 3 05-15
9. Randy Gardner Wetumpka, AL 7 21-09 192 $2,470.00
Day 1: 3 10-01 Day 2: 3 09-13 Day 3: 1 01-11
10. Tim Patterson Chattanooga, TN 6 19-13 191 $2,210.00
Day 1: 3 13-02 Day 2: 3 06-11 Day 3: 0 00-00
11. Chuck Thurlow Auburn, AL 6 19-05 190 $1,950.00
Day 1: 3 07-09 Day 2: 3 11-12 Day 3: 0 00-00
12. Roy Hurst Jr Birmingham, AL 5 19-00 189 $1,820.00
Day 1: 3 15-03 Day 2: 2 03-13 Day 3: 0 00-00
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Zach Clark Newnan, GA 09-08 $250.00
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John Cox jumps into the BASS Open Lead Heading Into Final Day
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ANGLERS RECOVERING FROM BOAT ACCIDENT AT COSTA FLW SERIES ON GRAND LAKE
GROVE, Okla. (April 21, 2017) – Four anglers are recovering today after a boating accident on Thursday at the Costa FLW Series at Grand Lake sent three of them to the hospital.
Tournament competitors Ross Wright of McQueeny, Texas, and Matt Garner of Seminole, Oklahoma were the two boaters involved in the incident, along with co-anglers Johnny Babb of Holdenville, Oklahoma, and Jimmy Green of Grove, Oklahoma. Additional details about the accident will be released after an accident report is received by the Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA).
The GRDA police pulled the boats to shore to transport the injured anglers to the hospital. Two of the men were transported to Tulsa area hospitals, and one was transported to a hospital in Miami, Oklahoma. No update on the condition of the injured anglers is yet available.
Additional details will be forthcoming as an update on the conditions of the anglers involved and the official accident report is received.
Friday, Day Two of the Costa FLW Series event on Grand Lake, has been canceled due to severe thunderstorms and lightning.
The tournament will resume Saturday with the full field fishing and the pro and co-angler winners will be determined by the cumulative weight of two days of competition instead of three.
Anglers will take off Saturday from Wolf Creek Park, located at 963 N. 16th St. in Grove at 6:30 a.m. CDT. Saturday’s final weigh-in, originally scheduled to be held at Walmart, will now be held at Wolf Creek Park and will begin at 2:30 p.m. Takeoff and weigh-in are free and open to the public. The event is hosted by the City of Grove.
In Costa FLW Series regular-season competition, payouts are based on the number of participants competing in the event. At Grand Lake, pros will fish for as much as $40,000 and a Ranger Z518C boat with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard if Ranger Cup qualified. Co-anglers will cast for a Ranger Z175 boat with a 90-horsepower Evinrude outboard and an additional $5,000 if Ranger Cup qualified.
The Costa FLW Series consists of five U.S. divisions – Central, Northern, Southeastern, Southwestern and Western. Each division consists of three tournaments with competitors vying for valuable points that could earn them the opportunity to fish in the Costa FLW Series Championship. The 2017 Costa FLW Series Championship is being held Nov. 2-4 on Kentucky Lake in Paris, Tennessee.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing.
DAY TWO OF COSTA FLW SERIES EVENT ON GRAND LAKE CANCELED DUE TO SEVERE WEATHER
GROVE, Okla. (April 21, 2017) – Day Two of the Costa FLW Series event on Grand Lake presented by Ranger Boats has been canceled due to severe thunderstorms and lightning.
The first round of storms hit the Grove, Oklahoma, region around 5 a.m. CDT, postponing the official takeoff time until 8 a.m. However, a more severe line of storms estimated to reach Grove at about 10 a.m. is what prompted the complete cancellation of the tournament day.
“Day Two has officially been cancelled,” says Costa FLW Series Tournament Director Ron Lappin. “We had some pretty bad storms through here early this morning, but there is a second round headed this way in a couple of hours that looks even worse. For the sake of safety for our fishermen, we are cancelling today’s round of competition.”
The tournament will resume Saturday with the full field fishing and the pro and co-angler winners will be determined by the cumulative weight of two days of competition instead of three.
Anglers will take off from Saturday from Wolf Creek Park, located at 963 N. 16th St. in Grove at 6:30 a.m. CDT. Saturday’s final weigh-in, originally scheduled to be held at Walmart, will now be held at Wolf Creek Park and will begin at 2:30 p.m. Takeoff and weigh-in are free and open to the public. The event is hosted by the City of Grove.
In Costa FLW Series regular-season competition, payouts are based on the number of participants competing in the event. At Grand Lake, pros will fish for as much as $40,000 and a Ranger Z518C boat with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard if Ranger Cup qualified. Co-anglers will cast for a Ranger Z175 boat with a 90-horsepower Evinrude outboard and an additional $5,000 if Ranger Cup qualified.
The Costa FLW Series consists of five U.S. divisions – Central, Northern, Southeastern, Southwestern and Western. Each division consists of three tournaments with competitors vying for valuable points that could earn them the opportunity to fish in the Costa FLW Series Championship. The 2017 Costa FLW Series Championship is being held Nov. 2-4 on Kentucky Lake in Paris, Tennessee.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing.
9-pound Spotted Bass Propels Chico State into the Lead In Bassmaster College Western Regional
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California Wins BASS Nation Western Regional - Nick Wood continues his individual lead heading into final day of Tournament
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Hunter Schryock Surges into BASS Open Lead on Chickamauga with over 25 pounds!
Hunter Shryock of Newcomerstown, Ohio, took the lead on Day 1 of the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open #2 held on Chickamauga Lake out of Dayton, Tenn. Shryock brought 25 pounds, 7 ounces to the scales at Thursday's weigh-in.
Photo by James Overstreet/Bassmaster
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 20, 2017
DAYTON, Tenn. — Hunter Shryock did a lot of waiting on Thursday during the opening day of the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open on Chickamauga Lake.
The Ohio pro was the 189th boat to take off this morning, which meant all but six fellow pros in this three-day tournament had a headstart on him. Then, after fishing all day, Shryock consequently was one of the final anglers to cross the stage for weigh-in.
Turns out all his waiting was worthwhile.
Shryock produced a five-bass limit that weighed 25 pounds, 7 ounces, giving him the first-round lead in the second Southern Open of the season. That haul was 6 ounces heavier than the one weighed by veteran Florida pro Shaw Grigsby Jr., who had a 25-1 total.
Perhaps ironically, Grigsby was the first boat to launch on Thursday morning from the Dayton Boat Dock, and the third to weigh in. He had the lead almost all day, until Shryock snatched it in the waning minutes of the weigh-in.
Following just behind are Minnesota’s Josh Douglas, who is in third place with 24-13; and Michael Neal, who lives in Dayton and knows Chickamauga as well as anyone in the field. He’s fourth with 23-0.
A total of seven anglers caught limits weighing 20 or more pounds. Others were John Cox (22-6) of Florida, Freddy Palmer (21-2) of Tennessee and Rick Morris (20-14) of Virginia.
In all, 106 limits were caught by the near-capacity field, but fishing was tougher than many expected it to be on Thursday. “The Chick,” as locals affectionately refer to this 38,000-acre impoundment of the Tennessee River, has been phenomenally productive recently, and bass weighing 8 or 9 pounds have been almost routine in recent weeks. There were several bass in that range caught on the first day of the Southern Open, and the anglers who boated them found themselves atop the leaderboard.
The anglers down the board had difficulty finding the bigger bass that are decidedly in transition from spawn into the postspawn phase.
Shryock didn’t have that problem, though he thought he might after having to wait for 188 boats to launch before him on Thursday. When he did blast off, he headed straight to a spot where he had spotted two large bedding females during practice. He was certain another boat would be on same bank when he arrived, but the place was empty, and Shryock took advantage.
His biggest bass weighed 8-10 and he bagged another in the 6-pound range.
“I knew I had those two,” he said. “Other than that, I just went fishing all day. I caught one here and one there … God willing there were no boats there. It worked out.”
With an 80 percent chance of rain predicted for Friday, Shryock said it was imperative to do well on Thursday.
“I had to get those two in the boat,” he said. “Who knows what we’re going to get tomorrow.”
Grigsby had his pick of spots after drawing the No. 1 boat on Thursday. The longtime Elite Series pro took advantage of the early start and ran straight to an area he pegged in practice. Once there, Grigsby did what he does best — he began sight fishing. He caught the big bass of the day, a hefty 9-12 that put him in the lead for the Phoenix Boats Big Bass Award.
Thursday’s conditions were near ideal for a sight-fishing specialist like Grigsby, with temperatures hovering in the mid-70s, mostly clear skies and slack winds. Still, Grigsby wasn’t one of the anglers who thought he would catch a 20-plus pound sack on Chickamauga.
“I wasn’t confident I’d do all that well,” he said. “I figured I’d catch 12, maybe 15 pounds a day, but I just happened to find some really good sight fish. I picked them off. Now, I don’t know if I have much left, maybe a couple. Getting 20 pounds again tomorrow is going to be tough, but I’ll definitely be sight fishing again.”
Douglas said he ran the length of Chickamauga Lake trying a variety of techniques. The strategy worked, as he boated a 9-9 monster and finds himself mere ounces behind Shryock and Grigsby.
The 9-9 bass was his final catch of the day, and allowed him to cull a 3-pounder from his livewell.
Given his knowledge of the fishery, Neal was optimistic about catching a big bag on Thursday, but realized that with the bass in transition, the lake could prove more difficult than expected.
“The fish are just in kind of a lull right now,” Neal said. “If we were here a week from now, everyone would be fishing offshore like I did today and killing them. I’m just picking off the first ones that are getting there. Hopefully I can find a few more with all the rain that’s expected tomorrow.”
Cox said Chickamauga Lake has confused him since he arrived for practice. Still, he was able scratch out a bag big enough to place him fifth after the first day of competition.
In the co-angler competition, Alabama’s Roy Hurst Jr. leads with a three-bass limit of 15-3. Tennessee’s David Gladden II is in second with 13-2 and Tennessee’s Tim Patterson is third with 13-2.
The Rhea County (Tenn.) Economic and Tourism Council is hosting the Bass Pro Shops Southern Open, and anglers from 27 different states and countries are entered. The field will be cut to 12 after Friday’s action, and the winner will receive a Triton/Mercury boat-motor package worth $40,000, as well as $8,000 cash and a berth in the 2018 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods.
Friday’s takeoff is scheduled for 6:45 a.m. ET, and weigh-in is set for 2:45 p.m. Both will take place at the Dayton (Tenn.) Boat Dock.
2017 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series Title Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops
2017 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2017 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series Premier Sponsors: Shell Rotella, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha, Berkley, Huk, Humminbird, Mercury, Power-Pole
2017 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series Supporting Sponsors: Carhartt, Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels, Livingston Lures, Lowrance, Phoenix Boats, Shimano, T-H Marine, Advance Auto Parts
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), television show (The Bassmasters on ESPN2), social media programs and events. For more than 45 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation presented by Magellan, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Costa Bassmaster High School Series presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods, Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods.
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Media Contact: JamieDay Matthews, 205-313-0945, [email protected] or Dave Precht, 205-313-0931, [email protected]
2017 Chickamauga Lake 4/20-4/22
Chickamauga Lake, Dayton TN.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Hunter Shryock Newcomerstown, OH 5 25-07 200
Day 1: 5 25-07
2. Shaw Grigsby Jr. Gainesville, FL 5 25-01 199
Day 1: 5 25-01
3. Josh Douglas Mound, MN 5 24-13 198
Day 1: 5 24-13
4. Michael Neal Dayton, TN 5 23-00 197
Day 1: 5 23-00
5. John Cox Debary, FL 5 22-06 196
