AnglersChannel

Key lunker lifts Austin to Bassmaster Open Win at Santee Cooper Lakes

Key lunker lifts Austin to Bassmaster Open Win at Santee Cooper Lakes

CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. — Amid the rainy, windy conditions, a late-morning kicker lifted Kyle Austin to a final-day catch of 27 pounds, 8 ounces. That gave him a three-day total of 83-7 and a victory at the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Santee Cooper Lakes presented by SEVIIN.

The Ridgeville, S.C., pro said winning on his home fishery was the crowning achievement of his life on the water.

“Ever since I was a kid, I’ve stood in this parking lot and watched the Bassmaster weigh-ins and watched local tournament weigh-ins, and I’ve always wanted to stand up here on this stage and hold (the winning trophy),” said Austin, who guides on the Santee Cooper Lakes. “I’ve fished against a lot of these guys on this lake and they’ve beat me like a drum.

“To finally stand up here with the trophy is just incredible. There’s no place I’d rather do it.”

After placing 13th on Day 1 with 24-7, Austin added a second-round limit of 31-8 — the event’s heaviest bag — and took over the lead by a 1-pound margin. It was one of only two bags over 30 for the event.

In the final round, the Tackle Warehouse Elite Qualifiers (EQ) angler bagged a limit of 27-8 and secured the win with 83-7 — the second-heaviest winning weight in a Bassmaster Open behind Florida’s Scott Martin, who set the high mark of 90-6 during the season-opener at Lake Okeechobee just over a month ago.

Austin took home the top prize of $49,638 and secured a berth in the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors scheduled for March 21-23 on Lake Ray Roberts in Fort Worth, Texas.

“Fishing the Bassmaster Classic has been a dream of mine,” Austin said. “It’s a dream for a lot of people and it’s definitely possible.”

On a Championship Saturday that was shortened by 1 1/2 hours due to a National Weather Service afternoon forecast for severe conditions, Austin started on the same spot that produced the majority of his weight the first two days.

“That was a super-shallow hard spot with current,” he said. “The key was getting that current to flow the right way to get them to bite.

“This morning, I cast 20 to 30 times and never had a bite. The wind changed and made an eddy and we got right in a hurry.”

Austin caught his current-related fish on a 1/2-ounce Strike King Red Eyed Shad Tungsten 2-Tap lipless crankbait and a 1-ounce locally made spinnerbait with tandem willow-leaf blades. The latter produced his biggest fish on his starting spot.

Around 9:30 a.m., Austin transitioned to a high-percentage strategy of running particular Lake Marion trees in search of big bites. That move would deliver the game-changing opportunity.

“A lot of people get into an area and they fish every tree in the area,” he said. “I pull up and fish two or three of them.”

After a morning of trading the lead with Martin and second-place Laker Howell of Guntersville, Ala., Austin sat a few ounces behind Martin in BassTrakk’s unofficial standings. Pulling up to a tupelo tree around 11:15, he pitched a wacky-rigged stickworm to the base and came tight on a 7-6 ball of green fury that would slam the door shut on Austin’s first B.A.S.S. victory.

“They get on the same trees every year,” he said. “I had the confidence of knowing which ones they get on, so I just kept running them and running them until I caught a big one.”

Despite the day’s increasingly strong winds and the rough ride back to the weigh-in, Austin said the reward more than justified the challenge. Had the final day been cancelled due to unsafe conditions, Austin would have been declared the winner as the Day 2 leader.

“I’m glad we went today; I did not want to win on a cancellation,” Austin said. “I wanted to get back out there.”

Howell placed ninth on Day 1 with 25-5 and rose to third by adding a second-round bag that went 28-7. He gained another spot with his final limit of 26-13 that pushed his total to 80-9.

Committing his tournament to a protected area on Lake Moultrie, Howell targeted shallow grass and caught his bass in a foot and a half of water. Howell relied on a 1/2-ounce ChatterBait JackHammer with a black/blue and green Yamamoto Zako trailer.

Not only did the bait perform well in the grass, Howell said the bulkier trailer and the particular color pattern likely resembled the area’s abundant sunfish. He also noted that dialing in particular sweet spots boosted his success.

“There were three chutes in the grass and that’s how they were coming into the area,” Howell said. “Every time I’d come to one of those chutes, I’d catch a big one.”

Hailing from Clewiston, Fla., Martin turned in daily weights of 25-4, 27-15 and 27-0 to finish with 80-3. Fishing the Potato Creek area of Lake Marion, he focused on bed fishing and caught his bass on a Texas-rigged Googan Baits Bandito Bug — the same bait that produced most of his fish during his win at Lake Okeechobee.

“Practice was tough, but you pick up little clues that help you home in on something,” said Martin, whose father is nine-time B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year and 19-time B.AS.S. winner Roland Martin. “In an event like this, when the fish are coming to you, all you need is a little bit — and that little bit will go a long way.”

Late in the morning, Martin tried to tempt a big bed fish that rejected the Bandito Bug. Following his gut instinct, he picked up a spinning rod, pitched a drop shot with a 6-inch pink worm and caught the 6-10 on his first cast.

Day 1 leader Mark Hutson of Moncks Corner, S.C., won the $750 Phoenix Boats Big Bass award for his 10-3 largemouth.

Sixth-place finisher Chad Grigsby of Maple Grove, Minn., won the $1,000 St. Croix contingency award on the boater side. Chad Stahl of Barnesville, Ga., won the $250 award in the co-angler division.

With three of nine Opens completed, Evan Kung of Pickering, Canada, leads the Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Elite Qualifier standings with 568 points. He is followed by Dakota Ebare of Brookeland, Texas (555), Matt Adams or Oxford, Ala. (529), Mike Surman of Boca Raton, Fla. (504), Easton Fothergill of Grand Rapids, Minn. (501), Andy Newcomb of Camdenton, Mo. (500), Bobby Bakewell of Orlando, Fla. (490), Cody Meyer of Eagle, Idaho (490) and Christian Ostrander of Turlock, Calif. (487).

This event was hosted by Clarendon County in association with Santee Cooper Country and the Town of Santee.

2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Title Sponsor: St. Croix

2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Presenting Sponsor: SEVIIN

2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Progressive Insurance, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Marathon, Triton Boats, VMC

About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, 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), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Team Championship, Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series scored by TourneyX, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors.

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Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.

Media Contact: Mandy Pascal, Managing Editor, 205-313-0955, mpascal@bassmaster.com

2024 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Santee Cooper Lakes presented by SEVIIN 3/7-3/9
Santee Cooper Lakes, Manning  SC.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3

Angler                   Hometown              No./lbs-oz  Pts   Total $$$

1.  Kyle Austin            Ridgeville, SC          15  83-07  200  $49,638.00
Day 1: 5   24-07     Day 2: 5   31-08     Day 3: 5   27-08
2.  Laker Howell           Guntersville, AL        15  80-09  199  $19,855.00
Day 1: 5   25-05     Day 2: 5   28-07     Day 3: 5   26-13
3.  Scott Martin           Clewiston, FL           15  80-03  198  $15,391.00
Day 1: 5   25-04     Day 2: 5   27-15     Day 3: 5   27-00
4.  Dakota Ebare           Brookeland, TX          15  71-04  197  $13,898.00
Day 1: 5   27-06     Day 2: 5   22-01     Day 3: 5   21-13
5.  Parker Guy             Ocilla, GA              15  69-11  196  $12,906.00
Day 1: 5   26-06     Day 2: 5   24-11     Day 3: 5   18-10
6.  Chad Grigsby           Maple Grove, MN         14  69-07  195  $11,913.00
Day 1: 5   23-05     Day 2: 5   29-12     Day 3: 4   16-06
7.  Matt Messer            Warfield, KY            13  66-00  194  $10,920.00
Day 1: 5   26-07     Day 2: 5   25-00     Day 3: 3   14-09
8.  Matt Adams             Oxford, AL              14  63-01  193   $9,928.00
Day 1: 5   24-14     Day 2: 5   22-14     Day 3: 4   15-05
9.  Evan Kung              Pickering Ontario CANAD 15  62-11  192   $9,928.00
Day 1: 5   26-07     Day 2: 5   25-12     Day 3: 5   10-08
10. Ronnie Mccoy           Lamar, SC               12  62-01  191   $9,928.00
Day 1: 5   25-13     Day 2: 5   29-02     Day 3: 2   07-02
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Mark Hutson              Moncks Corner, SC   10-03        $750.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1       133       854      2991-02
2       115       798      2796-11
3         6        43       185-10
----------------------------------
254      1695      5973-07

by AnglersChannel

Austin’s mega sack helps him take lead at Bassmaster Open on Santee Cooper Lakes

March 8, 2024

Austin’s mega sack helps him take lead at Bassmaster Open on Santee Cooper Lakes

CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. — Kyle Austin of Ridgeville, S.C., knew what he needed was the “dirty 30” and he wasted no time positioning himself to hit that mark en route to leading Day 2 of the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Santee Cooper Lakes presented by SEVIIN.

After placing 13th on Day 1 with 24-7, the Santee Cooper Lakes guide added 31-8 on Day 2. His two-day total of 55 pounds, 15 ounces gives him a 1-pound lead over second-place Ronnie McCoy of Lamar, S.C. Austin’s second-round bag is the event’s largest catch and one of only two bags over 30 so far in the event.

“When it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be,” Austin said of his banner day. “Going into the tournament, I knew you’d have to have a 30-pound bag to have a shot at it. It’s very hard to catch 24 to 27 a day.

“Having 31 pounds, I’m excited. Hopefully, it goes good tomorrow.”

Austin enjoyed a tremendous morning bite on what he called a “Trap hole” — a place he knows he can almost always catch bass on a lipless bait (often generically called a Trap, after the original Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap). His particular spot, a hard-structure area, benefitted from fish-stimulating water flow, compliments of recent rainfall.

“They (the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) started pulling current last week and my spot is current related,” Austin said. “I started there the last two mornings and it’s been lights-out. The morning bite is on fire.”

He said a key adjustment accounted for his Day 2 surge.

“Yesterday, I only had four when I left there and today, I made a bait change and caught two of my biggest ones,” Austin said. “I went from throwing a lipless bait to throwing a spinnerbait today.

“I just knew that there was a good number of fish there, but they just weren’t biting. I had four for like 23. So, at that point, I was like, ‘I’m gonna stick around here to see if I can catch 25.’ That bait change worked out.”

Catching plump prespawn bass, Austin left his starting spot with approximately 27 pounds. After that, he transitioned to his secondary pattern and added another big fish.

“After the offshore deal, I just started fishing outside the cypress trees and caught an 8-pounder,” Austin said. “I fished both lakes, but the big fish came from the Upper Lake (Marion).

“I was fishing big-fish spots. I tried to save some stuff for (Championship Saturday) just in case I need it.”

