Options plentiful for Bassmaster Opens anglers on Lake Ouachita
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. — Winter is nearing its end in western Arkansas, which means there will be plenty of opportunities to catch big bags during the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Lake Ouachita presented by SEVIIN, according to Bassmaster Elite Series pro Stetson Blaylock.
“When you think of a premier, early prespawn tournament, Lake Ouachita has it all. It is a really good fishery,” the Arkansas pro said.
Tournament days are scheduled for Feb. 15-17, with daily takeoffs set for 6:45 a.m. CT from the Brady Mountain Rec A ramp. Anglers will return for weigh-in each day at 2:45 p.m. The full field of pros and co-anglers will fish the first two days before the field is cut to the Top 10 pros on the final day.
The winner will punch a ticket to the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors, given that they have fished every event in Division II. Anglers signed up for all nine Opens will earn points towards the Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers race.
Early forecasts are calling for warm and rainy conditions to begin the practice period, while sunny and slightly cooler conditions will take over during the tournament.
Covering over 40,000 acres, Ouachita is Arkansas’ largest lake and is one of the most popular fisheries in the state. While it has been more than 20 years since B.A.S.S. visited the lake for a major event, it has hosted four Forrest Wood Cups in the past, all of which were in the late summer.
Now, the Bassmaster Opens anglers will give it a chance to shine in the prespawn. EQ angler Jacob Bigelow caught an 11-pounder while scouting for the event in December, highlighting the potential size anglers will find come tournament time.
As a highland reservoir, Ouachita is generally deep with plenty of clean water. If a major rain comes through, however, Blaylock said some of the best water tends to muddy up.
Ouachita has also risen several feet thanks to a soaking rainstorm that moved through during the middle of January. It has stabilized some in recent days, but the rise in water could affect the grass that has recently returned to the lake. Several different types of grass are prominent in Ouachita right now, including hydrilla and milfoil.
“It has really been strong recently in some areas of the lake,” Blaylock said. “That will be one of the main players. A lot of the bigger fish hang around that grass.”
Along with the grass, standing timber is a prominent piece of cover in the lake. That is what Blaylock believes will be the X factor.
“There’s so much standing timber out in 50, 60 and 70 feet of water, and those bass can be in a lot of different depth ranges. And they use them all,” Blaylock said. “The closer we get to March, the more those bass will be in a prespawn mode. But there are always deep bass.”
Anglers who are adept with their forward-facing sonar will find success throwing shad-style baits like a Damiki rig or a swimbait. Forward-facing sonar will also be key for fishing brushpiles and catching bass around balls of baitfish.
While bass will be caught deep, Blaylock says that there is always a population of bass that stay shallow. Rock banks will be the key here, and the bass in this zone will likely be targeting crawfish.
“We’ve had some really cold weather, but around here that doesn’t hurt too bad,” Blaylock said. “There will be a lot of fish caught super-shallow. It is that time of year. It is closer to spring than winter in my opinion, and that alone puts a lot of those bass moving toward the bank.
“That lake has always been really good for crawfish-eating bass,” he added. “Jigs and crankbaits with some reds and natural greens and browns are always good there.”
While there is plenty of water in the lake, Blaylock believes the lake will fish relatively small in this tournament.
“Everyone isn’t going to be fishing on top of each other, but if you put 200 boats on that body of water it is going to make the fishing more challenging,” Blaylock said. “It is a good lake, but when you put a lot of pressure on it, it gets tough really quickly.”
With that said, however, Blaylock anticipates bags around 22 to 23 pounds will be caught and an angler will have to average 17 to 18 pounds a day to claim the trophy.
Alabama’s Tucker Smith leads the EQ race after the first event at Lake Okeechobee with 199 points. Florida pro Randall Tharp is second with 198 points, followed by Paul Marks in third with 197, Matt Adams in fourth with 196 and Austin Cranford in fifth with 195 points. Easton Fothergill is sixth with 194 points, Sam George is seventh with 193 points, Beau Browning is eighth with 192 points and Brandon McMillan is ninth with 191 points.
The final day of competition will be broadcast live on FS1 Saturday morning beginning at 7:30 a.m. ET, with streaming available on Bassmaster.com, as well as FS2 and the FOX Sports digital platforms.
The tournament is being hosted by Visit Hot Springs.
2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Title Sponsor: St. Croix
2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Presenting Sponsor: SEVIIN
2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Progressive Insurance, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Marathon, Triton Boats, VMC
About B.A.S.S.B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
Navigating the Depths: A Comprehensive Guide to Cannon Downriggers
Cannon Downriggers are the trusted choice for countless anglers worldwide, providing precise bait control and increased efficiency while on the water.
In the world of angling, precision is key. Whether you're a freshwater enthusiast targeting trophy walleye or a saltwater fanatic pursuing the elusive king salmon, having the ability to control your bait's depth can be the difference between a successful day on the water and a frustrating one. Enter Cannon® Downriggers – the trusted choice for countless anglers worldwide offering the perfect solution for precise control of your bait, resulting in more fish caught.
Downriggers are designed to be used while trolling for a variety of species and can be used on different bodies of water across North America. They allow anglers to fine-tune their fishing experience, ensuring that they target the specific species they desire at their preferred depths. This level of control is essential for being able to cover the column and present their bait where the fish are most likely to bite.
Cannon offers a wide selection of both manual and electric downriggers, with the electric models such as the Magnum™ or Optimum™ gaining popularity over the years due to their precision and efficiency. Boasting both convenience and speed of retrieval, these downriggers simplify the fishing process with advanced features and longer booms to be able to run a larger spread of lines. The automated functionality on the Magnum and Optimum eliminates the need for manual cranking, allowing anglers to get their weight out of the water in seconds with no cranking required. Cannon's electric downriggers not only enhance the overall efficiency of gear deployment and retrieval but also provide precision in bait placement, ensuring that your bait is exactly in the strike zone.
Many of Cannon’s electric downriggers are designed to integrate seamlessly with Humminbird’s® line of fish finders, making them easier than ever to use. The latest addition to Cannon's downrigger lineup, the Optimum, boasts several exclusive new features. One of the most recent advancements includes bottom tracking, allowing the angler to set the offset distance from the bottom, and the Optimum will keep the bait at that desired distance automatically. The Optimum also includes depth cycling, giving the angler the ability to program their downrigger to automatically cycle the depth of their bait to cover more water. The introduction of these features has redefined the capabilities of electric downriggers, reshaping the way anglers are able to cover the water column.
Anglers often opt for the versatility of Cannon downriggers, deploying up to four units strategically along the stern and sides of their boat. Despite being commonly associated with deep-water fishing, these downriggers give anglers the flexibility to target fish at various depths. What truly sets these downriggers apart is the comprehensive line of accessories and mounting systems offered by Cannon. The aluminum mounting systems are essential in organizing multiple lines to avoid tangling and increase efficiency. Paired with a wide assortment of rod holders designed for secure positioning, along with downrigger weights and line releases to ensure peak functionality and optimal depth control, Cannon’s accessory lineup offers a comprehensive solution for a hassle-free experience.
Cannon Downriggers have established a renowned reputation for their reliability and durability, built to withstand the harshest conditions. Cannon offers a variety of different downriggers and it can be intimidating to choose the right one for your style of fishing. To choose the right downrigger, you need to consider various factors, such as your fishing environment, the depth you plan to fish, your budget, and your boat type. With a wide range of models and price ranges available, Cannon makes it easy to find the perfect downrigger for your angling needs.
Whether you're a seasoned angler looking to enhance your fishing experience or a newcomer eager to explore the world of downriggers, Cannon continues to lead the industry, providing anglers with the opportunity to reach specific depths and enhance their fishing success. Their precision-engineered design, durability, and innovative features make them an irreplaceable tool for anglers seeking to optimize their trolling experience. In the evolving landscape of fishing gear and technology, Cannon’s unmatched reputation for quality and reliability has made them the top choice for anglers who demand the best.
To learn more about Cannon, visit cannon.johnsonoutdoors.com.
Spin Into River Walleyes Now
Beta-testers say new Northland® Deep-Vee Spin triggers more bites with the flash and vibration created by its precision willow blade.
BEMIDJI, Minn. (February 8, 2024) – Question: What do you get when you add a specially-designed willow blade, top-notch terminal tackle connections, and a unique, proven, walleye-catching jig head?
Answer: Northland Fishing Tackle®’s Deep-Vee Spin, new for 2024, which supplements the winning Deep-Vee Jig with added visual appeal, vibration, and sonics.
Sure, jigs with spinners aren’t anything new. In fact, Northland was one of the first to offer spinner-adorned jigs with the Whistler Jig decades ago, followed by the Thumper Jig, and later, Fire-Ball Spin Jig.
And there’s been a rush by bass anglers to purchase the recently-introduced Smeltinator® Underspin Jig, a variation of the 2023 Bassmaster Classic Winning spin-less Northland Smeltinator® Jig.
But we’re talking walleyes, and while all these historical baits still catch fish, Northland bait designers and pros worked hard to produce something new that ‘eyes haven’t seen, felt, or heard—a bait that has proven itself over the past year with expert beta-testers.
DESIGN: DEEP-VEE SPIN
Via the addition of a willow blade to the walleye-proven Deep-Vee Jig, the Deep-Vee Spin offers more flash, vibration, and sound than any walleye jig on the market. Sporting the keeled “Deep-Vee” design that’s thicker on the top and thin on the bottom to track straight and fall fast, it also features large eyes that exude a “match-the-hatch” realism. And fished with live bait or plastics, the Deep-Vee’s Barb-Wire® keeper keeps your bait from going anywhere.
SHOWALTER: OPEN-WATER RIVER PLAYS NOW INTO SPRING
Big walleye hunter, Michael Showalter, guides summer through fall in Ontario but fishes stateside on the Mississippi and St. Croix during midwinter thaws, spring, and late fall. He put the Deep-Vee Spin through the paces last to positive results.
“With river walleye fishing, everybody knows you need some sun to activate the bite; they’re very neutral on dark days. When the river is a little bit dingy and you’ve got some low clouds mixed with heavier current, the Deep-Vee Spin really shines. The fish can feel it in their lateral line and the extra vibration gets more bites over a standard jig.”
Coupled with a Eye-Candy 3.5” Paddle Shad in a host of colors—two of his favorite river plastics patterns being Purple Gill with its chartreuse bottom and purple top for visibility or white to closely mimic shad. Showalter fishes mostly ¼-ounce Deep-Vee Spin Jigs during the day, switching to 3/8-ounce as he continues to fish after-dark.
“When it hits primetime, I’ll slow roll the 3/8-oz size. The heavier jig swims faster back to the boat, coming up current. If there’s no current, I’ll throw a 1/8.”
In terms of river locations, Showalter likes to park ahead of wingdams, scanning areas from numerous angles with forward-facing sonar, followed by precise pitches and retrieves.
“I typically pitch the Deep-Vee Spin, let it hit bottom, give it two reel cranks, let it fall back to bottom—or what I’ve found to be best on the river this year, is just super-slow-rolling it back to the boat, keeping it above their heads, and they come up and hammer it. They’re so used to shad being above them, which don’t relate to bottom like a lot of other minnows. So, I pop it off bottom, more like a fast lift, hold my rod tip high, and then let the jig fall. I like doing that when there’s no wind—and when there’s wind, I keep my rod tip low and use one or two reel cranks, using my boat as a windbreak.”
SHOWALTER’S RIVER CONFIDENCE COLORS
“What’s been a killer for us—especially at night on the river—is the Deep-Vee Spin Jig in Chartreuse, with its glow paint and white and chartreuse willow blade. It’s been phenomenal,” offers Showalter.
During the day, Showalter switches between the White Deep-Vee Spin Jig with silver blade or Black with gold blade. “Honestly, the black head and gold blade is my daytime favorite.”
BRO ON SPINNING NATURAL LAKE WALLEYES
“Especially in bog-stained lakes, I do well with the Deep-Vee Spin. And from the dark run-off on the Rainy River last spring to fall lakes with algae dying, the jig caught fish,” says veteran Minnesota guide, Brian “Bro” Brosdahl, who also tested the Deep-Vee Spin throughout 2023.
“While testing, I’d mark fish, throw a conventional jig at ‘em, didn’t catch anything, then grabbed the Deep-Vee Spin and got the fish to bite,” comments Bro.
“The reflective part of the spinner really flashes, but not too much to scare fish off. It’s subtle enough for all walleye waters—dirty to gin clear.”
The bait’s versatility is what Bro likes most about the Deep-Vee Spin.
“You can drag them behind the boat like a spinner rig trolling forward or back, tipped with a half ‘crawler or fathead when everybody's dragging bullet sinkers and spinner rigs,” offers Bro.
And he spent plenty of time pitching it throughout the season, too – shallow to deep – threaded with a Northland Eye-Candy Paddle Shad, Minnow, Grub, or Jig Crawler.
“You get into that reactionary summer bite and the extra flash triggers big, lethargic walleyes. That’s pretty cool,” concludes Bro.
WHITE
BLACK
FIRETIGER
SUNRISE
WATERMELON
BUBBLEGUM
CHARTREUSE
PINK
PARROT
MOONLIGHT
PURPLEDESCENT
O'BERT ON THE RAINY RIVER RUN
Like Showalter and Bro, fishing guide Donnie O'Bert had the chance to put the Deep-Vee Spin through the paces over the course of 2023.
“Last year I had Deep-Vee Spin prototypes for the spring Rainy River run,” says O'Bert. “And they caught fish from day one.” (The Rainy River is a border water between Minnesota and Ontario.)
“The spinner gives walleyes something to home in on in stained river waters. While testing, I was fishing 1/8- and ¼-ounce on the Rainy. When pitching them with an Eye-Candy Paddle Shad, if the ¼-ounce wasn’t heavy enough to get down, the walleyes weren’t there anyway.”
“I started with gold bladed models, moved to silver, then brighter colors mixed with white. As far as jighead colors go, I give gave of my guide clients something different and let the fish dictate. If Brenda kept getting whacked with chartreuse and white, I’d change Bill and Bob over to what she was using.”
O'Bert’s confidence Rainy River Deep-Vee Spin color? Purpledescent with a silver willow blade.
“I'm a big believer in purple. And black. I think walleyes just key in on them. For me, I’ll start and end the Rainy River seasons with a Purpledescent Deep-Vee Spin with a 3 1/2” Eye-Candy Paddle Shad in Purple Shad—sometimes Firecracker, which has a lot of purple in it.”
PITCHING, DRAGGING, & TUMBLING
O'Bert starts his Rainy River routine locating fish with electronics, Spot-Locking into position, then pitching 1/8 oz. Deep-Vee Spin jigs into the current, letting the bait swing down into the fish, pulling his line tight to activate the paddletail and spinner. Depending on current speed, O'Bert pitches straight off the back of the boat or at 45-degrees.
“I’ll pitch the bait, make a couple of rod sweeps, then close the bail and let the river current pull it tight. It’s similar to pitching current seams, but you can run the same approach anywhere on the river where you find fis,h as long as your line sweeps back around behind the boat and across fish,” adds O'Bert.
A second method involves dragging ¼ oz. Deep-Vee Spin jigs upstream at 0.3 to 0.4 mph, suspending the bait in the strike zone without touching bottom.
“Our third method is the antithesis of what every river walleye fisherman thinks works,” says O'Bert. “My buddy stumbled onto it, and we call it ‘tumbling.’ He casts upstream and just pops his rod tip and lets the paddletail tumble down river and every time it hits bottom he pops it again. Makes no sense to me, but on the days when pitching and dragging does not work, tumbling can be effective.”
EYE-CANDY PADDLE SHAD
Deep-Vee Spin FEATURES:
- Thumper Willow Blade adds flash & vibration for added attraction
- Keeled “Deep-Vee” design tracks straight, falls fast
- Realistic 3D eyes “match-the-hatch” and entice strikes
- Barb-Wire® keeper locks on soft plastics or live bait
- Available in 12 colors, 8 of which are GLOW variations
- Various Willow Blade non-GLOW & GLOW colors: Gold; Silver; White/Chart.; Pink/Chart.; Purple/Blue/White; & Green/White
- Four sizes available: (1/16 oz. - #2 hook); (1/8 oz. – 1/0 hook); (1/4 oz. – 2/0 hook); (3/8 oz. – 3/0 hook)
MSRP: $7.49/ two per card
AC Insider Podcast - Bonus - The Battle for the Big O
In the last episode of the AC Insider Podcast, the guys took a tour through the Sunshine State and caught up with two recent tournament winners from Florida. Jessie Mizell, a life-long Florida angler, and our own Vance McCullough got on a serious topic we feel more anglers need to be involved in. We've highlighted the ongoing battle surrounding vegetation management on Lake Okeechobee with the Anglers Channel Bass Wrap Up Show, and it came up on the podcast, so we wanted to break it out and bring it to light!
Get Involved!
Anglers For Lake O: https://www.anglersforlakeo.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnglersForLakeO
Z-Man® Expands Pro Bass Brigade
Ladson, SC (February 7, 2024) – Prediction: One of these days, Stephanie Hemphill-Pellerin will win a bigtime bass derby. And when she does, exactly no one who’s fished alongside or against her will be surprised. It might seem like a lofty forecast for any angler. Then again, the Village Mills, Texas based bass pro was practically born in a boat, raised on one of bass fishing’s illustrious lakes, and exposed to the tournament bass game almost from day one.
As new official lure sponsor of the articulate, world-traveled, ambitious bass pro, Z-Man® Fishing has pledged to have her back for the foreseeable future. But that’s jumping slightly ahead of what’s actually a pretty cool fishing backstory.
“Pretty early on, my dad would take me fishing in his flatbottom bass boat. But my mom ran her own pontoon, too, which served as her official fishing ride on Sam Rayburn Reservoir, our home lake,” remembers Hemphill-Pellerin, a military vet who today competes on the National Professional Fishing League (NPFL) and Division 2 of the Bassmaster Opens. “So, starting at around six months old, my mom would plop me down in a playpen inside her pontoon, where she could keep track of me while she fished for crappie.
“Few years later, I started bass fishing with my dad and ‘pawpaw,’ who both competed in local tournaments. Eventually, fishing developed into a passion I couldn’t live without. Unlike most young girls I knew, my dreams always revolved around someday becoming a professional bass angler.
“The dream has never changed,” she concedes. “For me, the call toward fishing has always been about the mystery. The fun is in trying to figure it all out, like a puzzle that’s constantly changing. I love it and really enjoy competing, especially against the fish and sometimes, even against myself.”
For Hemphill-Pellerin, the desire to succeed as a bass pro flows from an even deeper place and the memory of a fishing hero. “Many years back, following a hot Texas day on the water, having likely caught a bunch of bass, I lost my grandad to a stroke,” she recalls. “He passed away right at the boat ramp, his rods still rigged, his favorite fishing hat still in place.
“Since that day, I’ve kept a promise to him that I’d see this thing through—to succeed as a professional bass angler and to enjoy every minute and every part of the game, no matter what.”
A proud U.S. Army veteran, wife and most importantly, a mother of two boys, Hemphill-Pellerin has travelled the world over, including a tour at Yongsan base in Seoul, Korea. Upon returning stateside, she commenced fishing immediately, beginning the first of two stints as a competitive basser. “While working as a realtor, I bought an 18-foot Alumacraft and got into redfish and flounder fishing. Fished almost every day.”
In 2021, Hemphill-Pellerin earned Rookie of the Year honors on the Lady Bass Anglers Association (LBAA) tour, finishing 4th in Angler-of-the-Year points. In her first year on the NPFL Tour, at a September 2023 event at Lake Eufaula, Oklahoma, her career ascended to another level, once more.
“On day three, they put a live camera in my boat, which really got my nerves going,” she laughs. “I experienced every emotion that day. Like I was being watched, judged. Lost three fish that could have led to a win. After that, I had to go catch some smaller fish just to regroup and get my head right. But I overcame the doubts, caught a respectable limit and ultimately earned a 7th place finish. That was a turning point, giving me a real boost of confidence. Fishing is ninety-percent mental, ten-percent physical. Understanding that has put me on the right path.”
In 2024, Hemphill-Pellerin will fish both the NPFL and Division 2 of the Bassmaster Opens—all part of her big-picture plan. “I’ll be gunning to make the Classic. That’s a dream. And I really believe that every time you fail, you’re that much closer to achieving success.”
A self-described finesse angler, Hemphill-Pellerin excels at shaky head fishing with a Z-Man Finesse WormZ™ or SMH WormZ™—though she is rapidly accelerating her skills with forward-facing sonar.
“I’d been fishing Z-Man baits for several years—ChatterBaits® and ElaZtech® soft plastics. So, when it came time add a new lure sponsor, a friend with 44 Tackle suggested I get in touch with Z-Man. Right off, I knew this was the right move for me. Really liked the thought of working with a down-to-earth, family-owned business, and Z-Man and its people hit all the right notes.”
“We liked Stephanie immediately,” says Z-Man pro staff and promotions manager Joey Prochazka. “Clearly, she’s highly driven to succeed, approachable and easy to talk to. Of course, we love it when someone in our Z-Man family wins a tournament. But even more important is the way pros like Stephanie engage with fans and help tell the Z-Man story. Her career is off to a terrific start, no doubt, and we’re excited to watch her grow and to share in all her future success, on the water and off.”
While Hemphill-Pellerin has become a role model to many, including numerous young and aspiring female anglers, the new Z-Man pro takes a refreshing approach to a decidedly male-dominated profession.
“I don’t look at myself as a female who happens to fish, but rather as a lifelong angler, same as anyone else out there fishing for a living,” she admits. “You’re told that women don’t do these types of things. But what’s helped is something a good friend told me: ‘At first, you’re going to get your teeth knocked in. But as you learn and operate on God’s timeline, things are going to click right into place.’
“Circuits like the NPFL operate like a family; they’ve been very welcoming to me, their first female competitor. I’ve never wanted to be treated any differently than anyone else out there just fishing, doing their thing.”
Following that tragic Texas day, her grandad’s final day on the water, Hemphill-Pellerin made a promise. “I fished proudly out of pawpaw’s boat for quite a while after that day. Kept his old fishing hat right up on the console. Still today, reminds me of his love for fishing and what he told me—to enjoy fishing, to always keep that love and that curiosity for solving the puzzle.”
Drew Gill gets a Toyota Bonus
It’s probably no coincidence that one of the most talented young pro bass anglers in the world right now was born with the last name Gill. Like a lot of bass fishing’s greatest
anglers, Drew Gill just seems to have a natural intuition for making great decisions with perfect timing.
So, it’s probably not a chance happening the transmission totally failed in his older GMC truck the same week he acquired a brand-new Toyota Tundra. Not only did his recent purchase of a Tundra a few weeks prior to the start of the 2024 season gain him a highly reliable tow vehicle, it also paid him a sizeable Toyota Bonus Bucks contingency check at his first-ever Bass Pro Tour event on Toledo Bend.
“A Bonus Bucks check is a pretty cool consolation prize for a third-place finish, but more importantly is knowing I’m now driving such a super reliable truck, with not only great
towing power, but also a really incredible number of interior features too,” says an excited Gill.
He said his decision to buy a Tundra was not only based on Toyota’s unparalleled support of bass fishing, but also because he grew up in the shadows of their Princeton, Indiana
manufacturing facility where Toyota’s reputation for quality is a celebrated part of the area’s culture.
Proof again of Gill’s mature-beyond-his-years decision making, much like knowing where to find four bass over 6-pounds en route to a third place finish in his very first Major
League Fishing Bass Pro Tour event, and what will probably be the first of many Toyota Bonus Bucks checks he cashes in the years ahead.
Your last name doesn’t have be Gill to cash in. Make sure you too are eligible for Toyota Bonus Bucks by visiting https://www.toyotatrucksbonusbucks.com/.
Texas Team Trail Announcement - Stop #4 Moving to Richland Chambers
SPRINGFIELD, MO. (February 7, 2024) – Outdoor Teamworks and TXTT Tournament Staff announced today that due to the persistently low lake level at Belton Lake, stop #4 will be moved to Richland Chambers Reservoir in Corsicana, Texas. It was initially announced that the event would move to Cedar Creek Reservoir. However, after learning that the facilities at Cedar Creek were mistakenly double booked, it has been decided that a much better option is to hold the event at Richland Chambers. The tournament date of Saturday, May 4 will remain the same.
To register for the 2024 Texas Team Trail tournaments, please read the updated 2024 RULES and then follow this link to register today: https://outdoorteamworks.com/
2024 Texas Team Trail Schedule:
February 17th - Brookeland, TX | Sam Rayburn Reservoir
March 23rd - Brookeland, TX | Sam Rayburn Reservoir
April 13th - Yantis, TX | Lake Fork
May 4th - Corsicana, TX | Richland Chambers
June 8-9th - Many, LA | Toledo Bend Reservoir - CHAMPIONSHIP
For more information on the Texas Team Trail, including photos and official tournament results from the past, visit texasteamtrail.com. Be sure to also check out the tournament schedule for the 2024 Texas Team Trail and subscribe to the e-newsletter list for all the up-to-date information, registration announcements, sponsor incentives, and Outdoor TeamWorks news.
About Texas Team Trail
Texas Team Trail is a part of the Outdoor TeamWorks family of fishing tournaments. The OTW brand offers a wide range of fishing events from professional tournaments to grassroots fishing derbies. All events are supported by some of the top companies in the nation and include on-site activation and activities, as well as extensive media support. For additional live updates and information, follow TXTT on Facebook and Instagram.
2024 Proud Sponsors
Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, Progressive, Nitro Boats, Ranger Boats, Triton Boats, Mercury Marine, Aftco, Garmin, Power-Pole, TH Marine, Sunline, Gamakatsu, Rapala, VMC, Gemini G2, BeatDown Outdoors
OPTIMA Lithium Expands Sponsorship as Presenting Sponsor of Major League Fishing’s REDCREST 2024 in Birmingham
BENTON, Ky. (Feb. 7, 2024) – Major League Fishing (MLF) announced today that OPTIMA Batteries, a world leader in high-performance automotive, marine, heavy-duty AGM and lithium batteries, will become the presenting sponsor of REDCREST 2024, MLF’s most prestigious event, March 14-17 in Birmingham, Alabama. The agreement marks an expansion of the successful marketing partnership between the two brands that was first launched in 2012 and will showcase OPTIMA’s new OPTIMA ORANGETOP marine lithium batteries to fishing fans across the globe.
“We are excited to join the Major League Fishing team this season as a brand-new presenting sponsor for REDCREST 2024. Our ongoing partnership with MLF has been extremely successful, and when we had the opportunity to step up our involvement as the presenting sponsor of MLF’s biggest event of the year, we jumped at the chance,” said Cam Douglass, Director of Marketing for OPTIMA Batteries. “As leaders in the industry, we recognize the need for reliable, durable batteries for boats and recreational vehicles, and we are proud to showcase our new OPTIMA ORANGETOP marine lithium batteries to the loyal and avid MLF fans. These batteries will be fitment GR31 and have been designed specifically for marine and RV applications, available for both deep cycle applications and as dual-purpose for starting power.”
In addition to a massive presence at REDCREST 2024 and the MLF Outdoor Sports Expo held in conjunction with the event, OPTIMA ORANGETOP marine lithium batteries will continue to receive prominent exposure through multiple MLF outlets, including MLFNOW! livestream, television broadcasts, website, social media channels, and MLF Bass Fishing magazine. OPTIMA Lithium is also the Exclusive Battery Sponsor of the MLF General Tire Team Series.
In addition to MLF, Optima Lithium will continue to sponsor Bass Pro Tour star Edwin Evers, the REDCREST 2021 Champion with more than $3.9 million in career earnings.
“Numerous historic and exciting moments have happened at REDCREST – including OPTIMA pro Edwin Evers’ big win in 2021 – and the tournament has established itself as one of the premier bass-fishing championship events in the world,” said MLF Vice President of Sponsorship and Sales Development Chris Bork. “Thanks to incredible sponsors like OPTIMA Lithium, the dedication of our anglers and staff, and the passionate fans who watch or attend each year, we are extremely excited about REDCREST 2024 and expect this event to be our best REDCREST yet.”
For more information about MLF, its tournaments and sponsors, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. To learn more about OPTIMA ORANGETOP marine lithium batteries, visit OptimaBatteries.com.
About OPTIMA Batteries
OPTIMA high-performance automotive, marine, heavy-duty AGM and lithium batteries are manufactured by Clarios, LLC, the world’s largest manufacturer of automotive batteries. OPTIMA REDTOP, YELLOWTOP and BLUETOP batteries feature state-of-the-art SPIRALCELL TECHNOLOGY. This patented design allows OPTIMA batteries to deliver superior performance in both starting and deep cycling applications. OPTIMA ORANGETOP batteries are the newest additions to the legendary line of reliable performance batteries with six sizes available that utilize HYPERCORE LITHIUM technology. This new offering allows for more than 95% of the powersports market to experience the power and performance of OPTIMA Batteries. The OPTIMA product family also includes a line of Digital Chargers with advanced multi-stage charging to charge and maintain a variety of 12V vehicle batteries, maximizing battery life and performance. To learn more or to purchase OPTIMA products, please visit www.optimabatteries.com, call 1-888-8OPTIMA (1-888-867-8462) or find @OPTIMABatteries on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 13 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
SCHEELS All Sports catches local sponsorship at Bassmaster Classic
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — When the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors descends on Tulsa, Okla., March 22-24, local citizens will get a taste of the newest sporting goods store coming to their area. SCHEELS has signed on as a local partner of the Super Bowl of Bass Fishing to highlight their newest location opening in Tulsa in October 2024.
As a part of its local sponsorship, SCHEELS will have an impressive display at the massive Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo presented by GSM Outdoors held at the Cox Business Convention Center where Expo attendees will be able to get a taste of what the new 250,000-square-foot store will offer. Part of this retail adventure will include a 65-foot Ferris wheel, a 16,000-gallon saltwater aquarium, an arcade and sports simulators. The store will also house more than 75 specialty shops focusing on fishing, hunting, sporting goods and clothing.
"We are so excited to be partnering with B.A.S.S. for the Bassmaster Classic in 2024! With our Tulsa SCHEELS location opening in October, and with fishing being such an important part of our business, it feels like a natural partnership,” said Pete Philippi, Tulsa SCHEELS store leader. “We are looking forward to connecting with many passionate anglers, from both the local area and around the country, and sharing who SCHEELS is. We are also excited to cheer on our SCHEELS Pro Staff member Pat Schlapper, who will be fishing in the Classic. It's sure to be a great week."
The Outdoors Expo is the crown jewel of the Bassmaster Classic, which drew a record-breaking 163,914 fans from across the world last year in Knoxville, Tenn. This year, more than 200 vendors will exhibit at the Outdoors Expo alongside the Go Outside Experience.
“We love bringing the Classic and Outdoors Expo to different communities every year,” said Chase Anderson, CEO of B.A.S.S. “This year, we are not only bringing the excitement of the world’s biggest fishing tournament to Tulsa, but we also get to help welcome SCHEELS to this amazing community. Knowing how rabid the anglers are in this region, it will be a perfect fit.”
About SCHEELS
Three acres of potatoes were the seed for the first SCHEELS store in 1902. Frederick A. Scheel, a German immigrant, used the $300 he earned from that first harvest as the down payment on the first SCHEELS, a small hardware store in Sabin, Minn. Over the years, SCHEELS opened in surrounding communities, including Fargo in 1930 where the corporate offices are now located. Customer interest grew and sports lines were added to the product mix.
SCHEELS is currently a 32-store operation with stores in 14 states including North Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, Montana, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Nevada, Illinois, Utah, Kansas, Colorado, Arizona and Texas. Including the Tulsa project, SCHEELS now has two new stores under construction opening in 2024 that will expand the company to 34 stores in 16 states, adding Idaho and Oklahoma. Currently, Steve D. Scheel, the great grandson of SCHEELS founder, is the company's chairman of the board. Matt Hanson serves as CEO and Todd Anderson serves as president and oversees SCHEELS daily operations of over 12,000 associates.
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Team Championship, Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series scored by TourneyX, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors.
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Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitte
Media Contact: Mandy Pascal, Managing Editor, 205-313-0955, [email protected]
Bass Champs - Lake Fork is only 10 Days Away
Lake Fork is only 10 days away
February 17th, 2024
Register now
Over $75,000 GUARANTEED at each event
20 places GUARANTEED at each event
$15,000 Skeeter Bonus money GUARANTEED at each event
*($10,000 highest finishing Skeeter - $5000 2nd highest finishing Skeeter)
Friday Practice with $1000 Big Bass
2 ways to qualify for Championship
No membership fees
*Skeeter must be within 3 years of original purchase
Next Event
Lake Fork 2/17/24
Register online early to be eligible for early entry drawingsFun-N-Sun will be providing Free Gumbo during registration on Friday 3-6 PM
Official Practice Day: Friday, for pre-registered and paid contestants, must pay before practiceOfficial Friday Practice Times : Lake off-limits for fishing purposes at 5pm
Official Registration Times at Pavilion: Friday 3-6pm - Big Bass Friday Weigh-in Times: 3-6pm
go to www.bctakeoff.com for more tournament day details
Major League Fishing Pros and Fisheries Management Division Deploy Artificial Fish Habitat into Sam Rayburn Reservoir
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BROOKELAND, Texas (Feb. 6, 2024) – As the Bass Pro Tour season began with B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One Presented by Power-Pole on Toledo Bend on Jan. 30, MLF pros Greg Vinson and Brent Chapman joined Texas Parks and Wildlife biologists and Tackle Warehouse Invitationals pro Kyle Cortiana to complete the first MLF Fisheries Management Division Minn Kota Habitat Restoration Project of 2024 on Sam Rayburn Reservoir. The project was supported by Kubota Tractor Corporation and featured MossBack Fish Habitat.
