A Family Legacy Cast at Guntersville: The Simms Take on the 2025 Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners Tournament

Courtesy of Dynamic Sponsorships / By Walker Smith

When Andy and Harrison Simm eased their boat off the trailer and into the calm morning water at Lake Guntersville, there wasn’t much talking. Just the sound of a trolling motor humming and the light slap of waves against fiberglass. You could tell this wasn’t just another weekend for the Johnson City, Tennessee, duo. It was something they’d been waiting on for a long time.

“It’s my second Toyota Owners Tournament,” Andy said with a grin, glancing over at his son. “But it’s Harrison’s first. That makes it really special.”

The father-and-son pair grew up fishing side by side across East Tennessee. Douglas Lake is their home water and if you spend more than five minutes around them, you’ll hear its name come up. It’s where Andy taught Harrison to cast, how to follow seasonal patterns and how to slow down when the fish aren’t biting.

“This time of year, when Douglas starts dropping, it just gets good,” Andy said. “You can find ’em shallow, deep, scattered. It’s a fun puzzle. We catch a lot of fish that way in the fall. Hopefully some of that magic traveled with us down here.”

Guntersville, of course, is a whole different animal. It’s one of those storied fisheries that can make you look like a hero or send you home scratching your head. And last week, it’s leaned toward the latter for most folks.

“Our practice was tough,” Harrison admitted. “We caught a few but nothing to write home about. Still, it’s Guntersville. You’re always one cast away from everything changing here.”

That kind of optimism is exactly what you expect from the Simms. They’re competitive, sure. But it’s clear they’re more interested in what this event represents: time together, doing something they love.

A Truck, a ticket and a tradition

For Andy, the road to this tournament started with a truck. A 2022 Toyota Tundra, to be exact.

“I’ve had two Toyotas before this one,” Andy said. “Never had a single issue. Just solid, dependable vehicles. When this one qualified us for the tournament, it felt like the perfect excuse to come back.”

It’s not just Andy’s truck that tells the story, though. His old 2017 Tundra, now driven by Harrison, is part of the family lore too.

“Dad handed it down to me a few years ago,” Harrison said with a laugh. “I love that truck. It’s kind of like our family’s trophy. It hauls the boat, hauls the gear, hauls the memories. Everything we’ve done on the water, that truck seems like it’s been part of it.”

Fresh off earning his degree in Supply Chain Management from East Tennessee State University, Harrison’s stepping into this tournament as both a competitor and a student. But what stands out most about him isn’t his knowledge or confidence. It’s his demeanor.

You can tell a lot about an angler by how they act off the water and that fits Harrison perfectly. Quietly respectful. Well-spoken. The kind of young man who says, “yes sir” and “thank you” to the tournament staff without thinking twice.

“It’s not just about catching fish,” Andy said. “It’s about how you carry yourself. I’m proud of the man he’s become.”

The tournament atmosphere

Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners events have a unique energy filled with part competition and part family reunion. Hundreds of anglers fill the docks, all linked by a shared loyalty to the brand and to the sport.

“Honestly, I’m blown away by how well they treat us,” Harrison said. “The hospitality, the giveaways, getting to talk with the Team Toyota pros. It all makes you feel appreciated. It’s more than just a tournament to me.”

He wasn’t exaggerating. The camaraderie here runs deep. Even if the fishing is tough, laughter carries across the docks. Conversations about water temperature, bait selection and ‘what they should be doing right now’ fill the air.

Andy and Harrison spent their practice days sampling grass lines and shell beds in mid-lake areas, hoping to pattern something consistent. They rotated between several baits, but Guntersville can humble even the best anglers and bites were few and far between.

“You can’t get discouraged out here,” Andy said. “This lake has a way of flipping the switch. You might struggle all day and then catch a five-pounder on your last cast. That’s what keeps you going.”

Beyond the weight

The Simms didn’t talk much about weight expectations or big-fish spots. Their conversations drift toward stories and about years of fishing together, road trips and early mornings where the only sound is a reel handle turning.

“Some of my favorite memories are with Dad on Douglas,” Harrison said. “Fog on the water, cool mornings, the boat idling out… you never forget that stuff.”

That’s the undercurrent that makes the Toyota Owners Tournament special. Yes, it’s about competition. But it’s also about gratitude for good trucks, good people and good moments.

You can see that gratitude in everything the Simms do. The way Harrison politely thanks every volunteer. The way they rib each other just enough to keep things light but never cross a line.

“I tell him all the time,” Andy said with a chuckle, “You don’t realize how fast this stuff goes. Enjoy it while you can.”

The real reward

As the sun dipped behind the Alabama hills on the final day, the Simms just smiled. No stress. No frustration. Just quiet appreciation.

Whether they weighed a limit or just a couple of keepers didn’t seem to matter.

“This,” Andy said, gesturing toward the lake, “is what it’s about. Time on the water with my son. You can’t put a price on that.”

Harrison nodded. “I couldn’t ask for a better partner.”

It’s about fathers teaching sons. Sons growing into men. Trucks that carry memories. Lakes that tell stories.

Guntersville didn’t give up its secrets easily this year. But for the Simms, the reward will never be measured in ounces or pounds. It will be measured in smiles, in laughter and in another page added to their family’s fishing story.

Because when the lines are reeled in and the boats are back on the trailer, what lingers longest isn’t the fish. It’s the bond that fishing built.

 

by AnglersChannel

Grove, Oklahoma Slated to Host Toyota Series Championship Presented by Phoenix Boats on Grand Lake

More than 350 bass anglers set to compete for top prize of up to $235,000 + REDCREST qualification in 2025 Toyota Series finale

GROVE, Okla. (Oct. 30, 2025) – The 2025 Toyota Series Championship at Grand Lake O' the Cherokees Presented by Phoenix Boats is headed to Grove, Oklahoma, next week, Nov. 6-8, where the nation’s best Toyota Series pros and international qualifiers will compete for a top award of up to $235,000 cash, including the lucrative $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus, and a coveted invitation to REDCREST 2026 – Major League Fishing’s most prestigious event.

Hosted by the City of Grove and the Grove Convention & Tourism Bureau, the three-day, no-entry-fee showdown caps off the 2025 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats season, a five-division circuit that launches anglers toward the 2026 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the Bass Pro Tour.

“We’re incredibly excited to host the 2025 Toyota Series Championship on Grand Lake,” said Brent Malone, Executive Director of the Grove Convention and Tourism Bureau. “It’s an honor to welcome anglers and fans from around the world to experience Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees, and we’re ready to roll out the red carpet for them. Anytime we get to showcase one of the best fisheries in the United States – along with one of the finest facilities and a community that truly loves fishing – it’s a special opportunity. Major League Fishing has become a tremendous partner to our city, and we’re always thrilled to host their events.”

In addition to the top award of up to $235,000, the signature fall championship will deliver five-figure payouts to the highest finishers in each division, while showcasing international qualifiers who’ve earned their shot to compete stateside. The storied championship continues to open doors for anglers worldwide, providing advancement pathways that amplify their platforms and extend their impact across the sport.

Missouri pro Andy Newcomb of Camdenton, Missouri, enters next week’s Toyota Series Championship with confidence and a sense that everything might be lining up just right.

“I’m really excited,” Newcomb said. “I feel like this is definitely the best chance I've had so far in my career at a big, big win. You never know how it's going to line up, but I feel better about this one. And who knows when I'll feel this good about a big tournament again.”

Newcomb has a good history on Grand Lake this time of year. The veteran angler has posted multiple top-10 finishes on the famed Oklahoma reservoir in late fall events, thanks in part to his strength fishing shallow-water patterns.

“I've been here a couple times this time of year, and I've done well,” he said. “I think I finished in the top 10 in both of the tournaments I fished on Grand. I'm hoping that there's a shallow-water, topwater, spinnerbait or flipping kind of bite. That would be ideal for me.”

While forward-facing sonar will undoubtedly play a role, Newcomb believes plenty of quality bass will still be caught the old-fashioned way.

“There’ll definitely be a good portion of the fish that are caught up shallow,” he said. “And that’s what’s got me excited. Water conditions could make all the difference.”

Recent forecasts show surface temperatures hovering between 69 and 72 degrees, but Newcomb expects things to cool off by tournament week.

“If the kind of weather pattern we have now holds out, it's going to be in the low 60s, which is money,” he explained. “It always gets funky around 65 to 70 (degrees). But if we get temps under 65 – low 60s to upper 50s – that's when it gets good.”

Newcomb said weights will likely depend on the weather that rolls through northeastern Oklahoma over the next week.

“I think if we get some bad weather, guys will be weighing in 18-plus a day,” Newcomb said. “But I think if we get a couple days like we've got right now, sunny skies and a little bit post-frontal, I think we’ll see a lot of limits in the 16- to 17-pound range.”

“Now, if we get a real nasty day, it could be way different,” he added. “I fished here previously in November, and it was nasty – blowing rain, all that. And I don't know how many 20-plus-pound bags there were. I think there were a couple that were 26-pound bags. If that water gets below 65 and those fish start feeding, and then we get one of those nasty days, it could be a completely different lake.”

Anglers will take off daily at 7 a.m. CT from Wolf Creek Park, located at 963 N. 16th Street, in Grove. Weigh-ins will be held at the park 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 daily “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts and daily coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Final round on-the-water action will also be broadcast live on MLFNOW! and streamed to MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MLF app, MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) and Rumble. The 2025 Toyota Series Championship Presented by Phoenix Boats will air on VICE Sports January 4 and January 11, 2026, at 9 p.m. ET.

The full field of anglers will compete on Days 1 and 2, with the top 25 pros and top 25 co-anglers based on cumulative weight from the first two days continuing to the third and final day. The 2025 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 co-angler will earn a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard motor.

The 2025 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats consisted of five divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern and Southwestern – 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 2025 Toyota Series Championship field features the top 25 pros, top 25 co-anglers and tournament winners from each of the five 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 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Regional 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, Eswatini, Italy, Mexico, Mozambique, Namibia, Spain, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Toyota Series include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing Co., B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Deep Dive App, E3 Sport Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PiranhO2, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, 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.

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, Outdoor Channel, VICE, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV and Game & Fish TV, 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 20 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.

by AnglersChannel

Martin, O’Connell Disqualified from Bass Fishing League Regional

BENTON, Ky. (Oct. 30, 2025) – Boaters Aspen Martin of White, Georgia, and Matt O’Connell of Brooks, Georgia, have been disqualified from the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Fishing League (BFL) Regional tournament held Oct. 10-11 on Lake Murray. The disqualification stems from a protest alleging the anglers violated BFL Rule No. 10, which states, in part, that contestants may not use mobile communication devices to communicate with anyone about locating or catching fish on tournament waters during tournament hours.

As part of MLF’s investigation of the protest, both anglers were asked to take a polygraph, at MLF’s expense, as prescribed by tournament rules. Additionally, MLF offered to cover travel and lodging expenses related to the polygraph.

Martin cooperated with the investigation and took the polygraph as requested. The results, however, indicate deception (untruthful) responses to the relevant questions asked during the exam – resulting in disqualification. As a result of the disqualification, boater William Bates of Alpharetta, Georgia, moves up to second place in the regional and will advance to the 2026 All-American.

O’Connell declined to take the polygraph as requested and withdrew from the 2025 Toyota Series Championship after being informed that refusal to take the exam would result in disqualification from the Lake Murray Regional and ineligibility to participate in the upcoming championship. As a result of the disqualification, boater Chad Sims of Lancaster, South Carolina, moves up to third place in the regional and will advance to the 2026 All-American.

O’Connell is suspended from future MLF competition and may reapply in 2027.

Bates and Sims will receive second and third place payouts, respectively, and payouts for the remaining boater positions at the Lake Murray Regional will be adjusted accordingly.

by AnglersChannel

Momentum Builds for Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech as Roster Hits 100 and Counting for 2026

Registrations remain open as the enhanced Pro Circuit draws strong early momentum heading into the 2026 season

BENTON, Ky. (Oct. 28, 2025) – With bigger payouts, an updated format and a growing list of talented pros, the 2026 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech is shaping up to be one of the most exciting seasons in the trail’s storied history. Already, 100 anglers have registered for the upcoming campaign – and registration remains open for those eager to fish for six-figure prizes, national television exposure and potential REDCREST qualification.

The enhanced Pro Circuit, which features $100,000 to first place and at least $10,000 to the top 33% of the field, continues to attract both new and returning competitors from across the country. The 2026 season will again consist of six regular-season events, culminating in the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Championship on Florida’s Kissimmee Chain of Lakes. The full schedule, announced earlier this year, is available at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

In addition to the largest per-event payouts of any circuit outside the Bass Pro Tour, the 2026 format includes forward-facing sonar limited to a single three-hour period per day, with live MLFNOW! coverage and television broadcasts providing anglers incredible exposure for themselves and their sponsors. Each event winner will automatically qualify for REDCREST 2027, where they’ll compete for the sport’s most prestigious title and a $300,000 top prize.

“The energy and excitement that we’re seeing for the 2026 season is tremendous,” said Kevin Hunt, Senior MLF Tournament Director. “From the veterans returning to chase another title to the young anglers moving up from the Toyota Series, the 2026 field is full of talent and hunger. With the improved payouts and format changes, we are closing in on the 124 angler mark at which time the field will be restricted to pros fishing all six stops, plus Bass Pro Tour anglers. This is shaping up to be an incredible year.”

The first 100 anglers who have signed up for all six stops on the 2026 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech are:

  • Charles Abshire
  • Caz Anderson
  • Allen Armour
  • Kyle Austin
  • Teimuraz (Tom) Balachvili
  • Jay (Striker) Barnett
  • Matt Baty
  • Josh Bertrand
  • Daryl Biron
  • Drew Boggs
  • Greg Bohannan
  • Boyd Duckett
  • Alex Bradley
  • John Brown
  • Dennis Burdette
  • Miles Burghoff
  • Cal Lane
  • Brody Campbell
  • Tyler Campbell
  • Brett Carnright
  • Eddie Carper
  • Mark Condron
  • Kyle Cortiana
  • Ben Cox
  • John Dial
  • Tony Dumitras
  • Charlie Evans
  • Ty Faber
  • Ron Farrow
  • Mark Fisher
  • Terry Fisher
  • Jeff Fitts
  • Shinichi Fukae
  • Drew Gill
  • Kyle Goldstein
  • Robert Grabow
  • Ethan Greene
  • Christian Greico
  • Mitchell Grimsley
  • Tommy Guthke
  • Blake Hall
  • Will Harkins
  • Byron Haseotes
  • Brian Hatfield
  • Marshall Hughes
  • Kelly Jordon
  • Frank Kitchens III
  • Gary Klein
  • Parker Knudsen
  • Levi Kohl
  • Bobby Lane
  • Christopher Lane
  • Brian Latimer
  • Michael Leach
  • Robby Lefere
  • John Levesque
  • Jared Lintner
  • Steve Lopez
  • Harbor Lovin
  • Terry Luedtke
  • Matt Massey
  • Mike Mayo
  • Julius Mazy
  • Bill McDonald
  • Brandon McMillan
  • Bryan McNeal
  • Jesse Millsaps
  • Chad Mrazek
  • John Murray
  • Britt Myers
  • Britt Myers Jr.
  • Andrew Nordbye
  • Hayden O'Barr
  • Terry Olinger
  • Lane Olson
  • Bruce Parsons
  • Austin Pemberton
  • Keith Poche
  • Matt Reed
  • Charlie Reed Jr.
  • Dusty Rice
  • Marshall Robinson
  • Marty Robinson
  • Fred Roumbanis
  • Jackson Ryley
  • Colby Schrumpf
  • Terry Scroggins
  • Banks Shaw
  • Blake Smith
  • Miles Smith
  • Robert Sparks
  • Tyler Stewart
  • Troy Stokes
  • Mike Surman
  • Levi Thibodaux
  • Jason Vance
  • Jimmy Washam
  • Joseph Webster
  • Thomas Wooten
  • David Wootton

Anglers interested in joining the 2026 campaign can enter by phone at 270.252.1000, or if you have questions about the events, call tournament director Kevin Hunt at 270.205.5155. Once the field hits 124 pros committed to all six stops, entry will be restricted to only anglers fishing all six events plus Bass Pro Tour anglers. For the complete Pro Circuit schedule, rules and payouts, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Proud sponsors of the MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Deep Dive App, E3 Sport Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Mercury, Minn Kota, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PirahnO2, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, VOSKER, WIX Filters and YETI.

For regular Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery, Outdoor Channel, VICE, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV and Game & Fish TV, 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 20 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.

by AnglersChannel

Mercury Racing® and Marsh Wear® Launch Exclusive Apparel Collection

FOND DU LAC, Wis. (October 28, 2025) – Mercury Racing®, a leader in high-performance marine propulsion, has teamed up with Marsh Wear®, the outdoor lifestyle brand known for celebrating the pursuit of good times, to launch a limited-edition apparel collection that blends racing heritage with laid-back coastal style.

This exclusive 11-piece collection features a curated mix of hats, t-shirts, and outerwear, all inspired by archival Mercury Racing designs and reimagined through Marsh Wear’s signature aesthetic. Built for outdoor enthusiasts and fans of both brands, the collection captures the spirit of adventure and timeless craftsmanship.

“The inspiration behind this collaboration was simple: two brands rooted in heritage, both driven by a passion for quality,” said Jeff Broman, Director of Mercury Racing. “Mercury Racing has always pushed the limits while honoring tradition, and Marsh Wear embodies those same ideals in clothing. The result is a limited collection that captures the essence of classic racing style in a form that feels wearable and enduring.”

Available exclusively in the United States, the collection launches today and can be purchased online via the Marsh Wear website, as well as through select retailers including Bass Pro Shops® and Scheels®. Availability may vary by location, please check individual retail sites for details.

“At Marsh Wear, we’ve always admired those who embrace the grit behind the glory,” said Logan Roberts, Founder and Vice President of Marsh Wear. “Teaming up with Mercury Racing, a brand that lives for speed and never lets off the throttle, was a natural fit. This collaboration celebrates that relentless drive and the vintage racing spirit, fused with Marsh Wear’s signature comfort and style.”

For more information about Mercury Racing, visit MercuryRacing.com and to learn more about Marsh Wear, visit MarshWearClothing.com.

###

About Mercury Racing®

Based in Fond du Lac, Wis., Mercury Racing, a division of Mercury Marine, is a leading provider of high-performance marine propulsion systems for discriminating boaters worldwide, offering an exciting and fulfilling power boating experience on the water. Using leading-edge technology, Mercury Racing produces high-performance outboards, sterndrives, propellers, parts and accessories. Mercury Marine is a division of Brunswick Corp. (NYSE: BC), the world’s largest manufacturer of pleasure boats, marine engines, and accessories.

 

About Marsh Wear®

Marsh Wear was founded in 2012 in Charleston, South Carolina, by waterman and outdoorsman Logan Roberts. What began as a small idea rooted in the Lowcountry’s marshes has grown into a brand built for those who live for the pursuit of good times – on the water, in the woods, and everywhere in between. Inspired by days spent fishing, surfing, and hunting with friends, Marsh Wear creates versatile, durable gear that bridges outdoor function with everyday comfort.

 

Media Contacts:

Mercury Racing – Kim Chapman, [email protected]

Marsh Wear – Julia Parish, [email protected]

by AnglersChannel

Matt Arey on Guntersville: The Soul of the Toyota Owners Event

Courtesy of Dynamic Sponsorships/By Walker Smith

When you pull into Lake Guntersville this time of year, you can feel the hum of anticipation. The Tennessee River fog hangs low over the mats, the hum of outboards echoes through the morning stillness and there’s a camaraderie in the air that feels a lot like home. For Bassmaster Elite Series pro and Team Toyota angler Matt Arey, that feeling never gets old.

The 2025 Toyota Owners Tournament, one of the sport’s most beloved gatherings, rolled into Guntersville and for Arey, it’s not just another event. It’s a reunion, a celebration and a reminder of why so many anglers proudly drive with the Toyota badge on their front grills and tailgates.

“For what Toyota gives back, they are by far the leading vehicle manufacturer that does this much for the sport,” Arey said, leaning back against his wrapped Tundra between interviews. “The people who come to this tournament are diehard anglers and just fantastic human beings. That goes along with the folks who work so hard to make this tournament happen, as well.”

Arey’s been part of countless tournaments over his career, but this one holds a special place in his heart. He’s quick to point out that it’s not only the competition that makes it special. It’s the community.

“Solid payouts and great fellowship,” he said. “There are always a ton of return anglers and it’s for good reason. It’s hard to find any other event that’s this much fun and rewarding.”

That kind of loyalty doesn’t always come easy in professional fishing, where schedules are packed and commitments run deep. But year after year, anglers of all levels, from weekend warriors to seasoned veterans, circle this date on their calendar.

 

Guntersville magic

This year’s stop at Lake Guntersville felt like a perfect storm of timing and potential. October on the famed Tennessee River impoundment is a time when the lake can show its teeth or open its arms wide. Arey’s fished Guntersville enough to know that when the stars align here, the results can be legendary.

“With this year’s tournament being on Guntersville, we knew there would be some big bags,” he said. “Even with a sharp cold front landing on tournament day, you knew it was going to take some serious weight.”

Guntersville’s reputation precedes it. It’s the kind of place where twenty-pound sacks barely raise eyebrows and where one key stretch of grass or a single bridge piling can change an angler’s weekend.

“We had guys who fish BFL tournaments, local hammers and everything in between,” Arey said with a grin. “On Lake Guntersville, anything is possible.”

That “anything” is what keeps anglers coming back. The lake is an ever-evolving puzzle with grass mats shifting, baitfish migrating and bass moving with the current. For Arey, that challenge is part of the fun.

 

The Toyota connection

While most fans see Toyota’s logo on trucks, boats and jerseys, Arey sees something deeper. To him, Toyota’s investment isn’t about marketing but rather passion.

“I never want to miss one of these tournaments,” he said. “It is so rewarding and so well run. I haven’t even left here yet and I’m genuinely looking forward to next year.”

That kind of statement says everything you need to know about the Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners Tournament. It’s a rare example of a corporate partnership that genuinely enhances the sport. It represents a shared belief in what makes bass fishing special. Things like hard work, good people and a deep respect for the outdoors.

Toyota doesn’t just put on a tournament. They create a space where anglers and fans can celebrate the sport together. The payouts are solid, the organization is top-notch and the atmosphere is electric.

The energy at each of these events is palpable and whether someone is a seasoned angler, a brand-new tournament partner or a full-time professional, everybody is somebody at the Toyota Owners tournament.

 

 

by AnglersChannel

Don’t ‘Fall’ for the Myths

By Vance McCullough - AC Insider

Fall is falling. Even down here along the Florida/Georgia border leaves are dropping, football season is in full swing, and the ladies obsess over anything ‘pumpkin spice’.

And anglers everywhere cling to myths that may not truly explain - but that help to excuse - the inconsistent catch rates that afflict us in autumn.

Most of us anglers are master excuse-makers on par with the best defense attorneys. We often repeat theories that sound reasonable but that may not actually hold water (yeah, pun intended).

“They migrate to the backs of creeks and shallow flats.” Some do. Many don’t. “The turnover shut things down.”  No, it just moved the bait and bass to areas with better oxygen, including the backs of creeks and other shallow environs, as noted above. Many lakes, especially shallow and/or current laden waters, don’t even experience a turnover because they never stratify to begin with.

Another autumnal scapegoat is the dreaded cold front. Indeed, when temps nosedive and barometric pressure skyrockets, fish can get tight to cover. Year ‘round. Except in early fall. ‘Early’ is relative to latitude. I’m preparing to fish a B.A.S.S. Nation event this weekend in Central Florida. Sure, the daytime high will reach 70, but we’ll be paddling out in 40-something degree predawn darkness to be quickly greeted by high skies, a north wind and slick water. Ingredients for a slow bite. Except when these conditions signal the first good cold snap since last spring. In this case, bass should be chewing. Cold weather stokes their fire when it signals the end of a long, hot summer.

Sure, I’m packing a flipping stick. I plan to check the mat bite, but mostly because there are big bass that never leave the mats, not because this weather will pack more of them beneath. In fact, I expect to find numbers of fish, including big ones, cruising the open lanes and holes in acres of hydrilla. I will meet them with a bladed jig.

Fall fishing is not super complex. Don’t overthink it. Not much changes, especially in the South. Many bass are doing the same things in the same types of places and eating the same bait in the fall that they were eating in summer. There’s always a population of fish that roam and follow bait. There is also a group of territorial homebodies that lie in ambush.

The ambushers are generally resident fish. The other bunch may move, but it’s in response to movements of prey. This will absolutely cause the bass to scatter, making them hard to pin down, making repeated, predictable results difficult to achieve.

The remedy? When in Rome . . . do as the Romans do. And when searching for bass in the fall, do as the bass do - get a move on! The game is to cover water in autumn. Don’t split hairs when it comes to lure selection. Don’t waste time digging through your tackle bag. Pick something that gives you a fair chance at provoking a strike and make as many quality casts as you can in a day’s time.

Is a buzzbait the best lure at any given hour of any given day? Maybe not, but if it will keep you moving, then it beats the tar out of finesse fishing or any other super slow technique that will stop you from covering the amount of water required to find a limit of bass.

You will eventually land on a hungry fish. And another. And another. You may have to piece your limit together in fall as opposed to loading the boat in one productive hole.

Simplify your lure selection and keep moving to find fall bass.

by AnglersChannel

Connell & Wheeler Cruise to Championship Round Victory at Folds of Honor Patriot Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches

Team O’Reilly Auto Parts (Connell/Wheeler) catches 46 bass weighing 70-10 in final-day shootout to earn Patriot Cup win

OXFORD, Ala. (Oct. 27, 2025) – Team O’Reilly Auto Parts – Alabama pro Dustin Connell and Tennessee’s Jacob Wheeler – capped off an unforgettable week on the Alabama pros home waters with a dominant performance Monday, cruising to a win at the Folds of Honor Patriot Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches on Logan Martin Lake.

The powerhouse duo combined for 70 pounds, 10 ounces on 46 scorable bass – the first 70-pound day recorded in this week’s event – to secure a comfortable victory in the Championship Round of the Major League Fishing (MLF) Fishing Clash Team Series Presented by Bass Pro Shops.

For Connell, the win carried special meaning – his first Team Series title, earned on his home waters of the Coosa River. For Wheeler, it marked his second straight Team Series championship win following last month’s Heritage Cup victory with Mark Daniels Jr. in Wisconsin.

“I love these Team Series, man,” Connell said. “I really enjoy getting in the boat with my buddy. We fish together a lot – anytime we have free time. For us to get together and win one of these, this means a lot. I’m not going to lie.”

Connell admitted that local knowledge didn’t necessarily make things easy.

“It didn’t really happen the way I expected,” he said. “It was cloudy and rainy, and I thought that might hurt us. But Jacob called the shot. He said, ‘Hey, let’s go try this little pocket here,’ and I said, ‘Heck yeah, this feels good.’ That’s where it all came together.”

Both pros relied on forward-facing sonar and finesse presentations, catching the majority of their bass on the Rapala CrushCity Mooch Minnow paired with VMC Redline Series Tungsten Swimbait Jigheads.

“Man, here on Lake Logan Martin, it was about a bait that has won a lot of money between the two of us,” Wheeler said. “The conditions were perfect for that Mooch Minnow bite – cloudy with just enough wind to keep the fish up. We fished the main lake, ran upriver and just bebopped around until we found the right zone.”

“We threw the albino shad and gizzard shad colors, mostly on 3/8-ounce jigheads, but we mixed in some ¼-ounce for fish that were higher in the water column,” added Connell. “You need several different weights for this technique because the fish are constantly moving up and down – that’s why you’ll see us changing rods all the time.”

“We caught about 60 bass today counting the non-scorables,” Wheeler agreed. “It was insane. Once we settled into that area and the groups started to show up, it was on.”

But the day wasn’t without drama. Midway through the second period, the duo briefly lost momentum after a fish-landing violation erased a scorable bass from their total. But instead of rattling them, the penalty lit a fire.

“Oh, man. That’s about as mad as I get,” Wheeler said with a laugh. “Right after that, we just put the hammer down. We started stacking them up, and from there, it never slowed down.”

For both anglers, the win reflected more than just a productive pattern – it was a celebration of friendship, teamwork and execution.

“Cool tournament,” Connell said. “Glad to win it with my boy. We got it done.”

Wheeler summed it up simply.

“It was an insane week here in Alabama,” he said in his post-game interview. “DC got to fish two lakes he’d never been on before, and we got to finish it right here on his home river. It doesn’t get any better than that.”

Team Knighten Industries – Alton Jones Jr. and Jake Lawrence – gave Team O’Reilly Auto Parts an early scare, ending the first period just one pound behind the leaders. True to form, the forward-facing sonar specialists relied on precision and patience, stacking up 45-13 by day’s end to finish the day in second.

Team Ferguson’s Takahiro Omori and Dean Rojas finished in third place after making key adjustments late in the day. The veteran duo abandoned the main river in favor of a flat pocket loaded with baitfish and used a vibrating jig and shallow-running squarebill crankbait to climb from fourth to third with 32-4.

Rounding out the top four, Team Fishing Clash’s Bradley Roy and Greg Vinson leaned heavily on forward-facing sonar and jighead minnows in their first-ever Championship Round appearance. Vinson mixed in a spoon to trigger a few key bites, but their 28-4 total fell short, and they ended the day in fourth place.

The final four teams at the Folds of Honor Patriot Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches finished:

1st:         Team O’Reilly Auto Parts: 46 bass, 70-10
Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., 28 bass, 41-8
Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., 18 bass, 29-2

2nd:       Team Knighten: 33 bass, 45-13
Jake Lawrence, Paris, Tenn., 17 bass, 22-8
Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas, 16 bass, 23-5

3rd:        Team Ferguson: 17 bass, 32-4
Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan, 10 bass, 21-2
Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., seven bass, 11-2

4th:        Team Fishing Clash: 19 bass, 28-4
Bradley Roy, Lancaster, Ky., 13 bass, 18-9
Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala., six bass, 9-11

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

Overall, there were 115 bass weighing 176 pounds, 15 ounces caught by the four teams competing in the Championship Round Monday on Logan Martin Lake. Team Ferguson pro Takahiro Omori caught the Berkley Big Bass of the day – a 4-pound, 2-ounce largemouth bass.

The Folds of Honor Patriot Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches, the third of four Fishing Clash Team Series Presented by Bass Pro Shops events of the 2025 season, was hosted by the City of Oxford and took place over six days in Oxford, Alabama. 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 Monday’s Day 6 Championship Round, the final four teams competed in a one-day shootout to determine which team was the winner of the 2025 Folds of Honor Patriot Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches.

The MLF Fishing Clash Team Series Presented by Bass Pro Shops features four Cup events in 2025 – the Challenge, Heritage, Patriot, and Summit Cups – with 12 two-man teams of Bass Pro Tour anglers competing for a share of  $560,000 in prize money. The fourth and final event for Team Series anglers will be the Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup, scheduled for Nov. 16-21, in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Television coverage of the MLF Fishing Clash Team Series Folds of Honor Patriot Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches will premiere on Outdoor Channel as six two-hour original episodes each Saturday afternoon starting March 28, 2026. The complete television schedule for the Fishing Clash Team Series on Outdoor Channel will be posted at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Proud sponsors of the MLF Fishing Clash Team Series include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Boat Technologies, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, E3 Sport Apparel, Epic Baits, Ferguson, Fishing Clash, Knighten Industries, Kubota, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, NITRO Boats, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Smokey Mountain Caffeinated Pouches, Star brite, Toyota, YETI and Zenni.

For complete details and updated information on the MLF Fishing Clash Team Series, 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, Outdoor Channel, VICE, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV and Game & Fish TV, 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 20 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.

by AnglersChannel

Texas’ Harris Holds on for Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional on Lake Eufaula Presented by Mando Deodorant

Texas’ Fisher Claims Co-Angler Division

EUFAULA, Okla. (Oct. 27, 2025) – Boater Riley Harris of Orange, Texas, caught a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 31 pounds, 6 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine Regional on Lake Eufaula Presented by Mando Deodorant . The tournament, which was hosted by Vision Eufaula, concluded Saturday. For his win, Harris earned a prize package valued at $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard.

The Lake Eufaula event served as the Regional championship for the BFL Cowboy and Arkie divisions. The field included the top 60 boaters and co-anglers based on point standings, plus each division’s tournament winners. The top three boaters and co-anglers have also now qualified for the 2026 BFL All-American.

Harris said he focused his approach to the tournament on three areas that featured either boulders or brushpiles in 10 to 15 feet of water. He spent his entire tournament using the trolling motor to move around those boulders and brushpiles and pick off fish with a 6th Sense Divine Hybrid Jig tipped with a 6th Sense 4.8-inch Bodega Creature Bait.

“Friday went how I expected it to,” Harris said. “The fish were positioned how I wanted them to be. Although I lost a really big one first thing in the morning, I ended up leaving them alone because I figured I had enough to be near the top. I just spent the last hour of the day looking around to see if I could find anything different.”

Harris said he returned to that starting spot the second day of the tournament and it produced nothing for him.

“At 12 o’clock I had zero fish,” Harris said. “I had to run new water. I was able to get a limit, but it was nothing like I needed it to be.”

Harris said he ran back to his starting area for the last hour of competition, and a 3½-pound bass boosted his weight some, but Harris still wasn’t confident in his total weight.

“I didn’t think it was enough when I was running back in,” Harris said. “I thought I needed one more good bite to give me a shot at the win.”

Harris’ intuition was wrong, however, as his Day 2 limit of 13 pounds, 8 ounces, was enough to earn him the victory by a 14-ounce margin.

“I was shocked,” Harris added. “I was in the last flight, and my buddy was waiting for me at the dock and asked me how I did, and I said, ‘Not good. I only have 13 (pounds).’ And he said, ‘Man, you’re going to win.’

“It totally caught me off guard,” Harris went on to say. “I was honored and blessed to be able to pull it off.”

The top three boaters who qualified for the 2026 Phoenix BFL All-American finished:

1st:        Riley Harris, Orange, Texas, 10 bass, 31-6, $50,000
2nd:       Austin Rose, Mena, Ark., 10 bass, 30-8, $8,223 (includes $500 Phoenix Bonus)
3rd:       Caleb Black, McAlester, Okla., 10 bass, 30-3, $3,892

Rounding out the top 10 boaters were:

4th:        Red Ballard, Sulphur, La., 10 bass, 29-4, $2,399
5th:        Ian Leybas, McAlester, Okla., 10 bass, 28-14, $1,803
6th:        Wyatt Frankens, Corrigan, Texas, 10 bass, 27-15, $1,504
7th:        Chris Jones, Bokoshe, Okla., 10 bass, 27-13, $1,355
8th:        Phillip Lunceford, Stigler, Okla., 10 bass, 27-5, $1,206
9th:        Haydan Marshall, Quitman, Texas, 10 bass, 27-3, $1,056
10th:     Chip Hawkins, Little Rock, Ark., 10 bass, 27-3, $982

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Bobby Ammons of Waldron, Arkansas, won the Berkley Big Bass Boater award and $1,000 for landing a bass that weighed 2 pounds, 9 ounces – the biggest of the tournament.

Steven Fisher of Nacogdoches, Texas, won the co-angler division Saturday after bringing a two-day total of six bass weighing 17 pounds even to the scale. Fisher earned the top co-angler award of $14,999 for his victory.

The top three co-anglers who qualified for the 2026 Phoenix BFL All-American finished:

1st:        Steven Fisher, Nacogdoches, Texas, six bass, 17-0, $14,999
2nd:       John McCullar, Benton, Ark., six bass, 16-13, $3,807
3rd:       Ted Marodis, Biloxi, Miss., six bass, 15-8, $1,941

Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers were:

4th:        Bill Black, McAlester, Okla., six bass, 15-8, $1,195
5th:        Logan Slaughter, Lewisville, Texas, six bass, 15-4, $822
6th:        Rick Habarka, North Little Rock, Ark., six bass, 15-3, $748
7th:        Alan Bernicky, Dardanelle, Ark., six bass, 15-2, $823
8th:        Duane Tiley, Mabelvale, Ark., six bass, 15-1, $598
9th:        Blake Defoor, Waldron, Ark., six bass, 14-9, $524
10th:     Quintus Lee, Whitehouse, Texas, six bass, 14-5, $487

Jason Phillips of Rison, Arkansas, caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 9 ounces, to win the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award worth $500.

The 2025 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine was a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 134 events throughout the season – five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 60 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying tournament winners, now advance to one of 12 BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top three, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the 43rd annual BFL All-American. The BFL All-American will take place May 28-30, 2026, at Lake Murray in Columbia, South Carolina, and is hosted by the Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board.

Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Deep Dive App, E3 Sport Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Li Time Batteries, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PirahnO2, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.

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

About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery, Outdoor Channel, VICE, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV and Game & Fish TV, 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 20 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.

by AnglersChannel

Rutledge’s Gordon Cruises to Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional on Dale Hollow Lake

Wartburg’s Kelly Tops Co-Angler Division

BYRDSTOWN, Tenn. (Oct. 27, 2025) – Boater Jeremy Gordon of Rutledge, Tennessee, caught a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 36 pounds, 15 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine Regional on Dale Hollow Lake Presented by Mando Deodorant . The tournament, which was hosted by the Byrdstown-Pickett County Chamber of Commerce, concluded Saturday. For his win, Gordon earned a prize package valued at $57,100, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard.

The Dale Hollow Lake event served as the Regional championship for the BFL Volunteer and LBL divisions. The field included the top 60 boaters and co-anglers based on point standings, plus each division’s tournament winners. The top three boaters and co-anglers have also now qualified for the 2026 BFL All-American.

“My practice was really tough,” Gordon said. “But after a fog delay on the first morning, I got to my first area and they started biting fairly quickly. I had 18 pounds by noon. The rest of the day proved to be very hard to get bites.”

Gordon said the fish he targeted were in offshore groups of 10 to 20 fish in 30 to 40 feet of water. Gordon knew the fish were there; it was just like “pulling teeth” to get them to bite. Gordon said the key to his success was using a bigger bait – a 6-inch jighead minnow. At the end of the day, Gordon weighed the only five keepers that bit the first day of the tournament.

Gordon’s second day didn’t really take off for him until 10 a.m., and for the second day in a row, the 10 a.m. to noon window was the hot bite for him.

“I made a key adjustment to go to my secondary area, and I ran into some fish there,” Gordon said. “I hit a little flurry, and in an hour and a half I caught my fish. I only caught six keepers the second day, but they were the right fish.

“When I caught my fifth fish, I felt confident I was going to make the All-American,” Gordon added. “That was my goal. But I had a little 2-pound smallmouth I needed to cull. Then I caught a kicker 4-pounder, and I had a bigger bag than I had on Day 1, and I thought, “Ok. I have a shot now.’

“I’ve qualified for three-straight Toyota Series Championships, so I’ve had some shots at big events,” Gordon said. “This year I wanted to focus on BFLs. I wanted to fish closer to home and stay local. I love Major League Fishing, and my goal was to make the All-American. I had an absolutely unbelievable year in the Volunteer Division. Everything about this season exceeded my expectations.”