On Day 1, McCoy tied Kyle Weisenberger for seventh place with 25-13. He gained five spots with a second-round total of 29-2 that pushed his two-day mark to 54-15.

McCoy said he’s fishing an area with a robust mix of prespawn, spawn and postspawn bass. His strategy has involved a little bit of everything.

“You have fish coming and you have fish going and I’ve been trying to figure out what to do,” McCoy said. “Early in the morning, I’m catching fish a little farther out and after that, I’m catching fish farther in.

“As the sun warms up, those fish are migrating into these ditches. They’re moving into these bays to spawn. I’m utilizing both aspects of the (seasonal migration).”

McCoy said he caught his best fish on a 1/2-ounce Berkley PowerBait Spinnerbait. He also caught a few bed fish, but with the muddy water, he had to cast to the barely visible beds and fish through the area.

Laker Howell of Guntersville, Ala., added 28-7 to his first-round limit of 25-5 and rose from ninth place to third with a total weight of 53-12.

Howell’s fishing a large shallow grass flat where he’s targeting prespawn fish in about a foot and a half of water. He’s throwing a ChatterBait JackHammer with a Yamamoto Zako trailer.

“It was just unreal,” Howell said. “I got out there just hoping to catch a limit today and one thing led to another and God just sent them to me. I’m getting like 10 bites a day and half of them are big. It’s very slow. I’m getting about one about every 45 minutes, but when they bite, they lock you up.”

Day 1 leader Mark Hutson of Moncks Corner, S.C., is in the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors with his 10-3.

Wendell Causey Jr. of Irmo, S.C., won the co-angler division with a two-day mark of 28-5. After topping the Day 1 field with 15-11, he added a second-round limit of 12-10. Edging Chad Stahl by 2-15, Causey earned the top prize of $13,827.

Causey caught all of his bass on an unweighted Texas-rigged black/blue Senko.

“I had two good boaters that listened to me about my local knowledge of the lakes,” Causey said. “We fished grass from 6 inches to 2 feet deep. There was a certain type of grass, a mix of grass where I caught them.”

Clayton Lowder IV of Mayesville, S.C., won the $250 Phoenix Boats Big Bass award in the co-angler division with a 7-4.

The Top 10 remaining anglers will take off at 6:30 a.m. ET Saturday from the John C Land III Sports Fishing Facility. The weigh-in will be held at the same location at 2:30 p.m.

The final day of competition will be broadcast live on FS1 Saturday morning beginning at 8:00 a.m. ET, with streaming available on Bassmaster.com, as well as FS2 and the FOX Sports digital platforms.

This event is being hosted by Clarendon County in association with Santee Cooper Country and the Town of Santee.

2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Title Sponsor: St. Croix

2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Presenting Sponsor: SEVIIN

2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Progressive Insurance, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Marathon, Triton Boats, VMC

About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, 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), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Team Championship, Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series scored by TourneyX, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors.

-30-

Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.

Media Contact: Mandy Pascal, Managing Editor, 205-313-0955, mpascal@bassmaster.com

2024 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Santee Cooper Lakes presented by SEVIIN 3/7-3/9
Santee Cooper Lakes, Manning  SC.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2