Photos from the Minn Kota Habitat Restoration Project on Sam Rayburn Reservoir The volunteers constructed eight 60-inch Conservation Cubes, a dozen 60-inch Safe Haven XL’s and four John Godwin Crappie Towers. They were deployed in four areas using TPWD’s state-of-the-art habitat barge to create Bass Recovery Zones. Hammer Equipment of Jasper, Texas, supplied a B3350HSD Kubota tractor to aid the volunteers in loading the habitat onto the barge, while Lowe’s Home Improvement of Jasper (Store #1769) provided cinder blocks to weigh down each of the MossBack Habitats. "We're excited to partner with MLF and TPWD on the Sam Rayburn Reservoir project," said Jim Jorgensen, Kubota Senior Advertising and Marketing Manager. “With ‘For Earth, For Life’ as Kubota’s concept for environmental stewardship, this habitat project leans into our core values as we aim to contribute to the realization of a sustainable society. It is a fitting example of the pride Kubota takes in having its equipment play a key role in contributing to a thriving global ecosystem – ultimately, helping to create a lasting positive impact on communities nationwide." |
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Sam Rayburn is one of the world’s most popular bass fisheries. It has been estimated that there are more than 200 tournaments on the reservoir each year — roughly one tournament every four days. A high percentage of these tournaments take off from Umphrey Family Pavilion and boat ramps near the dam. Such tournaments result in fish being released from one of the two floating docks or just inside the island from a live release boat. These fish will likely stay within a couple miles of their release site for a full year. The Bass Recovery Zones created during the Minn Kota project will provide these fish with an immediate place to recover and feed.
“This project with Minn Kota and Kubota’s support is an excellent example of how we can support the bass-fishing community and improve reservoirs,” said Bass Pro Tour pro Brent Chapman. “While aging reservoirs continue to lose the original standing timber and aquatic vegetation varies year to year, MossBack artificial habitat provides a solution that will be in place for generations.” Sam Rayburn and Umphrey Park will be home to the first stop of the 2024 Tackle Warehouse Invitationals starting Feb. 9. Thanks to the work of Minn Kota, Kubota, TPWD and the MLF angler volunteers, anglers will immediately get to see the habitat in use. This project was a great way to immediately improve Sam Rayburn Reservoir and highlight how important the fishing community is to Minn Kota, Kubota, MossBack Fish Habitat, Lowe’s and Major League Fishing. Throughout 2024, Minn Kota and the Major League Fishing Fisheries Management Division will continue to improve habitat on fisheries using the Bass Recovery Zone model near popular tournament destinations. The next Minn Kota Habitat Restoration Project – supported by the Kevin VanDam Foundation and MossBack Fish Habitat – will be March 18 on Alabama’s Lay Lake during REDCREST 2024. For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the MLF Fisheries Management Division, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com/fisheries-management. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube. About MLF Fisheries Management Division |
TXTT Stop #4 To Be Moved to Cedar Creek Reservoir Due to Low Water At Belton Lake 05/04/2024!
SPRINGFIELD, MO. (February 6, 2024) – Outdoor TeamWorks and TXTT Tournament Staff have decided to move stop #4 due to extremely low water on Belton Lake. The 4th stops of the 2024 Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s Texas Team Trail presented by Progressive will now be held on Cedar Creek Reservoir on the same dates that the Belton Lake event was previously scheduled for. The date of the tournament will still remain the same: Saturday, May 4th.
“To ensure the safety of our anglers and provide for the best possible outcome at the fourth stop of the 2024 TXTT season, it is necessary to take into consideration the lake levels and conditions at Belton Lake”, said TXTT Tournament Director Mike Hastings. “We have decided to go ahead and move the event to Cedar Creek to give anglers enough advance notice to plan accordingly when making travel arrangements.”
To register for the 2024 Texas Team Trail tournaments, please read the updated 2024 RULES and then follow this link to register today: https://www.texasteamtrail.com/register/
2024 Texas Team Trail Schedule:
February 17th - Brookeland, TX | Sam Rayburn Reservoir
March 23rd - Brookeland, TX | Sam Rayburn Reservoir
April 13th - Yantis, TX | Lake Fork
May 4th - Log Cabin, TX | Cedar Creek Reservoir
June 8-9th - Many, LA | Toledo Bend Reservoir - CHAMPIONSHIP
For more information on the Texas Team Trail, including photos and official tournament results from the past, visit texasteamtrail.com. Be sure to also check out the tournament schedule for the 2024 Texas Team Trail and subscribe to the e-newsletter list for all the up-to-date information, registration announcements, sponsor incentives, and Outdoor TeamWorks news.
About Texas Team Trail
Texas Team Trail is a part of the Outdoor TeamWorks family of fishing tournaments. The OTW brand offers a wide range of fishing events from professional tournaments to grassroots fishing derbies. All events are supported by some of the top companies in the nation and include on-site activation and activities, as well as extensive media support. For additional live updates and information, follow TXTT on Facebook and Instagram.
2024 Proud Sponsors
Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, Progressive, Nitro Boats, Ranger Boats, Triton Boats, Mercury Marine, Aftco, Garmin, Power-Pole, TH Marine, Sunline, Gamakatsu, Rapala, VMC, Gemini G2, BeatDown Outdoors
Lake Guntersville Readies to Host MLF Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats Central Division Opener
SCOTTSBORO, Ala. (Feb. 6, 2024) – The Major League Fishing (MLF) Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats is set to return to Scottsboro, Alabama, next week, Feb. 14-16, for the 2024 Central Division season opener – the Toyota Series at Lake Guntersville.
The three-day tournament, hosted by the Mountain Lakes Chamber of Commerce, will feature a roster of the region’s best bass-fishing pros and Strike King co-anglers competing for a top prize of up to $100,000 in the pro division and a new Phoenix 518 Pro boat with a 115-horsepower outboard motor plus $5,000 in the co-angler division.
“Lake Guntersville has been phenomenal lately, fishing absolutely lights out,” said local pro Cal Lane of Guntersville, who finished in 15th place at the Toyota Series at Lake Guntersville event last February. “We’re going to see a lot of big bass in this Toyota Series event. They’re still prespawn, they’re fat, and they’re chewing right now.”
Lane said that he expects that plenty of guys will still be catching them in traditional late-winter, early-spring Guntersville patterns, but that forward-facing sonar is changing the entire sport and Guntersville is no exception.
“There will be a lot of guys catching them shallow on a trap – that’s typical for this time of year, especially with the warmer weather,” Lane said. “But (Garmin) LiveScope has changed the game of fishing, and we’re going to see several really big bags weighed in from guys that are chasing the suspended bait balls near bridges.”
Traditionally lipless crankbaits, jerkbaits, crankbaits, and Carolina rigs always are factors in early-season Guntersville tournaments, but baits designed to use with forward-facing sonar - jerkbaits and soft plastic minnows on various sized jig heads – will also be strong.
“The key to doing well in this tournament will be being consistent – you’re going to need five of the 4½-pound quality fish, not the 3-pound fish,” Lane said. “There are so many 3-pound fish in Guntersville, and everyone is going to catch them. But whoever can find those 4½-pounders is going to be there at the end.”
Lane went on to predict that the winner of the three-day event would weigh in 65 to 70 pounds.
Anglers will launch at 7 a.m. CT each day from the Goose Pond Colony Marina, located at 417 Ed Hembree Drive in Scottsboro. Weigh-ins will also be held at the marina and will begin at 3 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend and encouraged to follow the event online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts and daily coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
In Toyota Series regular-season competition, payouts are based on the number of participants competing in the event, scaling up for every 20 boats over 160 and scaling down for every boat below 160. With a 160-boat field, pros fish for a top prize of up to $75,000, if Phoenix MLF Bonus qualified. Strike King co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard (valued at $33,500). With a 260-boat field, pros fish for a top award of up to $100,000, if Phoenix MLF Bonus qualified. Strike King co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard plus $5,000 cash.
The 2024 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats consists of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and the Western Division Presented by Tackle Warehouse – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International and Wild Card divisions. Anglers who fish in any of the six divisions or the Wild Card division and finish in the top 25 will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series Championship for a shot at winning up to $235,000 and a qualification to REDCREST 2025. The winning Strike King co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard. The 2024 Toyota Series Championship will be held Nov. 7-9 on Wheeler Lake in Huntsville, Alabama, and is hosted by the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Madison County Commission, and the Huntsville Sports Commission.
Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Toyota Series include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, FX Custom Rods, General Tire, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota and YETI.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Toyota Series updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 13 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Set to Open 2024 Season with Stop 1 Presented by Power-Pole at Sam Rayburn Reservoir
BROOKELAND, Texas (Feb. 5, 2024) – The second year of the Major League Fishing (MLF) Tackle Warehouse Invitationals will launch this week, Friday, Feb. 9, through Sunday, Feb. 11, in Brookeland, Texas at the Stop 1 Presented by Power-Pole at Sam Rayburn Reservoir.
Hosted by the Jasper County Development District, the three-day tournament will feature a field of 150 professional anglers, including the Bass Pro Tour’s Kelly Jordon of Flint, Texas; Keith Carson of DeBary, Florida; Drew Gill of Mount Carmel, Illinois; and Keith Poche of Pike Road, Alabama. They’ll be joined by a stout field of competitors, including Bass Fishing Hall of Famers Paul Elias of Laurel, Mississippi and Shaw Grigsby of Gainesville, Florida, along with former Boston Red Sox player Mike Greenwell , a two-time Major League Baseball All-Star and 1988 American League MVP runner-up, who will be making the jump to compete in the “big leagues” of bass fishing. They’ll be competing for a top award of up to $115,000 and valuable Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) points – including a $50,000 payout – and to qualify for the 2025 Bass Pro Tour.
“The Jasper County Development District No. 1, along with the City of Jasper and the Jasper/Lake Sam Rayburn Chamber of Commerce, is proud to partner with Major League Fishing to bring the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals to one of the top bass fishing lakes in Texas – Lake Sam Rayburn,” said Randall Daily, Vice President of the Jasper County Development District. “We have worked with Major League Fishing for several years and tournaments. And we are always ready to welcome them and the anglers back to the lake and share some famous Texas hospitality!”
Winter weather in Texas always has the potential to really mess up January and February events on Sam Rayburn, but there’s a chance that is already out of the way this year. A recent cold snap dropped water temperatures into the 40s in surrounding lakes, but they should be on the way up again.
Generally speaking, it sounds like Rayburn looked different in pre-practice, but some of the “normal” winter patterns could still be effective. Marshall Hughes, an Invitationals rookie who lives in nearby Hemphill, Texas, said his pre-practice period taught him a few new things and confirmed some old news.
“There is some good grass left in the water, but a lot of it is straight-walled, really thick and really tall,” Hughes explained. “Right now, you’re fishing the edge of the grass line, and it was 2-inches under the water. Some areas had some good stuff, but there could be more if the water comes up.”
That extremely tall grass is a product of low water. Prior to the water coming down, there was a lot of grass in Rayburn. In pre-practice, a lot of it was literally on the bank – it should look more normal now.
“You’re going to have to mix up the shallow bite and the offshore bite to be able to win it,” mused Hughes. “This is the first time I’ve fished Rayburn this low, but I saw some fish in some areas that they should be. I was surprised almost to see them in certain places where it is shallower that are normally a lot deeper. But, I did find some fish in areas where I’ve never caught them before.”
One thing that Hughes noted is that strictly combing open water with forward-facing sonar is unlikely to be a winning gameplan. For fans that like to see long casts or a little more targeted fishing, that could be good news if he’s right.
“I don’t want to say that it can be won straight ‘Scoping, because I don’t think it can be,” he said. “I ‘Scoped a lot in pre-practice, and I didn’t catch one that was over 3 pounds. But, if you’ve got five 3-pounders and you could catch a kicker every day, that’d be pretty damn good. I think you’re still going to need to do the traditional things – drag a jig, throw a Carolina rig and fish a lipless (crankbait).”
Were the event on nearby Toledo Bend, where Cody Huff helped to start the LiveScope craze in 2020, that answer might be a lot different.
“I’ve never caught a giant one suspended on Rayburn that was just out in the middle of the lake,” detailed Hughes. “On Toledo, they wolfpack out here; catching 4 -or 5-pounders suspended is really not unheard of. But, I don’t ever see that on Rayburn. I’ve always wondered, if you took a fish out of Toledo and put it in Rayburn, would it act like a Toledo fish or a Rayburn fish?”
That doesn’t mean nobody will be looking at screens, but it’s likely that we’ll see forward-facing sonar enhance presentations as much or more than it defines patterns. So, a pro targeting a hard spot or a brush pile might judge the reaction of bass on their screen, but they may not find the fish with it. Or, you might get a scenario like Michael Neal’s 2022 win, when he caught a lot of fish on a jerkbait that he beamed up around main lake drains – simply using an efficient technique and modern sonar to exploit a pattern that has been present since Big Sam was flooded in 1965.
Anglers will launch at 7 a.m. CT each day from the Umphrey Family Pavilion, located at 5438 Sam Rayburn Parkway in Brookeland. Weigh-ins will also be held at the pavilion and will begin at 3 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and weigh-in events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW!® live stream and coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The 2024 Tackle Warehouse Invitationals feature a field of 150 professional anglers competing across six invitational tournaments around the country, for a total purse of $3.9 million and valuable Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) points to qualify for a coveted spot on the MLF Bass Pro Tour, the sport’s top level.
In Tackle Warehouse Invitational competition, the full field of 150 anglers compete in the two-day opening round on Friday and Saturday in a five-fish, weigh-in format. Only the top 30 pros, based on their two-day cumulative weight, advance to the final round on Championship Sunday, where they will compete for the grand prize of up to $115,000. The winner of the Tackle Warehouse Invitational Stop 1 Presented by Power-Pole at Sam Rayburn Reservoir will be determined by the heaviest three-day cumulative weight and will receive an invitation to compete at REDCREST 2025 on Lake Guntersville in Huntsville, Alabama.
The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and Rob Newell will break down the extended action live all three days of competition from 7:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. CT. MLFNOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
Television coverage of the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Stop 1 Presented by Power-Pole at Sam Rayburn Reservoir will air as a two-hour episode, premiering at 9 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Oct. 5 on CBS Sports Network.
Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, General Tire, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak Fishing, Onyx, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota and YETI.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Tackle Warehouse Invitational updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 13 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Falcon Rods to sponsor Bassmaster Fantasy Fishing’s Drain the Lake Challenge
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — As the popularity of the Bassmaster Elite Series soars, fans continue to flock toward the Bassmaster Fantasy Fishing games surrounding the league. Falcon Rods recently hooked the newest of the games, becoming the title sponsor of the Drain the Lake Challenge.
Unlike the original Fantasy Fishing game, Drain the Lake requires players to choose eight anglers per tournament who they believe will do well at that particular event. They earn points based on those anglers’ performances and then must choose a new group of anglers for the next event. An angler can only be used one time per season.
“That’s where the strategy comes into Drain the Lake,” said Kyle Jessie, B.A.S.S. digital editor. “If you believe Brandon Palaniuk, for example, is definitely going to do well in the third event, you need to save him. If you believe certain anglers will do better when the season shifts to Northern smallmouth fisheries, you need to keep those anglers available for those events.”
Falcon Rods, which has been supplying anglers with cutting-edge equipment for more than three decades, fits perfectly as the title sponsor for Drain the Lake, considering their pro staff includes Elite Series anglers Jason Christie, Luke Palmer and Clark Wendlandt — three anglers who routinely score well in Rapala Fantasy Fishing.
“If your group of eight anglers includes the winner of an Elite event, you earn 600 points,” Jessie said. “For the Classic, if your selections include the winner, you get 900 points. Those are the kind of picks that really make a difference.”
For each Bassmaster Elite Series event, individual winners will earn a $250 B.A.S.S.-provided gift card to Bass Pro Shops and a $100 Falcon Rods gift card for a total value of $350. If the winner is also a B.A.S.S. member, total winnings will equal $500.
The end-of-season grand prize winner will earn a $2,500 B.A.S.S.-provided gift card to Bass Pro Shops and a Falcon Rods fishing trip with Palmer valued at $1,050 for a total prize value of $3,550. If the winner is also a B.A.S.S. member, he or she will earn an additional $500.
“We know a lot of B.A.S.S. anglers are using our rods, along with a lot of the Drain the Lake players,” said Chris Beckwith, president of Falcon Rods. “We’re excited to be the title sponsor of this unique game that allows anglers and fans across the world to be part of the action.”
To sign up for Rapala Bassmaster Fantasy Fishing and the Falcon Rods Drain the Lake Challenge, go to Bassmasterfantasy.com.
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Team Championship, Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series scored by TourneyX, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors.
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Pjesky and McBroom top Bassmaster High School event at Clarks Hill Reservoir
COLUMBIA COUNTY, Ga. — The longer the journey, the sweeter the destination.
That was the story for Carter Pjesky and JD McBroom of the Off the Hook Bassmasters, who notched their first team victory by catching a five-bass limit of 15 pounds, 8 ounces and winning the Strike King Bassmaster High School Series at Clarks Hill Reservoir.
“We’ve been out here grinding at it a long time,” said Pjesky, who noted that he’s been fishing tournaments since he was in fourth grade. “We’ve worked hard, so this feels good."
For their win, Pjesky and McBroom took home a $4,000 team prize and earned a spot in the Strike King Bassmaster High School Series National Championship.
Representing Kaneland High in Maple Park, Ill., Pjesky and McBroom targeted largemouth in the lake’s clearer water on the lower end. While they were confident in their plan, the anglers fared even better than expected.
“We found a couple decent ones in practice, but nothing spectacular,” Pjesky said. “We were surprised by our weight.”
Focusing on the bass that were targeting the nomadic blueback herring, the winners used Damiki rigs and bird-dogged bait schools in 6 to 30 feet of water all day. Covering water and watching for bait schools led them to hungry bass.
“We’d set that Garmin LVS34 (transducer) out to 100 feet, set that Garmin Force trolling motor on 100 and search,” Pjesky said.
McBroom said they fished a herring-colored Yamamoto Scope Shad on a 3/16-ounce jighead. Technique, he said, was simple: Just keep the bait in the feeding position.
“You just bomb it out to them and they’d come up to it,” McBroom said. “You had to keep it above their head.
“Some were 10 feet under the surface and then some down on the bottom. The ones that were up higher were easier to catch because they were feeding.”
Pjesky said the weather system moving across the Southeast brought dimmer conditions that likely curtailed their opportunities.
“Our morning was better, but I think those herring fish were getting a little finicky with the clouds,” he said. “I think if it had been sunny, we would have done better.
“Our afternoon was pretty tough, but we didn’t do anything different. We pretty much just ground it out and stuck with what we’d been doing.”
McBroom said he and his partner filled their limit by 1 o’clock and finalized their weight with a late-day kicker — a 5-pounder that bit at 2:30.
“This win means a lot,” Pjesky said. “It feels great to finally bring one home. This is what we’ve been after.”
Roper Putnam and Jack Story of the Clarks Hill High School Fishing Team placed second with 15-0, while Carter Cunningham and Landon Glander of the Dawson High Fishing Club finished third with 14-11.
Elijah Coleman and Will Dombroskas of Montgomery County High School won the $50 Big Bass award with their 8-3.
The event was hosted by Visit Columbia County, GA.
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2024 Strike King High School Bassmaster at Clarks Hill Reservoir 2/4-2/4
Clarks Hill Lake, Columbia GA.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Club/School Pts
1. Carter Pjesky - JD McBroom Off the Hook Bassmasters - IL 0
Day 1: 5 15-08 Total: 5 15-08
2. Roper Putnam - Jack Story Clarks Hill Hs Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 5 15-00 Total: 5 15-00
3. Carter Cunningham - Landon Glander Dawson County High Fishing Club 0
Day 1: 5 14-11 Total: 5 14-11
4. Elijah Coleman - Will Dombroskas Montgomery County High School - 0
Day 1: 5 14-05 Total: 5 14-05
5. Austin Short - Jacob Greenwood Trhs Devildog Anglers - Traveler 0
Day 1: 5 13-11 Total: 5 13-11
6. Jase Sparks - Tripp Parks Clarks Hill Hs Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 3 13-10 Total: 3 13-10
7. Bryson Gurley - Ethan Evatt Palmetto High Bass Fishing 0
Day 1: 5 13-09 Total: 5 13-09
8. Evin Moore - Bridger Jones Haywood Anglers 0
Day 1: 5 13-08 Total: 5 13-08
9. Ridge Faircloth - Chaff Foran Liberty County High School - FL 0
Day 1: 5 13-03 Total: 5 13-03
10. Tripp Tamasi III - Matthew Johnson Greenbrier High School 0
Day 1: 5 13-01 Total: 5 13-01
11. Dylan Sorrells - Will Shepherd Highland Park High School - TX 0
Day 1: 5 13-00 Total: 5 13-00
12. Deacon Ledford - Joseph Phegley North Augusta High School Fishin 0
Day 1: 5 12-15 Total: 5 12-15
13. Thomas Turnbull - Drew Turnbull Evangel Christian School - AL 0
Day 1: 5 12-10 Total: 5 12-10
14. Bryson Osment - Lohgan Gosnell Byrnes High School Fishing Club 0
Day 1: 5 12-09 Total: 5 12-09
15. Nathan Bennett - Carter Burdette Seminole Junior Anglers 0
Day 1: 5 12-01 Total: 5 12-01
16. Wyatt Richards - Colby Goforth Pickens County Bass Club 0
Day 1: 5 11-13 Total: 5 11-13
17. Blane Holcombe - Gibson Huntley Chapman High School 0
Day 1: 5 11-12 Total: 5 11-12
18. Kieran Stephenson - Grady Stanley Triangle Bass Club 0
Day 1: 5 11-10 Total: 5 11-10
19. Clay Bales - Cash Bales South Laurel High School 0
Day 1: 5 11-08 Total: 5 11-08
20. James Pinson - Owen Satterwhite Ldhs Anglers 0
Day 1: 5 11-07 Total: 5 11-07
21. Lainie Holbert - Sarah Swindle Riverside High School Bass Fishi 0
Day 1: 5 10-13 Total: 5 10-13
22. Carson Falk - Trey Blackmon III Quincy High School Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 5 10-04 Total: 5 10-04
23. Presley Lannom - Trevor Sanford Mt. Juliet High School - TN 0
Day 1: 5 10-01 Total: 5 10-01
23. Thomas Newman - Camdon Fauver Frederick County Hs Bass Wrangle 0
Day 1: 5 10-01 Total: 5 10-01
25. Clayburn Reed - Parker Creech Central Florida Youth Anglers - 0
Day 1: 5 09-15 Total: 5 09-15
25. Carson Yero - Ryder Krueger Highlands County Anglers Club 0
Day 1: 5 09-15 Total: 5 09-15
27. Hank Mcillwain - Hunter Davis Music City Bass 0
Day 1: 4 09-15 Total: 4 09-15
28. Colden Baker - Jaylin White Wateree Anglers Club 0
Day 1: 5 09-14 Total: 5 09-14
29. William Alsip - Isaac Alsip South Laurel High School 0
Day 1: 5 09-13 Total: 5 09-13
29. Milam Mcillwain - Landon Lewis Creekwood Hs Redhawks Fishing 0
Day 1: 5 09-13 Total: 5 09-13
31. Dylan Quilatan - Tommy Rust Club Florida High School Bassmas 0
Day 1: 4 09-13 Total: 4 09-13
32. Austin Mairena - Cooper Gattis Marion County High School Bassma 0
Day 1: 5 09-10 Total: 5 09-10
33. Caleb Edwards - Jackson Keadle North Paulding High School 0
Day 1: 5 09-09 Total: 5 09-09
34. Trey Richardson III - Reid Luckett Free State Bass 0
Day 1: 5 09-08 Total: 5 09-08
35. Drake Fleming - Asher Fleming Stephens County Anglers 0
Day 1: 5 09-06 Total: 5 09-06
36. Evan Defoor - Emily Dewberry Bremen High School Bass Fishing 0
Day 1: 5 09-03 Total: 5 09-03
36. Brennan Enfinger - Cy Taunton Bainbridge Middle School (456) 0
Day 1: 5 09-03 Total: 5 09-03
38. Max Flatten - Sam Spies North Dakota - At Large 0
Day 1: 5 09-02 Total: 5 09-02
39. Gavin Nappier - Jimmy Capizzo Byrnes Rebels Jr Anglers 0
Day 1: 3 09-01 Total: 3 09-01
40. Brayden Tisdale - Dawson Reeves Opp Middle School - AL 0
Day 1: 5 08-15 Total: 5 08-15
41. Camden Randall - James Roop Mt Pleasant High School Bass Tea 0
Day 1: 5 08-13 Total: 5 08-13
42. Alex Gordon - Colson Smith American Christian Academy 0
Day 1: 5 08-12 Total: 5 08-12
43. Kruze Clayton - Evan Smithler Meigs County High School Fishing 0
Day 1: 5 08-11 Total: 5 08-11
44. Braeden Rustan - Evan Beard Greenbrier High School 0
Day 1: 5 08-06 Total: 5 08-06
45. Hayden Barnett - Camdyn Cranfill Kingston High School - TN 0
Day 1: 4 08-04 Total: 4 08-04
46. Luke Bazemore - Russell Gibson Clarks Hill Hs Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 5 08-03 Total: 5 08-03
47. Bobby Lane III - RJ Sanger IV Lcs Viking Anglers 0
Day 1: 2 08-02 Total: 2 08-02
48. Luke Stewart - Micah Osborne Clay County Panthers 0
Day 1: 5 08-01 Total: 5 08-01
49. Bo Brodrick - Luke Garofalo Clarke Central High School Bass 0
Day 1: 5 07-15 Total: 5 07-15
49. Adrien Chavez - Cameron Price Greenbrier High School 0
Day 1: 5 07-15 Total: 5 07-15
51. Clifford Still - Caleb Godson North Augusta High School Fishin 0
Day 1: 4 07-12 Total: 4 07-12
52. Andrew Kunz - Jacob Hood Bibb Country 0
Day 1: 3 07-12 Total: 3 07-12
53. Conner Lopez - Bryson Willeby Georgia State High School Bassma 0
Day 1: 5 07-10 Total: 5 07-10
54. Garrett Loggans - Jacob Farmer Hamblen County Anglers 0
Day 1: 2 07-09 Total: 2 07-09
55. Nathan Holderness - Wesley Taylor Gilbert Bass Anglers 0
Day 1: 4 07-07 Total: 4 07-07
56. Branton Champion - Jackson Behringer Richmond Hill High School Bass F 0
Day 1: 3 07-07 Total: 3 07-07
57. Landen Dale - Nathaniel Floyd Jessamine county high school eli 0
Day 1: 5 07-06 Total: 5 07-06
57. Chase McCarter - Ty Trentham Sevier County High School - TN 0
Day 1: 5 07-06 Total: 5 07-06
59. Harrison Hobbs - Cade Speligene Music City Bass 0
Day 1: 5 07-04 Total: 5 07-04
60. Austin Miller - Britton Mcdowell Gilbert Bass Anglers 0
Day 1: 5 07-02 Total: 5 07-02
61. Asher Ready - Sam Clarke North Augusta High School Fishin 0
Day 1: 3 07-02 Total: 3 07-02
62. Owen Ray - Turner Tharpe Rhea County High School - TN 0
Day 1: 3 07-01 Total: 3 07-01
63. Jameson Pursley - Hayden Spears Warren Co High School Pioneer An 0
Day 1: 2 07-01 Total: 2 07-01
64. Jason Wood Jr. - Colson Webb Aiken County Anglers 0
Day 1: 4 06-09 Total: 4 06-09
65. Rhett Motley - Bryson Motley Wateree Anglers Hs Club 0
Day 1: 5 06-08 Total: 5 06-08
66. Riley Garner - Tucker Harris Fchs Bass Team 0
Day 1: 2 06-07 Total: 2 06-07
67. Porter Morrison - Brayden Morgan Catholic High School Fishing 0
Day 1: 2 06-06 Total: 2 06-06
68. Joe Vaulton - Walker LaRue Alcoa Fishing Team High School 0
Day 1: 4 06-05 Total: 4 06-05
69. Carter Elliott - TUCKER Robertson Meigs County High School Fishing 0
Day 1: 2 06-04 Total: 2 06-04
70. Lane Parker - Mitchell Tew Cherokee Bass Team 0
Day 1: 4 06-02 Total: 4 06-02
71. Hogan Benson - Jacob Clayton Chesnee High School - SC 0
Day 1: 3 06-02 Total: 3 06-02
72. Lawton Williams - Caiden Little Cleveland County Bass Anglers 0
Day 1: 4 05-15 Total: 4 05-15
73. Brody Mitchell - James Mitchell Grissom High School - AL 0
Day 1: 3 05-15 Total: 3 05-15
74. Eddie Hook - Tanner Wolf Club Florida High School Bassmas 0
Day 1: 4 05-13 Total: 4 05-13
75. Cora Mccrary - Nathan Parker Tift Co Blue Devil Bass Team 0
Day 1: 3 05-13 Total: 3 05-13
75. Hayes Finch - James Lamberth Aca Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 3 05-13 Total: 3 05-13
77. Cooper Sanders - Riley Sanders Hart County High School Anglers 0
Day 1: 3 05-10 Total: 3 05-10
78. Cason Sanchez - Carson Taylor Lincoln County Falcon Anglers 0
Day 1: 2 05-10 Total: 2 05-10
79. Mikey Gammons - Dawson Compton Sc Hawg Hunters 0
Day 1: 4 05-08 Total: 4 05-08
80. Anderson Mesplay - Samuel Ross Pendleton High School Fishing Te 0
Day 1: 3 05-07 Total: 3 05-07
81. Jackson Ray - TJ Murray Rhea County Eagle Anglers - TN 0
Day 1: 3 05-06 Total: 3 05-06
82. Ethan McBrayer - Zachary King Briarwood High School 0
Day 1: 2 05-06 Total: 2 05-06
83. Trevor Allen - Aaron Yavorsky Hendry County High School - FL 0
Day 1: 3 05-05 Total: 3 05-05
84. Bradford Vandemark - Alexander Arnold Eagleville Fishing Club 0
Day 1: 2 05-04 Total: 2 05-04
85. Wick Medlin - Bryce Bentley Clarks Hill Hs Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 2 05-04 Total: 2 05-04
86. Andrew McCormick - Brady McCormick Briarwood High School 0
Day 1: 3 05-03 Total: 3 05-03
86. Kasen Page - Kaleb Page South Central Tennessee Bassmast 0
Day 1: 3 05-03 Total: 3 05-03
88. Tate Turner - Gavin Seewald Hoover High School 0
Day 1: 3 05-02 Total: 3 05-02
89. Carson Mosteller - Colton Mosteller Haywood Anglers 0
Day 1: 2 05-01 Total: 2 05-01
90. Nick Claussen - Hagen Keen Central Florida Youth Anglers 0
Day 1: 2 04-15 Total: 2 04-15
91. Brody Jones - Parker Batts Jefferson County High School - T 0
Day 1: 4 04-13 Total: 4 04-13
92. Carson Holbert - James Click Eagleton Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 3 04-12 Total: 3 04-12
93. Ryan Garner - Jake Garner York Co High School Anglers 0
Day 1: 2 04-11 Total: 2 04-11
94. Brendan Ellis - Jonathan Bedsole Opp High School Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 3 04-10 Total: 3 04-10
95. Corbin Bornstein - Thomas James Lipscomb Academy 0
Day 1: 2 04-08 Total: 2 04-08
96. Dax Dang - Cohen Reed Hixson High School - TN 0
Day 1: 1 04-08 Total: 1 04-08
97. Cole Griggs - Sawyer Piascik Jefferson High School 0
Day 1: 2 04-06 Total: 2 04-06
98. Ben Puckett - Jesse Klutts Henry County High School - TN 0
Day 1: 2 04-03 Total: 2 04-03
99. Couture Ohara - Robert White Lexington County Bass Fishing 0
Day 1: 2 04-02 Total: 2 04-02
99. Fisher Ruff - Kyle Lynn Lowndes High School Lip Rippers 0
Day 1: 2 04-02 Total: 2 04-02
101. Hayden Williams - Kent Falls York Co High School Anglers 0
Day 1: 3 04-01 Total: 3 04-01
102. Jackson Pruett - Jackson Mcleskey Chesnee High School Fishing Club 0
Day 1: 2 04-00 Total: 2 04-00
103. Harlyn Nelson - Jake Lovingood Wb Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 2 03-15 Total: 2 03-15
104. Nick Keith Jr. - Jagger Wells Munford High School Fishing Club 0
Day 1: 3 03-14 Total: 3 03-14
105. Cody Carboni - William Reynolds Live Oak Junior High School - LA 0
Day 1: 3 03-13 Total: 3 03-13
105. Beau Winn - Haiden Kirkland York Co High School Anglers 0
Day 1: 3 03-13 Total: 3 03-13
107. Gray Hardy - Lawson Gamble Headland High School 0
Day 1: 2 03-13 Total: 2 03-13
108. Max Himmel - Connor Hebert Catholic High School Fishing 0
Day 1: 2 03-09 Total: 2 03-09
108. Rowdie Thacker - Live Oak High School Fishing Tea 0
Day 1: 2 03-09 Total: 2 03-09
110. Jesse Lancaster - Fisher Lancaster Triangle Bass Club 0
Day 1: 1 03-09 Total: 1 03-09
111. Derek Davis - Evan Wood Mt Pleasant High School Bass Tea 0
Day 1: 2 03-08 Total: 2 03-08
112. Jacob Burkhead - Carter Berry Benton Panther Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 1 03-08 Total: 1 03-08
113. Noah Howell - Harrison Kirkpatrick Catholic High School Fishing 0
Day 1: 4 03-07 Total: 4 03-07
114. Hunter Minyard - Sydney Metts Clarks Hill Hs Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 2 03-06 Total: 2 03-06
115. Kasey Lowe - Zak Mcclellon Banks County 0
Day 1: 2 03-04 Total: 2 03-04
116. Barrett Newton - Brayden Huddleston Upperman High School 0
Day 1: 2 03-02 Total: 2 03-02
116. Tripp Williams III - Dakota King Lee County High School 0
Day 1: 2 03-02 Total: 2 03-02
118. Tyler Godwin - Caden Godwin Bainbridge High School Bass Cats 0
Day 1: 2 03-00 Total: 2 03-00
118. Annie Lassiter - Crew Morrone Warren Co High School Pioneer An 0
Day 1: 2 03-00 Total: 2 03-00
118. Davis Madden - Tripp Brantley III Clarks Hill Hs Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 2 03-00 Total: 2 03-00
121. Tyler Curry - Brody Elliott Mt. Vernon Bass Team 0
Day 1: 1 02-15 Total: 1 02-15
122. Cole Pennington - Ely Hagans Greenbrier Panthers 0
Day 1: 3 02-14 Total: 3 02-14
123. Eli Cooke - Jacob Webb Cleveland County Bass Anglers 0
Day 1: 1 02-12 Total: 1 02-12
124. John Parker Deal - Reiston Ratchford Headland Bass Team 0
Day 1: 2 02-11 Total: 2 02-11
124. Tri Johnson - Lakeland High School Fishing Tea 0
Day 1: 2 02-11 Total: 2 02-11
124. Gaige Lunsford - Gunner Lunsford Meigs County High School Fishing 0
Day 1: 2 02-11 Total: 2 02-11
127. Blalock Eskew - Ellis Turner Heard County High School - GA 0
Day 1: 1 02-09 Total: 1 02-09
127. Brody Kellum - Carson Thompson Franklin County High School 0
Day 1: 1 02-09 Total: 1 02-09
127. Justin Payne - Hunter Olivet Alcoa Fishing Team High School 0
Day 1: 1 02-09 Total: 1 02-09
130. Reece Williams - Charlie Thompson SC Lower State Bass Club - SC 0
Day 1: 1 02-08 Total: 1 02-08
131. Kaede Seamon - Joshua Wharton Aiken County Anglers 0
Day 1: 2 02-07 Total: 2 02-07
132. Holt Gonzalez - Benjamin Buczkowski Trhs Devildog Anglers - Traveler 0
Day 1: 1 02-07 Total: 1 02-07
133. Wyatt Crow - Seth Golin Lipscomb Academy 0
Day 1: 1 02-06 Total: 1 02-06
134. Payton Muns - Harrison Wheatley Clarks Hill Youth Fishing Team - 0
Day 1: 2 02-05 Total: 2 02-05
134. Landon Myers - Bryson Bailey Alcoa Fishing Team High School 0
Day 1: 2 02-05 Total: 2 02-05
136. Taedem Ashworth - Heith Hutson Mt Pleasant High School Bass Tea 0
Day 1: 1 02-04 Total: 1 02-04
137. Landon Gabby - Kolby Baker Marion High School Bass Fishing 0
Day 1: 1 02-02 Total: 1 02-02
138. Justin Holloway - Ethan Webb Arition Bass Team 0
Day 1: 1 02-01 Total: 1 02-01
139. Kyle Wood - Bradley Merritt Central Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 2 01-15 Total: 2 01-15
140. Landon Bannister - Clayton Segers Hart County High School Anglers 0
Day 1: 1 01-15 Total: 1 01-15
140. Peyton Faber - Dominick Andux Tampa Bay Junior Bass Club High 0
Day 1: 1 01-15 Total: 1 01-15
142. Clark Kelly - Joe Pisarcik Frederick Co. Jr. Bass Wranglers 0
Day 1: 1 01-14 Total: 1 01-14
143. Mason Mullins - Caden Graham Soddy Daisy High School - TN 0
Day 1: 2 01-13 Total: 2 01-13
144. Jackson Barger - Parker Ogle Eagle Anglers Seymour High Scho 0