The top three boaters who qualified for the 2026 Phoenix BFL All-American finished:

1st:        Jeremy Gordon, Rutledge, Tenn., 10 bass, 36-15, $57,100 (includes $7,000 Phoenix Bonus)
2nd:       Isaac Peavyhouse, Jamestown, Tenn., 10 bass, 35-2, $6,264
3rd:       Corey Neece, Bristol, Tenn., 10 bass, 34-2, $3,224

Rounding out the top 10 boaters were:

4th:        Justin Botts, Bluff City, Tenn., 10 bass, 33-13, $2,055
5th:        Gavin Clevenger, Knoxville, Tenn., 10 bass, 32-5, $1,470
6th:        Harlan Thomas, Paducah, Ky., 10 bass, 31-14, $1,353
7th:        Gavin Cloutier, Johnson City, Tenn., 10 bass, 31-11, $1,236
8th:        Harbor Lovin, New Concord, Ky., 10 bass, 30-11, $1,120
9th:        Noah Morgan, Russellville, Ky., 10 bass, 30-8, $1,003
10th:     Owen Stamm, Morristown, Tenn., 10 bass, 29-11, $944

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Travis Bowen of Duffield, Virginia, won the Berkley Big Bass Boater award and $1,000 for landing a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 12 ounces – the biggest of the tournament.

Darren Kelly of Wartburg, Tennessee, won the co-angler division Saturday after bringing a two-day total of five bass weighing 12 pounds even to the scale. Kelly earned the top co-angler award of $11,949 for his victory.

The top three co-anglers who qualified for the 2026 Phoenix BFL All-American finished:

1st:        Darren Kelly, Wartburg, Tenn., five bass, 12-0, $11,949
2nd:       Wayne Crouch, Jamestown, Tenn., five bass, 11-9, $3,045
3rd:       Mason Pike, Knoxville, Tenn., four bass, 9-5, $1,602

Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers were:

4th:        Dawson Schultz, Russellville, Tenn., three bass, 8-5, $1,017
5th:        Austin Smith, Hazard, Ky., four bass, 8-0, $725
6th:        Brady Field, Gallatin, Tenn., three bass, 7-13, $666
7th:        Barry Gunter, Trafalger, Ind., three bass, 6-14, $608
8th:        Justin McGaha, Knoxville, Tenn., three bass, 6-13, $599
9th:        Andrew Farmer, Lancing, Tenn., two bass, 6-4, $491
10th:     Mike Westfall, Norris City, Ill., three bass, 6-1, $462

Christopher Davis of Huntsville, Alabama, caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds even to win the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award worth $500.

The 2025 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine was a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 134 events throughout the season – five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 60 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying tournament winners, now advance to one of 12 BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top three, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the 43rd annual BFL All-American. The BFL All-American will take place May 28-30, 2026, at Lake Murray in Columbia, South Carolina, and is hosted by the Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board.

Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Deep Dive App, E3 Sport Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Li Time Batteries, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PirahnO2, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.

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

About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery, Outdoor Channel, VICE, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV and Game & Fish TV, 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 20 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.

by AnglersChannel

Travelers Rest Devildog Anglers Win MLF Abu Garcia High School Fishing Open on Lake Hartwell

ANDERSON, S.C. (Oct. 27, 2025) – The Major League Fishing (MLF) High School Fishing team of Justin Gilpin and Dalton Green, representing the Devildog Anglers from Travelers Rest, South Carolina, brought five bass to the scale Saturday weighing 12 pounds, 14 ounces to win the MLF Abu Garcia High School Fishing Presented by Tackle Warehouse Open on Lake Hartwell Presented by Columbia PFG in Anderson, South Carolina.

A field of 65 teams competed in the no-entry fee tournament, which was hosted by Visit Anderson. In MLF High School Fishing competition, the top 10% of teams competing advance to the High School Fishing National Championship.

The six teams that advance to the 2026 High School Fishing National Championship are:

1st:          Devildog Anglers, Travelers Rest, S.C. – Justin Gilpin and Dalton Green, five bass, 12-14
2nd:        Gaffney High School, Gaffney, S.C. – Cole Hicks and Scott Varner, five bass, 12-9
3rd:        Laurens District 55 High School, West Laurens, S.C. – James Pinson and Owen Satterwhite, five bass, 11-3
4th:         Triangle Bass Club, N.C. – Nathan McCoy and Levi Stanley, five bass, 10-15
5th:         Cartersville High Fishing Team, Cartersville, Ga. – Britton Alery and Owen Wiggins, five bass, 10-10
6th:         Central High School, Carrollton, Ga. – Wyatt Harmon and Jonah Yates, five bass, 10-8                          

Rounding out the Top 10 teams were:

7th:         Central High School, Carrollton, Ga. – Hunter Dickinson and Case Payton, five bass, 10-7
8th:         Greenbrier High School Bass Club, Evans, Ga. – Evan Beard and Tyler Wilson, five bass, 10-5
9th:         Devildog Anglers, Travelers Rest, S.C. – Ben Buczkowski and Holt Gonzales, five bass, 9-10
10th:      Chapman High School, Inman, S.C. – Matthew Bicknell and Carson Harrell, five bass, 9-9

Complete results from the event can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

MLF Abu Garcia High School Fishing presented by Tackle Warehouse tournaments are free, two-person (team) events for students in grades 7-12 and are open to any MLF and TBF Student Angler Federation-affiliated high school club. The top 10% of teams at each Open event, along with the TBF High School Fishing state championships, advance to the High School Fishing National Championship.

Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Deep Dive App, E3 Sport Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Li Time Batteries, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.

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

About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery, Outdoor Channel, VICE, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV and Game & Fish TV, 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 20 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.

by AnglersChannel

Lander University’s Last-Minute Kicker Seals Win at MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Tournament on Lake Hartwell

ANDERSON, S.C. (Oct. 27, 2025) – The Lander University duo of Andrew Blanton of Chesnee, South Carolina, and Garrett Smith of Mount Holly, North Carolina, won the MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event on Lake Hartwell Presented by Columbia PFG Friday with a five-bass limit weighing 19 pounds, 13 ounces. The victory earned the Bearcats’ bass club $2,000 and a qualification into the 2026 MLF College Fishing National Championship.

Blanton said the Bearcats team focused on an area on the upper end of Anderson Island, about a mile from Green Pond Landing. Sunny skies and calm waters presented a challenging bite for the team.

“We started out on an area that we knew was good, and we caught 13½ pounds pretty quickly – by about 9:30,” Blanton said. “Then we struggled all day to cull up from there. It was a really good area, but we were having a really hard time getting the fish to bite.”

Blanton said the team focused on rocky banks in 15 to 20 feet of water with a shaky-head rig and a jig.

“At 3:30 we rolled up into an area – we had about 30 minutes until we had to check in,” Blanton said. “We knew there were some big ones in there. After about 10 minutes we caught an 8¼-pounder – a Lake Hartwell giant.”

Blanton said the kicker fish fell for the shaky head, while the jig accounted for the rest of the team’s bites.

“It was crazy the way it all happened,” Blanton said. “This tournament proved it’s a game of ups and downs.

“I was disappointed with the way our day was going. I was disappointed with our execution and that we had lost a few fish. To pull up and get a win with just one fish catch is just unbelievable. It just goes to show you that you’re never out of it,” Blanton went on to say.

The top 10 teams finished:

1st: Lander University – Andrew Blanton, Chesnee, S.C., and Garrett Smith, Mount Holly, N.C., five bass, 19-13, $2,000
2nd: Emmanuel University – Logan Fisher, Commerce, Ga., and John Micheal Ortman, Douglas, Ga., five bass, 19-3, $1,000
3rd: Emmanuel University – Stephen Brooks, Comer, Ga., and Xander Patton, Hartwell, Ga., five bass, 18-11, $700
4th: Murray State University – Mark Bixler, Murray, Ky., and Nathan Kallstrand, Naperville, Ill., five bass, 17-15, $600
5th: Lander University – Anderson Jones, Greenville, S.C., five bass, 17-14, $500
6th: Emmanuel University – Will Hart, Danielsville, Ga., and Max Heaton, Hartwell, Ga., five bass, 17-12
7th: Carson-Newman University – Hayden Barnett, Kingston, Tenn., and Hunter Owens, Knoxville, Tenn., five bass, 17-4
8th: Erskine College –Tallis Morrison, Royston, Ga., five bass, 16-15
9th: Lander University – Will Hammond, Huntersville, N.C., and John Such, Simpsonville, S.C., five bass, 16-13
10th: Lander University – Wyatt Gabehart, Scott Depot, W.V., and Riley Hendricks, Hurricane, W.V., five bass, 16-7

The full list of National Championship Qualifiers and complete results for the entire field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event on Lake Hartwell Presented by Columbia PFG was hosted by Visit Anderson. It was the final Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event of the 2025 season. The next event for College Fishing anglers will be the 2026 Abu Garcia College Fishing National championship, Feb. 12-14, on Lake Murray in Columbia, South Carolina.

The 2025 MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI season featured college teams from across the country competing in six regular-season open tournaments. The top 15% of teams from each regular-season tournament advance to the 2026 Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship.

Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Columbia PFG, Deep Dive App, E3 Sports Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Humminbird,  Lew’s, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota , WIX Filters 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.

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, Outdoor Channel, VICE, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV and Game & Fish TV, 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 20 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.

by AnglersChannel

Keith and Penny Miller Win 2025 Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners Tournament on Lake Guntersville

Courtesy of Dynamic Sponsorships / By Walker Smith

If you’ve ever spent time around the Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners Tournament, you know it’s more than just another bass fishing derby. It’s part competition, part reunion and part celebration of the passion that drives anglers to chase green fish from daylight to weigh-in. This year’s stop at legendary Lake Guntersville was a perfect example and standing at the top of the leaderboard when the scales closed were a pair of smiling faces who embody everything the event stands for.

Teamwork, fun and a shared love for life on the water.

Keith and Penny Miller of Scottsboro, Alabama claimed first place in the 2025 Toyota Owners Tournament, earning a $5,000 prize and a truckload of bragging rights to go with it.

For the Millers, though, it wasn’t just about the check or the trophies. It was about the experience.

“We just love the camaraderie of this tournament,” said Keith, grinning ear to ear after the final weigh-in. “It’s so much fun. The people and the atmosphere; it’s just different here. To win here on Guntersville, that’s really special for us.”

A team on and off the water

Keith and Penny have been married 35 years and it shows in the way they fish together. There’s an easy rhythm between them and it’s the kind that only comes from years of shared casts, friendly competition and long days spent chasing bass under Alabama skies.

“Sometimes he’s a really good guide,” Penny laughed as they posed with their trophies. “And sometimes I can actually out fish him. But he’s taught me so much. We always make it a good time, no matter how we do.”

They’re not the loudest or flashiest team in the field but they represent what so many couples who fish together strive for. Patience, partnership and a shared joy for the outdoors.

This was the Millers’ third Toyota Owners Tournament and according to them, it won’t be their last.

“We look forward to it every single year,” Penny said. “It’s circled on the calendar as soon as the dates are announced. We just love being part of this community.”

The pattern that paid

Guntersville has a reputation for being both generous and stingy. It’s full of bass but it can humble even the best when conditions shift. The Millers found the key to consistency by targeting scattered grass in the mid-lake area, a zone that many anglers often overlook in favor of heavy mats or offshore ledges.

“It wasn’t easy with this cold front that came in. It was tough on everyone we’ve talked to,” Penny said. “We had to grind it out but that’s what makes it so rewarding. When you figure out that one small detail together, it’s the best feeling in the world.”

Toyota dependability on and off the water

One of the things that makes the Toyota Owners Tournament unique is the bond between anglers and their trucks. For many participants, their Toyota isn’t just a vehicle but rather part of the team. That’s certainly true for the Millers.

Keith’s 2021 Toyota Tundra has over 84,000 miles on it, and he swears it’s never missed a beat.

“It tows our bass boat seamlessly,” Keith said proudly. “We’ve hauled it all over the South to these tournaments and it’s never let us down. That reliability means a lot, especially when you’re traveling with your wife and you want to know you’re getting there safe. I can’t say enough good things about it.”

That kind of loyalty is what Toyota Owners events are built around. Celebrating the brand’s performance while creating a platform for anglers to come together.

A professionally run, family-focused event

Every angler who’s been part of a Toyota Owners Tournament will tell you the same thing: these events are first-class from start to finish. From registration to weigh-in, the organization and professionalism are second to none.

“The folks who run this tournament do an incredible job,” Keith said. “Everything is smooth, everything’s on time and everyone is so friendly. You can tell they really care about the anglers.”

Penny agreed, adding that the event isn’t just for the hardcore tournament crowd. It’s for families, too.

“There’s something for everyone,” she said. “Even if you’re not fishing, it’s such a fun environment. You meet new friends, talk fishing, share stories and just enjoy being outside. That’s what makes it special.”

From great food and giveaways to the friendly competition among Toyota owners, the entire event feels like a celebration of the fishing lifestyle. The Millers spent their evenings chatting with other teams, laughing about missed bites and swapping stories the fishing lifestyle.

“It’s the people that make it,” Keith said. “Sure, we love to fish but the friendships we’ve made through these tournaments are what keep us coming back.”

Looking ahead

With a first-place finish now under their belts, the Millers are already thinking about the next stop on the Toyota Owners schedule.

“We’ll do everything we can to be there,” Keith said without hesitation. “This isn’t just a tournament for us. It’s something we truly enjoy doing together. Winning is great, but even if we hadn’t, we’d still have had the time of our lives.”

Their success on Lake Guntersville is a reminder of what makes bass fishing such a special pursuit. It’s the laughter in the boat and the satisfaction of spending a day on the water with someone you love.

For Keith and Penny Miller, that’s what this win represents.

As the sun set over the big lake and the crowd began to thin, the couple stood side by side, holding their trophies with the easy smiles of two people who know what really matters.

“Fishing together keeps us close,” said Penny. “We’ve been doing this a long time and it never gets old. Days like this one remind us why we started.”

And with that, they loaded up their Tundra, backed down the ramp one more time and eased their boat onto the trailer. It was another chapter written in a lifelong love story of fishing, fun and shared adventure.

 

by AnglersChannel

Nick Trim goes wire-to-wire to win B.A.S.S. Nation Championship

 

NationChampionship_MercuryLowrance_4c.png

LA CROSSE, Wis. — Nick Trim had high expectations coming into the 2025 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Championship at the Upper Mississippi River presented by Lowrance.

He lives, after all, in nearby Galesville, Wis., only a 20-mile drive from the La Crosse Municipal Harbor, site of tournament weigh-ins this week. He’s fished this stretch of the river a few thousand times in his 42 years and that’s given him insight here that few other anglers at any level can rival.

And still, being favored to win on your home water is completely different than actually going out and doing it.

Trim shined under pressure, though, catching a total of 20 bass for a four-day weight of 77 pounds that earned him the win in this tournament that featured some 500 competitors from 48 states and seven foreign countries. Trim picked up a $50,000 cash prize, too, part of a total purse of more than $223,000 split among the top anglers this week, and he also won paid entry into the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series in 2026.

Finally, as one of the Top 3 anglers in the Nation Championship, Trim locked up a berth in the 2026 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour when it’s held in Knoxville, Tenn., on the Tennessee River March 13-15.

It was a lot to process, both mentally and emotionally, Trim said, shortly after holding aloft the Bryan V. Kerchal Memorial Trophy, awarded annually to the victorious boater in this prestigious tournament. The trophy is named, of course, for the only angler in history to qualify for, and win, a Bassmaster Classic following a victory in the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship.

“Today is just super special,” Trim said. “I had friends on the water and a big crowd to support me. Doing it on my home water was amazing. It’s not all set in yet — the Elite Series, the Classic.

“And the check is nice, but it’s never been about the money. I do it for this right here,” he said, clutching the Kerchal Trophy tightly against his chest.

Trim led from wire-to-wire on the Upper Mississippi, jumping to the lead with a 21-pound bag on Wednesday and increasing the margin with a 19-pound limit on Day 2. Dense fog limited anglers to only a few hours on the water on Day 3, but Trim was unfazed, catching 16-9 and taking a nearly 3-pound lead into Championship Saturday. He slammed the door on the other 10 anglers competing on the final day (a 20-7 limit put him exactly four pounds ahead of his nearest competitor in the final standings.)

The win didn’t come without work and some worry, though. Trim built his lead targeting a wintering hole that had points, knobs and hard spots ranging from 4 to 16 feet deep. But that basin wasn’t productive on Saturday, and Trim wound up working the main river, returning to familiar haunts that have won local tournaments for him here time and again.

“The fish just weren’t biting there today,” he said, referencing the basin where he had been dragging a Cast Again Tackle 1/2-ounce hammer jig to boat his best bites. “I worked my way out of there and I just randomly grabbed a jerkbait and threw it out there. Next thing I know, I caught a 5-pounder on it. First cast. The light bulb went off. I kept throwing it and had a limit before I left.

“I went all in on the river after that,” he said. “I ran everything I know. I had a magical stretch, caught three 4-pounders there. Once I got to 20 pounds, I locked back from Pool 9 and came on in. I was done fishing by 1:30 this afternoon.”

Noah Winslow, a 26-year-old resident of Naugatuck, Conn., finished second with 73 pounds weighed over four days, which won him $14,000 cash and secured his spot in the 2026 Classic. It was a full-circle moment, Winslow said, since he began fishing B.A.S.S. Junior Series events when he was in grade school, literally cutting his teeth as he progressed through the different levels of B.A.S.S. competition.

“Making the Classic hasn’t sunk in,” he said. “It’s been a dream of mine for a long time. I didn’t think it was even possible when we started here. I mean, I had the worst practice of my entire life. It was frustrating. But I think the cold front that got here right when we started the tournament really helped me. I was throwing a Free Rig (green pumpkin Sweet Beaver) and fishing super shallow out on the main river … The fish finally pulled out to me. It was unreal. I had two smallmouth this week and weighed 18 largemouth.”

Dylan Nutt, a 21-year-old from Nashville, clinched the third and final Classic berth up for grabs this week on the Upper Mississippi. He finished with 71-3 overall, a mere 4 ounces more than Iowa’s Chris Miller (70-15), who already was qualified for the Classic.

Nutt pocketed $13,000 cash for the third-place finish.

“The main bait I was throwing was a 4-inch Scottsboro Tackle Company swimbait,” Nutt said. “I fished rockpiles on Pool 8 and was catching a lot of fish in practice, but they were smaller. I exceeded my expectations with 17 pounds on Day 1 and it just got better from there.”

Like Winslow, Nutt said the colder temperatures (mid-40s during the day with light freezes overnight) activated his bite on the river.

“It brought the thicker fish out towards me,” Nutt said. “I prayed this afternoon for one more opportunity and on the next cast, I caught a 2 3/4-pounder that let me upgrade a half-pound. That bite gave me the few extra ounces I needed to get into the Classic. It’s just surreal.”

In all, 11 anglers competed on Championship Saturday — the Top 10 from the boater division as well as nonboater champion Wade Denney, of Nampa, Idaho, who collected $10,000 on Friday when that division’s winner was crowned.

Following the trio of Trim, Winslow and Nutt, the remainder of the field on Saturday included, Miller, fourth, 70-15; Alabama’s Zeke Gossett, fifth, 69-7; Wisconsin’s Grant Neubauer, sixth, 69-4; Alabama’s Brody Robison, seventh, 67-2; Virginia’s Ryan Lachniet, eighth, 65-11; Kentucky’s Nathan Sheehan, ninth, 64-10; and California’s Kyle Grover, 10th, 64-3. Denney caught 10-11 on Saturday to finish with 44-6 over four days, good enough for 18th place overall.

Miller won the $500 Big Bass Award with a 7-15 whopper smallmouth he caught Friday. He also collected $500 checks presented to the highest-finishing angler using a Garmin trolling motor and Garmin electronics.

Explore La Crosse hosted the week’s events.

2025 B.A.S.S. Nation Series Title Sponsor: Mercury

2025 B.A.S.S. Nation Series Presenting Sponsor: Lowrance

2025 B.A.S.S. Nation Series Platinum Sponsors: Progressive, Toyota
2025 B.A.S.S. Nation Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2025 B.A.S.S. Nation Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Triton Boats, VMC, Yokohama

 

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 Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, 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, Bassmaster Junior Series, TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, 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: Mandy Pascal, Communications Manager, 334-414-8677, mpascal@bassmaster.com

 

2025 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Championship at Mississippi River presented by Lowrance 10/22-10/25
Mississippi River, LaCrosse  WI.
(BOATER) Standings Day 4

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

1.  Nick Trim              Galesville, WI          20  77-00    0  $50,000.00
Day 1: 5   21-00     Day 2: 5   19-00     Day 3: 5   16-09     Day 4: 5   20-07
2.  Noah Winslow           Naugatuck, CT           20  73-00    0  $14,000.00
Day 1: 5   17-11     Day 2: 5   18-05     Day 3: 5   17-08     Day 4: 5   19-08
3.  Dylan Nutt             Nashville, TN           20  71-03    0  $13,000.00
Day 1: 5   17-01     Day 2: 5   18-14     Day 3: 5   17-13     Day 4: 5   17-07
4.  Chris Miller           Spirit Lake, IA         20  70-15    0  $12,500.00
Day 1: 5   16-04     Day 2: 5   15-13     Day 3: 5   21-02     Day 4: 5   17-12
5.  Zeke Gossett           Pell City, AL           20  69-07    0   $9,000.00
Day 1: 5   14-05     Day 2: 5   18-03     Day 3: 5   16-01     Day 4: 5   20-14
6.  Grant Neubauer         Medford, WI             20  69-04    0   $7,000.00
Day 1: 5   17-13     Day 2: 5   14-15     Day 3: 5   16-08     Day 4: 5   20-00
7.  Brody Robison          Dawson, AL              20  67-02    0   $5,000.00
Day 1: 5   15-13     Day 2: 5   17-05     Day 3: 5   15-00     Day 4: 5   19-00
8.  Ryan Lachniet          Gum Spring, VA          20  65-11    0   $4,000.00
Day 1: 5   14-03     Day 2: 5   17-13     Day 3: 5   16-07     Day 4: 5   17-04
9.  Nathan Sheehan         Danville, KY            20  64-10    0   $3,000.00
Day 1: 5   16-05     Day 2: 5   19-10     Day 3: 5   12-05     Day 4: 5   16-06
10. Kyle Grover            Rancho Santa Margarita, 20  64-03    0   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   16-02     Day 2: 5   16-14     Day 3: 5   16-14     Day 4: 5   14-05
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
BIG BASS OF TOURN
Chris Miller             Spirit Lake, IA     07-15          $0.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1       156      1012      2578-10
2       109       782      1968-10
3        32       183       533-10
4        11        55       193-10
----------------------------------
308      2032      5274-08

by AnglersChannel

Team Ferguson’s Omori and Rojas Storm Back Late to Win Knockout Round 1 at Folds of Honor Patriot Cup

Team Ferguson powers from below the cutline with 13-bass final-period rally to earn spot in Monday’s Championship Round

OXFORD, Ala. (Oct. 25, 2025) – A slow start turned into a furious finish for Team Ferguson’s Takahiro Omori and Dean Rojas, who surged from below the Lucas Oil Cut Line with a late third-period flurry to win Knockout Round Match 1 of the Folds of Honor Patriot Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches.

The veteran duo – dubbed “Team TakoRojas” by MLF broadcaster Chad McKee – tallied 17 bass for 32 pounds, 7 ounces, sealing their comeback with 13 scorable bass in the final two hours on Lake Weiss. Omori and Rojas now advance to Monday’s Championship Round alongside Team O’Reilly Auto Parts’ Dustin Connell and Jacob Wheeler, who finished second with 17 bass for 29-9.

“We just had a great day on Lake Weiss,” said Omori. “They brought us here, we never have practice, no information, and it’s really tough fishing in this format. Even catching a 1-pounder is hard. But at the end of the day, it all worked out really good, and I’m really happy they took us here.”

Team Ferguson’s late surge was sparked by a crucial decision during the second break.

“It was slow in the beginning – the first two periods were tough,” Rojas said. “I think Tak had only caught one. But I told him, during the break ‘Let’s go way back, as far as we can go, where nobody else is fishing.’ We got in the backs of those creeks and bam-bam-bam, it was on. We caught up to second place, passed them, caught the leaders, and then sealed the deal. It was just a great day, and more importantly, we made the final round.”

Omori and Rojas relied on a combination of power-fishing tactics – squarebill crankbaits and vibrating jigs – targeting isolated wood and dilapidated bridge pilings where shad were stacked in just 2 to 3 feet of water.

“All my fish today came on a small 1.5 squarebill crankbait or a 3/8-ounce white-and-chartreuse (Z-Man) ChatterBait,” Omori said. “I flipped a little, to the exact same spots, but never had a bite. Staying with moving baits was really the key.”

Rojas mirrored the approach.

“For me, it was a small squarebill and a (Z-Man EverGreen) JackHammer with a Big Bite Baits Swimon trailer,” Rojas said. “We covered a ton of water, and once we got into the right area, everything lined up – the bait, the shad, the cover. It was slow at first, but when it happened, it happened fast. It all worked out great for us to win the Knockout Round and move on.”

Omori also earned the Berkley Big Bass of the Day with a 3-pound, 15-ounce largemouth that anchored the team’s comeback – one of four fish caught off the same stretch of old bridge structure.

The Team O’Reilly Auto Parts duo of Connell and Wheeler maintained a steady lead through much of the day, using vibrating jigs and soft plastics around boat docks before shifting to the backs of pockets and culverts as the bite moved shallow. Their effort was enough to secure a comfortable second-place finish and a return to the Championship Round.

Team Lucas Oil’s Luke Clausen and Michael Neal led after the first period but couldn’t locate a consistent bite in the later frames, finishing third with 13-10 and bowing out of the competition.

The top two teams from Knockout Round Match 1 at the Folds of Honor Patriot Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches that now advance to Monday’s Championship Round are:

1st:        Team Ferguson, 17 bass, 32-7
Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan, eight bass, 16-1
Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., nine bass, 16-6

2nd:       Team O’Reilly Auto Parts, 17 bass, 29-9
Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., eight bass, 13-2
Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., nine bass, 16-7

Eliminated from competition are:

3rd:       Team Lucas Oil, eight bass, 13-10
Luke Clausen, Spokane, Wash., two bass, 5-0
Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., six bass, 8-10

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

Overall, there were 42 bass weighing 75 pounds, 10 ounces caught by the three teams in Knockout Round Match 1 on Weiss Lake on Saturday. Team Ferguson pro Takahiro Omori caught a largemouth bass weighing 3 pounds, 15 ounces, that was the Berkley Big Bass of the day.

The three teams that will compete Sunday in Knockout Round Match 2 at the Folds of Honor Patriot Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches are:

Team 7Brew Coffee:
Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla.
Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala.

Team Fishing Clash:
Bradley Roy, Lancaster, Ky.
Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala.

Team Knighten:
Jake Lawrence, Paris, Tenn.
Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas

The Folds of Honor Patriot Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches is hosted by the City of Oxford and takes place over six days in Oxford, Alabama. 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 9:15 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 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. CT. MLFNOW!® is livestreamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MLF and MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) apps, RFD-TV Now, Game & Fish TV and Rumble. The final period of every day of competition of the 2025 Fishing Clash Team Series is broadcast live on RFD-TV, from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. CT.

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 Monday’s Day 6 Championship Round, the final four teams will compete in a one-day shootout to determine which team will win the 2025 Folds of Honor Patriot Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches.

The MLF Fishing Clash Team Series Presented by Bass Pro Shops features four Cup events in 2025 – the Challenge, Heritage, Patriot, and Summit Cups – with 12 two-man teams of Bass Pro Tour anglers competing for a share of  $560,000 in prize money. Teams were formed through a selection process, where 48 team captains – based on Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) standings throughout the 2025 Bass Pro Tour season – selected a teammate. Teams will compete throughout the fall of 2025.

The MLF Fishing Clash Team Series Folds of Honor Patriot Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches will also air on Outdoor Channel as six two-hour original episodes each Saturday afternoon starting March 28, 2026. The complete television schedule for the Fishing Clash Team Series on Outdoor Channel will be posted at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Proud sponsors of the MLF Fishing Clash Team Series include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Boat Technologies, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, E3 Sport Apparel, Epic Baits, Ferguson, Fishing Clash, Knighten Industries, Kubota, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, NITRO Boats, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Smokey Mountain Caffeinated Pouches, Star brite, Toyota, YETI and Zenni.

For complete details and updated information on the MLF Fishing Clash Team Series, 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, Outdoor Channel, VICE, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV and Game & Fish TV, 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 20 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.

by AnglersChannel

MLF Announces Pickwick Lake as Venue for 2025 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Wild Card Tournament

COUNCE, Tenn. (Oct. 25, 2025) – Major League Fishing (MLF) announced today that Pickwick Lake and Counce, Tennessee, has been selected to host the 2025 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Wild Card tournament, which will take place Nov. 14-15. The two-day event, hosted by Explore Pickwick Lake/Hardin County Tourism, will launch from the Pickwick Landing State Park.

“Hosting the Major League Fishing BFL Wild Card out of Pickwick Landing State Park is a huge economic driver for our local economy,” said Beth Pippin, Tourism Executive Director for Explore Pickwick Lake/Hardin County Tourism. “We are honored to welcome the anglers and fishing fans from all over and encourage them to explore Pickwick and Tennessee.”

In order to be eligible to fish the Wild Card tournament, anglers must have entered all five events within a Phoenix Bass Fishing League division during the 2025 season, fished at least two of them, and are not already advancing to the All-American via a previous qualification.

Anglers will take off from the Pickwick Landing State Park, located at 120 Playground Loop in Counce, at 7 a.m. CT each day of competition. Weigh-ins will be held at the State Park both days beginning at 3 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the takeoffs and weigh-ins, as well as follow the action online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The full field competes both days at the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Wild Card, with winners determined by the heaviest two-day catch. The top three boaters and top three co-anglers will advance to the 2026 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine All-American, held on Lake Murray in Columbia, South Carolina, May 28-30, 2026, and is hosted by the Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board.

There will be no off-limits period prior to the pretournament meeting for the Wild Card. No contestant may be on tournament waters for the purpose of locating bass or potential fishing waters after the start of the pretournament meeting except during tournament hours.

Entry for the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Wild Card at Pickwick Lake opens Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, at 8 a.m. CT and runs through Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, at 5 p.m. CT. Anglers can enter by phone at 270.252.1000.

The 2025 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine was a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 134 events throughout the season – five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 60 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying tournament winners, advanced to one of 12 BFL Regional tournaments – or the Wild Card – where they competed to finish in the top three and qualify for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the 43rd annual BFL All-American. The BFL All-American will take place May 28-30, 2026, at Lake Murray in Columbia, South Carolina, and is hosted by the Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board.

Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Deep Dive App, E3 Sport Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Li Time Batteries, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PirahnO2, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.

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

About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery, Outdoor Channel, VICE, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV and Game & Fish TV, 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 20 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.

by AnglersChannel

Local favorite Nick Trim widens lead in B.A.S.S. Nation Championship

NationChampionship_MercuryLowrance_4c.png

LA CROSSE, Wis. — After catching 21 pounds on Day 1 of the 2025 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Championship at Upper Mississippi River presented by Lowrance, local angling ace Nick Trim said he felt the tournament was his to lose.

A day later, Trim said his confidence is even higher, which can’t be good news for those remaining in the championship field here in southwest Wisconsin.

Trim, a 42-year-old resident of Galesville, Wis., (about 20 miles from the weigh-in site at La Crosse Municipal Harbor) followed Wednesday’s 21-pound limit with five more largemouth bass weighing 19 pounds, giving him an even 40 pounds heading into the second half of the tournament.

“Everything went well again today,” Trim said. “I think I’ve been spending too much time in my starting areas, so I’m hoping to make some quicker decisions and move a little faster. I have a school that really hasn’t been messed with, and I’ve got one that’s had a lot of pressure from other guys. I think that second school can carry me through this tournament, and I’ll probably go look for some big brown fish, try to catch a smallmouth like the 6-pounder I caught yesterday. I lost one today that wasn’t quite as big, but it might have been 5 1/2 pounds.”

“That’s the plan,” he continued. “That and try not hit any wing dams.”

Clipping a wing dam with his boat was about the only thing that went awry for Trim on Thursday. He was atop the West Channel of the river and the collision took half the skeg from his boat and jammed it through the boat prop.

The boat yard was Trim’s first stop after leaving the stage on Day 2.

“I run (past) that wing dam probably 150 times a year (and no problems),” he said. “I didn’t hit it hard … but I just want to make sure everything is OK. I was on the way back in today. I can’t break down out here, obviously.”

True, because there’s far too much on the line this week for the Wisconsinite. The Top 3 in the boater standings will earn berths in the 2026 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour when it’s held in Knoxville on the Tennessee River March 13-15. The overall winner here also will claim a $50,000 cash prize in addition to paid entries into all Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series tournaments in 2026.

There’s still plenty fishing to do, but Trim currently has a 4-pound lead on his nearest competitor. He also has an intimate knowledge of this stretch of the Upper Mississippi that gives him an edge on the Top 40 boaters who survived Thursday’s cut. While many anglers unfamiliar with the river are fishing areas where they saw fish during practice, Trim is anticipating where bass are moving to as autumn begins its frigid crawl across this section of the country.

Trim said Pool 8 of the river has been crowded this week, as many of the 248 boaters in the derby have opted to stay close to downtown La Crosse. Locking downriver into Pool 9 or upriver into Pool 7 might give an angler a look at undisturbed water, but navigating the tricky lock schedule worries even seasoned locals.

“I should have probably locked down sooner today,” he said. “But I’ve been locked out so many times in my life. Each of the pools fish about the same, but (Pool) 8 gets more pressure because guys don’t want to risk it. But the thing is, these river fish just don’t handle pressure well, and my starting area has a ton of pressure. Hopefully that changes tomorrow after the cut. I might be able to do some real damage if I can stay on my best spot. I left it yesterday with 15 1/2  pounds and today with 15 and fish were biting both times. Luckily, I’ve been able to cull up after moving. If I don’t lose the 5 1/2 smallmouth I had today, I probably weigh another 21-pound bag.”

Trim said catching another heavy smallmouth or two is likely the key to winning the Nation Championship. The 6-pounder he bagged on Wednesday remains the big bass of the tournament so far.

“I know where they live. Hopefully I can get another one to eat tomorrow and get him to the boat.”

Rounding out the Top 5 in the boater division are Connecticut’s Noah Winslow, second, 36-0; Kentucky’s Nathan Sheehan, third, 35-15; Tennessee’s Dylan Nutt, fourth, 35-15; and Alabama’s Brody Robison, fifth, 33-2.

Thursday’s weather was much like that on Day 1, with temperatures in the mid-40s and wind gusting between 10-15 mph. Forecasters are calling for a light freeze overnight in the La Crosse area, but the sun should warm things to the mid-50s by late morning. The wind is expected to be next to non-existent on Friday.

Kentucky’s Nico Urso leads the nonboater division with a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 28-1. Day 1 leader and Wisconsinite Jediah Barrett slipped to second with 27-11 overall. Oklahoma’s Colten Hutson is third with 24-5. Colorado’s Andrew Bowman is fourth with eight bass totaling 23-7, including a 5-pounder he caught on Day 1 that remains the heavy among nonboaters.

Anglers from each of the 48 continental states and seven foreign countries are competing this week for a total cash purse of $223,000, not counting entry fees and more incentives that will go to top anglers.

The Top 40 anglers in both boater and nonboater categories will compete on Friday and the nonboater champ will be crowned when the weigh-in is complete. The winner will claim $10,000 cash and also join the Top 10 in the boater division to compete on Championship Saturday. Any other nonboater whose weight is greater than any of the Top 10 anglers in the boater division after Day 3 also will compete on the final day of the derby.

The Day 3 take-off is scheduled for 7:10 a.m. CT from Veterans Freedom Park in La Crosse. Weigh-ins will begin at 3:30 p.m. CT at the La Crosse Municipal Boat Landing.

Daily coverage of the 2025 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Championship at Upper Mississippi River presented by Lowrance can be found on Bassmaster.com.

Explore La Crosse is hosting the week’s events.

