Sportsmans Warehouse Report with AC Pro Staffer Dearal Rodgers!

AC Pro Staffer Dearal Rodgers missed a good bit of action in 2013, but now is back up and running on the FLW TOUR and gives us a great update after fishing Beaver Lake--also gives us his take on what to throw and do this coming weekend at SANTEE!


WRIGHT, SIMS WIN TEXAS TEAM TRAIL EVENT AT LAKE TEXOMA

First-place finishers Eric Wright (left) and Jeremy Sims (right) hold up their winning fish at the Texas Team Trail Event at Lake Texoma on Saturday, April 12

Eric Wright of Balch Springs, Texas, and Jeremy Sims of Sulphur Springs, Texas, brought 27.96 pounds of bass to the scales to win the 2014 Texas Team Trail presented by Cabela’s (TXTT) event at Lake Texoma on April 12. With their victory, the winners took home a new, fully rigged Ranger Z119 powered by a 150-horsepower Evinrude valued at $40,000.

With warm, windy weather in the area, Wright and Sims targeted the Alberta Creek area where the pair spent their day sight fishing, landing an impressive 9.17-pound kicker fish, which won the pair an additional $970 Big Bass prize.

“We didn’t have to run too far, just from Granpappy (Point Marina) across to Alberta Creek,” said Wright. “The conditions were good for what we planned to do. We found fish and worked them with crawfish-shaped soft plastics.”

Second-place finishers Spike Stoker, of Stephenville, Texas, and Randy Sullivan, of Breckenridge, Texas, weighed a five-fish limit of 23.25 pounds, which brought them $7,050 in second-place earnings and contingency bonuses.

Stoker and Sullivan also used the warming temperatures to their advantage, targeting bass as they moved shallow around docks as the day progressed.

“The wind and the heat really played into our plans,” Stoker said. “In some places, we found them on beds and caught them on soft craws and jigs. We also caught them around docks on umbrella rigs.”

Jason Bonds, of Lufkin, Texas, and Travis Moore, of Cleveland, Texas, took home a combined $4,340 in third-place and contingency prize money, the result of sight fishing with plastic worms near boathouses.

The next stop for the Texas Team Trail is Lake Livingston on May 3. Competitors who register for the Lake Livingston event by midnight of Thursday, May 1, will be allowed to pre-fish on Friday, May 2 and will be entered into a drawing for a free Minn Kota Talon shallow water anchor. All participants who register online will also be entered into a drawing for a Cabela’s $100 gift card.

For additional information, anglers are encouraged to call 210-788-4143 or check out the TXTT website at www.texasteamtrail.com. Site visitors can register for events, review the television schedule, get official Texas Team Trail gear, view results and learn more about what’s in store for 2014.

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, Garmin, General Tire, SuperClean, Valley Fashion, Mustang Survival, Artic Ice and Protect the Harvest as official partners.

For full results, please go to www.texasteamtrail.com/tournaments/events-results.


Tourney riases funds so qualifier, Van Soles, can take kids to 2015 Classic

Bryce Goff (L) fished with Van Soles. The duo caught over 20 pounds of Kissimmee Chain bass.

One of the more interesting tournaments this past weekend was the ‘Kids to the Classic’ tourney on Kissimmee Chain of Lakes out of beautiful Camp Mack.

It wasn’t the picturesque setting, legendary waters or stringers of big bass that made this tourney special. Rather, it was the cause.

Van Soles qualified for the 2015 Bassmaster Classic via his win at the Bassmaster Southern Open on the aforementioned Kissimmee Chain in January of this year.

When he takes the stage in Greenville, SC, Soles will be greeted loudly. He’s taking a cheering section with him. Soles will take the top 10 finishers from the Lakeland Junior Bassmasters to the Bassmaster Classic.

Of course, such an ambitious undertaking requires some funding, hence, the ‘Kids to the Classic’ tourney in which Soles lent not only his name, but his talents, fishing with Bryce Goff who helped him pile up 20.60 pounds of bass and a 3rd place finish.

Doc Swango and Kevin Kopple won the tourney with 25.10 pounds.

Richie Upchurch placed 2nd with 20.95 pounds.

If you want to help the kids get to the Classic, call John and Wendy Taylor at 727-789-0525 or visit the Tampa Pro Bass web site at:  http://home.roadrunner.com/~tampapro/

 


Dillow Wins Walmart Bass Fishing League Shenandoah Division Event On Smith Mountain Lake

Chris Dillow Waynesboro, Va., weighed a five-bass limit totaling 16 pounds, 5 ounces Saturday to win the first Walmart Bass Fishing League Shenandoah Division tournament of 2014 on Smith Mountain Lake. For his victory, Dillow earned $6,796.

After his victory on Smith Mountain Lake, Dillow has now won the last two Shenandoah division events that he has fished, both of them with no practice.
      “I’m truly blessed to have won back-to-back,” said Dillow. “And on my birthday weekend too, it’s awesome. I almost didn’t make it to the tournament because I was sitting in the office trying to make everybody happy with a real estate deal.
      “I run a pattern every time I go up there,” explained Dillow. “I start out pitching my jig to docks and trees. I went into a pocket and caught a few on a jig and for some reason I decided to cast a jerkbait on my way out and I caught a good one. I realized the fish hadn’t moved up yet, so I started fishing that jerkbait on main lake points.
      “Sometimes I was in up to 30 feet of water casting to the bank. Every fish that I caught were largemouth, but I also caught one striper bass and one catfish. I was just going fishing. I was targeting windy points in the mid-lake region.
      “I think the key was the extra-long casts,” said Dillow. “I would get them to bite before they knew I was there.”
     Dillow said he caught most of his fish on a Tennessee shad-colored Lucky Craft Pointer 100 and a green-pumpkin-colored Dillow’s Perfect Jig.
     Rounding out the top 10 pros were:
            2nd:   Keith Goldberg, Eagle Rock, Va., five bass, 16-4, $1,996 + $300 Evinrude Bonus
            2nd:   Brandon Reynolds, Callands, Va., five bass, 16-4, $1,996
            4th:   Frank Ippoliti, Mercersburg, Pa., five bass, 15-9, $1,119
            5th:   Matt Kluender, Lynchburg, Va., five bass, 14-11, $959
            6th:   Thomas Harris, Beaverdam, Va., five bass, 14-10, $879
            7th:   John Woodroof, Lynchburg, Va., five bass, 14-0, $799
            8th:   Luke Nichols, Moneta, Va., five bass, 13-11, $719
            9th:   Gregory Cooper, Yorktown, Va., five bass, 13-3, $639
            10th:  Bruce Ring, Front Royal, Va., five bass, 12-14, $560
     Complete results can be found at FLWOutdoors.com.
     Scott Howard of Bedford, Va., weighed in a five-bass limit totaling 14 pounds, 13 ounces Saturday to win $2,360 in the co-angler division.
     Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers were:
            2nd:   Dennis Burdette, Lindside, W.Va., five bass, 12-7, $1,180
            3rd:   Craig Wheeler, King George, Va., five bass, 10-11, $787
            4th:   Michael Nelms, Hartwood, Va., five bass, 10-9, $551
            5th:   Ed Robtison, Roanoke, Va., two bass, 8-7, $472
            6th:   Louis Britos, Disputanta, Va., four bass, 6-11, $433
            7th:   Brent Chapman, Union Hall, Va., three bass, 6-10, $373
            7th:   James Dehart, Roanoke, Va., two bass, 6-10, $373
            9th:   Chris Whittaker, Waverly, Va., three bass, 6-8, $315
            10th:  Ben Hudson, Lynchburg, Va., three bass, 6-6, $275
     The top 40 boaters and 40 co-anglers based on point standings will qualify for the Oct. 2-4 Regional Championship on the James River in Richmond, Va. 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.
     The BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 120 tournaments throughout the season, five in each division. The top 40 boaters and co-anglers from each division qualify for a regional tournament and compete 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 presented by Chevy. The 2014 BFL All-American is being held June 5-7 on Wilson Lake in Florence, Ala. Top winners in the BFL can move up to the Rayovac FLW Series or even the Walmart FLW Tour.

Knight Wins Walmart Bass Fishing League Volunteer Division Event On Douglas Lake

Jeff Knight of Cleveland, Tenn., weighed a five-bass limit totaling 16 pounds, 14 ounces Saturday to win the second Walmart Bass Fishing League Volunteer Division tournament of 2014 on Douglas Lake. For his victory, Knight earned $3,592.

 Knight’s win was his first BFL victory since 2005, and it came on a lake that he hadn’t fished in over 20 years.
     “I practiced on Friday and just dropped the trolling motor down and caught about 20 pounds on a jig,” said Knight. “I went right back there on Saturday and they were still there.
     “I was just hopping a jig down rock ledges. I was casting into about 2-feet and letting it fall down the ledges. When they’d hit you would definitely know it.”
     Knight said he was throwing a kudzu-colored Choo Choo Custom Lures jig.
     Rounding out the top 10 pros were:
            2nd:   Burton Bryan, Sevierville, Tenn., five bass, 15-11, $1,796
            3rd:   Travis Lilly, Bluff City, Tenn., five bass, 14-10, $1,201
            4th:   George Carroll, Clinton, Tenn., five bass, 14-7, $838
            5th:   Charles Ellis, Knoxville, Tenn., five bass, 14-5, $718
            6th:   Larry Neal, Piney Flats, Tenn., five bass, 14-0, $659 + $300 Evinrude Bonus
            7th:   Brian Hazel, Clinton, Tenn., five bass, 13-13, $599
            8th:   Garry Minnick, Blountville, Tenn., five bass, 13-6, $539
            9th:   Joe Leonard, Bristol, Tenn., five bass, 13-4, $479
            10th: Lee Varner, Andersonville, Tenn., five bass, 12-15, $419
     Complete results can be found at FLWOutdoors.com.
     Jim Neece of Bristol, Va., weighed in three bass totaling 12 pounds, 2 ounces Saturday to win $1,796 in the co-angler division.
     Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers were:
            2nd:   Tyler Duckworth, Gray, Tenn., five bass, 11-11, $898
            3rd:   Shawn Bishop, Johnson City, Tenn., five bass, 10-15, $598
            4th:   John Swallows, Charleston, Tenn., five bass, 10-12, $419
            5th:   Jesse Burnett, Norris, Tenn., four bass, 10-11, $329
            5th:   Justin McGaha, Knoxville, Tenn., five bass, 10-11, $329
            5th:   Jonathan Wood, Canton, N.C., five bass, 10-11, $329
            8th:   Kevin Hughes, Bristol, Va., five bass, 9-1, $269
            9th:   Gary Carroll, Jonesville, Va., five bass, 9-0, $239
            10th: Jason Webb, Rockwood, Tenn., two bass, 8-11, $210
     The top 40 boaters and 40 co-anglers based on point standings will qualify for the Oct. 9-11 Regional Championship on Pickwick Lake in Florence, Ala. 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.
     The BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 120 tournaments throughout the season, five in each division. The top 40 boaters and co-anglers from each division qualify for a regional tournament and compete 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 presented by Chevy. Top winners in the BFL can move up to the Rayovac FLW Series or even the Walmart FLW Tour.

Jones Wins Walmart Bass Fishing League Lbl Division Event On Kentucky/Barkley Lakes

Charles Jones of Jackson, Tenn., weighed a five-bass limit totaling 19 pounds, 13 ounces Saturday to win the second Walmart Bass Fishing League LBL Division tournament of 2014 on Kentucky and Barkley lakes. For his victory, Jones earned $7,428.
 “I should have won about three or four of these, but I’ve always managed to mess it up,” said Jones about his first BFL win. “I’ll be 69 this year and it feels good to whup up on the young guys sometimes.
     “I stayed in the north end of the lake and fished deep,” Jones continued. “The fish were in creeks that had some rock in it. Everything I caught was off of rock. They weren’t in the rock, but they were right where it would come out and stop on the bottom. I caught them mostly from 10 to 12 feet deep.
     “I caught almost all of them on a Strike King Hack Attack Heavy Cover Jig. It comes through rocks really well. I fished the same jig all day, and you would have to cast it into the rock and pull it down through to the bottom.
     “The only fish that I didn’t catch on a jig was my big fish, a 7-1,” finished Jones. “It bit a Strike King Burner spinnerbait first thing in the morning.”
     Rounding out the top 10 pros were:
            2nd:   Ronnie Smith, Walton, Ky., five bass, 16-13, $2,214 + $300 Evinrude Bonus
            3rd:   Kenneth McGar, Crofton, Ky., five bass, 16-12, $1,478 + $300 Evinrude Bonus
            4th:   Zach Grounds, Fortville, Ind., five bass, 16-9, $1,033
            5th:   Gerald Andrews, Benton, Ky., five bass, 16-1, $886
            6th:   Ryan Deal, Haubstadt, Ind., five bass, 16-0, $812
            7th:   Jeffery Archie, Paris, Tenn., five bass, 15-14, $738
            8th:   Stuart Eversole, Middletown, Ohio, five bass, 15-13, $664
            9th:   Terry Chastain, Guthrie, Ky., five bass, 15-10, $553
            9th:   Jackson Ryley, Clinton, Ind., five bass, 15-10, $553
     Complete results can be found at FLWOutdoors.com.
     Stan Evans of Newburgh, Ind., weighed a five-bass limit totaling 15 pounds, 14 ounces Saturday to win $2,214 in the co-angler division.
     Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers were:
            2nd:   Kenneth McGar Jr., Crofton, Ky., five bass, 14-11, $1,107
            3rd:   Aaron Connor, Murphysboro, Ill., four bass, 14-10, $738
            4th:   Jody Girten, Morganfield, Ky., three bass, 13-2, $517
            5th:   Bryan Drury, Lexington, Ky., four bass, 12-15, $443
            6th:   Steven Blakely, Shepherdsville, Ky., five bass, 12-12, $406
            7th:   Jerry Wittmer, Louisville, Ky., four bass, 12-6, $369
            8th:   Erich Butler, Spring Hill, Tenn., three bass, 12-3, $313
            8th:   Michael Emberton, Tompkinsville, Ky., four bass, 12-3, $313
            10th: Kane Hackemack, New Albany, Ind., four bass, 11-15, $258
     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.
     The BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 120 tournaments throughout the season, five in each division. The top 40 boaters and co-anglers from each division qualify for a regional tournament and compete 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 presented by Chevy. Top winners in the BFL can move up to the Rayovac FLW Series or even the Walmart FLW Tour.

Mcmahan Wins Walmart Bass Fishing League Choo Choo Division Event On Lake Guntersville

Kevin McMahan of Huntsville, Ala., weighed a five-bass limit totaling 28 pounds, 11 ounces Saturday to win the third Walmart Bass Fishing League Choo Choo Division tournament of 2014 on Lake Guntersville. For his victory, McMahan earned $3,641.

The spawn is in full swing in many southern states and McMahan took full advantage of it to notch his first BFL win.
      “I couldn’t see them at all because there was so much pollen and color in the water,” said McMahan. “The fish were relating primarily to the red-clay banks with hard bottom and shell beds in large shallow coves. They were mostly in places in the mid-lake area that were warmer than the rest of the lake.
      “I figure that I culled out a 24 pound bag. I probably had 15 keepers and some shorts,” said McMahan. “I would catch a 12-inch little male and then pitch back into the same spot and catch a 5- or 6-pounder.
      “Every fish I caught came on a ½-ounce Mean Mouth jig. I used a Duckett Fishing Micro Magic rod. It’s an extremely sensitive rod and was the right action for that style of fishing.
      “I was the very first person to weigh-in,” finished McMahan, “I had to wait until the very end to figure out if I won or not.”
     Rounding out the top 10 pros were:
            2nd:   James Smith, Hampton Cove, Ala., five bass, 28-8, $1,820
            3rd:   Gary Fleming, Russellville, Ala., five bass, 25-4, $1,214
            4th:   Pat Kelly Sr., Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 24-14, $850
            5th:   Jim Leary, Meridianville, Ala., five bass, 22-14, $728
            6th:   Erwin Cole, Murfreesboro, Tenn., five bass, 21-15, $668 + Evinrude Bonus
            7th:   Chris Webb, Decatur, Ala., five bass, 21-11, $607
            8th:   Bland Morris, Huntsville, Ala., five bass, 21-3, $515
            8th:   Terry Tucker, Gadsden, Ala., five bass, 21-3, $515
            10th:  Marshall Deakins, Dunlap, Tenn., five bass, 20-10, $425
     Complete results can be found at FLWOutdoors.com.
     John Biffle of Chattanooga, Tenn., weighed in a five-bass limit totaling 27 pounds, 2 ounces Saturday to win $1,820 in the co-angler division.
     Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers were:
            2nd:   Alan Barrett, Cullman, Ala., five bass, 22-9, $910
            3rd:   James Boyd, Russellville, Ala., five bass, 22-4, $516
            3rd:   Thomas White, Iron City, Tenn., five bass, 22-4, $516
            5th:   Robert Richardson, Calhoun, Ga., five bass, 21-10, $364
            6th:   Steven Dabbs, Boaz, Ala., five bass, 20-12, $334
            7th:   Collin Bruce, Florence, Ala., five bass, 19-1, $303
            8th:   Josh Dees, Mount Olive, Ala., five bass, 18-1, $273
            9th:   Brennon Binkley, Nashville, Tenn., five bass, 16-1, $243
            10th: Chris Patterson, Kimberly, Ala., five bass, 15-14, $212
     The top 40 boaters and 40 co-anglers based on point standings will qualify for the Oct. 2-4 Regional Championship on the 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.
     The BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 120 tournaments throughout the season, five in each division. The top 40 boaters and co-anglers from each division qualify for a regional tournament and compete 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 presented by Chevy. The 2014 BFL All-American is being held June 5-7 on Wilson Lake in Florence, Ala. Top winners in the BFL can move up to the Rayovac FLW Series or even the Walmart FLW Tour.

Fisher Wins Walmart Bass Fishing League Bulldog Division Event On Lake Lanier

Pat Fisher of Colbert, Ga., weighed a five-bass limit totaling 24 pounds, 15 ounces Saturday to win the second Walmart Bass Fishing League Bulldog Division tournament of 2014 on Lake Lanier. For his victory, Fisher earned $4,729.

Fisher, a former Walmart FLW Tour pro, reported catching the entirety of his impressive creel on beds in the midsection of Lanier.
      “I think I culled five times,” said Fisher. “They were in the backs of creeks where the bank transitioned from steep to flat. We just had three inches of rain and it pushed the fish back a bit.
      “There was a lot of pollen on the water that made it difficult to see the fish,” explained Fisher. “Some of the other competitors seemed to be overlooking the fish I was catching.
      “I had no clue I had what I had. I thought I had around 20 pounds,” said Fisher. “When they get that big it’s hard to start putting them together. It turned out I had an 8-pounder that I thought was around 6-pounds.”
      Fisher said that he rotated through a variety of baits, but caught his three biggest bass on a white-colored Zoom Super Hog.
Rounding out the top 10 pros were:
            2nd:   Paul Marks, Cumming, Ga., five bass, 21-3, $2,364
            3rd:   Trent Gober, Pendergrass, Ga., five bass, 20-13, $1,576
            4th:   Kip Carter, Loganville, Ga., five bass, 17-4, $1,103
            5th:   Rick Steckelberg, Eastanollee, Ga., five bass, 16-7, $946
            6th:   Scott Hayes, Newnan, Ga., five bass, 15-15, $867
            7th:   Rusty Evans, Roswell, Ga., five bass, 15-4, $788
            8th:   Buster Slocumb, Juliette, Ga., five bass, 15-2, $709
            9th:   Seth Kirkland, Cumming, Ga., five bass, 14-15, $631
            10th:  Jesse Millsaps, Jasper, Ga., five bass, 14-7, $552
     Complete results can be found at FLWOutdoors.com.
     March Glenn of Decatur, Ga., weighed in a five-bass limit totaling 15 pounds, 5 ounces Saturday to win $2,364 in the co-angler division.
     Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers were:
            2nd:   John Watwood, Winder, Ga., five bass, 14-10, $1,182
            3rd:   Charlie Dick, Conyers, Ga., five bass, 11-11, $788
            4th:   Michael Wilder, Macon, Ga., five bass, 11-4, $552
            5th:   Jason Wiley, Soperton, Ga., four bass, 10-14, $473
            6th:   Justin Paulus, Atlanta, Ga., five bass, 10-10, $433
            7th:   Wayne Hancock, Cumming, Ga., five bass, 10-9, $394
            8th:   Tyler Morgan, Columbus, Ga., five bass, 10-8, $355
            9th:   Robert Fleming, McDonough, Ga., five bass, 10-3, $315
            10th: Nicholas Leno, Chicago, Ill., five bass, 9-15, $276
     The top 40 boaters and 40 co-anglers based on point standings will qualify for the Oct. 2-4 Regional Championship on the 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.
     The BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 120 tournaments throughout the season, five in each division. The top 40 boaters and co-anglers from each division qualify for a regional tournament and compete 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 presented by Chevy. The 2014 BFL All-American is being held June 5-7 on Wilson Lake in Florence, Ala. Top winners in the BFL can move up to the Rayovac FLW Series or even the Walmart FLW Tour.

CBC High Rock Champs Steve Sink and Tony Foster talk about their 23.81 Lb Sack and $17,500 Pay Day!

With 200 Boats being ready to go at Blastoff, very few would have predicted such great bags at the Rock Sat afternoon-but thats exactly what happened. Steve Sink and Tony Foster won with 23.81 and just beat out 2nd place at 23.76, so 5/100 was all it tool to bring home the record payday..............


Steve Sink and Tony Foster win the CBC on High Rock-take home $17,000

200 Boats turned out for the 2nd NC Div event of the year and the Tourament did not disappoint. Despite high water levels and very dingy water, the weights were outstanding accross the board with multipe sacks over 20 lbs and the winning bag being 23.81 Lbs! Sink and Foster not only won the $12,000 1st place prize but also won the Skeeter Bonus $$ of $5000 for their whopping $17,000 total. Here are some pictures and the top ten:

 

Michael Kinard and Tony Lambert with their 2nd place HaulMichael Kinard and Tony Lambert with their 2nd place Haul

Here is the Top 10:

1. Steve Sink and Tony Foster                          23.81                       $17,000

2. Michael Kinard and Tony Lambert                 23.76

3. Wayne Ingram and Bobby Gill                      22.99

4. David Wright and Jeff Coble                         22.90

5. Patrick Tierney and Todd Auten                   21.54

6. Robin Collins and Ronnie WHite                  20.19

7. David Shields and Chip Crews                    19.49

8. Todd Waters and Jason Threadgill               19.31

9. Jason Wilson and Kelly Logan                     19.16

10. Craig Chambers and Keith Ogden              18.98


Matt Arey Leads As Flw Tour On Beaver Lake Heads Into Final Round

photo by Garrick Dixon

FLW Tour pro Matt Arey of Shelby, N.C., brought the largest five-bass limit of the entire tournament to the scale Saturday weighing 16 pounds, 4 ounces to grab the lead after day three of the Walmart FLW Tour at Beaver Lake presented by Rayovac. Arey’s three-day total of 15 bass for 43 pounds, 10 ounces gives him a 2 pound, 8 ounce lead over second-place angler Livingston Lures pro Andy Morgan of Dayton, Tenn., who has a three-day weight of 15 bass worth 41-2 as the tournament heads into the final day. Only the top 10 pros will advance to the final day of competition in the four-day event, hosted by Visit Rogers, that features 173 of the world’s best bass-fishing anglers competing for a top cash award of up to $125,000.

