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2024 Bassmaster High School All-American team names 12 new members

Nov. 22, 2024

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Twelve of the top high school anglers in the country have been selected as new members of the prestigious Bassmaster High School All-American Fishing Team.

“Over the past 10 years, the Bassmaster High School All-American program has spotlighted some of the hardest working and most successful student anglers in the country,” said Chase Anderson, B.A.S.S. CEO. “Since the inception of this program, we have seen former All-Americans go on to qualify for the Bassmaster Elite Series, excel in the Bassmaster Opens, take the Bassmaster College Series by storm and even compete in the Super Bowl of Bass Fishing, the famed Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour. I have no doubt that the 12 outstanding anglers selected for 2024 All-American honors will follow suit and continue to make a wonderful impact in the fishing community.”

Nearly 300 applications nominating students in grades 10-12 were submitted from 31 states across the nation. Of these, 45 students were chosen as Bassmaster All-State Anglers. After considering tournament resumes, conservation efforts, community service activities and recommendations from school officials and coaches, a panel of judges consisting of representatives from the sportfishing industry, media and conservation groups further narrowed the field to the Top 12 high school anglers in the country.

“Congratulations to this outstanding group of student athletes,” said Mandy Pascal, Managing Editor of B.A.S.S. Publications and Director of the Bassmaster High School All-American program. “I have had the pleasure of watching this program grow over the past 10 years, and I am continuously blown away by the passion, drive and talent each of these student anglers possess. It has been such a joy getting to see them excel at the collegiate level and beyond after receiving this honor, and I could not be prouder of each angler.”

The 2024 All-American team has been invited to the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour, which will be held March 21-23 in Fort Worth, Texas. Each All-American angler will be honored on the biggest stage in bass fishing and have the chance to meet and interact with some of the greatest names in the sport.

Congratulations to the following student anglers for being named to the 2024 Bassmaster High School All-American Fishing Team. Following are short biographies of the 2024 team members.

Carsen Adcock, Haughton, La.

A junior at Haughton High School, Carsen Adcock earned four wins from spring of 2023 through 2024. Notably Adcock beat a field of 200 teams to win the 2023 Bassmaster High School Series event held on the Red River, and in March of this year he won the North Louisiana High School B.A.S.S. Nation event on Toledo Bend, again defeating over 200 teams to place first. Later in the month, he won the Bassmaster High School Classic on Keystone Lake. Alongside his wins, Adcock has amassed five Top 5 finishes, including second place at the MLF/TBF High School World Finals out of a field of 390-plus teams and a third-place finish at the MLF/TBF High School National Championship out of a field of over 250 teams.

“Carsen is well-balanced and excels at all he does,” says Sarah Thrash, guidance counselor at Haughton High School. “He goes above and beyond expectations while exhibiting the most positive attitude.”

Alongside being a member of two fishing teams, Adcock is also on his school’s baseball team and is a member of the Random Acts of Kindness Club, the ACT Domination Club and the FCA. This past year he was nominated by his school’s faculty to represent Haughton High in Louisiana’s Boys State. Adcock volunteers his time at both Carriage Oaks Church of Christ, where he assists with food and clothing drives as well as trash cleanup initiatives, and First Baptist Haughton Church, where he helps with neighborhood cleanups. Adcock also donates his time to cleaning up around local lakes as part of a project headed by local fishing leagues and churches and was highlighted by the Louisiana B.A.S.S. Nation Youth Director Tommy Abbott for his time and dedication to staying after tournaments and cleaning up trash to ensure that tournament venues are left for the better. Adcock manages all of this around his schoolwork, taking AP and dual-enrollment courses and maintaining a 3.81 GPA.

Elijah Coleman, Mount Sterling, Ky.

Montgomery County High School senior Elijah Coleman amassed an impressive three wins from 2023 to 2024, including beating out a field of over 435 boats at the 2024 15th Annual High School Fishing World Finals and National Championship. He earned an additional six Top 5 finishes, including fourth place at the 2024 Bassmaster High School Series event at Clarks Hill Reservoir out of a field of 200-plus boats, and also bagged five Top 20 finishes, placing 12th out of a 200-plus-boat field at the 2024 Bassmaster High School Series event at Douglas Lake. Coleman qualified for the Kentucky B.A.S.S. Nation State Tournament in 2023 and 2024 and is a three-time Kentucky High School Athletic Association Regional Tournament qualifier, as well as a Bassmaster High School National Championship qualifier.

“Elijah is always competing, always striving to get better and is a great representation of what hard work, dedication and determination can get you,” says Seth Sparks, an English teacher at Montgomery County High School English. “Elijah loves his community and wants to see his community thrive. Not only does he want to see it thrive, he wants to be one of the contributing factors to its success.”

When he isn’t competing, Coleman volunteers at the nursery at his church and assists the church with events and repairs. He is a longtime member of the FCA and has volunteered at the Montgomery County Food Pantry and at Mapleton Elementary School’s Fall Festival, where he ran a fishing booth. Coleman has also assisted Kentucky Fish and Wildlife with conservation efforts at Cave Run, his home lake, by working to create habitat attractors for fish. Coleman is an honors student and has flawlessly balanced his advanced courseload to maintain a 4.0 GPA.

Max Flatten, Watertown, S.D.

Watertown High School senior Max Flatten has three impressive wins spanning 2023 to 2024, including winning the South Dakota TBF High School State Championship in back-to-back years as well as winning the 2024 South Dakota Bassmaster High School State Championship on Lake Sharpe. Flatten has an additional win on the Glacial Lakes Extreme Team Trail as well as eight wins through the Kampeska Bass League. He qualified for the 2023 High School Bass Fishing World Finals and, in the past, has captured wins at the South Dakota TBF High School State Championship and the South Dakota TBF Junior State Championship.

“Max’s love for the outdoors is very apparent,” said Nathan Clark, teacher at Watertown High School. “He is a growing sportsman who has sacrificed countless hours in preparation as successful outdoorsmen do. He puts in early mornings, late nights and long drives across the United States. Living in a region of the U.S. dominated by walleye angling, Max stands out as a competitive bass angler.”

Flatten is a founding member of the Glacial Lakes High School Bass Fishing Club. He is also very involved in the FCA Leadership Committee, a lead donator to Sportsmen Against Hunger and a Gifted and Talented Education member. Flatten is also the co-founder of the Wednesday Night Kampeska Bass League, which helps promote fish care and catch and release. Flatten balances all of his extracurriculars alongside his schoolwork, maintaining a 3.35 GPA.

Rylan Hamlin, Jackson, Mich.

Rylan Hamlin, a senior on the Jackson Bass Fishing Team, has an astounding 24 wins spanning 2023 to 2024, including multiple wins on the B.A.S.S. High School Team Trail and, notably, the 2024 Michigan B.A.S.S. Nation High School State Championship on Sault Ste. Marie this past August. In addition to his gamut of wins, Hamlin has earned 17 Top 5 finishes, including a second-place finish at the 2024 Bassmaster High School National Championship on Chickamauga Lake out of a field over 270 teams, as well as 5 Top 20 finishes, with a sixth-place finish at the MLF/TBF National Finals and a 10th-place finish at the MLF/TBF World Finals, with both events having a field size of nearly 400 teams.

“Rylan’s fishing resume almost doesn’t look believable,” said Brady Cook, superintendent at the Michigan Center School District. “I come from a fishing family, and I know how hard it is to consistently be successful. Rylan seems to excel no matter where he drops a line, and no matter who he is fishing with. He is a model of hard work, high character, determination, ingenuity and grit.”

Hamlin is a three-time Michigan High School All-State champion, a three-time Michigan High School Angler of the Year winner and an eight-time B.A.S.S. High School Team Trail champion. He is very involved in his community and spends much of his time helping youth anglers learn to fish and get comfortable on the water. Hamlin also dedicates his time to local lake cleanups and has participated in the AFTCO Conservation Clean Up Program over the past two years. He does all of this whilst maintaining a 3.59 GPA.

Kyle Herrman, Topeka, Kan.

Jefferson West High School senior Kyle Herrman earned a notable four wins from 2023 to 2024, including first place in the 2023 World Fishing Tour High School Event and the 2023 Kansas B.A.S.S. Nation High School Qualifier 1 online event, as well as wins across two other Kansas B.A.S.S. Nation High School Qualifiers. He captured one Top 5 finish at the 2024 Kansas B.A.S.S. Nation High School State Championship at Cedar Bluff Reservoir alongside three additional Top 10 finishes. For the past three years Herrman and his partner have qualified for the Bassmaster High School National Championship and have won the Kansas B.A.S.S. Nation High School Team of the Year title in their freshman, sophomore and junior years.

“Kyle exhibits exceptional character and integrity,” says Jefferson West High School science educator Mark Farr. Describing Herrman's remarkable work ethic and commitment to excellence, Farr continues, “He holds high expectations for himself and encourages those around him to strive for greatness. His respectful demeanor fosters a positive environment in the classroom, and he treats his peers and teachers with kindness and respect.”

Herrman participates in basketball, cross-country and track, and when he isn’t competing, he spends his time mentoring kids from the local fishing club and taking them out on the water to learn techniques, helping with setup and teardown for Kansas B.A.S.S. Nation youth tournaments and helping out at the local kids basketball camp. He has spent the past four years working on projects to improve fish habitat in lakes and ponds in his community, including cleaning up trash and creating structures. Herrman, an NHS member, manages all of this while taking advanced classes and maintaining a 4.0 GPA.

Nicholas Herrman, Topeka, Kan.

A senior at Jefferson West High School, Nicholas Herrman amassed an impressive five tournament wins from 2023 to 2024, including the 2023 Kansas B.A.S.S. Nation High School Qualifier 1 online event, the 2023 World Fishing Tour High School Tournament on Truman Lake and the 2024 Kansas TBF High School State Championship at Melvern Lake. Alongside his wins, Herrman netted one Top 5 finish at the 2024 Kansas B.A.S.S. Nation High School State Championship and three Top 10 finishes, the latter of which included adult-level events. Herrman has qualified for the Bassmaster High School National Championship for the last three years, and he and his partner have left quite the mark on the Kansas B.A.S.S. Nation High School Trail, winning Team of the Year in their freshman, sophomore and junior years.

Describing Herrman as compassionate, resilient and fiercely determined, Jefferson West High School science teacher Stephanie Magill says, “He demonstrates an excellence in all things that he puts his mind to. I believe he has no limit to his growth and achievements for his future.”

When he’s not on the water, Herrman dedicates his time to his school’s band and 3D printer club, as well as cross-country, basketball and track, all of which he has lettered in. Alongside his extracurriculars, Herrman volunteers to take youth members of the local fishing club out in order to teach them techniques and assists with the Kansas B.A.S.S. Nation’s youth and high school tournaments. He has accomplished all of this whilst continuing to maintain a 4.0 GPA throughout the entirety of his high school career.

Presley Lannom, Lebanon, Tenn.

As a junior on the Mt. Juliet Fishing Team, Presley Lannom has an outstanding seven wins from spring of 2023 through 2024, including a win at the 2023 Tennessee B.A.S.S. Nation High School event on Douglas Lake on a field of over 200 boats and a win at the Bill Dance Giant Bass Open at Pickwick Lake earlier this year. He has an additional six Top 5 finishes and 15 Top 20 finishes. In addition to his wins, Lannom was the Tennessee B.A.S.S. Nation High School Central Trail champion from 2023-24 and was part of the 2023 Mt. Juliet Fishing Team of the Year for 2023-24. He also placed in the Top 5 in multiple trails' points races, including the 2022-23 Tennessee B.A.S.S. Nation High School Central Trail, North Central Trail and State Trail, and for 2023-24 placed second in the Tennessee B.A.S.S. Nation High School North Central Trail Points Race and third in the Tennessee B.A.S.S. Nation High School Southeast Trail Points Race.

“Presley has won countless tournaments, Tennessee Regionals, State Trails, adult tournaments and other youth trails,” said Gary Redic, head coach of the Mt. Juliet Fishing Team. “He has made the Nationals the past three years! Presley leads the way for other team members on and off the water. He has been a big part of all the community service projects we have done.”

When Lannom is not making waves on the water, he is excelling in his community. He actively engages in community service and spends his time doing countless conservation projects which showcases his dedication to preserving and improving the fishing environment around him for generations to come. In 2023 when a competitor had two of his graphs stolen from his boat while parked for a tournament, Lannom put together an auction through his podcast The Bass Lane to raise money to replace what was stolen off the angler’s boat. Through his podcast, Lannom has hosted renowned professional anglers, including Logan Parks, Robert Gee and Ott DeFoe, providing valuable insight and inspiration to his audience. Even with all of his success on the water and his involvement in his community, Lannom still maintains a 3.62 GPA.

Kael Moore, Cedar Falls, Iowa

Cedar Falls High School junior Kael Moore amassed an incredible seven wins from 2023 to 2024, including first place in the 2023 Iowa High School Bass Team Championship and in multiple legs of the Iowa TBF Eastern Division Team Trail. Alongside his wins, Moore placed second at the 2023 Iowa B.A.S.S. Nation High School State Championship and placed seventh in both the 2023 Iowa TBF High School State Championship and the 2024 Iowa High School Bass Team Championship, with the latter finish out of a field of 150 anglers. Heading into his junior year, Moore has already earned Angler of the Year twice for his school’s fishing team.

“Kael has had many successes as an angler on the Cedar Falls Fishing Team, but his leadership has been one of the team’s greatest benefits,” says Cedar Falls Fishing Team coach Brian Burkhardt. “The team was created because Kael and two other anglers wanted to find a way to participate in the sport. Through his success, and energetic personality, interest in the team grew very quickly. This allowed our team to grow to over 40 anglers in under three years.”

Described as a hardworking team player, Moore has dedicated his time to his fishing team, speaking at informational meetings, demonstrating new techniques and answering questions from incoming anglers. He has assisted with local lake cleanup projects, trout stocking days, Fleet Farm Kid's Fishing Days and Scouts fishing days, as well as volunteering his time at Northeast Iowa Food Bank events and at community events for Orchard Hill Church. Beyond his work within his community, Moore is a multisport athlete, participating in football, wrestling and track alongside fishing. He balances all of this with his studies, maintaining a 4.0 GPA.

Tanner Moulton, Enfield, N.H.

As a senior at Mascoma Valley Regional High School, Tanner Moulton has an outstanding nine wins alongside eight Top 5 finishes from 2023 to 2024. Among those wins is the 2023 NHIAA State Championship and the 2023 NHIAA State Championship Qualifier. He has also qualified for the Bassmaster High School National Championship for the past three years and, before that, qualified for the Bassmaster Junior Series National Championship every year from 2019 through 2021.

“Beyond his athletic accomplishments, Tanner has also demonstrated exceptional leadership skills,” said Tina Fleming, M.Ed., principal at Mascoma Valley Regional High School. “He has served as a student leader on our bass fishing team, where he has shown initiative, responsibility and a passion for the sport. Tanner has also brought a Bass Fishing State Championship to MVRHS. Tanner’s ability to motivate and inspire his peers is a valuable asset.”

When Moulton is not excelling on the water, he is very involved in many sports at school including soccer, basketball and track. Moulton is a member of the Student Athlete Leadership Team and donates his time to assisting with youth sports programs where he helps younger players improve their skills. He also spends time helping out in his community, where he volunteers for cancer fundraising events and also participates in state park cleanups. Moulton manages all of this while maintaining a 3.7 GPA.

Grace Olsen, Gardner, Ill.

Grace Olsen, a senior at Gardner-South Wilmington High School, has notched one win and an impressive eight Top 5 finishes from 2023 to 2024. Olsen also earned an additional eight Top 20 finishes, including in adult-level tournaments with the Illinois B.A.S.S. Nation. En route to winning the 2024 Illinois B.A.S.S. Nation Youth Series Team of the Year title, Olsen wound up fishing three of the five tournaments alone. She qualified for the 2024 Bassmaster High School National Championship, where she and her partner would place 13th out of a field of over 270 teams. She was invited to fish for the USAngling USA Bass High School Youth Team to compete in Zimbabwe in December of this year.

“Grace’s dedication was what was the main ingredient for (her) success,” says Gardner-South Wilmington fishing coach Jerry Olsen. “She has so much dedication to do her best and continue to learn. Not only is Grace dedicated to being a great angler, she is just as dedicated to everything she does.”

Outside of fishing, Olsen commits her time to her school’s varsity girls basketball team and volunteers within her community through various organizations, including the NHS, SADD, the Orange Crush Leadership Team and the Junior Explorers Program for the Grundy County Sheriff’s Department, a police offer training program that also helps the community. She has helped clean up trash through Adopt-a-Highway and assisted at the local food bank, as well as with Red Carpet Fundraiser events. She has received the “Outstanding Citizenship Award” from her Criminal Justice instructor. Even while dedicating so much time to fishing and her community, Olsen has maintained a 3.56 GPA.

Dylan Sorrells, Dallas, Texas
Highland Park High School senior Dylan Sorrells amassed an incredible six wins from 2023 to 2024, most of which were against field sizes of 140-plus teams, with his biggest win occurring at the 2023 THSBA event at Lake Lewisville, where Sorrells topped a field of over 250 boats. He earned an additional seven Top 5 finishes and 11 Top 20 finishes, including seventh-place finishes at both the 2024 15th Annual High School Fishing World Finals and National Championship and the 2024 MLF High School National Championship on fields of 437 teams and 349 teams respectively. His past accolades include winning the Casting Accuracy portion of the 2023 Bassmaster High School Combine and finishing fourth overall, as well as qualifying for the 2024 Bassmaster High School Classic at Keystone Lake and winning Angler of the Year for both the 2023-24 THSBA Metro Division and the 2023-24 Texas B.A.S.S. Nation Youth Northeast Region.

“Dylan’s dedication, humility and strong moral character distinguish him among his peers,” said Max Hawsey academic advisor at Highland Park High School. “He is well-respected by teachers, coaches and teammates for his integrity, drive and unwavering commitment to excellence. Dylan is not only an elite angler, but he embodies qualities of a true sportsman.”

When Sorrells is not competing, he spends his time volunteering as a counselor at Florida Fantasy Fishing Camp, where he has dedicated over 300 hours to helping educate and promote conservation ideas to youth anglers such as catch-and-release practices to preserve the marine environment. He also serves as the president of the Highland Park Bass Team and is the Highland Park Bass Team VP of Community Service. Sorrells has impressively balanced his time on the water and volunteering in his community with his schoolwork, maintaining a 3.43 GPA.

Joe Vaulton, Knoxville, Tenn.

Joe Vaulton, a senior on the Alcoa Fishing Team, has an impressive eight wins from spring of 2023 through 2024, as well as two Angler of the Year titles — the 2024 Bass Pro Shops Trail Angler of the Year and the 2023 Tennessee B.A.S.S. Nation Angler of the Year, the latter of which was out of a field of 500 anglers. Vaulton also has eight Top 5 finishes, including a second-place finish at the 2023 Mountain Music Kids Tournament on Douglas Lake out of 275 teams and a fourth-place finish at the 2023 Tennessee B.A.S.S. Nation State Championship against a field of 200 teams. He also has 10 Top 20 finishes to his name, with a 15th-place finish at the 2024 15th Annual High School Fishing World Finals and National Championship against a field of 437 teams.

“Joe began fishing with our club as an eighth grader and has been competitive in bass fishing since the team’s inception,” said Alcoa Fishing Team coach Joe Vaulton. “Joe has honed his craft and has mastered multiple modalities to not only catch fish, but to also teach those in the community about fishing.”

When Vaulton is not excelling on the water, he spends his time helping out in his community, including fundraising for the Children’s Miracle Network, organizing a casting competition for youth anglers and working with the Mountain Music Kids Tournaments. He has spent countless hours working on conservation projects, including many lake cleanups, some through the Tennessee B.A.S.S. Nation and some that he organized himself. Vaulton maintains a webpage dedicated to fishing and conservation and also works hard on his lifestyle brand Bigs Only, a clothing brand that he established and that he uses as a way to give back to charities within his community. Vaulton has done all of this while maintaining a 4.2 GPA.

About B.A.S.S.B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.

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

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Media Contact: Chad Gay, Communications Manager, 205-313-0945, cgay@bassmaster.com

Drew Gill and Marshall Robinson Run Away with General Tire Team Series

Team Coign catches 38 bass weighing 69-11 to earn victory in final Team Series event of season

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, Fla. (Nov. 22, 2024) – In a field of anglers that included a former REDCREST champion and multiple Bassmaster Classic winners, it was a pair of young guns that absolutely ran away with the event. Representing Team Coign, 22-year-old pro Drew Gill of Mount Carmel, Illinois, and 21-year-old pro Marshall Robinson of Landrum, South Carolina, combined to catch 38 bass weighing 69-11 on Lake Garcia – more than double the total weight of second place – to win the Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches.

The event was the fourth and final General Tire Team Series Presented by Bass Pro Shops event of the 2024 season.

Finishing in second place was Team Star brite, represented by brothers Bobby and Chris Lane, who caught 23 bass weighing 31-7. Team REDCON1 – Skeet Reese and John Murray – finished in third with 13 bass weighing 31-3, while Terry Scroggins and Britt Myers, representing Team Lucas Oil, weighed in 12 bass totaling 21-6 to finish fourth.

“Oh my gosh, what a week,” an elated Gill said in his post-game interview. “It’s been a long week, and we’ve put in a lot of work: three different lakes, no practice. We came out here and got it done today and had an absolute ball. This lake was a super good time.”

Lake Garcia was the playing field for the anglers in the Championship Round, and like Headwaters and Stick Marsh earlier this week, vibrating jigs, lipless crankbaits and flipping and punching were expected to dominate. Gill and Robinson bucked that trend completely, pairing spinning rods and drop-shot rigs with forward-facing sonar to run away with the victory Friday.

“I knew right away from the start that we had made a good decision,” Robinson said. “We caught a couple early and we had the momentum rolling right away within the first 45 minutes. It kind of happened just like it did yesterday (in the Knockout Round) – we got out to an early lead and then just tried to maintain it and keep the pace.”

In a fishery that is known for its plentiful grass and vegetation, MLF NOW! host and Western Florida native J.T. Kenney joked that the duo went out in the 30-minute ride around prior to the start of competition and located one of maybe three locations in the entire lake that could be fished in that style. That location was all that the two young anglers, known for being proficient with their electronics, needed.

“The deal for me, the last two days specifically, was the drop-shot,” Gill said. “I was throwing a 7-inch finesse worm on a 1/0 medium-wire drop-shot hook with a 1/4-ounce drop-shot weight. I was using a 14-pound test leader – a little bit over a foot – and throwing an upsized worm, which was really important. It's been windy with adverse conditions, and being able to make precise casts and cut through that wind with the heavier weight, upsized worm and thicker leader but also (light enough) to help keep that bait falling nice and slow, allowing it to drift where it needed to go, was super important.

“We switched between a couple of colors – mainly green pumpkin and plum,” Gill continued. “It was a 1-2 punch for us. We came out and won our Knockout Round with this bait on Stick Marsh, and then came out here on Garcia. We fished the offshore sand flats and hydrilla clumps and looked for clean water and isolated targets. That was the deal for us today.”

“We'd been talking about it all week – how badly we wanted to win this one,” Robinson said. “There were some really big names in this tournament, and to get the win today and get to bring one of these trophies home, it’s pretty sick. These trophies are huge, and I’m so pumped.”

The top four teams at the Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches finished:

1st:        Team Coign, 38 bass, 69-11
Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., 23 bass, 45-15
Marshall Robinson, Landrum, S.C., 15 bass, 23-12
2nd:       Team Star brite, 23 bass, 31-7
Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., 14 bass, 18-9
Chris Lane, Guntersville, Ala., nine bass, 12-14
3rd:       Team REDCON1, 13 bass, 31-3
John Murray, Spring City, Tenn., four bass, 7-9
Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif., nine bass, 23-10
4th:        Team Lucas Oil, 12 bass, 21-6
Britt Myers, Lake Wylie, S.C., six bass, 10-14
Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla., six bass, 10-8

Complete results from throughout the week can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 86 bass weighing 153 pounds, 11 ounces caught by the four teams competing in the Championship Round Friday on Lake Garcia. Gill caught the Berkley Big Bass of the day on a drop-shot rig – a largemouth weighing 4 pounds, 7 ounces.

The Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches was hosted by Visit Indian River County and Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism and took place over six days in Indian River County, Florida. The competition water for each day was top-secret and only revealed to the anglers when they arrived at the boat ramp each morning.

The Summit Cup featured 12 two-man teams, divided into three groups as they entered the one-day Elimination Round matches. Each of the three Elimination Round matches featured four new teams, with the top two teams from each match of the Elimination Round advancing to the Knockout Round on Days 4 & 5. In the Knockout Rounds, three teams competed each day, with the top two teams from each Knockout Round match moving on to the Championship Round on Day 6. In Tuesday’s Day 6 Championship Round, the final four teams competed in a one-day shootout to determine which team was the winner of the 2024 Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by B&W Trailer HItches.

The 2024 General Tire Team Series was comprised of four events – Challenge Cup, Heritage Cup, Patriot Cup and Summit Cup – and featured two-man teams of MLF Bass Pro Tour anglers competing from the same boat. Each event featured a roster of 24 anglers, teamed up and working together to claim part of a season purse of more than $720,000. Teams were formed through a selection process, where 48 team captains – based on Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) standings throughout the 2024 Bass Pro Tour season – selected a teammate. Teams have competed throughout the fall of 2024.

Television coverage of the Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches will premiere on Outdoor Channel as six two-hour episodes in May 2025. New MLF General Tire Team Series episodes will premiere each Saturday morning on Outdoor Channel and posted to MOTV.

Proud sponsors of the MLF General Tire Team Series include: 7 Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Barbasol, Bass Boat Technologies, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, Builders FirstSource, C-MAP, Coign, Epic Baits, Ferguson, Fishing Clash, General Tire, Knighten Industries, Kubota, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Nitro Boats, Onyx, Plano, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala Baits, REDCON1, Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff, Star brite, Toyota, USAA, WIX Filters and YETI.

For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the General Tire Team Series Presented by Bass Pro Shops, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.

About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 17 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.

Gill/Robinson and Lane Bros. Advance to Championship Round at General Tire Team Series

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, Fla. (Nov. 21, 2024) – It’s been a tale of two fisheries this week for Team Coign at the fourth and final General Tire Team Series Presented by Bass Pro Shops event of the 2024 season. On Monday, the duo of Drew Gill and Marshall Robinson staged a dramatic comeback during Elimination Match 2 on Headwaters Lake after spending most of the day in third place, with Robinson’s clutch 3-9 catch in the final 2 minutes narrowly pushing the team above the Elimination Line to advance to the Knockout Round. Fast forward to a vastly different experience on Florida’s famed Stick Marsh Thursday, where Team Coign shot out of the gate in Knockout Round Match 2 and dominated the competition. Gill and Robinson hauled in 13 bass for an impressive 26-11 in the first period alone before ending the day in the top spot with 26 bass weighing 55-11.

It was Gill who stole the show during the Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches competition on Thursday, racking up 11 bass for 21-7 in the first period, more than the rest of the entire field combined. The Bass Pro Tour rookie went on to boat 22 bass weighing 43-13 on the day, surpassing the combined weight of the Team Star brite duo of brothers Chris and Bobby Lane, who finished the day in second with 25 bass weighing 42-14.

Team Coign and Team Star brite now join Team REDCON1 and Team Lucas Oil in advancing to Friday’s Championship Round. Eliminated from competition was Team Kubota – Bradley Roy and Jason Vance – who caught 11 scorable bass weighing 21-15.

While a 180-degree change in the wind direction Thursday threatened to blow out many of the fishery’s prime locations, Team Coign used that shift to their advantage. The duo spent the day utilizing forward-facing sonar to throw drop-shot rigs in muddy water along the banks of the main dike, targeting terrestrial grass and bushes in the middle of Stick Marsh.

“We backed up a very good first period with a solid second period, so we couldn’t be more thrilled,” said Gill. “We pulled up on a little stump flat in the third period, and I felt like it was the kind of place we could run into a couple big ones.”

“We just tried to find areas where the wind was blowing off the bank, so it was pretty protected, and stay away from the spots that were getting trashed,” said Robinson. “We were able to keep the pace steady for most of the day, so we didn’t feel like we needed to make any big changes or do anything crazy.”

While reeling in piles of fish, the young rookies shared tournament stories and reminisced on lessons learned in their young careers on the MLFNOW! livestream.

“I picked Marshall as my teammate because he's clearly an extremely skilled angler,” said Gill. “He’s got an insane list of achievements on his resume in a very short amount of time, and picking somebody clutch like that that's super level-headed when things get tough, that's an all-around win.”

“Drew’s 22, I'm 21, and we met two years ago at the Toyota Series Championship,” said Robinson. “We hit it off quick and became good buddies, and I feel like we work well together and have a lot of good chemistry in the boat.”

Gill did all his damage on a 7-inch finesse worm on a 1/0 medium-wire drop-shot hook with weights ranging from 1/4 to 1/8 ounce.

“I changed it up depending on the scenario and the depth of the water or the cover and what I wanted the bait to do,” said Gill. “I ended with a 1/4-ounce weight, just trying to get the fish to be more reactive. I fished through some stuff I had already fished toward the end, so I wanted to give them a little bit different look than I had earlier in the morning.

“It’s really important whenever you're fishing at an area-based fishery like the one we're on today that you show them something different each time you go through,” Gill continued. “It should be a little bit different with your presentation and your boat position on each pass.

“We did that really well today, and it's what allowed Marshall and I to have the awesome day that we had out there in Stick Marsh. This bait was an absolutely essential part of it and caught every single one of our scorable bass today.”

Team Star brite started out in a unique area by the dam, where they found large areas of schooling fish. Despite visually targeting the fish with multiple baits, the brothers struggled early in the day, spending the entire first period in third place before rallying at the start of Period 2. They made a hard charge in the third period, pulling within 10 pounds of the lead, but couldn’t keep pace with Team Coign.

“We just spent the day going through it and through it and through it,” Chris said. “The one thing about Florida is when you find fish, you really don't want to leave them. You just have to wait for them to bite. You have to sit there and go through the process of figuring out exactly what they want to bite.”

“That was a hard-fought day, I’m telling you,” said Bobby. “That was some ‘brother power’ right there. We overcame adversity for sure. We fished through an area, caught a couple of dinks, but the other teams were catching them. We pulled up to this point around the dam and they started schooling. We went through everything in our box to try to figure them out, and we didn't.

“I think the only reason we're advancing to the Championship Round is, No. 1, there's a big north wind today. That lake was rough and mean, and we really didn't have anywhere else to go. So, we just kept circling and circling, and it was enough to just keep us in second. That's kind of what our goal was – stay in second just to advance. Maybe to a new lake, I don’t know.”

“I hope so,” Chris added with a groan.

“We stayed with it, we fought hard, and we fished hard,” said Bobby. “When they came up schooling, we capitalized on the ones that we needed to catch. So, Team Lane is moving on. I'm excited.”

The top two teams from the second match of the Knockout Round at the Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches that now advance to Friday’s Championship are:

1st: Team Coign, 26 bass, 55-11
Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., 22 bass, 43-13
Marshall Robinson, Landrum, S.C., four bass, 11-14
2nd: Team Star brite, 25 bass, 42-14
Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., 12 bass, 20-11
Chris Lane, Guntersville, Ala., 13 bass, 22-3
Eliminated from competition are:

3rd: Team Kubota, 11 bass, 21-15
Bradley Roy, Lancaster, Ky., two bass, 2-15
Jason Vance, Battle Ground, Ind., nine bass, 19-0

Complete results from throughout the week can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 62 bass weighing 120 pounds, 8 ounces caught by the three teams Thursday on Stick Marsh. Coign pro Marshall Robinson earned the Berkley Big Bass of the day with a 4-pound, 14-ounce largemouth that he caught in the second period.

The final day Championship Round will take place Friday featuring Team REDCON1 (John Murray/Skeet Reese), Team Lucas Oil (Britt Myers/Terry Scroggins), Team Coign (Drew Gill/Marshall Robinson) and Team Star brite (Bobby Lane/Chris Lane).

The Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches is hosted by Visit Indian River County and Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism and takes place over six days in Indian River County, Florida. The competition water for each day is top-secret and is only revealed to the anglers when they arrive at the boat ramp each morning. Anglers are driven directly to the day’s competition area launch ramp by their officials. Competition begins on the water at 8:45 a.m.

The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live each day of competition from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET. MLFNOW!® is live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app and Rumble.

The Summit Cup features 12 two-man teams divided into three groups as they entered the one-day Elimination Round matches. Each of the three Elimination Round matches featured four new teams, with the top two teams from each match of the Elimination Round advancing to the Knockout Round on Days 4 & 5. In the Knockout Rounds, three teams compete each day, with the top two teams from each Knockout Round match moving on to the Championship Round on Day 6. In Friday’s Day 6 Championship Round, the final four teams will compete in a one-day shootout to determine which team will win the 2024 Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by B&W Trailer HItches.

The 2024 General Tire Team Series is comprised of four events – Challenge Cup, Heritage Cup, Patriot Cup and Summit Cup – featuring two-man teams of MLF Bass Pro Tour pros competing from the same boat. Each event features a roster of 24 anglers, teamed up and working together to claim part of a season purse of more than $720,000. Teams were formed through a selection process, where 48 team captains – based on Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) standings throughout the 2024 Bass Pro Tour season – selected a teammate. Teams have competed throughout the fall of 2024.

Vexus’ Stewart Has a Heart for Service

If you were to follow Jason Stewart around for a day at Vexus^® Boats in Flippin, Arkansas, somewhere between watching him manage logoed apparel inventory in the company lobby and test-driving a boat on Bull Shoals, you might find yourself a tad confused as to what the heck the former Air Force veteran’s job truly is.

Fact is, for the last six years, Stewart has served as the relatively new boat brand’s Swiss Army knife, the jack-of-all-trades, who’s had a heavy hand in managing everything from Vexus’ social media posts to proofreading catalog and website copy—a task he’s more than capable of, given the fact he’s authored four fiction novels of his own, including White River, which is set in the Ozark Mountains he now calls home.

Speaking of mountains, Stewart grew up fishing in the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina. He bought a used bass boat before he bought his first truck and spent many hours chasing smallmouth bass on Fontana Lake.

Inspired largely by his grandfather, a WWII Navy veteran, he joined the military right out of high school. “My grandfather had a deep love for his country and helping others, and his influence played a big part in my decision to serve in the military. It was an honor to serve alongside so many great Americans for twenty years,” he reflects.

He served America at several stateside bases and overseas in Honduras and South Korea. His time in South Korea set the stage for the most enjoyable job of his two decades of service to our country, where he worked in the Air Operations Center at Osan Air Base as a mission weather forecaster.

However, it was time spent at Little Rock Air Force Base where he discovered the greatest love of his life, Janice, his bride now of 27 years.

“Military life can be tough on spouses and kids. So, I’m proud of my wife and daughter for putting up with all the moves around the globe and the time we spent apart. There’s no way I could have had a successful military career without their support and understanding,” says a grateful Stewart.

After he retired from the Air Force, Janice’s family ties to Arkansas, as well as the couple’s desire to live somewhere rural with plenty of bass fishing opportunities, led them to Flippin, Arkansas, near Bull Shoals Lake. And there are a lot of folks at Vexus who are certainly glad they did.

“Our company is blessed with talent, not just experience. Jason is a great example in that he wears many hats, executes flawlessly, and does it with a personality that is truly enjoyable to be around. I suspect it’s the result of a strong Christian family upbringing, coupled with his willingness to serve our country. What I am sure of is that we’re lucky to have him,” says Vexus leader Keith Daffron.

Job titles don’t matter much at Vexus, but getting the job done the right way matters a bunch. So, Jason Stewart’s heart for service, whether serving his country for two decades or test-driving a treasured customer’s boat to assure optimal performance, is indeed a perfect fit for the premium boat builder’s culture.

Frankly, he’s a guy everybody at Vexus is grateful to have in their squadron.

To learn more about the top-quality boats the former Airman lends his best efforts to each day, please visit vexusboats.com.

Murray/Reese and Myers/Scroggins Move on to Championship Round at General Tire Team Series

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, Fla. (Nov. 20, 2024) – The Team REDCON1 duo of longtime West Coast friends John Murray and Skeet Reese picked up right where they had left off Tuesday at the Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches.

After catching fire in the final period of Tuesday’s Elimination Round match on Headwaters Lake, Team REDCON1 found itself on a new fishery for the Knockout Round Wednesday – Florida’s famed Stick Marsh. But the West Coast gurus managed to keep their momentum and the strong spinnerbait bite that worked so well at Headwaters rolling on Stick Marsh.

Murray and Reese caught 46 bass weighing 87 pounds, 2 ounces to become the first team to advance to Friday’s Championship Round. Also advancing, representing Team Lucas Oil, were pros Britt Myers and Terry Scroggins, who caught 22 bass weighing 54-6 to end the day in second place. Team Knighten Industries – Brandon Coulter and John Hunter – finished in third place with 19 bass weighing 39-3 and were eliminated from competition.

Match 2 of the Knockout Round is now set for Thursday, with the top two finishing teams joining Team REDCON1 and Team Lucas Oil in Friday’s Championship. This event is the fourth and final General Tire Team Series Presented by Bass Pro Shops event of the 2024 season.

“That was one heck of a day,” Reese said in his postgame interview. “I hope that everyone at home enjoyed that today, because we sure as hell did. I’m not even sure how many fish we caught, but I know it was a lot. To be out here competing with one of my best friends on the planet, this week has already been such a blast.”

After Murray found the spinnerbait bite on Tuesday afternoon, he picked up the old school bait again on Wednesday and, after a brief morning lull, went to work. Murray threw the spinnerbait for most of the morning and boated eight keepers. He then switched to a speed worm in the afternoon and added another 10 scorable bass, before picking up the spinnerbait again late in the day and adding three more. All but one of the 25 scorable bass that Reese weighed in came on a junebug-colored swimming worm.

“John and I just kicked butt together as a team today” Reese said. “We’d get on the grass lines, and I’d be throwing the worm on the inside line and John would be chunking the spinnerbait on the outside.”

“With the little bit of wind, it created a diamond ripple on the water, and with the little bit of clouds that we had they were really eating the spinnerbait today,” Murray said. “There isn’t as much grass here as there is in Headwaters, but it didn’t seem to matter – they were biting for us.”

This Summit Cup event means a little bit more to these West Coast buddies and longtime travel partners, as Murray is fishing what could be his final MLF Cup event.

“This is likely going to be John’s last Cup event with us – he’s heading off to fish the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals, so we really wanted to finish with a bang on this one,” Reese said. “Now that we’ve made the finals, we’ve got a shot. And coming in, that’s all we wanted and cared about – we wanted to have a shot at the end. It’s been a really great event so far, and hopefully we can come out here on Friday and send John out with the W.”