2025 B.A.S.S. Nation Series Title Sponsor: Mercury

2025 B.A.S.S. Nation Series Presenting Sponsor: Lowrance

2025 B.A.S.S. Nation Series Platinum Sponsors: Progressive, Toyota
2025 B.A.S.S. Nation Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2025 B.A.S.S. Nation Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Triton Boats, VMC, Yokohama

 

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 Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, 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, Bassmaster Junior Series, TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, 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: Mandy Pascal, Communications Manager, 334-414-8677, mpascal@bassmaster.com

 

2025 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Championship at Mississippi River presented by Lowrance 10/22-10/25
Mississippi River, LaCrosse  WI.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2

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

1.  Nick Trim              Galesville, WI          10  40-00    0
Day 1: 5   21-00     Day 2: 5   19-00
2.  Noah Winslow           Naugatuck, CT           10  36-00    0
Day 1: 5   17-11     Day 2: 5   18-05
3.  Nathan Sheehan         Danville, KY            10  35-15    0
Day 1: 5   16-05     Day 2: 5   19-10
4.  Dylan Nutt             Nashville, TN           10  35-15    0
Day 1: 5   17-01     Day 2: 5   18-14
5.  Brody Robison          Dawson, AL              10  33-02    0
Day 1: 5   15-13     Day 2: 5   17-05
6.  Kyle Grover            Rancho Santa Margarita, 10  33-00    0
Day 1: 5   16-02     Day 2: 5   16-14
7.  Grant Neubauer         Medford, WI             10  32-12    0
Day 1: 5   17-13     Day 2: 5   14-15
8.  Aaron Jagdfeld         Rochester Hills, MI     10  32-12    0
Day 1: 5   15-06     Day 2: 5   17-06
9.  Brody Luckey           Lynchburg, VA           10  32-09    0
Day 1: 5   14-14     Day 2: 5   17-11
10. Zeke Gossett           Pell City, AL           10  32-08    0
Day 1: 5   14-05     Day 2: 5   18-03
11. Austin Brimeyer        Dubuque, IA             10  32-05    0
Day 1: 5   16-04     Day 2: 5   16-01
12. Nick Dumke             Grand Rapids, MN        10  32-04    0
Day 1: 5   17-04     Day 2: 5   15-00
13. Chris Miller           Spirit Lake, IA         10  32-01    0
Day 1: 5   16-04     Day 2: 5   15-13
14. Ryan Lachniet          Gum Spring, VA          10  32-00    0
Day 1: 5   14-03     Day 2: 5   17-13
15. Lane Clark             Anderson, SC            10  31-12    0
Day 1: 5   18-15     Day 2: 5   12-13
16. Aaron Yavorsky         Palm Harbor, FL         10  31-08    0
Day 1: 5   14-11     Day 2: 5   16-13
17. Justin Hicks           Gunnison, CO            10  31-08    0
Day 1: 5   14-15     Day 2: 5   16-09
18. Cody Dawson            Mount Vernon, OH        10  30-11    0
Day 1: 5   17-07     Day 2: 5   13-04
19. Ken Day                Kennewick, WA           10  30-08    0
Day 1: 5   14-12     Day 2: 5   15-12
20. Rich Lindgren          Lakeville, MN           10  30-07    0
Day 1: 5   15-06     Day 2: 5   15-01
21. Scott Hellesen         Paso Robles, CA         10  30-05    0
Day 1: 5   17-14     Day 2: 5   12-07
22. Connor Jacob           Peoria, IL              10  30-02    0
Day 1: 5   14-09     Day 2: 5   15-09
23. Alex Korol             Fairport, NY            10  29-13    0
Day 1: 5   13-08     Day 2: 5   16-05
24. Austin Bonjour         Templeton, CA           10  29-11    0
Day 1: 5   15-06     Day 2: 5   14-05
25. Steve Lee              Minneapolis, MN         10  29-09    0
Day 1: 5   14-12     Day 2: 5   14-13
26. Devon Dvorak           Keystone, IA            10  29-06    0
Day 1: 5   14-14     Day 2: 5   14-08
27. Patrick Touey          Santa Maria, CA         10  29-04    0
Day 1: 5   13-13     Day 2: 5   15-07
28. Zach Goutremout        Chaumont, NY            10  29-02    0
Day 1: 5   14-00     Day 2: 5   15-02
29. Aaron Orsi             Millbury, MA            10  29-01    0
Day 1: 5   15-09     Day 2: 5   13-08
30. Nathan Reynolds        Florence, AL            10  28-14    0
Day 1: 5   16-03     Day 2: 5   12-11
31. Shawn Smalley          Sutherlin, OR           10  28-13    0
Day 1: 5   16-09     Day 2: 5   12-04
32. Trevor Young           Spring Lake, MI         10  28-12    0
Day 1: 5   14-02     Day 2: 5   14-10
33. Owen Hentschel         Traverse City, MI       10  28-10    0
Day 1: 5   17-04     Day 2: 5   11-06
34. Travis Merritt Jr      Iowa, LA                10  28-09    0
Day 1: 5   13-04     Day 2: 5   15-05
35. Steven Griffith        Schellsburg, PA         10  28-08    0
Day 1: 5   17-01     Day 2: 5   11-07
36. Garrett Paquette       Canton, MI              10  28-04    0
Day 1: 5   14-15     Day 2: 5   13-05
37. Brian Jones            Magnolia, TX            10  28-00    0
Day 1: 5   16-13     Day 2: 5   11-03
38. Tyler Wilson           Carlsbad, NM            10  28-00    0
Day 1: 5   14-08     Day 2: 5   13-08
39. Adam Neu               Sturgeon Bay, WI        10  27-15    0
Day 1: 5   12-11     Day 2: 5   15-04
40. Ty Faber               Pagosa Springs, CO      10  27-15    0
Day 1: 5   14-14     Day 2: 5   13-01
41. Brian Post             Janesville, WI          10  27-09    0
Day 1: 5   11-10     Day 2: 5   15-15
42. Sieg Taylor            Freeport, FL            10  27-05    0
Day 1: 5   13-13     Day 2: 5   13-08
43. Adrian Urso            Union, KY               10  27-05    0
Day 1: 5   13-10     Day 2: 5   13-11
44. Spencer Hahn           Neenah, WI              10  27-00    0
Day 1: 5   15-11     Day 2: 5   11-05
45. Justin Harris          Hutchinson, KS          10  26-15    0
Day 1: 5   11-15     Day 2: 5   15-00
46. Roy Hawk               Lk Havasu Cty, AZ       10  26-05    0
Day 1: 5   13-06     Day 2: 5   12-15
47. Nobuyuki Terajima      Hermitage, TN           10  26-04    0
Day 1: 5   11-10     Day 2: 5   14-10
48. Brad Durden            Atlanta, GA             10  26-04    0
Day 1: 5   13-08     Day 2: 5   12-12
49. Liam Blake             East Syracuse, NY       10  26-03    0
Day 1: 5   14-03     Day 2: 5   12-00
50. Sam Hanggi             Knoxville, TN           10  26-03    0
Day 1: 5   12-15     Day 2: 5   13-04
51. Wil Dieffenbauch III   Hundred, WV             10  26-02    0
Day 1: 5   13-12     Day 2: 5   12-06
52. David Maiorano         Durham, CT              10  26-00    0
Day 1: 5   14-01     Day 2: 5   11-15
53. Gary Pope Jr           Georgetown, SC          10  25-10    0
Day 1: 5   12-10     Day 2: 5   13-00
54. Reece Keeney           Winneconne, WI          10  25-09    0
Day 1: 5   14-07     Day 2: 5   11-02
55. James Biggs            Comanche, TX            10  25-07    0
Day 1: 5   14-07     Day 2: 5   11-00
56. Bill Brown             Grand Junction, CO       9  25-06    0
Day 1: 5   12-06     Day 2: 4   13-00
57. Robert Hoyt            Union Hall, VA          10  25-04    0
Day 1: 5   14-10     Day 2: 5   10-10
58. Lonnie Peterson        Chippewa Falls, WI      10  25-04    0
Day 1: 5   12-15     Day 2: 5   12-05
59. Trevor Rogge           Canyon Lake, TX         10  25-02    0
Day 1: 5   13-11     Day 2: 5   11-07
60. Erik Brztowski         Lemont, IL              10  25-01    0
Day 1: 5   13-02     Day 2: 5   11-15
61. Trey Nanney III        Rocky Mount, NC          9  25-01    0
Day 1: 5   13-02     Day 2: 4   11-15
62. Eli Lubbehusen         Huntingburg, IN          9  24-15    0
Day 1: 4   10-02     Day 2: 5   14-13
63. Tyler Rush             Clearville, PA          10  24-13    0
Day 1: 5   11-12     Day 2: 5   13-01
64. Tyler Cory             Neenah, WI               9  24-12    0
Day 1: 5   16-00     Day 2: 4   08-12
65. Brent Tullis           Tyrone, GA              10  24-04    0
Day 1: 5   14-10     Day 2: 5   09-10
66. Dustin Hollen          Buckhannon, WV          10  24-04    0
Day 1: 5   10-12     Day 2: 5   13-08
67. Kenji Yamada           Chattanooga, TN         10  24-02    0
Day 1: 5   12-07     Day 2: 5   11-11
68. Jaret Rushing          Hampton, AR             10  24-01    0
Day 1: 5   11-10     Day 2: 5   12-07
69. Justin Royal           Bridge City, TX         10  23-15    0
Day 1: 5   12-12     Day 2: 5   11-03
70. Mickey Soler           Newington, CT            8  23-14    0
Day 1: 5   16-07     Day 2: 3   07-07
71. Wesley Baxley          Conroe, TX              10  23-14    0
Day 1: 5   12-11     Day 2: 5   11-03
72. Luke Gritter           Otsego, MI               9  23-13    0
Day 1: 5   12-14     Day 2: 4   10-15
73. Dale Hightower         Mannford, OK             9  23-12    0
Day 1: 5   12-15     Day 2: 4   10-13
74. John Mayo              Maiden, NC              10  23-09    0
Day 1: 5   13-10     Day 2: 5   09-15
75. Greg Alexander         Hebron, MD              10  23-09    0
Day 1: 5   13-04     Day 2: 5   10-05
75. Lucas Lindsay          Auburn , AL             10  23-09    0
Day 1: 5   13-04     Day 2: 5   10-05
77. Zach Taylor            Kimberly, ID            10  23-08    0
Day 1: 5   12-08     Day 2: 5   11-00
78. Chad Warren            Sand Springs, OK        10  23-08    0
Day 1: 5   11-02     Day 2: 5   12-06
79. Justin Rowe            Boyceville, WI           9  23-05    0
Day 1: 5   15-05     Day 2: 4   08-00
80. Sean Snover            Milford, NH             10  23-05    0
Day 1: 5   10-10     Day 2: 5   12-11
81. Harmon Marien          Eagle River, WI          9  23-04    0
Day 1: 4   09-14     Day 2: 5   13-06
82. Matthew Peter          Saint James, MO         10  23-03    0
Day 1: 5   10-08     Day 2: 5   12-11
83. Jerry  Pape            Bella Vista, AR          8  23-02    0
Day 1: 3   07-11     Day 2: 5   15-07
84. Ted Daniels            St. Louis, MO           10  23-01    0
Day 1: 5   11-12     Day 2: 5   11-05
85. Ruben Tarazona Sicilia Tarazona SPAIN          10  23-00    0
Day 1: 5   11-03     Day 2: 5   11-13
86. Rick Sawyer            Albion, IN               8  22-15    0
Day 1: 3   07-02     Day 2: 5   15-13
87. Josh Cruse             Pocahontas, AR           9  22-15    0
Day 1: 5   15-06     Day 2: 4   07-09
88. Tim Cartwright         Sand Springs, OK        10  22-12    0
Day 1: 5   11-06     Day 2: 5   11-06
89. Dave Frost             Mount Dora, FL          10  22-05    0
Day 1: 5   12-11     Day 2: 5   09-10
90. Joseph Sanderson       Channahon, IL           10  22-04    0
Day 1: 5   10-10     Day 2: 5   11-10
91. Colby Bryant           Houston, TX              8  22-04    0
Day 1: 5   11-06     Day 2: 3   10-14
92. Leslie Brandenburg     Springfield, MO          7  22-02    0
Day 1: 5   17-15     Day 2: 2   04-03
93. Terry Anderson         Powderly, TX            10  22-01    0
Day 1: 5   12-05     Day 2: 5   09-12
94. Joe Uribe              Surprise, AZ             9  21-13    0
Day 1: 5   13-03     Day 2: 4   08-10
95. Braylon Eggerding      Grand Rapids, MI        10  21-13    0
Day 1: 5   09-13     Day 2: 5   12-00
96. Nathan Delaney Jr      Weyauwega, WI            8  21-10    0
Day 1: 3   08-08     Day 2: 5   13-02
97. Nick Cook              Kirksville, MO          10  21-08    0
Day 1: 5   12-08     Day 2: 5   09-00
98. Jonathon Dewey         Fort Gratiot, MI        10  21-08    0
Day 1: 5   09-06     Day 2: 5   12-02
99. Thomas Foster III      Suffolk, VA              9  21-07    0
Day 1: 5   13-04     Day 2: 4   08-03
100. Jared Knuth            Wahoo, NE                9  21-07    0
Day 1: 5   12-01     Day 2: 4   09-06
101. Austin Burton          North Prince George, VA  9  21-04    0
Day 1: 5   12-14     Day 2: 4   08-06
102. Henry Fristik          Blandford, MA           10  21-03    0
Day 1: 5   12-13     Day 2: 5   08-06
103. Danny Grantham         Bay Minette, AL          9  20-14    0
Day 1: 5   11-11     Day 2: 4   09-03
104. Josh Wilson            Worley, ID               9  20-13    0
Day 1: 4   10-12     Day 2: 5   10-01
105. Bryer Pennington       Prescott, AR             9  20-12    0
Day 1: 5   11-12     Day 2: 4   09-00
106. Brian LaClair          Denton, MD              10  20-10    0
Day 1: 5   10-03     Day 2: 5   10-07
107. Blake Martin           Dardanelle, AR           8  20-09    0
Day 1: 5   13-07     Day 2: 3   07-02
108. James Niggemeyer       Van, TX                  7  20-08    0
Day 1: 5   14-02     Day 2: 2   06-06
109. Corey Brant            Minnetonka, MN           8  20-08    0
Day 1: 5   10-09     Day 2: 3   09-15
110. Troy Diede             Sioux Falls, SD          8  20-07    0
Day 1: 3   07-11     Day 2: 5   12-12
111. Kalib Lund             Yuma, AZ                10  20-07    0
Day 1: 5   09-11     Day 2: 5   10-12
112. Tucker Pierce          Hollister, MO            8  20-05    0
Day 1: 5   13-07     Day 2: 3   06-14
113. Kurt Dove              Del Rio, TX              8  20-04    0
Day 1: 4   09-14     Day 2: 4   10-06
114. Brandon Bullinger      Bismarck, ND             8  20-03    0
Day 1: 3   08-03     Day 2: 5   12-00
115. Paul Badders           Joppa, MD               10  20-03    0
Day 1: 5   10-15     Day 2: 5   09-04
116. Jeremy Radford         Huntly, VA               8  20-02    0
Day 1: 5   12-12     Day 2: 3   07-06
117. Todd Kline             San Clemente, CA         9  20-02    0
Day 1: 4   07-07     Day 2: 5   12-11
118. Justin Soppe           Caldwell, ID            10  19-13    0
Day 1: 5   10-12     Day 2: 5   09-01
119. Alex Torkleson         Coweta, OK               9  19-13    0
Day 1: 5   09-13     Day 2: 4   10-00
120. KC Choosakul           Cameron, NC              8  19-12    0
Day 1: 5   12-02     Day 2: 3   07-10
121. Jeremy Fuentes         Carlsbad, NM             9  19-11    0
Day 1: 5   10-01     Day 2: 4   09-10
122. Taylor Umland          Carlock, IL              9  19-08    0
Day 1: 4   08-13     Day 2: 5   10-11
123. Don Cox                Russellville, AL         9  19-06    0
Day 1: 5   09-06     Day 2: 4   10-00
124. Tom Testa              Port Crane, NY           8  19-04    0
Day 1: 5   12-14     Day 2: 3   06-06
125. Remington Lawrence     Melbourne, AR            9  19-03    0
Day 1: 5   11-03     Day 2: 4   08-00
126. Richard Cobb           Berea , KY               5  18-10    0
Day 1: 5   18-10     Day 2: 0   00-00
127. Allex Conner           Delaware, OH             6  18-08    0
Day 1: 5   16-01     Day 2: 1   02-07
128. Hunter Baird           Flippin, KS              6  18-08    0
Day 1: 4   12-05     Day 2: 2   06-03
129. Drew Bradstreet        Lutz, FL                 8  18-07    0
Day 1: 3   07-04     Day 2: 5   11-03
130. Alex Klein             Oroville, CA             8  18-01    0
Day 1: 4   09-05     Day 2: 4   08-12
131. Ryan West              Hartsville, SC           8  18-00    0
Day 1: 3   06-08     Day 2: 5   11-08
132. Robert Degraffenreid   Oklahoma Cty, OK         8  18-00    0
Day 1: 5   10-07     Day 2: 3   07-09
133. Justin Hrach           Rostraver Township, PA   7  17-15    0
Day 1: 5   13-06     Day 2: 2   04-09
134. James Kushmer          Tifton GA CANADA         8  17-15    0
Day 1: 5   11-02     Day 2: 3   06-13
135. Blake Atchison         Ava, MO                  7  17-14    0
Day 1: 5   11-11     Day 2: 2   06-03
136. Samuel Anthony         Independence, LA         8  17-14    0
Day 1: 5   11-06     Day 2: 3   06-08
137. Mike Obal Jr           Springfield, NE          8  17-13    0
Day 1: 5   11-02     Day 2: 3   06-11
138. Jarrod Aucoin          Patterson, LA            7  17-11    0
Day 1: 5   12-13     Day 2: 2   04-14
139. Timothy Garrison       Jefferson, SC            9  17-09    0
Day 1: 5   09-09     Day 2: 4   08-00
140. Tony Beck              Social Circle, GA       10  17-09    0
Day 1: 5   09-02     Day 2: 5   08-07
141. Jeff Hodges            Apex, NC                 9  17-05    0
Day 1: 4   06-07     Day 2: 5   10-14
142. Mike Bennett           Connersville, IN         9  17-01    0
Day 1: 5   09-00     Day 2: 4   08-01
143. Nick Klein             Chico, CA                7  16-11    0
Day 1: 2   05-02     Day 2: 5   11-09
144. Michael Nutter         Charlotte Hall, MD       6  16-07    0
Day 1: 5   14-07     Day 2: 1   02-00
145. DJ Rebstock            Norco, LA                8  16-07    0
Day 1: 5   10-06     Day 2: 3   06-01
146. Randy Huffman          Charleston, WV           7  16-05    0
Day 1: 4   10-09     Day 2: 3   05-12
147. Jeff Gilliam           Gordo, AL                7  16-03    0
Day 1: 5   11-06     Day 2: 2   04-13
148. Giancarlo Ottolino     Port St.Lucie, FL        7  16-02    0
Day 1: 3   07-08     Day 2: 4   08-10
149. Quincy Grupenhoff      Clancy, MT              10  16-01    0
Day 1: 5   11-15     Day 2: 5   04-02
150. Kelley Hudson          Graham, TX               8  16-01    0
Day 1: 4   07-00     Day 2: 4   09-01
151. Ramsey Romanin         Wolcott, CO              7  15-09    0
Day 1: 5   11-13     Day 2: 2   03-12
152. Tim Birch              Waterloo ONTARIO CANADA  7  15-08    0
Day 1: 4   09-01     Day 2: 3   06-07
153. Aaron Green            Everett, PA              8  15-07    0
Day 1: 3   05-14     Day 2: 5   09-09
154. Brandon Stanley        Howard City, MI          7  15-03    0
Day 1: 5   10-15     Day 2: 2   04-04
155. Jay Hotzak             Whitby Ontario CANADA    6  15-00    0
Day 1: 5   12-02     Day 2: 1   02-14
156. John Smith             Elkview, WV              8  14-15    0
Day 1: 5   10-02     Day 2: 3   04-13
157. Tanner Calhoun         Nampa, ID                6  14-15    0
Day 1: 4   08-12     Day 2: 2   06-03
158. Caleb Konrad           Elka Park , NY           5  14-14    0
Day 1: 2   06-08     Day 2: 3   08-06
159. Jason Gillispie        Julian, WV               8  14-08    0
Day 1: 3   05-05     Day 2: 5   09-03
160. Paul Browning          Monahans, TX             5  14-03    0
Day 1: 5   14-03     Day 2: 0   00-00
161. Enrico Zancanaro       Rovigo ITALY             6  13-14    0
Day 1: 5   12-06     Day 2: 1   01-08
162. Takeshi Hattori        Koganei JAPAN            7  13-13    0
Day 1: 5   09-08     Day 2: 2   04-05
163. Brian Hensley          Edwardsburg, MI          6  13-13    0
Day 1: 3   07-01     Day 2: 3   06-12
164. Brian Tressen          Corona, CA               6  13-11    0
Day 1: 4   09-08     Day 2: 2   04-03
165. James Mcallister       Canadian, OK             6  13-10    0
Day 1: 2   03-13     Day 2: 4   09-13
166. Michael Lebsack        Duluth, MN               6  13-08    0
Day 1: 5   10-15     Day 2: 1   02-09
167. Dustin Berry           Dayton, TX               5  13-07    0
Day 1: 5   13-07     Day 2: 0   00-00
167. James Clements         Sparta, GA               5  13-07    0
Day 1: 5   13-07     Day 2: 0   00-00
169. Dylan Maxon            Sun City, AZ             6  13-07    0
Day 1: 3   07-03     Day 2: 3   06-04
170. Alex Johnson           Milltown, NJ             6  13-00    0
Day 1: 2   02-06     Day 2: 4   10-10
171. Cesar Madrigal         Tomball TX MEXICO        7  12-12    0
Day 1: 5   08-11     Day 2: 2   04-01
172. Jeff Lugar             Princeton, TX            6  12-11    0
Day 1: 5   11-00     Day 2: 1   01-11
173. Luke Wenger            Lakewood, CO             4  12-10    0
Day 1: 4   12-10     Day 2: 0   00-00
174. Wyatt Ryan             Ada, OK                  6  12-10    0
Day 1: 1   02-09     Day 2: 5   10-01
175. Ian Boehm              Desert Hills, AZ         6  12-08    0
Day 1: 1   01-09     Day 2: 5   10-15
176. Andrew Nienaber        Cape Town Western Cape   5  12-08    0
Day 1: 4   10-07     Day 2: 1   02-01
177. Mark Cobey             Woodland, CA             5  12-05    0
Day 1: 5   12-05     Day 2: 0   00-00
177. Tim Dubuc              Bowdoinham, ME           5  12-05    0
Day 1: 5   12-05     Day 2: 0   00-00
179. Ricky Fulk             Shenandoah, VA           5  12-05    0
Day 1: 4   09-01     Day 2: 1   03-04
180. Keith Poulin           Lisbon, ME               5  12-04    0
Day 1: 5   12-04     Day 2: 0   00-00
181. Mathew Koprash         North Bay Ontario CANAD  5  12-01    0
Day 1: 3   08-10     Day 2: 2   03-07
182. Steve Wilson           Union City, TN           5  12-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 5   12-00
183. Jack Albert            Nottingham, NH           5  11-15    0
Day 1: 4   10-02     Day 2: 1   01-13
184. Patrick Currie         Satsuma, AL              5  11-09    0
Day 1: 5   11-09     Day 2: 0   00-00
185. Larry Clontz           Trenton, OH              5  11-05    0
Day 1: 5   11-05     Day 2: 0   00-00
186. Dustin Hartzer         Mc Cook, NE              5  11-04    0
Day 1: 5   11-04     Day 2: 0   00-00
187. David Ottman           Terry, MS                6  11-04    0
Day 1: 2   03-06     Day 2: 4   07-14
188. Tanner Ward            Beallsville, OH          4  11-03    0
Day 1: 4   11-03     Day 2: 0   00-00
189. Michael Catt           Jacksonville, FL         5  11-03    0
Day 1: 2   03-15     Day 2: 3   07-04
190. Josh Long              Fraziers Bottom, WV      5  11-00    0
Day 1: 5   11-00     Day 2: 0   00-00
191. Jackie Barber          West , TX                5  10-15    0
Day 1: 5   10-15     Day 2: 0   00-00
191. Brandon Mosley         Harrah, OK               5  10-15    0
Day 1: 5   10-15     Day 2: 0   00-00
193. Denis Carrier          Skowhegan, ME            4  10-13    0
Day 1: 4   10-13     Day 2: 0   00-00
194. Ben Nobile             Livingston, LA           5  10-07    0
Day 1: 5   10-07     Day 2: 0   00-00
195. Joe Lay                Coker, AL                4  10-05    0
Day 1: 4   10-05     Day 2: 0   00-00
196. David Chong            Aurora ONTARIO CANADA    5  10-05    0
Day 1: 2   04-01     Day 2: 3   06-04
197. Connor Sirois          Buxton, ME               4  10-04    0
Day 1: 1   02-12     Day 2: 3   07-08
198. Brennan Chuprinko      Flanders, NJ             5  10-00    0
Day 1: 5   10-00     Day 2: 0   00-00
198. Julius Mazy            Vinemont, AL             5  10-00    0
Day 1: 5   10-00     Day 2: 0   00-00
200. Bryce Poulin           Lisbon, ME               4  09-15    0
Day 1: 1   01-09     Day 2: 3   08-06
201. Kenneth Moore          Red Oak, TX              4  09-15    0
Day 1: 3   06-13     Day 2: 1   03-02
202. Tom Hardy              Penetanguishene Ontario  3  09-13    0
Day 1: 3   09-13     Day 2: 0   00-00
203. Thy Dinh               Charleston, WV           4  09-13    0
Day 1: 1   01-09     Day 2: 3   08-04
204. Micah Jones            Kingman, AZ              5  09-10    0
Day 1: 5   09-10     Day 2: 0   00-00
205. James Gibbons          TIMMONSVILLE, SC         5  09-07    0
Day 1: 5   09-07     Day 2: 0   00-00
206. Branden Mowers         Shasta Lake, CA          4  09-07    0
Day 1: 2   03-09     Day 2: 2   05-14
207. Brandon Soliz          Robert Lee, TX           4  09-04    0
Day 1: 3   07-08     Day 2: 1   01-12
208. Paul Ersing            Ogunquit, ME             3  08-14    0
Day 1: 3   08-14     Day 2: 0   00-00
209. Hunter Wendt           Pequot Lakes, MN         4  08-13    0
Day 1: 4   08-13     Day 2: 0   00-00
210. Matt Marques           Seneca, IL               4  08-08    0
Day 1: 4   08-08     Day 2: 0   00-00
211. Bobby Johnson          Hemingway, SC            3  08-08    0
Day 1: 3   08-08     Day 2: 0   00-00
212. Jason Mcwilliams       Magnolia, AR             4  08-05    0
Day 1: 4   08-05     Day 2: 0   00-00
213. Curtis Hughes          Greenwood, IN            4  08-03    0
Day 1: 4   08-03     Day 2: 0   00-00
214. Joao Macide            Covilha, Tortosendo POR  3  08-02    0
Day 1: 2   04-03     Day 2: 1   03-15
215. Kevin Steinruck        Sodus, NY                3  07-11    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 3   07-11
216. David Macinnis         Cannington Ontario CANA  6  07-03    0
Day 1: 3   01-07     Day 2: 3   05-12
217. Jeremy Sadowski        Voluntown, CT            3  06-14    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 3   06-14
218. Derek Dultmeier        Topeka, KS               3  06-14    0
Day 1: 2   03-14     Day 2: 1   03-00
219. John Conway Jr         Henrico, VA              3  06-11    0
Day 1: 3   06-11     Day 2: 0   00-00
220. Cody Graff             Glenvil, NE              4  06-06    0
Day 1: 2   03-04     Day 2: 2   03-02
221. Jason Vaughn           Bridgeville, DE          3  06-03    0
Day 1: 3   06-03     Day 2: 0   00-00
222. Bobby Baker            Midlothian, VA           3  06-02    0
Day 1: 3   06-02     Day 2: 0   00-00
223. Kevin Martin           Crown City, OH           2  06-00    0
Day 1: 2   06-00     Day 2: 0   00-00
224. Jonathan Reimer        Midhurst Ontario CANADA  3  05-10    0
Day 1: 3   05-10     Day 2: 0   00-00
225. Chris Irigoyen         Henderson, NV            3  05-04    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 3   05-04
226. Wesley Kent            Smithville, TN           2  05-04    0
Day 1: 1   01-14     Day 2: 1   03-06
227. Mick Pageler           Tonto Basin, AZ          2  05-02    0
Day 1: 2   05-02     Day 2: 0   00-00
228. Kal Vaisanen           Washago ONTARIO CANADA   2  05-00    0
Day 1: 1   02-14     Day 2: 1   02-02
229. Brandon Gaither        Oakdale, CA              2  04-15    0
Day 1: 2   04-15     Day 2: 0   00-00
230. David Boyd Jr          Quincy, FL               2  04-14    0
Day 1: 2   04-14     Day 2: 0   00-00
231. Kenny Bowen            Hager City, WI           2  04-11    0
Day 1: 2   04-11     Day 2: 0   00-00
232. David Cook             White House, TN          2  04-09    0
Day 1: 2   04-09     Day 2: 0   00-00
233. Vincent Hoff           Branson, MO              2  04-09    0
Day 1: 1   02-09     Day 2: 1   02-00
234. Brian O'Connell        Ridge Spring, SC         2  04-07    0
Day 1: 2   04-07     Day 2: 0   00-00
235. Justin Kohl            Hastings, NE             1  04-03    0
Day 1: 1   04-03     Day 2: 0   00-00
236. Nausori Osasa          Grand Isle, VT           2  03-12    0
Day 1: 2   03-12     Day 2: 0   00-00
237. Charles Sim            Wasaga Beach Ontario CA  2  03-06    0
Day 1: 2   03-06     Day 2: 0   00-00
238. Dustin Perry           Paradise, TX             1  03-05    0
Day 1: 1   03-05     Day 2: 0   00-00
239. Mark Lunsford          Lexington, KY            2  03-03    0
Day 1: 2   03-03     Day 2: 0   00-00
240. Colt Williams          Tallahassee, FL          1  02-05    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 1   02-05
241. Bobby Martin           Castle Rock, CO          1  01-15    0
Day 1: 1   01-15     Day 2: 0   00-00
242. Tony Dulac             Harpswell, ME            1  01-14    0
Day 1: 1   01-14     Day 2: 0   00-00
243. Wendell Potter         Columbia, MD             1  01-12    0
Day 1: 1   01-12     Day 2: 0   00-00
244. Randall Trent          Evington, VA             1  01-09    0
Day 1: 1   01-09     Day 2: 0   00-00
245. Hunter Stanley         Mustang, OK              3  01-07    0
Day 1: 3   01-07     Day 2: 0   00-00
246. Shaun Brown            Slippery Rock, PA        0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00
246. Michael Kazmierczak    Lemont, IL               0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00
246. Bret Winegardner       Swanton, MD              0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1       156      1008      2567-13
2       108       777      1958-02
----------------------------------
264      1785      4525-15

 

2025 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Championship at Mississippi River presented by Lowrance 10/22-10/25
Mississippi River, LaCrosse  WI.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 2

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

1.  Nico Urso              Union, KY               10  28-01    0
Day 1: 5   15-10     Day 2: 5   12-07
2.  Jediah Barrett         Neenah, WI               9  27-11    0
Day 1: 5   15-15     Day 2: 4   11-12
3.  Colten Hutson          Edmond, OK              10  24-05    0
Day 1: 5   13-05     Day 2: 5   11-00
4.  Andrew Bowman          Aurora, CO               8  23-07    0
Day 1: 4   13-03     Day 2: 4   10-04
5.  David Childress        Bakersfield, CA         10  22-00    0
Day 1: 5   11-09     Day 2: 5   10-07
6.  Wade Denney            Nampa, ID                9  21-05    0
Day 1: 4   10-13     Day 2: 5   10-08
7.  Jeremy Anibas          Menomonie, WI           10  21-03    0
Day 1: 5   11-04     Day 2: 5   09-15
8.  Jordi Torres           Torroella de Montgri Z  10  20-11    0
Day 1: 5   09-14     Day 2: 5   10-13
9.  Geoffrey Peterson      Huntington Beach , CA    8  20-11    0
Day 1: 4   10-08     Day 2: 4   10-03
10. Jim Blumenstein        Bolingbrook, IL          8  20-07    0
Day 1: 5   13-01     Day 2: 3   07-06
11. Ray Cates              Overland Park, KS        8  19-07    0
Day 1: 5   10-04     Day 2: 3   09-03
12. Larry Llanes           Madera, CA               9  19-05    0
Day 1: 4   09-14     Day 2: 5   09-07
13. Josh Thalman           Saratoga Springs, UT     7  19-03    0
Day 1: 4   13-02     Day 2: 3   06-01
14. Zach Oliver            Coal Hill, AR            8  18-12    0
Day 1: 4   09-09     Day 2: 4   09-03
15. Adam Buss              Bonduel, WI              8  18-01    0
Day 1: 4   09-03     Day 2: 4   08-14
16. Jeff Zeisner           Arva CANADA              8  18-00    0
Day 1: 5   09-10     Day 2: 3   08-06
17. John Young             Whiteland, IN            7  17-08    0
Day 1: 2   04-03     Day 2: 5   13-05
18. Dan Black              Scottsville, VA          8  17-07    0
Day 1: 5   11-02     Day 2: 3   06-05
19. Joseph Von Hoene       Erlanger, KY             8  17-01    0
Day 1: 4   08-14     Day 2: 4   08-03
20. Michael Grisham        Glendale, AZ             6  16-13    0
Day 1: 5   14-03     Day 2: 1   02-10
21. Todd Tigar             Osage Beach, MO          8  16-13    0
Day 1: 5   10-04     Day 2: 3   06-09
22. Larry Taylor           Delmar, DE               7  16-11    0
Day 1: 2   05-14     Day 2: 5   10-13
23. Kyle Klein             Hutchinson, KS           7  16-10    0
Day 1: 5   12-07     Day 2: 2   04-03
24. Michael Buell          Claysburg, PA            7  16-03    0
Day 1: 5   11-15     Day 2: 2   04-04
25. Joe Mclain             Wayland, MI              6  16-01    0
Day 1: 5   14-02     Day 2: 1   01-15
26. Mathew Higby           Lamar, AR                6  16-01    0
Day 1: 5   12-11     Day 2: 1   03-06
27. Renee Hensley          Edwardsburg, MI          7  16-00    0
Day 1: 2   04-12     Day 2: 5   11-04
28. Allen Smith            Knoxville, TN            6  15-12    0
Day 1: 5   12-12     Day 2: 1   03-00
29. Joe Uribe Sr           Lake Havasu City, AZ     8  15-12    0
Day 1: 5   09-09     Day 2: 3   06-03
30. Heath Willard          Brookhaven, MS           5  15-05    0
Day 1: 1   03-04     Day 2: 4   12-01
31. Eric Englebretson      Chickasha, OK            6  15-04    0
Day 1: 1   03-08     Day 2: 5   11-12
32. Michael Schrader       Harrisville, RI          7  15-03    0
Day 1: 5   10-00     Day 2: 2   05-03
33. Kong Moua              Sacramento, CA           6  15-00    0
Day 1: 4   10-08     Day 2: 2   04-08
34. Chad Macks             Robertsdale, AL          7  14-14    0
Day 1: 5   10-04     Day 2: 2   04-10
35. Scott Shrewsbury       Rocky Mount, NC          6  14-12    0
Day 1: 4   10-06     Day 2: 2   04-06
36. Jeffery Montgomery     Sapulpa, OK              8  14-12    0
Day 1: 3   06-07     Day 2: 5   08-05
37. Josh Giran             Elizabeth, PA            8  14-11    0
Day 1: 3   04-14     Day 2: 5   09-13
38. Dale Westmoreland      Jay, FL                  6  14-04    0
Day 1: 5   12-05     Day 2: 1   01-15
39. Keith Adams            Redding, CA              7  14-02    0
Day 1: 2   04-09     Day 2: 5   09-09
40. Greg Dennis            Pilot Point, TX          7  14-02    0
Day 1: 4   08-07     Day 2: 3   05-11
41. Wyatt Gidcumb          Oakland, OR              6  14-01    0
Day 1: 1   02-06     Day 2: 5   11-11
42. Dale Taylor            Kimberly, ID             6  13-12    0
Day 1: 1   02-07     Day 2: 5   11-05
43. Kyle Boardman          Waterloo CANADA          7  13-12    0
Day 1: 5   08-07     Day 2: 2   05-05
44. David Eades            Lexington, KY            5  13-10    0
Day 1: 3   08-12     Day 2: 2   04-14
45. Tony Madrigal          Auburn, CA               6  13-09    0
Day 1: 2   03-15     Day 2: 4   09-10
46. Warren Cooper          Utopia Ontario CANADA    7  13-09    0
Day 1: 2   04-00     Day 2: 5   09-09
47. Ricky-Ray Martinez Jr  Santa Fe, NM             6  13-09    0
Day 1: 4   08-11     Day 2: 2   04-14
48. Anthony Paschall       Cumberland, VA           7  13-06    0
Day 1: 3   05-01     Day 2: 4   08-05
49. Ed Powell              Sandyville, WV           7  13-06    0
Day 1: 3   06-12     Day 2: 4   06-10
50. Colton Underwood-Garside Riverside, CA            6  13-06    0
Day 1: 3   06-12     Day 2: 3   06-10
51. Mike Bell              Ogdensburg, NY           6  13-05    0
Day 1: 4   09-14     Day 2: 2   03-07
52. Gary Belanger          Plainville, CT           7  13-05    0
Day 1: 5   09-08     Day 2: 2   03-13
53. Lalo Zermeno           Tomball TX MEXICO        5  13-04    0
Day 1: 5   13-04     Day 2: 0   00-00
54. Bob Blumenstein        Bolingbrook, IL          6  13-02    0
Day 1: 5   11-07     Day 2: 1   01-11
55. Erik Gaffron           Hanover, MN              5  12-15    0
Day 1: 3   07-06     Day 2: 2   05-09
56. Jarid Tomnitz          New Lenox, IL            6  12-13    0
Day 1: 2   04-11     Day 2: 4   08-02
57. Rich Purington         Bellevue, NE             6  12-09    0
Day 1: 2   06-02     Day 2: 4   06-07
58. Dennis Heusser         Hutchinson, CO           5  12-07    0
Day 1: 2   05-06     Day 2: 3   07-01
59. Hunter Reece           Minneapolis, MN          6  12-06    0
Day 1: 3   06-01     Day 2: 3   06-05
60. Nathan Minnix          Goodview, VA             5  12-03    0
Day 1: 5   12-03     Day 2: 0   00-00
61. Stefan Grobecker       Daly City, CA            5  12-01    0
Day 1: 4   09-08     Day 2: 1   02-09
62. Ian Mangino            Sunbury, OH              5  12-00    0
Day 1: 5   12-00     Day 2: 0   00-00
63. Tom Parks              Prescott Valley, AZ      6  12-00    0
Day 1: 5   10-10     Day 2: 1   01-06
64. Casey Cline            Glendale, AZ             5  11-12    0
Day 1: 5   11-12     Day 2: 0   00-00
65. Benjamin Nowalk        Milton, WV               6  11-12    0
Day 1: 3   06-03     Day 2: 3   05-09
66. Tim Crissman           Raytown, MO              5  11-11    0
Day 1: 5   11-11     Day 2: 0   00-00
66. Kirk Marshall          Discovery Bay, CA        5  11-11    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 5   11-11
68. David Pilcher Jr       De Ruyter, NY            5  11-07    0

by AnglersChannel

Team Lucas Oil’s Clausen and Neal Cruise to Day 2 Victory at Folds of Honor Patriot Cup Presented by B&W

Dominant third-period surge sends Lucas Oil to Knockout Round, 7Brew Coffee rallies to claim second advancing spot

OXFORD, Ala. (Oct. 23, 2025) – Team Lucas Oil’s Luke Clausen and Michael Neal delivered a clinic in consistency and adjustment Thursday, racking up 32 scorable bass weighing 44 pounds, 4 ounces to win Elimination Match 2 of the Folds of Honor Patriot Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches.

Despite flat-calm, sunny conditions to start the morning, the veteran duo quickly deciphered the bite – then shifted gears perfectly when the fish changed. They posted eight scorable bass in Period 1, nine in Period 2, and 15 in the final frame to pull away and secure a “stress-free” qualification into Saturday’s Knockout Round.

“It’s been a pretty good day,” Neal said. “We only lost the lead for a brief time in the second period, so it was nice to stay pretty comfortably above that cutline. This format is all about the cut line, and we were above it the whole time. Today was fairly stress-free, which is very rare in this format.”

Early on, Clausen and Neal discovered that fish were sticking unusually tight to the bottom despite the calm, bright conditions. The duo then adjusted again later in the day when the wind picked up and pushed the baitfish higher in the water column.

“Really it was a one-two punch for us,” Neal continued. “We started off this morning kind of lost, but we found a point and got a few bites quick on a shaky head and drop-shot. Later in the day, that fizzled, so I moved toward some standing timber and stopped short – next thing I know, we’re catching them suspended. That’s what this format is all about, just figuring it out as you go.”

Clausen did much of his early damage with a finesse setup before joining Neal on the suspended bite later in the day.

“That shaky head was really good this morning,” Clausen said. “I was throwing a 3/16-ounce head with a green pumpkin worm on a Phenix 7-foot, 1-inch medium rod with 10-pound Seaguar fluorocarbon line – pretty simple, but hard to beat almost anywhere in the country. Later, when they lifted up in the water column, that minnow on a ¼-ounce head was the deal. It was just a fun day making adjustments as we went.”

Beyond the tackle talk, the victory carried personal meaning for both anglers – longtime friends who hadn’t shared a boat in more than a decade.

“We don’t get to fish together much,” Clausen said. “I think the last time we fished together was in 2012 – right after (Paul) Elias won at Lake Guntersville on the Alabama Rig. I’ve known Michael since he was in high school, and it’s just fun to get out there with someone you’ve known that long and see how they fish. Especially when we’re kicking everybody else’s butt like we did today.”