Day 1: 5 22-06
6. Freddy Palmer Estill Springs, TN 5 21-02 195
Day 1: 5 21-02
7. Rick Morris Lake Gaston, VA 5 20-14 194
Day 1: 5 20-14
8. Bill Weidler Helena, AL 5 19-13 193
Day 1: 5 19-13
9. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 5 19-11 192
Day 1: 5 19-11
10. Johnny Patterson Grant, AL 5 19-10 191
Day 1: 5 19-10
11. Brent Bonadona Port Allen, LA 5 19-06 190
Day 1: 5 19-06
12. Chris Heath North Augusta, SC 5 19-04 189
Day 1: 5 19-04
13. Brad Knight Lancing, TN 5 19-03 188
Day 1: 5 19-03
14. Kyle Monti Okeechobee, FL 5 19-01 187
Day 1: 5 19-01
15. Roland Martin Naples, FL 5 19-00 186
Day 1: 5 19-00
16. Wayne Hauser Jr Mooresville, NC 5 18-15 185
Day 1: 5 18-15
16. Brian Nelson Groveland, FL 5 18-15 185
Day 1: 5 18-15
18. Joey Nania Cropwell, AL 5 18-11 183
Day 1: 5 18-11
19. Stephen Mui Bartlett, IL 5 18-04 182
Day 1: 5 18-04
20. Bill Cooper Ashland City, TN 5 18-04 181
Day 1: 5 18-04
21. Ish Monroe Hughson, CA 5 18-02 180
Day 1: 5 18-02
22. Kameron Harbin Abbeville, SC 5 17-14 179
Day 1: 5 17-14
22. Greg Pugh Cullman, AL 5 17-14 179
Day 1: 5 17-14
24. Ryan Davidson Branchland, WV 3 17-13 177
Day 1: 3 17-13
25. Tim Frederick Leesburg, FL 5 17-08 176
Day 1: 5 17-08
25. Jeff Sprague Point, TX 5 17-08 176
Day 1: 5 17-08
27. Justin Lucas Guntersville, AL 5 17-07 174
Day 1: 5 17-07
28. Shane Jewell Lawrenceburg, TN 5 17-05 173
Day 1: 5 17-05
29. Bradley Jones Aragon, GA 5 17-01 172
Day 1: 5 17-01
29. Scott Martin Clewiston, FL 5 17-01 172
Day 1: 5 17-01
31. Wes Logan Springville, AL 5 16-15 170
Day 1: 5 16-15
32. Chad Morgenthaler Reeds Spring, MO 5 16-14 169
Day 1: 5 16-14
33. JT Kenney Palm Bay, FL 5 16-10 168
Day 1: 5 16-10
34. Marty Robinson Lyman, SC 5 16-06 167
Day 1: 5 16-06
35. Grant Galloway Houlka, MS 5 15-15 166
Day 1: 5 15-15
36. Todd Auten Lake Wylie, SC 5 15-12 165
Day 1: 5 15-12
36. Todd Murray Prarrieville, LA 5 15-12 165
Day 1: 5 15-12
38. John Garrett Union City, TN 5 15-12 163
Day 1: 5 15-12
39. Skylar Hamilton Dandridge, TN 5 15-11 162
Day 1: 5 15-11
40. Jon Englund Farwell, MN 5 15-10 161
Day 1: 5 15-10
41. Jamie Butler Jasper, AL 5 15-09 160
Day 1: 5 15-09
42. Michael Johnson Talking Rock, GA 4 15-07 159
Day 1: 4 15-07
43. Chaz Carrington Virginia Beach, VA 5 15-06 158
Day 1: 5 15-06
43. Dustin Neat Dunnville, KY 5 15-06 158
Day 1: 5 15-06
45. Matt Justice Fair Play, SC 5 15-05 156
Day 1: 5 15-05
45. John Murray Spring City, TN 5 15-05 156
Day 1: 5 15-05
45. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, AL 5 15-05 156
Day 1: 5 15-05
48. David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 5 15-03 153
Day 1: 5 15-03
49. Chris Blanchette Irmo, SC 5 15-03 152
Day 1: 5 15-03
50. Stan Gunter Saluda, SC 5 15-01 151
Day 1: 5 15-01
51. Jimmy Mason Rogersville, AL 5 14-15 150
Day 1: 5 14-15
51. David Walker Sevierville, TN 5 14-15 150
Day 1: 5 14-15
53. MJ Vihnanek Jr Walnut Hill, FL 3 14-12 148
Day 1: 3 14-12
54. Hunter Eubanks Inman, SC 5 14-10 147
Day 1: 5 14-10
55. Brad Webb Hampton, VA 5 14-08 146
Day 1: 5 14-08
56. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 5 14-02 145
Day 1: 5 14-02
57. Bobby Lane Jr. Lakeland, FL 5 13-15 144
Day 1: 5 13-15
58. Will Davis Jr Sylacauga, AL 5 13-11 143
Day 1: 5 13-11
59. Andy Morgan Dayton, TN 5 13-10 142
Day 1: 5 13-10
60. Al Farace Jr Hunt Valley, MD 5 13-07 141
Day 1: 5 13-07
60. Shin Fukae Palestine TX JAPAN 5 13-07 141
Day 1: 5 13-07
60. Michael Murphy Lexington, SC 5 13-07 141
Day 1: 5 13-07
63. Carl Svebek III Orange, TX 5 13-06 138
Day 1: 5 13-06
64. Luke Estel Murphysboro, IL 5 13-06 137
Day 1: 5 13-06
65. Kyle Schutta Forest Lake, MN 5 13-04 136
Day 1: 5 13-04
66. Deron Patrick Cullman, AL 5 13-03 135
Day 1: 5 13-03
67. John Hunter Jr Shelbyville, KY 5 13-00 134
Day 1: 5 13-00
68. Clayton Batts Lizella, GA 5 12-15 133
Day 1: 5 12-15
68. Kelley Jaye Dadeville, AL 5 12-15 133
Day 1: 5 12-15
70. Larry Giamanco Pierre Part, LA 5 12-15 131
Day 1: 5 12-15
71. Jeff Holland Winter Springs, FL 4 12-14 130
Day 1: 4 12-14
72. John Brazzell Winter Garden, FL 5 12-13 129
Day 1: 5 12-13
73. Guy Eaker Cherryville, NC 5 12-12 128
Day 1: 5 12-12
74. Yoan Alvarez Miami, FL 5 12-09 127
Day 1: 5 12-09
75. Kyle Glasgow Guin, AL 5 12-08 126
Day 1: 5 12-08
76. Darrell Davis Dover, FL 5 12-07 125
Day 1: 5 12-07
77. Dave Frost Apopka, FL 5 12-05 124
Day 1: 5 12-05
77. Troy Roder Brookeland, TX 5 12-05 124
Day 1: 5 12-05
79. Joshua Stracner Vandiver, AL 5 12-05 122
Day 1: 5 12-05
80. Jennings Earnest Guin, AL 5 12-04 121
Day 1: 5 12-04
81. Barron Adams Mineral Bluff, GA 4 12-04 120
Day 1: 4 12-04
82. Gabriel Keen Caryville, TN 5 12-03 119
Day 1: 5 12-03
83. Jimmy Johnson Holmen, WI 5 12-02 118
Day 1: 5 12-02
84. Buddy Gross Chickamauga, GA 5 12-00 117
Day 1: 5 12-00
85. Tom Stark III Angola, IN 5 12-00 116
Day 1: 5 12-00
86. Darrell Pons Gainesville, FL 5 11-14 115
Day 1: 5 11-14
87. Derek Hudnall Baton Rouge, LA 3 11-14 114
Day 1: 3 11-14
88. David Hudson Jasper, AL 5 11-13 113
Day 1: 5 11-13
89. Wil Hardy Harlem, GA 5 11-11 112
Day 1: 5 11-11
90. Toby Lillard Clarksville, TN 5 11-05 111
Day 1: 5 11-05
91. Rick Shannon Woodlawn, TN 4 11-05 110
Day 1: 4 11-05
92. Arnie Lane Lakeland, FL 4 11-04 109
Day 1: 4 11-04
93. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 3 11-04 108
Day 1: 3 11-04
94. Teb Jones Hattiesburg, MS 5 11-03 107
Day 1: 5 11-03
95. Jeston Anderson Semmes, AL 5 11-02 106
Day 1: 5 11-02
96. Sam George Athens, AL 5 11-01 105
Day 1: 5 11-01
97. Ken Iyobe Tokoname-Shi JAPAN 5 11-01 104
Day 1: 5 11-01
98. Preston Johnson Rice Lake, WI 5 10-15 103
Day 1: 5 10-15
99. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 5 10-15 102
Day 1: 5 10-15
100. Steve Barnes Harrison, TN 3 10-15 101
Day 1: 3 10-15
101. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 5 10-14 100
Day 1: 5 10-14
102. Kyle Fox Lakeland, FL 4 10-14 99
Day 1: 4 10-14
103. Destin DeMarion Grove City, PA 5 10-13 98
Day 1: 5 10-13
104. Jon Canada Pelham, AL 5 10-10 97
Day 1: 5 10-10
104. John Pollard Eclectic, AL 5 10-10 97
Day 1: 5 10-10
106. Hensley Powell Whitwell, TN 5 10-09 95
Day 1: 5 10-09
107. Jeff Bunch Nacogdoches, TX 5 10-09 94
Day 1: 5 10-09
108. Jimmy Charbonnet Saint Amant, LA 5 10-06 93
Day 1: 5 10-06
109. Kazuki Kitajima Orlando, FL 3 10-06 92
Day 1: 3 10-06
110. Steven Priest New Lexington, OH 5 10-04 91
Day 1: 5 10-04
111. Neil Davis Clermont, FL 5 10-03 90
Day 1: 5 10-03
112. Joseph Sancho New Windsor, NY 3 10-03 89
Day 1: 3 10-03
113. Chris Ferguson Wittensville, KY 5 10-00 88
Day 1: 5 10-00
114. Jesse Wiggins Cullman, AL 5 09-15 87
Day 1: 5 09-15
115. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 4 09-15 86
Day 1: 4 09-15
116. Brandon Card Knoxville, TN 3 09-15 85
Day 1: 3 09-15
117. Patrick Bone Cleveland, GA 5 09-13 84
Day 1: 5 09-13
118. Tim Arnold Cullman, AL 4 09-13 83
Day 1: 4 09-13
119. Joe Jones Albertville, AL 3 09-13 82
Day 1: 3 09-13
120. Andrew Iversen Orono, MN 3 09-12 81
Day 1: 3 09-12
121. Seiji Kato Shiga JAPAN 3 09-11 80
Day 1: 3 09-11
122. Jayme Rampey Liberty, SC 5 09-10 79
Day 1: 5 09-10
123. Scott Mcgehee Madison, MS 4 09-09 78
Day 1: 4 09-09
124. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 5 09-06 77
Day 1: 5 09-06
125. Brian Hatfield Spring City, TN 4 09-05 76
Day 1: 4 09-05
126. B.J. Usie Houma, LA 3 09-05 75
Day 1: 3 09-05
127. Lucas Ragusa Gonzales, LA 5 09-04 74
Day 1: 5 09-04
128. Robert Pearson Herndon, VA 4 09-04 73
Day 1: 4 09-04
129. Blake Nick Trussville, AL 4 09-03 72
Day 1: 4 09-03
130. Cody Harrison Tuscumbia, AL 4 08-14 71
Day 1: 4 08-14
131. Cody Detweiler Orlando, FL 5 08-13 70
Day 1: 5 08-13
132. Ed Stiefel Mahwah, NJ 4 08-13 69
Day 1: 4 08-13
133. Scott Ashmore Broken Arrow, OK 4 08-07 68
Day 1: 4 08-07
134. Rich Howes Oviedo, FL 3 08-05 67
Day 1: 3 08-05
135. David Fritts Lexington, NC 4 08-04 66
Day 1: 4 08-04
136. Jeffrey Brooks Boca Raton, FL 3 08-04 65
Day 1: 3 08-04
137. Chris Hensley Marbury, AL 4 08-02 64
Day 1: 4 08-02
138. Tim Malone Gatlinburg, TN 4 07-08 63
Day 1: 4 07-08
139. Rick Harris San Angelo, TX 3 07-08 62
Day 1: 3 07-08
140. Matt Stefan Junction City, WI 2 07-07 61
Day 1: 2 07-07
141. Pierre Fortin Lady Lake, FL 4 06-14 60
Day 1: 4 06-14
142. Jeff Mathews Maitland, FL 3 06-14 59
Day 1: 3 06-14
143. Charlie Evans Berea, KY 2 06-13 58
Day 1: 2 06-13
144. Jade Keeton Killen, AL 3 06-12 57
Day 1: 3 06-12
145. Brian Rufty Berea, KY 2 06-12 56
Day 1: 2 06-12
146. Hunter Parra Houma, LA 3 06-11 55
Day 1: 3 06-11
147. Kenny Johnson Moreland, GA 2 06-11 54
Day 1: 2 06-11
148. Gary Isgrigg Mt Washington, KY 3 06-10 53
Day 1: 3 06-10
149. Eric Panzironi Longwood, FL 4 06-06 52
Day 1: 4 06-06
150. Vernon Kemp Umatilla, FL 3 06-05 51
Day 1: 3 06-05
151. Paul Gettys Due West, SC 3 06-01 50
Day 1: 3 06-01
152. Eric Gilchrist Plaquemine, LA 3 05-11 49
Day 1: 3 05-11
153. Ronald Ryals Jr Live Oak, FL 3 05-11 48
Day 1: 3 05-11
154. Miles Burghoff Santa Cruz, CA 3 05-09 47
Day 1: 3 05-09
155. Terry Segraves Kissimmee, FL 3 05-08 46
Day 1: 3 05-08
156. David Perdue Wirtz, VA 3 05-07 45
Day 1: 3 05-07
157. Brian Elder Locust Grove, GA 1 05-06 44
Day 1: 1 05-06
158. Gary Clouse La Vergne, TN 3 05-05 43
Day 1: 3 05-05
159. Wesley Strader Spring City, TN 2 05-00 42
Day 1: 2 05-00
160. Scott Luster Prattville, AL 2 04-12 41
Day 1: 2 04-12
161. Chris Groh Spring Grove, IL 2 04-11 40
Day 1: 2 04-11
162. Scott Canterbury Springville, AL 2 04-10 39
Day 1: 2 04-10
163. Allen Brooks Canton, GA 2 04-08 38
Day 1: 2 04-08
164. Matt Lee Guntersville, AL 2 04-07 37
Day 1: 2 04-07
164. Duane Pittman Prairieville, LA 2 04-07 37
Day 1: 2 04-07
166. Garrett Rocamora Lithia, FL 2 04-05 35
Day 1: 2 04-05
167. Garrett Riles Potts Camp, MS 3 03-15 34
Day 1: 3 03-15
168. Eric Conant Lakeland, FL 2 03-13 33
Day 1: 2 03-13
168. David Kilgore Jasper, AL 2 03-13 33
Day 1: 2 03-13
170. Sandy Melvin Boca Grande, FL 2 03-10 31
Day 1: 2 03-10
171. Marty Nester Mount Airy, NC 2 03-09 30
Day 1: 2 03-09
172. Kenny Sammons Pinetta, FL 2 03-00 29
Day 1: 2 03-00
173. Mitch Liss Saint Cloud, FL 2 02-11 28
Day 1: 2 02-11
174. Paul Elias Laurel, MS 1 02-07 27
Day 1: 1 02-07
175. Tim Gillies Union City, MI 1 02-01 26
Day 1: 1 02-01
176. Eric Cabrera Chattanooga, TN 1 01-15 25
Day 1: 1 01-15
176. Ryan Hoover Valrico, FL 1 01-15 25
Day 1: 1 01-15
176. John Paulk Counce, TN 1 01-15 25
Day 1: 1 01-15
179. Jeffrey Clark Hoover, AL 1 01-13 22
Day 1: 1 01-13
179. Jason Williamson Wagener, SC 1 01-13 22
Day 1: 1 01-13
181. Christiana Bradley Goldvein, VA 1 01-12 20
Day 1: 1 01-12
181. Robert Miller Litchfield, MI 1 01-12 20
Day 1: 1 01-12
183. Clay Dyer Fayetteville, TN 1 01-01 18
Day 1: 1 01-01
184. James Bailey Warrenton, VA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Jerome Baird Williamsburg, KY 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Gerry Brousseau Naples, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Hojin Chang Windermere, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. David Cornelius Apison, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Tyler Ellis Battlefield, MO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Larry Gaines Valparaiso, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Brandon Johnson Owingsville, KY 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Brent Long Iron Station, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Blaine Partee Oviedo, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. William Shipes II Williston, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Ed Stiefel Jr. Lake Worth, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 106 741 2101-12
----------------------------------
106 741 2101-12
2017 Chickamauga Lake 4/20-4/22
Chickamauga Lake, Dayton TN.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Roy Hurst Jr Birmingham, AL 3 15-03 200
Day 1: 3 15-03
2. David Gladden II Ooltewah, TN 3 13-03 199
Day 1: 3 13-03
3. Tim Patterson Chattanooga, TN 3 13-02 198
Day 1: 3 13-02
4. Alan Woodford Winslow, IN 3 12-02 197
Day 1: 3 12-02
5. Chad Smith Minnetonka, MN 3 11-07 196
Day 1: 3 11-07
5. Barry Stalcup Marble, NC 3 11-07 196
Day 1: 3 11-07
7. Taylor Stumbo Prestonsburg, KY 3 10-15 194
Day 1: 3 10-15
8. Greg Mauldin Archdale, NC 3 10-13 193
Day 1: 3 10-13
9. Eddie Jewell Lawrenceburg, TN 3 10-04 192
Day 1: 3 10-04
10. Randy Gardner Wetumpka, AL 3 10-01 191
Day 1: 3 10-01
11. Jeff Keever Decatur, GA 2 09-15 190
Day 1: 2 09-15
12. Curtis King Plaquemine, LA 3 09-14 189
Day 1: 3 09-14
13. Josh Jackson Cobden, IL 3 09-10 188
Day 1: 3 09-10
14. Marc Marsh Prosperity, SC 3 09-06 187
Day 1: 3 09-06
15. Bill Bruce Hendersonville, TN 3 09-04 186
Day 1: 3 09-04
15. Benny Widerman Deltona, FL 3 09-04 186
Day 1: 3 09-04
17. Bill Hunter Murfreesboro, TN 3 09-03 184
Day 1: 3 09-03
18. Garrett Geouge Lanexa, VA 3 08-11 183
Day 1: 3 08-11
19. Mike Duke Summerville, GA 3 08-09 182
Day 1: 3 08-09
20. David Eden Adams, TN 3 08-04 181
Day 1: 3 08-04
20. David Ottman Terry, MS 3 08-04 181
Day 1: 3 08-04
22. Blake Oswalt Jasper, AL 3 08-00 179
Day 1: 3 08-00
23. Jordan McDonald Jackson, GA 3 07-15 178
Day 1: 3 07-15
24. Charles Anderson Rocky Face, GA 2 07-15 177
Day 1: 2 07-15
25. Edward Fye Jr Atlanta, GA 3 07-14 176
Day 1: 3 07-14
26. Brandon Bolton West Point, MS 3 07-12 175
Day 1: 3 07-12
27. Charles Fochtman Moneta, VA 3 07-10 174
Day 1: 3 07-10