The top two teams from the first match of the Knockout Round at the Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches that now advance to Friday’s Championship are:

1st: Team REDCON1, 46 bass, 87-2
John Murray, Spring City, Tenn., 21 bass, 40-6
Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif., 25 bass, 46-12
2nd: Team Lucas Oil, 22 bass, 54-6
Britt Myers, Lake Wylie, S.C., eight bass, 22-13
Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla., nine bass, 31-9

Eliminated from competition are:

3rd: Team Knighten Industries , 19 bass, 39-3
Brandon Coulter, Knoxville, Tenn., 10 bass, 17-12
John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky., nine bass, 21-7

Complete results from throughout the week can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 87 bass weighing 180 pounds, 11 ounces caught by the three teams Wednesday on Stick Marsh. Lucas Oil pro Britt Myers earned the Berkley Big Bass of the day with an 8-pound, 9-ounce largemouth that he caught in the second period.

Gill Fishing Launches Quest Layers: Your Ultimate Versatile Layers

Buford, GA, November 2024 – Gill Fishing, a leader in performance-driven outdoor and fishing apparel, is proud to introduce its latest innovation: Quest Layers. This cutting-edge collection features leggings, ¼ zip tops, and hoodies, all engineered to provide an extra layer of warmth and style for your day, whether you’re braving the elements on the water, exploring the slopes, woods, or simply staying cozy during everyday activities.

The Quest Layers collection reflects Gill Fishing’s commitment to creating high-performance apparel that blends functionality, comfort, and durability. Designed for active lifestyles on and off the water, these pieces are crafted with advanced materials and thoughtful construction to ensure superior warmth without sacrificing mobility or breathability.

Performance Meets Comfort: What Sets Quest Layers Apart:

Each item in the Quest Layers collection is thoughtfully designed to meet the demands of outdoor enthusiasts while maintaining a sleek, versatile look suitable for any occasion:

Leggings: Crafted with thermal, moisture-wicking fabric, these leggings offer a snug, supportive fit perfect for layering under outerwear or wearing on their own. Reinforced seams and stretchy material ensure comfort and durability during any activity.
¼ Zip Tops: Featuring a streamlined design, these mid-layers are made from breathable yet insulating materials to regulate body temperature. The zip neckline provides customizable ventilation, while flatlock seams prevent chafing for all-day comfort.
Hoodies: Designed for ultimate coziness, these hoodies combine warmth and practicality. With a fleece-lined interior and water-resistant exterior, they are perfect for unpredictable weather. The tailored fit ensures they layer easily under jackets or over base layers.

“At Gill, we’re always looking to create products that enhance our customers’ experiences, whether they’re out on the water or navigating their day-to-day adventures,” said Matt Clark, Production Development Director at Gill. “The Quest Layers collection was developed with this in mind—a functional, stylish solution for staying warm and comfortable no matter where life takes you.”

Built for Every Season

The Quest mid layers are designed to perfectly fit beneath protective outer layers such as the Gill Apex Pro-X, Meridian-X or Aspect without unnecessary bulk and without restricting freedom of movement. Pocket positions, garment length and fabric selection have all been carefully considered to make this an integral component of any fishing clothing system.

The Quest Layers collection is available now on Gill Fishing’s gillfishing.com and at select retailers. Explore the full range of colors, sizes, and styles to find the perfect layering pieces for your needs.

About Gill Fishing

Gill Fishing is a global leader in technical apparel designed for the outdoor and marine lifestyle. With a focus on innovation, durability, and sustainability, Gill creates products that empower people to embrace their passions, no matter the conditions.

Lane Bros. and Murray/Reese and Advance from Final Elimination Round Match on Headwaters Lake at General Tire Team Series

Knockout Round to start Wednesday with three teams competing to advance to Friday’s Championship Round

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, Fla. (Nov. 19, 2024) – The Team Star brite duo of brothers Chris and Bobby Lane caught 17 scoreable bass weighing 34 pounds, 2 ounces, to narrowly win Tuesday’s final Elimination Round match at the Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches. They earned the victory by a slim 15-ounce margin over Team REDCON1, John Murray and Skeet Reese, who had charged to the top of the leaderboard after a furious third period rally from Murray, before being overtaken late in the third period by Team Star brite.

Four teams started the day on Headwaters Lake, but by the end of the day it was really a two-horse race for the top spot. The final hour turned into the John Murray show – after starting the period in third place, Murray caught fire for Team REDCON1, catching five keepers in the final hour to catapult them past Team Smokey Mountain and Team Star brite and into first place.

However, after leading for pretty much the entire day to that point, the Lane brothers refused to be denied the victory.

Chris boated a 1-pound, 7-ounce scoreable bass with 24 minutes remaining in the day to retake the lead and give Team Star brite just enough to hold on to victory in Elimination Round Match 3 at the fourth and final General Tire Team Series Presented by Bass Pro Shops event of the 2024 season in Indian River County, Florida.

“I couldn’t have had more fun today,” said Chris Lane, who caught nine scorable bass throughout the day for 19-3. “Being out here with my brother, Bobby... I think the last time that he and I fished as a team, in the same boat, you’d have to go back to when we were like 20 or 22 or something like that. Our whole careers, we’ve been competitive – back and forth, back and forth. And we saw that today, I think I caught one more than he did. But it was a really great day to be fishing with my brother.”

The Lane bros. used a 1-2 punch on the day with Bobby flipping almost the entire day to catch eight bass for 14-15, while Chris alternated between a Bass Pro Shops Stik-O Worm and a couple of different topwater baits.

“We worked hard today and we grinded,” Bobby said. “Fishing as a team, alongside my brother at the front of the boat, was just a really cool experience. But there was some tension. I could feel the turmoil between he and I today, when he would flip in front of me or catch my line. But we kept it cool.”

“Turmoil, Bobby?” Chris responded.

“Yes, turmoil! I could feel it,” Bobby replied. “I could feel the heat. When you would flip and cross my line, I wanted to elbow you in the side of the face, Chris. We weren’t clicking. But I knew we had to keep our cool. And now we’ve won the round. We don’t need that to happen again in any of these rounds.”

“Yeah, don’t let it happen again captain,” Chris joked. “Coming into this event, our goals were high – we’re not settling for anything less than first place. I’m glad that we’re fishing again on Thursday, but it really didn’t matter whether we fished tomorrow or the next day. We’re here to win.”

A six bass, 16-pound final period from Team REDCON1 – five from Murray – was the highlight of the day for most of the audience watching the livestream. The key for Murray was picking up an old-school, big-bladed spinnerbait. After not throwing it at all earlier in the day, the spinnerbait was the difference maker for Murray and Reese to rally and claim the final Knockout Round spot.

The top two teams from Elimination Round Match 3 at the Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches that advance to the Knockout Round are:

1st: Team Star brite, 17 bass, 34-2
Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., eight bass, 14-15
Chris Lane, Guntersville, Ala., nine bass, 19-3
2nd: Team REDCON1, 16 bass, 33-3
John Murray, Spring City, Tenn., seven bass, 20-3
Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif., nine bass, 13-0

Eliminated from competition are:

3rd: Team Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff & Pouches, nine bass, 21-7
Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., four bass, 12-1
Josh Bertrand, Queen Creek, Ariz., five bass, 9-6
4th: Team 7 Brew Coffee, eight bass, 15-15
Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., three bass, 3-11
Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark., five bass, 12-4

Complete results from throughout the week can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 50 bass weighing 104 pounds, 11 ounces caught by the four teams in the final Elimination Round Match Tuesday on Headwaters Lake. The Berkley Big Bass of the day went to Murray, who boated a largemouth weighing 4 pounds, 4 ounces in the third period.

The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live every day of competition from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET. MLFNOW!® is live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app and Rumble.

The Summit Cup features 12 two-man teams divided into three groups as they entered the one-day Elimination Round matches. Each of the three Elimination Round matches featured four new teams, with the top two teams from each match of the Elimination Round now advancing to the Knockout Round on Days 4 & 5. In the Knockout Rounds, three teams compete each day, with the top two teams from each Knockout Round match moving on to the Championship Round on Day 6. In Friday’s Day 6 Championship Round, the final four teams will compete in a one-day shootout to determine which team will win the 2024 Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by B&W Trailer HItches.

With Sons Now Grown, Hammaker Appreciates Toyota Owners Fellowship More Than Ever

Courtesy of Dynamic Sponsorships,, Walker Smith

A nine-hour drive wouldn’t deter anglers Guy Hammaker and Jim Thornburg from getting in on the fun on Lake Hartwell. The culture and fellowship brought them and the fishing action was just an added bonus.

A few weeks ago, I spent a lot of time wandering around the registration site of the Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners Tournament on Lake Hartwell and made a concerted effort to find interesting people to speak to. For my own knowledge, I simply wanted to learn more about what makes such a massive group of anglers take a pilgrimage from all throughout to country to a single event each and every year.

We were about to wrap things up and something in my gut kept drawing me towards two fishermen—Guy Hammaker and Jim Thornburg. They had the biggest smiles of anyone and were just eating up every single minute of fellowship and camaraderie. I couldn’t help but learn more about their story.

“This is my eighth Bonus Bucks Owners Tournament,” Hammaker said. “We’re both from Ohio and absolutely wouldn’t miss this for the world. We hopped in my 2023 Tacoma and drove nine long hours down here to experience it.”

As the evening cold front was rolling in, the western skies began to darken and the brisk wind caused him to raise the hood on his Toyota Fishing Team sun shirt. Most other folks were worried about the affect this rapid weather change would have on the next day’s fishing. Hammaker, however, was smiling as always.

“I’m’ just so thrilled every time I get to attend one of these,” he said. “You never know who you’re going to sit next to in the meeting, which big-time pros you’ll get to meet or who you’ll meet in the weigh-in line. I have a few friends from previous tournaments with whom I’ve been in constant contact for years. All year long, we talk, we keep up with each other’s families; it’s just fantastic.”

The reason behind Hammaker’s smile is simple: Most everyone attends this event for the same reason. A bunch of outdoorsmen and women, enjoying a common interest and leaving the hectic world in the rearview of their Toyotas for a few days. The unity is palpable and you won’t find anyone with disagreements or a harsh word to say about one another.

We shouldn’t leave out the meals, though. Both Hammaker and Thornburg made it a point to brag on the wonderful suppers provided at the event.

“Have you had the apple cobbler yet?” Hammacker joked. “Man, it is phenomenal. Before that we had some great chicken, macaroni and cheese, potatoes, a fresh salad… between that and all the awesome gear we got at registration, you get treated like royalty here.”

I’ve always been told that people are naturally drawn to positive individuals. I believed it but I received a first-hand lesson while talking to Hammaker and Thornburg.

A nine-hour drive? No problem.

A brutal incoming cold front? No worries.

These two Ohioans were just happy to be there. With Hammaker’s sons growing up and beginning to fish with other people, the companionship of the Toyota Owners Bonus Bucks Tournament was just what the doctor ordered. After all, everyone needs a good fishing partner or two. And it’s evident Hammaker found one in his buddy, Jim.

Myers/Scroggins and Gill/Robinson Advance after Elimination Round Match 2 on Headwaters Lake at General Tire Team Series

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, Fla. (Nov. 18, 2024) – Four new teams set out on Headwaters Lake early Monday morning for Elimination Match 2 of the Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches, the final event of the 2024 General Tire Team Series Presented by Bass Pro Shops season. Whether due to the fact that he was the only Florida native in the field or celebrating his birthday, no one could keep pace with Terry Scroggins.

The Team Lucas Oil duo of Scroggins and Britt Myers held the top spot on SCORETRACKER® for much of the day and finished in first place with 43 pounds, 10 ounces on 18 scorable bass. Scroggins accounted for 38-9 of that by himself — more than any other two-angler team. That tally was bolstered by a 7-8 lunker, which easily represented the biggest bass caught through two days of competition on Headwaters.

Meanwhile, the other three teams waged a tight race for second place during an explosive third period. Team Coign, made up of Drew Gill and Marshall Robinson, ultimately slid into the second-place spot thanks to a 3-9 in the final 2 minutes. They finished the day with 15 scorable bass weighing 28-15.

Team Lucas Oil and Team Coign will advance to the Knockout Round, to be contested Wednesday and Thursday. The Ferguson team of Marty Robinson and Jonathon VanDam and Team Builders FirstSource – Nick Hatfield and Takahiro Omori – were eliminated from the competition.

Team Lucas Oil spent the competition day on the east side of Headwaters Lake punching heavy, dense vegetation. The pair held the lead most of the day, relinquishing it briefly to Team Ferguson at the end of the first period. But as the sunshine peeked out, burning off the cloud cover, Team Lucas Oil regained the lead and never looked back.

“We started off this morning, hit a little stretch and had seven or eight bites real quick,” said Scroggins. “We caught a few, lost a few, and then we ran away from them — there’s just so many targets out here to fish. So, we went back to that area during Period 2 and was able to capitalize on them.

“It’s like a needle in a haystack out there — there are mats and hydrilla everywhere. You can go and go and not get a bite, but then you’ll run into seven or eight bites. So, we knew we just needed to keep moving. Once we had a little sun and had a break from the cloud cover, that made a big difference for us.”

The duo spent the day targeting fish in big fields of hydrilla but said the key was finding the matted pennywort and water hyacinth on top of the hydrilla.

“That’s what the fish were keying in on, so we just kept running those mats,” said Scroggins. “Today was just one of those absolute fun days fishing. We only fished two baits — a little creature-style bait, black, blue and silver-colored, and then a craw in the same color — on 65-pound braid. We threw that on a little MHX light flipping stick with a 1 1/2-ounce weight on a 3/0 hook.”

“I couldn't ask for a better General Tire Team Series event, being out here with one of my best friends,” said Myers. “We room together, but when the tournaments are over, we're both busy. We hardly ever get to fish together, so this has been great.”

After a rough start to the day, Team Coign was 9 pounds 14 ounces below the Elimination Line at the start of the third and final period. The duo racked up nearly 21 pounds in Period 3 alone to finish in second place.

“It was on overwhelming first period to say the least,” said Gill. “We had five or six scoreable bites but only put two of them in the boat. We just had several missed opportunities. It's easy to get lost in the sauce in a place like Florida and all of the good options, all the good-looking cover.

“We tried to run some places that might have some flow, some depth access and places with a clean bottom. We just tried to fish a little fast, burn some water and stay around one of those deeper stretches.”

With two minutes remaining in the final period, Robinson boated a 3-9 to put them over the Elimination Line and earn the berth to the Knockout Round — knocking his father, Marty, out of the second spot in the process.

“That was freaking clutch,” said Gill. “That was our second-biggest fish of the day. We said we just needed one fish a piece in the last hour or so, and we did it.”

“I’d just told Drew we needed a 5-pounder, and we immediately caught a 3-9 and a 4,” said Robinson, laughing.

The top two teams from Elimination Match 2 at the Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches that now advance to the Knockout Round are:

1st: Team Lucas Oil, 18 bass, 43-10
Britt Myers, Lake Wylie, S.C., three bass, 5-1
Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla. 15 bass, 38-9
2nd: Team Coign, 15 bass, 28-15
Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., five bass, 8-11
Marshall Robinson, Landrum, S.C., 10 bass, 20-4

Eliminated from competition are:

3rd: Team Ferguson, 14 bass, 27-3
Marty Robinson, Lyman, S.C., eight bass, 16-8
Jonathon VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., six bass, 10-11
4th: Team Builders FirstSource, 13 bass, 24-0
Nick Hatfield, Greeneville, Tenn., three bass, 4-3
Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan., 10 bass, 19-13

Complete results from throughout the week can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 60 bass weighing 123 pounds, 12 ounces caught by the four teams in Elimination Match 2 on Headwaters Lake. Team Lucas Oil pro Terry Scroggins caught the Berkley Big Bass of the day – a largemouth weighing 7 pounds, 8 ounces.

The Summit Cup features 12 two-man teams divided into three groups as they enter the one-day Elimination Round matches. Each of the three Elimination Round matches will feature four new teams, with the top two teams from each match of the Elimination Round advancing to the Knockout Round on Days 4 & 5. In the Knockout Rounds, three teams compete each day, with the top two teams from each Knockout Round match moving on to the Championship Round on Day 6. In Friday’s Day 6 Championship Round, the final four teams will compete in a one-day shootout to determine which team will win the 2024 Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by B&W Trailer HItches.

Coulter/Hunter and Roy/Vance Advance from Elimination Round on Headwaters Lake at General Tire Team Series

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, Fla. (Nov. 17, 2024) – Florida’s 10,000-acre manmade Headwaters Lake was the playing field, Sunday, for Match 1 of the Elimination Round at the fourth and final General Tire Team Series Presented by Bass Pro Shops event of the 2024 season. The four two-man teams competing at the Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches were greeted by near optimal conditions – light wind, slightly overcast skies, and temperatures in the upper 70s.

The beautiful day set the stage for an extremely competitive matchup – the closest Team Series event so far this season. At one point in the third period, with just under two hours remaining in the competition, less than 1 pound separated first place from last place. But, as time expired at 2:15 p.m. ET, it was Team Knighten Industries who sat alone atop the leaderboard.

The Knighten Industries duo of Brandon Coulter and John Hunter caught 22 scorable bass weighing 44 pounds, 11 ounces, to win the first Elimination Round match and become the first team to advance to the Knockout Round. Also advancing, in second place, was Team Kubota – Bradley Roy and partner Jason Vance – who boated 16 scorables weighing 37 pounds even.

The B&W Trailer Hitches team of Matt Becker and Spencer Shuffield and Team U.S. Air Force – Stephen Browning and Cliff Crochet – were eliminated from the competition.

“Man, that was a fun afternoon,” said Hunter, who caught seven bass for 20-12. “We got into an area in the second period that seemed really promising. We got some bites and then were able to slow down, and then in the third (period) we just expanded on it.”

“We talked about it for the whole first and second periods, and if you ever fish in Florida just remember it,” Coulter said. “You just gotta keep moving. When you find where they are, in Florida, you catch them. But there is a lot of water that you have to cover where the fish are not grouped up. You can go all day and only catch three fish. But when you get in an area that’s got fish moving in, or fish setting up, you can have a third period like we had today.”

The Knighten Industries duo started the final period in third place, but the bite turned on and got better in the third period – for all teams. Coulter boated 10 of his 15 scorable keepers in the third to lift Team Knighten to the top, and all told 36 of the 74 bass caught by the four teams came in the third period.

“Every bass that I caught today came on a little (Berkley) Slobberknocker – the vibrating jig did all the work for me,” Coulter said. “I had confidence that it would work today, and it did. It is a fish-catcher, simple as that. It was a great day, today, and we are excited we get to stick around in Florida for a little while.”

Team Knighten Industries’ dramatic final period was shared with Team Kubota, who also had a high octane finale. With just four minutes remaining in competition, Team U.S. Air Force was in second place and Team Kubota was in third, 2-9 below the elimination line.

Then things got exciting.

“It was like someone turned on a switch. Earlier they had just been swiping at the bait, but all of a sudden they just started eating,” Vance said. “We came down the same path we had been. We figured if we were going to get one at the end, it would be down that stretch. So, we turned around and hit it again, and they just started committing.”

Vance landed a chunky 3-pound, 11-ounce largemouth – their biggest bass of the day – to overtake Team U.S. Air Force and vault Team Kubota into second place and the final qualifying spot.

“No kidding, we should have had another 20 pounds, today,” Vance continued. “I’m grateful that big one bit at the end, though. You can’t script that.”

To add insult to injury for Team U.S. Air Force, Team B&W Trailer Hitches then added two scorable bass of their own in the final two minutes – both by Spencer Shuffield – to overtake Browning and Crochet for the third-place finish and push Team U.S. Air Force down to fourth place.

The top two teams from Elimination Round Match 1 at the Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches that now advance to the Knockout Round are:

1st: Team Knighten Industries, 22 bass, 44-11
Brandon Coulter, Knoxville, Tenn., 15 bass, 23-15
John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky., seven bass, 20-12
2nd: Team Kubota, 16 bass, 37-0
Bradley Roy, Lancaster, Ky., eight bass, 19-7
Jason Vance, Battle Ground, Ind., eight bass, 17-9

Eliminated from competition are:

3rd: Team B&W Trailer Hitches, 16 bass, 36-8
Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., five bass, 14-10
Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., 11 bass, 21-14
4th: Team U.S. Air Force, 20 bass, 35-13
Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark., 12 bass, 23-10
Cliff Crochet, Pierre Part, La., eight bass, 12-3

Complete results from throughout the week can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 74 bass weighing 154 pounds even caught by the four teams in Elimination Round Match 1 on Headwaters Lake. Team B&W Trailer Hitches pro Matt Becker caught the Berkley Big Bass of the day – a largemouth weighing 4 pounds, 9 ounces.

Fishin' Tip Friday - Drop Shotting with John Murray

By Vance McCullough - AC Insider

John Murray on the Dropshot: Keep it Simple, Throw it Everywhere

Two-time US Open Champion John Murray built his reputation in the clear, deep waters of the West though he now gets his mail in Spring City, Tennessee. An early adopter of the drop shot, Murray still loves the technique for its simplicity and its versatility.

“It’s just a weight with a length of line, usually 10-to-12-inches, and a hook,” emphasizes Murray. “Don’t get caught up in too many details when you’re starting out. People can make it more complicated than it really should be, but drop shotting is just a simple way to catch a lot of fish so it’s a great technique for people who are new to bass fishing or for a seasoned pro.”

If the average angler is missing a trick with the drop shot, Murray says it’s this: “Rig it weedless, Texas rig style on a 1/0 straight shank hook. Use the same worms you would otherwise use and don’t be afraid to cast it into cover, the same places you would pitch a Texas rig. A lot of people think the drop shot is just for open water. It’s not. It’s versatile. It works great in heavy cover.

“And it’s not only a deep-water bait. It’s just like any other worm fishing technique. You can cast it to the bank, drag it out and follow the lake’s contours whether that takes you down 10 feet deep or 50 feet.”

Murray imparts minimal action. “Keep a fairly tight line and work it gently, not a lot of shaking, nothing too crazy with it. Picture the worm swimming like a minnow. Just a gentle pull is best.”

Less is more with the hookset too. “Tighten up and keep reeling. Use a small, sharp hook and just reel it into their mouth.”

B.A.S.S. announces registration dates for rebranded Elite Series AmBASSador program

Nov. 15, 2024

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. has announced registration dates for the newly rebranded AmBASSador program that pairs individuals with Elite Series anglers during competition. AmBASSadors, formerly known as marshals, have the best seat in the tournament to view the biggest names in professional bass fishing.

Registration dates for the AmBASSador program are:

Life and Nation Members online Dec. 3 at 9 a.m. CT
All other B.A.S.S. members online Dec. 10 at 9 a.m. CT
Registration will remain open until all spots are filled
More information on registration is coming soon

“The AmBASSador rebrand more accurately reflects what the program embodies,” said Elite Series Tournament Director Lisa Talmadge. “Any B.A.S.S. member can be an AmBASSador. There’s no special training or knowledge of rules needed; AmBASSadors aren’t present to enforce rules. Being an AmBASSador is a fun way for fishing fans to get an on-the-water experience with an Elite angler and an opportunity to learn new techniques and bodies of water.

“AmBASSadors also should be willing to help with BassTrakk and Skype and to take photos that may be featured on Bassmaster.com as part of tournament coverage,” Talmadge added.

AmBASSadors can sign up for one Elite event or multiple events over the course of a season. For the $99 AmBASSador program fee, fans will receive an AFTCO shirt, an AFTCO hat, an AFTCO gift card, a B.A.S.S. hat and, most importantly, the best view in professional bass fishing.

“I had been away from bass fishing and wanted to get back into it when I retired,” said Rick Moore, an 11-year veteran of the marshal program. “A lot of baits and methods had changed over the past 20 years, so I did it to accelerate my learning, and I did (within) two years of participating in the program.

“I didn’t have the opportunity to go to the lakes I had read about in Bassmaster Magazine, and the program gave me the opportunity to do that,” added Moore, who currently resides in California. “Also, I get the chance to fish on the lake a couple of days after the event to try out techniques I’ve observed, and I get to experience the communities.”

Moore said he spends his time on the water taking plenty of photos and videos as well as observing the Elite pros fish the latest techniques and technology.

“One of the best things I think about watching the pros is I get to see how they react when they’re struggling,” Moore said. “As a fisherman, that’s critical — learning how to deal with difficult situations such as when the bite stops. If you’re serious about fishing, this is how you learn — by watching the best in the world in action.”

Visit Bassmaster.com to register for the AmBASSador program.

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

Media Contact: Chad Gay, Communications Manager, 205-313-0945, cgay@bassmaster.com

ALABAMA’S KING’S HOME FOR AT-RISK YOUTHS BENEFITS AGAIN FROM BASS PRO RANDY HOWELL’S BOAT GIVEAWAY

GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. (November 14, 2024) – With the 2024 bass tournament season now complete, noted pro bass angler Randy Howell is once again doing his part to support King’s Home by donating his fully-rigged boat during the ‘Randy Howell Hope Festival & Boat Giveaway’ this Saturday, Nov. 16. This is Howell’s 14^th year working with King’s Home and it programs to help troubled youth and mothers. Over those years, the efforts with the boat giveaway has raised more than $3.1 million to provide refuge, hope, and assistance to thousands of abused youth and women.

Taking place at King’s Home Lake in Chelsea, Ala., “the fishing rodeo and outdoor event is the highlight of the year for the kids living in the homes at King’s Home, and we’re hoping you’ll help us make memories that’ll last a lifetime,” said Howell. A $100 tax-deductible donation will give anyone interested in a chance to win his boat, and the winner does not have to present to win. To purchase tickets – up through noon on Nov. 16 - and more information about the event, visit the King’s Home website at https://www.kingshome.com/randyhowell.

Howell notes fishing will begin at 10am this Saturday, Nov. 16, concluding at 1:45pm CST with the drawing for Howell’s fully-rigged Triton bass boat taking place at 2pm CST. The drawing will be live-streamed at www.facebook.com/Randyhowellfishing.

“We would love to have as many junior high and high school fishing team members in attendance as possible, as it's a great opportunity to help give back to the local community and help kids that may never get to go fishing like we do,” Howell said. “These kids from King’s Home look forward to this event because it's the only day they get personal attention from expert fishing team members like you all!”

Follow the link to donate online - https://www.kingshome.com/randyhowell - or to get your tickets by phone, call the King's Home office from 8:30am-4:30pm CST at 205-678-8331.

B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series schedule set for 2025

Nov. 14, 2024

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. officials have announced the 2025 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance schedule, and the slate features some of the hottest bass fisheries in America to give anglers the opportunity to qualify for the Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Championship presented by Lowrance and a shot at the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.

“We're thrilled to unveil the 2025 Bass Nation tournament schedule, featuring an exciting lineup of iconic fisheries and new locations that will challenge and inspire our anglers,” said GL Compton, tournament manager for the B.A.S.S. Nation. “Each venue has been carefully chosen to showcase diverse fishing conditions and vibrant communities, providing opportunities for competition and camaraderie at every level. We can't wait to see what this season holds and are looking forward to the unforgettable moments that lie ahead on the road to the championship.”

The 2025 season will kick off March 12-14 at Pickwick Lake in Florence, Ala. Pickwick hosted the 2022 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship, where Bassmaster Elite Series angler Will Davis Jr. won with 43 pounds, 8 ounces.

The qualifiers will then head west to Lake Eufaula in Eufaula, Okla., April 9-11. The St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN last visited Eufaula in June of 2024, where Easton Fothergill weighed in 52-8 over three days of competition to take the victory, and Nation anglers will find ample bassing opportunities on the largest lake in Oklahoma; the body of water covers 105,500 surface acres and features 800 miles of shoreline.

The third qualifier is scheduled for the James River in Richmond, Va., April 23-25, where Nation anglers will get a rare chance to compete on Virginia’s largest river. Although the James has hosted numerous Opens events in the past, there has not been a B.A.S.S. Nation event held there in more than 10 years.

The July 16-18 Lake Erie qualifier in Monroe, Mich., will be the last of the season and promises to provide anglers with ample opportunities for healthy limits.

“Explore Monroe is thrilled to host the B.A.S.S. Nation qualifier at Sterling State Park,” said Cody Cooper, director of event coordination and education for Explore Monroe. “This event highlights Monroe County’s exceptional outdoor recreation and the beauty of our Great Lakes shoreline. We can’t wait to welcome competitors and spectators alike for a memorable experience.”

Both individual B.A.S.S. Nation anglers and club members from each state will be able to enter national qualifier events, with the top finishers advancing to the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship. Additionally, club anglers will be able to qualify directly from their state tournaments to the championship.

The 2025 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship is slated for Oct. 22-25 on the familiar Upper Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wis., where anglers will target feisty smallmouth in current in pursuit of the $50,000 first-place cash prize that accompanies the title of B.A.S.S. Nation champion.

The Top 3 anglers from the overall standings will compete in the 2026 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour. Also, the winning angler will be named the Nation’s Best, punch their ticket to the 2026 Elite Series and enjoy the use of a fully rigged Nitro boat. The second- and third-place finishers and nonboater champion will each earn paid entry fees for all divisions of the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN with the opportunity to qualify for the Elite Series.

For more information on registration, visit Bassmaster.com/b-a-s-s-nation.

2025 B.A.S.S. Nation Schedule

March 12-14 Pickwick Lake Florence, Ala.

April 9-11 Lake Eufaula Eufaula, Okla.

April 23-25 James River Richmond, Va.

July 16-18 Lake Erie Monroe, Mich.

2025 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship

Oct. 22-25 Upper Mississippi River La Crosse, Wis.

2024 Bassmaster Nation Series Title Sponsor: Mercury

2024 Bassmaster Nation Series Presenting Sponsor: Lowrance

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

2024 Bassmaster Nation Series Youth Sponsors: Seaguar, Shimano

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

Media Contact: Chad Gay, Communications Manager, 205-313-0945, cgay@bassmaster.com

Under Armour signs with B.A.S.S. as presenting sponsor of 2025 Bassmaster Classic

Nov. 14, 2024

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. and Under Armour, Inc., a global innovator in performance athletic and outdoor apparel, footwear and accessories, are proud to announce a new partnership for the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic in Fort Worth, Texas. Under Armour will be the presenting sponsor of the biggest show in bass fishing. The collaboration brings together two iconic brands and sets the stage for an epic world championship event.

“We are incredibly excited to partner with B.A.S.S. to bring the Bassmaster Classic to Texas,” said Sean Eggert, senior vice president of sports marketing at Under Armour. “Under Armour has a strong tradition of producing innovative outdoor products for the best athletes in the world, and the Bassmaster Classic is the pinnacle of bass fishing, so we couldn’t be more thrilled to take our support for the sport to its biggest stage."

At the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour, Under Armour will introduce their innovative UA Fish Elite apparel line. This collection is designed to tackle one of the biggest gear challenges faced by anglers — sun protection. Featuring the lightest fabric ever created by Under Armour, the line offers 40+ UPF sun protection and superior moisture-wicking capabilities, ensuring anglers stay cool, dry, protected and comfortable in the most demanding conditions. Attendees will also get a chance to experience the UA Shoreman Deck Boot, winner of the “Best New Footwear” award at the 2024 ICAST sportfishing trade show.

Under Armour will also offer exciting experiences for attendees, including:

Custom T-shirt Printing: Visit the UA booth to choose a design and watch your custom T-shirt come to life as your shirt is pressed.

UA Freedom Day (Saturday): Under Armour will honor first responders and military personnel with special discounts at their booth, along with a live national anthem performance by Purple Heart recipient JP Lane at the weigh-in ceremony.

Giant Shoreman Deck Boot: Fans can visit the arena lobby to see a giant, Texas-sized replica of the UA Shoreman Deck Boot and enter for a chance to win one of 30 pairs, with 10 winners announced daily.

Exclusive Giveaways: Each day, fans will have the chance to go home with special prizes.

UA Fish Athletes: Fans will have a chance to get up close and personal with some of the top anglers, including reigning Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year Chris Johnston, his brother and fellow Elite Series angler Cory Johnston and other special guests.

“We couldn’t be happier to announce Under Armour as the presenting sponsor for the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic,” said B.A.S.S. CEO Chase Anderson. “As companies, we are committed to being leaders and innovators in our respective industries; now we will share the largest stage together at the Super Bowl of Bass Fishing in Texas in 2025 before what could be a record-setting crowd of the most passionate and devoted fans in professional fishing.”

The Bassmaster Classic is sportfishing’s most iconic event, and fans were paying attention at the 2024 Classic in Tulsa, Okla. The world championship of bass fishing exploded on social media, setting records for impressions (22 million), video views (6.5 million) and engagements (2.2 million). Fans also streamed 28 million minutes of content across Bassmaster LIVE digital platforms, and live coverage on FOX and FS1 reached 3.8 million viewers across the two days of coverage on those networks. Following the success of the 2024 season, the final two days — Saturday and Sunday — of the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour will be broadcast live on FOX with expanded coverage.

2025 Bassmaster Classic Title Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops
2025 Bassmaster Classic Presenting Sponsor: Under Armour

2025 Bassmaster Classic Platinum Sponsor: Toyota

2025 Bassmaster Classic Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Progressive, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha

2025 Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo Presenting Sponsor: GSM Outdoors

2025 Bassmaster Classic Local Partner: Anderson Merchandisers, BDS Suspension, Cavender's, MAXAM Tire, TNT Fireworks

2025 Bassmaster Classic Host: Fort Worth Sports Commission

About Under Armour, Inc.

Under Armour, Inc., headquartered in Baltimore, Md., is a leading inventor, marketer and distributor of branded athletic performance apparel, footwear and accessories. Designed to empower human performance, Under Armour's innovative products and experiences are engineered to make athletes better. For further information, please visit about.underarmour.com

About B.A.S.S.

B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.

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

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

Media Contact: Chad Gay, Communications Manager, 205-313-0945, c [email protected]

Montevallo University takes Tackle Warehouse School of the Year Title for Third Time in Four Years

BENTON, Ky. (Nov. 13, 2024) – The race for Tackle Warehouse School of the Year Presented by QuikTrip goes down to the wire nearly every year, and 2024 was no exception – the points were tight at the top. Lately, the University of Montevallo wins almost every year, too, and that stayed true. After finishing second to Auburn University in 2023, the Falcons got back on top of the standings for the third time in the last four seasons.

Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI has continued to grow, and with the institution of a national schedule in 2024, competition for School of the Year was very concentrated. All told, five different teams accumulated more than 1,700 points, with the two best finishes from three events counting toward the total. For Montevallo, that meant the team earned points at Table Rock, Lake Guntersville and Lake Chickamauga.

At Table Rock, Nicholas Dumke and Easton Fothergill won the event with James Dubose and Daylon Milam finishing third. There, Montevallo put three other teams in the Top 20, including Peyton Harris and Dalton Head, who won last year’s National Championship. Later in the season, Logan Plueger and Charlie Wright finished sixth at Guntersville, with Dumke and Fothergill finishing ninth.

To wrap up the season and edge out the University of North Alabama, Montevallo knocked their lights out at Chickamauga. Finishing second was the team of Connor Bell and Dumke, with Miller Dowling and Mason Kornegay finishing third. Incredibly, though it didn’t matter for points, Montevallo put five more teams in the Top 20 – a tour de force to prove the strength and depth of the program.

William Crawford, the Outdoor Scholars Program Director and Head Fishing Coach at Montevallo, has helped mold the fishing program into one of if not the best in the country. Folding the bass fishing team into the President’s Outdoor Scholars program in 2015 gave it more resources, and Crawford has since recruited a team of stars from all over the country.

“Our guys have bought in to this process that that we’ve laid out over the last four or five years,” Crawford said. “It’s just a special group to be around, and it’s fun to sit back and watch them perform. We have such a diverse group of guys that it really doesn’t matter where we go. It seems like somebody always figures it out.”

While Montevallo has produced some real bass fishing stars lately, the foremost among them, Fothergill, credits the coach.

“Since the year before I got there — it would have been the ‘19 season — they’ve had a pretty solid team, and that’s mainly due to the coach, William Crawford, being able to recruit from every corner of the country,” said Fothergill, who is from Minnesota. “It just brings so much knowledge to one school and one team, and we’re all able to bounce ideas off each other and really learn. I think that’s the main reason why the team has had so much success.”

Crawford also credits recruiting and building a team-first atmosphere.

“I think it has a lot to do with just the guys that we bring in,” Crawford said. “They fit the mold for what we try to do and accomplish. So, it’s just finding the right guys that fit our program and the way we try to run and operate things.”

This year, while Montevallo was on fire in the college ranks, their highfliers also did well at higher levels. Fothergill won two Bassmaster Opens, and Head made it into the Knockout Round of REDCREST on Lay Lake – a testament to how deep the talent pool is at Montevallo, and perhaps college fishing in general.

Dumke, who is in his fifth year on the team and pursuing a MBA, has seen a lot in college fishing and said this year was exceptional.

“It was a fun one,” Dumke said. “It was one of the hardest ones I can think of in my time being there. It’s crazy what the competition level has come to. Everybody is really putting teams together that are competing at the highest level, and kids are really kicking out crazy bags. It seems like it’s getting better and better every single year. We had to work for it at every single event.”

Like many collegiate anglers, Dumke has had an irreplaceable experience.

“The best decision I’ve ever made was to go to Montevallo,” he said. “What William has done with the program is absolutely incredible. The guys that are there, I’ve truly made a bunch of lifetime friends, guys that I’ll be talking to for a long, long time. It’s meant the world to me, and it’s definitely the best decision I’ve ever made.”

The top 10 school in the 2024 Tackle Warehouse School of the Year standings finished:

1st:        University of Montevallo – 1,782 points
2nd:       University of North Alabama – 1,767 points
3rd:       Bethel University – 1,755 points
4th:        LSU-Shreveport – 1,739 points
5th:        Carson-Newman University – 1,709 points
6th:        McKendree University – 1,683 points
7th:        Campbellsville University – 1,652 points
8th:        Tarleton State University – 1,636 points
9th:        Northwestern State University – 1,629 points
10th:     Drury University – 1,619 points

Full 2024 standings can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The complete 2025 Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI schedule, rules and payouts are available online at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Registration for the 2025 season opens on Dec. 9, 2024. Fields are capped at 250 boats per tournament. Teams can register at MajorLeagueFishing.com or by calling 270.252.1000.

Proud sponsors of MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI include: 7 Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, General Tire, GSM Outdoors, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota and YETI.

For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular College Fishing updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

March Madness at Casa Vieja Lodge

Are you planning a spring break trip? If so, get on the ball on and consider Casa Vieja Lodge in Guatemala. March of 2024 was a banner month for sailfish at Casa Vieja. That’s not surprising, because March is almost always a time of calm seas, perfect weather, and hefty fish counts, but this year there were a few days that were beyond exceptional.

Most notably, on March 9th, the Pica Más raised 88 sailfish, convinced 80 of them to bite, and brought 60 of them to the boat. It wasn’t like they were a complete outlier, though. The Hooker raised 75 and released 40 that day. Both boats also caught mahi, which enabled them to have the freshest lunch possible. I’m not sure that my arms and back could handle that type of constant strain, but I’m willing to find out.

Those weren’t the only great days. On March 24th, seven boats went out and landed between 19 and 36 sails each. The next day, the three boats that fished landed between 23 and 29. Over the course of the month, there were more “boat days” with double-digit releases than single digit releases. Where else can that happen?

