GARDENDALE HIGH SCHOOL WINS TBF HIGH SCHOOL FISHING ALABAMA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP AT LAKE NEELY HENRY
GADSDEN, Ala. (May 23, 2017) – The Gardendale High School duo of Griffin Phillips and Fletcher Phillips, both of Mount Olive, Alabama, brought a five-bass limit to the scale Sunday weighing 10 pounds, 15 ounces, to win the 2017 TBF High School Fishing Alabama State Championship tournament on Lake Neely Henry in Gadsden, Alabama. The win advanced the team to the 2017 High School Fishing National championship, held June 27-July 1 at Pickwick Lake in Florence, Alabama.
A field of 29 teams competed in the no-entry fee tournament, which launched from the Coosa Landing in Gadsden. In FLW/TBF High School Fishing competition, the top 10-percent of teams competing advance to the High School Fishing National Championship.
The top two teams on Lake Neely Henry that advanced to the 2017 High School Fishing National Championship were:
1st: Gardendale High School – Griffin Phillips and Fletcher Phillips, both of Mount Olive, Ala., (five bass, 10-15)
2nd: Sand Rock High School – Colton Cash, Leesburg, Ala., and Levi Cox, Gaylesville, Ala., (five bass, 10-5)
Rounding out the top 10 teams were:
3rd: Hartselle High School – Jordan Thompson and Tyler Crawford, both of Hartselle, Ala., (five bass, 9-2)
4th: Springville High School – Chase Parnell and Logan Bryan, both of Springville, Ala., (five bass, 8-15)
5th: Mortimer Jordan High School – Daniel Meadows, Warrior, Ala., and Aaron Stephens, Kimberly, Ala., (five bass, 8-14)
6th: Sand Rock High School – Seth Justice and Ethan Clanton, both of Collinsville, Ala., (five bass, 8-11)
7th: Corner High School – Chandler Sickafoose and Cade Reeder, both of Dora, Ala., (five bass, 8-6)
8th: Sand Rock High School – Brody Robison, Collinsville, Ala., and Grant Robison, Fort Payne, Ala., (five bass, 8-5)
9th: Cedar Bluff High School – Colin McCullough, Cedar Bluff, Ala., and Hunter Bailey, Center, Ala., (five bass, 7-8)
10th: Fort Payne High School – Devin Gilliam and Dalton Pendergrass, both of Fort Payne, Ala., (five bass, 7-3)
Complete results and photos from the event have been posted at HighSchoolFishing.org.
The 2017 TBF High School Fishing Alabama State Championship was a two-person (team) event for students in grades 7-12, open to any Student Angler Federation (SAF) affiliated high school club in the state of Alabama. The top 10 percent of each Challenge, Open, and state championship field will advance to the High School Fishing National Championship. The High School Fishing national champions will each receive a $5,000 college scholarship to the school of their choice.
In addition to the High School Fishing National Championship, all High School Fishing anglers nationwide automatically qualify for the world’s largest high school bass tournament, the 2017 High School Fishing World Finals, held in conjunction with the National Championship. At the 2016 World Finals more than $60,000 in scholarships and prizes were awarded.
Full schedules and the latest announcements are available at HighSchoolFishing.org and FLWFishing.com.
About FLW
FLW is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, providing anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to compete for millions in prize money in 2017 across five tournament circuits. Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, with offices in Minneapolis, FLW conducts more than 274 bass-fishing tournaments annually across the United States and sanctions tournaments in Canada, China, Mexico, South Africa and South Korea. FLW tournament fishing can be seen on the Emmy-nominated “FLW" television show, broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, while FLW Bass Fishing magazine delivers cutting-edge tips from top pros. For more information visit FLWFishing.com and follow FLW at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
About The Bass Federation
The Bass Federation Inc., (TBF) is a member of the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame. TBF is owned by those we serve and dedicated to the sport of fishing. The Federation is the largest and oldest, organized grassroots fishing, youth and conservation organization there is. TBF, our affiliated state federations and their member clubs conduct more than 20,000 events each year and have provided a foundation for the entire bass fishing industry for more than 45 years. TBF founded the Student Angler Federation and the National High School Fishing program in 2008 to promote clean family fun and education through fishing. Visit bassfederation.com or highschoolfishing.org and “LIKE US” on Facebook.
Jody Parks Pockets a Cool $5K in the American Bass Anglers Ram Trucks SC Division Open Tournament on Lake Russell
Jody Parks of Greenwood, South Carolina won the American Bass Anglers Ram Truck Open series South Carolina Division tournament held 5/20/2017 on Lake Russell.
Running out of Calhoun Falls State Park, Jody weighed in five bass for 15.14 pounds. He anchored his catch with a bass that weighed 4.11 pounds. For the Boater Division victory, Parks took home a check for $5000.00.
“I caught 6 fish today culling one time. Everything I caught today was on a deep diving crankbait.” Said Parks.
In second for the boaters, Andy Wicker of Pomeria, South Carolina weighed in a five bass limit weighing 14.58 pounds. He anchored his limit with a bass that weighed in at 4.33 pounds. He collected $800.00 for the effort. Wicker also collected an additional $470.00 for weighing in the biggest bass for the boaters. Wicker also won an ABU Garcia Revo SX spinning reel valued at $160.00 for catching the biggest bass of the tournament while using an ABU Garcia reel.
“I had found a spot in practice I thought I could catch 12-14 fish but they had moved. It was slow for me and I didn’t catch my first fish until 9:30. I caught my fish in the 15-20 foot depth range. I caught them on a spinnerbait and a shaky head.” Said Wicker.
Christopher Chavis of Rincon, Georgia took third place with a five bass limit weighing in at 12.81 pounds. Chavis collected $600.00 for his catch..
“I caught my fish today on a crankbait in 10-20 feet of water.” Said Chavis.
Finishing fourth, Derek Lehtonen of Woodruff, South Carolina weighed in a five bass limit weighing 11.47 pounds.
Rounding out the top five Darren Ashley of Calhoun Falls, South Carolina weighed in a five bass limit weighing 10.14 pounds.
For his top 10 finish Jerry Kotal of Elberton Georgia won $500.00 for being a Triton Gold member.
In the Co-Angler Division, Joe Anders of Easley, South Carolina won with three bass weighing 7.43 pounds. He sealed his victory with a 2.70 pound kicker to pocket a check for $900.00.
“I caught a bunch of fish today. The ones I weighed in came on a crankbait and a drop shot.” Said Anders.
Taking second for the co-anglers, James Atkins of Cumming, Georgia weighed in a co angler limit of three bass weighing in at 6.63 pounds. He anchored his catch with a bass that weighed in at 3.46 pounds. James collected $400.00 for his catch. Atkins collected an additional $130.00 for weighing in the biggest bass for the co anglers.
“I probably caught 2-2.5 limits of fish today. I caught them on a fluke and a spin head in the 8-10 foot depth range.” Said Atkins.
Placing third on the co angler side was Jason Hueble of Whitmore, South Carolina. Hueble weighed in three bass that weighed 4.83 pounds. He collected $300.00 for the effort.
“I caught four fish today culling once. I caught them on top water and on a shaky head.” said Hueble.
In fourth place among the co-anglers, Greg Glouse of Liberty, South Carolina weighed in three bass weighing 4.39 pounds.
Rounding out the top five, Dylan Ballard weighed in three bass weighing 4.33 pounds.
Slated for 10/07-10/08/2017 the next tournament for the South Carolina Division will be the area championship on Lake Hartwell. 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, visitwww.americanbassanglers.com.
Bass Champs Central Region winners take home over $28,000 – Anglers of the Year are crowned at LBJ
The Central Region Bass Champs teams pulled out all the stops at their final tournament on Lake LBJ May 20, 2017. Three quarters of the field brought in limits, and there were only seven pounds separating 1st through 23rd! A record setting 118% was paid back with the winners Shuster and Gerhart loading up on over $28,000 in winnings.
Mother nature provided the fireworks for this final Central Region event, with rain, lightening and wind adding to the challenges these teams faced. By noon the rain was gone and eventually parted the skies for a sunny finish. It must have sparked up the bite, as the weights were tight all the way down the line.
Michael and his son Zachary Wilson were among the first to weigh in, setting the mark to beat at 25.11 pounds. “My son and I decided to partner up to fish Bass Champs this year,” Michael began. “He is 15 and fishes the high school tournaments as well as a few others. The weather was forecast to be bad in this tournament, so I asked him if he wanted to fish it or not. He said with the weather the week prior being blue bird skies and high pressure, and the forecast for this day to be rainy and cloudy, we were going to do good and we were going to fish!” They headed out and found grassy flats in 6’ to 12’ depths to start their hunt. “The bait we started with wasn’t working, so we started throwing spinnerbaits that my dad makes. I used white, Zachary used chartreuse & white.” It didn’t take long to put a small limit together, about 12 pounds. “We just kept catching fish. All day. We did move to a couple of other spots, but ended up back where we started. That’s where we caught all of our fish. By the end of the day we culled all of our initial limit. I was guessing we had about 18 pounds. Zachary said 22. We were both in shock when the scales locked in at 25.11 pounds!” Their weight established the leaderboard, but they had a long wait to go before the scales were closed. “I didn’t want to watch anyone else weigh in.” Eventually, they fell to 2nd then ultimately 3rd place before it was all said and done. “We were topped by ounces!” Their 3rd place win earned a check for $2,500.
It was the team of David Shuster and Charles Gerhart who came out on top winning over $28,000 by mere ounces. “Our day started out really well,” Shuster began. “We enjoyed the trailering aspect, and were able to launch closer to our starting point.” They had launched early to secure their spot, then patiently waited for their first cast at 6:30am. “The fish were really biting, and we had a limit in the boat by 7:00. As the day went on, the fish we caught just kept getting bigger!” They were fishing isolated grass patches in up to 9’ of water. “We caught a lot of fish on jigs, but our bigger ones came off of swim baits and weightless soft jerkbaits. We probably caught about fifteen in the 3-4 pound range, and had about twenty pounds in the boat by around 1:00.” They tried seven different areas, all of them produced well and they upgraded their creel in every spot. Then David got their big bite. “It was between 1-2:00 when I caught our big one. We culled a three pounder with it, so we added another five pounds to our limit.” First they put their biggest on the scales, weighing in at 8.63 lbs. Adding the rest of their creel, their total weight was 25.94 lbs, winning the tournament and a whopping payday! They received $20,000 for their 1st place win, then they were the highest finishing team in a qualified Skeeter boat for another $5,000. Qualifying for even more bonus money from Texas Boat World in Harker Heights, Lowrance GEN3, Power Pole and Sure Life, their total winnings were $28,850! “Our day went better than planned, for sure!” They would like to thank God for blessing their day, their families for their support with all the time away they spend chasing their passion, a special thanks to Cliff Brown and the staff at Texas Boat world. “I bought a boat from them last year, and they made the whole buying experience great.” David would like to thank his wife Jeanette and Charles his wife Vicki for their endearing support. “We would also like to thank Bass Champs – they put on the best tournaments for all of us and their staff is absolutely outstanding!”
Squeezing into a 2nd place position was the team of Landon and Mandi Glass. This husband and wife team started their morning great. “We were fishing a deep rock pile, about 20’, and the end of a point by a channel swing,” Landan explained. Using jigs and magnum flukes, they each started out by catching bass over eight pounds! What a way to start the day. “We wrapped up a limit pretty fast, and culled once before we headed to shallow water using a swim bait.” There, they culled once more, then lost one. “We went back to our first spot but was never able to cull our smallest fish.” They put the biggest of their eight pounders on the scales, and it weighed in at 8.23 lbs, anchoring their 25.56 lb. limit. They earned a $3,500 check for their 2nd place win.
Of all the big bass brought to the scales, the biggest was reeled in by the team of Gary and Greg Wafford. “We started out fishing the grass with Carolina rigs.” They put a limit together, then later in the day headed to the docks and pitched ½ ounce jigs. It didn’t take long, and Gary lost one about four pounds. “That kind of woke me up, and a few docks later I caught our big one!” Their big brute weighed 8.91 lbs, earning a $500 Big Bass check. “We didn’t get a lot of bites, but we had a great day.” They finished in 10th place overall with 21.57 pounds adding another $1,030 to their day.
Rounding out the top 10:
4th $2,000 24.90 lbs Garrett Koslan & Eric Crumley
5th $1,700 23.65 lbs Daniel & Adrian Barnes
6th $1,300 23.60 lbs Allen Shelton & Brad Drake
7th $1,100 21.93 lbs Charles Whited & Bill Polkinghorn
8th $1,050 21.77 lbs David Underwood & Charles Simmons
9th $1,040 21.67 lbs Matt Hill & Barry Mott
And last in the money
23rd $600 18.26 lbs Scott Olson & Ross Wright
As this was the fourth and final Central Region tournament of the year, the Anglers of the Year were determined by the most points earned throughout the year. Charles Whited & Bill Polkinghorn took over the lead in the points race at the second tournament, and held onto it to the end. For their accomplishment, their 2018 entry fees for the Central Region tournaments will be waived, plus they will be featured in the Bass Champs TV show. “All of the Anglers of the Year from each region will be invited to fish a head to head tournament on a private lake,” Chad Potts explained. “They will each be provided with a Skeeter boat and identical gear to fish with. It will be an exciting show to watch, and a once in a lifetime experience for these teams who have worked hard throughout the season to earn their titles.” Be sure to catch all the action on the WFN channel, and you can also see all of the shows on the Bass Champs website!
The season is winding to a close, but it’s not over yet! Be sure and sign up for these upcoming events:
June 3 – North Region – Tawakoni
June 9-11 – Skeeter Owner’s Tournament – Fork
June 25 – Techron TX Shootout – Sam Rayburn
Oct 14-15 – 2017 Team Championship – TBA
Oct 21-22 – 12th Annual Berkley Big Bass - Fork
“We will be announcing the location for the 2017 championship very soon,” Potts declared. “Be sure and sign up for the free E-Newsletter and stay tuned to our website for more details!”
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TRAVUS RUFF WINS T-H MARINE FLW BFL NORTH CAROLINA DIVISION EVENT ON KERR LAKE
Charlotte’s Burford tops Co-angler Division
HENDERSON, N.C. (May 22, 2017) – Boater Travis Ruff of Connelly Springs, North Carolina, weighed a five-bass limit totaling 18 pounds even Saturday to win the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) North Carolina Division event on Kerr Lake. Ruff took home $5,466 for his victory.
“I had an awesome day,” said Ruff, who earned his first career win in BFL competition. “I fished the shad spawn in Nutbush Creek all day long, throwing a Lucky Craft Sammy around the bushes. I caught probably a dozen fish total, with 8 or 9 keepers.”
Ruff said that he was targeting points in Nutbush Creek and fished around 10 to 12 different areas.
“The key was the shad spawn,” Ruff said. “I discovered it in practice and knew that it was going to be the deal.”
Ruff said that his Lucky Craft Sammy that he threw was Ghost Minnow-colored. He did catch a couple of fish flipping a Zoom Brush Hog, but all of his keepers that he weighed in came on the topwater Sammy.
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Travis Ruff, Connelly Springs, N.C., five bass, 18-0, $3,466 + $2,000 Ranger Cup Bonus
2nd: Israel Gibson, Spruce Pine, N.C., five bass, 16-15, $2,033
3rd: Michael Chlomoudis, Murfreesboro, N.C., five bass, 14-13, $1,155
4th: James Blankenship, Siler City, N.C., five bass, 14-7, $751
4th: Jake Frye, Charlotte, N.C., five bass, 14-7, $751
5th: Cole Blythe, Charlotte, N.C., five bass, 14-2, $835
7th: Buddy Black, Lawndale, N.C., five bass, 13-13, $678
8th: Mike Winchester, Bryson City, N.C., five bass, 13-10, $520
9th: Ryan Deal, Indian Trail, N.C., five bass, 13-7, $462
10th: Wesley Cashwell, Roanoke Rapids, N.C., five bass, 13-1, $404
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Marty Warren of Elon, North Carolina, caught a 5-pound, 2-ounce bass, which was the heaviest of the tournament in the Boater Division. The catch earned him the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $435.
Barry Burford of Charlotte, North Carolina, weighed in five bass totaling 14 pounds, 2 ounces Saturday to win the Co-angler Division and the top prize of $1,928.
The top 10 co-anglers were:
1st: Barry Burford, Charlotte, N.C., five bass, 14-2, $1,928
2nd: J.R. Milligan, Merry Hill, N.C., five bass, 10-5, $856
3rd: Steven Spivey, Whiteville, N.C., five bass, 10-4, $571
4th: Justin Bach, Kannapolis, N.C., four bass, 9-14, $600
5th: Brian Mann, Ballard, W.Va., five bass, 9-12, $343
6th: Lee McConnell, Lewisville, N.C., four bass, 9-8, $364
7th: Nathan Grose, Summersville, W.Va., four bass, 9-2, $285
8th: Joel Cerv, North Wilkesboro, N.C., five bass, 8-11, $257
9th: Tommy Young, Linden, N.C., three bass, 8-10, $228
10th: Brian Souza, Cornelius, N.C., three bass, 8-9, $200
Burford weighed a 4-pound, 14-ounce bass which also earned him the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award and $215.
The T-H Marine BFL at Kerr Lake was hosted by the Vance County Department of Tourism.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 12-14 BFL Regional Championship on the James River in Williamsburg, Virginia. 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.
About FLW
MURRAY STATE UNIVERSITY WINS YETI FLW COLLEGE FISHING CENTRAL CONFERENCE EVENT ON KENTUCKY/BARKLEY LAKES
GILBERTSVILLE, Ky. (May 22, 2017) – The Murray State University team of Zach Baker of Murray, Kentucky, and Micah Chessor of Paducah,Kentucky, won the YETI FLW College Fishing Central Conference tournament presented by Bass Pro Shops on Kentucky and Barkley lakes Saturday after weighing five bass totaling 19 pounds, 4 ounces. The victory earned the duo a $2,000 scholarship and an invitation to compete in the 2018 FLW College Fishing National Championship.
“This is an exciting win for our club – it’s nice to keep it in Kentucky,” said Baker, a senior majoring in Occupational Safety and Health. “It was a grind out there. We fought against some wind and waves, which definitely made things more tough. We just kept our heads down and fished.”
“We stayed on one ledge most of the day – a 70-yard stretch on the north-end of the lake at the mouth of Pisgah Bay,” said Chessor, a junior majoring in Wildlife Biology. “I found it in practice on Monday and the fish were stacked. I told Zach (Baker) that if we can get there first-thing Saturday morning, we’re going to stay there all day.”
“The ledge is basically a community hole,” said Baker. “The top of it is about 25 feet down and the bottom stretches to down about 30 feet. We just kept circling it and had a limit in the boat by 10:30 (a.m.), with our biggest fish coming in around 9:30.”
Baker said their biggest bass was caught on a Tennessee Shad-colored Keitech Impact FAT Swimbait with a 1-ounce head. He said their remaining four were brought in using a drop-shot rigged 4½-inch Morning Dawn-colored Roboworm Straight Tail Worm.
“We caught eight or nine keepers throughout the day,” said Chessor. “I caught some vertically out of the grass with the worm, and casted at them as well.”
“Patience was crucial for us,” said Baker. “We would hit a flurry of bites for around 45 minutes and then it would die off for around an hour. We just had to keep our focus and trust our instinct.”
The top 10 teams that advanced to the 2018 College Fishing National Championship are:
1st: Murray State University – Zach Baker, Murray, Ky., and Micah Chessor, Paducah, Ky., five bass, 19-4, $2,400
2nd: Missouri State University – Crosley Welch, Branson, Mo., and Matt Fielder, Springfield, Mo., five bass, 18-5, $1,200
3rd: University of Missouri – Gabriel Dubois, Mason, Ohio, and Brandon Heizer, Saint Louis, Mo., five bass, 18-4, $500
4th: Campbellsville University – Justin Mayfield, Somerset, Ky., and Colby Hays, Somerset, Ky., five bass, 17-4, $500
5th: Murray State University – Lance Freeman, Eddyville, Ky., and Cameron Brooks, Greenville, Ky., five bass, 16-15, $500
6th: Murray State University – Nate Maxwell, Murray, Ky., and Peyton Porter, Gilbertsville, Ky., five bass, 16-15
7th: Murray State University – Hunter Mills, Mayfield, Ky., and Hunter McKinley, Murray, Ky., five bass, 16-9
8th: Eastern Kentucky University – Tate Clements, Brodhead, Ky., and Josh Boone, London, Ky., five bass, 15-10
9th: McKendree University – Taylor Schmitt, Lebanon, Ill., and Trevor McKinney, Benton, Ill., five bass, 15-5
10th: McKendree University – Shane Campbell and Phillip Germagliotti, both of Highland, Ill., five bass, 15-4
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
This YETI FLW College Fishing Central Conference event at Kentucky and Barkley lakes was the second regular-season qualifying tournament of 2017 and was hosted by the Kentucky Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau. The next event for Central Conference anglers is their regular-season finale, scheduled for Oct. 7 on the Mississippi River in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin.
YETI FLW College Fishing teams compete in three regular-season qualifying tournaments in one of five conferences – Central, Northern, Southern, Southeastern and Western. The top ten teams from each division’s three regular-season tournaments, along with an additional qualifier for every 10 teams over 100 that compete, along with the top 20 teams from the annual YETI FLW College Fishing Open will advance to the 2018 FLW College Fishing National Championship.
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.
Brandon Lee wins Mr Bass of Arkansas Event on Dardanelle with over 15 Pounds! Creel Take Amateur Win.
Pro Money Winners:
1st – Brandon Lee – 5 – 15.57 lbs ($2021)
2nd – Quincy Houchin – 5 – 15.01 lbs ($1347)
3rd – Josh Ray – 5 – 14.94 lbs ($674)
4th – Chris Elder – 5 – 14.91 lbs ($449)
Big Bass = Chris Huselton 5.75 lbs ($310)
Results:
Am Money Winners:
1st – Jeremy Creel – 5 – 15.74 lbs ($835)
2nd – Chris Campbell – 5 – 15.02 lbs ($501)
3rd – Todd Brown – 5 – 12.71 lbs ($334)
Big Bass = Herbert Kimbrough 5.26 lbs ($250)
Results:
PHILLIP LUNCEFORD WINS T-H MARINE FLW BFL OKIE DIVISION EVENT ON EUFAULA LAKE
Muskogee’s Lansford tops Co-angler Division
MCALESTER, Okla. (May 22, 2017) – Boater Phillip Lunceford of Stigler, Oklahoma, weighed a five-bass limit totaling 16 pounds even Saturday to win the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Okie Division event on Eufaula Lake. Lunceford took home $4,830 for his victory.
Lunceford said that all of the fish that he caught Saturday came via flipping bushes. He fished a 5 to 6 mile stretch, starting a mile east of Standing Rock and fishing all the way to Duchess Creek.
“I live on the lake, so I knew that flipping bushes was going to be the main pattern,” Lunceford said. “I only caught nine fish throughout the day, and four of them were not keepers. I actually lost a 3- and a 4-pounder, and I probably should have weighed in 18 or 19 pounds. Luckily my 16 pounds was enough to get it done.”
Lunceford said that he rotated through three different flipping baits throughout the day – a Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver, a Strike King Rodent and a Gene Larew Salt Craw.
“I worked my way through Duchess all the way up in to Mud Creek,” Lunceford said. “The water was rising, so it eliminated a lot of water that I had wanted to fish. I knew that the fish would be in the bushes, so I just kept my head down and stayed with it.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Phillip Lunceford, Stigler, Okla., five bass, 16-0, $4,830
2nd: Cade Alsbury, Springdale, Ark., five bass, 15-14, $2,615
3rd: Jacob Capps, Muskogee, Okla., five bass, 13-14, $1,709
4th: Steven McLarty, Broken Arrow, Okla., five bass, 13-13, $1,127
5th: Shonn Goodwin, Moore, Okla., five bass, 13-8, $966
6th: Brent Haggard, Gans, Okla., five bass, 12-6, $885
7th: Kevin Slate, Choctaw, Okla., five bass, 12-4, $805
8th: Travis McKelvey, Jenks, Okla., five bass, 12-3, $724
9th: Mike Gilbreath, Vian, Okla., four bass, 12-1, $644
10th: Luke Frazier, Owasso, Okla., four bass, 11-12, $563
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Allen Rude of Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, caught a 5-pound, 6-ounce bass, which was the heaviest of the tournament in the Boater Division. The catch earned him the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $720.
David Lansford of Muskogee, Oklahoma, weighed in five bass totaling 15 pounds, 10 ounces Saturday to win the Co-angler Division and the top prize of $2,415.
The top 10 co-anglers were:
1st: David Lansford, Muskogee, Okla., five bass, 15-10, $2,415
2nd: Damon Duncan, Kansas, Okla., five bass, 13-5, $1,207
3rd: Darin Comstock, Denison, Texas, three bass, 10-15, $806
4th: Bobby Call, Wagoner, Okla., four bass, 10-0, $563
5th: Kurt Gordon, Cushing, Okla., three bass, 9-14, $483
6th: Sheldon Vinson, Fayetteville, Ark., five bass, 9-11, $443
7th: Brandon Ackerson, Afton, Okla., five bass, 9-1, $402
8th: Randy Choate, Ada, Okla., three bass, 8-6, $362
9th: Nathan Colwell, Pryor, Okla., two bass, 8-1, $422
10th: Jerry Evans, Pottsboro, Texas, three bass, 7-11, $282
Brandon Beaver of Durant, Oklahoma, weighed a 5-pound, 12-ounce bass which earned him the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award and $360.