 “It’s great to be leading, but I’d almost rather be one ounce behind in second place so I wouldn’t have to deal with the pressure,” said Arey, who has two previous top-5 finishes at Beaver Lake in FLW Tour competition. “I’ve never been leading a big event going into the final day, but I’ve never felt as good as I do right now about a tournament in my life.”
     Arey said that he has been starting out each morning fishing near Prairie Creek, then moving up the White River and targeting the staging prespawn largemouth.
     “My fish are replenishing,” Arey said. “I’m catching fish off of the exact same transitions where I caught them in previous days and they’re solid white, so I know that they are just coming up. I’ve had most of my weight by 11 a.m., but I’ve been trying to sustain that mid- to low-teens average because that is pretty good this time of year. I’ve got a little bit of a pattern, but it’s only working in a few select areas.
     “I’ve been averaging seven or eight keeper largemouth each day and four to six keeper spotted bass,” Arey continued. “Of the 15 bass that I have weighed in, 14 of them have been largemouth. It’s not a big secret – I’m catching most of my fish on a jig. I’m rotating between two or three different baits, but the jig has been key for me.”
     “I’m going to do the same thing tomorrow,” Arey went on to say. “I’m going to start near Prairie Creek and hopefully catch a few fish early to help settle the nerves. Then, I’m going to work my way up the river and just pick it apart. I’m going to pound it tomorrow and I know that I have to catch them again.”
     The top 10 pros advancing to the final day of competition on Beaver Lake are:
            1st:    Matt Arey, Shelby, N.C., 15 bass, 43-10
            2nd:   Livingston Lures pro Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., 15 bass, 41-2
            3rd:    Travis Fox, Rogers, Ark., 15 bass, 38-9
            4th:    Castrol pro David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., 15 bass, 38-5
            5th:    Micah Frazier, Newnan, Ga., 15 bass, 38-3
            6th:    Repel pro Cody Meyer, Auburn, Calif., 15 bass, 38-2
            7th:    Scott Martin, Clewiston, Fla., 15 bass, 37-8
            8th:    Troy Morrow, Eastanollee, Ga., 15 bass, 37-5
            9th:    Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C., 15 bass, 37-2
            10th:  Walmart pro Mark Rose, West Memphis, Ark., 15 bass, 36-4
     Finishing in 11th through 20th are:
            11th:  Chevy pro Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., 15 bass, 36-3, $12,000
            12th:  Spencer Shuffield, Bismarck, Ark., 14 bass, 34-5, $12,000
            13th:  Chevy pro Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C., 15 bass, 34-4, $12,000
            14th:  Eric Olliverson, Lampe, Mo., 15 bass, 33-12, $12,000
            15th:  Cheez-It pro Shinichi Fukae, Palestine, Texas, 15 bass, 33-11, $12,000
            16th:  Matt Herren, Trussville, Ala., 15 bass, 32-1, $12,000
            17th:  Jason Christie, Park Hill, Okla., 15 bass, 31-1, $12,000
            18th:  Steve Kennedy, Auburn, Ala., 15 bass, 30-0, $12,000
            19th:  Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., 13 bass, 29-3, $12,000
            20th:  Stacey King, Reeds Spring, Mo., 14 bass, 28-14, $12,000
     Final results for the remaining field can be found at FLWOutdoors.com.
     Overall there were 96 bass weighing 204 pounds, 9 ounces caught by pros Saturday. The catch included 17 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. Anglers could win as much as $500,000 – professional bass-fishing’s richest prize.
     Mike McDonald of Randleman, N.C., won the co-angler division and $25,000 Saturday with a three-day total of 12 bass weighing 24 pounds, 10 ounces, followed by Todd Lee of Jasper, Ala., in second place with 14 bass weighing 23 pounds, 1 ounce worth $7,500.
     “When it’s your time to win, it’s your time,” said McDonald, who has three career wins as a boater on the Walmart BFL circuit. “I fished flawlessly this week. I lost no fish, and I really caught quality fish. A 3- or 4-pounder will take you a long way in this tournament.”
     McDonald said he that his key bait this week was an Obsession Lures jig, but he also caught fish on a Yamamoto Senko.
     The top 10 co-anglers finished:
            1st:    Mike McDonald, Randleman, N.C., 12 bass, 24-10, $25,000
            2nd:   Todd Lee, Jasper, Ala., 14 bass, 23-1, $7,500
            3rd:    Bryan New, Belmont, N.C., 13 bass, 22-13, $5,000
            4th:    Nick Hensley, Cumming, Ga., 13 bass, 22-11, $4,000
            5th:    Nick Loeffelman Jr., Valles Mines, Mo., 10 bass, 22-2, $3,250
            6th:    Braxton Setzer, Auburn, Ala., nine bass, 21-3, $2,500
            7th:    James Jewett, Nashville, Tenn., 11 bass, 19-14, $2,000
            8th:    J.R. Wright, Truckee, Calif., 13 bass, 19-4, $1,800
            9th:    Michael Smith, Pickerington, Ohio, 13 bass, 18-13, $1,700
            10th:  Hunter Hicks, Charlotte, N.C., 12 bass, 18-8, $1,600
     For a full list of results visit FLWOutdoors.com.
     Overall there were 53 bass weighing 89 pounds, 2 ounces caught by co-anglers Saturday. Two co-anglers were able to boat a five-bass limit.
     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.
     Anglers will take off from Prairie Creek Park located at 9300 N. Park Road in Rogers at 7 a.m. on Sunday. Sunday’s final weigh-in will be held at the John Q. Hammons Center located at 3303 Pinnacle Hills Parkway in Rogers beginning at 4 p.m.
     Fans will also be treated to the FLW Expo at Walmart on Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. prior to the final weigh-ins. The Expo includes Ranger boat simulators, 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. The first 150 children 14 and under who are accompanied by an adult will receive a voucher to redeem for a free rod and reel combo courtesy of KNWA each day after the final weigh-in. Also on Sunday, country music superstar Rodney Atkins will perform a free live concert on the Walmart weigh-in stage at 3 p.m. All activities are free and open to the public.
     Coverage of the Beaver Lake tournament will be broadcast in high-definition (HD) on NBC Sports Network when “FLW” airs June 14 from 11 a.m.-12 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.

Tournament update from AC Pro Staffer Rob Digh!

AC Pro Staffer Rob Digh comments on the amazing weights coming in around the region as well as a full preivew of the upcoming CBC on High Rock plus the 12 Man Federation event going on next week at historic Lake Eufaula!


Robby Byrum joins us to talk Wateree "The best its EVER BEEN!!"

Former AC Pro Staffer Robby Byrum chimes in after a big hiatus to talk about the incredible fishing going on at Lake Wateree right now............he also previews the upcoming CBC on High Rock, plus much, much more! Click here to watch!


Rodgers Hoping To Solve Beaver Lake's Clear Water Mystery In Flw Tournament

Dearal Rodgers will be fishing as a co-angler in the Walmart FLW Tour Major this week on Beaver Lake

When you are fishing from the back of the boat it helps to draw a pro angler who is on fish. So far this FLW Tour season, the highest finishing pro Dearal Rodgers has drawn finished 58th.

“Hopefully, whoever I fish with will be on them,” said Rodgers of the Walmart FLW Tour Major this week on Beaver Lake.

“It is not my favorite lake, but over the years I have learned some things to try there,” said Rodgers who highest finish on Beaver Lake in six tournaments was 21st in May 2009 as a co-angler.

Besides hopping he draws a pro who has a shot at winning the tournament, Rodgers is also hoping the fish are finally out of their winter doldrums and ready to eat.

“From what I have heard they have had a real cold winter there like we have had,” said Rodgers, who hails from Camden, S.C. “A couple of weeks ago I heard the water temperature was in the 40s, but they have had some warmer days like we have had, so the bite should be getting better. I'm hoping we will be looking at some pre-spawn fish.”

Beaver Lake has both largemouth bass and spotted bass, Rodgers noted. Figuring whoever he draws as a pro partner will be targeting the largemouths, which are bigger, he plans to concentrate on the spotted bass which may be easier to catch.

“We can weigh in 12-inch spots, but the largemouths have to be 14 or 15 inches. While the pro is fishing for largemouths, I could target the spots and get a limit that way,” he said.

“I will be using light line, either 6-pound-test or 8-pound-test. Those clear water lakes have always been tough for me, but over the years I've learned to lighten my line up. On Lake Wateree we catch fish on the bottom, but there in that clear water you have to make the fish come up to the bait,” he said.

Rodgers said he probably will fish a little 4-inch worm on a Shakey head and a drop-shot for the spotted bass.

“I could also see the Bombers, like the Long-A, coming into play. A weight bait is real good on the pre-spawn spots, along with a jerkbait. In those Ozark Mountain lakes they really like a jerkbait.”

Following a work-place accident, Rodgers had intended to spend this year recovering fully from his injuries, but when the 2014 season was announced, he felt he had to get back in the game this year with one goal in mind – to qualify for the Forrest Wood Cup which will be held on Lake Murray less than an hour from his home.

After a disastrous start in the first tournament of the season when he finished 120th on Lake Okeechobee in February, Rodgers has begun to work his way back up the standings with a 15th place finish on Lake Hartwell in early March and a 58th place on Sam Rayburn Reservoir in late March.

“I was in the money, but I would have liked to have finished higher. I'm 48th in points so I need to be in the top 35 in the last three tournaments,” he said. “But, I feel good about it – if I can just get past Beaver Lake.”

 

Walmart FLW Tour Major

Apr 10-13, 2014

Beaver Lake

Prairie Creek Park

www.flwoutdoors.com

 


Weather Pretty And Fish Biting Just In Time For Claire Whaley Foundation Tournament On Lake Russell

It takes dedication and a lot of effort to keep a small charitable foundation going, but all Trad Whaley has to do is look at the list of families the Claire Whaley Foundation has helped and he knows he has to keep going with the effort named for his daughter.

The 6th annual Claire Whaley Foundation Bass Tournament will be held Saturday on Lake Russell with a $200 entry fee, plus an optional $10 for Big Fish, and a guaranteed first place prize of $5,000. Most of the money raised by the tournament comes through donations, said Whaley, a tournament angler himself, as 85 percent of the entry fees is paid back to the fishermen.

The theme of the tournament is: “Helping families with special needs children one cast at a time.”

Whaley's daughter, Claire, was diagnosed with Ischemic Hypoxic Encephalopathy which means that parts of her brain were deprived of oxygen when she stopped breathing right after birth. She has not been able to develop normally, has the most trouble with her vision, and also demonstrates characteristics of cerebral palsy.

Whaley and his wife Angie created the Claire Whaley Foundation when they were denied participation in some state and federal programs because their family income exceeded eligible limits. The foundation exists to provide support for middle class working families who have children with special needs.

“We've been doing it for six years and in that time we have raised right at $30,000 and every cent of that except for our costs went to the families. We try to help at last three or four families each year as much as we can. We've been lucky the last few years – we've been able to buy medical equipment for some of the kids and sometimes we just donate cash for the families to use as they need.”

Whaley pointed out that the foundation is a 501c charity.

“It was hard getting the paperwork done at first, but it was worth it,” he said. “We are doing everything the right way. We are 100 percent for the families.”

And, he added, the tournament is lucky this year, falling right on the spawn for the bass in Lake Russell.

“I think the fish will be coming to the bank and they are finally biting good. Hopefully, everyone will know that and come out and fish with us Saturday,” he said. “It's been taking 15 to 16 pounds down there in weekend tournaments. It's looking to be a pretty day weather-wise, so it should be a really enjoyable tournament.”

 

Claire Whaley Foundation Bass Tournament

Sat, Apr 12, 2014

Lake Russell

72 Ramp

Call Trad Whaley at 864-378-0952

 


Another Field Of More Than 200 Teams Expected For Texas Team Trail Tournament On Lake Texoma

Parker Smelley and Branden Hollingshead won the most recent Texas Team Trail tournament on Ray Roberts with 28.06 lbs

In the two tournaments held so far in 2014, the Texas Team Trail has averaged 234 boats – 251 teams at Sam Rayburn Reservoir Feb. 15 and 217 at Lake Ray Roberts March 15 – and more than 200 teams are expected for the third tournament of the season Saturday at Lake Texoma.

And, said tournament director Mike Hastings, the fishing should be “really good” for both largemouth and smallmouth bass.

“With the largemouth there will definitely be some bass on the bed spawning. In fact, the largemouths will be in all phases of the spawn. Guys will be catching them pre-spawn, post-spawn and sight fishing for spawning fish on the beds,” he said.

As for the smallmouth, Hastings said the Alabama Rig will play a major role.

“The smallmouth bite is expected to be really good, too. We don't have any restrictions on the Alabama Rig, so this is one of those deals where you had better be throwing it,” he said.

While the fishing is expected to be very good, Hastings said anglers on Texoma sometimes have a hard time getting to their fish.

“The wild card on Lake Texoma is the wind. That lake can get so rough that the wind conditions can dictate what areas of the lake are accessible for some of the guys and also how they fish. But if we have halfway decent conditions I expect a really good catch Saturday.”

The Texas Team Trail draws a big entry, in part because all the tournaments are nationally televised, with the programs also airing on a lot of local networks, so there is a tremendous amount of exposure.

“It's all made possible by the sponsors and you can go to the website to see the complete list,” he said. “They are all important to us. Cabelas is our title sponsor and we also have tremendous support from Ranger, Triton and Stratos. Evinrude is also a major sponsor.”

To fish the series each angler must pay a $30 membership fee, then each team pays a $250 entry fee to fish each tournament. The Texas Team Trail Anglers Advantage Program also allows each team, for an additional $100 entry, to compete in an additional payout bracket, with a $100 percent payback.

“A fully-rigged boat is guaranteed for first place at every tournament,” Hastings said. “That is a boat, motor, trailer and electronics, ready to fish. At the championship, two fully-rigged boats are guaranteed, one for first place and one for second place.”

The winning anglers at Lake Texoma will walk away with a brand-new Triton 18XS powered by an Evinrude 150 HO, valued at $27,500.

Anglers who pre-register online get an additional bonus – practice time. If they are registered online before midnight Thursday they are allowed to pre-fish on Friday. Anglers who register online or via phone prior to midnight Thursday will also be entered into a drawing for a Power Pole Shallow Water Anchor. In addition, anglers that opt to register online at www.texasteamtrail.com will be entered into a drawing for a Mustang Survival inflatable PFD.

Following the Lake Texoma tournament, the anglers will move on to Lake Livingston May 3 for the final qualifier of the years before the Championship June 7-8 on Toledo Bend Lake.

 

Texas Team Trail

Sat, Apr 12, 2014

Lake Texoma

www.texasteamtrail.com

Call Mike Hastings (Tournament Director) - 512-773-7401

 


Eddie and Maggie McKinnis 17+ takes the win for the Texas Bass Couples on Lake Dunlap

 

First I would like to welcome Paul and Denise Krause to the Texas Bass Couples. The weather was beautiful for our day of fishing. We had 9 teams and Eddie and Maggie came in with a 5 fish limit of 17.01 lbs. plus big bass of 5.07 lbs. This is how it turned out for the rest of us.

1.       Eddie/Maggie                       17.01 lbs. BB 5.07 lbs               100 pts.

2.       Mike/Noel Buck                   16.12 lbs                                       99 pts.

3.       David Jara/Amy Krause      14.08 lbs                                       98 pts.

4.       Leonard/Jan Phillipp           13.14 lbs.                                      97 pts.

5.       John/Ginger Wells               9.13 lbs                                         96 pts.

6.       Brett Smith/Sarah Barry     9.12 lbs                                         95 pts.

Chris Scott, Kenneth Staats, Paul Krause tied for 7th place none of them weighed in any fish but they all get 25 points.

The standings after 3 tournaments are as follows:

1.       David Jara/Amy Krause                                                            296 pts.

2.       (Tie) Leonard/Jan Phillipp, Eddie/Maggie McKinnis           293 pts.

3.       Mike/Noel Buck                                                                        292 pts.

4.       Brett Smith/Sarah Barry                                                          290 pts.

5.       Steve/Joann Lopez                                                                   194 pts.

6.       John/Ginger Wells                                                                    190 pts.

7.       Kenneth Staats/ Dawn Frederiksen                                       119 pts.

8.       Chris/Sallie Scott                                                                         50 pts.

9.       Paul/Denise Krause                                                                    25 pts.

 


Lineberger threw buzzbait, crankbait super shallow to win BFL on Wylie

Shane Lineberger of Lincolnton, N.C., weighed a five-bass limit totaling 18 pounds, 11 ounces Saturday to win the second Walmart Bass Fishing League North Carolina Division tournament of 2014 on Lake Wylie. For his victory, Lineberger earned $4,235.

  A 20-year veteran, Lineberger earned the fifth BFL win of his career – his first on Lake Wylie – and pushed his career earnings mark with FLW to over $100,000.
      “It’s special to get a win close to home,” said Lineberger. “I’ve won a lot of other places, but Lake Wylie is only about a half hour from me and it’s like my second home.
      “I fished a Deep South Lures buzzbait and a Brian’s Crankbaits Scatter Bee in super-shallow pockets. The bass were spawning, but because of the dirty water you couldn’t sight-fish them. The water was so shallow that sometimes you could see them tailing like a redfish.
      “I’m not a slow fisherman, but I had to fish very thoroughly,” Lineberger explained. “A lot of times I would have to make two or three casts to a stump or a piece of wood that looked like it would have a fish on it. I had the weight I weighed in by 10 a.m.”
      Rounding out the top 10 pros were:
            2nd:   Jason Lowman, Hickory, N.C., five bass, 17-11, $2,118
            3rd:   Richard Stankwytch, Troutman, N.C., five bass, 16-13, $1,413
            4th:    Rob Digh, Denver, N.C., five bass, 15-15, $917 + $300 Evinrude Bonus
            4th:    Marcos Malucelli, Fort Mill, S.C., five bass, 15-15, $917
            6th:    Matt Arey, Shelby, N.C., five bass, 15-10, $776 + $300 Evinrude Bonus
            7th:    Kelly Logan, Morganton, N.C., five bass, 15-3, $706
            8th:    Klaus Hadschin, Granite Falls, N.C., five bass, 14-5, $635
            9th:    Brian Travis, Conover, N.C., five bass, 14-3, $565
            10th:  Chris Marshall, Forest City, N.C., five bass, 13-14, $494
      Complete results can be found at FLWOutdoors.com.
      Wayne Smelser of Rural Retreat, Va., weighed in a five-bass limit totaling 14 pounds, 11 ounces Saturday to win $2,118 in the co-angler division.
      Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers were:
            2nd:   Nicholas Shaver, Marion, N.C., five bass, 14-8, $1,059
            3rd:   Shorty Vaow, Cornelius, N.C., five bass, 13-6, $706
            4th:    John Novinger, Bluefield, W.Va., five bass, 13-2, $494
            5th:    Andy Kearns, High Point, N.C., five bass, 12-15, $424
            6th:    Darrin Albertson, Fort Mill, S.C., four bass, 12-13, $388
            7th:    Dwight Martinez, Whiteville, N.C., five bass, 12-1, $353
            8th:    George Hirapetian, Charlotte, N.C., five bass, 10-14, $318
            9th:    Chris Carnes, York, S.C., five bass, 10-6, $264
            9th:    Cole Huskins, Mt. Holly, N.C., four bass, 10-6, $264
      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.
      The BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 120 tournaments throughout the season, five in each division. The top 40 boaters and co-anglers from each division qualify for a regional tournament and compete 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 presented by Chevy. The 2014 BFL All-American is being held June 5-7 on Wilson Lake in Florence, Ala. Top winners in the BFL can move up to the Rayovac FLW Series or even the Walmart FLW Tour.

Pitts plumbs 16-foot depths to win BFL on Russell

Butch Pitts of Watkinsville, Ga., weighed a five-bass limit totaling 17 pounds, 1 ounce Saturday to win the third Walmart Bass Fishing League Savannah River Division tournament of 2014 on Lake Russell. For his victory, Pitts earned $4,082.

 Pitts put together his first career BFL win on Lake Russell, a lake that he’s been fishing since it was built in 1984.
       “Lake Russell has been really tough,” said Pitts. “It has been taking 15 to 16 pounds to win everything here for a while, so I knew I would be close.
     “I was throwing a spinnerbait and a ChatterBait in standing timber for prespawn bass. I was fishing humps and pockets that were about 16-feet deep.
       “I probably caught about 14 fish throughout the day,” said Pitts. “I found the fish on Thursday, and went back on Saturday and they had stayed in that area. Persistence was key – I stayed on the same pattern all day and never left it. I was only getting about two fish an hour. I just kept my head down and stayed with it.
       “It was a good weekend,” finished Pitts. “I’ve fished BFL events for years, it felt good to finally win one.”
      Rounding out the top 10 pros were:
            2nd:   Scott Browning, Franklin, N.C., five bass, 16-12, $2,041
            3rd:   Joseph Marks, Duncan, S.C., five bass, 15-15, $1,362 + $300 Evinrude Bonus
            4th:    Eddie Whiten Jr., Pickens, S.C., five bass, 15-12, $952
            5th:    Todd Goade, Suwanee, Ga., five bass, 14-14, $816 + $300 Evinrude Bonus
            6th:    Russell Clark, Abbeville, S.C., five bass, 14-1, $748
            7th:    Chris Nelson, Social Circle, Ga., five bass, 13-9, $680
            8th:    Mike Bouknight, Greenwood, S.C., five bass, 13-7, $612
            9th:    Greg Glouse, Liberty, S.C., five bass, 13-5, $544
            10th:  Greg Willimon, Pickens, S.C., four bass, 13-2, $476
      Complete results can be found at FLWOutdoors.com.
      Jaris McGee of Honea Path, S.C., weighed in a five-bass limit totaling 12 pounds, 8 ounces Saturday to win $2,041 in the co-angler division.
      Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers were:
            2nd:   Bobby Smith, Asheville, N.C., five bass, 11-10, $1,021
            3rd:   Colby Stephens, Demorest, Ga., five bass, 10-8, $683
            4th:    Mark Brinkman, Cumming, Ga., three bass, 10-5, $476
            5th:    Terry McClure, Cumming, Ga., five bass, 9-14, $408
            6th:    Bobby Wade, Gaffney, S.C., five bass, 9-8, $374
            7th:    Tim Jackson, Anderson, S.C., five bass, 9-7, $340
            8th:    Spencer Woodson, Jonesville, S.C., five bass, 9-2, $306
            9th:    Nolan Pulley, Simpsonville, S.C., five bass, 9-1, $255
            9th:    Shane Swann, Mars Hill, N.C., five bass, 9-1, $255
      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.
      The BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 120 tournaments throughout the season, five in each division. The top 40 boaters and co-anglers from each division qualify for a regional tournament and compete 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 presented by Chevy. The 2014 BFL All-American is being held June 5-7 on Wilson Lake in Florence, Ala. Top winners in the BFL can move up to the Rayovac FLW Series or even the Walmart FLW Tour.



CATT Lake Wateree Still Putting Out Big Bags!

Remember the days when 20 lbs would get you some big money on Lake Wateree? Well those days for now are long gone as a 20 lb bag won’t even get a sniff when it comes to a paycheck these days on Lake Wateree. I always ask the guys on the dock how did they do…a lot said they struggled and they still weigh in 18 to 19 lbs…I sure would like to “struggle”!

Wateree has really set the bar high the past 2 years….this year the average winning weight for the CATT Spring trail with the 1 CBC Qualifier included was over 26 lbs!

The only struggle David F. Canupp & David L. Canupp encountered Saturday, was toting their fat bag of HAWGS to the weigh in trough! The father & son team weighed in 5 fat and sassy Lake Wateree largemouth at 29.41 lbs taking 1st place and the BONUS $. All total they collected $3,680.00!