28. Johnathan Crossland Chapin, SC 3 07-09 173
Day 1: 3 07-09
28. Chuck Thurlow Auburn, AL 3 07-09 173
Day 1: 3 07-09
30. Blaine Freeman Dadeville, AL 3 07-08 171
Day 1: 3 07-08
31. Jennifer Nevans B Dayton, TN 2 07-06 170
Day 1: 2 07-06
32. Ronald Young Lake Wales, FL 3 07-04 169
Day 1: 3 07-04
33. Terry Proctor Pensacola, FL 3 07-03 168
Day 1: 3 07-03
34. Jesse Windsor Orlando, FL 3 07-01 167
Day 1: 3 07-01
35. Billy Watson III Murfreesboro, TN 3 07-00 166
Day 1: 3 07-00
36. Scott Rice Cobden, IL 2 07-00 165
Day 1: 2 07-00
37. Christian Thompson Lake City, FL 3 06-15 164
Day 1: 3 06-15
38. Shawn Hendrix Sharpsburg, GA 2 06-15 163
Day 1: 2 06-15
39. Anthony Plescia III Pearl River, LA 3 06-14 162
Day 1: 3 06-14
40. Daniel Kendrick Chatsworth, GA 3 06-13 161
Day 1: 3 06-13
40. Douglas Lubs Indianapolis, IN 3 06-13 161
Day 1: 3 06-13
40. Trevor Prichard Knoxville, TN 3 06-13 161
Day 1: 3 06-13
40. Beecher Strunk Somerset, KY 3 06-13 161
Day 1: 3 06-13
44. Buck Hilliard Peachtree City, GA 1 06-12 157
Day 1: 1 06-12
45. Cody Bertrand Dyer, IN 3 06-11 156
Day 1: 3 06-11
45. Shane Moss Jasper, TN 3 06-11 156
Day 1: 3 06-11
45. Michael Scalise Port Allen, LA 3 06-11 156
Day 1: 3 06-11
48. Lee Black Moulton, AL 3 06-11 153
Day 1: 3 06-11
49. Scott Byrd Ocklawaha, FL 3 06-10 152
Day 1: 3 06-10
50. Fred Rigdon Belleview, FL 2 06-10 151
Day 1: 2 06-10
51. Tom Wilkins Alexandria, MN 3 06-09 150
Day 1: 3 06-09
52. Marvin Stith Jr. Piscataway, NJ 3 06-08 149
Day 1: 3 06-08
53. Todd Lee Jasper, AL 2 06-08 148
Day 1: 2 06-08
54. Lawson Tilghman Somerville, TN 1 06-08 147
Day 1: 1 06-08
55. Ken Sharkey Spring Lake, MI 2 06-07 146
Day 1: 2 06-07
56. Mark Bartosch Clarksville, TN 3 06-06 145
Day 1: 3 06-06
56. Marty Denton Huntsville, AL 3 06-06 145
Day 1: 3 06-06
58. Don Harvey Franklin, TN 2 06-06 143
Day 1: 2 06-06
59. Don Ramsey Orlando, FL 3 06-05 142
Day 1: 3 06-05
59. Brandon Stooksbury Locust Grove, GA 3 06-05 142
Day 1: 3 06-05
61. Jonathan Barnette Jasper, AL 3 06-04 140
Day 1: 3 06-04
62. Eulon Lee Jr. Eclectic, AL 3 06-03 139
Day 1: 3 06-03
63. Luke Patterson Middleburg, KY 3 06-02 138
Day 1: 3 06-02
64. Curtis Hall II Battle Creek, MI 2 06-02 137
Day 1: 2 06-02
65. Radney Atchison Prattville, AL 3 06-01 136
Day 1: 3 06-01
66. Joshua Bauer Random Lake, WI 3 06-00 135
Day 1: 3 06-00
67. Danny Clark Cleveland, TN 3 05-15 134
Day 1: 3 05-15
68. Benjie Seaborn Guin, AL 3 05-15 133
Day 1: 3 05-15
69. Travis Dehart Greenville, SC 3 05-13 132
Day 1: 3 05-13
69. Jk Kutil Nashville, TN 3 05-13 132
Day 1: 3 05-13
71. Marc Melancon Livingston, LA 3 05-13 130
Day 1: 3 05-13
72. Kent Biggs Morristown, TN 3 05-12 129
Day 1: 3 05-12
72. Luke Glasgow Guin, AL 3 05-12 129
Day 1: 3 05-12
74. Stephen Griffing Port Charlotte, FL 3 05-11 127
Day 1: 3 05-11
75. William Holley Addis, LA 3 05-10 126
Day 1: 3 05-10
75. Richard Johnson Sr. Valrico, FL 3 05-10 126
Day 1: 3 05-10
77. Dustin Jones Stanford, KY 2 05-10 124
Day 1: 2 05-10
78. Rodney Tapp Inman, SC 3 05-09 123
Day 1: 3 05-09
79. Doug Logan Springville, AL 2 05-08 122
Day 1: 2 05-08
80. Lyn Melton Florence, AL 3 05-06 121
Day 1: 3 05-06
80. Troy Mims Eatonton, GA 3 05-06 121
Day 1: 3 05-06
82. Pete Patterson Kingsport, TN 2 05-06 119
Day 1: 2 05-06
83. George Beville Jr Apex, NC 3 05-04 118
Day 1: 3 05-04
83. Robt Lyerly Smyrna, GA 3 05-04 118
Day 1: 3 05-04
85. Tyler Woolcott Port Orange, FL 2 05-04 116
Day 1: 2 05-04
86. Giovanni Pena Polanco Davenport, FL 3 05-03 115
Day 1: 3 05-03
87. Timothy Onusko Clarksville, TN 2 05-02 114
Day 1: 2 05-02
88. Joey Thigpen Saint Johns, FL 1 05-02 113
Day 1: 1 05-02
89. Kyle Jenkins Groton, CT 3 05-00 112
Day 1: 3 05-00
90. Joshua Gentry Phenix City, AL 2 05-00 111
Day 1: 2 05-00
91. Kenneth Shumate Elkin, NC 3 04-13 110
Day 1: 3 04-13
92. Johnny Bigger II Spring Hill, FL 2 04-12 109
Day 1: 2 04-12
93. Justin Freeman Dayton, TN 2 04-10 108
Day 1: 2 04-10
94. John Ramer Atmore, AL 1 04-10 107
Day 1: 1 04-10
95. Jay West Canton, GA 2 04-09 106
Day 1: 2 04-09
96. Don Bible II Knoxville, TN 2 04-07 105
Day 1: 2 04-07
97. Scap Cicero Wetumpka, AL 2 04-06 104
Day 1: 2 04-06
98. Jody White Gilbertsville, KY 2 04-05 103
Day 1: 2 04-05
99. Steven Roosen Charlotte, NC 3 04-04 102
Day 1: 3 04-04
100. Ronald Wiggins II Palatka, FL 2 04-04 101
Day 1: 2 04-04
101. Zach Kirby Shelbyville, TN 1 04-03 100
Day 1: 1 04-03
102. James Simmons Houma, LA 3 04-02 99
Day 1: 3 04-02
103. Brett Hobson Clermont, FL 2 04-01 98
Day 1: 2 04-01
103. Mike Spears Jasper, AL 2 04-01 98
Day 1: 2 04-01
105. William Gaston Sylacauga, AL 2 03-14 96
Day 1: 2 03-14
105. Robert Holcomb Longwood, FL 2 03-14 96
Day 1: 2 03-14
107. Randy Brown Lugoff, SC 2 03-12 94
Day 1: 2 03-12
107. Eric Davis Athens, AL 2 03-12 94
Day 1: 2 03-12
109. Phillip Lee Eustis, FL 2 03-11 92
Day 1: 2 03-11
110. Jonathan Hankins North Tazewell, VA 2 03-09 91
Day 1: 2 03-09
111. Colby Harrison Brilliant, AL 2 03-08 90
Day 1: 2 03-08
111. Stacey Harvey McMinnville, TN 2 03-08 90
Day 1: 2 03-08
111. Michael Kuhn Knoxville, TN 2 03-08 90
Day 1: 2 03-08
111. Jonathan Watters Lindale, GA 2 03-08 90
Day 1: 2 03-08
115. Curt Clark Bentonville, AR 2 03-07 86
Day 1: 2 03-07
115. Hank Pitts Tunnel Hill, GA 2 03-07 86
Day 1: 2 03-07
117. Jeffrey Ray Canton, MS 1 03-06 84
Day 1: 1 03-06
117. Scott Saucer Frisco City, AL 1 03-06 84
Day 1: 1 03-06
119. Zach Clark Newnan, GA 2 03-05 82
Day 1: 2 03-05
120. Kevin Lemmerman Mound, MN 2 03-04 81
Day 1: 2 03-04
121. John Riddling III Melrose, FL 2 03-03 80
Day 1: 2 03-03
122. Sawyer Adams Seymour, TN 2 03-01 79
Day 1: 2 03-01
123. Garrett Guinan Marietta, GA 1 02-14 78
Day 1: 1 02-14
124. Clayton Stoering Waterville, MN 1 02-12 77
Day 1: 1 02-12
125. Jaylen Andrews Culleoka, TN 2 02-09 76
Day 1: 2 02-09
126. Landon Rich Owens Cross Roads, AL 1 02-09 75
Day 1: 1 02-09
127. Chris Obryan Harned, KY 1 02-08 74
Day 1: 1 02-08
128. Mark Frickman Louisburg, NC 1 02-07 73
Day 1: 1 02-07
128. George Looby East Hampton, CT 1 02-07 73
Day 1: 1 02-07
130. Wayne Norman Jacksboro, TN 1 02-05 71
Day 1: 1 02-05
131. Jason Lee Battle Creek, MI 1 02-04 70
Day 1: 1 02-04
131. Tony Sears Dahlonega, GA 1 02-04 70
Day 1: 1 02-04
133. Mark Hooper Reliance, TN 1 02-01 68
Day 1: 1 02-01
134. Bob Bernicky Crossville, TN 1 02-00 67
Day 1: 1 02-00
134. Michael Florio Cartersville, GA 1 02-00 67
Day 1: 1 02-00
134. Jeff Prisza Camden, MI 1 02-00 67
Day 1: 1 02-00
134. Cole Sands Calhoun , TN 1 02-00 67
Day 1: 1 02-00
138. Rodney Anderson Young Harris, GA 1 01-15 63
Day 1: 1 01-15
138. Walter Swafford Winter Garden, FL 1 01-15 63
Day 1: 1 01-15
140. Carlton Tipp Grand Bay, AL 1 01-15 61
Day 1: 1 01-15
141. Wes Dennis Anniston, AL 1 01-14 60
Day 1: 1 01-14
141. Steve Jarrett Valrico, FL 1 01-14 60
Day 1: 1 01-14
143. John Goul Philadelphia, MS 1 01-13 58
Day 1: 1 01-13
143. Josh Olson Pepin, WI 1 01-13 58
Day 1: 1 01-13
145. Richard Congero Windermere, FL 1 01-12 56
Day 1: 1 01-12
145. Bert Cooper Huntsville, TN 1 01-12 56
Day 1: 1 01-12
145. Rodrigo Cruz Clermont, FL 1 01-12 56
Day 1: 1 01-12
145. Rick Perez Naples, FL 1 01-12 56
Day 1: 1 01-12
145. Jason Yates Dandridge, TN 1 01-12 56
Day 1: 1 01-12
150. Thomas Warren Bolingbrook, IL 1 01-11 51
Day 1: 1 01-11
151. Jerrod Albright Kissimmee, FL 1 01-10 50
Day 1: 1 01-10
151. Richard Arnold Owens Cross Roads, AL 1 01-10 50
Day 1: 1 01-10
151. Larry Maring Minneola, FL 1 01-10 50
Day 1: 1 01-10
154. Justin Braswell Winter Haven, FL 1 01-09 47
Day 1: 1 01-09
154. Carl Hunter Snellville, GA 1 01-09 47
Day 1: 1 01-09
154. Zach Patterson Ooletewah, TN 1 01-09 47
Day 1: 1 01-09
157. Charles Poland Denham Springs, LA 1 01-08 44
Day 1: 1 01-08
158. William Helton Calhoun, TN 1 00-13 43
Day 1: 1 00-13
158. Greg O'Neal Winchester, TN 1 00-13 43
Day 1: 1 00-13
160. Darrin Coker Belton, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
160. Jack Dale Wayland, MI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
160. Miriam Donohoo San Mateo, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
160. Shane Douglas Albany, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
160. James Draffin Jr. Dawsonville, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
160. Johnnie Garrett Union City, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
160. Tomas Gomez Kissimmee, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
160. Troy Goodlow Clarksburg, NJ 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
160. Cindy Hatfield Spring City, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
160. Chuck Hennessey Knoxville, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
160. Willy Hicks Chester, VA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
160. Brian Jones Fayetteville, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
160. Caleb Keith Beaufort, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
160. Chris Kingree Inverness, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
160. Barry Maner Trinity, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
160. Thomas Mason Jr. Hixson, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
160. Johnny Massengale La Follette, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
160. George Matthews Valdosta, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
160. Joe Moore Kissimmee, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
160. Drew Osborn Maryville, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
160. Daniel Parks Greer, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
160. Geoff Percival Lincoln, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
160. Daniel Phillips Lawrenceville, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
160. JJ Polak Covington, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
160. Keith Raney Tullahoma, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
160. Jenny Sander Byron, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
160. Peter Saraf III Kissimmee, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
160. John Searles Jr. Townville, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
160. Bradley Sterner Manchester, PA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
160. Rick Surguine Mount Juliet, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
160. Michael Vice Rossville, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
160. Travis Warthen Saint Gabriel, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
160. Jeffrey Worth Longwood, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
160. Clint Yeary Bedford, IN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
194. Glenn Bailey Temple Terrace, FL 0 -1-00 0
Day 1: 0 -01-00
194. John Goebel Lumberton, TX 0 -1-00 0
Day 1: 0 -01-00
Prvonozac Jumps out to early lead in Grand Lake Costa Event
Nick Prvonozac
April 20, 2017 by Rob Newell
Dark skies, wind and drizzling rain hampered the sight-fishing on day one of the Costa FLW Series Southwestern event on Grand Lake presented by Ranger Boats. But when one weather condition hurts some, it can help others.
Such was the case for Nick Prvonozac of Warren, Ohio. Prvonozac brought 19 pounds, 12 ounces to the scale on day one to take the early lead thanks in part to two larger females he caught while “just fishing.”
“I think this weather kept a lot of the sight fishermen from really catching them,” Prvonozac says. “If the weather had been bright, sunny and still, there would probably be more big bags weighed in. But these conditions make it hard to see.”
Prvonozac did bag two bass off beds today, but says most of the ones on beds are smaller males. He has found that areas where males are bedding have a few heftier females staging in the same areas, but they can’t necessarily be seen.
“The females are more off to the sides of the bedding areas,” he says. “I spent about 50 percent of my day sight-fishing and the other 50 percent trying to target staging females that around those bedding areas.
“There are a lot of guys sight-fishing,” Prvonozac continues. “I had to wait my turn on several bedding fish today. But instead of getting spun out with guys already fishing on beds I wanted to fish, I just kept my cool and kept fishing more of a staging deal, which produced my better fish. So it was kind of a blessing in disguise I guess.”
Prvonozac enters day two of the event with a 1-14 advantage over second place. He says he has more spawners located for tomorrow, but they’re not big ones.
“They’re good for getting a limit a started, but I think in order to catch the bigger females, I’m going to have to fish more than look,” he adds.
Top 10 pros:
1. Nick Prvonozac – Warren, Ohio – 19-12 (5)
2. Matt Arey – Shelby, N.C. – 17-14 (5)
3. Tommy Martin – Hemphill, Texas – 16-15 (5)
4. Todd Castledine – Nacogdoches, Texas – 16-12 (5)
5. Drew Boggs – Lebanon, Tenn. – 16-6 (5)
6. Chad Warren – Sand Springs, Okla. – 15-13 (5)
7. Russell Cecil – Willis, Texas – 15-9 (5)
8. Matt Cooper – Smithville, Texas – 15-9 (5)
9. Kyle Cortiana – Broken Arrow, Okla. – 15-8 (5)
10. Bradley Hallman – Norman, Okla. – 15-5 (5)
Full Results
Bud Pruitt
Pruitt, Talley co-lead Co-angler Division
Bud Pruitt of Houston, Texas, and Mark Talley of Grove, Okla., both checked in identical limits weighing 12 pounds, 10 ounces to tie for the day-one co-angler lead.