The T-H Marine BFL at Eufaula Lake was hosted by the City of McAlester.
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 Shreveport, 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.
CHRIS MAYFIELD WINS T-H MARINE FLW BFL CHOO CHOO EVENT ON LAKE GUNTERSVILLE
Albertville’s Pittman tops Co-angler Division
GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. (May 22, 2017) – Boater Chris Mayfield of Phil Campbell, Alabama, weighed a five-bass limit totaling 23 pounds, 14 ounces Saturday to win the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Choo Choo Division event on Lake Guntersville. Mayfield took home $4,079 for his victory.
“I was fishing in the mid-lake area,” said Mayfield, who earned his first career BFL win. “The fish were just getting out to the ledges. Literally a day ago they weren’t there. I was finding them with my electronics and just following them around.”
Mayfield said that he caught all of his limit on a Carolina-rigged Zoom Lizard, although he declined to specify the exact color. He did catch a fish on a jig as well, but all of the fish that he weighed in came via the Carolina rig.
“The fish were roaming in schools and I just kept moving with them,” Mayfield said. “I’ve had some terrible luck on Lake Guntersville over the years, and Saturday was just one of those days where everything was working for me.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Chris Mayfield, Phil Campbell, Ala., five bass, 23-14, $4,079
2nd: Ryan Salzman, Huntsville, Ala., five bass, 20-13, $2,040
3rd: Marc Arnold, Kingsport, Tenn., five bass, 19-7, $1,293
4th: Martin McCravy, Killen, Ala., five bass, 19-6, $905
5th: Josh Butler, Hayden, Ala., five bass, 19-0, $776
6th: Blake Hall, Hartselle, Ala., four bass, 17-7, $1,194
6th: Casey Martin, New Hope, Ala., five bass, 17-7, $979
8th: Bryan Gregory, Fort Payne, Ala., five bass, 16-9, $582
9th: Jack Gumbert, Huntsville, Ala., five bass, 16-7, $517
10th: John Polly, Nauvoo, Ala., five bass, 16-6, $453
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Hall caught a 7-pound bass, which was the heaviest of the tournament in the Boater Division. The catch earned him the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $515.
Johnny Pittman of Albertville, Alabama, weighed in five bass totaling 14 pounds, 15 ounces Saturday to win the Co-angler Division and the top prize of $1,902.
The top 10 co-anglers were:
1st: Johnny Pittman, Albertville, Ala., five bass, 14-15, $1,902
2nd: Waylon Hancock, Dutton, Ala., four bass, 14-3, $951
3rd: Marcus Corbett, Anniston, Ala., five bass, 14-2, $734
4th: Ethan Wheeler, Mayfield, Ky., five bass, 13-13, $444
5th: Terry Smith, Tullahoma, Tenn., five bass, 13-7, $380
6th: Dennis Sandoval, Decatur, Ala., five bass, 13-6, $349
7th: Adam Clark, Logan, Ala., five bass, 12-15, $367
8th: Jarrid Taylor, Attalla, Ala., three bass, 12-3, $285
9th: Chad Biddle, Shelbyville, Ky., four bass, 12-1, $254
10th: Jerry Armstrong, Shelbyville, Tenn., five bass, 12-0, $222
Jeremy Waldrop of Hoover, Alabama, weighed a 5-pound, 12-ounce bass which earned him the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award and $252.
The T-H Marine BFL at Lake Guntersville was hosted by the Marshall County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 12-14 BFL Regional Championship on Wheeler Lake in Decatur, Alabama. 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.
Sellers Wins ABA AFT Division 40 2-Day Championship on Kentucky Lake
Jamie Sellers of Burns, TN won the AFT District 40 two day championship on Kentucky Lake on May 20 & 21st. Sellers weighed in 5 fish each day for a total of 29.42 lbs. winning $674 for his efforts. He also had big fish of the tournament, that big fish weighed 7.12 lbs.
Harold Troutt of Buchanan, TN finished in second place with a weight of 28.88 lbs. He won $306.
The top five finishers were:
1 Jamie Sellers 29.42 lbs.
2 Harold Troutt 28.88 lbs.
3 Larry Franklin 27.23 lbs.
4 John Riley 24.89 lbs.
5 Randy Ragan 21.70 lbs.
For more information about this Division and future events visit www.americanbassanglers.com or contact the local Director for Tennessee West, Larry Franklin at 931-209-2995.
These anglers accrued valuable points toward the Divisional Angler of the Year title. The points champion from each division will compete in the annual American Bass Anglers AFT Angler of The Year Final Round at the RAM AFT Championship. In addition, the top 500 anglers from the various divisions will earn the right to compete in the three-day ABA, RAM AFT National Championship tournament. The RAM American Fishing Tour offers low cost, close to home bass tournaments that are designed for the weekend angler. All ABA anglers fish for money and points.
MARK WINN & MICHAEL NICHOLS WIN ANGLERS CHOICE MARINE EVENT ON SMITH MTN. LAKE WITH 20.57LBS
Budde & Budde Win 19th Annual Strike King Open on Lake Kinkaid with over 18 pounds!
91 boats showed up for the 19th Annual Strike King Bass Open sponsored by 17th St. Bar & Grill held on Kinkaid Lake this past Saturday. Weather was a huge factor as an hour and fifteen minute delay due to lightning. Weigh in drew a huge crowd as 66 teams weighed in. There were 21 limits weighed and a total of 224 fish caught. When the scales closed it was the father/son team of Luke and Jim Budde that came out on top. Here are the names and weights of the top 11 places.
1st Luke and Jim Budde 18.96
2nd James Powell/Alex Moore 17.35
3rd Tim Norman/Jack Yates 17.22
4th Wayne and Derek Tope 17.21
5th Larry and Joe Deutschmann 16.63
6th Eric Carruthers/Jason Estel 16.41 2nd Big Bass 6.29
7th Eric Ceglinski/Michael Phillips 16.23
8th Jerry and Mark Crawford 16.17
9th Josh Ballard/ Jason Dix 15.64 1st Big Bass 6.69
10th Kyle Crawford/Jake Harris 15.37
11th Joe Bullock/ Matt Patchett 15.30
Thanks to all the fisherman that came out and braved the weather and to all the people that showed up to the weigh in. Also, a big thank you to all my friends and family that help out.
This tournament would not be what it is today without all the great sponsors that donate so much to this tournament. Strike King Lure Company, 17th St. Bar & Grill, Vicious Fishing, Tony Chacheres, Ardent, Venegoni Distributing.
Next year will be the final year for this tournament. We will be giving a boat away for 1st place. You may pre-register if you would like. You can contact me at 618-559-5650.
Stan Hallman and Steve Thrash Win 2017 Alabama Bass Trail Alabama River Hallman Fishes Alone, Becomes first to Win ABT Event on his Own
By Dan O'Sullivan
May 20, 2017 – Prattville, Ala. – The morning of the 2017 Alabama Bass Trail Alabama River event started clear, warm and calm, but by the end of the day, it would be full of surprises.
What started as a warm morning with slight winds, turned into a blazing hot afternoon that gave way to torrential rain and lightning that created a soggy weigh-in at Cooter’s Pond Park. The fishing was not without surprises either. Some of the teams in the field were predicting a tough bite, but others were confident in what they had found.
The bite proved to be strong for numbers, however, the overall weights came in on the low side. The one angler – and the number one is to be taken literally – who figured it out better than everyone else was Stan Hallman, who was fishing solo as his partner Steve Thrash had a previous commitment.
Hallman used a football jig and a shaky head rigged with a finesse worm and produced a mixed bag limit of largemouth and spotted bass that weighed 14.64 pounds. That limit; which he had in his livewell by 10:00AM, was enough to take the victory and the $10,000 winner’s prize, along with the $250 Alabama Bass Trail Gear Bonus that can be earned by wearing ABT logo gear during the day.
Hallman said he was surprised, and pleased. “I kind of figured that I would be able to produce this kind of weight, I just didn’t think it would be enough to win,” he said. “This is the biggest win I’ve ever had, and I am absolutely thrilled to be here right now.”
Matthew Cottle and Nicklous Robinson also surprised themselves by catching a 4.57-pound spotted bass early on a pink War Eagle spinnerbait. “We had a really tough practice,” they said. “We never expected to catch a big fish, and we only stopped on a hunch; that gut feeling got us our big fish, and we carried on from there.”
The pair caught the rest of their keepers fishing 3/16-ounce Davis Bait Company HBT Shaky Heads and Red Bug Finesse Worms. They weighed 14.20 pounds for their limit, and earned $5,000 for their day’s effort.
Brad Edwards and Austin Nelson finished the day in third place with 14.08 pounds and took home $4,000. They were followed in fourth place by Chris Payne and Jonathon White with 13.76 pounds, they earned a $3,000 payday, and Jason McCollum and Ken Romaine finished the day with 13.69 pounds, which earned them fifth place and $2,000.
The big fish of the event was caught by Clay Elliot and Craig Karrh. The 4.73-pound largemouth anchored their 11.51-pound limit that helped them finish in 16th place. They earned $500 for their finish, and the additional $500 big bass bonus.
The top 10 standings are below, for complete standings go to http://www.alabamabasstrail.org/tournament-series/ar-results/
| Place | Team | Big Fish | Total |
| 1 | Stan Hallman/Steve Thrash | 3.71 | 14.64 |
| 2 | Matthew Cottle/Nicklous Robinson | 4.57 | 14.20 |
| 3 | Brad Edwards/Austin Nelson | 14.08 | |
| 4 | Chris Payne/Jonathan White | 13.76 | |
| 5 | Jason Mccollum/Ken Romain | 13.69 | |
| 6 | Deandrae Kimbrough/Vernelle Quinney | 3.94 | 13.03 |
| 7 | Stephen L. Rogers/Jimmy Rogers | 13.02 | |
| 8 | Mike Freeman/Brannon Hurst | 4.36 | 12.99 |
| 9 | Victor Harper/Blake Harper | 3.92 | 12.93 |
| 10 | Jim White/Brent Jordan | 12.80 |
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.
PIEDMONT BASS CLASSICS $10,000 SPRING TEAM BASS TRAIL QUALIFIER #6 RESULTS
Saturday May 20, 2017 ~ Falls Lake ~ Ledge Rock Wildlife Ramp
The best day weatherwise we've had this year for the Piedmont Bass Classics $10,000 Spring Team Bass Trail
Qualifier #6 at Falls Lake! 79 teams enjoyed the 67 degrees in the am and the 79 in the pm. Water temps averaged
about 74 degrees. Winds for the day were just light. Falls Lake again showed that it's one of the best fisheries for
bass in North Carolina. Most bass have spawned out and are now relaxing and trying to get their strength back and
are hungry!! The water level was back real close to normal at 252!
Chad Emory and Stephen Lasher won the event weighing in 5 bass with an good total of 27.08 lbs. and also won the
Tournament Within a Tournament (TWT) and the 1st Place Big Fish Award (8.13 lbs.) for a total of $3,946 in
winnings !!!
1st Place Team...Emory (R)..Lasher (L)
Jay Garrard & Mark Herndon finally got a good check for the year by taking 2nd place with 5 fish weighing 26.19
lbs. and also took 2nd Place TWT to pocket $1,482. The 3rd Place team of Scottie Morris & Denny Long presented
5 bass weighing 24.16 lbs. and took home $632. Big Fish for the day was caught by the 1st Place team (above)
(8.13 lbs.) worth $1,078!! 2nd Place Big Fish was landed by the 5th Place team of Tim Penhollow & K.C. Choosakul
(6.97 lbs.) paying them $462!!!
259 fish were weighed in for a total of 816 pounds for an average of 3.15 lbs. each. Most of the fish were caught
flipping creature baits, casting Buzz Baits, Carolina rigs, ChatterBaits, Spinnerbaits and medium running
Crankbaits Numerous bass in the 6 lb. range were brought to the scales.
I want to thank all the anglers that participated and all our sponsors that support this trail. Our next tournament is
Saturday June 3rd, the 2017 Piedmont Bass Classics $10,000 Spring Team Bass Trail Final Qualifier #7 at Falls
Lake out of Ledge Rock Wildlife Ramp. All the info can be found at this link: http://piedmontbassclassics.
com/2017PBC10KSpringTrailMainPage.html
Following that will be the Cashion Fishing Rods 2017 Spring Team Tournament Bass Trail Championship, June 10th
also at Falls Lake out of Ledge Rock Wildlife Ramp. This event will be for qualified teams only.
All the information on our tournaments can be found http://piedmontbassclassics.com/
Now here are the full results:
1st Place: Chad Emory & Stephen Lasher of Durham & Bahama...5 bass...27.08 lbs...$1,328
2nd Place: Jay Garrard & Mark Herndon of Durham & Bahama...5 bass...26.19 lbs...$822
3rd Place: Scottie Morris & Denny Long of Rougemont & Roxboro...5 bass...24.16 lbs...$632
4th Place: Bobby & David Matthews of Durham...5 bass...21.82 lbs...$568
5th Place: K.C. Choosakul & Tim Penhollow of Sanford & Mebane...5 bass...21.15 lbs...$506
6th Place: Todd Massey & Tim Parker of Chapel Hill & New Hill...5 bass...20.22 lbs...$443
7th Place: Tyler Faggart & Paul Owens of Raleigh...5 bass...19.92 lbs...$380
8th Place: Lee Williams & William Small...5 bass...19.59 lbs...$316
9th Place: Matt Harrison & Rock Goss Franklinton & Creedmoor...5 bass...19.25 lbs...$267
10th Place: Matt Dean & Kevin Farley of Clayton & East Bend...5 bass...18.96 lbs...$231
11th Place: Barney Compton & Dustin Turner of Leasburg...5 bass...18.52 lbs...$203
12th Place: Jonathan Jones & Bryson Peed of Oxford & Stem...5 bass...18.37 lbs...$170
13th Place: Jared Thaxton & Brad Crabtree of Creedmoor...5 bass...18.31 lbs...$133
14th Place: Scott Faulkner & David Wright of Lexington...5 bass...17.72 lbs...$123
15th Place: Wayne & Jerry Sheppard of Yanceyville & Hurdle Mills...5 bass...17.01 lbs...$110
16th Place: Mike Stephenson & Thanos Tsoumbos of Bahama & Oxford...5 bass...16.52 lbs...$100
1st Place Big Fish..1st Place Team above...8.13 lbs...$1,078
2nd Place Big Fish..5th Place Team above...7.24 lbs...$462
1st Place TWT..1st Place Team above...27.08 lbs...$1,540
2nd Place TWT..2nd Place Team above...26.70 lbs...$660
SCHMITT WINS FLW TOUR ON MISSISSIPPI RIVER
Maryland Pro claims first FLW Tour victory, wins $125,000
LA CROSSE, Wis. (May 21, 2017) – Pro Bryan Schmitt of Deale, Maryland, weighed a five-bass limit totaling 14 pounds, 10 ounces Sunday to win the FLW Tour at the Mississippi River presented by Evinrude. Schmitt’s four-day total of 20 bass weighing 61 pounds, 6 ounces, was enough to edge second-place pro Joshua Weaver of Macon, Georgia, and win the top prize of $125,000 in the four-day event that featured 160 of the world’s best bass anglers competing in La Crosse.
Already a well-known river expert, Schmitt built his career by picking apart the Potomac and James rivers. Schmitt was able to apply that expertise to Pools 7, 8 and 9 on the Mississippi River this week and earn his first career win on the FLW Tour.
“My knowledge of the rivers I fish back home was 100-percent key for me this week,” said Schmitt, a five-year Tour veteran who has amassed more than $680,000 in FLW competition. “I’ve never been here, but I fell in love with how it was setting up.”
Schmitt said his sweet spot this week was a barricaded pond on the lower end of Pool No. 8. He described it as a section of water near the main-river channel that was surrounded by sandbars which protected fish in multiple phases of the spawn.
“I don’t know if it was there from years and years of current building up the sandbars, but at some point local authorities may have added riprap to make it stay,” said Schmitt. “It had two main trenches that ran through it and had plenty of deep water. At the very top there was a hole in the rock jetty that let current flow in. It had all the right variables – just enough current to bring food in, grass and spawning habitat, and the deep water for when they were done.”
Schmitt said he spent the majority of his tournament in the area, noting that all but three of the fish he weighed in came from it.
“I think the fish that I was catching were both prespawn and postspawn,” Schmitt said. “Fresh fish were moving in and the big ones that were done were moving out.”
Schmitt said that his primary lure this week was a black and blue-colored prototype Riot Baits Swim Jig with a swimming trailer. He also used a black and blue-skirted vibrating jig with a Riot T3 Tattle Tail Swimbait and a 5-inch Texas-rigged Riot Stick stickbait with a 1/2-ounce tungsten weight.
“Before my main pattern evolved, I caught quite a few by just pitching the stickbait to grass,” said Schmitt. “It got me a lot of key fish on the first two days, but the bigger ones wanted the moving baits.”
The final event on the FLW Tour schedule for the 2017 regular-season happens to be on the Potomac River – a place where Schmitt has three Costa FLW Series wins. Schmitt expressed that he is eager to finish the season on a high note.
“I’ve got the momentum now,” said Schmitt. “After all of this, words can’t describe how excited I am to get back out there and compete on the Potomac.”
The top 10 pros finished on the Mississippi River:
1st: Bryan Schmitt, Deale, Md., 20 bass, 61-6, $125,000
2nd: Joshua Weaver, Macon, Ga., 20 bass, 58-11, $30,700
3rd: Livingston Lures pro Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., 20 bass, 58-10, $25,100
4th: Todd Auten, Lake Wylie, S.C., 20 bass, 58-0, $20,000
5th: Yamamoto Baits pro Larry Nixon, Bee Branch, Ark., 20 bass, 57-9, $19,000
6th: Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn., 20 bass, 56-14, $18,000
7th: Austin Felix, Eden Prairie, Minn., 20 bass, 56-8, $17,000
8th: Matt Stefan, Junction City, Wis., 20 bass, 55-10, $16,000
9th: Polaris pro David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., 20 bass, 54-10, $15,000
10th: Justin Atkins, Florence, Ala., 20 bass, 53-3, $14,000
For a full list of results visit FLWFishing.com.
Overall there were 50 bass weighing 132 pounds, 2 ounces caught by pros Sunday. All of the final 10 pros brought in five-bass limits.
Cole Herb of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, won the co-angler division and $20,000 Friday with a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 24 pounds, 11 ounces, followed by Jeremiah Shaver of Holmen, Wisconsin, who finished in second place with 10 bass weighing 23 pounds, 11 ounces, worth $7,600.
In FLW Tour competition, pros and co-anglers are randomly paired each day, with pros supplying the boat, controlling boat movement and competing against other pros. Co-anglers fish from the back deck against other co-anglers. The full field of anglers competed Thursday and Friday. Co-angler competition concluded following Friday’s weigh-in, while the top 20 pros based on their two-day accumulated weight advanced to Saturday. Only the top 10 pros continued competition Sunday, with the winner determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from the four days of competition.
Throughout the season, anglers are also vying for valuable points in hopes of qualifying for the 2017 Forrest Wood Cup, the world championship of professional bass fishing. The 2017 Forrest Wood Cup will be on Lake Murray in Columbia, South Carolina, Aug. 11-13.
The FLW Tour at Mississippi River presented by Evinrude was hosted by Visit La Crosse. The next event for FLW Tour anglers will be the 2017 regular-season finale, the FLW Tour at the Potomac River presented by Costa Del Mar, June 15-18 in Marbury, Maryland.
Television coverage of the FLW Tour at Mississippi River presented by Evinrude will premiere in high-definition (HD) on NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) Aug. 2 from Noon-1 p.m. EDT. The Emmy-nominated "FLW" television show airs on NBCSN, the Pursuit Channel and the World Fishing Network and is broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, making it the most widely distributed weekly outdoors-sports television show in the world.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing.
Palaniuk Won the Trophy, and Ehrler Won a Tundra
By Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships
Brandon Palaniuk and Brent Ehrler were both winners Sunday at the Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest benefiting Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
Palaniuk, who launched his pro career in part by saving money on hotel fees and sleeping in his Tundra, won the $100,000 first place prize, and Ehrler won a new Toyota Tundra for catching the biggest bass of the tournament.
Remarkably, this is the second Tundra the Californian has hauled home from the event in two years. “The Tundra I won here in 2015 is sitting in my driveway, it’s a great truck, but since I can’t use two of them, I might sell one and buy a Tacoma, I think the Tacomas look awesome too,” says Ehrler.
Ehrler claimed the symbolic oversized cardboard key to his latest Tundra by catching a 9 pound 1 ounce beast on Day 1 of competition that stood throughout the four-day tournament. He actually watched as the bucketmouth engulfed his Lucky Craft Slender Pointer 127 on 14-pound line just a few feet from the boat.
“I caught two 5-pounders, two 4-pounders, and that giant 9-pounder from the same exact spot this week,” says Ehrler.
No doubt, the Californian found a bass-filled East Texas geyser this week on Sam Rayburn Reservoir, but as for his Toyota collection, he’s sorta falling in love with a lot of them.
“I love the looks of the Tacomas, and it’s easier to drive a smaller truck where we live in Newport Beach, but man that cement-colored Tundra over there is so cool too – I don’t know man, I love them both.”
Palaniuk and Ehrler - two great guys with a love of Toyota - and in Ehrler’s case, a decision to make on what to do with two of them.
Palaniuk Finishes Strong At Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest, Earns Automatic Classic Berth
Brandon Palaniuk of Hayden, Idaho, wins the 2017 Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest benefiting Texas Parks and Wildlife Department held out of Lufkin, Texas, on Sunday, with a four-day total weight of 93 pounds, 12 ounces.
Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 21,2017
LUFKIN, Texas — It’s not like Brandon Palaniuk had never won a Bassmaster Elite Series event.
Coming into this week, the 29-year-old pro from Idaho had already claimed Elite Series trophies in 2012 and 2013 and came close to raising that win total with three other second-place finishes.
But for an intense competitor known as the “prodigy,” the four-year victory drought was an itch he desperately needed to scratch — and he did it during this week’s Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest benefiting Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
Palaniuk caught 24 pounds, 7 ounces of bass during Wednesday’s opening round and followed with 23-2 and 24-7 the next two rounds. Then he caught he caught 21-12 on Championship Sunday to push his four-day total to 93-12 and hold off a late charge by California pro Brent Ehrler.
Ehrler, who led the first two days, finished second with 91-12.
“I never found a school in practice where I could just go and pound on them and catch multiple fish in one spot,” said Palaniuk, who earned a $100,000 first-place prize and an automatic berth into the 2018 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented DICK’S Sporting Goods. “It wasn’t until the tournament started to roll around that more and more fish started to transition out and school up on spots.
“I was just far enough ahead of the fish.”
It was a sign of things to come for Palaniuk when he started Wednesday’s opening round with his biggest fish of the tournament — a largemouth that weighed 8-4. Palaniuk caught the bass in deeper water than what was being fished by most of the field.
That gave him the confidence to stay away from the shallower areas that were holding incredible numbers of bass, but not necessarily the size it would take to win.
“I was torn between deep and shallow,” he said. “There were so many fish shallow, and you could get so many bites, but I just wasn’t getting the big fish that I needed. I just kept telling myself the big fish were out deep, and if I could stick it out and get five to 10 bites a day, I could have a chance to win.”
Palaniuk said he spent a lot of time idling around looking for the usual summer postspawn hot spots, like the tips of points, humps and ledges.
He found lots of smaller fish on those places. But while moving from spot to spot on straight banks, he found a several brushpiles on his Humminbird electronics with incredible numbers of crappie and one or two bigger dots that he believed were bass. In that situation, he used a Neko Rig with a Zoom Magnum Trick Worm — and immediately caught a big fish.
“That gave me the confidence that I could get them to bite,” he said. “It also gave me the confidence to know that what I was seeing on my graph was actually what I thought it was.”
Palaniuk was throwing the Neko Rig on 15-pound Seaguar braid with a 10-pound fluorocarbon leader. Since many of the fish were in brushpiles, he wasn’t able to put them all in the boat.
“I knew that if I was hooking 8- or 9-pounders in brushpiles on that lighter line, there was a chance I was going to lose some,” he said. “Those fish are so strong, and that stuff is so thick. And it wasn’t like I was fishing the outsides of it. I was throwing directly into it and trying to get it to drop directly down into the center where the fish were.”
By the final day, he seemed to have all of the kinks worked out of his technique.
“Today, I had the least amount of big bites I’ve had all week,” he said. “But I executed 100 percent — and that was the difference maker.”
Palaniuk’s key bait for shallower, more aggressive fish was the size 13 Storm Arashi Top Walker in the pro blue color pattern. For deeper fish — since he couldn’t get bass to bite a crankbait — his top two lures were a 10-inch Zoom Ol’ monster worm in the plum color pattern with 1/2-ounce VMC tungsten weight pegged with a VMC stop on a 5/0 heavy-duty VMC extra-wide gap hook, and a Neko Rig Zoom with a green pumpkin magnum trick worm on a 1/0 weedless Neko hook that will debut at the annual ICAST fishing industry trade show in July.