Angler                   Hometown              No./lbs-oz  Pts   Total $$$

1.  Kyle Austin            Ridgeville, SC          10  55-15  200
Day 1: 5   24-07     Day 2: 5   31-08
2.  Ronnie Mccoy           Lamar, SC               10  54-15  199
Day 1: 5   25-13     Day 2: 5   29-02
3.  Laker Howell           Guntersville, AL        10  53-12  198
Day 1: 5   25-05     Day 2: 5   28-07
4.  Scott Martin           Clewiston, FL           10  53-03  197
Day 1: 5   25-04     Day 2: 5   27-15
5.  Chad Grigsby           Maple Grove, MN         10  53-01  196
Day 1: 5   23-05     Day 2: 5   29-12
6.  Evan Kung              Pickering Ontario CANAD 10  52-03  195
Day 1: 5   26-07     Day 2: 5   25-12
7.  Matt Messer            Warfield, KY            10  51-07  194
Day 1: 5   26-07     Day 2: 5   25-00
8.  Parker Guy             Ocilla, GA              10  51-01  193
Day 1: 5   26-06     Day 2: 5   24-11
9.  Dakota Ebare           Brookeland, TX          10  49-07  192
Day 1: 5   27-06     Day 2: 5   22-01
10. Matt Adams             Oxford, AL              10  47-12  191
Day 1: 5   24-14     Day 2: 5   22-14
11. Mike Surman            Boca Raton, FL          10  47-01  190   $8,935.00
Day 1: 5   23-02     Day 2: 5   23-15
12. Sean Anderson          Leesville, SC           10  45-09  189   $6,950.00
Day 1: 5   21-06     Day 2: 5   24-03
13. Mike McClelland        Blue Eye, MO            10  44-15  188   $5,957.00
Day 1: 5   19-04     Day 2: 5   25-11
14. Caden Cowan            Stephenville, TX        10  44-11  187   $4,963.00
Day 1: 5   16-04     Day 2: 5   28-07
15. Dane Odom              Chapin, SC              10  44-08  186   $4,963.00
Day 1: 5   21-15     Day 2: 5   22-09
16. Kyle Weisenburger      Columbus Grv, OH        10  44-07  185   $4,963.00
Day 1: 5   25-13     Day 2: 5   18-10
17. William Holmes         Moncks Corner, SC       10  43-11  184   $4,963.00
Day 1: 5   27-13     Day 2: 5   15-14
18. Wade Grooms            Bonneau, SC             10  43-04  183   $4,963.00
Day 1: 5   24-06     Day 2: 5   18-14
19. Kenta Kimura           Osaka OK JAPAN          10  42-15  182   $4,963.00
Day 1: 5   24-05     Day 2: 5   18-10
20. Bryan New              Leesville, SC           10  42-15  181   $4,963.00
Day 1: 5   22-07     Day 2: 5   20-08
21. Cody Stahl             Barnsville, GA          10  42-12  180   $4,963.00
Day 1: 5   20-09     Day 2: 5   22-03
22. Jack York              Emory, TX               10  42-12  179   $4,963.00
Day 1: 5   21-09     Day 2: 5   21-03
23. Lucas Murphy           West Columbia, MI       10  42-04  178   $4,963.00
Day 1: 5   18-14     Day 2: 5   23-06
24. Logan Latuso           Gonzales, LA            10  42-04  177   $4,963.00
Day 1: 5   22-15     Day 2: 5   19-05
25. Bobby Bakewell         Orlando, FL             10  42-01  176   $4,963.00
Day 1: 5   17-15     Day 2: 5   24-02
26. Blake Schroeder        Whitehouse, TX          10  42-01  175   $4,963.00
Day 1: 5   20-08     Day 2: 5   21-09
27. Josh Douglas           Isle, MN                10  41-15  174   $4,963.00
Day 1: 5   21-12     Day 2: 5   20-03
28. Mark Hutson            Moncks Corner, SC       10  41-12  173   $4,963.00
Day 1: 5   30-06     Day 2: 5   11-06
29. Danny Ramsey           Trinidad, TX            10  41-10  172   $4,963.00
Day 1: 5   24-00     Day 2: 5   17-10
30. Randall Tharp          Port St. Joe, FL        10  41-10  171   $4,963.00
Day 1: 5   20-03     Day 2: 5   21-07
31. Bryan Partak           Marseilles, IL          10  41-09  170   $3,971.00
Day 1: 5   21-10     Day 2: 5   19-15
32. Allen Armour           Cumming, GA             10  41-08  169   $3,971.00
Day 1: 5   22-04     Day 2: 5   19-04
33. Jim Moynagh            Remer, MN               10  41-08  168   $3,971.00
Day 1: 5   20-06     Day 2: 5   21-02
34. Brad Leuthner          Victoria, MN            10  40-15  167   $3,971.00
Day 1: 5   23-10     Day 2: 5   17-05
35. Jack Dice              Lynchburg, VA           10  40-08  166   $3,971.00
Day 1: 5   15-02     Day 2: 5   25-06
36. Cody Steckel           Las Vegas, NV           10  40-08  165   $3,971.00
Day 1: 5   20-02     Day 2: 5   20-06
37. Tommy Dunaway          Havana, FL              10  40-06  164   $3,971.00
Day 1: 5   15-10     Day 2: 5   24-12
38. Jacob Bigelow          Cecil, WI               10  40-00  163   $3,971.00
Day 1: 5   20-03     Day 2: 5   19-13
39. Brandon Lester         Fayetteville, TN        10  39-15  162   $3,971.00
Day 1: 5   21-08     Day 2: 5   18-07
40. Kyle Palmer            Winchester, TN          10  39-08  161   $3,971.00
Day 1: 5   22-14     Day 2: 5   16-10
41. Jonathan Dietz         Corry, PA               10  39-03  160   $3,971.00
Day 1: 5   14-11     Day 2: 5   24-08
42. Chris Blanchette       Edisto Island, SC       10  38-07  159   $3,971.00
Day 1: 5   16-02     Day 2: 5   22-05
43. Cliff Pace             Ovett, MS               10  38-02  158   $3,971.00
Day 1: 5   19-10     Day 2: 5   18-08
44. Jayme Rampey           Liberty, SC             10  38-00  157   $3,971.00
Day 1: 5   17-05     Day 2: 5   20-11
45. Cody Meyer             Eagle, ID               10  37-04  156   $3,971.00
Day 1: 5   15-03     Day 2: 5   22-01
46. Greg Bohannan          Bentonville, AR         10  36-15  155
Day 1: 5   18-03     Day 2: 5   18-12
47. Connor Jacob           Auburn, AL               7  36-14  154
Day 1: 2   09-07     Day 2: 5   27-07
48. Bird Jones             Loxahatchee, FL          9  36-13  153
Day 1: 4   13-04     Day 2: 5   23-09
49. Chris Whitson          Louisville, TN          10  36-11  152
Day 1: 5   17-11     Day 2: 5   19-00
50. Jimmy Washam           Stantonville, TN        10  36-10  151
Day 1: 5   21-09     Day 2: 5   15-01
51. Robbie Latuso          Gonzales, LA            10  36-07  150
Day 1: 5   17-00     Day 2: 5   19-07
52. Andrew Behnke          Fond Du Lac, WI          8  35-15  149
Day 1: 3   16-06     Day 2: 5   19-09
53. Tai Au                 Glendale, AZ            10  35-10  148
Day 1: 5   15-06     Day 2: 5   20-04
54. Danny McGarry          Newcastle CANADA        10  35-02  147
Day 1: 5   19-01     Day 2: 5   16-01
55. Robert Clarke          Pineville, SC           10  35-01  146
Day 1: 5   19-15     Day 2: 5   15-02
56. Trevor McKinney        Noble, IL               10  35-00  145
Day 1: 5   18-11     Day 2: 5   16-05
57. Beau Browning          Hot Springs National Pa 10  34-11  144
Day 1: 5   21-08     Day 2: 5   13-03
58. Daisuke Kita           Ostu Shiga JAPAN        10  34-06  143
Day 1: 5   18-15     Day 2: 5   15-07
59. Josh Butler            Hayden, AL              10  33-14  142
Day 1: 5   15-05     Day 2: 5   18-09
60. Brandon McMillan       Clewiston, FL           10  33-14  141
Day 1: 5   18-00     Day 2: 5   15-14
61. Joey Nania             Cropwell, AL             7  33-11  140
Day 1: 2   09-03     Day 2: 5   24-08
62. Joey Sabbagha          Prosperity, SC          10  33-10  139
Day 1: 5   21-01     Day 2: 5   12-09
63. Jason Lambert          Savannah, TN            10  33-04  138
Day 1: 5   13-13     Day 2: 5   19-07
64. Shayne Berlo           Mclean, VA              10  33-03  137
Day 1: 5   21-02     Day 2: 5   12-01
65. Tucker Veronee         Gilbert, SC             10  33-03  136
Day 1: 5   18-13     Day 2: 5   14-06
66. Brett Cannon           Kiln, MS                 9  33-03  135
Day 1: 5   15-15     Day 2: 4   17-04
67. Christian Ostrander    Turlock, CA             10  33-02  134
Day 1: 5   21-09     Day 2: 5   11-09
68. Ron Ryals Jr           Live Oak, FL             8  33-00  133
Day 1: 3   11-12     Day 2: 5   21-04
69. Brady Vernon           Sterrett, AL            10  32-15  132
Day 1: 5   20-01     Day 2: 5   12-14
70. Darold Gleason         Many, LA                10  32-11  131
Day 1: 5   16-00     Day 2: 5   16-11
71. Richard Lowitzki       Fort Myers, FL           9  32-10  130
Day 1: 5   14-00     Day 2: 4   18-10
72. Kyle Metzger           Pearl River, LA         10  32-08  129
Day 1: 5   12-08     Day 2: 5   20-00
73. Joey Hanna             Corsicana, TX           10  32-03  128
Day 1: 5   21-09     Day 2: 5   10-10
74. Alex Murray            Lake Charles, LA         8  31-15  127
Day 1: 5   13-14     Day 2: 3   18-01
75. Garrett Warren         Scottsboro, AL           9  31-10  126
Day 1: 5   18-08     Day 2: 4   13-02
76. Bo Thomas              Edwardsburg, MI         10  31-09  125
Day 1: 5   12-10     Day 2: 5   18-15
77. Garrett Paquette       Canton, MI               8  31-05  124
Day 1: 5   22-07     Day 2: 3   08-14
78. Kameron Harbin         Sunset, SC               9  31-05  123
Day 1: 4   11-06     Day 2: 5   19-15
79. Cameron Smith          Wareham, MA             10  31-05  122
Day 1: 5   14-15     Day 2: 5   16-06
80. Darrell Davis          Dover, FL               10  31-01  121
Day 1: 5   18-05     Day 2: 5   12-12
81. Andy Newcomb           Camdenton, MO           10  31-01  120
Day 1: 5   15-04     Day 2: 5   15-13
82. Nick Gainey            Charleston, SC          10  30-14  119
Day 1: 5   17-15     Day 2: 5   12-15
83. Ty Faber               Pagosa Springs, CO       9  30-13  118
Day 1: 5   19-10     Day 2: 4   11-03
84. Easton Fothergill      Grand Rapids , MN        8  30-08  117
Day 1: 5   22-14     Day 2: 3   07-10
85. Yui Aoki               Minamitsurugun JAPAN     5  30-05  116
Day 1: 4   23-02     Day 2: 1   07-03
86. Matt Molitor           Canton, IL               8  30-04  115
Day 1: 5   19-07     Day 2: 3   10-13
87. Hayes Hudson           Conway, SC               8  30-02  114
Day 1: 4   14-02     Day 2: 4   16-00
88. Josh Wiesner           Fon du Lac, WI          10  30-02  113
Day 1: 5   14-13     Day 2: 5   15-05
89. Scout Echols           Monticello, AR           8  29-15  112
Day 1: 5   21-07     Day 2: 3   08-08
90. Alex Reece             Pickens, SC             10  29-12  111
Day 1: 5   17-09     Day 2: 5   12-03
91. Cole Drummond          Effingham, SC            9  29-10  110
Day 1: 5   19-02     Day 2: 4   10-08
92. Michael Davis          Alachua, FL             10  29-07  109
Day 1: 5   17-02     Day 2: 5   12-05
93. Sam George             Athens, AL               7  29-01  108
Day 1: 5   24-10     Day 2: 2   04-07
94. David Kilgore          Jasper, AL              10  29-01  107
Day 1: 5   11-02     Day 2: 5   17-15
95. Trey Swindle           Cleveland, AL            8  29-00  106
Day 1: 3   12-07     Day 2: 5   16-09
96. Andrew Loberg          Grant, AL               10  28-13  105
Day 1: 5   13-05     Day 2: 5   15-08
97. Jason Borofka          Lavon, TX                6  28-11  104
Day 1: 5   21-12     Day 2: 1   06-15
98. Shane Lineberger       Lincolnton, NC           9  28-11  103
Day 1: 4   07-10     Day 2: 5   21-01
99. Casey Scanlon          Eldon, MO                9  28-10  102
Day 1: 4   16-01     Day 2: 5   12-09
100. Paul Bouvier           Kingston CANADA         10  28-08  101
Day 1: 5   14-04     Day 2: 5   14-04
101. Freddy  Palmer         Estill Springs, TN      10  28-05  100
Day 1: 5   14-07     Day 2: 5   13-14
102. Brent Shores           Boise, ID                8  27-15   99
Day 1: 3   12-12     Day 2: 5   15-03
103. Rob Digh               Denver, NC              10  27-12   98
Day 1: 5   14-11     Day 2: 5   13-01
104. Garrett Rocamora       Lake wales, FL           8  27-10   97
Day 1: 5   16-01     Day 2: 3   11-09
105. Chris Kingree          Inverness, FL            9  27-09   96
Day 1: 4   08-13     Day 2: 5   18-12
106. Chase Clarke           Virginia Beach, VA      10  27-03   95
Day 1: 5   11-12     Day 2: 5   15-07
107. Rick Hawkins           Roanoke, VA              6  26-11   94
Day 1: 3   12-04     Day 2: 3   14-07
108. Cecil Wolfe III        Summerton, SC           10  26-09   93
Day 1: 5   11-13     Day 2: 5   14-12
109. Jordan Sanderlin       Kill Devil Hills, NC     8  26-05   92
Day 1: 5   14-01     Day 2: 3   12-04
110. Ish Monroe             Oakdale, CA             10  26-05   91
Day 1: 5   13-09     Day 2: 5   12-12
111. Tyler Campbell         Martin, GA               9  26-02   90
Day 1: 5   13-06     Day 2: 4   12-12