“I told Luke he’s buying dinner tonight – this has been a guide trip,” Neal added with a laugh. “But this is the first two-man Team Series event where I’ve actually made it through the first round, so I’m excited. We’ve got a chance to make some more money and hopefully keep things rolling.”

Team 7Brew Coffee’s Edwin Evers and Jesse Wiggins rallied midway through the second period to briefly take the lead, finishing with 19 bass for 27-3 to secure the second Knockout Round spot. Team B&W Trailer Hitches (15-0) and Team Kubota (3-3) were eliminated from competition.

The top two teams from Elimination Round Match 2 at the Folds of Honor Patriot Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches that now advance to the Knockout Round are:

1st:        Team Lucas Oil, 32 bass, 44-4
Luke Clausen, Spokane, Wash., 20 bass, 26-14
Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 12 bass, 17-6
2nd:       Team 7Brew Coffee, 19 bass, 27-3
Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., six bass, 8-13
Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., 13 bass, 18-6

Eliminated from competition are:

3rd:       Team B&W Trailer Hitches, 10 bass, 15-0
James Elam, Tulsa, Okla., four bass, 5-5
Alton Jones Sr., Lorena, Texas, six bass, 9-11
4th:        Team Kubota, two bass, 3-3
Justin Cooper, Zwolle, La., one bass, 1-6
Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif., one bass, 1-13

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

Overall, there were 63 bass weighing 89 pounds, 10 ounces caught by the four teams in Elimination Match 2 on Lake Wedowee. Team Lucas Oil pro Michael Neal caught the Berkley Big Bass of the day – a 2-pound, 6-ounce largemouth bass.

The four teams that will compete Friday in Elimination Match 3 at the Folds of Honor Patriot Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches are:

Team Ferguson:
Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan
Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz.

Team Knighten:
Jake Lawrence, Paris, Tenn.
Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas

Team Smokey Mountain:
Brandon Coulter, Knoxville, Tenn.
John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky.

Team YETI:
Colby Miller, Elmer, La.
Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C.

The Folds of Honor Patriot Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches is hosted by the City of Oxford and takes place over six days in Oxford, Alabama. 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 9:15 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 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. CT. MLFNOW!® is livestreamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MLF and MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) apps, RFD-TV Now, Game & Fish TV and Rumble. The final period of every day of competition of the 2025 Fishing Clash Team Series is broadcast live on RFD-TV, from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. CT.

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 Monday’s Day 6 Championship Round, the final four teams will compete in a one-day shootout to determine which team will win the 2025 Folds of Honor Patriot Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches.

The MLF Fishing Clash Team Series Presented by Bass Pro Shops features four Cup events in 2025 – the Challenge, Heritage, Patriot, and Summit Cups – with 12 two-man teams of Bass Pro Tour anglers competing for a share of  $560,000 in prize money. Teams were formed through a selection process, where 48 team captains – based on Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) standings throughout the 2025 Bass Pro Tour season – selected a teammate. Teams will compete throughout the fall of 2025.

The MLF Fishing Clash Team Series Folds of Honor Patriot Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches will also air on Outdoor Channel as six two-hour original episodes each Saturday afternoon starting March 28, 2026. The complete television schedule for the Fishing Clash Team Series on Outdoor Channel will be posted at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Proud sponsors of the MLF Fishing Clash Team Series include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Boat Technologies, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, E3 Sport Apparel, Epic Baits, Ferguson, Fishing Clash, Knighten Industries, Kubota, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, NITRO Boats, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Smokey Mountain Caffeinated Pouches, Star brite, Toyota, YETI and Zenni.

For complete details and updated information on the MLF Fishing Clash Team Series, 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, Outdoor Channel, VICE, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV and Game & Fish TV, 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 20 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.

by AnglersChannel

Trim rides local knowledge to Day 1 lead in B.A.S.S. Nation Championship

NationChampionship_MercuryLowrance_4c.png

LA CROSSE, Wis. — Nick Trim is one of only a couple true locals competing in the 2025 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Championship at Upper Mississippi River presented by Lowrance.

And Wednesday, on Day 1 of the tournament, he looked every bit of the man to beat on his home water.

Trim, a 42-year-old resident of Galesville, Wis., caught a five-bass limit of 21 pounds to stake himself to more than a two-pound lead in this four-day derby in the southwest corner of the state.

Lane Clark, of Anderson, S.C., is second with 18-15 and Richard Cobb, of Berea, Ky., is third with 18-10. Another 18 anglers are within 5 pounds of the lead after battling a cold and windy day on the river.

Trim, no doubt, has the edge on experience in this field, composed of some 248 anglers in the boater field and almost as many in the nonboater division. He has, after all, fished this stretch of the Mississippi River since he was a boy and Wednesday, he called on that deep well of knowledge to pinpoint bass as they moved into traditional wintering areas.

“In practice, the water was about 60 or 61 degrees, and the fish weren’t ready,” Trim said. “But these two cool nights we just had really got them fired up. I spent the whole practice not looking for fish but looking instead for where fish were going. I really just fished local knowledge of where they winter, where they go.

“I figured that if I found fish in practice, they probably wouldn’t be there when the tournament started because of the cold weather that was coming,” he continued. “So, I took a gamble, and it paid off, I guess. I don’t know if I can do it again tomorrow, but we’ll see.”

If history is an indicator, Trim will be a tough out on the Upper Mississippi. He won the Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier presented by Lowrance here in May 2024 during the spawn, with a three-day weight of 65-4. That qualified him for the 2024 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Championship presented by Lowrance on Oklahoma’s Grand Lake where he finished sixth in that event last November.

Trim’s confidence is high, considering his previous experience in big tournaments. And now that he’s 20 miles from his house and fishing familiar water?

“I feel like as long as I fish clean and I keep my head on, this is mine to lose,” Trim said. “And I didn’t feel that way after practice. But after I checked things today, I feel really good. It’s set up the way I was expecting.”

Trim said he committed to a largemouth bite on Day 1 and had 17 1/2 pounds in the livewell with plenty of time to spare. So, he went hunting for smallmouth bites — a move that paid off in tremendous dividends.

“I wanted to see if the smallmouth would fire,” he said. “On my third stop, I caught a 6-pounder (the heaviest weighed Wednesday). It might be a personal best for me on smallmouth here. I really could do no wrong today. Everything went right.”

Clark, 21, also was “fired up” after weighing 18-15 following a “very tough practice.”

“I don’t think I caught a limit over three days, but I found something today,” Clark said. “They were biting today and I left them biting. The difference I think was timing. That, and the cooler weather got them biting. They weren’t really active when it was warmer. I’m not sure. It’s my first time fishing up here and I’m still learning.”

Clark said he’s fishing current for a mix of bass, though he weighed five largemouth on Wednesday.

“I caught a couple smaller smallmouth, but they didn’t make the team today,” he said. “But I had a 4-8 largemouth. I’d rather have those if I can get them … But I have mixed feelings. I’m banking on one or two places. I don’t know if it’ll hold up for four days, but I’m hoping I can hit them to make the cut and see how things go from there.”

Cobb, who won the Kentucky B.A.S.S. Nation Championship to qualify for this tournament, also brought five largemouth to the stage on Day 1. He said he’d prefer a mix of bass, but didn’t see any of the heavy smallmouth some locals predicted would be vital to winning this week.

Thursday’s weather forecast is expected to be much like Day 1 — temperatures in the mid-to-upper 40s with steady winds blowing from the northwest at 10-15 mph. A frost advisory is in effect overnight Wednesday, with temperatures expected to drop to 34 degrees.

Wisconsin’s Jediah Barrett, 20, is atop the nonboater field with a five bass weighing 15-15. Kentucky’s Nico Urso is a close second with 15-10 and Arizona’s Michael Grisham is third with 14-3. Colorado’s Andrew Bowman caught a 5-pounder that was the heavy among nonboaters on Wednesday.

Anglers from each of the 48 continental states and seven foreign countries are competing this week for a total cash purse of $223,000, not counting entry fees and more incentives that will go to top anglers. The Top 3 in the standings after the championship will earn berth in the 2026 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour when it’s held in Knoxville, Tenn., on the Tennessee River March 13-15. The overall winner also will claim a $50,000 cash prize in addition to paid entries into the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series in 2026.

All competitors will fish Thursday, with the Top 40 in both boater and nonboater categories making the cut to Friday. The nonboater champ will be crowned after Day 3, with the winner claiming $10,000 cash. That angler, and the Top 10 in the boater division after Day 3, will advance to fish Championship Saturday. Any other nonboater whose weight is greater than any of the Top 10 anglers in the boater division also will compete on the final day.

The Day 2 take-off is scheduled for 7:10 a.m. CT from Veterans Freedom Park in La Crosse. Weigh-ins will begin at 3:30 p.m. CT at the La Crosse Municipal Boat Landing.

Daily coverage of the 2025 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Championship at Upper Mississippi River presented by Lowrance can be found on Bassmaster.com.

Explore La Crosse is hosting the week’s events.

2025 B.A.S.S. Nation Series Title Sponsor: Mercury

2025 B.A.S.S. Nation Series Presenting Sponsor: Lowrance

2025 B.A.S.S. Nation Series Platinum Sponsors: Progressive, Toyota
2025 B.A.S.S. Nation Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2025 B.A.S.S. Nation Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Triton Boats, VMC, Yokohama

 

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 Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, 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, Bassmaster Junior Series, TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, 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: Mandy Pascal, Communications Manager, 334-414-8677, mpascal@bassmaster.com

 

2025 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Championship at Mississippi River presented by Lowrance 10/22-10/25
Mississippi River, LaCrosse  WI.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1

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

1.  Nick Trim              Galesville, WI           5  21-00    0
Day 1: 5   21-00
2.  Lane Clark             Anderson, SC             5  18-15    0
Day 1: 5   18-15
3.  Richard Cobb           Berea , KY               5  18-10    0
Day 1: 5   18-10
4.  Leslie Brandenburg     Springfield, MO          5  17-15    0
Day 1: 5   17-15
5.  Scott Hellesen         Paso Robles, CA          5  17-14    0
Day 1: 5   17-14
6.  Grant Neubauer         Medford, WI              5  17-13    0
Day 1: 5   17-13
7.  Noah Winslow           Naugatuck, CT            5  17-11    0
Day 1: 5   17-11
8.  Cody Dawson            Mount Vernon, OH         5  17-07    0
Day 1: 5   17-07
9.  Nick Dumke             Grand Rapids, MN         5  17-04    0
Day 1: 5   17-04
9.  Owen Hentschel         Traverse City, MI        5  17-04    0
Day 1: 5   17-04
11. Steven Griffith        Schellsburg, PA          5  17-01    0
Day 1: 5   17-01
11. Dylan Nutt             Nashville, TN            5  17-01    0
Day 1: 5   17-01
13. Brian Jones            Magnolia, TX             5  16-13    0
Day 1: 5   16-13
14. Shawn Smalley          Sutherlin, OR            5  16-09    0
Day 1: 5   16-09
15. Mickey Soler           Newington, CT            5  16-07    0
Day 1: 5   16-07
16. Nathan Sheehan         Danville, KY             5  16-05    0
Day 1: 5   16-05
17. Austin Brimeyer        Dubuque, IA              5  16-04    0
Day 1: 5   16-04
17. Chris Miller           Spirit Lake, IA          5  16-04    0
Day 1: 5   16-04
19. Nathan Reynolds        Florence, AL             5  16-03    0
Day 1: 5   16-03
20. Kyle Grover            Rancho Santa Margarita,  5  16-02    0
Day 1: 5   16-02
21. Allex Conner           Delaware, OH             5  16-01    0
Day 1: 5   16-01
22. Tyler Cory             Neenah, WI               5  16-00    0
Day 1: 5   16-00
23. Brody Robison          Dawson, AL               5  15-13    0
Day 1: 5   15-13
24. Spencer Hahn           Neenah, WI               5  15-11    0
Day 1: 5   15-11
25. Aaron Orsi             Millbury, MA             5  15-09    0
Day 1: 5   15-09
26. Austin Bonjour         Templeton, CA            5  15-06    0
Day 1: 5   15-06
26. Josh Cruse             Pocahontas, AR           5  15-06    0
Day 1: 5   15-06
26. Aaron Jagdfeld         Rochester Hills, MI      5  15-06    0
Day 1: 5   15-06
26. Rich Lindgren          Lakeville, MN            5  15-06    0
Day 1: 5   15-06
30. Justin Rowe            Boyceville, WI           5  15-05    0
Day 1: 5   15-05
31. Justin Hicks           Gunnison, CO             5  14-15    0
Day 1: 5   14-15
31. Garrett Paquette       Canton, MI               5  14-15    0
Day 1: 5   14-15
33. Devon Dvorak           Keystone, IA             5  14-14    0
Day 1: 5   14-14
33. Ty Faber               Pagosa Springs, CO       5  14-14    0
Day 1: 5   14-14
33. Brody Luckey           Lynchburg, VA            5  14-14    0
Day 1: 5   14-14
36. Ken Day                Kennewick, WA            5  14-12    0
Day 1: 5   14-12
36. Steve Lee              Minneapolis, MN          5  14-12    0
Day 1: 5   14-12
38. Aaron Yavorsky         Palm Harbor, FL          5  14-11    0
Day 1: 5   14-11
39. Robert Hoyt            Union Hall, VA           5  14-10    0
Day 1: 5   14-10
39. Brent Tullis           Tyrone, GA               5  14-10    0
Day 1: 5   14-10
41. Connor Jacob           Peoria, IL               5  14-09    0
Day 1: 5   14-09
42. Tyler Wilson           Carlsbad, NM             5  14-08    0
Day 1: 5   14-08
43. James Biggs            Comanche, TX             5  14-07    0
Day 1: 5   14-07
43. Reece Keeney           Winneconne, WI           5  14-07    0
Day 1: 5   14-07
43. Michael Nutter         Charlotte Hall, MD       5  14-07    0
Day 1: 5   14-07
46. Zeke Gossett           Pell City, AL            5  14-05    0
Day 1: 5   14-05
47. Liam Blake             East Syracuse, NY        5  14-03    0
Day 1: 5   14-03
47. Paul Browning          Monahans, TX             5  14-03    0
Day 1: 5   14-03
47. Ryan Lachniet          Gum Spring, VA           5  14-03    0
Day 1: 5   14-03
50. James Niggemeyer       Van, TX                  5  14-02    0
Day 1: 5   14-02
50. Trevor Young           Spring Lake, MI          5  14-02    0
Day 1: 5   14-02
52. David Maiorano         Durham, CT               5  14-01    0
Day 1: 5   14-01
53. Zach Goutremout        Chaumont, NY             5  14-00    0
Day 1: 5   14-00
54. Sieg Taylor            Freeport, FL             5  13-13    0
Day 1: 5   13-13
54. Patrick Touey          Santa Maria, CA          5  13-13    0
Day 1: 5   13-13
56. Wil Dieffenbauch III   Hundred, WV              5  13-12    0
Day 1: 5   13-12
57. Trevor Rogge           Canyon Lake, TX          5  13-11    0
Day 1: 5   13-11
58. John Mayo              Maiden, NC               5  13-10    0
Day 1: 5   13-10
58. Adrian Urso            Union, KY                5  13-10    0
Day 1: 5   13-10
60. Brad Durden            Atlanta, GA              5  13-08    0
Day 1: 5   13-08
60. Alex Korol             Fairport, NY             5  13-08    0
Day 1: 5   13-08
62. Dustin Berry           Dayton, TX               5  13-07    0
Day 1: 5   13-07
62. James Clements         Sparta, GA               5  13-07    0
Day 1: 5   13-07
62. Blake Martin           Dardanelle, AR           5  13-07    0
Day 1: 5   13-07
62. Tucker Pierce          Hollister, MO            5  13-07    0
Day 1: 5   13-07
66. Roy Hawk               Lk Havasu Cty, AZ        5  13-06    0
Day 1: 5   13-06
66. Justin Hrach           Rostraver Township, PA   5  13-06    0
Day 1: 5   13-06
68. Greg Alexander         Hebron, MD               5  13-04    0
Day 1: 5   13-04
68. Thomas Foster III      Suffolk, VA              5  13-04    0
Day 1: 5   13-04
68. Lucas Lindsay          Auburn , AL              5  13-04    0
Day 1: 5   13-04
68. Travis Merritt Jr      Iowa, LA                 5  13-04    0
Day 1: 5   13-04
72. Joe Uribe              Surprise, AZ             5  13-03    0
Day 1: 5   13-03
73. Erik Brztowski         Lemont, IL               5  13-02    0
Day 1: 5   13-02
73. Trey Nanney III        Rocky Mount, NC          5  13-02    0
Day 1: 5   13-02
75. Sam Hanggi             Knoxville, TN            5  12-15    0
Day 1: 5   12-15
75. Dale Hightower         Mannford, OK             5  12-15    0
Day 1: 5   12-15
75. Lonnie Peterson        Chippewa Falls, WI       5  12-15    0
Day 1: 5   12-15
78. Austin Burton          North Prince George, VA  5  12-14    0
Day 1: 5   12-14
78. Luke Gritter           Otsego, MI               5  12-14    0
Day 1: 5   12-14
78. Tom Testa              Port Crane, NY           5  12-14    0
Day 1: 5   12-14
81. Jarrod Aucoin          Patterson, LA            5  12-13    0
Day 1: 5   12-13
81. Henry Fristik          Blandford, MA            5  12-13    0
Day 1: 5   12-13
83. Jeremy Radford         Huntly, VA               5  12-12    0
Day 1: 5   12-12
83. Justin Royal           Bridge City, TX          5  12-12    0
Day 1: 5   12-12
85. Wesley Baxley          Conroe, TX               5  12-11    0
Day 1: 5   12-11
85. Dave Frost             Mount Dora, FL           5  12-11    0
Day 1: 5   12-11
85. Adam Neu               Sturgeon Bay, WI         5  12-11    0
Day 1: 5   12-11
88. Gary Pope Jr           Georgetown, SC           5  12-10    0
Day 1: 5   12-10
89. Luke Wenger            Lakewood, CO             4  12-10    0
Day 1: 4   12-10
90. Nick Cook              Kirksville, MO           5  12-08    0
Day 1: 5   12-08
90. Zach Taylor            Kimberly, ID             5  12-08    0
Day 1: 5   12-08
92. Kenji Yamada           Chattanooga, TN          5  12-07    0
Day 1: 5   12-07
93. Bill Brown             Grand Junction, CO       5  12-06    0
Day 1: 5   12-06
93. Enrico Zancanaro       Rovigo ITALY             5  12-06    0
Day 1: 5   12-06
95. Terry Anderson         Powderly, TX             5  12-05    0
Day 1: 5   12-05
95. Mark Cobey             Woodland, CA             5  12-05    0
Day 1: 5   12-05
95. Tim Dubuc              Bowdoinham, ME           5  12-05    0
Day 1: 5   12-05
98. Hunter Baird           Flippin, KS              4  12-05    0
Day 1: 4   12-05
99. Keith Poulin           Lisbon, ME               5  12-04    0
Day 1: 5   12-04
100. KC Choosakul           Cameron, NC              5  12-02    0
Day 1: 5   12-02
100. Jay Hotzak             Whitby Ontario CANADA    5  12-02    0
Day 1: 5   12-02
102. Jared Knuth            Wahoo, NE                5  12-01    0
Day 1: 5   12-01
103. Quincy Grupenhoff      Clancy, MT               5  11-15    0
Day 1: 5   11-15
103. Justin Harris          Hutchinson, KS           5  11-15    0
Day 1: 5   11-15
105. Ramsey Romanin         Wolcott, CO              5  11-13    0
Day 1: 5   11-13
106. Ted Daniels            St. Louis, MO            5  11-12    0
Day 1: 5   11-12
106. Bryer Pennington       Prescott, AR             5  11-12    0
Day 1: 5   11-12
106. Tyler Rush             Clearville, PA           5  11-12    0
Day 1: 5   11-12
109. Blake Atchison         Ava, MO                  5  11-11    0
Day 1: 5   11-11
109. Danny Grantham         Bay Minette, AL          5  11-11    0
Day 1: 5   11-11
111. Brian Post             Janesville, WI           5  11-10    0
Day 1: 5   11-10
111. Jaret Rushing          Hampton, AR              5  11-10    0
Day 1: 5   11-10
111. Nobuyuki Terajima      Hermitage, TN            5  11-10    0
Day 1: 5   11-10
114. Patrick Currie         Satsuma, AL              5  11-09    0
Day 1: 5   11-09
115. Samuel Anthony         Independence, LA         5  11-06    0
Day 1: 5   11-06
115. Colby Bryant           Houston, TX              5  11-06    0
Day 1: 5   11-06
115. Tim Cartwright         Sand Springs, OK         5  11-06    0
Day 1: 5   11-06
115. Jeff Gilliam           Gordo, AL                5  11-06    0
Day 1: 5   11-06
119. Larry Clontz           Trenton, OH              5  11-05    0
Day 1: 5   11-05
120. Dustin Hartzer         Mc Cook, NE              5  11-04    0
Day 1: 5   11-04
121. Remington Lawrence     Melbourne, AR            5  11-03    0
Day 1: 5   11-03
121. Ruben Tarazona Sicilia Tarazona SPAIN           5  11-03    0
Day 1: 5   11-03
123. Tanner Ward            Beallsville, OH          4  11-03    0
Day 1: 4   11-03
124. James Kushmer          Tifton GA CANADA         5  11-02    0
Day 1: 5   11-02
124. Mike Obal Jr           Springfield, NE          5  11-02    0
Day 1: 5   11-02
124. Chad Warren            Sand Springs, OK         5  11-02    0
Day 1: 5   11-02
127. Josh Long              Fraziers Bottom, WV      5  11-00    0
Day 1: 5   11-00
127. Jeff Lugar             Princeton, TX            5  11-00    0
Day 1: 5   11-00
129. Paul Badders           Joppa, MD                5  10-15    0
Day 1: 5   10-15
129. Jackie Barber          West , TX                5  10-15    0
Day 1: 5   10-15
129. Michael Lebsack        Duluth, MN               5  10-15    0
Day 1: 5   10-15
129. Brandon Mosley         Harrah, OK               5  10-15    0
Day 1: 5   10-15
129. Brandon Stanley        Howard City, MI          5  10-15    0
Day 1: 5   10-15
134. Denis Carrier          Skowhegan, ME            4  10-13    0
Day 1: 4   10-13
135. Dustin Hollen          Buckhannon, WV           5  10-12    0
Day 1: 5   10-12
135. Justin Soppe           Caldwell, ID             5  10-12    0
Day 1: 5   10-12
137. Josh Wilson            Worley, ID               4  10-12    0
Day 1: 4   10-12
138. Joseph Sanderson       Channahon, IL            5  10-10    0
Day 1: 5   10-10
138. Sean Snover            Milford, NH              5  10-10    0
Day 1: 5   10-10
140. Corey Brant            Minnetonka, MN           5  10-09    0
Day 1: 5   10-09
141. Randy Huffman          Charleston, WV           4  10-09    0
Day 1: 4   10-09
142. Matthew Peter          Saint James, MO          5  10-08    0
Day 1: 5   10-08
143. Robert Degraffenreid   Oklahoma Cty, OK         5  10-07    0
Day 1: 5   10-07
143. Ben Nobile             Livingston, LA           5  10-07    0
Day 1: 5   10-07
145. Andrew Nienaber        Cape Town Western Cape   4  10-07    0
Day 1: 4   10-07
146. DJ Rebstock            Norco, LA                5  10-06    0
Day 1: 5   10-06
147. Joe Lay                Coker, AL                4  10-05    0
Day 1: 4   10-05
148. Brian LaClair          Denton, MD               5  10-03    0
Day 1: 5   10-03
149. John Smith             Elkview, WV              5  10-02    0
Day 1: 5   10-02
150. Jack Albert            Nottingham, NH           4  10-02    0
Day 1: 4   10-02
150. Eli Lubbehusen         Huntingburg, IN          4  10-02    0
Day 1: 4   10-02
152. Jeremy Fuentes         Carlsbad, NM             5  10-01    0
Day 1: 5   10-01
153. Brennan Chuprinko      Flanders, NJ             5  10-00    0
Day 1: 5   10-00
153. Julius Mazy            Vinemont, AL             5  10-00    0
Day 1: 5   10-00
155. Kurt Dove              Del Rio, TX              4  09-14    0
Day 1: 4   09-14
155. Harmon Marien          Eagle River, WI          4  09-14    0
Day 1: 4   09-14
157. Braylon Eggerding      Grand Rapids, MI         5  09-13    0
Day 1: 5   09-13
157. Alex Torkleson         Coweta, OK               5  09-13    0
Day 1: 5   09-13
159. Tom Hardy              Penetanguishene Ontario  3  09-13    0
Day 1: 3   09-13
160. Kalib Lund             Yuma, AZ                 5  09-11    0
Day 1: 5   09-11
161. Micah Jones            Kingman, AZ              5  09-10    0
Day 1: 5   09-10
162. Timothy Garrison       Jefferson, SC            5  09-09    0
Day 1: 5   09-09
163. Takeshi Hattori        Koganei JAPAN            5  09-08    0
Day 1: 5   09-08
164. Brian Tressen          Corona, CA               4  09-08    0
Day 1: 4   09-08
165. James Gibbons          TIMMONSVILLE, SC         5  09-07    0
Day 1: 5   09-07
166. Don Cox                Russellville, AL         5  09-06    0
Day 1: 5   09-06
166. Jonathon Dewey         Fort Gratiot, MI         5  09-06    0
Day 1: 5   09-06
168. Alex Klein             Oroville, CA             4  09-05    0
Day 1: 4   09-05
169. Tony Beck              Social Circle, GA        5  09-02    0
Day 1: 5   09-02
170. Tim Birch              Waterloo ONTARIO CANADA  4  09-01    0
Day 1: 4   09-01
170. Ricky Fulk             Shenandoah, VA           4  09-01    0
Day 1: 4   09-01
172. Mike Bennett           Connersville, IN         5  09-00    0
Day 1: 5   09-00
173. Paul Ersing            Ogunquit, ME             3  08-14    0
Day 1: 3   08-14
174. Taylor Umland          Carlock, IL              4  08-13    0
Day 1: 4   08-13
174. Hunter Wendt           Pequot Lakes, MN         4  08-13    0
Day 1: 4   08-13
176. Tanner Calhoun         Nampa, ID                4  08-12    0
Day 1: 4   08-12
177. Cesar Madrigal         Tomball TX MEXICO        5  08-11    0
Day 1: 5   08-11
178. Mathew Koprash         North Bay Ontario CANAD  3  08-10    0
Day 1: 3   08-10
179. Matt Marques           Seneca, IL               4  08-08    0
Day 1: 4   08-08
180. Nathan Delaney Jr      Weyauwega, WI            3  08-08    0
Day 1: 3   08-08
180. Bobby Johnson          Hemingway, SC            3  08-08    0
Day 1: 3   08-08
182. Jason Mcwilliams       Magnolia, AR             4  08-05    0
Day 1: 4   08-05
183. Curtis Hughes          Greenwood, IN            4  08-03    0
Day 1: 4   08-03
184. Brandon Bullinger      Bismarck, ND             3  08-03    0
Day 1: 3   08-03
185. Troy Diede             Sioux Falls, SD          3  07-11    0
Day 1: 3   07-11
185. Jerry  Pape            Bella Vista, AR          3  07-11    0
Day 1: 3   07-11
187. Giancarlo Ottolino     Port St.Lucie, FL        3  07-08    0
Day 1: 3   07-08
187. Brandon Soliz          Robert Lee, TX           3  07-08    0
Day 1: 3   07-08
189. Todd Kline             San Clemente, CA         4  07-07    0
Day 1: 4   07-07
190. Drew Bradstreet        Lutz, FL                 3  07-04    0
Day 1: 3   07-04
191. Dylan Maxon            Sun City, AZ             3  07-03    0
Day 1: 3   07-03
192. Rick Sawyer            Albion, IN               3  07-02    0
Day 1: 3   07-02
193. Brian Hensley          Edwardsburg, MI          3  07-01    0
Day 1: 3   07-01
194. Kelley Hudson          Graham, TX               4  07-00    0
Day 1: 4   07-00
195. Kenneth Moore          Red Oak, TX              3  06-13    0
Day 1: 3   06-13
196. John Conway Jr         Henrico, VA              3  06-11    0
Day 1: 3   06-11
197. Ryan West              Hartsville, SC           3  06-08    0
Day 1: 3   06-08
198. Caleb Konrad           Elka Park , NY           2  06-08    0
Day 1: 2   06-08
199. Jeff Hodges            Apex, NC                 4  06-07    0
Day 1: 4   06-07
200. Jason Vaughn           Bridgeville, DE          3  06-03    0
Day 1: 3   06-03
201. Bobby Baker            Midlothian, VA           3  06-02    0
Day 1: 3   06-02
202. Kevin Martin           Crown City, OH           2  06-00    0
Day 1: 2   06-00
203. Aaron Green            Everett, PA              3  05-14    0
Day 1: 3   05-14
204. Jonathan Reimer        Midhurst Ontario CANADA  3  05-10    0
Day 1: 3   05-10
205. Jason Gillispie        Julian, WV               3  05-05    0
Day 1: 3   05-05
206. Nick Klein             Chico, CA                2  05-02    0
Day 1: 2   05-02
206. Mick Pageler           Tonto Basin, AZ          2  05-02    0
Day 1: 2   05-02
208. Brandon Gaither        Oakdale, CA              2  04-15    0
Day 1: 2   04-15
209. David Boyd Jr          Quincy, FL               2  04-14    0
Day 1: 2   04-14
210. Kenny Bowen            Hager City, WI           2  04-11    0
Day 1: 2   04-11
211. David Cook             White House, TN          2  04-09    0
Day 1: 2   04-09
212. Brian O'Connell        Ridge Spring, SC         2  04-07    0
Day 1: 2   04-07
213. Joao Macide            Covilha, Tortosendo POR  2  04-03    0
Day 1: 2   04-03
214. Justin Kohl            Hastings, NE             1  04-03    0
Day 1: 1   04-03
215. David Chong            Aurora ONTARIO CANADA    2  04-01    0
Day 1: 2   04-01
216. Michael Catt           Jacksonville, FL         2  03-15    0
Day 1: 2   03-15
217. Derek Dultmeier        Topeka, KS               2  03-14    0
Day 1: 2   03-14
218. James Mcallister       Canadian, OK             2  03-13    0
Day 1: 2   03-13
219. Nausori Osasa          Grand Isle, VT           2  03-12    0
Day 1: 2   03-12
220. Branden Mowers         Shasta Lake, CA          2  03-09    0
Day 1: 2   03-09
221. David Ottman           Terry, MS                2  03-06    0
Day 1: 2   03-06
221. Charles Sim            Wasaga Beach Ontario CA  2  03-06    0
Day 1: 2   03-06
223. Dustin Perry           Paradise, TX             1  03-05    0
Day 1: 1   03-05
224. Cody Graff             Glenvil, NE              2  03-04    0
Day 1: 2   03-04
225. Mark Lunsford          Lexington, KY            2  03-03    0
Day 1: 2   03-03
226. Kal Vaisanen           Washago ONTARIO CANADA   1  02-14    0
Day 1: 1   02-14
227. Connor Sirois          Buxton, ME               1  02-12    0
Day 1: 1   02-12
228. Vincent Hoff           Branson, MO              1  02-09    0
Day 1: 1   02-09
228. Wyatt Ryan             Ada, OK                  1  02-09    0
Day 1: 1   02-09
230. Alex Johnson           Milltown, NJ             2  02-06    0
Day 1: 2   02-06
231. Bobby Martin           Castle Rock, CO          1  01-15    0
Day 1: 1   01-15
232. Tony Dulac             Harpswell, ME            1  01-14    0
Day 1: 1   01-14
232. Wesley Kent            Smithville, TN           1  01-14    0
Day 1: 1   01-14
234. Wendell Potter         Columbia, MD             1  01-12    0
Day 1: 1   01-12
235. Ian Boehm              Desert Hills, AZ         1  01-09    0
Day 1: 1   01-09
235. Thy Dinh               Charleston, WV           1  01-09    0
Day 1: 1   01-09
235. Bryce Poulin           Lisbon, ME               1  01-09    0
Day 1: 1   01-09
235. Randall Trent          Evington, VA             1  01-09    0
Day 1: 1   01-09
239. David Macinnis         Cannington Ontario CANA  3  01-07    0
Day 1: 3   01-07
239. Hunter Stanley         Mustang, OK              3  01-07    0
Day 1: 3   01-07
241. Shaun Brown            Slippery Rock, PA        0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
241. Chris Irigoyen         Henderson, NV            0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
241. Michael Kazmierczak    Lemont, IL               0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
241. Jeremy Sadowski        Voluntown, CT            0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
241. Kevin Steinruck        Sodus, NY                0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
241. Colt Williams          Tallahassee, FL          0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
241. Steve Wilson           Union City, TN           0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
241. Bret Winegardner       Swanton, MD              0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1       156      1008      2567-13
----------------------------------
156      1008      2567-13

 

2025 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Championship at Mississippi River presented by Lowrance 10/22-10/25
Mississippi River, LaCrosse  WI.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 1