Though Ehrler finished 2 pounds away from his first Elite Series victory, he didn’t go home emptyhanded. For catching the Toyota Big Bass of the week — a 9-1 largemouth on the first day — he earned a $50,000 Toyota Tundra pickup truck.
Oklahoma pro Jason Christie finished seventh in the event and came away with a solid lead in the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings. Those standings will largely determine the participants for the 2018 Classic — something Palaniuk is glad to have already sewn up.
He said that means he’ll be more relaxed as the scheduled swings back toward the northern lakes where he learned many of his tricks.
“It allows me to gamble on those smallmouth fisheries, which is absolutely my favorite thing to do,” he said. “I won’t have to be looking at the standings, and that won’t bother me at all.”
Jason Christie was awarded $1,000 for the leading the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year points race at the end of the event.
Brandon Palaniuk won the Toyota Bonus Bucks Award of $3,000 for being the highest-placing eligible entrant in the program. The second-highest-placing eligible entrant, Jordan Lee, received $2,000.
Christie also earned the Power-Pole Captain’s Cash Award of $1,000 for being the highest-placing angler who is registered and eligible and uses a client-approved product on his boat.
Ehrler also earned $500 as the recipient of the Livingston Lures Day 2 Leader Award.
The event is hosted by the Lufkin Convention and Visitors Bureau.
2017 Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest Platinum and Title Sponsor: Toyota
2017 Bassmaster Elite Series Premier Sponsors: Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Shell Rotella, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha, Berkley, Huk, Hummingbird, Mercury, Minn Kota
2017 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: T-H Marine, Advance Auto Parts, Academy Sports + Outdoors, Carhartt, Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels, Livingston Lures, Lowrance, Phoenix Boats, Shimano
2017 Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest Beneficiary: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), television show (The Bassmasters on ESPN2), radio show (Bassmaster Radio), social media programs and events. For more than 45 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation presented by Magellan, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Costa Bassmaster High School Series presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods, Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods.
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Media Contact: JamieDay Matthews, 205-313-0945, jmatthews@bassmaster.com or Dave Precht, 205-313-0931, dprecht@bassmaster.com
2017 Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest benefiting the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department 5/17-5/21
Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Lufkin TX.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 4
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Brandon Palaniuk Hayden, ID 20 93-12 110 $100,000.00
Day 1: 5 24-07 Day 2: 5 23-02 Day 3: 5 24-07 Day 4: 5 21-12
2. Brent Ehrler Newport Beach, CA 20 91-12 109 $34,500.00
Day 1: 5 25-06 Day 2: 5 22-05 Day 3: 5 24-03 Day 4: 5 19-14
3. Jacob Wheeler Indianapolis, IN 20 83-15 108 $30,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-07 Day 2: 5 23-07 Day 3: 5 16-05 Day 4: 5 22-12
4. Jordan Lee Grant, AL 20 77-07 107 $24,000.00
Day 1: 5 22-10 Day 2: 5 16-13 Day 3: 5 17-09 Day 4: 5 20-07
5. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 20 77-06 106 $20,000.00
Day 1: 5 23-08 Day 2: 5 18-11 Day 3: 5 19-09 Day 4: 5 15-10
6. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, AL 20 76-10 105 $16,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-02 Day 2: 5 21-15 Day 3: 5 15-07 Day 4: 5 18-02
7. Jason Christie Park Hill, OK 20 74-14 104 $17,000.00
Day 1: 5 20-13 Day 2: 5 18-05 Day 3: 5 20-09 Day 4: 5 15-03
8. Alton Jones Jr. Lorena, TX 20 74-09 103 $14,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 26-10 Day 3: 5 17-01 Day 4: 5 17-07
9. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, LA 20 74-00 102 $13,500.00
Day 1: 5 23-01 Day 2: 5 18-14 Day 3: 5 14-15 Day 4: 5 17-02
10. Kelley Jaye Dadeville, AL 20 71-08 101 $13,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-09 Day 2: 5 18-08 Day 3: 5 16-06 Day 4: 5 15-01
11. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 20 69-15 100 $12,500.00
Day 1: 5 21-14 Day 2: 5 17-13 Day 3: 5 16-11 Day 4: 5 13-09
12. Jason Williamson Wagener, SC 20 63-08 99 $12,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-09 Day 2: 5 23-15 Day 3: 5 15-08 Day 4: 5 05-08
BIG BASS OF TOURNAMENT
Brent Ehrler Newport Beach, CA 09-01 $0.00
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High School All-American Anglers Compete With Pros On Trophy Bass Lake In Texas
As part of the Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest, the 12 Bassmaster High School All-Americans presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods were paired with 12 Bassmaster Elite Series pros and earned a chance to fish with the pros on Lake Naconiche. Oakley Connor (left), a South Carolina angler representing Travelers Rest High School, won the one-day event with his Elite Series partner, Brandon Palaniuk. The pair caught 12 pounds, 3 ounces.
Photo by Seigo Saito/Bassmaster
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 20, 2017
LUFKIN, Texas — When Reese Jones of Rogers, Ark., received notice that he had been selected as one of 12 members of the 2017 Bassmaster High School All-American Fishing Team presented by DICK'S Sporting Goods, he was ecstatic. Winning the honor meant he would be able to fish with a Bassmaster Elite Series pro during a special tournament in conjunction with the Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest benefiting Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
Then his mother, Cheri, broke the bad news. “I pointed out that Reese’s graduation was the same weekend, and of course he couldn't go to the tournament. At that point, both he and his father dropped their forks and said that he had to go to Texas."
Cheri was outvoted, and her son spent part of graduation weekend fishing Lake Naconiche, a trophy bass fishery near Nacogdoches, Texas. As a compromise, Cheri Jones acquired a cap and gown for Reese to wear as he crossed the weigh-in stage at the George H. Henderson Jr. Expo Center Saturday. He would only wear the cap, though.
“There's no way he would cover up his All-American jersey with a gown,” his mother said.
Through a random drawing, Jones was paired with Elite Series angler Brett Preuett, a former Carhartt Bassmaster College Series champion and GEICO Bassmaster Classic qualifier. Each of the teams were able to count the heaviest single bass for the pro and the high schooler.
The heaviest combined weight was turned in by the team of Oakley Connor of Travelers Rest, S.C., and Brandon Palaniuk, who also happens to be leading Texas Fest, the Elite event here, which ends Sunday.
Should Palaniuk win the Elite competition, it would be an amazing sweep. He also was named winner today of the Autism Angler of April Award, based on a combination of money raised and weight caught in Elite events in April, which is National Autism Awareness month.
He and Connor weighed in 12 pounds, 3 ounces to top the 12-team field. Palaniuk had a 5-14, and Connor caught a 6-5. Dalton Combs of Ozark, Mo., and Skylar Hamilton had 10-3 for second, and Colby Miller of Elmer, La., and Shane Lineberger were third with 9-8.
All the teams caught numerous bass during a storm-shortened day, but no one was able to land one of the giant bass Lake Naconiche is noted for producing. It gave up a 13-plus pound Toyota ShareLunker bass in February, and the lake record is reported to be heavier than 16 pounds.
When asked why he would jeopardize his chances of winning Texas Fest by going out with a high school student today, Palaniuk didn't hesitate. “I had somebody take me fishing when I was young,” he said. “That gave me the inspiration to do what I am doing now.
“Besides, I signed up to do this when it was first announced, and I wasn't going to back out.” Palaniuk, Gary Klein and David Williams all have volunteered as teammates for high school anglers all three years since the program's inception.
Other teams participating were Cade Fortenberry of Prairieville, La., and Koby Krieger; Jared Goebel of Lumberton, Texas, and Gary Klein; Tyler Lubbat of Wheeling, Ill., and Darrel Ocamica; Perry Marvin of Peru, N.Y., and David Williams; Trace O'Dell of Buna, Texas, and James Niggemeyer; Kyle Palmer of Estill Springs, Tenn., and Jared Lintner; Logan Parks of Auburn, Ala., and Bradley Roy; and Bryer Pennington of Prescott, Ark., and Jesse Tacoronte.
The 12 student anglers were selected for All-American honors by judges who reviewed more than 380 nominations from 40 states. The program, now in its third year, recognizes outstanding young anglers in grades 10 through 12 for excellence in bass tournament competition, leadership, community service and academics.
Read more about the Bassmaster High School All-American anglers on Bassmaster.com and look for their profiles in the September/October issue of Bassmaster magazine.
2017 Bassmaster High School All-American Presenting Sponsor: DICK’S Sporting Goods
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: Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Shell Rotella, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha, Berkley, Huk, Hummingbird, Mercury
2017 Costa Bassmaster High School Supporting Sponsors: Advance Auto Parts, Carhartt, Lowrance, Phoenix Boats, Shimano, St. Croix Rods, ABU Garcia, Academy Sports + Outdoors
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), television show (The Bassmasters on ESPN2), radio show (Bassmaster Radio), social media programs and events. For more than 45 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation presented by Magellan, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Costa Bassmaster High School Series presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods, Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods.
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The 28th Annual Wolfson Children's Hospital Benefit Bass Tournament drew 433 entries from all over the South and beyond. Adam Newburn and John Mobley brought the heaviest 5-fish sack back to Palatka, Florida and claimed the $10,000 top spot.
Newburn and Mobley caught 25.33 pounds of St Johns River bass by cycling through time-tested lures and techniques in a variety of spots that have been good to them in the past including shallow grass beds and offshore bars in the main river. Crankbaits and black and blue worms were the most productive lures.
Ryan Crowley and Chris Church placed 2nd with 23.97 pounds. Their bag was anchored by the biggest bass of the tournament at 11.33 pounds. They ran north from Palatka and caught the big fish flipping a black/blue worm.
John Kremer and Travis Kremer were a very close 3rd with 23.57 pounds.
The rest of the Top 10 looked like this:
4) Eric Lewis &Phil Cury 22.84
5) Jeremy Tate & Daniel Hutto 22.69
6) Travis Totman & Robert Willis 21.67
7) Jeremy Wright & Brian Wright 21.39
8) David McIntyre & Michael S. Johnson 21.29
9) Stephen Bishop & Dell Massie 20.77
10) Robert Burton & Joshua Scott 20.70
It took over 20 pounds to place among the top 14 spots.
Fishing is excellent right now on the St Johns River.
MORGAN GRABS LEAD AFTER DAY TWO OF FLW TOUR ON MISSISSIPPI RIVER
Iowa’s Herb Wins Co-angler Title, $20,000
LA CROSSE, Wis. (May 19, 2017) – Livingston Lures pro Andy Morgan of Dayton, Tennessee, caught a five-bass limit weighing 14 pounds, 9 ounces Friday to capture the lead at the FLW Tour on the Mississippi River presented by Evinrude with a two-day catch of 10 bass totaling 31-4. He now holds a slim 4-ounce lead after Day Two of the four-day event that features160 of the world’s best bass-fishing professionals casting for a top award of up to $125,000.
“This is my type of event,” said Morgan, a 19-time Forrest Wood Cup qualifier and the reigning FLW Tour Angler of the Year. “It’s a slugfest, but it’s not. You have to get a couple of decent bites – a 4-pounder – and if you can get a couple of those you’re in the game. I’ve never been here before, but I know that the Mississippi River is one of the best shallow water fisheries in the country. You come up here and you get busy.”
Morgan said that he caught fish Thursday in both Pools No. 8 and 9, but the bulk of his fish Friday came from Pool No. 9. He weighed in a limit consisting of three largemouth and two smallmouth on both days of competition.
“It’s just kind of dumb luck when I catch a smallmouth,” he said.
“There are several guys that made the cut and we’re all kind of in one general area, and today they were just biting,” Morgan said. “I caught a bunch of fish yesterday, but today I only caught maybe nine. It got cold, it got tough, but the mud is the concern. It painted me into a little bit of a corner today where I didn’t have as much water to run, so that’s going to be an issue come Day Three.”
The top 20 pros that made the Buck Knives Cut and will fish Saturday on the Mississippi River are:
1st: Livingston Lures pro Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., 10 bass, 31-4
2nd: Bryan Schmitt, Deale, Md., 10 bass, 31-0
3rd: Matthew Stefan, Junction City, Wis., 10 bass, 30-14
4th: Jeff Sprague, Point, Texas, 10 bass, 30-11
5th: Austin Felix, Eden Prairie, Minn., 10 bass, 30-11
6th: Joshua Weaver, Macon, Ga., 10 bass, 30-0
7th: Todd Auten, Lake Wylie, S.C., 10 bass, 29-12
8th: Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn., 10 bass, 29-11
9th: Quaker State pro Matt Arey, Shelby, N.C., 10 bass, 29-7
10th: Polaris pro David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., 10 bass, 29-5
11th: Quaker State pro Jimmy Houston, Cookson, Okla., 10 bass, 29-1
12th: Scott Martin, Clewiston, Fla., 10 bass, 28-13
13th: Alex Davis, Albertville, Ala., 10 bass, 28-12
14th: Yamamoto Baits pro Larry Nixon, Bee Branch, Ark., 10 bass, 28-12
15th: Joey Cifuentes, Clinton, Ark., 10 bass, 28-6
16th: Jim Moulton, Merced, Calif., 10 bass, 28-0
17th: Justin Atkins, Florence, Ala., 10 bass, 27-15
18th: Clark Reehm, Huntington, Texas, 10 bass, 27-14
19th: Cody Meyer, Auburn, Calif., 10 bass, 27-12
20th: Michael Wooley, Collierville, Tenn., 10 bass, 27-11
For a full list of results visit FLWFishing.com.
James Watson of Lampe, Missouri, earned the Big Bass award on the pro side Friday, weighing a 4-pound, 10-ounce largemouth to win the $500 prize.
Overall there were 675 bass weighing 1,629 pounds even caught by 153 pros Friday. The catch included 112 five-bass limits.
Cole Herb of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, won the co-angler division and $20,000 Friday with a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 24 pounds, 11 ounces, followed by Jeremiah Shaver of Holmen, Wisconsin, who finished in second place with 10 bass weighing 23 pounds, 11 ounces, worth $7,600.
The top 10 co-anglers on the Mississippi River finished:
1st: Cole Herb, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 10 bass, 24-11, $20,000
2nd: Jeremiah Shaver, Holmen, Wis., 10 bass, 23-11, $7,600
3rd: Jamie Jacobus, Johnstown, Ohio, 10 bass, 23-2, $5,050
4th: Cody Wissink, Arcadia, Wis., nine bass, 22-10, $4,000
5th: Tim Beale, Hernando, Miss., eight bass, 21-4, $3,000
6th: Steve York, Bronson, Mich., nine bass, 21-4, $2,500
7th: Alan Bernicky, Joliet, Ill., nine bass, 20-14, $2,000
8th: Shawn Fulmer, Mount Pleasant, Wis., eight bass, 20-2, $1,800
9th: Jeffrey Clark, Hoover, Ala., nine bass, 19-15, $1,700
10th: Carlton Thompkins, Myrtle Beach, S.C., eight bass, 19-7, $1,600
Bailey Boutries of Daphne, Alabama, earned $250 for the Big Bass award in the co-angler division Friday with a 5-pound, 6-ounce bass.
Overall there were 304 bass weighing 684 pounds, 8 ounces caught by 154 co-anglers Friday. The catch included 12 five-bass limits.
In FLW Tour competition, pros and co-anglers are randomly paired each day, with pros supplying the boat, controlling boat movement and competing against other pros. Co-anglers fish from the back deck against other co-anglers. The full field of anglers competed Thursday and Friday. Co-angler competition concluded following Friday’s weigh-in, while the top 20 pros based on their two-day accumulated weight advance to Saturday. Only the top 10 pros continue competition Sunday, with the winner determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from the four days of competition.
Throughout the season, anglers are also vying for valuable points in hopes of qualifying for the 2017 Forrest Wood Cup, the world championship of professional bass fishing. The 2017 Forrest Wood Cup will be on Lake Murray in Columbia, South Carolina, Aug. 11-13.
The total purse for the FLW Tour at Mississippi River presented by Evinrude is more than $800,000, including $10,000 through 50th place in the Pro Division. The tournament is hosted by Explore La Crosse.
Competitors will take off at 6:30 a.m. CDT each day from Veterans Freedom Park, located at 1 Clinton St., in La Crosse. Saturday and Sunday’s weigh-ins will be held at Veterans Freedom Park, beginning at 4 p.m.
Prior to the weigh-ins Saturday and Sunday, fans are invited to experience the free Fishing Expo at Veterans Freedom Park from noon to 4 p.m. The Expo is a unique opportunity for fishing fans to meet their favorite anglers, enjoy interactive games, activities and giveaways provided by FLW sponsors, and learn more about the sport of fishing and other outdoor activities.
Youth are also invited to participate in the free FLW Foundation’s Unified Fishing Derby at Copeland Park, located at 1130 Copeland Park Drive in La Crosse, on Saturday, May 20, from 9-11 a.m. The event, hosted by FLW Foundation pro Cody Kelley along with other FLW Tour anglers, is free and open to area youth (18 years of age and younger) and Special Olympics athletes (all ages). Rods and reels are available for the first 50 participants to use, but youth are encouraged to bring their own if they own one.
Television coverage of the FLW Tour at Mississippi River presented by Evinrude will premiere in high-definition (HD) on NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) Aug. 2 from Noon-1 p.m. EDT. The Emmy-nominated "FLW" television show airs on NBCSN, the Pursuit Channel and the World Fishing Network and is broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, making it the most widely distributed weekly outdoors-sports television show in the world.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing.
About FLW
FLW is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, providing anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to compete for millions in prize money in 2017 across five tournament circuits. Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, with offices in Minneapolis, FLW conducts more than 274 bass-fishing tournaments annually across the United States and sanctions tournaments in Canada, China, Mexico, South Africa and South Korea. FLW tournament fishing can be seen on the Emmy-nominated “FLW" television show, broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, while FLW Bass Fishing magazine delivers cutting-edge tips from top pros. For more information visit FLWFishing.com and follow FLW at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
Palaniuk Overtakes Ehrler For The Lead At Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest
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WISCONSIN'S STEFAN LEADS DAY ONE OF FLW TOUR ON MISSISSIPPI RIVER
/Mississippi's Beale Leads Co-angler Field/
LA CROSSE, Wis. (May 18, 2017) - Pro Matthew Stefan of Junction City, Wisconsin, weighed a five-bass limit totaling 18 pounds even Thursday to sit atop the standings after Day One of the FLW Tour at the Mississippi River presented by Evinrude. Stefan will bring a slim 2-ounce advantage into Day Two of the four-day event that features 160 of the world's top bass anglers competing for a top cash award of up to $125,000.
"I feel like the way I'm fishing is a lot different than what a lot of guys would probably expect," said Stefan, a seven-year Tour veteran who is one of three Wisconsin residents competing in the event. "I live on the Wisconsin River, which is literally a mini-Mississippi River, and what I'm doing right now is exactly what I would be doing back home. It's not anything crazy or off-the-wall, but it's not what a lot of people would go to right off the bat."
Stefan said he began his day in Pool No 8. He caught a couple of keepers before locking down to Pool No. 9 around 7:30 a.m. where he was able to finish off his first limit. Around 10:30 a.m., he said he returned to Pool No. 8 where he was able to cull some earlier bites.
"I'm keying in on the smallmouth - I think I've got a decent pattern," said Stefan. "I didn't really find much for largemouth in practice. I was able to get them to bite, but they were random and didn't have good size to them."
Stefan said he was able to put a dozen keepers in his boat throughout the day, and that his knowledge of the region's smallmouth migration helped him do it.
"The one thing I've learned over the years about the Mississippi River is that if you want to compete here, you've got to understand the migration routes," said Stefan. "It's a little bit different for largemouth and smallmouth. For smallmouth, you've got the migration from the main-river channel to their spawning zones. Whether it's the main channel or two miles into a backwater, you've got specific holding areas in those routes. If you can get an idea of those routes, you can track them."
Stefan said he plans on starting Day Two of the event in Pool No. 8, and would prefer to stay there if he can get the right bites.
"If I can catch the weight I need to make the top-20 cut I may not go down to No. 9 and save those areas for the rest of the weekend," said Stefan. "But, if the morning doesn't go as planned, I'll make the run in a heartbeat."
The top 10 pros after day one on the Mississippi River are:
1^st: Matthew Stefan, Junction City, Wis., five bass, 18-0
2^nd: Quaker State pro Matt Arey, Shelby, N.C., five bass, 17-14
3^rd: Todd Auten, Lake Wylie, S.C., five bass, 16-11
3^rd: Livingston Lures pro Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., five bass, 16-11
5^th: Yamamoto Baits pro Matt Greenblatt, Port Saint Lucie, Fla., five bass, 16-1
6^th: Scott Martin, Clewiston, Fla., five bass, 15-14
7^th: Polaris pro David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., five bass, 15-13
7^th: Jeff Sprague, Point, Texas, five bass, 15-13
9^th: Cody Meyer, Auburn, Calif., five bass, 15-9
9^th: Joshua Weaver, Macon, Ga., five bass, 15-9
For a full list of results visit FLWFishing.com.
Weaver caught a bass weighing 4 pounds, 15 ounces - the largest in the Pro Division - which earned him the day's $500 Big Bass award.
Overall there were 736 bass weighing 1,855 pounds, 11 ounces caught by 159 pros Thursday. The catch included 128 five-bass limits.
Tim Beale of Hernando, Mississippi, leads the Co-angler Division with five bass weighing 15 pounds, 8 ounces, followed by Cody Hackett of Stoddard, Wisconsin, in second place with five bass totaling 13 pounds, 6 ounces.
The top 10 co-anglers after day one on the Mississippi River are:
1^st: Tim Beale, Hernando, Miss., five bass, 15-8
2^nd: Cody Hackett, Stoddard, Wis., five bass, 13-6
3^rd: Casey Goode, La Crosse, Wis., five bass, 13-4
4^th: Caleb Kuphall, Mukwonago, Wis., five bass, 12-9
5^th: Cole Herb, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, five bass, 12-8
6^th: David Goodyear, Beloit, Wis., four bass, 12-6
7^th: Matthew Frisk, Sparta, Wis., five bass, 12-3
7^th: Carlton Thompkins, Myrtle Beach, S.C., five bass, 12-3
9^th: Richie Eaves, Nauvoo, Ill., five bass, 11-15
10^th: Jeff Cox, Saline, Mich., five bass, 11-14
Goodyear earned $250 for the Big Bass award in the Co-angler Division with a 4-pound, 3-ounce fish.
Overall there were 409 bass weighing 907 pounds, 2 ounces caught by 143 co-anglers Thursday. The catch included 32 five-bass limits.
In FLW Tour competition, pros and co-anglers are randomly paired each day, with pros supplying the boat, controlling boat movement and competing against other pros. Co-anglers fish from the back deck against other co-anglers. The full field competes in the two-day opening round. Co-angler competition concludes following Friday's weigh-in, while the top 20 pros based on their two-day accumulated weight advance to Saturday. Only the top 10 pros continue competition Sunday, with the winner determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from the four days of competition.
Throughout the season, anglers are also vying for valuable points in hopes of qualifying for the 2017 Forrest Wood Cup, the world championship of professional bass fishing. The 2017 Forrest Wood Cup will be on Lake Murray in Columbia, South Carolina, Aug. 11-13.
The total purse for the FLW Tour at Mississippi River presented by Evinrude is more than $800,000, including $10,000 through 50^th place in the Pro Division. The tournament is hosted by Explore La Crosse.
Competitors will take off at 6:30 a.m. CDT each day from Veterans Freedom Park, located at 1 Clinton St., in La Crosse. Friday's weigh-in will be held at Veterans Freedom Park beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday's weigh-ins will also be held at Veterans Freedom Park, but will begin at 4 p.m.
Prior to the weigh-ins Saturday and Sunday, fans are invited to experience the free Fishing Expo at Veterans Freedom Park from noon to 4 p.m. The Expo is a unique opportunity for fishing fans to meet their favorite anglers, enjoy interactive games, activities and giveaways provided by FLW sponsors, and learn more about the sport of fishing and other outdoor activities.
Youth are also invited to participate in the free FLW Foundation's Unified Fishing Derby at Copeland Park, located at 1130 Copeland Park Drive in La Crosse, on Saturday, May 20, from 9-11 a.m. The event, hosted by FLW Foundation pro Cody Kelley along with other FLW Tour anglers, is free and open to area youth (18 years of age and younger) and Special Olympics athletes (all ages). Rods and reels are available for the first 50 participants to use, but youth are encouraged to bring their own if they own one.
Television coverage of the FLW Tour at Mississippi River presented by Evinrude will premiere in high-definition (HD) on NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) Aug. 2 from Noon-1 p.m. EDT. The Emmy-nominated "FLW" television show airs on NBCSN, the Pursuit Channel and the World Fishing Network and is broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, making it the most widely distributed weekly outdoors-sports television show in the world.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing.