Day 1: 1 01-13 Total: 1 01-13
144. Riley Nuessle - CJ Chavous Jr. North Augusta High School Fishin 0
Day 1: 1 01-13 Total: 1 01-13
144. Cameron Seay - Nate Campbell Ldhs Anglers 0
Day 1: 1 01-13 Total: 1 01-13
147. Parker Bilbrey - Tyler Thompson Monterey Anglers 0
Day 1: 1 01-12 Total: 1 01-12
148. Mason Taylor - Wesley Kent Dekalb Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 1 01-10 Total: 1 01-10
149. Landon Rollison - Tanner Bass Dixie County High School - FL 0
Day 1: 1 01-08 Total: 1 01-08
149. Jackson Shore - Tyler Shore Davie High War Eagle Bass Fishin 0
Day 1: 1 01-08 Total: 1 01-08
149. Gavin Varner - Connor Burnett Byrnes High School Fishing Club 0
Day 1: 1 01-08 Total: 1 01-08
152. Reed Williams - Brinson Keen Greenbrier High School 0
Day 1: 1 01-06 Total: 1 01-06
153. Zach Knight - Luke Malik Gallatin High School 0
Day 1: 1 01-05 Total: 1 01-05
154. Connor Crawford - Brody Beam Liberty County High School - FL 0
Day 1: 1 01-04 Total: 1 01-04
154. Jaxson Pierce - Tucker Larrance Jefferson County Patriot Anglers 0
Day 1: 1 01-04 Total: 1 01-04
156. Easton Drennon - Cole Petroff Mt Juliet Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 1 01-00 Total: 1 01-00
157. Cooper Moon - Haden West Georgia State High School Bassma 0
Day 1: 1 00-15 Total: 1 00-15
158. Kason Stewart - Parker Davis Davie High War Eagle Bass Fishin 0
Day 1: 1 00-12 Total: 1 00-12
159. Eli Ellege - Hunter Shipman Warrior Hs Bass Anglers 0
Day 1: 1 00-11 Total: 1 00-11
160. Matthew Adams - Heaven Davis Trhs Devildog Anglers - Traveler 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Banks Barber - Aaron Morrison Polk County High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Connor Beach - Nathan Phillips Liberty County Anglers 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Randall Blankenship - Nate Ingham Meigs County High School - TN 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Nicholas Blastow - Lucas Langley Alexander High School Fishing Te 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Grayson Bonfils - Hayes Wilt East Baton Rouge Bassmaster - LA 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Felix Bradshaw - JD Newton Headland Bass Team 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Landon Brazier - Austin Fulghum Greenbrier High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Abigail Brewer - Forrest Brewer 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Brody Brinson - Greer Gammon Mt Juliet Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Tucker Bruyninckx - Ayden Hair Clarks Hill Hs Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Logan Cargle - Cole Mcdaniel Tift County High School - GA 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Fisher Carver - Jack Reeves Appling County High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Luke Childs - David Stockard Music City Bass 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Barrett Choquette - Headland Bass Team 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Brogan Collins - Brett Mills Soddy Daisy High School - TN 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Baden Culpepper - Justin Frazee Clarks Hill Hs Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Spencer Curtis - Aidan Lanthier York Co High School Anglers 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Jackson Dowdle - Mason Brewer Mcdowell High School Bass Fishin 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Wyatt Downs - Gunnar Ballard Upperman High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Aidan Ellege - Levi Brooks Haywood Anglers 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Zac Eubanks - Reilly Marshall Lee County High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Fielding Faulkenberry - Grayden Hovis York Co High School Anglers 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Kayden Fields - Jake Berey Edgefield County Elite Bass Fish 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Dylan Fulk - Jakoby Vandyke Richland County High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Kolby Gambrel - Hunter Napier Corbin Bass Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Brady Garrison - Riley Haney Madison County High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Rooksby Gordon - Fisher Deason American Christian Academy - AL 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Elijah Griffith - Grayson Felton Sale Creek Anglers 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Jake Gwin - Robert Gibson York Co High School Anglers 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Wyatt Harmon - Jonah Yates Central Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Brody Harp - Hixon Bass Team - TN 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Carson Harrell - William Copleston Chapman High School - SC 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Maggie Harris - Gracie Marion Sumner County Bass Team 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Michael Harris - Kayden Waller Mt Juliet Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Jackie Hatfield - Graham Willis Alcoa Fishing Team - TN 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Colton Hembree - Tyson Browning Madison Southern 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Whitt Hickey - Walker Rochester Trhs Devildog Anglers - Traveler 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Nolan Holloway - Jackson Fanning Morgan County High School - GA 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Preston Holmes - Drew Higgins Clarks Hill Hs Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Max Hondorp - Tyler Hondorp Panhandle Youth Anglers High Sch 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Carson Howell - Mt. Pleasant High School - TN 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Tuff Hudson - Taylor Duncan Newnan High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. David Johnson - Bennett Brooks Karns High School - TN 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Lucas Johnson - Bryant Hodge Greenbrier High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Olevir Johnson - Allen Moore Oldham Co High School Bass Team 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Maddox Kelly - Matthew Matheny Headland High School - AL 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Sawyer Kennedy - Levy Moore Franklin County High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Sam Kiger - Sam Hayes Music City Bass 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Sarah Land - Christal Rudd Lee County High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Benjamin Lawson - Jimmy Beckham Westfield Bass Club 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Richard Lirette III - Trey Martinez Lafourche Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Cooper Lumpkin - American Christian Academy - AL 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Langston Martin - Talmage Isaacson Lee County Anglers 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Cole Mcausland - Lawson Sudduth American Christian Academy - AL 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Holden Mcclung - Gavin Smith Fellowship Christian School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. John Mullins - Jayden Douglas Eagleville Fishing Club 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Ryan Narancich - Eli Boutros Music City Bass 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Joey Newman - Logan Robertson Meigs County High School Fishing 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Travis Ogle - Garrett Taylor Lincoln County Falcon Anglers 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Owen Osden - Aiden Pluff Richmond Hill High School Bass F 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Nash Parham - Jude Gibson Sumner County Jr Bass Team - TN 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Hunter Pugh - Dalton Ricard Gilbert Bass Anglers 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Brooks Putnam - Daylin Doak Mt. Juliet High School - TN 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Tanner Rojek - Cole Frisbee Lee County High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Hollis Rose - Grant Arnold Jefferson County Patriot Anglers 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Joe Rothwell - Luke Maiden Montgomery County High School Ba 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Tanner Russell - Daniel Lowhorn Mt. Juliet High School - TN 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Caden Schilling - Slade Jones Hixson High School - TN 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Jack Sharpe - Mason Garrison Sumner County Bass Team - TN 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Blair Sinks - Peyton Jones Warren County High School - TN 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Carson Taylor - Michael Prater Jr York Co High School Anglers 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Gage Taylor - Jacob Morgan Davie High War Eagle Bass Fishin 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Jackson Thomas - Cole Bradley Kings Ridge 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Wesson Vint - Parker Hill Track and Channel Youth - IN 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Dyson Weaver - Hayden Davidson Creek Wood Red Hawks 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
160. Cameron Whitehead
Dustin Connell Clinches Fifth MLF Bass Pro Tour Win at B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One at Toledo Bend Presented by Power-Pole
MANY, La. (Feb. 4, 2024) – Despite a morning fog delay and a stacked field on Championship Sunday, pro Dustin Connell of Clanton, Alabama, weighed 36 scorable bass totaling 112 pounds, 4 ounces to earn his fifth Bass Pro Tour win and the top award of $100,000 at the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One at Toledo Bend Presented by Power-Pole. Connell’s Championship Round total nearly doubled the rest of the 10-man field, earning the win by a whopping 44-pound, 2-ounce margin over Hot Springs, Arkansas’ Spencer Shuffield, who finished the day in second with 22 scorable bass weighing 68-2.
As the second period of the Championship Round ticked away, Connell felt his lead slowly slipping away. The Alabama native had gotten off to a hot start, catching nearly 40 pounds of Toledo Bend bass in the first period and claiming the top spot on SCORETRACKER®.
But around 1 p.m., his bite fizzled, and the field slowly chipped away. At one point, Zack Birge of Blanchard, Oklahoma, got within one scorable bass of the lead.
So, Connell ran to a new spot, one he hadn’t visited since the Qualifying Round. On his first cast of Period 3, he hooked into a 4-pounder. In that moment, the match met the proverbial fuse, sparking an epic display of fireworks.
During the two-hour final period, Connell boated a whopping 20 scorable bass weighing 58 pounds, 6 ounces, bringing his total for the day to 112-4 on 36 fish.
“I looked for something like this all week,” Connell said. “And I can’t believe that it happened.”
Connell’s total marked the biggest day for any angler during the event — despite the Championship Round being shortened by 30 minutes due to a one-hour, 45-minute fog delay. The win marks his fifth Bass Pro Tour victory – second most all-time – and his third straight in regular-season events contested with every-fish-counts scoring. He also won the final two tournaments of the 2022 season.
Ever since the BPT schedule was unveiled for 2024, Connell has had his eye on Toledo Bend. Given the late-winter timing of the event, he figured it would suit his strengths — namely, finding schools of fish with forward-facing sonar. And after failing to make a Championship Round during the 2023 regular season, he was hungry to get back in the Top 10.
“I do really well looking for schools of fish,” Connell said. “That’s how I grew up.”
So, Connell spent the months leading up to Stage One fishing three to four times per week on the lakes near his Clanton, Alabama, home. It didn’t matter that he primarily chased a different species (Alabama bass) a few hundred miles away from Toledo Bend. The practice was all about sharpening his skills with the hottest technique in tournament fishing: pinpointing suspended bass with electronics and using a soft-plastic minnow on a jighead to coax them into biting.
“I practiced for this tournament all fall,” Connell said. “I didn’t go deer hunting, I didn’t go golfing, I didn’t go sit on the couch. I’ve literally been fishing three or four days a week for four months, preparing for this, because I knew that this was going to be a tournament where I could have a really good shot.”
Despite the heavy rains that dumped muddy runoff into Toledo Bend prior to the event, Connell stayed committed to that strategy. He used a Rapala CrushCity Freeloader to catch most of his fish, especially in more stained water.
He affixed the bait to various jigheads but said he leaned on a 5/16-ounce version Sunday. He also mixed in a smaller, prototype CrushCity plastic called a Mooch Minnow. Connell wouldn’t divulge many details about the bait, which will debut this summer at ICAST, but said it accounted for three fish over 5 pounds during the Championship Round, including the aforementioned 7-4.
He found all his fish, of course, with Lowrance ActiveTarget. Given the dingy water and fishing pressure, making precise presentations — the result of his offseason practice — proved pivotal.
Connell's technique was no secret. Everyone else in the Championship Round chased fish offshore using forward-facing sonar, most with a jighead minnow.
The difference came down to finding large schools of actively feeding bass, which moved each day. Key to doing so, Connell said, was covering as much of the massive, 185,000-acre playing field as possible during the week. After a strong first day of qualifying put him well ahead of the rest of the anglers in Group B, Connell used his second day of competition solely to practice. Then, after stacking more than 45 pounds on SCORETRACKER® in Period 1 of the Knockout Round, he once again set out in search of new water.
“The biggest key was decision making this week and trying to adapt to the water,” he said. “The water came up three feet, the water was muddy, the water started to clean.”
All that practicing paid off when Connell pulled the plug on his starting spot during the Championship Round. His first move took him to an area that was too muddy. Seeing how the water clarity had fluctuated led him to think of a spot he’d visited during the Qualifying Round. Connell described it as a pocket located between two major creeks.
It featured a ditch, or “drain,” where bass could corral shad.
During his initial visit, the area didn’t seem special — he caught a 3-pounder and a 2½-pounder there — but with clearer water, he knew it had the ingredients to attract baitfish (and thus bass) in large numbers. Boy did it.
“I ran in that area earlier in the week, and the fish weren’t in there as good,” he said. “And then the water cleared up, and they just flooded in there.”
The spot didn’t just have bass in numbers, but big ones, too. On the day, Connell boated nine bass of 4 pounds or bigger.
Connell, who didn’t catch a single 4-pounder during the Knockout Round, attributed his Sunday smashfest to his mindset — the biggest key to his win. Given how rapidly the conditions changed, he refused to commit to one area at any point in the week. And when the pressure mounted as his Championship Round lead shrunk, he avoided spinning out, ultimately making the winning decision.
“I did not want to get stuck into a one-track mind on this lake, because it’s so big, the fish move, the wind blows,” Connell said. “I just kept an open mind all week and was not afraid to run to a new area.”
The top 10 pros from the B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One at Toledo Bend Presented by Power-Pole finished:
2nd: Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., 22 bass, 68-2, $45,000
3rd: Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., 19 bass, 66-8, $38,000
4th: Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., 18 bass, 60-15, $32,000
5th: Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., 19 bass, 60-3, $30,000
6th: Martin Villa, Charlottesville, Va., 21 bass, 60-3, $26,000
7th: Alton Jones, Jr., Waco, Texas, 19 bass, 50-10, $23,000
8th: Justin Cooper, Zwolle, La., 15 bass, 48-6, $21,000
9th: Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., 15 bass, 42-11, $19,000
10th: Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., 10 bass, 28-11, $16,000
Overall, there were 194 scorable bass weighing 598 pounds, 9 ounces caught by the 10 pros Sunday, which included one 7-pounder, three 6-pounders, four 5-pounders and 24 4-pounders.
Connell also won Championship Sunday’s Berkley Big Bass Award, with a largemouth totaling 7 pounds, 4 ounces, in the first period. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and a $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament. Cliff Crochet of Pierre Part, Louisiana, earned the $3,000 Berkley Big Bass award for the overall largest bass of the event with his 11-pound, 1-ounce largemouth that was weighed on Day 1 of competition.
The B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One at Toledo Bend Presented by Power-Pole featured the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, in which anglers caught as much weight as they could each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. The tournament featured anglers competing with a 2-pound minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable. The MLF Fisheries Management Division determines minimum weights for each body of water that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.
The six-day tournament, hosted by Toledo Bend Lake Country and the Louisiana Office of Tourism, showcased 80 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing for a purse of $659,000, including a top payout of $100,000, and valuable Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2025, the Bass Pro Tour championship.
Television coverage of the B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One at Toledo Bend Presented by Power-Pole Knockout Round will air as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, July 20 on Discovery, with the Championship Round premiering on July 27. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel.
The 2024 Bass Pro Tour features a field of 80 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and the REDCREST 2025 championship.
Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, Epic Baits, Garmin, General Tire, Humminbird, Lowrance, Mercury, MillerTech, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak Fishing, NITRO, Onyx, Plano, Power-Pole, Rapala, StarBrite, Suzuki, Toyota and U.S. Air Force.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 17 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Harkins Gets His Redemption, Captures NPFL Crown on Logan Martin
For Will Harkins, redemption never tasted so good. After a heartbreaker in 2023 finishing 2nd at Lake Eufaula due to tiebreakers, he seals the deal earning his first NPFL victory with a three-day total weight of 47 pounds, 9 ounces. Harkins started the event in second place with 16 pounds, 9 ounces on day one, and moved into the lead on day two with 16 pounds, 13 ounces. Starting strong on day three with two early keepers, Harkins culled his way to a final day weight of 14 pounds, 3 ounces to take the win.
Coming into the event, the Georgia pro knew he would need to fish each morning with an open mind and learn where the fish would be positioned with changing conditions. As the last angler to weigh in, needing only 9 pounds, his margin of victory on Logan Martin was 4 pounds, 4 ounces over NPFL newcomer Brock Bila.
“It has been the same for me all week,” said Harkins. “I caught fish on the Strike King 1.5 and the jig but the fish were set up each day on the same types of banks.”
On the final day, the early limit to begin in the morning took the pressure off but he had felt like the door was wide open for someone to steal the win yet again.
“Getting those two good fish and the early limit took some pressure off; I caught six early and then between 1 and 4 PM I caught six more,” he added. “There was a mid-day lull and I was nervous coming to weigh in. I knew I gave someone an opportunity, not getting to the 16-pound range myself, to catch a big bag but when I got closer to weighing in, I knew I had a shot.”
With the monkey off his back early in the season, the Georgia angler plans to change nothing for the rest of the season. “I do not have to worry about getting close and not slamming the door shut,” he laughed.
Brock Bila
NPFL rookie Brock Bila rode a 17-pound, 11-ounce day two to finish in the second-place spot with a three-day total weight of 43 pounds, 5-ounce in his first event of the 2024 season. He started on day one with 12 pounds, 11 ounces, and added another 12 pounds, 15 pounds to go with his day two weight.
Also executing a one-two punch on Logan Martin, Bila targeted both suspended fish on the main lake and largemouth in the backs of pockets. “The main key was clean water and bait fish relative to the spot,” he said. “That is literally it. I fished clean this week except for today and lost one decent fish this morning and another big one this afternoon after the live coverage ended.”
On day two, he located a group of fish in shallow muddy water but nothing was doing on the final day. Despite the disappointing final day, Bila is thrilled with a second-place finish on a tough body of water. “For these caliber anglers, I fully expected to get my butt whipped on until I settled in, but man that did not happen,” he added. “I was a little worried coming in but the confidence level is sky high going into Hartwell.”
Jesse Millsaps
With a three-day total of 42 pounds, 14 ounces, Jesse Millsaps increased his weight throughout each day of the tournament to finish the first event of the year in second place. He started day one with 11 pounds, 14 ounces, added 14 pounds, 7 ounces on day two, and his biggest bag of the week on the final day of 16 pounds, 9 ounces.
One of the few anglers who enjoyed a good practice period, Jesse Millsaps executed a one-two punch of a Berkley Frittside5 crankbait and a blade jig fishing key stretches all three days. As the water changed, his colors changed to stay ahead of the bigger bass. “I focused on main lake areas with chunk rock and access to deeper water,” he said. “When it was clear
water, I fished a white bladed jig around the docks and the Frittside5 on the rocks. When it got dirty, I had to switch to red colors.”
Aside from one key fish which cost him a shot at second place, Millsaps was happy to back up a good practice with a good tournament. “The only thing that changed for me was boat traffic,” he laughed. “The big chunk rock provided a current break for the bigger fish moving in and I rotated a few key areas each day.”
Louis Fernandes
After a tough practice period, Louis Fernandes knew what he had to do with warming water and stabilizing weather. He started on day one with 13 pounds, 8 ounces, added 11 pounds, 10 ounces, and his biggest bag of the week today with 16 pounds, 15 ounces. His two-day total weight of 42 pounds, 1 ounce earns him third place and a great start to 2024.
After catching a few key fish on day one with a First Gen Fishing Swim Jig and filling a limit with a jerkbait and crankbait, the warming water meant Fernandes could lock a crankbait in his hands for the rest of the event and do what he does.
“The bite just started to get good the last two days and it changed to all crankbaits yesterday and today,” he said. “I left some fish out there yesterday after not making the right adjustment, but today I had an early limit and moved to the main river where the bigger fish were setting up.” He focused his efforts on 3 to 6 feet of water on steep chunk rock banks. Anything more or less would not do, and the warming water in the afternoon on the chunk banks made the perfect staging area for bigger fish waiting to move shallow.
“I covered as much water as possible each day and dialed in exactly where those bigger fish were sitting,” he added. “I used an iRod 733 rod with 15-pound P-Line Tactical Fluorocarbon and just did what I love to do.”
Rest of the Best
Buddy Gross 41-2
Jason Burroughs 41-1
Kyle Welcher 40-15
Todd Goade 40-3
Joseph Webster 39-11
JTodd Tucker 39-9
Spencer Shuffield Leads Top Ten to Championship Round at B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One at Toledo Bend Presented by Power-Pole
MANY, La. (Feb. 3, 2024) – After hovering near the top of the leaderboard in the two-day Qualifying Round, pro Spencer Shuffield of Hot Springs, Arkansas, finished Day 5 of competition on top, catching 30 scorable bass weighing 101-14 to pace the Knockout Round and advance to the final day of competition at the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One at Toledo Bend Presented by Power-Pole.
The Arkansas pro took over the lead mid-day, rising to the top of a stacked field going into Sunday’s Championship Round. In addition to Shuffield, a star-studded field of pros will compete in the final day of competition, including REDCREST 2021 Champion Dustin Connell of Clanton, Arkansas, two-time Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) winner Jacob Wheeler of Harrison, Tennessee, reigning Fishing Clash AOY Matt Becker of Ten Mile, Tennessee, along with three Bass Pro Tour rookies, Drew Gill of Mount Carmel, Illinois, local favorite Justin Cooper of Zwolle, Louisiana, and Martin Villa of Charlottesville, Virginia.
The final 10 anglers are now set, and competition resumes Sunday morning with the Championship Round. In the Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.
Shuffield joined an exclusive club of Bass Pro Tour anglers by stacking more than 100 pounds of bass on SCORETRACKER® in a single day. A handful of anglers have put up 100-pound days during the first six Bass Pro Tour seasons, but Shuffield is the first to do so with all largemouth. Perhaps even more impressive than hitting the century mark is that he did so while keeping some fish in reserve for Sunday’s Championship Round. While weights will zero when the Top 10 anglers return to the water, Shuffield is optimistic that he can put up even bigger numbers and claim his first career BPT win.
“Tomorrow it’s all going to get left out there on the table, so I’m looking forward to it,” Shuffield said. “I haven’t been able to truly lean on these fish yet this week. Tomorrow, we get to – and, man, it would be sweet to break 200 pounds, because it’s definitely possible.”
Shuffield finished the Knockout Round 21-14 ahead of second-place Connell, who racked up more than 45 pounds in the first period before switching to practice mode. Wheeler finished third with 72-12. Those three have looked to be the most in tune with Toledo Bend’s bass all week, but the race for the first trophy of the 2024 season will be wide open.
Shuffield said he’d never fished Toledo Bend prior to December, when he spent a few days on the massive reservoir to pre-practice for Stage One. Ever since that visit, he’s had his sights set on taking home the first trophy of the year.
One of the best on tour at using forward-facing sonar to target suspended fish, Shuffield figured Toledo Bend’s shad-hungry bass would set up to his liking. A successful practice only bolstered his confidence.
While Shuffield racked up more than 130 pounds across the two-day Qualifying Round, easily earning a spot in the Knockout Round, he emerged a bit disappointed. Saturday was more like the success he experienced during practice.
“I kind of lost contact with these bigger fish after practice for some reason,” Shuffield explained. “I had ‘em dialed in really good in practice, and then got out here first day of the tournament; they had really changed on me. The water went from 48 to 52 (degrees), and it was warming up a lot this morning and they had moved again, back out to kind of where they were in practice. I think a lot of that had to do with cloud cover, and the water was back to 50 degrees this morning.”
Like just about everyone else in the Top 10, Shuffield has caught the majority of his fish this week with a soft-plastic minnow affixed to a jighead. The key, he said, has been locating groups of bigger-than-average bass. He certainly found them Saturday, boating 10 fish of 4 pounds or bigger.
“It’s the type of bait that I’m looking for,” Shuffield said. “It’s all threadfin shad, of course, but when you find the bait set up correctly on the right type of area and place, you find the bigger quality fish.”
The scariest part for the rest of the field: Shuffield didn’t even visit his most promising spots during the Knockout Round. He ran all new water, adding a few more areas to his arsenal that he could turn to on Sunday. He also thinks he’ll have his fish to himself, saying he didn’t see another competitor all day.
“I said coming into the day that if I could make it to tomorrow without fishing through my best stuff, then I felt like I could win,” Shuffield said. “Today was brand new water, every bit of it.”
With the forecast calling for lighter winds during the Championship Round and the likes of Connell and Wheeler sure to keep the pedal to the metal all day, prepare for fireworks. While he brought up the possibility of hitting the 200-pound mark, Shuffield realistically thinks it will take about 120 pounds to claim the $100,000 first place prize.
“I’ve got four, five, six areas that really, really got ‘em, so I’m really excited about tomorrow, getting to come out here — it’s going to be no wind — so I’m looking forward to putting the pedal to the gas,” Shuffield said.
The top 10 pros from Saturday’s Knockout Round that now advance to Sunday’s Championship Round on Toledo Bend are:
2nd: Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., 30 bass, 80-1
3rd: Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., 22 bass, 72-12
4th: Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., 20 bass, 65-13
5th: Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., 18 bass, 60-13
6th: Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., 18 bass, 55-12
7th: Justin Cooper, Zwolle, La., 20 bass, 52-7
8th: Alton Jones, Jr., Waco, Texas, 17 bass, 50-13
9th: Martin Villa, Charlottesville, Va., 14 bass, 43-0
10th: Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., 14 bass, 38-15
12th: Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn., 14 bass, 37-12
13th: Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas, 14 bass, 36-11
14th: Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio, 10 bass, 32-1
15th: Mark Daniels, Jr., Tuskegee, Ala., six bass, 23-2
16th: Ryan Salzman, Huntsville, Ala., eight bass, 22-12
17th: Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., six bass, 17-10
18th: James Elam, Tulsa, Okla., six bass, 14-0
19th: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., four bass, 11-9
20th: Brent Chapman, Lake Quivira, Kan., four bass, 9-4
Overall, there were 289 scorable bass weighing 865 pounds, 8 ounces caught by the 20 pros Saturday, which included one 8-pounder, one 7-pounder, 10 5-pounders and 27 4-pounders.
Mark Daniels, Jr., of Tuskegee, Alabama, caught an 8-pound, 15-ounce largemouth on a jerkbait in the first period to claim Saturday’s Berkley Big Bass Award. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and a $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.
The six-day tournament, hosted by Toledo Bend Lake Country and the Louisiana Office of Tourism, showcases 80 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing for a purse of $659,000, including a top payout of $100,000, and valuable Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2025, the Bass Pro Tour championship.
The 40 Anglers in Group A competed in their two-day Qualifying Round on Tuesday and Thursday – the 40 anglers in Group B on Wednesday and Friday. After the two-day Qualifying Rounds were complete, the anglers that finished first through 10th from both groups advanced to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights were zeroed, and the remaining 20 anglers competed to finish in the top 10 to advance to Sunday’s Championship Round. Tomorrow, in the final-day Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.
The final 10 anglers competing in Sunday’s Championship Round will launch at 7:30 a.m. CT from Cypress Bend Park, located at 3462 Cypress Bend Drive in Many. The General Tire Takeout will be held at the park, beginning at 4 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard and event coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com .
The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on Championship Sunday from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CT. MLFNOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
On Sunday, Feb. 4, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF invites fans of all ages to visit Cypress Bend Park for the MLF Watch Party and Trophy Celebration. Fans can watch the action from the water live on the MLFNOW! big screen, enjoy free food, enter to win hourly giveaways and cheer on their favorite pros. The first 50 kids 14 and under will receive a free rod and reel from Pure Fishing. The final 10 Championship Round Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand at the trophy celebration on Championship Sunday to meet and greet fans, sign autographs and take selfies.
Television coverage of the B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One at Toledo Bend Presented by Power-Pole Knockout Round will air as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, July 20 on Discovery, with the Championship Round premiering on July 27. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel.
The B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One at Toledo Bend Presented by Power-Pole features the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, in which anglers catch as much weight as they can each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. The tournament features anglers competing with a 2-pound minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable. The MLF Fisheries Management Division determines minimum weights for each body of water that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.
The Bass Pro Tour features a field of 80 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and the REDCREST 2025 championship.
Bass Pro Tour anglers will also compete throughout the 2024 season for the prestigious Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) award and its $100,000 payday. Fishing Clash – an interactive 3D fishing simulation game that’s played by more than 80 million people worldwide – is the official AOY sponsor of the Bass Pro Tour, Tackle Warehouse Invitationals, Toyota Series and Phoenix Bass Fishing League.
Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, Epic Baits, Garmin, General Tire, Humminbird, Lowrance, Mercury, MillerTech, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak Fishing, NITRO, Onyx, Plano, Power-Pole, Rapala, StarBrite, Suzuki, Toyota and U.S. Air Force.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 17 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Martin’s record day seals wire-to-wire win at Bassmaster Open on Florida’s Lake Okeechobee
CLEWISTON, Fla. — Bassmaster Elite Series pro Scott Martin’s no weatherman, but his spot-on prediction described a scenario that enabled him to sack up a 31-pound, 7-ounce limit Saturday and lock up a record-setting wire-to-wire victory at the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Lake Okeechobee presented by SEVIIN.
Martin amassed a three-day winning total of 90-6.
“Whoo! I’ve had to hold it in all week,” said a clearly emotional Martin, who notched his first B.A.S.S. victory. “To win here in front of my mom, in this parking lot where my dad (nine-time Bassmaster Angler of the Year, Roland Martin) won (the 1991 Bassmaster Florida Invitational) it’s just a blessing.
“To have that come full circle and to stand on this stage in front of my family and friends is just so amazing. I’m beyond appreciative of the sport, beyond appreciative of B.A.S.S. This is just special.”
Taking the early lead with a Day 1 limit of 33-2 — the event’s largest — Martin added a second-round bag that went 25-13 and held on to the top spot. After the Day 2 weigh-in, the hometown favorite said he believed the week’s increasingly stable, warming trend could deliver the opportunity he needed to seal the deal.
With Championship Saturday bringing more calm, sunny conditions and slightly warmer water, Martin slammed the door shut with a Day 3 catch that included a pair of 9-pounders he caught about an hour apart.
“This was just an epic day,” Martin said during the Bassmaster LIVE broadcast. “It was a blessing. Thank you, Jesus.”
With his victory, Martin set the record for the all-time heaviest winning total in a three-day Bassmaster event. Former Elite Series pro Byron Velvick set the previous record in 2000 by catching 83-5 at California’s Clear Lake.