PLACE ANGLER CITY/STATE DAY 1
WT (Fish) DAY 1&2
WT (Fish) WINNINGS
1 NICK PRVONOZAC WARREN, OH 19 - 12 (5) 19 - 12 (5)
2 MATT AREY SHELBY, NC 17 - 14 (5) 17 - 14 (5)
3 TOMMY MARTIN HEMPHILL, TX 16 - 15 (5) 16 - 15 (5)
4 TODD CASTLEDINE NACOGDOCHES, TX 16 - 12 (5) 16 - 12 (5)
5 DREW BOGGS LEBANON, TN 16 - 6 (5) 16 - 6 (5)
6 CHAD WARREN SAND SPRINGS, OK 15 - 13 (5) 15 - 13 (5)
7 MATT COOPER SMITHVILLE, TX 15 - 9 (5) 15 - 9 (5)
8 RUSSELL CECIL WILLIS, TX 15 - 9 (5) 15 - 9 (5)
9 KYLE CORTIANA BROKEN ARROW, OK 15 - 8 (5) 15 - 8 (5)
10 BRADLEY HALLMAN NORMAN, OK 15 - 5 (5) 15 - 5 (5)
11 WAYNE DIFFEE OAKHURST, OK 15 - 2 (5) 15 - 2 (5)
12 ANDREW UPSHAW TULSA, OK 15 - 1 (5) 15 - 1 (5)
13 LANCE WILLIAMS BILLINGS, MO 15 - 0 (5) 15 - 0 (5)
14 TYE SMITH FORT GIBSON, OK 14 - 14 (5) 14 - 14 (5) $150
15 JEROD HAWKES SABINAL, TX 14 - 3 (5) 14 - 3 (5)
16 DYLAN HAYS SHERIDAN, AR 14 - 2 (5) 14 - 2 (5)
17 CHRISTOPHER DIGINO DALLAS, TX 14 - 0 (5) 14 - 0 (5)
18 JEREMY LAWYER SARCOXIE, MO 14 - 0 (5) 14 - 0 (5)
19 KEN SMITH DALLAS, TX 13 - 15 (5) 13 - 15 (5)
20 CHRIS HART BOZEMAN, MT 13 - 15 (5) 13 - 15 (5)
21 ROBERT MYERS BROKEN ARROW, OK 13 - 12 (5) 13 - 12 (5)
22 TOMMY DICKERSON ORANGE, TX 13 - 11 (5) 13 - 11 (5)
23 JIM MOYNAGH CARVER, MN 13 - 6 (5) 13 - 6 (5)
24 DAVID MANSUE HEMPHILL, TX 13 - 4 (5) 13 - 4 (5)
25 JAMES STRICKLIN JR FORT SMITH, AR 13 - 4 (5) 13 - 4 (5)
26 DAVE DONHAM HIGHLANDVILLE, MO 13 - 3 (5) 13 - 3 (5)
27 CODY GREANEY MANCHACA, TX 12 - 14 (5) 12 - 14 (5)
28 MATT MASSEY LITTLETON, CO 12 - 6 (5) 12 - 6 (5)
29 LENDELL MARTIN JR NACOGDOCHES, TX 12 - 5 (4) 12 - 5 (4)
30 BLAINE COVINGTON FORT WORTH, TX 12 - 4 (5) 12 - 4 (5)
31 BRIAN HANES BERNICE, OK 12 - 3 (5) 12 - 3 (5)
32 BILLY CLINE GRAPEVINE, TX 12 - 3 (5) 12 - 3 (5)
33 STEPHEN JOHNSTON HEMPHILL, TX 12 - 2 (5) 12 - 2 (5)
34 RANDY SULLIVAN BRECKENRIDGE, TX 12 - 1 (4) 12 - 1 (4)
35 JOEY ROMANO DENHAM SPRINGS, LA 11 - 14 (5) 11 - 14 (5)
36 BRAD COOK AFTON, OK 11 - 12 (5) 11 - 12 (5)
37 SHELDON COLLINGS GROVE, OK 11 - 5 (5) 11 - 5 (5)
38 WADE HUDGENS LONGVIEW, TX 11 - 4 (3) 11 - 4 (3)
39 NICK KINCAID COWETA, OK 11 - 3 (5) 11 - 3 (5)
40 ERIC WRIGHT BALCH SPRINGS, TX 11 - 2 (5) 11 - 2 (5)
41 BLAKE SCHROEDER WHITEHOUSE, TX 10 - 15 (5) 10 - 15 (5)
42 CLINT ROYSE ATHENS, TX 10 - 14 (4) 10 - 14 (4)
43 TOM SILBER LABADIE, MO 10 - 14 (5) 10 - 14 (5)
44 DARREL ROBERTSON JAY, OK 10 - 11 (5) 10 - 11 (5)
45 BRADY WINANS CADDO MILLS, TX 10 - 10 (4) 10 - 10 (4)
46 GARRETT MCCLENDON BIXBY, OK 10 - 8 (3) 10 - 8 (3) $150
47 JIM TUTT LONGVIEW, TX 10 - 6 (5) 10 - 6 (5)
48 NICK ABER PIEDMONT, OK 10 - 6 (5) 10 - 6 (5)
49 CHARLIE APPERSON JAY, OK 10 - 5 (5) 10 - 5 (5)
50 STEPHEN BADLEY BROKEN ARROW, OK 10 - 5 (5) 10 - 5 (5)
51 CODY BIRD GRANBURY, TX 10 - 4 (5) 10 - 4 (5)
52 ALLEN RUDE PAULS VALLEY, OK 10 - 4 (5) 10 - 4 (5)
53 SHANE LONG WILLARD, MO 10 - 2 (5) 10 - 2 (5)
54 JOHN PILCHER KANSAS, OK 10 - 1 (4) 10 - 1 (4)
55 KYLE HALL RIO VISTA, TX 10 - 0 (4) 10 - 0 (4)
56 BRANDON MOSLEY CHOCTAW, OK 9 - 15 (5) 9 - 15 (5)
57 ROY WHISENHUNT VALLIANT, OK 9 - 15 (5) 9 - 15 (5)
58 JOEL BAKER TALALA, OK 9 - 14 (5) 9 - 14 (5)
59 ROBERT SPARKS HEFLIN, LA 9 - 14 (5) 9 - 14 (5)
60
Oregon University Angler Jacob Wall Grabs Early Lead in Carhartt Bassmaster College Western Regional!
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Nick Wood takes the early lead in the B.A.S.S. Nation Western Regional
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Humminbird® Introduces 360 Imaging™ for the New Minn Kota Ultrex™
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COSTA FLW SERIES SOUTHWESTERN DIVISION HEADS TO GRAND LAKE FOR EVENT PRESENTED BY RANGER BOATS
GROVE, Okla. (April 11, 2017) – As many as 400 pros and co-anglers are set to compete in the Costa FLW Series Southwestern Division event on Grand Lake, April 20-22. The tournament, which is presented by Ranger Boats, is the second of three regular-season events scheduled in the Southwestern Division. Pros will be competing for a top award of up to $40,000 in cash and a new Ranger Z518C boat with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard.
“This is going to be a great tournament,” said FLW Tour pro James Watson of Lampe, Missouri, who finished in 11th place on Grand Lake when the FLW Series visited in 2016. “There’s still going to be some prespawn activity going on and it could also be a good sight-fishing tournament, depending on water clarity.
“The whole lake will be in play,” continued Watson. “If I were fishing it, I’d pitch a jig or a Luck-E-Strike Ringmaster Creature bait in green-pumpkin or black colors. I’d also slow-roll a big ½-ounce double-willow War Eagle spinnerbait, or throw a Luck-E-Strike Rick Clunn RC2 square-billed crankbait and a G5 American Original crankbait.”
Watson said water clarity will be the key determinant in where anglers choose to fish.
“The sight-fishing will likely be best on the lower end where the water tends to be clearer,” said Watson. “When the Costa Series visited Grand Lake a couple of years ago, it was the best sight-fishing tournament I’ve ever competed in. On the upper end, there’s more color in the water and plenty of rock and laydowns for flipping and pitching. Fish will be setting up well on all of that stuff right now.”
Watson added that boat docks will also be popular, as long as competitors can navigate around their support cables.
“Boat docks will provide a good mix of prespawners and spawners,” said Watson. “If those don’t play out, get cranking down the banks.”
The Missouri pro said that a three-day cumulative weight ranging from 55 to 60 pounds should be enough to take home top honors.
Anglers will take off from Wolf Creek Park, located at 963 N. 16th St. in Grove at 6:30 a.m. CDT each day. Thursday and Friday’s weigh-ins will be held at the park beginning at 2:30 p.m. Saturday’s final weigh-in will be held at Walmart, located at 2115 S. Main St. in Grove, and will also begin at 2:30 p.m. Takeoffs and weigh-ins are free and open to the public. The event is hosted by the City of Grove.
In Costa FLW Series regular-season competition, payouts are based on the number of participants competing in the event. At Grand Lake, pros will fish for as much as $40,000 and a Ranger Z518C boat with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard if Ranger Cup qualified. Co-anglers will cast for a Ranger Z175 boat with a 90-horsepower Evinrude outboard and an additional $5,000 if Ranger Cup qualified.
The Costa FLW Series consists of five U.S. divisions – Central, Northern, Southeastern, Southwestern and Western. Each division consists of three tournaments with competitors vying for valuable points that could earn them the opportunity to fish in the Costa FLW Series Championship. The 2017 Costa FLW Series Championship is being held Nov. 2-4 on Kentucky Lake in Paris, Tennessee.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Costa FLW Series on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing.
Kenny Needham and Rob Noyes win Tennessee Team Trail Event on Cherokee Lake with over 18 pounds!
Congratulations Kenny Needham and Rob Noyes for catching 18.59 on a hard day of fishing. They also won the Ranger/Triton/Stratos contingency and the Tennessee Team Trail contingency. Charlie Lane and Jerry Todd Hembre won big fish with a 5.07 largemouth. Everyone fished hard today and heard a lot of people talking about “junk” fishing. They weren’t biting anything in particular but would hit a little of everything. We caught 661 fish and brought in almost 1700lbs of fish. We will pay 90 places, more than anyone else around and it only took 10.93 to get get a check. Thank you to everyone that came out.
Ranger/Triton/Stratos Contingency results:
1-Kenny/Needham/Rob Noyes
2-Paul Napier/Clifford Bunch
3-Tim Saylor/Craig Livesay
4-Eddie Baker/Craig Powers
5-Gary Pilkenton
6-Randy Brown/Greg Burrell
7-Douglas Butzine/Joshua Trent
8-Tim Wyatt/Delmar Wyatt
9-Troy Jones/Brian Beeler
10-Tony Wilson/Kent Smith
11-Cade Stallings/Jacob Velba
12-Jake Lee/Matt Brown
13-Sam Rosenbalm/James Clark
14-Rick Smith/Mike Oglesby
15-Todd Bayless/John Napier
16-Jimmy Clark/James Goodin
17-Mike Wolfenbarger/Steve Miracle
18-Billy Boyd/Foy Elkins
19-Eugene Randolph/Cliff Pugh
20-James Bullard/Jonathan Bullard
21-Stephen Loveday/Ralph Loveday
22-Wayne Norman/Tim Petrey
23-Jon Wright/Ben Parker
24-Jeff Walker/Larry Griffith
25-Larry Darden
4/15/2017 Cherokee
| Place | Team | Fish | Wgt | Pen | Bonus | B/F | TotWgt | Pts |
| 1 | KENNY NEEDHAM-ROB NOYES | 5/5 | 18.59 | 4.31 | 18.59 | 200.00 | ||
| 2 | PAUL NAPIER-CLIFFORD BUNCH | 5/5 | 17.23 | 3.98 | 17.23 | 199.00 | ||
| 3 | TIM SAYLOR-CRAIG LIVESAY | 5/5 | 16.94 | 16.94 | 198.00 | |||
| 4 | EDDIE BAKER-CRAIG POWERS | 5/5 | 16.73 | 16.73 | 197.00 | |||
| 5 | GARY PILKENTON- | 5/5 | 16.66 | 16.66 | 196.00 | |||
| 6 | RANDY BROWN-GREG BURRELL | 5/5 | 16.60 | 3.66 | 16.60 | 195.00 | ||
| 7 | DOUGLAS BUTZINE-JOSHUA TRENT | 5/5 | 16.33 | 16.33 | 194.00 | |||
| 8 | TIM WYATT-DELMAR WYATT | 5/5 | 16.27 | 16.27 | 193.00 | |||
| 9 | TROY JONES-BRIAN BEELER | 5/5 | 16.22 | 16.22 | 192.00 | |||
| 10 | TONY WILSON-KENT SMITH | 5/5 | 16.02 | 16.02 | 191.00 | |||
| 11 | JOSH ROARK-PORTER ROARK | 5/5 | 15.94 | 3.91 | 15.94 | 190.00 | ||
| 12 | CADE STALLINGS-JACOB VELBA | 5/5 | 15.87 | 15.87 | 189.00 | |||
| 13 | JAKE LEE-MATT BROWN | 5/5 | 15.85 | 15.85 | 188.00 | |||
| 14 | SAM ROSENBALM-JAMES CLARK | 5/5 | 15.82 | 3.90 | 15.82 | 187.00 | ||
| 15 | RICK SMITH-MIKE OGLESBY | 5/5 | 15.76 | 15.76 | 186.00 | |||
| 16 | TODD BAYLESS-JOHN NAPIER | 5/5 | 15.69 | 15.69 | 185.00 | |||
| 17 | JIMMY CLARK-JAMES GOODIN | 5/5 | 15.66 | 15.66 | 184.00 | |||
| 18 | MIKE WOLFENBARGER-STEVE MIRACLE | 5/5 | 15.64 | 3.60 | 15.64 | 183.00 | ||
| 19 | BILLY BOYD-FOY ELKINS | 5/5 | 15.31 | 3.71 | 15.31 | 182.00 | ||
| 20 | TODD NIDIFER-CURTIS HOSKINS | 5/5 | 15.28 | 15.28 | 181.00 | |||
| 21 | EUGENE RANDOLPH-CLIFF PUGH | 5/5 | 15.21 | 4.38 | 15.21 | 180.00 | ||
| 22 | JAMES BULLARD-JONATHAN BULLARD | 5/4 | 15.69 | 0.50 | 3.38 | 15.19 | 179.00 | |
| 23 | STEPHEN LOVEDAY-RALPH LOVEDAY | 5/5 | 15.17 | 15.17 | 178.00 | |||
| 24 | RICK MAYBERRY-BRANDON HARRIS | 5/5 | 15.15 | 4.80 | 15.15 | 177.00 | ||
| 25 | JAMES HURST-CHRIS COLLINS | 5/5 | 15.14 | 15.14 | 176.00 | |||
| 26 | LYNN GREEN-SHANE ROLLER | 5/5 | 15.00 | 15.00 | 175.00 | |||
| 27 | WAYNE NORMAN-TIM PETREY | 5/5 | 14.84 | 14.84 | 174.00 | |||
| 28 | JON WRIGHT-BEN PARKER | 5/5 | 14.69 | 14.69 | 173.00 | |||
| 29 | KENT LODARI-TROY BIGELOW | 5/5 | 14.57 | 14.57 | 172.00 | |||
| 30 | JEFF WALKER-LARRY GRIFFITH | 5/5 | 14.55 | 14.55 | 171.00 | |||
| 31 | LARRY DARDEN- | 5/5 | 14.36 | 14.36 | 170.00 | |||
| 32 | JEREMY LAWSON-JERRY LAWSON | 5/5 | 14.19 | 14.19 | 169.00 | |||
| 33 | TRAVIS ANDERSON-LEE MONDAY | 5/5 | 14.15 | 14.15 | 168.00 | |||
| 34 | LUKAS PHILLIPS-FREDERICK CASTO | 5/5 | 14.09 | 14.09 | 167.00 | |||
| 35 | RANDY MCKEE-JASON POTTER | 5/5 | 14.03 | 14.03 | 166.00 | |||