If you think 29 lbs blew everybody else out of the water you would be incorrect! Barry Holloman & Joey Bramlett laid the smack down on 5 bass that tipped the scales at 27.03 lbs! They also weighed in a 7.72 lb bass good enough for the LEW’S BIG BASS of the tournament. Joey was the lucky angler and took home a brand spanking new LEW”S Baitcast reel on top the BF cash. All total Barry & Joey received $1,915.00

Shawn Knight & Dustin Horne claimed 3rd with another big bass of bass weighing 25.95 lbs. They took home $1,000.00.

4th went to Wayne King & Jay Keith with 5 bass weighing 24.09 lbs and they took home $565.00.

Danny Johnson & Alan Fletcher took 5th with a limit weighing 23.17 lbs and collected $400.00.

Donald Hinson & Jeff Hatfield brought in another sack at 23.02 lbs and received $300.00 for their 6th place finish.

7th place went to Kyle McElveen and Cleve Yarborough with 5 weighing 22.42 lbs and they earned $250.00.

Donald & Paul Wells took 8th with 5 bass weighing 21.46 lbs and collected $200.00.

9ht Place went to Tracy Pope & Greg Sigmon with 5 bass weighing 21.17 lbs and they took home $200.00.

The last money place went to Bryan Holmes and Mike Ware with 5 bass weighing 21.07 lbs and they earned $150.00.

This has been a great Spring and more is on the way! Check out the remaining TOM CATT schedule on the CATT site plus the Catawba Clash is April 26 at Clearwater Cove Marina. May 31st is the CATT SC Championship also at Clearwater Cove Marina and if you entered 1 CATT Qualifying this past Spring or the Fall of 2013 your team is eligible to enter. The qualifying lakes are also listed on the CATT site.

Brett Collins

Carolina Anglers Team Trail LLC

 


Jay Emert of UT-Knoxville wins Cabella's Collegiate Big Bass Bash with an 8.85-pounder!

Day 2 of the Cabela's Collegiate Big Bass Bash at Kentucky Lake, Paris, TN, started off cool with clear, bluebird skies as 189 collegiate anglers went through take-off, all excited to bring in the biggest bass they could catch for a chance to win tons of prizes.  Early reports were given that the fish were biting extremely well from most accounts.  Though as the day went on, they had to do some adjusting from their morning strategy as the weather turned cloudy and bass were moving up shallow in the afternoon.

Anglers reported a lot of morning catches using the A-rig and later afternoon bites tended to be either a jerk bait or square bill crank bait, and then the occasional favorite black and blue jig.  They seemed to be catching them better on day 2 and this may have been contributed to the front moving in.

Midway into Session 1, Jay Emmert from University of Tennessee-Knoxville came to the scales and weighed in an 8.85 pound bass that he caught on an A-rig and became that session's leader, as well as overall tournament leader.  And that 8.85 pounds held all day with the next closest bass on day 2 being a 6.72 pound bass brought in by Austin Keeton from Calhoun Community College.

The Top 5 of the event were:

1st - Jay Emmert, University of Tennessee-Knoxville - 8.85 pounds

2nd - Ty Dyer, Bethel University - 7.42 pounds

3rd - Cody Santel, Murray State - 6.84 pounds

4th - Austin Keeton, Calhoun Community College - 6.72 pounds

5th - Zach Parker, Bethel University - 6.62 pounds

For full results from each session, please click here.

Throughout day 2, anglers brought 126 big bass to the scales; and at the end of the day nearly 80 prizes were awarded, totally $20,000.  Many thanks to all our sponsors who support these collegiate anglers -- Cabela's, Ranger Boats, Yamaha, Garmin, Abu Garcia, Costa, BoatUS, BoatUS ANGLER, Lazer TroKar, HydroWave, Big Bite Baits, Sunline, Spro, frogg toggs, Sebile, Temple Fork, Berkley, Sebile, Power Pole, Gemini, Valley Fashions, RAM, Arctic Ice, Mustang, Henry County-Paris, TN, Fish Dayton, and Florence, AL Tourism.

CollegiateBassChampionship.com


Mcclelland Hangs On To Win Bassmaster Elite Series Tournament On Table Rock

Mike McClelland of Bella Vista, Ark., takes first place at the A.R.E. Truck Caps Bassmaster Elite at Table Rock Lake. With his win, McClelland earns a berth in the 2015 Bassmaster Classic. Photo by Seigo Saito/Bassmaster

They call him “McStick.” As of Sunday, they can call him “McRock” too.

Mike McClelland of Bella Vista, Ark., added a seventh Bassmaster title by a nail-biting 13 ounces over Mark Davis in Sunday’s final round of the A.R.E. Truck Caps Bassmaster Elite at Table Rock Lake.

“This is where I cut my teeth fishing,” said McClelland, now with four victories in his Bassmaster Elite Series career. “I’ve never had the opportunity to win a big one here before.”

To do it, McClelland sacked 61 pounds, 15 ounces of bass. His prize was $100,000 and an instant-in for the 2015 Bassmaster Classic, his 10th qualification for the world championship.

McClelland broke a six-year winner’s drought. His most recent victory before Sunday was in March 2008 on Florida’s Harris Chain of Lakes, when he added a sixth Bassmaster event title to his record. That was the end of a streak he had going from 2005 to 2008, with a win in each of those seasons.

“I seem to go in these spurts where I win a few, then I go years without winning one, and it really can get under your skin,” he said. “To win at Table Rock in front of all my friends and family and people who have supported me through the years is a phenomenal feeling.”

“And I just realized I’ve got a berth for the Bassmaster Classic. That’s an awesome feeling,” said McClelland, who missed out on the 2014 event last February.

McClelland said that “fishing by the seat of my pants” was one key to winning.

“I didn’t try to slow down and finesse fish into biting. I chased the wind,” he said. “On this clear lake, you always have to look for at least a little ripple.”

McClelland said he’s been fishing Table Rock since he was 8 years old. What he learned over the years helped him considerably in the Elite event. He knows the lake so well, he was able run his primary pattern through areas he had not tried out during the three-day practice.

And that pattern was fishing windy, rocky banks close to channel swings in creeks or main-lake pockets.

“This time of year, these fish want to be on the biggest, gnarliest rocks,” he said. “Some people get frustrated trying to fish that stuff, but it was key for me.”

He used his HeHsignature series stickbaits made by Spro, a McStick 110, mostly in a natural herring color, and a McStick 115 in clear chartreuse for shallower presentations.

When the water surface became slick because the wind died, he turned to a 4-inch paddletail swimbait near docks or over brush.

And the original Storm Wiggle Wart, which he’s had in his tackle war chest for years, played a role, too. The wide-wobbling crankbait clued him into one significant move he made on the second day. After the Wart was getting bites in shallower water, McClelland decided to run to a brushpile he knew of and use the McStick 115. The result was a 3 1/2-pound bass.

“You look at little keys like that over the course of the week, and they add up,” McClelland said.

Davis, whose four-day total was 61-2 for second place, made a heroic effort to make up the 4-6 McClelland had on him. Starting the final day in fourth place, Davis not only had to try to overtake McClelland, but also Aaron Martens and Kevin VanDam. While Davis’ 15-11 weight on Sunday was close to being enough, it couldn’t make up for Saturday’s stumble, when he weighed 11-12.

“I knew I blew it yesterday,” said Davis, who had led the 108-man field on Friday. “Did I do anything wrong? No. I caught lots of fish; I stayed on fish all four days. When it comes down to less than a pound like that, it just wasn’t meant to be.”

Davis spoke longingly of a few good-sized bass he hooked on a crankbait Sunday, but they threw it.

His consolation prize for a loss by 13 ounces was retaining the early lead in the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year race. After Table Rock, Davis had 35 AOY points on Jared Lintner of Arroyo Grande, Calif.

An early lead is nice, he said but no guarantee.

“I know how AOY goes. You can have one bad day, one bad event. It’s not three strikes you’re out; it’s one strike you’re out,” Davis said. “Happy to lead? Yes. But I know what can happen.”

The AOY title in 2014 would be Davis’ fourth. His first was in 1995, the same year he took his sole Bassmaster Classic win. He followed with AOY crowns in 1998 and 2001.

Finishing in third place with a 60-15 total — just 1 pound behind McClelland — was Greg Hackney of Gonzales, La. Fourth place was claimed by first-day leader and the reigning AOY, Aaron Martens of Leeds, Ala., who tallied 60-1. Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich., finished fifth at 59-15.

The Rookie of the Year Award leader after Table Rock, the third of eight regular-season events, was Jacob Powroznik of Port Haywood, Va. He has 227 points over the 222 earned by Chad Morgenthaler of Coulterville, Ill.

Bonuses that Elite pros earned at the Table Rock event were:

* Toyota Bonus Bucks award of $3,000 to the highest eligible finisher: Mike McClelland

* Toyota Bonus Bucks award of $2,000 to the second-highest eligible finisher: Edwin Evers of Talala, Okla., who finished at Table Rock in sixth place.

* Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Bonus of $1,000 to the leader in the Elite Series points race: Mark Davis.

* A.R.E. Truck Caps Top Angler Award of $2,500 to the highest eligible finisher: McClelland

* Berkley Heavyweight Award of $500 for the best five-fish limit: Cliff Prince of Palatka, Fla., for his 19-10 of Day 2.

* Carhartt Big Bass of the tournament worth $1,000 plus another $500 for wearing Carhartt apparel: Aaron Martens for his 8-0 of Day 1.

* Power-Pole Captain’s Cash award of $1,000 to the highest finisher equipped with a Power-Pole anchoring system : Greg Hackney.

* Livingston Lures Leader Award of $500 for heading up the leaderboard on the second day: Davis.

* The Rigid Industries Jackpot was not claimed at the Table Rock event. A daily prize of $250 is offered for a 25-pound or heavier bag. The accumulated jackpot is now $1,500; that amount rolls over into the next tournament day of the Elite Series.

ESPN2 will air coverage of the Table Rock event on The Bassmasters TV show Sunday, April 20 at 8 a.m. ET.

The next stop for the Bassmaster Elite Series is the May 1-4 Evan Williams Bourbon Bassmaster Elite on Toledo Bend Reservoir out of Many, La., the fourth of eight regular-season events.

2014 A.R.E. Truck Caps Bassmaster Elite at Table Rock Lake  4/3-4/6
Table Rock Lake, Branson  MO.
Standings Day 4

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

1.  Mike McClelland        Bella Vista, AR         20  61-15  100 $102,500.00
Day 1: 5   15-06     Day 2: 5   16-14     Day 3: 5   17-09     Day 4: 5   12-02
2.  Mark Davis             Mount Ida, AR           20  61-02   99  $26,500.00
Day 1: 5   18-08     Day 2: 5   15-03     Day 3: 5   11-12     Day 4: 5   15-11
3.  Greg Hackney           Gonzales, LA            20  60-15   98  $21,000.00
Day 1: 5   16-00     Day 2: 5   14-10     Day 3: 5   13-14     Day 4: 5   16-07
4.  Aaron Martens          Leeds, AL               20  60-01   97  $16,000.00
Day 1: 5   18-11     Day 2: 5   14-05     Day 3: 5   12-14     Day 4: 5   14-03
5.  Kevin VanDam           Kalamazoo, MI           20  59-15   96  $14,000.00
Day 1: 5   14-00     Day 2: 5   12-00     Day 3: 5   19-07     Day 4: 5   14-08
6.  Edwin Evers            Talala, OK              20  59-11   95  $13,500.00
Day 1: 5   17-04     Day 2: 5   13-09     Day 3: 5   13-01     Day 4: 5   15-13
7.  Jeff Kriet             Ardmore, OK             20  59-05   94  $13,000.00
Day 1: 5   14-10     Day 2: 5   14-04     Day 3: 5   15-13     Day 4: 5   14-10
8.  Brandon Palaniuk       Hayden, ID              20  59-01   93  $12,500.00
Day 1: 5   16-13     Day 2: 5   13-10     Day 3: 5   12-10     Day 4: 5   16-00
9.  Cliff Prince           Palatka, FL             20  57-15   92  $12,500.00
Day 1: 5   09-06     Day 2: 5   19-10     Day 3: 5   12-15     Day 4: 5   16-00
10. Bill Lowen             Brookville, IN          20  55-13   91  $11,500.00
Day 1: 5   11-06     Day 2: 5   14-02     Day 3: 5   18-13     Day 4: 5   11-08
11. Kevin Hawk             Guntersville, AL        20  54-11   90  $11,000.00
Day 1: 5   10-06     Day 2: 5   16-03     Day 3: 5   15-11     Day 4: 5   12-07
12. Jared Lintner          Arroyo Grande, CA       20  54-02   89  $10,500.00
Day 1: 5   12-06     Day 2: 5   17-15     Day 3: 5   11-02     Day 4: 5   12-11
CARHARTT BIG BASS
Aaron Martens            Leeds, AL           08-00      $1,000.00
BERKLEY HEAVYWEIGHT
Cliff Prince             Palatka, FL         19-10        $500.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1        96       521      1285-14
2        98       521      1330-14
3        38       227       556-00
4        12        60       172-00
----------------------------------
244      1329      3344-12


Caudill and Loyd win the Tom's Marine TT on Douglas with 23.60 Lbs-full results and pic here!

Big Day on Douglas for Caudill and Lloyd

Douglas Lake was host to the second Toms Marine Team Trail event of 2014 on April 5th and the fish were on! There were four bags of 20 pounds+ led by the team of Lowell Caudill and Teddy Lloyd with a whopping 23.6-pound limit.

This catch earned them $2,500 plus another $100 from MoterMate. Second place was 20.98-pounds belonging to Sam MCowan and Josh Richardson earning the a nice $1500 payday. Jimmy Taylor and Donnie Bittle finished a close third with 20.52-pounds and won $900. Another nice bag of 20-pounds even was brought in by Mark and Tony Ownby to claim the $650 fourth place prize. Rounding out the top 5 and winning $550 was the team of Cruz Cope and Mike Jessee with 19.92-pounds.

Complete results, standings and photos are now posted. We invite everyone to come out and join us for our next event on April 19 at Chereokee Dam. Click the attachment for full results!


McClelland Grabs lead in Elite Series tourney; Davis stregthens grip on AOY race at Table Rock

Mike McClelland leads as the Elite Series pros head into the final day on Table Rock Lake. photo courtesey B.A.S.S.

If fishing fans at the Bassmaster Elite Series weigh in show had dollars for everytime an angler said the words "Wiggle Wart", they would cash-in almost as well as the 50 pros who made it to Day 3 and cut a $10,000 check.

Of course, 12 of them will fish tomorrow for the big check. And a few of them are throwing something other than the out-of-production Storm Wiggle Wart that still fools Table Rock bass by the boatload.

Mike McClelland holds nearly a 4-pound lead over Aaron Martens (49-13 to 45-14). Mclelland is throwing his namesake McStick jerkbait.

No matter the lure choice, 10-lb. fuorocarbon line seems to be a huge key. In fact, along with 'Wiggle Wart' and 'jerkbait', '10-lb. fluoro' was heard repeatedly, again and again, over and over from the 50 pros who fished today.

Who can argue with success? Most anglers reported catches of 50-to-60 bass today. Many of those came before a bright sun rose over a mirror-smooth lake. After that, things slowed a bit.

"My marshal said 'that's number 50 right there' and that was at 9:30 A.M.," said Jacob Powroznik.

Of course, tournament fishing comes down to the big bite and Kevin VanDam had it. His 7-8 was the big fish of the day and she pushed his weight to 19-7. With a 3-day total of 45-7, KVD is currently in 3rd place.

Red hot Strike King pro Mark Davis continues to fish well. He is in 4th and has strengthened his grip on the Angler of the Year race. Davis has caught 45-7 which ties him for 3rd with VanDam, but KVD comes out ahead due to tie-breaker rules.

Jeff Kriet rounds out the Top 5. 'The Squirrel' has quietly found enough acorns to pile-up a total weight of 44-11.

Jared Lintner is last into the cut with 41-7, good for 12th place.

As for the jerkbait bite - Rick Clunn said he caught biggest few fish this week on his signature series Lucky Strike RC STX model. Gerald Swindle wasn't so fortunate, "I left $3,000 worth of Special 10 jerkbaits in the (submerged) trees in long Creek and when the water goes down y'all can go find them and have some fun with them."

All kidding aside, the jerkbait seems to be the ticket for quality fish this week. As does 10-lb. fluorocarbon line.

Here's your top 12 who will fish tomorrow:

1 Mike McClelland 5 15- 6 5 16-14 5 17- 9 15 49-13
2 Aaron Martens 5 18-11 5 14- 5 5 12-14 15 45-14
3 Kevin VanDam 5 14- 0 5 12- 0 5 19- 7 15 45- 7
4 Mark Davis 5 18- 8 5 15- 3 5 11-12 15 45- 7
5 Jeff Kriet 5 14-10 5 14- 4 5 15-13 15 44-11
6 Greg Hackney 5 16- 0 5 14-10 5 13-14 15 44- 8
7 Bill Lowen 5 11- 6 5 14- 2 5 18-13 15 44- 5
8 Edwin Evers 5 17- 4 5 13- 9 5 13- 1 15 43-14
9 Brandon Palaniuk 5 16-13 5 13-10 5 12-10 15 43- 1
10 Kevin Hawk 5 10- 6 5 16- 3 5 15-11 15 42- 4
11 Cliff Prince 5 9- 6 5 19-10 5 12-15 15 41-15
12 Jared Lintner 5 12- 6 5 17-15 5 11- 2 15 41- 7

Mark Davis Grabs the Lead on Table Rock

Mark Davis has taken the lead on Day 2 of the A.R.E. Truck Caps Bassmaster Elite at Table Rock Lake with a total two-day weight of 33 pounds, 11 ounces. Photo by Gary Tramontina/Bassmaster

Everyone’s saying Mark Davis is on fire.

Indeed he is. Friday he fanned that flame by taking the lead on the second day of the April 3-6 A.R.E. Truck Caps Bassmaster Elite on Table Rock Lake.

Inferno, anyone?

Davis moved up from second place by adding another 15 pounds, 3 ounces to his first-day weight of 18-8. The Mount Ida, Ark., pro’s two-day tally was 33 pounds, 11 ounces.

If Davis, who already owns three Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year titles, goes on to win Sunday, he would cement his early lead in the race for the 2014 AOY title. He earned the AOY lead by finishing in third place in each of the first two Elite events of the season.

“It’s been really, really hard to keep it going, but so far, so good,” said Davis, who also owns a Bassmaster Classic title from 1995.

Several pros in the Bassmaster Elite Series field still have a lot of say about Davis taking the title at “The Rock.” Chris Lane is one. Winner of the St. Johns River Bassmaster Elite tournament two weeks ago, Lane moved from third place into second with 33-1, just 10 ounces behind Davis.

Aaron Martens, 2013 Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year, is another. The first-day leader, Martens ended the second round in third place at 33-0, just 11 ounces in back of Davis.

The list of immediate threats to Davis is longer. Trailing Davis by 1-7 was an old hand on Table Rock, Mike McClelland of Bella Vista, Ark. McClelland moved up from 12th place into fourth with 32-4. Edwin Evers of Talala, Okla., who was tied for fourth place after Day 1, slipped into fifth place on the second day with 30-13.

But Evers is only 2-14 behind first place. And only 9-0 separates Davis from the last man into Friday’s 50-cut, Yusuke Miyazaki at 24-11.

The Top 50 move into Saturday’s third round. Sunday, only the Top 12 will compete for the first prize of $100,000 and a win-you’re-in entry in the 2015 Bassmaster Classic.

Davis said the key to his success over the past two days has been a technique and the lure he’s using to execute that technique.

He’s also playing a numbers game. He said he’s increasing his odds of catching larger bass simply by catching a lot of fish.

“I’m getting 60, 70, 80 bites a day. The law of averages will carry you — even though you can start to doubt yourself on that at times. You get enough bites on a lake like this, you’ll come up with a little better grade of fish,” he said.

His five-bass limit of 15-3 contained four largemouth bass, including a 4-pounder, and one spotted bass. But Davis was hooking into smallmouth too.

“With the technique I’m using, you’ll catch a smallmouth one cast, a spot the next, and a largemouth on the next,” he said.

Lane took second place by producing a limit Friday of one spotted bass, three largemouth and one smallmouth. They weighed 14-12.

“I’m not going through the numbers like other people are,” said Lane, who is working banks, “just fishing.”

Lane said he is targeting larger bass by using a red colored crankbait. He boated just eight or nine keepers Friday, he said.

“I caught two bigger ones early, but it was a grind after that,” he said. “The cold didn’t seem to bother them.”

Martens said that unlike Thursday, he did not go after largemouth Friday. In his bag of 14-5 were two smallmouth and three spotted bass.

He also went to different water Friday. But an 8-pounder did not appear for him as one did on Thursday, which had helped him to the lead.

A rainy cold front Thursday evening followed Friday by lower temperatures, wind and near-bluebird skies didn’t affect the bite of the prespawn bass on Table Rock, said McClelland, who weighed five largemouth that went 16-14.

“The water warmed up so much earlier this week, it would have to get cold and stay cold for three or four days to slow these fish down again. Once these fish decide to go to the bank, it won’t get cold enough to send them back,” he said.

The largest bass of the day was 6-10 caught by Cliff Pirch of Payson, Ariz. But Martens’ 8-0 of Thursday held on as the top candidate for the Carhartt Big Bass award of up to $1,500.

Cliff Prince of Palatka, Fla., produced the largest sack of the day, a 19-10. He became the front-runner for the event’s Berkley Heavyweight Award of $500.

The 50 Elite pros who made the cut will return Saturday to Table Rock Lake for the third round. The takeoff will be at 6:30 a.m. at State Park Marina (300 State Park Marina Drive, Branson, MO 65616).

Saturday and Sunday the weigh-ins will be at the Bass Pro Shops location at Branson Landing in Branson. Weigh-ins are scheduled to begin at 3:15 p.m. CT. At the same location, the Bassmaster Elite Series Expo will open at noon. Among the activities are free demo rides in Nitro, Triton and Skeeter boats powered by Yamaha and Mercury engines.

There’s no admission charge for any Bassmaster event.

ESPN2 will air coverage of the Table Rock event on The Bassmasters TV show Sunday, April 20 at 8 a.m. ET.