Ehrler Maintain Toyota Bass Fest Lead, Palaniuk Close Behind
Brent Ehrler of Newport Beach, Calif., maintains the lead on the second day of the 2017 Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest benefiting Texas Parks and Wildlife Department with a two-day total weight of 47 pounds, 11 ounces.
Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 18, 2017
LUFKIN, Texas — After two days, the Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest benefiting the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has turned into an all-out slugfest with some of the biggest names in professional bass fishing at the top of the leaderboard.
The Top 10 anglers have all averaged more than 20 pounds apiece the first two days on Sam Rayburn Reservoir, and the top two pros have averaged better than 23.
California pro Brent Ehrler holds the top spot for the second day in a row with a two-day mark of 47-11. He caught 22-5 Thursday in the 90-degree Texas heat to maintain that lead.
Idaho pro Brandon Palaniuk is just 2 ounces behind Ehrler with 47-9 after catching 23-2 during Thursday’s second round.
Ehrler still holds the lead in the race for Toyota Big Bass of the week with a 9-1 he caught Wednesday. The winner of that award will receive a Toyota Tundra pickup valued at $50,000.
“I didn’t really find any new stuff today,” Ehrler said. “I checked one spot where I thought I could catch a good one, and I caught about a 4 1/2-pounder later in the day. But I still didn’t get that real clear feeling for what I’m going to do the rest of the week.”
Like many of the 109 pros who started the event, Ehrler has been splitting his time between deep and shallow water, trying to stay in front of bass that are clearly in transition from the spring spawning areas to their summer haunts.
With the field now trimmed to the Top 51 for Friday’s semifinal round, Ehrler said he thinks the tournament’s $100,000 first-place prize will likely be won away from the shoreline.
“I still believe that the guy who wins this is going to have a couple of schools out deep,” he said. “They’ll have one or two spots out deep where they can pull up and catch a 4-, a 5- and then all of a sudden a 10-pounder.”
With the fish moving, Ehrler referred to the event as a “volatile tournament” and said he “wouldn’t be surprised to go out and catch 12 pounds Friday — or 25.”
Palaniuk still had a distinct air of confidence Thursday as he inched up the standings on Ehrler’s heels.
Under a catch/weigh/release format that is being used for the first time in an Elite Series event with a full field, the pros were only allowed to bring one bass to the scales — and it had to be at least 21 inches long. All other bass were weighed on the water by judges and immediately released.
Ehrler’s longest fish — a largemouth that weighed just over 5 pounds — measured only 19 inches. So he came to the weigh-in stand empty-handed.
Palaniuk had one fish over 6 pounds, and said the techniques he’s using seem to be holding up well, even as the lake changes.
“I have a general pattern that I feel like applies all the way from 3 feet out to 30 feet,” he said. “I had fewer rods on the deck of my boat today, so I’m slowly narrowing it down.”
One thing Palaniuk hasn’t been able to avoid is losing good fish. He said he’s probably losing “about a third” of the ones that he’s actually hooking.
He agreed with Ehrler’s assessment that many things are changing on the lake.
“All the fish right now are moving,” Palaniuk said. “They’re following bait, moving toward their summertime stuff. You can intercept them at any time, at any depth range.”
Indiana angler Jacob Wheeler caught 23-7 Thursday and jumped from 10th place into third with 44-14.
While Wheeler agreed the bass are in transition, he believes there is enough going on to keep plenty in the shallower depths where he has scored this week.
“You have bait that is still shallow,” Wheeler said. “You have grass that’s going to keep them there. You have bluegill spawning.
“Then on top of all that, two weeks before we got here, the water rose a foot, which pushed a lot of fish back to the banks.”
The Top 51 will fish Friday’s semifinal round, and the field will take a break Saturday for a special event that will feature seminars, boat demos and an outdoors expo. Only the Top 12 remaining anglers will compete on Championship Sunday. A special Get Hooked On Fishing program will take place Friday, when hundreds of area schoolchildren will be bused in to the George H. Henderson Jr. Expo Center in Lufkin.
Daily takeoffs will be at 7 a.m. CT at Cassels-Boykin Park in Zavalla, Texas. The weigh-ins and Saturday activities will be held at 4:30 p.m. at the Expo Center.
The event is hosted by the Lufkin Convention and Visitors Bureau.
2017 Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest Platinum and Title Sponsor: Toyota
2017 Bassmaster Elite Series Premier Sponsors: Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Shell Rotella, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha, Berkley, Huk, Humminbird
2017 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: Phoenix Boats, Shimano, T-H Marine, Advance Auto Parts, Academy Sports + Outdoors, Carhartt, Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels, Livingston Lures, Lowrance
2017 Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest Beneficiary: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
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.
-30-
Media Contact: JamieDay Matthews, 205-313-0945, jmatthews@bassmaster.com or Dave Precht, 205-313-0931, dprecht@bassmaster.com
2017 Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest benefiting the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department 5/17-5/21
Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Lufkin TX.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Brent Ehrler Newport Beach, CA 10 47-11 110
Day 1: 5 25-06 Day 2: 5 22-05
2. Brandon Palaniuk Hayden, ID 10 47-09 109
Day 1: 5 24-07 Day 2: 5 23-02
3. Jacob Wheeler Indianapolis, IN 10 44-14 108
Day 1: 5 21-07 Day 2: 5 23-07
4. Randy Howell Guntersville, AL 10 43-12 107
Day 1: 5 23-15 Day 2: 5 19-13
5. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, AL 10 43-01 106
Day 1: 5 21-02 Day 2: 5 21-15
6. Jason Williamson Wagener, SC 10 42-08 105
Day 1: 5 18-09 Day 2: 5 23-15
7. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 10 42-03 104
Day 1: 5 23-08 Day 2: 5 18-11
8. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, LA 10 41-15 103
Day 1: 5 23-01 Day 2: 5 18-14
9. Josh Bertrand Gilbert, AZ 10 40-10 102
Day 1: 5 17-03 Day 2: 5 23-07
10. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 10 40-08 101
Day 1: 5 20-07 Day 2: 5 20-01
11. Alton Jones Jr. Lorena, TX 10 40-01 100
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 26-10
12. Kelley Jaye Dadeville, AL 10 40-01 99
Day 1: 5 21-09 Day 2: 5 18-08
13. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 10 39-11 98
Day 1: 5 21-14 Day 2: 5 17-13
14. Jordan Lee Grant, AL 10 39-07 97
Day 1: 5 22-10 Day 2: 5 16-13
15. Jason Christie Park Hill, OK 10 39-02 96
Day 1: 5 20-13 Day 2: 5 18-05
16. James Elam Tulsa, OK 10 38-10 95
Day 1: 5 20-06 Day 2: 5 18-04
17. Bradley Roy Lancaster, KY 10 38-05 94
Day 1: 5 20-01 Day 2: 5 18-04
18. Clent Davis Montevallo, AL 10 37-09 93
Day 1: 5 17-12 Day 2: 5 19-13
19. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 10 36-15 92
Day 1: 5 19-08 Day 2: 5 17-07
20. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 10 36-11 91
Day 1: 5 16-05 Day 2: 5 20-06
21. Brandon Coulter Knoxville, TN 10 36-10 90
Day 1: 5 14-02 Day 2: 5 22-08
22. Bobby Lane Jr. Lakeland, FL 10 36-07 89
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 5 24-09
23. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 10 36-06 88
Day 1: 5 22-03 Day 2: 5 14-03
24. Mark Daniels Jr. Tuskegee, AL 10 36-06 87
Day 1: 5 17-03 Day 2: 5 19-03
25. Mark Davis Mount Ida, AR 10 36-00 86
Day 1: 5 20-14 Day 2: 5 15-02
26. Casey Ashley Donalds, SC 10 35-15 85
Day 1: 5 19-13 Day 2: 5 16-02
27. Cliff Pace Petal, MS 10 35-15 84
Day 1: 5 18-11 Day 2: 5 17-04
28. Micah Frazier Newnan, GA 10 35-15 83
Day 1: 5 17-08 Day 2: 5 18-07
29. Dustin Connell Clanton, AL 10 35-13 82
Day 1: 5 16-08 Day 2: 5 19-05
30. Robbie Latuso Gonzales, LA 10 35-12 81
Day 1: 5 19-09 Day 2: 5 16-03
31. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 10 35-09 80
Day 1: 5 16-08 Day 2: 5 19-01
32. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 10 35-02 79
Day 1: 5 18-05 Day 2: 5 16-13
33. Ott DeFoe Knoxville, TN 10 34-14 78
Day 1: 5 20-15 Day 2: 5 13-15
34. Kelly Jordon Flint, TX 10 34-14 77
Day 1: 5 17-01 Day 2: 5 17-13
35. Ish Monroe Hughson, CA 10 34-12 76
Day 1: 5 18-07 Day 2: 5 16-05
36. Matt Lee Guntersville, AL 10 34-11 75
Day 1: 5 19-11 Day 2: 5 15-00
37. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 10 34-03 74
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 19-11
38. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 10 34-01 73
Day 1: 5 17-15 Day 2: 5 16-02
39. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 10 33-14 72
Day 1: 5 17-08 Day 2: 5 16-06
40. Justin Lucas Guntersville, AL 10 33-12 71
Day 1: 5 16-11 Day 2: 5 17-01
41. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 10 33-11 70
Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 5 19-12
42. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 10 33-11 69
Day 1: 5 16-07 Day 2: 5 17-04
43. Britt Myers Lake Wylie, SC 10 33-10 68
Day 1: 5 20-00 Day 2: 5 13-10
44. Fred Roumbanis London, AR 10 32-15 67
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 18-07
45. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 10 32-13 66
Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 5 20-02
46. Luke Clausen Otis Orchards, WA 10 32-13 65
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 19-02
47. Jonathon VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 10 32-11 64
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 18-03
48. Randall Tharp Port St. Joe, FL 10 32-10 63
Day 1: 5 16-06 Day 2: 5 16-04
49. Marty Robinson Lyman, SC 10 32-08 62
Day 1: 5 14-10 Day 2: 5 17-14
50. Chris Lane Guntersville, AL 10 32-04 61
Day 1: 5 18-05 Day 2: 5 13-15
51. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 10 32-04 60
Day 1: 5 14-14 Day 2: 5 17-06
52. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 10 32-03 59
Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 5 18-04
53. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 10 32-01 58
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 5 20-05
54. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, AZ 10 32-01 57
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 5 16-09
55. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 10 31-12 56
Day 1: 5 18-03 Day 2: 5 13-09
56. Gary Klein Mingus, TX 10 31-10 55
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 5 20-06
57. Brandon Card Knoxville, TN 10 31-10 54
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 5 19-11
58. Brett Hite Phoenix, AZ 10 31-06 53
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 5 19-03
59. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 10 31-04 52
Day 1: 5 18-15 Day 2: 5 12-05
60. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 10 31-02 51
Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 5 16-14
61. Koby Kreiger Bokeelia, FL 10 31-02 50
Day 1: 5 16-13 Day 2: 5 14-05
62. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 10 30-15 49
Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 5 17-12
63. Boyd Duckett Guntersville, AL 10 30-15 48
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 17-07
64. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 10 30-15 47
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 16-15
65. Seth Feider Isle, MN 10 30-14 46
Day 1: 5 16-14 Day 2: 5 14-00
66. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 10 30-13 45
Day 1: 5 14-15 Day 2: 5 15-14
67. David Walker Sevierville, TN 10 30-12 44
Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 5 17-09
68. Gerald Spohrer Gonzales, LA 10 30-06 43
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 5 16-12
69. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 10 30-06 42
Day 1: 5 14-10 Day 2: 5 15-12
70. Adrian Avena Vineland, NJ 10 30-04 41
Day 1: 5 15-03 Day 2: 5 15-01
71. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 10 30-02 40
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 5 16-09
72. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 10 30-02 39
Day 1: 5 15-12 Day 2: 5 14-06
73. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 10 29-11 38
Day 1: 5 15-12 Day 2: 5 13-15
74. David Fritts Lexington, NC 10 29-08 37
Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 5 13-08
75. Dave Lefebre Erie, PA 10 29-07 36
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 5 13-15
76. Shaw Grigsby Jr. Gainesville, FL 10 29-05 35
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 15-02
77. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 10 29-03 34
Day 1: 5 17-09 Day 2: 5 11-10
78. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 10 29-03 33
Day 1: 5 15-10 Day 2: 5 13-09
79. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 10 29-02 32
Day 1: 5 15-05 Day 2: 5 13-13
80. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 10 29-01 31
Day 1: 5 14-11 Day 2: 5 14-06
81. Chad Pipkens Lansing, MI 10 28-09 30
Day 1: 5 14-12 Day 2: 5 13-13
82. Jesse Wiggins Cullman, AL 10 28-06 29
Day 1: 5 15-12 Day 2: 5 12-10
83. John Murray Spring City, TN 10 28-05 28
Day 1: 5 15-03 Day 2: 5 13-02
84. Morizo Shimizu Suita, Osaka JAPAN 10 28-00 27
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 5 13-09
85. David Williams Newton, NC 10 27-13 26
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 5 13-04
86. Alton Jones Lorena, TX 10 27-09 25
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 5 14-07
87. Jesse Tacoronte Orlando, FL 10 27-08 24
Day 1: 5 17-04 Day 2: 5 10-04
88. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 10 27-08 23
Day 1: 5 16-02 Day 2: 5 11-06
89. Jamie Hartman Newport, NY 10 27-05 22
Day 1: 5 08-13 Day 2: 5 18-08
90. Andy Montgomery Blacksburg, SC 10 27-05 21
Day 1: 5 15-13 Day 2: 5 11-08
91. John Hunter Jr Shelbyville, KY 10 27-03 20
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 5 15-09
92. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 10 27-02 19
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 15-05
93. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 10 26-11 18
Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 5 12-10
94. Fletcher Shryock New Philadelphia, OH 10 26-07 17
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 14-01
95. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 10 26-06 16
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 5 13-04
96. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 10 25-15 15
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 5 14-11
97. Chad Morgenthaler Reeds Spring, MO 10 25-06 14
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 5 14-07
98. Chris Zaldain Laughlin, NV 10 24-15 13
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 5 14-03
99. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 10 24-07 12
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 5 10-13
100. Keith Poche Pike Road, AL 10 24-03 11
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 5 12-05
101. Skylar Hamilton Dandridge, TN 10 24-01 10
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 5 13-12
102. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 10 23-05 9
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 5 13-14
103. Tyler Carriere Youngsville, LA 10 23-01 8
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 10-03
104. Chad Grigsby Maple Grove, MN 10 22-14 7
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 10-08
105. Paul Elias Laurel, MS 10 22-14 6
Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 5 11-05
106. Darrell Ocamica New Plymouth, ID 9 21-06 5
Day 1: 4 07-15 Day 2: 5 13-07
107. Tim Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 10 20-13 4
Day 1: 5 07-10 Day 2: 5 13-03
108. Brett Preuett Monroe, LA 10 20-01 3
Day 1: 5 09-12 Day 2: 5 10-05
109. Shane Lineberger Lincolnton, NC 10 20-00 2
Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 5 11-02
“Surgeon” Shaw Grigsby the Hook Removal Pro
Story and Photo by Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships, Special to AnglersChannel.com
If you haven’t seen the towel biting footage of Shaw Grigsby removing a deeply imbedded treble hook from the palm of Jason Christie’s left hand after Day 1 weigh-in at BASSfest yesterday, check out Christie’s Facebook page.
But the question is, why did Christie choose Shaw Grigbsy as his makeshift parking lot surgeon from the pack of 108 other anglers that could have helped?
“Even back in the early days, I was the guy other anglers would come to when they got a hook stuck in ‘em,” said the likable Quantum pro just before launch on Thursday morning.
“My wife is a nurse, and I’ve just been around that sort of thing a lot, and it doesn’t bother me, so I’ve kinda gained the reputation as being the go-to guy out here on tour for hook removal,” he reasoned.
“But I’ve gotta tell you, that hook Jason had in his hand yesterday was one of the toughest I’ve ever had to deal with,” says Grigsby.
“It came into the meat of his thumb, and went all the way to the bend of the hook. Plus, it was at a very bad angle so that I couldn’t pull it loose with the method we typically use, where you press down on the eye of the hook and pull it out backward with fishing line doubled around the throat of the hook,” he explains.
“I told Jason he could go to the ER, and they’d numb it up, push it through, and cut it with pliers. But he chose to let me do the very same thing with a pair of side cutters and an ice cube,” grimaced Grigsby.
“It worked. We got it out. And let me tell you, Christie is one tough son-of-a-gun!”
Grigsby has taken dozens of hooks out of fellow B.A.S.S. pros and saltwater fishing companions over the past 30 years, but he says there was a time when he refused to help.
“Charley Hartley came to me and asked if I’d take a hook out of his ear, but there was no way I was touching that one,” grinned Grigsby. “Charley is a great guy, but that hook was in the cartilage, and I knew better than to try to work on that one. I sent him to the doctor.”
NATION’S BEST WEEKEND ANGLERS HEADING TO PICKWICK LAKE FOR 34TH ANNUAL BFL ALL-AMERICAN
Winner Will Take Home $120,000, Invitation To 2017 Forrest Wood Cup
FLORENCE, Ala. (May 17, 2017) – The T-H Marine Bass Fishing League (BFL) is heading to Florence, Alabama, June 1-3 for the 34th annual BFL All-American on Pickwick Lake, when 98 of the best boaters and co-anglers from across the 24-division BFL circuit will cast for a cash prize of up to $120,000 in the Boater Division and $60,000 in the Co-angler Division. In addition to the six-figure payday, the top boater will receive an invitation to compete for bass fishing’s most coveted prize – the Forrest Wood Cup – held Aug. 11-13 on Lake Murray in Columbia, South Carolina.
“It’s going to be really good tournament – Pickwick Lake is one of the best fisheries in the Tennessee River system,” said Quaker State pro Scott Canterbury of Odenville, Alabama, an eight-time Forrest Wood Cup qualifier. “The fish are going to be just getting out on the ledges so they haven’t been pressured and will be easy to catch. Those schools will be really big – some of the guys will likely be able to catch 50 bass off of one spot.
“There also a lot of smaller areas where you only catch five or six fish from, but they weigh a bit more,” continued Canterbury. “This tournament could be won in the upriver current near the dam, down in the mid-lake eelgrass, or out on the ledges. It’s going to come down to who can get that 6- or 7-pounder to bite.”
Canterbury said swimbaits will be favored in this event, as well as big crankbaits and spoons on the ledges.
“When we competed there on Tour in 2016, Buddy Gross won it using a hair jig in eelgrass, so look for that,” said Canterbury. “Everyone was on the lower end on the ledges, while he hit areas mid-lake. Spinnerbaits may also be a player in the eelgrass, but it’s the tail-end of the shad spawn so we’ll see.”
The Alabama veteran said a three-day cumulative catch of 73 pounds should be enough to win it all.
“A 10-pounder could be caught any day,” said Canterbury. “I wouldn’t be surprised to see some 25- to 30-pound limits come in – the lake has been fishing that well that past couple of years.”
Competitors will take off from McFarland Park located at 200 Jim Spain Drive in Florence at 7 a.m. CDT each morning. Weigh-ins each day will be held at McFarland Park, and will begin at 3:30 p.m. Takeoffs and weigh-ins are free and open to the public.
The 2017 BFL All-American on Pickwick Lake is being hosted by the Florence/Lauderdale Tourism Bureau.
Television coverage of the BFL All-American at Pickwick Lake will premiere in high-definition (HD) on NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) Oct. 11 from Noon-1 p.m. EDT. The Emmy-nominated "FLW" television show airs on NBCSN, the Pursuit Channel and the World Fishing Network and is broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, making it the most widely distributed weekly outdoors-sports television show in the world.
For a full schedule of events, complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow FLW on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing.
Brent Ehrler leads Bassfest thanks to 9 pound big fish!!
Brent Ehrler of Newport Beach, Calif., takes the lead on the first day of the 2017 Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest benefiting Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, bringing 25 pounds, 6 ounces to the scales on Wednesday.
Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 17, 2017
LUFKIN, Texas — Brent Ehrler used a strange term to describe the way he fished Sam Rayburn Reservoir during Wednesday’s first round of the Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest benefiting the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
“The fish are confused,” he said. “And you have to fish confused.”
The tactic worked, as the California pro caught 25 pounds, 6 ounces of bass to take the lead in an event that features a $100,000 first-place prize and an automatic berth into the 2018 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods.
His five-bass catch was anchored by a 9-1 largemouth that gave him the lead in the race for Toyota Big Bass of the week. The angler who claims that title will take home a new Toyota Tundra pickup truck valued at $50,000. Total payout is $1 million.
“It’s really tricky right now,” Ehrler said. “Timing is everything. The fish are just everywhere. You go out, you go in. If it looks good, you fish it.”
As part of a catch/weigh/release format that is being used for the first time in an Elite Series event with a full field of 109 anglers, competitors were only allowed to bring one fish to the scales — and that fish had to be at least 21 inches long. The rest were weighed on the water by judges and immediately released.
At midday Wednesday, Ehrler wasn’t sure he was going to have much to show to the crowd back at the weigh-in stand. But then he tied into the 9-1 — the second 9-pounder he’s caught in a B.A.S.S. event this year.
“I was thinking about it, and I can only remember catching maybe one or two 9-pounders in my whole career on the FLW Tour,” Ehrler said. “I’ve fished the Elite Series for 2 1/2 years now, and I’ve caught three 9-pounders.”
Ehrler caught a 9-12 on the first day of this year’s Classic, which was held on another Texas fishery, Lake Conroe, in late March.
He said Wednesday’s fish may have been an isolated lunker like the one on Conroe — or it could be the sign of great things to come.
“I didn’t catch everything on one spot,” he said. “It wasn’t like I had a big school out deep, and I know I can go back and catch them again tomorrow.
“The fish are doing everything right now. I could go out and catch 10 pounds tomorrow, but I could also go out and catch 25 again.”
Ehrler’s catch was nearly a pound better than that of Idaho angler Brandon Palaniuk, who caught 24-7, despite an injury to his left shoulder suffered during practice.
Palaniuk was openly confident about his chances of duplicating his first-day catch — but not so open about the techniques he was using.
“My goal was to catch 30 pounds today,” said Palaniuk, who wore a special warming patch on his injured shoulder Wednesday. “I said I wanted to catch enough today to make the Day 3 cut.
“I had a couple of missed opportunities — and one of them, I know for sure, was a big one.”
Palaniuk caught several big fish during practice, and he said that gave him confidence going into the event. The plan he put together during practice paid off immediately.
“Today, my first fish was an 8-4,” he said. “I caught it on a place where I caught about a 9- or 10-pound fish in practice.”
In third place, just 8 ounces behind Palaniuk, is Alabama pro and 2014 Classic champion Randy Howell.
Unlike Palaniuk, Howell said his first round didn’t go quite as well as his practice.
“I’m fishing a shallow pattern, and the water is dropping a little bit,” Howell said. “So I really don’t know how sustainable the pattern is.”
After Thursday’s second round, the field will be trimmed to the Top 51 remaining anglers — and Howell should be a lock to make that cut if any portion of his pattern holds up.
“I didn’t really catch the numbers today, but I caught a couple of 5-pounders and a 6-pounder,” he said. “A 6-pounder is probably about the biggest fish I can catch for what I’m doing.”
The Top 51 will fish Friday’s semifinal round, and the field will take a break Saturday for a special fan appreciation day that will feature seminars, a Toyota ride-and-drive course, boat demos and an outdoors expo featuring a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department adventure zone. Beginning Friday, a special Get Hooked On Fishing experience will be open to teach youngsters about recreational fishing. Hundreds of Lufkin area schoolchildren are expected to attend.
Only the Top 12 remaining anglers will compete on Championship Sunday.
Daily takeoffs will be at 7 a.m. CT at Cassels-Boykin Park in Zavalla, Texas. The weigh-ins will be held at 4:30 p.m. at the George H. Henderson Jr. Expo Center in Lufkin.
The event is hosted by the Lufkin Convention and Visitors Bureau.
2017 Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest Platinum and Title Sponsor: Toyota
2017 Bassmaster Elite Series Premier Sponsors: Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Shell Rotella, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha, Berkley, Huk
2017 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: Lowrance, Phoenix Boats, Shimano, T-H Marine, Advance Auto Parts, Academy Sports + Outdoors, Carhartt, Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels, Livingston Lures
2017 Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest Beneficiary: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
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.