| 36 | PAUL LONG-HERMILO SALGADO JR | 5/5 | 13.97 | 13.97 | 165.00 | |||
| 37 | *JOE LEE->SONNY LEE | 5/5 | 13.91 | 13.91 | 164.00 | |||
| 38 | WILBUR CURTIS-BRYANT AILOR | 5/5 | 13.90 | 4.29 | 13.90 | 163.00 | ||
| 39 | PAUL SWEET-RUSS POPE | 5/5 | 13.66 | 13.66 | 162.00 | |||
| 40 | JOHN INMAN-RAY LOVEDAY | 5/5 | 13.65 | 13.65 | 161.00 | |||
| 41 | CODY GREEN-TIM MALONE | 5/5 | 13.62 | 13.62 | 160.00 | |||
| 42 | PHILIP GORDON-JEREMY GORDON | 5/5 | 13.58 | 13.58 | 159.00 | |||
| 43 | RODNEY CRADDOCK-CHAD WADDELL | 5/5 | 13.57 | 13.57 | 158.00 | |||
| 44 | TONY MORTON-JOSH CUPP | 5/5 | 13.50 | 13.50 | 157.00 | |||
| 45 | MICHAEL ROBERTSON-CORY GODSEY | 5/4 | 13.96 | 0.50 | 13.46 | 156.00 | ||
| 46 | MIKE NAPIER-TAVIN NAPIER | 5/5 | 13.39 | 13.39 | 155.00 | |||
| 47 | RONALD WHITTED-FELIX FUGATE | 5/5 | 13.38 | 3.83 | 13.38 | 154.00 | ||
| 48 | JACK WADE-ANDY VENABLE | 5/5 | 13.30 | 13.30 | 153.00 | |||
| 49 | SHANE ENIX-STEPHEN YEARY | 5/5 | 13.18 | 13.18 | 152.00 | |||
| 50 | BRIAN HARVEY-MARK MAULDIN | 5/5 | 13.08 | 13.08 | 151.00 | |||
| 50 | HERMILO SALGADO-JOSE SALGADO | 5/5 | 13.08 | 13.08 | 151.00 | |||
| 52 | DEREK TURNER-MICHAEL HEMBREE | 5/5 | 12.98 | 12.98 | 149.00 | |||
| 53 | DEWAYNE WILSON-TIM THOMAS | 5/5 | 12.94 | 12.94 | 148.00 | |||
| 54 | RICK GILL-RICHARD MCMASTER | 5/5 | 12.92 | 12.92 | 147.00 | |||
| 55 | *RODNEY BEELER->BLAKE DAVENPORT | 5/5 | 12.86 | 12.86 | 146.00 | |||
| 56 | CHARLIE LANE-JERRY TODD HEMBRE | 5/5 | 12.84 | * 5.07 | 12.84 | 145.00 | ||
| 56 | *BENNY ROBERTS->NICK TATE | 5/5 | 12.84 | 12.84 | 145.00 | |||
| 58 | RUFUS JOHNSON IV-CRAIG BREWER | 5/5 | 12.77 | 12.77 | 143.00 | |||
| 58 | DALE PELFREY-JONATHAN BOWLING | 5/5 | 12.77 | 12.77 | 143.00 | |||
| 60 | JEFFREY MOORE-JERRY HAMBY | 5/4 | 13.20 | 0.50 | 12.70 | 141.00 | ||
| 61 | MIKE JEFFRIES-ERIC FARMER | 5/5 | 12.53 | 12.53 | 140.00 | |||
| 62 | KEITH PHILLIPS-ROGER PHILLIPS | 5/5 | 12.41 | 12.41 | 139.00 | |||
| 63 | ANDREW BRACKETT-RYAN HARPER | 5/5 | 12.38 | 12.38 | 138.00 | |||
| 64 | RONALD ELLIS-JOSEPH ELLIS | 5/5 | 12.36 | 12.36 | 137.00 | |||
| 65 | CASEY MAJNI-TAYLOR WATKINS | 5/5 | 12.34 | 12.34 | 136.00 | |||
| 66 | CALEB EAKENS-RYAN DALTON | 5/5 | 12.30 | 12.30 | 135.00 | |||
| 67 | BILLY NORRIS-JOSH NORRIS | 5/5 | 12.29 | 12.29 | 134.00 | |||
| 68 | DEWAYNE FOUST-JONATHAN PHILLIPS | 5/5 | 12.27 | 12.27 | 133.00 | |||
| 68 | JACOB HAIRRELL-JERRETH BAIN | 5/5 | 12.27 | 12.27 | 133.00 | |||
| 70 | RANDY OLIVER-CLINT DYER | 5/5 | 12.26 | 12.26 | 131.00 | |||
| 71 | DUSTIN FRANKLIN-ROB BOWERS | 5/5 | 12.24 | 12.24 | 130.00 | |||
| 72 | LUKE TAYLOR-KEVIN TAYLOR | 5/5 | 12.00 | 12.00 | 129.00 | |||
| 73 | MICHAEL DRAIN-LUCAS ARMSTRONG | 4/4 | 11.96 | 11.96 | 128.00 | |||
| 74 | RICHARD MOORE-ANDREW SMITH | 5/5 | 11.95 | 11.95 | 127.00 | |||
| 75 | DOUG PLEMONS-JAMES NUCKOLS | 5/5 | 11.72 | 11.72 | 126.00 | |||
| 76 | JEFF GRAVES-TYLER GRAVES | 5/5 | 11.66 | 11.66 | 125.00 | |||
| 77 | BRIAN HOLCOMB-JESSIE HALL | 5/5 | 11.58 | 11.58 | 124.00 | |||
| 78 | BRAD BROWN-TIM HALL | 5/5 | 11.41 | 11.41 | 123.00 | |||
| 79 | KEVIN EDWARDS-JIMMY MANIS | 5/5 | 11.40 | 11.40 | 122.00 | |||
| 80 | CARL GUFFEY-MICHAEL PATTERSON | 5/5 | 11.36 | 11.36 | 121.00 | |||
| 81 | GEORGE CARROLL JR-GEORGE CARROLL SR | 5/5 | 11.27 | 11.27 | 120.00 | |||
| 82 | ROBERT ROCHE-MIKE MILES | 5/5 | 11.25 | 11.25 | 119.00 | |||
| 83 | TRAVIS TURNER- | 5/5 | 11.20 | 11.20 | 118.00 | |||
| 84 | RUSSELL MURPHY-DOUG COUCH | 5/5 | 11.19 | 4.74 | 11.19 | 117.00 | ||
| 85 | KEN VICCHIO-BRIAN VICCHIO | 5/5 | 11.13 | 11.13 | 116.00 | |||
| 86 | MIKE THOMPSON-KIRK MILES | 5/5 | 11.06 | 11.06 | 115.00 | |||
| 87 | TOMMY BROWN-SPENCER BROWN | 5/5 | 11.00 | 11.00 | 114.00 | |||
| 88 | BOBBY CARDWELL-RYAN CARDWELL | 5/5 | 10.97 | 10.97 | 113.00 | |||
| 89 | TIM SMILEY-BOBBY CHAMBERS | 5/5 | 10.96 | 10.96 | 112.00 | |||
| 90 | DJ SLIGER-DANNY CRASS | 5/5 | 10.93 | 10.93 | 111.00 | |||
| 91 | GEORGE WELLS-BRUCE CLEVENGER | 5/5 | 10.57 | 10.57 | 110.00 | |||
| 92 | MICHAEL ROBERTS-GREGORY JOHNSON | 5/5 | 10.55 | 10.55 | 109.00 | |||
| 93 | GARY SMITH-WAYNE COOPER | 4/4 | 10.48 | 10.48 | 108.00 | |||
| 94 | ANDY HOOD-KEVIN HOOD | 4/4 | 10.45 | 10.45 | 107.00 | |||
| 95 | MATT BURGESS-LARRY KELLEY | 5/5 | 10.27 | 10.27 | 106.00 | |||
| 96 | RYAN INKELBARGER-DUSTIN LANE | 5/5 | 10.19 | 10.19 | 105.00 | |||
| 96 | WILL VANETTEN-CHRIS SHOUSE | 5/4 | 10.69 | 0.50 | 10.19 | 105.00 | ||
| 98 | LUKE CHEVERTON-NICK BLEVINS | 5/5 | 10.17 | 10.17 | 103.00 | |||
| 99 | BRAD NAPIER-DENNIS NAPIER | 5/5 | 10.12 | 10.12 | 102.00 | |||
| 100 | CHAD HICKS-ROGER KING | 5/5 | 10.02 | 10.02 | 101.00 | |||
| 101 | DOUG DYE-BRENTON HAMILTON | 4/4 | 9.96 | 9.96 | 100.00 | |||
| 102 | *BRIAN YARBROUGH->DUSTIN DYER | 5/5 | 9.94 | 9.94 | 99.00 | |||
| 103 | DEREK-KY TURNER-JOHN BURCHETTE | 5/5 | 9.89 | 9.89 | 98.00 | |||
| 104 | JOHN FRENCH-STACEY NEWBERRY | 5/5 | 9.74 | 9.74 | 97.00 | |||
| 105 | JUSTIN STINNETT-MITCHELL MOORE | 4/4 | 9.55 | 9.55 | 96.00 | |||
| 106 | JESSE GARREN-DANIEL HOLT | 5/5 | 9.44 | 9.44 | 95.00 | |||
| 107 | DAVID ABBOTT-MICHAEL ADAMS | 4/4 | 9.30 | 9.30 | 94.00 | |||
| 108 | ROBBIE SNOW-CLIFF ROWLAND | 4/4 | 9.29 | 9.29 | 93.00 | |||
| 109 | KEN THOMPSON-DENNY COLE | 4/4 | 9.26 | 9.26 | 92.00 | |||
| 110 | SHANE SLOAN-LEN SLOAN | 4/4 | 9.21 | 9.21 | 91.00 | |||
| 111 | JAMES HOLSENBACK-DOUGLAS CARPENTER | 3/3 | 8.93 | 4.22 | 8.93 | 90.00 | ||
| 112 | NATHAN PARKER-AARON PARKER | 4/4 | 8.47 | 8.47 | 89.00 | |||
| 113 | TIMOTHY TIPTON-RALPH THOMAS | 3/3 | 8.43 | 4.09 | 8.43 | 88.00 | ||
| 114 | BILL HUMBERD-TRINITY CAWOOD | 5/5 | 8.39 | 8.39 | 87.00 | |||
| 114 | TROY REDWINE-KOLBY REDWINE | 3/3 | 8.39 | 8.39 | 87.00 | |||
| 116 | MICHAEL COLE- | 4/4 | 8.30 | 8.30 | 85.00 | |||
| 117 | NICK WELCH-VIC WELCH | 4/4 | 8.28 | 8.28 | 84.00 | |||
| 118 | ALLEN TADLOCK-BILL BOLLINGER | 3/3 | 8.27 | 8.27 | 83.00 | |||
| 119 | CHRIS BUSWELL-JASON MARTIN | 4/4 | 8.25 | 8.25 | 82.00 | |||
| 120 | DENNIS MCCORMICK-JASON MCCORMICK | 4/4 | 8.15 | 8.15 | 81.00 | |||
| 121 | DON MCCURDY-NANCY MCCURDY | 4/4 | 8.08 | 8.08 | 80.00 | |||
| 122 | KEVIN TODD-MIKE LYKE | 4/3 | 8.47 | 0.50 | 7.97 | 79.00 | ||
| 123 | DAVID STILLS-RANDY OSBORNE | 3/3 | 7.79 | 7.79 | 78.00 | |||
| 124 | TIMOTHY STRADER-JAMES HUTCHESON | 4/4 | 7.41 | 7.41 | 77.00 | |||
| 124 | CHRIS TAYLOR-MIKE TAYLOR | 4/4 | 7.41 | 7.41 | 77.00 | |||
| 126 | HARLEY DAVIS-LEE LANDS | 4/4 | 7.38 | 7.38 | 75.00 | |||
| 127 | BRAD FULLINGTON-MICHAEL MAYES | 3/3 | 7.17 | 7.17 | 74.00 | |||
| 128 | JEFFREY RUSSELL-SAM MULLINS | 5/5 | 6.96 | 6.96 | 73.00 | |||
| 129 | JASON YATES- | 3/3 | 6.84 | 6.84 | 72.00 | |||
| 130 | ROBERT HELTON-DAVID HELTON | 4/3 | 7.29 | 0.50 | 6.79 | 71.00 | ||
| 131 | ANTHONY REVIS-JAMES BURCHARD | 3/3 | 6.55 | 6.55 | 70.00 | |||
| 132 | TAYLOR YATES-BRYAN YATES | 3/3 | 6.42 | 6.42 | 69.00 | |||
| 133 | WENDELL COOPER-RICK WALKER | 3/3 | 5.96 | 5.96 | 68.00 | |||
| 134 | TOM SPANGLER-KIBBEE MCCOY | 4/4 | 5.95 | 5.95 | 67.00 | |||
| 135 | BRIAN KING-DOUG YOUNCE | 3/3 | 5.90 | 5.90 | 66.00 | |||
| 136 | *PETE BALISHIN->STEVEN PETZ | 3/3 | 5.88 | 5.88 | 65.00 | |||
| 137 | JACK DUNAWAY-RANDY HARRIS | 2/2 | 5.82 | 5.82 | 64.00 | |||
| 138 | MICHAEL MCGEE-TODD MALLICOAT | 3/3 | 5.62 | 5.62 | 63.00 | |||
| 139 | WAYNE MOYHER-BRAD SNAPP | 3/3 | 5.43 | 5.43 | 62.00 | |||
| 140 | RICK ETHERTON-FREDDIE WALKER | 2/2 | 5.33 | 5.33 | 61.00 | |||
| 140 | JACOB GANN-CHRIS MCCARTER | 3/3 | 5.33 | 5.33 | 61.00 | |||
| 142 | RICK DISNEY-MIKE MILLER | 2/2 | 5.28 | 5.28 | 59.00 | |||
| 143 | DWAYNE HAGLER-DENNIS POLAND | 3/3 | 5.12 | 5.12 | 58.00 | |||
| 144 | LARRY ROLEN-DONNIE STAMEY | 1/1 | 3.17 | 3.17 | 3.17 | 57.00 | ||
| 145 | *STEVE BARBEE->TERRY COFFEE | 1/1 | 3.07 | 3.07 | 3.07 | 56.00 | ||
| 146 | BRAD PADGETT-DANIEL PADGETT | 1/1 | 3.02 | 3.02 | 3.02 | 55.00 | ||
| 147 | DALE HELTON-BRENNEN COMER | 1/1 | 2.80 | 2.80 | 2.80 | 54.00 | ||
| 148 | DANIEL LEE-BILL LEE | 1/1 | 2.39 | 2.39 | 2.39 | 53.00 | ||
| 149 | NEAL TOWNSEND-MIKE WALL | 1/1 | 2.15 | 2.15 | 2.15 | 52.00 | ||
| 150 | BRIAN COOPER-JOSEPH BRAKEBILL | 1/1 | 1.80 | 1.80 | 1.80 | 51.00 | ||
| 151 | J.P. BIONDO-MIKE MARTIN | 1/1 | 1.76 | 1.76 | 1.76 | 50.00 | ||
| 152 | DAVID ALBRIGHT-TANNER HERNDON | 0/0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||
| 152 | EDDIE BALL-DOUG WINCHELL | 0/0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||
| 152 | JEFF BEAN-ERIC BEAN | 0/0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||
| 152 | KYLE BLAIR-DANNY STALLINGS | 0/0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||
| 152 | MICHAEL BLEDSOE-TIMOTHY BLEDSOE JR | 0/0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||
| 152 | DERRICK CLARK-LYNN KING | 0/0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||
| 152 | COREY COOK- | 0/0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||
| 152 | GARY ERVIN-MARVIN ERVIN | 0/0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||
| 152 | JOHN GILLEY-J.T. GILLEY | 0/0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||
| 152 | TOM GROSS-ERNIE BLACK | 0/0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||
| 152 | JAMES HEADRICK-BRADLEY HEADRICK | 0/0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||
| 152 | MIKE KINSER-RYAN KINSER | 0/0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||
| 152 | CHRIS LANE-RANDY CABLE | 0/0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||
| 152 | TIMOTHY LEE-JEFF RUSSELL | 0/0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||
| 152 | ROBBIE LOYD-BRIAN LOYD | 0/0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||
| 152 | MARK MEREDITH-JOSH METZ | 0/0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||
| 152 | DAVID MILLER-BILLY PERKINS JR | 0/0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||
| 152 | WALTER OGLE-RICK WALTERMYER | 0/0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||
| 152 | ROBERT PETREY-STEVE IVEY | 0/0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||
| 152 | DON RALEY-TIM CORUM | 0/0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||
| 152 | TED RIDLEY-HAROLD PARSONS | 0/0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||
| 152 | RYAN ROGERS-BILL GARNER | 0/0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||
| 152 | BRAD STAPLETON-KENNETH STAPLETON | 0/0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||
| 152 | JAMES TIPTON-LANCE GRIGSBY | 0/0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||
| 152 | TEDDY WILLETT-ANDREW EVANS | 0/0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||
| 152 | PAUL WILLIAMSON-BOYD BRUMFIELD | 0/0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||
| 152 | SCOTT WINCHESTER-KURT HOPE | 0/0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||
| 152 | TRAVIS WORMSLEY-DONNIE WORMSLEY | 0/0 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
Davis and Cumming win the Freedom Marine BIG Tent Event on Guntersville with over 23 pounds!