2014 A.R.E. Truck Caps Bassmaster Elite at Table Rock Lake  4/3-4/6
Table Rock Lake, Branson  MO.
Standings Day 2

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

1.  Mark Davis             Mount Ida, AR           10  33-11  100     $500.00
Day 1: 5   18-08     Day 2: 5   15-03
2.  Chris Lane             Guntersville, AL        10  33-01   99
Day 1: 5   18-05     Day 2: 5   14-12
3.  Aaron Martens          Leeds, AL               10  33-00   98
Day 1: 5   18-11     Day 2: 5   14-05
4.  Mike McClelland        Bella Vista, AR         10  32-04   97
Day 1: 5   15-06     Day 2: 5   16-14
5.  Edwin Evers            Talala, OK              10  30-13   96
Day 1: 5   17-04     Day 2: 5   13-09
6.  Greg Hackney           Gonzales, LA            10  30-10   95
Day 1: 5   16-00     Day 2: 5   14-10
7.  Brandon Palaniuk       Hayden, ID              10  30-07   94
Day 1: 5   16-13     Day 2: 5   13-10
8.  Jared Lintner          Arroyo Grande, CA       10  30-05   93
Day 1: 5   12-06     Day 2: 5   17-15
9.  Tim Horton             Muscle Shoals, AL       10  29-13   92
Day 1: 5   11-07     Day 2: 5   18-06
10. Britt Myers            Lake Wylie, SC          10  29-08   91
Day 1: 5   15-02     Day 2: 5   14-06
11. Paul Elias             Laurel, MS              10  29-07   90
Day 1: 5   14-08     Day 2: 5   14-15
12. Cliff Prince           Palatka, FL             10  29-00   89
Day 1: 5   09-06     Day 2: 5   19-10
13. Morizo Shimizu         Osaka JAPAN             10  28-15   88
Day 1: 5   12-09     Day 2: 5   16-06
14. Skeet Reese            Auburn, CA              10  28-14   87
Day 1: 5   16-00     Day 2: 5   12-14
15. Jeff Kriet             Ardmore, OK             10  28-14   86
Day 1: 5   14-10     Day 2: 5   14-04
16. Marty Robinson         Lyman, SC               10  28-10   85
Day 1: 5   13-02     Day 2: 5   15-08
17. Ott DeFoe              Knoxville, TN           10  28-02   84
Day 1: 5   11-00     Day 2: 5   17-02
18. Kelley Jaye            Dadeville, AL           10  27-14   83
Day 1: 5   15-09     Day 2: 5   12-05
19. Fletcher Shryock       New Philadelphia, OH    10  27-13   82
Day 1: 5   16-08     Day 2: 5   11-05
20. David Mullins          Mt Carmel, TN           10  27-13   81
Day 1: 5   13-00     Day 2: 5   14-13
21. Bobby Lane             Lakeland, FL            10  27-10   80
Day 1: 5   14-08     Day 2: 5   13-02
22. Todd Faircloth         Jasper, TX              10  27-08   79
Day 1: 5   12-05     Day 2: 5   15-03
23. Brent Chapman          Lake Quivira, KS        10  27-04   78
Day 1: 5   14-02     Day 2: 5   13-02
24. Billy McCaghren        Mayflower, AR           10  27-02   77
Day 1: 5   14-11     Day 2: 5   12-07
25. Jason Christie         Park Hill, OK           10  26-13   76
Day 1: 5   11-12     Day 2: 5   15-01
26. Michael Iaconelli      Pitts Grove, NJ         10  26-12   75
Day 1: 5   12-04     Day 2: 5   14-08
27. Gerald Swindle         Warrior, AL             10  26-10   74
Day 1: 5   12-01     Day 2: 5   14-09
28. Kurt Dove              Del Rio, TX             10  26-10   73
Day 1: 5   13-14     Day 2: 5   12-12
29. Kevin Hawk             Guntersville, AL        10  26-09   72
Day 1: 5   10-06     Day 2: 5   16-03
29. Chad Morgenthaler      Coulterville, IL        10  26-09   72
Day 1: 5   10-06     Day 2: 5   16-03
31. Brian Snowden          Reeds Spring, MO        10  26-08   70
Day 1: 5   12-05     Day 2: 5   14-03
32. James Niggemeyer       Van, TX                 10  26-06   69
Day 1: 5   11-03     Day 2: 5   15-03
33. Keith Poche            Pike Road, AL           10  26-03   68
Day 1: 5   11-01     Day 2: 5   15-02
34. Rick Clunn             Ava, MO                 10  26-03   67
Day 1: 5   14-10     Day 2: 5   11-09
35. Jacob Powroznik        Port Haywood, VA        10  26-02   66
Day 1: 5   12-00     Day 2: 5   14-02
36. Casey Scanlon          Lanexa, KS              10  26-01   65
Day 1: 5   13-14     Day 2: 5   12-03
37. Kevin VanDam           Kalamazoo, MI           10  26-00   64
Day 1: 5   14-00     Day 2: 5   12-00
38. Casey Ashley           Donalds, SC             10  26-00   63
Day 1: 5   12-06     Day 2: 5   13-10
39. Gary Klein             Weatherford, TX         10  25-15   62
Day 1: 5   14-03     Day 2: 5   11-12
40. Stephen Browning       Hot Springs, AR          9  25-09   61
Day 1: 4   10-13     Day 2: 5   14-12
41. Bill Lowen             Brookville, IN          10  25-08   60
Day 1: 5   11-06     Day 2: 5   14-02
42. Kelly Jordon           Palestine, TX           10  25-03   59
Day 1: 5   10-05     Day 2: 5   14-14
43. Steve Kennedy          Auburn, AL              10  25-02   58
Day 1: 5   10-11     Day 2: 5   14-07
44. John Crews Jr          Salem, VA               10  25-02   57
Day 1: 5   13-12     Day 2: 5   11-06
45. Randy Howell           Springville, AL         10  25-02   56
Day 1: 5   12-06     Day 2: 5   12-12
46. Rick Morris            Lake Gaston, VA         10  24-15   55
Day 1: 5   11-11     Day 2: 5   13-04
47. Keith Combs            Huntington, TX          10  24-14   54
Day 1: 5   11-15     Day 2: 5   12-15
48. Scott Rook             Little Rock, AR         10  24-13   53
Day 1: 5   13-04     Day 2: 5   11-09
49. Chad Pipkens           Holt, MI                10  24-12   52
Day 1: 5   11-01     Day 2: 5   13-11
50. Yusuke Miyazaki        Forney, TX               9  24-11   51
Day 1: 4   13-01     Day 2: 5   11-10
51. Jonathon VanDam        Kalamazoo, MI           10  24-10   50
Day 1: 5   13-02     Day 2: 5   11-08
52. Glenn Browne           Ocala, FL               10  24-09   49
Day 1: 5   11-12     Day 2: 5   12-13
53. Fred Roumbanis         Bixby, OK               10  24-09   48
Day 1: 5   12-02     Day 2: 5   12-07
54. Derek Remitz           Grant, AL               10  24-08   47
Day 1: 5   13-07     Day 2: 5   11-01
55. Jared Miller           Norman, OK               9  24-06   46
Day 1: 5   16-00     Day 2: 4   08-06
56. Matt Herren            Trussville, AL          10  24-06   45
Day 1: 5   11-03     Day 2: 5   13-03
57. Matt Reed              Madisonville, TX        10  24-06   44
Day 1: 5   12-15     Day 2: 5   11-07
58. Randall Tharp          Port Saint Joe, FL      10  24-04   43
Day 1: 5   13-09     Day 2: 5   10-11
59. James Elam             Tulsa, OK               10  24-01   42
Day 1: 5   12-07     Day 2: 5   11-10
60. Hank Cherry Jr         Maiden, NC              10  24-00   41
Day 1: 5   12-02     Day 2: 5   11-14
61. Jeremy Starks          Scott Depot, WV         10  23-15   40
Day 1: 5   09-15     Day 2: 5   14-00
62. Takahiro Omori         Emory, TX               10  23-12   39
Day 1: 5   10-13     Day 2: 5   12-15
63. Ish Monroe             Hughson, CA             10  23-11   38
Day 1: 5   09-14     Day 2: 5   13-13
64. Terry Scroggins        San Mateo, FL           10  23-05   37
Day 1: 5   12-05     Day 2: 5   11-00
65. Kevin Short            Mayflower, AR           10  23-03   36
Day 1: 5   12-07     Day 2: 5   10-12
66. Boo Woods              Oneida, KY              10  23-01   35
Day 1: 5   11-14     Day 2: 5   11-03
67. David Walker           Sevierville, TN         10  23-01   34
Day 1: 5   11-04     Day 2: 5   11-13
68. Justin Lucas           Guntersville, AL        10  22-14   33
Day 1: 5   12-15     Day 2: 5   09-15
69. Clifford Pirch         Payson, AZ               8  22-13   32
Day 1: 3   05-14     Day 2: 5   16-15
70. Russ Lane              Prattville, AL          10  22-12   31
Day 1: 5   10-10     Day 2: 5   12-02
71. Andy Montgomery        Blacksburg, SC          10  22-12   30
Day 1: 5   11-14     Day 2: 5   10-14
72. Jamie Horton           Centerville, AL          8  22-11   29
Day 1: 5   17-04     Day 2: 3   05-07
73. Tommy Biffle           Wagoner, OK             10  22-09   28
Day 1: 5   13-03     Day 2: 5   09-06
74. J Todd Tucker          Moultrie, GA            10  22-09   27
Day 1: 5   10-02     Day 2: 5   12-07
75. Brandon Card           Caryville, TN           10  22-08   26
Day 1: 5   10-13     Day 2: 5   11-11
76. Davy Hite              Ninety Six, SC           9  22-07   25
Day 1: 4   08-09     Day 2: 5   13-14
77. Bradley Roy            Lancaster, KY           10  22-06   24
Day 1: 5   11-05     Day 2: 5   11-01
78. Cliff Crochet          Pierre Part, LA          9  22-00   23
Day 1: 4   09-10     Day 2: 5   12-06
79. BJ Haseotes            Centerville, MA         10  21-14   22
Day 1: 5   09-08     Day 2: 5   12-06
80. Bernie Schultz         Gainesville, FL         10  21-14   21
Day 1: 5   11-08     Day 2: 5   10-06
81. Dennis Tietje          Roanoke, LA             10  21-13   20
Day 1: 5   10-07     Day 2: 5   11-06
82. Charlie Hartley        Grove City, OH          10  21-11   19
Day 1: 5   11-00     Day 2: 5   10-11
83. Shaw Grigsby Jr.       Gainesville, FL         10  21-10   18
Day 1: 5   10-07     Day 2: 5   11-03
84. Tracy Adams            Wilkesboro, NC          10  21-10   17
Day 1: 5   11-01     Day 2: 5   10-09
85. Alton Jones            Lorena, TX               9  21-09   16
Day 1: 4   08-00     Day 2: 5   13-09
86. John Murray            Phoenix, AZ             10  21-09   15
Day 1: 5   10-11     Day 2: 5   10-14
87. Scott Ashmore          Broken Arrow, OK        10  21-05   14
Day 1: 5   11-09     Day 2: 5   09-12
88. Kenyon Hill            Norman, OK              10  21-05   13
Day 1: 5   10-15     Day 2: 5   10-06
89. Brandon Lester         Fayetteville, TN        10  21-05   12
Day 1: 5   10-08     Day 2: 5   10-13
90. Zell Rowland           Montgomery, TX          10  21-03   11
Day 1: 5   10-14     Day 2: 5   10-05
91. Brett Hite             Phoenix, AZ             10  20-15   10
Day 1: 5   11-00     Day 2: 5   09-15
92. Greg Vinson            Wetumpka, AL            10  20-14    9
Day 1: 5   10-06     Day 2: 5   10-08
93. Joel Baker             Talala, OK               9  20-10    8
Day 1: 5   09-11     Day 2: 4   10-15
94. Chris Zaldain          San Jose, CA            10  20-10    7
Day 1: 5   10-01     Day 2: 5   10-09
95. Joseph Sancho          New Windsor, NY         10  20-01    6
Day 1: 5   10-15     Day 2: 5   09-02
96. Jason Williamson       Aiken, SC               10  20-01    5
Day 1: 5   10-09     Day 2: 5   09-08
97. Dean Rojas             Lake Havasu City, AZ    10  19-12    4
Day 1: 5   09-01     Day 2: 5   10-11
98. Boyd Duckett           Guntersville, AL        10  19-08    3
Day 1: 5   10-06     Day 2: 5   09-02
99. Kotaro Kiriyama        Moody, AL                9  18-15    2
Day 1: 4   07-14     Day 2: 5   11-01
100. Pete Ponds             Madison, MS              7  17-02    1
Day 1: 4   07-13     Day 2: 3   09-05
101. Mike Kernan            Wylie, TX                9  16-13    0
Day 1: 5   09-00     Day 2: 4   07-13
102. Michael Simonton       Fremont, OH              7  16-02    0
Day 1: 2   03-13     Day 2: 5   12-05
103. Trevor Romans          Plano, TX                8  16-00    0
Day 1: 5   10-10     Day 2: 3   05-06
104. Josh Bertrand          Gilbert, AZ              6  15-14    0
Day 1: 5   13-07     Day 2: 1   02-07
105. David Smith            Del City, OK             8  15-09    0
Day 1: 5   09-14     Day 2: 3   05-11
106. Nate Wellman           Newaygo, MI              6  14-12    0
Day 1: 3   05-12     Day 2: 3   09-00
107. Grant Goldbeck         Boerne, TX               6  14-10    0
Day 1: 3   06-14     Day 2: 3   07-12
108. Byron Velvick          Boenre, TX               7  14-06    0
Day 1: 2   04-08     Day 2: 5   09-14
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1        96       521      1285-14
2        98       521      1330-14
----------------------------------
194      1042      2616-12


Aaron Martens Grabs Early Lead in Elite Series Event on Table Rock

Aaron Martens of Leeds, Ala., takes the lead on the first day of the A.R.E. Truck Caps Bassmaster Elite at Table Rock Lake, bringing 18 pounds, 11 ounces to the scales. Photo by Seigo Saito/Bassmaster

Aaron Martens called it a “picture-perfect day.” Mark Davis said he was “singing hymns all day.” Chris Lane landed inside his “comfort zone.”

And that’s how it was for three of the hottest pros in bass fishing on Thursday, the first day of the April 3-6 A.R.E. Truck Caps Bassmaster Elite on Table Rock Lake.

Martens, the 2013 Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year, took the Day 1 lead at Table Rock with 18 pounds, 11 ounces of largemouth bass. Davis, currently in the lead for the 2014 AOY prize, was second with 18 pounds, 8 ounces. Right behind them with 18-5 was Lane, who won the most recent Elite Series event less than two weeks ago.

The three leaders have lots of company. Weighing 17-4 to tie at fourth place were Edwin Evers of Talala, Okla., and Jamie Horton of Centreville, Ala. They were 1 pound, 7 ounces, behind Martens.

Even the pro in 12th place trailed Martens by 3-5. That mark was set at 15-6 by Mike McClelland of Bella Vista, Ark.

Martens, a California native who relocated to Leeds, Ala., several years ago, anchored his 18-11 with an 8-0.

“I had a picture-perfect day,” Martens said. “I caught almost everything that bit, and I didn’t lose very many. I pulled that 8-pounder from between three or four trees on non-heavy line.”

Martens, who has fished Table Rock Lake many times, tried to find new areas during the three-day practice. In the end, he returned to spots on which he had success in the past — “fishing old stuff,” he called it.

A solid pattern helped, he said, but the only two lures he used Thursday were key.

“One bait I’m using is pretty phenomenal, but I bet half the guys are using it too,” he said, declining to name the lures.

Even if the weights were not tight, Martens expects Day 2 of the tournament to see changes in the leaderboard.

“This lake is notorious for having a leader one day, and then that guy blanks,” Martens said.

Davis, who is from Mount Ida, Ark., won a Bassmaster Tour on Table Rock in 2004. His history helped him get to work Thursday. And that work involved a lot of “hunting and pecking,” he said.

“That’s how you have to fish this lake,” he said.

Davis came into the Table Rock event leading the points race after finishing third in both of the first two tournaments of the season.

Lane, a Florida transplant to Guntersville, Ala., skipped over Table Rock’s clear, clear water. Instead, he went back to a favorite comfort zone of his: casting in shallow, stained water up into the backs of creeks.

He targeted big bass, selecting three baits to go after the larger bass. The strategy worked. One of his five largemouth bass was a 5-9 and another weighed 5-4.

Lane was trading size for numbers; he caught just seven fish all day.

That, on a day when many of the pros weeded through scores of bass less than 15 inches — the legal keeper size — to put together a five-bass limit in any combination of largemouth, spotted bass and smallmouth.

The event’s first prize is $100,000 and an instant qualification for the 2015 Bassmaster Classic. The Elite pros also are out to earn points that count toward a Classic qualification and the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year title.

Martens’ 8-0 was the largest bass of the day. He became the front-runner for the event’s Carhartt Big Bass award of up to $1,500.

The full field of 108 Elite pros will return to the Table Rock at 6:30 a.m. Friday at State Park Marina (300 State Park Marina Drive, Branson, MO 65616).

Friday’s weigh-in will be at State Park Marina. On Saturday and Sunday, the weigh-ins will move to the Bass Pro Shops location at Branson Landing. All weigh-ins are scheduled to begin at 3:15 p.m. CT.

There’s no admission charge for any Bassmaster event.


College Anglers Competing For Biggest Fish In Cabela's Collegiate Big Bass Bash

In most collegiate bass fishing tournaments, college teams compete against other college teams, but in the Cabela's Collegiate Big Bass Bash this weekend on Kentucky Lake team members actually will be competing against each other.

It's kind of a unique format,” said Tournament Director Wade Middleton. “You'll see kids from different schools fishing together in the same boat, sometimes as many as three in a boat. The idea is to increase participation.”

Middleton explained that the anglers will fish eight hours Saturday and eight hours Sunday, with weigh-ins scheduled every two hours.

“You will see 2 pounds win prizes and sometimes 10 pounds will win. That means there is some strategy involved. These kids will sit out there and figure what it takes to get paid,” he said.

Prizes will be awarded for the five heaviest bass weighed during each session, plus a prize will be awarded for the overall heaviest bass weighed each tournament day and a grand prize will be awarded for the overall heaviest bass of the tournament.

“There is more than $20,000 in prizes, ranging from $1,000 Cabela's gift cards to Garmin Fish Finders, all the way down to rain gear from Frogg Toggs.”

Middleton said 180 college anglers have signed up for the tournament, representing more than 60 schools across the nation.

Collegiate fishing fans, family members, and friends of competitors can follow the action by visiting CollegiateBassChampionship.com and Facebook.com/CollegiateBassChampionship. Televised coverage will be seen on NBC Sports Outdoors and the Pursuit Channel and other networks during the year.

“The biggest event of the year in all of college fishing – the Boat-US Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship – will be held at the end of May on Pickwick Lake,” Middleton said.

 

Cabela’s Collegiate Big Bass Bash

Apr 4-6, 2014

Kentucky Lake

Paris Landing

www.collegiatebasschampionship.com

 


Bass Ready To Move Up In Time For Tom's Marine Tournament On Douglas Lake

Luke Boles and Donnie Absher won the first tournament of 2014 with 21.18 lbs on Cherokee

When Mother Nature calls, the bass have to get a move on, no matter what, said Richard McMaster, tournament director for the Tom's Marine Teal Trail which will hold its second tournament of the 2014 season Saturday on Douglas Lake.

“It's time for them to start moving up. They know it's late, but they know it's time,” McMaster said.

And that bodes well for the anglers in Saturday's tournament, he added.

“The water temperatures are starting to get up into the mid to upper 50s now. The bass are done hibernating. They are ready to eat and do their thing,” McMaster said.

The fishermen are apparently in the same frame of mind. At the first Tom's Marine tournament March 15, 137 boats showed up and Cherokee Lake was on fire. Seventy-seven boats weigh in double figures and it took a whopping 21.8 pounds to win. Luke Boles and Donnie Absher earned a check for $2,500 for those five fish. The top five teams all weighed in more than 19 pounds of fish.

“We are looking forward to having the same number of boats this weekend on Douglas Lake, maybe even better with the warm temperatures we're getting,” McMaster said. “Some guys who didn't make the first tournament can still fish the last six tournaments and make the Classic, so we are hoping for a good turnout.”

McMaster said the local forecast is calling for storms to move in Thursday night and Friday, with an 80 percent chance of ran on Friday, then clear skies and 68 to 70 degrees on Saturday for the tournament.

With the bass anxious to feed up and get on the beds, McMaster said the Alabama Rig could dominate Saturday.

“Last year about this time the PAA and Southern Open tournaments were held on Douglas and it was the Alabama Rig then, so I am expecting more of the same. I do expect a lot of fish will be caught on Rat-L-Traps, jerkbaits and small crankbaits, but the bigger fish will come on the Alabama Rig, just as they did on Cherokee in the last tournament.”

McMaster said anglers fishing the Tom's Marine Team Trail this year will have a chance to qualify for the 2015 Bassmaster Classic. Teams can qualify for a chance to fish for the Classic by paying a $10 per angler membership fee. Up to three teams, based on points, could qualify to fish the Bass Team Classic Championship, where the top three teams will break up into individual boats to fish for a berth in the Bassmaster Classic.

McMaster also announced that Tom's Marine is bringing back a summer nighttime tournament this year after a three-year absence. The night tournament will be held July 12 on Cherokee Lake with a three-fish limit.

The rest of the 2014 schedule includes: March 15, Cherokee Lake, 25E Bridge; April 5, Douglas Lake, Shady Grove; April 19, Cherokee Lake, the Dam; May 24, Cherokee Lake, 25E Bridge; June 7, Douglas Lake, Shady Grove; July 12, Cherokee Lake, 25E Bridge; Sept. 13, Douglas Lake, Shady Grove; and Oct. 25-25, Douglas Lake, Shady Grove and Cherokee Lake, 25E Bridge.

The entry fee per tournament is $100, plus a $10 lunker fee.

New incentives for the Tom's Marine Team Trail in 2014 include :
– Toms Marine will pay $250 to anyone who wins out a boat purchased new from Toms Marine since 20110.

– Glow Max will pay the winner of the night tournament $250 in cash and $250 merchandise if they use Glow Max black lights in their boat. In addition, Toms Marine will pay the winner an additional $100 if the Glow Max black lights were purchased from and installed by Toms Marine.
– Linex has teamed up with Toms Marine Team Trail to sponsor a drawing for a new spray-in Linex bed liner this season. Anyone making a purchase from Linex and letting them know you are a member of Toms Marine Team Trail will be entered into this drawing to be held at the end of the 2014 regular season.

 

Tom's Marine Team Trail

Sat, Apr 5, 2014

Douglas Lake

Shady Grove Access

Call Richard McMaster 423-748-3240

[email protected]

www.tomsmarinetn.com

 


Low Water Could Force Anglers Upriver For Alabama Bass Trail Tournament On Neely Henry

The low water level could play a major role in the outcome of the third Alabama Bass Trail North Division tournament Saturday on Neely Henry Lake.

“The water is down about a foot and a half, nearly two feet,” said Kris Colley, winner of the second North Division tournament two weeks ago on Pickwick Lake. “I've got a feeling that if the water stays down fishing is going to be a lot tougher Saturday than what people expect.”

Colley, who hails from Ashville, Ala., just five minutes from the Neely Henry shore, said the problem with the low water is that most of the grass in Neely Henry is high and dry.

“Neely Henry is known for its grass this time of year,” Crolley said. “A lot of the grass is not even in the water.”

Unless the thundershowers predicted for late Thursday night and early Friday morning dump enough rain on the system to bring the water level up, the grass fishing will be very limited which means a lot of anglers will have to move up into the river area at the head of the lake, Crolley said.

“I think you will see more fishing upriver than downriver Saturday,” he said. “If the water level was normal, about three-fourths of the field would be fishing downriver, but with the level down it's going to take away a lot of fishing on the bottom end of the lake.”

If the level does come up the fish will move up with the water, he said, which will open up fishing with spinnerbaits, Rat-L-Traps and square-billed crankbaits. But, if anglers have to move upriver they will be fishing trees and rock. There is no grass upriver, he said.

“Fishing upriver it will be mostly flipping a jig, throwing a spinnerbait and maybe a crankbait here and there.”

Crolley, who normally teams with Adam Bain, had to fish solo with a non-fishing observer on Pickwick because Bain had a previously-scheduled engagement. He weighed in a limit at 25.11 pounds, anchored by a 6.59-pound largemouth, that he caught by flipping a green-pumpkin LC's Jig around wood structure on mud banks within sight of the launch ramp at McFarland Park.

Crolley, who won $10,000 which he will split with Bain, praised the Alabama Bass Trail which is in its inaugural season.

“For the first year they are doing a great job. They have got everything going in the right direction and I don't think they will have any problem filling up the Northern Division again next year,” he said.

Registration for the Alabama Bass Trail is available online at www.alabamabasstrail.org up to the Wednesday preceding each tournament. The entry fee per tournament is $250 per team.