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

1.  Jediah Barrett         Neenah, WI               5  15-15    0
Day 1: 5   15-15
2.  Nico Urso              Union, KY                5  15-10    0
Day 1: 5   15-10
3.  Michael Grisham        Glendale, AZ             5  14-03    0
Day 1: 5   14-03
4.  Joe Mclain             Wayland, MI              5  14-02    0
Day 1: 5   14-02
5.  Colten Hutson          Edmond, OK               5  13-05    0
Day 1: 5   13-05
6.  Lalo Zermeno           Tomball TX MEXICO        5  13-04    0
Day 1: 5   13-04
7.  Andrew Bowman          Aurora, CO               4  13-03    0
Day 1: 4   13-03
8.  Josh Thalman           Saratoga Springs, UT     4  13-02    0
Day 1: 4   13-02
9.  Jim Blumenstein        Bolingbrook, IL          5  13-01    0
Day 1: 5   13-01
10. Allen Smith            Knoxville, TN            5  12-12    0
Day 1: 5   12-12
11. Mathew Higby           Lamar, AR                5  12-11    0
Day 1: 5   12-11
12. Kyle Klein             Hutchinson, KS           5  12-07    0
Day 1: 5   12-07
13. Dale Westmoreland      Jay, FL                  5  12-05    0
Day 1: 5   12-05
14. Nathan Minnix          Goodview, VA             5  12-03    0
Day 1: 5   12-03
15. Ian Mangino            Sunbury, OH              5  12-00    0
Day 1: 5   12-00
16. Michael Buell          Claysburg, PA            5  11-15    0
Day 1: 5   11-15
17. Casey Cline            Glendale, AZ             5  11-12    0
Day 1: 5   11-12
18. Tim Crissman           Raytown, MO              5  11-11    0
Day 1: 5   11-11
19. David Childress        Bakersfield, CA          5  11-09    0
Day 1: 5   11-09
20. Bob Blumenstein        Bolingbrook, IL          5  11-07    0
Day 1: 5   11-07
20. David Pilcher Jr       De Ruyter, NY            5  11-07    0
Day 1: 5   11-07
22. Jeremy Anibas          Menomonie, WI            5  11-04    0
Day 1: 5   11-04
23. Cecil Tubb             Dike, TX                 5  11-03    0
Day 1: 5   11-03
24. Dan Black              Scottsville, VA          5  11-02    0
Day 1: 5   11-02
25. Wade Denney            Nampa, ID                4  10-13    0
Day 1: 4   10-13
26. Tom Parks              Prescott Valley, AZ      5  10-10    0
Day 1: 5   10-10
27. Kong Moua              Sacramento, CA           4  10-08    0
Day 1: 4   10-08
27. Geoffrey Peterson      Huntington Beach , CA    4  10-08    0
Day 1: 4   10-08
29. Scott Shrewsbury       Rocky Mount, NC          4  10-06    0
Day 1: 4   10-06
30. Ray Cates              Overland Park, KS        5  10-04    0
Day 1: 5   10-04
30. Chad Macks             Robertsdale, AL          5  10-04    0
Day 1: 5   10-04
30. Todd Tigar             Osage Beach, MO          5  10-04    0
Day 1: 5   10-04
33. Michael Schrader       Harrisville, RI          5  10-00    0
Day 1: 5   10-00
34. Jordi Torres           Torroella de Montgri Z   5  09-14    0
Day 1: 5   09-14
35. Mike Bell              Ogdensburg, NY           4  09-14    0
Day 1: 4   09-14
35. George Georgopoulos    Belmont, NC              4  09-14    0
Day 1: 4   09-14
35. Larry Llanes           Madera, CA               4  09-14    0
Day 1: 4   09-14
38. Scott Schneider        New London, MN           5  09-13    0
Day 1: 5   09-13
39. Jeff Zeisner           Arva CANADA              5  09-10    0
Day 1: 5   09-10
40. Joe Uribe Sr           Lake Havasu City, AZ     5  09-09    0
Day 1: 5   09-09
41. Zach Oliver            Coal Hill, AR            4  09-09    0
Day 1: 4   09-09
42. Gary Belanger          Plainville, CT           5  09-08    0
Day 1: 5   09-08
43. Stefan Grobecker       Daly City, CA            4  09-08    0
Day 1: 4   09-08
44. Adam Marceaux          Morgan City, LA          4  09-06    0
Day 1: 4   09-06
45. Adam Buss              Bonduel, WI              4  09-03    0
Day 1: 4   09-03
46. Andrew Zrnec           Newmarket Ontario CANAD  5  09-01    0
Day 1: 5   09-01
47. Daniel Steen           Hartsville, SC           4  08-15    0
Day 1: 4   08-15
48. Joseph Von Hoene       Erlanger, KY             4  08-14    0
Day 1: 4   08-14
49. David Eades            Lexington, KY            3  08-12    0
Day 1: 3   08-12
50. Ricky-Ray Martinez Jr  Santa Fe, NM             4  08-11    0
Day 1: 4   08-11
51. Leo Perez              Rosenhayn, NJ            3  08-08    0
Day 1: 3   08-08
52. Kyle Boardman          Waterloo CANADA          5  08-07    0
Day 1: 5   08-07
53. Greg Dennis            Pilot Point, TX          4  08-07    0
Day 1: 4   08-07
54. Craig Winegardner      West River, MD           4  08-06    0
Day 1: 4   08-06
55. Lewis Mendall          Winthrop, MA             3  08-05    0
Day 1: 3   08-05
56. Benjamin Allen         Albuquerque, NM          4  08-04    0
Day 1: 4   08-04
57. Mike Briggs            Pawtucket, RI            4  07-15    0
Day 1: 4   07-15
58. Corey Seefeldt         Menasha, WI              4  07-12    0
Day 1: 4   07-12
59. Rob Finley             Del Rio, TX              3  07-12    0
Day 1: 3   07-12
60. Jacob George           Ashville, AL             3  07-11    0
Day 1: 3   07-11
61. James Grave            Camdenton, MO            4  07-10    0
Day 1: 4   07-10
62. Joshua Winebrinner     Highspire, PA            4  07-06    0
Day 1: 4   07-06
63. Erik Gaffron           Hanover, MN              3  07-06    0
Day 1: 3   07-06
64. Gabriel Fabbri         Bruce, WI                4  07-03    0
Day 1: 4   07-03
65. Angela Mayo            Maiden, NC               3  06-15    0
Day 1: 3   06-15
66. Ed Powell              Sandyville, WV           3  06-12    0
Day 1: 3   06-12
66. Colton Underwood-Garside Riverside, CA            3  06-12    0
Day 1: 3   06-12
68. Gene Mitchell          Stuart, OK               4  06-11    0
Day 1: 4   06-11
69. Zack Holt              Yukon, OK                3  06-11    0
Day 1: 3   06-11
70. Mark Moran             Weston, WV               3  06-10    0
Day 1: 3   06-10
71. Jeffery Montgomery     Sapulpa, OK              3  06-07    0
Day 1: 3   06-07
72. Benjamin Nowalk        Milton, WV               3  06-03    0
Day 1: 3   06-03
73. Nick Dulleck           Roseville, CA            3  06-02    0
Day 1: 3   06-02
74. Rich Purington         Bellevue, NE             2  06-02    0
Day 1: 2   06-02
75. Hunter Reece           Minneapolis, MN          3  06-01    0
Day 1: 3   06-01
76. Rex Ryckman            Ft. Pierre, SD           2  05-15    0
Day 1: 2   05-15
77. Toby Cross             Bowdoinham, ME           3  05-14    0
Day 1: 3   05-14
78. Larry Taylor           Delmar, DE               2  05-14    0
Day 1: 2   05-14
79. Bill Wiles Jr          Arcadia, OK              3  05-08    0
Day 1: 3   05-08
80. Tyler Nekolny          Coral Springs, FL        2  05-08    0
Day 1: 2   05-08
81. Cedric Davis Jr        Hopkins, SC              2  05-06    0
Day 1: 2   05-06
81. Dennis Heusser         Hutchinson, CO           2  05-06    0
Day 1: 2   05-06
83. Bob Wetzler            Rutland, VT              3  05-05    0
Day 1: 3   05-05
84. Jonathan Barnette      Jasper, AL               2  05-05    0
Day 1: 2   05-05
84. Robert Overway         Zeeland, MI              2  05-05    0
Day 1: 2   05-05
86. Colten Didion          Mount Vernon, OH         2  05-04    0
Day 1: 2   05-04
87. Andrew Hoffman         Norton, VA               3  05-01    0
Day 1: 3   05-01
87. Anthony Paschall       Cumberland, VA           3  05-01    0
Day 1: 3   05-01
89. Kevin Jones            Fort Campbell, KY        2  05-00    0
Day 1: 2   05-00
90. Josh Giran             Elizabeth, PA            3  04-14    0
Day 1: 3   04-14
91. Steven Houston         Star, ID                 2  04-13    0
Day 1: 2   04-13
91. Lorin Valenti          Waterbury, CT            2  04-13    0
Day 1: 2   04-13
91. Zach Yarnes            Lakeville, MN            2  04-13    0
Day 1: 2   04-13
94. Renee Hensley          Edwardsburg, MI          2  04-12    0
Day 1: 2   04-12
94. Joseph Richardson      Murfreesboro, TN         2  04-12    0
Day 1: 2   04-12
96. Tom Bateman            Orlando, FL              2  04-11    0
Day 1: 2   04-11
96. Jarid Tomnitz          New Lenox, IL            2  04-11    0
Day 1: 2   04-11
98. Curtis Gossett         Pell City, AL            2  04-10    0
Day 1: 2   04-10
98. Jason Thomas           Farmington, MN           2  04-10    0
Day 1: 2   04-10
100. Keith Adams            Redding, CA              2  04-09    0
Day 1: 2   04-09
100. Joe Devoe              Aberdeen, MD             2  04-09    0
Day 1: 2   04-09
102. Bill Roberts Jr        Moultonborough, NH       2  04-08    0
Day 1: 2   04-08
102. Michael Wilson         Brooklet, GA             2  04-08    0
Day 1: 2   04-08
104. John Lumpkin           Waskom, TX               3  04-07    0
Day 1: 3   04-07
105. Harvey Beck            Barrie Ontario CANADA    2  04-07    0
Day 1: 2   04-07
105. Jim Tomsovic           Sparta, WI               2  04-07    0
Day 1: 2   04-07
107. Laura Elkins           Amarillo, TX             2  04-06    0
Day 1: 2   04-06
108. John Doolittle         Kennesaw, GA             2  04-05    0
Day 1: 2   04-05
109. John Young             Whiteland, IN            2  04-03    0
Day 1: 2   04-03
110. Kenny Rogers           Florence, SC             1  04-02    0
Day 1: 1   04-02
111. Christopher Crawford   Sacramento, CA           2  04-01    0
Day 1: 2   04-01
111. Larry Green            Splendora, TX            2  04-01    0
Day 1: 2   04-01
111. William Gruwell        Muncie, IN               2  04-01    0
Day 1: 2   04-01
114. Warren Cooper          Utopia Ontario CANADA    2  04-00    0
Day 1: 2   04-00
115. Tony Madrigal          Auburn, CA               2  03-15    0
Day 1: 2   03-15
115. Mandy Myers            Santaquin, UT            2  03-15    0
Day 1: 2   03-15
115. Bobby Whiteside        San Marcos, TX           2  03-15    0
Day 1: 2   03-15
118. Corbin Steiger         New London, WI           1  03-13    0
Day 1: 1   03-13
119. Randy Giroir           Morgan City, LA          2  03-12    0
Day 1: 2   03-12
120. Patrick Johnson        Washington, OH           2  03-11    0
Day 1: 2   03-11
121. Wade Evans             Powderly, TX             2  03-10    0
Day 1: 2   03-10
121. Cody Ralph             Brighton, CO             2  03-10    0
Day 1: 2   03-10
123. Frankie Spicer         Brandon, FL              1  03-10    0
Day 1: 1   03-10
124. Daniel Buchheit        San Antonio, TX          2  03-09    0
Day 1: 2   03-09
125. Devin Pino             Kansas City, KS          2  03-08    0
Day 1: 2   03-08
126. Eric Englebretson      Chickasha, OK            1  03-08    0
Day 1: 1   03-08
126. Eric Morgan            Royal Palm Beach, FL     1  03-08    0
Day 1: 1   03-08
128. Chris Harris           Huntsville, AR           1  03-07    0
Day 1: 1   03-07
129. Nick Coleman           Kuttawa, KY              2  03-06    0
Day 1: 2   03-06
130. Joseph Hahn            Cadet, MO                1  03-06    0
Day 1: 1   03-06
131. Heath Willard          Brookhaven, MS           1  03-04    0
Day 1: 1   03-04
132. Jim D'Ambra            Hanover, MA              1  03-02    0
Day 1: 1   03-02
133. Miles Ashmore          Oshawa CANADA            1  03-01    0
Day 1: 1   03-01
133. Andy Pandina           Brush Prairie, WA        1  03-01    0
Day 1: 1   03-01
135. Tim Dycus              Heber Springs, AR        1  03-00    0
Day 1: 1   03-00

by AnglersChannel

Tennessean's 10-pounder takes overall lead in Bill Dance Giant Bass Open

Tennessee angler’s lunker takes overall lead in Bill Dance Nationwide Giant Bass Open

Chattanooga resident Kevin Drake is widely considered one of the best anglers on Chickamauga Lake. His thousands of dollars in career earnings and the dozens of largemouth bass he’s caught over 10 pounds back up that statement quite nicely.

But none of the fish he’s caught from the world-famous big-bass factory have ever counted quite like the one he weighed in Saturday, Oct. 18.

Drake was fishing the Chattanooga Bass Association end-of-season Classic when he landed a 10.22-pound tank that took big-fish honors in that day’s tournament. But because he recently paid for a $44.99 annual membership in the Bill Dance Nationwide Giant Bass Open, he took the overall lead in those standings as well.

Louisiana angler Max Swayze had previously held the lead in the Nationwide GBO event with a 9.08.

“I’ve caught a lot of big fish in my life — and that’s not me bragging,” Drake said. “I live right here on Chickamauga, so I get a lot of time on one of the best fisheries in the world.

“When I heard about the Nationwide Giant Bass Open, I thought it would be silly not to sign up when you’re talking $44.99 for a full year. Now, I’m sure glad I did.

Drake will earn a commemorative coin and decal signifying his membership into the Bill Dance Giant Bass Club. If no one catches a bass larger than Drake’s, he has a chance to earn four more prizes for the fish — the Southeast Region winner for October, the overall winner for October, the Southeast Region winner for the year and the overall winner for the year. Prize value will be determined by the number of entrants in the contest when each prize is awarded.

“That’s why I thought this was such a neat deal when they started it,” Drake said. “It gives guys a chance to win multiple times for one fish in a tournament — and when you’re out practicing for a tournament or just fishing for fun, it gives you a chance to win something for a fish that you wouldn’t have won anything for.”

Ironically, Drake missed his opportunity to join the Giant Bass Club a week earlier.

The Bill Giant Bass Open began in 2023 as a series of two-day tournaments held only on Tennessee fisheries that award prizes for the biggest fish caught every hour. Though organizers have expanded to include the nationwide format with fish uploaded through the Fishing Chaos app, they’re still holding several of the two-day tournaments each year, including one on Chickamauga, a Bill Dance Signature Bass Lake, Oct. 11-12.

Drake caught a 9.33-pound bass that won one of the hourly weigh-ins in that event, but he released the fish without remembering to upload it through Fishing Chaos for the nationwide event.

“When they asked me if I’d uploaded it, I felt pretty silly,” said Drake, who caught the 10.22 and the 9.33 from the same 15-yard stretch of water on the same glidebait. “I’m not used to getting paid twice for one fish, but I won’t make that mistake again.”

Drake has one final tournament on Chickamauga this year, the Volunteer Bass Trail State Championship scheduled for Nov. 1.

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Media info

Who we are: The Bill Dance Giant Bass Open was founded in 2023 with a series of two-day, big fish tournaments on Bill Dance Signature Lakes in Tennessee. The format has been expanded this year to include a nationwide competition with fish catches entered through Fishing Chaos.

Bill Dance Giant Bass Open Sponsors: Bill Dance Signature Lakes, Bass Pro Shops, Tracker Boats, BlueOval City Ford, Tennessee Valley Authority, FirstBank, Strike King, Lew’s, Zebco, Bigs Only. Blue Water Resort, Mossy Oak, Halo Fishing, BaitFuel. Power-Pole, Frogg Toggs, Athens Paper-Packaging-Wide Format, Tennessee State Parks, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Fish Tennessee, Tennessee Sounds Perfect.

Websites: giantbassopen.com; gbonationwide.com; fishingchaos.com.

Social media: Instagram — @billdancegiantbassopen; Facebook — facebook.com/giantbassopen

Contact info (not for publication): Shane Frazier (423) 421-6022; Brent Brady (423) 718-0326;

by AnglersChannel

Here to Thrive, Not Just Survive - by Brad Fuller, President

WILKESVILLE, Ohio—Let me clear the air ... and any confusion about the NPFL’s future and the role we see for ourselves.

I’ve heard the noise—the chatter about who’s coming into the NPFL, the whispers about “too many big names,” and the sideways comments from folks who think they’re owed something they didn’t earn. Some people love what we’re doing. Others … not so much.

That’s fine.

We’ve never been for everyone. And we’re not about to start pretending otherwise.

The truth is simple—we’re in one of the toughest industries out there. This isn’t a charity, it’s not a social club, and it sure isn’t a non-profit. The NPFL is a business—a living, breathing entity that requires resources, sponsors, and performance to survive. Growth isn’t a luxury; it’s oxygen. You either grow or you close the doors. There’s no middle ground.

We’re fighting against two massive organizations with decades of history and deep pockets. They’ve got armies of people and media behind them. We’ve got a lean crew of grinders who believe in the mission and wake up every day ready to prove that heart still matters. If you think competition on the water is tough, try walking in our shoes for a week.

That’s why when someone asks why we’re bringing in more established pros, the answer is easy: because it’s good for business, and it’s good for the League. These anglers bring visibility, credibility, and opportunity. They help us grow. And growth keeps this thing alive for every single person who believes in it.

Now, about this word “positivity.”

It’s funny how often that word gets tossed around—usually by the same folks who seem to forget what it actually means. They’ll preach sunshine while dragging others through the mud, talking about how they “support the sport” … as long as it benefits them.

Let me be clear—we don’t owe anyone a job, a spotlight, or a platform. We hire people who show up, do the work, and add real value. We don’t hire the ones who think proximity equals entitlement.

You start to realize you’re doing something right when people try to latch on to what you’ve built and twist it for their own personal gain. Those are the leeches of the fishing world. We’ve got no time for them and owe them nothing.

We’ll handle our own positivity—by living it, by actually doing the work, standing behind our people, and continuing to treat others with respect, even when that grace isn’t returned.

Now, let’s talk about opportunity.

We will always make room for the grassroots anglers—the ones chasing a dream, not a spotlight. Guys like Grant Vest, Dustin Reneau, Joshua Reynolds, Jimmy Ward, Travis Jewell, and Garrett Smith. You might not know their names yet, but I have a strong suspicion you’ll know one or two of them very well by the end of 2026.

Because that’s what the NPFL has always been—a league of opportunity.

Your entry fee gets you a seat at the table, a fair playing field, a safe environment, and the best logistics we can provide. You get to be part of the family. But what you do with that opportunity? That’s on you.

You want to prove something? Here are the rules. Here’s the playing field. Go get it.

But when you fall short, don’t turn around and blame the very entity that gave you the opportunity in the first place.

This league is built on accountability. You perform; you hang around. You catch them, and everything else falls into place.

So yeah, we’re changing. We’re evolving. We’re growing. We’re bringing in elite talent, building better partnerships, and sharpening every edge we have—all while keeping the door open for anyone willing to earn their way in.

And when I say elite talent, I’m not just talking about the names you already know—the guys who’ve proven themselves in other leagues. I’m talking about all our anglers. Mark my words: some of the names listed above will rise to the top. They’re too good, too talented, and too hungry not to win.

If that offends someone … well, so be it.

We’re unapologetically us.  Always have been. Always will be.

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]

by AnglersChannel

Major League Fishing Announces 2026 Bass Pro Tour Roster

Reigning AOY and 10-time BPT winner Jacob Wheeler, three-time REDCREST Champion Dustin Connell and standout Jake Lawrence highlight 51-angler field competing for total season purse of more than $6 million

BENTON, Ky. (Oct. 21, 2025) – Major League Fishing (MLF) announced today the roster of 51 pros who will compete on the 2026 Bass Pro Tour, the eighth season of professional bass fishing’s premier tournament circuit. Featuring the most exclusive and talented field of anglers in the world – from the veterans who built the Tour’s legacy to the rookies reshaping its future – the 2026 Bass Pro Tour is set to deliver the toughest competition and most rewarding payouts in professional bass fishing history.

Featuring a stacked lineup of champions, innovators and fan favorites – including Dustin Connell, Ott DeFoe, Alton Jones Jr., Wesley Strader and Jacob Wheeler – the 2026 Bass Pro Tour roster highlights anglers who have consistently raised the bar for performance and professionalism on the water. Wheeler, a four-time Angler of the Year, 10-time BPT winner and one of the most dominant competitors in modern bass fishing, returns to defend his legacy against the sport’s deepest talent pool to date.

A remarkable collection of REDCREST champions highlight the 2026 field, led by three-peat winner Connell (2021, 2024, 2025), Edwin Evers (2019), Bobby Lane (2022) and Bryan Thrift (2023). Each has proven capable of thriving under pressure and performing when it matters most, adding another layer of excitement to the Tour’s eighth season.

The 2026 roster also underscores MLF’s unmatched pathway for discovering and developing new talent. Returning after a breakout rookie season that saw five top-10 finishes in his first eight events and a buzzer-beater win that narrowly edged out Wheeler, Jake Lawrence – the 2025 AOY runner-up to Wheeler – looks to build on an incredible debut that solidified him as one of the sport’s fastest-rising stars.

Lawrence’s stellar season continued a trend of rookie success on the Bass Pro Tour in recent years, marking the third year in a row that a BPT newcomer has both won an event and finished in the top two in points in his debut season. Matt Becker  pulled off a Saginaw Bay win and AOY double to close the 2023 season and Drew Gill won on the Chowan River and finished second to Wheeler for AOY in 2024.

Joining Lawrence in 2026 are several BPT rookies ready to make their mark on the biggest stage in bass fishing, including Banks Shaw, Mitchell Robinson, Jacob Walker and Dustin Smith, who earned their invitations through outstanding performances in the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals. The next generation of pros is arriving and proving they can compete with the best from day one.

“Every year, the release of our Bass Pro Tour roster marks the start of a new wave of excitement,” said Kathy Fennel, MLF Executive Vice President & General Manager. “This field represents the very best anglers in the world – a group defined by skill, integrity and the relentless pursuit of excellence – along with an impressive class of new competitors who’ve earned their place among the best in the world. The 2026 Bass Pro Tour lineup truly exemplifies what it means to compete at the sport’s highest level, and fans are going to see some incredible storylines unfold throughout the season.”

Driven by angler feedback, each four-day event will award $125,000 to the winner, with $15,000 paid out through 25th place – the highest minimum payouts ever awarded in pro bass fishing – plus $100,000 to the Fishing Clash Angler of the Year in 2026. The season will kick off Jan. 15–18 at Lake Guntersville in Guntersville, Alabama, where the sport’s top pros will launch into another year of high-stakes competition on one of the nation’s most iconic bass fisheries.

Each four-day Bass Pro Tour event will feature two days of Qualifying Rounds, where the 51 pros will compete to finish in the top 25 and advance to the Knockout Round. The winner of the two-day Qualifying Round will advance directly to the Championship Round, where they’ll be joined by the top nine anglers from the Knockout Round for a final-day shootout for the top prize of $125,000.

Every cast, catch and comeback will be broadcast live on MLFNOW! and streamed to MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MLF app, MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) and Rumble.

The 51 professional anglers that will compete on the 2026 Bass Pro Tour are:

  • Casey Ashley
  • Adrian Avena
  • Matt Becker
  • Zack Birge
  • Keith Carson
  • Brent Chapman
  • Dustin Connell
  • Justin Cooper
  • Mark Daniels Jr.
  • Mark Davis
  • Ott DeFoe
  • David Dudley
  • Brent Ehrler
  • James Elam
  • Edwin Evers
  • Todd Faircloth
  • Cole Floyd
  • Anthony Gagliardi
  • Drew Gill
  • Nick Hatfield
  • Dylan Hays
  • Marshall Hughes
  • John Hunter
  • Alton Jones
  • Alton Jones Jr.
  • Bobby Lane
  • Chris Lane
  • Jake Lawrence
  • Nick LeBrun
  • Justin Lucas
  • Colby Miller
  • Andy Montgomery
  • Michael Neal
  • Ron Nelson
  • Takahiro Omori
  • *Mitchell Robinson
  • Dean Rojas
  • Mark Rose
  • Bradley Roy
  • *Banks Shaw
  • Fletcher Shryock
  • Spencer Shuffield
  • *Dustin Smith
  • Jeff Sprague
  • Wesley Strader
  • Bryan Thrift
  • Greg Vinson
  • *Jacob Walker
  • Jacob Wall
  • Jacob Wheeler
  • Jesse Wiggins

* Denotes 2026 Bass Pro Tour Rookie

Proud sponsors of the MLF Bass Pro Tour include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, Bass Force, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, E3 Sport Apparel, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, MillerTech, Mossy Oak Fishing, NITRO, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Star brite, Suzuki Marine, Toyota and Zenni.

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

About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery, Outdoor Channel, VICE, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV and Game & Fish TV, 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 20 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.

by AnglersChannel

Every Vexus® is tank tested by Bobby

The story of Lauri Rapala tank testing and hand tuning every single one of his iconic lures to make sure they swam true with a unique wounded minnow action has been well documented, dating back to the first one he carved 89 years ago.

However, fishing fans may not be aware that Vexus® Boats does much the same at their world class facility in Flippin, AR where Bobby Wallace and his right-hand man Jeff Chism place every premium fishing vessel in a 9,000 gallon ‘test tank’ that resembles an above ground swimming pool.

The goal is to make triple-dog sure there are no leaks, and that every pump, switch, and piece of plumbing is working perfectly before they’re loaded on delivery trucks and shipped to treasured dealers and customers.

In reality, the inspection process of each best-in-the business boat goes far beyond the pool. A round paper card containing a 100-point inspection of the fuel system, electrical system, plumbing, hardware, finish, steering, engine controls, and upholstery is checked – and only after Bobby signs his name on the card, indicating it passed his test, can it leave the factory.

Like so many folks at Vexus, their vocation is not just a job, but a prideful source of their personal identity -- and that’s certainly the case for team leader, Bobby Wallace. The Flippin High School Class of 1989 member has never known a way to make a living that didn’t involve water and premium fishing boats.

His very first job as a teen involved doing anything that was asked of him at nearby Bull Shoals Boat Dock and Marina, and for 34 years since then, he’s poured his heart and soul into making sure every boat that rolled out of his hometown was the best it could possibly be.

Longtime Vexus leader and VP of Operations, Lance Newton says, “Bobby is a perfect example of what makes Vexus special. His knowledge of the product, attention to detail and love for the brand has a tremendous impact on our operation.”

“We are fortunate to have so many talented individuals, like Bobby, that have a passion for taking care of our customers and pouring their heart and soul into the product. It is a true honor to work alongside Bobby and his remarkable team!” adds Newton.

Wallace’s passion actually dates back to age seven when his dad took him to a boat show and ordered a new bass boat, and a young Bobby became infatuated with their shiny new fiberglass bass chaser.

A lifetime angler, Wallace still loves to drag a green pumpkin lizard behind a 1-ounce Carolina Rig on Bull Shoals in May and June, but as summer progresses don’t be surprised if you see him pulling his grandsons on an innertube behind his Vexus DVX19 fiberglass multispecies rig.

“I just take a lot of pride in the fact I’ve been able to make a living my entire life doing something that centers on my love of fishing and top-notch boats. And Vexus is special because teamwork is so celebrated here. We all check our egos at the door and share the same focus and drive to make sure every boat that leaves here is the best it can possibly be,” says Wallace.

“Heck, if we were building canoes, we’d tank test them to make sure they were the best in the business too,” he smiles in conclusion.

And you can bet they’d have to pass Bobby’s inspection before they were allowed to leave Flippin.

by AnglersChannel

MLF Announces 2026 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats Program Details

Toyota Series maintains biggest payouts and lowest entry fees of any national circuit – program details now set for 2026

BENTON, Ky. (Oct. 20, 2025) – Major League Fishing (MLF) today announced the 2026 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats program details and rules, headlined by a measured technology update that limits forward-facing and 360-degree sonar to one continuous 3-hour period each day of competition day, like the highly successful Bass Pro Tour. With the biggest payouts and lowest entry fees of any national circuit, the Toyota Series remains the high-value proving ground for anglers aiming for the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit, Bass Pro Tour and the sport’s premier no-entry-fee championship – REDCREST.

“Anglers compete in the Toyota Series because it delivers meaningful payouts at the ramp and, straightforward advancement to the no-entry-fee Toyota Series Championship offering some of the sport’s biggest awards,” said Boyd Duckett, MLF President and CEO. “For 2026, we preserved the format anglers love and added a reasonable limit on forward-facing sonar to keep the sport multi-dimensional where a variety of techniques contribute to success. It’s the same Toyota Series experience that anglers know and love – competitive, rewarding and built for growth.”

The 2026 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats features:

5 Geographic Divisions + Wild Card Division:

  • Three 3-day qualifiers per geographic division – Forward Facing/360-degree Sonar restricted to 3 hours each day
  • Tournament winners and the top 25 pros from each division qualify for the Toyota Series Championship
  • Tournament winners and the top 25 co-anglers from each division qualify for the Toyota Series Championship

15    3-Day Qualifying Tournaments:

  • $40,000 top pro award based on 160-boat field, scaling up to $65,000 at 260 boats + $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus in every tournament
  • $33,500 Phoenix 518 Pro with 115 HP outboard top co-angler award based on 160-boat field, scaling up to $38,500 (boat + cash) at 260 boats
  • 25 percent of the field earns a check of at least $2,000 for pros and $550 for co-anglers
  • Winning pro and co-angler from each Qualifier advance to the Toyota Series Championship
  • Thursday, Friday and Saturday tournaments (unless otherwise noted): full field days 1 & 2, top 25 pros and co-anglers day 3
  • Winners determined by heaviest three-day catch – 5 bass per day boater limit | 5 bass per day co-angler limit
  • Live weigh-in coverage
  • Entry fee: $1,700 pro | $550 co-angler

Wild Card Division:

  • Pros and co-anglers always have a second chance at qualifying for the Toyota Series Championship by fishing four or more tournaments in any combination of divisions and keeping their three highest finishes.
  • 25 pros and 25 co-anglers qualify for the Toyota Series Championship based on Wild Card division points with ties resolved by the highest finish in a tournament.
  • Pros who qualify through the Wild Card division are eligible for a $10,000 bonus at the Toyota Series Championship.

Toyota Series Championship:

  • $200,000 top pro award + REDCREST 2027 + $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus
  • $33,500 top co-angler award
  • $10,000 bonus for the highest-finishing pro from each of the five U.S. divisions, Wild Card division and the International division. The second-highest finisher from the division represented by the winning pro will receive that division’s bonus. Pros who qualify as tournament winners or through a division’s standings (except for the Wild Card division) retain eligibility to win a $10,000 bonus from all divisions in which they won or finished in the top 25. Wild Card division qualifiers are only eligible for the Wild Card division bonus.
  • Thursday, Friday and Saturday tournament: full field (195 pros, 195 co-anglers) days 1 & 2, top 25 pros and co-anglers day 3
    • Top 25 pros and co-anglers from each of five U.S. divisions and the Wild Card division – 150 pros, 150 co-anglers
    • Tournament winners – 15 pros, 15 co-anglers
    • Highest finishing boater and co-angler from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional and the TBF National Championship at the All-American – 8 pros, 8 co-anglers
    • College Fishing National Champions and 2nd place – 4 pros
    • College Fishing National Championship 3rd place – 2 co-anglers
    • High School Fishing National Champions – 2 co-anglers
    • MLF China – 2 pros, 2 co-anglers
    • MLF Canada – 3 pros, 3 co-anglers
    • MLF Mexico – 2 pros, 2 co-anglers
    • MLF Italy – 3 pros, 3 co-anglers
    • MLF Japan – 2 pros, 2 co-anglers
    • MLF South Africa – 2 pros, 2 co-anglers
    • MLF Spain – 2 pros, 2 co-anglers
    • MLF Zimbabwe – 2 pros, 2 co-anglers
  • Winners determined by heaviest three-day catch – 5 bass per day boater limit | 5 bass per day co-angler limit
  • Live weigh-in coverage all three days
  • Live on-the-water coverage on championship day
  • Nationally televised on VICE Sports
  • No entry fee

Angler of the Year and Co-angler of the Year Awards:

  • $5,000 Angler of the Year in each division, excluding the Wild Card division
  • $2,000 Co-angler of the Year in each division, excluding the Wild Card division

Your Pathway to the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and Bass Pro Tour:

  • Top five pros from each U.S. division in Angler of the Year standing, excluding the Wild Card division, qualify for the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit. If a top-five pro declines his or her bid or earns qualification through the Pro Circuit or Bass Pro Tour, the next eligible pro qualifies. This process continues through the top 10 pros in each U.S. division.

To encourage a broad mix of tactics and maintain competitive balance, use of forward-facing and 360-degree sonar is restricted to one continuous 3-hour period each day of competition at all qualifying tournaments and the championship. Compliance will be verified by co-anglers just like longstanding tournament rules such as no fishing in an off-limits area and verifying sight fish are hooked inside the mouth. The boater/co-angler format, with its built-in checks and balances, has been the sport’s most secure format, outside of the Bass Pro Tour where tournament officials ride with anglers, since its inception over 30 years ago.

“Enforcing forward-facing and 360-degree sonar use limits in a boater/co-angler format really isn’t that difficult,” Duckett said. “We aren’t asking boaters or co-anglers to do anything more than they always have. Compete in accordance with the rules and verify the legitimacy of each other’s catch. This self-policing model is the backbone of our sport. At Major League Fishing, we are working hard to find solutions that bring anglers back together where everyone is better off.”

Anglers can register for the 2026 Toyota Series at MajorLeagueFishing.com or by calling 270.252.1000, beginning at 8 a.m. CT on the dates listed below:

  • Oct. 23 – Entry opens for the top 25 pros and co-anglers and tournament winners from each division of the 2025 Toyota Series and the top 60 boaters and co-anglers from each division of the 2025 Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) – plus the winner of each 2025 BFL tournament (who paid an entry fee for all five tournaments in a division and fished at least two tournaments in the same division) and the top 10 anglers from the 2025 College Fishing National Championship. These anglers enter with a counterpart (pro with co-angler or co-angler with pro) by November 24 to secure their priority entry position.
  • Nov. 25 – Entry opens for Phoenix boat owners .
  • Nov. 26 – Entry opens for anglers who fished a full division of the 2025 Toyota Series or a full division of the 2025 BFL.
  • Dec. 1 – Entry opens for TBF members.
  • Dec. 2 – Entry opens to all anglers.

For the complete 2026 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats schedule, rules and payouts, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Proud sponsors of the MLF Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Deep Dive App, E3 Sport Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Mercury, Minn Kota, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PirahnO2, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.

For regular Toyota Series updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery, Outdoor Channel, VICE, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV and Game & Fish TV, 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 20 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.

by AnglersChannel

Macon’s Wilder Wins by Two Ounces at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional on Lake Seminole Presented by Mando Deodorant

Florida’s Pike Tops Co-Angler Division

BAINBRIDGE, Ga. (Oct. 20, 2025) – Boater Christopher Wilder of Macon, Georgia, caught a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 37 pounds, 13 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine Regional on Lake Seminole Presented by Mando Deodorant . The tournament, which was hosted by Visit Bainbridge, concluded Saturday. For his win, Wilder earned a prize package valued at $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200hp Mercury or Suzuki outboard.

The Lake Seminole event served as the Regional championship for the BFL Gator and Bulldog divisions. The field included the top 60 boaters and co-anglers based on point standings, plus each division’s tournament winners. The top three boaters and co-anglers have also now qualified for the 2026 BFL All-American.

Wilder prefers to fish shallow, especially around grass, so he focused his efforts in the Spring Creek area of Seminole during practice. However, he ended up catching only one or two bass during one of his practice days and decided he needed to pivot. He turned to forward-facing sonar to locate fish around timber and on grass edges but wasn’t confident in the idea of fishing deeper water during the tournament.

“That’s not what I really wanted to do,” Wilder said. “I don’t really have a lot of experience of finding where fish are in the timber without them coming up and busting the surface. So, I tried to focus on the grass. But after a whole day of not catching them like that, I saw a school off of the edge of some grass, and I picked up an A-rig and caught small fish every cast for 50 or 60 casts. I ended up catching 200 to 300 fish during practice.”

Wilder decided to change his approach to searching for schools of bass on the grass edges, and ended up marking 34 schools of fish with quality bass.

On the first day of competition, Wilder ran to a spot that he knew held multiple schools of fish. Within 15 minutes of beginning his day, Wilder had 16 pounds in the livewell. That early success settled his jitters, and he spent the rest of the day culling to improve his weight.

“Everywhere I went there were five or six boats at a minimum, and I found people were sitting on the schools that I had marked,” Wilder said. “I ended up pulling up on one that nobody was on, and I caught more than 20 fish out of that school. I had around 19 pounds, and the bite shut off in the afternoon. I ended up culling a few more times and ended up just over 20 pounds, but it wasn’t anything like what was going on in the mornings.”

Wilder started out Saturday on the same school of fish he began fishing Friday, but he found the pressured fish reluctant to bite. He ended up catching five bass that weighed 6 pounds there.

“At that point, I could tell it was going to be a hard day,” Wilder said. “So, instead of mixing in with everybody on the water, I got out of the boat traffic fishing through the timber and went as fast as I could with the trolling motor to the other schools and just fished them as hard as I could.”

Wilder’s tactics paid off, although the bites were few and far between. He estimated he had somewhere around 17 pounds, but didn’t think that was going to be enough to achieve his goal of a Top-3 finish and a berth to the 2026 BFL All-American.

Wilder’s weight, however, proved to be enough, and he eclipsed his brother, Michael, by 2 ounces to secure his second BFL Regional win. His first came in 2023 on Lake Norman.

“Both of my Regional wins have just felt unreal,” Wilder said. “I certainly didn’t expect to win another one this soon.”

The top three boaters who qualified for the 2026 Phoenix BFL All-American finished:

1st:        Christopher Wilder, Macon, Ga., 10 bass, 37-13, $53,100 (includes $3,000 Phoenix Bonus)
2nd:       Michael Wilder, Lizella, Ga., 10 bass, 37-11, $7,776
3rd:       Brooks Anderson, Marietta, Ga., 10 bass, 37-6, $3,968

Rounding out the top 10 boaters were:

4th:        Buddy Benson, Dahlonega, Ga., 10 bass, 35-4, $2,445
5th:        Kennie Steverson, Umatilla, Fla., 10 bass, 34-0, $1,684
6th:        Brad Stalanaker, Eatonton, Ga., nine bass, 33-11, $1,531
7th:        Dylan Quilatan, Windermere, Fla., 10 bass, 31-11, $1,379
8th:        Steve Phillips, Douglas, Ga., seven bass, 31-8, $2,225
9th:        Richard Dunham, Palm Harbor, Fla., 10 bass, 30-9, $1,068
10th:     Tanner Seabolt, Okeechobee, Fla., 10 bass, 30-2, $990

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Steve Phillips of Douglas, Georgia, won the Berkley Big Bass Boater award and $1,000 for landing a bass that weighed 7 pounds, 15 ounces – the biggest of the tournament.

Shannon Pike of Sarasota, Florida, won the co-angler division Saturday after bringing a two-day total of six bass weighing 20 pounds, 9 ounces, to the scale. Pike earned the top co-angler award of $15,307 for his victory.

The top three co-anglers who qualified for the 2026 Phoenix BFL All-American finished:

1st:        Shannon Pike, Sarasota, Fla., six bass, 20-9, $15,307
2nd:       Preston Williams, Tallahassee, Fla., six bass, 18-7, $3,884
3rd:       Mike Tucker, Yalaha, Fla., six bass, 15-3, $2,030

Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers were:

4th:        Nathan Haystead, St. Cloud, Fla., five bass, 14-4, $1,218
5th:        Demond Jenkins, Plant City, Fla., six bass, 14-1, $1,338
6th:        Nick Singleton, Crawfordville, Fla., six bass, 14-0, $762
7th:        Jacob Chandler, Covington, Ga., six bass, 14-0, $685
8th:        Ben Lovain, Calhoun, Ga., five bass, 12-13, $609
9th:        Jordan Elmore, St. Petersburg, Fla., six bass, 12-6, $531
10th:     Adrian Davies, Cocoa, Fla., six bass, 12-2, $492

Demond Jenkins of Plant City, Florida, caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 14 ounces, to win the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award worth $500.

The 2025 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine was a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 134 events throughout the season – five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 60 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying tournament winners, now advance to one of 12 BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top three, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the 43rd annual BFL All-American. The BFL All-American will take place May 28-30, 2026, at Lake Murray in Columbia, South Carolina, and is hosted by the Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board.

Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Deep Dive App, E3 Sport Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Li Time Batteries, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PirahnO2, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.

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

About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery, Outdoor Channel, VICE, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV and Game & Fish TV, 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 20 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.

by AnglersChannel

Top teams head to Port Aransas for 2025 Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter

Top teams head to Port Aransas for 2025 Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The nation’s best redfish teams will converge on the Texas coast Nov. 7-9 for the 2025 Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter, taking place on the legendary waters of Aransas Bay and Corpus Christi Bay out of Port Aransas, Texas.

Competition will run from 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. CT daily, with weigh-ins beginning at 2:45 p.m. The event will feature a catch-weigh-release format, with each team allowed to bring in two fish per day measuring between 20 and 28 inches. The accumulative three-day weight will determine which team takes the top spot.

Anglers will be competing for a $100,000 total purse, including a $75,000 first-place prize for the winning team.

“The Redfish Cup Championship has quickly become one of the most exciting events in competitive fishing,” said B.A.S.S Executive Director of Tournaments Hank Weldon. “The mix of redfish pros and Bassmaster Elite Series anglers creates a unique dynamic — you see different strategies, styles and strengths play out on one of the most scenic fisheries in the country. Port Aransas and the Texas coast always deliver an incredible stage for this event, and I can’t wait to see what the teams bring to the scales.”

Adding another layer of intrigue to the competition, Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series pros Easton Fothergill, Carl Jocumsen, Bryant Smith and Tyler Williams will step outside their usual freshwater arenas to take on the challenge of saltwater competition. Known for their precision, adaptability and relentless drive on the Bassmaster Elite Series trail, these anglers bring their big-stage experience and bass-fishing instincts to the flats of the Texas Gulf Coast, where redfish behavior and tidal patterns demand a whole new level of skill and strategy.

The 2025 field will feature a combination of Bassmaster Elite Series pros, the defending Bassmaster Redfish Cup champions and top performers from professional redfish circuits across the Gulf Coast:

Teams:

  • Easton Fothergill/Skeeter/Yamaha pro
  • Carl Jocumsen/Skeeter/Yamaha pro
  • Bryant Smith/Skeeter/Yamaha pro
  • Tyler Williams/Skeeter/Yamaha pro
  • Michael Frenette/Mark Robinson — Defending Champions
  • Austin Angel/Lance Reynolds — Professional Redfish League
  • Jeremy Reeves/Recie Tisdale — Elite Redfish Trail
  • Frank Risk/Bo Favre — Elite Redfish Trail
  • Ryan Rickard/Patrick Marsonek — Power-Pole Redfish Trail
  • Darren Frost/Tony Vercillo — Power-Pole Redfish Trail

Known for its pristine flats, diverse wildlife and strong fall redfish bite, Port Aransas will once again provide a world-class backdrop for one of the most competitive and scenic events in saltwater fishing.

Fans are invited to attend daily weigh-ins at Port Aransas Fisherman’s Wharf and experience the excitement in person. Whether on-site or online, fans can expect plenty of action, tight races and unforgettable moments as the best in the sport chase the coveted Redfish Cup trophy.

All of the action can be found live on Bassmaster.com as well as on Roku throughout the three-day event.

This event is being hosted by Port Aransas Fisherman’s Wharf.

2025 Redfish Cup Championship Title Sponsor: Yamaha
2025 Redfish Cup Championship Presenting Sponsor: Skeeter Boats

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 Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, 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, Bassmaster Junior Series, TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, 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.

by AnglersChannel

B.A.S.S. Nation Championship heads to La Crosse for “peak season”

B.A.S.S. Nation Championship heads to La Crosse for “peak season”

NationChampionship_MercuryLowrance_4c.png

La Crosse, Wis. — Pat Schlapper isn’t fishing the 2025 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Championship at the Upper Mississippi River presented by Lowrance, but he’s quite likely one of the people most excited to see the prestigious event being held in his home state.