The fleet also targeted other species, such as snapper, grouper and tuna. As noted above, mahi are a tasty bycatch. There were also quite a few striped and black marlin in the spreads. They’re not guaranteed, but they do show up with some regularity.

If you think that’s an aberration, you need only return to past years to see the incredible numbers that March can yield. For example, on March 28th of 2023, four boats landed between 21 and 39 sails. Shortly before that, on the 17th, The Hooker went 78/71/43, while the seven other boats that went out landed between 25 and 48 sails apiece. The Day before, the Makaira had 57, and three other boats had over 30.

Of course, past results are no guarantee of future success, but the March bite seems to be consistently good and reliable. If you don’t believe me, just check CVL’s historical reports.

Just be sure to book as soon as possible! Remember, not only is March a well-known producer of huge numbers of sailfish, but it’s also when a lot of families have spring breaks that enable them to travel together. Email Hanna asap if you’d like to get the process started. You don’t want to miss out on a near-triple-digit day because you waited too long.

MLF’s General Tire Team Series Set to Wrap Season with Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches Next Week in Florida’s Indian River County

Bass Pro Tour anglers compete as two-man teams on unknown east-central Florida waters in the season's final Team Series event, with all six days livestreamed and filmed for Outdoor Channel

VERO BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 11, 2024) – Twenty-four of the best professional anglers in the world will be visiting one of America’s happiest seaside locations, next week. Major League Fishing (MLF) is bringing the 2024 General Tire Team Series Presented by Bass Pro Shops to Indian River County, Florida, next week, Nov. 17-22, for the fourth and final Team Series event of the season – the Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches.

Hosted by Visit Indian River County and Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism, the Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches will feature 12 two-man teams of professional anglers from the Bass Pro Tour competing at fisheries in the region that are unknown to the competitors until they arrive to the launch ramp each morning.

“Indian River County is beyond excited to host the General Tire Team Series Summit Cup and offer up our beautiful area to the many fishermen participating in this tournament,” said Ben Earman, Vice President of Tourism & Marketing for Visit Indian River County. “We are honored to have been the chosen location and to feature the areas of our County that make it so special.”

The General Tire Team Series is livestreamed daily, meaning every cast and every catch is covered live and fans can watch teammates work together to break down a new body of water in real time. The MLFNOW! broadcast is livestreamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MLF and MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) apps and on Rumble. The broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on all six days of competition at the Summit Cup from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET.

In keeping with traditional MLF Cup protocols, Indian River County, Florida was not revealed to Team Series anglers until 30 days prior to the start of the tournament. All fishable waters within 60 miles of Vero Beach, Florida, then went off limits to anglers. Fans watching the MLFNOW! livestream will find out the day’s competition waters right along with the anglers each morning, and then watch all the action unfold live as teams work together and share their knowledge as they compete for the Summit Cup and to claim a part of a season-long purse of more than $720,000.

“Most places in the country, fishing gets tougher in the fall. But not in Florida,” said pro Terry “Big Show” Scroggins of San Mateo, Florida, who will be competing alongside fellow pro Britt Myers for Team Lucas Oil. “Florida seems to fish better in the fall, so this is going to be a really fun tournament. The potential is there to see some really big days on the water.

“There are a ton of fisheries in play that we could be headed to,” Scroggins continued. “Things could get a little bit tricky, but for the most part I think we’ll be doing a lot of grass fishing next week – targeting pads, hydrilla and eel grass. Typical ‘Florida’ stuff.”

Scroggins said that he expects vibrating jigs, topwater baits and flipping baits all to be strong options for the teams competing.

“Those are the three baits that I’ll have tied on to start,” Scroggins said. “With the MLF format, it’s important to not get too far behind. The key will be finding the schools and getting on them… and then finding the schools that have the big ones.”

Scroggins said that he’s also very excited to share the boat for the first time in a competition with his travel partner Myers.

“I’ve roomed with Britt on Tour for a few years, and we’ve always gotten along great,” Scroggins said. “I think we’re going to be fine. I’ve never been in a team tournament with him, but he’s a great angler and a great guy and I am excited to see what we can find.”

The 12 teams that will compete in the General Tire Team Series Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches in Indian River County, Florida, are:

Team 7 Brew Coffee:
Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla.
Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark.

Team B&W Trailer Hitches:
Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn.
Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark.

Team Builders FirstSource:
Nick Hatfield, Greeneville, Tenn.
Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan

Team Coign:
Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill.
Marshall Robinson, Landrum, S.C.

Team Ferguson:
Marty Robinson, Lyman, S.C.
Jonathon VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich.

Team Knighten Industries:
Brandon Coulter, Knoxville, Tenn.
John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky.

Team Kubota:
John Murray, Spring City, Tenn.
Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif.

Team Lucas Oil:
Britt Myers, Lake Wylie, S.C.
Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla.

Team REDCON1:
Bradley Roy, Lancaster, Ky.
Jason Vance, Battle Ground, Ind.

Team Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff & Pouches:
Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J.
Josh Bertrand, Queen Creek, Ariz.

Team Star Tron:
Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla.
Chris Lane, Guntersville, Ala.

Team U.S. Air Force:
Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark.
Cliff Crochet, Pierre Part, La.

The MLF General Tire Team Series Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches will also air on Outdoor Channel as six two-hour original episodes each Saturday afternoon starting May 10, 2025, airing from 2 to 4 p.m. EDT. The complete television schedule for the 2024 General Tire Team Series on Outdoor Channel will be posted at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Hayden Marbut Wins 2024 Toyota Series Championship Presented by Bass Boat Technologies on Wheeler Lake

Standout collegiate angler for Auburn University reels in $235K with three-day total of 57 pounds, 12 ounces

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (Nov. 9, 2024) – Bass Pro Tour angler Keith Poche gave it a great run, but in the end, it was 21-year-old Hayden Marbut of Birmingham, Alabama, that stole the show at the 2024 Toyota Series Championship Presented by Bass Boat Technologies on Wheeler Lake . Weighing 21 pounds, 6 ounces on Day 1, the young Alabama pro set the bar high, and he stayed on the gas all the way. Weighing 19-10 on Day 2 kept him within striking distance after Poche dropped an incredible 27-pound stringer, and when the shallow-water expert faltered on Day 3, Marbut was there with 16-12 for a 57-12 total and the win.

Earning $235,000 for his efforts, the win also qualified him for REDCREST on Lake Guntersville, which happens to be his home lake. Marbut has now banked $345,555 on the year in Toyota Series winnings alone – a spectacular amount of money for a 21-year-old and more than many pros win in several years. Of course, a hefty proportion of that is in the form of Phoenix MLF Bonus earnings, which he cashed in on twice this year.

Still, while the money spends, Marbut isn’t just in it for a cash grab – he has as much passion for tournament fishing as you can.

“It's unbelievable,” he said. “You know, I said during practice, ‘I want this one’. I want to make REDCREST, and for it all come together the way it did, it’s just unbelievable. I was able to stay calm all week – it was a little bit more stressful today, but I just kinda went fishing the first two days. I didn't even feel like I was fishing the tournament. It was just like I was out there having fun, and everything was just falling into place. I just cannot believe it.”

Marbut fished all week along bluffs that were on the main lake near the mouth of the Elk River. While a bunch of pros ran a very similar pattern closer to the dam, most of them ended up faltering, and losing ground to anglers plying the flats. That would not be the case for Marbut. When he won the Toyota Series Central Division event this winter at Lake Guntersville, he did it on bluffs as well, which meant he was extremely comfortable with the program.

“Honestly, I pretty much figured it out the first day I came out here in pre-practice,” he said. “I had, like, 20 pounds three weeks ago when it was it was colder, and there was more fish on it. And, it was what I love to fish, you know, similar to how I won Guntersville, and I was kinda stubborn after that.”

He tried the flats, marked some brush, and did other things. But, the first taste of Wheeler ended up being the best plan.

“I understand current, you know, how it affects different places down the lake, and current was definitely a major factor,” he said. “I was looking for the most obvious textbook stuff I could find: big channel swings, any point that stuck out into the river, anywhere a smallmouth could just pull up and feed. I wanted to have as many high-percentage areas as I could.”

Though plenty of pros ran bluffs for smallmouth, the zone of the lake that Marbut ended up in was key in his estimation.

“I had one main area, but in practice and pre-practice, down by the dam was better for me,” Marbut explained. “But throughout the week I noticed those fish down there were getting pounded on pretty hard, and it's clear water. Those fish are super smart, they're big smallmouth, mostly down there.

“So, I bounced around the Elk and made that my home,” he said. “It had a little bit more stained water. And it’s one of the biggest channel swings in the lake that right above the Elk, and it just seems like a good place.”

Despite putting himself in the best part of the lake and knowing what to throw, it still wasn’t a walk in the park. Catching four smallmouth and one meanmouth on Day 1, Marbut added in more largemouth every day after that, fishing mostly the same sorts of areas.

To do well every day required precise presentations and finely honed tackle.

“Especially the first day for the smallmouth, I definitely had to lead them, because they're swimming so fast,” he said. “They're hard to hit. You get one chance. If they see it out the corner of their eye and you hesitate and don't present it right, they're never gonna come up there and eat.”

For his tackle, Marbut used a Picasso Tungsten Ball Head, mostly in the 3/16-ounce size, several minnows, and a 6-foot, 10-inch, medium light G. Loomis NRX+ spinning rod and a few Shimano spinning reels. At Guntersville, Marbut used a 12-inch Garmin ECHOMAP, but he upgraded to a Garmin 1643xsv on his new boat, though kept mostly the same settings.

“I ran the blue color palette at Guntersville, but with the 16, I was running amber,” he revealed. “That’s kind of the stock pallet, and that's what I like mostly. And, for settings, I was running 30-foot depth and 90-foot out, really, like, the same exact settings as Guntersville.”

On the final day, Marbut showed off why he’s been such a force in tournaments, from his college days at Auburn to now. In addition to a mastery of modern fishing, he’s got a real knack for all the other things that make tournaments hard.

With the bluff bite lagging a little on the final day, Marbut caught his kicker off brush he’d marked weeks ago.

“I found it in pre-practice and caught one fish out of it,” he said of the fateful pile. “Today, I was running around the lake, and I was like, maybe I should hit that. So, I pulled over there, and I caught that 4-pounder. I couldn't even see it in there. I was just working my bait through it, and all of a sudden, it loaded up. That one settled me down a lot.”

Then, not knowing that Poche had failed to follow up his Day 2 success, Marbut pushed to the end, putting miles on the trolling motor while others were running back.

“The last day of pre-practice, I put in here at Ditto, and I ran all the way to the dam, and I put a stop sign every 10 minutes,” Marbut said. “So I knew exactly how much time I needed going 60 miles an hour, and I figured I'd be a little faster just to be safe. I timed it all out, and wanted to make sure I had a pretty bulletproof system, where I wasn't gonna screw anything up.”

After hoisting the trophy, locking in REDCREST and picking up the big check, it’s safe to say that Marbut didn’t screw up.

The top 25 pros at the 2024 Toyota Series Championship Presented by Bass Boat Technologies on Wheeler Lake finished:

1st:        Hayden Marbut, Birmingham, Ala., 15 bass, 57-12, $235,000
2nd:       Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., 15 bass, 52-10, $50,300
3rd:       Laker Howell, Guntersville, Ala., 15 bass, 50-4, $30,000
4th:        Austin Swindle, Parrish, Ala., 15 bass, 48-12, $35,000
5th:        Ethan Fields, Breese, Ill., 15 bass, 46-11, $30,000
6th:        Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., 15 bass, 44-4, $14,000
7th:        Brock Reinkemeyer, Warsaw, Mo., 15 bass, 44-3, $13,000
8th:        Levi Thibodaux, Thibodaux, La., 15 bass, 42-10, $22,000
9th:        Zane Parker, Kingwood, Texas, 15 bass, 42-9, $11,000
10th:     Kennie Steverson, Umatilla, Fla., 15 bass, 41-4, $20,000
11th:     Mike Raber, Elkhart, Ind., 15 bass, 40-15, $14,500
12th:     Jeremy Gordon, Rutledge, Tenn., 14 bass, 40-11, $4,500
13th:     Dillon Falardeau, Hixson, Tenn., 13 bass, 40-4, $4,500
14th:     Britt Myers Jr., Lake Wylie, S.C., 15 bass, 40-0, $4,500
15th:     Caleb Kuphall, Mukwonago, Wis., 15 bass, 39-15, $4,500
16th:     Matteo Turano, Puryear, Tenn., 15 bass, 38-6, $3,500
17th:     Chad Mrazek, Montgomery, Texas, 15 bass, 38-1, $3,500
18th:     Jack Daniel Williams, Kingsport, Tenn., 12 bass, 37-2, $3,500
19th:     Mitchell Robinson, Landrum, S.C., 12 bass, 37-1, $3,500
20th:     Mickey Beck, Lebanon, Tenn., 13 bass, 36-6, $3,500
21st:      Fisher, Anaya, Eva, Ala., 11 bass, 31-3, $3,000
22nd:    Philip Dutra, Arab, Ala., 11 bass, 31-0, $3,000
23rd:     Ryan Kirkpatrick, Benton, Ky., 12 bass, 30-6, $3,000
24th:     Andrew Campbell, Rama, Ontario, 10 bass, 28-13, $13,000
25th:     Jake Lawrence, Buchanan, Tenn., 10 bass, 28-3, $3,000

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The top-finishing boater from each division (not including the winner) earned a $10,000 bonus for placing highest in the event. Those anglers included:

Central: Austin Swindle, Parrish, Ala., 4th place, $10,000
Northern: Mike Raber, Elkhart, Ind., 3rd place, $10,000
Plains: Ethan Fields, Breese, Ill., 5th place, $10,000
Southern: Kennie Steverson, Umatilla, Fla., 10th place $10,000
Southwestern: Levi Thibodaux, Thibodaux, La., 8th place, $10,000
Western: Todd Kline, San Clemente, Calif., 32nd place, $10,000
Wild Card Bonus: Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., 2nd place, $10,000
International: Andrew Campbell, Rama, Ontario, Canada, 24th place $10,000

Overall, there were 94 bass weighing 235 pounds, 5 ounces caught by 23 of the final 25 boaters on Saturday. The catch included 16 five-bass limits.

David Bozarth of Montgomery, Texas, brought four bass to the scale weighing 10 pounds, 9 ounces, to win the Strike King co-angler division of the 2024 Toyota Series Championship and earn a new Phoenix 518 pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard engine, worth $33,500. Bozarth’s three-day total of 10 bass weighing 29-4 earned him the victory by a slim 1-ounce margin over second-place co-angler Keith Honeycutt of Temple, Texas, who weighed in 15 bass weighing 29-3 over the three days of competition, good for the second-place prize of $12,500.

The top 25 Strike King co-anglers at the 2024 Toyota Series Championship Presented by Bass Boat Technologies on Wheeler Lake finished:

1st:        David Bozarth, Montgomery, Texas, 10 bass, 29-4, Phoenix 518 pro w/115-hp outboard
2nd:       Keith Honeycutt, Temple, Texas, 15 bass, 29-3, $12,500
3rd:       Tyler Nekolny, Coral Springs, Fla., 14 bass, 26-15, $10,150
4th:        Jeffrey Hamm, Thomasville, Ga., 13 bass, 24-13, $7,500
5th:        Brock Blazier, Dunlap, Ill., 14 bass, 24-2, $5,000
6th:        Casey Dunn, North Highlands, Calif., 12 bass, 22-8, $4,000
7th:        Pop Catalin, Cookeville, Tenn., 12 bass, 22-8, $3,500
8th:        Justin Parchman, Oologah, Okla., 14 bass, 22-3, $3,000
9th:        Rich Frey, Guntersville, Ala., 12 bass, 20-3, $2,500
10th:     Joe Lee, Midlothian, Texas, 10 bass, 19-15, $2,000
11th:     Darren Kelly, Wartburg, Tenn., nine bass, 19-13, $1,800
12th:     William Lisenby, Centreville, Va., 13 bass, 19-10, $1,500
13th:     Stephen Draghi, Sparrow Bush, N.Y., 10 bass, 19-9, $1,500
14th:     Jonathan Green, San Pablo, Calif., 10 bass, 19-7, $1,500
15th:     Rabih Itani, Granville, Australia, 11 bass, 18-15, $1,500
16th:     Steven Schantz, Alexandria, Va., 10 bass, 18-2, $1,000
17th:     Matt Krekovich, Granite City, Ill., nine bass, 18-0, $1,000
18th:     Justin Hoffman, Hindsville, Ark., seven bass, 17-13, $1,000
19th:     Alejandro Morales, San Pedro Garza Garcia, Mexico, eight bass, 17-7, $1,000
20th:     Mike Urbania, Mentor, Ohio, nine bass, 16-9, $1,000
21st:      Dennis Young, Olathe, Kan., eight bass, 14-12, $900
22nd:    Eric White, Cullman, Ala., six bass, 14-11, $900
23rd:     Will Lancett, Jacksonville, Ark., eight bass, 14-7, $900
24th:     Jerry Armstrong, Shelbyville, Tenn., seven bass, 14-2, $900
25th:     James Steve Burgess, Killen, Ala., nine bass, 13-14, $900

The 2024 Toyota Series Championship Presented by Bass Boat Technologies at Wheeler Lake was hosted by the Huntsville-Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Madison County Commission and the Huntsville Sports Commission. The three-day, no entry championship event featured more than 404 pros and co-anglers from around the world, competing for the top cash award of up to $235,000, plus numerous contingency bonuses.

The 2024 Toyota Series Championship Presented by Bass Boat Technologies will premiere on CBS Sports in 2025.

The full field of anglers competed on Days 1 and 2 of the event, with the top 25 pros and top 25 Strike King co-anglers based on cumulative weight from the first two days continuing to the third and final day. The 2024 Toyota Series champions were determined by the heaviest three-day total weight.

The 2024 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats consisted of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and Western – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International division and the Wild Card. The highest finishing pro from each division at the championship will claim a $10,000 bonus. The bonus will go to the second-highest finishing pro in the division represented by the overall champion.

The 2024 Toyota Series Championship field featured the top 25 pros, top 25 Strike King co-anglers and tournament winners from each of the six divisions; the top 25 pros and 25 co-anglers from the Wild Card division plus tournament winners; the highest finishing boater and co-angler from each of the six Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Regionals and the TBF at the All-American; the top three teams from the College Fishing National Championship; High School Fishing National Champions; TBF National Champions; and MLF International anglers from Australia, Canada, Italy, Mexico, South Africa, Spain and Zimbabwe.

Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Toyota Series include: 7 Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, FX Custom Rods, General Tire, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak Fishing, Onyx, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, REDCON1, Simms, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.

For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Toyota Series updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Keith Poche Takes Lead After Day 2 of Toyota Series Championship Presented by Bass Boat Technologies on Wheeler Lake

Alabama pro leads by 1-pound, 13-ounce margin, Top 25 set for final-day in competition for up to $235,000

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (Nov. 8, 2024) – Some flip-flopping on the leaderboard was expected on Day 2 of the 2024 Toyota Series Championship at Wheeler Lake Presented by Bass Boat Technologies. However, the move from 20th to first with a limit of bass weighing 27 pounds, 5 ounces by Keith Poche of Pike Road, Alabama, was not on the board. Of course, Poche rarely conforms to the norm, and his big day remade the tournament, putting him in the lead with a 42-13 total going into the final day of competition.

Day 1 leader Hayden Marbut of Birmingham, Alabama, tallied 19-10 to bring his total to an even 41 pounds and finish the day in second – more than 5 pounds clear of third place. However, instead of a wire-to-wire walk in the park for the young Alabama angler, it looks like Day 3 could be one of the most epic finishes to a tournament we’ve seen in some time.

On Day 1, Poche caught a solid 15 pounds and change – nothing to write home about, but a good start. According to him, 27 pounds wasn’t in the picture at all.

“That was unbelievable,” Poche gushed. “You know, after yesterday and the bites I had in practice, I thought maybe upper teens, 20 – if everything goes right, and I get lucky. But 27 pounds, I don’t even know, I mean, I don’t even know if the scales are right,” he said. “I mean, I know they were big, but that was unbelievable. That’s the biggest bag I’ve ever weighed in in my life.”

Considering Poche has fished around the country as a pro for years, it’s a wild statement, and true or nearly true, it’s a testament to just how amazing a day he had. Catching 27 pounds of largemouth is not something that’s supposed to happen at Wheeler this time of year. To top it off, he caught almost all of them in about 40 minutes and was done by 10 o’clock.

Poche said he doesn’t have company, and that there are fish left – he saw them busting and chasing bait at the end of the day. He’s just not sure what the difference between the first day and today was.

“Execution was part of the difference between having upper teens or 20,” Poche said. “But today, I really don’t know – that’s what we battle all the time as fishermen. These fish are like us. I mean, we’re moody. We have feelings. The big ones just didn’t bite as well yesterday, they were nipping at it, and I guess the big ones were just going crazy today.”

From the sounds of it, a limit shouldn’t be a problem, but to stay ahead of Marbut, Poche likely needs another strong day. Today, Poche may have figured out how to go from good to very good.

“There’s so many fish in this area,” he said. “There’s hundreds of fish. Yesterday, there were fish blowing up everywhere. Most of them small, but there’s key little places in there where I’ve noticed that I’m getting the bigger bites.”

Maybe he does it again – or even in the ballpark – and he’ll get what he came for: the $200,000 winner’s check.

“I want the money,” he said. “Show me the money; that’s what I want.”

The top 25 pros that advanced to the final day of competition on Wheeler Lake are:

1st: Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., 10 bass, 42-13
2nd: Hayden Marbut, Birmingham, Ala., 10 bass, 41-0
3rd: Laker Howell, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 35-4
4th: Jack Daniel Williams, Kingsport, Tenn., 10 bass, 33-8
5th: Dillon Falardeau, Hixson, Tenn., 10 bass, 33-5
6th: Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., 10 bass, 31-10
7th: Ethan Fields, Breese, Ill., 10 bass, 31-9
8th: Caleb Kuphall, Mukwonago, Wis., 10 bass, 31-6
9th: Austin Swindle, Parrish, Ala., 10 bass, 31-4
10th:      Chad Mrazek, Montgomery, Texas, 10 bass, 31-4
11th:      Mike Raber, Elkhart, Ind., 10 bass, 30-12
12th:      Mitchell Robinson, Landrum, S.C., 10 bass, 30-10
13th:      Brock Reinkemeyer, Warsaw, Mo., 10 bass, 30-6
14th:      Kennie Steverson, Umatilla, Fla., 10 bass, 29-15
15th:      Philip Dutra, Arab, Ala., 10 bass, 29-3
16th:      Andrew Campbell, Rama, Ontario, 10 bass, 28-13
17th:      Matteo Turano, Puryear, Tenn., 10 bass, 28-9
18th:      Fisher, Anaya, Eva, Ala., 10 bass, 28-7
19th:      Levi Thibodaux, Thibodaux, La., 10 bass, 28-6
20th:      Jake Lawrence, Buchanan, Tenn., 10 bass, 28-3
21st:      Ryan Kirkpatrick, Benton, Ky., 10 bass, 28-1
22nd:     Mickey Beck, Lebanon, Tenn., 10 bass, 27-12
23rd:     Jeremy Gordon, Rutledge, Tenn., nine bass, 27-6
24th:      Britt Myers Jr., Lake Wylie, S.C., 10 bass, 27-5
25th:      Zane Parker, Kingwood, Texas, 10 bass, 27-5

For a full list of results visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 688 bass weighing 1,589 pounds, 9 ounces Friday caught by 157 boaters. The catch included 110 five-bass limits.

One of the most successful Strike King co-anglers of all-time, with almost half of a million in earnings in his career, Keith Honeycutt of Temple, Texas, leads the Strike King co-angler division. Having limited two days in a row, the Texas angler will go out in the lead tomorrow with a two-day total of 21-7. In second, Stephen Draghi of Sparrow Bush, N.Y. , has 19-9 to his credit, and Jonathan Green of San Pablo, California, is a hairsbreadth off that pace with 19-7.

The top 25 Strike King co-anglers that will fish the final day on Wheeler Lake are:

1st:          Keith Honeycutt, Temple, Texas, 10 bass, 21-7
2nd:        Stephen Draghi, Sparrow Bush, N.Y., 10 bass, 19-9
3rd:        Jonathan Green, San Pablo, Calif., 10 bass, 19-7
4th:         Tyler Nekolny, Coral Springs, Fla., 10 bass, 18-13
5th:         David Bozarth, Montgomery, Texas, six bass, 18-11
6th:         Casey Dunn, North Highlands, Calif., 10 bass, 18-4
7th:         Pop Catalin, Cookeville, Tenn., nine bass, 18-2
8th:         Jeffrey Hamm, Thomasville, Ga., nine bass, 18-1
9th:         Matt Krekovich, Granite City, Ill., nine bass, 18-0
10th:      Justin Hoffman, Hindsville, Ark., seven bass, 17-13
11th:      Justin Parchman, Oologah, Okla., 10 bass, 17-10
12th:      Rabih Itani, Granville, Australia, 10 bass, 16-15
13th:      Rich Frey, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 16-14
14th:      Brock Blazier, Dunlap, Ill., 10 bass, 16-4
15th:      Joe Lee, Midlothian, Texas, eight bass, 15-9
16th:      Darren Kelly, Wartburg, Tenn., seven bass, 15-7
17th:      William Lisenby, Centreville, Va., 10 bass, 14-14
18th:      Eric White, Cullman, Ala., six bass, 14-11
19th:      Alejandro Morales, San Pedro Garza Garcia, Mexico, seven bass, 14-9
20th:      Will Lancett, Jacksonville, Ark., eight bass, 14-7
21st: Jerry Armstrong, Shelbyville, Tenn., seven bass, 14-2
22nd: Mike Urbania, Mentor, Ohio, seven bass, 13-15
23rd: James Steve Burgess, Killen, Ala., nine bass, 13-14
24th:      Dennis Young, Olathe, Kan., seven bass, 13-11
25th:      Steven Schantz, Alexandria, Va., six bass, 13-9

The final 25 pros and Strike King co-anglers will take off Saturday at 7 a.m. CT from Ditto Landing, located at 293 Ditto Landing Road, in Huntsville. Saturday’s Championship weigh-in will also be held at the landing and will begin at 3 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the takeoff and weigh-in and also follow the action online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcast and daily coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com. The 2024 Toyota Series Championship Presented by Bass Boat Technologies will premiere on CBS Sports in 2025.

Hosted by the Huntsville-Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Madison County Commission and the Huntsville Sports Commission, the championship event features more than 400 pros and co-anglers from around the world, competing for a top cash award of up to $235,000. The field is now cut to just the top 25 pros and Strike King co-anglers heading into the final day of competition, the culmination of the 2024 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats season.

The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and Rob Newell will break down the extended action live on Championship Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. CT. MLFNOW!® is live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app and Rumble.

The full field of anglers competed on Days 1 and 2 of the event Thursday and Friday, with the top 25 pros and top 25 Strike King co-anglers based on cumulative weight from the first two days now continuing to the third and final day Saturday. The 2024 Toyota Series champions will be determined by the heaviest three-day total weight.

Pros and co-anglers can qualify for multiple contingency awards based on final standings in the championship, including the lucrative $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus for pros and an invitation to REDCREST 2025 – MLF’s most prestigious event. The winning Strike King co-angler will earn a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard motor.

The 2024 Toyota Series Championship field features the top 25 pros, top 25 Strike King co-anglers and tournament winners from each of the six divisions; the top 25 pros and 25 co-anglers from the Wild Card division plus tournament winners; the highest finishing boater and co-angler from each of the six Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Regionals and the TBF at the All-American; the top three teams from the College Fishing National Championship; High School Fishing National Champions; TBF National Champions; and MLF International anglers from Australia, Canada, Italy, Mexico, South Africa, Spain and Zimbabwe.

Capps gets his wish with win at B.A.S.S. Nation Championship at Grand Lake

Nov. 8, 2024

GROVE, Okla. — When Blake Capps was in first grade, he and his classmates were asked to write down what they wanted to be when they grew up. The scraps of paper then went into a time capsule that was opened a dozen years later when they were high school seniors.

“I wrote that I wanted to be a professional fisherman,” Capps said.

After winning the 2024 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Championship presented by Lowrance, Capps can officially say his wish has come true.

The 28-year-old Capps weighed a three-day total of 42 pounds, 14 ounces to win the championship that concluded Friday on Grand Lake O’ The Cherokees, less than 100 miles from his home in Muskogee. Capps had the heaviest bag of the day (14-14) which propelled him to a 14-ounce victory in a tournament that featured nearly 500 of the best B.A.S.S. Nation anglers from around the U.S. and several foreign countries.

The victory at Grand Lake comes with a wealth of riches, among them a spot in the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic which will be held March 21-23 on Lake Ray Roberts in Fort Worth, Texas. Capps also collected $50,000 cash, an invitation to compete in the 2025 Bassmaster Elite Series, and a Nation’s Best boat and truck combo to use for the year.

After hoisting the Bryan V. Kerchal Memorial Trophy that goes to the B.A.S.S. Nation Champion each year, Capps (who works as a petroleum operator at a nearby power plant) reflected upon the time capsule that was cracked open back in 2015.

“I haven’t had a chance to do a lot of competitive fishing because of work and the cost that goes with being a tournament fisherman,” he said. “But I’m definitely gonna have to sit down and think about (accepting the offer to fish in the Elite Series).

“And I can tell you, I’m leaning really heavy toward it,” he said, chuckling. “I may go out there and get my butt whooped. But somewhere down the road I can look back and say I was a Bassmaster Elite one day. It’ll be almost impossible to pass up this chance.”

Living close to one of America’s premier bass fisheries didn’t hurt Capps’ chances on Grand Lake, but he noted he’s never fished the reservoir at this time of year. With temperatures warmer than usual, though, he figured bigger bass would be feeding in shallow water. They were, but the bites were scarce enough that each one was precious.

“I don’t know if anyone covered as much water as I did this week,” he said. “I ran constantly, and it was all for five, six, seven bites a day. It was work, but it paid off.”

And when most anglers were throwing myriad lures trying to entice the fickle Grand Lake bass to bite, Capps settled into a winning pattern amidst his run-and-gun routine.

“Out of my 15 fish, I think I caught 14 on a simple white spinnerbait,” Capps said, adding that he rotated between War Eagle and BOOYAH Covert lures throughout the championship.

“I was catching behind boat docks or by shallow logs,” he said. “If you could find floating wood, that was a big deal. But the key really was getting the spinnerbait behind boat docks. I was using Falcon rods, and I put them through some abuse this week — banging them on cables and docks. They really held up doing the kind of fishing I was doing this week.”

Day 2 leader Connor Jacob of Auburn, Ala., wound up second in the championship with 42 pounds of bass in the three-day derby. Jeremy Knepp of Montgomery, Ill., finished third with 41-13.

Both Jacob and Knepp also won spots in the 2025 Bassmaster Classic, as well as paid entry into the Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers field for 2025. The latter ensures neither will need to qualify via one of the two new divisions that will debut in the 2025 St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN.

Jacob, 24, previously fished for Auburn University in the Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops. He entered his first B.A.S.S. Nation event earlier this year on Oklahoma’s Lake Eufaula, finishing third. He said he put some of the knowledge he learned there to use at Grand Lake this week.

“I threw a drop shot pretty much exclusively, and it was good for about 90 percent of my fish,” Jacob said. “I’d run down to the dam and get a limit of spotted bass and largemouth bass for about 10 or 11 pounds. Then about 11 o’clock, I’d come up here, north of Horse Creek, and I was able to pick up a nice fish every day. Those later catches really helped me this week.”

Knepp, 45, was fishing Grand Lake for the first time, and he said it “set up perfectly for what I like to do.”

“Junk fishing,” said Knepp, who works for the U.S. Navy. “I caught a lot of fish shallow on topwater baits. I caught some offshore in 6 to 8 feet of water, and I made some crucial culls late today that made the difference.”

Knepp threw a Citrus Shad Rapala crank bait for his biggest bites on Grand. He caught two key bass (including the one that earned him a podium finish at the championship) at Sailboat Bridge, located near Wolf Creek Park where take-offs and weigh-ins were held this week.

“I had a limit when I got to the bridge, but I culled three times there,” he said. “I probably gained 3 or 4 pounds … And now, the Bassmaster Classic. It’s been a lifelong dream, and it’s for real right now.”

Jacob earned $14,000 for finishing second and Knepp netted $13,000. The Top 40 boaters won cash prizes, splitting a purse of $121,500 among them.

A total of 482 anglers started the tournament on Wednesday, and the Top 21 (20 boaters and the victorious non-boater) survived the Day 2 cut.

Carson Orellana caught the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament — a 6-3 largemouth he hooked on Day 1. That catch was good for a $500 cash prize.

Jose Munoz won the non-boater division of the championship Thursday with a two-day total of 18-10. He was the only nonboater to qualify for Day 3, and he finished with 26-9 overall. The Illinois resident won $10,000 cash for finishing first among the 239 nonboaters competing on Grand Lake.

The Grove Convention and Tourism Bureau hosted this week’s events.

2024 Bassmaster Nation Series Title Sponsor: Mercury

2024 Bassmaster Nation Series Presenting Sponsor: Lowrance

2024 Bassmaster Nation Series Youth Sponsors: Seaguar, Shimano

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

Media Contact: Chad Gay, Communications Manager, 205-313-0945, cgay@bassmaster.com

2024 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Championship presented by Lowrance 11/6-11/8
Grand Lake O' the Cherokees, Grove OK.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3

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

1. Blake Capps Muskogee, OK 15 42-14 0 $50,300.00
Day 1: 5 15-02 Day 2: 5 12-14 Day 3: 5 14-14
2. Connor Jacob Auburn, AL 15 42-00 0 $14,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 16-02 Day 3: 5 12-10
3. Jeremy Knepp Montgomery, IN 15 41-13 0 $13,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 16-05 Day 3: 5 14-10
4. John Duvall Madison, GA 15 39-13 0 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 5 14-03 Day 3: 5 13-01
5. Will Davis Jr Sylacauga, AL 15 39-11 0 $9,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 5 14-10 Day 3: 5 10-08
6. Nick Trim Galesville, WI 15 39-01 0 $7,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 14-15 Day 3: 5 11-06
7. Evan Cox Loveland, CO 15 39-00 0 $5,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 14-08 Day 3: 5 11-10
8. Mike Saleeba Sebring, FL 15 38-00 0 $4,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 09-11 Day 3: 5 13-13
9. Sam Hanggi Knoxville, TN 14 37-07 0 $3,000.00
Day 1: 4 08-02 Day 2: 5 18-03 Day 3: 5 11-02
10. Alex Goff Clendenin, WV 14 36-13 0 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 15-15 Day 2: 5 12-06 Day 3: 4 08-08
11. Greg Vance Delhi, IA 15 35-14 0 $2,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 11-06 Day 3: 5 11-04
12. Carson Orellana Mooresville, NC 15 35-08 0 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 5 11-07 Day 3: 5 09-04
13. Taylor Umland Carlock, IL 14 34-09 0 $2,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 08-11 Day 3: 4 11-06
14. Corey Lindsey Marion, OH 15 33-13 0 $2,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 12-08 Day 3: 5 09-08
15. Danny McGarry Newcastle CANADA 15 32-14 0 $2,200.00
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 5 14-03 Day 3: 5 09-07
16. Chris Jones Bokoshe, OK 14 31-13 0 $2,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-14 Day 2: 5 08-08 Day 3: 4 08-07
17. James Biggs Comanche, TX 14 31-05 0 $2,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-01 Day 2: 5 08-08 Day 3: 4 07-12
18. Mike Meadows El Dorado, AR 12 28-02 0 $2,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 12-15 Day 3: 2 02-12
19. Luke Gritter Otsego, MI 11 28-01 0 $2,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 5 12-11 Day 3: 1 03-06
20. Jose Munoz McHenry , IL 15 26-09 0 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 08-05 Day 2: 5 10-05 Day 3: 5 07-15
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
BIG BASS OF TOURN
Carson Orellana Mooresville, NC 06-03 $0.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 107 850 1822-13
2 76 699 1447-14
3 14 90 205-14
----------------------------------
197 1639 3476-09

NPFL Announces Location and Amends Date for 2025 Schedule

WILKESVILLE, Ohio — The National Professional Fishing League and Town of Massena, New York announce that they will hold a tournament on the St. Lawrence River, July 9-11, 2025. This event had been scheduled for later in July, and the location was previously undisclosed.

“The previously scheduled dates presented a conflict for many of our anglers,” explained NPFL President Brad Fuller. “By moving the event up three weeks, we can eliminate that conflict and better serve our anglers, our sponsors, and our fans.”

In the league’s previous schedule announcement in October, the location of this event had not yet been finalized. The NPFL can now confirm that the tournament will be on the historic St. Lawrence River, an unparalleled smallmouth bass fishery in picturesque New York.

“Summertime bass fishing on the St. Lawrence is some of the best anywhere at any time,” said Fuller. “It’s going to give our field an opportunity to show off their skills and the amazing fishery. It’ll be a great event!”

Don R. Meissner, Massena Fishing Tournament Director, added “The Town of Massena is proud to host the National Professional Fishing League in 2025. The St. Lawrence River is teeming with giant smallmouths, including a 9-pound monster that set a new state record this summer. We welcome all the NPFL anglers and their families to a week of new adventures and fantastic catches.”

“The tournament will be the NPFL’s first on the St. Lawrence River and first in the State of New York,” Fuller added. “The Town of Massena has been a terrific partner, and we’re looking forward to bringing top-notch tournament bass fishing to that community.”

“On behalf of the town board, we are eager to host this amazing event in 2025,” said Adrian Taraska, Massena Town Board Member. “This singular event promises to bring the town even greater recognition as one of the best places to compete for prize money in the quest to catch a giant smallmouth bass. We are excited to welcome both newcomers and seasoned anglers to the St. Lawrence River in 2025.”

The updated 2025 NPFL schedule can be found here.

About the National Professional Fishing League

The National Professional Fishing League (NPFL) was founded to bring competitive fishing to a broader audience and offer anglers a platform to compete at the highest level. The NPFL is committed to fostering integrity, competition, and innovation in the sport, providing anglers and fans alike with an exciting and unique experience.

Media Contact: Ken Duke — (407) 574-1898 or [email protected].

Birmingham Pro Hayden Marbut Leads Day One of the Toyota Series Championship Presented by Bass Boat Technologies on Wheeler Lake

Former Auburn College Fishing Angler Leads by 1-Pound, 9-Ounce Margin After Opening Day of Competition

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (Nov. 7, 2024) – Well known for being one of the more fickle lakes on the Tennessee River, Wheeler Lake produced a tightly packed leaderboard on Day 1 of the 2024 Toyota Series Championship at Wheeler Lake Presented by Bass Boat Technologies. It took nearly 17 pounds to crack the Top 10, and 24 pros managed more than 14 pounds – not terrible by any means.