112. Brett Hite             Phoenix, AZ              9  26-01   89
Day 1: 4   12-01     Day 2: 5   14-00
113. Richard Kaluba         Litchfield, OH          10  25-15   88
Day 1: 5   13-14     Day 2: 5   12-01
114. Ben Cox                Andrews, SC             10  25-08   87
Day 1: 5   13-09     Day 2: 5   11-15
115. Austin Cranford        Norman, OK               8  25-07   86
Day 1: 3   04-15     Day 2: 5   20-08
116. Joe Wieberg            Freeburg, MO             7  25-06   85
Day 1: 2   06-14     Day 2: 5   18-08
117. Scott Allgood          Fair Play, SC            8  25-02   84
Day 1: 4   12-01     Day 2: 4   13-01
118. Clark Reehm            Elm Grove, LA            9  24-15   83
Day 1: 5   14-01     Day 2: 4   10-14
119. Paul Marks             Cumming, GA              7  24-14   82
Day 1: 5   18-11     Day 2: 2   06-03
120. Andrew Hargrove        Moody, TX                7  24-13   81
Day 1: 2   08-12     Day 2: 5   16-01
121. Derrick Sadlowski      Monaca, PA               6  24-01   80
Day 1: 2   03-05     Day 2: 4   20-12
122. Nick Trim              Galesville, WI           8  24-01   79
Day 1: 5   19-05     Day 2: 3   04-12
123. Chris Beaudrie         Princeton, KY            5  23-15   78
Day 1: 5   23-15     Day 2: 0   00-00
124. Adam Rasmussen         Sturgeon Bay, WI         6  23-14   77
Day 1: 2   09-03     Day 2: 4   14-11
125. John Voyles            Petersburg, IN           7  23-12   76
Day 1: 5   16-04     Day 2: 2   07-08
126. Brayden Rakes          Winston Salem, NC        9  23-12   75
Day 1: 5   13-04     Day 2: 4   10-08
127. Paul Browning          Monahans, TX             6  23-08   74
Day 1: 3   09-10     Day 2: 3   13-14
128. Zach Goutremout        Chaumont, NY             8  23-03   73
Day 1: 5   17-08     Day 2: 3   05-11
129. Jeff Salmon            Mechanicsville, VA       7  23-03   72
Day 1: 2   06-05     Day 2: 5   16-14
130. Alex Heintze           Denham Springs, LA       7  23-01   71
Day 1: 2   03-12     Day 2: 5   19-05
131. Sean Clayton           Seneca, SC               8  23-00   70
Day 1: 5   15-00     Day 2: 3   08-00
132. Sam Hanggi             Knoxville, TN            7  22-15   69
Day 1: 2   05-06     Day 2: 5   17-09
133. Guy Eaker              Cherryville, NC          8  22-15   68
Day 1: 5   16-10     Day 2: 3   06-05
134. Billy McDonald         Greenwood, IN            7  22-13   67
Day 1: 2   06-14     Day 2: 5   15-15
135. Troy Coney             Owego, NY                7  22-10   66
Day 1: 5   11-15     Day 2: 2   10-11
136. Kollin Crawford        Broken Bow, OK           8  22-09   65
Day 1: 3   09-07     Day 2: 5   13-02
137. James Niggemeyer       Van, TX                  9  22-09   64
Day 1: 5   12-05     Day 2: 4   10-04
138. Avery Williams         Murrells Inlt, SC        8  22-08   63
Day 1: 3   09-06     Day 2: 5   13-02
139. Allan Nail             Sand Springs, OK         7  22-06   62
Day 1: 5   18-01     Day 2: 2   04-05
140. Colden Baker           Ridgeway, SC             8  22-04   61
Day 1: 3   11-00     Day 2: 5   11-04
141. Brock Belik            Orchard, NE              9  22-02   60
Day 1: 4   09-06     Day 2: 5   12-12
142. Bryan Finch            Belton, TX               7  21-06   59
Day 1: 5   16-13     Day 2: 2   04-09
143. Kelvin Wilcox          Hazlehurst, GA           8  21-00   58
Day 1: 5   15-07     Day 2: 3   05-09
144. Zack Williams          Shell Knob, MO           8  20-12   57
Day 1: 5   12-03     Day 2: 3   08-09
145. Tucker Smith           Birmingham, AL           7  20-11   56
Day 1: 5   14-05     Day 2: 2   06-06
146. Hunter Bland           Ocala, FL                6  20-09   55
Day 1: 4   17-05     Day 2: 2   03-04
147. Jack Tindel III        Orange, TX               7  20-08   54
Day 1: 5   14-06     Day 2: 2   06-02
148. Scott Isaacs           Ladonia, TX              7  20-06   53
Day 1: 3   09-05     Day 2: 4   11-01
149. Jacob Thompkins        Myrtle Beach, SC         7  20-05   52
Day 1: 5   13-11     Day 2: 2   06-10
150. Blake Smith            Lakeland, FL             8  20-02   51
Day 1: 5   13-03     Day 2: 3   06-15
151. Rick Morris            Lake Gaston, VA          5  20-01   50
Day 1: 5   20-01     Day 2: 0   00-00
152. Andrew Upshaw          Hemphill, TX             7  19-15   49
Day 1: 2   07-03     Day 2: 5   12-12
153. Jeremy Radford         Huntly, VA               7  19-07   48
Day 1: 5   15-02     Day 2: 2   04-05
154. Logan Johnson          Jasper, AL               7  19-01   47
Day 1: 2   03-13     Day 2: 5   15-04
155. Scott Gibbs            Rome, GA                 6  18-14   46
Day 1: 1   03-11     Day 2: 5   15-03
156. Brian Post             Janesville, WI           7  18-12   45
Day 1: 5   10-13     Day 2: 2   07-15
157. Masayuki Matsushita    Porter TX JAPAN          5  18-03   44
Day 1: 5   18-03     Day 2: 0   00-00
158. Andrew Harp            Linden, TX               6  18-03   43
Day 1: 1   02-02     Day 2: 5   16-01
159. Bailey Bleser          Burlington, WI           7  17-13   42
Day 1: 4   09-13     Day 2: 3   08-00
160. Tristan McCormick      Burns, TN                7  17-09   41
Day 1: 5   13-03     Day 2: 2   04-06
161. Chris Hellebuyck       White Lake, MI           8  17-05   40
Day 1: 5   09-13     Day 2: 3   07-08
162. Tim Frederick          Leesburg, FL             8  16-14   39
Day 1: 3   06-08     Day 2: 5   10-06
163. Matt Pangrac           Shawnee, OK              6  16-14   38
Day 1: 4   10-02     Day 2: 2   06-12
164. Doc Wootton            Collierville, TN         7  16-12   37
Day 1: 2   05-09     Day 2: 5   11-03
165. Aaron Digh             Maiden, NC               7  16-12   36
Day 1: 4   10-01     Day 2: 3   06-11
166. Cody Detweiler         Guntersville, AL         6  16-10   35
Day 1: 2   06-01     Day 2: 4   10-09
167. Lance Owen             Greer, SC                4  16-09   34
Day 1: 1   05-15     Day 2: 3   10-10
168. Keith Brumfield        Vicksburg, MS            6  16-08   33
Day 1: 1   01-10     Day 2: 5   14-14
169. Dalton Dowdy           Newberry, SC             8  16-06   32
Day 1: 5   11-08     Day 2: 3   04-14
170. Tripp Noojin           Bryant, AL               7  16-02   31
Day 1: 5   09-01     Day 2: 2   07-01
171. Chris Lighthizer       Zanesville, OH           5  16-02   30
Day 1: 3   08-13     Day 2: 2   07-05
172. Dalton Smith           Taylorsville, KY         5  16-01   29
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 5   16-01
173. Keith Tuma             Brainerd, MN             6  15-00   28
Day 1: 5   12-08     Day 2: 1   02-08
174. Elijah Benson          Dahlonega, GA            5  14-09   27
Day 1: 5   14-09     Day 2: 0   00-00
175. Russ Lane              Prattville, AL           6  14-09   26
Day 1: 2   04-11     Day 2: 4   09-14
176. Seiji Kato             Los Alamitos CA JAPAN    6  14-08   25
Day 1: 5   12-14     Day 2: 1   01-10
177. Kevin Dritschler       Prosper, TX              5  14-05   24
Day 1: 5   14-05     Day 2: 0   00-00
178. Todd Auten             Clover, SC               6  14-00   23
Day 1: 3   05-08     Day 2: 3   08-08
179. Byron Kenney Jr        Monticello, GA           5  13-07   22
Day 1: 1   02-03     Day 2: 4   11-04
180. Derek Lehtonen         Woodruff, SC             4  13-06   21
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 4   13-06
181. Lance Crawford         Broken Bow, OK           6  13-00   20
Day 1: 2   05-09     Day 2: 4   07-07
182. Jason Abram            Piney Flats, TN          5  12-10   19
Day 1: 5   12-10     Day 2: 0   00-00
183. Scott Kerslake         Okeechobee, FL           5  12-07   18
Day 1: 3   07-10     Day 2: 2   04-13
184. Nathan Thompson        Eagan, MN                3  12-05   17
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 3   12-05
185. Bruce Parsons          Arbela, MO               5  12-03   16
Day 1: 5   12-03     Day 2: 0   00-00
186. Trey Schroeder         Theodosia, MO            4  11-15   15
Day 1: 4   11-15     Day 2: 0   00-00
187. Takayuki Koike         Otsu-City JAPAN          5  11-13   14
Day 1: 2   05-01     Day 2: 3   06-12
188. Tim Tyndell            Mineola, TX              4  11-10   13
Day 1: 1   01-07     Day 2: 3   10-03
189. Jackson Swisher        Lake City, FL            3  11-08   12
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 3   11-08
190. Emil Wagner            Marietta, GA             4  11-08   11
Day 1: 2   04-03     Day 2: 2   07-05
191. Gary Clouse            Winchester, TN           4  11-05   10
Day 1: 2   06-15     Day 2: 2   04-06
192. Teb Jones              Yalaha, MS               5  11-00    9
Day 1: 1   02-07     Day 2: 4   08-09
193. Satoshi Egawa          Fort Lee, NJ             3  10-15    8
Day 1: 2   08-08     Day 2: 1   02-07
194. Horace Scott Jr        Sumter, SC               3  10-13    7
Day 1: 2   08-02     Day 2: 1   02-11
195. Michael Rowe           Providence Forge, VA     5  10-12    6
Day 1: 5   10-12     Day 2: 0   00-00
196. Billy Charland         Lakeland, FL             4  10-07    5
Day 1: 4   10-07     Day 2: 0   00-00
197. Ray Hashimoto          Shakopee, MN             4  10-07    4
Day 1: 2   04-03     Day 2: 2   06-04
198. Stan Gunter            Saluda, SC               4  10-03    3
Day 1: 2   03-04     Day 2: 2   06-15
199. Bart Stanisz           Austin, TX               3  09-13    2
Day 1: 1   02-10     Day 2: 2   07-03
200. Billy Gilbert          Hamburg, NY              3  09-11    1
Day 1: 2   08-04     Day 2: 1   01-07
201. Destry Ford            Tuscaloosa, AL           2  09-01    0
Day 1: 2   09-01     Day 2: 0   00-00
202. Parker Mott            Winter Garden, FL        2  08-15    0
Day 1: 1   06-01     Day 2: 1   02-14
203. Brad Knight            Lancing, TN              3  08-09    0
Day 1: 3   08-09     Day 2: 0   00-00
204. Charlie Hartley        Grove City, OH           3  08-00    0
Day 1: 1   02-11     Day 2: 2   05-05
205. Chancy Walters         West Des Moines, IA      3  07-10    0
Day 1: 1   02-05     Day 2: 2   05-05
206. Lafe Messer            Warfield, KY             3  07-08    0
Day 1: 3   07-08     Day 2: 0   00-00
207. Clint Leonard Jr       Saint Cloud, FL          3  06-09    0
Day 1: 2   03-11     Day 2: 1   02-14
208. Kyle Monti             Okeechobee, FL           3  06-07    0
Day 1: 3   06-07     Day 2: 0   00-00
209. Angela Mayo            Maiden, NC               3  06-01    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 3   06-01
210. Chris Cline            Stafford, VA             3  06-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 3   06-00
211. Tony Dumitras          Winston, GA              2  05-14    0
Day 1: 2   05-14     Day 2: 0   00-00
212. Rick Pierce            Mountain Home, AR        2  04-04    0
Day 1: 2   04-04     Day 2: 0   00-00
213. Stacey Jefferson       Conway, SC               1  04-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 1   04-00
214. Dawson Wisner          Palatka, FL              1  03-14    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 1   03-14
215. Anastasia Patterson    Sumter, SC               1  03-01    0
Day 1: 1   03-01     Day 2: 0   00-00
216. Wyatt Wimberley        Broaddus, TX             1  02-08    0
Day 1: 1   02-08     Day 2: 0   00-00
216. Kyle Zacharuk          Keswick Ontario CANADA   1  02-08    0
Day 1: 1   02-08     Day 2: 0   00-00
218. Travis Turcotte        Pembroke CANADA          1  01-05    0
Day 1: 1   01-05     Day 2: 0   00-00
219. Allen Brooks           Canton, GA               0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00
219. Phillip Kroll          Otego, NY                0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00
219. Dylan Mayo             Athens, TX               0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00
219. Harry Moore            Valley, AL               0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00
219. Brian Mullaney         Ijamsville, MD           0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1       133       854      2991-02
2       115       798      2796-11
----------------------------------
248      1652      5787-13