The 2017 Freedom Marine Center Big Tent Event Tournament
The tournament top contenders was;
!st place, William Davis - Tim Cumming. 23.34
2nd. place. Bryan Gregory - Marshall Deakins. 21.10
3rd. place. Derek Rimitz - Jeff Fansler. 20.98
4th. place. Gil Summerlin - Willie Staten. 19.61
5th. place. Tom Ott - Pat Kennamer. 19.56
6th. place. Hadley Coan - Joe Akin. 18.38
7th. place. Danny Shell - Frelon Moore. 18.31
8th. place. Jason Holloway - Jeremy Barnette. 18.00
9th. place. Sam Long - Dallas McElroy. 17.70
10th. place. Josh Butler - Keri Butler. 16.92
Big Fish. William Davis - Tim Cumming. 7.83
Highest finishing Phoenix boat. William Davis - Tim Cumming
Highest finishing Military. Donald Tony / Ron Slawson
Highest finishing Male / Female. Josh Butler / Keri Butler
Highest finishing Adult / Child. Mike Cox / Carter Schmitz
Highest finishing High School Team. Eli Chambers / Hunter Herfurth
The Boat winner was split between the last 2 standing and opted out to take home a guaranteed $10,000.00 each.
Rahlie Stahl / Tim Morris.
Lamb and Porter take the win in the BoatLogix 2017 CBA Tournament
CHATTANOOGA (WRCB) - The team of Haden Lamb and Trevor Porter caught a 5 bass limit weighing 32.61 pounds crushing the field of 200 anglers to win first place and $2,000.00 in the Boatlogix 2017 April C.B.A. Bass Tournament. This tournament was held Saturday, April 15th out of Chester Frost Boat Ramp.
Haden said “We got a good start catching over 25 pounds by 10:30 a.m. We then moved around to several locations to cull 2 more times. This is our fourth C.B.A. win in the last 2 years. We are fortunate to get this win with all of the excellent fishermen on this trail.”
Wes Hardin had big bass of this event weighing 9.96 pounds and Haden Lamb and Trevor Porter had 2nd big bass weighing in at 8.80 pounds.
Shane Frazier said “Special thanks to Boatlogix for sponsorship of this event”.
All fish caught in this event were released back into Lake Chickamauga.
The top 10 money winners are as follows:
- Haden Lamb and Trevor Porter 33.61 lbs., $2000.00
- Stoney Johnson and David Craft, 31.10 lbs., $900.00
- Kevin Drake and Cory Vetter, 26.91lbs., $800.00
- Benny Rogers and Billy Joe Wheat, 26.88 lbs., $700.00
- Derek McCullough and Chase McCullough 25.24 lbs., $600
- Baron Adams and Trevor Prince, 24.18 lbs., $500.00
- Jim McClanahan and Jeff Marsenik 24.01 lbs., $450.00
- Greg Lamb and David Porter 23.68 lbs., $400.00
- Brent Hayes and Dave Hix 22.99 lbs., $350.00
- Rogne Brown and Kerry Dotson, 22.97 lbs. $300.00
Shaw Grigsby offers Five Tips To Catch More Spawning Bass
Story and Photos Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships
Gerald Swindle once said, “I’m not sure if Shaw Grigsby is an organ donor, but if he is, I want his eyes.”
Swindle’s humor is world class, and while he’s a 2-time Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year in his own right, like most pros, he’d love to have Shaw Grigsby’s supernatural eyesight for spotting bass on beds.
Grigsby’s kind heart and positive outlook on life are pretty rare too, and he graciously shares five tips that will help all anglers become more proficient during the spawn.
Slow Down
Anglers that spot a bass on a spawning bed tend to get a little excited, and the high number of casts they drag to and from the bed often reflects their adrenaline rush.
“People make far too many casts to a bedding bass in a short period of time,” says Grigsby. “When a bass sees that lure going in and out of the bed repeatedly, they aren’t enticed to eat it nearly as much as when that lure hangs around the sweet spot long enough to become threatening.”
In other words, let your lure hang around at least a couple of minutes until it becomes a nuisance.
Cast Beyond the Sweet Spot
A typical spawning bed is about the size of a trash can lid, but the eggs will be deposited in a much smaller area, about the size of a softball, within the bed.
“That’s what I call the ‘sweet spot’ - where they’re most likely to defend and bite, but don’t cast right at it,” warns the 16-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier. “Instead, cast past the bed - and slowly drag the lure into the sweet spot, to entice them to bite.”
Leave the Male Alone
Most anglers know the smaller of two bass near a bed will be the male. But a somewhat false belief is that by catching the male first, the female will then surely bite next.
“People think if you catch the male first, then the larger female will automatically eat next, but often times, when you catch that male first, the big female swims away from the bed and never returns,” says Grigsby.
If the male bites first – just don’t set the hook, and instead, keep working until the larger female eats.
You’ll Likely Catch More Spawners on Spinning Tackle
“Don’t get me wrong, I carry both baitcasting and spinning tackle when targeting spawners, but more times than not, a bass will bite lures on lighter line with spinning tackle, far faster than if you’re using heavy equipment,” says Grigsby.
“The three B.A.S.S. Invitational that I won on Sam Rayburn came around gnarly, flooded bushes, and I was using 10-pound monofilament on a spinning reel back then,” he remembers. “You just have to make sure you’re using a spinning reel with a great drag, and take your time fighting them.”
Grigsby’s top choice for spawning equipment includes a size 30 Quantum Speed Freak spinning reel on a 6’ 10” medium heavy rod. He spools the spinning reel with 20-pound Seaguar braided line, tied to an 8-pound fluorocarbon leader to his lure.
White is Right for Lures on Beds
“The absolute number one color for bed fishing is white, or what Strike King calls “pearl” – and not because fish love that color necessarily, but simply because you can see it best around a bed,” explains Grigsby.
“In the 1980s and 1990s it seemed like we always used tubes and lizards around spawning beds, but these days I generally reach for a Strike King Rodent or Rage Bug.”
Grigsby emphasizes carrying a wide variety of lures, ranging from tubes to lizards, and Rage Bugs to Rodents – and if they won’t bite white, or pearl, he uses black/blue or a color called “summer craw.”
Fact is, you nor Swindle can have Grigsby’s eyes, but we can all become better sight fishing anglers during the spawn with these tips he so graciously shared.
Ranger Pro Allen Boyd Wins TBF 2017 National Championship
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Angler wins Z518 with top finish in Ranger Cup program
FLIPPIN, Ark. (April 12, 2017) - Ranger Boats Pro Allen Boyd beat a field of 253 anglers to win The Bass Federation 2017 National Championship at Table Rock Lake on April 7. The angler fought through a tough bite for five days to win the "Living the Dream" package. The angler also participated in the Ranger Cup program and took home a brand new Ranger Z518.
Boyd began the championship slowly with only three bass weighing 5 pounds, 13 ounces.
"I knew the fish were there. I just didn't let it rattle me too bad," said Boyd about his slow start. "I started throwing the square-bill more. I knew I needed to cover more water, so I went up there with that mindset."
On the beginning of the second day, Boyd noticed the current from the dam discharge, which wasn't evident in practice or the first day due to high winds.
"I noticed that some of the points you could see the current coming over them," said Boyd. "It was a pretty strong current. I was up there with another competitor and we both caught fish really fast. Once the visible current slowed down, the bite got a whole lot tougher."
With this newly found key information, Boyd rebounded on day two with 10 pounds, 15 ounces and placed 25th to qualify for the final three-day stretch. The field of 253 was cut down to 49 for day three and with all anglers starting with zero weights. Each angler was also provided a fully loaded Ranger Z520C with an Evinrude E-TEC G2 250 outboard.
"That 520 is a great boat," said Boyd. "There's not a better boat on the market, that's for sure. There was one day where the wind really blew and that lake got pretty rough. I've been in many different boats over the years and when you get back in rough water, that's the boat to be in."
Boyd hit a home run on day three, bringing 17 pounds, 14 ounces to the scales. However, the fickle fish stumped Boyd on day four with the angler weighing three fish for 8 pounds, 2 ounces. The slim bag as enough for Boyd to top his fellow Northern Division competitors and qualify for the final day of the championship.
"It's a mental game and most people don't understand that," said Boyd. "There are so many things that go through your head especially on the final day of the TBF championship. There are a lot of decisions that have to be made. I just tried to bear down and focus and fish as hard as I can and at the same time cover water.
Boyd fished a four to five mile stretch around Crooked Creek Marina all five days. The angler relied heavily on two main baits - a Texas-rigged Hawgback tube and Strike King KVD square-bill crankbait, both the 1.5 and 2.5.
Boyd went into the final day with a swing-for-the-fences attitude.
"It was going to be hero or zero up there," said Boyd. "I knew that guys were catching a lot of spots up there and bringing in 12- to 13-pound bags. I was going up there trying to get the big largemouths."
Boyd's go-big-or-go-home plan worked to his advantage and landed the angler a five-fish limit of 12 pounds, 10 ounces to win the 2017 TBF National Championship title.
"It really hasn't all sunk in quite yet," said Boyd. "I'm excited and nervous all at the same time."
With the win, Boyd became the first angler to win two TBF National Champions. The grand prize for winning the event is the "Living the Dream" package, which is a bundle of prizes and cash aimed to help an amateur angle transition from a weekend angler who works full time to making fishing a full-time job.
The "Living the Dream" package includes a cash prize, fully paid entry fees on the 2018 FLW Tour as a pro, travel expense stipends for each event, and use of a "Living the Dream" wrapped Ranger boat for the year. Although Boyd first won the package back in 2011, he was unable to make the jump to the pro level.
"This is really something I would like to do for a living and the first time it didn't work out when I won," said Boyd. "It's so hard to give it 100 percent and keep a job at the same time. The 'Living the Dream' package will take a lot of the stress out of it by knowing that all of your entries are paid and what money that you do make gets to go into your pocket. It helps a bunch. I'm going to do the best I can to make it happen."
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Advance Auto Parts to Sponsor St. Clair Elite Event and become Supporting Sponsor of BASS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 17, 2017
Advance Auto Parts Signs On As B.A.S.S. Tournament Sponsor
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Advance Auto Parts, a leading provider of parts for both professionals and do-it-yourself customers, has signed on as the title sponsor for the Bassmaster Elite Series tournament on Michigan’s Lake St. Clair Aug. 24-27.
Additionally, the company with more than 5,000 stores will be a supporting sponsor for all Bassmaster Elite events, as well as the Bassmaster Opens, B.A.S.S. Nation regionals, Bassmaster Team Championship, Bassmaster College Series and Bassmaster High School Series. And it will be the sponsor for Bassmaster LIVE coverage of the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship on Mille Lacs Lake, Minnesota.
“Advance Auto Parts is proud to become a supporting sponsor of Bassmaster,” said Matt Davis, Advance Auto Parts marketing and sponsorships manager. “Many of our team members and customers love to fish with their families, and we look forward to activating with our Carquest-branded brakes and also being title sponsor of the Bassmaster Elite Series event in Detroit.”
“We welcome Advance Auto Parts to the family of B.A.S.S. sponsors and supporters,” added Bruce Akin, B.A.S.S. CEO. “Many of our professional anglers, as well as everyday anglers who belong to B.A.S.S., pride themselves as do-it-yourself mechanics for both their tow vehicles and their bass boats. I’m sure they will prove to be loyal customers of Advance Auto Parts stores.”
The Advance Auto Parts Bassmaster Elite at Lake St. Clair is the ninth and final regular season tournament of the 2107 Elite season. The Top 50 Elite pros in Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year points will be invited to compete in the $1 million Angler of the Year Championship on Mille Lacs Lake Sept. 14-16.
About Advance Auto Parts
Advance Auto Parts, Inc. is a leading automotive aftermarket parts provider that serves both professional installers and do-it-yourself customers. As of December 31, 2016, Advance operated 5,062 stores and 127 WORLDPAC branches and employed 74,000 team members in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The company also serves approximately 1,250 independently owned Carquest branded stores across these locations in addition to Mexico and the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, British Virgin Islands and Pacific Islands. Additional information about the Company, employment opportunities, customer services, and online shopping for parts, accessories and other offerings can be found on the company’s website at www.AdvanceAutoParts.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), website (Bassmaster.com), television show (The Bassmasters on ESPN2), social media programs and events. For more than 45 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation presented by Magellan, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Costa Bassmaster High School Series presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods, Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods.
Nitschke & Bonds win Texas Tournament Zone North event on Texoma with over 23 pounds!