The schedule includes: North Division – Feb. 1, Lake Guntersville; March 22, Pickwick Lake; April 5, Neely Henry Lake; May 31, Wheeler Lake; June 21, Logan Martin Lake. South Division – March 1, Mobile-Tensaw River Delta; March 15, Lake Eufaula; April 19, Lake Jordan; May 10, Alabama River (Millers Ferry); June 7, Lay Lake.

Each tournament has a guaranteed first prize of $10,000, plus $23,000 to the top 20 places and $500 to big fish. There are also numerous bonus packages available to winning and placing anglers.

The Top 50 teams for both the Northern and Southern Divisions will advance to the 2014 ABT Team Championship Oct. 10-11 at Smith Lake in Jasper. Plus, the top 25 student boats overall will be in the final event. To be eligible for the championship, teams must enter all five qualifying events in their respective division.

The grand prize for the no-entry fee championship is a fully-rigged Phoenix 619 Pro Bass Boat with a 150-horsepower Mercury Outboard, valued at $40,000. Adding to that excitement level is an opportunity to advance to the Bassmasters Team Championship and possibly earn a berth in the Bassmaster Classic.

“We are looking at an estimated $420,000 total in prizes for the series,” Program Director Kay Donaldson said. “We think the anglers are going to really enjoy it because they will have the opportunity to advance to our championship and from there the opportunity to go to the BASS Team Championship.”

 

Alabama Bass Trail - North Division

Sat, Apr 5, 2014

Neely Henry Lake

Coosa Landing

Call Kay Donaldson 855-934-7425

www.alabamabasstrail.org

 


Cabela's Big Bass Bash Heads to Kentucky Lake and Paris, Tennessee

Kentucky Lake is rich in fishing and tournament history, and this weekend it'll serve as a crucial battleground for the Cabela's School of the Year race as several teams' duel for the most prestigious title in college bass fishing. With points on the line, anything can change the game as they hit the water in the second stop of the Association of Collegiate Anglers series.

The ACA Cabela's Big Bass Bash runs from April 4th to 6th and it's sure to have a big impact on the final standings of the rankings. Nine of the top ten schools in the country are represented in the field and it's expected that this event will be key in who will be in top position as the season heads into its final stops in May and June.

With fishing expected to be on fire this weekend at Kentucky Lake, for the college anglers fishing in this one of a kind event, it's anybody's guess as to what it will take to place in the top positions in this Big Bass event. An event that will feature over 180 of the top college bass anglers in the nation not only vying for points, but also for over $20,000.00 in prizes. 

 

Competition takes place April 5th and 6th, with the onsite registration, dinner, and activities to be held Friday, April 4th, 2014. Daily weigh-ins will be held at Paris Landing at 9:00AM, 11:00AM, 1:00PM, and 3:00PM.  

 

 

Event Schedule:

Friday, April 4th

Final Practice day Safe Light - 3 pm

*Must be off the water by 3pm*

~Registration Paris Landing State Park

   16055 Hwy 79 N

   Buchanan, Tennessee 38222

~Angler Registration & Dinner     5 - 7 pm

~Welcome from Sponsors           7-7:15pm ~Pre-tournament Meeting           7:15 pm


Saturday, April 5th

Day 1: Safe Light to 3:00 pm 

3:00 PM Weigh-In Begins for final session of Day 1

Sunday, April 6th

Day 2: Safe Light to 3:00 pm

3:00PM Weigh-In Begins for final session of
Day 2
 

 

Awards Presentation Immediately Following Weigh-In

 

Collegiate fishing fans, family members, and friends of competitors can follow the action by visiting CollegiateBassChampionship.com and Facebook.com/CollegiateBassChampionship. Televised coverage will be seen on NBC Sports Outdoors and the Pursuit Channel  and other networks during the year.

 

Complete School of the Year Points Standings


Collins Bass for Cash heads to Albemarle Sound for Event #2

Tournament event #2 for the Collins Inc. – Bass For Cash Series will take place this Saturday, April 5th, on the Albemarle Sound out of Pembroke Creek at Bayside Marina. You can visit the “Schedule” tab at our site for a map to the ramp location.

§  Morning registration is planned to begin on-site at 4:30 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 6:45 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.

§  Bayside Marina will have their restaurant open for breakfast beginning at 4:30 AM.

§  There is a $5 per boat ramp fee that will be collected by the tournament staff as you check in at the registration tent.

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.

Click on this link for 2014 BFCS rules: http://anglersites.com/collins/files/2014/01/Collins-Tournament-Trail-2014-Rules.pdf


Texas Team Trail heads to Texoma

NORMAN, Okla. (April 1, 2014) – The Texas Team Trail presented by Cabela’s will host its third event of the 2014 tournament season on Saturday, April 12, at Lake Texoma. This marks the first visit to Lake Texoma for the Texas Team Trail.

Registration for the event is already underway – anglers can secure an opportunity to pre-fish Friday, April 11, by completing their registration online or via phone prior to midnight on Thursday, April 10. All anglers that pre-register will also be entered into a drawing for a Power Pole Shallow Water Anchor. In addition, anglers that opt to register online at www.texasteamtrail.com will be entered into a drawing for a Mustang Survival inflatable PFD.

The Texoma event is the third of four 2014 qualifying events that guarantee a fully rigged, 18-foot boat, motor, trailer package as first-place prize. The winning anglers at Lake Texoma will walk away with a brand-new Triton 18XS powered by an Evinrude 150 HO, valued at $27,500.

In addition to the payout, the event offers anglers an unprecedented opportunity in terms of sponsor bonuses and television coverage. The budget-friendly $250 entry fee, plus multiple contingency programs and a guaranteed, over-100% payback at every event provides tremendous value to the weekend angler.

On-site registration is set for Friday, April 11, from 4-7 p.m. at Highport Marina (120 Texoma Harbor Dr., Pottsboro, TX 75076). At least one team member must attend, as boat numbers will be assigned during this time. The tournament will launch Saturday, April 12, at safe light from Highport Marina and the weigh-in will begin at the same location at 3 p.m. Only anglers that launch their boat at Highport Marina will be allowed to load their boats on trailers prior to weighing fish. A full map of the tournament’s off-limits areas, which includes the entire Highport Marina cove, can be found online at www.texasteamtrail.com/tournaments.

Anglers with questions or anyone interested in more details on the event are encouraged to visit www.texasteamtrail.com or call 210-281-1752 or 210-788-4143.

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, Garmin, General Tire, SuperClean, Valley Fashion, Mustang Survival, Artic Ice and Protect the Harvest as official partners.

2014 TXTT scheduled events:

April 12 – Lake Texoma
May 3 – Lake Livingston

Championship – June 7-8 – Toledo Bend Lake


Boats Unlimited Nc Team Tournament Trail Qualifier #3 Results - Shearon Harris - Mar 29, 2014

1st Place: Mark & Micheal Cummings of Pembroke...5 bass...22.08 lbs

Even with a forecast of rough weather coming in, the Boats Unlimited NC Team Tournament Bass Trail
qualifier #3 at Shearon Harris went off without a hitch with 69 teams competing!It was about 54 degrees that morning and around 68 that afternoon with very light winds. Water temps ranged from 50 to 55 depending on the area fished. We did have rain off an on but never a big downpour. The winds gusted a few times but were light for most of the day. In other words, we got lucky even with a little fog trying to hold things up! Actually a great day for fishing but evidently the front coming thru put a halt to a good bite!

Mark & Michael Cummings, of Pembroke, figured out enough strategy to catch 5 bass weighing 22.08 lbs.
The Cummings team won $1,280 for 1st, TWT 1st place of $1,155 and the Boats Unlimited NC 1st Place Bonus
of $750 for a grand total of $3,185.
The team of Chris & H.T. Eakins took 2nd with 5 bass weighing 20.59 lbs winning $775. Big fish for the day
was a huge 10.66 pounder caught by the team of Drew Johnson & Gill Young worth $966 and 2nd place big fish weighing 8.85 lbs. went to the team of Jesse & Josh Wise winning them $414.
110 fish were weighed in for a total of 352 pounds. Again the slot limit on bass at Harris took it's toll on guys that caught many fish but were not able to weigh them in. This slot limit is not fair to anglers that practice and spend time and money to fish and get better. People that control the rules should at least give waivers to
tournament trails that have a good 'Catch and Release' program. That's just my 2 cents. We had numerous fish over 7 lbs. and all the fish looked healthy. Hot baits for the day were shakey heads, crankbaits and jerk baits.

Big Fish Winners Drew Johnson & Gill Young - 10.66 lbs!Big Fish Winners Drew Johnson & Gill Young - 10.66 lbs!I want to thank all the anglers that participated and all our sponsors that support this trail. The next Boats
Unlimited NC Team Tournament Bass Trail tournament will be at Falls Lake on April 12th, out of Ledge Rock
Wildlife Ramp. A Pig-Pickin' for all participating anglers is planned for this event sponsored by 'The Prop Doc' www.propdocnc.com  in Zebulon (919-632-9928) one of our newest sponsors!
All the information on our tournaments can be found at www.piedmontbassclassics.com

Now here are the full results:

1st Place: Mark & Micheal Cummings of Pembroke...5 bass...22.08 lbs...$1,280
2nd Place: Chris & H.T. Eakins of Selma & Angier...5 bass...20.59 lbs...$775
3rd Place: Mike Dinterman & Timothy Snead of Oxford & Creedmoor...4 bass...18.77 lbs...$555
4th Place: Mike Stephenson & Chad Jones of Bahama & Durham...3 bass...13.80 lbs...$500
5th Place: Kevin Woodall & William Tobias of Angier...4 bass...12.63 lbs...$440
6th Place: Corey Linton & Mark Peck of Pikeville...3 bass...12.37 lbs...$388
7th Place: Michael & Chris Hinson of Creswell & Chadburn...5 bass...11.96 lbs...$331
8th Place: Jesse & Josh Wise of Erwin & Raleigh...2 bass...11.08 lbs...$270
9th Place: Drew Johnson & Gill Young of Clayton & Wendell...1 bass...10.66 lbs...$220
10th Place: Tony Fofi & Dave Murdock of Spring Lake & Sanford...3 bass...10.58 lbs...$220
11th Place: Alan Parker & Brandon McLeod of Linden & Spring Lake...3 bass...10.31 lbs...$163
12th Place: Chase & Gary Johnson of Four Oaks...2 bass...10.19 lbs...$163
12th Place: Dennis Reedy & Jeffrey Thomas of Siler City & Broadway...5 bass...10.16 lbs...$115
14th Place: Bryce McClenney & Michael Christie of Cary & Fuquay Varina...5 bass...10.01 lbs...$100

1st Place Big Fish..9th Place Team above...10.66 lbs...$966
2nd Place Big Fish..8th Place Team above...8.85 lbs...$414

1st Place TWT..1st Place Team above...22.08 lbs...$1,155
2nd Place TWT..3rd Place Team above: 18.77 lbs...$495

Boats Unlimited Skeeter Boat Owner Bonus: Dennis Reedy of Siler City...$250
Tow Boats US Award: Mike Stephenson of Bahama: $50
Boats Unlimited 1st Place Bonus: 1st Place Team Above...$750

Contact Information:
Phil McCarson...Tournament Director---922 Valetta Rd.---Durham, NC 27712
Home: 919-471-1571 Cell: 919-971-5042
email: [email protected] website: www.piedmontbassclassics.com


Kevin Ashley wins the Oakley Big Bass on Clarks Hill Lake-Top 10 results here!

Kevin Ashley won the Oakley Big Bass this past weekend on Clarks Hill Lake with a solid 8.99 Lb keeper that held on to help him wiin the $35,000 Boat/Motor/Trailer pkg from Oakly. These weights indicate one thing: Clarks Hill is BACK! After several off years, this lake is back up not only lake level wise but also quality wise. There is some grass here now-and these weights prove it!

 

Overall Leaders

Rank Angler Weight
1 KEVIN ASHLEY 8.99
2 CHRIS RODWELL 8.82
3 WAYNE CULBRETH 8.72
4 COREY BROCK 8.71
5 DANNY COLLIER 8.30
6 CHRIS RODWELL 8.29
7 DANIEL MOORE 8.14
8 DAVID CARVER 8.05
9 CARLTON FULCHER 7.98
10 JASON SMITH 7.97

Palmore & Crisman Take 1st CATT Gaston Mar 29

We’re off and running with the 2014 CATT Gaston/Kerr Trail with 36 teams entering Saturday blasting off out of Eaton Ferry/Morning Star. All the Gaston/Kerr Qualifiers tournaments fall under the CATT GOLD format and as you can see the payback is awesome! We split up the BONUS $ and spread it around so make plans and come on out to see us. CATT pays back 100% of your entry with a portion deducted from each Qualifier going into the Final Fund. You can see all the money totals at the bottom of the results. As you can see 1st place took home almost $2,000.00 with the BONUS $ added in with 36 teams. If we have 60 teams 1st with the BONUS $ would be in the $3,000.00.

Also CATT offers these contingency programs….Skeeter Real Money, Triton Gold, Stratos 2x, Phoenix First Flight, Bass Cat Quest and Legend Advantage Awards.

The next Gaston/Kerr is April 26 on Gaston with the 3rd Qualifier the next day. Both require an entry fee as they are separate events. Both will launch out of Eaton Ferry. Make plans and come on out!

If you would like to view more pictures from this and other CATT Trails around the Carolinas visit our Facebook page.    C.A.T.T.

Remember guys you have to enter 2 Gaston/Kerr Qualifiers as a team (both partners) to be eligible to enter the Gaston/Kerr 2-day Final May 24th at Lake Gaston with a 1st Place GUARANTEE of $3,500.00 …and by only entering 1 2014 NC CATT event you will be eligible to enter the 2014 CATT NC Championship on Kerr June 21. Last year we had 115 teams enter the Kerr event so make plans to come out. 1st Place last year at Kerr took home over $13,500.00!

JT Palmore & Bobby Crimson are the big winners this past Saturday at Lake Gaston! They weighed in a limit of bass weighing 19.90 lbs taking 1st Place & 1st Place BONUS $. They also weighed a 6.08 lb largemouth good enough to take 2nd BF. All total they took home $1,955.00!

Keith Joyce & Mark Robertson finished in 2nd with another solid limit at 19.81 lbs. They also claimed the 2nd BONUS $ pushing their total winnings up to $910.00.

3rdPlace and 3rd Place BONUS $ went to Ryan Harrell and Marty Bunch with 5 bass weighing 18.91 lbs. They collected a total of $530.00.

Out Gaston Point Winners from this past year, Chuck Murray and Randy Groves finished 4th with 5 bass weighing 18.72 lbs and also claimed a share of 4th Place BONUS $. They received $300.00.

Billy Bledsoe & Brian McDonald also weighed 18.72 lbs and finished 4th plus they weighed the BF of the day at 6.69 lbs. They took home a total of $545.00.

Reggie Norfleet and Scott Dupree earned $155.00 for their 6th Place finish with 18.59 lbs.

Last money paying place worth $125.00 went to Tim Wiltfong and Phil Bain with 16.77 lbs.

8th Place team with 15.67 lbs was Ray Cooke and Gene Woodard and they received 2 - $20 Gift Cards from Drugco.

Next up on the Gaston/Kerr schedule is April 26th on Lake Gaston launching out of Eaton Ferry

Brett Collins

Carolina Anglers Team Trail LLC

 


Cannon works main lake cuts to win BFL on Martin

Teaser image:

Logan wins co-angler title

Jeff Cannon of Douglasville, Ga., weighed a five-bass limit totaling 19 pounds, 1 ounce on Saturday to win the second Walmart Bass Fishing League Bama Division tournament of 2014 on Lake Martin. For his victory, Cannon earned $3,718.

 “I caught them on a jig in the backs of pockets in a little cut on the main lake,” said Cannon. “I think they were pulling back there and getting ready to bed. Every time I would catch a little buck bass there would be a big one too.
     “I think I caught about 30 fish,” added Cannon. “In practice I wasn’t there ten minutes and I caught one about 6 pounds. During the tournament I caught all my big ones in about an hour.
     “It felt good to win,” finished Cannon. “I’ve been knocking on the door for a while and it feels good.”
     Cannon said he caught all of his fish on a brown jig with a NetBait Paca Craw with the tail dipped in chartreuse dye.
     Rounding out the top 10 pros were:
            2nd:   Larry Walters, Tuscaloosa, Ala., five bass, 16-11, $1,859
            3rd:   Scott Daughtry, Montgomery, Ala., five bass, 15-4, $1,238
            4th:    Robbie Pritchard, Dadeville, Ala., five bass, 14-7, $867
            5th:    Kelley Jaye, Dadeville, Ala., five bass, 13-10, $744 + $300 Evinrude Bonus
            6th:    Paul Anthony, Dawson, Ga., five bass, 13-7, $682
            7th:    Felton Langley, Lafayette, Ala., five bass, 13-1, $620
            8th:    Stephen Ingram, Tallassee, Ala., five bass, 12-9, $558
            9th:    Terry Stevens, Marianna, Fla., five bass, 11-15, $496
            10th: Nick Turner, Clanton, Ala., five bass, 11-12, $434
     Complete results can be found at FLWOutdoors.com.
     Doug Logan of Springville, Ala., weighed a five-bass limit totaling 12 pounds, 9 ounces Saturday to win $1,859 in the co-angler division.
     Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers were:
            2nd:   Ty Story, Prattville, Ala., five bass, 11-15, $929
            3rd:   Jeff Huddleston, Oxford, Ala., five bass, 11-1, $619
            4th:    Robert Volinic, Peachtree City, Ga., five bass, 10-13, $434
            5th:    Matthew Hurst, Pleasant Grove, Ala., five bass, 10-4, $372
            6th:    Wayne Haynes, Ohatchee, Ala., five bass, 10-0, $325
            6th:    Tony Moore, Roanoke, Ala., five bass, 10-0, $325
            8th:    Joe Wikoff, Phenix City, Ala., five bass, 9-14, $279
            9th:    Dylan Taylor, Auburn, Ala., five bass, 9-9, $248
            10th: Hulan Mattox, Alexander City, Ala., five bass, 9-8, $217
     The top 40 boaters and 40 co-anglers based on point standings will qualify for the Oct. 2-4 Regional Championship on the 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.
     The BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 120 tournaments throughout the season, five in each division. The top 40 boaters and co-anglers from each division qualify for a regional tournament and compete 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 presented by Chevy. Top winners in the BFL can move up to the Rayovac FLW Series or even the Walmart FLW Tour.



Thrift Wins Flw Tour Event On Sam Rayburn Reservoir

Bryan Thrift hoists the hardware. photo by Garrick Dixon

 

Chevy pro Bryan Thrift of Shelby, N.C., brought a five-bass limit to the scale Sunday weighing 17 pounds even to overtake Walmart pro Mark Rose and win the Walmart FLW Tour at Sam Rayburn Reservoir presented by Chevy. Thrift’s four-day total of 20 bass weighing 73 pounds, 3 ounces earned him the top cash award of $125,000 in the event that featured 176 of the world’s best bass-fishing anglers competing in the four-day competition. The tournament will be nationally televised on NBC Sports Network in June.

 Rose, the tournament leader after days two and three, brought five bass to the scale weighing 11 pounds, 1 ounce. His four-day total of 70 pounds, 2 ounces earned him a 2nd-place finish, worth $30,500.
     â€œThe first morning of the tournament I decided that I needed to fish slow and steady,” said Thrift, who earned the third Walmart FLW Tour victory of his career. “I had been catching a lot of fish on moving baits – crankbaits and ChatterBaits. I got up to my area on the morning of day one and two hours in I hadn’t had a bite. I knew something had changed. I started to slow down and pick everything apart.”
     Thrift said that he fished an area that was about five miles long up the Angelina River. He estimated that he covered new water for about 3 hours each day of the tournament, targeting cypress trees and grass patches.
     â€œToday I really focused on 10 particular trees,” Thrift said. “I would put my Power-Poles down on those trees and flip very slowly, every two inches, all the way around that tree. I was spending 15 to 20 minutes on each tree.”
     Thrift said that his key bait this week was a Texas-rigged Damiki Knock Out with a 5/16-ounce weight and 20-pound-test P-Line fluorocarbon line. He flipped the Knock Out in both green-pumpkin and junebug colors. Thrift also said that he caught two or three key fish Sunday morning on a Z-Man Original ChatterBait.
     â€œI hadn’t caught any fish on a ChatterBait until today,” Thrift said. “I caught two 3-pounders on it this morning and it calmed me enough that I could pick that Knock Out up and fish slow like I needed to.
     â€œFinishing in 107th at Lake Hartwell left a bad taste in my mouth,” Thrift went on to say. “I never figured anything out and it seemed like every decision that I made was the exact opposite of what I should have been doing. After finishing 3rd at the Rayovac Series event two weeks ago at Santee Cooper and now winning here, I hope I’ve righted my ship and can get back on a streak of good finishes.”
     The top 10 pros finished the tournament in:
            1st:    Chevy pro Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., 20 bass, 73-3, $125,000
            2nd:   Walmart pro Mark Rose, West Memphis, Ark., 20 bass, 70-2, $30,500
            3rd:    Greg Hackney, Gonzales, La., 20 bass, 67-13, $25,000
            4th:    Jason Meninger, Gainesville, Ga., 20 bass, 66-13, $20,000
            5th:    John Cox, Debary, Fla., 18 bass, 61-2, $19,000
            6th:    Steve Kennedy, Auburn, Ala., 18 bass, 60-11, $18,000
            7th:    Jayme Rampey, Liberty, S.C., 19 bass, 59-13, $17,000
            8th:    Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C., 20 bass, 57-2, $16,000
            9th:    Tony Davis, Williston, Fla., 16 bass, 56-15, $15,000
            10th:  Rick Cotten, Guntersville, Ala., 20 bass, 56-11, $14,000
     A complete list of results can be found at FLWOutdoors.com.
     Overall there were 42 bass weighing 109 pounds even caught by pros Sunday. Six of the final 10 pros caught five-bass limits.
     Eric Self of Lawndale, N.C., won the co-angler division and $20,000 Saturday with a three-day total of 13 bass weighing 33 pounds, 11 ounces, followed by Kerry Barnett of Waldron, Ark., in second place with 11 bass weighing 33 pounds, 8 ounces worth $7,500.
     Pros competed 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. Anglers could win as much as $500,000 – professional bass-fishing’s richest prize.
     The FLW Tour stop on Sam Rayburn Reservoir presented by Chevy was hosted by the Lufkin Convention and Visitors Bureau. It was the third of six events in the Walmart FLW Tour’s 2014 season. The next Walmart FLW Tour event will be held at Beaver Lake April 10-13 in Rogers, Ark., and is presented by Rayovac. The event will be hosted by the Rogers Convention and Visitors Bureau, and boats will launch from Prairie Creek Park Marina in Rogers. For a complete schedule, visit FLWOutdoors.com.
     Coverage of the Sam Rayburn Reservoir tournament will be broadcast in high-definition (HD) on NBC Sports Network when “FLW” airs June 7 from 11 a.m.-12 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.

Unofficial Record Weight of 34.32 Lbs wins the CBC on Lake Wateree-Pictures and full results here!

What an amazing Tournament on Wateree Yesterday. What we believe has to be an unoffical record weight at Watereee with 34.42 LBs, take a look at the smiles on the faces of Gary Michaud and Doc McDanial after not only catching 5 hogs, but taking home $11,000 for the day!!

 

CBC Lake Wateree Champs with their 34.32 Lbs....ALL SMILES! 

CBC Lake Wateree Champs with their 34.32 Lbs....ALL SMILES!

 

CBC Wateree Champs before their $11,000 Check! 