That said, Hayden Marbut of Birmingham, Alabama, was the star of the show. The only man to catch more than 20 pounds, the Alabama native waylaid 21-6 for the lead. In second, Mike Raber of Elkhart, Indiana, caught 19-13 on Day 1, and Ethan Fields of Breese, Illinois, edged into third with 18-5.

Catching his two kickers on nearly back-to-back casts at his first stop, Marbut may have been leading the event since about 7:45 Thursday morning.

“It was a good day for sure,” said Marbut. “I didn’t really know what to expect coming into the day. I had a good first day of practice and pretty much stopped fishing after that and just looked around. But I spent a lot of time out here in pre-practice and tried to make myself as much like a local as I could, and it worked out today.”

A standout in college for Auburn and an impressive performer in the Central Division this year, Marbut is one of many new-school anglers who are lighting things up at a young age. Weighing four smallmouth and one fish of indeterminate species, Marbut had a hot start and then a slow afternoon.

“I didn’t catch a ton of fish today, but they were the right size,” he said. “So, I’m excited to get back out there tomorrow. I probably caught caught 10 or 12, but probably nine keepers, and I culled a couple of times. But other than that, it was really slow, and it happened pretty fast this morning.”

One thing is for sure: Marbut is all-in on this. He’s got his eye on the $235,000 top prize and the REDCREST berth that comes with it. In 2025, MLF’s championship event is on Guntersville.

“I mean, I’m always all-in, but there’s definitely some extra juice with REDCREST on the home pond,” he said. “In pre-practice, I was grinding out here.”

The long-running bass-fishing championship, hosted by the Huntsville-Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Madison County Commission and the Huntsville Sports Commission, features the nation’s best Toyota Series pros and international anglers, and is the culmination of the 2024 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats season.

The top 20 pros after Day One on Wheeler Lake are:

1st: Hayden Marbut, Birmingham, Ala., five bass, 21-6
2nd: Mike Raber, Elkhart, Ind., five bass, 19-13
3rd:        Ethan Fields, Breese, Ill., five bass, 18-5
4th: Jack Daniel Williams, Kingsport, Tenn., five bass, 17-10
5th: Austin Swindle, Parrish, Ala., five bass, 17-9
6th: Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., five bass, 17-7
7th: Chad Mrazek, Montgomery, Texas, five bass, 17-5
8th: Jake Lawrence, Buchanan, Tenn., five bass, 17-4
9th: Levi Thibodaux, Thibodaux, La., five bass, 17-2
10th:      Buddy Benson, Dahlonega, Ga., five bass, 16-15
10th:      Phillip Dutra, Arab, Ala., five bass, 16-15
10th:      Laker Howell, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 16-15
13th:      Donavan Carson, Bluff City, Tenn., five bass, 16-11
14th:      Brady Duncan, Lebanon, Tenn., five bass, 16-5
15th:      Dillon Falardeau, Hixson, Tenn., five bass, 15-15
16th:      Brad Vice, Tanner, Ala., five bass,15-14
17th:      Donny Beck, Killen, Ala., five bass, 15-13
18th:      Ty Faber, Pagosa Springs, Colo., five bass, 15-11
19th:      Nicholas Hoinig, Port Saint Lucie, Fla., five bass, 15-10
20th:      Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., five bass, 15-8
20th:      Blake Schroeder, Whitehouse, Texas, five bass, 15-8
20th:      Zane Parker, Kingwood, Texas, five bass, 15-8

For a full list of results visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 845 bass weighing 1,877 pounds, 15 ounces caught by 193 pros Thursday. The catch included 140 five-bass limits.

Eric White of Cullman, Alabama, leads the Strike King co-angler division with five bass weighing 13 pounds, 12 ounces, followed by Stephen Draghi of Sparrow Bush, New York , who weighed five bass totaling 12-13 to end the day in second place. Co-anglers are competing for a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard.

Back in February, both Marbut and White won their respective divisions in the Central Division event on Lake Guntersville. So, moving down the chain by one dam wasn’t enough to trip either of them up.

The top 20 Strike King co-anglers after Day One on Wheeler Lake are:

1st: Eric White, Cullman, Ala., five bass, 13-2
2nd: Stephen Draghi, Sparrow Bush, N.Y., five bass, 12-13
3rd:        Steven Schantz, Alexandria, Va., five bass, 12-8
4th: Joe Lee, Midlothian, Texas, five bass, 12-3
5th: Alejandro Morales, San Pedro Garza Garcia, Mexico, five bass, 11-6
6th: Johnny Suratt, Lawrenceburg, Tenn., five bass, 10-13
7th: Jonathan Green, San Pablo, Calif., five bass, 10-3
7th: Tim McGlenn, Welcome, Md., five bass, 10-3
9th: Jerry Armstrong, Shelbyville, Tenn., five bass, 9-15
10th:      Matt Krekovich, Granite City, Ill., five bass, 9-12
11th:      Jerry Pyles, Middletown, Md., five bass, 9-9
11th:      Casey Dunn, North Highlands, Calif., five bass, 9-9
13th:      Dennis Young, Olathe, Kan., five bass, 9-8
14th:      Lenny Bays, Dayton, Ky., three bass, 9-5
15th:      Oliver Siebert, Fenton, Mo., five bass, 9-4
16th:      Patrick Brown, Swainsboro, Ga., two bass, 9-3
17th:      Rabih Itani, Granville, Australia, five bass, 9-2
17th:      George Malcolm, Gainesville, Fla., four bass, 9-2
19th:      Keith Honeycutt, Temple, Texas, five bass, 8-13
20th:      Jeremy Smith, Arbela, Mo., five bass, 8-11

Anglers will take off daily at 7 a.m. CT from Ditto Landing, located at 293 Ditto Landing Road, in Huntsville. Weigh-ins will also be held at the landing and will begin at 3 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the daily takeoffs and weigh-ins and also follow the action online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts and daily coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com. The 2024 Toyota Series Championship Presented by Bass Boat Technologies will premiere on CBS Sports in 2025.

The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and Rob Newell will break down the extended action live on the final day of competition from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. CT. MLFNOW!® is live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app and Rumble.

The full field of anglers compete on Days 1 and 2 of the event Thursday and Friday, with the top 25 pros and top 25 Strike King co-anglers based on cumulative weight from the first two days continuing to the third and final day on Saturday. The 2024 Toyota Series champions will be determined by the heaviest three-day total weight.

Jacob takes slim lead into final day at B.A.S.S. Nation Championship at Grand Lake

Nov. 7, 2024

GROVE, Okla. — Former Auburn University angler Connor Jacob schooled the Grand Lake bass on Day 2 of the 2024 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Championship presented by Lowrance.

Jacob, 24, caught a limit of five bass on Thursday totaling 16 pounds, 2 ounces. That was the third-heaviest bag of the tournament, and it gave him 29-6 overall heading into the third and final day of fishing on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees in the northeast corner of the Sooner State.

Jacob climbed from a tie for 16^th on Day 1 to the pole position a day later. He’s focusing on brush piles and stumps off the banks of this fabled, 41,000-acre reservoir.

“I finished third at Lake Eufaula (in the St. Croix Bassmaster Open presented by SEVIIN), and I’d never seen Grand Lake,” Jacob said. “So, I kind of tried to lean on what I did there. The first couple days of practice here, that didn’t work out at all … On the first day of the tournament, I caught a bunch of 2-pounders down by the dam.

“But in the last 20 minutes, I stopped in one spot and caught a 4-pounder off a stump. I thought, ‘I probably should do more of that.’”

And so, he did.

After catching an early limit on Day 2, he dissected another Grand Lake stump to pull a 4 ½-pounder into his boat. He picked up a similarly sized bass under a dock later in the day to climb above the 16-pound threshold.

The only bigger bags weighed this week both came on Day 2 — Indiana’s Jeremy Knepp (seventh place, 16-5 on Day 2, 27-3 overall) and Tennessee’s Sam Hanggi (ninth place, 18-3 on Day 2, 26-5 overall).

Jacob and Hanggi are rooming together during the Nation Championship, so it’s clear they’ve figured something out on what’s been a grind on Grand this week. For his part, Jacob said he’s throwing a drop shot in about 12 to 20 feet of water.

“The whole house is doing well,” Jacob said. “The winner may come down to which one of us does better tomorrow.”

Will Davis Jr., the two-time defending B.A.S.S. Nation Championship winner, might have something to say about that, however. Davis, a 32-year-old Alabamian, has a 29-3 total, a mere three ounces behind Jacob. He’s battle-tested after two years on the Bassmaster Elite Series (the spoils for winning the previous B.A.S.S. Nation titles) and he’s got a win on that circuit, too (on Alabama’s Lay Lake in 2023).

“I like fishing from behind,” Davis said. “I’d be lying if I said I haven’t thought about the possibility of winning this tournament three years in a row. But I try to put it behind me, way in the back of my mind. It’s been so tough fishing here this week. You have to execute perfectly because you’re getting only about six keeper bites a day if you’re lucky. It’s crucial to land every one of them.”

Day 1 leader Alex Goff, of West Virginia, is currently in third place with 28-5. He said a missed 3-pounder kept him from having a bigger bag on Thursday.

“I had five keepers and about six or seven shorts,” Goff said. “I thought I could do a little bit better given how I ended yesterday. I’m covering a lot of water still, but I’ve started to focus on one spot where I’ve caught a big one both days. It’s a bluff wall in about 5 feet that drops to about 20 feet. The bigger fish are swimming through there. I just have to make them eat.”

Goff said he’s burning a crankbait and slow rolling a spinnerbait over that drop to trigger his best bites.

Oklahoma’s Blake Capps, second after Day 1, fell to fourth overall with a two-day total of 28 pounds. Wisconsin’s Nick Trim is fifth with 27-11.

Carson Orellana, who’s in 10^th place overall among boaters, still has the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament — a 6-3 largemouth he hooked on Wednesday. Ohio’s Corey Lindsey caught the heaviest bass among boaters on Thursday (5-9), and that propelled him into 14^th place (24-5 overall)

The Top 20 of the 243 anglers in the boater division advanced to fish on Championship Friday. They’ll be joined by Jose Munoz, who won the non-boater division on Thursday with a two-day total of 18-10. Munoz, of Illinois, won $10,000 cash for finishing first among the 239 non-boaters competing on Grand Lake.

Mark Moran, of West Virginia, finished second among non-boaters with 18-8 overall. Robb Cody II, of Georgia, also had 18-8 and placed third overall after tiebreaking rules were applied. South Carolina’s Emery Gray caught the Phoenix Boats Big Bass among non-boaters — a 5-3 on Day 1 of the derby.

The 21 anglers to survive Thursday’s cut will take off from Wolf Creek Park in Grove at 6:30 a.m. CT on Friday. Weigh-in will start at the park beginning at 2:15 p.m.

The Top 3 anglers after the day is complete will earn berths into the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic to be held March 21-23 on Lake Ray Roberts in Fort Worth, Texas. The overall winner also will collect $50,000, an invitation to compete in the 2025 Bassmaster Elite Series and a Nation’s Best boat and truck combo to use for the year.

In addition, the second- and third-place boaters in the tournament will receive paid entry into the Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers field for 2025, circumventing the need to qualify via one of the two new divisions the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN will debut in the 2025 season.

The Grove Convention and Tourism Bureau is hosting this week’s events.

2024 Bassmaster Nation Series Title Sponsor: Mercury

2024 Bassmaster Nation Series Presenting Sponsor: Lowrance

2024 Bassmaster Nation Series Youth Sponsors: Seaguar, Shimano

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Media Contact: Chad Gay, Communications Manager, 205-313-0945, cgay@bassmaster.com

2024 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Championship presented by Lowrance 11/6-11/8
Grand Lake O' the Cherokees, Grove OK.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2

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

1. Connor Jacob Auburn, AL 10 29-06 0
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 16-02
2. Will Davis Jr Sylacauga, AL 10 29-03 0
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 5 14-10
3. Alex Goff Clendenin, WV 10 28-05 0
Day 1: 5 15-15 Day 2: 5 12-06
4. Blake Capps Muskogee, OK 10 28-00 0
Day 1: 5 15-02 Day 2: 5 12-14
5. Nick Trim Galesville, WI 10 27-11 0
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 14-15
6. Evan Cox Loveland, CO 10 27-06 0
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 14-08
7. Jeremy Knepp Montgomery, IN 10 27-03 0
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 16-05
8. John Duvall Madison, GA 10 26-12 0
Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 5 14-03
9. Sam Hanggi Knoxville, TN 9 26-05 0
Day 1: 4 08-02 Day 2: 5 18-03
10. Carson Orellana Mooresville, NC 10 26-04 0
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 5 11-07
11. Mike Meadows El Dorado, AR 10 25-06 0
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 12-15
12. Luke Gritter Otsego, MI 10 24-11 0
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 5 12-11
13. Greg Vance Delhi, IA 10 24-10 0
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 11-06
14. Corey Lindsey Marion, OH 10 24-05 0
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 12-08
15. Mike Saleeba Sebring, FL 10 24-03 0
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 09-11
16. James Biggs Comanche, TX 10 23-09 0
Day 1: 5 15-01 Day 2: 5 08-08
17. Danny McGarry Newcastle CANADA 10 23-07 0
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 5 14-03
18. Chris Jones Bokoshe, OK 10 23-06 0
Day 1: 5 14-14 Day 2: 5 08-08
19. Taylor Umland Carlock, IL 10 23-03 0
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 08-11
20. Chad Petrie Scroggins, TX 10 23-02 0
Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 5 10-14
21. Alex Torkleson Coweta, OK 10 22-13 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 09-05
22. Hayes Hudson Conway, SC 10 22-11 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 5 11-03
23. Gary Pope Jr Georgetown, SC 9 22-06 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 4 07-09 Day 2: 5 14-13
24. Matt Pangrac Shawnee, OK 10 22-04 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 08-01
25. Trevor Bartlett Grain Valley, MO 10 22-03 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 5 08-10
26. Lonnie Peterson Chippewa Falls, WI 10 21-15 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 09-07
27. Jed Worthington Morrisville, VT 10 21-15 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 5 10-04
28. Luke Wenger Lakewood, CO 10 21-14 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-15 Day 2: 5 11-15
29. Casey Knaup Montello, WI 10 21-09 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 08-11 Day 2: 5 12-14
30. Jordan Williams Odessa, MO 10 21-09 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 5 11-06
31. Bryce Kalen Greenwood, IN 9 21-07 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 4 08-02 Day 2: 5 13-05
32. Colby Bryant Houston, TX 10 21-06 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 5 07-13
33. Harvey Horne Bella Vista, AR 8 21-05 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 3 08-02
34. Zeke Gossett Pell City, AL 8 21-04 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 3 06-12
35. Daniel Ward Sage, AR 9 21-04 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 4 09-10 Day 2: 5 11-10
36. Kyle Christopher Danville, KY 10 21-01 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 10-08
36. Tyler Webb Glen Daniel, WV 10 21-01 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 10-08
38. Dan Tavilla Portsmouth, NH 10 21-00 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 08-07 Day 2: 5 12-09
39. Hunter King North Platte, NE 10 21-00 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 5 09-01
40. Jason Cheek Eatonton, GA 10 20-15 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 5 09-03
41. Tyler Frahm Kirbyville, MO 9 20-06 0
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 4 10-13
42. Jamie Bruce Kenora Ontario CANADA 10 20-06 0
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 5 09-11
43. Teddy Granier Thibodaux, LA 10 20-05 0
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 5 09-08
44. Brad Weese Petersburg, WV 9 20-03 0
Day 1: 4 08-15 Day 2: 5 11-04
45. Richard Dunham Palm Harbor, FL 9 20-00 0
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 4 09-00
46. Cade Laufenberg Onalaska, WI 8 19-13 0
Day 1: 4 10-10 Day 2: 4 09-03
47. Mark Desjardin Vassalboro, ME 9 19-11 0
Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 4 06-08
48. Mark Burgess Norton, MA 9 19-08 0
Day 1: 4 08-00 Day 2: 5 11-08
49. Jeremy Homeyer Franklin, TN 10 19-07 0
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 08-01
50. Wyatt Frankens Corrigan , TX 8 19-06 0
Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 3 07-02
51. Adam Rasmussen Sturgeon Bay, WI 9 19-06 0
Day 1: 4 08-07 Day 2: 5 10-15
52. Trey Nanney III Rocky Mount, NC 10 19-04 0
Day 1: 5 08-15 Day 2: 5 10-05
53. Harry Colberg Pittsburgh, PA 10 19-01 0
Day 1: 5 08-08 Day 2: 5 10-09
54. Edgar Romero Renteria Leon MEXICO 8 18-14 0
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 3 06-14
55. Dan Patane Canastota, NY 9 18-14 0
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 4 07-10
56. Matt McCoy Indianapolis, IN 8 18-13 0
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 3 04-13
57. Ty Austin Rush, NY 8 18-13 0
Day 1: 3 07-02 Day 2: 5 11-11
58. Tyler Wilson Carlsbad, NM 10 18-13 0
Day 1: 5 08-15 Day 2: 5 09-14
59. Dave Turner Citrus Springs, FL 9 18-12 0
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 4 08-00
60. Brent Shores Boise, ID 10 18-10 0
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 5 07-11
61. Bruce Sargent Warrior, AL 7 18-10 0
Day 1: 3 10-15 Day 2: 4 07-11
62. Wesley Baxley Conroe , TX 9 18-08 0
Day 1: 5 09-14 Day 2: 4 08-10
63. David Ottman Terry, MS 7 18-04 0
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 2 04-07
64. Mark Dove North Vernon, IN 9 18-04 0
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 4 06-02
65. Jay Wright Jr Louisburg, NC 10 18-04 0
Day 1: 5 08-10 Day 2: 5 09-10
66. Hunter Baird Flippin, AR 8 18-01 0
Day 1: 3 06-00 Day 2: 5 12-01
67. Jonathon Sutton Cross, SC 7 18-01 0
Day 1: 2 06-06 Day 2: 5 11-11
68. Alex Gross Jefferson, NH 9 18-01 0
Day 1: 5 08-04 Day 2: 4 09-13
69. Jesse Parks Goodyear, AZ 10 17-15 0
Day 1: 5 08-01 Day 2: 5 09-14
70. Adam Hamann Prairie Du Chien, IA 8 17-15 0
Day 1: 5 09-02 Day 2: 3 08-13
71. Sam Mitchell Kiowa, OK 10 17-14 0
Day 1: 5 08-13 Day 2: 5 09-01
72. Brian Trieschman Ellicott City, MD 7 17-12 0
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 2 04-14
73. Mark Bell Fisherville, KY 8 17-11 0
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 3 07-02
74. Chris Fondren Lebanon, TN 8 17-10 0
Day 1: 5 09-13 Day 2: 3 07-13
75. Timmy Wells Fresno, CA 8 17-06 0
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 3 06-09
76. Sal Pinto Dawsonville, GA 8 17-05 0
Day 1: 5 09-03 Day 2: 3 08-02
77. Matt Nobile Sorrento, LA 8 17-04 0
Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 3 06-02
78. Noah Winslow Naugatuck, CT 9 17-03 0
Day 1: 5 09-14 Day 2: 4 07-05
79. Brandon Morton San Tan Valley, AZ 8 17-02 0
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 3 05-07
80. Aaron Green Everett, PA 9 17-02 0
Day 1: 5 08-09 Day 2: 4 08-09
81. Dan Mohn Lansing, IA 10 17-01 0
Day 1: 5 09-05 Day 2: 5 07-12
82. Ron Wiseman Jr Pendleton, OR 8 17-00 0
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 3 06-07
83. Kipton Burba Columbia, SC 9 16-14 0
Day 1: 5 09-13 Day 2: 4 07-01
84. David Gardner Suffolk, VA 7 16-14 0
Day 1: 4 09-06 Day 2: 3 07-08
85. Jess Pottenger Harrison, ID 6 16-12 0
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 1 04-00
86. Jacob Swanson Framingham, MA 7 16-11 0
Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 2 03-11
87. Jeremy Tenwalde Fort Jennings, OH 9 16-11 0
Day 1: 5 09-02 Day 2: 4 07-09
88. Ruben Tarazona Sicilia Tarazona SPAIN 8 16-10 0
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 3 06-05
89. Chris Johnson Farmington, AR 9 16-10 0
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 4 06-10
90. Dalton Warrington Tishimingo , OK 9 16-09 0
Day 1: 4 05-14 Day 2: 5 10-11
91. Michael Lebsack Duluth, MN 10 16-08 0
Day 1: 5 07-09 Day 2: 5 08-15
92. Connor O'Connor Pequot Lakes, MN 8 16-07 0
Day 1: 3 07-07 Day 2: 5 09-00
93. Keegan Graves Meridian, ID 7 16-05 0
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 2 04-13
94. Tyler Ivie West Haven, UT 10 16-04 0
Day 1: 5 08-10 Day 2: 5 07-10
95. Leslie Brandenburg Springfield, MO 7 16-02 0
Day 1: 2 05-07 Day 2: 5 10-11
96. Bryden Mugleston Mount Juliet, TN 7 15-15 0
Day 1: 4 08-00 Day 2: 3 07-15
97. Brad Smith Collierville, TN 6 15-08 0
Day 1: 4 12-03 Day 2: 2 03-05
98. Matty Z Szczoczarz Cumberland, RI 9 15-05 0
Day 1: 4 06-08 Day 2: 5 08-13
99. Garrett Towler Powhatan, VA 6 15-03 0
Day 1: 4 08-12 Day 2: 2 06-07
100. Tom Graziano Ridgefield, CT 7 14-14 0
Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 2 02-10
101. Colby Robertson Summerfield, FL 8 14-13 0
Day 1: 5 08-11 Day 2: 3 06-02
102. Gabriel Rivera Portales, NM 7 14-13 0
Day 1: 4 07-00 Day 2: 3 07-13
103. Trevor Sanderson New Lenox, IL 5 14-12 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 14-12
104. Bryan Close Fairbank, IA 7 14-09 0
Day 1: 5 09-01 Day 2: 2 05-08
105. Rich Risewick Norton, KS 9 14-09 0
Day 1: 5 08-12 Day 2: 4 05-13
106. Charlie Scott Santa Fe, TN 7 14-08 0
Day 1: 2 03-03 Day 2: 5 11-05
107. Tom Hardy Penetanguishene Ontario 5 14-08 0
Day 1: 2 05-10 Day 2: 3 08-14
108. Josh Workman Charleston, WV 10 14-08 0
Day 1: 5 07-15 Day 2: 5 06-09
109. Dale Harbour Oxford, GA 6 14-02 0
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 1 01-04
110. Michael Kazmierczak Lemont, IL 5 14-02 0
Day 1: 3 06-13 Day 2: 2 07-05
111. David Wesson Southside, AL 6 14-02 0
Day 1: 3 07-04 Day 2: 3 06-14
112. Jess Beihoffer Soddy Daisy, TN 6 14-00 0
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 1 02-04
113. Cj Maddux Birmingham, AL 6 13-14 0
Day 1: 4 08-15 Day 2: 2 04-15
114. Nick Koehne Manteno, IL 8 13-13 0
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 3 04-06
115. Mike Roselle La Plata, MD 7 13-11 0
Day 1: 5 08-05 Day 2: 2 05-06
116. Andrew Nienaber Cape Town Western Cape 7 13-10 0
Day 1: 4 08-07 Day 2: 3 05-03
117. Jeff Clark Van Buren, AR 10 13-08 0
Day 1: 5 00-00 Day 2: 5 13-08
118. Will Rogers Parker, KS 7 13-07 0
Day 1: 2 04-07 Day 2: 5 09-00
119. Tony Keller Charleston, WV 6 13-04 0
Day 1: 4 09-06 Day 2: 2 03-14
120. Harry Linsinbigler IV Dover, FL 5 13-04 0
Day 1: 4 08-10 Day 2: 1 04-10
121. Colton Sowers Bentleyville, PA 8 13-04 0
Day 1: 4 07-01 Day 2: 4 06-03
122. Chris Brimager Augusta, KS 7 13-03 0
Day 1: 4 08-08 Day 2: 3 04-11
123. Scott Dooley Ashland, MO 6 13-01 0
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 1 01-11
124. Kahle Gotcher East Tawas, MI 6 13-01 0
Day 1: 3 08-05 Day 2: 3 04-12
125. Will Chen Harwood CANADA 8 13-00 0
Day 1: 4 06-06 Day 2: 4 06-10
126. Aaron Jakub Silverton, OR 8 12-14 0
Day 1: 4 06-07 Day 2: 4 06-07
127. Takeshi Hattori Koganei JAPAN 6 12-13 0
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 1 01-10
128. Jerry David II Pilot Point, TX 7 12-13 0
Day 1: 2 04-08 Day 2: 5 08-05
129. Eduardo Fouto Montariguil Portugal PO 6 12-11 0
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 1 01-10
130. Kalib Lund Yuma, AZ 6 12-11 0
Day 1: 4 07-02 Day 2: 2 05-09
131. Robert Rush Jr Crossett, AR 5 12-10 0
Day 1: 2 06-09 Day 2: 3 06-01
132. Taylor Phillips East Tawas, MI 7 12-09 0
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 2 03-02
133. Chase Loftus Iowa City, IA 6 12-03 0
Day 1: 1 01-07 Day 2: 5 10-12
134. Mark Lodge North Waterboro, ME 5 12-00 0
Day 1: 1 02-13 Day 2: 4 09-03
135. Michael Smith Laurel Hill, AL 10 11-15 0
Day 1: 5 09-05 Day 2: 5 02-10
136. Darrin Driver Peterborough Ontario CA 5 11-13 0
Day 1: 1 01-13 Day 2: 4 10-00
137. Trevor Scott Windsor, CO 5 11-11 0
Day 1: 1 02-09 Day 2: 4 09-02
138. Francis Beard Rainbow City, AL 6 11-10 0
Day 1: 4 08-04 Day 2: 2 03-06
139. Brett King Kinta, OK 5 11-08 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 11-08
140. Grant Pavelka North Platte, NE 6 11-07 0
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 1 01-12
141. Bo Quinnie Duncanville, AL 5 11-02 0
Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
142. Brennan Berglund Zimmerman, MN 9 11-02 0
Day 1: 4 05-14 Day 2: 5 05-04
143. Kazuki Kitajima Corinth, TX 5 11-01 0
Day 1: 1 02-09 Day 2: 4 08-08
144. Anthony Lorefice Jr Johnson City, NY 6 11-00 0
Day 1: 4 08-02 Day 2: 2 02-14
145. Cody Dawson Mount Vernon, OH 5 11-00 0
Day 1: 2 05-02 Day 2: 3 05-14
146. Jeffery Lawson Ellisville, MS 6 11-00 0
Day 1: 3 05-13 Day 2: 3 05-03
147. Jonathan Brindel Moncks Corner, SC 7 10-15 0
Day 1: 5 08-03 Day 2: 2 02-12
148. Rich Lindgren Lakeville, MN 6 10-15 0
Day 1: 3 06-14 Day 2: 3 04-01
149. Liam Blake East Syracuse, NY 6 10-14 0
Day 1: 5 09-01 Day 2: 1 01-13
150. Trevor Rogge Canyon Lake, TX 5 10-14 0
Day 1: 3 07-13 Day 2: 2 03-01
151. Brian Post Janesville, WI 7 10-14 0
Day 1: 2 03-07 Day 2: 5 07-07
152. Travis Seitzinger WInfield, KS 5 10-13 0
Day 1: 2 05-02 Day 2: 3 05-11
153. Michael Duarte Middle River, MD 6 10-10 0
Day 1: 1 01-15 Day 2: 5 08-11
154. Tim Johnston Plains, MT 6 10-10 0
Day 1: 4 07-06 Day 2: 2 03-04
155. Ryan Watkins Willis, TX 6 10-10 0
Day 1: 4 06-13 Day 2: 2 03-13
156. Ricky Vines El Dorado, AR 7 10-10 0
Day 1: 3 04-06 Day 2: 4 06-04
157. Tony Baldridge Oklahoma City, OK 5 10-07 0
Day 1: 5 10-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
158. Frankie Appaluccio Ogdensburg, NJ 6 10-03 0
Day 1: 4 07-01 Day 2: 2 03-02
159. Brian Barthelt Orland Park, IL 4 10-03 0
Day 1: 2 03-13 Day 2: 2 06-06
160. Brock Belik Orchard, NE 6 10-01 0
Day 1: 5 08-05 Day 2: 1 01-12
161. Kevin Steinruck Sodus, NY 6 10-00 0
Day 1: 2 03-03 Day 2: 4 06-13
162. Spencer Black Hickory, NC 6 10-00 0
Day 1: 4 06-08 Day 2: 2 03-08
163. Coby Carden Shelby, AL 5 09-15 0
Day 1: 5 09-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
164. Kevin True Frankfort, KY 5 09-15 0
Day 1: 2 03-06 Day 2: 3 06-09
165. Shaine Campbell Brookeland, TX 4 09-14 0
Day 1: 4 09-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
166. Shane Doughtie Roanoke Rapids, NC 6 09-14 0
Day 1: 5 08-03 Day 2: 1 01-11
167. Dave Mathieu Woodstock, CT 5 09-10 0
Day 1: 4 08-03 Day 2: 1 01-07
168. George Yund Glenmont, NY 5 09-06 0
Day 1: 5 09-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
169. David Macinnis Cannington Ontario CANA 3 09-03 0
Day 1: 3 09-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
170. Garrett Kruger Monroe, CT 4 09-03 0
Day 1: 3 07-06 Day 2: 1 01-13
171. Keith Glasgow Guin, AL 5 09-03 0
Day 1: 3 05-14 Day 2: 2 03-05
172. Jason Citta Hershey, NE 5 09-03 0
Day 1: 2 04-10 Day 2: 3 04-09
173. Kenneth Grover II Decatur, AL 4 09-01 0
Day 1: 4 09-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. Greg Cooper Monroe City, MO 5 08-15 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 08-15
175. Tony Puelz Garnavillo, IA 4 08-15 0
Day 1: 3 07-07 Day 2: 1 01-08
176. Marco Burighel Pianiga VE ITALY 4 08-13 0
Day 1: 1 03-00 Day 2: 3 05-13
177. Eric Ritter Albertville, MN 5 08-11 0
Day 1: 5 08-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
178. Daniel Eubank Jr Moneta, VA 4 08-11 0
Day 1: 4 08-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
179. Chad Dorland Dunnellon, FL 5 08-09 0
Day 1: 5 08-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
179. Josh Milam Elkview, WV 5 08-09 0
Day 1: 5 08-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
181. Kevin Dickson Westminster, SC 5 08-08 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 08-08
182. Marty McClanahan Poca, WV 4 08-08 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 4 08-08
183. Drew Blackwood Clyde, KS 4 08-07 0
Day 1: 3 06-09 Day 2: 1 01-14
184. Cameron Naquin Gray, LA 4 08-05 0
Day 1: 3 06-13 Day 2: 1 01-08
185. Ryan Clark Whitby Ontario CANADA 4 08-04 0
Day 1: 1 03-09 Day 2: 3 04-11
186. Jeremiah Shaver Holmen, WI 5 07-15 0
Day 1: 3 04-12 Day 2: 2 03-03
187. Grant Farmer Salem, SD 5 07-13 0
Day 1: 2 03-06 Day 2: 3 04-07
188. Lane Brantmeyer Madison, WI 5 07-12 0
Day 1: 4 06-03 Day 2: 1 01-09
189. Jonathan Carter Portland, ME 3 07-10 0
Day 1: 3 07-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
190. Alan Daniels Kansas City, KS 5 07-07 0
Day 1: 2 03-02 Day 2: 3 04-05
191. Zachery Fowler Konawa, OK 3 07-06 0
Day 1: 3 07-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
192. Adam Richardson Littleton, NC 4 07-05 0
Day 1: 4 07-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
193. Craig Morris Frankford, DE 4 07-05 0
Day 1: 2 04-09 Day 2: 2 02-12
194. Jackie Barber West , TX 2 07-05 0
Day 1: 1 03-00 Day 2: 1 04-05
195. Steve Lee Minneapolis, MN 4 07-01 0
Day 1: 4 07-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
196. Darrin Toth Denton, MD 5 06-15 0
Day 1: 3 04-04 Day 2: 2 02-11
197. John Lumpkin Waskom, TX 3 06-14 0
Day 1: 2 05-07 Day 2: 1 01-07
198. Alex Johnson Milltown, NJ 4 06-14 0
Day 1: 2 02-13 Day 2: 2 04-01
199. Bruce Harris Oakdale, CA 4 06-12 0
Day 1: 4 06-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
200. Nick Deering Portland, ME 3 06-09 0
Day 1: 3 06-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
201. Jay Walls Milford, DE 3 06-06 0
Day 1: 1 02-00 Day 2: 2 04-06
202. Shayne Cleveland Flushing, MI 4 06-05 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 4 06-05
203. Will Yule Springfield, SD 4 06-04 0
Day 1: 1 01-14 Day 2: 3 04-06
204. Justin Yenter Stevens Point, WI 4 06-03 0
Day 1: 2 03-05 Day 2: 2 02-14
205. Ryan West Hartsville, SC 4 06-01 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 4 06-01
206. Scott Robert Greene, ME 2 06-00 0
Day 1: 1 02-10 Day 2: 1 03-06
207. Ryan Whitacre Chicago, IL 3 05-10 0
Day 1: 2 03-02 Day 2: 1 02-08
208. Christian Clancy Toronto Ontario CANADA 3 05-06 0
Day 1: 3 05-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
208. Edward Gad Morris, IL 3 05-06 0
Day 1: 3 05-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
210. Aaron Orsi Millbury, MA 3 05-04 0
Day 1: 3 05-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
211. Bryan Low Ajax Ontario CANADA 3 05-00 0
Day 1: 3 05-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
212. Shaun Brown Slippery Rock, PA 3 04-15 0
Day 1: 3 04-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
213. Justin Bronson Glenn Dale, MD 2 04-13 0
Day 1: 2 04-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
214. Glenn Hahn San Antonio, TX 3 04-13 0
Day 1: 2 03-03 Day 2: 1 01-10
215. Frank Arthur Jr Fallston, MD 3 04-13 0
Day 1: 1 01-13 Day 2: 2 03-00
216. Lane Kindle Stilwell, OK 3 04-12 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 04-12
216. Mark Uekman Alpena, MI 3 04-12 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 04-12
218. Lee Byrd Jr. Pell City, AL 2 04-12 0
Day 1: 2 04-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
219. Randall Hillyer Cookeville, TN 1 04-12 0
Day 1: 1 04-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
220. Justin Schneider New London, MN 2 04-11 0
Day 1: 2 04-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
221. Kenny Sammons Pinetta, FL 3 04-09 0
Day 1: 3 04-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
222. Dave Cavell Prairieville, LA 2 04-08 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 04-08
223. Ken Milender Hayward, WI 1 04-00 0
Day 1: 1 04-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
224. Paul Kremers Clarksville, AR 2 03-09 0
Day 1: 1 01-05 Day 2: 1 02-04
225. Trevor Poulin Nashua, NH 2 03-08 0
Day 1: 2 03-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
226. Ben Rand Kalamazoo, MI 2 03-04 0
Day 1: 2 03-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
227. Joseph Tefft Fort Edward, NY 2 03-03 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 03-03
228. Jeff Waters Salina, KS 2 03-02 0
Day 1: 1 01-09 Day 2: 1 01-09
229. Jason Fox Boulder City, NV 2 02-15 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 02-15
230. Greg Crumpton Ocala, FL 1 02-08 0
Day 1: 1 02-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
231. Nic Rand Paw Paw, MI 1 02-07 0
Day 1: 1 02-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
232. Brian Rodriguez Orlando, FL 1 01-15 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-15
233. Jeremy Norris Ama, LA 1 01-14 0
Day 1: 1 01-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
234. Jesse Jordan Stilwel, KS 1 01-11 0
Day 1: 1 01-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
235. Kevin Brockner Ferndale, NY 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
235. Jason Burger Bridgeton, NJ 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
235. Billy Charland Lakeland, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
235. Eric Holder Cumming, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
235. Patrick Martin St Roch De L Achigan Qu 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
235. Sean Minderman Spokane, WA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
235. Mike Shears Powhatan, VA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
235. Tyler Wolf Creston, IA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
235. Michael Zachodny Nashua, NH 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 106 845 1814-08
2 75 694 1437-09
----------------------------------
181 1539 3252-01

2024 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Championship presented by Lowrance 11/6-11/8
Grand Lake O' the Cherokees, Grove OK.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 2

