Anglers Should Be 'fizzing' In 'end Of The Year' Trail Tournament On Mayo Saturday
The Piedmont Bass Trail is serious about two things – having fun fishing and keeping bass alive.
“I tell guys if you don't want to have fun, don't come,” said tournament director Phil McCarson, “and we do have a good bunch of guys fishing the trail.”
In the hot summertime, McCarson said he is just as serious about keeping bass alive.
“One of the biggest problems is keeping fish alive anytime of year except in winter,” McCarson said. “Anglers need to keep their live wells oxygenated, keep them cool and, when necessary fizz their fish. That takes care of them most of the time.”
'Fizzing' is a technique fishermen use to deflate a fish pulled up from deep water, McCarson said.
“The rapid change of pressure coming from deep water to the surface real fast puts too much air in his bladder and the fish can't swim,” he said. “If you don't treat them, most of the times they die.”
The air pressure can be relieved by inserting the needle of a syringe behind the side fin of a bass, he said. It should be done underwater so the air bubbles can be seen coming out of the syringe because care must be taken not to release all the air from the bladder. Special 'fizz' kits can also be purchased at tackle dealers and there is a video tutorial on You Tube that anglers can view to learn how.
“Our guys do a pretty good job of fizzing,” McCarson said. “I would guess our mortality rate for the whole year is around 2 or 3 percent. I don't think there are many other trails that can claim that.”
'Fizzing' is a necessary procedure in a lake like Mayo, especially in the summertime, McCarson said, because it is a deep clear lake and many fish are caught in the deeper parts of the lake.
“Mayo is one of the smaller lakes that Piedmont Bass goes to, only 2,800 acres. But it is a very popular lake and it has deep, clear water this time of year so there is a lot of vertical jigging going on in the hot summertime. You are looking at lighter line, lighter colored lures because the water can be 60 feet deep and sometimes this time of year you have to go deep to catch fish.”
McCarson said he will be at the ramp by 5 a.m. Saturday to take entries, with blast-off around 6 a.m., and the weigh-in will be held at 2 p.m. instead of 3 to help keep the fish alive because of the hot weather.
“We are also one of the few trails that allows teams to weigh in anytime they want to. If they get a dead fish it cost's them money and we don't like dead fish at all. We do everything we can to keep them alive and return them to the lake,” McCarson said.
McCarson said he combined the previous summer and fall trails into the Cashion Fishing Rods 'End of Year' trail to give the fishermen a break in entries.
“Because of the economy, we combined the two and called it the 'End of the Year' Trail. It starts in July , which gives me time and gives the anglers a break. They don't have to fish through the fall so there is not so much pressure on them – and it gives me a break, too. I get to stay home a visit my grandkids occasionally,” he said with a laugh.
The Cashion Fishing Rods 'End of Year' Team Tournament Bass Fishing Trail began July 12 on Jordan Lake, with the second tournament July 26 on Mayo, out of Triple Springs; followed by tournaments Aug. 9, Kerr, Flemingtown Landing; Aug. 23, Falls, Ledge Rock; Sept. 13, Jordan, Farrington Point (Right Side); Sept. 27, Mayo, Triple Springs; Oct. 11, Shearon Harris, Cross Point Landing; and Oct. 25, Falls, Ledge Rock; with the championship Nov. 1, also on Falls, out of Ledge Rock.
Cashion Fishing Rods / Piedmont Bass Classics Trail
Sat, Jul 26, 2014
Mayo Lake
Triple Springs
Call Phil McCarson 919-971-5042
Email: [email protected]
Sonar Phone brings fish-finding technology to the masses - at ICAST 2014!
Boomer Stelmach introduces us to Sonar Phone which puts fish-finder technology within reach of everyone - dock and shore anglers, kayakers, waders, potoon boaters - starting at only $130. The castable TPod transducer is the size of a baseball. Sonar Phone is brought to you by Vexilar and their decades of experience in the sonar industry. Because it operates on WiFi, multiple users can read the same transducer. Also, it was revealed at ICAST that Sonar Phone can be used in conjunction with GPS software such as Navionics. User friendly, budget friendly, super portable and super cool!
Browne offers the best technical fishing tip at ICAST show
Bassmaster Elite Series Pro Glenn Browne is a shallow water expert who specializes in using a long rod and short line to haul heavy bass out of cover. Take a look at the tackle he uses. Browne offers great advice on setting up your reel for maximum accuracy when pitching and flipping. From ICAST 2014!
Peacock bass, anyone? Plus, Jarod Higginbotham shows us what sets Yakima baits apart - at ICAST 2014!
Yakima Bait Company turns out eye-popping color schemes on some very unique lures - and they do it all by hand, in the U.S.A. They offer plenty for the bass fishing crowd, but Jarod Higginbotham shows us a lure you'll want to pack when you take that peacock bass trip of a lifetime!
Kevin VanDam on Rigid Lighting - from ICAST 2014!
KVD runs Rigid lights on his rig, as well as his Bad Boy buggy. Find out why.
NEW at ICAST: Lynx Precision System gives you 100% confidence
The most promising new technology at the 2014 ICAST show was the Lynx Precision System that connects line to lure without a knot and, therefore, gives you 100% of your line’s intended tensile strength. It’s not a crimp; it’s a compression tool that employs nearly TWO TONS of force. Fast, easy, and very strong – you must check this out for yourself to believe it!
Susquehanna Valley Team Wins First Bassmaster High School Championship
Nick Osman (left) and Garrett Enders of Susquehanna High School in Mifflinburg, Pa., win the Bassmaster High School Championship presented by Carhartt July 16-19.
With tears in their eyes and smiles on their faces, the Susquehanna Valley team of Garrett Enders and Nick Osman hoisted the championship trophy into the air. The Pennsylvania anglers outlasted 59 high school teams to take home the inaugural Bassmaster High School Championship presented by Carhartt trophy.
With a Day 3 weight of 7 pounds, 4 ounces, they sat in second place and were in prime position to take over the lead on the final day of competition. Using a weightless wacky rigged Senko, Enders and Osman caught four more keepers Saturday, and their Day 4 weight of 4 pounds, 11 ounces was just enough to hold off the hard-charging anglers from Benton, Ill., who jumped six places to finish second.
“It’s amazing, I mean honestly I’m still speechless, and it probably won’t sink in for a few weeks,†Osman said. “We worked so hard to get here, and it paid off. We are champions.â€
Enders and Osman didn’t have an easy final day whatsoever as they were in the penalty box early Saturday morning. A 30-minute penalty was accessed to the team after they failed to promptly take their mandatory halftime break at 9:30 a.m. on Day 3. Seven minutes later they realized what had happened and took the 15-minute halftime break.
After their 30-minute penalty, the Susqehanna Valley team launched and headed straight for the Carroll County 1,000-acre Recreational Lake dam. Once they arrived at the dam they fished up and down the rocky banks with their weightless wacky rigged Senko, which they threw on spinning tackle.
For their victory, Enders and Osman received $4,000 ($2,000 per angler) in scholarship funds from B.A.S.S. They were also offered $20,000 scholarships (over four years), if they attend Bethel University.
The second place team of Dailus Richardson and Trevor McKinney of Benton High School were a force to be reckoned with this week, as the Illinois anglers were the Day 1 and 2 leaders from Kentucky Lake.
McKinney and Richardson came back to the scales on Day 3 with just three fish for 5 pounds, 3 ounces, moving them into the final day in eighth place.
“I’m a flipper, and I really like to flip a lot,†McKinney said. “But we didn’t do that until 11 o’clock on Day 3, and that cost us.â€
The Benton High School team flipped creature baits into flooded timber to catch their 6-pound, 5-ounce limit on the final day. The duo received $2,000 ($1,000 each) in scholarships from B.A.S.S., as well as $1,000 from Triton. For their Day 1 efforts on Kentucky Lake, the anglers received $1,000 courtesy of Mud Hole for their Heavyweight Bag of 20 pounds,14 ounces.
The third place team of Blake Albertson and Evan Wheeler of B Town Bassers in Indiana received $1,500 ($750 each from B.A.S.S. and $1,000 from Yamaha.
Zeke Gossett and Hayden Bartee of Pell City High School in Alabama climbed from 10th to fourth to take home $1,500 in scholarships from B.A.S.S.
The fifth through 10th place teams all received $1,000 ($500 each) in B.A.S.S. scholarships.
Jack Garner received the Carhartt Big Bass for the week after he brought a 7-pound, 4-ounce Kentucky Lake largemouth to the scales. The angler from the Douglass Indians fishing team received a $1,250 scholarship courtesy of Carhartt.
The local hosts for the event are Paris-Henry County, Carroll County, Northwest Tennessee Tourism and Bethel University.
Pros share thoughts on 2015 FLW Tour schedule
Immediately following the announcement at ICAST Scott Martin, Ish Monroe, Mark Rose and Wesley Strader give their opinions on the 2015 FLW Tour schedule!
FLW announces 2015 Tour dates, locations
FLW Outdoors President of Operations, Kathy Fennel, broke the news at a press conference on the floor of the ICAST trade show in Orlando, Fla. this week. The Tour will kick off a month later than usual, and just little farther north.
Piedmont Bass Classics Cashion Fishing Rods 'End Of Year' Trail Qualifier Results
The Cashion Fishing Rods 'End of Year' Team Tournament Bass Fishing Trail had a good start Saturday at Jordan Lake!
40 teams showed up to fish Jordan, which can be tough to fish, especially in the hot summer with all the pleasure boats and jet skis speeding around! But we have some of the best anglers in the state and they pretty much showed how good they could be under the conditions at this 1st Cashion qualifier. Turned out to be a great day weatherwise. About 69 in the am and around 88 in the afternoon. The wind never got up at all which pleased most of our anglers. Water temps averaged 88 degrees. The fish were caught in shallow water early on to 20' of water later in the day, which is a regular summer pattern at Jordan. Jigs, C & T rigs, spinnerbaits and crankbaits seemed to be the hot baits.
Scott Gatton & Mark Brogan landed 5 bass weighing a total of 24.64 lbs. taking 1st Place worth $976. 2 bass weighing over 6 lbs. helped them win on this day!
Close by was the 2nd Place Team of Tony Fofi & Dave Murdock with 5 bass weighing 23.50 lbs. They also won the 1st Place TWT and took home a total of $1,225. 3rd Place Team, Jason Suggs & Britton O'Quinn, had 20.92 lbs, 1st Place Big Fish & won the 2nd Place TWT to take home a whopping $1,265! 7th place Team Member Scott Smith won the Tow Boats US Member Award of $50.
117 bass were weighed in for a total of 369 pounds. This averaged over 3 lbs. a fish and they were nice and healthy looking. Jordan is still a great fishery! Also heard from some anglers of White Bass, Crappie & Stripers on the rebound at Jordan.
I want to thank all the anglers that participated and all our sponsors that support these trails. Our next tournament will be the Cashion Fishing Rods 'End of Year' Team Tournament Bass Fishing Trail Qualifier #2, Saturday, July 26th at Mayo Reservoir out of Triple Springs Wildlife Ramp.
All the information on our tournaments can be found at http://piedmontbassclassics.com/
Now here are the full results:
1st Place: Scott Gatton & Mark Brogan of Cary & Durham...5 bass...24.64 lbs...$976
2nd Place: Tony Fofi & Dave Murdock of Spring Lake & Sanford...5 bass...23.50 lbs...$560
3rd Place: Jason Suggs & Britton O'Quinn of Fayetteville & Linden...5 bass...20.92 lbs...$448
4th Place: Lonnie Whitfield & Phil Smith of Burlington & Mebane...5 bass...17.81 lbs...$352
5th Place: Steve Upchurch & Tony Barham of Raleigh & Durham...5 bass...17.78 lbs...$288
6th Place: Roy Blackwood & Butch Williams of Pittsboro...5 bass...16.47 lbs...$224
7th Place: Scott Smith & Tony Woodard of Apex & Four Oaks...4 bass...16.36 lbs...$192
8th Place: Joe Langley & Brian Fritts of Benson & Raleigh...4 bass...16.19 lbs...$160
1st Place Big Fish: 3rd Place Team above...7.68 lbs...$532
2nd Place Big Fish: 8th Place Team above...7.24 lbs...$228
1st Place TWT: 2nd Place Team above: 23.50 lbs...$665
2nd Place TWT: 3rd Place Team above: 20.92 lbs...$285
Tow Boats US Award: Scott Smith of Apex: $50
Contact Information:
Phil McCarson...Tournament Director---922 Valetta Rd.---Durham, NC 27712
Home: 919-471-1571 Cell: 919-971-5042email: [email protected]
'samurai Fishing' Expected In Snag Proof Open On Potomac River
Many of the anglers in the Snag Proof Open on the Potomac River Saturday will be doing some Samurai fishing in addition to angling for the $10,000 first place prize for the heaviest three-bass limit.
“We have a bonus side pot for for snakehead fish,” said tournament director Dave Kilby. “Snakeheads are quite the predator so by and large you have to kill them when you catch them. You’ll see guys carrying clubs, machetes, everything in their boat for that. It looks like Samurai fishing.”
The Samurai, the military nobility of medieval and early-modern Japan, were often depicted as being armed with multiple swords, clubs, spears and other weapons..
Snakeheads, also called "frankenfish," have teeth, can breathe and move out of water. Considered a predatory and undesirable exotic species by the Commonwealth of Virginia, the species is blamed for the vanishing populations of Potomac River shad, bass and even frogs. Importation of snakeheads is against the law.
Entry in the optional “Super Snakehead Showdown” pot is $20 per team, Kilby said.
“The three heaviest snakeheads will win the money in the pot with 50 percent to the heaviest, 30 percent to next heaviest and 20 percent to the third heaviest. Hopefully, in addition to catching some bass, we will rid the Potomac of a few snakeheads.”
And, he added, the snakeheads probably will not go to waste. They reportedly are a delicious eating fish and are prized in Asian cultures, the part of the world they are from. Cooks of Asian heritage are expected to be at the weigh-in in anticipation of getting some snakeheads to take home for supper – or to feature in their restaurants.
Entry fee for the Snag Proof Open is $180 per boat, either a one-man or two-man team, and that includes an automatic entry into the Big Fish Pot for $20. The Big Bass payback will also be at 50, 30 and 20 percent, Kilby said.
The only lures allowed are Snag Proof Frogs, along with the Wiggle Wog, Bobby’s Perfect Buzz and Fish's Poppin' Phattie, all made by Snag Proof, he said.
“They all incorporate the topwater frog into their design, which is why they are allowed. You can't alter the frog or weight it to fish under the surface,” Kilby said. The official rules state that Snag Proof Frogs cannot have a weight added for the purpose of using a Texas rig, Carolina Rig, or drop-shot rig. Modifications by adding rattles or by painting, marking, or dipping the Snag Proof Frog are permitted. Trailer hooks are also permitted if attached directly to the Snag Proof Frog, with no leader between the frog hook and the trailer hook
While pre-registrations are going slow, Kilby said that is to be expected since there was no way to schedule an anglers' meeting the night before the tournament because of the launch venue at Smallwood State Park.
“The park is going to open at 4 o'clock the morning of the tournament and we are going to have our meeting early in the morning. People know they don't have to come to a meeting on Friday, they can just come to the ramp and sign up there that morning,” Kilby said.
Snag Proof Open Potomac River
Sat, Jul 26, 2014
Potomac River
Smallwood State Park
Call Dave Kilby 443-617-1850
Rayovac Winner On Lake Champlain Will Be The Angler Who Finds The Right School Of Bass In The Grass
Finding fish is not going to be a problem for the anglers in the Rayovac FLW Series Northern Division tournament on Lake Champlain this weekend, said veteran angler Dave Lefebre. Finding the right fish, however, might prove a little harder.
“It's going to be like looking for a needle in a haystack,” said the pro angler from Erie, PA. “The largemouth bass are in post spawn and they are schooling up in the grass. The problem is there are miles and miles of grass, acres and acres of grass. There are a million schools of bass, but you have to find those that are 3 1/2 pounds and up.”
Fishing the deep-water grass that is prevalent in Lake Champlain is like ledge fishing on other lakes, Lefebre said.
“There are definitely the right-sized fish in there – if you can get around them.”
To complicate matters, the lake is about 100 miles long. Anglers can motor 30 miles north and find plenty of grass to fish, or they can run 70 miles south to find more grass to fish in. The winner likely will be the one who makes the right decision about which end of the lake to fish – unless he just happens to be incredibly lucky.
Lefebre said lure selection will take a back seat to hitting the prime location. He said that good largemouth baits would not be any surprise – standard lures like jigs, frogs and flipping soft plastics.
In the first part of his practice this week he concentrated on the southern part of the lake, but he planned to head north on Wednesday to check things out before deciding on whether he will trade more fishing time for a possibly better location down the lake.
And, he noted, what he found down the lake in practice was very good. The fish are in total post-spawn, he said, and they do not appear to be in a normal post-spawn slump.
“Usually at first after the spawn the fish will be all messed up, but they are really healthy. Even the 2-2 1/2-pounders are like footballs. They are probably as fat as I've ever seen them.”
Lefebre said he has not checked out the smallmouth population in the lakes because he feels it will take a daily limit of largemouths to win the tournament – maybe 18 1/2-19 pounds a day.
And he is in it for the win. He has finished 8th and 2nd in the last two Northern Division tournaments held this same weekend in July and that second place last year still sticks in his craw a little.
Lefebre was sitting in first place with a three-day total of 51 pounds, 14 ounces, when pro angler Thomas Lavictoire Jr. of Vermont came to the scales and knocked him down to second.
“I need 1 pound, 4 ounces, more than I had last year,” Lefebre said.
He is also fired up for the 2014-2015 season after missing qualifying for the Forrest Wood Cup for the first time in his 12-year FLW career. He was unable during the year to recover from a zero finish the first day of the first FLW Tour tournament of the year on Lake Okeechobee because of motor problems back in February.
He is focused on fishing the FLW Tour and the Rayovac Northern Division, with the hope of returning to the field of anglers invited to the 2015 Forrest Wood Cup. The top 35 pros from the AOY race for the FLW Tour are invited to the Cup and spots also go to the 2013 Rayovac FLW Series AOYs in each of five divisions.
“You'd better believe I've got that on my mind – to qualify for next year,” he said.
There is also a bonus with the top anglers from each division earning the opportunity to fish in the Rayovac FLW Series Championship which will be held Oct. 30-Nov. 1 on Wheeler Lake in Rogersville, Ala.
Rayovac FLW Series – Northern Division
Jul 17-19, 2014
Lake Champlain
Dock Street Landing
Price Comes Out On Top Wateree Summer Catt Final
We wrapped up the 2014 CATT Lake Wateree Summer Trail Saturday at Clearwater Cove Marin with 27 teams entering. Fishing was tough on sme but the ones that found em caught em good!.
This time last year CATT had paid back $31,000.00 on Lake Wateree. After Saturdays results the payback at Wateree is over $61,000.00 so far! Thats with the Catawba Clash and the SC Championship added in but with those 2 events subtracted from the payback we’re still over $42,000.00! Great year so far and we still have the Fall trail left. Also check out the TOM CATT Series..there’s not a membership and it’s just a group of us getting together to fish.
Friday August 15th at Lake Wateree, Jay Keith will be looking for boat captains to help with the TBF Junior Championship. Give Jay a call and he’ll let you know what you need to do. 803-427-413 Max Price is our big winner at the 2014 CATT Summer Final on Lake Wateree. Max brought in 5 bass weighing 22.54 lbs taking 1st Place and the BONUS $. He also weighed the 2nd BF at 5.20 lbs. All total Max collected $2,518.00.
2nd went to Barry Holloman & Joey Bramlett with 5 bass weighing 20.69 lbs. They earned $1,000.00! What a year this two have had fishing the CATT Trail on Lake Wateree. After Saturday they have took home $12,268.00 fishing the Spring & Summer CATT Trail!
Coming in 3rd were Jerry Freezon & Jason Miles with 5 bass weighing 19.19 lbs. They took home $610.00.
Jay Keith & Donald Hinson finished 4th with 5 bass weighing 18.71 lbs and took home $300.00.
Steve Phillips & Randall Bock claimed 5th with a limit weighing $15.00 lbs evan. They earned $200.00.
The Lews Big Fish went to Richard Smith & Jesse Williams with a 6.10 lb bass. They collected $182.00 plus Richard took home a brand spanking new Lews Baitcast Reel! www.lews.com
Thanks Lews for supporting the CATT Trail!!
Next up is for the CATT Trail Sept 13 at Clearwater Cove Marina and will be a TOM CATT. Also there is an open at Cleawater Cove Saturday July 19 put on by some friends of an angler who is in bad health. Come on out and fish!
Brett Collins
Carolina Anglers Team Trail LLC
Reputation For Big Bass Has Anglers Eager For Bfl Saturday On Falls Lake
Wally Szuba is second in the Piedmont Division standings going into this tournament
Falls Lake has a well-deserved reputation for producing numbers of quality largemouths, including 8-pound and larger bass, so expectations are high for anglers in the Walmart BFL Piedmont Division tournament there Saturday.