-30-
Media Contact: JamieDay Matthews, 205-313-0945, jmatthews@bassmaster.com or Dave Precht, 205-313-0931, dprecht@bassmaster.com
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2017 Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest benefiting the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department 5/17-5/21
Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Lufkin TX.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Brent Ehrler Newport Beach, CA 5 25-06 110
Day 1: 5 25-06
2. Brandon Palaniuk Hayden, ID 5 24-07 109
Day 1: 5 24-07
3. Randy Howell Guntersville, AL 5 23-15 108
Day 1: 5 23-15
4. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 5 23-08 107
Day 1: 5 23-08
5. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, LA 5 23-01 106
Day 1: 5 23-01
6. Jordan Lee Grant, AL 5 22-10 105
Day 1: 5 22-10
7. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 5 22-03 104
Day 1: 5 22-03
8. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 5 21-14 103
Day 1: 5 21-14
9. Kelley Jaye Dadeville, AL 5 21-09 102
Day 1: 5 21-09
10. Jacob Wheeler Indianapolis, IN 5 21-07 101
Day 1: 5 21-07
11. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, AL 5 21-02 100
Day 1: 5 21-02
12. Ott DeFoe Knoxville, TN 5 20-15 99
Day 1: 5 20-15
13. Mark Davis Mount Ida, AR 5 20-14 98
Day 1: 5 20-14
14. Jason Christie Park Hill, OK 5 20-13 97
Day 1: 5 20-13
15. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 5 20-07 96
Day 1: 5 20-07
16. James Elam Tulsa, OK 5 20-06 95
Day 1: 5 20-06
17. Bradley Roy Lancaster, KY 5 20-01 94
Day 1: 5 20-01
18. Britt Myers Lake Wylie, SC 5 20-00 93
Day 1: 5 20-00
19. Casey Ashley Donalds, SC 5 19-13 92
Day 1: 5 19-13
20. Matt Lee Guntersville, AL 5 19-11 91
Day 1: 5 19-11
21. Robbie Latuso Gonzales, LA 5 19-09 90
Day 1: 5 19-09
22. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 5 19-08 89
Day 1: 5 19-08
23. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 5 18-15 88
Day 1: 5 18-15
24. Cliff Pace Petal, MS 5 18-11 87
Day 1: 5 18-11
25. Jason Williamson Wagener, SC 5 18-09 86
Day 1: 5 18-09
26. Ish Monroe Hughson, CA 5 18-07 85
Day 1: 5 18-07
27. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 5 18-05 84
Day 1: 5 18-05
27. Chris Lane Guntersville, AL 5 18-05 84
Day 1: 5 18-05
29. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 5 18-03 82
Day 1: 5 18-03
30. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 5 17-15 81
Day 1: 5 17-15
31. Clent Davis Montevallo, AL 5 17-12 80
Day 1: 5 17-12
32. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 5 17-09 79
Day 1: 5 17-09
33. Micah Frazier Newnan, GA 5 17-08 78
Day 1: 5 17-08
33. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 5 17-08 78
Day 1: 5 17-08
35. Jesse Tacoronte Orlando, FL 5 17-04 76
Day 1: 5 17-04
36. Josh Bertrand Gilbert, AZ 5 17-03 75
Day 1: 5 17-03
36. Mark Daniels Jr. Tuskegee, AL 5 17-03 75
Day 1: 5 17-03
38. Kelly Jordon Flint, TX 5 17-01 73
Day 1: 5 17-01
39. Seth Feider Isle, MN 5 16-14 72
Day 1: 5 16-14
40. Koby Kreiger Bokeelia, FL 5 16-13 71
Day 1: 5 16-13
41. Justin Lucas Guntersville, AL 5 16-11 70
Day 1: 5 16-11
42. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 5 16-08 69
Day 1: 5 16-08
42. Dustin Connell Clanton, AL 5 16-08 69
Day 1: 5 16-08
44. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 5 16-07 67
Day 1: 5 16-07
45. Randall Tharp Port St. Joe, FL 5 16-06 66
Day 1: 5 16-06
46. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 5 16-05 65
Day 1: 5 16-05
47. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 5 16-02 64
Day 1: 5 16-02
48. David Fritts Lexington, NC 5 16-00 63
Day 1: 5 16-00
49. Andy Montgomery Blacksburg, SC 5 15-13 62
Day 1: 5 15-13
50. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 5 15-12 61
Day 1: 5 15-12
50. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 5 15-12 61
Day 1: 5 15-12
50. Jesse Wiggins Cullman, AL 5 15-12 61
Day 1: 5 15-12
53. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 5 15-10 58
Day 1: 5 15-10
54. Dave Lefebre Erie, PA 5 15-08 57
Day 1: 5 15-08
54. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, AZ 5 15-08 57
Day 1: 5 15-08
56. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 5 15-05 55
Day 1: 5 15-05
57. Adrian Avena Vineland, NJ 5 15-03 54
Day 1: 5 15-03
57. John Murray Spring City, TN 5 15-03 54
Day 1: 5 15-03
59. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 5 14-15 52
Day 1: 5 14-15
60. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 5 14-14 51
Day 1: 5 14-14
61. Chad Pipkens Lansing, MI 5 14-12 50
Day 1: 5 14-12
62. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 5 14-11 49
Day 1: 5 14-11
63. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 5 14-10 48
Day 1: 5 14-10
63. Marty Robinson Lyman, SC 5 14-10 48
Day 1: 5 14-10
65. David Williams Newton, NC 5 14-09 46
Day 1: 5 14-09
66. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 5 14-08 45
Day 1: 5 14-08
66. Fred Roumbanis London, AR 5 14-08 45
Day 1: 5 14-08
66. Jonathon VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 5 14-08 45
Day 1: 5 14-08
69. Morizo Shimizu Suita, Osaka JAPAN 5 14-07 42
Day 1: 5 14-07
70. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 5 14-04 41
Day 1: 5 14-04
71. Shaw Grigsby Jr. Gainesville, FL 5 14-03 40
Day 1: 5 14-03
72. Brandon Coulter Knoxville, TN 5 14-02 39
Day 1: 5 14-02
73. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 5 14-01 38
Day 1: 5 14-01
74. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 5 14-00 37
Day 1: 5 14-00
75. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 5 13-15 36
Day 1: 5 13-15
75. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 5 13-15 36
Day 1: 5 13-15
77. Luke Clausen Otis Orchards, WA 5 13-11 34
Day 1: 5 13-11
78. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 5 13-10 33
Day 1: 5 13-10
78. Gerald Spohrer Gonzales, LA 5 13-10 33
Day 1: 5 13-10
80. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 5 13-09 31
Day 1: 5 13-09
81. Boyd Duckett Guntersville, AL 5 13-08 30
Day 1: 5 13-08
82. Alton Jones Jr. Lorena, TX 5 13-07 29
Day 1: 5 13-07
83. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 5 13-03 28
Day 1: 5 13-03
83. David Walker Sevierville, TN 5 13-03 28
Day 1: 5 13-03
85. Alton Jones Lorena, TX 5 13-02 26
Day 1: 5 13-02
85. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 5 13-02 26
Day 1: 5 13-02
87. Tyler Carriere Youngsville, LA 5 12-14 24
Day 1: 5 12-14
88. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 5 12-11 23
Day 1: 5 12-11
89. Chad Grigsby Maple Grove, MN 5 12-06 22
Day 1: 5 12-06
89. Fletcher Shryock New Philadelphia, OH 5 12-06 22
Day 1: 5 12-06
91. Brett Hite Phoenix, AZ 5 12-03 20
Day 1: 5 12-03
92. Brandon Card Knoxville, TN 5 11-15 19
Day 1: 5 11-15
93. Bobby Lane Jr. Lakeland, FL 5 11-14 18
Day 1: 5 11-14
93. Keith Poche Pike Road, AL 5 11-14 18
Day 1: 5 11-14
95. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 5 11-13 16
Day 1: 5 11-13
96. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 5 11-12 15
Day 1: 5 11-12
97. John Hunter Jr Shelbyville, KY 5 11-10 14
Day 1: 5 11-10
98. Paul Elias Laurel, MS 5 11-09 13
Day 1: 5 11-09
99. Gary Klein Mingus, TX 5 11-04 12
Day 1: 5 11-04
99. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 5 11-04 12
Day 1: 5 11-04
101. Chad Morgenthaler Reeds Spring, MO 5 10-15 10
Day 1: 5 10-15
102. Chris Zaldain Laughlin, NV 5 10-12 9
Day 1: 5 10-12
103. Skylar Hamilton Dandridge, TN 5 10-05 8
Day 1: 5 10-05
104. Brett Preuett Monroe, LA 5 09-12 7
Day 1: 5 09-12
105. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 5 09-07 6
Day 1: 5 09-07
106. Shane Lineberger Lincolnton, NC 5 08-14 5
Day 1: 5 08-14
107. Jamie Hartman Newport, NY 5 08-13 4
Day 1: 5 08-13
108. Darrell Ocamica New Plymouth, ID 4 07-15 3
Day 1: 4 07-15
109. Tim Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 5 07-10 2
Day 1: 5 07-10
Deadly Boat Crash injures 3 and kills 1 on Lake Norman Monday Night
From WCNC news in Charlotte.
LAKE NORMAN, N.C. -- Authorities searching for a missing boater confirmed they found a body in Lake Norman around 7 p.m. Tuesday evening.
“Our dive team was able to recover a subject from the water,” Huntersville Fire Department spokesperson William Suhtard said. “They did SONAR operations, grids back-and-forth, and refused to stop until they could bring closure to the family.”
Steven Deutsch lives on the lake and witnessed the accident.
He says he watched a fishing boat that was going at least 50 mph slam into one that was just floating there in the dark, with its lights off.
“I heard the crunch,” he recalled. “I don't think the bass boat had any idea or saw them and he just T-boned them. I jumped up and dialed 911.”
He says two men on the fishing boat were badly injured and bleeding heavily.
A woman on the boat that was struck seemed shocked, but was physically okay, he said.
But a man she was with was nowhere to be found until Tuesday evening.
Divers pulled him from the bottom of the lake after 20 hours of searching.
Investigators are still working to determine what exactly happened, they have not yet released the name of the victim.
No charges had been filed as of Tuesday evening.
B.A.S.S. Announces Location For College National Championship
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STEVENS POINT AREA SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL WINS BASS PRO SHOPS FLW HIGH SCHOOL FISHING WISCONSIN OPEN AT MISSISSIPPI RIVER
LA CROSSE, Wis. (May 8, 2017) – The Stevens Point Area High School duo of Trey Zagrzebski and Cole Zagrzebski, both of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, brought a five-bass limit to the scale Saturday weighing 14 pounds, 6 ounces to win the 2017 Bass Pro Shops FLW High School Fishing Wisconsin Open tournament on the Mississippi River. The win advanced the team to the 2017 High School Fishing National championship, held June 27-July 1 at Pickwick Lake in Florence, Alabama.
According to post-tournament reports, the duo caught their fish targeting grassy flats near Stoddard with a silver and white-colored spinnerbait.
A field of 35 teams competed in the no-entry fee, tournament which launched from the West Copeland & Clinton Ramp in La Crosse. In FLW/TBF High School Fishing competition, the top 10-percent of teams competing advance to the High School Fishing National Championship.
The top three teams on the Mississippi River that advanced to the 2017 High School Fishing National Championship was:
1st: Stevens Point Area High School, Stevens Point, Wis. – Trey Zagrzebski and Cole Zagrzebski, both of Stevens Point, Wis., (five bass, 14-6)
2nd: Burlington Catholic Central High School, Burlington, Wis. – William Buhler, Racine, Wis., and Bailey Bleser, Burlington, Wis., (five bass, 13-11)
3rd: West Salem High School, West Salem, Wis. – Eli Elsen, Bangor, Wis., and Mitchell Hammes, West Salem, Wis., (five bass, 13-9)
Rounding out the top 10 teams were:
4th: Waupaca Junior Bass Busters – Tyler Cory, Amherst, Wis., and Casey Hoffman, New London, Wis., (five bass, 13-1)
5th: Stevens Point Area High School, Stevens Point, Wis. – Wyatt Szymanski and Jay Przekurat, both of Stevens Point, Wis., (five bass, 13-0)
6th: Elk Mound High School, Elk Mound, Wis. – Gaelen Young and Cole Steinhorst, both of Elk Mound, Wis., (five bass, 12-15)
7th: Waunakee High School, Waunakee, Wis. – Nathan Lorenz and Colin Steck, both of Waunakee, Wis., (five bass, 12-14)
8th: Stevens Point Area High School, Stevens Point, Wis. – Alec Borchardt and Grant Roth, both of Stevens Point, Wis., (five bass, 10-11)
9th: Brookfield Central High School, Brookfield, Wis. – Alexander Stephens, Brookfield, Wis., and Hunter Heffron, New Berlin, Wis.,(five bass, 10-4)
10th: Eagan High School, Eagan, Minn. – Brian Linder and Nathan Thompson, both of Eagan, Minn., (five bass, 9-2)
Complete results from the event and photos of the top five teams can be found at FLWFishing.com.
The 2017 Bass Pro Shops FLW High School Fishing Wisconsin Open was a two-person (team) event for students in grades 7-12, open to any Student Angler Federation (SAF) affiliated high school club in the United States. The top 10 percent of each Challenge, Open, and state championship field will advance to the High School Fishing National Championship. The High School Fishing national champions will each receive a $5,000 college scholarship to the school of their choice.
In addition to the High School Fishing National Championship, all High School Fishing anglers nationwide automatically qualify for the world’s largest high school bass tournament, the 2017 High School Fishing World Finals, held in conjunction with the National Championship. At the 2016 World Finals more than $60,000 in scholarships and prizes were awarded.
Full schedules and the latest announcements are available at HighSchoolFishing.org and FLWFishing.com.
About FLW
FLW is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, providing anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to compete for millions in prize money in 2017 across five tournament circuits. Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, with offices in Minneapolis, FLW conducts more than 274 bass-fishing tournaments annually across the United States and sanctions tournaments in Canada, China, Mexico, South Africa and South Korea. FLW tournament fishing can be seen on the Emmy-nominated “FLW" television show, broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, while FLW Bass Fishing magazine delivers cutting-edge tips from top pros. For more information visit FLWFishing.com and follow FLW at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
About The Bass Federation
The Bass Federation Inc., (TBF) is a member of the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame. TBF is owned by those we serve and dedicated to the sport of fishing. The Federation is the largest and oldest, organized grassroots fishing, youth and conservation organization there is. TBF, our affiliated state federations and their member clubs conduct more than 20,000 events each year and have provided a foundation for the entire bass fishing industry for more than 45 years. TBF founded the Student Angler Federation and the National High School Fishing program in 2008 to promote clean family fun and education through fishing. Visit bassfederation.com or highschoolfishing.organd “LIKE US” on Facebook.
MCDEERMAN WINS T-H MARINE FLW BFL VOLUNTEER DIVISION TOURNAMENT ON DOUGLAS LAKE PRESENTED BY NAVIONICS
Knoxville’s McGaha Grabs Co-angler Title
KODAK, Tenn. (May 15, 2017) – Keith McDeerman of Jacksboro, Tennessee, weighed five bass Saturday totaling 19 pounds even to win the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Volunteer Division tournament on Douglas Lake presented by Navionics. For his victory, McDeerman was awarded $3,879.
McDeerman spent the tournament fishing mid-lake points and humps next to deep water.
“I caught them all in deep water with a (Strike King) 10XD crankbait,” said McDeerman, who won fishing in his first-ever event with FLW. “I probably hit 30 spots, but I only caught fish on seven of them. I would pull in, make several casts, and then move on. Most of my fish were 20 to 25 feet deep.
“Douglas Lake is pretty slick-bottomed,” continued McDeerman. “There’s not a lot of structure, so the fish seemed to be holding on depth changes.”
McDeerman said he only had seven bites throughout his day and that he caught his final bass with less than 10 minutes left to fish.
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Keith McDeerman, Jacksboro, Tenn., five bass, 19-0, $3,879
2nd: Travis Lilly, Bluff City, Tenn., five bass, 16-13, $1,840
3rd: Craig Powers, Rockwood, Tenn., five bass, 16-11, $1,225
4th: Tee Watkins, East Point, Ky., five bass, 16-8, $859
5th: Cory Ownby, Seymour, Tenn., five bass, 15-14, $736
6th: Rex Pendergrass, Bristol, Tenn., five bass, 15-13, $1,075
7th: Gunter O'Dell, Dandridge, Tenn., five bass, 15-5, $613
8th: Greg Moore, Briceville, Tenn., five bass, 15-1, $552
9th: Brian Dortch, Bean Station, Tenn., five bass, 14-9, $971
10th: Brant Grimm, Church Hill, Tenn., five bass, 14-3, $429
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Dortch caught a bass weighing 5 pounds, 10 ounces – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division – which earned him the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $480.
Justin McGaha of Knoxville, Tennessee, won the Co-angler Division and $2,226 Saturday after weighing a five-bass limit totaling 16 pounds, 8 ounces.
The top 10 co-anglers were:
1st: Justin McGaha, Knoxville, Tenn., five bass, 16-8, $2,226
2nd: David Blakely, Kingsport, Tenn., five bass, 14-8, $898
3rd: Steve Hall, Hillsville, Va., five bass, 12-10, $598
4th: Michael Fields, Duffield, Va., three bass, 12-4, $419
5th: Don Bible, Knoxville, Tenn., five bass, 12-1, $359
6th: Brandon Hartgrove, Hiltons, Va., five bass, 11-8, $329
7th: Bryan Morton, Knoxville, Tenn., four bass, 11-4, $349
8th: Allen Hicks, Castlewood, Va., five bass, 11-3, $269
9th: Doug Austin, Bristol, Va., five bass, 11-0, $239
10th: Charles Roberts, Lebanon, Va., five bass, 10-14, $210
McGaha also caught the biggest bass among Co-angler Division anglers, a fish weighing 5 pounds, 6 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. 12-14 BFL Regional Championship on the James River in Williamsburg, Virginia. 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.
YETI FLW COLLEGE FISHING CENTRAL CONFERENCE EVENT PRESENTED BY BASS PRO SHOPS SET FOR KENTUCKY/BARKLEY LAKES
GILBERTSVILLE, Ky. (May 9, 2017) – YETI FLW College Fishing is headed to Kentucky and Barkley lakes May 20 in an event presented by Bass Pro Shops for the second of three regular-season stops in the Central Conference. College fishing clubs will be casting for $2,000 and an invitation to compete in the 2018 College Fishing National Championship.
“By the time this tournament kicks off, most of the fish will be postspawn and heading out toward the ledges,” said 22-year FLW Tour veteran Terry Bolton of Paducah, Kentucky, who has amassed 31 career top-10 finishes on Kentucky and Barkley lakes. “There may be a few fish shallow that could be caught flipping or with a topwater, but it will predominately be an offshore bite.
“Location wise, I think the entire lake will be in play,” continued Bolton. “For shallow-water specialists, the bite will be down south of Paris Landing, toward New Johnsonville where there are more islands. I see most of the lake producing some good offshore bites. I usually like ledges that are connected to the bank itself, or a point. There should also be some fish out on secondary channels and schooling in the mouths and insides of creeks.”
Bolton said that typical offshore lures including swimbaits, worms, jigs and spoons will be utilized by competitors. He also said that large crankbaits could be popular due to current weather conditions.
“With the amount of rain and high, stained water we have, I think a big crankbait will play a larger role this year than it has in the past,” said Bolton. “Compared to last year, these conditions are just right for them.”
The Kentucky pro said anglers will likely need more than 25 pounds to win this Central Conference event.
“It’s that time of year when a 27- to 30-pound limit could come out of the lake,” said Bolton. “Also, if we continue to get rain in the Tennessee River Valley, the fishing will improve with the stronger current.”
Anglers will take off from Kentucky Dam Marina, located at 466 Marina Drive in Gilbertsville, at 6:30 a.m. CDT Saturday. Weigh-in will be held at the marina beginning at 2:30 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 Kentucky Lake tournament, which is hosted by the Kentucky Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau, include:
Bellarmine University – James Kuhns, Louisville, Ky., and Joseph Allgeier, Bardstown, Ky.
Bellarmine University – Trevor Hulsey and Eric Shinkle, both of Louisville, Ky.
Campbellsville University – Justin Mayfield, Somerset, Ky., and Colby Hays, Somerset, Ky.
Indiana University – Jordan Mullis and Joe Long, both of Bloomington, Ind.
Kansas State University – Sheldon Rogge, Saint George, Kan., and Adam Fuchs, Manhattan, Kan.
Missouri State University – Crosley Welch, Branson, Mo., and Matt Fielder, Springfield, Mo.
Missouri State University – Tyler Ellis, Springfield, Mo., and Hayden Lee, Jefferson City, Mo.
Murray State University – Lance Freeman, Eddyville, Ky., and Cameron Brooks, Greenville, Ky.
Northern Illinois University – Alec Nuccio, Crystal Lake, Ill., and David Warme, Elgin, Ill.
Northwest Missouri State University – Krete Bullington, Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Landon Paul, Fairmont, W. Va.
Savannah College of Art & Design – Katherine Connolly, Baltimore, Md., and Laura Ann Foshee, Gardendale, Ala.
Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville – Justin Lowry, Moro, Ill., and Brendan Magruder, Edwardsville, Ill.
Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville – Sean Clarkson, Edwardsville, Ill., and Alex Nail, Springfield, Ill.
University of Louisville – Corey Skaggs, Louisville, Ky., and Sam Burke, Fort Michael, Ky.
University of Louisville – Wade Brown, Lanesville, Ind., and Noah Smith, New Albany, Ind.
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse – Eric Ulry, Marshfield, Wis., and Colby Wolff, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh – Michael Anderson, Lake Tomahawk, Wis., and Johnny Moua, Eau Claire, Wis.
Vincennes University – Zachary Bauer, Martinsville, Ind., and Tanner Cheeseman, Bloomington, Ind.
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.
RAY WINS T-H MARINE FLW BFL ARKIE DIVISION EVENT ON LAKE OUACHITA PRESENTED BY MUD HOLE CUSTOM TACKLE
Benton’s Norman Takes Co-angler Title
MOUNT IDA, Ark. (May 15, 2017) – Josh Ray of Alexander, Arkansas, weighed five bass totaling 15 pounds, 1 ounce Saturday to take top honors at the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Arkie Division tournament presented by Mud Hole Custom Tackle on Lake Ouachita. For his limit, Ray earned $4,079.
“I spent the tournament swimming a jig through the water willow grass around Mountain Harbor,” said Ray, who earned his first career-victory in FLW competition. “I probably hit 10 areas that were each about 100 yards long. The lake was flooded, but they’ve been lowering the water which pulled the fish out of the bushes and into the grass.”
Ray said he used a 3/8-ounce green-pumpkin custom swimjig with a Zoom Z-Craw trailer of the same color. He said he also rotated in a Paycheck Baits Repo Man topwater throughout his day.
“I was fishing in 3 to 5 feet of water and was able to catch around 15 keepers,” said Ray. “I caught a limit within the first hour and then fairly consistently throughout the day.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Josh Ray, Alexander, Ark., five bass, 15-1, $4,079
2nd: Jason Lieblong, Conway, Ark., five bass, 13-4, $2,040
3rd: Chris Darby, Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 12-10, $1,808
4th: Brad Morgan, Ashdown, Ark., five bass, 12-7, $905
5th: Roscoe White III, Rogers, Ark., five bass, 11-13, $776
6th: Jason Lenderman, Glenwood, Ark., five bass, 11-7, $711
7th: Billy Kindrick, Dover, Ark., five bass, 11-5, $647
8th: Brian Kirkendoll, Jacksonville, Ark., five bass, 10-8, $582
9th: Chris Dennis, Little Rock, Ark., five bass, 10-5, $485
9th: Taylor Smith, Texarkana, Ark., five bass, 10-5, $485
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Darby caught a bass weighing 4 pounds, 7 ounces – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division – which earned him the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $515.
Kendal Norman of Benton, Arkansas, won the Co-angler Division and $2,140 Saturday after weighing four bass totaling 9 pounds, 9 ounces.
The top 10 co-anglers were:
1st: Kendal Norman, Benton, Ark., four bass, 9-9, $2,140
2nd: Bruce Thompson, Little Rock, Ark., five bass, 8-14, $1,020
3rd: Steve Lee, Benton, Ark., four bass, 8-11, $646
4th: Johnny Crider, Fulton, Ark., three bass, 8-8, $453
5th: Alvin Williams, Hartman, Ark., five bass, 7-9, $388
6th: Michael Gross, Malvern, Ark., two bass, 7-7, $356
7th: Colton Garrett, Jonesboro, Ark., three bass, 7-6, $580
8th: Jason Wedel, Lowell, Ark., five bass, 7-3, $275
8th: Kurt Caldwell, Nashville, Ark., five bass, 7-3, $275
10th: Brian Choate, Conway, Ark., five bass, 7-2, $226
Garrett nabbed the biggest bass among Co-angler Division anglers, a fish weighing 4 pounds, 15 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $257.
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.
POWELL WINS T-H MARINE FLW BFL BULLDOG DIVISION TOURNAMENT ON LAKE EUFAULA
Georgia’s Hall Takes Co-angler Title
EUFAULA, Ala. (May 15, 2017) – Shane Powell of Midland City, Alabama, weighed a five-bass limit totaling 25 pounds, 2 ounces Saturday to win the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Bulldog Division tournament on Lake Eufaula. Powell pocketed $4,200 for his efforts.
Powell said he started his day fishing deep water, but headed shallow after some heavy cloud cover and low-light conditions moved through the area.
“I caught the first bass I weighed from a random creek on a Booyah Pad Crasher Frog,” said Powell, a former Auburn University angler who earned his first career-victory as a boater in BFL competition. “I ran around and got a few more bites, but switched to a swimjig around 8:30 a.m. After that swap, I started getting a lot more steady bites.”
Powell’s swimjig was Bream-colored and had a Bream-colored Strike King Rage Craw trailer.
“I worked through another area close to the dam and caught four of the five I weighed in,” said Powell. “It was a 200-yard stretch of shallow grass. It wasn’t hydrilla or anything – just bank grass.”