Schlapper, a 42-year-old Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series pro from Eleva, Wis., knows the importance of this tournament, having won the 2020 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship on Alabama’s Pickwick Lake. That victory earned him entry into the Bassmaster Elite Series, helped get him into four of the past five Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classics presented by Under Armour and gave him the chance to notch a pair of Elite Series victories earlier this year — the MAXAM Tire Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River and, you guessed it, the Pro-Guide Batteries Bassmaster Elite held in La Crosse in August.

So, Schlapper is thrilled to have the best B.A.S.S. Nation anglers from 48 states and seven other countries headed to his home water Oct. 22-25. Some 250 boaters and another 230 or so nonboaters are due to compete for a total cash purse of $223,000, not including paid tournament entry fees for 2026 and more that top anglers will claim.

The Top 3 anglers in this four-day derby will qualify for the 2026 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour when it’s held March 13-15 in Knoxville on the Tennessee River. The overall winner, like Schlapper a half-decade ago, will qualify for the Bassmaster Elite Series, too, which includes use of a “Nation’s Best” boat for the next tournament season and paid entry fees to all Elite events in 2026.

Schlapper said it’s natural that anglers unfamiliar with the Upper Mississippi River will look to his Elite victory in August for insight on how to fish the Championship.

He added, with a chuckle, that anyone doing so will be making a big mistake. That’s because the vast river plain in southwestern Wisconsin is a completely different fishery in August than it is in late October.

“A lot of people, having not fished here before, will be shocked by what they’ll see,” he said. “In most of the country, fall means tough fishing. But when you come up here this time of year, this is when the real hard-core anglers are excited. The weather’s cooler and most people are deer hunting or duck hunting. (At the) same time, the fish are big, fat and hungry. They’re easy to catch when you get around them.”

That’s the trick, though, the Wisconsin pro said — finding the bass on countless nook and crannies of the Mississippi. It’s no easy feat, even with competitors restricted to Pools 7, 8 and 9 and the various creeks, sloughs and such that shoot in all directions.

“The fish are gonna be concentrated in certain areas,” Schlapper predicted. “The guys got three days of practice and it’s a big field. I think there will be a lot of good bags, but a lot of people will struggle, too, if they don’t know about the river and how it changes. When we’re there in summer, the fish are more spread out. They’re not moving to a certain area. They’re out on big flats, mostly.

“In this tournament, I think there will be more dead water … it’s all about the shad bite now, but the biggest thing is knowing where the fish are going. You’ll probably see guys doing their research and winding up in some big community areas, but you might have 100 boats in those spots … I think the winner finds a niche spot. It’s either someone who knows where to look or someone who stumbles across it.”

Schlapper expects smallmouth bass to factor heavily in the tournament. He wouldn’t divulge how he’d fish smallies if he was competing, but he did say a 19-pound average over four days (76 pounds) is practically a must to win the Nation Championship.

“A one-day tournament this time of year, you’re looking at 20 to 23 or 24 pounds to win,” he said. “That’s a pretty high number for fall, but there’s a lot better fishing now than when we were there in the summer.”

For the record, Schlapper totaled 66-5 over four days in his Elite Series win on the Mississippi two months ago.

“It’s gonna be an eye-opener, I think,” he said, adding that he’s the guest speaker for the B.A.S.S. Nation banquet that precedes the tournament.

“I’m just excited to be around this type of event,” Schlapper said. “Five years ago, I was the guy watching from the outside, dreaming of getting in. Now, I’m fishing the Elite Series and have won a few tournaments. It shows there’s good competition across the board, and it proves there’s a chance for anyone to do some special things.”

The entire field will compete on Oct. 22-23, with the numbers trimmed to the Top 40 in both boater and nonboater categories on Oct. 24. The nonboater champ will be crowned after Day 3, with the winner claiming $10,000 cash. That angler, and the Top 10 in the boater division after Day 3, will advance to fish Championship Saturday on Oct. 25. Additional nonboaters whose weight is greater than anyone in the overall Top 10 from the boater division also will compete on the final day.

Takeoffs are scheduled to begin daily at 7:20 a.m. CT from Veterans Freedom Park, 1000 Boathouse Drive, in La Crosse. Weigh-ins will begin at 3:30 p.m. CT.

Daily coverage of the 2025 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Championship at Upper Mississippi River presented by Lowrance can be found on Bassmaster.com.

Explore La Crosse is hosting the week’s events.

2025 B.A.S.S. Nation Series Title Sponsor: Mercury

2025 B.A.S.S. Nation Series Presenting Sponsor: Lowrance

2025 B.A.S.S. Nation Series Platinum Sponsors: Progressive, Toyota
2025 B.A.S.S. Nation Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2025 B.A.S.S. Nation Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Triton Boats, VMC, Yokohama

 

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 Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, 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, Bassmaster Junior Series, TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, 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.

by AnglersChannel

Top 10 Teams at Lake Dardanelle Earn Automatic Qualification into 2026 Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops

SAN ANTONIO, TX (October 15, 2025) – This past weekend, the Association of Collegiate Anglers contested its second event of the 2025-26 season on the Bass Pro Shops Collegiate Bass Fishing Series. The AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open saw more than 280 elite college teams compete for more than $20,000 in prizes and contingencies, as well as double points to count towards the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia. Additionally, the Top 10 teams in the final tournament standings earned automatic qualification into the 2026 Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops.

Here is a look at those Top 10 teams from tournament competition at Lake Dardanelle in Russellville, AR:

  1. Bryce DiMauro & Tripp Berlinsky: University of North Alabama
  2. Miles Smith & William Tew: LSU-Shreveport
  3. Thomas Turnbull & Dylan Sorrells: University of Montevallo
  4. Alex Wood & Joe Williams: Missouri State University
  5. Maxwell Trotter & Jack Stephens: McKendree University
  6. Carsen Adcock & Will Powell: LSU-Shreveport
  7. Gabrien Amburgey & Trent Allen: Campbellsville University
  8. Mason Carden & Grant Laney: University of Montevallo
  9. Michael Witherup & Conner Bower: University of Montevallo
  10. Mason Laurin & Sam Sutter: Drury University

Two schools earned multiple qualifications into the 2026 ACA National Championship this past weekend. 2nd ranked Montevallo earned three automatic qualification spots, and 14th ranked LSUS gained two.

Being that the AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open was the second ACA event of the season, a total of 20 automatic bids into the 2026 Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops have been earned. Montevallo leads the way, for most additional boats qualified, with a total of four. Only three other schools have earned multiple qualifications: Tarleton State (3), Carson-Newman (2), LSUS (2).

The 2026 Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops is set to take place at Pickwick Lake in Florence, AL on May 21-22. One more ACA event remains for schools to earn additional automatic qualifications into the prestigious 200 boat field. The Top 15 at the 2026 Hartwell Slam will secure their spot in the 21st ACA National Championship.

View the Championship Qualification Criteria.

by AnglersChannel

Oxford Readies for MLF’s Folds of Honor Patriot Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches

Third event of MLF Fishing Clash Team Series to take place over six days next week at mystery fisheries

OXFORD, Ala. (Oct. 15, 2025) – The third Major League Fishing (MLF) Fishing Clash Team Series Presented by Bass Pro Shops event of the 2025 season is set to take place next week, Oct. 22-27, in Oxford, Alabama – the Folds of Honor Patriot Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches.

Hosted by the City of Oxford, the Folds of Honor Patriot Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches is the third of four Fishing Clash Team series events in 2025. In keeping with traditional MLF Cup protocols, Oxford, Alabama, was not revealed to Team Series competitors until six weeks prior to the start of the tournament. All fishable waters within 60 miles of Oxford 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.

"The City of Oxford is excited to welcome Major League Fishing as our city is honored to play host to the Fishing Clash Team Series next week, Oct. 22-27,” said Oxford Mayor Alton Craft. “The Patriot Cup features 12 two-man teams of Bass Pro Tour anglers competing with the unique element of daily surprise fishing locations, which provide an exciting and family-friendly program featuring one of our area’s favorite sports – fishing. We look forward to Oxford not only being a backdrop for this great event, but also for MLF to become intertwined with our city’s character and spirit.”

For the second consecutive season, Folds of Honor was named the title sponsor of the Folds of Honor Patriot Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches, reinforcing the organization’s mission at the intersection of sport and service. Since 2007, Folds of Honor has provided life-changing scholarships to the spouses and children of America’s fallen or disabled military and first responders, ensuring that sacrifice is met with opportunity. The partnership is a natural fit, uniting Folds of Honor’s spirit of patriotism and purpose with MLF’s dedication to competition, community and giving back.

Fans are encouraged to follow the Folds of Honor Patriot Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches online throughout the day on the MLFNOW!® live stream. Every minute of every event will still stream in full on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MLF and MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) apps, RFD-TV Now, Game & Fish TV, and Rumble, with the final period each day being broadcast live nationwide on RFD-TV. Post-produced episodes of the Fishing Clash Team Series will start in January 2026 on Outdoor Channel.

The 12 teams of professional anglers that will compete in the Folds of Honor Patriot Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches in Oxford, Alabama, are:

Team 7Brew Coffee:
Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla.
Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala.

Team B&W Trailer Hitches:
James Elam, Tulsa, Okla.
Alton Jones Sr., Lorena, Texas

Team BUBBA:
Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn.
Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C.

Team Ferguson:
Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan
Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz.

Team Fishing Clash:
Bradley Roy, Lancaster, Ky.
Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala.

Team Knighten:
Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas
Jake Lawrence, Paris, Tenn.

Team Kubota:
Justin Cooper, Zwolle, La.
Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif.

Team Lucas Oil:
Luke Clausen, Spokane, Wash.
Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn.

Team O’Reilly Auto Parts:
Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala.
Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn.

Team Smokey Mountain:
Brandon Coulter, Knoxville, Tenn.
John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky.

Team Star brite:
Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark.
Marshall Hughes, Hemphill, Texas

Team YETI:
Colby Miller, Elmer, La.
Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C.

The MLF Fishing Clash Team Series Folds of Honor Patriot Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches will also air on Outdoor Channel as six two-hour original episodes each Saturday afternoon starting March 28, 2026. The complete television schedule for the Fishing Clash Team Series on Outdoor Channel will be posted at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Proud sponsors of the MLF Fishing Clash Team Series include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Boat Technologies, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, E3 Sport Apparel, Epic Baits, Ferguson, Fishing Clash, Knighten Industries, Kubota, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, NITRO Boats, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Smokey Mountain Caffeinated Pouches, Star brite, Toyota, YETI and Zenni.

For complete details and updated information on the MLF Fishing Clash Team Series, 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, Outdoor Channel, VICE, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV and Game & Fish TV, 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 20 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.

by AnglersChannel

Alabama Bass Trail Team Series Set for 2025 $50,000 NO Entry Fee Championship at Wheeler Lake

The Alabama Bass Trail Team Series Championship, presented by Phoenix Boats, will award $50,000 to the winning team at its highly anticipated NO entry fee event scheduled for October 17–18, 2025, on Wheeler Lake in Decatur-Morgan County.

This two-day competition serves as the finale of the Alabama Bass Trail (ABT) regular team series season, featuring a total prize pool of $100,000. Wheeler Lake, home lake of the Alabama Bass Trail, will host the Championship for the second time since the tournament trail's inception. The event returns to Wheeler Lake a decade after the 2015 Championship, where a record was set for the heaviest winning weight of 41.41 pounds in an ABT Championship event—a record that still stands today.

The ABT North and South Divisions Championship roster includes 170 teams, featuring the top 5 couples and top 5 student teams from this season. These highly competitive amateur anglers, representing 10 different states across the US, will compete for the prestigious title of 2025 Alabama Bass Trail Champions.

"This is a championship that has been ten years in the making," said Kay Donaldson, Program Director for the Alabama Bass Trail. "I am excited to host 340 anglers in what promises to be an exceptional showcase of competitive fishing."

Competitors will have the opportunity to secure additional contingency and bonus prizes from major sponsors including Phoenix Boats, AMFirst, Garmin, TH Marine, Power-Pole, Pro-Guide Batteries, Yamaha, and Halo Fishing, adding significant value beyond the substantial cash purse.

The Alabama Bass Trail, a key initiative of the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association, has earned recognition for its significant contributions to the state's tourism industry. Decatur Morgan Tourism named it the 2024 Event of the Year, highlighting its impact and popularity. Since its inception, the Alabama Bass Trail has generated over $120 million in tourism revenue for Alabama, establishing itself as a premier fishing destination.

The momentum continues into 2026, with all three divisions already sold out: the Alabama Bass Trail North Division, South Division, and the ABT100 Series, which features teams made up of professional and highly competitive anglers. The regular team series sold out in under 10 minutes, creating a waiting list for the upcoming season.

Live coverage will air on both days of competition, October 17–18, from 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM CST, with live weigh-ins scheduled for 3:00 PM CST. Viewers can tune in via YouTube at Alabama Bass Trail TV, the Alabama Bass Trail Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/AlabamaBassTrail, or by visiting www.alabamabasstrail.org.

For more information about the ABT or the Tournament Series, visit www.alabamabasstrail.org or contact Angela Cross at (855) 9FISHAL.

 

About Alabama Bass Trail

The Alabama Bass Trail is a program of the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association. Its mission is to promote Alabama as a year-round fishing destination, preserve natural resources for generations to come, and educate high school and college-aged students to be good stewards of natural resources. The 13 bass fishing lakes consist of Lake Guntersville, Wheeler Lake, Pickwick Lake, Lewis Smith Lake, Neely Henry Lake, Weiss Lake, Lake Martin, Lay Lake, Logan Martin Lake, Lake Jordan, Alabama River, Lake Eufaula, and the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta. For more information, visit www.alabamabasstrail.org.

2025 Alabama Bass Trail Sponsors
Phoenix Boats, AMFirst, Landers McLarty Chevrolet, McGraw-Webb Chevrolet, Rapala, VMC, Crush City, Buffalo Rock, Academy Sports + Outdoors, Jack's, Garmin, Lew's, Strike King, Southern Protection Agency, Alabama State Parks, Halo Fishing, Piranh02, Thompson CAT, Snag Proof, NetBait, Bait Fuel, TH Marine Supplies, Power-Pole, Pro Guide Batteries, American Trailer Rental, Yamaha, Anheuser-Busch, American Baitworks, E3 Sports Apparel, FishAlababa.org, Sweet Home Alabama, Alabama Mountain Lakes.

Media Contact: Angela Cross (855) 9FISHAL www.alabamabasstrail.org

by AnglersChannel

Tennessee’s Lawson Takes Top Honor at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional on Lake Murray Presented by Mando Deodorant

Georgia’s Turner Claims Co-Angler Division

COLUMBIA, S.C. (Oct. 13, 2025) – Boater Landon Lawson of Jonesborough, Tennessee, caught a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 47 pounds, 7 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine Regional on Lake Murray Presented by Mando Deodorant . The tournament, which was hosted by Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism, concluded Saturday. For his win, Lawson earned a prize package valued at $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200hp Mercury or Suzuki outboard.

The Lake Murray event served as the Regional championship for the BFL North Carolina and Savannah River divisions. The field included the top 60 boaters and co-anglers based on point standings, plus each division’s tournament winners.

Lawson practiced for the Lake Murray tournament for two days and said he caught 16 or 17 pounds a day but wasn’t really on the bass well enough to be confident. On the first day of competition, he asked his co-angler if there were any spots he wanted to try fishing.

“We ran to his place, and the wind was blowing on it,” Lawson said. “I had never fished this spot on Lake Murray. I had fished around it and on both sides of it but had never fished this spot. I just took off Scoping, and there were big ones swimming everywhere.

“I hadn’t caught anything in practice before 10 o’clock, but on Day 1 I caught 22 pounds before 9:30,” Lawson added. “Every fish wasn’t big, but every one out of five would be a big one.”

Lawson said he rotated baits on the mid-lake spot between a Rapala Crush City Freeloader and a drop-shot rig, fished in 15 to 30 feet of water. After his early limit, he spent the rest of his day searching for other areas that might be productive for the tournament. Lawson said he didn’t find anything of interest to him that had the potential of his Day 1 spot – he couldn’t seem to catch a bass that weighed more than 3½ pounds.

“On Day 2 I hunkered down in that same spot and just sat,” Lawson said. “I just let the wind blow me and fished as many cane piles and brush piles as I could.

“I know that lake is full of big ones, and a 27-pound bag can be had there,” Lawson went on to say. “This time of year it’s a little tougher. On the second day, around 3 o’clock, I had a 3.60-pound fish in the livewell along with a 5-pounder and a couple of 4-pounders to go with them. I ended up hooking one that jumped four feet in the air, and it was as thick as a basketball. I looked at my co-angler and said, ‘This is her. This is the ballgame.’ I landed her and she weighed 5-something. It was incredible.”

For his victory, Lawson now qualifies to compete in the 2026 Phoenix BFL All-American.

Jeff Knight of Lancaster, South Carolina, won the Berkley Big Bass Boater award and $1,000 for landing a bass that weighed 7 pounds, 5 ounces – the biggest of the tournament.

Kaleb Turner of Hartwell, Georgia, won the co-angler division Saturday after bringing a two-day total of six bass weighing 17 pounds, 1 ounce, to the scale. Turner earned the top co-angler award of $15,461 for his victory.

Trevor Lewis of Wake Forest, North Carolina, caught a bass that weighed 6 pounds, 14 ounces, to win the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award worth $500.

The 2025 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine was a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 134 events throughout the season – five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 60 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying tournament winners, now advance to one of 12 BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top three, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the 43rd annual BFL All-American. The BFL All-American will take place May 28-30, 2026, at Lake Murray in Columbia, South Carolina, and is hosted by the Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board.

Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Deep Dive App, E3 Sport Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Li Time Batteries, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PirahnO2, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.

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

About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery, Outdoor Channel, VICE, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV and Game & Fish TV, 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 20 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.

by AnglersChannel

Pell City’s Gossett Wins at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional on Logan Martin Lake Presented by Mando Deodorant

Alabama’s Graham Claims Co-Angler Division

LINCOLN, Ala. (Oct. 13, 2025) – Boater Zeke Gossett of Pell City, Alabama, caught a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 27 pounds, 6 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine Regional on Logan Martin Lake Presented by Mando Deodorant . The tournament, which was hosted by the City of Lincoln, concluded Saturday. For his win, Gossett earned a prize package valued at $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200hp Mercury or Suzuki outboard.

The Logan Martin Lake event served as the Regional championship for the BFL Bama and Choo divisions. The field included the top 60 boaters and co-anglers based on point standings, plus each division’s tournament winners. The top three boaters and co-anglers have also now qualified for the 2026 BFL All-American.

Gossett said he approached Logan Martin with three key baits. Early in the day Gossett said he fished a Strike King KVD Sexy Dawg topwater and a black buzzbait down seawalls and docks in 2 to 3 feet of water. Later in the day Gossett switched to an electric shad-colored 3.75 Strike King Rage Swimmer swimbait, targeting rock piles in 10 feet of water.

“The first morning I had a really good start and a little over 12 pounds, which as tough as it’s been fishing, that’s a good start for this lake,” Gossett said. “Then I went through a big lull from 10 o’clock to 1 o’clock, but I made a key cull late in the day – a 3 pounder.

“Day 2 was just about the same story,” Gossett went on to say. “Then, around 2:30, I made back-to-back casts and caught a 2½-pounder and a 3¼ for two last-minute culls on the swimbait on a rock pile.”

Gossett said his home-lake experience led him to think that 30 pounds would be needed to win the two-day Regional.

“This lake has had a lot of pressure lately, so I knew it was going to fish tough,” Gossett said. “I didn’t think I had enough for the win, I thought I needed at least one more good bite each day. So this is surprising, but it feels really good to get this done on my home lake. I put in a lot of work for this tournament and practiced very hard. I knew I had to keep my head down, and I usually do better in grinder tournaments, anyway, so this one felt really good to come out on top.”

The top three boaters who qualified for the 2026 Phoenix BFL All-American finished:

1st:        Zeke Gossett, Pell City, Ala., 10 bass, 27-6, $50,100
2nd:       James Willoughby, Gulfport, Miss., 10 bass, 26-12, $7,623
3rd:       Tom Frink, Southside, Ala., 10 bass, 24-0, $4,392 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)

Rounding out the top 10 boaters were:

4th:        Ben Foster, Owens Cross Roads, Ala., 10 bass, 23-2, $2,399
5th:        Brandon McGinnis, Pell City, Ala., 10 bass, 23-1, $1,653
6th:        Michael Smith, Andalusia, Ala., 10 bass, 22-13, $1,504
7th:        Alex Hester, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 22-9, $1,355
8th:        Stihl Smith, Alexander, Ala., 10 bass, 22-7, $1,206
9th:        Matthew Bennett, Eclectic, Ala., 10 bass, 22-6, $1,056
10th:     Hunter Davidson, Reform, Ala., 10 bass, 22-2, $982

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Michael Smith of Andalusia, Alabama, won the Berkley Big Bass Boater award and $1,000 for landing a bass that weighed 4 pounds, 15 ounces – the biggest of the tournament.

Rodney Graham of Childersburg, Alabama, won the co-angler division Saturday after bringing a two-day total of six bass weighing 14 pounds, 4 ounces, to the scale. Graham earned the top co-angler award of $14,999 for his victory.

The top three co-anglers who qualified for the 2026 Phoenix BFL All-American finished:

1st:        Rodney Graham, Childersburg, Ala., six bass, 14-4, $14,999
2nd:       Bejamin Roop, Tullahoma, Tenn., six bass, 14-3, $3,807
3rd:       Mason Franklin, McCalla, Ala., six bass, 13-7, $1,991

Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers were:

4th:        Randy Wiggins, Birmingham, Ala., six bass, 13-1, $1,195
5th:        Michael Pate, Dadeville, Ala., six bass, 12-10, $822
6th:        Stuart Vitollo, Vance, Ala., six bass, 12-5, $748
7th:        Darren Merhoff, Killen, Ala., six bass, 12-4, $673
8th:        Gary Marlowe, Montgomery, Ala., six bass, 12-0, $698
9th:        Jason Argo, Trinity, Ala., six bass, 11-9, $524
10th:     Pop Catalin, Cookeville, Tenn., six bass, 11-7, $487

Randy Wiggins of Birmingham, Alabama, caught a bass that weighed 4 pounds, 7 ounces, to win the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award worth $500.

The 2025 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine was a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 134 events throughout the season – five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 60 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying tournament winners, now advance to one of 12 BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top three, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the 43rd annual BFL All-American. The BFL All-American will take place May 28-30, 2026, at Lake Murray in Columbia, South Carolina, and is hosted by the Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board.

Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Deep Dive App, E3 Sport Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Li Time Batteries, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PirahnO2, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.

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

About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery, Outdoor Channel, VICE, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV and Game & Fish TV, 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 20 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.

by AnglersChannel

Murray’s Berger Dominates Field for Second-Consecutive Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional on Kentucky-Barkley Lakes Presented by Mando Deodorant

Kentucky’s Kendall Tops Co-Angler Division

PARIS, Tenn. (Oct. 13, 2025) – Boater Justin Berger of Murray, Kentucky, caught a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 41 pounds even to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine Regional on Kentucky-Barkley Lake Presented by Mando Deodorant . The tournament, which was hosted by the Henry County Tourism Authority, concluded Saturday. For his win, Berger earned a prize package valued at $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200hp Mercury or Suzuki outboard.

The Kentucky-Barkley Lake event served as the Regional championship for the BFL Mississippi and Hoosier divisions. The field included the top 60 boaters and co-anglers based on point standings, plus each division’s tournament winners. The top three boaters and co-anglers have also now qualified for the 2026 BFL All-American.

Berger entered the Regional event just weeks after winning the Sept. 6-7 BFL Super Tournament on Kentucky Lake.

“My goal during practice was to find topwater fish,” Berger said. “This time of year, if you can find a couple of places that’s got them, you can win. Period. So, if I could find one spot per day, it would have been the best practice ever. And in five days, I got seven bites. Which was not good.”

Berger said the first day of the tournament provided ‘super cold’ air temperatures and no wind, but he did not abandon his topwater approach for winning fish.

“I was not feeling good at all going into this tournament,” Berger said. “I was just going to have fun. I went through all five of my best topwater spots and never had a bite the first day. So I went to different subsurface baits, and still nothing. A complete ghost town.”

Berger said he moved the boat a couple of hundred yards away from one of his topwater spots and made some Scoping casts to clear his mind and gather his thoughts. He hooked into a couple of 4-pounders in a matter of 15 minutes. Another move provided a 17-inch keeper and a 4¼-pound bass. Yet another relocation provided another 17-incher.

“I had salvaged my day by 1:30, and I told my co-angler I had enough weight to give myself a chance for the second day,” Berger said. “So, for the next 2½ hours I fished new water just trying to find something for the next day, and never got another bite. I had five keeper bites on Friday and boated them all.”

The second day of competition provided warmer weather, and Berger said he wanted to run his same topwater spots in hopes that bite would pay off.

“On the very first spot my co-angler caught a 3½-pound fish,” Berger said. “It just demolished his topwater bait. So, I took that as a good sign.”

Berger’s topwater spots put two 3½-pound bass in the livewell and boosted his confidence. Berger soon boated a 3-pounder, and a smallmouth he estimated to be 5½ to 6 pounds followed. Berger said he wanted one more bass to fill his limit for a chance to make a strong showing in the tournament and secure an All-American berth.

“Not five casts later I caught a 5½-pound largemouth,” Berger said. “At 10 a.m. I had a really good bag. I couldn’t  have scripted it any better. I knew I was going to the All-American at that point. That’s all I wanted. I wanted to go back to the All-American. It is such a cool event and I’m so excited that I will be there again next year.”

The top three boaters who qualified for the 2026 Phoenix BFL All-American finished:

1st:        Justin Berger, Murray, Ky., 10 bass, 41-0, $50,000
2nd:       Matteo Turano, Puryear, Tenn., 10 bass, 36-0, $7,173 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
3rd:       Gary Singleton, Dickson, Tenn., 10 bass, 34-10, $3,419

Rounding out the top 10 boaters were:

4th:        Colton Boelkes, Roscoe, Ill., 10 bass, 34-9, $3,158
5th:        Jackson Bennett, Knoxville, Tenn., eight bass, 25-5, $1,527
6th:        Skip Howell, Okolona, Miss., eight bass, 25-3, $1,401
7th:        Nick Uebelhor, Jasper, Ind., seven bass, 24-15, $1,274
8th:        Jordan Hartman, Benton, Ky., seven bass, 24-10, $1,148
9th:        Brian Funkhouser, Bloomington, Ind., eight bass, 24-2, $1,022
10th:     John Anderson, Bay Springs, Miss., eight bass, 24-1, $958

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Colton Boelkes of Roscoe, Illinois, won the Berkley Big Bass Boater award and $1,000 for landing a bass that weighed 6 pounds, 2 ounces – the biggest of the tournament.

Brady Kendall of Paducah, Kentucky, won the co-angler division Saturday after bringing a two-day total of four bass weighing 13 pounds, 5 ounces, to the scale. Kendall earned the top co-angler award of $12,790 for his victory.

The top three co-anglers who qualified for the 2026 Phoenix BFL All-American finished:

1st:        Brady Kendall, Paducah, Ky., four bass, 13-5, $12,790
2nd:       Jojo Walsh, Lyles, Tenn., four bass, 12-14, $3,278
3rd:       Larry Stewart Jr., Brandon, Miss., four bass, 11-14, $1,701

Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers were:

4th:        Joe Cornelius, Corinth, Miss., five bass, 11-13, $1,070
5th:        Johnny Suratt, Lawrenceburg, Tenn., four bass, 11-5, $755
6th:        Tim Rampaul, Dickson, Tenn., four bass, 11-1, $792
7th:        Judd Linette, Jasper, Ind., four bass, 10-1, $629
8th:        Cory Kaiser, Lanesville, Ind., three bass, 9-10, $566
9th:        Kilpatrick Thompson, Carrollton, Miss., three bass, 9-8, $503
10th:     Peyton Nolen, Lexington, Tenn., four bass, 9-0, $471

Steve Hammack of Caledonia, Mississippi, caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 10 ounces, to win the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award worth $500.

The 2025 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine was a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 134 events throughout the season – five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 60 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying tournament winners, now advance to one of 12 BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top three, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the 43rd annual BFL All-American. The BFL All-American will take place May 28-30, 2026, at Lake Murray in Columbia, South Carolina, and is hosted by the Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board.

Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Deep Dive App, E3 Sport Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Li Time Batteries, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PirahnO2, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.

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

About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery, Outdoor Channel, VICE, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV and Game & Fish TV, 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 20 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.

by AnglersChannel

Harrah’s Teply Goes ‘Old School’ for Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional on Grand Lake Presented by Mando Deodorant

Oklahoma’s Stallings Claims Co-Angler Division

GROVE, Okla. (Oct. 13, 2025) – Boater Joshua Teply of Harrah, Oklahoma, caught a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 38 pounds, 14 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine Regional on Grand Lake Presented by Mando Deodorant . The tournament, which was hosted by City of Grove, wrapped up on Saturday. For his win, Teply earned a prize package valued at $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200hp Mercury or Suzuki outboard.

The Grand Lake event served as the Regional championship for the BFL Ozark and Okie divisions. The field included the top 60 boaters and co-anglers based on point standings, plus each division’s tournament winners. The top three boaters and co-anglers have also now qualified for the 2026 BFL All-American.

Boat malfunctions limited Teply’s practice time on Grand, but he didn’t let that hamper his chances for the tournament.

“Everybody is on Grand this time of the year,” Teply said. “I had an idea of what was going on. Fishing is pretty simple to me right now, and I caught a lot of fish each day.

“For the most part I stayed in the mid-lake region and covered a ton of water,” Teply added. “Once I found fish I stayed put for as long as I kept catching fish.”

Teply, who mentioned he was very adept with forward-facing sonar, said he concentrated his efforts offshore and fairly deep in 25 feet of water. He said the rest of the field seemed to be focusing on shallow water, and he had the depths to himself during the tournament.

“I look for whatever looks good when I’m fishing with the sonar,” Teply said. “Sometimes it’s rocks, sometimes it’s trees that have floated in, sometimes it’s brushpiles or schools of fish. I just look for anything that looks good. I tell everybody, ‘Look for stop signs for bass.’ I look for places with not a lot of cover. But then when you do find a piece of cover, it is a key piece of cover with a group of fish on it.”

Teply said he doesn’t use sonar to pick out individual fish on his electronics. Rather, he uses it as a tool to locate structure, then approaches the fish with a self-described ‘old-school’ technique.

“I throw a big ¾-ounce brown and purple Destroyer jig and a big worm,” Teply said. “I like a redbug Zoom Magnum Ol Monster or a Zoom Magnum Trick Worm, with a ½-ounce tungsten unpegged weight and a big, heavy flippin’ hook on 22-pound Sunline Shooter . Big rod, big line, big hook, big bait. Just set the hook and flip ‘em in the boat - none of this netting stuff.

“I caught fish shaking a minnow this week, but they weren’t the right ones,” Teply added. “I just couldn’t catch the right ones on it. The bait had to be fished on the bottom and fished very slowly. I had to quit looking at that screen and just drag that bait.”

The top three boaters who qualified for the 2026 Phoenix BFL All-American finished:

1st:        Joshua Teply, Harrah, Okla., 10 bass, 38-14, $50,000
2nd:       Derek Felton, Shell Knob, Mo., 10 bass, 36-0, $9,268 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
3rd:       Brandon Ackerson, Afton, Okla., 10 bass, 32-0, $4,422

Rounding out the top 10 boaters were:

4th:        Cody Miller, Shell Knob, Mo., 10 bass, 30-0, $3,783
5th:        David Youngblood, Owasso, Okla., 10 bass, 29-14, $1,814
6th:        Jeremy Johnson, Sapulpa, Okla., 10 bass, 28-14, $1,640
7th:        Kolton Dauber, Osage Beach, Mo., 10 bass, 28-6, $1,466
8th:        William Gaddis, Afton, Okla., 10 bass, 28-5, $1,293
9th:        Micah Littlejohn, Grove, Okla., 10 bass, 27-14, $1,119
10th:     Scott Ross, Claremore, Okla., 10 bass, 27-10, $1,032

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Cody Miller of Shell Knob, Missouri, won the Berkley Big Bass Boater award and $1,000 for landing a bass that weighed 6 pounds, 11 ounces – the biggest of the tournament.

Scott Stallings of Glencoe, Oklahoma, won the co-angler division Saturday after bringing a two-day total of six bass weighing 19 pounds, 8 ounces, to the scale. Stallings earned the top co-angler award of $17,421 for his victory.

The top three co-anglers who qualified for the 2026 Phoenix BFL All-American finished:

1st:        Scott Stallings, Glencoe, Okla., six bass, 19-8, $17,421
2nd:       Jordan Clayton, Wichita Falls, Texas, six bass, 17-0, $4,382
3rd:       Mark Taylor, Oklahoma City, Okla., six bass, 15-14, $2,309

Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers were:

4th:        Tad Harp, Cave Springs, Ark., six bass, 15-6, $1,340
5th:        Eian Odle, Willow Springs, Mo., six bass, 14-13, $905
6th:        Caleb Arterberry, Republic, Mo., six bass, 14-8, $818
7th:        Kaleb O’Brien, Wagoner, Okla., six bass, 14-7, $731
8th:        Steve Cummins, Bartlesville, Okla., six bass, 14-6, $645
9th:        J.P. Northcutt, Grove, Okla., six bass, 14-4, $558
10th:     Clay Tresler, Fayetteville, Ark., six bass, 14-3, $514

Scott Stallings of Glencoe, Oklahoma, and Donnie Agnew of Farmington, Missouri, each caught a bass that weighed 3 pounds, 12 ounces, to split the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award worth $500.

The 2025 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine was a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 134 events throughout the season – five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 60 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying tournament winners, now advance to one of 12 BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top three, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the 43rd annual BFL All-American. The BFL All-American will take place May 28-30, 2026, at Lake Murray in Columbia, South Carolina, and is hosted by the Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board.

Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Deep Dive App, E3 Sport Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Li Time Batteries, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PirahnO2, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.

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

About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery, Outdoor Channel, VICE, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV and Game & Fish TV, 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 20 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.

by AnglersChannel

McMinnville’s Bouldin Posts Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional on Douglas Lake Presented by Mando Deodorant

ennessee’s Roberson-Barber Takes Co-Angler Division

DANDRIDGE, Tenn. (Oct. 13, 2025) – Boater Hunter Bouldin of McMinnville, Tennessee, caught a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 30 pounds, 12 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine Regional on Douglas Lake Presented by Mando Deodorant . The tournament, which was hosted by Visit Jefferson County TN, concluded Saturday. For his win, Bouldin earned a prize package valued at $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200hp Mercury or Suzuki outboard.

The Douglas Lake event served as the Regional championship for the BFL Mountain and Music City divisions. The field included the top 60 boaters and co-anglers based on point standings, plus each division’s tournament winners. The top three boaters and co-anglers have also now qualified for the 2026 BFL All-American.

“I started off fishing shallow, specifically throwing topwater,” Bouldin said. “I caught one close to 3 pounds right out of the gate. I kept fishing around and had a bit of bad luck when I broke two off back-to-back. While I was throwing the topwater I was looking for brush, because I didn’t see any evidence of a good floating-bait bite.”

A jig thrown to brush produced a 3-pounder for Bouldin, so he changed his tactics and the day picked up for him. However, on the second day he didn’t stick to the jig early in the day.

“I fished some schools and some topwater to start out with, and something wasn’t feeling right,” Bouldin said. “Then I went to a brush pile and lost three good ones out of it. I felt like I had blown my opportunity right there. Four fish out of one brush pile, and I only landed one of them.”

Bouldin said he then ran the lake looking for schooling fish but ended up returning to the brush pile. The brush pile didn’t produce for him, but a nearby rock outcropping held a 4-pounder that ended up being the largest bass Bouldin weighed.

“So, I just stayed in that one holler and fished that brush, and for whatever reason that one little holler was just loaded with good, healthy fish,” Bouldin said.

The top three boaters who qualified for the 2026 Phoenix BFL All-American finished:

1st:        Hunter Bouldin, McMinnville, Tenn., 10 bass, 30-12, $50,000
2nd:       Tim Smiley, White Pine, Tenn., 10 bass, 28-4, $6,884
3rd:       Cody Mackie, McMinnville, Tenn., 10 bass, 28-0, $3,115

Rounding out the top 10 boaters were:

4th:        Wyatt Pearman, Hodgenville, Ky., 10 bass, 27-11, $2,607 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
5th:        Drew Boggs, Lebanon, Tenn., 10 bass, 26-14, $1,453
6th:        Rex Reagan, Livingston, Tenn., 10 bass, 26-7, $1,342
7th:        Levi Kohl, Edinburg, Ill., 10 bass, 25-4, $1,232
8th:        Steven Miracle, White Pine, Tenn., 10 bass, 25-2, $1,120
9th:        Grant Meisenhelter, Decatur, Ill., 10 bass, 24-5, $1,003
10th:     Timothy Wacker, Clinton, Tenn., 10 bass, 24-0, $944

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Tim Smiley of White Pine, Tennessee, won the Berkley Big Bass Boater award and $1,000 for landing a bass that weighed 4 pounds, 15 ounces – the biggest of the tournament.

Aiden Roberson-Barber of Livingston, Tennessee, won the co-angler division Saturday after bringing a two-day total of six bass weighing 16 pounds, 4 ounces, to the scale. Roberson-Barber earned the top co-angler award of $11,237 for his victory.

The top three co-anglers who qualified for the 2026 Phoenix BFL All-American finished:

1st:        Aiden Roberson-Barber, Livingston, Tenn., six bass, 16-4, $11,237
2nd:       Dustin Forrest, Knob Lick, Ky., six bass, 14-12, $3,430
3rd:       Mike Swetland, Tamaroa, Ill., six bass, 14-7, $1,545

Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers were:

4th:        Blake Whittaker, Cookeville, Tenn., six bass, 13-11, $991
5th:        Brad Barton, Middlesboro, Ky., six bass, 13-2, $714
6th:        Tracy Helton, London, Ky., six bass, 12-14, $659
7th:        Wayne Crouch, Jamestown, Tenn., five bass, 12-14, $753
8th:        Chesney Cameron, Rutledge, Tenn., five bass, 12-12, $548
9th:        Gregory Goodwin, Louisville, Ky., six bass, 12-6, $491
10th:     Trevor Medley, Sparta, Tenn., five bass, 12-6, $462

Dustin Forrest of Knob Lick, Kentucky, caught a bass that weighed 3 pounds, 10 ounces, to win the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award worth $500.

The 2025 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine was a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 134 events throughout the season – five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 60 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying tournament winners, now advance to one of 12 BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top three, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the 43rd annual BFL All-American. The BFL All-American will take place May 28-30, 2026, at Lake Murray in Columbia, South Carolina, and is hosted by the Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board.

Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Deep Dive App, E3 Sport Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Li Time Batteries, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PirahnO2, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.

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

About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery, Outdoor Channel, VICE, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV and Game & Fish TV, 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 20 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.

by AnglersChannel

Berlinsky & DiMauro from 3rd Ranked UNA Rally to Win the AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open

RUSSELLVILLE, AR (October 12, 2025) – The final day of tournament action at Lake Dardanelle for the AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open proved to be extremely exciting and competitive as some teams made significant moves in the standings.  On Day 2, the full field competed again on the famed Arkansas River fishery located in Russellville, AR, vying for their share of the more than $20,000 in prizes and contingencies up for grabs, as well as double points to count towards the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia.