Also, Martin’s Day 1 limit broke the record for the heaviest one-day catch in a Bassmaster Open — a mark previously set by Whitney Stephens’ 32-12 at the 2019 Open on the Harris Chain of Lakes.
“I couldn’t have scripted this any better,” Martin said of his accomplishments. “I just wanted to win a tournament here in front of the hometown crowd at some point in my career. But the records — I had no idea. To win here in front of my mom and dad and to break records, it was just God’s perfect timing.”
Martin edged Tucker Smith of Birmingham, Ala., by a margin of 22-11 and collected the top prize of $50,360. He also qualified for the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors, assuming he fishes the final two Opens in Division 1.
Martin spent his week in the Harney Pond area on the lake’s west side. Fishing in 3 1/2 to 5 1/2 feet of water, he targeted the submerged remnants of cattail clumps.
“I was looking for these clumps on my Garmin Panoptix,” Martin said. “They were like brushpiles. I knew it was going to be a tough tournament, so I knew I had to fish as slow and methodically as I could.
“A lot of tournaments, you run around and you try to do this and that to try and keep your energy level up, but I was the opposite today. I was just covering water and fishing slow.”
While ChatterBaits produced some of his keepers the first two days, Martin caught all of his Championship Saturday fish on a Texas-rigged Googan Baits Bandito Bug and a straight-tail worm, along with a wacky-rigged Googan Baits Lunker Log stickworm.
“The key was keeping my bait clean,” Martin said. “There’s a lot of muck on the bottom, but I could feel when my bait came into a clean spot, so I would make repeated casts to that spot.”
Martin enhanced his plastics with Bait Pop, a scented paste with visibility-boosting glitter. Also, the additive gave his baits a more well-defined sonar signature, which helped him monitor the presentation and make any necessary adjustments.
Smith finished second with 68-11. Keeping himself in the hunt, he took second place on Day 1 with 27-6, remained there with a second-round total of 23-12 and concluded with a Day 3 effort of 17-9.
Smith did all of his work in the Rim Canal, where he worked a 7-mile stretch and caught fish in about 8 to 12 feet.
“I side-scanned a lot and found rocks at the mouths of canals and that’s where I caught my fish,” he said.
Smith caught his fish on a Bill Lewis Scope-Stik jerkbait and a Damiki rig comprising a 1/4-ounce Picasso jighead and a 3.8 Keitech Swing Impact Fat swimbait.
“It seemed like it got tougher and tougher, so I had to fish harder and harder every single day,” Smith said.
Randall Tharp of Port St. Joe, Fla., finished third with 68-8. Tharp turned in daily weights of 22-5, 22-9 and 23-10.
Fishing the lake’s west side, Tharp sacked up all of his weight with his favorite reaction bait — a bladed jig.
“I really like to catch them punching here, but the lake just didn’t set up (for that),” Tharp said. “I figured the tournament was going to be caught winding and that’s what I did.
“I caught every fish on a 1/2-ounce gold ChatterBait JackHammer. The key to it, for me, was a new Zoom trailer called a Shimmer Shad. It looks like a golden shiner. They smoked that thing.”
Tharp won the $750 Big Bass award for the 10-3 he caught on Day 1.
The Division 1 season opener included 175 competitors who have committed to all nine Opens events in the Tackle Warehouse Elite Qualifiers division, which will award Bassmaster Elite Series invitations to the top nine finishers in Angler of the Year points standings.
The tournament was hosted by the City of Clewiston.
2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Title Sponsor: St. Croix
2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Presenting Sponsor: SEVIIN
2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Progressive Insurance, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Marathon, Triton Boats, VMC
About B.A.S.S.B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
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2024 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Lake Okeechobee presented by SEVIIN 2/1-2/3
Lake Okeechobee, Clewiston FL.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Scott Martin Clewiston, FL 15 90-06 200 $50,360.00
Day 1: 5 33-02 Day 2: 5 25-13 Day 3: 5 31-07
2. Tucker Smith Birmingham, AL 15 68-11 199 $19,944.00
Day 1: 5 27-06 Day 2: 5 23-12 Day 3: 5 17-09
3. Randall Tharp Port St. Joe, FL 15 68-08 198 $15,708.00
Day 1: 5 22-05 Day 2: 5 22-09 Day 3: 5 23-10
4. Paul Marks Cumming, GA 15 65-06 197 $13,961.00
Day 1: 5 26-07 Day 2: 5 19-14 Day 3: 5 19-01
5. Matt Adams Oxford, AL 15 60-03 196 $12,964.00
Day 1: 5 27-04 Day 2: 5 13-00 Day 3: 5 19-15
6. Austin Cranford Norman, OK 15 59-02 195 $11,967.00
Day 1: 5 17-03 Day 2: 5 23-02 Day 3: 5 18-13
7. Easton Fothergill Grand Rapids , MN 15 58-15 194 $10,969.00
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 5 24-12 Day 3: 5 20-09
8. Sam George Athens, AL 15 55-05 193 $9,972.00
Day 1: 5 21-06 Day 2: 5 20-08 Day 3: 5 13-07
9. Beau Browning Hot Springs National Pa 15 54-01 192 $9,972.00
Day 1: 5 18-09 Day 2: 5 21-11 Day 3: 5 13-13
10. Brandon McMillan Clewiston, FL 15 53-07 191 $9,972.00
Day 1: 5 17-02 Day 2: 5 23-06 Day 3: 5 12-15
------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Randall Tharp Port St. Joe, FL 10-03 $750.00
------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 132 868 2232-12
2 151 913 2522-06
3 10 50 191-03
------------------------------
293 1831 4946-05
Nick Wood Wins 2024 WON Bass Lake Shasta Open
REDDING, Calif. – February 2, 2024 –– Early season bass tournaments can bring challenges for everyone involved, especially when they are at Lake Shasta. However many challenges arise, the quality of the spotted bass fishery at Lake Shasta makes the challenges worth it for the anglers, spectators and for the organization hoping to put on a show.
With heavy rains, big winds and cold temperatures that turned to snow flurries, hail, colder temperatures and more rain on the final day of the 2024 WON Bass Lake Shasta Open, the fishing didn’t disappoint. Over the tree-day event, many quality spotted bass, including some eclipsing the seven pound mark and quality limits of Lake Shasta bass made for an interesting tournament and some frequent lead changes throughout the event.
Day one saw local favorite Jeff Michels of Lakehead, Calif. take the lead with 16.77 pounds, only to have Nick Wood, another pre-event favorite take the lead on day two with an 18.63-pound limit to move from fifth place to the top spot with a two-day total of 34.22 pounds. As the final day’s weigh-in came to a close, it became clear that the two area legends were more than prepared to overcome the challenges and rise to the occasion.
Michels took the lead momentarily by posting a final day 14.97-pound limit to total 45.93 pounds. However, Wood, from Yreka, Calif. posted a 13.20-pound limit to jump his three-day total to 47.42 pounds and claim the title of 2024 WON Bass Lake Shasta Open Champion.
For his efforts, Wood was rewarded with a 2024 Ranger Boats Z518 with Mercury 150 ProXS outboard presented by Bass Pro Shops, the prize boat was rigged with Power-Pole Charge and Bioenno Power Batteries valued at $55,000 and the winner’s $15,000 share, bringing the total Champion’s prize package to $70,000 in value.
Wood said that he used several different techniques to catch his fish due to the changing conditions. Most of his fish came in the upper reaches of the Sacramento River arm, specifically in Middle Salt Creek. His first day pattern involved a 7-inch Hitch colored Line Thru Osprey Swimbait thrown on a 7’6” heavy action Duckett Fishing Incite rod with a 6.2:1 Duckett Fishing reel. He also targeted deeper fish with a Float ‘n Fly rig, with a 7’2” medium light Black Ice spinning rod and 2500 size Paradigm spinning reel by Duckett Fishing. His lure of choice was an 1/8-ounce SPRO Fly in Baby Bass Color on an 8-foot leader.
As the water muddied on days two and three, Wood turned to targeting boulders with either a white and chartreuse 3/8-ounce D&M Lures Chatterbait tipped with a chartreuse 5.8 Keitech swimbait or a 1/2-ounce white and chartreuse D&M spinnerbait with double willowleaf blades. “I had to get lined up perfectly with my casts around those boulders to trigger the bites, but once I did, I was able to catch the right fish,” he said. “The last day was a little more difficult but was able to scrape enough together to pull it out; I’m really pleased it turned out this way.”
In winning, Wood beat his local rival in Michels, but also earned a trip back to the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship in 2025, something he has experienced before. “I’m a little overwhelmed, it’s not easy to beat Jeff (Michels) anywhere, especially here, and to do it in this type of an event against this type of field means a lot,” he said. “I’m also excited to be able to go back to the B.A.S.S. Nation, it was a great experience and I’m looking forward to dragging my Ranger Z520R there to compete; this is just a complete honor and it’s not quite sunk in.”
Like Wood and several other top finishers in the tournament, Michels began his event upriver in the Sacramento arm, but vacated it to main lake points on days two and three due to the water turning dirty. He used two main techniques to catch the majority of his fish during the week.
He alternated between two main lures, a Wacky Rigged 5-inch green pumpkin Yamamoto Senko thrown on 6-pound-test Seaguar Tatsu Fluorocarbon line and a 7’5” medium light fast action Dobyns XTASY rod and unnamed spinning reel. The second was a 1/2-ounce green pumpkin Bass Patrol football Jig and 5-inch Yamamoto Twin Tailed Grub in the same color. He tossed the jig on a 7’5” medium heavy fast action Dobyns XTASY casting rod rigged with 12-pound-test Seaguar Invizx Fluorocarbon. A few of his weigh fish came on 5 or 6-inch Shasta Bass Tackle swimbaits in Rainbow Trout color.
Michels leaves the event knowing he left things on the table. “I broke off a key fish each day being stupid, and you can’t have that kind of human error and win against a field like this,” he said. “I congratulate Nick (Wood) he and I go against each other regularly but losing sucks and I’ll do my best to beat him and the field next time.” Michels received $12,000 for his runner up finish.
Joe Uribe Jr. of Surprise, Ariz. brought an 18.18-pound final day limit to the scales to bring his total weight to 45.76 pounds to jump 12 places and finish in third place. He was followed by Orangevale, Calif. pro Chris Raza in fourth place with 45.28 pounds and Oroville, California’s Alex Klein rounded out the top five with 44.36 pounds for the event.
The AAA division was won by Jake Etcheverry of Hughson, Calif. with 48.46 pounds. Etcheverry opened the event in 93rd place but drew Wood on day two and posted 18.63 pounds and sixth place finishing pro Branden Mowers of Shasta Lake, Calif. on day three and brought 18.67 pounds to the scales to seal his win coming from third place to do it; Etcheverry won $6,000 for his victory.
Second place in the AAA division went to Keith W. Adams from Redding, Calif. with 42.93 pounds, third place was taken by Geoff Peterson of Huntington Beach, Calif. with 42.65 pounds, while fourth place was claimed by Day Two leader James Clayton of Prescott, Ariz. with 42.63 pounds and Chris Trumbull of Shingletown, Calif. rounded out the top five with 41.26 pounds.
In total, the 2024 WON Bass Lake Shasta Open offered a total purse of over $210,000 including the Ranger / Mercury prize boat. Along with the payout, the top five anglers in both divisions also received berths into the 2025 Bassmaster B.A.S.S. Nation Championship for a chance to qualify for the 2026 Bassmaster Classic.
The Top 10 in each division are below, for complete standings go to: https://wonbassevents.com/
WON Bass Lake Shasta Open Final
|
Place |
Pro Day 1 |
Pro Day 2 |
Pro Day 3 |
Total |
|
|
1 |
Nick Wood |
15.59 |
18.63 |
13.20 |
47.42 |
|
2 |
Jeff Michels |
16.77 |
14.19 |
14.97 |
45.93 |
|
3 |
Joe Uribe Jr |
13.26 |
14.32 |
18.18 |
45.76 |
|
4 |
Chris Raza |
12.41 |
16.02 |
16.85 |
45.28 |
|
5 |
Alex Klein |
13.52 |
15.18 |
15.66 |
44.36 |
|
6 |
Branden Mowers |
13.34 |
12.04 |
18.67 |
44.05 |
|
7 |
Joe Mariani |
14.00 |
17.16 |
12.26 |
43.42 |
|
8 |
Roy Hawk |
11.79 |
17.08 |
13.06 |
41.93 |
|
9 |
Nick Nourot |
12.04 |
17.52 |
12.23 |
41.79 |
|
10 |
Ryan Friend |
12.01 |
15.83 |
13.67 |
41.51 |
|
Place |
AAA Angler |
AAA Day 1 |
AAA Day 2 |
AAA Day 3 |
Total |
|
1 |
Jake Etcheverry |
11.16 |
18.63 |
18.67 |
48.46 |
|
2 |
Keith W. Adams |
12.70 |
13.38 |
16.85 |
42.93 |
|
3 |
Geoff Peterson |
15.36 |
14.81 |
12.48 |
42.65 |
|
4 |
James Clayton |
15.70 |
16.02 |
10.91 |
42.63 |
|
5 |
Chris Trumbull |
16.35 |
11.24 |
13.67 |
41.26 |
|
6 |
Michael Grisham |
12.12 |
10.91 |
18.18 |
41.21 |
|
7 |
Anthony Hunt |
14.00 |
15.63 |
11.37 |
41.00 |
|
8 |
Bill Eastes |
13.77 |
11.33 |
15.66 |
40.76 |
|
9 |
Kong Moua |
12.15 |
15.18 |
13.42 |
40.75 |
|
10 |
Eric Giordano |
12.33 |
17.16 |
9.97 |
39.46 |
The 2024 WON Bass Western Opens Series of events Consisting of five events in California, Arizona and Nevada moves next to the California Open at Clear Lake April 17 to 19, 2024. The series will culminate with the 2024 WON Bass U.S. Open at Lake Mohave in October. The full schedule of the five event dates are as follows:
Jan. 31–Feb. 2, Lake Shasta - Champion Nick Wood – 47.42 pounds
April 17-19, Clear Lake
May 15-17, Lake Havasu
Sept. 18-20, Lake Mead
Oct. 14-16, U.S. Open at Lake Mohave
For complete details or to register, look to wonbassevents.com and WONews.com to hear the latest news about the 2024 season and beyond and follow along at Facebook.com/
The 2024 WON Bass Northern California Lake Shasta Open is brought to you by Bass Pro Shops, Ranger Boats, Mercury Marine, Nitro Boats, Triton Boats, Bridgford Foods, Phenix Rods, Yamamoto Baits, Bill Lewis Lures, Buckeye Lures, Steel Shad, Bioenno Power, SOG Knives, Cold Steel Knives, Gamma Line, Power Pole, Lowrance, Daiwa, AFTCO, Costa, Berkley, Abu Garcia, Anderson Toyota, A&M Graphics, Anglers Marine and Signature Gates.
Local presenting sponsors are Redding Tourism, Phil’s Propellers and security provided by the Redding Police Department.
Will Harkins Takes Over Logan Martin Lead - NPFL
With one day remaining, Georgia pro Will Harkins looks to close out NPFL Victory on Showdown Saturday
Will Harkins
After a strong start with 16 pounds and 9 ounces on day one, Will Harkins continued his consistency on Logan Martin adding 16 pounds and 13 ounces to his tally on day two. With a two-day total of 33 pounds and 6 ounces, Harkins takes a 2-pound, 9-ounce lead into Showdown Saturday. Fishing on day one with an open mind and covering over 40 different areas, Harkins backed up his efforts today and caught another eight keepers, but is concerned that added pressure on the lake might make things interesting for the final day.
“There is a lot of pressure on those types of areas and lots of locals watching and fishing,” he said. The other thing is they might not be pulling as much water tomorrow, and that also concerns me.” Harkins is fishing free and exploring new waters and is looking for specific shorelines while driving down the river. Once he picks it out, he makes quick work of fishing before moving to the next. “More of the same for me out there,” he added. “The key is more about the contours than it is the structure. I am stopping on whatever looks good, and sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn’t.
Regardless of what happens, Harkins has been in this position in the NPFL before and knows if it's his time, there will be nothing he could do wrong. “Whatever God has for a plan is what will happen. If it is my time, I won’t be able to do anything wrong out there; regardless, it will be a good day.”
David Williams
"On day two, David Williams had a significant catch, adding 16 pounds and 3 ounces to his day one weight of 14 pounds and 10 ounces. With a total of 30 pounds and 13 ounces, he secures the second place spot going into the final day. Williams recognizes the importance of landing substantial catches on Logan Martin and successfully capitalized on some larger bass on day two. He initiated his morning in familiar waters but opted to switch locations due to increased pressure.
“I think I can catch some fish tomorrow, but you need to get fortunate and hook a bigger one,” he said. “When I left my primary area this morning, I went to where I caught the 5-pounder on day one, and culled out my other smaller fish.” Williams predominantly caught his bass on a reaction-style bait and switched to a jig when he slowed down."
Brock Bila
With a total weight of 30 pounds and 6 ounces over two days, Brock Bila caught his largest catch on day two, adding 17 pounds and 11 ounces to his initial day one weight of 12 pounds and 11 ounces. His day two performance propelled him to the third-place spot with one day remaining.
Sticking with a big fish pattern he located on the final day of practice, Bila started strong this morning with over 14 pounds early and added two of his bigger fish shortly after to cull to his day's weight.
“I found a big largemouth deal in practice, but it never worked out for me yesterday,” he said. “I caught fish but never got a big bite like today. Today, things were working, and I was able to leave them alone and spend some time looking around for the final day.”
Bila found a shallow flat that was loaded with bass and threw back three solid keepers that would not help him today, but on the final day would be key. “I am excited to get in there tomorrow and try to get a solid limit early,” he added. “I am fishing a mix of two baits and have some good water to fish on the final day.”
Joseph Webster
Joseph Webster began the tournament with 12 pounds on day one and added 17 pounds and 13 ounces on day two. His two-day total of 30 pounds and 3 ounces puts him in fourth place after two days on Logan Martin. Running with a clue he learned on the final day of practice, Webster is focusing on docks and changing his approach each day, letting the fish dictate their behavior.
“I caught some big fish on that final day and was hoping they would reload as the event progressed, but they are relocating on the docks,” he said. “It seems like each morning I have to locate them, and each day has been different.”
With the majority of the field fishing the same type of water, Webster prioritizes targeting the hard-to-catch bass that may be untouched in his area. “The easy ones are getting caught, and I am having to fish the Berkley Dime 4 and Frittside 5 in hard-to-reach places, but the bigger bites are coming that way,” he added. “I am making circles like everyone
else but keeping tabs on which sections are not getting hit to keep finding fresh fish.”
For Showdown Saturday, Webster plans to change things up and start his event closer to the takeoff to try and capitalize on his least productive time of day. “I can’t seem to start catching fish until 9 or 10 AM, so I will start up and work my way down the lake, trying to get a limit in the morning. Docks seem to be the name of the game, and it doesn’t matter if
they are shallow or deep.”
Jason Burroughs
The day one leader with 17 pounds, 2 ounces, Jason Burroughs added another 12 pounds, 12 ounces to his weight. With only one day remaining, Burroughs holds the fifth-place spot with a two-day total of 29 pounds, 14 ounces. With a live camera today, Burroughs continued to scrap his practice and cover water with one bait and one rod that is getting it done for him.
“I caught eight more keepers today, which is getting weird,” he said. “I caught eight in all three days of practice, eight yesterday, and eight today. I had three hours to catch one more and was not able to make it happen.”
Running a mix of new and old water, the South Carolina angler is targeting steeper banks where he can keep his reaction-style bait near the bottom. With more local anglers on the water and tournament competitors figuring out more of how the fish are biting, Burroughs is going to need more than eight bites on Showdown Saturday. “The pressure has drastically increased,” he added. “But I'm going to go hard on them again tomorrow.”
Rest of the Best:
Buddy Gross 29-11
Isaac Peavyhouse 28-6
Kyle Welcher 27-14
JTodd Tucker 27-1
Richard Kee 26-6
Dustin Connell Wins Group B Qualifying Round at B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One at Toledo Bend Presented by Power-Pole
Alabama pro catches two-day total of 121-7 to win Group B Qualifying Round, field of 20 set for Saturday’s Knockout Round
MANY, La. (Feb. 2, 2024) – Pro Dustin Connell of Clanton, Alabama, wrecked them again on Day 2 for Group B, maintaining his position atop the leaderboard, with a two-day total of 40 bass weighing 121 pounds, 7 ounces, to win Thursday’s Qualifying Round at the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One at Toledo Bend Presented by Power-Pole.
Reigning Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) pro Matt Becker of Ten Mile, Tennessee, finished the round in second place with a two-day total of 30 bass weighing 100-2, while pro Michael Neal of Dayton, Tennessee , finished in third, with 27 bass weighing 95-6. Leesburg, Ohio’s Cole Floyd caught 29 bass weighing 95-5 to end in fourth, while General Tire pro Alton Jones, Jr,. of Waco, Texas, also advanced to the Knockout Round in fifth place with a two-day total of 30 bass weighing 94-14.
Connell and the other anglers leading the pack in Group B got their work done early during their second day of competition. Connell boated 13 bass for 39 pounds, 9 ounces, Friday — 31-12 of that coming before noon — to bring his two-day total to 121-7. That easily led the group, 21-6 ahead of Becker.
Yet despite the likes of Connell, Becker and Jones Jr. devoting much of the day to exploring new water, SCORETRACKER® lit up early and often with quality Toledo Bend bass, foreshadowing a no-holds-barred slugfest when the Top 10 finishers in Group B meet the 10 best from Group A in Saturday’s Knockout Round. Meanwhile, a tightly bunched battle around the elimination line delivered drama throughout the third period, with pro Jesse Wiggins ultimately claiming the final spot thanks to a pair of catches in the final minutes.
For Connell, Friday was less about how much weight he could add to his total and more about how much of Toledo Bend’s massive surface area he could explore. He burned 30 gallons of gas running new water, focusing on areas that might not have produced during practice but could now hold baitfish and bass based on changing water clarity and wind direction.
He found plenty of fish in the process, as evidenced by his 13 keepers, including one new area he has “high hopes in.”
“I burned a lot of gas, and I ran all over the place just trying to find a new, fresh area that’s good now that the water’s starting to clean up,” Connell explained. “I was trying to play the wind direction and really find the bait, because the bait is moving around a lot. So I just went practicing all day, and I just caught what I caught practicing. It was a fun day.”
Connell’s technique isn’t a secret. Like most of the field, he’s using forward-facing sonar to find groups of suspended bass offshore, then casting to them with a soft plastic minnow on a jighead. Eight of the 10 anglers who advanced out of Group B have caught most of their weight doing something similar.
Connell's plastic of choice has been the Rapala CrushCity Freeloader, the same bait Jacob Wheeler leaned on to win Group A. He said the pintail minnow is particularly effective in off-color water and when targeting bigger bass, making it perfect for Toledo Bend.
“I’m throwing it around some dingy water, and I think that bait has a lot of drawing power,” he said. “It has a great action, also. I mean, that’s one of the hottest techniques on the market, and that bait is really, really good.”
With so many anglers beaming offshore, Connell said Toledo Bend’s bass are showing signs of pressure. That’s one reason getting an entire day to scope out fresh schools should benefit him during the Knockout Round. He also believes the pressure and stained water have put a premium on presenting the bait accurately — something he spent the offseason perfecting.
“The fish are getting smart,” Connell said. “They’re getting used to seeing that kind of stuff, they’re getting used to hearing the transducers. The biggest key with this whole deal is being able to make a really good cast and know where your bait is at. It’s just all mechanics. ... I’ve been doing it all fall for literally three days a week and just practicing this technique, because I came into this tournament anticipating it to be this way. So that’s what I’ve been doing, and practice makes perfect.”
With weights zeroing overnight, Connell knows he’ll have to come out swinging during the Knockout Round. But he’s optimistic that he can catch enough weight to earn a spot in the 10-angler Championship Round without playing all his cards.
“I want to finish in like fifth place, just enough to be alright,” he said. “And you never know, may get to practice some tomorrow. I just want to finish in the Top 10, I don’t care if it’s 10th.”
Toledo Bend’s big bass proved a bit more elusive Friday. For the first time all week, no fish over 7 pounds hit the scales. But Group B's anglers made up for it with quantity.
The 40-angler field combined to catch 347 scorable bass for a total weight of more than 1,000 pounds. Both of those marks were the highest since the opening day of Stage One. Seventeen anglers racked up more than 30 pounds, the most of any day so far, with five eclipsing the 50-pound mark. As a result, the cut line climbed all the way from 30-13 at the start of the day to 70-10 at the end.
That should portend even more explosive action during the Knockout Round. With the forecast calling for overcast, rainy conditions, Connell predicted Saturday will bring the best bite yet.
"They’re going to bite really, really good,” he said.
The top 10 pros from Group B that now advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round on Toledo Bend are:
2nd: Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., 30 bass, 100-2
3rd: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 27 bass, 95-6
4th: Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio, 29 bass, 95-5
5th: Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas, 30 bass, 94-14
6th: Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas, 30 bass, 81-1
7th: Mark Daniels Jr., Tuskegee, Ala., 27 bass, 79-1
8th: Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C., 22 bass, 75-4
9th: Brent Chapman, Lake Quivira, Kan., 27 bass, 73-7
10th: Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., 23 bass, 70-10
12th: Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala., 24 bass, 66-10
13th: Dylan Hays, Hot Springs, Ark., 22 bass, 66-9
14th: Jacob Wall, New Hope, Ala., 20 bass, 65-3
15th: David Walker, Huntingdon, Tenn., 22 bass, 63-8
16th: Shin Fukae, Osaka, Japan, 20 bass, 59-5
17th: Jared Lintner, Covington, Ga., 18 bass, 50-14
18th: Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., 18 bass, 49-1
19th: Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan, 17 bass, 47-12
20th: Matthew Stefan, Junction City, Wis., 12 bass, 45-14
21st: Chris Lane, Guntersville, Ala., 16 bass, 43-14
22nd: Dave Lefebre, Erie, Penn., 13 bass, 40-8
23rd: Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., 14 bass, 39-11
24th: Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark., 13 bass, 37-12
25th: Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich., 11 bass, 34-7
26th: Marty Robinson, Lyman, S.C., 13 bass, 33-0
27th: Randy Howell, Guntersville, Ala., 13 bass, 32-12
28th: Josh Bertrand, Queen Creek, Ariz., 11 bass, 31-5
29th: Gerald Spohrer, Gonzales, La., 10 bass, 29-8
30th: Grae Buck, Green Lane, Penn., six bass, 28-7
31st: Jason Vance, Battle Ground, Ind., 11 bass, 27-0
32nd: Matt Lee, Cullman, Ala., eight bass, 25-9
33rd: Brandon Coulter, Knoxville, Tenn., seven bass, 24-5
34th: Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif., eight bass, 20-11
35th: Jacopo Gallelli, Florence, Italy, five bass, 14-8
36th: Britt Myers, Lake Wylie, S.C., two bass, 7-8
37th: Colby Schrumpf, Highland, Ill., two bass, 6-14
38th: James Watson, Lampe, Mo., three bass, 6-11
39th: Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla., two bass, 5-2
40th: John Murray, Spring City, Tenn., zero bass, 0-0
Overall, there were 347 scorable bass weighing 1,020 pounds, 12 ounces caught by 38 pros Friday, which included 35 4-pounders, 9 5-pounders and three 6-pounders.
Friday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award was awarded to pro Jacob Wall of New Hope, Alabama, who weighed in a 6-pound, 14-ounce largemouth that bit his swimjig early in Period 1. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and a $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.
The six-day tournament, hosted by Toledo Bend Lake Country and the Louisiana Office of Tourism, showcases 80 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing for a purse of $659,000, including a top payout of $100,000, and valuable Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2025, the Bass Pro Tour championship.
The 40 Anglers in Group A competed in their two-day Qualifying Round on Tuesday and Thursday – the 40 anglers in Group B on Wednesday and Friday. Now that each two-day Qualifying Round is complete, the anglers that finish first through 10th from both groups advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 20 anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to Sunday’s Championship Round. In the final-day Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.
Anglers will launch at 7:30 a.m. CT each day from Cypress Bend Park, located at 3462 Cypress Bend Drive in Many. Due to forecasted high winds, MLF has enacted the MLF Trailering Policy for Saturday, February 3, meaning pros can trailer their boats and drive them to any ramp on the fishery closer to where they plan to start fishing. Pros taking advantage of the MLF Trailering Policy will leave Cypress Bend Park at 7 a.m. CT and will begin fishing at 8 a.m. CT (Lines In) with the full field.
Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the park, beginning at 4 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard and event coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on the final four days of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CT. MLFNOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
On Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 3-4, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF invites fans of all ages to visit Cypress Bend Park for the MLF Watch Party. Fans can watch the action from the water live on the MLFNOW! big screen, enjoy free food, enter to win hourly giveaways and cheer on their favorite pros. The first 50 kids 14 and under will receive a free rod and reel from Pure Fishing each day. The final 10 Championship Round Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand at the trophy celebration on Championship Sunday to meet and greet fans, sign autographs and take selfies.
The B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One at Toledo Bend Presented by Power-Pole features the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, in which anglers catch as much weight as they can each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. The tournament features anglers competing with a 2-pound minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable. The MLF Fisheries Management Division determines minimum weights for each body of water that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.
The Bass Pro Tour features a field of 80 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and the REDCREST 2025 championship.
Bass Pro Tour anglers will also compete throughout the 2024 season for the prestigious Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) award and its $100,000 payday. Fishing Clash – an interactive 3D fishing simulation game that’s played by more than 80 million people worldwide – is the official AOY sponsor of the Bass Pro Tour, Tackle Warehouse Invitationals, Toyota Series and Phoenix Bass Fishing League.
Television coverage of the B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One at Toledo Bend Presented by Power-Pole Knockout Round will air as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, July 20 on Discovery, with the Championship Round premiering on July 27. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel.
Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, Epic Baits, Garmin, General Tire, Humminbird, Lowrance, Mercury, MillerTech, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak Fishing, NITRO, Onyx, Plano, Power-Pole, Rapala, StarBrite, Suzuki, Toyota and U.S. Air Force.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 17 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Jones’ solo effort tops Bassmaster College Series event at Clarks Hill Reservoir
COLUMBIA COUNTY, Ga. — Anderson Jones of Lander University saved the best for last en route to singlehandedly sacking up 43 pounds, 15 ounces and winning the Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Clarks Hill Reservoir presented by Bass Pro Shops.
After placing third on Day 1 with 19-12, Jones stepped on the gas and sacked up a second-round limit of 24-3 — the event’s heaviest bag — to seal the win in the first Lunkers Trail event of the season on the College Series.
Jones edged University of Montevallo’s Brenton Godwin and Hunter Odom by 6-12. Jones took home the top prize of $6,137.
Jones admits he missed having a partner to help secure his catches, but the junior majoring in Media and Communications said he kept his head in the game and worked through the challenges.
“It wasn’t pretty netting my own fish,” he chuckled. “There were a couple of close calls that could have cost me this win, but I had a great day.
“I came into this tournament with the mindset that, at the end of the day, whatever happens, I made it this far and I’m pretty proud of it. But man, this hasn’t sunk in yet.”
Working the lake’s lower end, Jones started his final day by fishing docks for bass that were targeting blueback herring. He caught those fish on a Damiki rig with a 3/16-ounce jig and a Yamamoto Scope Shad before shifting gears to a more prominent pattern.
“I know those herring fish get finicky in the afternoon, so after that I went after the shad eaters and bluegill eaters,” Jones said. “I fished rocks with a big jointed swimbait in a shad color and a 9-inch glidebait in green gizzard.
“The key was keeping the bait above their head. I think they get a lot of confidence when it’s over their head, so I used my Garmin LiveScope to keep my bait in the right position.”
Despite the commanding performance, Jones said he actually experienced some first-round frustration that nearly spun him out. Stopping for a personal pep talk, he got himself back on track and secured a solid Day 1 bag.
“The biggest challenge that I had was mindset,” Jones said. “I’m not gonna say I didn’t lose myself a little bit on Day 1, but it was getting to the point where I was scrambling. I didn’t know what to do, but I slapped myself in the face and said, ‘Just fish, try to catch five, and survive Day 1’ and that’s what I did.
“I had one fish at 2 o’clock and I was due in at 4:40. I got it flipped around 2:30 and caught four pretty quickly and then I made one more cull that put me at 19-12.”
Godwin and Odom placed 18th on Day 1 with 16-13 and made a big Day 2 move by catching a limit of 20-6 to tally 37-3.
Peyton Harris and Dalton Head, also of the University of Montevallo, finished third with 36-13.
Godwin and Odom won the $100 Big Bass award with a 7-7.
The event was hosted by Visit Columbia County, GA.
2024 Bassmaster College Series Title Sponsor: Strike King
2024 Bassmaster College Series Presenting Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops
2024 Bassmaster College Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota2024 Bassmaster College Series Premier Sponsors: Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Progressive Insurance, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha2024 Bassmaster College Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Marathon, Triton Boats, VMC
2024 Bassmaster College Series Youth Sponsors: Seaguar, Shimano
Martin maintains a commanding lead at Bassmaster Open on Florida’s Lake Okeechobee
CLEWISTON, Fla. — Slowing down and methodically fishing his areas, Bassmaster Elite Series pro Scott Martin maintained his lead on Day 2 of the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Lake Okeechobee presented by SEVIIN with a catch of 25 pounds, 13 ounces.
Added to his massive Day 1 catch of 33-2, Martin has a two-day total of 58-15 — good for a lead of 7-13 over Tucker Smith of Birmingham, Ala., who is holding down second place with 51-2.
Martin, who grew up in Clewiston and guided out of his family’s marina, which is hosting the event, raved about the opportunity to shine in front of so many familiar faces.