So high that even FLW Outdoors, which conducts the BFL series, is predicting it will take a five-fish limit at about 23 pounds to win it.
Veteran tournament angler Wally Szuba, who is second in the Piedmont Division standings going into the tournament, agrees, but said it might even take more.
“Falls has some tremendous fish in it. I heard of a guy catching one over 9 pounds while practicing for a team tournament on the lake Saturday. It took 28 pounds to win that tournament with a five-fish limit, but it dropped off pretty quick after that, down to 22 pounds and then into the teens. But the last place they paid was for 15 1/2 pounds, a good 3-pound average.”
Szuba said he believes in an individual angler tournament like Saturday's BFL it could possibly take 25 pounds to win, with the last angler to get a check having to weigh in around 13 or 14 pounds.
“But the non-boaters will have just as much an advantage fishing that deep. You could see a non- boater come in with 20 pounds easily,” he said.
Some of the larger bass likely will be caught in the area around the Ledge Rock launch site off the traditional producing ledges there, Szuba said, but he believes the better limits will come off the ledges downriver.
“There will be some good fish caught out on the ledges out of Ledge Rock – 5 to 7, maybe 8 pounds –
but I don't think you can fill out of a limit of fish over 4 pounds each because they get beat up so bad out on those ledges. They've seen every kind of big crankbait come by, all the big worms and jigs. You might fish a Shakey head with a 4-inch trick worm, not a 5- or 6-inch worm because they are just not going to chase the bigger baits.”
Some anglers might also try their luck up the lake beyond the I-85 bridge, but those will probably be local guys who have intimate knowledge of the waters up there, Szuba said.
“With this water level if you don’t know the channel you don't need to be running it,” he said. “And I don't think they are going to be able to get more than 13 to 15 pounds up there. You might catch a couple of decent fish there, but the rest will be 2-pounders.”
That leaves the river channel down the lake, he said.
“All the bigger fish will be caught on the ledges down the river, fishing rock and boulders,” he said.
Although he lives in Cary, N.C., just a short 45-minute drive from Falls, Szuba has not fished the lake competitively in four or five years because most of the tournaments there are team tournaments and he is concentrating on individual angler tournaments like the BFLs.
“I have a friend who has shown me a couple of hotspots downriver,” he said. “I am not that optimistic, but I could get lucky and catch a 6- or 7-pounder. I might have to stay in a 100-yard strip for two to three hours to get a good bite over five pounds. You have to keep beating that one stump to make a fish so aggravated it will take a swipe at your bait. If I'm lucky, I might get five quality bites Saturday.”
The top 40 boaters and co-anglers from each division qualify for a regional tournament and 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 Walmart BFL All-American. Top winners in the BFL can move up to the Rayovac FLW Series or even the Walmart FLW Tour.
Walmart BFL Piedmont Division
Sat, Jul 19, 2014
Falls Lake
Ledge Rock
Sportsman's Warehouse Mid-July Report and BFL Preview with Mgr Craig Baird!
Sportsman's Warehouse fishing Mgr Craig Baird joins us to talk BFL and FLW CUP-both coming to LAKE MURRAY! It's topwater and drop shot time as most of you know, and we have a few tips for both-click on the video for more!
Texas Team Trail announces 2015 Schedule!
Texas Team Trail Presented by Cabela’s Announces 2015 Schedule
Strong mix of popular venues for upcoming season
NORMAN, Okla. (July 10, 2014) – The Texas Team Trail (TXTT) presented by Cabela’s recently unveiled the 2015 schedule, which includes stops at some of the most popular tournament bass lakes in the country.
The regular season will kick off January 30, 2015 at Sam Rayburn Reservoir. The timing of the opening stop at Rayburn should put fish in a variety of phases of the spawn, and could very well feature some of the biggest weights of the year. The following month, the TXTT will return to Toledo Bend, which just last month played host to the 2014 championship event and was highlighted by an incredible two-day total of over 60 pounds for first place.
In March, the TXTT will visit Lake Ray Roberts, a familiar favorite that’s hosted a regular-season event each of the past three seasons. Finally, the 2015 regular season will wrap up on April 24 when the TXTT returns to Lake Texoma, a favorite among both Texas and Oklahoma anglers alike.
The two-day, entry-fee championship is tentatively scheduled for June and will once again feature higher payout and contingency prize opportunities. The location of the championship event will be announced at a future date.
2015 TXTT scheduled events:
January 31 – Sam Rayburn Reservoir
February 21 – Toledo Bend
March 28 – Lake Ray Roberts
April 25 – Lake Texoma
Championship – TBD
Along with title-sponsor Cabela’s, Texas Team Trail has also welcomed Lucas Oil®, Ranger Boats, Stratos Boats, Triton Boats, Evinrude®, Minn Kota®, Talon, RAM Trucks, Lowrance, Power-Pole, Amphibia, iON Cameras, Garmin, General Tire, SuperClean, Valley Fashion, Mustang Survival, Artic Ice and Protect the Harvest as official partners.
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Bryan's Spotted Bass Certified As New All Tackle World Record
Keith Bryan with his 10.48-pound World Record Spotted Bass - photo by Steve Adams - Bass Angler Headquarters
Keith Bryan, president of Powell Rods, a Novato, Calif. based premium fishing rod manufacturer received notice today from the IGFA that his February 22, 2014 catch of a 10.48-pound spotted bass from New Melones Reservoir has been declared the new All Tackle World Record, and eight-pound-test Line Class Record for the species.
Bryan was competing in a two-day, California Tournament Trail (CTT) Pro-Am event; an event that he eventually won, the record catch occurred on the first day of the event.
"I am speechless at this moment," said Bryan. "I already felt like I had lived a dream by winning a Pro-Am event that day, but to have that fish be declared a world record is something I would have never dreamed of being a part of."
Bryan caught the bass using a wacky rigged green pumpkin purple and copper flake (color 330) five-inch Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits Senko in approximately 10 feet of water. Bryan inserted a 3/32 Lunker City Nail Weight in the nose and rigged it on a size 2 Gamakatsu Wide Gap Weedless Finesse Hook. He threw the rig on a 6103mef Powell Inferno spinning rod and size 3000 Shimano Sahara reel filled with eight-pound-test Power Pro braided line, tipped with a leader of eight-pound-test Seaguar Invizx fluorocarbon.
"I am so proud and humbled at the same time by this notification and I am absolutely beside myself with joy," Bryan exclaimed. "I think it is a great thing for the entire Northern California fishing community and for California as a whole that the world record was once again broken in our state; I'm just felling so blessed that I get to be a part of it."
Bryan remains realistic about how long his record will stand. "As great a spotted bass fishery as the state of California has become, I'm certain that this record will fall again soon," he said. "But, to have held this record for even one day is a dream, and an accomplishment that any angler should be proud of; it is something that I can say for the rest of my life, that I caught a World Record spotted bass. This has truly been a dream come true."
B.a.s.s. Nation And Old Milwaukee Sign Deal
Old Milwaukee has become the title sponsor of 2014 B.A.S.S. Nation events.
“Old Milwaukee is a time-honored brand,” said B.A.S.S. CEO Bruce Akin. “B.A.S.S. is proud to partner its grass-roots B.A.S.S. Nation fishing tournaments with such a well-known name.”
Old Milwaukee, a Pabst Brewing Co. brand, is a lager that has earned many accolades. One of the brews, Old Milwaukee Light, is a repeated award winner at the Great American Beer Festival.
“Old Milwaukee strives to connect and reward outdoors enthusiasts on a grass-roots level,” said John Genest, Old Milwaukee brand manager. “With freshwater fishing being so ingrained in millions of Americans’ lives, Old Milwaukee is excited to support an organization that is critical to the sport’s health and growth on all levels. B.A.S.S., especially through its B.A.S.S. Nation organization, creates invaluable opportunities for passionate individuals to connect and share memorable experiences in communities nationwide. Everyone at Old Milwaukee is excited for the opportunity to enhance these efforts.”
Old Milwaukee takes the title sponsor spot for all six B.A.S.S. Nation Divisionals as well as for the 2014 season finale, now named the Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Championship, set for Nov. 6-8 on the Ouachita River out of Monroe, La.
Next up on the 2014 B.A.S.S. Nation schedule is the Aug. 13-15 Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Northern Divisional on Lake Monroe out of Bloomington, Ind. Qualifiers from eight Northern states will compete to advance to the Ouachita River championship. There, successful anglers from all six divisions will compete to win a coveted entry in the 2015 world championship of bass fishing, the Bassmaster Classic.
“We are very pleased that Old Milwaukee has joined the B.A.S.S. Nation as the title sponsor,” said Jon Stewart, B.A.S.S. Nation director. “What better time — summertime — to pair our members’ love for bass fishing and the outdoors with a cold beverage like Old Milwaukee.”
The six Classic qualifiers will be eligible to be on the Old Milwaukee Classic Fishing Team, which will be outfitted with decals on their bass boats and special jerseys designed for the Classic competition.
For more about Old Milwaukee, go to www.OldMilwaukee.com, where the entertaining “Pass Me A Beer II” video is now available, or search using the hashtag #OldMil on social media platforms.
Frog Bite Is On!!!
It's that time of year - weather is fit for only mad dogs and Englishmen . . . and frog fishermen!
Oh sure, lots of folks will trot out onto the lake for the first couple of hours each day and try to get in on the topwater bite, but few will still be out there under blazing mid-day sun. That’s too bad because in areas with ample overhead cover, the middle of the day can be the best time to get blown-up topside – if you’re throwing a Snag Proof frog.
Captain Steve Chaconas of National Bass Guide Service says the frog bite has opened-up on the Potomac River. He suggests white frogs under sunny skies, black under darker conditions.
Capt. Steve advises us to make long casts with braided line and to work lily pads which stand tall on the high tide or grass beds that get bunched into thick mats on the low tide.
One guy who knows tons about throwing frogs is Bobby Barrack of Fish Delta TV. The legendary frog-fishing pioneer has a new DVD coming out – “Turning Frogs into Toads”.
“We're pretty excited!! A compilation of HUNDREDS of hours of frog fishing come together. Learn the "How's" and the "Why's" even the "WHERE"!!!” shared Barrack. He offers a sneak peak at the NEW, full HD video on his YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72YOJVQWX_A&list=UUgubT7HhLhyOGYKJhXITXYA
University Of North Alabama Crowned Cabela's School Of The Year
The University of North Alabama capitalized on their season by taking home the much sought after Cabela's School of the Year title with a vicious lead over the rest of the field. After winning the title last year, the University of Louisiana-Monroe came in second place this season, followed by the recent B.A.S.S. Wild Card victor, Bethel University.
When asked just how prestigious this title is, the Director of College Operations, Wade Middleton, said that "this is the ultimate trophy of college fishing and most people don't quite understand the significance of the competition and the title. In order for a school to win the Cabela's School of the Year title, schools have to perform at their very best all year round, and not just one event, which is not easy by any means."
The UNA team had two of their teams finish in the top fifteen in the recent B.A.S.S Wild Card which gave them a total of 201 points to add to their overall points, now standing at 2,289 points. The staggering 133 point lead over the second place team and previous Cabela's School of the Year champions, the University of Louisiana-Monroe, was exactly what the UNA team expected by the end of the season.
Being his first season with the team, UNA junior, Cody Harrison, didn't know what to anticipate from college fishing. Harrison transferred to the university with hopes of being part of one of the best college angling teams in the nation, and is now very pleased to take home the Cabela's School of the Year title.
"I came to this school with hopes of becoming the Cabela's School of the Year. I didn't know what to expect or if it was as serious as the rest of the guys on the team made it to be, but they were right," Harrison stated. "I've fished other big tournaments and this series this was no cake walk. There are some things I didn't get to accomplish, but winning this title makes up for it all. I'm more than happy to have won the Cabela's School of the Year title in my first year as a part the University of North Alabama Bass Team. Now we have to work even harder to make sure this title stays with us!"
Robb Young, now alumnus of the University of North Alabama, past president of the UNA team, and last remaining founder of the team, will be handing over the responsibility of the team to the current team president, Dawson Lenz. Young was pleased that all of his hard work that he put into the UNA Bass Team finally rendered the prestigious Cabela's School of the Year title.
"I've been through it all with this team and honestly this title means everything to me," Young said. "From the first stages of building this team to winning the Cabela's School of the Year title, it is really a dream come true to win the biggest title in college fishing and just the way I wanted to pass this legacy off to Dawson and the rest of the team."
Middleton added, "Winning this title is the one of the biggest trophies you can win in the sport of college fishing and throughout the year the University of North Alabama proved that they can bring their 'A' game to every event."
With future seasons in mind, Lenz took ownership of the team throughout this past season as he personally recruited many new members with the intention of growing a stronger team capable of winning the Cabela's School of the Year title for years to come.
"Robb handed off the responsibility of the team and we did a lot of recruiting last year. It has been a true rebuilding year as our team has doubled in size and everyone is very passionate about winning this title in particular," Lenz said. "Now that we have such a skilled team, our expectations are to keep on this path and continue to grow as a team and win the 2015 Cabela's School of the Year title."
Rounding out the Top Ten teams in the Cabela's School of the Year title are as follows:
1. University of North Alabama - 2,289 points
2. University of Louisiana Monroe - 2,156 points
3. Bethel University - 2,103 points
4. Murray State University - 1,860 points
5. University of Alabama - 1,832 points
6. University of Tennessee - 1,711 points
7. Mississippi State University - 1,671 points
8. Georgetown College - 1,514 points
9. Clemson University - 1,482 points
10. Kansas State University - 1,467 points
For more information and complete standings of the School of the Year visit: www.collegiatebasschampionship.com
July 4th Tournament Report with AC Pro Staffer Rob Digh!
AC Pro Staffer Rob Digh talks Tournaments, and lots of em'!! His 2nd place finish at the BFL on High Rock, plus the upcoming Rayovac on Lake Champlain, the CBC on Kerr, and the FLW Cup on Murray coming this August--Click on the video for more!!
Las Vegas Man Wins $5,000 Playing Fantasy Fishing
Dickson County High School Wins Tennessee State High School Fishing Open On Lake Barkley
The Dickson County High School team of Dylan Dunnagan and Shader Brown brought a five-bass limit to the scale Saturday weighing 18 pounds, 7 ounces to win the 2014 Tennessee State High School Fishing Open on Lake Barkley. The win advanced the team to compete in the High School Fishing Southeastern Conference Championship tournament held Sept. 28 on Nickajack Lake in Kimball, Tenn.
Neither Dunnagan nor Brown claimed extensive experience on Lake Barkley, but both had spent time on nearby Kentucky Lake.
“We did pretty good today,” said Brown. “We probably caught 20 or 30 bass.”
“We wanted to fish deep, so we fished in 25 feet of water for most of the day,” added Dunnagan.
“The first spot of the morning was a long point with a really steep drop,” Brown explained. “The fish would move up on it and were hitting shad.”
The pair said that after filling their limit with fish caught on a variety of topwater baits they culled them all fishing deeper ledges with a Strike King Pro Model 5XD crankbait, a 10-inch worm and a ¾-ounce football jig.
“We’re definitely looking forward to the Conference Championship,” said Brown. “I’ll read up on my FLW Bass Fishing magazines and look up anything I can on the lake. Hopefully we can do as well there as we did here.”
The top three teams on that advanced to the Conference Championship were:
1st: Dickson County High School – Dylan Dunnagan and Shader Brown, five bass, 18-7
2nd: Calloway County High School – Trevor Salyers and Cody Jackson, five bass, 16-9
3rd: Obion County Central High – John Coble-Garrett and Jonathan Pool, five bass, 13-11
Rounding out the top 10 teams were:
4th: Alabama Student Angler Federation – Mathew Hand and William Stirling, five bass, 13-0
5th: Obion County Central High – Allen Wilson and Matt Lamastus, five bass, 11-15
6th: Calloway County High School – Brandon Bogard and Colton Jennings, three bass, 11-10
7th: Logan County High School – Jon Clarc-Todd and Thomas Poole, four bass, 10-10
8th: Gallia Academy High School – Zach Graham and Hunter Martin, five bass, 10-9
9th: Lafayette High School – Riley Cobb and Fisher Mobley, four bass, 9-0
10th: Dover High School – Hunter Coy and Cole Keatts, three bass, 5-9
The 2014 Tennessee State High School Fishing Open was a two-person (team) event for students in grades 9-12. The top three teams from each SAF High School Fishing Open held this season will advance to a High School Fishing conference championship along with the top 10 percent of each state championship field. The top 10 percent of each conference championship field will then advance to the High School Fishing National Championship coinciding with the TBF National Championship and an FLW Tour stop in the spring of 2015. The High School Fishing national champions each receive a $5,000 college scholarship to the school of their choice.
In addition to the High School Fishing National Championship, all SAF members nationwide automatically qualify for the world’s largest high school bass tournament, the 2014 High School Fishing World Finals, held on Lake Dardanelle in Russellville, Ark., on July 15-19. At the 2013 World Finals more than $40,000 in scholarships and prizes were awarded. Visit HighSchoolFishing.org for details.
Grogan goes shallow, wins BFL slugfest on Eufaula
“I started off mid-lake fishing in shallow grass with a swimjig,” said Grogan. “That’s where I caught my big fish, I think it weighed 7-11. I stayed there until about lunchtime, and then moved out and fished some deeper places in 6 to 8 feet of water around some stumps.
“The grass was anywhere from 2 to 3 feet deep,” explained Grogan. “The water is a little high right now and there are a lot of bream bedding. There was also a mayfly hatch. I think that’s why the grass was so good.
“Knowing it was a shallow bite was key,” Grogan said. “The big fish are just up shallow now.
“I think I’ve finished everywhere else inside the top-10 on Eufaula,” finished Grogan. “It feels pretty good to finally win.”
Grogan said that he fished a watermelon-colored Strikezone Lures Swim-Tastic Jig shallow and Texas-rigged Zoom worms on his deeper areas.
Rounding out the top 10 pros were:
2nd: Ryan Ingram, Phenix City, Ala., five bass, 21-3, $2,059
3rd: David Lowery, Phenix City, Ala., five bass, 19-4, $1,374
4th: Mark Holloway, Madison, Ga., five bass, 17-3, $961
5th: Pat Fisher, Colbert, Ga., five bass, 16-13, $824
6th: Jeffrey Gentry, Phenix City, Ala., five bass, 16-12, $720
6th: Mike Millsaps, Cartersville, Ga., five bass, 16-12, $720
8th: Ken Greene, Lumpkin, Ga., five bass, 16-9, $618
9th: Kenneth Westmoreland, White, Ga., five bass, 15-12, $549
10th: Justin Lanier, Macon, Ga., five bass, 15-10, $480
Complete results can be found at FLWOutdoors.com.
Chris Kirksey of Cartersville, Ga., weighed in a five-bass limit totaling 14 pounds, 5 ounces Saturday to win $2,059 in the co-angler division.
Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers were:
2nd: Charlie Dick, Conyers, Ga., five bass, 13-2, $1,030
3rd: Matthew O’Connell, Brooks, Ga., five bass, 11-13, $583
3rd: Joseph Renfroe, Cartersville, Ga., five bass, 11-13, $583
5th: Buck Hilliard, Peachtree City, Ga., five bass, 11-11, $412
6th: Austin Santos, Temple, Ga., four bass, 11-01, $378
7th: Mike Garrett, Pensacola, Fla., four bass, 10-15, $343
8th: Justin Paulus, Atlanta, Ga., five bass, 10-7, $309
9th: Brad Poole, Lawrenceville, Ga., five bass, 10-4, $275
10th: Tyler Morgan, Columbus, Ga., five bass, 10-0, $240
The top 40 boaters and 40 co-anglers based on point standings will qualify for the Oct. 2-4 Regional Championship on St. John’s River in Palatka, Fla. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard and a Chevy Silverado, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard.
Nash Wins Bfl On Old Hickory Lake
Anthony Nash of Quebeck, Tenn., weighed a five-bass limit totaling 18 pounds, 12 ounces Saturday to win the fourth Walmart Bass Fishing League Music City Division tournament of 2014 on Old Hickory Lake. For his victory, Nash earned $2,838.
More on High Rock BFL with winning pattern notes
Jeff Chandler of New London, N.C. weighed a five-bass limit totaling 19 pounds, 7 ounces Saturday to win the fourth Walmart Bass Fishing League North Carolina Division tournament of 2014 on High Rock Lake. For his victory, Chandler earned $6,009.
“It’s an awesome feeling to win,” said Chandler. “I have quite a few top-10 finishes, six on High Rock alone, so it is good to finally win one.
“I went to the back of a creek and threw a buzzbait first thing in the morning, I had two bites, but only caught one of them,” Chandler explained. “That was my best fish. It was probably about five pounds.
“In June, the thing to do on High Rock is to fish docks. So, I did that the rest of the day. The water was falling so I just targeted the floating docks. They needed to have some brush on them to be good.
“My local knowledge was key to winning,” Chandler went on to say. “I never practiced for this tournament. The good Lord just blessed me. I know how to fish docks on High Rock in June and that’s what I did.”