CBC Wateree Champs before their $11,000 Check!

 

 

 

1 Gary Michaud - Doc McDaniel 500027 CBC SC 128 5 5 34.32 9.93 34.32 1 34.32 $10,000 310 $1000 Big Fish
2 Donald Hinson - Jay Keith 500138 CBC SC 127 5 5 25.2 25.2 2 25.2   309
3 Beau Dixon - Andy Sease 500052 CBC SC 97 5 5 23.26 23.26 3 23.26 308
4 Daniel howell - Russell Anderson 500076 CBC SC 20 5 5 23.17 5.67 23.17 4 23.17 307
5 Chad Sinclair - Caleb Conner 500028 CBC SC 101 5 5 22.7 22.7 5 22.7 306
6 Patrick Tierney - Todd Auten 500108 CBC SC 124 5 5 22.69 22.69 6 22.69 305
7 Andy Wicker - Steve Wicker 500140 CBC SC 39 5 5 21.87 21.87 7 21.87 304
8 Shane Cantley - DJ Mcearchern 500125 CBC SC 94 5 5 21.44 21.44 8 21.44 303
9 Joey Outlaw - Ray Dowey 500139 CBC SC 30 5 5 21.37 7 21.37 9 21.37 302
10 Ronald Farrow - Roger Farrow 500002 CBC SC 143 5 5 21.21 21.21 10 21.21 301
10 Jerry Freezon - Jason Miles 500134 CBC SC 111 5 5 21.21 21.21 10 21.21 300
12 Alan Fletcher - Danny Johnson 500022 CBC SC 99 5 5 20.94 20.94 12 20.94 299
13 Jason Hadden - Norm Attaway 500068 CBC SC 142 5 5 20.87 20.87 13 20.87 298
14 Mark Healon - Tony Truett 500128 CBC SC 113 5 5 20.6 20.6 14 20.6 297
15 Ronnie McCoy - Jason McCoy 500123 CBC SC 82 5 5 20.38 7.02 20.38 15 20.38 296
16 Eddie Smith - Michael Carson 500001 CBC SC 132 5 5 20.25 20.25 16 20.25 295
17 Jeff Douglas - Bill Clowney 500129 CBC SC 34 5 5 20.13 4.91 20.13 17 20.13 294
18 Thomas Vickers - Brian Huskins 500017 CBC SC 15 5 5 19.67 19.67 18 19.67 293
19 Greg Atkinson - Ron Catoe 500132 CBC SC 137 5 5 19.49 19.49 19 19.49 292
20 Barry Holloman - Joey Bramlet 500045 CBC SC 32 5 5 19.37 19.37 20 19.37 291
21 Kenny Brice - Horace Morris 500102 CBC SC 119 5 5 19.34 19.34 21 19.34 290
22 Daniel Hill - James Bond 500075 CBC SC 80 5 5 19.33 19.33 22 19.33 289
23 Kevin Chandler - Terry James 500101 CBC SC 144 5 5 19.32 19.32 23 19.32 288
24 Wayne King - Max Terry 500008 CBC SC 27 5 5 19.05 19.05 24 19.05 287
25 Shane Lineberger - Anthony John 500116 CBC SC 88 5 5 18.81 18.81 25 18.81 286
26 Eric Grigg - Marc Grigg 500122 CBC SC 48 5 5 18.62 18.62 26 18.62 285
27 Gene Parker - Stanley Harkins 500113 CBC SC 14 4 4 18.6 6.19 18.6 27 18.6 284
28 Ken McFarland - Darryl Watson 500005 CBC SC 71 5 5 18.59 18.59 28 18.59 283
29 Mike King - Mike Traynum 500036 CBC SC 117 5 5 18.42 18.42 29 18.42 282
30 Mike Stephens - Hunter Hicks 500079 CBC SC 147 5 5 18.23 18.23 30 18.23 281
31 Kyle McElveen - Cleve Yarboroug 500010 CBC SC 81 4 4 17.62 17.62 31 17.62 280
32 Ronnie Mueller - Wayne Frierson 500100 CBC SC 58 5 5 17.59 17.59 32 17.59 279
33 Tony Jackson - Clint Jackson 500136 CBC SC 56 5 5 17.5 17.5 33 17.5 278
34 Thad Driggers - Robert Carter 500110 CBC SC 92 5 5 17.47 17.47 34 17.47 277
35 Josh McGregor - Randall Drigger 500080 CBC SC 109 5 5 16.96 16.96 35 16.96 276
36 Reggie OBrien - Pat O'Brien 500084 CBC SC 75 5 5 16.22 16.22 36 16.22 275
37 David F. Canupp - David L. Canu 500006 CBC SC 55 3 3 16.12 5.99 16.12 37 16.12 274
38 Ed Matthews - Earl Purcell 500020 CBC SC 140 4 4 16.09 16.09 38 16.09 273
39 Travis Parrish - Sean Hall 500058 CBC SC 69 5 5 16.06 16.06 39 16.06 272
40 Andy Owens - 500141 CBC SC 114 5 5 15.98 15.98 40 15.98 271
41 Roger Medlock - Todd Lawrence 500054 CBC SC 1 5 5 15.96 5.11 15.96 41 15.96 270
42 Ferris Jennings - Larry Michale 500004 CBC SC 10 5 5 15.95 6.22 15.95 42 15.95 269
43 Roger Pope - Michael Smith 500025 CBC SC 24 5 5 15.77 15.77 43 15.77 268
44 Larry Avins - Joe Avin 500051 CBC SC 108 5 5 15.69 15.69 44 15.69 267
44 John Sturkie - Calvin Hewitt 500063 CBC SC 148 5 5 15.69 15.69 44 15.69 266
46 Chris Boehme - Tom Hucks 500033 CBC SC 100 5 5 15.6 15.6 46 15.6 265
47 Nathan Burgess - Brent Riley 500057 CBC SC 138 5 5 15.59 15.59 47 15.59 264
48 Jim Wagers - Pete Sherbert 500146 CBC SC 134 4 4 15.54 15.54 48 15.54 263
49 David Williams - Gerald William 500072 CBC SC 98 5 5 15.51 15.51 49 15.51 262
50 John Paul George - Eric Weir 500130 CBC SC 54 5 5 15.41 15.41 50 15.41 261
51 Toby Keisler - Joel Watts 500135 CBC SC 95 4 4 15.29 15.29 51 15.29 260
52 Gene Webster - Mike Seawright 500106 CBC SC 51 5 5 15.23 15.23 52 15.23 259
53 Johnny Player - Robert Hall 500009 CBC SC 74 5 5 15.22 15.22 53 15.22 258
54 Pat Clark - Dillon Price 500131 CBC SC 5 3 3 15.21 5.81 15.21 54 15.21 257
55 Jimmy McFarland - 500096 CBC SC 60 4 4 15.2 5.89 15.2 55 15.2 256
56 Brian Hall - Doug Stallings 500062 CBC SC 123 4 4 15.2 15.2 56 15.2 255
57 Bobby Stanfill - Chip Grice 500115 CBC SC 35 4 4 15.01 15.01 57 15.01 254
58 Johnny Houser - Deron Donohoo 500069 CBC SC 122 5 5 14.95 14.95 58 14.95 253
59 David Kneece - Terry Thomas 500120 CBC SC 139 4 4 14.94 14.94 59 14.94 252
60 Rob Thames - Daniel O'Brien 500060 CBC SC 91 4 4 14.59 14.59 60 14.59 251
61 Mack Kitchens - Chad Gainey 500029 CBC SC 61 4 4 14.54 14.54 61 14.54 250
62 Randy Hall - David Wray 500065 CBC SC 129 4 4 14.53 14.53 62 14.53 249
63 Keith Gray - Shawn Gray 500055 CBC SC 4 5 5 14.52 14.52 63 14.52 248
64 Thomas Richmond - Artie Phillip 500037 CBC SC 93 4 4 13.86 13.86 64 13.86 247
65 Clark Gibbs - Freddie Gibbs 500064 CBC SC 23 4 4 13.63 13.63 65 13.63 246
66 Charlie Sansbury - Kevin Banks 500121 CBC SC 68 4 4 13.61 13.61 66 13.61 245
67 Jeff Reynolds - Lee Royson 500015 CBC SC 59 4 4 13.38 13.38 67 13.38 244
68 Lyn Langston - Daniel Jordan 500083 CBC SC 21 4 4 13.3 13.3 68 13.3 243
69 Tommy Williams - Thomas Hardwic 500097 CBC SC 18 4 4 13.02 6.31 13.02 69 13.02 242
70 Stan Gunter - Will Smith 500105 CBC SC 76 3 3 12.92 12.92 70 12.92 241
71 Ron Brown - Bobby Brown 500042 CBC SC 116 5 5 12.77 12.77 71 12.77 240
72 Andrew Boykin - Chris Anderson 500067 CBC SC 7 5 5 12.37 12.37 72 12.37 239
73 Tracy Hewitt - Pete Brantley 500094 CBC SC 145 3 3 12.18 12.18 73 12.18 238
74 Neil Huffstetler - Ben Lee 500050 CBC SC 38 4 4 11.71 11.71 74 11.71 237
75 Lee Sawyer - Cole Winn 500073 CBC SC 8 3 3 11.6 11.6 75 11.6 236
76 Wesley Cashwell - Shane Doughti 500114 CBC SC 87 4 4 11.45 11.45 76 11.45 235
77 Coy Watts - David Hutcherson 500021 CBC SC 25 2 2 10.78 6.49 10.78 77 10.78 234
78 Chris Wells - Mike Hatfield 500145 CBC SC 130 4 4 10.64 10.64 78 10.64 233
79 John Branstetter - Troy Buffing 500074 CBC SC 103 2 2 10.45 7.48 10.45 79 10.45 232
80 Johnny Johnson - Ron Carson 500091 CBC SC 73 2 2 9.9 9.9 80 9.9 231
81 Ryan West - Jeff Green 500030 CBC SC 6 4 4 9.42 9.42 81 9.42 230
82 William Blanton - David Blanton 500003 CBC SC 72 3 3 8.5 8.5 82 8.5 229
83 Philip Burns - Todd Burns 500032 CBC SC 79 2 2 8.46 6.8 8.46 83 8.46 228
84 Russ Padgett - Meredith Havird 500016 CBC SC 49 3 3 8.32 8.32 84 8.32 227
85 Austin Johnson - Andrew McClint 500071 CBC SC 104 2 2 8.05 8.05 85 8.05 226
86 Frederick Clements - Dusty Rhoa 500124 CBC SC 16 2 2 7.88 7.88 86 7.88 225
87 Todd Walters - Patrick Walters 500035 CBC SC 118 3 3 7.48 7.48 87 7.48 224
88 Mack Cook - Patrick Cook 500024 CBC SC 3 3 3 7.41 7.41 88 7.41 223
89 Michael Yochem - Charles Granth 500117 CBC SC 45 2 2 7.34 7.34 89 7.34 222
90 Maurice Freeze - Ricky Poplin 500142 CBC SC 22 3 3 7.33 7.33 90 7.33 221
91 John English - Victoria English 500053 CBC SC 17 2 2 7.26 7.26 91 7.26 220
92 Kevin Fulmer - Mark Richardson 500043 CBC SC 96 2 2 6.87 6.87 92 6.87 219
93 Glenn Altman - Larry Parker 500066 CBC SC 115 3 3 6.57 6.57 93 6.57 218
94 Rick McLean - Robert Ross 500014 CBC SC 28 2 2 6.25 6.25 94 6.25 217
95 Ryan Sprayberry - David Spraybe 500095 CBC SC 84 2 2 6.22 6.22 95 6.22 216
96 William Young - James Mizell 500034 CBC SC 106 2 2 5.45 5.45 96 5.45 215
96 Larry Moss - JB Wicker 500041 CBC SC 44 3 3 5.45 5.45 96 5.45 214
98 Chuck Howard - Ken Ellis 500086 CBC SC 62 2 2 4.96 4.96 98 4.96 213
99 Bradford Beavers - Dwight Beave 500077 CBC SC 65 2 2 4.39 4.39 99 4.39 212
100 Keith Porter - Jason Threatt 500040 CBC SC 63 1 1 4.31 4.31 4.31 100 4.31 211
101 Joseph Toth - Daniel Grassi 500126 CBC SC 37 1 1 3.93 3.93 3.93 101 3.93 210
102 Brad Petway - Keith Hawley 500104 CBC SC 105 1 1 3.31 3.31 3.31 102 3.31 209
103 Shane Suddeth - Fred Moore 500107 CBC SC 57 1 1 3.05 3.05 3.05 103 3.05 208
104 Kevin Rake - Terry Morris 500088 CBC SC 50 1 1 2.69 2.69 2.69 104 2.69 207
105 David Wiggins - Alex Zipperian 500092 CBC SC 70 1 1 1.61 1.61 1.61 105 1.61 206
106 Rodney Cromer - 500007 CBC SC 33 0 0 0 0 106 0 205
106 Jay Adams - Bobby Carroll 500011 CBC SC 47 0 0 0 0 106 0 205
106 David Few - Tracy Schiff 500012 CBC SC 31 0 0 0 0 106 0 205
106 Michael Murphy - Kevin Sanders 500013 CBC SC 52 0 0 0 0 106 0 205
106 John Gutierrez - Rodney Tapp 500018 CBC SC 110 0 0 0 0 106 0 205
106 Daniel Cook - Donnie Levister 500019 CBC SC 146 0 0 0 0 106 0 205
106 Bo Chappell - 500023 CBC SC 85 0 0 0 0 106 0 205
106 Darren Sigmon - Brian Huffman 500026 CBC SC 102 0 0 0 0 106 0 205
106 Glenn Gentry - Tommy Purvis 500031 CBC SC 13 0 0 0 0 106 0 205
106 Carl Williams - Eddie Williams 500038 CBC SC 135 0 0 0 0 106 0 205
106 Jim Sims - Casey Logan 500039 CBC SC 11 0 0 0 0 106 0 205
106 Derrick Compton - Dustin Compto 500044 CBC SC 42 0 0 0 0 106 0 205
106 Robert Guest - David Heatherly 500046 CBC SC 131 0 0 0 0 106 0 205
106 Thomas King - Clayton King 500047 CBC SC 41 0 0 0 0 106 0 205
106 Clay Lowder - Clayton Lowder 500048 CBC SC 141 0 0 0 0 106 0 205
106 Chris Dover - Chad Lail 500049 CBC SC 43 0 0 0 0 106 0 205
106 Randy Mathis - Jody Jones 500056 CBC SC 40 0 0 0 0 106 0 205
106 Robert Fowler - John Parker 500059 CBC SC 26 0 0 0 0 106 0 205
106 Bernie Dreher - Les Westbury 500061 CBC SC 107 0 0 0 0 106 0 205
106 Greg Rikard - Eddie Herlong 500070 CBC SC 9 0 0 0 0 106 0 205
106 Chris Langley - Greg Sigmon 500078 CBC SC 36 0 0 0 0 106 0 205
106 Brent Waynick - Rodney Jordan 500081 CBC SC 112 0 0 0 0 106 0 205
106 Dan Daugherty - Mark Inman 500082 CBC SC 133 0 0 0 0 106 0 205
106 Mark Swez - Lamar Williamson 500085 CBC SC 125 0 0 0 0 106 0 205
106 Todd Garner - Shane Hartman 500087 CBC SC 64 0 0 0 0 106 0 205
106 Amin Jaber - Brian Nichols 500089 CBC SC 89 0 0 0 0 106 0 205
106 Charles Keith - Chase Menasco 500090 CBC SC 66 0 0 0 0 106 0 205
106 Jeremy Johnson - Harry Johnson 500093 CBC SC 78 0 0 0 0 106 0 205
106 Tracy pope - Jeff Segee 500098 CBC SC 136 0 0 0 0 106 0 205
106 Johnathan Crossland - Phillip M 500099 CBC SC 12 0 0 0 0 106 0 205
106 Billy Martin - Brian Scruggs 500103 CBC SC 46 0 0 0 0 106 0 205
106 Mike Allman - 500109 CBC SC 67 0 0 0 0 106 0 205
106 Jimmy Stroud - Kirk Crump 500111 CBC SC 121 0 0 0 0 106 0 205
106 Jerry Montjoy - Brett Mitchell 500112 CBC SC 90 0 0 0 0 106 0 205
106 Perry Wycuff - Dan Lowe 500118 CBC SC 77 0 0 0 0 106 0 205
106 Joe Braxton - Robert Braxton 500119 CBC SC 83 0 0 0 0 106 0 205
106 Dane Odom - Ross Burns 500127 CBC SC 86 0 0 0 0 106 0 205
106 Miles Hair - Terry Tolar 500133 CBC SC 126 0 0 0 0 106 0 205
106 David Etheridge - Butch William 500137 CBC SC 2 0 0 0 0 106 0 205
106 David Love - Corey Love 500143 CBC SC 29 0 0 0 0 106 0 205
106 Carl Smith - Jonathan Dailey 500144 CBC SC 53 0 0 0 0 106 0 205
106 Craig Chambers - Kieth Ogden 500147 CBC SC 120 0 0 0 0 106 0 205
106 Shannon Jordan - Shawn Jordan 500148 CBC SC 19 0 0 0 0 106 0  

 

205  

 


University Of Wisconsin Teams Sweep Top Spots In Carhartt College Regional

Mark Hugus and Cody Hahner of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point took the first-round lead Friday in the 2014 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Midwestern Regional Championship on Lake of the Ozarks and never looked back. The pair claimed the win Saturday with a two-day total of 32 pounds, 13 ounces and a comfortable 5-pound, 9-ounce winning margin.

The runner-up team of Cody Lincoln and Jason Hawksford, also of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, ended the tournament with a total of 27-4.

Although the Top 14 teams earned the right to move on to the Carhartt College Series National Championship, qualifying was never the focus for Hugus and Hahner.

“We came here to win,” said Hahner. “We finished second at our tournament last weekend, and that hurt.”

When Hugus and Hahner hit the water for practice at the Missouri lake, their main focus was finding big bass. The bigger bites were spaced out during practice so the duo searched for different fishing areas during the competition days, as well. They also concentrated on a few areas where they had previously caught multiple fish.

“We basically looked for transition banks in pockets,” said Hugus. These “transition banks” consisted of larger rock turning to chunk rock. There, Hugus and Hahner fished MegaBass 110 jerkbaits to trigger bites from prespawn bass that were moving toward more shallow water.

Their win can be credited to covering water and not letting lost fish demoralize them. On Friday, Hugus and Hahner lost a 3-pounder and another bass weighing more than 5 pounds early in the morning. Knowing that their main window of opportunity would come later in the day as the water warmed up, they were able to shake off the lost fish and focus on the next bite.

Day 2 began much the same way with Hugus losing the team’s second keeper bite of the morning, a solid 4-pounder.

“We just kept our heads down and kept fishing,” said Hugus.

That mindset paid off as Hugus and Hahner hit a flurry around noon when they boated most of their 13-3 catch on Saturday during a 30-minute span.

Lincoln and Hawksford, who finished in second, also held the second-place position on Day 1.

Kansas State University’s Quinn Fowler and Dylan McKee finished third with 26-3.

Ryan Gilbert and Jacob Cllisch of the University of Wisconsin-Plattville caught the Carhartt Big Bass for the event, a 7-1 largemouth that Gilbert weighed in on Friday. The prize was a $500 Carhartt gift card.

Hugus and Hahner took the Livingston Lures Leader Award of a $500 gift card with a two-day total of 32-13. The two also won the Bass Pro Nitro Big Bag award with their first-day catch of 19-10 and received a $250 Bass Pro Shops gift card.

The Top 14 teams advance to the Carhartt College Series National Championship to be held later this year.

2014 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Title Sponsor: Carhartt

2014 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Official Sponsors: Toyota, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Quantum, Yamaha

2014 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Supporting Partners: Booyah, Diet Mountain Dew, Livingston Lures, Lowrance, Motorguide, Plano, Power-Pole, Rigid Industries, Shimano

2014 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Proud Partner: Mustang Survival

About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), television show (The Bassmasters on ESPN2), social media programs and events. For more than 45 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series presented by Allstate, B.A.S.S. Nation events, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series, Bassmaster High School Series, Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by Diet Mountain Dew and GoPro.
-30-

Media Contact: Dave Precht, 205-313-0931, [email protected], or Helen Northcutt, 205-313-0944, [email protected].

Carhartt Bassmaster College Series - Midwest
3/28/2014 - 3/29/2014
Lake of the Ozarks - Public Boat Ramp #2 - Osage Beach, Mo.