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

1. Jose Munoz McHenry , IL 10 18-10 0 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 08-05 Day 2: 5 10-05
2. Mark Moran Weston, WV 9 18-08 0 $7,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 4 07-09
3. Robb Cody II Cumming, GA 10 18-08 0 $6,500.00
Day 1: 5 08-03 Day 2: 5 10-05
4. Jacob Muir Milford, DE 8 17-11 0 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 3 04-12
5. Dakota Brantmeyer Madison, WI 8 17-06 0 $4,500.00
Day 1: 4 08-09 Day 2: 4 08-13
6. Cason Hiers St. Paul, MN 8 17-03 0 $3,500.00
Day 1: 3 05-14 Day 2: 5 11-05
7. Justin Shepard Lansing, IA 8 15-15 0 $2,500.00
Day 1: 3 05-05 Day 2: 5 10-10
8. Tyler Rush Clearville, PA 9 15-13 0 $2,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 4 06-09
9. Daniel Wilson Jr Blackshear, GA 8 15-13 0 $1,500.00
Day 1: 4 07-06 Day 2: 4 08-07
10. John Clevenger Johannesburg, MI 8 15-11 0 $1,250.00
Day 1: 3 06-00 Day 2: 5 09-11
11. Kevin Jones Ft Campbell, KY 8 15-10 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 3 06-07 Day 2: 5 09-03
12. Adam Marceaux Morgan City, LA 6 15-07 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 1 02-06
13. Keith Stewart Fort Jennings, OH 7 14-13 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 3 06-07 Day 2: 4 08-06
14. Scott Breichner Hagerstown, MD 8 14-12 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 3 04-12
15. Jonathan Barnette Jasper, AL 6 14-12 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 2 04-12 Day 2: 4 10-00
16. Kevin Turner Sand Springs, OK 8 14-12 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 08-10 Day 2: 3 06-02
17. Hayden Spradling Gilbert, AZ 7 14-07 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-14 Day 2: 2 04-09
18. Adam Troyer Brownsburg, IN 8 14-05 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 3 05-11 Day 2: 5 08-10
19. Tanner Morgan Byron, IL 6 14-05 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 4 08-01 Day 2: 2 06-04
20. Joshua Buller Springfield, OR 8 14-04 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 08-12 Day 2: 3 05-08
21. Bryan Kalen Mooresville, IN 7 13-15 0 $500.00
Day 1: 2 04-00 Day 2: 5 09-15
22. Joshua Torres Port Tobacco, MD 6 13-12 0 $500.00
Day 1: 4 10-00 Day 2: 2 03-12
23. Yu Sato Okazaki Aichi JAPAN 7 13-12 0 $500.00
Day 1: 4 07-14 Day 2: 3 05-14
24. Matt Jurcin Pueblo, CO 5 13-08 0 $500.00
Day 1: 3 07-07 Day 2: 2 06-01
25. Jasyn Bachtell Saint Bonifacius, MN 6 12-14 0 $500.00
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 5 11-02
26. Charlie Watts Zavalla, TX 6 12-14 0 $500.00
Day 1: 2 03-10 Day 2: 4 09-04
27. Jonathan Shores Charles City, VA 8 12-09 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 07-08 Day 2: 3 05-01
28. Mark Sloan Harrison, AR 5 12-09 0 $500.00
Day 1: 2 06-00 Day 2: 3 06-09
29. Kyle Klein Hutchinson, KS 7 12-08 0 $500.00
Day 1: 4 08-06 Day 2: 3 04-02
30. Derek Ehrhardt Garnavillo, IA 6 12-04 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 1 01-07
31. Thomas Edwards Gilbert, AZ 6 11-15 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 09-05 Day 2: 1 02-10
32. Patrick Ferrell Glen Daniel, WV 7 11-14 0 $500.00
Day 1: 2 03-07 Day 2: 5 08-07
33. Matthew Speights Corryton, TN 7 11-12 0 $500.00
Day 1: 2 02-15 Day 2: 5 08-13
34. Joseph Sanderson Channahon, IL 6 11-08 0 $500.00
Day 1: 4 08-01 Day 2: 2 03-07
35. Ian Mangino Sunbury, OH 6 11-07 0 $500.00
Day 1: 4 08-09 Day 2: 2 02-14
36. Nick Glenn Hodges , AL 4 11-07 0 $500.00
Day 1: 2 03-15 Day 2: 2 07-08
37. Larry Carter Lucedale, MS 5 10-13 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
38. Luis Vilar Patino FayÛn SPAIN 7 10-10 0 $500.00
Day 1: 3 04-11 Day 2: 4 05-15
39. Brian Adams Clayton, NC 5 10-08 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
40. Jeremy Stoute Bedford, IN 6 10-08 0 $500.00
Day 1: 3 05-11 Day 2: 3 04-13
41. Blake Rogers Florence, SC 5 10-06 0
Day 1: 2 05-10 Day 2: 3 04-12
42. Adam Buss Bonduel, WI 5 10-04 0
Day 1: 3 06-10 Day 2: 2 03-10
43. Conner Petropoulos South Portland, ME 5 10-04 0
Day 1: 3 05-10 Day 2: 2 04-10
44. Scott Vice Patterson, LA 4 10-01 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 4 10-01
45. Brian Gibler Clarksville, TN 4 09-15 0
Day 1: 1 01-08 Day 2: 3 08-07
46. Dale Mcpherson Jr Douglasville, GA 6 09-15 0
Day 1: 3 05-03 Day 2: 3 04-12
47. Garry Harner Milliken, CO 5 09-13 0
Day 1: 2 04-04 Day 2: 3 05-09
48. Teance Blackburn Vernon, FL 4 09-13 0
Day 1: 2 04-10 Day 2: 2 05-03
49. Andrew Fischer Prior Lake, MN 4 09-12 0
Day 1: 3 08-05 Day 2: 1 01-07
50. Alex Rowe Minong, WI 5 09-12 0
Day 1: 3 04-10 Day 2: 2 05-02
51. Brandon Regnault Providence, RI 5 09-11 0
Day 1: 3 06-06 Day 2: 2 03-05
52. Ernesto Alvidrez Colorado Springs, CO 5 09-10 0
Day 1: 2 05-01 Day 2: 3 04-09
53. Thomas Foster III Suffolk, VA 6 09-09 0
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 1 00-00
54. Nathan Lechtenberg La Crosse, WI 6 09-08 0
Day 1: 5 07-15 Day 2: 1 01-09
55. AJ Mende Bellevue, NE 5 09-04 0
Day 1: 3 05-05 Day 2: 2 03-15
56. Tyler Hawthorne Waynesboro, PA 5 09-04 0
Day 1: 3 04-13 Day 2: 2 04-07
57. John Paulk Nashville, TN 5 09-02 0
Day 1: 2 04-02 Day 2: 3 05-00
58. John Smith Elkview, WV 5 09-02 0
Day 1: 3 04-14 Day 2: 2 04-04
59. Bill Wiles Jr Arcadia, OK 5 09-00 0
Day 1: 2 03-09 Day 2: 3 05-07
60. Jake Beach Opelousas, LA 5 08-14 0
Day 1: 3 05-11 Day 2: 2 03-03
61. Ralph Ferrusi Bearsville, NY 4 08-12 0
Day 1: 3 07-06 Day 2: 1 01-06
62. Lucas Sheafer Louisburg, KS 5 08-12 0
Day 1: 1 01-10 Day 2: 4 07-02
63. Jay Brown Strong, AR 5 08-10 0
Day 1: 2 03-02 Day 2: 3 05-08
64. Jeffrey Almanza Cologne, MN 3 08-09 0
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 2 06-13
65. Bobby Watson Labelle, FL 5 08-09 0
Day 1: 3 05-04 Day 2: 2 03-05
66. Terry Bunch Naperville, IL 4 08-05 0
Day 1: 1 02-06 Day 2: 3 05-15
67. Alex Rhodenizer Peterborough Ontario CA 4 08-04 0
Day 1: 2 04-03 Day 2: 2 04-01
68. Johnny Clark Northport, AL 3 08-02 0
Day 1: 3 08-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
69. Stephen Sanders New Britain, CT 2 07-15 0
Day 1: 2 07-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
70. Charlie Miglicco Cypress, TX 4 07-14 0
Day 1: 4 07-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
71. Elgin Owens Umatilla, FL 3 07-14 0
Day 1: 3 07-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
72. Mike Mayes Frankfort, KY 4 07-13 0
Day 1: 1 01-06 Day 2: 3 06-07
73. Dustin Medlock Post Falls, ID 5 07-13 0
Day 1: 1 02-06 Day 2: 4 05-07
74. Pedro Rodrigues Miguel Samora Rodrigues Evora Portugal PORTUGAL 4 07-11 0
Day 1: 4 07-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
75. Colten Didion Port Clinton, OH 4 07-10 0
Day 1: 3 05-11 Day 2: 1 01-15
76. Greg Pink Montrose, CO 5 07-10 0
Day 1: 2 03-02 Day 2: 3 04-08
77. David Pilcher Jr De Ruyter, NY 5 07-09 0
Day 1: 1 01-07 Day 2: 4 06-02
78. Stephen Barr Wilmington, NC 4 07-08 0
Day 1: 1 01-11 Day 2: 3 05-13
79. Wade Roberts Lake Charles, LA 4 07-08 0
Day 1: 3 05-01 Day 2: 1 02-07
80. Brandon Lyon Somersworth, NH 3 07-07 0
Day 1: 1 01-14 Day 2: 2 05-09
81. Caleb Harper Sutton, WV 4 07-06 0
Day 1: 4 07-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
82. Michael Hargraves Seguin, TX 4 07-06 0
Day 1: 3 05-07 Day 2: 1 01-15
83. Larry Franks Sr. Wilsonville, AL 5 07-05 0
Day 1: 1 01-09 Day 2: 4 05-12
84. Renee Hensley Edwardsburg, MI 4 07-05 0
Day 1: 3 05-11 Day 2: 1 01-10
85. Samuel Heckman Ozark, MO 4 07-05 0
Day 1: 3 05-01 Day 2: 1 02-04
86. Jimmy Myers Camden Wyoming, DE 4 07-05 0
Day 1: 3 04-12 Day 2: 1 02-09
87. Russ Seaman Norfolk, NE 3 07-04 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 07-04
88. Paul Huse Omaha, NE 4 07-04 0
Day 1: 2 03-14 Day 2: 2 03-06
89. Bob Kuykendall Bloomington, IN 4 07-02 0
Day 1: 2 03-11 Day

West Virginia's Goff takes early lead at B.A.S.S. Nation Championship

Nov. 6, 2024

West Virginia's Goff takes early lead at B.A.S.S. Nation Championship

GROVE, Okla. — The Sooner State has suffered drought for months and the legendary bass bite on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees has struggled because of it.

A veritable deluge — 9 inches of rain — fell here earlier this week, however, which was a shake to the picture for Day 1 of the 2024 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Championship presented by Lowrance. Wednesday’s weights were closer to what’s expected here in early November and definitely an improvement on what locals had been catching in recent weeks.

Alex Goff, a 27-year-old resident of Clendenin, W.V., led the way on Day 1 with a limit of five largemouth bass totaling 15 pounds, 15 ounces. Goff qualified for the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship after winning his state’s Nation tournament, and he previously won the Bassmaster Junior World Championship on Alabama’s Lake Wilson in 2012 when he was 15.

Goff shined again on the big stage Wednesday, making the most of rapidly changing conditions on 41,000-acre Grand Lake. Anglers reported catching fish via various methods, but one similarity among the early leaders was they covered plenty of water and used just about everything in the tackle box to find the best bites. Finding rainwater draining from Grand’s backwaters also proved successful for some near the top of the leaderboard.

“I haven’t had a chance to make this tournament before,” Goff said. “But I have a good job now that gives me the opportunity to come out here and take a shot at maybe fishing for a living. Catching what I did today was a blessing.”

Especially so, he said, considering how much he struggled during practice days.

“I had one 3-pound keeper the first day of practice and that was it,” he said. “I was hoping the bright sun today would make the bite better, and it did. I went shallow and ended up catching some fish later in the day. They moved up just like I thought they would.”

Goff caught a 4-9 heavy in the final half-hour of his day, boosting him into the early lead.

“I was fishing some points and throwing this little squarebill — cranking it,” he said. “I thought it was a catfish at first, the way it hit. But he rolled and I saw it was a bass. That made my day.”

Blake Capps of Muskogee, Okla., is in second place with a 15-2 limit. He too struggled in practice but pieced together a good bag on Wednesday.

“I really didn’t know what to expect, but I had a game plan, and I stuck with it,” the 28-year-old said. “It wasn’t easy by any means.”

James Biggs, of Comanche, Texas, is in third place with a 15-1 limit. He said his catch was a study in “Junk Fishing 101”.

“I missed a 3 ½ early and we got a late start … It was a hectic morning for us, but we turned it around. We caught an early limit and just kept things steady from there,” he said.

Biggs, 44, has won on Grand Lake previously (in the 2014 Bass Federation Championship), and he still fishes the area regularly. That familiarity and previous success boosted his confidence heading into Day 2.

“I’m doing a little bit of everything with different baits, but I finally was able to funnel into what’s actually going on. And I like the high-pressure, bluebird conditions we had today. It can make it tough, but I don’t mind that. I want the weather to change every day because it will make everyone re-pattern every day. I think that’ll benefit me.”

Rounding out the Top 5 boaters are Oklahoma’s Chris Jones with 14-14 and North Carolina’s Carson Orellana with 14-13. Orellana had the Phoenix Boats Big Bass (6-3) on Day 1.

Two-time defending champion Will Davis Jr of Alabama lurks just behind in sixth place with 14-9. Davis won the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship on Alabama’s Pickwick Lake in 2022 and became the only angler in history to defend his Nation Championship when he won on Lake Hartwell in South Carolina a year later.

Adam Marceaux of Morgan City, La., leads the non-boater division with five bass weighing 13-1. Delaware’s Jacob Muir is in second with 12-15 and West Virginia’s Mark Moran is third with 10-15. Emery Gray of South Carolina weighed the Big Bass of the Day (5-3) among non-boaters.

A total of 482 anglers are competing across boater and non-boater divisions on Grand Lake for a cash purse of approximately $225,000. The winning angler will collect $50,000, an invitation to compete in the 2025 Bassmaster Elite Series and a Nation’s Best boat and truck combo to use for the year.

The Top 3 anglers on Grand will earn berths into the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic to be held March 21-23 on Lake Ray Roberts in Fort Worth, Texas. In addition, the second-and third-place anglers will receive paid entry into the Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers field for 2025, circumventing the need to qualify via one of the two new divisions the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN will debut in the 2025 season.

The full field will fish again Thursday, and the Top 20 boaters advance to compete on Friday. The non-boater leader after the Day 2 weigh-in also will fish on Friday as will any other non-boater whose total weight ranks among the Top 10 boater weights.

Take-offs for the 2024 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Championship presented by Lowrance are scheduled for 6:30 a.m. CT from Wolf Creek Park in Grove. Weigh-ins begin at 2:15 p.m. CT.

The Grove Convention and Tourism Bureau is hosting this week’s events.

2024 Bassmaster Nation Series Title Sponsor: Mercury

2024 Bassmaster Nation Series Presenting Sponsor: Lowrance

2024 Bassmaster Nation Series Youth Sponsors: Seaguar, Shimano

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

Media Contact: Chad Gay, Communications Manager, 205-313-0945, cgay@bassmaster.com

2024 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Championship presented by Lowrance 11/6-11/8
Grand Lake O' the Cherokees, Grove OK.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1

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

1. Alex Goff Clendenin, WV 5 15-15 0
Day 1: 5 15-15
2. Blake Capps Muskogee, OK 5 15-02 0
Day 1: 5 15-02
3. James Biggs Comanche, TX 5 15-01 0
Day 1: 5 15-01
4. Chris Jones Bokoshe, OK 5 14-14 0
Day 1: 5 14-14
5. Carson Orellana Mooresville, NC 5 14-13 0
Day 1: 5 14-13
6. Will Davis Jr 922220207, AL 5 14-09 0
Day 1: 5 14-09
7. Zeke Gossett Pell City, AL 5 14-08 0
Day 1: 5 14-08
7. Mike Saleeba Sebring, FL 5 14-08 0
Day 1: 5 14-08
7. Taylor Umland Carlock, IL 5 14-08 0
Day 1: 5 14-08
10. Matt Pangrac Shawnee, OK 5 14-03 0
Day 1: 5 14-03
11. Matt McCoy Indianapolis, IN 5 14-00 0
Day 1: 5 14-00
12. David Ottman Terry, MS 5 13-13 0
Day 1: 5 13-13
13. Trevor Bartlett Grain Valley, MO 5 13-09 0
Day 1: 5 13-09
13. Colby Bryant Houston, TX 5 13-09 0
Day 1: 5 13-09
15. Alex Torkleson Coweta, OK 5 13-08 0
Day 1: 5 13-08
16. Connor Jacob Auburn, AL 5 13-04 0
Day 1: 5 13-04
16. Greg Vance Delhi, IA 5 13-04 0
Day 1: 5 13-04
18. Mark Desjardin Vassalboro, ME 5 13-03 0
Day 1: 5 13-03
18. Harvey Horne Bella Vista, AR 5 13-03 0
Day 1: 5 13-03
20. Jacob Swanson Framingham, MA 5 13-00 0
Day 1: 5 13-00
21. Evan Cox-VanVliet Loveland, CO 5 12-14 0
Day 1: 5 12-14
21. Dale Harbour Oxford, GA 5 12-14 0
Day 1: 5 12-14
21. Brian Trieschman Ellicott City, MD 5 12-14 0
Day 1: 5 12-14
24. Jess Pottenger Harrison, ID 5 12-12 0
Day 1: 5 12-12
24. Nick Trim Galesville, WI 5 12-12 0
Day 1: 5 12-12
26. John Duvall Madison, GA 5 12-09 0
Day 1: 5 12-09
27. Lonnie Peterson Chippewa Falls, WI 5 12-08 0
Day 1: 5 12-08
28. Mike Meadows El Dorado, AR 5 12-07 0
Day 1: 5 12-07
29. Wyatt Frankens Corrigan , TX 5 12-04 0
Day 1: 5 12-04
29. Tom Graziano Ridgefield, CT 5 12-04 0
Day 1: 5 12-04
29. Chad Petrie Scroggins, TX 5 12-04 0
Day 1: 5 12-04
32. Brad Smith Collierville, TN 4 12-03 0
Day 1: 4 12-03
33. Mark Dove North Vernon, IN 5 12-02 0
Day 1: 5 12-02
34. Luke Gritter Otsego, MI 5 12-00 0
Day 1: 5 12-00
34. Edgar Romero Renteria Leon MEXICO 5 12-00 0
Day 1: 5 12-00
36. Hunter King North Platte, NE 5 11-15 0
Day 1: 5 11-15
37. Corey Lindsey Marion, OH 5 11-13 0
Day 1: 5 11-13
38. Jess Beihoffer Soddy Daisy, TN 5 11-12 0
Day 1: 5 11-12
38. Jason Cheek Eatonton, GA 5 11-12 0
Day 1: 5 11-12
40. Brandon Morton San Tan Valley, AZ 5 11-11 0
Day 1: 5 11-11
40. Jed Worthington Morrisville, VT 5 11-11 0
Day 1: 5 11-11
42. Keegan Graves Meridian, ID 5 11-08 0
Day 1: 5 11-08
42. Hayes Hudson Conway, SC 5 11-08 0
Day 1: 5 11-08
44. Scott Dooley Ashland, MO 5 11-06 0
Day 1: 5 11-06
44. Jeremy Homeyer Franklin, TN 5 11-06 0
Day 1: 5 11-06
46. Dan Patane Canastota, NY 5 11-04 0
Day 1: 5 11-04
47. Takeshi Hattori Koganei JAPAN 5 11-03 0
Day 1: 5 11-03
48. Matt Nobile Sorrento, LA 5 11-02 0
Day 1: 5 11-02
48. Bo Quinnie Duncanville, AL 5 11-02 0
Day 1: 5 11-02
50. Eduardo Fouto Montariguil Portugal PO 5 11-01 0
Day 1: 5 11-01
51. Richard Dunham Palm Harbor, FL 5 11-00 0
Day 1: 5 11-00
52. Brent Shores Boise, ID 5 10-15 0
Day 1: 5 10-15
53. Bruce Sargent Warrior, AL 3 10-15 0
Day 1: 3 10-15
54. Jeremy Knepp Montgomery, IN 5 10-14 0
Day 1: 5 10-14
55. Teddy Granier Thibodaux, LA 5 10-13 0
Day 1: 5 10-13
55. Timmy Wells Fresno, CA 5 10-13 0
Day 1: 5 10-13
57. Dave Turner Citrus Springs, FL 5 10-12 0
Day 1: 5 10-12
58. Jamie Bruce Kenora Ontario CANADA 5 10-11 0
Day 1: 5 10-11
59. Cade Laufenberg Onalaska, WI 4 10-10 0
Day 1: 4 10-10
60. Mark Bell Fisherville, KY 5 10-09 0
Day 1: 5 10-09
60. Kyle Christopher Danville, KY 5 10-09 0
Day 1: 5 10-09
60. Tyler Webb Glen Daniel, WV 5 10-09 0
Day 1: 5 10-09
60. Ron Wiseman Jr Pendleton, OR 5 10-09 0
Day 1: 5 10-09
64. Tony Baldridge Oklahoma City, OK 5 10-07 0
Day 1: 5 10-07
65. Ruben Tarazona Sicilia Tarazona SPAIN 5 10-05 0
Day 1: 5 10-05
66. Jordan Williams Odessa, MO 5 10-03 0
Day 1: 5 10-03
67. Chris Johnson Farmington, AR 5 10-00 0
Day 1: 5 10-00
68. Coby Carden Shelby, AL 5 09-15 0
Day 1: 5 09-15
68. Luke Wenger Lakewood, CO 5 09-15 0
Day 1: 5 09-15
70. Wesley Baxley Conroe , TX 5 09-14 0
Day 1: 5 09-14
70. Noah Winslow Naugatuck, CT 5 09-14 0
Day 1: 5 09-14
72. Shaine Campbell Brookeland, TX 4 09-14 0
Day 1: 4 09-14
73. Kipton Burba Columbia, SC 5 09-13 0
Day 1: 5 09-13
73. Chris Fondren Lebanon, TN 5 09-13 0
Day 1: 5 09-13
75. Grant Pavelka North Platte, NE 5 09-11 0
Day 1: 5 09-11
76. Daniel Ward Sage, AR 4 09-10 0
Day 1: 4 09-10
77. Tyler Frahm Kirbyville, MO 5 09-09 0
Day 1: 5 09-09
78. Nick Koehne Manteno, IL 5 09-07 0
Day 1: 5 09-07
78. Taylor Phillips East Tawas, MI 5 09-07 0
Day 1: 5 09-07
80. George Yund Glenmont, NY 5 09-06 0
Day 1: 5 09-06
81. David Gardner Suffolk, VA 4 09-06 0
Day 1: 4 09-06
81. Tony Keller Charleston, WV 4 09-06 0
Day 1: 4 09-06
83. Dan Mohn Lansing, IA 5 09-05 0
Day 1: 5 09-05
83. Michael Smith Laurel Hill, AL 5 09-05 0
Day 1: 5 09-05
85. Danny McGarry Newcastle CANADA 5 09-04 0
Day 1: 5 09-04
86. Sal Pinto Dawsonville, GA 5 09-03 0
Day 1: 5 09-03
87. David Macinnis Cannington Ontario CANA 3 09-03 0
Day 1: 3 09-03
88. Adam Hamann Prairie Du Chien, IA 5 09-02 0
Day 1: 5 09-02
88. Jeremy Tenwalde Fort Jennings, OH 5 09-02 0
Day 1: 5 09-02
90. Liam Blake East Syracuse, NY 5 09-01 0
Day 1: 5 09-01
90. Bryan Close Fairbank, IA 5 09-01 0
Day 1: 5 09-01
92. Kenneth Grover II Decatur, AL 4 09-01 0
Day 1: 4 09-01
93. Trey Nanney III Rocky Mount, NC 5 08-15 0
Day 1: 5 08-15
93. Tyler Wilson Carlsbad, NM 5 08-15 0
Day 1: 5 08-15
95. Cj Maddux Birmingham, AL 4 08-15 0
Day 1: 4 08-15
95. Brad Weese Petersburg, WV 4 08-15 0
Day 1: 4 08-15
97. Sam Mitchell Kiowa, OK 5 08-13 0
Day 1: 5 08-13
98. Rich Risewick Norton, KS 5 08-12 0
Day 1: 5 08-12
99. Garrett Towler Powhatan, VA 4 08-12 0
Day 1: 4 08-12
100. Casey Knaup Montello, WI 5 08-11 0
Day 1: 5 08-11
100. Eric Ritter Albertville, MN 5 08-11 0
Day 1: 5 08-11
100. Colby Robertson Summerfield, FL 5 08-11 0
Day 1: 5 08-11
103. Daniel Eubank Jr Moneta, VA 4 08-11 0
Day 1: 4 08-11
104. Tyler Ivie West Haven, UT 5 08-10 0
Day 1: 5 08-10
104. Jay Wright Jr Louisburg, NC 5 08-10 0
Day 1: 5 08-10
106. Harry Linsinbigler IV Dover, FL 4 08-10 0
Day 1: 4 08-10
107. Chad Dorland Dunnellon, FL 5 08-09 0
Day 1: 5 08-09
107. Aaron Green Everett, PA 5 08-09 0
Day 1: 5 08-09
107. Josh Milam Elkview, WV 5 08-09 0
Day 1: 5 08-09
110. Harry Colberg Pittsburgh, PA 5 08-08 0
Day 1: 5 08-08
111. Chris Brimager Augusta, KS 4 08-08 0
Day 1: 4 08-08
112. Dan Tavilla Portsmouth, NH 5 08-07 0
Day 1: 5 08-07
113. Andrew Nienaber Cape Town Western Cape 4 08-07 0
Day 1: 4 08-07
113. Adam Rasmussen Sturgeon Bay, WI 4 08-07 0
Day 1: 4 08-07
115. Brock Belik Orchard, NE 5 08-05 0
Day 1: 5 08-05
115. Mike Roselle La Plata, MD 5 08-05 0
Day 1: 5 08-05
117. Kahle Gotcher East Tawas, MI 3 08-05 0
Day 1: 3 08-05
118. Alex Gross Jefferson, NH 5 08-04 0
Day 1: 5 08-04
119. Francis Beard Rainbow City, AL 4 08-04 0
Day 1: 4 08-04
120. Jonathan Brindel Moncks Corner, SC 5 08-03 0
Day 1: 5 08-03
120. Shane Doughtie Roanoke Rapids, NC 5 08-03 0
Day 1: 5 08-03
122. Dave Mathieu Woodstock, CT 4 08-03 0
Day 1: 4 08-03
123. Sam Hanggi Knoxville, TN 4 08-02 0
Day 1: 4 08-02
123. Bryce Kalen Greenwood, IN 4 08-02 0
Day 1: 4 08-02
123. Anthony Lorefice Jr Johnson City, NY 4 08-02 0
Day 1: 4 08-02
126. Jesse Parks Goodyear, AZ 5 08-01 0
Day 1: 5 08-01
127. Mark Burgess Norton, MA 4 08-00 0
Day 1: 4 08-00
127. Bryden Mugleston Mount Juliet, TN 4 08-00 0
Day 1: 4 08-00
129. Josh Workman Charleston, WV 5 07-15 0
Day 1: 5 07-15
130. Trevor Rogge Canyon Lake, TX 3 07-13 0
Day 1: 3 07-13
131. Jonathan Carter Portland, ME 3 07-10 0
Day 1: 3 07-10
132. Michael Lebsack Duluth, MN 5 07-09 0
Day 1: 5 07-09
133. Gary Pope Jr Georgetown, SC 4 07-09 0
Day 1: 4 07-09
134. Connor O'Connor Pequot Lakes, MN 3 07-07 0
Day 1: 3 07-07
134. Tony Puelz Garnavillo, IA 3 07-07 0
Day 1: 3 07-07
136. Tim Johnston Plains, MT 4 07-06 0
Day 1: 4 07-06
137. Zachery Fowler Konawa, OK 3 07-06 0
Day 1: 3 07-06
137. Garrett Kruger Monroe, CT 3 07-06 0
Day 1: 3 07-06
139. Adam Richardson Littleton, NC 4 07-05 0
Day 1: 4 07-05
140. David Wesson Southside, AL 3 07-04 0
Day 1: 3 07-04
141. Kalib Lund Yuma, AZ 4 07-02 0
Day 1: 4 07-02
142. Ty Austin Rush, NY 3 07-02 0
Day 1: 3 07-02
143. Frankie Appaluccio Ogdensburg, NJ 4 07-01 0
Day 1: 4 07-01
143. Steve Lee Minneapolis, MN 4 07-01 0
Day 1: 4 07-01
143. Colton Sowers Bentleyville, PA 4 07-01 0
Day 1: 4 07-01
146. Gabriel Rivera Portales, NM 4 07-00 0
Day 1: 4 07-00
147. Rich Lindgren Lakeville, MN 3 06-14 0
Day 1: 3 06-14
148. Ryan Watkins Willis, TX 4 06-13 0
Day 1: 4 06-13
149. Michael Kazmierczak Lemont, IL 3 06-13 0
Day 1: 3 06-13
149. Cameron Naquin Gray, LA 3 06-13 0
Day 1: 3 06-13
151. Bruce Harris Oakdale, CA 4 06-12 0
Day 1: 4 06-12
152. Drew Blackwood Clyde, KS 3 06-09 0
Day 1: 3 06-09
152. Nick Deering Portland, ME 3 06-09 0
Day 1: 3 06-09
154. Robert Rush Jr Crossett, AR 2 06-09 0
Day 1: 2 06-09
155. Spencer Black Hickory, NC 4 06-08 0
Day 1: 4 06-08
155. Matty Szczoczarz Cumberland, RI 4 06-08 0
Day 1: 4 06-08
157. Aaron Jakub Silverton, OR 4 06-07 0
Day 1: 4 06-07
158. Will Chen Harwood CANADA 4 06-06 0
Day 1: 4 06-06
159. Jonathon Sutton Cross, SC 2 06-06 0
Day 1: 2 06-06
160. Lane Brantmeyer Madison, WI 4 06-03 0
Day 1: 4 06-03
161. Hunter Baird Flippin, AR 3 06-00 0
Day 1: 3 06-00
162. Brennan Berglund Zimmerman, MN 4 05-14 0
Day 1: 4 05-14
162. Dalton Warrington Tishimingo , OK 4 05-14 0
Day 1: 4 05-14
164. Keith Glasgow Guin, AL 3 05-14 0
Day 1: 3 05-14
165. Jeffery Lawson Ellisville, MS 3 05-13 0
Day 1: 3 05-13
166. Tom Hardy Penetanguishene Ontario 2 05-10 0
Day 1: 2 05-10
167. Leslie Brandenburg Springfield, MO 2 05-07 0
Day 1: 2 05-07
167. John Lumpkin Waskom, TX 2 05-07 0
Day 1: 2 05-07
169. Christian Clancy Toronto Ontario CANADA 3 05-06 0
Day 1: 3 05-06
169. Edward Gad Morris, IL 3 05-06 0
Day 1: 3 05-06
171. Aaron Orsi Millbury, MA 3 05-04 0
Day 1: 3 05-04
172. Cody Dawson Mount Vernon, OH 2 05-02 0
Day 1: 2 05-02
172. Travis Seitzinger WInfield, KS 2 05-02 0
Day 1: 2 05-02
174. Bryan Low Ajax Ontario CANADA 3 05-00 0
Day 1: 3 05-00
175. Shaun Brown Slippery Rock, PA 3 04-15 0
Day 1: 3 04-15
176. Justin Bronson Glenn Dale, MD 2 04-13 0
Day 1: 2 04-13
177. Jeremiah Shaver Holmen, WI 3 04-12 0
Day 1: 3 04-12
178. Lee Byrd Jr. Pell City, AL 2 04-12 0
Day 1: 2 04-12
179. Randall Hillyer Cookeville, TN 1 04-12 0
Day 1: 1 04-12
180. Justin Schneider New London, MN 2 04-11 0
Day 1: 2 04-11
181. Jason Citta Hershey, NE 2 04-10 0
Day 1: 2 04-10
182. Kenny Sammons Pinetta, FL 3 04-09 0
Day 1: 3 04-09
183. Craig Morris Frankford, DE 2 04-09 0
Day 1: 2 04-09
184. Jerry David II Pilot Point, TX 2 04-08 0
Day 1: 2 04-08
185. Will Rogers Parker, KS 2 04-07 0
Day 1: 2 04-07
186. Ricky Vines El Dorado, AR 3 04-06 0
Day 1: 3 04-06
187. Darrin Toth Denton, MD 3 04-04 0
Day 1: 3 04-04
188. Ken Milender Hayward, WI 1 04-00 0
Day 1: 1 04-00
189. Brian Barthelt Orland Park, IL 2 03-13 0
Day 1: 2 03-13
190. Ryan Clark Whitby Ontario CANADA 1 03-09 0
Day 1: 1 03-09
191. Trevor Poulin Nashua, NH 2 03-08 0
Day 1: 2 03-08
192. Brian Post Janesville, WI 2 03-07 0
Day 1: 2 03-07
193. Grant Farmer Salem, SD 2 03-06 0
Day 1: 2 03-06
193. Kevin True Frankfort, KY 2 03-06 0
Day 1: 2 03-06
195. Justin Yenter Stevens Point, WI 2 03-05 0
Day 1: 2 03-05
196. Ben Rand Kalamazoo, MI 2 03-04 0
Day 1: 2 03-04
197. Glenn Hahn San Antonio, TX 2 03-03 0
Day 1: 2 03-03
197. Charlie Scott Santa Fe, TN 2 03-03 0
Day 1: 2 03-03
197. Kevin Steinruck Sodus, NY 2 03-03 0
Day 1: 2 03-03
200. Alan Daniels Kansas City, KS 2 03-02 0
Day 1: 2 03-02
200. Ryan Whitacre Chicago, IL 2 03-02 0
Day 1: 2 03-02
202. Jackie Barber West , TX 1 03-00 0
Day 1: 1 03-00
202. Marco Burighel Pianiga VE ITALY 1 03-00 0
Day 1: 1 03-00
204. Alex Johnson Milltown, NJ 2 02-13 0
Day 1: 2 02-13
205. Mark Lodge North Waterboro, ME 1 02-13 0
Day 1: 1 02-13
206. Scott Robert Greene, ME 1 02-10 0
Day 1: 1 02-10
207. Kazuki Kitajima Corinth, TX 1 02-09 0
Day 1: 1 02-09
207. Trevor Scott Windsor, CO 1 02-09 0
Day 1: 1 02-09
209. Greg Crumpton Ocala, FL 1 02-08 0
Day 1: 1 02-08
210. Nic Rand Paw Paw, MI 1 02-07 0
Day 1: 1 02-07
211. Jay Walls Milford, DE 1 02-00 0
Day 1: 1 02-00
212. Michael Duarte Middle River, MD 1 01-15 0
Day 1: 1 01-15
213. Jeremy Norris Ama, LA 1 01-14 0
Day 1: 1 01-14
213. Will Yule Springfield, SD 1 01-14 0
Day 1: 1 01-14
215. Frank Arthur Jr Fallston, MD 1 01-13 0
Day 1: 1 01-13
215. Darrin Driver Peterborough Ontario CA 1 01-13 0
Day 1: 1 01-13
217. Jesse Jordan Stilwel, KS 1 01-11 0
Day 1: 1 01-11
218. Jeff Waters Salina, KS 1 01-09 0
Day 1: 1 01-09
219. Chase Loftus Iowa City, IA 1 01-07 0
Day 1: 1 01-07
220. Paul Kremers Clarksville, AR 1 01-05 0
Day 1: 1 01-05
221. Jeff Clark Van Buren, AR 5 00-00 0
Day 1: 5 00-00
222. Kevin Brockner Ferndale, NY 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
222. Jason Burger Bridgeton, NJ 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
222. Dave Cavell Prairieville, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
222. Billy Charland Lakeland, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
222. Shayne Cleveland Flushing, MI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
222. Greg Cooper Monroe City, MO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
222. Kevin Dickson Westminster, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
222. Jason Fox Boulder City, NV 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
222. Eric Holder Cumming, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
222. Lane Kindle Stilwell, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
222. Brett King Kinta, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
222. Patrick Martin St Roch De L Achigan Qu 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
222. Marty McClanahan Poca, WV 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
222. Sean Minderman Spokane, WA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
222. Brian Rodriguez Orlando, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
222. Trevor Sanderson New Lenox, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
222. Mike Shears Powhatan, VA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
222. Joseph Tefft Fort Edward, NY 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
222. Mark Uekman Alpena, MI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
222. Ryan West Hartsville, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
222. Tyler Wolf Creston, IA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
222. Michael Zachodny Nashua, NH 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 106 845 1814-08
----------------------------------
106 845 1814-08
2024 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Championship presented by Lowrance 11/6-11/8
Grand Lake O' the Cherokees, Grove OK.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 1