2024 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Santee Cooper Lakes presented by SEVIIN 3/7-3/9
Santee Cooper Lakes, Manning  SC.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 2

Angler                   Hometown              No./lbs-oz  Pts   Total $$$

1.  Wendell Causey Jr      Irmo, SC                 6  28-05  200  $13,827.00
Day 1: 3   15-11     Day 2: 3   12-10
2.  Chad Stahl             Barnesville, GA          6  25-06  199   $3,253.00
Day 1: 3   13-12     Day 2: 3   11-10
3.  Derek Brundle          Wareham, MA              6  22-01  198   $2,440.00
Day 1: 3   11-09     Day 2: 3   10-08
4.  Mitchell Pare          Statesboro, GA           6  21-09  197   $1,830.00
Day 1: 3   05-01     Day 2: 3   16-08
5.  Todd Keisler           Columbia, SC             6  20-13  196   $1,708.00
Day 1: 3   09-01     Day 2: 3   11-12
6.  Niko Romero            Coldspring, TX           6  20-13  195   $1,627.00
Day 1: 3   11-08     Day 2: 3   09-05
7.  Tommy Milligan         Little River, SC         6  20-03  194   $1,545.00
Day 1: 3   10-12     Day 2: 3   09-07
8.  Patrick Tierney        Denver, NC               6  19-05  193   $1,464.00
Day 1: 3   10-05     Day 2: 3   09-00
9.  Kyle Jenkins           Summerville, SC          5  18-14  192   $1,342.00
Day 1: 3   12-06     Day 2: 2   06-08
10. Larry Fleeman          Shelby, NC               4  17-14  191   $1,220.00
Day 1: 1   05-05     Day 2: 3   12-09
11. Donald Biggs           Murphysboro, IL          5  16-04  190   $1,139.00
Day 1: 2   05-06     Day 2: 3   10-14
12. Bill Beard             Moreland, GA             4  15-11  189   $1,057.00
Day 1: 3   12-15     Day 2: 1   02-12
13. Brandon Jeffcoat       Irmo, SC                 4  15-08  188     $895.00
Day 1: 1   02-05     Day 2: 3   13-03
14. Gordon Smith           Clover, SC               5  15-08  187     $813.00
Day 1: 3   08-11     Day 2: 2   06-13
15. Jason Gibson           Iron Station, NC         4  15-02  186     $732.00
Day 1: 1   01-05     Day 2: 3   13-13
16. Andrew Fuller          Marietta, GA             6  14-14  185     $651.00
Day 1: 3   08-09     Day 2: 3   06-05
17. Bobby Williams         Salisbury, NC            5  14-12  184     $610.00
Day 1: 3   10-14     Day 2: 2   03-14
18. Michael Leach          Shenandoah, TX           4  13-15  183     $610.00
Day 1: 1   05-08     Day 2: 3   08-07
19. Jimmy Brumfield        Madison, MS              5  13-14  182     $610.00
Day 1: 2   07-03     Day 2: 3   06-11
20. Albert Jones  Jr       Covington, GA            4  13-13  181     $610.00
Day 1: 1   02-13     Day 2: 3   11-00
21. Ricky Fulk             Shenandoah, VA           4  13-11  180     $569.00
Day 1: 3   10-00     Day 2: 1   03-11
22. Larry Beauboeuf        Bossier City, LA         5  13-08  179     $569.00
Day 1: 3   06-14     Day 2: 2   06-10
23. Tim Chadwick           Mount Pleasant, SC       3  13-03  178     $569.00
Day 1: 1   01-09     Day 2: 2   11-10
24. Mark Aaron             Gastonia, NC             5  13-03  177     $569.00
Day 1: 2   05-02     Day 2: 3   08-01
25. Bart Beasley           Mount Pleasant, SC       4  13-02  176     $569.00
Day 1: 3   11-04     Day 2: 1   01-14
26. Mike Spears            Jasper, AL               4  13-02  175     $488.00
Day 1: 3   09-13     Day 2: 1   03-05
27. Randy Gibson Jr        Moncks Corner, SC        4  13-01  174     $488.00
Day 1: 1   04-15     Day 2: 3   08-02
28. William Baker          Ridgeway, SC             5  12-14  173     $488.00
Day 1: 3   09-00     Day 2: 2   03-14
29. Troy Mims              Suwanee, GA              3  12-11  172     $488.00
Day 1: 3   12-11     Day 2: 0   00-00
30. Jason Barber           Gun Barrel City, TX      3  12-06  171     $488.00
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 3   12-06
31. Carl Hunter            Snellville, GA           4  12-06  170     $447.00
Day 1: 3   10-11     Day 2: 1   01-11
32. Jimmy Obrien           Southampton, NY          2  12-03  169     $447.00
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 2   12-03
33. Matt Champion          Scottsville, NY          3  11-12  168     $447.00
Day 1: 1   02-11     Day 2: 2   09-01
34. Jimmy Hayes            Fayetteville, NC         4  11-06  167     $447.00
Day 1: 3   09-04     Day 2: 1   02-02
35. Clancy Hefferly        Travelers Rest, SC       5  11-04  166     $447.00
Day 1: 3   05-01     Day 2: 2   06-03
36. Mike Steckel           Las Vegas, NV            4  10-15  165     $447.00
Day 1: 3   09-01     Day 2: 1   01-14
37. Alex  Watts            Salem, VA                4  10-12  164     $447.00
Day 1: 1   01-12     Day 2: 3   09-00
38. Keith Vonderhaar       Monticello, GA           2  10-08  163     $447.00
Day 1: 2   10-08     Day 2: 0   00-00
39. William Stallings      Midlothian, VA           4  10-08  162     $447.00
Day 1: 3   08-11     Day 2: 1   01-13
40. Brian Langford         Petersburg, VA           3  10-05  161     $447.00
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 3   10-05
41. Frank Williams         Mountain Home, AR        4  10-01  160
Day 1: 2   06-05     Day 2: 2   03-12
42. Gary Haraguchi         Murfreesboro, TN         3  10-00  159
Day 1: 1   02-04     Day 2: 2   07-12
43. Sawyer Hunt            Springfield, GA          3  09-11  158
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 3   09-11
44. Lukas Matt             Syracuse, NY             2  09-09  157
Day 1: 1   06-15     Day 2: 1   02-10
45. Meredith Havird        Ninety Six, SC           3  09-07  156
Day 1: 3   09-07     Day 2: 0   00-00
45. Geoff Tuck             Huddleston, VA           3  09-07  156
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 3   09-07
47. Dusty Wood             Belton, SC               3  09-03  154
Day 1: 1   04-10     Day 2: 2   04-09
48. Garrett Vick           Lake Worth, FL           3  08-14  153
Day 1: 3   08-14     Day 2: 0   00-00
49. Mekye Barnes           Knightdale, NC           3  08-13  152
Day 1: 3   08-13     Day 2: 0   00-00
50. David Waack            Cary, NC                 3  08-11  151
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 3   08-11
51. Parker Knudsen         Minnetonka, MN           2  08-07  150
Day 1: 2   08-07     Day 2: 0   00-00
52. James Tilley           Aylett, VA               3  08-02  149
Day 1: 2   06-02     Day 2: 1   02-00
53. Charles Christman      Sanford, NC              3  07-15  148
Day 1: 3   07-15     Day 2: 0   00-00
54. Richard Greene         Ocala, FL                3  07-11  147
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 3   07-11
55. Jonathan Barnette      Jasper, AL               3  07-06  146
Day 1: 2   05-15     Day 2: 1   01-07
56. Clayton Lowder IV      Mayesville, SC           1  07-04  145     $250.00
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 1   07-04
57. Wesly Fogle            Neeses, SC               2  07-01  144
Day 1: 1   05-02     Day 2: 1   01-15
58. Tristan Bramblett      Tiger, GA                3  07-00  143
Day 1: 1   02-04     Day 2: 2   04-12
59. Eric Camarote          The Villages, FL         2  06-14  142
Day 1: 1   02-10     Day 2: 1   04-04
60. Mike Sather            Beech Island, SC         3  06-12  141
Day 1: 3   06-12     Day 2: 0   00-00
61. Rodney Jordan          Sumter, SC               3  06-04  140
Day 1: 1   02-11     Day 2: 2   03-09
62. Shane Davis            Jacksonville, FL         2  05-15  139
Day 1: 2   05-15     Day 2: 0   00-00
63. Robert Richbourg       Summerton, SC            2  05-15  138
Day 1: 1   04-01     Day 2: 1   01-14
64. Wil Flack              Sorrento, FL             2  05-14  137
Day 1: 1   01-14     Day 2: 1   04-00
65. John Lewis             Centreville, VA          2  05-11  136
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 2   05-11
66. Alex Dempsey           Orangeburg, SC           3  05-10  135
Day 1: 1   01-15     Day 2: 2   03-11
67. Regan Coffey           North Chesterfield, VA   2  05-08  134
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 2   05-08
68. Bob Hanna Jr           Corsicana, TX            3  05-04  133
Day 1: 3   05-04     Day 2: 0   00-00
69. Michael Clardy         Lyman, SC                2  05-04  132
Day 1: 1   02-00     Day 2: 1   03-04
70. Cody Richardson        Gautier, MS              2  05-01  131
Day 1: 1   02-12     Day 2: 1   02-05
71. Bill Lackey            Taylorsville, NC         3  05-00  130
Day 1: 1   02-01     Day 2: 2   02-15
72. Cameron Polley         Hot Springs, AR          3  04-12  129
Day 1: 2   03-02     Day 2: 1   01-10
73. Andy Simm              Piney Flats, TN          2  04-10  128
Day 1: 1   03-06     Day 2: 1   01-04
74. Ray Hill               Lake City, FL            1  04-09  127
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 1   04-09
74. Mark Winfield          Eatonton, GA             1  04-09  127
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 1   04-09
76. Hays Reeling           Waukesha, WI             2  04-05  125
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 2   04-05
77. Steve Deyton           Forest City, NC          2  04-05  124
Day 1: 1   02-02     Day 2: 1   02-03
78. Michael Rustin         Henrico, VA              2  04-01  123
Day 1: 1   02-01     Day 2: 1   02-00
79. Julian Gordon-Smith    Rochester, NY            2  03-15  122
Day 1: 1   01-12     Day 2: 1   02-03
80. David Deciucis         CHESTER, VA              2  03-14  121
Day 1: 1   01-10     Day 2: 1   02-04
81. Sakae Ushio            Tonawanda, NY            1  03-13  120
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 1   03-13
82. Bradley Brooks         Easley, SC               2  03-12  119
Day 1: 2   03-12     Day 2: 0   00-00
83. Byong Lee              Stedman, NC              1  03-12  118
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 1   03-12
84. Buck Deese             Lexington, SC            1  03-11  117
Day 1: 1   03-11     Day 2: 0   00-00
85. Cody Russell           Summerton, SC            1  03-07  116
Day 1: 1   03-07     Day 2: 0   00-00
86. Daniel Vasquez         Boynton Beach, FL        1  03-06  115
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 1   03-06
86. David Watkins          St.Marys, WV             1  03-06  115
Day 1: 1   03-06     Day 2: 0   00-00
88. John Mortimer          Mount Pleasant, SC       1  03-03  113
Day 1: 1   03-03     Day 2: 0   00-00
89. Dan McGarry            Leland, NC               1  03-02  112
Day 1: 1   03-02     Day 2: 0   00-00
90. Harold Addison II      Columbia, SC             1  02-14  111
Day 1: 1   02-14     Day 2: 0   00-00
91. Gary Mccaroll          Fayetteville, NC         2  02-11  110
Day 1: 2   02-11     Day 2: 0   00-00
92. Gerald Robbins Jr.     Asheboro, NC             1  02-10  109
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 1   02-10
93. Steven Smith           Logan, OH                1  02-09  108
Day 1: 1   02-09     Day 2: 0   00-00
94. Bradley Sterner        Manchester, PA           1  02-08  107
Day 1: 1   02-08     Day 2: 0   00-00
95. Lee Mcginn             Southport, NC            1  02-06  106
Day 1: 1   02-06     Day 2: 0   00-00
96. Brandon Clayton        Haslet , TX              1  02-05  105
Day 1: 1   02-05     Day 2: 0   00-00
97. Dehn Ganey             Bonneau, SC              1  02-04  104
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 1   02-04
98. Judd Bolen             Summerton, SC            1  02-03  103
Day 1: 1   02-03     Day 2: 0   00-00
99. Bill Bruce             Hendersonville, TN       1  01-15  102
Day 1: 1   01-15     Day 2: 0   00-00
99. Chip Stith Jr          Piscataway, NJ           1  01-15  102
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 1   01-15
101. Hayden Spradling       Gilbert, AZ              1  01-14  100
Day 1: 1   01-14     Day 2: 0   00-00
102. Brandon Parson         Erwin, NC                1  01-13   99
Day 1: 1   01-13     Day 2: 0   00-00
103. Jeff Cox               Denver, NC               1  01-05   98
Day 1: 1   01-05     Day 2: 0   00-00
104. Greg Atkinson          Lugoff, SC               0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00
104. Charles Bowman II      Kernersville, NC