STANDINGS  BOATER DAY   2
Today's Activity Accumulative
Name College # Fish # Live Lbs - Oz # Fish # Live Lbs - Oz

1 Mark Hugus - Cody Hahner Wisconsin, Stevens Point 5 5 13- 3 10 10 32-13
2 Cody Lincoln - Jason Hawksford Wisconsin, Stevens Point 4 4 11- 3 9 9 27- 4
3 Quinn Fowler - Dylan McKee Kansas State University 5 5 18-12 8 8 26- 3
4 Matt Feiten - Brian Kirt Wisconsin, Stevens Point 4 4 9- 2 9 9 23-10
5 Ryan Gilbert - Jacob Cllisch University of Wisconsin, Plattville 5 5 10-13 8 8 23- 9
6 Ben Verhoef - Tommy Hebson University of Missouri 5 5 13-15 9 9 23- 5
7 Jackson Grabeel - Joseph Reilly Western Illinois University 3 3 8-14 8 8 23- 3
8 Zachary Wiggers - Justin Bruno Grand Valley State University 4 4 14- 7 6 6 20- 4
9 Bryce Wegman - Carlos Thomas Illinois State University 4 4 12- 2 5 5 18- 1
10 Ben Kroeger - Ryan Leach University of Nebraska - Omaha 5 5 13- 0 7 7 17- 8
11 Chris Burgan - Austin Felix University of Minnesota 2 2 8- 4 5 5 16-13
12 Lance Freeman - Seth Brock Murray State University 2 2 3- 8 7 7 16- 9
13 Garrett Cates - Graham Howard Kansas State University 4 4 12- 5 5 5 16- 5
14 Dan Martin - Tyler McCune Eastern Illinois University 2 2 6-14 4 4 15-15
15 Cody Sieben - Dan Schult Murray State University 3 3 7- 2 7 7 15- 2
16 Tyler Nekolny - Samuel Haines Kansas State University 5 5 15- 1 5 5 15- 1
17 Kyle Alsop - Taylor Bivins Kansas State University 2 2 4- 1 7 7 14-11
18 Ben McCullough - Howie Lee University of Missouri 1 1 3- 1 5 5 13- 6
19 Matt Smith - Jarett Svihlik University of Dubuque 4 4 8- 7 6 5 12- 9
20 Nathen Kozlowski - Lance Maldonado Kansas State University 2 2 4- 6 5 5 12- 5
21 Daniel Fuhrig - Michael Fink University of Missouri 2 2 7-12 4 4 12- 4
22 Justin Berger - Cody Santel Murray State University 2 2 4-14 4 4 12- 3
23 Kyle Gates - Katie Edgar St Ambrose University 3 3 6-15 4 4 11-14
24 Michaela Anderson - Bryan Billeadeau University of St Thomas 0 0 0- 0 5 5 10-15
25 Dustin Genrich - Nathan Hettinga University of Wisconsin, LaCrosse 2 2 4-15 4 4 10-10
26 Sean Mulholland - Everett Ridderbos University of Nebraska 3 3 7-15 4 4 10- 2
27 Keaton Williams - Max Mercer University of Iowa 3 3 8- 4 4 4 9-12
28 Andrew Schoenekase - Darren Smith U. of Central Missouri 1 1 5- 8 2 2 9-12
29 William McCabe - Jon Bash University of Nebraska 2 2 4- 0 4 4 8-13
30 Caleb Shoemaker - Sam Wheeler Western Illinois University 2 2 6- 6 3 3 8- 8
31 Sam Starr - Alex Fulkerson Kansas State University 1 1 2-11 4 4 8- 8
32 Kyle Casper - Tyler Hillen Wisconsin, Stevens Point 1 1 2-10 4 4 8- 6
33 Noah Kruzitski - Nicklas Kushnerik Wisconsin, Stevens Point 1 1 3- 2 3 3 8- 6
34 Luke Stoner - Joey Disomma University of Illinois 2 2 4- 4 4 4 8- 2
35 Levi Warner - Konner Kearney University of Wisconsin 1 1 3-11 3 3 8- 1
36 Kody Mattson - Harrison Barton Winona State University 2 2 4- 2 4 4 8- 0
37 Travis Wilson - Brian Lafferty Western Illinois University 3 3 7-11 3 3 7-11
38 Logan Thomas - Ryan Kirkpatrick Murray State University 1 1 2- 0 2 2 7- 8
39 Cade Laufenberg - Wyatt Stout Winona State University 2 2 4-10 3 3 6-12
40 Christian Ponzetti - Adam Hubbs University of Missouri 2 2 4- 9 3 3 6-12
41 Steve Nebel - Jared Mataczynski University of Wisconsin, Whitewater 1 1 1-12 3 3 6-11
42 Jake Crawford - Garrett Price Lake Superior State University 1 1 2- 9 2 2 6-11
43 Aaron Schiller - Andrew Gullickson Wisconsin, Stevens Point 3 3 6-10 3 3 6-10
44 Justin Brown - Brody Layher Northern Michigan University 2 2 6- 5 2 2 6- 5
45 Ted Johnson - Jody Derks Wisconsin, Stevens Point 0 0 0- 0 3 3 6- 4
46 Cass Waddle - Tom Scroppo Western Illinois University 2 2 4- 2 3 3 6- 4
47 Jordan Meddaugh - Samuel Hempel Wisconsin, Stevens Point 1 1 3-10 2 2 6- 4
48 Tucker Oliver - Tyler Cooper University of Missouri 1 1 3-11 2 2 5-15
49 Yu Han - Qiurun Chen University of Illinois 1 1 2- 9 2 2 5-13
50 Marshall Sandretto - Eric Logisz Milwaukee School of Engineering 1 1 2- 4 2 2 5-11
51 Derrick Hoffman - Brody McWilliams Indiana University 1 1 4- 9 2 2 5- 9
52 Jason Shaw - Mathew Cardani Murray State University 1 1 3- 6 2 2 5- 8
53 Scott Sullivan - Chad Siegfried U. of Central Missouri 0 0 0- 0 2 2 5- 4
54 Richard Rappley - Craig Wise Western Illinois University 2 2 5- 0 2 2 5- 0
55 Mitchell Armstrong - Mathew Siebert U. of Central Missouri 1 1 3- 0 2 2 4-14
56 Charlie Sterrett - Brock Phillips University of Illinois 0 0 0- 0 2 2 4- 5
57 Reid Miller - Matt Pasma University of Wisconsin, Stout 1 1 3-14 1 1 3-14
58 Nick Dion - Nate Sleight Lake Superior State University 0 0 0- 0 2 2 3- 8
59 Stephen Farley - Jordan Smith Southern Illinois University of Carbonda 0 0 0- 0 1 1 3- 3
60 Mark Krutzfield - Tony Mehrl University of Iowa 0 0 0- 0 1 1 3- 0
61 Curtis Borawski - Thomas Platt University of Illinois 1 1 2- 0 1 1 2- 0
62 Josh Pagel - Tanner Blaschka University of Wisconsin 0 0 0- 0 1 1 1-15
62 Kyle Vowels - Zachary Woodbury Western Illinois University 1 1 1-15 1 1 1-15
64 Pat Bowers - Sig Finley University of Wisconsin, LaCrosse 1 1 1-14 1 1 1-14
65 Carl Hanson - Vanessa Hanrahan University of Wisconsin, Stout 1 1 1-13 1 1 1-13
66 Jake Ansami - Trevor Epping Wisconsin, Stevens Point 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
66 Nick Carter - Leo Dedering Wisconsin, Stevens Point 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
66 Ethan Dhuyvetter - Dan Towsley Kansas State University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
66 Brett Fickle - Layne Woods U. of Central Missouri 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
66 Justin Graben - Randal Argo Murray State 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
66 Brady Gregor - Clayton Moles Southwest Baptist Universty 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
66 Andrew Nordbye - Andrew Almohtadi Northwest Missouri State University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
66 Austin Paytash - Nicholas Welu Wisconsin, Stevens Point 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
66 Matthew Trickler - Blaise Weaver University of Nebraska 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
66 Tyler Zimmerman - Andrew Mlotek University of Wisconsin, Whitewater 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
BIG BASSTOTALS
Day Name City,State Lbs-OzDay # Fish # Live Lbs-Oz # Limits
1 Ryan Gilbert Sterling, IL 7- 11 122 121 328- 3 7
2 Tyler Nekolny Manhattan, KS 5-152 130 130 355- 6 6


University Of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Takes Top Spot On Lake Of The Ozarks

Mark Hugus and Cody Hahner of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point brought in 19-10 of Lake of the Ozarks bass to take the Day 1 lead in the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Midwestern Regional.

After a long, cold day, the scales settled for Hugus and Hahner just shy of the 20-pound mark. Most anglers at takeoff predicted close to 20 pounds to be the bar to reach. With water temps in the lower 40s, the common consensus was a slow bite but a big bite.

The slow bite showed up with the most productive baits being a jerkbait and a jig. Anglers had to slow down because of the cold water and fish their jerkbaits with 5- to 10-second pauses in their cadence.

The big bite showed up for most of the field as well, but the numbers weren’t there. Most anglers only caught one or two fish while trying to fill their limits, but those fish averaged 4 to 5 pounds.

Hugus and Hahner were the only team that came close to putting together a limit of those 4- to 5-pounders.

“We had one little one around 2 1/2 (pounds), but other than that we had all solid fish,” Hahner said .

Like most of the anglers on Day 1, Hugus and Hahner caught their fish primarily on a jerkbait with the majority of their bites coming after 1 o’clock.

“At about 1 o’clock we had three fish in the boat,” Hahner said. “We knew we had to make something happen.”

After a gut instinct led to an adjustment, Hugus and Haher caught a 5-pounder and a 6-pounder propelling them into the Day 1 lead.

The team of Cody Lincoln and Jason Hawksford and the team of Matt Feiten and Brian Kirt, second and third place respectively, both also of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, round out the Top 3 after Day 1.

Ryan Gilbert and Jacob Cllisch of the University of Wisconsin-Plattville caught the Day 1 Carhartt Big Bass weighing 7-1.

Hugus’ and Hahner’s 19-10 bag took the Nitro Bass Pro Big Bag honors for Day 1.

The Top 14 teams after Day 2 will advance to the Carhartt College Series National Championship to be held later this year.

Anglers will takeoff from Lake of the Ozarks State Park at 7:30 a.m. for Day 2 of competition. Follow all the action at Bassmaster.com and tune in to watch the live weigh-in on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. CT.

2014 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Title Sponsor: Carhartt

2014 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Official Sponsors: Toyota, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Quantum, Yamaha

2014 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Supporting Partners: Booyah, Diet Mountain Dew, Livingston Lures, Lowrance, Motorguide, Plano, Power-Pole, Rigid Industries, Shimano

2014 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Proud Partner: Mustang Survival

About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), television show (The Bassmasters on ESPN2), social media programs and events. For more than 45 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series presented by Allstate, B.A.S.S. Nation events, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series, Bassmaster High School Series, Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by Diet Mountain Dew and GoPro.
-30-

Media Contact: Dave Precht, 205-313-0931, [email protected], or Helen Northcutt, 205-313-0944, [email protected].

Carhartt Bassmaster College Series - Midwest                
3/28/2014 - 3/29/2014  Lake of the Ozarks - Public Boat Ramp #2 - Osage Beach, MO

STANDINGS                                          BOATER DAY 1

Name School #Fish # Live Lbs-Oz
1. Mark Hugus - Cody Hahner Wisconsin, Stevens Point 5 5 19-10
2. Cody Lincoln - Jason Hawksford Wisconsin, Stevens Point 5 5 16- 1
3. Matt Feiten - Brian Kirt Wisconsin, Stevens Point 5 5 14- 8
4. Jackson Grabeel - Joseph Reilly Western Illinois University 5 5 14- 5
5. Lance Freeman - Seth Brock Murray State University 5 5 13- 1
6. Ryan Gilbert - Jacob Cllisch University of Wisconsin, Plattville 3 3 12-12
7. Michaela Anderson - Bryan Billeadeau University of St Thomas 5 5 10-15
8. Kyle Alsop - Taylor Bivins Kansas State University 5 5 10-10
9. Ben McCullough - Howie Lee University of Missouri 4 4 10- 5
10. Ben Verhoef - Tommy Hebson University of Missouri 4 4 9- 6
11. Dan Martin - Tyler McCune Eastern Illinois University 2 2 9- 1
12. Chris Burgan - Austin Felix University of Minnesota 3 3 8- 9
13. Cody Sieben - Dan Schult Murray State University 4 4 8- 0
14. Nathen Kozlowski - Lance Maldonado Kansas State University 3 3 7-15
15. Quinn Fowler - Dylan McKee Kansas State University 3 3 7- 7
16. Justin Berger - Cody Santel Murray State University 2 2 7- 5
17. Ted Johnson - Jody Derks Wisconsin, Stevens Point 3 3 6- 4
18. Bryce Wegman - Carlos Thomas Illinois State University 1 1 5-15
19. Sam Starr - Alex Fulkerson Kansas State University 3 3 5-13
20. Zachary Wiggers - Justin Bruno Grand Valley State University 2 2 5-13
21. Kyle Casper - Tyler Hillen Wisconsin, Stevens Point 3 3 5-12
22. Dustin Genrich - Nathan Hettinga University of Wisconsin, LaCrosse 2 2 5-11
23. Logan Thomas - Ryan Kirkpatrick Murray State University 1 1 5- 8
24. Noah Kruzitski - Nicklas Kushnerik Wisconsin, Stevens Point 2 2 5- 4
24. Scott Sullivan - Chad Siegfried U. of Central Missouri 2 2 5- 4
26. Steve Nebel - Jared Mataczynski University of Wisconsin, Whitewater 2 2 4-15
27. Kyle Gates - Katie Edgar St Ambrose University 1 1 4-15
28. William McCabe - Jon Bash University of Nebraska 2 2 4-13
29. Daniel Fuhrig - Michael Fink University of Missouri 2 2 4- 8
29. Ben Kroeger - Ryan Leach University of Nebraska - Omaha 2 2 4- 8
31. Levi Warner - Konner Kearney University of Wisconsin 2 2 4- 6
32. Charlie Sterrett - Brock Phillips University of Illinois 2 2 4- 5
33. Andrew Schoenekase - Darren Smith U. of Central Missouri 1 1 4- 4
34. Matt Smith - Jarett Svihlik University of Dubuque 2 1 4- 2
35. Jake Crawford - Garrett Price Lake Superior State University 1 1 4- 2
36. Garrett Cates - Graham Howard Kansas State University 1 1 4- 0
37. Kody Mattson - Harrison Barton Winona State University 2 2 3-14
37. Luke Stoner - Joey Disomma University of Illinois 2 2 3-14
39. Nick Dion - Nate Sleight Lake Superior State University 2 2 3- 8
40. Marshall Sandretto - Eric Logisz Milwaukee School of Engineering 1 1 3- 7
41. Yu Han - Qiurun Chen University of Illinois 1 1 3- 4
42. Stephen Farley - Jordan Smith Southern Illinois University of Carbonda 1 1 3- 3
43. Mark Krutzfield - Tony Mehrl University of Iowa 1 1 3- 0
44. Jordan Meddaugh - Samuel Hempel Wisconsin, Stevens Point 1 1 2-10
45. Tucker Oliver - Tyler Cooper University of Missouri 1 1 2- 4
46. Sean Mulholland - Everett Ridderbos University of Nebraska 1 1 2- 3
46. Christian Ponzetti - Adam Hubbs University of Missouri 1 1 2- 3
48. Cade Laufenberg - Wyatt Stout Winona State University 1 1 2- 2
48. Jason Shaw - Mathew Cardani Murray State University 1 1 2- 2
48. Caleb Shoemaker - Sam Wheeler Western Illinois University 1 1 2- 2
48. Cass Waddle - Tom Scroppo Western Illinois University 1 1 2- 2
52. Josh Pagel - Tanner Blaschka University of Wisconsin 1 1 1-15
53 Mitchell Armstrong - Mathew Siebert U. of Central Missouri 1 1 1-14
54 .Keaton Williams - Max Mercer University of Iowa 1 1 1- 8
55. Derrick Hoffman - Brody McWilliams Indiana University 1 1 1- 0
56. Jake Ansami - Trevor Epping Wisconsin, Stevens Point 0 0 0- 0
56. Curtis Borawski - Thomas Platt University of Illinois 0 0 0- 0
56. Pat Bowers - Sig Finley University of Wisconsin, LaCrosse 0 0 0- 0
56 .Justin Brown - Brody Layher Northern Michigan University 0 0 0- 0
56. Nick Carter - Leo Dedering Wisconsin, Stevens Point 0 0 0- 0
56. Ethan Dhuyvetter - Dan Towsley Kansas State University 0 0 0- 0
56. Brett Fickle - Layne Woods U. of Central Missouri 0 0 0- 0
56. Justin Graben - Randal Argo Murray State 0 0 0- 0
56. Brady Gregor - Clayton Moles Southwest Baptist Universty 0 0 0- 0
56. Carl Hanson - Vanessa Hanrahan University of Wisconsin, Stout 0 0 0- 0
56. Reid Miller - Matt Pasma University of Wisconsin, Stout 0 0 0- 0
56. Tyler Nekolny - Samuel Haines Kansas State University 0 0 0- 0
56. Andrew Nordbye - Andrew Almohtadi Northwest Missouri State University 0 0 0- 0
56. Austin Paytash - Nicholas Welu Wisconsin, Stevens Point 0 0 0- 0
56. Richard Rappley - Craig Wise Western Illinois University 0 0 0- 0
56. Aaron Schiller - Andrew Gullickson Wisconsin, Stevens Point 0 0 0- 0
56. Matthew Trickler - Blaise Weaver University of Nebraska 0 0 0- 0
56. Kyle Vowels - Zachary Woodbury Western Illinois University 0 0 0- 0
56. Travis Wilson - Brian Lafferty Western Illinois University 0 0 0- 0
56. Tyler Zimmerman - Andrew Mlotek University of Wisconsin, Whitewater 0 0 0- 0

BIG BASS  Day              Name             City,State  Lbs-Oz
1         Ryan Gilbert     Sterling, IL     7- 1

TOTALS    Day              # Fish           # Live  Lbs-Oz    # Limits
1         122              121              328- 3  7
2         0                0                0- 0    0


Rose Grabs Lead At Flw Tour On Sam Rayburn

This 9-pound kicker propelled Strike King Pro Mark Rose into the Day 2 lead. photo by Garrick Dixon
Louisiana’s Crawley Paces Co-Anglers

Seasoned veteran Walmart pro Mark Rose of West Memphis, Ark., brought a five-bass limit to the scale on Friday weighing 19 pounds, 2 ounces to snatch the lead after day two of the Walmart FLW Tour at Sam Rayburn Reservoir presented by Chevy. Anchored by a monster 9-pound Sam Rayburn largemouth, Rose now has a two-day total of 10 bass worth 43 pounds even. He will hold a narrow 1-pound, 9 ounce lead going into day three of the four-day event, presented by the Lufkin Convention and Visitors Bureau, that features 176 of the world’s best bass-fishing anglers competing for a top cash award of up to $125,000.

     “I really struggled today,” said Rose, who has earned more than $1.75 million dollars in FLW competition. “Most of the 19 pounds that I weighed in was the big 9-pounder. I didn’t catch but seven fish all day today, and one was a little 12-inch spotted bass.

 

     “I’m fishing the outside and inside edges of grass lines,” Rose continued. “When the weather is calm and sunny like today, they get buried up in the grass. I’m going to do the same thing tomorrow, but I’m going to pray for some clouds and wind.”

 

     Rose said that he was fishing around 15 different areas throwing a lot of plastics, crankbaits and a Strike King Red-Eye Shad. He said that most of the fish that he is catching are post-spawn.

 

     “Most of my fish that I’m weighing in are post-spawn,” the Arkansas pro said. “But, it seems like every day I’m weighing in one big pre-spawner. Even in practice I would catch one big pre-spawn bass each day.

 

     “I’m pretty committed to this pattern,” said Rose. “I may just have to adapt a little better and get in the grass and figure out how to catch them.”

     The top 20 pros that will fish Saturday on Sam Rayburn are:

            1st:    Walmart pro Mark Rose, West Memphis, Ark., 10 bass, 43-0

            2nd:   Jason Meninger, Gainesville, Ga., 10 bass, 41-7

            3rd:    Steve Kennedy, Auburn, Ala., 10 bass, 40-10

            4th:    Chevy pro Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., 10 bass, 39-10

            5th:    Rick Cotten, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 37-14

            6th:    Greg Hackney, Gonzales, La., 10 bass, 36-11

            7th:    John Cox, Debary, Fla., 10 bass, 36-10

            8th:    Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C., 10 bass, 34-10

            9th:    Jonathan Newton, Rogersville, Ala., nine bass, 34-7

            10th:  Tony Davis, Williston, Fla., nine bass, 33-7

            11th:  Cheez-It pro Shinichi Fukae, Palestine, Texas, five bass, 33-3

            12th:  Jayme Rampey, Liberty, S.C., 10 bass, 33-1

            13th:  Castrol pro Mike Surman, Boca Raton, Fla., 10 bass, 33-0

            14th:  Shad Schenck, Waynetown, Ind., 10 bass, 32-2

            15th:  Austin Terry, San Angelo, Texas, 10 bass, 31-11

            16th:  Rob Kilby, Hot Springs, Ark., 10 bass, 31-7

            17th:  Tom Monsoor, La Crosse, Wis., 10 bass, 31-4

            18th:  Brad Knight, Wartburg, Tenn., 10 bass, 30-0

            19th:  Richard Peek, Centre, Ala., 10 bass, 29-15

            20th:  Gary Yamamoto, Palestine, Texas, 10 bass, 29-13

    

     For a full list of results visit FLWOutdoors.com.

 

     Rose also won the FLW Big Bass Award and $500 on Friday on the pro side with a brute weighing 9 pounds even.

 

     Overall there were 741 bass weighing 1,744 pounds, 13 ounces caught by 173 pros Friday. The catch included 114 five-bass limits.

 

     Pro Shawn Murphy of Nicholasville, Ky., was assessed a 2-pound penalty Friday for a violation of FLW Tour rule No. 8. Murphy finished the tournament in 35th place and earned $10,000.

 

     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. Anglers could win as much as $500,000 – professional bass-fishing’s richest prize.

 

     Stephen Crawley of Bush, La., leads the co-angler division with 10 bass weighing 26-6 followed by Eric Self of Lawndale, N.C., in second place with eight bass weighing 26-4.

 

     The top 20 co-anglers fishing Saturday are:

 

            1st:    Stephen Crawley, Bush, La., 10 bass, 26-6

            2nd:   Eric Self, Lawndale, N.C., eight bass, 26-4

            3rd:    Nick Loeffelman Jr., Valles Mines, Mo., 10 bass, 25-11

            4th:    Billy Billeaud, Lafayette, La., eight bass, 25-2

            5th:    Bryan Partak, Marseilles, Ill., seven bass, 25-0

            6th:    Bryan New, Belmont, N.C., 10 bass, 23-13

            7th:    Glenn Day, Cumming, Ga., 10 bass, 23-1

            8th:    Gary Runyon, Decatur, Tenn., nine bass, 22-13

            9th:    Spiro Agouros, Ontario, Canada, 10 bass, 22-12

            10th:  Kerry Barnett, Waldron, Ark., 10 bass, 22-11

            11th:  Michael Stricklin, Vidalia, La., eight bass, 21-13

            12th:  Jason Johnson, Gainesville, Ga., nine bass, 21-1

            13th:  Kyle Monti, Okeechobee, Fla., nine bass, 20-14

            14th:  Billy Dehart, Burlingame, Calif., 10 bass, 20-12

            15th:  Rob Hicks, Lula, Ga., six bass, 20-9

            16th:  Dennis Cameron, Travelers Rest, S.C., eight bass, 20-8

            17th:  Forrest Smith, Pickerington, Ohio, eight bass, 20-7

            18th:  Perry Dawson, Spring City, Tenn., seven bass, 20-6

            19th:  J.R. Wright, Truckee, Calif., nine bass, 20-5

            20th:  Chuck Kavros, Grass Valley, Calif., 10 bass, 20-4

 

     For a full list of results visit FLWOutdoors.com.

 

     Partak caught Friday’s FLW Big Bass in the co-angler division weighing 10 pounds, 2 ounces to win $250.

 

     Overall there were 520 bass weighing 1,076 pounds, 14 ounces caught by co-anglers Friday. The catch included 52 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 Cassels-Boykin County Park located at FM Road 3123 (off State Highway 147) in Zavalla, Texas, at 7 a.m. on Saturday. On Sunday the top 10 anglers will take off at 7:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday’s final weigh-ins will be held at the Walmart located at 2500 Daniel McCall Drive in Lufkin 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, 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 Sam Rayburn Reservoir tournament will be broadcast in high-definition (HD) on NBC Sports Network when “FLW” airs June 7 from 11 a.m.-12 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.


Montgomery Hoping Table Rock More Hospitable For Elite Tournament Than In The Past

Bassmaster Elite Series and FLW Tour Pro Andy Montgomery of Blacksburg, SC

Andy Montgomery was driving the 15 hours from Palatka, Fla., to Lufkin, Texas, Sunday, halfway through a six-tournament marathon that he hopes will land him in the Forrest Wood Cup on South Carolina's famed bass factory, Lake Murray, this August.

“I'm fishing six tournaments in six weeks. I just finished fishing three and am on my way to the next three,” Montgomery said.

He is also trying to fish his way into the 2015 Bassmaster Classic on South Carolina's Lake Hartwell next February, but the lure of fishing the FLW Championship just a couple of hours drive from his home in Blacksburg, S.C., was too much to turn down, Montgomery said.

Besides, he added, he kind of has a score to settle with the Forrest Wood Cup on Lake Murray.

“The last time the Cup was on Lake Murray in 2008 I finished 13th. I felt like I had a really good chance to win it, but I just did not get the big bites I needed the second day of the tournament,” he said. “I caught a lot of keepers, but just did not get that big bite. But my co-angler won the tournament and he got several big bites, so I know I was around the fish to win it.”

So he was headed to Sam Rayburn Lake in his quest for the Cup on Lake Murray and from there he will drive north this weekend to Table Rock Lake in Missouri to try to boost his chances for qualifying for the Lake Hartwell Bassmaster Classic next February. Montgomery, who is riding a wave of success in B.A.S.S. so far this year – 11th on Lake Seminole two weeks ago and 25th on the St. John's River last week – hopes Table Rock is more kind to him this time than it has been in the past.

“I have had some really good practices on Table Rock, but that lake has been a thorn in my side. I just could not get them in the boat in a tournament,” he said. “The lake changes from day to day. I'd have almost too good a practice and get locked in on certain ares or things and it would change, so I've got to have an open mind every day of the tournament this time.”