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

1. Adam Marceaux Morgan City, LA 5 13-01 0
Day 1: 5 13-01
2. Jacob Muir Milford, DE 5 12-15 0
Day 1: 5 12-15
3. Mark Moran Weston, WV 5 10-15 0
Day 1: 5 10-15
4. Larry Carter Lucedale, MS 5 10-13 0
Day 1: 5 10-13
4. Derek Ehrhardt Garnavillo, IA 5 10-13 0
Day 1: 5 10-13
6. Brian Adams Clayton, NC 5 10-08 0
Day 1: 5 10-08
7. Scott Breichner Hagerstown, MD 5 10-00 0
Day 1: 5 10-00
8. Joshua Torres Port Tobacco, MD 4 10-00 0
Day 1: 4 10-00
9. Hayden Spradling Gilbert, AZ 5 09-14 0
Day 1: 5 09-14
10. Thomas Foster III Suffolk, VA 5 09-09 0
Day 1: 5 09-09
11. Thomas Edwards Gilbert, AZ 5 09-05 0
Day 1: 5 09-05
12. Tyler Rush Clearville, PA 5 09-04 0
Day 1: 5 09-04
13. Joshua Buller Springfield, OR 5 08-12 0
Day 1: 5 08-12
14. Kevin Turner Sand Springs, OK 5 08-10 0
Day 1: 5 08-10
15. Dakota Brantmeyer Madison, WI 4 08-09 0
Day 1: 4 08-09
15. Ian Mangino Sunbury, OH 4 08-09 0
Day 1: 4 08-09
17. Kyle Klein Hutchinson, KS 4 08-06 0
Day 1: 4 08-06
18. Jose Munoz McHenry , IL 5 08-05 0
Day 1: 5 08-05
19. Andrew Fischer Prior Lake, MN 3 08-05 0
Day 1: 3 08-05
20. Robert Cody II Cumming, GA 5 08-03 0
Day 1: 5 08-03
21. Johnny Clark Northport, AL 3 08-02 0
Day 1: 3 08-02
22. Tanner Morgan Byron, IL 4 08-01 0
Day 1: 4 08-01
22. Joseph Sanderson Channahon, IL 4 08-01 0
Day 1: 4 08-01
24. Nathan Lechtenberg La Crosse, WI 5 07-15 0
Day 1: 5 07-15
25. Stephen Sanders New Britain, CT 2 07-15 0
Day 1: 2 07-15
26. Charlie Miglicco Cypress, TX 4 07-14 0
Day 1: 4 07-14
26. Yu Sato Okazaki Aichi JAPAN 4 07-14 0
Day 1: 4 07-14
28. Elgin Owens Umatilla, FL 3 07-14 0
Day 1: 3 07-14
29. Pedro Rodrigues Miguel Samora Rodrigues Evora Portugal PORTUGAL 4 07-11 0
Day 1: 4 07-11
30. Jonathan Shores Charles City, VA 5 07-08 0
Day 1: 5 07-08
31. Matt Jurcin Pueblo, CO 3 07-07 0
Day 1: 3 07-07
32. Caleb Harper Sutton, WV 4 07-06 0
Day 1: 4 07-06
32. Daniel Wilson Jr Blackshear, GA 4 07-06 0
Day 1: 4 07-06
34. Ralph Ferrusi Bearsville, NY 3 07-06 0
Day 1: 3 07-06
35. Chris Kingree Inverness, FL 4 07-00 0
Day 1: 4 07-00
36. Matt Luken Independence, KY 4 06-10 0
Day 1: 4 06-10
37. Adam Buss Bonduel, WI 3 06-10 0
Day 1: 3 06-10
38. Kevin Jones Ft Campbell, KY 3 06-07 0
Day 1: 3 06-07
38. Keith Stewart Fort Jennings, OH 3 06-07 0
Day 1: 3 06-07
40. Brandon Regnault Providence, RI 3 06-06 0
Day 1: 3 06-06
41. Terry Webb El Dorado, AR 2 06-05 0
Day 1: 2 06-05
42. Shawn Carnahan Gilbert, AZ 3 06-02 0
Day 1: 3 06-02
43. Francesco Guazzi Modena ITALY 3 06-01 0
Day 1: 3 06-01
44. John Clevenger Johannesburg, MI 3 06-00 0
Day 1: 3 06-00
45. Mark Sloan Harrison, AR 2 06-00 0
Day 1: 2 06-00
46. Cason Hiers St. Paul, MN 3 05-14 0
Day 1: 3 05-14
47. Jake Beach Opelousas, LA 3 05-11 0
Day 1: 3 05-11
47. Colten Didion Port Clinton, OH 3 05-11 0
Day 1: 3 05-11
47. Renee Hensley Edwardsburg, MI 3 05-11 0
Day 1: 3 05-11
47. Jeremy Stoute Bedford, IN 3 05-11 0
Day 1: 3 05-11
47. Adam Troyer Brownsburg, IN 3 05-11 0
Day 1: 3 05-11
52. Patrick Owens Syracuse, NY 2 05-11 0
Day 1: 2 05-11
53. Conner Petropoulos South Portland, ME 3 05-10 0
Day 1: 3 05-10
54. Blake Rogers Florence, SC 2 05-10 0
Day 1: 2 05-10
55. Michael Hargraves Seguin, TX 3 05-07 0
Day 1: 3 05-07
56. Adam Markiewicz Plainfield, IL 3 05-05 0
Day 1: 3 05-05
56. AJ Mende Bellevue, NE 3 05-05 0
Day 1: 3 05-05
56. Justin Shepard Lansing, IA 3 05-05 0
Day 1: 3 05-05
59. Anthony Paschall Cumberland, VA 2 05-05 0
Day 1: 2 05-05
60. Bobby Watson Labelle, FL 3 05-04 0
Day 1: 3 05-04
61. Ty Middleton Gadsden, TN 2 05-04 0
Day 1: 2 05-04
62. Dale Mcpherson Jr Douglasville, GA 3 05-03 0
Day 1: 3 05-03
63. George Georgopoulos Belmont, NC 2 05-03 0
Day 1: 2 05-03
63. Brad McCarthy Columbus, GA 2 05-03 0
Day 1: 2 05-03
65. Emery Gray Sumter, SC 1 05-03 0
Day 1: 1 05-03
66. Samuel Heckman Ozark, MO 3 05-01 0
Day 1: 3 05-01
66. Charles Priddy Midlothian, TX 3 05-01 0
Day 1: 3 05-01
66. Wade Roberts Lake Charles, LA 3 05-01 0
Day 1: 3 05-01
69. Ernesto Alvidrez Colorado Springs, CO 2 05-01 0
Day 1: 2 05-01
69. Dillon Garcia Hanford, CA 2 05-01 0
Day 1: 2 05-01
71. Donny Davis Waterloo, AL 3 04-15 0
Day 1: 3 04-15
72. Perry See Rochester, MN 3 04-14 0
Day 1: 3 04-14
72. John Smith Elkview, WV 3 04-14 0
Day 1: 3 04-14
74. Corey Seefeldt Menasha, WI 2 04-14 0
Day 1: 2 04-14
75. Tyler Hawthorne Waynesboro, PA 3 04-13 0
Day 1: 3 04-13
76. Jimmy Myers Camden Wyoming, DE 3 04-12 0
Day 1: 3 04-12
76. Jesse Stewart Lima, OH 3 04-12 0
Day 1: 3 04-12
78. Jonathan Barnette Jasper, AL 2 04-12 0
Day 1: 2 04-12
79. Jeremy Barbour Lucedale, MS 3 04-11 0
Day 1: 3 04-11
79. Luis Vilar Patino FayÛn SPAIN 3 04-11 0
Day 1: 3 04-11
81. Gene Richardson Norlina, NC 2 04-11 0
Day 1: 2 04-11
82. Alex Rowe Minong, WI 3 04-10 0
Day 1: 3 04-10
83. Bobbi Blackburn Vernon, FL 2 04-10 0
Day 1: 2 04-10
83. Cedric Davis Jr Hopkins, SC 2 04-10 0
Day 1: 2 04-10
85. Jason Maschmeyer Cave Springs, AR 2 04-09 0
Day 1: 2 04-09
86. John Morales Mound, MN 1 04-05 0
Day 1: 1 04-05
87. James Maynard Marysville, OH 3 04-04 0
Day 1: 3 04-04
88. Garry Harner Milliken, CO 2 04-04 0
Day 1: 2 04-04
89. Zack Busch Bloomsdale, MO 2 04-03 0
Day 1: 2 04-03
89. Alex Rhodenizer Peterborough Ontario CA 2 04-03 0
Day 1: 2 04-03
91. Blake Campbell Bremen, AL 2 04-02 0
Day 1: 2 04-02
91. John Paulk Nashville, TN 2 04-02 0
Day 1: 2 04-02
93. Bryan Kalen Mooresville, IN 2 04-00 0
Day 1: 2 04-00
93. Kenny Keovilayphone Taylorsville, UT 2 04-00 0
Day 1: 2 04-00
95. Nick Glenn Hodges , AL 2 03-15 0
Day 1: 2 03-15
96. Paul Huse Omaha, NE 2 03-14 0
Day 1: 2 03-14
97. Brett Anderson Frederic, WI 2 03-11 0
Day 1: 2 03-11
97. Bob Kuykendall Bloomington, IN 2 03-11 0
Day 1: 2 03-11
99. Parker Domschke Bolingbrook, IL 2 03-10 0
Day 1: 2 03-10
99. Charlie Watts Zavalla, TX 2 03-10 0
Day 1: 2 03-10
101. Billy Freeny Sperry, OK 2 03-09 0
Day 1: 2 03-09
101. Bobby Johnson Hemingway, SC 2 03-09 0
Day 1: 2 03-09
101. Bill Wiles Jr Arcadia, OK 2 03-09 0
Day 1: 2 03-09
101. Jacob Zaremski Rochester, NY 2 03-09 0
Day 1: 2 03-09
105. Terry Wilson Carlsbad, NM 2 03-08 0
Day 1: 2 03-08
106. Christopher Curvin Piedmont, AL 2 03-08 0
Day 1: 2 03-08
107. Robert Baker Midlothian, VA 2 03-07 0
Day 1: 2 03-07
107. Patrick Ferrell Glen Daniel, WV 2 03-07 0
Day 1: 2 03-07
107. Curtis Gossett Pell City, AL 2 03-07 0
Day 1: 2 03-07
107. Kenny Rogers Florence, SC 2 03-07 0
Day 1: 2 03-07
111. Ray Cates Overland Park, KS 2 03-06 0
Day 1: 2 03-06
111. Tylor Marquis Gray, ME 2 03-06 0
Day 1: 2 03-06
111. Garrett Smith Vidor, TX 2 03-06 0
Day 1: 2 03-06
114. Mike Talaga Andover, CT 2 03-03 0
Day 1: 2 03-03
115. Bart Shaffer Oakland, MD 1 03-03 0
Day 1: 1 03-03
116. Jay Brown Strong, AR 2 03-02 0
Day 1: 2 03-02
116. Erik Gaffron Hanover, MN 2 03-02 0
Day 1: 2 03-02
116. Greg Pink Montrose, CO 2 03-02 0
Day 1: 2 03-02
116. Evan White Roanoke Rapids, NC 2 03-02 0
Day 1: 2 03-02
120. Toby Cross Bowdoinham, ME 2 03-01 0
Day 1: 2 03-01
120. Chris Rhodes Eaton, IN 2 03-01 0
Day 1: 2 03-01
120. Rick Rhom Rutherfordton, NC 2 03-01 0
Day 1: 2 03-01
123. Dylan Eschette Brusly, LA 2 03-00 0
Day 1: 2 03-00
123. Richard Roselle La Plata, MD 2 03-00 0
Day 1: 2 03-00
125. Stacy Ratliff Florence, MT 2 02-15 0
Day 1: 2 02-15
125. Matthew Speights Corryton, TN 2 02-15 0
Day 1: 2 02-15
127. Harvey Beck Barrie Ontario CANADA 2 02-14 0
Day 1: 2 02-14
128. Joseph Carroll Wilkinson, WV 2 02-13 0
Day 1: 2 02-13
129. Douglas Eubank Good View, VA 1 02-13 0
Day 1: 1 02-13
130. Austin Moore Washburn, IL 2 02-11 0
Day 1: 2 02-11
131. Bill Scharton Soddy Daisy, TN 1 02-11 0
Day 1: 1 02-11
132. Kristopher Gaertner Morris, IL 1 02-10 0
Day 1: 1 02-10
132. Brett Vernon Meriden, CT 1 02-10 0
Day 1: 1 02-10
134. Troy Bartlett Grain Valley, MO 1 02-09 0
Day 1: 1 02-09
135. Joe Winterling III Waynesboro, PA 1 02-08 0
Day 1: 1 02-08
136. Josh Giran Elizabeth, PA 1 02-07 0
Day 1: 1 02-07
137. Terry Bunch Naperville, IL 1 02-06 0
Day 1: 1 02-06
137. Dustin Medlock Post Falls, ID 1 02-06 0
Day 1: 1 02-06
137. Robert Rull Jr Coventry, RI 1 02-06 0
Day 1: 1 02-06
140. Dylan Stowe Weybridge, VT 1 02-05 0
Day 1: 1 02-05
141. Charles Pustz Tinley Park, IL 1 02-03 0
Day 1: 1 02-03
142. Raymond Severns IV Montoursville, PA 1 02-02 0
Day 1: 1 02-02
143. Bob Evans Elkhart, IN 1 02-01 0
Day 1: 1 02-01
143. Dave Reed Westminster, MD 1 02-01 0
Day 1: 1 02-01
145. JT Fitzgerald Lincoln, DE 1 02-00 0
Day 1: 1 02-00
145. Matthew Marques Seneca, IL 1 02-00 0
Day 1: 1 02-00
145. Mark Smith Brandon, FL 1 02-00 0
Day 1: 1 02-00
148. Jeffrey Lopez Bolingbrook, IL 1 01-15 0
Day 1: 1 01-15
148. Justin Schmadeke Brandon, IA 1 01-15 0
Day 1: 1 01-15
150. Mark Cowart Kearney, MO 1 01-14 0
Day 1: 1 01-14
150. Jean-Marie Landry Pierrefonds Quebec CANA 1 01-14 0
Day 1: 1 01-14
150. Brandon Lyon Somersworth, NH 1 01-14 0
Day 1: 1 01-14
150. Ken Mcdonald Crossett, AR 1 01-14 0
Day 1: 1 01-14
150. Elliott Thorn Tahlequah, OK 1 01-14 0
Day 1: 1 01-14
155. Luke Davidson Ocean Pines, MD 1 01-13 0
Day 1: 1 01-13
156. Jeffrey Almanza Cologne, MN 1 01-12 0
Day 1: 1 01-12
156. Jasyn Bachtell Saint Bonifacius, MN 1 01-12 0
Day 1: 1 01-12
156. Tom Bateman Orlando, FL 1 01-12 0
Day 1: 1 01-12
156. Jeremy Kimberling Coeur D Alene, ID 1 01-12 0
Day 1: 1 01-12
156. Greg Poetz Winsted, MN 1 01-12 0
Day 1: 1 01-12
161. Stephen Barr Wilmington, NC 1 01-11 0
Day 1: 1 01-11
161. Dillon Sears Mason City, IA 1 01-11 0
Day 1: 1 01-11
163. Vic Brown II Glen Burnie, MD 1 01-10 0
Day 1: 1 01-10
163. Dehn Ganey Bonneau, SC 1 01-10 0
Day 1: 1 01-10
163. Lucas Sheafer Louisburg, KS 1 01-10 0
Day 1: 1 01-10
163. Mike Wotanowski Lake Hopatcong, NJ 1 01-10 0
Day 1: 1 01-10
167. Michael Campbell Blossom, TX 1 01-09 0
Day 1: 1 01-09
167. Cova Cornett Ashland , KY 1 01-09 0
Day 1: 1 01-09
167. Larry Franks Sr. Wilsonville, AL

Photos from the Minn Kota Habitat Restoration Projects and American Feeder Donation at Early Town Center Lake

MLF Fisheries Management Division Teams Up with American Feeder, TPWD and Local Volunteers for Conservation Efforts in Early, Texas

EARLY, Texas (Nov. 5, 2024) –Professional anglers who competed in Early, Texas, last week at the Major League Fishing (MLF) General Tire Team Series Folds of Honor Patriot Cup Presented by recteq left Central Texas with more than just quality entertainment and good impressions. The MLF Fisheries Management Division (FMD) partnered with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), Texas Pro Lake Management and several local fishing teams to complete two Minn Kota Habitat Restoration Projects supported by MossBack Fish Habitat and American Feeder.

As part of the first project, American Feeder provided two high-strength, aluminum fish feeders to be placed in Early Town Center Lake. Each feeder holds up to 75 pounds of fish food. The feeders were presented to the City of Early Mayor Robert Mangrum, Council Member Charles Matlock and city staff by MLF pros Gary Klein, Alton Jones Jr. and Ott Defoe and MLF FMD Director Steven Bardin.

"We were thrilled to partner with the MLF Fisheries Management Division, Texas Pro Lake Management, TPWD and the City of Early, Texas to support the lake rehabilitation at the Early Town Center Lake,” said Matt Swainbank, Sales Manager at American Feeder. “Creating a space for local and youth anglers to fish is vital to our industry, and we were glad the opportunity arose in conjunction with the General Tire Team Series event. Our two H125 aluminum fish feeders will be a great addition to the lake enhancement project. These feeders will help continue to grow the sunfish, bass, trout and catfish populations there for years to come."

The second project began on Lake Brownwood in September, when the TPWD worked with the De Leon High School Fishing Team and the MLF FMD to assess the lake and locate sites that were more than 14 feet deep and near prominent fishing locations. Seven sites were selected for habitat deployment.

In early October, volunteers from the TPWD, Texas Pro Lake Management and the Tarleton State University Fisheries Society built artificial fishing habitat – the MossBack 40-inch Conservation Cubes and 60-inch Safe Haven XL habitats for deployment. The products were anchored using concrete supplies provided by the local Home Depot store in Brownwood, Texas. Additional habitat was also provided by the TPWD Habitat and Angler Access Program in the form of Reef Balls from the Reef Ball Foundation, and concrete culverts were provided by the Brown County Water Improvement District. The habitats will be deployed the second week of November.

Six pro anglers competing in the Folds of Honor Patriot Cup volunteered their time on Saturday, Oct. 26, at the Early Town Center Lake to fish with local youth and community members at the MLF Fishing with the Pros event. Those pros included Brent Chapman, Justin Cooper, Ott DeFoe, Gary Klein, Wesley Strader and Martin Villa. Early Town Center Lake is a 7-acre lake stocked with bluegill, sunfish, redear sunfish, largemouth bass, channel catfish and rainbow trout and is maintained to promote fishing in the community.

“We can’t say enough great things about Major League Fishing, the Fisheries Management Division and the impact the organization has left on the Early community,” said Tony Aaron, Early City Administrator. “The economic impact of the event and the time the pros spent with our community and staff were invaluable, and the habitat deployment and conservation efforts in Lake Brownwood and Early Town Center Lake will benefit our community for years to come. Thank you to the TPWD, American Feeder, Texas Pro Lake Management and everyone who volunteered their time for this project.”

Television coverage of the Folds of Honor Patriot Cup Presented by recteq, highlighting Lake Brownwood and Early, Texas, will premiere on Outdoor Channel as six two-hour episodes in March 2025. New MLF General Tire Team Series episodes will premiere each Saturday morning on Outdoor Channel and will be available to stream on MOTV.

Reaper Season: A Closer Look at the World's Best Fishing Sweatshirt

SANTA ANA, Ca., November 5, 2024

Since its debut in 2018, the AFTCO Reaper Sweatshirt has become the go-to garment for anglers, both fresh and saltwater, who demand top-tier performance. Designed to elevate the classic hoodie, the Reaper integrates advanced features like a built-in face mask and neck warmer, all while maintaining the familiar comfort of your favorite sweatshirt.

Dino Sakelliou, the designer behind the Reaper, combined his expertise with direct feedback from anglers. “The inspiration was a collaborative effort across design, sales, and marketing. We took pro angler insights and feature requests and turned them into a functional garment that still resonated with the fishing culture. The goal was to make it feel familiar but new,” Sakelliou explained.

Crafted from ultra-soft microfleece, the Reaper includes laser-cut ventilation in the mask and underarms, along with an anchoring system that secures the hood during high-speed boat runs. Ultra-quiet pocket closures ensure stealth, while the oversized front pocket keeps hands warm or stores essentials on cold days.

Whether worn alone or layered, the Reaper offers jacket-like sophistication in a category usually defined by simplicity. Treated with stain-release technology, it's built to handle the demands of fishing without sacrificing comfort. With over 100,000 sold and 1,400+ five-star reviews, the Reaper is one of AFTCO’s best-selling items, leading to the expansion of the Reaper family with the Reaper Windproof Pullover and Windproof Jacket.

Gear up with the Reaper and experience why it’s trusted by anglers everywhere.

About AFTCO

Established in 1958, the American Fishing Tackle Company crafts apparel that provides protection from the elements and precision-built tackle designed to catch the fish of a lifetime. Trusted by top anglers, captains, and guides across the globe, AFTCO fishing clothing works best when conditions are at their worst. Whether you’re up against freezing temperatures, gale force winds, heavy rain, or intense UV rays, AFTCO levels the playing field so you can keep fishing comfortably, even when Mother Nature has other plans.

The American Fishing Tackle Company has a rich legacy of authentic innovation and product design. From the exceptional conservation efforts led by former company Chairman Milt Shedd to the perfection of the roller guide and the world’s first dedicated fishing shorts, AFTCO is known for its superior performance on and off the water.

Our passion for the outdoors extends beyond our products. Through our 10% Pledge, your purchase of any AFTCO product directly supports organizations and causes working to conserve our oceans, waterways, and fish populations while protecting angler rights.

Press Contact

Denny Le
Marketing Manager
[email protected]

BASS FISHING HALL OF FAME OPENS NOMINATION SEASON FOR THE INDUCTION CLASS OF 2025

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.— For Immediate Release — Nov 4, 2024 — Fresh off its 2024 induction ceremony which highlighted the careers of five worthy inductees and which resulted in record-setting attendance and fundraising, the Board of Directors of the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame has opened the nomination process for the next class of inductees.

Starting immediately, any interested person may nominate deserving individuals to be considered for induction into the Hall. Nominees should have made a major impact on the world of bass fishing and brought honor and credit to the sport of bass fishing. Properly submitted nominations are accepted on a rolling basis, but in order to be considered for the Class of 2025, they must be completed in full by January 15, 2025. The initial list of nominees will be whittled to an official ballot to be considered by our Selection Panel, which includes 30 members of the industry plus all living Hall of Famers.”

More information about the process can be found on the “Road to Induction” page of the Hall’s website.

The Hall’s website also includes a nomination form, which should be completed and returned to the Hall’s office either electronically or by mail. While the length or comprehensiveness of the materials provided will not determine whether a nominee proceeds to the next step in the process, a thorough description of the candidate’s achievements will help selectors to make informed decisions.

“We have been thrilled with the effort and care that the bass fishing community has put into these efforts in the past, and we are confident that the newest crop of nominees will reflect such seriousness,” said Neil Paul, Chair of the Board’s Nominations Committee. “Each year the voters are tasked with making some very difficult choices and we are confident that the Selection Panel will again do a great job.”

The most recent class of inductees included the late lure designer Fred Arbogast, video and TV producer Mike McKinnis, noted pro angler, tackle designer and promoter Skeet Reese, trailblazer and pro angler Alfred Williams and TV analyst and outdoor personality Mark Zona.

“Now that we’ve reached the 100-inductee mark, we’re seeing new generations of anglers get inducted, and since establishing a permanent home for the Hall within Johnny Morris’ Wonder of Wildlife Museum & Aquarium in 2017, the Board has made the needed efforts in reaching back to the past. From those efforts in the induction process from our selection panel and past HOF inductees, we’ve added some worthy innovators and leaders from the sport’s earliest days such as Dr. James Henshall, one of the sport of bass fishing’s earliest advocates, and legendary lure designer James Heddon who was making bass lures going back to 1892,” said Hall of Fame President John Mazurkiewicz. “The popularity and success of our process and our banquet helps us to benefit the sport going forward by funding worthy projects consistent with our mission.”

Proceeds from the induction ceremony’s auction benefit the Hall of Fame’s core mission values of celebrating, preserving and promoting the sport of bass fishing. Funding grants for fisheries conservation, scholarships for fisheries science students, and backing youth fishing are among the many supported initiatives.
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About the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame (BFHOF)
Celebrating its 25th year, the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame is a nonprofit organization led by a volunteer board of directors, dedicated to celebrating, promoting, and preserving the sport of bass fishing. The Hall’s inductees and historical memorabilia are showcased in Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife Museum and Aquarium in Springfield, Missouri. For more information about the road to induction, the Hall’s impact on the community, or to get involved, visit www.BassFishingHOF.com.

or contact BFHOF executive director Barbara Bowman at [email protected].

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Barbara Bowman

Executive Director

[email protected]

BassFishingHOF.com

P.O. Box 26584

Little Rock, AR 72221

501-541-6660

We are dedicated to celebrating, promoting and preserving the sport of bass fishing

Be Social - @BassFishingHOF

Roster Announced for 2025 Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour Season

BENTON, Ky. (Nov. 4, 2024) – Major League Fishing (MLF) announced today the roster of 66 pros who will compete on the Bass Pro tour in 2025, the seventh season of professional bass fishing’s premier tournament circuit. Offering the highest payout in professional bass fishing, the Bass Pro Tour will award $150,000 to the winner of each Bass Pro Tour regular season event – 50% more than any other league – plus $100,000 to the Fishing Clash Angler of the Year in 2025. The season will kick off Jan. 30-Feb. 2 at Lake Conroe in Conroe, Texas.

Full payout tables for the 2025 Bass Pro Tour can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

For the first time in Bass Pro Tour history, the full field will compete simultaneously in the Qualifying Round on days one and two. From there, top anglers will advance to the Knockout Round on day three and ultimately the Championship Round on day four. Every day of catch, weigh, immediate-release competition will be broadcast live on MLFNOW! and streamed to MajorLeagueFishing.com, the Major League Fishing app, and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) and Rumble platforms.

“It’s always one of our most anticipated announcements every season – when we unveil the anglers who will be competing for the sport’s top prizes on the Bass Pro Tour,” said Kathy Fennel, Executive Vice President & General Manager of Major League Fishing. “We’re looking forward to kicking off our 2025 Bass Pro Tour season in just a few short months at Lake Conroe. The 2025 roster is a fantastic mix of anglers and the race to qualify for REDCREST, Heavy Hitters and the 2026 Bass Pro Tour is going to be more exciting than ever.”

The 2025 Bass Pro Tour roster is headlined by Jacob Wheeler of Harrison, Tennessee, winner of the Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) title in three of the last four seasons. Wheeler will be joined by fellow AOY winners Matt Becker of Ten Mile, Tennessee (2023), and 2019 REDCREST champion Edwin Evers of Talala, Oklahoma (2019).

Four former REDCREST Champions will be competing on the Bass Pro Tour this season, including Evers, Dustin Connell (2021 and 2024), Bobby Lane (2022) and Bryan Thrift (2023).

Three rookies will be in the field: Marshall Hughes of Hemphill, Texas; Jake Lawrence of Buchanan, Tennessee; and Colby Miller of Elmer, Louisiana, have accepted their invitations to the Bass Pro Tour after qualifying via their points finish in the 2024 Tackle Warehouse Invitationals.

Invitations to compete in the MLF Bass Pro Tour are earned by performance in the previous year’s Bass Pro Tour, overall lifetime average and performance in the previous year’s Tackle Warehouse Invitationals.

The 2025 MLF Bass Pro Tour will air on Discovery beginning in July 2025 and Outdoor Channel beginning in the first quarter of 2026.
For regular Bass Pro Tour updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, X, Instagram, and YouTube.

The 66 professional anglers that will compete on the 2025 Bass Pro Tour are:

Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C.
Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J.
Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn.
Josh Bertrand, Queen Creek, Ariz.
Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla.
Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla.
Brent Chapman, Lake Quivira, Kan.
Luke Clausen, Spokane, Wash.
Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala.
Justin Cooper, Zwolle, La.
Brandon Coulter, Knoxville, Tenn.
Mark Daniels Jr., Tuskegee, Ala.
Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark.
Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn.
David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va.
Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif.
James Elam, Tulsa, Okla.
Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla.
Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas
Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio
Shin Fukae, Osaka, Japan
Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C.
Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill.
Nick Hatfield, Greeneville, Tenn.
Dylan Hays, Hot Springs, Ark.
*Marshall Hughes, Hemphill, Texas
John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky.
Alton Jones, Lorena, Texas
Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas
Gary Klein, Mingus, Texas
Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla.
Chris Lane, Guntersville, Ala.
*Jake Lawrence, Buchanan, Tenn.
Jeremy Lawyer, Sarcoxie, Mo.
Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La.
Dave Lefebre, Erie, Pa.
Jared Lintner, Covington, Ga.
Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala.
*Colby Miller, Elmer, La.
Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C.
Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn.
Britt Myers, Lake Wylie, S.C.
Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn.
Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich.
Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan
Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala.
Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif.
Marshall Robinson, Landrum, S.C.
Marty Robinson, Lyman, S.C.
Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark.
Fred Roumbanis, Russellville, Ark.
Bradley Roy, Lancaster, Ky.
Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla.
Fletcher Shryock, Guntersville, Ala.
Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark.
Gerald Spohrer, Gonzales, La.
Jeff Sprague, Point, Texas
Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn.
Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C.
Martin Villa, Charlottesville, Va.
Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala.
David Walker, Sevierville, Tenn.
Jacob Wall, New Hope, Ala.
Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn.
Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala.

* Denotes 2025 Bass Pro Tour Rookie

2025 MLF Bass Pro Tour Schedule:

Jan. 30- Feb. 2 Stage One at Lake Conroe Conroe, Texas
Hosted by Visit Conroe

Feb. 13-16 Stage Two at the Harris Chain of Lakes Leesburg, Fla.
Hosted by Discover Lake County Florida

March 6-9 Stage Three at Lake Murray Columbia, S.C.
Hosted by the Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board

April 3-6 Bass Pro Shops REDCREST 2025 at Lake Guntersville Huntsville, Ala.
Hosted by Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association and the Madison County Commission

May 1-4 Stage Four at Lake Chickamauga/Nickajack Lake Chattanooga, Tenn.
Hosted by Chattanooga, Tennessee and Fish Tennessee

May 17-22 General Tire Heavy Hitters at Smith Mountain Lake Franklin County, Va.
Hosted by Visit Franklin County, VA and Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge

June 5-8 Stage Five at Kentucky Lake Calvert City, Ky.
Hosted by the Kentucky Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau

June 26-29 Stage Six at the Potomac River Marbury, Md.
Hosted by Charles County Recreation, Parks and Tourism

Aug. 7-10 Stage Seven at Saginaw Bay Bay City, Mich.
Hosted by Go Great Lakes Bay and the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce

Proud sponsors of the MLF Bass Pro Tour include: Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Garmin, General Tire, Humminbird, Lowrance, Mercury, MillerTech, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak Fishing, NITRO, Onyx, Plano, Power-Pole, PowerStop Brakes, Rapala, REDCON1, Star brite, Suzuki, Toyota, WIX Filters and U.S. Air Force.

Marbut Doing the Right Things When No One is Looking

Photo Credit: Rob Matsurra - MLF

Courtesy of Dynamic Sponsorships

The past 12-months of bass fishing have been nothing short of incredible for Hayden Marbut, a 21-year-old Auburn University student and college angler. The talented young Alabama pro won two of college fishing’s biggest trophies, the Bassmaster College Series National Championship and the Collegiate Bass Fishing National Championship on Pickwick Lake, with his partner Tucker Smith at the tail-end of 2023.

Marbut went on to notch a MLF Toyota Series win as a pro this February, as well as two handfuls of other top ten finishes in 2024 tournaments since. Along with these achievements, he’s earned over $3,500 of bonus money via the Yamaha Power Pay contingency program based on being the highest placing angler running a Yamaha outboard purchased within the past 60-months in college events and other weekend series trails.

But out of all these accolades, the tournament that gives the best glimpse into the character of Hayden Marbut was a 13^th place finish in the 2024 Collegiate Bass Fishing National Championship. Marbut fished solo in this event. He wanted nothing more than to defend his 2023 title and take the trophy back to Auburn.

He weighed-in an impressive limit of nearly twenty pounds on day one, but it could have been much more. Marbut was forced to throw back his biggest fish in the middle of the day, after he called the tournament director to self-report for having too many bass in his livewell.

“I realized I had six fish in my livewell and my heart just sank,” Marbut recalled. “I had gotten a school of bass fired up and, in the excitement, I didn’t add a cull tag to my one of my fish. That cost me. I immediately called to report myself and they informed me I had to release my biggest fish, which was the nearly five-pounder I had just caught.

“It hurt, but I never even considered not calling myself in. I love this sport too much. Finishing a few places higher in the derby isn’t worth damaging the integrity of tournament fishing. I truly believe most of my competitors would have made the same decision.”

Since he was fishing alone, it would have been easy for Marbut to throw his sixth bass back into Pickwick Lake and continue fishing, but the aspiring future pro was raised to do the right thing, even when no one is looking.

Without a second thought he made the right decision, dealt with the repercussions like a professional, and had a strong finish regardless of the rules violation. If answered honestly, I wonder how many people would have made the same decision in Hayden’s position?

Marbut proved his moral compass is as dialed in as his talents on the water and the Yamaha V MAX 250 SHO on the back of his Phoenix Boat.

An Industry Veteran’s First Experience at the 2024 Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners Tournament

By Walker Smith

With a lot of tournaments under my proverbial belt, I can’t believe it took me so long to check out the Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners Tournament. As it turns out, that short ride to Lake Hartwell started a tradition my wife and I can’t wait to continue.

I’ve been working in this industry for roughly 18 years. I’ve attended countless tournaments as a fan in my younger years, then later as both an angler and a media member. If I had a dollar for every weigh-in or registration I’ve photographed and attended, I’d have a few-hundred acres and a big house to boot.

I’ve seen poorly run events, decently run events and well-run events. And I want you to understand that. I’ve seen a lot in my career thus far. I know what resonates with anglers and what doesn’t.

When my wife and I learned that the 2024 Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners Tournament was coming to Lake Hartwell, we just had to drive over to check it out. With it being just a short, three-hour jaunt from our rural, sleepy Georgia town, it was a no brainer.

I’ve heard about it for years and several close friends always talked highly of it. So, we loaded up the grocery-getter and headed northeast for the weekend.

As you’d probably agree, first impressions are everything; they are for me, at least. When we finally made it through the “goat roads” and came upon the beautiful registration venue, I figured we’d have to deal with the mess of finding a parking spot, dodging crooked boat trailers and the like. If you’ve ever attended a large tournament, you know exactly what I’m talking about. If not run correctly, even the parking and logistics can turn into a real booger.

We were first struck, however, by the pure kindness of the parking attendants. I’m not sure of their names and I don’t know quite where they came from. But every single individual had the biggest smile on their face. We’d roll the drivers-side window down and ask where to park and they’d just smile to high Heaven and give us the nicest instructions. It felt like they knew us their whole lives. They’d wave, thank us for being there and wish us a good time and we slowly pulled off.

In today’s world, that’s rare. And I take notice of things like that. Maybe we all should. But I digress.

Then, when we were pulling up to our designated parking spot, I heard a quiet rumble and the garble of gravel behind the car. I look into the rearview mirror and guess what? It was a volunteer golfcart driver, following us to our parking spot, ready and waiting to give us a ride to the registration venue.

We had camera gear to unload and some things to straighten up before we headed to the registration. And the driver, a local high-school football coach, waited very patiently as he watched Saturday college football games on his iPad. I won’t lie, I gravitated towards him and watched the Ole Miss game and talked ball while my wife tidied up the car and our gear.

Again, another smiling face and fantastic interaction. This dude ended up being my “buddy” for the whole day. I’d get score updates and free rides to the car when I needed more memory cards for my camera and things of the like. I wish I had a better memory and could remember his name. But I sure do wish him well and Lord willing, he’ll read this and know I appreciated his kindness.

Now, let’s take a golfcart ride down the hill, through the hayfield to the wedding venue-turned-registration site.

We got there early to create a bunch of content before the majority of the anglers showed up. We walked into the banquet hall and the smells filled our noses; just wonderful smells of food filled the air.

To our left started a line of free merchandise tables full of goodies for the participating anglers. Hoodies, hats, beanies, keychains, decals, fancy water bottles… they had it all. As a professional media member, I’ve always tried to stay clear of getting a bunch of free stuff. It’s just a “thing” I’ve got. But I messed up this time and broke my own rule. I had to grab an AFTCO Toyota Fishing Team hoodie. I hope that doesn’t make me unprofessional. But it just looked too good.

With the hoodie acquired, it was time to get to work. I tucked the hoodie behind my camera case in the corner behind a table and got all my fancy gear ready. The garble of the gravel outside was growing louder and more frequent as the anglers were starting to pour in.

Show time.

I could look at you dead in the eyes and tell you that I’ve never experienced a family atmosphere like this at any, and I mean any, bass-fishing tournament. Folks who haven’t seen each other since last year’s event shaking hands, hugging, getting caught up on life… what a beautiful thing to experience. Whether it’s a bass derby or not, how awesome is that? The love, respect and excitement was palpable.

We went through and took about three billion photos for several hours and it didn’t even seem like work. Perhaps my favorite part of registration was seeing my old buddy Mark Daniels Jr. and getting a big hug. He is just the greatest.

After a fantastic supper, great fellowship and a thorough but succinct pre-tournament raffle and meeting hosted by none other than Mike Iaconelli and Mrs. Lisa Talmadge from Bassmaster, everyone dispersed to get ready for derby day.

Sunday morning, it was chilly but you could feel the anticipation in the air. That might sound a little extreme, but there was a nervous excitement humming throughout Green Pond Landing in Anderson, S.C. The local fire department hoisted one of the largest American flags I’ve ever seen, local folks had their dogs on leashes to check out the action and the anglers had their game faces on.

Every single face I saw was wearing a smile. My wife and I did not see anyone not having a good time.

As we walked down the hill to the boat dock and launch site, with that Old Glory loudly whipping in the brisk wind, we heard the music over the loudspeakers. We saw the anglers begin to get a bit more serious. And I turned to my wife and said, “Man, this smell reminds me of my childhood,” as I referred to the nostalgic scent of two-cycle exhaust in the air.

The Team Toyota pros were all lined up at the end of the dock wishing every single angler good luck and making small talk. The pros were excited, engaging and you could absolutely tell they wanted to be there. They were having a ball, as were we. They wished everyone well and off into the South Carolina sunrise the anglers went. It was truly a sight to behold.

Absolutely beautiful.

Come weigh-in time, I was shocked by not only the efficiency, but the quality of interactions in such a short amount of time. I’ll be honest; I’ve seen enough weigh-ins in my lifetime to last me another 10 lifetimes. I love the sport but the weigh-ins can get a little dull to me at times.

But here you have none other than Gerald “G-MAN” Swindle emceeing the event. As you read that last sentence, you probably smiled. If he weren’t so good at catching bass, he could be on a nationwide comedy tour putting folks into stitches.

The back-end Bassmaster staff was unbelievably quick, moving anglers through the line efficiently and while Swindle got through the massive line of anglers quickly, he also gave them plenty of facetime and entertaining interaction. I was fairly shocked by how quickly the weigh-in went. It may have been the most efficient weigh-in I’ve seen. And remember, I’ve seen a lot throughout my career.

As we loaded up our camera gear and shared some well-earned goodbye hugs with industry friends, it’s only fitting that we noticed Swindle surrounded by a group of high-school fishing team volunteers, sharing fishing tips, mentorship, smiles and laughs.

It was almost a shame to hop into our SUV and head back home. We sat in our car for about 15 minutes, ate a free (and delicious) barbeque sandwich and brownie and just smiled, reflecting on our weekend.

What a blessing it was to be around so many fantastic and positive outdoorsmen and women. And of course, as we pulled out of Green Pond Landing, we were met by two parking attendants smiling, waving and wishing us a safe trip home.

I should note: That Sunday was our wedding anniversary. And as we held hands on the goat roads back to chilly Georgia, my wife smiled, looked at me and said, “I wouldn’t have wanted this anniversary any other way, honey. Thank you.”

That right there, is why you need to make a serious effort to fish this tournament. We cannot wait for the next one.

SITKA Gear Launches Durable Alpha Fleece Collection

BOZEMAN, Mont. (October 31, 2024) – SITKA Gear, renowned for its high-performance hunting apparel, introduces its new Alpha Fleece Collection, recreating traditional layers to endure rugged and unruly environments. Purposely designed for outdoorsmen who demand the best from their gear, this collection delivers lasting comfort and durability across all altitudes and seasons.

While fleece is a staple in many gear layering systems, traditional options often lack long-lasting durability. The Alpha Fleece Collection addresses this issue by incorporating a double-weave fleece combining classic comfort with durability. The tighter knit fleece limits snags, pilling, and fabric failures, while its four-way stretch ensures unrestricted movement during high-output climbs or maneuvering in a stand.

The Alpha Fleece fabrics are treated with Durable Water Repellent (DWR), shedding light rain and snow to enhance performance.This added feature sets it apart from traditional fleece, providing water resistance and functionality in changing conditions. Redefining the quintessential fleece layer, the Alpha Fleece ensures long-lasting versatility, making it a staple in any system.

Alpha Fleece Hooded Jacket

Engineered to withstand the harshest conditions, the Alpha Fleece Hooded Jacket features double weave stretch fleece and a DWR coating to mitigate unexpected moisture. With seamless shoulder construction and strategically placed zippered pockets, it ensures comfort and accessibility when wearing a pack while the low-bulk, fitted hood provides coverage without restricting visibility. Suitable as a solo layer in milder temperatures, it easily layers under heavier jackets in adverse weather.

Key Features:

Durable, 280-gram, four-way stretch double weave STORMFLEECE™
Durable, water-repellent finish to shed light moisture
Brushed-fleece interior adds ultra-soft comfort for all-day wear
Seamless shoulder construction to enhance comfort with a pack
Two zippered pockets keeping items secure and accessible even while wearing a pack belt
Mesh-backed pockets offer the ability to vent for added breathability
Low-bulk, form-fitted hood offers protection without restricting visibility
Internal zippered chest pocket keeps essentials protected and within reach
Weight: 20.9 ounces

MSRP: $199

Alpha Fleece Vest

Designed for durability, the Alpha Fleece Vest features double-weave stretch fleece and a DWR coating. The seamless shoulder construction and zippered pockets enhance comfort and accessibility while wearing a pack. Perfect as a solo layer in milder temperatures or as an addition to layering under heavier jackets.

Key Features:

Fabric: Durable, 280-gram, four-way stretch double weave STORMFLEECE™
Durable water-repellent finish
Brushed-fleece interior for all-day comfort
Seamless shoulder construction
Two zippered pockets
Mesh-backed pockets for breathability
Internal zippered chest pocket
Weight: 13 ounces

MSRP: $149

Alpha Fleece Hoodie

The Alpha Fleece Hoodie is built for rugged conditions, featuring double-weave stretch fleece and a DWR coating. It includes seamless shoulder construction, a zippered kangaroo pocket and a low-bulk, fitted hood for comfort and accessibility while wearing a pack. This hoodie serves as a solo layer in milder temperatures and layers under heavier jackets when needed.