Chandler said that his main bait was a green-pumpkin-colored ½-ounce Lunker Lure Rattleback Flipping Jig.
Rounding out the top 10 pros were:
2nd: Rob Digh, Denver, N.C., five bass, 19-0, $2,005
3rd: Andy Greene, Spindale, N.C., five bass, 16-10, $1,336
4th: George Lambeth, Thomasville, N.C., five bass, 16-9, $935
5th: Shane Lineberger, Lincolnton, N.C., five bass, 16-8, $802
6th: Ron Wolfarth, Oakboro, N.C., five bass, 16-2, $735
7th: Robert Walser, Lexington, N.C., five bass, 15-5, $668 + $300 Evinrude Bonus
8th: Thomas Ludwick, Salisbury, N.C., five bass, 15-3, $601
9th: Rodney Bell, Salisbury, N.C., five bass, 14-15, $535
10th: James Blankenship, Lexington, N.C., five bass, 14-14, $468 + $300 Evinrude Bonus
Complete results can be found at FLWOutdoors.com.
Tyler Fisher of Salisbury, N.C., weighed in four bass totaling 11 pounds, 6 ounces Saturday to win $2,005 in the co-angler division.
Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers were:
2nd: Bill Burton, Vernon Hill, Va., five bass, 10-15, $1,002
3rd: Allen Snyder, Kannapolis, N.C., four bass, 10-14, $668
4th: Graham Rushing, Charlotte, N.C., three bass, $468
5th: Alex Hester, Monroe, N.C., four bass, 10-0, $401
6th: Michael Smith, Lexington, N.C., four bass, 9-13, $368
7th: Stanley Carper, Winfield, W.Va., four bass, 9-5, $334
8th: Chris Carnes, York, S.C., four bass, 9-3, $301
9th: Michael Fickel, Wendell, N.C., three bass, 9-2, $267
10th: Philip Morris Jr., Raleigh, N.C., three bass, 9-0, $234
The top 40 boaters and 40 co-anglers based on point standings will qualify for the Oct. 9-11 Regional Championship on Lake Cherokee in Morristown, Tenn. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard and a Chevy Silverado, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard.
117 Teams Qualify for the Alabama Bass Trail Championship on Lewis Smith Lake in October
Decatur, Ala. – The Alabama Bass Trail is pleased to announce 117 two-person teams have qualified for its first Tournament Series Championship. Hosted by Chamber of Commerce of Walker County, the championship tournament is set for October 10-11, 2014 on Lewis Smith Lake and up for grabs is a 2015 Phoenix 619 Pro and $40,000 in cash and prizes.
The 117 boats are comprised of the top 50 teams in points from the North and South divisions that fished all five events in their respective divisions, along with the top 17 student boats collectively from both divisions that fished all five events in their respective division.
The championship is a no entry tournament and the first place prize is a fully-rigged 2015 Phoenix 619 Pro with a Mercury 150, trolling motor and electronics valued at $37,495 with an additional $40,000 in cash and prizes. The official bass boat of the Alabama Bass Trail, Phoenix Bass boats will also offer the tier one First Flight incentive plan to tournament winners in a qualifying Phoenix boat.
Fishing enthusiasts are invited to cheer on their favorite teams during take-offs and weigh-ins. Take-off is set for safe daylight and weigh-in will start around 3 p.m. at the Smith Lake Dam both days.
Anglers Qualifying from North Division:
William Davis / Tim Cummings
Hadley Coan / Scott Keeling
Mike Dutton / Hensley Powell
Nicholas Reeves / Blake Hall
Jimmy Mason / Lance Walker
Bill Mayo / Walton Roberts
Nathan Brewer / Michael Brewer
Jamie Smith / Michael Rains
Brandon Staggs / Jerry Wright
Jesse Wiggins / Jordan Wiggins
Charlie Cummings / Greg Pugh
Justin Atkins / Grant Galloway
Mark McCaig / Tim Hurst
Craig Daniel / Jackie Flack
Billy Sharp / Kevin Stubblefield
Marty Likos / Michael Carter
Rahn Hogeland / Allen Guyse
Luke Kyle / Arch Cornett
Jeremy Utley /Robert Boyd
Rex Chambers / Kevin McMahan
Joe Hartley / Joey Steward
Phil Mansfield / Roger Riddle
Damien Willis / Mark Steward
Randall Stutts / Patrick Hailstone
Kenny Mattox /Drew Mattox
Michael Stevens, Jr. / Paul Arnold
Tony Parton / Marty Giddens
Adam Bain / Kris Colley
Eddie Jewell / Bobby Simmons
Kenneth Chambers / Jason Grape
Clay Madison / Kyle Patterson
Derek Fowler / Shannon Vinson
Bud Wilson / James Robinson
Kyle Glasgow / Josh Bragg
Waylon Hancock / Timothy Little
Rodney Hopkins / Richard Barthel
Donnie Story / Wayne Atchely
Charles Hemm / Rusty Strickland
Mike Raney / Michael Pharr
Jeremy Christian / Logan Johnson
Joel Green / Allen Johnson
George Crain / Rick Williams
Chad Greeson / Robbie Evans
Greg Tucker / Dillon Tucker
Jason Borden / Steve Lowery
Benjie Seaborn / Johnathon Seaborn
Christophe Leopard / Howard Kinch
Gil Summerlin / Willie Staten
Josh Butler / Jeb Tate
Scott Giddens / Paul Watson
Anglers Qualifying from South Division:
Jeston Anderson / Robbie Robinson
Chris Rutland / Coby Carden
Ralph Moseley / Terry Stevens
Ben Etheredge / Patrick Currie
David Caylor / Allen Hayes
Keith Dees / Tommy Walley
Shaye Baker / Ben Weldon
Brian Graham / Johney Weaver
Nicholas Turner / Joe Lay
Kevin Dees / Jim Smith
Wayne Miller / Rick Haynie
John Pollard / Dallas Weldon
Rickie Knight / Randall Carter
Lowell Everett / Lawrence Curd
Sambo Fish / Sam Fish
Travis Northey / Mike McDaniel
Tommy Pegues / Tyler Strock
Kyle Tindol / Ricky Baker
Justin Hamner / Chris Payne
Rex Chambers / Brent Crow
Jonathan Perritt / Jason Krasnosky
Ronnie Mask / Jimmy Harrison
Josh Aaron / Derrick Roberts
Jack Tibbs / Durward Henderson
Karl Youngblood / James McMon
Buck McDonald / Thad Crowley
Michael Hardin / Mike Hardin
Michael Presley / Lamar Ingram
Morgan Brown / Micheal Roush
Scott Luster / Brannon Jones
Clemm Parker / Donald Parker
Cecil Williams / Jerry Davis
Rusty Mask / Cody Farr
Ken Sessions / Greg Sessions
Mark Wallace / Aaron Smith
Michael Eubanks / Tyler Pitts
Will Rigsby / Greg Smith
Mitch McCall / Jimmy Simmons
Anthony Goggins / CJ Knight
Chris Ward / Herbert Ward
Jimmy Sims / Bob Lowery
Ernie Faulkner / Ken Walters
Wayne McDade / Richard Howell
Joey McCall / Mike McCall
RJ Thompson / Ryan Kelley
Larry Blount / Robert Blount
Larry Bullock / Jeremy Lowery
Billy Poiroux / Todd Sharpe
James Richerson / Craig Hamilton
James Oswalt / Linda Oswalt
Student Teams Qualifying:
Shane Cox / Ty Cox
Jack Napier / Ross Napier
Derek Pearson / Steve Thrash
Kenneth Chambers / Eli Chambers
Chris Kanute / Chase Kanute
Merrell Bell / Kyle Ragsdale
Brent Jones / Bronson Jones
Heath Greene / Ethan Greene
Jeff Benefield / Dustin Benefield
Scott Ashley / Taylor Ashley
Donnie Gamble / Trey Gamble
Kelly White / Dee White
Ryan Landers / Brent Butler
Randall Barbee / Houston Barbee
Jamie Anderson / Eli Anderson
Tyler Hicks / Zac Roberts
Lee Stephens / Aaron Stephens
Registration and briefing will take place on Thursday, October 9th at the Community Health Systems Building in Jasper, Alabama. Registration will be from 5 to 6:30 p.m. with dinner and pre-tournament meeting beginning at 6:45 p.m.
According to Alabama Bass Trail’s Program Director Kay Donaldson, the tournament is expected to pump an estimated $500,000 into the local economy of the host city through revenue generated by anglers and their family members dining, shopping, and overnighting in local hotels and motels.
Alabama Bass Trail Tournament Series’ sponsors include Bill Penney Toyota, the Alabama Tourism Department, Phoenix Bass Boats, Inc., Fishlife, Elite Outdoors Media, McDonalds of Alabama, and Pradco-FISHING representing BOOYAH and YUM, Dobyns Rods, Randy Jones Agency – Nationwide, T-H Marine Supplies, Inc., Alabama Power Company, Buffalo Rock, Inc., Jet-Pep, Inc., Tennessee Valley Authority, Rigid Industries, Inc., and Frogg Toggs, Inc., Go Pro, Gander Mountain, HydroWaveTM, Garmin, and Yeti Coolers.
For more information on the Alabama Bass Trail and the tournament series, call Program Director Kay Donaldson at 855.934.7425 or visit www.alabamabasstrail.org.
About Alabama Bass Trail
The Alabama Bass Trail is a program of the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association. Its mission is to promote Alabama as a year round fishing destination, to preserve natural resources for generations to come, and to educate high school and college aged students to be good stewards of natural resources. The 11 bass fishing lakes consist of Lake Guntersville, Wheeler Lake, Pickwick Lake, Lewis Smith Lake, Neely Henry Lake, Lay Lake, Logan Martin Lake, Lake Jordan, Alabama River (Millers Ferry), Lake Eufaula, and the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta. For more information, visit www.alabamabasstrail.org.
Chandler wins; weights are tight at BFL on High Rock
Jeff Chandler of New London, NC won the Walmart BFL tournament on High Rock this weekend with a sack of bass that weighed 19 pounds, 7 ounces. Chandler won over $4,000 PLUS Ranger Cup bonus money – an additional $2,000.
Close behind Chandler, in the runner-up spot, was Rob Digh of Denver, NC with 19-00.
Andy Greene of Spindale, NC, owner of Greene Boat and Motor, placed 3rd with 16-10.
Just an ounce behind was George Lambeth of Thomasville, NC with 16-09.
Shane Lineberger of Lincolnton, NC rounds out the top 5 a mere ounce behind Lambeth with 16-08.
Johnson Wins Flw Tour Finale On Kentucky Lake
Rookie pro Skip Johnson of Goodells, Mich., brought the fourth-largest stringer of the entire tournament to the scale Sunday – a five-bass limit weighing 24 pounds even – to win the Walmart FLW Tour at Kentucky Lake presented by Evinrude. Johnson’s four-day total of 20 bass weighing 88 pounds, 10 ounces gave him the win by a narrow 1-pound, 2-ounce margin over second-place pro Jason Lambert of Pickwick Dam, Tenn., and earned him the $100,000 prize in an exciting finale to the four-day event that wrapped up the 2014 Walmart FLW Tour regular season.
“I’m almost speechless,” said Johnson, who earned the win in his first career top-10 showing on the FLW Tour. “I knew that I was on something special and that I had a spot that I could win the tournament on. I found the spot a few years ago in another tournament and I went to it a 9 a.m. on the first day of practice. It was a creek channel, way inside where everyone else was fishing.”
Johnson said that his creek channel was located up the Tennessee River, near New Johnsonville. After realizing that he was on to something special he spent almost his entire practice nearby, making sure that no other tournament competitors found his secret.
“I’ve been watching guys drive by me all week long and it just amazes me that nobody really came in and checked it out,” Johnson continued. “It comes off the shore and makes a couple of real hard bends, and there are a couple of oxbows in it where there are two or three channels with humps in between. I was ledge fishing, but it was the ledges of the creek channel that dropped off. The fish sat on the edges of those humps in 11 to 13 feet of water. I really just banked on that one spot.”
Johnson estimated that he caught 50 to 100 fish every day and said that his key baits throughout the week were black and blue- and green-pumpkin-colored ¾-ounce Strike King Tour Grade Football Jigs with Zoom Ultra Vibe Speed Craws with the claws dipped in chartreuse dye. He said that he made a key adjustment today by slowing down with a 10-inch crawdad-colored Western Plastics worm.
“I moved to Michigan from Southern California 10 years ago and a big part of that decision was so that I could get into professional fishing,” Johnson said. “I got held up a few years and I couldn’t jump right into the Tour, so I fished a lot of local tournaments and worked my way up. I took my shot this year and now here I am today. I think I proved that I belong.”
The top 10 pros finished the tournament:
1st: Skip Johnson, Goodells, Mich., 20 bass, 88-10, $100,000
2nd: Jason Lambert, Pickwick Dam, Tenn., 20 bass, 87-8, $30,000
3rd: Snickers pro Jim Moynagh, Carver, Minn., 20 bass, 86-13, $25,000
4th: Randy Haynes, Counce, Tenn., 20 bass, 85-11, $20,000
5th: Clent Davis, Montevallo, Ala., 20 bass, 84-3, $19,000
6th: Tom Redington, Royse City, Texas, 20 bass, 83-12, $18,000
7th: Brett Hite, Phoenix, Ariz., 20 bass, 83-2, $17,500
8th: Andrew Upshaw, Tulsa, Okla., 20 bass, 82-4, $16,000
9th: Straight Talk Wireless pro Scott Canterbury, Springville, Ala., 20 bass, 80-9, $15,000
10th: Tim Malone, Gatlinburg, Tenn., 19 bass, 77-14, $14,000
A complete list of results can be found at FLWOutdoors.com.
Overall there were 49 bass weighing 203 pounds, 10 ounces caught by pros Sunday. Nine of the final 10 pros caught five-bass limits.
For the second straight season, Livingston Lures pro Andy Morgan of Dayton, Tenn., wrapped up the Kellogg’s Angler of the Year title on Saturday. He narrowly edged out Repel pro Cody Meyer of Auburn, Calif., by just 9 points in a tightly contested race that thrilled fishing fans throughout the season. Morgan clinched the second Angler of the Year title of his career after finishing the tournament in 14th place. Morgan, who received $100,000 for the title, also will receive an automatic berth into the 2015 Forrest Wood Cup.
Jason Lambert of Pickwick Dam, Tenn., clinched the 2014 Walmart FLW Tour Rookie of the Year award Friday, which is awarded to the rookie pro angler who finishes the season with the highest point total.
Cody Kelley of Conway, Ark., won the co-angler division and $20,000 Saturday with a three-day total of 15 bass weighing 54 pounds, 9 ounces, followed by Joe McClary of Kirkwood, Mo., in second place with 15 bass weighing 54 pounds, 1 ounce worth $7,500.
Braxton Setzer of Auburn, Ala., was declared the 2014 FLW Tour Kellogg’s Co-angler of the Year early Sunday morning, just one day after the title appeared to have slipped through his grasp on Kentucky Lake. Jason Johnson of Gainesville, Ga., was declared the winner Saturday after finishing the tournament in 11th place. Unfortunately for Johnson, who has fished the FLW Tour as a co-angler since 2012, that all changed when it was discovered that he had made a cast from the front deck of Cody Meyer’s boat Saturday, a clear violation of FLW Tour rules. As a result of the infraction, Johnson’s catch for the day was disqualified, giving Setzer the Co-angler of the Year title.
Coverage of the Kentucky Lake tournament will be broadcast in high-definition (HD) on NBC Sports Network when “FLW” airs Sept. 7 from 8 p.m.-9 p.m. ET. The Emmy-nominated "FLW" television show is hosted by Jason Harper and is broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, making it the most widely distributed weekly outdoors-sports television show in the world.
The Tour stop on Kentucky Lake presented by Evinrude was hosted by the Henry County Alliance and was the sixth and final event of the Walmart FLW Tour’s 2014 season. The 2014 Forrest Wood Cup presented by Walmart will be the next tournament and will be held Aug. 14-17 in Columbia, S.C., on Lake Murray. The event will be hosted by Capital City Lake Murray Country. Boats will launch from the Dreher Island State Park in Prosperity, S.C. Coverage of the Forrest Wood Cup will be broadcast in high-definition (HD) on NBC when “FLW” airs Oct. 5 from 2 p.m.-3 p.m. ET. For complete details and updated information visit FLWOutdoors.com.
For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing.
SETZER NAMED FLW TOUR CO-ANGLER OF THE YEAR AFTER JOHNSON DISQUALIFIED
Redington still leads as FLW Tour on Kentucky Lake heads into final day
Tom Redington hangs onto the lead with one day left to fish on Kentucky Lake. photo by Garrick Dixon
Boy Scouts of America pro Tom Redington of Royse City, Texas, brought a five-bass limit weighing 18 pounds, 13 ounces to retain his lead after day three of the Walmart FLW Tour at Kentucky Lake presented by Evinrude. Redington now enters the fourth and final day of competition as the No. 1 seed in the event featuring 162 of the best bass-fishing anglers in the world casting for the top cash award of up to $125,000.
Redington has brought a three-day total of 15 bass weighing 65 pounds, 12 ounces to the scale, which gives him a slim 1-pound, 2-ounce lead over second-place pro Skip Johnson of Goodells, Mich., who caught five bass today weighing 19 pounds, 12 ounces. Johnson has weighed in 15 bass totaling 64 pounds, 10 ounces in his three days of competition.
“It was way tougher today and my fish just weren’t there,†said Redington, who made his first top-10 cut of the season. “I didn’t get a limit until mid-morning. The schools that I had yesterday were kind of broken up and I was forced to scramble around and find some new fish today.
“The numbers of fish that I caught were about the same, but they were way smaller in size. And I didn’t see nearly as many fish there on my electronics. The weather was a little different today. We’d been getting storms in the afternoon, but today we had storms in the morning. I had to use finesse tactics today, like the first day. I tried throwing the big power baits, but I still only caught small fish.â€
Redington said that he threw five different baits today, but only caught fish on three. He said that because the top-10 weights were so close he isn’t really feeling much pressure heading into the final day.
“Less than four pounds separates me from 10th place,†Redington said. “Whoever catches the biggest bag tomorrow will win. It’s basically a one-day tournament now, so there isn’t much pressure.
“The worst that I can do is 10th place, so I’m not going to try to put together a small limit to save my ego,†Redington went on to say. “I’m going to fish for the big ones and if I don’t get them, then so be it. I’m going for the win.â€
The top 10 pros advancing to the final day of competition on Kentucky Lake are:
1st: Tom Redington, Royse City, Texas, 15 bass, 65-12
2nd: Skip Johnson, Goodells, Mich., 15 bass, 64-10
3rd: Jason Lambert, Pickwick Dam, Tenn., 15 bass, 64-10
4th: Brett Hite, Phoenix, Ariz., 15 bass, 64-6
5th: Snickers pro Jim Moynagh, Carver, Minn., 15 bass, 63-11
6th: Tim Malone, Gatlinburg, Tenn., 15 bass, 63-6
7th: Randy Haynes, Counce, Tenn., 15 bass, 63-2
8th: Clent Davis, Montevallo, Ala., 15 bass, 62-11
9th: Andrew Upshaw, Tulsa, Okla., 15 bass, 62-6
10th: Straight Talk Wireless pro Scott Canterbury, Springville, Ala., 15 bass, 62-2
Finishing in 11th through 20th are:
11th: John Voyles, Petersburg, Ind., 15 bass, 61-8, $12,000
12th: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 15 bass, 61-7, $12,000
13th: Scott Martin, Clewiston, Fla., 15 bass, 60-15, $12,000
14th: Livingston Lures pro Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., 15 bass, 59-6, $12,000
15th: Repel pro Cody Meyer, Auburn, Calif., 15 bass, 58-14, $12,000
16th: Jason Christie, Park Hill, Okla., 15 bass, 58-7, $12,000
17th: Ramie Colson Jr., Cadiz, Ky., 15 bass, 57-14, $12,000
18th: Charlie Ingram, Centerville, Tenn., 15 bass, 57-11, $12,000
19th: Alex Davis, Albertville, Ala., 15 bass, 57-10, $12,000
20th: Walmart pro Mark Rose, West Memphis, Ark., 15 bass, 51-12, $12,000
Final results for the remaining field can be found at FLWOutdoors.com.
Overall there were 100 bass weighing 373 pounds, 11 ounces caught by pros Saturday. All 20 professionals weighed in five-bass limits.
Pros are competing for a top award of up to $125,000 this week plus valuable points in the hope of qualifying for the 2014 Forrest Wood Cup presented by Walmart, the world championship of bass fishing. The top 35 anglers in the point standings from the six events on the 2014 Walmart FLW Tour will qualify. The 2014 Forrest Wood Cup will be in Columbia, S.C., Aug. 14-17 on Lake Murray and is hosted by Capital City Lake Murray Country. The winning angler in that event will win $500,000 – professional bass-fishing’s richest prize.