“It’s a blessing to be standing here in front of my hometown crowd, my whole family and friends,” Martin said. “I grew up right here and watched my dad (nine-time Bassmaster Angler of the Year Roland Martin) win a Bassmaster tournament here and that was kind of the defining moment for me. I practiced with him and he gave me credit onstage for helping him. That’s when I thought to myself, ‘I might be able to do this.’
“To be able to win this thing, I have a lot of work ahead of me. But this lake has been good to me.”
Martin returned to the general area that produced his Day 1 mega bag, but he worked several different spots. Throwing a mix of reaction baits and pitching-style baits, Martin said a measured pace was essential for producing his bites.
“Like I said yesterday, patience was the key,” he said. “I was just taking it one fish at a time.
“Some of my fish were on beds, but some of them were coming and going. I was just casting around different spots within my area.”
Martin’s day was unfolding less productively than the first until a late-afternoon stop yielded an 8-pound kicker. He’s hopeful he can locate more of the big bites that fueled his first two days’ success, but he said he may need to integrate new water into his game plan.
“I’m not sure where I’m going to fish tomorrow,” Martin said. “The Lord blessed me this week, so I’m just gonna let Him take the reins and just go with it.”
Martin said he’s optimistic that Championship Saturday may bring the week’s most favorable weather. Stable, warming conditions in South Florida could deliver fireworks, but even with a smaller field of Top 10 finalists, Martin knows he’ll need to step on the gas.
“I’m going to have to catch everything I can catch tomorrow,” Martin said. “I’ll have to catch 25 pounds tomorrow, because somebody could catch 30. With those warming conditions, it could be really good.”
After catching 27-6 on Day 1, Smith backed that up with 23-12 to reach his second-place total of 51-2.
“I just found multiple places where they were staging,” Smith said. “Basically, those fish were prespawn and postspawn. So, I think I’m getting the best of both worlds.”
Making the same long run he made on Day 1, Smith found his opportunities more dispersed.
“I had 14 pounds until the last hour and caught most of my weight in that last hour,” he said. “I pulled up on a place and caught three big ones — a 6- and two 4 1/2-pounders — on back-to-back-to-back casts.
“I’m hoping this area will produce tomorrow. There’s good fish in there, but I have to fish as hard as I can and run off gut instinct. That’s what I did today and ended up landing on them.”
Paul Marks of Cumming, Ga., placed third with 46-5. Marks caught a first-round limit of 26-7 and added 19-4 on Day 2.
“It was pretty slow until lunchtime and then I caught a couple big ones on my last stop,” Marks said. “I think maybe the pressure got to them today.”
Marks caught his bass mostly on reaction baits, which seemed to produce best in the stained water he was fishing.
Randall Tharp of Port St. Joe, Fla., is in the lead for Big Bass honors with the 10-3 largemouth he caught on Day 1. Tharp placed fourth with 44-14.
California pro Ish Monroe had the Big Bass on Day 2 with a 9-11.
John Goul of Philadelphia, Miss., won the co-angler division with a two-day total of 24-5. Goul, who also won the co-angler title at the 2020 Open at Neely Henry, caught 16-15 on Day 1 and added 7-6 to edge Jason Shapiro or Concord, N.C., by 11 ounces.
Goul caught his first-round bass on a Texas-rigged Senko in junebug, black/blue glitter and black/blue tail colors. He rigged his bait with a 1/8-ounce bullet weight and fished it at a glacial pace.
“I was dragging it really slow and I guess it made those big girls mad,” Goul said. “It was just random casting and pray for a bite.”
Sean Neifert of Lantana, Fla., won the $250 Big Bass award among co-anglers with his 8-10.
The Division 1 season opener includes 175 competitors who have committed to all nine Opens events in the Tackle Warehouse Elite Qualifiers division, which will award Bassmaster Elite Series invitations to the top nine finishers in Angler of the Year points standings.
In addition to the top prize of $49,860, the winning pro angler will qualify for 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic, assuming he fishes all three Division 1 events.
The Top 10 will take off Saturday at 7 a.m. ET from Roland Martin Marina. The weigh-in will be held at the marina at 3 p.m.
All coverage from the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Lake Okeechobee presented by SEVIIN will be available on Bassmaster.com.
The final day of competition will be broadcast live on FS1 Saturday morning beginning at 8 a.m. ET, with streaming available on Bassmaster.com, as well as FS2 and the FOX Sports digital platforms.
The tournament is being hosted by the City of Clewiston.
2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Title Sponsor: St. Croix
2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Presenting Sponsor: SEVIIN
2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Progressive Insurance, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Marathon, Triton Boats, VMC
About B.A.S.S.B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
“Big Show” and Britt plan to bounce back from goose eggs
By Alan McGuckin
Team Toyota’s Terry “Big Show” Scroggins and fellow-pro Britt Myers have shared boatloads of fun days the past 15 seasons as roommates on bass fishing’s biggest tours, but Wednesday at Major League Fishing’s Bass Pro Tour event on Toledo Bend wasn’t one of them.
Both anglers failed to catch a scorable 2-pound bass or better, and subsequently took a zero for the 2024 season’s first day of competition. “There’s never a good day to zero, but having it happen the first day of the season stinks even more,” says Myers, owner of highly popular CS Motorsports truck customization shop near Charlotte.
Myers says he only remembers one other career goose egg. It happened years ago on Oneida, NY, and much the same for Scroggins, he says he failed to score one day long ago on a flooded Smith Lake, AL. So, Wednesday was indeed a rarity, but both are now challenged to turn the wreck around for far better results on Friday.
“The good thing is, in this format, you can rally easier than if you’re limited to a 5-bass limit,” says Scroggins. “I’ll start Friday using forward-facing sonar out deeper, but if that’s not working, I’m locking a pitchin’ stick in my hand, and going up shallow for bass that are moving to bushes and cypress trees with this warming water temperature we’re getting,” he explains.
Based on the 8-pounder Andy Morgan caught, and the 11-pound beast Cliff Crochet caught Wednesday, Scroggins thinks the success of those two shallow water snipers indicates not every quality bass is living in deeper water, where the majority of the forward-facing sonar game is being played.
“I also know based on the success of anglers I had around me Wednesday, that I’m in a pretty dang good area. I just need to slow down and pick it apart better. Some days you can be so close, yet so far away. And Wednesday was definitely one of those days,” concludes “Big Show.”
Let’s hope Friday he and Myers rally in a huge way to turn goose eggs into golden geese. If they do, two of bass fishing’s nicest guys and longest running roommates will likely celebrate over one of Scroggins’ famous creations on their backyard grill.
Nick Wood Takes Day Two Lead WON Bass Lake Shasta Open
REDDING, Calif. – February 1, 2024 –– As if the downpour on day one of the 2024 WON Bass Lake Shasta Open wasn’t enough to cause anglers to ponder what adjustments they might have to make, heavy overnight rains continued into the day two takeoff field left wondering if they’d have to keep adjusting. Along with that continued precipitation, the overnight lows dipped further, and the comfort level of the anglers themselves created another challenge.
As WON Bass Tournament Director Bill Egan called boat numbers for takeoff, the rain began to break leaving cool temperatures, overcast skies and milder breezes. In other words, the conditions would present anglers with an ideal setting to target Shasta’s aggressive spotted bass population – who tend to flourish in nasty conditions.
At the outset of the event, there were a few names that would have been handicapped as favorites on the pro side to win the event, day one leader Jeff Michels from Lakehead, Calif. was certainly among the top of those, and the other that would have garnered such attention was Nick Wood of Yreka, Calif.
Wood found himself in contention on the first day of competition in fifth place with 15.59 pounds, but he brought the biggest bag of the tournament thus far to the scales at Bridge Bay Marina – an 18.63-pound limit of spotted bass – to take the lead with 34.22 pounds heading into the final day.
Joe Mariani, from Winters, Calif. started day two in 12th place with 14.00 pounds but produced a stellar 17.16-pound limit that included a 7.88-pound largemouth that is currently the big bass of the event. His combined weight of 31.16 pounds landed him in second place after two rounds of competition.
Michels, who opened the tournament with 16.77 to take the lead, slipped to third place when he brought 14.19 pounds to up his total to 30.96 pounds. Nick Nourot of Benicia, Calif. jumped to fourth from 60th place in the day two standings by posting a 17.52-pound limit to total 29.56 pounds and Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. pro Jerry Ballesteros moved up twenty-five places in the standings himself with a 16.54-pound limit to round out the top five with 29.19 pounds.
Heading into the final day of competition at Shasta, a little more than five pounds separates the top five anglers in the hunt for the Champion’s prize of a 2024 Ranger Boat Z518 with Mercury 150 ProXS outboard rigged with Power-Pole Charge and Bioenno Power Batteries and the winner’s share of over $100,000 in total cash purse. The top five anglers in both divisions will also receive berths into the 2025 Bassmaster B.A.S.S. Nation Championship for a chance to qualify for the 2026 Bassmaster Classic.
In the AAA Division, James Clayton of Prescott, Ariz. took the lead with a total weight of 31.72 pounds. Geoff Peterson, from Huntington Beach, Calif. placed second with 30.17 pounds. He was followed in third place by Jake Etcheverry from Hughson, Calif. with a two-day total of 29.79 pounds. Fourth place for the day went to Clovis, California’s Anthony Hunt with 29.63 pounds and Eric Giordano of Redding, Calif. rounded out the top five with a total of 29.49 pounds.
Wood said that he executed on the second day, which helped him at the scales. “The difference today was that I got my big bite in the boat,” he said. “I really should have had about the same weight yesterday but left some out there. If I can capitalize tomorrow, I feel fairly confident I can bring a good bag into weigh-in tomorrow.”
Wood will have to ward off company in order to get the job done. “My area is a little crowded as several of the anglers high in the standings are fishing near me,” he said. “I know the angler in second place (Mariani) was there this morning, and caught a big one, but for the most part, I have a key little area that I should be able to make it happen despite the traffic and the muddy water coming in.”
Mariani said that he made some adjustments to his presentation that helped him, but he did not expect to have a 7.88-pound largemouth anchor his bag. “That was a surprise for sure – I did not expect to catch a largemouth there,” he said. “I decided to change to reaction baits because of the conditions, and it helped. I’m going to go there and try to catch a couple of good ones in the morning, and then move around, we’ll see what I can do.”
Daily weigh-ins from Bridge Bay Marina in Redding, Calif. begin after the first flight checks in at 3:00 PM Pacific Time. The livestream of the final weigh-in air on Facebook.com/
The Top 10 in each division are below, for complete standings go to: https://wonbassevents.com/
WON Bass Lake Shasta Open 1/31 to 2/2/2024
|
Place |
Pro Day 1 |
Pro Day 2 |
Total |
|
|
1 |
Nick Wood |
15.59 |
18.63 |
34.22 |
|
2 |
Joe Mariani |
14.00 |
17.16 |
31.16 |
|
3 |
Jeff Michels |
16.77 |
14.19 |
30.96 |
|
4 |
Nick Nourot |
12.04 |
17.52 |
29.56 |
|
5 |
Jerry Ballesteros |
12.65 |
16.54 |
29.19 |
|
6 |
Kyle Grover |
16.58 |
12.44 |
29.02 |
|
7 |
Roy Hawk |
11.79 |
17.08 |
28.87 |
|
8 |
Joe Orozco |
15.36 |
13.38 |
28.74 |
|
9 |
Alex Klein |
13.52 |
15.18 |
28.70 |
|
10 |
Chris Raza |
12.41 |
16.02 |
28.43 |
|
Place |
AAA Angler |
AAA Day 1 |
AAA Day 2 |
Total |
|
1 |
James Clayton |
15.70 |
16.02 |
31.72 |
|
2 |
Geoff Peterson |
15.36 |
14.81 |
30.17 |
|
3 |
Jake Etcheverry |
11.16 |
18.63 |
29.79 |
|
4 |
Anthony Hunt |
14.00 |
15.63 |
29.63 |
|
5 |
Eric Giordano |
12.33 |
17.16 |
29.49 |
|
6 |
Ethan Hammer |
11.75 |
17.08 |
28.83 |
|
7 |
Chris Trumbull |
16.35 |
11.24 |
27.59 |
|
8 |
Chad Gmuca |
16.77 |
10.81 |
27.58 |
|
9 |
Phil Garcia |
10.85 |
16.54 |
27.39 |
|
10 |
Kong Moua |
12.15 |
15.18 |
27.33 |
The 2024 WON Bass Western Opens Series of events Consisting of five events in California, Arizona and Nevada, will culminate with the 2024 WON Bass U.S. Open at Lake Mohave in October. The five event dates are as follows:Jan. 31–Feb. 2, Lake Shasta
April 17-19, Clear Lake
May 15-17, Lake Havasu
Sept. 18-20, Lake Mead
Oct. 14-16, U.S. Open at Lake Mohave
For complete details or to register, look to wonbassevents.com and WONews.com to hear the latest news about the 2024 season and beyond and follow along at Facebook.com/
The 2024 WON Bass Northern California Lake Shasta Open is brought to you by Bass Pro Shops, Ranger Boats, Mercury Marine, Nitro Boats, Triton Boats, Bridgford Foods, Phenix Rods, Yamamoto Baits, Bill Lewis Lures, Buckeye Lures, Steel Shad, Bioenno Power, SOG Knives, Cold Steel Knives, Gamma Line, Power Pole, Lowrance, Daiwa, AFTCO, Costa, Berkley, Abu Garcia, Anderson Toyota, A&M Graphics, Anglers Marine and Signature Gates.
Local presenting sponsors are Redding Tourism, Phil’s Propellers and security provided by the Redding Police Department.
Martin’s mega sack leads Bassmaster Open on Florida’s Lake Okeechobee
CLEWISTON, Fla. — Local knowledge certainly helped, but Bassmaster Elite Series pro Scott Martin said patience was the key to his massive limit of 33 pounds, 2 ounces, which leads Day 1 of the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Lake Okeechobee presented by SEVIIN.
Martin, who grew up fishing Florida’s largest lake, heads into Day 2 with a lead of 5-12 over Tucker Smith of Birmingham, Ala.
“When you fish in Florida, you have to be slow and methodical and make accurate casts and pitches,” Martin said. “That’s the only reason I caught ’em — I stayed very patient.”
Noting that he did not fish the same places he targeted during the 2023 Elite Series opener on his home lake, Martin said he dialed in his main area late Wednesday afternoon. Knowing how to exploit what he found was the difference maker.
“I got very fortunate yesterday, in the last 20 minutes of practice, I found where I wanted to start and we just rolled with it,” Martin said. “It wasn’t a secret bait, it wasn’t a secret deal. I was around a bunch of people.”
Starting with a big bite at 7:45 a.m., Martin’s action lasted through the afternoon. Anchoring his bag with a 9-12 that bit around 12:30 p.m., Martin said he caught bass on a mix of presentations that included a ChatterBait, a swimming worm and Texas-rigged pitching baits.
Locating a strategic area in about 3 to 5 feet of water, Martin put himself in position to catch bass in multiple stages of the spawn.
“It was an area that has some spawning fish, some prespawn fish and some postspawn fish, so there was a lot going on in there,” he said. “When you find the right water, when you find the right clarity and when you find some areas that these fish are starting to pull into, that’s how you do well on Okeechobee.
“When you find where they’re pulling into, you can catch them coming and going.”
Sizing up his second-round potential, Martin said he suspects he’ll need to move around and fish other spots within his main area.
“You usually don’t sit in areas, but this is a little different deal,” Martin said. “I found some stuff late in the day where I think I can catch a few fish, so that’s probably where we’ll start and we’ll take it from there.”
Placing second with 27-6, Smith’s day required mobility and patience. Diligently working through his options was tedious, but a late-day cull gave him the surge he needed.
“I bounced around and hit three main areas,” Smith said. “Some set up the same, but others were a little bit different. I was fishing groups that I had found off the bank. There was a mix of prespawn and post. I think the fish were just moving back and forth.”
Using reaction and slower-moving baits, Smith had a solid limit by 9:30, but his best bites came during the midday period.
“I caught most of my fish when that sun popped out and warmed the water,” Smith said. “At the end of the day, I caught a 6 that culled out a 3.”
Matt Adams of Oxford, Ala., is in third place with 27-4. His day started quickly, with BassTrakk showing an unofficial limit of 23 pounds by 8:49.
“I had some missed opportunities, but all in all, it was a good day,” Adams said. “I caught all but one keeper in the first 45 minutes.”
Adams said the key to his success was solitude. He managed to avoid the crowds and, while that’s no easy feat on a legendary fishery like Okeechobee, his seclusion was the result of practice disappointment.
“I think these fish are unpressured,” he said. “The way these fish are eating, I don’t think they’ve seen a bait. A tough practice will make you do things that are outside your norm. It makes you look outside the box.
“When practice is a struggle, you really start trying to figure out something that no one else is doing. I think I found that, but whether there’s enough fish in there for three days, I don’t know that.”
Noting that he caught his fish on a mix of reaction baits and bottom-contact baits, Adams said he worked a large area that he believes has sufficient potential for a solid Day 2 effort.
“I saw the right bites in practice,” he said. “I just didn’t see a lot of numbers. Also, I left some stuff untouched, so I don’t really even know what I’ve got.”
Randall Tharp of Port St. Joe, Fla., is in the lead for Big Bass honors with his giant 10-3 largemouth.
John Soul of Philadelphia, Miss., leads the co-angler division with 16-15.
Jason Shapiro or Concord, N.C., holds the Big Bass lead among co-anglers with a 7-11.
The Division 1 season opener includes 175 competitors who have committed to all nine Opens events in the Tackle Warehouse Elite Qualifiers division, which will award Bassmaster Elite Series invitations to the top nine finishers in Angler of the Year points standings.
In addition to the top prize of $49,860, the winning pro angler will qualify for 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic, assuming he fishes all three Division 1 events.
The full field will take off Friday at 7 a.m. ET from Roland Martin Marina. The weigh-in will be held at the marina at 3 p.m. The co-angler champion will be decided Friday and the pro field will be trimmed to the Top 10 for Championship Saturday.
All coverage from the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Lake Okeechobee presented by SEVIIN will be available on Bassmaster.com.
The final day of competition will be broadcast live on FS1 Saturday morning beginning at 8 a.m. ET, with streaming available on Bassmaster.com, as well as FS2 and the FOX Sports digital platforms.
The tournament is being hosted by the City of Clewiston.
2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Title Sponsor: St. Croix
2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Presenting Sponsor: SEVIIN
2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Progressive Insurance, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Marathon, Triton Boats, VMC
About B.A.S.S.B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
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Media Contact: Mandy Pascal, Managing Editor, 205-313-0955, mpascal@
2024 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Lake Okeechobee presented by SEVIIN 2/1-2/3
Lake Okeechobee, Clewiston FL.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Scott Martin Clewiston, FL 5 33-02 200
Day 1: 5 33-02
2. Tucker Smith Birmingham, AL 5 27-06 199
Day 1: 5 27-06
3. Matt Adams Oxford, AL 5 27-04 198
Day 1: 5 27-04
4. Paul Marks Cumming, GA 5 26-07 197
Day 1: 5 26-07
5. Emil Wagner Marietta, GA 5 23-11 196
Day 1: 5 23-11
6. Logan Latuso Gonzales, LA 5 22-10 195
Day 1: 5 22-10
6. Bryan Partak Marseilles, IL 5 22-10 195
Day 1: 5 22-10
8. Randall Tharp Port St. Joe, FL 5 22-05 193
Day 1: 5 22-05
9. Clark Reehm Elm Grove, LA 5 21-13 192
Day 1: 5 21-13
10. Sam George Athens, AL 5 21-06 191
Day 1: 5 21-06
11. Matt Messer Warfield, KY 5 20-12 190
Day 1: 5 20-12
12. Todd Auten Clover, SC 5 20-09 189
Day 1: 5 20-09
13. Bryan New Leesville, SC 5 20-05 188
Day 1: 5 20-05
14. Rob Digh Denver, NC 5 19-13 187
Day 1: 5 19-13
15. Trevor McKinney Noble, IL 5 19-07 186
Day 1: 5 19-07
16. Beau Browning Hot Springs National Pa 5 18-09 185
Day 1: 5 18-09
17. Andy Newcomb Camdenton, MO 5 18-02 184
Day 1: 5 18-02
18. Bailey Bleser Burlington, WI 4 18-02 183
Day 1: 4 18-02
19. Stan Gunter Saluda, SC 5 18-01 182
Day 1: 5 18-01
20. Ty Faber Pagosa Springs, CO 5 17-12 181
Day 1: 5 17-12
21. Jeff Salmon Mechanicsville, VA 5 17-11 180
Day 1: 5 17-11
22. Alex Reece Pickens, SC 5 17-04 179
Day 1: 5 17-04
23. Austin Cranford Norman, OK 5 17-03 178
Day 1: 5 17-03
24. Brandon McMillan Clewiston, FL 5 17-02 177
Day 1: 5 17-02
25. William Holmes Moncks Corner, SC 5 17-00 176
Day 1: 5 17-00
25. Andrew Loberg Grant, AL 5 17-00 176
Day 1: 5 17-00
27. Tim Frederick Leesburg, FL 4 17-00 174
Day 1: 4 17-00
28. Cody Steckel Las Vegas, NV 5 16-15 173
Day 1: 5 16-15
29. Billy McDonald Greenwood, IN 5 16-14 172
Day 1: 5 16-14
30. Joe Wieberg Freeburg, MO 5 16-08 171
Day 1: 5 16-08
31. Tripp Noojin Bryant, AL 5 16-07 170
Day 1: 5 16-07
32. Trey Swindle Cleveland, AL 5 16-02 169
Day 1: 5 16-02
33. Michael Davis Alachua, FL 5 15-14 168
Day 1: 5 15-14
34. Cliff Pace Ovett, MS 5 15-13 167
Day 1: 5 15-13
35. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 5 15-08 166
Day 1: 5 15-08
35. Garrett Rocamora Lake wales, FL 5 15-08 166
Day 1: 5 15-08
37. Keith Tuma Brainerd, MN 5 15-03 164
Day 1: 5 15-03
38. Kevin Dritschler Prosper, TX 5 14-15 163
Day 1: 5 14-15
39. Cody Meyer Eagle, ID 5 14-12 162
Day 1: 5 14-12
40. Keith Brumfield Vicksburg, MS 5 14-10 161
Day 1: 5 14-10
40. Jim Moynagh Remer, MN 5 14-10 161
Day 1: 5 14-10
42. Ish Monroe Oakdale, CA 5 14-09 159
Day 1: 5 14-09
43. Avery Williams Murrells Inlt, SC 5 14-06 158
Day 1: 5 14-06
44. Kyle Austin Ridgeville, SC 5 14-04 157
Day 1: 5 14-04
45. Bobby Bakewell Orlando, FL 5 14-03 156
Day 1: 5 14-03
45. Billy Charland Lakeland, FL 5 14-03 156
Day 1: 5 14-03
47. Lafe Messer Warfield, KY 5 14-02 154
Day 1: 5 14-02
48. Derek Lehtonen Woodruff, SC 5 14-01 153
Day 1: 5 14-01
49. Nathan Thompson Eagan, MN 5 13-12 152
Day 1: 5 13-12
50. Brayden Rakes Winston Salem, NC 5 13-12 151
Day 1: 5 13-12
51. Cole Drummond Effingham, SC 5 13-11 150
Day 1: 5 13-11
52. Easton Fothergill Grand Rapids , MN 5 13-10 149
Day 1: 5 13-10
52. Darold Gleason Many, LA 5 13-10 149
Day 1: 5 13-10
54. Tai Au Glendale, AZ 5 13-07 147
Day 1: 5 13-07
55. Nicholas Ault Gravois Mills, MO 5 13-06 146
Day 1: 5 13-06
55. Matt Pangrac Shawnee, OK 5 13-06 146
Day 1: 5 13-06
55. Andrew Upshaw Hemphill, TX 5 13-06 146
Day 1: 5 13-06
55. Chancy Walters West Des Moines, IA 5 13-06 146
Day 1: 5 13-06
59. Nick Trim Galesville, WI 5 13-04 142
Day 1: 5 13-04
60. Brad Knight Lancing, TN 5 13-02 141
Day 1: 5 13-02
60. Kyle Monti Okeechobee, FL 5 13-02 141
Day 1: 5 13-02
60. MIke Surman Boca Raton, FL 5 13-02 141
Day 1: 5 13-02
63. Parker Mott Winter Garden, FL 5 13-01 138
Day 1: 5 13-01
64. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 5 12-15 137
Day 1: 5 12-15
65. Scott Ashmore Broken Arrow, OK 5 12-11 136
Day 1: 5 12-11
66. Seiji Kato Los Alamitos CA JAPAN 5 12-10 135
Day 1: 5 12-10
67. Bird Jones Loxahatchee, FL 5 12-07 134
Day 1: 5 12-07
68. Brett Hite Phoenix, AZ 4 12-07 133
Day 1: 4 12-07
69. Jason Abram Piney Flats, TN 5 12-06 132
Day 1: 5 12-06
69. Trey Schroeder Theodosia, MO 5 12-06 132
Day 1: 5 12-06
71. Ron Ryals Jr Live Oak, FL 5 12-04 130
Day 1: 5 12-04
72. Brent Shores Boise, ID 3 12-03 129
Day 1: 3 12-03
73. Tristan McCormick Burns, TN 5 12-02 128
Day 1: 5 12-02
74. Gary Clouse Winchester, TN 5 12-01 127
Day 1: 5 12-01
74. Garrett Warren Scottsboro, AL 5 12-01 127
Day 1: 5 12-01
76. Jonathan Dietz Corry, PA 5 12-00 125
Day 1: 5 12-00
76. Logan Johnson Jasper, AL 5 12-00 125
Day 1: 5 12-00
78. Joey Nania Cropwell, AL 5 11-15 123
Day 1: 5 11-15
79. Sean Clayton Seneca, SC 5 11-13 122
Day 1: 5 11-13
80. Andrew Harp Linden, TX 5 11-12 121
Day 1: 5 11-12
81. Sean Anderson Leesville, SC 5 11-11 120
Day 1: 5 11-11
81. Christian Ostrander Turlock, CA 5 11-11 120
Day 1: 5 11-11
83. Hayes Hudson Conway, SC 5 11-10 118
Day 1: 5 11-10
83. Jimmy Washam Stantonville, TN 5 11-10 118
Day 1: 5 11-10
85. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 5 11-09 116
Day 1: 5 11-09
85. Jackson Swisher Lake City, FL 5 11-09 116
Day 1: 5 11-09
87. Tyler Campbell Martin, GA 5 11-08 114
Day 1: 5 11-08
87. Dalton Dowdy Newberry, SC 5 11-08 114
Day 1: 5 11-08
89. Chris Lighthizer Zanesville, OH 3 11-07 112
Day 1: 3 11-07
90. Scott Isaacs Ladonia, TX 5 11-05 111
Day 1: 5 11-05
90. Jayme Rampey Liberty, SC 5 11-05 111
Day 1: 5 11-05
92. Andrew Hargrove Moody, TX 4 11-03 109
Day 1: 4 11-03
93. Teb Jones Yalaha, MS 5 11-00 108
Day 1: 5 11-00
94. Alex Murray Lake Charles, LA 4 11-00 107
Day 1: 4 11-00
95. Adam Rasmussen Sturgeon Bay, WI 5 10-15 106
Day 1: 5 10-15
95. Jacob Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 5 10-15 106
Day 1: 5 10-15
97. Chris Blanchette Edisto Island, SC 5 10-11 104
Day 1: 5 10-11
97. Chad Grigsby Maple Grove, MN 5 10-11 104
Day 1: 5 10-11
97. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 5 10-11 104
Day 1: 5 10-11
100. Brad Leuthner Victoria, MN 5 10-10 101
Day 1: 5 10-10
101. Brady Vernon Sterrett, AL 3 10-10 100
Day 1: 3 10-10
102. Cody Detweiler Guntersville, AL 5 10-09 99
Day 1: 5 10-09
103. Kyle Patrick Cooperstown, NY 5 10-06 98
Day 1: 5 10-06
104. Kenta Kimura Osaka OK JAPAN 4 10-06 97
Day 1: 4 10-06
105. Chris Beaudrie Princeton, KY 4 10-03 96
Day 1: 4 10-03
106. Kelvin Wilcox Hazlehurst, GA 3 10-03 95
Day 1: 3 10-03
107. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 5 10-01 94
Day 1: 5 10-01
108. Jeremy Radford Huntly, VA 5 10-00 93
Day 1: 5 10-00
108. Jack Tindel III Orange, TX 5 10-00 93
Day 1: 5 10-00
108. Dawson Wisner Palatka, FL 5 10-00 93
Day 1: 5 10-00
111. Troy Coney Owego, NY 2 10-00 90
Day 1: 2 10-00
112. Chris Whitson Louisville, TN 4 09-14 89
Day 1: 4 09-14
113. Jason Borofka Lavon, TX 3 09-14 88
Day 1: 3 09-14
114. Joey Hanna Corsicana, TX 5 09-13 87
Day 1: 5 09-13
115. Elijah Benson Dahlonega, GA 5 09-12 86
Day 1: 5 09-12
116. Allen Brooks Canton, GA 5 09-10 85
Day 1: 5 09-10
116. Doc Wootton Collierville, TN 5 09-10 85
Day 1: 5 09-10
118. Evan Kung Pickering Ontario CANAD 5 09-09 83
Day 1: 5 09-09
119. Aaron Digh Maiden, NC 5 09-04 82
Day 1: 5 09-04
119. Bart Stanisz Austin, TX 5 09-04 82
Day 1: 5 09-04
121. Caden Cowan Stephenville, TX 5 09-03 80
Day 1: 5 09-03
121. Chris Hellebuyck White Lake, MI 5 09-03 80
Day 1: 5 09-03
123. Byron Kenney Jr Monticello, GA 4 09-02 78
Day 1: 4 09-02
124. Casey Scanlon Eldon, MO 5 09-01 77
Day 1: 5 09-01
125. Daisuke Kita Ostu Shiga JAPAN 5 09-00 76
Day 1: 5 09-00
126. Dakota Ebare Brookeland, TX 5 08-15 75
Day 1: 5 08-15
126. Laker Howell Guntersville, AL 5 08-15 75
Day 1: 5 08-15
128. Mike McClelland Blue Eye, MO 2 08-15 73
Day 1: 2 08-15
129. Josh Butler Hayden, AL 5 08-11 72
Day 1: 5 08-11
130. Richard Lowitzki Fort Myers, FL 5 08-10 71
Day 1: 5 08-10
131. Joey Sabbagha Prosperity, SC 4 08-10 70
Day 1: 4 08-10
132. Bryan Finch Belton, TX 5 08-09 69
Day 1: 5 08-09
132. Bo Thomas Edwardsburg, MI 5 08-09 69
Day 1: 5 08-09
134. Jack York Emory, TX 4 08-09 67
Day 1: 4 08-09
135. Brett Cannon Kiln, MS 4 08-08 66
Day 1: 4 08-08
136. Jack Dice Lynchburg, VA 5 08-07 65
Day 1: 5 08-07
136. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 5 08-07 65
Day 1: 5 08-07
138. Kollin Crawford Broken Bow, OK 5 08-06 63
Day 1: 5 08-06
139. Danny Ramsey Trinidad, TX 3 08-06 62
Day 1: 3 08-06
140. Brian Post Janesville, WI 5 08-04 61
Day 1: 5 08-04
141. Masayuki Matsushita Porter TX JAPAN 5 08-02 60
Day 1: 5 08-02
142. Kameron Harbin Sunset, SC 5 08-01 59
Day 1: 5 08-01
143. Shane Lineberger Lincolnton, NC 5 08-00 58
Day 1: 5 08-00
144. Jason Lambert Savannah, TN 4 08-00 57
Day 1: 4 08-00
145. Paul Browning Monahans, TX 5 07-15 56
Day 1: 5 07-15
145. Alex Heintze Denham Springs, LA 5 07-15 56
Day 1: 5 07-15
147. Josh Douglas Isle, MN 5 07-14 54
Day 1: 5 07-14
148. Destry Ford Tuscaloosa, AL 1 07-13 53
Day 1: 1 07-13
149. Jacob Bigelow Cecil, WI 4 07-12 52
Day 1: 4 07-12
150. Anastasia Patterson Sumter, SC 5 07-10 51
Day 1: 5 07-10
151. Woo Daves Spring Grove, VA 3 07-10 50
Day 1: 3 07-10
152. Billy Gilbert Hamburg, NY 3 07-07 49
Day 1: 3 07-07
153. Kyle Palmer Winchester, TN 5 07-05 48
Day 1: 5 07-05
154. Paul Bouvier Kingston CANADA 2 07-03 47
Day 1: 2 07-03
155. Kyle Weisenburger Columbus Grv, OH 5 06-15 46
Day 1: 5 06-15
156. Shayne Berlo Mclean, VA 3 06-15 45
Day 1: 3 06-15
157. Richard Kaluba Litchfield, OH 2 06-14 44
Day 1: 2 06-14
158. Chris Kingree Inverness, FL 4 06-12 43
Day 1: 4 06-12
159. Phillip Kroll Otego, NY 3 06-11 42
Day 1: 3 06-11
159. Cameron Smith Wareham, MA 3 06-11 42
Day 1: 3 06-11
161. Danny McGarry Newcastle CANADA 5 06-10 40
Day 1: 5 06-10
162. Zach Goutremout Chaumont, NY 4 06-05 39
Day 1: 4 06-05
163. Michael Rowe Providence Forge, VA 3 06-05 38
Day 1: 3 06-05
164. Garrett Paquette Canton, MI 2 06-05 37
Day 1: 2 06-05
165. Robert Clarke Pineville, SC 4 06-04 36
Day 1: 4 06-04
166. Scout Echols Monticello, AR 3 06-03 35
Day 1: 3 06-03
167. Takayuki Koike Otsu-City JAPAN 4 06-00 34
Day 1: 4 06-00
168. David Kilgore Jasper, AL 3 06-00 33
Day 1: 3 06-00
169. Ronnie Mccoy Lamar, SC 5 05-12 32
Day 1: 5 05-12
170. Rick Morris Lake Gaston, VA 3 05-11 31
Day 1: 3 05-11
171. Stacey Jefferson Conway, SC 5 05-09 30
Day 1: 5 05-09
172. Tucker Veronee Gilbert, SC 4 05-09 29
Day 1: 4 05-09
173. Jordan Sanderlin Kill Devil Hills, NC 3 05-08 28
Day 1: 3 05-08
174. Freddy Palmer Estill Springs, TN 3 05-05 27
Day 1: 3 05-05
175. Josh Wiesner Fon du Lac, WI 4 05-04 26
Day 1: 4 05-04
176. Guy Eaker Cherryville, NC 3 04-11 25
Day 1: 3 04-11
177. Robbie Latuso Gonzales, LA 3 04-10 24
Day 1: 3 04-10
178. Steven Eastman Eustis, FL 3 04-07 23
Day 1: 3 04-07
179. Kyle Metzger Pearl River, LA 3 04-06 22
Day 1: 3 04-06
180. Mike Mayo Athens, TX 2 04-04 21
Day 1: 2 04-04
181. Angela Mayo Maiden, NC 2 04-03 20
Day 1: 2 04-03
182. Scott Kerslake Okeechobee, FL 3 04-01 19
Day 1: 3 04-01
183. Blake Smith Lakeland, FL 2 04-01 18
Day 1: 2 04-01
184. Blake Schroeder Whitehouse, TX 2 03-15 17
Day 1: 2 03-15
185. Brock Belik Orchard, NE 2 03-12 16
Day 1: 2 03-12
186. Hunter Bland Ocala, FL 3 03-11 15
Day 1: 3 03-11
187. Kyoya Fujita Yamanashi CA JAPAN 2 03-11 14
Day 1: 2 03-11
188. Scott Allgood Fair Play, SC 2 03-08 13
Day 1: 2 03-08
189. Sam Hanggi Knoxville, TN 2 03-05 12
Day 1: 2 03-05
190. Andrew Behnke Fond Du Lac, WI 1 03-05 11
Day 1: 1 03-05
191. Lance Owen Greer, SC 2 03-03 10
Day 1: 2 03-03
192. Allen Armour Cumming, GA 2 03-02 9
Day 1: 2 03-02
193. Tommy Dunaway Havana, FL 1 03-02 8
Day 1: 1 03-02
194. Yui Aoki Minamitsurugun JAPAN 2 02-15 7
Day 1: 2 02-15
194. Parker Guy Ocilla, GA 2 02-15 7
Day 1: 2 02-15
196. Ray Hashimoto Shakopee, MN 2 02-14 5
Day 1: 2 02-14
197. Zack Williams Shell Knob, MO 3 02-13 4
Day 1: 3 02-13
198. Lance Crawford Broken Bow, OK 1 02-12 3
Day 1: 1 02-12
199. Matt Molitor Canton, IL 1 02-08 2
Day 1: 1 02-08
200. Chris Cline Stafford, VA 1 02-05 1
Day 1: 1 02-05
201. John Voyles Petersburg, IN 2 02-01 0
Day 1: 2 02-01
202. Tony Dumitras Winston, GA 1 02-01 0
Day 1: 1 02-01
202. Wyatt Wimberley Broaddus, TX 1 02-01 0
Day 1: 1 02-01
204. Chase Clarke Virginia Beach, VA 1 02-00 0
Day 1: 1 02-00
205. Clint Leonard Jr Saint Cloud, FL 2 01-15 0
Day 1: 2 01-15
206. Dylan Mayo Athens, TX 1 01-14 0
Day 1: 1 01-14