Key Features:

Durable, 280-gram, four-way stretch double weave STORMFLEECE™
Durable water-repellent finish
Brushed-fleece interior for all-day comfort
Seamless shoulder construction
Zippered kangaroo pocket
Mesh-backed pockets for breathability
Internal zippered chest pocket
Weight: 19.6 ounces

MSRP: $179

For more information, visit sitkagear.com

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About SITKA
SITKA Gear, based in Bozeman, Montana, created and leads the technical hunting apparel category. The company is recognized for its commitment to continually improving the life experience of the hunter and for its support of healthy ecosystems and wildlife populations. SITKA products work together in systems, and each piece is designed and tested rigorously in both the lab and the field. SITKA is owned by W.L. Gore & Associates, an advanced materials company well known for GORE-TEX Fabrics and many other industry-leading innovations that provide durable comfort and protection to outdoor enthusiasts.

Media Relations
Kalvyn Ferronato, [email protected], (805) 256-4161

EGO Fishing's S2 Slider - Still the Champion

Caldwell, ID (October 31, 2024) – It’s said that a system is only as good as the weakest link. Then how is it that some anglers rely on junk landing nets with warped hoops and rotten or torn meshing? There’s another crowd that doesn’t even carry a landing net. Frankly, that’s hard to comprehend given the outlay of time and money that got a fish to bankside or boatside.

The market is flooded with landing nets, most of them cookie-cutter designs that function only as fish-dippers. And many leave a lot to be desired, what with snag-prone netting and materials that can be hard on fish intended for release.

Not the case with EGO Fishing’s top selling and award-winning S2 Slider and Kyrptek S2 Slider, modular fishing net systems not only designed for netting fish, but a multitude of other tasks. The EGO S2 Slider system utilizes the most advanced handle extension technology on the planet.

EGO offers 30-plus interchangeable net heads, accessories, and handles; 19 combined hoop sizes and mesh types to choose from; and lastly, a two-year limited warranty on all EGO landing nets and accessories.

About the EGO S2 Slider “System”

The EGO S2 Slider net is built around a “universal system” that features an extendable net handle for reaching boat-shy trophies—and offers a twist-on & -off system that allows interchanging net frames and net sizes/materials to match exactly what you’re fishing and where.

The options are practically limitless. EGO Fishing offers the perfect net to exactly suit the species and waters you fish. With three EGO S2 Slider Handle Sizes to choose from, you can find the perfect net for your big boat, small boat, kayak/canoe, pier or bank fishing, or wade fishing.

The EGO S2 Slider extending net handle comes in the three sizes: COMPACT, 18” – 36” handle extension; STANDARD, 29” – 60” handle extension; and for those far-reaching applications, the REACH handle, which extends from 48” to a lengthy 108”.

As far as net material construction, anglers can choose within the S2 Slider system between the following: standard Nylon, Rubber-Coated Nylon, PVC-Coated Nylon, Lightweight Rubber, Lightweight Clear Rubber, and PVC-Coated Netting with built-in fish-measuring ruler.

Net hoop sizes run the gamut—from small 14” x 16” netting; medium 17” x 19”; large 19” x 21”; 22” x 23”; to the extra-large 24” x 27”.

Beyond Netting Fish: Endless Accessories

As mentioned, the EGO S2 Slider net family is a “system” that allows use on and off the water. For example, each S2 Slider handle accepts this 8-inch EGO Deck Brush that makes cleaning up a boat at the end of the day a breeze. Same goes for the interchangeable EGO Deck Mop and Deluxe Deck Mop.

Beyond clean-up, EGO designers were smart to offer a couple other accessories worth a look at.

The first is the EGO Lure Retriever, something we could all use in the boat, especially when a custom jerkbait can run $30 these days—not to mention the rarity of some of the out-of-production “oldie but goodie” baits we throw when fishing gets tough!

And for docking or managing lines, rails, and stanchions, the EGO Boat Hook is designed to make easy work of busy work…

Rubber Netting Handle-Extending Landing Systems

Mesh Zip On/Off Netting, Handle-Extending Landing Systems

PVC-Coated Netting, Handle-Extending Landing Systems

Nylon & Rubber-Coated Nylon Netting, Handle-Extending Landing Systems

2025 Elite Series Payouts and 2025 Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year Payout

Bassmaster Elites no longer pay to play

Oct. 30, 2024

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Professional bass fishing will never be the same. Ever. That’s a huge statement. In this case, it’s true. B.A.S.S. just announced that the Bassmaster Elite Series, heading into its 20th season, will no longer require entry fees. Yes, you heard that correctly. In 2025, competitors of the most prestigious tournament trail on the planet, for the first time ever in the history of B.A.S.S. competition, will no longer fish for their own money. No longer are Elite Series pros required to pay to play.

This historic decision was not made lightly. B.A.S.S. has long believed that the ultimate goal of the organization’s highest level of competition should be on par with other individual professional sports, like golf and tennis, which do not require pros to pay entry fees to compete. However, on the heels of record-breaking viewership of Bassmaster LIVE on FOX networks and Bassmaster.com, paired with strong long-term partnerships, this ultimate goal has been realized.

“We have been looking at this model for quite some time,” said B.A.S.S. CEO Chase Anderson. “But, we wanted to make sure that when we flip this switch, which we believe will change the face of professional bass fishing, that the concept is sustainable for the future. For the past several months, we’ve done our due diligence and came to the realization that, with the money we planned to allocate to payouts in 2025, we could offer attractive payouts without putting angler money at risk. This change greatly reduces the risk and financial strain required to compete at bass fishing’s highest level. Now, the Elite Series is in a league of its own, and the only league equivalent to other major individual sports.”

Over the last four years, had Elite Series pros been fishing under the new optimized no-entry-fee model, two thirds of the field would have realized more winnings. Moreover, of the anglers who have fished the past four years, 85% of them would have fared better under the no-entry-fee model in at least one of those years. In other words, there are only a handful of instances in the past four years where this no-entry fee model would not have put more money in anglers’ pockets.

To pull back the curtain on the economics of this new model, you have to understand the incredible investment B.A.S.S. is making into the Elite Series payout. The league is increasing its contribution to payouts by $200,000 for 2025, which puts the total investment in payouts for the Elite Series and Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic over $4.1 million (almost $600,000 higher than the contribution of any other bass fishing league). B.A.S.S. is also rolling out a new optimized payout model with an emphasis on pay for performance, which provides an additional 23% boost to earnings over the previous model each year.

The pay for performance concept is new, as surprising as that sounds. Historically, anglers voted to pay further down the field for the opportunity to earn a check. For example, 51st through 75th place were receiving checks, but those checks were less than their entry fees. Another odd statistic: Under the previous structure, 11th place and 50th place were receiving the same payout. Now, that is not the case. For 2025, the payouts will be graduated down the field. The Top 10 will net the same winnings as before, with first place continuing to receive $100,000. For those placing between 11th and 18th, the earnings realized is actually better. The new payout structure will continue down to 40th place, which will be the new Day 3 cutline for the Elites. The Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year winner will continue to receive $100,000 with the prize for second place increasing to $50,000 and 3rd through 5th will receive checks. Similarly, the Classic will now have a more graduated payout structure with the winner still receiving $300,000 and the Top 11 finishers receiving the exact same amount as last year. For Classic anglers placing 12th through 25th, a graduated scale for performance is now in place. Anglers finishing 26th through 56th will continue to receive a check.

Although it is hard to anticipate the waves this decision will make within the sport, there were several deciding factors that B.A.S.S. considered before pulling the trigger. First, current Elite Series anglers have consistently communicated that the current economic environment is making it difficult to pay the $45,000 entry fee previously required to compete. This substantial amount of money was at risk for each angler. During the Elite angler meeting in August, competitors asked if having no entry fees would ever become a reality? Now, it is. Removing this risk was, in large part, a driving factor in the decision. Secondly, since the inception of the Elite Series 20 years ago, there have been tremendously talented anglers who did not accept their Elite Series berth based on the high cost of entry. Removing this barrier will purify the competitive landscape of the Elites and inspire all talented anglers, not just those with a bankroll, to fish on bass fishing’s biggest stage.

“Our anglers have been saying for years that the ultimate goal should be a no-entry-fee league,” Anderson said. “Now, we’ve essentially improved their bottom line by $45,000 each through taking away the weight of entry fee payments, while at the same time increasing our contribution to payouts. We believe this will not only benefit each of them individually, but allow them to fish more freely, which should create even more spectacular bass fishing action for Bassmaster fans. We are extremely excited about the future of our sport.”

The first event of the 2025 Bassmaster Elite Series will be held on the St. Johns River out of Palatka, Fla., February 20-23. You’ll not want to miss the historic beginning of professional bass fishing redefined. For more information, visit Bassmaster.com.

2026 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic Payout

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

Media Contact: Chad Gay, Communications Manager, 205-313-0945, cgay@bassmaster.com

Sprague & Thrift Win General Tire Team Series Folds of Honor Patriot Cup Presented by recteq

EARLY, Texas (Oct. 29, 2024) – It was a blustery day on the water for the four teams competing on Lake Brownwood, Tuesday, in the Championship Round of the Folds of Honor Patriot Cup presented by recteq. The Team Coign duo of Jeff Sprague of Wills Point, Texas, and Bryan Thrift of Shelby, North Carolina, battled through the tough conditions to win the event, catching 28 bass weighing 51 pounds, 7 ounces. For their victory, Sprague and Thrift earned $40,000 and the Patriot Cup championship.

The event, hosted by Visit Early, was the third event of the season for the General Tire Team Series presented by Bass Pro Shops.

It was a close match for most of the afternoon between Team Coign and Team Builders FirstSource, represented by pros Ott DeFoe and Alton Jones Jr. Late in the third period Team Builders FirstSource had cut the deficit down to just 4 pounds, 11 ounces, then Sprague and Thrift went on a mini flurry, catching three scorable bass in the final 20 minutes to pull away and secure the victory.

“It was a good day, man,” Thrift said in his postgame interview. “We made good decisions all the way throughout the day. When we were here on Sunday for the Knockout Round, we got into a little bit of a midday lull. But today we got into the back of some pockets and fought through that midday lull.

“We caught some key fish in those pockets on a ChatterBait and a Texas rig,” Thrift continued. “And in the back of our minds, we knew that we could come back to this spot that we ended the day on and catch two or three to close this thing out if we needed to. We did, and it worked out, perfectly.”

Thrift caught eight keepers on the day – four on a swimjig and four on a swimming worm. Sprague caught 20 keepers – 11 on a swimjig, two on a vibrating jig and two on a Texas-rigged creature bait.

“The bait that carried us 99% of the way was just a hand-tied swimjig,” Sprague said. “We threw it with the brand-new Lake Fork Lure Co. Pro Craw, in bluegill and honey-craw color. The bait looks just like a bluegill, and that is what did all of the work for us this week.”

Thrift and Sprague came into the event with a bit of a chip on their shoulder. The duo teamed up earlier this season at the Heritage Cup in Wisconsin and had a disappointing tournament, not advancing out of the Elimination Round. This week in Texas, Sprague felt like their experience fishing together gave them an advantage.

“We learned so much from each other at the last event,” Sprague said before the event. “Even though we’d fished together a lot as friends, we’d never competed together on the same boat. I felt like we’d work together better, and fish faster and more efficiently at this one.”

Sprague’s prediction rang true, as the duo overcame equipment frustrations earlier in the week and worked well together, complementing each other’s styles and fishing fast, as both anglers are known to do.

“Today was a pretty stinking perfect, day,” Sprague went on to say. “I’m so excited that we got it done, together. If you look at the roster of guys that we fished against today… We competed against the best anglers on the planet this week. It is so difficult to win one of these things. I’m so happy that I got it done this week with my buddy Thrift, and I’m going to remember this one for a long time.”

The top four teams at the Folds of Honor Patriot Cup Presented by recteq finished:

1st:        Team Coign, 28 bass, 51-7
Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas, 20 bass, 37-7
Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., eight bass, 14-0
2nd:       Team Builders FirstSource, 21 bass, 43-6
Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., 10 bass, 20-5
Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas, 11 bass, 23-1
3rd:       Team Lucas Oil, 14 bass, 26-0
Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., 10 bass, 19-12
Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Ark., four bass, 6-4
4th:        Team 7 Brew Coffee, seven bass, 10-6
Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., six bass, 9-2
Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., one bass, 1-4

Complete results from throughout the week can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 70 bass weighing 131 pounds, 3 ounces caught by the four teams competing in the Championship Round on Lake Brownwood. Connell caught the Berkley Big Bass of the day on a frog – a chunky largemouth weighing 4 pounds, 12 ounces.

The Folds of Honor Patriot Cup Presented by recteq was hosted by Visit Early and took place over six days in west-central Texas. The competition water for each day was top-secret and only revealed to the anglers when they arrived at the boat ramp each morning.

The Patriot Cup featured 12 two-man teams, divided into three groups as they entered the one-day Elimination Round matches. Each of the three Elimination Round matches featured four new teams, with the top two teams from each match of the Elimination Round advancing to the Knockout Round on Days 4 & 5. In the Knockout Rounds, three teams competed each day, with the top two teams from each Knockout Round match moving on to the Championship Round on Day 6. In Tuesday’s Day 6 Championship Round, the final four teams competed in a one-day shootout to determine which team was the winner of the 2024 Folds of Honor Patriot Cup Presented by recteq.

The fourth and final General Tire Team Series event of the season – the Summit Cup – will take place Nov. 17-22. The location for the event will be announced to anglers thirty days prior to the start of the event.

Television coverage of the Folds of Honor Patriot Cup Presented by recteq will premiere on Outdoor Channel as six two-hour episodes in March 2025. New MLF General Tire Team Series episodes will premiere each Saturday morning on Outdoor Channel and posted to MOTV.

Tomorrow, If All the Things Were Gone

Courtesy of Dynamic Sponsorships

Dakota Louis Meyer has lived the life of a thousand men. When duty called, he answered in a powerful way more robust than most. Now that his active service has ended, he continues to spread the ideals of patriotism with the country.

At just 36 years old, Sergeant Dakota Meyer of Columbia, Ky. has seen much more life than most of us. We as humans tend to go through a fairly routine trajectory in life, checking boxes and doing whatever we can to make an honest living. Meyer, however, has already made more of a mark on this country than many will make in a lifetime.

A veteran of the War in Afghanistan and the second-youngest living Medal of Honor recipient, Meyer rose to the occasion when his fellow troops were in dire need because he believed in and loved our country and his commitment to it. He put his own personal safety aside to help both his country and his brothers.

Reading that, it might sound like something that only happens in the Hollywood movies but this man has experienced things we could never imagine.

Terrifying, to say the least.

He’s a man of principle, fact and common sense. So, when he shows up to any event, it makes sense to listen carefully to what he has to say. As someone who loves fishing, Meyer had an opportunity to make the trip to the 2024 Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners Tournament on Lake Hartwell. He was absolutely thrilled to experience the prestigious event.

“I’ve been with Toyota for the last 12-years an we’re out here talking about the Hiring Our Heroes program and raising awareness to support our veterans,” Meyer said. “The foundation helps veterans make a smooth transition back into civilian life. We connect our military community, including service members, military spouses and veterans with American businesses to create economic opportunity and a strong and diversified workplace.”

Meyer was excited to see the turnout at the 2024 Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners Tournament and cherished the opportunity to get to meet fellow anglers and share how much Toyota has done for the program. On top of speaking to and addressing the entire group of anglers, Meyer made time for a private meet and greet with Toyota manufacturing plant team members who are military veterans.

“I think this is an absolutely fantastic event,” Meyers said. “This is the first time I’ve been able to be out here meeting all these great anglers. I’ve loved meeting folks who support Toyota, which is the most American-made vehicle out there right now. Toyota supports service members and they support this beautiful country along with the ideas and unity we stand for.”

Sure, he’s promoting a great cause; but there’s one thing he also wants to check off his list.

“Being around all of these anglers and this atmosphere, I want to come again next year and fish the tournament,” Meyer said. “Fishing has always been such a huge part of my life and I can’t wait to come back. All the fellowship, community and smiles make this an enjoyable time for everyone.”

For someone who has been through so much at such a young age, it meant the world to the angling community to spend some time with him. There’s a suspicion, however, that the sentiment was equal. After experiencing the things he has seen, it sure was nice to be among the fishing community, just being a regular guy and shooting the breeze with fellow outdoorsmen and women.

Luke Johns Becomes First-Ever Bass Boat Technologies BAM Pro Tour Champion

Zack Thompson Flips for Runner-Up Ranking

OAKLEY, Calif. – After a leaderboard reset for Championship Sunday, Luke Johns from Folsom, Calif., claimed victory with a five-fish limit weighing 16.42 pounds, becoming the first-ever champion of the inaugural Bass Boat Technologies BAM Pro Tour TOC at the California Delta, presented by the City of Oakley, Oakley ACE and Tackle Warehouse.

With the potential for any cast to yield a double-digit catch on the Delta, Johns didn’t believe his 16-pound total would be enough to secure first place.

"I kind of wrote it off and figured I’d end up 3rd or 4th—maybe make a little extra money, and that would be cool. But I didn’t think I’d have a shot at winning this," he shared.

Little did he know, the rest of the field was also struggling to find sizable fish in the tough, tidal waters.

"At my first spot, I quickly caught a limit, but it was only around nine pounds," Johns recalled. "Then I caught a 4 ½-pounder (on camera), putting me at 12 or 13 pounds, but I knew I needed more."

That four-pound bass, caught near a retaining wall in a slough, ended up being Johns’ biggest fish of the day.

"I’d seen bait being pushed up against that wall over the past two days," he explained.

A change in location and lure proved pivotal. When the wind picked up, Johns switched to a ChatterBait, quickly landing a 4 ¼-pounder.

"That was the fish that put me over the top—my final kicker fish," he said.

Ultimately, Garmin LiveScope technology played a crucial role as Johns spotted the 4-pounder under a bait ball, leading him to pitch a five-inch wacky Senko.

"I’d never LiveScoped a fish on the Delta before," he said. "It was just on so I could find grass lines and other structure. Catching a fish like that on LiveScope in the Delta—it's one of those moments that doesn’t happen unless you’re having a special day."

Two Baits That Won the Tournament

Johns credited his success to two key baits: a ChatterBait and a Yamamoto Senko.

"For the Senko, I used a Daiwa Tatula Elite Cody Meyer Wacky Rig Rod paired with a Tatula Elite Spinning Reel, Size 3000," he said. "It’s an ideal rod for wacky rigs and heavier shaky heads."

He used Sunline AMZ braided line paired with a 10-pound Shooter leader and an Owner Wacky Hook. His vibrating jig of choice was a Picasso Shock Blade with a Yamamoto Zako trailer.

"I love this setup," he said. "I used a Dobyns glass rod, Daiwa reel, and 14- to 16-pound Sunline Crank FC line for added abrasion resistance."

This TOC win capped a season that started off rocky for Johns.

"I had some rough finishes in the first half of the season," he admitted. "But in the second half, I made three top-10s. For someone like me, being able to fish a tournament of this caliber on the West Coast without traveling 20 hours to the East Coast is phenomenal. I'm looking forward to the Super 60 next year."

In addition to $500 in Bass Boat Technologies contingency dollars, along with $300 for running exclusive Garmin graphs. Johns earned the top prize of a fully-rigged $65k Bass Cat Boat with Mercury, Garmin, and Eternal Lithium equipment.

Thompson’s Strategy in Franks Tract

Zack Thompson of Alameda, Calif., approached the season finale with a strategy to secure a spot on Championship Sunday by focusing on keeper count for the first two days, saving his larger fish for the final day. Thompson double-qualified for Day Three with both the most scorable bass (19) and the heaviest weight (36.50). He weighed in 14.74 pounds for his final five on Championship Sunday, earning $8,000 as runner-up.

Both top finishers will compete in the BAM Super 60 for 2025.

Note: BAM Pro Tour anglers are ranked in Pro Tour events by both the heaviest five-fish limit (Weight) and the number of scorable bass caught (Keepers). First place goes to the angler with the five heaviest bass, while second is awarded to the highest keeper count. Standings then alternate by weight/keepers.

On Day One, anglers are ranked by both weight and keeper count. These rankings are combined over Day Two for a cumulative total, after which the field is cut to the top 10. For the final day, all weights are reset, and the remaining anglers compete based on the heaviest five-fish limit to determine the champion.

About BAM Tournament Trail

The Bass Angler Magazine Tournament Trail (BAM TT) provides an exceptional platform for both anglers and sponsors. It combines extensive exposure opportunities, celebrating the skills of western bass anglers. The circuit receives broad media coverage across print and online magazines, emails, podcast, websites, videos, television, and multiple social media channels.

Proud Sponsors of the BAM Tournament Trail: Bass Boat Technologies, Tackle Warehouse, Boardman Chamber, Garmin, Storquest, and, Bass Cat Boats, Ford Fairfield, Dish - Accel Marketing, Power Pole, Mercury Outboards, Bob’s Machine, Wood Bros, Sticky Graphics, Jean Deleonardi Real Estate, Valley Outdoors, Eternal Lithium and, Alpha Angler Rods, and Fisherman’s Warehouse.

BAM’s Esteemed Tourism Sponsors: the Boardman Chamber, City of Oakley, the Lake Almanor Chamber, and the Feather River Tourism Association.

The BAM Tournament Trail features the BAM Pro Tour, Pro-Am, and Kayak events, each designed to test the determination of western anglers in a competitive and environmentally conscious format.

To learn more about the BAM Pro Tour, Pro-Am and Kayak events. Visit: BAM TRAIL, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram

Media and Advertising Inquiries: Please contact Mark Lassagne for further information regarding media and advertising opportunities.

#bamtrail #bassanglermagazine #bamprotour

Huntsville Readies for Toyota Series Championship on Wheeler Lake Presented by Bass Boat Technologies

More than 400 bass anglers set to compete for top prize of up to $235,000 + REDCREST qualification in 2024 Toyota Series finale

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (Oct. 29, 2024) – The 2024 Toyota Series Championship at Wheeler Lake Presented by Bass Boat Technologies is headed to Huntsville, Alabama, next week, Nov. 7-9, where the nation’s best Toyota Series pros and international anglers will compete for a top award of up to $235,000 cash, including the lucrative $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus, and an invitation to REDCREST 2025– Major League Fishing’s most prestigious event.

Hosted by the Huntsville-Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Madison County Commission and the Huntsville Sports Commission, the three-day, no-entry-fee Toyota Series Championship is the culmination of the 2024 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats season, a six-division circuit that offers a path to the 2025 Tackle Warehouse Invitationals and ultimately the Bass Pro Tour.

“We are excited to bring the 2024 Toyota Series Championship to Ditto Landing and welcome everyone for a great week of fishing in the center of the bass fishing capital of the world,” said Joel Lamp, Sports Development Manager of the Huntsville-Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau. “We look forward to everyone having a great week on the water and showcasing what a great destination we have for fishing.”

In addition to the top award of up to $235,000, the signature fall championship offers thousands in awards to top finishers in each division, while introducing international qualifiers to tournament bass-fishing stateside. The long-running championship also provides advancement opportunities for anglers across the globe, furthering their reach and amplifying their fishing platforms.

Bass Pro Tour angler Ryan Salzman of Huntsville, Alabama, is a guide on Wheeler Lake and said he expects to see several patterns in play on the fishery by the time the tournament begins.

“There’s definitely going to be a guy or two fishing around the dam that finish in the top 10,” Salzman said. “I also think we’ll see some guys do really well on topwater, while others make runs up the big creeks. Those in the creeks will do really well throwing topwaters and spinnerbaits, but I also think you’ll have a couple guys do really well livescoping.”

From dam to dam, Wheeler Lake is pretty diverse – there’s grass, the famous Decatur Flats with its stumps and shell bars, some major creeks (the Elk River is where Zack Birge of Blanchard, Oklahoma, won the 2014 Rayovac FLW Series Championship ), and of course the current below the Guntersville Dam. Positioned close to Ditto Landing, the dam is perhaps the wildcard of the event. In 2022, Nathan Brewer of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, led the Toyota Series event at Lake Guntersville for two days by locking out of Lake Guntersville and fishing below the dam for smallmouth.

Salzman said the umbrella rig bite can also be pretty good on Wheeler, and for that, he likes the 3.5-inch True Bass Minner to imitate small shad. There’s also the potential for a shallow cranking bite, with something like a Yo-Zuri 3DB Crank 1.5 MR or a topwater bite, similar to what is typically seen on Pickwick and Kentucky Lake, so there could be a lot of variety in play.

“It’s really going to depend on the weather leading up to that for whichever one of those will set up for the win,” Salzman said. “If you get a lot of rain and they’re pumping a lot of current – the dam might do well. If there’s not a lot of current, creeks might win, or the forward-facing guys might win it.”

The full field of anglers will compete on Days 1 and 2 of the event, with the top 25 pros and top 25 Strike King co-anglers based on cumulative weight from the first two days continuing to the third and final day. The 2024 Toyota Series champions will be determined by the heaviest three-day total weight.

Pros and co-anglers can qualify for multiple contingency awards based on final standings in the championship, including the lucrative $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus for pros. The winning Strike King co-angler will earn a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard motor.

The 2024 Toyota Series Championship field features the top 25 pros, top 25 Strike King co-anglers and tournament winners from each of the six divisions; the top 25 pros and 25 co-anglers from the Wild Card division plus tournament winners; the highest finishing boater and co-angler from each of the six Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Regionals and the TBF at the All-American; the top three teams from the College Fishing National Championship; High School Fishing National Champions; TBF National Champions; and MLF International anglers from Canada, Central Europe, Italy, Korea, Mexico, Namibia, Portugal, South Africa, Spain and Zimbabwe.

About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, the World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 13 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.

Travel Tuesday - Plan Ahead!

What Kind of a Lunatic Plans Fishing Trips Two Years in Advance?

By Pete Robbins

I know that a lot of you are last-minute planners, and I certainly feel like I’ve conquered life when a late-blooming opportunity falls into my lap. Nevertheless, I can’t shake my understanding that I am a planner.

Fishing is all about controlling the variables that you can control, right? I want to be on the best waters, at the best times, with the best gear. I also have a full-time job, plus another part-time gig that occasionally veers past 40 hours a week. If I don’t plan, things don’t happen. I have a lot of boxes to check.

That’s part of the reason that I’ve already written some of my 2026 vacation plans on the calendar in pen, and others in sharply-written pencil. It’s not even 2025 yet, and I’m certainly not looking past what I hope will be a great year of fishing travel, but I also want to take care of business beyond the immediate horizon.

That’s why we have organized a group trip to chase sailfish in Guatemala in February of 2026, and we have another large group headed to Alaska for trout and salmon that August. Notably, there are still spots available on both of those trips – email us any time if you’re interested in learning more – and that brings me to some of the reasons for planning so far in advance:

First, it allows us to get prime dates. We try to plan many of our trips over holiday weekends so that we won’t have to use quite as much of our vacation time to go. Other people do the same. If you want to head to a popular destination like Casa Vieja Lodge, the best boats at the best times book up early. Similarly, in Alaska, the salmon runs are remarkably predictable. If you want to be there during the height of a certain species (we’ll be there for the silver salmon), act fast.

Second, it allows us to plan financially. Some but not all of the trips that we take are pretty pricey. By knowing now how much we’ll need it allows us to save appropriately and not be surprised. In some cases, you can also lock in current year pricing if you put down a deposit early.

Third, it allows us to prepare physically. If we want to take a long hike (while wearing waders) through the Alaskan tundra to chase remote monster rainbow trout, we have to be ready for that challenge. Similarly, I’ve vowed that before we return to Alaska I will practice my fly casting, at least a little. My lack of skill hasn’t proven to be a major hindrance so far, but I want to be ready if I need to execute a specific tricky cast.

One caveat, though. Remember the old saying that “Man plans and God laughs”? Well, it’s true. The further out you plan, the more likely that you are to run into some speedbump that boogers up the trip. If and when you do book for in advance, be sure to check on refund and cancellation policies and dates. It never hurts to invest in a travel protection plan, either. You can save yourself a lot of heartache while maximizing your opportunities to have a bucket list experience.

If you’re considering a trip to Alaska, Guatemala, Mexico, Brazil or Panama, whether this upcoming year or far in the future, shoot us a message and we can help you plan.

Ehrler/Lucas and Connell/Wheeler Advance to Championship at General Tire Team Series Folds of Honor Patriot Cup Presented by recteq

Team 7 Brew Coffee throws swimbaits to pace final Knockout Round match with 14 largemouth totaling 34 pounds, final four teams set for Tuesday’s Championship Round

EARLY, Texas (Oct. 28, 2024) – The Team 7 Brew Coffee duo of Brent Ehrler and Justin Lucas caught 14 scorable largemouth bass on Lake Brownwood, Monday, weighing 34 pounds even to win Match 2 of the Knockout Round at the Folds of Honor Patriot Cup Presented by recteq in Early, Texas. The win secures Team 7 Brew Coffee a spot in Tuesday’s finale. Also advancing, in second place, is the Team Lucas Oil squad of Dustin Connell and Jacob Wheeler, who caught 15 bass totaling 31-1.

Team Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff & Pouches – pros Luke Clausen and Martin Villa – were eliminated from competition with 11 bass weighing 21-14.

The Championship Round field is now set for Tuesday in the third General Tire Team Series Presented by Bass Pro Shops event of the season. Ehrler/Lucas and Connell/Wheeler will compete against Team Builders FirstSource (Ott DeFoe/Alton Jones Jr.) and Team Coign (Jeff Sprague/Bryan Thrift), with the team that weighs in the highest one-day total being declared the Patriot Cup champions.

Anglers spent the Elimination Round competing on O.H. Ivie Lake, then shifted to Lake Brownwood for the Knockout Round. With all fisheries within a 60-mile radius of Early, Texas, in play for the Championship Round, it will make for an exciting finale for anglers and fans alike.

“We had a good day and it was a lot of fun. We are obviously happy with how everything went, but we had the bites to have more weight,” Ehrler said. “I think we could probably have had another 9 or 10 pounds in our total, but we missed a few. But when you’re throwing big swimbaits, that’s a part of it.”

The team caught their fish in a variety of ways. Ehrler boated scorables using four different baits – early on a topwater, a worm, and a jerkbait before settling in with the big swimbait, while Lucas landed keepers with a jighead minnow and a finesse jig before doing the heavy lifting with the big swimbait. The duo did most of their damage with the swimbait, targeting steep wind-blown rocky banks.

“We tried to just cover as much water as possible, and it was a lot of fun,” Lucas said. “The bait that clued us in to what we were going to do the rest of the day was the 6-inch Berkley (PowerBait) CullShad in Albino (color). Brent put on a similar swimbait in the afternoon and caught several on it, as well. I was throwing that thing on 17-pound (Berkley) Trilene (100%) Fluorocarbon with a 6:6:1 gear ratio reel and a 7-foot, 6-inch heavy rod.

“I had a good feeling about this week, and so far, it’s feeling pretty good,” Lucas went on to say. “You’ve got to get to the finals before you can win, so that’s the next goal.”

“I’ll take the win, today, but I’d definitely rather have it tomorrow,” Ehrler added.

“At least we know we can do it,” Lucas responded.

The Team Lucas Oil duo of Connell and Wheeler struggled early – they caught only one scorable bass in the first period. After starting the third period with a 1-pound, 12-ounce deficit, they rallied and caught four of the final five bass of the day to overtake Clausen and Villa and claim the final Championship Round spot.

“It took us a little bit to figure out, but the wind was the key,” Connell said. “Jacob caught that 5-pounder on the ChatterBait. Then he had another bite and then it was like, alright. That was the clue we needed.”

Connell and Wheeler caught the majority of their bass in the afternoon using vibrating jigs.

“That was the key for us today, throwing the ChatterBait out on flat points,” Wheeler said. “We were using the (Z-Man) Jack Hammer ChatterBait with a (Rapala CrushCity) gizzard shad Freeloader, and a (Rapala CrushCity) green-pumpkin-disco Freeloader.”

“We punched our ticket to the Championship Round,” Connell said. “We’ve got an opportunity, and that’s all we need.”

“Heck yeah, I’m in, and I am ready,” Wheeler added.

The top two teams from the Folds of Honor Patriot Cup Presented by recteq Knockout Round Match 2 that now advance to the Championship Round are:

1st: Team 7 Brew Coffee, 14 bass, 34-0
Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., seven bass, 13-10
Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., seven bass, 20-6
2nd: Team Lucas Oil, 15 bass, 31-1
Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., five bass, 8-6
Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Ark., 10 bass, 22-11

Eliminated from competition are:

3rd: Team Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff & Pouches, 11 bass, 21-14
Luke Clausen, Spokane, Wash., seven bass, 10-0
Martin Villa, Charlottesville, Va., four bass, 11-14

Complete results from throughout the week can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 40 bass weighing 86 pounds, 15 ounces caught by the three teams in the second and final Knockout Round match on Lake Brownwood Monday. Team Lucas Oil pro Jacob Wheeler caught a 5-pound, 7-ounce largemouth that earned the Berkley Big Bass of the day honors.

The Championship Round will take place Tuesday, featuring Team 7 Brew Coffee (Brent Ehrler/Justin Lucas), Team Builders FirstSource (Ott DeFoe/Alton Jones Jr.), Team Coign (Jeff Sprague/Bryan Thrift), and Team Lucas Oil (Jacob Wheeler/Dustin Connell). Anglers are driven directly to the day’s competition area launch ramp by their officials. Competition begins on the water Tuesday at 8:45 a.m.

The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on Championship Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. CT. MLFNOW!® is live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app and Rumble.

The Patriot Cup features 12 two-man teams divided into three groups as they entered the one-day Elimination Round matches. Each of the three Elimination Round matches featured four new teams, with the top two teams from each match of the Elimination Round advancing to the Knockout Round on Days 4 & 5. In the Knockout Rounds, three teams competed each day, with the top two teams from each Knockout Round match now moving on to the Championship Round on Day 6. In Tuesday’s Day 6 Championship Round, the final four teams will compete in a one-day shootout to determine which team will win the 2024 Folds of Honor Patriot Cup Presented by recteq.

Knoxville’s Clevenger Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Wild Card on Cherokee Lake

Murfreesboro’s Haraguchi Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. (Oct. 28, 2024) – Boater Gavin Clevenger of Knoxville, Tennessee, caught a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 26 pounds, 14 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine Wild Card on Cherokee Lake . The tournament, which was hosted by Visit Jefferson County, TN, concluded Saturday. For his win, Clevenger earned $2,833 and a spot in the 2025 BFL All-American.

The BFL Wild Card is an annual event held at the conclusion of the BFL postseason as a last-chance opportunity to make the All-American. It’s open to BFL contestants who pay an entry fee prior to the tournament for all five tournaments in a division, fish two or more tournaments in the same division, and do not make a Regional championship. Sixty-four boaters and co-anglers competed in this season’s Wild Card tournament.

Clevenger capitalized on homefield advantage and a seasonal shift in fishing regulations to seal up the Wild Card win in front of the hometown fans. In the fall, anglers are allowed to keep five smallmouths over 15 inches, while summertime regs on Cherokee limit anglers to just one smallie over 18.

“Obviously, I’ve spent quite a bit of time out there, with it being pretty much my home lake for my whole life,” he said. “I kind of knew with the smallmouth being in play, I knew the areas that played more with smallmouth versus a mix of both. And I knew how the smallmouth were biting from when the BFL (Volunteer Division Super Tournament) got cancelled previously. So I kind of just stayed in the few areas that I knew bigger ones lived, but also knew where tournament history had been won. I stayed in those areas and found some stuff that people weren’t really fishing as much as the obvious stuff.”

When Clevenger was prepping for the Super Tournament in September, he found fish setting up a bit deeper on current breaks. Now that the current has reduced and the weather has cooled, the fish have moved shallower.

He rotated through a handful of areas, using Garmin LiveScope and a Queen Tackle 3/16- or 1/4-ounce jighead to “scope” quality keeper smallmouth each day. One of the keys, however, was not getting too dialed in. Instead, Clevenger stayed flexible, rotated around and reacted to what he saw each day.

“Day one was very, very rough,” Clevenger said. “I had one bass at 12 o’clock, and I kind of knew it was going to be that way from how practice had went. I was on more of a later-in-the-day bite, I would say. So day one was pretty tough. I was confident in what I was doing and that I was doing the right thing for the bite that I was on, so I just stuck with it all day and managed to catch my fifth keeper on day one at 3:30. I was due in at 4.”

Day two, Clevenger enjoyed a morning turnaround – and some last-minute heroics once again.

“It actually started out a little better than I expected,” he said. “I had two by like 9:30, 10 o’clock, and then I kind of went and sampled some stuff. I ended up rolling up on a point at like 11:30 and filled my limit by 12:30. I jumped off a couple big ones, but then after that I kind of knew that I had a chance to do something special, being on my home place. I pulled up on a point and wound up culling two times off the point, and this was by about 2 o’clock. And then I knew my best chance at catching a 3-plus-pounder was down the lake closer to the area where I’d found a lot bigger fish. I actually ended up pulling up at a place that I’ve known about for a while and I didn’t check until day one of the tournament. I ended up catching a 3-pounder and one right at 4. I caught those at like 3:45, and I was due in at 4:30.”

The late culls helped boost the Abu Garcia College Fishing angler up from second place to first for the Wild Card win and a shot at his first All-American title.

Gary Haraguchi of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, won the Strike King co-angler division Saturday after bringing a two-day total of four bass weighing 9 pounds, 3 ounces, to the scale. For his win, Haraguchi won $1,127.

The top six Strike King co-anglers who qualified for the 2025 All-American finished:

1st:        Gary Haraguchi, Murfreesboro, Tenn., four bass, 9-3, $1,127
2nd:       Hunter Tibbetts, Centreville, Va., three bass, 5-9, $563
3rd:       Andrew Rogers, Johnson City, Tenn., two bass, 5-8, $376
4th:        D. Michael Lowe, Clinton, Tenn., two bass, 5-2, $263
5th:        Joe Yocum, Commercial Point, Ohio, two bass, 4-6, $225
6th:        Bill Hockaday, Nashville, Ark., one bass, 3-15, $564

The rest of the top 10 finished:

7th:        Richard Hooter, Natchitoches, La., two bass, 3-12, $188
8th:        Marcus Dudley, Twinsburg, Ohio, one bass, 3-1, $169
9th:        Nicholas Ploussard, Saint Francis, Minn., one bass, 3-0
10th:     William Lewis, Jacksonville, Fla., one bass, 2-11

Bill Hockaday of Nashville, Arkansas, won the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $107 for catching a bass that weighed 3 pounds, 15 ounces.

The 2024 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7 Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, General Tire, GSM Outdoors, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, PowerStop Brakes, REDCON1, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.

For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Prince Family Wins 13th Annual Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners Tournament

The father-son duo of Trevor and Alex Prince caught a mixed bag of spotted and largemouth bass weighing 17-lbs 15-ounces to win the 13th Annual Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners Tournament on Lake Hartwell. This was the Prince’s first time fishing the Bonus Bucks Owners event, though the 2023 Tundra they drove to legendary Green Pond Landing in is the fourth Tundra Trevor Prince has owned.

“I’ve always liked the look of Toyota Tundras and you can’t beat the reliability,” the elder Prince said. “All you have to do is put gas in them and go! That’s why I’ve continued to buy one after another… they are rock solid. I’ve won some money through Bonus Bucks over the years, too, so it’s been great to finally fish a Toyota Owners event. It certainly lived up to the hype.”