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PL |
ANGLER 1 | ANGLER 2 | FISH | BIG BASS | WT | PRIZE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | KYLE NITSCHKE | JASON BONDS | 5 | 6.47 | 23.98 | $10,000 |
| 2 | CHRIS MCCALL | KEITH WHITE | 5 | 19.91 | $700 | |
| 3 | DARREN HEAVNER | RYAN COHLMEYER | 5 | 19.89 | $550 | |
| 4 | KEVIN BRYANT | COY GREATHOUSE | 5 | 6.95 | 19.03 | $450 + $790 BIG BASS + $500 BIOBOR BONUS |
| 5 | JASON WINDHAM | BRANDON BREEDLOVE | 5 | 18.82 | $400 | |
| 6 | RYAN BERGMAN | KEVIN CROUSE | 5 | 4.34 | 18.46 | $350 |
| 6 | GRAYLEN MALEAR | DON MERKI | 5 | 18.46 | $350 | |
| 8 | KEVIN STRICKLAND | CASIE TELLES | 5 | 18.29 | $300 | |
| 9 | SPENCER MCALESTER | TERRY ALSUP | 5 | 17.69 | ||
| 10 | ROB MEDDERS | ROB WILSON | 5 | 17.48 | ||
| 11 | RUSSELL LEE | LANDON WARE | 5 | 17.34 | ||
| 12 | BILLY CLINE | KEVIN LAIN | 5 | 17.18 | ||
| 13 | LARRY BENCH | HI HILLBURN | 5 | 17.17 | ||
| 14 | TODD CASTLEDINE | RUSSEL CECIL | 5 | 17.11 | SHIMANO ZODIAS / CASITAS COMBO | |
| 15 | DENNIS MATLOCK | DON MCFARLIN | 5 | 16.99 | ||
| 16 | DENIS SCHMEDTHORST | LANCE ROBELIA | 5 | 6.82 | 16.72 | |
| 17 | CURTIS MAHAN | AUSTIN FORRESTER | 5 | 16.61 | ||
| 18 | JORDAN GRIMM | JOEY GARLAND | 5 | 16.52 | ||
| 19 | JOSH PRIEST | CAPP PEACE | 5 | 5.38 | 16.33 | |
| 20 | JODY HOLUBEK | JASON RIEDEL | 5 | 15.88 | ||
| 21 | JOHNNY UNERFUSSER | RON SAUCEMAN | 5 | 15.51 | ||
| 22 | SCOTT BURKETT | HAYDEN BURKETT | 5 | 15.47 | ||
| 23 | LEE YOWELL | DUSTIN SPURGIN | 5 | 15.35 | ||
| 24 | JIM HARROW | DAVID ROSENQUIST | 5 | 15.2 | ||
| 25 | STEVEN RUTLEDGE | LEVI SMITHERS | 5 | 15.17 | ||
| 26 | LJ CASTILLO | JJ KILLOUGH | 5 | 14.5 | ||
| 27 | KELTON CAMPTON JR. | DAVID REYNOLDS | 5 | 14.41 | ||
| 28 | TYLER DRITSCHLER | KEVIN DRITSCHLER | 5 | 14.29 | ||
| 29 | JAY DAVIS | BILLY WALDSCHMIDT | 5 | 14.23 | ||
| 30 | LUKE ANDERSON | KODY HAVERCAMP | 5 | 5.54 | 14.14 | |
| 31 | JAKE NICHOLS | JUSTIN NICHOLS | 5 | 13.88 | ||
| 32 | JEFF WHITE | RUSSELL CHAMBERS | 5 | 13.81 | ||
| 33 | KYLE BRUNK | DEAN ADAMS | 5 | 13.5 | ||
| 34 | CASEY BENNETT | MARK BENNETT | 5 | 13.48 | ||
| 35 | LLOYD WALKER | TIM CLINE | 5 | 13.41 | ||
| 36 | MIKE GRANT | JACOB GRANT | 5 | 13.33 | ||
| 37 | MICHAEL EDGETT | JASON DELFRAISSE | 5 | 13.22 | ||
| 38 | KY MARTIN | E.K. WATTS | 5 | 13.16 | ||
| 39 | GRANT GOODNER | JAMES GOODNER | 5 | 12.97 | ||
| 40 | MARTI WILLIAMS | DEAN SKINNER | 5 | 12.92 | ||
| 41 | NEIL DEMPSEY | RYAN DEMPSEY | 5 | 12.89 | ||
| 42 | TIM P. WILCOXSON | TIM H. WILCOXSON | 5 | 3.64 | 12.87 | |
| 43 | BYRON ALBRECHT | CHARLES REAGAN | 5 | 12.42 | ||
| 44 | WES DAVIS | JC THOMPSON | 5 | 4.47 | 12.25 | |
| 45 | JASON TRUITT | JOHNNY RAY | 5 | 12.24 | ||
| 45 | DON BROWN | GARY MARTIN | 5 | 12.24 | ||
| 47 | JOHN CLAY | DAVID MEDLER | 5 | 12.03 | ||
| 48 | ROBERT YOUNG | CODY COX | 5 | 11.95 | ||
| 49 | LLOYD WARD | KELLY MAULDIN | 5 | 11.86 | ||
| 50 | MIKE HARPOLE | ALLEN HENNAN | 5 | 11.56 | ||
| 51 | MICHAEL BOYDSTON | ADAM BOYDSTON | 5 | 11.41 | ||
| 52 | JEFF PITRUCHA | DALE READ | 5 | 11.28 | ||
| 53 | GARRETT THOMAS | KENNETH MOORE | 5 | 10.9 | ||
| 54 | MIKE DURHAM | TOMMY DURHAM | 5 | 10.3 | ||
| 55 | RICK DUSEK | KEVIN DESHANE | 4 | 10.02 | ||
| 56 | JASON DUNNING | ROBERT STRIPLING | 5 | 10 | ||
| 57 | BOBBY FINTA | CHRIS DERRICK | 5 | 9.87 | ||
| 58 | JEFF LOBAUGH | ED PENTON | 4 | 8.42 | ||
| 59 | JARROD PAGE | JOHN STALEY | 4 | 7.44 | ||
| 60 | RONALD SISK | JOHNNY MATTHEWS | 3 | 7.06 | ||
| 61 | STEVE MILLER | DAVID MILLER | 2 | 4.68 | ||
| 62 | PAUL VAUGHAN | DAVID CARLOCK | 2 | 3.06 | ||
| 63 | ANDREW CHAVERS | JOHNNY ALLEN | ||||
| 63 | DUSTY ATKINSON | HUGH KILMAN | ||||
| 63 | CORY JOHNSON | BRADLEY KIRKES | ||||
| 63 | MICHAEL WORLEY | THERON CALDWELL | ||||
| 63 | CODY WILSON | JOSH WILLIAMS | ||||
| 63 | AARON ASHMORE | |||||
| 63 | JOHNNY THOMPSON | JEFF REYNOLDS | ||||
| 63 | CLAY ELDRED | GARY ELDRED | ||||
| 63 | STEVEN DANIELS | JASON BRUNETT | ||||
| 63 | JAMES NEFF | BRANDON NEFF | ||||
| 63 | MATTHEW ARTRIP(Y) | |||||
| 63 | BRENT DANIEL | SHAWN GARRISON | ||||
| 63 | SHOWN MOTE | GUS DUNCAN | ||||
| 63 | JEREMY WHITSON | KAYLE WARD | ||||
| 63 | MATT MOORE | KEVIN HATHAWAY | ||||
| 63 | MARK BRITAIN | |||||
| 63 | SHANE THOMPSON | MARK LAMB |
Alan Fritts wins American Bass Anglers Ram Trucks Open on Rayburn with over 27 pounds and an 8 pound kicker!
Alan Fitts of Hemphill, Texas won the American Bass Anglers Ram Truck Open Series Louisiana tournament, held April 15th on Sam Rayburn.
Running out of the Umphrey Pavilion near Brookland, Texas Alan did it again with a five fish limit weighing 27.96 pounds anchored by a beautiful 8.72 pound kicker. For the Boater division victory, Fitts took home a check for $5,000.
“What an amazing day,” Fitts said. “I couldn’t have scripted this day any better. I had some time to practice this week and there is cove I thought of that had some females still on beds. I know its late in the season for it but I caught a fish over 6 lbs there earlier this week that had not spawned yet. I left it alone for a couple days and went back this morning. My third cast landed me one of the three big ones. A little while later I stuck another one. I was catching them on that same Talon football jig. The same one I used on Toledo Bend last month and I still can’t tell you the name of the color because we STILL haven’t named it… I left that spot and went back later in the day and managed to catch the third big one that put me over the top.” Alan had three bass in his bag that weighed over 24 pounds together. The other two were keepers but were dwarfed by the rest.
In second for the boaters, Albert Collins of Nacogodoches, TX landed a five-bass limit weighing 22.40 pounds. He collected $1,250 for the effort.
“I am surprised with what I had today. I caught fish everywhere I went and was expecting to come in with about 16 pounds. I was lucky to get a couple of better bites than I had found in practice and put them in the boat. I had a feeling the better fish were there so I stuck with it and managed to get them.” Collins said.
Don Dickerson of Pineville, LA took third for the boaters with five bass going 20.65 pounds to earn $900.
“I really enjoyed fishing today.” said Don. “I didn’t run too far. I had a couple spots picked out that I was going to fish and they were there. I had one fish that really helped my weight. She was over 8 pounds and any time you can get one that size it helps quite a bit. I thought I might be able to get on a couple more good ones that would have put me on top but they never bit. All in all it was a good day though.”
In fourth, Thomas McMillan of Choudrant, LA came in with 19.98 pounds.
Finishing 5th was Kris Wilson of Montgomery, TX with 17.73 pounds.
The biggest bass for the boaters was caught by Allen Fitts of Hemphill, TX that weighed 8.72 pounds. Alan pocketed $630.
In the Co-Angler Division, James Bailey of Farmerville, LA swamped the scales with 3 fish weighing 15.64 pounds. He victory was locked in with a 7.99-pound kicker to take home a check for $1,600.
“I had a great guide.” said Paul. “There wasn’t much to it really. My boater took us to fish, and I caught em. I had a great day with Clayton. He’s a great guy. The 8 lb’er was the first fish I caught this morning and that set the tone for the rest of the day. When you can get one like that to start things out it makes the day go a lot easier. We both caught fish, I was just able to get the right bites.” Bailey said.
Taking second for the co-anglers, Jason Prestridge of Paradise, TX brought in a three-bass limit weighing 11.53 pounds. His bag was anchored with a 5.65 lb kicker. He collected $600 for the effort.
“I had a pretty good day. I caught a couple keepers early. Things slowed down a little for us as the day went on but all in all I happy with the way it turned out. We caught fish pretty much everywhere we went. I caught about 6 fish, my boater had about a dozen. It was a good day and I had a lot of fun.” Prestridge said.
Donnie Davis of Livingston, LA and Robert Kell of Conroe, TX tied for third both having 10.16 pounds. Kell had a 4.85 to anchor his bag. Each of them took home a check for $375.
Ronnie Gibson of Trinity, TX finished in fifth place with three bass at 8.22 pounds anchored by a 6.03 kicker.
The biggest bass for the co-anglers was caught by James Bailey at 7.99 pounds. James took another check for $270 for his fish.
Slated for May 27th, the next divisional tournament will be held on Toledo Bend, at Fin and Feather Resort near Hemphill, TX. At the end of the season, the best anglers from across the nation advance to the 2018 Ray Scott Championship, slated for pool 5 on the Red River in Bossier City, LA.
For more information on this tournament, call Chris Wayand, tournament manager, at (256)230-5627 or ABA at (256)232-0406. On line, see www.ramopenseries.com.
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.
Duncan & Woody Squeak out the win for $10k in Carolinas Bass Challenge on Lake Hickory
Carolina's Bass Challenge has experienced some tremendous growth this year and its only getting bigger. They had their largest number of boats for a Lake Hickory event this past weekend, keeping with their growth streak for the North Carolina Division. Nice job guys, Keep it up!
Place Team Name Team # Fish Weighed Net Weight Big Fish Points Winnings 1 Dale Duncan - Donnie Woody 1 5 21.570 5.610 310 $10,000 2 James Ball - Kyle Whisnant 80 5 21.320 6.450 309 $5,000 3 Jason Wilson - Kelly Logan 47 5 20.570 0.000 308 $3,500 4 Jerry Pruett - Johnny Allen 142 5 19.940 0.000 307 $2,500 5 Darren Sigmon - Brian Huffman 61 5 19.640 0.000 306 $2,000 6 Mitchell Cook - Todd Huffman 99 5 18.950 0.000 305 $1,500 7 Nathan Royal - David Brookshire 59 5 18.860 6.250 304 $1,300 8 Wayne Ingram - Chris Brown 110 5 18.800 0.000 303 $1,200 9 Chuck Camp - Rob Digh 54 5 18.760 0.000 302 $1,000 10 Bill Grier - Robby Bryum 124 5 18.660 0.000 301 $875 11 Kevin Franklin - William Patterson 90 5 18.400 8.080 300 $675 12 Larry LeHew - Pete Bejte 72 5 17.970 0.000 299 $600 13 Allen Eaker - Kelly Homesley 147 5 17.780 0.000 298 $550 14 James Clark - Rick Carson 149 5 17.570 0.000 297 $525 15 William Blanton - David Blanton 94 5 17.340 0.000 296 $475 16 Mike Ray - Orlando Giles 37 5 17.240 4.810 295 $450 17 Tristen Trull - Cole Huskins 9 5 17.210 6.220 294 $400 18 MATT HAYES - Derek Lilley 141 5 17.100 0.000 293 $350 19 Chris Richey - Brett Collins 34 5 16.960 0.000 292 $330 20 Vince Parker - Mark Parker 7 5 16.830 0.000 291 $310 21 Brian Travis - Ashley Brotherton 146 5 16.600 0.000 290 $300 22 Jeremi Beatty - Clint Benbow 169 5 16.450 0.000 289 $280 23 Adam Ridings - Michael Ridings 73 5 16.330 0.000 288 $265 23 Keith Berry - Jarrad Poarch 89 5 16.330 0.000 288 $265 25 Jeff Grindstaff - keith peek 148 5 16.120 0.000 287 $250 26 Chris Graham - Ricky Byrd 35 5 15.960 5.030 285 $235 26 William Harris - Stanton Harris 87 5 15.960 0.000 285 $235 28 Graham Rushing - Artie Phillips 144 5 15.950 0.000 283 $220 29 Jeff Queen - Carroll Queen 83 5 15.890 0.000 282 $210 30 Jerry Craig - Bobby Latuch 12 5 15.620 4.840 281 $200 31 Gene Sparks - Josh Quesinberry 152 5 15.600 0.000 280 32 Joshua Sanders - Derek Cummings 57 5 15.490 0.000 279 33 Hunter Hicks - Mike Stephens 62 5 15.280 0.000 278 34 David Wright - Jeff Coble 168 5 15.220 0.000 277 35 Joshua Queen - Mike Queen 17 5 15.040 0.000 276 36 Chris Baumgardner - Eric Weir 44 5 15.000 0.000 275 37 Wesley Cashwell - Shane Doughtie 153 5 14.900 0.000 274 38 todd sosebee - steve postell 49 5 14.770 0.000 273 39 Robert Osborne - Bobby Osborne 151 5 14.690 0.000 272 40 Tim Gaines - Mike Bryant 180 5 14.640 0.000 271 41 Michael Smith - Roger Pope 70 5 14.610 0.000 270 42 Randy Weddington - Ronnie Smith 64 5 14.400 0.000 269 43 Nick Miller - Brandon Brickweg 84 5 14.290 0.000 268 44 Mitch Burgin - Patrick King 18 5 14.170 4.430 267 45 Jeremy Talbert - Brian Robbins 48 5 14.130 5.520 266 46 Steve Yoder - Dennis Hensley 131 5 14.130 0.000 266 47 Eric Self - Tyler Beam 178 5 14.000 0.000 264 48 Drew Stankwytch - Brandon Childress 119 5 13.940 0.000 263 49 Adam Fillmore - Saturday Mel 39 5 13.820 0.000 262 50 Scott Henley - Neil McDonald 14 5 13.780 0.000 261 51 Brett McLean - Mac McLean 53 5 13.640 0.000 260 52 Alfred Keisling, Sr - Chad Poteat 16 5 13.620 0.000 259 53 Dusty Taylor - Jason Thomas 106 5 13.550 0.000 258 54 Steve Sink - Tony Foster 155 5 13.300 0.000 257 55 Todd Garner - Shane Hartman 175 5 13.300 0.000 257 56 Marty Newton 112 5 13.230 0.000 255 57 Louie Hull - Chuck Montgomery 24 5 13.190 0.000 254 58 Chad Sinclair - Caleb Conner 42 5 13.190 0.000 254 59 Don Sprinkle - Wayne Skipworth 123 5 13.130 0.000 252 60 Ethan Harrison - Rick Reid 15 5 13.010 0.000 251 61 Danny Mason - Lionel Mason 63 5 12.860 0.000 250 62 Brad Wright - Sam Gladden 113 5 12.820 0.000 249 63 Dwight Dellinger - Doug Dellinger 20 5 12.810 0.000 248 64 Eric Jeter - Darren Jeter 156 5 12.640 0.000 247 65 Steve Shaw - Robert Porter 78 5 12.610 0.000 246 66 Cleve Yarborough - Kyle McElveen 98 5 12.610 0.000 246 67 Tom McCombs - curtis lail 108 5 12.480 0.000 244 68 Chris Hoopaugh - tyler hoopaugh 66 5 12.450 0.000 243 69 Jordon Venable - Jim Venable 165 5 12.350 0.000 242 70 Jason Lowman - Paul Brittain 40 5 12.330 0.000 241 71 Mike Smith - Bob Zerbe 136 5 12.320 0.000 240 72 Doug Punch - Rocky Franklin 45 5 12.270 0.000 239 73 Todd Parker - Barret Locklear 154 5 12.260 0.000 238 74 Rick Hedrick 95 4 12.230 0.000 237 75 Randy Christy - Chris Corriher 