His best outing on Table Rock was in a PAA tournament last September when he placed 45th. His record in two FLW tournaments on the lake was forgettable.

“It's a clear lake and the wind means everything there. If the wind changes directions it will really mess you up. The fish move a lot, too. When they come up they move pretty fast and you just have to stay with them.”

Montgomery said the tournament probably will be won by cranking a Wiggle Wart or throwing a jerkbait.

“There is every type of rock there, so you are always fishing some type of rocky bank. You have to figure out what type of rock the fish are on.”

Adding to the mystery of the bass fishery in the lake is the exceptionally cold winter, he said.

“It's been cold and there was a lot snow, which means there is a lot of snow run-off that makes the lake really cold. Everything seems to be behind this year.”

Six tournaments in six weeks. “It's been rough,” Montgomery said, “but that's just part of the deal.”

 

A.R.E. Truck Caps Bassmaster Elite Series

Apr 3-6, 2014

Table Rock Lake

www.bassmaster.com

 


Rodgers On A Mission To Get To The Forrest Wood Cup In Flw Tournament On Sam Rayburn

Dearal Rodgers with a nice fish at Chickamauga

With a 15th place finish on Lake Hartwell two weeks ago, Dearal Rodgers took a big step towards his goal of qualifying for the 2014 Forrest Wood Cup on South Carolina's Lake Murray this August.He'd like to take another big step towards the Lake Murray championship this week on Texas' Lake Sam Rayburn in the third FLW Tour tournament of the year.

But, no matter how his season goes, whatever steps he makes in tournaments pale in comparison to the steps he has taken since a work-related 20-foot fall to a concrete floor six months ago. Rodgers, who owns an environmental business in Camden, S.C., with his wife, when he is not fishing bass tournaments, was doing an asbestos inspection in an old shop building in Spartanburg, S.C., on Friday, Sept. 13, when the roof caved in.

“To fall 20 feet to concrete and to be able to walk and not be paralyzed is a miracle,” said Rodgers who has worked hard to regain his strength and stamina. Knowing it would take a completely healthy angler to fish the pro side of the Tour, Rodgers decided to return to the Co-Angler side for 2014 while he worked on his recovery.

His goal is to get back to the Forrest Wood Cup, which he won as a Co-Angler in 2010 and make a much better showing on Lake Murray than he did in the Cup in 2008 when he placed a distant 73rd on the lake less than an hour from his home.

“It's a tough tournament, but somebody has got to win it,” he said. “It would be nice to fish for my home state and represent everyone in South Carolina.”

He and fellow co-angler Jeff Rikard of Leesville, S.C., made the 15-hour drive to Rayburn Sunday, leaving South Carolina at 4 a.m. after competing in the South Carolina Division BFL tournament on Saturday at Santee Cooper where Rodgers placed 31stas a boater and Rikard 32nd as a co-angler.

After practicing all day Monday on Rayburn with pro angler Brandon Coulter, Rodgers said he was feeling fine, although a little sleepy from the rigors of the long weekend.

“I've been taking a nap every now and then while Brandon was driving the boat,” he said. “But I feel I can make all the casts I want to. I don't feel handicapped in that regard anymore.”

In between catnaps, Rodgers said the fishing was a little tough following a cold snap Sunday night, but he had started to figure few things out on his first trip ever to Rayburn.

“There is a lot of grass in the lake, so I plan to throw two baits that I can cast a long way and cover a lot of water, probably a Rat-L-Trap and a Chatterbait. I'll also throw a little Speed Worm or a Little Craw,” he said.

“I think a lot of people will catch limits, so I am going to have to figure out how to get bigger bites fishing behind somebody who is doing well. I figure it's going to take 12 to 15 pounds a day on the co-angler side.”

Rodgers said there are a lot of small fish in the lake, but also some good-sized ones to go after.

“This is a legendary lake, so it's going to be fun.”

Rodgers, who won the FLW Tour Co-Angler of the Year Award in 2009 and the FLW Tour's Forrest Wood Cup as a Co-Angler in 2010 is fishing the FLW Tour as a co-angler in 2014. He is also available for guided bass fishing trips on Lake Wateree and other lakes in South Carolina. For information on the tournament fishing career of Dearal Rodgers or to inquire about a guided bass fishing trip on Lake Wateree or other South Carolina lakes, check out his website: www.dearalrodgers.com.

 

FLW Tour Major

Mar 27-30, 2014

Sam Rayburn Reservoir

Cassels-Boykin Park

www.flwoutdoors.com

 


Wicker Team Will Do 'basic Spring Fishing 101' In Cbc-Sc Tournament On Lake Wateree

It was a classic case of you can't be in two – or in this particular case, three – places at one time.

Andy Wicker and his dad, Steve, make a pretty formidable fishing team in local South Carolina bass tournaments, but so far this year they have had a hard time getting on track in the South Carolina Division of the Carolinas Bass Challenge.

They fished the first CBC-SC tournament in early February but did not weigh a fish, and then they missed the second tournament on Lake Wylie because of a conflict with a wedding.

They hoped to practice on Lake Wateree last weekend for the third CBC-SC tournament this Saturday, but that rule about being in more than one place at a time got in the way.

Steve fished the Walmart BFL on Santee Cooper last Saturday, placing 16th. Andy, who is leading the points in the Weekend Bass Series, finished third in the WBS tournament on Lake Russell – his second 3rd place in the two tournaments held so far this year.

So, because the Carolinas Bass Challenge puts tournament lakes off-limits for a week starting the Sunday before a tournament, they did not get to practice on Lake Wateree.

“I am no local expert on Wateree,” said Andy, who hails from Pomaria, S.C., halfway between Lake Murray and Lake Monticello and grew up bass fishing both lakes with his dad. “But, we have fished it before. I caught some decent fish there in a Weekend Series tournament last year.”

The Wicker Team, he said, will probably do Basic Spring Fishing 101 at Wateree Saturday.

“Wateree definitely sets up for shallow water fishing. You've got that grass to fish and it's an awesome dock lake, too,” he said.

“That's a spinnerbait lake and every spring some big fish are caught there on a spinnerbait. Grass, docks and spinnerbaits all go together,” he said. “We might also throw an Alabama Rig and try to catch a couple of big fish.”

 

Carolinas Bass Challenge - South Carolina Division

Sat, Mar 29, 2014

Lake Wateree

Clearwater Cove Marina

Call Brett Collins 803-413-7521

www.carolinasbasschallenge.com

 


Sportsmans Warehouse Pre Spawn Showcase!

With fishing action as good as its been in years, we had to grab some great pre-spawn lures to share with everyone at SPORTSMAN'S WAREHOUSE in Columbia, SC with fishing Manager Craig Baird!


Cotten Claims Lead At Flw Tour On Rayburn

Professional angler Rick Cotten of Guntersville, Ala., brought a five-bass limit to the scale Thursday weighing 25 pounds, 15 ounces to take the lead after day one of the Walmart FLW Tour at Sam Rayburn Reservoir presented by Chevy. Cotten now holds a 1-pound, 4-ounce lead over second-place pro Andy Montgomery of Blacksburg, S.C., who brought five bass weighing 24-11 to the scales, heading into day two of the four-day event that features 176 of the world’s best bass-fishing anglers competing for a top cash award of up to $125,000.

This was a total surprise for me based on my practice,” said Cotten, a third-year pro who has one previous top-10 finish in FLW Tour competition. “I caught a lot of fish in practice but my best five were only going about 16 pounds. These are not the same fish that I was catching in practice. They just randomly moved in.”

Cotten said that he spent the entire day in one area, which he described as a grass line that was a couple of acres long.

I had several different areas that I was ready to fish, but I didn’t run them today because of the weather,” Cotten said. “So I stayed in one spot and it paid off. Those fish aren’t holding to anything, so who knows if I’ll be able to catch them tomorrow. There is no hard structure there. The fish are just holding to the grass line.

Im going back to that same spot tomorrow and plan on camping out all day,” Cotten continued. “I’m working it very thoroughly and fishing very slow. I feel like these are pre-spawn fish.”

Cotten said that he caught seven keepers throughout the entire day, and although he was not ready to divulge his baits of choice he did say that all of his fish came on just two baits.

I used to live in Houston and I got to fish on this lake quite a bit,” Cotten went on to say. “It’s really fun getting to come back here and I can’t wait to go fishing again tomorrow.”

The top 10 pros after day one at Sam Rayburn Reservoir are:

            1st:    Rick Cotten, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 25-15

            2nd:   Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C., five bass, 24-11

            3rd:    Walmart pro Mark Rose, West Memphis, Ark., five bass, 23-14

            4th:    Ryan Davidson, Huntington, W.Va., five bass, 21-6

            5th:    Steve Kennedy, Auburn, Ala., five bass, 18-14

            6th:    Chevy pro Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., five bass, 18-12

            7th:    Brandon Cobb, Greenwood, S.C., five bass, 18-8

            8th:    Ramie Colson Jr., Cadiz, Ky., five bass, 17-12

            9th:    Cheez-It pro Shinichi Fukae, Palestine, Texas, five bass, 17-9

            9th:    Lendell Martin Jr., Nacogdoches, Texas, five bass, 17-9 

 

     For a full list of results visit FLWOutdoors.com.

 

     Chevy pro Jay Yelas of Corvallis, Ore., won the Big Bass Award on the pro side Thursday with a fish weighing 8 pounds, 13 ounces to win $500.

 

     Overall there were 729 bass weighing 1,815 pounds, 6 ounces caught by 173 pros Thursday. The catch included 105 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. Anglers could win as much as $500,000 – professional bass-fishing’s richest prize.

 

     Tim Beale of Hernando, Miss., and Eric Self of Lawndale, N.C., tied for the lead in the co-angler division after each brought five bass to the scale weighing 18 pounds, 4 ounces.

 

     The top 10 co-anglers are:

 

            1st:    Tim Beale, Hernando, Miss., five bass, 18-4

            1st:    Eric Self, Lawndale, N.C., five bass, 18-4

            3rd:    Nick Thliveros, St. Augustine, Fla., five bass, 16-3

            4th:    Stephen Crawley, Bush, La., five bass, 15-4

            5th:    Jake Gipson, Niceville, Fla., three bass, 13-10

            6th:    Joey Romano, Denham Springs, La., five bass, 13-8

            7th:    Jeff Gengler, Fort Collins, Colo., four bass, 13-2

            8th:    Forrest Smith, Pickerington, Ohio, four bass, 12-14

            9th:    Kyle Monti, Okeechobee, Fla., four bass, 12-12

            10th:    Casey O’Donnell, Bradenton, Fla., five bass, 12-11

 

     For a full list of results visit FLWOutdoors.com.

 

     Beale also caught Thursday’s Big Bass in the co-angler division weighing 8-9 to win $250.

 

     Overall there were 465 bass weighing 997 pounds, 2 ounces caught by co-anglers Thursday. The catch included 29 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 Cassels-Boykin County Park located at FM Road 3123 (off State Highway 147) in Zavalla, Texas., at 7 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, the final day of competition, the top 10 anglers will take off at 7:30 a.m. Friday’s weigh-in will be held at Cassels-Boykin County Park beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday’s final weigh-ins will be held at the Walmart located at 2500 Daniel McCall Drive in Lufkin 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, 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 Sam Rayburn Reservoir tournament will be broadcast in high-definition (HD) on NBC Sports Network when “FLW” airs June 7 from 11 a.m.-12 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.


Record Spot Caught on Cypress Springs Lake in Texas Bass Couples East Region-Full Results here!

Be sure and check out the new Lake Cypress Spring lake record Spotted Bass caught by Jason Robertson. Jason caught a great Spotted Bass that broke the current lake record. His Spotted Bass weighted 3.40# on my scale and ended up at 3.30# on certified scales. She was 17# long and had a 13.5" girth. Congratulations to Jason on the new Lake Record Spotted Bass.

 Topping the competition this month is the team of Joe & Suzie Moss from Palestine. Joe & Suzie bought a fine limit of bass to the scales weighing 20.18#. Great fishing in post cold front conditions!
 Our second place team this month is Mike Davis & Debbie Mathis from Diana. Mike & Debbie had a great limit of bass weighing 16.49#. Debbie also won Ladies Big Bass honors with a fine fishing weighing 3.75#. Way to go you two, that's some good team work right there.
 Third place honors go to Michael & Destiny Moss from Palestine. Michael & Destiny have been doing some fantastic fishing the last few months. They caught a nice limit hitting the scales at 15.41#.
 In fourth place is Team Stroman from Mt. Vernon. Mike & Sharon put together a nice pattern that got them a nice limit weighing 15.19#Good fishing you two!
 Rounding out the top 5 this month is the team of Robert & Melissa Kilgore from Longview. Robert & Melissa brought a nice limit to the scales weighing 14.31#.
 Our "first place out of the money" winners this month goes to Bill & Sally Butts from Longview. Bill & Sally had a limit weighing 14.1#. They were awarded the Santone Lures $50.00 gift certificate.
 2nd place out of the money goes to Marc & Kelly Mayo from Tyler. Marc & Kelly weighed in a limit @ 13.81# and received a Dobyns Rods gift certificate.
Big Bass honors went to Tommie Deese this month with a bass weighing 5.91#.
 We had a total of 107 bass weighed in for a total weight of 278.33#. That's a 2.60# average per bass which isn't too bad considering the weather conditions. Congratulations to everyone!
 We have a tight race underway for Team Of The Year Honors, with the top 4 teams running within a few points of each other. Should be an interesting race to the finish this year.
 Thanks to all our sponsors for their support this year. Nicholls Marine is our plaque sponsor for this year. Dobyns Rods, Santone Lures, Maple Lake Lure Co., Reel Remedy, Reel Time Rods & Easy Step Systems. A big thanks to John & Casey Maxfield, Joe & Kelly Sherwood & Terry & Sheila Barnson for their generous donation of door prizes this year. We appreciate the support more than you know!
 Thanks to everyone that helped at the weigh-in this tournament. Your helping hand is greatly appreciated.
 Thanks to Tommy & Pam Busbee who make it all possible and are such a joy to work with. Without their hard work and support, the TBC wouldn't be what it is today.
 It's hard to believe that the tournament season is 1/2 over. Seems like time is flying by this year. Next months tournament will be held on beautiful Lake 'O' the Pines. Tournament Headquarters will be at Johnson Creek Park. I will let everyone know where and when registration & live well checks will be.
 Thanks to all the couples fishing with us this year. 2014 is a record breaking year for us. We now currently have 40 teams signed up with the East Region and we are averaging a little over 30 teams fishing each tournament so far this year. Thanks again for the support!
 Until next month......be safe out there.
1st Place: Joe & Suzie Moss  20.18#
1st Place Team of Joe and Suzie Moss 
1st Place Team of Joe and Suzie Moss
 
Second Place: Mike Davis & Debbie Mathis 16.49# 
2nd Place Team of Mike Davis and Debbie Mathis 
2nd Place Team of Mike Davis and Debbie Mathis
 
 
Third Place: Michael & Destiny Moss  15.41# 
3rd place team of Michael and Destiny Moss 
3rd place team of Michael and Destiny Moss
 
 
New Spot Record of 3.30 on Cypress Lake caught by Jason Robertson! 
New Spot Record of 3.30 on Cypress Lake caught by Jason Robertson!
Fourth Place: Mike & Sharon Stroman  15.19#
 
Fifth Place: Robert & Melissa Kilgore  14.31# 
 
Ladies Big Bass: Debbie Mathis  3.75# 
 
Big Bass: Tommie Deese  5.91# 
 
New Cypress Springs Lake Record Spotted Bass caught by Jason Robertson.  3.30# on certified scales.

Piedmont Bass Classics Spring Mini Trail Qualifier #3 Results - Mayo Reservoir - Mar 22, 2014

Teaser image:

1st Place: Steve Upchurch & Jeff Hodges...5 bass...17.51 lbs1st Place: Steve Upchurch & Jeff Hodges...5 bass...17.51 lbs

The Piedmont Bass Classics Team Bass Spring Mini Trail qualifier #3 results showed that Mayo Reservoir is 
still a good producing lake even with the cold water conditions! 26 teams vied for the 1st place money on a right pretty day for fishing.

It was a little chilly that morning at 44 degree s but ended up being a nice and comfortable 70 degrees at 
weighin. The forecast was for 7 mph winds but it ended up being a pretty steady 15 gusting to 20 at times. Water 
temps averaged 50 degrees. The prespawn bass seemed to be in fairly shallow 3-6 foot stained water mostly 
near the points. Most of the fish were caught on Rat-L-Traps and crankbaits.

Jeff Hodges & Steve Upchurch caught 5 healthy bass weighing a total of 17.51 lbs. taking 1st Place. They also 
won 1st Place TWT for a total of $1,011 in winnings. 2nd Place went to Randy Fisher & Donnie Lowe with 5 
bass weighing 15.83 lbs. They also won the Big Fish award (5.62 lbs.) and took home a total of $649. Tim Goss 
won the Tow Boats US bonus of $50.

75 bass were weighed in for a total of 217 pounds. This averaged right at 3 lbs. a fish and they were nice and 
healthy looking. Mayo is a good small lake fishery!

I want to thank all the anglers that participated and all our sponsors that support these trails. Our next 
tournament will be the 
2014 Boats Unlimited Team Tournament Bass Trail Qualifier #3, Saturday, Mar. 29th at 
Shearon Harris out of Cross Point Landing Wildlife Ramp. Coming up Saturday April 5th will be the Tobacco 
Bass Invitational at Kerr Lake out of Flemingtown Landing Wildlife Ramp.

All the information on our tournaments can be found at www.piedmontbassclassics.com

Now here are the full results:

1st Place: Steve Upchurch & Jeff Hodges of Raleigh & Pittsboro...5 bass...17.51 lbs...$675
2nd Place: Randy Fisher & Donnie Lowe of Hillsborough & Mebane...5 bass...15.83 lbs...$389
3rd Place: Keith Deal & Ricky Kenworth of Holly Springs & Cary...5 bass...15.43 lbs...$270
4th Place: Lynn Fox & Wesly Ross of Gibsonville & Reidsville...5 bass...15.03 lbs...$203
5th Place: Rodney Bowen & Barney Compton of Timberlake & Leasburg...5 bass...14.93 lbs...$153

1st Place Big Fish: 2nd Place Team above...5.62 lbs...$260

1st Place TWT: 1st Place Team above: 17.51 lbs...$336
2nd Place TWT: 3rd Place Team above: 15.43 lbs...$144

Tow Boats US Award: Tim Goss of Franklinton: $50
 
Contact Information:
Phil McCarson...Tournament Director---922 Valetta Rd.---Durham, NC 27712
Home: 919-471-1571 Cell: 919-971-5042
email: 
[email protected] website: www.piedmontbassclassics.com


Weekend Wrap Up with AC Pro Staffer Rob Digh

AC Pro Staffer Rob Digh joins us to look back at one of the better weekends we've seen in years across the region. Now there is a reason for all these great weights, and Rob shares that with us. Click here for more!


Curtis Vaughn and Mike Sipple haul in 32.13 Lbs on Falls for the NC Div Opener for AC Marine

55 teams turned out for the NC Div Opener for the Anglers Choice Marine TT on Falls Lake. WOW! What an impressive haul these guys had with 1st and 2nd place both over 30 Lbs! BF was 10.34 and overall the weights were tremendous. Here are some great pic's of the winners as well as the 10+ LB BF. Full results are attached at the bottom:

1st Place Team of Vaughn and Sipple hold up their 32+ Lb Winning Sack! 

1st Place Team of Vaughn and Sipple hold up their 32+ Lb Winning Sack!

 

2nd place team of Chris Richey and George Bost with 31+ Lbs!2nd place team of Chris Richey and George Bost with 31+ Lbs!

 

3rd Place team of Fisher and Hunt with their 26.49 LB Sack! 

3rd Place team of Fisher and Hunt with their 26.49 LB Sack!

 

BF Winner Lee Williams holds up his 10.34 LB Toad! 

BF Winner Lee Williams holds up his 10.34 LB Toad!


Stanley Wins Bfl On Percy Priest Lake

Matt Stanley of Alexandria, Tenn., weighed a five-bass limit totaling 22 pounds, 6 ounces Saturday to win the second Walmart Bass Fishing League Music City Division tournament of 2014 on Percy Priest Lake. For his victory, Stanley earned $3,386.

Stanley earned his second career BFL victory on a day when he caught the tournament Big Fish and estimated that he caught four separate limits that would each have weighed at least 13 pounds.

       “I practiced on Wednesday and Friday and had over 20 pounds both days,” said Stanley.
      “I was fishing in the mid-lake area and I was targeting the colder water because the warmer water had all of the other tournament boats in it. When I would fish in the warmer water I would catch 2- and 3-pounders, but I was catching 4-pounders in the colder water.
      “On the day of the tournament I had 18 pounds by about 8:30 a.m.,” continued Stanley. “I lost a 6-pounder at about 1 o’clock, so I could have weighed in around 25 pounds. I had a pretty good day.
       “I caught my big fish, a 7-pounder, off of a spot that I didn’t even fish in practice. I looked at it and thought it just looked too good to not have fish. It seemed like every time I caught a big fish, it was a loner. If I ever caught more than one 2- or 3-pounder, I would leave that spot.”
       Stanley said that he used jigs, crankbaits, spinnerbaits and jerkbaits on rock banks to tally his impressive catch.
       Rounding out the top 10 pros were:
            2nd:   Josh Tramel, Smithville, Tenn., five bass, 17-11, $1,693
            3rd:   Scott Lefevers, Hermitage, Tenn., five bass, 17-2, $1,129
            4th:    Scott Towry, Lawrenceburg, Tenn., five bass, 16-12, $790
            5th:    William Merrick, Mount Juliet, Tenn., five bass, 16-9, $677
            6th:    Rodney Clawson, Nashville, Tenn., five bass, 15-13, $621
            7th:    Eric Blankendaal, Madison, Tenn., five bass, 15-3, $564
            8th:    Thomas O’Bryant, Cedar Grove, Tenn., four bass, 14-10, $508
            9th:    Noel Smith, Ashland City, Tenn., five bass, 14-9, $451
            10th: Bryan Montgomery, Lebanon, Tenn., five bass, 14-0, $395
      Complete results can be found at FLWOutdoors.com.
      Darryl Humphrey of Murfreesboro, Tenn., weighed a five-bass limit totaling 16 pounds, 15 ounces Saturday to win $1,693 in the co-angler division.
      Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers were:
            2nd:   John Wilkerson, Nashville, Tenn., four bass, 15-10, $846
            3rd:   Chris Tarpley, Murfreesboro, Tenn., five bass, 12-15, $564
            4th:    Jerry Armstrong, Shelbyville, Tenn., five bass, 12-4, $395
            5th:    Craig Allen, Kingston Springs, Tenn., five bass, 11-14, $339
            6th:    Brandon Adcock, McMinnville, Tenn., four bass, 11-6, $310
            7th:    Daniel Crockett, Old Hickory, Tenn., four bass, 11-5, $282
            8th:    Matt Wooten, West Point, Miss., four bass, 11-3, $254
            9th:    Tildon Drake, Jasper, Ala., four bass, 9-6, $212
            9th:    Matt Farrar, Hermitage, Tenn., two bass, 9-6, $212
      The top 40 boaters and 40 co-anglers based on point standings will qualify for the Oct. 9-11 Regional Championship on Pickwick Lake in Florence, Ala. 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.
      The BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 120 tournaments throughout the season, five in each division. The top 40 boaters and co-anglers from each division qualify for a regional tournament and compete 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 presented by Chevy. Top winners in the BFL can move up to the Rayovac FLW Series or even the Walmart FLW Tour.