Alex Prince drives a 2016 Tundra and echoed his dad’s praise of Toyota’s reliability and the towing power of their Tundras. Alex is set to fish the Bassmaster Opens in 2025 for the first time as a boater and relished the opportunity to win a tournament while standing on the Bassmaster Stage.

This first-class no entry fee event feels equal parts family reunion as it does a hotly contested tournament. Toyota rolls out the red carpet for participants with catered meals, meet and greets with Team Toyota pros, and incredible registration prizes from brands like Strike King, Bass Pro Shops, Yamaha Outboards, and Costa Sunglasses on top of a truckload of Toyota Fishing Team swag.

Beautiful Lake Hartwell, Anderson County, and the unparalleled Green Pond Landing facility were a new destination for this event and proved terrific hosts for this annual celebration of Toyota owners and Bonus Bucks members.

“This was such a well ran event and a great time to get to share together,” Trevor said. “I couldn’t believe all the great stuff we got at registration. I told Alex Saturday night that even if we didn’t get a check, we already cashed in with all the gear. I can’t wait to fish this again next year.”

The pair of Princes’ fish a lot of tournaments each year, sharing a love of competitive fishing coupled with the chance to spend quality time together. The Blue Ridge, Georgia natives consider Lake Lanier and Chatuge Lake their home waters, but Hartwell is less than two hours from their house and has always been a fishery they’ve gelled with.

The spotted bass aficionados employed forward facing sonar to find groups of bass chasing schools of bait in 15 to 50 feet of water, leaning on a unique hardbait – the SPRO Sashimmy Swimmer - to trick their fish into biting.

“We caught a few on jigs this morning but it was pretty slow until about noon,” Alex Prince said. “This afternoon the fish started setting up right, suspending over brush and getting in the right mood to bite. That’s when they started chewing the sashimmy.”

The Prince’s bested second place by just three ounces to take home the tournament trophies, $5,000 in prize money, new Lew’s rod and reel combos along with the Costa Compete + Conserve bonus.

Toyota Bonus Bucks remains a premier contingency program whether you fish weekend tournaments or at the professional level. With over 620 supported events, you’re leaving money on the table if you don’t tow your boat with a Toyota tow vehicle. To learn more about Bonus Bucks or the annual Toyota Owners Tournament, follow this link: https://www.toyotatrucksbonusbucks.com/.

Moreno and Viator redeem themselves with Redfish Cup Championship win

Oct. 27, 2024

Bassmaster_RedFishCup_Yamaha_Skeeter_4C copy.jpg APALACHICOLA, Fla. — The letters R-E-D begin both the target species and the term of motivation that drove Gary Moreno and Tony Viator to victory at the Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter at Apalachicola Bay.

After finishing last in the 2023 event at South Carolina’s Winyah Bay, the Texas anglers came to town seeking Redfish and Redemption. With a three-day aggregate total of 32 pounds, 9 ounces, it was mission accomplished.

“When we left home, I told Tony I didn’t want to finish dead last; we wanted to come and show everyone that we deserve to be here,” Moreno said. “And not just because we did well in (the Elite Fishing Series, through which they qualified), but that we can catch fish and adjust to the adversities we dealt with.”

After a rocky start, which put them in ninth place with a Day 1 limit of 7-14, Moreno and Viator regrouped and posted a Day 2 effort of 11-10 and moved up to third. Championship Sunday saw them step on the gas and box two chunky reds that went 6-9 and 6-8.

With that final limit of 13-1, Moreno and Viator edged Day 2 leaders Michael Frenette and Mark Robinson by 10 ounces and claimed the $75,000 top prize.

“It’s overwhelming. I’m at a loss for words,” Viator said. “I didn’t start seriously tournament fishing until about four or five years ago. When you first start out, you think ‘I’m as good as everybody else,’ but then you realize you’re not as good as everybody else.

“To be able to come in here and fish against a field like this and come out on top, I never thought that I would get to the point where I could do that. It makes you feel good to know that you can compete at this level.”

Wiping back tears, Moreno added: “It’s truly surreal. I’m choked up and I don’t even know how to respond. Since I started tournament fishing professionally three years ago, I’ve been so close in so many tournaments, but this is the icing on the cake.

“This is the most sought-after title in all of redfishing. My hat’s off to these other anglers (in the field). This is just unreal.”

As Viator explained, his team’s victory hinged on scrapping Plan A and committing to Plan B. After catching decent redfish in what Viator described as shallow broken marsh habitat in the upper bay, he and Moreno committed their first day and part of the second to this area.

“When we went in there on Days 1 and 2, we couldn’t catch a fish over 3 1/2 pounds other than Gary’s Day 1 fish that was almost 5 pounds,” Viator said. “We hit several spots the morning of Day 2 and Gary looked at me and said, ‘We gotta make a move.’

“We had looked on the other side of the bay (the east side of St. Vincent Island), but we hadn’t done much prefishing there. I said, ‘This isn’t working. There’s no big fish here. There’s a lot of freshwater, maybe they’re over there.’”

Making about a 20-mile run, Moreno and Viator “hopscotched” a few spots with no success. Venturing closer to West Pass (separating St. Vincent from St. George Island, the bay’s primary barrier island), they selected a promising area on the island’s sandy perimeter with flats dropping into deeper water.

“Gary’s not a deep-water fisherman. He’s a sight fisherman,” Viator said of his team’s initial reservations. “But we got over there, and the water was not only clear, but it was clear deep — you could see 4 to 5 feet deep.”

Moreno said the fish were ready and two good ones promptly participated.

“We went from a 5-pound limit to 11-10 in 6 minutes,” he said.

Moreno said he and Viator sight fished their reds with 1/2-ounce Bagley silver spoons. Success, he said, relied on true teamwork and a strategy designed to cover all opportunities.

“We tried to make long casts, but also have somebody at the ready for short pitches as we drifted down the shoreline,” Moreno said. “When a fish came up and the opportunity presented itself, somebody was always ready to reel up and make a cast.”

Spending all of Day 3 in the St. Vincent Island/West Pass waters, Moreno and Viator quickly stuck a pair of hefty reds that went 6-8 and a 6-9. Taking the unofficial lead within a couple hours of takeoff, they held off all challengers and sealed the deal.

Frenette and Robinson kept themselves near the top from Day 1 by placing third with an opening round limit of 10-2. Adding 13-4 — the event’s biggest limit — they moved into first before turning in a Day 3 catch of 8-9 and finishing second with 31-15.

Also fishing near the Gulf of Mexico, Frenette and Robinson split their time between the Government Cut jetties and the West Pass area. They used 1-ounce jigging spoons in the former and threw 1/2-ounce weedless gold spoons in the latter.

“We caught our two biggest fish on Day 3 jigging at Government Cut,” Robinson said. “It was a little slow. The current didn’t start until later and we had to stay too long.

“We (hooked) two big fish at West Pass, but we lost them at the net.”

The hybrid team of Bassmaster Elite Series pro Brandon Palaniuk and redfish tournament pro Chris Cenci finished third with 29-4. Their daily weights were 9-6, 13-0 and 6-14.

“We did what we did, but I felt like we could have done a little better, but that’s fishing,” Cenci said. “We had an OK first day, a really good second day and today we caught a decent number of fish, but they were all small.”

After doing much of their work the first two days with a 1/2-ounce Z-Man Chatterbait Jackhammer in the golden shiner color and a 4.75 X Zone Lures Swammer, they caught their final-round fish on popping corks rigged with Cenci’s Slayer Inc. paddle tails.

The local sponsor of the 2024 Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter was Florida’s Forgotten Coast.

2024 Redfish Cup Championship Title Sponsor: Yamaha
2024 Redfish Cup Championship Presenting Sponsor: Skeeter Boats

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

Media Contact: Chad Gay, Communications Manager, 205-313-0945, [email protected]

2024 Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter 10/25-10/27
Apalachicola Bay, Apalachicola Bay FL.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3

Angler

1. Gary Moreno - Tony Viator
Day 1: 2 07-14 Day 2: 2 11-10 Day 3: 2 13-01 Total: 6 32-09
2. Mark Robinson - Mike Frenette
Day 1: 2 10-02 Day 2: 2 13-04 Day 3: 2 08-09 Total: 6 31-15
3. Brandon Palaniuk - Chris Cenci
Day 1: 2 09-06 Day 2: 2 13-00 Day 3: 2 06-14 Total: 6 29-04
4. Fred Myers III - Cody Chivas
Day 1: 2 11-00 Day 2: 2 06-07 Day 3: 2 09-10 Total: 6 27-01
5. John Garrett - Chad Manning
Day 1: 2 08-05 Day 2: 2 09-14 Day 3: 2 08-07 Total: 6 26-10
6. Carter Myers - James Drysdale
Day 1: 2 08-06 Day 2: 2 06-01 Day 3: 2 12-01 Total: 6 26-08
7. Ryan Rickard - Patrick Marsonek
Day 1: 2 11-04 Day 2: 2 07-02 Day 3: 2 07-09 Total: 6 25-15
8. Kevin Akin - Clark Jordan Jr
Day 1: 2 06-04 Day 2: 2 07-02 Day 3: 2 09-08 Total: 6 22-14
9. Shane LeHew - Michael Goodwine
Day 1: 2 08-09 Day 2: 1 02-13 Day 3: 2 09-03 Total: 5 20-09
10. Justin Atkins - Krista Miller
Day 1: 2 08-06 Day 2: 2 07-01 Day 3: 1 02-05 Total: 5 17-12
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 0 20 89-08
2 0 19 84-06
3 0 19 87-03
----------------------------------
0 58 261-01

Sprague/Thrift and DeFoe/Jones Jr. Move on to Championship Round at General Tire Team Series Folds of Honor Patriot Cup Presented by recteq

EARLY, Texas (Oct. 27, 2024) – After three tough days in the Elimination Round on O.H. Ivey, professional anglers competing in the Major League Fishing (MLF) General Tire Team Series Presented by Bass Pro Shops this week in Early, Texas, headed to a new fishery on Sunday.

Brownwood Lake was the playing field for the three two-man teams competing in Match 1 of the Knockout Round at the Folds of Honor Patriot Cup Presented by recteq, where teams were met with flooded willow grass, flat reeds and other emergent vegetation.

It was a closely contested day – just 1 pound, 4 ounces separated the top two teams at the end of the day – but as SCORETRACKER® expired, it was the Team Coign duo of Jeff Sprague and Bryan Thrift that stood alone atop the leaderboard. Team Coign caught 17 bass weighing 30 pounds, 2 ounces to pace the field and advance to the Championship Round on Tuesday. Also advancing in second place was Team Builders FirstSource – Alton Jones Jr. and Ott DeFoe – who boated 15 bass totaling 28-14. Team Knighten Industries ( Brent Chapman and Wesley Strader) was eliminated from the competition.

Team Coign boated a 2-3 within the first seven minutes of competition to get off to a quick start Sunday morning. The duo started the day targeting fish in willow grass and stayed with that pattern throughout the day.

Team Builders FirstSource took the lead at the end of the first period and held it for most of the second period but couldn’t hold off Team Coign, who rallied toward the end of Period 2 to take over the top spot once again, holding it for the remainder of the competition day.

“When you come to Central or West Texas, you think of rocky, canyon-type lakes like Falcon Lake, Lake Amistad or those types of reservoirs,” said Sprague in his post-game interview. “But then you get to Lake Brownwood, and it’s an oasis. It’s so crazy with all the vegetation.”

“It’s an absolutely beautiful lake,” Thrift interjected. “Even when you get up there in the grass, there’s rock under the water. It’s the bassiest-looking lake I’ve fished in a long time.”

Team Coign had pretty much locked up its Championship Round bid by the start of the third and final period, but the duo decided to keep pushing for the top spot.

“We don’t know where we will be fishing the Championship Round, and there’s a possibility of coming back to Lake Brownwood, but we decided to just pour it on in that final period,” said Sprague. “This was such a fun day of fishing, and in that last period, with the pressure off, we just had a great time.”

“It’s not like what we were doing was a specific thing that we knew we could come back to either,” Thrift added. “We would go back through an area where we didn’t get a bite and get four bites – or hit a spot where we had several bites and get nothing. This was just late summer fishing, running the bank and the grass, trying to pick off some of those bluegill feeders that were still hanging around.”

“This was opportunistic fishing at its best,” Sprague added. “It’s not every day that you get to go fishing with your buddy and someone as good as Bryan is, so it’s been a great day.”

Thrift caught a few fish on a topwater frog and on a swim worm, but it was Sprague that did most of the heavy lifting, catching 15 bass totaling 25-11 to make up the bulk of the team’s total weight and end the day atop the leaderboard.

“Bryan and I did a lot of damage today, and the key to our success was a basic swim jig (paired with) the Lake Fork Lure Co. Pro Craw, honey-craw colored – one of my brand-new, signature series baits,” said Sprague. “We could see bluegill high in the water column, and the fish were feeding on them in the water willow all day long, so this bait was just the ticket we needed. We’re going to take it with us into the Championship Round and see if we can’t do some damage with it on Tuesday.”

The top two teams now advancing to the Championship Round at the Folds of Honor Patriot Cup Presented by recteq are:

1st: Team Coign, 17 bass, 30-2
Jeff Sprague, Wills Point., 15 bass, 25-11
Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., two bass, 4-7
2nd: Team Builders FirstSource, 15 bass, 28-14
Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., eight bass, 15-6
Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas, seven bass, 13-8

Eliminated from competition are:

3rd: Team Knighten Industries, nine bass, 14-13
Brent Chapman, Quivira, Kan., seven bass, 11-14
Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn., two bass, 2-15

Complete results from throughout the week can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 41 bass weighing 73 pounds, 13 ounces caught by the three teams in the first match of the Knockout Round on Lake Brownwood. Sprague caught the Berkley Big Bass of the day – a 4-pound, 3-ounce largemouth, only the second bass over 4 pounds caught all week.

The second match of the Knockout Round will take place Monday, featuring Team 7 Brew (Justin Lucas/Brent Ehrler), Team Lucas Oil (Jacob Wheeler/Dustin Connell) and Team Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff & Pouches (Luke Clausen/Martin Villa). Anglers are driven directly to the day’s competition area launch ramp by their officials. Competition begins on the water at 8:45 a.m.

The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live every day of competition from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. CT. MLFNOW!® is live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app and Rumble.

The Patriot Cup features 12 two-man teams divided into three groups as they entered the one-day Elimination Round matches. Each of the three Elimination Round matches featured four new teams, with the top two teams from each match of the Elimination Round advancing to the Knockout Round on Days 4 & 5. In the Knockout Rounds, three teams compete each day, with the top two teams from each Knockout Round match moving on to the Championship Round on Day 6. In Tuesday’s Day 6 Championship Round, the final four teams will compete in a one-day shootout to determine which team will win the 2024 Folds of Honor Patriot Cup Presented by recteq.

Father and Son, Living Hundreds of Miles Apart, Come Together for the 2024 Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners Tournament on Lake Hartwell

Courtesy of Dynamic Sponsorships

Alex and Scott Richmond may live quite a ways apart these days, but the father-son duo made it a point to spend some quality time together and make the trek to Lake Hartwell to enjoy the storied Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners Tournament.

A bittersweet part of growing older often comes in the form of physical detachment from your loved ones. Whether we graduate college or take on a new trade after our formative school years, it’s not uncommon to have to move away from the folks you love most.

Case in point, Alex Richmond and his dad, Scott.

Alex grew up fun-fishing with his dad but quickly gained a passion for tournament bass fishing. Not only did he fish on his high school team but he also enjoyed a collegiate fishing career at Grand Valley State in Grand Rapids, Mich.

With his father, Scott, living just outside of Chicago and Alex now residing in North Carolina, fishing time together has been admittedly scarce. But the duo figured out a way to coordinate their schedules this year and share a boat together at the 2024 Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners Tournament on Lake Hartwell.

They were in a dark corner of a hotel parking lot the evening after registration and any angler could tell they were taking their preparation seriously.

“We practiced this morning for a few hours and it was actually pretty good,” Alex said. “It has been a lot better than we were expecting, so we’re feeling optimistic. But with this cold front coming in, who knows what could unfold tomorrow.”

When probed about the fishing conditions and potential strategies on the table for tomorrow’s main event, both Alex and Scott kept coming back to one very specific thing.

“Man, this has been so much fun and so enjoyable already,” Scott said. “To be able to fish and spend time with my son is such a blessing. This is my first Tundra and it won’t be my last. I can’t even feel the boat behind me while I’m towing and have had zero issues. And to be able to come to an awesome event like this and meet our favorite pros like Mike Iaconelli and Gerald Swindle is icing on the cake. We got to talk about hunting for a while with Gerald and he is such a down-to-earth person. We had a lot in common and it’s great to know that he’s just another guy like us.”

For Scott, it might have been a 13-hour drive through busy cities and all kinds of big-city traffic. But when he finally reached the autumn dogwoods nestled between the towering pines of Anderson, S.C., nothing else mattered. He had his boy with him, in the same boat, doing what they love most together.

The Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners Tournament has some great raffles and gear, even for the most discerning angler, but what’s not talked about enough is the connections, and in this case, reconnections it makes among both family and friends.

Whether the Richmonds catch anything today or not, you can rest easy knowing Scott will be wearing a smile as wide as the Seneca River watching his boy fish and enjoying some much-needed one-on-one time. That’s a gift only the Great Outdoors can offer and for that, the Richmonds are eternally thankful.

Bait change puts Rickard and Marsonek atop Redfish Cup Championship field

Oct. 25, 2024

Bait change puts Rickard and Marsonek atop Redfish Cup Championship field

Bassmaster_RedFishCup_Yamaha_Skeeter_4C copy.jpg APALACHICOLA, Fla. — Ryan Rickard knew that a second title would not be spoon-fed to him, so he and partner Patrick Marsonek played a savvy game and positioned themselves well with a 2-fish limit of 11 pounds, 4 ounces that leads Day 1 of the Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter at Apalachicola Bay.

Qualifying through the Power-Pole National Redfish Tour presented by Mercury, Rickard and Marsonek hold a 4-ounce lead over defending champions Cody Chivas and Fred Myers III.

Three years ago, at the event’s revival, following a lengthy hiatus, Rickard partnered with Bassmaster Elite Series standout Chris Zaldain to notch the win at Port Aransas, Texas. This time around, Rickard and Marsonek employed a similar strategy based on adjusting to fish behavior and bait refinement.

As Rickard explained, he and his partner were most encouraged by expectations exceeded.

“The big thing for us is we had not caught a fish over 4 pounds in practice, so our target weight today was 10 pounds, just to keep us around,” he said. “Today, we fished all new stuff that we didn’t even practice on.

“We just said, ‘We don’t have anything else (productive), so we’re going to go to this other stuff that looks fishy.’ Coming up with 11-4, I am thrilled with that weight today. We’re going to be right where we need to be to make a run at this thing.”

Without question, the most important decision the leaders made was to bench their starting lineup and switch to a different presentation.

“In practice we caught all of our fish except one on a spoon,” Rickard said. “They wouldn’t touch a spoon today, so we had to really kind of improvise on what we were doing.

“We were fishing more sand and oysters today versus the grass and potholes we had been fishing. We went to paddle tails (on leadhead jigs), and that’s what got it done today.”

Typically, spoons are an easy sell to redfish, as their flash and wobble mimic one of their favored forage items — pinfish. However, Rickard believes the bold presence may have been a little too intrusive during the first round’s sunny, calm conditions.

“We were slow rolling our (paddle tails), so maybe they were just keyed in on something different and they didn’t want to chase something down,” Rickard said.

Noting that a Z-Man MinnowZ in the New Penny color rigged on a 3/8-ounce Z-Man Trout Eye jig produced best, Marsonek said the bait change yielded nearly immediate results.

“The fish were aggressive; we could sight fish them,” he said. “We caught some of our fish right off the trolling motor. The fish were acting right, but getting around them was the issue.”

That access challenge was twofold: depth and habitat.

“We had to navigate through oyster bars when the water finally started to get low,” Marsonek said. “We the tide got right; the fish started coming out of the grass. We definitely put some scratches on Ryan’s boat.”

Marsonek said the area that produced the leading weight was thin on numbers, but the fish he and Rickard found were quality reds.

“We had scattered fish, but obviously the right fish,” Marsonek said. “We expanded off of what we had in practice, and tomorrow we’re going to have something to go back to.”

Placing second with 11-0, Chivas and Myers enjoyed a double-dose of 5 1/2-pounders that bit artificial shrimp on leadheads during the last hour of competition. Those two fish came from an area that Myers knows well. The key was patiently waiting for the afternoon’s low tide.

“We grinded today in a 3- to 4-mile area and it wasn’t looking too hot,” Chivas said. “We caught tons of smaller fish, but we stayed true to what we were going to do, and it worked out late for us.”

Myers said he was closely monitoring the tide levels all day, and when he felt the window of opportunity was opening, he suggested a move to a particular spot.

“As soon as we got around some moving water, we started catching some good fish,” Myers said. “They started coming really quick, and the two biggest fish we caught were really close to the same area.

“I feel confident that there are more fish that are just as big, if not bigger in there. One cast can make the difference in the area that we’re in. There are some big fish that live in there, and I wouldn’t be surprised at all to go back in there and duplicate or have a really big bag.”

Referencing the impacts of Hurricane Helene, which made landfall just east of Apalachicola on Sept. 26 as a Category 4 storm, Myers said: “Fishing is just tough for everybody after the high water from the storm. But we caught plenty of fish to get us through, I think, and we’re going to try our best to catch that weight again and maybe a little more.”

Michael Frennette and Mark Robinson are in third place with 10-2. They started their day by fishing 1-ounce jigs in one of the passes linking Apalachicola Bay to the Gulf of Mexico but found success after pulling the plug and shifting gear to a completely different game plan.

“We were originally fishing between 22 and 32 feet of water and trying to match the hatch with a very small bait those fish were eating,” Frennette said. “When that (didn’t work), we went back to what we do naturally in Louisiana.

“We went to a very shallow area that was close to deep water where the fish could feel comfortable moving up to a flat to feed and then drop down into deeper water.”

Robinson said he and Frennette caught their fish on 1/2-ounce weedless gold spoons. They sight fished a few of their reds, but most came at the end of long casts.

Saturday’s takeoff is scheduled for 7:30 a.m. ET at Scipio Creek Marina. The weigh-in will be held at the marina at 3:30 p.m.

Saturday’s tournament coverage begins at 8 a.m. on FS1 and runs through noon. Saturday’s LIVE coverage will continue on Bassmaster.com. Sunday’s coverage begins at 8 a.m. on FS1 and runs through 12:30 p.m. Sunday’s LIVE coverage will continue on Bassmaster.com. All coverage times are ET.

The local sponsor of the 2024 Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter is Florida’s Forgotten Coast.

2024 Redfish Cup Championship Title Sponsor: Yamaha
2024 Redfish Cup Championship Presenting Sponsor: Skeeter Boats

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Media Contact: Chad Gay, Communications Manager, 205-313-0945, [email protected]

2024 Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter 10/25-10/27
Apalachicola Bay, Apalachicola Bay FL.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1

Angler

1. Ryan Rickard - Patrick Marsonek
Day 1: 2 11-04 Total: 2 11-04
2. Fred Myers III - Cody Chivas
Day 1: 2 11-00 Total: 2 11-00
3. Mark Robinson - Mike Frenette
Day 1: 2 10-02 Total: 2 10-02
4. Brandon Palaniuk - Chris Cenci
Day 1: 2 09-06 Total: 2 09-06
5. Shane LeHew - Michael Goodwine
Day 1: 2 08-09 Total: 2 08-09
6. Justin Atkins - Krista Miller
Day 1: 2 08-06 Total: 2 08-06
6. Carter Myers - James Drysdale
Day 1: 2 08-06 Total: 2 08-06
8. John Garrett - Chad Manning
Day 1: 2 08-05 Total: 2 08-05
9. Gary Moreno - Tony Viator
Day 1: 2 07-14 Total: 2 07-14
10. Kevin Akin - Clark Jordan Jr
Day 1: 2 06-04 Total: 2 06-04
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 0 20 89-08
----------------------------------
0 20 89-08

DeFoe/Jones and Clausen/Villa Advance from Match 2 of Elimination Round on O.H. Ivie at General Tire Team Series

Four teams compete on O.H. Ivie for second day, Team Builders FirstSource catches 11 bass weighing 22-12 to win second match of Elimination Round

EARLY, Texas (Oct. 25, 2024) – Team BuildersFirstSource – made up of pros Ott DeFoe of Blaine, Tennessee, and Alton Jones Jr. of Waco, Texas – were considered a favorite by many industry pundits coming into the third event of the General Tire Team Series Presented by Bass Pro Shops in Texas. Jones is a Texas native with extensive experience in the region, and of DeFoe’s four career victories on the Bass Pro Tour, three have come on Texas fisheries.

After a second consecutive tough day on O.H. Ivie, the famed west-central Texas reservoir, DeFoe and Jones demonstrated why they are a team to be reckoned with. The Team Builders FirstSource duo caught 14 bass weighing 22 pounds, 12 ounces, to claim the top spot in the second match of the Elimination Round at the Folds of Honor Patriot Cup Presented by recteq.

The victory advances the team to the Knockout Round, where they will be joined by the Team Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff & Pouches duo of Luke Clausen and Martin Villa, who finished the day in second. Clausen and Villa combined to catch 11 bass weighing 17 pounds, 11 ounces – just 6 ounces ahead of Team Ferguson. Team Ferguson (Randy Howell and Nick LeBrun) and Team Kubota (Justin Cooper and Edwin Evers) were eliminated from the competition.

“Fishing was tough, but man, what a day it was,” Jones said in his post-game interview. “Most likely people are going to look at the weights on SCORETRACKER® and think, ‘Man, that doesn’t really look any fun at all.’ But Ott and I had a blast today.

“We fished dirt shallow in some of the fresh, flooded green bushes and grass, and it was a really unique bite. The fish were feeding on dragonflies. I know it sounds crazy, but I witnessed it dozens of times today.”

Like the first elimination match on Thursday, anglers found the bass extremely shallow and way back in the thickest grass that they could fish.

“It was so hard to fish,” DeFoe said. “Alton and I were talking earlier – if you land 80% of them, you’re happy. Just because of how much stuff we’re fishing in. And a lot of those fish showed themselves to us, coming up and feeding in the back of the little pockets. But they were tough to get to.”

DeFoe and Jones mainly used a 1-2 punch of a buzzbait and a frog, but they also added a couple fish on a wacky rig.

“We threw the buzzbait in the thinner, more open stuff. Then when it would get really thick and dense, we caught some key fish on the frog,” Jones said. “I was throwing a white one all day – I broke two off. We really lived and died by the topwater today, and luckily, we lived.”

DeFoe and Jones now advance to Match 1 of the Knockout Round on Sunday, while Clausen and Villa will compete in Match 2 of the Knockout Round on Monday.

“It was a good start to Texas for us. We didn’t catch a lot of big ones like O.H. (Ivie) is known for, but we got enough to keep us in it,” DeFoe went on to say. “I feel like we really kind of figured them out at the end, and hopefully we’ve got a little pattern that we can carry into the future rounds.”

“Yeah, if they send us back here, I feel like we have a really good idea of what to go look for,” Jones Jr. added. “I’d feel really confident. But, if not, a lot of the terrain and brush around here looks the same. And they’ve all had rain, so I would expect a similar opportunity even at other lakes. But you never know.”

The top two teams from the second match of the Elimination Round at the Folds of Honor Patriot Cup Presented by recteq that advance to the Knockout Round are:

1st: Team Builders FirstSource, 14 bass, 22-12
Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., five bass, 7-4
Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas, nine bass, 15-8
2nd: Team Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff & Pouches, 11 bass, 17-11
Luke Clausen, Spokane, Wash., five bass, 8-12
Martin Villa, Charlottesville, Va., six bass, 8-15

Eliminated from competition are:

3rd: Team Ferguson, 11 bass, 17-5
Randy Howell, Guntersville, Ala., eight bass, 12-12
Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La., three bass, 4-9
4th: Team Kubota, five bass, 11-6
Justin Cooper, Zwolle, La., zero bass, 0-0
Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., five bass, 11-6

Complete results from throughout the week can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 41 bass weighing 69 pounds, 2 ounces caught by the four teams in the second Elimination Round match on O.H. Ivie Lake. Team Kubota pro Edwin Evers caught a 4-pound, 7-ounce largemouth that was the Berkley Big Bass of the day.

The Folds of Honor Patriot Cup Presented by recteq is hosted by Visit Early and takes place over six days in west-central Texas. The competition water for each day is top-secret and is only revealed to the anglers when they arrive at the boat ramp each morning. Anglers are driven directly to the day’s competition area launch ramp by their officials. Competition begins on the water at 8:45 a.m.

As a part of the event, on Saturday, Oct. 26, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. MLF welcomes fans of all ages to join MLF pros, Visit Early and the Texas Forest Service (TFS) for Fishing with the Pros at the TFS inaugural Arbor Day event. The event will be held at Town Center Lake, located at 109 Kelcy Way in Early, and will provide local youth and community members an opportunity to fish up close and personal alongside MLF pros. Tackle and bait will be provided and the event is free and open to the public.

The Patriot Cup features 12 two-man teams divided into three groups as they enter the one-day Elimination Round matches. Each of the three Elimination Round matches will feature four new teams, with the top two teams from each match of the Elimination Round advancing to the Knockout Round on Days 4 & 5. In the Knockout Rounds, three teams compete each day, with the top two teams from each Knockout Round match moving on to the Championship Round on Day 6. In Tuesday’s Day 6 Championship Round, the final four teams will compete in a one-day shootout to determine which team will win the 2024 Folds of Honor Patriot Cup Presented by recteq.

Brown Battles to Victory at NPFL Lake of the Ozarks

With a three-day total of 45 pounds, 13 ounces, Texas pro Nick Brown earned his first NPFL victory at the Chompers/NPFL Stop #5, presented by Bait-Wrx. Brown kicked things off with 11 pounds, 11 ounces on day one, followed by the event's biggest bag on day two—21 pounds, 8 ounces, anchored by a 6-pound, 5-ounce kicker. In addition to the $100,000 prize, Brown earned an extra $5,000 as the highest-placing Bass Cat Boats owner.

After a slow day one, Brown returned to an area he had high hopes for, and on day two, the magic happened. His big day pushed him into the lead and gave him the confidence to stick with his plan on the final day.

“That flat looked so good in practice, and it was loaded with stumps and laydowns, with a gravelly/silty bottom. The fish were moving into it during the event, but in practice and on day one, it was a dead zone.”

On the final day, he settled in and waited for the sun to come out and the breeze to pick up. Just as the fish started to bite, the locals moved in and confined his area to five to seven targets, making it hard to fish effectively and move around.

“There were thirty or so pieces of brush in there, and at one point, there were people everywhere,” he said. “I had those two fish this morning and decided to leave it alone and try something else for a while. It was funny; that big fish I caught early came on a log I had fished hard. I made four casts with a buzzbait and a few casts with a jig, and on my first cast with that glide bait, she ate it—getting wrapped around limbs and all over the place. It was wild.”

Returning to his area at 2 p.m. this afternoon paid off. As he fished around, targeting some of the isolated timber, he made his way to a couple of nice-looking pieces of wood he had yet to get a bite from this week.

“Pretty quickly, I caught my third keeper, a three-pounder, and right after that, I lost one over six that hit my buzzbait and rolled it—I thought I had blown it. I fished around in a big loop and came back to the same tree. My very next flip in there with a little structure jig, and I caught my last keeper, giving me four.”

Despite the ups and downs of the event and not having a limit on the first and final day, he is thrilled to turn his season around and automatically qualify for the NPFL Championship.

“It feels great,” he concluded. “I had to make a top twelve at the final two events to even come close to qualifying for the championship, and now I do not have to worry. I am also the first NPFL angler to win from a Bass Cat, which is awesome as those guys support the league. I started running a Suzuki this year too; it’s a great combo. What a great week.”

Webster Comes One Fish Away

Alabama angler Joseph Webster finished second with a three-day total of 45 pounds, 8 ounces. Consistent throughout, he posted 14 pounds on day one, followed by 16 pounds, 2 ounces on day two. On the final day, his four-fish bag weighed 15 pounds, 6 ounces, including a 5-pound kicker, falling just 5 ounces short of the win.

Coming into the event on day one, Webster had a solid game plan. With a tough bite and less-than-ideal conditions, he was confident that his area would provide the opportunity to catch five fish each day and put him in contention for the win.

“Everything I caught in practice was a decent fish. I only got a few bites, but that was enough,” he said. “I rotated between a plopper, a Berkley Choppo, and a jig. On day one, I hooked and landed six; on day two, the same thing; and today I hooked five and landed four—and that last lost fish, with 20 minutes left, cost me.”

With the presence of big gizzard shad in his three-mile stretch of water, the larger fish were holding on the shallow cover—docks, bluffs, rocks, points, etc.—which prompted him to upsize his baits.

“I threw a big Choppo and a big jig because I think the little ones wouldn’t want to touch it,” he added. “It was simple: when it was cloudy, I threw white, and when the sun came out, I swapped to black.”

Webster excels under tough conditions, and the mindset of knowing he may only get five bites doesn’t bother him. Knowing that he had found the fish to win and secure a spot in the NPFL Championship on Lake Hartwell, he went to work.

“I like playing the mind game; I can fight through the slow points,” he concluded. “The hard part was that you never knew where the bites were going to come from. They were on so much different stuff, and I fished my whole area and everything in between. The area was good enough; it held up for me—almost.”

Trent Palmer caught the biggest bass of the day, a 6-pound, 15-ounce bass, earning him the Power Pole Big Fish award.

Top Ten:

Nick Brown 45-13

Joseph Webster 45-8

Drew Cook 45-1

Brock Bila 38-15

John Cox 36-8

John Soukup 36-8

Christian Nash 36-6

Zack Birge 35-11

Isaac Peavyhouse 34-3

Brandon Perkins 33-15

Bassmaster Team Championship relocates to Tennessee’s Kentucky Lake

Oct. 25, 2024

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Team Championship, which will grant the winner the year’s final berth into the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic, was originally scheduled to take place on Louisiana's Ouachita River. However, due to critical, unforeseen repair work being conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the Columbia Lock and Dam just south of Monroe, La., the Team Championship is relocating to Tennessee's Kentucky Lake.

The emergency work has caused significant disruptions to normal river operations, impacting water levels and navigability which would directly affect both the safety and overall experience of the anglers. As a result, the decision was made to move the championship to an alternate location to ensure the event can proceed without compromising the quality of competition or the experience for participants.

In consideration of the local resources and the challenges created by the dam repairs, B.A.S.S. officials have selected Tennessee's Kentucky Lake as the new venue for the final B.A.S.S. tournament of 2024. The 160,000-acre reservoir, located on the Tennessee River, has hosted numerous B.A.S.S. events over the years and most recently hosted the Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Kentucky Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops in April of this year. The event dates will remain the same beginning on Wednesday, Dec. 4 and concluding Saturday, Dec. 7. The off-limits period and the no-information rule will go into effect on Saturday, Nov. 16.

Registration will remain open to qualified teams until Friday, Nov. 15. Updated information will be relayed to all official Bassmaster Team Trails; please check with your trail director for updated information.

The Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Team Championship is being hosted by the Paris, TN-Henry County Tourism Authority.

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Media Contact: Chad Gay, Communications Manager, 205-313-0945, cgay@bassmaster.com

Robinson’s Preview Toyota Owners Tournament on Hartwell

Courtesy of Dynamic Sponsorships

When it comes to fishy families, you’d be hard pressed to find a household with more bass on the brain than the Robinson’s. Marty, the patriarch, has won nearly a million dollars throughout his 17-year career and his eldest son Marshall joined him on the Bass Pro Tour in 2024 after being crowned the Rookie of the Year in the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals and qualifying for the BPT in 2023 at nineteen years young.

Then Mitchell, the youngest Robinson won the Bassmaster High School National Championship in 2023 and is set to fish the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals in 2025. And while she may not fish professionally, because someone has to keep these boys in line, mama Iris Robinson can catch ‘em, too.

The Robinson’s are South Carolina natives with a plethora of experience on Lake Hartwell and they all drive Toyota Tundras. In fact, the Robinson’s have purchased eight Toyota tow vehicles spanning back to start of Marty’s professional career in 2007 and have collected tons of Toyota Bonus Bucks checks over the years. So, who better to preview the 13^th Annual Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners Tournament set for Lake Hartwell this weekend than the Robinson family?

Q – What would be your target weight to win the Toyota Owners Tournament this weekend?

Marty – “I’d say it’ll take a mixed bag of spotted bass and largemouth to win. Probably 19-lbs or even high nineteens to win this thing.”

Marshall – “I’m going to say 18-lbs of mostly spotted bass, maybe one big largemouth mixed in.”

Mitchell – “I’ve seen lots of brim up shallow lately so I’m thinking it’ll take a big bag, 20-lbs or more, to win on Sunday. At least two big largemouth mixed in with three chunky spots.”

Q – As locals, what is something about Lake Hartwell that most people might not know?

Marty – “Believe it or not, these are some of the hardest fish in the country to catch with forward facing sonar (FFS). We really don’t know why either, but even Drew Gill has said so. These fish with all the pressure they get and there being no current in this fishery, they just are so finicky to catch.”

Marshall – “This is a place that you should be weeding through a lot of fish to get your target weight. Hartwell is not really a lake you look for five or six big bites a day to do well… you need to be catching numbers.”

Mitchell – “My insight is the fish here will get a lot shallower than you would think, even with warm water temperatures this time of year.”

Q – What are two patterns or techniques you expect top finishers to employ on Hartwell this weekend?

Marty – “I’m going to say a topwater bite early in the morning will key and then you gotta put scoping a jighead minnow (using forward facing sonar) in there nowadays.“

Marshall – “This is the time of year bass start eating crawfish and getting back on a jig bite pretty strong. And with this being a one-day tournament, consistency won’t be key, so I think someone could smash a big bag on a buzzbait in the back of a creek somewhere.”

Mitchell - “There should still be some stained water due to the hurricane rains we had a few weeks ago, so a chatterbait up shallow in the backs (of creeks) could be good. And scoping the timber edge way offshore for those big roamer spots would be another focal point of mine. Those spotted bass are bigger and usually easier to catch because they don’t setup on a spot, they just pull up on the edge of that timber for a few minutes at a time.”

Q – Why should tournament bass anglers drive a Toyota tow vehicle?

Marty – “Man, there are a lot of reasons to drive a Toyota but my number one is they are low to no maintenance vehicles. I ain’t got time to worry about working on a truck, I want to be on the water catching fish. In almost 20 years of towing with a Tundra, I’ve never had to worry about my truck.”

Marshall – “You can make extra money through Toyota Bonus Bucks in all kinds of tournaments. They are great trucks that add a little cash to your pocket, it’s a no brainer.”

Mitchell - “They are super smooth trucks when it comes to towing your boat and just the ride in general. They look good, tow great, and they crank every time.”