by AnglersChannel

McKinney wins Bassmaster Elite Series event at Lake Fork with fourth-highest weight ever caught

March 3, 2024

McKinney wins Bassmaster Elite Series event at Lake Fork with fourth-highest weight ever caught

YANTIS, Texas – Trey McKinney made history, with authority, on Championship Sunday at the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Lake Fork.

The Carbondale, Ill., native, exactly one week removed from his 19th birthday, finished with a four-day total of 20 bass weighing 130 pounds, 15 ounces, outlasting the field of 103 anglers in what was one of the most productive tournaments in the history of competitive bass fishing.

He became the youngest winner in Elite Series history and earned $100,000, while missing the all-time record for total weight in a four-day B.A.S.S. event — set by Paul Elias on Falcon Lake in Texas in 2008 — by just 1 pound, 9 ounces.

“This is crazy to even be up here, much less come that close to setting the all-time tournament record,” McKinney said. “To think, that one more fish and I could have had it. I lost a 7 1/2-pounder yesterday that would have given me 33 pounds and enough weight to break it.

“But I couldn’t be happier. This lake is just awesome. It was stressful and I had adrenaline. I was really spinning out today when I had 28 pounds and didn’t know if I had enough to win. I knew I had to have more.”

McKinney’s total was the fourth-highest produced in a four-day tournament in B.A.S.S. history, trailing Elias and two other angler who each caught more than 131 pounds at that historic 2008 event at Falcon.

The tournament on Lake Fork was only McKinney’s second since qualifying for the Elite Series. The rookie caught more than 30 pounds each day (the only angler to do so this week), posting totals of 33-11, 33-10 and 30-0 before closing with another 33-10 limit to clinch the win on Championship Sunday.

McKinney figured he could get the extra weight in his favored spot of the week, but it was filled with locals when he arrived there Sunday morning, compounding his stress. Then, showing a maturity beyond his age, he slowed down and considered his options.

He settled into a small pocket just a stone’s throw from the Caney Point Recreation Area where daily takeoffs and weigh-ins were held. He noticed the small cove earlier in the week, but didn’t rely on it until the final minutes of the tournament.

What a choice.

“It was just loaded in there,” he said. “I finally wound up catching one more that weighed 7-6 and that put me over 33 pounds overall with 30 minutes left to fish. I had a feeling it was gonna happen right there, and it just worked out perfectly.”

McKinney adjusted to rapidly changing conditions on Championship Sunday, just like every other day of the shootout on Fork. He caught his Day 4 bass using a Strike King KVD Ocho stickbait with 8-pound Seaguar Tatsu line on a St. Croix 7-foot medium-heavy Legend X rod. Earlier in the week, he hooked his biggest bass using a St. Croix Physyx 7-1 medium rod with a Strike King Z Too lure on 10-pound Seaguar Tatsu line.

“The Lowrance ActiveTarget was essential to finding these fish up on the shallow flats, too,” McKinney said. “I started the tournament fishing in 20 to 30 feet of water and then today, I was in 4 feet … They were moving off the timber toward the bank. I had to follow them.”

Each of the 10 Elites who survived the final Phoenix Boats Cutline became members of the Century Club, meaning they caught more than 100 pounds of bass over four days. It was only the second time in history that has happened, with the historic 2008 tournament on Falcon the only comparison. A total of 12 competitors surpassed the 100-pound mark in the Falcon event, which featured a final-day cut of 12 instead of 10.

McKinney, who led here after Day 2 and Day 3, fell from atop the leaderboard early on Sunday, but he regained the upper hand when he hooked a 6-7 largemouth just after noon. Justin Hamner, of Northport, Ala., jumped into second place soon after with a gigantic 11-7 largemouth that pulled him within 18 ounces of the lead.

But then McKinney closed with his 7-13 and pulled away again.

Tyler Rivet, of Raceland, La., finished second with 125-9. Hamner finished third with 124-10 and his 11-7 was the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the day and the tournament, earning him an additional $3,000 in prize money.

Rivet’s 125-9 is the eighth-highest four-day weight in B.A.S.S history. Hamner’s 124-10 is ninth all-time and Tyler Williams’ 124-9 is 10th.

Lake Fork has now produced 19 Century Club members, passing Falcon (15) for most in B.A.S.S. history.

With only two of the nine Elite Series tournaments completed, the race for Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year is just beginning.

After his victory, McKinney tied Texas pro Ben Milliken for the AOY lead with 195 points and Patrick Walters of South Carolina follows closely with 194 points.

McKinney and Milliken also lead the race for Dakota Lithium Rookie of the Year.

Japan's Taku Ito won the Rapala CrushCity Monster Bag of the tournament for his 39-1 Day 1 catch, earning him an additional $2,000.

McKinney earned an extra $4,000 for the Yamaha Power Pay contingency award while Williams earned a $2,500 bonus.

McKinney also earned $3,000 in Toyota Bonus Bucks, second-place Rivet earned $2,000 in Bonus Bucks.

This event was hosted by Wood County Texas.

2024 Bassmaster Elite Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2024 Bassmaster Elite Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Progressive Insurance, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2024 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Marathon, Triton Boats, VMC

About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, 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), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Team Championship, Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series scored by TourneyX, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors.

-30-

Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.

Media Contact: Mandy Pascal, Managing Editor, 205-313-0955, mpascal@bassmaster.com

2024 AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Lake Fork 2/29-3/3
Lake Fork, Yantis  TX.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 4

Angler                   Hometown              No./lbs-oz  Pts   Total $$$

1.  Trey McKinney          Carbondale, IL          20 130-15  103 $101,000.00
Day 1: 5   33-11     Day 2: 5   33-10     Day 3: 5   30-00     Day 4: 5   33-10
2.  Tyler Rivet            Raceland, LA            20 125-09  102  $35,000.00
Day 1: 5   31-05     Day 2: 5   29-13     Day 3: 5   31-13     Day 4: 5   32-10
3.  Justin Hamner          Northport, AL           20 124-10  101  $33,000.00
Day 1: 5   33-05     Day 2: 5   27-08     Day 3: 5   30-06     Day 4: 5   33-07
4.  Tyler Williams         Belgrade, ME            20 124-09  100  $25,000.00
Day 1: 5   30-04     Day 2: 5   30-09     Day 3: 5   33-14     Day 4: 5   29-14
5.  Justin Atkins          Florence, AL            20 117-12   99  $20,000.00
Day 1: 5   32-11     Day 2: 5   29-02     Day 3: 5   28-03     Day 4: 5   27-12
6.  Stetson Blaylock       Benton, AR              20 117-11   98  $19,000.00
Day 1: 5   37-06     Day 2: 5   19-04     Day 3: 5   35-13     Day 4: 5   25-04
7.  Wesley Gore            Clanton, AL             20 115-09   97  $19,000.00
Day 1: 5   32-02     Day 2: 5   26-14     Day 3: 5   27-05     Day 4: 5   29-04
8.  Ben Milliken           New Caney, TX           20 113-12   96  $18,000.00
Day 1: 5   32-13     Day 2: 5   25-04     Day 3: 5   29-02     Day 4: 5   26-09
9.  Kyle Patrick           Cooperstown, NY         20 111-14   95  $16,000.00
Day 1: 5   31-15     Day 2: 5   28-05     Day 3: 5   30-01     Day 4: 5   21-09
10. Cooper Gallant         Bowmanville Ontario CAN 17 100-07   94  $15,000.00
Day 1: 4   28-04     Day 2: 5   30-13     Day 3: 5   28-15     Day 4: 3   12-07
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1   Wesley Gore              Clanton, AL         10-09      $1,000.00
2   JT Thompkins             Myrtle Beach, SC    09-13      $1,000.00
3   Ben Milliken             New Caney, TX       09-10      $1,000.00
4   Justin Hamner            Northport, AL       11-07      $1,000.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Justin Hamner            Northport, AL       11-07      $2,000.00
CRUSHCITY MONSTER BAG

Taku Ito                 Dalton, GA          39-01      $2,000.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1        83       474      2224-07
2        81       464      2126-14
3        48       246      1204-14
4         9        48       272-06
----------------------------------
221      1232      5828-09

by AnglersChannel

Another big catch gives McKinney the lead at Bassmaster Elite Series event on Lake Fork

March 1, 2024

Another big catch gives McKinney the lead at Bassmaster Elite Series event on Lake Fork

YANTIS, Texas — Just when you thought the fishing at the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Lake Fork couldn’t get better, it did.

Fifteen of the 103 anglers in the field caught 30 pounds or more on Day 2 of this four-day derby in the northeast corner of the Lone Star State. That was up from a total of 14 who caught 30 pounds or more on Thursday to start competition on the 27,000-acre fishery.

Trey McKinney, the 19-year-old wunderkind from Carbondale, Ill., leads with 10 bass totaling 67 pounds, 5 ounces. He was in fourth place after Day 1 with a 33-11 limit and held steady with a nearly identical 33-10 limit a day later.

McKinney is an Elite Series rookie who qualified for the tour through the 2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN. After finishing third in the Tackle Warehouse Elite Qualifiers division of the Opens, he’s the youngest angler to ever qualify for the Elites — and he’s already displaying a mastery beyond his years.

Not only does he have the lead at the halfway point of this tournament, but he has the best story of the derby to date, too.