Powell said everything he weighed in came from less than 3 feet of water.
“I caught about 20 keepers throughout the day,” said Powell. “The water was left up by the corps (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers), so grass ended up being a factor. Usually I’d go out deep this time of year, but the water was high enough to head shallow.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Shane Powell, Midland City, Ala., five bass, 25-2, $4,200
2nd: Ryan Ingram, Phenix City, Ala., five bass, 23-5, $2,100
3rd: Bryan Brown, Cataula, Ga., five bass, 23-1, $1,334
4th: Lee Nunnally, Social Circle, Ga., five bass, 20-7, $1,473
5th: Bobby Padgett, La Grange, Ga., five bass, 19-5, $800
6th: David Parsons, Dothan, Ala., five bass, 18-14, $733
7th: Dustin Wood, Eufaula, Ala., five bass, 18-11, $667
8th: Ronnie Ray, Phenix City, Ala., five bass, 17-5, $600
9th: Jason Smith, Dawson, Ga., five bass, 16-14, $533
10th: Mark Stillwell, Salem, Ala., five bass, 16-12, $467
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Nunnally caught a 6-pound, 10-ounce bass – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division – which earned him the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $540.
Steve Hall of Mableton, Georgia, won the Co-angler Division and $2,100 Saturday after bringing a five-bass limit totaling 14 pounds, 4 ounces to the scale.
The top 10 co-anglers were:
1st: Steve Hall, Mableton, Ga., five bass, 14-4, $2,100
2nd: Sam Naib, Atlanta, Ga., five bass, 13-9, $1,000
3rd: Robert McNear, Warner Robins, Ga., five bass, 13-6, $666
4th: Brian Neal, Jacksonville, Fla., four bass, 12-13, $737
5th: John Blevins, Cumming, Ga., five bass, 12-9, $400
6th: Christopher Wilder, Macon, Ga., three bass, 12-0, $417
7th: Benjamin Schooler, Monroe, Ga., four bass, 10-11, $333
8th: Lee Parker, Hull, Ga., five bass, 10-4, $300
9th: Andrew Nickeson, Valdosta, Ga., five bass, 10-3, $267
10th: Isaac Clemmons, Fitzgerald, Ga., five bass, 10-2, $233
Neal caught the biggest bass among Co-angler Division anglers, a fish weighing 6 pounds, 7 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $270.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 12-14 BFL Regional Championship on Wheeler Lake in Decatur, Alabama. 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.
WAGNER WINS T-H MARINE FLW BFL MUSIC CITY DIVISION TOURNAMENT ON PERCY PRIEST LAKE
Alabama’s Davenport Grabs Co-angler Title
SMYRNA, Tenn. (May 15, 2017) – Adam Wagner of Cookeville, Tennessee, won the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Music City Division tournament on Percy Priest Lake Saturday with five bass weighing 20 pounds, 3 ounces. For his winning limit, Wagner collected $3,901.
“I caught everything I weighed in on a green-pumpkin (Zoom) Brush Hog on a Carolina rig,” said Wagner, the 2009 BFL All-American champion who earned his tenth career-victory in FLW competition. “At my first area I caught the biggest fish of the event. It was a point, but more of a gap between an island and the shoreline.”
Around 9 a.m., Wagner made his way to a main-lake point where he targeted bass congregating along an intersection of pea gravel and chunk rock.
“I caught one on just about every cast,” said Wagner. “They were piling on top of each other – it was crazy. I tried to swap baits but the only thing they would bite was the Brush Hog.”
Wagner said the majority of his fish came from 6 to 10 feet of water.
“I ran up the Stones River with 20 minutes left to fish and caught a 4½-pounder which eventually got me the win,” said Wagner. “It was from an island with some shallow rocks. I wouldn’t have won without that fish – it was incredible.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Adam Wagner, Cookeville, Tenn., five bass, 20-3, $3,901
2nd: John Hopkins, Hendersonville, Tenn., five bass, 19-6, $1,748
3rd: Brandon Eddings, Nashville, Tenn., five bass, 16-6, $1,099
4th: Brittain Joyce, Murfreesboro, Tenn., five bass, 15-5, $769
5th: Terry Steele, Sparta, Tenn., five bass, 14-1, $659
6th: William Merrick, Mount Juliet, Tenn., five bass, 13-15, $604
7th: Brandon Edel, Hendersonville, Tenn., five bass, 13-8, $549
8th: Matt Stanley, Alexandria, Tenn., four bass, 13-4, $494
9th: John Graves, Mount Juliet, Tenn., five bass, 13-3, $439
10th: Larry Holland Jr., Murfreesboro, Tenn., five bass, 12-15, $385
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Wagner’s largest bass – a 6-pound, 2-ouncer – was the largest of the event and earned him the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $405.
John Davenport of Huntsville, Alabama, won the Co-angler Division and $1,644 Saturday after weighing a five-bass limit totaling 15 pounds, 5 ounces.
The top 10 co-anglers were:
1st: John Davenport, Huntsville, Ala., five bass, 15-5, $1,644
2nd: Sam Loveless, Somerset, Ky., five bass, 13-6, $822
3rd: Jacob Frawley, Nolensville, Tenn., five bass, 11-0, $749
4th: Larry Goss, Hartsville, Tenn., three bass, 10-1, $356
4th: Mark Sneed, Nashville, Tenn., five bass, 10-1, $356
6th: Jonathan Wylie, Smyrna, Tenn., three bass, 9-12, $301
7th: George Welch, Hernando, Miss., four bass, 9-3, $274
8th: Robert Bobbitt, Mountt Juliet, Tenn., three bass, 8-14, $247
9th: Darryl Humphrey, Murfreesboro, Tenn., two bass, 7-12, $219
10th: Howard Dowdy, Livingston, Tenn., three bass, 7-11, $192
Mike Todd of Thompson’s Station, Tennessee, caught the biggest bass among Co-angler Division anglers, a fish weighing 5 pounds, 13 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $98.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 12-14 BFL Regional Championship on Wheeler Lake in Decatur, Alabama. 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.
GRAHAM HIGH SCHOOL WINS TBF HIGH SCHOOL FISHING OHIO STATE CHAMPIONSHIP AT ALUM CREEK
GALENA, Ohio (May 9, 2017) – The Graham High School duo of Rocky Jordan of Urbana, Ohio, and Tanner Jordan of Saint Paris, Ohio, brought a five-bass limit to the scale Saturday weighing 11 pounds, 5 ounces, to win the 2017 TBF High School Fishing Ohio State Championship tournament on Alum Creek in Galena, Ohio. The win advanced the team to the 2017 High School Fishing National championship, held June 27-July 1 at Pickwick Lake in Florence, Alabama.
A field of 64 teams competed in the no-entry fee tournament, which launched from Alum Creek State Park in Galena. In FLW/TBF High School Fishing competition, the top 10-percent of teams competing advance to the High School Fishing National Championship.
The top six teams on Alum Creek that advanced to the 2017 High School Fishing National Championship were:
1st: Graham High School – Rocky Jordan, Urbana, Ohio, and Tanner Jordan, St. Paris, Ohio, (five bass, 11-5)
2nd: Oak Hill High School – Jalea Caldwell and Collin Hammond, both of Oak Hill, Ohio, (five bass, 11-1)
3rd: Cincinnati Area Student Angler Federation – Alex Redwine, Cincinnati, Ohio and Daniel Hechler, Franklin, Ohio, (five bass, 9-12)
4th: S.S. Minnows High School Bass Club – Cameron Smith, Columbus, Ohio, and Jacob Blackburn, Ashville, Ohio, (five bass, 9-3)
5th: Ohio Student Angler Federation – Kody Whitaker, Brimfield, Ohio, and Abagail Shade, Carlisle, Ohio, (five bass, 7-10)
6th: Troy High School – Shane Smith and Isaac Jeffers, both of Troy, Ohio, (five bass, 7-3)
Rounding out the top 10 teams were:
7th: Ohio Student Angler Federation – Chase Fernandez and Alex Batson, both of West Chester, Ohio, (five bass, 7-1)
8th: Hartley’s Hawgs Bass Fishing Club – Colten Didion and John Hutson, both of Westerville, Ohio, (five bass, 6-15)
9th: Claymont High School – Chandler Golec, Uhrichsville, Ohio, and Kole Aubiel, Dennison, Ohio, (five bass, 6-8)
10th: Gallia Academy High School – Dalton Rose, Gallipolis, Ohio, and Jason Stroud, Bidwell, Ohio, (three bass, 5-9)
Complete results from the event have been posted at HighSchoolFishing.org.
Photos from the event can be found at the TBF High School Fishing Facebook page at Facebook.com/hsfishing.
The 2017 TBF High School Fishing Ohio State Championship was a two-person (team) event for students in grades 7-12, open to any Student Angler Federation (SAF) affiliated high school club in the state of Ohio. The top 10 percent of each Challenge, Open, and state championship field will advance to the High School Fishing National Championship. The High School Fishing national champions will each receive a $5,000 college scholarship to the school of their choice.
In addition to the High School Fishing National Championship, all High School Fishing anglers nationwide automatically qualify for the world’s largest high school bass tournament, the 2017 High School Fishing World Finals, held in conjunction with the National Championship. At the 2016 World Finals more than $60,000 in scholarships and prizes were awarded.
Full schedules and the latest announcements are available at HighSchoolFishing.org and FLWFishing.com.
About FLW
FLW is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, providing anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to compete for millions in prize money in 2017 across five tournament circuits. Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, with offices in Minneapolis, FLW conducts more than 274 bass-fishing tournaments annually across the United States and sanctions tournaments in Canada, China, Mexico, South Africa and South Korea. FLW tournament fishing can be seen on the Emmy-nominated “FLW" television show, broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, while FLW Bass Fishing magazine delivers cutting-edge tips from top pros. For more information visit FLWFishing.com and follow FLW at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
About The Bass Federation
The Bass Federation Inc., (TBF) is a member of the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame. TBF is owned by those we serve and dedicated to the sport of fishing. The Federation is the largest and oldest, organized grassroots fishing, youth and conservation organization there is. TBF, our affiliated state federations and their member clubs conduct more than 20,000 events each year and have provided a foundation for the entire bass fishing industry for more than 45 years. TBF founded the Student Angler Federation and the National High School Fishing program in 2008 to promote clean family fun and education through fishing. Visit bassfederation.com or highschoolfishing.organd “LIKE US” on Facebook.
SONOMA STATE UNIVERSITY WINS YETI FLW COLLEGE FISHING TOURNAMENT AT CALIFORNIA DELTA PRESENTED BY BASS PRO SHOPS
BETHEL ISLAND, Calif. (May 16, 2017) – The Sonoma State University duo of B.J. Kendrick of Morgan Hill, California, and Josh Hanna of Danville, California, won the YETI FLW College Fishing Western Conference tournament at the California Delta presented by Bass Pro Shops Saturday with a five-bass limit weighing 16 pounds, 1 ounce. The victory earned the Sonoma State bass club $2,000 and the team will now advance to compete at the 2018 FLW College Fishing National Championship.
“We both fish the Delta quite a bit and we are pretty comfortable throwing finesse baits,” said Hanna, a freshman at Sonoma State. “We had a tough practice and from growing up fishing the Delta we knew that finesse fishing was going to be the deal.”
“We started out fishing an area near Mildred Island,” said Kendrick, a junior majoring in environmental studies and planning. “It was a shallow spot where fish were spawning. Josh caught a couple on a wacky-rigged Senko, but we left there with three bass in the box and decided to move to an area near Middle River.
“We fished for a while and got a couple of small ones there to fill out our limit, but at this point the tide was going out and we knew that our first area would be better in the low tide,” Kendrick continued. “So, we went back to our first spot. On one of my first casts back there I had a 6-pounder blow up on a bubble gum-colored Zoom Trick Worm.”
The Seawolves duo said that they caught 8 keepers throughout the day, fishing watermelon-red and baby bass-colored Yamamoto Senkos and Strike King Shim E Sticks and the bubble gum-colored Zoom Trick worm.
“The key for us was just covering a lot of water and finesse fishing,” Hanna said.
“We knew there were fish there, we just had to slow down and fish patiently to make them bite,” Kendrick added.
The top 10 teams that advanced to the 2018 College Fishing National Championship are:
1st: Sonoma State University – B.J. Kendrick, Morgan Hill, Calif., and Josh Hanna, Danville, Calif., five bass, 16-1, $2,400
2nd: California Polytechnic State University – Johan Eide, San Luis Obispo, Calif., and Colton Farquer, Oakdale, Calif., five bass, 14-9, $1,000
3rd: California State University-Chico – Austin Crane and David Griswold, both of Oroville, Calif., five bass, 13-0, $700
4th: Utah Valley University – Ben Levie, Salem, Utah, and Will Brown, Provo, Utah, five bass, 10-1, $500
5th: California State University-Chico – Frank Tomasello and Jakob Conlan, both of Chico, Calif., five bass, 9-11, $900
6th: California State University-Chico – Chas Brannon, Santa Maria, Calif., and Michael Woods, Olivehurst, Calif., five bass, 9-5, $200
7th: California State University-Bakersfield – Yuan Liu, Hayward, Calif., and Herbert Rounds, Oakley, Calif., five bass, 9-1
8th: University of California-Merced – Herbie LeBlanc, Gilroy, Calif., and Gregory Dooman, Merced, Calif., five bass, 8-11
9th: California State University-Chico – Michael Klemm, Oroville, Calif., and Nick Klein, Oroville, Calif., five bass, 8-5
10th: California State University-Chico – Chad Sweitzer, Chico, Calif., and Tyler Firebaugh, Danville, Calif., five bass, 8-2
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
This YETI FLW College Fishing Western Conference event at the California Delta was the second regular-season qualifying tournament for Western Conference anglers in 2017. The next YETI FLW College Fishing event is a Central Conference tournament, scheduled for May 20 on Kentucky Lake in Gilbertsville, Kentucky.
YETI FLW College Fishing teams compete in three regular-season qualifying tournaments in one of five conferences – Central, Northern, Southern, Southeastern and Western. The top ten teams from each division’s three regular-season tournaments, along with an additional qualifier for every 10 teams over 100 that compete, along with the top 20 teams from the annual YETI FLW College Fishing Open advance to the 2018 FLW College Fishing National Championship.
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.
Robertson wins ABA RAM Trucks Open on Kentucky Lake with over 25 pounds!
Matthew Robertson of Kuttawa, KY won the American Bass Anglers Ram Truck Open Series Kentucky tournament, held March 18, 2017 at Lake Kentucky Lake.
Running out of Moors Resort in Gilbertsville, KY, Robertson caught five bass weighing 25.20 pounds with a 5.42 - pound kicker. He took home $5,000 for his efforts. He also will take home an additional $500 from Triton Boats for being in the Triton Gold program as well as $500 from Mercury marine.
“I caught my fish today flipping a 3/25 ounce jig flipping bushes. Thanks to Drew Boggs, I tied on bigger line so that I would stop breaking my line when pulling the bass out. I caught fish all day long,” Robertson said.
In second for the boaters, David Young of Mayfield, KY. He landed a five-bass tournament limit going 20.01 pounds. He collected $600 for the effort.
“I caught my fish today flipping a jig. I was targeting bushes that was in the flooded areas of the lake,” stated Young.
Shawn Perrigo took third for the boaters with five bass going 19.35 pounds taking home $475.
“I caught m fix today using a Strike King 10XD. I was fishing river ledges all day long, I caught a lot of fish and has a really good day,” said Perrigo.
Drew Boggs of Lebanon, TN, took fourth place with a weight of 18.95 pounds.
David Seaton of Buchanan, TN took fifth with a five bass limit going 16.51 pounds.
The biggest bass for the boaters was caught by: Joey Schmidt that weighed 5.51 pounds and pocketed $420.
In the Co-Angler Division, Steve Freeman of Eddyville, KY won with three bass going 13.05 pounds. He sealed his victory with a 5.86-pound kicker to pocket a check for $1,200.
“I caught my fish today flipping a jig. We fished bushes, lay downs, just about anything we could. We went over to Barkley today and caught fish all day long. I had about 10 keepers total so it was a good day,” Freeman said.
Taking second for the co-anglers, Greg Horner of Knoxville, TN brought in a three-bass division limit weighing 12.36 pounds including a 5.90-pound kicker. He collected $400 for the effort.
“I caught my fish today flipping bushes early in the morning. I was using a green pumpkin brush hog,” stated Horner.
Clay Holland of Bardwell, KY placed third among the co-anglers with three bass going 11.23 pounds including a 4.47 pound kicker and earned $350.
“I used a brush hog today to catch my fish. My boater an I was targeting ledges. I caught my fish early in the day, after that it slowed down,” stated Holland.
In fourth place among the co-anglers, David Widman of Mount Washington, KY, he brought in three bass for 10.65 pounds.
Dan Basham of Taylorsville, KY finished in fifth place with three bass at 10.51 pounds.
The biggest bass for the co-anglers was caught by: David Widman that weighed 6.62 pounds and pocketed $170. He will also take home a new ABU Garcia Revo Spinning Reel for catching the biggest bass of the event using and ABU Garcia Reel.
Slated for August 26, 2017 the next divisional tournament will be held on Kentucky Lake launching out of Paris Landing State Park in Buchanan, TN. At the end of the season, the best anglers from across the nation advance the 2018 Ray Scott Championship.
For more information on this tournament, call Kristin Malott, tournament manager, at 256-771-3709 or ABA at 256-232-0406. On line, see www.ramopenseries.com .
About American Bass Anglers: American Bass Anglers is committed to providing low cost, close to home tournaments for the weekend angler and at the same time offer each competitor an upward path for individual angler progression. For more information about American Bass Anglers, the Ram Truck Open Series, the American Fishing Tour or the American Couples Series, visit www.americanbassanglers.com.
Bass Champs East Region Wraps up the Season on Toledo Bend – Elshout & Price take the Final Win
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| What a picture perfect day on Toledo Bend for the East Region season finale May 13, 2017. With over $72,000 up for grabs, 244 teams hit the water on the hunt for a portion of it. There was even more at stake, with this being the last push for points in the Angler of the Year race. Winners Martin Elshout & Mark Price found nearly 30 pounds of bass to take the win, and several big bass were seen at the scales including a double digit sow!
The scene was set at Cypress Bend Marina, and teams were released in flights to head out in their final hunt. Slightly cloudy skies with only a hint of breeze and temperatures rising only into the mid 70’s gave way to a fantastic day to be on the water. As the teams began rolling in to begin the weigh in, tallying their pounds and final points in the Angler of the Year race, the final line up shuffled many times until the scales came to a final close. 2016 Anglers of the Year Martin Elshout and Mark Price took the final crown for the East Region, bringing in a whopping 29.78 pounds. They targeted water 12’ to 15’ deep with football head jigs all day. “We had one point in the day where we had a good flurry, and caught a six, a seven and an eight pounder,” they reported. Their kicker weighed in at 8.04 lbs to anchor their 1st place win, catching the guaranteed $20,000 check then Sure Life added to their winnings for using the product in their livewell. Glen Freeman and Jeff Rice also had a great sack of bass, bringing in 27.51 lbs for a 2nd place win. “We went ‘old school’ for our fish,” Freeman explained. Using Texas rigged Double Z worms at ridges and humps in 15’-20’ depths, they secured their final finish for a $5,500 check and caught the Lowrance Gen3 bonus as well. Ryan Pinkston had to go it alone this last tournament, and reeled in a 3rd place finish with 23.35 pounds. “I drug a V&M football jig all day,” he recalled. Fishing in depths 10’ to 15’, he estimates catching a total of 15 bass throughout the day to cull from. Bass Champs presented a check for $4,200.00. The remaining overall top ten lineup: Now for the Big Bass race. Several kickers in the seven pound range were brought in, and a few eights. The biggest of them all weighed in at 10.99 lbs, caught by Scott Eastman fishing with Gil Leger. “We were fishing the South end of the lake in areas with patchy grass in 12’-14’ with big Texas rigged worms,” Eastman began. “It was right at 8am when I felt the hit. I eased my pole up to check it, and she took it down so I set the hook. As I was reeling her in, I got to see her as she came up out of the water, and I yelled ‘Holy smokes!’ Gil grabbed the net, and as she got closer to the boat, Gil saw my line jump and thought she may have gotten off for a moment.” They secured her in the boat, making for their second fish of the day. “We had to hunt for the rest of our limit, and broke off on two others. If we got them in, who knows how we may have finished!” They won $1,000 for that one fish, plus received the Costa Del Mar sunglasses bonus. It anchored their 8th place overall finish for an additional $1,500. Finally, this was the decisive event for the crowning of Anglers of the Year. Clayton Boulware and Albert Collins were leading the points race coming into this final event. Before it was all said and done, the final standings in the Angler of the Year race took quite a shuffle. Coming up from a 3rd place position and over 35 points to make up for, Kris Wilson and Bryan Lohr made it to the top, and are the Bass Champs East Region Anglers of the Year. For this great accomplishment, not only will their entry fees for the East Region 2018 events be waived, but they will also be featured on the Bass Champs TV show with the Anglers of the Year from the other regions where they will go to a private lake to fish head to head against each other. “They will each be given all of the same equipment and furnished with a Skeeter boat for this challenge,” Chad Potts, President of Bass Champs announced. “This will be a very exciting show, and a once in a lifetime experience for these teams who have worked hard to earn their titles. Be sure to catch it on the WFN channel or you can see any of the Bass Champs TV shows on our website.” There’s even more exciting events coming up that are open to anyone who wants to fish. The next big tournament coming up on Sam Rayburn June 25th is the Techron TX Shootout. This is the richest one day team tournament with $50,000 guaranteed up for grabs for the 1st place winners. You don’t want to miss this one! The remaining 2017 schedule for all of Bass Champs:
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RODRIGUEZ WINS T-H MARINE FLW BFL NORTHEAST DIVISION EVENT ON CHESAPEAKE BAY
New York’s O’Brien Grabs Co-angler Title
NORTH EAST, Md. (May 15, 2017) – Dan Rodriguez of Monkton, Maryland, won the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Northeast Division tournament on Chesapeake Bay Saturday with a five-bass limit totaling 19 pounds, 11 ounces. For his efforts, Rodriguez earned $3,592.
“It was a tough day out there – I only had seven keeper bites,” said Rodriguez, who earned his first career win in FLW competition. “I started in grass but the water was too muddy, so I focused on wood and rocks. They were a little deeper, in 6 to 8 of water.”
Rodriguez said he used a homemade jig with a black and blue-colored Berkley Havoc Skeet’s Pit Boss trailer.
“I did throw a crankbait, but I decided to slow down,” said Rodriguez. “It didn’t seem like the fish were chasing anything. The jig was the deal.”
During practice, Rodriguez said he pinpointed four areas where he knew he could get some quality bites, and decided to run the same route during the event.
“I didn’t catch a lot of bass from each area in practice, but the ones I did were decent-sized,” said Rodriguez. “I figured if I kept moving I could put something together.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Dan Rodriguez, Monkton, Md., five bass, 19-11, $3,592
2nd: Randy Bassler, Westminster, Md., five bass, 16-10, $2,456
3rd: Randy Caruso, Liberty, N.Y., four bass, 16-4, $1,301
4th: Daniel Gray, Butler, Pa., four bass, 14-3, $838
5th: Travis Manson, Conshohocken, Pa., four bass, 14-0, $718
6th: Nick Ferry, Levittown, Pa., four bass, 13-1, $659
7th: John Vanore, Mullica Hill, N.J., three bass, 12-14, $599
8th: Wayne Dietz, Carbondale, Pa., four bass, 12-13, $539
9th: Joe LaBarbera, Montrose, Pa., three bass, 12-10, $479
10th: Ed Casey, Whiteford, Md., three bass, 11-1, $419
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Bassler caught a bass weighing 5 pounds, 13 ounces – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division – which earned him the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $460.
Richard O’Brien of Stony Point, New York, won the Co-angler Division and $1,796 Saturday with three bass weighing 10 pounds, 1 ounce.
The top 10 co-anglers were:
1st: Richard O’Brien, Stony Point, N.Y., three bass, 10-1, $1,796
2nd: Bill Naron, Beaverdam, Va., three bass, 9-11, $898
3rd: Andrew Chianese, North East, Md., three bass, 8-4, $598
4th: Greg Rzeplinski, Wellsville, Pa., two bass, 7-10, $419
5th: Eric Donnelly, Selinsgrove, Pa., two bass, 5-12, $359
6th: Randy Hutchinson, Sewell, N.J., one bass, 5-10, $559
7th: Christy Tiano, Hudson, N.Y., one bass, 5-7, $399
8th: Tim Berkheimer, Gettysburg, Pa., one bass, 5-3, $269
9th: Bryan Folino, Chesire, Mass., one bass, 5-0, $239
10th: Matt Hummel, Lancaster, Pa., one bass, 4-14, $260
Hutchinson’s bass was the heaviest caught among Co-angler Division anglers. The fish 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. 12-14 BFL Regional Championship on the James River in Williamsburg, Virginia. 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.
Palmer Cashes in ABA Ram Trucks Event on Gaston!
JT Palmore of Blackstone, Virginia won the American Bass Anglers Ram Truck Open Series Virginia Division tournament held 5/13/2017 on Lake Gaston.