Anglers were also vying for the prestigious 2014 Walmart FLW Tour Angler of the Year presented by Kellogg’s title that is determined by the most points accumulated over the six Tour events in 2014.
For the second straight season, Livingston Lures pro Andy Morgan of Dayton, Tenn., wrapped up the Kellogg’s Angler of the Year title on Saturday. He narrowly edged out Repel pro Cody Meyer of Auburn, Calif., by just 9 points in a tightly contested race that thrilled fishing fans throughout the season. Morgan clinched the second Angler of the Year title of his career after finishing the tournament in 14th place. Morgan, who received $100,000 for the title, also will receive an automatic berth into the 2015 Forrest Wood Cup.
Cody Kelley of Conway, Ark., won the co-angler division and $20,000 Saturday with a three-day total of 15 bass weighing 54 pounds, 9 ounces, followed by Joe McClary of Kirkwood, Mo., in second place with 15 bass weighing 54 pounds, 1 ounce worth $7,500.
“These pros that we fish with are so good and they are so tough to fish behind,†said Kelley. “You have to find one little bait or one thing unique that you can do to catch a few. This week for me, it’s been a new bait from Crock-O-Gator bait company called a Swamp Bug Sr. I was able to get 8 or 9 keepers each day by slow rolling it and it was the key for me this week.â€
The top 10 co-anglers finished:
1st: Cody Kelley, Conway, Ark., 15 bass, 54-9, $20,000
2nd: Joe McClary, Kirkwood, Mo., 15 bass, 54-1, $7,500
3rd: John Wilson, Six Mile, S.C., 15 bass, 50-6, $5,000
4th: Brian Wilson, Somerset, Ky., 15 bass, 49-5, $4,000
5th: Joshua Weaver, Macon, Ga., 15 bass, 49-4, $3,000
6th: Dennis Cameron, Travelers Rest, S.C., 14 bass, 48-9, $2,500
7th: Timothy Curran, Huntsville, Ala., 15 bass, 48-7, $2,000
8th: Doug Back, Fort Myers, Fla., 14 bass, 47-7, $1,800
9th: Kyle Prskalo, Hobart, Ind., 15 bass, 47-2, $1,700
10th: Kyle Monti, Okeechobee, Fla., 15 bass, 46-11, $1,600
For a full list of results visit FLWOutdoors.com.
Overall there were 84 bass weighing 247 pounds even caught by co-anglers Saturday. The catch included 12 five-bass limits.
In addition to the top award of $25,000, co-anglers were also fishing this week for valuable points that would help them qualify for the 2014 Forrest Wood Cup presented by Walmart. The top 35 co-anglers in the point standings from the six events on the 2014 Walmart FLW Tour will qualify.
Jason Johnson of Gainesville, Ga., clinched the Walmart FLW Tour Co-Angler of the Year presented by Kellogg’s title Saturday and won a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard plus an automatic berth into the 2015 Forrest Wood Cup.
“I’ve been fishing as a co-angler for three years,†said Johnson. “My first year on Tour I practiced with Brett Hite. Last year I practiced with Cody Meyer. This year, I’ve been practicing with Brent Ehrler. Those guys are the best in the world and when you practice and fish with them, these kinds of things tend to happen.â€
The final 10 pros will take off from Paris Landing State Park located at 16055 Highway 79 N. in Buchanan at 6:30 a.m. on Sunday. Sunday’s final weigh-in will be held at Walmart located at 1210 Mineral Wells Ave. in Paris beginning at 4 p.m. The event is being hosted by the Henry County Alliance.
Fans will also be treated to the FLW Expo at Walmart on Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. prior to the final weigh-in. The Expo includes Ranger boat simulators, a Chevy Truck Tour, the opportunity to interact with professional anglers, enjoy interactive games, activities and giveaways provided by sponsors, and fans can learn more about the sport of fishing and other outdoor activities. All activities are free and open to the public. Country music star Michael Ray will perform a free live concert on the Walmart weigh-in stage at 3 p.m.
Coverage of the Kentucky Lake tournament will be broadcast in high-definition (HD) on NBC Sports Network when “FLW†airs Sept. 7 from 8 p.m.-9 p.m. ET. The Emmy-nominated "FLW" television show is hosted by Jason Harper and is broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, making it the most widely distributed weekly outdoors-sports television show in the world.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWOutdoors.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing.
Bethel U's Wilson And Morris Win College Wildcard On Pickwick
Wilson and Morris won the Wild Card with a two-day total of 48 pounds, 4 ounces of bass. After bringing in 27-5 in the first round Friday to take the lead, they slammed the door on the competition with 20-15 today to not only win the event, but also qualify for the 2014 Carhartt College Series National Championship. The team also took home the Livingston Lures Leader Award, worth $500 in Livingston products and the Nitro Big Bag honors for their Day 1 bag of 25-7.
“We had one big bass at 10:30 and only two fish with about 15 minutes to go,” Wilson said. “We were running in and decided to make one more stop on a school we hadn’t been able to get on all week.”
That stop paid off big. With only a few minutes to fish before they were due back at the docks, Wilson and Morris stopped their boat and quickly started firing casts. The bass were fired up as well.
Morris lost the first bass that bit, but Wilson boated his. “Then we both cast out and doubled. I netted mine, and he ‘boat-flipped’ his, and then we were gone.”
The duo relied heavily on a Ben Parker Signature Series spoon. It’s basically an oversized flutter spoon about 8 inches long. Wilson and Morris would fire the bait out, let it sink to the bottom, then snatch it vigorously back up into the water column before letting it fall again.
“Those were the only five keepers we caught all day,” Wilson said. “That’s the thing with that spoon, it’s tough to catch one, but when you do it’s the kind you need.”
The team that started the day in second finished in the same place. Bethel University’s Cody Ross and Dewey Swims brought a two-day total of 42-14 to the scales to finish 5 pounds. 6 ounces behind their teammates. Swims captured Carhartt Big Bass honors with his 7-10 largemouth from Day 2.
Justin Atkins and Joseph Marty of Mississippi State University finished third with 42-10.
In all, 17 of the Top 20 teams qualified for the Carhartt College Series National Championship. Three of the Top 20 teams had previously qualified for the National Championship, extending the Wild Card invitations down to 20th place.
The National Championship on Chatuge Reservoir is the next stop along the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series. That event will be held in Young Harris, Ga., July 31s through Aug. 2. Check your local listings for the airing of this week’s Wild Card on ESPNU.
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Redington leads FLW Tour on Kentucky Lake
Tom Redington weighed 24-9 today to take the lead on Kentucky Lake. photo by Collin Moore
Pro angler Tom Redington of Royse City, Texas, brought five bass to the scale Friday weighing 24 pounds, 9 ounces to grab the lead on day two of the Walmart FLW Tour at Kentucky Lake presented by Evinrude. Redington now has a two-day catch of 10 bass weighing 46-15 and holds a 1-pound, 8-ounce lead over second-place pro Scott Martin of Clewiston, Fla., in the four-day event, hosted by the Henry County Alliance, that features 162 of the best bass-fishing anglers in the world competing for a top cash award of up to $125,000.
“I caught a quick limit in the morning, but there was a definite lull and it was getting to be a bit of a grind,” said Redington, who is sponsored by the Boy Scouts of America. “Then the storms rolled in and it was hammer down time. It was a short window and only really lasted for about two hours, but I went to four different spots and caught fish. One of the spots was just one after another.
“Yesterday I had to fish with a lot more finesse and work for them,” Redington continued. “I caught 12 keepers. Today was full-throttle power fishing and I caught around 40 keepers. Every bite was a good one. Most of my fish were three pounds or bigger.”
Redington said that he threw shad-type baits throughout the day and that he caught fish on three different baits.
“I’m not even sure if I’m on the right pattern, but I know what they do during the storm. In practice, the whole time it was a lot of wind and storms rolling through. I kind of got dialed in on what was working, so when it storms I know what the fish like to do.”
Redington said that he was not fishing the big community holes, but that there were a few anglers fishing near him Friday.
“I didn’t back off at all today,” Redington said. “You really need to build up a lead, because it only gets tougher in these tournaments. If I could have caught 30 pounds today, I would have. These guys behind me are too good and someone could easily catch 30 pounds, so you better get them while you can.”
The top 20 pros that will fish Saturday on Kentucky Lake are:
1st: Tom Redington, Royse City, Texas, 10 bass, 46-15
2nd: Scott Martin, Clewiston, Fla., 10 bass, 45-7
3rd: Charlie Ingram, Centerville, Tenn., 10 bass, 45-0
4th: Skip Johnson, Goodells, Mich., 10 bass, 44-14
5th: Snickers pro Jim Moynagh, Carver, Minn., 10 bass, 44-2
6th: Randy Haynes, Counce, Tenn., 10 bass, 43-12
7th: Jason Lambert, Pickwick Dam, Tenn., 10 bass, 43-8
8th: Andrew Upshaw, Tulsa, Okla., 10 bass, 42-10
9th: Livingston Lures pro Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., 10 bass, 42-10
10th: Tim Malone, Gatlinburg, Tenn., 10 bass, 42-4
11th: Alex Davis, Albertville, Ala., 10 bass, 42-2
12: Brett Hite, Phoenix, Ariz., 10 bass, 41-11
13th: Jason Christie, Park Hill, Okla., 10 bass, 41-9
14th: John Voyles, Petersburg, Ind., 10 bass, 41-7
15th: Straight Talk Wireless pro Scott Canterbury, Springville, Ala., 10 bass, 40-13
16th: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 10 bass, 40-2
17th: Repel pro Cody Meyer, Auburn, Calif., 10 bass, 40-2
18th: Walmart pro Mark Rose, West Memphis, Ark., 10 bass, 39-15
19th: Ramie Colson Jr., Cadiz, Ky., 10 bass, 39-13
20th: Clent Davis, Montevallo, Ala., 10 bass, 3-13
For a full list of results visit FLWOutdoors.com.
Castrol pro Mike Surman of Boca Raton, Fla., won the Bridgford Big Bass Award and $500 Friday on the pro side with a bass weighing 9 pounds, 6 ounces.
Overall there were 712 bass weighing 2,344 pounds, 6 ounces caught by 152 pros Friday. The catch included 131 five-bass limits.
Pros are competing for a top award of up to $125,000 this week plus valuable points in the hope of qualifying for the 2014 Forrest Wood Cup presented by Walmart, the world championship of bass fishing. The top 35 anglers in the point standings from the six events on the 2014 Walmart FLW Tour will qualify. The 2014 Forrest Wood Cup will be in Columbia, S.C., Aug. 14-17 on Lake Murray and is hosted by Capital City Lake Murray Country. The winning angler in that event will win $500,000 – professional bass-fishing’s richest prize.
Lambert clinched the 2014 Walmart FLW Tour Rookie of the Year award Friday, which is awarded to the rookie pro angler who finishes the season with the highest point total.
Cody Kelley of Conway, Ark., leads the co-angler division with 10 bass weighing 39 pounds, 13 ounces followed by Joshua Weaver of Macon, Ga., in second place with 10 bass weighing 36-12.
The top 20 co-anglers fishing Saturday are:
1st: Cody Kelley, Conway, Ark., 10 bass, 39-13
2nd: Joshua Weaver, Macon, Ga., 10 bass, 36-12
3rd: Theo Corcoran, Independence, Mo., 10 bass, 36-0
4th: Joe McClary, Kirkwood, Mo., 10 bass, 35-15
5th: Kyle Prskalo, Hobart, Ind., 10 bass, 34-6
6th: Brian Wilson, Somerset, Ky., 10 bass, 34-0
7th: Tony Bennett, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., 10 bass, 33-3
8th: Mark Howard, Mesquite, Texas, 10 bass, 32-9
9th: John Wilson, Six Mile, S.C., 10 bass, 32-8
10th: Dennis Cameron, Travelers Rest, S.C., 10 bass, 32-7
11th: Casey O’Donnell, Bradenton, Fla., seven bass, 32-1
12th: Doug Back, Fort Myers, Fla., nine bass, 31-15
13th: Dennis Kirby, Lakeland, Tenn., 10 bass, 31-4
14th: Josh Smith, Hamilton, Ohio, 10 bass, 31-4
15th: Mike Hardin Sr., Robertsdale, Ala., 10 bass, 31-4
16th: Kyle Monti, Okeechobee, Fla., 10 bass, 31-3
17th: Jason Johnson, Gainesville, Ga., 10 bass, 30-15
18th: Keith Honeycutt, Temple, Texas, nine bass, 30-11
19th: Timothy Curran, Huntsville, Ala., 10 bass, 30-6
20th: Jeff Gengler, Fort Collins, Colo., 10 bass, 30-5
For a full list of results visit FLWOutdoors.com.
Eddie Laster of Morton, Miss., caught Friday’s Bridgford Big Bass in the co-angler division weighing 8 pounds, 4 ounces to win $250.
Overall there were 573 bass weighing 1,601 pounds, 4 ounces caught by co-anglers Friday. The catch included 74 five-bass limits.
Co-anglers are fishing for a top award of $25,000 this week plus valuable points that could help them qualify for the 2014 Forrest Wood Cup presented by Walmart. The top 35 co-anglers in the point standings from the six events on the 2014 Walmart FLW Tour will qualify.
Anglers will take off from Paris Landing State Park located at 16055 Highway 79 N. in Buchanan at 6:30 a.m. each day of competition. Saturday and Sunday’s final weigh-ins will be held at Walmart located at 1210 Mineral Wells Ave. in Paris beginning at 4 p.m.
Fans will also be treated to the FLW Expo at Walmart on Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. prior to the final weigh-ins. The Expo includes Ranger boat simulators, a Chevy Truck Tour, the opportunity to interact with professional anglers, enjoy interactive games, activities and giveaways provided by sponsors, and fans can learn more about the sport of fishing and other outdoor activities. All activities are free and open to the public. Also on Sunday, country music star Michael Ray will perform a free live concert on the Walmart weigh-in stage at 3 p.m.
Coverage of the Kentucky Lake tournament will be broadcast in high-definition (HD) on NBC Sports Network when “FLW” airs Sept. 7 from 8 p.m.-9 p.m. ET. The Emmy-nominated "FLW" television show is hosted by Jason Harper and is broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, making it the most widely distributed weekly outdoors-sports television show in the world.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWOutdoors.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing.
Wilson And Morris Of Bethel University Lead Carhartt College Series Wild Card On Pickwick
“We lost two fish that would have culled today,” Wilson said.
With a 5 1/2-pound average leading the event and a chance for that weight to have been even bigger, Pickwick certainly didn’t disappoint on Day 1. The typical offshore game paved the way for all the leaders who caught their fish on main river ledges.
The 2013 Carhartt College Series National Champions from Auburn University of Montgomery sit in 3rd place with a total of 23-14. Jacob Nummy and Tyler Strock are hoping for a chance to repeat for their school.
“Making it back to Chatuge for the National Championship is everything,” Nummy said.
This week’s Wild Card is the last opportunity for anglers to qualify for the National Championship, which will be held next month on Chatuge Reservoir.
A few anglers who have already qualified are fishing this event just for the chance to win the trophy, but the remainder teams have their eyes on the Top. The Top 17 boats will advance to the National championship and complete our field. If one of the teams has already qualified prior to this event, the invitation for the National Championship will move down the standings until 17 teams have qualified from the Wild Card.
Saturday is the second and final day of the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series. The launch will take place at McFarland Park at 5:30 a.m., and the weigh-in will begin at 2:30 p.m. on the University of North Alabama’s campus. To follow the action, visit Bassmaster.com.