207. Scott Gibbs Rome, GA 1 01-06 0
Day 1: 1 01-06
207. Tim Tyndell Mineola, TX 1 01-06 0
Day 1: 1 01-06
209. Derrick Sadlowski Monaca, PA 1 01-05 0
Day 1: 1 01-05
210. Brian Mullaney Ijamsville, MD 1 01-03 0
Day 1: 1 01-03
211. Mike Mitchell Seven Points, TX 1 01-02 0
Day 1: 1 01-02
212. Dalton Smith Taylorsville, KY 1 00-14 0
Day 1: 1 00-14
213. Justin Barnes Ellaville, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
213. Greg Bohannan Bentonville, AR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
213. Alex Gross Jefferson, NH 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
213. Rick Hawkins Roanoke, VA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
213. Connor Jacob Auburn, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
213. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
213. Harry Moore Valley, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
213. Allan Nail Sand Springs, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
213. Morris Nix Marietta, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
213. Bruce Parsons Arbela, MO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
213. Rick Pierce Mountain Home, AR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
213. Cody Stahl Barnsville, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 132 868 2232-12
------------------------------
132 868 2232-12
2024 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Lake Okeechobee presented by SEVIIN 2/1-2/3
Lake Okeechobee, Clewiston FL.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. John Goul Philadelphia, MS 3 16-15 200
Day 1: 3 16-15
2. Jason Shapiro Concord, NC 3 14-14 199
Day 1: 3 14-14
3. David Waack Cary, NC 3 13-08 198
Day 1: 3 13-08
4. Mike Crumpton Ocala, FL 3 12-07 197
Day 1: 3 12-07
5. Tyler Pursley Mattawan, MI 3 12-06 196
Day 1: 3 12-06
6. Gary Haraguchi Murfreesboro, TN 3 11-08 195
Day 1: 3 11-08
7. David Winters Rock Hill, SC 3 10-15 194
Day 1: 3 10-15
8. Avery Spurlock Lake Placid , FL 3 10-13 193
Day 1: 3 10-13
9. Donald Biggs Murphysboro, IL 2 10-11 192
Day 1: 2 10-11
10. Jason Barber Gun Barrel City, TX 3 10-07 191
Day 1: 3 10-07
11. JW Battle Jr. Orlando, FL 3 09-15 190
Day 1: 3 09-15
12. Hays Reeling Waukesha, WI 3 09-14 189
Day 1: 3 09-14
13. Jimmy Brumfield Madison, MS 3 09-13 188
Day 1: 3 09-13
14. Austin Shrack Leesburg, IN 2 09-03 187
Day 1: 2 09-03
15. Frank Williams Mountain Home, AR 3 09-02 186
Day 1: 3 09-02
16. Alex Watts Salem, VA 3 08-12 185
Day 1: 3 08-12
17. Dusty Wood Belton, SC 3 08-11 184
Day 1: 3 08-11
18. James Obrien Southampton, NY 3 08-10 183
Day 1: 3 08-10
19. Brandon St.Pierre Lehigh Acres, FL 3 08-08 182
Day 1: 3 08-08
20. Kenneth Sharkey Grand Haven, MI 3 08-03 181
Day 1: 3 08-03
21. James Tilley Aylett, VA 3 08-00 180
Day 1: 3 08-00
22. Parker Knudsen Minnetonka, MN 3 07-15 179
Day 1: 3 07-15
22. Mike Spears Jasper, AL 3 07-15 179
Day 1: 3 07-15
24. Hayden Spradling Gilbert, AZ 3 07-13 177
Day 1: 3 07-13
25. Aaron Elleman Springdale, AR 3 07-12 176
Day 1: 3 07-12
26. Cary Wien Groveland, FL 3 07-09 175
Day 1: 3 07-09
27. Darin Moxley Naples, FL 3 07-04 174
Day 1: 3 07-04
27. Damon Woodcock Lake Charles, LA 3 07-04 174
Day 1: 3 07-04
29. Jordan Clayton Wichita Falls, TX 3 07-03 172
Day 1: 3 07-03
30. Kristine Fischer Weeping Water, NE 3 07-01 171
Day 1: 3 07-01
31. Andrus Kung Pickering CANADA 3 07-00 170
Day 1: 3 07-00
32. Randy Gibson Jr Moncks Corner, SC 3 06-13 169
Day 1: 3 06-13
33. Andy Simm Piney Flats, TN 3 06-12 168
Day 1: 3 06-12
34. Michael Gabel St Charles, IL 3 06-10 167
Day 1: 3 06-10
34. Austin Nelson Apopka, FL 3 06-10 167
Day 1: 3 06-10
36. Greg Shaughnessy Miami, FL 2 06-10 165
Day 1: 2 06-10
37. Albert Jones Jr Covington, GA 3 06-09 164
Day 1: 3 06-09
38. Troy Mims Suwanee, GA 3 06-04 163
Day 1: 3 06-04
39. Justin Mahon Lehigh Acres, FL 3 06-02 162
Day 1: 3 06-02
40. Alonzo Evans Jr Topeka, KS 3 06-01 161
Day 1: 3 06-01
41. Rich Bleser Burlington, WI 3 05-13 160
Day 1: 3 05-13
42. Bobby Williams Salisbury, NC 3 05-11 159
Day 1: 3 05-11
43. Brian Hamaker Huntsville, AL 1 05-09 158
Day 1: 1 05-09
44. Adam Sangster Sanford, FL 3 05-07 157
Day 1: 3 05-07
45. Marrell Deering Rome, GA 3 05-06 156
Day 1: 3 05-06
46. Jim Shannon Leesburg, FL 3 05-05 155
Day 1: 3 05-05
47. Cory Weaver Ankeny, IA 2 05-05 154
Day 1: 2 05-05
48. Jacques Fleischmann Winter Haven, FL 3 05-03 153
Day 1: 3 05-03
49. Brandon Clayton Haslet , TX 3 05-02 152
Day 1: 3 05-02
50. Geoff Tuck Huddleston, VA 3 05-01 151
Day 1: 3 05-01
51. Mike Steckel Las Vegas, NV 3 05-00 150
Day 1: 3 05-00
52. Mark Meadows Hendersonville, NC 2 05-00 149
Day 1: 2 05-00
53. Tyler Meredith Oliver Springs, TN 3 04-15 148
Day 1: 3 04-15
53. Daniel Vasquez Boynton Beach, FL 3 04-15 148
Day 1: 3 04-15
55. James Cobbs Vinemont, AL 3 04-14 146
Day 1: 3 04-14
55. Jeffery Davis Palm Bay, FL 3 04-14 146
Day 1: 3 04-14
55. Sakae Ushio Tonawanda, NY 3 04-14 146
Day 1: 3 04-14
58. Buddy Rohn Jacksonville, FL 2 04-14 143
Day 1: 2 04-14
59. Jimmy Obrien Southampton, NY 3 04-12 142
Day 1: 3 04-12
59. Scott Tyrell White Lake, MI 3 04-12 142
Day 1: 3 04-12
61. Greg Crumpton Ocala, FL 3 04-09 140
Day 1: 3 04-09
62. Hikaru Yukitomo ??? JAPAN 3 04-08 139
Day 1: 3 04-08
63. Ryan Toro Loxahatchee, FL 2 04-05 138
Day 1: 2 04-05
64. Tristan Bramblett Tiger, GA 2 04-03 137
Day 1: 2 04-03
65. Tristen Dailey Berne, IN 1 03-15 136
Day 1: 1 03-15
66. Rodney Jordan Sumter, SC 3 03-13 135
Day 1: 3 03-13
67. Larry Davis Gladewater, TX 2 03-10 134
Day 1: 2 03-10
68. Sean Neifert Lantana, FL 3 03-09 133
Day 1: 3 03-09
69. Chad Stahl Barnesville, GA 3 03-08 0
Day 1: 3 03-08
70. Chris Earles Lady Lake, FL 2 03-07 131
Day 1: 2 03-07
71. Nick Cozzi Elk Grove Village, IL 1 03-07 130
Day 1: 1 03-07
72. Ricky Fulk Shenandoah, VA 2 03-06 129
Day 1: 2 03-06
72. Gordon Smith Clover, SC 2 03-06 129
Day 1: 2 03-06
74. Eric Camarote The Villages, FL 2 03-03 127
Day 1: 2 03-03
74. Bill Kanwisher Ramsey, NJ 2 03-03 127
Day 1: 2 03-03
76. Brian Langford Petersburg, VA 3 03-02 125
Day 1: 3 03-02
77. Rod Longnecker Tampa, FL 2 02-14 124
Day 1: 2 02-14
78. Bradley Brooks Easley, SC 1 02-12 123
Day 1: 1 02-12
79. Emanuele Melani Agliana ITALY 2 02-11 122
Day 1: 2 02-11
79. Brian Rodriguez Orlando, FL 2 02-11 122
Day 1: 2 02-11
81. Mark Winfield Eatonton, GA 1 02-10 120
Day 1: 1 02-10
82. Lane Mckinney Houston, TX 1 02-04 119
Day 1: 1 02-04
83. Byong Lee Stedman, NC 1 02-03 118
Day 1: 1 02-03
83. Mitchell Pare Statesboro, GA 1 02-03 118
Day 1: 1 02-03
85. Lukas Matt Syracuse, NY 1 02-02 116
Day 1: 1 02-02
85. Garrett Vick Lake Worth, FL 1 02-02 116
Day 1: 1 02-02
87. Dan Brown Joliet, IL 1 02-00 114
Day 1: 1 02-00
88. Travis Merritt Jr Iowa, LA 1 01-14 113
Day 1: 1 01-14
89. Josh Mccrimmon Nashville, GA 1 01-12 112
Day 1: 1 01-12
90. Christopher Cox Christiansburg, VA 1 01-11 111
Day 1: 1 01-11
90. Ronald Miller Attalla, AL 1 01-11 111
Day 1: 1 01-11
90. Phillip Sherrell Pell City, AL 1 01-11 111
Day 1: 1 01-11
93. Bob Hanna Jr Corsicana, TX 1 01-09 108
Day 1: 1 01-09
93. Brandon Parson Erwin, NC 1 01-09 108
Day 1: 1 01-09
95. Dan Murphy Epping, NH 1 01-06 106
Day 1: 1 01-06
96. Terry Wien Lakeland, FL 1 01-05 105
Day 1: 1 01-05
97. John Miller Sunrise Beach, MO 1 01-03 104
Day 1: 1 01-03
98. Bill Beard Moreland, GA 1 01-02 103
Day 1: 1 01-02
99. Thomas Abraham Winchester, TN 1 01-01 102
Day 1: 1 01-01
100. Clyde Roberts Marshall, NC 1 00-14 101
Day 1: 1 00-14
101. Greg Sloan Chipley, FL 1 00-13 100
Day 1: 1 00-13
102. Richard Greene Ocala, FL 1 00-12 99
Day 1: 1 00-12
103. Jeff Baffa Estero, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
103. Charles Bowman II Kernersville, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
103. Jon Brown Brandon, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
103. Bill Bruce Hendersonville, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
103. Tim Chadwick Mount Pleasant, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
103. Matt Champion Scottsville, NY 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
103. Kurt Chelminiak Delafield, WI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
103. Charles Crumpton Ocala, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
103. Shane Davis Jacksonville, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
103. Steve Deyton Forest City, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
103. Scott Dondlinger Scottsboro, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
103. Mike Elkins Kalamazoo, MI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
103. Darin Ferguson Dix, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
103. Wil Flack Sorrento, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
103. Meredith Havird Ninety Six, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
103. Sawyer Hunt Springfield, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
103. David Jones Umatilla, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
103. Todd Lee Jasper, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
103. Will Major Port Allen, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
103. Lee Mcginn Southport, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
103. Lonnie Mesar Colfax, WI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
103. Tommy Milligan Little River, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
103. Wayne Morris Somerdale, NJ 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
103. John Mortimer Mount Pleasant, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
103. Aaron Navarro Loxahatchee, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
103. Niko Romero Coldspring, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
103. Mike Sather Beech Island, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
103. Ben Shuler Nokomis, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
103. Greg Simas Danville, PA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
103. Cal Teneyck Shakopee, MN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
103. Patrick Tierney Denver, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
103. Andrew Tweten Fargo, ND 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
103. David Zeis Linn Creek, MO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 59 237 565-01
------------------------------
59 237 565-01
Jacob Wheeler Earns Group A Qualifying Round Win at B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One at Toledo Bend Presented by Power-Pole
Tennessee pro boats two-day total of 151-7 to win Group A Qualifying Round, Top 10 pros advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round
MANY, La. (Feb. 1, 2024) – Group A pros faced a stingier Toledo Bend Thursday as conditions began to change across the fishery, with many of the pros weighing considerably less scorable bass on their second day of competition. But less was still good enough for Harrison, Tennessee’s Jacob Wheeler – the two-time Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) winner – who maintained his spot atop the leaderboard to win the Qualifying Round for Group A at the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One at Toledo Bend Presented by Power-Pole. Wheeler caught 91 pounds of scorable bass on Day 1 for Group A, and added 60 pounds, 7 ounces on Thursday for a two-day total of 47 bass weighing 151-7.
Bass Pro Tour rookie Drew Gill of Mount Carmel, Illinois, finished the round in second place with a two-day total of 42 bass weighing 139-12. Pro Spencer Shuffield of Hot Springs, Arkansas, boated a two-day total of 44 bass weighing 130-3 to end the round in third place, while local favorite rookie Justin Cooper of Zwolle, Louisiana , finished the day in fourth place with a two-day total of 27 bass weighing 80-9. Spring City, Tennessee’s Wesley Strader rounded out the top five with a two-day total of 31 bass weighing 80 pounds even.
The top 10 anglers advancing from Group A will now have an off day from competition Friday, while the 40 anglers competing in Group B will complete their two-day Qualifying Round. The top 10 anglers from each group advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 20 anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to the Championship Round. In Sunday’s final day Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.
Wheeler’s objective during Group A’s second day of qualifying on Toledo Bend wasn’t really to catch bass. The Tennessee pro had already secured a spot in Saturday’s Knockout Round by catching 91 pounds on Day 1. Thursday was all about exploring new water in preparation for the weekend.
Still, no one caught more weight on the day than Wheeler. He added 19 bass for 60 pounds, 7 ounces to SCORETRACKER®, bringing his two-day total to 151-7. That topped Gill by 11-12 on the day to lead the way in Group A.
Wheeler said he wasn’t necessarily trying to stay atop the leaderboard. He fished only water that he hadn’t visited on Day 1, and his 19 scorable catches were simply a product of sampling each new area.
“There’s a lot of junk fish out there, catfish and everything else, or they’re smaller bass,” Wheeler explained. “If I was going to pull into a new area, I wanted to catch one or two to know, okay, yes, this is 2½-- or 3-pounders, or this is all catfish.”
On a day when both total numbers and weights dipped across the board, that should be a scary thought for the rest of the field.
While Wheeler estimated about a third of his Day 2 weight came from areas he won’t revisit this week, he felt like he achieved his goal of expanding his pattern and identifying some options he can turn to if conditions change in the coming days.
“I feel like I definitely can catch ‘em, and I feel like I found a couple areas that I definitely would like to fish a little bit more,” he said. “A lot of stuff I was just fortunate to catch a fish or two on, and I won’t be going back, so it just depends on what’s really going down and how those fish are acting come Saturday.”
Wheeler said he caught virtually all his fish on a Rapala CrushCity Freeloader after pinpointing them on forward-facing sonar. While it’s been on the market for less than a year, the minnow-style soft plastic should be familiar to Bass Pro Tour fans, as Wheeler used it to dominate on Lake Guntersville last season. Key this week, he said, has been experimenting with jighead size. He’s affixed the bait to ball heads ranging from 1/8 ounce to 1/2 ounce.
Wheeler is far from alone in his approach – each of the top five finishers in Group A caught the bulk of their weight using a jighead minnow and forward-facing sonar. At this point, he feels confident that “there’s a good chance the tournament is going to be won doing what I’m doing.”
But while it might look like it to viewers on MLFNOW!, the technique isn’t as simple as scanning the depths until you see a bass, then casting to it and reeling it in – especially given the number of anglers that will likely be doing the same thing during the Knockout and Championship Rounds. Wheeler believes his day of exploration allowed him to further dial in the subtleties that could make the difference down the stretch.
“That’s literally the goal to start the week,” Wheeler said. “If you can make a Top 10 cut in one day, you better dang well do it, because that’s going to give you the time and opportunity to go check some other stuff out.”
The top 10 pros from Group A that now advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round on Toledo Bend are:
2nd: Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., 42 bass, 139-12
3rd: Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., 44 bass, 130-3
4th: Justin Cooper, Zwolle, La., 27 bass, 80-9
5th: Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn., 31 bass, 80-0
6th: James Elam, Tulsa, Okla., 26 bass, 76-14
7th: Ryan Salzman, Huntsville, Ala., 23 bass, 73-2
8th: Martin Villa, Charlottesville, Va., 23 bass, 72-3
9th: Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., 25 bass, 69-6
10th: Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., 26 bass, 67-3
12th: Jeremy Lawyer, Sarcoxie, Mo., 16 bass, 58-12
13th: Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., 21 bass, 57-15
14th: Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., 16 bass, 57-4
15th: Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., 19 bass, 54-14
16th: Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La., 17 bass, 51-0
17th: John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky., 15 bass, 49-2
18th: Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., 15 bass, 47-9
19th: Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark., 16 bass, 47-8
20th: Bradley Roy, Lancaster, Ky., 18 bass, 46-5
21st: Marshall Robinson, Landrum, S.C., 20 bass, 45-14
22nd: Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., 13 bass, 43-0
23rd: Cliff Crochet, Pierre Part, La., nine bass, 40-0
24th: Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C., 14 bass, 37-5
25th: Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas, 11 bass, 29-6
26th: Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., nine bass, 26-15
27th: Gary Klein, Mingus, Texas, 10 bass, 26-12
28th: Luke Clausen, Spokane, Wash., nine bass, 26-5
29th: Jonathon VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., 10 bass, 26-5
30th: Joshua Weaver, Macon, Ga., 10 bass, 26-5
31st: Alton Jones, Lorena, Texas, eight bass, 26-4
32nd: David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., eight bass, 26-4
33rd: Kelly Jordon, Flint, Texas, 10 bass, 26-0
34th: Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla., nine bass, 24-5
35th: Fred Roumbanis, Russellville, Ark., five bass, 22-13
36th: Scott Suggs, Alexander, Ark., eight bass, 21-5
37th: Boyd Duckett, Guntersville, Ala., seven bass, 16-5
38th: Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C., four bass, 10-6
39th: Fletcher Shryock, Guntersville, Ala., four bass, 9-4
40th: Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark., zero bass, 0-0
A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.Overall, there were 312 scorable bass weighing 931 pounds, 8 ounces caught by the 39 pros Thursday, which included one 8-pounder, four 6-pounders and 13 5-pounders.
Pro Brent Ehrler of Redlands, California earned Thursday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award with an 8-pound, 9-ounce largemouth bass that he caught on a jerkbait during Period 3. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and a $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.
The six-day tournament, hosted by Toledo Bend Lake Country and the Louisiana Office of Tourism, showcases 80 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing for a purse of $659,000, including a top payout of $100,000, and valuable Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2025, the Bass Pro Tour championship.
The 40 Anglers in Group A compete in their two-day Qualifying Round on Tuesday and Thursday – the 40 anglers in Group B on Wednesday and Friday. After each two-day Qualifying Round is complete, the anglers that finish first through 10th from both groups advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 20 anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to Sunday’s Championship Round. In the final-day Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.
Anglers will launch at 7:30 a.m. CT each day from Cypress Bend Park, located at 3462 Cypress Bend Drive in Many. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the park, beginning at 4 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard and event coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on the final four days of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CT. MLFNOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
On Friday, Feb. 2, Toledo Bend Lake Country will host an Education Day in conjunction with the tournament at Cypress Bend Park, where 260 eighth-grade students from local area schools will have the opportunity to learn about lake ecology, casting techniques and the Toledo Bend fishery. Bass Pro Tour pros will be onsite throughout the event providing instruction and working with students.
On Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 3-4, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF invites fans of all ages to visit Cypress Bend Park for the MLF Watch Party. Fans can watch the action from the water live on the MLFNOW! big screen, enjoy free food, enter to win hourly giveaways and cheer on their favorite pros. The first 50 kids 14 and under will receive a free rod and reel from Pure Fishing each day. The final 10 Championship Round Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand at the trophy celebration on Championship Sunday to meet and greet fans, sign autographs and take selfies.
The B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One at Toledo Bend Presented by Power-Pole features the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, in which anglers catch as much weight as they can each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. The tournament features anglers competing with a 2-pound minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable. The MLF Fisheries Management Division determines minimum weights for each body of water that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.
The Bass Pro Tour features a field of 80 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and the REDCREST 2025 championship.
Bass Pro Tour anglers will also compete throughout the 2024 season for the prestigious Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) award and its $100,000 payday. Fishing Clash – an interactive 3D fishing simulation game that’s played by more than 80 million people worldwide – is the official AOY sponsor of the Bass Pro Tour, Tackle Warehouse Invitationals, Toyota Series and Phoenix Bass Fishing League.
Television coverage of the B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One at Toledo Bend Presented by Power-Pole Knockout Round will air as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, July 20 on Discovery, with the Championship Round premiering on July 27. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel.
Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, Epic Baits, Garmin, General Tire, Humminbird, Lowrance, Mercury, MillerTech, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak Fishing, NITRO, Onyx, Plano, Power-Pole, Rapala, StarBrite, Suzuki, Toyota and U.S. Air Force.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 17 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Tennessee and Missouri State tie for lead in opening round of Bassmaster College Series event at Clarks Hill
February 1, 2024
Tennessee and Missouri State tie for lead in opening round of Bassmaster College Series event at Clarks Hill
COLUMBIA COUNTY, Ga. — Grant Dohle and Jake Mantovani of Missouri State University, along with Michael Canonica and Seth Proctor of University of Tennessee caught five-bass limits of 21 pounds, 3 ounces to share the Day 1 lead at the Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Clarks Hill Reservoir presented by Bass Pro Shops.
In the season opener for the College Series’ new Lunkers Trail on this 71,000-acre Savannah River fishery, dense morning fog prompted B.A.S.S. officials to postpone takeoff by two hours.
Once the event was underway, Canonica and Proctor, both sophomores, fished the mid-lake area, where they found the water color they favored.
“It was stained — not dirty — but not too clear,” Canonica said. “It was similar to what we fish back home and it suits our strength.”
Anchoring their bag with a 6-2, Canonica and Proctor fished brushpiles in 10 feet. They narrowed down their search to five structures and threw a mix of slower-moving baits and reaction baits.
“The reaction baits worked best,” Canonica said. “The key was putting our bait in front of the bass as many times as possible.”
Canonica said they had most of their weight by about 1:30 p.m. and made a final cull — a small increase of a few ounces — right before heading to weigh-in.
“We fished everything one time,” Canonica said. “We took our time and covered everything thoroughly.”
Canonica said their big fish came bearing a gift.
“When we caught that 6-2, it had a jerkbait in its mouth,” he said. “It was a fresh jerkbait; I might have to throw it tomorrow.”
Dohle, a junior and Mantovani, a freshman, fished Clarks Hill’s mid-lake to lower end. After a dismal round of scouting, their opening day’s productivity proved pleasantly surprising.
“We actually had a really bad practice, but we had an area where we knew there were some good quality fish, so that’s why we went there,” Dohle said.
The anglers also did their work around brushpiles, but their day required more mobility. Targeting structures in 15 to 17 feet, they worked about 20 to 25 brushpiles to catch their weight.
“We didn’t have much of a morning bite with the fog delay; it was more midday,” Dohle said. “We had a limit of 19 1/2 by 12:30, then we made a good cull at the end of the day and that got us up to 21-3.”
Relying heavily on their Garmin LiveScope, Dohle and Mantovani caught bass on a jig and a Damiki rig. The key, Dohle said, was reading fish and making the necessary adjustments.
“We’re from Missouri and we fish Table Rock Lake a lot, so we know how to adjust and make the fish react,” Dohle said.
Anderson Jones of Lander University in Greenwood, S.C., competed solo and placed third with 19-12.
Tucker Cory and Michael Witherup of the University of Montevallo (Ala.) are in the lead for Big Bass honors with a 7-3. Cory and Witherup placed 11th with 17-15.
The takeoff for Friday’s final round is scheduled for 7 a.m. ET from Wildwood Park in Appling, Ga. Weigh-in will be held back at the park at 3 p.m.
The event is being hosted by Visit Columbia County, GA.
2024 Bassmaster College Series Title Sponsor: Strike King
2024 Bassmaster College Series Presenting Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops
2024 Bassmaster College Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota2024 Bassmaster College Series Premier Sponsors: Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Progressive Insurance, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha2024 Bassmaster College Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Marathon, Triton Boats, VMC
2024 Bassmaster College Series Youth Sponsors: Seaguar, Shimano
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Media Contact: Mandy Pascal, Managing Editor, 205-313-0955, mpascal@
Humminbird to sponsor 2024 Bassmaster Elite Series finale at St. Lawrence River
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Humminbird, a leading manufacturer of fishing electronics since 1971 and a longtime partner with B.A.S.S., has reached a deal to be the title sponsor for the 2024 season finale of the Bassmaster Elite Series. The Humminbird Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River will be held Aug. 15-18 in Waddington, N.Y. The winner will receive an automatic berth into the 2025 Bassmaster Classic, and the final standings will be determined for the Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year race.
“We at Humminbird are excited to further support an event held at a venue where our anglers have a history of remarkable performances,” said Brad Henry, senior brand manager for Minn Kota and Humminbird. “The St. Lawrence River's reputation as a premier smallmouth fishing destination aligns seamlessly with our commitment to excellence. We anticipate an electrifying conclusion to the season, showcasing our talented anglers and the new, innovative technologies we’ve brought to the table at Humminbird."
Bassmaster Elite Series pros who use Humminbird electronics include two-time Angler of the Year Brandon Palaniuk and popular Australian pro Carl Jocumsen — and Henry isn’t exaggerating at all about the St. Lawrence River’s reputation as a premier smallmouth destination.
B.A.S.S. has visited the venue 25 times for major events through the years, including for the past seven years in a row, and the weights have been steadily rising. In 2022, a then-record four-day catch of smallmouth weighing 102 pounds, 9 ounces took the title. That record was broken last year when it took 105 pounds to hoist the trophy.
The picturesque fishery, which borders New York and Canada and flows into Lake Ontario, ranked No. 2 on Bassmaster Magazine’s 2023 100 Best Bass Lakes list.
“Just when you think that fishery can’t get any better, it turns out another, even more incredible event,” said B.A.S.S. CEO Chase Anderson. “We can always expect a great event when we go there, and to have a great company and brand like Humminbird serve as the title sponsor will just be the perfect way to cap another fantastic season.”
Live coverage of all four days of the Humminbird Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River starts Thursday, Aug. 15 on Bassmaster.com and the FOX Sports digital platforms. FS1 will also broadcast live with the tournament leaders beginning at 8 a.m. ET on Saturday and Sunday.
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Team Championship, Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series scored by TourneyX, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic.
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r and TikTok. Media Contact: Mandy Pascal, Managing Editor, 205-313-0955, [email protected]
Big bags expected for Bassmaster Open at Lake Okeechobee, but weather will likely determine how many
CLEWISTON, Fla. — The 2024 season of the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN is set to kick off at one of the top big-bass factories in the country — Lake Okeechobee. But like so many early-season tournaments held in the state of Florida, just how many big bags are caught will ultimately be determined by the weather. Longtime Florida pro Mike Surman is fishing the Elite Qualifiers division of the Bassmaster Opens, a division newly established in 2023 that requires anglers to fish all nine Opens events throughout the season as they compete for one of nine spots in the 2025 Bassmaster Elite Series.
Surman believes warm weather following a cold front could yield big bites, while a sudden temperature drop might make finding fish more of a challenge.
“If the bass are coming off a cold front and we get a warming trend, they will go crazy and you will see quite a few 25-pound bags,” the EQ pro said. “If it is the opposite, and it may have been warm in practice and we get a cold front, then fishing is going to be tough — 15 pounds a day will probably be good.”
Tournament days are scheduled for Feb. 1-3 with takeoffs each day from Roland Martin Marina at 7 a.m. ET and weigh-ins back at the marina each day at 3 p.m. The full field of pros and co-anglers will fish the first two days, while only the Top 10 pros will advance to Championship Saturday.
The winner will qualify for the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic, assuming they fish all three events in Division I.
Arguably the best lake in the country at one point, Okeechobee has a storied past with B.A.S.S. The most recent chapter was written during last year's Bassmaster Elite Series event, when Tyler Rivet won a back-and-forth affair with a four-day total of 86 pounds, 15 ounces.
During the months leading up to this Open, Surman said Okeechobee has fished really well, particularly in December. Multiple 30-pound bags have been weighed in during recent tournament competition, and Surman said he caught a couple of 35-pound bags preparing for this event.
With cooler temperatures moving south, fishing hasn’t been quite as good in January, but a warming trend will heat the water and get the bass moving again.
“In early December, the fishing was on fire,” he said. “All the tournaments, they were just killing them. It has gotten a little tougher since. The water temperature had dropped to 62 to 64 degrees right before the [off-limits] cutoff [for the Open].
“It has been a fairly mild winter. We’ve had a few cold-front days, but we haven’t come close to freezing yet,” Surman continued. “Our cold-front days will be around 42 to 45 degrees, and that has happened a couple times, but it has warmed back up every time within days. The major fronts haven’t gotten down to us for the most part.”
Covering nearly 451,000 acres, Okeechobee is a massive lake. The amount of fishable water, however, is a quarter of that size — for a couple of reasons.
For one thing, Okeechobee is a couple of feet higher than it was during last year’s Elite Series event and slightly dirtier.