It happened early Friday when a heavy 5-pounder broke off one of his favored jerkbaits. The misfortune briefly dampened the 19-year-old’s spirits. But an hour later, he caught the same bass, adding nearly 6 pounds to his Day 2 total.

He also got his jerkbait back — part of another amazing day for the teenager on this fabled fishery.

“I grabbed his lip and my jerkbait is staring me in the face,” McKinney said, shaking his head in near disbelief. “And I caught him the second time on the same kind of jerkbait. It was crazy. He had two baits in his mouth. He could barely fit the second one in there, but he was determined.”

McKinney didn’t offer specifics about which jerkbaits he’s using, but he did say he’s deploying them in two different ways.

“I’ve got one that sinks and one that suspends” he said. “It just depends on what kind of mood they’re in. You have to read them to know which one to use … It’s a feeling really. For the less active fish, I like to use the suspended one.”

McKinney also said he’s opting occasionally for a Strike King Z Too to excite Fork’s best bass.

Friday began much like Day 1, with temperatures in the 40s. The weather warmed throughout the day, however, and by midday, it was in the mid-60s and Day 1’s stiff winds had dissipated.

“Today, I think the fish were feeling the pressure,” McKinney said. “These conditions have been crazy, so the fish are moving around a lot. They want the bank, but they can’t quite get there. So, these next two days are going to be very interesting. We’ll have to make some changes, no question. Hopefully I make the right ones.”

Matty Wong, who was in sixth place after Day 1, caught his second 30-pound limit in as many days, and is in second place with 63-10. The 36-year-old Honolulu native caught 33-2 on Thursday and was hoping for some of the same cold and blustery weather that aided his bite.

Warmer temps and bluebird skies didn’t hurt his bite one bit, though, as he tacked on a 30-8 limit Friday. A personal best of 9-3, which he caught just before 10 a.m., anchored his Day 2 bag.

“I’m keying on prespawning fish and I think these cold mornings have got them up where they need to be,” Wong said. “These fish are trying to feed up their eggs, and I think I’m cutting them off as they move in … And there are more fish coming. I dumped two really good ones today that could’ve given me 40 pounds.”

Justin Atkins, a 33-year-old pro from Florence, Ala., is in third place with 61-13. He followed a 32-11 total on Thursday with 29-2 on Friday.

“The wind made it harder to fish, but I think it got them more active,” Atkins said of the main difference he saw between the first two days of the derby.

“When you get your bait out there by them, they seem a little more anxious to just get it. But today, I really had to coax them. The biggest one I caught, I bet my bait had been out there more than a minute before it finally bit. The slick conditions today just made them come up, get high on the timber, get on the bed — all the things you want. I’ll take these conditions the next two days, without a doubt.”

Wesley Gore, of Clanton, Ala., maintains his lead for the Phoenix Boats Big Bass prize with the 10-9 largemouth he caught on Day 1. Rookie JT Thompkins, of Myrtle Beach, S.C., had the big bass on Day 2 (a 9-13 lunker).

Four Elite Series rookies are in the Top 10 heading into Semifinal Saturday, including six of the Top 12. The Top 50 anglers after Friday’s action survived the Phoenix Boats Cutline and will fish on Day 3.

After Saturday’s competition, the Top 10 will advance to Championship Sunday to fish for the tournament title and the accompanying $100,000 prize.

Follow all the live action on FS1 from 8-11:30 a.m. and on Bassmaster.com from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. On Championship Sunday, watch live coverage on FS1 from 8-11 a.m. and on Bassmaster.com again from 9-4 p.m.

This event is being hosted by Wood County Texas.

2024 Bassmaster Elite Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2024 Bassmaster Elite Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Progressive Insurance, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2024 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Marathon, Triton Boats, VMC

About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, 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), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Team Championship, Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series scored by TourneyX, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors.

-30-

Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.

Media Contact: Mandy Pascal, Managing Editor, 205-313-0955, mpascal@bassmaster.com

2024 AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Lake Fork 2/29-3/3
Lake Fork, Yantis  TX.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 2

Angler                   Hometown              No./lbs-oz  Pts   Total $$$

1.  Trey McKinney          Carbondale, IL          10  67-05  103
Day 1: 5   33-11     Day 2: 5   33-10
2.  Matty Wong             Honolulu, HI            10  63-10  102
Day 1: 5   33-02     Day 2: 5   30-08
3.  Justin Atkins          Florence, AL            10  61-13  101
Day 1: 5   32-11     Day 2: 5   29-02
4.  Taku Ito               Dalton GA JAPAN         10  61-10  100
Day 1: 5   39-01     Day 2: 5   22-09
5.  Tyler Rivet            Raceland, LA            10  61-02   99
Day 1: 5   31-05     Day 2: 5   29-13
6.  JT Thompkins           Myrtle Beach, SC        10  60-14   98   $1,000.00
Day 1: 5   25-13     Day 2: 5   35-01
7.  Justin Hamner          Northport, AL           10  60-13   97
Day 1: 5   33-05     Day 2: 5   27-08
8.  Tyler Williams         Belgrade, ME            10  60-13   96
Day 1: 5   30-04     Day 2: 5   30-09
9.  Kyle Patrick           Cooperstown, NY         10  60-04   95
Day 1: 5   31-15     Day 2: 5   28-05
10. Cooper Gallant         Bowmanville Ontario CAN  9  59-01   94
Day 1: 4   28-04     Day 2: 5   30-13
11. Wesley Gore            Clanton, AL             10  59-00   93   $1,000.00
Day 1: 5   32-02     Day 2: 5   26-14
12. Ben Milliken           New Caney, TX           10  58-01   92
Day 1: 5   32-13     Day 2: 5   25-04
13. Cory Johnston          Otonabee CANADA         10  57-05   91
Day 1: 5   29-12     Day 2: 5   27-09
14. Stetson Blaylock       Benton, AR              10  56-10   90
Day 1: 5   37-06     Day 2: 5   19-04
15. Will Davis Jr          Sylacauga, AL           10  56-10   89
Day 1: 5   29-09     Day 2: 5   27-01
16. Paul Mueller           Naugatuck, CT           10  55-15   88
Day 1: 5   24-11     Day 2: 5   31-04
17. Chris Johnston         Otonabee Ontario CANADA 10  55-12   87
Day 1: 5   20-01     Day 2: 5   35-11
18. Jacob Foutz            Charleston, TN          10  55-10   86
Day 1: 5   26-01     Day 2: 5   29-09
19. Jordan Lee             Cullman, AL             10  54-03   85
Day 1: 5   21-05     Day 2: 5   32-14
20. Kyle Welcher           Valley, AL              10  54-01   84
Day 1: 5   20-15     Day 2: 5   33-02
21. Logan Parks            Auburn, AL              10  53-14   83
Day 1: 5   23-04     Day 2: 5   30-10
22. Kyle Norsetter         Cottage Grove, WI        9  52-03   82
Day 1: 5   35-08     Day 2: 4   16-11
23. Kyoya Fujita           Yamanashi CA JAPAN      10  51-11   81
Day 1: 5   29-06     Day 2: 5   22-05
24. Brandon Card           Salisbury, NC            9  51-09   80
Day 1: 4   28-05     Day 2: 5   23-04
25. John Garrett           Union City, TN           9  50-15   79
Day 1: 4   20-11     Day 2: 5   30-04
26. Jonathan Kelley        Old Forge, PA           10  50-15   78
Day 1: 5   25-10     Day 2: 5   25-05
27. Patrick Walters        Eutawville, SC          10  50-14   77
Day 1: 5   18-06     Day 2: 5   32-08
28. Brandon Palaniuk       Rathdrum, ID            10  50-06   76
Day 1: 5   26-02     Day 2: 5   24-04
29. Brandon Cobb           Greenwood, SC           10  49-12   75
Day 1: 5   19-10     Day 2: 5   30-02
30. Seth Feider            New Market, MN          10  49-04   74
Day 1: 5   24-08     Day 2: 5   24-12
31. Keith Combs            Huntington, TX          10  49-02   73
Day 1: 5   31-04     Day 2: 5   17-14
32. Jacob Powroznik        North Prince George, VA 10  48-11   72
Day 1: 5   24-01     Day 2: 5   24-10
33. Derek Hudnall          Zachary, LA             10  48-08   71
Day 1: 5   29-05     Day 2: 5   19-03
34. Hank Cherry Jr         Lincolnton, NC          10  47-09   70
Day 1: 5   21-15     Day 2: 5   25-10
35. Shane LeHew            Catawba, NC             10  47-05   69
Day 1: 5   21-04     Day 2: 5   26-01
36. KJ Queen               Catawba, NC             10  47-00   68
Day 1: 5   22-15     Day 2: 5   24-01
37. Drew Cook              Cairo, GA               10  46-15   67
Day 1: 5   25-12     Day 2: 5   21-03
38. Hunter Shryock         Ooltewah, TN            10  46-10   66
Day 1: 5   30-11     Day 2: 5   15-15
39. Jay Przekurat          Plover, WI              10  46-01   65
Day 1: 5   21-09     Day 2: 5   24-08
40. Buddy Gross            Chattanooga, TN          9  45-13   64
Day 1: 4   14-13     Day 2: 5   31-00
41. Cody Huff              Ava, MO                  9  45-06   63
Day 1: 4   12-01     Day 2: 5   33-05
42. Greg Hackney           Gonzales, LA            10  45-06   62
Day 1: 5   23-02     Day 2: 5   22-04
43. Chris Zaldain          Fort Worth, TX          10  44-15   61
Day 1: 5   21-15     Day 2: 5   23-00
44. Jason Williamson       Aiken, SC               10  44-13   60
Day 1: 5   23-13     Day 2: 5   21-00
45. Mark Menendez          Paducah, KY             10  44-05   59
Day 1: 5   27-07     Day 2: 5   16-14
46. Matt Arey              Shelby, NC              10  44-04   58
Day 1: 5   25-00     Day 2: 5   19-04
47. Drew Benton            Panama City, FL         10  44-04   57
Day 1: 5   20-15     Day 2: 5   23-05
48. Brock Mosley           Collinsville, MS        10  43-10   56
Day 1: 5   20-01     Day 2: 5   23-09
49. Bryant Smith           Roseville, CA            9  43-03   55
Day 1: 4   13-01     Day 2: 5   30-02
50. Cole Sands             Calhoun , TN            10  42-15   54
Day 1: 5   14-10     Day 2: 5   28-05
51. Bill Lowen             Brookville, IN          10  42-05   53   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   17-03     Day 2: 5   25-02
52. Frank Talley           Belton, TX              10  42-04   52   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   26-01     Day 2: 5   16-03
53. Scott Martin           Clewiston, FL           10  42-01   51   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   24-01     Day 2: 5   18-00
54. Bryan Schmitt          Deale, MD               10  41-15   50   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   21-10     Day 2: 5   20-05
55. Jamie Hartman          Newport, NY             10  41-12   49   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   23-02     Day 2: 5   18-10
56. Koby Kreiger           Alva, FL                10  41-10   48   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   13-11     Day 2: 5   27-15
57. Wes Logan              Springville, AL         10  41-10   47   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   25-05     Day 2: 5   16-05
58. Brandon Lester         Fayetteville, TN        10  41-05   46   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   27-14     Day 2: 5   13-07
59. Jeff Gustafson         Kenora, ON Ontario CANA 10  41-00   45   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   20-14     Day 2: 5   20-02
60. Caleb Sumrall          New Iberia, LA          10  40-15   44   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   22-12     Day 2: 5   18-03
61. Alex Redwine           Blue Ash, OH             8  40-10   43   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   25-05     Day 2: 3   15-05
62. David Gaston           Sylacauga, AL           10  40-10   42   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   20-01     Day 2: 5   20-09
63. Kenta Kimura           Osaka OK JAPAN          10  40-06   41   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   20-12     Day 2: 5   19-10
64. Matt Herren            Ashville, AL            10  40-04   40   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   21-09     Day 2: 5   18-11
65. Bryan New              Leesville, SC           10  39-00   39   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   21-02     Day 2: 5   17-14
66. Marc Frazier           Newnan, GA               8  38-08   38   $2,500.00
Day 1: 3   11-00     Day 2: 5   27-08
67. Michael Iaconelli      Pitts Grove, NJ         10  38-03   37   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   21-14     Day 2: 5   16-05
68. Jason Christie         Dry Creek, OK           10  38-03   36   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   19-14     Day 2: 5   18-05
69. Luke Palmer            Coalgate, OK            10  38-00   35   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   21-11     Day 2: 5   16-05
70. Timothy Dube           Nashua , NH              9  36-14   34   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   20-09     Day 2: 4   16-05
71. John Cox               Debary, FL              10  36-09   33   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   19-00     Day 2: 5   17-09
72. Todd Auten             Clover, SC              10  36-06   32   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   19-03     Day 2: 5   17-03
73. John Soukup            Sapulpa, OK              8  36-05   31   $2,500.00
Day 1: 3   11-12     Day 2: 5   24-09
74. Clark Wendlandt        Leander, TX             10  36-05   30   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   20-00     Day 2: 5   16-05
75. Scott Canterbury       Odenville, AL           10  35-13   29   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   19-05     Day 2: 5   16-08
76. Gregory DiPalma        Millville, NJ            7  35-12   28
Day 1: 5   26-09     Day 2: 2   09-03
77. Jake Whitaker          Hendersonville, NC      10  35-12   27
Day 1: 5   19-13     Day 2: 5   15-15
78. Chad Pipkens           Dewitt, MI               9  35-07   26
Day 1: 5   23-11     Day 2: 4   11-12
79. Pat Schlapper          Eleva, WI                8  34-13   25
Day 1: 5   23-13     Day 2: 3   11-00
80. Mike Huff              London, KY               9  34-03   24
Day 1: 5   21-03     Day 2: 4   13-00
81. Ray Hanselman Jr       Del Rio, TX             10  33-12   23
Day 1: 5   17-07     Day 2: 5   16-05
82. Lee Livesay            Longview, TX             8  32-10   22
Day 1: 3   08-04     Day 2: 5   24-06
83. Steve Kennedy          Auburn, AL              10  32-04   21
Day 1: 5   20-07     Day 2: 5   11-13
84. Brad Whatley           Bivins, TX               8  31-10   20
Day 1: 5   22-00     Day 2: 3   09-10
85. Joey Cifuentes III     Clinton, AR              8  30-13   19
Day 1: 3   07-11     Day 2: 5   23-02
86. Logan Latuso           Gonzales, LA             7  29-02   18
Day 1: 4   15-06     Day 2: 3   13-12
87. Robert Gee             Knoxville, TN            6  28-10   17
Day 1: 1   02-09     Day 2: 5   26-01
88. Bob Downey             Detroit Lakes, MN        9  28-10   16
Day 1: 5   20-06     Day 2: 4   08-04
89. John Crews Jr          Salem, VA                8  28-07   15
Day 1: 5   22-09     Day 2: 3   05-14
90. Carl Jocumsen          Queensland TN AUSTRALIA  7  28-05   14
Day 1: 2   08-03     Day 2: 5   20-02
91. Bernie Schultz         Gainesville, FL          6  28-00   13
Day 1: 5   19-00     Day 2: 1   09-00
92. Rick Clunn             Ava, MO                  7  26-03   12
Day 1: 5   19-11     Day 2: 2   06-08
93. Gerald Swindle         Guntersville, AL         7  26-01   11
Day 1: 3   08-00     Day 2: 4   18-01
94. Austin Felix           Eden Prairie, MN         7  24-15   10
Day 1: 5   16-14     Day 2: 2   08-01
95. Caleb Kuphall          Mukwonago, WI            8  24-11    9
Day 1: 3   07-13     Day 2: 5   16-14
96. Cliff Prince           Palatka, FL              7  24-09    8
Day 1: 3   09-06     Day 2: 4   15-03
97. Joseph Webster         Hamilton, AL             7  22-14    7
Day 1: 5   18-12     Day 2: 2   04-02
98. Alex Wetherell         Middletown, CT           6  22-09    6
Day 1: 1   04-02     Day 2: 5   18-07
99. Clent Davis            Montevallo, AL           6  18-15    5
Day 1: 5   16-13     Day 2: 1   02-02
100. Ed Loughran III        Richmond, VA             5  18-01    4
Day 1: 1   05-15     Day 2: 4   12-02
101. Matt Robertson         Kuttawa, KY              5  16-08    3
Day 1: 5   16-08     Day 2: 0   00-00
102. Clifford Pirch         Payson, AZ               4  12-00    2
Day 1: 2   06-08     Day 2: 2   05-08
103. David Mullins          Mt Carmel, TN            3  08-06    1
Day 1: 3   08-06     Day 2: 0   00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1   Wesley Gore              Clanton, AL         10-09      $1,000.00
2   JT Thompkins             Myrtle Beach, SC    09-13      $1,000.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1        83       474      2224-07
2        81       464      2126-14
----------------------------------
164       938      4351-05