Carhartt Bassmaster College Series - Wildcard
6/27/2014 - 6/28/2014
Pickwick Lake - McFarland Park - Florence, AL
STANDINGS BOATER DAY
Today's Activity Accumulative
Name # Fish # Live Lbs - Oz # Fish # Live Lbs - Oz
1. Dalton Wilson - Randall MorrisBethel University 5 5 27- 5 5 5 27- 5
2. Cody Ross - Dewey Swims Bethel University 5 4 24- 6 5 4 24- 6
3. Jacob Nummy - Tyler Strock AUM 5 5 23-14 5 5 23-14
4. Justin Atkins - Joseph Marty Mississippi State University 5 5 21- 6 5 5 21- 6
5. Dawson Lenz - Robb Young University of North Alabama 5 5 20- 0 5 5 20- 0
6. Bryan Carroll - Alan Horwatt Clemson University 5 5 19- 8 5 5 19- 8
7. Kenny Johnson - Bradley Rilling University of West Georgia 5 5 19- 3 5 5 19- 3
8. Scott Cain - Jacob Argo UAB 5 5 18-11 5 5 18-11
9. Byron Kenney - Will Tredwell University of Georgia 5 5 18- 9 5 5 18- 9
9. Nathan Woodruff - Lowell Gann Mississippi State University 5 5 18- 9 5 5 18- 9
11. Justin Cooper - John Ledet Northwestern State University 5 5 18- 5 5 5 18- 5
11. Mitch Mitchell - Evan Reid Auburn University 5 5 18- 5 5 5 18- 5
13. Michael Corbishley - Ronnie Moore East Carolina University 5 5 17- 7 5 5 17- 7
14. Mike Huff - John Hunter Georgetown College 5 5 17- 5 5 5 17- 5
15. Patrick Walters - Gettys Brannon University of South Carolina 5 5 17- 1 5 5 17- 1
16. Hayden Tilley - Alex Clayton Northeast Alabama Community College 5 5 16-14 5 5 16-14
17. Andrew Warbington - Mark Grant University of West Alabama 5 5 16- 8 5 5 16- 8
18. Jay Kendrick - Alec Castonguay Stephen F Austin State University 5 5 16- 1 5 5 16- 1
18. Justin Rivers - Colton Henderson Wallace State CC Hanceville 5 5 16- 1 5 5 16- 1
20. John Nolan - Tyler Collins University of West Georgia 5 5 16- 0 5 5 16- 0
20. Justin Royal - Colby Ogden Lamar University 5 5 16- 0 5 5 16- 0
22. Tim Painter - Jordan Backus U. of Tennessee 4 4 16- 0 4 4 16- 0
23. Thomas Oltorik III - Aaron Comeens Daytona State College 5 5 15-15 5 5 15-15
24. Josh Oliver - Nathan George Gadsden State Community College 5 5 15-12 5 5 15-12
25. Adam Neill - Logan Shaddix University of Alabama 5 5 15-11 5 5 15-11
25. Joe Thompson - Young Harris College 5 5 15-11 5 5 15-11
27. Jennings Earnest - Murphy Klumpp University of South Alabama 5 5 15-10 5 5 15-10
28. Tyler Watson - Sam Mughal UT Chattanooga 5 5 15- 0 5 5 15- 0
29. Dustyn Pendergraft - Mike Hall Oklahoma State University 5 5 14-15 5 5 14-15
30. Taylor Odom - Josh Cameron Mississippi State University 5 5 14-13 5 5 14-13
31. Matt Lipscomb - Justin Woodruff UAB 5 5 14- 9 5 5 14- 9
31. Tyler Wesley Stewart - Blake Alford U. of Louisiana Monroe 5 5 14- 9 5 5 14- 9
33. Gatlin Edge - William Shipes Clemson University 5 5 13-12 5 5 13-12
34. Logan Thomas - Ryan Kirkpatrick Murray State University 5 5 13- 8 5 5 13- 8
35. Derrick Hoffman - Brody McWilliams Indiana University 5 5 13- 6 5 5 13- 6
36. Layne Bynum - Travis McGuire Texas Tech 5 5 13- 5 5 5 13- 5
37. Kyle Price - Savanah Wride New Mexico State University 5 5 13- 2 5 5 13- 2
38. Colby Harville - Hunter Haney U. of North Alabama 5 5 13- 1 5 5 13- 1
38. Austin Herring - Tanner Ellis University of Montevallo 5 5 13- 1 5 5 13- 1
38 John Maner - Ryan Darracott University of North Alabama 5 5 13- 1 5 5 13- 1
41. Trent Palmer - Dean Mullett Georgia Southern University 5 4 12-13 5 4 12-13
42 Dalton Darnell - Daniel Green AUM 5 5 12-11 5 5 12-11
43. Brayden Price - Northwest Shoals Comm College 5 5 12- 9 5 5 12- 9
44. Tyler Craig - Joseph Grassi U. of Louisiana Monroe 4 4 12- 8 4 4 12- 8
45. Jason Shaw - Mathew Cardani Murray State University 5 5 12- 4 5 5 12- 4
46. Cody Spears - Drew Cook Florida State University 5 3 12- 2 5 3 12- 2
47. Daniel Perry - Joseph Fuller University of Montevallo 5 5 12- 1 5 5 12- 1
48. Carson Orellana - Mitchell Community College 5 5 11-15 5 5 11-15
49. Jesse Wilkinson - Nicholas DiCamillo New Mexico State University 4 4 11- 7 4 4 11- 7
50. Ethan Flack - JR Sapp Wallace State CC Hanceville 5 5 11- 6 5 5 11- 6
51. Josh Bensema - Texas A&M 5 5 11- 4 5 5 11- 4
52. Ross Burns - Richard Nesbitt Clemson University 5 5 11- 3 5 5 11- 3
53. Michaela Anderson - University of St Thomas 5 5 11- 2 5 5 11- 2
53. Travis King - Brandon Easterling University of Montevallo 5 5 11- 2 5 5 11- 2
55. Zach Bodford - Bryce Owen NC State 5 5 11- 1 5 5 11- 1
56. Weston King - Lealand Johnson University of Alabama 5 5 10-13 5 5 10-13
57. Austin Brown - Josh Holley AUM 5 5 10- 4 5 5 10- 4
58. Jacob Burns - Wesley Minor UAB 5 5 10- 2 5 5 10- 2
58. Curtis O'Daniel - Jai Rogers Northeast Alabama Community College 5 5 10- 2 5 5 10- 2
60. Bryant Quattlebaum - Jordan Tuten Wallace State CC Hanceville 5 5 10- 1 5 5 10- 1
61. Garrett Roberts - Ben Curry Auburn University 5 5 9-11 5 5 9-11
62. Brianne McMillan - Christian Smith Florida Gulf Coast University 5 5 9-10 5 5 9-10
63. Isaac Payne - Jace McDill Savannah College of Art & Design 5 5 9- 7 5 5 9- 7
64. Grant Kelly - Daniel Dix Southern Polytechnic State University 5 5 8-11 5 5 8-11
65. Layton Jones - Luke Greenwell Georgia Southern University 4 4 8-11 4 4 8-11
66. Frankie Appaluccio - Keith Kirkley University of Alabama 4 4 8- 7 4 4 8- 7
67. Shelby Concon - University of Florida 4 4 8- 0 4 4 8- 0
67. Dane Lecoq - Jordy Bloodsworth LSU 4 4 8- 0 4 4 8- 0
69. Cody Harrison - University of North Alabama 4 4 7-12 4 4 7-12
70. Tanner Crim - Marshall Hughes Tarleton State University 4 4 7- 7 4 4 7- 7
71. Kyle Alford - Clark Lawrence Mississippi State University 3 3 7- 7 3 3 7- 7
72. Zach Courtney - Seth Courtney Southeastern Louisiana University 3 3 7- 1 3 3 7- 1
73. Brandon Black - Darius Williams University of West Georgia 5 5 7- 0 5 5 7- 0
74. Blake Thomas - Clint Frederick University of North Alabama 3 3 6- 8 3 3 6- 8
75. Colin Bennett - Dylan Powley UT Martin 2 2 6- 7 2 2 6- 7
76. Konner Kennedy - Houston Turner Wallace State CC Hanceville 2 2 6- 5 2 2 6- 5
77. Cale Mathis - Kolby Bowers Abraham Baldwin Ag College 4 4 6- 3 4 4 6- 3
78. Andrew Jackson - Trey Stewartson Virginia Tech 3 3 5-10 3 3 5-10
78. Mitchell Jennings - Chuck Wise Auburn University 3 3 5-10 3 3 5-10
80. Stephen Carlisle - James Altmann University of Florida 4 4 5- 4 4 4 5- 4
81. Sam Starr - Kansas State University 2 2 5- 4 2 2 5- 4
82. Kyle Gates - Katie Edgar St Ambrose University 1 1 5- 4 1 1 5- 4
83. Andrew Tate - Colt Kelso U. of North Alabama 4 4 5- 1 4 4 5- 1
84. Jessy Meherg - Austin Keeton JC Calhoun Comm College 2 2 4-14 2 2 4-14
85. Cy Floyd - Nick Barr Eastern Washington University 2 1 4-13 2 1 4-13
86. Quinton Evans - Bryce Rambo Lamar University 3 3 4-11 3 3 4-11
87. Candler McCollum - Will Bates Auburn University 2 2 4- 8 2 2 4- 8
88. Zachary Blalock - Kyle Albers East Carolina University 2 2 4- 4 2 2 4- 4
89. Cody Kennedy - Nic Davis JC Calhoun Comm College 2 2 3- 8 2 2 3- 8
90. Andrew Suggs - Chase Coker Darton State College 2 2 3- 2 2 2 3- 2
91. Jacob Reome - Matthew Garvin Clemson University 2 1 3- 0 2 1 3- 0
92. Brandon Worthey - Auburn University 1 1 2- 7 1 1 2- 7
93. Brett Webster - Kenny Elkins U. of North Alabama 2 2 2- 6 2 2 2- 6
94. Tyler Helms - Christian Shirley Mississippi State University 1 1 2- 4 1 1 2- 4
95. Braxton Heaton - Wallace State CC Hanceville 1 1 2- 2 1 1 2- 2
96. Charlie Sipe - Christian Cook Appalachian State 1 1 2- 0 1 1 2- 0
97. Logan Brewster - Christian Peake U. of Tennessee 1 1 1-13 1 1 1-13
98. Nathan Martin - University of North Alabama 3 3 1- 6 3 3 1- 6
99. Mitch Brumbeloe - Cody Rogers University of West Alabama 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
99. Trey Coile - John Bryant University of Alabama 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
99. Benjamin Freeman - Dillon McGee Bethel University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
99. Samuel Freeman - Shawn Callahan 0- 0
99. Jarod Hughes - Zack Remedies LSU 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
99. Daniel Hughes - Lucas Johnson Georgia Regents University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
99. Austin Meeks - Josh Cagle Middle Tennessee State University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
99. Corey Pierce - Hayden Hillyer AUM 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
99. Brandon Rivers - Whitney Perkins University of West Alabama 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
99. Andrew Schoenekase - Darren Smith U. of Central Missouri 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
99. Wesley Steinmeyer - Justin Gill Georgia Regents University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
BIG BASS TOTALS
Day Name City,State Lbs-Oz
Day # Fish # Live Lbs-Oz # Limits
1 Cody Ross Jackson, TN 7- 0
1 407 401 1112-15 62
2 0 0 0- 0 0
Daniel Gray Hangs On To Win B.a.s.s. Nation Divisonal On Buggs Island
Hailing from Butler, Pa., Gray placed sixth on Day 1 and then took over the lead on a tough Day 2 after plucking two bass — both weighing 4-1 — off a spot where he had caught a 5-pounder in practice. The key area was a sandy bar extending off a clay bank right outside a small creek.
After trying other areas in the morning, Gray returned to his key area around mid-morning on Day 3 and caught a couple more keepers that sealed his victory by a 1-pound margin.
“Today, I had a great boater (William Goots of the Virginia team), and we went to his spots in the early morning, where I caught two keepers off deeper brushpiles,” Gray said. “Then he said ‘Whatever you want to do.’”
“We went to my spot, and I can’t believe it happened — it was great.”
On the brushpiles, Gray caught his fish by flipping Texas rigged plastics. His best colors were green pumpkin and watermelon red. On the sandy bar, he fished 3 1/2-inch tubes goofy rigged — essentially a weedless arrangement using a 1/4-ounce jig head.
A member of Pennsylvania’s Extreme Anglers bass club, Gray caught four bass for 10-5 on Day 3. He also broke 10 pounds on Day 1 (10-4) and had the Big Bass for Day 2 (4-1).
Overall, the Day 3 weights were better than Day 2. The average fish was a little less than 2 pounds. The Top 10 had 18 pounds or more, but the vast majority of competitors brought in 7 to 12 pounds for their total weight. Only six anglers boasted limits.
Gray not only won the overall tournament; he also topped the Pennsylvania team, which finished three spots behind first-place Virginia, the host state. The Virginia B.A.S.S. Nation state team had two anglers in the Top 10 and won the state competition by a margin of 15-1. Virginia had 181 pounds, 11 ounces, followed by Delaware with 166-10, and New Jersey with 149-15.
Gray earned an invitation to the 2014 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship, November 6-8 on Louisiana’s Ouachita River. Other state winners were Greg Alexander, Delaware; Brian Trieschman, Maryland; Michael Sentore, New Jersey; Rodney Rice, Virginia; Randy Huffman, West Virginia.
Essential to Virginia’s team victory was the performance of high school anglers Brandon Strayer and James Graves, who finished 15th overall and third on the Virginia team. Their limit of 11-9 was the largest of Day 2 and the second-largest of the tournament.
High School anglers only fish on Days 2 and 3, so their performance was particularly impressive.
“This is our fourth Divisional this year, and we’ve seen it in every one where the high school team has played a key role in the winning team’s (collective performance),” said B.A.S.S. Nation Director Jon Stewart. “Strayer and Graves had two good days of fishing on a fishery that was tough, and they ended up third on their team in two days, not three. The high schoolers are playing a huge part in what the teams do.”
Ronald Littleton’s 5-pound, 1-ounce bass won the Carhartt Big Bass honors, a $500 prize awarded to the biggest bass of the tournament. Gray won the $250 Livingston Lures Leader award, which goes to the Day 2 leader.
The next divisional in which anglers will earn berths into the championship is the Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Northern Divisional to be held August 13-15 on Indiana's Lake Monroe. More information is available on Bassmaster.com
2014 BASS Nation MidAtlantic Divisional 6/25-6/27
Kerr Rervoir, Buggs Island VA.
(ANGLER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts
1. Daniel Gray Butler, PA (PA) 11 28-11 0
2. Michael Sentore Gloucester City, NJ (NJ 12 27-11 0
3. Mike Moran Ruffsdale, PA (PA) 12 25-08 0
4. Randy Huffman Charleston, WV (WV) 12 24-14 0
5. Greg Alexander Hebron, MD (DE) 14 24-07 0
6. Rodney Rice Narrows, VA (VA) 10 22-06 0
7. Brian La Clair Denton, MD (DE) 11 22-04 0
8. Michael Burchett Pulaski, VA (VA) 11 19-12 0
9. Mark Hogan Milford, DE (DE) 11 19-02 0
10. Jerrod Lloyd Millville, NJ (NJ) 10 18-14 0
11. Bobby Smith Laurel, DE (DE) 11 18-13 0
12. Brian Trieschman Ellicott City, MD (MD) 9 18-04 0
13. Keith Cowan Mt Ephraim, NJ (NJ) 9 17-13 0
14. Paul Gietka Abingdon, MD (MD) 9 17-12 0
15. VA HS- Strayer/ Graves Madison, VA (VA) 8 17-11 0
16. Jerry Burkhart Belpre, OH (WV) 10 17-09 0
17. Ronald Littleton Seaford, DE (DE) 8 17-03 0
18. John Mcgraw Bordertown, NJ (NJ) 8 16-08 0
19. Jason Vaughn Bridgeville, DE (DE) 8 15-08 0
20. John Conway Henrico, VA (VA) 7 15-04 0
21. James Goins Baltimore, MD (MD) 8 15-03 0
22. James Dingess Barboursville, WV (WV) 8 14-09 0
23. Joe Devoe Aberdeen, MD (MD) 7 14-01 0
24. Cavin Young Prince George, VA (VA) 7 14-00 0
25. William Hubbard Ridgeway, VA (VA) 8 13-14 0
26. Roger Castillo Goode, VA (VA) 7 13-13 0
27. Greg Hylton Martinsville, VA (VA) 6 12-05 0
28. Mark Mounts Washington, PA (PA) 7 12-01 0
29. Dave Menard Henrico, VA (VA) 6 12-01 0
30. Robert Brennan Forked River, NJ (NJ) 6 11-12 0
31. Damien McMahon Pilot, VA (VA) 8 11-11 0
32. Richard Lane Pittsburgh, PA (PA) 6 11-10 0
33. Kenneth Hackworth Charleston, WV (WV) 5 11-06 0
34. Tim Stump Dover, DE (DE) 5 11-01 0
35. Russell Awad Brooklyn, NY (NJ) 5 10-15 0
36. Tyler Trent Nathalie, VA (VA) 5 10-09 0
37. Dion Bright Fairmont, WV (WV) 6 10-08 0
38. Jon Blaine Frederick, MD (MD) 5 10-07 0
39. Craig Townsend Westampton, NJ (NJ) 4 10-02 0
40. William Goots Reidsville, NC (VA) 4 09-15 0
41. Douglas Zittle Thurmont, MD (MD) 5 09-04 0
42. Eddie McNeil Poca, WV (WV) 5 08-15 0
43. David Price New Windsor, MD (MD) 5 08-12 0
44. Brian Keister Atco, NJ (NJ) 5 08-12 0
45. Darren Brooks Wenonah, NJ (NJ) 4 08-10 0
46. Bret Winegardner Swanton, MD (MD) 4 08-10 0
47. PA HS-Gower/ Mertz Lewisburg, PA (PA) 3 08-07 0
48. Bob Austin Marydel, DE (DE) 5 08-06 0
49. Christopher Napier Virginia Beach, VA (VA) 4 08-06 0
50. Mark Westrick Hastings, PA (PA) 3 08-02 0
51. Shelton Walters Felton, DE (DE) 5 07-15 0
52. Ken Baumgardner Monongahela, PA (PA) 5 07-12 0
53. DE HS- McKee/ Draper Milford, DE (DE) 4 07-09 0
54. Corey Gue Kenova, WV (WV) 4 07-06 0
55. Jeff Hall Butler, PA (PA) 4 07-05 0
56. Richard Martin Jr Sparrows Point, MD (MD) 3 07-04 0
57. Mike Morris Dover, DE (DE) 4 07-01 0
58. Eric Bennet Forked River, NJ (NJ) 3 07-00 0
59. Matt Becker Finleyville, PA (PA) 4 06-15 0
60. Al Fiorille Mt Airy, MD (MD) 4 06-05 0
61. Cliff Humpreys Philadelphia, PA (NJ) 3 06-03 0
62. Jim Fields Camden, DE (DE) 3 06-01 0
63. Randy Baran Old Bridge, NJ (NJ) 3 05-11 0
64. Todd Caddy Carnegie, PA (PA) 7 05-08 0
65. Bart Keck Finleyville, PA (PA) 2 05-08 0
66. Jeremy Mathias Monrovia, MD (MD) 3 05-05 0
67. William Kennedy Mineral Wells, WV (WV) 3 05-01 0
68. Andrew Sams Easton, MD (MD) 3 04-13 0
69. Tony Keller Charleston, WV (WV) 3 04-12 0
70. Ryan Buttermore Leetsdale, PA (PA) 3 04-06 0
71. Tommy Ford Leslie, WV (WV) 2 03-08 0
72. Joshua Cross Elizabeth, WV (WV) 2 03-07 0
73. MD HS-Wannall/ Stewart La Plata, MD (MD) 2 03-07 0
74. Jerry Meadows Uniontown, PA (PA) 2 02-09 0
75. WV HS-Goff/ Sigmon Clendenin, WV (WV) 1 01-05 0
76. Don Denault Jr Delmar, MD (DE) 1 01-04 0
77. NJ HS-Curran/ Stevenson Westampton, NJ (NJ) 0 00-00 0
77. Bradley West Vincent, OH (WV) 0 00-00 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 8 167 339-01
2 4 142 257-08
3 6 141 278-12
----------------------------------
18 450 875-05
TEAM STANDINGS Day 3
----------------------------------
State Lbs-Oz
1 VIRGINIA 181-11
2 DELAWARE 166-10
3 NEW JERSEY 149-15
4 PENNSYLVANIA 134-06
5 MARYLAND 129-07
6 WEST VIRGINIA 113-04
INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS Day 3
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DELAWARE
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz
1 Greg Alexander Hebron, MD 14 24-07 0
2 Brian La Clair Denton, MD 11 22-04 0
3 Mark Hogan Milford, DE 11 19-02 0
4 Bobby Smith Laurel, DE 11 18-13 0
5 Ronald Littleton Seaford, DE 8 17-03 0
6 Jason Vaughn Bridgeville, DE 8 15-08 0
7 Tim Stump Dover, DE 5 11-01 0
8 Bob Austin Marydel, DE 5 08-06 0
9 Shelton Walters Felton, DE 5 07-15 0
10 DE HS- McKee/ Draper Milford, DE 4 07-09 0
11 Mike Morris Dover, DE 4 07-01 0
12 Jim Fields Camden, DE 3 06-01 0
13 Don Denault Jr Delmar, MD 1 01-04 0
MARYLAND
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz
1 Brian Trieschman Ellicott City, MD 9 18-04 0
2 Paul Gietka Abingdon, MD 9 17-12 0
3 James Goins Baltimore, MD 8 15-03 0
4 Joe Devoe Aberdeen, MD 7 14-01 0
5 Jon Blaine Frederick, MD 5 10-07 0
6 Douglas Zittle Thurmont, MD 5 09-04 0
7 David Price New Windsor, MD 5 08-12 0
8 Bret Winegardner Swanton, MD 4 08-10 0
9 Richard Martin Jr Sparrows Point, MD 3 07-04 0
10 Al Fiorille Mt Airy, MD 4 06-05 0
11 Jeremy Mathias Monrovia, MD 3 05-05 0
12 Andrew Sams Easton, MD 3 04-13 0
13 MD HS-Wannall/ Stewart La Plata, MD 2 03-07 0
NEW JERSEY
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz
1 Michael Sentore Gloucester City, NJ 12 27-11 0
2 Jerrod Lloyd Millville, NJ 10 18-14 0
3 Keith Cowan Mt Ephraim, NJ 9 17-13 0
4 John Mcgraw Bordertown, NJ 8 16-08 0
5 Robert Brennan Forked River, NJ 6 11-12 0
6 Russell Awad Brooklyn, NY 5 10-15 0
7 Craig Townsend Westampton, NJ 4 10-02 0
8 Brian Keister Atco, NJ 5 08-12 0
9 Darren Brooks Wenonah, NJ 4 08-10 0
10 Eric Bennet Forked River, NJ 3 07-00 0
11 Cliff Humpreys Philadelphia, PA 3 06-03 0
12 Randy Baran Old Bridge, NJ 3 05-11 0
13 NJ HS-Curran/ Stevenson Westampton, NJ 0 00-00 0
PENNSYLVANIA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz
1 Daniel Gray Butler, PA 11 28-11 0
2 Mike Moran Ruffsdale, PA 12 25-08 0
3 Mark Mounts Washington, PA 7 12-01 0
4 Richard Lane Pittsburgh, PA 6 11-10 0
5 PA HS-Gower/ Mertz Lewisburg, PA 3 08-07 0
6 Mark Westrick Hastings, PA 3 08-02 0
7 Ken Baumgardner Monongahela, PA 5 07-12 0
8 Jeff Hall Butler, PA 4 07-05 0
9 Matt Becker Finleyville, PA 4 06-15 0
10 Todd Caddy Carnegie, PA 7 05-08 0
11 Bart Keck Finleyville, PA 2 05-08 0
12 Ryan Buttermore Leetsdale, PA 3 04-06 0
13 Jerry Meadows Uniontown, PA 2 02-09 0
VIRGINIA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz
1 Rodney Rice Narrows, VA 10 22-06 0
2 Michael Burchett Pulaski, VA 11 19-12 0
3 VA HS- Strayer/ Graves Madison, VA 8 17-11 0
4 John Conway Henrico, VA 7 15-04 0
5 Cavin Young Prince George, VA 7 14-00 0
6 William Hubbard Ridgeway, VA 8 13-14 0
7 Roger Castillo Goode, VA 7 13-13 0
8 Greg Hylton Martinsville, VA 6 12-05 0
9 Dave Menard Henrico, VA 6 12-01 0
10 Damien McMahon Pilot, VA 8 11-11 0
11 Tyler Trent Nathalie, VA 5 10-09 0
12 William Goots Reidsville, NC 4 09-15 0
13 Christopher Napier Virginia Beach, VA 4 08-06 0
WEST VIRGINIA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz
1 Randy Huffman Charleston, WV 12 24-14 0
2 Jerry Burkhart Belpre, OH 10 17-09 0
3 James Dingess Barboursville, WV 8 14-09 0
4 Kenneth Hackworth Charleston, WV 5 11-06 0
5 Dion Bright Fairmont, WV 6 10-08 0
6 Eddie McNeil Poca, WV 5 08-15 0
7 Corey Gue Kenova, WV 4 07-06 0
8 William Kennedy Mineral Wells, WV 3 05-01 0
9 Tony Keller Charleston, WV 3 04-12 0
10 Tommy Ford Leslie, WV 2 03-08 0
11 Joshua Cross Elizabeth, WV 2 03-07 0
12 WV HS-Goff/ Sigmon Clendenin, WV 1 01-05 0
13 Bradley West Vincent, OH 0 00-00 0
Collins Bass for Cash Series hits Lake Gaston
- Morning registration is planned to begin on-site at approximately 4:15 AM. Cash or check is the only form of payment accepted.
- Every team must check in at our Yamaha registration tent the morning of each event. Even if you have pre-registered, we need to know that you are in attendance and provide you with important information.
- A livewell check will be conducted as you are launching your boats near the ramp.
- Blast Off Will Begin At Safe Light – Approximately 5:30 – 5:45 AM.
- Please be checked in, have your livewells checked, and your boat in the water well in advance of the start of the event.