Bryce DiMauro and Tripp Berlinsky from 3rd ranked UNA rallied from 16th place on Day 1 to win the 2025 AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open.  They weighed in a five-bass limit for 17.76 pounds on the final day to finish with a two day total weight of 33.77 pounds.  The victory awarded them a $1,000 Bass Pro Shops gift card, $1,000 Garmin credit, $1,000 AFTCO gift card, Rapala tackle package, 2 Bajio Sunglasses, 2 Turtlebox speakers, and 2 Trailer Valet jacks.  They also claimed a $250 ACA logo contingency.  Bryce and Tripp won the AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open last year, making them back-to-back winners of this event title.

Finishing in 2nd are Miles Smith and William Tew from 14th ranked LSU-Shreveport.  Like the winners in front of them, they too made a big jump to finish near the top of the standings.  The pair was in 14th after Day 1.  Weighing in 17.19 pounds on the final day, combined with their Day 1 weight, they finished the event with a total of 33.32 pounds.  The 2nd place finish earned them a $700 Bass Pro Shops gift card, $600 AFTCO gift card, Rapala tackle package, 2 Bajio Sunglasses, and 2 Trailer Valet jacks.  Miles claimed both of the Garmin Tournament Rewards for an additional $1,000.

Rounding out the Top 3 are Thomas Turnbull and Dylan Sorrells from 2nd ranked University of Montevallo.  The pair entered today in 7th place and weighed in 15.48 pounds to jump to 3rd.  With a two-day total weight of 32.48 pounds, the Montevallo anglers earned a $550 Bass Pro Shops gift card, $300 AFTCO gift card, Rapala tackle package, 2 Bajio Sunglasses, and 2 Trailer Valet hitches.

View the final results.

23 of the Top 25 ranked teams in the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia competed in this weekend’s AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open.  The University of Montevallo placed three teams in the Top 10: 3rd, 8th, and 9th.  LSU-Shreveport was the other school to place multiple teams in the Top 10 with two: 2nd, 6th.  The ACA will update the standings to college fishing’s only all-encompassing National Rankings system later this week.

The ACA would like to extend a special thank you to Russellville Tourism for the hospitality this week and helping to make this event possible.  Also, a thanks to the staff at Lake Dardanelle State Park for their assistance on-site.

by AnglersChannel

Arkansas Tech Anglers Mat Higby & John Foster Case Take Day 1 Lead at AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open

RUSSELLVILLE, AR (October 11, 2025) – Day 1 of tournament competition has concluded at the AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open. An elite field of more than 280 teams took to Lake Dardanelle in Russellville, AR to compete in the no-entry-fee, nationally televised, double points event. Anglers found a great deal of success on this Arkansas River fishery for the second stop of the 2025-26 season on the Bass Pro Shops Collegiate Bass Fishing Series.

Mat Higby and John Foster Case from Arkansas Tech University weighed in a five bass limit for 19.87 pounds to stake claim to the Day 1 lead. That Day 1 weight bests 2nd place by just less than one pound. Higby & Case won the 2022 AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open contested here at Lake Dardanelle. They will be going out in 1st place tomorrow, looking to claim this major event title for a second time.

Sitting in 2nd place are Brayden Jordan & Ryder Krueger from Troy University. The pair brought in a Day 1 weight of 19.08 pounds. A bass weighing 5.53 pounds anchored their five fish limit. They will enter the final day just less than one pound behind the top overall spot.

Rounding out the Top 3 are Mason Carden & Grant Laney from 2nd ranked University of Montevallo. A Day 1 limit weighing 19.00 pounds has them sitting in 3rd out of the more than 280 boat field. The pairing of Carden & Laney are one of three teams in the Top 10 for Montevallo, as Thomas Turnbull & Dylan Sorrells are in 7th, and Miller Dowling & Mason Kornegay are currently in 10th.

View the complete Day 1 standings.

A total of three limits over 19 pounds were brought to the scales during Day 1 of tournament competition at the AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open. Anglers found a great deal of success out on Lake Dardanelle. 1st through 28th are separated by approximately five pounds. This means that there are numerous teams with a chance to make significant moves in the standings tomorrow.

Following the conclusion of tournament competition tomorrow, the ACA will payout the Top 30 teams in the final standings, awarding more than $20,000 in prizes and contingencies. The Top 10 will earn automatic qualification into the 2026 Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops. Teams will also be eligible to earn points for their two highest-finishing teams inside of the Top 150.

Coverage and updates will continue on the ACA website and social media channels. The live blog will begin again tomorrow morning, along with weigh-in being live streamed starting at 1:00 PM.

by AnglersChannel

MLF Announces Lower Entry Fees, Bigger Payouts for 2026 Phoenix Bass Fishing League

MLF’s grassroots circuit enters 2026 season with reduced entry fees and improved payouts setting the stage for the most rewarding season in the league’s 46-year history

BENTON, Ky. (Oct. 9, 2025) – Major League Fishing (MLF) announced today the 2026 schedule and program details for the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine (BFL), featuring lower entry fees, higher payouts at the ramp and more All-American opportunities for boaters and co-anglers, setting the stage for the most rewarding season in the league’s 46-year history.

Since its inaugural season in 1980, the BFL has provided the foundation for tournament bass fishing on the premise that everyday anglers deserve professional-quality events, held close to their home with low entry fees and quality payouts. Thousands of anglers have gotten their start in the Bass Fishing League over the past 46 years and have risen to national prominence on the Toyota Series, Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and Bass Pro Tour. A total of 1,348 anglers have fished in 100 or more BFL tournaments, and 1,858 anglers have earned 10 or more top-10 finishes in BFL competition. Nearly 200 anglers – 194 total – have earned more than $100,000 in winnings solely through the BFL.

The 2026 season introduces a new, streamlined payout structure that awards 20% of the field with 29% more money for a win and 25% more money for the last checks in every qualifier, all while reducing entry fees to $200 for boaters and $100 for co-anglers. That translates to a $4,000 top boater award based on a 100-boat field, scaling up to $7,750 at 200 boats plus a $500 to $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus for qualified anglers. Co-anglers will earn a $2,000 top award at 100 boats, scaling up to $3,875 at 200 boats.  Twenty percent of the field earns a check of at least $250 for boaters and $125 for co-anglers regardless of field size.

At Super Tournaments, the top boater award jumps to $6,000 at 100 boats, scaling up to $11,450 at 200 boats – 27% more than 2025 – plus a $500 to $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus for qualified anglers. The top co-angler award in Super Tournaments jumps to $3,000 at 100 boats, scaling up to $5,725 at 200 boats – 27% more than 2025. Twenty percent of the field earns a check of at least $400 for boaters and $200 for co-anglers, 33% more than 2025, all while reducing entry fees to $300 for boaters and $150 for co-anglers.

The 2026 season will also see the return to six Regionals, each awarding a $50,000 Phoenix 819 Pro with 200 HP outboard to the winning boater, plus a $500 to $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus for qualified anglers. Co-anglers will compete for a $33,500 Phoenix 518 Pro with 115 HP outboard, a 67% increase over 2025. Twenty percent of each field will earn a check of at least $450 for boaters and $225 for co-anglers, and the top seven boaters and co-anglers from each Regional will advance to the All-American, which will now feature a 56-boat field – 17% more anglers than 2025. Regional entry fees remain unchanged at $350 for boaters and $175 for co-anglers.

All BFL events will include restricted use of forward-facing and 360-degree sonar technology – limited to three hours of continuous use per day – maintaining a fair and balanced playing field for all anglers while emphasizing skill and strategy.

“The Phoenix Bass Fishing League has always been about opportunity – giving anglers the chance to compete close to home in a professional setting for meaningful prizes,” said MLF Executive Vice President and General Manager Kathy Fennel. “With lower entry fees, higher payouts and more ways to win than ever before, the 2026 season represents the most rewarding year yet for our BFL anglers. For more than four decades, this trail has been the foundation of tournament bass fishing, and we’re proud to continue carrying that legacy forward.”

The 2026 Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine features:

24 Divisions:

  • 4 one-day qualifiers per division – Forward-facing/360-degree sonar restricted to 3 hours
  • 1 two-day super tournament per division – Forward-facing/360-degree sonar restricted to 3 hours each day

96 1-Day Qualifying Tournaments:

  • $4,000 top boater award based on a 100-boat field, scaling up to $7,750 at 200 boats – 29% more than 2025 + $500 to $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus in every tournament
  • $2,000 top co-angler award based on a 100-boat field, scaling up to $3,875 at 200 boats – 29% more than 2025
  • 20% of field earns a check of at least $250 for boaters and $125 for co-anglers – 25% more than 2025
  • Winning boater and co-angler from each Qualifier advance to a Regional
  • Saturday tournaments (unless otherwise noted) – Forward-facing/360-degree sonar restricted to 3 hours
  • Winners determined by heaviest one-day catch – 5 bass boater limit | 3 bass co-angler limit
  • Every angler receives points
  • Live weigh-in coverage
  • NEW lower entry fee: $200 boater | $100 co-angler

24 2-Day Super Tournaments:

  • $6,000 top boater award based on a 100-boat field, scaling up to $11,450 at 200 boats – 27% more than 2025 + $500 to $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus in every tournament
  • $3,000 top co-angler award based on a 100-boat field, scaling up to $5,725 at 200 boats – 27% more than 2025
  • 20% of field earns a check of at least $400 for boaters and $200 for co-anglers – 33% more than 2025
  • Winning boater and co-angler from each Super Tournament advance to a Regional
  • Saturday/Sunday tournaments: full field day 1, top 20% day 2 – Forward-facing/360-degree sonar restricted to 3 hours each day
  • Winners determined by heaviest two-day catch – 5 bass per day boater limit | 3 bass per day co-angler limit
  • Every angler receives points
  • Live weigh-in coverage
  • NEW lower entry fee: $300 boater | $150 co-angler

6 3-Day Regionals:

  • $50,000 Phoenix 819 Pro with 200 HP outboard top boater award + $500 to $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus in every tournament
  • $33,500 Phoenix 518 Pro with 115 HP outboard top co-angler award – 67% more than 2025
  • 20% of field earns a check of at least $450 for boaters and $225 for co-anglers
  • Each Regional features anglers from four Divisions – 200 boat max field
    • Winners and top 45 boaters and co-anglers from each Division qualify
  • Top 7 boaters and top 7 co-anglers from each Regional advance to the All-American, featuring a NEW larger field of 56 boaters and 56 co-anglers – 17% more than 2025
  • Thursday, Friday and Saturday tournaments: full field Days 1 & 2, Top 10 Day 3 – Forward-facing/360-degree sonar restricted to 3 hours each day
  • Winners determined by heaviest three-day catch – 5 bass per day boater limit | 3 bass per day co-angler limit
  • Live weigh-in coverage
  • Unchanged entry fee: $350 boater | $175 co-angler

1 2-Day Wild Card:

  • $6,000 top boater award based on a 100-boat field, scaling up to $11,450 at 200 boats – 91% more than 2025 + $500 to $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus
  • $3,000 top co-angler award based on a 100-boat field, scaling up to $5,725 at 200 boats – 91% more than 2025
  • 20% of field earns a check of at least $400 for boaters and $200 for co-anglers – 100% more than 2025
  • Anglers who enter all five events within a division, fish two or more events in the division and are not already advancing to the All-American qualify
  • Friday and Saturday tournament: full field both days – Forward-facing/360-degree sonar restricted to 3 hours each day
  • Top 7 boaters and top 7 co-anglers advance to the All-American
  • Winners determined by heaviest two-day catch – 5 bass per day boater limit | 3 bass per day co-angler limit
  • Live weigh-in coverage
  • Entry fee: $300 boater | $150 co-angler

2027 All-American:

  • $100,000 top boater award + $20,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus
  • $50,000 top co-angler award
  • Highest-finishing boater and co-angler from each Regional at the All-American advance to the Toyota Series Championship for a shot at winning $235,000, including a $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus, as a boater and $33,500 as a co-angler. Beat six anglers from your Regional and advance to a second no-entry-fee championship for a shot at one of the sport’s biggest paydays
  • All-American boater champion advances to REDCREST for a shot at winning $300,000 and qualifies for priority entry into the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit
  • Every boater earns at least $2,000 and every co-angler earns at least $1,000 – 33% more than 2025
  • Thursday, Friday and Saturday tournament: full field of 56 boaters and 56 co-anglers days 1 & 2, top 10 boaters and co-anglers day 3 – Forward-facing/360-degree sonar restricted to 3 hours each day
  • Winners determined by heaviest three-day catch – 5 bass per day boater limit | 3 bass per day co-angler limit
  • Live weigh-in coverage
  • Live on-the-water coverage on championship day
  • Nationally televised on VICE Sports
  • No entry fee

Angler of the Year and Co-angler of the Year Awards:

  • $1,000 Angler of the Year award in each Division based on total points from all five tournaments
  • $500 Co-angler of the Year award in each Division based on total points from all five tournaments

A Pathway to the Toyota Series, Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and Bass Pro Tour:

  • Top 45 boaters and co-anglers based on total points from each Division earn priority entry into the Toyota Series

The entry fee reduction for 2026 marks a return to the lowest entry fees in modern BFL history, helping make tournaments more accessible to more anglers while simultaneously boosting payouts at the ramp.

With advancement opportunities to the All-American, Toyota Series Championship and REDCREST – for potential top awards of $120,000, $235,000 and $300,000 – the BFL remains the most lucrative and accessible qualifying pathway in the sport.

The 43rd annual BFL All-American, for qualifiers from the 2025 season, will take place May 28-30, 2026, at Lake Murray in Columbia, South Carolina, and is hosted by the Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board.

"Capital City/Lake Murray Country is proud to be hosting the BFL All-American in 2026,” said Amy Hoffman, Interim President at Capital City/Lake Murray Country. “Lake Murray has a strong reputation for producing healthy limits of bass and often surprises both anglers and spectators with record-breaking catches. With the tournament taking place during Memorial Day week, visitors have the perfect chance to extend their stay and enjoy our region’s top attractions and outdoor recreation while watching these skilled anglers compete on Lake Murray."

For the complete 2026 Phoenix Bass Fishing League payouts, rules and schedule, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.

2026 MLF Phoenix BFL All-American & Regional Tournament Schedule:

May 28-30                        43rd Annual BFL All-American at Lake Murray
                                           Columbia, S.C.
                                           Hosted by Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board

Oct. 8-10                          Regional at Potomac River (Buckeye, Michigan, Northeast & Piedmont)
                                           Marbury, Md.
                                           Hosted by the Charles County Government, Dept. of Recreation, Parks and Tourism

Oct. 8-10                          Regional at Lake Eufaula (Choo Choo, Gator, Mississippi & South Carolina)
Eufaula, Ala.
                                           Hosted by the Eufaula Barbour County Chamber of Commerce

Oct. 15-17                        Regional at Clarks Hill Lake (Bulldog, North Carolina, Shenandoah & Volunteer)
Appling, Ga.
                                           Hosted by Columbia County, Georgia

Oct. 15-17                        Regional at Kentucky-Barkley Lakes (Hoosier, Illini, Music City & Okie)
Calvert City, Ky.
                                           Hosted by the Kentucky Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau

Oct. 22-24                        Regional at Grand Lake (Arkie, Cowboy, Great Lakes & Ozark)
Grove, Okla.
                                           Hosted by the City of Grove and the Grove Convention and Tourism Bureau

Oct. 22-24                        Regional at Watts Bar Lake (Bama, LBL, Mountain & Savannah River)
Spring City, Tenn.
                                           Hosted by the Rhea County Department of Tourism – Fish Spring City

Proud sponsors of the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Deep Dive App, E3 Sport Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Li Time Batteries, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PirahnO2, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.

For regular BFL updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery, Outdoor Channel, VICE, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV and Game & Fish TV, 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 20 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.

by AnglersChannel

Spencer Shuffield Claims Victory at 2025 WON Bass U.S. Open

Brian Brown wins AAA Division

Laughlin, Nev. – October 8, 2025 –– Slick winds and high, bluebird skies greeted the 166 boats carrying their pro and AAA competitors for the final morning of the 2025 Ranger Boats WON Bass U.S. Open presented by Mercury. The calm conditions were in stark contrast to Monday’s opening round where gusty winds covered Lake Mohave and even stronger winds that forced the cancellation of the second day of the championship.

While the conditions on the final day of the event made for easy navigation, they are not considered ideal for the fishing itself.  Without the wind breaking up the surface of Lake Mohave, the chance existed for a shakeup on the leaderboard.  No matter how tough the bite can be, the anglers in the field like the WON Bass U.S. Open features will figure out how to catch the right fish.

On this day Spencer Shuffield figured them out the best, and earned the title of 2025 WON Bass U.S. Open Champion.

As the champion of the 2025 Ranger Boats WON Bass U.S. Open presented by Mercury, Shuffield earned the Ranger Boats / Mercury Motor prize boat provided by Bass Pro Shops valued at $85,000 and a cash prize of $65,000, bringing the total winner’s purse to $165,000.

Three quarters of the way through the final weigh-in, Ben Milliken, from New Caney, Tex. came to the scales and posted a 19.78-pound limit of Lake Mohave smallmouth bass to catapult over then leader Kyle Gover of Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. him into the lead with 39.22 pounds.  As he took his place in the Ranger Hot Seat next to WON Bass Tournament Director Bill Egan, all he had to do was wait for the Hot Springs, Ark. pro to come to the scales.

Shuffield, who was fishing his fourth WON Bass U.S. Open had hovered around the win each time with two second place finishes and a third place to go with it.  Shuffield, a full-time touring pro has made it clear that winning the WON Bass U.S. Open has become his top goal as a professional angler.

When the scales bottomed out at 21.50 pounds, he had accomplished that goal with a two-day total of 41.19 pounds.  “I worried that I had put myself out of reach when I weighed 19.69 on day one, but I had over 21 pounds at nine o’clock this morning and I felt good about my chances,” he said.  “I spent my whole tournament fishing in ‘The Bowl’ area and I was using my Garmin Livescope to find the fish to target; and it worked out.”

Shuffield reported using a dropshot rig with a trio of different offerings, Z Man Jerk Shad soft plastic jerkbaits in 3.5 and 4-inch sizes and a Geecrack Imo Kemuchi rigged on size 2 VMC Dropshot Hook and a 1/2-ounce Ark Tungsten Dropshot weight.  He threw them on an Ark 7’3” ML Reinforcer spinning rod paired with Ark International’s Gravity G7 Spinning reel spooled with 15-pound-test white Yozuri Super 9 Braid and 10-pound Yozuri T7 Fluorocarbon line as his leader.

Shuffield said that winning the U.S. Open ranks as his greatest accomplishment.  “I wanted to fish this event for years and after I fished it four years ago and finished in second place, I wanted to win it badly,” he said.  “I won the Tackle Warehouse Invitational TITLE a few years ago and this one just hits differently.  To have my name on that trophy next to Aaron Martens, Mike Folkestad, John Murray, Rick Clunn, Josh Bertrand and Bryant Smith – who won it last year just means a ton.

“I love this lake, love the way WON Bass runs this event and look forward to this event the most every year and I will be back to fish it as a top priority; I can’t believe I am the 2025 WON Bass U.S. Open Champion.”

Milliken, who finished with 39.24 pounds, is known for his presence as a YouTube fishing star with over 600,000 subscribers and more than a million followers on his social media platforms as well as his career in professional fishing said that he worked to try and have multiple approaches he could use in the competition.  “I only had two and a half days of practice, but I wanted to have flexibility in patterns, and I found deep and shallow fish,” he said.  “When the tournament started, my deep fish had disappeared, so I turned to my shallow fish and was able to catch ‘em there.”

Milliken reported catching his fish in shallow washes that held baitfish and had grass on the bottom.  He caught his smallmouth in 2 to 10 feet of water on a pair of 6th Sense Lure Company baits.  His lures of choice were a Wig Hair Jig and Party Prop Spybait.  He threw the Party Prop on his signature Milliken Series Rods, a 7’4” medium-light and 7’6” light model for the hair jig.

He said fishing the U.S. Open has been something he had always wanted to do.  “I’ve looked forward to competing in the tournament like Aaron Martens, John Murray and Clifford Pirch did; some of these guys are my heroes,” he said.  “I came close to winning it and had I not lost a couple of good ones, I may have, but that’s the way this sport goes, you have to execute to win, but I’m content with the way I fished.”

Grover finished third for the championship by posting a two-day total of 38.22, fourth place went to Ty Manterola of Pasco, Wash. With 37.61 pounds, and last year’s WON Bass U.S. Open Champion Bryant Smith of Roseville, Calif. finished fifth with 36.96 pounds.

Brian Brown of Las Vegas, Nev. claimed the AAA Division title with a total weight of 38.59 pounds.  He earned a Honda FourTrax ATV valued at $8500 and $7,600, a total of $16,100 in earnings.  Second place in the AAA Division went to Jacob Crawford of San Pedro, Calif. with 36.75 pounds, he was followed in third place by Russ Nievar of Lake Havasu City, Ariz. with 36.03 pounds.  Fourth place went to Mike Hawkins of Boulder City, Nev. with 35.16 pounds and Andrew Packard of Fresno, Calif. rounded out the top five with 35.03 pounds.

Each of the pros and AAA anglers who finish in the top five also earned a Golden Ticket berth into the 2026 Bassmaster B.A.S.S. Nation Championship for a chance to qualify for the Bassmaster Classic.

The daily livestream of the weigh-ins aired on the WON Bass Facebook page, located at  Facebook.com/WONBassTournaments.

The top 10 in each division are posted below: for complete standings, visit - https://wonbassevents.com/pages/lake-mead-open-pairings-and-results.

2025 WON Bass U.S. Open Day One – Pro Standings

Place Angler Hometown Wght Pnlty B/B Day 1 Day 2 Total
1 Spencer Shuffield Hot Springs AR 41.19 4.97 19.69 21.50 41.19
2 Ben Milliken New Caney TX 39.24 19.46 19.78 39.24
3 Kyle Grover Rancho Santa Margarita CA 38.22 4.54 19.96 18.26 38.22
4 Ty Manterola Pacso WA 37.61 4.25 18.47 19.14 37.61
5 Bryant Smith Roseville CA 36.96 4.39 17.95 19.01 36.96
6 Patrick Touey Santa Maria CA 36.72 4.19 19.72 17.00 36.72
7 Zack Holwerda Wittman AZ 37.18 0.50 17.55 19.13 36.68
8 Sean Coffey Mesa AZ 36.65 5.04 20.12 16.53 36.65
9 Josh Bertrand San Tan Valley AZ 36.04 18.55 17.49 36.04
10 Tyler Ivie West Haven UT 35.82 3.92 17.11 18.71 35.82

2025 WON Bass U.S. Open Day One – AAA Standings

AAA Angler Hometown Wght Pnlty B/B Day 1 Day 2 Total
1 Brian Brown Las Vegas NV 38.59     17.49 21.10 38.59
2 Jacob Crawford San Pedro CA 36.75 17.74 19.01 36.75
3 Russ Nievar Lake Havasu City AZ 36.03 19.96 16.07 36.03
4 Mike Hawkins Boulder City NV 35.16 17.92 17.24 35.16
5 Andrew Packard Fresno CA 35.03 3.68 17.54 17.49 35.03
6 James Clayton Prescott AZ 33.45 3.20 13.34 20.11 33.45
7 Danny Snyder Annandale VA 33.39 17.95 15.44 33.39
8 Robert Tomlin Stevenson Ranch CA 32.22 9.09 23.13 32.22
9 John Harris San Diego CA 31.99 16.40 15.59 31.99
10 George Parker Santa Rosa CA 31.67 4.27 13.31 18.36 31.67

For complete details to register for future events, or to find results, look to wonbassevents.com and WONews.com to hear the latest news about the 2025 season and beyond and follow along at Facebook.com/WONBassTournaments.

The 2025 WON Bass Western Opens Series of events Consisting of five events in California, Arizona and Nevada, culminating with the 2025 WON Bass U.S. Open at Lake Mohave.  The five event dates were as follows:

Feb. 5 to 7, 2025 - Lake Shasta – Champion Joe Uribe

April 9 to 11, 2025 - Clear Lake – Champion John Pearl

May 7 to 9, 2025 - Lake Havasu – Champion Roy Hawk

Sept. 10 to 12, 2025 - Lake Mead – Champion Dylan Denny

Oct. 6 to 8, 2025 - U.S. Open at Lake Mohave – Champion Spencer Shuffield

For complete details or to register, look to wonbassevents.com and WONews.com to hear the latest news about the 2024 season and beyond and follow along at Facebook.com/WONBassTournaments.

The 2025 WON Bass Lake Mead Open was brought to you by Bass Pro Shops, Ranger Boats, Mercury Marine, Nitro Boats, Triton Boats, Bridgford Foods, Volta Power Lithium, Power Pole, Lowrance, Daiwa, AFTCO, Costa, Berkley, Abu Garcia, Fenwick Rods, Anderson Toyota, A&M Graphics, Anglers Marine, Signature Gates, DD26 Fishing, Bad Ass Bearings, Cipher Fishing, Megaware Keelguard and GRatt.

Local presenting sponsors are Visit Laughlin, Laughlin Tourism Commission and Katherine Landing at Lake Mohave Marina

by AnglersChannel

Elite Field of 280 Plus Teams Set to Compete in AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open

SAN ANTONIO, TX (October 8, 2025) – The Association of Collegiate Anglers is set to host its second event of the season on the 2025-26 Bass Pro Shops Collegiate Bass Fishing Series. This weekend, on October 11-12, the AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open will take place at Lake Dardanelle in Russellville, AR. Over 280 teams have registered in this nationally televised, no-entry-fee tournament that will award over $20,000 in prizes and contingencies, as well as double points to count towards the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia.

Hundreds of the nation’s top collegiate anglers will be competing for two full days on Lake Dardanelle. The Arkansas River fishery presents a great playing field for anglers to go out in search of bites. From shallow cover to main lake bluffs and everything in between, teams can target areas that suit their strengths to catch fish. Read the complete lake preview here.

The title sponsor of this weekend’s event is AFTCO. AFTCO representatives will be on-site to support anglers, handing out t-shirts at the registration meeting, and much more. Product from AFTCO will also be in the overall prize payout for the event, including gift cards and Titan Landing Nets. Anglers competing at Lake Dardanelle will also have the opportunity to participate in the AFTCO Bank Bag Program. Read more about AFTCO’s dedication to conservation, and find out how you can get involved here.

Total payout for the event will exceed $20,000 in prizes and contingencies. The Top 30 in the final tournament standings will receive a payout, as well as numerous exact places. The Overall Big Bass for the event will earn a new Power-Pole, and two AFTCO Titan Landing Nets. View the complete prize list here.

Along with the valuable prizes, schools will be eligible to earn double points to count towards the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia. 1,750 points will be awarded to the winner, and schools can earn points for their two highest-finishing teams inside of the Top 150. 23 of the Top 25 ranked teams are registered to compete at Lake Dardanelle. This tournament will go a long ways in shaping the race for the 2025-26 Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia as we near the halfway point of the fall semester.

The ACA will feature a wide array of coverage leading up to, throughout, and following the conclusion of, tournament competition at the AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open. Live blog coverage will begin on the ACA website Friday, and continue for both tournament days. Live weigh-in will be streamed both days here. Additional coverage and content can be found on the ACA’s Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube accounts.

by AnglersChannel

Lake Dardanelle Poised for Fall Fishing Frenzy During AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open

SAN ANTONIO, TX (October 7, 2025) – This upcoming weekend, the Association of Collegiate Anglers will contest its second event of the 2025-26 season on the Bass Pro Shops Collegiate Bass Fishing Series. The AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open is set to take place at Lake Dardanelle in Russellville, AR on October 11-12. Over 280 of college fishing’s most elite teams will be making the trip to Lake Dardanelle to compete for more than $20,000 in prizes and contingencies, as well as double points to count towards the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia.

Lake Dardanelle is located along the Arkansas River in Russellville, AR. The fishery stretches 50 miles and is comprised of 315 miles of shoreline. That shoreline is lined with a variety of wood cover, lily pads, shallow vegetation and much more.

Last year, during the AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open, anglers found great success getting bites out on Lake Dardanelle. Anglers reported stable, slightly cleaner water, as well as significantly more vegetation. Each of these factors contributed to the increased success anglers had.

Given the abundant shoreline cover, many anglers will be flocking to the bank in search of feeding fish. A combination of topwaters, moving baits, and soft plastics will be used to get bites. Last fall, there was a strong topwater bite each morning. As the day progressed, anglers then utilized a combination of crankbaits and soft plastics along the main river channel and around deeper structure.

Weather patterns are setting up to be fairly similar to what we’ve experienced in years past. There is a slight chance for rain early in the week, then forecast projections show it to be mostly sunny and warm the remainder of the week. High temperatures will be in the mid to upper 80’s. The stable conditions will allow anglers to pattern fish through practice, with hopes that those patterns will hold during tournament competition.

The Association of Collegiate Anglers would like to thank the Russellville Tourism & Visitors Center for their support in bringing this event to Lake Dardanelle and Russellville, AR. The city, lake, and surrounding area are a beautiful destination to visit this time of year. And the hospitality shown to our tournament organization and the anglers makes everyone feel right at home!

by AnglersChannel

Lumpkin County High School Female Anglers Win MLF Abu Garcia High School Fishing Open on Pickwick Lake

FLORENCE, Ala. (Oct. 6, 2025) – The MLF High School Fishing team of Lyndsey Gailey and Audrey Gailey, representing Lumpkin County High School, brought five bass to the scale Saturday weighing 16 pounds, 2 ounces to win the MLF Abu Garcia High School Fishing Presented by Tackle Warehouse Open on Pickwick Lake Presented by Columbia PFG in Florence, Alabama.

A field of 34 teams competed in the no-entry fee tournament, which was hosted by Florence-Lauderdale Tourism. In MLF High School Fishing competition, the top 10% of teams competing advance to the High School Fishing National Championship.

The top three teams that now advance to the 2026 High School Fishing National Championship are:

1st:          Lumpkin County High School, Dahlonega, Ga. – Lyndsey Gailey and Audrey Gailey, five bass, 16-2
2nd:         Breckinridge County High School, Harned, Ky. – Harper Lucas and Klay Rhodes, five bass, 14-13
3rd:         Mount Pleasant High School, Mount Pleasant, Tenn. – Talen Ashworth and Tristan Stewart, five bass, 14-1

Rounding out the top 10 teams were:

4th:         Trussville Fishing, Trussville, Ala. – Eli Schwieker and Landon Stegall, five bass, 13-14
5th:         Northern Kentucky High School Bass Fishing Club – Drew Berling and Eli Scroggins, four bass, 13-9
6th:         Galatia Junior/Senior High School, Galatia, Ill. – Brian Gibbs and Mace Ridgeway, five bass, 12-6
7th:         Eagleville High School, Eagleville, Tenn. – Elias Hitson and Bradford van Demark II, five bass, 12-6
8th:         Apollo High School, Owensboro, Ky. – Mason Goodall and Zach Hedges, five bass, 12-6
9th:         Mortimer Jordan High School, Kimberly, Ala. – Parker McCoy and Blaze Sullivan, five bass, 11-13
10th:       Fayetteville High School, Fayetteville, Ala. – Bowen Barrett and Luke Brooks, five bass, 10-11

Complete results from the event can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

MLF Abu Garcia High School Fishing Presented by Tackle Warehouse tournaments are free, two-person (team) events for students in grades 7-12 and are open to any MLF and TBF Student Angler Federation-affiliated high school club. The top 10% of teams at each Open event, along with the TBF High School Fishing state championships, advance to the High School Fishing National Championship.

Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Abu Garcia High School Fishing Presented by Tackle Warehouse include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia,  B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Columbia PFG, Deep Dive App, E3 Sport Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash,  Humminbird, Lew’s,  Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PirahnO2, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.

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

About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery, Discovery+, Discovery GO, Animal Planet, Outdoor Channel, VICE, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV and Game & Fish TV, 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 20 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.

by AnglersChannel

Sean Coffey Takes Day One Lead of 2025 WON Bass U.S. Open

2023 U.S. Open Champion Kyle Grover places Second, Peter Messenger leads AAA Division

Laughlin, Nev. – October 6, 2025 –– The 2025 Ranger Boats WON Bass U.S. Open presented by Mercury began today and as can happen on desert fisheries along the Colorado River, the wind came up and made for lumpy conditions. Along with the wind, the temperatures began to cool with overnight lows in the mid 60’s and highs in the upper 80’s.

The wind created less than ideal conditions for those looking to target offshore bass with precise presentations and their Forward Facing Sonar units.  While those precision tactics get more difficult in the stiff winds, power fishing techniques typically shine because the wind breaks up the water’s surface making the fish easier to fool.

As the field came to the scales at Katherine landing, the lighter weights due to the wind was commonly spoken, however pro angler Sean Coffey of Mesa, Ariz. reported being able to maintain positioning enough to capitalize on his Forward Facing Sonar presentations, but also utilized moving baits to take the day one lead with his day one AAA partner Peter Messenger from Australia to take the day one lead with 20.12 pounds.

Hot on his heels is 2023 U.S. Open Champion Kyle Grover of Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. who shared the boat with his AAA partner Nievar of Lake Havasu City, Ariz. with 19.96 pounds.  They are followed in third place by Patrick Touey of Santa Maria, Calif. and his partner David Shearrer from Trabuco Canyon, Calif. who weighed 19.72 pounds.  Fourth place went to pro Spencer Shuffield from Hot Springs, Ark. and AAA Travis Smith of Canyon Lake, Calif. who posted 19.69 pounds and pro Ben Milliken of New Caney, Tex. and his AAA partner Larry Bonjour of Santa Maria, Calif. rounded out the top five with 19.46 pounds.

Coffey reported starting slow, as a late boat number didn’t allow him to start on his primary areas.  “It took me a while to get going, and I had to locate new water to start getting bites,” he said.  “I used my knowledge of my primary pattern to locate new spots and started catching fish.  Two of the areas I caught fish in were totally new today.”

He reported using both “casting and winding and ‘Scoping” to produce his final weight.  “A couple of my bigger fish came on winding baits, but most of my keepers were caught with the minnow,” he said.  “We caught 15 to 18 fish today, and I had to cover the lake from Cottonwood to The Bowl to do it, but I’m happy with the start and feel like I have a chance.”

Grover, from WON Bass partner Anglers Marine said that he caught around a dozen fish, and that his Lowrance Active Target 2 was key.  “I covered a lot of this lake today and was able to find good quality,” he said.  “It wasn’t too far off what I had hoped, but it seems like all of the weights are down, so I feel like I can catch enough to give myself a chance to be there on the final day.”

The second day of the 2025 WON Bass U.S. Open begins tomorrow from Katherine Landing at safe light with the final weigh-in beginning at 3:00PM.

The winner of the 2025 Ranger Boats WON Bass U.S. Open presented by Mercury will earn the Ranger Boats / Mercury Motor prize boat provided by Bass Pro Shops and cash prizes bringing the total winner’s purse to well over $100,000.

Each of the pros and AAA anglers who finish in the top five will also earn a Golden Ticket berth into the 2026 Bassmaster B.A.S.S. Nation Championship for a chance to qualify for the Bassmaster Classic

The daily livestream of the weigh-ins air on the WON Bass Facebook page, located at  Facebook.com/WONBassTournaments.

The top 10 in each division are posted below: for complete standings, visit - https://wonbassevents.com/pages/lake-mead-open-pairings-and-results.

2025 WON Bass U.S. Open Day One – Pro Standings

Place Angler Hometown Fish B/B Total
1 Sean Coffey Mesa AZ 5-5 5.04 20.12
2 Kyle Grover Rancho Santa Margarita CA 5-5 4.18 19.96
3 Patrick Touey Santa Maria CA 5-5 4.19 19.72
4 Spencer Shuffield Hot Springs AR 5-5 4.15 19.69
5 Ben Milliken New Caney TX 5-5 19.46
6 Josh Bertrand San Tan Valley AZ 5-5 18.55
7 Ty Manterola Pacso WA 5-5 18.47
8 Cody Crist Ramona CA 5-5 3.88 18.16
9 Bryant Smith Roseville CA 5-5 17.95
10 Scott Hellesen Paso Robles CA 5-5 4.37 17.92

2025 WON Bass U.S. Open Day One – AAA Standings

Place Angler Hometown Fish B/B Total
1 Peter Messenger Australia 5-5   20.12
2 Russ Nievar Lake Havasu City AZ 5-5 19.96
3 David Shearrer Trabuco Canyon CA 5-5 4.53 19.72
4 Travis Smith Canyon Lake CA 5-5 4.09 19.69
5 Larry Bonjour Santa Maria CA 5-5 19.46
6 Logan Maltese Lake Havasu City AZ 5-5 18.55
7 Chuck Kavros Grass Valley CA 5-5 18.47
8 Myron Bruffett Branson MO 5-5 18.16
9 Danny Snyder Annandale VA 5-5 17.95
10 Mike Hawkins Boulder City NV 5-5 17.92

For complete details to register for future events, or to find results, look to wonbassevents.com and WONews.com to hear the latest news about the 2025 season and beyond and follow along at Facebook.com/WONBassTournaments.

The 2025 WON Bass Western Opens Series of events Consisting of five events in California, Arizona and Nevada, culminating this week with the 2025 WON Bass U.S. Open at Lake Mohave.  The five event dates are as follows:

Feb. 5 to 7, 2025 - Lake Shasta – Champion Joe Uribe

April 9 to 11, 2025 - Clear Lake – Champion John Pearl

May 7 to 9, 2025 - Lake Havasu – Champion Roy Hawk

Sept. 10 to 12, 2025 - Lake Mead – Champion Dylan Denny

Oct. 6 to 8, 2025 - U.S. Open at Lake Mohave

For complete details or to register, look to wonbassevents.com and WONews.com to hear the latest news about the 2024 season and beyond and follow along at Facebook.com/WONBassTournaments.

The 2025 WON Bass Lake Mead Open is brought to you by Bass Pro Shops, Ranger Boats, Mercury Marine, Nitro Boats, Triton Boats, Bridgford Foods, Volta Power Lithium, Power Pole, Lowrance, Daiwa, AFTCO, Costa, Berkley, Abu Garcia, Fenwick Rods, Anderson Toyota, A&M Graphics, Anglers Marine, Signature Gates, DD26 Fishing, Bad Ass Bearings, Cipher Fishing, Megaware Keelguard and GRatt.

Local presenting sponsors are Visit Laughlin, Laughlin Tourism Commission and Katherine Landing at Lake Mohave Marina

by AnglersChannel

Wisconsin’s Leidholdt Overcomes Adversity to Claim Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional on the Mississippi River

Illinois’ Chumbler Takes Co-Angler Division

QUAD CITIES, Ill. (Oct. 6, 2025) – Boater Rob Leidholdt of Milton, Wisconsin, caught a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 30 pounds, 13 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine Regional on the Mississippi River Presented by Mando Deodorant. The tournament, which was hosted by Visit Quad Cities, concluded Saturday. For his win, Leidholdt earned a prize package valued at $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200hp Mercury or Suzuki outboard.