Running out of Americamps in Bracey Virginia, JT weighed in five bass for 18.54 pounds. He anchored his catch with a bass that weighed 4.95 pounds. For the Boater division victory, Palmore took home a check for $5,000.
"I started out in the rainy conditions catching three good fish on a swimjig. I thought that was the deal but it turned out not to be. I caught fish also on a shakeyhead and a buzzbait. The conditions kept changing throughout the day and I just had to keep adjusting. I figure I caught between 8-10 keepers today," said Palmore.
In second for the boaters, Shawn Evans of White Plains, Virginia weighed in a five bass limit weighing 17.34 pounds. He collected $600 for the effort.
"I caught probably 10 keepers today," said Evans. Everything I caught today came on a wacky rigged worm."
Joel Eberts of Powhatan, Virginia took third for the boaters with five bass weighing 15.99 pounds. He anchored his catch with a 6.28 pound largemouth. Eberts collected $475 for his third place finish. Also, by having the biggest bass for the boaters, Eberts collected an additional $430. Eberts also had the big bass of the tournament. Using an ABU Garcia reel to catch the 6.28 pound largemouth, Eberts was awarded a new ABU Garcia Revo spinning reel valued at $160.
"I caught probably 15 keepers today," said Eberts. I caught most of my fish including the big fish on an All Terrain Tackle jig. I also caught some fish on a topwater bait and a spinnerbait."
Finishing fourth, Chase Johnson of Four Oaks, North Carolina weighed in a five bass limit weighing 14.86 pounds.
Rounding out the top five, Ray Horrocks of Ebony, Virginia weighed in a five bass limit weighing 13.90 pounds.
For his top 10 finish Chuck Murray of Louisburg North Carolina won $500 for being a Triton Gold member.
In the Co-Angler Division, Danny Towe of Salem, Virginia won with three bass weighing 9.01 pounds. He sealed his victory with a 4.56 pound kicker to pocket a check for $600. Also, Towe Pocketed an additional $80 for weighing in the biggest bass on the co-angler side.
"I caught 5 bass today culling once," said Towe. My big fish came on a chatterbait with a Missile baits trailer. The rest of my catch came on a Senko."
Taking second for the co-anglers, Lavar James of Nokesville, Virginia weighed in a co-angler limit of three bass weighing in at 7.63 pounds. He anchored his catch with a bass that weighed in at 3.09 pounds. James collected $300 for his catch.
"I caught a total of four fish today," said James. They all came on a senko and a chatterbait."
Placing third on the co-angler side was Derek Sewell of Forest, Virginia. Sewell weighed in three bass that weighed 7.14 pounds. He collected $225 for the effort.
"I caught probably a dozen fish today," said Sewell. Everything came on a spinnerbait."
In fourth place among the co-anglers, Ernest McIntyre Jr. of Fayetteville, North Carolina weighed in three bass weighing 6.95 pounds.
Rounding out the top five, Randy Ruffin of Norfolk, Virginia weighed in three bass weighing 6.47 pounds.
Slated for June 17th 2017 the next Virginia Divisional tournament will be on Kerr Lake out of Nutbush park in Henderson North Carolina. 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.
Jennings and Jennings Take the Carolina's Bass Challenge Win on High Rock Lake!
| Place | Team Name | Team # | Fish Weighed | Net Weight | Big Fish | Points | Winnings |
| 1 | Jeff Jennings - Pierce Jennings | 83 | 5 | 20.560 | 5.410 | 310 | $10,000 |
| 2 | Chris Corriher - Randy Christy | 49 | 5 | 20.140 | 5.430 | 309 | $4,500 |
| 3 | Kevin Chandler - Bradley Chandler | 22 | 5 | 19.990 | 5.720 | 308 | $3,000 |
| 4 | Eric Jeter - Darren Jeter | 126 | 5 | 19.990 | 0.000 | 307 | $2,000 |
| 5 | Tim Chapman - Marcus Leech | 72 | 5 | 19.010 | 0.000 | 306 | $1,400 |
| 6 | Jerry Craig - Bobby Latuch | 10 | 5 | 17.780 | 0.000 | 305 | $1,000 |
| 7 | James Blankenship - Chris Baldwin | 144 | 5 | 17.540 | 0.000 | 304 | $800 |
| 8 | Brendon Schneider - Kyle James | 19 | 5 | 16.930 | 5.300 | 303 | $750 |
| 9 | Roger Hoover - Scott Hamrick | 60 | 5 | 16.850 | 0.000 | 302 | $700 |
| 10 | Joshua Love - Mike Love | 131 | 5 | 16.800 | 0.000 | 301 | $650 |
| 11 | Robert Mixon - Robert Lambert | 74 | 5 | 16.630 | 0.000 | 300 | $535 |
| 12 | Jimmy Cummings - Logan Anderson | 125 | 5 | 16.400 | 5.750 | 299 | $475 |
| 13 | Mark Williams - Robbie Lane | 140 | 5 | 16.280 | 0.000 | 298 | $445 |
| 14 | Joshua Queen - Mike Queen | 18 | 5 | 16.030 | 0.000 | 297 | $420 |
| 15 | Wayne Ingram - Chris Brown | 24 | 5 | 16.020 | 0.000 | 296 | $385 |
| 16 | Mike Stephens - Hunter Hicks | 98 | 5 | 16.010 | 0.000 | 295 | $360 |
| 17 | Rodney Bell - Tommy Jones | 11 | 5 | 15.870 | 0.000 | 294 | $330 |
| 18 | Scott Henley - Neil McDonald | 128 | 5 | 15.630 | 5.440 | 293 | $315 |
| 19 | Thomas Johnson - robert johnson | 78 | 5 | 15.480 | 5.680 | 292 | $300 |
| 20 | Dennis Reedy - Jeffrey Thomas | 34 | 5 | 15.140 | 0.000 | 291 | $290 |
| 21 | Thomas File - Thomas Ludwick | 27 | 5 | 14.680 | 0.000 | 290 | $270 |
| 22 | Randy Weddington - Ronnie Smith | 30 | 5 | 14.420 | 5.400 | 289 | $250 |
| 23 | Marvin Godard - Robert Adams | 6 | 5 | 14.400 | 0.000 | 288 | $220 |
| 24 | Derick Livingston - Jonathan Spivey | 55 | 5 | 14.310 | 0.000 | 287 | $200 |
| 25 | Greg Deal - Terry Wike | 64 | 5 | 14.190 | 0.000 | 286 | |
| 26 | Alfred Keisling, Sr - Chad Poteat | 148 | 5 | 13.940 | 0.000 | 285 | |
| 27 | Dusty Taylor - Jason Thomas | 136 | 5 | 13.920 | 6.370 | 284 | |
| 28 | billy marshall - Corey Ingram | 23 | 5 | 13.600 | 0.000 | 283 | |
| 29 | Derek Tolley - Terry Trivette | 37 | 5 | 13.550 | 0.000 | 282 | |
| 30 | Michael Smith - Roger Pope | 50 | 5 | 13.390 | 0.000 | 281 | |
| 31 | Ladd Whicker - Landon Whicker | 115 | 5 | 13.260 | 0.000 | 280 | |
| 32 | Chris Boehme - Alan Rae | 61 | 5 | 13.240 | 0.000 | 279 | |
| 33 | Chris Richey - George Bost | 124 | 5 | 12.800 | 0.000 | 278 | |
| 34 | Mike Miller - Marty Stone | 141 | 4 | 12.700 | 5.280 | 277 | |
| 35 | Kyle Whisnant - James Ball | 39 | 5 | 12.590 | 0.000 | 276 | |
| 36 | Drew Stankwytch - Brandon Childress | 106 | 5 | 12.550 | 0.000 | 275 | |
| 37 | Anthony Monaco - Steve Gardner | 52 | 5 | 12.420 | 0.000 | 274 | |
| 38 | Chris Ellis - Nathan White | 114 | 5 | 12.160 | 0.000 | 273 | |
| 39 | Brad Younts - Adam Younts | 58 | 5 | 12.140 | 0.000 | 272 | |
| 40 | Vince Parker - Mark Parker | 2 | 5 | 12.090 | 0.000 | 271 | |
| 41 | Todd Parker - Barret Locklear | 20 | 5 | 12.020 | 0.000 | 270 | |
| 42 | Robert Walser - Mack Lowe | 137 | 5 | 12.000 | 0.000 | 269 | |
| 43 | Anthony Brooks - Brad Smith | 14 | 5 | 11.670 | 0.000 | 268 | |
| 44 | Jason Wilson - Kelly Logan | 135 | 5 | 11.620 | 0.000 | 267 | |
| 45 | Joshua Sanders - Derek Cummings | 21 | 5 | 11.570 | 0.000 | 266 | |
| 46 | Chip Crews - Joshua Stafford | 75 | 4 | 11.420 | 0.000 | 265 | |
| 47 | Cody Swink - Mark Swink | 145 | 5 | 11.410 | 0.000 | 264 | |
| 48 | Samuel Thomas - John Harris | 40 | 4 | 11.330 | 0.000 | 263 | |
| 49 | T.J. Murphy jr - Matthew Burke | 129 | 5 | 11.310 | 0.000 | 262 | |
| 50 | SCOTT FAULKNER - TONY BREWER | 15 | 4 | 10.930 | 0.000 | 261 | |
| 51 | Jeff McQuaigue - William Ford | 93 | 3 | 10.660 | 4.590 | 260 | |
| 52 | Wayne Skipworth - Don Sprinkle | 91 | 5 | 10.530 | 0.000 | 259 | |
| 53 | Steve Yoder - Dennis Hensley | 101 | 5 | 10.490 | 0.000 | 258 | |
| 54 | Ryan Bentley - greg berst | 120 | 4 | 10.420 | 0.000 | 257 | |
| 55 | Greg Bragg - Christopher Terry | 5 | 4 | 9.940 | 4.720 | 256 | |
| 56 | Neil Sheehan - Travis Young | 33 | 5 | 9.820 | 0.000 | 255 | |
| 57 | Erik Myers - Michael Smith | 88 | 5 | 9.710 | 0.000 | 254 | |
| 58 | Keith Speece - Wendell Ireland | 35 | 5 | 9.600 | 0.000 | 253 | |
| 59 | Wesley Cashwell - Shane Doughtie | 77 | 5 | 9.300 | 0.000 | 252 | |
| 60 | Tommy Williams - Thomas Hardwick | 133 | 4 | 9.170 | 0.000 | 251 | |
| 61 | Kenny Drew - Robert. ( Mitch) Drew | 9 | 3 | 8.960 | 0.000 | 250 | |
| 62 | Thomas Jones - Phillip Rogers | 71 | 3 | 8.930 | 0.000 | 249 | |
| 63 | Joe Hamilton - Anthony Johnson | 25 | 4 | 8.380 | 0.000 | 248 | |
| 64 | Randall Wallace - Andrew Wallace | 111 | 4 | 8.310 | 0.000 | 247 | |
| 65 | Thomas Tucker - John Miller | 63 | 4 | 8.120 | 0.000 | 246 | |
| 66 | Paul Kiser - David Cheek | 42 | 3 | 7.960 | 0.000 | 245 | |
| 67 | James Clark - Rick Carson | 90 | 3 | 7.750 | 0.000 | 244 | |
| 68 | Mike Clark - Chris Anderson | 67 | 2 | 7.590 | 5.250 | 243 | |
| 69 | Anthony Burton - James Burton | 1 | 2 | 6.770 | 0.000 | 242 | |
| 70 | Matt Markland - Tracy Markland | 89 | 2 | 6.050 | 0.000 | 241 | |
| 71 | Nathan Royal - David Brookshire | 51 | 1 | 5.730 | 0.000 | 240 | |
| 72 | Brent Berry - David Puckett | 116 | 2 | 5.730 | 3.620 | 239 | |
| 73 | Ashley Miller - Chris Miller | 57 | 2 | 4.810 | 0.000 | 238 | |
| 74 | Tim Ford - Jon Shirley | 81 | 2 | 4.150 | 0.000 | 237 | |
| 75 | bobby snyder - Caleb Hunneycutt | 99 | 2 | 3.870 | 0.000 | 236 | |
| 76 | MATT HAYES - Derek Lilley | 143 | 1 | 2.570 | 0.000 | 235 | |
| 77 | Thomas Gavin - mike sprouse | 87 | 1 | 1.970 | 0.000 | 234 | |
| 78 | Rob Hedrick - Daniel Ray | 134 | 1 | 1.880 | 0.000 | 233 | |
| 79 | Michael Norman - kenneth shumate | 3 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 232 | |
| 80 | Justin Stoltzfus - Chris Deal | 4 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 231 | |
| 81 | James Wall - Jimmy Wall | 7 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 230 | |
| 82 | Phil Hennessee - Robert Johnson | 8 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 229 | |
| 83 | Joel Ketcham - scott ketcham | 12 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 228 | |
| 84 | David Blanton - William Blanton | 13 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 227 | |
| 85 | Donald Poteat - Johnny Allen | 16 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 226 | |
| 86 | Steve Shaw - Robert Porter | 17 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 225 | |
| 87 | Jeff Hager - darrel hager | 26 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 224 | |
| 88 | MICHAEL HALL - MIKE HALL | 28 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 223 | |
| 89 | Brett McLean - Mac McLean | 29 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 222 | |
| 90 | Steve Dyer - Rusty White | 31 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 221 | |
| 91 | Eddie Smith - Michael Carson | 32 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 220 | |
| 92 | Steve Sink - Tony Foster | 36 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 219 | |
| 93 | todd sosebee - steve postell | 38 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 218 | |
| 94 | Gene Webster - Guy Eaker | 41 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 217 | |
| 95 | Craig Chambers - Keith Ogden | 43 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 216 | |
| 96 | Mark Murphy - Dave Snyder | 44 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 215 | |
| 97 | Michael Burgess - Danny Lawson | 45 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 214 | |
| 98 | Jim Dull - Michael Cummings | 46 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 213 | |
| 99 | Clint Benbow - Jeremi Beatty | 47 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 212 | |
| 100 | Robbie Norris - Mark Seals | 48 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 211 | |
| 101 | Josh Lancaster | 53 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 210 | |
| 102 | Danny Nifong - Matthew Nifong | 54 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 209 | |
| 103 | Chris Graham - Ricky Byrd | 56 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 208 | |
| 104 | Gene Sparks - Josh Quesinberry | 59 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 207 | |
| 105 | Phillip Hedrick - Jack Vanderford | 62 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | |
| 106 | David Shields - John Gallimore | 65 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 205 | |
| 107 | Richard Robinson lll - Wes Bumgarner | 66 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 204 | |
| 108 | Ron Weyersberg - Ken Nickerson | 68 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 203 | |
| 109 | Jerry Davis - Tony Tysinger | 69 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 202 | |
| 110 | Steven Gawthrop | 70 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 201 | |
| 111 | Paul Brittain | 73 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 200 | |
| 112 | Rodney Sorrell - Gerald Beck | 76 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 199 | |
| 113 | Graham Rushing - Artie Phillips | 79 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 198 | |
| 114 | Rob Spears - Bowe Luther | 80 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 197 | |
| 115 | Thomas Simmerson - Doug Young | 82 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 196 | |
| 116 | David Wright - Jeff Coble | 84 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 195 | |
| 117 | CJ Johnston - Matt Stanley | 85 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 194 | |
| 118 | Chris Wagner - Chase Deal | 86 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 193 | |
| 119 | Zac Gooch - Greg Gooch | 92 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 192 | |
| 120 | Bob Zerbe - Mike Smith | 94 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 191 | |
| 121 | Ron Wolfarth - Larry Inman | 95 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 190 | |
| 122 | Gary Rose - Jerry Collins | 96 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 189 | |
| 123 | John Ritchie - Bryant Gobble | 97 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 188 | |
| 124 | Steve Addington - Scott Beattie | 100 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 187 | |
| 125 | Brad Staley - David Farrington | 102 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 186 | |
| 126 | Jimmy fortson - Grady Cheek | 103 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 185 | |
| 127 | Travis Ruff - Kelly Ruff | 104 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 184 | |
| 128 | Moe Freeze - Clay Williams | 105 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 183 | |
| 129 | Jordon Venable - Jim Venable | 107 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 182 | |
| 130 | Larry Denton - Chris Guest | 108 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 181 | |
| 131 | Dempsey Carter - Tyler Carter | 109 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 180 | |
| 132 | Dan Funderburk - Butch Drew | 110 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 179 | |
| 133 | Tim Gaines - Mike Bryant | 112 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 178 | |
| 134 | Larry LeHew - Pete Bejte | 113 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 177 | |
| 135 | Tyler Beam - Eric Self | 117 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 176 | |
| 136 | Reggie Guffey - Tommy Chapman | 118 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 175 | |
| 137 | Brandon Graham - alex palomba | 119 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 174 | |
| 138 | Mike Ray - Orlando Giles | 121 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 173 | |
| 139 | chris Albright - Jarrett aAlbright | 122 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 172 | |
| 140 | Daniel Hill - Parks Jones | 123 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 171 | |
| 141 | Jason Barnes - Keith Barnes | 127 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 170 | |
| 142 | Mikey Bowlby - Troy lehew | 130 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 169 | |
| 143 | Dale Duncan - Donnie Woody | 132 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 168 | |
| 144 | Thomas Vickers - Brian Huskins | 138 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 167 | |
| 145 | byron brush - Byron Brush Sr. | 139 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 166 | |
| 146 | Joe Floyd - Phil Brown | 142 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 165 | |
| 147 | Chuck Camp - Rob Digh | 146 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 164 | |
| 148 | Shawn Crosby - robert brooks | 147 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 163 |
OKLAHOMA’S CHARLES PAGE HIGH SCHOOL WINS BASS PRO SHOPS FLW HIGH SCHOOL FISHING MISSOURI OPEN AT STOCKTON LAKE
STOCKTON, Mo. (May 15, 2017) – The Charles Page High School duo of John Miller and Caden Pennington, both of Sand Springs, Oklahoma, brought four bass to the scale Saturday weighing 9 pounds even to win the 2017 Bass Pro Shops FLW High School Fishing Missouri Open tournament on Stockton Lake. The win advanced the team to the 2017 High School Fishing National championship, held June 27-July 1 at Pickwick Lake in Florence, Alabama.
According to post-tournament reports, the duo caught their fish dragging a Gene Larew Biffle Bug and flipping a jig in the mid-lake area.
A field of 12 teams competed in the no-entry fee, tournament which launched from the Orleans Trail Marina in Stockton. In FLW/TBF High School Fishing competition, the top 10-percent of teams competing advance to the High School Fishing National Championship.
The top team on Stockton Lake that advanced to the 2017 High School Fishing National Championship was:
1st: Charles Page High School, Sand Springs, Okla. – John Miller and Caden Pennington, both of Sand Springs, Okla., (four bass, 9-0)
Rounding out the top 10 teams were:
2nd: Lindbergh High School, St. Louis, Mo. – Grant Nisbet, St. Louis, Mo., and Trey Schroeder, Crestwood, Mo., (five bass, 8-15)
3rd: Logan-Rogersville High School, Rogersville, Mo. – Ashlynn Sell, Linden, Mo., and Kendall Meadors, Fordland, Mo., (four bass, 6-9)
4th: Westside High School, Omaha, Neb. – Owen Jansen and Ian Pinhero, both of Omaha, Neb., (four bass, 5-6)
5th: Rockwood Summit High School, Fenton, Mo. – William Curtright and Douglas Guidorzi, both of Fenton, Mo., (two bass, 4-3)
6th: Topeka Capital City Bass Hogs – Brock Bila, Overland Park, Kan., and Thomas Heinen, Topeka, Kan., (two bass, 4-0)
7th: Logan-Rogersville High School, Rogersville, Mo. – Gage Meadors, Fordland, Mo., and Andrew Sell, Rogersville, Mo., (two bass, 3-3)
8th: Hillcrest High School, Springfield, Mo. – Kenson Handley and Ethan Smith, both of Springfield, Mo., (one bass, 2-8)
9th: Quapaw High School, Quapaw, Okla. – Nick Hemphill and Justin Jennings, both of Quapaw, Okla., (one bass, 2-0)
10th: West Plains High School, West Plains, Mo. – Landry Randolph and Caleb Cline, both of West Plains, Mo., (one bass, 1-12)
Complete results from the event and photos of the top five teams can be found at FLWFishing.com.
The 2017 Bass Pro Shops FLW High School Fishing Missouri Open was a two-person (team) event for students in grades 7-12, open to any Student Angler Federation (SAF) affiliated high school club in the United States. The top 10 percent of each Challenge, Open, and state championship field will advance to the High School Fishing National Championship. The High School Fishing national champions will each receive a $5,000 college scholarship to the school of their choice.
In addition to the High School Fishing National Championship, all High School Fishing anglers nationwide automatically qualify for the world’s largest high school bass tournament, the 2017 High School Fishing World Finals, held in conjunction with the National Championship. At the 2016 World Finals more than $60,000 in scholarships and prizes were awarded.
Full schedules and the latest announcements are available at HighSchoolFishing.org and FLWFishing.com.
About FLW
FLW is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, providing anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to compete for millions in prize money in 2017 across five tournament circuits. Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, with offices in Minneapolis, FLW conducts more than 274 bass-fishing tournaments annually across the United States and sanctions tournaments in Canada, China, Mexico, South Africa and South Korea. FLW tournament fishing can be seen on the Emmy-nominated “FLW" television show, broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, while FLW Bass Fishing magazine delivers cutting-edge tips from top pros. For more information visit FLWFishing.com and follow FLW at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
About The Bass Federation
The Bass Federation Inc., (TBF) is a member of the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame. TBF is owned by those we serve and dedicated to the sport of fishing. The Federation is the largest and oldest, organized grassroots fishing, youth and conservation organization there is. TBF, our affiliated state federations and their member clubs conduct more than 20,000 events each year and have provided a foundation for the entire bass fishing industry for more than 45 years. TBF founded the Student Angler Federation and the National High School Fishing program in 2008 to promote clean family fun and education through fishing. Visit bassfederation.com or highschoolfishing.organd “LIKE US” on Facebook.
SISK WINS T-H MARINE FLW BFL ILLINI DIVISION TOURNAMENT ON REND LAKE
Odin’s Depew Grabs Co-angler Title
WHITTINGTON, Ill. (May 15, 2017) – Marty Sisk of Evansville, Indiana, won the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Illini Division tournament on Rend Lake Saturday after weighing three bass totaling 10 pounds, 12 ounces. For his victory, Sisk took home $4,341.
Sisk said he spent his day on the lower end of the lake in Marcum Branch creek, near the dam. He said he targeted bass in pockets and points along a route that stretched nearly a mile.
“I fished in 3 to 4 feet of water and caught them out of flooded buck brush and willow trees,” said Sisk, who earned his fourth career-win in BFL competition. “It was the cleanest water on the lake, which I really liked.”
Sisk used two lures throughout his day – a ¾-ounce chartreuse and white-colored Mann’s Lures Classic spinnerbait, and a green-pumpkin Lunker Lure Ultimate Rattlin’ Jig with a Zoom Super Chunk trailer, treated with Strike Force attractant.
“It was a tough day out there – I only caught two in the morning and one on the afternoon,” said Sisk. “If the cover was thick I’d use the jig, if it was thin I threw the spinnerbait.”
Around 9:30 a.m., Sisk caught the largest bass of the event on the spinnerbait.
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Marty Sisk, Evansville, Ind., three bass, 10-12, $4,341
2nd: Jeremy Mull, Chatham, Ill., four bass, 9-0, $1,935
3rd: Alex Moore, Chester, Ill., two bass, 6-15, $1,224
4th: Jerry Walker, Zeigler, Ill., two bass, 6-14, $1,156
5th: Dan Shoraga, West Frankfort, Ill., three bass, 6-8, $734
6th: John Templeton, Coulterville, Ill., three bass, 6-4, $673
7th: Brad Porter, Bluford, Ill., three bass, 6-0, $612
8th: Larry Page, Mount Vernon, Ill., two bass, 5-10, $520
8th: Chad Diedrich, Nashville, Ill., three bass, 5-10, $520
10th: Tim Davis, East Alton, Ill., one bass, 5-6, $428
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Sisk’s biggest bass weighed 6 pounds, 1 ounce and earned him the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $470.
Brandon Depew of Odin, Illinois, won the Co-angler Division and $1,835 Saturday after weighing two bass totaling 4 pounds, 3 ounces.
The top 10 co-anglers were:
1st: Brandon Depew, Odin, Ill., two bass, 4-3, $1,835
2nd: Ryan Fancher, Olney, Ill., two bass, 4-2, $1,118
3rd: Mike Swetland, Tamaroa, Ill., two bass, 3-6, $662
4th: Jim Budde, Waterloo, Ill., two bass, 3-5, $397
4th: Mario Rossi Jr., Granite City, Ill., two bass, 3-5, $397
6th: Greg Griffith, Harrisburg, Ill., one bass, 3-1, $571
7th: Doug Miller, Peoria, Ill., one bass, 2-13, $306
8th: Eric Cote, Elburn, Ill., one bass, 2-10, $260
8th: Scott Payne, Ingraham, Ill., one bass, 2-10, $260
10th: William Richno, Raymond, Ill., one bass, 2-7, $214
Griffith’s 3-pound, 1-ounce bass was the largest among Co-angler Division anglers, and earned him the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $235.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 5-7 BFL Regional Championship on Kentucky Lake in Gilbertsville, Kentucky. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard.