- Return / Weigh-In – 3:00 PM (Be Sure To Check In With A Tournament Official). Depending on the number of total entries, we may create additional flights and return times. This information will be announced prior to blast off.
- Five (5) fish limit per boat. Minimum size for this event will be 14” in length. Reminder, no courtesy measurements allowed.
- Complimentary food items and door prizes will be available during afternoon weigh-in, so stick around if you can.
We would like to remind everyone of the off-limits period as specified within the tournament rules. If you feel that you have violated this rule in any way, please contact us so that we may make arrangements to have your entry fee moved over to a future event.
Please take time to read over the complete 2014 BFCS rules as tournament rules may vary from tournament trail to tournament trail. We do not want to see anyone caught off guard.
Daniel Gray Takes Lead In Tough B.a.s.s. Nation Divisional Tourney On Buggs Island
The angler from Butler, Pa., caught only those two fish today, but with temperatures reaching 95 degrees and productivity down across the board, his 8-2 weight was actually among the day’s better sacks.
“It was tough today,” Gray said. “Yesterday, I had a limit by 11 a.m. Today, I caught these fish in the last hour. I fished yesterday’s pattern today and it was totally different.
“I was running around, trying to figure it out all day. I pulled into this one spot, got a bite and lost a 2 1/2-pounder. On the next cast, I caught one of my fish and about 15 minutes later, I caught the other one.
Gray, a member of Pennsylvania’s Extreme Anglers bass club, said he had caught a 5-pounder in today’s area during practice, so he was confident that it held big fish. Targeting breaks, Gray positioned his boat in 20 feet, cast up to 2 feet and slowly worked his bait down the contour.
“Yesterday, I was fishing some wood cover with heavy tackle; today, I had to go finesse,” Gray said. “I fished a little deeper on specific stuff I found. I tried to find out what these fish want and I think I have a good idea now.”
Overall, the Day 2 weights were significantly lower than Day 1. The average fish was a little more than 1.8 pounds. The Top 10 had 14 pounds or more, but the vast majority of competitors brought in 5 to 10 pounds for their total weight. Only four anglers boasted limits.
Tomorrow’s forecast shows partly cloudy conditions with possible afternoon thunderstorms for Day 2. The expected cloud cover will hold the air temperatures to the mid-80s.
“Today, we had clear, blue skies and the generators at the dam weren’t running at all, and that makes the water start backing up,” said Mike Bryant, Virginia B.A.S.S. Nation president. “When the water backs up, it makes for a very tough bite because you have to go find the fish. On this lake, they move out deeper.”
Gray, who had the biggest bass of Day 2, is tops on the Pennsylvania team, which sits four spots behind first-place Virginia, the host state. The Virginia B.A.S.S. Nation state team has one angler in the Top 10 (Day 1 leader John Conway) and a 1-pound, 8-ounce lead for the state competition. Virginia has 119 pounds, 15 ounces, followed by Delaware with 118-7 and New Jersey with 113-14.
If Gray maintains his lead for Pennsylvania, he’ll be invited to the 2014 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship, Nov. 6-8, on Louisiana’s Ouachita River. Other state leaders as of Day 2 are Greg Alexander, Delaware; Joe Devoe, Maryland; Michael Sentore, New Jersey; John Conway, Virginia; and Randy Huffman, West Virginia.
Ronald Littleton’s 5-pound, 1-ounce bass is currently in the lead for Carhartt Big Bass honors, a $500 prize awarded to the angler who catches the biggest bass of the tournament. Gray won the $250 Livingston Lures Leader award, which goes to the Day 2 leader.
Competition resumes Friday at 5:45 a.m. ET for the launch at Occoneechee State Park. The weigh-in will be broadcast live at 2 p.m. ET on Bassmaster.com.
2014 BASS Nation MidAtlantic Divisional 6/25-6/27
Kerr Rervoir, Buggs Island VA.
(ANGLER) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Daniel Gray Butler, PA (PA) 7 18-06 0
2. Michael Sentore Gloucester City, NJ (NJ 7 17-03 0
3. Mike Moran Ruffsdale, PA (PA) 9 16-14 0
4. Randy Huffman Charleston, WV (WV) 7 15-08 0
5. Greg Alexander Hebron, MD (DE) 9 15-08 0
6. John Conway Henrico, VA (VA) 7 15-04 0
7. Brian La Clair Denton, MD (DE) 7 15-04 0
8. Keith Cowan Mt Ephraim, NJ (NJ) 7 14-14 0
9. Jerrod Lloyd Millville, NJ (NJ) 8 14-05 0
10. Joe Devoe Aberdeen, MD (MD) 7 14-01 0
11. John Mcgraw Bordertown, NJ (NJ) 6 13-09 0
12. Jason Vaughn Bridgeville, DE (DE) 7 13-05 0
13. Ronald Littleton Seaford, DE (DE) 6 13-03 0
14. James Dingess Barboursville, WV (WV) 7 13-02 0
15. Bobby Smith Laurel, DE (DE) 7 12-13 0
16. Brian Trieschman Ellicott City, MD (MD) 6 12-10 0
17. Robert Brennan Forked River, NJ (NJ) 6 11-12 0
18. Roger Castillo Goode, VA (VA) 6 11-10 0
19. VA HS- Strayer/ Graves Madison, VA (VA) 5 11-09 0
20. Mark Hogan Milford, DE (DE) 6 11-05 0
21. Rodney Rice Narrows, VA (VA) 6 11-03 0
22. Tim Stump Dover, DE (DE) 5 11-01 0
23. Greg Hylton Martinsville, VA (VA) 5 10-15 0
24. Cavin Young Prince George, VA (VA) 5 10-13 0
25. Michael Burchett Pulaski, VA (VA) 6 10-12 0
26. Mark Mounts Washington, PA (PA) 6 10-09 0
27. Damien McMahon Pilot, VA (VA) 6 09-05 0
28. Paul Gietka Abingdon, MD (MD) 5 09-03 0
29. Russell Awad Brooklyn, NY (NJ) 4 09-00 0
30. Eddie McNeil Poca, WV (WV) 5 08-15 0
31. David Price New Windsor, MD (MD) 5 08-12 0
32. Darren Brooks Wenonah, NJ (NJ) 4 08-10 0
33. James Goins Baltimore, MD (MD) 5 08-08 0
34. William Goots Reidsville, NC (VA) 3 08-03 0
35. Jerry Burkhart Belpre, OH (WV) 5 07-15 0
35. Shelton Walters Felton, DE (DE) 5 07-15 0
37. Douglas Zittle Thurmont, MD (MD) 4 07-06 0
38. Kenneth Hackworth Charleston, WV (WV) 3 07-02 0
39. Richard Lane Pittsburgh, PA (PA) 3 07-01 0
40. Bob Austin Marydel, DE (DE) 4 07-00 0
41. Bret Winegardner Swanton, MD (MD) 3 07-00 0
42. William Hubbard Ridgeway, VA (VA) 4 06-04 0
43. Tyler Trent Nathalie, VA (VA) 3 06-04 0
44. Ken Baumgardner Monongahela, PA (PA) 4 06-04 0
45. Cliff Humpreys Philadelphia, PA (NJ) 3 06-03 0
46. Jim Fields Camden, DE (DE) 3 06-01 0
47. Randy Baran Old Bridge, NJ (NJ) 3 05-11 0
48. Jeff Hall Butler, PA (PA) 3 05-06 0
49. Jeremy Mathias Monrovia, MD (MD) 3 05-05 0
50. William Kennedy Mineral Wells, WV (WV) 3 05-01 0
51. Jon Blaine Frederick, MD (MD) 3 05-00 0
52. Dave Menard Henrico, VA (VA) 2 04-15 0
53. Andrew Sams Easton, MD (MD) 3 04-13 0
54. Brian Keister Atco, NJ (NJ) 3 04-12 0
55. Al Fiorille Mt Airy, MD (MD) 3 04-10 0
56. Mark Westrick Hastings, PA (PA) 2 04-08 0
57. Richard Martin Jr Sparrows Point, MD (MD) 2 04-08 0
58. Eric Bennet Forked River, NJ (NJ) 2 04-04 0
59. Dion Bright Fairmont, WV (WV) 2 03-15 0
60. PA HS-Gower/ Mertz Lewisburg, PA (PA) 1 03-12 0
61. Craig Townsend Westampton, NJ (NJ) 2 03-11 0
62. Tommy Ford Leslie, WV (WV) 2 03-08 0
63. Matt Becker Finleyville, PA (PA) 2 03-07 0
64. Tony Keller Charleston, WV (WV) 2 03-00 0
65. Christopher Napier Virginia Beach, VA (VA) 2 02-14 0
66. Mike Morris Dover, DE (DE) 2 02-04 0
67. Joshua Cross Elizabeth, WV (WV) 1 02-03 0
68. MD HS-Wannall/ Stewart La Plata, MD (MD) 1 01-11 0
69. Bart Keck Finleyville, PA (PA) 1 01-10 0
70. Todd Caddy Carnegie, PA (PA) 5 01-08 0
71. DE HS- McKee/ Draper Milford, DE (DE) 1 01-08 0
72. Don Denault Jr Delmar, MD (DE) 1 01-04 0
72. Corey Gue Kenova, WV (WV) 1 01-04 0
74. Ryan Buttermore Leetsdale, PA (PA) 0 00-00 0
74. Jerry Meadows Uniontown, PA (PA) 0 00-00 0
74. WV HS-Goff/ Sigmon Clendenin, WV (WV) 0 00-00 0
74. NJ HS-Curran/ Stevenson Westampton, NJ (NJ) 0 00-00 0
74. Bradley West Vincent, OH (WV) 0 00-00 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 8 167 339-01
2 4 142 257-08
----------------------------------
12 309 596-09
TEAM STANDINGS Day 2
----------------------------------
State Lbs-Oz
1 VIRGINIA 119-15
2 DELAWARE 118-07
3 NEW JERSEY 113-14
4 MARYLAND 93-07
5 PENNSYLVANIA 79-05
6 WEST VIRGINIA 71-09
INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS Day 2
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DELAWARE
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Greg Alexander Hebron, MD 9 15-08 0
2 Brian La Clair Denton, MD 7 15-04 0
3 Jason Vaughn Bridgeville, DE 7 13-05 0
4 Ronald Littleton Seaford, DE 6 13-03 0
5 Bobby Smith Laurel, DE 7 12-13 0
6 Mark Hogan Milford, DE 6 11-05 0
7 Tim Stump Dover, DE 5 11-01 0
8 Shelton Walters Felton, DE 5 07-15 0
9 Bob Austin Marydel, DE 4 07-00 0
10 Jim Fields Camden, DE 3 06-01 0
11 Mike Morris Dover, DE 2 02-04 0
12 DE HS- McKee/ Draper Milford, DE 1 01-08 0
13 Don Denault Jr Delmar, MD 1 01-04 0
MARYLAND
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Joe Devoe Aberdeen, MD 7 14-01 0
2 Brian Trieschman Ellicott City, MD 6 12-10 0
3 Paul Gietka Abingdon, MD 5 09-03 0
4 David Price New Windsor, MD 5 08-12 0
5 James Goins Baltimore, MD 5 08-08 0
6 Douglas Zittle Thurmont, MD 4 07-06 0
7 Bret Winegardner Swanton, MD 3 07-00 0
8 Jeremy Mathias Monrovia, MD 3 05-05 0
9 Jon Blaine Frederick, MD 3 05-00 0
10 Andrew Sams Easton, MD 3 04-13 0
11 Al Fiorille Mt Airy, MD 3 04-10 0
12 Richard Martin Jr Sparrows Point, MD 2 04-08 0
13 MD HS-Wannall/ Stewart La Plata, MD 1 01-11 0
NEW JERSEY
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Michael Sentore Gloucester City, NJ 7 17-03 0
2 Keith Cowan Mt Ephraim, NJ 7 14-14 0
3 Jerrod Lloyd Millville, NJ 8 14-05 0
4 John Mcgraw Bordertown, NJ 6 13-09 0
5 Robert Brennan Forked River, NJ 6 11-12 0
6 Russell Awad Brooklyn, NY 4 09-00 0
7 Darren Brooks Wenonah, NJ 4 08-10 0
8 Cliff Humpreys Philadelphia, PA 3 06-03 0
9 Randy Baran Old Bridge, NJ 3 05-11 0
10 Brian Keister Atco, NJ 3 04-12 0
11 Eric Bennet Forked River, NJ 2 04-04 0
12 Craig Townsend Westampton, NJ 2 03-11 0
13 NJ HS-Curran/ Stevenson Westampton, NJ 0 00-00 0
PENNSYLVANIA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Daniel Gray Butler, PA 7 18-06 0
2 Mike Moran Ruffsdale, PA 9 16-14 0
3 Mark Mounts Washington, PA 6 10-09 0
4 Richard Lane Pittsburgh, PA 3 07-01 0
5 Ken Baumgardner Monongahela, PA 4 06-04 0
6 Jeff Hall Butler, PA 3 05-06 0
7 Mark Westrick Hastings, PA 2 04-08 0
8 PA HS-Gower/ Mertz Lewisburg, PA 1 03-12 0
9 Matt Becker Finleyville, PA 2 03-07 0
10 Bart Keck Finleyville, PA 1 01-10 0
11 Todd Caddy Carnegie, PA 5 01-08 0
12 Ryan Buttermore Leetsdale, PA 0 00-00 0
12 Jerry Meadows Uniontown, PA 0 00-00 0
VIRGINIA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 John Conway Henrico, VA 7 15-04 0
2 Roger Castillo Goode, VA 6 11-10 0
3 VA HS- Strayer/ Graves Madison, VA 5 11-09 0
4 Rodney Rice Narrows, VA 6 11-03 0
5 Greg Hylton Martinsville, VA 5 10-15 0
6 Cavin Young Prince George, VA 5 10-13 0
7 Michael Burchett Pulaski, VA 6 10-12 0
8 Damien McMahon Pilot, VA 6 09-05 0
9 William Goots Reidsville, NC 3 08-03 0
10 William Hubbard Ridgeway, VA 4 06-04 0
11 Tyler Trent Nathalie, VA 3 06-04 0
12 Dave Menard Henrico, VA 2 04-15 0
13 Christopher Napier Virginia Beach, VA 2 02-14 0
WEST VIRGINIA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Randy Huffman Charleston, WV 7 15-08 0
2 James Dingess Barboursville, WV 7 13-02 0
3 Eddie McNeil Poca, WV 5 08-15 0
4 Jerry Burkhart Belpre, OH 5 07-15 0
5 Kenneth Hackworth Charleston, WV 3 07-02 0
6 William Kennedy Mineral Wells, WV 3 05-01 0
7 Dion Bright Fairmont, WV 2 03-15 0
8 Tommy Ford Leslie, WV 2 03-08 0
9 Tony Keller Charleston, WV 2 03-00 0
10 Joshua Cross Elizabeth, WV 1 02-03 0
11 Corey Gue Kenova, WV 1 01-04 0
12 WV HS-Goff/ Sigmon Clendenin, WV 0 00-00 0
12 Bradley West Vincent, OH 0 00-00 0
Brett Hite Leads FLW Tour event on Kentucky Lake
Hite holds the Day 1 lead on Kentucky Lake with 24 pounds, 14 ounces. photo by Brian Lindberg.
Pro angler Brett Hite of Phoenix, Ariz., brought a five-bass limit to the scale Thursday weighing 24 pounds, 14 ounces to grab the lead after day one of the Walmart FLW Tour at Kentucky Lake presented by Evinrude. Hite now holds a 2-pound, 3-ounce lead heading into day two of the four-day event, hosted by the Henry County Alliance, that features 162 of the best bass-fishing anglers in the world competing for a top cash award of up to $125,000.
Right behind Hite in second-place is pro Randy Haynes of Counce, Tenn., who weighed in five bass for 22 pounds, 11 ounces. Haynes was the winner of the Rayovac FLW Series tournament held on Kentucky Lake just one month ago.
“I had an early boat draw, and I ran to a spot that I had found real late in the last day of our practice period,” said Hite, who won the first FLW Tour event of the season at Lake Okeechobee in February. “I got my boat in just the right position and I was catching them literally cast after cast after cast.”
Hite estimated that he caught around 20 keepers, but stopped fishing at noon to conserve his fish.
“You start throwing back 3½ -pounders and you know that those are going to be crucial fish later in the tournament,” Hite said. “I fished there until about noon, then got off in the flats and put my Minn Kota Talons down and just kind of protected that spot. I probably could have stayed on it and maybe caught another big one, but that’s always a tough decision. I figured that I wanted to catch around 25 pounds. You can’t win the tournament the first day, but you can lose it.”
Hite said that he used a variety of different baits to get his school of bass biting.
“I’ve got a whole deck full of rods. You catch one on a certain bait and then you have to go back and kind of trick them to bite on something else. I’m just rolling through a bunch of different baits trying to get that school fired up.
“I’ve got a couple of other really good ledges that I didn’t even go to today,” Hite went on to say. “I had a lot of spectators watching me, but they were all really considerate. They gave me plenty of space to work.”
The top 10 pros after day one on Kentucky Lake are:
1st: Brett Hite, Phoenix, Ariz., five bass, 24-14
2nd: Randy Haynes, Counce, Tenn., five bass, 22-11
3rd: Scott Martin, Clewiston, Fla., five bass, 22-8
4th: Charlie Ingram, Centerville, Tenn., five bass, 22-6
4th: Tom Redington, Royse City, Texas, five bass, 22-6
6th: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., five bass, 22-4
7th: Jason Christie, Park Hill, Okla., five bass, 22-1
8th: Skip Johnson, Goodells, Mich., five bass, 22-0
9th: Snickers pro Jim Moynagh, Carver, Minn., five bass, 21-6
10th: Livingston Lures pro Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., five bass, 21-4
For a full list of results visit FLWOutdoors.com.
Hite also won the Bridgford Big Bass Award on the pro side Thursday with a bass weighing 7 pounds, 5 ounces to win the $500 prize.
Overall there were 736 bass weighing 2,362 pounds, 2 ounces caught by 159 pros Thursday. The catch included 131 five-bass limits.
Pros are competing for a top award of up to $125,000 this week plus valuable points in the hope of qualifying for the 2014 Forrest Wood Cup presented by Walmart, the world championship of bass fishing. The top 35 anglers in the point standings from the six events on the 2014 Walmart FLW Tour will qualify. The 2014 Forrest Wood Cup will be in Columbia, S.C., Aug. 14-17 on Lake Murray and is hosted by Capital City Lake Murray Country. The winning angler in that event will win $500,000 – professional bass-fishing’s richest prize.
Theo Corcoran of Independence, Mo., leads the co-angler division with five bass weighing 22 pounds, 6 ounces followed by Mark Howard of Mesquite, Texas, in second place with five bass weighing 21-1.
The top 10 co-anglers are:
1st: Theo Corcoran, Independence, Mo., five bass, 22-6
2nd: Mark Howard, Mesquite, Texas, five bass, 21-1
3rd: Greg Scott, Dearborn, Mich., five bass, 20-15
4th: Keith Honeycutt, Temple, Texas, five bass, 19-14
5th: Tony Bennett, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., five bass, 19-7
6th: Cody Kelley, Conway, Ark., five bass, 18-11
7th: Dennis Cameron, Travelers Rest, S.C., five bass, 18-8
7th: Timothy Curran, Huntsville, Ala., five bass, 18-8
7th: Joe McClary, Kirkwood, Mo., five bass, 18-8
10th: Jeff Rikard, Leesville, S.C., five bass, 17-13
For a full list of results visit FLWOutdoors.com.
Corcoran caught Thursday’s Bridgford Big Bass in the co-angler division weighing 6 pounds, 2 ounces to win the $250 prize.
Overall there were 622 bass weighing 1,735 pounds, 1 ounce caught by co-anglers Thursday. The catch included 94 five-bass limits.
Co-anglers are fishing for a top award of $25,000 this week plus valuable points that could help them qualify for the 2014 Forrest Wood Cup presented by Walmart. The top 35 co-anglers in the point standings from the six events on the 2014 Walmart FLW Tour will qualify.
Anglers will take off from Paris Landing State Park located at 16055 Highway 79 N. in Buchanan at 6:30 a.m. each day of competition. Friday’s weigh-ins will be held at Paris Landing beginning at 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday’s final weigh-ins will be held at Walmart located at 1210 Mineral Wells Ave. in Paris beginning at 4 p.m.
Fans will also be treated to the FLW Expo at Walmart on Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. prior to the final weigh-ins. The Expo includes Ranger boat simulators, a Chevy Truck Tour, the opportunity to interact with professional anglers, enjoy interactive games, activities and giveaways provided by sponsors, and fans can learn more about the sport of fishing and other outdoor activities. All activities are free and open to the public. Also on Sunday, country music star Michael Ray will perform a free live concert on the Walmart weigh-in stage at 3 p.m.
Coverage of the Kentucky Lake tournament will be broadcast in high-definition (HD) on NBC Sports Network when “FLW” airs Sept. 7 from 8 p.m.-9 p.m. ET. The Emmy-nominated "FLW" television show is hosted by Jason Harper and is broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, making it the most widely distributed weekly outdoors-sports television show in the world.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWOutdoors.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing.