“There are five or six key places around the lake where guys have been catching big bags,” Surman said. “Outside of those places, it has been tough. Can guys find some secret places? Absolutely. That’s what everyone will be trying to do. But those five or six places will have 20 to 30 boats in each one. That makes it tough.”
Grass is far less prominent as a whole on the lake than it has been in past years. What’s left are mostly reed heads, Kissimmee grass, buggy whips, cattails and decaying debris.
“There was a lot of eelgrass last year that was essentially all over the lake, and there may be two or three little patches left,” Surman said. “That’s because the water is higher and that makes the water dirtier, which makes the plant life a little harder to grow. There is essentially no grass."
At the beginning of February, the bass are usually in one of their spawning stages, whether that be prespawn, postspawn or actually spawning. Weather determines which one is most prominent, as well as the moon phase.
The Opens anglers will be four or five days behind the full moon. But with the right water temperatures, around 70 degrees, what Surman calls “lake fish” will move from the main lake to the shallows to spawn. With dirtier water than normal, Surman believes there will be bass caught off of beds, but sight fishing won’t necessarily be the key deal.
Many bass will still be offshore as well, chasing shad and other baitfish, creating interesting forward-facing sonar opportunities. Big bags will be caught either way, but cold-front conditions will make consistency difficult.
“It is very hard to be consistent during cold-front days,” Surman said. “You can catch a big bag, but you don’t see it very often. It would be good to get one really good day and then just hang out. But if it is a warming trend, you better go catch five big ones, and a bunch of people will do that.”
If water temperatures are below 64 degrees, Surman envisions a three-day winning weight in the vicinity of 56 pounds. If the water temperature is over 68 degrees, he says things could get interesting.
“I think it will take close to 70 pounds if it's over 68 degrees,” he said.
All coverage from the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Lake Okeechobee presented by SEVIIN will be available on Bassmaster.com.
The final day of competition will be broadcast live on FS1 Saturday morning beginning at 8 a.m. ET, with streaming available on Bassmaster.com, as well as FS2 and the FOX Sports digital platforms.
The tournament is being hosted by the City of Clewiston.
2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Title Sponsor: St. Croix
2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Presenting Sponsor: SEVIIN
2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Progressive Insurance, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Marathon, Triton Boats, VMC
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Team Championship, Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series scored by TourneyX, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic.
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Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.
Media Contact: Mandy Pascal, Managing Editor, 205-313-0955, [email protected]
How “MDJ” makes sound choices on lipless crankbaits
Team Toyota’s Mark Daniels Jr. and his fellow Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour competitors find themselves starting the season on the reservoir where the iconic Rat-L-Trap was birthed in the 1960s by its inventor Bill Lewis, a World War II bomber pilot.
Pros may bombard Toledo Bend’s bass this week with dainty soft plastic minnows and forward facing sonar, but those just fishing for fun will still catch thousands of bass in the weeks ahead by slinging Traps -- and their catch rates will be even greater if they’ll heed the advice of “MDJ.”
“I first realized how many bass you could catch on a Trap when I was a kid fishing from the California Delta shoreline with my dad before I ever had a boat,” reflects Daniels. “We were blue collar people, and a Rat-L-Trap caught “Pops” and I everything from crappie to striped bass for the dinner table.”
The Tuskegee University graduate has carved out an admirable pro career since those days on the shoreline with dad 30-years ago, and in part, it’s due to his in-depth understanding that not all rattling lipless crankbaits sound the same, and knowing which to choose is critical.
Blue & Chrome and 46R Red Craw
For starters, Daniels says if you’re only going to throw two colors of lipless crankbaits in late winter and early spring, he and his dad would tell you to go with the iconic Blue & Chrome, and the 46R red crawfish color patterns.
Water clarity determines what sound you choose
“Most folks think there’s only one kind of Rat-L-Trap, and that they all make the same sound, but that’s a huge misconception,” warns MDJ. “If it’s muddy or heavily stained, the original Rat-L-Trap is my top pick, but you need to have the Knock-N-Trap in your box too for lightly stained or semi-clear water,” he emphasizes.
There’s also a brand-new Hammer Trap that emits its own unique sound, thanks in part to wider “forehead” on the front of the bait. While he’s still learning what water conditions the Hammer Trap works best in, he’s absolutely fired-up about the fact it vibrates like a Chatter Bait.
Coldest water is the hottest time
“If your lake gets all the way down to 39 or 40 degrees, and then starts to warm back up to 41 or 42 degrees, you better have a Rat-L-Trap tied on. Likewise, if your lake bottoms-out at 44 or 45 degrees, but then starts to warm up to 47 or 48, you better be tying on a Trap, because the first fish to get active as the spawn approaches are the biggest ones, and they’ll smash a trap!” he says.
He advises anglers to search for subtle creeks or drainage ditches in 6 to 10-feet of water where the meaty pre-spawners are lying as they anticipate sliding up to the shallows to spawn, but can’t emphasize enough that carrying differing sound offerings in your lipless crankbait box is critical.
Sound wisdom from one of the best pros in all of bass fishing, even if you’re fishing from the shoreline, just trying to catch dinner with Dad.
Hook, Line, and Hall of Fame: 2024 Bass Fishing HOF Ballot Revealed
Twelve people who have made a lasting and meaningful impact on the sport of bass fishing have reached the doorstep of enshrinement into the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame with the announcement Thursday of the ballot for the Hall’s Class of 2024.
Comprising the list of candidates are a mix of dynamic personalities, on-the-water competitors, off-the-water innovators, and trailblazers.
This is the first time the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame has made public the list of finalists for induction.
"From meetings and having conversations with key staff at the baseball, hockey and NASCAR halls of fame this past year, the main idea that came out of it all was to formally announce those individuals who are up for induction, as those three organizations do each year," said BFHOF President John Mazurkiewicz. "While the final decision is now up to the Selection Panel, which possesses vast knowledge and awareness about the bass fishing industry and its history, as well as the living members of the Hall, it was a much-needed step by our Board to keep the induction process as transparent as possible."
The 2024 ballot consists of (in alphabetical order):
- Fred Arbogast (Akron, Ohio)
- Don Iovino (Burbank, Calif.)
- Mike McKinnis (Little Rock, Ark.)
- Andy Morgan (Dayton, Tenn.)
- Takahiro Omori (Emory, Texas)
- Skeet Reese (Auburn, Calif.)
- Lynn Reeves (Springfield, Mo.)
- Bill Taylor (Danville, Ky.)
- Clark Wendlandt (Leander, Texas)
- Mike Whitaker (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
- Alfred Williams (Jackson, Miss.)
- Mark Zona (Sturgis, Mich.)
The slate of nominees will be considered and voted on by the 30-member Hall of Fame Selection Panel and the 47 living members of the Hall. Each voter will choose five names and rank them in order of preference with the top choice receiving five (5) points, second receiving four (4) points, and so on. Voting will conclude on February 9th.
The Hall of Fame’s Board of Directors will announce the Class of 2024 next month. The Hall of Fame will hold its annual induction ceremony on September. 26, 2024, at Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium in Springfield, Mo.
The 11-member Nominations Committee, comprised of members of the Hall’s Board of Directors, selected the names for this year’s ballot after reviewing newly submitted nominations as well as candidates who were previously on the Hall’s master list of nominees. Names that appear on the master list for five years without being placed on the final ballot are automatically removed but can be subsequently re-nominated.
“We’re very pleased with the ballot we presented to the Selection Panel for Hall of Fame consideration," said Neil Paul, who chairs the Board's nominations committee. "Our committee spent hours reviewing and discussing the nominees from our master list. Our goal is to maintain the integrity of the Hall of Fame by putting our best foot forward in this process of assembling a ballot of individuals that will contribute to the legacy of the Hall of Fame.”
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The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame is a nonprofit organization led by a volunteer board of directors and is dedicated to celebrating, promoting and preserving the sport of bass fishing. Since 2017, the Hall’s inductees and memorabilia representing the history of bass fishing are showcased in Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife Museum and Aquarium in Springfield, Mo., where it has rapidly become a popular destination. Bass Fishing HOF induction banquets are held annually on the last Thursday in September at Wonders of Wildlife. For more information about the Hall, its mission, and to become a supporting member, visit www.BassFishingHOF.com, or contact BFHOF executive director Barbara Bowman at [email protected].
Jeff Michels Leads Day One of WON Bass Lake Shasta Open with 16.77 pounds
Kyle Grover in Second with 16.58 pounds
REDDING, Calif. – January 31, 2024 –– As can happen in early season bass tournament, especially those in upstate Northern California, the 156-boat field for the 2024 WON Bass Lake Shasta Open found cool temperatures, strong breezes out of the south and rain on the menu. While waterproof footwear and raingear were the outfits DuJour, those types of conditions can mean active spotted bass.
That is precisely what the field found as they began competition for the Ranger / Mercury prize boat and one of the five coveted entries into the 2025 B.A.S.S. Nation National Championship. Known as one of premier spotted bass fisheries in the West, Lake Shasta produced not only decent numbers of bites for the field, but also quality spotted bass found their way into livewells for rides to the weigh-in at Bridge Bay Marina.
To no one’s surprise, Jeff Michels, the Lakehead, Calif. pro who has earned a reputation as one of the anglers to beat on Lake Shasta, grabbed the day one lead with his AAA partner Chad Gmuca with 16.77 pounds. That was enough to overtake 2023 WON Bass U.S. Open Champion Kyle Grover from Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. and his partner Jerry Frisbee, who weighed 16.58 pounds to finish day one in second place.
Third place with 16.35 pounds went to pro Alex Niapas from Altaville, Calif. and his AAA Chris Trumbull; Niapas’ limit included a 4.72-pound spotted bass that was big fishing of the day. Fourth place for the day was Earl Dalton III from Jackson, Calif., who brought 15.70 pounds to the scales with his partner James Clayton and Nick Wood, another pre-tournament favorite from Yreka, Calif. weighed 15.59 pounds with his partner Brian Fesler to round out the top five.
No stranger to leading events on Shasta, Michels said that he knew he had to make the first day count. “With the weather we’ve been having, and the lack of vegetation surrounding the lake because of the fires, I knew today would be key,” said Michels. “It’s no secret that the upper Sacramento arm is where many of us are fishing, but with this rain, that’s probably going to be blown out tomorrow, so I did as much today as I could, and it was a pretty good day.”
He reported catching as many as 25 keepers from his main stretch but doesn’t know what to expect going forward. “I’m not sure what I’m going to do tomorrow but I’m fairly certain I won’t be able to rely on my primary area, I’ll go looking for more,” he said. “I’ve put myself in good position, I’ll have a lot to do to make it last two more days, I just have to find something to back it up.”
While the leader was no surprise to anyone with knowledge of Shata’s tournament history, one angler who did not expect to be this high in the standings was Grover. The reigning U.S. Open Champion said that it was his best tournament day ever on Lake Shasta. “I’d never caught a four pounder here at Shasta, so to weigh a 4.48 spot and four more three pounders was a treat,” he said. “I had my limit by 10:30 and went looking for more water but didn’t find anything else. I have a big area and I’m mostly by myself, so I think I can still catch some good bags, we’ll just have to see what happens.”
The day one livestream of the weigh-in scheduled to air on at Facebook.com/
The Top 10 in each division are below, for complete standings go to: https://wonbassevents.com/
WON Bass Lake Shasta Open 1/31 to 2/2/2024
|
Place |
Pro Angler |
Pro Day 1 |
|
1 |
Jeff Michels |
16.77 |
|
2 |
Kyle Grover |
16.58 |
|
3 |
Alex Niapas |
16.35 |
|
4 |
Earl Dalton lll |
15.70 |
|
5 |
Nick Wood |
15.59 |
|
6 |
Joe Orozco |
15.36 |
|
7 |
Randy Doyle |
15.35 |
|
8 |
Jake Boomer |
14.78 |
|
9 |
Bryan Cox |
14.61 |
|
10 |
Matt Nadeau |
14.14 |
|
Place |
AAA Angler |
AAA Day 1 |
|
1 |
Chad Gmuca |
16.77 |
|
2 |
Jerry Frisbie |
16.58 |
|
3 |
Chris Trumbull |
16.35 |
|
4 |
James Clayton |
15.70 |
|
5 |
Brian Fesler |
15.59 |
|
6 |
Geoff Peterson |
15.36 |
|
7 |
Randy Bruno |
15.35 |
|
8 |
Anthony Souza |
14.78 |
|
9 |
Clint Messner |
14.61 |
|
10 |
Tanner Wood |
14.14 |
The 2024 WON Bass Western Opens Series of events Consisting of five events in California, Arizona and Nevada, will culminate with the 2024 WON Bass U.S. Open at Lake Mohave in October. The five event dates are as follows:
Jan. 31–Feb. 2, Lake Shasta
April 17-19, Clear Lake
May 15-17, Lake Havasu
Sept. 18-20, Lake Mead
Oct. 14-16, U.S. Open at Lake Mohave
The 2024 WON Bass Northern California Lake Shasta Open is brought to you by Bass Pro Shops, Ranger Boats, Mercury Marine, Nitro Boats, Triton Boats, Bridgford Foods, Phenix Rods, Yamamoto Baits, Bill Lewis Lures, Buckeye Lures, Steel Shad, SOG Knives, Cold Steel Knives, Gamma Line, Power Pole, Lowrance, Daiwa, AFTCO, Costa, Berkley, Abu Garcia, Anderson Toyota, A&M Graphics, Anglers Marine and Signature Gates.
Local presenting sponsors are Redding Tourism, Phil’s Propellers and security provided by the Redding Police Department.
Dustin Connell Cruises to Group B Lead at MLF Bass Pro Tour B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One Presented by Power-Pole at Toledo Bend
MANY, La. (Jan. 31, 2024) – After dancing around the top spot throughout the day, pro Dustin Connell of Clanton, Alabama , went on an afternoon flurry to pull away from the pack and grab the early lead for Group B after Day 1 of the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One at Toledo Bend Presented by Power-Pole. Connell and pro Matt Becker of Ten Mile, Tennessee, set the pace for Group B, both slipping in and out of the number one spot throughout the morning, as each had tallied more than 50 pounds of bass by the end of the second period. Connell pulled ahead during Period 3 to finish the day with 27 bass weighing 81 pounds, 14 ounces. Becker ended the day in second, with 18 bass weighing 61-12.
Link to Hi-Res Photo of Qualifying Group B Leader Dustin Connell
Link to Photo Gallery of Group B’s Day 1 Qualifying Round Highlights
The six-day tournament, hosted by Toledo Bend Lake Country and the Louisiana Office of Tourism, showcases 80 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing for a purse of $659,000, including a top payout of $100,000, and valuable Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2025, the Bass Pro Tour championship.
If Connell didn’t have enough motivation when he took to the water for Group B’s first day of competition on Toledo Bend — wanting to start the 2024 season strong, to get back in the Championship Round after making just one Top 10 last year — all he had to do was look at the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard for the event.
Jacob Wheeler, who has roomed with Connell throughout their Bass Pro Tour careers, rocketed to the Day 1 lead in Group A when he landed 28 bass for 91 pounds on Tuesday. Though the two pros won’t compete head-to-head until the Knockout Round, Connell wanted to one-up his close friend – and he nearly pulled it off.
“I always try to beat Jacob,” Connell said. “It’s very hard to do. He’s on another level, and he motivates me to become better every day. It’s just cool to see me and him on top.”
While dynamic conditions on Toledo Bend have made the bite tricky for much of the field, Connell made it look easy, boating seven scorable bass for 20-6 in the first hour, then putting together an even stronger surge across the second and third periods. Between 10:53 a.m. and 1:58 p.m. (which included a 15-minute period break), Connell stacked 14 bass on SCORETRACKER®, including his biggest of the day, a 6-11. The flurry added 45-13 to his total and gave him some breathing room over Becker.
While Connell was pleased by his performance, he said his total could have been significantly larger. He lost several fish, including the biggest one he hooked.
“I had a good start,” he said. “I told myself before the day started, if I can catch 10 pounds per period, I’ll probably be leading, and I was right there on track. And I lost several fish today. I lost one probably 8 pounds. I lost a 5-pounder, two more 4-pounders. I don’t know what was going on. I think it was just the first day jitters.”
Connell did his damage in an area that he identified a few months ago, during pre-practice. However, he had to move around throughout the day to stay on the fish. With dirty runoff from recent rains continuing to flow through Toledo Bend and water temperatures on the rise, the bite is constantly changing.
“I came over here and pre-practiced, found a certain area that I really liked, and I just milled around and caught what I could,” he explained. “Things are changing, though. The water has come up – it’s dirty in some areas, and it’s clearing up in others – and there’s so many different variables right now. I had to move around a decent amount.”
Connell expects that change to continue. While finesse tactics paired with forward-facing sonar have dominated so far — that’s how Connell caught all his fish Wednesday, and per SCORETRACKER® Insider, Becker employed similar tactics — Connell isn’t willing to guarantee that’s how the first trophy of the year will be won.
“I think there’s going to be a lot of fish moving, and I wouldn’t doubt this tournament gets won shallow,” Connell said. "That water temperature really gets fish wanting to move up. So, I don’t know. I mean, I would think that my pattern would hold, but you just can’t ever tell.”
The good news for Connell is, with a buffer of more than 50 pounds over the elimination line, he can use the second day of qualifying to explore new water. He said he plans to spend all day Friday practicing.
“I’m going to be able to expand my area on Friday,” he said. “I’ll move around a lot, and I’ll have a whole day to look for fish for the Knockout and Championship Rounds. So, I feel really good about it.”
The 40 anglers in Group B will now have an off day from competition Thursday, while the 40 anglers competing in Group A will wrap up their two-day Qualifying Round. Group B will finish their Qualifying Round on Friday.
The top 20 pros in Group B after Day 1 on Toledo Bend are:
2nd: Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Penn., 18 bass, 61-12
3rd: Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas, 16 bass, 54-2
4th: Brent Chapman, Lake Quivira, Kan., 19 bass, 52-14
5th: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 12 bass, 46-14
6th: Cole Floyd, Leesburgh, Ohio, 14 bass, 45-4
7th: Jared Lintner, Covington, Ga., 15 bass, 39-12
8th: Mark Daniels Jr., Tuskegee, Ala., 12 bass, 35-1
9th: David Walker, Huntingdon, Tenn., 10 bass, 31-8
10th: Jacob Wall, New Hope, Ala., 10 bass, 30-13
11th: Nick Hatfield, Greeneville, Tenn., eight bass, 29-12
12th: Dave Lefebre, Erie, Penn., nine bass, 29-5
13th: Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., eight bass, 24-13
14th: Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., seven bass, 24-11
15th: Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C., seven bass, 24-6
16th: Randy Howell, Guntersville, Ala., nine bass, 23-15
17th: Brandon Coulter, Knoxville, Tenn., six bass, 21-15
18th: Shin Fukae, Osaka, Japan, eight bass, 21-5
19th: Matthew Stefan, Junction City, Wis., four bass, 20-15
20th: Grae Buck, Green Lane, Penn., four bass, 19-5
Pro Michael Neal of Dayton, Tennessee, earned the $1,000 Berkley Big Bass award after a 9-pound, 6-ounce largemouth bit his jig in Period 3. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and another $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.
The 40 Anglers in Group A compete in their two-day Qualifying Round on Tuesday and Thursday – the 40 anglers in Group B on Wednesday and Friday. After each two-day Qualifying Round is complete, the anglers that finish first through 10th from both groups advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 20 anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to Sunday’s Championship Round. In the final-day Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.
Anglers will launch at 7:30 a.m. CT each day from Cypress Bend Park, located at 3462 Cypress Bend Drive in Many. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the park, beginning at 4 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard and event coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on the final four days of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CT. MLFNOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
On Friday, Feb. 2, Toledo Bend Lake Country will host an Education Day in conjunction with the tournament at Cypress Bend Park, where 260 eighth-grade students from local area schools will have the opportunity to learn about lake ecology, casting techniques and the Toledo Bend fishery. Bass Pro Tour pros will be onsite throughout the event providing instruction and working with students.
On Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 3-4, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF invites fans of all ages to visit Cypress Bend Park for the MLF Watch Party. Fans can watch the action from the water live on the MLFNOW! big screen, enjoy free food, enter to win hourly giveaways and cheer on their favorite pros. The first 50 kids 14 and under will receive a free rod and reel from Pure Fishing each day. The final 10 Championship Round Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand at the trophy celebration on Championship Sunday to meet and greet fans, sign autographs and take selfies.
The B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One at Toledo Bend Presented by Power-Pole features the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, in which anglers catch as much weight as they can each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. The tournament features anglers competing with a 2-pound minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable. The MLF Fisheries Management Division determines minimum weights for each body of water that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.
The Bass Pro Tour features a field of 80 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and the REDCREST 2025 championship.
Bass Pro Tour anglers will also compete throughout the 2024 season for the prestigious Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) award and its $100,000 payday. Fishing Clash – an interactive 3D fishing simulation game that’s played by more than 80 million people worldwide – is the official AOY sponsor of the Bass Pro Tour, Tackle Warehouse Invitationals, Toyota Series and Phoenix Bass Fishing League.
Television coverage of the B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One at Toledo Bend Presented by Power-Pole Knockout Round will air as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, July 20 on Discovery, with the Championship Round premiering on July 27. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel.
Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, Epic Baits, Garmin, General Tire, Humminbird, Lowrance, Mercury, MillerTech, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak Fishing, NITRO, Onyx, Plano, Power-Pole, Rapala, StarBrite, Suzuki, Toyota and U.S. Air Force.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 17 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Bass Cat Boats and NPFL Announce Exclusive Two-Year Partnership with Exciting Rewards for Anglers
WILKESVILLE, OH (JANUARY 31, 2024) — The National Professional Fishing League (NPFL) announces groundbreaking move solidifying a two-year deal that makes Bass Cat Boats the exclusive boat of “the league” for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. With the collaboration, NPFL competitors stand to gain significant financial rewards as qualifying regular season winners are eligible for a $7,500 bonus through the Bass Cat Quest Program.
“The NPFL is excited to announce our partnership with Bass Cat Boats. The synergy between our organizations is unmistakable, as the Bass Cat brand seamlessly aligns with the core values upheld by the NPFL,” said Brad Fuller, President of the NPFL. “Together, we have a shared vision of enhancing the angler's experience by providing additional financial support for those who champion our common cause.”
Cody Blair, President of Bass Cat Boats, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, "We are thrilled to join forces with the NPFL and support the angling community. This collaboration aligns perfectly with our commitment to advancing the sport and ensuring a rewarding experience for anglers"
To kick things off in 2024, the partnership is taking things up a notch by offering an extra incentive for NPFL Bass Cat qualified anglers. The NPFL will award a $5,000 cash prize to the top finisher in each of the six regular season events, ramping up the competition and injecting an additional dose of excitement into the highly praised tournament series. Similarly for 2025, with additional incentives for anglers to participate in the Bass Cat Quest Program, qualified anglers winning a regular season NPFL event will be awarded an additional $20,000. In the
event a qualifying angler does not win the event, the NPFL will pay the highest placing qualified finisher $7,500.
2024 Season Details
$7,500 for qualifying events via the Bass Cat Quest Tournament Rewards Program
NPFL $5,000 check for highest placing qualified finisher in each of the six regular season events.
2025 Season Details
$7,500 for qualifying events via the Bass Cat Quest Tournament Rewards Program
NPFL $20,000 check for qualified regular season event winning anglers
NPFL $7,500 check for highest finishing qualified non-event winning angler
*NPFL payouts are in addition to the Bass Cat Quest Tournament Rewards Program Details
Added Brad Fuller, President of the NPFL. “This collaboration unequivocally reinforces this commitment.
The recently inked two-year deal serves as a clear testament to Bass Cat Boats' belief in the NPFL and
our collective potential. We eagerly anticipate a long-lasting partnership that extends well beyond 2025,
solidifying our shared dedication to the angling community.”
To learn more about the NPFL, visit https://thenationalprofessionalfishingleague.com/.
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About the National Professional Fishing League
The NPFL was designed to bring simplicity back to professional bass fishing - one lake, the full field
fishing all three days, and the heaviest combined three-day weight winning. The goal of the NPFL is to
put the anglers first and build a trail that gets back to what the founders of bass fishing intended it to be.
Media Contacts:
Brad Fuller: [email protected]
Paul Benson: [email protected]
AC Insider Podcast - The Florida Edition with Mizell and Abbey
On this week's AC Insider Podcast, Danny and Vance get a rundown on the recent action in Florida. They catch up with Okeechobee hammer, Jessie Mizell, fresh off his second Toyota Series win on the Big O. Jesse share some insights into his strategy, how the event went down, and offers a few tips to be successful in Florida. They also catch up with Blake Abbey, a first time winner on the Hobie Bass Open Series Kayak. Blake located some BIG fish and made the most of it on The Harris Chain, taking Vance's money, along with plenty of other cash. Be sure to tune in and hear a lot about all things Florida this past month!
Trickledown Technology from Daiwa
FOOTHILL RANCH, CA (January 30, 2024) – “Trickledown” gets a bad rap these days. But whether you fall on the Reaganomics or Bidenomics side of things doesn’t matter when we’re talking about fishing. To DAIWA, trickledown means taking features and technologies once reserved for premium-priced products and introducing them into lower priced models.
Such is the case with DAIWA’s new Regal LT spinning reel, which is attractively priced, yet bursting with features and technology.
DAIWA Marketing Director Marc Mills speaks about the new Regal LT: “The original Regal has been our best seller in this popular price range. We expect dealers and anglers to truly appreciate the enhanced Regal LT with all its improvements…and make it a huge seller.”
Species-wise, Mills says the Regal LT is a do-it-all reel. “It’ll be popular with bass, walleye, panfish, and about every freshwater angler. And, with the new 5000- and 6000-sizes, it has applications for saltwater fishing, like lighter offshore, nearshore, and jetty fishing. It really is an affordable fish-for-everything series.”
The Regal LT’s notable and foundational characteristics begin with an advanced ZAION V body. DAIWA’s exclusive ZAION V material is lighter, stronger, and more rigid than traditional composite graphite – material used by other brands in its price range.
DAIWA’s cornerstone AIRDRIVE features also made it into the new Regal LT. First, the reel’s AIRDRIVE ROTOR fosters a lighter rotation – simply meaning its easier to spin. Its solid AIRDRIVE BAIL is noticeably smooth and durable. Collectively, they also reduce the reel’s overall weight.
Users will also benefit from Regal LT’s TOUGH DIGIGEAR. DAIWA’s specialty gears are large, smooth, and durable. The silky spinning is immediately apparent and will stay that way for a long time.
Another key feature once reserved for reels double its price is Advanced Tournament Drag (ATD). The Regal LT’s ATD system uses an improved drag grease that exhibits a low viscosity at rest yet becomes more viscous immediately after drag start up, making it smooth from initial hook up.
You’ll also appreciate the L/R folding machined aluminum handle with oversized grip. The folding handle shrinks the reel’s profile for storage and travel.
Cosmetically, DIAWA’s Regal LT lives up to its noble name. A nautical blue that Mills says “shifts color at every angle” is accented with majestic silvers.
Top performance. Affordable. And smashing good looks. That’s DAIWA’s new Regal LT.
REGAL LT FEATURES:
ZAION® V Frame
AIRDRIVE ROTOR
AIRDRIVE BAIL
TOUGH DIGIGEAR™
Advanced Tournament Drag System (ATD)
Machined Aluminum Folding Handle
Sizes 1000 to 6000
MSRP $69.99 and $79.99
T-H Marine Renews Partnership with Association of Collegiate Anglers for 2024 Season
SAN ANTONIO, TX (January 29, 2024) – The Association of Collegiate Anglers is excited to announce a renewed partnership with T-H Marine for the 2024 season of the Collegiate Bass Fishing Series. This continued partnership will include extensive promotion of G-Force products, G-Juice, and so much more. T-H Marine will continue to provide college anglers with a discount on the full lineup of products, as well as support college anglers in a multitude of ways, including at the Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops.
T-H Marine’s full lineup of products is designed to outfit your boat from transom to trolling motor. This includes all of the products in the Boating Essentials line, trolling motor handles, Atlas Jackplates, and more. Along with the items designed for your boat and trailer, T-H Marine places an emphasis on conservation and tournament fish care. Items like the G-Force Conservation Cull System and G-Juice Livewell Treatment Formula are designed to promote the live release of fish.
“Tournament anglers outfit their boats with a wide variety of different items, and if there’s something you’re looking to add to your boat…there’s a good chance that T-H Marine makes it,” said Wade Middleton, Director of the ACA and President of CarecoTV. “T-H Marine also has a strong dedication to conservation. When it comes to keeping fish alive during a tournament, they offer a variety of items to assist with fish care efforts.”
T-H Marine supports collegiate anglers in a variety of ways and routinely provides support on site at various events, as well as offers a well-established discount program to college anglers. To find out more information about discount opportunities offered through the Association of Collegiate Anglers, visit the Discount & Incentives page.
For 2024, college anglers competing in Association of Collegiate Anglers events will be able to participate in the T-H Marine Atlas Awards tournament contingency program.
“We are excited to award those who support T-H Marine by running an Atlas Jack Plate. This year Atlas Awards comes at no extra cost to the angler,” said Shana Christie, Brand Marketing Director.
Anglers competing in ACA events that are registered for Atlas Awards will be eligible to earn $200 at regular season events, and $500 at the Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops. Register for Atlas Awards here.
New last season, T-H Marine is partnering with the ACA to help support School-Run events for the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia. Select School-Run events will be chosen by ACA staff to participate in this promotion with T-H Marine. Selected events will be required to promote T-H Marine per the program guidelines, and in return the host school will receive a lucrative T-H Marine prize package to include in the payout of their respective event. Apply to be selected as a T-H Marine featured School-Run event on the ACA website.
About the Association of Collegiate Anglers
The Association of Collegiate Anglers (ACA) is a division of CarecoTV that was created to facilitate growth, development, and structure within competitive collegiate bass fishing, with emphasis on competitive fishing events nationwide. The ACA created the original BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Series 19 seasons ago. That single event has evolved into the Bass Pro Shops Collegiate Bass Fishing Series, which is now recognized as the longest-running consecutive collegiate bass fishing series in existence.
The ACA lineup of major college fishing events includes a variety of tournaments nationwide that are multi-day tournaments, all of which are televised on several networks, as well as streamed on a variety of connected platforms. The ACA also provides support to numerous schools operating regional events nationwide which is an effort to provide more opportunities to grow the exposure and awareness of college fishing.
The ACA owns the Bass Pro Shops Collegiate Bass Fishing Series, Bass Pro Shops School of Year presented by Abu Garcia program, and associated assets which is widely regarded as the most comprehensive and prestigious collegiate bass fishing title today.
Thanks in part to the large diversity of media exposure the ACA provides, the series boasts the largest amount of televised and streaming coverage of any collegiate fishing series. This includes a dedicated television series on numerous television networks and streaming platforms, as well as additional coverage of select events inside other programs.
This combination includes coverage from Discovery Channel, CBS Sports, Bally Sports, Pursuit Channel, as well as other regional and national networks. You can also find coverage online at any time of past events thanks to coverage on OutdoorActionTV.com and PursuitUp.com
For more information on the ACA or the Bass Pro Shops Collegiate Bass Fishing Series, visit www.CollegiateBassChampionship.com.
For more information on CarecoTV, visit www.CarecoTV.com
Jacob Wheeler Grabs Early Lead at Major League Fishing B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One Presented by Power-Pole at Toledo Bend
The six-day tournament, hosted by Toledo Bend Lake Country and the Louisiana Office of Tourism, showcases 80 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing for a purse of $659,000, including a top payout of $100,000 and valuable Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2025, the Bass Pro Tour championship.
Link to Hi-Res Photo of Qualifying Group A Leader Jacob Wheeler
The 40 anglers in Group A will now have an off day from competition Wednesday, while the 40 anglers competing in Group B will begin their first day of competition. Group A will resume competition on Thursday.
It’s no secret that the past three years on the Bass Pro Tour have been defined by Wheeler’s dominance. During that span, the Tennessee pro has racked up 20 Championship Round appearances (in 27 total events) and four wins. He took home the Fishing Clash Angler of the Year title in 2021 and 2022 before finishing second to Matt Becker last season.
Wheeler wasted no time on Day 1 showing that his game remains as sharp as ever, boating a Toledo Bend giant less than 10 minutes into the first period. By the time Wheeler trailered his boat, other anglers had already peppered him with questions about the 8-pounder, asking whether he’d marked the fish during practice and run to his starting spot to find it. He insisted the giant caught him by surprise.
“I just happened to pull into a little area that I caught some fish (during practice), and my first bite just happened to be an 8-pounder,” Wheeler said. “And if that’s any telltale sign for how the year is going to go, I’m all about 8-pounders.”
While the longterm implications remain to be seen, his early success proved indicative of the pattern Wheeler ran throughout the day. He didn’t divulge many details but did say that once he found a spot with the right ingredients, he generally caught fish quickly and in bunches.
“It’s definitely a pattern where if I see what I’m looking for, it’s pretty quick to generate a bite,” he explained. “I’m hoping to have enough of that stuff because that’s really what it comes down to.”
With an advantage of more than 55 pounds over 11th place, Wheeler plans to use most of Day 2 for Group A exploring new water in hopes of finding more productive areas. That could prove key, as conditions are changing rapidly on Toledo Bend.
The region was hit hard by storms prior to practice, and swaths of muddy water are moving through the reservoir as a result. Wheeler said the lake fished differently than even a day or two ago — which might explain why the Day 1 weights were a bit top-heavy, with 19 of the 40 anglers falling short of 20 pounds. With more dirty water expected to reach the main lake and temperatures likely to warm in the coming days, Wheeler said he doesn’t believe he’ll be able to ride the areas he fished Tuesday through Sunday’s Championship Round.