The 2017 BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. Top performers in the BFL can move up to the Costa FLW Series or even the FLW Tour.
For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the BFL on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing.
Big Bass Catches Expected When Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest Comes To Sam Rayburn
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Mitchell & McCollum win Neely Henry ABT Event, Become First North Team to Win 2 Events in Same Season!
by Dan O’Sullivan
May 13, 2017 – Gadsden, Ala. – One thing the field of anglers can expect when they make their annual trek to Neely Henry Lake is that they are going to have the opportunity to catch a large number of bass. The Coosa River fishery located in Gadsden, Ala. was the fourth stop of the 2017 Alabama Bass Trail Northern Division schedule, and it didn’t disappoint.
While the field was recording one five fish limit after another, the team of Mitch Mitchell and Candler McCollum did it just a little bit better, and in the process recorded a little bit of ABT history in the process. By bringing a 16.64-pound limit – which included the 5.72-pound big bass of the event – to the scales, Mitchell and McCollum won the event and became only the second team in ABT history to win two events in the same season.
The former college anglers, who won the first event of the 2017 season at Wheeler Lake, ran downstream from Coosa Landing and spent their day flipping sparse grass on the main lake with Sweet Beavers on 1/2-ounce tungsten weights and a swim jig with Paca Craw trailer; which caught the big fish, to claim victory and the $10,000 first prize.
The pair did not expect this kind of result. “We’re actually a little shocked right now,” they said. “We had a 14-inch fish in our bag that we couldn’t cull, and with this field, you typically have to have five quality fish to win; we can’t believe it, but are so happy to have it turn out the way it did.”
The win actually gains the pair one point in the Northern Division Angler of the Year standings over Jack and Kathy Womack, who finished the Neely Henry event in second place. The husband and wife team from Trussville produced a strong, 16.13-pound limit, and led the event for much of the weigh-in. They earned $5,000 for their day’s performance.
Despite the runner-up finish, they expressed the fact that they were very happy with the finish. “We came here with the goal of getting a top three plaque,” they said. “So even though we fell just short of a win, we still achieved our goal and are happy with the finish.” They also reported fishing main lake grass with 1/2-ounce chartreuse and white Booyah spinnerbaits and swimming a 3/8-ounce white swim jig and Rage Craw trailer to produce their weight.
The team of Jason Yelverton and Richard Walker finished third with 15.72 pounds, earning $4,000 in the process. They were followed by Duane Smith and Jarrid Traylor in fourth with 15.01 pounds, earning $3,000, and Lee and Logan Hurley weighed 14.64 pounds to round out the top five and take home $2,000.
The top 10 standings are below, for complete standings go to http://www.alabamabasstrail.org/tournament-series/nhl-results/
| Place | Team | Weight | Big Fish | Winnings |
| 1 | Mitch Mitchell / Candler McCollum | 16.64 | 5.72 | $10,000 |
| 2 | Jack Womack / Kathy Womack | 16.13 | 5.03 | $5,000 |
| 3 | Jason Yelverton / Richard Walker | 15.72 | $4,000 | |
| 4 | Duane Smith / Jarrid Traylor | 15.01 | 4.91 | $3,000 |
| 5 | Lee Hurley / Logan Hurley | 14.64 | $2,000 | |
| 6 | Lisa Johnson / Mike Johnson | 14.63 | 4.55 | $1,500 |
| 7 | Nolen Spencer / Jonathon Reese | 14.33 | 4.54 | $1,100 |
| 8 | Clay Madison / Kyle Patterson | 14.26 | 4.25 | $1,100 |
| 9 | Charlie Cummings / Greg Pugh | 14.1 | $1,100 | |
| 10 | Brandon Staggs / Jerry Wright | 13.92 | $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 visitwww.alabamabasstrail.org.
Bryan College Bass Team Takes Top Spot In Bassmaster Eastern Regional on Cherokee
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Lee & Hummel take the Win in the American Bass Anglers Military Team Tournament on Lake Hartwell!
Jonathan Lee & Travis Hummel had another solid day on Lake Hartwell. The pair brought in 12.34 pounds today to make for a three-day total of 39.21 pounds, less than a pound ahead of the Day Two leaders Kevin & Kyle Oleen. Their win was worth $4000 while winning an additional $720 for Day Two Big Bass. Additionally, the team is eligible for $7000 in Triton Gold cash, as well as, contingency cash from Mercury and T-H Marine Atlas Awards. “During practice, we were losing fish. We changed out our hooks to KVD 2X Short Mustad Triple Grip trebles on the Strike King 2.5 square bills we were using in Sexy Shad color, targeting shallow points. Tuesday was a great practice day and we came off of the water by 9:00 AM to keep from burning through our fish. We were blessed, we had a great time, and we’re glad we won,” said Lee.
Kevin & Kyle Oleen finished the event in second place with a three-day total of 38.64 pounds winning $1100. “We caught our fish on a Carolina rig, Zara Spooks, and a few on a swimbait. I lost a 3-4 pounder on a Spook this morning and I knew that would hurt. Yesterday, I had a fish blow up on my Spook and cut the line. While the Spook was laying on top of the water, another bass hit it and took it down. I tied on another Spook and about 30 minutes later, it floated to the surface,” said Kevin Oleen.
The team of Mitchell Oldnettle & Len Lindahl ended the week in third place with a three-day total of 35.78 pounds. Third place was worth $700, along with $720 for the Day One Big Bass. “No one is going to believe this. We are from Florida and we typically fish grass and lily pads. We found 25 yards of grass in this lake and caught all of our fish out of that grass on a frog,” said Oldnettle.
Day Three Big Bass belonged to the team of George Kunkle & and Clifton Holt. Their 4.80 pound bass was worth $720.
Final results can be found at this link.
This event has been hosted by Visit Anderson and Anderson County.
The annual ABA Military Team Bass Tournament is an exclusive event for current and former service men and women of our armed forces. Teams from 14 different states came from across the country to compete for bragging rights and cash payouts on Lake Hartwell this week.
The 2018 event will be held on May 8-11, 2018 at Old Hickory Lake and is hosted by the Sumner County Convention & Visitors Bureau.
American Bass Anglers, Inc. is supported by Ram Trucks, Triton Boats, Mercury Outboards, Carlisle Tires, GEICO, Berkley, Abu Garcia, T-H Marine, Livingston Lures, Best Western Hotels, Maui Jim, Power Pole, LiT Coolers, Simms, Garmin, and Divide-It. American Bass Anglers, Inc. can be contacted at (256) 232-0406 or by visiting americanbassanglers.com.
General Tire Offering Up To $70
- Promotion Runs May 15-June 15, 2017
Fort Mill, S.C. (May 15, 2017) - The warmer spring temperatures get us thinking of road trips and summer vacations. General Tire wants to put money back in drivers' pockets that can be used to help fund those trips when they purchase a qualifying set of four new General Tires. The promotion starts today and runs through June 15.
A total of 19 different tire lines, including the new ultra-high performance all-season G-MAX AS-05, qualify for the promotion. Tires eligible for a $70 prepaid VISA card include: GRABBER, GRABBER X3, GRABBER AT2, GRABBER HTS60, GRABBER UHP, G-MAX AS-05, G-MAX AS-03. Tires eligible for a $50 prepaid VISA car include: AltiMAX ARCTIC12, AltiMAX ARCTIC, AltiMAX HP, AltiMAX RT, AltiMAX RT43, AMERITRAC, AMERITRAC TR, GRABBER AW, GRABBER HP, GRABBER TR, GRABBER ARCTIC LT, GRABBER ARCTIC. A wide variety of passenger, light truck, SUV and CUV fitments are covered with these eligible tires.
To get all the details related to the promotion, driver over to GeneralTire.com/promotions. Join our social media conversations on Twitter @generaltire, on Instagram @general_tire and on Facebook.com/GeneralTire.
SCHLANDER WINS COSTA FLW SERIES WESTERN DIVISION TOURNAMENT ON CALIFORNIA DELTA PRESENTED BY POWER-POLE
California Angler Tops Pro Field, Takes Home $81,668 including New Ranger Boat
BETHEL ISLAND, Calif. (May 13, 2017) – Boater Hunter Schlander of Modesto, California, weighed a five-bass limit totaling 21 pounds, 13 ounces Saturday to win the Costa FLW Series Western Division tournament on the California Delta presented by Power-Pole. Schlander’s three-day total of 15 bass weighing 57 pounds, 1 ounce was enough to earn him $81,668, including a new Ranger Z518C boat with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard.
“I feel like I’m on top of the world right now – this is incredible,” said Schlander, who earned his first career-win in FLW Series competition. “Most of my fish this week were postspawn. They wanted to be in some grass and some current.”
Schlander said he had two primary patterns each day of the event. In the mornings, he worked a Delta Craw-colored Lucky Craft Silent Fat BDS Crankbait along riprap-filled banks, and in the afternoons he flipped a Yamamoto Senko worm near tule points.
“I had three banks where riprap would run down to the bottom and meet the hydrilla 5 to 6 feet offshore,” said Schlander. “I positioned my boat between the two and ran a crankbait as close as I could to the grass, in anywhere from 4 to 6 feet of water. Right where the two intersected on the bottom was where I wanted the crankbait – it’s what seemed to produce the most bites.”
Schlander said his first stretch of bank was mid-lake, while his other two were farther south as he followed the outgoing tide.
“Once the tide fell out, I couldn’t put my boat in the shallow water, so I headed back north to some tule island points,” said Schlander. “The points were near Franks Tract (Recreation Area), and I was just able to slow down with a Watermelon Red-colored Senko to catch my fish.”
Schlander said the Lucky Craft crankbait and the Yamamoto Senko were the only two lures that produced for him during the tournament.
“I probably caught 60 keepers this week, and only had two rods on my deck,” said Schlander.
The top 10 pros on California Delta finished:
1st: Hunter Schlander, Modesto, Calif., 15 bass, 57-1, $36,668 + Ranger Z518C w/ 200-hp Evinrude outboard
2nd: Robert Lee, Angels Camp, Calif., 15 bass, 50-2, $14,409
3rd: Beau Joudrey, Oakley, Calif., 15 bass, 49-3, $11,000
4th: Stephen Tosh Jr., Turlock, Calif., 15 bass, 45-11, $9,267
5th: Joe Uribe Jr., Surprise, Ariz., 15 bass, 45-4, $8,250
6th: Justin Kerr, Simi Valley, Calif., 15 bass, 44-3, $7,334
7th: Andy Scholz, Reno, Nev., 15 bass, 42-7, $6,675
8th: Patrick Whitaker, Gilbert, Ariz., 15 bass, 42-7, $5,500
9th: Dane Mitchell, Brookeland, Texas, 15 bass, 41-0, $4,584
10th: Shane Peirson, Roseville, Calif., 13 bass, 35-9, $3,667
A complete list of results will be posted at FLWFishing.com.
Scholz caught a 9-pound, 12-ounce bass Thursday – the biggest of the tournament in the Pro Division. For his catch, Scholz earned the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $258.
Jordan Pinasco of Galt, California, won the Co-angler Division and a Ranger Z175 with a 90-horsepower Evinrude outboard motor. Pinasco earned his win with a three-day total catch of 15 bass weighing 40 pounds, 4 ounces.
The top 10 co-anglers on California Delta finished:
1st: Jordan Pinasco, Galt, Calif., 15 bass, 40-4, Ranger Z175 w/ a 90-hp Evinrude outboard motor
2nd: Blake Dyer, Moraga, Calif., 15 bass, 34-12, $4,621
3rd: Conrad DeMecs, Scottsdale, Ariz., 15 bass, 34-8, $3,827
4th: Carl Limbrick Jr., Bonita, Calif., 15 bass, 33-2, $3,200
5th: Jack Farage, Discovery Bay, Calif., 15 bass, 33-0, $2,743
6th: Aaron Agner, Redding, Calif., 14 bass, 32-10, $2,286
7th: Keith Adams, Redding, Calif., 15 bass, 28-10, $1,829
8th: Bill Oshinn, Granite Bay, Calif., 10 bass, 25-6, $1,600
9th: Neil Sterud II, Antioch, Calif., 11 bass, 24-6, $1,541
10th: Raymond Tak, Los Angeles, Calif., 10 bass, 22-10, $1,143
DeMecs caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the Co-angler Division Friday, a fish weighing 9 pounds, 3 ounces that earned him the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $170.
The Costa FLW Series on the California Delta presented by Power-Pole was hosted by Russo's Marina and Sugar Barge RV Resort & Marina. It was the second Western Division tournament of the 2017 season. The next Costa FLW Series tournament will be a Central Division tournament, held June 8-10 on Kentucky Lake in Gilbertsville, Kentucky. 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.
FLW TOUR BRINGS WORLD’S TOP BASS ANGLERS TO LA CROSSE FOR TOURNAMENT ON MISSISSIPPI RIVER PRESENTED BY EVINRUDE
LA CROSSE, Wis. (May 4, 2017) – The FLW Tour, the most competitive circuit in professional bass fishing, is set to compete on the Mississippi River May 18-21 in an event presented by Evinrude, when 322 of the world’s most decorated bass pros and co-anglers will be casting for top awards of up to $125,000 cash in the Pro Division and up to $25,000 cash in the Co-angler Division. The event, which is hosted by Explore La Crosse, is the sixth stop of 2017 – the Tour’s 22nd season.
FLW Tour anglers will launch in Pool No. 8, and have the option to lock upriver to Pool No. 7 or downriver to Pool No. 9. These three impoundments provide an ample amount and variety of cover for bass to reside. Vast swaths of vegetation, wing dams, rock jetties, backwater pools and shallow laydowns will all be targeted by anglers.
“I’m hoping the weather warms up a little as the tournament approaches,” said Yamamoto Baits pro Tom Monsoor of La Crosse, a 14-year Tour veteran and six-time Forrest Wood Cup qualifier. “If it does, it’s going to be on fire and they’re really going to catch them. The bass are getting ready to spawn, but this cold snap we’ve had has kind of shut them down. It’s going to all come down to the temperature for this event.
“If the weather warms, both smallmouth and largemouth bass are going to be very active,” Monsoor continued. “They’ll be able to catch both species together in the same spot, which is going to surprise some of the competitors. There are several great backwater lakes in all three pools. Each of them has the potential to produce what’s needed to win this tournament – that’s how good they are.”
Monsoor said the dominant cover for largemouth bass will likely be wood, while smallmouths should converge near rock.
“I’m going to utilize a jig because you can catch both species with it,” said Monsoor. “The rest of the field will be running a variety of lures including ChatterBaits, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, frogs, worms – they’re going to use just about everything. Whatever technique each angler specializes in, they’re going to catch them doing it.”
Monsoor said anglers will likely need a four-day cumulative weight surpassing the 60-pound mark to take home top honors.
“It could take more weight to win, but it will depend on how consistent the guys can be,” said Monsoor. “It’s anybody’s game – believe me. These guys are going to come up here and find bass that have never been fished. They’re going to look at things different than everyone else, and someone’s going to find spots that are new and unique. It’s going to be a fun tournament.”
Competitors will take off at 6:30 a.m. CDT each day from Veterans Freedom Park, located at 1 Clinton St., in La Crosse. Thursday and Friday’s weigh-ins, May 18-19, will be held at Veterans Freedom Park beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday’s weigh-ins, May 20-21, will also be held at Veterans Freedom Park, but will begin at 4 p.m.
Prior to the weigh-ins Saturday and Sunday, fans are encouraged to come out and experience the free Family Fishing Expo at Veterans Freedom Park from noon to 4 p.m. The Family Fun Expo is a unique opportunity for fishing fans of all ages to engage with their favorite anglers, enjoy a variety of games, activities and giveaways provided by FLW sponsors, and learn more about the sport of fishing and other outdoor activities.
Youth are also invited to participate in the free FLW Foundation’s Unified Fishing Derby at Copeland Park, located at 1130 Copeland Park Drive in La Crosse, on Saturday, May 20, from 9-11 a.m. The event, hosted by FLW Foundation pro Cody Kelley along with other FLW Tour anglers, is free and open to area youth (18 years of age and younger) and Special Olympics athletes (all ages). Rods and reels are available for the first 50 participants to use, but youth are encouraged to bring their own if they own one.
As part of the FLW Tour’s community outreach initiative, FLW Tour professionals will visit children and patients at Gundersen Health Systems located at 1900 South Ave., in La Crosse, Wednesday, May 17, from 8:30-10:30 a.m. Professional anglers will interact with guests, snap photos, sign autographs for patients and staff, and share fishing stories before the tournament kicks off Thursday.
In FLW Tour competition, pros and co-anglers are randomly paired each day, with pros supplying the boat, controlling boat movement and competing against other pros. Co-anglers fish from the back deck against other co-anglers. The full field competes in the two-day opening round. Co-angler competition concludes following Friday’s weigh-in, while the top 20 pros based on their two-day accumulated weight advance to Saturday. Only the top 10 pros continue competition Sunday, with the winner determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from the four days of competition.
Throughout the season, anglers are also vying for valuable points in hopes of qualifying for the 2017 Forrest Wood Cup, the world-championship of professional bass fishing. The 2017 Forrest Wood Cup will be on Lake Murray in Columbia, South Carolina, Aug. 11-13.
The total purse for the FLW Tour at Mississippi River presented by Evinrude is more than $800,000, including $10,000 through 50th place in the Pro Division.
Television coverage of the FLW Tour at Mississippi River presented by Evinrude will premiere in high-definition (HD) on NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) Aug. 2 from 12 p.m.-1 p.m. EDT. The Emmy-nominated "FLW" television show airs on NBCSN, the Pursuit Channel and the World Fishing Network and is broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, making it the most widely distributed weekly outdoors-sports television show in the world.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing.
About FLW
FLW is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, providing anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to compete for millions in prize money in 2017 across five tournament circuits. Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, with offices in Minneapolis, FLW conducts more than 274 bass-fishing tournaments annually across the United States and sanctions tournaments in Canada, China, Mexico, South Africa and South Korea. FLW tournament fishing can be seen on the Emmy-nominated “FLW" television show, broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, while FLW Bass Fishing magazine delivers cutting-edge tips from top pros. For more information visit FLWFishing.com and follow FLW at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
Joudry Leads Day 1 at FLW Costa WestErn
May 11, 2017 by David A. Brown
In terms of water level, more was definitely better for Beau Joudrey, who caught a five-fish limit that weighed 22 pounds to earn the lead on day one of the Costa FLW Series Western Division event on the California Delta, which is presented by Power-Pole and hosted by Russo’s Marina and Sugar Barge RV Resort and Marina.
The pro from Oakley, Calif., took advantage of the day’s tidal schedule, which saw a high tide early and then an outgoing cycle for most of the fishing day. While a high tide challenges sight-fishing efforts by obscuring visibility, for Joudrey it meant more cooperative quarry.
“The high water made the fish comfortable,” he says. “They were bed fish; they were just in deeper water. They were really relaxed, and I was able to slow down and pick apart the areas.”
Essentially blind-casting known bedding areas, Joudrey caught his fish by flipping Texas-rigged plastics, working finesse baits and walking a frog. The common thread amid his different presentations was speed.
“I mainly fished tules, and you had to have some hard bottom mixed with grass pockets,” he says. “Everything had to go really slow and methodically. You’d Power-Pole down every 6 to 8 feet and pick apart the cover.”
Joudrey found that leeward shorelines were an absolute must.
“I picked areas where I knew if it was windy, it wouldn’t matter, so I fished out of the wind for the most part,” he says. “Most of my fish came early, and then I scrambled around, but if I was in the wind, I couldn’t get bit.
“About 11 o’clock, I culled one time with maybe a 4-pounder, and then that was it. That one was a bed fish, so I sight-fished one bass.”
Joudrey fished the middle to south Delta, largely by default – a decision that bore out its wisdom with big results.
“I live out here, and I didn’t get to pre-fish at all during the week, so I just ran old stuff,” he says.
TOP 10 PROS
1. Beau Joudrey – Oakley, Calif. – 22-0 (5)
2. Robert Lee – Angels Camp, Calif. – 21-1 (5)
3. Ishama Monroe – Hughson, Calif. – 20-6 (5)
4. Patrick Whitaker – Gilbert, Ariz. – 20-1 (5)
5. Lester Hawkins – Pagosa Springs, Colo. – 19-15 (5)
6. Hunter Schlander – Modesto, Calif. – 19-3 (5)
7. Andy Scholz – Reno, Nev. – 18-15 (5)
8. Shane Peirson – Roseville, Calif. – 18-0 (5)
9. Bink Desaro – Meridian, Idaho – 17-15 (5)
10. Nick Nourot – Benicia, Calif. – 17-13 (5)
Complete results
Neil Sterud II
STERUD SECURES CO-ANGLER LEAD
Neil Sterud II of Antioch, Calif., caught a limit of 15 pounds, 11 ounces to lead the co-angler division. Edging out second-place angler Carl Limbrick Jr. by an ounce, Sterud says fishing the right water was key, and that meant leeward edges free of the soupy green algae draping a lot of the Delta grass.
“We got in behind the wind and looked for water that wasn’t so slimy,” he says.
Sterud caught his fish on a wacky-rigged Yamamoto Senko.
“We [he and pro partner Marco Valdez] fished tule pockets,” Sterud says. “We did good before noon, but we struggled after 12 o’clock. The higher outgoing tide was more productive because the fish moved off the bank, dropped out and then they were more accessible to us.”
Tags: california-delta flw-series david-a-brown headline-story 2017-05-11-california-delta
FLW Pro Andrew Upshaw wins T-H Marine BFL on Toledo Bend
DeRidder’s Greer Claims Co-angler Title
ZWOLLE, La. (May 8, 2017) – FLW Tour pro Andrew Upshaw of Tulsa, Oklahoma, won the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Cowboy Division tournament presented by Navionics on Toledo Bend Lake Saturday after bringing five bass totaling 30 pounds, 15 ounces to the scale. For his win, Upshaw took home $5,257.
“I was fishing deep, in 20 to 24 feet of water, in areas near Three Mile Bridge,” said Upshaw, a former FLW College Fishing standout who is a six-year veteran of the FLW Tour. “I targeted stump rows using an 8-inch (Gene Larew) Tattletail Worm with a (Gene Larew) 7/16-ounce Hardhead.
“I’d find four or five stumps in a row along a breakline,” Upshaw continued. “The best stumps were right where it dropped from 20 to 24 feet. Once you find them relating to a specific depth on Toledo Bend that’s where they will be all over the lake.”
Upshaw said he preferred two colors for his Tattletail worm – green pumpkin and Red Bug Lite.
“I’d hit the Hardhead against the stump, and then let it sit there with a tight line,” said Upshaw. “Then the line would go slack or you would feel a bite. Most of the time it would go slack because they’d swim off with it.”
Upshaw said he caught most of his fish throughout the event on the Tattletail worm.
“I cranked one, but 90-percent of what I caught came on the worm,” said Upshaw. “With the dead-slick calm conditions, it was the perfect day for worm fishing.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Andrew Upshaw, Tulsa, Okla., five bass, 30-15, $5,257
2nd: Thomas McMillan, Choudrant, La., five bass, 23-6, $2,628
3rd: Gary Caruso, Baton Rouge, La., five bass, 22-14, $1,685
4th: Darold Gleason, Many, La., five bass, 22-8, $1,180
5th: Matthew McArdle, Humble, Texas, 17-7, $1,011
6th: Jarred Williams, Bunkie, La., five bass, 16-7, $927
7th: Brett Hortman, West Monroe, La., three bass, 16-3, $1,623
8th: Tommy Mackey, Bryan, Texas, five bass, 16-1, $758
9th: Ken Smith, Dallas, Texas, five bass, 14-11, $674
10th: Billy Guinn, Shreveport, La., five bass, 14-10, $890
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Hortman caught a gigantic bass weighing 10 pounds, 12 ounces – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division – which earned him the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $780.
Michael Greer Jr. of DeRidder, Louisiana, won the Co-angler Division and $2,728 Saturday after bringing a five-bass limit totaling 16 pounds, 9 ounces to the scale.
The top 10 co-anglers were:
1st: Michael Greer Jr., DeRidder, La., five bass, 16-9, $2,728
2nd: Doug Estep, Baton Rouge, La., five bass, 12-11, $1,054
2nd: Charles Dellard, Burleson, Texas, two bass, 12-11, $1,494
4th: Mat Downey, Kountze, Texas, five bass, 11-4, $590
5th: Adam Boyd, Humble, Texas, five bass, 10-13, $506
6th: Robert Royal, Vidor, Texas, five bass, 10-4, $464
7th: Russell Lewis, Pineville, La., five bass, 10-0, $400
7th: Jerry Wade Jr., Kingwood, Texas, four bass, 10-0, $400
9th: Justin Shelton, Seven Points, Texas, four bass, 9-13, $337
10th: Johnathan Fontenot, Iowa, La., two bass, 9-5, $295
Dellard caught the biggest bass among Co-angler Division anglers, a fish weighing 7 pounds, 4 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $390.
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.