27 5 12.210 0.000 236 76 Chris Teagus - Greg Fox 118 5 12.210 0.000 236 77 Randall Wallace - Andrew Wallace 50 5 12.160 0.000 234 78 Mark Foy - David Cozart 172 5 12.120 0.000 233 79 Steve Addington - Scott Beattie 25 5 12.050 0.000 232 80 Robert Mixon - Robert Lambert 11 5 11.890 0.000 231 81 Rodney Bell - Tommy Jones 161 5 11.670 0.000 230 82 Richard Robinson lll - Wes Bumgarner 145 5 11.650 0.000 229 83 Brian Triplett - doug sawyer 97 5 11.410 0.000 228 84 Alton Rockett - Randy Huffman 93 4 11.280 0.000 227 85 John parker - Josh Gardner 114 4 11.270 0.000 226 86 brian morgan - Josea Goble 77 4 11.230 0.000 225 87 Charlie Sipe - Charles Sipe 68 5 11.210 0.000 224 88 Thomas Tucker - John Miller 133 3 11.070 0.000 223 89 Jay Adams - Tony Colacurcio 3 5 10.970 0.000 222 90 Reginald Pickett - Larry Kirk 56 5 10.930 0.000 221 91 Gary Michaud - Doc McDaniel 41 5 10.910 0.000 220 92 Neil Sheehan - Travis Young 74 4 10.910 0.000 220 93 Charles Stroud - Danny Bullman 51 5 10.870 0.000 218 94 Matt Stout 28 5 10.830 2.440 217 95 Tim Chapman - Marcus Leech 82 5 10.790 0.000 216 96 Steve Dyer - Rusty White 126 5 10.760 0.000 215 97 Jimmy Cummings - Logan Anderson 166 5 10.760 0.000 214 98 Shawn Crosby - robert brooks 129 5 10.680 0.000 213 99 Mike McDuffie - Cayce West 43 5 10.640 3.280 212 100 Nathan White - Chris Smith 19 5 10.350 3.890 211 101 Larry Denton - Chris Guest 29 5 10.210 0.000 210 102 Chris Ellis - Mathew Frazier 101 4 10.080 0.000 209 103 Justin Stoltzfus - Chris Deal 157 4 10.050 0.000 208 104 robert johnson - Thomas Johnson 75 5 9.870 0.000 207 105 Mark Lamb - Adam Haithcock 162 5 9.850 0.000 206 106 Jeff McQuaigue - William Ford 65 5 9.790 0.000 205 107 Rob Hedrick - Daniel Ray 135 4 9.650 0.000 204 108 Adam Greer - Shae jones 36 4 9.640 0.000 203 109 Gary Rose - Jerry Collins 173 5 9.480 0.000 202 110 Rick Crumley - Earnest Crenshaw 46 5 8.980 0.000 201 111 David Shields - John Gallimore 164 4 8.960 0.000 200 112 Chris Martin - Mike Greene 137 3 8.630 0.000 199 113 Eddie Parker - Billy Scoggins 23 4 8.500 0.000 198 114 Thomas Gavin - mike sprouse 67 3 8.490 0.000 197 115 Anthony Monaco - Steve Gardner 60 3 8.270 0.000 196 116 Keith Speece - Wendell Ireland 96 5 8.070 0.000 195 117 Tommy Williams - Thomas Hardwick 138 3 7.970 0.000 194 118 Ken Nickerson - Ron Weyersberg 6 3 7.640 0.000 193 119 bobby snyder - Tim Cline 104 5 7.220 0.000 192 120 Greg Bragg - Christopher Terry 85 4 6.850 0.000 191 121 Derick Livingston - Jonathan Spivey 102 3 6.820 0.000 190 122 Kelly Ruff - Travis Ruff 58 3 6.320 0.000 189 123 Anthony Burton - James Burton 10 4 6.220 0.000 188 124 Jim Dull - Michael Cummings 30 3 5.590 0.000 187 125 Ryan Bentley - greg berst 31 2 4.530 0.000 186 126 David Winters - Russell Winters 115 1 4.460 0.000 185 127 Zack Strickland - Heath Strickland 32 1 1.540 1.540 184 128 Adam Williams - eric sain 52 1 1.430 0.000 183 129 Phil Hennessee - Robert Johnson 2 0 0.000 0.000 182 130 Todd Walters - DUANE RINKUS 4 0 0.000 0.000 182 131 Michael Pelchat - Brandon Abernathy 5 0 0.000 0.000 182 132 Ben Parker - Bobby young 8 0 0.000 0.000 182 133 Rob Wright - Kesley Pennell 13 0 0.000 0.000 182 134 Johnny Guffey - Wesley Bell 21 0 0.000 0.000 182 135 Larry Yancey - Milton Yancey 22 0 0.000 0.000 182 136 Darrin Albertson - Edd Furr 26 0 0.000 0.000 182 137 Reggie Guffey - Tommy Chapman 33 0 0.000 0.000 182 138 Aric Dwyer - Robert Anderson 38 0 0.000 0.000 182 139 Greg Deal - Terry Wike 55 0 0.000 0.000 182 140 Brendon Schneider - Kyle James 69 0 0.000 0.000 182 141 Shaun Hall - Kenneth Hall 71 0 0.000 0.000 182 142 Chris Tarbush - chris haas 76 0 0.000 0.000 182 143 Mikey Bowlby - Troy lehew 79 0 0.000 0.000 182 144 Kevin Glenn - Brian Silvers 81 0 0.000 0.000 182 145 Jerry Lineberger - AJ Cook 86 0 0.000 0.000 182 146 Mike Clark - Chris Anderson 88 0 0.000 0.000 182 147 Ronnie Britt - Jim Britt 91 0 0.000 0.000 182 148 CJ Johnston - Matt Stanley 92 0 0.000 0.000 182 149 Travus Lovell - James Roten 100 0 0.000 0.000 182 150 Eddie Smith - Michael Carson 103 0 0.000 0.000 182 151 Christopher Tucker - Dustin Calloway 105 0 0.000 0.000 182 152 Dan English - David Gibson 107 0 0.000 0.000 182 153 Robin Collins - Ronnie White 109 0 0.000 0.000 182 154 Robert Church - DANNY HUCKS 111 0 0.000 0.000 182 155 Terry Herman - thomas wike 116 0 0.000 0.000 182 156 Joshua Donegan - Craig Chambers 117 0 0.000 0.000 182 157 Dale Luckey - John Brown 120 0 0.000 0.000 182 158 Michael Burgess - Danny Lawson 121 0 0.000 0.000 182 159 Carl Williams - Eddie Williams 122 0 0.000 0.000 182 160 Jason Dew - Thomas Elliott 125 0 0.000 0.000 182 161 Larry Houser - Jason Eaker 127 0 0.000 0.000 182 162 Chris Boehme - Alan Rae 128 0 0.000 0.000 182 163 Rodney Morrow - Kirk Morrow 130 0 0.000 0.000 182 164 Thomas Simmerson - Doug Young 132 0 0.000 0.000 182 165 Jimmy fortson - Grady Cheek 134 0 0.000 0.000 182 166 billy marshall - Corey Ingram 139 0 0.000 0.000 182 167 Joel Ketcham - scott ketcham 140 0 0.000 0.000 182 168 Roger Beaver - Nick Beaver 143 0 0.000 0.000 182 169 Arthur Re - Dillion Painter 150 0 0.000 0.000 182 170 jeremy bouldin - tyler ward 158 0 0.000 0.000 182 171 James Wall - Jimmy Wall 159 0 0.000 0.000 182 172 Joe Floyd - Phil Brown 160 0 0.000 0.000 182 173 Mason Boyd - Tim Sisk 163 0 0.000 0.000 182 174 Jeff Hager - darrel hager 167 0 0.000 0.000 182 175 Scott Griffin - Jerry Goble 170 0 0.000 0.000 182 176 Cody Shuffler - Gary Shuffler 171 0 0.000 0.000 182 177 Adam Waters - Dylan Fulk 174 0 0.000 0.000 182 178 Chris Dover - Robert Fowler 176 0 0.000 0.000 182 179 Jamie Lee - Robert Bauguess 177 0 0.000 0.000 182 180 Tim Ford - Jon Shirley 179 0 0.000 0.000 182
Anderson, S.C., To Host B.A.S.S. Nation Championship On Lake Hartwell
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"Twice" is a Charm
Special to AnglersChannel from St. Croix Rods
McKendree University Gets a Second Chance; fish bit twice, seals the win
Park Falls, WI (April 14, 2017) – In terms of competitive bass fishing, you can’t force a win; when it’s meant to happen, it will. Such was the case for the accomplished college bass team at McKendree University. Through a competitive career spanning four years, numerous members of the Bearcat crew had scored high finishes at major college events. Yet none had pulled off a Bassmaster College Series Regional win.
Until now.
Video tell the story of the fish that bit twice.
Thanks to a monster stringer the final day of the Midwest Regional at Lake of the Ozarks, the team of Jacob Louis and JT Russell successfully brought home the champion’s trophy to McKendree University. After jumping out to an early lead in the opening round, Louis and
Russell were natural favorites to place well. However, a bit of good fortune may deserve some credit in the final outcome.
Louis and Russell beat out the hard-charging team of Colin Cropp and Louie Dazzo, from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Crop and Dazzo credited St. Croix’s new Bass-X Series of rods for their second-place finish.
Members of the McKendree University bass team have always been strong proponents of the St. Croix scholastic program, as well. In fact, another McKendree team – Brock Wilke and Brady Faust – used Legend Tournament models to haul in over 22-pounds the final day of the Ozark event, and place fourth.
This year, McKendree will join top high school and college bass teams in a newly-expanded, St. Croix sponsorship program, designed to ensure their athlete’s move forward with the best rod building technology in the palms of their hands.
#stcroixrod
Sportsmans Warehouse Product Spotlight - Lew's Custom Pro SLP Reel with Brad Knight
Lews Pro Brad Knight talks about the New Lew's Custom Pro SLP Reel. The SLP stands for "Super Low Profile" and it rocks. Check it out from our friends at Sportsman's Warehouse!
B.A.S.S. Adds Western High School Open To 2017 Schedule
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STEP UP YOUR SWIMBAIT GAME WITH STRATEGIC MODIFICATIONS
By David A. Brown
They’re one of your most versatile big-fish baits with broad-ranging applicability and user-friendly operation. Ultra-limber and built for steady kicking action, a soft body swimbait appeals to everything from prespawn staging fish to those taking up ledge residence. Nevertheless, as effective as these baits can be, improvement is only a tweak away.
Here’s a hodgepodge of tips from pros who spend a lot of time behind a swimbait.
WEAR AND TEAR MINIMIZED
Fishing several of Alabama’s top bass factories, guide Brent Crow favors the Strike King Shadalicious for its cast-and-reel simplicity. On the good side, the bait usually gets a lot of bites. On the bad side, the bait usually gets a lot of bites.
The problem, he said, is all the downtime spent rerigging each time a bass ravages one of his baits. So, whether he’s catering to clients or fishing a tournament, Crow maximizes his time on the water with some prudent prep work.
Crow starts by slicing an inch-long slit in the bait’s back. This allows maximum motion for the 1/2-ounce Strike King Squadron jig head.
“This doesn’t really affect the action, but keeps the hook from tearing the bait when a fish shakes its head,” Crow said. “When you make that opening in the back of the bait it allows the hook to move back and forth.”
Contrasting this liberal movement, Crow wants the exact opposite for his swimbait head. Now, most anglers know to glue 
their plastics to their lead heads, but Crow refines this by snipping the tip of his Shadalicious to remove the rounded nose
and create flat edged. The advantage: Greater surface area contacting the Squadron head.
Moderation is key here, as Crow keeps his gluing to a minimum.
“One or two drops is all you need,” he said. “If you use too much it can create a gap between your plastic and your swimbait head that looks unnatural. Also, the more glue you 
use, the longer it takes to dry.”
Crow maximizes these benefits by preparing a couple dozen swimbaits with back slits and properly glued heads the night before a trip. Even with careful preparation, he’ll still have to replace a few swimbaits throughout the day, but starting with plenty of ammo
means fewer interruptions and more fishing time.
HIDE THE HEAD
FLW Tour Pro Michael Wooley showed me a trick he has used to add some wobble to his Shadalicious,
and hide the swimbait head from wary fish. Rather than inserting the hook into the bait’s nose, running it out the back and snugging the lead head against the front end; he’ll use the hook point to cut a slit in the bait’s back at the point where the hook will eventually exit.
Inserting the lead head here, he’ll push it all the way to the bait’s head where small slice allows the line tie to break through the plastic. Tucking the wide jig head inside the swimbait creates a
wobbling
action that enhances the presentation.
(Notably, Strike King introduced its Internal Swimbait Head at ICAST 2016. A narrow thumbnail shaped lead head with a 60-degree line tie, this model maintains the swimbait’s original shape for a more natural look.)
Thus arranged, the hook bend sits outside the bait as it would with a traditional arrangement, but the lead head remains shielded by 
the bait’s plastic body. The benefit of this internal placement, he said is enhanced presentation.
MORE BITE
When the fish are snapping, they’ll choke a swimbait; but when bites are less aggressive, extra grabbing power helps close the deal. We’re talking stingers here and, while premade deals like the Owner Stinger Harness offer a convenient option, you might want to consider a few other creative setups.
Slip-Ons: Run the point of your swimbait hook through the eye of a treble hook to add more bite for
short strikers. You can pin the stinger in the bait’s back or let it swing free, but keep it from riding too far up the hook and possibly slipping off, add a trailer hook keeper to minimize the treble’s movement.
Same deal works with wide gap swimbait hooks. Just note that weighted models create their own hook keeper.
Side by Side: With a line through swimbait like the Osprey Talon, tie your line to the top eyelet of a 3-way swivel, add split rings to the remaining two eyelets and hang a treble hook from each. Instant double trouble.
Make a Way: Solid swimbaits lacking a line-through can be modified for this arrangement by tying your line to a standard straight shank hook, running that hook through the bait’s nose and bringing it out the belly. Pull the line out through the bait, clip off the straight shank hook and add a treble.
Another option, use a rivet sleeve to make a channel into the nose of a fluke style bait, run your line through this conduit and out the belly slot where you can tie it to a treble hook fitted with a split ring. Pinning one arm of the treble hook into the bait’s belly allows the other two to ride flush with the bait’s bottom edge.
MAX MOTION
In closing, let’s look at a cool tip from Bassmaster Elite Series pro and master tinkerer Terry Scroggins. Noting that even the softest and most flexible swimbait can benefit from a little extra motion, Scroggins uses a homemade hole punch he fashions from a wooden dowel and a piece of metal tubing.
Nothing fancy here — simply relieving a swimbait of a little mass creates additional wiggle points, plus it breaks up the bait’s normal profile. Small changes and probably not your definitive day maker; but when fish are seeing a lot of the same baits, those small departures, those slight variations can often turn lookers into biters.