“A lot of water is going to continue to move down the system,” Wheeler predicted. “So I think that’s definitely going to continue to be the trend, water continuing to dirty up and things continuing to change. It’s prespawn, spring fishing. When you have that kind of rain, it’s definitely going to change some things, and every day is going to be different.”
While Wheeler held the top spot on SCORETRACKER® for most of the day, both Shuffield and Gill challenged his lead at times. Those three have separated themselves from the rest of the pack; they each cleared 80 pounds on the day while no one else reached 50.
Gill wasn’t the only newcomer to get off to a strong start. Rookie Martin Villa sits sixth with 40-7, while fellow rookie Justin Cooper — who lives in nearby Zwolle, Louisiana, and guides on Toledo Bend — finished ninth with 36-14.
The top 20 pros in Group A after Day 1 on Toledo Bend are:
2nd: Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., 29 bass, 88-1
3rd: Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., 26 bass, 81-14
4th: James Elam, Tulsa, Okla., 17 bass, 49-15
5th: Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn., 19 bass, 49-13
6th: Martin Villa, Charlottesville, Va., 12 bass, 40-7
7th: Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., 15 bass, 39-2
8th: Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., 14 bass, 39-1
9th: Justin Cooper, Zwolle, La., 12 bass, 36-14
10th: Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 36-5
11th: Ryan Salzman, Huntsville, Ala., 11 bass, 35-14
12th: Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., 11 bass, 35-3
13th: Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La., 11 bass, 32-0
14th: John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky., 10 bass, 30-0
15th: Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., nine bass, 29-15
16th: Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., nine bass, 29-4
17th: Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C., 11 bass, 28-9
18th: Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., 10 bass, 28-0
19th: Luke Clausen, Spokane, Wash., eight bass, 24-5
20th: Marshall Robinson, Landrum, S.C., 10 bass, 23-7
Local favorite “Cajun Baby” Cliff Crochet of Pierre Part, Louisiana , earned Tuesday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award after an 11-pound, 1-ounce largemouth bit his crankbait in Period 1. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and another $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.
The 40 Anglers in Group A compete in their two-day Qualifying Round on Tuesday and Thursday – the 40 anglers in Group B on Wednesday and Friday. After each two-day Qualifying Round is complete, the anglers that finish first through 10th from both groups advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 20 anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to Sunday’s Championship Round. In the final-day Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.
Anglers will launch at 7:30 a.m. CT each day from Cypress Bend Park, located at 3462 Cypress Bend Drive in Many. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the park, beginning at 4 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard and event coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on the final four days of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CT. MLFNOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
On Friday, Feb. 2, Toledo Bend Lake Country will host an Education Day in conjunction with the tournament at Cypress Bend Park, where 260 eighth-grade students from local area schools will have the opportunity to learn about lake ecology, casting techniques and the Toledo Bend fishery. Bass Pro Tour pros will be onsite throughout the event providing instruction and working with students.
On Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 3-4, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF invites fans of all ages to visit Cypress Bend Park for the MLF Watch Party. Fans can watch the action from the water live on the MLFNOW! big screen, enjoy free food, enter to win hourly giveaways and cheer on their favorite pros. The first 50 kids 14 and under will receive a free rod and reel from Pure Fishing each day. The final 10 Championship Round Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand at the trophy celebration on Championship Sunday to meet and greet fans, sign autographs and take selfies.
The B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One at Toledo Bend Presented by Power-Pole features the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, in which anglers catch as much weight as they can each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. The tournament features anglers competing with a 2-pound minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable. The MLF Fisheries Management Division determines minimum weights for each body of water that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.
The Bass Pro Tour features a field of 80 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and the REDCREST 2025 championship.
Television coverage of the B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One at Toledo Bend Presented by Power-Pole Knockout Round will air as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, July 20 on Discovery, with the Championship Round premiering on July 27. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel.
Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, Epic Baits, Garmin, General Tire, Humminbird, Lowrance, Mercury, MillerTech, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak Fishing, NITRO, Onyx, Plano, Power-Pole, Rapala, StarBrite, Suzuki, Toyota and U.S. Air Force.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 17 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
2024 AFTCO x B.A.S.S. Conservation Grants
SANTA ANA, Ca., January 30, 2024 – The AFTCO x B.A.S.S. Nation Conservation Grant Program continues in 2024 to support conservation initiatives throughout the country. The Conservation Grant Program was created in 2018 to help provide funds to approved freshwater bass conservation projects proposed by B.A.S.S. Nation clubs. To date, AFTCO’s total contribution to this program has exceeded $120,000 in grants. This partnership with B.A.S.S. Nation Conservation has actively contributed to the shared goals of AFTCO and B.A.S.S., fostering community and youth-oriented conservation projects that positively impact local fisheries.
The Grant Program provides financial support for stocking bass, habitat enhancements, and ensuring that bass are properly cared for and returned to lakes and rivers in the best possible condition for future generations to enjoy. These efforts are coordinated locally with the aid of B.A.S.S Nation chapters, governmental fishing agencies, local businesses, and the valuable support of volunteers and youth organizations contributing their time and labor to the cause. “These grants are a great example of the efforts our B.A.S.S. Nation clubs are putting forth to enhance the fishing in their local lakes and reservoirs. Our state chapters are blessed to be associated with a company like AFTCO that takes conservation to heart. That continued commitment to the B.A.S.S. Nation and to the fishery resources that our sport depends on is unmatched.” — Gene Gilliland, B.A.S.S. Conservation Director
You can submit your conservation proposal HERE. The deadline for entries is March 31, 2024. Proposals will be judged by a panel that includes representatives from B.A.S.S. and AFTCO. Please direct any questions to Gene Gilliland at [email protected].
About AFTCO
Family-owned and operated by three generations of the Shedd family, the American Fishing Tackle Company (AFTCO) represents unparalleled quality, performance, and reliability when it counts most. Worn across the globe, AFTCO’s fishing clothing is designed to handle the harshest elements. AFTCO products are field tested from our Southern California offices where many of our core saltwater fishing tackle products are still proudly handcrafted and manufactured in our U.S. based machine shop. Marine conservation has been a brand focus since 1973. Through our 10% Pledge to Protect and Conserve, we give 10% of profits back to causes for the resource and angling rights.
Press Contact:
Denny Le
Marketing Manager
[email protected]
SIMMS-ering Good Looks
Buy Any TATULA Rod or Reel and Get a FREE DAIWA / SIMMS Hooded Performance Shirt
Cypress, CA (January 29, 2024) – For over a decade, anglers have required no added incentive to fish DAIWA’s TATULA branded rods and reels. The fantastic performance at a fair price is motivation enough.
So why the 2024 TATULA promotion? It’s really a reward for loyalty as anglers add to their DAIWA TATULA collection. Beginning February 1, 2024, anglers purchasing any TATULA rod, reel, or combo can register to receive a FREE TATULA branded SIMMS hooded performance shirt.
SIMMS lightweight, technical hooded performance shirt feels smooth and stretches with each cast, while wicking moisture away from the skin to keep you comfortable in hot weather. The hood is constructed to comfortably protect your ears, neck, and back of your head from the sun.
Qualify with the purchase of any DAIWA TATULA reel, rod or combo between February 1, 2024, and May 31, 2024 (NO EXCEPTIONS). US and Canadian residents only. Visit DAIWA website for details and redemption instructions.
NEW TATULA GEAR TO CONSIDER
TATULA MQ LT
The new TATULA MQ LT embodies a rich features set, which starts with its one-piece MONOCOQUE ZAION V body. This design framework yields more space for larger gears, thus promoting increased torque and power from the get-go. The inventive MONOCOQUE ZAION V body also offers 360 degrees of stability and improved waterproofing over standard spinning reels with conventional, screw-in side plates. 360 degrees of stability means the gearing is held firmly and in precise alignment.
The TATULA MQ LT also features an AIRDRIVE ROTOR engineered to be incredibly rigid and with minimal flex, especially at high drag pressures. Critically designed cut-outs reduce the weight of the rotor itself. The lighter the rotor, the less force it takes to spin around the reel, making it easier to turn the handle.
The TATULA MQ LT's solid AIRDRIVE BAIL further reduces weight and offers more rigidity than standard wire, minimizing concerns over flex, bending, or breaking.
Anglers will also appreciate TATULA MQ LT's brilliant ball bearing-supported Advanced Tournament Drag (ATD™) when setting the hook and fighting fish. The smart system applies an increased, instantaneous, and calculated resistance during the hookset. After the hook drives home and the fish starts pulling, ATD™ automatically returns to the selected drag setting.
MSRP $199.99
TATULA Elite AGS Bass Rod Series
Lightweight and sensitivity are the key focus points bass anglers will experience with the new TATULA Elite AGS rods, where DAIWA relied on noted professional anglers including Brent Ehrler, Seth Feider, Randy Howell, Chris Johnston, Cory Johnston, Cody Meyer, Ish Monroe, Takahiro Omori, and Patrick Walters in developing the actions and powers.
At the core of the TATULA Elite AGS rods are lightweight SVF Nano Plus blanks to provide each rod with its crisp action, along with X45 Bias construction to prevent blank twisting for greater strength, excellent sensitivity, and hook-setting power.
DAIWA also includes its exclusive Air Guide System (AGS), considered the lightest and most sensitive guides on the market, which dampen vibrations during the cast to provide anglers with a quicker response and feel for increased lure action sensitivity. The carbon frame AGS guides are up to 40% lighter and more rigid than those made from titanium and have proven their effectiveness in reducing overall rod weight and added sensitivity.
The Air Sensor reel seats, built with carbon fiber, provide anglers with a further increase in sensitivity throughout the entire rod. Both the AGS guides and Air Sensor reel seats are also found on DAIWA’s flagship Steez AGS bass rod series.
The 16 rod series includes specialized spinning and casting models.
MSRP’s from $299.99
For Daiwa’s latest color catalog and/or information on Daiwa dealers in your area, call Daiwa’s Customer Service Department at 562-375-6800 or e-mail inquiries to: [email protected]. The URL for Daiwa’s web site is daiwa.us.
The 2024 S.A.F. Alabama State Championship - Saturday, February 17th on the Alabama River.
Attention High School Anglers!
The 2024 Alabama State Championship is scheduled for Saturday, February 17th on the Alabama River.
2024 State Championship titles are on the line, advancement and recruitment opportunities!
Get your team registered today!
Check out the full schedule online to find an event near you! CLICK HERE
Attention SAF Anglers and Coaches! A couple IMPORTANT Reminders when the time comes to go to an event!
Online Registration is Mandatory for all SAF State Championships.
- Registration Closes 12 noon CT, Friday before each SAF State Championship Event
REMINDER no youth angler can register or plan to fish alone, no angler may enter or fish ANY youth sports event on any circuit alone. Pursuant to the Youth Safe Sports Act of 2017 (federal law governing youth sports a minor CANNOT participate in a youth sporting event ALONE with an adult.) There MUST be 3 persons in every boat to be compliant with this federal law. No exceptions.
-Rule #2 outlines a $20/per person late fee for onsite registrations, we've been pretty lax on this in the past but with the popularity of HS Fishing, registering onsite means longer lines and times - help us, help you and stay on time!
Also, don't forget to BRING your Signed Liability & Release Waiver!
You can find the waiver attached to your confirmation email or by clicking the link at the top in this email
Georgia’s Smith Holds On to Victory By Two Ounces at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Lake Keowee
SENECA, S.C. (Jan. 29, 2024) – Boater Brendan Smith of Lavonia, Georgia, caught a five-bass limit weighing 15 pounds, 5 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Keowee. Hosted by Visit Oconee, South Carolina, the tournament was the first event of the season for the BFL Savannah River Division. Smith earned $3,514 for his victory.
“I was boat number 89 of 90,” said Smith, who said Keowee had proved to be a difficult fishery for him in the past. “I had found some fish in an area that I thought would be my only opportunity to catch a limit. When I got to that place it was occupied.
“I went about the day fishing a pattern that I thought could work,” Smith continued. “It was a pattern that evolved throughout the day. Essentially, I junk fished Lake Keowee from 2 feet to 50 feet. The good Lord shined on me, and I caught some good fish.”
Smith focused on the lower part of Lake Keowee and said his junk fishing approach consisted of a Berkley Stunna Jerkbait 112, which produced his biggest bass of the day, as well as a Zoom Zlinky Stick Worm on a drop-shot rig in 50 feet of water. He said he also caught a few bass on a Keitech Swing Impact FAT 2.8-inch Swimbait in a ditch.
“I had a limit by 9:30 and figured I had 9 or 10 pounds and was pretty happy to have that weight that early in the day,” Smith said. “When I got to 13 pounds, I knew that was a decent catch for Lake Keowee this time of year. I knew when I was culling that 15 pounds would be pretty respectable.
“I’ve been doing this a long time, and I’ve been through several of these squeakers, and I’m usually on the other end of it,” Smith added. “Did I ever think I had the win? No. I weighed in last and didn’t have a clue that I would win until the fish were weighed.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Brendan Smith, Lavonia, Ga., five bass, 15-5, $3,514
2nd: Randy Childers, Anderson, S.C., five bass, 15-3, $1,757
3rd: Joe Anders, Easley, S.C., five bass, 15-1, $1,672 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
4th: Daniel Atkins, Anderson, S.C., five bass, 14-11, $722
4th: Cody Hoyle, Rutherfordton, N.C., five bass, 14-11, $722
4th: Matt O’Connell, Brooks, Georgia, five bass, 14-11, $1,022
7th: Grayson Brewster, Anderson, S.C., five bass, 14-9, $586
8th: Michael Smith, Lexington, S.C., five bass, 14-8, $527
9th: William Bryson, Greer, S.C., five bass, 13-14, $469
10th: Hunter Cseledy, Waynesville, N.C., five bass, 13-13, $410
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Jason Burroughs of Hodges, South Carolina, caught a bass that weighed 4 pounds, 9 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $450.
Chris Wilson of Easley, South Carolina, won the Strike King co-angler division and $1,982 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 11 pounds, 10 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Chris Wilson, Easley, S.C., five bass, 11-10, $1,982
2nd: Kevin Henderson, Honea Path, S.C., five bass, 11-9, $879
3rd: Dale Ball, Asheville, N.C., five bass, 11-6, $585
4th: Colby Matthews, Madison, Ga., five bass, 11-4, $610
5th: Kyle Rogers, Cleveland, Ga., five bass, 10-10, $351
6th: Justin Thompson, Gainesville, Ga., five bass, 10-3, $322
7th: Andy Burgess, Greenville, S.C., five bass, 10-2, $293
8th: Renee Price, Seneca, S.C., five bass, 10-0, $249
8th: Brock Martin, Cross Hill, S.C., five bass, 10-0, $249
10th: Arthur Harris, York, S.C., five bass, 9-9, $205
Wilson earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $225, catching a bass that weighed in at 3 pounds, 13 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
The next event for BFL Savannah River Division anglers will be held Feb. 24, at Lake Hartwell in Anderson, South Carolina. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 3-5 BFL Regional tournament on Pickwick Lake in Counce, Tennessee. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard.
The 2024 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL 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.
Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, General Tire, GSM Outdoors, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 13 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Louisiana’s Miller’s Early Limit Holds Off Field for Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Lake of the Pines
JEFFERSON, Texas (Jan. 29, 2024) – Boater Colby Miller of Elmer, Louisiana, caught a five-bass limit weighing 28 pounds, 3 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Lake of the Pines. The tournament was the second event of the season for the BFL Cowboy Division. Miller earned $3,641 for his victory.
“I was kind of worried about the wind,” said Miller, whose first time on Lake of the Pines was during his practice period before the tournament. “I knew it was supposed to get up a bit more throughout the day. I had two little areas I thought I was going to be able to do well in.
“I went to the first area and caught a 4-pound fish fairly quickly,” Miller continued. “Then the rain hit, and that continued for 20 to 30 minutes. As soon as the rain quit, I caught a 6-pounder.”
Miller said he then went 45 minutes without a bite and decided to relocate.
“When I made the move, it was definitely the right move,” Miller said. “Within 10 minutes I caught my kicker, which was an 8-3. Five minutes later I caught a 5-pounder, then one that went 3½. It was 9:30 in the morning, and I had 28-3.
“When I caught my fifth keeper, I thought I might have a shot at winning,” Miller added. “My co-angler said, ‘There’s no doubt. You just won.’ And at that point, I was jacked up and thought I had a shot. Then the wind started blowing and I wasn’t able to fish how I needed to fish. I tried to move around, and every move I made was the wrong move.”
Miller said he fished the rest of the day targeting bottom structure with an Alabama rig, trying to cull the 3½-pound bass, but as the day went on his confidence in a victory waned. Miller never got another bite after his fifth keeper bass.
“I just kept after it and hoping, because I was getting nervous,” Miller said. “So, this win is great. This feels amazing.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Colby Miller, Elmer, La., five bass, 28-3, $3,641
2nd: Tater Reynolds, Florien, La., five bass, 27-7, $2,120
3rd: Robert Parkison, Marshall, Texas, five bass, 25-12, $2,189 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Bonus)
4th: Jeffery Rice, Shreveport, La., five bass, 24-1, $850
5th: Fisher Davis, Mount Ida, Ark., five bass, 18-0, $728
6th: Zack Fogle, Longview, Texas, five bass, 15-10, $668
7th: Dylan Sorrells, Dallas, Texas, five bass, 14-5, $607
8th: Ron Festavan, Vivian, La., four bass, 13-10, $546
9th: Arthur Johnson, Judson, Texas, five bass, 12-13, $485
10th: Corey Calvert, Coldspring, Texas, five bass, 11-13, $425
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Robert Parkison of Marshall, Texas, caught a bass that weighed 8 pounds, 10 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $475.
William Easley of Pollok, Texas, won the Strike King co-angler division and $1,820 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 17 pounds, 5 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: William Easley, Pollok, Texas, five bass, 17-5, $1,820
2nd: Robert Massey, Calhoun, La., five bass, 16-1, $910
3rd: James Moore, Jr., Lampasas, Texas, four bass, 12-8, $757
4th: Allen Musser, Ada, Okla., five bass, 11-0, $425
5th: Ethen Evans, Hughes Springs, Texas, three bass, 10-12, $364
6th: Robert Spangenberg, Montgomery, Texas, five bass, 10-1, $318
6th: Shane Trowbridge, Deer Park, Texas, three bass, 10-1, $318
8th: Austin Roach, Big Sandy, Texas, five bass, 9-9, $273
9th: Liam Curtright, Angleton, Texas, two bass, 8-13, $480
10th: Andrew Duhon, Lake Charles, La., four bass, 7-12, $212
Liam Curtright of Angleton, Texas, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $237, catching a bass that weighed in at 6 pounds, 8 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After two events, Jeffery Rice of Shreveport, Louisiana, leads the BFL Cowboy Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 495 points, while James Moore, Jr., of Lampasas, Texas, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 492 points.
The next event for BFL Cowboy Division anglers will be held March 9, at Toledo Bend Lake in Zwolle, Louisiana. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 17-19 BFL Regional tournament on Wright Patman Lake in Texarkana, Texas. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard.
The 2024 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL 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.
Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, General Tire, GSM Outdoors, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 13 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Reimagined Tinsel Jigs
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Northland® Fishing Tackle reminds anglers that tinsel still tempts walleyes, crappies and more. |
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BEMIDJI, Minn. (January 29, 2024) – Take a look through grandpa’s tacklebox and you’ll find an assortment of effective baits, but many have fallen by the wayside in favor of hotter, newer lures… Consider the comeback that bucktail jigs have made on the walleye scene—and marabou for panfish and smallmouth bass—yep, they caught fish 50 years ago and still do today. Look in those old cork-lined tackle box trays and you’ll probably find some tinsel jigs, too, once a go-to for walleyes, crappies, pike, lake trout, and more. But today? Not so much. Sure, you find tinsel tied into muskie bucktails and fly-flingers’ creations, but tinsel jigs have largely fallen by the wayside. |
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Enter Northland’s Deep-Vee Flashtail Jig Resuscitating the category, Northland’s new Deep-Vee Flashtail Jig is dressed in mylar tinsel and holographic flash strands for optimal flash and lifelike, minnow-mimicking action. The flamboyant bait is built around the super-successful Deep-Vee Jighead with its keeled design that’s thicker on top and thin on bottom to track straight and fall fast. It also features oversized eyes that exude a “match-the-hatch” realism. Northland pro and veteran fishing guide, Brian “Bro” Brosdahl beta-tested the jig extensively throughout the 2023 season, even letting inexperienced to avid anglers try the bait. “The Deep-V Flashtail Jig gets a walleye’s attention because of the reflection from the tinsel and holographic flash strands. It doesn’t look like one minnow; it’s more like multiple minnows—meaning more food to the walleye,” explains Bro. Although there are times when he’ll fish it bare-bones, no meat or plastic, Bro typically adds a small to medium local run minnow with the tail barely sticking out past the tinsel skirt. He’s not trying to create a giant meal but rather adding a little mass and scent. Bro adds: “Tinsel also gives the jig a slower fall—and then, with the Deep-V head, you get a nice side-to-side action when you jig it, which helps the tinsel get maximum flash.” |
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So, when is Bro fishing the new Deep-Vee Flashtail? “I fish it for walleyes from early spring on the rivers, through opener, and well into summer. It’s in my arsenal for triggering reluctant walleyes during cold fronts into hitting. And it’s also a big fish catcher. Your mid-20s and bigger walleyes love it. I’ve caught fish on it in everything from ultra-clear lakes to bog-stained lakes—plus, it’s a must-have on rivers like the Rainy and Mississippi.” In terms of rod, reel, and line set-up for fishing the Deep-Vee Flashtail, Bro fishes his typical 10-pound braid with a 8- or 10-pound fluorocarbon leader. He likes 6’8” to 7’3” medium-light to medium power, fast to extra-fast actions rods depending on jig weight, coupled with a size 2500 or 3000 spinning reel. |
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WHITE |
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BLACK |
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WALLEYE |
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FIRETIGER |
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SUNRISE |
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WATERMELON |
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BUBBLEGUM |
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CHARTREUSE |
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PINK |
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PARROT |
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MOONLIGHT |
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PURPLEDESCENT |
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Experiment With Colors “I’ll run through colors ‘till I hit the magic,” offers Bro. “But it seems like you can’t go wrong with the Watermelon and Walleye patterns.” Bro continues: “And there’s definitely a time and place for brighter patterns with yellows and greens that imitate juvenile sunfish, like Firetiger and Bubblegum.” Match Jig Weight To Depth After decades fishing the waters of northern Minnesota, Bro has his jig program refined to a very specific weight-by-depth approach. “On lakes, an 1/8-ounce is perfect for 8 feet or less – easy to remember. From 8 to 20 feet, I’ll fish a ¼-ounce jig—and for depths over 20, 3/8-ounce is the ticket.” |
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Tip With Plastics, Too By no means do you need to tip your Deep-Vee Flashtail Jig with anything, but if walleyes are aggressive, extra bulk can be helpful. As far as tipping with plastics, Bro uses a couple different Northland Eye-Candy shapes. “With the perch explosion on many Minnesota walleye lakes, adding a plastic to the back can really grab their attention. For me, that means the Eye-Candy Minnow or Paddle Shad. Especially in darker waters, this combo creates a bigger disturbance. And in clear waters, the Eye-Candy Paddle Shad helps the bait fall even slower,” adds Bro. As far as his jig pitching program, Bro will use his MEGA Live forward facing sonar to snipe individual fish or excite pods of several roamers with the above combo. “You can also jig-troll it at a slow speed in stained water. That works really well. We also drift ‘em over pods of walleyes; that works, too. Then, when we’re fishing weed-walleyes, we’ll jig troll or drift toward those clumps, pockets and turns, or weedlines and cast into them. They’re great ambush locations and can produce a lot of fish.” |
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EYE-CANDY MINNOW |
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EYE-CANDY PADDLE SHAD |
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Under A Slip Bobber? Bro has also fished the 1/8-ounce Deep-Vee Flashtail Jig under a slip bobber—typically tipped with half a ‘crawler. “Pitch that combo into a school of walleyes and it’s game on. All you have to do is twitch it and the combo draws fish up to eat it. Once they smell the ‘crawler, they inhale it.” Crappies & Bull ‘Gills, Too Also available in a 1/16th ounce version, Bro adds that the Deep-Vee Flashtail Jig is a great bait for crappies and bigger bluegills. For crappies, Bro—like a lot of other crappie anglers—gravitates to Pink, tipping the jig with a small crappie minnow. As far as ‘gills go, Bro will tip it with a piece of ‘crawler or panfish-sized leech. “The thing about tinsel and big bluegills, sunfish, pumpkinseeds, is the tinsel seems to upset them and they hit it with vengeance—like it makes them mad or something. Gets those bigger fish we all want to catch and photograph.” Takeaway Tinsel ain’t just for muskie baits and fly-flinging; it’s a material that caught fish for grandpa and will for you, too, many decades later. |
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FEATURES:
MSRP $7.49 (2 pack) |
Florida Pro Jessie Mizell Leads Wire-to-Wire and Wins Season-Opening Toyota Series at Lake Okeechobee
CLEWISTON, Fla. (Jan. 27, 2024) – This week, pro Jessie Mizell of Myakka City, Florida, was absolutely untouchable on his home pond.
Weighing 24 pounds each of the first two days and finishing off with 23 pounds, 13 ounces, Mizell totaled 72-9 to beat out Brody Campbell by nearly 3 pounds and win the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats Southern Division opener on Lake Okeechobee.
Now with six MLF wins to his credit on Lake Okeechobee, Mizell has won over $90,000 in less than 12 months, as he also won last year’s Toyota Series event on the Big O. For this one, Mizell takes home another trophy for a rapidly growing collection, plus $44,000 and qualification to the Toyota Series Championship.
Mizell started each tournament morning on the north side of Okeechobee, easing into a staging bay and going to work. His bite shut down before noon each day of the event, though, as anglers coming and going muddied up the water. When Mizell arrived Saturday, he had a small audience of Bassmaster Open pros starting practice, and he put on a show.
“I got there first thing, it was a good thing I was boat No. 1, and there were already a couple boats – BASS guys, in there,” he said. “But they just sat there and watched – I got my first, second, third, my biggest one. After that, there were boats going in and out, and they stirred it up. I didn’t get a bite after 11 o’clock, it got muddy and (the fish) shut down. But I was lucky enough to get my limit, and get those couple key fish. They were eating a frog like crazy – just absolutely destroying it.”
All week, Mizell was anticipating the warming water, watching it climb out of the 60s and into the low 70s.
“I knew it was going to happen this morning,” he said. “I wanted to see 74 degrees, that’s the magic number for me. Everybody has their magic number. When I got there, it was right at 74 and started warming up, and that’s when I got my bites. Everything was on a frog, that new Gambler Popping Frog. I normally use my bread and butter (frog), but Val Osinski at Gambler Baits gave me some frogs yesterday, and it’s the same thing, so I broke it in.”
While Campbell and others targeted fish that were spawning or prespawn, Mizell believes he was mostly catching postspawn bass that were easing out of a spawning bay and stopping on isolated pieces of cover on the way out. To catch them, he used a vibrating jig and a worm a little, but mostly relied on a prop bait and a frog.
Mizell’s biggest fish of the event ate a Rapala X-Rap Prop on Day 1, but the frog was his standby. Using either a doctored up SPRO or a Gambler Popping Frog in yellow belly, Mizell threw them on a 7-foot, 6-inch, heavy/fast 13 Fishing Muse Black with an 8.3:1-gear ratio 13 Fishing Concept A2 reel and 65-pound Sufix 832 braid.
“They stage in these heads – little buggy whip heads, or cattail heads,” Mizell said. “They’re about as big as a coffee table. I would hit the edges first, and then hit the center, or go through the head, and work it through. Today, my biggest one, I threw into the head, and it exploded and totally missed the frog. I went back with a Senko, and it did not commit. But, I know how these fish work. when they’re postspawn. They’re worn out from laying eggs, so they use all their energy to bite once. You have to come back to them. So, I went around, gave her five minutes, and then came back and Power-Poled down. I threw, pop, pop, pop, and I didn’t even get to pop it again – she just absolutely caved it in.”
Fishing his frog quickly, with a pop, pop, pop, stop retrieve, Mizell was focused on the key spots within his area.
“Every time I throw, I want to think there’s a fish on that key spot,” he said. “If I was just fishing a pad field, I’d be just randomly throwing, not throwing at a target. I love to fish isolated stuff, I love pointing at stuff, because I feel like a fish is there. I would Power-Pole down, hit every isolated clump, then go forward, Power-Pole down again, and hit every isolated clump.”
A fishing guide and mobile mechanic, Mizell didn’t practice much for the event. He took a guide trip out on Tuesday, and then rode around the lake on Wednesday without making a cast. It turned out, that was all he needed to earn the win.
“That was my gameplan, I did not want to spin out – I knew they were coming and going,” he said. “I didn’t stress about this event, I just wanted to go fishing and do what I do. I knew the fish were in there, because a couple months ago I caught 34 pounds on the outside – they were staging. When it’s your time to shine, it’s your time to shine.”
The top 10 pros on Lake Okeechobee finished:
1st: Jessie Mizell, Myakka City, Fla., 15 bass, 72-9, $44,000
2nd: Brody Campbell, Oxford, Ohio, 15 bass, 69-10, $18,500
3rd: Brandon Tallhamer, Parkersburg, W. Va., 15 bass, 66-1, $12,750
4th: Benny Townend, Lake Worth Beach, Fla., 15 bass, 65-2, $10,750
5th: Steve Lopez, Oconomowoc, Wis., 15 bass, 58-0, $9,750
6th: Rafe Sexton, Okeechobee, Fla., 15 bass, 57-0, $8,375
7th: Christian Greico, Tampa, Fla., 15 bass, 56-4, $7,800
8th: Robert Camp, Port St. John, Fla., 15 bass, 54-6, $6,300
9th: Bo Collins, Robbinsville, N.C., 13 bass, 53-2, $5,300
10th: Michael Venditto, Boca Raton, Fla., 15 bass, 52-13, $4,200
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Pro Kyle Wieczorek of Nokomis, Florida, earned the Day 1 $500 Berkley Big Bass Award on Thursday with an 8-pound, 15-ounce brute, while Friday’s Day 2 $500 Berkley Big Bass Award went to pro Christian Greico of Tampa, Florida, who weighed in a nice 8-pound, 11-ounce largemouth.
Casey Gonzalez of Lake Wales, Florida, won the Strike King Co-angler Division Saturday with a three-day total of 13 bass weighing 53 pounds, 1 ounce. Gonzalez took home the top co-angler prize package worth $33,500, including a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard motor.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers on Lake Okeechobee finished:
1st: Casey Gonzalez, Lake Wales, Fla., 13 bass, 53-1, Phoenix 518 Pro boat w/115-hp Mercury outboard
2nd: Brady Lunsmann, Citrus Springs, Fla., 13 bass, 50-6, $5,375
3rd: Stephen Draghi, Sparrowbush, N.Y., 15 bass, 49-5, $4,300
4th: David Honsted, Ocala, Fla., 14 bass, 47-11, $3,800
5th: Cooper Jett, Norton Shores, Mich., 15 bass, 45-1, $3,150
6th: David Archibald, Somerset, Mass., 15 bass, 43-8, $2,800
7th: Michael Duarte, Baltimore, Md., 13 bass, 42-8, $2,150
8th: Alex Dempsey, Orangeburg, S.C., 15 bass, 41-10, $1,825
9th: Keith Honeycutt, Temple, Texas, 15 bass, 41-5, $1,530
10th: Fernando Rosa, Margate, Fla., 15 bass, 41-0, $1,290
David Honsted of Ocala, Florida, earned Thursday’s $150 Berkley Big Bass co-angler award with an 8-pound, 14-ounce largemouth, while Friday’s Day 2 $150 co-angler award went to Marc Snyder of St. Johns, Michigan, who weighed in a bass that totaled 7 pounds, 15 ounces.
The Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats at Lake Okeechobee was hosted by the Hendry County Tourism Development Council. It was the first of three regular-season tournaments for the Toyota Series Southern Division. The next event for the Toyota Series Southern Division will be the Toyota Series at the Harris Chain of Lakes, March 19-21, in Leesburg, Florida. For a complete schedule of events, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The 2024 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats consists of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and the Western Division Presented by Tackle Warehouse – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International and Wild Card divisions. Anglers who fish in any of the six divisions or the Wild Card division and finish in the top 25 will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series Championship for a shot at winning up to $235,000 and a qualification to REDCREST 2025. The winning Strike King co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard. The 2024 Toyota Series Championship will be held Nov. 7-9 on Wheeler Lake in Huntsville, Alabama, and is hosted by the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Madison County Commission, and the Huntsville Sports Commission.
Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Toyota Series include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, FX Custom Rods, General Tire, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota and YETI.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Toyota Series updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 13 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
On Location - Hobie BOS - Harris Chain
AC Insider, Vance McCullough, is hitting the water this weekend as a competitor in the Hobie Bass Open Series, down on the Harris Chain. Over 150 anglers have converged on the storied lake and the BIG bass are starting to show themselves. Vance caught up with Tournament Director, AJ McWhorter, for a preview of what to expect, as well as a few changes in store this season. Check it out below, and you can even tune in to event here.
Fishin' Tip Friday - The Strike King Filler Worm
We are wrapping up January with a video edition of Fishin' Tip Friday, courtesy of Todd Faircloth. Todd gives us the details on the Strike King KVD Filler Worm. The filler worm uses a super soft plastic, and strategically added salt, that makes for an amazing action, and a horizontal fall. Check out Todd's breakdown!