by AnglersChannel

Ito takes early lead as giants emerge on Day 1 of the Bassmaster Elite Series event at Lake Fork

February 29, 2024

Ito takes early lead as giants emerge on Day 1 of the Bassmaster Elite Series event at Lake Fork

YANTIS, Texas — Just about everyone expected to see big bags of bass this week at the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Lake Fork.

Few, however, could have predicted the absolute slugfest that took place Thursday on this 27,000-acre jewel in the northeast corner of the Lone Star State.

A whopping 14 of the 103 anglers in the field caught 30 pound or better on Day 1 of the four-day tournament. Taku Ito, of Chiba, Japan, led the way with a five-bass total of 39 pounds, 1 ounce, including a personal best 10-5 lunker largemouth he brought to the stage at Caney Point Recreation Area.

His previous best was a 10-pounder he caught in Japan.

“Today was an incredible day,” Ito said. “I caught the big one about 10 a.m. I was throwing many types of baits — a jighead, a jerkbait, Texas rigs, drop shots. I was in different kinds of water, from 25 feet to about 5 feet.”

It was an unexpected turnaround for the 37-year-old Elite pro, who said he struggled mightily during his practice days on Fork.

“It was terrible,” he said. “I had four fish in one practice. Then I had three fish one day and two on another day. But today, I caught a bunch. Everything worked for me today.”

Ito wasn’t expecting Thursday’s cold and windy weather to help his cause, either, though it certainly did. Temperatures plummeted into the 40s on Wednesday, from the mid-80s a day earlier, and they stayed that way on Day 1 of this derby.

The weather is predicted to slowly warm throughout the the tournament, though Friday morning could be cold and windy again. The rapidly changing conditions make Ito uncertain he can come close to repeating the phenomenal 39-1 he caught Thursday.

“It’ll be hard,” he said. “The weather today helped me. I will go to the same places and try the same things.”

Stetson Blaylock, of Benton, Ark., is in second place with 37-6. He had a strong start, with bass weighing 6-10, 8-6 and 9-10 coming from the same small spot in the opening hours. Blaylock went cold for more than three hours, though, and didn’t catch his fourth and fifth bass until much later in the day.

He said unpredictable weather has him thinking he’ll try something new on Friday. And yes, he realizes it’s not too often you catch 37-6 and change tactics.

“This weather made the fish weird,” he said. “I found that one little area that really produced this morning. I knew it would be good, but I didn’t know it’d be that good … I don’t think I go there tomorrow … Things are gonna flip-flop. With the amount of 30-pound stringers caught today, I know I can go other places in the lake and catch big fish.”

Second-year Elite Kyle Norsetter, of Cottage Grove, Wis., is in third place with 35-8. He too said he struggled during practice, but a midday change of scenery helped him mount a strong Day 1 finish.

“We had about 35 bed fish marked, but I pulled into my first spot, and I only caught a 3-11,” he said. “I thought it was gonna be a decent day. I hit my spots, about six of them, and they were gone … I caught only one bedding fish today.

“So, I ended up switching gears,” Norsetter continued. “I saw something and made a cast, got it. Then I started LiveScoping. From there, everything went right. There were a lot of fish and some really nice fish, too. It was encouraging after having a really tough, draining practice.”

Trey McKinney, of Carbondale, Ill., is fourth after Day 1 with 33-11. Justin Hammer, of Northport, Ala., is fifth with 33-5. A total of 92 Elites had double-digit totals on Thursday and 69 of them caught at least 20 pounds.

Wesley Gore, of Clanton, Ala., caught the Phoenix Boats Big Bass on Thursday — a 10-9 giant he hooked just before 9 a.m.

Big bags are nothing new at Lake Fork. Texas pro Lee Livesay won the past two Elite derbies held here, cracking the Century mark both times — 112-5 in 2021 and 113-11 a year later. There were a total of six Century Club performances in those two tournaments.

The entire field will fish again Friday, with only the Top 50 advancing to Semifinal Saturday. The Top 10 will compete for the blue trophy and $100,000 first-place prize on Championship Sunday.

Bassmaster LIVE will be streaming on Bassmaster.com all four days, and coverage will also be available on FS1 on Saturday and Sunday.

This event is being hosted by Wood County Texas.

2024 Bassmaster Elite Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2024 Bassmaster Elite Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Progressive Insurance, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2024 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Marathon, Triton Boats, VMC

About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, 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), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Team Championship, Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series scored by TourneyX, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors.

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Media Contact: Mandy Pascal, Managing Editor, 205-313-0955, mpascal@bassmaster.com

by AnglersChannel