“Partnering with Major League Fishing to host the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional here in the Quad Cities was an incredible opportunity for Sports QC, Powered By Visit Quad Cities,” said Joan Kranovich, Vice President of Business Growth & Director, Sports QC. “This event showcased the strength of our partnership with MLF, the beauty and challenge of the Mississippi River, and the community pride that comes with welcoming anglers and fans from across the country.”

The Mississippi River event served as the Regional championship for the BFL Great Lakes and Illini divisions. The field included the top 60 boaters and co-anglers based on point standings, plus each division’s tournament winners. The top three boaters and co-anglers have also now qualified to compete at the 2026 BFL All-American.

“Oh boy, where do I start?” Leidholdt said with a laugh after learning he had won. “I had a fantastic first day. I went to my first spot and caught quite a few fish. There were quite a few boats in that area, but I was fishing a bit slower and a little bit more off the bank than the other anglers in the area.”

Leidholdt said his first two fish of the day Friday were his biggest two of the day, and he then added some nice bass to his first-day weight. Saturday on Day 2, however, turned out to be more of a challenge for him, as boat problems he discovered on Friday night forced him to borrow a boat from a co-angler he had fished with earlier this season. As soon as Leidholdt got to his spot on Saturday morning, the borrowed boat broke down. He was able to fish – and fill his limit – but he was forced to end his day a little earlier than expected and get a ride to weigh-in.

“It was quite eventful and very stressful,” Leidholdt said.

Leidholdt said when he was fishing, he targeted bass in three to eight feet of water near mud and wood banks with a 5/16-ounce black and blue jig. Leidholdt said he fishes a jig 80 percent of the time when he’s on the water.

“I felt very confident today,” Leidholdt said. “I knew if I could just get to my spot that there were good quality fish there.

“To get the win after all of this feels incredible,” Leidholdt said. “I was up late (Friday night) trying to figure out my next day’s plan of attack, and I thought I wasn’t going to be fishing because I had no boat. Then a former co-angler I had stepped up and let me borrow a boat. From the highs to the lows in this tournament … it just feels unreal. I have to pinch myself right now to remind myself that I actually won.”

The top three boaters who qualified for the 2026 Phoenix BFL All-American finished:

1st:      Rob Leidholdt, Milton, Wis., 10 bass, 30-13, $51,100
2nd:    Chris Aswegan, Tiffin, Iowa, 10 bass, 26-4, $7,073 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
3rd:     Jeremy Mull, Pawnee, Ill., nine bass, 24-9, $3,419

Rounding out the top 10 boaters were:

4th:     J.J. Patton, Eldridge, Iowa, 10 bass, 24-3, $2,158
5th:     Tony Puelz, Garnavillo, Iowa, nine bass, 23-10, $1,527
6th:     Mike Brueggen, La Crosse, Wis., 10 bass, 23-5, $1,401
7th:     Austin Howard, Granby, Colo., eight bass, 22-10, $1,274
8th:     Mike Feldermann, Galena, Ill., 10 bass, 21-14, $1,148
9th:     Jeff Ritter, Prairie Du Chien, Wis., eight bass, 20-14, $1,172
10th:   Glenn Walker, Savage, Minn, nine bass, 20-11, $1,958

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Leidholdt also won the Berkley Big Bass Boater award and $1,000 for bringing the largest bass to the scale – 5 pounds, 8 ounces.

Matt Chumbler of Carbondale, Illinois, won the co-angler division Saturday after bringing a two-day total of five bass weighing 16 pounds, 3 ounces, to the scale. Chumbler earned the top co-angler award of $13,251 for his victory.

The top three co-anglers who qualified for the 2026 Phoenix BFL All-American finished:

1st:      Matt Chumbler, Carbondale, Ill., five bass, 16-3, $13,251
2nd:    Blake Miller, Cedar Falls, Iowa, six bass, 15-13, $3,393
3rd:     Zachary Howell, Tipton, Iowa, six bass, 15-2, $1,759

Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers were:

4th:     Timothy Wittren, Ontario, Wis., five bass, 14-0, $1,100
5th:     Aaron Konopacki, New Albin, Iowa, four bass, 12-8, $1,270
6th:     Ron Mairet, Columbus Junction, Iowa, five bass, 11-13, $704
7th:     Doug Miller, Peoria, Ill., five bass, 11-12, $637
8th:     Caleb Peck, Atwood, Ill., five bass, 11-9, $571
9th:     Matthew Tinsman, Peoria, Ill., five bass, 11-5, $505
10th:   Owen Boyer, Cantrall, Ill., five bass, 10-8, $472

Aaron Konopacki of New Albin, Iowa, caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds even to win the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award worth $500.

The 2025 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 134 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 60 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying tournament winners, now advance to one of 12 BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top three, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.

Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Deep Dive App, E3 Sport Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Li Time Batteries, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PirahnO2, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, 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.

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, Discovery+, Discovery GO, Animal Planet, Outdoor Channel, VICE, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV and Game & Fish TV, 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 20 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.

by AnglersChannel

Medina’s Petz Uses Home-Water Knowledge to Take Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional on Lake Erie Presented by Lew’s

Michigan’s Hawley Wins Co-Angler Division

SANDUSKY, Ohio (Oct. 6, 2025) – Boater Correy Petz of Medina, Ohio, caught a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 49 pounds, 7 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine Regional on Lake Erie Presented by Lew’s. The tournament, which was hosted by Shores & Islands Ohio, concluded Saturday. For his win, Petz earned a prize package valued at $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200hp Mercury or Suzuki outboard.

The Lake Erie event served as the Regional championship for the BFL Buckeye and Michigan divisions. The field included the top 60 boaters and co-anglers based on point standings, plus each division’s tournament winners. The top three boaters and co-anglers have also now qualified for the 2026 BFL All-American.

“I felt like there was a tougher bite for this time of year,” Petz said. “The water temp was kind of higher than normal, and there was a lot of pressure on the fish. I didn’t catch my fish on one single bait. I caught them on a drop-shot, a tube, a minnow – there was no rhyme or reason – and they came from 15 feet all the way out to 24 feet.

“I have a lot of history and time on the water there, and that definitely helped me,” Petz added.

Petz said he found two new areas during practice that held big fish – the first produced well for him on Friday, but the bass bite shut down a bit Saturday.

“I never sat down in one area and really hammered them other than the first day,” Petz said.

Petz said he had “a lot” of fish he lost during the tournament, especially on the second day. The first four fish he hooked came unbuttoned.

“I thought I had lost it with the first four fish of the morning,” Petz said. “Then I jumped off a 5-pounder later during the day.  But, thankfully, I hooked two nice ones in the last hour of the day that kind of sealed the deal for me.

“I’ve had some other tournaments where I faced adversity and challenges, so I never panicked,” Petz went on to say. “I just kind of kept moving. I just kept working. All of the pieces just came together the first day when I had my fish by 10 or 10:30.

“I had a late check-in on Saturday at 4:00, and I needed that late check-in,” Petz added. “If I hadn’t had that, I probably wouldn’t have won.”

The top three boaters who qualified for the 2026 Phoenix BFL All-American finished:

1st:     Correy Petz, Medina, Ohio, 10 bass, 49-7, $50,000
2nd:    Jesse Hickman, Waynesville, Ohio, 10 bass, 48-3, $8,223
3rd:    Scott Dobson, Clarkston, Mich., 10 bass, 47-11, $4,550 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)

Rounding out the top 10 boater finishers were:

4th:     Nicholas Seitz, Maumee, Ohio, 10 bass, 46-2, $2,480
5th:     Ty Fain, Springfield, Ohio, 10 bass, 45-8, $1,696
6th:     Tyler Brown, Marblehead, Ohio, 10 bass, 45-2, $1,539
7th:     Seth Fricke, Oxford, Ohio, 10 bass, 43-11, $1,382
8th:     Heath Wagner, Angola, Ind., 10 bass, 43-6, $1,225
9th:     David Matual, Chicago, Ill., 10 bass, 43-6, $1,068
10th:   Nolan Mandel, Kimball, Mich., 10 bass, 42-13, $990

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Bill Cisler of Delton, Michigan, won the Berkley Big Bass Boater award and $1,000 for landing a bass that weighed 6 pounds, 8 ounces, the biggest of the tournament.

Sean Hawley of Jackson, Michigan, won the co-angler division Saturday after bringing a two-day total of five bass weighing 24 pounds, 8 ounces, to the scale. Hawley earned the top co-angler award of $16,406 for his victory.

The top three co-anglers who qualified for the 2026 Phoenix BFL All-American finished:

1st:     Sean Hawley, Jackson, Mich., five bass, 24-8, $16,406
2nd:    Jordan Smith, Middletown, Ohio, six bass, 23-3, $4,022
3rd:    Thomas Rizzo, Mercer, Pa., five bass, 22-2, $2,041

Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers were:

4th:     Dylan Phillips, Albany, Ohio, six bass, 21-13, $1,249
5th:     Mark Miller, Baltic, Ohio, six bass, 21-6, $852
6th:     Philip Castrodale, Bloomfield, Mich., five bass, 20-14, $773
7th:     Ryan Crider, Kettering, Ohio, five bass, 19-9, $694
8th:     Thomas Illar Jr., Hyde Park, Pa., five bass, 18-13, $615
9th:     Justen Fain, Springfield, Ohio, four bass, 18-8, $585
10th:   Greg Elswick, Goshen, Ind., five bass, 18-7, $496

Sean Hawley of Jackson, Michigan, caught a bass that weighed 6 pounds, 8 ounces, to win the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award worth $500.

The 2025 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 134 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 60 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying tournament winners, now advance to one of 12 BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top three, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.

Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Deep Dive App, E3 Sport Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Li Time Batteries, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PirahnO2, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, 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.

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, Discovery+, Discovery GO, Animal Planet, Outdoor Channel, VICE, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV and Game & Fish TV, 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 20 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.

by AnglersChannel

Mooresville’s Orellana Edges Field at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional on Lake Norman Presented by Mando Deodorant

South Carolina’s Rikard Claims Co-Angler Division

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (Oct. 6, 2025) – Boater Carson Orellana of Mooresville, North Carolina, caught a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 31 pounds, 8 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine Regional on Lake Norman Presented by Mando Deodorant . The tournament, which was hosted by Visit Lake Norman, Visit Charlotte & Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation, concluded Saturday. For his win, Orellana earned a prize package valued at $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200hp Mercury or Suzuki outboard.

The Lake Norman event served as the Regional championship for the BFL South Carolina and Piedmont divisions. The field included the top 60 boaters and co-anglers based on point standings, plus each division’s tournament winners. The top three boaters and co-anglers have also now qualified for the 2026 BFL All-American.

Orellana said he felt confident on his home waters of Lake Norman for the Regional championship and knew how he wanted to fish during the event, but had to make adjustments on the water.

“I started out trying to force a topwater bite that never came to fruition,” Orellana said. “Then I switched to offshore brushpile fishing and ended up catching pretty much everything skipping docks with a TrueSouth Custom Lures ½-ounce jig in a color named Dyer Special.

“On the second day, I did catch a big fish on a TruSouth Custom Lures V-Twin buzzbait,” Orellana added. “The brushpiles never worked out, and I think that’s because we had a week of cold weather before the tournament that pulled the fish shallow. And I’d rather fish offshore, because I feel I have a little bit of an advantage there.”

Orellana said he covered a lot of water during the tournament and fished up to 50 docks for a single bite. Skipping docks proved to be a productive grind for him, and bass would strike when he least expected it.

“With the weather and high winds we had on the first day I knew there would be a big bag caught,” Orellana said. “I figured if I was lucky and caught 15 or 16 (pounds) the first day that the weather would lay down a lot on Day 2, and usually when the weather lays down, it takes a lot less weight to do well.

“My goal was to do well the first day and then move out offshore the next day and scrap out 13 pounds or so to have a chance to win,” Orellana added. “I just got really lucky the second day and had a pretty good bag pretty early.”

Orellana said he slowly upgraded his limit Saturday and caught a 3- and 4-pounder in the last hour of the day that sealed his win.

“It’s been a while since I’ve won a tournament so this is pretty awesome, especially on my home lake,” Orellana said. “You always expect to do well at home, but you never expect to win, because winning is such a tough thing to do. Everything just has to come together.”

The top three boaters who qualified for the 2026 Phoenix BFL All-American finished:

1st:        Carson Orellana, Mooresville, N.C., 10 bass, 31-8, $50,000
2nd:       Cody Hoyle, Mooresboro, N.C., 10 bass, 30-12, $6,496
3rd:       Jack Story, Atlanta, Ga., 10 bass, 29-14, $3,381

Rounding out the top 10 boaters were:

4th:        Hayden Seabolt, Dawsonville, Ga., 10 bass, 29-7, $2,235
5th:        Cole Huskins, Gastonia, N.C., 10 bass, 29-6, $1,512
6th:        Travis Donaldson, Cleveland, N.C., 10 bass, 27-4, $2,387
7th:        Logan Anderson, Sherrills Ford, N.C., 10 bass, 25-15, $1,762 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
8th:        Kaden Buchmann, Troutman, N.C., 10 bass, 25-4, $1,138
9th:        Dalton Dowdy, Newberry, S.C., 10 bass, 24-13, $1,013
10th:     Shane Lineberger, Lincolnton, N.C., 10 bass, 24-12, $951

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Travis Donaldson of Cleveland, North Carolina, won the Berkley Big Bass Boater award and $1,000 for landing a bass that weighed 6 pounds, 7 ounces – the biggest of the tournament.

Jeff Rikard of Leesville, South Carolina, won the co-angler division Saturday after bringing a two-day total of six bass weighing 17 pounds, 5 ounces, to the scale. Rikard earned the top co-angler award of $12,586 for his victory.

The top three co-anglers who qualified for the 2026 Phoenix BFL All-American finished:

1st:        Jeff Rikard, Leesville, S.C., six bass, 17-5, $12,586
2nd:       Dan Marin, Appling, Ga., six bass, 13-8, $3,240
3rd:       Alan Poston, Travelers Rest, S.C., six bass, 13-4, $1,682

Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers were:

4th:        Mark Lee, Gastonia, N.C., six bass, 13-1, $1,059
5th:        Travis Ruff, Connelly Springs, N.C., six bass, 12-15, $797
6th:        Chuck Bagwell, Laurens, S.C., six bass, 12-11, $685
7th:        Rodney Tapp, Inman, S.C., six bass, 11-15, $723
8th:        Larry Freeman Jr., La Crosse, Va., five bass, 11-2, $1,060
9th:        Tracy Gravely, Petersburg, Va., six bass, 11-2, $498
10th:     Zahreed McClinton, Columbia, S.C., five bass, 11-0, $467

Larry Freeman Jr. of La Crosse, Virginia, caught a bass that weighed 4 pounds, 10 ounces, to win the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award worth $500.

The 2025 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 134 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 60 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying tournament winners, now advance to one of 12 BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top three, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.

Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Deep Dive App, E3 Sport Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Li Time Batteries, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PirahnO2, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, 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.

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, Discovery+, Discovery GO, Animal Planet, Outdoor Channel, VICE, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and Game & Fish TV, 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 20 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.

by AnglersChannel

Ashburn’s McCluskey Outruns Field for Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional on the James River Presented by Mando Deodorant

Virginia’s Jerman Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division

RICHMOND, Va. (Oct. 6, 2025) – Boater Matt McCluskey of Ashburn, Virginia, caught a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 34 pounds, 12 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine Regional on the James River presented by Mando Deodorant . The tournament, which was hosted by Richmond Region Tourism, concluded Saturday. For his win, McCluskey earned a prize package valued at $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200hp Mercury or Suzuki outboard.

The James River event served as the Regional championship for the BFL Northeast and Shenandoah divisions. The field included the top 60 boaters and co-anglers based on point standings, plus each division’s tournament winners. The top three boaters and co-anglers have also now qualified to compete at the 2026 BFL All-American.

“I had a pretty good practice and stumbled upon a couple of things down the Chickahominy River I felt like I could run to and get a decent limit of fish,” McCluskey said. “I found it in the afternoon and got some decent 2½-pound to 3-pound bites. When I rolled down there on tournament day, it ended up being a little bit better size fish for me. So, that was a pleasant surprise.”

McCluskey said he was worried about how two recent storms would affect the tides for the tournament, as a lot of water had been pushed into the bay area.

“I had no idea what to expect when I got down there,” McCluskey said. “But after I got there it was an hour and a half of reeling in fish for the most part.”

McCluskey said his key baits were a crankbait and a jig-head minnow fished anywhere from six to 10 feet. The spot he focused on was no bigger than 20 yards by 20 yards, but it was stacked with fish.

“I had an hour and a half both mornings where I really caught them,” McCluskey said. “On the first day, what separated my bag from Day 1 and 2 was I had a 5¼-pounder I caught up north, closer to Osborne Landing. So, I had an area where I felt I could get one big bite. I planned on going down to the Chick first thing, then make the long run back up to try and get a big one. On the first day it paid off. Then the second day, when I felt like I had the bag that I felt was good enough to seal the deal, I made the hour-and-10-minute run back early to make sure I was safe.

“I never felt like the win was a done deal,” McCluskey went on to say. “But I felt confident enough with my lead after Day 1, and second place had a giant fish – an 8-11 – but it’s hard to catch that two days in a row. I kept telling everybody it wasn’t over, because this place has 25 pounds swimming around in it.”

It turns out McCluskey had more than enough for a confident win, as he brought more than 6½ pounds more to the scale than the next-closest angler.

The top three boaters who qualified for the 2026 Phoenix BFL All-American finished:

1st:        Matt McCluskey, Ashburn, Va., 10 bass, 34-12, $50,000
2nd:       Conor Cahill, Audubon, N.J., 10 bass, 28-0, $8,695 (includes $500 Phoenix Bonus)
3rd:       Keith Estes, Spring Grove, Va., 10 bass, 23-8, $3,795

Rounding out the top 10 boaters were:

4th:        Richard Hodges Jr., Camden, N.C., 10 bass, 22-14, $2,295
5th:        Colegan Stiner, Wellsboro, Pa., 10 bass, 22-14, $1,595
6th:        Thomas Milton, Chester, Va., 10 bass, 22-1, $1,455
7th:        Christopher Wingfield, Richmond, Va., 10 bass, 21-10, $1,315
8th:        Eric Johnson, Partlow, Va., 10 bass, 21-5, $1,175
9th:        Frank Poirer, North Prince George, Va., 10 bass, 21-5, $1,035
10th:     Rick Hawkins, Roanoke, Va., 10 bass, 20-11, $965

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Conor Cahill of Audubon, New Jersey, won the Berkley Big Bass Boater award and $1,000 for landing a bass that weighed 8 pounds, 11 ounces, the biggest of the tournament.

Rick Jerman of Springfield, Virginia, won the co-angler division Saturday after bringing a two-day total of six bass weighing 14 pounds, 12 ounces, to the scale. Jerman earned the top co-angler award of $14,142 for his victory.

The top three co-anglers who qualified for the 2026 Phoenix BFL All-American finished:

1st:        Rick Jerman, Springfield, Va., six bass, 14-12, $14,142
2nd:       Randall Given, Laurel, Del., six bass, 13-14, $3,592
3rd:       Richard Williams, Sutherland, Va., six bass, 13-3, $1,842

Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers were:

4th:        David Paszkiewicz, Kearny, N.J., six bass, 13-0, $1,242
5th:        Dante Gray, Ruther Glen, Va., six bass, 12-15, $792
6th:        Cole Bernier, Saylorsburg, Pa., six bass, 12-11, $1,222
7th:        Fan Zhang, Arlington, Va., six bass, 12-4, $652
8th:        Victor Cuevas, Supply, N.C., six bass, 12-2, $582
9th:        Douglas Washburn, Bracey, Va., five bass, 11-15, $512
10th:     Mike Coleman, South Chesterfield, Va., six bass, 11-14, $477

Cole Bernier of Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania, caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 1 ounce, to win the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award worth $500.

The 2025 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 134 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 60 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying tournament winners, now advance to one of 12 BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top three, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the 2026 BFL All-American.

Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Deep Dive App, E3 Sport Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Li Time Batteries, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, 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.

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, Discovery+, Discovery GO, Animal Planet, Outdoor Channel, VICE, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and Game & Fish TV, 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 20 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.

by AnglersChannel

One Ounce is Enough for University of Montevallo Win at MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Tournament on Pickwick Lake

FLORENCE, Ala. (Oct. 6, 2025) – The University of Montevallo duo of Brody Robison of Dawson, Alabama, and Peyton Sorrow of Abbeville, South Carolina, won the MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event on Pickwick Lake Presented by Columbia PFG Friday with a five-bass limit weighing 23 pounds, 7 ounces. The one-ounce victory earned the Bulldogs’ bass club $2,000 and a qualification into the 2026 MLF College Fishing National Championship.

“We are super excited,” said Robison, a Montevallo grad student. “This was unexpected. We had a decent practice, but a super-inconsistent one. We were expecting to have a decent tournament, but nothing like this.”

The University of Montevallo bass club dominated the event, claiming five of the top 10 spots in the tournament.

“To see our school really come out strong for another event felt really good,” Robison said. “It feels great to contribute to the success our school has had this year, and to be a part of such a strong program.”

Robison said a late boat number forced the team to approach the tournament differently.

“We just kind of rode around the lake and took it easy,” Robison said. “We fished high-percentage structure. We knew it would be hard to get on some of the community places on the lake, so we just got on what we could and didn’t get in any hurry.”

After a couple of early 2 ½- and 3-pounders, Robison and teammate Sorrow finally found success around 10 a.m. when Robison caught a 5-pounder on isolated structure.

“That kind of steered us in the wrong direction, because we thought, ‘OK. This is what we need to be doing,’” Robison said. “So, we pulled up on a stretch that featured isolated structure, but all the fish had left. The fish were just swimming around in the water column; they weren’t feeding. The current has been really inconsistent on the TVA right now, and I think it had just pushed those fish off the structure.”

The Bulldogs focused on utilizing a Queen Tackle L.S. Tungsten Rollin Strollin Ball Jig Head  with a Cast Fishing Co. Echo 7.2-inch in 10 to 16 feet of water to boat their bass. Robison said in deeper water the duo switched to an Echo 5.4-inch to achieve a faster fall rate.

Robison said the team moved around the lake and managed to grind out 16 pounds, then at 2:30 returned to the area featuring the isolated structure. More fish had moved into the area, and Sorrows landed a smallmouth close to 6 pounds as well as a largemouth that weighed 5 pounds in the last 30 minutes of competition.

“When Peyton caught that almost-6 smallmouth in the last 30 minutes, we both kind of had that light bulb moment and looked at each other and thought we needed one more 5-pounder to have a shot at winning this thing,” Robison said. “We expected the winning weight to be 23½ to 24 pounds. Then that 5-pounder pushed us up and we ended up needing every ounce.”

The top 10 teams finished:

1st: University of Montevallo – Brody Robison, Dawson, Ala., and Peyton Sorrow, Abbeville, S.C., five bass, 23-7, $2,000
2nd: King University – Trey Marco, Morrisville, Pa., and Jake Rowlands, Dalton, Pa., five bass, 23-6, $1,000
3rd: University of Montevallo – Trace Antunes, Henderson, Texas, and Garrett Ring, Greenbrier, Ark., five bass, 22-6, $700
4th: University of Montevallo – Connor Bell, Lisbon, N.Y., and Tucker McCoy, Warrior, Ala., five bass, 21-3, $600
5th: Wabash Valley College – Dalton Phelps, Bloomington, Ill., and Peyton Rose, Flora, Ill., five bass, 20-11, $500
6th: University of North Alabama – Tripp Berlinsky, Florence, Ala., and Bryce Dimauro, Longwood, Fla., five bass, 20-10
7th: University of Montevallo – Connor Bower, Aurora, Ohio, and Michael Witherup, Allison Park, Pa., five bass, 20-3
8th: University of North Alabama – Jackson Bennett, Knoxville, Tenn., and Smith McGregor, Indian Springs, Ala., five bass, 19-15
9th: University of Montevallo – Luke Davis, Bishop, Ga., and Kaden Raichel, Scottsburg, Ind., five bass, 19-13
10th: University of North Alabama – Dylan Nutt and Carter Nutt, Nashville, Tenn., five bass, 19-7

The top 38 teams that qualified for the National Championship, along with complete results for the entire field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event on Pickwick Lake Presented by Columbia PFG was hosted by Florence-Lauderdale Tourism. The next tournament for MLF College Fishing anglers will be the Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event on Lake Hartwell Presented by Columbia PFG, Oct. 24 in Anderson, South Carolina.

The 2025 MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI season features college teams from across the country competing in six regular-season open tournaments. The top 15 percent of teams from each regular-season tournament advance to the 2026 Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship.

Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Columbia PFG, Deep Dive App, E3 Sports Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Humminbird,  Lew’s, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota , WIX Filters 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.

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 20 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.

by AnglersChannel

Bryant Smith weighs 27-Pounds to Win the BAM Super 60 Cal Delta

Weighing in on Championship Sunday with a five-fish limit of 27.26, Bryant Smith of Roseville, Calif. was crowned the newest BAM Super 60 champion this weekend as the Pro Tour made its fourth and final stop of the 2025 regular season on the California Delta in a three-day event presented by the City of Oakley, Tackle Warehouse, and conservation sponsor Fisherman’s Warehouse.

Smith earned his way into the top-10 field cut in 6th place with a keeper count of 25 bass, and a two-day total of 35.18. He bested the rest on the final day of fishing to claim the grand prize of $50,000 cash prize.

“To get this trophy on the California Delta – it’s probably one of the hardest places to win a tournament – especially against the top-10 we had – a group of absolute killers – and to come away with the trophy means a lot,” he said.

Qualifying by numbers of scorable bass, Smith’s final day meant an adjustment of focusing on catching numbers of bass to finding five big bites. When going for quantity, he covered a lot of water throwing a Strike King Thunder Cricket around grass.

“With the tide and the weather (changes on Day Three), I knew today if I was going to have a shot at it, I would have to pick up a flippin’ stick so that is what I did,” he said.

His final day adjustment led him to a Strike King Rage Bug rigged on a 3/O hook, which he flipped with a 1½-ounce weight, using an Alpha Angler Mag Hitter 2.0 with a Lews Custom Pro reel, spooled with 50-pound braid.

Smith ran seven or eight different areas and ended the day in Frank’s Tract, where he found a big one, just short of nine-pounds.

“I flipped into this little mat, and it sank about halfway down and stopped, I set the hook, and she came out like a bat of hell. It was incredible,” he said. “It (Frank’s) is an area that is pretty special to me. It’s an area that me and my dad would fish – a lot – when I was growing up here – so super special way to have that play out like that.”

Smith was appreciative of his sponsors.

“These don’t happen when everything doesn’t work and all my equipment was flawless – Yamaha, Skeeter, Lowrance – all the equipment on the boat ran flawlessly and all my gear,” he said. “I didn’t have any mishaps losing fish – Alpha Angler rods, Lews reels and a bunch of Strike King Rage Bugs got it done.

“This was one of those magical days on the Delta where everything just went right. I made decisions – I couldn’t tell you if they were going to be good or bad – and they all ended up working out. To win – the cool thing is you just never know when that is going to happen; but with this format – weights zeroing, it adds a lot of excitement to it and I was just super, super blessed.”

Ken Mah Flipped for Runner-Up

Ken Mah of Elk Grove, Calif. made his way into Championship Sunday by securing 5th place for the field cut, weighing 39.78 for his combined Day One and Two total, in which time he recorded 18 scorable bass.

He ended the event by claiming runner-up position as the only other angler besides Smith to break the twenty-pound mark. Mah’s full limit went 22.88. He banked $9,415 in event earnings, which included an additional $500 in contingency dollars from both Bass Boat Technologies and Costa Sunglasses.

“On the first two days, I was starting in an area, and the morning was pretty lackluster; so, after Day Two, when I knew I was in the cut, I started exploring the Delta to look at some other things,” he stated. “I made a decision to run a totally opposite direction (for Day Three). It panned out really well.”

Mah’s morning move netted him two bites that he felt were tournament-winning fish. With those in the box, he went to his primary area, roughly 15 miles away.

“I had a tide window where I was catching ‘em really good – basically currented grass along riprap banks,” he shared. “I figured (for Day Three) they would start biting around 10 to 10:30 am and that freed me up to go do what I did in the morning.”

He targeted his area using a Big Bite Baits Yo Mama in a special pour PB&J color but the 1099 is a close 2nd on a 4/O Owner Jungle HD hook with an ounce weight.

“I made that key (color note) on the first day,” he said. “When it was overcast, they ate green pumpkin really well and then, I felt like with the sunup, they wanted something with a little bit of color and the peanut butter and jelly looks very crawdaddy.”

Mah caught all his day one fish put to work was the Fighting Craw in green pumpkin also by Big Bite Baits in green pumpkin and he sprinkled in a Missile Craw.

Mah flipped most of the weekend and shared what he felt was his critical factor.

“When my bait hit the bottom, it had to be in that 6½- to 7½-foot range,” he said. “That’s where the fish were sitting. There wasn’t grass that was better than the other as long as it was in that depth. That one-foot range was where all the fish were sitting.”

Over the course of the event, the Delta showed out for Mah as he estimated his bites at nearly 60 on Day One, 45 on Day Two, and over 50 on the final day.

About the BAM Tournament Trail

Powered by Bass Angler Magazine’s nationwide print and digital reach, BAM offers unmatched marketing opportunities through its tournament trail website, print magazine, email campaigns, podcasts, social media, YouTube, and TV series — creating year-round exposure for anglers and sponsors alike.

BAM Tournament Trail Features:

  • BAM Super 60 Pro Tour

  • BAM Pro-Am Series

  • Scholastic High School Series

  • Kayak Series

BAM Trail is honored to be associated with its title sponsor, Bass Boat Technologies, and presenting sponsor, Tackle Warehouse. The trail is also supported by Storquest, Chicken Ranch Resort, Bass Cat Boats, Ford Fairfield, Power Pole, Mercury Outboards, Black Bear Diner, Bridgford Foods, Bob’s Machine, Anderson Auto Group, Sticky Graphics, Jean Deleonardi Real Estate,, Valley Outdoors and our conservation sponsor Fisherman’s Warehouse.

BAM TT tourism sponsors: Lake Don Pedro, City of Oakley, Lake Almanor Chamber, the Boardman Chamber, and the Feather River Tourism Association.

Tournament events include BAM Pro Tour, Pro-Am, Scholastic and a Kayak Tours with can be viewed on YouTube.  Learn more here: BAM TRAIL, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Visit www.bamtrail.com

 

by AnglersChannel

B.A.S.S. expands reach with new FAST Channel on Plex

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S., the leading authority in professional bass fishing, is proud to announce the launch of its newly branded Bassmaster FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television) channel on Plex. This partnership brings Bassmaster’s extensive library of live tournament action, how-to content, angler features and archival footage to millions of Plex users globally — delivering fishing action fans love, wherever they stream. This new relationship highlights a push to deliver more Bassmaster content to a growing international audience.

The Bassmaster FAST Channel on Plex will be a 24/7 streaming channel, offering marquee content including the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour, the Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series presented by Bass Pro Shops and St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN. In addition, viewers will have access to original programming, behind-the-scenes features, gear reviews, lifestyle stories and timeless bass moments from the archives. In addition to the new Bassmaster Channel, Plex will also house hundreds of hours of Bassmaster content through Video On Demand programming, meaning fans will be able to watch their favorite fishing events whenever the urge strikes.

Why Plex?

  • Plex currently serves over 25 million monthly active users globally, with a robust FAST + live TV offering available in more than 195 countries.
  • The platform’s breadth of live and free ad-supported channels makes it ideal for broadening B.A.S.S.’s exposure to new outdoor, sports and lifestyle audiences.
  • For the Bassmaster brand, anglers and content partners, Plex offers a highly engaged streaming audience with a tremendous international reach.

“Our mission has always been to bring the thrill and stories of bass fishing to fans — whether long-time anglers or newcomers,” said Phillip Johnson, Chief Operating Officer of B.A.S.S. “This channel with Plex opens up yet another door for our content to be consumed. It’s an important step in ensuring Bassmaster content is available in living rooms, on phones, smart TV platforms — everywhere our fans want to watch.”

The Bassmaster FAST channel on Plex is available now. No subscription required — just open Plex on your compatible device (smart TV, streaming device, mobile app, etc.), search for the Bassmaster FAST Channel, and enjoy.

“We’re excited to welcome Bassmaster and add this new channel to our over 600 live TV channels, as we continue to offer our community of viewers access to the deepest and widest variety of on-demand and live streaming content,” said Shawn Eldridge, VP of content and business development for Plex. “We know our users love live content and curated sport stories, so I can say with confidence – as a lifelong angler myself – that Bassmaster’s exciting tournaments, expert features and heritage-rich programming offer something truly unique for our viewers. Together, we’ll give fans both classic moments and fresh angles in a format that’s free, accessible and befitting the sport of bass fishing.”

About Plex

Plex is solving the streaming media chaos, making it quick and easy to discover, enjoy, and share any movie or TV show being streamed online, acting as one window into ALL streaming services, including those you subscribe to. With FAST channels, premium movie rentals, and Live TV channels available to stream in 81 languages, Plex leads the streaming industry with international content.  Partnering with some of the biggest names in entertainment, Plex has a continuously growing library of free third-party entertainment spanning virtually all genres, interests, and languages.

Plex is the first and only streaming platform to offer access to free entertainment - including tens of thousands of free titles, movies, and TV shows on-demand, as well as hundreds of free-to-stream live TV channels and premium movie rentals - paired with a user’s own personal media collection. For more, visit https://plex.tv, follow @plex on Twitter, or find us on Facebook and Instagram.

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 Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, Nitro Boats Elite Qualifiers Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, 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, Bassmaster Junior Series, TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, 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.

by AnglersChannel

Hamrick Claims 2025 NPFL Championship

The most consistent angler over three days at the 2025 NPFL Championship on Lake Hartwell, hosted by Visit Anderson, was Scott Hamrick. He opened with a 14‑10 bag on day one, followed by 15‑3 on day two, and closed strong with his biggest bag of the week on Showdown Sunday, weighing 15‑15, anchored by a 6‑1 largemouth.

His three-day total weight of 45‑12 secured the Championship victory, earning him a $100,000 payday, a berth into next year’s Championship event, and the coveted NPFL shield.

Rallying to second after day two with 16‑12, to go with his day one weight of 14‑4, Tennessee angler Michael Stout did enough on the final day, catching 14‑10 to finish the Championship in second place with a three-day total of 45‑10. In third, Georgia pro Will Harkins, a pre-tournament favorite, also finished with 45‑10.

Moving into fifth place, 2024 Progressive Angler of the Year winner Kyle Welcher caught the biggest bag, and biggest bass of the event, making up for a tough day two. His 6-11 lunker anchored his 19-14 rally bag, moving him several spots on the final day.

Hamrick Flips the Switch

Living in North Carolina, Scott Hamrick is a bit familiar with Lake Hartwell. When he arrived for practice this week, he had a hunch he would be fishing shallow and picking apart cover, but he did not know it would unfold the way it did.

“I knew what the plan was going to be before I got here,” he said. “I knew the weather was coming and that it would help the bite in the creeks, where I focused my time. I had a decent practice, but you’re not really fishing anything, so I was not sure what the potential was going to be.”

Hamrick fished two creeks over the first two days and started the event in Seneca. Early on day one, when he was firing a plopper bait around, he decided to pick up a jig, and that decision changed his tournament.

“I wanted to catch them on a topwater,” he said. “I started getting a bunch on a jig, including some bigger fish, and I knew what was going to be the deal. On day two, I went to 6/10 Creek, having burned down Seneca, and caught a bigger bag, so I had to fish there today.”

The morning of day three, Hamrick had a live camera, and things were not getting off to a fast start. With a small limit in the well, he fished a mix of new water and productive water from day two.

“This morning was terrible,” he said. “I was a bit nervous with the camera and making some bad casts—I’m pretty good at skipping—and I told the camera guy I was on the fast track to a 6-pound limit. But that’s when things started clicking.”

Going down a stretch, Hamrick noticed one of his favorite docks. At the time, he had a limit for 5 pounds, and it was now or never to make a move. He flipped in on the front of the dock and missed a bite – no luck. On the next dock, he maneuvered around back and quickly caught a 2.5-pound fish. And around on the front, a 6-pound bite gave him a glimmer of hope for the tournament.

“I knew at that point that I had a shot. That fish gave me a nice limit, but I still had a couple small fish to cull,” he said. “With 45 minutes left until check-in, the clouds opened and the rain started pouring. I dropped the jig, grabbed the plopper, and caught a 2.5-pounder, making a cull and sealing the tournament by 2 ounces.”

Before the event, Hamrick told a couple of anglers that he was excited for the small championship field and had a feeling it could be a perfect storm for him. With a lot of talented “scopers,” he knew he would have plenty of water to himself in the creeks, and the lack of pressure allowed him to come out on top.

“I know a lot of those guys who know the lake well were going to fish for spotted bass, and rightfully so,” he said. “I spread myself out over two creeks and caught just enough. I am super blessed and cannot believe that I won. I was simply flipping docks with a jig, that simple. I cannot believe it.”

Stout Stays Offshore

In a battle between offshore anglers, Scott Hamrick prevailed. With the majority of the field focusing on the main lake section of Hartwell, fishing for spotted bass on shoals and humps, Michael Stout won the battle, finishing second in the event, just 2 ounces behind Hamrick.

Coming into the event, the Tennessee pro knew what he wanted to do, and throughout practice, he had no problem finding fish, but they would not bite. Finally, on the final day of practice, the sun came out, and he dialed in a bite.

“That last day of practice I learned how to catch them, and I tried a minnow and stuff, but they would not touch it,” he said. “I learned how to get them to bite the shaky head, and that is what carried me through the event.”

His biggest bag of the event came on day two, and it was an afternoon flurry that moved him into second position in the tournament. Today, despite getting off to an early start with a small limit, it was again an afternoon sequence of upgrades that nearly earned him the victory.

“I went through a bad lull with the clouds after the morning and the fish did not want to bite,” he said. “Then, when the rain started, I ran back through some areas and caught three fish that culled me up to my weight: a 2.5-pound spot, a 3.25-pound spot, and a 3-pound spot I caught back near the weigh-in.”

If you had asked him on Friday morning, he may have undersold his pattern, guessing about 13 pounds per day based on practice. However, with the training wheels off on day one, Stout learned that his program was much more lucrative than he expected.

“It worked out better than I expected, and I really knew what my areas were capable of producing,” he added. “I focused on suspended and bottom fish, on points, shoals, humps, and some islands. They were not set up, aside from the few I caught out of brush, and they just roamed along the edges.”

Once found, Stout would fire over a shaky head and watch the bass follow his bait to the bottom, and move the bait based on how the fish would react.

“Sometimes it would take over a minute,” he added. “I’d see them go down, and they just watched it. I’d shake it and dead stick it—they were very finicky. I tried fishing a minnow in practice and finally learned how to get some of these fish to commit. It was a great week.”

Top Ten Anglers:

Scott Hamrick 45‑12
Michael Stout 45‑10
Will Harkins 45‑1
Patrick Walters 44‑11
Kyle Welcher 43‑7
Zack Birge 43‑2
Drew Cook 42‑13
Jason Burroughs 42‑0
Timothy Reams 41‑1
Mike Quinlin 40‑11

by AnglersChannel