Girls Come To Fish In Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Wild Card On Pickwick
Savanah Wride, right
Savanah Wride is going to Yellowstone National Park later this simmer for an internship working with cutthroat trout, but first she has a little business to handle with the black bass in Alabama's Pickwick Lake.
Wride just graduated from New Mexico State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology. But, as a member of the school's acclaimed fishing team, she is still qualified to fish in the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Wild Card on Pickwick this week in hopes of qualifying for the 2014 Carhartt College Series National Championship on Georgia's Chatuge Reservoir in August.
She is one of six coed anglers fishing the Wild Card, said Hank Weldon, tournament director for the college series, who said the field this week includes 260 anglers in 130 teams.
“There is a growing number of girls joining the college fishing teams. We see more and more of them competing with us each year,” Weldon said.
Wride has been on Pickwick practicing since Monday for her fourth tournament as a competing college angler.
“We did really good at Clear Lake,” she said. “We were just four places from qualifying for the national, so we came down here to see if we could get in.”
The winner at Clear Lake, site of the Carhartt Western Bassmaster College Conference Regional last month, was another New Mexico State fishing team, Guillermo “Memo” Nunez and Tanner Cooper who added the Western Conference title to the Central Conference title they won in 2013.
“We have not talked too much to them on this trip since they are already qualified but we have learned quite a lot from them” Wride said. “Tanner is a good teacher.”
Although they have found some “decent” fish in practice, Wride said they are still looking for the kind of fish that could win the tournament. However, the week has already provided one success for her.
“I caught my biggest smallmouth here, about 3 pounds. I was hoping for a big smallie this week and I got it.”
While she and her teammates have managed to get in some solid practice time, some of the other collegiate anglers are not so fortunate.
Whitney Perkins, a senior at West Alabama University, has been in mid-term exams all week.
“I will be leaving for Pickwick about 7:30 Thursday morning,” she said. “If my boat gets there in time we are going to try to get on the water for a little bit before we have to go to the meeting Thursday.”
Perkins, who has never fished Pickwick before, said at this point she is not sure what her strategy will be for the tournament.
“I think they will be out on the ledges, but I guess I will just have to figure it out when I get there,” she said.
To be eligible to fish the Wild Card, anglers had to fish their regional qualifying tournament or have a medical or school excuse that prevented them from fishing their qualifier. They have a mandatory pre-tournament meeting Thursday evening.
The contestants will take off from McFarland Park at 5:30 a.m. CT Friday and Saturday. Weigh-ins will be held Friday and Saturday beginning at 2:30 p.m. CT at the University of North Alabama.
Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Wildcard
Jun 27-28, 2014
Pickwick Lake
Pickett Planning To Compete Hard And Have Fun In Bfl Music City Tournament On Old Hickory
Lloyd Pickett Jr
As much as he loves the competition and as much as he loves to win, tournament angler Lloyd Pickett Jr. loves the fishing even more.
“One of the great things about bass fishing is that I really enjoy it,” said Pickett, a veteran of numerous FLW and B.A.S.S. competitions over the years. “It's relaxing for me. A lot of guys stress out in a major tournament, but I am pretty calm with it – and I have had some success with it.”
The Bartlett, Tenn., angler just fished the BFL All-American on Wilson Lake two weeks ago and he will be trying to elevate his status in the points standings in the BFL Music City Division tournament Saturday on Old Hickory Lake near Nashville. He finished 6th in the All-American, earning $12,000 plus a $5,000 Ranger Cup bonus.
“That was a tough one at Wilson Lake,” he said, “three days of storms, storms, storms and wind. Old Hickory is going to be an easy tournament.”
Pickett said he believes the winning pattern will be on the offshore ledges, although some anglers, he said, will also be fishing shallow.
“If you go upriver and up some of the smaller creeks there are bushes and brush. I think guys will be able to catch fish early throwing topwaters and buzzbaits around that, and probably swimming flukes under the limbs on the shady side, but I'll be out in the middle of the lake Carolina-rigging,” he said.
“The fish are in a summer pattern. While Old Hickory is not really known for ledge fishing, there are a lot of ledges, roadbeds and drops. It's like fishing the Tennessee River system lakes. I've been able to locate some bigger fish out on those drops.”
Pickett said he also plans to fish with a new Bass Assault jig that he acquired before the All-American.
“It's a really good jig for jerking. It has a groove from the eye down to where the skirt stops. Like on Kentucky Lake you can take this jig and let it drop, then jerk it up about three feet and let it fall. That jig worked for me at Wilson Lake so I imagine I will do a lot of that along with Carolina rigging.”
Pickett said his goal at Old Hickory will be to improve his position in the Music City Division standings where he is in 26th place.
“I need to catch a few keepers for the points and then go for the win,” he said. “Then I need to go to Pickwick and have a good shot at the All-American.”
Even though he will probably have to fish hard to reach those goals, Pickett said he will still have fun doing it.
“If you get to the point where you set the hook and your heart is not pounding a little bit, then maybe you need to be swinging a golf club or something. But I am really not a good golfer, to I guess I will just keep fishing.”
Walmart BFL – Music City Division
Sat, Jun 28, 2014
Old Hickory Lake
Bulls Creek Access (Flipper’s)
John Conway Leads B.a.s.s. Nation Divisional On Buggs Island
Keeping his cool in hot conditions was the key for Virginia angler John Conway, who leads the first day of the Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Mid-Atlantic Divisional on Kerr Lake/Buggs Island Reservoir with a five-bass limit that weighed 11 pounds, 13 ounces.
“I used a mix of reaction baits and slower presentations today,” Conway said. “I started out with moving baits in the morning and then went to flipping in the afternoon. In this hot weather, they’d tuck up under the shade when the sun got up.”
With overcast skies greeting anglers at the morning takeoff, Conway said he threw a buzzbait during the early morning hours. He then transitioned to flipping jigs and big Texas rigged worms later in the day.
Deeper docks in 10 to 12 feet of water were his main flipping targets. No one spot produced particularly well, so Conway had to hit approximately 25 locations.
“It was just a whole lot of moving and a whole lot of casting,” he said.
Residing in Henrico, Va., Conway is a member of the Big M Bassmasters Club. He holds a 13-ounce lead over second-place competitor Michael Sentore, of Gloucester City, N.J., who caught four bass for 11 pounds.
Overall, the Day 1 weights were light. The average fish was a little more than 2 pounds. The Top 10 had 8 pounds or more, but the vast majority of competitors brought in 3 to 6 pounds for their total weight. Only eight anglers boasted limits.
Tomorrow’s forecast shows more sunny conditions for Day 2. Mike Bryant, president of the Virginia B.A.S.S. Nation, said he thought the weights were a little lower than anticipated. Many of his team members reported that the bass were noncommittal, and several anglers said they lost fish that hit hard but avoided solid hookups.
“This lake changes every day, so tomorrow we may see everybody bring in limits,” Bryant said.
Conway not only leads the overall tournament, he also is tops on the Virginia team, which is in second place behind leader Delaware. The Delaware B.A.S.S. Nation state team has one angler in the Top 10 and a 13-pound, 3-ounce lead for the state competition. Delaware has 74 pounds, 1 ounce, followed by Virginia, the host state, with 60-14, and New Jersey with 57-13.
If Conway maintains his lead for Virginia, he’ll be invited to the 2014 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship, Nov. 6-8, on Louisiana’s Ouachita River. Other state leaders as of Day 1 are Jason Vaughn, Delaware; Joe Devoe, Maryland; Michael Sentore, New Jersey; Mike Moran, Pennsylvania; and Randy Huffman, West Virginia.
Ronald Littleton’s 5-pound, 1-ounce bass is currently in the lead for Carhartt Big Bass honors, a $500 prize awarded to the angler who catches the biggest bass of the tournament. The competitor who has the overall tournament lead Thursday will win the $250 Livingston Lures Leader award, which goes to the Day 2 leader.
Competition continues Thursday and Friday at 5:45 a.m. ET for the launch at Occoneechee State Park. The weigh-in will take place at the same location both days at 2 p.m. ET. Check for updates throughout the day on Bassmaster.com.
2014 BASS Nation MidAtlantic Divisional 6/25-6/27
Kerr Rervoir, Buggs Island VA.
(ANGLER) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts
1. John Conway Henrico, VA (VA) 5 11-13 0
2. Michael Sentore Gloucester City, NJ (NJ 4 11-00 0
3. Randy Huffman Charleston, WV (WV) 4 10-12 0
4. John Mcgraw Bordertown, NJ (NJ) 5 10-09 0
5. Mike Moran Ruffsdale, PA (PA) 5 10-07 0
6. Daniel Gray Butler, PA (PA) 5 10-04 0
7. James Dingess Barboursville, WV (WV) 5 09-10 0
8. Jason Vaughn Bridgeville, DE (DE) 5 09-04 0
9. Mark Mounts Washington, PA (PA) 5 09-02 0
10. Joe Devoe Aberdeen, MD (MD) 4 08-14 0
11. Ronald Littleton Seaford, DE (DE) 3 08-07 0
12. Rodney Rice Narrows, VA (VA) 4 07-14 0
13. Damien McMahon Pilot, VA (VA) 5 07-13 0
14. Bobby Smith Laurel, DE (DE) 4 07-13 0
15. Brian La Clair Denton, MD (DE) 3 07-13 0
15. Tim Stump Dover, DE (DE) 3 07-13 0
17. Cavin Young Prince George, VA (VA) 3 07-10 0
18. Paul Gietka Abingdon, MD (MD) 4 07-08 0
19. David Price New Windsor, MD (MD) 4 07-07 0
20. Brian Trieschman Ellicott City, MD (MD) 3 07-06 0
21. Mark Hogan Milford, DE (DE) 4 07-05 0
22. Michael Burchett Pulaski, VA (VA) 4 07-03 0
23. Greg Alexander Hebron, MD (DE) 4 06-07 0
24. Shelton Walters Felton, DE (DE) 4 06-04 0
25. Jerrod Lloyd Millville, NJ (NJ) 3 05-15 0
26. Kenneth Hackworth Charleston, WV (WV) 2 05-15 0
27. Robert Brennan Forked River, NJ (NJ) 3 05-13 0
28. Bob Austin Marydel, DE (DE) 3 05-12 0
28. Douglas Zittle Thurmont, MD (MD) 3 05-12 0
30. Richard Lane Pittsburgh, PA (PA) 2 05-12 0
31. Roger Castillo Goode, VA (VA) 3 05-05 0
32. Andrew Sams Easton, MD (MD) 3 04-13 0
33. Eddie McNeil Poca, WV (WV) 3 04-09 0
34. James Goins Baltimore, MD (MD) 3 04-07 0
35. Russell Awad Brooklyn, NY (NJ) 2 04-05 0
35. Cliff Humpreys Philadelphia, PA (NJ) 2 04-05 0
37. Eric Bennet Forked River, NJ (NJ) 2 04-04 0
38. Tyler Trent Nathalie, VA (VA) 2 04-02 0
39. Dion Bright Fairmont, WV (WV) 2 03-15 0
40. William Goots Reidsville, NC (VA) 1 03-15 0
41. Jim Fields Camden, DE (DE) 2 03-11 0
41. Craig Townsend Westampton, NJ (NJ) 2 03-11 0
43. Greg Hylton Martinsville, VA (VA) 1 03-10 0
44. Matt Becker Finleyville, PA (PA) 2 03-07 0
44. Keith Cowan Mt Ephraim, NJ (NJ) 2 03-07 0
44. Jeff Hall Butler, PA (PA) 2 03-07 0
47. Mark Westrick Hastings, PA (PA) 1 03-04 0
48. Randy Baran Old Bridge, NJ (NJ) 2 03-00 0
49. Ken Baumgardner Monongahela, PA (PA) 2 02-15 0
50. Richard Martin Jr Sparrows Point, MD (MD) 1 02-10 0
51. William Kennedy Mineral Wells, WV (WV) 1 02-05 0
52. Mike Morris Dover, DE (DE) 1 02-04 0
53. Bret Winegardner Swanton, MD (MD) 1 02-03 0
54. Al Fiorille Mt Airy, MD (MD) 1 01-12 0
55. Jerry Burkhart Belpre, OH (WV) 1 01-11 0
56. Tommy Ford Leslie, WV (WV) 1 01-10 0
56. Bart Keck Finleyville, PA (PA) 1 01-10 0
58. William Hubbard Ridgeway, VA (VA) 1 01-09 0
59. Todd Caddy Carnegie, PA (PA) 1 01-08 0
59. Brian Keister Atco, NJ (NJ) 1 01-08 0
61. Tony Keller Charleston, WV (WV) 1 01-06 0
62. Don Denault Jr Delmar, MD (DE) 1 01-04 0
63. Jon Blaine Frederick, MD (MD) 0 00-00 0
63. Darren Brooks Wenonah, NJ (NJ) 0 00-00 0
63. Ryan Buttermore Leetsdale, PA (PA) 0 00-00 0
63. Joshua Cross Elizabeth, WV (WV) 0 00-00 0
63. DE HS- McKee/ Draper Milford, DE (DE) 0 00-00 0
63. VA HS- Strayer/ Graves Madison, VA (VA) 0 00-00 0
63. Corey Gue Kenova, WV (WV) 0 00-00 0
63. Jeremy Mathias Monrovia, MD (MD) 0 00-00 0
63. Jerry Meadows Uniontown, PA (PA) 0 00-00 0
63. Dave Menard Henrico, VA (VA) 0 00-00 0
63. PA HS-Gower/ Mertz Lewisburg, PA (PA) 0 00-00 0
63. Christopher Napier Virginia Beach, VA (VA) 0 00-00 0
63. WV HS-Goff/ Sigmon Clendenin, WV (WV) 0 00-00 0
63. NJ HS-Curran/ Stevenson Westampton, NJ (NJ) 0 00-00 0
63. MD HS-Wannall/ Stewart La Plata, MD (MD) 0 00-00 0
63. Bradley West Vincent, OH (WV) 0 00-00 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 8 167 339-01
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8 167 339-01
TEAM STANDINGS Day 1
----------------------------------
State Lbs-Oz
1 DELAWARE 74-01
2 VIRGINIA 60-14
3 NEW JERSEY 57-13
4 MARYLAND 52-12
5 PENNSYLVANIA 51-12
6 WEST VIRGINIA 41-13
INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS Day 1
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DELAWARE
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz
1 Jason Vaughn Bridgeville, DE 5 09-04 0
2 Ronald Littleton Seaford, DE 3 08-07 0
3 Bobby Smith Laurel, DE 4 07-13 0
4 Brian La Clair Denton, MD 3 07-13 0
4 Tim Stump Dover, DE 3 07-13 0
6 Mark Hogan Milford, DE 4 07-05 0
7 Greg Alexander Hebron, MD 4 06-07 0
8 Shelton Walters Felton, DE 4 06-04 0
9 Bob Austin Marydel, DE 3 05-12 0
10 Jim Fields Camden, DE 2 03-11 0
11 Mike Morris Dover, DE 1 02-04 0
12 Don Denault Jr Delmar, MD 1 01-04 0
13 DE HS- McKee/ Draper Milford, DE 0 00-00 0
MARYLAND
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz
1 Joe Devoe Aberdeen, MD 4 08-14 0
2 Paul Gietka Abingdon, MD 4 07-08 0
3 David Price New Windsor, MD 4 07-07 0
4 Brian Trieschman Ellicott City, MD 3 07-06 0
5 Douglas Zittle Thurmont, MD 3 05-12 0
6 Andrew Sams Easton, MD 3 04-13 0
7 James Goins Baltimore, MD 3 04-07 0
8 Richard Martin Jr Sparrows Point, MD 1 02-10 0
9 Bret Winegardner Swanton, MD 1 02-03 0
10 Al Fiorille Mt Airy, MD 1 01-12 0
11 Jon Blaine Frederick, MD 0 00-00 0
11 Jeremy Mathias Monrovia, MD 0 00-00 0
11 MD HS-Wannall/ Stewart La Plata, MD 0 00-00 0
NEW JERSEY
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz
1 Michael Sentore Gloucester City, NJ 4 11-00 0
2 John Mcgraw Bordertown, NJ 5 10-09 0
3 Jerrod Lloyd Millville, NJ 3 05-15 0
4 Robert Brennan Forked River, NJ 3 05-13 0
5 Russell Awad Brooklyn, NY 2 04-05 0
5 Cliff Humpreys Philadelphia, PA 2 04-05 0
7 Eric Bennet Forked River, NJ 2 04-04 0
8 Craig Townsend Westampton, NJ 2 03-11 0
9 Keith Cowan Mt Ephraim, NJ 2 03-07 0
10 Randy Baran Old Bridge, NJ 2 03-00 0
11 Brian Keister Atco, NJ 1 01-08 0
12 Darren Brooks Wenonah, NJ 0 00-00 0
12 NJ HS-Curran/ Stevenson Westampton, NJ 0 00-00 0
PENNSYLVANIA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz
1 Mike Moran Ruffsdale, PA 5 10-07 0
2 Daniel Gray Butler, PA 5 10-04 0
3 Mark Mounts Washington, PA 5 09-02 0
4 Richard Lane Pittsburgh, PA 2 05-12 0
5 Matt Becker Finleyville, PA 2 03-07 0
5 Jeff Hall Butler, PA 2 03-07 0
7 Mark Westrick Hastings, PA 1 03-04 0
8 Ken Baumgardner Monongahela, PA 2 02-15 0
9 Bart Keck Finleyville, PA 1 01-10 0
10 Todd Caddy Carnegie, PA 1 01-08 0
11 Ryan Buttermore Leetsdale, PA 0 00-00 0
11 Jerry Meadows Uniontown, PA 0 00-00 0
11 PA HS-Gower/ Mertz Lewisburg, PA 0 00-00 0
VIRGINIA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz
1 John Conway Henrico, VA 5 11-13 0
2 Rodney Rice Narrows, VA 4 07-14 0
3 Damien McMahon Pilot, VA 5 07-13 0
4 Cavin Young Prince George, VA 3 07-10 0
5 Michael Burchett Pulaski, VA 4 07-03 0
6 Roger Castillo Goode, VA 3 05-05 0
7 Tyler Trent Nathalie, VA 2 04-02 0
8 William Goots Reidsville, NC 1 03-15 0
9 Greg Hylton Martinsville, VA 1 03-10 0
10 William Hubbard Ridgeway, VA 1 01-09 0
11 VA HS- Strayer/ Graves Madison, VA 0 00-00 0
11 Dave Menard Henrico, VA 0 00-00 0
11 Christopher Napier Virginia Beach, VA 0 00-00 0
WEST VIRGINIA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz
1 Randy Huffman Charleston, WV 4 10-12 0
2 James Dingess Barboursville, WV 5 09-10 0
3 Kenneth Hackworth Charleston, WV 2 05-15 0
4 Eddie McNeil Poca, WV 3 04-09 0
5 Dion Bright Fairmont, WV 2 03-15 0
6 William Kennedy Mineral Wells, WV 1 02-05 0
7 Jerry Burkhart Belpre, OH 1 01-11 0
8 Tommy Ford Leslie, WV 1 01-10 0
9 Tony Keller Charleston, WV 1 01-06 0
10 Joshua Cross Elizabeth, WV 0 00-00 0
10 Corey Gue Kenova, WV 0 00-00 0
10 WV HS-Goff/ Sigmon Clendenin, WV 0 00-00 0
10 Bradley West Vincent, OH 0 00-00 0
Morgan and Meyer square off for FLW AOY Title
Reining FLW Angler of the Year, Andy Morgan, has been the model of consistency over his 19 year career highlighted by his current streak of seven straight seasons finishing within the top ten in AOY standings dating back to 2007. En route to his first title in 2013, Morgan placed 10th or better in five of the six FLW Tour events outpacing his nearest competitor by nearly 50 points. This season, however, heading into the final event this week at Kentucky Lake, a far different scenario has unfolded. Despite a nearly identical ledger of quality finishes, Morgan finds himself with company atop the leaderboard and is faced with the very real possibility he may amass the highest points total in FLW history only to be eclipsed by Cody Meyer, who currently sits in 2nd with a mere 8 points to overcome.
In only his fifth season on the FLW Tour, Cody Meyer has already established himself among the most consistent players in the game accomplishing three consecutive years within the top 15 of the points standings. To date, his best overall season came in 2012 where he finished 5th overall. Although a tough task lay ahead, there may be no angler better suited to take it on. Earlier this season Meyer set the FLW record for consecutive limits weighed in competition at 50; a streak that spanned over 3 years of competition.
When asked about what it takes to win the Angler of the Year, it’s no surprise what Meyer pinpointed as the key, opining, “Winning the Angler of the Year is all about consistency, it’s what makes Andy so great. I have worked hard at being consistent and I think it’s starting to pay off. "
While consistency is certainly of value in the year end points race, with only a single tournament remaining it begs the question, does Meyer alter his strategy in hopes of making up the eight points? When asked if he’d considered such a thing, Meyer replied. "I won't change how I have been fishing, but I know it's going to take an incredible tournament to beat Andy by eight or nine spots.†Despite his realistic viewpoint, Meyer is still confident in his ability, stating, “Beating Andy by even one spot is tough. It's a big challenge, but I like challenges."
Although it wasn’t until 2011 that FLW began awarding a cash prize for the Angler of the Year, the title has always held an unparalleled prestige especially among the anglers themselves. It not only recognizes a tremendous season-long accomplishment, it also positions the angler among the greats of the sport, an achievement that is for lack of a better word: priceless. When asked what the title would mean to either angler their responses were indicative of the type of competitors they are.
Meyer explains, "I am trying not to think about the A.O.Y. title, but if I should win it, it would be huge for me. To come out here and compete with these guys has always been an honor and to win an award, amongst this level of competition from over 150 phenomenal anglers, well, that would be unreal. Honestly, I'm not too sure what I would do should I win, but I'll figure that out if or when it happens."
Morgan, known for his gunslinger style, appropriately said, "I just go fishing and bring my best five bass to the scales. I've never set out to do anything other than catch the biggest five fish I can each day. It's worked out for me over the years, and I think I'll do the same thing this week. Will it be enough to win the A.O.Y., you never know, but I hope so."
After taking a moment to reflect on the possibility of hoisting the trophy for the second consecutive year, Morgan deflected the attention back to the quality of his competition saying, "It'd be nice to win a second angler of the year title, but Cody is going to make it a challenge. I’m certain of it. He might be in his fifth year, but he fishes like a veteran. With his talent, he’s going to be a regular contender for the Angler of the Year title for many years to come.â€
At the conclusion of the Kentucky Lake event it is highly likely that whichever angler prevails, he would also break the FLW record for total points in a season. To break the record, currently held by Kevin VanDam in 2001 (1105 points), Morgan would only need to finish in the top 40 in this event. Morgan has finished in the top 40 in eleven of twelve events over the past two seasons. For Meyer to break the record, he would first need to finish at least eight places ahead of Morgan and also finish in 32nd or above overall. Meyer has finished in 32nd or above in nine of his last eleven FLW Tour events.
Andy Morgan is sponsored by Livingston Lures, Bullet Boats, Evinrude, Typhoon Optics, New Breed Archery, Zoom Baits, Sheffield Financial, and War Eagle baits.
Cody Meyer is sponsored by Repel, Shimano, Jackall, Typhoon Optics, Evinrude, Ranger Boats, Hi's Tackle Box, Top This, and Power-Pole.
Blake, Harrison Use Frogs & Jigs To Win Snag Proof Open On Lake Cherokee, Presented By Morristown Marine
The Cherokee event was unique in that it gave contestants the option to use any Snag Proof product they chose, including Bass Grabber Jigs. The rest of the Opens allow for only the use of Snag Proof Frogs. The Cherokee event featured a 3-fish limit.
The Lake Cherokee Open was also special because, even though turnout was decent considering the wet weather, there was a $10,000 top prize up for grabs among a field of only 68 boats – excellent odds!
Derrick Blake and Clint Harrison used a combination of frogs and jigs to win $10,340 in total prize money for 1st place (15.04 pounds) as well as the Big Bass award in the largemouth category (5.28 pounds).
Brant Grimm and Bobby Drinnon had the biggest smallmouth at 3.79 pounds.
2014 Snag Proof Open on Lake Cherokee Top 10:
1 DERRICK BLAKE/CLINT HARRISON 15.04 $10,340.00
2 SKYLAR HAMILTON/JOSH CHRISTIAN 12.85 $2,000.00
3 BRANT GRIMM/BOBBY DRINNON 11.55 $1,840.00
4 RICK DIAMOND/NICK DIAMOND 11.38 $1,000.00
5 TONY DRINNON/MARK TRENT 11.30 $600.00
6 RANDY OLIVER/CLINT DYER 10.75 $500.00
7 J R HENARD/TRAVIS CARPENTER 9.90 $400.00
8 GARY PILKENTON/TIM SMILEY 9.88 $350.00
9 JASON MARSHALL/LANCE BUCHANAN 9.73 $300.00
10 KELLY MILLSAPS/BRANDON HARRIS 9.28 $250.00
Wiltfong & Bain Take Catt Nc Championship Kerr
Tim Wiltfong & Phil Bain brought in the winning sack weighing in at 17.10 lbs and took home 1st Place worth $5,000.00. Add in the 1st BONUS $ which was $1,470 and they took home a total of $6,470.00. They also received some Mr. Wags from Yee Ha Baits. www.fishyeehabaits.com
2nd Place went to Bobby Chrisman & JT Palmore with another good limit weighing 16.63 lbs worth $3,000.00. They claimed the 2nd BONUS $ and took home $3,630.00.
Chris Bullock & Robert Perkins finished 3rd with a limit weighing 15.59 lbs and earned $2,000.00.
Coming in 4th were Eric Schell & Steve Vann with a limit weighing 15.11 lbs and took home $1,500.00.
5th and $1,000.00 went to Howard & Justin Bohannon with 5 bass weighing 15.00 lbs eaven.
The rest of the money places shaped up like this…
6th Tony Lamar & Todd Owens 14.42 lbs $800.00
7th Greg Creech & Chis McDuffie 13.93 lbs $650.00
8th Todd & Jeff Sumner 13.41 lbs $550.00
9th Mark Cooper & Steve Roberts 13.26 lbs $500.00
10th Jerry & Robert Dean 13.06 lbs $430.00
11th Todd Massey & Brandon Grey 13.05 lbs $375.00
12th Scott Falkner & Toney Brewer 12.74 lbs $350.00
13th Bowman Grey & David Lanaville 12.48 lbs $300.00
14th Cory Byrum & Cory Leonard 12.42 lbs $275.00
15th Jeremy Jacobs & Mitch Garner 12.40 lbs $250.00
The LEW”S BIG FISH award went to Jeffrey Hall & Ronnie Thompson with a 5.54 lbs bass. They received a new LEW”S BAIT CAST Reel… a $200.00 value. & $920.00 in cash
Thanks for fishing CATT and the 2 day Championship format will be back in 2015!
Brett Collins
Carolina Anglers Team Trail LLC
Bienville Big Bass Blast offers excellent payout, solid weights
The Bienville Big Bass Blast is in its 2nd season. Congrats to this month’s winners, Ryan Worthington & Eric Roberts who weighed-in 20.54lbs.
Worthington and Roberts won by the slimmest of margin, 0.02 pounds, over Donnie Feagle & Joey Woods who placed 2nd with 20.52lbs & Big Fish at 6.74lbs
Jamie Hanks & Pete Jannotti placed 3rd with 19.50.
Total payout was $3,825 for a field of 17 boats. That’s strong.
With the win, Worthington and Roberts remain atop the points standings after 2, of 6, regular season events.
There is still time to join the fun and qualify for the Bienville Classic – call 386-397-1989.
Butler, Tate Win As Alabama Bass Trail Series Concludes Regular Season On Logan Martin
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The Alabama Bass Trail Series just concluded its regular season schedule with the North Division’s final tournament on Logan Martin Lake. Weights were tight and fishing was good. Josh Butler and Jeb Tate won with a 5-fish limit that weighed over 20 pounds.
Congratulations on a great first year for the ABT Series which paid a guaranteed $10,000 to the winners of each qualifying event.
The no-entry-fee championship tournament will take place October 10-11 on Lewis Smith Lake. Up for grabs is a fully-rigged Phoenix 619 Pro bass boat.
Your Top 10 from Logan Martin Lake:
1 JOSH BUTLER-JEB TATE 5/5 20.13 20.13 200 $10,000.00
2 MARTY LIKOS-MICHAEL CARTER 5/5 19.99 * 7.68 19.99 199 $5,000.00
3 BRANDON STAGGS-JERRY WRIGHT 5/5 19.08 19.08 198 $4,000.00
4 WES LOGAN-KENNY PANNELL 5/5 18.83 6.77 18.83 197 $3,000.00
5 HADLEY COAN-SCOTT KEELING 5/5 17.76 17.76 196 $1,500.00
5 MIKE RANEY-MICHAEL PHARR 5/5 17.76 17.76 196 $1,500.00
7 JUSTIN ATKINS-GRANT GALLOWAY 5/5 17.37 17.37 194 $900.00
8 NATHAN BREWER-MICHAEL BREWER 5/4 17.84 1 16.84 193 $800.00
9 JOEL GREEN-ALLEN JOHNSON 5/5 16.55 5.49 16.55 192 $700.00
10 CHRIS KANUTE-CHASE KANUTE 5/5 16.47 5.13 16.47 191 $600.00
KEMP WINS RAYOVAC FLW SERIES NORTHERN DIVISION TOURNEY ON POTOMAC RIVER
William Kemp. photo by David A. Brown
Bass Bite Getting Really Good For Snag Proof Open On Cherokee Lake
Snag Proof Pro Staffer and 2012 Bassmaster Classic Champion Chris Lane
Anglers in the Second Annual Snap Proof Open on Lake Cherokee in Tennessee can expect excellent fishing Saturday, according to tournament director Sam Phillips at Morristown Marine.
“We've had reports that the Snag Proof Jig bite is great and the Snag Proof Frog bite has been really good,” Phillips said. “There are reports of 11 to 14 pounds for three fish taken on the frog.”
Phillips said the water level is coming up a little and some anglers are fishing deep with the jig while others are fishing shallow with the frog. The weigh-in limit is three bass, which can include both smallmouth and largemouth.
“They are throwing the jig off points and bluffs and a lot of them are swimming the white jig for suspended fish in deeper water,” he said, noting that white is the primary color for the jig with black and blue as a backup color. “We don't have a lot of grass in the lake, but up the rivers there are some shallow logs and some grass. Then there is the shoreline. We don't know exactly where they are throwing the frog because they won't reveal their spots.”
Phillips said a lot of anglers are waiting on Snag Proof to bring its new in-line spinnerbait so they can try it out, too.
“All the Snag proof products can be used in the tournament,” he said, “not just the plastics. We are allowing a lot of modifications, as long as the original bait is a Snag Proof product. That can include any brand of trailer, any brand of jig skirt, any brand of swim bait; they can paint it, dye it, add weight and take weight off. It's pretty much wide open.”
Phillips said the entry fee is $140, which includes big fish for both smallmouth and largemouth, with $10,000 guaranteed for first place. There is Skeeter Real Money for the tournament. A Skeeter-Yamaha owner can sign up for a shot at winning an additional $3,000.
“We are expecting between 100 and 150 boats and anglers can sigh up here at Morristown Marine this week or at the ramp the morning of the tournament. They can phone in and sign up as long as they pick up their flight card before the blastoff Saturday morning,” Phillips said.
“If anybody has any questions they can call me at Morristown Marine, 423-587-3555.”
Snag Proof Open
Sat, Jun 21, 2014
Cherokee Lake
Boat Launch Road Ramp
Call Sam Phillips 423-677-3004
More Water, More Schools Of Fish For Flw Tour Final On Kentucky Lake
After finishing a disappointing 73rd at Pickwick Lake earlier this month Matt Arey is looking to spread his wings a little in the final 2014 FLW Tour Major next week on Kentucky-Barkley Lakes.
“At Pickwick fishing was dominated deep. Most of the guys were catching their fish in the 20-foot range. Kentucky Lake will be similar, but the difference will be that we'll be able to spread out more. There's a lot more water and a lot more schools of fish to be found,” said the Shelby, N.C., pro.
Arey, who is seeking to qualify for his fourth consecutive appearance in the Forrest Wood Cup, said there will be two ways to approach the tournament on Kentucky Lake. Up the river fishing will be dominated by grass fishing, he said, while downlake it will be typical ledge fishing.
“We'll be looking for main channel hard spots and little humps, but mainly for shell beds. It will be a big crankbait, big worm, football jig, swim bait, that kind of stuff. I've found fish out there from 15 feet deep all the way out to 35 feet. It just depends on the water level.”
Going into the Pickwick tournament Arey was ranked 16th, but slipped in the standings after that low finish to 24th, but he figures any kind of decent finish at Kentucky Lake will send him on to the Forrest Wood Cup Aug. 14-17 at Lake Murray near Columbia, S.C.
“A top 100 will probably get me in. I've got a 50-point lead over the last man in the Cup right now, but I just can't screw up,” he said.
As for fishing the Cup close to home, Arey said he was excited about it being close, but not excited at all about fishing Lake Murray in August.
“I've been on Lake Murray plenty of times, and I've had some great days down there in February and March, but I don't think I've ever fished the lake after about the end of April. It's a great fishery, but it's a tough time for us to be there.”
While local anglers such as Anthony Gagliardi and Casey Ashley, should be considered favorites for the Forrest Wood Cup since they live so close to the lake, Arey said other factors will probably be decisive at Lake Murray.
“Murray is a big blue-back herring bite and the one who figures out a combination of that and shallow water fishing could come out on top.”
But first there is Kentucky Lake, he said.
“I'll head out Saturday morning for Kentucky Lake and then hopefully get back home and start preparing myself for the Cup in August.”
FLW Tour Major
Jun 26-29, 2014
Kentucky-Barkley Lakes
Paris Landing State Park
Bass Can Be Caught Shallow, Deep, In Between On Logan Martin In Alabama Bass North Division Final
Over the years Logan Martin Lake has been good to Mark McCaig of nearby Oxford, Ala., and he hopes that good fortune holds Saturday for the final Alabama Bass Trail North Division tournament.
“I moved here because of that lake. The first time I ever went fishing on Logan Martin I met my wife. My future father-in-law took be fishing and I went home and gave a two-weeks notice on my job.”
McCaig was 19 years old at the time. A year later he married that girl he met on his first fishing trip to the Alabama lake.
“We've been married for 24 years, so that worked out with her, too,” he said.
McCaig has come to know Logan Martin intimately over the past 25 years and he expects fishing to be really good for the Alabama Bass Trail tournament Saturday.
“The lake is fishing really good right now,” McCaig said. “It will likely take a mixed bag of fish, both spotted bass and largemouths. I doubt that one species will win the tournament, but there is a good population of both.”
He said the largemouth bass population has really come on strong in recent years and this time of year they can usually be caught deep.
“The spots can be caught from two feet out to 20 feet deep. They are real nomadic fish, here today gone tomorrow.”
The spotted bass can be caught using the same tactics as fishing for the largemouths, he said.
“They will bite deep baits, too. You catch a lot of them on jigs and a Shakey head will definitely play a role in the tournament,” he said.
“The thing about Logan Martin is that it can be won shallow, deep, or in between. It's a really good lake for numbers of fish. You are not going to have the weights you will find at Guntersville, for instance, but I think it will take close to 20 pounds to win it.”
McCaig said he and teammate Tim Hurst, also of Oxford, tuned up for the Alabama Bass Trail tournament by fishing the Weekend Bass Series Alabama South Division tournament last Saturday. Hurst finished 5th with 14.9 pounds, including the second Big Fish of the tournament at 4.39 pounds, and McCaig finished 6th with 14.84 pounds.
“It was good practice,” said McCaig who has won the Weekend Series Alabama North Division Angler of the Year title two years in a row.
Currently, he and Hurst are ranked 11th in the Alabama Bass Trail North Division Points race, but McCaig said he feels they can move up strongly Saturday and possibly even take the points title.
“Not because we know the lake so well, but because a lot of the guys ahead of us don't know it very well,” he said. “Most of them have already fished the lakes they consider their home lakes and the ones they know best. If everybody ahead of us catches them Saturday it really won't matter, but if those guys stumble we could move up and have a chance to go fish in Arkansas.
If they climb at least three spots to 8th place they would qualify for the Bassmasters Team Championship in Arkansas and possibly earn a berth in the Bassmaster Classic. The top 8 in both the Northern and Southern Divisions get to move on to the national championship.
The top 50 teams in both divisions also move on to the Alabama Bass Trail Championship in October on Smith Lake.
“The ABT final event on Logan Martin is the culmination of a lot of hard work and dedication from the anglers and staff,” said tournament director Kay Donaldson. “I am thrilled with the response this year and I am looking forward to the Championship in October on Smith Lake.”
Alabama Bass Trail - North Division
Sat, Jun 21, 2014
Logan Martin Lake
Lakeside Landing
Call Kay Donaldson 855-934-7425
Boats Unlimited Nc Team Trail Championship Results - Kerr Lake - Jun 14, 2014
What a great day for the Boats Unlimited NC Team Tournament Bass Trail Championship at Kerr Lake.
76 of the 84 qualified teams enjoyed the beautiful weather and a great day of catching bass! It was very nice that morning at about 65 degrees with very little wind and around 84 that afternoon with light winds. Water temps averaged 88 depending on the area fished. Kerr, again, really seems to be on the rebound after the bass virus. The fish really looked healthy and a putting on some good weight!
Tony Stanley of Four Oaks & Travis Parker of Benson smiled all the way to the stage to weigh in their 5 bass weighing 16.48 lbs. to win the Championship by just 3 100ths of a pound! They won $10,000 for 1st, & 1st place Big Fish (5.77 lbs.) worth $1,050 & 2 beautiful JB Custom Fishing Rods for a grand total of $11,450 in cash & prizes! The team stated most of their bass were caught on plastics.
Rodney Hilber of Hillsborough & Ken Penderman of Durham almost won but instead took 2nd with 5 bass weighing 16.45 lbs winning $1,325 along with $1,540 for 1st place TWT and a $200 Gift Certificate compliments of Outhouse Tackle in Raleigh for a total of $3,065.
Points Champions for the Trail were the team of Bryce McClenney of Cary & Michael Christie of Cary winning them $1,000 and 2 nice Kistler Rods compliments of Skeeter Boats. Tow Boats US $100 Member Bonus went to Todd Massey of Chapel Hill.
Almost every team weighed in for a whopping total of 269 fish weighing 626 pounds for an average of 2.33 lbs. each. We had two fish over 5 lbs. one of which weighed over 6 but the team was not in the big fish pot! Hot baits for the day were , c-rigs, shakey heads, finesse worms, jigs, crankbaits and some top water early. Most fish were caught from 1 to 10' in depth.
After the weighin the teams were treated to a wonderful cookout compliments of Ridgecrest Baptist Outdoor Ministries in Durham during which, over $8,000 in sponsors door prizes were given away!
I want to thank all the anglers that participated and all our sponsors that supported this trail. The next tournament will be Cashion Fishing Rods End of Year Team Bass Trail Qualifier #1 at Jordan Lake on July 12th, out of Farrington Point Wildlife Ramp
All the information on our tournaments can be found at http://piedmontbassclassics.com/
Now here are the full results:
1st Place: Tony Stanley & Travis Parker of Four Oaks & Mebane...5 bass...16.48 lbs...$10,000
2nd Place: Rodney Hilber & Ken Penderman of Hillsborough & Durham...5 bass...16.45 lbs...$1,325
3rd Place: Dave Murdock & Tony Fofi of Sanford & Spring Lake...5 bass...15.89 lbs...$815
4th Place: Billy Bledsoe & Brian McDonald of Fayetteville & Hope Mills...5 bass...15.82 lbs...$600
5th Place: Robert Perkins & Chris Bullock of Rougemont & Fountain...5 bass...15.35 lbs...$547
6th Place: Todd Massey & Brandon Gray of Chapel Hill & Bullock...5 bass...15.23 lbs...$486
7th Place: Troy Horne & Darryl Peele of Goldsboro...5 bass...13.95 lbs...$425
8th Place: Bryce McClenney & Michael Christie of Cary & Fuquay Varina...5 bass...13.88 lbs...$365
9th Place: Todd & Jeff Sumner of Southern Pines...5 bass...13.85 lbs...$304
10th Place: Phillip Johnson & Geno McCree of Durham...5 bass...13.78 lbs...$243
11th Place: Richard Cooper & Allen White of Clayton...5 bass...13.71 lbs...$243
12th Place: Bill Recher & Roger McLamb of Henderson & Stem...5 bass...13.58 lbs...$182
13th Place: Eric & Jennifer Christian of Graham...5 bass...13.53 lbs...$182
14th Place: Thomas Sheffer & Ken McNeill of Cary & Raleigh...5 bass...13.29 lbs...$121
15th Place: Seth Ellis & Chuck Byrd of Lillington & Sanford...5 bass...13.05 lbs...$121
16th Place: Johnny Wilder & Mike Harris of Butner & Oxford...5 bass...12.52 lbs...$121
1st Place Big Fish..1st Place Team above...5.77 lbs...$1,050
2nd Place Big Fish..11th Place Team above...4.88 lbs...$450
1st Place TWT..2nd Place Team above...16.45 lbs...$1,540
2nd Place TWT..3rd Place Team above: 15.89 lbs...$600
Tow Boats US Award: Todd Massey of Chapel Hill: $100
Contact Information:
Phil McCarson...Tournament Director---922 Valetta Rd.---Durham, NC 27712
Home: 919-471-1571 Cell: 919-971-5042
email: [email protected] website: http://piedmontbassclassics.com/index.html
